1994_09 Insight September 1994

              Page 6
IN FOCUS
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO
September 21,1994
INSIGHT
Free Speech Area continues tradition
INSIGHT
About 30 years ago, Mario Savio
started the concept of the free speech
area in UC Berkeley so lhat student
voices could be heard and their opinions expressed. This concept spread
like wildfire throughout campuses in
the United States and CSU, Fresno
was no exception.
Today, the CSUF free speech area
represents a central spot for school
organizations to announce their existence and for fraternity and sorority members to "hang-out" and answer inquiries. The free speech platform looks like a pink float without
wheels — ignored for the better part
of a semester.
"It's a kickback place for us." said
Pedro Avila. a computer graphics major with Nu Alpha Kappa.
Campus organizations choose to express themselves by setting up booths
adorned with their organizations'
logos and colors. Some 27 booth
spaces and four food sale spots are
allocated by the Student Activities
office.
The booths stay up throughout the
semester and space is allotted on a
first-come, first-serve basis.
When Martin Luna arrived at the
University Student Union on his first
day of work, he was greeted by a line
of students waiting to sign up for
booth space.
"People are very eager," said Luna,
a math major.
Luna confirmed that all 27 spots are
taken and there are eight on the waiting list. Each organization has to submit a time sheet of a minimum of six
manned hours a week — two hours
a day, three times a week. The
schedule's deadline was Sept. 12.
The question of how safe and aesthetically appealing the booths are is
a source of debate among staff and
students. Gary-Nelson, program adviser for student activities, said an inspection is carried out by Plant Operations on campus. CSUF does not
have to comply with city safety standards. Architect Yas Hamamoto is in
charge of the inspection.
"We don't have city engineers inspect them or anything like that,"
Nelson said. "It's not like we're
building a permanent kind of structure. These are all just booths that are
going to be removed from campus at
the end of the semester."
"My main concern is that if there is
an earthquake or wind, [a booth] is
not going to fall apart. The booths are
located so we have a 12 foot fire
lane," Hamamoto said.
Nelson recalled only one fire to a
booth. Because a gas burner had presented a safety hazard at the time,
only charcoal burners are allowed.
Only one booth was rejected this
semester. It was structurally unsafe.
According to Hamamoto, the booth
was eight feet tall but only two feel
wide. He said an eight-foot structure
should have at least a six-foot-wide
base. It needed enough weight at the
base so it wouldn't be tipped over by
the wind.
Hamamoto recommended improvements on four or five other booths by
next semester. He did not insist they
be rectified immediately, because the
problems were minor, and "it's not
my job to give students a hard time,"
he said.
Hamamoto expressed concern that
the booths were not anchored lo the
ground. He suggested securing the
booths to the ground with permanently submerged bolts. "I'd like to
see something like that and have the
university pay provision for it," he
said.
Hamamoto estimated that anchors
installed flush with the ground would
cost about $25 per booth. Nelson said
there had been talk about other locations for booths over the years, but
"students thought it was too much
hassle and they dropped it." Nelson
mentioned the Satellite Student
Union as a possibility. However, the
idea for relocation did not sit well
with many booth holders.
"I believe the booths are here because it's the main walkway and that
this is where the highest concentration of students are, and if you move
it elsewhere, then they wouldn't be
as effective as they are here," said
Scott Hutcheson, 23, a civil engineering major.
Having permanent anchors and
building permanent booths could
mean setting up new guidelines in the
way students size and design their
booths. Presently, students have
many different choices, resulting in
a diverse and uniform ensemble.
Commenting on the aesthetic value
of the current booths, Hamamoto
laughed.
"It reminds me of the "50s in Berkeley where students wanted different ideas. In a way I admire that, but
at the same time il appalls me," he
said.
"As a professional, I'd rather sec a
clean university that doesn't resort to
booths."
Hamamoto applauds variations, but
at the same time he feels there should
be control.
Asian students' conclave
Chew Wai Kit
nic population.
INSIGHT
It was through conferences like this    lems when I r
country before and see no prob-
n home," said
that school administrators like her-
California Slate University, self were able to interact with inter-
Fresno was the host of a United national students and to understand
Nations gathering last Friday
evening when the International new foreign students.
Students Services Office and Pro- The conference encouraged stu-
grams (ISSP) held its first Asso- dents to participate through use of    periences.
ciation   of  Southeast   Asian skits and other activities.                       "Although I am a third genera-
Nation's (ASEAN) International It was "different from other school    tion Serb who was born and
Petra Forsberg. a graphic design
freshman.
