University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

NEWS RELEASE

CSUN Panel to Preview November’s Election Choices

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Sept. 20, 2006) -- Community leaders and university professors will offer their insights on November’s elections during a panel discussion on Thursday, Sept. 28, at Cal State Northridge.

The discussion, "California--Electing to Change," is presented by the university’s College of Business and Economics and will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at The University Club on the southeast corner of the campus near Zelzah Avenue and Nordhoff Street.

"We think this is a great opportunity for the audience to hear a diverse set of speakers talking about an important upcoming election in November," said Bill Jennings, the college’s interim dean and moderator for the evening.

Taking part will be former California Assemblyman Richard Katz, a public policy and government relations consultant; Bruce Ackerman, president and CEO of Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, a private, non-profit economic development and marketing corporation; Scott Harris, executive director of Golden Again, a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that works to bring accountability to Sacramento; and Cal State Northridge economics professor Shirley Svorny.

The evening will begin with a brief networking reception followed by the discussion.

Each panelist will be given five minutes to talk about what they see happening on Nov. 7, Election Day, focusing on the candidates and propositions, and the impact they will have on the state—short and long term. Following the presentations, the panelists will query each other about election issues, and then the floor will open to questions from the audience.

The panel discussion is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. For more information or to reserve a seat, call Karen Ziegler at (818) 677-4712 or e-mail her at kziegler@csun.edu.

Cal State Northridge’s College of Business and Economics is home to several nationally recognized programs where students gain valuable hands-on experience working alongside faculty members and business professionals in a variety of areas. Among its acclaimed programs is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program in which CSUN students provide free tax preparation assistance to low income families and individuals. The college is also home to the San Fernando Valley Economic Research Center, where students work with faculty in collecting assembling, analyzing, and disseminating economic, social and demographic data pertaining to the Valley.