“Iron Man 3″ brings back everyone’s favorite bad boy billionare genius Tony Stark with more flare and better insults than ever before. However, “Iron Man 3″ takes a different turn, and a much needed one, after Iron Man 2 just turned out to be a two-hour bore of a preview for “the Avengers.”

Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is suprirsingly faced with anxiety resulting from the aftermath of the wormhole incident that occured in “the Avengers,” and the struggle to keep his fist ever commited relationship with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). The transition to overconfident superheroe to vulnerable genius is as smooth as Iron Man’s armor, and the anxiety and thought-mechanism Stark goes through is a side we haven’t seen but may have secretly wanted to.

Stark/Iron Man, is however still succumbed to, well, superhero problems, regardless of his sorry state. Obviously, superhero problems consist of the usual saving the world, terrorist threats, protecting the people you love and still being true to the man (or woman) behind the powers. Obviously. Well, Stark can not stay clear of issues like these, and when the mysterious but sleek Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) approaches the Stark company with a gorundbreaking idea, Stark is forced to resume to his usual superheroe instincts.

It’s not all work and no fun; remember this is a Disney and Marvel film. There are laughs and stunts that will have audiences still enjoying Stark’s midlife crisis. Thankfully, Marvel’s great sense of humor is still relevant to Stark’s journey; the jokes are perfectly timed and the film doesn’t try too hard to still be that glowing fun superhero hit that audiences crave for.

The action scenes and special effects are never a miss with these supoerheroe films, but the terroist approach is a bit overdone these days. Thankfully, “Iron Man 3″ finds a way to stay original with the whole terroirst plotline, still staying patiroitic and figuring ways to send the message of unity.

Though “Iron Man 3″ executes most of their twists fairly well, they still can’t make audiences completley fall in love with Pepper Potts. Potts goes through a grand transistion herself but this  is still not enough to stray away from the biggest twist that Stark goes through.

“Iron Man 3″ could possibly be the best of the seires so far; taking chances but still enjoyable. However, you might not shake a certain doubt away, that being how is it possible that Iron Man is going through such life and death situations without the help of his superhero posse. Can’t he just call Hulk to give him a hand every now and then? His Iron Man suit makes calls, right?

CSUN police officers interview family members of a student who was found passed out in his parked car on the second floor of the B3 parking structure on May 21. Police recovered an empty bottle of sleeping pills. Paramedics rushed the student to Northridge Hospital Medical Center. Photo credit: Luis Rivas / Senior Reporter

At approximately 5:30 p.m. yesterday a CSUN student allegedly overdosed on sleeping pills according to witnesses. The incident took place on the second floor of the B3 parking structure on the southeast side of campus.

The male student was examined at the location and rushed to Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

A witness stated that he noticed the male student asleep in a parked car next to his with all the windows down earlier in the day. The witness assumed he was resting and continued to head to his graduation ceremony. But when the witness returned he noticed that the student was still there.

Fire Department paramedics and CSUN police officers were called over.

Upon searching the vehicle, police found ashes inside the car, an empty bottle of sleeping pills, a long store receipt and a plastic bag.

Officers heard statements from the student’s family, and asked if anyone had access to his Facebook account. Assuming it was an attempted suicide police officers said that oftentimes people post comments online prior to these attempts.

It is unclear if the student was a graduating senior or took part in any of the commencement ceremonies of the day.

Witnesses and police refused to comment any further on the incident.

Students graduating with high achievements were recognized during the Honors Commencement at the Oviatt Lawn on Monday. Photo credit: John Saringo-Rodriguez / Photo Editor

Graduating seniors gathered on the lawn of the Oviatt library Monday evening for CSUN’s 31st annual Honors Convocation. Each graduate was recognized and celebrated for their academic success.

President Dianne Harrison opened the ceremony, excited to introduce her first graduation ceremonies as president of the university.

“The students we honor tonight represent the very best of Northridge,” she said. “You truly help make CSUN shine.”

Out of an estimated 10,000 students that qualify to graduate this Spring 2013,  more than 2,000 were recognized for their academic and extracurricular achievements. To be invited to participate in the ceremony, students had to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.88 or higher.

Harrison went on to introduce the keynote speaker Linda Lingle, CSUN alumna and former governor of Hawaii. Lingle was the first female Jewish governor of the islands.

“You cannot get a better education than the one you get here at CSUN,” Lingle told the crowd of students and families. “It prepared me for everything I’ve faced in my life.”

She shared memories of her own graduation from  CSUN, along with valuable words of advice for the graduates.

“No matter how big the issue in front of you…you can get beyond it by putting one foot in front of the other,” Lingle said.

