Service Learning is on a roll
For the third consecutive year, Cal State L.A. was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service to America’s communities. Established in 2006 by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Honor Roll recognizes more than 700 institutions nationwide, including 14 CSU campuses.
Students engage in community service activities through two key avenues: the Educational Participation in Communities Program, which hosts an annual toy drive and regularly participates in the America Reads program, among other things; and the Office of Community Engagement, which coordinates service-learning opportunities that accompany classroom studies and projects.
Discover ‘Darwin Now’
A multi-panel exhibit that explores the impact of naturalist Charles Darwin’s research and writing on science, religion, and society throughout the last 150 years opened on campus in May. Installed in the first floor lobby of La Kretz Hall, the “Darwin Now” Exhibit will be on display through December 2011.
The former-traveling exhibit has been given as a gift to the University from the British Council. It was originally produced to commemorate Darwin’s 200th birthday (he was born Feb. 12, 1809Âthe same day as Abraham Lincoln) and the 150th anniversary of the publishing of his most renowned work, On the Origin of Species.
Cal State L.A. will be the last stop for “Darwin Now.” For upcoming programming related to the exhibit, go to http://darwin.britishcouncil.org/posts, you can also contact English Professor Lauri Ramey for more information.
CSULA Library gets a ‘special’ addition
Movement’s mementos enhance East L.A. Archive project.
A collection of political flyers, broadsides, newspapers, books, buttons, posters and photographs that document events and emotions surrounding Chicano activism from 1967 to the late 1970s was donated to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library’s special collections.
The materials, gathered and preserved by community activist Gloria Arellanes, augment a recently established East Los Angeles Archive. The archive documents the history of a community central to the social, political and cultural history of the Chicano/Latino community in Los Angeles.
As part of the Library’s Special Collections, Arellanes materials join a repository of literary, historical and cultural treasures housed on campus. The special collections materials are available for viewing by appointment, at (323) 343-4435.
Alums return to mark campus landmarks
The Cal State L.A. community celebrated two significant milestones in April with a little help from friends and former students.
“Statement” literary magazine commemorated its 60th anniversary and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry celebrated its 50th anniversary with presentations and appearances by alumni, faculty and former contributors.
Accomplished author and former student-contributor Helena MarÃa Viramontes shared some of her work and experiences in publishing during the magazine party. Writing for the student-led literary and arts magazine, which is one of the oldest publications of its kind in the country, was a stepping stone for Viramontes in her career, she said.
Meanwhile, a 50th anniversary celebration for the science department drew more than a hundred visitors to campus to tour the new science facility, La Kretz Hall, and hear from distinguished alumni and faculty, including Deborah Wong ’98, John Petersen ’70, Glenn Millhauser ’80, and Professor Emeritus Harold Goldwhite.
Afro Latin Ensemble Heading to China
The Afro Latin Ensemble, under the direction of Music Professor Paul De Castro, has been invited to perform at the 29th World Conference of the International Society for Music Education, a gathering of thousands of music professionals and educators this summer in Beijing, China.
The Ensemble, which comprises 20 undergraduate and graduate students, will perform two concerts at the conference and then again in the city of Tianjin. Previously, the Ensemble has performed with celebrated salsa pianist Larry Harlow and many other guest artists, including Pablo Menendez, Orestes Vilato, Frank Emilio Flynn, and Edgardo Cambon.
Fueling California's economy
Cal State L.A. is a driving force in the region, sustaining thousands of jobs and pumping millions of dollars into the economy each year.
According to a recent study released on the economic impact of the California State University system in the state, Cal State L.A. adds nearly $600 million annually to the local economy through operational, auxiliary, capital and campus community spending. The University also sustains more than 5,300 jobs statewide.
See the complete report at www.calstatela.edu/impact/.
Engineering team out-clocks the competition with national top honors
A team of ten engineering and technology students outdid collegiate competitors in March, bringing home the grand prize title in the 2010 WESTEC Manufacturing Challenge with a pendulum driven grandfather clock.
The grand prize title was a first for Cal State L.A., which has had teams participate in the competition annually and has garnered three first-place titles (2004, 2005 and 2008 competitions) in the last six years. The WESTEC Manufacturing Challenge is a creative competition where college students design and manufacture products for judging by manufacturing professionals.
According to team captain Ian van den Bosch, “The challenge was for each school to produce a creative product that could be manufactured, and to also document the process clearly. We have worked extremely hard and have sacrificed necessities like sleeping in order to win this competition.”
From prescription, to policy
Cal State L.A. students are getting their hands wet, collecting water samples and analyzing river watersheds in Valley Verde, Arizona. As participants in the newly launched Hydrology and Water Policy Program at the University, the students are trying to gain a clearer understanding of recent water issues in the Southwestern United States.
The new program is funded with a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
More news updates are available on the University's homepage at www.calstatela.edu.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Discover an opportunity to enrich your life through one of many activities on campus:
Reel Rasquache Art & Film Festival
June 4ÂJune 6A West Coast celebration of films by and about U.S. Latinos, the three-day film festival brings together a broad base of community members, U.S. Latino film/video independents and entertainment industry representatives. The Reel Rasquache Art and Film Festival, originally started as a means for spotlighting Latina/o talent to the campus community, is now celebrating its seventh year.
For more information about the event, visit www.reelrasquache.org.
2010 Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement
June 11ÂJune 12
University Athletic StadiumIn ceremonies spread over two days, Cal State L.A. will confer several thousand bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Friday ceremony will include graduates from Charter College of Education, College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology, and College of Health and Human Services, and Saturday will feature graduates from the College of Arts and Letters, College of Business and Economics, and College of Natural and Social Sciences. For more information, visit www.calstatela.edu/commencement.
Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet
June 19, 8 p.m.
Luckman TheatreA world premiere of Hammerklavier, a multi-media ballet set to Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op. 106. It is widely considered to be one of the most important works of the composer’s third period. For more information or for tickets, visit www.luckmanarts.org or call the Luckman Box Office at (323) 343-6600.
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Focus on Los Angeles: Pat Brown California Agenda 2010
June 24, 8:30 a.m.
TBAA panel discuss about the issues surrounding health care and health care reform. the panelist will discuss ways that parties are trying to reframe the conversation locally to be about creating a healthy community for all Angelinos. For more information, call (323) 343-3770.
To see a listing of other events on campus, visit the University Calendar homepage at www.calstatela.edu/calendar