University of Virginia Library

I am writing this letter to bring
to the attention of the University
a suggestion for improvement that
so far has met with as little objection
as practical action. This is
the matter of offering adequate
remuneration to the graduate assistant
instructors who bear a large
part of the burden of educating
students in the very important
basic courses. Obviously it is essential
that the best possible people
be secured for these posts and that
those engaged be under no unnecessary
financial pressure in
order to function effectively. Faculty,
administration and especially
the students who will be taught
should join in an effort to place
the University in a better position
to attract able graduates who generally
receive better, more viable
financial offers from other schools.
This situation is aggravated by the
recent decrease of available fellowships.

As a first step may I suggest
the cancellation of tuition (which
is the normal procedure right now
in the higher ranking schools) for
those who serve as assistants. This
move would have the advantage
over a comparable salary raise
in that tax deductions would not
also increase. Since it is also in
line with the policy of other institutions
it would be easier to
sell to the powers that be.

From another vantage point
those who are training to be college
teachers ought not be asked
to endure several years of penury
as a precondition; we even have
the authority of Aristotle on this
matter: "Virtue is not of itself
sufficient to ensure happiness...
for the wise man would be miserable
if he lived in the midst
of pain, poverty and similar circumstances."

May I ask all, not just graduate
assistants, who are interested to
contact the undersigned through
Cabell Hall, Room 247, so that
we may plan the necessary actions.