Student Life

Stories that add to our understanding of the richness of the early Crown community, the diverse paths taken by those who passed through, and the connections between the past, present, and future of Crown College.
The Lotus Eaters

The Lotus Eaters

By Jim Lapsley (Crown ‘71) Picking up a car and moving it was the kind of college prank associated with places like Chico State, not UCSC, but, as they say, “pictures don’t lie” (at least they didn’t before Photo Shop). It was a spur of the moment idea, made somewhat...

The Alchemical Essay

The Alchemical Essay

By Glorianna Ferreira (Crown '71) A few beautiful souls with unique skills and gifts meet and meld. Sometimes Life brings together different people who resonate. Ideas flow. Creations get born. The Crown College Essay of 1968 was the product of a flurry of...

Max Levin, “Dean of Students”

Max Levin, “Dean of Students”

Max Levin was Crown College’s first “Senior Preceptor,” which meant he was in a sort of no man's land between being the college’s “dean of students” (a position that didn’t exist) and the adult father figure required before U.C. gave up the idea of “in loco parentis.”...

The Great Water Balloon Fight of 1969

The Great Water Balloon Fight of 1969

By Marcella Laddon (Crown '72) Growing up near the beach in southern California, I brought years of experience with water balloon fights. Typically I would arm myself by loading up my 1955 Chevy with buckets full of water balloons and a couple of fire extinguishers to...

Friday Night Folk Dancing

Friday Night Folk Dancing

By Jim Lapsley (Crown '71) We became folkdancers through the process of elimination: At the City on the Hill in 1967-1968 there were no other reliable Friday night events or mass transit to the downtown. And we were pretty sure there would be women there. When Hava...

How Maxwell House Got Its Name

How Maxwell House Got Its Name

By Jim Crane (Crown '70) In 1967, Dr. Thimann came up with the idea of letting students name the dorms after figures in the history of science. The reason why we voted for Maxwell House (and I remember the campaigning) was because we thought that by using the name...