Michael Redding GSA Campus-Wide Election Personal Statement My name is Michael Redding, and I am running for President of the

Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) at the University of Texas at Austin. I am in my second year as a Masters of Science in Information Science student at the School of Information, and I have represented this department in the Graduate Student Assembly. Over this past year, I have been fortunate enough to serve as a student representative on the Graduate Assembly. In this capacity, I have represented graduate student concerns to the faculty, specifically relating to the tuition benefit gap and faculty/instructor workloads. I also have served as the chair of the School of Informations College Tuition and Budget Advisory Council (CTBAC), helping to find a balance between tuition increases and budget cuts. It is this issue of tuition and budget fairness that will be the primary focus for me, if elected. The 2012-2013 academic year coincides with a state legislative session, and we need a powerful voice for graduate students both within the University administration and at the Capitol. As graduate students, we have already found ourselves subjected to a 3.6% tuition increase year-over-year. Our departments are facing even more budget cuts on top of this. At the same time, the tuition benefit for academic employees has remained stagnant, causing the gap to be as high as $1500 per semester in some cases. If elected, I will work to tie the tuition benefit to the cost of tuition so that tuition awards remain relevant and useful for grad students. If we cannot remain competitive in the benefits we offer, recruitment will suffer. On the recruitment issue, I will fight to bring domestic partner benefits to UT. This is more than just an issue of fairnessas one of the recommendations of the Graduate Student Climate Survey, this is a goal in which the Graduate Student Assembly can work with the University administration to both improve the recruitment of outstanding graduate students and establish a fair standard for employee benefits. With almost 12,000 graduate students at the University, there is a diverse group of students that I would represent. Some of us are in doctoral programs, others working towards professional degrees, and some seeking terminal Masters degrees. Nonetheless, there are issues that concern all of us. Transportation and housing are just two of these issues; reduced shuttle service and talks of moving the UT System offices to the Brackenridge Tract are issues that affect graduate students from all programs. I pledge to stay involved in these discussions and representing the students voice. Other issues, such as new funding procedures at the college and departmental level, have caused much confusion. On issues like these, I will bring our concerns to the administration to ensure that our needs are met. Finally, I will continue GSAs work over the past two years on creating a Career Services office in the Graduate School itself. While I cannot promise success on all of these issues, I know that my years of experience working with the UT administration makes me the best candidate for this position. Advocating for graduate students, especially in this uncertain budget environment, is not a lost cause; giving voice to our concerns and issues can benefit us all. I appreciate your support, and ask that you support me, Michael Redding, as Graduate Student Assembly President. Thank you for your consideration, and hook em horns! Michael Redding