Public Relations Newswire [Oct. 5] reported that alumna Jo Ann Worthington was named vice president, Western Region Sales, for the Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau. "She attended California State University, Dominguez Hills," the story said. "The Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit organization that promotes Los Angeles as a destination for tourism and conventions."
On the topic of the proposed National Athletic Training Complex:
- South
Bay Weekly [Sept. 28] reported that President James E. Lyons,
Sr. addressed a Carson City Council workshop in the athletic complex
that is proposed for the university. The newspaper wondered whether the
project might become a campaign issue during the city's spring elections.
It quoted President Lyons: "I think people can make the national training
center a campaign issue. I think it would be a disservice to the citizens
of this community if this becomes a political issue. There are so many other
things that should be of interest to the citizens. So what we really do
is have a look at the way we address the issues." The story said that Lyons
is sensitive to the concerns of people because he, too, is a resident of
Carson - he lives across the street from the campus. ".He is confident the
project will bring jobs and economic benefits to the community as well as
serve the finest amateur and professional athletes in basketball, cycling,
soccer, tennis, track and field and volleyball. The project supports his
vision of building a world-class university in Carson, he said.
- Daily
Breeze
[Sept. 23] reported that the athletic complex proposed for the university
was the subject of a public forum at a special Carson City Council meeting,
where proponents voiced their support and opponents expressed their concerns.
President James E. Lyons, Sr. and George Pardon, vice president,
Administration and Finance, addressed the meeting that the newspaper said
lasted 4 hours: "More than 500 people turned outfor the first official presentation
of the plan to the city. Indeed, faced with the prospect the evening forum
would turn into a breakfast meeting, city officials cut public comment short
after more than 170 people requested to speak"
- Long
Beach Press-Telegram
[Sept. 22] reported that the Carson City Council conducted a community forum
on the proposed athletic training complex proposed for the university. "The
university would receive at least $550,000 per year for the first four years
and at least $350,000 a year thereafter," the newspaper reported. "The money
and the new facilities would go a long way toward distinguishing CSU Dominguez
Hills from the other universities in Southern California 'My effort is to
build a world-class urban university at Dominguez Hills. We want the community
to feel that having a CSU in the South Bay makes a difference,'" President
James E. Lyons, Sr. was reported telling the special session.
- Daily Breeze [Sept. 20] and Long Beach Press-Telegram [Sept. 19] each reported that the Finance Committee at the California State University Board of Trustees approved the economic framework for the athletic complex proposed for the university. Under the headline, "Carson Complex Passes a Hurdle," the story said, "California State University, Dominguez Hills will pocket $550,000 annually for four years and at least $350,000 a year thereafter if a proposed $100 million sports complex is built on the Carson campus. The university would also receive $7 million worth of improvements to parking, roads and new athletic facilities." And, the story added that those "financial guarantees and campus upgrades were the key elements of a lucrative financial package" for the university that helped draw the support of the trustees. President James E. Lyons, Sr. told the newspaper: "It was a very strong endorsement. People are beginning to understand this project will have and can have a very significant impact on the South Bay community. My purpose is really to try to convince the community his project has value. As university president, I'm trying to build a world-class university here." Said the Press-Telegram: "Cal State Dominguez Hills is close to becoming a major national center for sports events and training as well as a top institution for university curricula focused on sports marketing, coaching and training." The story focused on approval by the CSU Board of trustees of the athletic complex/training center proposed for the campus by the Anschutz Sports Group. "Plans include a training academy for professional and amateur athletes in sports ranging from basketball and track and field to tennis and volleyball."
San Diego Union Tribune [Sept. 23] reported that "Cal State Dominguez Hills won 3-1 in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in Carson." The women's soccer contest against University of California, San Diego, saw Tanya Wilson score all three of the Toros' goals as CSU Dominguez Hills moved to 5-3-0, 3-3- 0. In men's soccer action, "three Cal State Dominguez Hills players scored and Toros goalkeeper Luis Morales made three saves in a 3-0 shutout of UCSD in men's play in Carson. The Toros are 8-1-0, 6-0-0."
