ALT Dear fellow members of the Academic Senate, We the undersigned faculty with this letter unequivocally express our support for graduate students regarding concerns that have been raised in the current strike such as the ongoing financial crisis due to increasing costs of living. Beyond being a necessary adjustment to better match costs of living, we are confident that in the long term increased financial support for graduate students will broadly benefit the academic community in terms of research, teaching, and equity. Graduate students are central to the university's research and teaching missions and a vital part of our academic community. We agree with the students that a system-wide solution for this crisis is desperately needed.

ALT At the same time, we also want to ensure that the University's solutions do not cause unnecessary hardship for graduate students in the intermediate term. For example, solutions that result in a reduction in the number of employment opportunities available via TAships or GSRs would have serious negative consequences for the existing cohort of students. Thus, we appeal to the Senate to ensure effective solutions to this long term crisis also minimize impacts to existing graduate students in the near term. As faculty we are optimistic that as a community we can find solutions that equitably support graduate students in both the short and long term. Sincerely, The undersigned faculty of the University of California