Theater at CSUN

* While I agree with Keith Evans that the new Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge is a “magnificent state-of-the-art theater” (Letters to the Valley Edition, Sept. 28), it is not correct that the university has given no thought to using the theater as a learning opportunity for students. On the contrary, this year some 50 students are working in the theater, some for money and some for academic credit. Students staff Evans’ “Show of the Month” series.

Further, the university currently enrolls about 300 students each year in internship projects involving different entertainment industry companies. To strengthen this important part of student learning, the university recently created an Entertainment Industry Institute. Positive response from the industry has been immediate and powerful.

In the first year of the new center, more than 220 events served 65,000 audience members, of which 12,000 were CSUN students. We also have three other theaters and a wonderful new recital hall. Students perform in and staff all of these theaters, in which we present an enormous range of concerts, plays, operas and student films, as well as exhibitions in the art gallery.

All of our events are open to the public, usually at a very modest cost. The university is undoubtedly the greatest cultural resource of the Valley, and I want to assure the public that everyone is welcome.

PHILP HANDLER

Dean, College of Arts,

Media and Communication

Cal State Northridge