7,492 Matadors attended two iconic Matador Nights experiences. The biannual nighttime celebrations paid homage to 1,001 Arabian Nights and New York City. In both instances, the USU was transformed into distant places that featured DJ performances, food, rides and games. The New York event recreated the famous skyline and came complete with an indoor synthetic ice skating rink, Statue of Liberty hats, arcade games, photo booth, oxygen bar, casino and karaoke. Special features included a Ferris Wheel, glitter tattoos, and New York-styled pizza and hot dogs.
Students kicked off the fall semester at the Matafest celebration in the USU’s Plaza del Sol. The Mardi Gras-themed event provided information booths, Cajun food, and the sounds of jazz, soul, R&B, and Cajun Zydeco performances. The festival showcases a variety of programs, services and activities provided by the USU. The event introduced the campus’ new Matador Burger, featured the Health Center’s designated driver program, and a number of clubs & organizations.
The smooth sounds of jazz billowed from The Pub in three Saturday night performances that showcased the range and variety of Matador vocals and instrumentation.
Students took to the swimming pool of the Student Recreation Center for the viewing of the pre-released feature film “The Avengers.” The film played as spectators floated on lounge mats and other inflatables.
With the opening of the Pride Center came a new event created in collaboration with the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance, Matadors for Equality, Vote for Equality, the Women’s Resource and Research Center, Gamma Rho Lambda and the Pride Center. Trans Awareness Week was a full week of programming that included Trans 101 trainings, a film screening, a panel discussion and a performance by Missy Parker.
Journalist, multimedia storyteller and activist, Jose Antonio Vargas addressed immigration issues in America. Vargas shared his story of coming out as an undocumented immigrant in 2011 and beginning the “Define American” campaign. More than 300 attended the lecture and question-and-answer session. Event collaborators included the Campus Quality Fee/Student Fee Allocation Committee, Associated Students, Educational Opportunity Programs, Journalism Department, Gender and Women’s Studies, Civil Discourse and Social Justice, Dreams to be Heard (an undocumented student support group), Matadors for Equality, and the Filipino American Student Association.
This program called attention to new perspectives in art forms. Using a multi-component approach, students were invited to walk up and take part in a sketch station, glitter tattoos, spin art, food art, and watch a live performance art demonstration. There was a live painting performance by Ronnie Robles, a local professional artist whose paintings tackle social issues. Students created and exhibited their artwork at a sketch station equipped with easels, pencils and canvases, and the CSUN Poetry Slam Team performed a live “flash slam” — a flash mob with spoken word.