General Discussion

Divernan

(15,480 posts)

38. Atty. had represented her pro bono; women born in 1930 unlikely to have been big earners.

Thu Sep 19, 2013, 09:07 AM

Sep 2013

Keep in mind she was 83 - and how very hard it must have been for her to keep working, NEVER MISSING A CLASS, even when undergoing earlier cancer treatments.

Maybe at some point she DID have a regular job with health insurance - but not for the last TWENTY FIVE years. I do know she was never married, so never a joint income to help with costs. She had a degree in French, for god's sake = no big employment prospects there. And she was a woman who lived in a world & time where women were grossly underpaid. (Lily Ledbetter?) And perhaps, like me, she had managed to save money for her retirement, but lost it in the financial bubble crash debacle of 2007-8.

The adjuncts at Duquesne voted last year, overwhelmingly to unionize, but the university is fighting it. I am delighted that her story is being told and hope it is the lever for change. Pittsburghers are outraged and sickened, I know.

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Underpaid 83-Year-Old Professor Died Trying to Make Ends Meet by Working Night Shift at Eat an' Save [View all] xchrom Sep 2013 OP

That's the new America hobbit709 Sep 2013 #1

America is now the new Former Soviet Union. leveymg Sep 2013 #33

"Upper Volta with missles" is how many in the former USSR described what was left of their society.. eppur_se_muova Sep 2013 #79

The cars in Moscow now tend to be newer and pricier than in Washington, D.C. leveymg Sep 2013 #89

I've started noticing less traffic in KC recently. LongTomH Sep 2013 #91

I prefer Spain nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #101

Spot on. nt awoke_in_2003 Sep 2013 #127

It appears to be on that path... grillo7 Sep 2013 #154

At least she wasn't a useless eater. Enthusiast Sep 2013 #76

25 years as a professor and nothing... RedCappedBandit Sep 2013 #2

That is about the same place I am... prairierose Sep 2013 #78

I abandoned the non-tenure, LTE instructor treadmill 30 years ago. Jackpine Radical Sep 2013 #88

Well, I am finally trying to get myself out of this mess.... prairierose Sep 2013 #110

i've always admired entrepreneurs shireen Sep 2013 #146

I am really lucky.... prairierose Sep 2013 #147

I am in a similar situation. man4allcats Sep 2013 #121

Yes, I am afraid that many of us.... prairierose Sep 2013 #145

Dusquesne should be proud . orpupilofnature57 Sep 2013 #3

Dusquesne should see a MASSIVE loss of student population... Moostache Sep 2013 #24

Students are first-generation college Catholics who couldn't get in at Notre Dame/Georgetown. Divernan Sep 2013 #41

Why? The rest of the schools treat their profs the same way nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #102

Classic case of a victim of neo-liberalism malaise Sep 2013 #4

Until The American People Have Had Enough - Things Won't Change cantbeserious Sep 2013 #10

Not just the American people malaise Sep 2013 #16

Try calling a Neoliberal a Neoliberal when you talk with them nikto Sep 2013 #28

You're right malaise Sep 2013 #29

A lot of Neoliberals are liberals about social issues, but are me-firsters on taxes and economics. leveymg Sep 2013 #35

+1 nt Live and Learn Sep 2013 #83

you mean the people who used to be called rockefeller republicans? madrchsod Sep 2013 #108

I find that close to 100% of people object to labels with which they do not self-identify stevenleser Sep 2013 #52

It's always incremental, so that people not immediately affected SoCalDem Sep 2013 #98

You nailed it malaise Sep 2013 #107

... Lucinda Sep 2013 #5

It's one of Big Brother's three great slogans . . . another_liberal Sep 2013 #6

How do you draw that conclusion? enlightenment Sep 2013 #48

Read what I posted again. It was not in reference to her skills, but the system now in place another_liberal Sep 2013 #106

If you say so. enlightenment Sep 2013 #109

You clearly misunderstood my meaning. another_liberal Sep 2013 #122

From my own experience tomg Sep 2013 #7

This malaise Sep 2013 #18

Yup, here is San Diego nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #105

my union represents our lecturers just as it represents our tenure line faculty.... mike_c Sep 2013 #111

Absolutely spot on. tomg Sep 2013 #135

Excellent. As a fellow (junior) academic I think you are spot on. anneboleyn Sep 2013 #150

This should be on the news for public outcry in your area barbiegeek Sep 2013 #8

Post-Gazette has received over 1,000 outraged comments from readers. Divernan Sep 2013 #17

