UCLA Trivia
Click on an image to see the question associated with it; click again to see the answer.
Question
UCLA was first to win 100 NCAA titles beginning in what year and in what sport?
Answer
1950 Men’s Tennis
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Question
What was the annual competition that began in the 1930s where underclassmen squared off in a battle for respect?
Answer
Freshman-Sophomore Brawl
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Question
A gift from the Alumni Association, when did the Bruin statue make its debut at UCLA?
Answer
Sept. 30, 1984
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Question
On Sept. 3, 2017, what deficit did UCLA have to make up to beat Texas A&M in the greatest comeback in school history?
Answer
Question
What was the UCLA campus called prior to becoming the Southern Branch of the University of California?
Answer
Los Angeles State Normal School
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Question
What’s the name of this 50-year-old mural, located next to Panda Express inside Ackerman Union?
Answer
The Black Experience
Learn how it came to be.
Learn how it came to be.
Question
Who was the UCLA Football coach who won Pac-8 Coach of the Year in 1972 and 1973?
Answer
Pepper Rodgers who was head coach of the Bruins from 1971 – 1973.
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Question
This UCLA institute was formed in 1992 as a result of a global pandemic that had claimed thousands of lives.
Answer
UCLA AIDS Institute
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Question
Who was the only woman to sign a contract with an NBA team?
Answer
In 1980, Ann Meyers Drysdale ’79 signed a contract for $50,000 with the Indiana Pacers.
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Question
Patrisse Cullors ’12 is an activist who co-founded what global movement?
Answer
Black Lives Matter
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Question
What prank did the Bruins pull off the week before the UCLA-USC football game in 1993?
Answer
UCLA’s Theta Chi fraternity covered up parts of the Hollywood Sign so it read “GO UCLA.”
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Question
When was the last time the Beat ʼSC Rally canceled the bonfire due to reasons unrelated to fire danger?
Answer
On Nov. 20, 2014, student protestors surrounded the wooden tower preventing the bonfire.
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Question
On Oct. 29, 1969, what was the intended message to be sent over ARPANET (the Internet’s predecessor)?
Answer
“LOGIN” however the system crashed after “LO”
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Question
What location on campus is known as the “Birthplace of the Internet?”
Answer
Boelter Hall 3420
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Question
When was UCLA’s first and only College Football National Championship?
Answer
In 1954 they were co-national champions with Ohio State.
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Question
Who was the only Bruin to fly in any of the Apollo space missions?
Answer
Walt Cunningham ’60
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Question
When the UCLA Medical Center first opened on July 7, 1955, how many patients did they have the capacity to treat per day?
Answer
820
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Question
How many Bruins died on D-Day during the Allied invasion?
Answer
Two – First Lieutenant John Simons and Second Lieutenant Aaron Dennstedt
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Question
What did the UC Regents refer to the area, now known as Westwood, where they approved the relocation of the Southern Branch in 1925?
Answer
Question
This legendary UCLA coach won his first of 19 NCAA titles in Men’s Volleyball on April 25, 1970.
Answer
Al Scates ’61, M.S. ’62
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Question
In 2006, the UCLA Men’s Basketball team rallied from 17 points down to beat this team in the final seconds of the Sweet 16 to the dismay of their star player.
Answer
Gonzaga, Adam Morrison
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Question
The world’s first year-round, outdoor skating rink was located where?
Answer
Southwest of the intersection of Weyburn and Gayley, where Weyburn Terrace II is today.
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Question
What can be found under one of the domes on top of the Mathematical Sciences building?
Answer
The UCLA Planetarium
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Question
Forty years ago, on Sept. 18, 1978, Arthur Ashe ’66 won his last tournament at this iconic venue.
Answer
Pauley Pavilion
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Question
On Sept. 30, 1984, the Alumni Association unveiled two gifts to UCLA. The first was The Bruin statue. What was the second?
Answer
“Mighty Bruins,” a new fight song for UCLA, composed by Bill Conti.
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Question
Before they were the Bruins, UCLA sports teams were called the Cubs. What did it stand for?
Answer
Cubs spelled backwards was the acronym for Southern Branch of the University of California, and it was a nod to the Cal Bears.
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Question
According to UCLA legend, rubbing the Bruin statue’s paw will result in this mystical fate.
Answer
Good luck during finals week.
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Question
Where were UCLA Commencement ceremonies held when they were first moved to the Westwood campus in 1941?
Answer
Open Air Theater, aka Greek Theater, now the site of Center for Health Sciences.
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Question
What was the impetus for Ray Bradbury to write his classic Farenheit 451 in the basement of Powell Library?
Answer
He needed a quiet place to write because his house was noisy with his newborn child.
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Question
What was the nickname of Roll Inn Sandwich on Gayley Ave., known for their really cheap subs?
Answer
Buck Fiddy
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Question
In Coach Wooden’s final game on March 29, 1975, what team did UCLA beat to win their 10th national title?
Answer
Kentucky Wildcats
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Question
What was rapper, actor Ice Cube’s connection to UCLA in the 1980s?
Answer
Both his parents worked at UCLA – Doris Jackson as a hospital clerk and Hosea Jackson as a groundskeeper.
Question
This famous Ball led the Bruins in their last Rose Bowl game victory in what year?
Answer
Eric Ball, 1986
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Question
Leading up to their Dec. 12, 1942 football game, UCLA and USC competed against each other for what worthy cause?
