The Orion Vol 72 issue 10 by The Orion

scream machine

Track Attack Chico State track and field dominated 12 events at the FourYear Invitational on Saturday. theorion.com/sports

Dance Gavin Dance performed at Bell Memorial Union Auditorium Friday night. Read the review at theorion.com/arts

Chico State’s Independent Student News Source since 1975

news all week at theorion.com

volume 72 Issue 10

FIRST COPY FREE

wednesday, APRIL 2, 2014

additional copies 50¢

Bath salts masked as MDMA TJ Carter

Staff Writer M1 is the street name for a research chemical that is being passed off as MDMA, also known as “Molly,” and Chico users of the drug may not know the difference. Methylone, M1’s scientific name, first hit the streets around 2004, as reported by Erowid, a nonprofit drug facts website. Head shops around the United States classified the drug as a “bath salt” to sell it as a “legal high,” as reported by The Guardian in 2013. Methylone is produced by chemists in places like Germany and sent to Chico through the mail, said an anonymous Chico drug dealer. “I call and place a small order, something like 28 grams,” he said. “My guy will send what I need within three days and then I package it up and sell it as ‘Molly’ to people at concerts.” The usual user won’t know the difference, he said. The going price for 28 grams is $1,000 for methylone and $2,000 for MDMA, so there is a higher profit margin when it is passed off as MDMA, he said. Methylone has been illegal since 2011, after the Drug Enforcement Administration put an emergency ban on the drug, according to a DEA press release. With so many different variations of this compound, it seems unlikely that the DEA will be able to stay in the race of criminalizing these drugs before they hit the street, according to The Guardian’s article. A basement chemist can slightly change the structure of the molecule they are working with and finish with a new chemical for the market, said Larry Kirk, a Chico State biochemistry professor. The three common drugs that Enloe Medical Center tests patients for are opiates, amphetamines and alcohol, said Christina Chavira, Enloe Medical Center spokeswoman. When a patient comes in from an overdose, Enloe doesn’t test specifically for MDMA, she said. Since both MDMA and M1 have a similar chemical structure to amphetamine, it will test positive as an amphetamine and will be treated as a mental health issue if the patient doesn’t exhibit any serious symptoms, Chavira said. There have only been a few documented cases of users overdosing on methylone. One case from Alaska in 2012 attributes the use of methylone to the death of a 20-year-old, according to a press release by the district attorney’s office in Alaska. Kits that test the purity of MDMA are available through organizations like Dance Safe.

The Orion ∤ Photographs by Annie paige

CHAVEZ CELEBRATIONS House partying, front-yard snowboarding and rooftop drinking were seen Sunday afternoon during the three-day weekend.

Holiday weekend arrests down, police say The Orion

Staff Reports

esar Chavez weekend was celebrated in Chico with hijacked firetrucks, front-yard snowboarding and public service by the campus and community. Energy was high Sunday afternoon. At a house party on Warner Avenue, more than 20 people danced on the roof overlooking matches of beerpong. On the streets of South Campus, groups of people were ducked through traffic yelling wildly as they roamed from one loud party to the next. A house party on Sixth and Hazel streets built a snowboard ramp in the front yard. Monday was largely uneventful and with few arrests, according to Chico Police. A total of seven arrests were made Monday and early Tuesday morning, half of last year’s numbers. “Regardless of the origin, this should be a welcomed change from previous Cesar Chavez Day celebrations, which have been marred by violence and other illegal behavior,” according to the press

release. Rain started pouring around 2:30 p.m Monday. Numerous party sites were abandoned to the elements, leaving trash and red plastic cups full of rainwater outside on tables and the sidewalks. The rained-on party-goers didn’t flood the downtown bars either. Aside from Madison Bear Garden and Riley’s, the bars only had a handful of patrons. Some students participated in ‘Cats in the Community, a day of public service sponsored by Associated Students and Chico State. The day of service was pushed as a way to respectfully celebrate Cesar Chavez Day. One of the students that participated was Ashley Simon, a project assistant for AS. “I had a phenomenal day at ‘Cats in the Community,” Simon posted on Instagram. “I was able to meet some amazing students who exemplify the Wildcat Way while helping out at the Boys and Girls Club.”

Total arrests Monday and early Tuesday morning SOUrce ∤ Chico Police

The Orion can be reached at

newseditor@theorion.com or @theorion_news on Twitter.

TJ Carter can be reached at

newseditor@theorion.com or @theorion_news on Twitter.

Workplace bullies push faculty into early retirement Yessenia Funes

Staff Writer

Concerns of workplace bullying of California State University employees, including professors, were brought up at a Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday in Long Beach. John Orr, a California State University Employee’s Union representative of employees in clerical and administrative support services at Cal State Fullerton, mentioned it first. Two employees he met took early retirement to escape bullying by their manager, he said. “Bullying is a disease, and it spreads from campus to campus, from department to department,” Orr said. Susan Smith, representing employees in technical support services at Cal State Fullerton, echoed some of Orr’s comments. Smith said she has also met faculty who re-

intimidating or humiliating; intentional sabtired early because they were bullied. otage of an employee’s work performance,” It’s become an accepted culture, she said. according to its website. “Stop workplace bullying,” Smith said. Long Beach State’s policy tells its campus “Develop a policy that is systemwide and how to report mean it. Take it if they are some action. bullied and Make sure it’s enCal State San forced because if Bernadino is you don’t do someworking on thing about bullya training to ing, then you are help its campart of the bullypus undering.” Susan Smith stand it, Orr Chico State’s Union representative, Cal State Fullerton said. policy defines bul“The pieces lying as “intenexist throughtional intimidaout the systion or infliction tem,” he said. “We need you to put it together of emotional distress, characterized by verbal abuse, derogatory remarks, insults and and help all the campuses have access to this, so once again I come before you and ask epithets, verbal and physical behavior that a reasonable person would find threatening, please do something. Bullying is a problem

If you don’t do something about bullying, then you are part of the bullying.

Index

in the Cal State system.” Other issues discussed by the board Tuesday included: • 28 percent of California State University Employees Union members reported working a second job to “make ends meet,” said Alisandra Brewer, the union’s vice president of representation bargaining updates. • Over the next three years, $15 million will fund near-term deferred maintenance, a $63 billion problem. • Students can now regain Cal Grant eligibility even if they lost it the year before. The Cal Grant program originally made students ineligible for the grant permanently if they lost it at all. Yessenia Funes can be reached at

newseditor@theorion.com or @yessfun on Twitter.

Inside

Corrections

Sports

Weather

Directory

Police Blotter

Features

Opinion

Sex Column

TODAY

64 60 44

Opinion

Sports

Features

Opinion columnist Kevin Crittenden tackles the realities surrounding dealing with death.

Softball player Alli Cook and baseball player Cody Slader are thieves on the basepaths.

Chico State student Jesse Campbell juggles school and working with the local Fire Department.

Column A6

Story B3

Story B5

DAILY DEALS IN YOUR POCKET find them in the “offers”section in our app!

A2 |

news all week @ theorion.com

NEWS

WedneSday, APRIL 2, 2014

Weather Today | Partly Cloudy

See the latest weather updates 64 60 on theorion.com 44

Thursday | Partly Cloudy

63 45

Friday | Few Showers

Sunday | Mostly Sunny

79 50

71 47

63 42

Saturday | Partly Cloudy

Monday | Partly Cloudy

Tuesday | Partly Cloudy

82 51

83 52

Study follows path to

TheOrion.com

Photo by kasey judge

An eight-year study revealed graduation trends among Chico State first year students who started in 2005.

Sex columnist Michael Karp shares how he has dealt with insecurity and jealousy. theorion.com/features

About

The average time to earn a degree

“

of graduates had ended up switching to a

different department.

Semesters

It’s like how they say ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,’ what happens in high school stays in high school. The data says it’s a fresh start.

