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Bike Safety: The second annual Kristina Chesterman memorial bicycle safety event educated bike riders and community members on safety. A2
Sofa King: The Orion met with the musicians of Sofa King to discover their origin story, writing process and inspirations before their show Oct. 14 at the 1078 Gallery. B7
Opinion Sexism: Opinion columnist Megan Mann discusses sexism in the nerd and geek world. Mom’s basement: no girls allowed. A6 John Domogma/The Orion
Emeralds: Anthropology professor Brian Brazeal is no stranger to the dangerous and affluent world of emerald trading. B5
Sports Profile: Wildcat women’s soccer alumna Molly Downtain finds success off the pitch as the U.S. women’s national team logistics coordinator. B3
Chico State’s Independent Student News Source since 1975 theorion.com | Wednesday Oct. 22, 2014 | Vol. 73, Issue 9 | First copy free, additional copies 50¢
Obituary
Student remembered as caring Christine Lee
News Editor
Samantha Lewis, 20, died after being struck by a train the morning of Oct. 13. Lewis was a Chico State sophomore student majoring in nutrition and food science. She came to Chico State from Clayton, in the Bay Area, in fall 2012 and was pursuing a career in nutrition management, according to a Chico State press release.
Lewis was born May 5, 1994. "She was super bubbly, happy, smiley and she took a lot of care in class," said Robin Magalis, a Chico State nutrition education graduate student. "She was very meticulous about the stuff she made." Magalis was Lewis' lab instructor for the class, “Elementary Food.” Lewis always made good food and was attentive and usually
SAMANTHA LEWIS 1994-2014
chatting and cooking with her friends in class, she said. Lewis worked with staff members from the Center for Healthy Communities, formerly known as the Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion, on projects at the Gateway Science Museum and Production Kitchen. "She was super friendly,
» please see LEWIS | A3
Water Skiing
Administration
Union reaches tentative contract David McVicker
Riding the waves to glory
Emily Teague/The Orion
Sean Crossland, senior Wildcat water skier, practices his moves on the slalom run at the 36th Collegiate Water Ski National Championships. Read the story on B1.
News Editor
The California State University chancellor’s office and the California Faculty Association have come to a tentative agreement for a new multiyear union contract. The California Faculty Association board unanimously recommended to vote “yes” Monday on the recently negotiated agreement with CSU administrators. “We’re glad to be at this point where we have a tentative agreement,” said Charles Turner, Chico State’s union president. “We all feel like it’s certainly not a perfect agreement but it’s definitely a move in the right direction.” The contract adds a 3 percent increase to the salary pool of CHARLES all CSU faculty for TURNER the 2014-15 academic Chico State year. From that pool, California Faculty Association 1.6 percent will go to President increase the salaries for the 25,000 instructional faculty, counselors, coaches and librarians on all 23 CSU campuses. The remaining 1.4 percent will go to reduce individual issues on a per-campus basis, said Mike Uhlenkamp, spokesman for the chancellor’s office. “The multiyear agreement is a tremendous accomplishment, as well as a special opportunity for CFA and the CSU to continue to strengthen communication and collaboration as we work together to
» please see CONTRACT | A3
Campus Safety
Federal law requires new reporting methods Madison Holmes
Asst. News Editor
New rules created by the U.S. Department of Education will make it easier for law enforcement to track crimes occurring on college campuses. The final rule implementing changes made to the Clery Act was announced by the Obama administration Friday, according to a media release from the U.S. Department of Education. The Clery Act requires federally funded universities to comply with certain campus safety measures authorized by Title IX. Programs in federally funded universities cannot discriminate against an individual on the basis of gender. The changes made to the Clery Act, which was formally published in the Federal Register on Monday, must be implemented at universities by July 1. On June 20, a draft of possible safety provisions was published on the Federal Register, the U.S. government’s daily publication. The draft was required by law to remain a proposed rule with a 30day public comment period. Based on the comments from a variety
of groups and individuals, the final rule includes additional requirements like providing students with information, better informing and protecting of victims and clarifying the process for collecting crime statistics. According to the media release from the U.S. Department of Education, additional provisions required of universities under the new rule are: • Including gender identity and national origin as categories of hate crimes. • Describing each type of disciplinary action used by colleges in cases of alleged dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. • Public information regarding the college's programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. • Giving the accuser and the accused the same opportunities to have others present during the disciplinary proceedings. Under the current act, universities are required to disclose crime incidents that occur on campus, on public property within or adjacent to the campus, or in non-campus buildings or property owned or operated by the school. The final rule now requires universities
Madison Holmes/The Orion
Dylan Saake, Chico State’s Title IX coordinator, said Chico State already complies with many of the new requirements from the Clery Act. to record incidents of stalking based on the location where the offender stalked the victim or where the victim became aware of the stalking. The new rules will ensure that students
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and faculty have important information about crime on campus and that services and protection are offered to victims of
» please see CLERY | A3
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Social Media
Class Facebook owned by business Christine Lee
News Editor
There are more than 2,000 members on the Chico State Class of 2017 Facebook page, a group managed by online businesses that sell textbooks and roommate-finding services. The Facebook class page is not affiliated with the university, said Joe Wills, Chico State’s spokesman. It is administered by people who work for the websites Textsurf and Roomsurf, which promote students buying and selling textbooks and finding roommates using their services. The companies hire a student from each campus across the country to advertise to other students about its services, said Markus Tungol, junior health services administration major and Roomsurf ’s student ambassador for Chico State. “It’s mainly just promoting their services,” Tungol said. “If there’s a deal or special offer, they want me to relay it to the Facebook page for incoming freshman.” Tungol gets paid $100 per month as well as a 10 percent commission off revenue from students buying Roomsurf premium accounts. Roomsurf pairs students based on shared preferences and commonalities. Students can log into their accounts through Facebook which takes their profile information and registers it onto their Roomsurf account. Students take a survey which matches their results with other students. They can upgrade to a premium account which allows them to directly message students who they match. Tungol said he’s now on a hiatus until the next incoming class, which is when he will create the class page for the graduating class
of 2018 and answer questions that first year students have about living in Chico. Roomsurf is a successful site because its easy to advertise to a large pool of students, he said. There is a good amount of people who actually utilize the services. “Looking at my commission, I’d say it’s a good amount,” Tungol said. Tungol said since starting his job last year, he’s made a commission of $200. The advantages for using Facebook pages to reach students is that it gives the business a foundation to advertise. “How else would you penetrate that market,” he said. “It’s proven to be effective and they’ve been doing it for a few years.” The Chico State Class of 2017 page was the first at Chico State administered by the businesses, Tungol said. Textsurf is another website advertised to students where they can buy or sell textbooks. It compares prices from various book-selling sites such as Amazon and AbeBooks. Textsurf only allows users to sell their books to ValoreBooks from competing websites. Students also often use the class page to arrange for carpooling — an amenity that has implemented another branch of business marketing. Alex Lang, an administrator for the Chico State Class of 2018 page, said he’s created a Rideshare group for students this year. That page now has more than 200 members. “Further, I have personally constructed a carpooling network of students totalling around 75,000 students in the United States,” Lang wrote in an email. “I am definitely looking forward to doing the same with Chico, though the group I have built for your school is small and growing fast.” Tungol said he’s never met the co-founders
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Orion File Photo
Check out The Orion’s recap of the men and women’s golf tournament online later today. theorion.com/sports
Photo courtesy of Markus Tungol
Markus Tungol, a junior health services administration major and roomsurf.com’s student ambassador for Chico State, assists and advertises to students on the Chico State Class of 2017 Facebook page. of Roomsurf but works a lot with cofounder, Justin Gaither, through email. Both websites are co-founded by Gaither and Dan Thibodeau, who graduated from the University of Miami, with bachelor’s degrees in business administration.
Photo courtesy of Chico Hillel
Chico State’s Jewish community celebrates Yom Kippur by feasting before fasting. theorion.com/features
Christine Lee can be reached at
newseditor@theorion.com or @leechris017 on Twitter.
Public Safety
Annual event educates bicycle riders Anna Sobrevinas
Staff Writer
Chico bike companies, family and friends of deceased student Kristina Chesterman gathered Oct. 18 for the second annual Kristina Chesterman Memorial Bike Safety and Drunken Driving Awareness event. Mike Griffith, a Chico pedicab business owner, started the annual gathering held in the downtown Chico City Plaza to educate the public on bike safety after a fatal drunken driving killed Chico State nursing student Kristina Chesterman. Chesterman died last year from a brain injury after a drunk driver struck her while she was riding her bike home on Nord Avenue. The drunk driver, Riley Hoover, a Chico resident from Ohio, was sentenced to seven years in prison Sept. 5. “There’s too many bicycle accidents, bicycle-car accidents and too many drunken driving accidents,” Griffith said. “I’m gonna try to focus on solving the problem, one person at a time.” Griffith gave Chesterman her last There are too pedicab ride home many bicycle the night before she accidents, died. “It’s really cool bicycle-car — he put a lot of accidents and work into it and I too many think it makes a drunken difference,” said Dave driving Chesterman, Kristina accidents. Chesterman’s father. Mike Griffith, “People are more aware of it because it Chico pedicab owner will be in the media. People come by and they see all the bike shops here and they see the message.” The Kristina Chesterman Memorial Foundation, organized by Chesterman’s parents, gave away free reflector vests with
CORRECTIONS In vol. 73, issue 8 in the story “Hmong members reflect on shooting” The Orion incorrectly credited the photo to Nou Xong. The photo was provided by Cheng Kong Photography.
