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Council of Graduate Students - Minutes - 26 October 2001

In attendance were:

Absences:

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 3:40pm, J. Briggs Cormier, President, presiding.

II. Presentation by Dean Susan Huntington

Dean Huntington began by giving a brief description of the nature of the Graduate School: rather than just another cog in the Unversity's bureaucracy, the Graduate School exists to facilitate graduate study at OSU, implementing the policies enacted by the Research and Graduate Council. The Graduate School is the college of record for all graduate students and is the proper place to go to have registration or graduation issues dealt with.

Graduate study is one of the most important components of the Academy as a whole, as it trains the next generation of academic leaders and faculty members. But both society at large, and even the University itself, do not always act with this in mind -- we often see an overemphasis on undergraduate education. The GQUE survey shows high levels of satisfaction among graduate students, but there's still lots to focus on.

Delegate Robinson asked how the Graduate School can arbitrate issues of degree progress. Dean Huntington said that the Graduate School is the next step for students dealing with problems that cannot be resolved within the department. The Graduate School prefers to act as a mediator, but also has a formal grievance procedure when necessary. The Graduate School is considering recommending that colleges set up their own mediation bodies so that there could be an extra level of review available.

III. Approval of the Minutes of the 28 September 2001 Meeting

Moved by Delegate Lewis; seconded by Delegate Knott; passed unanimously by voice vote.

IV. Elections

After brief statements, one Senator and three representatives to the Research and Graduate Council were elected: Nathan Ames, Graduate Senator for the Engineering Sciences; Hala Zahreddine, Representative from the Agricultural Sciences; Kim Copeland, Representative from Education; Melissa Bailey, Representative-at-large.

V. Resolution on the Use of CGS Funds for Meeting Refreshments

This was the tabled remnant of a resolution divided at the last meeting. Delegate Delong moved to take the resolution from the table, with Delegate Foster as second. After a brief restatement of last month's discussion (namely, the resolution would reallocate all remaining money from the refreshments line toward charitable donations), the floor was opened to new debate.

Several points of information were brought up. Delegate Beck asked how much money in donations was currently to be matched; President Cormier replied that it was currently a fairly small amount. Delegate Scheiderer asked if attendance increased after CGS started to provide refreshments; Cormier replied that this is fairly hard to tell: while the number of people at meetings has increased, so has the number of seats filled on CGS. Delegate Knott asked about the intention behind the `unspent balance' language, since it seemed to conflict with the $1500 figure. Cormier replied that since CGS cannot `unspend' the money from the refreshments line that has already been spent, some other source of money would have to be determined in the case that the amount to be given exceeded the balance of the refreshments line. Delegate Delong expressed concern over the fact that the resolution still mentioned charitable giving: how did this reconcile with the division of the question made at the previous meeting? Parliamentarian Hodak replied that since this was a resolution for budget reallocation, both the source and target of the reallocation must be specified; it would be in order to amend either of these.

Speaking against the resolution were two delegates. Delegate Frey pointed out that in his experience, food draws a crowd, and there are other CGS budget lines that might deserve examination as well. Delegate Wichman pointed out that providing food at CGS meetings makes it easier for delegates to return to their offices and labs after the meeting; in its absence one has to go somewhere afterwards and is less likely to go back to work.

Delegate Robles offered (with Delegate Wichman as second) the following amendment: that the $1500 be obtained by taking $600 from the refreshments line and $60 from all other outflow lines save cash reserves. Delegate Wichman offered (with Delegate Kearns as second) a clarification that each of the aforementioned amounts would decrease in proportion to the actual amount of donations to be matched. In other words, considering that amount's percentage of $1500, that percentage of $600 and $60 would be the actual budget change.

Both the amendment and the subsequent resolution as amended were adopted by voice vote.

VI. Domestic Partner Health Benefits

Authored and sponsored by the Executive Committee. This resolution calls on the Student Health Insurance Plan to add the possibility of purchasing coverage for domestic partners (both same-sex and opposite-sex).

Delegate Knott asked why the addition of domestic partner coverage would affect public health; Parliamentarian Hodak explained that someone who has insurance is less likely, for example, to go to work with a communicable disease. Delegate Futo asked how `domestic partner' would be defined; President Cormier replied that a formal definition is already in place for other areas of the university; in general, an affidavit is required. Delegate Colaco asked if the premiums of the plan would increase after such a change were made; Cormier replied that the cost of the plan would not be affected by this move.

There was no debate; the motion was approved by voice vote.

VII. Domestic Partner Soft Benefits

Authored and sponsored by the Executive Committee. This resolution calls on the university to provide other kinds of domestic partner benefits. Delegate Wichman asked if a exhaustive list of such benefits exists, as the resolution only mentions some examples. President Cormier replied that the resolution was intended to be open ended; hence no such list exists.

There was no debate; the motion was approved by voice vote.

VIII. Proposed Standing Rule on Food

Authored by Parliamentarian Hodak. Moved by Delegate Lewis; seconded by Delegate Beck. Hodak pointed out that the rule was written to allow for future growth and flexibility. Delegate Meadows asked what the `per person' references actually counted; Hodak replied that all limits would be based on the number of people expected. Delegate Beck asked how food for committee meetings was handled; Cormier replied that aside from the PDF committee, all committees handled food through the normal CGS approval and reimbursement procedures.

