SMC Hits 75, Schedules Special Events

emphasis will be on alumni

   1929 is one of the most infamous years in American history, as it was the year of the Wall Street crash that sent America into the Great Depression.
   But on September 10, 1929, 49 days before the crash, Santa Monica Junior College quietly opened for classes on the second floor of the old brick Santa Monica High School Building.
   In its 75 years, the college (which dropped the junior some time ago) has grown from a student enrollment of 153 to 30,000, and is one of the best-known community colleges in the nation. In 1998, Rolling Stone magazine has named SMC one of "Ten of the Best" two-year schools in America.
   In 1932-33, the college moved into an old brick building at the Garfield School site at Seventh and Michigan, but the ‘33 earthquake rendered the building uninhabitable, and the college population moved to tents and bungalows on site and called it “Splinterville.”
   Classes began on the new campus at 1900 Pico Boulevard in 1952.
   In 1975, SMC's Emeritus College, a program for older adults, opened, and, in 1988 and 1989, it opened its first and second satellite campuses -- at Santa Monica Airport and the former Madison School at 11th and Arizona respectively.
   The January 1994, Northridge earthquake did millions of dollars in damage to the college.
   In June, 1997, the renamed John Drescher Planetarium opened after a major facelift and the installation of a state-of-the-art projection system.
   The next year, in September, SMC dedicated its new Academy of Entertainment & Technology on Stewart Street.
   In October, 1998, the college launched online classes. The first two were introductory political science and music appreciation.
   In December, 1998, SMC's historic running track, which was built for the 1984 Olympics and was the training ground for such Olympians as Carl Lewis, was replaced. The new track was named for Archie Morrison, an SMC vice president.
   In August, 1999, the new $30 million Science Complex opened for classes, and in August the following year the new high-tech Pete and Susan Barrett Art Gallery opened at the Madison campus.
   That same month, Physics professor Richard Masada was named recipient of the Marvin Elkin/Northrop Grumman Chair of Excellence, the first recipient of an endowed chair at SMC.
   In June, 2001, the video of the SMC Opera Theatre production of "Faust" won a Los Angeles Area Emmy Award.
   In December, 2001, the SMC Board of Trustees approved the $30 million purchase of the BAE Systems property at Santa Monica Airport for use as a satellite campus and parking facility. There are four buildings on the 10.4 acre property.
   In March, 2002, voters approved Measure U, a $160 million capital improvement bond.
   The Santa Monica Swim Center, a new municipal aquatics complex on the northwest part of the campus, opened in July, 2002.
   In the winter and spring of 2003, the college faced the biggest budget crisis in its history, prompted by historically high state budget deficit, which led to major class cuts, layoffs and the elimination of eight programs. That, in turn, led to a drop in student enrollment and a faculty/staff vote of no confidence in Robertson.
   In August, 2003, SMC's $23.6 million Library expansion and modernization project was completed.
   In October of the same year, the Emeritus College moved into its new 24,000 square foot, $8.65 million headquarters in downtown Santa Monica.
   Having reached its milestone 75th anniversary, the college will celebrate with a series of special events in the coming year -- with particular focus on the alumni who have played key roles in the development of the college and its traditions.
   “In 75 years, Santa Monica College has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people," said SMC President Dr. Piedad F. Robertson. "We're proud of our service to the community, our tradition of academic excellence, and our alumni."
   Among the people who have attended SMC are California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman, singer/musician Rickie Lee Jones, astronaut Walter Cunningham and NFL player Isaac Bruce.
   The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce has honored SMC for 75 years of service, but the college's festivities begin in earnest with the start of the new academic year.
   Kicking off the special 75th anniversary events is "Einstein's Universe," feature show at SMC's John Drescher Planetarium, which examines the 100-year anniversary of the launch of Einstein's relativity revolution that led to the discovery of warped space, black holes, the Big Bang and more. (8 p.m. at SMC Planetarium, second floor of Drescher Hall, September 17.)
   The college and Robertson will be among the honorees at the California Heritage Museum’s annual Heritage Award Dinner on October 1.
   An SMC Opera Theatre benefit, featuring artistic director Sue Ann Pinner and college opera alumni, will be presented on November 1 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Hollywood.
   On November 13: SMC's Homecoming Game, against East Los Angeles College, at Corsair Field will highlight alumni.
   Graduates of the SMC Arts Mentor Program Exhibit will showcase works by alumni of the program, which offers exceptionally talented students an interdisciplinary, studio-based environment. The exhibit will run from November 16 to December 10 at the Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery on the Madison Campus.
   Next spring, a special 75th anniversary gala concert, featuring outstanding musician alumni, will be presented, and, in April , A Roaring '20s SMC Foundation party will be held.
  
   SMC TRIVIA
   *The letters C-R-W in KCRW, SMC's flagship National Public Radio station, stand for College Radio Workshop.
  
   * In October, 1975, Goldie Glitters became the only male student elected homecoming queen in the college's history.
  
   * The college mascot is the Corsair, aka pirate.
  
   • SMC has served as the location for a number of film shoots, including "Rebel Without a Cause," which starred James Dean, a college alumnus.