Obsidian/2.1 GSA Meeting Notes/2024-09-18.md

Attendance

• Dane Sabo
• Mithin Nair
• Lauren Wewer
• Zach Harris

Discussion

Catch up to speed for Mithin and Dane about GSA Future

From previous survey, there is a concern from faculty that the correct population of students is not being captured. We need to figure out the best way to get feedback from these groups:

1. Caucus idea
   1. 1 student from each group
   2. Pipeline between faculty and students.
   3. Groups are heterogeneous
2. GSA runs a couple grad seminars
   1. Run the survey
   2. explain what GSA does
   3. Town hall
   4. Without naming names.
   5. Communication is a big problem. Students aren't aware enough of the support lines when things aren't going well with their advisors. Students don't know about the graduate coordinators (These are tenured people that have been here a while...)
   6. If GSA runs event, we are the present face for problems to be articulated to. Caucus idea has challenges with getting groups accurately represented, but it is a more controlled and structured environment. Perhaps there are training opportunities for the moderators here. The challenge that the faculty has is that there are a lot of avenues for reporting, but they are not being used. How do we ensure participation but preserve anonymity? GSA does not present the information. People get paid to do that. There must be communication from the faculty about how they're receiving feedback and what they're going to do about it. Is there enough bandwidth to cover all the possible issues in one seminar?
3. Membership requirements A couple of topics:
4. Lab Safety
5. Facilities
   1. What resources do students have
6. union

Catch up to speed for Zach about our events

1. MoonTree 2. Dane or Mithin explain
2. Halloween
   1. Social event / costume party?
3. Christmas

Other Things

A union Q&A event could be a good thing to host. It is important to make sure the students are well informed about the upcoming election. If people complain, this is a information session not a recruitment seminar. The vote is already coming.

Action Items

From Last Time (09.13.24)

Lauren

• Set up (this) meeting Mithin
• Draft email for MoonTree
• Send out this email Dane
• Figure out who can make us a poster for MoonTree
• Talk to Bob (Dr. Parker) about beer tasting
• Schedule next GSA meeting

New Items