**DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a student at CSULA and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Carlos Lopez-Jimenez or of any affiliated organizations. Furthermore, Carlos Lopez-Jimenez has requested that the University Times publish a retraction due to various mistakes in the article, chiefly the fact that he has never run for office within student government as his prior office was an appointed position rather elected and also, at the time of publication of this article, Carlos had already resigned from his prior position as an ASI Academic Senator and is not currently affiliated to the Associated Students Inc., at California State University, Los Angeles.**
CONVERSION DEBATE REVEALS ASI RIFTS
(CSULA-UT)
Friday, 20 February 2009
At least 100 students rallied in front of the Administration building yesterday against the budget cuts and hoping to prevent the estimated $4 to $80 million-semester conversion.
Jonathan Bilwani, a third year psychology student said “I’m against the conversion because I’m a working student. If the semester were in effect it would make it more expensive, prolong my graduation, and make it harder to take the classes I need.”
The quarter system at CSULA has been in effect since 1967 and was originally intended to accommodate to a greater number of students. Between the years of 1960 and 1975, there was a 65% increase in the college student population within the United States. The protest began Wednesday at 12:00 pm. Supporters gathered and responded to speakers about University issues, and voiced their opinions to fellow students about the campus conversion. Carlos Lopez Jimenez, undergraduate ASI Academic Senator, led the rally on the march across campus. He expressed his reasons why students should take action on this issue. “The rally itself fulfilled its intended purpose. We got the message across to administration. We got Tony Ross to commit to having an open town hall meeting with the students, organized by the students. He also said he would ask President Rosser to be present at that meeting as well. What I’m really hoping for is that those promises will be fulfilled.”
Jimenez also contended that ASI President Jennifer Chemel had failed to represent the interests of CSULA students. “I am very disappointed by the fact that our own ASI president Jennifer Chemel was not here, even though she openly stated that she’s advocating for the students. She also openly stated that she is against the semester system. However, she was not here to be a voice for the majority of the student body.”
Before the rally, ASI President, Jennifer Chemel, discussed her views on the conversion and it’s impact on students. “There has to be student input on every level. I feel that there are pressing issues that we can be using people-power for” she continued. “The conversion [if it does happen] will be uniform with other CSU’s; it shouldn’t affect students much financially because instead of paying for three quarters you’ll be paying two semesters.” Among other things Chemel’s absence from the rally has become a point of contention. Jimenez, who serves in Chemel’s administration, is also the chair of a group calling itself the Student Action Coalition (SAC). Claiming the support of this group, on Tuesday Jimenez sent out a mass facebook message to CSULA students calling for the impeachment of President Chemel. This comes in conjunction with considerable criticism ASI has faced recently under charges of lackadaisical leadership. “She hasn’t represented the students,” said Jimenez of Chemel. “Whether her impeachment is successful or not I want this to send a message that students do have a voice and if the leadership in ASI is not representing them they too [the leadership] will have to answer to the students.” he said.
Jimenez and the SAC have been spreading the word of the proposed impeachment through facebook and paper flyers. They have begun a petition to oust Chemel online for students to sign. Observers have noted that the acrimonious debate between Lopez-Jimenez and Chemel is far more personal than ideological or political. Chemel says it is an open secret that Lopez-Jimenez wants her job, and has made her defeat his personal vendetta.
Lopez-Jimenez, who ran unsuccessfully for ASI office prior to winning his current seat, says that even if his impeachment efforts succeed, he does not intend to run for the office of ASI President. In this context it isn’t surprising that Chemel did not participate in the Wednesday rally; the antipathy between the two ASI leaders is palpable; signs not so much Chemel’s support of the conversion plan, but rather the discord at the highest levels of ASI.
Vice President of Academic Affairs, Tony Ross was present for part of the rally and responded to participants concerns. When asked about the budget and funding for the conversion, Ross explained, “There’s no cost associated with anything, until there’s an actual decision that we may move or not move towards a semester conversion. The planning committee has to factor that in. From a faculty standpoint, just as ASI is the official vote of the students, the Academic Senate is the official voice of the faculty.”
