UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNION

Annual Report 2012 – 2013

Events


 

Matador Nights

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.


Two students smile and show off their Craft Corner creations at the fall 2012 Matafest event Students stand together smiling in the Plaza del Sol, USU during the fall 2012 Matafest event Four students pose together in the Plaza del Sol, USU during the fall 2012 Matafest event A student laughs while holding his Craft Corner creation during the fall 2012 Matador Nights event Two students pose with their craft corner and calligraphy creations at the fall 2012 Matador Nights event The performers from Far East Movement take the stage while the crowd goes wild in the background at the fall 2012 Matador Nights event Students fill the Plaza del Sol, USU as a DJ spins in the foreground at the fall 2012 Matador Nights event Three students smile in the PUB Sports Grill during the fall 2012 Soulful Saturdays event Students sit together in the PUB Sports Grill during the fall 2012 Soulful Saturdays event Six students pose in their Proud to be a Matador shirts at the National Coming Out Day event The carnival ride spins at Matador Nights, spring 2013 Two students smile as they stand waiting for food at Matador Nights, spring 2013 Students in the front of the crowd smile while wearing statue of liberty crowns at Matador Nights, spring 2013 Two students wearing statue of liberty crowns pose with Matty the Matador at Matador Nights, spring 2013 Matty the Matador poses with DJ Felli Fel at Matador Nights, spring 2013

Matafest

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.

Soulful Saturdays

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.

Dive In

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.

Trans Awareness Week

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.

Special Events


Students smile while waiting in line for food at the Art 180 event Two students stand at a canvas painting at the Art 180 event A student draws on an easel in the Plaza del Sol, USU at the Art 180 event Jose Antonio Vargas stands at the podium during the Define American with Jose Antonio Vargas event A view of the Northridge Center, USU from the top floor balcony, showing the crowd sitting in front of the stage with Jose Antonio Vargas at the podium during the Define American with Jose Antonio Vargas event

Define American with Jose Antonio Vargas

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.

Art 180

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.