The Orion - Spring 2013, Issue 14 by The Orion

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Greeks suspended 2 fraternities shut down after investigation into beer brewing, drinking party

Pedro Quintana Nick Carr Staff Writers

Chico State officials put one sorority chapter on probation and suspended two fraternities Tuesday after investigations confirmed violations of university policies. Fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha is suspended for the next three years for hosting a social event April 13 called “Around the World,” a themed drinking event that took place in three private homes in the south-campus area, according to a university press release. Sigma Chi has been suspended for two years because one of its officers brewed beer inside the chapter house. Sorority Gamma Phi Beta is on probation for a year, said Connie Huyck, student life and leadership coordinator. The probation restricts the sorority so that it cannot participate in

social events or mixers with other Greeks. The sorority must get approval by Greek life coordinators for all internal events, including those involving sisterhood and alumni, Huyck said. Gamma Phi Beta members must complete educational requirements, including risk management workshops, by the end of next semester, and the chapter president must meet with Greek life coordinators on a monthly basis, she said. More than 150 fraternity members and pledges will have to wait and see if their organizations remain unrecognized by the student life and leadership office, Huyck said. The two fraternities have until May 20 to appeal the sanctions, which will go to the office of the vice president for student affairs. The suspensions mean that the fraternities cannot participate in any Greek-related activities and must take their letters down from chapter houses, according to the release. Members who currently live in the houses will not be asked to move.

University officials have notified the national organizations of Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Chi about the suspensions, according to the release. The fraternities will not be able to use any funds gained through revenue sharing, Huyck said. The two chapters received a combined $1,847 in revenue sharing, according to the Associated Students election results. Alexander Salciccia, who was active as the president of Sigma Chi as of last week, said he no longer held the position when contacted by The Orion on Tuesday. He declined to comment on the suspensions. Representatives from Pi Kappa Alpha and Gamma Phi Beta did not respond by deadline. The Orion can be reached at editorinchief@theorion.com

Salaries

Enrollment numbers stall for fall semester

POSSIBLE PAYDAY

The most recent pay increase was in

2008

would be effective July 1

Allison Weeks Asst. News Editor

After its standard enrollment period, Chico State has 245 fewer students intending to enroll next semester compared to last fall, a reduction that could take a toll on the budget of Associated Students if the num- David bers don’t change. Buckley University officials are not sure why there Associated Students are fewer students intending to enroll, Director wrote Allen Bee, the director of admissions, in an email to The Orion. If the 245 decrease stays the same, A.S. will not receive about $200,000 in student fees it originally budgeted for, A.S. Director David Buckley said. The Admissions and Enrollment Office has extended the deadline to allow additional students the chance to enroll. “We know that there is always a percentage of students who change their minds over summer, so we wanted to address what is known as ‘summer melt,’” Bee wrote. Approximately 11,185 continuing students have signed up for classes as of Monday, he wrote. The office estimates 16,606 total students will enroll at Chico State for the fall semester, Bee wrote. Chico State was originally planning for enrollment to grow by about 200 students As of now, there are in the fall semester, as pre245 fewer students viously reported by The intending to enroll at Orion. Chico State for the fall The university had been compared to last year. expecting to admit an additional 1.2 percent of students in the fall because of expected funding from the state, Chico State President Paul Zingg said at a uniThe university predicted versity budget meeting on 200 additional students March 29. would enroll for the fall.

-245

+200

Allison Weeks can be reached at aweeks@theorion.com

SOURCE • AllEn Bee and the university budget office

Chico State faculty and Associated Students employees Average full-time A.S. career employee annually makes about

$38,500 SOURCE •Susan Jennings the orion •INFOGRAPHIC BY JENNA FUJITSUBO

1.2 percent of base salary

($462) with possibility of bonus*

new salary

$38,962

*Possibility for employees based on time spent working and performance

Some AS employees may get pay raise The average annual pay for an A.S. career employee is approximately $38,500, Jennings said. A 1.2 percent cost-of-living pay increase adds $462 annually, resultIf state legislators approve a 1.2 percent pay increase ing in a salary of $38,962. The raise would only apply to full-time career employfor full-time employees of the university, then Associees, as opposed to student employees, who don’t receive ated Students will follow suit. The raise would go into effect July 1, pending a Chico benefits, she said. There are currently about 120 fulltime employees. State budget approval this month. There is also a proposal for a 1 percent base pay bonus A cost-of-living calculation is performed each year that may be available to employto assess whether employees should ees based on the time they have receive a pay raise, said Susan Jen“The less we give our spent working and on their overall nings, financial director for A.S. employees a pay raise, the less work performance, Jennings said. Financial Services. competitive we are in retaining This pay bonus would be a one-time The 1.2 percent pay increase would earning that would possibly be disreflect the campuswide effort to and recruiting employees.” persed to an undisclosed number of increase pay for all full-time employSusan Jennings workers. ees, Jennings said. A.S. Financial Services Financial Director Prior to recent budget cuts, pay “We have not had a pay increase increases occurred much more often, since 2008, and that is largely due to she said. the budget cuts,” she said. “The less we give our employees a pay raise, the less The last time A.S. boosted pay for its employees was in July 2008, when the employees received a 2 percent competitive we are in retaining and recruiting employees,” Jennings said. increase, Jennings said. A.S. prepares a budget in advance and then makes adjustments, if necessary, based on any changes to the The Orion can be reached at Chico State budget. editorinchief@theorion.com Jack Lincoln Staff Writer

Injured student rallies in time to walk graduation stage Pedro Quintana Senior Writer

Photo courtesy of Juline Hobbs

Still strong Injured Chico State student Brandon Fisher poses with Willie the Wildcat.

