This year’s graduating class reflects the many paths that shape the college experience. By: Mariam Mkrtchian, Social Media Editor As graduation season approaches, students at Valley are preparing to celebrate not only academic achievements, but also the journeys that led them to commencement. Jorge Munoz, a 29-year-old broadcasting and radio major who has attended Valley since 2022 is fulfilling his family’s dreams on graduation day. “I feel excited and thank God I’m graduat

Mayor Bass and moderator Alex Cohen discuss pressing voter issues on stage at Monarch Hall during a forum hosted by the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce. (Michel Melichar for The Valley Star) By: Michel Melichar, Staff Writer Four mayoral candidates for the 2026 California primaries gathered in Valley’s Monarch Hall for a debate about the city’s future. Rising housing and food prices along with stagnant wages have been hot-button issues discussed during previo

Emma Shanakian wins ASU presidency as student voting participation rises significantly from last year. By: Rosemary Villalonga, News Editor Emma Shanakian was elected as ASU president to serve during the 2026-2027 school year joined by the newly elected board which includes Vice President Mitka Delgado, Chief of Justice Samantha Gomez and Treasurer Robert Lazaryan, in an election that had over 600 total votes. Other elected positions include Benjamin Ramirez as commissione

The attack perpetrated by the group ShinyHunters led to mass Canvas outages worldwide By Michel Melichar and Daimler Koch, Staff Writers Instructure has paid over $100 million to ShinyHunters to prevent nationwide data leaks and restore Canvas access to over 9,000 institutions before the end-of-day deadline on May 12, according to an anonymous source. LACCD personnel are encouraging caution as students and teachers return to online classes and navigate Canvas. They recommend

On Wednesday, students and faculty gathered in the VACC’s plaza to officially open the newest building on campus featuring facilities for the media arts. By: Michel Melichar and Daimler Koch, Staff Writers Administrative staff gather as Valley President Barry Gibbons and LACCD Board President Sara Hernandez cut the ribbon to commemorate the opening of the Valley Academic & Cultural Center, during a ceremony held on April 29. (Fanny Rosales for the Valley Star) As the Los Ange

Students are able to read candidate personal statements and access voting in their student portal as the election runs through May 3. By: Rosemary Villalonga, News Editor Valley College students can now vote for nine ASU officials and an LACCD student trustee who will help shape the student experience in the coming school year. 10 candidates are running for nine positions, and students can vote from April 27 to May 3 through their student portal. Positions include president,

The HC CAP hosted an afternoon seminar on the Iranian conflict through various lenses of Valley College professors. By: Michel Melichar, Staff Writer Joshua Sperber is one of five professors who spoke at the War in Iran: Context and Consequences event held Wednesday in the LARC. (Angel Rangel for the Valley Star) Around 70 students gathered on the second floor of the Valley College library Wednesday to hear five professors discuss the ongoing conflict in Iran. The event, tit

The local organization brings together several professors and pupils to protest the Trump administration every Saturday. By: Daimler Koch, Editor-in-Chief Valley College Professor Zachary Knorr and his wife, Lauren Johnson, demonstrating at the Studio City “No Kings” protest on March 28. The professor and his wife are members of the activist group, Studio City Rising, which plan weekly protest events speaking out against the Trump Administration. (Lea Pfau for the Valley Star

With AI as a common academic tool, professors are faced with the challenge of regulating its use without compromising learning or academic integrity. By: Mariam Mkrtchian, Social Media Editor (Daisy Tapia for the Valley Star) Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a part of students’ daily workflow, forcing professors to confront a new academic reality and regulate a tool that is already seeing widespread use. “I think we all know the tide is here, and we can’t fight it

Cuts to funding and new regulations surrounding Medicaid create instability surrounding healthcare, a tax increase has been suggested as a solution. By: Eva Larrabee, Staff Writer (Alejandro Rafael for the Valley Star) Los Angeles County residents will vote on an increase in sales tax this coming June in an attempt to offset healthcare budget cuts being made by the Trump administration. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or H.R. 1, will cut approximately 2.5 billion dollars from

Community members come together with signs, music and strong voices to oppose the current state of government during a peaceful protest. By: Eva Larrabee, Staff Writer Protesters stand near CSUN's main campus during the No Kings protest on Saturday, March 28. The demonstration took place at the intersection of Zelzah Avenue and Nordhoff Street, and was peaceful overall. (Scott Beckstead for the Valley Star) Up to 1,000 people gathered on Cal State Northridge’s campus from 11

Street vendors and business closures across Los Angeles protests showcase how commerce coexists with social demonstrations. By Rosemary Villalonga, News Editor Mixed among protesters, security guards, police officers, signs and chants, sits a group of individuals looking for a profit: protest vendors. According to the American Journal of Sociology, profiting from civil unrest has been happening for decades, making the United States no stranger to this type of commerce. This