Printmaking adopts 'Sweetie'
By Elyse Medlin
Daily Forty-Niner
Since she changed her major from sculpture
to printmaking 11 years ago, "Sweetie" has called the area around the printmaking
department on Upper Campus her home.
Sweetie is the last of the infamous "campus
cats," a group of about 20 felines that used to call Cal State Long Beach
home, said Roxanne Sexauer, printmaking chairwoman and surrogate mother
of Sweetie.
Unlike the numerous stray cats found scattered
throughout campus, this 15-year-old black cat has an entire art department
to give her love and affection.
However, it seems Sweetie is a little spoiled,
according to some students.
"She has an attitude problem," printmaking
student Aaron Brady said. "She'll let you pet her on her terms, and her
terms only."
Her terms usually involve some kind of
nourishment.
"She leads you to her food and makes sure
youíre following her," junior Anna Kim, a printmaking major, said.
In fact, Sexauer said, Sweetie switched
to printmaking because she likes to be fed.
The sculpture department had cared for
the friendly feline before Sexauer adopted her.
Sexauer provides food for Sweetie, with
the help of her students.
"She's had her share of tuna fish sandwiches,"
Sexauer said.
Last semester, the old adage "curiosity
killed the cat" was almost a reality for Sweetie.
Students walked into the print area one
morning to find shredded paper on the ground, and a mysterious "meow" coming
from the locker area. Printmaking lecturer Brian Sanderson
used a bolt cutter to cut the lock off.
Sweetie walked out slowly, as if to say,
"well finally, you let me out," Sanderson said. However,
not everyone is entranced by Sweetie's charm.
"I donít like cats much," woodshop supervisor
Bob Mattice said, jokingly. "So she stays clear of me and I stay clear
of her."
Sexauer finds one downside to caring for
Sweetie. People often come to Sexauer with their unwanted pets, thinking
she will provide a good home for them.
Sexauer has a dog of her own at home, and
besides, it takes all of her energy to keep up with Sweetieís antics.
"This is her home," Sexauer said. "She'd
miss the black backpacks that she loves to lay on."
Every morning, a CSULB faculty member used
to make her rounds throughout campus to feed the campus cats, Sexauer said. |
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