Photo by Joe Binoya

Maxson requests feedback from students

Cal State Long Beach President Maxson told the Associated Students Senate Wednesday that the search for a new vice president of University Relations and Development has narrowed to two finalists.

"This is the person who is in charge of fund-raising for the university and its public relations functions," Maxson said.

Maxson announced two "meet the candidates" events for all students today and Wednesday from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. in the gallery on the fifth floor of the University Library.

"Let me know what you think," he said. "Pick up a phone. Drop me a note. Leave a message."

A.S.I. Vice President Mike Barrett encouraged students to attend the meetings.

"It's an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to review the candidates and provide some input," he said.

In other business, Richard Lederer, the new investment counselor for A.S.I., explained to the Senate his strategy for student funds.

"The [A.S.I.] portfolio is not allowed to invest in stocks and risky securities," he said.

The money, amounting to more than $2 million of combined A.S.I. and University Student Union funds, will be invested in U.S. Treasury Securities, Lederer said.

Also at the meeting, A.S.I. President Carl Kemp said he attended a Cal State University Board of Trustees subcommittee meeting where plans were made to soften cuts in remedial education.

Kemp reaffirmed his opposition to phasing the program out at the rate proposed.

"My concern is that our CSU board is passing the buck to [kindergarten] through 12," Kemp said.

He said he felt that the main reason for changing the policy is money, albeit a small amount of money.

"They're playing a balancing act," he said. Kemp called for senators and students to let him know their opinions on the remedial education subject.

"I invite questions and concerns whether they are proremediation or anti-remediation," he said.

Stew Hayes, senator for the College of Education, likened the cuts in remedial education to reducing services for disabled students. He asked how many of the students taking such courses suffered from learning disabilities.

"This smacks of [proposition] 187," he said, "which was a similar attempt to break federal law."

Barrett announced that a resolution drafted by Carl Kemp condemning the Long Beach Police Department would not be considered by the Senate because facts presented in the message were unsubstantiated.

"At this time it would be inappropriate to accept the resolution," he said.

A.S.I. Administrator LaBelle Foote announced that the College of Business Administration had softened its drop policy, allowing students to drop classes during the first five weeks of the semester.

Foote said he felt that the policy was still too harsh.