The Graduate Student Association (GSA) held its annual executive board elections Wednesday. The 2004-05 executive board consists of 12 members, representing eight different departments.

Abid Kazi (graduate-entomology) was re-elected as the association's president.

"I feel that the president should be able to function as a bridge between the various administrative bodies and the student groups so as to be able to truly represent the concerns of the students and not merely reflect personal beliefs or assumptions," he said.

Kazi said in addition to continuing the improvements that this year's council made, he plans on acting as an advocate for better health care and sexual assault awareness.

Two years ago, the GSA worked to include spouses and dependents on the MEGA health insurance plan for graduate assistants, Kazi said.

"Now, negotiations and plans are in the works to include the first $200 toward pharmacy prescriptions," Kazi said.

"This means that students will not have to pay the first $200 towards any prescription per sickness or ailment per semester when the prescriptions are filled at [University Health Services]," he added.

Due to this year's increase in sexual assaults, the GSA is planning a project in collaboration with Womyn's Concerns to help create awareness among students about sexual assault and victims of rape.

Kazi also said the graduate association would like to look into the availability of an option to purchase a dental plan.

Steven Thomas (graduate-English) was elected as the GSA Faculty Senate representative.

"The purpose of my position is to represent graduate concerns at Faculty Senate meetings and to listen to the issues that the faculty are debating in terms of university governance and relay those concerns back to the GSA and the graduate students," Thomas said.

Bernie Goon (graduate-business administration) said his main goal as public relations chair is to utilize his past experience to promote the association as the graduate students' central organization.

"We play a vital role in enhancing a graduate student's experience here at Penn State and serve as their voice," Goon said.

Goon also said he would like to create a central location where graduate students can communicate with each other.

"As in the past, we will continue work with the administration, the graduate school and the Office of Student Affairs to enhance the graduate life experience at Penn State," Kazi said.