This is an archive of emails sent to sgwu-announce from January to March 2025.

2025-03-29: What to do if your visa is at risk + seeking allies for international students

SGWU condemns the State Department’s cancelling of student visas and shares resources on immigrants' rights.


SGWU condemns the State Department’s cancelling of student visas. This is an attack on free speech.

Dear Graduate Workers,

This morning, we received reports that hundreds of international students across the US received emails from the Department of State cancelling their student visas and urging them to self-deport after accusations of sharing activist content on their social media. SGWU condemns this action in the strongest possible terms and stands ready to defend international students and workers at Stanford. We are establishing a pool of volunteers with US citizenship to provide on-the-ground support for international students at risk - sign up here(sgwu.us/s/steward).

If you received the visa cancellation email, or think you may be in danger, we urge you to proactively contact the ACLU of Northern California here. If you are a current Stanford student, you can request a consultation/referral to legal service providers from the law school’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic. The San Mateo County Bar Association can refer you to an attorney and the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area provides legal consultations.

For those who are travelling over spring break: if you are referred to secondary inspection while entering the US or refused boarding for a US bound flight, immediately follow the steps on immigration.stanford.edu/emergency-contact.

Additionally, SGWU can support you in practical matters such as talking to your advisor and department or finding a buddy to check in with you. You can reach us at contact@sgwu.us or use our anonymous comment form to share alternate contact information such as a Signal phone number.

Be prepared

Our contract and our community protections

Article 13: International Graduate Workers of our contract protects your appointment in the event that you are unable to return to the United States or ineligible to work. Further, under Section E:

The University affirms its commitment to supporting all Graduate Workers, regardless of their immigration status, to the extent permitted by law. The University shall not release information regarding Graduate Worker immigration status to the Department of Homeland Security unless legally required to do so.

Additionally, our rank-and-file members have written a letter to Stanford leadership urging Stanford to protect the information and employment of international graduate students, honor our funding guarantees and the Weiland Health Initiative for LGBTQ workers, and stand up for academic freedom. If this is important to you, please sign the letter here (sgwu.us/s/letter).

In solidarity,

SGWU



2025-03-27: Letter to Stanford leadership, rally against research funding cuts, next GMM

Sign a letter urging Stanford leadership to protect graduate students and academic freedom. Rally against funding cuts to healthcare, research and education on Tuesday 4/8.


TL;DR:

  • Sign a letter urging Stanford leadership to protect graduate students and academic freedom.
  • Rally against funding cuts to healthcare, research and education on Tuesday 4/8. Please RSVP here.
  • Keep signing our petition against the mail fee, aka Stanford’s sneaky rent increase.
  • Our next GMM is Thursday 4/17 at 6pm. Submit issues to bring up here and scroll below for the agenda.

Dear Graduate Workers,

This is not an easy time to be a graduate worker. SGWU is actively organizing against recent funding cuts and attacks on higher education.

Our rank-and-file members have written a letter to Stanford leadership, urging Stanford to protect the information and employment of international graduate students, honor our funding guarantees and the Weiland Health Initiative for LGBTQ workers, and stand up for academic freedom. If this is important to you, please sign the letter here (sgwu.us/s/letter). This letter will be delivered privately — we will not publicly release the names of signatories to protect your information.

SGWU will join the national day of action, Kill the Cuts, on April 8th against funding cuts to healthcare, research and education. The rally, will feature speakers from labor organizers, students, researchers, and patient advocates. Please RSVP here (sgwu.us/s/kill-the-cuts) so we can keep you updated as details for the rally are confirmed.

Finally, our next General Membership Meeting is on April 17th. The meeting agenda is below, and as always, you can submit issues to discuss at the meeting.

In solidarity,

SGWU

———————————————————

4/17 General Membership Meeting Agenda

  • Ratification of Standing Committees (Communications, Data and Tech, Membership Building)
  • Election of Area Chief Stewards for vacant seats
  • Steward and Assistant Area Chief Steward election procedures
  • Membership vote on joining UE Conference Board for labor organizing in higher education
  • Ongoing discussion for the anti mail fee campaign


2025-03-16: Immigration Resources for International Graduate Workers

SGWU is pulling resources together in response to the federal [registration](https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration) requirement and possible [travel bans](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/politics/trump-travel-ban.html) and student [visa revocations](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/rubio-says-us-revoke-more-student-visas-coming-days-2025-03-14/)


TL;DR:

Dear Graduate Workers,

SGWU is actively working on resources for international graduate workers in light of the newly announced registration requirement, proposed travel bans and possible student visa revocations by the Trump administration.

