Graduate Student Association
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Some grad student associate updates

First, time for elections for a new president. I'm retiring this month after a year. Any grad student can (1) apply, or (2) be nominated.

I'm also suggesting we extend term so next president serves until end of spring 2005. That will put our elections in line with just about every other school and grad program. Changing in mid-term is awkward.

Please forward other nominations to me at gwscott@email.unc.edu.

Let's vote via email on Thursday, Jan. 29. That's a short campaign season, but it provides one happy hour this week for serious caucausing and campaigning.

If anyone wants more time, let me know.

Notes on timely events of interest:

  • Grad Senate still has about $9,000 in account to fund grad student initiatives. Money comes from our fees. If you have ideas for events, publications, job fairs, etc., see me. Most Senate grants are in the $200-$300 range. Covers a lot of munchies, or a decent honorarium for a guest speaker.
  • Grad Students are making strong bid, as you know, to lobby Board of Trustees to postpone proposal to jack up out-of-state tuition, a move that would hurt many of us (including Park Fellows who need to linger longer than funding does). BOT's decision would mean annual increase of about $3,600. Board meets at 4 p.m. today at Carolina Inn. Interested students are invited to attend.
  • Says Student Body President Matt Tepper: "It's crucial to show the trustees that students care about this issue. Please come and put a face to the numbers the trustees are so aggressively pursuing. If you come a little early, you'll have the opportunity to chat one-on-one with a trustee before the meeting."
  • We have lots of faculty candidates circuating in Carroll Hall these days. Take the time to meet them. They'll be happy -- actually, more than that -- to hear what grad students say about the program. And who knows, your feedback to faculty members might carry some weight.
  • When I go on interviews, I try to collect an email address or two from grad students who might keep me informed about the job searches in ways that formal search committees do not. (Hmmm, maybe that's my problem.) Do your part. You might even find a future committee member in the mix.

Glenn Scott

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