Inside: 2 Jerome Richfield Scholar 3 FYI 4 Calendar Vol. X • No. 4 October 10, 2005 Cal State Northridge—The Intellectual, Economic and Cultural Heart of the San Fernando Valley and Beyond Alum Scott Horowitz to Lead NASA Space Exploration Effort 2005 CSUN Distinguished Alumnus from Engineering College Takes Charge of NASA Mission Directorate onored in May as one of Cal road,” he said before taking off with State Northridge’s Distinguished the space shuttle Atlantis crew on an H Alumni, space pioneer Scott International Space Station repair “Doc” Horowitz on September 28 mission in 2000. was entrusted with one of the nation’s In his 1997 commencement address most challenging jobs. The veteran for CSUN’s College of Engineering and space shuttle commander will lead Computer Science, the astronaut/scientist NASA’s efforts to develop the spacecraft challenged the scholars to dream big. that will carry astronauts to the moon, “You have the right stuff,” he told the to Mars and beyond. graduates, assuring them that they A 1978 undergraduate engineering had earned degrees from “one of the alumnus, Horowitz’s appointment best engineering and science schools followed by about a week National in the country, and in the world.” Aeronautics and Space Administration The astronaut received his master’s chief Michael Griffin’s announcement degree in aerospace engineering from that the agency plans to return the Georgia Institute of Technology, astronauts to the moon in 2018, as well as the doctorate in aerospace aboard a spacecraft resembling the engineering that earned him his Apollo capsule. nickname, “Doc.” In 2004, President George Bush Selected as a NASA pilot in 1992, announced “America’s Vision for Space he four years later piloted a shuttle Exploration,” which would include the mission performing microgravity and retirement of the space shuttle by 2010. CSUN alumnus Scott Horowitz, shown in orbit 160 miles above the Earth aboard the space tethered satellite science. Later, he As associate administrator for the shuttle Columbia, will lead the nation’s effort to develop moon and Mars-bound spacecraft. flew as pilot of a maintenance Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, Horowitz will be NASA’s point man in ATK Thiokol, Horowitz literally began he decided “to do everything on the followed by the 2000 International implementing the presidential directive preparing himself for the NASA job soon list.” When he felt ready, he said, he Space Station assembly mission and to “establish a human presence on after he decided to become an astronaut, bombarded NASA with applications the 2001 space station crew exchange the moon and to prepare for later as a sixth grader in Thousand Oaks. until “they got tired” of his campaign and assembly mission, which he missions to Mars.” In junior high school, he got his and hired him. commanded. Most recently director of space hands on the NASA space center’s list “I’m one of those people who As of last year, Horowitz had logged transportation and exploration for of preparatory “must-do’s” for aspiring decided exactly what I was going to more than 5,000 hours in more than weapon and space systems company astronauts. With typical thoroughness, do, then I just marched down the 50 different aircraft. ᭿ Campus is One-Stop Shop for Region’s Busy Moviemakers Ready for its Close-up: CSUN is Rich in Locations for TV, Theatrical and Commercial Shoots ike most people, Karla La Rosa The quick of eye will be able to in CSUN’s Matadome in June. who were paid $100 per day.” encounters a dummy or two now pick out these dummies in the crowd To fill out a crowd scene, Cal State Northridge is a major L and then. On a recent work day, when “Rumble,” an MTV made-for- dummies had been inserted between draw for moviemakers in the region’s however, she spotted dozens of them, television movie, hits the small screen real live extras for the movie about a busy film and television industry. For real sluggards whose colleagues had this year. La Rosa, CSUN’s facilities girls’ volleyball team. “The dummies the campus, their presence brings to keep them from falling down on and trademark licensing manager, ran were rented for $60 per day,” said La added revenues and higher visibility the job. into dozens of them during filming Rosa, “a bit cheaper than the extras, Filming on Campus continued on page 2. Nonprofit Org. U.S.Postage PAID California State 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, California 91330-8242 University Northridge i n i t n o C o i r a M y b o t o h P Outside Santa Susana Hall, actors Shemar Moore (center) and Mandy Patinkin enact a scene from television action drama “Criminal Minds,” shot on campus locations in July. The two portray Special Agents Derek Morgan and Jason Gideon, respectively. Hatfield is 2005-06 Jerome Richfield Memorial Scholar