CSUN prepares for budget battle

December 4, 2008 by Haley Etchison 

Student leaders stress urgency for protest and rallies

 

At Monday’s CSUN meeting, praise for a student leader’s career of fighting for his peers gave way to planning and legislation to support what is arguably the biggest battle student government has ever seen.

Time for public comment at Monday’s CSUN meeting was filled with members of the student body praising the work and dedication of liberal arts Sen. Adrian Viesca on the occasion of his last CSUN senate meeting.

“I think one of the things he taught me is to stand up for what is right… and to keep fighting,” said Ilse Zuniga.

“He keeps our feet to the fire,” said Student Body President Adam Cronis, adding that Viesca always gives him a reality check when he needs it.

Praise quickly gave way to the most pressing issue of the night: the potential 25 percent increase for spring semester.

Business Sen. David Rapaport approached the podium and determinedly plunked down stacks of students’ letters of protest to the Board of Regents against potential tuition increases.

“1,062 student signatures in one day,” he announced.  “Today we had a dedicated team of senators, directors and students.  We were able to make a big impact tabling in front of the Beam building and the Lied Library.”

To the excited approval of his fellow senators, Rapaport continued, “This is something that’s going to effect UNLV not just this year, not just next year…but for years to come.”

CSUN intends to fight for those years to come by leading UNLV students in protest against the mounting budget cuts set to slice into higher education in Nevada.  At Monday’s meeting the senators unanimously approved $15,000 for funding of the “Save Nevada’s Education” Budget Cut Rally set to take place in Pida Plaza Thursday, Jan. 22.

Cronis and Vice President Vik Sehdev urged senators to support the funding, emphasizing the weight and urgency of the protest and claiming that the rally could be crucially influential. “We have never seen something at this magnitude,” Sehdev said. 

We could have a huge, effective, potentially transforming event coming up this January,” said Cronis, adding determinedly, “We’re going to work our guts out.”

Questions about the specific use of the funds raised points about the challenges of holding public protests on campus.

“Pida Plaza and the Academic Mall is not a free speech area so if you try to have an impromptu rally there they’ll shut you down immediately,” explained Savannah Baltera, business manager for CSUN and The Rebel Yell.

University regulations are not the only challenges to overcome in putting on a rally of this magnitude.  Sehdev explained the importance of audio amplification in the effort to attract media attention to yield a weightier effect on decision makers.

“We know there will be a good amount of people there,” he said.  “We want them to hear our message.  We know there’ll be media there.  We want them to hear our message.  We want to make sure it is communicated clearly and properly.”

Sehdev reminded the Senate that though the imminent votes on a 25 percent tuition increase for spring will already be cast by January’s rally, the fight will just have begun. 

“This is for the next budget cuts.  We’re not done with 25 percent,” he said.  “This is a perfect storm for this state.  We’re not done after Dec. 4.  We’re not done after Dec. 12[…]We’re going to be fighting ‘til the end of our terms.”

The College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State College will take part in the “Save Nevada’s Education” budget cut rally along with UNLV students, faculty and staff and K-12 teachers and students in Clark County and the local teachers’ union are all invited.

The bright spot on Monday’s agenda was an item asking for $50 to support a math student’s trip to Washington D.C. to represent UNLV and the state of Nevada.

David Hannasch was granted the aid from CSUN, and will be attending the joint meetings of the American Mathematics Association and the Mathematical Association of America where he will take part in a poster competition and give a talk.

College of sciences senators Victor Barrigan and Leshelle Perez emphasized for their fellow representatives the prestige of their constituent’s role in the math community. 

Berrigan said, “We feel that we as senators are responsible to our constituents and what better way than to help them when they’re in need?”

Hannasch expressed gratitude for Barrigan and Perez. 

“I want everyone to know that the sciences senators have done a really great job reaching out to the math department,” he said.

CSUN voted to fund the Feb. 5 “Diversity through Family Guy and South Park” event, speaker Dr. John Corvino’s March 10 presentation, a March 24 Documentary and Lecture called “Inside Iraq:  The Untold Stories,” an April 16 Lecture by Brent Scarpo titled “Why Do You Hate Me” and a Feb. 10 lecture by Wendi Fox on alcohol abuse.