Cal State Northridge will give students the opportunity to learn how to make a difference through political activism by hosting its second annual "Week of Activism".

The week begins with "Cafe Expressions and Poetry Slam Contest" on Wednesday, April 17, at 7 p.m. in the University Student Union on the east side of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

Designed to have will have an atmosphere of personal expression that encourages positive response issues of change, the cafe will feature "Local" slam artists who will share their perspectives concerning activism.

Thursday, April 18, "How to Protest and Not Get Arrested" will be discussed at 2 p.m. in the Lakeview Terrace room in the University Student Union. CSUN professors Glenn Omatsu and Gordon Nakagawa will discuss the exercise of protesting, the limits, techniques of civil disobedience and the consequences of protesting.

An art gallery exhibit featuring political posters by U.G. Sato of Japan and Lex Drewinsky of Germany will take place on Friday, April 19, at 10 a.m. in the CSUN Art Gallery Exhibit Hall on the north side of campus.

The morning of April 20 there will be a tour in Los Angeles, the mural capital of the world, to learn the beginnings of muralism and how activism is expressed within the murals. Check-in for the tour will be at 9:30 a.m. in the CSUN¹s Office of Student Development and International Programs, in the University Student Union.

On Monday, April 22, "Siege at Valley State," a student documentary on the civil rights movement as it played out at Cal State Northridge will be screened in the University Student Union theater at 3 p.m.

Tuesday, April 23, "Ghandi" will be screened at 1 p.m., in the Presentation room of the Oviatt Library at the center of campus. A facilitated discussion will follow.

Aaron McGruder will speak at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, in the Presentation room in the Oviatt Library. McGruder is the creator of Boondocks, a comic strip that features contemporary political and social satire. He will discuss the interaction between race, society and comic strips and will challenge the audience to re-examine attitudes concerning race in society. A book signing will follow the discussion.

For more information on the free weeklong events, contact Lorrie Unruh at (818) 677-2477.