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The UCSF Student Newspaper
Thursday, January 23, 2014
synapse.ucsf.edu
Volume 58, Number 16
NEWS
NEWS
Students to Vote on New Government Structure A New Mr. Pharmacy Is Crowned By Michael Le Contributing Writer
By Steffie Tu Staff Writer
C
hanting. Hooting. Hollering and clapping. Words of encouragement echoed throughout every crevice of Cole Hall, as the usually staid lecture hall was transformed into a rambunctious theater last Thursday night. Pharmacy students from all four years gathered for the exciting Mr. Pharmacy Competition, cheering on their respected representative for each class. This much anticipated event occurs only once every academic year, and the camaraderie and pride that runs through each student’s veins for their class’ representative was evident. The competition started with the MCs, second-year pharmacy students Shannon McCabe and Patrick Halmer, opening the competition with laughs and jokes and welcoming the contestants as they were led onstage one by one, by second-year student Carly Bliss. This year’s Mr. Pharmacy contestants were: Daryush Tabatabai (P1), Daniel Polchinski (P2), Ruzly Mantara (P3) and Jeff Moss (P4). Judging was based on four categories: hobbies, talent, pill counting and lastly, an interview conducted in formal wear. Kicking off the hobby competition, Tabatabai’s entry was a video compilation of what his first-year pharmacy classmates thought of him, and ended with him strutting around the stage with just half of his wet suit on, causing the crowd to go wild. Meanwhile, Polchinski’s jiu jitsu skills and amazing level of fitness awed the audience, convincing them that he, indeed, was an athletic god. Mantara’s gift of braiding was absolutely incredible; making braids the trendiest hairstyle in the 21st century. Jeff Moss’ hilarious slideshow showing him standing upright on rafts in giant rapids had the crowd keeling over in laughter. After showcasing their hobbies, the contestants displayed their talents. The spectators sat in silence, as Daryush Tabatabai’s beautiful piano playing took their breath away. The audience swooned as they watched Polchinski’s magic show, and Mantara’s creative and beautiful song dedicated to the support he had received from his classmates brought tears to the eyes of many of those listening. Lastly, Moss’ witty and deep poem of his passions had the audience pondering over every word.
MR. PHARMACY » PAGE 3
On January 21, all registered students at UCSF received an online ballot in their UCSF emails asking them to vote on a referendum to approve a new student government structure, starting in the 2014 fall quarter. The proposal would merge the two campus-wide student governments, the Associated Students of UCSF (ASUC) and the Graduate Student Association (GSA), unifying the student body under a single entity to be called the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA). Currently, ASUC represents dental, medicine and pharmacy students, while GSA represents graduate, nursing and physical therapy students. The idea to form GPSA developed out of discussions in previous years by student representatives of ASUC, GSA and the Nursing Student Council. As they noted, the current student government structure suffers from the following disadvantages: •• c on f l i c t s w it h t he u n ive rs it y ' s interprofessional values and goals of translational research, •• does not provide a single voice that can represent all students, •• lacks a consistent student government for students pursuing multiple degrees at UCSF, •• results in a duplication of efforts in planning campus-wide initiatives and events, •• is a source of confusion for Registered Clubs & Organizations (RCOs) as they determine where to seek funding, and results in redundant and inefficient administrative support and costs.
The current and proposed student government structure for UCSF students. Approval of the proposed government structure will enable all students to be represented by a single entity.
Both ASUC and GSA feel that the new structure of GPSA will better represent and support all students by: •• e n h a n c i n g i n t e r p r o f e s s i o n a l collaboration, •• facilitating campus-wide initiatives and events, •• supporting cross-program alliances, •• providing a stronger voice to advocate for students, and •• reducing administrative redundancies, inefficiencies and costs. If the referendum passes, ASUC and GSA would be formally dissolved, and all UCSF
Photo by Steffi Tu/P1 Surrounded by his first-year pharmacy classmates, Daryush Tabatabai (center) displays his new Mr. Pharmacy crown.
registered students would become members of the GPSA. Students would be represented in GPSA by the GPSA Executive Board, which is comprised of two bodies: 1. An executive council, formed by the president and several other supporting officers (e.g. treasurer, external affairs, internal affairs) to serve as executive representatives of the student body to UCSF and the rest of the University of California system. 2. An academic council, formed from student representatives from each of the individual student governments, that will serve as the liaison between GPSA and those governments. As part of the referendum, graduate and physical therapy students will also be asked to vote for the creation of official student governments that will address their academicspecific concerns and needs, giving them the representation and support that their peers in dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy enjoy today. Formation of each of these student governments is contingent on the formation of GPSA and acceptance of new fees associated with these new entities. However, if the referendum fails to pass, tough budget decisions will need to be made in the next academic year by both ASUC and GSA. Inflationary costs in the past decade and a lack of increases in student government fees have depleted financial reserves and made the current levels of funding for RCOs and other services provided by ASUC and GSA unsustainable. The
VOTE » PAGE 3