Rise in grant competition cause of division in GPSA

Editor,

Why do some people see increased participation as a problem? More participation leads to more competition for funds.

Certain individuals have a comparative advantage over others applying for the three GPSA grant awards. These individuals understand the process, know what to include in an application and what style of writing works best. They not only receive multiple grants a year but receive the grants multiple years in a row. Who are they?

They are people who have been involved with GPSA for many years and have served on the executive board in the past. They have set up a process where they and the students from their departments have an advantage. GPSA President Joseph Garcia has opened this process to include as many graduate students as possible.

Last year, students from fine arts did not receive GRD grants as performance was not considered research. Students from economics did not know what the committee was looking for, so that department did not receive one award.

The real issue at GPSA is the increased participation under Garcia's leadership. The resolution for a full-time staff position was voted on by nine people at a GPSA Council meeting. There is now an average of seven people who attend a board meeting, and we have more than 20 representatives who regularly attend GPSA Council

meetings.

The number of organizations applying for project money has doubled. In the past, the projects committee could not spend all money allocated to it, so it cut the budget. This year, the money was distributed in one semester. The number of applications received for SRAC and GRD grants were higher this year than in the past.

Participation was once a problem the council desperately wanted to address, and last year, the body even contemplated withholding PB funds from departments if they did not send a representative to the meeting. Garcia wanted to find an alternative solution, and he asked us to approach departments and inform them of the possible pools of money

available.

Now that participation is up, an unintended consequence exists for the old guard. They accuse Garcia of misappropriation of money without proof in an attempt to end his term and, therefore, end competition for funds.

I am calling for an independent audit of GPSA and its president to be done by the University. It will not be my word against theirs, and I am confident nothing will be found. I am also calling for an audit to be done on the grant process to identify the advantages that exist for some departments and GPSA representatives that serve

as chairs.

I did not apply for any funding from GPSA because I am the finance chairman. I wonder if the audit will show if other members of the executive board chose to adhere to the same ethical standard. I challenge all past and current members to release information about grants they have received. Let the audits begin.

Isaac Padilla

UNM student