Senators discuss experiences
By Joseph Serna
Online Forty-Niner
Assistant City Editor
For an Associated Students Senate sometimes criticized and sometimes praised
by Cal State Long Beach students, senators took it upon themselves to reflect,
good and bad, on their experiences at their final meeting Wednesday.
“
I have to tell you all I really didn’t have a positive experience here.
I’m just going to be honest and tell you things that haven’t been
said before,” said Sen. Kenneth Cooper, College of the Arts. Cooper emphasized
he was not trying to drag the senators down or sound vindictive.
“
During the semester I received an [anonymous] e-mail from a senator that is
in this room, and I won’t publicly embarrass them the way they did to
me. But in the e-mail it was quoted, and pardon my language, ‘You goddamn
kike, drop out of Senate or I’ll make your life a living hell,’” Cooper
told the senators.
Though he later found the identity of the senator with the help of campus security,
he declined to reveal his or her name.
“It has been incredibly disappointing for me to witness the hostility,
the animosity, the pettiness that has been displayed not only towards each other,
fellow senators, but also to your execs,” Cooper continued.
After revealing recent hardship such as the death of a friend and diagnosis
of cancer in a family member, he told the senators, “I guess my point
is don’t presume to know what people are going through, don’t presume
to know what each person, each student goes through on a day-to-day basis…keep
those things in mind.”
Cooper by far had the harshest words for the Senate, and his negative experience
was a minority by most senators’ accounts.
“
Wow, the government really does try to do things for the students,” said
Sen. Elaine Chau, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. “I didn’t
see that when I wasn’t part of the organization.”
“
I’m honored to spend my last college meeting of my college career with
you guys,” said Sen.-at-large Brian Campos.
“
Don’t come in here with your alliance, it’s probably the biggest
mistake I made,” said Sen. Jessica Veira, College of Education. “This
has been a very difficult senate of the three I’ve seen, but it’s
brought a new dimension to ASI.”
Sen. Shelena McClinton, College of Liberal Arts, reminded the Senate “there
always has to be a fine line between friendship and business…I think
we learned that the hard way.”
Almost all the senators concurred that although they may not always agree,
the debates were helpful and appreciated.
After the senators finished their comments, usually saved for the end of senate
meetings, they resumed their business at hand.
Executive Director Richard Haller informed the Senate ASI is expecting a fiscal
surplus between $42,000 and $66,000. He also revealed that in the University
Student Union’s “Master Plan,” the Equity and Diversity Center,
the Interfaith Center and the Alumni Association office would all be relocated
away from the USU.
None of the offices will be relocated until facilities outside the USU are
acquired, Haller said.
The Senate was ultimately able to pass six motions before they were forced
to adjourn the meeting due to a lack of quorum. Often senators leave early
for other commitments, such as class. If there are less then 11 senators present,
they do not hold quorum and cannot pass legislation, as was the situation tonight.
The remaining business before the Senate will have to wait until next semester,
when 14 new senators will see the legislation for the first time.
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