CLARIFICATION: The policy for spring break states that the break cannot occur during Cesar Chavez day or overlap. Spring break can happen before or after the holiday.
Associated Students passed a resolution that will allow transgender students to give a preferred name on all CSUN related documents and one that allows lower division courses to extend times on writing assignments to better prepare for upper division courses.
The Senate approved a resolution that encourages lower-division courses to better prepare students for upper-division classes by extending time on writing assignments and offer more incentive to use on campus writing resources.
The bill was created after a survey of 200 level courses was conducted this spring by the Academic Affairs Committee. They found that students were consistently struggling with writing assignments and continued to struggle during their 300 level classes. The idea of the bill is to improve students’ writing by offering them more time to seek help.
Academic Affairs is also working to make students aware of the resources on campus, such as the writing center in Bayramian Hall and other learning resource center programs.
“Our goal is to make students more aware of these policies and resources,” said Malek Al-Marayati, Senator of Academic Affairs.
Another resolution they approved, penned by Upper Division Senator and future AS Vice President Talar Alexanian, was unanimously passed with hopes of making CSUN an even more gender-inclusive campus.
The bill would allow the transgender community to have their preferred names used in all documents, programs and classes on campus. They would only need to provide their legal names when registering. Before the Senate made their decision, they listened to Cadence Valentine, a student and Pride Center mentor, during open forum.
“This bill could be groundbreaking,” Valentine said. “It’s really not a matter of preference, it’s a matter of safety.”
With spring break officially starting April 8, students have been curious as to why the break is so late this year.
“There’s a university policy that says spring break can’t fall before or on Cesar Chavez Day,” said President Sydni Powell.
The policy was implemented three years ago after a campus survey found that students did not want their spring break to occur during their midterms. Powell met with the Faculty Senate to discuss whether the policy should be amended or find a way around it.
“If there are things you don’t feel are working, you have a right to change it,” said Faculty Advisor Veda Ward.
A brief special meeting was held after the regular scheduled meeting. A.S. approved the results of the recent elections and listened to the women’s rugby team during open forum.
Rugby will be facing Humbolt State this weekend in a play-off here at CSUN. If they win, the team will move onto to Nationals, where A.S. will fund their trip.
