Council of Graduate Students
Second Autumn Quarter Meeting
October 22, 1999
Ohio Union Gray Suite G
OFFICERS: President Ron Meyers, Vice President Candace Cherrington, Treasurer Briggs Cormier, Parliamentarian Brian Rivera, Ex-officio Kathleen Carberry, Secretary Christine Parker, Communications Chair Ryan Reid, PDF Chair Kelly Costner.
VOTING DELEGATES: John Brockman, Amanda Callison, David Carlisle, Anil Challa, Michael Daniels, Kristin Field, Karlyn Geis, Mark Hicar, Cheryl Hindrichs, Lisa Ingram, Adriane Liner, Arash Mafi, David May, John McCombe, Lisa Morrison, John Shea, John Soloninka, Jennifer Stoots, Victoria Watts, Kevin Weakley, Jennifer Whetstone, Tara White, Alyson Young.
Non-voting delegates, Committee Representatives, Senators, RGC Representatives, and Guests: Julie Riley, Ann Hilderbrand, Christy Stanlake, Geraldine Arnold, Byung Moon Min, Betsy Breseman, Chantal Hunt, Penny Gronbeck, Courtni James, Andrew Holbrook, Valerie Bundy, Laura Landolt, Garima Malik, Marc Conte, Dafina Martin, Ryan Landi, Dean James Siddons
Before the meeting was officially called to order, President Ron Meyers introduced the Executive Committee Members, Dean Siddens and Ryan Reid, the Chair of Communications Committee and the newest member of the Executive Committee.
Next came the introduction of guest speaker Marc Conte Legislative Director of the Ohio Sierra Club, who was present to offer information about the upcoming COTA Levy. Mr. Conte said that there will be two issues on the ballot: Levy #20, which if passed would provide an additional quarter- percent sales tax to fund COTA, and Levy # 21, which if passed would provide a stable tax revenue for COTA for the next 10 years. COTA has had to depend on short-term levies for funding, making Columbus one of the largest transit service areas without a permanent source of support. If neither levy passes during November's election, there must be an emergency levy. COTA must break even since it is a public institution. This is one of the reasons why the OSU mandatory fee was instituted several years ago.
COTA's plan for the future, known as Vision 20/20, has 5 components: (1) more bus routes; (2) 24 hr service in some corridors; (3) eight light rail lines within the next 10 years, all of which would end downtown at (4) a new transit terminal, to which there will eventually be Amtrak service; (5) a High Street rail system. The rail system is intended to connect the outer belt to downtown. Students will still have the present fee arrangement for 5 years. The goals of all of this are to decrease pollution, congestion, and increase inner city access to jobs in outer belt.
Q: Where will rails go? Part of the plan now is express bus service to airport. Rail service eventually will be extended to the northern, northwestern and eastern sections of Columbus.
Q: Does COTA have permission to use existing rails? They'll have to work it out with the freight railroads, and COTA doesn't see it as a problem.
Meeting officially called to order at 4:00 p.m. by President Meyers.
I. Approval of minutes:
Delegate Brockman moved for the approval of the minutes from the October 1 meeting; Delegate Challa seconds the motion (Motion 99-4-34). The minutes are approved with no abstentions.
II. Officer Reports:
A. In his report, President Ron Meyers announced that Vice President Candy Cherrington will be resigning her position at end of Fall Quarter. President Meyers commended Ms. Cherrington on her efforts on behalf of CGS and thanked her for her service, noting that her resignation was accepted with regret. In other news, President Meyers gave speeches to the Board of Trustees and the University Senate, the texts of which will eventually be on our website. In these speeches, he emphasized: the value and success of the Professional Development Fund, including how the PDF benefits both graduate students and OSU, particularly with the latter's "20/10" plan; the call for 500 graduate housing units; a proposed campus computing fee; and the revised sex harassment policy.
B. In her report, VP Candy Cherrington explained that her decision to resign from her position was motivated primarily by financial issues. Moving to other business, Ms. Cherrington called attention to the remaining open slots on various committees (particularly senate committees) which are listed in this week's mail-out materials. In particular, there is an urgent need for someone on the Academic Freedom & Responsibilities Committee. Ms. Cherrington will also be representing CGS at a panel for undergraduate students interested in going to Graduate School.
C. In his report, Treasurer Briggs Cormier announced that he is still working on finalizing the budget and is waiting to hear from CSA on this matter. He also announced that all committee chairs need to send him their budget requests for this year by November 10, 1999.
III. Committee Reports
A. Executive Committee Secretary Christine Parker reported that the Executive Committee met.
B. Organizations & Elections VP Candy Cherrington, The highlights:
As of today, we have 61 total delegates, with over 20 in attendance. At the first Autumn meeting on October 1, we had 58 delegates, with 18 in attendance. Ms. Cherrington demonstrated with graphs that typically more delegates do not attend meetings than attend.
After the introduction of new CGS delegates, Ms. Cherrington announced that currently committee positions are still available, among these 10 university wide slots and numerous standing committees. There is also one new committee, the Student Safety Initiative, the idea for which came out of the annual Executive Retreat. It is hoped that CGS can work with other groups such as Evans Scholars, Campus Partners, Student Advisory Committee, and UGS to better deal with student safety concerns. One idea is for "Buckeyes Watch", a student-based pilot program, which would be similar to a neighborhood watch program. Subcommittee has met, so please contact VP Cherrington or President Meyers if you are interested in helping with this committee.
