COUNCIL OF GRADUATE STUDENTS
SECOND WINTER QUARTER MEETING
Friday, February 4, 2000
3:30-5:00 p.m. University Hall 014
OFFICERS and EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS: President Ronald Meyers, Ex-Officio Kathleen Carberry, Secretary Christine Parker, International Concerns Chair Garima Malik, Outreach Committee Chair John Soloninka
VOTING DELEGATES: Betsy Blake, Carmin Gade, Amanda Callison, Homero Cantu, David Carlisle, Melissa Carpenter, Anil Challa, Jill Coleman, Michael Daniels, Manuel Diaz, Kristin Field, Erich Guy, Andrew Holbrook, Phil Huckleberry, Elizabeth Kloss, Adriane Liner, Arash Mafi, Lisa Morrison, Gretchen Neigh, Ryan Nichols, Dana Oswald, Stan Radzevicious, Kristina Secnik, John Shea, Victoria Watts, Kevin Weakley, Amanda Wisler, Alyson Young
Non-voting delegates, Committee Representatives, Senators, RGc Representatives, and Guests: Student Trustee Allyson Lowe, Tamara Welch, Thomas Kitson, Kathy Wise
Guest speaker Kathy Wise, Director, Student Legal Clinic (614) 421-3308 - the Clinic is staffed by Ms. Wise, an office manager and 10 part-time law students qualified as legal interns so they can represent clients in court. The Clinic's parameters are to assist any OSU student with any landlord-tenant conflicts both within and beyond the University area.
TIPS:
A. be flexible with location - campus area is not the only place to live!
B. credit reports/background checks - landlords do have a right to look and can refuse to rent to you based on that information because it is public knowledge.
C. "application fees" for campus landlords are common - these fees are not necessarily the same as a security deposit; you are simply paying money up front for the landlord to hold the property. Be aware that this money is often non-refundable. Always get receipts for any payments made of any kind. Also be aware of separate fees incurred if you use a locator service.
D. advertising - landlords cannot discriminate on basis of gender, race, ethnicity, etc. However, you CAN legally be denied if you are an unmarried couple.
E. do research on landlords - ask other renters/neighbors about them, ask for their references - Do they do repairs? Is the area quiet? Are there any cases pending against them?
F. the property - check it out before you sign anything. The city also has records that can tell you how old properties are, if the landlord is having legal complaints lodged against him, etc. Make sure all the appliances work, that the apartment is in a "livable" condition. Make requests for repairs in writing and send it to the landlord via "return receipt requested" mail, so that you can prove that the landlord was notified of any problems.
G. roommates - get to know the people you are going to share housing with. If you sign a lease with a group of people, you are" jointly and separately liable," meaning that each person individually and the group as a whole is responsible to carry out the terms of the lease. For example, if one roommate doesn't pay his/her share of the rent, you and the other roommates will have to cover the difference. "Jointly and separately liable" means that you could be sued for money your roommate failed to pay.
H. the lease - make sure you understand everything you are signing. Make sure any modifications are done in writing. Written agreements are more binding than oral agreements. Make sure you have a contract for maintenance, and also be sure you know how utilities are configured and paid. Always be aware of what the landlord's responsibilities are. You do not necessarily have the right to renew your lease; the landlord can rent it to someone else at the termination of your lease. If the landlord fails to live up to his or her responsibilities as outlined in the terms of the lease agreement, you can pay your rent (on time!) to the Municipal Court at 375 High Street. You may also petition the court to force the landlord to fulfil his or her responsibilities.
I. renter's insurance - Protect your belongings, which are not covered by landlord's insurance if damage is not the landlord's fault.
J. moving out - be aware that if you decide to leave the apartment before your lease expires, you are legally responsible for paying the rent until a new tenant is found. However, the landlord is required to make an effort to find a new tenant as soon as possible. Make sure you give your landlord your forwarding address so that he or she can send the security deposit to you. Also try to document the condition of the property via video or photos.
