$5 Donations Sought for Ventura Campus

Supporters of a four-year public college in Ventura County are being asked to contribute $5 each to have their names enclosed in a time capsule to be opened in 20 years at the proposed Cal State University campus.

Funds from the “Stand Up for Education” effort will go toward paying for spring classes at the Cal State Northridge Ventura Campus, which has been left short of funds after the state budget cuts of recent years.

The fund-raising event will culminate Oct. 1 with participants joining hands to spell out CSUN-VC at the county fairgrounds for an aerial photograph.

“I will be disappointed if there aren’t 1,000 people at the fairgrounds standing up for education,” Ventura Campus Director Joyce M. Kennedy said. “People need to make a political statement on the need for increased access for public education in Ventura County.”

She said the county missed its chance for a university at a bluff west of Ventura known as the Taylor Ranch. But a new campus is being planned west of Camarillo, though it is several years behind the planned Taylor Ranch campus.

“There is no point in people wringing their hands” over what was lost, she said. “The public needs to get involved.”

The fund-raiser is one of two planned events leading to the Class Act Telethon in March. The Ventura Campus also plans a comedy night at Hornblowers at Ventura Harbor on Sept. 30 with shows at 8 and 10 p.m.

Headliner Bruce Baum will lead the show, with local attorneys Larry Matheney and Jim Spencer also taking the stage to help the higher education cause.

For more information or to add a name to the time capsule, call the Ventura Campus at 654-4575, or send payment to CSUN, Ventura Campus, 2151 Alessandro Drive, Suite 140, Ventura 93001.