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Service Week is here!! March 19-23rd

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Hope that you’ve all enjoyed this spring break and are ready to jump right into Service Week, which begins this Tuesday the 19th! To stay up to date on everything happening next week, please check out the official event page on Facebook. Participation in ANY Service Week event will enter you into a raffle for gift certificates and other great prizes! These will be awarded at the end of Service Week celebration at Professor Zarnikau’s house (aka Jay Z’s PARTY ON THE LAKE), which will be on Saturday the 23rd at 6:00 pm.
 
To sign up for any of the following service projects: packing lunches for the Trinity Center, delivering meals for Meals on Wheels, or volunteering at Johnson’s Backyard Garden. please submit this form ASAP.
 
To sign up for Trivia Night or Saturday’s 5K, please visit the Eventbrite page, or contact Bonnie Hough or Kelly Steffen with any questions. All proceeds from these two events will go to the Ulman Cancer Fund, an organization selected by Alan Leonard – a good friend and classmate to many at LBJ. Alan’s osteosarcoma recently returned, and he is in Washington, DC receiving treatment. The Ulman Cancer Fund works at a grassroots level to support, educate, connect and empower young adult cancer survivors. You can find more information about the wonderful organization that has positively affected Alan’s life, as well as the lives of many others, on their website: http://www.ulmanfund.org/.
 
 
 
 
EVENT DESCRIPTIONS
 
TUESDAY, 3/19
Meet in SRH 3.124 to help us pack sack lunches for the Trinity Center, while also learning more about how homelessness affects children and families. Pat Wong will be joining us to screen a short video on youth homelessness and to facilitate a follow-up discussion. The Trinity Center, which offers services and programs to meet the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Austin, will distribute these lunches to visitors of their drop-in day shelter.
 
 

WEDNESDAY, 3/20

Meet at the Meals on Wheels Central Kitchen (3227 E. 5th St 78702) at 10:00 am for a short orientation and to be assigned a delivery route. Small teams will travel together to deliver meals, so not everyone needs to have a car to volunteer. If you’re interested in this opportunity, please sign up here ASAP!
 
Join us for a trivia fundraising night at Trifecta on 3rd, hosted by Geeks Who Drink. Students and faculty are encouraged to form teams of less than 6. While the $5 participation fee is optional, you are not eligible to win the $50 grand prize to the winning team or an assortment of other great participation prizes without paying. Remember, all proceeds go to Ulman Cancer Fund. As many of you may very well know, Alan is a master at trivia- so let’s have a few drinks, test our skills and raise some money in his honor in the process!
 
 
FRIDAY, 3/22

Volunteer on the farm for half a day in exchange for a share of veggies! Volunteer work typically consists of a variety of tasks including harvesting, washing and packing vegetables, and field work as needed. Also, please bring a large tote bag to take your vegetables home with you.

 
 
SATURDAY, 3/23

In honor of Alan, we will be hosting a 5K run, walk, or bike from the LBJ School to Workhorse. The race will begin at 11:00 AM from the field located west of the LBJ library. There will be markers throughout the course to guide you to Workhorse. At Workhorse we will be raffling prizes for participation, and awarding prizes for best costumes and fastest runners (by division). There will be drink and food specials at Workhorse, including $4 Margaritas, $2 Lone Star & PBR tallboys, and many $3 drafts. The registration fee is $15.00 and includes LBJ socks, sweatbands and prize eligibility. Again, all proceeds go to the Ulman Cancer Fund. (Physical activity not your thing? You can join us from 12-3 PM at Workhorse- for $5 you’ll receive specials and still be eligible for awesome raffle prizes!)
 
  • (6:00 PM) SERVICE WEEK PARTY

We’ll be celebrating the week’s accomplishments with a party on the lake, graciously hosted by Professor Zarnikau. There will be tons of food, fun, drinks, and some really great raffle prizes!

Professional Development Workshop — Leveraging the Power or Linked In

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GPAC invites you to attend a professional development workshop on getting the most out of your social media network. Approved by Lana and led by a McCombs Business School Career Officer, you will not want to miss this workshop.  Bonus: our very own Michelle Potter Bacon will showcase the LBJ Alumni Directory as well as the LBJ LinkedIn group.

