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Graduate Center, CUNY
Doctoral Students’ Council
Joint Steering Committee Agenda

May 19, 2006

Meeting commenced at 6:15pm

Attendance

Steering Committee:
Present: Celia Braxton, Stephanie Domenici-Cabonargi, Moira Egan, David Golland, Lee Hachadoorian
(by proxy at 740pm: Charles Lieberman), Tina Lee, Charles Lieberman (non-voting ex-officio),
Brenda Vollman, Chong Wojtkowski (by proxy: S. Domenici-Cabonargi).
Absent: Ericka Calton.

Sufficient quorum to conduct business.

Steering Committee-Elect:
Present: Michael Broder, David Golland, Aaron Ibur, Charles Lieberman, Rouzbeh Nazari, Zeeshan
Suhail (non-voting ex-officio), Brenda Vollman, Kate Wilson, Chong Wojtkowski (by proxy: S.
Domenici-Cabonargi).
Absent: Ericka Calton.

Sufficient quorum to conduct advance business.

I. Approval of Agenda-
A. Add C. Adjunct Project Coordiantor under IV. Business Report.
B. Add F. Locker Policy and G. Other New Business under IX New Business.
C. Motion to approve BV, second TL – unanimous approval

II. Approval of Old Minutes – The May 5th minutes are approved without amendments
by a vote of 6-0-3.

III. Old Business
A. Community Building (Dave)
1. We are in a catch 22 situation regarding the demise of the GC bar.
There is no community to build a business, and no business to build
community. We could make 5409 a part-time lounge/Game room. The
room was measured for a pool table and we could allow for darts. We
could also try to stock and arrange for a permanent bar – locked and
opened at certain times.
2. The Bar Committee could be the Community Building Committee.
3. SD wondered if we really want to involve Restaurant Associates – since
they can’t sell liquor. (license restrictions).
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4. CB mentioned that we could “award” door prizes in the form of liquor.
5. BV questioned how we would manage equipment for darts/pool. Would
these be checked out from the Steering Committee?
6. TL mentioned that we need to make sure the space remains useful for
the best of all student needs
7. ME indicated that it is used by many as a quiet study space, and that we
wouldn’t want to lose that.
8. DG mentioned that the Plenary empowers the Committee to make
recommendations, so they could think of ideas and make a proposal in fall.
9. The community Building Committee volunteers from the SC are BV, KW,
CW, and CL (chair?)

IV. Student Affairs Report (Stef)
A. SD reiterated the previous issues that have been tackled and recommended that
we think of things that we can tackle. The Steering Committee has come a long
way in terms of its credibility.
B. There has been more money allocated for Travel and research Grants, and more
money contributed by the administration.
C. It is important to think about how we present issues to the Plenary and the
Administration. Be prepared with facts.
D. There is now mid-level tuition remission (GTF), but there are concerns that
competition for these has been removed. The E.O. knows about the tuition
remission and it is tied to teaching or service to the school community outside of
having a Fellowship. About 96% of eligible students are supposed to be covered.
Per Linda Edwards, all eligible students will receive tuition remission for Fall
2006, and what is left –over will be divided equally.
E. Research Grants – the overall process and program went well. The program will
be funded for 2006. Only available for Doctoral students. We are not on the
official decision making committees, but write to Brian Schwartz for
information.
F. We have also had increased plenary participation. We need to encourage reps
from the plenary to initiate issues and we need to engage in campus visits.
G. Chartered Orgs- notice, there are seven groups that have not responded to
outreach by SD, some since 2003-4. These will be de-chartered.

1. ACM – Association of Computer Machinery (?)
2. Culture Club
3. Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)
4. Black Students Alliance
5. Language Studies Org
6. Post-Colonial Studies
7. 20th C Studies Group

V. Communications Report (Dave)
A. Media Board DSO Seats Tiebreaker – the Media Board needs a tiebreaker for
one DSO seat. Result: Ian Jones, then Aaron Ibur.
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B. Grad Council Order of Succession- the DSC has three slots filled by the co-
chairs. Alternates can be seated in this order: Charles Lieberman, Rouzbeh
Nazari, Michael Broder, Aaron Ibur, Ericka Calton, Kate Wilson.
C. Webmaster Re-Appointment Vote
1. At the April SC meeting there was a vote not to re-appoint without a
search.
2. Applications were sought.
3. The only interested applicant was the current webmaster (Camille
Tipton). Motion to reappoint BV, second CW – Unanimous approval.
D. Advocate EIC
1. James Hoff was hired. All positions will undergo a more formal review
process in the future. ME mentioned that it is important that we
understand how hours are being used.

VI. Business Report (Tina)
A. Budget Update—Unspent Money.
1. Department Allocations have not been fully spent. We have about
$74,000 in unspent monies. Chartered Orgs have not spent their money,
along with the allocation for medical Test Subsidies. We may want to
recommend in the Fall to increase the subsidies back to 90%. $200 was
unanimously approved for S.C. Food.
2. Ideas for unspent money;
a. Create a renewable scholarship fund
b. Spend funds on Community Building initiatives. (off-campus
outreach)
c. Steering Committee dinner
d. Chartered Org fair in the fall
e. Web party
f. Albany profile
g. Laptop for the SC office to loan for meetings.
h. Gift to Student Affairs administration.
i. The SC has discretion.
j. Long-term we could raise the stipend for co-chairs and increase
the DSC profile.

B. Security Issues – money theft – possible to buy a lock box and everyone has
keys and we implement a new procedure for selling tickets.
C. Adjunct Project Coordinator – we have decided to re-advertise more broadly and
extend the deadline. Interview first week of Sept.

VII. Health Committee (Ericka/Celia)
A. Most of the activity took place in the fall regarding the referendum, which
passed and freed up money for travel and research grants.
B. The next issue should be health insurance, but the NY state laws may make this
endeavor problematic.
C. BV suggested that we advocate for more preventative healthcare issues.
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VIII. USS Report (Charles) – there was an injunction against the fee increase, per Perez v.
CUNY – quorum rules.

IX. New Business
A. Steering Committee Coordinator Positions (eliminate?) – BV recommended that
we do away with the positions but keep everyone focused on a specific issue of
interest.
B. Standing Committee Chairmanships (2)
1. Health Issues – BV motion and CL second the nomination of Ericka Calton
as Chair of the Health Issues Committee. Unanimous approval.
2. DSC Constitution and By-Laws Committee – DG motion and BV second the
nomination of Aaron Ibur as Chair. Unanimous approval.
C. Auxiliary Enterprise Board Student Members-At-Large (2)
1. DG nominated TL and SD, BV second. Unanimous approval.
D. CUNY Student Leadership Seminar- CB mentioned that it is geared towards
undergrads and is not very useful to us.
E. Team-Building Day - $1000 is available, so think about options.
F. Other New Business – Locker Policy – BV created a form for submission through
August. Lockers will be allocated after the incoming students have the
opportunity to submit requests (1st week of September). Lockers will be awarded
on a lottery basis as administered by the SC.

X. Announcements – None

DG motion to adjourn, TL second. 8:41pm meeting is adjourned.