For UC Berkeley in 2016, July was the cruelest month — that is, until December. Both were months in which the campus lost students and community members to unspeakable tragedy: two to terrorist attacks in Bangladesh and France, then five more to December’s horrific Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland. When the campus wasn’t in mourning, it was enduring the ups and downs of a memorable campaign for the White House, and, like every other year, celebrating yet another series of milestones, from Oski’s 75th birthday to an eager new freshman class to the day-to-day teaching, research and scholarship for which UC Berkeley is renowned the world over.

Here’s a brief look back, in pictures.

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