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Theorion.com | Wednesday, May 13, 2015 | Vol. 74, Issue 16 | First copy free, additional copies 50¢
Vigil Nepal FOR
GE rules soon to require C to pass Michael McClurg
Staff Writer
Beginning with the fall semester of 2016, a new policy will go into effect which will change the minimum passing grade for certain general education classes from a C-minus to a C. The change applies systemwide at the California State University level with Executive Order 1100, which was approved on Feb. 16. The new requirements apply to the group A general education breadth requirements, said Stephanie Thara, a Chico State public affairs spokeswoman. “By receiving a C or better in English, math, critical thinking and quantitative reasoning, we know that our students are leaving those core courses with the knowledge and skills needed to academically succeed in the rest of their classes,” Thara said. Some students are supportive of the new requirement. “It’s raising the bar in terms of what is expected from students here at Chico State,” said Angelica Rodriguez, a first-year geology major. One of the reasons behind the change is to create consistency between four-year institutions and two-year junior colleges. “Prior to the change, the C requirement only applied to transfer students,” Thara said. NICK One of the biggest MADDEN Junior computer impacts this policy will have is starting in fall animation and game development major 2016, all students who receive a C-minus in a general education class will be forced to repeat the class in order to earn a C or higher. “I already took all my area A general education classes and they were easy to pass,” said Nick Madden, a junior computer animation and game development major. “Having to take a class over again is absolutely ridiculous. This school needs to stop focusing so much on GE and more on helping students find their correct majors.” However, the requirement applies to students enrolling in fall 2016 who have not previously been enrolled in a CSU or community college. Students who achieved a C-minus grade prior to the policy taking effect will not have to repeat courses. First-year business major Sarah Klucznik said this seems like another way for the university to make money and continue to shrink the four-year graduation average. “We are paying all this money already for classes we don’t want but have to take, especially if they aren’t major classes,” Klucznik said. “I think it’s a way to keep students here and make them retake classes for more money.” Michael McClurg be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or
@michaelmcclurg on Twitter.
7.8 MAGNITUDE 8,000 KILLED $8,000 RAISED Brittany McClintock/The Orion
Chico State junior Sylvia Dorghalli places her candle to spell out Nepal outside of Siskiyou Hall at an event to honor the victims of the earthquake.
Faculty and students, some who are natives of Nepal, gather to honor victims of the massive earthquake Brittany McClintock
Staff Writer
Following a devasting 7.8 magnitudeearthquake in Nepal that took the lives of an estimated 8,000 people on April 25, several Chico State professors hosted an event to raise awareness on May 6 in Siskiyou Hall. Former Peace Corps volunteer and Chico State professor Lee Altier planned the event to give the Chico community an opportunity to support relief efforts. In attendance LEE were students, ALTIER faculty and family Faculty member, members of the College of Agriculture speakers. Sanjay Dev, a Nepal native, shared stories of the people who suffered during the quake. Many ancient buildings were destroyed in the earthquake, but everyone’s first reaction was to save those who were trapped, he said. “They can take away the beautiful
structures,” Dev said. “But they can’t take away the heart of Nepal.” The buildings in Nepal were not built with support. They are strictly made from crushed stones and brick, so a small earthquake has the potential to knock them down. Badri Ghimire is also a native of Nepal. Ghimire spoke about his village and it being at the epicenter of the quake. Everything in the village was destroyed. When Ghimire heard of the quake, he was worried for his family that was still there, he said. “My whole family survived,” Ghimire said. “It was God’s grace, I believe.” Colleen Hatfield, a biological science professor, presented ways to help Nepal through donation of money, time and research. One of the agencies that Hatfield promoted was Dev’s own GoFundMe. Dev’s site, Save My Nepal, has raised over $8,000 already. The most difficult thing about the rescue aid is that Nepal has many hills and mountains which makes it hard to land
helicopters. Nepal continued having aftershocks weeks after the original earthquake. Those ranged from 4.0 to 5.0 in magnitude and made it impossible for any rescue aid to land. And yet another tremor was reported on Tuesday morning, resulting in the deaths of dozens more people. Mount Everest, the tallest mountain Badri Ghimire, a native of Nepal in the world, had an avalanche caused by the earthquake, killing 17 and injuring 37. The event concluded with a candlelit vigil where everyone in attendance circled up and praised “Jai Nepal” while placing their candles to spell out Nepal. Hatfield fears that people are beginning to foget the carnage in Nepal b ecause the news is no longer covering it, she said. “Let’s not forget them.” Hatfield said.
My whole family survived. It was God’s grace, I believe.
Brittany McClintock can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or
@theorion_newson Twitter.
A.S. president plans new programs to leave her mark Kristina Martinez
Staff Writer
As Taylor Herren’s time as the Associated Students president comes to an end, it’s Deanna Jarquin’s time to step into the leadership role. Herren still plans to work in leadership, but out of A.S. Government affairs. Jarquin will take on Herren’s role of advocating for students at the university level. Jarquin plans to work on alternatives to notorious party weekends in Chico through weekend programming. Jarquin will also be working with the Town and Gown Committee, where she will act as the student voice for the community. Jarquin wants to focus on who is running events, where resources are coming from and what the vision is in order to help create activities that will continue in the future. Herren was helpful in starting
these events, Jarquin said. to seeing the student voice being incorpo“Something I’m really blessed with is rated at different levels. that Taylor’s done a lot of groundwork for “Deanna gets to move forward with Wildme,” Jarquin said. “So when it comes to cat Way,” Herren said. “She gets to move the alternative weekends, when forward with student Academic it comes to talking about diverSenate ,and she gets to move sity, when it comes to working forward with Town and Gown, with the city, what I’m really which, when I came into my job, doing is the sustainability and were basically nonexistent.” institutionalization of those The Town and Gown Commitprograms.” tee is the officially recognized A big issue Jarquin plans to coalition comprised of repretouch on is advocating for disentatives of Butte College, versity at the university level Chico State and the city. The A.S. through the incorporation of president and vice president of DEANNA new programs. student affairs from both camJARQUIN Starting a great program puses, administrators, city staff Associated students takes time, even years, and aland City Council members all president though Jarquin feels she may sit on the board. not be A.S. president while The group serves as a way to these programs continue to flourish and focus specifically on the issues, initiatives become reoccurring, she looks forward and ideas that involve the university and
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downtown, Herren said. “That’s where a lot of that movement happened,” Jarquin said. Herren said she hopes to see more involvement and recognition as a group for the Student Academic Senate during Jarquin’s time as president, as well as continued efforts to help plans for the Wildcat statue, another project that will fall into Jarquin’s lap. Another important issue Jarquin plans to tackle is sexual assault. Jarquin wants to look into how sexual consent is being communicated on campus, the training provided to students and increasing bystander workshops put on for Greeks by making the workshops more interactive. “If you look back, a lot of people have a project, and they do it successfully for a year,” Herren said. “But then it doesn’t carry on because how does it? If you don’t
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