In a 142 to 18 vote, Creighton students chose to integrate the Graduate School Government with the Creighton Students Union.

The vote to change Resolution 08-01 took place Tuesday evening during CSU’s annual All-Corporation meeting and was open to all Creighton students.

Eric Nitz, former CSU president and current representative on the Student Life Committee, said the integration will promote better representation in the student body.

“Prior to the GSG, graduate students had no representation or voice on campus,” Nitz said. “We will now have our own operational government, seat on the CSU Cabinet, a rep at CSU representative meetings and regular interaction with the student body via CSU.”

Micah White, president of CSU, says the union supports the integration.

“We are excited that the graduate students are taking a proactive approach to build community across government programs and bring their voice to the table,” she said.

The article change gives graduate students increased control over their student fees.

Currently, CSU uses graduate students’ fees to fund students presenting research through individual travel grants.

After the change, CSU will fund the GSG through a rebate process currently being used by the professional schools.

“Creighton’s other schools and colleges, minus the University College, have representation within CSU,” Nitz said.

“This allows those students a voice in policies set forth by CSU and a say in how their student fees are spent. This integration will pass on those rights to current and future graduate students.”

The Graduate School Government was formed by a group of students with the goal to foster a sense of community among graduate students.

By January 2008, the GSG had a functioning Executive Board and a number of representatives from various programs.

Nitz said the integration of CSU and GSG has been necessary for a long time and will help graduate students voice their concerns.

“The initiation of the GSG is integral in offering the graduate students of Creighton an opportunity to engage in the Jesuit mission of the university, to create a community of common interest and to provide events for academic, social and professional development,” Nitz said.

“This organization empowers the diverse, and growing, graduate student body with a voice on campus.”

Dan O’Brien, Arts & Sciences junior, said he voted to approve the article change for many reasons, but mainly because it let graduate students work with CSU more closely.

“What the measure did was to integrate them into CSU and give them a voice for their money,” he said.

“It was really a no brainer because there was kind of a precedent set for the graduate level programs.”

The GSG executive committee said the organization will focus on the role of part-time students in clubs across campus for its next initiative.

Members said the increased number of part-time students in graduate programs at Creighton warrants dialogue about the issue.

For now, Nitz says he is pleased with the measure.

“By being inclusive, CSU is able to better diversify its decision-making processes and increase its reach across campus,” he said.

“We believe this will further enable CSU to serve the Jesuit mission of the university.”