Council of Graduate Students
First Summer Quarter Meeting
July 26, 1998
014 University Hall
PRESENT: Officers: Kathleen Carberry (presiding), Kevin Scott, Tracy Paul, Elizabeth Loentz. Voting Delegates: Candace Cherrington, Sabiha Daudi, Mark Hicar, Noriko Nagata, Paul Nylander, Brian Rivera, Juergen Steininger, Jessica Turner-Crim. Guests: Paul Brenner, Corey Ditslear, Anupama Mande, Cheng-Ta Li. Guest Speakers: Sarah Blouch (Director of Transportation and Parking), Judy Hoza. Dean James M. Siddens, CGS Advisor.
The meeting was called to order at 2:34 p.m., president Kathleen Carberry presiding.
I. Guest Speakers
Sarah Blouch (Director) and Judy Hoza, Transportation and Parking
Ms. Blouch announced that the results of the June 1998 Transit Survey are available and distributed the Executive Summary. The survey was distributed to students, faculty and staff on June 5, 1998 via e-mail/web page link. Transportation and Parking received 6800 responses. Ms. Blouch summarized the proposed CABS service improvements and re-routing outlined in the Executive Summary, adding that they should be implemented by Sept. 1, 1998. She invited the Council to view a map of the new routes.
Ms. Blouch reported that parking rates will increase overall. West Campus rates will decrease, which should serve as an incentive to utilize CABS services.
Ms. Hoza added that there will be slight improvements in residential routes.
Delegate Turner-Crim asked if there were plans for new bus-stop shelters and to improve signs. Ms. Blouch replied that a bus-stop with shelter would be added at the Agriculture Campus by the beginning of Autumn Quarter and that there are plans to improve route signs.
Ms. Blouch indicated that Transportation and Parking is making efforts to coordinate the CABS system with COTA services in order to provide a seamless transportation system. She added that residential routes would run at 15 minute intervals, the North Express at 4 minute intervals, the South Express at 5 minute intervals, and the Core Circulator at 5 minute intervals.
Delegate Nylander observed that the North Residential Route was redundant, duplicating the existing COTA route. Ms. Blouch answered that Transportation and Parking has noted this, but that they have not yet found a viable alternative to the High Street route.
Delegate Rivera queried whether CABS would utilize vans. He noted that vans are inconvenient for passengers. Ms. Blouch replied that the smallest conveyance considered for CABS were airport shuttle size vans. Delegate Rivera noted that these have been used successfully at other universities.
Delegate Rivera inquired what impact the mentioned parking rate increases would have on proximity parking stickers. Ms. Blouch answered that the cost will be reduced by $75 in connection with the USG Free Night Parking Proposal. She cautioned that Transportation and Parking does not yet know the effects this will have on proximity parking.
Delegate Hicar asked if the Agriculture Campus could be added to the red line.
Delegate Turner-Crim asked what impact athletic events at the Arena would have on parking. Ms. Blouch answered that the Arena lots were reserved for VIPs and that attendees of sports events will likely be prohibited from using lots needed for academic purposes.
Delegate Nylander asked if those who buy West Campus stickers will be able to park on Central Campus at night. Ms. Blouch answered that they could, and that those who do not wish to buy a daytime parking sticker can purchase a $1 permit valid 9 p.m.-5 a.m.
Delegate Turner-Crim asked whether advertising could be used to finance the electronic signs on the bus shelters. Ms. Blouch answered that the signs are not yet fully functional, but that Electrical and Civil Engineering will try to have the system working by Autumn Quarter. She noted that campus groups can post signs in buses and at stops for a small charge.
Ms. Blouch added that CABS has five new buses, and that 4 more will added. These will be supplemented by smaller vehicles.
Delegate Rivera asked if there are plans for improving roads on campus. Ms. Blouch answered that Transportation and Parking is not responsible for this, but is also interested in certain improvements.
President Carberry noted that 7100 graduate students are on campus during the summer (almost as many as during other quarters) and suggested that extended hours be continued throughout the summer. Ms. Blouch replied that CABS will make efforts to stabilize summer hours for graduate students, staff, and faculty but that some reductions are necessary due to lower use.
Delegate Nylander encouraged the continued use of the listserv and web page for Transportation and Parking updates.
Ms. Blouch (blouch.2@osu.edu) and Ms. Hoza (hoza.4@osu.edu) invited graduate students to direct comments and suggestions to them via e-mail.
II. Delegate Concerns and Issues
Delegate Cherrington expressed interest in forming a Community Service Committee and listed several possible projects.
