Year in review

Compiled by Ravneet Padda
University Relations student-intern

The year 2003 for Fresno State proved to be a milestone year beginning with a national tragedy that struck close to home and a regional triumph with the opening of the new Save Mart Center.

Fresno State embarked on a major endeavor to position itself as the "the University for the New California" as seen in many of these highlights of 2003 covered by FresnoStateNews.com.

JANUARY

Fresno State - 'The University for the New California' - launches campaign

Fresno State President John D. Welty announced a new fundraising endeavor for Fresno State, the Comprehensive Campaign, at the Fresno Downtown Rotary Club where he addressed the university's present role and plans for the future. He emphasized that Central California is at a pivotal point for change in the state and Fresno State is perfectly situated to lead the region into a new era of growth and progress as "the University for the New California."

The CSU Hit with $326 Million in Proposed Cuts - Fees Raised

The state's ongoing budget crisis hit the California State University hard on Jan. 10, as then-Governor Davis released his proposed 2003/04 state budget with $326 million in reductions for the 23-campus CSU system. The proposal anticipated that CSU's Board of Trustees would increase student fees in 2003/04 to compensate for the reduction, boosting it by $394 for a total annual undergraduate State University Fee of $1,968. (The fees were eventually raised 30 percent).

Record Breaking Enrollment in Spring 2003

According to preliminary reports, approximately 20,000 new and returning students joined Fresno State in spring 2003, making it the highest spring semester total ever. The high spring enrollment followed a record-breaking fall enrollment of 21,389 students.

Fresno State Alumnus Commands Columbia Shuttle

The NASA space shuttle Columbia under the command of Col. Rick Husband, a Fresno State alumnus, was launched into space on Jan. 16, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Col. Husband, who had been honored as the 2002 Outstanding Alumnus by the university's College of Engineering and Computer Sciences last October, took a red Fresno State sweatshirt into space with him to honor his alma mater.

Fresno State Students Win at American Humanics Institute

The American Humanics Program at Fresno State brought home three honors from the 31st annual American Humanics Management Institute held in Las Vegas between Jan. 2 and Jan. 4.

Laci Peterson Case - Profiling Expert Hickey

As the nation was shocked by the Laci and Connor Peterson of Modesto missing persons/homicide case, Dr. Eric Hickey , a Fresno State criminology professor and internationally-renowned expert on profiling and serial murders, was interviewed by news media worldwide for expert comments on the case. Hickey has served the national and international news media in high profile cases and appeared on Court TV's "Profilers" show.

FEBRUARY

Foster Farms to Give $1 Mil. To Save Mart Center

The Fresno State Association announced and outlined a $1 million sponsorship from Foster Farms for the Save Mart Center. Foster Farms would donate $100,000 annually over the next 10 years and would be the exclusive poultry provider for the center.

Columbia Shuttle Tragedy

Tragedy struck the nation on Feb. 1 when the Columbia space shuttle disintegrated upon returning to Earth, killing all the astronauts on board. The shuttle was commanded by Air Force Col. Rick Husband, the Fresno State alumnus who planned to return to his alma mater later in spring to present a photo of himself wearing a Fresno State sweatshirt during the space mission. The university's Air Force and Army ROTC held a brief memorial tribute that evening on campus. The University Relations office worked with national media to provide info on its fallen alumnus and made plans for a campus-wide tribute to him. Fresno Bee article .

Tribute for Col. Husband

About 400 people gathered at noon on Feb. 5 in Fresno State 's Peace Garden for a campus-wide tribute in memory of Col. Rick Husband. The tribute for the late alumnus of Fresno State who died in the Columbia space shuttle tragedy included brief remarks from students and university representatives. See the videos.

Fresno State Formally Suspends Sigma Nu Fraternity

The Zeta Kappa chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity Fresno State, one of the university's oldest fraternities, was formally placed on suspension Feb. 7 for 15 months - to be followed by a one-year probation -- as the result of violations at a sanctioned event in November 2002.