There was no debate; the motion was approved by voice vote.

IX. Discussion of Ohio Union

President Cormier explained that the Union is currently undergoing some restructuring and is interested in what changes students might like to see.

Delegate Kearns mentioned that a second campus post office would be useful. Delegate Wichman expressed support for Woody's Place and asked what plans there were for it; Vice President Scrogham replied that it would open on November 1 under new management; an open forum would take place on October 30 to discuss what students might like to see there.

Delegate Kearns mentioned that student groups get kicked out of the Union at 10:30pm, and later hours would be quite useful. Similarly, the system currently being used for room allocations treats student organizations (who can get certain rooms for free) as second-class citizens behind paying organizations (often non-student groups), and this decision ought to be reevaluated.

Scrogham brought up the possibility of a grad student lounge and asked if people would use it. Parliamentarian Hodak said that this might be a good idea, especially if it had computers. While the Union already has a public computer lab, there are often availability issues, and this would help overcome that. Delegate Lewis suggested that we might instead simply recommend that computing resources in general be expanded at the union.

X. Discussion of Sunday Commencement

This is an issue currently being discussed. It is not clear when this might be implemented, though given the fact that many people have firm plans in place for this year's commencements, it would probably be no earlier than Summer 2002. CGS, among other bodies, is in the process of gathering feedback on the proposal. Delegate Kearns pointed out that some people's leases might make this difficult. Delegate Futo asked if this would lead to the elimination of early senior finals; President Cormier replied that it probably would, but the issues are distinct. In particular, the Registrar would probably still need to make some changes for this to be feasible. Delegate Colaco pointed out that this might make it harder to people who are starting new jobs on Mondays. Delegate Goldberg asked if there were documented demand for moving the commencement date; Cormier replied that both USG and the University Senate were interested in this switch. Goldberg also asked why no one had considered Saturday; Cormier replied that he did not know. Delegate Bailey mentioned that many departments hold their own ceremonies, and these would have to be adjusted as well.

XI. Other Delegate Issues and Concerns

President Cormier reported that the Student Housing Legal Clinic had been in touch with him requesting feedback. Delegate Beck noted that they might want to consider enhancing their publicity efforts, as he had not even heard of them. Delegate Robles asked how they were funded; Parliamentarian Hodak replied that although they were sponsored by the College of Law, their funding came largely from student set-aside funds.

Delegate Hamidinia asked what percentage of PDF applications are generally approved. Delegate Scheiderer (a PDF committee member) said that general figures weren't available, but in the last round twelve out of twenty-six applications were funded. Hamidinia asked why all applications couldn't be funded and wondered if other funding schemes needed to be explored. Cormier replied that the PDF had reached the point where financial constraints have become less pressing; as a result, the committee generally approves all applications that are judged deserving.

Delegate Futo asked about grad student input into library policies. Vice President Scrogham pointed out that we have a seat on the library council and that the library is currently holding several open fora relating to the upcoming renovation project. These fora are generally announced on the library's homepage.

Delegate Kearns asked about the question of moving to semesters that the university had been considering. Cormier replied that University President Kirwan had removed that issue from the current Senate agenda, citing budgetary concerns. A vote on the issue is expected in Autumn 2003.

XII. Officer and Committee Reports

Communications Chair Broz reminded delegates of their responsibility to forward the EVoice newsletter to their constituencies.

Diversity Chair Robinson asked delegates to help with a petition drive that would attempt to influence an Appeals Court decision relating to affirmative action.

Outreach and Engagement Chair Wade mentioned that October 27 is Make a Difference Day (a national event) and that a local event would be taking place at the intersection of 6th Street and 6th Avenue. In addition, volunteers are needed to help at various blood drives on campus. The committee is also co-sponsoring a movie and discussion event -- Shades -- with Women's Studies.

Newly appointed Campus Events Co-Chairs Chiscano and Bossard mentioned that they had been collecting feedback on the Fall picnic and were planning upcoming events.

Compensation and Benefits Chair Lewis mentioned that committee's plans for the year, including an effort to obtain comparative data on teaching loads and related issues.

Treasurer Lasseigne presented his report; the major change was the inclusion of the budget changes made at the last meeting.

Secretary Daniels responded to a question from Delegate Frey about how the new form of packet distribution helps save paper by replying that delegates can now choose to print as much or as little of the packet as they wish, rather than simply being given the full packet.

Vice President Scrogham mentioned that she had received good feedback from various university committee chairs about their graduate representatives. She pointed out that the list of committee openings on the web is kept up-to-date. Work is also starting on next year's Hayes Graduate Research Forum.

President Cormier recommended that delegates read University President Kirwan's State of the University address, which is available from the President's homepage. Cormier pointed out that graduate students will be explicitly mentioned in the guidelines given to Deans and Chairs as they examine their budgets. He also mentioned that a gift had been made from the Presidential Discretionary Fund to two CGS members whose apartment had recently been nearly destroyed by fire.

XIII. Announcements

The Theatre Department will be opening two shows: Uncommon Clay and Ezra Pound's Electra.

XIII. Adjournment

Moved by Delegate Lewis; seconded by Delegate Kearns. The meeting was adjourned at 5:19 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Mike Daniels
CGS Secretary
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