Hello Parents and Family Members,
A sincere thank-you to those 1900+ family members that completed our Parent & Family Survey during February and March. Your feedback is critical to the work of Parent & Family Programs. We will be posting a summary of the data on our Web site in June. Please be sure to review the feedback and our initiatives moving forward as recommended by the data. Also, our two Bookstore gift card winners were identified and another family has the pleasure of coming to Family Weekend for free.
Spring quarter is in full swing, and the end of the year is near! For our families of graduating seniors, many celebratory events are on the horizon. Commencement dates and times are listed below — in addition to hotel specials for spending time in San Diego during your visit! Additionally, consider the purchasing opportunities sponsored by the Alumni Association. This is not a campus ritual you will soon forget — take advantage of all the opportunities provided by the university to commemorate this time in your student's life!
UC San Diego is attentive to the growing cases of the Swine Flu in our local area, around the country, and the world. Our Student Health Services Medical Director, Gina Fleming, has been working closely with San Diego County officials for supplies and medication. Further, Dr. Fleming has been updating the Student Health Services Web site with important links and information. I encourage you to review Dr. Fleming's information on the SHS Web site for the most up-to-date information from UC San Diego.
While we continue to keep the campus safe, many great announcements take up space in this edition of the Triton Family Connection e-newsletter. If your student lives on-campus, donate as much as possible via your residential life offices during move-out — throw out as little trash as possible. Our athletic teams finish the year strong and end-of-year activities such as Sun God dominate the student headlines.
Our final edition for this academic year will be in June. Until then, take care.
Cara
On-Campus Housing Selection Information
Off-Campus Housing Considerations
Commencement 2009 Information
Enroll Now: Summer Session 2009
The Silk Road to the Future: Travel to China July 2009
LGBT Family Day: Saturday, May 16, 2009, 1:30–4:30 p.m.
SAVE THE DATE: Family Weekend 2009
Recycle and Donate During Move-Out
Warren College Student Leadership and Scholarship Awards
Sun God Festival: May 15, 2009
Alumni Association Awards for Excellence: June 6, 2009
Conrad Prebys Music Center Opens
Alumni Weekend 2009
First-Year Send-Offs: September 12–13, 2009
Keeping UC San Diego Strong Despite the Turbulent Economy
College Spotlight: Thurgood Marshall College
Student Spotlight: Shanna Dayan, Senior
Staff Spotlight: Karen Calfas, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Wellness
Alumnni Spotlight: Clinton Quan, B.S., 1997
Program Spotlight: Fraternity and Sorority Life
Record-Setting Athletes
Men's Volleyball
Golf Tournament: May 18, 2009
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On May 14, 2009, lottery information will be provided to students eligible for on-campus housing and on May 19, 2009, students will make their on-campus room selections.
Questions regarding the on-campus room selection process should be directed to Housing, Dining, and Hospitality, by calling 858/534-4010 or e-mailing housinginfo@ucsd.edu.
Due to the popularity of this piece first featured in the April 2009 edition of the Triton Family Connection e-newsletter, we are choosing the highlight the information once again.
While on-campus housing selection is underway, many students decide to move off-campus. Given this shift in living arrangements, I asked Jessica St. Clair from Student Legal Services to describe for our parents and family members what details to consider when their student moves off-campus. Some students view moving off-campus as a rite of passage, but moving away from the UC San Diego campus community also means new rights and responsibilities. Below are important considerations for your soon-to-be student/tenant and suggestions on how you can support him or her during this exciting time.
New renters sometimes talk about signing their lease in terms of "signing up" for an apartment. Thinking about a lease agreement in these terms minimizes the significance of a tenant's legal relationship with the landlord. Tenants should understand that by signing a lease they are making a binding legal agreement to follow the terms of a contract. You should encourage your student to read any lease carefully before signing it.
Some landlords will ask tenants for someone to co-sign a lease agreement. Typically, landlords only want one co-signer, who is asked to assume liability for all of the roommates. If the co-signer is the parent or family member of one of the roommates, this can put the individual in a difficult situation. Students should discourage their landlord from insisting on a co-signer by providing positive references and explaining that the students have the means to pay for the residence. This approach has proven successful!
