Chancellor Hosts Reception to Thank Staff Who
Kept Campus Running During San Diego Wildfires

Ioana Patringenaru | January 14, 2008

More than 1,000 employees reported to work during the San Diego wildfires in October. About 150 of them, including vice chancellors, police officers and custodians, gathered at the UCSD Faculty Club Thursday for a reception hosted by Chancellor Marye Anne Fox.

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox spoke at Thursday's reception.

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“I can’t thank you enough,” Fox told her audience.
“You worked tirelessly and you made our university
and community very proud.”

Fox singled out the Burn Unit at the UCSD Medical Center, which cared for fire victims and those affected by smoke. Also, Housing and Dining Services provided food and resources for those who had to work. Facilities Management changed air filters and installed sticky entrance mats in buildings in a bid to improve air quality on campus, Fox said.

Transportation and Parking Services kept shuttles running and had buses ready to evacuate the medical centers and the campus. The university’s communications team provided critical information to university employees, students and the media. Students ran donation drives for fire victims, Fox added.

“It was a long tough week,” she said.

Many reported to work even though they had to evacuate their homes, Fox also said. For example, about one-third of officials at the campus’ Emergency Operations Center had to evacuate from their homes, said Vice Chancellor Steven Relyea.

During the week, employees demonstrated their resourcefulness, he added. When San Diego Gas & Electric warned it might have to shut down parts of the county’s grid, UCSD staff swung into action and shut down non-essential systems on campus. The university sent back about three megawatts of power into the grid and helped avoid blackouts, Relyea said.

“It was nothing short of awesome to see this campus and all of you come together,” he said. “You’ve just done such a fantastic job.”

Many employees who attended the reception said they felt grateful for the event.

“It’s very nice to be appreciated,” said Jonathan Weirick, a staff member in Business and Financial Services Systems. “It’s a great opportunity to meet the chancellor.”

Robin Wilson, a senior equipment operator in Transportation and Parking Services, said it felt good to be in a room with like-minded colleagues. During the fires, Wilson, who also is an intern on diversity in the Chancellor’s Office, worked with the Santa Ysabel reservation in northeast San Diego County. She escorted the Red Cross into the reservation.

“It’s a nice surprise and a nice acknowledgement,” she said of the reception.

Vice Chancellor Steven Relyea speaks to employees (left).
Members of the campus' Housing and Dining Services team (right).
(Photos / Carol Sonstein)