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notes from UCSD
Jun. 14th, 2004 11:09 amGraduations were this weekend.
UCSD is now a ghost town.
Something you hear a lot around here is the phrase "so UCSD." I think I finally understood what this phrase was getting at after attending the graduation exercises yesterday.
The Provost, who was the first speaker, began by briefly congratulating the new graduates.
Then he found it necessary to explain that, simultaneous to this particular graduation, there would be a reception on a nearby terrace, with food and beverage and general merriment. BUT THIS RECEPTION IS NOT FOR YOU. IT IS FOR THE MASTERS AND DOCTORAL STUDENTS. YOU MAY NOT ATTEND!
Gee, thanks for that.
Then he had to explain, in great verbosity: THE CERTIFICATE WE GIVE YOU IS NOT YOUR DEGREE. IT IS A WORTHLESS PIECE OF PAPER. YOUR DIPLOMA WILL ARRIVE IN THE MAIL AT SOME POINT IN THE INDEFINITE FUTURE.
There were multiple references to "discipline," as in "if you guys don't stop throwing that beachball around, I'm going to have to come down there..." Although that particular reference was in jest, but perhaps an exception to prove the rule.
It is this "asepticness" (John's description) that is "so UCSD".
UC Berkeley cares about its students as little as if not less than UCSD does, but at least UC Berkeley keeps up some illusions -- when you walk at graduation, you're handed a scroll which says, when you unravel it, "Thank you for participating in the graduation exercises," but they do not take an entire paragraph of the keynote speech to explain this. And afterwards you're left wondering how exactly to obtain your diploma, but they don't tell the audience that.
On the other hand, there is evidence here that the school does care. The upper echelons of staff work in low-budget temporary buildings and are apparently accessible to students; meanwhile at Berkeley the admisitration is safely sequestered away in the granite edifices of California, Durant, and Sproul halls. I have not once even seen Chancellor Berdahl on campus in my six years at that University, yet John received a hug from one of the vice Chancellors after walking at graduation.
There are signs all over UCSD asking undergrads to pariticpate in an interview about the quality of student life at UCSD. There is a detectable inferiority complex here and the school seems determined to "build community," as any school should. But they are doomed so long as only frosh live on campus, and everbody else is priced out of the surrounding neighborhood (which even has legislation in force forbidding more than eight non-family members from living in the same house -- hence no frats, no co-ops, and even Hillel has an uphill battle) and therefore must commute to campus via multiple interstate freeways.
UCSD is now a ghost town.
Something you hear a lot around here is the phrase "so UCSD." I think I finally understood what this phrase was getting at after attending the graduation exercises yesterday.
The Provost, who was the first speaker, began by briefly congratulating the new graduates.
Then he found it necessary to explain that, simultaneous to this particular graduation, there would be a reception on a nearby terrace, with food and beverage and general merriment. BUT THIS RECEPTION IS NOT FOR YOU. IT IS FOR THE MASTERS AND DOCTORAL STUDENTS. YOU MAY NOT ATTEND!
Gee, thanks for that.
Then he had to explain, in great verbosity: THE CERTIFICATE WE GIVE YOU IS NOT YOUR DEGREE. IT IS A WORTHLESS PIECE OF PAPER. YOUR DIPLOMA WILL ARRIVE IN THE MAIL AT SOME POINT IN THE INDEFINITE FUTURE.
There were multiple references to "discipline," as in "if you guys don't stop throwing that beachball around, I'm going to have to come down there..." Although that particular reference was in jest, but perhaps an exception to prove the rule.
It is this "asepticness" (John's description) that is "so UCSD".
UC Berkeley cares about its students as little as if not less than UCSD does, but at least UC Berkeley keeps up some illusions -- when you walk at graduation, you're handed a scroll which says, when you unravel it, "Thank you for participating in the graduation exercises," but they do not take an entire paragraph of the keynote speech to explain this. And afterwards you're left wondering how exactly to obtain your diploma, but they don't tell the audience that.
On the other hand, there is evidence here that the school does care. The upper echelons of staff work in low-budget temporary buildings and are apparently accessible to students; meanwhile at Berkeley the admisitration is safely sequestered away in the granite edifices of California, Durant, and Sproul halls. I have not once even seen Chancellor Berdahl on campus in my six years at that University, yet John received a hug from one of the vice Chancellors after walking at graduation.
There are signs all over UCSD asking undergrads to pariticpate in an interview about the quality of student life at UCSD. There is a detectable inferiority complex here and the school seems determined to "build community," as any school should. But they are doomed so long as only frosh live on campus, and everbody else is priced out of the surrounding neighborhood (which even has legislation in force forbidding more than eight non-family members from living in the same house -- hence no frats, no co-ops, and even Hillel has an uphill battle) and therefore must commute to campus via multiple interstate freeways.
