The Graduate Student Senate sent a strong message to the Government of the Student Body concerning the recent GSB elections.

The bill, which was written and subsequently passed at Monday night’s GSS meeting, said last Thursday’s election process was “undemocratic in nature.”

The election was primarily focused on the adoption of the new GSB constitution, which GSB has been trying to pass since last semester.

The new Constitution was voted down, with only 1.4 percent of Iowa State students showing up to vote. Of that 1.4 percent, nearly 56 percent were graduate students.

“[This percentage] shows the power graduate students can have,” said GSS President Juana Nolasco.

The bill, written by Mike Reed, physics, said the money for the election was blatantly misspent, and with such a meager portion of the student body voting, was, in effect, a “$1,000 poll.”

Many senators said they disagreed strongly with the “Articles of Cooperation” text in the new GSB Constitution.

The GSS bill will be read to members of GSB during their Wednesday night meeting in the Memorial Union.

During time allotted for discussion, ISU Hockey Coach Al Murdoch and several of his players encouraged GSS to promote ticket sales for the National Invitation Tournament in March, which will be held at Hilton Coliseum.

Murdoch also spoke of the possibility of a new ice facility.

He said the current ice rink is not in acceptable condition for being used seven days a week and 22 hours a day.

Murdoch said ISU President Martin Jischke agreed to allocate $1.7 million from student fees to the new rink, if the City of Ames votes on March 31 to pay the other $1.7 million.

“Most college students don’t own a lot of property, [so] get out and vote,” Murdoch said. “[This new rink] is not just for hockey, it’s for public skating and the intramural program.”

The GSS also passed the “GSS Safe Zone” bill, which promotes education about the Professional and Student Council’s recent “Safe Zone” sticker project.

The stickers are intended to send a message to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and their allies that the “Safe Zone” environment is supportive.

Sine Anahita, coordinator of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Support Services, told GSS the stickers are not intended to mean the environment is a “refuge.”

“It’s a place where they can just be free to be who they are,” Anahita said. “Seeing these stickers on campus is very important.”

Written by Mike Poray, economics, the bill states, “GSS encourages all graduate students to educate themselves with the Dean of Students Office initiative titled, “Safe Zones” and help send a message of understanding, non-judgment and knowledge of LBGT person’s needs and concerns on the campus of Iowa State University.”

In other news:

• GSS is sponsoring a “Welcome Back to School” pizza party for all graduate and professional students and their families. Pizza and soda will be provided by the GSS, and the party will be held Thursday, Feb. 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

• GSB needs a new graduate student representative.

• GSS is searching for a new president.

The next GSS meeting will be on Feb. 23.