Game 1

Both teams’ defense started strong in the first inning of the series opener. Back-to-back singles were able to bring the energy up for infielder Jordan Ramirez, whose RBI put the Matadors on the scoreboard first, bringing the score to 1-0.

UCSD quickly answered with three consecutive home runs in the top of the third, bringing the score to 4-1. After the Matadors made a pitching change for Alizae Cole, the defense was able to close the inning.

The Tritons stayed sharp with their defense and kept the Matadors from scoring for the remainder of the game. UCSD had two RBIs in the top of the fourth, leading them to a 6-1 victory.

Game 2

A back-to-back bases-loaded situation led to three RBIs in the top of the first for UCSD with another RBI to follow, bringing the score to 4-0. A wild pitch and RBI allowed the Tritons to extend their early lead to 6-0..

The Matadors’ defense closed the second and third innings swiftly. CSUN hit three RBIs, two coming from utility player Madison Okano, to get the Matadors on the scoreboard at the bottom of the third, cutting the lead in half.

CSUN was able to capitalize further with the bases loaded and two more RBIs from catcher Isabella Hiner, tightening the score gap 6-5.

After going scoreless for the next two innings, UCSD extended its lead to 9-5 in the top of the sixth and continued in the top of the seventh, ultimately leading them to victory, 12-5.

Game 3

The Matadors’ last home game started with six seniors being recognized. Outfielder Raegan Jackson, infielder Mackenzie Kila, pitchers Malia Williams and Aleyna Urbina, catcher Maddie Padilla and Okano were announced.

Both teams were able to close the first inning quickly. The top of the second started rocky for the Matadors, who were trying to find their defensive rhythm after UCSD loaded the bases. The Tritons followed with a three-run home run, bringing the score to 3-0.

CSUN’s defense picked up in the top of the third with a crucial double play to close the inning. Two doubles and one RBI were able to put them on the scoreboard at the bottom of the third, leaving them trailing the Tritons 3-1.

With only one out in the third inning, seniors Jackson and Okano were able to capitalize with a single and an RBI each, tying the score at 3-3.

The momentum continued, with Matador defense closing out the fourth inning quickly and Williams’ pitching to close the fifth inning. With two strikes and one out in the bottom of the fifth, outfielder Amber Rivas doubled and helped the Matadors take a 4-3 lead.

Going into the bottom of the sixth, bases were loaded and another RBI by Jackson extended the lead 5-3. Okano continued the scoring with an RBI, ending the bottom of the inning leading 6-3, which ultimately resulted in their victory. UCSD went scoreless for five consecutive innings.

Defense was essential in all three games. Head coach Jodie Cox spoke about what led to the Matadors’ success.

“We work hard and don’t give up, you know? Our defense was super solid – even our losses yesterday, our defense was solid,” Cox said. “There was a play in the seventh inning in left field with Mackenzie Kila that arguably saved the game; those aren’t always in the scorebook, but they’re working their butts off for the pitchers, doing a really good job.”

Williams, who pitched the entirety of game three, spoke about her mindset coming into the last game of the series after two losses, during which she pitched in part of game one.

“My mindset really was just to prove myself ‘cause I didn’t have my greatest day yesterday, so I just wanted to be relaxed all day,” Williams said.

Okano, who had an impactful series with four RBIs and five hits, spoke about how it felt to execute during this important weekend.

“Honestly, I came in this weekend just knowing we had to win in order to make the postseason, so just doing anything in my power to help the team win and just pass the bat,” Okano said.

Jackson, who helped tighten the score gap in the bottom of the third and extend the lead in the bottom of the sixth, spoke on what was going through her head coming into her last home game. Jackson said she was focused on delivering for her team, and by prioritizing them above all else, she was able to take the emotion out of senior day.

“There’s no better feeling than just executing my job,” Jackson said.

The Matadors go on the road for their last series of the regular season against Long Beach State on Friday, May 1, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Drawing from her book “The Wanderers,” Gerson explored how family history, archival research and journalism intersect to tell overlooked stories of displacement, survival and movement.

“The Wanderers” traces the journey of Gerson and her wife’s families, who fled Nazi-occupied Poland and survived years of displacement across the Soviet Union before rebuilding their lives elsewhere. Through a blend of memoir, investigative reporting and historical research, the book emphasizes that migration stories are passed down across generations.

When introducing Gerson, Associate Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs Mariappan “Jawa” Jawaharlal emphasized the importance of storytelling in scholarship, describing Gerson’s work as an example of how history is carried through personal narratives.

