More graduate student representation on the Student Health Advisory Committee, a health insurance appeal and a proposal of free parking for graduate students owning hybrid vehicles are among the topics of interest to the Graduate Student Senate.

At the meeting Friday afternoon, GSS president Zach Hilpert assured the many graduate students in attendance that this is not the last time the University’s Committee on Committees will be hearing from them, regarding their denied request to have two more representatives on the SHAC.

“We hope to get more representation on the committee because we feel that graduate students are under-represented in health insurance decisions,” Hilpert said. “Right now we make up over eighty percent of users of the Chickering/SHS plan, but we only have one representative on the 10 person committee that makes decisions about the student plan.”

Hilpert has talked to President Ribeau and Vice President of Student Affairs Ed Whipple about further options regarding this legislation.

“We will continue to talk with University administrators about ways in which we can affect this change,” Hilpert said. “I think we will be satisfied when we feel that we are fully represented in these important decisions – right now, I don’#39;t think graduate students have enough of a voice on the committee.”

A motion to let graduate students have the ability to appeal their health insurance was voted on and passed by GSS.

This proposal is meant to be similar to the financial appeal process for the on-campus residency requirement in that it could allow graduate students to appeal their health insurance if they cannot afford it and have the ability to seek out their own.

“It will help alleviate the financial burden for the students who can’t afford it,” said Deanna Vatan Woodhouse, GSS Vice President.

While mandatory health insurance requires that graduate students only carry the minimum levels of the health insurance, Woodhouse believes it may still impose a significant financial burden on some graduate students.

“It’s for those students who are challenged financially,” Woodhouse said, adding that they would have to go out and seek their own health insurance or may have the possibility to just get basic coverage from outside sources.

“With this appeals process, these things might be possible,” she said.

Another heated topic discussed was the proposal to grant graduate students that own hybrid vehicles free parking.

The proposal, inspired by Biological Sciences graduate student Matthew Hoostal, is meant to promote environment-friendly vehicles with electric hybrid technology and show the University’s support in maintaining a cleaner environment.

While details of the proposal and possible changes to it are still in discussion, the goal, as stated in the legislation, is to “advance both ecological awareness and the application of this innovation.”