1998-10-02 Minutes

First Autumn Quarter Meeting

October 2, 1998, Gray Suite G, Ohio Union

Present: Officers: Kathleen Carberry (presiding), Manisha Vijayaraghavan, Elizabeth Loentz, Tracy Paul.

Voting Delegates: Betsy Breseman, Tina Brice, Pam Bacht, Homero Cantu, Anil Challa, Candace Cherrington, Shann D. Coleman, Deborah Darnell, Sabiha Daudi, Heather J.H. Edgar, Edwin J. England, Dustin L. Key, Jeff Lewis, Stephanie Libbon, Karin Maresh, Leola McClure, Ron B. Meyers, Brian K. Rivera, Marwan Saleh, Divya Soares, Juergen Steininger, Elaine A. Willey.

Non-Voting Delegates, Committee Representatives, Senators, CRGS Representatives and Guests: Rola Atiyeh, Pyone Aye, Sally Burma, Jill Coleman, Kelly Costner, Corey Ditslear, Mark Garrett, Mark Hicar, Scott King, Linda Koschoreck (Residence Life), Susan Kulewicz, Neesham Kranz, Cheng-Ta Li, Steve Nichols, Firooza Pavri, John Shea, Lisa Smith, Robin Vann Lynch. Dean James M. Siddens, CGS Advisor.

I. Approval of Minutes

Delegate Rivera noted one correction to the minutes: on page 3, section D, committee needs should read "Campus Events Committee needs".
Motion to approve minutes (Motion 98-4-38) made by delegate Lewis, seconded by delegate Steininger. Motion passed unanimously.

II. Officer Reports

A. President

President Carberry reported that CGS has had a productive and successful beginning of the year. CGS's welcome week activities included: the graduate student orientation with over 500 students attending, the graduate student welcome party with over 400 students attending, and a table at the Student Involvement Fair. Since the last meeting President Carberry also attended a Board of Trustees Leadership Retreat and took part in the Roads Scholars Tour.
President Carberry announced that graduate students could still volunteer to attend a lunch meeting with Vice-President Williams, and that Acting Vice-President of Human Resources Larry Lewellen has expressed interest in forming discussion groups with graduate students to explore the possibility of a pre-tax health insurance benefit for graduate students.

B. Interim Vice-President

Interim Vice-President Vijayaraghavan reported on the status of committee appointments, and listed several committees in urgent need of graduate student representation.

C. Treasurer

Treasurer Paul had no report at this time.

III. Committee Reports

A. Executive Committee

President Carberry introduced CGS officers and members of this year's executive committee to the Council, and presented each with an Ohio State pin.

B. Campus Events

Delegate Steininger announced that the committee is planning a Halloween party for Thurs. Oct. 30, and asked for volunteers to assist. He announced further that Dr. Roehrig has volunteered to assist the committee in holding a beer-tasting event in January or February, and that the committee is in the process of recruiting a wine expert for a wine-tasting in April or May.

C. Community Service and Service Learning

Delegate Cherrington announced several opportunities for graduate students to become involved in community service: 1) The committee will be co-sponsoring a flu-shot program with BASH. The event is slated tentatively for Nov. 9-10, and the flu-shots would cost $5, one-half the normal price. Volunteers are welcome. 2) Ohio Staters Inc. needs volunteers to collect canned goods. Volunteers would deliver bags in Bexley or Upper Arlington and would collect the bags on Beggar's Night. 3) Delegate Cherrington suggested that CGS may want to participate in the Angel Child/Family program through the Salvation Army. The "adoption" of a child or family would entail monetary or toy donations. The committee plans to meet again on Monday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m.

D. Diversity and International Student Concerns

Co-chairs Sabiha Daudi and Robin Vann Lynch summarized the goals of the committee which include: education, increased awareness, exposure, and outreach. The co-chairs invited delegates to join the committee, stating the wish that the committee should be representative of the diversity of CGS and of the university. In addition to organizing the Diversity Forum, which will be held in Winter quarter, the committee plans to co-sponsor events with other campus groups. Ms. Lynch's position in the Office for Minority Affairs should help to facilitate such networking efforts. The co-chairs regretted that the committee was not as visible as desired last year and expressed the intent of being more visible and active this year.

E. Legislative Affairs

Chairperson Corey Ditslear announced that the committee, working together with USG, had registered approximately 80 voters at a recent drive. Mr. Ditslear thanked those who had contacted their legislators concerning graduate student grants. He added that the next committee meeting will take place in a few weeks, and that the committee welcomes new members.

IV. Old Business

A. CGS Secretary Update
- President Carberry stated that CGS will begin an external search for an office secretary. Co-Chair Lynch asked if the position was a GA position. President Carberry answered that it was not a GA position but a staff position with tuition benefits. Delegate Atiyeh queried whether international students were eligible. Neither President Carberry nor Dean Siddens could answer conclusively and president Carberry offered to investigate the question.

