It’s happened at universities like Washington, Arizona State and UC Irvine. Now Northridge is following the trend, claiming the budget crisis to be the culprit. So if you haven’t heard or read already, collegiate sports around the country are disappearing. About 30 CSUN student-athletes, with no warning, had a major part of their identities torn from their lives earlier this month when the men’s and women’s swim teams were told the program would be discontinued. As a student-athlete, I am… Read more

A golden shovel grasped by the hands of CSUN President Jolene Koester, student body President Abel Pacheco, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. William Watkins, University Student Union Executive Director Debra Hammond and University Student Union Board of Directors Chair Piero Procida scooped up the first pile of dirt during the Groundbreaking Ceremony for construction of the Student Recreation Center anticipated to open for the 2011-2012 school year. The ceremony took place Wednesday on the Fitness Centre lawn where… Read more

When driving down Nordhoff Street and passing the CSUN campus, even if blinking, it’s hard to miss the construction that has been taking place since last year. For people who have not yet seen or heard, this 160,000 square foot metal structure is transforming into what will be known as the Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC). The VPAC will be the first large-scale venue to provide a unique cultural experience for residents of the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas…. Read more

An authentic meal is not always a satisfying meal. Barrio Fiesta of Manila offers a large menu of authentic Filipino delicacies served family-style from Kare-Kare (beef, ox-tail, tripe and vegetables in a peanut gravy) to fried bananas with Filipino ice cream. The lively ambience throughout the restaurant and reasonably priced menu has Barrio Fiesta appealing to many different crowds. However, the execution of the food lacks what the menu and environment suggests. Pancit Malabon, according to the menu explanation, is… Read more

In a medium pan, toss in one part daughter, one part sister, one cup Christian, a drizzle of cook with a dash of baker, and a healthy pinch of friend. Cover the pan and allow it to simmer for 18 years to create Melissa Simon. Simon was born in Huntington Beach but grew up in the San Fernando Valley, and it was the 1994 Northridge earthquake that created memories for Simon she still revisits today. Ironically, many of the memories… Read more

Empowering women and breaking the molds that women face on a day-to-day basis was the common theme throughout the night as the first annual women leaders lecture, hosted by the Young Democrats Club, took place Nov. 18 in the University Student Union’s Balboa Room. The panel of five individuals representing women leaders, organized by Young Democrat members Pious Ahuja, a political science major, and Natalie Parmenter, a liberal studies major, consisted of a group of women with high levels of… Read more

Summer school and after-school tutoring aren’t exactly the words a high school student wants to hear. Creating robots, bridge building, mock criminal investigation and college success are words that might have a different appeal to high school students. At least that is what Javier Hernandez, CSUN director of student outreach and recruitment, is hoping. CSUN received a four-year grant from the federal government totaling $1 million to fund an Upward Bound program with an emphasis on math and the sciences…. Read more

Many people can sing. Many people can play an instrument. Some can write music. Andrew Papillon can do all three. This 23-year-old CSUN student is majoring in liberal studies, but has always had a passion for music. “I’m the only one with musical talent in my family. It’s really funny. My brother, my mom and my dad don’t have any musical talent.” Papillon said he’s been singing for most of his life and has been playing the guitar for eight… Read more

Despite furloughs, budget cuts and the difficult economic times, not all aspects of education are suffering as four CSUN students have received scholarships from the China Scholarships Council to study abroad at U. S. sister universities in China. Danielle Cabello, Don Duprez, Susan Tang and Lisa Farber have either started studying in China or are on their way. These scholarships are given by the Chinese government to allow U.S. students an opportunity to learn about and experience China from a… Read more