Friday

April 24, 1998

Gary Davis had tears in his eyes as he was announced the new president of Associated Students Inc. for the second year in a row.

Current and prospective ASI board members packed the Student Board Chambers in the University Union late Wednesday night as the final ballots were counted.

"It's not 'Let's do it' anymore; it's 'We did it,'" said Davis, surrounded by friends and supporters. "I feel like a million bucks."

Davis beat opponent Dan Freschi by 183 votes, garnering 871 votes from the 8.5-percent student turnout. Last year's elections drew a 10.3 percent voter turn-out.

"I congratulate Gary," said Freschi, who stepped out into the hallway after the results were read. "You can count on seeing me again next year running for president."

Davis won the presidency last year by four votes, but was replaced by incumbent Sandra Schlemmer after he was disqualified for campaign violations.

"We've had this vision for the past two years and now we finally have the chance to get it implemented," Davis said.

Davis ran on the platform of eliminating the parking problem, creating a short-term student loan program and upgrading the computer labs.

Although he was not elected, Freschi plans to remain involved in ASI.

"I would like for Gary to consider me for director of Health and Human Services. I would also like to continue as editor of the Outlook newsletter," he said.

Also celebrating with hugs and smiles were Jennifer Helms, the new executive vice president; Devin Cook, vice president for finance; Kim Shaw, vice president for university affairs; Stephanie Parrish, director for Business; and Heather Tejada, director for Natural Science and Math.

Cook received 53 percent of the vote, beating opponent Geoff Sakala.

"I feel pretty good right now," Cook said. "First I'm going to work on increasing DOC/SEL (Dollars for Clubs and Student Education and Leadership) funds. I'm also going to make sure ASPECT (on-line teacher evaluations) is the best thing ever created."

Fifty-five percent of the students voted down the referendum for the $8 University Union fee increase.

However, over 80 percent of the student voters passed the two ASI referendums to clarify qualifications for board candidates and require a 2.5 grade point average for board members.

Only 1,918 of 22,720 total eligible students turned out to vote Tuesday and Wednesday, although ASI projected an increased turnout from last year.

"Increase of voter turnout has always been a priority," said ASI Executive Director Carol Ackerson. "This year we had a raffle and tried to move the voting booths to where there would be better traffic. Obviously, with this kind of campaign, it's very hard for students to miss there was an election."

Ackerson suggested various reasons for the low voter turnout.

"Last year we were much more visible about the fee increase. Fee increases are more apt to bring out voters," she said. "Another problem is that spring break keeps moving around. That could have had an impact."

For a valid election, ASI bylaws require a 5percent voter turn-out. Over 8 percent voted this week.

"When you look at the issue (of low voter turnout), this is not an issue unique to this campus. There are CSUs that have had less than 5 percent turnout. We've never had to really struggle to get over that amount."

Three candidates file with complaint committee

South

Although the polls have closed, three Associated Students Inc. candidates -- all disqualified for failure to complete their interim campaign spending reports -- are scheduled to plead their cases before the election complaint committee Monday.

Sean South, candidate for ASI president, Adele Gray, candidate for director for undeclared students, and Stephanie King, candidate for director for Arts and Letters, will ask the committee for a reversal of the disqualifications made by Carol Ackerson, the ASI executive director.

The committee has the option to declar part or all of the results invalid.

Presidential candidates South and Victor Som received notified by Ackerson of their disqualification on April 15. Candidates for the director for School of Business Enrique Acosta and Todd Stellmacher were also disqualified and mailed notices that day.

Gray and King, who were both running unopposed, were not disqualified until April 17.

Ackerson said she chose to deal with the candidates in contested positions first because she felt the timeliness was important.

"The issues most critical were the issues of those candidates in contested seats," Ackerson said.

She said she then went back and evaluated the cases of the candidates in the uncontested positions.

"It was clear that the intent of the code was that if you did not get it in you were disqualified," Ackerson said.

In his statement to the committee, South contends his filing of his report April 15 at midnight was in compliance with the election codes because "the form was turned in, therefore it was officially submitted."

The ASI election code lists the interim spending report as an item that must be submitted to the vice president for student affairs. Immediately following Section 5, part C of the ASI election code states, "Failure to submit any of these forms will result in disqualification."

In his letter to the committee, South states he turned in his form five days after the deadline. However, he also states the code does not specify a due date and that he is in compliance with the code.

"This was a minor violation of the rules and should not have resulted in a violation," South said.

However, Section 6, part B, states "Candidates must file an interim spending report with all receipts to date attached ten academic days prior to the first day of the election."

Because of spring break, the due date for the reports was set for April 10, said Ackerson. "We didn't want people turning in expense reports before they had any expenses," Ackerson said.

Gray and King contend they did not file reports because they had no expenses at that date.

Ackerson said she believed it was made clear to all candidates in mandatory meetings that spending reports must be completed, regardless of the amount of expenditures.

The election complaint committee, which consists of three students, a faculty member and a representative of student affairs, will meet at 3 p.m. on Monday in Lassen Hall, room 3008.

