Kon newsletter

Spring 2015

President’s Message

Inside this issue:

President’s Message

1

Health, Education & Environment

1

Classroom of the Future

3

A Note from the Editor

4

Fluid Restriction

5

Progress Through Education

6

The Science of Interior Design

7

This has been a very exciting semester for Kappa Omicron Nu (KON), as many of our officers are brand new in their positions. After the majority of our officers graduated last semester, I am so happy to have stepped into the role of President, working alongside such motivated and enthusiastic students. Maria Inauen, was so excited to begin work on our 3rd KON newsletter! At the beginning of this semester, Maylin Lusk, our web administrator worked very hard to update our website and has increased KON’s activity on all of our social media sites. Our Vice President Alex Hernandez did a wonderful job redesigning our display case, which can be seen upstairs in Sequoia Hall. Publicity Offic-

ers, Maren Stein and Angela Cedillo helped recruit many new members for KON in both the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) and Kinesiology departments. Lastly, Diem Nguyen and Ashley Gray, our Secretary and Treasurer, were supportive in helping me navigate through CSUN to determine budgets and funds for our organization.

rather impressive which allowed us to donate boxes filled with non-perishable food items as well as brand new clothing items for the organization. Kesha Hearn from the Living for Purpose Community Development Center was overwhelmed by our participation and I am so proud of KON’s support of this organization.

Continued on page 2

KON hosted its very first “Spring Cleaning” food and clothing drive this semester.

This event supports “Living for Purpose Community Development Center”. Many members as well as students and our very own advisor, Dr. Lewis-Goldstein donated for this cause. The turnout was

Health, Education and Environment In this day and age, it is almost impossible for one to go through life without an education. There has been a surge in college attendance within the last couple of decades. An estimated 18 million students attend universities to receive a bachelor’s degree and an additional 3 million are enrolled in postbaccalaureate programs. This interest arises from a desire

for better opportunities, to make more money, and live healthier and happier lives. A proper education foundation is vital for any student trying to achieve a valuable degree and finding a suitable career.

Students learn best in a nourishing and healthy environment. By providing tools on campuses, such as physical activity, nutrition education, and mental health counsel-

ing, students have a better chance to be successful in their accomplishments.

Continued on page 2

KAPPA OMICRON NU Page 2 (President’s Message Continued from page 1)

On April 27th KON members are volunteering at the Nutrition & Health Public Policy Event, which will be held at CSUN’s Oviatt Library. The event will demonstrate how nutrition and health policies affect professionals and the public. Speakers will explain how citizens, local health departments, and community organizations can collaborate with policymakers to enhance overall public health. This exciting event will be fol-

lowed by KON’s Spring Initiation, where we will be initiating all new members and honoring students that will be graduating this May. Another exciting event was hosted by KON on April 25th. During this event, members had the opportunity to take professional photographs with a trained photographer. As we move into a more digital age, it is important that our social media profiles look professional and presentable. We wanted

to offer this service to our members so that they can stand out when applying for jobs and use these photos on their LinkedIn profile.

As the semester comes to an end, I am so happy to have taken on the role of President for KON. The officers and advisors have taught me so much and I am so honored to be a part of such an incredible organization.

Lindsey Marx, President

“Peer Nutrition (Health, Education and Environment continued from page 1)

Counseling (PNC) provides free Nutrition Counseling & Education”

PNC is free

The physical environment of schools should protect against health and safety hazards, including food protection, sanitation, safe water supply, healthy air quality, and violence prevention. With these safeguards put into place, the university campus becomes a center for students to go to school without concern for their safety. This not only provides the education that they are seeking, but teaches them also about universal matters which will help them throughout their lives.

Students on California State University Northridge (CSUN’s) campus need to be aware of the endless opportunities available to them.

These opportunities are put into place for our benefit. The Student Dietetic and Food Science Association for example, is holding lectures regarding nutrition and food safety. Another program is

Peer Nutrition Counseling (PNC), a student service, implemented in various locations throughout campus.

PNC provides free nutrition counseling and education.

Additionally, the Marilyn Magaram Center offers the Community Supported Agriculture program where students can subscribe to a variety of local, seasonal fruits and vegetables to incorporate into their diet. Other pro-

grams, such as Joint Advocates on Disordered Eating (JADE), project D.A.T.E and the BLUES project, provide peer education for prevention and awareness of disordered eating, rape, and depression, respectively. By increasing student awareness and encouraging students to utilize these valuable tools, they can further succeed in school and in their future.

Debrin Yahya-Kashani

SPRING, 2015 Page 3

Classroom of the Future As technology continues to evolve, we see how it affects our everyday lives. Acquiring a higher education is essential to positioning ourselves for greater standards, quality of life opportunities and goals.

