The Anthropology Student Association has become a place for CSUN students to socialize and learn about anthropology while creating anthropology-related events for the campus community.

“We are a group (of students) who (are) here to help anthropology students feel much more comfortable,” said Esvanhnelley Salas, senior anthropology major and vice president of ASA.

ASA hosted an anthropology forum titled “Exploring Humanity: Conversations About Culture Experience” Wednesday and will continue Thursday in the Sierra Center. The two-hour forum consisted of a series of discussions and presentations from CSUN students, faculty and alumni. According to ASA, every branch of anthropology will be showcased at Thursday’s event.

“Thanks to ASA, (students) get to know a lot of people, since anthropology is such a small major,” Salas said.

Salas, who will be ASA’s president in the fall, said they organize pizza nights, coffee shop trips and other get-togethers to encourage more students to join.

Steven Stiles, senior biology and anthropology major, and ASA public relations officer, has been in ASA since he was a sophomore, and said the group was in danger of being eliminated due to many of its members and officers recently graduating.

However, due to the efforts of ASA’s new officers, Stiles said the organization is beginning to function as it had in the past. There are currently five officers and 15 official members in ASA.

The group is not only open to anthropology majors, but is a meeting ground for anyone interested in anthropology to get together and learn.

“We don’t discriminate against non-anthropology majors,” Stiles said.

Ani Nazaryan, senior anthropology major and treasurer of ASA, also said the club gives members an opportunity to socialize.

“ASA prepares students for the real world,” Nazaryan said. “By socializing (with other students), it helps students in networking with people who are in the same field as them.”

Nazaryan, who will be presenting a segment called “The Future of Cultural Dentistry” at the Exploring Humanity forum, said she attributes her great experience in the Anthropology Department not only to ASA, but to her professors as well.

“The department has amazing professors,” Nazaryan said. “The professors are very eager to help students in pursuing their careers and encouraging them to do the best they can do.”