- Jeffrey Bell, Biology department chair

”k

Photo by KASEY JUDGE

Opinion columnist Zach Phillips explains how to shake off an unflattering nickname. theorion.com/opinion

photo by chance keenan

A Chico State alumnus and record holder returns to see his daughter compete at University Stadium. theorion.com/sports

SoURCE ∤JEFFREy BELL

The Orion ∤ Infographic by liz coffee, ashley o’looney and Enrique raymundo

Fire hazards litter Butte’s hallways As for the bulletin boards, departments can cover their walls in paper, but it can only cover 20 Staff Writer percent of the corridors. It is up to those departButte Hall’s corridors now stand naked, as ments to divide wall space, said Marvin Pratt, director of Environmental Health and Safety, who departments have been instructed to remove bulletin boards, recycling bins and seating from handles these reports. The corridors are supposed to be fire-safety outside their offices. zones, but with too much flammable content, the State Fire Marshal Carol Jordan inspected the building in December and reported several fire halls are no longer safe from fires. Even so, Pratt disagrees with the report’s recode violations in February. The report required the removal of tea kettles, quired removal of benches, he said. Past fire marshals did not complain about the microwaves, refrigerators and coffeemakers that benches, but Jordan is more detailed than previwere being used in several offices, including one on the second floor and several on the fourth- ous officials, Pratt said. Some fire marshals may brush things away, so through-seventh floors. Many power taps were “daisy-chained” too, the inspection depends partly on who is inspecting. meaning power Pratt hopes to find strips were conmore information renected to extension garding the violations cords, according to and ask Jordan and the report. her supervisor to reBoth these items consider the required were fire hazards removal of the benches, that Mark Stemen, he said. an associate profesMark Stemen The corridors are not sor in the geography Associate Professor Stemen’s only concern. and planning deHe worries about the partment with an ofdoors that reportedly fice in the building, need adjusting to latch understood. properly, he said. However, Stemen was caught off-guard by the The doors work their way out of adjustment paper and bench removal in the hallways, he with students and faculty using them every day, said. so they may swing shut but won’t latch, Pratt “When did they become illegal?” Stemen said. “Where are students going to sit? Just sit on the said. With Facilities Management and Services’ floor and stare at blank walls?” 23-employee staff to monitor tasks dealing with The report indicated that required removal of items from the corridors carried over from the electrical, plumbing and many other maintenance areas on campus, addressing these issues last major inspection of Butte Hall in 2011. Yessenia Funes

Where are students going to sit? Just sit on the floor and stare at blank walls?

CORRECTIONS

takes time, said Luis Caraballo, the department’s assistant vice president. “It’s a pretty daunting responsibility,” he said. “So, we do get to many things, but like everything, you’re not going to get to everything.” Environmental Health and Safety divides the reports among departments so they can address the issues on their own, Pratt said. Facilities Management and Services may handle some items like door maintenance, but academic offices may handle other things like removing paper from the walls. If an issue is urgent and labeled as immediately dangerous to life and health, it must be addressed within seven days, Pratt said. However, the report listed none of the sort. However, the report listed none of the sort. The report did list: • Stair-enclosure doors on the second and third floors must be replaced. • Fire-alarm system needed repairing because it indicated a “trouble” signal, which means something is wrong with a single alarm and it needs examining. The department’s fire-alarm contractor, Simplex-Grinnell, examined the system during spring break. • Monthly fire-extinguisher inspections were inconsistent. These inspections are a visual check up of the extinguishers, separate from the annual inspections that inspect the mechanics and operation of the extinguishers. • Housekeeping needed on several floors and rooms throughout the building. Yessenia Funes can be reached at

newseditor@theorion.com or @yessfun on Twitter.

Chico State music students performed works by great composers as part of the Chico Bach Festival. theorion.com/arts

Connect with us at : facebook.com/theorion twitter.com/theorion_news @theorion on Instagram

| College of Communication & Education | California State University, Chico | Chico, Ca 95929-0600 CONTACT | EDITORIAL Phone: 530.898.5627 Email: editorinchief@theorion.com

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

PHOTO BY chelsea jeffers

Editor-in-Chief Katrina Cameron Managing Editor Ernesto Rivera Art Director Liz Coffee Chief Copy Editor John Riggin Video Editor Emily Bertolino

News Editor Mozes Zarate Opinion Editor Zachary Coyl Sports Editor Sharon Martin Features Editor Risa Johnson Arts Editor Nicole Santos

Advisers Mark Plenke, Lewis Brockus

CONTACT | BUSINESS Phone: 530.898.4237 Email: advertising@theorion.com Photo Editor Kasey Judge Designers Ashley O’Looney Monica Fitch

Copy Editors Kathy Kinsey Dane Johnson Bill Hall Yzel Romo Jessie Severin Blayke Leach Rachel Zirin

Advertising Manager Bob Donovan advertising@theorion.com

Account Executive Ryan Scagliotti advertising@theorion.com

Public Relations Director Jessica Barber

Website

www.theorion.com

Fax

530.898.4799

NEWS

news all week @ theorion.com

ke Cou

treet Ninth S

East E

Normal

Avenue

Hazel Street

Warner Street

2011

2009

Humbold

tree

nt S

Orie Street ighth

Klondi

*STrEETS nOT TO SCaLE

West First Ave

2011

CHICO STATE CAMPUS

t tree

the Esplanade

Murders have been attributed to gang violence in the Chico area.

2010

Stre

th S

1,150 documented gang members, said Sgt. Greg Keeney, supervisor of the Chico Police gang unit.

rry ulbe

2008

t 20

1,150

Chico currently has about

t Avenue

RECENT GANG MURDERS

Eas

Ave East Lassen

nue

2007

| A3

WedneSday, APRIL 2, 2014

SOUrCE ∤ chico PolicE

The Orion ∤ Infographic by MONIca fitch and liz coffee

Cracking down on gang violence The Chico Police gang unit has been playing catch-up since being reformed in June Madison Holmes

Staff Writer

Detective Ben Love said the most impactful crime of his career was when an innocent bystander was shot by a member of the Bloods gang in Chico. The shooter got into an argument with a Norteno gang member, the Chico Police gang unit detective said. The fight escalated and shots were fired by the member of the Bloods gang. He missed the Norteno and instead shot and critically injured a passerby. “In this case, an innocent bystander was shot because of gang violence,” Love said. The shooting occurred at Second and Broadway streets on a Friday night, a time when many people are downtown, he said. Gang violence happens all over Chico, said Sgt. Greg Keeney, supervisor of the Chico Police gang unit. “These guys do not care about random acts of violence, and they certainly don’t care about some innocent person getting stuck in the crossfire,” he said. Chico currently has about 1,150 documented gang members, Keeney said. High concentrations of gang members exist in the Chapmantown neighborhood, the north end of Chico, the Lassen Avenue area, west of the Esplanade and north of First Avenue, he said. In some cities, a gang will own a certain

amount of real estate, Keeney said. In Chico, gangs do frequent certain areas but do not own property. Some gangs will purposefully go downtown on the weekends and start fights with people so they can assault them, he said. “A big aspect of the gang life is not only to have people respect you, but fear you,” Keeney said. The violence is not just confined to the downtown area. In 2012, a Norteno gang member was stabbed in front of the Chico Mall on East 20th Street in the middle of the day, he said. “There’s no rhyme or reason of where it’s going to happen,” Keeney said. In February, 13 members of the Crips gang were arrested for assaults and robberies downtown, he said. The Crips would walk around downtown and in the south campus area looking for people by themselves. They would attack them, beat them until they were unconscious and rob them, Keeney said. The gang would also find packed house parties downtown in order to burglarize them unnoticed in the crowd. They had been doing this for years before the police were able to catch them, he said. The number of documented gang members in Chico would be much higher if it was easier to identify them, Keeney said. Lawfully identifying and documenting a gang member is difficult because of the