Daily Breeze [Sept. 21] reported that the university broke ground for James L. Welch Hall, "a long-awaitedcomplex with much-needed space for classrooms, offices and labs. The facility also will include a 250-seat lecture hall and administrative offices for the School of Health." The story quoted George Pardon, vice president, Administration and Finance, who told the newspaper that the facility is needed because of enrollment growth and the improved nursing education program. The building, projected to cost $25,497,000, will become a reality because of the money that Welch himself set aside, said Michael Kahan, trustee of the James Welch Trust: "He wanted to make sure he could still help students after his death and therefore donated generously in scholarship and building funds."
Orange County Register [Sept. 21] quoted David Andrews, associate professor, graduate education, in a story about former Tustin Board of Education member Barbara Benson who at one time toiled as chief of communications for Radio Free Europe - only later to discover the operation was funded by the Central Intelligence Agency. She was named a "2000 Woman of Distinction" by Tustin branch of the American Association of University Women. Andrews has known Benson for more than 35 years. "She served the community for 25 years and probably for more than that," Andrews was quoted saying. "The board's decision was unanimous. She's just a special lady. She's well respected by everyone. She was always a stabilizing force on the board, and the board members acknowledged her experience and background."
Associated Press [Sept.13] reported that seven California State University campuses including CSU Dominguez Hills "will provide a virtual interactive language laboratory" that allows students to access class from nearly anywhere - on or off campus. "Traditionally, foreign language learning resources have been available only in individual learning centers of CSU campuses through network technologies. The virtual language laboratory allows students to log into the learning resource databases at their campuses, and access and download a wide range of interactive learning materials In addition, the system enables students to communicate using Internet voice technologies both online and off-line with the instructors leading their classes at the language laboratories at the different campuses." The story said that CSU campus at Chico, Monterey Bay, Long Beach, and San Diego will offer Japanese. The campuses at Sacramento, Dominguez Hills, and Los Angeles will offer French.
The Bond Buyer [Sept. 13] reported that Standard & Poor's raised its rating to A-plus from A on California State University's outstanding student union revenue bonds issued for 12 campuses, including CSU Dominguez Hills.
San Diego Union Tribune and Sacramento Bee [Sept. 13]; San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle [Sept.10]; and Associated Press and San Jose Mercury News [Sept. 9] each reported that 15-year-old CSUDH alum Steve Lu is attending graduate school at Stanford University in pursuit of a master's degree in computer science. The Union-Tribune reported: "At 10, he was the youngest person ever to enroll in the CSU system, and he's one of the youngest graduate students ever at Stanford. Steve seemed above average as a baby, his mother said, but she really took notice when at 5 he scored 194 on an IQ test." The Bee's headline read: "15-year-old seeks master's at Stanford." Said the Examiner-Chronicle: "Lu graduated from Cal State Dominguez Hillssumma cum laude last year with a double degree in math and computer sciences and a minor in physics." AP said that that his attendance of CSUDH qualified him as the youngest person to ever enroll at a California state university. "He graduated from California State University-Dominguez Hills with summa cum laude honors last year with a double degree in math and computer sciences. And a minor in physics," the wire service said. The Mercury News reported that Lu "has double degree in math and computer science from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Summa cum laude. With a minor in physics At 10, he was the youngest person ever to enroll in the CSU system, and he's one of the youngest graduate students ever at Stanford. 'To me, I am normal,' Steve says 'I am mature and dedicated to my education.'"
NBC-TV "Home Page" program [Sept. 6] broadcast a report on "Cyber-Schools" that included CSUDH. The segment by reporter Monica Novotny featured the trends to log on in public education, from kindergarten through the university levels. Back to School used to mean buying pencils, notebooks and clothing before classes began nowadays, the report noted, "it can also mean get your mouse and floppy discs ready." Approximately 95 percent of all public schools have access to the Internet, a dramatic increase from just 35 percent six years ago, the program explained. It said that some universities require all freshmen to own their own laptop computers; in some school districts, teachers put class information online so parents can check to see what is happening where their children attend school. And, it showed the CSUDH website as an example of "Distance Learning." Said Novotny: "This online degree program is designed for older students, professionals, and those who can't be on campus full-time. They can complete their degree without ever setting foot on campus."
Our Times [Sept. 6] reported that students from Dominguez Hills and several other California State University campuses compete each summer to participate in the Minority International Research Program that requires participants to be honor students with at least a 3.0 grade point average in science.
- T.W.
