Alex Backer, Marco Casari. Catherine Cornu, Bob Gingrich, Anil Hirani, Fok-Yan Leung, Piet Moeleker, Steven Pracko, Cindy Quezada, Sandeep Sane, Claude Seywert, Georgios Zamanakos

Directors absent:

Magali Billen, Ioannis Chasiotis, James Harrington, Ying Huang, Oleg Kovrijkine, Athanasios Nenes, Adam Rasheed

Guests:

Rob Rossi (CHCC)

Chair Piet Moeleker presiding

1. Introduction of Guests

Everyone knows Rob.

2. Additions to the Agenda

Alex wants to talk about security and bike racks -> point IIIA.

The minutes are unanimously approved.

1. Announcements
• The winetour to Temecula was extremely successful. The bus was full and there were about 30 people on the waiting list. Everyone enjoyed it even though we came back late because of a flat tire.
• For the ice-cream social we had less people than usual (about 125) because of the date. Nevertheless all the ice-cream was gone at the end.
• Piet reported on the GSC2 meeting. Piet and Claude went there and talked about advising and thesis supervision. For the 4 options we didn’t like the following people have been assigned to talk to the option reps: Ph -> Jim, Aph->Steve, CS->Anil, Ma->Piet. In CS the faculty wants the students to write the blurb for the catalogue. Anil takes charge of that.
• The ELS lecture was well attended (~200 people) and well received.
• In the newsletter there will be an announcement that we are looking for a new technique editor.
• Students can help to decorate the Edison/NASA Rose parade float.
• The GSC decided not to take sides or get involved in the discussion about whether or not to remove a tennis-court at the Ath to be replaced by a parking lot.
• The GSC funded an early Millennium party with $250 through quickfunding.
• The next meeting is delayed by a week to January 13. Deborah Southerland and Susan Connor will stop by to get ideas for programs at the counseling center that fill the needs of graduate studends.
• The ice-skating event attracted about 80 persons and thanks to Prof Culick was free this time (we had budgeted and anticipated $400, the usual fee).
• Alex reports that at least one parking spot in the new structure is reserved for bikes. It will be within the viewing field of a security camera and access will be over the handicap ramp. Alex also arranged for bike racks next to the Beckman Institute and looks into whether they can put one next to Firestone too (as demanded by Anil).
2. Catalina Housing Update
• The bike racks in the Catalinas will be replaced.
• The CHCC got complaints about the Millennium party (the one we sponsored, see above). The Fire-alarm was pulled at about 1:00 am waking up everyone and the party lasted (and made noise) until 2:15am (the official quit time is midnight). The GSC feels not responsible as we assume that the people we sponsor comply to the rules of the community where they organize their event. There was a general discussion about the policies of the Catalinas without any results, except for the general need to reexamine those policies and make them better known.
• Finally there are coin machines in the North and South rec room.
• The CHCC look into organizing a pool and a table tennis tournament.
• They have a Y2K horror-story night planned.
• The Catalinas had a Thanksgiving dinner for their residents.
• The survey is still being evaluated (results can be seen on the web: www.its.caltech.edu/~cats).
• George thinks residents should have the possibility to get cable or satellite TV. Apparently you need special approval from housing which he never got.

1. Company visit

Piet wants suggestions for a visit. So far we have: Aerovironment, Allied Signal, Boeing (former McDonnellDouglas) an Oil refinery, Amgen …. And Alex suggests Microsoft(?)

2. Millennium Party

Organized by Alex. Will be on January 8 in the Catalinas. Alex will try to have a live band. The GSC increases the budget for this party to $1000 (up from $700), this to give it the same amount of money as the other term parties (and because we have some extra money as we eliminated one of the budgeted parties).

3. ClubGUSH

No ClubGUSH in December. We still need to find someone for January.

4. Party Equipment pool

The suggestion is that we invest in some party equipment (lights) so that we don’t have to rent it each time we organize a party – this pool could also be shared with the undergrads, there’s some discussion still going on. Alex and George will compile a list a possible equipment and also submit a proposal to the student investment fund to get some extra funding (in addition to the one the GSC can put in).