Maxson
touch turns CSULB gold with Beach Pride
By
Bradley Zint
Online Forty-Niner
Opinion Editor
The first thing I noticed about President Robert C. Maxson was that he was
clearly not from around here. His accent gave him away instantly. The president
of Cal State Long Beach was not from Long Beach or even Southern California.
Not that it mattered, but I just found it odd. It was the spring of 2003 and
I was attending a parent-student orientation in The Walter Pyramid, then simply
known as The Pyramid, while still in high school. Like many other students
there, I was an accepted freshman for the fall and came to learn more about
the school I would be attending.
There he stood, a relatively small man in the middle of a basketball court
within a huge pyramidal structure. If one were to have captured the moment
in a picture, Maxson would have been a lonely island in the midst of a vast
ocean.
But despite his small stature, once he began talking he immediately grabbed
the attention of the thousands there. He had a presence, a radiance of inexplicable
greatness and most of all, pride for CSULB that was, in a word, addicting.
“
Wow, he’s impressive,” my mother told me.
“
Yeah,” I said. It was the only word I could muster at the time. I was
still trying to take it all in. The ceiling of The Walter Pyramid was shaped
funny. There were cheerleaders flying around and Maxson kept talking about
something foreign to me called “Beach Pride.”
Beach Pride? Maxson explained the complex concept in only two words: Go Beach!
When he cheered “go” the crowd cheered “beach.” Simple
as that.
But Beach Pride, I now realize, is about having infallible pride in your school.
Maxson made that look easy, and even after 10 minutes of observation at that
orientation, I could not wait to be a part of this university with a leader
who could instill such sentiment in all those around him.
After my initial exposure to CSULB, I noticed the energy Maxson extended to
all aspects of this university in a truly mystifying manner.
While walking around campus my first semester, I saw “Go Beach!” everywhere—in
the bathrooms, the pool, on flags, on t-shirts, the list goes on. It was and
still is a kind of propaganda by proliferation. I fall for it every time.
Maxson is a man of the people, and by people I mean students, faculty, staff
and anyone else on campus. He shows an amazing ability, both on a macro and
micro level, to exude care, amiability and concern for those around him. Such
a genuine state of mind is something to which we all should aspire.
I have been told a grand ordeal at other colleges is the opportunity to have
dinner with the university president or chancellor. The opportunity to actually
see the big cheese is a rare treat, usually involving the pomp and circumstance
of elite academia.
I am proud to say this is not the case at CSULB. Maxson is seen frequently
strolling campus, entertaining guests, greeting students, giving high fives
and attending nearly every home game.
I know that last one firsthand. For my three years here, I have played in the
Long Beach State Pep Band, a.k.a. the loud monster in the corner of The Walter
Pyramid making all that noise. I’ve played at many home games and can
count on one hand how many Maxson failed to attend. His dedication is amazing.
Moreover, I cannot recall many instances where Maxson did not walk over to
the band and thank us for being there. To feel gratitude on a consistent basis
from someone so high up made us feel like the best band in the land despite
how many notes we missed.
I was in The Walter Pyramid after one of Long Beach State sports’ greatest
moments—the Homecoming 2005 men’s basketball victory over UC Santa
Barbara, 58-57. I saw the student mob rush the court. As if that weren’t
intense enough, I saw Maxson stand on top of the courtside tables to address
the crowd. I heard the students hoot with harmonious cacophony, “Max-son!
Max-son!” over and over.
Most schools carry their best athlete off the field. At CSULB, we would rather
carry the president. Being one of the masses at that moment in this special
university with an even more special leader was and will always be one of the
highlights of my college experience.
I was in the Carpenter Performing Arts Center during Maxson’s last convocational
speech. I found myself, yet again, one of the masses celebrating the legacy
of one remarkable human being. The amount of clapping for Maxson was of biblical
proportions that day.
How many other universities in the country had a president with star quarterback
status? How many schools had presidents where the students cheered his name?
How many crew teams named their boat after their college president?
I think there are few, if any. Maxson’s attention to detail in all aspects
of the university, from the band, cheerleaders, student government and sports
teams was a contributor to his success. Everyone loved him for it.
Combine that with a contagious smile, Southern charm and universal benevolence
and you have the legend that is Maxson.
I thank him for the few times he shook my hand, paid homage to the Pep Band,
walked around campus and did what he did best —spread Beach Pride. Go
Maxson and Go Beach.
|
