April 2, 2007
Everyone has the ability to make a positive difference in this world. Even small actions, such as turning off lights in an unused room or conserving water by taking shorter showers, can have a huge impact when people band together and make a commitment to change their actions, and improve our environment and sustainability. Then there are individuals who, through their beliefs, leadership and hard work, make a global impact, forever changing our society, moving it forward. One example of these extraordinary leaders is Cesar E. Chavez, a principal figure in the Chicano Civil Rights Movement who was once described by Senator Robert F. Kennedy as “one of the heroic figures of our time.” This month, UC San Diego will be holding a series of diverse events to celebrate Chavez’s life and accomplishments.
Honoring Cesar E. Chavez
As a human rights leader and an advocate for nonviolent social change, Chavez fought to protect working families, and he led the first successful farm workers union in American history. He helped the workers gain respect, fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits, and humane living conditions. He inspired millions of Americans to seek social justice and civil rights for the poor and underprivileged. He forever changed our society, and demonstrated that one person can make a difference by giving a voice to thousands. Chavez, who died in 1993, would have celebrated his 80th birthday this year on March 31.
To honor the civil rights leader, UCSD will hold special discussions and lectures on topics affecting the Chicano community, such as activism, immigration and border policy, and trends in politics and culture in Mexico. There will also be cultural festivities with music, food, dance and art; film screenings; and a theater workshop with actors who worked with Chavez in the 1970s. UCSD will also offer free transportation from campus to the celebration of Chicano Park in Barrio Logan on April 21. For a calendar of events, click here.
UCSD Near You
We recently kicked off our third nationwide “UCSD Near You” tour in an effort to reconnect UCSD alumni with their alma mater. This is a wonderful opportunity for alumni, parents and friends to meet with other members of the UCSD extended family, and enjoy stimulating presentations and intellectual conversations. The tour showcases outstanding faculty who present the latest innovative research in their fields and delve beyond the current headlines. Topics for the spring tour include the changing political landscape, international terrorism, stem cell research, an insider’s view on the production of a highly anticipated Broadway musical, and high-powered leadership. The spring tour will stop in Orange County, Sacramento, New York City and Boston. We’ll also hold a fall tour that will visit San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. In all, “UCSD Near You” will visit 10 cities this year. For more information about “UCSD Near You,” click here.
New Housing for Grad Students
Graduate students now have a new place to call home. We are thrilled to have completed and opened our new East Campus single graduate housing project, which provides 800 new beds and 800 new parking spaces. It’s the first new construction of graduate housing since the Warren College Single Graduate apartments were completed in 1993. This new housing is also important because it provides graduate students with a sense of community and connectivity to the campus. In the recent Graduate Student Satisfaction Survey, students reported having a fragmented housing community since many new students need to find housing upon arrival to San Diego, before they’ve had a chance to make social connections. The surveyed students said new housing would maximize their educational and social experience at UCSD. We hope that this new project, located near campus and many retail and dining venues, will help strengthen the camaraderie and connection to UCSD.
Earth Week Events and Education
UCSD will celebrate Earth Week (April 16-20) with a variety of campus events focused on educating participants on how they can help improve the Earth’s sustainability and contribute to climate solutions. Each day’s events will focus on a different aspect of sustainability. Monday’s events will focus on alternate transportation, Tuesday on energy footprint, Wednesday on conservation, Thursday on future focus, and Friday is a day of action. By working together to create and maintain sustainable solutions, we can make a global difference. To view a calendar of events and get involved in Earth Week, click here.
UCSD Transportation Receives Numerous Awards
The UCSD Department of Transportation and Parking Services (TPS) continues to be a leader in sustainability and alternate transportation, and is a proud supporter of UC’s Policy on Green Building Design, Clean Energy Standard, and Sustainable Transportation Practices, a system-wide commitment to conserving energy, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and increasing campus sustainability.
UCSD once again won the SANDAG Diamond Award this year for actively participating in and promoting commuter transportation alternatives and benefits to their employees.
The last two years, UCSD was named one of the nation’s “Best Workplaces for Commuters” by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation for its popular transportation alternatives.
TPS also received three “Best Practice” awards at the annual University of California Transportation Conference which was held in San Diego at the end of March. UCSD was recognized in the categories of Parking Operational Program for installing high-speed security gates; Transportation Operational Program for upgrading and enhancing the Americans with Disabilities Act Transport Service; and Transportation Innovation/Use of Technology for creating an automatic vehicle location system that tracks our fleet and improves passenger safety.
Triton Triumph
Congratulations to our women’s basketball team which made it all the way to the NCAA Division II semifinals held in Kearney, Nebraska. The 12th-ranked Tritons had the best season in UC San Diego women's basketball history, with a 27-5 record. The team won the program’s first conference title and first NCAA Division II West Region Championship. Head Coach Janell Jones’ was also named Coach of the Year by the California Collegiate Athletic Association. UC San Diego is proud of the team’s accomplishments, and their hard work on and off the court. You can read more about the team’s championship run in This Week @ UCSD.
I’m proud to be a Triton and a part of the UC San Diego community. Whether we’re collaborating with teammates on the court, standing up for what’s right, or ensuring our environmental sustainability, we can all make a positive impact - collectively and individually – to improve the world we live in.
With warm regards,
Marye Anne Fox
Chancellor
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