Undergrad tuition at Duquesne runs from $29k-$43k. QC Sep 2013 #9

I keep wondering where exactly all the money for tuition goes? quakerboy Sep 2013 #152

This is absolutely the norm ColumbusLib Sep 2013 #11

Right marions ghost Sep 2013 #43

Adjuncts are seen as cheap labor nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #93

Absolutely terrible TxDemChem Sep 2013 #12

Makes one proud of the USA! Ain't American the best place in the world! Go USA! Go USA! Go USA! RKP5637 Sep 2013 #13

America! Fuck Yeah!! hatrack Sep 2013 #14

Your sarcasm is entirely appropriate nikto Sep 2013 #155

Fired for caught sleeping in her office to keep warm; unable to pay electric bill. Divernan Sep 2013 #15

Wonder the Pope thinks of THIS? Moostache Sep 2013 #26

Hope this story gets enough publicity to come to his attention. Divernan Sep 2013 #31

How very cruel and unfeeling heaven05 Sep 2013 #50

This is such a horrific story. area51 Sep 2013 #153

My sister is an adjunct onlyadream Sep 2013 #19

k/r marmar Sep 2013 #20

Duquesne fighting unionization by adjuncts; claims religious exemption! Divernan Sep 2013 #21

It's a CATHOLIC COLLEGE? Le Taz Hot Sep 2013 #36

In name only - no priests involved in major roles there. Divernan Sep 2013 #39

So what is the Catholic affiliation? Le Taz Hot Sep 2013 #46

Founded by order of priests who no longer have enough members to operate or staff it. Divernan Sep 2013 #57

"One of the nation's top Catholic univerisities." Le Taz Hot Sep 2013 #61

By describing the school as Catholic in name only, I mean that neither administration nor faculty Divernan Sep 2013 #67

I teach at a Jesuit university, we have a really strong union, which the admin encouraged. diane in sf Sep 2013 #130

Right on, Jebbies! Good to hear. No reason except greed that Duquesne couldn't do this. Divernan Sep 2013 #132

Don't worry. AtheistCrusader Sep 2013 #112

AKA The Holy Ghost Fathers lapislzi Sep 2013 #90

Regardless of profession, income, work history... Alkene Sep 2013 #22

k&r Starry Messenger Sep 2013 #23

Penn State breathes sigh of relief; Duquesne now most reviled school in PA. Divernan Sep 2013 #25

Written by the attorney for the union trying to unionize the university... aikoaiko Sep 2013 #27

Her story... nikto Sep 2013 #30

Maybe so. aikoaiko Sep 2013 #40

A quarter of a century is not good enough My Good Babushka Sep 2013 #32

What is the right thing in this case? aikoaiko Sep 2013 #44

You don't use up My Good Babushka Sep 2013 #54

Ok, but I don't know what more to expect from part-time work on a semester contractual basis aikoaiko Sep 2013 #59

A severance package would have been a decent, honorable,"christian" thing to give her. Divernan Sep 2013 #60

That would be nice, but most universities don't offer severance packages to anyone. aikoaiko Sep 2013 #66

You asked what would be "right", not traditional or legally required. Divernan Sep 2013 #69

"Right" is also in the context of policy and how organizations treats other employees. aikoaiko Sep 2013 #71

Good for the attorney...What have you got against unions? whathehell Sep 2013 #37

Nothing, but I'm skeptical of obvious manipulation. aikoaiko Sep 2013 #42

It may be manipulation, but not necessarily..Do think the school is not doing "damage control"? whathehell Sep 2013 #119

which is why I mentioned "grain of salt" aikoaiko Sep 2013 #124

Atty. had represented her pro bono; women born in 1930 unlikely to have been big earners. Divernan Sep 2013 #38

good points marions ghost Sep 2013 #45

I think the university is being ridiculous to fight unionization. aikoaiko Sep 2013 #47

Egads! The fiendish cunning of these union lawyers and lobbyists!! hatrack Sep 2013 #49

Wow. enlightenment Sep 2013 #53

I welcome your ignore list since you are incapable of discussing issues. aikoaiko Sep 2013 #55

I think it's okay to ask questions, and look further into the story. Sheldon Cooper Sep 2013 #64

Is it wrong to point out that kiva Sep 2013 #95

I support adjuncts unionizing, but I still don't like to be manipulated. aikoaiko Sep 2013 #113

