Today, trying to find information on asbestos in the campus buildings, I came across an awkward situation trying to speak to someone about the issue. When calling office of safety and risk management Director, Maryann Rozanski, I was left speechless when she stopped me while I was introducing myself. She actually finished my sentence for me. I guess every semester, students call asking to gather information about asbestos. This has made me realize that it is an ongoing issue on the campus and it is important that journalism students report the issue. Yearly notification letters are sent to employees so they can be aware of the presence of asbestos and it is important that students also become aware, and the job is left to students like me to inform the issue to students.

click here for CSULB 2006 asbestos information
http://ppfmapps.ppfm.csulb.edu/web/docs/EMPLOYEE%20NOTIFICATION%20LETTER-2006.pdf

revised April 20, 2006

Water Saving Innovations

LONG BEACH, Calif.-- Water conservation at California State University Long Beach has been taken the next step by installing 18 Hands-free waterless urinals at one of their largest restrooms that will save an estimated 810 thousand gallons of water a year.

The New waterless urinals, made by C&L supply Co., are located at the KKJZ building and according to Facilities Management director Robert Quirk, each one of these waterless urinals will save up to 45,000 gallons of water a year.

After running a test pilot for over six months, the facilities decided to go and supply these to the campus public, knowing it will save money and conserve water, Quirk said.
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“We installed two of them in our own corporate yard in the facilities department and had our staff utilize them and clean them for a period of six months,” Quirk said. “The manufacturers sell this as the greatest thing, but we have to take responsibility for providing a good product.”

Though the urinals may cause some sanitary concerns like odor and cleanliness, the technology of these new urinals promotes to isolate urine and sewer odors form the atmosphere with its revolutionary “BlueSeal,” according to C&L supply Co.

The entire project was funded trough incentive programs provided by the state of California and the city of Long Beach. Currently the facilities can still take advantage of this program, Quirk said. So if the project is accepted by the public, Facilities Management will look to supply the urinals to the pyramid restrooms.

Class Mate Interview

LONG BEACH, Calif.- As a child Bobby Chore, 20, dreamed of some day becoming a race car driver or football player, but never thought his life experiences would lead him to peruse a carrier as a Journalist and able him to write about the sports he loves.

Chore is journalism major at Cal State Long Beach and is trying to someday become a prestigious sports writer for ESPN Magazine. He wants to cover some of his favorite sports that include Football, Basketball and pool.

“That is all I love,” Chore said. “I want to be able to cover sports because it’s always exiting.” Especially when it involves his favorite teams at play, the Los Angeles Lakers and his hometown football team the San Diego Chargers.

Chore first became interested in journalism when he was in high school. Usually wrote for the school news paper on subjects that pertained to the student activities on campus he said. He did not begin his interest in sports-writing until his freshman year in college.

He feels confident that he can accomplish his goals, because of his friends and families which have always gave him the support he needs.

Growing up in San Diego, Chore said he was always active. Often found playing football with children from his neighborhood and local classmates. He also enjoyed riding his bicycle around town. Chore then moved to Culver City and then to Long Beach where he now resides with both his parents and sister.

Other than his love for sports Bobby enjoys Music. His favorite type of music is
Rap that is also part of his future goals.

“I want to produce music on the side,” Chore said. Depending on how well it all goes,
Chore plans to write music and produce local rap artists.

Chore believes that he has a special characteristic that can be sort of an advantage for his future musical goals. Within the last year he found out that he can make songs in his head.

“When I start working at my job, I get songs and make bits of music in my head.” He said. Something he calls “free flowing” and he believes that he also has a call to become involved in the music business.

As a child he always looked for aspirations and imagined himself in a stable position, he said.

“Getting older is a big process,” Chore said. “Being able to gather all you have learned in your life experiences and be able to use them towards your future.”

Chore knows that he is still in his prime and still has a lot to learn in school, he said, but he believes the best is yet to come.

