Charter Week
Charter Week is the annual celebration of the founding of the University of California on March 23, 1868.
What we do: The
Rally Committee's role in Charter Week has been expanding, and today we host
several events to celebrate Berkeley's "birthday". In 2011 we will have:
Charter Week is a University-wide event, with activities from many groups taking place.
Come join members of the Rally Committee and play carnival style
games all day on lower Sproul!:) There will be sumo wrestling, an obstacle course, a rock wall
and more! And it is all free.
Charter Colloquim
Hear a distinguished member of the Cal Community speak about what it means to be a Bear, and some Charter Day
history. Speaker TBA.
Charter Cupcakes
UREL will be providing free delicious cupcakes on Upper Sproul in honor of Cal's birthday. Come eat a cupcake
and take part in the celebration of our Universities founding!
A brief history of the founding of the University:
The school's site was purchased in 1858, and dedicated in 1860 at Founder's Rock. While the trustees to the College of California had the teachers, the land, and the students, they didn't have the money to fund the college. Luckily, President Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act in 1862 granting funding for higher institutes of learning, provided they taught agriculture, mechanical arts, and military instruction. The State of California used this act to found its own Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College in 1866. However, while the state had money, that was about all it had. The two institutions joined forces to become the University of California, with the College of California becoming the College of Letters within the University. The Organic Act officially established the University, and was signed by Governor Henry H. Haight.
GO BEARS!