LETTER: GSA elections important

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by Joseph Elias

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As the Graduate Student Association elections are coming up on March 24 (6:30 p.m. in the RMC), I would like to encourage any and all grad students to get involved.

I know this is a rather tired phrase, but it does have some meaning to it. Over the last couple of years, the influence and visibility of the GSA has grown, mainly due to multiple individuals who have given an hour here and there to help other grad students and the Rice community in general.

Besides the standing committees of the university (Research Council, Graduate Council, etc.), we have had grad students directly involved with the search for the President (Malcolm Gillis), Vice President for Student Affairs (TBA) and Provost (TBA). We are also heavily involved with the issue of graduate housing, student health insurance, summer health care, alumni affairs, scholarship fund-raising and general community services -- such as Habitat for Humanity, the South Texas High School Project, the Commission on Women, Homecoming, Graduate Student Orientation and others.

There are also university student committees, such as the Honor Council, University Court, RSVP, amongst others.

If you are interested in less formal topics, the GSA also organizes social gatherings, such as the two annual picnics (fall and spring), various TGs, movie ticket giveaways, recently the first annual Chess Tournament, reduced tickets prices to the Renaissance Festival, Beer-Bike, track and field and multiple GSA sports teams (softball, soccer, racquetball, etc.). It should be noted that through the valiant efforts of many members of the GSA sports teams that we won the overall intramural championship last year. There are many other topics too numerous to mention here.

Suffice it to say, if there is an issue that you are concerned about, and you want to get involved with it, the GSA is the place to start. There is no need for experience in any of the positions, except that you have the willingness and enthusiasm to get involved and stay involved. If you have any questions regarding the elected positions of the GSA, the election procedure or anything I've mentioned above, feel free to contact me (elias@owlnet, x2758) or the GSA parliamentarian Rob Butera (rbutera@owlnet, x2755).

Joseph Elias

President, GSA

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the March 18, 1994 issue.

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