AS
Senate appoints Academic Senate member,
public defender
By Jamie Rowe
Online Forty-Niner
Editor in Chief
At the Associated Students Senate meeting Wednesday, Executive Director of AS
Richard Haller and Associated Students, Inc. President Jamie Pollock gave their
weekly reports. The Senate also voted a new member into the Academic Senate and
voted on a new public defender.
Haller listed the various grants and scholarships the Child Development Center
received, including a $3,000 grant from Target Corp. he had mentioned last week.
He also fielded questions about the differences between a stipend and compensation,
in regards to an agenda item discussing policies about stipends and an executive
fellowship. This motion was later removed from the agenda and will be discussed
at a later date.
Pollock reported that California State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed
sent 22 initiatives to each of the 23 CSU campuses in regards to graduation and
retention rates. She said the purpose of the initiatives is to make graduating
easier.
She also told the Senate about upcoming campus events, including next week’s
visits from the candidates for university president.
The candidates will address students Monday through Thursday, with a different
candidate speaking each day from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. on the ASI patio, located
next to the ASI offices in the University Student Union.
A public forum is also scheduled from 3 to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday
in the Horn Center.
Pollock said she was sending out a letter reminding everyone of the times and
locations for the forums, as well as posting fliers in the USU. She suggested
the senators make announcements regarding the forums in their classes so the
average student can attend and give his or her input.
There was confusion among the senators as to who will choose the next university
president, due to Pollock’s role on the Advisory Committee for the Selection
of the President. She was the student representative on the committee, which
narrowed down the applicants to the four candidates.
Pollock said the CSU Board
of Trustees and Reed will make the final decision.
Faculty Representative Wayne Dick reminded the senators and those present that
there is a student representative on the Board of Trustees, as well as Film Electronic
Arts Department Chairman Craig Smith, the faculty representative on the board.
Pollock explained she would create a feedback form to pass out to the students
so that their opinions about the university presidential candidates will be accounted
for. As a member of the advisory committee, she will report the feedback to the
Board and chancellor.
Dick encouraged the Senate to have at least two members present at each forum
to ask questions. He also told them to ask the same questions in the second meeting
if they feel the candidates have not fully answered them the first time. He explained
they may understand the question better after thinking about it for a few hours.
Pollock addressed the issue of the pay her chief of staff, Bobby Godina, is currently
receiving, after Senator-at-Large Zion Redie questioned her about Godina’s
purpose in AS. Pollock said he helps her write Senate reports and put together
projects, as well as heading up her board of commissioners and speaking to the
commissioners more than she does. Godina is receiving pay instead of the ASI
administrator, who has traditionally received it in the past.
The Senate also voted James Davis onto the Academic Senate with a vote of 12-6-1.
James, a fourth-year aerospace engineering major, beat out fourth-year Karan
Parik and fifth-year Lamya Al-kharosi. A fourth candidate, Victoria Brad, did
not show up to the meeting.
Davis said he had extensive experience with the Model U.N., as well as three
years experience working for Boeing, where he dealt with engineers.
“I let them know I have something to offer also,” he said.
The Senate also had seven applicants for the public defender position available.
Andrea Maric won the position with eight votes, after a runoff with Frank Oliver
who had seven votes.
For more detailed AS Senate coverage, visit the Online Forty-Niner at http://www.csulb.edu/~d49er.
|
