February 17, 2005

UCSD Alumni And Students Gather In Sacramento
For Annual 'UC Day 2005' With Local Legislators

By Pat JaCoby

UCSD alumni Jennifer Lee-Anderson '94 and Barbara Martin '93

Eighteen University of California, San Diego alumni and two UCSD students were joined by UCSD Chancellor Marye Anne Foxe when they gathered in Sacramento Feb. 15 to meet San Diego area legislators and bring a message of the University’s importance to the state.

The UCSD delegation joined others from all 10 UC campuses to articulate the University’s priorities to state legislators during the annual “UC Day” in the capitol. The event centered on a Keeping California Competitive theme.

UCSD students Desiree Jabson '05 and Alex Schafgans '05

Acting as legislative advocates, the volunteer group met with Assembly members Shirley Horton, George Plescia, Lori Saldana, Jay LaSuer and Juan Vargas, and Senators Denise Ducheny and Christine Kehoe.

UC President Robert Dynes briefed delegates at a morning session and joined them for a closing reception. The UCSD delegation heard a luncheon talk on stem cell research presented by Larry Goldstein, M.D., cellular molecular medicine professor.

Alumni Henry DeVries ''79, president of UCSD Alumni Association, and Armin Afsahi '90, interim executive director, UCSD Alumni Association.

Alumni representing UCSD were Armin Afsahi ’90, interim director, UCSD Alumni Association; Henry DeVries ’79, UCSD Alumni Board president; Mark Diamond ’87, UCSD Alumni Association vice president; Dave Abrams ’75 and his wife, Joyce; Barbara Blake ’88; Donald Eigler ’75 ’84; Jeffrey Fenton ’80; Jennifer Lee-Anderson ’94; Laura Silva Lopez ’95; Art Lujan ’75; Kari Middleton ’97; Alan Shapiro ’03; Steve Tincher ’74; Thomas To ’03; Quyen Tu ’00; Matthew Xavier ’84, J.S. Zil ’03, and student delegates Desiree Jabson and Alex Schafgans, both ‘05. Others in the local contingent were Lourdes Jimenez, Government and Community Relations; Martin Kaplan and Jocelyn Wyndham, UCSD Alumni Association.

Fifteen members of the UCSD-Sacramento Alumni group joined San Diego representatives for the luncheon meeting.

Delegates brought the message to legislators that UC’s contribution to California extends far beyond classroom walls and campus boundaries. Every day, they noted, UC:

• Generates economic growth and jobs through research innovations and preparing what is now one of the most highly educated work forces in the world.
• Improves Californians’ health through its patient care and medical research.
• Enriches California’s quality of life through its work in the arts, in the public schools, in agriculture and natural resources, and in youth and recreational activities.
• Provides a world class education to 200,000 students from all corners of the state and walks of life.
  

Media Contact: Pat JaCoby, (858) 534-7404