Street Terrorism Enforcement and Predocument and figure out what Chico gang vention Act, a California penal code that members are up to, Keeney said. defines what a street gang is. The public ignores Chico’s gang probEstablished in 1988, the goal of the law lem because they refuse to admit there is was to prevent law enforcement from be- one, he said. ing able to arbitrarily accuse someone of “If you ignore the signs -- if you ignore being a gang member, he said. what’s going on -- then maybe you can hope To be prosethat we have a cuted as a gang good town and member, the inwe don’t need dividual must to worry about meet specific it,” Keeney said. criteria like “The fact is that having gang the more you igtattoos or excesnore it, the bigsively wearing ger chance it has gang colors. to grow.” Sgt. Greg Keeney They can also The public Chico Police gang unit be identified if should be more the individual aware of how sowas reported to phisticated the the police by a reliable source, like a pro- gangs in Chico are, he said. bation officer. “Their goal is to recruit as many gang “We want every bit of information that members as possible,” Keeney said. “By we have on our gang members to be able to doing that, they are creating soldiers to hold up in court,” Keeney said. further their criminal enterprise. They’re The Chico Police gang unit was rein- trying to recruit this community’s sons stated in June after being disbanded for and daughters to be in their gangs, and almost a year. they are very good at recruiting.” During that time, gangs were given free reign because no one was monitoring Madison Holmes can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or them, he said. The department has been playing @madisonholmes95 on Twitter. catchup since then, trying to identify,

The fact is that the more you ignore it, the bigger chance it has to grow.

Campus gun ban at odds with state law rect conflict with California law if a permit holder is punished by the university Staff Writer for carrying on campus, said Donald E.J. Kilmer Jr., a San Jose attorney who pracConcealed weapons permit owners in California are legally allowed to carry fire- tices civil rights cases. “I would be glad to take this kind of arms on college or university campuses, case to court,” according to Calihe said. “It’s a fornia penal code. civil rights vioDespite Calilation.” fornia law, Chico If a student State students has a restrainare not allowed to ing order carry any weapagainst someons on campus, inone and they cluding guns, gun Donald E.J. Kilmer Jr. are in fear for replicas, knives, San Jose attorney their life, getexplosives or danting a permit gerous chemicals, to carry a conaccording to the cealed weapon usually comes next, Kilmer Chico State student code of conduct. said. The policy could potentially be in diTJ Carter

I would be glad to take this kind of case to court. It’s a civil rights violation.

A student who finds the need to carry on campus with a concealed weapon risks the chance of academic ramifications if they are caught, so it comes down to the decision of self-defense or being suspended, he said. “I would need to represent them before a situation happened because unlike a civil disobedience case where you may have a student protesting and taken away in handcuffs, someone may get shot by the police if they are found with a gun before they can provide their permit,” Kilmer said. Gun rights cases are being played out across the country, said John J. Donohue III, a professor at Stanford Law School. “There are the gun rights activists that want more access, and there are those who want more restrictions added to the laws,” he said.

A case where a student was sanctioned for carrying a gun on campus with a permit would likely find its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, Donohue said. On Feb. 13, a California 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision found that it was unconstitutional to require “good cause” as a prerequisite for obtaining a permit. On Feb. 27, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris filed a petition to appeal the court’s decision on requiring good cause to grant a permit. Within a month following the decision, the Butte County Sheriff ’s Department saw a 57 percent increase in permit applications, according to Kory Honea, undersheriff for Butte County. TJ Carter can be reached at

neweditor@theorion.com or @theorion_news on Twitter.

Motorcyle collision injures Chico State student Mozes Zarate Quinn Western

The Orion

A motorcycle crash on West Sacramento Avenue and Warner Street Saturday afternoon left a Chico State student hospitalized. The 21-year-old student is alert, awake and talking as of Sunday afternoon, said Chico Police Sgt. Cesar Sandoval. Chico Police received the call at 3:40 p.m. and responded shortly after, Sandoval said. The motorcycle lost traction and collided with the student making a left turn from West Sacramento Avenue southbound onto Warner, said Lt. David Britt of Chico Police. The student was was waiting at the intersection with his bicycle. When hit, the pedestrian fell down and hit his head on the pavement, Sandoval said. The student was taken to Enloe Medical Center shortly after. The driver of the motorcycle, a 23-yearold Chico resident, was not injured and stayed at the scene. No drugs or alcohol were involved, Sandoval said. The collision was considered an accident, he said. An investigation of the crash is ongoing. The Orion can be reached at

newseditor@theorion.com or @theorion_news on Twitter.

The Orion ∤ Photograph by Quinn Western

collision course A motorcyclist was making a left turn from West Sacramento Avenue onto Warner Street on Saturday when he collided with a pedestrian bicyclist, said Chico Police Lt. David Britt. The pedestrian, a 21-year-old Chico State student, is conscious and alert at Enloe Medical Center.

A4 |

NEWS

WedneSday, APRIL 2, 2014

Police Tuesday, 4:33 p.m.: Traffic hazard in warehouse area. “Older Crown Victoria driving reckless. Located by officer, driver counseled.” Wednesday, 2:59 p.m.: Transient problem in Kendall Hall. “Numerous reports of male transient walking through building trying to befriend people. Unable to locate in Kendall.” Thursday, 1:44 p.m.: Welfare check at University Police Department. “Male subject walked in to lobby, confused, crying, not sure how he got here. Liberty cab en route for subject. Cab arrived and left with subject.” Saturday, 11:58 a.m.: Drunk in public at track stadium. “Reporting party states older male subject in eastside grandstands is harassing spectators. Subject moved along.” Sunday, 2:09 a.m.: Subject disturbance at 800 block of Rio Chico. “Reporting party advising a Hispanic male adult knocked their front door off the hinges and then smashed one of their front windows. Checking residence next door for suspect, subject is in custody. Advising citizen that arrest has been made.” Monday, 4:35 p.m.: Suspicious subjects in Physical Science Building. “Several subjects have gained entry and are camped out in the hall with their property and bikes. Most scattered upon arrival. Those remaining were moved along.”

Chico Police

University Police

The police blotter is a selection of information cited directly from Chico Police Department and University Police Department.

Tuesday, 4:32 p.m.: Danger to self or others reported at Student Health Center. “Male subject advising he wants to harm himself by stepping in front of a train. University Police Department counseled subject.”

BLUE and

Blotter Monday, 8:07 p.m.: Suspicious subject in Bell Memorial Union. “Male subject with long hair, beard and dark clothes sitting on the floor by newspapers, making a mess and yelling. Officer out with subject, moved along.”

RED news all week @ theorion.com

Monday, 9:11 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances at Cedar Parks Apartments on North Cedar Street. “Reporting party reported that he was drinking with friends last night ‘in the Avenues.’ He didn’t drink enough to be out of it but woke up without pants or underwear on. Says he had some blood on him and his pants were wet. Reporting party seems mostly concerned that he get a test to see if he was drugged.”

! w e n s y a w l a d n a

THE BloTTER JUST GoT BETTER.

Tuesday, 7:15 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances at Motel 6 on Manzanita Court. “Reporting party received two calls from a male subject who advised a prostitute just ripped him off. Male subject’s sister calling in saying brother was ripped off. Sister advised they called the police department who advised who advised them to call her.” Wednesday, 4:33 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances on West 19th Street. “Reporting party’s male neighbor walked up to reporting party’s open front door and began apologizing for all the perverted things he has been doing to reporting party and roommate recently. Reporting party has no idea what this man is referencing to and told him to leave immediately. Subject left in his vehicle.” Thursday, 7:05 a.m.: Attempted murder on Citrus Avenue. “Occurred in an alley between First/Second. Female was dumpster diving with her husband, and homeowner ran out and attacked female with a knife and cut her arm. Victim in ER bed. Husband was not at scene because he has been ill. Wife has been going out on her own doing the canning. Identified in field, subject in custody for assault with a deadly weapon.” Saturday, 3:42 p.m.: Suspicious subject on East First Avenue. “Female in the middle of the street dancing, appears under the influence. Caller advising subject is now at Longfellow/ East Lindo intersection, dancing in traffic. Subject is feeling herself up and trying to draw attention of reporting party’s children. Female last seen dancing on the sidewalk, not doing anything out of the ordinary.” - compiled by Nathan Lehmann

daily police blotter THEoRioN.coM

advertisements

news all week @ theorion.com

WedneSday, APRIL 2, 2014

| A5

We Have Moved!

