CUNY Graduate Center
Doctoral Students’ Council
Steering Committee Minutes

December 2, 2005

Present: Celia Braxton, Ericka Calton, Stephanie Domenici, David H. Golland, Lee
Hachedoorian, Brenda Vollman, Chong Wojtkowski, Charles Lieberman (ex-officio, non-
voting). Excused: Tina Lee, Adriana Tomasino. Proxies: Celia Braxton for Tina Lee.

Chairperson: Lee Hachedoorian
Minutes: Celia Braxton
Meeting called to order at 6:14pm

I. Approval of Agenda—unanimous consent with changes: at home.

II. Minutes approved with minor format changes by unanimous consent and a change
regarding absentee reps discussion.

III. Old Business
A. Health Issues: Ericka reports that just over 100 responses to the Health Services
survey have been received, including paper and online. The Committee is
focusing now on advertising the website. We must also find out what Mary
Clancy’s real hours are and compare them with student on-campus hours. The
Committee also will be trying to raise awareness of the differences between the
Wellness Center and Psychological Counselling by flyering about health events.
Lee Hachedoorian volunteered to join the Committee
B. Charles: President Kelly says he doesn’t believe there is any room in the building
for bicycles. Charles suggested installing CCTV on the exterior directed towards
the bike racks so Security can monitor the bike racks. Lee questions whether there
is really no room? Brenda suggests they can come in at the service entrance.
Charles will update us next meeting.
C. Disability: Brenda reports the Hub station now has Jaws. Student Affairs has
designated this an “adapted” station.
D. Travel & Research Fund: After discussion, it appears the SC is in agreement on
splitting the allocations into two pots, Fall and Spring, with Fall allocations to be
allotted only to activities taking place during the months designated as the Fall
semester, and Spring allocations allotted only to activities taking place in those
months designated as Spring. Which months go with which semester? The
problems are really August and January, in both of which we believe there is a
fair amount of travel for conferences. Both cannot go into the Fall semester, or
the Spring allocation will be unfairly and significantly more generous. Tina has
been volunteered to work with Lee to discover what records are available from
the Business Office and Marilyn Marzolf that would enlighten us on which months
are most popular for traveling and conferencing.

IV. Report of the Co-Chair for Communications, David H. Golland
A. Absentee representatives: No new problems have revealed themselves. Seven
reps. in total have been dropped for various reasons (leave of absence,
withdrawal, resigned from class). There are three further representatives who have
missed three consecutive meetings and have not responded to David’s attempts to
contact them: Ulyana Munoz-Acuna, At-Large; Mariya Shyko, Educational
Psychology; Muhammad Salim, Electrical Engineering. He has tried reaching
them by telephone as we suggested and has phoned all APOs.
1. Re Muhammad Salim: Ericka reported that she had not contacted
Electrical Engineering, as she had promised to do, to find out the
registration status of Mr. Salim or whether he has received any
notification through the APO. The discussion of Mr. Salim’s DSC status
was tabled until the next SC meeting.
2. Re Ulyana Munoz-Acuna: Lee Hachedoorian moved she be removed as
an At-Large representative as she has missed three consecutive meetings
and has not responded to David’s emails or phone messages. The next
person on the list of At-Large Representatives will be offered the
position. The motion passed unanimously.
3. Re Mariya Shyko: Educational Psychology has two representatives in
addition to Mariya; thus they will not be without representation if Ms.
Shyko is removed. Chong Wojtkowski moved to remove Ms. Shyko
from her position as Departmental Representative. David Golland
seconded. The motion passes with one nay and one abstention.
B. Frick plaque: John Flaherty is looking for the plaque. Facilities doesn’t know
what happened to it.
C. Website: Camille will be working three days a week instead of twice. She has
updated for Christmas. Chong says her French Group hasn’t been put up;
Chartered Orgs link links to nothing. David reports there is a problem with the
GC server: Camille always gets viruses from the GC server whenever she
uploads, so does it as quickly as she can. She has had to wipe her hard drive
twice already this year. We will have to look for a commercial server to solve
this problem. Brenda asks “if we keep running away from the GC server, what is
our Tech fee doing?”
D. Open Meetings Law. All meetings of bodies deciding on expenditure of student
monies must be open to the public. Executive sessions discussing personnel
matters can be closed, but voting has to be open.
E. Advocate Flare-up. David read the exchange of emails regarding Sandor John’s
suggestion that a story about Miguel Malo be placed on the front page. The
problem has been resolved at present. No action is needed now.
F. Class Size: We have had only two replies, from Philosophy and Political Science.
Philosophy states they are overcrowded. Political Science states three of their
introductory courses are overcrowded. Stephanie Domenici reports that
Psychology is overcrowded. Chong Wojtkowski reports that French is
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overcrowded. Stephanie brings up the policy of auditors: how much of the
problem is caused by auditors? An issue for the University is how many faculty
lines are at the GC, and how many professors are fulfilling their contract
obligations? There are at least three issues that effect this problem, and she is not
clear how much we have control over or impact upon.
G. Advocate Correction: Headline of the most recent issue says we “denounced” the
compact. It was a denunciation of tuition increases, not the compact. David has
asked for a correction in the Advocate website and an Erratum notice in the next
printed issue.

V. Report of the Co-Chair for Student Affairs, Stephanie Domenici
A. Mailings:
1. Holiday cards to increase recognition of the Graduate Center student
body: to Albany legislators, Board of Trustees, people in the Mayor’s
office, the Higher Education Committee of the City Council, and
executives in CUNY Administration. We have $180 left from last
year’s scheduled June mailing which did not go out. We may need a
little more since last year’s cost was $160 and she didn’t get to all of
them. Add CUNY Admin, plus Higher Ed committee of the City
Council. Chong and Ericka will help her.
2. Postcards to student body in February with info on DSC meetings, etc.
B. On-Campus Bar: The Open Mike nights were a flop but perhaps now we can get a
Bar. Matt Schoengood is now in charge. At present it is still to be set up in 365
Express; Restaurant Associates is our only option due to the GC’s contract with
them. A Bar Committee has been inaugurated to discuss arrangements.
C. Funding Cap: overwhelmingly email is against the cap; overwhelmingly email is
against a fulltime job being part of the issue.
D. December plenary: Stephanie suggests we inaugurate a Holiday plenary.David
asks for Subway Hero suggestions. Celia moved we use Manganaro’s rather than
Subway. Stephanie seconded the motion. The motion passes unanimously with
three abstentions. Stephanie will handle the alcoholic drinks. Chong and Ericka
will decorate.

VI. Report of the Co-Chair for Business Management, Tina Lee.
Tina is not present.

VII. New Business.
A. USS Report: Charles Lieberman had to leave early, so there is no USS report.
B. Brenda asks for clarification of the notice that extended Library Hours are due to
increased allocation of Tech Fee monies. David explains that the tech fee is
paying for another tech employee at the Library during the extra hours.
C. Flash Drive distribution: Ericka states OIT sent nine (9) drives for the entire
Engineering department, which includes four programs and close to 200 students.
There is one Executive Officer for all four programs. No one knew about the
drives until Ericka herself sent out an email, and by that time, the E.O. had
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distributed them to selected students. Ericka is advised to write to Steve Brier
regarding the problem and let him know of the inequity.

D. Other New Business: None.

VIII. Announcements: Thanks from Stephanie to Tina and Ericka for coming to the
Public Meeting of the Board of Trustees last week. Ericka gave a very good
impromptu speech.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 pm.