--- Forwarded Message from Leslie Graul <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 15:00:29 -0400
>From: Leslie Graul <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum                         <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #5106 Alms...
>References: <[log in to unmask]>

------------------
Ed-I wish that my student assistants made that much.  So far, the going rate has been $4.38/hr, with a
big $.10/hr increase after a year of satisfactory work.  Only my student managers get in excess of
$6.00/hr.  This is particularly unfortunate, because these students have to really work while they're
on duty.  In many campus positions, they can study or not even show up, all for the same amount of
money!  I have tried all kinds of creative ways to get this changed, all to no avail as yet.

LLTI-Editor wrote:

> --- Forwarded Message from Ed Dente <[log in to unmask]> ---
>
> >Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1999 10:41:09 -0400 (EDT)
> >From: Ed Dente <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Alms...
> >In-reply-to: <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-to: Ed Dente <[log in to unmask]>
>
> ------------------
> The small group of mendicants, dressed in the only rags their meager
> incomes allowed, hollow-eyed and gaunt with lack of food, faces downcast,
> but emboldened by their dire circumstances huddled around me, weakly
> chanting, "Sir, can you spare alms for the needy? Please help us..."
>
> I was backed into the corner of my office by the group. I did the only
> thing I could think of, answering them softly,
>  "I'm sorry, but that's all my budget will allow me to pay all you
> student assistants. There's nothing I can do. Believe me, this is the
> prevailing wage for student assistants. I'll get in trouble w/ my
> colleagues in IALL if I try to raise your pay any higher."
>
> "But how will we survive on your measly wages of $6.00 per hour to start
> and going up only to $6.60 after three semesters?" they weakly asked.
> "We really believe that other labs pay their students much, much more than
> that."
>
> "But", I replied, "your fellow student assistant, the student supervisor,
> gets $8.00 per hour".
>
> "She should get $16.00 an hour for trying to put together each semester's
> schedule for 20 assistants", they shouted, even more emboldened. "Tell us
> right now what other labs pay their assistants so that we can really know
> where we stand OR WE'RE WALKING!" (I think they meant to the dining hall
> kitchen dishwashing detail, where they can make a heck of a lot more than
> from me.)
> Encouraged by the strength of their argument, they shouted in unison,
> "SHOW US THE MONEY!"
>
> Hmmm. Embarrassed as I am to admit that this is what I pay our
> student assistants, ($6.00 to start, $6.60 tops)I would like to know how
> close to the bottom this is in comparison with other labs whose directors
> are more humanitarian than I. So, if it isn't asking too much of my
> colleagues, what is the "prevailing wage" for student assistants? I
> promise to compile the responses. That is, if I can fight my way out of
> the corner of my office.
> Cheers,
> Ed "Scrooge" Dente
>
>        "Vendetta ti chiedo,
>         La chiede, il tuo cor..."
>                   -Donna Anna  <Don Giovanni>
>
>   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Edmund N. Dente
> Director, Language Media Center
> Tufts University
> Medford, MA 02155
> Ph: 617-627-3036
> [log in to unmask]