Critical mass ride

This Date in UCSF History

This Date in UCSF History: Taking to the Streets

[Originally published in Synapse on November 3, 2011.] The Embarcadero was full of bicycles and bikers on Friday night as nearly a thousand people gathered for the monthly Critical Mass bike parade. The air was lively with Halloween spirit and everyone from children to older adults were done up in...

November 4, 2025

Campus

Women's equality movement symbol

This Date in UCSF History: A Hopeful Era for Women

March 5, 2024

[Originally published in Synapse on March 5, 1990.] We live in an exciting time. Throughout the world, walls we once...

Dragon

This Date in UCSF History: Lunar New Year Facts and Lore

February 27, 2024

[Originally published on February 22, 1996.] Chinese New Year is a misnomer. The arrival of the same new year is...

African American historical figures.

This Date in UCSF History: A Textbook Case of Historical Distortion

February 20, 2024

[Originally authored by pharmacy student Gina Jones and published in Synapse on February 18, 1993.] “History is a people’s memory...

Solano State prison entrance

This Date in UCSF History: Abuses Told About Experiments on Prisoners

February 13, 2024

[Originally published in Synapse on February 17, 1977.] Inmates of California’s prison system are currently being used as subjects for...

Dianne Feinstein riding a cable car.

This Date in UCSF History: Clean Needle Conflict

February 6, 2024

[Originally published in Synapse on February 5, 1987.] As intravenous drug use receives more attention as a factor in the...

March 2012 GOP primary candidate.

This Date in UCSF History: A Winning Candidate?

January 30, 2024

[Originally published on March 1, 2012.] Anyone following the GOP Presidential primaries would agree that the story line thus far...

Statue of lady justice holding the scales of justice.

This Date in UCSF History: Should Mental Health Patients Have Right to Refuse Treatment?

January 16, 2024

[Originally published in Synapse on January 19, 1978.] Do mental patients check their constitutional rights at the hospital door? Do...

Evacuated crowd gathers outside UCSF Medical Sciences building.

This Date in UCSF History: ‘Bomb’ Joke Bombs

January 9, 2024

[Originally published in Synapse on January 4, 1996.] The bomb scare that welcomed many UCSF students back to class Tuesday...

Men holding sign opposing violence against women.

This Date in UCSF History: Men Should Own Up to ‘Women’s Issues,’ Says Former Pro Athlete

December 19, 2023

[Originally published in Synapse on December 19, 2003.] Why is the greatest insult one can hurl at a boy is...