• Representatives present • Aleksandar Donev, ACM • Peter Locke, ANT • Neven Fuckar, AOS • Jack Tinsley, CHE • Basak Surmeli, CHM • Kellam Conover, CLA • Christopher DeCoro, COS • Fei Sun, ELE • Karin Sigloch, GEO • Ken Kroenlein, proxy for Chris Wyckham, MAE • Thomas Horine, MAT • Shin-Yi Lin, MOL • Annika Peter, PHY • Debbie Becher, SOC • Newsha M. Dau, WWS •
• Delegates present • Joshua Friess, Butler Apartments •
• Councilors present • Chair Nicole Esparza • Parliamentary Secretary Jack Tinsley • Corresponding Secretary Shin-Yi Lin • Press Secretary Christine Percheski • Acting Recording Secretary Basak Surmeli • Treasurer Jeff Dwoskin • Social Chair Aleksandar Donev • Brigitta Lee, CPUC, CPUC Executive Committee • Fei Sun, CPUC Governance Committee •
• Others present • Lisa Sherov, Assistant Dean for Residence Life and Student Affairs • Beth McKeown, Community Programs Coordinator • Anita Adhitya, GEO • Tom Jenkins, GSG Children and Dependents Committee • Christopher Karpowitz, GSG Children and Dependents Committee • Deborah Fiori, Associate Director of Annual Giving • Alyssa Miksis, and Director of Graduate Alumni Relations •
• Representatives absent • Sinead Mac Namara, CEE • Jonathan Vogel, ECO • Christiane I. Meyer, EEB • James Bickford, ENG • Valerie Dionne, FIT • Michael K. House, GER • Jane Murphy, HIS • Donna Sy, HOS • Andrew Moroz, ORF • Jonathan Eastvold, POL • David R. Smith, PPL • Kim Montgomery, PSY • Susan Gunasti, REL •
• Delegates absent • Yuan Liu, Association of Chinese Students and Scholars (ACSS) • Aderemi Artis, Black Graduate Caucus (BGC) • Weining Man, Council of International Graduate Students (CIGS) • Lior Silberman, Graduate College (GCO) • Carolyn Mordas, Lawrence Apartments (LAW) • Leonard F. Pease III, Off-Campus (OFF) • Heather White, Women's Center (WOC) •
• Councilors absent • Leslie A. Medema, CPUC, CPUC Priorities Committee • Ian Parrish, CPUC, CPUC Executive Committee • Leonard F. Pease III, CPUC, CPUC Priorities Committee • Aderemi Artis, CPUC Resources Committee • Meredith Galanter Hastings, CPUC Judicial Committee • Lior Silberman, CPUC, CPUC Rights and Rules Committee • David R. Smith, CPUC Rights and Rules Committee • Robert Sobak, CPUC • Joseph P. Valentino, CPUC •
• Representative seats vacant • ARC • ART • AST • COM • EAS • MUS • NES • POS • PHI • SPO •
• Delegate seats vacant • Hibben/Magie Apartments • Millstone Apartments •
The Graduate Student Government held its regular monthly Assembly meeting on May 12, 2004, at Frist 309. Chair Nicole Esparza called the meeting to order at about 6:03 pm.
Parliamentary Secretary Jack Tinsley made two introductions: Joshua Friess for Butler Housing Delegate and Neven Fuckar for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Chair Nicole Esparza introduced special guests Associate Director of Annual Giving, Deborah Fiori and Director of Graduate Alumni Relations, Alyssa Miksis.
Proxy Recording Secretary Anita Adhitya proceeded to the minutes. She noted that there were corrections to the atendance list of the minutes. Mr. Tinsley moved to approve the minutes; however there was not quorum.
