The Associated Students Inc. Senate unanimously passed a resolution outlining specific requests to increase safety at Cal State Long Beach during its meeting yesterday.
The “Resolution Calling for Increased Campus Security,” proposed by Sens. James Davis and Sean Miller, both of the College of Engineering, and Sen. Christopher Chavez of the College of Liberal Arts, outlines several guidelines the Senate feels will help promote an atmosphere of safety on campus.
Some suggestions made in the resolution are the creation of an annual evening walk done by university officials and students to address safety concerns, issuing a request to the city of Long Beach to install more lights on Palo Verde Avenue, Bellflower Boulevard, Atherton Street and Seventh Street, and raising the number of escorts hired for the campus’ night escort service.
Davis said he would like to see the city install lights on the streets surrounding the campus because the current situation makes it dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers.
“I’m scared to drive,” Davis said. “I fear that somebody’s going to run out in front of my car trying to cross the street on Atherton to get to the other side, and I can’t see because it’s really dark. So really having them there is going to increase everybody’s safety.”
In addition to the campus safety resolution, the Senate was told that students will decide during the spring 2007 semester whether or not to build a recreation and wellness center at CSULB.
According to ASI President Shefali Mistry, the Student Fee Advisory Committee voted unanimously on Monday to put the proposal for a recreation center up for a referendum vote on the last two days in February.
Mistry also said in her address that she would like the campus to institute what she called a “dead week,” a period of three to five school days where there are no classes, meetings or events on campus prior to final exams each semester. Mistry said she thinks this would allow students more time to devote to their studies.
“Even if it was just Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before finals, that would be a huge help,” Mistry said.
Faculty Rep. Christopher Burnett said he applauds Mistry’s idea and thinks this would be an excellent way to give students the time they need to study.
University Rep. Jeane Caveness said she also supports Mistry’s proposal and asked if it would be possible to institute it within the next year or two. Mistry responded that she had not gotten that far in the process yet and is still determining which venues to go through to present the idea for consideration.
