UC Merced acknowledges Native American heritage with Toloma 5K

UC Merced hosted its annual Toloma 5K on Oct. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ahead of Native American Heritage Month, the UC Merced Newsroom announced in a press release.

The 5-kilometer race fundraised for campus affairs around Native American practices, while acknowledging the campus’ location on Yokuts and Miwok land.

“The Toloma 5K serves as an important symbol for the gratitude our institution conveys in recognizing the land on which we are situated and the people who have been and continue to be its stewards,” UCM Vice Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer Delia Saenz said in the press release. 

As an organizer of the event, Native American/Indigenous Recruitment and Outreach Specialist Amanda Putnam spoke on the importance and satisfaction of garnering support for the event.

“It’s heartwarming to see the growing support for this important event,” Putnam said. “Seeing the community acknowledge the location of the campus on Native American land, witnessing support for increased Native American programming on campus and inviting local tribal community members to campus makes Toloma 5K organizers proud to be Bobcats.”

UC Berkeley to offer course on Taylor Swift in 2024

UC Berkeley will offer a class called “Artistry and Entrepreneurship: Taylor’s Version” for Spring Quarter 2024, NBC Bay Area reported.

Students in the class will learn about the musical, business and creative aspects of Swift’s successful career as a songwriter. The course will consist of interactive lectures, readings and listening assignments; students will receive two units for enrolling.

UC Berkeley economics major alumna Crystal Haryanto created the class and will teach it alongside a current student.

“It will be a cross section of literature, economics, business and sociology and I think that we’re studying her impact as an artist, as a whole,” Haryanto told NBC Bay Area. “I want to study her literary devices. But also how those literary devices create meaning.” 

A version of this article appeared on p. 2 of the Nov. 2, 2023, print edition of the Daily Nexus.

Alex Levin

Alex Levin (he/him) is the University News Editor for the 2023-24 school year. Previously, Levin was the Assistant News Editor for the 2022-2023 school year. He can be reached at alexlevin@dailynexus.com.