In first meeting of semester, GAPSA takes on major issues

On the heels of last week's successful orientation and happy hour, members of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly discussed committee work, the potential early closing of Graduate Tower A and student health insurance last night in their first meeting of the semester. Members of the organization that represents students at the University's 12 graduate and professional schools also praised their first major social event -- a party last Thursday night at which President Judith Rodin and Provost Stanley Chodorow addressed approximately 1,500 students, who later enjoyed refreshments and music from two live bands. More GAPSA happy hours are planned, including an Octoberfest celebration at Cavanaugh's on October 3. But graduate students discussed more than just social events at last night's meeting. Representatives were concerned with the possible early closing of Graduate Tower A due to ongoing construction of Sansom Common. If construction forces closing, the relocation of Grad A residents would probably occur next May -- although graduate students have leases running through next July. "The fact is people are signing leases and not being told of the possible closing by the University," said Vice Chairman for Policy Matthew Ruben, a School of Arts and Sciences graduate student. "I think it's going to come down to something adversarial with the administration." Ruben noted that Rodin and Executive Vice President John Fry --Ewhom he described as the "head decision-makers" involved in the possible closure of the building -- have not attended any of GAPSA's discussions of the issue. Representatives also voiced concern over the University's role in shaping their student health insurance. The administration's initial promise that the new US Healthcare insurance policy offered to undergraduate and graduate students would provide a gym benefit has been dropped -- even though the gym benefit initially helped sell the new policy to graduate students. Ruben said GAPSA has also expressed concern over the future of a $200,000 fund created after the premiums associated with the new policy were lower than what the graduate students had previously thought, causing them to pay a larger percentage of the cost they share with the University. GAPSA representatives want the University to help subsidize graduate students' premiums with this fund, and asked Rodin to decide on the matter at the next University Council meeting. The group's members also voted to allow two students from the Fels Center for Government represent its students at GAPSA meetings. The center did not previously have a voice because the University groups it under the Graduate School of Fine Arts for organizational purposes. But GAPSA recognized the program as a separate entity and granted its two new representatives voting rights. Graduate and professional school students will continue to work on these issues in the weeks to come. The next official GAPSA meeting is in three weeks.