Statewide candidates to address higher education at student summit

United States Congresswoman and California grubernatorial candidate Jane Harman is scheduled to address students at a higher education conference this weekend at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Organizers of the California Higher Education Student Summit had originally invited all candidates for governor to attend the annual event to debate their views on the future of higher education.

However, both Lt. Governor Gray Davis and businessman Al Checchi refused the debate, but Checchi did make an effort to attend CHESS, the annual event hosted by the California State Student Association.

However, a representative from Checchi's office said Wednesday he would not be able to attend the confrence due to a scheduling conflict.

The original debate format was quashed by Davis, who agreed to debate only if Checchi and Harmon would limit their campaign spending. Harmon and Checchi are financing their campaigns with their own money. They declined to do so.

Other speakers at the conference include Secretary of State, Bill Jones and the candidates for the office of Lt. Governor.

CSU Chancellor Charles Reed, who was originally scheduled to speak Monday morning, will not be attending, said Ginny Whitby, collective bargaining officer for CSSA and one of the organizers of the summit.

"There's going to be a forum on CETI with Assistant Vice Chancellor Tom West Saturday morning at 9 am, that's going to kick off the event," Whitby said.

Workshops will be held on Saturday with speakers addressing the participants on a variety of issues, including voter outreach and student leadership skills.

According to Susan Cusack, legislative advocate for the California State Student Association, over 160 participants have reserved places at the two day event. Tickets are still available for $100. Proceeds go toward supporting CSSA, a legislative lobbying group that represents students' voices in policy making.

Students are encouraged to attend the CHESS conference, Whitby said.

"We will take people at the door," Whitby said.

The ticket price for the two day event is $100, but there is a reduced price for students who wish to attend only one day. Students who are interested in attending should contact the Sacramento CSSA office at 441-4514.

University recruitment bill to face Senate committee Monday

The Senate Appropriations Committee will discuss SB 1787 Monday, a bill that will encourage college recruitment based on academics and not solely on athletics.

Sen. Steve Peace (D-El Cajon) introduced the bill, which was approved by the Senate Education Committee last month in a 9-0 vote. SB 1787 would require representatives of California's state college systems to visit high schools on a regular basis in order to encourage high future enrollment in those systems.

Peace realized the need for such recruitment after his children received phone calls from colleges because of their involvement with sports programs and not because of their grades.

By mandating that representatives of the California State University and University of California systems regularly visit high schools and discuss prerequisites for enrollment, Peace hopes to encourage students to stay within the state to attend college. He also hopes that the bill will reach out to more California high school students who might not necessarily continue their education.

The only dissent of the bill at the Education Committee came from Karen Alpertson, a representative of the California State University System, who called the idea "unnecessary" and "duplicative."

According to Alpertson, the CSU System spends $45 million a year statewide for recruitment purposes and claims that there are lots of other ways for college representatives to communicate the same ideas as SB 1787, including mentoring and mailers.

Despite the sole objection, SB 1787 passed the Senate Education Committee with only minor ratifications, one of which altered the proposed number of a representative's high school visits from two per month to at least two per year.

The bill moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee Monday before traveling to the Assembly for further discussion.

State Hornet captures five awards in state competition

State Hornet editors tallied five statewide awards -- in photography, design, humor and general excellence categories -- at the California Intercollegiate Press Association's April 17 conference at UCLA.

"This is the smallest staff we've had in years, and they've done a great job covering our campus," said Melissa Jones, editor in chief. "But it's nice to have someone outside the Hornet recognize the quality of our work."

The Hornet captured second place for general excellence, just behind UC San Diego.

CSUS' campus newspaper gained another second place for Best Overall Newspaper Design. The Hornet's designers were managing editor John Montgomery and news editor Jeff Harrelson.

For front page layout, Montgomery and Harrelson recorded a third-place nod, behind Fresno State, which took both first and second places.

The Hornet, according to the judges, had the second-best feature photo, taken by Montgomery.

And Humor Commander Nick Leonti won third place for best humor column with hilarity and hijinx from "Nick's Factory o' Fun."

Due to severe budgetary constraints -- partially caused by the theft of its best computer -- the Hornet couldn't send anyone to pick up its awards.

"We got the news after refilling the State Hornet's news stands," said Jones. "We're hoping this recognition will help us increase ad revenue so we can continue to improve the Hornet."

Police Log

Wednesday, April 8
INCIDENT: A broken bike lock was found near the One Card Office. The unlocked bike was taken to the office for safekeeping.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE: A red Camaro in Lot 1 had both rear tires flattened and was a possibly vandalized. A note was left on the car for the owners to contact public safety.
DISTURBING THE PEACE: A complaint was received regarding skateboarders and in-line roller skaters.
VANDALISM: Three boys were sanding a recently painted pole in Lot 1. They were advised to leave.
INDECENT EXPOSURE: A man in the Arboretum was witnessed undressed and fondling himself. He was gone upon officer arrival.

Thursday, April 9
BURGLARY: A CD player was taken at the University Union.
DISTURBING THE PEACE: Three in-line skaters were advised at the Library quad.
DISTURBING THE PEACE: Skateboarders were making noise and yelling at the Library.
DISTURBING THE PEACE: A report was made of several skateboarders seen near the tennis courts. Officers were unable to locate the skateboarders.