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

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