The UCLA Graduate Students Association is the voice of graduate students on campus. The association meets for forum every three weeks and takes positions on current issues affecting graduate students. Forum meetings are at 5:30 p.m. in the Ackerman Viewpoint Lounge.
Agenda
“¢bull; Council representatives voted to put a $5 Graduate Students Association fee increase proposal on the spring election ballot. After some debate, the measure passed by a vote of 13-6-0. President Michael Weismeyer presented the benefits of the increase and outlined the current GSA budget before the vote. The $5 increase ““ on top of the current $15.75 graduate students pay in fees to GSA ““ would support the GSA and its councils, and the Graduate Writing Center. A portion of the funds from the increase would also support graduate students through financial aid.
“¢bull;Â A council representative presented about a demonstration on campus planned for Thursday informing the public about the recent hate crime against the Latino community. The rally will be held in front of Kerckhoff Hall at noon.
“¢bull; David Chillin, vice president of external affairs, presented the final draft of the GSA response letter to police violence against non-violent protesters on UC campuses. Council representatives approved modifying the language of the letter before finally approving the letter by a 14-0-0 vote.
“¢bull; The law council clarified the fact that graduate students cannot opt out of individual graduate student fees, even for services they do not use. The council then asked about whether councils can secede from the GSA. Michael Cohn, administrative representative of the GSA and associate director of the Center for Student Programming, said councils can secede from the GSA. Even if a council secedes, Cohn said the council members would still have to pay fees to support the GSA.
Appointments
“¢bull; Engineering student Vanessa Thusiraj was nominated as the new director of communications by a vote of 15-0-0. The former director of communications, Marissa Vogt, is graduating.
Officer Reports
“¢bull; President Michael Weismeyer said he attended the first Graduate and Professional Student Welfare Committee meeting, which discusses quality of life issues for graduate students. Weismeyer said he participated in a trial for filing dissertations electronically. Starting Tuesday, all masters theses and doctoral dissertations will be filled electronically.
“¢bull; Arda Melkonian, vice president of internal affairs, met with the Graduate Writing Center Oversight Committee on Feb. 9. The committee has finalized the Writing Center budget and is working on a draft about the mission of the Writing Center. Melkonian attended a student lobby conference this weekend in Sacramento with undergraduate and graduate students from across California. She also attended the first Graduate and Professional Student Welfare Committee meeting.
“¢bull; Doris Melkonian, vice president of academic affairs, scheduled a “Meet the Dean” reception with Robin Garrell, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the UCLA Graduate Division. Melkonian also attended the Graduate Writing Center Oversight Committee meeting and the Graduate and Professional Student Welfare Committee meeting.
“¢bull; David Chillin, external vice president, spoke about attending the student lobby conference in Sacramento.