Faculty members. Dr. Vida
e of the problems they face as Samiian and Dr. Melanie Bloom
were invited to speak lo the conference and share their own ex-
Conference.
The conference, :
which lasted two days,
was the brain child of
professor John Fu, International Student Advisor.
According to Fu, the
purpose of the conference was to establish :
"cross cultural adjust-
"/ could never imagine myself as a stranger
coming to a strange country
and speaking a strange language..."
—Dr. Melanie Bloom
raised
- America, I can
still identify with
students."said
Bloom.
"They are
strangers in a totally new envi-
—.—^—— ronment. I could
never imagine
and activites I have    myself as a stranger coming to a
ment and readjustment problems confere
which ASEAN students face when attended,"said Ayad Bassam Abu strange country and speaking a
they arrive and depart from the Khamsin, an international student strange language. It must be
U.S. in the pursuit of education." from Saudi Arabia. pretty horrifying for some of
Fu's project prepares foreign stu- "Although it took up most of my them." Bloom said,
dents studying in the United States weekend. I looked forward to meet- Bloom also commented that any
for their return to their own coun- ing people and learning from others effort to make such a transition
tries. who have experienced the trauma of easier for the students was a wor-
The conference was funded by returning home to live with their par- thy cause,
different organizations, such as enls," Khamsin said. The conference dealt with issues
the Association of International Not all students anticipate prob- which prevailed among interna-
Educators. lems when they return home. tional students — interracial mar-
Carol Munshower, Director of "Although the conference was tar- riages and gender roles of differ-
ISSP remarked that such a confer- geted at international students like ent societies,
ence was important. myself, I am not too worried about Many students were surprised
She said CSUF was beginning returning to Cyprus after my stay in by the discussion of subjects, ta-
to see a more diverse student eth- America as I have lived out of my boo in their own cultures.
Photo by Matt Soby/lt
Fresno, CA 93740 — dorm living
Marlene Byrant
INSIGHT
For CSUF freshmen and new students, dorms are quiet, drug-free living experience.
"The dorms arc cheaper than an
apartment, and when you live in the
dorms you have a better chance to
meet new people," said Thomas Jackson, a freshman computer major from
Oakhurst.
He said life is easier because meals
are prepared for students in the Residence Dining Hall.
He complained, however, that at
home he could eat at anytime, turn
up the stereo and had more privacy.
Students were prepared for the
changes lhat would occur when ihey
moved into the dorms.
"During ihc first few days, we went
over the rules with Ihe resident adviser and planned social and educational events for every month," he
said.
He said he would recommend the
dorms lo other incoming freshmen,
because it is convenient to be on campus.
Most of his high school friends face
a 45 minute drive coming lo Fresno
from Oakhursl when attending
classes at CSUF.
Junior Mesa, a sophomore liberal
studies major, agreed.
"With no car. the dorms are so convenient, because everything is
nearby. Classes arc really close. The
intramural sports offered here in the
dorms are fun, too," he said.
Nicole Irving, a freshman liberal
studies major, had a few concerns
about living in the dorms and that her
parents wanted her to live on campus before living in her own apartment.
Irving found out about living in the
dorms through the Summer Bridge
Program sponsored by the Equal
Opportunity Program.
"Sharing a bathroom is one problem. The noise level is another. Having a new roommate sort of bothered
me because you never know who you
can trust," she said.
Rebecca Spartz, area coordinator
for on-campus housing, said that the
dorms offer social interaction, security, a sense of community, leadership opportunities, convenience and
educational opportunities. She said
there is some lack of privacy.
"Residence hall living is not for
everyone. For those people who have
a high need for independance and
privacy, or for those who have lived
in an environment without social
structure, the assimilation back into
a structured environment like the
halls, would be challenging," she
said.
Residence hall living offers quiet
floors to all students. Residents are
expected to observe quiet hour guidelines. Aspen, Baker, Ponderosa and
Cedar Halls are designated as quiet
living areas.
Upperclass halls or floors are reserved specifically for graduate students, seniors, juniors and sophomores with GPAs of at least 3.25. Students living on Baker Hall second
and third floors must meet the 3.25
requirement.
Birch Hall has been designated as
an alcohol and tobacco-free area.
This area is intended to meet the
needs of students who want to live
without drugs and problems associated with their use.
The international floor, originally
intended to allow international and
United States students to live in a setting that would encourage an appreciation of various cultures, has been
closed this semester due to lack of
interest.
The residence hall complex consists
of 11 buildings with each residence
hall housing between 100 to 212 students.
Both single-sex and coed living arrangements are offered.
All rooms are furnished and air conditioned.
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