The Associated Students Inc. Senate failed to pass SR No. 25, a resolution in support of the call for the immediate end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, on Wednesday.
The current resolution was a revision from the previous week and called for a future boycott by ASI and 49er Shops Inc. of companies that maintain business relationships with Israel, including Caterpillar and Motorola.
ASI Treasurer Brian Troutner reported to the Senate that Cal State Long Beach currently has a working relationship with Caterpillar, as they are sub-contracted to build the new Student Recreation and Wellness Center. According to Troutner, ending their current relationship with Caterpillar would bring about legal ramifications, since it would constitute a breach of contract.
CSULB would also have difficulty boycotting Motorola products, as they are the manufacturers of the University Police walkie-talkies. There are currently 100 of these walkie-talkies in police circulation, and replacement of them, at $300 apiece, would cost CSULB $30,000.
Senator Everett Bryan of the college of engineering encouraged the students in the gallery to draft a new resolution for future consideration.
Related story: MSA submits boycott call to ASI
Textbook affordability resolution voted down
The Associated Students Inc. Senate voted down a resolution requesting that 49er Shops Inc. — which runs the University Bookstore — consider a number of strategies to keep textbook costs stable.
The proposed strategies included establishing a uniform textbook mark-up policy that would not exceed 25 percent, expanding and promoting the Textbook Rental Program, implementing of “a transparent pricing methodology for all items” sold through 49er Shops Inc. and increasing “the publicity and availability of electronic media.”
A number of senators speaking on the resolution said that it was not ASI’s place to direct 49er Shops Inc. on this issue.
Sen. Everett Bryan moved to postpone voting on this issue last week so that he could first meet with Don Penrod, the general manager and CEO of 49er Shops Inc.
Bryan said that Penrod’s intentions were already to reduce textbook prices and increase the number of books available through the Textbook Rental Program.
Penrod said that 49er Shops Inc.’s textbook markup rates are “a little above average,” according to Bryan.
He also said Penrod hopes to double the amount of textbook titles made available through the Textbook Rental Program for next semester.
“I strongly discourage endorsing this resolution to encourage [Penrod] to do what he’s already doing,” Bryan said. He added that a resolution thanking Penrod for his efforts would be more appropriate.
While ASI Vice President Christopher Chavez — who organized the resolution — acknowledged these grievances, he also said that no senators had come to him with amendments to the bill or suggestions besides those saying “We cannot tell 49er Shops what to do.”
Chavez said before the meeting that the resolution was written after the California State Student Association “urged their constituents to work with campuses to lower textbook prices or make action to potentially lower textbook prices.”
College students spent an average of $702 on course-related materials in the 2007-2008 academic year, according to the National Association of College Stores.
Sen. Piero Sandoval suggested that ASI work instead to promote the Textbook Rental Program.
Following the vote, Chavez said “That’s the first time we had a resolution fail.”
After the Senate meeting, CEO and general manager of 49er Shops Inc. Don Penrod said he agreed that the proposed resolution would have been an overstep on the Senate’s part.
Penrod said that, although the resolution sounded like it was aimed at stabilizing textbook prices, it would have ultimately been 49er Shops Inc.’s responsibility to manage the outcome.
“There is a point or two in our margin that we are looking to get rid of,” Penrod said of the textbook pricing structure, but added that “If we give up $2 on every textbook, it makes a world of difference in our life.”
He noted that the University Bookstore has “lost market share consistently” over the past few years due to competition with online vendors.
“We don’t have a captive market anymore,” Penrod said.
Penrod said he is a proponent of textbook rentals and plans to expand the Textbook Rental Program.
But he also said textbook rental brings with it unique risks, such as the possibility of students’ not returning books at the end of the semester. Penrod also pointed out that, since the books are rented out at a discounted rate, it takes a while for 49er Shops Inc. to reclaim the costs of purchasing the books.
According to Fred Neely, the bookstore director, 173 total books were rented through the program in the current semester.
Penrod said that the bookstore is also researching the feasibility of electronic textbooks.
“Even though we know that’s our future,” Penrod said. “I don’t think the markets are ready.”
On legislation regulating textbooks, Penrod said he is skeptical that any legislation could effectively solve the problem of high textbook prices, and that they often have the potential to tie the hands of textbook vendors.
The ASI textbook affordability resolution was voted on about a month after a set of bills regarding college textbooks was introduced to the California State Legislature.
California State Senate Bill 386 would require Cal State University faculty members to submit cost-benefit analyses if they plan to adopt a new edition of a textbook within three years of having adopted a previous edition.
The cost-benefit analysis would have to include a justification for changing textbook editions, comparisons of the old and new editions and disclosure of any financial interests a faculty member might have in the proposed switch.
The analyses would be submitted to the faculty members’ university’s academic senate, administration and student government, and would be made available to students.
yes, the resolution would not affect the contract with catepillar, but the effect on Motorolla is cause enough to not consider this resolution. Once a few of the Motorolla radios go out and need to be replaced, you’d have to replace them all so there wouldn’t be compatibility issues of Motorolla and non-Motorolla radios. Not a good use of $30,000 worth of student fees.
Very childish idea to boycott and not very well thought out. Why don’t we boycott the air we breathe because Israelis use oxygen while they fight Palestinians. Grow up….please.
Test
I would like to commend Sen. Everett Bryant for his efforts. This political move will only hurt ASI, relations between Jews and Muslims at CSULB, and do nothing to help the victims of the conflict.