Q: Doesn't a tenant have the right to receive from the landlord any interest that accrues on the security deposit while the landlord possesses it? If you pay more than a month's rent as a security deposit, then you are eligible to receive 5% interest on the excess amount at the end of the lease term.
Today's other scheduled speaker - Ed Hoffman, President of BREAD - was unable to attend. He will be invited to speak at a future meeting.
Meeting officially opened at 4:15 p.m.
I. Approval of Minutes - Moved by Delegate Wisler, seconded by Delegate Cantu. Motion (Motion 2000-1-4) passes unanimously with no abstentions. One amendment: The third line, which contains a textual omission, continues: "It is available at the website for Campus Partners."
II. OFFICER REPORTS
A. President: details of the President's report are available in the written report; everyone should have received this report in this week's mail-out packet. Highlights in brief: we have a new Vice President - Jenny Pommiss; the PDF Committee is continuing to work to get funding for the program through the summer; we have yet to receive formal response from the administration regarding our request for more student representation on university committees that deal with student issues; the visit by presidential candidate Al Gore was well attended but there were problems stemming from the fact that the logistics of the visit were decided with no input from the sponsoring organizations.
Q: Why were invitations not sent to all presidential candidates? The decision was made to invite only the "major candidates" because it was felt that inviting all candidates might be "too difficult". It is admitted that the decision on where to draw the line is a difficult one.
Q: Is there anything that can be done to invite other candidates besides those on the major tickets? This proposal will be mentioned the next time the relevant parties meet.
B. Vice President: the Vice President is not present today due to a family emergency. However, her report is available in written form for everyone's review. Her work on the Research Forum continues, and everyone is urged to assist with the Forum, which is scheduled for April 15, 2000. The Campus Events Committee is in need of a Chair, so anyone interested in this position should contact the Vice President. The Compensation and Benefits Committee is in need of members and there are still some empty slots elsewhere in committees. In general, we can ALWAYS use more participation from delegates.
C. Secretary: The delegates are reminded of the attendance policy and are urged to contact the Secretary at parker.107@osu.edu if you are to be absent from a meeting.
D. Treasurer: Treasurer Cormier is absent today due to illness, but he reports that the balance is "fine".
III. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Executive Committee: the committee met.
B. Diversity Committee: Chair Elizabeth Warren is also sick today. On her behalf, it is reported that in cooperation with the Office of Ethnic Student Services Ms. Warren designed a program in which Linden-McKinley High School students perform at local area middle schools, thereby providing all with some good experiences.
C. Research Forum: Over 100 applications were submitted this year, which is actually down from last year. Again, we still need volunteers on this committee. Contact Vice President Pommiss to help out.
D. Legislative Affairs: No report
E. PDF: Please refer to President's report.
F. International Student Concerns: Garima Malik - The questionnaire posted on the CGS web site is being revamped to make it shorter.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. Draft Diversity Plan: We are presently drafting comments on this plan. After the Executive Committee drafts comments, we will forward the comments to the delegates for their response. FYI: The text of the Plan is linked to OSU main web page, as are the Academic plan and Budget Restructuring plan, so please check out these documents. We'll take comments from delegates for the next week, then forward them along to the appropriate parties.
B. Draft Academic Plan: Student Trustee Allyson Lowe presented a summary of the Academic Plan's objectives. The Academic Plan document is available at: www.osu.edu (click on "Draft Academic Plan") OR http://www.osu.education/academicplan/index.html
What is it? It is an attempt to set an agenda for a longer term than just the coming academic year. It is a five-year plan for the university which covers the period from 2000-2005, and its intent is to make us think about: (1) our vision to become one of the top 10 public teaching and research universities by the year 2010 as well as re-thinking our mission as a land grant university, and (2) our values for the long-term future. The Plan is divided into FOUR major areas, each of which contains (I) Strategic Objectives and (II) Performance Objectives & Program Initiatives. These major areas are: (1) Academic Excellence, (2) Student Learning Experience: here CGS could advocate for PDF; deal with access/comparison of technology within departments, for example (3) Diversity, and (4) Outreach & Engagement.
