Spring 2007 goals for AS include rally against fees

By Kirstie Hettinga
The Collegian

Associated Students is working to launch a TV talk show on Fresno State channel 96 in an effort to better connect with students. But the nine-episode talk show is just one attempt to promote student engagement.

Improving communication is one of many goals AS has planned for the spring semester. Other plans include endorsing extended library service hours and rallying against the proposed CSU system-wide 10 percent fee increase.

AS is also working on internal streamlining. Public Relations Specialist Erica Dement said, “We’re in the process of revamping a lot of our structure. We are trying to develop more processes to have our office run smoother.”

Fiscal responsibility is a particular goal of AS this semester. Dement said they hope “to create more of a transparent budget for the students so they can see where their money is being spent.”

Vice President of Finance Russel Statham said, “We’ve taken measures to increase accountability as a whole.”

The actions taken by AS to ensure fiscal responsibility may be the result of an October 2006 memorandum in which AS admitted to mistakes that led to clubs and organizations receiving funding in violation of AS bylaws.

Statham said AS hopes to have a finalized budget by mid-April. Statham replaced former Vice President of Finance Isaac Lopez in early November 2006 after Lopez resigned for personal reasons. Statham previously served as AS President Juan Pablo Moncayo’s chief of staff.

Statham also said AS is examining scholarship opportunities. He said he believes scholarships could be created operating off of the interest of the AS budget and/or reserves.

“I would like to see five to 10 scholarships,” Statham said. The scholarships would not be available to members of AS and Statham said AS would like to work with the scholarship office to create a variety of awards, including scholarships for leadership, diversity and academics.

“One of our purposes is to advocate for affordability of higher education,” Statham said.

Fresno State’s California State Student Association representative, Esmeralda Santos, is fighting to keep education at an affordable level for students as well. Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget would include a 10 percent fee increase across the CSU System.

“They’re making college unaffordable,” Santos, the senator for clubs and organizations and member of the legal committee, said. Santos said they also hope to create a standing committee for lobbying.

Students against fee increases can take a stand by working with Santos on a campaign for a fee freeze and more funding for pubic education. A rally is planned for the end of April and Santos said she would like to see a letter-writing campaign as well.

Santos said local attention is especially important, because State Assemblyman Mike Villines, a Fresno State alumnus, is a member of the state budget committee.

“It’s important for the governor to realize that the CSU System is the people’s university,” Santos said.

Moncayo said the CSU board of trustees is not asking for all the money it needs from the government.

“[We] need to start conversation about keeping the CSU affordable and accessible,” Moncayo said.

While Moncayo and Santos both want to make sure students are aware of the possible fee increase, Moncayo said he is pleased by “one little victory.”

With the Henry Madden Library expansion, space and resources are limited.

“We had a big issue come up with study space during finals time,” Dement said. Dement also noted that Fresno State was among the most limited in library service hours in the CSU System. According to Dement, at least one CSU campus offers around-the-clock services during finals.

Moncayo said with the limited hours of operation, “The administration has basically driven students off campus.”

To better accommodate students, Moncayo said, “We’ve been able to convince the University to open on Saturday.”

In addition to its regular hours, the library will now be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

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