Getting country with Honky Tonkin’ on the River >> Entertainment, C1
New Book in Common celebrated in the City Plaza>> FEATURES, D1
Students build wind turbines for developing countries >> ONLINE Wednesday September 15, 2010 Volume 65 Issue 4
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San Bruno gas-line fire kills four, injures 52 >>A ruptured gas-line fire raged through a San Bruno, Calif., neighborhood Thursday killing four people, injuring 52 and leaving two unaccounted for. The fire destroyed 37 homes and damaged eight, leaving some people in shelters. The exact cause of the fire is unknown as of now. Residents expressed their concerns in a town hall meeting Saturday, asking when they would be allowed to go home. Pacific Gas and Electric, the owner of the gas line, said that there was a thorough check done last year. Source: CNN.com
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Christopher Tavolazzi STAFF WRITER
“There’s these little kids who come to the stand everyday with their allowance saved up, they got it all planned out,” Averill said. “First they get their hot dog, then they come back after for ice cream. They are so excited about it, it’s just awesome.” Concession stand manager Julie Harvey has also seen a positive response from the community. “There’s this one old lady who comes every day and every time she’s here she says, ‘I’m so glad you guys are open!’” Harvey said. “I just love it.”
There is $81,000 up for grabs for students with sustainability project ideas. The A.S. Sustainability Fund is focused on helping students get their sustainability projects off the ground, said Robyn DiFalco, A.S. Sustainability coordinator. “The purpose is to provide a vehicle for students to do a project that might otherwise not be possible,” she said. DiFalco works with students to get their ideas put into action, she said. Those seeking help can approach the department with their ideas and get hands-on experience heading their project in the real world, said Matt McTavish, a sixth-year manufacturing technology major. “That you can take an idea and pitch it to people and get it funded, it’s so cool,” he said. “It’s probably the most real thing on campus.” McTavish worked with the manufacturing technology department, Adventure Outings and A.S. Sustainability to update the A.S. Bike Cart. The new human-powered cart, which provides students with bike repairs and tune-ups, was unveiled at Wrectacular with a very good response from students and staff alike, McTavish said. With the success of the bike cart project, McTavish thinks that any student with a good idea could create a sustainability project. A.S. Sustainability encourages students to participate, DiFalco said. “We want the process to be really educational,” she said. DiFalco has a list of ideas for various projects in case students want to get involved but don’t have anything specific in mind, she said. The Sustainability Fund Allocation Committee awards the funds once each semester. Anyone, regardless of year or major, can approach the committee with an idea, she said. Proposals are due by noon Thursday Oct. 14 to BMU 203. The proposals should be well developed and strongly argued, DiFalco said. “If students have gone to the trouble of coming up with an idea and writing a proposal and it comes to the committee, and the committee takes the time to consider it, we want it to be good,” she said. A.S. Sustainability helps students prepare to approach the committee, DiFalco said. “We don’t want any proposal to get rejected if it’s a good idea,” she said. Avery Beck, a third-year anthropology major, proposed the Bring Your Own Cup campaign to the committee in spring 2010 and his idea is now a reality. The campaign seeks to get students to use fewer disposable cups at all on-campus dining venues, Beck said. Students can purchase plastic cups with the Bring Your Own Cup logo, take them to the dining facility and receive a discount when purchasing soda. For more information about the campaign, see D1. Alan Rhoades, A.S. commissioner of environmental affairs and vice chair of the Sustainability Fund Allocation Committee, spends time promoting sustainability in the Trinity Commons, he said. He highly encourages students to get involved. “You take more pride in the campus,” he said. “You take more pride in the community.” If any students are interested in getting involved or giving their ideas wings, they should visit Bell Memorial Union Room 301 and talk to DiFalco or go online to the A.S. Sustainability website.
Teresa De Luz can be reached at
Christopher Tavolazzi can be reached at
tdeluz@theorion.com
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THE ORION • ORION STAFF
SPEAKING GREEK Blake Rudolph, sophomore, attracts attention to Pi Kappa Alpha Monday.
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Bus crash kills four after ramming into overpass >> A double-decker bus crashed into a railroad overpass and flipped on its side Saturday killing four people in Salina, N.Y. The crash resulted in 25 people being sent to the hospital. As of Saturday evening, five people were still in the hospital and one remained in critical condition. The bus was traveling from Pennsylvania to Toronto, Canada, when the crash occurred at 2:30 a.m. The driver was off his designated route and didn’t realize that the bus wouldn’t fit under the overpass, authorities said.