Answer
Selling war bonds. Together, they raised more than $2 million.
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Question
How much did alumni contribute to the construction of the Memorial Activities Center in 1963, now known as Pauley Pavilion?
Answer
$2,000,000 or 40 percent
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Question
What does the full inscription read and where is it located?
Answer
“May La Force Be With You” / UCLA Anderson
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What is the name of UCLA’s official charity which first welcomed needy children on Aug. 3, 1935?
Answer
UniCamp
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Question
On July 1, 1920, the request for an ROTC program at UCLA was granted. Why was the program almost later abolished?
Answer
Student opposition due to the Vietnam War.
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Question
Inspired by the visit of the Freedom Train in 1948, UCLA hosted this popular three-week exhibition at what is now Powell Library?
Answer
The Great American Historical Documents, Manuscripts and Books exhibition
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Question
On May 5, 1925, a bond measure was passed for the purchase of the Westwood location. What other locations were also proposed for the Southern Branch?
Answer
Burbank, Fullerton and Palos Verdes
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Question
How many combined heart and lung transplants did UCLA perform in 2016?
Answer
170. The most among all U.S. medical centers.
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Question
When were the chimes at Royce Hall played for the first time?
Answer
March 26, 1939
Source: “UCLA On the Move: During Fifty Golden Years 1919-1969” By Andrew Hamilton, John B. Jackson
Source: “UCLA On the Move: During Fifty Golden Years 1919-1969” By Andrew Hamilton, John B. Jackson
Question
On Feb. 21, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson met with which country’s head of state at UCLA?
Answer
Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos
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Question
On Jan. 20, 1968, the Houston Cougars ended the Bruins’ winning streak of how many games in The Game of the Century?
Answer
47
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Question
Before this free speech area was renamed Meyherhoff Park after the famed UCLA Philosophy professor, what was it called?
Answer
Hyde Park Read More »
Question
In 1960, this professor of chemistry became the first UCLA professor ever to receive the Nobel Prize.
Answer
Willard F. Libby Read More »
Question
From 1968-1978, this place on campus researched claims of ghosts, hauntings and extra sensory perception.
Answer
The parapsychology lab at UCLA, located on what is now the fifth floor of the Semel Institute. Read More »
Question
In the 1960 Olympics, Rafer Johnson ’59 outdueled this friend and Bruin teammate to win the decathalon.
Answer
Chuan-Kwang Yang Read More »
Question
What alumnae group has provided significant scholarship support for 80 years with their $3 million endowment?
Answer
Gold Shield Read More »
Question
On July 18, 1947, this prestigious school was established when Assemblyman Rosenthal introduced a bill appropriating $1 million for this building on a whim.
Answer
UCLA Law School Read More »
Question
June 7, 1993 marked the end of this 14-day hunger strike on campus that led to the creation of what new center?
Answer
César E. Chávez Center for Interdisciplinary Instruction in Chicana and Chicano Studies Read More »
Question
In 1926, UCLA was in conflict with the University of Montana over the use of what mascot?
Answer
Grizzly Read More »
Question
In 1945, this visionary provost proposed transforming UCLA from a commuter campus into the residential community it is today.
Answer
Clarence Dykstra Read More »
Question
When the Southern Branch of the University of California opened in 1919, who was elected the Dean of Women?
Answer
Helen Matthewson Laughlin Read More »
Question
In 1946, the “Forgotten Four” were the first athletes to integrate professional football. Can you name the two who were UCLA Bruins?
Answer
Kenny Washington and Woody Strode. Read More »
Question
In what year did UCLA dismiss the academic semester system and adopt the quarter system, which includes a winter session?
Answer
1966. Read More »
Question
In what year did Coach Henry “Red” Sanders lead the Bruins to a 34-0 shut-out against the USC Trojans?
Answer
1954. Read More »
Question
What was UCLA’s role in the development of the first atomic bomb?
Answer
Under a government contract, UCLA’s task was to purchase and deliver equipment and materials necessary for the Manhattan Project. Read More »
Question
From September 1992 – 1996, this temporary structure was erected in Wilson Plaza as a place to study while one of UCLA’s iconic buildings underwent renovation.
Answer
Towell, shortened from Temporary Powell Staging Facility
Question
This Aug. 14 will mark the 70th anniversary of when sirens blared on campus to signify what momentous event?
Answer
V-J Day – Emperor Hirohito had announced Japan’s surrender, officially ending World War II.
Question
In celebration of Pauley Pavilion’s 50th anniversary, what female athlete won the all-around gymnastics title and Olympic gold in this building in 1984?
Answer
Mary Lou Retton
Question
What UCLA tradition from 1943-1995 brought tens of thousands of people on campus and benefitted UniCamp?
Answer
Mardi Gras
Question
What was the name of UCLA’s original fight song before Sons of Westwood?
Answer
“By the Old Pacific’s Rolling Waters,” also known as “By”
Question
What new facility, described as “modernistically clean-lined,” was a added to the UCLA campus on April 3, 1961?
Answer
UCLA’s new student union, renamed Ackerman Union upon “Mr. A’s” retirement in 1967.
Question
In March 19, 1995, who was the player that scored the buzzer beater to beat Missouri in the second round of the NCAA Tournament?
Answer
Tyus Edney ’97
Question
Over the past 13 years, what UCLA tradition has raised nearly $4 million?
