<p style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Dear Grads,</p>
<p style="font-family: georgia,serif;">
</p><p style="font-family: georgia,serif;">In this week's newsletter, you'll find information regarding: </p>
<p style="font-family: georgia,serif;">
</p><b style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1.<span style=""> </span>GSA
Elections for the 2008-2009 School Year!</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><b style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><br></b><b style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">2.<span style=""> </span>GSA Ice
Cream Social- Friday 4/18<br></span></b><b style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">3.<span style=""> </span>Students
for California's Future-Day of Action April 21st, 2008!</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> <br></span><b style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">4.<span style=""> </span>Apply to
be a UC System-Wide Committee Representative!</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b><br></b></span><b style="font-family: georgia,serif;">5.<span> </span>UC Regents Meeting May 13-15<sup>th </sup>–Voting
on STUDENT FEES<br></b><b style="font-family: georgia,serif;">6.<span> </span>GSA
Research Awards<br></b><b style="font-family: georgia,serif;">7.<span> </span>Grad
Athletic Tournament(s) Spring</b><br style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia;">8.<span style=""> </span>Whiteline at the May Regents Meeting!
Application Due: Wednesday, April 30 by </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia;">10PM</span></b><br><b style="font-family: georgia,serif;">9.<span> </span>Grad and Professional Students Testimonials
about Financial Aid-Fill out one Today!<br></b><b style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><span lang="ES">10. <span> </span>UC,
CSU, CCC Sustainability Conference@ CalPoly San Luis Obispo<span style="color: navy;"> <br></span></span></b><b style="font-family: georgia,serif;">11.<span> </span>Building a Grassroots Coalition between UC
Students and the UC Office of the President (UCOP)</b><br style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><br>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Please read below for more
information. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1.<span style=""> </span>GSA
Elections for the 2008-2009 School Year!</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">VOTE!!! April 14th, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">8am</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> to April 18th, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">5pm</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">--------------------------------------------------------- </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">2.<span style=""> </span>GSA Ice
Cream Social- Friday 4/18</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The GSA Party Committee
will be hosting an Ice Cream Sundae Social on Friday, April 18th from </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">3pm</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> until </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">5pm</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> in the GSA Office (203 Commons). Come socialize with your fellow grad
students and make your own ice cream sundae! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">3.<span style=""> </span>Students
for California's Future-Day of Action April 21st, 2008!</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Reclaiming the Promise for
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">California</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">'s Future</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Students across the
University of California, California State University, and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">California</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Community College</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> are organizing a Day of Action across </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">California</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">. Join UCSA and GSAUCR for the UCLA action! GSA
will pay for travel, lodging and food for participants! For more information or
to attend, please contact the GSA Campus Organizing Director Ching-In Chen at
<a href="mailto:echen014@student.ucr.edu">echen014@student.ucr.edu</a> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">4.<span style=""> </span>Apply to
be a UC System-Wide Committee Representative!</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">As the official voice of
the UC students, UCSA needs YOU to represent over 200,000 students on important
decision-making committees for the UC system. These committees deal with