Sharpen your mind with graduate degrees in Teaching, Counseling and Public Administration and undergraduate degrees in Psychology, Management, and Health Services. Plus new online graduate degrees now available. LEARN MORE AT AN

information meeting at the USF SACRAMENTO CAMPUS

Wednesday, april 9, 6pm Learn more or to RSVP call 916.920.0157 visit www.usfca.edu/sacramento or email sacramentocampus@usfca.edu

Do you trust your tap water? Mt. Shasta SpringWater

The best bottled spring water in Chico!

Pure. Refreshing.

irst quenching.

Call today for immediate delivery! Plus two free bottles if you mention this ad!

1-800-922-6227

we blog!

speak up, Chico

Check out our columnists’ opinions about current events every day. theorion.com/opinion

The Orion is seeking opinion contributors from the community. Contact the opinion editor at opinioneditor@theorion.com

opinions all week at theorion.com

Chico State’s Independent Student News Source since 1975

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

editorial

Student success shows slump The end goal for many college students is to learn, grow and ultimately graduate with a degree, a testament to what they have learned throughout their years of study. Unfortunately not every student who enrolls at Chico State will see that end result. In a recent study conducted by the provost’s office, prompted by the goal of finding ways to increase graduation rates, it was

determined that one in three incoming firstyear students do not end up graduating. For those who do graduate, the study found that the average time it took a student to earn a degree was five years and not the touted four so commonly mentioned. Of note was the finding that the biggest key to success was how first-year students did in their first semester. The students who

graduated the quickest were the ones who took a heavy course load, typically 15 units or more, during that critical semester. These findings are both alarming and compelling. The one thing the university should take from this study is that action is needed to promote student success. While the responsibility to succeed is first and foremost on the students, Chico State

should make significant strides to share this information with incoming first-year students and be open and transparent about their success rates. The university has a commitment to its students to be transparent about what works and what doesn’t in terms of success. This way, first-year and transfer students know how and why students succeed at Chico State.

Cesar Chavez parties lack reverence Yessenia Funes

Staff Writer

The celebrations began Friday afternoon. As soon as students finished classes, cars began blasting the J.Rabbit remix to The Champs’ “Tequila” with passengers wearing sombreros. “Hmm, so this is a glimpse into Cesar Chavez Day,” I thought. I’ve heard of him before, but New York doesn’t dedicate a day to Chavez. Kudos to California, Colorado and Texas for that. As a woman born to Hispanic immigrants, I appreciate anyone who fights for their rights. But after talking to some people, I realized too many students don’t know who Chavez is or why California celebrates him. Sunday afternoon, some college-aged kids invited some friends and I to a party. My friend asked if they knew who Chavez was and they said “no,” that it’s only an excuse to party. And party Chico did. Anyone wandering down Ivy Street Sunday afternoon would’ve seen front yards and porches full of drunk youth. Some wore sombreros and ponchos. As someone who’s never experienced this holiday, the horror stories of racist costumes scared me a bit. Would I feel offended? Would I feel disrespected? I’m not Mexican. My parents were born in El Salvador, but most people don’t know the difference. One classmate even asked what part of Mexico was El Salvador. For those who are wondering, El Salvador

is this teensy-weensy country in Central America, way south of Mexico. Either way, a lot of non-Hispanics tend to group all Latin American countries. Surprisingly, the sombreros didn’t offend me. People wore it for fun. I never would, but it was a part of what made this day fun for them. While many posters on campus remind students, “we’re a culture, not a costume,” the sombreros appeared harmless to me. I didn’t check out the party scene much to witness the ponchos, but the idea offends me a bit. Mexicans don’t dress that way. Maybe mariachi bands do, but that’s a part of their show. So while people thought it would be fun to wear these items, many didn’t find it necessary to educate themselves on the holiday. Any Californian born around 1995 has experienced Cesar Chavez Day. How have students grown up with this holiday without knowing what he did? I’m not an expert on Chavez myself, but I at least know the basics. Everyone should. My first Cesar Chavez Day left me a little disappointed. Parties looked fun, but they’re not my scene. I still appreciated the day off. Instead of drinking excessively and practicing ignorance, students should check out “Cesar Chavez,” a new movie that’s playing in theaters that tells his story. I haven’t watched it yet and it hasn’t received the best ratings, but at least it’s educational. This holiday should be more than tequila and parties. Even an outsider can see that.

I realized too many students don’t know who Chavez is or why California celebrates him.

The Orion ∤ ILLUSTRATION by liz coffee

Yessenia Funes can be reached at

opinioneditor@theorion.com or @yessfun on Twitter.

Pathways put student priorities last Matt Murphy

Opinion Columnist The ideology that general education is built on is solid: a well-rounded education creates well-rounded individuals who will become well-rounded members of society. This is why everyone has to take a history class. But that wasn’t enough for the California State University system. The general education pathways were instituted two years ago with the intent of giving students a more in-depth look at a specific subject area.

These pathways have become heavily impacted as students are bottlenecked into the upper-division portions of the 10 pathways. For instance, in my pathway, Health and Wellness, there are only nine classes to choose from to fulfill three sections. Health and Wellness is one of the most popular pathways. Students sat on the floor for weeks at the beginning of the semester in my “Introduction to Exercise Nutrition” class. I understand the benefits of the pathways. Theoretically, students that begin them in their first year become well-versed in a specific area and maybe develop a strong enough interest to transition into a minor. The point of the general education pro-

gram shouldn’t be to force students into a minor. It should be to introduce them to a broad spectrum of classes that will pique an interest that can be parlayed into a major. I would argue that most students find subjects they’re interested in during those introductory classes and don’t need the extra prodding of the pathways. But by the time they’re upper-classmen, students are left having to satisfy requirements that are unnecessary and detrimental to their academic progress. Seniors are not able to get spots in impacted classes. When the pathways were implemented, for students who had already completed the first tier of general education, the process of crossing over was so confusing that I’ve

never been onboard with the idea. These past two years with the upper-division pathways should be considered a trial period that hasn’t worked. Students shouldn’t have to suffer from an ill-conceived system that ultimately keeps them in school longer. General education is an essential part of the overall college curriculum. The more general it can stay, the better. Higher education is about making your own choices. Academic interests should not be forced upon students. Matt Murphy can be reached at

opinioneditor@theorion.com or @matthewcharlesz on Twitter.

Adulthood marks misty, murky path to maturity Julianna Eveland

Opinion Columnist

I was wearing a complimentary sombrero and eating free ice cream the day I turned 18. The joy and excitement that came from something as simple as free dessert and a cool-looking Chevys Fresh Mex sombrero made me question that I was legally an adult. When I think of being an adult, I think of my parents. They are people who understand what it means to operate life in a mature and sensible way. They appreciate different perspectives, have patience to see both sides in a disagreement and admit to their own wrongdoings. As I draw closer to turning 21, I recall moments when I feel grown-up and when I still revel in adolescence. In a day I managed to apply for an internship, call the Kia dealership to fix my car and actually found joy in taking a trip to WinCo. The next day rolled around and was spent lying in bed eating a mountainous bowl of Frosted Flakes while watching Netflix for hours. I’m not sure when this adulthood thing will

happen, but developing an understanding of it is the first step. Regardless of age, I know it comes with responsibility, maturity and experience. I’m responsible for paying rent, getting good grades and keeping myself healthy and well. I’m mature in ways that make me a dependable and honest person. I’ve experienced world travels, failure, suc-

So, what I’ve decided is that I’m in my early stages of adulthood. I’m still in college. I have my own responsibilities and feel quite mature, but adulthood — I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. Julianna Eveland can be reached at opinioneditor@theorion.com or

@janeca12 on Twitter.

