The Graduate Student Association passed new legislation at last night's general meeting to change the term limits for the position of president.
Under Resolution 2012/2013-6, the assembly voted 19-7-2 to limit the GSA President to serve no more than two, one-year terms, but allow them to serve in any other GSA elected position after their term as president.
In addition to these resolutions, the assembly passed exceptions to the two-term limit for president, including that if at 30 days prior to the election, no other candidate has been nominated to run for the position, the president can run for re-election, according to the resolution. That person must appear before the general assembly and secure approval by a simple majority vote before running, according to the resolution.
GSA President Wanika Fisher said she has a "renewed faith in [the assembly]" after passing this resolution. She said during discussion of the resolution that elections motivate people to get involved in GSA and the intent of these amendments is for change and turnover of the executive board, and not because there has been a systematic problem with elections in the past.
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Robert Pangborn attended the meeting as a guest speaker. Pangborn talked to members about his role as Provost and what he has been working on.
Pangborn talked about the budget planning taskforce and their efforts to keep the tuition structure for graduate students mostly unchanged, while enhancing revenues from undergraduate students only where it makes sense.
Pangborn also discussed World Campus and the increasing interest in online learning from all students. Pangborn said that the shift toward online education has not affected the number of doctorate students very much, but has led to a decrease in masters student population by about 2,000 students.
GSA Vice President Robbie Fraleigh said inviting guests such as Pangborn helps connect the graduate students with administrators.
"It's really useful to have officials from the community and the university to say what their role is, how they work with graduate students and what issues they are working on," Fraleigh said. "It helps put a name to the face."
The assembly also confirmed newly appointed positions at the meeting. Travis Lesser and Gary Lin were appointed as delegates for the Smeal College of Business , sent to GSA by the president of the college.
Dustin Segovia was also appointed as the delegate for White Course Apartments.
Representatives from each Standing Committee gave their reports to the assembly, as well as each member of the Executive Board.
Brian Aynardi , speaking as the liaison for the Student Alcohol Advisory Committee , said they are discussing ideas for better patrol and safety during State Patty's Day.
The meeting concluded with an open forum and their next GSA meeting will be in two weeks.