Annie Paige/The Orion
Take a peek at opinion columnist Alyssa Dunning’s Twitter conversation on the conflict between the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. theorion.com/opinion
Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures
Be sure to read The Orion’s review of David Ayers’ newest film “Fury,” which keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. theorion.com/arts
Anna Sobrevinas/The Orion
Sandra and Dave Chesterman give away reflector vests, Oct. 18 at the second annual Kristina Chesterman Memorial Bike Safety and Drunk Driving Awareness event. her initials on it. The Chico Velo Cycling Club gave away free head lamps and tail lights as well as the California Bicycling Street Smarts booklet which educates on legal and safe cycling. “We’ve been a club in the Chico area for 30 years now and our mission is always to promote safe cycling,” said Ann Schwab, Chico city council member and Chico Velo Cycling Club president. “What we’re doing is giving away head lamps and tail lights for bicycles so that people can be seen when they’re on the road.” North Rim Adventure Sports and Campus Bicycles also provided free safety inspections and installed bike lights for people. “You’re completely unprotected against a 3,000 to 5,000 pound car so it’s pretty much getting hit by a car, except you have a bike to get tangled up and everything,” said
Chris Lewis, a paramedic at Butte County Emergency Medical Services. “It’s so much force that it can just destroy your body in a matter of seconds — it’s crazy.” Some of the immediate affects of serious bike accidents are head injuries, brain damage and collapsed lungs, Lewis said. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the percentage of pedestrians, bicyclists and other non occupant fatalities in the country rose four percent in 2012. Next year there will be a panel with officials from the High Intensity DUI Enforcement program, Griffith said. Anna Sobrevinas can be reached at
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theorion.com/news | Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014 | A3
News Briefs Agricultural dean search narrowed
Teacher earns 2014 leadership award
The College of Agriculture has narrowed its search for a new dean to three candidates, all from out-of-state universities. Dave Daley, University Farm administrator, is currently serving as interim dean after the previous dean Jennifer Fox retired in June. The candidates are: KAREN • Dr. Karen Jones, JONES department chair Agricultural for plant, soil Dean Candidate and agricultural systems at Southern Illinois University. • Dr. Joseph Culin, associate dean for research and graduate studies at Clemson University. • Dr. Frederic Lemieux, professor and director of police science and security at The George Washington University. Jones and Culin visited the campus where they met with students and gave a presentation on their qualifications on Oct. 13 and 16, respectively. Lemieux will visit the campus on Monday. There is no timeline as to when a decision will be made. –Ernesto Rivera
Chico State lecturer David Shirah received the 2014 Distinguished Design-Build Leadership Award. The award is presented to individuals who show leadership in advancing design-build delivery practices. Shirah is a construction management lecturer who has been teaching at the university since 2007, according to a Chico State press release. Shirah accepted the award at the 2014 Design-Build Conference and Expo Oct. 6–8 in Dallas. Shirah DAVID has been a SHIRAH faculty advisor Construction Managment since 2008 to lecturer Blitz Build, a community service construction project that builds houses for people in need. Students and members of the community volunteer to work together with contractors for the projects. Blitz Build is organized by Chico State’s College of Engineering and the computer science and construction management departments.
Anna Sobrevinas/The Orion
Taylor Herren, A.S. President, and A.S. Vice President of Facilities and Services Jovan Smith cut the rope on the newly opened Wildcat Leadership Center.
AS opens new Wildcat Leadership Center The Associated Students held its grand opening Friday for the new Wildcat Leadership Center on the second floor of the Bell Memorial Union. The new space will serve as office space for A.S. officers and is open for students to study. “I want students to come to our space,” said Jovan Smith, A.S. vice president of facilities and services. “Enjoy us, utilize us, come do homework here, come hangout and come meet friends, people like me and everyone else who works here.” The space was previously used as an extended part of the Wildcat bookstore before the A.S. decided to move it downstairs. “About two years ago the bookstore was
forced, in essence, to move downstairs cause we were losing a lot of sales so we had all this space,” said David Buckley, the executive director of the A.S. administration office. “We started having discussions about what would be a useful way to use this space and ultimately how do we best serve students.” Approximately $600,000 was spent on the construction, Buckley said. The construction finished over the summer and opened in July, Smith said. Chico State President Paul Zingg attended the grand opening as well as CC Carter, director of the Cross Cultural Leadership Center. –Anna Sobreviñas
–Christine Lee
Lewis: Website created to share memories from friends, family » continued from a1 energetic and real passionate about the work that we do, the community service that we provide," said Stephanie Bianco, nutrition and food science professor and assistant director at the Center for Healthy Communities. Bianco was Lewis' academic adviser. Lewis was enrolled in Bianco's food safety class this semester and was recruited for an internship at the Center for Healthy Communities, she said. "She was one of 50 students in my food safety class — she did well in my class,"
Contract: Multiyear agreement to reduce salary disparities » continued from A1 advance the mission of the university,” said Chancellor Timothy P. White in a statement. Workload compensation is also addressed in the contract. The contract adds a $1.3 million pool to pay faculty for providing instruction outside of their teaching duties. In addition, it includes a $2.7 million pool to ease workload, such as adding more class sections and reducing class This contract will size. benefit students “This contract and faculty. will benefit This contract students and is a small step faculty,” said forward toward Lillian Taiz, fixing a broken president of the California salary structure Faculty that both sides Association recognize is not and a history good for the CSU. professor at Lillian Taiz, Cal State L.A. California Faculty “This contract Association President is a small step forward toward fixing a broken salary structure that both sides recognize is not good for the CSU.” Faculty have worked without a contract since June 30. If the contract is approved, it will take effect immediately and remain effective through June 2017.
David McVicker can be reached at
newseditor@theorion.com or @DavidPMcVicker on Twitter.
Bianco said. "I didn't know her too well but I know she was also engaged in choir." David Scholz, professor in the music and theatre department and choir director, said Lewis was always at choir and loved going to class. “She was just your standard really good choir member," Scholz said. "She wasn’t always smiling but when you made eye contact with her, she had a quick, easy smile. It was hard not to smile when she smiled at you." Scholz said although Lewis wasn’t a music major, she built an interest in choir. Lewis talked to Scholz about
continuing choir although she had a time conflict with classes. "I was looking forward to having her for another couple years," he said. "She was worried about not making to class and talked to me about it and I said, ‘Of course.’" Lewis was never upset at anybody, even when she was overworked, he said. "An amateur singer is someone who sings purely for the love of singing and that’s what Samantha was," Scholz said. A memorial website was created by Lewis' family and is dedicated to remembering Lewis though stories,
photos and videos posted from family and friends. "Our hearts are broken and will never be totally mended without you here," wrote Margaret M. Davis, a family member of Lewis on the website. "How I wish that I could tell you one more time how much we love you." Christine Lee can be reached at
newseditor@theorion.com or @leechris017 on Twitter.
Clery: Rule requires record of stalking location » continued from A1 those crimes, said Arne Duncan, the U.S. secretary of education, in a press release. These rules will be assets in tackling growing problems of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking on college campuses, he said. "The department has the responsibility to ensure that all of our students have the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment," Duncan said. Chico State's current policy regarding sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking largely follows the measures within the Clery Act, said Dylan Saake, Title IX coordinator at Chico State.
The system policy will just need to be adjusted, Saake said. "To a large degree, our policy is consistent," he said. "It just needs some tweaking." A large aspect of what needs to be done is just informing students and faculty of what to do in the instance of a sexual assault, he said. "We need to work on letting people know about domestic violence and sexual assault and the laws surrounding those issues," Saake said. The technicality of the regulations is not what is most important, it's the changes that are going to be made by each individual campus, he said. "A very small percentage of students
will actually read these new regulations," Saake said. "It's more about what we do as a campus to change." The Clery Act is just one small part of many changes being made on college campuses regarding sexual assault, he said. "There's a lot being done to change," Saake said. "This is just one step." Madison Holmes can be reached at
newseditor@theorion.com or @madisonholmes95 on Twitter.
ON PAGE A6 OR ON THEORION.COM/OPINION Check out the editorial for The Orion’s opinion on the Clery Act.
WAKE UP AND SMELL THE NEWS anywhere, anytime
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A4 | Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014 | theorion.com/news
POLICE
BLOTTER Friday, 11:20 p.m. : Welfare check at parking structure on Cherry Street. “Staff was leaving the structure and said she could see someone laying in the corner on the first floor of the parking structure on the West 2nd and Ivy streets side. Reporting party said subject appears to be passed out.” Saturday, 12:36 a.m. : Drunk in public at the UHUB. “Resident adviser requesting an alcohol assessment on a male by the bike racks.”
Chico Police
University Police
The police blotter is a selection of information cited directly from Chico Police Department and University Police Department.
Friday, 8:01 p.m. : Suspicious subject at Whitney Hall. “Older white male adult wearing a white long sleeve button up shirt with blue checkered stripes and khaki pants pacing back and forth with his bike. Reporting party said subject is in between the Whitney and Sutter hall dumpsters.”
Friday, 5:53 p.m.: Camping on East Lindo Avenue. “Reporting party advising there is a transient camp 60 feet from her home by her driveway. Reporting party started taking pictures of them which has caused them to yell at her.” Saturday, 5:45 a.m.: Domestic dispute on Vista Verde Avenue. “Sister’s boyfriend causing a disturbance and slapped reporting party’s sister and twisted her wrist. Responding party believes under the influence of crystal meth.”
