CSUN students won first and second place for their mechanical prototypes with the theme of ‘Living Green’ at the Society of Hispanic Engineers conference in Anaheim, Oct. 26-30. Mechanical engineer major Jonathan Gjemso, 21, came up with the idea for the first place winner, the “Bench Press Power Generator.” “It uses the energy that a person will have to work out and it transforms it into electrical energy that could either be put back into the grid or stored,” he… Read more

A shy guy who barely talks is able to fill in the blanks to a song. A girl who never spoke blurted out the word flowers. A young man who needs physical help is now able to move his head side-to-side on his own. After only a few sessions of hands-on music therapy with Thomas Newbold, music therapy graduate student, patients’ motor skills have increased. “It gives you a sense of feeling that you are doing something important and worthwhile,”… Read more

When walking to her car a block and a half away from campus at night, Angela Igrisan, public administration graduate student, fears she will be taken by surprise if someone were to attack her. Igrisan said she is always aware and makes sure to look at the people around her and take note of their height and speed of walk. “If I was attacked I would first look at the person to get a description and then run,” said Igrisan…. Read more

Bicycle thefts on campus have jumped nearly 80 percent since last year, according to CSUN police crime reports. From Jan. 1 to Sept. 20, 82 bicycles have been stolen on campus compared to 46 in the same period the year before. “It’s a tough problem, but not an unusual problem,” said Anne P. Galvin, chief of police. “It’s probably one of the most common campus crimes that there is.” Twelve of the bikes stolen so far this year have been… Read more

Nearly 100 tenure faculty have been appointed to run departments and committees and head classes for the 2011-12 year, according to officials in CSUN faculty affairs. “I think that it is a tremendous boost to what we can offer our students,” said Stella Theodoulou, social and behavioral sciences college dean. “It shows a commitment to this institution, to our students and to the growth and future of this university.” Social and Behavioral Sciences, which has the largest number of enrolled… Read more