A.S.I. to bolster Beach Pride

By Michael Watanabe
Daily Forty-Niner

Beach Pride will continue to be the focus of the Associated Students, Inc., said its president, Robert Garcia, as he presented initiatives Monday to Cal State Long Beach President Robert Maxson and other campus officials.

"What Beach Pride means to us is having students really care about the university and being proud to go to Long Beach State," Garcia said.

Garcia named 10 initiatives as tentative goals that he was determined to accomplish.

"We know we're going to accomplish our goals because we really believe in the university," Garcia said.

Among the initiatives is to present a flag to improve Beach Pride and to run a Web site which promotes campus organizations and allows for student forums.

Also, a "Beach Patrol" may be established to encourage students to come to the sporting events by giving points and prizes away.

Currently, the student government is building a new room in the University Student Union called the Beach Pride Center, and parking decals will be getting a facelift, as A.S.I proposed to redesign them look nicer and more appealing.

The Speaker's Platform will also be getting a renovation to try to tie it into the beach theme, and other various campus improvements will be looked at, such as putting up banners, and redesigning the campus kiosks.

The University Student Union has already gotten a renovated look by naming each room after famous Southern California beaches.

Besides aesthetic changes, A.S.I also plans to make improvements that involve student welfare and an outreach program.

A rewards program may be set for students who obtain leadership roles on campus, and Cal State Cares, a new program sponsored by all 22 CSU campuses, will focus a whole day dedicated to community service. This year, the theme revolves around improving kindergarten through 12th grade schools.

Maxson applauded the students for their ambition, and complimented them for working for something, instead of against something.

"There's a difference when students run for office because they're against something, than when they run for office because they're for something," Maxson said. "These guys ran for office because they're for something. They ran for the university to make the university better."