A run-off vote between Avis Atkins and Christopher Chavez began Tuesday and ended Thursday night in order to elect the next Cal State Long Beach Associated Students Inc. president, since none of the four candidates received a required 50-percent-plus student majority vote in last week’s election.
Atkins received 38 percent of the votes and Chavez 34 percent. A total of 3,653 students — or 10.9 percent of the student population — voted in the election.
The results were announced on April 17.
This year’s online election voter turnout decreased by about 700 voters from last year’s. The election did provide paper provisional ballots, with less than 10 students using them.
Atkins and Chavez were followed by presidential candidates Raul Preciado with 18 percent of the votes, and Ricardo Linares with 10 percent.
“I was very surprised, but I knew there would be a run-off since there were four amazing candidates,” Atkins said. She said she knew it would be hard to get a majority in the initial vote.
Run-off elections ended Thursday night and the final results will be announced Friday at the Southwest Terrace at noon.
This week, Atkins and Chavez will be seen campaigning once again.
“I think the choice is clear,” Chavez said. “I think I’m the best candidate for the job … I think right now I have a winning strategy.”
Atkins said she will “just be out there.”
Omar Gonzalez, the next ASI vice president, received 59 percent of the votes in his category. Vice presidential candidates Matt Barnett and Zo Farooqui picked up 23 percent and 18 percent of the votes, respectively.
There will also be run-off elections for the treasurer position.
Marilei Denila received 48 percent of the votes with candidate James Kuang behind her at 28 percent. Piero Sandoval was close behind Kuang with 24 percent of the votes.
Five out of the six senator-at-large positions were filled for next year.
Everett Bryan, who ran unopposed, will fill the media board position.
See charts for senator-at-large results, University Student Union Board of Trustees results and senate results for each college.
Resolution Results
Students passed only the first amendment on the ballot, which allows any student majoring in the College of Education to be elected as a senator of that college instead of only allowing students in the teaching credential program to run. It passed by 72 percent.
The second amendment was voted down. It did gain a majority of the vote at 53 percent, but a 2/3 vote is required for an amendment to be passed. This amendment would have granted the ASI Senate the power to approve — with a 2/3 vote — any grammatical and syntactical errors, the updating of titles or positions, and any other changes necessary to ensure ASI compliance with state and university regulations. Currently changes are made by a 2/3 vote from the student body in general elections, which will remain as the required process.
The last amendment also failed to pass, but again mustered a majority of the vote at 55 percent. This amendment would have created “instant run-off voting” where students rank the candidates and the candidate with the majority of votes would win rather than conducting additional run-off elections.
This article was last updated at 8:35 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2009.
They saw our vote and ignored it, now let them see our faces and hear our voices “NO MEANS NO”
No Means No Rally this Thursday, April 23rd from 11:30 – 12:30pm at the Speakers Platform (grassy area in front of the Bookstore).
To: Your Name (First Response) and CSULB Realist (Second Response)To: Your NameThere still needs to be a lot of work done to improve shared governance on campus, but I stand by my statement that ASI can, have, and will continually advocate for students at all levels. We have student reps at many different councils, committees, and boards on campus that advocate for the students position on a wide-range of issues that affect the students. We have students who are part of the Lobby Corps that lobby to legislatures regarding issues that affect students. And ASI is continually doing what we can to improve shared governance on and off campus.As for your statement about the Beach Legacy Referendum, ASI is composed of individual students with their own opinions and perspectives. Some students are in favor of the BLR while others may not. We can’t force students in ASI to do one thing over the other. As for your question about how ASI will honor your will –it is being honored. Some students in ASI are in favor of the BLR while others are not and are speaking up for students. And cowards? Please don’t insult us. First of all Erin and Chris were speaking for students at the SFAC meeting earlier this month. They put themselves out there against faculty and administrators during the SFAC meeting. Not to mention the recent Academic Senate meeting when Erin clearly spoke up for students in regards to GWAR. If you have any more questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] CSULB Realist:To easily address your points, I’ve written my response in bullet form. – “Brian Troutner chimed in that SFAC members ‘had chosen’ not to speak; not that they were barred from commenting. (I was told otherwise, so I’ll definitely check that out.)- “The seven students on the SFAC should have insisted on a transparent vote.” (I agree, but like I’ve mentioned before, students have their own opinions and convictions and should be able to carry them out. If I was on the SFAC, I would have definitely wanted a transparent vote. I mean even with a blind vote, you could have determined who voted for or against the issue at hand.)- “They maintained the current status quo and kept their mouths shut — AGAIN!” (I’m sure that you’ve noticed that Erin clearly voiced her opinion in favor of the students.)- “You did absolutely NOTHING to make sure ‘everything was kosher’ Nobody did, and now you’ve each helped create a disillusioned and disenfranchised student body, with movements of irate students feeling violated and threatened by ASI and administration. (What I did was ask questions to find out if everything that was going on with the process of the BLR was in line with policy. What I mean by that is that I should have done more by actually going to the SFAC meeting and spoken up during public comment about my issues with the whole BLR process (even when I wasn’t an actual member of the SFAC) and when I heard about the actions of the supporters of the BLR, I should have created a small coalition to do what we can to ensure that everything was kosher with the BLR process.)