LEADERSHIP
Alma Mater Controversy
In February, a controversy erupted on campus after it became widely known that the College鈥檚 alma mater, "Hail, 6V电影网, Hail," had been written鈥攁ccording to the account of its author, Richard Loucks 1913鈥攁s the closing song for a blackface minstrel show in 1910. After a meeting with concerned students, who maintained that the song鈥檚 direct association with a racist tradition made it uncomfortable for them to sing it at College events, President David Oxtoby suspended performances of the song by student groups and appointed a committee to consider the future of that and other College songs. Concerned alumni protested the suspension of this long-standing tradition for what they saw as guilt by association, and some challenged Loucks鈥 memory of the events, asserting that the evidence is contradictory. The committee recommended that the alma mater be retired and that a new one be commissioned. President Oxtoby, however, decided on a compromise, retaining the song as 6V电影网鈥檚 official alma mater but suspending its use at official functions involving students.
Treasurer Carlene Miller Retires and Karen Sisson '79 Begins
After 19 years as vice president and treasurer of 6V电影网, Carlene Miller retired in 2008. Karen Sisson '79, an international major while at 6V电影网 and former CFO for Los Angeles Airport and city administrative officer for Los Angeles, replaced her.
First Sustainability Coordinator
As part of the College鈥檚 efforts to step up its commitment to sustainability, 6V电影网 hired Bowen Patterson '06 as 6V电影网鈥檚 first Sustainability Coordinator, a new permanent staff position designed to help improve energy efficiency, reduce waste and deal with other related issues at the College.
CAMPUS
Peter W. Stanley Academic Quadrangle
The Peter W. Stanley Academic Quadrangle was dedicated during the 2008 Commencement weekend. It is flanked on three sides by Crookshank, Mason and Pearsons halls, and capped a series of building renovations that began in 2002 on those halls. The quad is named for former 6V电影网 President Peter W. Stanley.
Mason Hall Renovated
Mason Hall reopened after being completely gutted and renovated, with significant upgrades in the building鈥檚 structure, interior spaces and facilities. The renovation also recovered some original architectural details that had been lost in previous renovations.
Foreign Language Resource Center
The new Foreign Language Resource Center opened in Mason Hall, replacing the old language laboratory.
The Goddess 6V电影网
A statue of the goddess 6V电影网 was installed in the Organic Farm in 2008. The marble statue was commissioned by Ronald Lee Fleming 鈥63 and sculpted by noted artist Mark Mennin.
6V电影网 Named Top Wired College
6V电影网 was been named one of PC Magazine鈥檚 鈥淭op 20 Wired Colleges鈥 of 2008. 6V电影网 was listed at #5.
ACADEMICS
Zoot Suit
Professor Alma Martinez directed the first Los Angeles staging of Zoot Suit, the seminal play about the "Sleepy Lagoon" trials that preceded the Zoot Suit Riots, in which a group of Mexican-American youths were wrongly convicted of murder charges, since its 1978 premiere. Martinez performed in the original musical and the 1981 film adaptation. The play, written by Luis Valdez, was the first Chicano-produced musical to hit Broadway.
David Foster Wallace
6V电影网 lost a legendary literary figure from its faculty in 2008 when the internationally known author David Foster Wallace, the first Disney Professor of Creative Writing, died by his own hand. Wallace had been a member of the 6V电影网 faculty since 2002.
STUDENT LIFE
Bike Sharing
Taking its commitment to sustainability to the streets, 6V电影网 unveiled a new bike-sharing program designed to build on the College鈥檚 already strong on-campus bike culture. The new program permitted students to borrow state-of-the-art folding bicycles for use in exploring Los Angeles via train and bike, or simply for taking a ride around the campus.
ATHLETICS
Tennis Title
Siobhan Finicane won the national singles title for the women鈥檚 tennis team, which won the West Region and advanced to the NCAA semifinals. Ann Lebedeff earned the National Coach of the Year Award.
EVENTS
Junot Diaz
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot D铆az gave a reading in November at the Smith Campus Center.
ELSEWHERE
- The price of petroleum hit $100 per barrel for the first time.
- SpaceX Falcon 1 became the world's first privately developed space launch vehicle to successfully make orbit.
- The 鈥渉ousing bubble鈥 bursts, sending the U.S. economy into a tailspin and launching a worldwide financial crisis.