'Revolutionary Environmentalism' Event Draws National Attention

World-renowned environmentalists, dubbed by critics as "eco-terrorists," participated in an academic seminar at Fresno State on Feb. 13 and 14, sparking widespread controversy. Sponsored by the College of Social Science and the Political Science Department, the focus of the presentations and discussions was "Revolutionary Environmentalism: A Dialogue between Activists and Academics." Among those participating were Paul Watson from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society; Kim Marks from Earth First! - Forest Ethics; Gary Yourofsky of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA); and Craig Rosebraugh, former spokesman for Earth Liberation Front. The event invoked the ire of critics outside the area as well as of community supporters of the university and segments of the faculty, who said the event was unbalanced and questioned the use of the state university for it. Supporters and sponsors said academic freedom was the issue and asserted that the opposition's viewpoints were already prevalent in the valley's agriculture-dominated community.

Fresno State among Top Fund-Raisers in CSU System

Private giving to Fresno State topped $23 million in 2001-02, and was the fourth-highest total in the 23-campus California State University system. The system's income from external sources rose to a record $995.9 million in the last fiscal year, according to a report presented at the CSU Board of Trustees in the second week of February.

' Winemaster's Weekend' at Yosemite's Tenaya Lodge a Success

The "Fresno State Winemaster's Weekend" was held on March 7 and 8 at the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite where Fresno State again teamed up to blend award-winning wines and gourmet food with the splendor of the Sierra Nevada.

Submarine Ceremony Held On Campus

Five tulip trees were added to the existing 54 trees in the submarine memorial at Fresno State during a ceremony held on March 1 to honor the first five American submarines with 31 men lost before World War I. The submarine monument at Fresno State was established on March 1, 2002, as a tribute to men and submarines lost during World War II and lost since 1945.

MARCH

President Welty Imposes Post-Season Ban on Men's Basketball

Fresno State President John D. Welty chose to self-impose a ban on post-season play of the men's basketball program this year as the result of finding instances of academic fraud involving former basketball players. Due to the ban on post season play, the 2002-03 Fresno State WAC championship men's basketball team was not allowed to compete in the NCAA tournament or the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

WAC Decision to Ban Fresno State from Tournament

The Western Athletic Conference decided to bar the championship Fresno State men's basketball team from the WAC Tournament after the university's self-imposed ban from NCAA postseason play. See Fresno State 's statement in response.

Mexican Rights Conference on Campus Draws Mexican Congressmen

Four senators from the Mexican Congress visited Fresno State on March 7 to hear San Joaquin Valley residents and others at the historic conference on the Political Rights of Mexicans Abroad held on campus.

Successful Entrepreneur, Alumnus is 'Entrepreneur in Residence'

Fresno State graduate Michael C. O'Brien, who is regarded as an expert in higher education finance, returned to his alma mater this spring as the "Entrepreneur in Residence" in the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Pete Mehas, Maurine Jones Will Lead Save Mart Center Grand Opening Team

President John D. Welty appointed a 33-member Grand Opening Committee to plan and organize a series of grand opening activities at the Save Mart Center scheduled for late October. The team would be led by Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Pete Mehas and community representative Maurine Jones, wife of former California Secretary of State Bill Jones.

Water Technology Center Allocated $1.8 Million in Federal Budget

The International Center for Water Technology at Fresno State was allocated $1.8 million in the 2003 federal budget for planning and early construction work on the $60 million water research and development facility. The new center is a collaborative venture between Fresno State and the San Joaquin Valley Water Technology Cluster, an organization of more than 40 manufacturers of water and water-related technology products located in the United States.

Kremen School of Education Honors Noted Alumni

The Kremen School of Education and Human Development Alumni Chapter honored four outstanding Fresno State Alumni at a luncheon held on March 13: James Esquivel, Nancy Newsome, Larry Powell and Bruce Barnett.

Fresno State Provost Named New President of Cal Poly Pomona

J. Michael Ortiz, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Fresno State, was named the fifth president of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona on March 13 by the CSU Board of Trustees. After a five-year tenure at Fresno State, Ortiz started his new assignment July 1 becoming one of four recent Fresno State provosts who went onto presidential posts, including three Hispanics and one woman: Dr. Tomas Arciniega, Dr. Judith Kuipers, Dr. Alexander Gonzalez and Ortiz.