Graduating students received a medallion for their hard work and academic acheivement while at CSUN. Photo credit: John Saringo-Rodriguez / Photo Editor

CSUN president Dianne Harrison presented Ryan Witkosky, geology major, with an Outstanding Graduating Senior Award at the Honors Commencement on Monday. Photo credit: John Saringo-Rodriguez / Photo Editor

CSUN president Dianne Harrison presented Shelley Thurk, mechanical engineering major, with the 2013 Wolfson Scholar Award at the Honors Commencement on Monday. Photo credit: John Saringo-Rodriguez / Photo Editor

John J. Duran, mayor of West Hollywood, was the featured guest speaker at Rainbow Graduation. Duran spoke of his trials and tribulations of being a gay man and LGBTQ advocate in the 80′s and how his education played a pivotal role. Photo credit: John Saringo-Rodriguez / Photo Editor

CSUN’s Rainbow Graduation brought the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Allied (LGBTQA) community together Monday afternoon to celebrate academics and diversity.  Family, friends and faculty gathered at the Northridge Center in the University Student Union (USU) to support the 26 graduating seniors participating in the event.

John J. Duran, keynote speaker and mayor of West Hollywood, spoke about his experiences being a gay man and a LGBTQA advocate in the 1980’s. Duran is one of the few openly gay and HIV-positive elected officials in the United States and his education has played a pivotal role in shaping who he is today.

Psychology major Raieka Kianian said that Rainbow Graduation is intimate and personal to her.

“It’s small enough that you don’t get lost in the crowd and your friends and family can see you,” Kianian said.

This year’s student speaker was Karlee Johnson, journalism major and queer studies minor. Johnson spoke of their experiences in the queer studies program and mentioned the benefits of having the Pride Center, a queer resource center, here at CSUN.

Doug Riechel, creative writing major, said that the group of students participating in Rainbow graduation were people he already knew.

“These weren’t random folks that I happened to share an academic discipline with,” said Riechel. “They were people that I have had deep discussions and some rather awesome arguments with over the past five years.”

Rainbow Graduation was held at the Northridge Center, USU, on Monday. Upon receiving their certificates, the 26 graduates were handed a rainbow rose. Photo credit: John Saringo-Rodriguez / Photo Editor

Upon receiving a certificate at Rainbow Graduation, Gender studies major, Raymond Marcell Buford, shares an embrace with friends. Photo credit: John Saringo-Rodriguez / Photo Editor

CSUN students line up to take photos with friends and family at Rainbow Graduation. Photo credit: John Saringo-Rodriguez / Photo Editor

Six members of the sorority Gamma Rho Lambda participated in Rainbow Graduation. The graduates and their sorority siblings chant in celebration. Photo credit: John Saringo-Rodriguez / Photo Editor

CSUN graduates receiving their master’s degree bow their heads for a prayer during the Black graduation ceremony held at the lawn behind Manzanita Hall, Sunday. Charlie Kaijo/Senior Staff

Students, faculty, and family members gathered together late Sunday afternoon to celebrate the Black Graduation ceremony held on the lawn behind Manzanita Hall.

Anthony Ratcliff, pan-african studies professor, introduced the Spring 2013 commencement theme, “Whatever is mentally conceivable is physically achievable”.

The ceremony celebrated the achievements of CSUN’s African-American students, and keynote speakers such as Assemblymember Isadore Hall III spoke on the growing success of young African-American men and women.

“African American students are matriculating and maturing to higher levels. There’s no reason to fear the education of a black woman and a black man, but there’s every reason to praise them.”

Over 140 graduates, including 14 graduates receiving their masters degree, attended the event.

Amber Grace Canyon, journalism major, received the highest GPA award.

“It’s been tough dealing with school and finances. The most difficult part of school was being a full-time student and working and putting my all into both,” Canyon said.

CSUN graduates walk to their seats before the Black graduation ceremony at the lawn behind Manzanita Hall, Sunday. Photo credit: Charlie Kaijo / Senior Staff

Enthused graduates dance in celebration of receiving their diplomas during the Black graduation ceremony, Sunday. Photo credit: Charlie Kaijo / Senior Staff

Political science major with a concentration in law and society, Joshua Thompson, gives a speech to CSUN graduates during the black graduation ceremony held at the lawn behind Manzanita Hall, Sunday. Photo credit: Charlie Kaijo / Senior Staff

Students gather in front of the registration table for CSUN’s Aztlan Graduation Ceremony for the Spring 2013 which was held on May 18 on the side of the Chicano House on campus. Featured keynote speaker was Dr. Christina Ayala-Alcantar. Photo credit by Luis Rivas/Opinions Editor

Adjacent to the Chicano House on the northeast side of campus, graduating seniors, families and professors gathered for the Spring 2013 Aztlan Graduation Ceremony on May 18.