Sunday, 1:54 p.m.: Loose animal on Leora Court. “Heavy set female in blue tank top and hat has a pitbull that she is letting run loose. Dog is chasing kids in the dog park. Told to put dog on leash by several people, owner made belligerent remarks back.”
Saturday, 3:21 p.m. : Fire alarm at Whitney Hall. “Heat from a flat iron activated alarm. Chico Fire Department was called but no further action was taken.”
Sunday, 2:51 p.m.: Refusing to leave an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. “Near the backdoor alley access, male who is not part of the meeting refusing to leave. He is calling the members ‘fat bitches’ and just threw a hot cup of coffee. No injuries.”
Sunday, 2:12 p.m. : Juvenile problem at Student Services Center. “Juvenile rode up to front door of University Police and blatantly spun donuts and left towards campus core. Subject was located on stage by Student Services Center but rode off onto Warner street when officers approached for contact.”
Monday, 10:45 a.m.: Vandalism at McDonald’s. “Reporting party advising a transient was panhandling an elderly female in front of the store. The transient got mad and threw a table at her. Not injured.”
Monday, 12:59 a.m. : Fireworks at Sigma Nu on West 8th Street. “Told by Chico Police Department there were fireworks from that area. Unable to locate.”
! w e n s y a w l a d an
The BloTTer JusT goT BeTTer.
Saturday, 1:11 p.m.: Animal welfare at Best Buy. “Cat tied to transient’s backpack. In the sun, cat skinny, unknown where the transient is. Reporting party moved the pack and the cat into the shade since the cat looked overheated.”
Saturday, 1:26 p.m. : Suspicious circumstance at Selvester’s Cafe-by-the-Creek. “Reporting party, Facilities Management & Services, went in to make sure no one was inside before securing building and it appears the door to the restaurant side may have been kicked in. Door was possibly left unsecured by staff.”
Sunday, 6:39 p.m. : Vandalism at Langdon Engineering Center. “Custodian found exit door broken.”
BLUE and
Monday, 3:56 p.m.: Residential burglary on Hazel Street. “Reporting party reporting loss of jewelry. Believes subject she hired to watch the house may be responsible. Believes same person stole from her daughter when daughter was hospitalized several months ago.” -Compiled by Anna Sobreviñas and Jovanna Garcia
daily police blotter Theorion.com
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EDITORIAL BOARD | Fall 2014 Editor-in-Chief Ernesto Rivera Managing Editor Mozes Zarate Art Director Monica Fitch Chief Copy Editor Kathy Kinsey News Editor Christine Lee News Editor David McVicker
Chico State’s Independent Student News Source since 1975
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The Orion is seeking opinion contributors from the community. Contact the opinion editor at opinioneditor@theorion.com
theorion.com/opinion | Wednesday Oct. 22, 2014 | Vol. 73, Issue 9 |
Editorial
Clery Act should partner with local law enforcement
T
he Obama Administration just released a proposal to expand the Clery Act, which dictates how universities deal with student and faculty reports of sexual assault and violence.
Gender identity and national origin are now considered a possible basis for hate crimes. Universities have to record reports of stalking, regardless of where the stalking started. Both accusers and the accused are allowed to be accompanied during disciplinary hearings. All of these changes are great. It’s nice to see The Obama Administration taking college student’s safety seriously and refurbishing old laws for this century. Unfortunately, the administration’s nuanced attack on sexual assault and violence has one fatal flaw: most assaults happen offcampus, in people’s homes. If the Obama Administration truly
aren’t trench-coated strangers lurking in the shadows. They’re friends, co-workers, classmates, roommates. Just because an assault happens beyond campus borders, doesn’t mean it deserves less scrutiny. wishes to crack down on sexual assault If the Obama Administration were to amongst college hold local law enstudents, it should forcement to the expand the Clery same standards Every standard that the Clery Act’s jurisdiction as it holds univerAct holds the university to, it to beyond the colsities, then cops should hold the cops to as well. lege campus. and campuses It should hold could fight sexual local law enforceassault as one enment to the same, tity. rigorous standards that it holds univerChico Police Department should be sities. required to keep track of student assault The 2014 Clery Report spells it out, plain reports and submit those numbers to the and simple: most sexual assault victims Clery Report. know their attackers. It should document any and all disciplinThese attackers, more often than not, ary action taken against those accused of
assault. It should be document partnership with the university in prevention and awareness programs. Every standard that the Clery Act holds the university to, it should hold the cops to as well. The purpose behind creating the Clery Act was to ensure student safety. It was designed to spread awareness, promote prevention and ensure justice for all students who are effected by assault. Why should those principles suddenly dissipate once a student crosses the street from campus to downtown? The unsigned Orion editorial is the collaborative opinion of the editorial board.
MORE ON THEORION.COM/NEWS Read The Orion’s overview of the Clery Report.
Geek life: Superheroes, sidekicks, sexism Megan Mann
Opinion Columnist
Rachel Dugo/ The Orion
Ah, the "Nerd World." A social universe filled with comics, cosplay, video games and sexism. The sexism portion may be surprising to some, but it is by no means a secret in the geek and nerd community. For years, women have been at the ridicule of men for liking typical "male" things, such as comics and video games, and it's no different today. Despite women rising to be one of the biggest demographics in the "Nerd World," they still face scorn and harassment when cosplaying, gaming and entering a comic book store, as depicted by the BuzzfeedYellow video "If Geek Girls Acted Like Geek Guys." In fact, the sexism is so bad that women cosplayers featured on SyFy's "Heroes of Cosplay" told a first-time convention cosplayer that she had to be aware of the type of attention her costume would bring her, i.e., verbal and sexual harassment by men and
even other women. This sort of sexism really appalls me. As a long-time geek, cosplaying at a convention and buying my first comic book are at the top of my bucket list, but I'm very hesitant to cross those items off the list because I know the type of harassment I'll face. Personally, I don't feel like having some guy grab at me when I'm cosplaying Lady Deadpool or trying to degrade my knowledge and interest in the Marvel and DC universes. And really, shouldn't geek guys love the fact that women are interested in the same things that they are, instead of touching them to make sure they're real or shaming them out of the culture? Yes boys, nerd girls are real and we're here to stay. And no, I will not make you a sandwich. Megan Mann can be reached at
opinioneditor@theorion.com or @meganisthemann on Twitter.
Universities should not run like sweatshops Matt Murphy
Opinion Columnist Imagine working at a job. If you’ve never had a job, ask yourself what you’re doing with your life and then rifle through examples you’ve witnessed. Now imagine that there is no contract for this job, so you can be let go at any time and pay is not guaranteed. Chico State faculty members don’t have to imagine. This has been their reality for the last 100-and some odd days while they negotiate new contracts with the university. They don’t want to be paid the same amount for teaching 50 students that they were for 35. They want to be paid fairly. Who can blame them? As much as students are outrageously overcharged for receiving can education, teachers are outrageously underpaid for dolling out that education. It’s no fault of either of ours. The game has changed. Gone are the days when $300 from a summer job paid for a year’s tuition and books. College isn’t some fertile utopia of learning and growth where knowledge is all that’s exchanged. No, that would be too creative and too nurturing an environment. Education is a for-profit business. Students are paying for a service, teachers are paid to administer that service.
There is no business where everyone wins. Sure, that H&M sweater was a $12 score, but there’s a seamstress in Bangladesh that got paid 50 cents to make it. Someone comes out holding the short end of the straw every time. In this case, teachers and students are both clinging — grasping — at the tiny piece they’ve been left. The system has made losers out of both of us. It’s not like the money isn’t there to pay the teachers. There seems to be plenty of money for the chancellor, presidents and board of trustees to pay themselves handsomely. I’m aware that just lopping $100,000 off the top-20 salaries in the California State University system doesn’t help teachers receive the raises they want, however satisfying it sounds. I don’t know what the perfect solution is. That’s for people with more degrees and credentials than this humble writer to ascertain. I do know that when the two most critical cogs in this machine aren’t happy with what they’re paying and getting paid, it’s time for a change. Here CSU Board of Trustees, I’ll get you started: pay the teachers what they want. They deserve it. Proceed from there. Matt Murphy can be reached at
opinion@theorion.com or @mattmurphy93 on Twitter.
Rachel Dugo/The Orion
Thumbs Thumbs up to British doctors developing a cure for paralysis. Here’s hoping they solve that whole “death” problem soon.
Thumbs down to businesses poaching college graduating class Facebook pages for cheap textbook buys. Gone are the days when students could just sell back books to scary men in trench coats.
Thumbs up to Michelle Obama’s “Turnip For What” vine. The Orion is currently contacting the White House’s public relations team for some tips.
