Graduate and Professional Student Council
General Assembly Meeting
9-25-2007 7:00 - 8:30 pm
University Committee Appointments
Duke University Union Presentation
Convene: 7:02 pm
I. Approval of the minutes from 9/11/07
Christie Eyler –The minutes should be amended so that the last section discussing the meeting schedule clarifies that the Fall schedule only was approved and the Spring schedule will be voted upon at the first meeting in the Spring.
Move to approve minutes with above amendment.
Motion made and seconded
Motion Passes Unanimously
a. NAGPS
Gautham Pandiyan – He serves on the national board of NAGPS and would like to discuss some of the great opportunities in the organization. There are about 2 million GnP students and NAGPS represents these students from various schools in the nation. The mission is to connect people with each other and to promote GnP rights. The most recent thing they did was to have a legislative action day where they lobbied for various rights of GnP students, such as a Grad student tax exemption, a Graduate student loan interest rate cut, international student visa issues. This organization is a great way to network with people and make connections, as well as a professional development tool as something for your resume.
NAGPS has different regional organizations that each has a regional conference with various programming. There will be a national conference for people throughout the country this year. It is from November 15-18 at the University of Texas at Austin. We are sending 3-4 students this year and there will be an email going out on Monday about how to apply for this. There are also awards given out at this conference to people who are exceptional in the GnP student arena, so read that email for how to nominate people for these awards. They are looking for students to get involved in all levels (regional, national, conferences, etc.). You can go to www.nagps.org for more information.
Sara Becker – She would like to commend Gautham for being the only GPSC person from Duke who has been on the NAGPS board.
Soji Sajuyigbe – Who covers the travel expenses for this conference?
Gautham Pandiyan – This is still being worked out and the final number of student spots is not known, but most likely all expenses will be covered for those who are selected to attend. If your department or school would be willing to fund your travel, that would be great as well because we will be more represented as a school the more people that are able to attend.
b. Basketball Committee
Gavin Rogers and Laura Simmons Kovacs – Basketball campout is this weekend. You can come even if you didn’t register if you want to hang out. Be there before 7 pm because that is what time signup ends. If you haven’t heard from your community service project leader, you probably will hear from them this week and there will also be information at campout. Campout will be on the corner of Wannamaker and University. What you should bring: an active Duke ID (they will be swiped this year), $5 in Flex or cash, a canned food good, confirmation email from your registration, a check or money order for $150 made out to DUAA (or enough Flex in your account; the DukeCard office will be running a drawing for a free season ticket card to encourage Flex use), and everything else you need to be able to make it through the weekend. What not to bring: whistles, noisemakers, kegs, pets. There will be quiet hours from 3am – 8 am. Generators must be on the periphery of the campsite. Grills must be used responsibly and in a safe location. If you are sponsored, you cannot display a banner for that sponsor. Be respectful of President Richard Brodhead’s property while you are camping. Things that are going on: tent decorating, bball shootout, DJ, karaoke, food on Saturday, etc. There will be food and beverages provided by a variety of student groups. There is a student drawing for Duke-UNC tickets for $5 (3 for $12), there will be a silent auction to benefit the Emily K. center, the Durham Crisis Response Center, and the Durham Animal Rescue center. The RV captain meeting is tomorrow. You can set up your tents tomorrow or Thursday. You can drop off your tent stuff on Friday from 2-3, but you need to bring a friend because there is not a place for you to put your car if you get out of the car. If you have any questions, contact bballcmte@gmail.com.
c. GPSC Goes Green
Mary Greene, Brandon Little, Anna-Marie Laura - They tried to do their best to provide a sustainable meal experience for the meeting tonight. The first thing they did was use an on-campus caterer. There are some recommendations for how to make meetings “green” that they have provided – the “Green Event Planning Guide.” They have highlighted some of the things that they did to make the meeting green, such as the fact that they will be composting and recycling from the paper goods used during the meeting. (See Appendix A for Green Event Planning guidelines).
