Graduate Student Association

RESCHEDULED

The GSA is in the process of preparing the budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.  In order to balance the budget we will need to make some adjustments to our current allocations.  In order to discuss these proposed adjustments in full detail with the student body, the E-board will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, March 15th from 2:00 – 3:00pm Monday, March 27th from 3:00 – 4:00pm in the GSA Conference Room (310 Student Union).  All graduate students are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Students are also welcome to voice their opinions at the GSA Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 29th at 7:00pm where the final drafts of the budgets will be voted on for recommendation to the Senate.  Please note that due to the limited space available we ask all students planning to attend this meeting to RSVP to the GSA Treasurer (gsa-treasurer@buffalo.edu) by 4:30pm on Monday, March 27, 2017.

Petitions for the University Council Representative position will be made available on Monday, March 13th and due Friday, April 7th. Any full-time University at Buffalo student is eligible to run for the position. Responsibilities of the University Council Representative include:

• Sitting on the University at Buffalo Council, which serves as the primary oversight and advisory body to the institution
• Represent the 30,000 students who attend the University at Buffalo
• Chair the Council of Advocacy and Leadership (COAL), a committee consisting of leadership from UB’s 7 student governments
• Serve as an ex-officio member of the Faculty Staff Senate and Professional Staff Senate

Petitions can be picked up at the front desk in the Campus Life (formerly Student Life) office located in 150 Student Union. They will also be made available at the Student Life Office in Harriman Hall on South Campus, the Undergraduate Student Association (350 SU), and Graduate Student Association Office (310 SU). Completed petitions must contain the signatures of 300 registered UB students.

The timeline for this year’s election process is listed below.

New Timeline for the 2017 University Council Elections

Monday, March 13: Petitions made available at all locations; All Governmental Offices and Student Life

Friday, April 7: Petitions are due by 1:00pm to Campus Life in 150 SU

Wednesday, April 12: Mandatory Candidate Meeting at 5:00pm in 150 SU

Wednesday, April 12: Campaigning begins following Mandatory Candidate Meeting

Thursday, April 13: Platforms due to Luke Haumesser, 150 Student Union, by 5:00pm

Tuesday, April 18: Endorsements due to Luke Haumesser via email by 5pm

Tuesday, April 25: Elections held online beginning at 12am

Wednesday, April 26: Elections held online

Thursday, April 27: Elections held online and close at 5:00pm

Friday, April 28: Expenditure reports due no later than 5pm/when polling closes

Friday, April 28: Unofficial election results available

Monday, May 1: Official election results available

March 3, 2017 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Arthur Ramsay, (Arthur.Ramsay@sunysa.org, 631-927-5097)

“In recent weeks, New York has seen numerous acts of anti-Semitic vandalism and fear-mongering targeting the state’s Jewish communities.

“The desecration of headstones at Waad Hakolel Cemetery in Rochester and more than a half dozen bomb threats made against Jewish community organizations on Long Island, in New York City, throughout the Hudson Valley and Western New York have all occurred recently. The SUNY Student Assembly stands firmly in opposition to acts of hate and discrimination, both in New York and across the country.

“The Student Assembly also commends Governor Cuomo’s swift action, calling on the New York State Police to investigate these threats and condemning all forms of anti-Semitism and bias.

“No SUNY student should have to walk across their campus or through their community in fear of being targeted for their religious beliefs or cultural background. The SUNY Student Assembly leadership will continue working with senior administration officials to ensure that our campuses remain safe and secure environments for all our students and faculty to live and learn.

“We encourage all students, faculty, staff, and community members alike to report discrimination and bias incidents to the New York State Bias Reporting Hotline at (888) 392-3644. Crimes and immediate threats should be directed to local authorities by calling 911.”

About the SUNY Student Assembly

The Student Assembly of the State University of New York (SUNY SA) is the recognized student government organization representing the nearly 600,000 students of the State University of New York. Comprised of student leaders elected by their peers from across SUNY’s 64 campuses, SUNY SA is committed to empowering students throughout the state, and ensuring the representation of its members on the state and national level, as well as throughout the SUNY system.

We would like to know how you would like to see your mandatory student activity fee spent next year! Please take this two-minute survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PS6XY3J

Your answers will help us adjust the GSA budget for next year!

February 24, 2017 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tyler McNeil, communications@sunysa.org

“The SUNY Student Assembly is proud to support the recent order issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo directing the State Education Department to ensure that transgender and gender nonconforming students are protected in New York’s schools.

“The Governor’s actions illustrate that New York will not tolerate discriminatory treatment of our students, both inside and outside the classroom.

“At our next meeting on March 4th in Schenectady, the Assembly’s Executive Committee, led by Vice President Bridget Doyle, will take up legislation on gender inclusivity. We have a duty to stand up and speak out against hate and discrimination of any kind. SUNY is built on a foundation of inclusion, acceptance, and diversity, and we will continue to work every day to uphold these values on behalf of our 600,000 students.

“We encourage students to notify the Student Assembly of any campus policies or procedures that go against the spirit of the Governor’s order, and we will bring those concerns to the forefront so that they may be addressed quickly and effectively.”

All concerns can be sent to contact@sunysa.org.

About the SUNY Student Assembly

The Student Assembly of the State University of New York (SUNY SA) is the recognized student government organization representing the nearly 600,000 students of the State University of New York. Comprised of student leaders elected by their peers from across SUNY’s 64 campuses, SUNY SA is committed to empowering students throughout the state, and ensuring the representation of its members on the state and national level, as well as throughout the SUNY system.

Please bring all books to Park 551, History Graduate Lounge

Contact: Alexandra Prince alprince@buffalo.edu with any questions or to arrange a pick-up

Chicago Books to Women in Prison, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is an all-volunteer group that distributes paperback books free of charge to people incarcerated in women’s prisons nationwide. They are dedicated to offering women behind bars the opportunity for self-empowerment, education, and entertainment that reading provides. More at: https://chicagobwp.org/

The organization can only use certain types of books. They must be paperback, unmarked, and lightly used/new. They must meet the topical needs of either of these two lists:

https://chicagobwp.org/how-to-help/donations/

https://chicagobwp.org/special-requests/

Some relevant needs include: dictionaries, language learning, recently published popular fiction, crafts/drawing/puzzle books, books about prison, investing and running a business, mental health/trauma/addiction recovery, bisexual and transgender fiction and nonfiction

Amazon Wish-list: Books can also be purchased directly on Amazon through Chicago Books for Women’s Prisoner’s Amazon wishlist.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3JB7QLOISAPLO/ref=cm_sw_su_w

If you choose this route, please notify Alexandra at alprince@buffalo (so we can keep track)