“History is not confined to books. It lives in people. It lives in families,” Jawaharlal said, highlighting how personal narratives carry historical memory across generations.

His remarks set the tone for the lecture, underscoring the broader significance of storytelling in understanding migration and identity.

During the lecture, Gerson discussed how traditional media coverage often simplifies immigration narratives, focusing on statistics or policy rather than individual experiences. She emphasized the importance of telling stories that reflect the complexity of migration and the people behind it, arguing that these narratives can shape how audiences understand immigration as a whole.

“It’s about what values we hold,” Gerson said. “It’s about human rights. It’s about our economics.”

Gerson’s work on “The Wanderers” draws from both historical and investigative reporting, examining how past refugee experiences connect to modern migration stories. She explained that uncovering these narratives often requires looking beyond official records and traditional sources, instead focusing on personal histories that are frequently overlooked in mainstream coverage.

“How do we tell these stories most effectively?” Gerson said.

During the Q&A portion, one audience member asked how different communities, including Palestinian readers, might interpret the book’s portrayal of displacement. The exchange highlighted the ongoing relevance of Gerson’s work, particularly in how different communities interpret narratives of displacement and migration. Gerson said that she aimed to reflect multiple perspectives, acknowledging the complexities of migration and historical experiences.

Roberto Suro, professor emeritus at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and the Sol Price School of Public Policy, said journalism is necessary in shaping public understanding of immigration, noting that the framing of stories can influence how audiences perceive complex issues.

“Immigrants are the people who sail against the storm … they take initiative and survive,” Suro said.

Suro described Gerson’s work as a significant contribution to both journalism and immigration studies, noting that it combines historical research with personal storytelling to offer new perspectives on migration.

The lecture underscored journalism’s role in bringing overlooked stories to light, encouraging students and attendees to think more critically about how immigration narratives are told and understood, particularly in a time when migration remains a widely debated issue.

After losing the first set 25-20 to the Anteaters, the Matadors sought to regroup and reload for the second set. The Matadors got off to a hot start in the second set, with CSUN getting into a 3-1 lead.

The Anteaters quickly responded in many short rallies, taking the lead from the Matadors and leaving the match at 7-4.

The rallies between the Matadors and the Anteaters were very short and efficient, ending with just the serve. However, during the rally for their eighth point, CSUN outside hitter Jordan Lucas made his presence known by spiking the ball down hard and showing Anteater fans some of his signature electricity on the court.

“I think being positive is something that I’ve really embraced, especially over this last year,” Lucas said. “If I can be that kind of spark plug and, you know, switch the momentum our way … you have to create some type of energy, some type of force, especially for us in a match like this.”

The Matadors tied the matchup at 10-10 when outside hitter Joao Avila earned his second kill of the game. This gave the Matadors a brief lead before the Anteaters would tie the game back up.

Lucas, once again, showed his dominance at the top of the net spiking the ball down on the Anteaters, leaving them little room to recover.

CSUN setter Owen Douphner managed to sprint all the way to the edge of the court, narrowly saving what would have been a point for the Anteaters and sending the ball back to the other side of the court.

A massive block occurred by middle blocker Joao Favarim and opposite Jalen Phillips. After this play, the Matadors got another point on the board, destroying the three-point deficit they once found themselves in and tying up the match at 16-16.

Both teams took and gave points respectively, leaving the game tied at 18-18.

Lucas added onto his kills by earning his fifth on the night, getting another point for the Matadors. Shortly thereafter, Favarim and Douphner blocked what would have been the tying score for the Anteaters, putting the game at 18-20. With this newfound momentum, the Matadors found themselves in a large lead and took the electrifying second set 25-20.

CSUN found themselves in a sizable deficit of 9-5 in the third set when head coach Theo Edwards called a timeout in order to help inspire his team. While the Matadors fought hard to earn points, the Anteaters displayed why they are the third seed in the Big West.

After some hard fought rallies, the Matadors came up short in set three, losing 25-16.

The fourth set began with back and forth rallies between the two teams before CSUN pulled away with a 6-9 lead. This was short lived as the teams tied up the game once more.

With very few leads in this set, the Matadors found themselves in a win or go home situation tied at 19-19.

Tension and restlessness built in the air as the back and forth scoring continued, a point for the Matadors, a point for UCI and another for the Matadors. The score was 23-23 and the teams needed a significant lead in order to win the set. The intensity only rose in the Bren Events Center each time a point was scored.

