AGSA Minutes - September 26, 2007

1. Attendance:
   Amber Kling, Greg Korosec, Alicia Sampson, Heather Menz, Tera Thompson, Ashley Hansen, Patrick Fazioli, Guinevere Granite, Denise Szafran, Mia Jorgensen, Ben Kamphaus, Katie Neilson, Jen Foster, Kate Whalen

2. "Theory of Buffalo" Journal: Voted to encumber $25 as a co-sponsor for the journal- Unanimous.

3. Printer for Graduate Lounge Computer Lab: Brother Printer, includes shipping and warrenty- small business printer with double sided printing. Voted to encumber $280 to cover costs of said printer- Unanimous

4. Halloween Party: Potential date- October 27th, Saturday before Halloween. Voted to encumber $150 for party- Unanimous

5. Reported amount spent on Fall Picnic this year: $130.

6. Graduate Lounge Printing Fee: we ask everyone who will be printing up in the grad lounge on a regular basis to contribute $5, to be paid to the secretary, Tera Thompson.

7. Department Colloquium took place Friday 9/28/07, 354 Filmore- Ontology/ Archaeology discussion

8. Coffee Hours to be revived: Costs will be split between the department and AGSA as in years past. If interested in helping to plan these, speak to Tera Thompson, Secretary.

9. Happy Hour: For those whose schedules do not permit them to attend Departmental Happy Hours on Friday evenings, a second happy hour will be held on Thursday evenings- most likely every other week. Again, location will move from place to place- Ashley Hansen planned the first happy hour, feel free to make suggestions for future locations and dates.

10. GSEU Report- Mia Jorgensen: Potential issue regarding the funding for the Professional Development Fund (usual deadline for application to receive funds is in April) next semester due to negotiation issues. Please support the union through joining as they raise money to hire a lawyer in contract negotiation.

11. Reminder- the GSA also has funds available for attending or presenting at conferences- up to $400 for your lifetime at the university.

12. Faculty Committee Report- Ashley Hansen: potentially 3 more TA lines will be added due to more World Civ classes. Both Tina Thurston and Deborah Reed-Danahugh are up for tenure. Faculty discussed adding Qualifying Exam requirement for master's students. Faculty also sent special thanks to Patrick for diligence. Additionally, the department has not been given permission to look for a replacement for Dr. Rene Bobe yet.

13. Curriculum Committee Report- Jen Foster: nothing to report

14. IEMA representative Report-Ben Kamphaus: nothing to report

15. Spring Speaker Series: we encourage people to start thinking about this. Committee will include Amber Kling (VP) as Chair, speak with her if interested in serving, preferably one from each sub discipline. Format for speaker series needs to be solidified- last year's model, with each sub discipline having a speaker, looks to be best format again. Funds for the spring speaker series will be discussed at the next meeting after the Senate meeting has taken place.

16. Lawrence Schell, a speaker scheduled for last year, has been unable to visit due to the flight plan being terminated- some discussion about driving to pick him up, but no definite plans as of yet.

17. Election Verification form signed at end of meeting- new officers will be listed on the website.

18. Meeting adjourned. Next meeting time will be announced on listserv.

Repectfully submitted,

Katie Neilson
AGSA Secretary