A.S.I.
officials reveal reasons for involvement
By
Jeff Overley
On-line Forty-Niner
Associated
Students Inc. Treasurer Mike Johnson ran
for office to "positively affect students."
Students elected him. Johnson is a student.
Put all this together and it spells government
for the people, by the people and of the
people.
Despite
fulfilling the ideal role of a government,
however, none of the top four members of
the A.S. Senate plan to pursue careers in
politics.
"I
like civic engagement, [but] I don't like
party politics," said President Danny
Vivian. "I don't like the sacrifices
people have to make to get to high positions."
Referring
to his future occupational goals, Vice President
Guido Piotti said, "Definitely not
politics. It is one thing I am definitely
not willing to get into."
Johnson
plans to become a high school social science
teacher, while A.S. administrator John Pabon
hopes to work overseas for the United Nations.
So
if the executive board of Cal State Long
Beach's government is not interested in
"real-world" politics, why did
they get involved at their university?
For
some, it seems to be the result of school
activities that gradually, perhaps unintentionally,
escalated into something larger.
Helping
with the campaign of [past A.S. Senate president]
Toby Sexton was instrumental in furthering
Vivian's interest. Vivian is now in his
second term as president.
Piotti
cited the opportunities for personal betterment
and "giving back" to CSULB as
the reasons for his seeking a government
position.
Pabon
referred to the enjoyment he derives from
organizing events, which this year include
Week of Welcome, a Halloween party at The
Nugget and a blood drive, as the motivation
for accepting the appointment offered him
by Vivian.
While
Johnson, like the other executives, does
not plan to become a politician, he feels
he is preparing for his profession.
"I
take great joy in working for organizations.
I'm going to be a teacher, so I think it's
one of my talents," he said.
The
educational impact of the positions seems
to be comparable to an internship.
"It's
like being the president of a small city,"
Piotti said.
"The
presidency takes a lot of the theoretical
things you learn in class and gives you
an arena in which to practice them,"
Vivian said. "It's like walking a tight-wire;
there's a net, but if you fall, or make
the wrong decision, you're going to get
hurt."
There
are distinct responsibilities for each position.
Vivian handles the appointment of various
officials, establishes annual goals in coordination
with the Senate and acts as the official
representative of the student body.
Since
his run for office finished, Piotti has
done a lot of sitting. He "sits"
on the Academic Senate, the University Student
Union Board of Directors and the 49er Shops
Board, among several others. Piotti works
on and discusses policies at these committee
meetings.
Johnson
is charged with proper allocation of a $8.5
million budget that doles out about $250,000
to different student organizations every
year, he said.
The
time spent attending to their dual duties
of government and class amounts to that
of nine-to-five job, said Piotti, The executives
are paid about $1,000 a month after taxes.
The
executives said they think the pay is fair,
and Johnson said he would do the job for
free.
"[Unlike
last year and previous years], every executive
earns their money," Piotti said. "They've
kicked butt."
Despite
their commitment and apparent job satisfaction,
the four admit that certain drawbacks are
inherent in their respective positions.
"Being
in a position of power or authority, you
have to watch out," Johnson said. "Not
everyone has the best intentions. They will
attack you. You have to do everything you
can to hold onto your true values and stand
strong."
Vivian
suggested that "your priorities can
get a little out of whack trying to balance
your responsibilities [at CSULB] and your
responsibilities to yourself in terms of
your health and schoolwork. I've seen a
lot of people spread themselves too thin."
Piotti
offered advice to anyone pondering a run
for student government: "If you think
it's a walk in the park, you have no idea
what you're about to get into."
Past
A.S. Senate members advanced some recommendations
for the current executives. Carl Kemp, student
body president from '95-'97 and now the
governmental affairs officer for the Long
Beach City Manager's Office, told them to
"make the most of [their] experience
and remember who [they] serve."
Other
A.S. Senate alumni who have gone on to careers
in politics include Jenny Oropeza, who was
A.S. president from '79-'81. Oropeza served
on the Long Beach City Council in the '90s
and is now in her second term as a state
assemblywoman.
Naomi
Rodriguez, president from '97-'98, is currently
the deputy director of protocol in the office
of L.A. Mayor James Hahn.
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