- “When ASI members, all senators included, were asked their positions on BLR, their choice to not voice a stance was the clearest signal of all that they were acting as mere puppets afraid of administration.” (I was never asked my position on the BLR and if I was asked, I would have clearly indicated that even though I know that the BLR could do great things for the university, I know that many students would struggle financially to the possible fee increase. It was a good idea, but it’s just not the best time to increase the student fee. I was against the BLR given the fact that the student and wellness center fee will be initiated at the same year that the BLR would have been initiated plus the possible fee increase that could be imposed on students by the CSU Board of Trustees.)- If “some supported it while some were opposed to it” they each are guilty of malfeasance of office by not announcing their positions. They instead contributed to the secrecy and manipulation of this farce and that’s NOT why we elected them. (I wasn’t actually elected, but you’re right, I should have announced my position openly. I could have sent an e-mail to everyone I know at CSULB with my position, I could have posted my position on Facebook, I could have gone to organizations to voice my opinion, and I could have probably even gone to the Daily 49er and the Union to state my opinion. And trust me, given another chance, I would have definitely done things differently.)- The only one I truly see as immune to those adjectives is Erin Swetland. (Thank you for recognizing this and I completely agree.)I thank you for your opinions. If you need clarification with any of my responses, please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]. I’m attached to my e-mail during the weekend so if you send me something later this afternoon, you’ll probably get a response by later this…
P.S. I encourage you all to call, come by office hours, or email me to set up an appointment….I would love to help you with your concerns 🙂 have a great and productive Sunday.
Sorry you felt that way at my store. I do the most I can for students. I give my all for students. And you will see that through my actions.
wow. whoever said that avis needed to run with chris is crazy. do you forget avis is up? also what is chris proposing to do for students? a direct lending program that the university is already working on? what else in his platform is of any substance….oh yea he did talk about the mardi gras party…right. at least avis is trying to get new ideas on the table. what ideas does chris have…none!
Whoever said avis needs to run with chris is an crazy. are you forgetting that she is ahead of him? there must be some good that she is doing to get students to stand behind her. let’s think, what is substantial about chris’s platform. what is he promising students
Wow, 2 long comments addressed to me. I’m going to address them in full in a little while, but in the meantime, I just want to clarify something, when I said “higher ups” I mean the “higher ups” in the CSULB Administration.
Anybody who gets involved with ASI is quickly starstruck by having their importance puffed up by administrators, and consequentially become nothing more than administrative bureaucrats themselves. Except for Erin Swetland during the SFAC vote, not one ASI member since I’ve been here has broken the mold of folding to management’s desires. NOT ONE!!!!! These are the same people that will be facing you across the counter at the DMV or Best Buy (yes, horrible experiences with their clerk-like customer service too, Avis) after they graduate. P.S. I’m not the one who tossed a TV at you, but I’ve felt that way numerous times at your store.
Then perhaps the SOAR program should not use freshmen as advisors. I understand the importance of public relations in promoting the image of a college to potential students, but students attending SOAR are already committed; they don’t need to be enticed to attend. The recruiters that visited my community college in 2005 gave us flowery promotion of the Student Wellness Center being built. What they forgot to tell us was that the referendum hadn’t been conducted yet. When I got to CSULB, the referendum was in full promotional swing, even though the recruiters told us it was a done deal. That misinformation showed me that student voices didn’t really matter. Administration had already all but guaranteed the fee passage long before the student referendum was on an actual ballot. In essence, they had already planned to spend our money BEFORE asking students their opinion, except for those on ASI; the same as the BLR fiasco. You CANNOT convince current students that their voices matter when the ASI is in bed with administration–that our voices are not really heard. ASI, as a group that IS part of the state corporate mindset, has no sense of priorities when it comes to student needs and concerns. Claiming non-compliance with administrative desires about the science building proves such willingness to be manipulated and ‘approved’ by administration over the will of your constituents. Administration had other alternatives to advancing this project, including tapping into the Foundation for loan funding, but you allowed US to foot the bill (in excess I might add; they needed $1.5 million–you advocated $2 million) This shows me you are irresponsible with student money when administration applies sophisticated pressures.
I was a freshman when my advisor gave me incorrect information. I was not familiar with the G.E. plan until my second semester in college….
Dear Avis, your comment that your advisor “gave me incorrect information” and you didn’t question it signals how I feel you will react when CSULB administrators give you incorrect information. You’re making me feel less confident with each posting.
Avis, it wasn’t the “other cola senator” that dismissed me that day!!!! The one who dismissed me and made it seem like her class time was waaay more important than mine is the one commenting/campaigning for ASI president. You cut bait and ran when I had issues that were important to me and others to address. That bullet has already left the pistol, dear. I’ve seen the cut of your cloth as far as standing up for my needs, and I wasn’t even considered worthy of being in your picture. The rest of your comments are no more than simple campaign rhetoric to me. That might be something you’d like to consider in the future and I’m sure I wasn’t your only dismissal.
To: Blah blah and others
Your comments are what I want to get out of students. Your discontent with ASI is what needs to be heard by those participating in it. I appreciate all of your comments. Let me address your concerns. The reason why I used I statements is because someone said I have done nothing for students so I had to explain what I have done. Self-serving….I have never been self serving in my life.
