Students should be proud of GSA’s accomplishments

By Martin Griffin, Charles Harless, Hanish Rathod and
Jared Fox

Did you know that the first Graduate Students Association
president was James LuValle, the Olympic medal winner? Or that one
GSA president went on to be president of Western Michigan
University? Did you know that GSA lobbied the regents to purchase
and create the married student housing in 1961? Did you know that
the Graduate Student Resource Center is one of the few such centers
in the country and the only one created by students?

It is for these accomplishments, along with a host of others,
that GSA and UCLA graduate and professional school students should
be proud.

GSA represents over 10,000 graduate and professional school
students, the largest graduate population in the University of
California system and one of the largest in the country. GSA
actively campaigns both on campus, as well as state and national
levels, for graduate student issues.

GSA’s advocacy work is supported by approximately 40
stipended positions within GSA and on campus-wide committees.
Through its decentralized structure, GSA sponsors activities
ranging from departmental socials and speakers, campus-wide
GradBars, student-organized conferences, Melnitz Movies screenings
and other graduate-run programs.

GSA has existed on campus since 1936 and has accomplished many
things. In 1963, GSA led the effort to create the Communications
Board to stabilize student media. In the ’60s, GSA acquired
one of the first manufactured Xerox machines and sold photocopies
to students, which led to a copy center being founded on campus. In
the ’70s, GSA founded the Publications Program, which funds
graduate-run journals and is the largest student-run journal
program in the country. In the ’80s, GSA founded the
Environmental Coalition that went on to actively campaign for
on-campus recycling and fair-trade coffee products.

More recently, in 2000 GSA created the successful GradBar that
has been mimicked at other universities. GSA created the vice
president of academic affairs position to more effectively advocate
on academic issues. In 2002, GSA established the Graduate Student
Academic Rights and Responsibilities charter, endorsed by the
Academic Senate and Graduate Division, which is now a part of
departmental reviews. The Graduate Student Resource Center was
established in 2003 and has been expanded more recently with a
full-time director.

GSA has also advocated for greater graduate student support,
including tax exemption for graduate student fellowships, which has
resulted in a bill being introduced in the U.S. Congress. A former
GSA president proposed the original BruinGo! plan, and GSA actively
fought to keep the program in place.

More recently, GSA created a new graduate community service
commission to help coordinate and expand community service projects
for graduate students.

These are just a few of the many accomplishments of GSA. Most
importantly, GSA exists to serve students on all issues, from
campus-wide to individual needs. All graduate and professional
students should be proud of being a part of this history.

We strongly encourage everyone to vote in the elections and
voice your opinions on the issues. Get involved in GSA by applying
for an appointment. Send your officers your thoughts on issues. Get
out and be a part of this rich and wonderful history that GSA is
actively writing.

Griffin was the 2000-2001 GSA president. Harless was the
2002-2003 GSA president. Rathod was the 2003-2004 GSA president.
Fox is the current GSA president.