While most students are studying for finals, Chico State senior Brandon Fisher is training to walk across the stage on graduation day. Fisher, a 21-year-old construction management major, is undergoing rehabilitative therapy after being hit by a truck while participating in a bar crawl in December. He suffered head injuries when he was hit, forcing him to relearn everything he knew, said Juline Hobbs, his mother. “He just wants a normal life again,” she said. Fisher’s therapy is helping him with independent living skills so he can get back to daily activities such as operating a vehicle, Hobbs said. “He wants to be back in Chico,” she said. “It’s devastating; imagine being robbed from your friends, school and work.”

INDEX World News

The driver of the truck, Butte College student Matthew Lambert, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after the accident. Lambert pled not guilty to the felony charge, said Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey. Lambert will appear in court Thursday. Fisher was transported to Enloe Medical Center after he was hit, according to a Chico Police Department press release. He was in a coma, but woke up 15 days later. “He didn’t recognize himself after awaking from the coma,” Hobbs said. Hobbs quit her job to care for her son while she juggles parenting Fisher’s brothers, who will graduate high school next month. “The accident has completely changed our lives,” she said. “It’s OK, because he is my son.” Brandon’s brother, Jordan, now wants to be a physician’s assistant to help people after this experience with his brother, Hobbs said.

In March, Hobbs drove Fisher to Chico to celebrate his birthday with family and friends at One Mile Recreation Area in Bidwell Park. “We had a picnic with about 30 to 40 people coming to celebrate with Brandon,” she said. “Playing games, music and food, he was really happy to be hanging out with his friends.” Hobbs doesn’t have any ill feelings toward Lambert, but she hopes he will come around and speak with Fisher. “It would be nice for him to apologize to Brandon,” she said. “You changed our lives forever; you will only serve a short term, while my son will have a lifetime sentence recovering.” Hobbs will drive Fisher to Chico for graduation weekend so he can walk alongside his peers with his family and friends supporting him all the way. Pedro Quintana can be reached at pquintana@theorion.com

INSIDE A2

Sports

Weather

Directory

Police Blotter

Features

Opinion

Sex Column

TODAY

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Sports

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Opinion

Chico State’s disc golf team, “The Chainbangers,” returned from a national competition with encouraging results. Story B1

The Orion caught up with a cage dancer, a saloon performer and two bar doormen to get the inside scoop on Chico’s night life. Story B5

Is the media focusing too much on sensational news, scandal, celebrity trivia and gossip? Our columnist thinks so. Column A6

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A2 |

WORLD

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NEWS

WedneSday, may 8, 2013

WEATHER >> Today | isolated t-storms

79 58

Syrian authorities blame Israelis for jets targeting a military research facility outside of Damascus early Sunday. The incident occurred two days after an Israeli airstrike in the country. Source: The Los Angeles Times

NATION

Thursday | partly cloudy

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Friday | sunny

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Board proposes new suspension rules This will apply to graduate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, minor Asst. Ne ws Editor programs, certificate programs and The Chico State Academic Sen- all options within a degree. The new guidelines will require ate voted unanimously Thursday to establish a series of guidelines any department looking to suspend a program that must be met to present an before and durimprovement ing suspensions “It takes more than one timeline to of academic academic year to accomplish the university, programs. that.” an enhanceThe rules ment plan for are designed Mike Kotar the areas needto require facEducation professor ing evaluation, ulty and staff to a summary decide whether a program needs to be strengthened explaining the concerns and an or improved in order to suspend it, examination of evidence for sussaid Paula Selvester, a faculty mem- pending a program. Mike Kotar, a faculty member in ber in the school of education. Allison Weeks

PROGRAM SUSPENSION

the school of education, proposed an amendment to the guidelines. The amendment gives faculty a timeline that lets the Educational Policies and Programs Committee decide if all the issues within the program have been resolved after a year of suspension. “It takes more than one academic year to accomplish that,” Kotar said. All interested parties would understand the reasons for discussing the program, Chico State President Paul Zingg said. It’s taken a long time to get to this point, said Russell Mills, chairman of the Academic Senate.

A program representative will do the following after a year of suspension: • Send a sheet for reinstatement • Propose discontinuing the program • Submit a request for extending suspension with a plan of action and a timeline.

Allison Weeks can be reached at

SOURCE • ACADEMIC SENATE

aweeks@theorion.com

Steven Depolo via Flickr

A 46-year-old Utah soccer referee died Saturday after he was allegedly punched by a 17-year-old soccer player last weekend. The referee called a foul on the player before the incident happened. Source: CBS News

Michael Saechang via Flickr

Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords received the 2013 Profile in Courage award Sunday for her efforts in reducing gun violence through her support in political reforms. Source: San Francisco Chronicle

