The Student Senate began preliminary discussion last Thursday on increasing its range of representation to include graduate students at Grand Valley State University.

The discussion sparked when Jeffery Potteiger, GVSU dean of graduate studies, came before the Student Senate and asked that it consider expanding its influence to include graduate student issues.

“That is something that I would like for you to strongly consider given the fact that graduate students are a fairly significant population of (GVSU),” he said.

The senate had already discussed this issue in previous meetings, but after Potteiger’s visit, Student Senate President Jarrett Martus said it is considering what action it can take to move the process along.

“We are in the middle of reviewing our constitution and bylaws, and we’re looking to see how we can increase that representation,” he said. “Obviously right now any student graduate or undergraduate student can run during the regular election process in the spring … maybe we need to make them more aware of that.”

While there are 3,555 graduate students enrolled at GVSU, which makes up more than 14 percent of the university’s population, there is currently only graduate student, Joshua Lee, on the Student Senate staff, although he is not an actual senator.

Lee could not be reached for comment.

Also in his appearance, Potteiger asked that the Student Senate consider what it could do to help establish “hang out space” for graduate students on GVSU’s Pew Campus. While the DeVos lobby is the general area of congregation for students downtown, Potteiger said he is seeking an area to serve the same purpose as the Kirkhof center on the Allendale Campus.

“The issue is really centered around that working professional who when they’re finished with work and they don’t go home … where can they get some time to prepare for class?” he said. “Where can they get an opportunity to interact with other students and do projects (or) put together presentations? Where can the kind of just go and hang out?”

Potteiger, who just joined GVSU in July, said while finding and establishing space is an issue at most colleges and universities, GVSU presents a unique challenge because of its growth.

“This is a discussion that occurs everywhere,” he said. “You build this space, and it’s almost as soon as this space is completed … you’ve already outgrown the space that you need. And it’s particulary challenging at this institution because 15-20 years ago we were 7,000-8,000 students and now we’re 25,000.”

Martus said the senate will do what it can although it cannot directly help build the space. He added that things should open up more in the DeVos center lobby after the completion of the new L. William Seidman building downtown.

“Right now (DeVos) is utilized to the best of its ability,” he said. “Once we have the new Seidman building, we’re going to have a lot more room, and I think they could rearrange that DeVos building to be better used by graduate students.”

Construction of the new Seidman building is set to begin early next year.

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