PSA Meeting Minutes - November 14, 2008 ======================================== Attendance: Steven Suh Aditi Ramesh Vincent Chen Gwen Springford Mehrad Alavino Karol Krizka Brian Kootte Marcus Puetz Gabe Scholz Savanna Shaw Alex Loosley Zahra Namini Tina Ryo Laleh Official Meeting Start at 16:02 ------ Announcements -- Savanna did a quick advertisement for the Undergraduate Pacific Physics and Astronomy Conference (UPPAC). When: March 14, 2009 Where: UBC Price: free More Info: http://www.physics.ubc.ca/~physsoc/uppac/ Steven: I don't want to be a mother, but Keep room clean! PSA Key Code -- People have been complaining that certain keys on the keypad to get to the room are quite mushy and hard to type in, so it takes several tries. The suggestion was to change the key code to something else that does not use the sticky keys. The problem with this was that the key code requires all digits to be used, so the non-working ones will be used anyways so there won't be a difference. Another reason to change the key code was that "freaky people" come to room late at night to rest, because they know the key code since they took PHYS100 a few years back. Went to vote: Change: 5 Keep: 6 Abstain: 4 The key code will not be changed. Year End PPARTY -- Steven wants some year-end physics social with drinks and food. The problem with doing it in the physics common room is that we need to a get a liquor license, which costs money and is a lot of work. It was suggested we go to the pub. The prices there are high. They have cheap beer on Wednesdays (and cheap wings), so it was decided that we will go there on a Wednesday. Computers -- Gabe did some research and he found that NCIX offers relatively cheap computer towers (about $300) that are much better than what we have now. Also they might give us a discount if we buy several. He also volunteered to set them up. Still, buying several (3) computers at $300 might cost a lot, so we should look a bit more into it and Steven will give us an update on our budget next week. Put on hold for now. Also Gabe will find out if we can get a further discount. Also getting outdated computers from the university will be very hard, because we are at the bottom of "the surplus chain". Mike Haydan's U-Grad Curriculum Rep -- Mike Haydan is trying to get the curriculum committee running again and he needs an undergrad representative on it. Alex gave some background information: - Curriculum committee works on establishing a balanced physics curriculum for students. Basically a focus group. - They haven't been doing much in the last few months. - Meets once a month. - Historically had one undergrad student to give feedback from the student's perspective. It was usually desired that this student be an average student. - The rep will get a picture on the PSA website. Alex nominated Zahra, seconded by Carolyn. Voted on by everyone and passed. Zahra Namini is the new undergrad curriculum committee representative. Reimbursements -- - $52 for pizza for Steven (This meeting) - $74 for pop and pizza for Steven (Last Friday's meet-and-greet with Dr. Lovejoy, who was this semester's guest CAP lecturer). Both reimbursements passed unanimously. Website -- Alex is graduating next semester, so we have no webmaster. Gabe wants to do it. Agreed on by everyone. The PSA poll has been updated. Also it has a radio button: "Click here to view the results." Cleaning Party -- Alex suggested that we completely clean up the common room at the end of the semester where we clean up the PSA room. - janitors don't really clean the room - the floors will have to be mopped - can WE do it? Probably have to put in request with facilities. - there will be music and food, so it will be a fun cleaning party - more stuff next week Adjourned at 17:10