Capturing Campus Life
Glenn Asakawa (Jour’86), 1986 CU Boulder yearbook editor, took this photo his senior year during move-in day. Now a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, Asakawa serves as the university’s lead photographer and multimedia producer.
Looking back, he recalls the unique spirit of CU Boulder in the mid-1980s.
“CU Boulder was its own universe, where legendary throwdowns like the Trivia Bowl, Alferd Packer Days or any of the amazing Program Council con - certs mattered more than politics,” Asakawa said.
He recalled big changes, too, such as Coach McCartney taking the Buffs to the 1985 Freedom Bowl football game versus Baylor, Gordon Gee becoming the university president and the loss of astronaut Ellison Onizuka (Aero’69; MS’69; HonDocSci’03) aboard the Challenger space shuttle.
“Still, the campus was brightening up,” Asakawa said. “Boulder had more open space and quirky local spots, like Naoki’s on The Hill or the LA Diner, where you could get liver and onions, which I actually ordered from time to time!”
Photo by Glenn Asakawa