(David J. Hawkins/CSUN)
CSUN leaders and Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) gathered at the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication on Friday, May 30 to celebrate $1 million in federal funding for new broadcast and recording equipment.
Sherman presented a ceremonial check to CSUN President Erika D. Beck at the event, which was emceed by the college’s dean, Dan Hosken. Beck noted that Sherman has been a steadfast ally for CSUN’s students, obtaining funding for a wide variety of projects as well as millions in emergency funding during the pandemic.
“Congressman Sherman is a relentless advocate for Cal State Northridge, and he has been for a long time,” Beck said. “He has secured, in this instance, Community Project Funding that not only benefits our students and their learning here but actually ripples out into the communities that we serve and the media industries that fuel our regional economy.”
Community Project Funding grants are spending provisions in federal legislation that come from specific requests by a member of Congress or U.S. Senator on behalf of local constituents for a specific purpose. The purpose of the project must meet the objective of a federal program.
Sherman, who has represented the San Fernando Valley in Congress since 1997, said the training and education received in the college is preparing students for the future of entertainment and journalism.
“This is one of the best film schools in the country. That’s just not me saying that. That’s [from publications like] The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and TheWrap,” he noted.
Hosken said the request for funding, which was made in 2022, had a goal of advancing equity in entertainment and information media. He noted that faculty, technicians and department chairs all participated in putting together the funding proposal.
“While this bright and shiny new equipment is impressive by itself, the real magic happens when we put this equipment in the hands of our students under the mentorship of our expert faculty in our nationally ranked programs,” Hosken said.
The equipment includes new computers for several labs and studios, including the film and television editing lab; state-of-the-art cameras for the broadcast studio in the journalism department and stop-motion equipment that is used for the animation program.
Jess Brumana, who graduated in May with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, also thanked Sherman for his efforts to obtain the funding. Brumana hopes to work as a broadcast news producer and said the new high-definition cameras have already brought noticeable improvements to the department’s broadcast programs, including CSUN On Point and Valley View News.
“Our resume reels now look a lot more professional,” Brumana noted. “Learning through doing is the most important part of learning the arts and in order to do so, access to industry standard equipment is vital.”