Associate director of Annual Giving, Ms. Fiori and director of Graduate Alumni Relations Ms. Miksis spoke about making graduate students and alumni more involved in Annual Giving. The unrestricted funds raised through Annual Giving provide a notable portion around 10% of the University's budget for educational expenses. The increase of funds from graduate alumni will increase the awareness about graduate students and graduate student life. The methods that are applied for increasing Annual Giving by undergraduate students seem to be working efficiently. It is believed that some of these methods can also be applied to raising money from graduate alumni. One of these methods is Tigercall, which rises close to $500,000 each year. The expectation is to design a program that adds to the current campaign, which involves networking of graduate students and alumni. It can be organized in such a way that graduate students from different disciplines can meet on a Sunday evening and call alumni from their discipline about Annual Giving. Annual Giving will provide the information about the alumni that are supposed to be called.
Mr. Tinsley announced that we now had quorum. Ms. Esparza went back to Ms. Adhitya for approval of the mintues. Mr. Tinsley moved to approve the minutes, there was a second, and the motion carried without opposition.
Ms. Esparza informed the Assembly that the Executive Committee had met three times since the last Assembly meeting. These meetings mainly focused on finding committee chairs. Ms. Esparza noted that she had met with all the candidates and discussed their qualifications for the position.
Ms. Esparza informed the Assembly that she had spoken to with Dean Redman about the Facebook. She explained that Dean Redman liked the idea of having it online, but said that it would be a book next year since the APGA paid for a book. Ms. Esparza informed the Assembly that the cost of the Facebook was $7,200. Ms. Esparza pointed out that the APGA provided $4,000 and the Graduate School provided the rest. Ms. Esparza explained that it is cheaper to print 1000 copies than smaller amount, even though only 600 are needed. Therefore, just printing 100 facebooks is not worth the amount of money spent. Ms Esparza informed that, Dean Redman also said the wording in the facebook will be changed to "state/country/region."
Ms Esparza pointed out that as the housing draw is complete, the Executive Committee, especially Jeff Dwoskin is working on getting statistics. When the statistics are available, the Assembly will be informed by a presentation. Ms. Esparza also noted that, if President Tilghman and Provost Eisgruber could attend the September Assembly meeting, the housing presentation would be presented to them.
Mr. Donev informed the Assembly that he was planning a summer event on June 10 evening from 5:00-9:00 pm. Mr. Donev pointed out that on this particular evening free food will be provided and music will be played. Mr. Donev also added that totally $2000.00 of financial support was found of which $500.00 is provided by APGA. Mr. Donev requested the approval of $500.00 of financial support from the Assembly. Mr. DeCoro asked if the size of the budget is enough. Mr. Dwoskin replied that this money is available. After the question period there was voting for approval. The Assembly approved the suggestion of Mr. Donev by all in favor.
Mr. Donev informed the Assembly also about another event, a QGC barbeque held at Mr. Donev's backyard. Mr. Dwoskin explained that QGC requests $100.00 for this event. Mr. Dwoskin informed that $160.00 is available. This motion was also voted and the Assembly approved to fund this event for $100.00.
Mr. Tinsley explained the organization of GSG Committees to the Assembly. Mr. Tinsley noted that there are four Committees: Academic Affairs, Campus Relations, Facilities, Health and Life. Mr. Tinsley pointed out that the chairs for these committees are yet to be determined by the Assembly. Two of the candidates were present: Ms. Lee as the candidate for chair of Campus Relations Committee, Ms. Sigloch as the candidate for Health and Life.
Ms. Lee summarized her interests that the graduate students feel isolated and her aim is to get more graduate students involved in campus events. Ms. Sigloch summarized her interests as the University is interested in investing more money in health services and graduate students interests in health can be improved by giving the University more input about graduate students expectations.
The other candidates: Ms. Safran, Mr. Bickford as co-chairs for Academic Affairs and Mr. Silberman for Facilities were not present at this meeting so their candidate statements were read by Ms. Esparza and Mr. Tinsley.
Ms. Safran explained in her statement that she would continue the work that she has already begun as a member of the Executive Committee. She pointed out that her goal was addressing the problem of post-enrollment at the earlier stages of our tenure at Princeton, trying to cut away the roots of the problem in the structure and execution of our academic programs, while trimming back the outgrowth that takes its shape in the policies and practices of post-enrollment that the GSG has been working to regularize and reduce.
