CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
VOL. LXVIX, ISSUE 60 | MARCH 14, 2018
TUITION
Cal Faculty asks for $422.6 million from state Bipartisan California representatives requested full state funding for higher education. By James Chow
Senior News Assistant
Before approaching the podium to speak out against high tuition price tags, California representatives donned vintage red and
white buttons, nostalgic of a tuition-free era. Bipartisan California representatives, state university faculty and students gathered at the Governor’s News Conference Room Monday to address protecting higher education with more state funding. University faculty representatives called for a tuition freeze as a result, which would prevent the fee from rising. Sen. Steve Glazer hosted the half-hour event, which consisted of state and college representatives speaking on the economic impact
of higher education on post-college life. Sixty-eight years ago, the Master Plan for Higher Education in California proposed free tuition to California residents applying to state community colleges and universities. Today, undergraduate students pay an average $5,742 per year at a California State University campus and $12,630 per year at a University of California campus. According to Sen. Bill Dodd, both the University of California and California State University campuses make up about $100 bil-
lion in state economic activity. “The idea we are not fully investing in these institutions is somewhat puzzling to me,” Dodd said. Speakers alluded to the California master plan that promised tuition-free education. The threepronged plan looks to balancing quality, accessibility and affordability. However, state and university representatives alike complained the lack of state funding has spiked that commitment. All present legislators agreed that the state should fully fund the
D49er
budget requests on higher education. Jennifer Eagan, president of the California Faculty Association, asked for the state to fund $422.6 million toward the CSUs, over $330 million more than the governor’s January budget. She said the state can help fund this through its rainy day fund. Such a budget request would provide students with the classes they need, avoid another tuition see PLAN, page 3
EVENT
Getting down in the grad gown Expected graduates grab essential graduation information in front of the University Bookstore. By Jessica Jacobs Staff Writer
A student plays tug of war during ASI’s “Puppy Therapy” and snaps a quick picture of the small dachshund.
to get in [but] to get one of the fidget things, I had to vote,” said Feeras Sako, a junior majoring in history. “That is what enticed me. I knew I was going to be bored in line.” Sako said that he hadn’t known about any of the candidates prior to reading about them on his phone while waiting in line to enter the main gym to visit with the puppies. Junior psychology major Sarah Grannis stood outside the glass of the gym, admiring a tan pit bull in a bright blue sweater inside.
Most students have turned procrastination into an art — preparing for the upcoming 2018 commencement ceremony is no exception. Fortunately, Grad Fair has got graduating seniors covered. Seniors at Cal State Long Beach swarmed the University Bookstore on Tuesday at the Graduation Information Fair to purchase caps, gowns and other necessities for walking the commencement stage. The Grad Fair will be held from March 13 to March 15 10 a.m. to 7 p.m each day. To avoid being unprepared, students are advised to come to the fair. “We get a lot of students coming in with tears,” Kierstin Stickney, director of marketing for the 49er Shops spoke about students who purchase their gowns late. “We encourage people to come early so they don’t get the wrong size [gown] and are prepared for graduation.” Stickney advised students to arrive at the bookstore before noon or after 5 p.m. to avoid the crowd. The bookstore will be answering questions for students in need of class rings, diploma frames, graduation announcements, educationally discounted computer hardware and software and senior portraits. “I wasn’t planning on walking, but my parents forced me to do it,” said Nikki Lowe, a senior majoring in sociology. “But now I’m getting excited buying everything I need.”
see THERAPY, page 3
see FAIR, page 3
Kat Schuster | Daily 49er
SENATE
BARK for a BALLOT
Students gathered in the recreation center to cast a vote and sneak a snuggle. By Lauren Martinez Staff Writer
Those who have felt plagued by the impending doom of midterms were able to seek refuge in the comfort of cold noses and wagging tails at an event put on by Associated Students Inc. Tuesday. ASI collaborated with Beach Balance to host “Puppy Thera-
py,” an event designed to reduce stress by letting students spend a few minutes with puppies and therapy dogs while encouraging voter turnout for the ongoing ASI elections. The event was held in the main gym inside The Student Recreation and Wellness center. A line of over a hundred students spilled out into the hallway of the rec center, leading up to a small fenced-in area containing different breeds of puppies. Students were stopped on the way inside and asked if they voted for student government candidates. Government Elections Officer, La Keisha Jeanmarie explained that a vote wasn’t re-
quired to enter but was recommended. “We don’t turn [students] away. But we do encourage that they step away to vote,” Jeanmarie said. “You can vote really easily through your phone and most students have a phone, so they can step away and vote really fast. Platforms are on the ballot, so they can just read the platforms, learn a little more about the candidate and then vote that way.” After voting, students were asked to show their confirmation email to the ASI officers facilitating the event, before being gifted a fidget cube and getting in line to pet the pups. “They didn’t require me to vote