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New Students Urged to Become Part
of the Solution at Welcome Week Convocation
Christine Clark | September 28, 2009
A record number 4,200 new freshmen and transfer students gathered together on RIMAC field for the fourth annual Welcome Convocation and Dinner.
Internet pioneer Larry Smarr challenged the next generation of UC San Diego students to help solve the big challenges facing humanity, including global climate change. Smarr, director of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2), delivered the keynote speech to thousands of students at the fourth annual Welcome Week Convocation and Dinner Tuesday night. A record number 4,200 new freshmen and transfer students gathered together on RIMAC field to mark their formal entrance into the UC San Diego community.
Smarr lauded UCSD students for helping to make campus buildings more energy efficient, converting shuttle buses to low-carbon fuels, planting native plants that require less water, and leading the way to keep UC San Diego as one of the ‘greenest’ universities in the nation.
Smarr was introduced by Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Paul Drake, who served as the Master of Ceremony. Drake started the event with a warm welcome to the new students. “We want you here,” he said. “You are not just a student; you are now part of the UC San Diego family.”
Smarr said he decided to focus on climate change because he wanted to make sure that students knew they can be a part of finding the solution. “UC San Diego students have been front and center of the university’s commitment to sustainability,” Smarr said. He explained how UC San Diego’s award-winning video, “A Living Laboratory for Real-World Solutions,” changed his life. “You all should watch it,” he said. “It inspired me to redouble my efforts as a scientist to focus on global climate change.”
Larry Smarr, director of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2), urged the students to solve the big challenges facing humanity, including global climate change.
Smarr said he was impressed that one out of three incoming students to UC San Diego this year are first-generation college students and another third are transfer students. “I was a transfer student twice,” he said. “And I remember how disorienting that was. But if you hang in there, you will find you can adjust in a surprisingly short time and come away with a great education.”
Associated Students President Utsav Gupta spoke about his experiences at UC San Diego and he urged new students to set goals for themselves. “When I was a freshman, I told myself two things: that I would study abroad and conduct research,” he said. “In summer 2008, I did both, conducting research on arthritis in Japan through Pacific Rim Undergraduate Experiences (PRIME) program.”
Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, ’01, addressed the students as the evening’s alumna speaker. As director of the UC San Diego Community Law Project, Sotelo-Solis works with undergraduate students pursuing careers in law and public policy, and she encouraged students to find their niche on campus.
“Get involved at UC San Diego,” she said. “I found my niche through the Raza student organization, the softball team. I was a resident advisor at the International House and I kept two jobs. You never know what you are going to find. I met my husband here and some of you may also find your life partner here.”
Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, ’01, addressed the students as the evening’s alumna speaker.
Sotelo-Solis shared her inspirational story about how she ran for mayor for National City at age 27. Although she didn’t win, she said she was proud to be elected to the National City Council at age 29 and now serves as the city’s Vice Mayor.
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Penny Rue closed the ceremony with encouraging words for the new students. She compared the experience of attending UC San Diego to a treasure hunt. “Your search may be over, but the journey is just beginning.”
Rue welcomed the new students to the UC San Diego community and urged them to look out for one another. “Connect with others and find something here that fits you like a glove,” she said.
Following the reception, the students flocked to RIMAC field for a picnic-style dinner. David Valencia, a freshman from Muir College, said he had been looking forward to the event for several weeks. “It’s exciting to be here because this is like our initiation in the UC San Diego community,” he said.
Charles Steinfeld, a transfer student from Orange County, waited to meet Smarr after the ceremony because he found his talk inspiring. “I think it’s so impressive that he spoke at this event, I’m a political science major, so his speech was very important to me.” Steinfeld and his roommate David Hopper, a transfer student from Ventura County, both walked over to RIMAC field from their apartment in UC San Diego’s new transfer housing complex “The Village.”
Warren College Provost Steven Adler was one of the faculty members who met with students and shared advice during the dinner.
During the dinner, new students were encouraged to meet with faculty who wore Hawaiian leis. Some 54 faculty, provosts and deans met with students to answer questions and share advice.
Revelle freshmen Kris Lang stood in line to talk to a professor from biological sciences to discuss what major he should choose. “I’m interested in dentistry and medicine, so this is good opportunity to discuss both fields.”
Ross Frank, a professor in the ethnic studies department, met several new students at the event. “I always enjoy the energy of the freshmen class,” he said. “They are really open and excited about beginning college. You never know, we may attract a few students to our department.”
This year’s Convocation was the top event of Welcome Week. More than 5,000 freshmen and new transfer students took part in more than 100 activities from Sept. 20 to 26. The week of events kicked off with the All Campus Dance on the Price Center lawn Sunday night. On Monday, students participated in Triton Power Hour pep rally and the Student Services Fair. Each of the six colleges competed against each other to win the “Golden Shoe” in the UnOlympics on Wednesday and several students took part in the Price Center’s First Friday open house where there were prizes, free snacks and entertainment. The week capped off with the Meet at the Beach event where students were treated to a free lunch, complimentary surf lessons, kayak rental and tide pool/pier tours at La Jolla Shores.
Associated Students President Utsav Gupta spoke about his experiences at UC San Diego and he urged new students to set goals for themselves.
The 3,740 freshmen, who started classes on Sept. 25, bring with them an average high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.96 and SAT test scores of 601 reading; 655 math, and 615 writing. Additionally, UC San Diego’s 1,860 new transfer students entered the university with an average college GPA of 3.41.
The incoming students will have no trouble going green and eating green as the campus’ dining halls now feature locally-grown organic food, fair trade products and cage-free eggs.
Several construction projects were also recently completed and are ready for use this quarter. These include the $126 million North Campus Transfer Housing, the $55 million Conrad Prebys Music Center, the $50 million Mayer Hall expansion and Renovation, the $16 million Robert Paine Scripps Forum and the $10 million RIMAC Annex.
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