Photo courtesy of 3WINS Fitness.

While meeting new faces in person, on campus is on hold during a primarily virtual fall semester, CSUN is still giving new students ways to connect with their Matador family. Many of CSUN’s most popular fall kickoff events will continue virtually.

CSUN Associated Students (AS) is wasting no time, as it holds its AS Fair on the first two weekdays of the semester. On Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 24-25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Matadors can learn all about the various AS departments — Leadership, AS Productions, Children’s Center, Ticket Office, Sports Clubs, Outdoor Adventures and Sustainability — through an interactive Zoom event. Students can also meet the dozens of AS sports clubs, including basketball, soccer, ice hockey, cheer and more, through its virtual Sports-A-Palooza on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Zoom.

AS Fair will take place on Aug. 24-25 on Zoom.

“We still want to create that campus life environment as much as possible,” said Kira Paczkowski, senior program coordinator for AS Productions. “This is life for a while, but it isn’t forever. It’s still important to stay engaged, [to prepare] for when we’re all back on campus.”

AS Productions also plans to carry on with its most anticipated events, including Big Show and Big Lecture, as well as Big Politics, which will prepare students to cast their vote in the November presidential election. Big Show is slated to take place on Oct. 3 via Zoom conference, which can accommodate an audience of up to 10,000. AS Productions expects to announce the official lineup on the AS Instagram page later this fall.

AS, the Matador Involvement Center and University Student Union (USU) join forces to discuss what student life will look like for new and returning students this fall, on Friday, Aug. 28, in the Creating Your Fall 2020 Experience online event.

Hosted by AS, the Matador Involvement Center and the USU, Creating Your Fall 2020 Experience will take place on Aug. 28.

One of the biggest events of the fall, Matafest, will also take place virtually on Thursday, Sept. 3. More information on the event will be posted on the USU calendar page.

The USU’s Student Recreation Center (SRC) and Oasis Wellness Center are offering several virtual programs to keep Matadors active and healthy, even at home. Students can register for upcoming programs, including the SRC’s Fit in 6 fitness challenge and eGaming Tournaments, through their websites.

The USU also will host many smaller events that help Matadors find their communities, including with the Pride Center and the Veterans Resource Center.

For LGBTQ+ Matadors, the Pride Center’s new student welcome event, Generation Pride, will be held on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 5 to 6 p.m., on Zoom. Their weekly T-Time discussion and fun GAYme Nights also continue online every Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Every month, students can also tune in on Instagram Live to watch LGBTQ+ artists perform in the Pride Center’s beloved variety show, OUT on Stage.

The Pride Center welcomes new LGBTQ+ Matadors with Generation Pride, on Aug. 27.

On select Fridays beginning Sept. 4, the USU offers another live performance treat with Sunset Jams: Live Virtual Concerts, featuring musicians performing on Instagram Live.

The Veterans Resource Center opens conversations and opportunities for veterans looking to make a smooth transition into the workforce after graduation, with its weekly webinar, Elevate, happening every Friday starting Sept. 4.

On Sept. 8-11, Cultural Welcomes invite Latinx, Black, Asian/Asian American and Native American students to join in on Zoom to learn about various resources, meet faculty and staff members, and get to know fellow Matadors within the community.

AS Fair, Associated Students, Big Show, CSUN as One, Featured, matafest, PRIDE Center, University Student Union, Virtual Fall Semester