Parents of college students were among the hardest hit during late summer’s stock market turbulence, and financial planners are suggesting these investors look into options outside of Wall Street. “The parents with young children still have time to increase their savings, but the parents of children in college should really consider opting out of the market,” said Charles Rotblut, vice president of the American Association of Independent Investors. The stock market plunged in early August with the Dow’s biggest decline… Read more

Students interested in starting a new club on campus can attend a series of new club workshops starting Thursday, Sept. 8 hosted by the Matador Involvement Center (MIC). “The great thing about starting a new club is that there’s no deadline,” said Jennifer Villarreal, activities assistant for the MIC. “The interest in creating a new club is like the ebb and flow of waves. They come and go but our workshops are available throughout the year to assist students and… Read more

Students approved allocating part of the campus quality fee to renovate and refurbish LGBTQ and veteran resource centers in the University Student Union (USU), but did not approve funding for a bicycle cooperative. “We want to make CSUN bike friendly, we simply act as a resource for the school,” said Carlos Hernandez, former organizer for the bike cooperative.  “We have plan b and plan c, there are other avenues.” Spaces in the USU were allocated to the student groups last… Read more

An entity that gathers data across California higher education was among the casualties of the 2011-12 state budget. California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) cost the state $1.9 million annually and is the only independent California agency of its kind that collects data on the state’s higher education system, comparing them to other institutions across the nation. “The state loses the ability to independently compare information on higher education in California,” said Adrian Griffin, CPEC’s assistant director of research and policy… Read more

California’s revenues are below projections and moving the CSU closer to a trigger cut that could take an additional $100 million from the system, according to the first report of state finances since the budget was adopted in June. The possibility of more cuts is no different than years past and CSUN has an austerity plan, said Dr. Harry Hellenbrand, CSUN provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We’ve tried to build in a reserve to handle additional cuts,” he… Read more

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) awarded CSUN’s 2011-12 senior film project students with a $50,000 grant for the 16th consecutive year. “It’s a huge help,” said Jaclyn Moore, film production major. “I don’t know what we would do without it. It would be a struggle.” In addition to the grant, each student involved in the Department of Cinema and Television Arts’ (CTVA) senior film project must raise at least $1,500 themselves. “Fundraising is difficult enough as it is to… Read more

  Associated Students passed a resolution in July objecting to Gov. Jerry Brown’s recent budget approval that would cut at least $650 million from the CSU. A.S. has been historically politically neutral, but this administration sent a message to Sacramento and CSU leaders condemning cuts to higher education and suggesting the state look at other options instead of cutting funding for the CSU and UC systems. “This year (A.S.) decided that the cuts in higher education have much more significance… Read more