International House Berkeley

U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger; former Canadian Ambassador to Iran and I-House alumnus Kenneth Taylor; Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox; Madame Pandit, former Chair of India's delegation to the U.N. and Ambassador to Moscow; and South African anti-apartheid leader Allan Boesak. THE 1980S & THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY T oward the end of the '70s, the House began to prepare for its 50th anniversary, the occasion of the largest fundraising drive in the institution's history. Under the dedicated leadership of Board member Bill Slusser, the House Board, administration, and alumni raised almost $2 million in two years. The 50th anniversary capital campaign, which included a $500,000 gift from the Chevron Corporation, was driven by the need for capital improvements, code corrections, and renovations. The result was the renovation of all public rooms and administrative offices. In addition, the Great Hall and Auditorium underwent extensive renovation, painting, and seismic reinforcement. The anniversary was formally celebrated in 1980 with the visit and speech of I-House alumnus and world renowned economist John Kenneth Galbraith. As the Berkeley House entered its sixth decade, its relationships with other International Houses were broadened. In addition to its ongoing communication with the Houses of New York and Chicago, the Berkeley House began to participate in a new series of international conferences with the leaders of Houses in the U.S., France, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and Japan. These international conferences have promoted an exchange of ideas and the establishment of other international houses worldwide. After 26 years of service, W. Sheridan Warrick retired in September 1987. In recognition of his long and dedicated service, the Regents of the University of California bestowed Warrick with the honorary status of executive director emeritus. In late 1987, Joe Lurie was appointed I-House's third executive director. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, Joe subsequently directed programs in Africa and Europe for the School for International Training and served as Vice President and COO for AFS Intercultrual Programs. The year 1989 was highlighted by a visit and concert by famed balladeer Burl Ives, himself an alumnus of I-House, New York. He charmed residents and alumni with his songs and reminiscences of I-House New York, where he once served as night watchman. The House also welcomed over 100 of the finest young musicians from the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The Soviet-American Youth Orchestra's performance and stay at the House permitted residents to experience glasnost up close. The end of the decade witnessed an expansion of fundraising efforts, which focused on the need to increase financial aid for needy residents. Two generous grants from the Bernard Osher Foundation permitted the House for the first time to extend needed financial assistance to U.S. nationals, especially multicultural students. As a result, residents from 60 countries now had a better opportunity to understand U.S. diversity while increasing numbers of U.S. residents from multicultural backgrounds were exposed to other cultures. A young Chicano resident, for example, helped to dispel stereotypes and ignorance about Chicanos among residents from Latin America. At the same time this young man–an Osher grant recipient–was introduced through his Japanese roommate to a host of new ideas and perspectives. Financial assistance for residents from abroad was given a boost at the first fundraising gala in House history. The 1989 celebration, which honored alumnus W. Michael Blumenthal–former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury– netted over $40,000, most of it earmarked for resident scholarships. When Mr. Blumenthal returned to I-House for this event, he went straight to the kitchen, proudly showing his family where he once worked and washed dishes with Ali Bhutto, who later became Pakistan's first Prime Minister. Friendships spanning cutures, ethnicity, and religion are central to the mission and legacy of I-House 8 I-House alumni are wed in an intercultural ceremony on the Heller Patio, 1998

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