By David Ferdig

Cal State Long Beach Keeps name

In a sharp turnaround from a previous vote the Associated Student Senate pulled the plug Wednesday on a proposal to change the name of Cal State Long Beach.

As the sun set on a special outdoor meeting the panel turned against the name change in a decisive 13-1 vote with four abstentions.

Only Sen.-at-large Naomi Rodriguez, the resolution's author, voted in favor. "I wish this had gone to referendum," she said. "I wanted a better feeling of what the students want."

She cited a Long Beach Press-Telegram poll that showed strong support for changing the school's name to Long Beach State University.

The Senate had strongly supported the resolution in a preliminary vote on Oct. 4, but after negative reaction from several college councils and students the panel's enthusiasm cooled.

The final vote was postponed repeatedly. A resolution to put the issue up to students in a Spring election was voted down by Senators.

A.S. President Carl Kemp, the proposal's instigator and primary supporter, backed away from the issue Oct. 25 when he told the panel not to hang up on the issue of the name change.

Kemp, who was absent from Wednesday's meeting, said there were more important issues for the Senate to concentrate on, like cuts in student aid, remedial education and affirmative action. "I'm not here for one issue," he said.

Results of informal polls were read at meetings. Students lined up to voice their opinions

Political science major John Edmond was one of many who returned for the final vote Wednesday. "I'd like to invite you to look at the backs of your chairs and at the trash cans," he told the Senators. "It says CSULB, not LBSU."

Brian Pracht, marketing assistant for the athletic department, spoke in favor of the name change. "The most visible aspect of [the school] is athletics," he said. "We've done the research and Long Beach State is more marketable than Cal State Long Beach."

The athletic department has used their own moniker for several years. Pracht also cited the Press-Telegram, but it was too little too late.

In other business a resolution drafted by Carl Kemp condemning the actions of Long Beach Police on Oct. 27 was presented to the Senate for consideration. The statement calls for zero tolerance for police brutality, an immediate investigation and student involvement.

Long Beach Police have been accused by students of brutality following a disturbance at an Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority dance in the University Student Union.

Scott Honn, Senator for the College of Health and Human Services, announced that a subcommittee of the Academic Senate had voted down a plan to add plusses and minuses to student's grades.

He thanked Senators and students who appeared at the meeting to oppose the proposal and said it made a difference.

San Francisco State University A.S. President Kenyan Carter announced to the Senate that the CSU Board of Trustees approved a 10 percent fee increase for students if the state does not augment the CSU budget.

In the same Trustees meeting, Carter said, pay raises for Chancellor Barry Munitz and CSU Presidents were approved.

With Federal Express planes roaring overhead A.S. Vice President Mike Barrett praised the outdoor meeting and announced that another will be held in the Spring.