Hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and alumni joined in celebration of Toros who are the first in their family to attend or graduate from college on Nov. 8 for the fourth annual CSUDH “Celebrate First Generation College Students.” Rain caused a location change for the celebration, but the weather did not dampen the spirits of those who attended. They enthusiastically demonstrated that while first generation students don’t have the family history of college to lean on as they navigate college life, they do have a strong network from other first-gens, the entire campus community, and the many services in place at CSUDH to support their success. Teddy the Toro, the CSUDH ... Read More
Alumni
Toro Women’s Basketball Building on Success
For the 2022-23 CSUDH women’s basketball team, this season is all about building on the foundation of success that they established last year. With an entirely new batch pf players, the team was able to finish fourth in the ultra-competitive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). This season, they’re looking for more. “Last season was a pleasant surprise,” says head coach John Bonner, who is entering his seventh year in charge of the program. “We had 12 new players that we hadn’t coached before, and one returning player who had redshirted. Because we were so young and didn’t have a lot of experience, we didn’t know what to expect.” “We wanted to utilize that time to ... Read More
CSUDH History Woven into New Book about Los Angeles Street Groups
More than 30 years ago, CSUDH Professor Emeritus of Sociology John C. Quicker and alumnus Akil S. Batani-Khalfani began a sociological and historical deep dive into the origins of street groups in South Los Angeles. Their years of research, which began during their time together at CSUDH, have turned into a new book: Before Crips: Fussin’, Cussin’, and Discussin’ Among South Los Angeles Juvenile Gangs (Temple University Press, July 2022). In 1970, when Quicker began teaching sociology at what was then known as California State College Dominguez Hills, the campus and surrounding community were in the throes of change. It was five years after the 1965 Watts Rebellion, and only two years ... Read More
Staff Spotlight: Klarissa Garcia
Klarissa Garcia is a Toro through and through. She not only serves as department operations specialist for the CSUDH Police Department (DHPD), but is a Dominguez Hills alumna, having graduated with a BS in criminal justice in 2008. “I’ve been a Toro since 2003!” she says proudly. In her position with DHPD, Garcia says “Every day can be a bit different, depending on what’s going on at the department or on campus. I’m like the jack of all trades. My day can range from handling evidence or filing records to coordinating with a vendor regarding equipment issues or jumping into dispatch and helping with a call for service. I also work the front counter, helping the campus community with any ... Read More
Toros Discuss Student Debt Relief with Congressional Representatives
A student loan debt cancellation plan officially announced by President Biden last month will bring much-needed financial relief to CSUDH students, a handful of whom addressed the program’s impact during a roundtable discussion on Friday, Sept. 9. Nanette Barragán from California’s 44th district, and Assistant Speaker of the House Katherine Clark of Massachusetts’ 5th district, met with President Thomas A. Parham and seven current and former CSUDH students to hear their concerns and answer questions about the program. Skyrocketing tuition rates and the failure of Pell Grants to keep pace often mean that students from low- and middle-income families have few options beyond borrowing ... Read More