The global economy has created international competition for local jobs. In order for our traditional and continuing education students to compete, we must prepare them for technologically diverse learning environments.

As an example of the global competition, India has approximately 350,000 advanced degree graduates per year (Fielding, 2006). Higher education equates to colleges, universities, and other forms of post high school education. These goals are shared by a diverse student population seen at all levels of education, from traditional to post-graduate to profes-

sionals returning to school for continuing education. Students are impacted daily by the dynamic assortment of technology that affords them the opportunity to maximize their daily schedules and routines. In an ever-advancing world filled with technology, the boundaries of the traditional classroom setting may not be boundless enough for today’s learners. Today’s technological variables extend the boundaries of everyday information access, and in some instances the use of virtual reality (VR) technology is replacing screens (Zhu and Wang, 2012).

California State University, Northridge is building an Extended Learning Center (ELC) that will feature a technically driven built pedagogy that encourages more collaborative behaviors. It will feature

use of mobile and standard devices that accentuate the Wi-Fi nature of the new built classroom environment. Projecting ideas will not be the same in this new Center, as students and instructors seamlessly interact and present their work. In a way, students will be able to seamlessly interact with the outside world at the same rate.

This paves the way for millennials, or digital natives, (Prensky, 2001), and newer generations to engage and interact within this new technological pedagogy.

Continued on page 4

The global economy has created international competition for local jobs.

“ Acquiring a higher education is essential to positioning ourselves for greater standards, quality of life opportunities and goals”

“Food for

thought”

KAPPA OMICRON NU Page 4 (Classroom of the Future continued from page 3)

Nutrition in the classroom

Our group which was comprised of Niloofar Khalighi, Victor Campos and myself, was selected to design the Classroom of the Future (COTF), located in the new Extended Learning Center at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). The purpose of our graduate project was to create architectural

drawings and renderings for a physical space that supports learning unbound by traditionally built pedagogy; a construct that would improve flexibility, comfort, sensory stimulation, technical support, and de-centeredness in the modern classroom setting. It is our hope that our design may set forth as a

template for classrooms of the future. The classroom of the future is approaching its construction date soon and we are excited to see the results of our research and design.

Alex Hernandez, Vice President

“KON wishes a

successful journey to all the graduates�

A Note From The Editor

Seven wonders of the socially responsible world.

This has been a very exciting semester for all of the KON officers as they finally have reached the end of their destination here at California State University Northridge (CSUN). Though the road has not always been easy, through perseverance and excellence, each and every one of them has succeeded.

KON is honored to have officers with such zeal and zest.

It has been a privilege for me to be editor of Kappa Omi-

cron Nu (KON) this spring. As we all know, the mission of Kappa Omicron Nu is empowered leaders who use an integrative approach to enhance quality of living through excellence in scholarship, leadership and research. KON values recognition, reward, advancement, and strong affiliation networks. These ends in turn, enhance the ability of the organization and chapters to prepare scholars and researchers as leaders for the 21st century. So with this

in mind, KON wishes a successful journey to all of the graduates and good luck in all your future endeavors.

Maria Inauen, Editor

SPRING, 2015 Page 5

“Fluid Restriction”

“ONE YEAR OF WATER LEFT IN CALIFORNIA,” this has been the gossip around the water cooler for the past few weeks. An Op-Ed piece in the LA Times published with the title, “California has about one year of water stored. Will you ration now?” took notice.

Needless to say, those of us living in sunny California find this information particularly shocking. Before you pack up your things and head to the other coast hoping to avoid death by dehydration, let’s look at the facts. According to Jay Famiglietti, a senior water scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, professor at UC Irvine, and the gentleman who wrote the Op-Ed piece,

it’s our state’s reservoirs that have only about a one-year water supply left. This is not unusual being that our reservoirs generally only hold about one to two years’ worth of water at a time. So what’s the problem? The problem is that California has been in a drought for nearly 4 years. Our water supply has been steadily declining since 2002 when NASA’s satellite monitoring began. California’s backup supply of water consists of groundwater and the availability of that has also been declining due to climate change. Additionally, because of climate change there has been an increased need for the use of groundwater for agricultural irrigation and, unless we all start doing the rain dance, it doesn’t look too good for our water supply. Let’s take this message from Governor Jerry Brown to heart when he says, “make no mistake, from Modoc to Imperial County, rain is not in the forecast and every Californian must be doing

their utmost to conserve water."

Let’s not wait for a crisis. Start conserving water NOW! Here are some simple tips you can follow to save water at home: Make sure you don’t have a leaky faucet or toilet!

Don’t let the water run while washing dishes or fruits and vegetables. Use a partially filled sink and give a quick rinse once you are done.

Place a toilet insert or a weighted plastic bottle in the water tank. This will reduce the amount of water upon flushing.

