[Gsc-anno] GSC Announcements 02/15/05

[GSC Secretary]

*********************  GSC ANNOUNCEMENTS  *********************
  more extensive annoucements online: http://gsc.mit.edu/anno
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headlines (details below):

           1. TRANSFORMING the GRADUATE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
                   A presentation on 2004 Grad Student Survey
                   Improving Advisor / Advisee Relationships
                   Feb 22nd (Tue) 4:30-6:00 pm @ Rm 10-250

           2. GSC PASSES LEGISLATION AT FEBRUARY 2nd MEETING
                   Council supported MIT's non-discrimination policy
                   change and adopted 3 amendments to Constitution/Bylaws

           3. CELTICS VS. TIMBERWOLVES
                   Mar 6  (Sun) 6:00pm

           4. GSC Meetings @ 5:30pm
                   Feb 15 (Tue) - Housing & Community Affairs
                   Feb 16 (Wed) - Activities Committee
                   Feb 17 (Thr) - Academic, Research, & Careers



details:
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What do MIT graduate students THINK about their advisors/departments?
What skill sets/training do MIT graduate students VALUE most?
How can we IMPROVE graduate student advising and mentoring?

The MIT Graduate Student Council invites all graduate students, administrators
and the Faculty for a Presentation on
*TRANSFORMING the GRADUATE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE*

Tuesday, February 22
Room 10-250
4:30pm - 6:00 pm
Followed by a dinner social for all attendees.

Highlights:
1. Hear about graduate students' feedback on advising (2004 Graduate Student
Survey)
2. Learn about recommendations from discussions involving grad students,
administrators and  the faculty to improve advisor/advisee relationships
at the graduate level
3. Share and discuss your experiences with other grad students, administrators
and faculty

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*GSC PASSES LEGISLATION AT FEBRUARY 2nd MEETING*

The GSC considered and approved a number of items (and tabled one item) of
legislation at its February 2nd General Council Meeting. A brief recap of
these items is given below:

-- The Council sormally endorsed a change to MIT's nondiscrimination policy to
include "marital or partnered status, parental status" among the
list of things upon which the Institute can not discriminate against people.
-- The Council approved an amendment to the GSC Constitution to include the
Officers and committees as part of the "Council" (this change was merely to
make the wording easier to understand).  This amendment also adopted the
restriction that "No individual may hold more than one of the following
positions at any given time: a Council representative, a Council standing
committee chair, and/or a Council officer."

-- The Council approved an amendment to the GSC Bylaws which clarifies election
policies of Council Representatives in the case where there are more applicants
for representative positions than there are positions available.  Previously,
the GSC simply specified that an election had to be held in such a case,
without giving responsibility for doing so to anybody, or stating what the role
of student groups could be int he process.  The new Bylaws clarify that: "The
GSC Officers shall be responsible for ensuring the fairness and validity of
these elections. The Officers may receive assistance in conducting the
elections from departmental student groups, departmental administrators, or
other individuals or groups deemed by the Officers to be sufficiently neutral."
 In addition, the new Bylaws add that the Vice-President shall be "responsible
for ensuring that all students are made aware of the opening of nominations for
Council representatives and all relevant related information by September 10."

-- The Council approved an amendment to the GSC Constitution to clarify
voting procedures.  The old procedures simply read that "Each representative
shall have one vote on all matters."  The new proposed procedures state:  "Each
Council representative, Council standing committee chair and Council officer
shall have one and only one vote on all matters. Unless specified otherwise,
voting decisions by the Council shall be made my simple majority of those
present at a Council meeting provided quorum has been established. Further
voting procedures shall be defined in the Bylaws."

-- The Council tabled a vote on changing the Bylaws to reflect updated
legislative procedures, due to some concerns over the wording that was being
proposed.  After further discussion at a GSC Rules Committee meeting, the
Council will vote on a revised version of the tabled amendment at its March 2nd
General Council Meeting.


** Note:  All Bylaws amemdments approved by the Council are now official. 
However, any Constitutional amendments approved by the Council must first be
passed through a referrendum of the student body, and will be approved only if
a majority of those voting vote to approve them.  This referrendum will be held
in March sometime -- more details will be sent over the anno ***

Further details regarding each of these articles of legislation can be found on
the GSC website at:  http://gsc.mit.edu/legislation In addition, minutes to the
meeting can be found at: http://gsc.mit.edu/minutes

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*BOSTON CELTICS VS. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES*

Sunday, March 6, 2005, 6:00 pm
	
$18 MIT Graduate Students / Post-Docs
$20 Guests
	
Ticket sales:   2 - 5 pm - GSC Office  -  Walker, 50-220
Only 50 tickets available, limit 2/person