The state legislature could change Associated Students presidents’ ability to veto policies beginning next fall. “As your A.S. president, I don’t like it,” said CSUN’s student government president, Amanda Flavin, during Tuesday’s senate meeting. According to CSUN’s Internal Affairs senator Nicole Corlett, AB 1233 was passed a couple years ago and is targeted at non-profit organizations and corporations. Since Associated Students is incorporated, its current policies are not meeting state regulations. “Right now, the executive director has a little more… Read more

A.S. will be hosting one last event before finals called “Final Flip,” where entertainment and free food will be provided for students who show up. “Final Flip” is a luau themed event for students to unwind after the last day of regular classes and before finals kick off.  There will be free pancakes,  free chair massages, fire dancers and an obstacle course. This event was first held last semester at the suggestion of Stephanie Galvez, 26, who is an A.S…. Read more

A.S. Academic Affairs Committee unsuccessfully proposed the creation of an appeals process against the elimination of financial aid eligibility for students with 150 units.  Prior to the change, students were able to receive financial aid up to 180 units. “It’s geared more towards non-traditional students and transfer students with excessive units,” said Mallad Kashnood, chair of the Academic Affairs Committee. The new unit cap only affects a student’s ability to receive financial aid.It does not influence whether or not the… Read more

Associated Students reduced the budget for the organization in charge of providing students with entertainment, such as concerts, lectures and cultural events free of charge. SPACE, Student Production and Campus Entertainment, had their summer program eliminated for a second year in a row and their ability to sponsor campus events was significantly reduced. The organization lost a total of $11,000 for the 2011-12 academic year – $7,000 was cut from summer programs and $4,000 from spirit funds, which allowed them… Read more

Two of the eight vacant senate seats were filled by Associated Students over the past two weeks and the remaining are expected to be assigned by mid-March, said Paige Andrews, A.S. director of personnel. Junior Anthony Castro, 21, was appointed Tuesday Feb. 8 to represent the college of health and human development seat and sophomore Ryan Roope, 20, was approved yesterday to represent the college of arts, media and communication seat. “There’s been an increase in applications to sit on… Read more

A.S. will make policy exceptions to allow two employees to serve on the senate in what President Conor Lansdale said is a “frequent occurrence.” “A.S. is a hybrid of student government and a board of directors for a non-profit,” Lansdale said.  “This allows us to be flexible and suspend (some policy).” The student government body routinely makes exceptions to their policy regarding conflict of interest for student senators who are employed by A.S. Senators for whom these exemptions are made… Read more

CSU Board of Trustee member Henry Mendoza toured the campus Monday to gain knowledge about the culture of CSUN and observed how the faculty and administration responded to the needs of the students, said Conor Lansdale, A.S. president. During the vice president’s committee report Tuesday at the last A.S. meeting of the semester, Lansdale said he and A.S. senators Melinda Hamrbick and Jonathan Polus had the opportunity to take part in Mendoza’s visit. “Trustees take tours to learn about different… Read more

A.S. voted to allocate $6,100 to Black Student Union (BSU) for Black History Month and for monthly workshops Tuesday. During the meeting, A.S. Director of Finance Vahan Khodanian said BSU would receive supplemental funding because the organization’s initial request made in late September was pending due to the amount of funds available at the time. He added BSU was instructed to come back in November. “We funded them that ($1,500) and we intended to fund this ($6,100) initially. No one… Read more

A.S. has increased the allotment for the student transit subsidy for this school year. Because of the overwhelming number of students using the subsidy last year, A.S. added $20,000 more to the $50,000 in monthly transit subsidies. “Last year it was an amazing hit and we ran out of funding,” said Kevin Mojaradi, marketing director for A.S. “We had over 2,500 students participate.” The regular price for a monthly Metro pass went up from $62 to $75 in July.  Some… Read more