Crystal Brown – She wanted to let everyone know that Yvonne will be conducting the meeting because our VP Betsy Holmberg has had to resign due to health concerns in her immediate family. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Right now the Executive Board is in the process of generating a list of people to interview in the process of appointing a new VP. According to the bylaws, replacements for open Exec positions (except for the President) are to be selected by the President and then confirmed by the GA. If anyone, especially more veteran GPSC members, feels they would like to fill this position, please contact her directly. Hopefully we will be able to do this in time to have the proposed VP confirmed at the October 16th meeting. Also, the think tank will start at the next meeting, so bring any issues or comments you want to discuss.
IV. University Committee Presentation
Ali Saaem – The selection of the proposed slate was via a nominations committee comprised of himself, Crystal, David, Christie, Alethea, Betsy, and Yvonne. This year there were 100 people who applied. Essentially people were selected based upon the abilities and past experience noted in their application materials.
There are some committees that still do not have reps: 1) the Arts and Sciences Council (people from the A&S schools that will be in communication regarding programming and other issues for students in these schools), 2) the Duke Forest Committee, 3) the Library Council (2 reps are needed to work with the library council), and 4) the Postdoctoral Association Liaison (this had not been filled in the past but he would like to have it filled).
There are some UCs that are partially filled that he would like other people to fill: 1) Harassment and Grievance Board, 2) Academic Integrity, and others. All of this is posted on the UC portion of the GPSC webpage.
He asked for the approval of the slate of nominees presented (see Appendix B). These are all people who had applied. It is not necessary to be a representative to be appointed to this committee.
Move to end discussion and accept the slate of UC nominations as recommended by the nominations committee.
Motion: Theresa Finn, Second: Gautham Pandiyan
Motion Passed Unanimously
V. Student Group Funding Review
David Kahler – He and the finance committee worked together to develop a proposed budget that was approved last Spring. There are several changes he would like to propose. The details that were presented were gone into more depth during the retreat. He went over the major changes in the proposed budget as follows (the full version can be seen in Appendix C).
The NAGPS dues will be knocked down from $1000 to $500 while the funding for the conference will be increased to $3000.
GA meeting enhancements will be $350 per meeting and there is an increased proposed in the committee meeting enhancements because Ali has planned some special events that need increased funding and can easily be accommodated from roll-over monies from last year.
The social budget last year was $27,000 but only about $20,000 was spent. Social seems to recover a lot of money from events and so he suggests dropping the budgeted amount for social to $25,000.
The President’s fund is going to be dropped to $500 from $1000. Last year the money was not used.
Last year the Social budget was $27,000, and only $20,000 of this was used so the Finance Committee recommends dropping this budget to $25,000.
The Public Relations line item was created last year to fund various projects, but was not used and he would suggest removing this from the budget.
The community service budget has a proposed increase since we have plenty of money left over in the reserves.
As far as group funding is concerned, there are always more requests than there is money. Special Group Funding is a category that is basically an emergency fund for groups for new initiative funding (e.g. the Katrina cup sales after Hurricane Katrina).
The increase in $2000 in the proposed budgeted items will likely not create problems with the budget.
He showed a pie-chart that displayed that slightly more than 80% of GPSC funds go directly back to the students, though you could make an argument about the other things as being beneficial to students. Student fees will continue to increase along with inflation per a decision 1.5 years ago until 2009. He would recommend to increase the line items that directly go to students, so what he would like to do is to put the money brought in by the inflation increases in these line items.
Eric Vance – He would recommend to leave the President’s fund at the same amount, rather than reducing it to $500.
Move to amend the budget proposal to restore the President’s fund to $1000.
Motion: Eric Vance, Second: Wadia Haddaji
Discussion:
Oliver Gjoneski – What is the President’s fund used for?
Crystal Brown – For a variety of things, e.g. the Exec nametags, lunch for the BOT committee members.
Sara Becker – She thinks the reason that funding in this line item has changed in the past few years is because 2 years ago the President used it for the GPSC UHaul for campout. Since then there has been other money dedicated to the UHaul.
Wadia Haddaji - He thinks that the former amount is not too big and could be maintained.
