EDITORIAL: Let’s fund education before entertainment

This week’s top story and the hottest item of discussion at Monday’s CSUN Senate meeting was Campus Life Director John Goldman’s proposed spring concert.

The discussion centered less on the proposal itself and more on the way it was handled. The item, which Goldman submitted on time and via proper channels, was removed at the last minute.

The CSUN Executive Board cited a need to focus on the additional budget cuts facing the university as their reason for removing the item for future discussion. Goldman and many senators were understandably upset at the omission, which, though likely well-intentioned, may have come off as a clandestine attempt at executive control over the Senate.

Although the CSUN Executive Board did not handle the agenda item gracefully, we agree that UNLV is in a dire budgetary situation – every dollar must be treated as a precious resource that could bring our campus one step closer to making it through this crisis.

When the item finally officially reaches the Senate, it is our hope that they weigh its importance carefully.

A concert, especially in our current situation, simply isn’t a good use of student money.

We’ve seen many CSUN initiatives that greatly benefit the university community in both the long term (like safer crosswalks on Maryland Parkway) and on a scale that benefits many students (like the textbook borrowing program for common classes).

We’ve also seen that CSUN is willing to fund student organizations, which create a favorable, diverse environment at UNLV and foster the unique campus life experience found at this university.

Does UNLV need to host a costly spring concert right now? Is a one-night-only event truly going to make a difference for students? For the long-term survival of the university?

Is it wise to put on an entertainment event like this if our own Entertainment and Events Management program could use funding?

Another hypothetical situation: Fine arts departments are frequently the first thing on the chopping block in budget cut situations, in both K-12 and higher education.

Would we rather bring in bands for a concert or take steps toward maintaining our own fine arts department?

We hope that when this particular proposal does make it to the Senate floor, it is given a critical eye and that the Senate makes its priorities known.

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LATEST: After resignation announcement, CSUN Senate president to carry out full term

UPDATE Dec. 15: Senate President Victor Barragan announced at Monday’s Senate meeting that he will be carrying out his full term.

Student body Senate President Victor Barragan announced his resignation Thursday, saying his term in office will expire Tuesday based on his decision to leave CSUN.

Barragan, a CSUN representative of 3 1/2  years, said he feels that he has worked hard in his tenure and does not feel his peers are willing to put forth the same effort.

“I need to be fair to myself because I spend 60 hours here… when it’s not mirrored, it’s kind of disappointing,” Barragan said, adding that he was not referring to senators, directors or the judicial branch.

He said that he believes students are misinformed as to the actions of different members of student government and that he has taken on the work of other positions.

Despite this, he said the parting is an amicable one, an idea relayed to senators in a farewell email sent Thursday.

“I’m trying to leave student government on a positive note,” he said.

Student body president Adam Cronis said he wishes Barragan wasn’t leaving and expressed his regards after the announcement.

“He believes strongly in the reasons he feels he needs to move on,” Cronis said.

Barragan said he currently has no plans to run in the spring executive board elections, but he will not dismiss the idea.

Senate president pro-tempore LeShelle Perez will succeed Barragan in spring.

Monday’s meeting will be Barragan’s last.

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EDITORIAL: Cast your vote

We can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want a say in how your student government does things, how they use your money and how your voice is carried to university officials. So this editorial is pretty short.

We know that, no matter what the receding ranks of naysayers think, UNLV students care about what goes on at their school and want to take part in making it better.

We are confident that the Rebels on this campus have what it takes to take action and make their opinions heard.

So we have no reason to doubt that when the polls close tonight and the numbers are tallied in the CSUN Senate elections, the record will show that you all got out and placed your votes.

Actually, you don’t have to get out at all. You can vote online from your bedroom or in the car via your phone. Just click on the “Vote in UNLV Elections” button on the registration Web site.

The Senate is made up of representatives of each college at UNLV. These people will be your liaisons to the CSUN executive board and directors. They will be your advocates in state and local issues. They will manage your money. They will plan your campus events. They will work tirelessly to make UNLV the best it can be for you and for generations to come.

If you pick the right people.

We hardly need to remind you that now is a critical moment in the history of UNLV. With accreditation review looming and the financial cruch still tugging at the fraying edges of our overstretched budgets, we need the best people in the seats of our Senate – people with drive, ambition and dreams that are just out of the reach of what we think we can achieve.