The entire crowd was on their feet and roaring as the arena had taken on another level of excitement. The game was ultimately decided by a serve from Irvine, with the final score being 25-23, ending the Matadors season and sending them home.

Edwards took a moment after the game to circle up his team to shake the hand or hug each and every member, including the staff.

“All we do is create a space for these guys to be themselves,” Edwards said. “These guys wear their hearts on their sleeves. They were a family through and through.”

For some, the transition has been slower and more uncertain.

Edward Hakobjanyan, who graduated in May 2025 with his bachelors in journalism and an emphasis in public relations, entered the job market with high expectations. He hoped for a “bigger career” after graduation, but instead, he spent months applying to jobs with little success. Nearly nine months later, in February, he secured a marketing internship.

“I wish I would’ve knocked on every professor’s door and asked for more connections to see if they knew of any jobs,” Hakobjanyan said.

Reflecting on his time at CSUN, he said the program provided a strong academic foundation but lacked practical preparation for the realities of the job search.

“I think CSUN does help us with knowledge, but there is so much more that they could have taught us to prepare,” he said.

Hakobjanyan described the job application process as discouraging, noting how difficult it can be to even receive a response.

“You could apply to a thousand jobs, and it’s likely that not even one will respond,” he said.

Others, however, found opportunities more quickly, often through the very connections Hakobjanyan said he wished he had pursued more.

Ryan Romero, also a May 2025 journalism graduate, had a completely different experience. About six months after graduation, he secured a full-time position as a sports reporter for a local media outlet, covering high school and college sports. He found the opportunity on JournalismJobs.com and said a key connection helped him stand out.

“I found a job for my current workplace, and I thought it was perfect,” Romero said. “The person who reached out was the editor-in-chief, who used to be my professor at CSUN. So, we already kind of had that connection, that mutual understanding of who I was, who he was.”

Romero credited CSUN, particularly his work with The Daily Sundial, for preparing him for the newsroom environment.

“It did give me an idea of the rundown of how to do a lot of different recaps, feature writing, breaking news,” he said. “I got to know how the environment of a newsroom felt like.”

Now working full-time, Romero said the biggest adjustment has been managing the demands of a 40-hour workweek, balancing writing, event coverage and commuting.

“You gotta make sure you are able to tackle everything so you’re not overwhelmed,” he said. “At the same time, I feel like I’ve done pretty good at managing my schedule and all that.”

He described post-graduate life as both demanding and rewarding, encouraging current students to stay patient and continue building connections.

Like Romero, Teagan Davidge also benefited from professional relationships formed during her time at CSUN.

Davidge, a May 2025 journalism graduate with a minor in gender and women’s studies, found success through networking. In early 2026, she landed a job at Southern California News Group after a former guest speaker at the Sundial recommended her.

“I connected with her on LinkedIn, saw the job posting and reached out,” Davidge said. “She put in a good word for me.”

Davidge said transitioning from college into an internship helped ease her into the professional world, allowing her to continue learning while gaining hands-on experience.

“An internship is basically another education opportunity,” she said, recommending that path as a way to ease into the expectations of full-time work.

She added that one of the biggest challenges has been adapting to being the youngest person in a professional setting and learning from more experienced colleagues.

Still, not all graduates have secured stable positions, highlighting the uneven nature of the current job market.

Zipporah Pruitt, a May 2026 graduate, is still navigating the job search and described the process as emotionally draining. While contributing film coverage to an outlet, she is not being paid and continues to look for stable employment.

“It’s pretty harsh,” Pruitt said. “I try to repress it, and I don’t really apply for things actively every day.”

Pruitt said the prevalence of unpaid or underpaid work in the industry has made the transition especially difficult.

Despite their different experiences, all four graduates pointed to uncertainty as a defining part of life after college. Still, they emphasized the importance of building relationships, applying early and continuing to produce work.

For many, graduation is not the end but the beginning of a new, less predictable phase of learning. Pruitt encouraged current students to remain persistent and not internalize rejection.

“Apply to internships as much as you can,” she said. “And if you do land a big opportunity and you don’t get it, don’t let that affect your self-worth. Keep going.”

Fans were given the opportunity to partake in many different experiences that were available within the Lifestyle Expo, where they could find a variety of booths of merchandise, games and even driving simulators. Fans even had the opportunity to meet their favorite drivers from the weekend.

