University High School (Los Angeles)
Encyclopedia : U : UN : UNI : University High School (Los Angeles)
- Alternate meaning: University High School (disambiguation)
The school's mascot was formerly the Warrior, but is now the Wildcat. All Native American mascots were removed from LAUSD in the mid-1990s. Uni, uniquely though, does have specific Native American "heritage". A natural spring on the campus was used by the native Gabrielino-Tongva people, the descendants of whom continue to be active on the campus. The springs (called Kuruvungna), which produce 22,000 gallons of water each day, have never failed, even in the driest years, and their presence suggests strongly that the site was a meeting and stopping place for Native Americans over thousands of years.[link] In 1975 a grave was discovered, just below the southwest end of the main building, containing a small skeleton and soapstone bowls. This grave was dated to approximately 4000 BCE and the character of the bowls suggested kinship with the culture of Santa Catalina Island in the same era.
The school newspaper, the Wildcat, is part of the High School National Ad Network.
History
Originally known as Warren G. Harding High School when built in 1924, the school was renamed in 1929 after UCLA moved its campus from East Hollywood to Westwood, and the reputation of former President Harding had declined. The name University is supposed to have originated because it became a site where teachers-in-training from nearby UCLA worked as assistant teachers.One third of its class of 1942 did not graduate because of the internment of Japanese-Americans.
"Uni" was opened in 1924, and is one of very few pre-World War II high schools in Los Angeles which have been partially spared by three major earthquakes since its inception. Although a beautiful and widely admired auditorium was condemned following the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, the school's original main building from 1924 remains in use to this day. The music building and gym are scheduled to be taken down because they sit on a fault line, against district policy. Although the music building is not in use, the gym currently is. Because the main building presents a very traditional and dignified appearance, with weathered brick and arched doorways, the campus is popular with film crews during vacations and holidays, and sometimes during school.
Neighborhoods served
Neighborhoods served by University High School include West Los Angeles, Brentwood, and Bel-Air. Also included in its service area are relatively distant canyon neightborhoods adjacent to the city of Beverly Hills, whose students are not within the Beverly Hills Unified School District boundaries.Notable alumni
- Mackenzie Astin (actor)
- Eric Avery
- Jeff Bridges (actor)
- James Brolin (actor)
- Darby Crash
- Craig Davis (banker)
- Sandra Dee
- John Densmore (rock drummer)
- Elonka Dunin, 1976 (cryptographer and game developer)
- Kim Fowley
- Lynette "Squeaky" Fromm
- Jill Gibson, 1960 (singer and artist).
- Kim Gordon (rock musician)
- Darryl Hobbs (former professional football player)
- DJ Joe Iron (Disk Jockey/Music Producer)
- Jan and Dean (rock and roll duo)
- Robbie Krieger (rock guitarist and songwriter)
- Kevin Millar (professional baseball player)
- Penelope Ann Miller (actress)
- Andrew Mishkin, 1976 (commander of one of the Mars Rovers)
- Marilyn Monroe (actress)
- Dave Navarro (rock musician)
- Ryan O'Neal (actor)
- Herb Ritts
- Nancy Sinatra (singer)
- Pat Smear
- Steve Smith
- Elizabeth Taylor (actress)
- Tone Loc (rapper and actor)
Related links
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