How does Cal fit into your life story?

Cal became my body armor the moment I received my letter of acceptance in the summer of 1969. Since then, every step of my life has been guided by the awesome responsibility of attending one of the best universities in the world! To become the first individual from my entire family tree to attend and graduate from a university was an awesome responsibility and a privilege. Thanks to my parents, I have always been a fighter. I was taught to be respectful but never meek. To never feel less than anyone but to be humble. Most importantly, to never forget your roots and to help those in need. Throughout my years at Cal and my professional career, I have been able to carry on that armor and to practice what I preach. Thanks to the efforts of the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP), and the affirmative action taken by Cal, I was saved from the draft and being sent to fight the Vietnam War. Instead, I was equipped to become an architect to help build a better world.

What makes Cal so unique?

None of my friends from Oakland Technical High School came to Cal. Yet, I never felt alone. The Chicano Studies program welcomed me with open arms. In 1970–71 at the College of Environmental Design, those of us who came from similar backgrounds formed an organization called Chicano Architectural Student Association (CASA). We basically took over an empty office right outside the elevator on the fifth floor of Wurster Hall. With the approval of the administration, that space became CASA headquarters. The fact that the dean and professors were open to supporting our efforts to organize and conduct relatable school work with the surrounding Chicano communities like Oakland and Richmond was paramount to our continued unity and success. The accessibility to the best professors, research and technology (even then) were literally all within our reach. The incredible concerts on campus , especially at the Greek Theatre, offered well deserved respite.

What is your favorite Cal memory?

More than a single moment or memory, it is a collage of experiences that last a lifetime. In architecture there were studio assignments requiring hundreds of hours to complete. The CASA group took many classes together. We would literally take over a section of the floor and set up camp for the rest of that quarter, including our own “sleeping areas” under our oversize drafting boards. Someone’s stereo was always playing music in the background. The ability to manually create paper graphics known as working drawings (no CAD), including a scale model culminating with a presentation before your class, was exhilarating! It was a team effort as we encouraged each other to succeed. Perhaps the most memorable, and historic act, is when CASA volunteered to lead the graduating committee in 1973. For food, we had a taquiza (taco truck), for entertainment we had a Mariachi band. CASA became the largest group of Chicanos graduating at the same time.

Do you have any advice for current students?

There were many moments of desperation as midterms and finals approached. Knowing there was a support group like CASA behind us was inspiring. Although ultimately we each had to do our own work, the advice and encouragement of our friends was crucial. The quarter system was basically 10 weeks. Each quarter seemed to go faster than the previous one. I attended Cal for six years, including two years of graduate school. During summer break I always worked for two months and then went to Mexico for a whole month. This provided a balance and a temporary escape from the demands of the following year. Nothing will ever compare to that moment, when you graduate, apply to your first job and thus the opportunity to change the world for the better begins! And you get paid for it! With that UC Berkeley Diploma… the world is literally in your hands. The opportunities for growth and expansion seem infinite.