Entrepreneurship Program Ranked in Top Tier by Magazine

Fresno State 's entrepreneurship program was ranked No. 4 nationally. Among regional universities by its peers and was among the top 12 of the best colleges and universities with a regional focus, according to a survey of more than 700 entrepreneurship programs by Entrepreneur magazine.

Graduate Education Success Highlighted in Publications

Fresno State 's Division of Graduate Studies and its dean, Dr. Vivian A. Vidoli, were featured in a series of three booklets issued by the Council of Graduate Schools that examine diversity and inclusiveness. The publications are part of a national initiative sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based council to encourage diversity in graduate education.

APRIL

Diversity Week 2003 was April 1-6

Diversity at Fresno State was celebrated during the week of April 1- 6, through poetry, academic presentations, music, a cultural food festival, a film, cultural competency training workshops and evening shows by student cultural clubs.

Costa Papers Arrive at Central Valley Political Archive

The Central Valley Political Archive (CVPA) of the Henry Madden Library received the first donation of papers from former state legislator Jim Costa. The collection consists of records documenting various aspects of Costa's political career. Costa, a 1974 graduate of Fresno State, served in the State Assembly from 1979-1994 and in the State Senate from 1995-2002.

Rehabilitation Counseling Program National Ranking

U.S. News & World Report's 2004 rankings on " America 's Best Graduate Schools" released in April placed the Rehabilitation Counseling Program at Fresno State among the top 20 in the country.

Professor Gains National Renown for Scholarly Analysis of Iraq War

Fresno State classics professor Victor Davis Hanson earned national recognition as a leading scholar on national policy and the Iraq conflict and had innumerable published articles to his credit in various publications such as the LA Times, the New York Post, the New York Times, and the Fresno Bee. Hanson's insightful commentary was thrust into the upper echelon of politics post-9/11 when he advised President Bush's staff on terrorism and discussed issues of military history with Vice President Cheney. Among other activities, Hanson attended President Bush's and Vice President Cheney's respective Christmas parties.

University's Wines Win Jerry Mead International Awards Again

Fresno State student-produced wines again won international acclaim - including three gold medals and three best of class - at the Jerry Mead competition held in February. The competition is open to wines produced anywhere in the "New World" including all of North America, Central America and South America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Echeverria Named Interim Provost

Dr. Jeronima Echeverria was announced as provost and vice president of academic affairs ad interim by President John D. Welty on April 11. She assumed the post on July 1 replacing Dr. J Michael Ortiz who was named president of CSU Cal Poly, Pomona. A national search for a permanent appointment will be conducted.

Gibson elected President of Associated Students Inc.

Neil Gibson, a sophomore agricultural business major and a 2000 graduate of Lucerne Valley High School, was elected by Fresno State students to serve as 2003-04 president of the Associated Students, Inc.

Budget Cutbacks Prompt Fresno State to Suspend Santa Maria Program

State budget cutbacks forced Fresno State to suspend admissions indefinitely to its distance-learning program at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria but students already "in the pipeline" would be able to finish their coursework.

Budget Shortfall Forces Changes in Fresno State Sports Structure

Due to recurring athletics department budget shortfalls and the state's budget crisis, the Fresno State athletics department announced it would not be offering women's swimming and diving, men's soccer, men's cross country and men's indoor track and field in the 2003- 2004 academic year. However a fundraising drive and an offer by track coach Robert Fraley to donate his time have helped the programs temporarily.

Former Sen. Jim Costa Named Kenneth L. Maddy Professor

California Senator Jim Costa (ret.) of Fresno has returned to his alma mater as the third Kenneth L. Maddy Professor at California State University, Fresno, President Welty announced April 30. Costa, a 1974 graduate, maintained close ties with the university during his 24 years in the California Legislature. He retired from the Senate in 2002, at the end of his term.

MAY

'Ground shaking' for $18.5-Million Science II Building

The ground literally "shook" May 6 when Fresno State held a non-traditional ground-breaking ceremony for its new $18.5-million Science II building north of the current Science Building on San Ramon Avenue between Woodrow and Maple Avenues. Earth and Environment Sciences professors used explosives instead of traditional shovels to break the dirt. See Photo Gallery .