Answer
Dance Marathon held by the Pediatric AIDS Coalition at UCLA
Question
When Martin Luther King Jr. spoke on Janss Steps in 1965, what was his appeal to UCLA students?
Answer
To join the summer program that would work to double the number of blacks registered to vote in the South.
Question
Where and when did the college football “bowl game” originate?
Answer
The Rose Bowl, 1923
Question
During rivalry week, what happens to the Bruin Bear statue?
Answer
It is covered by a wooden box with the sign “The Bruin Bear is Hibernating” as students stand guard to protect it from vandalism.
Question
UCLA set the record as the most applied-to university in the nation. How many applications were received for the fall of 2014?
Answer
More than 105,800
Question
What’s the name of this Orientation tradition where new students officially become Bruins?
Answer
Bruintized
Question
What do the UCLA colors represent?
Answer
All UC colors represent the state’s attributes. Blue for the ocean and local wildflowers. Gold for the Golden State, California poppy and sunsets.
Question
What year did UCLA confer its first degrees and how many graduates were in that class?
Answer
1923, 28 students
UCLA Slang
If I’m in a jam, I’ll call my homie who’s
straight money
.
straight money
.
What Is It?
Straight money – Someone/something that can always be counted on for anything, anytime.
Question
How much money was raised during Campaign UCLA from 1995-2005?
Answer
$3.053 billion
Question
Which sports team helped UCLA become the first school to win 100 NCAA championships in May 2007?
Answer
Women’s Water Polo.
Question
In 1974, UCLA Men’s Basketball ended their 88-game winning streak by losing to what team?
Answer
Notre Dame.
Question
What disaster resulted in the start of classes on the Westwood campus on March 18, 1929, months before its opening?
Answer
A fire in the Vermont campus chemical lab. Read More »
Question
On Jan. 17, 1994, the Northridge earthquake rocked Southern California. Which UCLA facilities were significantly damaged by the earthquake?
Answer
Kerckhoff Hall, Royce Hall, Powell Library, Dykstra and UCLA Medical Center. Read More »
Question
On Jan. 20, 1931, Kerckhoff Hall was dedicated as UCLA’s first student union. What was William G. Kerckhoff’s successful line of business?
Answer
Lumber and hydroelectric power. Read More »
Question
What were the first 13 departments authorized as major fields of study at UCLA?
Answer
Chemistry, economics, English, French, history, Latin, mathematics, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, Spanish and zoology
Question
Name the UCLA professor emeritus of economics and mathematics who won the Nobel Prize last year?
Answer
Lloyd S. Shapley won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.
UCLA Slang
“You need to
slow your roll
. She’s clearly not interested.”
slow your roll
. She’s clearly not interested.”
What Is It?
Slow your roll – Calm down. Stop coming on so strong.
Question
Which UCLA player was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Answer
Jonathan Ogden. He was inducted on Aug. 03, 2013. Ogden was a four-year starter at offensive tackle for UCLA in the 1992-95 seasons.
UCLA Slang
“Now that the election is over, I hope people quit
throwing shade
on facebook.”
throwing shade
on facebook.”
What Is It?
Throwing Shade – To criticize, demean or insult.
Question
In the year the Bruins made the Rose Bowl their new home stadium, what bowl game did they end up with at the end of the season?
Answer
The Rose Bowl game, winning 24-14 over Michigan. Read More »
UCLA Slang
“Your picture looks so much better when you
smize
.”
smize
.”
What Is It?
smize – smile with your eyes, as coined by Tyra Banks in America’s Next Top Model
Question
During the 1984 Olympics, what UCLA center was designated by the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee to create the first Olympic drug testing facility in the United States?
Answer
UCLA Medical Center.
(UCLA: The First Century, page 203)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
(UCLA: The First Century, page 203)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
What Is It?
Crutch phrase – Relying on overworked clichés because of a speaker’s difficulty to articulate ideas.
UCLA Slang
At the end of the day we have to think outside of the box if we are to successfully leverage our resources.
Question
The junior prom of 1949 was held at Paramount Studios with master of ceremonies Bob Hope. The prize of the evening was a date with which famous child star, whose film Little Women was released that year?
Answer
Elizabeth Taylor.
(UCLA: The First Century, page 330)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
(UCLA: The First Century, page 330)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
UCLA Slang
“What ya’ll
talmbout
?”
talmbout
?”
What Is It?
Talmbout – A contraction of the words talking and about.
Question
What UCLA tradition began in the 1940s with fraternities competing for the title of “Champion Serenaders of Sorority Row”?
Answer
Spring Sing. (
UCLA: The First Century, page 339)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
UCLA: The First Century, page 339)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
UCLA Slang
“I have yet to receive the data for our annual report.
Please advise
.”
Please advise
.”
What Is It?
Office vernacular for “What the heck?”
Question
A three-time Olympic gold medalist, which pitcher was the first softball player to win the Honda-Broderick Cup as the nation’s top female collegiate athlete?
Answer
Lisa Fernandez ’95.
(UCLA: The First Century, page 312)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
(UCLA: The First Century, page 312)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
UCLA Slang
“Beyoncé did such a great job at the Super Bowl halftime show.
Cough thought
‘Blackout!’”
Cough thought
‘Blackout!’”
What Is It?
When you say something rude, mean or insulting but try to cover it up by coughing loudly.
Question
Which softball star became an orthopedic surgeon and went on to win gold at the 1996 Olympics?
