Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not yet filled the vacancies left on the California State University board of trustees and the California State Student Association has been left in an “information blackout” from the governor’s office, said Associated Students Inc. President Chris Chavez at Wednesday’s ASI meeting.
The board needs one more faculty trustee and one more student trustee.
“It is alarming that our representative — one of our voices — isn’t on that board,” Chavez said.
Chavez expressed his frustrations over the length of the selection period.
“Why things are taking so long, I don’t know, honestly. They did have an excuse when they were going through the budget compromise because that justifiably took all their time,” Chavez said. “But at this point, a little bit of information would be nice.
“The governor’s office has been very quiet about why they haven’t appointed someone yet. I know that faculty are very frustrated about it so it’s a growing frustration for us.”
The board of trustees governs all rules and regulations that concern all CSU campuses.
The meeting also highlighted the possibility of a forum series that will enable students to voice their questions and concerns about the recent furloughs.
The forums will focus on Long Beach’s current economic status, its relation to the school and to what extent students will be affected. Coordination of the series is still in the beginning stages and speakers are being contacted for the forums. They will include Michael Solt, dean of the College of Business Administration.
Senate Resolution 2010, which voices support for Assembly Bill 656 to direct a portion of a state oil tax to public universities, had its second reading during the meeting. It will have its third reading next week.
Three student representatives were also elected to the Academic Senate: Joseph Chavez, a political science major; Dean Dutro, a communications major; and Emily Terada, a child development graduate student from San Jose State.
Each cited their desire to help students as their motivation behind involvement in the Senate.
Terada said, “As a student, I know what everyone else is going through.”