GSA Meeting Minutes--April 3, 2003

UCSC Graduate
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Attendance:

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

Department Reps: Sajeemas "Mint" Pasakdee (Environmental Studies), Meredith Armstrong (Ocean Sciences), Susanne Altermann (Biology), Dirk Robinson (EE), Wendy Williams (Psychology), Ian Dobbs-Dixon (Astronomy), Oona Besman (History), Dave Machledt (Anthropology), Lisa Downward (Physics)

Visitors: James Rowe (Politics), Chris Such (MCD Bio), Jason Melbourne (Astronomy)

I. Approval of Agenda and Minutes

Agenda and minutes approved.

II. Elections

No elections this meeting.

III. GSHIP--Allison Luengen, Erin Crall

Erin discussed GSHIP meeting last month and the recommendations that the GSHIP cte made regarding next year’s GSHIP, Administration does not want to increase the premium so given that the same coverage would cost 35-40% more, cuts will need to be made. The recommendations included: changing the percentage paid by insurance/students from 95%/5% to 85%/15% and changing co-pay for prescriptions from $5 (generic) and $10 (name brand) to $15 and $20 with an out of pocket max. of $5,000. The cte is trying to avoid a prescription drug cap and this year will probably not have to have it but the company made strong comments regarding the need for this cap in the future.

The Dental Plan will change next year to a different provide and will increase by $2 per month but amalgam fillings and wisdom teeth removal will be covered! What is really needed is an advocate for GSHIP in the benefits office to negotiate these issues. Also discussed is that given that health care services are changing that the Union should demand bargaining power over this. Emily discussed need to write letter to Dean Talamantes reminding him that he offered to find someone to advocate for GSHIP and carbon copy letter to MRC and grad council, Dave M. volunteered to draft the letter.

IV. Committee Reports

Susi	TAPS committee--transportation cte wants grad students on another cte that will consult the unit about shuttle and metro services to and around campus, email was sent out today to GSA council. Susi and undergrad rep on cte pushed for bike loading at base of campus instead of physical plant stop, TAPS people are looking into the possibility of this change. Off the subject, Susi looked into the retirement (Safe Harbor) account brochure and wanted to clarify that even though the brochure states that one must have a minimum of $2000 to get plan, that this is NOT true, even if you don’t keep your address updated, you will still have the $ in there, she is working on getting the following info in the grad student handbook: Defined Contribution Plan "Sometimes graduate student UC employees are not enrolled in at least 5 units. This often happens during the summer and after advancement to candidacy. During these times, 7.5% of graduate student wages are withheld in a retirement account called the Defined Contribution Plan (DCP). UC uses DCP instead of the federal social security system. Once you have begun accruing money in a DCP account, you receive, twice a year, a summary of your account. Once you leave the UC system, you can withdraw this money, but only with a big tax penalty. Alternately, you can 'roll over' your money to another retirement account such as an IRA. If you do nothing, the money stays in the account for you to retrieve later. If you do not roll over your account, keep your address current with UC system. The UC Human Resources and Benefits Office website for DCP is http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/retirement/dcp/index.html."
Dave	Social Committee--Dave is planning another hike for grad students this quarter and one surfing class (only one of the two filled up last quarter), and also a happy hour for grad student. The mushroom foraging trip big hit last quarter.
Marla	Student Fee Advisory Committee--With Measure 7 passing, SFAC will be making recommendations this quarter to VC of Student Affairs Hernandez about how the money will be allocating to Student Affairs units. The actual amount of the student programs fee, starting next quarter will be announced after the division determines the extent of state budget cuts.

V. Officer Reports

Marla	asked if someone can take notes next meeting since she will be at a conference.
Emily	received a letter from a student addressing the issue of the SPAM filter through CATS, the letter addressed issues of privacy and the council wants to learn more about the filter mechanism that CATS is using. Suggestion made to invite someone from CATS to come to a future meeting to give us more info on the criteria used for the SPAM filter.

VI. Funding Requests

A. Roshanak Kheshti--Performance by Azita Youssefi
Roshi, a grad student studying diaspora and music requested up to $500 for travel money for Azita, an Iranian musician, to come from Chicago and perform her music at UCSC. Azita’s music falls into the indie rock category and is not immediately identified as traditional Iranian. The performance will require a piano and place to hold it, preferably in a music hall, will be a free performance and Roshi has not approached any other groups formally for funding, approached Woman of Color Research Cluster informally but it didn’t sound like they could help at this point. She is planning to advertise this event on and off campus.
B. Chris Pluhar--Swinging Slugs Dance
Chris requested $300 from the GSA for a dance held by the Swinging Slugs on May 3rd in the Cowell Dining Hall. There are about 9 grad students out 40 total that meet each week to swing dance. Money would be used for remaining costs for decorations, rent for dining hall, etc. not funded by door admissions (in advance $7 students from funded colleges/$10 general; at door $9/$12).
C. Chris--MCD Seminar Speaker Dinner
Chris requested $100 for a dinner with a MCD seminar speaker, part of a Monday seminar series given by the dept. Grad students in dept. picked Linda Buck, a Cancer Research Scientist to speak this quarter and usually speaker goes out to dinner with a Prof and a few grad students but they want to make the opportunity to have dinner with Dr. Buck open to all grad students. Chris clarified with Council about the $25 plus $0.50/student funds for mixers, so they can automatically get $49, is actually requesting $51 to cover alcohol purchase although GSA cannot fund alcohol expenses off campus.
D. James Rowe--Grad Student Working Group
James is requesting $365 for poster, copying, tape and misc. supplies for the Working Group, organized in response to announcement of strikes on Iraq by U.S. and to give the opportunity for dialogue betw. grad students on issues of the policies of war including domestic ones such the Patriotic Acts and Homeland Securities. The group has recently adopted a Burma Shave Protest approach in which sequential protest signs are advertised along highways. Currently there are 60 grad students on email list and about 35 people showed up to last meeting. Teach-in date is not set yet.

After discussions among grad council members,
Azita Youssefi Performance--motion to fund up to $500 with receipts, approved for travel, advertisement and performance room rent, but council wants her to come back and give more info about where and when it will be held.
Swing Slug Dance--motion to fund $200 approved and clarification that grad students would get discount tickets since there’s no grad college.
MCD Seminar Speaker Dinner--clarified that funds of $49 for the dept mixer is available, but GSA cannot give additional money for alcohol purchases.
Grad Student Working group--motion to fund $365 approved.

VII. Adjourn

Contact GSA: gsa@ucsc.edu