Answer
Dot Richardson ’84.
(UCLA: The First Century, page 312)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
(UCLA: The First Century, page 312)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
UCLA Slang
”
Hey you
, how’s that thing coming along?”
Hey you
, how’s that thing coming along?”
What Is It?
Hey you – Greeting used when you forget the person’s name
Question
In February 1932, Royce Hall overflowed with students for what thinker’s latest theory?
Answer
Albert Einstein discussed his latest thinking on the theory of relativity. (
UCLA: The First Century, page 50)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
UCLA: The First Century, page 50)To find out more about UCLA history, get your copy of
UCLA: The First Century
.
UCLA Slang
“She’s sporting a peace sign and duck lips on her
selfie
.”
selfie
.”
What Is It?
Selfie – A photo of oneself, often looking away from the camera or making a kissy face, taken at arm’s length and uploaded onto a social networking website.
Question
On January 15, 1932, all classes were cancelled for the day so that students could enjoy what unusual occurrence?
Answer
The Big Snow; two inches of snow in Royce Quad
UCLA Slang
“I want to party with her
Gangnam
Style.”
Gangnam
Style.”
What Is It?
Gangnam – Korean pop song by rapper Psy, critiquing the reputed trendy and lavish lifestyle of the Gangnam district residents in Seoul.
Question
What notable American speaker delivered the UCLA Charter Day address in 1963?
Answer
Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. (
UCLA: The First Century, page 154)
UCLA: The First Century, page 154)
UCLA Slang
“My bridesmaids are all my
besties
.”
besties
.”
What Is It?
Besties – Short for best friends.
Question
In 1975, the first “chamfer cylinder design surface” was developed at UCLA Medical Center. What does this invention do?
Answer
The “chamfer cylinder design surface” is more commonly known as a durable artificial hip.
UCLA Slang
“Check out George. He’s
going screensaver
.”
going screensaver
.”
What Is It?
Going screensaver – When you notice a coworker spacing out or dozing off in a meeting.
Question
Who decided that UCLA’s fraternity and sorority houses should be on opposite sides of campus – and why?
Answer
Dean of Women Helen Laughlin felt that the fraternity and sorority houses should be separated to discourage unseemly hanky-panky.
UCLA Slang
“That combo meal gave me a
food baby
.”
food baby
.”
What Is It?
Food baby – When you eat so much that your stomach looks pregnant.
Question
Eugene Hilgard, Joseph Le Conte and Charles Gayley all have Westwood streets named after them. Do you know who they were?
Answer
The three were professors at UC Berkeley – professors of Herbert Foster, the engineer who later helped lay out the Westwood streets.
UCLA Slang
“Did you see our center
posterize
that Trojan at last night’s game?”
posterize
that Trojan at last night’s game?”
What Is It?
Posterize – to dunk emphatically over a defender in basketball.
Question
Which Bruin, who won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2005 for
Sideways, received a second Oscar in the same category this year?
Sideways, received a second Oscar in the same category this year?
Answer
Alexander Payne, M.F.A. ’90.
UCLA Slang
“Hey buddy, everyone wants to know where you want to meet up.
Drop the pin
!”
Drop the pin
!”
What Is It?
Drop the Pin – Term that means letting people know where you are through Google maps or any app that shows your location on a map.
Question
Who coached UCLA to its first NCAA team championship, in any sport?
Answer
William C. “Bill” Ackerman (Men’s Tennis, 1950).
UCLA Slang
“Can you put down your freakin’
crackberry
for a second and pay attention to the movie?”
crackberry
for a second and pay attention to the movie?”
What Is It?
Crackberry – term used for Blackberry devices constantly being checked by their users
Question
What was the first residence hall built on UCLA’s campus?
Answer
Dykstra Hall – UCLA’s first dormitory. Thanks to the new on-campus housing, UCLA was no longer a commuter school.
UCLA Slang
“I would consider a person to be tatted out if they had
sleeves
.”
sleeves
.”
What Is It?
Sleeves – tattoos covering the whole arm, from the shoulder to the wrist
Question
In what year was UCLA first elected to membership in the Association of American Universities?
Answer
1974. UCLA’s election to this nonprofit association of preeminent public and private research institutions marked the first time that a university system had more than one campus as a member.
UCLA Slang
“Did you see her score that goal? That was
boss
!”
boss
!”
What Is It?
Boss – very good, cool, awesome
Question
How much does UCLA’s Founders’ Rock weigh?
Answer
75 tons.
UCLA Slang
“That blonde across the room is a
dimepiece
.”
dimepiece
.”
What Is It?
Dimepiece – a good looking person; a perfect 10
Question
Which school has produced No. 1 draft choices in the NFL, NBA, MLS and MLB?
Answer
UCLA, of course.
UCLA Slang
“I didn’t meet my major’s unit requirement, so I’m taking a
victory lap
.”
victory lap
.”
What Is It?
Victory Lap – each additional year a college senior takes to obtain a degree
Question
What MVP quarterback overcame food poisoning to lead UCLA to 45-9 victory against Illinois in the Rose Bowl in his final game as a Bruin?
Answer
Rick Neuheisel.
Question
Why were the original men’s gym and women’s gym constructed at the bottom of a hill on campus?
Answer
In 1929 construction began on the gyms as two of the first eight buildings on campus, under the design concept that the top of the hill was for the mind and the bottom of the hill was for the body.
