ASI Senate addresses lighting fund withdrawal, campus retention rates

Published in the CSULB Daily 49er newspaper Oct. 4.

The Long Beach City Council voted against the plan to add additional lighting along the outskirts of Cal State Long Beach, according to President Mark Andrews of the Associated Students, Inc. Instead, the money was allocated toward after-school programs, a snow day and Halloween parties.

"Councilman Patrick O'Donnell made a motion to re-allocate the lighting money toward other programs," said Andrews while addressing the ASI Senate Wednesday. "There was an 8-1 vote, with Councilman Gary DeLong being the person that voted for us."

The Senate was also addressed by Catherine Pittet, the ASI public defender, who reminded the group about "Light Up Our Nights," which is a rally on campus today from noon to 2 p.m.

"The rally is in response to recent attacks on campus," Pittet said. "I hope it makes a big difference, because students are fed up."

The rally will include speakers such as City Councilman Gary DeLong, CSULB President F. King Alexander and Jack Pearson, the chief of police.

"We're putting together a town hall event for students, by students," Pittet said. "Hopefully this will have more of an impact, because students feel a connection with other students."

Students Caroline Chen, Kelly Janke and Sonia Esquibel also addressed the Senate regarding a safety petition in which they said they hope will extend the hours of the security escort patrols around campus.

"This petition is for campus safety," Chen said. "We want to increase the number of security officers during the hours of 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m."

Chen said they also want security guards patrolling each parking lot.

"My friends have told me about experiences they had when they called the campus escort service," Chen said. "They say they wait for 20 minutes, alone in the dark, while they wait for someone to arrive. It's ridiculous - anything can happen in that amount of time and I don't know why nothing has been done about it."

Janke said, "Daylight savings is going to be ending soon, so it will be getting darker earlier, and that means more opportunities. Plus, it's not just the women on campus who are scared. I've heard men are, too."

In other news, Andrews informed the Senate that CSULB is below the national average in graduation rates.

"This is something that affects the university's reputation," Andrews said. "Fortunately, the college has been working on this."

Andrews said the college's retention rate has climbed two percent this year, which will bring graduation rates up, but CSULB is still below the average.

"I don't want to be behind Cal State Fullerton," Andrews said. "Everyone who knows me knows I hate Fullerton. I'm not content with being the national average - I want to be above."

Andrews announced his creation of a new executive committee on student success. There will be at least two student senators on the board.

"We need to make this one of our biggest pushes this year," Andrews said. "Everyone should be working on it together."