Beachfront

Good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Sonny Ciampa, and it has been an honor to serve as your 2025–26 ASI President. Today, in the spirit of leaders who have come before me, I stand before the Senate to reflect on the state of our organization—what we have weathered, what we have achieved, and how we will move forward together.

When I took office in June, ASI was already preparing for one of the most significant transitions in its nearly seventy-year history. Since our incorporation in 1956, ASI has remained dedicated to one mission: Keeping Students First. This semester has tested that mission more sharply than any in recent memory.

This fall, the University Student Union officially closed to begin a three-year renovation and expansion—the largest construction project of it’s kind in the entire CSU system. With that closure came an unprecedented challenge: the complete relocation of services, programs, departments, full-time staff, student staff, and food vendors that thousands rely on every day.

And yet—we made it happen.

ASI successfully relocated every service with minimal interruption to students. Departments reopened. Food options continued. Programs launched on time. Student support remained accessible. This achievement deserves recognition across our organization, because it was nothing short of monumental.

The transition, of course, was not easy. Students experienced limited seating, delayed food trailers, unexpected power outages, and the simple daily frustration of navigating a campus whose physical landscape had changed overnight. These challenges were real, and for many, they were exhausting.

But through all of this, I witnessed something powerful: resilience, patience, flexibility—and, most importantly, kindness. Long Beach State students proved once again that even in the midst of disruption, they continue to build community, stay engaged, and look out for one another.

This semester, I made it a priority to meet students where they are. I launched the Meet Your ASI President series, gathering feedback from over 350 students. Through my Beach Link Initiative, we expanded student government presence on campus by more than 50 hours per month, ensuring students could connect with their leaders in real time, not just online.

In collaboration with Housing and Basic Needs, we began discussions to unify two competing roommate platforms into a single streamlined system—hopefully, making it easier for students to secure safe, stable housing. And alongside Athletics and Alumni, I helped lay the foundation for Home at The Beach, a new initiative launching in 2026 to bring together students, athletes, and alumni in a celebration of identity, pride, and connection.

Across ASI, our teams continued to excel in ways that shaped the student experience despite the obstacles.

The Laurén Chalmers ‘83 Beach Pantry expanded its support during statewide SNAP delays, increased mobile pantry distribution, and received a City of Long Beach grant this summer to strengthen its services. This semester, our Pantry also continued its partnership with Student LunchBox, who collaborated with Chrissy Teigen’s company Cravings to bring volunteers and Chrissy Teigen herself to campus for a special food distribution event. Together, they helped provide fresh groceries to students and brought increased visibility to the issue of food insecurity affecting college communities across Los Angeles.

The Student Recreation & Wellness Center celebrated its fifteenth anniversary with new team development and leadership-building programs, reinforcing its role as a central hub for wellness, community, and recreation—especially important during a year when many other spaces were offline.

Beach Pride Events delivered a record-breaking Smorgasport, serving the highest number of students since returning from the pandemic. Even without the USU, BPE’s programming demonstrated that student life at The Beach is not paused—it is thriving.

Our student government leaders also accomplished a tremendous amount this semester.

• Executive Vice President Shelton King Jr. and the Senate consistently advocated for additional parking and transportation while passing key senate policy.
• Vice President of Finance Kim Nguyen led 18 fiscal certification sessions, ensuring more than 500 student organization leaders were prepared to manage their budgets. The Business & Finance Committee reviewed motions for student travel, research, and organizational funding, keeping student organizations equipped and supported.
• Chief Diversity Officer Khalid Albazi launched the ASI Box Initiative and Voices at the Beach, elevating student concerns and increasing visibility for campus communities. His response to the government shutdown—creating a flyer listing regional food pantries—was shared at the CSU level.
• The Cabinet hosted five community-centered events this semester, including a collaboration with the Commissioner of Cultural Affairs and all eight Cultural Centers.
• Chief Legislative Officer Carlos Orozco and Lobby Corps relaunched the Legislative Policy Agenda and hosted a successful Statewide Special Election Forum, engaging students directly in civic dialogue. The Chief Justice and the Judiciary Board hosted two Know Your Rights events and expanded attendance through increased outreach. Working with Executive Leadership, they also contributed to reforming the grade appeals process to better support students.
• The University Student Union and Student Recreation & Wellness Center Board of Trustees (URECBOT) also played a key role this semester. As the student-led board overseeing both facilities, URECBOT supported the first phase of the Future U project by reviewing design updates, tracking construction progress, and ensuring student needs remained a priority. The Board also continued its oversight of SRWC operations, helping guide programming and facility enhancements during a year of major transition.

These are not small accomplishments. They represent a community refusing to let challenge diminish creativity, compassion, or purpose.

So, what is the State of Associated Students?

Associated Students is resilient.
Associated Students is adaptive.
And, Associated Students is committed—deeply and relentlessly—to serving every student at Long Beach State.

As we look to 2026, we carry with us the knowledge that we are capable of not only navigating unprecedented change but also building something stronger in its midst. We will continue to keep students first. We will continue to advocate, to innovate, and to rebuild community during a historic moment in our university’s story.

Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your leadership. Let’s continue this work together next semester.

Thank you.