Chico State’s Independent Student News Source since 1975 FEATURES:
NEWS: »Construction: Students work to take the top places in competition. A3 OPINION: »Technology: Columnist wants us to put down our phones and listen. A6
»Bodybuilding: A Chico State student discusses his life as a bodybuilder and his philosophy on nutrition. B5
SPORTS: »Rail Jam: Coverage of the first Chico snowboarding and skiing competition. B3 Photo courtesy Zach Batchelder
ARTS: »Music: Zap Mama and Antibalas bring eclectic show to Laxson Auditorium. B7
Theorion.com | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 | Vol. 74, Issue 6 | First copy free, additional copies 50¢
Council agrees to annex ‘islands’
INVESTIGATION
Unincorporated areas Chapmantown, Mulberry to join Chico William Rein
Staff Writer
To the distress of some residents, the unincorporated neighborhoods of Chapmantown and Mulberry will become part of Chico within five years. The City Council voted in favor of an annexation agreement with the Local Agency Formation Commission on Feb. 17. In a 5-2 vote, it was determined that It’s unfair that the communities of we have no one Chapmantown and to fight for us. Mulberry would be annexed into Chico Wanda Story, over the course of five Chapmantown years. The decision had previously been resident delayed, finally coming to a vote since becoming a topic of concern in the 1990s. Previously, the two pocket neighborhoods were under Butte County supervision with no representation in Chico and no ability to vote in council elections. The decision to annex will lead to increased taxes, Chico police and fire jurisdiction and sewer connections within the neighborhoods, as well as probable sidewalk installation. The changes that will come about as a result of joining the city have been the subject of debate and caused controversy in the past, particularly about unauthorized sewer connections. Many Chapmantown residents attended the council meeting to voice their opinions before the decision. A back-and-forth exists between the city and the Local Agency Formation Commission concerning who is to blame for unauthorized sewer connections, said Ron Angle, a longtime Chapmantown resident. He advocates moving past assigning blame and focusing on what the real impact on the neighborhoods would be. Though most unincorporated community inhabitants in attendance argued against the combining of Chico and their neighborhoods, Larry Wahl, member of the Butte County Board of Supervisors representing District 2, supported the agreement. “It is the logical thing, the common sense thing and the right thing to do,” Wahl said. The sewer system in the neighborhoods is a controversial point of discussion. There is a concern that nitrate secretion is contaminating the groundwater in the communities, and 62 unauthorized connections have been established, primarily in the county islands. Ten of these are contiguous to the city limits, increasing the incentive for annexation. Some of the connections took place because the city didn’t follow the procedures it should have, said Mark Wolfe, director of Community Development. Mayor Mark Sorensen speculated that the cost of the sewer connections through the commission would’ve been roughly $58,000 in 2013, with Wolfe adding the price might be “$150,000 before it’s all said and done.” Chapmantown resident Wanda Story believes that money through taxes is the reason for the annexation and that individual voices are not being heard, she said. “LAFCO and the city lied to us by saying we didn’t have to annex to use the sewers,” Story said. “It’s unfair that we have no one to fight for us.” Tami Ritter, city councilwoman, said she empathizes with the neighborhood inhabitants, noting that they have no one to speak for or represent them. “But you do have a supervisor and a mayor,” Ritter said. “And with this inevitable annexation, you will have seven more people that can represent your interests.” William Rein can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or
Club fuming after alleged $10,000 theft Student president of finance group under investigation for stealing from account mer vice president of the club. “But we were under the impression that Neal told him to — Neal didn’t. He (Saunders) was misinforming us.” Saunders closed the club’s investment account, valued at $9882.64, and opened a new account with Bank of America to deposit the money. In a statement to University Police, Bordenave reports: “At no time did I have any knowledge that Saunders had opened a Bank of America account and was stealing club funds.” The Finance Club typically operates on a budget ranging from $750 to $1200 per semester, Bordenave said. After collecting the investment account, club expenditures increased to almost $9000, which resulted in spending the entirety of the money, Saunders said. The club meeting’s weekly food
Jenice Tupolo
Staff Writer
The Finance Club experienced a massive financial loss when its Stifel Nicolaus investment account of almost $10,000 was closed by its president, John Saunders. Originally established by a Chico State faculty member in the 1990s, the investment account was meant to give students real-life experience in making stock transactions and analyzing them. But financial discrepancies hadn’t occurred until the election of a new club president last year. Saunders, a 44-year-old business administration major, won the presidency in the spring of 2014. During the elections, he provided cake for attendees and ran on a platform of “More food, more fun and more party-like type stuff,” Saunders said. The Finance Club elections also served as an extra credit opportunity for students, resulting in a much larger turnout than usual. Saunders served as a messenger for information between the adviser, Chico State faculty member Neal Bordenave, and the club. “We knew he had closed the account,” said Matt Morgan, for-
menu escalated from $5 Little Caesar’s pizzas to Round Table and a la carte lasagnas from Italian Cottage. “It was really bad when he started,” Morgan said. “He’d say he wanted to do something, spend money on it and then not follow up to it. Him having access to the account — he had no self-control over spending it.” In the fall 2014 presidency transition meeting, Saunders was approached by club officials and when questioned about club funds and financial accounts, he ran out of the room, Morgan said. The case is currently an open investigation with the University Police and is pending for review from the Butte County District Attorney’s office. “The (former) club president should be criminally prosecuted,” Bordenave said. “It would be a travesty to see Saunders shake Dr. Zingg’s hand on graduation day.” Jenice Tupolo can be reached at
newseditor@theorion.com or @JayTupolo on Twitter.
