Acting like an Anteater

Chancellor Michael Drake opened the school year Monday by putting on

the bright-yellow garb of the CIA.

In this case, CIA stands for Completely Insane Anteaters, UC

Irvine’s school-spirit group. Standing next to Peter the Anteater,

the campus mascot, Drake topped off his outfit with a baseball cap

that celebrates 2005-06 as the school’s 40th year of classes.

Drake, a former UC San Francisco ophthalmology professor and

University of California administrator, was appointed to UC Irvine’s

top post in May. He compared his summer at the campus to “spring

training,” a time to start his new job before crowds of students

filled the school.

“This is the first time to be with them on campus. It’s really

outstanding,” Drake said after he stepped off the stage. “You can

really feel the energy.”

Drake’s cap bore the university’s official seal on the front and a

logo commemorating UC Irvine’s 40th year on the back. He said the cap

was made for students who are entering the school this year.

In four decades, Drake said UC Irvine has made significant

advances in the quality of its undergraduate programs. Looking to the

future, he wants to work to improve the campus’ professional and

graduate offerings.

Classes start Friday. Drake’s appearance at the Anteater Club Fair

and BBQ was one of the campus’ Welcome Week events. The crowd of

students who did not stop to listen to Drake’s brief remarks or the

student dance performances that were held on the same stage were

grabbing a bite to eat or wandering through the several booths

maintained by student groups.

“There are a number of activities. Mostly the clubs are showing

their wares,” said Manuel Gomez, vice chancellor of student affairs.

Many groups were trying to recruit new members Monday. The campus’

fraternities and sororities were at Aldrich Park, as were clubs for

students from a wide variety of religious, cultural and political

backgrounds.

“It’s really crazy, because I come from a really small high

school,” new student Nina Macalinao said.

There were groups for students who wanted to play sports such as

rugby or lacrosse. Student Democrats were on the scene, as were

student Republicans wearing T-shirts that declared that young

conservatives “party right.”

Third-year student Christina Nersesian was trying to catch

Anteaters’ attention as she represented KUCI-FM (88.9), the campus

radio station. Nersesian was trying to bring the radio station to the

attention of potential listeners or find students who might want to

work there.

“We don’t get paid to DJ. We do it because we like it,” Nersesian

said.

As she waited in line near the Completely Insane Anteaters’ booth,

new student Charlotte Simpliciano said she was interested in student

government and Kababayan, a Filipino cultural group, and was also

looking for a Catholic community.

Simpliciano said was glad for the help from campus staffers as she

settled in to life at UC Irvine.

“For a first day, it’s kind of overwhelming,” she said.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be

reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at

o7andrew.edwards@latimes.comf7.