University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley (also known as Cal, UC Berkeley, The University of California, or simply Berkeley) is a public coeducational university situated east of the San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, California, overlooking the Golden Gate. The oldest and flagship campus of the University of California System, Berkeley is a leading research university. Its graduate programs and faculty are consistently ranked among the best in the world.

Sports and traditions

Cal's sports teams compete as the California Golden Bears. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A, and in the Pacific Ten Conference. The annual football Big Game between the Bears and their rivals the Stanford Cardinal is the most important game on Cal's schedule. The winner of this game gains custody of the Axe. The Play, one of the most dramatic last-minute plays in college football history, occurred on November 20, 1982, in the 85th Big Game.

Related Topics:
NCAA - Pacific Ten Conference - Big Game - Stanford - The Axe - The Play

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Berkeley's current football coach, Jeff Tedford, has led the team to some of the most successful campaigns in the school's history. Indeed, seen on campus, variously, have been shirts saying "Ted Heads," "Tedford for President," and "Tedford is God."

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Berkeley's main athletic venues, Memorial Stadium and Haas Pavilion, rank as some of the best college sports facilities in the nation. The Stadium, built to model the Colosseum in Rome, is consistently ranked as one of the best views by Sports Illustrated.

Related Topics:
Memorial Stadium - Haas Pavilion

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Across the street is Witter Rugby Field, home to Cal's varsity rugby team, the oldest varsity team on campus (they were founded in 1886). The Bears, coached by alumnus and campus legend Jack Clark, are utterly dominant on the American university rugby scene, once winning 12 consecutive national titles. Overall, the Bears have won the national championship 21 times since it was first awarded in 1980, and won the national championship in 2005.

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In basketball, Haas Pavilion, donated in part by the owners of Levi-Straus and built on top of the old Harmon Gymnasium, is considered one of the most intimidating environments for visiting teams.

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Close to Haas Pavilion is Edwards stadium. This is where the Cal track team practices and competes.

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Cal's independent student-run newspaper is the Daily Californian. Founded in 1871, The Daily Cal became independent in 1971 after the campus administration fired three senior editors for encouraging readers to take back People's Park.

Related Topics:
Daily Californian - People's Park

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The University of California Marching Band has served the university since 1891, and performs at every football game and many other sports games and spirit activities. The university also has a Rally Committee, formed in 1901, the members of which have served as the official guardians of Cal Spirit ever since. RallyComm wears traditional blue and gold rugbies.

Related Topics:
University of California Marching Band - Rally Committee

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The official school colors, Yale Blue and California Gold, were established in 1874. Yale Blue was chosen because most of the original faculty were Yale University graduates. Gold was selected to represent the Golden State of California.

Related Topics:
1874 - Yale University - Golden State

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The official mascot is Oski the Bear, who first debuted in 1941. Previously, live bear cubs were used as mascots at Memorial Stadium. It was decided in 1940 that a costumed mascot would be a better alternative to a live bear. Named after the Oski-wow-wow yell, he is cared for by the Oski Committee. The wearer of the costume is kept a secret. It is the tradition to have the basketball player with the largest feet donate his shoes for Oski to wear.

Related Topics:
Oski the Bear - 1941 - Memorial Stadium - Oski-wow-wow - Basketball

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The annual summer orientation for incoming freshmen is called CalSO, short for Cal Student Orientation.

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ASUC

The Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) is the student government organization that controls funding for student groups and organizes on-campus student events. It is currently the only autonomous student government in any public US university.

Related Topics:
Associated Students of the University of California - Student government

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California Fight Song

Big "C"

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Written in 1913 by Harold P. Williams and N. Loyall McLaren, arranged by Robert O. Briggs.

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:On our rugged Eastern foothills,

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:Stands our symbol clear and bold,

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:Big "C" means to fight and strive

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:And win for blue and Gold.

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:Golden Bear is ever watching;

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:Day by day he prowls,

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:And when he hears the tread

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:Of lowly Stanfurd red,

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:From his Lair he fiercely growls.

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:What's he say? He says:

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:Grrrrrah, Grrrrrrah!

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:Grrrr, Rrrr, Rrrrrah!

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:We are Sons of California,

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:Fighting for the Gold and Blue.

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:Palms of glory we will win

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:for Alma Mater true.

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:Stanfurd's men will soon be routed

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:By our dazzling "C",

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:And when we serpentine,

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:Their red will turn to green,

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:In our hour of victory!

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:What's he say? He says:

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:Grrrrrah, Grrrrrrah!

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:Grrrr, Rrrr, Rrrrrah!

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