Spring Break
'Budget' becomes buzzword at Town Hall
Benjamin R. Schilter
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: News
Associated Students, Inc. directors addressed comments and concerns from students during a town hall meeting on Nov. 20 in the University Union.
ASI directors and students shared concerns about potential fee increases stemming from state budget cuts and rising textbook prices. Students also learned how they could participate in ASI activities.
ASI's Student Relations Committee also set up laptops for students to take a student government survey. The questions ranged from ASI's services to the extent of the student government's political reach.
ASI President Miguel Cervantes understood that many students felt the impact of the fee increases for the fall 2008 semester as well. He told the audience that his roommate had to leave school for a time last year to work because he could not keep up with the fee increases. The California State University system has not been fully funded for at least the past six years, "and that's where fee increases of more than 100 percent have come from," he said
Executive Vice President Roberto Torres said the meeting was a different format, in which it was the first ASI event with a town hall atmosphere. He was glad to see students staying around during and after the meeting to talk with directors and ask questions.
Ify Agwuenu, sophomore biology major, said a friend told her about the town hall meeting and of the free sandwiches that were being served. She was unaware that ASI operated many on-campus services.
"I don't really see them on campus," she said after taking the survey. "I didn't know they ran Green Sting and Safe Rides; if they took more credit for it, people would know more about them."
The ASI sponsors on-campus and off-campus services such as Peak Adventures, the Aquatic Center, Student Life and Services and the Children's Center.
"We knew there were always issues like that; we have always been talking about seeing what else we could do," Torres said.
Although the lines of students moved slower because of the student survey, he said this gave the directors an opportunity to talk with students in line and invite them to voice their concerns during the meeting.
Brandon Silveira, junior social science major, echoed Agwuenu's response of not knowing about ASI's involvement with other organizations. He felt that the directors were honest and really wanted to know how students felt about issues that affected them.
One major discussion point revolved around the state budget, which Torres said was "a big buzzword" during the town hall. Students expressed concerns that budget cuts and fee increases would prevent them from completing school. Others felt the increases would end up keeping students out of school.
"(I didn't know about) their influence on our state government and how we can influence it as students if we all come together; they made that pretty clear," Silveira said. "I liked how genuine the members were. I liked how they looked at everyone and spoke to us one-on-one, asked if there were any questions or what our opinions were."
Torres told the audience that increased funding should not come at the expense of students but there was one thing he asked of them in order to do their part.
"When there are rallies, you should also be there," he told them. "That is the true power we have."
Budget talks and student access issues resurfaced at the John Vasconcellos Project community policy forum at the Alumni Center later that night. During the forum, ASI directors and students collaborated with policymakers, faculty members, and state representatives to discuss questions related to the California Master Plan for Higher Education.
The Master Plan was created in 1959 to help prepare the university system for an influx of baby boomers. The plan was designed to make sure every student had a guaranteed spot within the state's university system. The policy forum's aim was to discuss recommendations for the 2010 update of the plan. This update comes 50 years after the original plan was implemented in 1960.
ASI directors participated in discussions with each of seven groups in the forum. Sarah Couch, director of Undeclared Students, shared some findings from her group, including the issues of advising, promoting the CSU to the public, and engagement of students in campus activities.
"We thought it was really important for the public to see how the CSU system would be of beneficial use to the public; then you get better students, better people out in the work force," Couch told the group.
The state Legislature is required to update the plan every 10 years to meet the emerging and evolving needs of the state. However, according to the University of California's Office of the President's website, many key aspects of the Master Plan were never passed into state law.
The long-term goal for the community policy forum was to support the state Legislature's efforts to develop policy options. This includes improving higher education access for students, maintaining affordability, creating accountability and enhancing quality of university services.
Issues students discussed at the town hall meeting were restated during the policy forum, mainly affordability of attending a state university. Cervantes told the audience these discussions will ultimately let the state Legislature know the importance of making higher education a priority.
"It's really good to see the actual issues; to derive them from the bottom up," said ASI Secretary of State Affairs Nicole Anderson. "It's important to be part of this project."
