GSA General Assembly Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date:  February 6, 2008

Meeting Time:  7:10 - 8:40 p.m., HGS 119 A&B

 

I.  Call to Order and Additions to the Agenda

-  Dental school teeth cleaning information - Sara Nichols - this procedure takes several hours because it is carried out in classroom format.  Make sure to pass this information on to students during departmental meetings.

 

II.  French Department Meeting - Claire McMurray

-          Held on January 24.

-          Summarized Mentoring Week.

-          Updated constituents regarding Prescription Plus, birth control, and Gardasil.

-          Want more library hours, but want Yale to prioritize acquisitions.

-          CTF for travel abroad.

-          Discussed the TF assignments, even though it does not tend to affect them as much.

-          Asked about parking vouchers - probably not possible, as Yale is trying to encourage the use of public transportation.

-          Tax issues for international students - can other students give advice in this area?

 

III.  Guests - Pamela Schirmeister and Carole Goldberg

       1.  Basic Procedures for Sexual Harassment Complaints - Dean Schirmeister

-          The graduate school book of grievance procedures is available on-line and in paper format.

-          Of the five procedures, one is devoted to sexual harassment issues.

-          Each procedure has a specific committee composed of students and faculty to hear cases.

-          The sexual harassment committee is a standing committee that remains intact each year (members are not re-elected annually).

-          Due to the sensitivity of sexual harassment charges, students have, in the past, been fearful of making a formal complaint to the committee.  In a case like this, students are now encouraged to informally approach a member of this committee to discuss action and to potentially try to solve the situation without filing a formal complaint.

-          The committee keeps all of these meetings (even the informal ones) confidential, and no action is taken without the consent of the student.

-          If a formal allegation (a signed, written statement) is filed, the committee decides who needs to be called in as witnesses and what needs to be done.  In an informal setting, it is up to the student to decide who is privy to knowledge of the case.

-          Students may also approach committee members regarding behaviors that they are not sure are appropriate (more in the format of a question than an allegation).

 

       2.  S.H.A.R.E. - Sexual Harassment and Assault Resources and Education - Carole   Goldberg

-          Located at 55 Whitney Avenue, this center is currently independent of the Health Center, but will be located on the first floor of the new Health Center in the future.

-          This center provides informational DVDs, pamphlets, brochures, and has a library devoted to sexual harassment and assault related issues.

-          The center was established in May 2006 and has been in operation since August of that year.

-          The S.H.A.R.E. webpage can be accessed via the Yale University Health Services page (a link is provided in the sidebar on the left).

-          S.H.A.R.E sponsors a 24/7 hotline.

-          They also conduct programs regarding sexual assault and harassment here on campus for several different groups.

-          There is also a men’s group (previously referred to as “No More”) that aims to help men learn about and prevent sexual assault and harassment.

-          The center is considering putting together an on-line education module (similar to the responsible conduct in research module) to help students identify sexual situations that are not acceptable and to help make them aware of avenues for help.

-          Rape kits are done at the Yale-New Haven Hospital due to strict custody rules, the ability to have a closed environment there, and police presence.  These tests ideally need to be carried out by the same people each time for consistency.  There is no charge for this, regardless of insurance status.  Anyone who needs one should go to the emergency department at the Yale-New Haven Hospital.

-          In the event of a rape, the sooner evidence is collected, the better, and one should try not to wash away the evidence.  The collection of evidence is separate from the charges.  If one is unsure whether or not to press charges, it is still OK to have a rape kit carried out.

-          For more information, please contact Pamela Goldberg at the S.H.A.R.E. center.

 

IV.   Intramurals/Gym Committee - Dennis Mishler

-          The committee met with the Deans to address complaints about intramurals sports and the lack of communication with the grad school.

-          They will be meeting again next week.

-          The focus of this meeting will be to create a graduate student athletics liaison position and committee.

-          They also hope to create an Ultimate Frisbee league and to change the way Soccer intramurals are done.

-          The gym officials did not realize the high level of interest from grad students and some of the other problems (lack of referees, etc…), but are now aware and very willing to work with us.

     

      V.  CTF - Call for Readers - Dennis Mishler

-          Cycle ends February 15^th - Dennis needs two readers from each division.

 

Call to Adjourn - 2^nd