President Carberry added that interest in such a committee has been voiced by several graduate students.
Delegate Rivera noted that we would have to vigorously promote such efforts, as there has been little success with individual efforts in the past.
Delegate Daudi suggested that the committee should network with existing organizations dedicated to community service. President Carberry agreed.
Paul Brenner, a new graduate student in Material Engineering, who has been active in such efforts in the past, expressed interest.
Delegate Turner-Crim announced that the Women's Studies Graduate Student Organization is interested in letting students subscribe to their listserv or newsletter, in which they list fellowships and job opportunities. She would also be interested in forwarding this information to graduate students via cgslinks.
III. Officer Reports
A. President
President Carberry reported that the CGS Office move to the Ohio Union is complete and that there will be an open house at the beginning of Autumn Quarter. Following the move to the Ohio Union CGS held a retirement party for Executive Secretary Pat Nichols.
President Carberry announced that CGS is seeking to fill a 10 hr., 25% GAA position for a two month period. Interested candidates should contact her. Vice President Scott added that CGS delegates can also volunteer their free time to help out in the office.
President Carberry reported that there was a proposal by Student Activities to have the current USG secretary position divided evenly between CGS and USG. A separate new position in Student Activities would be created for publicity and web design, in part providing services to the three student governments. Neither CGS nor USG are satisfied with the proposal. Student Activities also suggested transferring a secretary from their office to CGS. President Carberry believes that it is in CGS's best interest to have Pat's former position regularly posted, and to reserve the right to select the candidate of our choice.
President Carberry reported the following recent events and developments:
CGS, with the rest of the University community welcomed new president Dr. William E. Kirwan. She and Vice President Scott attended a welcome breakfast with other representatives from student government.
President Carberry and Dean Susan Huntington presented the preliminary data from the G-QUE report to the Board of Trustees. She shared with the Council a copy of the Power Point presentation.
The Board of Trustees awarded a Student Recognition Award to J.B. Lawton.
Coca-Cola is now the exclusive beverage partner for the Ohio State University, and funds from Coca-Cola will be made available for student government.
There are plans for a new graduate student residence dorm on South Campus. This, as well as plans by a private developer focusing on off-campus housing for graduate students are aimed at bringing graduate students back to the campus area.
B. Vice President
Vice President Scott reserved his comments for later in the meeting.
C. Treasurer
Treasurer Paul referred the Council to her budget spreadsheet. She added that she has received no invoices from the Voice since March.
IV. Committee Reports
A. Executive
Secretary Loentz reported that the Executive Committee met on July 15, 1998 in the CGS office. The meeting included reports and discussion on: 1) Lobby Day and legislative affairs, 2) Student Health Insurance, 3) the Kellogg Commission Reports, 4) secretary replacement, 5) orientation, 6) organization and elections, 7) CGS budget, 8) Executive Committee Retreat, 9) Graduate and Professional School Expo, 10) NAGPS awards, 11) resolutions for Drs. Sisson and Kirwan, 12) USG free night parking proposal.
President Carberry elaborated that, based on a need recognized by the G-QUE Survey, a focus group will be formed to discuss student health issues. She added that we will discuss the Expo at the next meeting.
B. Organization and Elections
Vice President Scott reported that few applications have been received for committee positions, and reminded committee representatives that they must reapply for their current position or apply for new ones.
C. Orientation
Vice President Scott encouraged delegates to attend the New Student Orientation activities on Sept. 20. In addition to speeches at Independence Hall and lunch at University Hall there will be break-out sessions at which students can speak individually to representatives from various offices (Financial Aid, Transportation and Parking, etc.). Students will be able to register, to activate e-mail, to buy parking passes, etc. Volunteers are needed to set up, as well as to stuff envelopes. All graduate students are also invited to a barbecue picnic on the South Oval on Friday Sept. 25, 5-7 p.m.
Delegate Turner-Crim asked whether students would have to choose which sessions to attend. Mr. Scott answered yes, but added that there would be ample opportunity to browse.
D. Legislative Affairs
Committee Chair J.B. Lawton announced that Corey Ditslear would succeed him as Legislative Committee Chair.
Mr. Lawton reported that the NAGPS Lobby Day was very successful. CGS representatives met with most Ohio representatives, focusing efforts on the House, due to the Higher Education Act. In future the Legislative Affairs Committee would like to identify students from elsewhere in the state, so that they may contact their own representatives concerning educational and graduate student issues.
Mr. Lawton reported the following developments:
The Higher Education Act has passed both the House and the Senate.