Thumbs down to Led Zeppelin stealing “Stairway To Heaven.” Next thing you know, they’ll be telling us that Beyoncé doesn’t write her own music...
theorion.com/opinion | Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014 | A7
To bro, or not to bro
Mickey Layson/The Orion
Chico bars: not enough bang for the buck Julianna Eveland
Opinion Columnist
Before I turned 21 years old, I couldn't wait to dive into the Chico bar life. What I discovered, however, was quite disappointing. Apparently, I'm not the bar scene kind of gal. My first bar experience was at Riley's. Of course I showed up on the dot at midnight. You only turn 21 years old once, right? After proudly showing my ID to the bouncer, I crossed the threshold into what I thought would change my weekends forever. This place was certainly no Disneyland. It was crowded and pushy, with what felt like a cloud of sweaty humidity hovering above my head. I ordered a few drinks, compliments of my kind friends for the birthday girl. Okay, I have my drink. Now what? Conversation was a no-go. Drunk people and loud music made that practically impossible. I left shortly afterward to return to my underage friends who were still enjoying the night with a keg and some good company. I have had other bar experiences of
course: Madison Bear Garden, Panama Bar and Cafe, Franky's Pizzeria & Lounge, LaSalles, etc. They were nothing to write home about. On top of the lackluster vibes, after a night out downtown without anyone buying me drinks, my bank account hurts as much as my hangover the next day. Sure, there are sweet deals that go on. But that means drinking on the weeknights. Tried that before, doesn't really work out with the whole "school" thing. Maybe I don't go out in large enough groups to enjoy the scene. Or maybe it's because I'm not single and ready to mingle anymore. Whatever it is, I've found that my calling is still to places where I can be around most of my friends, pitch a few dollars in for alcohol at the beginning of the night and end up somewhere we can have decent conversations and hang out. Bars can be cool on certain occasions, but for the most part, the bar life ain't the life for me. Julianna Eveland can be reached at
opinion@theorion.com or @janexa12 on Twitter.
Madison Holmes/The Orion
Americans should embrace Letter to the Editor differences, not erase them In defense of wildcat statue her use of the word "colorless." Nothing irks me more than when someone tries to Alyssa Dunning Opinion Columnist say that they aren't racist by insisting they don't see color. While Raven-Symone may want to live in This perpetuates the idea that there is a colorless world, I don't. something wrong with being a different Raven-Symone made news headlines tone of skin other than white. We should when she told Oprah in an interview embrace different races, cultures and sexual that she doesn't like to label herself Afri- identities instead of whitewashing them to can-American or gay. fit in with the ideals While I understand of a white-heteroher sentiments, getsexual America. Labels will never be the actual ting rid of labels As a nation, we root of prejudice in America. won't change anyshould stand tothing. gether and work Labels will never toward no longer be the actual root of prejudice in America. using white as our default skin tone. They help us self-identify and identify othPeople shouldn't be allowed to switch beers with similar traits or interests. tween the words white and "normal" when I agree that African-American is a probdiscussing a person, something I heard in lematic label because not every black perclass less than two weeks ago. Everyone is son in America came from Africa. Also, as a normal, no matter what their sexual idenwhite American, I don't have to identify mytity or skin tone. self as Welsh-American. There is a double If we worked together and embraced our standard in who we label because America differences, wonderful people wouldn't have has this idea that white is the proper or deto feel too ashamed to accept a label. fault skin tone. I think it is important to mention that, as Alyssa Dunning can be reached at was brought up during my Tweet Talk Oct. opinioneditor@theorion.com or 10, the issue is with the negative assump@alyssadunning3 on Twitter. tions connected to labels, not the labels MORE ON THEORION.COM/TWEETTALKS themselves. Raven-Symone and other activCheck out Alyssa Dunning’s Tweet ists should be advocating for bringing down Talk about identity Labels. prejudice, not the use of a label. My biggest concern in her interview was
Talking Point
The Wildcat Statue project began with a group of students who came together in January 2013. That group reached out and collaborated with the Associated Students and at the end of that year the Board of Directors took the first step in securing funding for this project by allocating $10k. The goal was, and still is, to create a tangible representation of culture that is unique to our campus. The Chico State Alumni Association has a long-standing tradition of undertaking campus beautification projects and after discussion among the CSAA Board of Directors, they decided to invest in a wildcat statue, for many of the same reasons the student group cited in their original request. An ad hoc committee was formed to flesh out the idea, with a goal of including representation from a cross-section of stakeholders such as A.S., Student Life and Leadership, the Alumni Association and Intercollegiate Athletics. The ad hoc committee determined what appropriate resources could be used for this type of project and identified a projected budget: $50k from the Alumni Association, $50k from Associated Students ($10k plus a pending request for an additional $40k), $10k from Athletics, and $20k in support
from the University to assist with such a project. All told, this created a possible $130k budget. This is a substantial sum, but to create a piece with longevity requires an investment. Campus beautification is, to be sure, something we don’t get the opportunity to do very often. Building a coalition of support from the Chico State Alumni Association, Associated Students and the University is emblematic of the nature of the piece itself: it belongs to no one entity, but to students, alums, faculty and staff alike. There are certainly many needs and causes on campus that could benefit from the kind of funding required for this piece. However, it should be noted that the resources under consideration come with restrictions that don’t support expenditures such as book purchases, scholarship funding, salaries, or bridge repair, as has been popularly suggested. An investment? Yes, but few other projects would have the long-term impact of something as substantial as this symbol of the Chico Experience. The opportunity for graduation photos at the site, development of traditions surrounding the piece, and the use of the piece as a tangible rally point for events on campus are unique to Chico State, and have untold value for future, current and past Wildcats. Sincerely, The Wildcat Statue Ad Hoc Committee
Comments of the week Associated Students just had a new office and study space built up above the old Wildcat Bookstore. Although it’s nice that students and A.S. officers now share a workspace, $600,000 seems like a steep price.
Anna Sobreviñas/ The Orion
The Wildcat Statue Ad Hoc Committee’s Letter to the Editor is in response to scrutiny from the student body over their plans to build a wildcat statue on campus.
In response to the opinion comic, “Navigating bro-speak” by Mickey Layson: “If Greek life was so terrible, then The Orion wouldn’t need to publish silly comic strips in a pathetic attempt to disparage our organizations. Just do you, bros.” -Justin on theorion.com
In response to the news article “A.S. to build bronze wildcat statue” by Madison Holmes: “Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad time to change the school mascot to the honey badgers because Chico State students are courageous and innovative like the honey badger.” -ZackZee on theorion.com
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Wildcat Watch: An ex-Wildcat soccer
player has a new gig with a national team. B3 theorion.com/sports | Wednesday oct. 22, 2014 | Vol. 73, Issue 9 |
Water skiing
WAVES SUCCESS OF
“You have to have a clear mindset the whole way through, and a good rhythm.” -Sami Miller
Photographs by Emily Teague/The Orion
Sami Miller, a member of the Chico State club water ski team, placed fifth overall and fourth in slalom at the 35th Collegiate National event for the Wildcats.
Wildcats place at skiing showcase finished in seventh place last year at nationals. The team competes in three different events: slalom, trick and jump. So far in the year, the Wildcats are first Over the weekend, the Chico State Water Ski Team in women’s and second in men’s slalom in their division. competed in the 36th ColSlalom is a speed-based legiate Water Ski National event where the skier Championships and placed zigzags through a series of The team coaches each other on 10th overall out of 12 Division six buoys with both feet on their form, body position and small II schools, with the women’s one ski. adjustments. team taking first in slalom. When a skier is crossing Chico State sent five men the wake during a slalom and four women to compete at event, they can accelerate Sean Crosslands, water skier nationals, with Sean Crossland to 55-60 mph and produce and Sami Miller leading the 2-3 units of G-force. G-force Wildcats. Miller took fourth place in slalom and fifth refers to the amount of force acting on the body as a overall as an individual. result of acceleration. The run will continue to increase The ’Cats took fourth place in the Western Regional in difficulty until the skier misses a buoy or falls. tournament out of 10 teams earlier this year. The team The Wildcats have been practicing five days a week at Lars Gustafson Staff Writer
nearby Willow Lake. Former team president Carl Johnson lives directly on the lake and gives the team access to a practice location just 10 minutes away from campus. The lake is roughly the size of a football field and just 5 1/2 feet deep with two circular roundabouts at both ends for turning around and continuing the run. A typical day of practice will consist of six passes through the buoys for each skier. “The team coaches each other on their form, body position and small adjustments that makes a big difference,” Crosslands said. The Wildcats will be headed to San Diego for the USD Tournament on Nov. 22th for their next competition. Lars Gustafson can be reached at
sportseditor@theorion.com or @larsonsports on Twitter.
Sean Crossland Senior Fourth-year water skier for the Wildcats • 17 years of water skiing experience and can ride at a maximum speed of 36 mph. • Third in men’s slalom in the Western Regional tournament. • “Rely on what your body knows: the muscle memory and focusing on the little things, progressing little by little, every mile per hour and every shorter rope length.” Sean Crossland, a Chico State club water skier, sends waves flying as he cuts back inside.
Michael Pingatore Senior Second-year skier for the Wildcats • First competed in regionals at 6 years old and nationals since age 9. • MVP of the Chico State Wildcats in 2013 and 2012. • “What I love about water skiing the most is the flow of it. It’s calm and relaxing.”
Michael Pingatore, a Chico State club water skier, rides across the water.
B2 | Wednesday, oct. 22, 2014 | theorion.com/sports
Wildcat Week of the
Ellie Larronde
Larronde had 17 kills and 13 digs in a win against UC San Diego on Friday, then added 15 kills and 13 more digs in a five-set loss to Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday night. On the season, Larronde has 148 kills to go with 117 digs for the volleyball team.
ELLIE LARRONDE
Sport: Volleyball Position: Outside Hitter
Stat ’Cat
Class: Senior Major: Sociology
John Domogma/ The Orion
Ellie Larronde, a Chico State volleyball player, bumps a ball during a match.
