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Traffic: Call for papers!

Submit your research article to Traffic 13 'Refresh: Revisit, Revive, Revolt' and be in the running for a $1000 prize, as well as picking up a refereed journal publication to add to your CV. Submissions close 6 May 2013.

***UPDATE***Due to several requests received by the Traffic Editor for additional time to prepare papers, we have extended the deadline for submissions for Traffic to Friday 31 May. Please contact the editor on traffic@gsa.unimelb.edu.au for further information.

The GSA myki Commuter Club at Melbourne
 
Graduate students are now able to join the University of Melbourne myki Commuter Club. Graduate students can apply for a 10% discount on a 365-day myki pass. The myki pass can be used on metropolitan trains, trams or buses all year round.  
Short-term student loans of $1,000 are also available for eligible students (local and international graduate students). Please contact Student Housing & Financial Aid before registering for the Commuter Club to see if you are eligible.
 
How to apply:
 
Applications open Friday, June 14th and close Friday, June 28th.
 

• Download a myki Commuter Club application below or collect one from GSA reception.
• Bring the completed form to the Transport & Parking Office at 213 Grattan St, between Leicester & Bouverie St. Office hours are 8:00 - 4:00.
• At the Transport & Parking Office the form will be checked and payment will be processed. Payment can be made via EFTPOS, credit card or cheque.
• Student photo ID is required at time of payment.

 
For more details visit the myki Commuter Club at Melbourne website.
 
Remember all local students with a Centrelink Health Care Card can also travel on Victorian transport at a concession rate.

• When:  Thursday 28 March - 1pm
• Where:  The Gryphon Gallery at the Graduate Centre, University of Melbourne Parkville Campus.
• Who can come?   All graduate students currently enrolled at the University of Melbourne may attend the meeting and vote.

If you plan to come, please RSVP to j.ruth@gsa.unimelb.edu.au or phone 8344 8287. Refreshments will be provided.

Full details including nomination forms and meeting papers: click read more...

UPDATE: Congratulations to the two new Councilors elected at the AGM:
Shoaib Muhammad Sarwar
Isabell Kiral-Kornek

Posted on behalf of Tanya Mammone, GSA President, Johann Ruth, GSA General Manager and Mr. Roger Deutscher, Returning Officer

The GSA Women's Officer Alif invites all female graduate students to  the following:

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Women’s Self-Defence Introductory Course

The GSA Women’s Officer presents an introduction to self-defence for women. The course comprises three one-hour sessions over three weeks.

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Women’s Morning Tea

Enjoy a relaxing tea, coffee and cake slice while you meet and mingle with your fellow female grad students at Tsubu Bar in the Graduate Centre.


See here for further information and booking details...

Presented by GSA
Tuesday 5 March to Tuesday 12 March, 2013

Tuesday 5 March
GSA 2013 Queer Mixer
Time: 5-7pm
Venue: Tsubu Bar, Graduate Centre (1888 Building)
Cost: Free
RSVP: queer@gsa.unimelb.edu.au



Wednesday 6 March
GSA BBQ and Lawn Cricket
Time: 12.30pm
Venue: Front Lawn of the Graduate Centre (1888 Building)
Cost: Free

Thursday 7 March
GSA and AWCUM International Women’s Day Lunch with Rosa Storelli
Venue: Woodward Centre, Level 10, Law Building
Time: 12.30 – 2pm
Cost: Free
RSVP: gsa@gsa.unimelb.edu.au Bookings for this event open 10am Thursday 28 Feb



Thursday 7 March
GSA Cinema on the Lawn - 'Life of Pi'
Time: From 7pm, movie starts at sunset around 8.15pm
Venue: western lawn of the Graduate Centre (1888 Building)
Cost: Free


Tuesday 12 March
GSA Graduate Student Groups Meet & Greet
Venue: Tsubu Bar
Time: 5.00 - 7.00pm
Cost: Free
RSVP: Invitation Only - Contact your school’s Graduate Student Group Representative for details

www.facebook.com/GraduateStudentAssociation
Twitter: @GSA_UniMelb

Major Changes to the Make-Up of University Councils in Victoria.

The Victorian State government has announced legislation to reduce the influence of elected staff and student representatives on university councils and to increase the influence of government appointments.

Peter Hall, the state minister for higher education allowed a spokesperson to say that the move was to ensure that board members had the “necessary skills”- The Age, October 23rd. However this was a day before government backbencher Geoff Shaw was caught making “wanker” hand gestures on the floor of the parliament. I can give an assurance that student members of university councils do not spend their time making juvenile hand gestures during discussion of important matters affecting their constituents. Graduate students in particular are equipped with a better “skill set” than many members of Peter Hall’s own government. To make this point, on October 25th the GSA tweeted: “Baillieu has juveniles in his party, but doesn’t want highly educated grad students on uni boards. What a hypocrite.”

The potential revolutionary effects on Victorian universities shouldn’t be understated. This represents a direct attack on academic freedom. Not so much because of increased government control, but because of a reduced respect for bottom up democratic processes. The destruction of this democratic process ensures that there will be a gradual degradation of the protected and independent world of university campuses.

What a bizarre decision.

Martin Spencer

President,
Graduate Student Association,
University of Melbourne

UPDATE: 2013 GSA Election Results Announced:

Phillippa Heskett, Returning Officer for the University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association Elections, in accordance with Rule 333(1)(a) of the Graduate Student Association Election Regulations, does hereby declare the below candidates elected:


Graduate Student Association Council
(13 vacancies)
BROWN, Steve
FIELD, Stephanie
AWAL, Tanveer
McKERNAN, Amy
MAMMONE, Tanya
SAMAD, Shelina Binta
ROBSON, Michael
NOVACCO, Rob
BISWAS CHOWDHURY, Rubel
RUDABA, Alif
HOSSEINIOON, Solmaz
ASNANI, Dheeraj
ARDIANINGRUM, Noor Alifa

University Council
(1 vacancy)
BROWN, Steve

MUSUL Board
(1 vacancy)
CLEARWATER, Patrick

Update:

The GSA Advocacy Team is Unaffected and Remains at Your Service

Please read full report here

Due to the likely introduction of a compulsory Student Amenities Fee in 2012, GSA will no longer offer Subscriptions. All GSA services, benefits and events will be available to all graduate students at the cheapest possible rate. The previous discounts offered as part of GSA Subscriptions (including the bookstore) will no longer apply and will no longer be available.

An announcement on Lockers will be made shortly in GSAnews.

Important Information for all Graduate Students

Next year every student will be charged an amenity fee of $263.

By now you will have received the University's email with details as to how it intends to spend the money raised.

GSA is critically concerned that the University's proposed spending will put graduate student's welfare at risk.

GSA seeks your help to ensure that this money is spent appropriately.

Find out how here

Ziauddin Ahmed
President
Graduate Student Association

There are a number of research projects currently being undertaken by University of Melbourne graduate students. The researchers have asked the GSA to assist them in finding project participants, to enable research progress through data collection. If you are interested, you are invited to contact the researcher/s.
Please do not contact the GSA directly about these projects.

Projects currently requiring participants, further details and contact information here:
* Migraine and healthy eyes -  Bao Nguyen
* Cortical markers for glaucoma  - Heather Connor
* Russian speakers for research study - Sabina Vakser
* Selecting financial services in Australia - Wei Jin
* Women with vaginal thrush - Cathy Watson

Want up to the minute information about what the weather is doing right here on campus?

You can! 
The weather station on the roof of the McCoy Building was developed by the School of Earth Sciences and the Department of Property and Buildings, and automatically updates EVERY MINUTE.

Visit the Earth Sciences weather station now...