GPSC plans 2001 campout weekend

From allocating funding to affiliating a new group, the semester's first meeting of the Graduate and Professional Student Council was business as usual.

The gathering started with a presentation from Perkins Research Librarian Margaret Brill, who spoke about the possible addition of Live Online and Virtual Reference capabilities to the Perkins computer systems. GPSC members showed interest in the service, which Brill said "would provide faster, direct help from a staff librarian in place of the current e-mailing system."

The council also unanimously set the dates of 2001's basketball ticket campout. Representatives approved September 28-30 as the date for next year's tenting weekend. Also introduced were the changes to the ticket distribution policy, which will be voted on at their meeting in two weeks.

GPSC also took the opportunity to reflect upon last semester's accomplishments. Ryan Opel, GPSC vice president and second-year law student, said the organization had "accomplished a lot in the fall" and expressed his "hope to do so again this spring semester."

Opel also expressed his wishes for improved communication amongst the graduate schools to reduce "addressing the same issues at weekly meetings." He also discussed the issue of insurance policy modifications, attempts to rectify parking problems, and the progress of the Best Practices in Graduate Education document.

GPSC representatives also discussed the need to improve the public image of the organization, focusing on more than their task of "providing the graduate students with basketball tickets."

Vijay Srinivasan, president of the Association for India's Development-Duke came before the committee to ask for the group's recognition of his organization as an "affiliate organization." By a unanimous vote, AID-Duke (now in its fourth year at the university) was granted affiliation.

The committee also voted on funding for several organizations. Among those who received donations from GPSC are Duke Hellenic Council, the Graduate Professional Womens' Network, and Campus Council. GPSC executive officers announced that there will be over $5,000 worth of funding for the fourth round of allocations later this semester.