The Graduate and Professional Student Council changed the timing of Graduate Student Appreciation Week to comply with Governor Jane Dee Hull's announcement to honor graduate students with a week in April.

The vote was made in order to prevent an election code violation in the GPSC constitution, which states the elections are to be held one week after Graduate Student Appreciation Week.

The date change now allows the Graduate Student Appreciation Week and the elections to take place within the same week.

The original graduation appreciation week was scheduled for this week, with elections scheduled for the first week of April.

The new dates of the appreciation week are April 1-5.

GPSC President Kirsten Copeland said this is the first time the governor has been involved with the appreciation week plans.

"The governor has never issued a proclamation before like this," she said.

All activities for the graduate appreciation week, which include an awards banquet, a symposium with Graduate College Dean Gary Pivo, and an ice cream social will continue as planned, despite the change in dates, Copeland said.

Executive Vice President Linda Pierce said GPSC had little notice or options before deciding to comply with the governor's announcement.

"We didn't really have a choice," she said.

Graduate students interested in becoming a GPSC representative must turn in their petition for candidacy by March 29.

To ensure that graduate students will be notified about the elections, a social will be held to help graduate students become acquainted with GPSC, said Lisa Napoleon, events director.

"We'll use that time to get the word out," she said.

The spring social will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on March 22 at the Wildcat House, 1801 N. Stone Ave.