March 19, 2001
UCSC putting out welcome mat during Banana Slug Spring Fair on April 21
By Louise Donahue
Current and prospective students, their families, and alumni are invited to campus
on Saturday, April 21, for UCSC's annual Banana Slug Spring Fair.
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Prospective students and their families will find a wealth of opportunities to learn about the campus.
Prospective students interested in natural sciences or engineering can take advantage of academic advising from 9 a.m. to noon. An advising session for those interested in the arts, humanities, or social sciences will take place from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Workshops explaining UCSC's college system and financial aid, and a range of panel discussions, will also be offered.
College tours get under way at 10 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m.; there is also a 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. open house at the Women's Center.
Several special events are planned to give visitors a taste of student life. At College Nine, the audience will be invited to participate as the Taiko Drummers perform at 2 p.m. Visitors are also welcome as College Nine students paint the first murals on the walls of UCSC's newest college (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), reflecting their vision of the college's international theme. Student organizations, meanwhile, will be hosting a block party at the Hahn Student Services Bldg. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Porter College Arts Day will present Chautauqua from 1 to 3 p.m., a festival of new and experimental work by students. The festival will include performance of scenes from student-written and -directed plays, and art exhibitions at Porter College's Hall and Bridge Galleries displaying the work of Porter students. Students will perform music including taiko, marimba, ensemble, and opera. The region's plant life will be on display during a Garden Tour at 1 p.m. (meet at the Merrill College information table), with opportunities to take something home at the Arboretum plant sale in conjunction with the California Native Plant Society sale (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
Redwood forests, open fields, and live-oak groves will be the attraction during the College Nine Nature Walk, a gentle afternoon hike starting at the College Nine shuttle stop at 3 p.m.
Visitors won't have to leave campus to find a bite to eat; a barbecue lunch will be on sale at various campus locations.
After exploring, visitors can take in "Santa Cruz Dance," featuring the works of choreographers Tandy Beal, Mel Wong, and Scott Wells, at 8 p.m., April 20-21, at UCSC Theater Arts Mainstage. A different repertoire will be featured each night. Call the Ticket Office at (831) 459-2159.
Reunions and other events will focus on those returning to their alma mater.
All alumni will have a chance to reconnect with friends from the past at the Alumni
Association's All-Alumni Reunion Luncheon, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Porter College
Dining Hall. Tables will be grouped by year to help people find old friends. In addition,
two colleges--Kresge and Stevenson--will also hold reunions. For more information,
check the reunion web site.
Kresge College will celebrate its 30th anniversary throughout the weekend, beginning with an informal Saturday brunch from 10 to 11:30 a.m. In the afternoon there will be two panel discussions, "Kresge: Vision and Revision."
One panel will feature founding faculty; the other will feature more recent faculty and students. Kresge will hold a college dinner Saturday night, including a video collection of college photographs and memories, memory books, and entertainment. Alumni can visit the college web page for updated reunion information.
Stevenson College will celebrate its 35th anniversary with a day of festivities. Events include presentation of a core course lecture by founding professor of politics Peter Euben. A reception will follow, hosted by Stevenson College provost Tyler Stovall in the Stevenson College Library. A "College Night" dinner will take place at Stevenson College Dining Hall with an address from founding provost Glenn Wilson and entertainment by hypnotist Alexander the Magnificent, a Stevenson College Night favorite. Alumni are encouraged to send memorabilia for exhibition in the Stevenson Library; for information, contact college programs coordinator Jay True at jay@cats.ucsc.edu.
Two academic departments are planning reunions. The Economics Department Reunion will include a Saturday afternoon alumni/faculty panel discussion and a dinner at Convivio Trattoria. Fitness opportunities with department faculty (a bike ride, hike, and golf), an auction, and a donor-recognition event will round out the reunion. For more information, visit the Economics Department Reunion web site.
The Community Studies Department will host an alumni-student mixer on Saturday afternoon. Call (831) 459-2849 for details.
Alumni affinity groups also have special events planned. Among them are a 3 to 5 p.m. Lavender Reception at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Resource Center and a 2 p.m. performance at Merrill Dining Hall by the female group Mariachi Mujer 2000, hosted by the Latino Alumni Network.
Each college will host a reception for alumni, faculty, and current and prospective students from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Office of Physical Education, Recreation, and Sports will host an Alumni Open House all day, with alumni welcome to use the facilities for free.
All visitors to campus during the spring fair will be directed to parking areas, then given brochures detailing the times and places of events. Updated information on alumni events can be obtained at the Alumni Hospitality Room at Porter College's Bridge Gallery from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Shuttle service will be available, but visitors are urged to wear comfortable walking shoes. For more information, check the Banana Slug Spring Fair web site.
