KBEACH angers A.S.I.

Without a single word KBEACH radio has responded to its denied bid for independence.

The station, which broadcasts over the Internet, took down its Web site Sunday night in protest of the Associate Student Inc. Board of Control's decision not to grant the station's request for independent student organization status.

"The decision was made by the entire staff," said Candy Simkins, the station's music director. "I personally think the A.S.I. are not taking the time to listen to us and it seems like they don't trust us."

In place of the normal page is a statement that voices the station's opposition to the A.S.I.'s decision and urges students to voice their support for the station via e-mail. Students can also attend the A.S. Senate meeting Wednesday where the senate will approve the decision made by the Board of Control. However, the station is still broadcasting both over the Internet and in the Student Union.

This is not the station's first response to the vote.

The former general manager and driving force behind the station, Mike Soultanian decided to no longer be involved with the station as long as it is part of A.S.I., according to a letter he sent out last week. Soultanian said he was disturbed by the board's decision coming after only one week.

But, A.S.I. Senator Justin Ramirez disagrees.

"It didn't happen fast, we took three meetings to discuss it before we decided on it," Ramirez said. "Besides it was more like the beginning of a proposal and there really wasn't much to it."

Another reason KBEACH pulled the site was due to the appointing of Kane Diallo as the station's general manager. Though Diallo was in training to become the next general manager, the station wanted him to go through more training before officially appointing him, said Simkins. The board voted him in last Monday.

"You can't just have no one approved for the next year, we voted for the Editor in Chief for the Union already," said Sen. Micheal Braga, who sits on the board. "If they didn't feel Kane was ready, they should have suggested an intern G.M. until he was."

The station's response surprised few.

"I wasn't surprised by it at all," Rameriez said. "I was waiting for it. But I don't know if they legally can do that."

Richard Haller, A.S.I chief administrative officer is also aware of the legal ramifications of move. "The matter has been referred to our attorneys to see if they can legally do this because the site is registered under the A.S.I."

On April 24, when the board asked what the station would do if they were not allowed to become independent, the station said it would be disappointed but "they wouldn't throw a tantrum."

"I see this as them throwing a fit," Braga said. "It would be different if they had $40,000 in a bank account and said they wanted to buy the equipment and pay for rent. But they don't."

Simkins feels differently.

"I'm not angry, I'm more hurt than anything else," Simkins said.  "I think that our opinion matters. Response from students has been positive so far. It is nice to hear their support."