The Orion - Fall 2012, Issue 8

Page 1

ON PAR WITH ZINGG

DAILY NEWSCAST

FIGHT BREAST CANCER

An Orion reporter gets to know President Paul Zingg on the green Story B5

Get daily Chico State headlines and weather every morning. theorion.com

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Chico State’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1975

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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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to men

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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

F est

W

i

S rst

st We

Se

tre

co

et

S nd

tre

et

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

88 55

high low

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


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