Comments on: Letter to the Editor: ASI

By: Christa Keizer

Christa Keizer — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:46:34 +0000

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?

By: Jimmy Hsieh

Jimmy Hsieh — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:37:43 +0000

I think chris is pretty cool too

By: Chris Sitnour

Chris Sitnour — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:59:14 +0000

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.

By: brian keller

brian keller — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:02:51 +0000

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.

By: Jason Mcdanel

Jason Mcdanel — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:49:29 +0000

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?

By: Anonymoose

Anonymoose — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:41:12 +0000

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.

By: ryan l.

ryan l. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:17:49 +0000

hm. asi are minor-league politicians. nothing so great about that.

By: Jimmy Hsieh

Jimmy Hsieh — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:59:08 +0000

ASI is doing amazing things!!! thank you ASI!! ur the best!!!

By: G

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:02:54 +0000

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.

By: csuf jane

csuf jane — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:48:20 +0000

“Who made the change, who pushed the ASI to act? It was the students.” people in asi are students also.

By: G

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:41:27 +0000

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.

By: AJ

AJ — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:31:40 +0000

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.

By: AJ

AJ — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:18:58 +0000

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?

By: Chris Sitnour

Chris Sitnour — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:53:23 +0000

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.

By: csuf jane

csuf jane — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:43:30 +0000

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.