CALIFORNIA

Karen Mardahl via Flickr

Two people died Sunday afternoon when a canoe carrying four people capsized in a reservoir near Los Gatos. The two other people in the canoe were able to swim to shore. Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Wildcat statue to show school pride diversity and inclusion. Piver thinks a student competition to come Staff Writer up with the design of the statue is the best Associated Students has invested $10,000 way to get students involved. Fundraising efforts include going to local in the student union budget for a wildcat businesses, alumni, friends and family, Piver statue to be built on campus. The statue, part of a larger concept called said. “Whatever it takes,” he said. “Wildcat Way,” is aimed at promoting school With the recent alcohol and drug-related pride, said Larry Bassow, student conduct coordinator in the office of judicial affairs. deaths, the student body has lost sight of The idea was announced at February’s sum- what it means to be a Wildcat, he said. “We are in the middle of a transition, a culmit aimed at curbing alcohol abuse in Chico. The statue is one item in a three-part ture change, and we need to take a step in effort to promote the Wildcat Way, Bassow the right direction and do what’s right,” Piver said. The others involve renaming West First said. Layton and Ian Gilbert, another co-creator Street “Wildcat Way Street” and promotof Wildcat Way, are working ing Chico State as a way to a with Up Til’ Dawn, Wondrous bright future. “I am 100 percent Women, the Office of DiverThe biggest obstacles with positive this statue will sity and Inclusion, Freshman this project are agreeing on be built.” Leadership Opportunity and a spot to build the statue and Community Action Volunfinding ways to raise money, Larry Bassow Student conduct coordinator teers in Education to help Bassow said. build enthusiasm and sup“Everybody is on board port for the project. with the project,” he said. Wildcat Way will become an official orga“President Zingg is excited as well.” The most likely location for the wildcat nization in the fall, Piver said. “We want to work with as many groups is in front of the Bell Memorial Union, Bassow said. Choosing a high-traffic area with and students as we can,” Piver said. Bassow would like to have student focus students coming to and from campus is essential to maximize the statue’s viewing groups discuss numerous aspects of the project, including the look and location of possibilities. “I am 100 percent positive this statue will the statue. “We will have alumni build it, students be built,” he said. The quickest way to get the statue in place design and fundraise for it,” he said. “There is to build it in the BMU, said Gabe Adley, are endless possibilities with this thing.” The next step for this project is assemvice president for facilities and services. Anywhere else, the proposal would have to go bling a team of students to gather support and enthusiasm, Bassow said. Planning through a barrage of bureaucratic red tape. “If the statue is in the BMU, we could have a timeline and coming up with a time to unveil the statue will come next. it up tomorrow,” he said. “Despite the roadblocks we face we are The size, shape and overall appearance of the statue is still up for discussion, said going to see this thing through to the end Layton Piver, co-creator of the Wildcat Way no matter what,” Bassow said. “We’ve committee, a student-led initiative to bring a picked up momentum, and it’s going to happen.” sense of pride and belonging to Chico State. The program is built on several guiding virtues of Chico State: leadership, scholarship, The Orion can be reached at integrity, civic engagement, sustainability, editorinchief@theorion.com Jack Lincoln

If a wildcat statue was built on campus, what would you want it to look like?

“I would imagine it being six feet tall with its claws out front, possibly wearing a Chico State jersey.” Pablo Villalpando Junior sociology major

“It would be ferocious-looking.” Desiree Julien Senior psychology and criminal justice major

“I have no idea, probably aggressive-looking, with not so scary facial features.” Amy Kannier Nutrition graduate student

“A realistic-looking wildcat, for sure.”

Jessica Towner Junior liberal studies major

CSU removes hold for studying aboard in Mexico Nicholas Carr Staff Writer RicLaf via Flickr

Five women died Saturday evening when their limousine caught fire on the San Mateo Bridge in the San Francisco Bay Area. Police are still investigating the incident. Source: The Associated Press

-compiled by Allison Weeks

CORRECTIONS The Orion staff strives for accuracy in all it publishes. We recognize that mistakes will sometimes occur, but we treat every error very seriously. If you feel a correction needs to be made, please email the editor-in-chief at editorinchief@theorion.com

Students can study abroad in Mexico again following the removal of restrictions in March. The California State University Chancellor’s Office issued a ban on student travel to Mexico in May 2011 after an advisory warning was issued by the U.S. State Department. The State Department’s warning was prompted by a dramatic increase in tourist deaths in Mexico between 2007 and 2011.

“Querétaro has long been one The Office of International Educaof the safest cities tion was notified in in Mexico, and we March that programs “I think the new are pleased that we in Mexico will be chancellor has realized can once again colopen for enrollment that the country is a laborate with our next year, wrote Jenmosaic.” colleagues at the Tec nifer Gruber, interim de Monterey campus coordinator for study Stephen lewis in Querétaro,” Gruber abroad and internahistory professor wrote. tional exchange, in Stephen Lewis, a professor in an email to The Orion. Students can now travel to Queré- the history department, previously taro through CSU International taught at the Universidad de las Programs, a yearlong exchange pro- Americas Puebla through the United Study Abroad Consortium. gram, she said.

The countrywide ban was most likely an over-reaction by the previous chancellor, Lewis said. Located near the center of the country, the university is removed from the north where traffickers fight for the routes that guide drugs to the United States and firearms to Mexico, he said. “I think the new chancellor has realized that the country is a mosaic,” Lewis said. Nicholas Carr can be reached at ncarr@theorion.com

| College of Communication & Education | California State University, Chico | Chico, Ca 95929-0600 CONTACT | EDITORIAL Phone: 530.898.5627 Email: editorinchief@theorion.com Editor-in-Chief Jenna Valdespino Managing Editor Ben Mullin Art Director Scott Ledbetter Chief Copy Editor Leila Rodriguez Video Editor Nicholas Kinoshita

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WedneSday, may 8, 2013

| A3

Job market boost helpful for seniors, graduates Jack Lincoln Allison Weeks The Orion