Specialist in Comic Art is Gratified to See University-Level Research Supported in His Field harles Hatfield, assistant professor have been named the Richfield scholar. others. It will help inaugurate the of English, has been named the “It’s encouraging to see research in publisher’s new series, “Great Comics C Jerome Richfield Memorial Scholar my specialty, comics studies, recognized Artists.” for 2005–06, an honor reserved each and supported at the university level,” Hatfield has published widely on academic year for an outstanding he said. “I feel lucky to be working the theory and criticism of comics as faculty member conducting research in an area where interest is high and a literary form. His recent publications in the arts, sciences or humanities. recognition is growing.” include a book, “Alternative Comics,” Cal State Northridge in 1992 estab- The Richfield award places comic published in August 2005 by the lished a memorial research endowment art “squarely in the tradition of University Press of Mississippi. in honor of Jerome Richfield, dean humanities teaching and research,” In addition to serving on the emeritus and professor of philosophy. Hatfield said. editorial boards of “ImageTexT” and The fellowship provides three units Currently co-editing a collection the International Journal of Comic Art, of release time for fall 2005 or spring i of essays on underground “comix” for Hatfield is chair of the International n i t n 2006. o the University of Massachusetts Press, Comic Arts Festival in Washington, C o i Each year, the Richfield scholar r Hatfield also is writing a monograph D.C., whose tenth anniversary will a M presents a university lecture as part y for the University Press of Mississippi. be observed at the Library of b o of the Provost’s Colloquium Series. t Entitled “Jack Kirby: The Burning Congress in October. o h Hatfield’s lecture, “Thirteen Ways of P Hand,” the monograph discusses the The honoree earned his doctoral Reading Comics,” is scheduled for Charles Hatfield work of the influential comic book and master’s degrees in English from 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in the literature, word/image studies, film, creator/illustrator whose characters the University of Connecticut, and a Presentation Room of the Oviatt Library. animation and media, Hatfield is include Captain America, The Fantastic bachelor’s degree in English from UC A specialist in comic art, children’s “honored and deeply thankful” to Four, The X-Men and The Hulk, among Santa Barbara. ᭿ Northridge Strives for ‘Financially Literate’ Campus New Debt Management Counselor Available to Help CSUN Students Crunch the Numbers “ inancial literacy,” a hot topic at who may need his assistance. often are unaware of the advantages student loan services under the Federal higher education conferences Faculty can invite Alcantar to their of a student loan as opposed to using Family Education Loan Program. F during the past two years, is more classes to address students on personal credit cards to pay for books and other Among other services, Alcantar than wishful thinking at Cal State finance and student loans, he said, or college expenses. In a recent survey, helps students create college expenses Northridge. The university now has a they can confer with him on behalf of Smith College reported that 52 percent profiles, factoring in their housing and debt management counselor to help students who may not wish to confide of students nationwide are using credit educational costs and arriving at the its students get their financial houses in a debt management counselor. cards for textbooks and supplies, and “sometimes shocking” reality of their in order. “The majority of students who get 23 percent use the cards to handle expenditures when calculated over a Gregorio Alcantar of Financial Aid into trouble financially are really good tuition and fees, paying interest rates nine-month span. and Scholarships in spring 2005 began people, but are just not aware of how much higher than what is charged In spring 2006, he will introduce setting up a debt management program to help themselves,” said Alcantar. for student loans. money management workshops on to help students better manage their “What they need to know is that I “Students tend to lose control when topics such as student loan consoli- student loans and create realistic can play a neutral role in helping they are unable to effectively manage dation and repayment options. budgets. With the start of a new term, them get squared away with their their credit card use,” said Alcantar, To contact Alcantar for presen- he is appealing to CSUN’s faculty and lenders and in their financial lives.” whose work is funded by a grant from tations or to refer a student, call staff to steer his way those students Alcantar has found that students EdFund.