Hello CSULB! I am Mitali Jain; my major in Nutrition and Dietetics. I immigrated from India in 2016. I struggled with immigration services due to my status and felt powerless. As a woman of color, it has been difficult to locate my path. This led me to join ASI and advocate for those in the marginalized community that felt like I did. I am running for the ASI President to continue my work by representing students from all communities and uplifting them. 

Being in ASI for 3 years, and serving as ASI Vice President of Finance and USUBOT Chair, I tirelessly worked for the student body. I advocated for housing and food insecurity on campus by working with Basic Needs and Beauty2theStreetz, opening the ASI Beach Kitchen and ShakesSmart as part of a wellness initiative, increasing ASI grant and scholarship funding, and funding 400+ clubs and organizations on campus.

Platform:

I’m a woman of color, and an immigrant from India who arrived in 2016. I serve as ASI Vice President of Finance to uplift our LB community and if elected ASI President I will continue to advocate for: 

• Student Academics/Engagement
  • Prevent the implementation of +/- grading policy
  • Hold monthly open forums that promote transparency and dialogue with the student body
• Diversity/Inclusion
  • Advocating for cultural resource centers and having student's voices heard
  • Advocating for AB 540 students, first-generation, non-traditional, and other marginalized groups for equitable resources
• Basic Needs
  • Promote the food assistance programs with Basic Needs
  • Working towards getting the TAP Card program back
  • Promote shuttle pick-up program from LAX airport for international students
  • Collaborate with Beach Pantry, Basic Needs, and Beauty2theStreetz to combat food and housing insecurity
• Infrastructure Improvement
  • Advocating our legislators for funding to improve campus structures and AC system

If Elected, what do you bring to this position that will help to promote growth in the students around you?

To help promote growth in the students, we have to look at the root cause of the concerns they have. To promote growth is to promote mental, physical, and emotional well-being. For physical well-being, I want to work towards increasing wellness programs in SRWC and in ASI Beach Kitchen. For mental and emotional well-being, I will continue to collaborate with Basic Needs and CAPS and work on expanding their services. Other resources that will help in student growth would be providing more financial assistance through scholarships, working with students on campus to establish cultural centers, and improving campus infrastructure to better accommodate the needs of students.

As President, you are responsible for attending meetings of the Cal State Student Association (CSSA) each month. What are the current issues that are affecting the CSU system and how do you plan on informing the student body about these issues?

Currently, as a part of the ASI executive team, and in my current position as ASI Vice President of Finance, I am very familiar with the issues that are affecting the CSU system currently. Some of the major issues are more financial aid for students in the CSU and for funding the CSU system further by advocating for a bigger budget from the governor. Students from CSU campuses have faced hardships in terms of food and housing affordability. I plan on doing monthly TikTok videos informing the student body about CSSA and my efforts on advocating for these issues. Besides videos, I will also inform them through monthly newsletters and monthly events where they can meet me and ask questions to promote transparency and open dialogue.

How will you bring student issues and concerns to the attention of university administration and ensure that they are being addressed?

I have been meeting with the administrators monthly with the ASI executive team and I believe in my ability to advocate for the student's voice. I will continue to have monthly meetings with the student organizations on campus like I have now and ask them about concerns and issues. I will bring those concerns to the administration and set deadlines and have actionable items to follow through the concerns. I will ask for a follow-up meeting if deadlines and actions are not met and address them so that there is accountability. My goal is to make sure students' concerns are being heard by the administrators and this process is transparent.

Hello! I’m a Mexican American student within the College of Liberal Arts. With my psychology degree, I want to focus on child development while dedicating time to working at a nonprofit that supports low-income neighborhoods.

With my position within the Latinx Student Union, I have worked to unite and uplift the Latino community on campus by planning the Chicano/Latino Graduation. Through my role in ASI, as the Senate Vice Chair, I serve on the Basic Needs Committee. Having struggled with food and housing insecurity, I realize the vital role it plays in student success. I worked alongside the director of Basic Needs to bring Beauty2TheStreetz to campus and will continue to fight for significant changes within the system that will benefit our campus community. I look forward to the opportunity to represent ALL students from different ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and backgrounds and ensure everyone at CSULB has a voice.

Platform:

As a woman of color, I want to work to unite all the underrepresented communities on campus and give marginalized communities a platform to fight for change.

• Basic Needs
  • Create a campus-wide Basic Needs student committee
  • Expand Basic Needs services and grants that will aid students suffering from housing and food insecurity
  • Re-establish the free and discounted bus permit for students
  • Support initiatives and programs that relieve technological hardships
  • Advocate for the development of mental health resources
• Accessibility and Equity
  • Establish Affordable Housing for low-income students
  • Seek more job opportunities for AB540 and Undocumented students to work on campus
  • Create more ramps and increase the accessibility of our campus
  • Expand the resources available through BMAC
• Representation and Transparency
  • Bring commencement back on campus
  • Raise awareness on how student funds are being utilized
  • Students will vote on ASI and university-wide fee increases (parking, renovations, etc.)

If Elected, what do you bring to this position that will help to promote growth in the students around you?

I am involved in various organizations on our campus. This has given me an opportunity to appreciate each and every unique community and understand the struggles that students may face. I am constantly advocating for underrepresented students through my position in the Latinx Student union, and I will continue to bring that fight to ASI. I will bring my passion, resilience, and open mind to this position, and hope as a leader to promote personal development in my fellow students. I will help students navigate these difficult transition years and offer the students vital resources needed for academic and personal growth. In short, if elected, I will help promote the growth of students around me by uniting our college campus into a strong force and confidently lead us toward achieving our goals.

What are some things you would like to see accomplished by the Senate next year?

