In the wake of University of Maryland graduate students launching a unionization drive, undergraduate students also reflect on their current working conditions and pay. Many undergraduate TAs don’t feel their close to minimum wage salary properly reflects the grueling effort they put into their jobs. Because of this, some TAs on campus have started to ask for tips from students to supplement their income.

“I can’t even ask a question about my projects without being asked to answer a little question on my TA’s iPad,” remarks Computer Science student Doug N. Shower, who tried attending his class’s office hours. He added, “I feel like I’m going to fail the class if I don’t offer at least two or three dollars!”

Some student groups have raised that this is yet another way that students’ tuition rates are inflating, with these tips being an additional hidden cost for students. Others remark that these tips are necessary to provide TAs with a living wage and that refusing to tip is tantamount to robbery. Several professors are showing solidarity with the TAs by passing around collection baskets during lectures.

This came to a head during a protest on McKeldin Mall filled with students wielding signs that read, “You can’t have my tip.” Counter-protesters shortly arrived, and the scene quickly escalated to a mob. Before UMPD arrived, Shower was seen being thrown into the fountain after his TA called him out for not giving him a tip during their last office hours.

In response to the outrage, the University announced that all TAs would be laid off effective immediately. After contacting the University for comment, a spokesperson responded to the layoffs by mentioning that they “used to be able to buy a house and support a family” on their $1-an-hour wage and that the decision was made because the TAs “weren’t being grateful enough” for their generous salary. They added that all the money previously spent on the TA salaries has now been redirected to a new construction project expected to never be completed.

Image Credits: Zachary Robinson