Union Weekly ASI - California State University, Long Beach

I feel like I am always writing to tell people to get more involved on campus. It may seem insignificant to start participating in an organization, but it makes a huge difference in your life, now and in the future. When you’re involved, you have a greater sense of pride in your school, which we desperately need with all the recent hate due to unit caps and tuition increases. One way for you to get involved is through ASI. There are several open positions for the upcoming school year that you are more than welcome to apply for.

On the ASI website (http://www.asicsulb.org/studentgovernment/get-involved.html), there is a breakdown of the different openings, which vary from appointed positions to volunteer opportunities to internships with KBeach and the Union Weekly. If you are a student on campus with any interests at all, there is something for you. I know I sound like a broken record, but your whole college experience is bettered by the organizations you’re involved with and the networks you build through teamwork. You have these opportunities, so go get them.

One of the many openings is for the position of Program Council Volunteer. The main responsibilities include event planning (concerts, workshops, movies, etc.) and assisting the Program Council in its daily activities. It requires five hours of your time each week (approximately the equivalent of a class), but what you can learn from working behind the scenes on campus is worth it. The experience you gain can help you when applying later to other jobs because it gives you something interesting to talk about.

The Union Weekly has open positions for the upcoming school year as well. As always, the coveted Editor-in-Chief position is available to students. Applications are available in the ASI office. The experience I’ve gained by being the news director this year has greatly benefited me and helped me stand out in job interviews. Becoming a part of the Union is another way to do something different on campus and have fun.

If you care about the environment, you may want to pursue the Recycling Center Intern position. You would assist the ASI Recycling Program in collecting recyclables around campus and participating in a project that is relevant to your major, like marketing, surveys, education. This is a meaningful internship opportunity on campus that gives students valuable experience.

I have enjoyed my time at CSULB so much more through my time volunteering at the Union Weekly. There is no substitute for the friends I have made or the knowledge I have I gained working as an editor. I highly recommend checking out the ASI Involvement Guide online at http://issuu.com/asicommunications/docs/asi_involvement_guide_2009 for a long list and descriptions of the openings with ASI. I really hope you decide to become more involved on campus and make CSULB a better place!