Only President Alexander Gonzalez could make your blood boil to the point of a no-confidence vote and happy enough to keep steady donation income for new facilities and scholarships. It’s what makes him our president and the most enigmatic man on campus. His intentions are sincere even if you don’t know what they are. It’s why he might be the perfect man for his position.

He’s very expressive in an interview, with an ability to set a comfortable mood. This may have something to do with the amount of personality that emanates from Gonzalez. It might also be the abundance of complimenting he does.

Over the years, we, the campus community, have had a jeer-first-ask-questions-later attitude with Gonzalez. Sometimes it’s been warranted. When the Sacramento Bee first published the Sacramento State natural history museum debacle, many people on and off campus were quick to point the finger at Gonzalez. Rightly so.

He should have taken a more hands-on approach when dealing with the animals he wanted in the museum. And like any good president, he was prompt to show remorse and apologize when he knew he had to. The apology came out the same day online at the Bee in a letter sent to the campus community. Furthermore, like any politician, his apology was laced with explanations – some legitimate, some seeming more like names being thrown under the bus. Not until very recently did Gonzalez sit down with the Hornet to discuss current issues.

Faculty and students like to place increased tuitions and administrative raises on his plate of responsibilities. He has control over neither of these issues. Granted, when someone gets a near $30,000 pay raise, it will raise some eyebrows. Especially since students’ tuition has risen 94 percent since 2002, while Sac State professors pursued better-paying faculty jobs in their fields of expertise at other universities. Should Gonzalez have to apologize for an issue he has no control over? No. An apology isn’t going to make tuition any lower, and it won’t bring professors a pay raise. Don’t expect him to take accountability for this any time soon.

Sitting down and talking with the president gives off a different kind of vibe in contrast to the defensive Gonzalez who appeared in the Q&A at the Bee. At first it’s awkward. He’s the kind of guy who will tell you a little bit about himself even when you don’t ask. All the same, Gonzalez wants you to like him, and he’ll do what it takes to make you.

Actually, he only let us know what he wanted to.

A politician is like Santa Claus doling out information in shiny gift-wrapped presents. Sometimes they’re going to be socks; sometimes they’re Ferraris.

The State Hornet Staff can be reached at [email protected].