Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 3/18/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Luke Cunningham SJSU President Don Kassing meets with about 15 members of the student media Monday afternoon to discuss issues ranging from campus construction to the proposed budget cuts.

Sitting at the far end of a long conference-style table, with two microphones pointed toward him, President Don Kassing spoke at a news conference in SJSU's Tower Hall on Monday, addressing questions from student media.

Though question topics varied, the prevailing conversations involved the CSU's finances, campus safety and - in the issue that demanded the most attention - blood drives.

"Not ban -" Kassing said about on-campus blood drives, "suspend. I just want to clarify that we haven't banned blood drives. We've suspended blood drives on our campus because we feel they discriminate against, or they violate, our nondiscrimination policy."

Since Kassing declared the suspension Jan. 29, he has clarified the suspension restricts SJSU-affiliated entities from off-campus donor sites.

Members of the Spartan Daily and the SJSU broadcast program's "Update News" asked Kassing for his opinion about Monday's blood drive - one which was held across the street from campus by members of the Tau Delta Phi fraternity.

Kassing replied by saying that it's "a good thing" to donate blood off campus.

A member of student media asked Kassing if he himself donates blood, and Kassing said that he had not recently.

"But I've found myself thinking about it," he said.

Though Kassing defended his position to keep blood drives suspended from campus, questions and answers remained civil in tone.

Kassing was, however, staunch in his position regarding a proposed ballot initiative to freeze student fees - an initiative supported by Associated Students.

"I hope it wouldn't happen," he said, "because it would just devastate (SJSU). It would be very, very harmful."

Kassing said that freezing tuition hikes at the CSU level would negatively impact the quality of education.

With regard to an armed robbery early Friday morning in front of Campus Village, Kassing iterated what advice he would give to the SJSU population, saying, "Be alert. Walk in groups. Protect yourself."

He added, "I would across this campus anytime. It's a safe place."

The 45-minute conference ended with a brief Q-and-A format discussion about on-campus gender-neutral bathrooms.

"That would be good question for the new president," Kassing said.

Kassing will hold two more news conferences before his term ends at the end of this semester. They are scheduled to be held April 8 and May 6.


Here is the full video of Monday's conference:

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