Environmental Impact

LONG BEACH, Calif.- Today I came across associate vice president of physical planning & Facilities, Scott R. Charmack, hoping he would have information on environmental impact of the new parking structure. He provided me information about the new structure, but most of it had to do with laws that were implemented state wide for new building and some that just benefit the university financially. This included filtered storm drains that are now mandatory for multilevel parking, the decrease of energy consumption, ventilation, HID lamps, and the minimal use of fly ash. He also mentioned that they are planning to put back all the trees and landscape back, once they are finished with the project.

One thing that is obvious, their main goal is to provide parking for the students and avoid parking disturbance on the surrounding neighborhood. One way we can see how that will better the environment is how it will minimize the emission caused by the dozens of students driving around campus to look for a parking spot.

Charmack also was able to give me information on other aspects that also relate to the environmental friendly projects they have on campus. This involved a recently added campus wide controlled water sprinkler system that will help the campus save water. Also relating to that is also the waterless urinals in the bathrooms located by the lecture hall that will save 800 thousand gallons of water a year.

Revised March 8th, 2006

Photo by Luis Testa

Campus Recycle

LONG BEACH, Calif.- Recycling useful materials becomes a daily task at Cal State University Long beach, thanks to its Recycling Center on campus. The center is operated by Associated Students Incorporated and is also a state certified drop off facility. Students and faculty are putting an effort to separate reusable materials such as paper, plastic and cans from the everyday trash.

All across campus you can see waste bins with pyramid-shaped tops that become the recycled materials first stop before reaching the Center. “It feels good to know that I’m going to a campus that is putting good efforts to recycle,” Said Jr. Sociology student Maria Arias.

Trough a serious of internet research I have come to find out that not all public campuses in California have specialized center that focus on recycling like the one at CSULB. This can make any student proud to be part of long beach, knowing that it is an environmental conscious campus.

Asbestos

By Luis antonio testa

LONG BEACH- Students and faculty across the United States should be aware that asbestos is not just a concern of the past. Colleges have been dealing with the issue since asbestos was one of the first hazardous air pollutants regulated under Section 112 of the clean air act of 1970.

Asbestos were used in the mixture of cement, insulation, and other type of building materials. The inhalation of the residue or ware of these materials can cause health problems, including lung cancer.

Schools like The University of Nevada Las Vegas have recently dealt with the issue of asbestos. According to Las Vegas review Journal, about 25 current and past custodians at UNLV have filed District court Lawsuit alleging the institution knowingly allowed workers to clean asbestos fibers for years without proper safety equipment or training.

In West Virginia University similar allegations have ascended from Workers including professors, custodians, secretaries and other staff that state that campus buildings put them at an increased risk of getting cancer, according to The Charleston Gazette.

Other Universities have dealt with the problem before it got serious. University of Ohio has been monitoring asbestos on a daily basis since the 1980s. University officials say they are taking the necessary precautions to protect student’s health according to The Post news paper.

California State University at Long Beach, also deals with the situation. In a recent article on the Daily Forty-Niner by Terran C. Odel, stated that Asbestos is present in the majority of the campus buildings; officials say that its presence is not of a concern. Like The University of Ohio, CSULB has the campus inspected for asbestos; though is inspected yearly rather than daily like UO they ensure that if any are found a report is distributed all employees of the university.

Five Concerns

The following are issues i will be focused on this Blog


1. The concern with Asbestos in schools and public facilities- The use of asbestos draws health concerns among workers and students across the United States. What is being done about the issue?

2. Energy efficient buildings- how are Universities using natural resources to conserve energy.

3. Green Campus green plants and beautiful flowers along campus walkways crating a good environmental example for students.

4. Students environmental contributions- Some may call it public service, but Fraternities and sororities across the nation are putting their efforts by cleaning up beaches and making a cleaner environment.

5. Environmental impact statements among campus buildings- How do new buildings impact community around them.