Earth LA, A Presidential Platform

When we heal the Earth, we heal ourselves

-- David Orr

Last year, Earth LA was launched with the purpose of pushing our campus and community to take better care of the environment we live in. Earth LA has also advocated on improving University policies in order to become more environmentally friendly. However this year, as the new Earth LA President, has pushed for the University to move ahead of the pack and be a truly environmental university through several measures.

First, I will exert pressure on our student government and University administration to sign the ACUPCC (a commitment and plan for making our University climate neutral). Also, I am currently in the process of instituting a monthly Campus Beautification Day, in which I hope to gain the cooperation and support from other campus clubs organizations. We have already started a recycling program on the campus; now I am assigning a full-time executive board member, previously the Sustainability Advisor to actively lobby in ASI and University-wide committees about the importance of improving on our recycling program by with more access to recycle bins for all types of recyclables and a greater widespread education on what can and cannot be recycled. It is obvious that a more aggressive CSULA partnership with Metro Transit would improve services to students and benefit the environment and, in recognition of this, I am having Earth LA take a leadership role in the institution of such a partnership. Finally, this year Earth LA will be taking sides in political issues that pertain to the environment and we will take an active role in educating our campus community in these issues.

We will still continue our traditional events such as the Eleventh Hour, Earth Day, and other festivals, but I assure you that this will only be a part of what Earth LA will be taking part in.

CSULA can set the bar for the rest of the community on becoming more environmentally friendly and push other CSU campuses to follow suit. The fight against global warming and environmental deterioration will shape the 21st century. It will be up to us to determine the eventual outcome. We must realize that understanding the laws of nature does not necessarily make us immune to their fury. In order to coexist, we must learn that every day is earth day.

I look forward to an amazing year with all of you... in peace and in harmony.

Carlos Lopez-Jimenez

Earth LA, President

ASI Office Hours for Fall 2008

As per ASI Bylaws mandating Academic Senators to serve a set number of office hours per week, I am pleased to announce my office hours for the 2008 Fall Quarter.

• Wednesday 3:20PM - 4:00PM
• Thursday 1:30PM - 3:00 PM

Hours are subject to change due to cabinet meetings and/or University-Wide Committees.

For times other than as listed, please send a request for an appointment via email. Unfortunately, I will not be holding office hours during finals week but will be checking my email regularly.

Ashes and Rebuilding

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation

-- Henry David Thoreau

How true this is. I know a person in particular that, even though her soul and heart is in one place, she has chosen to remain in the status quo. We each look for a safe vessel to place our hopes and dreams in but we come to realize, within time, that what makes the difference between happiness and despair is what our intuition and inner eye tells us. 

Then again, I could be wrong. However, I doubt that I am.