Why should we have one? To set some concrete goals, to remind us of our aforementioned vision and values, to make these goals more accessible to the public, and to set the leadership agenda for the future.
How does it relate to the Diversity plan, the Leadership Agenda and Budget Restructuring? The hope is that the Academic Plan will bring all of these recommendations together into a single source.
How does it relate to graduate students? In the past, graduate students have been at the center of the university's goals and priorities because of the University's emphasis on research. As it stands now, however, the Academic Plan focuses more on undergraduate than on graduate education, and as a result the Plan doesn't really talk about our concerns. WE NEED YOUR COMMENTS ON THE ACADEMIC PLAN so that we can advocate for graduate student concerns. Send them ASAP to Trustee Lowe at: lowe.90@osu.edu OR to President Meyers at: meyers.87@osu.edu
A. Cola-Cola Contract: a letter has been sent to Bill Shkurti about Coca-Cola contract in order to get more information about allotment of funds gained from the contract. What kind of programs would the delegates like to see implemented with this new funding? It is a very large source of money and we wanted student input, which we have gotten. We would like some set-aside funds specifically to be used for graduate and professional students.
Q: Are there specific plans right now for how the funds will be used? A lot of it is going to go into the Offices of Academic Affairs and Student Activities, both of which focus their attentions far more on undergraduate activities.
V. New Business
Student Health Insurance Committee: Kathleen Carberry reports that Central Benefits is going out of the business of risk management (i.e. the management of claims). Their projected coverage of benefits fell far short of actual claims (particularly in prescriptions drugs), so they are operating at a loss. They anticipate similar losses this year. They will be finishing coverage for this year, but as for the future, it is uncertain. If Central Benefits continues to provide coverage, they will have to either increase costs by 60% or reduce coverage, limit maximum benefits, and reduce off-quarter coverage. The University is still considering bids from other companies. These bids are due February 21, 2000. Central Benefits does not have a fantastic record as far as risk management is concerned. For example, delegates complain that it takes Central Benefits too long to send the insurance cards, resulting in situations where non-student spouses or children who are covered cannot get treatment. This is the part of health coverage that Central Benefits is seeking exit from.
Q: Can we have self-coverage for students through the University similar to the program available for faculty and staff? This does not seem to be an option right now.
Q: Can we consider a tiered plan with more choices of options, such as just a catastrophic loss plan, just a basic coverage plan, etc.? We should bring this up with the Insurance Committee. It is a good idea.
Q: Does the school do an independent audit of their (Central Benefits') accounting? We should pursue this question further.
Q: Is there a time frame for us to find out about how the student sin our departments feel? ASAP, or by the end of this month. Bids are due February 21, 2000.
Q: What should we be asking people to do?
Q: What is the current prescription coverage? $300 a year. They may cap this amount, or you may have to pay a certain percentage of the cost. It has not yet been decided.
Q: Who makes the decision about the provider? The Student Health Insurance committee. The Committee does compare coverage bids, both between companies and how well our coverage compares to other universities. The Committee meets every Friday.
REQUESTS: Delegates ask that this information be sent out on CGS links. Delegates also ask that information about NAGPS Graduate Student Health Insurance Coverage be included in the next CGS mailing.
STRAW POLL: more people seem interested in reducing benefits for the same cost than in retaining the same coverage and paying significantly more money.
VI. DELEGATE ISSUES AND CONCERNS
VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
B. Next meeting: Friday, March 3, 2000, University Hall 014
C. CSA is having a speak-out on the topic of domestic partners - please come! February 28, 2000 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Ohio Union Conference Theatre
Adjournment: Moved by delegate Young, seconded by delegate Daniels (Motion 2000-1-5).
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Parker
CGS Secretary
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