Mr. Bickford explained in his statement that he thinks concerns that will likely come before this committee include: post enrollment, advising, English-language requirements and training, graduate students as preceptors and research assistants, and departmental committees.
Mr. Silberman explained in his statement that the main 'facilities' projects of the GSG have been the campus shuttle and the draw reform, great progress has been recently made on both counts, and the facilities committee would continue to work on improvements. He pointed out that with respect to housing we would also attempt to join the planning processes for building future graduate housing and renovating the existing housing.
Assembly voted and approved all chairs for each committee. Meredith Safran and James Bickford were appointed co-chairs of the Academic Affairs Committee. Lior Silberman was appointed chair of the Facilities Committee. Brigitta Lee was appointed chair of the Campus Relations Committee. And Karin Sigloch was appointed chair of the Health and Life Committee.
Mr. Jenkins presented recommendations from Children and Dependents Committee; a summary of his presentation is available at this link (in PDF format). Questions were taken during the presentation. Ms. Esparza wanted to know how employees with children are treated in regards to the University giving them a paid leave of absence when they have a seriously ill child. Mr. Jenkins said he didn't know. Mr. Karpowitz explained that the major issue for students with dependents undergoing serious medical difficulties is that enrollment (and the consequently 'expected progress toward degree') is a prerequisite for other absolute necessities (housing and medical insurance), but that students in this situation may have serious difficulties balancing their academic requirements with the needs of their families. The committee recommended that an extension of academic deadlines and/or enrollment be allowed for students in this situation. It was noted that the extension of academic deadlines was far more easily accomplished than the extension of enrollment, inasmuch as the latter issue involves funding. In general, the committee felt that acknowledgment and consideration of the needs and circumstances of graduate student families was lacking in the university administration, and suggested that a university administrator be appointed to advocate on behalf of student families. It was also suggested that certain funds the university has allocated for student/faculty/staff childcare (which have remained largely unspent) be made more generally available, and that the cost of dependent health insurance for students with dependents be reduced to an amount comparable to that paid by faculty and staff members with dependents. Mr. Karpowitz also pointed out that the university's methods of estimating the number of students with dependents (Student Health Plan enrollment or on-campus housing data) generally give estimates that are low by 20-40%, since not all student families use the SHP or live on campus. It was also noted that since many post-docs and newly hired faculty members also have families, they make also benefit from some of these measures (for instance, the creation of a Parent Center on campus) if their scope were expanded.
Ms. Lee informed the Assembly about the Graduate Research Symposium which will be organized in November 5th (tentative date). Ms. Lee explained that the symposium would primarily center around a poster session. Ms Lee added that graduate students, post-docs and other research staff would be invited from across the University to present their research. Ms. Lee noted that they are still looking for people to help organize, like setting up a website or looking for additional funding. She also informed that GSG annually is involved in Furniture Drive, coordinated with the Office of State and Committee Affairs. Ms Lee explained that, undergraduate seniors donate furniture and the GSG sells the items to graduate students. The left over furniture and proceeds are given to local charities. This is the third annual drive. Mr. Dwoskin asked when this event will happen. Ms. Lee replied that the event would take place all day June 1st and 2nd. Ms Esparza asked where this would happen. Ms. Lee answered that the event will take place on campus. Ms. Lee pointed out that she needs more volunteers for the Furniture Drive and passed out volunteer sheet.
Mr. Sun informed the Assembly about a new course on scientific writing for international students and a workshop about scientific writing. Mr. Sun explained that this was well received by international graduate students. Mr. Sun continued by saying a similar course will be offered next semester. Mr. Sun pointed out that the funds come from advisors and departments for now. Mr Sun suggested that GSG should request Pricom for funding these courses and the EE department will be writing to Pricom as well.
Mr. Sun also informed the Assembly about the change in the POPT. Mr. Sun explained that this year teachers who offered the course graded the test, whereas in previous years there were external graders separate from the course instructors. Mr. Sun pointed out that quite a big portion of graduate students failed this test and maybe this is because they want to keep collecting money for the course.
The meeting was adjourned by Ms. Esparza at 7:45 pm.