Nov 2007

							The Graduate Student Society at Simon Fraser University                  Page 1 of 6
Graduate Council – Meeting C.2007.5 – Minutes (draft until approved)
November 26, 2007


Attendance

Present

Archaeology                                  Ursula Arndt
Chemistry                                    Usama Al-Atar
Communication                                Becky Scott
Computing Science                            Michael Letourneau
Criminology                                  Camilla Sears
Earth Sciences                               Derek Turner
English                                      Graham Lyons
Health Sciences                              Liane Fransblow
History                                      Kathy McKay
Linguistics                                  David Potter
Mathematics                                  Paul Vrbik
Molecular Biology & Biochemistry             Cheryl Schroeder
Political Science                            Brent Smith
Psychology                                   Carroll Boydell
Resource and Environmental Management        D. Tyson Doust
Exec not on Council                          Douglas E Ross


Absent with excuse

Education (1)                                Marcus Liang
Engineering Science                          Shirin Karimifar
Latin American Studies                       Valérie Duquette
Philosophy                                   Kyle Jackson
Resource and Environmental Management        D. Tyson Doust
Exec not on Council                          Clea Moray


Absent:

Biological Sciences                          Andreas Steimel
Geography                                    Cyrille Medard de Chardon
Kinesiology                                  David Jones
Public Policy                                Mitchell Andrew
Sociology and Anthropology                   Dave Kent
Statistics and Actuarial Sciences            Kyle Vincent
Urban Studies                                Billy Collins



Minutes
The Graduate Student Society at Simon Fraser University                                     Page 2 of 6
Graduate Council – Meeting C.2007.5 – Minutes (draft until approved)
November 26, 2007


1. Call to order

        The chair (Michael Letourneau) called the meeting to order at 10:38 AM.


2. Appointment of the secretary

        MOVED that Doug Ross as the secretary for the meeting.
        (Sears/Schroeder)

        CARRIED

3. Attendance

        Attendance was taken and a quorum was declared to be present.

        MOVED to excuse the absences of Marcus Liang, Kyle Jackson, Shirin Karimifar, Clea Moray,
        Valérie Duquette, and Tyson Doust.

        CARRIED

4. Minutes of previous meetings

        The minutes of the previous meeting were not ready for distribution in time for this meeting.


5. Report of the Chair

        The chair informed members that nominations were presently being accepted for the Executive
        Committee, reminded them of the importance of the committee and the stipend paid to its
        members, and encouraged them to submit their names.

        The chair also reported that due to the impending holiday schedule, there would be no Council
        meeting called in December – the issue would be discussed later in the meeting. The chair
        thanked members for their time and dedication to Council, and for getting the Society so far.


6. Reports from committees

a. Executive Committee

        Arndt delivered the report presented in paper C.2007.5.
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Graduate Council – Meeting C.2007.5 – Minutes (draft until approved)
November 26, 2007

b. Society Relations Committee

       The chair was not present to give a report. The chair reminded Council that the Committee was
       working on coordinating with TSSU and SFUFA regarding reversing the cuts to the TA budget in
       the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.


c. Electoral Committee

       The Chief Electoral Officer was not able to attend the meeting to present a report. On his behalf,
       the chair reported the results of the fees referendum as given in paper C.2007.5-2. The chair
       also reminded Council of the current Executive Committee Elections.

       Schroeder stated that nominations for the Executive Committee would close at 6:00 PM today.