The Orion ∤ ILLUSTRATION by frances mansour

| EDITORIAL BOARD | Spring 2014 Editor-in-Chief Katrina Cameron Managing Editor Ernesto Rivera Art Director Liz Coffee

cess and gone through the loss of close ones. An adult carries a certain amount of what my dad refers to as “emotional intelligence,” or “EQ.” EQ comes with the ability to self-analyze, which is what I feel I’m doing in writing these columns. The metamorphosis of a young person to grown-up isn’t going to magically come when the clock strikes 12 on an 18th or 21st birthday.

News Editor Mozes Zarate Opinion Editor Zachary Coyl Sports Editor Sharon Martin

The unsigned Orion editorial is the collaborative opinion of the editorial board. Features Editor Risa Johnson Arts Editor Nicole Santos Photo Editor Kasey Judge

Video Editor Emily Bertolino Chief Copy Editor John Riggin Public Relations Director Jessica Barber

OPINION

opinions all week @ theorion.com

WedneSday, AprIL 2, 2014

Shedding light on death

| A7

THUMBS Thumbs up to theaters nationwide considering cheaper movie tickets. Moviegoers will soon be able to afford that $7 cheese-filled pretzel they’ve always wanted.

Kevin Crittenden

Opinion Columnist

Death in America has become nearly invisible. There was a time when it happened at home, in front of everyone. Now dead and dying bodies are stuffed away in retirement homes, mortuaries and hospitals. Accident victims are cloaked under tarps. Animals that die so we can eat them are slaughtered by professionals who don’t mind it. Death finds everybody. Eventually it rears its eternal head — the great equalizer, the tarot skeleton, life’s brief candle going out. I’ve always been squeamish when it comes to dead things. Nonetheless, something compelled me as a kid to examine dead animals: lizards, jellyfish and seagulls. But it wasn’t just the gross, cold anatomy of these creatures that called my attention. It was the mystery of their sudden departure, the replacement of movement with stillness. There was a kid in my first grade class who killed a goldfish. I’m not really sure why. He snuck in during recess, stuck his hand in the bowl and snuffed the life out of the class pet. The memory stuck in my mind like a cobweb. Although I like the idea that I’m somewhat in control of my life, the unexpected will sometimes take the form of a murdered fish. My classmates and I never saw the body of the fish. Poof ! The bug-eyed fish was gone. The reality of death in America is that it’s compartmentalized. Division of labor means that we don’t have much contact with the bodies of the deceased. Unless you’re a doctor, an under-

Thumbs down to tornadoes in Northern California. Nor Cal tornadoes and cheap movie tickets — the world must be coming to an end.

Thumbs up to Facebook’s planned use of drones to provide internet worldwide. Comcast workers now have even less motivation to show up for house calls.

The Orion ∤ ILLUSTRATION by Rachel Dugo

taker or an EMT, you don’t spend much time around corpses or soon-to-be corpses. Seven years after the goldfish event, my older brother died in an all-terrain vehicle accident. My childhood curiosity for all things dead failed me — I chose not to see the body. It’s a decision I regret to this day. I think it would have helped make it real. Instead, for a long time I felt like he was just gone on a long trip, like he would barge through the door any day and everything would be back to normal. And someone would tell me the whole thing was a big, elaborate joke. This kind of loss is a crushing blow. It’s as shocking as it is real. For me, the shock was

prolonged with denial, as if I shut my eyes to the whole thing it would not be true. Time waters it down. But there’s never complete healing when a loved one dies. There will always be a void where that person used to be. Grieving involves moving from denial toward acceptance. As a culture, we could do a better job of facing the commonly unseen physical reality of life’s ending. Being comfortable with death involves witnessing the stilled bodies of those who have lived.

Zachary Phillips

Commercial time. A swimsuit model saunters onto a sandy beach. It’s a hot, sunny day — perfect weather for a cheeseburger. Dropping the Carl’s Jr. bag on the sand, the model gets down on all fours and spreads out a beach towel. Arching his back like an alley cat, he takes a slow bite of his semi-gourmet burger, stopping only to wipe up the glob of ketchup that had conveniently plopped down onto his bronzed abs. Remember that commercial from last year’s Super Bowl? Me neither. For whatever reason, the role of “sexy beach burger model” seems to be explicitly female. Why is that? Where are all the male models making sandy-bunned endorsements for

overpriced hamburgers? Yes, I know, hypersexualization is evil, but while this young generation of media connoisseurs fights to challenge harmful objectification, why not level the playing field a bit? Below are a few good reasons why a little more male sexualization could do a lot of good.

Sexy men are threatening

My straight guy friends’ reactions to David Beckham strutting around in his underwear during the Super Bowl were a sight to behold. The boisterous room instantly went silent and every guy in the room suddenly had business to handle elsewhere. It was like watching cockroaches scatter from a flashlight beam of male sexuality. More of these Beckham-esque commercials could really put media objectification in perspective for America’s men. Seeing men’s bodies put on display might The Orion ∤ ILLUSTRATION by liz coffee

My eyes are up here, BARBIE.

TALKING POINTS

Kevin Crittenden can be reached at kcrittenden@theorion.com or

@kevlodius on Twitter.

Male objectification is necessary for equality Asst. Opinion Editor

Thumbs down to Chico State Men’s Basketball losing to South Carolina-Aiken. Let’s hope it’s not another century before they make it to the NCAA Division II Championship again.

bring them to terms with how advertising has targeted women in the past, reducing them to objects of desire.

Inclusiveness is in these days

Although progress is slow and hard-fought, America is moving toward social conscientiousness. In spite of this, pop culture still caters predominantly to straight men. The “male gaze,” as gender theorists call it, delivers content through the perspective of the straight, red-blooded man, thus sexualizing the female body for pleasure. So where’s “the straight female gaze?” How about the “gay male gaze?” Turning on the TV and seeing commercials that appeal to one’s own libido is a privilege. It is a privilege that many are so often deprived of in this country. Ramping up male sexualization would broaden pop culture’s appeal in America, catering to a wider spectrum of sexual preferences.

It’s only natural

Upon their creation, man and woman were equally gifted with a booty and the inalienable right to shake it. So where is all the man jelly? In hiding, that’s where. Pop culture prefers to present male sexuality through a woman’s attention, rather than through his own personal expression. Men can be sexual when they are around women, but sensuality for the sake of sensuality is a no-fly zone. Although these norms give the man an air of dominance, they subtly rob him of agency over his sexuality. Rather than display his sex appeal proudly, the man must rely on a woman’s body as proxy.

Image courtesy of California State University Staff Safety California State Universities have yet to realize that bullying affects students and staff alike.

California State Universities should take as much care in protecting their staff from bullying as they do their students. If faculty are expected to make students feel safe and empowered during their college years, their safety and empowerment should also be a necessity. Developing a program that creates a safe place to report cases of bullying would be a good start to ensuring CSU staff workers’ well-being. See A1

The Orion ∤ Photograph by Norma Loya Pride and Prejudice Student Jose Mendoza and community member Danielle Koss during Queer Week.

The Justice Department’s new transgender-friendly training program is a much needed addition to local law enforcement. After a year that spotlighted violence against transgender individuals, it is clear that law enforcement can often be a part of the problem, rather than a solution. This new program should provide practical and specific ways for police to make transgender individuals feel safe and respected while addressing greater issues of prejudice and transphobia.

