Daily Sundial

Funding for Performing Arts Center brings concerns

Linda Coburn • April 29, 2008

With a price tag of $124.8 million, there is some concern that the burden of paying for the construction of the Valley Performing Arts Center, which is set to have its groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow, will eventually end up on the shoulders of students. Administrators and boosters say that every attempt is being made to keep that from happening.

Yellowcard rocks out at Matador Nights

Savannah Dawkins • April 28, 2008

Yellowcard's hour-long acoustic set at Matador Nights pumped up fans with songs off their most recent album as well as older fan-favorites. They opened with "Fighting" off their newest album "Paper Walls" and closed with "Rough Draft" off their 2003 album "One for the Kids.

Controversial speaker discusses political perceptions, deceptions

Ana Guerra • April 25, 2008

A week before Michael Parenti's arrival, sidewalks chalked up with the words, "Get Political!" urged students to experience one of the most progressive activist speakers CSUN has had in years. On April 17, award-winning author and lecturer Michael Parenti spoke about the political perceptions and deceptions in America.

French outlaw excessive skinniness

Anthony Graham • April 25, 2008

Often, American culture is reprimanded for putting unrealistic ideas of beauty into our women's heads. Worse yet, many of our super thin, super rib-cagey, supermodels have been criticized for conveying an impossible, and even unhealthy, pedestal for women to climb.

Design students walk the runway

Linda Coburn • April 25, 2008

Northridge Hall looked more like the set of "Project Runway" Tuesday night as students from the apparel design and merchandising program produced a nearly three-hour fashion extravaganza called "Fashionology." This extravaganza included a backstage flurry of dozens of girls (and a couple boys) being fussed over by designers with pins and sewing kits; thumping music as the models strutted down the runway; press scribbling; photographers snapping; and a couple hundred friends and family breaking out into applause and cheers on occasion.

Bill to guard schools’ free speech rights

Kari Thumlert • April 25, 2008

The California Senate passed a bill making it illegal for California high school and college administrators or school boards to "retaliate" against employees for defending students' First Amendment free speech rights in a 35-2 vote on Monday. Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) said he authored Senate Bill 1370, the "Journalism Teacher Protection Act," after his office received several statewide reports of journalism advisers, teachers and professors being "removed" from their positions for refusing to comply with administrators' demands to censor stories or stop critical coverage from publication in student newspapers.

Mayan immigrants face prejudice

Stephanie Olmedo • April 25, 2008

Elias, a 25 year-old Spanish literature and Central American Studies double major at CSUN, grew up in the small town of Olintepeque, Guatemala. At the age of 15 he left due to the poverty that, according to Elias, "wouldn't allow us to live a stable life," and headed for Los Angeles, where his father was already creating a new life for him and his family.

FDA’s policy prohibing gay men from donating blood is discriminatory

Savannah Dawkins • April 25, 2008

The FDA has a policy that men who have had sex with other men since the start of the AIDS epidemic in 1977 are not allowed to donate blood. This policy is unfair and discriminatory because it bans even those men who practice safe sex, have had only a few partners, or are currently in a monogamous relationship.

Northridge eliminated

Ivan Yeo • April 25, 2008

When CSUN played its two matches against BYU at Provo, Utah back on Feb. 1 and 2, the Matadors didn't field a full squad for either match, but were able to push the Cougars in both, losing in four games in the first match and taking BYU the full five in the rubber match The third time, however, despite fielding a full squad and playing on a neutral court, the second-seeded Cougars left little doubt as to who was the better team.

Event informs students about backpack safety

Eileen Mansoorian • April 25, 2008

Back safety was the issue at hand during the "Be Right Back" event on April 10 at the Plaza del Sol. The event, which took place from noon to 2 p.m., brought to light a topic to which most students don't give much thought: The weight they carry in their backpacks.

Earth Fair raises awareness on global warming, recycling

Jessica Hager • April 24, 2008

In celebration of Earth Day event held Tuesday, CSUN's Associated Students hosted the school's 38th Annual Earth Fair, providing free food, music and more than 25 booths representing a variety of environmental causes. Students had the opportunity to visit booths from the California Wildlife Center, the Sierra Club, the California Native Plant Society and Organic To Go Caf'eacute;s, among others.

Students protest $1 billion education cuts

Cynthia Gomez • April 24, 2008

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story appeared in yesterday's paper. This is an expanded version. SACRAMENTO- "What do we want? No budget cuts! When do we want it? Now!" students chanted as they marched onto the streets of West Sacramento on their way to the Capitol.