Butte County unemployment decreased to 11.2 percent in the month of March, which may help Chico State seniors find jobs after graduation, The unemployment rate in February was 11.6 percent, and about 11,400 Butte County residents are still unemployed, according to a California Employment Development Department press release. Unemployment in California decreased from 9.6 percent in January to 9.4 percent. Even with the decrease in unemployment, senior business administration major Anjela Gonzales is still having trouAnjela ble finding a job. “I have gone through the application Gonzales senior business process and not gotten hired here,” she major said. “I guess I don’t really notice it’s been changing that much.” Kevin Adkins, a senior computer science major, hasn’t been looking for a job, but has friends who have landed internships. “I know a lot of my friends right now have had an easy time finding internships,” he said. Kevin ADkins Job situation for Chico State grads The job market is really great for

senior computer science major

graduating seniors, said Megan Odom, are keys to success in the job market. interim director for the Chico State Career The Chico State Career Center is the Center. central hub for taking advantage of jobThe National Association of Colleges related resources useful to students. and Employers conducted a study that Drop-in advising, seminars and appointfound a 13 percent national increase in ments with advisers are just some ways the number of companies that are hiring students can work on their resume and Butte County college graduates compared to last year, other skills necessary for landing a sucunemployment rate as Odom said. cessful job. of March “We have seen this kind of change College degrees are just as valuable as throughout Chico as well,” she said. they were five years ago, despite skeptiSo far there is no accurate way to meacism among some students, Odom said. sure the percentage of Chico State students If a job-seeker is in a rut, she recwho get jobs out of college, but the Career ommends undergraduates consider Center is currently working on a process alternatives other than applying for gradto procure that information, Odom said. uate school just because there are few About 103 companies came to the All options. Unemployment rate in Majors Career and Internship Fair held There has been asn increase in students California in January this semester, which showed the biggest attending graduate school, but it’s best SOURCE • California Employment Development Department increase in recruiters visiting campus to get job experience beforehand, Odom since 2007. said. Many companies were hiring for a mul“If you need it to attain your next posititude of different job positions unspecific to any one tion then yeah, go for it,” she said. particular major, Odom said. Once the economy stabilizes, the job market will “This year in particular we have definitely seen a improve, making it easier to become employed. positive upswing in the job opportunities for college stuStudents who are working hard at searching for jobs, dents,” she said. trying to network with alumni and applying for posiStudents are coming to the Career Center on a regu- tions are the ones who are successful, she said. lar basis with job offers from prospective employers, she “What you put in is what you get out of it,” Odom said. said. Odom explains that being consistent, using a variety The Orion can be reached at of search methods and learning proper networking skills editorinchief@theorion.com

11.2

percent

9.6

percent

SAFETY

Police call for reinforcements during brawl 67 Number of Chico police officers available for patrol

86 Total number of Chico police officers on force, including patrol, sergeants and lieutenants SOURCE • Chico PD

A report of gunshots led officers from the Chico Police Department to respond to southeast Chico, where they found a large fight. Police were unable to determine what caused the brawl. Jack Lincoln Staff Writer

The Chico Police Department called for backup Friday while responding to a report of gunshots fired about midnight on the 500 block of Pomona Avenue. Lt. Jennifer Gonzales, the department’s watch commander, spoke with a bystander that night

who said they saw someone shoot a gun, she said. According to a Chico police press release, officers arrived at the scene to discover a large fight taking place in the middle of the street surrounded by a mass of people. People in the group began to encircle the officers and approach them threateningly. The crowd was so large and uncontrollable that all on-duty Chico police officers responded to the scene, as well as allied forces from the Butte County Sheriff’s Department, University Police and the State Parks Police. It took 17 minutes from the time the officers arrived for the crowd

to disperse. The Chico Fire Department and medical unit were also dispatched as a precautionary measure, Gonzales said. Despite multiple attempts to contact the victims involved, no one has come forward to identify themselves, Chico police Sgt. Mike Nelson said. Most of the individuals involved have remained uncooperative with the police, making it difficult to determine the cause of the shooting and subsequent fight, he said. According to the press release, three individuals were arrested and booked into the Butte County Jail.

Julian Williams, 19, was arrested on suspicion of fighting in public. Montonio Robinson, 20, and Kathleen Nelson, 18, were arrested for obstruction of justice. Nelson is unsure as to whether the above detainees attend either Butte College or Chico State. None were listed in Chico State’s online student directory. The type of firearm used in the shooting is still unknown, and no bullet casings have been recovered either, he said. It is also unclear if the incident was gang-related, Nelson said. The Orion can be reached at editorinchief@theorion.com

A4 |

POLICE BLOTTER The police blotter is a selection of information cited directly from Chico Police Department and University Police Department. University Police Friday, 11:05 p.m.: Drunk in public reported at Lassen Hall. “Assessment on resident guest. Male subject at front desk, not aware of what is going on and swaying, visiting female on second floor.”

Chico Police Thursday, 12:30 p.m.: Drunk in public reported at south One Mile. “Drunk male with butcher knife in his back pocket, walking eastbound on the trail along the creek.”

Friday, 11:56 p.m.: Assistance requested to other agency at the 500 block of Pomona Avenue. “Assist Chico Police Department with shots heard.”

Friday, 12:51 a.m.: Shots heard on the 600 block of Pomona Avenue. “Heard five to six shots from what sounded like a pistol south of the apartment complex. Reporting party says approximately 30 minutes before that in the same area she heard subjects chanting “F-ck the police.’”