In Case You Missed It Women’s Soccer
110
WEEKEND PERFORMANCE
2-0
(Men’s Soccer)
Five defenders played all 110 minutes in a scoreless overtime tie to Cal State East Bay on Friday.
The Chico State women’s soccer team pulled off not one, but two overtime victories this weekend. Stephanie Vaquerano scored the game-winner in overtime for a 1-0 win against Cal State East Bay on Friday, while Katie Woodrum scored from 12 yards out to win during the second overtime against Cal State Stanislaus on Sunday. The latter of the two wins broke the Warriors’ 17-game home winning streak, and put Chico State at 8-4-2 overall on the season and 5-2-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
60
(Men’s Cross-Country) John Domogma/The Orion
Seven Wildcats finished in the top 60 at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational on Saturday.
Stephanie Vaquerano wins the ball over Cal State East Bay during a match Friday.
5th (Women’s Cross-Country) Former Chico State runner Ayla Granados took fifth at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational, running unattached.
.625 (Volleyball)
Men’s Soccer
Volleyball
Cross-Country
WEEKEND PERFORMANCE
WEEKEND PERFORMANCE
WEEKEND PERFORMANCE
0-1-1 The Chico State men’s soccer team couldn’t pick up a win over the weekend, playing to a scoreless tie against Cal State East Bay on Friday before falling 1-0 to Cal State Stanislaus on Sunday. On Friday, freshman goalie Luke Dennison made two saves for his fifth shutout of the year, but the Wildcats couldn’t score in the 110-minute overtime affair. Chico State was held scoreless again against Stanislaus, despite taking 16 shots in the match. The Warriors pushed across the winning-goal in the 19th minute of play. Chico State is overall 6-6-2 and 1-6-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
1-1
The Chico State women’s volleyball team split a pair of games this weekend, besting UC San Diego in four sets on Friday, then falling in a five-set battle to Cal Poly Pomona Saturday night. Ellie Larronde led the way with 17 kills and 13 digs. Torey Thompson delivered 55 assists in the match as well. Chico State won both the second and third sets to gain the advantage in the match against the Broncos on Saturday. But Pomona powered back with wins of 25-19 and 15-12 to finish out the victory. Larronde again led with 15 kills and 13 digs, while Olivia Mediano had a career-best 21 digs. Chico State is 8-9 overall and 6-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Since 2005, Chico State is 66-29 when playing at Acker Gym, equating to a .625 win percentage at home.
5th/8th Both of Chico State’s men and women’s cross-country teams competed at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational over the weekend. The men’s squad finished with a tie for fourth place with seven runners finishing inside the top 60 competitors. Alex McGuirk was the top Wildcat, taking 21st in the 182-runner field with a time of 24 minutes, 4.3 seconds. Kyle Medina took 26th overall, while Aaron Mora took 43rd. The women’s team, meanwhile, took eighth place with Enriquetta Peinado taking 39th in the 6K race with a time of 21:29.3. Freshman Camila Turati took 46th, while Sadie Gastelum placed 53rd.
-Compiled by Nick Woodard MORE ON THEORION.COM/SPORTS Follow along online for the latest results. For live updates, follow along on Twitter @theorion_sports.
Standings MEN’S SOCCER
Upcoming Games CCAA
Overall
1. Cal Poly Pomona
8-0
14-0-1
2. Cal State L.A.
7-1
11-2
3. Cal State Dominguez Hills
6-2
8-6-1
4-2-2
9-4-2
5. Cal State San Bernardino
4-4
8-4
6. Humboldt State
4-4
8-5-1
7. Cal State Stanislaus
3-3-2
3-4-3
8. San Francisco State
2-5-1
6-6-2
9. Sonoma State
2-5-1
7-7-1
1-5-2
6-5-1
1-6-1
6-6-2
4. UC San Diego
10. Cal State Monterey Bay
11. Chico State
WOMEN’S SOCCER
CCAA
Overall
1. Cal State L.A.
8-0
13-1-1
2. Sonoma State
6-2
13-2
5-2-1
8-4-2
4. Cal State San Bernardino
5-3
12-3
5. Cal Poly Pomona
5-3
10-4
6. Cal State Stanislaus
4-4
11-4
3-3-2
6-5-3
3-5
6-7
2-5-1
7-6-1
2-6
5-8-2
3. Chico State
7. UC San Diego 8. Cal State Monterey Bay 9. San Francisco State 10. Cal State East Bay
VOLLEYBALL
MEN’S SOCCER
Friday, Oct. 24
Friday, Oct. 24
7 P.M.
7 P.M.
VS.
VS.
Cal State Monterey Bay
San Francisco State
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Friday, Oct. 24 4:30 P.M.
CROSS COUNTRY
Saturday, Nov. 8 9 A.M.
VS.
@
San Francisco State
CCAA Championships
theorion.com/sports | Wednesday, oct. 22, 2014 | B3
’Cat Bites
Classic rivalry reheats in playoffs
Wildcat Watch
Nick Woodard
Sports Editor
There’s a good number of Dodger fans in Chico, and I love it. At least this time of year anyways. The rivalry between the boys in blue and good ol’ Giants fans like me is always heated, but never more so than in playoff times. It’s all in good fun, but somebody always gets the last laugh. This year, it was me. At first, though, it was anyone but me. For the majority of this season, times were tough for the orange and black. The Giants were 43-21 at one point in the season, with a huge lead in the National League West Division. Life was good. But a three-game sweep at the hands of the Colorado Rockies sent my team in a downward spiral, and the Dodgers took over for good. Of course I heard the smack talking. Friends eagerly reminded me of the free fall that this team decided to take. My roommate handed me good-natured jeers about the poor — at times pathetic — play of the Giants. I could do nothing but take it in stride and shrug it off with, “I guess it’s not their year.” Then, rock bottom. The Giants fell 17–0 to the Dodgers in early September, and the floodgates were unleashed. All over social media, references to a complete beat down of a seemingly lesser team popped up. I would have tried to make a comeback to these posts, but there was none. The team was dreadful. A short time later, the Dodgers clinched the division. The very next day, a Los Angeles fan spotted me on campus sporting my hat, stopped in his tracks and pivoted to share some words with me. “What happened bro?!” he said. “Division champs baby!” Now that’s all good and well. As a fan, I live for the playful jabs made at each other’s teams; it keeps rivalries alive in every one of us. But for what it’s worth, here’s a little something that my “bro” might have overlooked. History likes to repeat itself. The Dodgers As a fan, I live haven’t been to for the playoff the World Series jabs made at each since 1988. Enother’s teams. It tering the 2014 keeps rivalries alive postseason, the in every one of us. Giants had been twice in the last four years, winning both. So when San Francisco edged Pittsburgh to win the wild-card game and make the playoffs, all bets were off. As I watched the St. Louis Cardinals render Clayton Kershaw, a Giant killer in the regular season, essentially ineffective, I couldn’t help but break into a smirk of a smile. The Giants were wrapping things up against the Washington Nationals, and baseball showed once again its humor. The titan Dodgers had fallen after an incredible run in the regular season. The Giants crept into the playoffs, but summoned up some of that every-other-year magic. All was right in the world. The day after Travis Ishikawa sent San Francisco to the World Series with his game-winning homer, I was back on campus wearing a Giants cap. A man in a Dodgers capped passed me. He noticed my hat, I noticed his, and we both smiled. There was nothing to say but quietly acknowledge the season that was. Throughout the season, through the division collapse, the 17-0 loss and whatever other blunders the Giants managed to make, Dodger fans everywhere rejoiced. I accepted it, embracing the fact that the boys in Dodger blue made a great run at things. But it’s October now. This is our time. Nick Woodard can be reached at
sportseditor@theorion.com or @nwoodard25 on Twitter.
Photo courtesy of Molly Downtain
Molly Downtain, back row, third from right, working the U.S Under-20 Women’s National Team in the Under-20 World Cup, which took place August 2014. Downtain was a former Chico State women’s soccer player.
’Cat finds success with US soccer Chance Keenan
Asst. Sports Editor Molly Downtain, a former captain of the 2011 Chico State women’s soccer team, is coordinating logistics for the United States Soccer Federation’s National under-14 - 21 age teams, after finding a passion for the “behind the scenes” of sports. Chico State coach Kim Sutton saw that Downtain would be successful because she had such great leadership and she was driven. “Molly was one of the best leaders I have ever coached,” Sutton said. “She was a big part of that 2011 final four team.” Before coming to work as the national team’s coordinator in December 2013, she was the volunteer assistant coach and Director of Operations for the Soccer teams at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At this job, Downtain found out that she just didn’t want to be a coach but found a niche in the operations side of the game. She excelled at the behind-the-scenes things that most fans don’t think about, like booking flights and hotels. “The coach out there, Janet Rayfield, was an amazing mentor so I made the decision to pay for my own graduate school and be a volunteer assistant coach,” Downtain said. “While I was doing some coaching, I also did some director of operational stuff for the team and had a great time doing that.”