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Benjamin Hanson

Supertruck Series drivers launch in the air during day two of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 18, 2026.

The event kicked off with the Porsche Carrera Cup, Historic Motor Sports and the IMSA Sportscar Grand Prix of Long Beach, where a variety of different cars of all different classes took to the track for their respective practice laps and races.

Following those events, the Super Stadium Trucks took to the track, jumping off ramps and roaring loudly as they performed. The Formula D Super Drift Challenge followed this event, with cars sliding across the track and kicking up dust clouds as they drove by.

These events mostly occurred between Friday and Saturday, while Sunday was largely reserved for the Super Trucks and the Historic Motor Sports races.

However, the main feature of the weekend was the NTT Indycar Series race, which featured several prestigious drivers attempting to leave their mark on this year’s race and taking home a win at the Acura Long Beach Grand Prix.

After three hours and 90 laps of high speed racing, Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing claimed victory after placing first in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, earning the ability to slow down for a brief moment and let the confetti bask him in his accomplishment.

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Benjamin Hanson

Driver Alex Palou tosses his hat into a crowd of fans after winning the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach IndyCar series race on Sunday, April 19, 2026 in Long Beach, California.

La protesta fue organizada por la coalición CSUN S.O.A.R (estudiantes organización contra la represión) en colaboración con la nueva coalición Hands off Students. Las tensiones entre la población estudiantil y el Departamento de Servicio de Policía de CSUN (DPS) han aumentado en los últimos meses. Estudiantes, personal y profesores se reúnieron para denunciar lo que consideran un patrón de vigilancia y criminalización.

El estudiante arrestado forma parte de la comunidad de patinadores de CSUN, un grupo que ha expresado preocupaciones sobre su trato por parte de la policía de campus.

Para los patinadores que llegaron a la manifestación, fue algo personal. Algunos estaban preocupados por el estudiante arrestado, mientras que otros, que han sido supuestamente acosados en repetidas ocasiones, expresaron preocupación por lo que consideran un patrón de vigilancia dirigido contra la comunidad de patinadores en el campus.

La indecisión del estudiante no fue divulgada por motivos de confidencialidad.

“Soy amigo del estudiante que fue arrestado; me cuenta que tiene medios para regresar a la universidad”, dijo Diego López. “Él no tiene confianza; a veces hablan con la policía… ellos, a la vez, ponen su nombre en él como agresor y le acusan de un delito.”

Varios patinadores que asistieron compartieron sus experiencias previas con la policía del campus, incluso en momentos en que no estaban causando problemas, según ellos.

“Yo diría que, en general, no nos quieren patinadar en la escuela más”, dijo Óscar Águila.

Estas experiencias, dicen, han generado un sentimiento de incomodidad y, en algunos casos, temor al usar los espacios del campus.

“Sí, varios de los skaters [patinadores] han parado un poco; tienen miedo; no quieren que causemos problemas. La policía nos sigue molestando”, comentó Águila. “Yo personalmente no tengo miedo, pero sí siento un poco de inquietud por mi suegro.”

Aunque la protesta se desarrolló de manera pacífica, para los patinadores supone un conflicto estar en solidaridad con la comunidad.

The Earth Fair, titled “Pollinator Paradise,” was filled with various activities, including flower crown making, painting, pin-making and a live butterfly pavilion, along with live music for students to enjoy while walking around the lawn. Students also received a stamp card to complete by visiting booths for a free t-shirt.

According to Liz Cartojano, the sustainability coordinator for AS, every Earth Fair has a different theme. She explained that this year’s theme focuses on the importance of pollinators.

“There’s so many different kinds of pollinators out there that are suffering right now because there’s a lot of habitat loss, and pollinators are really important for our food,” Cartojano said. “One out of three bites of food that we eat are pollinated by bees, for example, and they’re still on the decline.”

Cartojano said it’s crucial for students to understand how important pollinators are and to be curious about the small things that make the environment function and beautiful.

Many organizations tabled at the event, including the community-based non-profit LA Compost, each focused on sharing information about how to keep food scraps in the Valley, connect with the community and learn how to accomplish hands-on.

Andrea Torres of LA Compost said they had a three-bin on campus years ago that helped students learn how to compost.

“It’s been a good connection of having, you know, students learning how to compost on site,” Torres said. “Then being able to learn how to apply the compost, whether it’s, like, in plants that they have, indoor, outdoors, around trees, orchard and kind of sharing that knowledge.”