I am not sure if you heard me speak about SOAR but as an advisor I understand that some students think it is a complete waste of time. My advisor even gave me incorrect information, but they are working to improve it. I didn’t ask if University 100 was a bad class, I said that ASI can use it to educate students about the organization. Whether you use the ASI services or not, most students have to pay the fee so why not make ASI more useful and better for students?
I would love to use a discussion board like this to get student opinions…oh wait we have one on beachboard and very few students use it. Perhaps town meetings will be more functional in getting student opinions. If you still want to meet with you other cola senator, call me and we can set up a time to meet. I also have office hours Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 – 11am in the government office.
As far as advocating goes, we need to unite with all of the CSUs. We have had a Fax Rally, Protested at the chancellor’s office, and have done a number of other things but there can be more done. I think uniting with the other CSUs will give us a louder and stronger voice, especially if we do a rally on the same day. All students are feeling the effects of the current economic situation that we are in, but that doesn’t mean we can’t press the deans to open more sections. The only problem is getting teachers to teach them.
I know that most of you posting already have given up on ASI or think it’s a bunch of mumbo jumbo. I am asking you to change that attitude, keep on sharing your thoughts and concerns, and become apart of ASI so you can help to change the way it functions and serves students.
Continue asking the challenging questions…I will continue to provide the challenging answers
What will assuredly piss me off is to hear either candidate make promises based entirely on these comments. As much as I would love to know that they are suddenly dedicated to these issues as their platforms. It would show either to be a liar to promote causes they haven’t voiced before. Do NOT pacify me to get my vote on Tuesday by saying what you think I want to hear. Be REAL. Do NOT insult my intelligence or the intelligence of my fellow students. I voted “No” on the athletics referendum and it was substantially rejected by the majority vote. Address how you are going to respect our voice on that important issue or SHUT UP!!!!!!! I won’t vote for the wimp that avoids the most important issue of the year.
“CSULB realist” and other dissenters have nailed the perception of ASI, the SFAC, and administration precisely. The only thing swaying my vote is that Chris Chavez FINALLY made a stand on BLR. Avis Atkins’ stance on the BLR was clearly ‘iffy’ at best, even after the results were announced. It didn’t outwardly appeal to me as a take-charge kind of position, but rather one that would follow the prevailing wind. That isn’t ‘change’. It only indicates more of the same-old, same-old. It’s not difficult to perceive a backward step with either candidate falling in step with the hegemony of administrators. This has turned into a race for the ‘lesser of two evils’ with Chris emerging as the better option because of past activities. He should have been more vocal a lot sooner about the processes of the SFAC, but better late than sorry offered some salvation. At least he has shown the propensity not to fear diving into controversy, like his Campus Coalition Against Hate speech rejecting Jim Gilchrist.
No matter how many objections she insists on delivering, I believe in my soul that Avis leaned more toward passing the referendum for a new athletics fee than against it (notably because she’s an academic mentor for athletics, with obvious surface conflicts of interest in opposing BLR)
ASI as a body should have followed President Erin Swetland’s courageous lead to earn my respect and support, as well as that from many other students. It’s sad for The Beach that we are losing such a dedicated and important student leader. She was refreshing compared to her predecessor because she showed that somebody on ASI was more than mere lip service and was unafraid to speak for students. I foresee our campus returning to the same sleepy hollow type atmosphere it was prior to her tenure. We were so close to overcoming our in-and-out commuter campus image for a minute. Based almost solely on his history of student activist participation, I will vote for Chavez. We might have been closer to maintaining the hallmark that Erin set if Avis would have run as Chris’s running mate. That could have been a good complementary ticket because Matt Barnett will unconscionably become another administrative tool. No matter who wins president, I foretell Barnett’s resistance as a bureaucrat will undermine and subvert the student voice. Unfortunately, that cat’s already out of the bag.
Hey Daily Forty-Noner, how is a self-promotional link to a biography of “Joanne Tucker” relevant to this story? You guys are sinking to new lows. I’ve seen the same link in other stories. I don’t get it.
In a community with so many challenges and hardships, Avis, we keep getting PR spin about how ASI makes the grass greener and flowers prettier. The ASI newsletter is nothing more than spin. ASI never truly does what candidates promise. SOAR gave me a lot of misinformation and PR spin. University 100 was, and I suspect still is, a complete waste of time; a totally worthless class that obviously only has the intent to be a hindrance to many students. Everything Univ 100 paints is that the university should be pressuring K-14 instead of those who’ve already met CSULB admissions criteria. There are a lot of reasons the average student doesn’t want to be involved with student government, and your above campaign spiel is emblematic of those reasons. Practically every sentence is laced with “I”. I did this, and I learned that, and I, I, I…. Like the rest in this year’s group of ASI candidates, you’re extremely self-promotional and self-serving. Once you say “I will” for your oath of office, “You won’t” because it’s not about “US” is it? Even in this platform, you’re merely campaigning. Once the election is over, your comments will certainly never again appear in these comment sections. Unless you’ve noticed, this is a great platform for ASI to communicate and learn of students’ concerns. This is the type of communication arena ASI should strive to create, rather than relying on students taking their disappearing free time to attend ASI and Senate meetings. I tried to use the comment period at a Senate meeting. It was a 10 minute time limit and one student spoke the entire 10 minutes. I was a half hour late for class and still didn’t get to voice my concerns. If “I AM ASI” why am “I” treated like afterbirth at ASI and Senate meetings and told “You Are NOT ASI”? When I approached my senator after the meeting I was brushed off because she, ahem COLA senator, was late for class. Many other students have complained similarly about their senators. Once the circus parade of the election is done, students will be forced to trudge through the elephant dung. “We” are only important when “You” want something from us. Once you get it, bye bye fools. That’s only one reason students are apathetic and complacent about student government.
