Introduction

Welcome to the home of the Sackler Graduate Student Council, the voice of the graduate students of the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. We serve to actively channel student concerns into action by working with the university faculty and administration. To be effective in our work, it is essential that we hear the concerns of graduate students; we welcome any suggestions or comments that you wish to make! 

2005-2006 Year in Review

The Sackler Graduate Student Council meets monthly to discuss student topics, including some academic, social and safety issues important to the Sackler community.  Here is the summary of this past year's activity.  We hope to bring you more next year!!!

Social events

• Scavenger Hunt: We organized a Boston/Tufts landmark hunt for the first years' orientation week.  This icebreaker introduced the first years to each other, their school and the city

• Boston Duck Tours: We opened the year with a Boston Duck Tours ride, with almost two full ducks to explore Boston.  People went out for drinks and food afterwards.  Great way to start the school year!

• Boston Bruins: Around 60 people went to see a hockey game at Bank North.  EVERYONE seemed to enjoy themselves and this event.

• Harbor Cruise: We capped off the year with the Harbor Cruise aboard Samuel Clemens, where ~80 of the Sackler community enjoyed the harbor, drinks, music and dancing.

Career Paths

• CP brought in many wonderful speakers to share their careers in Science industry, policy, production and much more.  A (incomplete) list of speakers over the past few years is compiled here.

Outreach

• GapJunction had another successful year at the Paraclete Center in South Boston.  The kids there really enjoy the science and appreciate our visits.  In addition, SGSC sponsored all GapJunction teachers to go to a symposium on science and biotechnology education

• Blood Drives: Blood drives had an off year due to staffing at NEMC, but we had successful blood and a bone marrow drives

• Rosie's Place: New this year, we started working with Rosie's, a homeless shelter for women, and donated our time once a month to help serve and accompany the women and their children to a wonderful meal

• Horizons for Homeless Children: Also new this year, HfH came and shared the growing concern for children's safety in the Boston area, including providing safe materials and places for them to play and learn.  We were able to hold a drive to collect items for the children such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and other material.

Sackler Insight

• We produced two newsletters this year and hope to bring you more next year.

Relays

• Relays again was very successful.  We brought in a new Golfing event to encourage more faculty to participate and support the Sackler community and it seemed to work.  This year's fundraising efforts reached a new record for the second straight year

Miscellaneous

• Spirit Wear: Through the encouragement of the SGSC and the help of the Sackler office, we were able to get the Tufts Bookstore and B&N to make Sackler sweatshirts, t-shirts, car-decals and much more

• Congratulations and Thank you to John Castellot.  John, in addition to being very supportive of the SGSC as a faculty liaison to the council, donated his cash prize for his Faculty Mentor award.  Half of his award with help support Travel funds and half will go to SGSC to bring you more great events!

• Student Cards: Through the efforts of the SGSC, you can now order student 'business' cards with your name and Tufts information to hand out at meetings, etc.

• New Council Members
  Chair: Brigham Hyde
  Vice-Chair: Jacqueline Lane
  Treasurer: Michelle Tangredi