Volume72 issue6

Page 1

Meet the executive candidates

P. 5

Student Spotlight: Kassi Brownlow

P. 9

Seawolves battle UCSB Gauchos

P. 12

Sonoma State Star

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 72 // ISSUE 6

SONOMASTATESTAR.COM

FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2014

Chancellor speaks at Economic Conference White: California needs 1 million new graduates in workforce by 2025 to sustain economy Finn Maloney Staff Writer

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he Student Center Ballroom was packed last week at the annual Economic Outlook Conference, hosted by North Bay Business Journal and Sonoma State University. In attendance were students, business owners and representatives, journalists, sponsors and economic experts. Also in attendance were California State University Chancellor Timothy White, President Ruben Arminaña and Provost Andrew Rogerson. White delivered the keynote address, but was first introduced by Arminaña. “It is a mark of success that you all got parking,” said Arminaña shortly after he took the stage. He gave some background on his relationship with White, and a little on the background of White himself. White was born in Argentina, immigrated to Canada and later California, attending Diablo Valley College and eventually Fresno State. He has held several administrative positions in higher education, most recently as chancellor of UC Riverside before his appointment as California State University chancellor last year. White took the stage to a large amount of applause, humbly bowing his head before adjusting to the microphone and addressing the audience. White started off his speech by taking light jabs at Arminaña. “Ruben was in my office two days ago in Long Beach telling me how poor he was. Then I came to campus and saw this building. We’re not talking about money anymore with you pal,” said White. White commended the progress the campus had made over the years with Arminaña at the helm. The chancellor described the state of the CSU, speaking on the issues of repair needed at many CSU

campuses and the need to update campuses to 21st century standards. White recently visited all 23 campuses in the system in an effort to talk to students, faculty and staff while getting to know each campus individually. White said the CSU produces 65 percent of teaching credentials in California, and well over 55 percent of the state’s college graduates. White also described the lack of technological advancement that has been plaguing the smaller, often forgotten about schools. White said the community, businesses and students attempting to gain their college degrees are all directly and crucially connected. He said that by 2025, in order for California’s economy to sustain itself, it needs to have 1 million graduates in the workforce. “That’s an enormous uptake in the number of college graduates in California’s economy,” said White. White then brought up the idea that he had discussed with all of the universities’ presidents, as well as businesses and policy-makers, to invest $50 million into seven crucial areas of development within the CSU system. White said that in order for the ambitious goal to be realized, investments will be required from the state, the community, businesses, and philanthropists. “We are going to create public/private partnerships in ways you may not have thought of in the past. We need to focus on this emerging crisis in California, because if we don’t, it’s going to be at the peril of all of us,” said White. See CONFERENCE Pg. 4

COURTESY // School of Business and Economics Chancellor Timothy White delivers the keynote address at the conference last Wednesday.

Administration withdraws success fee

facebook.com Students for Quality Education was one group that actively protested the success fee. Claudia Jambor Staff Writer

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he administration of Sonoma State University is exploring alternative funding options to alleviate impacts of limited class availability after the proposed Academic Success fee was withdrawn on Wednesday. President of Sonoma State University Ruben Arminaña explained two funding alternatives that could be used to increase class availabilities. Firstly, chancellor of the California State University (CSU) System, Timothy White, is introducing new funding in the form of graduation initiatives in next year’s bud-

get. Secondly, next year’s budget will provide more funding for campuses toward enrollment growth. “We will use the money we get in the next budget for enrollment growth and whatever we get from the graduation initiative from the chancellor toward hopefully increasing class availabilities,” Arminaña said. Arminaña said both the graduation initiative and extra funding for enrollment in next year’s budget would not prove to be as effective in supporting increased class availabilities as the proposed Academic Success fee, an annual student fee increase of $500. “Those two measures would not be as vigorous as what would have happened if the fee

got approved,” Arminana said. Community Service Advisor and sophomore Veronica Saxer described the administration’s decision to drop the Academic Success fee as “bittersweet.” “It could have helped and it could have got those extra classes and teachers what it was supposed to be used for. But at the same time, it’s an extra $500 that could be used towards books or other school supplies,” Saxer said. Saxer hopes the administration can “try to find a better way to utilize the money that we do have” to resolve the problem of limited class availabilities. “Obviously if this fee was necessary, then we’re not using what we have to the best of our ability,” Saxer said. Arminaña emphasized limited class availabilities are due to the fact that the university lost 30 percent of its budget in the space of two years. “The lack of class availability is upon the lack of sufficient faculty members who have retired and could not been replaced because the university lost 30 percent of its budget. And that’s what people don’t want to accept,” Arminaña said. Arminaña acknowledged the fee would not have benefited students at this time because it would raise the average student unit load and thus “impact the enrollment target of the CSU.” According to Arminaña, the campus is already “over our target by two-and-a-half to three percent, roughly about 300 students.” Despite impacting the enrollment target, Arminaña said the students were a big part in determining not to continue forward with the fee.

Over the past several weeks, student and faculty groups have protested against the Academic Success fee using various online platforms. Over 1,200 students and faculty pledged on an online petition established by Sonoma State University Freedom from Fees Coalition. Sonoma State Students for Quality Education launched a social media campaign using the hashtag “#WTFee” to encourage students to protest against the fee and its impact on their finances. Professor of sociology at Sonoma State, Peter Phillips, credited the protest effort as significantly contributing to the administrations abandonment of the fee. “I think it was a significant influence on their (the administration) to withdraw (the proposed Academic Success Fee). Given the 20-year history with the president, he doesn’t back down like this,” Phillips said. “We will be announcing the success of what we did so other campus groups can recognize that, ‘Hey, the students and faculty at SSU were able to stop this (Academic Success Fee).” Phillips is “very pleased that the president decided to suspend pursuit of a $500 fee on all students” but simultaneously warned students the implementation of a fee is still eminent. “He left the door open to do it in the future and I think we need to be eternally aware that it’s possible,” Phillips said. Arminaña is not denying the possibility of re-introducing the concept of the Academic success fee in the near future. “Never say never. I don’t see it (the fee) in the immediate future but more so in the next year,” Arminaña said.

‘House of Cards’ returns with second season

Job Fair gives students career opportunities

Rugby team triumphs over California Maritime Academy

See page 6 for the review

See page 9 for our coverage

See page 10 for the recap


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