I can’t get all of the classes I need. I don’t look forward to sitting in overcrowded classes, but I will. My textbooks aren’t any cheaper. My graduation date has been pushed farther away because of fewer class offerings. My tuition WILL go up in fall according to Chancellor Reed at Cabrillo High School the other day, I will have to pay for a new Wellness Center I won’t be able to use because I don’t live in the area and will now have to work too many hours to spend more time on campus. My little sister will have to spend an extra year or two in a community college because of all the new fees and tuition increases. Those are just a few obstacles I’m facing. Where is ASI? When will they start being my advocate?
Sorry again I want to educate, inspire, and change…
YES! Thank you so much for your two questions:
I want to first do more ASI Outreach at SOAR. I know that the execs go to the first large lecture meeting with the SOAR students around 9am and give their little overview about ASI but I want to do more. Instead of just going there in the morning, I want to have an ASI info table out during the SOAR lunch. I would be there at least twice a week for that hour recruiting and informing people about ASI. All of the execs are in office from June 1st to June 1st, so having an info table would be really easy to do. ALL students are mandated to go to SOAR just like ALL students are mandated to pay the ASI fee (unless it’s waived) so why are we not out there at SOAR to recruit and inform?
I also want to make sure that ASI has a presence in University 100 classes. I know that the university did a huge revision of University 100 this year, my close friend sat on the committee. I want ASI to be a component of University 100 so that freshmen understand that we are another resource that they can go to if they have an issue or any concerns.
I want to revamp the ASI website so that it is more user friendly. In my platform I stated that I wanted to put applications for AS positions online so that students can view all of the open positions, their descriptions and benefits, and apply from the convince of their homes. I believe just achieving that will a number of new applicants and volunteers. I sat in the Board of Trustees this year as well and I was a little frustrated that we received only 5 applications for a position on the board….5 out of 38,000. I made sure to announce the opening AS position at club meetings but I guess that wasn’t enough.
I would also love to make announcements of programs, positions, and services that ASI offers at club meetings. I spoke with a number of people in different student organizations and they said they would like to have the ASI executives come to their club meetings not only to campaign, but to give information about what’s going on in ASI.
I also want to improve the newsletter. Erin definitely is laying a great foundation but there can be more done with it. There should always be a calendar on the newsletter, there should always be in-depth articles about the commissions and what they are doing, and there should always be in-depth articles about what the senate is doing. I also want to feature a student organization in every issue of the Beachfront because I want to showcase orgs that are doing an amazing job. I feel that the newsletter can bring a lot of participation to ASI or give a lot of information to students about ASI. This is a huge opportunity for us.
As far as the power of ASI, I don’t want to give you the textbook definition. I want to explain the power of ASI from my own experience with this corporation. I became a commissioner in my sophomore year. As a commissioner I received my own business cards, I was in charge of my own budget, and I got to hold bi-weekly meetings where I was in charge of delegating jobs to my volunteers. I learned how to network, I learned how to time manage, and I learned how to supervise and run a program. I tell you, it was hard to organize the Week of Welcome fairs for the fall and Spring semesters. It was hard to book the In-n-Out truck months in advance. BUT it was from that year long experience that I learned so much. Before the age of 16 I was never given such an amazing opportunity. I think that all students can share that same experience.
Hundreds of business majors talk about how they want to find an internship…..INTERN with ASI. You are working for a 9 million dollar non-profit organization come and share your experience and ideas. Besides all the committees, shared governance and other reasons alike, I think that the power of ASI comes from the people who are involved in it. ASI has a huge opportunity in the way we market. WE HAVE A PR COMMISSIONER. Let’s get people in positions who actually have a passion and a drive for what they do. More of our programs would be known, there would be more attendance, and students would start to see the true power of ASI like I did.
Again I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to answer those two questions. I assure you I am not administration’s puppet. I am coming to ASI with fresh new ideas and I really have a heart to serve students. I can take criticism as well, that’s why I keep on responding. But I will continue to take the questions and answer then in hopes that I can education, inspire, and change.
