August 19, 2005
MINUTES GABS Meeting 10/04/2005
Minutes of the GABS Meeting
Department of Biological Sciences
University of South Carolina
Tuesday, October 4, 2005
The October faculty meeting was called to order by the Prez Jennifer Ann Jost
at 11:06 AM (15:06 GMT).
The following graduate students were present:
Aveni-Deforge, Helies-McFadden, Jones, Jost, Krabbenhoft, Marshalonis, Murphy,
and Vieyra.
Inversely, the following graduate students were NOT present:
Albury, Anderson, Anoruo, Bandyopadhyay, Banerjee, Barwick, Beaty, Berke,
Bhattacharjee, Bhoumik, Borgianini, Brannock, Brock, Burr, Cox, Cozart, Cramer,
Criminger, Daoust, Davis, Degenhardt, Desai, Dillman, Eaddy, Edwards, Endres,
Erwin, Fernandez, Fields, Franklin, Fuller, Goodrich, Goyret, Kilaru, Long,
McElroy, McGuinness, Mesngon, Mingo, Mukherjee, Ocean, Oswald, Pickard,
Ramsdell, Roberts, Roth, Schneider, Smith, Szathmary, Taraskiewicz, White,
Williams, Winterhalter, Yalamanchili.
The GABS faculty advisor, David Reisman, was not in attendance either.
Item of Interest #1: Money.
1-we have some.
2-Baruch Retreat...we have $430. Additional aid is donated, which leaves
our total retreat funding at approximately $1200. Money is spent on
lodging, food, etc.
3-Faculty Symposium. We have money for snacks and drinks. Extra incentive
for people to come tomorrow!
4-Seminar Speakers. We traditionally have two invited seminar speakers.
And $292.50 for each. The department covers whatever that doesnt such as
lodging and airfare. We may have 4 slots however. To be determined.
5-Student Seminar. We've got five buckaroos for cookies and milk. Which
has been plenty for all of the five people who have been coming.
6-Questions Posed. Could $$ be used for a student lounge, kinda like
the Pharmacy cats have? cots and all? Kyle said he will investigate.
Item of Interest #2: Update on Faculty Meeting.
1-Professional MS program. Now only plant tract. Cell and Molec tract, as
well as an EEOB with ecological management tract to possibly be added.
2-With regard to the money...
a. $10,000 will be devoted for meetings and such. We can apply for.
b. $11,000 is for a summer stipend supporting 2 students/yr. Apply.
c. $6,000 will be devoted as a "signing bonus" to lure "excellent"
students. If it is not used, it will be reallocated to other 2 ops.
3-Room 205, CLS. AKA the cricket room. It has been setup as a new
seminar room, for about 8-10 people. Could be good for committee
meetings.
Item of Interest #3: Baruch Retreat.
1-Motion to possibly combine USC and Clemson at Baruch. Invite
Coastal and C of C also? Issue of xenophobia.
2-Thoughts and concerns circulated. Should this happen or not? Should we
have two separate events? Our retreat for us, but then also possibly a
day-long symposia for both sets of grad students? Kinda like what MCDB
does. Concern was voiced over the matter of the purpose of the retreat.
It is a good way for us grad students within biology to bond, as long
as people come of course, so perhaps better to keep separate.
3-This will not happen this year. We will focus on an excellent retreat.
Planning is beginning for it. Please come. Fun and Science.
Item of Interest #4: Coker Clean Up.
1-Grad students are volunteering to help keep our building gardens clean.
Weed and trash free. If you are interested in helping, contact Jenell
(sierra@biol.sc.edu) and pertinent info shall be sent your way.
Item of Interest #5: GABS Faculty Symposium.
1-It is tomorrow, beginning at 1:30. CLS 215 is the room with the action.
There will be 15min talks from biology faculty, drinks, and snacks.
Come for the entire bit, or as your time permits. There was a great
turnout last year, and we want another one this year.
Item of Interest #6: Seminar Attendance.
1-We should all be there. Like it or not.
2-Apparently, faculty think we, as graduate students, are lazy.
3-Without being threatened or bribed, how can we increase
attendance? Should popcorn social and seminar be combined?
4-Having the seminars be a bit more general (which would mean the speaker
including one extra slide with background/basics). This way, those of
us who do not study within the field they do may better understand and
thus have an interest in what is being presented.
Extra Tidbits.
1-The Prez will sit and chat with the chair after each meeting to air
grievances. So, if you would like to voice and opinion, come to our
meetings. You will be represented. Participate.
2-Monthly GABS meetings will be held.
3-GABS committee meetings should be held monthly too.
4-We wanted to invite Vida Mingo to be a guest speaker. A formal
invite shall be sent, Vida. This is just a heads up.
5-And as said before, planning for Baruch Retreat is beginning. Committees
will be forming. And MSCI peeps need to be included in this too.
6-The seminar on the 17th. It's sorta a job interview. So we should all
make an especial point to be there.
7-Those of you who were not present, beware. You have made yourself
victims of limericks. A sample:
laughing she said "hey that's teeny!"
"what are you? Steve Borgianini?"
bring that thing nearer,
so i can see clearer.
better yet, contact houdini!!
There being nothing more of particular interest to discuss, the meeting was
adjourned at 11:58 AM (15:58 GMT).
Respectfully Submitted,
Sierra Jenell Jones