By Zam Anwar

Daily Titan Staff Writer

State Sen. Leland Yee. Courtesy of CSU

State Sen. Leland Yee, (D-San Francisco), reintroduced two bills Jan. 5 that will bring greater transparency to the state of California’s public higher-education institutions, require foundation records to be open to public inspection and will also seek to protect whistleblowers in the Cal State University/University of California systems.

According to a press release on the senator’s Web site, the first bill, SB 330, is a reintroduction of SB 218, and if approved, will require campus auxiliary organizations like Associated Students Inc. to be subject to the California Public Records Act, subsequently allowing for more accountability at UC, CSU and community college campuses.

The second bill, SB 650, is a reintroduction of SB 219, and will provide UC and CSU employees who report waste, fraud and abuse, with the same legal protections as other state employees.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed both bills SB 218 and SB 219 in October 2009.

“Subjecting the altruistic activities of private donors and volunteers to the CPRA will have a chilling effect on their support and service … it would also result in a loss of private donations and volunteer activities supporting California public institutions of higher education,” said Schwarzenegger in his veto message.

According to the senator’s Web site, the revised bill, SB 330, addressing the Governor’s veto message, “will exempt from disclosure the names of volunteers and donors who wish to remain anonymous provided they do not receive something of value greater than $500 in exchange for their donation or service.”

While Yee believes that the approval of SB 330 is “imperative in order to rid the University of California and the California State University of waste, fraud and abuse,” few students and faculty at CSUF say that it would make a big impact as they feel the system is accountable enough.

Amy Ramirez, a senior business administration major and Titan Student Union Governing Board Director of Public Relations says that the decisions reached during committee and board meetings are available to the public, and students are not only welcome to attend board meetings, but are also encouraged to ask questions.

“One of our goals is transparency, so it might not affect us much,” said Ramirez, speculating on the passing of SB 330.

Dr. Matthew Jarvis, assistant professor of political science says that he doesn’t quite understand the hullabaloo surrounding the passing of the bills.

“Nobody ever told what the big deal is and so I don’t quite follow it,” Jarvis said.

Jarvis said that, as far as the UCs are concerned, salaries have always been public. When it comes to the CSUs, Jarvis said there is not much alumni spending anyway and doesn’t understand why it’s such a big issue. “It’s small potatoes,” he said.

Chapter President of the California Faculty Association Dr. Mougo Nyaggah said that the public has a right to know what is in the auxiliaries.

Nyaggah also said that it is especially important at a time like this when students at universities are being affected by cuts in classes and faculty as a result of the budget crisis.

If SB 330 is passed, it will mean that campus auxiliaries will be open to the public, and Nyaggah says that when the books are open, it could mean more classes for students.

“The CFA believes in supporting students, and has always fought for more classes,” Nyaggah said.

Nyaggah said students need to know that the CFA has no animosity towards any administrations on campus when it supports bills like SB 330.

“All we need is transparency,” Nyaggah said.

ASI Chief Governmental Officer Gregory Washington said that if private donors are subject to the CPRA, it might affect students indirectly.

“This possibly might hurt students because donors could be discouraged from making a contribution,” Washington said.

Both bills were approved by the California Senate on Jan. 28 and will be put before Schwarzenegger again this year.