College Concludes 50th Anniversary

Valley College ended its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration Friday by dedicating a commemorative garden that will hold a time capsule for 50 years.

But because of high demand as the end of 1999 nears, the time capsule was late from the factory.

“We did get assurances that we will get the time capsule well in advance of 2049,” joked Dennis Reed, dean of Fine, Performing and Media Arts.

Valley President Tyree Wieder presided over the ceremony, which was held under breezy, blue skies.

The ceremony ended a year of events marking Valley College’s opening in 1949 on a former dairy farm. Earlier this year, the college hung decorative banners along nearby streets. In the summer, Valley alumnus state Sen. Richard Alarcon (D-Sylmar) delivered the keynote address in honor of the campus’ anniversary. And in November, the college held a 50th anniversary banquet.

The time capsule will sit under a rock in a garden named after the late Max L. Heyman, who was a history professor at the college. The garden was designed for Friday’s event.

Wieder said she wanted to open the capsule in 25 years, but she was outvoted by her fellow dedication committee members.

“They wanted to wait 50 years,” she said. “I wanted to be around for [the opening of the capsule]--I still plan to be around, but I’ve committed my daughter to be here that day, just in case.”

Among the items that will be placed inside are a grocery store receipt to show the cost of living, a bottle of white-out, a typewriter ribbon and a copy of TV Guide. The capsule will also contain hundreds of messages written by students and community members to future generations, said Hariann Goldman, director of extension programs and chairwoman of the dedication committee.

“The common thread that runs through all of the messages is a hope for global harmony--in every single one,” Goldman said.

Goldman read one message during the ceremony: “When this capsule is opened 50 years from now, we can only hope that your generation has outperformed ours. We hope that you have brought the miracle of peace and harmony to the world at large. We hope that you can sneer at our efforts as puny compared to yours. My generation salutes you.”