Special Presentation
Kelly Mroz from Student Legal Services shared what the office does and what services they provide for students. They are located at 248 E. Calder Way, Suite 303 in downtown State College, and their service is free and confidential. They advocate for the best for students that come to see them. Furthermore, she shared that 97% of students that come see them are satisfied with their service. She also mentioned how they are bringing to the Student Fee Board a proposal to have a pilot conflicts counsel program, in which they would pay a consultation with a lawyer for students with landlord tenant issues that SLS can’t work on.
Executive Board Reports
In Executive Board reports, President Schönn Franklin shared that he mentioned to the interim Dean the plan for a Graduate Development Officer and they are working on how to fill that position. He also added they are still working on the graduate and professional student trustee position to be added to the agenda of the relevant Board of Trustees committee and then setting a meeting in February to bring it up. Lastly, he mentioned that the graduate dean search committee was reconstituted and they would continue searching for suitable candidates to recommend to the provost.
Vice President Jalen Jeter shared that the Sexual Misconduct and Response Office is working on new projects and doing assessments to see what students want from their office. He then shared they are planning a town hall meeting for the coming months. Lastly he shared he will be serving on the Council of Commonwealth Student Government’s elections committee and there he will be assisting them with approving candidate platforms and with questions during the elections as well.
Treasurer Matt Billups shared that the available funds are now at $29,000 and that the co-sponsored criminal justice reform conference was canceled so that money came back to the available funds. He then mentioned that as events are being planned to let him know and ask him questions so things that have to be paid are resolved from the beginning.
Secretary Alex Zhao shared that the next edition of the newswire will go out tomorrow and for people who wanted items included to email him by noon tomorrow. He also called on committee chairs to send him attendance records.
Faculty Senator Lillian Schaeffer said that yesterday was the Faculty Senate day and that March 7th will be the transition day to the new president from President Barron. Then in the meeting, they talked about SRTEs and how to better protect faculty and students from violent and discriminatory SRTEs. There were also multiple reports around issues of diversity, university relationships, and free speech. Faculty senators in general expressed frustration with the treatment of Oliver Baker in the context of Barron’s remarks to the Senate about the need to defend free speech.
Graduate Council Claire Kelling shared that they had a council meeting last Wednesday and that they had a very long discussion around changes to the graduate minor policy. She presented the results of the survey and GPSA’s resolution and that they will keep discussing. She mentioned that the Committee on Graduate Student and Faculty Issues is working on the personal time policy, and they proposed 20 days of personal time to each graduate student per academic year but they will keep discussing this as well.
Speaker of the Assembly Sandeep Krishnakumar said thank you to everyone who filled out the attendance form and to keep signing it and to please reach out to him if you have any questions or updates. Chief Justice Sam Altland mentioned that the intent to run forms for this year’s elections will appear within the week.
New Business
Presidential Appointments
- Ava McCartin, nominee for Law School delegate, shared why she wants to be in this position as well as her experiences and specific interests. Voting took place and she was confirmed by the Assembly.
- Rola Tarek, nominated for At-Large delegate, shared why she wants to be in GPSA, her experience, and her interests. Voting took place and she was confirmed by the Assembly.
After the confirmation of presidential appointments, Resolution 71-11 was brought up, which proposed ByLaws changes that would reorganize the standing committees of the GPSA. This would entail combining the Community Outreach Committee and the Programming Committee into a new Student Engagement Committee. Since the two committees share overlap in their work, it was argued that combining them would allow them to work better by increasing their bandwidth and staffing. Questions and discussions continued for a long time, with concerns about the new committee being too focused on programming and not enough on service opportunities and community outreach. After a long discussion of the pros and cons of the proposal, voting took place and the resolution passed.
Reports:
- Advocacy and Diversity: Chair Megan Minnich shared that the Pride Brunch is happening this Sunday over Zoom. Additionally, she mentioned that their meetings are Wednesdays at 5:30PM before Assembly meetings and anyone is welcome to join.
- Professional Development: No report.
- Programming: Chair Ama Agyapong shared that they have their upcoming coffee hour next month, and they are planning on having a showcase to show cultures and talents of different students, and that draft of the bill is being created. As well as they have meetings every other Wednesday at 6 pm and anyone is welcome to join.
- Community Outreach: Chair Ram Neupane shared that the committee is meeting tomorrow at 9 am. As well as they are working with UPUA on having a bicycle helmet giveaway.
- Internal Development: No report.
Liaison Reports:
Alex Zhao shared that the Student Transportation Advisory Committee met recently, seeking feedback on how to improve the Lyft late night rides program, and that both Schonn and him conveyed concerns around CATA cuts on Sundays affecting graduate and professional students. Furthermore, he mentioned that the Graduate Exhibition subcommittee has finalized the details for the Graduate Exhibition, except for the virtual component due to contract issues.