In preparation for the next season, Downcause she played behind her in goal during tain was in charge of travel accommodathat 2011 season, when the team reached tions for University of Illinois at Urbathe NCAA Final Four. na-Champaign, including hotels, meals and “She was the best leader by inspiring evother accomodations. eryone and making sure we were playing to “At the end of that second season, I sat the best of our abilities,” Furner said. “Her down with Janet and was really open with passion for the sport and for our team was her,” Downcontagious.” tain said. Sutton even “(I) said ‘I went as far as Molly was one of the best leaders don’t want to saying DownI have ever coached. She was a big be a coach, tain was such part of that 2011 Final Four team. I thought I a leader for wanted to be others that Kim Sutton, women’s soccer head coach one since I she sometimes was 12 years forgot to worry old and now about herself. that I am actually doing it I don’t care for “She would do so much of the leading on it.’ And she was like ‘I think you’re doing that team it was hard for her sometimes,” great with operations and I think that is Sutton said. “I would have to remind her something you should persue more.’” that she needs to take care of herself too.” Downtain then met with her advisor at Downtain helped Furner grow as a player the school, who suggested she try someearly in her career while she was starting thing new. as a freshman. This led to Downtain contacting Rayfield “To this day, I reflect back to that 2011 about a job with the United States Soccer season with her and it still makes me work Federation. Rayfield coached for the US that much harder to still make her proud,” women’s national team two cycles ago, so Furner said. “After that season, I knew she she put in a good word. would go on and do some type of coaching Not only is Downtain having an impact or anything to stay close to the game.” on a variety of teams with the United States Youth National teams, she is also Chance Keenan can be reached at still having a postitive effect in Chico. sportseditor@theorion.com or Senior goalie Brianna Furner knows first @chancelikelance on Twitter. hand how great a leader Downtain was be-
Cross-Country
Redshirt Reyes running for future strong feeling that he would be much better effect the future.” at running than playing soccer, which he did Reyes lives with other members of the Staff Writer during his freshman year. team, including Steven MartiWilliam Reyes ran to a third-place finish Towne said he had been recruitnez, Brandon Taylor and Dillon Oct. 4 at the Charles Bowles XC Williamette ing Reyes since he graduated high Breen. Invitational in Salem, Oregon. The thing is, school because of how much talent Breen said that Reyes is all that mark didn’t count for his school. he saw in him. business, very humble and just Reyes, a junior transfer from American “I had recruited Will out of high wants to succeed. River College, is redshirting on this year’s school as well as American River Reyes plans to graduate in men’s cross-country team for Chico State. College, so I’ve been following his three years with a major in While he ran a faster race than all of his progress for quite some time now,” health service administration. teammates, Reyes ran unattached and will do Towne said. “From everything This gives him two full years so for the entire 2014 season. that I’d witnessed in the recruiting after this school year to compete WILL Reyes posted a time of 23 minutes, 54 process, I felt that Will could have as a Wildcat. REYES seconds in the Men’s Cardinal 8K XC, which an immediate impact within our He said he is disappointed that Cross-country would have been a top Chico State time. program.” he doesn’t have any championrunner Gary Towne, the head cross-country coach, At American River College last ship races to look forward to this explained why Reyes is running unattached year, Reyes was able to get second year, but is glad he will in the this season. in both the 5K and 10K at the California State future. “A number of folks who are close to our Community College Championships. Running can get boring, but most of the team are wondering why we’re redshirting Reyes received offers to go to many univertime it is nice and usually relaxing for him, a guy who is obviously in such great shape sities, but after hearing what Towne had to Reyes said. Sometimes he will race with no and whose talent would match up with some offer, scholarship-wise, his mind was set, he one around him and his mind will wander, of the NCAA’s best right now,” Towne said. said. but other times he will have teammates right “Our plan is Reyes next to him to keep him company and share a to hopefully said he has couple laughs. maximize learned a Assistant coach Sean Smith said he is The hardest part is not leting the Will’s time lot from looking forward to what Reyes can bring to bad parts get to your head. You here, and the sport, the team in the future. hopefully including pa“I’m very excited for the next couple of always have to look forward. line him up tience, that years with him,” Smith said. “It takes a very with a young had led to mature runner to be able to hold back in Will Reyes, cross-country runner and develgood habits training and workouts as well as pick the oping roster, in school. He right times to let loose. He continues to imthat should also learned prove at a fast rate due to his patience in prachopefully have us battling for top spots in the that it is as much a mental sport as it is a tice and healthy habits outside of practice.” NCAA in the coming two years.” physically demanding one. The 5 foot 7 inch Reyes said he developed a “I love it,” he said. “The hardest part is not Samuel Wolfson can be reached at passion for the sport during his sophomore letting the bad parts get to your head. You sportseditor@theorion.com or year of high school after realizing he had a always have to look forward and not let it @rtheorion_sports on Twitter. Samuel Wolfson
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B4 | Wednesday, oct. 22, 2014 | theorion.com/sports
Women’s Club Volleyball
Club digging for tournament shot Nick Reddy
Staff Writer
First-year presidents of any organization, be it a country, company or club, have their work cut out for them. Cat Williford, a junior history major, is taking over the top-tier position for the Chico State women’s club volleyball team this year. The outside hitter is one of six returning players for the competitive club team that is trying to reload its roster for another season in the Northern California Collegiate Volleyball League. Despite a last-place finish in league play this spring, the team was able to overcome injuries and finish on a positive note with a .500 record at the National Collegiate Club Volleyball Championships April 3–5 in Reno, Nevada. The team knocked off big-name schools such as the University of Kansas and the University of Southern California at the tournament. “I think we struggled in the beginning but then once the season went on, we got closer and so we had a feel for each other,” said Teresa Young, a sophomore defensive specialist and the club’s treasurer. “Nationals is when we really clicked,” Williford said. “I think we played our best of the season at nationals. Each day we played better and better.” The team is coached by Tommy Gott, a six-year assistant for the Chico State women’s NCAA volleyball team. Williford and Young said they love being guided by the knowledgeable Gott. “(He is) one of the best coaches I’ve ever Chico State’s women’s club team poses had,” said Williford, who has been playing volleyball for eight years. “He’s there for us on and off the court. Tommy knows Reno. League matches are supplemented how to coach girls and coach us well. He’s with a midseason crossover tournament not just a great coach but a great person.” that allows North teams to play teams in “Noththe South ing he division, said was such as Nationals is seriously the best negative,” Cal Poly thing I’ve done in my college Young San Luis career. said. “It Obispo, was all Santa positive Clara Cat Williford, club volleyball player and about University, what we Stanford could do University, better.” UC Berkeley and San Jose State. The team plays matches against fellow The team spends the fall semester with Northern California Collegiate Volleyball informal open gyms, one week of tryouts League North division members Sonoma and many weeks of practice. The team State, UC Davis and University of Nevada, returns to Chico about a week early for
Photo courtesy of Cat Williford
with head coach Tommy Gott. The team has six returning players for 2014. spring semester to train together before jumping into the season, which runs from late January to early April. Tryouts will be held in late October or early November, depending on Gott’s availability to view potential newcomers, Williford said. Because the club is primarily self-funded, players are required to pay approximately $500 out of pocket. The money goes toward travel costs, hotel lodging, tournament entrance fees as well as jersey and equipment costs. This season, the team will fly to the Northern California Collegiate Volleyball League national tournament, which is being held in Kansas City, Missouri. The team flew to Dallas two years ago. “Nationals is seriously the best thing I’ve done in my college career,” Williford
said. “It’s so much fun to see non-California talent.” Both the returners stress that their club requires commitment and is not for the faint of heart. New members need to be ready to devote at least two nights a week to practice and give up most of their weekends during the spring semester for matches. “People need to understand that the club team is not intramurals,” Young said. With a veteran coach, dedicated returners and dozens of new players coming to open gyms, the women’s club volleyball team is in good hands. Nick Reddy can be reached at
sportseditor@twheorion.com or @NickIsReddy on Twitter.
Men’s Club Volleyball
Small squad to regroup, push for nationals Ryan Grady
Staff Writer
With only four returning players, Chico State’s men’s club volleyball team will have some holes to fill. The team’s president, Tanner Ruhlen, said he plans on having a roster size of 12 to 14 total in January. That means over half the team will be new recruits. “We are hoping to have a good pull from the freshman class,” Ruhlen said. “We are also looking at those guys who haven’t been with the program but play with us at open gyms.” The four returners consist of three seniors that have been with the program since they were freshmen. Ruhlen and Zach Lamb will be playing middle blockers and Jake Brown will be counted on as an outside hitter. “It has changed a lot since freshman year,” said Lamb, the team’s senior treasurer. “We lost our coach that we had freshman and sophomore year, so we had to find a new coach last year. We are looking for another coach again this year.” The team competes in the Northern Cal-
Photo courtesy of Claudio Martinez
Jake Brown elevates for a spike over a pair of defenders for Chico State. ifornia Collegiate Volleyball League. In league play, the team matches up against Sonoma State, Sacramento State, UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Despite such little experience on this year’s squad, Ruhlen still has his eyes
set on winning league and getting a high speed going into nationals. This is understandable being that the team was ranked 37 in the nation last year, Ruhlen said. “When we play in nationals, we play in Division 1A,” Ruhlen said. “It’s the
highest division and (we) compete against huge programs. We will see teams like San Diego State and Ohio State.” Fresno State is a target for the ’Cats this year seeing as the Bulldogs have just edged out Chico State two years in a row. “Its important to win out all of our home games,” Ruhlen said. While it’s important to win games, the team also spends time fundraising to make its trips possible. Trips to nationals can be anywhere in the country, with Dallas serving as the most recent host. “We are looking to do the most we can for fundraising,” Ruhlen said. “We want to promote our team with shirts to get support from the community.” The team always strives to win games and promote their name, but an overall goal is to keep the program running smoothly. “Each year everyone always progresses and gets better, which is always good to see,” Lamb said. Ryan Grady can be reached at
sportseditor@twheorion.com or @RyanGrady23 on Twitter.
