MINUTES

Public Affairs Student Association

Thursday, October 1, 2009
5:00 p.m.

HHH 170

Present: Dri Alexander, Sarah Berke, Megan Evans, Luke Hollenkamp, Aaron Jefferson, Anne Johnson, Abdul Omari, Ken Savary, Kelly Wilder, International Fellows Thabani Nyoni and Beadelaine Pierre

Absent: Jasmine Blanks, Cardessa Luckett, Noel Nix, Nick Petersen, Ken Rodgers, Rebecca Wienbar, Cynthia Yuen

Guest: Devin Driscoll, Aara Johnson

1) Approve Last Meeting Minutes

a) September 24, 2009 – approved.

2) Old Business

a) Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day – Thanks Cardessa, Megan, and Abdul!

i) You’re welcome.

b) Jernberg Mailboxes – Abdul & Laura Yerhot

i) List is posted in Jernberg; sign your name if you’d still like a box. Deadline: Friday.

c) First-Year Representative Elections – Megan

i) Call for nominations open until Monday, 12pm. Survey Monkey election will open on Wednesday at 12pm and remain open for 48 hours. Election results will be announced by 5pm on Friday, 10/9.

d) Career Smorgasbord – Jasmine

i) Still needs volunteers from PASA! See last meeting’s minutes.

e) PASA Facebook Fan Page – Ken S

i) Can only have 10 admins for site; will either allocate admin rights to 10 people OR will create dummy login for all to access. A group login will make it easier to pass rights on to future PASA administrations.

ii) Will send email out to listserv to encourage students to check page out in place of blog.

iii) Is meeting with Anne Mason to discuss page content, etc. Blog will be decommissioned in a month. PASA contact info, constitution, etc. will still be on HHH site; frequently updating info should be reserved for facebook page.

3) New Business

a) COGS Senator Introduction – Devin Driscoll and Aara Johnson

i) HHH currently served by COGS (even though may not be best place going forward, depending on Grad School restructuring’s effect on HHH)

ii) As senators, represent at-large graduate students, masters, and HHH in particular (keeping in mind its an “odd duck” compared to other masters programs). Need to use seats for best influence as possible while COGS is still our outlet. Looking forward to working with degree reps.

iii) Masters Caucus – not sure if it will be useful but both will serve on it for now. All masters reps (in other programs) now automatically enrolled in caucus (is an opt-out system).

iv) Will be cognizant of role as HHH student on COGS and, should any conflicts arise, will take appropriate action.

v) Be sure to let Devin and Aara know if you have any issues/concerns. Both will regularly attend PASA meetings to provide updates. Luke will serve as their alternate to GAPSA.

b) Grad School

i) Grad School Exec Meeting Recap – Luke

(1) As requested, Luke will send out “Graduate School Restructuring 101” memo to listserv to help fill first-year students in on the situation.

(2) Problem: as grad school is being restructured, internal folks are not in loop (GS students and administrators, etc.) Frustration on all sides without inlet to process.

ii) Meeting with Deans Atwood and Chutich – Luke

(1) Good meeting with Luke, Abdul, Noel. Dean Atwood comfortable with his relationship with Provost Sullivan; feels HHH position is in good standing (for now). Question: should HHH opt in to Graduate School? HHH position is “no position.”

iii) COGS Meeting with Tom Sullivan Recap – Luke

(1) Provost Sullivan will not finalize any committee’s recommendations unless they address how student governance will be restructured.

(2) Once committees are up and running, Luke will set up meeting with PASA, committees, COGS, GAPSA, etc. to discuss our future.

(3) Devin: would like PASA representation to meet with Dean in charge of new GS dean search

c) Halloween PASA Event – Cynthia

i) not addressed

d) Diversity Speaker Series – Aaron

i) Email/advertisements out for next week’s event, Thursday 3:30 – 5:30.

ii) Penumbra Theater event idea: Augustus Wilson “Radio Golf” – $10 for student tickets, PASA may be able to subsidize half of price. Will have Q&A to follow. Date options: 10/22 at 10a.m.; Saturdays at 7:30 (10/17 or 10/24) more likely. Info for e-vote to follow.

e) Blood Drive – Megan

i) Should we do one? Megan to find out more details and whether possible West Bank drive (already scheduled?) would suffice.

f) International Fellows Buddies – Abdul

i) Beadelaine Pierre (Haiti), interested in gender issues and international studies

ii) Thabani Nyoni (Zimbabwe), interested in community organizing, development practice

(1) Will represent international fellows for October; Aaron working as liaison between fellows and PASA to provide info on our process/history

g) Computer Access – Ken

i) Increased admissions have led to tight computer access, especially for STATA, SPSS, GIS, etc. Looking for opportunities to increase computer access (but would be at a cost to desk space).

ii) Don’t forget other computer lab and Wilson library; consider limiting HHH computer use only to tasks that require specific software/drive access.

iii) Voice additional concerns; make sure people know about 80/85, etc.

h) GAPSA’s Annual President’s Reception – Luke

i) RSVP asap! Should be a good crowd

i) Individual Updates and Initiatives – All (Present)

i) Adrienne: will send email out about lunchtime health care discussion in Jernberg.

ii) Anne: CHANCE retreat tonight; Connect 2 Community lunches starting soon to chat with faculty and staff; Brian Coyle basketball games starting soon, too. (boys only) Hoping to start girls’ team.

iii) Sarah: looking to send out curriculum survey (one was sent out last year, may use some of same questions). Suggestions? Issues regarding larger first-year class?

(1) Trend isn’t to continue larger classes/sections; 2009 = anomaly. Aren’t hiring more faculty, state funding decreasing, endowments shrinking, etc. Creative strategies in place. University took 11% hit…next year could be larger.

iv) Babak Armajani Fellowship

(1) Unique opportunity to distribute donated funds to students via process under PASA’s control. Ideas? Must be used for non-tuition, non-fee events (i.e., conferences, networking events, career development, etc.)

(2) Please reconsider your RSVP for next Friday’s brunch! Even if you only have time to stop by, you’re thanks will be appreciated.

j) Individual Updates and Initiatives – Absent

i) Noel: met with Katherine about better graduation communication ideas (i.e. what forms/processes are required); met with Julie Harrold about diversity recruiting.

4) Next Meeting

a) Thursday, October 15 at 5:00 PM in Freeman Commons

Meeting adjourned, 5:45p.m.