October 27th, 2015 Meeting Minutes

AHCS GSA

The Art History & Communication Studies Graduate Students’ Association (McGill University)

Agenda for the October 27th, 2015 General Assembly

6:00pm, Arts West, B-22.

Introductions

- ASSE guests

1. Approval of the agenda

Consensus of approval

2. ASSE

SC: first order - stay with ASSE?

haven't had delegate in year

- confusion about what ASSE does

- meetings in French, no one fluent enough to attend

Gretchen: brought document about political history of ahcs-gsa

contextualizes history and affiliation

last year seat left open

this year's congress just happened

relevance for students interested in social activism

chance to participate

especially for scholars interested in activism

personally a part of helping affiliation

try to help transition and maintain that affiliation

active delegate this year

organize event with presentation about austerity, how it happens in Quebec, how it affects grad students

organize in the next month or so if interest

ASSE guest: student federation for universities

Discussion of student unions

ASSE working differently - not really a student union for campuses, for small departments to organize horizontally, important for small departments gives them a voice

four Anglophone associations

at congress this weekend proposed to have whisper translations - automatic translations

will have mobilization material in English to be more inclusive for Anglophone students

Concordia student unions want to stay but need to change their ways

Concordia student unions would like to feel that more combative student unions will join them

less focused on solely academic issues, but also wider political issues like austerity

ASSE is more horizontal, gives small departments a voice for a more active student union

ASSE has a principal - trying to apply feminism in a concrete way, direct democracy

positive discrimination - prioritize minority voices

important for departments to participate

really important to be proactive and to be aware of what's going on

horizontal solidarity happens only when all the participants are active

new this year - women congress (happening in march)

will discuss combative feminism and the seventh principal of ASSE

G: ASSE is organized through feminist principles, part of our new constitution, idea around the march congress, relevance to organizations we've had in the department (women in scholarship event)

our association has been at the forefront of organizing around issues on campus

in general our dept tries to find ways to organize with other depts.

hope its the experience going forward

AD: what the dues affiliated with ASSE?

Guest: 150 per student per semester

Co-pres: works out to 250 dollars per year

G: last year we recuperated that through events on campus

try to always create an event to recuperate it back

AD: we're getting a little less than 700 each semester - logistically, if someone's invested in keeping this going, this needs to be an official position, like AGSEM rep

need to have some take that role on and recuperate our funds through events

happy to continue but needs to be another officer position

Guests: solidarity fund, and at each congress, unions can come and ask for funds, usually its smaller arts associations that needs it and we usually give it - unions should be solidarie - organize activities is very important to us, we'll collaborate; usually in our francophone associations it doesn't work like that, and it seems to help participation, external secretary position goes to different groups, another solution is a lot of people can go, just have to make a report for everyone, helps in other associations

SC: three questions

what issues ASSE prioritizing

what do you mean by combative

what types of events

what does ASSE say to students who don't agree ideologically

Guests: cuts to public services

suggest alternatives to the cuts

five fiscal alternatives

publicizing the first one, restore capital tax

organized union gathering for education

lots of delegations came to discuss what we could do to oppose those cuts

if majority of your students not ideologically aligned with this fight, or ways we organize, there are a lot of ways to fight this, but the majority of delegates have to be okay with the seven major principles of ASSE

fighting for less hierarchical way of seeing what we're doing as students

students have to be okay with those principles

SC: not some much the principles but way it is realized

don't understand types of events to realize and meaning of combative

G: combative - being active in the social and political world

combative a mistranslation in some ways - connotation in English that is different

diversity of tactics very real, very tangible, difference in how ASSE represented in media and the actual work they're doing on the ground

Guests: most of the time we send emails, organize with other worker unions

organize congresses, direct actions, very diverse - media just shows the darkest parts

combative means formation, organization, talking with the membership, consciousness raising, not passive

AD: I take combative as solidarity, would love to see the GSA represent, but I cannot say that the people in this dept believe that - part of my goal is to try and get more discussions; as a dept right now we're not standing together on anything, difficult to get professors to even acknowledge reinforcement of patriarchy, speaking out against that priority, how can I make my environment less hostile, try to change GSA and make it as political as possible, maybe at some point we can get back to that environment but right now we're not

Guests: internal compositions change and we know it

very hard to mobilize at UdeM now

executive councils feel they have the energy to mobilize people, but they don't only have one position for that

dynamic, not the only association that feels this way, needs consolidation on campus

G: issue about profs replicating patriarchy, what's great about ASSE affiliation is they also have common concerns, women congress would be good way to discuss this issue of profs and patriarchy, there are allies out there

Guests: wrote document last year about boys clubs in academia

FO: Where are the meetings hosted

Guests: committee meetings near Sherbrooke and Frontenac

congresses three times a year, two regular and one women one

most of the time in Montreal, once a year in Quebec city

feminist one, academia one, social struggles, mobilization

Zoe: when will whisper translators happen?