Thank you for your questions? Do you have more? Can we meet for water to chat (I’m a little broke from campaigning or else I would buy you coffee)
My comment is for
Llaura
Sun Apr 19 2009 06:20
To Your Name,
I know that you asked Avis, but I thought that I should provide my 2 cents. If you are part of an organization, you might have seen a few candidates in your meeting explaining their platform. I think that one of the ways that ASI could do more outreach to students is by actually going to organization meetings and discussing news and issues that students need to be aware of –basically, use the same tactics used by candidates at organization meetings during elections. As for your question about the power behind ASI, well, ASI can do a lot. ASI can program events, lobby to legislatures, create new programs, advocate for students in all levels of shared governance (whether or not its in a council, committee, or the Academic Senate), and a lot more! 🙂
Those are almost all of the things that were promised us. “ASI can … advocate for students in all levels of shared governance (whether or not its in a council, committee, or the Academic Senate), and a lot more! 🙂
Hello, can anybody else say Beach Legacy Referendum? Weren’t all of those duties clearly defined as part of the job when they took office last year? The problem with the SFAC is that there are too many conflicts of interest. ASI gets money, administration gets money, the Academic Senate gets money… The only ones who aren’t getting money from pushing this new fee are the students who need it most. This committee, in collusion with ASI and administration, completely disregarded future students and their families during the second Great Depression. ASI should be leading the charge to protest administration because of how Doug Robinson Be-ach slapped Erin Swetland and Chris Chavez. He’s the one that showed ASI is NOTHING in the eyes of the university president and vice president. He indicated that students are insignificant an their voices are unimportant in the grand scheme of this university administration. We said “NO” in record numbers, and Robinson said “So WHAT” with a meager minority vote, which he controlled with a heavy hand. ASI clearly is not MY voice. Otherwise, they would respect mine and nearly 4,000 other voices and reject any new athletics fee. “WE” have spoken. Now where is ASI to honor our will??? As is typical, they are running for the bleachers of the new soccer stadium. Cowards all!!!!
To Llaura Garcia—The Daily 49er should publish your comments in full on the front page and blast them across this university. “Honestly, I don’t know why SFAC did what they did.” They should publish the entire comments. Students probably didn’t need confirmation that Doug Robinson (chair of the SFAC) and other administrators had their fingerprints all over this referendum. At the ASI’s introduction of candidates, the question was asked what they would do to ensure future transparency. The reporter was abruptly cut off by the black woman in the photo above (on the left) as soon as ‘BLR’ was mentioned, and Brian Troutner chimed in that SFAC members ‘had chosen’ not to speak; not that they were barred from commenting.
“I think that a lot of us were hoping that the higher ups in the university would speak up?” When we elect representatives it’s not because we are “hoping” ASI will be our voice, it’s because we are “expecting” them to hold the higher ups accountable-to pressure them to “speak up”.
The seven students on the SFAC should have insisted on a transparent vote, rather than leaving Erin and Chris hanging in the lurch for objecting. They could have done this by refusing to participate in the blind vote and telling the 49er reporters that were present their reasons. Students would have respected ASI — and I am talking about about ASI because all of those students on SFAC are ASI — them and the current crop of candidates better because it would have shown they were being true to their elected mission; being the student voice.
“There may have been ethical concerns…” How absurd to even allude “may have” when you yourself listed a fraction of the actual ethical violations. Those ‘genuine’ concerns were waved off as ‘frivolous’ by both Robinson and Troutner. Since when is ANY concern forwarded by even one student about the process ‘frivolous’? Especially by an elected student rep? The entire ASI should have come public with an outcry over such demeaning comments by an administrator and a student electee, but they maintained the current status quo and kept their mouths shut — AGAIN!!!!
“I should have done more to ensure that everything was kosher with the BLR processes” The way I see anything at all would have been “more” You did absolutely NOTHING to make sure ‘everything was kosher’ Nobody did, and now you’ve each helped create a disillusioned and disenfranchised student body, with movements of irate students feeling violated and threatened by ASI and administration.
When ASI members, all senators included, were asked their positions on BLR, their choice to not to voice a stance was the clearest signal of all that they were acting as mere puppets afraid of administration. They knew as early as November that this was going to be an issue and none studied it enough to be able to make an informed decision. THAT, my friend, is not representation of the constituents. They simply swallowed the PR presentations and took it for granted that it didn’t warrant their investigation and representation of the student will. If “some supported it while some were opposed to it” they each are guilty of malfeasance of office by not announcing their positions. They instead contributed to the secrecy and manipulation of this farce and that’s NOT why we elected them.
Among the most vile of breaches of trust were that SFAC DID NOT let students know this was merely a survey and that their votes didn’t count. They let athletics group run amok with the promotion, even running through dorm pounding on doors “Get up and Vote yes on BLR” the voting station in the Pyramid was a clear lapse of ethics, ad infinitum. What is most offensive? They allowed this uproar to exist and cause major disruptions during mid-terms, which showed a lack of concern over the university’s primary objective–academic success. ASI should have insisted the referendum be included in ASI elections and forced candidates to let their positions known.
Irresponsible, reckless, cowardly, disrespectful and ugly are a few adjectives I offer to the current ASI and the bulk of the SFAC — again, one in the same — for handling important issues like the BLR. The only one I truly see as immune to those adjectives is Erin Swetland. The rest of the ones that allowed the secrecy and manipulation to prevail can’t get off of ASI quick enough for me and many other students.
