Since the decline of our economy, successfully finding a job has been near impossible. That said, hats off to everyone and anyone who has been lucky enough to receive a paycheck from time to time — especially Cal State Long Beach’s Associated Students, Inc. leaders.
Working 25 hours a week, our top ASI leaders earn $22,762 annually — close to $13,000 more than a student working 25 hours a week at California’s $8 minimum wage.
As reported by the Daily 49er on Monday, the ASI president, vice president and treasurer boast an annual salary of $16,752, reimbursed student fees — including tuition — totaling $4,810 and a $100 per month meal plan.
Imagine getting paid $16,752 all while one of your largest expenses — university fees — is taken care of.
The chief programming officer and chief of staff — other top ASI leaders — receive a smaller salary but their compensation still comes out to $18,970 that’s $8,000 more than the annual salary of a part time minimum wage employee.
If you read Monday’s special report, you know it doesn’t stop there.
Along with the salary and numerous reimbursements, ASI also benefits from an option to purchase staff parking and a free BlackBerry cell phone. ASI treasurer Jameson Nyeholt noted that the cell phone bills are checked regularly in order to prevent personal use.
We can see why ASI leaders would need a smart phone. Student government moves at an undeniably fast pace. We can even see why they would need to park a little closer than us, but why everything else? Why the undeniable excess?
Indisputably, ASI leaders should earn more than minimum wage. CSULB’s, however, has the third highest compensation for student goverment officers in the Cal State University system. The need for such an exorbitant salary seems nonexistent.
Consider other student employees.
Graduate assistants, CSULB students who hold a bachelor’s degree, lecture, teach and grade student assignments, make an average monthly salary of about $1,400. On top of that, these students are still fighting the CSU for reimbursement of student fees.
We’re not here to debate whose job is more demanding, but at an institution where bachelor’s degrees are granted, shouldn’t a distinction by virtue of one’s bachelor’s degree be made?
ASI collects student fees in order to fund the salaries of our student leaders. Of the $12 million that ASI receives annually, $8 million is derived from these fees. This occurs all while some students are juggling school finances and a part time job that pays minimum wage.
Consider other student employees who, like some of our ASI leaders, lack bachelor’s degrees.
Teaching assistants and instructional student assistants receive average monthly salaries of $800 and $400, respectively. These students are representative of those working part time at minimum wage, which also means they earn close to half of what ASI leaders pocket each year.
But why use these examples?
They parallel the professionalism of ASI positions. The students used in these examples attend the same school our ASI leaders attend. And these students are expected to, as ASI leaders are, to support themselves with the salaries they earn.
We’re not accusing Ahumada, Nguyen or Nyeholt of bamboozling students. It’s not their fault. If we’re offered $22,762 in annual compensation, we would take it with a smile.
ASI leaders are not at fault for flawed compensation. But, facts are facts. This problem is systemic.
And, the only thing our ASI leaders can be held accountable for is getting this problem fixed.
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