Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
Council of Representatives
October 15, 2007
Memorial Room, Willard Straight Hall
5:30–7:00pm

I. Welcome and Introductions

M. Leinfelder called the meeting to order at 5:34pm.

Members of the e-board, office of the assemblies, and members of the council of representatives introduced themselves to each other. K. Hubbell and B. Wickes were also at the meeting.

II. Open Forum

E. Strong said he is part of the Collegetown Neighborhood Council. He said they meet once a month and if members have any issues to contact him and he will put it on the agenda for the next meeting.

A. Cowan said he is the vice chair of the University Assembly Codes and Judiciary Committee and wanted to thank people for being active and participating and commenting about the code. He said they are taking a lot of the comments seriously and considering making amendments.

D. Proctor represents on the Transportation Advisory Committee said October 26 is the first real meeting and if people have serious issues or advise to contact him.

M. Leinfelder said the council list will be on the website and updated soon, so that council members can be contacted more easily.

III. Executive Updates

Y. Yu mentioned how they are trying to have a collaboration with the Weill Medical School. She said some schools are willing to have a seminar series with the medical college.

M. Leinfelder said she is the vice president but also chairs the Communications Committee. She said a lot is going on, they will be working on the GPSAINFO listserve and collaborating with the Cornell Chronicle. If interested in serving on that committee to contact her. M. Leinfelder also said they need somebody who is computer savvy.

A. Richter gave a list of committees that still need volunteers.

IV. CIT Report: Polley McClure, Vice President of Information Technology

P. McClure said she came to the assembly meeting with a specific question and would like people’s opinions. She said with a recent survey, she learned that over 70% of students surveyed came into the university with existing e-mail addresses�they also stressed a preference with that initial electronic mail service over what Cornell provides.

P. McClure said they’re thinking of providing Google or Microsoft e-mails because they want to provide other services for students and at no cost. She said therefore the assembly might need to save some money for the university to give higher level of e-mail service. P. McClure said they are nowhere near the point of negotiating with Microsoft or Google, they are in the very early stages.

P. McClure said Microsoft and Google are willing to let students have netid@cornell.edu but the mail will go to Gmail or a Microsoft email account. She said Google is willing to not have ads pop up in the email. These services would be free, but then the provisions of the email change once you graduate.

There were some concerns such as privacy issues, whether or not the e-mail services would be Mac friendly and that imap would be gone. It was also asked whether or not this email program would apply to faculty and staff as well. P. McClure said that won’t have access to the free services because they would not be part of the program.

P. McClure said her e-mail is pam28 and to contact her with any questions or concerns.

M. Leinfelder said we can always invite P. McClure back to discuss this more.

V. Election of two Assembly Seats:

a. One MEng and one At-large

M. Leinfelder opened the floor for nominations.

D. Li nominated himself and gave a brief introduction.

M. Leinfelder asked for a motion to close nominations. A. Cowan made a motion to close nominations, N. Evensen seconded.

A. Cowan made a motion for affirmation, T. Pardo seconded. There was no dissent.

D. Li has the new MEng assembly seat.

M. Guerrero nominated C. Morales and he accepted. N. Agrawal nominated himself. A. Richter nominated M. Albert and he accepted.

A. Richter made a motion to close nominations. A. Cowan seconded.

Nominees said a brief speech and questions were asked.

An assembly member asked for clarification about what the at-large position. A. Richter explained that they are voting to have a member to serve on the voting assembly�which is the GPSA.

M. Albert withdrew his nomination.

A. Richter made a motion to end nominations and it was seconded.

C. Morales now holds the at-large seat.

VI. Annual Reports from Activity Fee Byline-Funded Organizations

a. EMS: Alec Johnson and Brandon Lemesh

M. Leinfelder explained that by-line funded groups automatically get funding as opposed to other events. Other events are voted upon and funded by the GPSAFC (also a byline funded group.

A. Johnson gave a quick introduction of what the organization is and what it does on campus. He said it is the largest EMS organization within Thomkins county. It is all volunteers and all services are free of charge. A. Johnson said the only funding comes from the GPSAFC and SAFC. Many different classes and training are offered such as CPR training, first aid training, etc.

A. Johnson said they are asking for an increase from $1 to $1.30. He said they asked for the same increase to the SAFC which was unanimously approved. Some reasons for the increase is that since January they changed to a 24 hour service which caused an increase in the number of calls. There is also an increase in gas prices, more vaccines are required, insurance costs have gone up, etc.

b. Slope Day: Liz Rappaport

M. Leinfelder said in the past couple of years, money from the GPSA budget was given towards the Slope Day event. Now the Activity Fee might give them direct funding.

L. Rappaport handed out results from a Gannett survey showing approximately 1500–2000 graduate students showed up to Slope Day. The data shows that 45% of graduate students do attend Slope Day.

L. Rappaport said they are hoping to promote a graduate community along with Slope Fest, which is a carnival type event.

L. Rappaport said that a lot of the undergraduate Greek community is really willing to help with Slope Day this year.

Some new ideas for Slope Day this year is that they hope to have a DJ on the slope to maybe help decrease drinking and keep the energy up. They are hoping to sell official Slope Day t-shirts and trying to promote Slope Fest more, especially towards grad students.

M. Hjellming gave reasons how graduate students could get involved. She asked the GPSA to supply them with representatives to sit on the Slope Day committees. They will also try to use the GPSAINFO e-mail.

Council of Representatives members made comments about the survey. They asked how much funding would be required. L. Rappaport replied, about $7. They asked about how bands were chosen. L. Rappaport replied there is a constant stream of people giving suggestions for bands. A. Richter said that the Gannett surveys might not be accurate since people could fill in the survey twice.

M. Leinfelder said byline funded groups will be going through the GPSA Funding Policy Committee, then voted on at Assembly meetings.

VII. Trustee Report: Mao Ye, Graduate Student Trustee

M. Leinfelder asked for a motion to extend the meeting for 10 minutes. A. Richter made a motion, M. Guerrero seconded.

M. Ye gave a presentation about what he is doing with spousal/dependants health insurance situation.

A. Richter mentioned that there was a pay and benefits survey conducted in 2005. She also said that the GCI is looking at various concerns graduate students have and healthcare is one of them.

VIII. Adjournment

M. Leinfelder adjourned the meeting at 7:20pm.

Respectfully submitted,
YuhLi Tsuei
Office of the Assemblies