Students Weigh in on Upcoming GSI Strike

With finals just a week away, students across campus are grappling with what a UC-wide GSI strike- scheduled to start anytime this week-could mean for their grades.

Even though the strike has yet to begin, some GSIs are warning students they will not hold office hours or discussion sections and will not grade final exams. Some professors have already canceled lectures or made plans to hold class off campus.

And with a strike of indefinite length, it is unclear when students will receive their final grades.

But the timing of the strike will hit students the hardest.

"I find it unfair that it's even possible for them to strike at this time," said UC Berkeley senior Justin Larsen. "I think it's selfish on their part not to consider students."

Union officials say the strike is necessary to call the university's attention to their grievances. The protracted contract negotiations between the union and UC have stalled on two key issues: the right to stage a sympathy strike and the right to resolve workload grievances through a neutral arbitrator instead of through the Academic Senate.

An official date for the strike has not been set yet, although it will be held this week. Union officials said yesterday they will give 24 hours notice, leaving the possibility some review sessions will be canceled at the last minute.

The anxiety among many students is creeping across campus and into classrooms.

UC Berkeley senior Christopher Co said his music discussion section devolved into a question over whether the strike would affect review sessions or finals, instead of a discussion of the course material.

"It's a hassle," Co said. "Students might have to take incompletes for courses, further stressing our schedules for the spring semester."

And the strike is forcing faculty members to readjust their teaching schedules and class structure. A few professors said they do not even have a plan yet for grading finals.

During the last major GSI strike in 1998, some finals for large lecture classes, such as Political Science 2, went from an essay to multiple choice format.

"It could severely affect students and faculty," said astronomy professor Alex Filippenko. "Differences are better resolved in a more diplomatic way at the bargaining table than through a strike during finals week."

Meanwhile, the union has mustered support from some undergraduate students and faculty who said it was a good strategic move for the union to strike UC-wide right before finals.

"I think it's smart because they are going to strike during a very important week, which puts more pressure on the administration," said UC Berkeley freshman Andres Cardona.

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