UCLA Slang
“That kid thinks he’s so
1337
because he hacked into my computer.”
1337
because he hacked into my computer.”
What Is It?
1337 (leet) – superior, better than anyone else especially in computers; derived from elite
Question
Ackerman Student Union is celebrating its 50th anniversary. How many bowling lanes did it house when it first opened?
Answer
Ackerman featured a 10-lane bowling alley, rooms for billiards and table tennis, indoor and outdoor dining areas and space for other leisure activities.
UCLA Slang
“I recently met my ex-fiance’s new spouse at a party.
Awkward turtle.
“
Awkward turtle.
“
What Is It?
Awkward Turtle – comment made in an awkward situation (usually accompanied by hand gesture where one hand is placed on the back of the other hand and both outstretched thumbs are wiggled)
Question
In what year was Pauley Pavilion officially introduced to the university?
Answer
Pauley Pavilion was introduced to the university at the June 1965 Commencement exercises, dedicated and named for Regent Edwin W. Pauley, the principal donor to the building fund.
UCLA Slang
“Man, have you been working out? You look
swoll
.”
swoll
.”
What Is It?
Swoll – very large and muscular; buff
Question
Which UCLA alumnus won the award for best screenplay at the 2009 Academy Awards?
Answer
On Feb. 22, 2009, Dustin Lance Black ’96 won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Milk, a biographical drama about martyred gay activist politician Harvey Milk.
UCLA Slang
“The
hipsters
have taken over Echo Park.”
hipsters
have taken over Echo Park.”
What Is It?
Hipster: Elitist, pseudo-intellectual person who is involved in the indie culture (including fashion, music, art and film), wears tight pants, often plaid, owns many cloth scarves and may own a fixie.
Question
Jackie Robinson was the only Bruin athlete in UCLA history to letter in four sports. What were they?
Answer
Robinson earned letters in baseball, football, basketball and track.
UCLA Slang
“The teacher was cranky and put me on
blast
when I got the answer wrong.”
blast
when I got the answer wrong.”
What Is It?
Put on Blast – to embarrass (someone) in front of a group.
Question
Who is the only person to not attend UCLA, yet be named Alumnus of the Year?
Answer
John Wooden was named Alumnus of the Year in 1973. In 1969, the Alumni Association had designated him an honorary alumnus.
UCLA Slang
“Hey there,
Powell Ranger
, what time are we studying?”
Powell Ranger
, what time are we studying?”
What Is It?
Powell Ranger – A person who spends an excessive amount of time at Powell Library
Question
What UCLA graduate and current Google honcho is known as “Father of the Internet?”
Answer
Vinton Cerf M.A. ’70, Ph.D. ’72, an American computer scientist, is the person most often called “Father of the Internet.”
UCLA Slang
“My friend always goes out on Thursday night because she has
FOMO
.”
FOMO
.”
What Is It?
FOMO – Fear of missing out on something
Question
What notable landmark inspired the original design of UCLA’s Inverted Fountain?
Answer
The bubbling mud pots and hot springs of Yellowstone National Park inspired the design of UCLA’s Inverted Fountain.
UCLA Slang
“I had a
ridonkulous
night yesterday in Los Angeles.”
ridonkulous
night yesterday in Los Angeles.”
What Is It?
Ridonkulous – ridiculous, crazy, unexpected
Question
What was the original name of the UCLA yearbook?
Answer
Southern Campus. The title alluded to the campus’s original name: Southern Branch of the University of California. In 1983, the book came to be called Bruin Life, the name it currently holds.
UCLA Slang
“I am
helly jelly
that she is going to my favorite band’s concert.”
helly jelly
that she is going to my favorite band’s concert.”
What Is It?
Helly Jelly – to be extremely envious of something/someone. Short for “hella jealous.”
Question
Long before the card show at UCLA football games, what used to be the trademark of the UCLA cheering section?
Answer
Originated in 1935, light stunts were the trademark of the UCLA cheering section in 1930s. The cheering section was wired and each student given four light bulbs, each of a different color.
Next »
Next »
Answer
In 1953, because the light bulbs and wiring were not only difficult to handle but expensive to maintain, the students developed a card similar to the type used in ordinary card stunts.
Next »
Next »
Answer
It has eight different light filters placed in a circular pattern. Each student was given a flashlight to shine through the filters.
UCLA Slang
“We might as well go for it,
YOLO
!”
YOLO
!”
What Is It?
YOLO – You Only Live Once. Recently made popular by the song “The Motto” by Drake, featuring Lil’ Wayne.
Question
What was the first structure completed on UCLA’s new Westwood campus?
Answer
The Arroyo Bridge (buried in Dickson Plaza) was the first structure erected at UCLA. The top of the bridge, still in use today, is the road that connects Royce, Powell, Haines and Kinsey halls with Murphy Hall.
UCLA Slang
“I’m
finna
leave right now.” Or, “I’m
finna
get an A in this class.”
finna
leave right now.” Or, “I’m
finna
get an A in this class.”
What Is It?
Finna- to be going to, to be about to
Question
How many Bruins competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics?
Answer
UCLA sent a total of 36 Bruins to the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. 31 were athletes – 27 alumni, 3 current students, 1 incoming student – and 5 were coaches.
Question
What currently occupies UCLA’s former Vermont Avenue campus?
Answer
Los Angeles City College currently sits on the site of the former UCLA campus.