This is a workshop so it is encouraged that you have your computers out and your LinkedIn profile up.  For those of you who are like me and haven’t set up a LinkedIn profile, it is encouraged to set one up before this workshop.  It doesn’t matter if you are a novice or an expert; this workshop is meant for everyone.

Linked In Flyer

GPAC Student Life brings you…Winter Formal and Movember Festivities

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Daylight savings struck a devastating blow to the heart of Texas. Where once sunlight flooded the hallways and verandas of the LBJ School, only darkness remains. Soon the mind-numbing thump thump thumping of the marching band will reverberate no more, just an echo in the memory of weary graduate students, the soundtrack of a forgotten time. December knocks, but who dare open the door? LBJ Student Life.

“Forget your troubles for a night” they call from across the room. “$12,” you’re intrigued. “At the Madison on 5th Street next Friday the 16th. Elixirs to help you forget will be available for price. And a photo booth to make sure you remember.” A cackle and a flash and all that remains is LBJ Winter Formal https://www.wepay.com/events/2012-lbj-winter-formal.

“What are you hiding, friend? Crumbs, or is it something more…”

“What treachery is a afoot? I’m just trying to read a book.”

“Your mustache says otherwise. Buy a pastry?”

“Is that what I think it is?!”

“We have pastries for every persuasion. They’re for sale between 11:30 and 2:30 on Wednesday and Thursday. Buy a shirt, too. It’ll get you into the Movember pub crawl on the 30th. Here’s a link: https://www.movember.com/us/team/488805/.”

Dear Diary. The year is 2514 and I am a time traveler. Rummaging through the remains that were once a great and glorious university I am temporarily whisked away to a bygone time. Such happiness is not known in this era. My machine is damaged and I fear that I will never feel that kind of joy. But I cannot give up. One day I must find my Movember. My Winter Formal. My happiness.

ExCom Update–10.22.12

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Howdy LBJ Nation! The Executive Committee held a meeting on October 22 that focused around an issue very important to the LBJ student community: career services.  As we, unfortunately, will not be seeing any of the extra money from the tuition increase that occurred last year, the CTBAC and AIAC memo stating that the money should be allocated to career services may not result in pressure being put on the administration.  In this ExCom meeting, we discussed what the role of GPAC is in putting pressure on the administration as well as providing services akin to career services help. There was very fruitful discussion that will be continued at the next GPAC GA meeting (10.29.12) to create a substantive plan of action.

 

The next Executive Committee meeting will be held on Monday, November 5 so check back for new updates.

 

GPAC ExCom

General Assembly Update–10.15.12

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Hello GPAC and LBJ Nation!  The General Assembly held a meeting on Monday, October 15.  We were joined by Robert Love, the LBJ representative to student government.  He told us about some exciting things going on in Student Government: as UT and UT student organizations support affirmative action, the student Senate is trying to get a bill passed in regards to the Fisher Case currently being heard at the US Supreme Court.  As well, the Senate is working on several policies that will greatly help the health and welfare of UT students:

  • A disabilities bill that would require professors to have closed captioning at the bottom of their lectures for the 1% of students with hearing problems.
  • Looking for funding to get fluoride-free water fountains on campus that would greatly help people with diabetes, kidney disease, and women with thyroid disease.

 

Throughout our five standing committees, there were a lot of exciting updates.  Here are some pertinent highlights:

  • Academic and Internal Affairs Committee is sponsoring the kitchen clean-up initiative at LBJ.  Please sign up to help keep the kitchens clean and receive a $5 O’s gift card for your service.
  • Finance committee is working on updating merchandise so look out for new and exciting t-shirts coming from GPAC.
  • Outreach and Professional Development is very busy holding alumni dinners, Open Houses, professional photos, and distributing business cards.  Also, be sure not to miss the Dress to Impress event on November 12 at 12:15.
  • Student life is organizing a lot of exciting events: mixers, Grad School Field Day, Halloween movie screening, and trivia nights—keep a look out for announcements.
  • Community Outreach is kicking off the month-long fundraiser of for the Movember Foundation.  There will be weekly events to raise money, and a chance to participate by joining the official LBJ Movember team.

