Hardship Fund for Columbia Academic Workers

*Update: please note that the "beneficiary" is simply the point person in charge of withdrawing and disbursing the funds. We're still figuring out the best process for doing this in a transparent manner, but it will likely be in the form of a  Google Form which will be distributed to all grad workers and non-tenure track faculty members at Columbia, allowing people to request funds up to a certain amount. You can also email [email redacted] if you're an academic worker and would like to request funds.*

Universities with capital and power across the country have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by offsetting its costs onto those who are least ready to bear it.

Columbia has refused to offer any form of rent relief to graduate workers living in University Apartment Housing, and no protections or guarantees for academic workers who are faced with the prospect of unemployment at a time of nationwide hiring freezes across academia. 

We need to be pressuring Columbia to use its massive endowment to reduce these financial burdens that academic workers are facing. Graduate workers are currently on strike and need our support, as do all academic workers (including non-tenure-track faculty) facing uncertainty in this crisis.

We're starting up a hardship fund to help support Columbia academic workers in this struggle, as well as other campus workers facing job insecurity or reduced pay. We welcome all donations from students or supporters who are able to donate in these difficult times.