Student Government Sets 2000-01 Agenda

With the election of first-year student representatives, the Graduate Public Affairs Council (GPAC) has kicked off its political year.

Second-year student Steve Schauer is GPAC's president. As the representatives prepared for their Sept. 18 opening session, Schauer reiterated that the council's main purpose is to make sure that students have a voice and see to it that the administration hears their concerns.

Student representatives will attend a retreat to map out their goals for the upcoming year. Schauer said that one area of council interest will be recruiting new faculty. He believes the upcoming change in presidential administrations is an opportunity to seek out big-name talent.

"(There will be) quality folks looking for work," Schauer said. "Since (we lost) Barbara Jordan, we haven't had a big name."

GPAC will also seek to recruit faculty with expertise in non-profit organizations and environmental issues to meet student demands for more classes in those areas.

Schauer pointed to the brown bag lunches with guest speakers and the community service days as GPAC's most visible student services.

Melissa Carey, a newly elected member of the brown bag committee, said she hopes to capitalize on Austin's role in this year's presidential race and attract speakers with a finger on the pulse of the election."We will definitely take advantage of that," she said. Carey also plans to hold several sessions with local talent--spotlighting the work of LBJ professors.

GPAC members also sit on the admissions board and play a role in determining which students will be accepted to the School the following year.

GPAC will meet every other Tuesday starting Oct. 3 in Room 3.109 at 12:15 p.m. Meetings are open to all students.

A listing of 2000-01 GPAC members will be posted on the council¹s web site in the near future.

September 14, 2000

News and Events • Fall 2000 News Briefs

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September 18 , 2000

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