Email Template
Jenny Martinez (Provost): provost@stanford.edu
Robert C. Reidy (VP of Land, Buildings and Real Estate): rcr@stanford.edu
Erin Efner (Associate VP, Land Use and Environmental Planning): etefner@stanford.edu
Jean G. Snider (AVP, Real Estate Operations): jsnider@stanford.edu
Stanford Mail and Package Services: mailandpackageservices@stanford.edu
Dear [NAME],
I am a graduate worker living in [HOUSING TYPE] and I am writing to express my concern regarding the new mail fee for graduate workers living in on-campus housing.
The mail fee would significantly increase my financial stress because of [REASON]. Furthermore, it would make it more inconvenient for me to receive packages because of [ REASON].
Stanford published its upcoming graduate housing rates as part of its negotiations with SGWU and stated those rates would not change. I believe this mail fee–– which we are required to pay–– is a de facto rent increase for graduate workers already struggling with the high cost of living and an attempt to weasel out of Stanford’s published commitment.
Furthermore, I believe there are ways to reduce truck volume and incentivize responsible use without adding stress to already rent-burdened graduate workers. I’ve spoken to my coworkers and have also collected their experiences, for example [ADD SOMETHING FROM BELOW].
Signed,
[YOUR NAME]
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STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
“The mail fee is an underhanded way to raise rent after Stanford and the SGWU came to an agreement on rent control.”
“Stanford grad workers are already living below the poverty line. We can't afford to have Stanford implementing random fees and siphoning more from our wages. “
“A required housing fee should be accompanied by an equivalent rise in stipend.”
“Last year I experienced an injury that prevented me from walking for 2 months. I relied on necessities like toiletries being delivered to my unit. Preventing deliveries to individual units places an undue burden on individuals with mobility restrictions.”
“This “zero emissions” policy is a manipulative way for the university to squeeze more money out of graduate students”
“I am a wheelchair user. Getting things from a package center to my home would be incredibly challenging.”
“The additional cost, given the existing increases to rent, will be challenging for my family.”
“Stanford has yet again forced a fee on us that we cannot waive or opt-out of. Receiving packages to our home addresses is a basic need that Stanford is seeking to monetize.”
“The new proposed mail system does not seem like it will necessarily reduce emissions or streamline package delivery to graduate residences, and even if it does, graduate students should not have to bear the cost.”
“I’m tired of the constant price gouging and rent increases at Stanford for low quality housing”
“It is Stanford’s responsibility to ensure timely and secure mail delivery. If they haven’t adequately planned for the volume of students, they need to solve this problem themselves, instead of attempting to increase rent through hidden fees after already setting the rate.”
“Mail isn’t a bonus amenity, it’s a fundamental and legally required component of housing.”
“Where does Stanford think that I should find more money to pay them for these new and arbitrary fees? Are they raising my pay? No.”
“Stanford students need to order packages because Stanford public transit is a myth. The Marguerite shuttles barely run on weekends, off-peak hours and never on holidays. If you don’t have a car, you’re going to need amazon prime.”
“Stanford should achieve net zero by being smarter at landscaping, not scrapping graduate workers' basic right to receiving packages.”
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