Preview Day at CSULB

Lively energy reverberated through The Pyramid Saturday with band music and dance routines kicking off Preview Day, a new event to lure prospective students to Cal State Long Beach.

Designed to showcase the university's campus life, academic departments and student-support services, the event drew about 150 prospective students and parents.

An information fair was held in front of the University Bookstore on Upper Campus to provide opportunities to meet with representatives from various student services. President Robert Maxson welcomed the audience at 9:30 a.m. with an opening speech.

"The next four years spent in college are the most important, formative years of your life," Maxson said. "These years will determine what you will do in life and who you will be."

Carl Kemp, Associated Student Inc. president, encouraged students to network and get involved by joining student clubs.

"Broaden your mind. If you don't, you have no one to blame but yourself," Kemp said. "Coming here is making the first step toward a journey of choice."

On behalf of the athletic programs, Dallas Boychuk, head coach of women's basketball, highlighted athletic achievements throughout the years and encouraged the audience to "Go Beach."

A pep rally yell-contest between the students and the parents was led by Valerie Bordeaux, director of the University Outreach and School Relations, who also coordinated the event.

"We wanted to reach students way before the actual registration period began," Bordeaux said.

One of the The Beat 92.3 FM vans was present to welcome incoming students and parents with hip-hop music blaring through the speakers.

Students were later directed to different parts of the campus to meet faculty members and other students within their prospective majors.

In an open-house-like atmosphere, representatives from the seven colleges and various academic departments answered questions about requirements for classes and graduation.

The information fair was categorized by student organizations, advising services, and service groups.

Representatives from Equal Opportunity Programs, the Summer Bridge Program, the Academic Advising Center, Learning Alliance and others participated in the fair.

Student groups, such as Team Solar Wave, were also present to invite incoming people to participate in their organizations.

Steve O'Keefe, a 1973 CSULB graduate, said that the resources offered to him 20 years ago and what is available to students now are 10-fold in comparison.

"The school has come so far," O'Keefe said. "Despite the financial cutbacks in the CSU system, it's still a bargain to attend."

O'Keefe's nephew, Justin, who plans to attend in the fall as a business major, said he feels optimistic about college and felt that the day was helpful and informative.