Guests: maybe in may? thinking about putting a fee to cover translations costs

goal is all of our things will be free for everyone

goal is to be a professional simultaneous translation

all of our material will be in English as well - will hire professional

Zoe: next meeting?

Guests: march

Gretchen: committee meetings happen more regularly

also regional council of Montreal

Guest: organize activities as well

have a regional committee in Quebec city

FO: Any separatist alignment?

Guests: No.

Gretchen: specifically does not align itself with political groups

Guest: We focus on political student struggles

Gretchen: ASSE doesn't split groups into student groups, like political groups in terms of hitting specific groups i.e. international students raise tuitions fees etc

embraces all students regardless of where they come from

Co-pres: at meeting where we became a part of this

principles of ASSE I totally agree with

main concern is how our dept contributes to ASSE

i.e. Gretchen has done so much, versus I've done almost nothing

seems completely outside our world in this dept; if we're going to move forward, how do we do it in the right way, which means we're a part of ASSE

Student: first step to actually go to one of the meetings

maybe two people to the same meeting

I can go, but I'm new in town, but someone with more experience of the culture can go with me

Co-pres: Concordia reflection

An attention to the needs towards English student groups would help a lot

guests: structural problem that was ignored - will change a lot of things now, a particular attn to Anglophone associations

Co-pres: an attempt at engaging Anglophone groups is a good start

AD: Either show of hands or go to a few meetings and then go from there

I: People get engaged on different levels

AD: Matter of priority

SC: Though we are reps for the whole dept - popular vote for the whole dept?

Co-pres: One of the negatives is financially

SC: Tactics was biggest issue

Co-pres: if we can pay for this someway, then whatever

and if can get someone on board to be rep, then yes

AD: if going to be involved, be involved

FO: Can make that a position?

Possibly Zoe?

G: Ask for solidarity fund this year because of austerity, and we're starting up again, ask in light of these things

Z: What did you do to raise funds?

G: We had a talk, bake sales are super popular

AD: Motion - if we can get this next year waived or find another way to cover it, which would fall on Zoe and I, and if there can be some type of spring event that is active with what they're doing, in which there is an active role between us, under those conditions I would support us staying

FO: If you guys raise money in the spring for the following year

G: Second

SC: Poll?

Co-pres: I don't think we need a poll

G: People wouldn't benefit from the presentation we just had, informed decision making done here tonight

Zoe: Take a poll but not really use results as decision?

Co-pres: I would agree with that

I: Communicate something about considering being affiliated with ASSE

Z: Let people join us

G: To be clear, we are already affiliated, this is about whether we stay

AD: For data, I think we should

Co-pres: Practically, this means we couldn't put in new constitution, so we could take temp vote in between this meeting and the next

FO: Amendment?

AD: Motion - test the temp in a poll, that prez will set up, and in that poll, say that I and Z have an interest in keeping this going, explanation of what occurred in the meeting, counts as a suspension while we wait.

FO: Vote next meeting?

AD: Vote now and see what happens. Suspension over if we would drop it, that would come later on, after we see what comes out of it.

Co-pres: We're mostly voting on good feelings here.

FO: concern about constitution?

G: Adopt constitution but suspend amendment in regards to that section

Co-pres: Motion that we do that

G: Support original motion from AD

Original motion passes

- not spending money, if it's a success great, if doesn't work out, we'll reconvene

3. New constitution

Constitution motion to table section regarding ASSE affiliation passes

4. Finance report

FO: Supposed to get a check for 700 by end of October

don't know when going to get that, person deals with it on medical leave

went to the bank and got hard time, delayed for now

up to date on protocol for bank account

will go over in detail once get bank account

SC: Pay TH?

Co-pres: Can't pay until get cheque.

Discussion about bank account with PGSS and outstanding balance

G: Desjardins only needs letter from communications officer regarding resolution to be able to open it

Further discussion about opening bank account difficulties

I: Letter signed by Matthew Hunter?

FO: Will take care of that letter

Everyone: THANK YOUUUU

5. Hypothese support

Recap of Hypothese

Wanted 200, AD suggests 100 to match last year, and if have more money can do more at the end of the semester

Co-pres: At most 100

Motion to give 100 to Hypothese passes

6. Career panel support

Recap of career panel pitch at last meeting

- asked for $400

Co-pres: I don't feel this is our dept

I: Maybe share an event to raise profile?

AD: This was an undergrad event - I don't think we have funds to give them, but we should work with undergrads in the future.

