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Last Updated:
January 21, 2003
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| BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GRADUATE STUDENT
GOVERNMENT |
In 1989, the Princeton Graduate Student Union was created through a
referendum among all graduate students in order to provide a unifying
voice to express graduate student concerns to the Princeton
administration. During the time since its inception, students have
received help and support from the administration and several service
departments to bring many ideas to life. These successes have led to a
working relationship with the University which is the envy of several of
our peer institutions. The GSU organization set the precedent for the
representative system currently in use. Every graduate department and
program and recognized graduate student group is represented in the
Assembly by a student who serves as a distributor of information to the
students and source of feedback to the Assembly on a variety of issues
pertinent to graduate student life. The GSU also became a sponsor of many
social events geared towards graduate students. Over two-thirds of the
budget from student fees goes directly towards subsidizing special events
for students, ranging from film series and information sessions to holiday
parties and summer barbeques.
In October of 1999, the GSU changed its name to become the Graduate
Student Government. This change highlighted the organization's
representative character and growingly active role in shaping University
policy through appointments to a number of University decision-making
bodies. In November of 1999, the U-Council amended its charter to allow
graduate students, through the GSG Assembly, the right to elect their own
representatives to the Council, and members of the Council's Executive
Committee, for the first time. The GSG Assembly also acquired the right
to make nominations for the other committees of the U-Council, including
the Priorities Committee, which makes recommendations to the Board of
Trustees each January on the allocation of the University's operating
budget, and the Rights and Rules Committee, which sets codes of conduct
for the University and its students, faculty, and administration.
In October of 2000, the graduate student body overwhelmingly ratified a
new GSG Constitution, adding for the first time a set of by-laws to grant
the GSG the flexibility to fully embrace these new responsibilities and
actively respond to future ones.
| PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE GSG |
Campus Directory: Prior to 1992, only undergraduates,
faculty, and staff were listed in the Campus Directory. The GSG
successfully lobbied for the inclusion of graduate students.
Dental Coverage: The GSG negotiated and offered a dental
plan to graduate students and their families. Following several years of
lobbying by the GSG, the University has taken over administration of
optional dental plans for graduate stduents and now offers some basic
free dental coverage as well.
Season Passes: The GSG has acted to allow grad students to
obtain discount season passes for Princeton athletic events. To obtain a
pass, contact the ticket office in Jadwin at 258-3538. Passes are $25 and
are available to graduate students and their spouses.
AI Handbook: The GSG helped create the AI Handbook which
informs student instructors on what to expect from teaching
responsibilities at Princeton. The handbook is a publication of the
University.
Extension of Housing Benefits: The GSG worked to allow
post-enrolled graduate students to sublet university housing when it was
available. A surcharge was originally applied, but further lobbying led
to the abolition of the surcharge in 2002.
Credit Union Membership: The GSG has succeeded in opening up
membership in the Princeton University Credit Union to graduate students.
DCC Status: Lobbying by the GSG led the University to create
the new DCC status (starting Fall 2002) for students in their first year
of post-enrollment. These students can now get ID cards, get full library
access, enter the Housing Draws, park on campus, purchase atheltics access
at the staff rate, etc.
Many historical GSG documents are available on this site.
Minutes of the GSU and GSG
Constitutions of the GSU and GSG
Membership Records of the GSU and GSG
Past Messages from the Chair
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