Volume 1 Number 2 Fall 1995
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AGSA, One Year After

As the year 1995 comes to a close, a bit of reflection seems to be in order. This past year our department has experienced many changes, developments and additions that have collectively strengthened it and each of us as well. It was about a year ago that the idea of establishing a graduate student organization was formulated. Subsequently, the Anthropology Graduate Student Association (AGSA) came into being with the objective of providing graduate students a pro-active forum for interaction in the department. Specifically, the objectives of AGSA were to: increase interaction between graduate students as a body; increase interaction between graduate students and our faculty; promote our department's achievements; and improve the academic and professional status of grads.

On the whole, the various activities conducted under AGSA auspices have been oriented to meeting the organizational objectives. One of the first activities of AGSA was the creation and promotion of departmental T-shirts which was a joint project with the Anthropology Student Union (ASU), the undergraduate organization. Not only was this project a financial success, but our department became more visible on campus and we became the envy of the university for the impact of the design!

Another AGSA sponsored activity was the creation of the Communication Center which included the installation of a phone, computer and fax machine (purchased with proceeds from the T-shirt sales). This was a major undertaking that required a good deal of time and effort to organize, but the benefits are clear to all. No longer must we wander the university as nomadic or rogue academics--now business can be conducted with the outside world in a professional manner.

Graduate students gained further visibility with the Photo Board installed by AGSA members. Although this has been temporarily replaced to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the department, it will return again. For those who did not see the photo board, it was located on the first level of North Hall, across from the elevator. Photographs of graduate students with their names and specialization were placed on a attention-grabbing background patterned after Andean textiles. Since the photos were chosen by each individual, the board reflected our individuality and made a striking visual image.

Another AGSA activity included attendance at ASU meetings to promote greater interaction between the two groups. Also, coordination with ASU was initiated with the objective of conducting future joint projects.

Two general meetings of AGSA were held this past year and both were well attended. The first AGSA meeting was also attended by our chair Dr. Matt Mines and faculty sponsor Dr. Mike Jochim. For the second meeting Dr. David Cleveland was invited to provide his insight on the job market and obtaining an academic position.

To conclude the list of AGSA achievements, the newsletter was established as a printed forum. A related development was the creation of an Anthropology Web page--where an electronic version of the newsletter can be found.

Overall, this first year for AGSA has been marked by the realization of concrete accomplishments that have benefited our department as a whole, but graduate students primarily. Prior to the formation of AGSA, it was not possible to address graduate student concerns in a focussed, unified manner. This, perhaps, will be AGSA's greatest potential contribution to our department--the coordination of events, activities and ideas to better our academic and professional growth.

Looking towards the future, AGSA will continue to make a significant impact on the department--but only on the condition that we as individuals participate in the collective. AGSA is the vehicle by which change and growth can occur, but only if there's a driver. The "driver," in this case, is each and every one of us. Collective work implies increased individual participation. Although it is easy to sit back and go along for the ride, you can't really complain about the direction the organization is heading unless you are willing to help plan the itinerary. O.K., so much for this metaphor--the point being that theory is pointless without praxis (in the promotion of change). As 1996 rolls in (and by us at an alarming pace), let us consider the role of graduate students in the daily creation and reification of academia and take an active part in its definition.

Carleen D. Sanchez

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