Ross continued, “I don’t have an answer for you in terms of anticipated costs. You are asking me about anticipated costs on something that hasn’t been decided yet. I can’t address that now. “
Melina Abdullah, professor of Pan African studies, said to Tony Ross’ and participants at the rally, “We had to fight in the senate to get a faculty vote, because we wanted to get it documented that the academic senate is not the only vote of the faculty.” Abdullah continued, “I teach here because I like the face of CSULA…one of the calls is for a town hall meeting where we can all voice our opinions beyond just relying on ASI. “
Around 1:30pm students and faculty began to disperse. The demonstration suggested a significant level of concern and interest in the campus community.
Organizers of the rally made it clear that Wednesday’s demonstration would not be the last action. Another rally will occur today at 12:00pm in the same location, outside the administration building.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
ASI LEADERSHIP MISSING
ASI LEADERSHIP MISSING
February 13, 2009 (Published in February 19, 2009 Edition of U Times)
Student Representation creates a structure to ensure that students' views are head in order to bring about improvement in the quality of the student experience and development of learning and teaching within the institution.
--Adapted from The University Of Manchester
At CSULA, we do have a student government association, the Associated Students Incorporated (ASI). However, like any organization, the underlying fundamental behavior of this association has a direct link with its leadership. In any given year, when a President is elected into office, he or she has committed to providing true student representation even in the face of challenges from the University administration, faculty, and staff. If a president proves to be knowledgeable in their charge and shows character by challenging University policies and proposals when they are against the desire of a majority of the student population, then the rest of the association will follow suit. However, when a President takes upon a lax and complacent attitude and chooses to bow down to the views of the administration, the association cannot be expected to show much character either, unless they oppose both the University administration and the leadership within their own association!
On Wednesday February 18, there was a student-led rally to protest the Academic Senate's vote to mover forward with the planning stages for a conversion to a semester system at CSULA. Protest organizers felt that for any planning to take place, funds will be required. It is the opinion of many students, myself included, that any funds that are readily for use should be invested in saving the quality of education for students, especially when we are facing the darkest hours of a global economic crises. The rally gained the support of both students and faculty alike and many hours were dedicated by certain key individuals. But one person that has been absent from these discussions is our un-elected ASI President, Jennifer Chemel.
There are those who blame the entire ASI for the current situation. However an organization is only as capable as its leader. One would hope, however, that instead of claiming credit for the work of others and misrepresenting the 23,000 students at CSULA, our current and future student leaders will opt to begin the work of rebuilding the campus in both pride and unity, advocating for the rights of CSULA students and the value of investment in higher in education.
Carlos Lopez-Jimenez
Economics Student
clopezj@calstatela.edu
(310) 384-7254
February 13, 2009 (Published in February 19, 2009 Edition of U Times)
Student Representation creates a structure to ensure that students' views are head in order to bring about improvement in the quality of the student experience and development of learning and teaching within the institution.
--Adapted from The University Of Manchester
At CSULA, we do have a student government association, the Associated Students Incorporated (ASI). However, like any organization, the underlying fundamental behavior of this association has a direct link with its leadership. In any given year, when a President is elected into office, he or she has committed to providing true student representation even in the face of challenges from the University administration, faculty, and staff. If a president proves to be knowledgeable in their charge and shows character by challenging University policies and proposals when they are against the desire of a majority of the student population, then the rest of the association will follow suit. However, when a President takes upon a lax and complacent attitude and chooses to bow down to the views of the administration, the association cannot be expected to show much character either, unless they oppose both the University administration and the leadership within their own association!
On Wednesday February 18, there was a student-led rally to protest the Academic Senate's vote to mover forward with the planning stages for a conversion to a semester system at CSULA. Protest organizers felt that for any planning to take place, funds will be required. It is the opinion of many students, myself included, that any funds that are readily for use should be invested in saving the quality of education for students, especially when we are facing the darkest hours of a global economic crises. The rally gained the support of both students and faculty alike and many hours were dedicated by certain key individuals. But one person that has been absent from these discussions is our un-elected ASI President, Jennifer Chemel.
There are those who blame the entire ASI for the current situation. However an organization is only as capable as its leader. One would hope, however, that instead of claiming credit for the work of others and misrepresenting the 23,000 students at CSULA, our current and future student leaders will opt to begin the work of rebuilding the campus in both pride and unity, advocating for the rights of CSULA students and the value of investment in higher in education.
