MINUTES
Graduate & Professional Student Assembly
Special Voting and Discussion Meeting of the GPSA Advisory Body
Monday, December 7, 2009
304 Fernow Hall
5:30–7:00 P.M.

I. Welcome & Introductions

The meeting was called to order at 5:34 p.m. by N. Evensen. Since quorum of voting members was not yet reached, the discussion meeting started. At 6:10pm, the special voting body meeting started. Following the conclusion of the voting body meeting, the discussion meeting resumed. N. Evensen will be chairing the voting body meeting & B. Forster will be chairing the advisory body meeting since E. Gutierrez is away.

Special Voting Meeting (called to order at 6:10pm)

a. Approval of Ad-hoc Committees:

Ad-hoc committees are committees which the GPSA have decided should be in place. They are temporary committees to address things not mentioned in other committees or areas which the GPSA feels need more committees.

1. Sustainability

This committee was set up in response to the numerous applications for the GPSA seat on the UA Sustainability committee (currently held by F. Cowett until June 2010). This committee allows those individuals to work on issues of sustainability for the GPSA. B. Forster made the motion to create the committee. It was seconded by L. Schneider. By a vote of 11–0−0 the committee was created.

2. Graduate Mental Health

This committee was set up in response to 2008–2009 GPSA Resolution R.6 asking for the formation of a working group to look at specifically graduate mental health care at Cornell. The chair of the committee is Ed Miles. B. Forster made a motion for approval of the formation of the committee. B. Heavner moved to acclimate. There was no dissent. The committee was created.

3. Data Collection & Analysis

This committee was set up in response to the surveys sent by the GPSA while discussing the 2010–2012 Activity Fee. The purpose of the committee is to better prepare and analyze surveys distributed to the graduate community by the GPSA. B. Forster motioned to approve the committee’s formation. S. Murugesan moved to acclimate. There was no dissent. The committee was created.

Voting meeting ended 6:20pm.

II. Discussion Meeting - Executive Updates

a. President: Nighthawk Evensen

N. Evensen reported that an advisory committee has been formed by the provost to discuss the “reimagining” reports. The committee will include four grad students. He announced that one of the Task force notebooks is available for viewing in 109 Day Hall.

b. Vice President of Operations: Brian Forster

He is taking comments and recommendations and writing a letter to Provost Fuchs. In January, there will be a meeting to go through the comments. The comments will be sent out. He has asked committees for information through the monthly reports. Four committees had announcements: (a) Slope Day has 3 GPSA members on the committee. Questions or concerns about Slope Day should be directed to Travis Chapin (tkc24). (b) The UA Sustainability Committee is discussing a moratorium on the land on Cornell from which natural gas can be extracted. Questions or comments are to be directed to Fred Cowett (frediana@earthlink.com). © The campus code of conduct is discussing clauses about discrimination. Email Ethan Warsh (epw37) with comments/concerns/questions. (d) Office-assigned IP addresses will now have user net-ids in them. Contact Christoffer Heckman (crh94) with comments/concerns/questions.

III. Committee Updates

a. Advocacy Committee: Cresten Mansfeldt

They are investigating the idea of a graduate student gift fund for the Big Red Barn.

b. Communications Committee: Ben Heavner, Jamie Guillory

The logo designs were shown and they are working on making the final decision as to which is chosen and where the logo will be located. They sent a letter to all departments on campus trying to let them know to get in contact if they do not have field representatives. They also discussed making meetings not have as high a barrier for field representatives to interact. Voting and non-voting members are not interacting. With the events committee, they were working on putting together a coffee hour in order to find ways to bridge the divide. The other issue is the blog which had 4,323 unique hits. Another idea is to have field representatives bring up issues on the blog.

IV. Deputy Provost David Harris on the United Way � Presentation and Questions

James Brown from the United Way was the first to present to the group. He explained the United Way needs more help this year than any other.

The Director of the Women’s Opportunity Center was the next to present. She explained she receives approximately $30,000 dollars for her organization from United Way. They serve single mothers, displaced homemakers, etc.

Richie Moran then spoke about the history of the United Way in Tompkins County and what a worthy cause he felt it was.

