Student Union’s Expansion at CSUN Wins Approval

A $16.5-million proposal to expand the Student Union at Cal State Northridge and to build a satellite Student Union building north of the school’s campus was approved Tuesday by a Board of Trustees committee.

The California State University system’s Committee on Campus Planning, Building and Grounds authorized a revision of a campus master plan to reflect the Student Union expansion. The full CSU Board of Trustees is expected to approve the revision at a meeting today.

With the expansion, there would be recreation and study facilities for the additional enrollment of 10,000 that CSUN officials expect by 1995. The number of CSUN students is expected to increase from 29,000 to 40,000.

CSU Chancellor W. Ann Reynolds has said she wants to accelerate enrollment at the Northridge campus because of student demand for programs there.

But some CSUN faculty members are critical of Reynolds’ plan for more students, arguing that the CSU system should first renovate deteriorating buildings, build more classrooms, add faculty members and increase parking.

CSUN President James W. Cleary said in an interview Tuesday that he hopes approval of plans for the Student Union buildings, coupled with the start of construction on classrooms and dormitories, will soften the criticism.

$150-Million Development

The dormitories, to house about 2,100 students and staff, are among projects planned for the 100-acre University Park development on property that CSUN owns north of its campus. The $150-million development is to include an auditorium, an athletic arena and several classroom buildings.

The satellite Student Union approved Tuesday would be north of Halsted Street and west of Zelzah Avenue in the University Park development. The 27,000-square-foot building would be used mostly for recreation, said Charles Manley, CSUN director of facilities and planning. It would contain game rooms, a 650-person dining room and space for students to hold dances, according to plans.

Cleary said, “Once people start seeing the buildings going up, they will realize that we will have ample facilities.”

Plans call for 105,000 square feet to be added to the campus student center. The added space would be used for a 700-seat auditorium, a weight-and-exercise room, a music room and study rooms equipped with computers and typewriters, Manley said.

The Student Union renovation and construction of the satellite facility are expected to be completed in 1990, officials said.

Administrators hope that the satellite building, rather than fraternity and sorority houses in residential neighborhoods, will become the center of activities. Most CSUN fraternities and sororities occupying houses have in the past drawn complaints of noise and rowdiness, they said.