Saturday, December 11, 1999

College Concludes 50th
Anniversary

By SOLOMON MOORE

Valley College ended its yearlong 50th anniversary
celebration Friday by dedicating a commemorative garden
that will hold a time capsule for 50 years.
But because of high demand as the end of 1999 nears,
the time capsule was late from the factory.

"We did get assurances that we will get the time
capsule well in advance of 2049," joked Dennis Reed, dean
of Fine, Performing and Media Arts.

Valley President Tyree Wieder presided over the
ceremony, which was held under breezy, blue skies.
The ceremony ended a year of events marking Valley
College's opening in 1949 on a former dairy farm. Earlier
this year, the college hung decorative banners along nearby
streets. In the summer, Valley alumnus state Sen. Richard
Alarcon (D-Sylmar) delivered the keynote address in honor
of the campus' anniversary. And in November, the college
held a 50th anniversary banquet.

The time capsule will sit under a rock in a garden
named after the late Max L. Heyman, who was a history
professor at the college. The garden was designed for
Friday's event.

Wieder said she wanted to open the capsule in 25
years, but she was outvoted by her fellow dedication
committee members.

"They wanted to wait 50 years," she said. "I wanted to
be around for [the opening of the capsule]--I still plan to
be around, but I've committed my daughter to be here that
day, just in case."

Among the items that will be placed inside are a
grocery store receipt to show the cost of living, a bottle of
white-out, a typewriter ribbon and a copy of TV Guide.
The capsule will also contain hundreds of messages
written by students and community members to future
generations, said Hariann Goldman, director of extension
programs and chairwoman of the dedication committee.
"The common thread that runs through all of the
messages is a hope for global harmony--in every single
one," Goldman said.

Goldman read one message during the ceremony:
"When this capsule is opened 50 years from now, we can
only hope that your generation has outperformed ours. We
hope that you have brought the miracle of peace and
harmony to the world at large. We hope that you can sneer
at our efforts as puny compared to yours. My generation
salutes you."

Copyright 1999 Los Angeles Times