Northridge in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Storm at Valley State

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 25, 2025

1. The Storm at Valley State marker

Inscription.
On November 4, 1968, the Black Student Union (BSU) occupied the Administration Building and presented their 12-Point List of Demands to end discrimination on the San Fernando Valley State College (now CSU, Northridge) campus, which the administration accepted. Those demands included the establishment of an interdisciplinary department dedicated to Black Studies, hiring Black faculty with academic qualifications and expertise, plans to increase Black student enrollment, in addition to providing a dedicated tutorial space for both the BSU and United Mexican American Students (UMAS). These efforts would facilitate increased collaboration and serve the needs of Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students.

This memorial plaque is dedicated to the ground-breakers (founding faculty) and torchbearers who paved the way during "The Storm at Valley State." They collaborated with students, supportive faculty, and community members to bring a vision of Black student enrollment and Africana (Black) Studies to life, and still existing today and in the tomorrows of this University.

Erected by Department of Africana Studies, CSUN.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is November 4, 1968.

Location.

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34° 14.317′ N, 118° 31.791′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Northridge. It can be reached from Lindley Avenue 0.2 miles north of Nordhoff Street, on the left when traveling north. Located on the campus of California State University Northridge, west of Sierra Quad. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge CA 91330, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s The Valley — the San Fernando Valley

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Botanic Garden (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Earthquake Garden (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chaparral Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); CSUN Flagpole (approx. 0.2 miles away); Younes & Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (approx. 0.2 miles away); Orange Grove (approx. 0.2 miles away); Frank Knapp Sr. (approx. 0.9 miles away); Historical Timeline of the San Fernando Valley (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Photographed by Craig Baker, October 25, 2025

2. The Storm at Valley State marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 13, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.