CSUN Students Jump into Fall with Plethora of Activities
California State University, Northridge students kicked off the first week of the fall 2018 semester with a host of events just for Matadors — to help new and returning students alike get acquainted with clubs and organizations on campus.
The swag-rich events include Associated Students (AS) Fair, Sports-A-Palooza and Matafest.
Associated Students Fair
On the third day of classes, Aug. 28, approximately 2,500 students gathered around the Campus Store Lawn to visit booths and try their hand at spin-the-wheel games to win prizes. Each fall, AS hosts the fair to spread CSUN school spirit and share information on AS resources, including student leadership, Outdoor Adventures recreational opportunities, sport clubs, sustainability and campus recycling, the AS Children’s Center daycare, and AS Ticket Office, where students and staff can purchase discounted tickets to Catalina Island, Universal Studios Hollywood, AMC Movie tickets and more.
Many CSUN students, especially freshmen and transfer students, aren’t familiar with AS student government and programs, and the fair familiarizes them in a relaxed environment. As the students visited each booth they received stickers on their AS card handed out with their AS reusable bags for a chance to get a Matador shirts or water bottle along with a free hotdog.
Biology first-year student Viviana Gonzalez enjoyed seeing the assets that AS offered and got some new Universal Studios freebies as well.
“It has been cool seeing all the resources that we have here [at CSUN],” Gonzalez said. “I got a Universal Studios cell phone credit card holder and glasses cleaner from the Ticket office and then I got a lanyard and a little fan from the other booths.”
Sports-A-Palooza
On Aug. 29, hundreds of students interested in joining campus sports clubs stopped by the Matador Walk, in front of the Delmar T. Oviatt Library, to talk with the clubs’ members and find out more about joining sports teams. The 28 clubs participated, including ice hockey, hip hop, wrestling and lacrosse. For a complete list of sports clubs and more information, visit https://www.csun.edu/as/sport-clubs/available-sports.
Matafest
New and returning Matadors learned about upcoming fall events and highlights happening at the University Student Union (USU) at Matafest, on Aug. 30. Live music, carnival games and Hawaiian treats turned Plaza del Sol into a tropical destination where students could learn about resources provided by the USU such as the perennial favorite Student Recreation Center (SRC), Oasis Wellness Center, Pride Center, Veterans Resource Center, Computer Lab and more.
The events to help students have a successful year at CSUN will continue during the second full week of classes. Be sure to check out:
Meet the Clubs, Sept. 4-5
Matadors can “meet the clubs” — dozens of them, from the Armenian Student Association to Society of Professional Journalists to CSUN Athletic Training Club and Deaf Studies Association— from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4, and Wednesday, Sept. 5, on the Sierra Quad. This is a one-stop info fair to find students with similar interests, join a club or an organization and get involved on campus.
Greek Informational, Sept. 5-6
Interested in joining a sorority or a fraternity? Come out to one of two events on all things Greek life at CSUN, from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, and Thursday, Sept. 6 at the the Panorama Room in the East Conference Center (of the University Student Union, adjacent to the SRC).
Annual President’s Picnic, Sept. 6
Stop by Bayramian Lawn (next to Bayramian Hall), from 11:30 to 1 p.m. or 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6 for free lunch (or dinner), music and mingle with CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison and faculty and staff.
AS Farmers Market, Beginning Sept. 11
Every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on East University Drive (Lindley Street) and Matador Square — next to the Matador statue — AS Farmers Market vendors offer fresh fruits, veggies, baked goods, tempting tacos, jewelry and more. The first market date for fall semester is Sept. 11.
For more information about upcoming welcome events at CSUN, please visit
https://www.csun.edu/osid/wam.