  • Stanford Law School Immigrants’ Rights Clinic will offer an information session for Stanford community members on Tuesday, March 18 from 3-4pm. Please register here.
  • Article 13: International Graduate Workers of our contract protects your appointment in the event that you are unable to return to the United States or ineligible to work. Further, under Section E:
    • The University affirms its commitment to supporting all Graduate Workers, regardless of their immigration status, to the extent permitted by law. The University shall not release information regarding Graduate Worker immigration status to the Department of Homeland Security unless legally required to do so.
    • Know-your-rights guides are available from the ACLU and the Stanford Immigrants’ Rights Clinic
    • A collection of Stanford, local and national legal resources are available at this link.
    • Stanford’s immigration landing page can point you to official Stanford resources
    • Stanford has not yet declared itself a sanctuary campus, but SGWU is actively organizing for Stanford to do so.

We recognize that this is not an easy time for international graduate workers. No matter what, SGWU has your back. Please do not hesitate to reach out to contact at sgwu.us with any concerns or additional helpful resources that we can share with our campus community.

In solidarity, SGWU



2025-03-12: Fight the Mail Fee! Meeting TODAY 6PM w/ Free Pizza, Social Afterward

Please [RSVP](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe89Cxi0zhjchHFNyf_u3DAVkUPbPUnOmnXxGnqgauyefnbmg/viewform) to the General Membership Meeting (GMM) today, 6pm. Pizza will be served, including vegan and gluten-free choices. We will also have SGWU stickers and T-shirts!


TL;DR:

  • Please RSVP to the General Membership Meeting (GMM) today, 6pm. Pizza will be served, including vegan and gluten-free choices. We will also have SGWU stickers and T-shirts!
  • Sign our petition against R&DE’s new mail fee and come to the GMM to help us plan our fight against it.
  • Catch us at Ray’s Grill after the GMM for a union social!

Dear Graduate Workers,

Over 450 of you have signed our petition against R&DE’s new mail fee! But we all know from bargaining that a petition won’t be enough to move Stanford. We’ll be planning our fight against this fee at the General Membership Meeting today and you are all invited!

When/where: 6pm March 12 in EVGR-C Theatre (room 134) and on Zoom (you must RSVP to receive the Zoom link).

Agenda:

  1. Pizza! Including vegan and gluten-free choices. Please RSVP so we get enough. We will also have SGWU T-shirts for pickup ($10 each) and stickers (free).
  2. Swear in your new Local Executive Board and Trustees
  3. Call for members to join the Communications, Data and Tech, and Membership Building committees.
  4. Plan our fight against Stanford’s new mail fee (a rent increase in disguise).
  5. Other topics of interest to our membership.
  6. Social at Ray’s Grill (expect us around 7pm, look for SGWU T-shirts)

In solidarity, SGWU



2025-03-11: SGWU Stands With Free Speech

Protest today, March 11 against the illegal arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University.


Graduate workers,

Last weekend, ICE agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University at the time of the Palestine Solidarity Encampments last year, who had played a prominent role in the protests. Authorities have reportedly revoked his green card and are attempting to deport him.

Mahmoud has committed no crime other than exercising his free speech. This arrest is completely illegal and sets a precedent which poses a grave danger to the safety and security of all graduate workers across the country, and our fundamental rights. We stand in solidarity with those calling for his release, and demand Stanford refuse to cooperate with attempts by federal authorities to illegally and criminally arrest any members of our campus community for exercising their first amendment rights.

Today at 2:00 pm there is a protest at White Plaza. We urge you all to participate to send a strong message against such forms of repression. We highly recommend you attend this protest with a mask, especially if you are an international student.

In solidarity,

SGWU Interim Grievance Committee & Local Executive Board-Elect



2025-03-10: Join us at 3/12 GMM + Say no to Stanford’s new mail fee

Stanford’s new mail fee is effectively a rent increase. [Sign our petition](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOVZnwKDmT1ATTJpAejiNaOopr5QmnxhKwye53QGCUSNluVQ/viewform) against the new mail fee now! We will discuss the new mail fee and swear in our new local executive board at the next GMM at 6pm, Wed 3/12, in EVGR-C Theatre (Room 134)


TL;DR:

  • Stanford’s new mail fee is effectively a rent increase. Sign our petition against the new mail fee now!
  • We will discuss the new mail fee and swear in our new local executive board at the next GMM at 6pm, Wed 3/12, in EVGR-C Theatre (Room 134)
  • Please RSVP here. Pizza will be served + social to follow!

