QUAKE SIGNS DIMINISHING AT UNIVERSITY; CSUN REFRESHED FOR FRESHMEN.

Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer

Classes begin today, but CSUN's campus seemed ready for a new beginning during an orientation for freshmen last week.

The smell of barbecued chicken and the sweet clanging of steel drums floated through the student union square as hundreds of new and returning California State University, Northridge, students mingled and shared expectations for the new school year.

After shaking off the last aftershocks of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, fewer signs of temporary trailers and construction remain and there are more signs of stability - just in time for the university's 40th anniversary.

Also, for the first time since 1994, campus officials restricted enrollment.

Through Thursday, CSUN had enrolled 26,072, down 253 students from last year, in part because fewer freshmen were admitted to avoid overenrollment.

This year also promises to see progress toward university President Blenda Wilson's top goals: turning CSUN into the cultural center of the San Fernando Valley, stepping up its sports program, building new football and softball stadiums on campus, and helping local business leaders revitalize the ho-hum Reseda Boulevard.

Students today return to a campus transitioning between the long-awaited end of earthquake recovery and an era of new construction.

Fewer temporary classroom trailers than ever remain in parking lots and lawns since the devastating earthquake left the campus in shambles. Of about 350 trailers set up in 1994, only 150 remain, though nine of 10 temporary domes are still on the property.

``This year is a particularly exciting one. I think we are going to see the end of the tunnel as far as earthquake recovery,'' said CSUN spokeswoman Carmen Ramos Chandler. ``It's very palatable.''

Many seniors who were freshmen when the quake hit are especially relieved.

``This year it's going to be a lot better because (most) portables will be gone, so people are going to be more together, rather than clusters here and there,'' said senior Tonya Jones, 23, a criminology and corrections major.

But any sense of peace and quiet around campus will be temporary.

This school year also marks the start of construction work on several new or renovated buildings, including the Oviatt Library wings, a new Arts, Media and Communication building designed by renowned architect Robert M. Stern, Monterey Hall and the Student Services Center. Monterey Hall will house the department of communicative disorders and sciences, and computer education classrooms.

Also this year, construction will begin on the $80 million, 28-acre biotechnology complex on North Campus that will host MiniMed, a company that produces insulin pumps. The groundbreaking ceremony was in July.

Workers just completed demolition of the University Tower Apartments in the southern portion of the 65-acre North Campus property. The university hopes to lease that area to entertainment industry companies.

Most of the new or improved buildings, and other changes such as improved signage, landscaping and roads are expected to be completed by 2001.

``The students who are freshman this year are going to graduate from a complete campus. We're asking for their patience,'' Chandler said. ``When they graduate, they'll graduate from a new campus and that's something to look forward to.''

After four years of aggressive recruitment to recover the 10 percent enrollment decline that followed the 1994 quake, the number of new freshmen was capped this year to prevent overenrollment. Through Thursday, CSUN had enrolled 2,284 new freshmen, down 261 from the same time last year.

Last year, four weeks into the fall semester CSUN had enrolled 2,600 new freshmen, 200 more than its target. That meant many students were locked out of required courses or languished on dorm waiting lists for months, according to Lorraine Newlon, director of admissions.

Last fall CSUN tightened its admissions window, limiting application acceptance to the month of November only.

Students also were required to take English and math placement tests before enrolling this year. In past years they had well into their first semester to take the tests.

The state provides funds based on target enrollment, so CSUN had no incentive to overenroll, Newlon said.

``We're supposed to come in no more than 2 percent above and below that number. If it's too low we might have to give money back, if it's too high there's no guarantee of additional funds. That means overcrowding and maybe underserving students,'' she said.

But considering the approach of Tidal Wave II - a population trend in college-aged students that some reports predict may threaten to flood campuses during the next 10 years - CSUN is preparing to accommodate more students with a little creativity.

Newlon said among alternatives to the traditional lecture schedule, students can choose to learn by online classes and self-paced ``modularized'' courses in which a student completes the course at his or her own speed with the help of tutors.

At the orientation barbecue, students from freshman to seniors chatted while checking out information tables set up by some 60 fraternities, sororities, ethnic student clubs and other groups.

The endless options left Ritu Mahindru, 17, a freshman from Valencia, a bit daunted.

``I'm still getting the flow of things,'' she said. ``There's so much to choose from.''

Fifth-year senior Marc Powell, who also volunteers as an orientation leader, said he's looking forward to continue gaining experience as a corporate tax intern at Warner Bros.

``I love CSUN. I've done a fraternity here. I've done student government, homecoming and other clubs. I've gotten all I can out of CSUN,'' he said.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Amy Bonner, left, Jessica Warner and Jackie Edwards discuss a sorority.

(2) CSUN's matador mascot decorates a freshman orientation session held last week at the college's student union.

David R. Crane/Daily News