Malcolm X called education “our passport to the future” in his speech at the founding forum for the Organization of Afro-American Unity in 1964. He linked it to the struggle for human rights, the discovery and celebration of cultural identity, and the development of greater self-respect. In his view, education provided an essential conduit for progress, a roadmap for continuous travel and not just a destination. It was in this spirit that CSUDH's cultural and affinity organizations gathered this month ahead of formal Commencement on May 19 and 20 for a series of smaller, culturally focused graduation celebrations. “It's important to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates in a ... Read More
Dance Team Delivers Historic National Championship Win
The CSUDH Dance team has devoted itself tirelessly to the success of their fellow student athletes for nearly two decades. In Daytona Beach, Fla. on April 6-8, their performance in the finals of the Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship brought national attention to their fierce commitment as representatives of the university and its athletic traditions. The Toro dancers won the Division II National Championship in the newly created Spirit Rally category. Their standout performance among some 8,500 other participants from 430 colleges and universities across the country, capped a season that also saw unprecedented success for several of the university's other athletic ... Read More
An Evening with Comedian Chris Estrada
CSUDH's Hollywood by the Horns program welcomed acclaimed comedian, actor, and writer Chris Estrada to campus on April 28 for an evening of conversation and a screening of an episode of his hit series This Fool, produced by Fred Armisen, which airs on Hulu. “Hollywood by the Horns functions in large part to create opportunities for CSUDH students to interact with professionals in film and television,” said Toddy Eames, an associate professor of Film, TV & Media who runs the program and served as coordinator for the event. Estrada appeared before a standing room only audience in Ballroom B of Locker Student Union. He has both a personal and professional connection to the ... Read More
CSUDH Celebrates 16th Annual Earth Day Festival
Officially, International Earth Day is commemorated on April 22 this year, and its theme is “Invest in Our Planet.” CSUDH held its 16th annual Earth Day Festival on April 18, and the message that sustainable practices can create prosperity for people and businesses alike was clearly on display. Organized by the university's Office of Sustainability, the festival included exhibits by nearly two dozen campus and statewide organizations. Southern California Edison displayed their electric Ford F-150 Lightning to show the company's commitment to growing their electric fleet, from pickup trucks to larger service vehicles. Other events included a Farmer's Market with locally and sustainably ... Read More
Conference Aims to Reframe Ethnic Studies Education
In March, CSUDH hosted more than a dozen scholars from across the country for a three-day conference on Ethnic Studies Education. The event was made possible by a grant from the Education Research Conferences Program of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). The conference, held from March 8-10, coincides with a contentious national debate over how educators should be allowed to address racial inequity in the classroom and what pedagogical tools they should be permitted to employ. Much of the work of Ethnic Studies Education–as well as dealing with the pushback from political leaders, faculty colleagues, and students–is something that educators in the discipline often ... Read More
