The University Student Union Plaza del Sol Performance Hall will hold the first lecture of the “Speak Your Mind” series, a platform for speakers to come to the university and address national and global concerns. The lecture series, set to begin Oct. 23, “is the debut of a major event at the university,” said Peter Nwosu, chair of the communication studies department.

When the sun sets after a full day of fasting, members of the Muslim community break the fast with Iftar. From 5:20 a.m. to 6:50 p.m., those who participate in the month of Ramadan are fasting not only by not eating and drinking, but also by not committing any other sins such as lying or cheating.

Construction on a new fuel cell power plant at CSUN is scheduled for completion by December 2006, said Tim Brown, director of Physical Plant Management. The production of the 1-megawatt power plant began in late spring 2006, Brown said. Initially the plant was planned for completion by January 2007, but CSUN will receive rebates if it is done by the end of this year.

SMART Board, an interactive whiteboard, has filtered onto the CSUN campus after a decade in existence. “SMART Board interactive whiteboards are like the traditional whiteboards on steroids,” said Randal Cummings, director of online instruction, who is in his tenth year at CSUN, where he helps administer and facilitate academic technology.

Chris Stewart, CSUN’s new director of governmental affairs, seemed to come upon the job in a surprising way. “I was already planning to move to California and I was looking for employment,” Stewart said. “While browsing through the CSUN Web site, I saw an opening for the director of governmental affairs, so I applied.