       Arndt stated that there is $175 per month available to all members of the Executive Committee
       courtesy of the Graduate Issues Committee of the Simon Fraser Student Society


d. Social Committee

       No official report from the Committee was available. Vrbik reported that the recent Grad Social
       was a success.


e. Benefit Plan Committee

       Schroeder reported that the Committee had met twice, and mainly discussed issues of staffing.
       The Committee had drafted a motion to be considered later on the agenda.


f. Funding Committee

       There was no report from the Committee.


g. Grad Bull Committee

       There was no report from the Committee. The chair encouraged all members to consider writing
       content for the Bull.


h. Child Care Committee

       There was no report from the Committee.
The Graduate Student Society at Simon Fraser University                                      Page 4 of 6
Graduate Council – Meeting C.2007.5 – Minutes (draft until approved)
November 26, 2007

8. Old business

a. Budget for 2007/08 – update on grant funding projections

        Boydell reported that she had researched grant funding amounts given to various caucuses and
        how they would be affected by the new allocation of core funds to caucuses. She reported that
        caucuses usually receiving grants should largely be satisfied with the amounts available to them.
        She also reported that Council will still have discretion over its budget, and could increase the
        grant allocation later in the year if there was a problem. She stated that she would continue to
        research the issue.

        Lyons asked if there would be a committee struck to consider caucus funding policy. Ross stated
        that he and Arndt were beginning the research and that a committee would likely be
        recommended in the new year.


9. Items recommended from committees

a. Auditor motion

        The motion presented on paper C.2007.5-3 was not presented. The chair apologized for it not
        coming forward at this time, stating that it was removed due to a last minute issue around the
        cost of the chosen auditor. The chair also indicated that motion passed previously stated that
        the Executive Committee had the ability to engage the auditor, and he would interpret that to
        mean that they had the ability to appoint the auditor.

        Arndt stated that the motion passed previously allowed the Executive Committee the power to
        appoint the auditor.


b. Staffing motion

        MOVED to go in camera.
        (Schroeder/Fransblow)

        CARRIED

        The meeting moved in camera at 11:00 AM.
        The meeting moved ex camera at 11:14 AM.

        MOVED that The Graduate Student Society at Simon Fraser University (GSS) inform the Simon
        Fraser Student Society (SFSS), the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 5396, and the staff
        of the SFSS Graduate Benefit Plan that it is the desire of the GSS to continue the Graduate
        Benefit Plan with its current employees at least until August 31, 2008.

        CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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Graduate Council – Meeting C.2007.5 – Minutes (draft until approved)
November 26, 2007

10. New business

a. Appointments to committees

       The chair indicated that Dan Haas would be resigning from the Electoral Committee and that
       Karen Kelly had agreed to take the position as Chief Electoral Officer.

       MOVED to appoint Karen Kelly as Chief Electoral Officer of the Electoral Committee
       commencing on January 1, 2007.
       (Boydell/Fransblow)

       CARRIED


b. Scheduling of Council meetings

       The Chair reminded Council that he felt that Council should not meet in December due to the
       impending holiday season. There was no opposition to not calling a December meeting. The
       Chair enquired of Council if the 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM on Mondays would still be good for most
       people for the Spring semester. Council expressed agreement with the existing time slot. The
       Chair indicated that he may recommend that Council take the existing Graduate Issues
       Committee timeslot starting in May, as that time is traditionally used for significant meetings of
       graduate students.


c. Thanks to outgoing members

       The Chair indicated that Clea Moray and Doug Ross would finish their terms on Council and the
       Executive Committee at the end of December, and that they would not be eligible for re-
       election. The Chair reminded Council that they had worked very hard on a number of issues,
       having given much of their own time in the effort.

       MOVED that Council express its thanks to Clea Moray and Doug Ross for their hard work and
       dedication to Council and its Executive Committee both before and after the incorporation of
       the Society.
       (Al-Atar/Boydell).

       CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY


11. Announcements

       Lyons informed Council that serious problems appear to have arisen with the graduate student
       association at MacMaster University. He requested that any person involved with the SFSS
       impeachment campaign last year and/or Students for a Democratic University get in touch with
       him after the meeting.
The Graduate Student Society at Simon Fraser University                Page 6 of 6
Graduate Council – Meeting C.2007.5 – Minutes (draft until approved)
November 26, 2007

12. Conclusion

       MOVED to conclude the meeting.
       (Al-Atar/Schroeder)

       CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The meeting concluded at 11:21 AM.



Minutes approved on:



Date




Michael Letourneau
Chair




Douglas Ross
Secretary