Stopping the GOP tax bill isn’t a burden that should rest on Syracuse University

When it comes to the Republican tax bill, Syracuse University administrators and students are on the same page: They’re both against measures that would make graduate school less affordable.

Chancellor Kent Syverud showed his disagreement with the bill by sending a letter to Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), asking him to consider the negative effects the bill could have on the university. Graduate students showed their dismay with the bill by protesting in front of Hendricks Chapel on Wednesday.

But Katko still voted for the bill, which passed the House of Representatives and is now headed to the Senate for reconciliation. And with New York’s two Democratic senators essentially guaranteed to vote the bill down, there’s not much more SU can do to lobby the government against it.

Some of Wednesday’s protesters seemed to disagree that the university could not do more. One protester asserted that SU should adjust stipends to compensate for the increased taxes graduate students would have to pay if the bill became law.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board does not have enough financial information to argue that SU should increase stipends, and wage negotiations based on the bill’s measures will not be necessary unless it passes the Senate. These harmful measures only appear in the House’s version of the bill, and considering the Senate hasn’t passed its own version, it’s too early for graduate students to make demands of the university.

And in the end, SU isn’t directly responsible for whether the bill passes. It should only be responsible for protecting its students’ best interests.

Students should realize that SU administrators did act in the interest of the university’s graduate students. They lobbied Syracuse’s congressman, laid out how the bill would hurt the university and let students know exactly what was communicated to Katko. Students should value this transparency and continue to expect it from the university whenever administrators speaks on their behalf.

The Daily Orange Editorial Board serves as the voice of the organization and aims to contribute the perspectives of students to discussions that concern Syracuse University and the greater Syracuse community. The editorial board’s stances are determined by a majority of its members. You can read more about the editorial board here.