V. New Business

A. Nominations for CGS Vice President 1998-99
- President Carberry explained that the Constitution allows her to appoint an interim vice-president, and that she has done so to ensure that the vice-president's responsibilities can be fulfilled until an election is held. President Carberry reviewed briefly election procedures and asked for nominations for the position of vice-president. Secretary Loentz nominated interim vice-president Vijayaraghavan. Mark Garrett seconded the nomination. Motion to close nominations (Motion 98-4-39) made by delegate Rivera, seconded by delegate Lewis. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Elections for 1998-99 Senate and CRGS Positions
- Each candidate for University Senate was given 2 minutes to address the Council. John Shea expressed interest in being added to the ballot for the 2nd "At Large" position on the CRGS. Motion to add John Shea to the ballot (Motion 98-4-40) made by Delegate Hicar, seconded by Delegate Cantu. Motion passed unanimously.
- Each candidate for CRGS was given 2 minutes to address the Council.
- Motion to close nominations (Motion 98-4-41) made by delegate Cantu, seconded by delegate Steininger. Motion passed unanimously.
- The following graduate students were elected as CGS representatives to the University Senate: Steve Nichols for Administrative Sciences, Candace Cherrington for Professional Biological Sciences, and Neesham Kranz for Social and Behavioral Sciences.
- The following graduate students were elected as CGS representatives to the Council on Research and Graduate Studies: Betsy Breseman for Agricultural Sciences, Rola Atiyeh for Biological Sciences, Mark Garrett for Education, Brian Rivera for Engineering Sciences, Mark Hicar for Professional Biological Sciences, Elaine Willey for Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Pyone Aye and John Shea as "At Large" representatives.
C. Bills and Resolutions
- 1. Resolution to Support the Development of an On-Campus Graduate/Professional Student Housing Complex
  - Delegate Meyers summarized the arguments of the resolution.
  - Motion (Motion 98-4-42) to adopt the resolution made by delegate Rivera.
  - Several delegates expressed concern that the wording "housing project" carried negative connotations, whereupon delegate Rivera suggested a friendly amendment changing the wording "housing project" to "housing complex".
  - Delegate Daudi asked why the resolution distinguished between graduate and law students. Delegate Meyers answered that this distinction was included in order to stress that Law students should not receive extra amenities unless private funds were raised to this purpose.
  - Motion seconded by delegate Cherrington. Motion passed unanimously.
  2. Bill 98-4-1: An Act Concerning Office Computer Equipment Purchases
  - President Carberry explained that purchases over $500 must be approved by Council. Delegate Coleman asked whether we planned to purchase two entire units. Treasurer Paul answered that we did. Scott King, who has been assisting CGS in determining its computing needs, elaborated on CGS's specific needs, adding that he recommended CGS purchase two economical systems and one good multi-media PC, and recommended that we purchase the two economical systems first. Delegate Libbon inquired whether CGS had considered University surplus. Mr. Scott answered that this had been considered, but that it was not feasible for our need. Ms. Aye suggested that we consider Dell or Gateway refurbished computers.
  - Motion to adopt the bill (Motion 98-4-43) made by delegate Willey, seconded by delegate Steininger. Motion passed unanimously.
  3. Bill 98-4-2: An Act Concerning 1998-99 CGS Goals and Priorities
  - Discussion of this bill was postponed to the next meeting.

VI. Delegate Issues and Concerns

Delegate Cherrington expressed dissatisfaction with the current sale procedures for parking hang-tag permits. On August 29 many students had waited many hours to purchase permits and did not receive the permits they desired. Students began forming a line at 3 p.m. the day prior to sales. Delegate Cherrington finds the current process both impractical and unfair. President Carberry noted that CGS had in past opposed both a lottery system and the allotment of a certain number of tags to each department. CGS preferred the procedure followed now. Delegate Steininger noted that he has spoken to the Director of Transportation and Parking concerning the number of spots available to graduate students, asking that students who live on campus be given priority for campus garage space. Several delegates objected to delegate Steininger's proposal. President Carberry suggested that we revisit the issue at a future meeting and that we invite a representative from Transportation and Parking. Delegates were further asked to notify delegate Steininger of any COTA bus concerns.
Delegate Libbon requested information on the retirement plan for graduate students. President Carberry stated that graduate students can enroll in the university's matching fund plan. Delegate Darnell noted that she had not signed a waiver relinquishing her right to participation in the plan, and that she had been told that graduate students were not eligible. Delegate Steininger suggested that we invite a representative from Human Resources.
Delegate Rivera informed Council that he had been misquoted in a recent Lantern article, and that he had not stated that CGS was having financial difficulties. President Carberry added that she had also been misquoted, and clarified that CGS is not eliminating committee positions.

VII. Announcements

Next Meeting: Friday October 30, 1998, 3:30-5 p.m. Location TBA.

VIII. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Loentz, CGS Secretary Council of Graduate Students
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