The LA Compost also collaborates with student clubs on-campus, providing students with volunteer opportunities.

“We’ve actually hosted the CSUN Nurse Association,” Torres said. “They were able to have a service day with us. They were able to help us build, sift and help maintain parts of our garden.”

The Marilyn Magaram Center, a campus nutrition and diabetes center, was also among the organizations tabling at the event. Daniel De La Torre, who is part of the center and booth, explained that they offer a variety of products and workshops to promote better lifestyles and nutrition.

“I believe it’s important that we’re here, because not only do people need to take better care of the planet but, you know, the systems that you use to take care of the planet,” De La Torre said. “Not wasting food or having more sustainable practices, like planting, are important.”

At CSUN, students can get involved in protecting the environment by volunteering with LA Compost, joining campus sustainability groups and participating in campus events, such as the Thursday Thrift.

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Julia Torres

Jaz Persing, owner of And Roses, Two, helps a student look through different flower options for a crown at the Earth Fair on April 22 in Northridge, Calif.

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Julia Torres

Student protesters chant alongside speakers in front of Valera Hall to protest against police brutality on the CSUN campus on April 23, 2026, in Northridge, Calif.

Marquita Gammage, CSUN professor of Africana Studies and director of the Ethnic Studies Center for Race, participated in today’s rally to support students impacted by these issues.

“CSUN’s own documented evidence shows a longstanding history of police violence and abuse against students, and students feeling unsafe in and outside of the classroom,” Gammage said. “It’s important that we begin to address the issues of policing and the psychological harm that is happening to students.”

Another primary focus of the protest was the CSU system’s $17 million deal with OpenAI, which is expiring in May and is being negotiated for renewal in June. Zaineb Valles, a member of the S.O.A.R Coalition, was motivated to protest this deal today.

“We are one of 11 different CSU campuses that today are protesting that deal because OpenAI, their technology, is used in ICE surveillance of communities here,” Valles said. “It’s not okay for our money to be going towards tools that actively discourage critical thinking and are contributing to dropping literacy rates.”

As students rallied at the base of the library, they began walking across campus towards the University Student Union (USU) while chanting in unison about their frustrations with campus policies. Freshman Chase Dike participated, waving a banner stating “Hands off students @ CSUN.”

“To be honest, it’s been an ongoing topic for years now. Students have to fight for their rights,” Dike said. “I’m fighting here because many people like myself are here right now at this moment.”

Dike was one of many CSUN students who were disgruntled by recent police activity occurring on campus. Fliers handed out by the CSUN S.O.A.R Coalition included reports of students being tased, detained and violently arrested. The fliers also mentioned that 5.5% of the CSUN student population is made up of Black students; however, 13.4% of police stops have been on Black students.

A majority of the arrests on campus have occurred at the Manzanita Hall main entrance, where many skaters hang out and practice their tricks. One of the skaters, Diego Lopez, said this issue is personal to him and discussed how it could affect Matadors in the future.

“This should have never happened if, you know, a lot of cops wouldn’t have acted this way. Personally, one of my friends got arrested. He was one of the skaters that did,” Lopez said. “It’s a good thing that everyone’s coming out, fighting for something because we’re kind of tired of it.”

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Griffin O'Rourke

A protester kneels on the ground during a chant outside Valera Hall at California State University, Northridge, on April 23, 2026, in Northridge, Calif.

Valles’s thoughts on the arrest align with those of Lopez.

“He was not skating at all. He was holding a skateboard,” Valles said. “It should never have escalated to a point of CSUN police kneeling on a black student, unarmed, and needing him to have to go to the hospital for those injuries because they were skidded across the concrete.”

News about the arrest, CSUN’s policies and campus services have made rounds on social media, even making way onto pages meant for incoming students.

“Beforehand, I really knew nothing about the school when I came out here,” Lopez said. “Then I started to see and hear stuff about police officers and it made me even more uncomfortable seeing that whenever they pass by. I even get stared at sometimes.”

The issues Lopez has faced with police on campus were a primary reason CSUN student Shamarri Bryant also participated in the rally.

“I feel like as students, we shouldn’t be profiled about who we are and what we do, and we’re here to learn and get our education and get our degrees and graduate, not be profiled as criminals,” Bryant said.

Along with the organizers of the rally, the campus faculty in attendance demanded change after becoming aware of the issues happening. Jade Chuell, chair of Africana Studies at CSUN, provided a solution that she would like to see implemented.

