Many students find comfort and safety within the walls of the cozy café that lies in the center of College Nine and College Ten on the campus of UC Santa Cruz, but may not know the underlying significance to the charismatic Terry Freitas.
The Terry Freitas Café is dedicated to honor the crown alumnus Terrance, also known as Terry, Unity Freitas. He was working to preserve and protect the culture of the U'wa, an indigenous group in the Columbian Amazon. He and two of his colleagues were kidnapped and tragically murdered in 1999 when he was only 24.
Melina Selverston Scher said on the dedication of the café that, "Terry won. The U'wa won. There is no Shell Oil in the U'wa territories right now… his short, deep life changed the world."
Freitas was an activist, a leader with a limitless commitment to serving others. He is a true hero and inspiration for not just students, but professors, staff, and all who learn about his remarkable and touching life. He proved to us all that changing the world is possible amongst all odds. He demonstrated that fear should not prevent or hinder anyone from confronting the pressing obstacles in the present moment.
The Terry Freitas Café keeps his memory alive within College Nine and College Ten and the greater UCSC community. His entire life exemplifies the themes held dear to the colleges, global and international perspectives, social justice, and community.
Being on a large campus, Terry Freitas makes not only myself, but other students, as well, feel a genuine sense of belonging. The cafe is dedicated to building each other up in order to strengthen the UCSC community.
The Terry Freitas Café is where I drank coffee at 1 a.m. while desperately trying to push through finals. The café is nonprofit and provides free coffee to students, but accepts donations to keep supplying students with fair trade coffee. This cafe has been my go to safe space whenever I need to feel like I’m home again. The Terry Freitas Café is home.
