A.S. Senate re-evaluates goals

At an Oct. 12 Associated Students Senate meeting, the senators announced goals for their one-year term of office. Most of them were, to say the least, self-benefiting.

But on Wednesday, one week later, senators were singing a slightly different tune.

Let's play spot the difference:

Last week, Ernesto Solis, senator-at-large, said one of his goals was to procure a computer with a laser printer for the senate office. If you go to the office now, you'll see that the dream has become a reality.

Other goals included the installation of a copy machine in the senate office, a weekly, council calendar listing college events and a senate newsletter. And let's not forget the all-important faculty parking permit.

Why these goals? Robert Lutz, senator-at-large, said there should be more incentives for students to participate in student government.

A.S. Vice President Alma Salazar seemed disappointed, however.

"You have a lot more power than you're willing to live up to," Salazar said at last week's meeting. Then she gave the senators another chance, asking them to come up with better goals for next week's meeting.

Well, next week's meeting came and went, and apparently the senators thought about their reasons for being in office.

Renee Fernandez, senator for the College of Engineering, said she wants to work on extending library hours. Nicole Burgers, senator of health and human services, said she wants to have a food area in the library for students pulling all-nighters.

The senators also want to extend the University Student Union's hours, raise funds to give Cal State Long Beach students financial assistance outside of financial aid and give students discounts on textbooks. They are now even willing to receive student input and put up a student opinion box.

Now, doesn't that make you feel better?

Jennifer Vergara is a reporter for the Daily Forty-Niner.