GSA COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

April 15, 2004

Attendance

Officers and others: Emily Robinson (President), Beth Daniels (Internal

Vice President), Vicky Tarumoto (External Vice President), Susanne

Altermann (Secretary), Allison Luengen (Treasurer).

Department Reps: Abhijit Sen Gupta (Economics), Sina Farsiu (Electrical

Engineering), Ignacio (Nacho) Solis (Computer Engineering), Sajeemas

Pasakdee (Environmental Studies), Lisa Downward (Physics), Meredith

Armstrong (Ocean Science).

Others:  Erik Dedini (Physics), Teresa Betts (Psychology), Jacob Cabrera

(Undergrad), Dirk Robinson (Electrical Engineering), Irene Reti (History),

John Johnson (Psychology), Joe Schwartz (Physics), Jamus Lim

(Economics), Kai Pommerenke (Economics), Jonathan Adams-Kane

(Economics).

Approval of Minutes and Agenda

Agenda and minutes approved with the addition of announcements and a

Social Committee Report to the agenda.

Announcements

Location of the Graduate College (Susanne Altermann)

In the LRDP process, there are two scenarios about where the Graduate

College should be.  One is to be west of Porter College, the other is on

Heller above the trailer park.  If anyone has any input about these sites,

please let me know.

UC African-Black Coalition Conference (John Johnson)

This conference will occur at UCSC April 30 or May 1-2 at Colleges 9 and

10.  This organization is mostly made up of undergrads, but  grads will

find it of interest as well (GSA offered to circulate an email about this when

the details are in).

GSA Officer Elections

GSA will circulate an email to all grads about  our upcoming elections.

Funding Requests

Rainbow Graduation Ceremony (Irene Reti)

Irene  requested and the ceremony was granted $500 as a co-sponsored

event.  This is how much we have granted them in past years, as well.

Committee/Officer Reports

Campus Sustainability Council Ballot Measure (Jacob Cabrera) 

Jacob submitted a proposal that the GSA endorse a measure to go on the

grad ballot (co-occurs with registration for fall classes).   The measure

would create a new compulsory $3/quarter fee for all grads.  The money

would go to support the Campus Sustainability Coalition, a campus group

that  funds/facilitates environmentally sound practices on campus as

outlined in a document called the Blueprint for a Sustainable Campus. 

There was a significant amount of discussion on this item.  Discussion

ranged from suggestions about groups who should be represented on

the council (Graduate Student Housing) to the timeline for campus ballot

initiatives and to details of representation and money flow in  the  Campus

Sustainability Coalition.  The GSA Council voted not to place this measure

on  the ballot now, and asked the coalition to bring back a proposal less

than a year from  now (to give GSA a broader  timeline in which to

consider such a request).

Travel Grants (Sajeemas Pasakdee)

Sajeemas is leaving the  campus and the Travel Grants Committee will

need some new blood next  year.

External Vice President (Vicky Tarumoto)

Vicky provided a written report with updates on a number of items.  Vicky

offered to lead a discussion at a future GSA meeting on SAO (formerly

know as SOAR) funding and a proposed resolution to reallocate Measure

7 money to SAO.

Social Committee (Ignacio Solis)

It looks like our next party will be June 4.  The committee is looking for a

more professional karaoke.  The surfing class will probably be doubled. 

The committee is also looking into liquor catering  in  the future.  The

committee is looking into providing games and Game Nights at the Grad

Commons.  There was some discussion about whether the Grad

Commons should have a pool table  or  other such “club”-like items, but

this discussion really belongs in a Grad Commons Governance Board

meeting.

GSHIP (Allison Luengen)

Allison reported that there has been progress in “pooling” the undergrads

with the grads for the purposes of health  insurance.  However, the

proposal currently includes a cap  on pharmacy benefits (this represents

a cut in our benefits).  Things are moving fast right now  on health

insurance.  We have an important meeting on Friday April 23rd from 11-12

at the Health Center.  We need as many warm bodies present as

possible.

New Business

Campus Stance on the Patriot Act

The GSA Council unanimously endorsed the Draft Faculty Resolution on

the Patriot Act.

Adjourn