Deputy Provost David Harris was the last to present and made a point to explain that there are many ways to participate, including online or at the Big Red Barns drop box. December 10th is the last grad’s night out. Level B, in partnership with the GPSA, will donate part of the evening’s profits to the United Way. He asked representatives to mention the United Way when appropriate. He is happy to answer questions by email if anyone has any about the United Way. There is also the “Share the Warmth” project which accepts winter clothing donations in the community. He explained that 100% of the money goes directly to the general fund, as the administrative costs are taken care of by other donations

V. R.4 “Lights Off, Cornell” (20 minutes) Jolyon Bloomfield, Sustainability

The GPSA Ad-Hoc Sustainability committee has been working with the SA Environmental Issues committee on this resolution asking Cornell to turn off building lights after hours. The committees estimate around 1% of energy costs could be cut just by turning off lights. This could be a good way to mobilize students. R.4 calls for the formation of a task force to present a proposal to the university. The committees believe it should be campus wide and work with facilities, deans, and building managers to come up with a program that works. In addition, there needs to be a way of promoting communication between people and want to get presented to the GPSA and SA early next year.

S. Murugesan moved to approve. B. Heavner seconded. By a vote of 10–0−1, resolution 4 passes.

III. Committee Updates (cont.)

c. Sustainability Committee: Jolyon Bloomfield J. Bloomfield explained further the committee’s goals. d. Events: Srich Murgesan S. Murugesan explained that the last Grad’s Night Out was to be Thursday. C. Mansfeldt is slated to be the dee-jay. Level B is planning to donate a portion of the profits to the United Way. In the future, they are going to places they go to donate a portion to the United Way. He suggested anyone ask him any United Way questions as he is the representative for it. Grad’s movie night is Friday, with tickets being two dollars. Saturday at the Schwartz Center there is another way to help the United Way by attending It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play as a part of the ticket cost is being donated.

VII. Presentation on the Activity Fee Recommendation (10 minutes) Dave Walden, Appropriations

D. Walden explained the goals they set out when they went about setting the fee. They wanted to increase transparency and how involved people were. The first step was the blogs. There were debates on the fees. Groups met with the advisory board. He would’ve liked more questions directed toward the Appropriations Committee. He and Erica created the survey, but they did not have hard data to go on. The next steps were to send it to President Skorton for final approval. They wish to continue working with Cornell Cinema. There was a discussion about Cornell Cinema’s allocations. They want to reach out to the head of Athletics. S. Murugesan volunteered to take on the summer hours issues. The Appropriations committee is starting a website to increase transparency of the activity fee allocations.

VII. Open Forum

a. UA Update — Ed Strong

E. Strong explained what the UA is and what it does. If anyone had issues on the discrimination clause, he urged them to contact their graduate representative. If that does not help, he suggested letting him know because he will be voting on the clause. They have been looking at modernizing the charter. If anyone has any opinions to share, he urged them to contact him.

b. GCA Selection Process

Mary Ann Krisa, the graduate residential manager for Hasbrouck, Hughes and Thurston Court came to speak on becoming a Graduate Community Advisor (GCA). GCAs are essentially a graduate RA living in on-campus graduate housing. The deadline for applying is in February. There are a lot of openings this year. To find this, go to www.cornell.edu and search “GCA Application.” Housing is included and there is a small stipend.

c. Other issues

The GPSA discussed the 20 task force reports. An idea brought forth in the reports was turning Hasbrouck Apartments into an undergraduate living area. B. Heavner and N. Evensen recommended anyone with strong issues about this to contact them.

B. Heavner said that members of the Provost’s Advisory Committee were asked to come up with ideas on how Cornell can have a better graduate environment. B. Heavner asked the advisory body for their ideas. Ideas mentioned included website improvement, more funding options and interdisciplinary funding.

B. Forster said that the next meeting for the Voting Body is January 25th and the next meeting for the Advisory Body is February 1st.

VIII. Motion to Adjourn

S. Murugesan motioned to adjourn at 7:00 p.m. B. Heavner seconded. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Brittany Rosen.