BY ANTHONY VASQUEZ

 

ASI Chief of Staff James Ahumada won the 2010 ASI presidential election with 1,776 votes, which is 100 percent of all votes cast for president. Ahumada was the only presidential candidate on the ballot. The results were announced earlier today.

 

In addition, College of Business Administration Senator Lucy Nguyen won the vice presidential contest with 1,303 votes, which is 64 percent of the vote. Her opponent, Senator-at-large Jeff Yutrzenka, received 718 votes, or 36 percent.

 

College of Liberal Arts Senator Jameson Nyeholt won the election for ASI Treasurer with 1,381 votes received compared with 614 votes for Jason Aula.

 

The online ballot did not allow for voters to submit write-in candidates. As had been the case for several elections now, the university used the international group BigPulse to run the election. In prior instances however, students were given the option to write in a candidate's name.

 

Weeks ago, President-elect Ahumada had opponents. Originally there were five presidential candidates, but all except for Ahumada dropped out of the race. This included Jason Aula, who decided to run for treasurer instead.

 

ASI reported that in total, 2,022 ballotss were cast in this week's election. This means that about 6 percent of the CSULB student body participated.

The California State University Board of Trustees voted 17 : 1 Tuesday to approve an increase in student fees. Beginning fall 2009, undergraduates at Cal-State Long Beach taking more than six units will have to pay $4,370. This is nearly 30 percent more than tuition for the 2008-2009 school year. Students protesting at the CSU offices in Long Beach Tuesday said they will feel the pinch.

 

Other measures to reduce the $584 million debt the CSU faces include the freezing of executive salaries and starting next month, employee furloughs.

 

" We have developed an overall plan to get us through the next two years that both reduces expenditures and increases revenues,"  CSU Chancellor Charles Reed said in a press release. "Increasing student fees is always a difficult decision and we recognize the tremendous burden and challenge it places on our students."

Christohpher Chavez is ASI's new president after winning this week's run-off election 51 percent to Avis Atkins's 49 percent. Chavez received 1,044 votes; Atkins received 1,016. The ASI treasurer's run-off election winner was Marilei Denila with 61 percent of the vote compared with 39 percent for James Kuang. Denila received 1,215 votes while Kuang received 776. The results were announced today a little after 12:00 p.m. at the Southwest Terrace.

 

Later, Chavez said he felt good for his victory and glad for  opponents  that "made me step up my game a bit." Now Chavez is to prepare to take office this June 1. He said he feels happy to have worked with current president Erin Swetland and treasurer Brian Troutner.

 

The 2,060 combined votes for Chavez and Atkins is 5.75 percent of the nearly 36,000-student population.

 

 

Avis Atkins and Christopher Chavez will square off next week in a run-off election for ASI's president. Atkins won 38 percent of the 3,653 online ballots, Chavez won 34 percent. Raul Preciado of the Students for Students Party won 18 percent while Ricardo Linarez won just under 10 percent. There will also be a run-off election for ASI treasurer between Marilei Denila who won 48 percent and James Kuang who received 28 percent of the vote. The new ASI vice-president will be Omar Gonzalez, who was endorsed by Chavez. He earned 59 percent of the vote. The run-off election for president and treasurer is next Tuesday through Thursday.

Ricardo Linarez began studying at CSULB since last fall. Nonetheless, he says that his experience in the Marine Corps and working in the community allows him to be the best presidential candidate. The political science and communications double major says he will fight politicians in Sacramento if need be so that students' voices are heard.

ASI Vice-president and presidential candidate Christopher Chavez talks about the current global economic crisis and its effects on the campus. Chavez explains why money is the "lifeblood" for any endeavor. He also discusses the possibility that upon being elected, he would return his stipend to the university to help with budget problems. He tells of his experiences in student government as a freshman and about what powers his drive to push on to win ASI's highest post.

Avis Atkins, candidate for ASI president and University Honors Program student, talks about her involvement in service activities. For the last two summers, Atkins has worked at CSULB's student orientation and says that knowing that students get the advising they need gives her great satisfaction. Atkins guarantees that if elected, there will be ASI town hall meetings, classroom presentations about ASI's role on campus and a higher profile for the corporation at student orientation sessions.