Vote: 34 people in favor (majority of those present) – Motion passes
Move to approve the budget as presented.
Motion: David Kahler and Finance Committee, Second: Michael Schwartz
Discussion:
Move to change the budget proposal to restore the Social budget to $27,000.
Motion: Wadia Haddaji, Second: Peggy St. Jacques
Discussion:
Wadia Haddaji - He’s talked to the Student Live Co-Chairs who feel as if they would use the extra money. There is no reason to reduce it since this money goes back to the students.
Catherine Brown – If we approve this, then it will amount to spending $4500 more than the original budget presented.
Kim Novick – Do you have any idea how much was spent during Orientation activities?
David Kahler – It is correct as presented within a few hundred dollars. The way the budget year works is that the money budgeted to Social ends up also covering the Summer and Orientation events for the next year. Altogether for last year and these events this past Summer, $20,000 was spent roughly.
Alethea Duncan – During the summer they spent more money than was spent last summer and so they will likely use more money through the year.
Jessi Bardill – A large chunk of the budget is for the Spring Formal at the end of the year, but anything left over after that is used for Summer events.
Laura Johnson – Why do you think that this year you will go so much over what was spent last year? Are there more events planned?
Alethea Duncan – Based on the summer spending, she feels like they will be using more money than the previous Co-Chairs used. Sometimes some of the events have tickets or other items that will re-generate some money after sales.
Elizabeth Rach – Keep in mind that the budget is flexible. Say a smaller amount is approved for Social. If they need more in the Spring, there is the flexibility to increase the funds allocated to them then.
David Kahler – There is $2000 on the budget for Community Service. Most of the time the Community Service money is not very used because lots of the purpose of the Community Service of GPSC is to volunteer. Direct monetary contributions are not allowed to be made since this money is from student fees.
Vote: 27 in favor, 25 opposed. Motion passes.
Move to change the budget proposal to delete the Public Relations line item.
Motion: Theresa Finn, Second: Luke Riservato.
Discussion: No discussion
Vote: Unanimously approved
Move to change the budget proposal to decrease the proposed group funding amount to $34,000.
Motion: Abraham Thomas, Seconded: unrecorded
Discussion:
Abraham Thomas - The money for the other proposals has to come from somewhere to accommodate the changes already approved elsewhere.
David Kahler – There are a lot of groups that come to us and ask for money.
Patti Thomas– A lot of group funding is for social events put on for students by groups other than GPSC, but events are being put on for student events nonetheless.
Jenny Woodruff – She has served as Student Group Liaison and Student Life Co-Chair. She emphasizes how important it is to fund student groups since GPSC is sometimes the only source of funding they have. She would strongly discourage decreasing the amount available to these groups.
Ali Saaem – He would like to emphasize that there is still a surplus in the proposed budget, even with the already-approved revisions.
Eric Vance – Last year GPSC voted to increase the funding for group funding by $1000.
Bhargav V.K. - He wondered whether the allocation for the GPSC retreat should be changed since there weren’t very many Reps that came this year.
David Kahler – Though it was on there for $7000 this last year, but it ended up being very cost-neutral because of other funding sources.
Vote: Not a majority. Motion is defeated
David Kahler – The communications budget of $1000 is there because Dimitriy had asked for it before for website needs.
Yvonne Ford– The main motion is to approve the budget as presented (with approved amendments).
Vote: Unanimously approved
David Kahler – He discussed a bylaw revision that will be discussed at the October 16 meeting. This bylaw will make it possible for GPSC to give student groups money to be used for food if it is for an academic purpose (e.g. an academic oriented speaker with a reception). In the past, the current bylaw has been interpreted in such a way that food is only allowed for cultural events or if food is the event (e.g. a Science of Chocolate event).
Yvonne Ford – Because this won’t be voted on until the next meeting, we should move to the next topic. We will vote on this proposed change at the next meeting (October 16).
He showed the proposed student group funding amounts by group (Appendix C). For each group there was a column for the requested funding amount, the granted funding amount, and a pending amount for those groups who asked for money for food that cannot be granted unless the bylaw is approved.