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The Nebula B6 Sex Column B6 theorion.com/features | Wednesday Oct. 22, 2014 | Vol. 73, Issue 9 |
Anthropology
Photo Courtesy of Brian Brazeal
Brian Brazeal, anthropology professor, navigates the emerald mines in Columbia, Brazil, India and Zambia to bring back knowledge to his classroom at Chico State.
An anthropology professor travels the world, studying the nature of the violent emerald trade Stephanie Schmieding
I
Staff Writer
North magine navigating seven different countries, talking to some America of the top dogs in the global Asia Europe emerald trade and gathering film evidence portraying that danger and excitement abroad. That’s just a page ripped out of the book of Brian Brazeal. “I travel all the time,” the anthropology professor said. “Anthropology is based on fieldwork, so when you study this stuff, you Africa have to go there and live with the people who are doing the things that you’re trying to study.” Brazeal witnessed firsthand the nature of the emerald trade, a global industry that takes the lives of 7,000 people annually, he Australia said. His journey started in Brazil with a wedding gift. Brazeal’s close friend was about to tie the knot, and he heard through the grapevine that a mine was nearby. What better present for two lovers than a chunk of green rock? Gissoo Doroudian/The Orion Nearing the mines, he found a crowded outdoor market for gemstones. Enormous Brian Brazeal traveled the world researching the emerald trade. He started his journey in Brazil and ended in Colombia. heaps of rough emeralds were being pushed back and forth between traders, families and Brazilian citizens. for centuries. community whose ancestors escaped from month before Brazeal arrived in the country “I mean, you go to a jewelry store and you “They were all super nice, but deeply relithe oppression they experienced in Islamic with his family. Knowing the history and exsee black velvet and pretty people and soft gious — scholars and philosophers,” Brazeal countries in the 1600s. This group had been pecting turmoil following Carranza’s death, light,” Brazeal said. “But this was just counsaid. pretending to practice Islamic religion while Brazeal was concerned he and his family try dudes yelling numbers back and forth and They would only deal in emeralds from secretly maintaining their Jewish practices were walking into a bloodbath. pushing stones back and forth, and I’m like, one of the most prosperous mining countries until they migrated to the U.S. and invested “Down in the mines and down in all of the ‘I’m going to study this. I’m going to come in southern Africa: Zambia. Shipping off to in the emerald business. mining areas, I hang out with all of these peoback and figure out what’s going on here.’” Zambia, Brazeal discovered a British mining “There are only a few thousand of them, ple who are just very cold-blooded and people He tried interviewing some of the salescompany that publicly trades the biggest and they’re all cousins,” Brazeal said. “They who have killed a lot of people, and I’m with men, but no mines. have all been cousins for the past 200 years.” my kid,” he said. one would talk. Alongside This Jewish community led Brazeal to his Brazeal and his family were able to mainAnthropology is based on Wanting to the larger, legal final destination: Colombia, a country that tain safety because most were happy about fieldwork, so when you study establishment has been producing emeralds for almost 500 know where the Carranza’s death, which marked the end to emeralds were were a heap of years. the dangers he caused. this stuff, you have to go coming from, smaller, illegalIn 1991, Victor Carranza emerged as the Through the connections Brazeal made there and live with the people ly-run mines. he wandered top dog in Colombia’s emerald trade. Brazeal on his travels, he was quite popular with the who are doing the things that into a mining “There’s a credited him as the glue that held that induspeople in Colombia. He received about 30 office. Reading bunch of little, try together in Columbia. on-camera interviews and hundreds of pages you’re trying to study. the shipping mini-mines Carranza exercised his wealth and power of notes along with filming footage for a new quotes that that people to initiate a special kind of peacekeeping in anthropologic video project. Brian Brazeal, anthropology professor run more or lined the walls, the country, killing anyone who looked like The experience was surreal, he said. Brazeal found less kind of they were going to start trouble. Conse“The emeralds are so nice,” he said. “I’m his next destilegally,” he quently, many also tried to kill Carranza. holding these million dollar stones in my nation — India. said. “And then there are these things called “He was already 75 when someone attacked hands and it’s crazy. Now I’m here, back There, he spent a few months living with illegal miners, who are basically scavenging his motorcade with a bazooka, and he hops teaching class at Chico State.” Jainists, a peace-loving religious minority on the dumpsites of the other mines trying to out and pulls a gun off his dead bodyguard group in India.The Jainist traders had an find anything that they can find.” and is shooting back at the people,” Brazeal Stephanie Schmieding can be reached at eye for high value stuff, especially emeralds, From Zambia, Brazeal went to New York, said. “Shit is real down there.” featureseditor@theorion.com or which they had been bartering in the country where he came into contact with a Jewish Carranza died of cancer in April 2013, a @stephbottt on Twitter.
4. New York
2. India
5.Columbia
South America 1. Brazil
3. Zambia
B6 | Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014 | theorion.com/features
Careers
Debunking Chico State major myths Julie Ramos
Staff Writer
Go to college, declare a major, graduate and get a job. That’s the simple college plan. Choosing a major feels like choosing a career for the rest of your life. With more than 16,000 students and 300 undergraduate and graduate academic programs, it can be challenging to decide which one is the right choice. For some, it comes easy. For others, more difficult. From the declared students to the undeclared students, to the still-swapping and-trying-to-figure-it-out, most students have questioned their own major selection. But, what’s even worse than questioning your major? Other people questioning your major choice. Most majors have been stereotyped. Chico State students have recognized some of the major misconceptions and expressed why those allegations are wrong and why their selected major is important and necessary. Take a look at some of the major expectations versus realities as told by students: Major: Sociology Expectation: “People’s reaction when I tell them that I am sociology major is that I won’t be able to get a job after college,” said Jenna Abrams, a junior. “They think that there isn’t a point of my major and it’s just an easy pick in college.”
Reality: Abrams explained that the problem is that most students do not fully understand what sociology is. “The sociology misconception is you don’t do anything,” Abrams said. “But in reality, it is the study of human interaction. We need it because people are constantly adapting and moving forward, and we need to know how people interact in society and how to perceive it in a new way.” Major: Political science Expectation: Sean Steele, a freshman, said that when he tells people he is a political science major, people think it’s just a lot of work and reading about history. They think he wants to be a social studies teacher and that it’s just a really dull major. Reality: “Political science is really interesting,” Steele said. “It’s necessary because it roots together our past, present and helps us prepare for the future. I hope to go to law school and become a lawyer.” Major: Child development Expectation: Erica Dorado, a senior, said most people react saying, “Oh, that’s so cute.” “They say that I’ll be working at a daycare or in a preschool for my career,” she said. Reality: “I won’t be a nanny or babysitter at some daycare,” Dorado said. “Child development is an important major. Habits and events that occur in childhood affect
Julie Ramos/The Orion
Jenna Abrams, a junior sociology major, explains that people think she won’t be able to get a job after she graduates from Chico because of her major. you as an adult. It is important to understand this through research and professionals.” There are a lot of common misconceptions about majors. Most stem from people not understanding the study or who it affects. However, all majors and the careers
that follow play an important role for others and impact the society that we live in on a daily basis. Julie Ramos can be reached at
featureseditor@theorion.com or @julie_ramoss on Twitter.
Humans of Chico State: Family Annie Paige
Photography Editor Q: “How has your family or upbringing shaped who you are today? A: “My family is hardcore -conservative, religious people that grew up on the other side of the world (West Bank Palestine). Their culture is all about respect. Respect older people and women, so I’m
not running around getting drunk every weekend chasing after girls. At the same time, it gave me a shitty childhood because over there they don’t connect and bond with their children. They just raise them, feed them and then make sure they get through school. But you’re not really close to your kids.” – Hakeem Saleh, a junior business administration major
A: “(My mom and I have the) same major, same adviser, same school, same program. Me and my mom love math and science and my dad and sister like English and all that gross stuff. I wanted to do something in science, but I didn’t know what. My mom told me about the clinical laboratory science program where
I would be in a hospital lab and I was like, ‘This is the perfect job for me.’ My mom loved it and I think I’m going to love it too.’” – Christina McLennon, a senior microbiology major, left Annie Paige can be reached at
photoeditor@theorion.com or @anniepaige3 on Twitter.
