The cover story examines the artistry of photorealist painter Robert Bechtle as a major retrospective of his work exhibits at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. Bechtle, a professor of art at SF State from 1968-99, does not paint freehand, but projects photographs onto canvases before meticulously filling in the details. Readers can witness firsthand the results of Bechtle's technique in the images which accompany the profile. The story also sheds light on his influential teaching career.

In "An Interview with Anne Rice," the best-selling author and alumna discusses why she left her fictional world of vampires and witches to follow a new spiritual calling: a series of historical novels about Jesus Christ. Rice reflects on her time at the University and says that her former professors, including Joel Dorius, gave her the encouragement she needed to become the writer she is today.

"This Just In: BECA Turns 60" explores the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts (BECA) Department's tradition of training students for radio and television careers. In honor of the department's 60th anniversary, BECA alumni -- including Peter Casey, the co-creator and executive producer of "Frasier," and Warner Bros. Vice President David Sacks -- discuss how their time as students in the department played a major role in their professional success after graduation.

"It's a Wrap" takes readers behind the scenes of alumnus Steve Zaillian's soon-to-be-released film, "All the King's Men," starring Jude Law and Sean Penn. Zaillian, a writer and director who won an Academy Award for his "Schindler's List" screenplay in 1993, says that his days as a cinema major at SF State found him making art-house films and documentaries. He never expected to be the Hollywood hit maker he is today.

Extended interviews with both Anne Rice and Steve Zaillian are available exclusively online.

The magazine offers news of the latest programs and initiatives on campus and student and faculty activities. Find out why one student took a break from classes to climb Mount Everest and why another spent the semester researching the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake.

The magazine's reader survey takes just a few minutes to complete and responses will be taken into consideration as the staff plans future issues. The SFSU Magazine Web site also includes an easy way to request a back issue, update an address, and send a class note or letter to the editor. While supplies last, all letter writers will receive an SFSU arch decal or a poster of alumnus Dale Perkins' watercolor painting of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Magazines are also available at a number of campus locations including the information desks at the Cesar Chavez Student Center and the Administration building.

-- Adrianne Bee