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

TVs for sale!

TVs made redundant by renovation are up for best offer. First priority is any grad student group or department that can make use of these TVs. If such a need exists, the TV can be provided for free. Failing that, its best offer at Friday, March 29th. email me at gssmgr [-at-] uvic.ca

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?

Big thing gets moved

I think this is some kind of venting system for the grill.

Antlered visitors

Had an interesting visitor to the office. in fact he's hanging outside our window right now.

Forget EagleCam... we should get the GSS Antlercam!

Working during a reno

Well, I never really believed the office part of the reno would be done exactly on time. Looks like it will take two weeks, rather than just the one week we all took off and closed the office.
As such, the staff are camped out amongst our haphazardly boxed office supplies and records.

Here's Juliet valiantly checking her email at the one internet-connected computer!

It's all for the good, however, as the result will be a better workspace for the staff.

We are adding two private office spaces, which will mean (for me) I can talk to students in private when they come for advice or support, and for our bookkeeper, she can have some quiet and order in a room also used for Executive and staff meetings.

Here's a peek at the main GSS office thus far:

This is the view in from the door. Directly ahead students will see the person to talk to, and there will now be a waiting area for students to sit down if there is a line.

Perhaps we should get a video game terminal in the waiting room like my son's dentist?

One thing about this renovation, you can really see how dirty our office carpet is. Yech!

Escape

For those of you new to victoria, here are some suggestions of how to escape your studies for a brief break this summer

Swan Lake hike. Accessible by Bus 26 from UVIC. Gorgeous! A couple hours of walking gives a total getaway! And what could be better than free?

B-Movies in Beacon Hill park! Check it out--here--it's free!

Moss Street Paint In, the Dragon Boats Festival, Simphony Splash and much more Victoria arts activities--here

Camping! UVic outdoor recreation can rent you all the camping gear you need at a reasonable price. Check out the BC parks camping website for ideas of parks nearby. For quick getaways, check out Goldstream Park--accessible by Victoria transit bus--thank you U-pass!

Cabin rentals! want to pool funds with some friends and rent a cabin? Some of the best deals around are available through the Land Conservancy!

UVic outdoor pool. Sweet! Victoria's only outdoor pool (except one in a hotel), and you are already a member so no charge for you if you paid fees for summer! Check out the schedule here.

Cadboro Bay /Gyro beach. Steps from UVIC, a gorgeous beach, shallow water for wading or swimming. Watch the sailboats! Check out Gyro here and other free parks programs here.