Sitting above the East Field at Cowell College in the declining sunlight, a group of approximately 100 graduates, retired faculty, staff and friends of UC Santa Cruz reflected on the campus’ rich history.
Held 50 years exactly after the day UCSC was officially announced as an addition to the other UCs in 1964, the event featured several speakers who discussed how the campus has developed over the last half century.
As first in a series of 50th anniversary events, this one introduced some themes that will carry over into the coming year’s celebration of UCSC. The series will culminate during January 2015, at which point another string of events will begin in honor of the first full year of the campus.
“This is a moment to take pride in all that has been accomplished at UCSC,” Chancellor George Blumenthal said. “The work of building a great university is never finished, and we rededicate ourselves today to the grandness of our founders’ vision.”
Accompanying Chancellor Blumenthal on stage was Cowell College provost Faye Crosby, Student Union Assembly Chair Shaz Umer — who read a celebratory letter from Gov. Jerry Brown regarding the 50th anniversary — chair of UCSC’s Academic Senate Joe Konopelski, and Hal Hyde, the campus’ first vice chancellor of business and finance.
