New center will bear Tien’s name
Chancellor announces naming at campaign gala

By Jeff Holeman, Public Affairs

Di-Hwa Tien thanked campaign donors and volunteers for their work on behalf of Chang-Lin Tien. Peg Skorpinski photo

25 April 2001 | Met by cheers from 1,300 donors and friends of the campus, Chancellor Berdahl announced on Saturday that a new facility to house campus resources in East Asian studies, languages and cultures will be named in honor of former Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien.

The new center will be a “tribute to (Tien’s) enduring presence on this campus,” Berdahl said at a gala celebrating the completion of the campus’s $1.44 billion fundraising campaign.

Creating an East Asian center was one of Tien’s favorite campaign projects, reflecting his own roots in the region. Completing fundraising for the project is a continuing campus priority.

Berdahl called Tien “a man of remarkable vision, energy, courage and optimism,” and praised his leadership of the campus through tough financial times.

“In some dark days in the life of this great university, in the wake of reductions of state support that exceeded even those of the Great Depression, Berkeley produced a leader who had the vision to see beyond the darkness to the light that lay beyond,” Berdahl said of Tien.

“This campaign was his vision. And tonight it is fitting that we dedicate this celebration to him,” he said.

“The new center will house both our outstanding faculty in East Asian studies and languages and our remarkable library collections in the field, all in one facility to be located opposite the Doe Library on Memorial Glade,” Berdahl said.

Tien was unable to attend the celebration for health reasons. His family members were honored guests at the event, and his wife, Di-Hwa, thanked donors and volunteers on the family’s behalf.

“Although Chang-Lin cannot be here tonight, he is truly gratified by the tremendous success of this campaign,” she said. “Chang-Lin has been at Cal for 40 years, and one cannot describe the special feelings he has for this institution. We deeply appreciate all that you have done for Cal. This is a great night for Cal. As Chang-Lin would say, ‘Go Bears!’”

Berkeley concluded its seven-year Campaign for the New Century on Dec. 31, surpassing its $1.1 billion goal. The $1.44 billion final total set a record for funds raised by a public university and by any university without a medical school.

Donors, alumni, student volunteers, and fundraisers jammed Haas Pavilion for the party and buffet supper to celebrate the campaign’s success. The basketball arena was transformed into a scene of campus life, complete with a re-creation of Strawberry Creek, campus signage, neo-classical architecture, and foliage.

Guests then strolled to Zellerbach Auditorium for a program of poetry, music, song, and dance in celebration of the campus and its traditions of excellence. Headlining the show was internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, who performed with the University Orchestra, Alumni Chorus and UC Chorales. A portion of the program was devoted to Berkeley’s renowned poets. Professor of English and former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass introduced student-poets who read works by members of the faculty.

“The campaign brought in more than 500,000 individual gifts to Berkeley,” said Donald McQuade, vice chancellor for university relations. “This is truly a coming together of the Cal family — to keep Berkeley’s promise for the future. The smallest gift may have been a few dollars and the largest $50 million, but each gift speaks to a commitment to extend UC Berkeley’s reputation as the most distinguished public research university in the world.”

Berdahl thanked the donors and volunteers for helping the campus realize its fundraising dream. He paid special tribute to campaign leaders, particularly Peter Haas, whose life, Berdahl said, “is inextricably linked to Cal and to whom Cal will be indebted through all of its history.

“It was Peter, more than anyone, who secured the crucial lead gifts of the campaign and made certain that nearly half of the goal was reached in the quiet phase,” said Berdahl. Haas was the volunteer chair of the campaign in its early years.

The official naming of the new center is pending approval by the UC Board of Regents.