This year’s theme was “Our Inspirations: The People, Places, and Things that have Inspired us to Progress”. The graduating seniors focused on inspirational professors such as keynote speaker  Dr. Christina Ayala-Alcantar of the chicana/o studies department.

“It has really been my honor to have many of you as my students,” said Ayala-Alcantar. “You inspire me to read, to do my homework, so that we (can) have great class discussions. It really is an honor to be in a classroom with you.”

Guadalupe Ruiz-Madrigal, chicana/o studies graduate, helped with the Aztlan Graduation planning committee. She said that this ceremony is more intimate than CSUN’s general commencement ceremony.

“I think that the regular graduation from school is not as personal as this one,” said Ruiz-Madrigal.

The Atzlan graduation and scholarship committee is a student run organization. This committee has been hosting commencement ceremonies for Chicano Studies graduates since 1969.

Chicana/o studies department chair Mary Pardo opens up the Aztlan Graduation Ceremony for the Spring 2013 which was held on May 18 on the side of the Chicano House on campus. Featured keynote speaker was Dr. Christina Ayala-Alcantar of the Chicana/o studies department. Photo credit by Luis Rivas/Opinions Editor

President Harrison speaks to a filled VPAC Great Hall after being formally instated as CSUN’s president. Harrison’s investiture took place after one year of starting at CSUN. Photo credit by Ken Scarboro/Senior Staff

CSUN President Dr. Dianne Harrison cemented her position as the university’s leader at an investiture ceremony held in the Valley Performing Arts Center Friday.

Faculty, staff, alumni, students and a CSU Board of Trustee member witnessed Harrison officially take her place as president after accumulating a year’s worth of experience in the position.

“The investiture ceremony is one of the oldest traditions in academia, signifying the ceremonial transfer of the symbols of the office, in this case the CSUN presidential medallion, and the pursuit of knowledge,” Harrison said in her presidential address. “Most typically it is done at the end of the person’s first year. And some experts have suggested that this timing of course is to make sure the person is suitable before doing the ceremony. So, I guess I passed one test.”

A bevy of supporters sat by the new president’s side and welcomed her to the university including A.S. President Sydni Powell, Faculty President Steven Stepanek and Vice Chair of the CSU Board of Trustees Lou Monville.

The CSU Board of Trustees appointed Harrison CSUN’s fifth president in 2012, replacing Dr. Jolene Koester who Harrison called “a dear friend.” Before delving into her own experience at CSUN, Harrison recognized the presidents that came before her.

“Because of their vision and their accomplishments I inherit a resilient, rebuilt and strong institution that is ready to move on,” Harrison said.

Harrison, who served as CSU Monterey Bay’s president since 2006, said that while listening to former president Koester at CSU president’s meetings she learned more about CSUN. She said those meetings were part of her process in coming to know that CSUN was the right choice for her.

“Well when I read the job description and then started learning more and more about the university, it’s diversity and the kinds of programs it offers. I knew from having listened to Jolene Koester for several years at our president’s meetings what a great institution it was and then when I was able to really do my own homework and learn more about it then I knew,” Harrison said.

In her address the new president focused on “unlocking potential and cultivating achievement” at the university by implementing initiatives brought to her attention by the campus community. Some of those initiatives focus on pedestrian and vehicular safety, enhancing matador pride and achieving a tobacco-free campus, something Harrison will tackle in the fall.

Anthropology professors Dr. James Snead and Dr. Matthew Des Lauriers were happy to hear the new president say that providing opportunities for students to participate in research was a priority at the institution.

“I like President Harrison’s priorities,” Snead said. “One of the things we’ll be doing is more involvement from students in research.”

Des Lauriers said that it’s important for students to have access to research opportunities because it will help students get hired.

“I like the research and the re-emphasis on research rather than seeing it as something in competition with teaching. It’s this hands-on applied experience that matters more than a GPA,” Des Lauriers said.

Senior art history and chemistry major Eleanor Wolgast, 21, works in the International and Exchange Student Center and attended the event to show support for the new president because she’s attended a lot of the center’s events as well.

“It was inspiring to hear someone talk about higher education and the hope she has for CSUN,” Wolgast said.

Failing to capitalize with runners in scoring position late in the game, CSUN lost 6-2 to the Gauchos.

“We’ve just got to get back to playing good fundamentally sound baseball, playing good defense,” said head coach Matt Curtis. “You know pitching and defense has really been our trademark, and we gotta do a better job at the plate.”

After stopping the game in the first inning in order to repair the infield dirt, the Matadors worked around a two-out double by the Gauchos, but were unable to stop UCSB from scoring for long.