Heather Mallory – So we’re trying to change the bylaws to retroactively fund food for student groups (so that the people who applied for student group funding who followed the rules are penalized).
David Kahler – This potential change was announced.
Elizabeth Rach – Also, all groups were asked to submit 2 applications for funding in case the bylaw was approved and funding for food became possible.
Move to approve the proposed group funding as presented.
Motion: David Kahler and Finance Committee
Discussion:
Claire Sibert – Does this proposal include events that have already happened?
David Kahler – No. These are for the Fall.
Vote: Unanimously approved
VI. Duke University Union Presentation
Katelyn Donnelly: She (President) and Lauren Maisel (VP) addressed the council on behalf of the Duke University Union (DUU). The DUU is the largest student organization on campus and supports things ranging from a student record label, a film studio, the Broadway shows on campus, Freewater movies, the TV station, a coffeehouse, Jazz at Mary Lou Williams Center, Oktoberfest, Springternational, etc.
Lauren Maisel - The reason they are here is to request an increase in the GnP student activity fee such that the portion going to DUU would be increased. They handed out a sheet profiling their request and their organization. GnP students currently pay $10.50. Three years ago, GPSC’s Exec approached DUU and asked if they could raise the fees charged by DUU to GnP students but the DUU leadership at the time declined. Now they are able to plan better due to some reorganized budgeting, but now they need more money. They request that the fee be increased by $5.25/semester (for a total of $21/year).
Alethea Duncan – Do you have any statistics regarding how many GnP students go to events? How do you gauge how DUU reaches out to GnP students?
Lauren Maisel - One of the problems with the statistics is because DUU does not sell their own tickets to various productions and instead they sell them through the Duke University Box Office. Since 2003-2004, DUU has asked that the Box Office keep better track of who attends events, but other than the fact campus-wide events with alcohol tend to have higher GnP attendance than other events, this has not been successful. They are increasing these events that tend to be frequented by GnP students. They have also been increasing marketing initiatives through giveaways like pens and t-shirts and the creation of a new marketing committee.
Yvonne Ford: How many GnP students are represented in the government structure of DUU?
Katelyn Donnelly - There are 3 out of about 20, which includes undergraduates, staff, faculty, etc. None of our current GnP representatives went to Duke Undergrad.
Patrick Palmieri – There is a big issue with credibility because if there is not adequate GnP representation on a board, why should GnP students give money?
Katelyn Donnelly – Because DUU programs for GnP students. They advertise their positions to GnP students as heavily and consistently as to the undergraduates. They use blast emails and fliering.
Kat Mitchell – This would raise the overall fee by how much?
David Kahler – GPSC charges $15.50 per student per year. This is in addition to the $10.50 charged currently by the DUU per year. The proposed increase would raise the total amount charged for student fees to $35 per year.
Crystal Brown – She had met with the DUU President and VP earlier. She would like to see where this money is going if it is approved.
Lauren Maisel - They do budget allocations at the end of the year and they like to have flexibility in their budgeting to accommodate new programming ideas, including ideas from GPSC and/or GnP students.
Move to extend the meeting by 10 minutes
Motion: Gautham Pandiyan. Second: Wadia Haddaji
Vote: Unanimously approved
Lauren Maisel – They essentially have 2 options – to get the approval from this body to raise the fee for GnP students or there will need to be price differentials between Undergrad and GnP student fees charged to attend DUU events.
Gautham Pandiyan – He has been to a lot of DUU services and knows that they are used by GnP students. This is a worthy cause to consider. This is important especially for international students, etc.
David Kahler – He does think it will be difficult to raise the fee by 100%, though he thinks it could be approved to raise it by less. The last fee increase was 7 years ago. Also, the website says that the DUU is open to undergraduates from all over the university, not GnP students. Your proposed increases suggest putting funding into Cable 13, visual arts, marketing, major speakers and not the campus-wide events with alcohol that you say are most frequented by GnP students.
