"Oh, father, for shame."

About a week ago, I found out from another history graduate student that incoming history graduate assistants would be paid more than returning veteran history graduate assistants (myself and many of my cohorts). I didn't think much of it (other than the obvious unfairness of it all) until today, when I found out exactly how much more money we're talking about ($3,000 for those of you keeping score at home). At the risk of stating the obvious, it seems a shitty way to thank returning and experienced grad assistants who will now put in the same work and same hours for significantly less pay than our new colleagues. I understand the argument that we're all here to get good educations and that they money shouldn't matter. But it's hard not to feel slapped in the face. I'm proud to work with a group of wonderfully articulate and wicked smart people whose successes I celebrate and whose research I admire. And it's difficult not to be disappointed by the college's lack of good judgment in this situation. Unfortunately, it's made all the more frustrating by the sinking feeling that we (grad assistants and our department) aren't going to be able to bring about any real change.