2002 – 2003 Administration
Livia Langton, President
Elizabeth Watyka, VP Finance
Erik Lindsley, VP Committees
Susan Kohli, VP Communications

GOALS:
The Executive Board (EB) established objectives for the year that focused primarily on increased communication and student participation.  With the assistance of Alvin Bryant Ko, a medical student, the GPSA proudly flaunts a new web page.  The new page has a more organized layout, easier access to information and interactive forms for assembly representatives, committee reports and GSO activities.  The GPSA also has its own domain name now, pittgpsa.org
The improved web page combined with active participation of assembly representatives helped the GPSA establish a greater presence on campus.  As president, I was invited to speak at the Pitt Law Women’s Brown Bag Series, a testament to increased awareness of GPSA.  Additionally, the EB attended 11 of the 14 GSO meetings this year.  Those that were not attended are newly reorganized GSOs and they will hopefully be underway by fall.
Susan and Tara worked to establish distribution lists whereby all graduate students may be reached via e-mail.  Also, a list was created to contact the 14 GSO presidents.  This flow of information enabled the EB to better communicate with the Assembly representatives; and the GPSA achieved increased attendance and participation.
With Erik’s computer skills, GPSA was able to conduct the finances survey and officer elections on-line.  This allowed for more student participation; and in fact, greater voter turn-out than ever before.
A final pursuit was to dedicate a memorial, on campus, in John Carney’s honor.  He was the VP of Finances in 2001-2002 who passed away unexpectedly last spring.  John’s memorial will be dedicated May 24th, 2003 at 2:00pm, behind the Law School.

ACTIVITIES:
Increased student participation was a definite objective of the EB.  We hoped that by selecting varied activities that graduate students with different preferences would all be able to participate.  On the whole, the ticket give-aways went smoothly with lines always forming hours in advance to get the free or reduced price admission.
In September, the GPSA organized the ticket give-away to the Pirates game.  Unfortunately, the game was rained out.  But for those organized graduate students, still in possession of their tickets, they maybe redeemed for a game this season.
 The annual party at the Attic was hosted by GPSA in October.  The food and drinks went quickly.  Additionally, the raffle of Penguin’s sticks and tickets brought in money for John’s memorial.
 The November event was a Chamber Music concert at Carnegie Hall.  The pre-concert social hour was very pleasant and the music was enjoyable.
With the timing of final exams and the holidays, GPSA did not hold a December event.
 In January, the Pitt GPSA co-sponsored with CMU’s GSA a student evening at the Symphony.  Tickets went quickly for this event as well.
 The Annual Winter Reception took a different format this year.  Due to the timing many faculty were unable to attend in early February.  However, the function was a time for the Assembly representatives to chat casually and get to know each other better in a less business-like setting.  The pianist and the wine made the event.
 In March, the GPSA provided tickets to the Penguins game.  It was a fantastic game that went into overtime.  Definitely a popular event.
 Finally, GPSA’s new event is the Inauguration Dinner and Appreciation Evening.  This event has in years past been a GPSA Assembly only ordeal.  This year I invited the Administration and the Pitt News in yet another attempt to further the EB’s goals of greater GPSA and graduate student exposure on campus.
 Based on the turn-out to pick-up tickets and the feed-back that GPSA has received, the events that were selected and sponsored this year got the graduate student body active and socializing, as well as some additional recognition by the administration of graduate student involvement and caring.

ISSUES:
 As a voice for all graduate students it was very important to the EB and myself as president to adequately address graduate student concerns and problems.  Over the course of the year several issues presented themselves, from within the Assembly and externally as well.
 First, there was the issue of the Pitt Basket Ball tickets.  Many graduate students were upset about the process and felt that the system was rigged.  Suggestions were solicited from the graduate student population and were passed along to Dr. Jack Daniel and the Athletic Department.
 Second, the part-time student access issues were addressed to the Provost’s office and Student Affairs.  Correspondence was sent conveying the position that graduate students, whether full or part-time, should have access to better athletic facilities and campus programming.  Part-time students, often forced into this category, are suffering in not being allowed to access recreation facilities, campus sponsored events, funding etc.  Additionally, I attempted to address the problem of student classification on IDs versus staff status which it was determined can only be resolved at the departmental level.
 Third, it came to my attention that many graduate students were having financial problems.  The problems were two fold.  One issue revolved around student loan cancellation and improper processing.  The other issue was the inadequacy of the living allowance allotted to graduate students.  As a result of these issues, contact was made between Dr. Baranger’s office and the Financial Aid Office.  Also, a student survey was conducted in an attempt to evaluate the true and current needs of the graduate student population.  The financial survey was designed by the survey committee of the GPSA and GPARC.  Neither of these issues are fully resolved but GPSA hopes that the wheels of changer are turning.
 Fourth, the GPSA discussed with Carrie Sparks the reservations and suggestions as pertains to electronic dissertations and the proposal for making it mandatory.  Students seemed receptive but were concerned about such issues as copyright, publication and technological glitches.
 Fifth, University Registrar Conte discussed the possibility of a one-time fee for life-time transcript requests.  The GPSA found this to be a positive suggestion. However, the GPSA urged Mr. Conte to also pursue the reality of making transcript requests on-line.
 Finally, Liz and I dealt with many financing and budgetary issues.  Working the Terry Milani, Lori Morris, Jeff Donovan and Dr, Baranger’s office, most of the issues with erroneous charges, double charges and fringe benefits have been resolved.

CONCLUSION:
GPSA has had a successful year.  We have a solid communication network.  The Representatives have showed increased interest, dedication and responsibility.  GPSAs social events happily fostered a sense of community among the student population.  And due to an active Executive Board, the Administration and GPSA are now working more closely on many of the above mentioned graduate student issues.