Taxing Questions on Tap for University Homecoming

Socializing and cheering the home team to victory are to be expected at university homecomings. But a seminar on taxes?

That’s part of what California State University, Dominguez Hills, has in store Friday as part of the annual Homecoming sponsored by the university’s Alumni Assn.

At 4:30 p.m. in the university library, Torrance investment counselor Phil Albitz--a Dominguez Hills graduate--is going to explain the intricacies of the new tax reform law.

“The idea of adding a tax seminar on the afternoon is just to get us moving in the direction of expanding the scope of things that happen in Homecoming,” said alumni affairs Director Kenneth Finlay.

He said larger universities sometimes have a week of Homecoming events, including guest speakers. Why can’t the 7,300-student Dominguez Hills imitate the big guys and have a seminar?

“We hope to follow up next year with more,” he said, adding that the 500-member Alumni Assn. wants to provide activities “alumni will be willing to come back to the campus for.”

Finlay said the choice of taxes as a topic came from a poll of alumni. “We gave them 12 or 15 different activities,” he said, “and the item with the single most interest was a tax seminar.

“Taxes are a big item in the public consciousness because of the attention that’s being given to the Tax Reform Act.”

And money, in general, seems to interest Dominguez Hills alumni, because other top seminar preferences included investment strategies, estate planning and travel.

After the seminar, there will be an alumni reunion and light supper at 6:30 p.m. in the gym, and at 8, the Dominguez Hills Toros men’s basketball team will take on the Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles.

It all costs $5, the seminar included.

Finlay said that giving alumni more seems to be working. Last year, 80 of them attended the Homecoming reception and game. There already are 100 advance reservations for Friday’s events and more are expected at the door.