Carlos Lopez-Jimenez
Economics Student
clopezj@calstatela.edu
(310) 384-7254
CSULA STUDENTS ORGANIZE RALLY TO COUNTER LOSS OF REPRESENTATION IN DISCUSSIONS TO CONVERT UNIVERSITY INTO A SEMESTER SYSTEM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2009
Event: CSULA Student Rally
Contact Person: Carlos Lopez-Jimenez
Company Name: California State University, Los Angeles
Telephone Number: (310) 384-7254
Email Address: clopezj@calstatela.edu
Web site address: www.csulaleadership.webs.com
CSULA STUDENTS ORGANIZE RALLY TO COUNTER LOSS OF REPRESENTATION IN DISCUSSIONS TO CONVERT UNIVERSITY INTO A SEMESTER SYSTEM
Los Angeles, CA, Monday, February 16, 2009 — On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, students of California State University, Los Angeles, will congregate on the campus’ main walkway at 12 noon to protest the proposed university conversion to a semester system from its traditional quarter system.
This rally is a student-organized response to the series of discussions that have taken on the CSULA campus where the majority sentiment of the student community has been voiced as being against the conversion; however, on January 13, 2008 the university’s Academic Senate announced the final results of the advisory vote to the President on whether or not to proceed with the preliminary planning of a possible conversion to a semester system. The Senate voted in an overwhelming 30-17 in favor of proceeding with the said planning. The Academic Senate is the official representative body of University faculty which speaks on its behalf on matters within its purview, such as policy on curricula, promotion, retention and tenure matters, and other matters that affect faculty.
Estimates for the costs of such a conversion have ranged from anywhere from $ 1 million to an alarming $18.3 million based on comparisons of other universities that have undergone similar conversions.
In an official statement issued by the Associated Students Inc., the student government on the campus, stated that no decision has been made yet on whether the conversion will occur.
"… this is still up to the president of the University to decide" the statement said
With recent budget cuts and fee increases that have drastically affected the quality and accessibility of higher education in California, students are expressing concern over the possible costs of the conversion. The planned demonstration intends to meet outside the office of CSULA President James M. Rosser on the afternoon to collectively express their concerns and frustrations with the lack of student representation in the University’s policy making process and with the proposed conversion.
Event: CSULA Student Rally
Contact Person: Carlos Lopez-Jimenez
Company Name: California State University, Los Angeles
Telephone Number: (310) 384-7254
Email Address: clopezj@calstatela.edu
Web site address: www.csulaleadership.webs.c
CSULA STUDENTS ORGANIZE RALLY TO COUNTER LOSS OF REPRESENTATION IN DISCUSSIONS TO CONVERT UNIVERSITY INTO A SEMESTER SYSTEM
Los Angeles, CA, Monday, February 16, 2009 — On Wednesday, February 18, 2009, students of California State University, Los Angeles, will congregate on the campus’ main walkway at 12 noon to protest the proposed university conversion to a semester system from its traditional quarter system.
This rally is a student-organized response to the series of discussions that have taken on the CSULA campus where the majority sentiment of the student community has been voiced as being against the conversion; however, on January 13, 2008 the university’s Academic Senate announced the final results of the advisory vote to the President on whether or not to proceed with the preliminary planning of a possible conversion to a semester system. The Senate voted in an overwhelming 30-17 in favor of proceeding with the said planning. The Academic Senate is the official representative body of University faculty which speaks on its behalf on matters within its purview, such as policy on curricula, promotion, retention and tenure matters, and other matters that affect faculty.
Estimates for the costs of such a conversion have ranged from anywhere from $ 1 million to an alarming $18.3 million based on comparisons of other universities that have undergone similar conversions.
In an official statement issued by the Associated Students Inc., the student government on the campus, stated that no decision has been made yet on whether the conversion will occur.
"… this is still up to the president of the University to decide" the statement said
With recent budget cuts and fee increases that have drastically affected the quality and accessibility of higher education in California, students are expressing concern over the possible costs of the conversion. The planned demonstration intends to meet outside the office of CSULA President James M. Rosser on the afternoon to collectively express their concerns and frustrations with the lack of student representation in the University’s policy making process and with the proposed conversion.
An Online Partnership with Fellow Students
As I'm preparing for another advocacy effort on the part of CSULA students, I wanted to ask you, my core supporters, to help me begin to build a strong, online, grassroots network of supporters and activists to help us fight for a better future for our University and our surrounding campus community, not to mention statewide. Over the coming weeks, I will be employing various methods in an effort to communicate with my fellow students -- including my new blog and website -- but there is one that you and I, together, can help get off the ground right now: this Facebook page.
