ONE FOR THE BOOKS — CSEA President Bruce MacNintch, a 21-year veteran of the SWC Library, will retire in August.
Photo by Karen Tome
Bruce MacNintch is one for the books. Southwestern College’s outspoken California School Employees Association president and library technician recently announced his retirement effective in August. After 21 years, he said he felt like it was time, especially with a campus smoking ban looming.
“There is a proposal to ban smoking on campus,” he said. “This would make it so you could not have a cigarette inside the sidewalks (that circle the campus). Same with electronic cigarettes. I’m a smoker and that’s outside my comfort zone. So why would I come to work at a place where I’m no longer comfortable anymore?”
MacNintch said he has worked for 45 years and began his first job when he was 13. He said the only thing he would absolutely not miss would be working every day.
“I had a friend who retired a year ago from here, and she started getting depressed on Sunday nights at the prospect of having to go to work the very next day,” he said. “I didn’t know what she was talking about at first, but the weekends now seem to be too short. When my mom retired, I asked her, ‘what’s life like being retired?’ and she said, ‘Every evening is Friday night and every day is Saturday’. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Academic Senate President Randy Beach praise on MacNintch for his “outstanding leadership and hard work.”
“I’m happy for him,” he said. “He has been an incredible leader for the people he represents. He knows how to analyze and make sure we are counting all our chickens correctly and counting all our beans properly. (He has been) a tireless advocate for the classified professionals he represents.”
Beach, a reading professor, said MacNintch was also devoted to the campus library.
“He worked his backside off for the college,” said Beach. “Not just his role as CSEA President, but his support for the library and his role there. He is the first to bring to the attention of the administration (and others) the needs the library has to meet student’s needs. So, he’s not only advocating on behalf of his constituents, but on behalf of the students as well.”
Faculty union president Eric Maag he is also a MacNintch fan.
“I’m excited for him,” said Maag. “It’s going to be sad to see him go. He’s been the classified employee president for what seems like forever.”
MacNintch said he has always enjoyed his colleagues.
“It’s the people I’ll miss,” he said. “A job’s a job, and I always tell people that Southwestern College is not my life. Southwestern College pays for my life. But it’s the people that make the difference and I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a lot of great people.”
