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Letter from the Alumni
Executive Director
John
P. Valva
As we prepared for the launch of @UCSD, we suspected—ok,
hoped—that this new publication would excite our closest
friends, generate reactions from our harshest critics, and stimulate
memories. Your response, however, has been nothing short of overwhelming.
The next pages highlight just a few of the hundreds of letters
to the editor, e-mails, phone calls, and other responses our office
has received since the January issue. We should have known, I suppose.
When over 1,800 individuals responded last year to our call for
Classnotes, it became obvious that UCSD alumni have been thirsty
for such a communications vehicle. No one publication is perfect
for everyone, but your responses indicate that most of you think
it’s been a great start.
Not surprisingly, many readers chimed in on the role of athletics,
with your comments proving the debate is fairly evenly split. Revellites
and others embraced Provost Bond’s musings. And, Thurgood
Marshall College alumni waxed
poetic about the glory days of what will always be known to most
of them as Third College. Some readers expressed their overall
gratitude and others provided great ideas for future features.
We, of course, were hardly spared criticism. The inclusion of
anything about Herbert Marcuse stimulated fiercely partisan retorts.
Clearly,
even years after his death, feelings about Marcuse symbolize the
diversity of political and sociological discussion prevalent on
a college campus. Other readers pined for the days of smaller enrollments
and more eucalyptus groves. Some thought the magazine was too technical,
others too mainstream. We even received feedback on areas not related
to the magazine contents—from the failure of UCSD in delivering
the job of their dreams, to commentaries about tuition hikes. We
say, “bring it on!” In this issue, the hot topic of
admissions is featured. If we don’t want letters to the editor,
do you think we’d even venture into this topic?
UCSD’s commitment to fostering a lifelong relationship with
our students and alumni is far overdue, and @UCSD is just one of
many new initiatives we have recently launched to engage both alumni
and students as a community. We think it’s overdue. And,
you deserve it. UCSD alumni are responding in record numbers to
membership drives and special events. You are responding particularly
well to volunteer opportunities that support student recruiting,
legislative advocacy, and career mentoring. You will read of opportunities
for your involvement in this and future issues, and they can be
found on-line at www.alumni.ucsd.edu.
@UCSD and its complementary e-newsletter, CampusLoop, have been
launched to provide alumni a voice in UCSD’s past, present
and future. So far, it seems to be working.
Keep reading, keep responding.
John P. Valva
UCSD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