Dean's Medalists Named for Class of 2003

Nine undergraduate and nine graduate students were named Dean's Medalists - the Class of 2003's top students - and were honored at Fresno State 's 92 nd Commencement ceremony on May 17.

Fresno State Student Receives First Place in Research Competition

Fresno State senior Kristen Callens received first-place honors for her oral presentation at the 17th annual California State University Student Research Competition held at CSU Stanislaus. The conference exhibited excellent research by CSU undergraduate and graduate students from each of the 23 campuses.

Smittcamp Family Honors First College Class to Graduate

The first graduating class of the Smittcamp Family Honors College, which entered the university in 1999, was honored at the 2003 President's Scholars Awards Dinner. Present at the occasion were the program's donors and longtime university supporters Mr. and Mrs. Earl Smittcamp.

Acclaimed Rehabilitation Counseling Program Gets $1 Million

Success has come in threes for the Rehabilitation Counseling Program at Fresno State with the announcement by Congressman Devin Nunes (R-Visalia) of $1 million in grant funding for 16 student scholarships a year for five years. The program will receive two five-year, $500,000 Long Term Training grants that will help recruit high quality candidates and increase recruitment of minority candidates.

Winemaster Fugelsang Awarded For Excellence in Research

The California Agricultural Technology Institute at Fresno State awarded its Outstanding Research/Scholarly Activity Award for excellence in research to Kenneth Fugelsang, an associate professor with the Department of Viticulture and Enology and winemaster for the Fresno State Enology Unit (Winery).

Donor Honors Former Bulldog Coaches

An anonymous donor established a $10,000 scholarship endowment in honor of three former Fresno State Coaches: Gene "Red" Estes, Ara Hairabedian and Birger L. Johnson. Recognizing that these coaches consistently promoted academic excellence as well as athletics, the "Estes, Hairabedian and Johnson Scholarship" will benefit an honors student.

JUNE

Students Produce Machine That Aids Disabled Workers
Four Fresno State engineering students developed technology that will help up to 200 developmentally disabled workers manufacture irrigation equipment in association with Arc Fresno.

Bulldog Stadium Ranked 23rd-Best in the Nation

Fresno State 's fans, and the atmosphere created by those fans, have helped Bulldog Stadium to be rated among the top 25 college football facilities in the United States. Dennis Dodd, a senior writer for CBS Sportsline.com, ranked Bulldog Stadium the 23rd-best stadium in the nation.

JULY

Wines Win 2003 State Fair Competition

Four Fresno State student-produced wines again won medals at this year's California State Fair Wine Competition led by the 2001 Viognier with a gold medal, university viticulture and enology officials announced.

Renowned Journalist Tommy Miller Named to Tatarian Chair

Tommy Miller, managing editor of the Houston Chronicle, was named the new Roger Tatarian Chair in Journalism and joined the Mass Communication and Journalism faculty in the fall.

CSU Trustees Approve Fee Increase  

The California State University Board of Trustees approved a 30 percent fee increase for both undergraduate and graduate students at its regularly scheduled meeting in Long Beach on July 16.

AUGUST

New Deadlines for Admission in Spring and 2004-05

State budget cutbacks and legislative mandates on enrollment growth have prompted Fresno State officials to announce strict new deadlines and restrictions for admission applications for the spring 2004 semester and the 2004-05 academic year. Officials are urging prospective students to pay close attention to deadlines and submit their applications to Fresno State as early as possible.

Ag One Honors Easton-Area Dairy Producer Fred Machado

Easton-area dairy producer and farmer Fernando C. "Fred" Machado was this year's Ag One Foundation Community Salute honoree. He was recognized on August 23 for his lifelong commitment to agriculture and his community and for his patriotism. The Ag One Foundation supports the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State.

Grand Opening Events for the Save Mart Center at Fresno State

As the new Save Mart Center neared completion on-time, on-budget two-year timetable, the buzz of excitement accelerated when events for the Grand Opening Week (Oct. 27-Nov. 1) were announced during a press conference held on the arena floor on Aug. 14.

