Graduate Center, CUNY
Doctoral Students’ Council
Plenary Minutes

May 9, 2008—6pm

Members and Voting Alternates Present:

Anthropology: Christine Pinnock, Mariya Radeva (by proxy: Javiela Evangelista)
Art History: Whitney Thompson
Biology: Kathleen Schanaars Uvino (by proxy: C. Penaloza), Samantha Sheppard, Oren Tzfadia
Chemistry: Nancy Medina
Classics: Jared Simard
Comparative Literature: Anick Boyd, Anna Finkelstern
Computer Science: Jeremy Seideman, Suzanne Tamang
Criminal Justice: Julie Viollaz, Tasha Youstin
Engineering Biomedical: Xiang (Ian) Gu
Engineering Civil: Rouzbeh Nazari
English: Jill Belli, Allyson Foster, Amanda Springs
French: Chong Wojtkowski
Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Lit: Efrain Cardenas
History: Anton Masterovoy
Linguistics: Elizabeth Pratt
Nursing: Susan Brillhart
Philosophy: Kyle Ferguson, Chris Sula
Political Science: Aaron Ibur, Patricia Stapleton
Psychology: Bio: Preston Foerder
Psychology: Environmental: Stephanie Domenici Cabonargi
Psychology: Forensic: Elizabeth Arias
Psychology: Industrial and Organizational: Kimberly Iaffaldano
Psychology: Learning Processes: Matthew Taylor
Social Welfare: Larry Iannotti
Sociology: Colin Ashley
Speech & Hearing Sciences: Carol Tessel

At-large Reps: Ericka Calton, Boris Daussa Pastor, Andrew Dicus, Gregory Donovan, Rob Faunce, Ian Foster, Taylor Kennamer, Philip Kopp, Armin Lahiji, Charles Lieberman, Neil Meyer, Rachel Meyer (proxy: Lisa Offringa), Linda Neiberg (proxy: Lindsey Freer), Pamela Proscia, Denise Torres, Brenda Vollman

Members Absent:
Biochemistry: Richard Able (excused)
Engineering Chemical: Mehrdad Kheiripour
Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Lit: Teresa Darwich
History: Igor Draskovic
Music PhD: Inessa Bayezev (excused), Rachel Lumsden
Psychology: Social Personality: Stephanie Anderson (excused)
Sociology: Nazreen Bacchus
Theatre: Frank Episale

At-Large Reps: Robert Azzarello, Karyn Collie, John DeCarlo, Lauren Klein (excused), Ethan Zadoff

Members Present: 52; Members Absent: 14

Meeting called to order at 6:15.

Gregory Donovan (GD) welcomes everyone to the meeting.

I. Approval of the Agenda
GD proposes changes to the agenda; to move “Research Foundation Board Representative” from h) to a) to under elections and to correct the name “Lee” to “Ian” under “Tech Fee Committee.”

Rob Faunce (RF) motions to approve the agenda; Chris Sula (CS) seconds the motion; the agenda is approved with one abstention.

II. Welcome to New Delegates and Explanation of DSC
GD defines the responsibilities of the DSC to the new members. It is a student governing body that manages the way that the Student Activity Fee is disbursed. It is also a body that coordinates, facilitates, and supports the students. He also describes the function of the Media Board, and The Advocate, as well as the function of the Adjunct Project and its coordinators. He also directs students to the DSC web site, where they will find more information about the functions of the Council.

Stephanie Domenici Cabonargi (SDC) advises of the primarily responsibilities of DSC Reps, which are to liaise with departments and forward any emails to APOs, and to get feedback from students. Attendance at meetings is important for voicing of concerns.

III. Explanation of Elected DSC Positions and Election of 2008-2009 Officers 

GD describes the sequence of events for elections: description of position, nominations for position, nominees have the option to leave the room, vote by secret ballot, votes are counted. Nancy Medina (NM), Matthew Taylor (MT), and Armin Lahiji (AL) will collect and count the ballots.

a. Research Foundation Board Representative
SDC describes the position of Research Foundation Board Representative to the body.

GD begins nominations: Brenda Vollman (BV) nominates herself; Erika Calton (EC) nominates herself; Jeremy Seideman (JS) nominates Suzanne Tamang (ST), who accepts; BV withdraws her nomination.

RF moves to close nominations; BV seconds the motion; EC and ST speak to their qualifications for the position. Discussion regarding candidates (EC leaves the room; ST remains). RF motions to close debate. BV seconds the motion. Vote tally: EC: 24, ST: 20, Abstentions: 2.

SDC proposes that since there are only two people running, that the person with the second most votes get the nomination for the alternate position on the Research Foundation; BV proposes that voting for the alternate take place after votes come back.

b. Co-Chair for Student Affairs
GD reviews the duties of the Co Chair for Student Affairs, which include preparing draft agendas for meetings, working as liaison between Student Affairs and the DSC, serving as a proxy for another Steering Committee member who abandons a duty, holding six office hours a week, and attending various meetings. He asserts that there is an $800/month stipend.

RF nominates GD, who accepts.
RF motions to close nominations. Denise Torres (DT) seconds the motion.

GD speaks to his qualifications for the position, and emphasizes the work he has done in the past in this position. SDC points out that GD often functions as the complaint department.

RF motions to elect GD by unanimous consent; DT seconds the motion; GD is elected by unanimous consent

GD moves to elect ST as the alternate representative to the Research Foundation; Susan Brillhart seconds the motion. ST is elected by unanimous consent.

c. Co-chair for Communications
RF reviews the duties of the Co Chair for Communications, as the primary source of information for the DSC which includes preparing and maintaining files, agendas, minutes, communications with administration, which are all kept meticulously in binders. He also points out that there is now a DSC archive in the library. Other duties of this co-chair include being the spokesperson for the DSC with faculty, staff, and administration, and also being the alternate to the alternate member at USS meetings. The Co-Chair for Communications is also the default minutes taker, the conduit for dealing with agendas, and is the one who makes sure that all web presence is maintained appropriately.