So here we are facing another election; the results last week should have sent a clear message. More students voted “NO” to the athletics fee than participated in this year’s entire ASI election. More students participated in last year’s election because ASI has now returned us to apathy; knowing that ASI sides with administration’s agenda over the student will. You are the sad lot that had the chance to finally shrug off the ‘commuter campus’ image and failed miserably by showing that students are inconsequential and have no voice at CSULB.
To Your Name,
I know that you asked Avis, but I thought that I should provide my 2 cents. If you are part of an organization, you might have seen a few candidates in your meeting explaining their platform. I think that one of the ways that ASI could do more outreach to students is by actually going to organization meetings and discussing news and issues that students need to be aware of –basically, use the same tactics used by candidates at organization meetings during elections. As for your question about the power behind ASI, well, ASI can do a lot. ASI can program events, lobby to legislatures, create new programs, advocate for students in all levels of shared governance (whether or not its in a council, committee, or the Academic Senate), and a lot more! 🙂
To ‘Your Name’
Honestly, I don’t know why SFAC did what they did. They were suppose to be the impartial body in charge of the BLR Referendum and unfortunately, didn’t live up to the expectations. Many students voiced their opinion against the obvious bias with the ballot (pictures that can easily show ‘favoritism’ towards the BLR), the heavy promotion ads on the Daily 49er, and the very controversial unofficial polling place at the Pyramid. I know for a fact that students within the Student Fee Advisory Committee wanted a fair process. But I believe that the hands of the students were tied at that time. I think that a lot of us were hoping that the higher ups in the university would speak up, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. There may have been ethical concerns with what happened in regards to the BLR, but it would seem that all actions were “appropriate.” While the students on the Student Fee Advisory Committee may have had their hands tied due to the nature of their position in the committee, mine wasn’t. As Sec. for Academic Affairs , I should have done more to ensure that everything was kosher with the BLR processes. As for your comment about “The SFAC, ASI, and administrator were pushing this agenda.” I don’t know about SFAC or the administrators, but I do know that ASI, as an organization weren’t for or against the BLR. Individual students in ASI were on both sides of the BLR –some supported it while some were opposed to it.
“I want to do more outreach.”
“I want more students to not know what the ASI acronym stands for but the power behind it”
Avis,
In what specific ways will you do more outreach?
And what power is there behind ASI?
p.s. It’s supposed to say “I pondered even running”
I love all of the feedback, but I would love if more students would voice their concerns to the people who are supposed to be representing them. I sit in a senate position for an entire year. Either myself or the other senator for liberal arts is always in attendance at the college council meetings, and yet no one voices their opinions or concerns when asked.
The only way I knew that students really had a problem with academic advising was when I heard the majority of students complaining about it at the TEAMWORK retreat. I made it my goal at the beginning of the year to focus my efforts on the problem. I followed through with my plan, even got a student to come to the SENATE meeting to voice his opinions.
But I go to other student group meetings and I am cornered by students asking me WHY THIS? WHY THAT? They bring up problems that I have never heard before. I love when that dialogue takes place because it is then that I really get to hear student concerns. I also get a chance to brainstorm ideas on how to solve them as well.
But for the people who are responding on this comment thread I thank you. It’s just that I haven’t seen this many comments on the ASI beachboard link or this many people coming to the ASI office to speak to me. I welcome all concerns. I did my best as Senator this year and as commissioner in ASI.
I apologize, the rec fee is definitely $110. However, I was not trying to front the bill for the science building on the students. It’s just that when I spoke to some students, they said they rather pay a fee to help with the construction of the science building then pay athletics to get new three new turf fields.
Also, to the person who doesn’t even vote, I think that is just the thing that I needed to hear. I hear all the time that students are indifferent about ASI and that they really don’t think that the corporation is going to change no matter who is on top. I will tell you a secret, I felt that same exact way. I couldn’t understand why this much was being spent on blackberries, or this much was being spent on the AS retreat, while the Associated Engineering Student Body has to cut programs. I also thought that the amount of bureaucracy in ASI was too much to overcome. I pondering even running….
But it was students, my own peers that said I may be the one to change it. I may be the one to change people’s attitudes toward ASI. I want to do more outreach. I want more students to not know what the ASI acronym stands for but the power behind it. I want students to know the names of their Senators and what we can do to help them succeed. I want regular students to be interested in ASI and to be able to apply for a position without having to hear about it from a friend of a friend. You have no idea how many times I have been frustrated with this organization, but I choose to be active in it so I can affect positive change.
Take a look at the platforms please! I am already working on mine. I am already affecting change. I am not even president and on April 29th the College of Engineering is hosting the first Inter-Collegiate (University) Council meeting. I never said that the food would be free, but I said it would be free to rent a room in the University Student Union. I spoke with Alexander King and he said that he would look into letting student orgs have 24 hour access to their offices. I wrote a resolution for a central location for academic advising for the students in the College of Liberal Arts and it was passed in the senate. Now I am working toward implementing the resolution.
Again, I would love to have a conversation with each and every one of you. I don’t care if you support me or not because I will still support you. All I want is to hear your concerns and figure out ways to fix them. I work at Customer Service at Best Buy, and everyday I am hearing complaints, comments and concerns from customers. I even had a 32″ television thrown at me once but I love fixing situations. I love advocating for students.
