Draft minutes
Graduate Center, CUNY
Doctoral Students’ Council
Plenary Minutes

October 19, 2007—6pm

Members and Voting Alternates Present:

Anthropology: Javiela Evangelista, Mariya Radeva
Biology: Kathleen Schnaars Uvino, Lisa Offringa
Chemistry: Nancy Medina
Classics: Michael Broder
Comparative Literature: Andrea Efthymiou
Computer Science: Omer Demir (by proxy: Zeki Bilgin)
Criminal Justice: Alissa Ackerman, Crystal Rodriguez
Engineering Chemical: Mehrdad Kheiripour
Engineering Electrical: Rex Wong
English: Allyson Foster, Cori Gabbard
Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Lit: Teresa Darwich
History: Carl Lindskoog
Liberal Studies: Christopher Ian Foster
Linguistics: Elizabeth Pratt
Mathematics: Micah Miller, Brooke Orosz
Music DMA: Judy Woo
Music PhD: Sean Murray
Political Science: April Henning
Psychology: Bio: Maria Maust
Psychology: Environmental: Stephanie Domenici Cabonargi
Psychology: Forensic: Elizabeth Arias
Psychology: Industrial and Organizational: Jessica Anderson
Psychology: Learning Processes: Matthew Taylor
Psychology: Neuro: Jenny Ly
Psychology: Social Personality: Rachel Verni
Social Welfare: Denise Torres

At-large Reps: Ericka Calton (proxy: James Hoff), Randy Cota, Rob Faunce, Gregory Donovan, Fiona Lee, Anton Masterovoy, Amy Meyers, Frank Muscara (proxy: Liz Housley), Meghan Sacks, Aya Shohat, Brenda Vollman, Kate Wilson, Danielle Wu

Members Absent:
Art History: Monica Steinberg
Audiology: Allison Shapiro
Chemistry: Clayton Mattis
Comparative Literature: Adele Kudish (excused)
Computer Science: Deniz Sarioz
Earth/Environmental Science: Angelos Lampousis (excused)
Educational Psychology: Darshanand Ramdass
Engineering Civil: Rouzbeh Nazari (excused)
English: Kerdiana Chez
French: Chong Wojtkowski (excused)
History: Jameel Haque (excused)
Nursing: Marie Giordano
Philosophy: Chris Sula (excused)
Political Science: Aaron Ibur
Psychology: Cognition, Brain, Behavior: Janina Scarlet
Sociology: Valerie Francisco, Jesse Goldstein
Theatre: Ana Martinez (excused)
Urban Education: Kierstin Greene (excused)

At-Large Reps: Nazreen Bacchus, Dave Golland (excused), Robin Hizme, Charles Lieberman (excused), Pamela Proscia (excused), Geoff Rab (excused), Mohamed Saad,

Members Present: 44; Members Absent: 26

Chair: Gregory Donovan (GD)
Minutes: Anton Masterovoy (AM)

Before the meeting commenced, Matthew Schoengood, the VP for Student Affairs and Sharon Lerner, Director of Student Affairs, updated the DSC on the issue of getting a new nurse practitioner for the GC Wellness Center. The Vice President informed us that they are very close (one or two weeks) to starting a stop-gap service while the nurse practitioner contract is being worked out. He said that a full-time psychologist will also be hired.

Sharon Lerner explained that the GC cannot on its own hire a nurse practitioner. However, the contract with the Mount Sinai hospital appears to be complete and the state authorities can continue with the negotiations and hiring process. The earliest that this contract will be signed is early December.

Meanwhile, in two weeks, the students should be able to use a chain of low-cost clinics. The uninsured will be covered by GC. There will be no restrictions on the services provided by the clinics.

At 6:34 pm the meeting was called to order by GD and 2nd by AM.

I. Approval of agenda

Point “d. IT concerns” added to New Business section of the Agenda

Agenda approved by unanimous consent

II. Approval of Old Minutes
Old minutes approved by unanimous consent

III. Old Business

a. Reps for 2007-2008

Brenda Vollman (BV) needs to step down as co-chair for Business. As Denise Torres was the runner-up in the election for the post she will replace Brenda.
Rob Faunce moves to elect BV as an at-large member of the Steering Committee. Motion is approved by unanimous consent.

b. Projector Update

A projector will be installed in one of the DSC rooms by IT. The hardware is already in place. Any concerns or suggestions on this matter should be emailed to GD.

IV. New Business

a. Certified Seats

RF explained the new rules for certification of DSC reps created by the Student Affairs office. As we have 68 certified seats, then we can count 35 reps present as a quorum in good faith.

b. Appeals process for DSC seats

RF reports that those DSC reps whose seat was not certified can appeal to Matthew Schoengood, the VP for Student Affairs. The DSC will support all appeals. As the appeal proves that there is a good faith to resolve the barriers to certification, as long as a member appeals for the certification of his or her seat, they will retain their full rights.

c. 2008-2012 CUNY Master Plan Student Response

RF explains the document that was provided for commentary is a response appeal, not the actual Plan. While the document contains some pointed questions on the future of all CUNY campuses, there is notably little to address Graduate needs. Students should send their responses the Plan to RF by November 2, but also raise the issue in all GC forums available to them.