critical policy issues that affect every student in the UC system (e.g. admissions
policy, budget priorities, sustainability practices, diversity issues and
technology investments). It is vital that UC students have strong
representatives on these committees. There are over 20 different committees
with over 30 student representative positions that need to be filled for the
2008-09 school year.<span style=""> </span>Applications are
due Friday, April 18th. Notifications of appointment will be made by May
9th.<span style=""> </span>Apply online at <a href="http://www.ucsa.org/involved/syscomm.php">http://www.ucsa.org/involved/syscomm.php</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Representative
Expectations:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">* Serve at least a one
year term<br>* Attend and actively
participate in committee meetings (transportation is reimbursed by the UC
Office of the President)<br>* Maintain communication
with UCSA and provide recommendations to the UCSA Board on policy stances<br>* Articulate UCSA stances
to their committee</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">For more information about
the different committees check out the website:
<a href="http://www.ucsa.org/involved/syscomm.php">http://www.ucsa.org/involved/syscomm.php</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">--------------------------------------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b> 5.<span style=""> </span>UC Regents Meeting May 13-15th –Voting on STUDENT
FEES</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Care about the rising cost
of your UC education?<span style=""> </span>Don't want to be
in debt?<span style=""> </span>Join GSAUCR & UCSA for an
action to let the regents know how we feel about possible fee increases on
Wednesday, May 14th when the UC regents will be voting on whether or not to
increase our student fees!<span style=""> </span>GSA will pay
for travel, lodging and food for participants!<span style="">
</span>Please let GSA Campus Organizing Director Ching-In Chen know if you are
interested in attending at <a href="mailto:echen014@student.ucr.edu">echen014@student.ucr.edu</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>6.<span style=""> </span>GSA Research Awards</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Applications for the GSA
Research Awards will be available now.<span style="">
</span>Please send us your abstract (no longer than 1000 words) at
<a href="mailto:gsaucr@ucr.edu">gsaucr@ucr.edu</a> Attn: GSA Research Awards.<span style="">
</span>The application for will be sent to you upon receipt of your
abstract.<span style=""> </span>Applications and one letter of
support from a faculty member familiar with your work will be due by April
25th.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>7.<span style=""> </span>Grad Athletic Tournament(s) Spring</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> LETS GET PHYSICAL!!!!<span style=""> </span>We are in the process of setting up a series
of athletic tournaments, both traditional and non-traditional sports.<span style=""> </span>The events will include a picnic and giveaways,
complete with trophies/cups and your team's name on the commemorative plaque at
the GSA office.<span style=""> </span>The focus this quarter
will be on Softball and Soccer your team can have outside members but the teams
have to be at least 2/3 grads. So sign up your miniGSA or form your own team.<span style=""> </span>If you would like to participate or would
like more information please contact Alex Cortez at <a href="mailto:gsaucr@ucr.edu">gsaucr@ucr.edu</a> Attn: GATs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia;">8.<span style=""> </span>Whiteline at the May Regents Meeting!
Application Due: Wednesday, April 30 by </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia;">10PM</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">A.
General Information about Whitelining.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> There are four
UCSA-affiliated whiteliners at each day of the Regents meeting. Whiteliners are
provided direct access to the Regents - they get to go past the line that
separates the approved guest from the audience that must sit in back.
Whiteliners therefore have the opportunity to speak directly with the Regents
and meet with them in informal situations such as breaks and meals.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The responsibility of a UCSA
whiteliner is to advocate UCSA's positions on issues the Regents will be
considering and to build relationships for UCSA with as many of the Regents as
possible. This is also one of the few times students have the opportunity to
tell the Regents about our priorities and our action agenda.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Funding for travel and meals is
provided by the UC Office of the President for the day you are whitelining.
