USD Magazine Summer 2019

by Timothy McKernan TORERO NEWS T he year 1949 was drawing to a close when the State of California ratified the charter of San Diego University — officially creating the San Diego College for Men, College for Women and School of Law. San Diego mayor Harley Knox had already turned the first shov- el of dirt on the mesa where the most recent tenant had been U.S. Navy antiaircraft artillery. Seventy years and many, many shovels of dirt later, the University [ h i s t o r i c a l ]

Cornerstones and building blocks mark Renaissance Plan FROM THE GROUND UP

of San Diego is still under con- struction and renovation. The Renaissance Plan — a 10-year effort of renewal and new con- struction launched in 2016 — calls for upgrades to existing facilities and new construction, including a Learning Commons behind Copley Library and a fa- cility for the School of Business. It’s the latest phase of develop- ment that has transformed a chaparral-covered mesa into what is widely considered one

of the most beautiful campuses in the nation. USD’s co-founders, Bishop Charles Buddy and Mother Rosalie Hill, were a formidable pair. The outgoing, personable prelate was the public face of the effort to build the Catholic colleges in the newly created Diocese of San Diego — its smiling, glad- handing adrenaline. The reserved reverend mother became its project manager. It was Bishop Buddy who in

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