Duke’s Graduate Students Union (DGSU) has petitioned the university to accelerate the release of a promised $500 payment on the first day of classes. They also cited Durham’s increasing cost of living for paid parking passes. DGSU co-chair Matthew Thomas explained, “Graduate students are moving to Durham for their first year and taking on huge relocation costs, moving from other cities, and they have to pay their first month’s rent, and they get that first paycheck in August, but that may not be enough to cover everything.” Paula McClain, the graduate school’s dean had already approved a one-time $500 payment to “all active Ph.D. students in fall 2022” to address these concerns.
