Editor-in-Chief
ASI agreed to purchase 30 more filters for the Runner Refill Stations at the cost of $1,715 during the board of directors meeting on May 13 in ITV Studio C.
During spring 2014, ASI voted in favor of purchasing and installing 20 Elkay drinking fountains, which included the Runner Refill Stations, along with an extra filter for each station.
ASI Vice President of University Affairs Anish Mohan said he wanted to purchase 30 more filters so they can be sustained for the next year and a half.
Each filter would cost around $57.
There was no money set aside by CSU Bakersfield for the filters, so Mohan said they wanted to take that on as students.
“The main reason was just to make sure students have clean water for now,” he said. “In the first phase when it was started, almost 100,000 bottles were prevented from hitting the landfill. It’s a great project that was initiated. I think it’s very important.”
ASI Director of Legislative Affairs Pedro Naveiras, who voted in favor of the resolution, said he always sees long lines for the filters, especially in Dorothy Donahoe Hall.
The purchasing of the filters will come out of the supplies and services line item.
“I’m very happy [it was approved],” Mohan said. “I was a little concerned because if we didn’t have any filters, students wouldn’t be able to use it, and it defeats the purpose of actually having these on campus.”
Japan and Beyond
The ASI board approved $2,550 for Japan and Beyond’s Matsuri event during the meeting on Friday, May 13.
The event will be this Friday in the gym of the Student Recreation Center from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Matsuri event was unanimously approved by the board.
“I went to this event last year, and it was really cool,” said ASI Executive Vice President Jennifer Sanchez. “I saw majority of students there. I thought it was a really cool, cultural event.”
For the past two years, Japan and Beyond has hosted this event, and last year, 239 people attended the Matsuri. This year’s Matsuri is free admission to students and the community and will have free parking in lots K1 and K2.
“The purpose here is to enrich student life because as our campus, we should always have something fun and interesting for the CSUB students to do,” said Japan and Beyond’s President Kalyn Dunham.
Dunham said there will be origami, mask making, cosplay and fish painting. For entertainment, they will have taiko drummers, budo, judo and CSUB singers. Other clubs involved in the Matsuri are Campus Gamers and Judo Club.
Dunham said there will be a silent auction, raffles and Japanese snacks.
“Those three things will be funding for the club,” he said. “If that works well, we’ll be able to have the Matsuri next year without having to push for as much funding.”
He added there will be a cosplay contest.
