It seems that Associated Students, Inc. is concerned about the retention rates of students on campus ? or at least some students.

The buzzword of last Wednesday?s meeting was “African-American,” although the term isn?t mentioned anywhere in the resolution drafted by ASI President Artemio Pimentel.

My concern is that the real cause of the high student drop out rate ? economics ? is going to be lost in all this ethnic grandstanding. The reality is that going to school is too damn expensive and that students without rich mommies and daddies must try to balance a full class load and work, either full-time or close to it, just to make enough to eat and pay rent.

One student, during the open forum portion of the meeting, gave a rousing, impassioned speech about how he was glad that ASI was doing something to help African-American students on campus. But again, I look at the resolution and it doesn?t say black, white, purple, brown or whatever; it just says “at-risk” students. I presume that Pimentel did not intend to label all African-American students as “at-risk.”

I think it is really sad that such a legitimate issue is getting mired in racial stereotyping, and the assumption that some students are incapable of staying in school, based solely on race and not other economic factors?

?In other news, the recent protests about the decision to cut Monday-Wednesday classes have caused some people ? I don?t know who ? to invoke their right to free speech by chalking their disdain for President Donald “I-love-to-talk-inaudibly-on-my-speakerphone” Gerth?s decision to bring back the Monday-Wednesday-Friday school schedule.

This whole incident has ASI attempting to turn The State Hornet into an ASI propaganda machine. “We want to give you an exclusive… This is just between us,” they say. I haven?t seen so many ASI members in such close proximity to The Hornet office since the last time the fire alarm went off and they filed down the stairs from their third floor office and passed our door on the second floor. It almost seems as if ASI has occupied The Hornet. Maybe we should give them an honorary cubicle?

?It?s just an observation, but the administrators-in-training at ASI have no chance of outgunning such administrative veterans as Gerth and Vice President of Student Affairs Shirley Uplinger. They?ve been working longer and harder and have more experience at screwing people. ASI?s members still have yet to take the training wheels off their 10-speed. They might have had a chance if former Director Carol Ackerson was still around to spin this thing out of control like she did with the Children?s Center debacle?

?It turns out that the phone number written in chalk outside the Union entrance near the Library quad was Gerth?s home number, but please refrain from calling. If you?re really upset about Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes, call his office at 278-7737. Let the big guy know what you think; just be sure to use a speakerphone.

Matt Wagar served as news editor of The State Hornet in the Fall 2000 and Spring 2001 semesters. He can be reached at [email protected].