We, the graduate students of the University of Ottawa, recognising the need to speak with one voice in asserting our legitimate needs and concerns, wish to express our support for one university-wide graduate student organisation whose basic aims will be as follows:

1. To organise students on a democratic, cooperative basis for advancing students’ interests, and advancing the interests of the students’ community;

2. To provide a common framework within which students can communicate, exchange information, and share experience, skills, and ideas;

3. To ensure the effective use and distribution of the resources of the student movement, while maintaining a balanced growth and development of Departmental Associations that respond to graduate students needs and desires;

4. To bring students together to discuss and co-operatively achieve necessary educational, administrative, and legislative change wherever decision-making affects students;

5. To facilitate co-operation among students in organising services which supplement the learning experience, provide for human needs, and which develop a sense of community with our peers and with other members of society;

6. To articulate the desire of students to fulfill the duties and be accorded the rights of citizens in Ontario, in Canada, and in the international community; and

7. To achieve the goal of a system of public post-secondary education which is accessible to all, which is of high quality, and which is rationally planned; which recognises the legitimacy of student representation and the validity of students’ rights; and whose role in society is clearly recognised and appreciated.

In consideration of these needs, graduate students from across the University of Ottawa campus organised in March, 1989, to found the Graduate Students’ Association of the University of Ottawa / l’Association des étudiant(e)s diplômé(e)s de l’Université d’Ottawa (GSAÉD).