Former CSUC pres dies

Stanford Cazier, who was president of Chico State during one of the most turbulent eras in its history, 1971-79, died March 19 in his Logan, Utah, home. He was 82.

As president, Cazier (pictured) had the dubious distinction of hosting the last major campus sit-in in the country, in 1975-76, when around 200 students occupied Kendall Hall, including his office, protesting the arming of campus police. The sit-in lasted about three weeks, but the start of winter break thinned its ranks and Cazier, who was sympathetic to the protesters, reclaimed his office.

He also was president when Chico State College became a university, and when the student newspaper, the Wildcat, went off campus and became the Chico News & Review, a move he supported. “I won’t have little old ladies calling me to complain about the dirty words in the paper,” he said gratefully.

Cazier, a Mormon born in Utah, left Chico to become president at Utah State University, where he previously had served as assistant provost.