GSC Meeting Minutes September 15th, 2004 Graduate Student Lounge Minutes taken by Abhinav Bhandari, GSC Secretary These minutes are intended to reflect the gist of discussion. Questions and statements have in general, been paraphrased, though in general their original meaning has been retained. If you have questions about or corrections to these minutes, please contact Abhinav_Bhandari@brown.edu Summary: The GSC approved the budget for fiscal year 2004-05. The GSC tabled the ``Grad Forum Project'' until the next meeting. The president made the reps of various departments about the vacancies in various committees. Social hour schedule was discussed and the Halloween party date was voted on. Present: Officers President Jeff Reingold VP-Social John Raiti VP-Administration Lei Wang Treasurer Xiaofei He Secretary Abhinav Bhandari Representatives who attended the meeting: ' American Civilization: Angela Mazarsis & Ani Mukherji ' Anthropology: Krysta Ryzewski & Rebecca Meyers ' Applied Math: Lisa DeKeukelaere & Akil Narayan ' Chemistry: Marcus Faust & Brian Luisi ' Classics: Robin McGill ' Comparative Literature: Ghenwa Hayek ' Computer Science: Matt Lease & Dan Acevedo ' Developmental Studies: Abigail Ladd ' Economics: Heinrich Hock & Adrienne Lucas ' English: Jeannette Lee ' French: Kathryn Chenoweth ' Hispanic Studies: Esther Truzman ' Mathematics: Graeme Wilkin ' Pathobiology: Johnna Wesley ' Philosophy: Randall Rose ' Physics: Matthew Hirsch, Kio Kim & Wessyl Kelly ' Psychology: Daniel Kauwe ' Sociology: Jennifer Darrah Minutes and Minutiae Minutes of May meeting were not available at the meeting because of some unprecedented reasons. It was decided that the minutes would be approved in the next meeting. GradForum Project The project was presented at the meeting by Meadow Dibble-Dieng, Luying Chen,Randall Rose,Daniel Kawue and Sheldon Provost. GradForum is an interactive online journal and resource devoted to graduate students across the disciplines. It is designed to provide grads with an extensive intellectual community as well as a venue for writing about the graduate experience and other matters of concern, while acting as a gateway to important resources.  It will connect grads to one another, to the greater academic community, and to the community at large. A pitch for funding for the project, for the first year, was made by the presenters. The project needs $750 (for web-hosting, etc.) + $3000 (for hiring software developers @ $10/hr rate). This site should be functioning by January, if the funds are made available. It was also notified that the project members had talked to Dean Newman about the funding. She was interested in the project but the Graduate School was not in a position to fund it. She also felt that the project has more to do with the Graduate life. The presenters told the GSC that they were planning to take up the funding issue with the Dean of Graduate Life. The motion for the tabling the project until the next meeting was passed at the meeting and it was decided to take up the issue once more market research has been done. Correction: The motion made was not to table the project. A motion was made to approve funding for the project. A second motion was made to table that motion. (Thanks to Adrienne Lucas!) 3. Committees The GSC president asked for nominations for the following committees. Campus Planning Advisory Board (2004-05): 1 representative University Disciplinary Committee: 4 representative Diversity Advisory Board: 1 representative Library Committee: 2 representatives Campus Crime Committee: 1 representative Graduate Council: 4 representatives Christine Peterson and Donje Thompson were elected on the UDC and the library committee respectively. The president also made the point that more information about the meeting times and the time commitments will be sent out to the department representatives so that they can publicize about the positions available. 4. 2004-2005 Budget Xiaofei He, GSC treasurer, presented the 2004-2005 budget to the GSC. After much deliberation the budget was passed with some changes. The changes made in the budget were as follows: The budget for the ``Social Activities'' was raised from $2000 to $4000. It was decided the more social events would be held this year. The budget for ``Outside Organizations'' was raised from $1000 to $2000. The final budget that was approved by the GSC is: 5. Funding Requests Jacqueline Wernimont made a funding request for the ``Medieval Studies Program''. The Medieval Studies Graduate Conference is an interdisciplinary conference being held October 2nd at Brown University, in Smith-Buonano. The day-long conference, titled "North-South-East-West: Medieval Encounters" brings together graduate student scholars from many disciplines, including but not limited to English Literature, Comparative Literature, History, History of Art and Architecture, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Spanish, and French, in order to investigate the nature and meaning of various types of encounters in the medieval world (200-1500). The conference is an annual event that rotates between the host universities of University of Pennsylvania, University of Connecticut, and Brown University. The event is open to the Brown community, and will be of special interest for Brown graduate students seeking to make their first entry into public presentation and as an opportunity to meet and connect with scholars from across North America. The GSC passed a motion approving a sum of $400 for the program. 6. Social Hours and Halloween Party John Raiti, the VP-Social, presented the schedule for the socials this semester. The socials would be held every alternate week on Fridays. Since Halloween is on the 31st October, a Sunday, the day of the party was voted on. It was decided that the Halloween party would be held on the 29th Oct'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''