Opening candidacy for VP position. Self nominations are acceptable, but there is a form to be filled out, which can be obtained on the CGS web site as well as in the CGS office. The position includes a stipend and fee waiver. A description of the duties of the VP is available on the web site as well as the CGS Constitution.
C. Graduate Research Forum: VP Cherrington - This year the Graduate Research Forum will be held on April 14-15, 2000. We need volunteers to help out with this enormous undertaking! The application forms should be ready by November 8.
D. PDF Committee: PDF Chair Kelly Costner reports that the PDF committee is in the process of selecting fund recipients. Funding has been secured for two more quarters only, and there are as yet no future due dates planned.
E. Ad-Hoc G-QUE Report Committee: Ex-Officio Kathleen Carberry introduced attendees to the Report and its history. The final report is nearly complete; Dean Huntington says it should be ready by December 1999. The data, which was analyzed by the Office of Survey Research, will be released only when the report is ready. President Meyers noted that CGS is desirous of forming an ad-hoc committee on this matter.
F. Outreach Committee -- John Soloninka, chair. No report presented.
G. Other reports, info -- Delegate Brockman touched on the safety issue, announcing that there will be more emergency phones put up (6 more) soon.
IV. Old Business
A. Annual Goals and Priorities -- President Meyers reported that he was very pleased with the results, particularly with the breadth of the recommendations, most of which he feels are achievable. Upon the invitation to comment on the report, a question was raised about discrimination in housing policies of OSU-sponsored housing (Buckeye Village, for example), which state that cohabitants must have a marriage license to be eligible. In general, the number of available units is drastically shrinking, thanks to renovations of undergraduate dorms and the stadium. It is for this reason that CGS is trying to get 500 more units. Motion to approve the Report as is (with recognition of concern about housing discrimination). Delegate Hicar moves, Delegate Stoots seconds the motion (Motion 99-4-35). Motion passes unanimously, with no abstentions.
B.NAGPS (National Association of Graduate and Professional Students) Conference -- Ex-officio Kathleen Carberry offered a short history of NAGPS and invited delegates to attend either as participants/attendees (because we are hosting the conference, we get a deal on the entry fee) or as volunteers to help out with the conference, which OSU is hosting. More information is available at: www.nagps.org
C. Ad-Hoc Committee on Health Insurance: Resolution -- VP Cherrington entertained comments on the resolution, the purpose of which is to request certain changes and additions we feel would benefit students. In the end, however, it is up to Central Benefits to decide on any changes. The Committee's purpose is solely to advocate. Delegate John Soloninka requested a more detailed explanation of the 9th point. VP Cherrington explained that under the current policy, if you don't pay your fee by the 14th day, you are ineligible to enroll for health insurance. CGS wants this to change because graduate students typically do not get paid until end of October, i.e. they often cannot pay. Ms. Dafina Martin asked if there are any other options, such as extending the deadline. She noted that it was confusing from the wording of the resolution exactly what we are requesting. Ms. Cherrington suggested that we amend the wording of point #9 to extending deadline for payment. President Meyers suggested the following amendment: "continue the 14th day deadline for enrollment, but extend the deadline for payment until the last day of the 1st full month of the quarter" (italics mine -- CSP)
Q: Health insurance covered by GA waiver? This has been discussed at previous meetings. One option discussed has been the pre-tax deduction so that students do not have to pay taxes on that portion of the GA stipend that goes toward insurance. This is precisely why we would like a committee on this issue. President Meyers noted that RGC has also shown interest in graduate student compensation, though Parliamentarian Brian Rivera reported that RGC does not have this issue on their agenda this year. Delegate Hicar moved to amend point #14 of the resolution by adding the phrase "certain widely accepted" to "alternative therapies". Motioned was seconded by Delegate May. Vote: 4 against, 18 for. Motion to amend passes (Motion 99-4-36). The resolution itself passes unanimously, with no abstentions.
V. New Business
A. Election of Senators, Research and Graduate Council Representatives -- the following candidates were successfully elected: Jennifer Stoots (MBA student, Administrative Sciences) for University Senate (vote: 19 for); Valerie Bundy (Labor & Human Resource Management, Administrative Sciences), Betsey Breseman (Consumer & Textile Science, Agricultural Sciences), Karlyn Geis (Sociology, Social & Biological Sciences) and Sohail Munir (CIS, At-Large) for Research and Graduate Council (all candidates voted in unanimously).
VI. Delegate Issues and Concerns -- No concerns voiced today.
VII. Announcements
- Make a Difference Day, Oct. 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call Clayton Arrington @ 247-5859 to sign up.
- the Haunted Swamp, October 29, has been cancelled
- IPC Halloween Party/CGS, Newport Music Hall, October 29, tickets are $10, doors open at 9 p.m.
- CGS Float for Homecoming Parade, October 30, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call Kathleen Carberry for details. Meet at corner of 17th and Neil Ave.
- Next CGS meeting is scheduled for Friday December 3, Location TBD
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Delegate Geis moves to adjourn, Delegate Liner seconds (Motion 99-4-37). Meeting is adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
Warning: Unknown(): Unable to access 3;/usr/local/webs/SESSION/cgs in Unknown on line 0
[an error occurred while processing this directive]