So I am putting myself out here asking for your suggestions and comments like I always have. If you want to continue to post things I can respond to them, or if you would like to call me we can have a conversation. Elected as your ASI President or not, I will do my best to solve them.
Thank you all for your comments.
Dear Avis, in your public proposal for a council of all the college councils you said the only cost would be to provide free food. I assume you were being flippant to get a few chuckles or something. My question is, where does this ‘free food’ come from and where do I get some. I’m barely scraping by as it is and if the athletics funds are instituted, I’m probably going to have to drop out in fall. Elected student leaders should represent their constituents, which I am. But not one of you spoke on my behalf, not even you. I agree with most of the comments that Erin Swetland has done a terrific job and I was hoping somebody as equally concerned would emerge for next year. I don’t see it happening. I DO see more administrative puppets campaigning though. Our biggest problem is that there is no method for recalling elected students who lose sight of their promise to advocate for students immediately after taking the oath of office, like Brian Troutner.
Avis, the Wellness Center fee is $110 per semester. In order for the university to backfill the $1.5 million shortage of funds for the science building project, CSULB is dipping into $2 million of student money? All the while, ASI is whining about lack of money for student orgs and other projects. In your statements about BLR, you said you were for it to support athletics, but were also concerned about the impact on student finances. That was a mixed message about something that students overwhelmingly were against. That also was the overall attitude by every other member of ASI and the Senate during the BLR; to keep your mouths shut and your heads down. I don’t have faith in any of you as leaders as a result. None of you told the student body it was ONLY a survey. I refuse to vote because I refuse to take part in voting for a bunch of ostriches that stick their heads in the sand, rather than being student leaders, representing current and future students. I certainly wouldn’t vote for anybody whose biggest campaign promises are “Vote for Me.”
Llaura Garcia: why were they all so sneaky? Executive Order 1034 demands they deliver ALL NON BIASED information. The ads in the campus newspapers were not unbiased. They were heavily promotional of the BLR. The negative impacts were only tacked on at the end of the ads in a small little corner. The SFAC, ASI and administrators were pushing this agenda. Now all of a sudden, you and the others wish to be ‘transparent’ That’s laughable. As Judge Marilyn Millian of the People’s Court says, “I would believe your tongue if it came notarized.” The same goes for everybody involved with trying to stick their hands in our pockets during a depression.
Avis, Thanks for posting. You’re right, Erin was a senator before she became ASI President. However, when Erin was running she was the most qualified candidate against Eyad and Raul. This year, you are running against Chris who has organization and ASI experience all the way through the executive level. Chris does have an edge. I’ve got to admit that I like your idea about creating a council with the different college councils, but overall, compared to the experience you’ve gained at CSULB, I really think that Chris is the better candidate to be the next ASI President.
Let me allow myself to clear up some concerns.
I was not for the Beach Legacy fee increase, I NEVER was. I was against it due to the fact that there’s going to be a 10 percent increase in fees as well as the $100 student Rec and Welness Center fee. I thought that adding another fee would be too much for the majority of students to handle right now in our poor economic state. The comment about me being for it was absolutly false.
It is true that my highest position in ASI has been Senator for the College of Liberal Arts, but Erin was a senator as well and she is currently doing a great job in her position. I have done a substantial amount of work for ALL students especially those in the College of Liberal Arts. My resolutions come from an area of concern not because I am running for president. On each and everyone of my resolutions I have always asked other senators to write them with me to foster collaboration. The first one I co-sponsored was one in support of the Textbook Rental Program, meaning I thought it was a great idea to support students saving money on textbooks. The resolution that the senate UNANIMOUSLY voted down was one that was overstepping its boundaries and trying to tell the 49er how to run their own business.
The second resolution I wrote was concerning the freezing of state funded construction projects including our own 100 million dollar science building. I even asked to start a fund for its construction because Cal State Long Beach lost 1.5 million just because of the freeze.
The last resolution I wrote was one demanding for a central location for advising for ALL students in the College of Liberal Arts. I even had freshman James Suazo come to the senate to share his testimony about how he received poor advising, and got the entire senate to understand the advising problems students have in COLA.
My experience has not been in following positions. I was the reviver of the Black Scholars Student Association and the standing president. I was the Vice President of the Rotaract Leadership Club. I have come up with new ideas in ASI such as the Club Talent showcase giving $350 to a new student org. I am the FIRST in my family to attend college so you ask me who I have to follow but myself. I get my platform from student concerns. My ideas are not from the administration. I am so far from being their puppet as well, since I participated in the Blackout rally. And unlike my competitors I don’t stamp my name on projects that the university is already working on and call them my own.
I have continually served my constituents. I served for TWO years as a SOAR advisor ushering in hundreds of freshmen and transfer students in my own college as well as a number of others….which of my competitors can say that? If you haven’t seen me around the college ask the person sitting beside you in your class.
I am an extrovert that is student and service centered. I want to work in education someday….I don’t really need resume builders to get into education. I am here to serve students. That has been my agenda since I came to Long Beach and it will continue throughout my tenure here.