If the landlord insists on one co-signer, then prospective tenants can either decline to rent that residence or find someone willing to be the co-signer. Some parents and family members agree to be co-signers on the condition that a parent or family member of each of the other roommates agrees in writing to reimburse the co-signer for any expenses incurred by his or her student.
Roommates are considered "jointly and severally" responsible for complying with the terms of a lease. This means that each roommate is responsible for the total amount of the rent as well as the condition of the apartment. In other words, if a landlord wishes to sue tenants for unpaid rent, the landlord can sue just one roommate for the entire amount of the unpaid rent, even if that particular roommate paid his or her "share" of the rent in a timely manner. Likewise, if a roommate spills ketchup on the carpet and the carpet must be replaced, all of the roommates can be held liable for the damage to the carpet.
Students should consider living with people they know are reliable, responsible, and trustworthy whenever possible. Roommates may draft a "roommate agreement" that identifies the individual responsibilities of each roommate, but this document is only enforceable between the roommates and does not change the duties the roommates owe to the landlord.
Tenants are responsible for ensuring that the residence is in the same condition at the end of the lease term as it was in the beginning, excluding of normal wear and tear. The cost to repair damages at the end of the lease term and to return the residence to its condition at the beginning of the lease term can be deducted from the tenant's security deposit if the tenants do not correct the problems before vacating.
To help demonstrate the condition of the residence at the beginning of the lease term, tenants should take lots of pictures, preferably before moving in furniture. In the event the student has a disagreement with his or her landlord about the condition of the premises, the pictures will prove helpful. Students should document the condition of the residence at the end of the lease in the same manner.
Tenants are often surprised to learn that their landlords typically are not responsible for damage to or the loss of the tenant's property due to theft. Depending on the circumstances, landlords may not be responsible for the tenant's losses due to a fire or flood. Students who are renting may wish to purchase renter's insurance in order to protect themselves from such losses.
Students whose parent/guardian own a home and have homeowner's insurance should look at existing policies and speak with their parent/guardian before purchasing renter's insurance. Some homeowner's insurance policies have provisions that cover individuals not living in the home for specified reasons, such as going to school. These sorts of provisions will often provide coverage similar to renter's insurance.
Student Legal Services (SLS) offers free, confidential counseling, education, and referrals for currently registered UC San Diego students. Landlord-tenant issues are some of the most common reasons for which students receive counseling.
SLS and Commuter Student Services are collaborating to conduct "Moving Off Campus" workshops during Spring quarter. Encourage your student to attend this workshop if they are planning to move off-campus:
See the Student Legal Services Web site for more information, or call 858/534-4374.
Commencement ceremonies for UC San Diego students graduating in Spring 2009 will take place Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, according to the following schedule:
On June 12, 2009, UC San Diego will host the All-Campus Graduation Celebration for undergraduate, graduate students, and alumni. The all-campus event is a chance for all seniors and their families to commemorate graduation with a large-scale all-College celebration. The event will kick off with wine and cheese mixer followed by a ceremony with alumni speaker Mike Judge, a comedy writer, producer, and actor. Judge's credits include King of the Hill, Office Space, the Simpsons, and Saturday Night Live. The night will culminate with a picnic-style dinner and fireworks.
If you need hotel accommodations near campus or have other travel questions, see the UC San Diego Visitor's Guide for more information. Many hotels in the area are offering a UC San Diego Commencement rate. Please note that advertisement of these rates does not guarantee availability or suggest endorsement of these particular hotels.
The Hilton San Diego/Del Mar is offering a rate of $89 per night when you mention you are coming for “UCSD Graduation.” Call 858/764-6043 for reservations or see the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar Web site for more information
The San Diego Marriott Del Mar is offering a $199.00 a night discount rate. With your reservation you will also receive a $100 voucher for the hotel restaurant, Arterra. Call the hotel directly at 858/523-1700 to make a reservation, mentioning "UCSD Commencement." Please note that rates are based on availability.
The Marriott La Jolla is offering a $139.00 a night rate. Please call 1/800-228-9290 and ask for the "UCSD Commencement Rate." Please note that rates are based on availability.