The Department of Education has unilaterally lowered the interest rates on consolidated student loans. (Mr. Lawton can provide web-site information).
Congressman Kasich has proposed a 1999 budget with major problems. Funds for Pell Grants have been increased, but over the next five years, the House plan cuts funding for education by $13.8 Billion. This is important for Ohio, which is still dealing with the defeat of Issue #2. The League of Women Voters reports that Ohio is 40th in the nation in state funding for higher education. Mr. Lawton stressed the need to pressure Kasich to better represent his OSU constituency. In addition, Kasich plans to run for president, proposing a 1% tax-cut, which would be detrimental to education funding.
Mr. Lawton welcomes volunteers to write op-ed pieces or letters to the editor; to serve at the upcoming VRVE drive, or Volunteer Registration and Voter Education (to register and educate voters and enlist volunteers) at the Graduate Student Orientation and during the first week of Autumn Quarter. The Legislative Affairs Committee also plans to write letters to candidates to ask for opinions on issues of concern to graduate students, which we could distribute to our constituents. Volunteers can contact J.B. Lawton (lawton.6@osu.edu) or Corey Ditslear (ditslear.1@osu.edu).
Delegate Rivera asked if Kasich's plans to run for president are public. Mr. Lawton replied that they are. He adds that the budget issues concerning education should not be viewed as partisan.
V. Old Business
A. CGS Secretary Update
President Carberry requested CGS endorsement for posting the executive secretary position (rather than accepting alternative plans suggested by Student Activities), as outlined in the president's report.
Motion to endorse listing the CGS Executive Secretary Position as originally planned (Motion 98-3-23) made by delegate Turner-Crim, seconded by Delegate Rivera. Motion passed unanimously.
VI. New Business
A. CGS Meeting Dates 1998-99
Delegate Nylander asked whether enough meetings are scheduled for Spring Quarter. President Carberry answered that there were according to the constitution, and that additional meetings were not scheduled, because Spring Quarter is very busy.
Delegate Rivera asked why there is a meeting the day after the Research Forum. President Carberry answered that the vice president had requested that date.
Motion to approve the 1998-1999 meeting schedule (Motion 98-3-24) made by Delegate Daudi, seconded by Delegate Cherrington. Motion passed with one abstention.
B. 1998-99 Proposed CGS Budget
Treasurer Paul drew the Council's attention to plans to print the Voice more economically in future. She has added the Retreat and the Diversity Forum to the budget as separate line items, the retreat amount should read $900.
President Carberry clarified that the budget would be voted on at the next meeting.
President Carberry explained that as the 1998 Retreat exceeds $400 and was not a line item, this expenditure will require Council's approval.
Motion to approve the expenditure of up to $800 for the 1998 Retreat (Motion 98-3-25) made by Delegate Rivera, seconded by Delegate Hicar.
Delegate Nylander asked the cost of last year's retreat. President Carberry was not certain, but believed it was approximately $900.
Motion was passed with one abstention.
C. USG Free Night Parking Proposal
President Carberry informed Council that, because there were time constraints, she had tentatively endorsed the Free Night Parking Proposal on a trial basis.
Delegate Steininger asked if Transportation and Parking had considered the impact of closing the Tuttle lot. President Carberry had no information on this.
Delegate Steininger observed that the lot is busy and that its elimination may cause problems. Delegate Rivera concurred.
Delegate Steininger proposed to accept the proposal with the exception of North Campus lots.
President Carberry suggested planning a meeting of individuals with special concerns, adding that, although we had tentatively approved the plan, we could reconsider if there are serious reservations.
There was confusion as to whether the $1 fee was for a single night or for a decal.
Delegate Rivera suggested that we not vote on the plan until it has been clarified whether night parking will be free, $1 per night or $1 annually.
Delegate Hicar suggested that a quarterly night parking fee for all students similar to the COTA fee may be an option.
D. Resolutions for Drs. Sisson and Kirwan
President Carberry corrected the wording on the resolution welcoming Dr. Kirwan to read "twelfth president."
Delegate Nylander suggested a more formal wording of the resolution to address Dr. Kirwan.
Motion to pass the amended resolutions welcoming Dr. Kirwan and recognizing Dr. Sisson for his service to the Ohio State University (Motion 98-3-26) made by Delegate Nylander, seconded by Delegate Rivera. Motion passed unanimously.
Delegate Rivera asked in what form and in what forum we would present the resolutions.
VII. Announcements
Next Meeting: Sunday, August 23, 1998, 2:30-4:30 p.m., location to be announced.
VIII. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:08 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth A. Loentz
CGS Secretary
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