The Neo-Assyrian empire was a mighty superpower that dominated the near east for 300 years before its dramatic collapse. Now researchers say they have a novel theory for what was behind its rise and fall: climate change. The empire emerged in about 912BC and grew to stretch from the Mediterranean down to Egypt and out to the Persian Gulf. But shortly after the death of the king Ashurbanipal around 630BC, the empire began to crumble, with the grand city of Nineveh sacked in 612BC. By the end of the seventh century BC, the empire's fall was complete. Now scientists say the reversal in the empire's fortunes appears to coincide with a dramatic shift in its climate from wet to dry - a ... Read More
Archives for November 2019
The Practice of Gratitude
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2019 issue of CSUDH Magazine. Gratitude is a familiar concept, but one that can be hard to specifically pin down, says Giacomo Bono. "Just like well-being or success, how do you define it?" "Sometimes I joke that gratitude is the most underappreciated value. People value it, but it's really a question of how you practice it. Even thought it seems like a simple behavior, the more you look at it, and the more you genuinely try to live up to it and practice it, the more meaningful your life gets." Bono, an assistant professor of psychology at CSUDH and co-author of the book Making Grateful Kids: The Science of Building Character, has spent ... Read More
CSUDH Eats iPhone App Helps Students Find Affordable and Free Food on Campus
By Laurie McLaughlin There is a growing need for access to nutritious food for students struggling to meet this basic need across the CSU system. At CSUDH, the Information Technology team worked with Apple technology to design the CSUDH Eats iPhone app, which will be available for free. It is difficult, if not impossible, to excel academically if you are hungry, says Chris Manriquez, vice president of information technology. “Food insecurity–not being able to afford regular meals–is one of the challenges that some of our students face. Students grapple with a number of insecurity issues, including transportation, housing, and psychological support, but not having enough to eat is the one ... Read More
President Parham to Serve on Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities Executive Committee
California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) President Thomas A. Parham has been elected to serve on the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities' (CUMU) executive committee as a member at large. The coalition is the world's largest organization committed to serving and connecting urban universities and their community partners. The CUMU executive committee is made up of presidents and chancellors of universities that are “anchor institutions” in the regions they serve. The committee serves more than 100 member campuses worldwide. “It is a privilege to have been elected to serve on the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities' executive committee on behalf of ... Read More
Service and Milestones Honored at 2019 Staff Awards Ceremony
A festive time is always the rule during staff recognition events at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), and the 2019 Staff Awards ceremony on Nov. 7 was no exception. While the announcement of the Staff Awards of Excellence winners and their exemplary service to the university stole the show, the fond memories of those with 25 or more years of service to the university ran a close second. Their shared memories were a new addition to the annual event. One standout story involved Director of Student Health and Psychological Services Janie MacHarg, whose 50 years at CSUDH is among the longest tenures in university history. In the early 1980s, MacHarg asked a mounted ... Read More