Ben Schilter can be reached at bschilter@statehornet.com
ASI directors and students shared concerns about potential fee increases stemming from state budget cuts and rising textbook prices. Students also learned how they could participate in ASI activities.
ASI's Student Relations Committee also set up laptops for students to take a student government survey. The questions ranged from ASI's services to the extent of the student government's political reach.
ASI President Miguel Cervantes understood that many students felt the impact of the fee increases for the fall 2008 semester as well. He told the audience that his roommate had to leave school for a time last year to work because he could not keep up with the fee increases. The California State University system has not been fully funded for at least the past six years, "and that's where fee increases of more than 100 percent have come from," he said
Executive Vice President Roberto Torres said the meeting was a different format, in which it was the first ASI event with a town hall atmosphere. He was glad to see students staying around during and after the meeting to talk with directors and ask questions.
Ify Agwuenu, sophomore biology major, said a friend told her about the town hall meeting and of the free sandwiches that were being served. She was unaware that ASI operated many on-campus services.
"I don't really see them on campus," she said after taking the survey. "I didn't know they ran Green Sting and Safe Rides; if they took more credit for it, people would know more about them."
The ASI sponsors on-campus and off-campus services such as Peak Adventures, the Aquatic Center, Student Life and Services and the Children's Center.
"We knew there were always issues like that; we have always been talking about seeing what else we could do," Torres said.
Although the lines of students moved slower because of the student survey, he said this gave the directors an opportunity to talk with students in line and invite them to voice their concerns during the meeting.
Brandon Silveira, junior social science major, echoed Agwuenu's response of not knowing about ASI's involvement with other organizations. He felt that the directors were honest and really wanted to know how students felt about issues that affected them.
One major discussion point revolved around the state budget, which Torres said was "a big buzzword" during the town hall. Students expressed concerns that budget cuts and fee increases would prevent them from completing school. Others felt the increases would end up keeping students out of school.
"(I didn't know about) their influence on our state government and how we can influence it as students if we all come together; they made that pretty clear," Silveira said. "I liked how genuine the members were. I liked how they looked at everyone and spoke to us one-on-one, asked if there were any questions or what our opinions were."
Torres told the audience that increased funding should not come at the expense of students but there was one thing he asked of them in order to do their part.
"When there are rallies, you should also be there," he told them. "That is the true power we have."
Budget talks and student access issues resurfaced at the John Vasconcellos Project community policy forum at the Alumni Center later that night. During the forum, ASI directors and students collaborated with policymakers, faculty members, and state representatives to discuss questions related to the California Master Plan for Higher Education.
The Master Plan was created in 1959 to help prepare the university system for an influx of baby boomers. The plan was designed to make sure every student had a guaranteed spot within the state's university system. The policy forum's aim was to discuss recommendations for the 2010 update of the plan. This update comes 50 years after the original plan was implemented in 1960.
ASI directors participated in discussions with each of seven groups in the forum. Sarah Couch, director of Undeclared Students, shared some findings from her group, including the issues of advising, promoting the CSU to the public, and engagement of students in campus activities.
"We thought it was really important for the public to see how the CSU system would be of beneficial use to the public; then you get better students, better people out in the work force," Couch told the group.
The state Legislature is required to update the plan every 10 years to meet the emerging and evolving needs of the state. However, according to the University of California's Office of the President's website, many key aspects of the Master Plan were never passed into state law.
The long-term goal for the community policy forum was to support the state Legislature's efforts to develop policy options. This includes improving higher education access for students, maintaining affordability, creating accountability and enhancing quality of university services.
Issues students discussed at the town hall meeting were restated during the policy forum, mainly affordability of attending a state university. Cervantes told the audience these discussions will ultimately let the state Legislature know the importance of making higher education a priority.
"It's really good to see the actual issues; to derive them from the bottom up," said ASI Secretary of State Affairs Nicole Anderson. "It's important to be part of this project."
Ben Schilter can be reached at bschilter@statehornet.com
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