La Jolla Cove Suites is offering many room options for UC San Diego Commencement ranging from $99.00 to $259.00 a night. For more information and room options, call the La Jolla Cove Suites reservations line toll-free at 1/888-525-6552 and reference the "UCSD Commencement Group."
More information on commencement is available from individual colleges or on the Commencement Web pages on TritonLink. For more information on the Senior Class activities, see the UCSD Senior Spring Web site. If you'd like to see what discounts, packages, trips, or exciting activities the Alumni Association is offering, see the Alumni Association's Class of 2009 Web site.
Enrollment for Summer Session is now available. If your student has already enrolled in Summer classes, fees will be assessed and available for payment beginning May 27, 2009. Remember, Summer Session registration is not complete until fees are paid.
For more information, visit the Summer Session Web site.
A travel opportunity for parents and families of UC San Diego students! On the Silk Road to the Future tour you will have the opportunity to meet Chinese city mayors and business leaders, visit Chinese universities, participate in a university and industry forum about green technology and global health, and climb the Great Wall. Four different itineraries for North and South China are available.
The deadline for registration has been extended to June 1, 2009. For more information and to register see the Legends of China Web site.
"Share the space you love with the ones you love."
From pets, siblings, best friends, partners, grandparents, relatives, roommates, play cousins, children, parents, colleagues, to neighbors — family means many different things in our community. This year's LGBT Family Day will be a pet-friendly and kid-friendly cultural event, so feel free to bring children and friendly/leashed pets. Along with your loved one(s), please bring a dish that tells a story, something significant to you. Questions or concerns can be directed to Michelle at mdstrang@ucsd.edu. For more information on the LGBT Resource Center, see the Center's Web site.
Family Weekend 2009 will be held Friday, October 23 – Sunday, October 25, 2009. The weekend will kick off with the Chancellor's 5K on Friday, followed by exciting events Friday night, all day Saturday, and closing with brunch on Sunday morning. Based on the feedback from the Family Weekend 2008, there will be more offerings for families to enjoy the campus and surrounding communities! More details to come in hard copy mail and by e-mail, but be sure to SAVE THE DATE for this annual campus tradition and see the Family Weekend 2009 Web site for continual updates.
The six College Residential Life Offices will coordinate campus-wide move-out efforts to help students find ways to reuse and recycle unwanted items. Residential Life Offices will provide bins from the Disabled American Veterans association for the donation of all reusable materials (clothing, furniture, books, appliances, dishes, cups, etc.), bins from Hand Up Food Pantry for food, bins from Housing, Dining, and Hospitality for recycling unusable electronics, and trash bins for everything else. Bins will be located in the residence areas of each College. Contact your student's College Residential Life Office for more information.
Warren College will be recognizing student leaders and scholars at its annual Student Leadership and Scholarship Celebration on May 29, 2009, in the Price Center's East Ballroom. The invitation-only ceremony will honor students who are actively involved in co-curricular organizations, undergraduate research, graduating seniors from the Warren College Honors Program, and recipients of leadership and scholarship awards. In addition to the awards, students will receive a pin that symbolizes the College motto, Toward a Life in Balance, in celebration of their ability to balance their academic and leadership responsibilities and to honor their contributions to Warren College. For more information contact Carey O'Kelly, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Warren College.
The most cited UC San Diego tradition, the Sun God Festival will take place Friday, May 15, 2009 on RIMAC field. With 15 musical and theatrical groups playing this year, this annual tradition will once again draw out the UC San Diego student community for a fun-filled day. This event is strictly for the UC San Diego community and not open to the public. For more information on Sun God Festival 2009, including information about security, see the Sun God Festival Web site.
The chief executive officer for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, a renowned molecular biologist, a beloved mathematics professor, a trailblazing biomedical entrepreneur, and a celebrated university leader have all been named by the UCSD Alumni Association as top recipients in the 31st Annual Awards for Excellence. Funds generated from the event will benefit the UCSD Alumni Association's endowed scholarship programs. The Awards for Excellence ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2009, 6:00 p.m., at the Del Mar Marriott. For more information about the event or if you would like to attend, see the Alumni Association Awards for Excellence Web site.
