Meetings • Assuming
a new role in a city different from
Murray, Ky., President F. King Alexander
jumps into back-to-back meetings with
colleagues, leaving his office shelves
empty except for a few family photos.
Tracey Roman
/ Online Forty-Niner
Alexander confronts concerns
By Joseph Serna
Online Forty-Niner
Assistant City Editor
While a move from a small town Kentucky university with just over 10,000 students
to a Southern California campus with more than 35,000 students could pose a
rough transition, F. King Alexander has taken it in stride.
“ Actually, it’s been much smoother than I ever anticipated,” said
Alexander, the new president of Cal State Long Beach.
Alexander is the seventh CSULB president, succeeding Robert C. Maxson who officially
ended his term in late December.
Somewhat to his surprise, Alexander said the move from Murray State University,
where he was president for the last four years, to CSULB was eased by the friendliness
of everyone in the area.
Alexander acknowledged the unfriendly stereotype Californians, and more specifically
Southern Californians, have in many people’s minds across the South.
“ People have an inherent tendency to create stereotypes, which are completely
inaccurate and inappropriate,” Alexander said.
He also had concerns on the change for his housekeeper, Linda, who has never
left Kentucky, and his two daughters, Madison, 6, and Savannah, 9.
“ What sticks with Linda, is how friendly everybody has been,” Alexander
said.
“ Most of what I’m doing is getting acclimated,” Alexander
said.
At MSU, Alexander prided himself on encouraging and developing “common
spaces,” or areas where students liked to congregate.
One of Alexander’s priorities at CSULB is to change the commuter-school
mentality and turn the campus into a place students where want to hang out.
This starts with giving students places to relax, he said.
However, for the time being he has found more pressing needs in faculty and
student housing.
Alexander said the quality of the housing, as well as how little is available
compared to the student population needs to be addressed.
As of today, Alexander has not made clear whether expanding student and faculty
housing onto the Puvungna burial grounds is an option.
“ I’m meeting with individual people to get the historical perspective
on the issue,” Alexander said.
Maxon had promised early in his presidency to never build upon the grounds.
Another large question facing Alexander is the construction of a recreation
center somewhere on campus.
In October of last year a school-wide online survey was distributed regarding
the construction of a recreation center on campus with a fee increase for students.
By November the results showed the student body split almost evenly down the
middle on the issue.
Without a substantial majority favoring its construction, the issue will not
be on the spring referendum for the student body to vote on.
One of MSU’s sources of pride was its new recreation center, which Alexander
credited with a positive, major change in student life on campus.
Alexander said on CSULB’s survey, 48 percent of students said they pay
for a gym membership or extracurricular activies, something students could
change with a recreation center.
“ I think our students are at a disadvantage for not having one, but I’m
not going to impose it on our students,” Alexander said.
One of the most noticeable differences from where Alexander is coming from
to where he is now and how many people he will be working with.
“ [Gary Reichard] is very warm…he’s a top-caliber administrator,” Alexander
said. Reichard is the provost and vice president of academic affairs, and also
ran for Maxson’s position last fall.
Alexander
is now dealing with representatives for
three times as many students and a budget
that is only one of a 23 campus-wide university
system.
MSU operated almost autonomously with its budget – and many attributed
its success to Alexander working with the state legislator, something he plans
to continue in California.
“ [Working with the state legislator] is something that can’t stay
below the radar,” Alexander said.
Though Alexander is hesitant to list many specific policy or physical changes
he plans to make at CSULB, he said certain needed improvements immediately
came up upon arriving on campus.
He mentioned certain rundown parts of Frog’s Gym and areas tucked behind
buildings that are becoming overgrown and dirty.
“When you start looking in the corners, you start to see things you can
improve,” he said.
In the immediate future, the largest change coming to CSULB may be the $31
million library renovation that could start as early as March, Alexander said.
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