Zingg's road trip across Northern California
By: Ashley Latoof
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: News
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Their two-day bus trip included stops at a monastery, schools and dams to learn about and understand the issues facing local areas and how Chico State can help.
Chico State's involvement with the surrounding counties started in the 1950s when former President Glenn Kendall asked the question, "What does Chico State need to do to improve the quality of life for people in the North State?"
That is the question Zingg said he will try to answer.
This trip is the first time faculty and staff have made a tour of the counties the university serves, Zingg said.
"This is either the greatest idea I've ever had - or not," he said.
The group made nine stops throughout four counties. Group members looked at issues such as the economic development along Interstate 5, volcanic action and research in Lassen County, and geothermal energy developments in Burney.
"My sense of it is he is anxious to have the university reconnect with the North State," said Greg White, director of the Chico State archaeological research program. "We tend to intellectualize things around us, see the global context. We forget the real concerns of our community."
The trip cost about $14,000 and was primarily paid for by private funding, although some state funding was used, Zingg said in an e-mail. The trip was worth the cost because many of the issues, such as water problems in rural communities, could only be understood by seeing them firsthand.
Brian Terhorst, station manager for Northstate Public Radio, said the trip exceeded his expectations. Visiting the communities made the issues real and tangible.
"The thing that I didn't expect was that it was really important to them that we were there," he said. "It was a super powerful message that we went there - where the issues were taking place."
Some of the faculty and staff's involvement in the surrounding communities began before the trip. Cindy Wolff, a professor in the nutrition and food sciences department, has been working with schools in the different communities to create government-funded healthy living programs for children.
"I know this region very well," Wolff said. "It bothered me a lot observing the health problems."
Zingg said it was important that the faculty and staff listened to what people were saying.
"A lot of friends rely on us and a lot can rely on us more," he said. "This trip has to do with listening."
Zingg hopes the facility and staff members will bring their experiences into their classes and research, he said. People will be more informed and interested, and it will translate into greater involvement.
"We constantly tell students to dare a little and take a few risks," Zingg said. "So voilà, here we are."
Ashley Latoof can be reached at alatoof@theorion.com
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