James Hoff suggests that responses can also be CC’d and sent to the GC Provost and The Advocate.

Kate Wilson points out that the possibility of online degrees granted by CUNY (as suggested in the Master Plan) is very problematic as it endangers the school reputation and the devalues the work of the teachers.

d. IT Concerns

Cori Gabbard brings to the attention of the DSC a complaint of the poor condition of printers and computers in the English department as well as the lack of adequate IT support, especially on weekends. BV explains that IT has 12-20 positions open. RF says that as the current civil service exam is being rewritten, the ability of IT to hire new staff is severely limited. Members point out that the current state of IT and GC electronic hardware is unacceptable.

GD reports that soon all GC students will be transferred to Windows Live email accounts. The addresses of this service are long and unwieldy, there will be a separate log-in, there will be no forwarding on these accounts. They work poorly with Macintosh/Apple computers. It is pointed out that this is not the only free email server available. GD proposes a vote to formally express our opposition to the use of Windows Live. It is approved by unanimous consent.

V. Student Affairs Report by GD

a. Outreach strategies

GD reports that the DSC website, Facebook group, the mobile text messaging system, and the Google calendar are now operational. They will ease communication between members. The text messaging system will be used very moderately in view of the price of text messages.

b. Elections process

GD has examined the electronic voting systems used by other CUNY campuses and believes that the one used by City College, Vote Net Solutions, is best suited for our needs as it specializes in small groups (under 4000).

c. (labeled as “d” in the agenda) Chartered Organizations

GD reports that the new instructions for chartering an organization have been posted online. The deadline to maintain chartered status is December 15th, 2007.

Michael Broder distributed the constitution of the Classical and Near Easter Studies Group for approval.

Lisa Offringa asks interested members to sign her petition to create a Science studies organization.

VI. Communications Report by RF

a. Media Board/ Website Update

RF reports that Media board met on September 28, 2007 and released the DSC webmaster. The money ($4600) thus saved will be well used to fund electronic voting. RF is working also to archive the DSC materials with the help of the library. At the next meeting Linda Perrotta of the GC childcare center will speak, as will Robert Ramos of the USS. Rouzbeh Nazari will also speak on the subject of USS.

b. Board of Trustees Update

The members of the board were informed of how to better reach and communicate with the student body

c. Update on Meetings with Administrators

RF reports that the administration is very interested in meeting with the DSC reps. We have 7 requests to address this body.

d. Grad Council Committees

RF was elected Chair of the Grad Council’s Committee of Committees. He suggests that anyone wiling to serve on a Grad Council Committee should email him.

Stephanie Dominici Cabonargi points out that President Kelly’s community meetings are also a good forum to address student needs and concerns.

e. Advocate

The paper is doing well but needs more writers. Anyone who is interested in contributing should email James Hoff.

GD points out that one reason the administration has trouble reaching out and contacting students is due to the dysfunctional email system.

VII. Business Report by BV

Departmental allocations have changed because of plenary vote in spring. The departmental allocation amounts have changed to $3 per student or the minimum of $180 per department, whichever is more. The official numbers are in, and the budget sheet that was handed out that reflects official enrollment.
a. The Wellness Center

Starting with November 1st, the DSC offers a health services program, in addition to one offered by Student Affairs. Students will be refunded up to $50 per student, per medical incident. The refunds will be processed through the Wellness Center. They are retroactive to July 1st, 2007 and cover only physical health. On the issue of privacy, in order to process the refunds the names of the students, but not the services they have used will be known. Students should email BV with any questions.

VIII. USS Report- Alyssa Ackerman (AA)

AA reports that she could not attend the latest meeting, Rouzbeh Nazari attended in her stead as alternate. He was elected to the Fiscal Affairs position for Graduate Affairs.

IX. Committee reports

GD is working on making sure of better and more equitable use of the Tech fee. He reports on the plans to save paper in the library by installing better controls on the process. A creation of a Mac/Apple lab is planned.

Denise Torres (DT) reports on the health issues. DT points out that it was BV who initiated the health services reimbursement plan. DT worked on projects including Breast health education and collaboration with the marking of AIDS day. City officials concerned with HIV/AIDS will visit GC to report on HIV testing and otherwise inform the student body. The DSC will also begin to provide female condoms in two weeks after the meeting.

AM reports on meeting with the Chief Librarian of GC. He reported that he was told that the 6 week book loan period may return by the end of the semester. He was also informed that the library is running out of space for new materials and therefore prioritizes buying books on the reserve reading lists, as well as electronic copies. Students are expected to rely on interlibrary loans and the new CLICS system for their needs, but suggestions for purchasing books and databases should be sent to the librarian or the library webmaster.

X. Announcements

Carl Lindskoog announces an upcoming Adjunct project meeting.

XI. Adjournment

RF motions for Adjournment, DT seconds the motion. By unanimous consent the meeting is adjourned at 7:44 pm.