Behold Thurgood Marshall College, the college of “social responsibility and academic excellence” in the model of Supreme Court Chief Justice Thurgood Marshall. Behold Eleanor Roosevelt College, the college of “dimensions of international understanding and cultural diversity” in the model of the beloved American first lady. Behold Sixth College, the college of “a dynamic, networked 21st century global culture” in the model of … the number six.
Sixth College, whose obscure logo appears to be a hockey stick getting friendly with the digit, has been without a namesake since its establishment in 2002. This puts it at a clear disadvantage with regards to incoming freshmen, as it lacks the name-brand recognition of other colleges; and I imagine it’s a morale depressor for Sixth students much like it would be for a child: “This is Michael, our oldest, and then Jacob, Amy, Anthony, Christina and Sixth.”
What Sixth College needs, and its students deserve, is a namesake who embodies the spirit of the college and acts as its proud symbol. That person will need to fit the college’s mission of integrating culture, art, technology and networking, and will probably need to comply with the implied criteria for UCSD college namesakes: historical significance, progressiveness (if you think about it) and familiarity.
Another criterion we may want to consider is picking a namesake who could in a way sponsor his/her college. I’ve been to Sixth College, and it has its charms, but what it really needs is a reason for students across UCSD to go there. Marshall has Oceanview Terrace, Roosevelt has International House parties and Revelle has arguably the best food on campus. An all-you-can-eat dining hall, a state-of-the-art computer lab, or something else unique and amazing, financed by the namesake, would make the college a place students seek out, rather than simply a place to eat or do homework.
The final element necessary to naming Sixth College is active student involvement. You may recall last year when the Guardian reported the surprising announcement that administrators had selected former UC President and UCSD Chancellor Richard C. Atkinson to be the college’s namesake. The subsequent uproar by students and the A.S. Council over the infinitesimal student input prompted Atkinson to honorably withdraw his name from the running.
That development was an impressive sign of how times have changed. Marshall was stuck as “Third College” for 23 years because students wanted to name it after a 20th century revolutionary such as Patrice Lumumba or Emiliano Zapata, and the administration opposed that idea. Only after the death of Chief Justice Marshall in 1993 was the choice clear to all parties involved.
To get the ball rolling on student input, I’ve come up with a few suggested namesakes for the college, each with his/her own pros and cons:
1. Gore College, named after former Vice President Al Gore. Pros: is an environmentalist; played an influential role in the expansion of the Internet (technology and networking); and is now a filmmaker and a writer (culture and art). Cons: arguable historical significance; may not have enough money for support; and will upset campus conservatives. Also, for better or for worse, “Gore College” is just asking for visits by Wes Craven and Eli Roth.
2. Lucas College, named after beloved filmmaker George Lucas of “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” fame. Pros: his films have major cultural and sometimes artistic significance; he’s been instrumental in the development of digital effects (technology); and his personal wealth, as estimated by Forbes Magazine in 2004, is about $3 billion (pre-Episode III). Cons: his historical significance isn’t on par with Earl Warren and John Muir; and he has connections to USC.
3. Woods College, named after trailblazing championship golfer Eldrick “Tiger” Woods. Pros: his cultural significance — with helping to break unspoken racial barriers — is clear; he’s a very charitable man whose wealth continues to grow; he has a San Diego connection with the Buick Invitational that he keeps winning; and “Woods College” will appeal to environmentalists and sorority girls alike. Cons: less historical significance than other college namesakes; weak connection to art and technology; and the irony of naming a college of UCSD after an athlete.
4. O’Connor College, named after recently retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Pros: everyone loves a moderate; her historical significance has been her deciding votes in several major cases; and unlike the current Supreme Court, our colleges would be represented by more than one woman. Cons: a limited connection to technology; unclear finances; and two Supreme Court justices have already been recognized in college names.
5. Oprah (or Winfrey) College, named after the award-winning television host, publisher and literary advocate. Pros: strong association with many aspects of culture and art; double diversification of college namesakes; is tremendously wealthy and charitable (Keynote graduation speech: “You get a car! You get a car!”); and is respected in many circles. Cons: not much connection to technology beyond her Web site; no apparent San Diego connection.
6. Newmark College, after Craigslist.org founder Craig Newmark. Pros: clear link to technology and networking; college students love him; doesn’t isolate anyone politically; moderate wealth; and “Newmark College” is catchy. Cons: connected to San Francisco, not San Diego.
Sixth College is at a crossroads, and the potential for another unfortunate episode of prolonged anonymity is there. The time has come to dust ourselves off from the Atkinson affair and engage a reasonable process through which the namesake will be selected. I suggest going about it like a bill in the legislature. As Congress, Sixth College students would propose and vote on their nominations until they’ve reached a majority decision. Administrators, as the executive branch, would retain veto power over an unacceptable namesake, but they shouldn’t expect to use it. If students are given the awesome responsibility of honoring their college, they will do it justice. You can count on that.