ASI presidential candidate Raul Preciado sits down to talk about what influenced his decision to get politically involved. While a junior and also the student body president at Jefferson High in Los Angeles, dealing with racial strife there in 2005 proved to be an important time in his career. Preciado also explains what he envisions for a textbook sharing Web Site, which he would help start if elected.

Second-time presidential candidate Raul Preciado says he is running to make a difference. In his view change needs a kick-start and he's the one that will do it. He sees this election as one where not one, but a group of student leaders must work together.

Ricardo Linarez says his experience in the military, in his community and on this campus is enough for him to be elected ASI president. For eight years, he served in the Marine Corps. He founded the campus's first college Democrat group and is a member of the Law Society, among other student organizations.

Current Vice-president and presidential candidate Chris Chavez says it's no time to play politician. To him, this election is about who can deliver results. Chavez says he knows best how to make ASI and the university work for students.

Presidential candidate Avis Atkins's closing remarks touch on her experience helping students.

From the Southwest Terrace at CSULB on the afternoon of April 9, 2009

 

ASI Presidential Debate

 

Transcribed by Anthony Vasquez

 

Avis Atkins: Hi everyone. I made the decision to run for AS president earlier this year because I really saw that I had the drive and dedication and motivation to help students. I was inspired by Erin Swetland. I like her whole position on how she’s running ASI and I want to continue it that way. Again, I’m not a typical ASI candidate. My major’s human development and I really come from the serving side of students.

 

They say “What are you doing?” or “What are you working to do?” or “What do you do for students?” For two summers, I worked SOAR for 15 hours a day. Starting 7:30 at SOAR in the morning leaving Best Buy at 10:30 at night, and I did that for three months to make sure students were getting academic advising and the help that they needed. I served on various student organizations. I’m the founder of Black Scholars student organization and I put my own money and time and effort in that organization. I lost about 500 bucks on trips that I sponsored myself just so students will be part of a club that can help them learn how to apply for scholarships, financial aid and other things like that.

 

I serve on committees already. I serve in the Senate. I’m on the Board of Trustees, continuing to make differences, continuing to go to college council meetings collaborating with other people, bouncing ideas back and forth. I’m not here for my own personal gain. I don’t need more things on my resume, I want to go into education, it’s not that hard. But I’m here to serve students and students alone.

 

So, I mean, if you vote for me you’ll be voting for some that’s really dedicated, that’ll really do anything and everything that she can, God willing, to help any and every student. I’m that random person that like picks up a bum on the side of the walk and like drives him to wherever he needs or takes him to Jack in the Box. I put the same personality to helping students. So if you guys want more information, avisatkins.com. I’m running with Matt Barnett and Piero Sandoval for treasurer. So a vote for us is a really vote for yourself. Thank you.

 

From the Southwest Terrace at CSULB on the afternoon of April 9, 2009

 

ASI Presidential Debate

 

Transcribed by Anthony Vasquez

 

Christopher Chavez: … I’ve ran a couple times, I always hear the “I’m not a political science major” speech. I don’t think being, your major actually relates to you wanting to serve. You know, I been, I—service is an amazing thing. It’s a noble cause and something all people should aspire to.

 

Yo, as far as my vision? My experience? I have the vision. I have the experience to lead. I know how ASI, I know how the university runs. I know how to make ASI and the university run for you. I know how to make ASI and the university run for future students. This is again, this is not the time to play politician. This isn’t the time to really just say “Oh let’s do something.” This is a time to say “Let’s do something right.”

 

Yo, working with Erin this year has been an honor. She really has provided me a great inspiration for how to work on this. I think she’s done a really great job with this uni-, her term. However, I want to make sure that the tradition of strong student leadership that I’ve seen since I was a freshman here is continued. I want to make sure that our university, our ASI is something that’s worthy of the students here at Cal-State Long Beach. Yo, I, I, you hear a lot of things, but it’s actually about who’s going to deliver. I will deliver.

 

So vote for Chris Chavez for ASI president, Omar Gonzalez for ASI vice-president,  Marilei Denila for ASI treasurer. Thank you very much.

