An organization similar to Marquette Student Government for graduate students is one step closer to formation, according to an english graduate student who helped conceive of the organization.

Daniel Knauss was a member of an ad-hoc planning committee composed of graduate students from the English, history, philosophy and theology departments to discuss the possibility of forming such an organization.

The organization now has two elected representatives — Christopher Miller from the history department and Mark Zunac, recently elected by the English department, according to Knauss.

“I talked to Mark about what everyone knows needs to be done first — connect with the university, talk with Dr. Griffiths, and create by-laws to build a framework for the organization,” Knauss said.

Zunac could not be reached for comment.

Knauss also said the philosophy and theology departments were moving on organizing elections for their departments.

Timothy Brunk, member of the planning committee and a theology graduate student, said he was urging the Association of Graduate Students in Theology to administer an election.

“Elections are planned but not yet scheduled,” Brunk said.

According to Knauss, two new departments have shown interest in holding elections for representatives to the graduate student senate.

“I have been talking to people in the psychology department and will meet with a student tomorrow to provide more details on the senate,” Knauss said. “Kathy Quinlan of the biology department said they are planning to hold elections by the end of the semester.”

Miller said he plans to meet with T. Daniel Griffiths, vice provost for research and graduate programs, sometime before Christmas break to discuss the forming of this organization.

“We wanted to wait to meet until representatives from other departments get into place,” Miller said. “We have made some progress, and I’ve received a whole flurry of e-mails after Thanksgiving break from students who are interested in the organization.”

The possible addition of two new departments outside of the four housed in Coughlin Hall is great news, according to Miller.

“It’s very exciting from our perspective that other disciplines are showing interest and getting involved,” Miller said.

Nicole Garland, communications vice president for MUSG, said she was pleased to hear about the formation of an organization similar to MUSG.

“These students are not represented to the administration by a governing body yet,” she said. “Seeing them come together to form a group to get things done and address concerns is a great thing.”