Having served in Senate for two years, I have faced several predominant issues that have affected our student population. I want Senate to continue the fight for equal opportunities vital for academic success regardless of status, gender, or identity. Through legislation, I want to address the concerns surrounding the overruling of DACA and make CSULB and safe haven for all students regardless of documentation. Furthermore, a major goal I have for this upcoming year is to increase the transparency within Senate. I will urge each board member to host a town hall once a month to inform students of all different communities of what prevalent issues are affecting them. Together we can address these issues and improve these accessibility gaps.

Overall, I want Senate to be a welcoming place that unconditionally supports ALL students dealing with a variety of issues.

As Executive Vice President, you serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors/Senate. How do you plan on creating positive working relationships with the board while ensuring effective communication in order to properly represent the student body?

I'm a person that values dedication, inclusiveness, and transparency. As a student leader, it is vital to strengthen the bond that Senate shares. I will emphasize the importance of a collaborative environment that allows others to feel confident and comfortable within the team.

I strive to be a leader that encourages students to take chances with innovative ideas that benefit each respective community. Giving students the freedom and flexibility to lead by example will foster growth within each leader. This position will grant me a platform to effectively communicate with the student body and understand the issues different communities face. This information assists in the representation of marginalized students that don't have access to resources vital for their academic and personal growth. If elected into this position, I will tirelessly fight to ensure that equity and diversity are the main focus and ensure that each student has a voice.

Hello, my name is Alvin Tu, and I'm a senior at Cal State Long Beach, studying Operations and Supply Chain Management and Finance. Previously, I served as Executive Vice President of the Financial Management Association of Fall’22 and as a Fixed Income Analyst at Beach Investment Group. Through these experiences, I have honed my leadership skills and gained a strong understanding of project management.

With five years of experience, I understand the intricacies of project management and the importance of effective project coordination. My goal is to bring my experience and skills to ASI and work towards positively impacting campus life. I am committed to improving student life by providing more opportunities for funding and creating a community.

I believe in uplifting the student body and making their voices heard. I look forward to serving the students of Cal State Long Beach and making a difference in their college experience.

Platform:

As a senior studying Operations & Supply Chain Management and Finance, I bring a unique perspective as a proud Asian American and FirstGen student to the role of Vice President of Finance in student government.

I am committed to being an active participant and putting the students first. I believe in integrity, trust, and transparency in all aspects of life. My main goals include the following:

• SLD Office
  • Enhance SLD operations through efficient processes for both the office and student organizations.
• Student Lead Organizations
  • Streamline transactions and simplify logistics for student leaders regarding events and memberships.
• Infrastructure Improvement
  • Support the FUTURE U project for USU renovation and expansion.
  • Advocate for funding for campus structure improvements such as the fine arts department.
• Basic Needs
  • Expand and raise awareness of food assistance programs.
  • Re-initiate the TAP Card program.
  • A Collaborate with Beach Pantry and Basic Needs to address food and housing insecurity.

If Elected, what do you bring to this position that will help to promote growth in the students around you?

As a candidate for the Vice President of Finance, I am excited to bring a combination of relevant skills and experience to this role. My leadership of the Financial Management Association at CSULB has honed my ability to compile agenda packets, review applications, and provide student financial literacy workshops. I am committed to using the budget and resources efficiently and effectively with my knowledge of the parliamentary procedure, project management, and effective delegation make me a responsible steward of the student government's finances. I am dedicated to building positive relationships with students, faculty, staff, and administrators, and am passionate about promoting student development and financial literacy. I aim to serve as a servant-leader to the student community, promoting their interests and goals through efficient and effective financial management. I am eager to bring my experience and passion for these causes to this role.

How do you intend to use your position to create more awareness of funding opportunities for students?

I intend to communicate my ideas and accomplishments through the student government by being involved with campus-wide marketing and will facilitate events that raise awareness of the beach community's resources, with a focus on grants and scholarships. To ensure that my efforts align with the needs and desires of the student body, I will actively seek feedback through my classes and participation in student organizations and clubs. From my experience helping multiple start-ups prepare for market entry, I will utilize those skills to understand how and where to raise awareness effectively. To do this, I will have my team conduct a top-down analysis of all our resources and identify the big picture and all of its components so that we can fully understand where our assets have been allocated and where we can be allocated more effectively from here on out.

How do you intend to use your position to create more opportunities for students to get involved in student government?

I intend to communicate my ideas and accomplishments through the student government by being involved with campus-wide marketing and will facilitate events that raise awareness of the beach community's resources, with a focus on grants and scholarships. To ensure that my efforts align with the needs and desires of the student body, I will actively seek feedback through my classes and participation in student organizations and clubs. From my experience helping multiple start-ups prepare for market entry, I will utilize those skills to understand how and where to raise awareness effectively. To do this, I will have my team conduct a top-down analysis of all our resources and identify the big picture and all of its components so that we can fully understand where our assets have been allocated and where we can be allocated more effectively from here on out.

As Executive Vice President of Finance, you oversee the preparation of ASI's annual budget. What are some broad goals that you hope to achieve at the end of this process?

As a candidate, I aim to improve student support by thoroughly assessing funding allocation for campus-based clubs and organizations. I have observed exceptional leadership among our student leaders and aim to prioritize funding towards areas of the greatest significance. - I aim to streamline the transactions between student-led organizations and our students through faculty engagement. - I plan to support the SLD (Student and Life Development) office by understanding our faculty's processes and crucial bottlenecks so that we may ensure that events hosted by these organizations are well-executed and receive the necessary resources. - I have witnessed a lot of paperwork submitted to the SLD office. As leaders of the student organization, we need to help support our SLD office by coming up with a process that will alleviate pressure within the SLD office so that they may be focused in a more better-paced environment.