Before you cast your vote, do your research. Pick up The Rebel Yell’s election guide in Monday’s issue, search for the groups for your college’s candidates on Facebook and find out all you can.

The whole of the student body needs the strength of your educated vote.

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Charges for Chief

Peers question council’s motives

A complaint filed this week with the Rules and Ethics Committee against CSUN chief counsel Juan Serafica claimed a potential violation of ethical guidelines.

Serafica, who has spearheaded the petition effort to cut CSUN workers’ wages and said he has not yet received official word on the complaint, has been accused of violating a separation of powers by utilizing his position as leader of a student organization to gain support for a CSUN measure.

“I’ve been told multiple times that if I mess up on one procedure, I’ll be impeached,” Serafica said, addressing the charge that his leadership of the student organization Raising Our Asian Rights conflicts with his efforts to bring about a referendum on Senate and executive board compensation.

A source who wished to remain anonymous said that a group of senators and directors do not feel that the actions are in student government’s best interest. The source also pointed to a section of the CSUN official code of conduct that some believe Serafica violated by using his CSUN office number as a contact line for the initiative.

The CSUN Code of Conduct states, “It is necessary to remain unbiased and unaffiliated with organizations outside of one’s constituency when acting in any CSUN capacity.”

The anonymous source said the numbers and facts those in favor of the measure advertised are skewed. “There’s a bunch of other things CSUN does that they’re not taking into account,” the source said.

Student body president Adam Cronis denied allegations that he hired Serafica expressly to pursue this initiative.
He said, “[Serafica] has been integrally involved [in] foster[ing] our organization in terms of diversity.”

EDITORIAL: CSUN: Keep funding student orgs

CSUN’s approval of $2,000 toward expanding the Rebel Recycling Program into Thomas & Mack is the latest in a series of actions over the last several Senate meetings that show they have been choosing wisely in funding programs that benefit the long-term wellbeing of the university.

Our Sept. 24 editorial voiced our support for the textbook reserve program, which was later approved at the Sept. 28 Senate meeting, and called for CSUN to prioritize similar academically beneficial programs. At this meeting, CSUN also doubled the funds available for emergency aid.

There’s another area CSUN should consider reworking its funding process for: student organizations and organization-led programs.

Some of the most memorable programs on this campus – ones that have had a substantial impact on the entire university community – have been put on by student organizations.

Incumbent senators and those running for the first time must make note of the impact these students have on our campus when planning for the upcoming Senate session.

This semester alone, we’ve already seen how these programs benefit the academic community at UNLV.

The National Society of Black Engineers hosted their New Beginnings Mixer at the start of the school year, inviting student organizations to showcase their contributions to diversity and inclusion. They welcomed a motivational speaker and welcomed students from every corner of campus to celebrate a fresh start.

The Student Organization of Addiction Professionals has been giving UNLV’s name significance in their field, hosting events that promoted awareness of ways to prevent addiction, including among college students.

And more exciting and meaningful events are coming up:
The Phi Beta Sigma fraternity held a gay marriage forum, in which they welcomed debate and academic discussion of this hot social and political topic, with a view toward building an active campus community. Phi Beta Sigma will host a forum on views and significance of Jesus in different faiths, at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15 in Student Union Room 224.

Colleges against Cancer is being revitalized at UNLV. Their first event will be held Oct. 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., tentatively on the North Field sidewalk. The event will be aimed at helping students learn what to look for in order to catch breast cancer early. In addition to supporting research, the organization works to implement the goals of the American Cancer Society at UNLV, through advocacy, cancer education, the Relay for Life and survivorship – a benefit to society at large.

The Sierra Student Coalition is supporting UNLV’s sustainability research initiative. On Oct. 22 at the North Field, the group will host an  event from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. featuring everything from solar-powered documentaries to an Earthstyles Lounge, designed to teach people about sustainable lifestyle choices. The organization is also making the efforts of UNLV students known at the community level – on Oct. 23, they will sponsor a rally at the Las Vegas City Hall – to raise awareness of the very same climate change issue.

There is no better way to help students than by giving them the resources they need to make their own ideas and passions come to life. We support CSUN’s choices to fund student organizations and, encouraged by the remarkable show of diligence and vision we have seen from student organizations already this year, we hope the undergraduate student government will continue to stress its ideological and financial focus on these crucial aspects for student life.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The original version of this article misstated the dates of the Sierra Student Coalition’s event. This version corrects the error and adds the date of an additional rally they are hosting.

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