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UNIVERSITY TIMES VOL. 99 NO. 23 CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1984 • Alumni are no-show at 10-year ·reunion By ROBERT SPRINGER STAFF WRITER The first 10-year reunion ever held at Cal State L.A., · 30. This meant that they all had families and jobs to Saturday night, failed to attract a single member of the occupy their time. Thus, he was only on campus for class of 1974." classes. James E. Stofan, director of alumni affairs, said the Although the average student age has been decreasing disappointing turnout was not unexpected. He had called since then, thus increasing student identification with some of the members of the class of '74 and found out CSLA, much needs to be done in the way of encouraging there wasn't a great deal of enthusiasm about the event. former students to become active alumni. Some alumni said they just weren't interested. Others Moore said one way to achieve this is by having said that although they had attended CSLA, they did not students live on campus. This will help them develop an want anything more to do with the school. identity with CSLA. When told that no one was going to come to the Despite the fact that CSLA will always be a commuter reunion, Frank W. Wylie, director of public affairs, said it school, Moore said the new student housing will go a long would take time to develop a reputation and a following way toward helping the Alumni Association in the among the alumni. He also mentioned that many schools, future. besides CSLA, have problems attracting active alumni. Another.way to ma}t.e the alumni become more involved Donald Moore, president of the Alumni Association and with the school, Moore said, would be to have a winning a '74 graduate, attended the event and had a great deal to basketball team. say on why CSLA alumni are so apathetic about their "If a team is successful, their name will be in the former school. newspaper and people will identify with them. They "The problem we have with the alumni of CSLA is the (alumni) are going to tell their friends and are going to be JAMES E. STOFAN majority of students never really identify with the proud of it," Moore s¢d. university," Moore said. "I was working full-time and He doesn't think alumni will return for a reunion if the .. If a student . leaves this university and gets a coming here and taking classes, and quite frankly, I have school doesn't have a winning basketball prograxn. secondary degree somewhere else, anytime you ask them a few friends from my time here, but you really don't Moore believes that the alumni membership drive will where they graduated from, the school they're going to develop a lot of camaraderie. This is a problem that the be successful in the next two or three years even though say is the other school," Moore said. , • university has to deal with." the situation looks grim now. He attributes this to However, he remains optimistic. "This Alumni Moore said 10 years ago CSLA's commuter aspect was increased services offered by the Alumni Association and Association is going to be seen and known in the next few more evident because the students' average age was its better visibility in the community. years," he said. Early-morning meetings, long hours, campus events part of Rosser's day By MARGIE TIRITILLI STAFF WRITER Students attending Cal State L.A. know they have a Exceptional Games, and the Rotary Club meetings in the good university. What they may not know is why. One University-Student Union. answer to the question is CSLA President James M. Rosser said he would like to see students become active Rosser. in campus services and clubs, because they provide the Under Dr. Rosser's leadership, positive things are best possible education and offer additional happening on campus. For instance, some 300 students opportunities for exposure and relationships. will have the option of living on university grounds when One of Rosser's goals is to revitalize efforts to get the housing units are ready during the summer quarter. alumni participation on campus, he said, noting that less Also, parents, who might have felt excluded from than 10 percent of the alumni are active. attending CSLA because of small children, now have the With the Olympics coming to campus, Rosser said Anna Bing Arnold Child Care Center to tend their students will have a good chance to get involved in youngsters during classes. campus events, and CSLA will have an opportunity to These are only two of the accomplishments that have gain additional resources. occurred since be took the helm. Another frequent duty of Rosser's is public speaking. So, who is the "president," and how does his day ''I never turn down a chance to address begin? commencements," he said. Although he receives no fees, With an early start, according to Rosser. he said it is an additional way to enhance the reputation He said he is up at 5:30 a.m. to attend early morning of our institution. meetings in Pasadena or downtown Los Angeles. Rosser has "a commitment to excellence; a sense of • At other times, Rosser said he arrives on campus by commitment to the institution," he said, adding that he 7:30 a.m., and does not conclude business until nearly 10 hopes "students stay involved with it so we can achieve p.m. the goals we have set.'' "One of the things I like about this job," Roeser said, One of those goals is to see better attendance at JAMES M. ROSSER "is that you never know what you will do that sporting events and theatrical productions. He said it is day . this job is unpredictable. Things call you away very disconcerting to performers to play in near-empty from campus, such as trips to the Chancellor's office in gyms and auditoriums. It is important for students to see Sacramento," he said. faculty who are not in their majors in the audience. It Health Center extends hours; He has a "funny dedication" to duty that wrecks havoc shows they participate in life on campus. on his administrators, he said. When he recieves a letter, Rosser said that students and the faculty are CSLA's improves access to programs Rosser likes to get an answer out the same day, because best recruiters and we need to find a better way to involve he does not like things to pile up on his desk. He noted them in this area. As far as Los Angeles is concerned, The addition of a new medical staff enabled Cal that it is important to provide a timely reponse to all CSLA is the "people's university," he said. The campus State L.A. 's Center for Health and Personal questions since CSLA operates on the quarter system has easy access, equity and excellence which is where things tend to go faster. Services to extend its hours from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 demonstrated through our faculty and students. p.m. Monday through Friday. Another duty Rosser takes seriously is his civic and Rosser demonstrates his own sense of excellence by The new hours will allow students to take community responsibilities. Although they are not continuing his own professional development. He tries to advantage of family planning programs and directly associated with CSLA, he feels that by publish at least one paper a year in his field, which is women's services. Examples are tests to detect maintaining those responsibilities, he helps enhance the health care delivery. cancer and pregnancy. image of the school. When Rosser is not working at CSLA, he spends his CSLA is one of the few campuses to offer Rosser stressed the importance of extending ourselves time attending fine and performing arts events on opthalmology services, as well as X-rays, physical beyond the geographic areas of our community. He said campus, reading books, golfing, jogging, bicycling and therapy, psychological counseling and orthopedic, he encourages faculty and students to become involved playing basketball. dermatology a.nd blood teats. in the communities in which they live. He carries a tape recorder and note pad in his car for Appointments are necessary for services offered He also attends a series of meetings held by the on-the-spot reporting, and says he enjoys what he does. by the Health Center. Depending on the ~rvices, a California State University system. Some of these are He said he does not use Webster's definition of work to student may be charged a nominal fee. Executive Council meetings with other CSU presidents describe his job. Instead, he finds his work to be John Le Valley, director of health and personal and vice chancellors. Goals and objectives for the exhilarating and refreshing. He has never dreaded services, explained that the money collected by the universities are established at these sessions . coming to work here. Rosser said he also devotes time developing a good center goes back to the center to provide better to "There has never been a greater opportunity to relationship with the congressional delegation from this services. promote our way of life and human capital of this nation, The center also operates a pharmacy where area. He said he has had support from local senators as and to do it in such a manner as to be in accordance with • well as CSLA alumni. American ideas," Rosser said. students may purchase non-prescriptive medications such as aspirin and vitamins.