Question
What famous Hollywood glamour queen crowned the 1962 UCLA Mardi Gras king?
Answer
Jayne Mansfield crowned the Mardi Gras King in 1962. The king was typically a favorite professor or University employee. The winner was voted on and announced the night of the carnival.
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Answer
Mansfield’s connection to campus didn’t end there, however. Two decades later, Mansfield’s daughter, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress Mariska Hargitay, enrolled at UCLA.
UCLA Slang
“Why’d you open the door for her?” “’Cause that’s my
steaze
.”
steaze
.”
What Is It?
Steaze – style (style + ease)
Question
What did Greg Graffin ’87, M.S. ’90 do before he taught Life Science at UCLA?
Answer
Greg Graffin first found fame as lead singer of the groundbreaking band Bad Religion. In addition to his UCLA degrees, he holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University.
Question
What year was UCLA host to a U.S. Presidential debate?
Answer
In 1988, Pauley Pavilion was the location of the Bush-Dukakis debate.
Question
Why is the C on UCLA’s basketball jerseys a different color?
Answer
The C represents the Roman numeral for 100, commemorating UCLA as the first to win 100 NCAA Championships.
Question
Who was John Wolfskill and what is his connection to UCLA history?
Answer
In 1884, John Wolfskill paid $10 an acre to buy the land on which the UCLA campus now stands. The land became an avocado grove.
Question
The UCLA campus newspaper has borne five names in its history. Can you name all of the monikers used?
Answer
Cub Californian (1919-24), California Grizzly (1924-26), California Daily Bruin (1926-43 & 1944-48), California Bruin (1943-44) and UCLA Daily Bruin (1948-present)
Question
Who was the first sitting U.S. president to visit UCLA?
Answer
On Feb. 21, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson and Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos met at UCLA on Charter Day.
UCLA Slang
“I don’t really want to shave my
neard
today.”
neard
today.”
What Is It?
Neard – hair on the neck (neck + beard)
Question
What building served as the model for Royce Hall?
Answer
Architect Daniel Allison used the Basilica di San Ambrogio, a 12th-century Romanesque church in Milan, Italy, as the model for UCLA’s Royce Hall.
Question
In February 2002, UCLA students organized an event that is now one of the largest student-organized annual fundraisers in the U.S. What is it?
Answer
Winter formals have long since gone out of fashion at UCLA, but school dances are still alive. Dance Marathon at UCLA raises awareness and money for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
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Answer
Each year, UCLA students organize a 26-hour dance-athon to support the battle of children suffering from AIDS. Dancers stay on their feet for the duration of the event and raise funds through sponsorships.
Question
Which former U.S. general began teaching at UCLA in 2006?
Answer
Former supreme allied commander of NATO and Democratic presidential hopeful Gen. Wesley Clark joined the Burkle Center for International Relations as a senior fellow in fall of 2006.
Question
How many years did Charles E. Young M.A. ’57, Ph.D. ’60 serve as chancellor?
Answer
Young served as UCLA chancellor for 29 years, 1968-97. He is the only UCLA alumnus to serve as the university’s chief executive.
Question
What took possession of the space UCLA vacated when it moved to Westwood?
Answer
Los Angeles Junior College was established on Sept. 9, 1929 by the Los Angeles Board of Education. In 1938, the Board of Education changed the institution’s name to Los Angeles City College.
UCLA Slang
“John and Kate were dating a long time so last night they had a
D.T.R.
to see where their relationship was going.”
D.T.R.
to see where their relationship was going.”
What Is It?
D.T.R. – conversation between a couple concerning the status of their relationship (Defining The Relationship)
Question
What Nobel Peace Prize laureate spoke on April 22, 1965, preceding Martin Luther King Jr. in the ASUCLA Speakers Program?
Answer
Ralph Bunche ’27, who received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize, spoke a month before King. The scheduling was a response by program organizers to the civil rights marches in Selma, Ala.
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Answer
Bunche was the first African-American to receive the prize and, at age 34, King was the youngest.
Question
Coach John Wooden was the first person inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. For what college or university did Wooden play?
Answer
Wooden was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1961as a player for Purdue University, 1928-32. He was inducted as a coach in 1973.
Question
What non-Bruin creature can be found at the bottom of the Royce Quad flagpole?
Answer
Originally a gift from Jake Gimbel, the flagpole’s brass plaque bears a bas relief replica of a South American fish, the
porotergus gimbeli.
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porotergus gimbeli.
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Answer
In 1910, Gimbel had sponsored an expedition to explore the rivers of Brazil. Native legend told of an “electric” fish that would shock larger fish before attacking them. The mythical fish was found.
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Answer
It was brought back to the U.S, scientifically catalogued and named in honor of the expedition’s benefactor. Gimbel had the fish added to the plaque on a whim when he presented his gift in 1937.
Question
John Lithgow, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and many more campus and entertainment luminaries gathered on campus April 4, 1998. Why?
Answer
On April 4, 1998, UCLA hosted the Royce Hall Gala Reopening, giving the public its first official look at the transformed campus icon.
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Answer
Proceeds from the gala benefited UCLA students and programs and the UCLA Center for the Performing Arts so that it could continue to bring to Royce Hall the finest performing artists in the world.
Question
What precious object did the Trojans surrender in 1942?
