In wake of knife incident, student groups host forum tonight at CSULB

A coalition of student groups is hosting a forum tonight to address safety conces at Cal State Long Beach.

Black Student Union, La Raza, Sociology Student Association, Chicano and Latino Studies Students Association and Muslim Student Association also organized the public forum, which takes place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the University Student Union Ballroom, 1250 Bellflower Blvd.

University President Jane Close Conoley and Vice President Carmen Taylor are scheduled to attend.

The forum was organized in response to ongoing student safety conces following a Feb. 25 incident in which a professor and one student saw a male student holding a 2.2-inch knife in a sociology class on race, class and gender.

The university organized a March 10 forum with students and administration officials, but it didn’t achieve the productive dialogue that student groups wanted, according to a written statement.

The university sent an email on Tuesday inviting all employees and students to the forum.

In the past few weeks, Conoley has been meeting with the various student groups who are hosting tonight’s meeting.

“The student groups wanted to host an open forum for all campus members to attend and voice their conces,” said university spokesman Mike Uhlenkamp. “We are hoping there will be a productive dialogue.”

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