The Aug. 14 decision by MU to cut graduate student health
insurance prompted hundreds of students to organize and submit a list of demands. The
demands included reinstating health insurance, which has happened but will last only one year. Other demands were that students must be paid a living wage, full tuition waivers,
permanent fully subsidized health care, more affordable university run student housing,
university run childcare facilities and the elimination of departmental fees. They set a deadline of
Aug. 25 at 5 p.m. for their demands to be met or they would walk out.

Nearly 1,000 graduate students and their supporters
walked out of class and held a rally at Traditions Plaza on Aug. 26. The students chanted slogans
condemning the university’s policy of giving raises to Chancellor Loftin and athletic coaches
while taking away their basic benefits. Many students and faculty members spoke about how
their lives had been affected by the changes and expressed what they wanted from the
university to make it right.