Co-pres: Leaning towards not giving money - we shouldn't be seen as a funding body.

I: Ways to work together.

AD: Two separate points, we should work with them on something else

Motion offered to not give money

SC: I would be unopposed to give a small amount

Co-pres: Do we have the budget to give 100? As a token?

AD: They didn't ask us in the beginning, and we're organizing a conference as well

Co-pres: Will this be an annual thing? See where we are at the end of the year

Z: Could we advocate on their behalf to our GPD because it's a panel of previous grad students?

AD: There are a lot of other research/forum events we want to do

better sense of funding at end of the year

undergrads have a lot more money and are able to give more money

I: We don't have the resources for this

AD: They can advocate on their own behalf to Matthew

Gretchen: The ask should happen before the conference so GSA can be a part of it

Motion to table that next year they can ask but must ask before so we can help with organizing it passed

7. AGSEM report

Brief discussion of strike meeting

8. PGSS report

Rep report - referendum on fee increase for grad students

approved new board committee, new budget, motion passed to change name of equity committee to equity and diversity committee

CKUT voted down

Small margin for no

9. Faculty meeting updates

Co-pres update

Key takeaway was Lisa Travis guest speaker (from linguistics) combined funding model for AHCS moving towards

Done to compete with other schools who can offer more money

She spoke about how it worked

Relies on everyone being in it together

SSHRC seems to have figured this out and starting to crack down

Nebulous funding model

Looking for feedback in regards to the town hall, any continuation of dialogue is positive

Opening to raise other concerns? Continue dialogue?

AD's experience - professors approached afterwards and took offense to the event

Co-pres: Now it seems like professor who approached him was slightly offended about the event

Showed that there are gaps in their communication as well

Worth following up on?

Gretchen: Be careful, highlighting tensions that exist in our dept between the profs

We believe in collegiality and collaborating on challenges

This meeting highlighted the needs for more events like this

10. Conference report

• Approval of $270 for Media (poster, banner, logo, site, etc.) to be paid back via other conference funds if total costs are covered.

AD: Conference going well - IPLAI will support the conference, bringing in some exciting people, need to pick out a venue, will finalize other speakers and second keynote, please submit work as well as artwork for exhibit planning in conjunction

Paid for the media upfront, roughly 200 US funds out of pocket

Normally the GSA gives 300 for the conference

If have extra funds, will give 270 back, but would like to be reimbursed from GSA

Motion to give 270 for media as soon as bank account is up and running passed

11. Axel and Kyle’s time conference

SC: Axel applying for SSHRC with Kyle for symposium, scheduled for March 11/12 2016, would like us to submit letter saying we would provide media support, and we estimate this support to the value of $800, not that we would actually give that, but that SSHRC would match this amount

AD: Need to specify what they need for media support through our avenues, as that is my role. Clarification about how they want to go about it?

SC: Need the letter by the end of the week.

Motion to write the requested letter for the time conference passed.

12. GSA events

• Next term Media@McGill Workshops (who would we like to see?)

• February Methods workshop with Dr. Elise Thorburn

• Gabrielle Hezekiah (Visiting Professor AHCS) Nov. 25th, Wed. morning seminar

• Masterclass with Jimena Canales on the 12th of Nov. (morning)

• Second and final research forum (event for the term) early November-ish perhaps in convo with the work of Dr. Canales’ work on time based media, history of science, etc.?

AD: Feb Methods workshop update - tentative Wednesday morning before spring break

Nov. 25th seminar - food will be provided

- phenomenological approach to shame, video, talk, prepare three readings

- 90 mins long

Masterclass with Jimena Canales

- more like lunchtime than the morning

Need to plan another research forum at some point

- something small

- thoughts? Bring this together with Media who wants to bring more local scholars in?

Gretchen: research symposium focuses on indigenous issues/media speciality?

AD: More graduate research work? Themed?

I: List of previous topics somewhere?

AD: GSA events for research has just started.

A: First one was a positive useful experience.

AD: Have to keep it going so this support doesn't lose interest.

SC: Easier to use same format for this semester, and then get indigenous scholar next semester.

Co-pres: Four presenters too many, too little?

AD: Four to five

FO: Really liked it

Co-pres: Suggest another room for technology reasons

A: Keep it peer oriented, keeps it a more low stakes environment

More comfortable event

Z: Push for it to happen this year, or can it happen in January?

AD: Needs to happen before the conference.

Needs to be four a year - aiming for three this year.

Z: Workshop with coursework paper?

AD: That would be good - maybe second week of January?

General agreement

Gretchen: slightly further into January

AD: Third week of January, student driven event, focused on work

Consensus on afternoon event again

#News #Events