 

This meeting was an example of efficiency as we also took care of some old and new business in our hour-long meeting.  The Listserv Etiquette document was approved and will be sent out to the student body shortly.  All of the fall budgets were approved and work on the Spring budgets will begin very soon.  The Senate of College Councils are revising the University’s Honor Code to make it shorter for students to take more seriously.

 

Lastly, we made an amendment to the GPAC By-laws regarding allowed absences from meetings per semester.  As it stands currently, members of GPAC can have no more than 2 unexcused absences, but there is no mention of the allowed number of excused absences.  The change will make it so that there is a maximum of three absences per semester, regardless if they are unexcused or excused.  This change will be enacted at the beginning of the Spring 2013 semester.

 

Look forward to more exciting updates.

 

Your Friendly Neighborhood GPAC

 

Finance Committee Meeting – 10.11.12

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FinCom met to discuss budgets and fundraising opportunities. As student org budgets were expected to pass without comment on Monday, October 15th (which they did), our focus was fundraising. Trevor Whitney, External Finance Director, is planning to update GPAC merchandise, adding new t-shirt designs and more t-shirt options for women. In addition, we discussed working with other schools/colleges to host fun/interesting events that have a fundraising component.

Priority number one is designing new t-shirts, however. If you have a great idea for a t-shirt design, please email Trevor at trevor.whitney@utexas.edu. If we use your idea, you will get a free t-shirt of that design!

Executive Committee News 10.08.12

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Here are quick updates from the GPAC Executive Committee..

  • AIAC: Student Voice on Course Curriculum has gone out.  AIAC sent out a memo to Dean Hutchings, Associate Dean Stolp, and the graduate advisors with feedback and recommendations concerning course design, curriculum, and desired future courses.
  • Finance: Budgets are done for student organizations.  Also, t-shirt designs are going to be solicited from the LBJ Community.
  • OPD: Alumni Dinners are upon us and are starting; Business cards and professional photos are coming up soon.
  • Student Life:  Grad School Field day is coming up at the end of the month, October 28th.
  • Community Outreach: The NASPPA Conference is next week and volunteers are set and ready.

You can find these and other committee updates under the categories to the right. —>

 

In Executive Committee News, the University is revising its honor code.  The honor code currently reads:

 

“The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness and respect toward peers and community.”

 

In an effort for people to follow more closely this honor code, a revision of the honor code is being proposed.  Drafted by a committee dedicated creating an honor code that reflects the behavior we want to see, the proposed revisions are as follows:

  1. As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall uphold the core values of the university and foster a culture of academic integrity.”
  2. “As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall uphold the core values of the university and shall not participate in academic dishonesty.”
  3. As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall abide by the core values of the university and uphold academic integrity.”

These three honor codes were discussed and voted on at the last GA meeting on the 10.15.2012.  Look for the GA News update coming soon!!

As always, if there is anything that we can do for you, please click on the contact us and send us a note.

 

Thank you

Academic and Internal Affairs Update 10-15-12

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Hello LBJ!

In case you were wondering, here is what the Academic and Internal Affairs Committee has been up to.

  1. Kitchen clean up: As you know the LBJ students are welcome to use the kitchens on the 2nd and 3rd floors. It is also our responsibility to keep the kitchens clean. The task is not difficult; please clean the counters and the refrigerator. As an incentive, any person who signs up to clean either the 2nd or 3rd floor kitchen will be rewarded with a $5 O’s gift card.
  2. Facebook: You may notice that AIAC has created a Facebook user so that we can better communicate and serve you. We will occasionally post topic on the LBJ Backroom page, please feel free to participate and message us.
  3. Student Recognition awards: please message us with the names of any students who you believe have gone above and beyond the call of duty and are an excellent representation of the LBJ school. Award winners will receive a $10 O’s gift card
  4. Frustrated with the food options at O’s Café? Want more variety? Perhaps you just want it to remain open longer so you can have something when that 4.30pm sugar craving hits? Let the management know! They’re very responsive to student feedback. And the more people that contact them, the higher the probability that they’ll do something about it. Please write a quick email to Mr. Jeff Worden at Jeff@oscampuscafe.com 1) Suggest something for the menu, 2) Ask that they remain open longer.

Thanks and Hook ‘Em!

(left to right) Brandon, Lena, Izzah, Allison, Martha, Miha