Fund sustains, inspires new student projects
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SSorority in good standing aafter completing probation Rudro Roy R STAFF WRITER ST S
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Ground zero Quran burning no longer in pastor's agenda >> The pastor of a Florida church called off a Quran burning that was supposed to be held Saturday in response to an Islamic center being built near ground zero. Saturday was the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaida terrorist attacks. Rev. Terry Jones arrived in New York Friday night and tried to set up a meeting with the imam in charge of the planned Islamic center. Two separate rallies were also carried out Saturday — one by groups supporting the Islamic center being built and one by those against it.
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Sigma Kappa was officially reinstated by Chico State as a recognized student organiC zzation on Feb. 2, after a suspension in spring 2009. 2 On Feb. 18, 2009, then 18-year-old Bethany Dixon was hospitalized for alcohol poisonD ing, according to a Feb. 26, 2009, article in iin The Orion. Dixon had been attending a Sigma T Kappa event prior to drinking at a house across K from the Bell Memorial Union. ffr On March 11, 2009, a letter was sent to Sigma Kappa’s Chico chapter withdrawing uniS versity recognition, said Rick Rees, director v of the student activities office. Other stipulao tions included the release of all new members tti recruited during spring 2009 and removing the rre letters from the chapter house. lle The university worked closely with the sorority’s national headquarters to review the situation tty and decide what measures to take, he said. a The sorority’s headquarters placed the Chico please see RETURN | A4
Greek organizations prepare for rush of potential members Lindsay Woychick STAFF WRITER
Rush Week has begun for social fraternities, which are placing a special emphasis this semester on matching recruits with the ideal chapter, while sororities will limit recruitment efforts until spring. Eight of the 10 social fraternity chapters will actively recruit transfer students, as well as sophomores, juniors and seniors, said Bob Floyd, vice president of recruitment for the Interfraternity Council. Gamma Zeta Alpha and Epsilon Sigma Rho will not participate in Rush Week events, but will be informally recruiting, he said. Rush Week, which began Monday, is expected to bring more than 100 male recruits to the Greek community, Floyd said. Fraternities accept a certain number of recruits based on figures given by the national headquarters of each fraternity. Numbers also depend on the student population at a school. IFC members encourage students to explore different fraternity houses, said Larry Pinto, vice president of conduct for the council. Making sure recruits are placed please see RUSH | A4
The Dog House opens at One Mile Teresa De Luz STAFF WRITER
After more than 20 years of vacancy, the concession stand at One-Mile Recreation Area in lower Bidwell Park has been revived by The Dog House restaurant. This collaborative effort with the city’s parks and recreation department originally opened the concession stand for bidding when several local businesses expressed the means and interest in the long-time vacant location, said Lise SmithPeters, management analyst for the park division. “There was a huge amount of money and renovations that needed to go into the place,” Smith-Peters said. “The vendor had to understand that money was on their part – I mean, the city is in a deficit.” The city received five bidders that applied for the stand, Smith-Peters said. The Dog House was awarded the stand after committing to a strict contract with the city. “Some folks were concerned about the litter,” Smith said. “It’s in the contract that the stand must be cleaned 60 feet around to keep it clean for the community.” So far, the addition of the concession stand has been a great success for everyone involved, she said. “The pool is a destination in itself,” Smith said. “This wonderful resource is already available to the public and the stand adds to it.” The Dog House has two locations in Chico and the concession stand is a great fit for the business, said owner Chuck Averill. “Bidwell is a huge gem and a beautiful
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DOG HANDLER Rose Chason, 21, works Tuesday at the Dog House concession stand located at One Mile. The stand has recently opened after being vacant for 20 years. park,” Averill said. “I wanted to provide another reason for people to get off the couch and come down to the park.” With a frequent morning crowd of joggers, the stand is now offering healthy breakfast items such as smoothies and coffee, he said. “We don’t sell junk there, we didn’t want it to be some crappy little place,” Averill said. “We can count on people running in the morning and they can count on us to provide good food.” The response from the community has been particularly rewarding, he said. Regulars to the stand have already started coming daily.