Sunshine Alvarez de Silva
Any pronouns
History
I just completed an MA in Classics at UVM, studying Roman imperialism, specifically Virgil’s portrayal of empire, and am now continuing on to a second Master’s in History. Over the last two years of study here at UVM I’ve become increasingly committed to making sure that grad student workers have more than our current “livable” working conditions. As a member of the History department and the humanities, I am keenly aware of how the university has priorities that often are at odds with the healthy lives we deserve as members of this community.
At first I simply hoped that we would not have to confront the school to receive what we deserve. But now I’m committed to making advances towards better working conditions. I joined the union to help fight for better protections against overloaded work, a livable wage, and the proper channels of advocacy for graduate student workers.
Calum Buchanan
He/Him
Mathematics and Statistics
I study mathematics, combinatorics and graph theory in particular. In the past, I have been a primary instructor for “Fundamentals of Calculus I” and “Applications of Finite Math” as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, although I am currently working as a Graduate Research Assistant. Outside of doing math, I like to skateboard, hike, and listen to music. I joined the union of grad workers at UVM to fight for our voices to be heard: we need livable stipends, better insurance, … the list goes on (but little change has been made). I am confident that we will see important and well-earned changes to our contracts soon.
Baxter Worthing
He/Him
Plant Biology
I am a PhD student in the Plant Biology Department. I use genetics and genomics to better understand the ecology of poplar trees, with the hope of helping these trees overcome challenges caused by climate change. My research is very interdisciplinary, so you might find me planting trees out at the Horticulture Farm, working on experiments in the lab, or running jobs on the VACC. I am also a GTA for Genetics (BCOR 2300). In my free time, I enjoy biking, soccer and skiing. During my 4 years as a Senator in the Graduate Student Senate, I chaired and co-chaired committees responsible for negotiating graduate student stipends and benefits with UVM administration. As part of this role, I met with every academic dean at the university to advocate for stipend increases, and co-authored multiple reports on graduate student compensation and benefits at UVM. I support a union for grad students at UVM because I’m tired of seeing my friends struggle to afford rent, student fees and medical bills, despite the amazing contributions they make to the university as teachers and researchers.
Bailey Kretzler
She/They
Agriculture, Landscape & Environment
I’m studying the interactions between plant roots and soil microbes of crops grown in intercropping systems, like the three sisters polyculture of corn, bean, and squash. I’m specifically interested in how these interactions alter agroecosystem resilience and productivity. When I’m not playing in the dirt (soil), I like to kayak, hike, sew, and cook! My default fun fact is that my family has a labor day tradition of swimming across the Mississippi river, my first swim was at age 3.
I began organizing as a means to fight for better pay and benefits because I was tired of seeing my friends and colleagues work multiple jobs just to be able to barely afford rent, prescriptions, and childcare. I believe that improved working conditions at UVM are critical for enhancing our experience as graduate students. When we are able to work and live with dignity, we can engage more fully in our coursework, research, and as members of the UVM community. As a member of the bargaining committee, these beliefs and our collective struggle for dignified working conditions will motivate me to fight for a fair first contract.
Reed Scott
He/Him
Natural Resources (RSENR)
I am a currently a PhD student in the WERL at the University of Vermont, studying amphibian disease ecology. I consider myself a community and disease ecologist as well as herpetologist and an population modeler. In sum, I’m a budding ecologist who wears a lot of hats. The current goal of my research is to understand how the assemblage of species present in a system can determine disease prevalence. I answer these questions using a variety of methods, ranging from computer modelling to boots-on-the-ground field sampling. In my free time I enjoy games of all kinds, hiking, biking, running, and trying out different kinds of teas.
With our historic win in March, at a stupendous 98% support, we have set the stage to enact real change in the lives of graduate employees at UVM. As a member of the bargaining committee I will fight for a universal minimum stipend at a living wage, vision and dental benefits, accessible childcare, a robust grievance procedure, and to address the housing crisis in Vermont.
Neil Traft
He/Him
Complex Systems and Data Science
I am a PhD student and research assistant at the Vermont Complex Systems Center. My focus is on artificial intelligence—specifically better algorithms for training deep neural networks—but I’m more broadly interested in complexity science and how this relates to the emergence of life and intelligence. When not “programming” (yelling at) computers, I like to run long distances, cook overly elaborate meals, and go hiking, camping, and backpacking.
I strongly believe it is possible to achieve a 40+% increase in minimum pay, based directly on Vermont livable wage statistics. As an aspiring parent, I’m deeply personally invested in our goals toward better healthcare and parental benefits. I believe all the goals listed on the GSU website are very reasonable and can be delivered in good-faith bargaining.
I don’t believe the university is fundamentally opposed to our goals, but without a union it has been too easy and too tempting to ignore our situation or make unacceptably slow progress on improving it. Now that we have a seat at the bargaining table I hold out hope that, in time, we can develop a relationship of mutual trust and respect with those on the other side of the table.
Rubaina Anjum
She/They
Sustainable Development, Policy, and Governance (CDAE)
I am a PhD student in the Community Development and Applied Economics Department. My research delves is on political economy, specifically focusing on production within planetary boundaries under economic growth versus degrowth and various institutional arrangements. To me, it is imperative that all people should be able to live in dignity including graduate students. This view drives my research at the intersection of environment, development, and inequality and further motivates me to strive towards ensuring dignified working conditions for UVM graduate student workers.
My experience when I moved to Burlington was the same as nearly every other student: I could not find housing which was affordable on my stipend. I started organizing with GSU because I heard the same story over and over on housing and believed we could harness our collective power to fight for a livable wage, among other benefits. A strong union is also one which has active participation from its members. It is important to me that the views of our membership are represented as we negotiate a strong collective bargaining agreement. Moreover, as a student formerly on an F1 visa, I have navigated the US immigration system and experienced the challenges involved. I hope to have the needs of international students well-represented during bargaining..