CSULA: Key Issues & Concerns

In the past few days upon my return to LA, I have been meeting with several student leaders to discuss issues that are relevant to the CSULA community. While it has been quite a break from my recent trekking through the Burmese wilderness, it has still brought to my attention that most students are concerned about the state of the University. To illustrate this point, I will share a few of those with you here.

CSULA has a reputation as a second tier university

● CSULA has outstanding programs and professors, not to mention extremely prominent alumni.
● However, this has not promoted the way it should be, nor have we seen a visible effort to do so
● The excuse is that CSULA has too much of a commuter campus mentality
● The manner to rectify this is to increase student ownership of the University

• Some of the people I have met have even come up with some pretty catchy slogans for campaign work... here are two of my favorites
  

Your University... Your CSULA

Los Angeles’ University... CSULA

CSULA Campus Pride

● There is a generally apathy to our campus and a lack of school spirit
*Hardly anyone can be seen sporting CSULA gear outside of the University and even our own athletics programs see infrequent attendance
● Again, the solution is student ownership
*The more involved and invested students are, the more they feel that they have a say in what goes on and the more they will be willing to participate in our campus events

Advocacy and Outreach

● A.S.I. should be passing frequent resolutions in favor of relevant litigation
*This would be the secondary responsibility of the Judicial Review Committee J.R.C. and give them more of a legitimate responsibility
● I'm Going to College! (I.G.T.C.) outreach events in collaboration with the Alumni Center, E.O.P. and the Outreach programs on campus
Mobilization of the Student Body at CSULA
● There should be a visible effort from our student government to help vocalize the voice of the students at CSULA by helping in the formation of a considerable Lobby Corps and voter's coalition here on our campus.

Providing a venue for community events and carnivals
● California Academic Decathlon
● Athletic Competitions
● Concerts & Open Hall Venues
● Festivals and Carnivals

The shocking thing is that most of these key concerns can be easily dealt with. However, if things are not getting done in the fashion that is needed by those who represent you, then there is another alternative route... to create the change yourself! I am slowly getting the feeling that I will be working on these campaigns throughout the year and can't wait to see the campus mobilize itself and see people like yourselves in the forefront.

The time is NOW!