That work will include listening to the needs of students as well as continuing an effort to work with the administration to better issues such as tuition remission, workload and childcare.

"Now, more than ever, it is important to have good leadership," said Radebaugh, who believes her three years of GPSC experience have prepared her for the added responsibility.

Veronica Diaz, who was elected last night as external affairs vice president, said she also believes GPSC should continue being an active voice in campus policy changes.

"A win for graduate students is a win for this institution," she said.

As a representative this year, Diaz collaborated with other council members to find solutions to graduate student issues she said will carry over into next year's agenda.

"I think next year will be just as challenging as this year, if not more," she said.

Thomas Kinney, an English graduate student was elected as secretary/treasurer.

Kinney said he is also determined to improve next year's council.

"We need to do more than keep us where we're at. We need to improve lives," he said.

This year's Graduate and Professional Student Council representatives, along with newly elected representatives, filled the Student Union Memorial Center's Ventana Room last night at a meeting to swear in the new council members and elect next year's officers.

After next year's representatives vowed to fill their offices to the best of their abilities, a new GPSC president was elected.

Jani Radebaugh, a planetary sciences graduate student, took the seat in an uncontested race. Radebaugh was not present, although she prepared a speech that was read at the meeting.

"I will work as hard as I can," Radebaugh's speech stated.

The election heated up in the "hotly contested" race for internal affairs vice president, according to this year's GPSC president Pete Morris.

Votes for Beata Blachuta, a molecular and cellular biology graduate student, and accounting graduate student Brittney Williams, were too close to call.

In an attempt to meet GPSC constitution guidelines for a 50 percent plus one majority, votes for the position were cast three times.

"It was like a freakin' tennis match," Morris said.

As the meeting ran over time, Pete Morris made his last official act as GPSC president, moving to hold an emergency meeting tonight. The council hopes any absent representatives will be available to sway the vote one way or the other.

"This election is an indication of how much GPSC has matured," said Morris.

It proves just how important graduate representation is to this campus to see the leadership positions contested for, he said.

Whatever the outcome, Morris said he was encouraged by the quality of the people he has seen get involved in next year's GPSC.

Radebaugh agreed next year's group will be able to work together to improve graduate student education.

If each council member comes ready to work hard, Radebaugh said, "It will be a wonderful year."