GSA Meeting Minutes--February 6, 2003

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Attendance:

Officers: Emily Moberg (President), Yan Zhang (IVP), Joni Wajaryb (EVP), Marla Holt (Secretary, Allison Luengen (Treasurer)

Department Reps: Dirk Robinson (Electrical Engineering), Mira Maione (Politics), Lisa Downward (Physics), David Machledt (Anthropology), Susanne Altermann (Biology), Peter Alrenga (Linguistics), Behnosh Najafi (CBP), Ian Dobbs-Dixon (Astronomy), Harry Wang (Computer Science), Lee Ritscher (Literature), Heather DeShon (Earth Sciences), Greg Youmans (Hist Con), Oona Besman (History)

Visitors: Jeremy Campbell (Anthropology/Hate Bias Cte Rep), Adele Zhang (Economics), Jason Farris (Physics)

I. Approval of Agenda and Minutes
Agenda and minutes approved.

II. Elections

The following board reps were approved with no contest:
Lee: Literature
Oona: History
Heather: Earth Sciences

III. Off Campus Housing--Jennifer Bragar, Wave Crest Development

Discussed plans to build complex on High and Cardiff St, Wave Crest Development, most would be single resident occupancy with a studio at $750 per month, public hearing will take place in April/May, handouts passed around including petition/survey for those interested in waiting list, targeting grad students/service community such as teachers, nurses, units would be open around April 2004.

IV. Funding Requests

A. Maureen, requested $50-100 for showing of documentaries on 2/13/02 about community resistance of airport development in San Salvador, will be at Merrill 102, invited film director (Greg Burcher, sp?) to present 2 documentaries in Spanish with English translation with a Q &A period at end, Budget is $500, co-sponsered by Mexico in Transition Research Cluster, funds not used will go back to community, not requesting funds from other sources.

B. Heather, Valentine's Day Party on 2/14/03, for grad students at GSC, requested $500 with a budget of $1200, will have Joe's Pizza and Sub cater party for promo, chancellor's money for GSC is state funded so alcohol beverages cannot be purchased with these funds, Heather also asked for help from people to check IDs at the door, those who can help email Jason at farris@physics.ucsc.edu.

Merrill documentaries showing: motion to fund $100, approved with no opposition.
Valentine's Day Party: motion to fund $500 for beverages, approved with no opposition.

V. Union Negotiations/Strike Vote

Joni explained that TA Union contract is up for renewal and standard union practice is to vote to strike before negotiations begin, union members can vote whether to strike or not on 2/18-2/20 at various places around campus, email sent out to all union members, next union meeting at 310 King St, also discussion about getting more science and engineering graduate students to join union, ideas include informal coffee talks, etc.

VI. Student Services Fee Referendum--Measure 7

Marla explained that in light of budget cuts, proposal to put measure on student ballot called UCSC Student Programs Fee, fee of up to $51/quarter is designed to preserve existing variety and quality of student programs at UCSC, handouts of language and how funding would be allocated by Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC), Marla asked if GSA will support putting is on the ballot, at least symbolically since not clear whether GSA needs to endorse it. GSA members voted to support Measure 7, but letter of reservations regarding adding another fee discussed as well as grandfather clause for time limit.

VII. Committee Reports

Behnosh	Committee on Planning and Budget--private consulting firm is being hired to assess campus efficiencies, John Simpson will not do across the board cuts, grad funding issues have been raised in these meetings, Chancellor's support for grad student education as a marker for quality of education at UCSC in general, also Behnosh found a tax consultant for tax workshop for grad students, consultant fees at $125/hour, discussed plans for workshop including a general overview and then Q & A period for grad students to ask specific questions, also GSC Governance Board Support for workshop. Motion made to fund $280 for 2 hour workshop with light refreshments, asking GSCGB to fund half of cost, motion approved with no oppositions, Behnosh will email grad students for feedback.
Ian	Cte on Academic Freedom--discussed of posters posted around campus targeting specific faculty who are funded by military sources such as Air Force, one faculty member filed complaint that posters were violating his academic freedom since posters named research projects and included pictures of faculty, issues of freedom of speech discussed.
Mira	Americans with Disabilities Act--determined that committee does not meet, has been disband, claimed that campus is in compliance with ADA regulations, Mira asked group if we feel this needs to be addressed further, feedback included addressing issue within a broader scope including ergonomics issue.
Jason	Graduate Student Commons Governance Board- omnilock on building is being tested, individual ID cards will need to be encoded, Heather announced that testing will be conducted at end of quarter, problems with sticker buildup- need to remove old quarter stickers for lock to read card, contact Facilities Managers for GSA members' cards to be encoded.
Pete	Travel Grants--backlog of requests has been completed, Florence wants applications to be submitted after travel with receipts and post travel form (with exceptions for those in dire need of funds), motion made and approved with no opposition
Allison	GSHIP fees are expected to increase by 40% or have services cut, there's another meeting, date TBA in which we need bodies to go to meeting, Allison will send out an email to announce details, asks if there are other services that need to be prioritized/enhanced in addition to dental plan and physical therapy, polled GSA to see who would prefer increase in premium or cuts in services, all who raised hands would rather have premiums increased.
Dave	Social Cte--Surfing classes, email announcement, will cost $15, a little more this time so that more people can attend, also mushroom foraging activity (Fungus Fun) for $10 will be offered.
Susi	Transportation Cte--informal survey results, no clear trends in grad student sentiment regarding transportation issues on campus except for clear opposition to extending permit parking hours.
Harry	brought up lack of communication with certain populations of grad students such as science/engineering students and international students, especially regarding awareness of GSA and Union, idea on informal workshop and asked about funding, $50 per board is available from GSA, Dave mentioned that there was an International Student Cte that never met.

VIII. Officer Reports

Joni	UCSA passed resolution to oppose future fee increases, also no on CREDO (policy proposal by Ward Connerly to eliminate all data collection on race/gender of UC students) which GSA has already voted to oppose CREDO.
Marla	No report
Emily	meeting with Frank Talamantes--$30K--needs to be spent on event for grad students; also discussion about resurrection of international students fee letter, changing policy so that after the 1st year, students may be taken off non-residents status, letter could be circulated, wants GSA to support it, will send out via email; Grad Council, GSHIP to maintain level of services will get support via email, work on setting up message board on website through Dave.
Allison	No report.
Yan	No report.

IX. Adjourn

Contact GSA: gsa@ucsc.edu