Apr 22, 2008 8:00 AM

His big UCLA moment

Next month, UCLA will celebrate the inauguration of Chancellor Gene Block — only the second chancellorial inauguration in 40 years — in true Bruin style, with a week of activities for faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Beginning on May 12 and culminating on May 17 with UCLA Day, Inauguration Week will kick off with a barbecue and concert in Wilson Plaza for staff, faculty, students and a few invited guests. There will be hamburgers, veggie burgers and hot dogs to enjoy as guests take in live music and dance performances by student groups showcasing the diverse campus community. Look for an e-mail invitation to the barbecue and concert to arrive in the coming weeks.

Shortly before 10 a.m. on May 13, a colorful procession of more than 200 dignitaries — including Chancellor Block and selected UCLA faculty, deans and vice chancellors; UC regents; representatives from other campuses within the UC and California State University systems and across the country; and donors of endowed faculty chairs — will march from the Faculty Center to Royce Hall, signaling the beginning of the inauguration ceremony.

Once inside Royce Hall, Chancellor Block will be welcomed by representatives from several different campus and community organizations. UC President Robert Dynes will perform the ceremony of installation, followed by an inaugural address by Chancellor Block.

The traditional pomp and circumstance of the occasion will be downplayed in favor of a more festive, global atmosphere. Throughout the ceremony, audience members will be treated to performances by carilloneur Mary Crawford, student soloist Rebecca Sjöwall and student groups from the Herb Alpert School of Music — including the UCLA Wind Ensemble, the UCLA Trumpet Ensemble and the UCLA Contemporary Jazz Large Ensemble — as well as by some of UCLA's international student groups: the African-American Music Ensemble, Mariachi de Uclatlán, the Chinese Music Ensemble, BatUCLAda (Brazilian Music Ensemble), and the Balinese Gamelan.

Since space is limited, a portion of the available tickets to attend the inauguration will be reserved for faculty, staff and students and can be picked up at the Central Ticket Office beginning May 5.

Inauguration Week will conclude with UCLA Day on Saturday, May 17, when all UCLA alumni will be invited to campus for special activities. "The event-packed day is a bold addition to our existing alumni programs and will include special tours, engaging lectures, children's activities, affinity group receptions and more — all designed to make UCLA relevant in the contemporary lives of our alumni," said Rhea Turteltaub, vice chancellor of external affairs.

The event will begin at 2 p.m. at "Bruin Central" at the James West Alumni Center, where guests may check in, get information about lectures and tours, enjoy refreshments and take photos with Joe and Josephine Bruin. There will be a "Kids' Zone" at the John Wooden Center, where the youngest Bruins (ages 3 to 14) can play games, climb a rock wall and participate in a scavenger hunt.

Bruins may attend a variety of lectures given by UCLA faculty, ranging from the science of climate change to the relevance of Shakespeare today. They may also choose from among five tours of campus: "Where Wooden Walked," "Treasures in the Stacks — Powell Uncovered," "Lost in the Museum: Explore the Fowler," "UCLA's Changing Skyline — An Open-Air Bus Tour," and "In the Bruins' Den: A Walking Tour of Student Life." For parents of prospective Bruins, there will be a presentation on "How to Prep Your Student for College Applications."

Alumni may attend affinity group receptions throughout the campus, followed by a Bruin BBQ with remarks by newly inaugurated Chancellor Block from 6-8 p.m. There will also be a party for recent UCLA graduates (classes of 1998-2007) from 8-11 p.m.

In keeping with the day's theme — "It's Your Day. Your Moment" — alumni guests will be invited to record their special UCLA memories on video to be preserved and archived.

The historic week is intended to give everyone who participates something worth remembering.

For more information about tickets to UCLA Day, visit www.UCLADay.ucla.edu.

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