EDITORIAL : WELCOME, CSU; NEW STATE UNIVERSITY WILL BE A GREAT ASSET FOR VENTURA COUNTY.

SEPT. 16, 1998, promises to be a significant milestone in the history of Ventura County.

After decades of hard work by community leaders who refused to be discouraged by setbacks in finding an acceptable location, California State University trustees took critical steps Wednesday to establish a new campus on the site of the former Camarillo State Hospital. It will be known as California State University, Channel Islands.

Trustees, meeting in Long Beach, formally took possession of the 650-acre site Wednesday. They also approved an environmental impact report and long-range development plan for the campus.

Development of the 23rd campus in the CSU system will begin modestly, as usually is the case with universities.

Initially, plans call for moving an existing CSU off-campus center to Camarillo in time for the opening of classes in 1999. The initial renovation will provide space for 2,000 students.

The Camarillo campus will remain an extension of California State University, Northridge, until enough students enroll to justify the expenses of an accredited four-year university. The timetable calls for that to happen by fall 2004. It is estimated that the new campus will have 15,000 students within 20 to 25 years.

Use of the site for a university was opposed strongly by many residents who wanted to maintain the Camarillo facility for the mentally ill. They insisted that the facility was needed for its original purpose and feared the decision to close the hospital was evidence of a lack of commitment by the state to help those who cannot help themselves.

We share many of those concerns. However, this shouldn't be an either-or proposition. We believe it is possible to build a new university without jeopardizing the care of the mentally ill.

There is a great need for a public university in Ventura County. We urge those who defended the hospital to close ranks with those who fought for the university and help make it a success.

Universities almost always are enormous educational, economic, social and cultural assets for the communities around them. California State University, Channel Islands, promises to do the same for Ventura County by making it an even better place to live and work.