Saturday, 12:08 a.m.: Narcotics violation reported at Lassen Hall. “Smell of marijuana. Handled in-house by University Housing and Food Service.” Saturday, 12:45 a.m.: Drunk in public reported at the north side of Holt Hall. “Two females, one male. Publicly intoxicated is female with black shirt.” Saturday, 4:43 a.m.: Drunk in public reported at Trinity Hall. “Subject has bad feeling someone is following him, trying to get into Craig Hall apartments. Coming from friend’s house. Subject has been drinking.” Saturday, 4:36 p.m.: Medical aid, alcoholrelated, requested at Whitney Hall. “Medics en route for alcohol overdose. Subject transported to Enloe.” Sunday, 12:51 a.m.: Medical aid, alcoholrelated requested at Sutter Hall. “Subject was found on ground outside Sutter Hall, private reporting party called for medical and subject was transported.” Sunday, 12:57 a.m.: Medical aid requested, alcohol-related. “Male subject calling for ride, has possibly been drinking. Subject was coming from “The Zoo” and was dropped off by friends, has possibly been drinking, paranoid.” Sunday, 2:29 a.m.: Suspicious subject reported at Whitney Hall. “Three white male adults behind Whitney Hall by old dining entrance, bottle of alcohol.” Sunday, 4:25 a.m.: Threats reported at Plumas Hall and Butte Station. “Male student was confronted by three male subjects about 10 minutes ago, threatening him with belt and mention of a weapon.” Sunday, 6:59 p.m.: Assist other agency requested at Pluto’s restaurant. “Two injured severely.”

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WedneSday, may 8, 2013

Friday, 1:31 a.m.: Drunk in public reported on the 100 block of East Fifth Street. “Male subject completely naked. White male adult, blond hair, walking southbound on Main Street.” Saturday, 7:34 p.m.: Assault and battery reported at north One Mile. “Reporting party’s 17-year-old attacked by male subject. No medical need, hit in the face. Dispute started because subject with jersey was confronted for urinating on victim’s vehicle.” Saturday, 10:33 p.m.: Noise complaint reported on the 800 block of Warner Street. “Loud party, DJ, approximately 40 subjects inside and out. Reporting party calling back. Appears to be a larger group than originally reported. Party-goers threw beer on officers as they arrived. At least 100 subjects at party. Now leaving southbound on Warner.” Sunday, 12:38 a.m.: Shots seen on the 700 block of West Ninth Street. “Male subject just walked out of the store and shot a gun into the sky. He is walking with a group on Ivy toward West Eighth Street. Subject was seen putting gun in right jeans pocket. Group is males and females, group of about 10.” Sunday, 3:56 a.m.: Assault and battery reported on the 600 block of West Sixth Avenue. “Hispanic male adults tried to rob reporting party with a knife. Reporting party ran to his house. Reporting party has locked his doors. There were four subjects. Subject tried to stab the reporting party.” -compiled by Isabel Charles and Risa Johnson

Wildcat Store troubles cause AS to ask for aid received the survey April 30, there have been about 460 responses, Meyers said. Students Staff Writer will receive the survey in the fall. “We wanted to move it back so that finals Management for the Wildcat Store asked for input from the campus last Tuesday amid wouldn’t be a distraction,” he said. A majority of the responses received so far concerns that textbook sales will continue to outlined pricing as a common concern, Meydecline. An email, titled “SOS: Save Our Store,” ers said. Textbook prices are a leading contributor prefaced a survey sent to administrators, staff and faculty. Written by Wildcat Store to the Wildcat Store being perceived as too Director Robert Meyers, the survey asked for expensive, A.S. Director David Buckley said. Internet sales have enabled publishers to answers to the ongoing question of how the store can reinvent itself now that textbooks bypass traditional outlets and sell directly to students, leaving shops like the Wildcat no longer provide the majority of its income. Store unable to remain com“It’s about finding what petitive with their pricing, the campus wants and Meyers said. needs,” Meyers said. “We’re “We may be a Customers may have to hoping our prices and sercorporation, but we’re get used to the idea of losing vices can reflect that.” incorporated by you.” ownership over course materials in the long run, he said. The money Keaton bass Many publishers are offerSince 2010, the share of A.S. Vice President of ing rentals protected by the store’s income made from business and finance digital-rights management textbooks has decreased services that would deactifrom 56 percent to 44 percent. The 2013-14 budget finalized by the vate the product after a set time period. “In some cases, whatever you rent will Associated Students on Monday estimates books will make up about 41 percent of reve- deactivate after six months,” Meyers said. The growth of massive open online nue, equivalent to about $3.66 million. “If we are to survive as a local, inde- courses, or MOOCS, might accelerate this pendent campus-supported operation, transition, he said. In preparing for the shift to digital matetextbooks, while always remaining a vital part of our mission, can no longer be the pri- rials, the store is looking into expanding its mary focus of our contribution to the campus tablet sales, he said. community,” Meyers wrote in the email sent Looking ahead to faculty and staff. Most people think of the store as just proWhile it is anticipated the store will be contributing about $162,000 to the A.S. reserves viding textbook rentals, Meyers said. “That model isn’t working,” he said. at the end of the current term, the continThe survey is a first step in assessing how ued reduction of the store’s overall budget is an indication that innovation will need to the store can change its offerings to serve the replace the gap left by textbook sales, said campus, Meyers said. In addition to the “O-Zone,” a section of Keaton Bass, A.S. vice president for business the convenience store dedicated to health and finance. The survey, along with the focus groups food, the relocation of the textbook departthat will follow its completion, are ways to get ment to the main floor may help customers see the greater range of what the store offers, the campus involved in that conversation. “We may be a corporation, but we’re Bass said. “We definitely see some advantages to incorporated by you,” Bass said. “Students are our shareholders and stakeholders. It’s having textbooks at the heart of our store,” your business, and we want you to be a part he said, “even if they’re not the heart of our store.” of it.” Nick Carr

