Graduate students voted to pass all three referendum questions in the recent Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) elections.
Almost three-quarters of graduate student voters were in favour of a mandatory universal bus pass (U-Pass) beginning in September, which Carleton’s undergraduate students approved last month.
Voters narrowly voted to support funding The Leveller, with 53.6 per cent of voters in favour of giving the paper $1.50 per semester for each student.
Sixty-one per cent of voters approved an increase in the Ontario Public Interest Research Group’s levy by another $1 per term.
A plebiscite question gauging voter opinion on a plan for the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research to reduce internal funding for graduate students who receive large external scholarships had mixed responses.
About half the voters supported reductions if the funding would be transferred to underfunded students.
Another third said they did not support the reductions under any circumstances.
Current GSA president Kimalee Phillip has reclaimed her position for the 2010-11 academic year.
In a run-off between Nick Falvo and Kourosh Khosravi Faramini, Falvo emerged as vice-president (finance). Falvo said he hopes to achieve more equity in funding for all graduate departments as well as ensuring transparency in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research budget.
Kelly Black was acclaimed vice-president (operations) and Austin Miller became graduate student representative on the board of governors.
Miller said he will work towards redirecting the board’s focus on environmental sustainability.
Elizabeth Whyte, a current GSA councillor, has been elected into Falvo’s previous position as vice-president (academic), beating out Shermin Hedayat.
Whyte said she wants to achieve her goal in supporting students to obtain graduate funding.