While many of America’s young men and women have witnessed and survived the rigors of supporting current military operations around the world, arriving at college after active duty may prove to be nearly as daunting as the first day of boot camp. A new student organization at California State University, Dominguez Hills has been created to help veterans adapt to college life, whether they are returning to their studies or beginning their path to higher education.

In celebration of Latino Heritage Month, California State University, Dominguez Hills students were treated to a lecture by author Helena María Viramontes on Sept. 13. Lauded for her depiction of Chicano culture, the graduate of University of California, Irvine’s Master of Fine Arts program and professor of English at Cornell University presented her latest book, “Their Dogs Came With Them.”

For years Beth Shibata (Class of '90, M.A., English/Linguistics/TESL) wondered what the mysterious patch of land in the middle of Sepulveda Boulevard in Torrance was until she saw Madrona Marsh on a broadcast of “Visiting... with Huell Howser” Growing from a single trailer across the street from the last vernal marsh in Los Angeles County to a 8,000 square foot interpretive center and research facility the Nature Center provides education on the numerous varieties of wildlife and vegetation that still exist in the South Bay area, programs that promote a sustainable lifestyle, and inspiration for artists like Shibata, a nature photographer and writer.