Members of the Council of Graduate Students and the Graduate Employees Union should work together, or else face the risk of hurting the constituencies they represent.

COGS, established in 1969, represents MSU’s entire graduate student body, or 8,000 students.

In April 2001, graduate students voted 662-192 in favor of giving the Graduate Employee’s Union collective bargaining power. The union represents 1,400 graduate employees at MSU.

While COGS works on academic graduate issues, the union works on monetary compensation and health insurance for its members.

Since the union’s creation, some members of both groups say there has been tension between COGS and the union because union activities drew attention away from the importance of COGS. Though some say the tension has eased up, it’s apparent some of it still exists.

In a State News article last week, COGS President Sam Howerton didn’t comment about whether he supported the union.

The leadership of both groups should begin by setting an example if their constituencies are to begin supporting each other and working together.

And there’s many reasons why COGS and the union should team up. COGS has representation and votes in several important university committees - something the union does not have.

The union is the only organization on campus with the bargaining power to negotiate a contract for graduate students that would be recognized by the university. Negotiations between the union and MSU administrators have been going on since October.

COGS represents the interests of all students, while the graduate union represents the interests of a group that may not receive all the attention it needs under COGS alone.

The two groups need to harness their separate powers and work to advance the needs of graduate students.

Since the groups lead some of the same students, there is a common ground that forces them to relate to one another. Pooling resources can only benefit all parties involved.

It will be hard to make headway without a solid working relationship between the two groups. Success for graduate students can come if their leadership can move past the tension and recognize a common goal.

Whether it is with graduate parking or health benefits, COGS and the union share a goal of helping graduate students.

Neither group can go anywhere without the support of the other. Both are separate, viable and important campus groups.

If each leadership can support the other’s cause, it will only enable them to further their individual endeavors.