General Discussion

man4allcats

(4,026 posts)

121. I am in a similar situation.

Thu Sep 19, 2013, 04:47 PM

Sep 2013

I worked for 16 years as a biomedical research tech before being summarily booted out the door at the age of 62 with nothing to show for it (I started my graduate studies late so I didn't get into research until I was in my late 40s). I'm now 65 and driving a truck part-time for a small company while collecting what little I can from Social Security at a reduced monthly rate because I opted to start drawing benefits early. Of late I've been wondering what will happen to me down the road. I'm struggling now, and unless something changes I expect things will only get worse. This poor woman's story may serve as a prelude for the future of myself and many others in similar situations. Someone down thread mentioned trying to fill the gap with online business ventures. I am working toward something similar since I am reasonably well versed in such matters. Hopefully that will pan out. If not, I see the future looking disconcertingly bleak for me.

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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