The Penn State Graduate Student Association (GSA) met Wednesday night to discuss ongoing projects and its finances.
GSA Vice President Michelle Matzko opened the meeting by recapping an auxiliary meeting. Matzko (graduate-biobehavioral health) said it featured a discussion of new buildings and other campus updates.
Safakcan Tuncdemir, GSA treasurer, gave the assembly a rundown of the GSA's current budget. He broke down totals for both of the group's accounts and gave a brief list of what it has been spending money on. Expenditures included social events and co-sponsored events.
Tuncdemir (graduate-electrical engineering) also described in detail the group's new process of applying to co-sponsorship events. He introduced a new form for members to use and gave an in-depth explanation of how to use it.
Tuncdemir also cleared up confusion about the meaning of "co-sponsorship."
A co-sponsorship is when a group asks GSA to work with them to put on event, Tuncdemir said.
He also explained how requests for money must go through a lengthy approval process before any is spent. After some GSA members questioned aspects of the process, the group chose to table the discussion for the evening. The assembly also discussed what expenditures are approved and what usually is not. It also went over the type of events that it generally does.
"Cultural events we do a lot," Matzko said.
Nino Cucchiara (graduate-astronomy and astrophysics) gave the group a rundown of events currently being planned by the Programming Committee, including a concert and a large gala on campus.
He also said the committee is working on events for spring as well.
The assembly expressed concerns about the group's lack of connection to undergraduates. Cucchiara said the programming committee is working on presentations to incorporate undergraduates.
"GSA is not only for graduate students, but offers something university-wide," he said.
The group also discussed issues with student health insurance premiums and went over better ways to advertise the CAFÉ Film Series, as turnout has been low.
Hari Jammulamadaka (graduate-energy and geo-environmental engineering) of the GSA's Professional Development & Outreach committee brought to light that the GSA is starting to increase visibility using tools like Facebook.
