GPSO not part of IUSA

The Graduate and Professional Student Organization hit a milestone last Monday in its quest for independence from the IU Student Association. The organization received the final vote needed to ratify its new constitution and are now a separate entity from IUSA. \nThe 46 votes received represent graduate and professional students withstanding desires for separation.\nSince January 2000, the GPSO has been constructing this constitution and trying to break away from IUSA. Currently IUSA represents both undergraduate and graduate students, but the GPSO says IUSA spends more time on undergraduate issues. While the GPSO respects IUSA's role in governing undergraduates, they note they have specific needs for graduate and professional students. \nCraig Ortsey, chair of the GPSO graduate government committee, believes the separation of the two governments will be mutually beneficial.\n"Both groups will be able to advocate from a stronger position," he said. "Student government (at IU) will become more efficient and a stronger system overall."\nOrtsey has confidence the separation will be a success based on the experience of other Big Ten universities. He said IU-Purdue University Indianapolis has had a separate system of government for undergraduate and graduate students for over 12 years. \n"I look forward to repeating the same kinds of experience that other universities have had," Ortsey said.\nAccording to Rachel Anderson, GPSO moderator, the next step is to present the results of the ratification to the upper administration. The administration needs to recognize the GPSO as the official representation for graduate and professional students on campus. Its support is crucial in the separation process because they have to deal with both the GPSO and IUSA. \n"The main goal of our new constitution's ratification was to formalize a relationship between the administration and the GPSO that already exists," Anderson said. \nThe ratification and separation from IUSA might allow the GPSO to play a larger role in the University. \n"We will continue serving and representing the graduate community at IU in all the ways we have been doing," Anderson said. "Hopefully we will be able to do so with greater expediency and fuller participation in university decision-making committees."\nAlthough graduate students have illustrated their support for the separation of the two governments, Ortsey said the outgoing IUSA administration does not support it. \nJake Oakman, graduate and former IUSA President, said he disagrees with the separation. \n"Having a separate government merely dilutes the student voice even more," he said.\nOakman said graduate students don't take advantage of IUSA participation offered to them. \n"Graduate students should become active in the existing government before trying to create a new one," Oakman said. \nDespite Oakman's beliefs, the current IUSA administration respects the GPSO's desire for independence, a stance that has evoked much controversy in the arena of student government.\n"IUSA has a general contentment with the GPSO," sophomore IUSA president, Bill Gray, said. \nGray does not expect the ratification to significantly affect IUSA's role in governing the campus at large.\nWhile IUSA may have one less issue to tend to, GPSO members have a lot of work ahead of them. Nonetheless they are thankful of their progress to date. \n"I'm very pleased, and highly impressed with the dedication our four governance committee members have shown to this project," Anderson said. "Because of their efforts, we can be confident that the graduate community at IUB supports our goal of an independent graduate student government"