As of their final meeting of the academic year, the Associate Students senate had $12,729 in their unassigned contingency fund and $21,905 in their academic related resource fund and will see their budget increase next semester. Director of Finance Vahan Khodanian said that although the fiscal year does not end until the last day of June, the senate is safe in its finances. “We’ve been pretty consistent,” he said.  “I’ve allocated  a lot but they’ll be fine to finish the… Read more

Although the spring election drew a historically high voter turn-out, several student leadership positions remain unfilled. Elections, held on campus and online during April 13 – 14, garnered 2,509 votes for the presidential candidates and 2,220 votes for the constitutional amendment changing bi-yearly elections to annually. The following positions are still available, according to the A.S. elections website: -          Graduate Senator II -          Education Senator II -          Humanities Senator II -          Science and Math Senator II -          Director of Finance… Read more

CSUN’s Vex Robotics Team placed 14 of 35 their first time competing in the international tournament that pits robots from universities in Mexico, Brazil, China, New Zealand and the United States against one another. CSUN sent four representatives to the Vex Robotics World Championship in Kissimmee, Fla., in April, where they battled their way into the playoffs, losing to an undefeated team. “It’s okay, because we will win next year,” said Aflie Gil, 25. The mechanical engineering graduate student said… Read more

Associated Students President Conor Lansdale urged the senate Tuesday to support the Intercollegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act. The bill, which has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and was presented to the Senate in March, stipulates that any donation to a private non-profit student housing organization would now be considered tax deductible. Donations to student organizations that provide housing to their members, such as sororities and fraternities, Hillel and national scholar associations are currently exempt from tax deductions…. Read more

On Tuesday, the A.S. senate discussed at length an amendment to their proposed constitutional changes citing inadequate funds, centralized power and the preservation of democracy in campus elections. Pending the approval of changing twice yearly elections to once, the senate debated to allow the next A.S. president power to appoint 11 vacant senate seats in the spring 2012 semester when those senators’ terms will expire without an official election to replace them. Other alternatives included allowing senators elected in fall… Read more

Being a commuter school, CSUN’s campus may be considered less-than-lively, but leaders have presented ways of getting these students interacting with campus life. A.S. Senator Sydni Powell presented her colleagues with ideas learned at the Annual Association of College Unions International in Chicago last week. “Not every student can be involved,” said the lower division senator.  ”These students are underrepresented.” Powell referenced commuters, transfers and older students as part of this non-traditional population that is often ignored. “These students’ involvement… Read more

The Daily Sundial reported last week that A.S. elections codes had changed and, pending an administrative meeting, more alterations may be coming. Elections Director Brittney Hoogervorst said the elections committee will meet this week to vote on additions to CSUN’s procedure. Hoogervorst said informational voter guides, presidential debates in lieu of candidate debates and an informational event are all on the agenda to be approved by the committee. A.S. senate has a reputation of having empty senate seats, unrepresented colleges… Read more

The A.S. senate amended election codes Tuesday in an effort to make student involvement in campus government more appealing. Among the changes, students will no longer have to post a participation bond to run in the student elections.  Prior to these changes, students were required to post $40 individually or $80 for a president-vice president ticket, said A.S. President Conor Lansdale. “I had to deal with these fees in my own election,” Lansdale said.  “I don’t want other students to… Read more

A.S. allocated additional funds to African Student Organization (ASO) and LGBTA from an account of “unassigned contingency funds” which holds $80,000, said Vahan Khodanian, director of finance. ASO received $800 for a Black History Month benefit concert to supplement their $6,000 budget while LGTBA was granted an unofficial loan of $885 for Gay Prom. Khodanian said despite looming budget cuts to the CSU, these supplemental allocations were equivalent to only one percent of A.S.’s budget for the remainder of the… Read more