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Discover the Top 11 Fun Facts About UCLA: Intriguing Insights into the Iconic Campus!

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Dive into a world of Bruin pride as we unravel the fascinating, lesser-known gems of UCLA's iconic campus and heritage!

1. James Franco: Hasty Pudding Man

Spider-Man's bookworm pal, the Green Goblin's poetry-loving nemesis, and Milk's mustachioed hero - all rolled into one: James Franco, a UCLA alumnus, was once named Hasty Pudding Man of the Year by Harvard University, joining the ranks of previous awardees like Christopher Walken and Charlize Theron, as they all experienced a drag-N-roast session orchestrated by the university's drama club.
Source => people.com

2. UCLA's Undie Run Tradition

Who needs a fashion show when you've got UCLA's finals week couture on display, featuring the finest in underwear designs and a side of school-spirited stress relief: The beloved Undie Run tradition isn't just a fun way for students to let off steam during exams, but also encourages them to donate clothing to local charities serving the homeless population.
Source => latimes.com

3. UCLA's Role in Internet's Birth

When UCLA wasn't busy binge-watching cat videos or crafting the perfect tweet, they were laying the foundation of their own digital playground: UCLA played a crucial role in the birth of the Internet by sending the first host-to-host message over the ARPANET back in 1969, with researcher Charley Kline typing "login" and crashing the system after the third letter, making it an amusing start to our digital world.
Source => icann.org

4. Farewell to Jerry's Famous Deli

From deli-ghtful to deli-gone: Jerry's Famous Deli, once the epicenter of sandwich-induced revelry for hungry UCLA students, served its final plate in 2013 after 17 glorious years of existence. The fabled eatery just couldn't pass muster due to a dip in business, despite having almost spread its saucy wings to the Weyburn Terrace apartments in 2004.
Source => dailybruin.com

UCLA's Impressive Athletic Record

5. UCLA's Impressive Athletic Record

Whoever said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing," must've been chilling with the UCLA Bruins: With a whopping 119 NCAA championships under their belt, UCLA not only has one of the most successful athletic programs in the nation, but they've also produced more Olympic medals than many countries - so don't be surprised if you bump into a world-class athlete while grabbing your morning latte on campus.
Source => nomisfoundation.ch

6. French Cuisine in Film Course

Ever wondered what's cooking in French cinema, besides the obvious amour and ooh la la? Well, grab a baguette and pull up a chair at UCLA's cinematic dining table: They offer a course called "French Cuisine in Film" where students analyze the relationship between food and culture through five French films, discussing themes like class, gender, and tradition vs. innovation, all while delving into the history of French gastronomy. Bon appétit!
Source => uei.ucla.edu

7. Guaranteed On-Campus Housing

Feeling Bruin-ed out after a long day on campus? Fear not, for UCLA has got you covered in the most luxurious of ways: students are guaranteed housing for three years on campus, located conveniently near the bustling Bruin Walk, with over 1,000 student organizations to choose from, ensuring involvement, comfort, and sweet, sweet slumber.
Source => usnews.com

8. JazzReggae Festival at UCLA

Imagine if Bob Marley serenaded you with smooth jazz while painting murals of enlightenment: Welcome to the JazzReggae Festival at UCLA, an annual student-produced event showcasing diverse music genres, live art, and sustainability since 1986, leaving audiences jammin' and jam-packed with soulful creativity.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. UCLA Baseball's Unique Victory

In a world where home runs are hailed as homecomings, the UCLA Bruins baseball team went against the grain and conquered the College World Series with nary a swat to the bleachers: This illustrious band of bat-wielding Bruins not only won the World Series in 2013 without hitting a single home run, but became the first team to do so since Ohio State in 1966, and has contributed nine players to the USA Collegiate National teams, including diamond darlings Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Men's Crew Team Triumph & Loss

10. Men's Crew Team Triumph & Loss

Despite the crew's dazzling row-mantic rendezvous with destiny that left spectators hopelessly oar-struck: UCLA Men's Crew team clinched multiple Pac-10 titles and scored a bronze at the Collegiate Nationals in 1990, only for the rowing program to be sunk by the Athletics department's budget Titanic in 1991.
Source => uclamensrowing.com

11. UCLA and the Hyperloop Dream

Who would've thought that the Jetsons' futuristic transportation dreams could come true right here in the golden state? UCLA's finest ride the wave of innovation, straight into the world of super-speedy tube travel: UCLA's Architecture and Urban Design program partnered with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies to develop stations and urban planning for the lightning-fast Hyperloop concept, with students in the SUPRASTUDIO program working on vessel and station design, as well as local transportation options to and from Hyperloop stations.
Source => newsroom.ucla.edu

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