If you have questions, comments or concerns for me please email me or call…[email protected] (562) 489-5657. I want to thank all of my supporters 🙂
To ‘Your Name’
Chris Chavez was a member of the SFAC committee. Since the SFAC was in charge of the BLR, all members of the committee was required to not take a side and stay partial before students vote on the BLR. If you have any doubts with what I’m saying, please contact me personally and I’ll be more than happy to explain to you the process. Feel free to contact me at [email protected]
Chavez was just as wishy-washy as Atkins was. He sat on the sidelines and didn’t voice any thought on the BLR. Watch the ASI Presidential videos. He says that he was not legally bound to NOT take a side, which means he should have. He dodged the question about the partiality of the BLR banner in Beach News (the first one with Ann Austria) and only under pressure stated that he was “not impartial” when Brian pressed him in the ASI presidential video. He was only AFTER the vote did he push for the students’ side, but until then he took a back seat.
The most significant leadership role Avis has had was as the senator for the College of Liberal Arts. I’ve been in the CLA for three years; never saw here, never heard of anything she’s done proactive for students except to play the cliquish senator game. In her campaign statement she had no plan, no issues, no vision to address student concerns. Read it and you’ll see it says nothing except involvement in a bunch of resume builders. Her history in actuality is more of a follower than a leader. She is a very nice and outgoing person, but that is hardly qualification to represent 36,000 students. Where’s the substance? Some of our past elected officers who relied on those attributes have sold us out to administrative whims and desires. That’s not a chance I’d like to take again so I’ll roll my dice on Chavez. He’s shown that he can roll up his sleeves and work for the interest of students, even if it did seem like he buckled a few times.
Also note that Chavez helped make a resolution to ask 49er shops to lower textbook prices and avis was against it
To ‘Your Name’ on “watch the video, chavez saids “it not my obligation to represent students.” that’s not leadership.
he voiced is opposition only because he knew the recommendation would pass without his vote: politics as usual.
he is the administrator’s candidate.” First of, what video? I’d be really interested to see where you got that from. Second, “he knew the recommendation would pass without his vote.” I’m sorry, can you read minds? Because unless you can read minds, you can’t possibly know what Chris Chavez was thinking. What you’re saying is just pure speculation –and pure speculation is a very dangerous thing.
watch the video, chavez saids “it not my obligation to represent students.” that’s not leadership.
he voiced is opposition only because he knew the recommendation would pass without his vote: politics as usual.
he is the administrator’s candidate.
Chris Chavez always puts himself out there on issues that are important to students. He’s been accessible ever since I started at this campus. Until the election campaigns, I have never seen or heard anything about Avis. She seems like a nice person, but I want somebody I know has been working hard for me/us. Chris and Erin pushed the city for the improved lighting on Bellflower Blvd. after the sexual assaults, even though the city kept rejecting CSULB. He’s been instrumental in all of the things ‘your name Fri Apr 17 04:43’ listed and more; U-Pass, textbook affordability issues, fighting tuition increases to CSULB, etc. He was active in rejecting the racist Jim Gilchrist’s anti-human compassion message when he visited our campus nearly two years ago. Both candidates seem like fine people, but my vote will be for a proven leader with a solid track record for student advocacy and campus activism. I want somebody I know will represent our issues, instead of somebody who will require extensive on the job training and has literally no history to show us.
Your Name, I completely agree with you. Many candidates didn’t voice their position about the BLR until the SFAC made their decision. And when it came down to it, Chris Chavez really stepped up during the SFAC meeting. It wasn’t until the SFAC decision did any of the candidates decide to speak up. I think that Avis Atkins might just say whatever students want to hear in order to get elected. You should go check on the credentials and see what each candidate has done for this campus. I think that it will be clear as day that you will see that Chris Chavez is the clear choice to be the next ASI President. Even before the elections, Chris was already speaking up for students and doing things for students. As for Avis, she didn’t really do much until it was elections. Honestly, think about it. Avis may be an extrovert, but Chris is the better candidate without a doubt. He has the experience within ASI, knowledge about the university, and knowledge about the issues that needs to be addressed for students.
Potential impact of runoff:
Atkins wins and students have no leadership against the BLR. She supported it, sort of, in a wishy-washy way. This infers that as ASI president, she will be administration’s ASI president. We’ll be forced to ride in the backseat or the trunk. Watch the video.
Chavez wins and students have representation because he voiced opposition to the fee recommendation during the advisory committee meeting. Read the story.
What should decide this is evaluating which one will sincerely best serve STUDENTS, rather than being administration’s token sock puppet.
My choice is definitely Chavez because I’ve seen him step up to the plate and fight for students.
saying business will continue as usual as a negative? is the U-Pass gone from everyone’s minds? 49er Fever increasing Beach Pride? KidEco make huge steps towards a greener tomorrow? What about establishing the Once a 49er, Always a 49er fund? Increasing the amount of carpool spots on campus? Recycling Center now being self-sufficient? Opening a bank and pizza place (and soon- frozen yogurt)? Mental Health Awareness Week? a plan to have bike lanes within the year? not too shabby…
Not their fault for losing faith in the voting process after 60% voted against the BLR only to learn that it was nonbinding and a poll for the presiden’ts ultimate decision to impose the fee increase anyway.
Look like business will continue as usual…and that’s not a good thing. Sucks for students. Their fault for not voting.