Communication and Culture GSA Meeting Minutes
Date: Nov, 4 2016
Time: 6:44pm (no corium, yet)
Location: Grad Lounge, Ryerson University, 111 Gerrard Street East
In Attendance: Jon Petrychyn; Shaughna Boara; Olivia Dziwka; Riley Kucheran,
Hoda Ali; Steph Hill; Gabriel Willms.; Joshua Moore; Michael Pereira; Jessia Arsenio;
Alysse Kushinski; Jesse Cummings; Andy Monti; Samantha Hogg (minutes); Grace
Lao; Catherine Willshire; Alex Chalk; Emily Whyte
1. Call for meeting to commence
 MOTION for meeting to commence: Jon Petrychyn, Carried.
2. Call for additional agenda items
 None
3.Updates
Treasurer: Grace L.
o Current bank balance GSA $6,631.09.
o Tiny shared account of: 116.82. Grace will submit a small budget to
YUGSA with updated monthly statements.
o We have $500 from both Ryerson and York ComCult departments
o Sources of funds: Student initiative fund for ISCS, Faculty of Grad
Studies, York operating fund, bulk of the budget (most of this goes to
ISCS
o We are looking for ways to save money—website maintenance and
bank fees are some of the unnecessary main sources for depleting
funds.
Jonathan P.: Should we approve a budget each year?
Grace L.: We need a meeting to decide on budget (December)

Tabled for a December meeting
VP Communications: Josh M. Website is currently down, due to none
payment. Question: Should we re-new?
o We have two websites: we are paying roughly $200/ year in these fees.
o Discuss how we are billing it: whose credit card. Currently using
representative’s personal credit card
o Jessia A., could pressure to leave the host, might drive down fees.
PhD Representative: Alysse K. attended meeting.
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o Future Communications symposium will be on December 9, 2016. Good
opportunities for collegiality. Test the waters for ideas
o November 9, academic workshop: career advice
o Program review still happening. Province representative will be coming
to ComCult next year, wants to look into the lack of spaces at Ryerson.
Look into whether we can secure a more permanent graduate space.
o Indigenous perspective (pressure from last year) reading lists, moving
forward
o New comprehensive exam rules are in full force
o New curriculum proposal for the summer:
1- 5 days for 2 wks
2- 3 days for 3 wks
o Master proposal due dates for Thesis or MRP proposal Sept 30 in year
two. Discussion to push back to October 15 (Thesis) Dec 1 (MRP)
Alex C.: Found the due date (Sept 30) OK. But there needs to be more
communication in advance for specifications if the due date is to moved.
o Twelve (12) ComCult faculty are hosts for Associations for Congress in
2017. Good to get to know the association that you want to be a part of.
FGS Representative: Jonathan P. attended meeting on October 6 (40 mins)
o Nothing really new. Nothing that really pertains to ComCult GSA.
o York invited to participate in in project called “Trace” which researches
what PhDs are doing once they graduate
o Next faculty meeting next Thursday (Nov 10). Will discuss a new
comprehensive exam option
o YUGSA has identified a number of things that FGS needs to address.
student department relations / student supervisor relations.
YUGSA Representative: Alysse K. attended meeting (October 20).
o Fight the Fees Rally (November 2)
o Mental Health Campaign
o Mandatory Anti-Oppression training (October 21)
o Alysse confirmed to ComCult GSA meeting that everyone can attend
YUGSA meetings
o Cuts to printing allocation
Equity Officer: Alex C.
o Nothing to report
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Intersections/Cross-Sections Graduate Conference: Shauna B. No meeting
has happened yet, but ideas for the theme are underway.
o Legacy Documents have been sent over from 2015/2016 conference
proceedings
o Looking at having the Cross-Sections at Ryerson again because The
Gladstone all booked for March 2017
o (tentative) Theme: This year is the 15th ISCS which coincides with 150
years of Canada: “Imaging Identity”
Alysse K.: does everyone know what ISCS is?
Jonathan P.: it’s ComCult’s annual conference

Tabled implementation of theme for another meeting.
