October 11, 1999
Call to order: ~ 6:35 p.m.
Agenda:
I. Visitors
II. Secretary's report
III. Treasurer's Report
IV. President's Report
V. Honor, Judiciary, and StudCo Reports
VI. Old Business
VII. New Business
VIII. Departmental Concerns
I. Visitors
A. Jennifer Bradt, Women's Center funding request
The Women's Center invited Betty Williams, a Nobel Prize Laureate and founder of the World Center of Compassion for Children to present a talk at the University. Ms. William visited UVa as part of the Nobel Laureates Peace Conference.
A number of students interested in hearing this speaker were unable to receive tickets for her talk given at the Peace Conference. The Women's Center invited Ms. Williams to give a seminar on October 28. The purpose of this event is to involve the speaker in the "scholarly life of the University by exploring the link between community work and humanities scholarship" (from the proposal presented by the Women's Center to the GSC). The seminar and the roundtable discussion involving a number of UVa faculty members from various fields will be open to all students as well as the entire Charlottesville community.
Chris, Patrick, and Todd asked the visitors from the Women's Center a number of questions after their presentation. The questions referred to the participating professors, publicity, graduate students participation in the event, requesting funds from other sources, and where the seminar will take place.
According to our visitors from the Women's Center, publicizing the event is a large expenditure primarily because the event is advertised to the entire community. The seminar will be given in McLeod Hall. Three to four graduate students will participate in the discussion after the talk. The event organizers have asked funds from a large number of sources including all of the organizations that the GSC members have mentioned. The GSC funds would be allocated primarily for publicizing the event, and the amount requested was $1000.
Discussion: After the presentation the visitors left the room and a discussion among the GSC members followed. Josh pointed out that the event would probably not have a great impact on graduate students. Todd remarked that a good portion of their budget is allocated for advertisement. Krishna suggested we fund the event with $500. Todd suggested funding the event with $300. Krishna made a second motion. Vote: all in favor.
After the representatives from the Women's Center returned to the meeting room Chris informed them of the GSC decision and stressed that the Council would prefer if the funds were allocated for travel expenses.
Amy Campbell, one of the event organizers invited the GSC is invited to send representative at this upcoming event as well.
B. Derek Nystrom, Affirmative Action Debate
Derek presented a letter written recently by Presidents Casteen on Equal Opportunity in Admissions. He asked the GSC to submit a resolution to the BOV regarding the University's Admission Policy.
As stated in the letter written by President Casteen, there is not a clear law regarding admissions at the University. However, it is clear that the admissions laws should promote diversity.
Discussion: Most people have not had the chance to read or reflect upon the letter written by President Casteen prior to this meeting.
Patrick suggested that we invoke a law according to which the Council would wait one week after a resolution was introduced before voting on it.
Because of the time constraints, Derek asked that we vote earlier. Chris suggested that we discuss this issue via email, and bring a final decision within the next forty hours.
Later in the week the resolution passed with seven votes for, four votes opposing, and six representatives abstaining to vote on this resolution.
II. Secretary's report
The secretary failed to fulfill her duty this past month. She promised to have the minutes from the previous meeting emailed to all by the end of the week.
III. Treasurer's Report
1. 1998-1999 Carryover: +$3677.29
2. Fall 1999 Appropriation (prelim.): +$3500
3. Spring 1999 (carryover) - Airfares for Michael Lambert: -$660.83
4. September 1999 - pizza: -$41.19
5. September Orientation social: -$205.54
Total additions: $7177.29
Total expenditures: $907.56
This puts our current balance at $6296.73
(Note: This balance does not include our Spring appropriation of approximately $3,500, so for those who would like to think in terms of yearly balance, it would but $9,769.73)
Discussion: Jennifer asked whether people who were granted access to our account could spend more funds then allocated by the Council. According to Patrick, last year the funds were tracked based on money that was allocated for a particular event, not based upon the amount of money that was actually spent. The GSC had no control over what the allocated funds were used for in the end. He suggested that all receipts be submitted first to the Council Treasurer and then to Dean Huskey. That we limit the number of people who would have access to the account; that we impose a statute limitation as to when the funds can be used. This triggered a discussion on what the time limit ought to be.
Krishna suggested that we ask the event organizers to submit receipt copies to both the Council as well as Dean Huskey, and Josh thinks the time limit for spending the allocated funds should be determined based on the date of the event.
The discussion ended by Patrick offering to write a proposal that will define how the allocated funds will be tracked.
IV. President's Report
A. All University Retreat
Chris attended the "All University Retreat". He participated in one of the four sessions, the Intellectual Committee Session.
At this session Chris emphasized that the administrators need to change their habit of making graduate students invisible at UVa. The need to recognize the graduate student body as an asset of the University, and as such to focus more on planning and fundraising for the graduate student body. Among other things, Chris brought up the Research Fair as a way to make graduate students more visible, but also as a method of introducing the University community to the work of graduate students from this university. He also brought up the need for a central building for graduate students, a comment that caught President Casteen's attention as well.
B. Research Exhibition
One of the functions of this exhibition is to make graduate students visible at this University. Chris would like to see the event take place in April or May 2000.
He plans on forwarding an email describing the exhibition to all of the GSAS departments.
Details of the exhibition: both faculty and students will be part of the panel evaluating the posters/presentations. Both the Council and Dean Huskey's office will sponsor the event, assuming Dean Huskey approves of this.
Chris welcomes all constructive suggestions people might have regarding this event.
C. QualChoice issue
Chris decided against writing a letter supporting Gianluca DeMuzio.
The Student Council will have a meeting at which health insurance issues will be discussed. The GSC members will be invited at this meeting as well.
V. Honor, Judiciary, and StudCo Reports
The Honor and StuCo representatives were not present at this meeting.
VI. Old Business
A. Health Insurance Survey
Todd presented the completed Health Insurance Survey. Chris reminded people about the purpose of this survey. He also pointed out that Dean Huskey considers health insurance a top priority issue, that he finds it to be a true necessity of graduate students.
Strategies for distributing the surveys: an email will be sent to Doris Lamb who in turn will forward the email to all GSAS departmental secretaries. The surveys will be distributed within a week. A number of people offered to help Todd out.
Patrick suggested that we send a thank you note to Margaret Cousel????? for helping us write the survey.
B. "Make A Difference Day"
This is an annual event meant to enable student to serve the community, and at the same time to help graduate students from different fields to meet. Our contact person is Bill Murad, who was not present at this meeting.
The representatives were asked to forward the email regarding this event to all graduate students within their department.
VII. New Business
Nicole reorganized the GSC web site and added some useful links to it. It looks great! Thank you Nicole.
From now on the GSC will meet on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
VIII. Departmental Concerns
Jeryn informed all that on the 29th of October the Art Department is having a Halloween Party at Chef Ted's. All graduate students are invited.
Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.