An idea conceived over two years ago is finally coming to reality for the Graduate and Professional Student Organization. A constitution, which is submitted for ratification by departments, will remove GPSO from the umbrella coverage of the IU Student Organization. \nThe split would grant graduate and professional students independence from IUSA. Currently the GPSO is merely an advocacy group for graduate students because IUSA claims to represent them, and all students.\nGraduate student Heidi Tebbe, the astronomy representative to GPSO, said this split has been in the works for a long time.\n"The idea for this split started before I joined, back in January of 2000," she said. "The decision to split was researched by the GPSO, and we found support from grad students from every department."\nRachel Anderson, the moderator of GPSO, has high hopes for the proposed constitution. She said that the split is a move for the better.\n"GPSO is already the de facto student government for students in graduate and professional programs," she said. "By separating we will be able to more clearly address issues that affect only graduate students."\nAnderson noted that the GPSO functions quite differently from the IUSA because it is based on the parliamentary model of governance, while IUSA is based on the federal. GPSO does not run on tickets, instead having each representative selected from within his department.\nTebbe said the GPSO will address issues that only affect graduate students, like associate instructor pay, general grievances in the department, and health care coverage.\nHowever, the GPSO has much to do before becoming an independent organization.\n"First the various departments have to ratify the constitution," Anderson said. "Then we will lobby administration to recognize us as the official representation for graduate students on campus."\nThe new constitution coincides with proposed constitutional changes for the IUSA. Elizabeth Rytting, secretary of the GSPO, said the proposed new IUSA constitution is leaving flexibility in case the graduate organization becomes independent. \n"The proposed constitution is leaving some flexibility," she said. "By not apportioning the seats it allows IUSA to reapportion graduate student seats without writing amendments to their constitution."\nShe added that two of the tickets support the split, but the current IUSA administration does not.\n"Based on comments that Jake Oakman (IUSA president) made during his candidacy, he does not support the split between IUSA and the GPSO," Rytting said. "But we have talked to representatives from the Synergy and Kirkwood tickets, and they both support our decision. Steel has not responded as of yet."\nOakman said he continues to disagree with a separate student government for graduate and professional students.\n"Having a separate government merely dilutes the student voice even more," he said. "We have 10 to 12 graduate seats in IUSA that they never fill. Graduate students should become active in the existing government before trying to create a new one."\nOne sticking point of the proposed constitution is who, exactly, should be included in the GPSO. Craig Ortsey, the chair of the Graduate Government Committee, said GPSO defines a department as a compartment of the University that has a graduate or professional degree-granting program.\nCurrently there are more than 60 departments participating in GPSO, but that number could balloon to over ninety, if more departments begin participating. \nAnderson said the new organization will better serve graduate students, but will still work closely with IUSA on key issues. Members hope to ratify the constitution by the end of the semester, pending administrative approval.
Graduate students wishing to see the proposed constitution can find more at www.indiana.edu/~gpso/governance/constitution.html . Any opinions regarding the constitution can be expressed through department GPSO representatives or to the GPSO.
