Autonomy for the GSA
Meghan Gallant
The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) is currently negotiating the terms of an autonomy agreement with UMSU. News that the GSA is looking to separate from UMSU should come as no surprise. Autonomy drives have been ongoing since 1966, when the GSA was unilaterally incorporated into UMSU.
The push for autonomy, which has come in waves over the last 40 years, has taken the form of motions at general meetings, endorsements from other organizations and numerous referenda. The most recent autonomy drive in 1999 saw a referendum in which 92 per cent of graduate student voters supported autonomy.
Why, then, does the GSA remain a constituent member of UMSU? While many attempts for autonomy have resulted in concessions for graduate students, it has ultimately been the inability of previous executives of the two organizations to come to a mutual agreement that has prevented formal autonomy. Despite this, the GSA continues to function mostly autonomously by operating in a manner distinct from most of the faculty councils with which, on paper, we parallel, and by continuing to take actions independent of UMSU.
Our council of departmental representatives (which is comparable to the UMSU Council in size), the provision of services such as travel, departmental and project grants, and autonomous actions such as our membership in the Canadian Federation of Students nearly five years before UMSU are all examples of this affirmation of autonomy.
The GSA is, however, somewhat hindered in its ability to address the needs of graduate students by a lack of resources. Finances constrain the services we provide, and the lack of recognition of graduate students as separate from UMSU limits our ability to represent graduate students’ interests. Without recognition of the GSA as the official and independent voice of graduate students at the University of Manitoba, we will consistently be recognized as second to UMSU in addressing graduate student issues, even though only 10 per cent of UMSU’s membership is currently comprised of graduate students.
This year both the executives of the GSA and UMSU recognize the need for an autonomous GSA, presenting a unique and historic opportunity to negotiate the terms of an autonomy agreement. This is momentous for graduate students, as it represents the culmination of years of struggle necessitated by the unique nature of graduate studies and the specific needs of graduate students.
The research-based nature of graduate studies results in graduate concerns often being different than those of their undergraduate counterparts. Intellectual property, copyright and research integrity are all of paramount concern to graduate students. The increased dependence on private funding for research and universities also deserves immediate attention, as it raises concerns surrounding the types of research being funded, the way this research is conducted, and the fate of any results arising from such research partnerships.
Of course, graduate students share undergraduate concerns around tuition and ancillary fee hikes as well as accessibility (especially as many graduate students carry significant debt loads from their undergraduate degrees). Funding levels are also of equal importance to graduate students.
Whether or not a student is able to complete their degree in a timely manner, or at all, may be dependent on availability of fellowships through the university, the province or the federal government through the Tri-Councils. Inequitable distribution of research funds between institutions and disciplines (the social sciences and humanities remain disproportionately under funded) remains an ongoing struggle for graduate students’ associations across the country.
Graduate student services tend to be focused differently than undergraduate services. Graduate students are more likely to seek funding for travel to conferences and departmental initiatives. Advocacy issues can also be distinguished. A lack of adequate childcare is concerning, and health plan requirements differ due to increased travel and likelihood of dependants. Academic advocacy may focus on relationships between students and their supervisors, as well as on both research and academic integrity.
That graduate students require an autonomous organization to adequately address these needs and concerns is well recognized across the country. Currently, of 32 recognized graduate student associations in Canada, only two remain members of their undergraduate association — the graduate students’ associations here as well as at the University of British Columbia. Some of these associations have gained autonomy relatively recently, while others have operated successfully and autonomously for decades.
This push for autonomy should not be taken as a suggestion that UMSU is not properly addressing student issues. To the contrary, UMSU has recently been very proactive and effective at voicing students’ concerns. Notably, UMSU has of late recognized that graduate students’ concerns are best addressed by graduate students, and that the unique, specific and distinct nature of these needs warrants their specific attention, best delivered by an association focused on these issues.
Autonomy would allow us to partner with UMSU and other organizations, such as CUPE 3909, on issues and services of common concerns, to support each other on complementary issues and to allow each association the freedom to focus on issues their membership has identified as priorities.
GSA autonomy is necessary in order for graduate students’ issues to be addressed with the prominence and attention they deserve. This year is an historic opportunity for a much-needed change to take place, strengthening the voices of students at the University of Manitoba.
Meghan Gallant is president of the University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association. She is pursuing a masters degree in chemistry.