GD points out that all three co chairs are responsible for maintaining the web site. But you do not need to be too tech savvy to handle the position; RF recommends knowing basic HTML.

DT nominates RF; Susan Brillhart moves to close nominations; Nancy Medina (NM) seconds the motion. Rouzbeh Nazari (RN) moves to elect RF by unanimous consent. JS seconds the motion; the motion is passed with two abstentions.

d. Co Chair for Business Management
DT reviews the requirements for what she describes as the treasurer’s position. The primary responsibility of the Co Chair for Business Management is to receive and disburse all the DSC’s budget, which amounts to $600,000. Like the other two co-chair positions, it requires six office hours per week, but the job requires more time than that. She points out that the Co-Chair needs to be substantially available to students, and that responsiveness is critical. The Co Chair for Business is also responsible for constructing the budget for the following year. The budget for this upcoming year was already approved by the DSC and the college association. In response to a question, DT also points out that you can be off-campus to do the job.

BV points out that this is a good opportunity to spend time at the Graduate Center, and encouraged students who are off-campus to accept positions.

DT adds that she herself is off campus at Hunter. She also points out that the position is one month longer than the other Co-Chairs’. The only month you don’t work is in July.

GD opens floor for Nominations. EC nominates Jill Belli (JB), who accepts; Phillip Kopp nominates Julie Viollaz, who accepts; GD nominates DT, who declines. Aaron Ibur (AI) motions to close nominations; Chong Wojtkowski (CW) seconds the motion;

Two other questions are asked, by JB and SDC, who ask whether it is important to know Excel and to be good at math for the position.

DT responds that one learns as one goes along. There is also a 200-page accountability handbook.

JB and JV each speak to her qualifications for the position; the candidates leave the room.

CW motions to close discussion; RF seconds the motion. Vote tally: JB: 11, JV: 33.

e. University Student Senate Representative
Allyson Foster (AF) describes the position, and points out that the USS representative receives a $250/month stipend, and acts as a non-voting member of the Steering Committee.

DT nominates AF, who accepts. AI motions to close nominations; RF seconds the motion. AI motions to elect AF by unanimous consent; RF seconds the motion; AF is elected by unanimous consent.

f. USS Alternate position
RN describes the position, which is the same as that of the representative, but without stipend.

Aaron nominates RN, who accepts.

JS moves to close nominations; Aaron seconds the motion; JS moves to elect by unanimous consent; JB seconds the motion; RN is elected by unanimous consent.

g. At large Steering Committee Members

NM, CW, Anton Masterovoy (AM), BV, and Adele Kudish (AK) speak to the responsibilities of Steering Committee Members.

GD opens the floor to nominations.

AI nominates himself and JB, who accepts; RN nominates JS, who accepts; JV nominates Tasha Youstin, who accepts; AI nominates Phil Kopp, who accepts; JS nominates ST, who accepts; Javiela Evangelista nominates Christine Pinnock, who accepts; GD nominates AM, who accepts; GD nominates BV, who declines; AM nominates DT, who accepts; RN nominates Charles Lieberman, who declines; RF nominates Chris Sula, who accepts; GD nominates NM and AK, who both decline.

JS moves to close nominations; JB seconds the motion.

The candidates (Aaron Ibur, Jill Belli, Jeremy Seideman, Tasha Youstin, Phil Kopp, Suzanne Tamang, Christine Pinnock, Anton Masterovoy, Denise Torres, and Chris Sula) speak to their qualifications for the position. AK asks a question to CP. The candidates (except JS) then leave the room for discussion.

Vote Tally: Elected: AM (35), DT (34), CP (32), TY (32), JB (31), CS (30); Not elected: ST (25), AI (17), PK (11), JS (8).

RF replaces GD as Chair of the meeting briefly at 7:50.

h. Media Board
RF describes the position for the two members who are elected by the DSO.

GD Opens the floor for nominations.

GD nominates CW, who declines; RF nominates AF, who accepts; Boris Daussa nominates himself, but then withdraws; DT nominates Efrain Cardenas, who accepts.

RF motions to close nominations; BV seconds the motion. GD motions to elect AF and Efrain Cardenas by unanimous consent; BV seconds the motion. The motion passes by unanimous consent.

GD passes around sign up sheets for Cultural Affairs and Professional Development Grants and the Scholarly Awards Committee; DT explains what the PD and CA grant committees do.

i. Tech Fee Members

CS explains the responsibilities of the four Tech Fee members, which include setting and approving the IT budget of $550,000. He points out that at least two out of the four student members must be present at the meetings; RF points out that Rob Campbell, director of IT, wanted to make sure that Tech Fee reps know how important it is to attend meetings; this indicates that administration wants student input.

GD opens the floor for nominations:
DT nominates CS, who accepts; CS nominate JB, who accepts; ST nominates JS, who accepts; SDC nominates GD, who declines; RF nominates Ian Foster, who declines; JB nominates Taylor Kennamer, who accepts. RF motions to close nominations; CW seconds the motion. GD motions to elect CS, JB, JS, and IF by unanimous consent; CW seconds the motion; the motion is passed by unanimous consent.

BV welcomes the six steering committee members.

Elections conclude at 8:12

RF Motion to adjourn the meeting; CS seconds the motion; it is passed by unanimous consent; the meeting is adjourned at 8:15 PM.