Tag: Spring Preview

Sleeping bags on the floor

California students visit HSU to see if they want to attend

Humboldt State University is always looking for ways to recruit students. There is a program called the Preview Plus Weekend where university housing provides visiting students from within the state of California an opportunity to experience the “college life” for themselves. Students are paired up with a host who is an HSU student already attending the school.

The students are paired up with a host to give them the best experience to persuade them to go to HSU. In this program, students sleep on the floor of the host’s room with the sleeping bag they are provided to bring. They have several activities that housing has provided for them for the duration of three days.

Marcella Feathers, a 17 year old from Oakland, California, said that there are too many stairs at HSU.

“But other than that, I truly believe Humboldt State University is the school I am going to choose at the end of the day,” Feathers said. “I really liked my host as well, she actually convinced me come to this school, she definitely made it an enjoyable time.”

Marcella Feathers getting situated in a host’s dorm room.

Hosts also get benefits while signing up for this program, they’re awarded guaranteed housing, free food at the events they attend with the students, and cash. Isabel Brambila, a student from Sacramento, said that she didn’t get the vibe that she wanted from HSU.

“Since I’m from the city, I don’t think this scenery fits my personality,” Brambila said. “I definitely won’t be coming here, I think I’m leaning more towards Sacramento State instead, I just don’t think this school is for me.”

Two students who are being hosted at the college creek dorms, Joseph Guerro Garcia on the left and Isabel Brambila on the right. | Photo by Delaney Duarte

Along with student’s experiences, hosts had some experiences of their own. Daisy Caballero, a zoology major at HSU, said that she usually sleeps on the couch. Caballero gave her bed to her guest so they wouldn’t sleep on the floor.

“It was a really great experience showing the upcoming students the school,” Caballero said. “I think this program helps students figure out whether or not they want to come here because they are literally experience college for themselves.”

Caballero wishes she had known about the program so she could have experienced the school a bit more before deciding whether or not this was the school for her.

“I truly only chose this school because of the price amongst other schools,” Caballero said. “But if I would have known it was going to be so secluded I probably wouldn’t have picked it.”

Students from Bay Area and SoCal area getting ready to head back on the road to make their decisions on whether to come to HSU or not. | Photo by Delaney Duarte

Students who attended the preview plus program will decide whether or not Humboldt State University is their choice of school they want to go to. All students living on campus have a chance to participate in this program and get the benefits out of it as well.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Remembering the 2014 Spring Preview bus crash

By Iridian Casarez

An HSU student assembled a candle lit vigil to remember the 2014 Spring Preview bus crash.

Yulisa Salas, a second year English and critical race and gender studies major, put together a vigil to honor the victims of the 2014 Spring preview bus crash that killed 10 people, including potential HSU students.

“I put together the vigil for one of my friends who passed due to the accident, Adrian Castro,” Salas said. “There was no vigil last year for the incident so I decided to take matters into my own hands.”

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In 2014, a Spring Preview bus filled with faculty, staff and potential HSU students from southern California was headed toward HSU when a Fedex truck collided into it. Salas’ friend and classmate, Adrian Castro, was one of the victims in the crash. Salas said she felt angry, hurt and disappointed that there was no vigil planned to remember and recognized those impacted by the bus crash. According to Salas, it only took her a day to put together the vigil, relying on social media and the support of her friends and family.

“I told myself there needs to be a vigil that recognizes those that were affected,” Salas said. “If HSU didn’t plan a vigil it just shows that HSU doesn’t care about their students, especially those who were affected by the crash that are now students.”

The vigil started out with Salas speaking about memories she shared with Castro. She then opened the mic to those who wanted to talk and open up about the bus accident.

Angie Flores-Cruz spoke about how the bus accident affected her.

Monica Ramirez speaking about how the bus crash has impacted her. Photo by Iridian Casarez

“I take this experience not to let it hold me back but to push me to achieve,” Flores-Cruz said to the crowd. “I feel stronger to hear from other survivors, thank you for your support.”

Many other survivors and friends of victims took the mic to express the way the bus crash impacted them and how it is still impacting them.

Karina Rivas, an economics major, came to support her friend and roommate who was on the bus that crashed. Rivas was a freshman at HSU when the bus crash happened. She said when news broke out about the crash her parents called her worried about her.

“I didn’t know that my roommate was a part of the crash until we became roommates,” Rivas said. “It’s very tragic what happened, so I came to show my moral support.”

Salas said she hopes to continue to put together the vigil every year for victims and people affected by the crash.

“It’s important for us and the school to recognize that this tragedy is still impacting lives,” Salas said. “It’s important for us to keep the memories and stories of those who have passed alive.”

Wednesday, April 12, 2017