CSULB students react to election

Even though the absentee ballots are still being counted, Tuesday's interim election results have sparked mixed responses from CSULB students.

Kyle Kersten, a 21-year-old business major, said that he is really disappointed that Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole lost the presidency to incumbent Bill Clinton.

"If the Republicans chose a younger and better speaker as their candidate for president, they could have won the presidential elections," Kersten said.

Although he believes the anti-affirmative action Proposition 209 will generate numerous legal actions, Kersten was glad that the controversial measure passed in yesterday's elections.

"From what I have read, this measure will end discrimination. That is why I voted for it, " Kersten continued.

Physical therapy major James Oliden, who voted against Prop. 209, was surprised that the measure won despite the great number of people who are against the measure.

"I thought that people would really vote against Prop. 209 , but I guess more people figured that it would affect us in a better way," Oliden said.

But Oliden still believes that Prop. 209 will create problems to many people, especially minorities in terms of education and job opportunities.

Criminal justice major Sean Nguyen believes that Prop. 209 will truly affect the status of education in the United States in the future.

Lena Blixt-Schmid, an archaeology major, feels that Prop. 209 will not make a difference. She believes that it will just continue the problems created by affirmative action.

"What I really don't think is that there should not be a class system that looks at your gender or where you came from," Blixt-Schmid said.

Mathematics major Jon Blakely said Prop. 209 will alter many employers' hiring qualifications and policies.

"I'm pleased that it passed, because affirmative action has really become a color of skin issue," Blakely said.

"Now employers will hire the best qualified person instead of an applicant's color," he said.

With regards to Proposition 215, the legalization of marijuana measure, which also passed in the recent elections, Blakely said the measure will give people a chance to use marijuana not just for medical reasons but illegal purposes as well.

"I don't do drugs and the legalization of marijuana in the medical realm will make people say they're sick, so they can use it," Blakely said.

"I think drugs should be legalized for medicinal purposes," said Blixt-Schmid, adding, "I'm glad Prop. 215 passed."