CSUN Chief to Host Student-Staff Picnic

In an annual event designed to welcome the campus community back to class, Cal State Northridge President Blenda J. Wilson will host a picnic on Wednesday for students, faculty and staff, the university has announced.

For Wilson, entering her fourth year as CSUN’s chief administrator, it’s a simple way of giving thanks to the men and women whose spirit and support keep the college thriving.

For faculty and staff, who will spend the day serving burgers, hot dogs and sodas, it’s a more novel way of giving something back to their students.

Although CSUN still requires more than a year of repairs to the quake-battered campus, the 41st fall semester began Monday with renewed optimism among administrators.

University officials are especially grateful that this semester’s enrollment numbers have returned to pre-quake levels.

Scheduled to take place in front of CSUN’s Delmar T. Oviatt Library, two picnics will be held to accommodate day and evening students. The first session will be run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The second session will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

At last year’s event, more than 5,000 hot dogs and 600 pounds of cole slaw were consumed by more than 9,000 participants.