Opera Superstar Andrea Bocelli Headlines Save Mart Center Opening

Among the host of events announced to mark the opening of the Save Mart Center was an inaugural concert by renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli on Nov. 7. Leading up to this world class event would be the University Sneak Peek, Oct. 24; Ribbon Cutting, Oct. 27; "Top Dog" Gala, Oct. 30; a festive Community Open House, Nov. 1; and a Bulldog basketball "extravaganza." The big name line-up for Save Mart events in its first year of operation later grew to include superstars Brittney Spears, Elton John, Aerosmith and KISS, George Strait, George Lopez, Kenny Rogers, Metallica and Toby Keith among others.

Cynthia Teniente-Matson Named New VP of Administration

Cynthia Teniente-Matson, who has broad experience in university business, administrative and financial matters, was named the new Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer by President John D. Welty Aug. 15. Matson, vice chancellor for administrative services at the University of Alaska Anchorage, will begin her work at Fresno State in March 2004.

Hanson Wins Prestigious Award of Excellence
Classics professor Victor Davis Hanson, whose books and articles have earned the praise of national government and military leaders , was awarded "The President's Award of Excellence" for 2003 at Fresno State. The recognition includes a $10,000 award.

New Tailgating Rules Announced

In an effort to improve the overall family environment at Fresno State athletic events, the university established new guidelines for tailgating at all university athletic events this year. One of the guidelines laid down includes permitting tailgating with alcohol in designated parking lots only in the vicinity of the stadium and no alcohol in areas designated as picnic spots.

Fresno Business Council Honors Welty with Public Service Award

The Fresno Business Council honored Dr. John D. Welty, president of California State University, Fresno, with its Excellence in Public Service Award. The award was presented on Sept. 10 at the 2003 Rose Ann Vuich Ethical Leadership Awards Luncheon in Fresno.

SEPTEMBER

Fresno State Receives Additional Probation for NCAA Violations

Fresno State accepted the penalties announced Sept. 10 by the National Collegiate Athletic Association for violations of NCAA rules by the men's basketball team and will comply fully, said President John D. Welty. The NCAA assessed the following penalties: placed the university on probation for four years to end Dec. 4, 2006 (the university had already self-imposed a two-year probation); and required Fresno State to vacate the record of its performance in the 2000 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball tournament as well as return 90 percent of the monies it earned for that appearance (the university had previously decided to forfeit games that included ineligible players and vacated the 2000 WAC championship). The sanctions ended a year-long joint investigation by the NCAA and Fresno State into possible rule violations in the athletic program dating from 1995-2002.

Fresno State, Fresno Pacific University Partner in 'Peace Week'

Peace advocate Arun Gandhi highlighted the week-long "Building a Culture of Peace" activities Sept. 29 to Oct. 4 at Fresno State and Fresno Pacific University. The annual observance, formerly called Stop the Hate Week, was a joint project of the two campuses for the first time. Events included music, a cultural vendor's faire, poetry, a candlelight vigil, an educational forum on Proposition 54 and an International Culture Night

Program.

Equestrian Student-Athlete Succumbs to Horse Accident Injuries

Shana Virginia Eriksson, a Fresno State student-athlete was critically injured in a horseback riding accident Sept. 25. She died from her injuries two days later at the University Medical Center in Fresno. The Bulldogs Equestrian Team held a memorial tribute for its fallen teammate on campus Oct. 7, after a delegation led by President John D. Welty and Athletic Director Scott Johnson attended the family's service in Truckee Oct. 4.

Heritage Society Looks to Fresno State's Future

A new Heritage Society was established by the Fresno State Foundation to allow donors to help Fresno State reach its full potential as a great university. The society honors alumni and friends who are committed to investing in Fresno State 's future by including the school in their long-range giving plans through bequests, life income gifts and other estate planning tools.

OCTOBER

Pappas Telecasting, Fresno State Reach Landmark Agreement

Fresno State Athletics Director Scott Johnson announced Oct. 2 that an agreement has been reached with Pappas Telecasting Companies to keep the television broadcasts of Bulldogs' football and men's basketball on KFRE WB 59 for the next five years. A principal part of the agreement was the donation to the athletics department of $2 million in television airtime on KFRE WB 59 by Pappas Telecasting.

Aerosmith and KISS. the Celebration Continues

The star-studded Grand Opening Celebration at the Savemart Center at Fresno State continued with the announcement that two rock & roll giants, Aerosmith and KISS in concert, would perform on Saturday, Dec. 20.