You may have noticed some construction across from Gilman Parking Structure during one of your visits to campus. That construction has resulted in the Conrad Prebys Music Center which has a 400-seat concert hall, practice rooms, rehearsal rooms and recording studios. Read the This Week @ UCSD story about the Conrad Prebys Music Center.
For our parents that are UC San Diego Alumni, Alumni Weekend is an opportunity to renew acquaintances, meet new friends, and visit the place you called home for a few memorable years. It is a weekend to learn, to celebrate your UC San Diego experience, and most importantly, to have fun. Come back to campus, enjoy the best of UCSD, and be a part of this exciting new tradition featuring reunions, tours, receptions, exhibitions, performances, and an awards gala. Highlighted events during the weekend include:
Alumni and Family Night at Birch Aquarium: Friday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy exclusive, after-hours access to the Birch Aquarium with UCSD alumni, family and friends. Learn about the oceans' wonders, then enjoy a spectacular sunset and an evening under the stars, complete with delicious food, drinks and entertainment. Also planned is special recognition for alumni from class years '64, '69, '74, '79, '84, '89, '94, '99 and '04.
The Alumni Brunch and Concert: Sunday, June 7 at 11:00 a.m. Experience a performance by faculty, current students, and alumni of UC San Diego's Department of Music at the new Conrad Prebys Music Center. Designed by world-renowned acoustician Cyril Harris, Ph.D., and LMN Architects of Seattle, the recently opened center features a 400-seat concert hall, the finest of its size in the world. The music performance will follow an outdoor buffet brunch, which begins at 11:00 a.m.
In partnership with the Alumni Association, Parent & Family Programs is recruiting volunteers to assist with the First-Year Student Send-Offs, September 12–13, 2009. The First-Year Student Send-Offs are events held in the Bay Area, Los Angeles Area, and the San Diego Area to answer last-minute questions in a social environment. Local alumni host the events; we are looking for seasoned parents and family members willing to be in attendance and provide perspective as a current parent/family member. Interested parents or family members should contact Parent & Family Programs for more information: e-mail parents@ucsd.edu or call 858/534-7273.
As our nation struggles in today’s difficult economy, many parents and families of college students are also feeling the effects of this global financial downturn. According to a recent survey conducted by the Princeton Review, a test-preparation company and developer of college guides, almost seven out of ten students throughout the U.S. said the recession has affected where they applied to college.
It is a difficult time to send students to college, yet UC San Diego is fortunate to have amazing families who have made an extra effort to support their student's university and enhance their education through private gifts. We hope you will consider making a gift to UC San Diego. Donations from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and university friends — regardless of size — are critical to the success of public universities. At UC San Diego, we are thankful to all of our supporters who help continue the excellence and affordability of our university. In fact, "Kiplinger's Personal Finance" ranks UC San Diego 10th nationally for best values in public colleges.
As a result of the economy, UC San Diego's budget has been cut and the university's endowment has experienced a serious decline. To help weather the fiscal storm, we are working to reduce operating costs, achieve greater efficiencies, manage expenses, and foster collaborations among campus departments, divisions and schools. Despite the impact of a weakened economy, we are committed to preserving the extraordinary quality of our university and the educational experience of our students, even amidst declining revenues from the state, our endowment and external sources.
Your support has always been important, but now, more than ever, your charitable contributions to UC San Diego can make a difference. Decreased state funding means that cuts are being considered in equipment, technology, supplies, staff, and the hours that doors stay open to serve your students. Your participation in our Parent and Family Giving program will help.
"We are doing our utmost to assist students and ensure that they have access to an outstanding university education, despite the current economic climate," said Penny Rue, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at UC San Diego. "With students as our key focus, we must increasingly rely on private support."
Your gift can be designated to any area on campus that is most meaningful to you or your student, such as a division, major, College, team, student organization, or favorite program. It can also be directed to help fund scholarships, or to the general Parents Fund, which is used for the greatest needs of our Student Affairs programs.
It is easy to give to UC San Diego:
To donate to the UC San Diego Parents Fund, please visit the Parent Fund Web site and click on "Give Now."
Or visit the university's Online Giving Web site to give to any area you choose
We thank you — your commitment to UC San Diego will help continue the local impact, national influence, and global reach of the region's leading research university.
