FOR RELEASE: August 24, 1999

Cal State Northridge Starts Fall Semester with a
Welcome Picnic, the Re-Opening of Two Buildings

New and returning students will be greeted with the re-opening of two buildings closed since the 1994 Northridge Earthquake and a welcome picnic sponsored by Interim President Louanne Kennedy on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

³Along with the faculty and staff of the university, I am excited and energized by the opportunity to welcome both new and continuing students to the campus for the new year,² Kennedy said. ³Cal State Northridge is truly committed to its mission of helping students fulfill their educational goals. Our academic programs are designed to ensure high student achievement and I am confident that students will find that we have succeeded in making our support services more convenient and accessible.²

The annual ³President¹s Welcome Picnic² will take place on the university¹s Oviatt Lawn from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to accommodate evening students.

The two buildings, which re-opened this summer after renovations following the Northridge Earthquake, are Monterey Hall and the new Student Services Center.

Monterey Hall, located on the northwest corner of Nordhoff Street and Zelzah Avenue, will house CSUN¹s Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences; the university psychology clinics; the San Fernando Valley chapter of the Los Angeles Alzheimer¹s Association; College of Extended Learning classrooms; and a new Center for Community Services, a referral source for campus services to the community.

The new Student Services Center, housed in the old Administration Building, is a ³one-stop shop² for a variety of student services from admissions, financial aid to registration and counseling.

In the meantime, incoming freshmen are spending this week exploring the campus and discovering ways they can become involved in the university. As part of the university¹s orientation program, they will become familiar with campus policies and get tips on what new students should know as a freshman in college.