Editor,
Thomas Verstynen said in a letter published in the Daily Lobo on Monday that GPSA is unproductive.
I attended my first GPSA meeting in the spring of 2007 and vowed never to return. The group of 12 to 15 graduate students argued about the use of a word for more than 40 minutes. It was impossible to get through an agenda, and nothing of importance was ever decided because members argued whether to use the word "fruitless" or "unproductive."
I wondered why someone would subject him or herself to this, and those readers who know graduate students will understand why, after they read the next sentence.
Graduate students like to listen to themselves talk about anything. Therefore, the placement of a comma takes 20 minutes, because three or four students in the group inevitably embark on individual diatribes, and they each repeat their argument five separate times.
I think this is unproductive, but I might be wrong. GPSA argues, or contends, or discusses semantics. If a person believes this is the purpose of student government, then this year would be unproductive. Where else can a person hone their debate skills with other braggarts if not at a GPSA meeting?
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Arguing allows people to put off decisions, and this tactic can no longer be used to kill or gut resolutions. We are now using "I call the question" to force a vote, because we sit on the council to vote, not talk past each other.
We have passed resolutions concerning violence, the war in Iraq, family-friendly environments, service learning and graduate course requirements. We are working on healthy food choices on campus, and we will be introducing a resolution that will request a textbook section in the library to hold costs down.
We have informed the council about legislation introduced at the state that would require all students at UNM to carry health insurance and lobbied for low-interest graduate student loans.
We are more productive than ever, and this angers members who disagree with agenda items they want to kill. So, they lash out and eventually quit. The individuals who have quit GPSA do not want to participate if they are forced to vote and lose.
I am impressed with the individuals who do continue to participate even though they are often in the minority. My grandmother was correct when she said women are the tougher gender, because they are the only people still fighting on the opposition.
Isaac Padilla
GPSA Finance Chairman