For more information, please contact the Parent and Family Giving Director, Toni Tschann, at ttschann@ucsd.edu or 858/822-3867.
The staff and faculty of Thurgood Marshall College have intentionally created programs and outreach enabling the community to live by the motto of the College, "the student as scholar and citizen." As Marshall College prepares for its 40th anniversary in 2010, I met with Allan Havis, Provost of Marshall, to discuss programs already in place and his vision for the future.
Thurgood Marshall College offers many opportunities for student engagement all with the goal of raising student awareness beyond the UC San Diego campus. Both speakers and artists make Marshall College a vibrant center to discuss issues of social responsibility and activism. During Fall quarter, Marshall hosts a week of events, aptly titled Thurgood Marshall Week. Last Fall, Marshall partnered with Eleanor Roosevelt College for the Symposium on Human Rights and Global Citizenship. As part of the Symposium many speakers and artists such as Oscar-nominated filmmaker Greg Nava and internationally recognized playwright and activist Luis Valdez participated to increase awareness around issues such as human trafficking, migration, and citizenship. During Winter quarter, Marshall welcomed Nobel Laureate author Wole Soyinka. During Marshall Week next October, Nicholas Kristof, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the New York Times will be speaking. Along with speakers to engage the student community, Marshall also hosts an Artist in Residence. This year, Seema Sueko, co-founder and artistic director of Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company, is spending the year engaging the Marshall community in topics to raise social consciousness around issues of social justice and diversity. Sueko is not only connected to Marshall College, Mo'olelo was selected as the inaugural theatre company in residence at the La Jolla Playhouse for the 2008–2009 season. The connection built between the Marshall community and these artists provides students with stimulating outlets to further explore topics of interest and further the philosophy of the College.
Marshall College also connects to off-campus entities by working with the Preuss School and Gompers Charter Middle School. This public service partnership has enabled Marshall students to serve as mentors to students from underserved communities. Provost Havis and the staff at Marshall College are now working on a new initiative to inspire public service in students to support adult literacy and education throughout San Diego County.
There are many Marshall College traditions and programs of note. Cultural Celebration, an event of cultural performances and artists, has taken place during Admit Day every year for 31 years. With assistance from the Student Affairs Staff, it is primarily a student-run and student-funded event. Marshall also hosts the African American Studies and Public Service minors. The Marshall core writing course sequence, Dimensions of Culture (DOC), is poised to have an exciting public service elective credit option for upper-division students. Finally, Marshall hosts a course for all undergraduate students called Methods of Inquiry (MOI). Participants in MOI benefit by learning how to process and reflect on course teachings in a critical manner. Rather than learning rote information, students develop analytical skills, improving their learning process.
Another program to highlight for our families of transfer students is the Marshall Mentor Program. The program is specifically designed for transfer students of UC San Diego and assigns students with UC San Diego faculty mentors for approximately nine meetings throughout the academic year.
To learn more about Thurgood Marshall College, see the College's Web site.
Shanna Dayan is a fourth-year senior passionate about educating others on the importance of health care and wellness. Shanna is a Biology major, with minors in Health Care and Social Issues and Psychology. She is taking a fifth year at UC San Diego to pursue a second major in Heath Care and Social Issues.
While a student at UC San Diego, Shanna has found co-curricular experiences to complement her academic studies and passions. Shanna is a Student Health Advocate for Student Health Services, she sits on the Student Health Advisory Committee as the Revelle College representative, and is a leader in the pre-med fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon. One of Shanna's most recent involvements is in the Roosevelt Institution. The Roosevelt Institution is a national "think tank" with a chapter at UC San Diego. Her involvement in the Roosevelt Institution recently took Shanna to Washington, D.C., to meet with President Obama's Health Advisor to discuss health care issues, particularly for college students and recent college graduates. Even though she missed two days of classes for the trip, she felt heard by the officials she met and found the trip both educational and exciting. In addition to her role as a Student Health Advocate, Shanna is an Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drug Peer Counselor. In this role she is helping with research as part of UC San Diego's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism grant. Whether Shanna is educating her peers about how to be safe during the annual Sun God Festival or walking along the La Jolla cliffs to relax from her hectic schedule, she credits her involvement outside the classroom with her success and commitment to UC San Diego.