Dear Graduate Workers,

Congratulations on electing your new local executive board!

We’re looking forward to swearing in our new leaders at our next General Membership Meeting at 6pm on Wednesday, March 12 in EVGR-C Theatre (Room 134). Pizza will be served, with a happy hour at Ray’s Grill to follow :)

Please RSVP for the GMM here. A Zoom link will also be circulated shortly before the meeting for everyone who has RSVP’d.

As a preview for the GMM, the new Local Executive board will discuss setting up new Standing Committees (e.g. Communications, Data and Tech, Membership Building) to run the day-to-day operations of our union. If you’re interested in getting involved, you can request to join our slack here and come to the GMM to learn more about these committees.

Finally, we think that Stanford’s new mail fee for graduate workers that live on campus is just a de facto rent increase. Sign our petition against the new mail fee here and come to the GMM to discuss further actions we can take against this fee.

In solidarity, SGWU



2025-03-05: Stand Up for Science Carpools; Signmaking Today; Election and GMM Reminder

This week's events include the SGWU Board and Trustees Elections, the Stand Up for Science rally on Friday 3/7 and the General Membership Meeting on Wednesday 3/12.


This week’s events

  • TODAY, 3/5: Stand Up for Science Sign-making party: 6-7:30PM in the Graduate Community Center
  • Thursday 3/6: SGWU Exec Board and Trustees Elections close at 11:59 PM PT
  • Friday 3/7: Stand Up for Science Rally! Come to San Francisco, Sacramento or (new!) Palo Alto. We’re organizing FREE TRANSIT to SF and Sacramento: sign up here before Thursday 5pm!
  • Wednesday 3/12: General Membership Meeting 6-7pm - our newly elected leadership will be sworn in here! Please RSVP

Graduate workers!

We have a busy week, so let’s get to it.

Todaywe will have a sign-making party for the Stand Up for Science rally on Friday. We’ll supply snacks and all the materials. If you’re on the fence about attending Stand Up for Science, you’re welcome to stop by and talk to our organizers!

Elections for our new Executive Board and Trustees close Thursday 11:59PM PT.If you signed a union card by March 1st, you can vote! Look for ballots from OpaVote in your inbox.

Stand Up for Science is this Friday! This is a nationwide rally in support of the federal research funding that makes our work possible. Even if your department doesn’t rely on federal funding directly, much of Stanford’s infrastructure is supported by these grants. Federal research funding affects us all. Join grads, undergrads, postdocs and faculty to defend it!

Transportation costs (gas and parking) for travel to SF or Sacramento are being sponsored by Stanford Biotech Group and Stanford Students in Biodesign- sign up at tinyurl.com/stanford-science-carpool for FREE transit.

Stand Up for Science locations:

Sacramento, CA, Capitol Mall - West Side

Friday, March 7th. 12pm - 4pm PST

Sacramento official sign up here (not required)

San Francisco CA, Civic Center

Friday, March 7th. 1pm-3pm PST

SF official sign up here (not required)

Palo Alto CA, Lytton Plaza

Friday, March 7th. 12-2pm PST

This is a smaller, unofficial rally for people who can’t make it to Sacramento or SF

Finally, next Wednesday 3/12 we will have a General Membership Meeting at 6PM in EVGR C 134 to swear in our newly-elected Executive Board and Trustees. Please RSVP to help us plan the meeting!

We hope to see you at some (or all) of these events!

In solidarity,

Your Contract Action Team and Interim Grievance Committee



2025-03-02: Election Town Hall Tomorrow

Our election begins tomorrow (Monday) March 3! Meet the candidates at the town hall tomorrow, 4pm via Zoom.


Dear graduate workers,

We hope this email finds you well! This is a reminder that our election begins tomorrow (Monday). An OpaVote ballot will be sent to all members of the union on March 1st.

Our town hall will be tomorrow (Monday) at 4PM via Zoom. You’ll be able to hear from candidates and ask them questions.

We will send the Zoom link, along with the candidates’ statements, tomorrow morning to members of the union. Become a member by signing a card at sgwu.us/card to attend the town hall.

Best, SGWU Election Committee (Chris, Parth, Amanpreet)