<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Dear Grads,</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">In this week's
newsletter, you'll find information regarding: </span><br><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">1.<span style="">
</span>GSA Council Meeting - May 7<sup>th</sup> <br>2.<span style="">
</span>Grad Bash – Friday May 9<sup>th</sup> <br>3.<span style="">
</span>GSA Research Conference Call for Abstracts<br>4.<span style="">
</span>Botany and Plant Sciences Graduate Student Research Retreat - June 6<sup>th</sup>
<br>5.<span style="">
</span>Chronicling Mars: 2008 Eaton Science Fiction Conference <br>6.<span style="">
</span>GSA Special Election for the 2008-2009 School Year<br>7.<span style="">
</span>Students for California's Future-2nd Day of Action May 19th, 2008!<br>8.<span style="">
</span>Whiteline at the May Regents Meeting! Application Due: Wed, April 30 by </span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">10PM</span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"><br>
9.<span style="">
</span>UC Regents Meeting May 13-15th –Voting on STUDENT FEES<br>10.<span style=""> </span>Grad and Professional Students Testimonials
about Financial Aid-Fill<br>11.<span style=""> </span>UC, CSU, CCC Sustainability Conference@
CalPoly San Luis Obispo <br>12.<span style=""> </span>Building a Grassroots Coalition between UC
Students and the UC Office</span></b></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Please read below for more information. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">1.<span style="">
</span>GSA Council Meeting - May 7<sup>th</sup> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Come join
us next Wednesday for our next council meeting at </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">6pm</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> in the Senate Chambers in the
Commons.<span style=""> </span>Be sure to drop by the GSA
office for free pizza at </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">5:30pm</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">.<span style="">
</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------
</span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">2.<span style="">
</span>Grad Bash – Friday May 9<sup>th</sup> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Come join
the GSA Party Committee for our last Grad Bash of the year!<span style=""> </span><br>On
Friday, May 9th, from </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">5-7pm</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">, at the Getaway Cafe, we'll have
free pizzas and snacks for grad students!<span style="">
</span>Please be sure to bring your ID. </span></p>
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</span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">3.<span style="">
</span>GSA Research Conference Call for Abstracts</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">The GSA
is currently conducting a call for abstracts for our annual research
conference. The conference will be held on </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Saturday, June 7,
2008</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> in
the UCR commons, rooms 302A, 355, 383. Registration is free. We are giving out
$3,000 in awards for best poster presentation and talk (per college and
discipline). We are currently accepting abstracts for both poster presentations
and talks. The conference is open to both UCR graduate students and graduate
students from other universities. However, only UCR graduate students are eligible
for receiving cash awards. Everyone in attendance will be eligible for winning
raffle prizes. Breakfast, lunch, and an evening reception will be provided at
no cost. Abstracts should be less than 1000 words and include the title of the
presentation, all authors' names, all authors' departments, and whether you are
interested in giving a talk, presenting a poster, or both.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Please
submit your abstract to the following e-mail address:
<a href="mailto:UCRGSAResearchConference@gmail.com">UCRGSAResearchConference@gmail.com</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------
</span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">4.<span style="">
</span>Botany and Plant Sciences Graduate Student Research Retreat - June 6<sup>th</sup>
</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Students
will have the opportunity to display posters and give oral presentations about
their research. Participation from other disciplines is encouraged!<span style=""> </span>A BPSC alumnus will also speak directly to
graduate students and answer any questions they may have, such as those
regarding job searching and choices to be made after graduate school.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">No
entrance fees!! Free food!!!!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Abstracts
due on May 23rd! Send your abstracts or questions to Ben Becerra
(<a href="mailto:bjbecerra@gmail.com">bjbecerra@gmail.com</a>) or Lynn Wihbey (<a href="mailto:lwihb001@student.ucr.edu">lwihb001@student.ucr.edu</a>). </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">5.<span style="">
</span>Chronicling Mars: 2008 Eaton Science Fiction Conference </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">UCR will
be hosting this year's Eaton Science Fiction Conference on May 16-18!!<span style=""> </span>UCR students can attend all three days of the
conference for only $5.00 if they register before May 1st, after that the
student rate is still only $25.00.<span style=""> </span>Ray
Bradbury is the keynote speaker, so bring your copy of Fahrenheit 451 or The
Martian Chronicles (he will be signing books on Saturday).<span style=""> </span>See you all there!!!<span style=""> </span>(For all of you Science Fiction afficionados,
Larry Niven, Greg Bear, David Brin, and Friedrick Pohl will also be
there....WOW!!!).<span style=""> </span>Follow the link for
more information: <a href="http://eatonconference.ucr.edu/">http://eatonconference.ucr.edu/</a></span></p>
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</span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">6.<span style="">
