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UCLA professor says he’s homeless due to low pay (ktla.com)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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In a now-viral TikTok video, Dr. Daniel McKeown, a professor at UCLA, claims low pay has left him homeless, shocking many of his followers.

“Hi everyone, my name is Daniel, and I’m an astrophysics professor at UCLA. I’m only being paid $70,000 for this academic year,” McKeown says in the video.

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McKeown, listed as a lecturer on UCLA’s website, says he had to move out of his apartment because he could no longer afford the rent.

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When asked why he doesn’t teach elsewhere, McKeown said, “I refuse to stop teaching. Teaching my students is my absolute passion. UCLA is a top university for physics.”

McKeown holds a Ph.D. in astrophysics.

“I teach full-time. I teach six classes a year, yet I’m being paid about half of what the average physics professor in California makes. It’s not fair,” he told KTLA.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I would not focus on the low pay (that’s a complex problem), but rather the embarrassing fact that this prof cannot get housing in the university dorms. WTF.

from the article:

Others questioned why the university doesn’t offer housing for professors. One commenter shared their own experience: “I was an adjunct professor for a year and realized I would be headed towards homelessness, so I left.”

Surely only administrative incompetence can be the cause of profs not qualifying for dorms. If there is enough professor demand for dorms, they should be organizing a dedicated floor or building for profs.

Consider as well this prof’s academic enthusiasm could be (rightfully) exploited further by putting him in a dorm. He might even be happy to answer questions from other dorm residents after hours.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago (2 children)

When asked why he doesn’t teach elsewhere, McKeown said, “I refuse to stop teaching. Teaching my students is my absolute passion. UCLA is a top university for physics.”

If you are completely unwilling to leave, then they aren't ever going to pay you more.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

You don’t seem to be accounting for university image. Are the optics of this worthless? IMO, this guy should pitch a tent on the campus grounds and make a media spectacle of it.

Might be a good test to see how quickly a dorm room can be freed up and administrative red tape overcome.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Agree in an only profit driven university, but I'd hope that most wouldn't completely exploit of their professors enthusiasm.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

It’s not about exploitation. It’s about a lack of funding at the state level. Universities do not receive enough money to properly operate and the employees suffer.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

That’s the definition of exploitation.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

It doesn't even have to be about profit. If someone has no chance of leaving, you are going to put that money elsewhere. You can afford another professor, leading to smaller classes. You can afford better materials. You can afford more research.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Exploitation of professors' enthusiasm is the fuel that runs the academic system worldwide. I'm not exaggerating. Look up publish or perish, postdoc working conditions, grant theft by uni admins, and stagnant wages.