STUDY BREAK

By destigmatizing male sensuality, the media will give both men and women more control over their sexual expression. If there was ever any doubt, let heightened social awareness, inclusiveness and freedom of expression serve as proof that good things happen when men take their sexuality into their own hands. Zachary Phillips can be reached at opinioneditor@theorion.com or

@ZachSPhillips on Twitter. Photograph by Maggiejumps via Flickr Faction Figure Academy Award winner Kate Winslet fights to keep a dystopia alive in the box office hit.

Letter to the Editor

University administration fails to recognize student voices Jennifer Nixon is a junior social sciences major at Chico State. Her interest in writing this letter sparked from the upcoming elections and her desire to inform other students about some of the issues.

way. When 83 percent of student voters said “Yes” to limiting water use on campus, it was ignored. The list goes on. How can Chico State continue to pride itself on inclusion and community if it continually shuts down the voices of so many? It is troubling at best that an institution of higher education designed to mold young men and women into becoming the leaders of tomorrow is simultaneously investing in

Not only is investing in fossil fuels entirely unsustainable, it is economically unsound.

The University has repeatedly failed to acknowledge student voices in past years. When 75 percent of student voters said “No” to a new parking structure, it was built any-

The Orion encourages letters to the editor and commentary from students, faculty, staff, administration and community members.

• 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

an industry that is destroying life as we know it. Not only is investing in fossil fuels entirely unsustainable, it is economically unsound. Climate change is inarguably real, which means that stock in these companies is vastly overvalued. The school should not be investing our money in anything so risky, especially when feasible and responsible alternatives exist. It is our responsibility to be an example for others and to ensure the safety of future generations in any way we can, and divestment is a real way that we can make a difference. Take control of your education and your future, and vote “Yes” for divestment.

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

Shailene Woodley and Theo James star in the thrilling action-adventure film “Divergent” based on the best-selling book series by Veronica Roth. Set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues, Tris Prior, played by Woodley, is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four, played by James, after discovering a conspiracy by a faction leader, played by Kate Winslet, to destroy all Divergents. With a $56 million debut, Woodley delivers a terrific lead performance. If you are a fan of “The Hunger Games,” enjoy rebellion and fast-paced action, this film is a must-see. - Nicole Santos

• 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.

• 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.

A8 |

WedneSday, April 2, 2014

news all week @ theorion.com

Advertisements

MAKING YOU SAFE

FOR ROMANCE. SHOW HIM YOU CARE. GET TESTED TODAY. Affordable STD screenings available at Planned Parenthood health centers. Make an appointment today.

3100 Cohasset Road, Chico For an appointment or more info call: 530-342-8367 or visit www.plannedparenthood.org

Is It Your Time To Lead? The Orion, Chico State’s independent student news source, is accepting applications for its two top leadership positions for Fall Semester 2014. Editor-in-Chief The editor-in-chief has responsibility for all decisions pertaining to the production of each issue of The Orion and its website, theorion.com. This includes but is not limited to: style, content, tone, quality, layout, production and editorial viewpoint. The editor-in-chief establishes and enforces editorial policies and guidelines, recruits and supervises the newspaper staff, and coordinates work on all of The Orion’s publishing platforms. Compensation for the editor-in-chief is provided through a monthly stipend. Advertising Manager The Orion advertising makes final decisions pertaining to the newspaper’s advertising and ad sales, establishes sales guidelines, and supervises staff and operations of the business department. He or she also recruits, interviews and hires the sales staff, coordinates sales training twice a year, and represents the advertising department at newspaper management meetings. Compensation is a weekly salary based on a 20-hour work week. Applicants for both positions should submit a letter of application outlining their education and work experience to Adviser Mark Plenke via email: mplenke@csuchico.edu. Deadline is noon Friday, April 4.

sports all week @ theorion.com

’cats care Students give back to the community on Cesar Chavez Day. theorion.com

The NEBULA B6 FOOD COLUMN B7 SEX COLUMN B7

features all week at theorion.com

Chico State’s Independent Student News Source since 1975

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

“I've always had it ingrained in my heart that I have to be involved where I'm at.” –Jesse Campbell

The Orion ∤ Photo Courtesy of jesse campbell

taking the heat Jesse Campbell, a first-year health science major, attends to a fire with a high-pressure hose. Campbell is a cadet and does ride-outs with Vallejo, Chico and Butte County fire departments.

Student trains to be firefighter, resident advisor Dominique Diaz

Staff Writer

The Orion ∤ Photograph by alex boesch

on duty Campbell poses next to a firetruck at the Vallejo Fire Department, where he hopes to work in the future.

Jesse Campbell started riding around in firetrucks with his dad when he was 13 years old. “I’ve been on three fatal fires with a total of four people dead,” said Campbell, a firstyear health science major. Campbell became an official cadet at age 14. At 2 a.m. Oct. 3, 2009 — he remembers the exact date — he experienced his first fatal fire in a structure with two people stuck inside. The fire took place at the top of a hill in Vallejo that gets a lot of wind from the bay. It blew the fire throughout the house. They worked the fire for a long time before forcing it down. “They got inside, got in one of the bedrooms and found one of the women,” Campbell said. “One of them they declared done and was left for the arson investigator, and then they tried to pull the other one out.” Campbell was still new and unable to go inside, but helped in other ways. “I went to help them out once they got to the front door,” he said. “She was pretty badly burned. That was interesting as a 14-year-old kid.” His parents wanted him to consider other

jobs but he was set on being a firefighter, he said. “I think one of my first full sentences — my mom wrote it down — was, ‘I want to be a firefighter,’” Campbell said. It’s what he loves to do. “If I go more than a month without doing any sort of firefighter thing then I go crazy,” Campbell said. “It’s bad. It’s almost like PMS but with fire.” People assume that he’s a firefighter because of his involvement with the fire community. “I usually correct people,” he said. “I haven’t gone through the testing process. I haven’t gotten hired anywhere. It’s not my job yet.” Firemen don’t only fight fires and rescue cats from trees, he said. “I’ve been on a lot of shootings, stabbings, a lot of homicides,” Campbell said. He has witnessed more than the average 18-year-old has, he said. “I’ve seen more than most people will see in their lifetime,” Campbell said. “I’ve usually seen more than most people think of seeing or knew existed.” Campbell hopes to be an official member of the Vallejo Fire Department after he graduates from Chico State. He’s been on ride-outs downtown with the Chico Fire Department and with Butte County Emergency Medical Services, he

said. When a person isn’t involved with their community, they feel left out. “I’ve always had it ingrained in my heart that I have to be involved where I’m at,” Campbell said. “One of the first things I did when I came up here was drive around town for six hours. I want to learn where I’m at and see what’s around me.” Campbell went from a shy kid to an outgoing adult, he said. It’s a result of the job at the fire station. “I’ll walk down to downtown Chico and see a homeless guy and just strike up a conversation,” he said. “You can’t be scared. Or you can be scared, but you have to mask it and show bravery through it.” Campbell will be a resident advisor next year. His friend, Daniel Dzierski, a sophomore business accounting major, said he’ll be great for the job. “He’s continued to push himself to better the community as well as aid his growth,” Dzierski said. Students enter college looking to make an impact and are motivated by their resident advisors to do so, he said. “He will provide incoming freshmen a role model, model citizen and destined fire fighter,” Dzierski said. Dominique Diaz can be reached at featureseditor@theorion.com or

@dominiqueldiaz on Twitter.