 

From the Southwest Terrace at CSULB on the afternoon of April 9, 2009

 

ASI Presidential Debate Closing

 

Transcribed by Anthony Vasquez

 

Ricardo Linarez: … Ricardo Linarez for ASI president. As far as experience? Have 18 years of experience either on student organizations, in the military, in the community, in politics, and now here at Cal-State Long Beach.

 

I’ve helped fundraise for students who don’t qualify for financial aid at Long Beach City College. I am a founder of Long Beach College Democrats here. I am a member of Lambda Theta Phi, ? Fraternity Incorporated. I am a member of the Law Society.

 

I’m not here to play politics. I mean, I’ve been playing politics for about ten years so I’m not here playing around. I love Long Beach, I love this city, I love this school, I love education, and I just want to get the opportunity to serve the students here at Long Beach. I want to represent the spirit of the Beach. I want to represent the pride of being the Long Beach 49ers. So please vote for me, Ricardo Linarez, for ASI president.

 

From the Southwest Terrace at CSULB on the afternoon of April 9, 2009

 

Transcribed by Anthony Vasquez

 

Raul Preciado: My name is Raul Preciado, I’m running for ASI president, and I am a political science major and I’m proud to be one. I am going to go into politics in the future, hopefully. This is not really the reason why I’m doing this, but I think that being a political science major helps. It doesn’t hurt you to be a political science major, it helps you in this election. Because when you feel bad, I mean when you’re feeling sick you look for a doctor.

 

[Microphone cuts off and Preciado speaks to audience  directly]

 

When you feel sick, you look for a doctor. You don’t look for somebody who can’t do the job. You look for somebody who’s being trained to do that job. You know, as a political science major, you learn about governments, you learn about running governments. This helps, it doesn’t hurt and I’d like for you to understand that.

 

You know, the reason that I’m running for ASI president is because I want to make a difference on this campus. You know, every year I see so much of the same. Nothing really changes. Everything’s at stake this year just like it is every year. If this year you don’t vote for somebody different, somebody who’s actually going to make a difference, then the next year you’re probably not going to vote for somebody who’s going to make a difference and the trend, the trend will continue.

 

You know, I’m asking for your vote, I’m asking you to trust me, and I know that’s difficult because some of you have never seen me before, some of you are working for my opponents, but still, you know? I’m the candidate here that’s here and telling you that I’m going to make a difference. I’m going to work hard day and night to make the changes that need to be made within ASI. I’m going to change the way that ASI works.

 

We’ve already done this running the Students for Students campaign. Other people work together, but they don’t commit to it the way that we do. We don’t have separate Facebook pages, we have one page for all of us because we’re a team and we’re working together. You know, we have posters that look the same, we have all three of us on one poster. This is just the beginning of what we want to do. We want to change the theme from an individual person into a group orientation because this is about the group.

 

We are ASI. It’s not about I am ASI, it’s about us, it’s about all of us together and we need to work together in order to get anything done on this campus. You know, so I’m asking for your vote, April 13^th to the 15^th. We do have a Facebook page as I mentioned. It’s Students for Students Party. We also have a Web Site, studentsforstudents.weblink.com. You know, we don’t have a lot of money, but we’re doing what we can. We’re putting our own money into this campaign to buy the posters that sometimes people tear down. And it’s frustrating that you have to go back and put them back up and you have to spend more money on this, but we’re doing it! Because we want these positions in order to make a difference because we think that it’s very important that the right people get elected. I’m running with James Kuang. I’m running with Zo Farooqi. I’m running with Teresa Buey right here for Senate of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, you know? We’re here to make a difference on this campus. We’re here to change the way things work.

 

So if you’re tired of not really knowing what ASI really does, if you’re tired of you know, 20 people out of 37, 38 thousand actually applying for scholarships, if you’re tired of four thousand to five thousand people actually voting in these elections, if you’re tired about this? We’re talking about the person who’s going to become the ASI president.

 

How many people are here? How many students are there on this campus? What percentage is that? Are we at zero right now? Who’s here today? Look around. There’s not that many people here because not that many people care. We’re going to make them care. We’re going to do everything we can to get students involved and we hope you decide to support us.

