The Orion Vol. 74, Issue 10

Page 1

Chico State’s Independent Student News Source since 1975 OPINION:

NEWS »Environment: Annual conference teaches students how to be sustainable. A3 SPORTS »Rugby: ’Cats give their take on what it’s like being an athlete in their sport. B3

»Coming out: Columnist Joseph Rogers discusses what to do and what not to do when a person comes out. A6

FEATURES »Katie Booth: Chico State alumna discusses her website and Hollywood plans. B5 Trevor Moore/The Orion

ARTS »Chicoachella: Delta Psi Delta hosts a music festival comprised of all Chico artists. B7

Theorion.com | Wednesday, April 1, 2015 | Vol. 74, Issue 10 | First copy free, additional copies 50¢

Student struck, killed by car

CHAVEZ REVELRY HOLIDAY

Students take advantage of the day off of school on Tuesday to have some fun and set up an inflatable waterslide in front of a house on Third and Ivy streets.

21-year-old was hit by SUV at Seventh and Hazel streets Saturday Dylan DeWit

Staff Writer

Chico State student Nickolas Klein died Saturday night after being struck by an SUV near the intersection of West Seventh and Hazel streets. Klein was crossing Seventh Street northbound when he was hit by a Chevy TrailBlazer headed east, according to police reports. The SUV then hit two parked cares. Witnesses say the car was traveling quickly when it made contact NICKOLAS with Klein. KLEIN Klein, 21, was a meJunior mechanical engineering major chanical engineering major and mathematics minor at Chico State. In a campus notice released by the Chico State public affairs office, Gregory Watkins, a mechanical engineering profes-

» please see ACCIDENT A3

GSEC raises funds for victim of assault Michael McClurg

Staff Writer

The local and campus communities are raising money to support the recovery of Raelynn Vincent, a student who was assaulted by an unknown assailant and suffered a broken jaw early on the morning of March 7. On March 24, the Gender and Sexuality Equity Center tabled near Bell Memorial Union, where they told Vincent’s story RAELYNN VINCENT and accepted donaSenior tions, raising $63. communication The group wanted to studies major bring awareness to gender-based harassment, or catcalling, which reportedly preceded Vincent’s assault. The GSEC charity event added additional support to the $1605 that has been raised toward Vincent’s medical bills through a GoFundMe Web page. “It was really sweet of GSEC to reach out

» please see ASSAULT | A3

George Johnston/The Orion

WEEKEND WRAP-UP

Clockwise from top left: Attendees celebrate on Saturday at the first Chicoachella concert. Emergency personnel transport a man to the hospital on Saturday. Police responders at the scene of a crash near the intersection of Seventh and Hazel streets, where a student was struck and killed by an SUV. Greeks at the Lambda Chi Alpha and Sigma Kappa exchange on Friday. Demonstrators protests studnets using the holiday to party rather than a moment to reflect on Chavez’s legacy.

George Johnston/The Orion

Caio Calado/The Orion

Caio Calado/The Orion

Trevor Ryan/The Orion

Zach Aucella/The Orion

Trevor Ryan/The Orion

Cesar Chavez weekend was a mix of partying, tragedy and protest Whitney Urmann

News Editor

Despite alternative event efforts hosted by campus groups to honor Cesar Chavez this weekend, Chico State students continued the trend of throwing parties. The university held three events to honor Cesar Chavez for his achievements as a Latino civil rights activist and to inform the community of his everlasting work. The events on campus are also meant to inform students about who Chavez was and what he did for his community and the rights of laborers. “I have no idea who Cesar Chavez is,” said Meg Wigmore, a nursing major. According to the flier for the Cesar Chavez rally, the office of diversity and inclusion wanted to provide an opportunity for a respectful alternative to celebrating the holiday. The rally was held on campus on March 25 and led by members of the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center. On March 26, the CCLC hosted an art gallery display that showcased art done by Chico State students and community members that encompassed all that Chavez represented. Submitters of the art also explained what Chavez’s legacy as an activist meant to them. On Monday night, University Housing and Food Services held a free viewing for all students of the 2014 movie “Cesar Chavez” which documents Chavez’s life as an agricultural laborer and a critical activist for civil rights in the Latino community.

