University wants people to major in Orange
By Thomas Meagher
June 24, 2009
ORANGE-- Like other colleges, this new "university" has course loads and graduation requirements. But its students range in age from 3 to 89, and the only major is the city of Orange.
The University of Orange was founded last year in an effort to engage residents in the city's history, culture and volunteer opportunities.
Anyone can enroll in or teach the classes, which this year included Orange history and quilting. They were held in the library, outdoors or in peoples' homes. To "graduate," the students must volunteer, take classes, attend a city meeting, vote and, in the words of the organizations website: "Have fun with your neighbors at least twice."
Despite billing itself as a "free people's university," it is not accredited to grant degrees. But it's greater aim is to improve civic involvement and bring city residents together to share their diverse knowledge.
The university held its first graduation ceremony Sunday for about 20 students on the steps of the Orange Memorial Library.
Founder Mindy Fullilove, an Orange native and a professor at Columbia University, grew up in Orange and considers it a microcosm of urban history and disrepair.
"If you want to learn about cities, you can learn everything you need to know in Orange," Fullilove said. "Given its history of segregation, how the poor are getting rapidly displaced and driving is getting tighter..."
Despite problems in Orange, Fullilove said people are invested in the city and hope to see it thrive.
"There are so many organizations, ribbon-cutttings, walkathons, and things that go on here, because people love the city and want to see it saved," Fullilove said. "I began to think of ways we could share all the wealth of activity that was going on around the city and create an environment of collaborative learning."
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For more information on how to enroll visit UniversityofOrange.org
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