International House Berkeley

"We came to grips with each other as real entities, not images on travel posters." — I-House Resident to the dining room and other common as well as business related areas. The beginning years of the 21st century were marked by the production and release of a national television documentary about the history and influence of the House over seven decades. It was seen on public television outlets throughout the United States. The events of September 11, 2001, underscored the continued importance of the mission of International House in the 21st century. Residents of this era were responsible for helping create new security systems within the House and founding a Debate Club where residents and guests could explore important themes of the times ranging from conflicts in the Middle East to Bay Area legislation on same-sex marriages. As a direct result of 9/11, the offices of Services for International Students and Scholars, long housed within I-House, were expanded to support UC Berkeley students from outside the U.S. who confronted new challenges navigating visa and immigration services. I-House alumni wed in a cross-cultural ceremony on the Heller patio, 1998. The House has documented nearly 1,000 I-House couples and the list continues to grow! in implementing a variety of new initiatives. Consistent with its commitment to socioeconomic diversity, the financial aid program grew from about 30 recipients annually in 1989 to over 100 by the turn of the century. On the programmatic side, our cross-cultural collection of books, videos and other materials grew in important ways. And these materials helped fuel an expanded Speakers Program, bringing residents to local schools and civic organizations. At the same time, the international festivals involving performances, cultural displays and food from around the world were ever popular, attracting thousands of visitors from the community. But because life at International House depends on a functioning and adaptable facility, the most ambitious and necessary work during the '90s and the first few years of the 21st century was to begin a comprehensive and aesthetically sensitive renovation of our aging facility. From 1995 through the summer of 2003, about 75% of the building was renovated, which included seismic safety improvements, provisions of internet access in all resident rooms, enhanced access for the disabled, and major improvements 75 Years of CrossCultural Understanding he 2005-2006 academic year marked the seventy-fifth anniversary of when International House Berkeley first opened its doors. This milestone was fêted beginning in late 2002 with the launch of an ambitious 75th Anniversary Celebration and Campaign and the convening of a series of alumni reunions around T 12

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