Election time action: support a BC graduate scholarship program

Let BC's election candidates know we support the creation of a BC Graduate Scholarship!

Over the past few years, the GSS has worked with graduate student organizations at UBC, SFU and UNBC in advocating for the creation of a graduate scholarship program in BC. Our proposal is here.

Elections are a chance to raise important issues, and I hope you will take the time to send the party leaders a message about the importance of funding graduate education in BC.

Provincial graduate funding is important because:

 - Among the larger provinces, only BC has no graduate scholarship program

 - Graduate students contribute to the university as teachers-which in turn helps the ability of the university to accommodate undergraduate enrollment

 - A funded graduate student completes their degree in a timely manner

 - Graduate students contribute to the province-whether through research that benefits BC communities, or by adding to our province's ability to innovate after graduation

Visit http://bcgradscholarship.ca to send your message.

Here you'll find some sample text. You can send it as is, but we strongly encourage you to create your own message.

Please circulate this call to the students and faculty in your department to help us spread the word.

And of course, don't forget to vote on May 14!

Stacy Chappel

GSS Executive Director

Authorized by the University of Victoria Graduate Students' Society, registered sponsor under the Election Act, 250-472-5163.

props to the undergrads

For this youth vote campaign.




I love this whole campaign, which I understand started with Leadnow responding to a Rick Mercer challenge to youth voters. (Hat tip to UVIC grads involved in starting Leadnow, like Jamie Biggar)

I knew, as well, that it was getting traction when my mom told me all about it over dinner! (She was thrilled!)

(Also fun for UVic folks to watch and see them run around a corner in Clerihue and arrive in the SUB foyer, haha!)

Vote May 2, everyone!!

Here is some more coverage
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/04/06/cv-election-flash-vote-mobs.html

Thinking of running for grad council?

Hey grad students ! Why not run for grad council as your departmental graduate representative to the GSS?

Info here:

http://gss.uvic.ca/#GRCelection

Margaret Atwood on the importance of the Arts

I am thrilled to see the arts becoming a major election issue. Have a look at Margaret Atwood's excellent rebuttal to recent cuts to federal arts funding here.

UVic could take a cue from this article too. Where is our funding for fine arts grad students at UVic? Is it reflective of the huge contribution the arts makes to our community and culture? To our ways of thinking and perceiving the world?

What can be done about this? What should fine arts funding for graduate students look like at UVic?

For another take on the issue, check out this hilarious video.




See how fun politics can be when artists are in charge?

Perhaps you are unaware you want to be the grad rep...

That's right! You want to be a grad rep!

Why? Well, how about being part of all the great changes the GSS is winning for our members?

In the past few years, the GSS has won some significant victories:
-payment of tuition in installments
-creation of an english as a second language thesis writing group
-reduction of fee unit requirement for one year programs (ie less tuition)
-worked with other grad students in BC to win the creation of a BC Grad Scholarship program

Grad reps, who are elected in each department and meet monthly at the GSS, have been part of all this. Grad reps also help with all major governance decisions at the GSS: do we renovate the kitchen? do we borrow money to do it? Do we build our own darn superconducting supercollider for Tayfun? Its up to the reps, man.

So think about getting involved. Make sure the problems faced in your department are being addressed. Learn from other departments about how to make your department cooler. (ie. Economics has pet fish. Do you??)

Oh, and btw there is pizza (or other food) at the meetings and we are having a grad rep social one hour into our first meeting Sept 30.

So... now you know. YOU want to run for grad rep and be the coolest grad in your department! Here's how: http://gss.uvic.ca/gradrepelect2008.htm

Has UVIC just elected its last chancellor?

Murray Farmer was just elected as UVIC's new chancellor in July.
According to the Ring, 3838 members of convocation voted. Convocation includes UVic alumni, current and former Board of Governor and Senate members, UVic current and retired faculty, staff who have worked at UVIC for 12 months and hold a university degree,

But if the BC government gets its way, Farmer will be the last UVIC chancellor who is elected by convocation. Deep in the University Amendment Act 2008, bundled in with the creation of about a billion new universities all at once, lies the amendment to make the Chancellor appointed rather than elected.

The Chancellor will be appointed thus:

(1) There must be a chancellor of each university, who is to be appointed by the board on nomination by the alumni association and after consultation with the senate or, in the case of the University of British Columbia, after consultation with the council.

(1.1) The chancellor holds office for 3 years and after that until a successor is appointed.

Granted, you could argue the Chancellor is a figure head. But he or she also represents the University all around the world, confers degrees, and is an ex-officio member of BOG and Senate. The right to elect the person who plays that role gives the convocation the ability to decide the "face" of UVic.

I do wonder what the motivaton is. It's not as if no one participates--3838 people just voted at UVIC at the peak of summer holidays! And it certainly seems like we have had excellent people elected in past. So what exactly needs fixing?

Upcoming important GSS decisions! Building, CFS, budget, elections!

1. NOTICE OF Special General Meeting considering expansion of Halpern
Graduate Centre

Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Time: 5pm
Location: Grad Centre Room 112-108

All graduate students are encouraged to attend with valid student card.

Special GM Agenda

1.    Approval of agenda
2.    Approval of Building Expansion Plan

If approved, an expansion of the Halpern Centre could proceed Summer 2008.
Proposal includes creation of dedicated grad student lounge, expansion of
kitchen and a minor office renovation.

If approved, financing options could include one or a combination of the
following:
-borrowing from UVic**
-re-distribution of a portion of Capital Fund membership fees to the
Building Fund
-establishment of a line of credit**

Architect’s diagrams, financing options, and sustainability plan for
the proposal will be posted at http://gss.uvic.ca and outside the GSS
office by February 13, 2008.

SGM followed immediately by a regular meeting of Grad Council.

**requires special resolution (75% members present in favour.)

2. OTHER UPCOMING GSS EVENTS:

Referendum on Defederation from Canadian Federation of Students:
March 18-19-20. Have your say on whether we should stay in the CFS.
NOTE: There will be NO WEB VOTE on this referendum.
Instead, there will be polling at two on campus polling
stations from 9-5 each day. Polling station at the University
Centre has been confirmed, but the other is TBA.
This referendum is governed by CFS Bylaws found here.
For ongoing updates on the CFS referendum watch this site for
info: http://gss.uvic.ca/cfsreferendum.htm

GSS Elections: Nominations: March 10 to March 17.
Voting: March 26, 27.
Your chance to get involved in the GSS and work on
everything from finances to special events to the restaurant!

GSS Semi-Annual General Meeting:
Tuesday April 1, 2008, 5pm in the Grad Centre.
This meeting passes the budget for the upcoming year,
ratifies the election, and receives the report of the
outgoing Executive Board.

Info: http://gss.uvic.ca

Grad Students: Run for Senate!

If you are a graduate student in Business, Human Social Development or Law, consider running for a seat on the UVIC Senate!

It is my humble opinion that we need more graduate students on the Senate! Check out the call for candidates at this link. And you can learn more about the Senate here.

The Senate has many standing committees--including committees on planning, academic standards, libraries, continuing studies--and they all report back to the Senate for approval. So if you are interested in a wide range of issues in how the university is managed, this might be the election for you!

New GSS Executive Elected

The people have spoken and the Grad Exec for 2007/08 will take office April 1.

Chair: Patrick Reed (Philosophy)
Director of Services: Brandy Sistili (Dispute Resolution)
Director of Communications: Joseph Kolthammer (Physics)
Director of Finance: Ian Hussey (Sociology)
Director of Student Affairs: Lee Blanding (History)

Thank you to everyone who came to the Semi-annual General Meeting and participated in selecting your new executive board.