LETTER FROM THE ALUMNI PRESIDENT
WAVE AFTER WAVE
LIKE MANY TRITONS WHO ATTENDED UC SAN DIEGO in the ’ 80s , I spent a lot of my time at the Student Center ( back when it wasn ’ t yet the “ old ” Student Center ). It was a place to study , to meet up with friends , and where I learned to become part of the campus community as a member of the Asian Pacific Student Association . Back then , the next big move for the university was the creation of a much grander student space that would eventually be known as the Price Center .
Students today likely couldn ’ t imagine life without the Price Center . We could barely imagine our campus with it ! But even then , we knew it was necessary for the natural evolution of our university to better support the students of the future . We voted to increase our student fees to build it , even though it wouldn ’ t be finished until long after we left UC San Diego . But still , we paid it forward .
It seems every wave of Tritons has that one thing they pay forward to the students who come after . For some , it was RIMAC . For today ’ s students , it ’ s the move to Division I athletics , and the scholarships that come with it . We do this because we care about the experience we share . We may be different generations , we may know a different form of campus , but we all know this place as where we became who we are today . And that fact is what makes us Tritons .
For all the change , it ' s comforting to know that a lot of things do carry on , better than ever . I ’ m thrilled that the Craft Center , a space beloved for decades by our most creative Tritons , will be revived and reinvigorated as a cutting-edge outlet for today ’ s students ( p . 41 ). And what I knew as The Pub , what many of you knew as Porter ’ s Pub , will be soon be reimagined by a fellow alum , and our campus culture will be shaped by someone who lived it ( p . 46 ). It ' s a perfect example of coming full circle .
I encourage you to come full circle as well : Come see it all at the events during Alumni Weekend ( p . 43 ), shape the future of campus as a part of the Campaign for UC San Diego or join us online where we ’ re sharing our UC San Diego memories . Right now it ' s favorite campus foods ( p . 49 ) and we ’ re saving a seat at the table for you .
With Triton pride ,
Robert Brownlie ' 85 President , UC San Diego Alumni
4 TRITON | SPRING 2018