Two throwing errors by freshman starting pitcher Calvin Copping gave UCSB two of its runs, including the games first in the third inning.

Singling to open the inning, UCSB had runners on first and second with no outs after a fielding error by freshman third baseman Nicolas Osuna. A throwing error by Copping on a sacrifice bunt gave the Gauchos a 1-0 lead.

Tacking on two runs in the fifth on a solo home run and another throwing error by Copping, the Matadors trailed UCSB 3-0.

Copping went six innings, gave up three runs, six hits, walked three and struck out five in his outing before being pulled in the seventh.

“(Copping) was doing a good job. We really let him down defensively and he made some of his own mistakes defensively,” Curtis said. “(I) felt like they were starting to get good looks at him (and I) felt like it was time to throw a different look at them. Harley Holt’s been really good for us out of the pen all year.”

Holt’s outing was short-lived though, as he gave up two runs without recording an out. Hitting a batter, a wild pitch and a walk, and Holt was pulled from the game after being looked at by the trainer.

“He’s been a little tender and just didn’t look right and that’s why we went out there with the trainer.”

Back-to-back hits by the Gauchos extended their lead 6-0 after the seventh inning.

“(UCSB) just saw the ball and hit the ball pretty well and they found holes today,” said senior left fielder Cal Vogelsang, who went 3 for 4 in the game.

Northridge’s offense came to life in the bottom of the seventh, getting the first two runners on with walks, Osuna doubled in CSUN’s first run of the day.

“I was just looking for a fastball that at-bat, I was just sitting on it and he left one right there and I hit it into the gap,” Osuna said.

An infield single by senior shortstop Kyle Attl with one out, plated the Matadors second run, but two harmless groundouts would kill the rally.

“I don’t think we mounted a serious threat today until maybe the seventh inning, so we’ve got to put some better at-bats together,” Curtis said.

Loading the bases with no outs in the eighth inning, the Matadors were unable to score anyone, and went down in order to end the game in the ninth.

“Yesterday was a tough loss and this is the first time in a long tme that we haven’t immediately bounced back from adversity,” Curtis said.

“Construction has begun in small parts, but in June it will begin in earnest,” said Librarian Lynn Lampert.

The new commons area will include a permanent Freudian Sip in the lobby of the Oviatt, replacing the coffee cart that resides there. Lampert and her associate Coleen Martin presented their designs for the new study areas, which includes ergonomic seating, and lower bookshelves to enhance student views of the area.

“We’ve been hearing really positive feedback on our designs,” Lampert said.

Students will be able to rent laptops and tablets from the library and will be able to receive help from a new information technologies desk, as well as the standard references desk.

The Commons are set to open by Fall 2013, but students can keep track of the construction progress over the summer on the Oviatt’s blog.

“I don’t think we’ve had so much fanfare for the Oviatt since we rose from the earthquake,” Lambert said.

The blog contains a timeline of the construction and a gallery of designs.

The Senate also approved a number of resolutions to end the year, including the creation of a Matador Bicycle Shop, which would provide bikes and services to students in an effort to promote environmentally-friendly commuting.

“Currently there is the CSUN Bike Collective, who provides students with services,” said Sen. Jesus Martinez-Ramirez. “We think it’s important to establish this space for students.”

Based on a survey released during the A.S. spring elections, a majority of students are in favor of the bike shop.

Before adjourning her final meeting President Sydni Powell continued the tradition of “Passing the Gavel” on to Vice President Christopher Woollett. Graduating senators, or those not returning to the Senate, were offered a few minutes to thank their peers and offer advice.

“Take advantage of your time here,” Powell said. “You learn a lot about yourself.”

Sitting on a couch in the back of the photo lab Sean Moore opens up a family sized box of Lucky Charms. “It’s never okay to skip breakfast,” Moore says sarcastically.

In between handfuls of marshmallows and sugary cereal bites he explains that this is his last year at CSUN. Moore will be graduating with a photography degree in the hope of pursuing a life as a professional photographer, specifically to photograph to live music.

“Music photography, in my opinion, is one of the most spontaneous and energetic forms of photography. Being able to conquer the fast moving subjects and constantly changing lights and still get an amazing photograph is what drives my passion for documenting live music.”

Within minutes of time spent with Moore you can see his personality shine through any projection of seriousness he was attempting to have during this interview. His sarcastic comments and silly humor are quick to catch.

Even with these qualities there is something else that makes Moore stand out in a crowd. Towering over anyone around him, Moore gets from class to class on what he calls his “tall bike.” With one adult bike and a kid’s bike frame welded together Moore rides in the clouds, grabbing everyone’s attention as he passes by.

Though it is not the defining element of Moore, it is a fitting addition for his unmatched character.