The governor’s proposed budget, an upcoming Safety Alert System test, and the annual Southern California Tasting and Auction are the key topics in President Ortiz’s weekly video update.

Gov. Jerry Brown has released his proposed state budget for 2014-15, and the spending plan includes a 5 percent funding increase for the CSU system.

But it will still take a while to recover from the effects of the great recession. Even with the $142.2 million increase, the proposed budget is still 16 percent smaller than that from 2007-08.

The quarterly Safety Alert System test is scheduled for 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 16. The test ensures that the system is working and staff members are properly trained. The system sends out messages to faculty, staff and students through phone calls, text messages, email and desktop notifications to campus computers.

Faculty, staff and students can log into BroncoDirect to designate how they wish to be contacted during an emergency.

The Southern California Tasting and Auction, which raises funds for student programs, will take place in May. In honor of the university’s 75th anniversary, tickets will be available at a discounted price of $75 for two. The offer is only good for a short time.

In other news:

• The top 15 entries in the 75th anniversary photo contest are now on display in the Bronco Student Center Art Gallery. The campus can vote this month for the top three entries, which will win prizes. More than 500 photos were submitted.
• President Ortiz and his wife attended the latest exhibit at the Kellogg University Art Gallery, which features four prominent artists. They enjoyed the exhibit and highly recommend it.
• The campus is closed next Monday, Jan. 20 in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. The next video update is scheduled for Jan. 27.

To read the entire video message, download a PDF of the transcript.