In search of some recognition

Governments should study the planning strategies of Cal State Long Beach organizers. Whether the event is a lecture, a concert or something as simple as getting a new student identification card, things - unlike government-planned events - move smoothly and as quickly as possible.

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Carrie Porche Jones

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The logistics of planning an event that will affect thousands of students without a snag and lines of irritated people ready to throw things has to be mind boggling. Yet the faceless people behind these things do it at CSULB. I am constantly amazed at how easy things go.

Today between classes, I ran over to the University Student Union to get my new student identification card, expecting a long line and a long wait. Ten minutes is what I was told when I walked in. Thirteen minutes later, I was holding my card in my hand.

That gave me enough time to run over to the Student Health Center to get a form. I was in and out of there quickly because the people helping me knew what they were doing and did not have to waste precious time running in circles.

When things run smoothly, no one notices or considers the work involved. Neither did I until I covered a banquet last spring that recognized initiates of an honor society. There were 700 people at the dinner and everyone was served before the food became cold and tasteless. Just think of the logistics of planning and executing an event like that.

The people who work behind the scenes, whether in the Bookstore, planning Kaleidoscope, award dinners or concerts, deserve our recognition and kudos for the work they put into making things go smoothly for us.

Carrie Porche Jones is a journalism major at CSULB.