Internationally Known Scientist Is 'Entrepreneur in Residence'

Fresno State alumnus Richard Houghten, who is internationally recognized as an expert in the fields of molecular diversity, combinatorial chemistry and peptide chemistry, returned to the university as the "Entrepreneur in Residence" in the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Fresno State to Offer CSU's First Master's Degree in Animal Science

Fresno State 's proposed Master of Science degree in Animal Science was approved by the California State University chancellor's office. The degree, offered by the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State, is the first in the CSU system.

Ice Floor Installed at Save Mart Center, Logos Painted

The excitement at the Save Mart Center continued as the ice floor for Fresno Falcons hockey was installed and painted in mid-October.

Former Amazon.com Exec Joy Covey Gets Top Alumni Honor

The Alumni Association announced that Joy Covey, former chief financial officer of Amazon.com, would receive Fresno State 's Distinguished Alumna Award and Evelyn Husband, widow of the late Colonel Rick Husband, would speak at the Top Dog Alumni Awards Gala on Oct. 30.

Merced Rancher Leaves $1 Million to Agriculture, Business Programs

A $1 million gift to Fresno State - to be split equally by the Ag One Foundation to benefit the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, and the Craig School of Business - was announced Oct. 28. The $1 million gift is a bequest from the late Elmo Martin Giampaoli of LeGrand, a 1958 Fresno State graduate, who died July 1.

Alum Roy Christopher to Receive Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award

Production Designer Roy Christopher, a Fresno State alumnus who has won seven Primetime Emmy Awards and a 32-time Emmy nominee -- mostly for his memorable production designs for Annual Academy Award programs -- was selected for the Art Directors Guild's (ADG's) coveted honorary Lifetime Achievement Award. It will be presented Feb. 14 at black-tie ceremonies from the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

Save Mart Center 'Dog Pound!'

A ticket distribution plan for 2,000 free student tickets to "The Dog Pound" at Bulldogs basketball games in the new Save Mart Center was announced. The plan was the result of a campus-wide referendum approved in 2000 by student voters that increased their activity fee to help build the West Complex Student Recreation Center at the Save Mart Center in what was known as the " Legacy 2000 referendum ." The complex is expected to be built by 2005. See related story .

Bronze Bulldog Sculpture Unveiled at the Save Mart Center at Fresno State

"The Bulldog" is immortalized in bronze in the new Save Mart Center Lobby. The 4,200 pound statue (including base), donated by United Security Bank, was unveiled at the Bulldog Foundation Open House Nov. 4.

KFSR Receives $25,000 Grant for Air Quality Radio Program

Valley Clean Air Now (Valley CAN), a San Joaquin Valley non-profit group created to help support and promote real-world solutions to improve the region's air quality, awarded a $25,000 grant to Fresno State's radio station KFSR 90.7.

NOVEMBER

Save Mart Center Open House

50 years ago, Fresno State broke new ground for the San Joaquin Valley when it moved its campus from central Fresno to what was then the northeast outskirts of the City of Fresno at Shaw and Cedar Avenues. On Nov. 1, the university presented to the regional community its latest contribution when the doors to the new Save Mart Center swung open for the Community Open House.

Bulldogs, Bulldogs Everywhere! Photo Gallery

More than 15,000 Central California residents toured the new Save Mart Center at Fresno State Nov. 1. Some visitors traveled from as far as San Diego to take in the exciting new facility.

Elton John performs at Save Mart Center at Fresno State

Elton John performed in the Save Mart Center at Fresno State on Nov. 8 making him the second big name to come to Fresno and help inaugurate the university's new event center just one day after Andrea Bocelli.

Steelcase Partnership Provides 'Classroom of the Future'

Fresno State and Steelcase Inc. announced a new partnership Nov. 3 when officials introduced the NEXT (New Education - Extraordinary Technology) Classroom of the Future that will make chalk and chalkboard a relic of the past. The NEXT classroom is a gift from Steelcase and its partner companies and will be located within the College of Social Sciences building located on the northwest end of the campus. It is expected to be completed in the spring semester.

