Spring 2002 - April Newsletter
Written & Edited By: Bryan Rill (AGSU President)
 
Hello All,
Only three weeks left this semester!!! Until comprehensives….that is. I hope everybody is ready. For those of you finishing your first year here at FAU, congratulations! You made it through the hardest part. Now all you have to do is figure out what to write a thesis about. For those of us that have been here a bit longer, the end is coming closer. Keep up the good work.
AGSU is also finishing up its first truly active year in quite some time. This past year has been a process of building the framework for a long and illustrious future serving the needs and interests of graduate students. As a recap, here is a summary of what has been established this past year:
1.
AGSU has a formal operational manual to pass on to future officers.
2.
 AGSU is now recognized and respected by student government.
3.
 Funding has increased to support graduate needs.
4.
 We have a website, which helps to bolster the respect and reach of our graduate program.
5.
 Graduate students have a voice, and an organization to get things done.
In addition to these fundamental achievements, AGSU has taken graduate students to the American Anthropological Association Conference, and brought a guest speaker to our campus. Also in the past, it was AGSU that created the graduate student handbook issued to all incoming graduates. Although this may not seem like a lot, AGSU has taken important steps toward establishing a fruitful future. Next year we intend to continue and improve our role. The following is a list of AGSU's plans for the 2002-2003 academic year:
1.
 Hold elections for AGSU…these will be the second week of the Fall term.
2.
 Return to the AAA Conference…this time in New Orleans.
3.
 Bring two guest speakers to campus…one each semester.
4.
 Purchase ethnographic research software for the department, enhancing our data collection and recording capabilities.
5.
 Build an Graduate Library…focusing on ethnographic videos, grant writing training videos, and periodicals not in our library.
6.
Get involved with local museums, helping bring exhibits here to the Ritter Art Gallery…which can also serve as a needed fundraiser.
7.
 Speaking of fundraisers…we need to have some!
8.
 Get more graduates involved with GSA and GGC…these are great resources for all graduate students!
9.
 and finally…Design and initiate a series of graduate student survival seminars…to be conducted at each monthly AGSU meeting.

At this point perhaps I should elaborate on some of the above details for next year. First order of events will be the officer elections. I have chosen to hold them then so that incoming graduates can get involved. As AGSU is expanding and attempting to do more next year, it is crucial that as many people that can get involved do so. Please consider your availability, and let me know if you would like to be an officer. I will be glad to teach you the process- it actually isn't that difficult.

Second, we will be returning to the AAA conference this coming November, so mark your calendars now. Last time we were reimbursed for all of our expenses, and we will do it again!

Third, I would like to bring one guest speaker each semester to FAU. Please think of anybody you would like to see, and let me know. In the beginning of Fall we will decide and make the arrangements.

Fourth, the professors within the department have been evaluating some ethnographic software to assist our research. By the end of summer we should have it here at the university. Training seminars will begin early in the fall semester, most likely during AGSU meetings. Stay tuned….this could really help us all.

Fifth, we are building a graduate library. However, to get the funds we will need a specific inventory to purchase. Please consider what videos we may want, as well as journals. Please turn these in to me during the summer. E-mail is fine. Hopefully in the beginning of Fall we can order these supplies and get started.

Sixth, I would like to get involved with the Graves museum and others. By combining our resources, we can set up exhibits in the Ritter Art Gallery here at FAU. This can also serve as an important fundraiser, which we need to do for future funding.

Seventh, we need to come up with a fundraiser plan. Last year we did not have any, and that hurt our budget allotment seriously. I am all ears for ideas, as that is not my area of expertise.

Finally, AGSU is going to have more structured meetings next year. Part of that structure will be a graduate student survival seminar at each meeting. For those of you who have taken Dr. Brown's class, you may recall that we went over necessary survival tips each class. What AGSU intends to do is make that information available to incoming students to help them become professionals…as well as assist in making it through grad school. Over the summer I would like to gather all the material, so please brainstorm and write down all the tips and tricks to success that you can think of. Personal experiences are welcome, as that is often how we learn.

Please take part and provide any information you can to help achieve these goals.

Other News:
·
 The budget for next year is not what we expected, as student government allotted AGSU only $1900 of the $12,000 requested. This is partly due to the lack of representation in student government of graduate students. As such, I urge that you all become involved by going to GSA/GGC (Graduate Student Association/Graduate Grants Committee) meetings. Out of the 5000 graduate students here at FAU, only about 20 show up for the meetings. This lack of coordination has lead to a severe misrepresentation of graduate student concerns. We can change that by participation. The meetings are posted on the GSA website, so please check them out!!! As a result of the budget deficit with AGSU, it will be necessary to submit a bill to senate for funding. When we do this process, it will be VERY important that ALL graduates wanting to use these funds attend the senate meeting reviewing that bill. I need full participation in this, so please be prepared when the time comes next fall.
·
GGC (Graduate Grants Committee) is a powerful tool for graduates. This organization provides grant funding for research and conference travel. The meetings are held in conjunction with GSA meetings. If you attend these meetings it is possible to get funding to travel to whatever conferences you need. Further, these meetings often reveal seriously important information regarding what our state is doing to the education system. Since your future relies on this system, I suggest you become informed. One of our graduates, Bryan Rill, is serving as an officer with GGC next year, so please see him for details on the processes involved.
·
For those of you who have used GGC last year, it is mandatory that you fulfill your volunteer hours. You can do this by participating in one of two events: (1) Fall orientation for incoming graduate students, and (2) Teaching Assistant training workshop. Both of these events are scheduled for the third week of August. Please visit the GSA/GGC website for details. You can also attend the GSA/GGC meetings to get involved. The TA workshop is tremendously helpful, so I suggest attending it to all those who are to be TAs in out department.
·
We will be having an END OF YEAR PARTY on Friday, May 3rd …probably at Bryan and Peter's apartment. Food will be provided, but not alcoholic beverages. Please RSVP and let us know ho all is coming. The party will start at 6pm.
·
Don't miss an opportunity to publish! The Florida Journal of Anthropology is looking for papers. E-mail Scott Erker at UF for details. trickstr@grove.ufl.edu
·
 NASA (National Association for Student Anthropologists) is a great resource for us all. They send out an e-mail to all those subscribing to their list-providing much info on jobs, scholarships, and more. Visit their section of the AAA website for details. www.aaanet.org
·
 Finally, make sure you check out the AGSU website, which is under the anthropology home page at FAU. There are a few sections that need work, so I could use your ideas (such as the humor section…which is empty).
The link is www.fau.edu/divdept/anthro/home/agsu

One final note. As no one seems to be attending the FAS conference, AGSU has some funds left over this year. Due to this, we can support the expenses for conference travel at the end of this semester (to a limited degree). Please see Bryan Rill for details.

That is all for this newsletter. Please get back to me with any ideas you may have or suggestions. Good luck with your exams, comps, theses, etc…and have a great summer. See you at the party MAY 3rd!!!
Bryan Rill
     
     
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