Answer
The UCLA Victory Bell. A gift of the UCLA Alumni Association to campus, it was kidnapped by Trojans in 1941. After negotiations, the Trojans agreed to return the bell on one condition.
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Answer
The condition was that the Victory Bell will become a trophy of the annual cross-town rivalry. On Dec. 12, 1942, the Bruins beat the Trojans for the first time and took the Victory Bell home.
Question
What Bruin was the only man in NBA history to be a first-round draft choice without ever starting a game in his collegiate career?
Answer
Swen Nater, a community college All-American in 1970 before playing behind NCAA Player of the Year Bill Walton under Coach John Wooden, and a member of two UCLA national championship squads.
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Answer
He went on to become an NBA first-round draft pick in 1973 and the ABA Rookie of the Year in 1974.
UCLA Slang
“I
ROFLed
when he slipped on that banana peel.”
ROFLed
when he slipped on that banana peel.”
What Is It?
Rolfed
1. To laugh a lot
2. That’s really funny (interjection.) (Rolling On the Floor Laughing).
Question
When did UCLA get its first Josephine Bruin?
Answer
In 1961, alumni presented UCLA with the first Josephine Bruin, a little Himalayan bear. Josephine lived in the Rally Committee chair’s backyard. But as she grew, Josephine was moved to the San Diego Zoo.
Question
“Hail to the Hills of Westwood” is UCLA’s alma mater, but it’s not the university’s first. What was UCLA’s previous alma mater, and when was it retired?
Answer
“Hail Blue and Gold,” written by a UCLA student in 1925, preceded “Hail to the Hills of Westwood.” The current alma mater was adopted in 1960. Until 1925, UCLA shared UC Berkely’s alma mater.
Question
Which team won UCLA’s 99th NCAA title?
Answer
Women’s Water Polo.
Question
Who is the only UCLA chief executive to have earned a degree from UCLA?
Answer
Chancellor Charles Young M.A. ’57, Ph.D. ’60 remains the only Bruin also to have led UCLA.
UCLA Slang
“I’m
rickrolling
all my pages.” Or, “Are we getting
rickrolled
here in the car?”
rickrolling
all my pages.” Or, “Are we getting
rickrolled
here in the car?”
What Is It?
1. To program a webpage to take users to Rick Astley’s video “Never Gonna Give You Up” rather than whatever they clicked on.
2. To play “Never Gonna Give You Up” for (someone).
Question
What two distinguished guests came to Pauley Pavilion on Oct. 13, 1988, and why?
Answer
Presidential nominees Michael Dukakis and George Bush debated at UCLA. Dukakis would later return to campus as a visiting professor.
Question
In which 1969 film did the UCLA Band appear as part of a parade?
Answer
Hello Dolly!
Question
How many gallons of water does the Inverted Fountain recirculate per minute?
Answer
A campus landmark since 1968, the Inverted Fountain recirculates 10,000 gallons of water per minute.
Question
What historic structure inspired the architecture of Kerckhoff Hall?
Answer
Henry VII’s chapel at Westminster. Kerckhoff Hall is the only Tudor Gothic building on campus.
Question
Including both alumni and faculty, how many Nobel recipients can UCLA currently claim?
Answer
Six UCLA alumni and five UCLA faculty members are Nobel Laureates.
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Answer
Faculty: Louis J. Ignarro, Physiology or Medicine, 1998; Paul Boyer, Chemistry, 1997; Donald Cram, Chemistry, 1987; Julian S. Schwinger, Physics, 1965; Willard F. Libby, Chemistry, 1960.
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Answer
Alumni: Richard F. Heck, Chemistry, 2010; Elinor Ostrom, Economics, 2009; William Sharpe, Economics, 1990; Bruce Merrifield, Chemistry, 1984; Glenn Seaborg, Chemistry, 1951; Ralph Bunche, Peace Prize, 1950.
Question
How old is the UCLA School of Public Affairs (formerly the UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research)?
Answer
The School of Public Affairs was established in 1994 to set a new direction for policy education, research and action.
UCLA Slang
“It isn’t a big deal; you don’t have to
Q.Q.
“
Q.Q.
“
What Is It?
Q.Q. – to cry, complain (originally an emoticon)
Question
How many volumes does the UCLA Library house?
Answer
The UCLA Library reported housing nearly 8.4 million volumes, more than 50,000 serial titles and some 230,000 electronic resources in 2007-08, the last year for which statistics are available.
Question
How many times has UCLA taken the field for the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl game?
Answer
The Bruins have played 12 New Year’s Day games at the Rose Bowl, assembling a 5-7 record. The first appearance was in 1943, and the most recent in 1999.
Question
Where and when was the first assembly held on the Westwood campus of UCLA?
Answer
The first assembly on the Westwood campus was held in Royce Hall on September 23, 1929.
Question
In 1928, UCLA began holding Commencement at the Hollywood Bowl. When did Commencement move to the Westwood campus?
Answer
In 1941, Commencement was held in the Open Air Theater, now the site of the Center for the Health Sciences.
Question
The College of Letters and Science houses a majority of UCLA’s academic departments. How many majors does the College offer?
Answer
Organized into 5 divisions – humanities, physical sciences, social sciences, life sciences, honors and undergraduate programs – it offers 106 majors and 69 minors as of 2010.
Question
How much economic activity does UCLA generate each year?
Answer
$9.3 billion in 2010.
UCLA Slang
“Don’t come around here unless you have my
skrilla
.”
skrilla
.”
