[A closer look] Association makes communication a priority

Graduate students’ awareness of the Graduate Student
Association is limited, and many students are not aware of its
social activities and advocacy work. But officers say they are
beginning to combat apathy with better communication and anticipate
greater turnout in this year’s officer elections.

Michelle Sugi, the vice president of academic affairs for GSA,
said GSA might not be seen as effective because graduate students
are decentralized and have to make an effort to find out about
GSA’s services.

But she said that is beginning to change. “In this past
year, we’ve made a tremendous stride in making it more
visible to graduate students,” she said.

This year, GSA began sending out e-mails to all graduate and
professional students directly through the registrar’s office
rather than through student affairs officers as they did in the
past, resulting in more effective transmission of information, she
said.

Jared Fox, the president of GSA, said a greater number of
candidates for GSA is evidence of its visibility this year.
“I think the fact that we have contested positions for every
position is evidence of how much exposure (GSA has). I think we
will have higher voter turnout than we did last year,” he
said.

Fox said that last year, two positions were uncontested until
the deadline for candidacy was extended, and voter turnout was only
17 percent, a figure he called “disappointing.”

Many people don’t realize that some of the services they
use come from GSA, he said.

“Every graduate student and every professional student is
taking advantage of what GSA can offer them in some way,” he
said, citing reduced student fees and increased fellowships.

He said ignorance of GSA’s functions harms students
themselves. “We’ll still be here and provide services
for them. If they aren’t taking advantage of it then
that’s their loss, in my opinion.”

Most students have heard of GSA-sponsored activities, such as
grad bar and Melnitz movies. But GSA’s lesser-known role
includes allocating funds to student groups and publications,
creating and running the graduate student resource center and
advocacy work.

Recent advocacy has included lobbying state and national
governments to limit increases in student fees and advocating in
the capital for greater ease for international students obtaining
student visas.

Ali Parsa, a second-year electrical engineering graduate
student, said he attends GSA-sponsored activities such as
Engineering Graduate Student Association events, but he was not
aware of GSA advocacy work.

“I never knew they do lobbying. I thought they were just a
student organization,” he said. “If they do something
effective, that’s good.”

Low participation continues to be a problem.

Sage Fahimi, a first-year law student, said few law students
attend GSA events such as grad bar, but she is aware of them
because she does read GSA e-mails.

“I’m wary about my fees being used for something
that I’m not involved in,” she said, but added that it
depends how substantial GSA fees actually are. Fahimi explained
that she took out a lot of loans to attend UCLA. “I feel like
my money should go to my education.”

But Kris McFarren, a third-year law student, disagreed. He said
advocacy work to lower fees was much appreciated.

“I’m sure they’re doing a good enough job.
I’m sure (the fees are) well spent. I support them,” he
said. McFarren said he knew few classmates who attend GSA
functions. “(Low voter turnout) seems like a problem to me.
Also, I’m part of that problem. I would hope it would be
closer to 50 percent,” he said.

Saeed Chehrazi, a first-year electrical engineering graduate
student, said he is busy under the pressure of his graduate adviser
and does not follow GSA’s advocacy work or plan to vote in
the election.

“I personally never track this news. I don’t think
I’d (vote) this time just because I’m busy. I prefer
not to vote. I may vote for someone who’s not
eligible,” he said.

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