Phd students and post docs are exploited because they can be - they usually don't have any leverage. They may go in knowing that they will be taken advantage of

Phd students and post docs are exploited because they can be - they usually don't have any leverage. They may go in knowing that they will be taken advantage of but that's not the same as agreeing that the arrangement is fair. It isn't like going into the priesthood where there is an expectation of sacrifice. The presidents of these institutions are certainly not setting an example of sacrifice (nor am I saying they should). [The president of C.M. gets over $500K a year.]