2008 Woodie Awards
Campus needs to bring back 'De Anza Day'
La Voz Editorial Staff
Issue date: 4/24/06 Section: Editorials
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Every year De Anza College uses funds to publicize special programs and build a campus community. Both time and money are wasted when the events are either too small to interest students or too dull to reach those students who view De Anza as just some place they go between sleep and work.
It would be perfect if one day De Anza could show off the free legal advice, scholarship counseling, clubs and all of the college's other amazing features.
We could make that day so amazing that every student - even most of the surrounding community - takes notice.
Oh, wait - we already did.
It was called "De Anza Day," and the festival drew in thousands every year from inside and outside the student population. De Anza Day brought together the Cupertino community with music, games, and activities that you couldn't find on any other college campuses.
Sadly, in 1996, then-President Martha Kanter released a memo that upset many of the faculty and staff. She informed them that there would be no De Anza Day in 1997. And while there were promises of a new event that would focus on schoolrelated themes, we have yet to see it materialize 10 years later.
De Anza Day generated income by charging for special activities like helicopter and hot air balloon rides. Vendors were also present most years, which brought in more revenue.
Since the money spent on De Anza community-building these days comes from DASB and De Anza Day used to be funded by the administration, perhaps the administration no longer sees the value in promoting awareness of the school by drawing thousands of people to the campus. That would certainly explain the nearly year-long hesitation to begin the hiring process to replace De Anza's retired Director of Marketing.
But the equation is simple: If more people are introduced to De Anza as a fun and lively campus, more people will want to go to school here. Do the administration a favor this week and lend them a calculator so they can add up the losses of the last ten years.
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