With Morishita gone, is the Sun Setting in the East?

School funding, CORE plans, and what’s next for CSUEB
By Kelsey Marasigan, CONTRIBUTOR
President Leroy M. Morishita put into action the “Rising in the East” campaign in 2016 as a way to commemorate the school’s 60th anniversary, as well as a way to raise money for student scholarships and paid internships, strengthen our faculty, modernize our facilities, and to overall bring California State University, East Bay to the next level. Now, three years later, the campaign is coming to an end and President Morishita is resigning. We’re left to wonder, what is next for CSUEB?
The Rising in the East campaign is reported to have raised well past their goal with a total of $66 million in donations. With the new CORE Building making headway as the school’s biggest upcoming project, there are plenty of other student programs and opportunities that this money can go towards.
“All gifts received by the university through the Rising in the East campaign have been allocated to the areas donors have designated,” Holly Stanco, Associate Vice President of Development and Campaign Director, stated in an interview recently. “Whether that is the Pioneers for H.O.P.E., scholarships, or funds for building projects including CORE and the Applied Sciences Center. While we set a goal of $60 million, our donors are extremely committed to our students, programs and opportunities, and have been generous in their philanthropic support for areas that are most meaningful to them.”
Stanco went on further to explain that CSUEB has a master plan for its campuses and facilities.
“The university will move forward on capital projects based on the most urgent needs of our campus community. We will continue to revise, update and add to our master plan as necessary,” Stanco said.
President Morishita’s Rising in the East campaign will be concluding this year, as well as his time serving as president at CSUEB. However, the initiatives being supported through this campaign, as well as the dedication to seeking funding, will be made sure to continue. His biggest project includes the oversight of the development of the CORE Building, which is to become the school’s new central, organized hub.
Daniel No, Director of Plan, Design, and Construction, gives an insight on the progress of the new CORE Building.
“The project is being reviewed by the State Fire Marshal’s office. The project is expected to complete by January 2022. Construction start date will be communicated to the campus once we receive approval from the SFM office.” No stated.
With Morishita retiring at the end of the 2020 school year, CSUEB still looks to a thriving future with its inspiring student body.