At the Graduate Student Government (GSG) Assembly meeting on April 1, conversation focused on enhancing graduate student spaces and increasing access to University resources.
The meeting began with a presentation from GSG Vice President Caridad Estrada GS, who shared plans for graduate student “beer jackets,” similar to the ones received by undergraduate seniors at commencement. The jackets will be customizable and free to graduate students.
Jan Ertl GS, Vice President of International Affairs for GSG, and Zoë Gorman GS, GSG Secretary, presented updates on the long-discussed proposal for a Graduate Student Center, which has been in the works since 2007. Ertl emphasized that the project is an area where “the Graduate School and GSG are actually very aligned.”
Ertl pointed out that nearly all of Princeton’s peer institutions have designated lounge spaces or centers for graduate students, if not a dedicated graduate student center. While graduate students have an allocated space in the basement of Clio Hall, it is often used as a break room for custodial staff and lacks 24/7 access.
The proposal for the center included potential locations on the south side of the building that once housed McCosh Health Center, and a space in Campus Club. GSG members approved the proposal by a 19-1-0 vote, calling for the selection of a space and an allocated budget for furnishing the lounge by summer.
Amari Tankard GS, GSG President, then outlined the body’s sustainability and dining initiatives, referring back to goals she set during her candidacy. These initiatives notably include expanding the 12 free graduate student meals pilot program to offer 2 free meal swipes a week, mirroring a program already available to undergraduate juniors and seniors not on the unlimited dining plan.
Tankard also discussed plans to transfer ownership of Meadows Cafe, located at the graduate student housing Meadows Apartments, from Campus Dining to graduate students. This follows the model of the Coffee Club, which is run by undergraduates.
Tankard further highlighted potential sustainability efforts, including a “Too Good to Go” program at Procter Hall, which would allow students to take leftover food from the dining hall and eliminate food waste. The introduction of reusable to-go containers to dining halls was also discussed as part of an ongoing push toward greener practices.
Gorman also suggested subsidizing public transportation for graduate students, noting that due to public transport prices, graduate students often need to utilize car transportation.
Subsidy programs mentioned included flat-rate transportation on NJTransit to popular areas, such as a $25 flat fee for round-trip transportation to New York City, as well as expanding campus carshare programs to include more electric vehicles.
The meeting continued with a funding request from the Graduate Ceramics Association, which sought an additional $1,000 for their group. Graduate student groups must make formal funding requests to the Assembly if they have already received $2,000 in the current fiscal year, as is the case for the Graduate Ceramics Association.
Hunter York GS, Co-President of the Ceramics Association, began his presentation by noting the association’s situation as a “peculiar case.” According to York, the funding request stemmed from repeated denials by the New College West ceramics studio to grant the graduate student group access to the space.
York expressed frustration, saying, “It’s just very clear that they don’t want us.” He later added, “It’s a lot more than just ceramics...it’s a big push for expanded grad student access to all spaces on campus.”
Following a recommendation from GSG Treasurer Seraya Jones-Nelson GS, the Assembly approved the funding request by a unanimous vote of 19-0-0, with Jones-Nelson noting that the approval would promote equity for graduate students.
Estrada then provided notice that nominations are open for the seven Graduate representatives to the Council of the Princeton University Committee (CPUC), with a meeting scheduled for April 30 to discuss the nominations.
The meeting officially concluded with open forum, where members discussed maintaining a list of ongoing GSG initiatives to be shared among the Assembly, as well as plans for the circulation of results from the GSG survey.
The GSG Assembly meets monthly, typically on the second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to all students.
Isabella Roberts is a contributing News writer for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Ellicott City, Md.
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