ON PAR WITH ZINGG
DAILY NEWSCAST
FIGHT BREAST CANCER
An Orion reporter gets to know President Paul Zingg on the green Story B5
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VOLUME 69 ISSUE 8
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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17, 2012
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CRIME
SUCCESS FEE
Admin will take longer to mull fee
CRIME STATS IN
15%
2011 2012 Information compares the first six months of 2011 and 2012 ven
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CHICO
2012: 1,063
DECREASE IN OVERALL CRIME INCIDENTS
the
University faculty members, students and parents are still discussing the proposed “student success” fee, a student charge that could go toward additional class sections and improved educational technology.
2011: 1,254
Sexual assaults, burglaries on the rise
Rapes, aggravated assaults, robberies and burglaries occcurred most often just north or south of campus
Katrina Cameron STAFF WRITER
Chico State administrators have chosen to take more time to consult with students and gather feedback until spring for a proposed “student success” fee. Chico State President Paul Zingg proposed the Chico Compact for Student Success at the Associated Students board of directors meeting Sept. 24. The fee would focus on raising funds for areas of education collectively decided by students PAUL ZINGG Chico State’s and faculty members. president said “We continue to develop the proposed fee the notion of a Chico Comcould help Chico State compete pact but are not rushing this with other CSUs to a quick decision,” Zingg said an email to The Orion. “It needs lots of work and lots of student feedback.” The university plans to finish the consultation process sometime during the spring semester to collect more feedback from >> please see FEE | A3
The overall crime rate appears to be declining, but police say it could be because fewer officers are avail able to document criminal activity.
32
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W
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et
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2012: 17
2011: 663 Burglars target small, electronic devices, such as: llaptops ttablet devices ssmartphones ggame consoles
19%
2012: 284
DECREASE ASE 2011: 255
LARCENY
89% INCREASEE
11% RAPE INCREASE
BURGLARY
nonviolent theft of personal property
2012: 540
SOURCE • CHICO POLICE DEPARTMENT MIDYEAR CRIME REPORT
breaking and entering
FOR MORE ON CRIME, SEE A3 • Burglaries tripled from Sept. 2011 to Sept. 2012.
THE ORION •INFOGRAPHIC BY LINDSAY SMITH
WARNING Signs warning of the dangers of asbestos in Butte Hall were posted Monday by Mark Stemen, a professor of geography and planning, whose office is located in the building.
HALLOWEEN
Police prepare to beef up patrols on costume holiday during Halloween weekend last year that involved drunk in public incidents STAFF WRITER and assaults, as reported in The Orion. University Police will team up with Police are getting ready to increase enforcement during Halloween weekend. Chico police to provide maximum staffThe Butte County Sheriff ’s Office ing for the holiday weekend, University Police Sgt. Corinne doesn’t know what Beck said. The univerto expect this year, sity’s officers will patrol because the holiday “We want to make Greek houses and unifalls on a weekday, sure they can take versity properties. Butte County Sgt. care of themselves” Last year, the uniDerek Bell said. Butte versity used the critical County will alloCORINNE BECK response unit, which cate two patrol units University Police Sergeant consists of other Caliof sheriff ’s deputies fornia State University to Chico. One will respond to Halloween-related distur- police officers, to help local police with bances and one will respond to routine crowd control and staffing, Beck said. Chico State isn’t planning to use the calls for service. There were more than 100 arrests >> please see HOLIDAY | A5 Pedro Quintana
THE ORION •PHOTOGRAPH BY FRANK REBELO
BUCKLE DOWN Chico police officers write tickets during Halloween weekend last year. The police department will partner with University Police to ensure safety for the days leading up to the holiday, which falls on a Wednesday this year.
INDEX
2011: 9
THE ORION •PHOTOGRAPH BY FRANK REBELO
University dispels asbestos fears Pedro Quintana STAFF WRITER
A faculty member placed signs outside Butte Hall Monday warning passersby of alleged health hazards inside Butte Hall, but they were taken down. Mark Stemen, a professor of geography and planning, said he put the signs out at 10 a.m. Monday to raise awareness of perceived asbestos dangers inside the building. Faculty members raised concerns in recent weeks that environmental conditions in Butte Hall could be connected to the cancer deaths of sociology professor Andy Dick and staff member Tami Harder Kilpatric, who both worked in the building. An email was sent to the campus community from Gayle Hutchinson, the dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences,
Lorraine Hoffman, the vice president for business and finance, and Marvin Pratt, the director of environmental health and safety, to assure that Butte Hall is safe to work and study in and that there is no evidence that either of the two deaths were connected to the building. Pratt said he was notified of the “Caution: Asbestos”
“The dangers are very real.” MARK STEMEN Professor of geography and planning
signs by concerned faculty members. The environmental health and safety department then notified Hutchinson of the signs. Hutchinson met with faculty last week to assure them the building was safe, said
Stemen, whose office is in Butte Hall. She explained that the building was safe but did not provide any evidence. “The dangers are very real,” Stemen said. “The university’s comments about the air system is a red-herring meant to distract people from the real problem.” The California Faculty Association is asking that independent asbestos testing be conducted, Stemen said. University administrators feel that the building is absolutely safe, said Joe Wills, director of public affairs and publications for Chico State. “There is no danger in the building,” Wills said. Pedro Quintana can be reached at pquintana@theorion.com
MORE ON BUTTE HALL, SEE A4 • The building’s elevators will be replaced in summer 2013.
INSIDE
World News
A2
Sports
B1
Weather
A2
Directory
B3
Police Blotter
A4
Features
B5
Opinion
A6
Sex Column
B6
Sports
TODAY
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full week A2 >>
Find out how prom dresses and Ultimate Frisbee are related. Story B1
Features The food columnist explains how to cook up your own pumpkin spice lattes in a slow cooker. Story B7
Opinion Easy access to prescription drugs sprouts addictions. Column A6