Honor students visit campus

Courtney Zell, 16 , is still a year away from deciding on college, but she spent part of last week learning creative writing and poetry at Cal State Long Beach.

The 11th grader from Rosary High School in Fullerton was among 95 high-school honor students and their teachers who participated in CSULB's annual College of Arts Honors Day.

"The aim is to have the students spend the day in college and have a flavor of what a college classroom is like," said Don Schwartz, history professor and coordinator of the program.

Zell, who attended one of the five lectures at a morning workshop Nov. 21 on "Psyching out Poetry" by Charles Webb, an English professor, described the program as stimulating.

She said although she was yet undecided on which college she would attend, she found CSULB interesting.

Other lectures at the one-day workshop introduced students to revolutions in Europe, the 1960s, the African traditional perspective, and study-abroad opportunities available to students.

Jesus Salazar, 17, of Downey High School said although he never previously considered attending CSULB, he was now changing his mind.

"It's a pretty good experience here," he said. "The program teaches you a lot and I found out about summer programs that lets you prepare for admissions."

Roberta Walton, a teacher from Savannah High School in Anaheim, said the program was helpful for the students.

"Sometimes kids don't like school, they view it as too restricted and intimidating," she said. "Having them participate in these types of programs allows them see that college is not as overwhelming and intimidating as they thought."

Participants also toured prominent locations around the campus as part of the program.

Locations included The Pyramid, the University Student Union, the University Library and the Univesity Bookstore.