CSULB not yet implementing Prop. 209

Cal State Long Beach and other Cal State campuses have not yet reacted to the outcome of Proposition 209. With its passage in the November elections, the proposition attempts to eliminate affirmative action in education and employment sectors.

Implementing the controversial Proposition 209 into the California State University system prematurely, could be detrimental, John Tsuchida, professor of Asian-American studies said.

Cal State Long Beach is at a standstill along with the rest of the CSU campuses in response to the validation and implementation of the proposition.

Tsuchida said that CSU Chancellor Barry Munitz, has decided not to act on the proposition.

"The chancellor said we will not do anything until the courts decide if Proposition 209 can be implemented without breaking the law," Tsuchida said.

Tsuchida, who is also a lawyer, said he wholly agrees with Munitz.

"It is safer to wait and see what the federal court will decide to do about Proposition 209," he said. "Federal law overrules state law."

Opponents have taken the measure to federal court to block its implementation because they said it is unconstitutional, Tsuchida said.

Tsuchida added that it would be disastrous for the CSU system to put into effect Proposition 209, and six months later have the federal courts decide that it is unconstitutional.

According to Tsuchida, the CSU and University California systems have both handled this situation differently.

Unlike the CSU system, he explained that the UC system has already implemented Proposition 209 with its incoming freshmen class.