Step 2 of the coalition "CSU is the Solution"

Alliance for the CSU and the California Faculty Association have been engaged in "Step 2" in protesting the $386 million budget cuts from the CSU system, according to the Daily 49er.

Booths set up over the weekend and today at CSULB, just one campus out of the 23 CSU's that have been implementing the coalition, "CSU is the Solution," had students signing fax memos to send to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office in Sacramento.

A total of 1,018 faxes were sent from CSULB alone from a booth at Kaleidoscope and today in front of Brotman Hall, according to Tom Pinkava, a regional field representative for CFA.

"We're basically trying to jam up his fax machines," Pinkava said.

The coalition is making waves throughout California, "People have been getting a few hundred faxes a day," said Lydia Sondhi, a family and consumer science associate professor and the Long Beach chapter president of CFA. "We've got thousands of signatures being collected statewide."

Photo from Daily49er.com

CSULB "elects" Obama as President

The Political Science Student Association conducted a mini-elections for U.S. President during Earth Week.

Results were as follows:

Barack Obama - 82%
John McCain - 9%
Hillary Clinton - 4%
Ron Paul - 4%

*Go to: WWW.VOTESMART.ORG for more information on all of the presidential candidates*

Statewide protests fight for lower tution costs

In Sacramento, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego students organized protests on Monday, according to the Daily 49er, who covered every protest.

2,500 students showed up on capitol hill, while the other areas did not see a massive amount of protesters (ranging from 30 to 50 people in other areas). Their words were supported and received by many who watched. In Santa Barbara on-going drivers honked while cruising by the determined rally participants to show their support for students and the importance of education and its availability.

"We are a part of history in the making," said Carina Vega, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges Region 6 representative and organizer of the Santa Barbara protest. "What do we need to do now? Vote!"

The protests were organized statewide by the coalition, Students for California's Future.

Below is a video from the Daily49er at Sacramento.

Links to each of the protests throughout California:

Santa Barbara

Los Angeles

Sacramento

Riverside

San Diego

Photos from Daily49er.com

ASI Elections go online TODAY!

According to the Daily 49er, this years elections for ASI president, vice president, senate members, and treasurer are all being voted for online this year.

Voter turnout in past elections have been meager. In 2007 the voter turnout was around 1,250, not nearly the 10 percent that most campuses see in student government voter turnout rates, according to Kim Hinckson, ASI Assistant Director of Student Involvement and Leadership.

Going online has also cut election costs in half. According to Hinckson, the average cost using poll booths cost approximately $10,000 a year because of the cost of paper and in order to pay poll workers. The online elections, however, have cost ASI half as much at $5,000.
(Photo below from csulb.edu)

"We've tried to funnel a lot of money into advertising," Hinckson said.

Whether the strategy works on bringing more students to the ballots, will only truly be seen after using the strategy for several years, Hinckson said. Most, including ASI candidates are banking on an increase in voter turnout.

*For more information on the candidates and their platforms: click here!*

Hate Crime and Speech Forum at CSULB

Though the spotlight was focused on CSULB psychology professor, Kevin MacDonald, the panelists at the Campus Forum on Hate Speech, Hate Crimes and Far Right Movements on Monday focused on hate crimes and speech as a whole in the United States, particularly southern California, according to the Daily 49er.

"Celebrating diversity is such a strong message," said Randy Blazak, director of Hate Crimes Research Network, "It's more than tolerance."

The only comments thus far made by President F. King Alexander on allegations made by several departments that MacDonald is an anti-Semite was in an April 11 e-mail statement sent to the Daily 49er:

"Despite the fact that I personally disagree and even find deplorable some beliefs and opinions expressed by a few individuals on our campus, particularly those ideas that are hurtful of certain groups, I believe as Thomas Jefferson stated that 'errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it' ... Universities should also be firmly committed, even at times when it is against popular opinion, to freedom of thought and when we act to restrict opinions from the far right or the far left, then it will not be long before we can no longer call ourselves a university."

The number of hate groups has increased from 602 to 888, since 2000, according to the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center, represented by Heidi Beirich at the Forum.

Kevin O'Grady (picture left) from the Anti-Defamation League noted that one of the challenges in tracking hate crimes and speech are the, "existence of lone wolves - the individual white supremacists and skinheads."

Photo from Daily49er.com

Former U.N. Ambassador Speaks at CSULB

According to the Daily 49er, former US Ambassador for United Nations spoke to CSULB students and faculty on his escape from Cambodia during the time Khmer Rouge, the communist rebel group. Sichan Siv also promoted his book, "Golden Bones," which describes his experience in fuller detail.

Siv, the only survivor out of his 15 other family members, served as deputy assistant to George Bush from 1989 to 1992 and as the UN Ambassador from 2001 to 2006. By the time he arrived to United States, Siv had $2 in his pocket.

"I was exhausted, but I was full of hope," Siv said.

