ASI
Election information sessions draw small numbers ASI election events have seen little interest from students. By Navy Keophan Staff Writer
Associated Students, Inc. is seeing low student turnout so far for information sessions about participating in next spring’s ASI elections. “We’ve had three students overall show up for the sessions,” ASI government elections officer Karla Estupinian said. “I’m not sure if we’re advertising the events well enough to bring more students in.” Estupinian said factors such as not having enough signs across campus publicizing the sessions and a lack of students attending afternoon classes in the fall semester are contributing to low attendance. Aside from a banner advertising the event in the University Student Union, ASI has only placed signs in the area near the SSPA building to get students informed about upcoming meetings. Estupinian added that students being focused on the general election wasn’t a factor in the low turnout for the meetings, but she hoped that more students would feel the need to mobilize and get involved in student government at CSULB. “I expected a better turnout, espe-
see ELECTION, page 2
CAMPUS ALERT
Body found near parking structure identified 19-year-old Jerry Vu was a business major and dancer. By Michaela Kwoka-Coleman News Editor
The body found Friday morning near Cal State Long Beach’s Parking Structure 1 has been identified as Jerry Vu by authorities. An investigation from the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner determined that Vu, 19, died as a result of blunt force head trauma. His death has been ruled as suicide. Vu was discovered early Friday by a group of CSULB faculty who alerted University Police, according to Terri Carbaugh, CSULB’s associate vice president of government and media relations. Although Vu was not currently enrolled at CSULB, his Facebook page said that he was studying business administration at the university. Michael Uhlenkamp, CSULB’s director of news and digital media, said the Vu was last enrolled in the university during the spring 2016 semester. A resident of Huntington Beach, Vu was an avid dancer and recently joined The G.O.O.D Project. Julian Talens, co-director of The G.O.O.D Project, said that the Irvine-based dance team stands for “growth out of dance” and focuses on happiness, humility and hard work. Although Vu was new to the company, Talens said he’s left nothing but positive memories. “He was the type of person to make sure everyone around him was having a good time,” Talens said, “and also made you feel so comfortable around him that you could be yourself without holding back.” Talens described Vu as being dedicated and hardworking. “Jerry was the type of dancer that would consistently practice on the sides whenever he was not needed and made sure that his own growth as a dancer was defined through his own hard work,” Talens said. “Jerry was the physical embodiment of our mission statement
Courtesy of Facebook
Authorities identified the body found Friday morning near Cal State Long Beach’s Parking Structure 1 as 19-year-old Jerry Vu. Vu was a business major at CSULB in spring 2016. which is to grow as a person and dancer through happiness, humility and hard work.” Before joining The G.O.O.D Project, Vu danced for Common Ground, a collegiate dance team also based in Irvine. Angelo Braza met Vu in 2015 while dancing for Common Ground. Braza recalled the the impact Vu had on him and the entire team. “He always had a smile on his face, uplifted practice and overall had a great heart,” Braza said. “He was more than a teammate, he was my brother.” Friday afternoon, a GoFundMe ac-
FAST FACTS
SUICIDE PREVENTION CSULB Counseling and Psychological Services 24-hour hotline: (562) 985-4001 Location: Brotman Hall, room 226 Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
see DEATH, page 2
OP-ED
EOP: What it means to me How the program has helped me through my academic endeavors.
By Tisha Lenon Staff Writer
At a community college, I didn’t necessarily have to worry about my finances. I was a student athlete and all of my classes were being paid through the college’s fee waiver. Yet, once I was accepted into Cal State Long Beach, I was worried
about how to pay for tuition and other necessities. Luckily, financial aid covered my tuition, but what about every other university essential? That’s where the Educational Opportunity Program helped me out a great deal. As a current member of the Education Opportunity Program, widely known as EOP, and a first generation student
of color and transfer student — programs like EOP truly help students through crucial academic guidance and financial help. EOP was designed to help push first generation college students and students of color who come from a low so-
see EOP, page 6
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VOL. LXVIII, ISSUE 37 | NOVEMBER 8, 2016
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
Yet, once I was accepted into Cal State Long Beach, I was worried about how to pay for tuition and other necessities.