University of the Cloister of Sor Juana facts for kids
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Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana
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| Motto |
Saber para valorar. Valorar para elegir.
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Motto in English
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To know in order to value. To value in order to choose. |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1979 |
| Rector | Carmen Beatriz López Portillo |
| Undergraduates | 1,582 |
| Postgraduates | 39 |
| Location |
Mexico City
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Mexico
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| Campus | Former cloister of Sor Juana de la Cruz |
| Website | Official website: http://www.ucsj.edu.mx/ |
The University of the Cloister of Sor Juana (Spanish: Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana) is a private university in Mexico City. It is located in a very old building that used to be the San Jerónimo Convent. This convent was the home of a famous writer named Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz for over 25 years. She wrote many of her important works there.
After the convent closed in the 1800s, the large building was split up. It was used for many different things, even a big dance hall in the middle of the 1900s. In the 1970s, the government took over the building to protect it. They started to fix it up. In 1979, the University of the Cloister of Sor Juana was started in this historic place. Today, the university takes care of the building. It offers different college degrees and special courses, mostly in subjects like history, literature, and art. The university also helps with many cultural and educational events in the historic center of Mexico City.
The Historic Convent Building
The convent building was first started in 1585 by Isabel de Barrios. It was made by joining two private homes together. Over time, the building grew bigger. More rooms for nuns were added, along with places for servants, a living room, and a larger kitchen. It eventually became the size it is today.
The church part of the convent was built in a style called Renaissance, with some Spanish influences. It was finished in 1623. The church tower was built in 1665. Even though it was built during a fancy time, the tower is quite plain. This convent is most famous because Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz lived here for more than 27 years. She was known as the "Tenth Muse" in Mexico. She wrote most of her amazing works while living in this convent.
In 1867, the convent closed because of new laws. The building was then used as a military camp and hospital. Later, different parts of the building were used for various purposes. By the early 1900s, it was divided among several owners. One well-known business there was the Smyrna Dancing Club in the mid-1900s.
In 1975, a group who studied Sor Juana asked the president to protect the building. The government then took over the complex. From 1976 to 1982, experts like archaeologists and historians dug up and explored the site. They found many things from the nuns' daily lives, such as old tiles, fountains, and even tombs. Today, the university is in charge of keeping the complex safe. It is considered a "National Heritage Site" and is even shown on the back of a 200 peso bill.
In the mid-2000s, the Catholic Church tried to get the San Jerónimo Church back for religious services. However, the university fought this in court and won. The university can keep the entire property as long as it remains a place for education and culture.
The University Today
The Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana opened in 1979. It first offered a degree in "Human Sciences." Today, the university offers eight different bachelor's degrees. These include subjects like Art, Communication, Culture Studies, Philosophy, Gastronomy (cooking), Humanities, Creative Writing, and Psychology. It also has master's degrees and special certificates. About 75% to 80% of students find jobs in their chosen fields after graduating. The cooking program is one of the most popular.
The life and work of Sor Juana are very important to the university's identity. The inside of the building mixes old colonial styles with modern designs. The university is always working to preserve the historic building. In 2003, the campus grew by adding the nearby Regina campus. This new part was once a colonial convent too.
The university's library has a special section called the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Documentation Center. It aims to collect all important writings about Sor Juana and her life. Many of the books there are from the early 1900s. The main library also has many first edition books, most of which were donated.
In 2007, the Pier Paolo Pasolina Peace Center opened at the university. It helps people connect their personal memories with shared history to find ways to create peace.
Many areas in the university complex are used for art and cultural exhibits. The university is home to the "Luis Márquez Romay" Museum of Mexican Attire. It shows a large collection of traditional Mexican clothing. Many pieces were given by Carmen Romano, who was Mexico's First Lady from 1976 to 1982. The museum also hosts temporary exhibits. The former San Jerónimo Church is used for concerts and art shows. The school also has a collection of musical instruments, including four old pianos used for concerts.
The street in front of the university, San Jerónimo Street, is now only for walking. It is being made into a "cultural corridor" as part of the university's efforts to connect with the community. The school also has other programs, like helping adults in the city center learn to read and write. They also offer free counseling for domestic violence. The university says these actions help to make the historic center a better place.
A survey in 2009 found that students at Sor Juana drink the most coffee in Mexico City. This might be because the campus is surrounded by many nice cafes. These cafes often have cultural events like movies and poetry readings.
Each year, university students create a huge "ofrenda" or altar for the Day of the Dead celebrations. This happens in late October and early November. Students, teachers, artists, and neighbors from the historic center all help to build it. In 2007, the altar's theme was "Sor Juana and time." It had a large hourglass and two thousand meters of cempasúchil flower garlands. A smaller altar was also set up to honor Frida Kahlo. This tradition has been happening every year for over twenty years.
The Chorus of the Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana performs different types of music. They specialize in older songs that are not often performed anymore. The chorus is made up of students from various study programs and started in 2005.
The university works with other schools and cultural groups on many activities. It has a partnership with UNAM, another big university. This partnership helps with teaching, research, and cultural events. It allows students from both universities to take classes at either place.
The university also worked with the Historic Center Foundation to publish a guide. It is called "Guide to Eating Well in the Historic Center." This guide lists restaurants, taco stands, and other places to eat in the oldest parts of Mexico City.
The school helps organize the yearly "Festival de México" in the historic center. They hold talks and a cooking contest about Mexican food history. The goal is to celebrate and protect Mexican food traditions. People in the contest must prepare a dish and also explain its history. The festival also works with restaurants in the historic center to create special menus.
Outside of Mexico City, the university organized a "poetry slam" event in Guadalajara in 2009. People performed their own poems, and poets and rappers judged them. The event was called "To the beat of poetry." The school sponsored it to show that poetry is for everyone.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana para niños