"By the early '70s I began to see so much death and destruction," Siv said. "I saw a lot of markets where civilian lives were lost."

(from U.S. Department of State)

Bringing Siv to Long Beach was important for the Cambodian Student Society because of the Cambodian New Year. Karen Quintiliani, assistant professor for the department of anthropology, stated that Siv helped the Cambodian society in southern California by "putting Long Beach on the map in a whole new way." His name helped establish Cambodia Town in Long Beach, which is home to the largest Cambodian community outside Southeast Asia.

"Golden Bones" will be released July 1.

Click here for more information on the history of Cambodia and the occupation by the Khmer Rouge.

College Affordability Act of 2008

Some California legislators, students and parent volunteers at 30 CSU's and UC's are pushing the College Affordability Act of 2008, AB 2372, according to the Daily 49er. Joe Coto (D-San Jose), an assembly member, authored the bill that could potentially freeze tuition costs for the next five years if the bill is passed through legislation.

"This proposal adds—beginning in 2009—a new 1 percent surcharge on personal income above $1 million. This would establish a top state income tax bracket of 11.3 percent. It directs 60 percent of the new income tax revenues to the two university systems for undergraduate education. This proposal also freezes CSU resident undergraduate fees at their 2008-09 level for five years. After that period, the proposal would limit subsequent fee increases to no more than the annual percentage change in the California Consumer Price Index," according to the Legislative Analyst's Office.

A student-led organization, Tuition Relief Now, has had a similar initiative by getting signatures in what would hopefully end up on ballot. Chris Vaeth, the campaign director, said that when "collecting signatures to qualify for the ballot, student leaders are frequently asked why they are not instead pursuing a legislative route. AB 2372 is our answer."


Campaign video from Tuition Relief Now website.

Alleged Anti-Semitic Professor at CSULB

For several months a professor at CSULB, Kevin MacDonald, has been under the spotlight by several of the departments; some have even issued statements disassociating themselves with MacDonald, according to the Daily 49er. MacDonald has written a three-part series in evolutionary psychology that has been labelled as anti-Semitic and neo-Nazi by civil rights organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center. SPLC actually sent a representative to CSULB in November 2006 to get student and faculty input. According to the Daily 49er,

"MacDonald confirmed publishing his claims that the Jewish race was having a negative effect on Western civilization in 'The Culture of Critique.'"

Ronald Loewe, a professor of anthropology, recently wrote in a department wide e-mail that several departments are deciding on whether or not to write official statements disassociating themselves with MacDonald's allegedly racist teaching tactics.

President F. King Alexander has not responded to CSULB faculty in disassociating himself with MacDonald, but did say to “make sure that we are aspiring to promote true scientific progress and to aggressively challenge all individuals inside and outside of the academy that advance agendas that are premised on inequality, separation, human rights denial and abuses,” according to the preliminary Jewish studies statement sent via e-mail by Jeffrey Blutinger, co-director of the Jewish Studies Program, in response to MacDonald's controversial teachings and writings.

Below is a picture of Kevin MacDonald.

Photo from Daily49er.com

Huntington Beach Silent March

In protest against the war in Iraq, around 300 Huntington Beach locals, CSULB students and faculty, and other Orange and Los Angeles county residents, silently marched along Main Street of Huntington Beach on Saturday, according to the Daily49er.

"This year's march is very unique," said Thu-Trang Tran, a UC San Diego alumni and the protest coordinator for Orage County Peace Coalition. "Peace for our troops is a silent one," Tran said. "We had a solemn march and we emphasize community, but there has to be peace in the individual in order to have peace in the world."

Photo from Daily49er.com

Several guest speakers appeared after the march when all the protestors gathered near the beach. Sean McAllister, an Iraq War veteran, and Agustin Aguayo, also an Iraq War veteran, both spoke of how the Iraqi civilian lives are in danger because of U.S. occupation and because of internal conflict.

"It's about helping the Iraqis. Their lives are so torn up right now ... so please pay attention, wake your friends up ... let the troops know you support them," McAllister said.

While walking, some silent protestors were discriminated against and called terrorists. Some CSULB students were issued remarks by an off-duty LAPD sergeant calling them part of black-bloc, according to the Daily49er.

"They just don't understand the concept that we're all one," said Nicoal Sheen, a sophomore political science major who was wearing all black and a black bandana like those associated with black-bloc. "It's for protection and brings solidarity."

3,987 U.S. soldiers have thus died for the war in Iraq, according to Iraq Coalition Casualty Count.

5th Anniversary of Iraq War

The 5th year of U.S. occupation will come to an end this weekend. CSULB Campus Progressives organized a speak out today against the Iraq War, however guest speaker Agustin Aguayo cancelled due to family issues. The cancellation left many students standing around, "I'm really disappointed ... Aguayo is someone who peacefully refuses to be part of a war and nonsensical killing," Jen French said, a sophomore creative writing major and member of the Campus Progressives.

