Graduate school problems resonate throughout university

Few schools in this university have as many connections as the graduate school - members of its 10,000-strong student body serve as assistants in teaching and research apart from their studies. What we have witnessed however, is an increasingly hostile graduate environment that needs to be answered with boosted resources and attention.

Monday, Graduate Student Government President Laura Moore addressed the University Senate on the significant burdens teaching assistants deal with, citing, among other issues, an unreasonable workload as a result of oversubscribed undergraduate classes and uncompetitive compensation packages compared to peer universities.

If anyone thought the undergraduate housing situation was bad, they should consider this: Graduate housing is also available to only 475 graduate students, roughly 5 percent of graduate students, and it comes in at a hefty $900 a month. Graduate students are cited as spending up to 90 percent of their stipends on housing, leading to a simple conclusion - either stipends should be raised, housing should be made more accessible, or both.

The consequences of a mediocre graduate experience will have far-ranging effects on the university. As talent begins to drift away toward more welcoming universities, not only will undergraduate students suffer from a lower quality of instruction, professors will lack bright students assisting with research. And of course, the graduate programs themselves will suffer.

Newly appointed graduate school dean Charles Caramello has an immediate responsibility to address the flagging quality of the school, which has existed without an official head for years. Caramello told The Diamondback he has spent the past few months getting up to speed, and we understand the need to consider and strategize before acting. But the grace period is over. Graduate students serve as crucial members to every aspect of the institution and the university needs to do more to keep the best and brightest from turning away.