Katelyn Donnelly & Lauren Maisel – The numbers they use in their budgeting are always underestimated. The website was made by the webmaster and they can’t speak for what the webmaster does, though the Constitution and mission statement of the DUU mention GnP students. The 3 year plan is not a final document – they want it to be more innovative and creative in planning events so they want to have a pot of money available for proposed programming. They do think that the areas that are proposed as getting money from this proposed fee increase (the record label, the recording studio, Cable 13, speakers). Some funding will be devoted to other programming than you see in the line items.
Matt Royal – This is similar to a problem with ESG and EGSC (Engineering Student Government and Engineering Graduate Student Government, respectively). ESG wanted money for something that they said was frequented by Graduate students. It is hard to make these decisions without numbers.
Ali Saaem – The website is inaccurate, the application for participation with DUU is a Word document that makes no mention that GnP students are allowed to apply.
Lauren Maisel – But it does not specifically exclude them from applying.
Patti Thomas – There are actually more like 6000 GnP students so these funding estimates that you have with 4500 GnP students grossly underestimates the amount of people contributing money. So we could have a smaller increase leading to the same lump sum. She thinks the general consensus is that we are not very supportive of this fee increase.
Catherine - If it is true that we only attend events such as the alcohol-containing events, what if we could cosponsor events with them instead of increasing funding for DUU from GnP students overall.
Christie Eyler - Traditionally the University has not considered GnP students as heavily as undergrads even though there are comparable numbers between the two. Even though the fee charged to GnP students by the DUU is less, it is pretty clear that there is no encouragement for us to be involved. This treatment of GnP students essentially as an afterthought is creating a bit of resentment among us. This is something that has been almost a trend in the University. You need to take this into consideration and come back with concrete numbers for us. For example, she doesn’t think many GnP students use Cable 13, except on Central and even there the proportion of GnP students around is much less. We would be willing to consider an increase if we had more concrete numbers to consider.
Move to extend the meeting 5 minutes.
Motion: David Kahler. Second: Nathan Morton
Vote: Approved
Theresa Finn - She represents a program with a large international population and she knows that they use these services. Do we have to make this decision right now? She doesn’t feel as if she can make this decision with this information at this time.
Crystal Brown – She is intricately involved in this. Technically they don’t need GPSC’s support in order to propose a raise of this fee to the BoT, but they are coming here to try to get our support even though they do not actually need to do so. This is a courtesy that they are even addressing us because they do not have to.
Unidentified Speaker – This has become a very circular discussion and she thinks we should just vote. They should resubmit to us in 2 weeks after taking our concerns into account.
Yvonne Ford – If this is presented to the BoT without our support, will there be any GnP voice present?
Crystal Brown – Yes, the BoT Committee Members will be there, such as Ali Saaem. This also could be something that we partially approve (instead of the whole amount proposed).
Katelyn Donnelly - As a concluding statement, the DUU is supportive of GnP students but to reflect this in programming it will take some more resources. They are willing to work with GnP students on the numbers. Contact krd4@duke.edu with ideas or if you want to participate. In truth, they’ve come away from the meeting feeling a bit attacked.
Wadia Haddaji - Please know that this is not against you personally. You should have been more prepared, but basically we just needed more information.
David Kahler – If we approve a fee increase here, what number would work for you that is lower than the 100% increase that you are proposing?
Lauren Maisel – The real question is what would work for you.
Yvonne Ford – Alcohol was mentioned as a big expense, perhaps revenue can be captured from this.
David Kahler – He thinks that increasing the fee by $2.50 per semester is $1 more than the ` proposal that was made and declined by GPSC in 2003-2004.
Move to extend discussion by 3 minutes.
Motion made and seconded
Vote: Unanimously approved
Move to approve an increase by $2.50 per semester in fees to DUU.
Motion: Pete Glickenhaus. Seconded (unknown second).
Vote: 26 people in favor, Motion passes.
Adjourn: 8:48 pm
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 070925 Appendix A.pdf | 61.26 KB |
| 070925 Appendix C.pdf | 94.17 KB |
| 070925 Appendix B.pdf | 39.66 KB |