The UTC Alumni Office has created several ways for alumni to stay connected to their alma mater (and to each other) through online communication.  With the rising interest in social networking, especially by those who have graduated in the last ten years, the University has joined in on the new way to stay connected.

The most popular site for today’s students and recent alums is the social site Facebook. UTC has created a UTC Alumni page, which allows the office to send updates to those who join the page as “fans.” In addition, we have also created a profile on MySpace and on the professional networking site LinkedIn.  Keep in mind though that if you wish to view some of the social network sites, you will need to create a profile or register for site membership.

But the most recent addition to the online services is the new social networking interface on the UTAA Online Community. Not only can you update your alumni information, add a class note and search for old college friends, now you can socialize with your old class mates and register for UTC Alumni and UTAA events online. One of the most useful tools on the community is a tool that allows alumni to create approved online affinity groups (i.e. SGA students of the 1990s or UTC Business School alumni). This will allow alumni to stay connected but also allow them to interact within their areas of interest.

In addition to the social networking sites, UTC has also created several blogs (Moc Blog, GOLD Alumni Blog, The FAMily News) that help to share important information on UTC news, events and happenings. Make sure to subscribe to the blog posts and stay up-to-date on current UTC news.

“1000 Riot at UT for 1.5 Hours”

That was the headline on the front page of The Knoxville News-Sentinel on Sunday, November 9, 1958, the day after the Chattanooga Mocs beat the Tennessee Vols 14-6 at UT’s Shields-Watkins Field.  Immediately following the game, students from The University of Chattanooga celebrated their win by tearing down both goal posts and parading through the streets. The scene according to UC alumni, students at the time, started out as celebratory but turned into a massive riot as Knoxville police began firing tear gas grenades. In the end, some $2,000 of damage was accumulated and ten students were arrested. 

The scene from that day remains fervently alive in the hearts of many UC alumni. And on Saturday, November 8, 2008, exactly fifty years to the day, the UTC campus will honor and celebrate that famous UC football event at the home game of the UTC versus Appalachian State football game.  It is fitting that the UTC Mocs will play the Mountaineers on this day.  Much commotion was made at the start of last season when the Appalachian State Mountaineers beat the Michigan Wolverines at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  For the general public, it led to claims that the game was the biggest upset in college football history. But it was not the first time a small school beat a major powerhouse in their own backyard. For Chattanooga fans, the Appy State game sparked the memory of their big defeat of the Vols in Knoxville, putting “to shame the Tennessee football team’s disasterous season.”

The 1958 Chattanooga Mocs Football Team

The 1958 football team reunion will coincide with the Class of 1958 Reunion and 50-Plus Weekend events that will take place on November 7-8, 2008.  To learn more about the celebration, please visit www.utcalumni.com/reunions.php or call the UTC Office of Alumni Affairs at 423/425-4785 or 800/728-4882.

 UTC Alumni Director Jayne Holder with UTC graduate (and former Alumni Office
sutdent worker) Kenny Allen at the May Graduation.

On behalf of the UTC Office of Alumni Affairs, we would like to say CONGRATULATIONS and WELCOME to our 2008 graduates of UTC. Those of you who have graduated are now officially a part of the UTC Alumni Association, the GOLD Alumni Program (GOLD=Grads Of the Last Decade) and the University of Tennessee Alumni Association (UTAA is the UT system alumni association).

The UTC Alumni Office is putting together a photo slide show to post on our UTC GOLD Alumni facebook, MySpace account (www.myspace.com/utcmocs) and UTC alumni website (www.utcalumni.com). If you have any photos that you would like to include in this slide show, please e-mail them to alumni@utc.edu. 

Also, as you enter into the “real world” of life after college, make sure you do the following:
1. Tell us about any changes in your life: new job, new e-mail (your @utc.edu will go away soon), new address and phone number (relocation), and any marriage or birth announcements.
2. Register for the UTAA On-line Community
3. Attend UTC Homecoming and other great alumni events
4. Bookmark the UTC Alumni website on your “favorites” list on your computer, and visit it often for news and information. And also make sure to subscribe to the UTC Alumni Moc Blog to receive the latest news.
5. Serve and give back to your alma mater - volunteering time to serve on committees or boards, using your skills to advance the University and making financial contributions to help future UTC students.
6. Wear your UTC apparel and colors with pride.

Congratulations again!
And don’t forget to send us your graduation photos!!!

Forever Mocs!