Author: Emily Shugerman
The ferris wheel on campus last spring will return to the quad once again for Founders Day on April 20 as the college wraps up its celebration of Occidental’s 125th year with another carnival and other, more academic activities.
According to President Jonathan Veitch, the purpose of this year’s Founder’s Day is to recognize Occidental’s long history and show appreciation for its supporters.
“I think it’s important to take advantage of these opportunities to look back, take pride in our accomplishments (which in large part are a reflection of the success of our alumni) and reflect on why Oxy mattered and continues to matter today…” Veitch said in an email to The Occidental Weekly. “At the same time, Founders Day is a chance to acknowledge the individuals and organizations whose generosity has made Oxy’s 125-year-old journey possible.”
In an effort to highlight important contributors to Occidental, the college invited several prominent alumni to lead panels on various topics throughout the day, according to Director of Communications Jim Tranquada. Tor Myhren ’94, President of advertising agency Grey New York, will lead a panel on creativity, and three other alumni will lead a panel on the future of the music industry. Dean of the College Jorge Gonzalez will moderate a panel on immigration consisting of two alumni, Clarissa Martinez De Castro ’89 and Angelica Salas ’93, who have worked for years on immigration reform.
“The timing of this panel could not be any better,” Gonzalez said. “This Wednesday [April 17], a group of eight U.S. Senators will be announcing a proposed comprehensive immigration reform bill. We will be fortunate to have two of the best informed people in the country to talk about this proposal.”
The day’s festivities will continue with the dedication of the college’s new solar array, which will include a keynote address from Hector de la Torre ’89 a college trustee and member of California’s Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Resources Board. Select alumni, faculty, staff and students will conclude the day at the Founders Dinner to celebrate individuals, corporations and foundations who have donated $1 million or more to the college.
Founders Day is hosted by the President’s Office and is organized chiefly by Director of the Office of College Events Kimberly Uribe, President’s Chief of Staff Rozita Afar, Special Events Manager Amy Reyes and Director of Student Life Tamara Rice. Funding from the event comes from a line item in the President’s budget specifically for Founders Day and a $125 per person charge for Founders Dinner, according to Tranquada.
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