CSULB Campus Progressives then directed and encouraged students immediately after to attend a film Arlington West documented by Peter Dudar and Sally Marr. "The film, Arlington West, allows all to witness the poignant conversations, dramatic revelations, silences, personal experience, and share the tears with those who are paying the highest prices for war. A full array of opinions and sentiments are presented: active duty soldiers and Marines, Military Families, Veterans, and Children," according to the Arlington West website.

The Campus Progressives also encouraged people to attend either their own local rally this Saturday on March 15th or to at least attend the one in Los Angeles at Hollywood and Vine. Attendance last year in L.A. was around 50,000 people, according to answerla.org the main organizer for the annual protest. (Below is an photograph of the 2007 protest in L.A.)

Photo from AnswerLA.org

REAL ID's Around the Corner

REAL ID's are a nationwide effort intended to prevent terrorism, reduce fraud, and improve the reliability and accuracy of identification documents that State governments issue," according to the Department of Homeland Security website. The REAL ID Act passed by Congress in 2005 is supposed to enact in May of 2008, though many states, including California, have been granted an extension that expires in December of 2009. The REAL ID establishes Federal regulations that states must standardize into their state-issued driver's licences. According to the Final Rule of the REAL ID Act the standards include:

• Information and security features that must be incorporated into each card
• Application information to establish the identity and immigration status of an applicant before a card can be issued
• Physical security standards for facilities where driver's licenses
• Applicable identification cards are produced

After this deadline any regular state-issued driver's licences will not be accepted into Federal facilities, Federally-regulated commercial airplanes, and other similar Federal-regulated facilities.

Organizations at CSULB such as the Political Science Student Association wants students to write to their local legislators about these kinds of Federal regulations imposed on states, according to the Daily 49er. President of PSSA, Lindsay Nelson, displayed fear that the REAL ID Act could turn into a national identification card. "Contacting your representative is the easiest and best way of having a say in what your government is doing," Nelson said. "It's democracy at work."

*To write to your local representative for any reason go to congress.com to learn how to write an effective letter and it will also direct you to your local representative.*

Ludacris Concert Incited a Student Organized Protest

Associated Students Inc. at the CSULB campus organized a Ludacris concert for students and local community members on Saturday, February 23. Several students organized a protest against the Ludacris concert. According to Daily 49er in a preview article on the protest, "His lyrics are misogynistic, racist, homophobic, they glamorize capitalism and overconsumption, and promote violence against women," said Marina Wood, a junior women's studies major and organizer of the protest. Wood and her co-organizers felt that the concert was not aimed primarily at Ludacris, but at mainstream hip-hop media as a whole.

Before the protest and concert students , including those who organized the Ludacris concert, did not feel the protest was unnessecary. Keya Allen-Littleton, Program Council program coordinator told The Daily 49er, "No one here has animosity towards the protest. We're trying in Program Council to represent every student, so for us to be one way or another is wrong. We have to be open."

Photo from Daily49er.com

The Ludacris concert ended up with a small audience, as did the protestors. According to The Daily 49er in an article on the concert, Ludacris dedicated songs like "Move Bitch" to the protestors outside. Not very many protestors or concert-goers found their way to CSULB, but it was nice for many students to witness activism on this large and sometimes apathetic campus.

Anthropologists in the Military?

A larger debate associated with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have anthropologists in heated debates on the ethical implications of hiring anthropologists as contractors under the military. The anthropologists, who study the social traditions and culture of the Iraq and Afghanistan civilians, are embedded in the field wearing a uniform and may also carry a weapon. The anthropology department at CSULB held a debate Wednesday about the ethical implications of sending anthropologists to war, according to the Daily 49er.

The Iraq war is a more culturally sensitive war, as many of the panelists on the debate agreed. The American Anthropology Association, however, feels that by sending anthropologists under the name of the U.S. military threatens the work and research of American anthropologists around the globe. Other ethical issues are also implied in a formal AAA statement released on Oct. 1.

"In the context of a war that is widely recognized as a denial of human rights and based on faulty intelligence and undemocratic principles, the Executive Board sees the HTS project as a problematic application of anthropological expertise, most specifically on ethical grounds. We have grave concerns about the involvement of anthropological knowledge and skill in the HTS project," the AAA statement said.

The U.S. Army claims that information from anthropologists will "help us better understand what motivates them, what is important to the host nation in which we serve, and how we can either elicit the support of the population or at least diminish their support and aid to the enemy," said Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, according to the U.S. Army website.

Welcome to "Politics at California State University, Long Beach"

  This blog will cover student opinion and political events, debates and forums at CSULB as elections are underway and resentment lingers towards the war in Iraq.  In a time of political upheaval and history repeating itself our current youth stand in a position of future power -- but only if we know the facts.  Therefore, I feel my duty to ensure knowledge of these powers and decisions we will one day have to face.