They came from all over California and the nation with a hunger and a bottomless thirst for intellectual challenge and adventure.
They showed up to see piles of dirt and earthmovers everywhere. Nearly all the emblematic buildings we associate with UC Santa Cruz were figments in the sketchbooks of architects and planners. All they saw were redwood trees, big meadows, some cows—and lots of potential.
They were a fearless bunch, that small group of students who showed up when UC Santa Cruz opened its doors in 1965—if a campus with almost no buildings can be said to have doors!
UC Santa Cruz opened years before I was born—but experiencing its beginning through reading oral histories and talking with some of the original students, faculty, and staff is a fascinating experience. A familiar echo in their stories is about the "magic" of the campus at that time—an electric charge in the air. It must have had something to do with all those brainwaves in motion, the excitement of something new, the groundbreaking seminars, the demanding but riveting World Civilization core course, and the thrill of having no leaders to follow, except for themselves.
I am glad to report that the magic and electricity are still here—and new alumni and current students still have similar words about the campus. A few things have changed, for sure. There are, undoubtedly, more buildings now. UC Santa Cruz alumni have had a chance to change the world, whether they are helming art museums, blasting into space, developing apps, transforming Hollywood, breaking big news stories, making better communities, or setting the literary world on fire.
"Magical" may be a strong word for a college experience—especially if you remember the challenges of roommate dynamics, dorm food, and final exams—but it comes up again and again when I talk to UC Santa Cruz alumni of all ages. And I can see why—walking through campus, you can feel the electricity even now.
I hope you come to Alumni Weekend for the big 50th celebration April 23–26 and feel it again for yourself. Walk the trails and look up into the redwoods. Gaze into infinity over the meadows. Feel your mind expand. Reconnect with old friends—and yourself.
Bring out your memory book and unfold it. I, for one, would love to hear your stories.
— Gwen Jourdonnais, editor
