Celebrating Merrill's 50th: 1968-2018

See below for a list of 2018 Alumni Weekend events

Merrill College Alumni Panel

Noel Q. King Memorial Lecture

Commemoration of Charles E. Merrill, Jr.

Premier of Merrill 50th Anniversary Film

Los Mejicas

Merrill Provost and Emeriti Brunch

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Merrill College Alumni Panel: Five Decades of Free Speech and Political Action at UCSC 

Location: Merrill Cultural Center

Time: April 28, 2018 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm

Merrill College students have had a long history of eager interest in questions of academic freedom. To celebrate 50 years of Merrill College, a panel of alumni from across the decades will speak about witnessing and participating in their era’s engagement with academic freedom. How did Merrill affect their responses, and yours? Come join the discussion!

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Noel Q. King Memorial Lecture

Location: Merrill Cultural Center

Time: April 28, 2018 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Professor Noel Q. King helped introduce the study of religion to a young UC Santa Cruz and helped engage Merrill College students in lifelong curiosity about and respect for the beliefs of the peoples of the world. In this year’s 3rd Annual Noel Q. King Memorial Lecture at Merrill College, we are honored to have award-winning scholar Professor Mark Massoud, Politics and Legal Studies, speak about the lived experience of Islamic law for Muslims in Somalia, Sudan, and California, followed by an on-stage discussion between Professor Massoud and bestselling writer Laurie R. King, author of twenty-five crime novels and holder of an honorary doctorate in theology.

Those interested in viewing the lecture should contact Professor Mark Massoud directly.

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Commemoration of Charles E. Merrill, Jr., and Celebrating 50 Years of Merrill College

Location: Merrill Cultural Center

Time: April 28, 2018 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Merrill College was founded 50 years ago with a generous gift from Charles E. Merrill, Jr., who died November 30, 2017 at age 97. A dedicated proponent of educational access–an interest his namesake college shares–he also contributed to historically black universities and colleges and to schools in the former Eastern Bloc. Charles Merrill last visited the college twenty years ago during its 30th anniversary year, and remained a dedicated and unwavering friend to the college he helped found. Provost Elizabeth Abrams will preside as we formally celebrate the 50th anniversary of the college and commemorate our influential founder.

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Premier of Merrill 50th Anniversary Film 1968-2018

Location: Merrill Cultural Center

Time: April 28, 2018 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Please join us for the premiere of Merrill’s 50th anniversary film.

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Los Mejicas

Location: Merrill Cultural Center

Time: April 28, 2018 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Grupo Folklórico Los Mejicas, UCSC’s student-run and student-directed Mexican folkloric dance group, has had a long association with Merrill College and is honored to perform during Alumni Weekend in celebration of the college’s anniversary.  Come appreciate the regional music, dances and traditions of Mexico.

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Merrill Provost and Emeriti Brunch

Location: Merrill Provost House

Time: April 29, 2018 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Please join Provost Elizabeth Abrams, fellow alumni, and current students for good food and good company at the Merrill Provost House. Provost Abrams will be presenting a program that will include Emeriti and a question and answer session in celebration of Merrill’s 50th Anniversary.