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Painting the Big “C”
In years gone by, each Class would paint the Big “C” with its own color. The senior color was always white, and was the last coat of paint to be applied before the “C” was restored to gold. This year, 80 seniors hiked up the hill to take part in the painting; they were greeted with brunch, a raffle, and a history of the Big “C.” They also discovered that lots of wet paint plus a very steep hill equals an instant slide. This could be a new tradition. | |
From the end of the nineteenth century, Cal’s graduating seniors rounded off their undergraduate days with a week of parties, dances, and campus rituals. But Senior Week, as it was known, gradually died out during the 1960s and ended completely in 1970 because of anti-war demonstrations on campus.
Last year, over 100 seniors turned out to take part in a revival of one Senior Week tradition—Senior Pilgrimage, a final tour of the campus which once was a highlight of the week. “This renewed an interest in celebrating graduation traditions,” says Jason Simon of the California Alumni Association’s student relations program. “So, this year, the seniors decided early on to do bigger and better things.”
The 20 members of the Californians, Class of 2001 (formerly known as the Senior Class Council) launched 2001: A Senior Odyssey, a series of Senior Week activities, sponsored by the CAA. “We saw it as a chance to bring everyone together as a Class, from all different majors, to have fun before they leave,” says Class President Phillip Yim.
Following Senior Week, this year’s Commencement Convocation included another nod to the past, Senior Procession, which made the ceremony feel “more like a graduation,” according to Class Vice President Humaira Merchant.
 | Commencement Covocation
The keynote speaker at this year’s Commencement Convocation was former U.S. attorney general Janet Reno, who was chosen through a poll of the senior Class. “It’s so important to laugh at yourself every once in a while,” said Reno, referring to her portrayal and one-time appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” She advised the graduating class to make time for poetry, music…and kayaking.
Reno also told the students that when she returned to Florida after leaving office, she faced a crowd of demonstrators outside her home protesting her actions in the Elian Gonzalez case. “And let me tell you, professor,” she said, turning to Leon Litwack ’51, who had just spoken of the importance of the Free Speech Movement, “the First Amendment is alive and well in Miami, Florida!” |
senior procession
During Commencement Convocation, a procession of over 300 seniors in caps and gowns filed into the Greek Theatre, as the band played the theme music from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. |
 senior pilgrimage
Senior Pilgrimage dates back to 1898. Seniors toured the campus, making stops at points of interest where, as Robert Sibley ’03, former head of the California Alumni Association, once wrote, speakers would “recall an anecdote, relive a memory, or revere a person who gave each spot its special aura of distinction or delight.”
In the early twentieth century, senior ladies on pilgrimage dressed all in white and carried tiny parasols, while senior men wore straw hats and white “ducks” (pants). In later years, they all strolled in their caps and gowns. This year’s participants were dressed more casually, carrying backpacks rather than parasols, and they made just six stops around campus instead of the original 23. Speakers included Chancellor Robert Berdahl and football coach Tom Holmoe (pictured here by the statue of Pappy Waldorf in Faculty Glade). |
ocean blues
What better way to round off four years of hard work than four hours of partying? That was the thought of 260 seniors who took a cruise around the Bay. The Class of 2001 took the opportunity to unveil its freshly made banner, designed by senior Juan Pablo Ferrer. He says that the banner “hearkens back a hundred years, but with a modern twist”—which seems to be a theme for this year’s graduating class. |
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Down with the Reds
One of the most popular events of Senior Week 2001 was Pac Bell Park Night, attracting 245 seniors to the San Francisco Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds baseball game. A small group of Stanford students sitting close by didn’t know what had hit them. |
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