What Is It?
Money.
Question
UCLA’s Fowler Museum of Cultural History is one of the top university museums in the nation. How many objects are in the museum’s collections?
Answer
The collections include more than 150,000 art and ethnographic and 600,000 archaeological objects.
Question
In what year was the Southern Branch Alumni Association – the forerunner of today’s UCLA Alumni Association – established?
Answer
1925.
Question
What percentage of UCLA undergraduates receives financial aid?
Answer
Approximaters 64% in 2010. Among the nation’s 50 top universities, UCLA continues to have the largest proportion of undergraduates receiving federal Pell Grants for students from low-income families.
UCLA Slang
“Do you agree with me?
Totes
“
Totes
“
What Is It?
Totes – totally (abbreviation)
Question
In 1954, the Bruin football team clinched the Pacific Coast Conference title and National Championship. Who was the head coach and what was the team’s season record?
Answer
Fifty years ago, Head Coach Henry “Red” Sanders led the team to a perfect 9-0 season record. Tommy Prothro, who would later become head coach himself, was a key assistant coach in that season.
Question
Where and what was “Gayleyville”?
Answer
“Gayleyville,” located along Gayley Avenue and Strathmore Drive, was set up during the post-World War II years to provide housing for married students.
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Answer
Gayleyville was made up of 20 units with 14 apartments, which offered proximity to UCLA, low rent and scenic views of green grass and hills. Gayleyville was torn down in the 1960s.
Question
In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first black American to play modern major league baseball. In which year did the UCLA Alumni Association name him Edward A. Dickson Alumnus of the Year?
Answer
Robinson was named Alumnus of the Year in 1962 – the same year he became the first black American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
UCLA Slang
“Now that Trader Joe’s opened, I don’t have to go to
Whole Paycheck
.”
Whole Paycheck
.”
What Is It?
Whole paycheck – Whole Foods
Question
What Spring Sing emcee went on to become president of the United States?
Answer
Screen Actors Guild President Ronald Reagan emceed Spring Sing in 1952. Later, of course, he was elected president of the United States.
Question
Which winner of the Nobel Prize in physics spoke at UCLA in 1932?
Answer
Albert Einstein addressed an overflowing crowd in Royce Hall on February 15, 1932, elucidating his latest thinking on his theory of relativity.
Question
In 1965, the NCAA champion and preseason No. 1 pick UCLA men’s basketball team played its first game in Pauley Pavilion. Who did the team play and who won?
Answer
Pauley’s opening game saw UCLA’s NCAA championship team lose to its own freshman squad, 75-60.
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Answer
In defense of the champions, though, the winning freshman squad included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ’69, Lucius Allen and Lynn Shackelford ’69. Pauley officially opened with a UCLA victory over Ohio State, 92-66.
Question
Can you name the date, opponent, score and coach of UCLA’s first Rose Bowl victory?
Answer
On Jan. 1, 1966, Coach Tommy Prothro and the Bruins defeated Michigan State 14-12 in UCLA’s first Rose Bowl victory.
UCLA Slang
“I just shot you in the face with my zombie character.
Pwned
!”
Pwned
!”
What Is It?
Pwned – I got you (interjection).
Question
Who was Josiah Royce, Royce Hall’s namesake?
Answer
Josiah Royce, a California-born philosopher, received his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley in 1875 and earned his Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University.
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Answer
A professor at UC Berkeley and Harvard, Royce published 13 books and some 200 articles and reviews. At Harvard, his colleagues included Ernest Carroll Moore, UCLA’s first provost.
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Answer
UCLA’s first dean of the College of Letters and Science, Charles Rieber, was a graduate student under Royce.
Question
In what year did the first class graduate from the UC Southern Branch’s College of Letters and Science?
Answer
1925.
Question
Along with “Pomp and Circumstance,” the commencement program often includes UCLA’s alma mater, “Hail to the Hills of Westwood.” Do you remember the lyrics?
Answer
Hail to the hills of Westwood,
To the mighty sea below;
Hail to our Alma Mater,
She will conquer every foe.
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Answer
For we’re loyal to the Southland,
Her honor we’ll uphold;
We’ll gladly give our hearts to thee,
To the Blue and to the Gold.
Question
What is the English translation of the motto that appears on the official UCLA seal?
Answer
“Let There Be Light,” from the Latin motto
Fiat lux.
Fiat lux.
UCLA Slang
“We decided to
ghost ride the whip
down Wilshire last night.”
ghost ride the whip
down Wilshire last night.”
What Is It?
Ghost Ride the Whip – To slow down a car and have all the passengers exit and dance alongside as it moves down the street
Question
What’s a fourragère, and what does it mean?
Answer
A fourragère is a loop of braided cord worn at the shoulder. Used by the military and many universities, it signifies that the wearer has been singled out for special distinction.
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Answer
At UCLA, the gold fourragère, recognizing academic achievement, is awarded to the top 15 percent of bachelor’s degree candidates each quarter. It is worn on the left shoulder at Commencement.
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Answer
The blue-and-gold fourragère designates the Chancellor’s Service Award given in recognition of community service. It is worn on the right shoulder at Commencement.
Question
In what year did the UC Regents establish the master’s degree at UCLA?
Answer
1933.
UCLA Slang
“I can’t believe they intentionally lost their badminton match to get better seeding.
smh“
smh“
What Is It?
smh – Shaking my head.
