CSUN Freshmen Welcomed to Campus at Convocation

Freshman students walking in

CSUN students processing in during last year’s Freshman Convocation. Photo by Lee Choo.

California State University, Northridge incoming freshmen will explore a dystopian future — written in the form of a blog — in “The Postmortal: A Novel.” 

The book is this year’s Freshman Common Reading Program choice. The campus community is invited to read the book and join CSUN’s incoming freshmen at the annual Freshman Convocation at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, on the Oviatt Lawn.

The keynote speaker will be the book’s author, Drew Magary. CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison, faculty and staff colleagues, continuing students and other members of the CSUN community will celebrate the start of the academic year with the newest Matadors.

“Freshman Convocation is a celebration of learning at CSUN,” said English professor Cheryl Spector, director of CSUN’s Academic First Year Experiences program. “It is very important to me as a faculty member because it combines the academic world of serious intellectual endeavor with the excitement of starting college. Of course, both of those things are worth celebrating.”

The annual convocation welcomes new students to the campus community and inspires excitement for learning at the beginning of their CSUN academic career. It provides a powerful message of encouragement for the success of each student.

Magary also will meet and greet faculty and staff at 4 p.m. in the Oviatt Library’s Ferman Presentation Room. Faculty and staff who wish to march in with the freshman class will assemble in Matador Square at 5:30 p.m. Other faculty and staff may assemble on the Sierra Quad near the Sierra Tower building prior to 6 p.m., and take their seats after the freshman processional is completed.

A processional of associate deans, faculty and student leaders will escort the freshmen along Matador Walk to the Oviatt Lawn. President Harrison and campus leadership will await the students at the top of the Oviatt Library steps.

“It’s important for the campus community to celebrate publicly the arrival of our newest students,” Spector said. “Freshman Convocation lets us welcome these students with open arms, in a public ceremony culminating with their symbolic ascension of the Oviatt Library’s grand staircase. It’s no accident that food and library both await at the top of the steps. We’re offering mental and physical sustenance, food for mind and body.”