By Daily Titan Editorial Board
Published: October 25, 2009
Categorized in | Letters to the Editor, Opinion
Dear Cal State Fullerton students,
In recent months, we have spent a lot of time and effort educating ourselves on what has been happening in the state of California with regards to the California State University budget deficit and the effects it has had on students.
On July 21, 2009 the Associated Students Inc. executive staff attended the CSU Board of Trustees meeting where the 10 percent fee increase was passed, leading to a grand total of 32 percent since last semester.
At this meeting, ASI Chief Governmental Officer Gregory Washington spoke against the fee increase on behalf of all CSUF students. Since last November, we have been on 25 legislative visits in an attempt to gain more funding for higher education.
In the past couple of weeks, we have been working with University Administration to regain library hours and we are pleased to state that we have been successful in our conversations. In the next two weeks, the library will extend its hours of operation to 7:45 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
We also hosted “Pizza with the Presidents,” which allowed students access to top University administrators; “State of the State,” where we offered a panel discussion about issues in California and how students can become a part of the solution; and a couple of ASI Cookouts, where students have been able to meet and ask questions of their student representatives.
In addition, we are offering more student services in the Titan Student Union in our effort to increase access to study rooms, computers, printing and photocopying.
We also developed an advocacy plan that includes increased emphasis on voter registration and an outreach campaign to the decision makers of California supported with information from our “Vent Tent” and “Get the Picture” activities.
“Vent Tent” provides students with the opportunity to state how the budget cuts have affected them and what they want to see happen in California’s future. These personal testimonials are documented on film and the footage will be complied and sent to state legislators.
“Get the Picture” asks students to write on a whiteboard how the budget cuts have affected them, then they take a photograph next to the whiteboard.
A compilation of all of the photographs will be sent to state legislators in December before the budget deliberations begin.
This advocacy outreach campaign will help in our cause to make higher education a priority for all legislators.
We encourage all students who wish to participate in our advocacy efforts to contact the ASI Executive Office. We encourage students to volunteer in order to spread valuable information to as many students as possible and we encourage all students to join ASI in the fight for the future of higher education.
– ASI Executive Staff
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17 Responses to “Letter to the Editor: ASI”
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Good game ASI.. it’s nice to see you’re taking credit for the work that ‘The Elephant in the Room’ group has been doing.
Why not instead take credit for what you really do? Waste student’s money on cutesy items for yourselves and your handful of friends.
… just go back to being the dogs you are for the Admin.. the only interests you represent is your own.
ASI = lapdogs for the Administrators
i think asi is doing a great job! they have supported numerous events, services, programs, committees, and clubs. not to mention keeping the tsu, rec center, and children center open. i dont believe asi is taking credit for anything that elephant in the room has been doing. asi have had meetings with library to get those times available. in conjunction, the elephant in the room, has helped it push forward also.
Really? These comments are ridiculous. I happened to be on campus last week during furlough fest. I saw what those in the tents were doing and I saw what ASI was doing on the other side. I didn’t see those in the tents registering students to vote, having them write letters to elected officials, or offer an avenue for our concerns and frustrations to be heard. I saw them smoking, drinking alcohol and using marijuana. Mostly hanging out watching bands perform and attending workshops that won’t further the ideals of an affordable higher education. I’m not in ASI, but as far as I’m concerned they are doing things that are much more progressive and pragmatic than these furlough fest folks. If you actually want change you have to be taken seriously and how can you be taken seriously by decision makers when an average student like myself won’t even take you seriously. All you do is bitch and complain about ASI, and the admin at CSUF when the real problem is in Sacramento. Seriously get over this “us against the world” mentality. Real progress is seen through coalition building and asking the right questions.
The library hours were not extended because of ASI. It was because of the sit in on Sep. 29th which prompted the library to do a survey to ask students about their library needs. The results of the survey created the change. Fact check?
Chris, the idea of Furlough Fest was to occupy the campus while classes were being cancelled. Students have been taking action in many other ways – protesting, educating others, creating an environment of holding those in power at CSUF accountable for the decisions they have made. If you want to talk about coalition building, Elephant in the Room has built a grassroots effort ASI literally wishes they had. Literally. Would ASI have had their “VENT TENT” had the Furlough Fest not been there? Who made the change, who pushed the ASI to act? It was the students. Students are not sitting around complaining, they are demanding change by doing actions to create recognition. They worked hard to organize that Furlough Fest, and can proudly say there has been nothing of its kind in California so far. And if you know anything about Sac, you know they don’t care anymore up there than here. Venting our frustrations gives the ol Pro Tem and buddies something to laugh about while they are enjoying lavish dinners on our dime. But here at CSUF, they potentially can recognize student action and respond if only to avoid a PR nightmare. So as long as students keep pushing, the ASI will be forced to act and the administrators, who should be held accountable for decisions, will be forced to respond.
You got what you wanted! If you want recognition for it, then maybe you should have used your names! Stop being cowards. If you re going to protest and try to make changes, take responsibility and talk to the decision makers. Yelling to the people who feel the same as you and are in the same boat doesn’t progress your case.
“Who made the change, who pushed the ASI to act? It was the students.” people in asi are students also.
I would really like to know how you are holding administrators accountable. How are you threatening them? Not a single administrator has had their pay cut or been fired due to the actions of “Elephant in the Room”. Get something done for real and then talk. The library hours were changed due to the actions of many, not just ASI and not just “Elephant in the Room”. When you have some respect from your peers and and not just your “friends” In the group, then maybe you can make a valid argument on your behalf.
ASI is doing amazing things!!! thank you ASI!! ur the best!!!
hm. asi are minor-league politicians. nothing so great about that.
Here’s a challenge to the ASI..
You all love voting so much, let’s put ‘Canceling the Executive Stipends and Other Perks’ on the ballot and see if you manage to keep them.
Here’s a challenge to Anonymoose…
Let’s put you in an Executive position in ASI and see if you willingly give up the stipend and other perks. Essentially working full time with no compensation what so ever. Not so noble now are we?
these ASI positions should be voluntary, as in unpaid positions taken up by people who are truly passionate enough to represent students without pay. there is no money in the CSU system as it is – so how can we afford to keep paying these people who in their “creativity” keep repeating the same dry crap – free coffee if you come to this, free food if you come to that, top 40 rap tunes that constitute “music” in the quad, etc. ASI is such garbage that it amazes me there are so many irrelevant little defenders like Jason Mcdanel.
Brian,
ASI doesn’t get it’s funding from the University. There is a $74 fee that each student pays a semester. ASI does a lot more than free coffee and free handouts. Just open your eyes and ask them what they do before you make assumptions. The Board of Directors are on a volunteer basis, while the Execs who manage and run a multi million dollar non-profit receive stipends. Let me know if you can find someone to volunteer 40 hours a week while trying to pay for school. One final tid bit…I’m not in ASI, I’ve just looked into what they are doing and I think we have fantastic leaderhip…not garbage.
I think chris is pretty cool too
I respect what ASI does for the school. If they weren’t paid, they wouldn’t have as much motivation to do their jobs so well. They would need jobs to pay for school and they wouldn’t be able to commit to ASI. If you really knew the people in ASI, you would see that they work VERY hard for the university. Most of them commit more than 30 hrs/wk to their jobs.
On another note, by protesting fee hikes on behalf of ALL students, ASI is essentially saving money for us in the long run. Honestly, what’s there to complain about?