Check out these cool things about UCR
HighLANDMARKS:
Homecoming:
Igniting the Spirit:
MaSCOTs:
Scottish Traditions:
Songs and Cheers:
The Tartan and our school colors:
UCR History:
University Logos and Insignia:
How UCR Became the Highlanders
Though
numerous nominations for a campus mascot –including Rocks, Tigers, and
Aphids – were presented to UCR’s charter students in 1954, “Hylander”
emerged from a spirited write-in campaign. Later changed to “Highlander,” the theme acknowledged the campus’ elevation relative to the rest of the city. Scottish traditions naturally evolved.
The Scottish Highlands (A' Ghàidhealtachd in Gaelic) include the rugged and mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. The Highlands are popularly described as one of the most scenic regions of Europe.
Naming of housing buildings after places in Scotland
The tradition of naming housing
buildings after places in Scotland began with the first residence hall,
Aberdeen-Inverness, which opened in 1959. It is named for two Scottish
port cities.
Lothian Residence Hall opened in 1963 and was
named for the Lothian Borders in the south of Scotland. Bannockburn,
which was originally an off-campus housing facility before the
university purchased it, is named after a famous battle site.
The new campus apartments near an arroyo
at the northeast corner of campus will be called Glen Mor. “Glen Mor
bisects the Scottish Highlands, so it seemed an appropriate name for an
area bisected by an arroyo,” said Andy Plumley, director of housing
services for UC Riverside.
Housing services recently purchased
an existing 220-unit apartment complex formerly known as Highlander
Ridge for $31.4 million. Plumley said that complex will be named
Falkirk, for the location of a famous battle in 1298 when King Edward I
defeated William Wallace.
“We’re the Highlanders and we like our Scottish names,” he said. “We won’t run out of new names any time soon.”
The UCR Pipe Band
The
UCR Pipe Band is part of the External Relations division of the
University of California, Riverside, and serves as an ambassador to the
campus. The band is comprised of diverse group of musicians and
performers offering a wide range of Celtic music played on bagpipes and
drums.
UCR’s department of Music is searching
for a director of the UCR Pipe Band who also would teach piping. The
band has been incorporated into the music curriculum, enabling students
to get credit for performing and taking lessons on pipes or drums. UCR
is one of a handful of universities in the world where a student can
earn a degree in music playing Scottish pipes or drums.
The
UCR Pipe Band won first prize in the Grade 4 Pipe Band Competition in
the quick march and timed medleys at the 2007 Highland Games in
Flagstaff, Ariz., on July 21-22.