March 10, 2021
Yesterday, UCSD administration announced extreme increases in rental rates for campus graduate housing starting July 1, 2021. They are planning:
- a 3% increase for current renters
- an increase of up to 72% above current rates for new renters
These increases are so high that Housing, Dining, & Hospitality (HDH) is telling graduate students that, to obtain affordable housing, they will have to double up in a single room, despite their claim that campus housing is affordable and predictable.
Campus housing was already too expensive compared to the average income of a graduate student. This additional increase in rent is unacceptable — as is asking graduate students to double up during a pandemic. The TA union, UAW 2865, has begun a petition to oppose these rent increases, and to end rent burden for Student Workers at UCSD once and for all.
Student Researchers can fight these increases by taking the following actions:
- Sign the petition in opposition to the rent increases
- Attend the UAW West Coast Housing Justice Conference today at 5PM
- Attend HDH’s town hall on Thursday, from 6-8PM, and make your voice heard about these unbearable rent increases
Together, Academic Workers can stop these increases and win safe, affordable campus housing.
In solidarity,
Bill Connacher
Graduate Student Researcher
UCSD Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
PS – You can also fight these proposed rate increases by helping to build Student Researchers United. If you have friends and coworkers who haven’t yet signed a union authorization card, they can now sign a card online here.