History California State University, Northridge

1 history

1.1 establishment
1.2 1958–1964
1.3 1964–1972
1.4 1972–1988
1.5 1988–1997
1.6 1997–present

history

manzanita hall


establishment

the establishment of csun began in 1952 proposal of new satellite campus los angeles state college (now known california state university, los angeles). baldwin hills location planned in 1955, san fernando valley advocates persuaded state officials change location northridge.

1958–1964

in july 1958, campus separated los angeles state college , renamed san fernando valley state college (popularly abbreviated valley state college, valley state, or sfvsc), enrollment reaching 2,525 , tuition $29 per semester. in 1959, became first state college have own computer. in 1964, pioneering computer lab moved quarters in newly completed sierra hall building complex, , student enrollment reached 12,000.

1964–1972

the campus s quiet, moderately conservative , overwhelmingly white suburban setting did not shield share of noise, strife , social upheavals of vietnam war era. on many college campuses, there increasingly large antiwar demonstrations , occasional draft card burnings.

in 1966–67, there 23 black , 7 latino students. responding complaints low minority representation, administration made attempt boost enrollment of latinos , blacks in 1967. fall of 1968 tally stood @ 150 black , 75 latino students.

in march 1968, presidential primary campaign speech robert f. kennedy drew orderly crowd of 10,000, in wake of assassinations of martin luther king, jr. in april , robert kennedy himself in june, later events not peaceful. on november 4, 1968, group of black students held college president , more 30 staff members hostage in administration building several hours, pressing demands greater outreach in minority enrollment , employment , establishment of minority studies departments. nobody hurt and, under duress, president agreed demands. administration largely kept part of bargain, despite included assurance of amnesty, 28 of students involved later charged kidnapping , false imprisonment.

several massive antiwar demonstrations took place during 1969–1970, variously resulting in campus shutdowns, heavy police responses, violent clashes, hundreds of arrests, , in few cases serious injuries demonstrators. last such demonstration in may 1971, on first anniversary of kent state shootings.

1972–1988

the college officially renamed california state university, northridge in june 1972. in 1975, construction of csun sculpture began @ southeast corner of campus. 1977, enrollment @ university 28,023, tuition @ $95. in 1981, campus officially established foreign exchange student program japan, china, ukraine, south korea, taiwan, brazil , netherlands. in 1988, campus had enrollment of 31,575 , $342 tuition fee.

1988–1997

in 1990, marilyn magaram center food science, nutrition , dietetics established; oviatt library east , west wings added; , campus boast of having california state university system s established astronomy department planetarium.

the 1994 northridge earthquake struck on january 17 , caused $400 million in damage campus, heaviest damage ever sustained american college campus. epicenter less 2 miles (3 km) away on undiscovered blind thrust fault. later same month, vice president al gore visited promise of funds reconstruction. entire sections of main library, art building , several other major structures either physically unusable or hazardous occupy, classes continued in alternative locations , hastily erected temporary facilities. among structures judged damaged repair not practical option fine arts building, designed noted modernist architect richard neutra, , south library, oldest permanent building on campus. art courtyard survived. due inadequate earthquake engineering, parking structure next matadome destroyed. grass field used kinesiology instruction, though driveway formerly used enter still visible zelzah avenue. of august 22, 2007, university had completed rebuilding project.

in aftermath of 1994 earthquake, csun civil engineering faculty , students enthusiastically took part in research on earthquake protection of building structures, in particular, in field of seismic performance, vibration control, , base isolation.

on january 17, 1995, president bill clinton visited campus commemorate first anniversary of quake.

1997–present

in april 1999, board of csu trustees decided give $27 million construct post-earthquake projects. university opened first central american studies program in nation in may 2000. in fall 2006, university had 34,560 enrollment , tuition of $1,260. university in 2007, clean energy advocates built new 1 megawatt fuel cell power plant largest of kind in university in world.

california state university trustees on march 15, 2006 voted unanimous approval of envision 2035, cal state northridge planning initiative frame university’s physical development next several decades. vote approved revised master plan increase in campus’ master plan enrollment capacity 25,000 35,000 full-time equivalent students (ftes). growth equivalent 1.6 percent annual growth on 30 years. trustees certified final environmental impact report on plan.

specifically, plan defines sites 1,900,000 square feet (180,000 m) of future campus academic , support facilities accommodate increased fte enrollment. near-term projects include 163,000-square-foot (15,100 m) arts, media , communications complex; parking structure 2,000 spaces , centrally located mass transit hub students, faculty, staff , community members. proposes development of 600 on-campus faculty/staff housing units, on north campus, , allows student housing, parking , transportation sufficient handle enrollment growth while maintaining desirable open space.