Shanna has found her experience at UC San Diego to be transformative in how she views herself, the world around her, and her future. While she always thought medical school was in her future, she is now interested in pursuing a Masters in Public Health. I asked how her family felt about this change, and she exclaimed, "very supportive." While Shanna has found the college experience stressful at times, she has always found the support she receives from her family to be a great security. She described her and her mother as "best friends" when she was living at home. Since coming to college she has seen that relationship shift, allowing her more independence with guidance and love from afar.
Shanna would impress upon our family members to encourage their students to find a sense of balance. Taking a break to go to an educational program in the residence halls or attending a meeting of a student organization can help in achieving a well-rounded experience. She would also encourage family members to educate themselves on the many UC San Diego resources and urge their students to take advantage of all the staff and departments available to help their student succeed.
With the quarter almost over, Shanna looks forward to her favorite UC San Diego tradition — Recess. Recess is hosted by Revelle College, allowing stressed students to feel like kids again with games and activities. Encourage your student to attend — all Colleges are welcome, May 29, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. in Revelle Plaza.
Meet Karen Calfas, one of the newest members to join the UC San Diego community. Karen's position as Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Wellness, is a new position for the university, and designed to oversee the areas of Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Recreation, the Sexual Assault Resource Center, and the soon-to-be-built Wellness Center building.
Karen joins the UC San Diego community after spending 18 years at San Diego State University as a faculty member and directing the Health Promotion department of Student Health Services. Karen is a Licensed Psychologist specializing in behavioral medicine and spent her undergraduate years studying psychology at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. Karen, originally from the Los Angeles area, returned to Southern California to be part of the first class admitted to the UC San Diego/San Diego State University joint doctoral program in Clinical Psychology. During her doctoral program and thereafter, Karen has conducted many research studies to assist in understanding college student wellness. Her research has uncovered information regarding eating habits, smoking practices, weight management, and physical activity behaviors of college students. Karen is a co-investigator on a study with Kevin Patrick, a Professor in Family and Preventive Medicine at UC San Diego, about the intersection of technology and wellness which is currently under review.
In Karen's role as Assistant Vice Chancellor she inherits the Student Affairs Wellness Initiative, a work in progress over the last four years. Her vision is to create an integrated community at UC San Diego around the dimensions of student wellness (emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual). Knowing that UC San Diego is a large, decentralized campus, Karen envisions a synergistic environment where students can easily find the assistance and resources needed. She is looking forward to working with the departments that comprise the Wellness Cluster to create this partnered environment as well as with the rest of the campus community. Karen highlighted the importance of students being well by explaining that student wellness during college can have positive long-term effects. She also explained that student wellness meshes with the academic mission of the university — when a student is practicing wellness, they can perform better academically.
I asked Karen — the leader of the UC San Diego wellness movement — how she stays well. Karen explained she maintains perspective and a sense of balance. In addition, she keeps things that are personally meaningful to her part of her daily life — whether that is physical exercise, sitting on her children's elementary school wellness board, or walking her kids to school in the morning.
Karen encourages our family members to make themselves aware of the many services for students at UC San Diego. The more aware parents and family members are of the services, programs, and outreach serving to keep students healthy and productive, the more apt they will be to suggest these services to their student. Karen also promotes parent and family involvement in their student's experience — asking those caring questions and encouraging social involvement to achieve balance is critical for a student to feel a sense of belonging and care.
To learn more about the Student Affairs Wellness Initiative, visit the Wellness Center Web site.
Meet Clinton Quan, a 1997 Warren graduate of UC San Diego. Clinton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Structural Engineering while a student at UCSD. Clinton now works at the Los Angeles Department of Transportation as a Transportation Engineering Associate, specifically in the Signal Timing and Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control Operations Division. Clinton is currently the President of the Los Angeles UC San Diego Alumni Association Chapter — a role he has held for the last 8 years.
