FIFTEEN YEARS OF CELEBRATING THE LIBRARY

On September 21, friends and close supporters gathered at the 15th annual Dinner in the Library to celebrate the completion of Phase 2 of the Geisel Library Revitalization Initiative and the generosity that has allowed such an ambitious Initiative to come to fruition.

The colorful gala was the first event held on the newly renovated 8th Floor where the space was transformed into an elegant dining room set amidst modern bookshelves and study spaces. More than 100 guests were greeted by panoramic views of the campus, from eucalyptus groves to the west, Library Walk to the south and an incredible view of “Fallen Star” to the east — a highlight of the campus’ Stuart Collection of public art.

This year’s Dinner, chaired by Jeanne Jones, featured San Diego-raised novelist and UC San Diego alumnus, Luis Alberto Urrea ‘77, who gave a heartfelt and inspirational speech.

“When I got to UC San Diego, I wanted to be a visual artist, an actor or a writer. I started taking English classes and reading Latin American authors that I had never heard of — Jorge Borges, Gabriel García Márquez and Pablo Neruda,” Urrea said. “My academic interests started gravitating toward writing, so I took classes, learned how to write and joined the campus literary magazine.”

In his senior year, Urrea was looking forward to graduation day with excitement and anticipation — then tragedy struck.

“My father died in the hands of Mexican cops during finals week of winter quarter. I came back to school with a heavy heart. I couldn’t process it all, so I started writing,” Urrea explained.

He wrote about the pain of losing his father and encouraged by professor Lowry Pei, finished a story in time for Pei to give it to celebrated science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin.

“Ursula took me under her wing, she was my discoverer and she bought my first writing piece,” Urrea reflected. “I got through it all and graduated. I could not have imagined such a thing. She changed my life and coached me for years on how to be a writer.”

Watch the full video of Urrea’s riveting talk at uctv.tv/library-channel.

From left to right: Pradeep Khosla, Jeanne Jones, Luis Alberto Urrea, Erik Mitchell