While graduate student unions are becoming more prominent at some universities, Iowa State is not currently following that trend.

Graduate students at the University of Illinois at Champaign are working to get university recognition of their graduate employee union. While some ISU graduate students and faculty members like the idea of these unions, others question their necessity.

Some graduate students said having a union would be a good idea.

“I think they need to have a voice somehow in the department, to express their concerns to higher-ups, as the case may be,” said John Purcell, graduate student in English.

Luke Rosielle, graduate student in psychology, said he didn’t see anything wrong with the idea of a graduate employee union.

“Graduate students can be taken advantage of, and I think this is a good idea to help prevent that from happening,” he said.

However, some faculty members expressed mixed feelings about the topic.

Thomas McGee, professor of materials science and engineering, said he didn’t think a graduate employee union was crucial.

“I think it’s unfortunate that [the Illinois graduate students] feel it’s necessary. I hope they don’t think so here,” he said. “I think the best thing is to have harmonious relationships, and I think that’s what we have.”

Some professors said they could see both sides of the issue.

“It depends upon the perspective,” said John Imsande, professor of agronomy.

He said in some departments, graduate students have to teach a class every semester. He said it is all right if the students sign a contract ahead of time, but in other cases, the student is being paid less to teach extensively.

“In some cases, graduate students are used as cheap labor,” he said. “I think that’s what these unions are about.”

However, Imsande also emphasized the importance of graduate students gaining teaching experience.

“A lot of departments are now saying it is a requirement that a student must teach a course as part of their graduate education, and I believe in that philosophy,” he said.

Imsande likened graduate assistants to a carpenter’s apprentice, who is paid much less than the carpenter, but by the end of his or her tenure, has the skills of a carpenter.

“You learn and practice until you are as good as the other guy,” he said.

Derrick Rollins, associate professor of chemical engineering, said if students truly feel they are being exploited, they should look into the possibility of a union.

“In some places, they need student unity to make sure they have a voice and their rights, that they’re not being exploited,” he said.

However, he said it is a two-way street. “They exploit us; we exploit them,” he said.

Rollins also said the necessity of a union differs depending on the university.

“It needs to be dealt with on a university basis as to whether one is needed,” he said.

Rollins said in many cases, he doesn’t think a union is needed. He said students should group together and express their feelings to administration.

“They need to have unity, discuss their concerns with them,” he said. “University administration would take students’ concerns to heart.”

He said students could get together without having an organized union behind them.

“Unions are, in themselves, looking to gain something [and] can be exploitable on their side as well,” he said.

Rollins said he is not in favor of unions if they distract graduate students from getting their degrees.

“We should figure out ways they can be successful and make it through the institution,” he said.