South writes legislation in support of group’s demands

Associated Students Inc. will consider a resolution in support of the demands of United Students for Action against The State Hornet at today’s ASI board meeting.

Sean South, ASI vice president of university affairs, proposed the legislation demanding that the State Hornet comply with certain requests made of the group.

U.S.A. is a loosely organized group that came together after the Oct. 6 publication of a picture in the State Hornet depicting a man being arrested at the Sept. 18 football game. According to South, the group is interested in diversity and expanding ethnic opportunities on campus. Student Activities Office Director Lou Camera stated there is no organization named U.S.A. registered as an official CSUS club.

“I am a member of U.S.A. and I support the group’s demands of The State Hornet,” South said. “I want to bring out issues that the entire student body should know.”

The resolution includes the request of a front-page apology from The State Hornet regarding what U.S.A. claims was an unfavorable depiction of Latinos, specifically, and minorities in general. Also that The State Hornet present their policies regarding photo selection, that staff should attend a cultural sensitivity workshop and that The State Hornet should write articles concerning minority experiences on campus.

But even South admits that the legislation will be difficult to pass.

“The board probably won’t support this issue because they are a bunch of whiteys,” South said.

David Sommers, editor in chief of the State Hornet, said he is disappointed by the proposed legislation because South made no attempt to talk to the Hornet about the issues and therefore could not have studied both sides of the situation. Additionally, U.S.A has not provided any contact information with the Hornet to discuss their concerns or attended any previous mediation meetings, according to Sommers.

“Right after the protest, the Hornet scheduled two separate meetings that the group agreed to attend in order to hear concerns and hear suggestions on how we should address diversity in the future,” Sommers said. “Both times the group failed to appear without any notice to the Hornet.”

Sommers said that the State Hornet respects the concerns of every student in terms of the way the newspaper presents events on the campus and covers a variety of multicultural issues with a diverse staff of reporters.

“It is unfortunate that in this instance, the group has not made itself available to different forums that would allow these issues to be resolved.” Sommers said.

No members of U.S.A. have come forward to comment. The person carring a letter of demands to The State Hornet refused to give his name and the letter gave no contact information. In this letter U.S.A. criticized the State Hornet’s portrayal of the incident as “unprofessional and in poor taste.”

The student-run newspaper ran a photo of an arrest at the Causeway Classic football game along side a story about community concerns over violence at large size sporting events.

The letter also addressed the goals of U.S.A aimed to “liberate individuals from ignorance, intolerance, and dogmatism, freeing them for critical and reflective thought, and for wise and effective action.”

Attached to the letter was a list of demands to which the State Hornet was to respond by Tuesday. It is from this letter that South drafted his resolution to support U.S.A.

“I am aware that these demands were given to the Hornet unanimously and do know the organizations members and have access to them, but at this time I do not feel I should give these names out.” South said.

Sommers said it is the policy of the State Hornet editorial board not to respond to anonymous letters, as they do not provide contact information with which to verify the authenticity of the author.

Geoff Sakala, president of ASI,said he does not agree with U.S.A’s accusations against the State Hornet.

“I really do not believe that the Hornet was out of line in publishing the picture, the headline, or in the way it was depicted,” Sakala said. “I don’t believe an apology is necessary.”

Chris Missick, director of social sciences and interdisciplinary studies, said that this was just South’s way a creating a problem.

“I think Sean is getting carried away,” Missick said. “Sean feels that a meeting without controversy is not worth going to, so he creates the controversy.”

Megan Kennobbie, director of business, said she does not know which way she will vote.

“I think the legislation needs to be rewritten. I don’t know if ASI has the right to demand anything of the State Hornet,” Kennobbie said.

The meeting takes place today in the University Union in the Foothill Suite at 3 p.m.