1. Announcements
It’s always hard to open these announcements with sad news, but our hearts and thoughts go out this week to Amy Reynolds, whose sister, Julia Kay (Bartle) Garcia, passed away in early March after a battle with cancer. Memorial donations are being requested in Julia’s name to either the Braille Institute of America or the American Association of the Deaf-Blind.
On a happier note, on March 8 the campus community was informed that we have successfully completed a rigorous five year reaccreditation process conducted by university faculty, staff, students and administrators; major site visits by external reviewers in 2010 and 2011; and an exit meeting with WASC by Vice Provost Cynthia Rawitch and Interim President Harry Hellenbrand. In the ever articulate and incisive words of our Interim President, Harry Hellenbrand, this affirmation of for a full 10 year “confirms what we already know–that Cal State Northridge is a model learning organization fully focused on student success and learning.” Congratulations to all of us, and a big thank you to everyone in English who worked so hard to make it happen.
Charles Hatfield’sgraduate seminar, English 620HH, will very soon be hosting Los Bros Hernandez, that is, Gilbert, Jaime, and Mario Hernandez, the creators of the renowned comic book and graphic novel series “Love & Rockets” (1981-present). These three brothers, raised in Oxnard, pioneered Latino, multicultural, queer-positive, and punk-influenced comics. They opened up comic books to issues, identities, and communities that comic books had never had the guts to explore before. This event, which is sponsored by the CSUN Distinguised Visiting Speakers Program and the College of Humanities Academic Programming Fund, will take place on Monday, March 26, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in JR 319, and is free!
The English Subject Matter Option and the CSUN Credential Office will be hosting an Information Session on Wednesday, April 25, between 2:00 and 3:00 in the English Reading Room, JR 319. Come hear about teaching options, possibilities, and programs. Some light refreshments. Please RSVP with Leslie at x4111.
On Monday, April 9, the CSU Fullerton Linguistics Students Association will be celebrating language with its annual one day symposium. All are invited to join them, from 8:50 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for a day-long series of scintillating speakers, featuring our own Fred Field. Questions may be directed to skngjul@csu.fullerton.edu.
Just before the not to be missed Northridge Review Reading (see Reminders below), the Northridge Writers’ Circle will be hosting the fabulous Brendan Constantine, poet extraordinaire who, rumor has it, aims to make his poetry readings the best thing you do all day. This event will be held in JR 319 and begin at 6:00 p.m.
SPIT (Student Playwrights for Innovative Theater) will be hosting its Spring Festival this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday nights in JR 319, beginning each night at 7:00 p.m. and featuring five plays by CSUN students, Susana Marcelo, Alejandro Lucero, Hudit Simonyan, Erin Neel, and Jennifer Bergus. Another fantastic event by our fantastic students.
2. Reminders
Please don’t miss the Northridge Review reading, taking place in the Noski Auditorium, on March 23 at 7 p.m. These students do a terrific job and are always cheered when we come out to support them.
And on March 31, Mona Houghton and Kate Haake will be reading from their new What Books books at 7:00 p.m. at Beyond Baroque in Venice. Reading with them will be Chuck Rosenthal and CSUN’s own Ramon Garcia. And as a special treat, GRONK will be showing slides to accompany the reading. All What Books feature GRONK’s work on their covers. 
3. Opportunities
Please let your students know that Senator Feinstein’s Los Angeles office is looking for highly motivated college students for internship positions for the summer session. Interns play a crucial role in the Los Angeles office’s daily operations, and we are looking for new additions! Successful applicants will support the Deputy State Director, Field Representatives and Staff Assistants in drafting memos to the Senator, scheduling or attending meetings with staff, constituent letters, conducting background research, phone calls, document requests, morning press clippings, research projects, and attending events with the Senator when she is in the region. This is an unpaid internship, but available for academic credit. Interested students should submit a cover letter, resume, 3 academic/professional references (with relationship and contact information), and one-page writing sample (topic of your choice) to Stevy_Loy@feinstein.senate.gov as soon as possible.