Although the California State University and the CSU Employees Union are still in final negations over salary and benefits, a 2 percent general salary increase has been tentatively proposed for staff members. According to James Dacosta, president of the CSUN chapter of the CSUEU and Unix system administrator at Information Technology Resources, the general salary increase proposal was originally 3.5 percent, but it was lowered to two percent, with the difference consisting of benefits and other ancillary compensations. “Our staff… Read more

The recently approved 2005-06 Associated Students annual budget totals close to $5.8 million and comes entirely from student fees, according to A.S. president and former finance director Chad Charton. Every year, A.S. allocates funds to student clubs and organizations, university programs, support services, its own government business, and other areas. “The biggest and most wonderful change in the A.S. budget is the result of a (fee) referendum from 2002,” said A.S. General Manager David Crandall. According to Crandall, students voted… Read more

After watching his grandmother fight lung cancer and eventually pass away, Assemblymember Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, said he wanted to do something to help people who are terminally ill. Together with fellow assembly- member Patty Berg, D-Eureka, Levin introduced the California Compassionate Choices Act to the California Legislature. The bill, which was first introduced in February 2005, is modeled after Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act, which has been in effect in that state since 1997. The Death With Dignity legislation… Read more

For California State University Employees Union members, their demands are simple: “Show me the money.” An observable tension filled the room during contract bargaining sessions that took place at the Oviatt Library last week between negotiating teams from CSUEU and the CSU, with the central issues of the negotiations being staff pay raises and parking fees. The negotiations, held June 13 through June 15, are part of CSUEU and CSU contract discussions, which are reopened every year. The CSUEU represents… Read more

Celebrities have been fighting back more than ever against aggressive photo-hungry paparazzi as of late. It’s seems like today’s paparazzi will go to any length to get what they want. Perhaps the real question is, “At what point should the line be drawn?” Incidents of “celebrity versus paparazzi” altercations are at an all-time high. Celebrities constantly come in contact with the paparazzi that follow their every move. Therefore, it is no surprise when celebrities become aggravated, and begin to strike… Read more