The high expectations the CSUN women’s soccer  team have for the 2011 season took another early hit on Sunday as Texas handed the Matadors an embarrassing 5-1 defeat, dropping them to 0-3-0 to start the season. Just like against Baylor two days before, CSUN fell behind early. Texas senior forward Kylie Doniak assisted Taylor Knaack in the 11th minute of the first half to open the score at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The Matadors fell behind 3-0 following a goal from Doniak early in… Read more

Less than two months before fall semester began, the CSU board of trustees voted to raise tuition by 12 percent after legislators refused to hold a special election asking Californians to extend current tax levels. “If we had simply maintained the tax rate at where we were last year, we would have avoided the additional $150 million cut,” said Erik Fallis, CSU spokesman. In the July 12 vote, which passed 13-2, Fallis said the board of trustees acted quickly to… Read more

CSUN was awarded over $3.7 million in August to fund a program that encourages students from minority and underrepresented communities to complete doctoral programs. Most if not all of the money will go to students in the Minority Biomedical Research Support Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (MBRS RISE) program, which pairs students with CSUN researchers. “A person’s socioeconomic standing determines (their) health, but more importantly, (their) access to education,”said Maria Elena Zavala, director of the program and CSUN biology professor…. Read more

Over 600 faculty, staff and students gathered on the Oviatt Lawn Aug. 25 for President Jolene Koester’s final convocation. Koester, who will retire at the end of fall semester, spent much of her time focusing on goals such as academic excellence and building a stronger off-campus reputation, while touching on continuing budget issues. “We must assume continued disinvestment by the state,” Koester said. A 10 year plan to manage limited resources was mentioned, though details have yet to be determined…. Read more

Coaches’ polls are the opinions of experienced officials ranking their competition’s overall talent. According to the 2011 poll from the Big West Conference, the Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball team, which finished seventh in the league last season (13-19, 5-11 Big West), will be a big underdog this time around and finish eighth. That’s what the “experts” say. “A poll is a poll. We still have to play the matches and also, if you look at last year, Irvine was picked… Read more

The CSUN men’s soccer team was able to give head coachTerry Davila his 100th win as a Big West coach with a 2-0 victory against Canisius on Friday night to open the 2011 season. “I’m just glad to get a home victory,” said Davila, who started his 12th season with the Matadors. “I guess when I get a bit older, I’ll look at it and savor it.” It was the first time CSUN faced off against Canisius, which came all… Read more

The CSUN women’s soccer team dropped the first of two Texas road matches on Friday night as Baylor freshman Natalie Huggins scored the first goal of her collegiate career in the eighth minute of the non-conference game to give the Bears a 1-0 victory. The Matadors’ defense kept them in the game against the Big-12 Conference team. Baylor was effective, scoring on one of the two shots on goal they recorded. CSUN junior goalkeeper Cynthia Jacobo had a save for… Read more

CSUN communication professor Annette Cardona, known for her iconic role in “Grease” as Cha Cha DiGregorio, died Aug. 3. She was 63. Cardona, a seasoned dancer, singer and actress, died of lung cancer although she was not a smoker. “Her illness was very fast and did not give any of her closest friends time to have closure,” said friend and chicano/a studies professor Renee Morena.  “There are no easy words to describe Annette or who she was.  She was my… Read more