Letters
to the editor: Misleading Guido
I
find it fascinating that much of the buzz
around campus regarding Arnold Schwarzenegger's
visit to campus on Sept. 3 in regards to
whether we were witness to an act of free
speech or a demonstration of immaturity
when we saw the slimy innards of an egg
splashed across Schwarzenegger's chest.
Proponents of Schwarzenegger's vie for the
governorship are quick to point out that
the assailant's views are not representative
of the views of the student body. This criticism
is entirely correct. Cal Sate Long Beach
is famous for its diversity, with students
of assorted ethnicity's, cultures and political
perspectives. One student alone cannot expect
to speak on behalf of the opinions of all
students. Why, then, do these critics ignore
the actions of the Associated Students Inc.
officers who were on stage two weeks ago
announcing to the crowds and the cameras
their personal opinions on who should be
the next governor of California?
A.S.I.
officers, like all other students on campus,
are entitled to their political opinions,
but their personal views should not interfere
with their obligation to represent the interests
of the student body. However, last Wednesday,
A.S.I. vice president Guido Piotti presented
his own political views as those of CSULB
to hundreds of reporters from around the
country. While the A.S.I. claimed to take
a stance of neutrality, they offered us
a complete reversal of that statement when
"T-shirts with the slogan 'Join Arnold'
[were] thrown by Guido Piotti, vice president
of Associated Students Inc." (Daily
49er)
A.S.I.
advertised to students an opportunity to
participate in a "forum" in which
they could "meet the candidates."
We were assured by Piotti that CSULB students
"would be heard" locally, statewide,
nationally and even worldwide. Yet the students
were silenced when they showed up to an
event that amounted to a one-sided campaign
appearance in which Schwarzenegger refused
to take questions from students, instead
offering a contrived speech of his superficial
campaign clichés and unimaginative
one-liners. Not only were CSULB students
barred from speaking, they were prevented
from even sitting in most of the spectator
stands behind the candidate. Of the several
stands surrounding the podium, only one
on the very edge of the event was open to
CSULB students. The rest were filled with
supporters not affiliated with CSULB who
were bused in to create an illusion of the
CSULB campus rallying around the Republican
candidate. Erica Werner's Associated Press
article even acknowledges that a significant
portion of the crowd consisted of "Young
Republicans invited from other schools,
according to the actor's campaign."
That
days event was advertised to be for the
benefit of students. In reality it was a
thinly veiled campaign contribution for
Schwarzenegger's run for governor. At center
stage was Guido Piotti, the paid A.S.I.
vice president, tossing T-shirts into the
crowd and declaring that Schwarzenegger
was superior to the other candidates who
were not at the campus -- incidentally,
that day, the other candidates were at a
public gubernatorial debate that Schwarzenegger
refused to join. This inappropriate display
was made possible by tapping into the A.S.I.
fee that is charged to every student upon
enrolling at CSULB. Piotti not only misrepresented
the diversity of student body, but also
abused his position of power as A.S.I. vice
president. Students who were fed broken
promises of being heard Sept. 3 should raise
their voices to demand an investigation
of why A.S.I. allowed Piotti to use the
CSULB name, campus facilities and our student
fees to finance his blatant personal endorsement
of Schwarzenegger.
--
Elisa Herrera
Graduate student of History
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