In 1980, Wilson was appointed President of California State University, Chico. In March 1987, the university was named the number one party school in the nation. This prompted Wilson to demand that the local police actively intervene in the parties, shutting them down by force.
Wilson's appointment as president of California State University, Chico in 1980 set the stage for a tumultuous period. A year later, in March 1987, the university was ranked as the top party school in the country. This led Wilson to demand that the local police take a more active role in policing the parties, using force if necessary to bring them under control.