 

So thank you for coming today—those of you who did come. I appreciate you guys having me here. Thank you again.

 

Cultural Dialogue at the Beach

 

Anthony Vasquez: Welcome to another edition of the ‘49er show. This is Anthony Vasquez.

 

Vasquez: For today, I have a story  about the multicultural climate here on campus. The Latino Student Union and the student chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or NAACP, organized the  Black and Brown Dialogue last Thursday evening in the student union ballrooms. Dozens of students, faculty and others from around the university attended. After the president of the Long Beach NAACP chapter gave an opening speech, a panel discussion began. Panelists included CSULB faculty, the director of the on-campus Multicultural Center and two off-campus counselors.

 

Vasquez: Topics discussed varied widely, but the discussion mainly addressed the achievement gap among blacks and Latinos when compared with whites and what to do about it, the psychological effect of media and the degree to which people on this campus are open to honest discussions about race. Citing Dr. Martin Luther King, jr., Multicultural Center Director James Sauceda had this to say.

 

Sauceda: In the United States, we’re not, we are multi-ethnic, but not multicultural. Now think about that for a second. We’re multi-ethnic—you can look around and see we’ve got people of different background. Multicultural means you got a connection to the backgrounds. So it’s the big difference. You and I have been taught to live in segregated, monocultural ways. So yo soy Chicano ese. I’m this, and you’re not, and that’s how we walk around. So you got pride in self, which is good, but I don’t know you and you don’t know me.

 

Vasquez: For wider recognition on campus, Business Law professor Lynn Dymally students to use the power of the ballot. Despite the ease of online voting, turn-out for last spring’s ASI election was just shy of 11 percent.

 

Dymally: You’re not even participating in the system here where you have power. You decide how the funds will be spent. You pay your registration fees and you should participate in electing the student representatives who determine how you’re fees will be spent, and you don’t even do that.

 

Vasquez: Media’s at times negative portrayal of blacks and Latinos received some attention, but personal responsibility and increased intellectual awareness were front and center when it came time to talk about a new way forward. Chicano and Latino Studies professor Jose Moreno suggested that perhaps life had gotten too easy for activism to take hold.  He speculated that the mentality of college as only an employee factory lay at the source of student apathy.

 

Moreno: I think what we have to challenge ourselves to do is to break out of the silence. There is a deep silence that has been so socialized through the schooling process. That you have been convinced that the purpose for your being at Cal-State Long Beach is to get a better job. That’s simply your presence here—to get out of your community, to get away from those knucklehead brown, black people so that you can live a better life. And I think that when we do that we decapitalize our communities. We take all of the intellectual and economic capital out. We then give it to someone else to make decisions for other people. And we begin that process here at Cal-State Long Beach.

 

Vasquez: Africana Studies professor Lionel Mandy followed up with this advice.

 

Mandy: In terms of manipulation of these communities, which is the question that we’re responding to, I will invite you to investigate two concepts. One is the concept of worldview. How one looks at the world and from which vantage point one does that. The other one is white supremacy. The power and control of people of European descent over all other people including themselves. When you’re done with that, come see me and I’ll give you something else to look for.

 

Vasquez: After a few minutes of discussion among the audience, audience members spoke publically. One CSULB student put it like this:

 

Student: My own personal experience at this campus is when I walk past a fellow brother and look them in the face, it’s often a look away and that’s discerning to me because we can’t even say hello to each other. And when we do greet each other it’s like “well, what are you trying to get from me?” All I’m trying to get is a “hi” back.

 

Vasquez: Focusing on the achievement gap, local resident Claudette Powers emphasized the drive within. To her, success comes to those who fight for it.

 

Powers: The reason why we don’t achieve is because we don’t struggle to achieve. We want it easy, we want it on a silver platter, and we want to be babied into it. I had to go to school one class a semester. It took me 18 years to graduate from college, but I did it. And you can do it too. You can do it. If you want it bad enough you’ll do it and you’ll stop messing around and going in that place and shooting pool when you need to be in class.

