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

March comes in like a lion

I'm just settling in as the new GSA president, and it's going to be tough to fill Glenn Scott's shoes after his great year in 2003. Lots going on: the school is determining its new doctoral students as we speak, and later this month we'll be visiting with potential masters students. February and March are always exciting here for that reason. We also just had a great showing from UNC at the AEJMC Midwinter conference in New Brunswick, NJ, and we'll expect more of the same at the Southeast Colloquium in Tampa, Fla. There's plenty of other action going on, but here's some current business:

The GSA still needs an alternate to possible attend some Graduate and Professional Student Federation meetings. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in future leadership. Contact me, GSA president Jimmy Ivory (jivory@email.unc.edu) if interested.

Also, we need to decide what to do with our allocation (a few hundred dollars, likely)! We can do something with this money, so let's take advantage. Anyone interested in participating on a finance committee or similar entity -- or anyone who just has an idea -- can also contact me. Information pertaining to use of our money are at http://www.unc.edu/gpsf/departmental_allocations.html

  • GPSF President Dan Herman noted the imminent creation of an International Student Web site, which helps to fill a hole created by the university office's overwhleming need to spend its resources just making sure they can keep international students here and coming in the future in the wake of the 2001 terrorist issues. This should be a nice resource for international students and will be up soon.
  • Herman discussed briefly the current attention surrounding a teacher/student debate in the classroom and on a listserv regarding homsexuality and the ensuing tempest regarding freedom of speech and academic freedom. The GPSF had no official stance on the issue at the time.
  • Allocations were discussed; recipients included Safe Ride, who needed the GPSF's aid to meet their budget because of apparent misunderstandings with student congress and such mishaps. Other funding recipients were the Department of Classics and Insight Out.
  • Department allocations were discussed (mentioned above in my call for financial decision assistance) -- requests are due 12 April.

Jimmy Ivory

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