CSUN Kicks Off Fund-Raising Drive

Cal State Northridge will launch an intensive yearlong fund-raising drive today to furnish and upgrade several campus buildings that were reconstructed after the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

The $10-million capital campaign would be the largest in the university’s 42-year history and would be the first major test of the fund-raising apparatus created by former President Blenda Wilson before her departure last year.

The initiative comes only two weeks after Cal State Northridge accepted a $1.5-million gift--the largest single donation ever made to the campus. Northridge alumni Abbott and Linda Brown donated the money to help build an aquatic therapy program at the school.

They will attend a campaign kickoff ceremony at 1:30 p.m. today under Sierra Tower. U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Santa Clarita), Disney Animation Studio architect Robert A.M. Stern and CSUN President-elect Jolene Koester will also attend.

Since the earthquake devastated the campus, the Federal Emergency Management Administration has funded $400 million in repairs and new construction.

Cal State Northridge will incur the cost for equipment, furniture and modifications for five construction projects: the College of Arts, Media and Communication; the College of Health and Human Development; the Center of Achievement for the Physically Disabled; the Language, Speech and Hearing Center; and the Art and Design Center.

Altogether, the final phase of earthquake recovery will total $70 million, said university spokesman John Chandler.

Interim President Louanne Kennedy said the initiative will provide funding for instructional equipment for film, television, video and animation studios, screening rooms and multimedia labs, fine arts studios, test kitchens and other high-tech facilities.

Unlike comparable university systems, CSU was largely state supported until the early 1990s. As the state felt the effects of the most recent recession, the Cal State trustees urged campuses to increase their fund-raising efforts. CSU has raised $1.3 billion since 1992.