The Graduate Student Group

The UVa CS Department Graduate Student Group

An Unofficial and Most-Likely-Disapproved-Of Description and Formerly-Oral History by Darrell Kienzle, June 1995

Early History

The Early Years

At some time in the very distant past, the UVa CS Department Graduate Student Group was formed. Kevin Treu was named treasurer because his desk was considered to be the most secure for the purposes of storing petty cash. Over time as the other officers laft, Kevin took over their jobs. By 1988, Kevin Treu was the GSG. He singlehandedly ran the copyclub, orientation, and the picnic. This was a mammoth undertaking, and when he finally resigned in order to concentrate on his dissertation, it was clear that nobody in their right mind would volunteer to fill his shoes.

The Organizational Meeting

Shortly after Kevin announced his abdication (Dec 1991), a meeting was held to discuss the future of the GSG. This meeting was attended by many graduate students, including most of the senior students. At this meeting it was decided that in the future:

The Election Committee

A three-member election committee was established to determine the best means of holding elections, and actually hold those elections when the Spring semester started. The committee consisted of Ricky Benitez, Russ Haddleton, and Darrell Kienzle. Russ wrote the now-infamous voting program (ask him about his poll party...) and introduced us to the word "disenfranchised". The draft charter was started but never completed because it was felt that the decisions that were necessary were beyond the jurisdiction of the committee. The elections took place in January 1992 without a hitch and the election committee was disbanded.

The Steering Committee

With no official charter, the steering committee had to work from their impression of what the students in attendance at the organizational meeting had wanted, as well as that of the "disenfranchised" students who were unable to attend. Over time, as old members left, new members were elected, and the student body itself changed, the role of the GSG has become less clear.

CSGSG officers, past and present

The Draft GSG Charter

Membership

Every graduate student in the UVa CS Department is a member of the GSG. The steering committee is not the GSG - the steering committee is only a group of GSG members who have been elected by their peers to represent them to the department and to organize student volunteers as the need arises.

The Steering Committee

The Steering Committee consists of three elected students. The terms are for approximately one year, overlapping so that one new member is elected every four months or so.

The steering committee members meet with the department chair on a regular basis, raising the concerns of students. The role of the GSG is not to filter these concerns - if even a single student has a problem, the GSG is responsible for voicing those concerns.

The GSG is also responsible for disseminating information to the students. While most of the information that is discussed with the department is considered on the record, there are those issues that need to be treated delicately. These usually involve the special concerns of individual students. In these circumstances, it is important to realize that the steering committee members are elected to use their best judgement.

What has the GSG done for you?

Orientation

Each year, the GSG organizes the graduate orientation. This includes the mentor program, the orientation packets, and both picnics. There are normally a number of volunteers for these efforts, but often the steering committee members get stuck doing the packets themselves.

Copy Club

The GSG was responsible for the copy club in its old form, where all the graduate students used a single copy card and recorded their usage in a written ledger. The copy club volunteers spent a lot of time tallying totals and collecting payments. While those dark times may be past, the GSG has maintained an active voice in the department's changes to the copier facilities and was largely responsible for the issuing of cards to individual students.

Recycling

The GSG is responsible for the department recycling effort. The recycling Tsar was recruited by the steering committee.

Happy Hour

The GSG was behind the Official Unofficial Happy Hour for several years. Happy Hour has become so successful that it is now a standard part of the orientation schedule and is enjoying better attendance than ever.

Official Policy Documentation

A major element in the GSG agenda for several years has been the precise documentation of department policies and requirements. Before the GSG started pressuring the department to address this problem, requirements were unclear and inconsistent.

Class requirements

For almost two years, the first item on the agenda in any GSG meeting with the department was the issue of class requirements. Eventually, the class requirements were reduced, due in no small part to the efforts of the GSG.

Summer tuition

In past years, students were required to pay their own summer tuition bills. Eventually, the department paid those bills after the GSG made it clear that this was a major concern of the students.

What you can do for the GSG?

Volunteer!