Reduce your shower time. A five minute shower uses 100 liters of water. If you can, get a low-flow shower head which will save 65 liters of water per 5-minute shower.

Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth or washing your hands.

“Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth or washing your hands”

Paige Handler

Waste NOT!!!!

KAPPA OMICRON NU Page 6

Progress Through Education ronment, I feel that we can use our knowledge to help educate those around us and help lead the way to change and progress in our communities.

“Knowledge Is Power. Information is liberating.

Education is progress”

To paraphrase a quote by Kofi Annan: “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is progress”. By educating oneself, it not only allows for empowerment, but also allows for our knowledge to change the world around us. Being a part of a discipline in Family and Consumer Sciences, which is dedicated to the study of people and their relationship to the envi-

As a graduate student in Nutrition and Dietetics, I am working on a research study that focuses on educating a group of college athletes on nutrition in order to improve their health and performance.

The main tenet of the study is whether nutrition education can affect their behavior and lead to better eating habits.

This, in turn, will lead to better performance in their sport, which all athletes ultimately desire.

narrow focus on one group of people, the idea can be generalized to all people: can educating people about health and nutrition lead to a change in their eating habits?

And with a change in eating habits, can this lead to a change in our environment and the way we interact with it? We ultimately have the power for progress in the world by educating others to have healthier relationships with our food, which can lead to more sustainability, less disease, less healthcare costs, and a better quality of life.

And with this knowledge, we will all have the power to be the change we want to see in the world.

Although my research has a

Maren Stein, Publicity Officer

SPRING, 2015 Page 7

The Science of Interior Design I will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Interior Design this May. My journey at California State University Northridge (CSUN) in this department has taught me a lot. Not many people realize how interior design is connected to so many things such as everyday life, fashion, social behaviors, psychological needs, and health. When it comes to designing interiors, there is a lot of art as well as science involved. My study in Family and Consumer Sciences has taught me how people interact with their environment, which is important to consider when designing interiors.

A great example of this is an event I attended this month at the LA Mart which is a design center located in Downtown Los Angeles. I attended a lecture, hosted by Benjamin Moore, a paint company, about color and paint and how it affects the environment for the aging. A new trend which is occurring, and which I personally think will be an ongoing trend, is that people want to design a home where they can comfortably live for many years to come. It is often referred to as “aging in place”. As we age, we begin to see certain colors differently. Shades of blue, green, and purple become more difficult to differentiate. Certain contrasts become less noticeable and it

becomes a lot harder to see pale colors. We can apply this knowledge to our interior designs by using bright and intense colors where needed, and make use of warmer colors of the color spectrum Another example of how interior design effects an environment involves examining human psychology. Color influences our mood and how we utilize certain pieces of furniture. When designing a space, we have to keep in mind what colors best suits the purpose of the room. For example, when designing a fast food restaurant, it is better to use warm colors such as red, which can help increase a person’s appetite. It also causes them to eat faster which allows for higher turnover of customers. By contrast, if you your goal is a calm, cool, and relaxing bedroom, blue is a suitable choice as it conveys tranquility. When designing a public space, the furniture you choose should be determined by how people might want to interact with each other. When placing a sofa in a public area such as a hotel lobby, consider whether or not people are comfortable sitting next to one another. If personal space is important, choose lounge seating, such as chairs rather than sofas.

This will give people the option to keep their personal space.

Interior Design fits in perfectly with Family and Consumer

Sciences and that is what excites me so much about my field. There are so many factors involved with designing interiors, which never creates a dull moment in the industry. More and more people are learning new ways of achieving great design and how to create a healthier environment. By including interior design in the Family and Consumer Sciences department, we are able to gain more knowledge on how people interact with their environment and the impact that it can have on their behavior and development and apply what we learn about individuals to our future interior designs.

Natalie Lord

“When designing a space, we have to keep in mind what color best suits the purpose of the room”

SPRING, 2015 Page 8

KON Officers Spring 2015

Lindsey Marx, President

Alex Hernandez, Vice President

Angela Cedillo, Publicity Officer

Maylin Lusk, Web Administrator

Maria Inauen, Editor

Maren Stein, Publicity Officer

Ashley Gray, Treasurer

Diem Nguyen, Secretary

Advisors: Dr. Annette Bresnilian and Dr. Diane Lewis-Goldstein References: Fielding, R. (2006). Learning, lighting and color: Lighting design for schools and universities in the 21st century. DesignShare, .

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants part 1. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1-6.

Zhu, R. , & Wang, Y. (2012). Design and realization of virtual classroom. Journal of Advances in Information Technology, 3(1), 24-28.

Famiglietti, J. (2015, March 12). California has about one year of water stored. Will you ration now? The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-famiglietti-drought-california-20150313-story.html