Lack of input hurts student interests

The student voice is going unheard at CSUS as evidenced by the number of empty seats on committees allowing student input.

One of the responsibilities of Kim Shaw, vice president of university affairs, is to assign students to these committees in order to keep the student population abreast on important issues of interest to them.

To date, Shaw has been unsuccessful in filling many of these positions.

"Many students are not aware that we (the students) have seats on all of these committees," Shaw said.

There are at least 45 University committees that students can choose to participate in.

"ASI also has a similar committee for most of the university committees," said Shaw.

She hopes that by informing students that they do have a say in various matters, she will solicit more student involvement on these committees.

"If a student is interested in a committee that has already been filled, there is a multitude of other committees that may be of interest," Shaw said.

"The board members are occupying most of the committee seats that have been assigned so far," Shaw said. She hopes to solicit the involvement of more of the student population to serve on these committees.

ASI president Gary Davis is currently serving on nine committees because of the lack of student involvement on campus. He currently serves on the Athletics Advisory Board, the Council for University Planning, CSUS Alumni Board, CSUS Foundation Board of Directors, Faculty Senate Executive Board, Honorary Degree Committee, Hornet Athletic Foundation, Instructionally Related Activities Funding Committee, Student Fee Advisory Committee and the Transportation Advisory Committee.

Due to the lack of student participation, Shaw is holding down five committees herself including the Alcohol and Drug Steering Committee, Faculty Senate, Student Academic Development Grant Allocation Committee, Student Health Advisory Committee, and Asia's Employee Advisory Committee.

Other board members also have their hands full with committee assignments. Minh Ly, director of engineering and computer science, is serving on the University Aquatic Center Advisory Board and the Environmental Health and Safety Committee.

Krista Behl, director of Education, is serving on the Committee on Administrative Review as well as the Council for University Planning.

Sean South, director of undeclared students, has two of his own: the Multi-Cultural Center Advisory Board and the Student Fee Advisory Committee.

The duties carried by the board members are in addition to their normal duties of governing the student body.

Even some students are helping carry the load. Student Natasha Clarke has been appointed to two committees; the HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee and the Multi-Cultural Center Advisory Board. Clarke is serving on these two committees in addition to her responsibilities as president of the Pan-African Student Alliance.

Committees needing input:

• Alcohol and Drug Steering Committee
• Aquatic Center Advisory Board
• ARTP Committee
• Athletics Advisory Board
• Campus Educational Equity Committee
• Committee for Diversity Awards Programs
• Committee on Administrative Review
• Committee on Economic Review
• Committee on Student Economic Support
• Council for University Planning
• CSUS Alumni Board
• CSUS Foundation Board of Directors
• Employee Advisory Committee (ASI Committee)
• Environmental Health and Safety Committee
• Faculty Senate
• Faculty Senate Academic Policies Committee
• Faculty Senate Curriculum Policies Committee
• Faculty Senate Executive Board
• Faculty Senate Faculty Policies Committee
• Faculty Senate General Education and Graduation Requirements Committee
• Financial Aid and Progress Appeals Board
• HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee
• Honorary Degree Committee
• Hornet Athletic Foundation
• Institutional Scholarship Committees
• Instructionally Related Activities Funding Committee
• KXPR/KXJZ Community Advisory Board
• Lottery Fund Allocation Committee
• Multi-Cultural Center Advisory Board
• Non- Academic Program Review Team
• Olympic Trials Committee
• Pedagogy Enhancement Award Committee
• Public Safety Advisory Committee
• Satisfactory Progress Appeals Board
• Student Academic Development Grant Allocation Committee
• Student Complaint Hearing Policy Procedures
• Student Fee Advisory Committee
• Student Health Advisory Committee
• Transportation Advisory Committee
• Union Policy Advisory Board of Directors
• University Committee for Persons with Disabilities
• Women's Resource Center
• Campus Environment Committee
• Outdoor Art Committee
• University Teacher Education Council