NORTHRIDGE : Future CSUN Class Gets a Head Start

It won’t be time to register for classes for another few weeks, but for a group of about 100 soon-to-be college freshmen and their parents, Wednesday wasn’t too early to get a taste of the racial, sexual and financial issues that are part of a college education in the ‘90s at Cal State Northridge.

The young people were among several hundred students who stayed on campus this week for the annual ritual of freshman orientation.

They toured the campus, played games to get acquainted, and watched skits put on by older CSUN students dealing with issues of homosexuality, race relations, date rape and sexual harassment.

The skits raised eyebrows among some parents who accompanied their youngsters to the event.

“How do you keep your children straight? It is almost like it’s pushed onto them,” said one mother, after watching a skit on homosexuality. Others praised the presentations, saying it gave them insight into what real life is like for college students.

Elsewhere on the campus, the would-be students were learning about campus services from student volunteers, and wondering what will be in store for them in an era of seemingly endless tuition increases and cutbacks.

Jorge Correa, 19, of Los Angeles said he expects that it will take him at least six years to graduate from CSUN with his engineering degree. He will commute an hour each way and work up to 40 hours per week to afford it, he said.

Further tuition increases could price him out of school, he said, adding, “I am very worried about it.”

“I don’t think I will get through in four years, it seems impossible to get classes,” said another incoming freshman, Bahram Chaudry, 17.