2008 Woodie Awards
ASG denies Students for Staff bill
Dave Matthews
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Campus
It is in the policy of The Miami Student to publish factual errors in the newspaper.
In the Dec. 7 issue, the article "ASG denies Student for Staff bill" incorrectly states that a bill was passed unanimously by GSA. The bill was not passed unanimously.
Senior Stephanie Lee of Students for Staff (SFS) was "extremely disappointed" in Associated Student Government (ASG) after Tuesday night's meeting.
"As students we have a say in university policy … and this is symbolic of university policy … democracy at this university is not practiced," she said.
That's because after two presentations and nearly three hours of debate, student senate decided not to endorse SFS's bill, which would urge the administration of Miami University to create a committee that would investigate the livability of Miami's current wages for classified staff.
According to Carol Hauser, Miami's senior director for human resources, classified staff is defined as employees who are paid hourly and are overtime eligible, such as employees in Housing, Dining and Guest Services.
Currently, entry-level classified staff at Miami are paid $9 an hour according to Hauser. When SFS originally came before ASG Nov. 27, they urged the importance of establishing a "living wage" for staff- a number the Oxford Family Resource Center estimates to be $12.45 an hour for a single wage home with two dependents in Oxford.
However, Hauser claimed differently when she had the floor at student senate, in response to SFS's bill.
"We don't just pick salaries out of the air," she said. "I think our classified staff is paid a fair wage."
Hauser pointed out that Miami has never had staff layoffs, offers perks like college tuition for staff and their family members after a certain period of time with the university and offers job enrichment packages like wage raises and bonuses every two years. Additionally, Hauser called Miami the "employer of choice" in Oxford, pointing out that every time a staff position opens up, 25 people apply.
In the Dec. 7 issue, the article "ASG denies Student for Staff bill" incorrectly states that a bill was passed unanimously by GSA. The bill was not passed unanimously.
Senior Stephanie Lee of Students for Staff (SFS) was "extremely disappointed" in Associated Student Government (ASG) after Tuesday night's meeting.
"As students we have a say in university policy … and this is symbolic of university policy … democracy at this university is not practiced," she said.
That's because after two presentations and nearly three hours of debate, student senate decided not to endorse SFS's bill, which would urge the administration of Miami University to create a committee that would investigate the livability of Miami's current wages for classified staff.
According to Carol Hauser, Miami's senior director for human resources, classified staff is defined as employees who are paid hourly and are overtime eligible, such as employees in Housing, Dining and Guest Services.
Currently, entry-level classified staff at Miami are paid $9 an hour according to Hauser. When SFS originally came before ASG Nov. 27, they urged the importance of establishing a "living wage" for staff- a number the Oxford Family Resource Center estimates to be $12.45 an hour for a single wage home with two dependents in Oxford.
However, Hauser claimed differently when she had the floor at student senate, in response to SFS's bill.
"We don't just pick salaries out of the air," she said. "I think our classified staff is paid a fair wage."
Hauser pointed out that Miami has never had staff layoffs, offers perks like college tuition for staff and their family members after a certain period of time with the university and offers job enrichment packages like wage raises and bonuses every two years. Additionally, Hauser called Miami the "employer of choice" in Oxford, pointing out that every time a staff position opens up, 25 people apply.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
Sam D.
posted 12/08/07 @ 3:46 AM EST
I'm a little baffled at this article and the Students for Staff organization as a whole. Beyond the completely democratically-incompatible principles of the organization (essentially preaching socialism), there is one major flaw in the organization's argument that sticks out among NUMEROUS. (Continued…)
Ben K
posted 12/08/07 @ 1:51 PM EST
I can understand why any student reading this article would have a distorted and unrealistic perception of how much a living wage policy would affect their tuition. (Continued…)
JoeS
posted 12/09/07 @ 6:40 PM EST
"I can understand why any student reading this article would have a distorted and unrealistic perception of how much a living wage policy would affect their tuition. (Continued…)
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