To "Your Name"
Unfortunately, you latched onto one word out of the entire comment for your argument, rather than giving yourself credibility the larger issue. I’ll tackle your focus on the one word “evasive” first.
Maybe you can spring for the costs of including a copy of Roberts Rules of Order with each copy of the 49er for those of us who are not as enlightened as you. Just about anybody who’s spoken to VP Chavez about ASI governmental decisions can attest he avoids breaking the jargon down to simpler terms. This is a ploy of non-accountability, i.e. “evasive” that professional politicians employ. Such a tactic is meant to protect the politico through a series of passive voice maneuvering, hence, is “evasive.”
I agree it’s also the reporter’s responsibility to hold an elected official’s feet to the flame for clarity and not be relegated to such a weak and non-definitive clause as “failed to pass,” but Chavez undoubtedly can recognize a reporter’s lack of savvy and training, which allows him to be “evasive.”
As for the resolution, the ASI Senate was merely taking a coward’s road, much like they did with the Beach Legacy Referendum. During the second reading, the ASI was informed that the boycott was more symbolic than anything and wouldn’t affect ANY current contracts with corporations like Caterpillar. But they chose to focus on what they perceived –through inaccurate interpretation and advice–to kill the proposition. This parliamentary procedural tactic is designed to squash debate about a proposal, which would be open with allowing a third reading. The issue is important enough to reach the debate stage because we’re talking about human life on both sides, but the Senate chose the low road of further consideration. They intentionally overlooked the bullet points of the resolution to take a self-protectionist role. This was based not on representing the constituents that put them in office, but an administrative/university ‘image’ standpoint. It was all pretty cowardly, like not taking a stance on the BLR. This is a weak ASI, for the most part, not wanting to throw the baby out with the bathwater because there are SOME good representatives. It’s too bad they’re few and far between.
To Your Name,
Before you accuse our ASI VP of using “evasive tactics,” maybe you should read over Robert’s Rules of Order so that you could really understand what he means. If you’re confused, then why not contact Chris Chavez or the ASI Government Office so that you could truly understand what they mean. Instead of calling someone evasive, be more proactive and contact him or the ASI Government Office so that they could explain it to you in layman’s terms.
You do bring up a good point about the article that could cause a little confusion. The general public doesn’t really understand Robert’s Rules of Order and the article wasn’t written by Chris Chavez. I would recommend for the writers of the article to really simplify some information that they get for an article so that people can easily understand the content of the article.
To your name: If you’re really confused, I would highly recommend to contact Chris Chavez or the ASI Government Office to find out more information.
To the writers of the article: If people are confused due to some terminology and phrases that people wouldn’t normally see in their daily routine, I would highly recommend for the Daily 49er to write a short follow up article.
To ASI: I would recommend for ASI to write up a public statement each week (or so) about why certain resolutions passed and why some didn’t. By doing this, people will know more about the actions of ASI.
Thank you Mr. Zitney, but it seems like it really hasn’t failed as a whole, by the slippery definition “ASI voted not to vote on the resolution.” The beginning of your explanation is confusing. I realize Chavez didn’t make it easier or any clearer for you. Is it “Every senate resolution is required to go through three readings” or “Every senate resolution is required to [survive] three readings?” It seems like the latter if it “failed to obtain second reading status.” Also confusing, how did it fail to obtain a second reading status if this was the second reading? What does that even mean?
I may be wrong, but isn’t each reading meant to allow the author/s to tweak or amend the resolution for the subsequent reading; a fine-tuning process? If so, then wouldn’t ASI be obligated to hear a third and final reading?
No wonder more students don’t want to get involved with student government. The ASI VP merely regurgitates evasive procedural jargon from a policy manual, rather than giving clearer descriptions. Or perhaps Chavez doesn’t understand it enough to explain it in non-bureaucratese. For the readers’ sakes (many of whom don’t know Roberts Rules of Order), the reporter should break it down into lay terms. Don’t make us work so hard at decoding the processes, or you’ll risk losing us. I appreciate your attempt, Mr. Zitney, but if you don’t fully get it — as per your inclusion of “from what I understand,” the average reader (like me) will definitely not get it. If students don’t understand the decisions, they will remain apathetic over the deeper issues surrounding the Gaza situation.
The resolution calling for a boycott is important to student and community groups on both sides of the argument, so clarifying what happened is important to their passionate involvement. I’ve already heard members in opposing contingencies express their confusion. It’s easy to understand why.
authors of this piece, it is interesting that despite having a voice recorder in addition to your notepad, you are still unclear of what the revised resolution entails. the companies were exclusively CAT and motorola. NOT, “companies that maintain business relationships with Israel, including Caterpillar and Motorola.” For additional resources, you can request a copy of the video that a member of Hillel recorded during the meeting. You know, their usual intimidation tactic.
Your name,
Every senate resolution is required to go through three readings, in which senate members are given the chance to bring up issues and discuss the resolution, as well as hear public comment. I had the same question myself and e-mailed Christopher Chavez, who explained that “If a legislative item fails to obtain first or second reading status, the resolution as a whole fails. In this case, SR 2009-25 failed to obtain second reading status” — meaning that it failed as whole. Basically, ASI voted to not vote on the resolution, from what I understand. As indicated by Sen. Bryan’s comment in the article, though, a new, revised resolution can be submitted to the Senate in the future.
I hope that clears it up at least a little bit.
Thank you for reading.
Please clarify: What does “failed to pass” even mean? Does that mean it’s a dead issue or that it will be revisited at a future reading? “Failed to pass” is political jargon and doesn’t provide closure to the issue one way or the other.