On the Tuesday holiday students were offered a volunteer opportunity around Chico to give back and honor Chavez respectfully. Those who volunteered were given a lunch and a raffle opportunity following their hours of service at various locations in Chico such as the animal shelter and the Fire Department. In the past, students have used the holiday as an opportunity to party. Typically, students can be seen wearing sombreros and ponchos, in an attempt to appropriate the culture that Chavez represented. The holiday weekend usually see a higher numbers of crimes, underage drinking and DUIs than normal weekends in Chico. According to the police log, there were a total of 20 arrests between Friday night and Sunday afternoon. Three of those were verified by the department as Chico State students. Saturday night there was a car accident that resulted in the death of Nickolas Klein, a 21-year-old mechanical engineering major. An SUV collided with Klein as he was crossing the street and then hit two parked cars. The incident was the only major accident to occur during the weekend but there were several calls for alcohol overdoses around downtown Chico, according to police scanner traffic. Whitney Urmann can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or

ARREST LOG

from March 27-29

FRIDAY

3/27

5 arrests for previous warrants 1 arrest for shop lifting

1 arrest for possession of controlled substance

SATURDAY

3/28

2 arrests for DUI, Alcohol

1 arrest for possession of controlled substance 1 arrest for disorderly conduct (Chico State student) 1 arrest for battery (Chico State student)

SUNDAY

3/29

6 arrests for disorderly conduct, alcohol (1 Chico State, 1 Butte student) 1 arrest for indecent exploser 1 arrest for domestic battery

@WUrmann on Twitter.

Police department struggles to find qualified candidates Michael Arias

Staff Writer

Along with fighting crime and protecting the public, the Chico Police Department is also dealing with the fact that it is losing more officers than it is gaining. Because the limited amount of qualified police candidates, the department remains underemployed, said Chris Constantin, assistant city manager. “A lot of people going into the academy can’t even make it past the written test,” Constantin said. With an average passing rate of 50 percent, the academy program spends 23 weeks on 957 hours of instruction, 14 hours of scenario tests, several written tests and

a total of $4,171 for all fees and materials. truth, and that is something we don’t al“It’s very intensive,” said low,” Maloney said. “There is Mike Maloney, director of pubno room for liars in the Police lic safety education and trainDepartment.” ing at Butte College. “In order Most of those who graduate to succeed, you have to be fully from the Butte College Law Encommitted to the academy and forcement Academy look to the nothing else.” Chico Police Department for In fall 2014, the program employment. started with 49 candidates and Since July 2013, the Police Degraduated only 33. Of those that partment has lost 21 officers and began in the program, 11 failed, gained only 15, Constantin said. CHRIS four left on personal and finanAccording to the the human CONSTANTIN cial reasons,and one was disresources department, Chico Assistant city missed for disciplinary reasons, currently employs 60 police ofmanager he said. ficers, which comes in at less “We run into some ethical than the budgeted allowance reissues with individuals not telling the served for 67 police personnel.

Index Corrections

App A2

Opinion

A6

Features

B5

Sex Column A&E

B6

Weather

A2

Sports

B1

Police Blotter

A4

Directory

B3

B7

Our brand new app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

Junior communication design major Shaye Quam said, “With all the violence going on recently, I feel like more police officers would make people feel a lot safer.” In attempt to increase the amount of police, tChico and the Police Department have recently swayed from the traditional hiring process. They are now working on hiring more qualified officers more quickly than before, Constantin said. “We have to compete with other police departments to get the good, qualified officers first,” he said. Michael Arias can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or

@mikey_arias on Twitter.

Weather Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 47% Wind: 13 mph

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