Dear Alumni and Friends,
The Spring Break image of college students gathering for a week of partying couldn't possibly be farther from the reality experienced by a group of CSULB students, faculty and staff who chose to devote their time off to an "Alternative Spring Break." 
Together, they traveled to New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish to work where residents are still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Taking part in Habitat for Humanity's Collegiate Challenge Program, the group of nearly 40 students from CSULB worked on roofs, put up interior walls and adhered exterior siding to homes in the Musicians' Village area of New Orleans. It was my own good fortune to be able to join the group and see for myself how willingly our students, faculty and staff worked side by side and took on any and every task assigned - even though for some it was the very first time a hammer would be used to hit a nail.
This experience is further evidence that the current generation of college students is an amazing group of diversely talented and genuinely interested individuals who believe that giving back to others is an important part of their educational experience. Currently, more than a third of our students already contribute to our local communities through a variety of activities—tutoring, cleaning beaches, helping the elderly, assisting those with health issues - the ways they have found to become involved are creative and inspiring.
This issue of The Beach Review covers a small sample of the many ways the members of the CSULB campus reach out to our many local communities. These stories point to myriad reasons why it's easy to have faith in the future, and why I feel so fortunate to work with such talented and devoted students, faculty and staff. This issue of The Beach Review is dedicated to all those members of our campus community, and to all of our alumni and friends, who go out of their way every day to make this world a better place.
Go BEACH!
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F. King Alexander
President
