Associated Students Senate turned down the CSUN Chicana/o Graduate Student Association request for full funding on an upcoming event at the A.S. Senate meeting yesterday afternoon.

About 15 students came to the meeting in support of CGSA and 10 spoke to the Senate trying to urge the approval of their funding request for $7,000 or even half that amount. The funds would be used to host CGSA’s Sept. 21 event, Communities en Movimiento Encuentro: Cultivating the Politics of Listening and Sharing.

“The event is to bridge the community with grassroots organizations and research on campus,” said Johnny Ramirez, a CSUN graduate student. “It will help redefine the space for young artists, grassroots and generate knowledge to the community and information on campus.”

CGSA original request for $7,000 was altered at the A.S. Finance Committee meeting last week to $1,600, a little more than the average $1,000 given to other organizations holding their first events. The A.S. Senate was voting to approve the $1,600 Finance Committee’s recommendation with the option of increasing the amount. After debate and motions made for $3,500 and $3,000 funding figures were not supported, the Senate voted 14-0-0 to increase funding to $2,500.

“We are not doing this for kicks (?) $1,600 is squat,” said Omar Ramirez in the public forum. “This is Cal State Northridge, not Cal State Big Show.”

“They wanted A.S. to fund it all and nothing to back it up. They are a new organization and this is the first year the event is being held,” said Amanda Perry, lower division senator and senate representation on the Finance Committee. “The decision was purely based on numbers. It’s not personal and I stand by the original allocation by the Finance Committee.”

A.S. Senate debated that CGSA needed money for entertainment, that A.S. doesn’t fund entertainment at events and that CGSA did not show sufficiently they had sought alternate funding other than student government. CGSA estimated 200 to 300 students to attend the event, which A.S. said was not a “significant chunk.” CGSA Chair Scott Hernandez said, they have raised $600 fundraising on their own and the all day event is open to all students and community members.

“There was a lot of misinformation out there,” said Hernandez, a CSUN Chicana/o studies graduate student. “They were going off the budget sheet, not what we were saying.”

“It’s about sharing, listening and cultivating and giving new ideas to others,” Hernandez said. “Our entertainers will host workshops and are part of the education.”

“It’s a great opportunity to create cultural awareness and bridging gaps,” said political science major Vianney Moran, senator of lower division. “This is a new event and who better to support them than student government. If they need our help, we should help and allow it to grow to an annual event.”

“I respect the Senate’s decision,” said A.S. President Adam Haverstock. “I personally would have given more.”

Despite the lack of funding, Hernandez said they will continue to work with other departments and ask for donations from organizations and restaurants.

Also discussed at the meeting was the status on the upcoming A.S. magazine that has yet to be named, but will focus on lifestyle and entertainment. Graphic artists and writers are needed and those interested should contact Zach Mendelsohn with the Visibility Committee. The Academic Affairs Committee is still in need of ad hoc committee members, meetings are held Thursdays at 2 p.m.

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