An Open Letter to the Campus Community

Note: The following letter is an opinion piece and the sole opinion of the author. The views represented are not officially endorsed by the general body of the College of Liberal Arts Student Council.

An Open Letter to the CSULB Campus Community:

When freshmen take their first few steps onto campus and walk under the “Graduation Begins Today” banner, they may not necessarily know much about CSULB. However, there is one fact that the websites, reviews, and social media all dictate: Long Beach is a diverse campus. 

The distinction is rightfully deserved; Long Beach is a diverse campus in terms of more than just ethnicity. CSULB boasts a diverse population, as well as a plethora of services, resources, and centers dedicated to maintaining and enhancing our unique communities on campus. The progress we have made is a wonderful thing to behold, but it also begs the question: are we truly safeguarded from the real world vices of sexism, racism, and homophobia? We must acknowledge that discrimination based on race, gender, and orientation are unfortunately not uncommon in American universities. That being said, the test of a university’s effectiveness is not how it prevents discriminatory acts from occurring, but rather how it ensures that such acts do not continuously recur. 
 

CSU trustees asked to hike tuition 12 percent: Fall tuition break $5,000 mark

California State University has not wasted any time responding to the budget Gov. Jerry Brown signed today, which cuts CSU funding by at least $650 million for the coming school year.

Chancellor Charles Reed announced this afternoon that he will ask trustees to vote on a 12 percent tuition increase when they meet on July 12. The increase would be effective this fall, and comes on top of a 10 percent increase that trustees approved last year -- also to take effect this fall.

If trustees approve the newest increase, annual undergraduate tuition at the 23 CSU campuses will be $5,178 this fall -- or $948 more than it was in fall 2010.

"What was once unprecedented has unfortunately become normal, as for the second time in three years the CSU will be cut by well over $500 million," Reed said in a statement. "The magnitude of this cut, compounded with the uncertainty of the final amount of the reduction, will have negative impacts on the CSU long after this upcoming fiscal year has come and gone."

The budget Brown signed calls for cutting CSU and the University of California each by another $100 million if revenue expectations are not met by December.

Read more at Capitol Alert

LA Times: Cal State considers drastic plan in case of an 'all-cuts' budget

Facing a potential $1-billion reduction in state funding for the coming school year, California State University is considering "radical" measures that could include huge tuition hikes and enrollment reductions, officials said Tuesday.

The actions may be necessary to keep classroom doors open if tax extensions requested by Gov. Jerry Brown are not approved, Chancellor Charles B. Reed told trustees at a meeting in Long Beach.

The state already had approved funding cuts for the next school year of $500 million each for Cal State and the University of California. An additional $500 million may be demanded from each system if the temporary tax extensions are not approved by voters or the Legislature.

Under the contingency plan presented Tuesday, Cal State could be forced to raise tuition for full-time undergraduates by 32% next year, in addition to a 10% increase already approved for fall 2011. The contingency increase would mean an additional $1,566 and bring total annual tuition for undergraduates to $6,450. The total does not include annual campus fees that average $950.

"It's going to be radical and it's going to generate a lot of pain," said Reed, who will make formal recommendations to the governing board in July.

Cal State campuses also may resort to a waiting list for applications for winter and spring 2012 enrollment and hold off admissions decisions until a state budget is finalized.

In the worst-case scenario, 20,000 qualified applicants could be turned away, Reed told trustees.

"An 'all-cuts' budget would mean reducing 36% of our operating costs in one year and I don't know of a business in this country that can take that kind of reduction," the chancellor said.

Reed offered a number of other scenarios that could save $500 million, including closing the 10 smallest of Cal State's 23 campuses... to continue reading, please click here.

April 13: Higher Education Rally

Stand up for education!

Education is not a privilege it’s a right.

Statewide Mobilization for Education

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Rally at Carlson Bell Tower (in front of Coffee Bean): 12pm-1pm

March to Brotman Hall: 1pm-2pm

Join the April 13 Actions to Protect our Education: take class action with faculty and students on all 23 CSU campuses are gearing up for large-scale demonstrations on April 13 in support of a fair contract for faculty and quality education for students

 

We need your help and support in spreading the word please pass the through beach board and facebook posts.

SQE Long Beach Chapter contact information: Lbstate.sqe@gmail.com

ISA's 45th Annual Multicultural Dinner Show

The International Students Association presents its 45th Annual Multicultural Dinner Show, " Around The World in An Evening" on Friday, April 8th, 2011. The event will be featuring performances and food from across the globe.The tickets for the event are priced as below:

Students- $15 (Bring your student ID with you when you purchase)
Faculty and Staff- $20
Others- $25

You can purchase tickets at the CIE office in Brotman Hall 201 or from current ISA officers. The details of the event are as follows:

When? Friday, April 8, 2011 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Where? USU Ballrooms, CSULB.
Everyone is invited!

You can call the CIE front desk @ 562-985-4106 for assistance or email csulbisa@gmail.com for more details.

LBPOST: Event Honoring Former CSULB President's Life Set for April 30

A public Celebration of Life remembering the late Steve Horn, former president of Cal State Long Beach and U.S. congressman, is being planned for Saturday, April 30, at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center.

Horn passed away at his home in Long Beach on Feb. 17 due to complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. He was 79. Click here to read the Long Beach Post's previous coverage of Horn's death.

The university's third president, Horn lead the campus for 18 years, during which time the university grew in stature and distinction. His tenure from 1970 to 1988 proved to be a time of growth for the university, both in terms of academic programs and services, as well as physical facilities on the campus.  

Horn strengthened existing academic programs, reformed the general education requirements and initiated several innovative programs at CSULB, including an honors program; the student internship program; student learning assistance; Senior University, which is now known as Osher Lifelong Learning Institute; and the Disabled Student Resources Center.

The physical aesthetic of the university also took shape under his direction. Several campus facilities were erected while he was at CSULB''s helm. Among them are the Social Services and Public Administration building, Brotman Hall, the Engineering and Computer Sciences complex, Ithe Music complex, International House, Parkside Residence Halls and the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden.