story by Scott Duke Harris '78

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The 1996 political season was in full swing and, rather suddenly, administrators at California State University Fullerton found themselves in a jam. More than 200 Orange County civic and business leaders were expected at a university-sponsored forum at The Center Club in Costa Mesa. With only a few hours to spare, the featured speaker had fallen ill and phoned with regrets. A pinch hitter was needed—fast.

A call was placed to state Sen. Jack O’Connell, a leader on education reform and a member of the Titan class of ’73. O’Connell hopped a flight from Sacramento and delivered an impassioned speech for Proposition 203, a bond measure that would ultimately prevail at the polls and raise $3 billion for California education, from kindergarten to the university level.

Five years later, O’Connell had another chance to help his alma mater. The Senate Budget Committee, wrangling over priorities, was poised to postpone $39 million in Proposition 1A funds earmarked for construction of Cal State Fullerton’s planned performing arts center. “They were holding that thing hostage,” recalls Owen Holmes, the university’s director of state and federal relations.

Fortunately for the Titans, O’Connell was on that committee. He persuaded three colleagues to vote with him, and community and university leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony in March for the performing arts center that is scheduled to open in fall 2005. “I was in the right place at the right time,” O’Connell says. “I knew of the need.”

“Jack O’Connell played an invaluable role,” says President Milton Gordon. “He was the main force in helping us get that performing arts center.”

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