Faculty and staff volunteers will join the president in serving more than 6,500 hot dogs, veggie dogs, chips, vegetarian beans, watermelon, cookies and sodas to new and returning students in the Sierra Quad in the center of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge.

"The start of a new academic year is always exciting. I join the faculty and staff in welcoming both new and continuing students to campus. I am confident that Cal State Northridge will be successful in helping them realize their personal, professional, and educational goals," said CSUN President Jolene Koester.

The picnic will take place at two different times to accommodate the schedule constraints of CSUN students. The first period will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will feature performances by the drum ensemble "Capoeira" and the hip-hop group "The Wild Bunch." The second picnic will be at 5 p.m. and feature the salsa sounds of "Macondo."