New textbooks Since faculty, staff and administrators

Nicholas Carr can be reached at ncarr@theorion.com

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| A5

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013

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EDITORIAL

Support Wildcat Store as it works to change its focus The Wildcat Store is now looking for input regarding its business practices from administrators, staff and faculty. Wildcat Store Director Robert Meyers sent out a survey titled “SOS: Save Our Store” via email in order to gain feedback about how to increase revenue at the shop since textbooks are no longer able to fill the gap. The survey will also be sent to students in the fall, allowing them to provide insight as well. The store will also hold focus groups after the survey is completed to provide another way for the campus community to get involved with the assessment of the Wildcat Store’s offerings. We’re glad the Wildcat Store has recognized its problems and is willing to seek help in trying to revamp its focus to better

it needs your support. Students should serve students. The shop’s struggles are well known take pride in purchasing notebooks from and difficult to solve, so we encourage the campus store, which supports Assostudents and their families to support the ciated Students, rather than buying them from Walmart, a soulless, multi-national Associated Students store. monolith. Every semester, Money spent at The Orion reports We’re glad the Wildcat Store has the Wildcat Store is on lagging textbook recognized its problems and is cycled back into A.S. sales at the shop, willing to seek help in order to programs in order to which has been in benefit students. the process of shiftrevamp its focus to better serve The fact that your ing its focus away students. money goes toward from being solely a helping fellow stubookstore. This transformation was apparent when dents rather than lining the pockets of a A.S. changed the store’s name from the corporate bigwig is a pretty good reason A.S. Bookstore to the Wildcat Store only a to consider buying from the store. The convenience of being able to run to couple years ago. The Wildcat Store is a local business the store before class also makes it a great similar to those you see downtown, and resource.

If the option of purchasing a textbook on campus completely disappeared, we presume there would be many tired students wishing there was a quick and easy place to get their supplies. Based on early feedback from the Save Our Store survey, it is clear that pricing is a common concern at the Wildcat Store, and one that should be looked at and addressed. By asking students for help, the store may be able to address its reputation for high prices and bring in more customers who are excited to see their ideas take shape. We ask that you consider supporting the Chico State campus by shopping at the store and letting the people who work there know how they could serve you better.

Trusted media lose credibility, capture gossip Dani Anguiano Opinion Columnist

Real news can be hard to find. It has been infiltrated by celebrity gossip and other fluff pieces. This sort of pseudo-news can be found even on the pages of organizations many consider pillars of journalistic integrity. “The Today Show,” CNN and the L.A. Times are all guilty, along with many others. When articles about Jennifer Aniston’s dieting habits can be found in the L.A. Times, it becomes clear our standards are crumbling in an effort to keep more people interested. Just take a look at “The Today Show.” The program has changed drastically since I began watching as a child. While it was never a hard news program, it now seems like it actually makes a point to avoid real news. Aside from the fact that the last part of the program is just Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee getting wasted and seeing who can talk louder, the entire show doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously. The show is filled with morning makeovers, weight loss techniques and interviews with the latest celebrity involved in some sort of scandal. News organizations lose credibility when they waste paper and airtime with features about which starlet is going topless in her next film. They are throwing away space that could be used to inform people about things that matter. When a major drought was affecting the majority of the country last year, I didn’t hear a peep from any of the TV news programs. It wasn’t on the home page of CNN. I had to hear about it from British Broadcasting Corporation. I learned of a drought in the U.S. from the BBC. Although I did learn about Kim Kardashian’s divorce by watching NBC later that day. I’m not criticizing those who like to read celebrity news. I just don’t think it should be on the same page as an article about immigration reform. News groups publish articles about celebrities because people read them, but there are magazines and websites

specializing in that type of news. When we want to read gossip, we know where to find it. If newspapers want to include articles about an actor’s divorce, we might as well start stalking them in the check-out line. Real news organizations don’t need to bring attention to the soap opera that is celebrity murmurs. There is a lot of actual news happening out there people need and want to know about. I don’t need the Times fueling my gossip vice by printing articles about celebrities, especially not when I am trying to keep myself aware. The goal of journalism is to keep the public informed.

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When major news groups sacrifice their standards to increase the number of readers, it only increases the number of those readers who are uninformed about the things that matter. I think it’s time that the news organizations return to news. Dani Anguiano can be reached at danguiano@theorion.com

Underclassmen lack motivation, interest in courses Katie Akeson Opinion Columnist

I grimace every time a reputable guest speaker asks questions after delivering a presentation on some critical societal issue and faces a classroom full of silence and blank stares. In my 100-level classes, students have an unshakable attitude of apathy toward their assignments, material, and that ultimately determines their grade. As a freshman, I have taken a range of courses and I’ve noticed a lack of students taking their studies as seriously as I do. It seems they’ve taken the time to become experts at ditching class and blowing off schoolwork rather than learning the material. But why is this pattern so prominent in 100-level courses and not upper division

classes? I think it stems from the fact that these courses consist of mostly freshmen who face the adversities upperclassmen have already acclimated to. It is my theory that three factors contribute to this freshman folly. A home with no rules Being without parental supervision, set rules and strict consequences causes a misleading sense of limitless freedom. College comes with the responsibility to act maturely on your own. When wideeyed, bushy-tailed Chico students begin their college life they are suddenly faced with the need to motivate themselves. Parents are no longer over their shoulder advising them to finish homework or complaining that they go out too much. The ability of freshmen to manage their day-to-day lives does not develop instantly. And before this happens, a lot of unproductive habits are bound to develop.

