Published 2010-11-30T16:25:00Z”/>
Larry Andrews
Chico State has a mystery monster overseeing its campus’ skyline from the Student Services Center.
President Paul Zingg discussed a statue of a smiling imp during the Wildcat Welcome, which took place at the beginning of the semester.
The dark-brown statue is located on the outside of the SSC on a landing below the fourth floor windows.
The dedication of the statue, which can be seen at the beginning of a YouTube <a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4IqeYIcyt4″ target=”_blank”>video</a> titled “Unofficial Chico State Flash Mob Shout,” noted that it was in honor of Tray Robinson, director of the Office of Diversity.
“Tray told me that he really wanted some day to see a mean black dude overlooking Chico State,” Zingg said during the Wildcat Welcome.
The words Zingg used to dedicate the statue didn’t leave him feeling honored, Robinson said.
“Those words, they were a surprise to me,” Robinson said in a phone interview.
The statue was placed on the building for a specific reason, said Jon Slaughter, director of A.S. programs and governmental affairs.
“Zingg stuck it up there as a joke towards Tray Robinson,” Slaughter said.
However, comments from Zingg’s office tell a different story.
The statue was not dedicated to Robinson, said Dustin Reese, assistant to the office of president.
Zingg himself indicated that the statue wasn’t intended to have a purpose.
“No political statement, no agenda other than giving folks something to smile about,” Zingg said in an e-mail interview.
Zingg was playful when describing the statue.
“He was happy to find a new home as he did not particularly seem to enjoy the company of gnomes and frogs around him there,” he said.
The statue was purchased from a home improvement store and installed by Zingg and Reese with the help of a facilities maintenance employee, Zingg said.
The statue’s presence has circulated many rumors among the employees in the SSC, said Tara Sanders, an employee of the Educational Opportunity Program located on the third floor of the SSC.
“I heard some type of story that there was supposed to be a small black man protecting the building,” Sanders said.
Larry Andrews can be reached at
