Attendance:    Brianne Barclay, Courtney Dowdall, Ryan Klotz, LeTania Severe, Karen Mahar, Anne Braseby, Renee Hosang, Tricia Vanderkooy, Tekla Nicholas,  Francisco Sastre, Connie Viamonte, Bora Paco

 

I.          Welcome

                        Meeting began at 3:05 pm. 

 

II.        Book Clearing

                        The clearing out of the excess books in the Grad Room has commenced.   

·        The books were not worth enough to warrant the effort of selling them.

·        Many books have been left out and people are slowly taking them. 

·        We will set a deadline of Friday, February 23 for people to take books.  Any books left after that will be donated to Friends of the Library for them to sell or dispose of. 

·        The Anthropology Reference Dictionary has been located and stashed so that no one will take it.  This was purchased last year with SAGSA funds and we do not want to lose track of it. 

·        We will remind people not to take the Stats books, as those may still be used as reference.

 

III.       Media Screen

FIU IT has offered to move the screen in the Grad Room to the other side of the room, making it more usable. SAGSA unanimously approved moving the screen. 

 

IV.       Workshop

SAGSA would still like to do at least 2 workshops this semester. 

·        Follow-up on workshop proposed last meeting:    Presentation on how to get your dissertation published.  The person who does this workshop is well recommended.  He is willing to do the presentation for free, if we pay for his plane ticket from Nebraska. We have confirmed that we have enough funds to buy the ticket, but it is tricky to access the GSA funds to do so.  SAGSA will work out paying for the ticket. 

 

V.        Budget

                        We have not yet received an update from the FIU accounting department.

 

 

VI.       Round Table

The first proposed Round Table did not take place.  Rene will reconsider whether she wants to attempt another one.  

 

VII.     Colloquia Update

Next colloquium will be Dr. West on Friday, March 2, at 1:30pm in the Labor Center. The topic will be something on gender.  We will send out more specifics when we have them. 

 

VIII.    Web Site

Connie continues to maintain the website, and it does not appear that we need to recruit an undergrad to help.  However, we need to remember to send Connie things to post.

 

IX.       Farewell for Professors and Students

We know that Professor Fjeldman will be leaving FIU at the end of the semester. Bri had proposed having a farewell party and/or presenting him with a gift on behalf of SAGSA.  It also appears that other professors may be leaving, but we do not yet know who. Therefore, instead of doing a specific farewell party, we will present each departing professor with a gift at the spring social. We also do departing gifts for graduating grad students. Bri will confirm how many we have so that we are sure to set aside enough funds.

 

X.        Sugar Babies

On Thursday March 15 the documentary film “Sugar Babies”, produced by grad student Amy Serrano, will be shown on campus.  SAGSA has been asked to help gather momentum for the showing and to help with some of the logistics. SAGSA has specifically been asked to facilitate reserving the room.  The following day, March 16, the filmmaker will be doing the SAGSA colloquium.

 

XI.       Faculty Candidates

Two candidates are being interviewed for positions in sociology department. Interviews are taking place on Friday, February 23 and Tuesday, February 27.   SAGSA has been asked to ensure that at least 8 grad students attend.    Some SAGSA members expressed concern that in previous years, SAGSA was asked to participate in interviews but then was told that the students’ opinion on the candidates was not wanted.  Also, the interviews have been scheduled for times when grad students are not on campus.  However, SAGSA is still willing to participate. Tricia will follow up with Dr. Tardanico to clarify the role of students in this process and then we will send out another notice. 

 

XII.     GSA Events   

Ryan will start sending the GSA notices to Karen, who will forward to SAGSA list.   

GSA has a large budget for conferences this year, so available funding for travel expenses has been increased. Lodging is still not a fundable item from this funding source. You must request funding at least 8 weeks in advance. 

Next GSA meeting is February 21st, at 1:00pm in GC 140.

Next Gradskeller is Thursday, February 22nd at 6pm in the Cafeteria annex.

 

XIII.    Next Meeting

SAGSA meetings now take place on the first and third Fridays of each month, immediately following the colloquia at approximately 2:30 pm.

Next meeting is Friday, March 2nd at 2:30pm, following the Dr. West colloquium.