She was living on campus sammytko Sep 2013 #58

She died in her own front yard. Divernan Sep 2013 #68

Maybe she went back to get something? sammytko Sep 2013 #70

She lived "on campus" for a few weeks only, in a house with a priest & 3 seminarians. Divernan Sep 2013 #134

This message was self-deleted by its author sammytko Sep 2013 #136

Picture of Laval House towards middle of entry sammytko Sep 2013 #138

And your point is? Divernan Sep 2013 #140

It is a home for priests.. sammytko Sep 2013 #143

wow--just. . . .wow niyad Sep 2013 #81

It sickens me how we treat the Senior members of our Society Heather MC Sep 2013 #34

This is so sad....it is a disgrace that this poor woman was stripped of her dignity Theyletmeeatcake2 Sep 2013 #51

K&R, w/disgust and sadness. Thank you, xchrom. n/t OneGrassRoot Sep 2013 #56

So.... PopeOxycontinI Sep 2013 #62

This is the first post I read this morning. MuseRider Sep 2013 #63

i think you summed that up very well. nt xchrom Sep 2013 #65

They can't dispute the facts. Starry Messenger Sep 2013 #84

Why was she not on Social Security and Medicare? Brigid Sep 2013 #72

She may have been. Might not have been enough. Nt xchrom Sep 2013 #73

As a woman of 83, she may have always been seriously underpaid, so SoCalDem Sep 2013 #103

Somebody should spray paint Matthew 25:40 all over that campus, and the univ. Prez' car. n2doc Sep 2013 #74

There Must Be More to This Story? gussmith Sep 2013 #75

They made a statement on their facebook page. sammytko Sep 2013 #80

Facts gussmith Sep 2013 #86

How very sad jopacaco Sep 2013 #77

My heart just broke JustAnotherGen Sep 2013 #82

I worked at Duquesne from 1990�1992. Efilroft Sul Sep 2013 #85

I almost quit my MA due to similar shit nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #96

K&R - it is critical that we tell & re-tell these stories. nt TBF Sep 2013 #87

Agreed. MuseRider Sep 2013 #92

Would not happen in France tblue Sep 2013 #94

Covered by the "cloak of religion" the school probably gave little of no health benefits, no employe kelliekat44 Sep 2013 #97

Read this. nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #104

why was she not collecting social security? magical thyme Sep 2013 #99

You are SO wrong about social security! I'll repeat what I've posted elsewhere in this thread. Divernan Sep 2013 #137

Well excuse me for not knowing the specifics of Duquesne and other Catholic schools magical thyme Sep 2013 #144

Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses? The treadmill? The poor houses? Divernan Sep 2013 #156

I have considered teaching. nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #100

As several others have pointed out, SheilaT Sep 2013 #114

I myself am a "professional student". I love taking classes sammytko Sep 2013 #118

Weren't "non-profits" like Duquesne exempt from participatinag in Soc. Sec. until 1975? Divernan Sep 2013 #120

I have my Medicare Part A card, thank you very much. SheilaT Sep 2013 #148

Duquesne's Response on Facebook: Hissyspit Sep 2013 #115

The author of the original piece's response to Duquesne's reponse: Hissyspit Sep 2013 #116

"Not related to her employment status"?!?! The school fucking fired her! Divernan Sep 2013 #123

How about "reaching out to assist her" with health insurance, or better pay? hatrack Sep 2013 #133

Slimy, weasel-worded response. mn9driver Sep 2013 #139

"knew her well" and still, she was in desperate straits. laval house has several male seminary niyad Sep 2013 #158

Kick this out to the world..... glinda Sep 2013 #117

After I received my PhD... KansDem Sep 2013 #125

Unlike Duquesne, Georgetown U.cites Catholic Church's teachings as favoring labor unions. Divernan Sep 2013 #126

I read this yesterday in the Post Gazette. blue neen Sep 2013 #128

So right re Medicare, and they also think Social Security is at least $1,000 a month. Divernan Sep 2013 #141

Yep. Right there at UPMC, the hospital system that is tax exempt. blue neen Sep 2013 #142

That's the reality of academia in the US Helen Borg Sep 2013 #129

Let her die!! pitbullgirl1965 Sep 2013 #131

Duquesne is a Catholic University! AnnieBW Sep 2013 #149

The priest who officiated at her funeral was not from Duquesne. Divernan Sep 2013 #157

the original story was heartbreaking enough, but hearing about the funeral is beyond sad and niyad Sep 2013 #159

such a sad story Liberal_in_LA Sep 2013 #151