GSC Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
6:30 p.m., Graduate Student Lounge, Dudley House
Minutes
The Minutes from the October meeting were approved.
Announcements
Miguel de Baca was introduced as the GSC's new Communications Officer.
Josh Yaphe, GSC vice president, will be asking for the names and email addresses of the department representatives and will be in contact regarding teaching fellow issues.
Matthew Mosca, humanities at-large representative, said that the GSC has replaced the printer in the Dudley library. We will be adding wireless access in the next few months.
Ben Lee, GSC treasurer, announced that Harvard will be paying the SEVIS fee charged to international students.
Housing
Pamela Dunn (Pamela_Dunn@harvard.edu), the Assistant Director for Residential Housing and Leasing Services for Harvard Real Estate Services, talked about Harvard's affiliated housing offerings. The Housing Office has over 3000 apartments for rent within one mile of Harvard Square. In the past vacant apartments were assigned each spring through a lottery system. The system starting this spring will involve a shorter application. Each applicant will receive a window of time to select from any free unit. Detailed floor plans and information on housing policies will be available online. New housing projects are planned for the Fenway and Riverside neighborhoods.
Leases start when the units are vacated, which is often at the end of June, although that creates problems for some incoming students. Recent private market rents have been soft due to the economy. The housing assignment process can't start sooner because the office has to wait for current residents to return their lease extension forms in the spring. In surveys of graduate students the most important factor listed when choosing housing was proximity to campus, with rent second.
Brant Robertson, science at-large representative, requested that Real Estate Services remember students with families when planning new housing.
Pamela Dunn responded that in meetings with the Deans and students, the most important factors brought up were rent, the ability to share in meals, and having one's own refrigerator. The double studio model has been used successfully at Princeton. The Housing Office is working with Dining Services to improve the meal service at 29 Garden Street.
Students returning to campus mid-year can go to the Housing Office now to look for "immediate occupancy" units and any other currently available units.
Interdisciplinary Issues
Carrie Thiessen, Interdisciplinary student representative, announced that she is planning a survey of interdisciplinary and interfaculty programs to learn about funding problems.
DMS Issues
Luigi Adamo, Division of Medical Sciences representative, reminded the Council that DMS students make up 20% of GSAS. DMS students sometimes feel that they are treated as guests of the medical school. Students on the Dudley meal plan find it difficult to use their meals.
Graduate Student Health Advisory Committee (GSHAC)
Carrie Thiessen noted that GSHAC has yet to meet. The committee will be looking at coverage for nonresident students and the dental plan. Anyone with other issues for the committee to discuss should contact Carrie.
Dominic Longo asked about the availability of prescription coverage. Several officers noted that prescription coverage is already available, up to a (fairly large) ceiling. Students out of state can call Blue Cross Blue Shield to verify that their pharmacy is a plan member.
GSHAC may also look at mental health services.
Patent Issues
Ernst van Nierop announced that a meeting with the Office of Technology and Trademark Licensing will take place on November 17th in Maxwell Dworkin room 119 at noon. The meeting should provide more information on what the office does, how to get a patent, and dealing with patent agreements with other institutions.
Elections
International Student Representative -- Imad Kordab was elected
University Committee on Rights and Responsibilities -- Erez Lieberman was elected
Student Group Funding
Ben Lee, GSC treasurer, announced that the quality of group funding applications varied widely this term. Groups with detailed budgets received a greater fraction of their requested funding. The total GSC budget is around $68,000; the vast majority goes to student group funding and conference and research grants. All the money comes from the $20 GSC fee charged to students. The group funding amounts were approved unanimously.
The amounts awarded were
Harvard Chinese Students and Scholars Association (HCSSA) -- $4000
Harvard East Asia Society (HEAS) -- $2700
Harvard Korea Society (HKS) -- $500
Harvard Satyrical Press (HSP) -- $2000
Harvard GSAS Colombian Society -- $1700
International Science and Health Network (ISHN) -- $800
HEAS conference -- $1500
Harvard Graduate Student Canadian Club (HGSCC) -- $1100
Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay Graduate Students (LBGGS) -- $500
Harvard Republic of China Student Club (HROCSC) -- $450
GSAS Medieval Society (MedSoc) -- $500
Harvard Middle Eastern Cultural Association (HMECA) -- none
Central and East European Society (CEES) -- $400
Romanian Graduate Club (RGC) -- $550
Office Hours
Zoe Trodd announced the presidential office hours this term will be Tuesday 4-5 and Thursday 5-6 in Lehman Hall M-4.
Adjourned at 7:31.
Respectfully submitted,
Mike Westover