After only two months on the job, new Sacramento State PresidentAlex Gonzalez has made campus poultry very nervous.

Despite widespread and recurring chatter that Gonzalez mayremove the beloved Sac State chickens, Associate Vice President forPublic Affairs Ann Reed said that although some rogue roosters havebeen relocated to faculty ranches in the past, President Gonzalezhas no official plans to do anything with the chickens.

Reed would not rule out future action against the chickens,however.

Reed said the chickens live freely on campus in the urban habitat,and are not fed or maintained by Sac State. However, according toReed, “the chickens do not clean up after themselves.”

“I call it the great chicken controversy,” Reed said. “It’s beengoing on for years; people have very strong feelings about thechickens one way or another.”

The Sac State chickens have been a fixture on campus for manyyears. Their unknown origins have spurred several urban legends oncampus. From science experiment escapees to abandoned practicaljokes, the history of Sac State’s farm fowl is highly debated.

Matthew Altier, Associate Vice President of FacilitiesManagement, said that Facilities is not controlling the currentpopulation in any way.

“I think there are more chickens this year than last,” Altiersaid. “The chicken population naturally goes up and down.”

If a chicken removal were in order, however, it isunclear if students would be involved. Facilities Management andthe Office of the President do not now how the chicken situationwould be handled, who would have the authority to remove them oreven if students would be notified beforehand.

“No one knows what factors would go into it,” Reed said. “It isjust simply something that has not come up.”

ASI President Peter Ucovich said he would want to be notified ifany final decisions were made about the chickens.

“We would want to be involved — at least informed,” saidUcovich, whom added that he thought the chickens “add spice to thecampus.”

Everyone seems to have something to say about the great chickencontroversy.

“I want to know what happened to all the hens,” said seniorKirsten Juul. “There used to be more.”