I want you to help me grow our Facebook page community so we can begin to share our vision of a mobilized and unified CSULA with a new thoughts and ideas. After much deliberation with several key advisors, such as the Student Action Coalition at California State University, Los Angeles and the executive board of Earth LA, we came up with few easy steps that can help you start using Facebook to grow our community right away.
1. Become a supporter. The quickest way to start growing our numbers is for you to make sure you've signed up as a supporter. And better yet, when you become a supporter, your friends will see it in their News Feeds, so just by joining you'll be helping spread the word!
2. Click the Share button on my page. By sharing the page, it will be posted to your profile and in your friends' News Feeds. You can also add a comment about why you are supporting my candidacy and why you think others would want to as well!
3. Post a link to my page in your Facebook status. Use a message like, "Join me in supporting student representation at CSULA!" and include this link to my page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carlos-Lopez-Jimenez/120138260493
4. Write a note about what change here on our campus means to you and tag your friends in it. Then, include a link to the page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carlos-Lopez-Jimenez/120138260493 ) so they can join us and so that I too may read about your opinions and concerns!
5. Email your friends. I will be constantly updating to post relevant news regarding issues at CSULA and our surrounding community, but I also need your help! Help me by continuing the chain of information by forwarding emails to all of your CSULA contacts. Then, include a link to my page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carlos-Lopez-Jimenez/120138260493 ) and encourage them to tell their friends as well!
Still looking for more ways to spread the word or having some trouble? Don't hesitate to contact me at clopezj@calstatela.edu for more information!
Building a strong and active online community will help us build the vision of a green, unified, and strong CSULA campus community that we all share. But to create that community, I need your help to recruit your friends and make our Facebook page a place where we can all come together and look to the future.
Here, we have the opportunity to not just share, but also shape a new vision for LA. My colleagues and I will be posting videos, articles, and messages for the community there, but you will also have the chance to share your videos, photos, and thoughts. Together, we can discuss the future of Cal State LA and ways to make it brighter for everyone.
Thank you for your continued support, and make sure to keep an eye out for new tools as we build this online movement.
Very Truly Yours,
Carlos Francisco Lopez-Jimenez
I want you to help me grow our Facebook page community so we can begin to share our vision of a mobilized and unified CSULA with a new thoughts and ideas. After much deliberation with several key advisors, such as the Student Action Coalition at California State University, Los Angeles and the executive board of Earth LA, we came up with few easy steps that can help you start using Facebook to grow our community right away.
1. Become a supporter. The quickest way to start growing our numbers is for you to make sure you've signed up as a supporter. And better yet, when you become a supporter, your friends will see it in their News Feeds, so just by joining you'll be helping spread the word!
2. Click the Share button on my page. By sharing the page, it will be posted to your profile and in your friends' News Feeds. You can also add a comment about why you are supporting my candidacy and why you think others would want to as well!
3. Post a link to my page in your Facebook status. Use a message like, "Join me in supporting student representation at CSULA!" and include this link to my page: http://www.facebook.com/pa
4. Write a note about what change here on our campus means to you and tag your friends in it. Then, include a link to the page (http://www.facebook.com/pa
5. Email your friends. I will be constantly updating to post relevant news regarding issues at CSULA and our surrounding community, but I also need your help! Help me by continuing the chain of information by forwarding emails to all of your CSULA contacts. Then, include a link to my page (http://www.facebook.com/pa
Still looking for more ways to spread the word or having some trouble? Don't hesitate to contact me at clopezj@calstatela.edu for more information!
Building a strong and active online community will help us build the vision of a green, unified, and strong CSULA campus community that we all share. But to create that community, I need your help to recruit your friends and make our Facebook page a place where we can all come together and look to the future.
Here, we have the opportunity to not just share, but also shape a new vision for LA. My colleagues and I will be posting videos, articles, and messages for the community there, but you will also have the chance to share your videos, photos, and thoughts. Together, we can discuss the future of Cal State LA and ways to make it brighter for everyone.
Thank you for your continued support, and make sure to keep an eye out for new tools as we build this online movement.
Very Truly Yours,
Carlos Francisco Lopez-Jimenez
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