Programing CSULB minds

By Jina Tedmori
Daily Forty-Niner
 
Speeding to get to class while dodging the slow people on cell phones, it is tough to notice much of what is going on. Various local bands compete twice a week to grab attention of the passers-by.

That these bands come to play at Cal State Long Beach is not a fluke. A group of students schedule the bands that perform each week through an Associated Students Inc. program.

Yassi Amini is one of those students. She has been on Program Council for three years. She started as a volunteer and worked her way up to one of the seven voting members. She is now a programming assistant.

Amini helped to bring speakers such as Erin Brockovich and Ralph Nader to CSULB. As the programming assistant, she looks for events that students find interesting and entertaining while working to bring them to campus.

"I love to coordinate events, whether it is a friend's birthday party or a hip-hop fashion show," Amini said. "I love working behind the scenes."

Program Council is the programming board for A.S.I. The Program Council assists in bringing movies, concerts and speakers to campus. Volunteers make up a large portion of the council, and
recruiting and retaining new volunteers is part of the group's job.

Program Council is currently working to bring a big concert to The Pyramid. The group has run into problems finding a time slot, because of all the events that are already scheduled. Many artists and bands are being considered and each will be discussed and voted on before any final decisions will be made.

Amini, a junior communications major said she is using Program Council as a resume builder.

She is also using her position as a stepping stone to advance toward someday owning her own concert venue.

"I had an offer for an internship at The House of Blues but I live in Mission Viejo so the drive would be too far," she said.

Before coming to CSULB, Amini, 20, graduated from Trabuco Hills High School. In her free time outside of the Program Council, Amini said she enjoys listening to her favorite bands De La Soul, Steel Pulse and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

"I love to go to shows and clubs, especially hip-hop shows." Amini said.

Working as a program assistant, Amini said she puts in about 20 hours a week and always works overtime.