Student said ASI discriminated against him

Government and business major Peter Graves said Wednesday Associated Students Inc. board of directors discriminated against him three months ago when they denied him the position of executive vice president during public comment at the board meeting held in the University Union’s Foothill Suite.

Aside from saying ASI monopolizes students’ voice and respect and it does not hold itself accountable for student issues as the organization claims, Graves said he was treated unfairly by the student-body government by asking him such questions like: ‘Can you staple?’ ‘Can you file?’

He said ASI tried to recruit him to a clerical position and not an “honorable (vice president) position.”

“Not one of you approached me as an equal. Not one of you stood up for what was right,” he said to the board, claiming it closed its heart on him to satisfy its own “selfish needs.”

Graves told the board of directors that he wants a student leadership position. He said he wants more student participation in student activity. “I am a voice for people who cannot speak for themselves,” he said.

ASI President Jesus Andrade commented on the interview process for the executive vice president.

“I was fair and I used the same questions for all of the candidates,” he said.

He said candidates were never asked if they could staple or file.

Donation in memory of student death

Director of Business Administration Shani Alford’s proposal to donate $1,000 from the board project funds in memory of sophomore journalism major Kebret Tekle at the working board meeting last week led ASI to question its motives.

Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Ed Jones acknowledged the four deaths total that Sac State experienced this year. The board had a discussion as to whether it will make such a donation for every student that passes away at Sac State or if this particular donation will be a “special exception.”

Vice President of Academic Affairs Lynsie Hebert asked the board why it would choose to donate money only to Tekle when others have also passed away this year.

Director of Education Adge Simon said she feels it is appropriate to do so, considering the time and place Tekle was killed, whereas Vice President of University Affairs Chris Ramos said the board of directors should refrain from judging the severity of deaths.

Tekle was fatally struck by a stray bullet May 3 while in her car outside the Library Eats and Drinks bar located on Folsom Boulevard. She was a victim of an alleged gang-affiliated dispute that occurred inside the club. Police described her as an innocent bystander.

Alford’s legislation offers three options the board can choose to direct the $1,000 to: the Sacramento Achievement Foundation; Tekle’s sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha; or splitting it amongst the Sacramento Achievement Foundation and scholarship.

The legislation was postponed until ASI’s final meeting June 7, as the board needs more time to discuss which of the three options it will choose, as well as whether or not it will continue to donate money to deceased students in the future.

Faculty member wants funding for program

Cecil Canton, a criminal justice professor and California Faculty Association Sacramento State chapter immediate past president asked ASI to consider funding what he says speaks directly to the needs of students.

The Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution is a program Canton said will raise awareness of issues facing different groups and help students understand how to deal with such conflicts.

“We’re going to have conflict, that’s going to happen, but how are we going to manage it? How do we handle it? That’s what’s most important,” he said.

Canton said Sac State needs to have more programs that call for further understanding between groups, and feels the program is valuable in making a difference on campus.

“It’s important for students to understand how to address these kinds of issues,” Canton said.

The program has served about 20 students this year. Canton hopes to serve more students by asking for ASI’s participation.

Resolution to minimize cost of textbooks

Alford and Director of Natural Science and Mathematics Timothy Jones’ proposal that calls for Sac State faculty to support minimizing the cost of textbooks for students was passed Wednesday.

With the help of StudentVoice, a program that works with various campuses throughout the country in providing assessment services, Alford and Jones had 118 Sac State students and 30 faculty members take a survey that helped them acquire information of current textbook prices and how students and faculty view them.

Jones said the survey was available on ASI’s website since last semester, and fliers were posted on campus to inform students.

The dean for each college was e-mailed with the survey to distribute to their faculty, Jones said.

He added classroom announcements were also made to inform the Sac State community.

The board of directors voted in favor of passing the resolution.

Jacqueline Tualla can be reached at [email protected]