“When I saw the first video of the student that was tased in housing, it reminded me of my son. I can’t have this on my campus without doing anything about it,” Chuell said. “I would love a campus that was community police versus a campus that follows a carceral system.”

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Julia Torres

A student protester holds a sign with "Cops/ICE Off Our Campus" as they walk in front of the University Library on April 23, 2026, in Northridge, Calif.

The first inning was scoreless. With a Matador pitch change at the top of the second, SDSU opened the inning with a two-run home run, bringing the score to 2-0.

The Matadors answered back at the bottom of the second with an RBI by catcher Xavier Rios. Rios spoke about putting up a quality at-bat to bring the score within one.

“We had runners in scoring position and the big thing, team-wise, is putting up a quality AB,” Rios said. “Something I definitely had to work on throughout the season, kind of being aggressive to the zone and got a pitch in the zone, and I just put a bat to it and then found a hole.”

Matadors defense shut down SDSU’s offense, preventing them from scoring for three consecutive innings, avoiding stolen bases and converting every hit into an out.

The bottom of the fifth began with a double by outfielder Vaughn Coleman, which was followed by an RBI from third baseman Kyle Panganiban.

The score was tied 2-2 entering the sixth inning until SDSU hit a home run, giving themselves a 3-2 lead.

A double by shortstop Trent Abel at the bottom of the sixth gave hope to the Matadors, but CSUN ultimately couldn’t score.

The top of the seventh began with two Matador pitching changes. The defense helped clear the seventh quickly, but the Matadors went scoreless for two consecutive innings.

In the eighth inning, a Matador pitching change occurred, and SDSU scored with an RBI, extending their lead 4-2. Abel brought the energy back up with an RBI in the bottom of the inning, closing the gap between their opponent and bringing the Matadors within one once again.

Abel explained how he focused during the tough innings.

“Just trying to keep things simple, put a good swing on it, not trying to do too much,” Abel said.

The game ended swiftly after as the Matadors couldn’t capitalize on a base runner in the bottom of the ninth. Panganiban, who helped tie the game up earlier, said he wants the team to improve before the next game.

“I think we need to do a better job with scoring guys on second and third with less than two [outs],” he said. “That’s gonna be the biggest game changer when it comes to, you know, playoffs and just later on in the season.”

The Matadors go on the road for Big West play this weekend, taking on Cal Poly on Friday, April 24, at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

The event was themed around the 2025 mega-popular sports romance TV show “Heated Rivalry,” which was based on a book under the same name written by Rachel Reid. The show saw massive success in the early part of 2026, resulting in the two stars serving as official torchbearers in the Winter Olympic Games in January.

Students had the opportunity to connect with their peers through “Heated Rivalry” themed bingo with the opportunity to win prizes, a craft corner with friendship bracelets and pennant flags and a chance to snag cupcakes, Coca-Cola and ginger ale.

The first bingo winner, graduating senior Adelia Palma, decided to attend the event despite only seeing a few episodes of the show. They expressed how the Pride Center in general offers opportunities to connect with strangers over shared interests, which to them, is crucial to building community.

“Especially with school coming to an end, finals and these big projects being due, it’s a nice break to have these events,” Palma said. “I’m very grateful for the Pride Center. I love it here so much.”

While the event was themed around “Heated Rivalry,” all students were welcome to participate in games, crafts and community bonding. Professors Stephanie Lim and Amanda Harrison of the Queer Studies and English departments created the event in hopes of offering students a comfortable place to take a break.

“This was definitely a more casual, social type thing, which I think is super important, particularly at the end of the semester,” Harrison said. “We really want to do more community events where people can just talk to each other.”

Students across all grade levels, faculty and staff members — even non-student “Heated Rivalry” fans — attended the event. According to Harrison, merging pop culture with in-person events allows attendees to really take something out of the media they consume and foster connections in person.

Sophomore Emily Barrios attended the event with long-time friend Daisy Para. Barrios expressed feeling nervous to make connections with other fans, but felt excited to attend the event and discuss the series she loves. She explained how unique it is to be able to connect with like-minded fans at the event as opposed to online.

“These events just foster community. It’s one thing to talk to people online, but when you meet in person it’s another form of connection that’s really different,” Barrios said. “Sometimes talking online can be scary, so it’s important to foster that connection in person.”

Harrison will be teaching a “Heated Rivalry” themed class, ENGL 421HR, in the fall semester to further discuss the show’s impact in queer culture and media, and further community events are posted to the Pride Center calendar.