‘There’s always next semester’ Along with this newfound freedom comes the attitude of light-hearted indifference toward work during the first few semesters. Students deem extra classes unnecessary when they pretend they have a couple years to get serious about school. They don’t worry about passing a class because they can retake the course next semester. This mentality creates lackluster students who tell themselves they will have next semester to power through assignments. Generality of general education These courses are just that, general. Students taking upper division classes usually have some kind of direction in mind — they know what subject they want to study and realize the courses will aid them in attaining their diploma. The same people that take GE courses

take upper division classes, but they are learning about things that have nothing to do with their major, which makes for a lot of disinterested people in one lecture room. Obviously these concerns don’t apply to all underclassmen. A lot of freshmen, including myself, take the opposite road and overexert themselves to the point of insanity. But to my observation this attitude is not common. Freshmen don’t understand the notion that what they do now actually matters. These classes help prepare students to balance a social life with academic obligations. The courses allow them time to develop the drive to be self-motivated and should be used as practice for gaining time management skills and effective study habits that will get them through their upper division courses. Katie Akeson can be reached at kakeson@theorion.com

| EDITORIAL BOARD | Spring 2013 Editor-in-Chief Jenna Valdespino Managing Editor Ben Mullin Art Director Scott Ledbetter

News Editor Quinn Western Opinion Editor Carly Caumiant Sports Editor Trevor Platt

Features Editor Katrina Cameron Photo Editor Brett Edwards Video Editor Nicholas Kinoshita

Chief Copy Editor Leila Rodriguez Online Editor Dan Reidel

OPINION

opinions all week @ theorion.com

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Wisecat :

4 ways to move forward postgrad

Marty Salgado Advice Columnist

Question for Wisecat How do you transition into the real world after college besides having a full-time job? -Anonymous, senior

Dear anonymous, After being in college and taking rigorous courses, the thought of all of it stopping after graduation can cause you to stagger and be lost for a little bit if you don’t have any plans after graduation. To beat this graduation slump, here are some suggestions for the next year of your life, or even just for summer. 1. Move back home Returning home is an alternative to going out and finding another place to live. I know it can be daunting to think about having rules again after being on your own in college, but it is definitely a welcoming place. Think of it as a time in your life when you can gather your thoughts, reflect on what you want to do and how you will do it. It’s also a perfect place to live if you can find an internship close to home. 2. Continue your studies Although it may be too late to apply for any graduate programs, talk to your professors about studying with them or finding internship opportunities. Look for last week’s Wisecat article online at theorion.com to find many details about how to go about finding an internship or a mentor.

Think of it as a time in your life when you can gather your thoughts, reflect on what you want to do and how you will do it. 3. Find a roommate I am sure you have learned the benefits of having roommates in college. If living at home is just not an option for you, ask your friends where they are at in their post-college planning, and perhaps you can decide to move in together. You can find your own individual jobs or internships while having the comfort of still being around a friend and not having to move back home. This also makes the rent easier on you while you’re trying to pick up your adult life. 4. Travel after college A popular idea after college is taking a year off to travel. If you are like me, you have had posters of the place you want to travel to on your wall for the past four years. If you can muster enough money, you should travel to that place and use your experience as time to figure out who you are if you haven’t already. You don’t always have to visit exotic or foreign locations. Call family members who may live in other states or countries. Tell them that you have just graduated, and would like to visit them for a week or two. This gives you the comfort of getting away while still enjoying your family and not spending too much money. Congratulations to all you graduating Wildcats. You have accomplished a great milestone, so don’t be too overwhelmed after college. Everything will fall into place. Remember: today decides tomorrow. — WiseCat Marty Salgado can be reached at wisecat@theorion.com

Editor’s note: You can ask WiseCat for advice @orion_opinion on Twitter or via email at wisecat@theorion.com. The Orion encourages letters to the editor and commentary from students, faculty, staff, administration and community members.

WedneSday, MAy 8, 2013

Use technology to go paperless Technology can help your grades, but it’s ultimately your instructors who give them out at the end of the semester. If devices are not allowed, I suggest printing the lectures and bringing them to class. If Zachary Coyl their lessons are not uploaded online, Opinion Columnist don’t forget to always bring a pen. For those with enlightened professors, With the help of technology, students have more options to learn and gather or with those who allow the use of electronics, I have one piece of advice: Get information. The future is here. And with laptops, tab- off Facebook. Seriously — it ruins the class for the lets, smartphones and other devices, it’s rest of us, people who are actually trying now possible for students to go paperless. Living paperless means carrying less to take notes electronically or otherwise. It’s also distracting. crap around, being orgaTechnology is definized and getting on top Living paperless nitely a powerful thing of schoolwork. in and out of the classLiving without textmeans carrying less room, but it doesn’t help books would be easy crap around, being you if you’re not using it because they’re expensive organized and getting productively. and heavy. Cutting them on top of schoolwork. While it may sound out would help out your like I frown upon Ludwallet and your back. dites and their kind, that E-books can be bought is far from the truth. online, usually for a I like to take a hybrid or balanced lower price, and are easily read with approach to being a paperless student. numerous devices. I still bring some textbooks on days I It’s easy to find free PDF versions of books online. Whether this is entirely only have a class or two because they’re legal depends on where you download lighter than my laptop. On my busier them, but California legislation is in the school days, I always bring a notebook works to legitimize free online texts for and pen just in case. It is key to recognize technology as a college students. It’s not just students who are going tool. Like any other tool, certain ones are paperless — classrooms are making the more suitable for certain tasks. But more transition as well. More and more, teachers importantly, technology is there to help are making their lectures available online, you, so use it. which means less note-taking. For the things you have to write down, Zachary Coyl can be reached at try typing instead. Laptops, tablets and zcoyl@theorion.com even smartphones make it easy to jot down notes. For the latter two, there are many handy apps to help remind you about appointments, deadlines and to-do lists to keep you organized. Other applications allow you to scan and convert handouts and other loose papers into PDFs that can be read on all your screens. If you don’t feel like buying any of these apps, taking a picture with your phone can help next time your essay instructions end up crumpled and forgotten at the bottom of your backpack. Being paperless is convenient, but sometimes it isn’t always possible. We’ve come a long way, but some of us aren’t there yet. If you find yourself in a classroom with a tech-unfriendly policy, it’s best to talk to your professor.

| A7

THUMBS Thumbs up to mothers. Don’t forget to call, text, Facebook, tweet, blog, email or mail Mom your love this Sunday.