Students are generally only appointed to whiteline on one day of the two- or
three-day Regents meeting.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> <span style="">B. Specifics about the May Regents meeting.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> The May Regents meeting is
on May 13, 14, and 15 at UCLA. The Regents will be voting on the 2008-2009
Undergraduate and Graduate student Registration and Educational Fees at this
meeting. The Financial Office at the Office of the President has
recommended a 7% to 10% Educational Fee and 10% Registration Fee increase for
2008-2009 school year at all UC campuses. Other budget recommendations include
cuts to proposed increases for student mental health services and graduate
student support. Whiteliners will have the unique possibility of
convincing "swing" voters on student fee increases (there are some!) to vote
against them. If you have personal stories about how fee increases have
impacted you or how high fees deter you or family members from succeeding at
the UC, we encourage you to apply.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">If you are interested in
whitelining on behalf of UCSA, please provide us with the following information
to <a href="mailto:gsavpexternal@sa.ucsb.edu">gsavpexternal@sa.ucsb.edu</a> by </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">April 30, 2008</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> at </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">10:00 PM</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">
(PDT).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Name:<br>Campus:<br>Year/Major:<br>Organization (if any):<br>Please indicate which days you
can participate (Participants usually only Whiteline for one day): May 13, May
14, or May 15<br>Why do you want to be a UCSA
Whiteliner for the January Regents meeting? How can you address the issues
brought up in "Specifics about the May Regents meeting" (see above)?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">If you have any questions, please
contact Ray Austin at <a href="mailto:uadirector@ucsa.org">uadirector@ucsa.org</a> or 510.834.8272.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>9.<span style=""> </span>Grad and Professional Students Testimonials
about Financial Aid-Fill out one Today!</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Are you a grad student
greatly impacted by student debt?<span style=""> </span>Do you
pay your own fees or take out loans to pay for grad school?<span style=""> </span>Do you care about how your financial aid
package is administered?<span style=""> </span>GSA is
collecting surveys from grad and professional students about how they would
prefer their financial aid packages to be administered!<span style=""> </span>Fill out a loan testimonial at a GSA event,
at the GSA office or online at the GSA website:
<a href="http://www.gsa.ucr.edu/UCSA.html">http://www.gsa.ucr.edu/UCSA.html</a><span style=""> </span>Make
sure your voice and your experience is heard!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">For more information
please contact the GSA Campus Organizing Director Ching-In Chen at
<a href="mailto:echen014@student.ucr.edu">echen014@student.ucr.edu</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style=""> </span>---------------------------------------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia;">10.<span style=""> </span>UC, CSU, CCC Sustainability Conference@
CalPoly </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia;">San Luis
Obispo</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Have you been working to
make your campus environmentally or socially sustainable? We would like to hear
your story!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Seventh Annual UC,
CSU, CCC Sustainability Conference at CalPoly San Luis Obispo is looking for
student leaders who are reducing their campuses and their own environmental
impact and working towards a more environmentally, socially and economically
equitable world. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Deadlines:<br>Poster proposals due </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">June 1, 2008</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">.<br>Registration opens in
March 2008.<br>Conference dates July 31-</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Aug 3, 2008</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">.<br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">For more information,
visit the GSA Website at <a href="http://www.gsa.ucr.edu/UCSA.html">http://www.gsa.ucr.edu/UCSA.html</a> or visit the
conference website at: <a href="http://sustainability.calpoly.edu">http://sustainability.calpoly.edu</a> and click on the Call
for Proposals</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style=""> </span>--------------------------------------------------------- </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><b>11.<span style=""> </span>Building a Grassroots Coalition between UC
Students and the UC Office of the President (UCOP)</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">UCOP recently met with UC
Students in an effort to build a grassroots coalition and to establish more
lines of communication between UC students and UCOP.<span style=""> </span>UCOP wants to register as many students as
possible at <a href="http://www.ucforcalifornia.org">www.ucforcalifornia.org</a>. Please sign up, so you can let UCOP know
what issues are of importance to you, how you feel about rising fees, and
anything else you want them to know about. Pass the link on to your friends,
parents, and fellow students.<span style=""> </span>In
addition, as more students get involved, a blog will be created so that
students can comment directly to UCOP about how they feel regarding rising
tuition costs, etc.<span style=""> </span>There is also a
Facebook page…so again…sign up! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.ucforcalifornia.org">www.ucforcalifornia.org</a><span style=""> </span><br><a href="http://uci.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6756592601">http://uci.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6756592601</a><br>
<a href="http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/advocacy">www.universityofcalifornia.edu/advocacy</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">If you would like more
information, please go to the GSA website or contact the GSA at
<a href="mailto:gsaucr@yahoo.com">gsaucr@yahoo.com</a>.<br><br>Graduate Student
Association<br>203 Commons</span><br><span style="font-family: Georgia;">University</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">California</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Riverside</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Riverside</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">CA</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">92521</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br style="">
<br style="">
</span></p>