Electronic polling discussed at final Senate meeting

By Terran Odell
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer

The ASI Senate convened for their final meeting of the semester Wednesday to address a variety of issues.

The meeting started off with the presentation of the "Senator of the Month Award." Sen. Uduak-Joe Ntuk awarded Senator for International and Residential Organizations Hironao Okahana the honor for the month of November.

The senators also received a presentation from Elizabeth Novack from the Office of University Ombuds. Novack shared the doings of her office since its creation three years ago, and showed that there has been a rise in awareness about the office as shown through the increase in the number of cases that they have dealt with. The University Ombuds office is a neutral office in which staff, faculty and students can informally solve conflicts and problems that are campus related.

Two student representatives were appointed at the meeting to the Student Media Board. Cal State Long Beach students Janina Quintana and Kevin Rhodes were approved by the Senate to the position.

In regards to the recent controversies surrounding The Union newspaper, which the Media Board will oversee, Rhodes said he planned to get the newspaper back on track. "I feel the Union has strayed a little off track," he said.

Election Board Commissioner Heather Benton stopped by the Senate meeting to give a report on the upcoming ASI elections for next semester. The committee for elections has been doing an excellent job so far this year, and they are prepared for the elections to come. But still one issue that was discussed was electronic polling on campus. Although electronic polling is not in the immediate future for Cal State Long Beach ASI elections, the issue has caused some conflict of opinion.

While most of the senators support using electronic polling, Senator-at-Large Morgan Wheeler voiced his opposition. "I will always oppose electronic ballots. I don't think it's ever something that we want to do," said Wheeler, who feels that there is no substitute for a tangible paper ballot.

Sen. Kerry Reid echoed Wheeler's view. "I strongly agree with Morgan [Wheeler] on the electronic voting," Reid said. So while for now electronic voting on campus is not a reality, its future will face opposition at CSULB.

ASI Administrator Zanra Billoo addressed the continuing textbook issue in her report to the Senate. The professors who have not ordered textbooks for the spring semester have been identified and will be approached to encourage the promptest ordering possible in order to avoid increased costs to students.

"If they haven't ordered their books, we are going to confront them," Billoo said. The ASI as a whole has been working hard to save students money this semester in regards to textbook costs.

The senators were also graced with the presence of President Robert Maxson at the meeting. Maxson came to wish the senators a happy holiday season and congratulate them on their performance this semester. "You guys had such a great semester. I am so proud of you," Maxson said.

The meeting was the last of the semester and the Senate will reconvene on Jan. 26 to start off the spring semester.