January 9, 2009

Figures Don't Lie, Said Mr. Twain

To the Editor:

I take umbrage at your recent survey of graduate-student stipends at U.S. institutions ("Graduate Students' Pay and Benefits Vary Widely," The Chronicle, December 5, 2008). I was very keen to receive this report and was dismayed at the treatment of the data on your end — at least in this summary report. The greatest problem I see is the reporting of the "average" stipend within a department without any corresponding value for range or variation.

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