GAPSA head has distinct view of U.

Second-year Veterinary School student Patricia Khuly never expected to be the new Graduate and Professional Student Assembly chairperson until last month's elections. But now that she has accepted the position, Khuly says she plans to work on both academic and social issues while head of GAPSA, one of the University's strongest and most established graduate student government organizations. One of the major things that Khuly says makes her different from many previous GAPSA chairs is that she is in a professional school instead of in the Arts and Sciences division. "I'm surprised that I'm even doing this," Khuly said. "It's odd for professional students to be doing this because of time constraints." Former GAPSA Chairperson Michael Goldstein said there has not been a professional student as GAPSA chairperson for at least six years. Khuly said she feels her experience in the Vet School will provide her with a different perspective than if she had been pursuing a master's degree or a Ph.D. "Being from the Vet School, since I've been here we've had all kinds of financial difficulties," she said. "It's given me a unique perspective." Goldstein said that having a GAPSA chairperson who is pursuing a professional degree will be extremely beneficial for the student government. "I think it's wonderful," said Goldstein. And "given that the Vet School is somewhat in doubt, it's good for the Vet School that she is the GAPSA chairperson." Khuly said she also has strong personal attachments that will help her better understand issues facing a sometimes underrepresented part of the graduate student population. One of Khuly's main focuses will be minority issues. She said that since she is Cuban, minority issues are "very important" to her. She added that she plans to sit on a committee on pluralism. Khuly said it is important for GAPSA to continue its efforts to diversify Locust Walk. But Khuly stressed she will work hard to deal with "any issue that furthers the interests of the student body in general." Besides the more serious policy issues that will occupy Khuly's agenda -- such as trying to stabilize costs of student on-campus housing and health insurance, and ensuring that the University retains its need-blind admissions policy -- is the issue of fun, of ensuring that students get to meet and socialize with students in other departments. Khuly said that she has many "prospects for increasing social awareness." She said she will get students together from the 12 schools, mostly at parties and happy hours. Last semester, GAPSA sponsored two or three happy hours, as well as a spring reception. These events, though relatively few, were extremely well-attended and highly enjoyed. Khuly plans to institute many more of these events, possibly having a weekly rotating happy hour in different departments. "[This] might seem like a minor thing," said Khuly, but "school spirit is nothing to be sniffed at."