President
	The Editor
	Our Readers

ABC's of Affirmative Action

Expanded Bookshelf

A Faculty Reflection

Opportunities For Giving

Campus Collage

Helping To Make
CSU, Chico Better

Last spring, I made three ventures on behalf of Chico Statements. The first was to check in on writer Beth Spencer and photographer Jeff Teeter while they covered our construction management students' participation in the twelfth annual Associated Schools of Construction Region VI Competition in Reno at the end of February. Teeter is responsible for the cover photo for this issue—the team and their tools beneath Reno's famous lighted welcome arch. Reno, with its fast-and-loose money, thick steaks, high heels, and tall cowboy hats, seems like an odd place for a college student competition—but why not have it there? First, it's central to the western part of the country; second, there's something nicely ironic, postmodern even, about the juxtaposition of clinking slot machines and spinning roulette wheels with hypothetical problems solved by students armed with lots of schooling and T squares. See the feature story on page 12.

My second journey was in mid-March to a surreal location of a different sort-sunny Los Angeles. I met alumnus Mat Olmstead (B.A., Communication/Journalism, '88) in his office at the giant Fox Studios lot, where he is a staff writer for television's NYPD Blue. Hold on for the story and photos coming in the spring 2000 issue of Statements.

The third visit, at the beginning of April, was yet farther afield-to the Big Apple, the most dreamlike place of all. I went to New York City on the first CSU, Chico alum travel program, arranged by Jack Fox and Sue Anderson from Alumni Relations. Sixteen folks from the university (faculty, staff, and alums) met up with Jim Jacob and Rick Ostrom of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and their group of seventeen students, who were participating in the annual National Collegiate Model United Nations Conference held at the Hyatt, next to Grand Central Station in Midtown and a few blocks from Macy's and MOMA. At the Film Center Café one night, we had a reunion with East Coast alums, many of whom are struggling to make it in the theatre. Look for photos on page 25, and see more on upcoming travel programs on page 24.

Of course, most of the time I stay put and appreciate Chico's beauty and bounty. Speaking of abundance, George Thurlow, publisher of the Santa Barbara Independent, and Ken Conner (B.A., English, '75; M.A. with distinction, English, '77), assistant city desk editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, joined the advisory board of Statements. At our spring meeting, their constructive criticism poured out like an unstoppable main. Their ideas will strengthen the magazine.

Let me know what you think.

Thomasin Saxe,University Publications