Gerth rejects appointments to Foundation board

University President Donald Gerth has rejected a list of students nominated by Associated Students, Inc. to be student representatives of the CSUS Foundation Corporate Board.

ASI sent three names to the president’s office — Geoff Sakala, president of ASI; Effie Miller, director of campus life; and Sean South, vice president of University Affairs.

Miller and Sakala will automatically retain the position. Miller will continue her seat on the board because she served last year and Sakala because he is ASI president.

“Effie and Geoff will remain on the board and that is all the student representation that ASI will have,” said Shirley Uplinger, vice president for student affairs.

Gerth has requested more nominations to choose from, but South, the only nominee denied a seat, insists the decision is personal because of South’s strong stands on campus issues.

“There’s obviously something about the Foundation that President Gerth doesn’t want to come out,” South said.

President Gerth is delivering a paper at the Salzburg Seminar in Austria and is unavailable for comment.

At Gerth’s request, Sakala tried to add additional names at the Sept. 15 ASI meeting, but South blocked the motion. Following the board meeting, an official list of the three nominees was sent to the president.

According to Uplinger, the president’s position is not personal.

“On some committees and boards, the president requests more names than available seats,” she said. “The president wants to ensure that these boards have a balanced representation.”

It was not just ASI that had to submit more names. The faculty senate had to do the same, and they complied, Uplinger said.

On Friday, Sakala received a letter from President Gerth refusing to make appointments until more names were sent.

“If Geoff proposes legislation submitting more names, I will oppose it and encourage the board to defeat it,” South said. “I am working on a resolution condemning President Gerth for overstepping his bounds.”

Sakala doesn’t plan on submitting more nominations for the committee, leaving one vacant student seat on the Foundation Board.

“I’m not going to do anything. I’ve done what my board has told me to do,” Sakala said. “My hands are tied.”

The CSUS Foundation oversees the campus bookstore, food service, property development, contract services and almost all student employment on campus.