Afternoon Update: Lecturer quits after learning her TA would be paid more than she was

Whether grad-student unions will change everything; former grad student is convicted of murdering U. of Arizona professor; protest updates; and more. ADVERTISEMENT [Afternoon Update Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. 'THERE’S SOME KIND OF MISTAKE' [After Learning Her TA Would Be Paid More Than She Was, This Lecturer Quit]( By Adrienne Lu [STORY IMAGE]( Labor activism has graduate teaching assistants out-earning some faculty members in the University of California system. ADVERTISEMENT ADVICE [Will Graduate-Student Unions Change Everything?]( By Leonard Cassuto [STORY IMAGE]( How collective bargaining is already starting to alter the landscape of doctoral education. CAMPUS SAFETY [Former U. of Arizona Student Is Convicted of Murder in 2022 Shooting of Professor]( A jury deliberated briefly before finding Murad Dervish, a 48-year-old former graduate student, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Thomas Meixner, chair of the department of hydrology and atmospheric sciences. The shooting, near his office, occurred after Dervish was expelled. [The crime]( prompted [criticism]( of [UA’s response]( to [warnings]( about Dervish. (Associated Press, The Chronicle) STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS [New Report Details Higher Ed’s Racial and Ethnic Disparities]( Such disparities in enrollment and degree completion persist despite increasing student diversity, according to a [new report]( from the American Council on Education. For searchable campus-by-campus data on such diversity, see [this recent Chronicle project](. (Higher Ed Dive) IN THE COURTS [Whistle-Blower Over ‘Ghost Courses’ at Western Washington U. Wins Nearly $3 Million]( A county jury last week found that Antonia Allen, a former director of the university’s internal-auditor office, had been fired for investigating and reporting that staff and faculty members in the College of Education were giving dozens of students credit for attending classes they were actually skipping. The fraud allowed them to obtain federal student aid. (The Seattle Times) CAMPUS UNREST [Police Clear Pro-Palestinian Student Encampment at U. of Michigan]( Santa J. Ono, president of the Ann Arbor campus, said he had summoned law enforcement over persistent safety concerns, disruption of classes and other events, vandalism, and protests that spread to regents’ homes. The raid early Tuesday resulted in at least four arrests and sent at least two students to the hospital, a protester said. (The Detroit News) THE ALTERNATIVE I [Wesleyan U. Students Agree to Clear Pro-Palestinian Encampment]( The move followed an agreement with the Connecticut university under which its president explained its investments in detail and the protesters will meet with and propose changes to the Wesleyan board’s investment committee. The protesters also agreed not to disrupt commencement or reunions, and the university said no students would face discipline. (NBC News) THE ALTERNATIVE II [Student Protesters Reach Deal With Bard College and End Building Occupation]( Pro-Palestinian protesters’ weekend-long occupation of the New York college’s main administration building concluded peacefully on Sunday. Under the deal, Bard agreed to support challenges of policies that forbid Israel boycotts or that limit speech. The college also agreed, among other things, to fully disclose details of its endowment. (Times Union) OUTSIDE PRESSURE [Business Titans Privately Urged NYC Mayor to Use Police on Columbia Protesters]( Billionaires and other tycoons seeking to shape American public opinion of the Gaza war pressed Mayor Eric Adams of New York last month to have the police disperse pro-Palestinian protesters at the university, according to communications obtained by The Washington Post and people familiar with the group. It happened days before the [second police raid]( at Columbia. CAMPUS SAFETY [Kennesaw State U. Student Is Fatally Shot in Front of Residence Hall]( The victim of the Saturday shooting, Alasia Franklin, was seeking to become a nurse practitioner. The Georgia university said the suspect is not a student and has been charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. 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