Graduate students are a crucial segment of our community in the School
of Engineering and Applied Science.  As the Dean, I support the idea of 
a representative organization for graduate students, something we have had 
in place for undergraduates for thirty years.  This organization would:

 - provide services (including recreational events) to graduate students;
 - voice the perspective of the graduate student body when decisions
   are made;
 - promote reforms suggested by grad students;
 - advance the collective needs of grad students.

AGES, the Association of Graduate Engineering Students, was founded
by some devoted students in 1993 to represent your concerns.
You can find out about them on the World Wide Web at the URL:
http://www.cec.wustl.edu/~ages/

In the past two years, the group has accomplished many things, including
the following:

(1) established automatic deposit of paychecks;
(2) distributed graduate student handbooks;
(3) developed of a suggested list of rights and responsibilities for 
    graduate students;
(4) proposed sweeping reforms to the current thesis and dissertation 
    formatting requirements; 
(5) held numerous social events and performed various other services.

While I have long perceived the need for such an organization, and
appreciate the energy and contributions of the group's founders, you
as students must make the decision to have a graduate
student organization collectively.  Please reply *right now*
to this letter.  In the body of your reply,  enter the letter that
corresponds to your vote choice on a line by itself:

A - If you SUPPORT AGES and are WILLING TO PAY an activity fee of up to $2
    per semester to fund AGES activities, please type the letter A
    on a line by itself in the body of your reply.

B - If you SUPPORT AGES but are NOT WILLING TO PAY an activity fee of
    up to $2 per semester to fund AGES activities, please type the letter
    B on a line by itself in the body of your reply.

C - If you DO NOT SUPPORT AGES but would be WILLING TO PAY an
    activity fee of up to $2 per semester to fund another engineering
    graduate student organization, please type C on a line by itself
    in the body of your reply.

D - If you DO NOT SUPPORT AGES and are NOT WILLING TO PAY an activity
    fee of up to $2 per semester, please type D on a line by itself
    in the body of your reply.

Everyone *must* respond to this questionnaire. Thank you for your time.

Christopher Byrnes
Dean of Engineering and Applied Science