Thumbs down to frugal roommates who dominate the air conditioning flow in the household. We understand money is tight, but it’s also 90 degrees outside.

Thumbs up to cage dancers and doormen. They make our nights out possible. See Features

Thumbs down to American sex education for keeping us in the dark. Students need to be aware before going to college, not after. Sex Column, B6

TALKING POINTS

the orion •PHOTOgRAPH BY XXXXXXXXXX

The Chico State Academic Senate decided Thursday that programs must have specific guidelines for improvement before they qualify for suspension. These guidelines will give faculty and staff the opportunity to decide whether a program should be strengthened, improved or suspended. While the guidelines require departments to present the university with improvement timelines and other plans to strengthen a program, we wonder if students will be in on the discussion. Suspension of programs affects the students, and they should be given the chance to speak up when appropriate. Story A2

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Calling music ‘auditory cheesecake’ doesn’t do human experience justice Rhythm — how we breathe, the beating of our hearts — emerges effortlessly from being humans. Second, have you ever met someone Kevin Crittenden who claimed to have no musical interest? Opinion Columnist These robots exist. Look for them hudOur hearing doesn’t exist just to pro- dled near a computer screen in silence, vide us with information to keep us alive eating ramen without seasoning or plain — although it’s good to know when a siren cheese pizza, cold. These are the kind of people who would is blaring or an alarm is sounding. Imagine waking up to discover music point out the flawed logic of a joke rather than laugh. had disappeared from the world. Third, an attack on music is an attack No iTunes. No CDs. No radio. Nothing. Although the value of music is a subject on art in general. Art, music especially, exerts a treof much speculation, it doesn’t take a PhD mendously powerful influence. A child to know music does things for people. Music transmits our culture through restricted from art would probably grow acoustic vibrations that broadcast emo- up dysfunctional. Think Hitchcock and tion and communicate meaning. Music “Bates Motel” — nobody likes a psycho. But if your goal is to live in a state of binds us to the memories we carry in our auditory deprivation, minds. you’re welcome to For some scientists, To reduce music to a dessert shut off your senses; music is studied as a headphones and specimen of the human for the ears is stupid for a sleep masks may be biological enterprise. number of reasons. in order. This will In an effort to meanarrow your range sure the evolutionary of experiences, limit importance of all dimensions of thinking, Steven Pinker, your emotional capacity and guarantee a renowned Harvard psychologist wrote, you plenty of alone time. The idea that music is worthless is both “Compared with language, vision, social reasoning and physical know-how, music aesthetically excruciating and positively could vanish from our species and the boring. It’s healthy to feel. When a song resorest of our lifestyle would be virtually nates it speaks to something not easily unchanged.” He goes on to equate music to “auditory rendered with numbers, graphs or charts. Music is not a biological accessory. It cheesecake” and even goes as far as comreflects pursuit of symmetry, of seeking paring it to recreational drugs. Although Pinker is clearly a high-pow- of form from the formless and patterns ered mind, this claim rubs me the wrong from chaos. Doctors who sift facts to formulate idiway. It’s the kind of thing that makes academia seem like a dry wasteland full of omatic gems are doing the same thing as composers in the end. self-absorbed one-uppers. Besides, who doesn’t like cheesecake? To reduce music to a dessert for the ears is stupid for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s tough to test such a claim Kevin Crittenden can be reached at because life is inseparable from music. kcrittenden@theorion.com

• Letters and commentaries may be delivered to The Orion, Plumas Hall Room 001. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Letters are also accepted by e-mail and go directly to the opinion editor at opinioneditor@theorion.com

• Commentaries should be limited to 500 to 700 words and are subject to editing for length and clarity. Please include your phone number.

•PHOTOgRAph bY sergekij via Flickr

In this day and age, almost anyone can start a blog and almost everyone already has. Easy-access blogging has given writers, photographers and creative minds all kinds of opportunities to showcase their craft to the e-world with just the swipe of a screen. With the world turning to online media more than ever, having a blog is the best way to build an Internet voice and presence. No need for paper portfolios anymore, folks. Sending employers links to your personal blogs or websites could help you land a job in this social media-driven economy. Hear more on a podcast at theorion.com

STUDY BREAK

PHOTOgRAPH BY Jorge Figueroa via flickr

Movie Review: “Iron Man 3” Robert Downey Jr. returns as the flamboyant and narcissistic Tony Stark as he dawns the Iron Man suit for the first time since returning from New York in the box office success “The Avengers.” Downey Jr. is once again perfect at portraying Stark as a fast-talking, quickwitted playboy. “Iron Man 3” falls in line with the other movies of the Marvel franchise — it is entertaining and visually stimulating, yet limited in depth. An unexpected spin switches the bad guys from terrorists to lava-spitting mutant humans — a little ridiculous even for a superhero movie. The film is a welcome addition to the Marvel family that does not disappoint — or exceed any expectations. It’ll be interesting to see Marvel attempt to set up its movies as prequels to a potential second Avengers film.

• Letters to the editor should be limited to fewer than 300 words, must include writer’s name and phone number (for verification) and are subject to condensation. Please include your year in school and major, or your business title.

- Compiled by Trevor Platt

• The Orion does not publish anonymous letters, letters that are addressed to a third party or letters that are in poor taste. The opinions expressed by The Orion’s columnists do not necessarily reflect those of The Orion or its staff.

opinions all week @ theorion.com