Thursday Night Market offers fresh attractions Ariel Hernandez

Staff Writer

The Thursday Night Market aims to clean up more than just your diet this summer. The market starts from 6-9 p.m. April 3 and runs rain or shine until Sept. 25. The market houses more than 100 vendors that line the streets with food, live entertainment, farm-fresh produce and arts and crafts for everyone. Safety and cleanliness is the No. 1 goal for this season, said Stephanie Yunker, the community events and marketing director for the Downtown Chico Business Association. “We are working closely with the Downtown Ambassadors to directly address safety concerns,” Yunker said. “We have hired a cleanup brigade from the Jesus Center to clean our downtown streets.” Additional inflatables and kids' games are being added to the children's area. The City Plaza Nights special event series is also being revamped. The Downtown

Chico Business Association will cover the plaza usage fee, assist in promoting the events through radio, print and social media and guide organizations that plan for the groups participating in City Plaza Nights. Some of the events this upcoming season include Keep Chico Creative and the Good to be Green Expo. The Downtown Chico Business Association will continue to partner with Chico Velo Cycling Club to offer free bike valet services for Thursday Night Market attendees. The service is designed to help with the frustration of trying to park downtown and encourage attendees to ride their bike to the event without fear of theft or vandalism. The valet booth will be located near the intersection of Third and Broadway streets. The market is hoping to attract families that may have stopped coming because of some of the challenges in the past, Yunker said. Ariel Hernandez can be reached at featureseditor@theorion.com or

@Aj7uriel on Twitter.

Thursday Night Market Returns: April 3 WHere: Broadway from second to fifth Streets When: 6-9 P.M. every Thursday

The Orion ∤ Photographs by nicole santos

fruit fest A local vendor sells peaches and berries at the market in fall 2013.

B6 |

features all week @ theorion.com

FEATURES

WedneSday, april 2, 2014

On-campus chats cover heart health Amanda Hovik

Staff Writer

The Heart of a Woman event will provide a chance for women to connect and unwind while learning from health experts. “We are inviting people in to take charge of their health,” said Nicole Johansson, director of marketing and communications for Enloe Medical Center. The sold-out event is presented by Enloe Medical Center and will take place from 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday in Colusa Hall. There are 11 physicians on the medical staff that will present health chats at the event. Some featured chats include: “Fit Foods: Smart Nutrition in a Diet-Crazy Nicole World,” “Cycling Johansson Through: DepresDirector of sion and Anxiety in Marketing and Women” and “Health Communications, Tips for My Mother Enloe Medical and Daughter.” Center “I don’t think you can go wrong with the value you get with the $20 price,” Johansson said. “We were laughing earlier that it’s cheaper than a copay at your doctor’s office to come and hear all this great information from these physicians.” The event will feature keynote speaker Jennifer Read Hawthorne, co-author of “Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul” books. The community has given a tremendous amount of support for the event, Johansson said. Agua Azul Oasis will be offering free chair massages and Hot Flash Wines will be providing wine tasting. Local businesses, such as Jewel Kade, will also have products for sale. Amanda Hovik can be reached at

features@theorion.com or @AmandaHovik on Twitter.

The Orion ∤ Photograph by chelsea jeffers

boxed up Debbie Devine, a local marriage and family therapist, talks to the Emobodied club about inner and outer values using her box illustration.

Club promotes ‘health at every size’ Devine is the organization’s guest speaker of the semester and a supporter of the Staff Writer movement, as well as the Embodied club. “The beauty of a club like this and the A speaker stands in front of a handful of professors that are associated with it is students in the room, their attention drawn they teach where adiposity is a problem to her compassionate and easygoing perand where it’s not,” Devine said. “Quite ofsona. ten health is not about an adiposity level. “I’m like a joy whore,” said Debbie Devine, a local marriage and family therapist. Health is influenced by genetics and activity “I really want to enjoy life, and I want the and nutrition.” Adiposity is a people around term used to deme to.” scribe something Devine introin relation to fat. duced a box that “I think what held extrinsic has happened is and intrinsic that fat has bemeaning. On come the scapethe outside of goat of a sick the box were society,” Devine words such as Crystal Vasquez said. “It has be“famous,” “popFounder of the Embodied club come an easy tarular” and “desirget to blame for able.” On the inall of the health side were words that pertained more to a person’s internal problems in the world. I think that we look for easy targets to pour our anxiety onto and being, such as “happiness.” in our cultural time right now, that is fat.” “You can’t touch the outside of a person Hatred of fat plays a prevalent role in soand really feel a connection without the inciety, she said. side stuff,” she said. “It is the last socially acceptable form of Embodied: Living the Health at Every Size Way began last semester to promote prejudice that is accepted openly,” she said. “People are stigmatized for being fat in ways positive body image and healthy behaviors. Dominique Diaz

I’m going to dream big and hope that weight is no longer an issue on campus.

that we would never think of stigmatizing someone for their color, creed or sexual orientation. We are perfectly comfortable stigmatizing them for larger size.” Hopefully the movement can make an impact in Chico, said Crystal Vasquez, senior nutrition major and founder of the club. “I’m going to dream big and hope that weight is no longer an issue on campus,” she said. “That we don’t even look at it as an issue anymore.” The club’s mission is to promote the Health at Every Size principles, which include size acceptance, mindful eating and enjoyable physical activity, said Michelle Morris, nutrition professor and faculty adviser to the club. “Our goal is to promote the Health at Every Size paradigm on campus and off campus,” she said. “We do that through education, having guest speakers, Love Every Body Week and advocacy.” Hopefully nobody worries about having to fit into a certain size, said Natalie Butler, senior nutrition major and club president. “Every girl is like, ‘Oh, I need to fit into these small pants,’” she said. “It shouldn’t be an issue. Wear what you want.” Dominique Diaz can be reached at

featureseditor@theorion.com or @dominiqueldiaz on Twitter.

ORIONITE ABROAD: Great expectations, unplanned experiences define destinations

Michelle Manera

Travel Columnist

Paris was my second highest priority, after London, this semester abroad. I was told by student advisers that Europe-bound students always anticipate too much and spend too much there, but this didn’t lower my expectations at all. When choosing classes for my last undergraduate semester, I chose to take French because it seemed so European and artistic. With only a month of French class, I was excited to be a typical tourist and see some of the most-visited sites in the world. I also wanted to see a bookstore called Shakespeare and Company. I’m not ashamed to say that I first heard of this place on Pinterest, where hundreds of bright-eyed girls dream of browsing a Parisian bookstore, shouldering a bag of fruit, a

baguette and a bouquet of flowers. So I looked through websites for directions and copied what looked like the clearest instructions on my phone. After a day of seeing the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and The Louvre, I went by myself toward the bookstore because no one else was interested in my picturesque French bookstore idea. I spent hours wandering and using multiple maps from my hotel, bus stops, my phone and underground stops. I eventually made it to the Rue de l’Odeon and walked quickly down the street in celebration because I knew it was the storefront I was looking for. After searching for a beautiful flower-covered Parisian bookstore, I stood in front of a simple, charred storefront. I had found the original Shakespeare and Company instead of the new one. As my disappointment and blistered feet competed for my attention, a stray memory from my Pinterest browsing hit me. The original Shakespeare and Company

was supposedly closed and burnt because its owner refused to sell her last copy of James Joyce’s “Finnegans Wake” to a Nazi officer. Ernest Hemingway insisted it be reopened because it was a haven for him and authors such as Gertrude Stein and F. Scott Fitzgerald in the Roaring ‘20s. Allow me some dramatic language when I say that I was truly humbled by this sight. It was hard for my expectations of beauty to be replaced by this old, blackened building, but it was also a reminder of the spectacle that is Paris. It’s easy to forget that Paris was fought for when planning to get to the next postcard landmark. Even though there are beautiful, historical battlegrounds in the United States, none are as old or as continually fought upon as these European cities that truly open the eyes of the soul. No unplanned circumstance has to be a mistake in any city visit. I found, on a side street in Paris, a small understanding of how my humanity makes me fallible, but also able to choose happiness in the face of disappointment.

3. Utilize social media

5. Keep writing

To be a successful blogger you need a strong footprint on the web. Gaining a larger audience will begin with how you showcase your blog. Linking your blog to your social media outlets, adding links on your blog to your social media accounts and utilizing hashtags are tools for casting a wider net of followers.