Annie Paige/The Orion
A: “They’ve always been very supportive of me. My parents have lived here for most of their lives and went to Chico State. My dad was actually a teacher here and so I was really inspired by the way he really cared about his students. He kind
of brought that home and was always helping me out with school. I want to be a teacher who makes kids feel intelligent and welcomed and safe. I want to be like my dad.” – Maddy Lewis, a freshman liberal studies major
Annie Paige/The Orion
Annie Paige/The Orion
The O-Face: The truth behind women’s power shower
TJ Carter
Staff Writer
The female ejaculation — some consider it a myth. Others see it as their very own Moby Dick, hunting for that elusive creature from the deep, but never capturing it. Well, I can tell you that it is real. No, I’m not a woman, but my wife is. She is able to squirt at least once a month when we are
both enjoying each other sexually. The first time that it happened was really exciting. My wife, Maria, started to go into full-body convulsions and then her body clenched up really tight, releasing a good amount of this clear liquid. It made me even hotter seeing her do this. I heard about it before but never experienced it until then. After the first time, we talked about what had happened, and more importantly, why it happened. At first Maria was embarrassed and thought that I was grossed out because it looked like she had wet the bed in the middle of sex. I told her that it was another
hot moment in our sexual adventures, and that it would be great if she did it more often because it was exciting to see her get off like that. We figured out that for her to be able to come to that satisfying moment, my penis had to hit the right spot on the inside of her vagina. We figured this out by practicing and reading articles about the subject. It’s close to the walls down in the back, and when the tip hits it just right, she squirts. People might think that when a woman squirts, urine is flowing from the bladder because the muscles are relaxed. This is not the case. It is called the Skene’s gland and
when it is stimulated, it will release a large amount of liquid. Roughly 1/3 of women are not able to have this experience because of the physiological placement of the Skene gland. Some women might be embarrassed, like Maria was at first, because they have little knowledge about the subject. It is completely natural and if women are able to squirt, they should not be shy about it, but embrace it as their own money shot. TJ Carter can be reached at
sexcolumnist@theorion.com or @tjdreadhead on Twitter.
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»Behind the Scenes: The pop musicians of Hellogoodbye dished about harsh ocean currents, Blink-182 and hot Chico moms.
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Arts & Entertainment
John Domogma/The Orion
theorion.com/arts | Wednesday oct. 22, 2014 | Vol. 73, Issue 9 |
Craftsman
Q&A
Jeffrey Fox/The Orion
Sofa King outside 1078 Gallery just before its performance Oct. 14.
Sofa King on puppets, funk soup Jeffrey Fox
Staff Writer
The progressive funk musicians of Sofa King discussed rap battles, feminine politics and furniture with The Orion before its show Oct. 14 at 1078 Gallery. The Orion: How did the band develop? Christina Comfort, lead vocals: The band originally started with myself and brothers Brian Jones and Douglas Jones. Brian and I met at Butte College while we were recording arts students in Dave Elke’s class. We started spending a lot of time together and realized we had similar music interests. One day we both looked at each other and were like, “Why aren’t we in a band together?” Alan Holbrook, bassist: We were all spewed out of somebody at some point in time and melted together in this little bowl of funk soup that’s very nice together. The Orion: OK, I have to ask: what’s the story behind the name “Sofa King”? Christina: Everyone has a different version. Brian: We all got really hammered and sat around the dining room table and talked about what our band name should be. At this point, it was just Doug, Christina and I and we had Ryan, Christina’s husband, and there was this silly furniture commercial that had the idea but everyone seems to claim that they came up with it. Joshua Comfort, guitarist and vocalist: I actually came up with it. Brian: Yeah, see. Joshua: When I was in elementary. Christina: See nobody knows for sure. Cat Perez (Christina’s daughter), vocals: I came up with it in the womb. I just came out saying it. The Orion: You mention sharing a message of social justice and love in your music. What is that message specifically? Christina: One of the things we realized in spending time together is that we’re all very passionate about politics, particularly about feminine politics. I was the clinic administrator for the Feminist Women’s Health Center for 10 years, so activism has been a way of life for me. Many of our songs are about social justice and many things we see in the world that need attention. The Orion: Who or what inspires your music? Christina: A common thread between all of us is really that mid-to-late ’70s straight funk sound that you get from Bootsy Collins and George Clinton and Parliament. We’re all big fans of them, but we each have a lot of different music influences that we bring to the band. Our sound is more progressive; it has elements of jazz, rock ’n’ roll, some hip-hop and some neo-soul. The Orion: What’s your songwriting process like? Douglas: I spend an awful lot of time just writing chord progressions out, and then I just take them to the band and we collaborate. Alan: One time Doug was just messing around on his bass and I picked up mine and played along, and from that Christina shows up with two versus and the chorus, just from us messing around. Christina: Another thing that has been really successful for us in songwriting is that we all pile into the bathroom and have shadow puppet rap battles. Alan: Yeah, (my puppet) got shot. Someone busted a cap in mine. The Orion: What’s next for you? Cat: Live animals. Christina: We are actually in the process of recording an album and we’re real excited about that ’cause we’re tracking the album ourselves ... Once we have five tracks, we’re going to cut an EP and we will have an EP release party in Chico. Jeffrey Fox can be reached at
artseditor@theorion.com or @FoxyJeff on Twitter.
MORE ON THEORION.COM/ARTS Watch concert highlights and hear about the band’s favorite songs and stage moments.
John Domogma/The Orion
Evan Kelsay, owner of Apocalypse Guitars, with a custom guitar he’s working on at his Paradise workshop.
Local guitarist crafts custom instruments Jake Hutchison
Staff Writer
While most students are recovering from an all-night homework marathon, 22-year-old Evan Kelsay starts his day at 6:30 a.m., sanding, cutting and repairing guitars. Sawdust clouds the air in his small workshop as he systematically completes each task, never losing his intent expression. Kelsay owns and operates Apocalypse Guitars from his workshop in Paradise, where he was born and raised, and his home in Magalia. The business is about a year old and its latest project includes the production of a line of basses Kelsay will call “The Ulfberht,” in honor of the ancient Viking sword. Photo courtesy of Evan Kelsay At the age of 16, Kelsay began playing a A fret-slotting saw, fretboard and guitar body at Kelsay’s workshop. guitar built and strung for a right-handed player. Being left-handed, this presented a problem for Kelsay, who had to learn how books on it,” Kelsay said. said. And he can turn them out faster than to play “backward.” This was the beginning of Apocalypse most custom shops. While left-handed guitars are not unGuitars, a small custom guitar and bass “I don’t think I would expand to Gibsoncommon, they are often limited to specific service shop created by Kelsay to cater to sized production ... because I can produce models. So what does a guitarist do when other players’ specific needs. a couple guitars in about a month, which he can’t find the ideal instrument? Kelsay has also become an electrician in is much faster than most custom shops,” If that guitarist is Kelsay, it’s simple: he terms of wiring guitars and pickups since he said. “Usually they have year-long builds one. the business’ waiting lists.” Just over inception. But one of most important aspects of a year ago, “I do all the Kelsay’s business is the ability he has I can produce a couple Kelsay saudering, to communicate with customers on a guitars in about a month, finished installing the personal level. which is much faster than crafting his hardware, “I’ll go and talk to them to figure out first guitar everything,” what they want, which not a lot of custom most custom shops. for himself he said. shops do,” he said. “I know of one in based on his “That’s actuAustralia (that does that), but none around Evan Kelsay, own specs ally where I here.” owner of Apocalypse Guitars — a “lefty” started out Kelsay said he has every intention to guitar he — electronics expand his budding business to greater still plays — because heights while maintaining the feel and and tinkers with. Working from his grandI wanted to switch the pickups in my customer service found at local shops. father’s shed, he has built four custom Ibanez. That’s how I taught myself to do “Once there is a market for me to guitars for local musicians and repaired all that stuff.” expand, I’ll do it,” he said. “(I hope) to be around 20. Kelsay is dedicated to using environregarded as a quality instrument maker “I do all kinds of repairs,” he said. “I mentally-conscious materials. and be able to continue to do this as a have a 12-string acoustic Epiphone I had “I use Sapelewood, which is a plantaprofession.” to put the neck back on. It was run over by tion-grown tree in West Africa,” he said. a car.” “It’s very sustainable and consistent. The Jake Hutchison can be reached at Building his first guitar was no easy trees are all clones of each other, so it has artseditor@theorion.com or task. He had done mild repairs but nothing consistency and stiffness and is sustain@poserpunk on Twitter. close to building an entire guitar from able. No deforestation.” MORE ON THEORION.COM/ARTS Check scratch. The custom guitars at Apocalypse out a video of Kelsay working in his “I watched countless hours of videos Guitars are comparable in quality to those shop and discussing his process. about building guitars and read a bunch of offered by major guitar companies, Kelsay
22 R 23 F 24
Calendar
W
CONCERT
FILM
The 10th annual FOCUS Film Festival will feature screenings of films embracing diversity and inclusion throughout the weekend, beginning with “The Way Bobby Sees It.” Photo by WFUV via Flickr
JMax Productions presents progressive bluegrass band Trampled by Turtles and special guest Goodnight, Texas. Audiences can look forward to fast-paced numbers as well as moving ballads. WHERE: EL REY THEATRE TIME: 8 P.M. PRICE: $25
Photo courtesy of Nnamdi Johnson-Kanu
WHERE: VARIOUS WHEN: OCT. 23 6:30 P.M. – OCT. 25 8:30 P.M. PRICE: FREE
CONCERT
Photo courtesy of Chico State
A memorial concert honoring deceased student Aaron Drange will feature musical and spoken tributes from Chico State ensembles, including A Cappella Choir and Jazz X-Press, as well as members of the Drange family, respectively. WHERE: HARLEN ADAMS THEATRE TIME: 7:30 P.M. PRICE: FREE
S
25
CONCERT
Chico State’s School of the Arts presents Jazz X-Press’ fall concert, “Tricks & Treats.” The performance will feature two world-class guest musicians: Paul Romaine on drums and Mark Patterson on trombone.
John Domogma/The Orion
WHERE: HARLEN ADAMS THEATRE TIME: 7:30 P.M. PRICE: $6
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