Fresno State Professor Named to National Mental Health Council

Fresno State psychology professor Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola was invited by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson to serve on the National Advisory Mental Health Council of the National Institute of Mental Health. Aguilar-Gaxiola's appointment was ratified by Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services to serve a four-year term beginning Oct. 1, 2003.

Physics Students Participate in Hubble Space Telescope Project

Dr. Frederick Ringwald, physics professor at Fresno State, began a prestigious project Nov. 3 using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the university's Campus Observatory to study exotic magnetic stars. He and several Fresno State physics students worked through Nov. 9 on the project to study two unusual star systems called AM Herculis and the AR Ursae Majoris.

Bulldogs and Bocelli -- Fresno arena debuts with arias Tenor

From the San Francisco Chronicle (Nov. 7): "Five years ago, no one would have believed it. On Nov. 7, 14,000 patrons of the arts will attend a concert at a huge brand new arena on the campus of Fresno State University to listen to a world famous tenor sing arias from opera. The Fresno Grand Opera paid more than $1 million to entice Andrea Bocelli to Fresno."

Richter Dedication Ceremony and Celebration Set For Nov. 20

The Kremen School of Education and Human Development at Fresno State held a dedication and celebration in honor of the founders of the Bud and Jan Richter Awards for Excellence on Nov. 20.

CSU Trustees Approve $546.6 Million Budget Request Increase for 2004-05

The California State University Board of Trustees approved a 2004-05 budget request that proposes an increase of $546.6 million over the current year's $2.5 billion General Fund state appropriation.

Welty, Student Named to Blue Ribbon Panel for Medical School

Fresno State President John D. Welty and Koua Cha, a senior at Fresno State, are among 40 area residents named to a Blue Ribbon Panel to work on bringing a University of California medical school to Fresno.

Rigoberta Menchú spoke at Fresno State

Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchú - the Guatemalan indigenous leader who gained worldwide attention defending human rights and promoting democracy in her homeland - visited Fresno State on Nov. 18. and spoke on "Human Rights and Democracy in the Americas " for the fourth University Lecture Series presentation of the fall semester.

DECEMBER

Accreditation team commends Fresno State

Fresno State was commended by the visiting WASC Review Panel for demonstrating its institutional capacity to be educationally effective. The panel will recommend to the WASC Commission that the university has sufficient capacity and is well prepared to move forward with its Educational Effectiveness review next fall.

Fresno State constructs $22 million Science II Building

Steel beams are going up at Fresno State, just east of the Downing Planetarium, for the three-story, $22 million Science II building, which is the largest academic project on the campus in nearly 10 years. The building, which will be completed late next year, is a large piece of what the university officials hope will develop into the complete $90 million Central California Science Center.

Jane Addams to be Honored in Fresno State Peace Garden

Jane Addams, a social reformer, writer and international peace advocate in the early 20th century, will be recognized with a monument in the Peace Garden at Fresno State. The Peace Garden Committee will next start work on raising funds to complete the project and on selecting an artist to create the monument, which will stand alongside the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Cesar E. Chavez and Martin Luther King.  

CSU Receives $23.7 Million Budget Cut

Reacting to Gov. Schwarzenegger's implementation of mid-year budget cuts announced earlier, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed said that the CSU would not cut its outreach programs for low-income students, and will instruct the 23 campuses to implement an additional one percent cut to this year's student enrollment growth. 

Grants & Contracts Set Record at $48 Million

Fresno State recorded another banner year for grants and contracts. Projects funded by non-state entities increased to more than $48 million, nearly 25 percent higher than the previous year's high of $38 million. 

Bulldog Foundation Book Published

The Bulldog Foundation's newly published history, "The Team behind the Teams: The First 50 Years of The Bulldog Foundation," came off the press.

Fresno State President Emeritus Harold Haak Dead at 68

Dr. Harold H. Haak, who served as the president of California State University, Fresno from 1980-1991, died Dec. 26 in Fresno. Memorial services for the president emeritus were held Jan. 3 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Fresno.  

Fresno State Beats UCLA in Silicon Valley Bowl

The Fresno State Bulldogs score their first-ever victory against UCLA as they beat the Bruins 17-9 in San Jose. Full Story   SF Chronicle Story