Monday, December 7, 1998

It's all in a semester's work

By Alison Young

On-Line Forty-Niner

It all began a week too soon. Literally.

Cal State Long Beach students were snatched from their summer adventures a week earlier than usual to find themselves back in the classroom once again.

For the first time in CSULB history, the dorms filled to capacity.

Luckily, the neighboring Brooks College provided dorm space to accommodate the overflow of students.

The death of Mathew Shepard shattered the image of a society that had transcended such blatant hate.

Students joined together for a candlelight vigil that began on campus and ended in downtown Long Beach.

Civil engineering professor Elena Zagustin had her day in court after years of legal action regarding her unkempt Huntington Harbour home.

The tenured professor was found guilty on 69 violations and could face up to six months in jail.

At the pinnacle of controversy for the fall 1998 semester was a disgruntled faculty and an unmoving California State University system unable to agree on the issue of faculty contracts.

A mediator was brought on after months of unsuccessful negotiations.

Mediation failed and teachers continue to work without an updated contract.

Now that it's over and students are packing up and getting out a week earlier than usual, starting the semester on Aug. 24 was not such a bad idea after all.