Granola U.
Frisbee U.
Nude "human potential" classes at the "duck pond"?
Sorry. That's ancient history.
Sonoma State University comes of age this year in the celebration of its 40th year of classes. The college that started at a Rohnert Park seed farm in the 1960's has become a university of which to be proud.
A celebration is planned on Thursday, April 18 from 11 to 1 p.m. to recognize the occasion. Events include a Founders' Day observance, a College Bowl and the burial of a time capsule to be opened in the year 2061.
FOUNDERS' DAY
The Founders' Day events celebrate the University's beginnings. Photographs of milestones in its past will be on display in the campus quad and guests can get a "then and now" look at the University by comparing old photographs to the campus blossoming around them and talking to the many retirees, some of whom were here at the beginning. Guests can see what it looked like "way back then." A birthday cake will be served to honor the University's founding.
COLLEGE BOWL
From 11:45 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. a fast-paced college trivia bowl will be played. College Trivia Bowl (known locally as "SSU-Know)resembles the television game show Jeopardy. Four teams, each made up of faculty, staff, students and retirees, compete for a chance to win prizes. The contestants are asked questions about SSU's 40-year history while the audience hoots and hollers out wild, and often wrong, answers.
TIME CAPSULE
At 12:30 p.m., a procession transports the time capsule to its Alumni Grove burial site. The 3-foot-long aluminum container weighs more than 50 pounds. The items inside give a varied look at life in the second year of the 21st Century for those who will open it in 2061.
The Sonoma State experience is represented in the capsule by items such as Cossack memorabilia, photographs of the campus, sports items, a University flag, a laptop computer, clothing items donated from SSU students, the campus' master plan for buildings, posters, and a Blue Book and a Scan Tron sheet. Representing life off-campus, there is a cell phone, a CD of music from this era, a condom, September 11 media reports and current entertainment magazines, including Halle Berry's win as the first African-American woman in history to win an Oscar for the Best Actress category.
Also included in the time capsule is a scrapbook with inspiring comments by students, faulty and staff about their experiences at SSU and what they hope for its future.
MAY 14 40TH ANNIVERSARY PHOTO
On May 14 at noon, a special aerial photo will be taken of current faculty, staff, and students, community members, retirees, and others joining together to form a large number "40" on the lawn by the campus lakes. This culminating event for the 40th Anniversary of SSU's first classes is shaping up to be the unifying event for the campus and community.
For more information, contact Susan Kashack at (707) 664-2122.