What stands out for Clinton from his undergraduate experience was living in the newly built Warren Residence Halls — being the first to live in the rooms, use the cafeteria, and enjoy the space was exciting. Clinton also fondly remembers how the College system gave him the feeling of an intimate, supportive small college with all the advantages of a large university. While Clinton was a student he was involved in co-curricular organizations that focused on bringing together his peers in engineering for leadership experiences. He admits he wished he was more involved in the life of the campus; however, he felt "consumed" by his major. His Engineering major was intense academically and when I asked Clinton how he felt prepared for life after UC San Diego, he could easily point to the many skills and abilities that are outcomes of an engaging learning experience. Clinton learned how to work on projects both independently and in a team — something he said that has been critical to his professional career in both the private and public sectors.
Clinton's advice for our family members is to encourage their students to get involved in the life of the campus. As the Los Angeles Alumni Association Chapter President, Clinton organizes many events throughout the year to reconnect Triton Alumni. In this role he has come to appreciate the importance of being involved to create relationships and connections that will last long after graduation from UC San Diego.
Enhancing the lives of thousands of students, fraternities and sororities play an integral part of the UC San Diego community. UCSD is home to more than 35 national and local Greek-letter organizations, which collectively constitute the largest membership-based and multi-faceted community on campus. Representing 10% of the student population, fraternity and sorority members are committed to their academics, volunteer time in the community, develop and strengthen leadership skills, and form a campus and cultural support network.
Partnering with environmental causes, the Career Services Center, the Wellness Center, and The Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention Resource Center (SARC), fraternity men and sorority women are constantly contributing to UCSD. Through leadership and educational programming, campus-wide volunteer initiatives, and community philanthropies, the Greek community is continually working to improve itself and its members. The EXCEL Leadership Conference, Greek Week, San Diego Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and Relay for Life are just some of the many events members take part in throughout the academic year. Working with national and local alumni, each individual organization also hosts a variety of educational, philanthropic, social, and cultural programs that help create a complete collegiate experience for undergraduate students.
For more information about any of the three governing councils (Panhellenic Association, Interfraternity Council, and the Multicultural Greek Council) or their respective organizations, please visit their Web sites.
A multitude of new UCSD standards have been set in recent weeks across the sporting panorama. The Track & Field team, which has broken eight school records this season, set its latest two at the Triton Invitational. The women's 4x100 relay unit of Christine Merrill, Katie Skorupa, Kelly Fogarty, and Laiah Blue clocked 46.50, and junior hammer-thrower Danielle Thu had a heave of 189-6.
Senior Sydney Gstettenbauer of the Women's Water Polo team netted a career-high nine goals against Colorado State in her last collegiate game. That gave her 84 for the year, tying Olympian Julie Swail's single-season record, totaling 211 in her four seasons, and making her third on the all-time UCSD list.
Three major career records have fallen to senior stars during the 2009 baseball season. Garrett Imeson is now UCSD's all-time hits leader (currently at 282), Matt Cantele has tied Bob Natal's home-run record with 53, and right-hander Trevor Decker knocked Byron Grubman out of the top spot with his 26th pitching victory.
UC San Diego Men's Volleyball Coach Kevin Ring was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Coach of the Year for 2009. Ring's Tritons set single-season records for most wins (13) and most MPSF wins (8), and posted victories over USC, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, Hawaii, and Pacific, among others
The 16th annual Triton Athletic Associates Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday, May 18, 2009 at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in Rancho Santa Fe. There will be a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. All proceeds from the tournament will benefit the UC San Diego Athletic Department. A limited number of foursomes and tee sponsorships are still available. Call 858/534-8460 for more information.
Si tiene cualquier pregunta, o preocupación, favor de comunicarse con Programas de Padres y Familias. Con el fin del año escolar próximamente, nos puede contactar con cualquier pregunta que tenga sobre Graduaciones, Mudanzas, o cualquier otra pregunta o inquietud. Contáctenos por teléfono al 858/534-7273 o por correo electrónico parents@ucsd.edu.
A glance through the Parent & Family Survey data indicated an interest in having a Facebook Group dedicated to Parents & Families. See our Facebook Group and join! It will be another avenue to receive updates, connect with one another and UC San Diego staff and faculty.
Please contact Parent & Family Programs with questions or concerns. With the end of the academic year ahead, please contact us if you need help with Commencement, Move-Out, or other end-of-year questions. Call our Helpline 858/534-7273 or e-mail us at parents@ucsd.edu.