California legislature honors SJSU

By: Kyle Hansen

Posted: 4/30/07

The California State Legislature is honoring San Jose State University in Sacramento today.

A delegation from SJSU will be receiving resolutions from legislatures and meeting with alumni in the area, said Nancy Stake of the university's government and media relations office.

"We are just really excited to be celebrating our 150th anniversary with Founders' Week starting right in our state capital," Stake said. "We are pleased to be there and receive this recognition from the state."

The SJSU delegation was scheduled to be on the floor of each house of the legislature when a resolution honoring the university was to be voted on; however, the Senate canceled their session for the day because many of the senators are currently in Washington.

The Assembly also canceled their meeting so that members could attend the funeral of Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald in Southern California. Millender-McDonald, who represented Los Angeles in Congress for seven terms, died last week of cancer, Stake said.

"It is still a grand day because we are getting our recognition by both houses," Stake said. "We are disappointed that we can not be in the session, but that was beyond our control."

J.R. Delarosa, a senior majoring in political science, said that it is good for the university to be honored in this way.

"I think it is very important," Delarosa said. "I love SJSU. I think they have provided me with the skills to thrive in this environment. Any recognition is long overdue."

Delarosa, who is currently living in Sacramento while doing an internship in Assemblyman Joe Coto's office, said that it is good for SJSU's history to be discussed during its sesquicentennial anniversary.

"I love history. It helps us to understand why things are the way they are now," he said. "The school has been around for a long time and has a deep, rich history."

State Senator Elaine Alquist, D-San Jose, has introduced a Senate concurrent resolution honoring the university and its 150-year history. While both houses will not pass this resolution today, SJSU will be receiving a member's resolution from Alquist.

The delegation will also be receiving a resolution from Assemblyman Jim Beall, cosigned by four other members of the Assembly and two members of the Senate. This resolution will be presented on the Assembly floor in an informal session.

The group from SJSU includes Stake, President Don Kassing, Associated Student President Alberto Gutierrez, and other representatives from the administration and A.S.

The delegation will also be holding a reception this evening in Sacramento for members of the Legislature and SJSU alumni that live in the area, Stake said.

Every member of the Legislature has been invited, and more than 5,000 invitations went out to alumni, Stake said.

Founders' Week continues tomorrow with further recognition of the university by Santa Clara County, said Larry Carr, the associate vice president of government and community relations.

The County Board of Supervisors will be passing a resolution honoring the school and its contribution to the area during its regular meeting tomorrow, Carr said.