4. Bi- Elections
Jonathan P. reads role tasks/responsibilities for open positions from the
Constitution
VP York
PhD ComCult Rep Ryerson
Rep to FGS
Rep to YUGSA and RSU
Alternative to YUGSA
Cross-Sections Co-chair
CUPE 3903 Steward
CUPE 3904 Steward
OPSEU Rep
VP (York)
 Candidate: Catherine Willshire
 For: 18 (unanimous)
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Result: Elected
PhD Rep Ryerson
 Candidate: No One Yet: Will Appoint
 For:
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Result: Elected
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Rep to FGS
 Candidate: Gabrielle Willms
 For: 18
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Result: Elected
Rep to YUGSA and RSU (Primary)
 Candidate: Emilie Hurst
 For: 18
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Result: Elected
Rep to YUGSA and RSU
 Candidate: Hoda Ali
 For: 18
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Result: Elected
Rep to YUGSA and RSU
 Candidate: Michael Pereira
 For: 18
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Result: Elected
ISCS Co-Chair
 Candidate: Olivia Dziwka
 For: 18
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Result: Elected
ISCS Co-Chair
 Candidate: Steph Hill
 For: 18
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Result: Elected
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CUPE 3903 (York) Steward
 Candidate: Gabrielle Willms.
 For: 18
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Result: Elected
CUPE 3904 (Ryerson) Steward
 Candidate: Riley Kucheran
 For: 18
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Result: Elected
5. Presentation from Jesse Cummings, representative from Ryerson’s Vertical
Features Screening Series
o Works with Dan Browne and Olivia Wong from Ryerson's FPPCM
program on developing a documentary screening series to take place at
Ryerson over the 2016-17 school year.
o Emphasis on context and dialogue. Speakers include scholars, artists,
filmmakers, activists, writers, archivists, and curators. All Toronto
premiers. Most films are contemporary but some also historical
o Screenings are free. Largely, the budget covers coffee/tea/snacks and
artist fees. The collective is hoping to record events, so will need to
cover audio/video costs.
o Requests from ComCult GSA $300
o Secured some internal funding but are still looking for more:
 Student initiatives fund: $5,000
 Alternative Sources: $1400
o November 18, 6:30 first screening
Alysse K.: Would co-hosting a screening with Intersections/ Cross-sections be
a possibility?
Jesse C.: Yes!
Jonathan P. MOTION: $300 investment and commitment to collaborate with
ISCS in some way. Jesse must also send Grace a budget; provided that it is
sound we have already advanced a motion for $300
 For: 18
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Motion: passed
Catherine W.: Is there any way that ComCult students can be invited to
screenings?
Jesse: Definitely.
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6. More Updates:
VP Communications: End of Term Party
o Josh M.: have a party after Future Communications. Request money
from Paul
 Last year Paul gave $700.
 Grace L. has $500 budgeted
Alysse K.: MOTION: Budget up to $400 for the end of term party
 For: 18
 Against: 0
 Abstentions: 0
 Result: Carried
Website Domains for ISCS and GSA
o Josh M.: website domain for IS/CS and GSA, together, 17.99/month. The
hosting is deactivated.
o Josh M. recommends that we set up the account again so that we can get
the content on is already on the site.
o Questions for the GSA to ask:
1. Do we need two separate websites? The GSA website is basically used
for publishing minutes
2. Instead of multi-site hosting have single- site hosting. How does this
affect ISCS: Do they want their own page with their own brand?
o Josh M. recommends ‘Bluehost’ as a web host—it’s Canadian and
reputable.
Jonathan P. MOTION: Renew for one month to back up and figure out what to
do with information.
 For: 18
 Result: Carried
Jonathan P. RSU offers free webhosting? Do we want this option?
Alex C. suggested wordpress as an option
o Table the webhosting for a December meeting. Josh M. will come back
with three web host options.
Representative to YUGSA Alysse K. attended meeting (October 20th)
o $300/year for printing services from the library. This year you will only
have a $600 lifetime for PhD students and $150 for MA students, no
guarantee for next year
o Lib no longer wants to offer this, needs to re-allocate funds. YUGSA
meeting produced three options
1. Support YUGSA to fight for maintaining the $300/yr printing funds
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2. Allot the funds lost from graduate student printing towards necessary
graduate library services
3. Recognize that students need some sort of printing funds and any
difference goes to graduate services
Alex C. asks about whether or not the guarantee of funds ($600) for this year’s
graduate students will be secured for next year.
Alysse K. No guarantee for next year
Andy M.: do we know the cost for copying Master and PhD dissertation?
Alysse K.: roughly $50. There’s always been ambivalence for how the $300 of
library printing funds should be spent.
MOTION: Go to library to find out more information
Alysse: there needs to be no mistake that employer (TA and GA) pays for all
printing costs
Riley K. expresses support for the second option—sink money back into
graduate space
Catherine W.: Unhappy with the loss of printing money. Should be clear that
the ComCult GSA does not condone the loss of printing services. We want to
see new graduate students benefit from this service
7. Call for meeting to be adjourned:
o Motion to adjourn meeting: Jonathan P.
o Second: Grace L.
o Meeting adjourned: 8:30
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