Under interim chair Robert Vankirk, the ad-hoc health care committee had been meeting unofficially to discuss the recent changes to the Graduate Assistant Health Plan, but according to the e-board, the meetings were held “prematurely, without the consultation of the full executive board.”

At these unofficial meetings, students brainstormed a list of questions to send to Aetna and university officials regarding why the changes were necessary. Robert Vankirk, graduate student for law intelligence and analysis, was supposed to present his information early in the meeting, however his report was moved near the end of the meeting.

Vankirk was able to begin speaking at about 6:45 p.m., and sparked a nearly two hour debate.

“I question why important issues like this are pushed to the end of the meeting, and I question the democratic nature of this organization,” Vankirk said. “I believe students are being silenced by the executive board, and I find it incredibly concerning that these practices are accepted within COGS.”

These comments led to several heated arguments among the full council, as discussion devolved from the typical process of motions and seconds to shouting out of turn and over each other.

Eventually, though, the council was able to come together and vote on several important decisions.

An official Health Care Committee led by COGS Vice President for External Affairs Mandie Maxwell was suggested to head the issues, but members believe an ad-hoc committee would be more appropriate as it could have several meetings in a time-sensitive manner before the next full council meeting.

Vice President for Internal Affairs Dan Clark said that due to the sensitivity of the issue, a non executive board member and non-Graduate Employees Union affiliate should head the proposed committee.

After a unanimous vote to form the Ad-Hoc Health Care Committee, the council then elected outspoken representative Sudah Sankar as head of the committee charged to “investigate the health care changes as made by university and AETNA they will then make recommendations to the full council on how to proceed.” Any interested member was able to sign up to sit on meetings.

One of the other big topics during the meeting was the formation of a Representation Committee, allowing for interested diversity-related student organizations to be request a seat on the full council.

Although most of COGS Representatives come from individual colleges, some groups such as the Black Graduate Students Association and Student Parents on a Mission have voting seats on the full council. This new committee will allow select committees that ask for a seat to gain representation.

Robert Vankirk advocated the committee, saying COGS should “make sure we are a representative body, that means being completely inclusive without shutting out groups that are marginalized already”.

The meeting was finally adjourned just after 9 p.m. COGS is currently in the process of moving into Chittenden Hall, the new hub for Graduate Students. Karen Komplarens, Dean of the Graduate School spoke to members of COGS about the resources available in the building including study lounges and weekly writing workshops.

She believes that the move “makes collaboration between COGS and the Graduate School much easier because they’re now in the same place.”

The official Chittenden Hall will be on Friday, November 7 and the COGS full council meets again on November 12.