KBEACH may split from A.S.I.

KBEACH Radio is ready to sail on its own.

The student-run Internet radio station, led by former KBEACH General Manager Mike Soultanian, presented a proposal Monday to the Associated Students Inc. Board of Control to make the station a student organization independent from the A.S.I.

"That's what we started out as before we came to the A.S.I." Soultanian said. "We'd like to be just like any other student organization on campus, but we want to continue to work hand in hand with the A.S.I."

The main reason for the proposed break, according to Soultanian, is because the station, located on the first floor of University Student Union, wants to be "a platform for free speech" and in "an environment that promotes an independent voice." This is not possible because the board currently has the ability to appoint and dismiss the station's General Manager, Soultanian said.

"Other school stations that I've looked at are not part of the student government," Soultanian said. "They are either independent or part of a department."

The proposal comes as a shock for some on the board.

"I was surprised," said Justin Ramirez, senator for the College of Liberal Arts and the senate representative to KBEACH. "The ties have been beneficial for both sides thus far, and we've never been a hindrance to them."

Although there have not been any problems between the station and the board thus far, Soultanian said the move is necessary.

"It is more of an underlying fear, looking at their history with the Long Beach Union," Soultanian said. "We think of this as preventive maintenance."

Richard Haller, chief administrative officer of A.S.I. said Soultanian's fear is unjustified.

"It's a bit odd because quite the opposite has happened," Haller said at the board meeting. "We've allowed the Union to run a number of things that we haven't approved of. We've tried our best to ensure separation of government and media."

KBEACH began as a student organization six years ago as part of the Film and Electronic Arts Department. In 1998, the station became a department of A.S.I., which funded the station's broadcast needs and provided the space in the Student Union for the new station.

"We've spent well over $4,000 on equipment and we've also invested a lot as far as staff goes," Ramirez said.

However, the station currently does not receive funds from A.S.I., Soultanian said.

"Right now the station is self-sufficient," Soultanian said. "If we have to pay for rent and the equipment then we can work something out."

In spite of the proposal, the station does not wish to completely severe its ties with the A.S.I.

The station proposed that the A.S.I. let them keep the equipment and facility because there are a number of ways the station can still serve the organization and the Student Union.

Among the suggestions were broadcasting A.S.I. Senate meetings, hosting on-air debates with candidates during student elections and promoting events held in the Student Union.

If A.S.I. decides not to grant KBEACH's request, the station will continue with the current arrangement without argument, said the station's Marketing and Sales Director Lynn Wilson.

"We would be disappointed but we want to keep a good relationship with the A.S.I. so we wouldn't throw a tantrum," Wilson said.