It’s hard to have a successful blog when the page looks like a ghost town. Try to write at least 3 to 4 times a week. If you want it to be a weekly blog, make the day you write consistent.

Bright-eyed girls dream of browsing a Parisian bookstore, shouldering a bag of fruit, a baguette, and a bouquet of flowers.

photograph COURTESY OF Michelle Manera

picturesque in paris The travel columnist strikes a pose at a street sign on a France outing.

Michelle Manera can be reached at

featureseditor@theorion.com or @michelle_manera on Twitter.

WORKING WILDCAT: Building blogs

Ariel Hernandez

Asst. Features Editor If you’ve thought about joining the blogging community, you’re definitely not alone. In 2012 there were 31 million bloggers in America, according to Blogging.org. So what does it take to compete in an online world of constant blogger battle? Here are five tips to help create the next “Mona Lisa” of blogs.

1. Pick a theme

What are you planning to blog about? Whether it’s fitness, travel or life in college,

creating an overall theme helps direct you in each blog post and allows you to be more focused and creative in a particular area. If you’re planning on being a long-term blogger, then you will need to pick a theme for which you consistently have a topic to write about.

2. Pick a home for your blog There are tons of free sites where you can create a blog and you will need to decide where your blog calls home. WordPress, Blogger and Tumblr are just a few of the dozens of choices out there. Each has strengths and weaknesses; the one that fits you best will be determined by your goals for your blog.

4. Concentrate on content This goes back to theme. Is what you’re writing about interesting? Are your posts relevant to the theme? Are you getting the facts right? Try to be creative. Use hyperlinks throughout your blog to establish credibility.

Your success as an established blogger depends on the frequency of your writing, your reader base and the interesting topic you have chosen to focus on. Practice makes perfect, so if your reader base is low now, just keep writing. The Roman Empire wasn’t built overnight and success in the blogger world won’t be either. Ariel Hernandez can be reached at

featureseditor@theorion.com or @Aj7uriel on Twitter.

CRAFT CAT: Chalkboard wine glasses

MATERIALS: Lindsay Pincus

•

Wine glasses

This week I crafted a wine glass with chalkboard paint. This is the easiest project I have done so far and it is very useful. These glasses are great for having people over — they’re fun and your guests wont lose track of their glasses.

•

Chalkboard paint

•

Chalk

•

Bowl or cup to put paint in

Do-it-yourself Columnist

Price: $10 Time: 5 minutes to make, 25 hours to dry Lindsay Pincus can be reached at

featureseditor@theorion.com or @LindsayPincus on Twitter.

The Orion ∤ Photographs by Lindsay Pincus

Step 1: Pour the paint into a cup and dip the base of the glass in it. Then, let the glass dry by flipping the glass upside down. After an hour of drying, put a second coat of paint on the base of the glass.

Step 2: Let the glass dry for 24 hours. Keep an eye on the glass when it is flipped over because it might drip down the stem. If that happens, just wipe it with a paper towel or let it drip for a different look.

chalk talk The finished glasses are displayed, claimed by painted names so there’s no mix up.

Step 3: After the paint has dried, you can write or draw whatever you want on the base of the glass with chalk.

FEATURES

features all week @ theorion.com

WedneSday, april 2, 2014

| B7

READERS, DIGEST: Cinnamon baked apples

NS: INSTRUCTIO

Christina Saschin

Food Columnist

Baking a whole apple pie just for your roommate and yourself is not practical. This apple dessert works great as a single serving and gives you the ability to play with different flavors. I got the idea for making individual baked apples because I like miniaturizing desserts, like with cupcakes. All you need for this recipe is an apple, brown sugar and cinnamon. Do not let the fact that you are baking for a small number of people deter you. Just use your creativity. Christina Saschin can be reached at

featureseditor@theorion.com or @Stina127 on Twitter.

ple. Use a p a e th f o top n to 375 F. cut off the le and crep y p ll a fu e re th a 1. Heat ove c t u , sharp knife re. Continue to scoop o 2. Using a ove the co es that can c ie p spoon to rem ace in the middle. e th te sp , separa ate a hollow hollowed out the apple have Add cinnal. w o b 3. Once you m the core. ll a m in a s be eaten fro le pieces and put them usab to the gether. 4. Chop the wn sugar, then mix to on and brown sugar in mon and bro ple coated in cinnam the ap ent paper. m h rc a p 5. Transfer h it ple. lined w tes. hollowed ap pple on a baking sheet for 30 minu e a k a d b e ll d fi n a e foil 6. Put th lightly with le p p a e th 7. Cover

WHAT Y OU NEE D: To

tal T Yield: 1ime: 40 minu tes • 1 ap serving • 1/4 tple • 1/4 t easpoon of c in easpoo n of bronamon wn sug ar

The Orion ∤ Photograph by Christina Saschin

Sugar and spice This hollowed-out apple treat is easy to bake and serves a single treat.

THE O-FACE: Discovering deeper definitions of sexuality

Sex Columnist

The past three years at Chico State have really tested how comfortable I am with my sexuality. The experience has also broadened my perspective on what that truly means. When I hear most people talk about being comfortable with their sexuality, they talk about their sexual orientation. While that is one aspect, I find that it goes much deeper. I arrived here with little sexual experience and I am going to leave with more than I ever expected. I have reached a strong comfort level with my sexuality but the journey wasn’t without a few stumbling blocks. I got whiskey dick my first time having sex. This caused a whirlwind of negative thoughts that all but crushed my self-esteem. Already, at the beginning of my journey, I had a major hurdle to jump over. Having a few more sexual experiences helped me understand that my malfunction was just a bodily fluke and there was nothing I could do to control it.

be a benign skin infection that required two months of painful liquid nitrogen treatment to cure. Now, in my senior year, I have a wonderful girlfriend. Most of the sex I had in the past was while partying over the weekends. I quickly found out that having sex sober is a different ball game. It’s much more enjoyable and the connection is much greater, in my opinion. However, without the mist of alcohol to hide behind, I am also face-to-face with every insecurity my partner and I feel and every sexual hang-up that may arise. Facing these with someone I really care about makes it that much harder. But this is my journey thus far. I had two choices with each hiccup along

I have reached a strong comfort level with my sexuality but the journey wasn’t without a few stumbling blocks.

WAKE UP & SMELL THE

THE NEBULA:

STUMPED? Answers for the sudoku and crossword can be found on

theorion.com

Sudoku

Michael Karp

Moving forward to sophomore year, I began a relationship with my first long-term sexual partner. This is when my sexual confidence began to spike. However, as I delved deeper into what it means to be a sexual being, I started to realize the inherent risks involved. Having unprotected sex is toying with your entire future. I toyed with mine when I came inside a partner without a condom. She wasn’t on birth control and “the morning after pill” is not 100 percent effective. Say hello to a couple months of freaking out, wondering if an unwanted pregnancy is going to happen and imagining if a baby is in the future. I spent one-fourth of junior year worrying about whether I had herpes. It turned out to

Crossword

THE ORION IS DAILY DIGITAL. Pour A fresh cuP, cAtch uP on soMe fresh news

theorion

@theorion_news

.com

facebook.com/theorionnews

the way: to let them bring me down or to learn and move past them. If I stayed ashamed for getting whiskey dick or possibly having herpes, I would not have been comfortable with that aspect of my sexuality. I forced myself to become comfortable by talking about it and exposing it, and it allowed me to move forward. I can also use my experiences to help the people I care about, and that makes me extremely happy. Your journey will likely be very different from mine, but the message is still the same. Being comfortable with your sexuality is a part of being comfortable with who you are as a person. It’s a process, like doing well in school or becoming a healthy individual. It’s a process that helps to define who you are and leads you to who you want to become. Having gone through all of that, I believe that I’m a better person for it, a person who is better able to move forth in the world. Michael Karp can be reached at sexcolumnist@theorion.com or

@_MichaelKarp on Twitter.

features all week @ theorion.com