Students expressed a desire for increased technology that incorporates their smart phones and other portable information devices, commenting on the kinds of tools they’d like to see available for students in a forum organized by CSUN’s Information Technology (IT) department. IT has been developing a 5-year plan to transform CSUN into a campus reliant less on paper and more on the personal technology devices of its members. The small but participatory group of about 10 attendees expanded on the results… Read more

CSUN’s Vex Robotics Team placed 14 of 35 their first time competing in the international tournament that pits robots from universities in Mexico, Brazil, China, New Zealand and the United States against one another. CSUN sent four representatives to the Vex Robotics World Championship in Kissimmee, Fla., in April, where they battled their way into the playoffs, losing to an undefeated team. “It’s okay, because we will win next year,” said Aflie Gil, 25. The mechanical engineering graduate student said… Read more

A.S. Academic Affairs Committee unsuccessfully proposed the creation of an appeals process against the elimination of financial aid eligibility for students with 150 units.  Prior to the change, students were able to receive financial aid up to 180 units. “It’s geared more towards non-traditional students and transfer students with excessive units,” said Mallad Kashnood, chair of the Academic Affairs Committee. The new unit cap only affects a student’s ability to receive financial aid.It does not influence whether or not the… Read more

University Student Union (USU) board of directors allocated space in the student union for a veterans’ resource center, bicycle co-op and an LGBTQ resource center, the representatives of which appeared in droves to the make their case before the board Monday. The tenants must submit a detailed plan to manage their new locations and secure funding by December of this year to secure the spaces they were given, said Executive Director Debra Hammond. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Resource… Read more

Associated Students allocated $1,500 to fund the HOPE for Japan benefit concert in a motion that allowed them to indirectly provide aid to the country which has been devastated by massive earthquakes, tsunamis and seeping nuclear radiation from damaged plants for months. The concert will showcase CSUN students performing spoken word, poetry, dance and musical pieces, including Jishin Taiko, CSUN’s Japanese drumming ensemble and cultural club, on Saturday April 23 at 6 p.m. in the USU Northridge Center. Senator Melinda… Read more

Associated Students reduced the budget for the organization in charge of providing students with entertainment, such as concerts, lectures and cultural events free of charge. SPACE, Student Production and Campus Entertainment, had their summer program eliminated for a second year in a row and their ability to sponsor campus events was significantly reduced. The organization lost a total of $11,000 for the 2011-12 academic year – $7,000 was cut from summer programs and $4,000 from spirit funds, which allowed them… Read more

Associated Students President Conor Lansdale urged the senate Tuesday to support the Intercollegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act. The bill, which has been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and was presented to the Senate in March, stipulates that any donation to a private non-profit student housing organization would now be considered tax deductible. Donations to student organizations that provide housing to their members, such as sororities and fraternities, Hillel and national scholar associations are currently exempt from tax deductions…. Read more

While bipartisan bickering has stalled progress in the House and Senate for months, Obama released his budget proposal with an emphasis on compromise among congressional leaders. His proposal calls for a $770 billion cut from non-security spending by 2023 and $400 billion from defense spending by that same year, Business Week reported. In that same article, the numbers are broken down to explain just how much those figures mean to individual organizations. For example, Housing and Urban Development’s community development… Read more