GSA FOCUS 2011-2012

Being a grad student is a challenging job. Each one of us wears a number of hats while trying to balance all the different tasks demanding our time. We are students, teaching assistants, lab demonstrators, marker-graders, research assistants, academics-in-training, writers, researchers, and employees. We are trying to write MRPs and theses, conference papers and journal articles while squeezing in time for workouts at the gym and maintaining some sort of social life on a miniscule budget. Yes, being a grad student is at times an overwhelming job. But don’t despair: your Graduate Student Association wants to help you out.

The GSA has developed Focus 2011-12, a five-point plan to address some of the most pressing issues graduate students face at Brock.

1.      Funding

Money is always an issue for graduate students. We’re limited in how much work we can do and are dependent on funding from Brock for our tuition. It’s no secret that funding levels at Brock have dropped over the past several years. The GSA will be actively encouraging the university to increase funding for graduate students so Brock can remain a competitive institution.

2.      Accessibility

With increasing support for students with disabilities at the undergraduate level and with more mature students coming back to school, accessibility for graduate students with disabilities has become a significant issue. Disabilities include not only visible mobility problems, but also invisible disabilities such as hearing problems, reduced vision, chronic illness, and mental illness. Some disabilities faced by graduate students are permanent and others are temporary, but disability can affect anyone: we are each only one slip and fall away from a broken arm or leg! Recognizing that graduate students with disabilities face particular challenges, the GSA is working to raise the profile of these students within the Brock community and to represent their concerns to Brock administration.

3.      Equity & Advocacy
In the past, graduate students who faced problems with supervisors or administration didn’t have much support. The only option was to use the BUSU Ombudsperson, who, by the nature of his/her position, had to remain neutral in any dispute. But now there is a better way: in 2010-2011, the GSA established the Equity and Advocacy Committee and advocacy became a part of the GSA’s mandate. This means that if you find yourself in an unpleasant situation, such as harassment or discrimination, you can come directly to the GSA for support. We can help guide you through the system while advocating for your needs.

4.       New Space

Have you ever been by the graduate student lounge? Do you even know where it is? The GSA wants to see better space for graduate students on campus—space that we can call our own, where we can meet with fellow grad students to swap stories, commiserate over hardships, encourage one another, and just hang out. The GSA will be working with the Faculty of Graduate Students to secure a more visible and more functional space for graduate students.

5.      Holistic Health Initiative

Our biggest project is the Holistic Health Initiative. The purpose of this year-long campaign is to encourage healthy, balanced living for graduate students. Okay, maybe that sounds a little boring, but trust us, it will be far from boring! We’ll be continuing the traditional sporting events, but with a twist: the events will be set up tournament-style with one faculty winning the overall title in April. And if sports aren’t your thing, don’t worry, because we’ve got other plans afoot, such as regular coffee hours were grad students can socialize and workshops on various stress-relief options. Our goal is to encourage students to have healthy minds in healthy bodies. As usual, if there is any activity you would like to see offered, let us now.

This is, of course, a pretty ambitious plan for the next eight months, and we won’t be able to fully realize the plan’s potential without your help. The GSA is you, so please consider ways you can get involved:

·          Come out to GSA events and Council meetings;

·          Offer your suggestions, ideas and general feedback to GSA executive and program reps;

·          Get involved informally by offering your time and talent to work on GSA initiatives; or

·          Serve in a more formal way by sitting on a GSA committee or representing your program on GSA Council.

Working with the GSA will not only give you something to add to the ‘service’ section of your CV and awards applications, but will improve the lives of future Brock graduate students.

To keep up-to-date on events, be sure to ‘like’ our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BrockGSA), follow us on Twitter (@BrockGSA), and sign up for our regular GSA e-newsletter on our homepage (www.brocku.ca/gsa).