</span>GSA Special Election for the 2008-2009 School Year</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">The
positions for GSA President and Finance Officer are still open for the
2008-2009 school year. There will be a special election held at the June 4th
Council meeting. For more information about each position and for an application
form please visit the GSA website at <a href="http://gsa.ucr.edu/">http://gsa.ucr.edu/</a> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">To apply
for candidacy, please fill out an application form and email it to
<a href="mailto:gsaelection@yahoo.com">gsaelection@yahoo.com</a> by the deadline of </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">May 21st, 2008</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">6pm</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">. If you have any questions,
please contact the GSA EVP Louise Hendrickson at <a href="mailto:evp.gsaucr@yahoo.com">evp.gsaucr@yahoo.com</a>. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------
</span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">7.<span style="">
</span>Students for California's Future-2nd Day of Action May 19th, 2008!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Reclaiming
the Promise for </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">California</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">'s Future</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Students
across the University of California, California State University, and </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">California</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Community College</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> are organizing a 2nd Day of
Action across </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">California</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> on May 19th in </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Sacramento</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Stay
tuned for more information!</span></p>
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</span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">8.<span style="">
</span>Whiteline at the May Regents Meeting! Application Due: Wed, April 30 by </span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">10PM</span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"><span style=""> </span>1. General Information about Whitelining.<br>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.<br><span style=""></span>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.<br><span style=""></span>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-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"><span style=""> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"><span style=""> </span>2. Specifics about the May Regents meeting.<br><span style=""></span>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.<span style=""> </span>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-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"><span style=""></span>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-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">April 30, 2008</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> at </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">10:00 PM</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> (PDT). <br>
Name:<br>Campus:<br>Year/Major:<br><span style=""></span>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-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"><span style=""></span>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><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">9.<span style="">
</span>UC Regents Meeting May 13-15th –Voting on STUDENT FEES</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; 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! This is for the ACTION at the Regents meeting…to be a whiteliner,
please see the whiteliner section of the GSA newsletter. Please let GSA Campus
Organizing Director Ching-In Chen know if you are interested in attending the
action: <a href="mailto:echen014@student.ucr.edu">echen014@student.ucr.edu</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">10.<span style=""> </span>Grad and Professional Students Testimonials
about Financial Aid-Fill out one Today!</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; 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-size: 11pt; 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><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;" lang="ES">11.<span style=""> </span>UC, CSU, CCC Sustainability Conference@
CalPoly San Luis Obispo </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; 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-size: 11pt; 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 style=""> </span><br>Deadlines:
<br>Poster
proposals due </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">June 1, 2008</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">.<br>Registration
opens in March 2008.<br>Conference
dates July 31-</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">Aug 3, 2008</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; 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><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;">12.<span style=""> </span>Building a Grassroots Coalition between UC
Students and the UC Office of the President (UCOP)</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; 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-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.ucforcalifornia.org">www.ucforcalifornia.org</a>
<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><br>
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Georgia;">---------------------------------------------------------</span><span style=""></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" target="_blank">gsaucr@yahoo.com</a>.<br>
<br>
Graduate Student Association<br>
203 </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Commons</span><span style=""><br>
</span><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=""><br>
</span><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><b style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Georgia;"></span></b></p>