 

Vasquez: Collective action and mutual understanding surfaced as the best ways to progress. Students appeared engaged afterwards. Their reactions will follow soon. Thank you for listening. This is Anthony Vasquez.

The Latino Student Union and the NAACP student chapter at Cal-State Long Beach sponsored the Black and Brown Dialogue on Thursday February 19, 2009. The panel discussion happened in the Student Union ballrooms. Faculty and others were part of the panel. Solutions to the achievement gap among minorities were discussed.

The Muslim Student Association organized a die-in on Jan. 28, 2009 at the Cal State Long Beach quad.

The study abroad fair featured dozens of agencies that provide study abroad opportunities all over the world. Featured countries: Australia and Italy.

Anthony Vasquez: Hello and welcome. My name is Anthony Vasquez and this is the 49er show. This is the first of what shall become a series of podcasts about the people, places and events that happen here at Cal-State Long Beach. My goal is to share with you, through the power of audio and new media, stories that might otherwise go untold. The more we learn about one another, the better aware of our surroundings and those around us we will become. Let’s strengthen mutual understanding, why not?

 Vasquez: The organization fair happened last Wednesday and Thursday on the Friendship Walk. Many organizations were there with their members passing out new flyers, trying to recruit new members. Thousands of students strolled about, looking.

 Vasquez: I wanted to know a little more about what types of clubs interested students. So, Tiffany Rider, managing editor of The Daily 49er, and I went to find out. And here’s what some had to say…

 Mark (last name unclear): My name is Mark … I’m a transfer student, so I’m completely new here. The only reason why I’m here is because I need to make, I want to make new friends, you know? And everyone keeps telling me the best way to make new friends is to join a club. So, that’s what I’m trying to do.

 Karina: Hi, my name is Karina and well, I’m looking for free stuff like everybody else is, but in particular I’m looking for the superhero fan club because I saw it on the list of clubs, but I can’t find it anywhere.

 Tiffany Rider: Oh no.

 Karina: I know!

 Rider: Is it superhero club?

 Karina: Superhero fan club is what I saw on the list.

 Rider: Okay.

 Karina: Because I’m a big comic book nerd. So that, that would really appeal to me, but I can’t find it.

 Vasquez: If you can’t find that club, what would you settle for?

 Karina: If there’s a cartoon and animations club, like that works too because that’s really related. And I’m not really sure. Maybe I’ll like in a physical activity club. Like, I’m looking into archery. That’s really interesting because I’m really lazy. I need to get up and like do something with my life.

 Jackie Rivera: Hi my name is Jackie Rivera and I’m a freshmen. Pretty much, I’m looking for a club that’s beneficial to the environment. Like, I want to help out like the community in any way I can. There like, there are a variety of like clubs that help in the community from, I don’t know from like, the sororities to like the Pacific Islanders Association. I think my best bet is for one of the sororities, probably, because it’s really good networking and you just meet a lot of new people.

 Ebony: Hey I’m Ebony. I’m a freshmen. I’m looking for a club that is very welcoming and I don’t know, a family kind of environment. I dance and stuff like that. Something that’s welcoming and I can feel comfortable in.

 Victor (last name unclear): My name is Victor ? and I’m a freshmen here at CSULB and I’m majoring in business. And so far I’m not looking for any programs yet. I just haven’t found like the right one. So, that’s it.

 Rider: Are you going to keep looking?

 Victor: I’m not sure yet.

 Vasquez: What are you looking for? What’s the right one for you?

 Victor: I’m not too sure about that I just want to be able to be part of some group, but I’m still not sure what group.

 Rider: What qualifies?

 Victor: Yeah.

 Vasquez: These five students all desire to become part of something bigger than themselves while at the same time make new friends. With so many clubs out there, they shouldn’t have a problem doing so. A diverse group of clubs, fraternities and sororities were there ready to inform and add to their ranks.

 Vasquez: Well, that’s all for this edition of the show. I hope you enjoyed listening to it. You can leave your comments and ideas for future shows at the show’s blog at the49ershow.libsyn.com. And until next time, enjoy your time at The Beach, it’s going to go by fast.

Here's a quick story about the latin Organization Fair.

Students at The Beach talk about what kinds of clubs they are looking for this semester.