Binghamton University’s incoming graduate and teaching assistants are being offered more money than those who currently work at the university.
Current students rallied on campus Friday to protest the change. Katie Lacy is the co-president of the anthropology graduate organization. She says it costs money to pay for professional development in academia. If she uses her stipend on one conference, she might not be able to pay for a second.
"The students who are getting the new stipend will be able to go to both conferences. They don’t have to worry about it because they will have the resources to develop their careers without fear," Lacy said. "We still have to worry about paying our rent and building our careers."
Student were also protesting a closed-door meeting between the university provost and academic leaders. University officials said that graduate students have had several opportunities to give input on the decision.