Campus security and water issues discussed at Senate

Published in CSULB Daily 49er newspaper Oct. 25.

A petition to increase the presence of campus security at night quickly morphed from a simple request to the Associated Students, Inc. Senate for support into a multi-layered resolution, heaving the Senate into confusion and disagreement Wednesday afternoon.

The resolution was eventually passed during the Senate meeting and the petition's author, communications major Caroline Chen, will now meet with CSULB President F. King Alexander and present her case with the backing of the Senate and over 2,000 student signatures.

"I wasn't prepared for the fight it turned out to be," Chen said. "But I'm glad to experience this."

The confusion that followed the petition dealt with possible inaccuracies written in the resolution sponsored by College of Liberal Arts Sen. Raul Preciado, College of Business Sen. Ruben Cordova and Sen. John Blowers. A disagreement with wording regarding sexual assaults on campus and the attempted expedition through the process - which requires three readings in multiple sessions, not three readings in one sitting - was the cause to the first postponement.

Wednesday's meeting almost saw another postponement because ASI Chairwoman and Vice President Lucy Montano didn't agree with doubling campus security.

"I understand this is urgent and we need to vote on it, but I don't think we need to double the amount of people working," Montano said. "I think we need to push for more carts.

"There's not enough carts to take people places, and I'm confused with what exactly they want to do."

During a break after the resolution passed Montano said, "I was confused. I thought that we were really trying to make an impact, but I realized we were just trying to support the petition."

Montano also said she was sad that some of the information in the petition is not exactly what they're trying to get at, like doubling security at night.

"But I'm happy it passed," Montano said. "At least the message will get across."

In other news, a water conservation resolution sponsored by College of Health and Human Services Sen. Megan Miller and Sen. Jeff Yutrzenka passed the first reading with all the Senate in agreement.

"We're facing a water crises throughout Southern California," Yutrzenka said. "I think we should pass this. It's important. It's vital."

The need to support the water conservation plan is critical under the premise that the three Northern California reservoirs - which supply half of Long Beach's water - have been recorded at their lowest levels in 15 years, according to the resolution.

Executive Director of ASI Richard Haller said, "The university land is considered state property and not obligated to follow Long Beach city's regulations. Everyone in Long Beach is following the water conservation regulations but the university."

This resolution will attempt to force the college to conform to Long Beach's regulations.