Drought spurs rigorous conservation efforts Chico State revamps practices, equipment to minimize water use Kristina Martinez
Staff Writer
Chico State has responded to California’s ever-worsening drought by finding innovative ways to cut back on water consumption on campus and at the University Farm. Plumbing is one of the areas where water can be conserved, such as by replacing earlier faucet aerators with new ones that use only half the amount of water as before, said Bob Francis, lead plumber for Facilities Management and Services. New toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush compared to older ones, which used 4.5
Catalina Friz/The Orion
Chico State’s University Farm dries up during worsening drought conditions. gallons per flush. Newer urinals being installed are either waterless or only use one pint of water, whereas previously they used a gallon of water or more. Urinals in the Aymer J. Hamilton Building and Laxson Auditorium that flushed
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every three to four minutes, 24 hours a day, were replaced with ones that use water only when used or flushed, Francis said.
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EVENT
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How well do you know Chico State? Go online for a quick quiz and a video of students answering questions about their school. theorion.com/features
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Gabriela Monteiro, an international student from Brazil, dances the samba during Carnabear at Madison Bear Garden. MORE ON THEORION.COM Check out a photo gallery and story on this Brazilian event.
NEWS BRIEFS
Chico man arrested after downtown car chase A 30-year-old Chico resident is behind bars accused of initiating a drunken car chase through downtown Chico on Wednesday night. The chase began around 9:45 p.m. when Police Officer Jack Ditty attempted to pull the man over for a vehicle code violation. He agreed to pull over, but began to speed off again. In custody is Sean Reardon. “It was just a matter of about a minute,” said Officer Rob Sheridan of the Chico Police Department. “It did not last very long.” According to police: During the chase, the driver hit two vehicles, a black Lexus on Salem Street and another parked car near Normal Street. Once the driver pulled over and got out of the vehicle, he got on the ground as ordered, but then got up again, resisting arrest. As other officers arrived, he became uncooperative and even tore the pocket off of one officer’s uniform. The driver was hit with a baton several times in the legs before he was arrested and taken into custody. He now faces the following charges: Recklessly evading a police officer, hit and run, resisting arrest, driving with a suspended license, driving under the influence, violation of probation, felony warrant for possession of a firearm by a felon with priors, and misdemeanor warrant for DUI. -Courtney Weaver
Stabbing homicide victim identified, suspect at large Oroville resident Joel Eldridge was stabbed and transported to Enloe Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead on Feb. 19. Just before 8 a.m., calls to 911 reported a fight on Mulberry Street, but when police arrived no one was at the scene. Police then received a phone call from a woman who was taking Eldridge to the hospital. Police and medics met the woman at West Second Avenue and moved Eldridge by ambulance to Enloe Medical Center. Eldridge’s death is being treated as a homicide by police and detectives and the investigation is ongoing. People of interest in the investigation included Brandy Hernandez, who was contacted and is no longer a suspect, and Michael Anderson from Chico, who is still a remaining suspect and is considered armed and danger-
CORRECTIONS
ous. Anderson’s whereabouts are currently unknown. -Brianne McEvoy
Sorority raises $10,000 at Red Dress Gala event Chico’s State sorority Alpha Phi hosted a Red Dress Gala Friday night and raised over $10,000 for its philanthropy, Women’s Heart Health. The event was held at the Chico Elks Lodge where more than 375 guests filled the room and the active members of Alpha Phi were asked to wear red dresses. The sorority hired a party-planning team that put up casino tables to entertain the guests. There was also a silent auction with more then 50 baskets with donations from Trucker, Sierra Nevada Brewery, Napa Wine Baskets and from the parents of the sorority members. The Elks Lodge provided food and drinks for the guests and donated 50 cents to the sorority for every drink that was purchased. The sorority also had desserts donated from Denine’s Cupcakes located in downtown Chico. Susan Peterson, the interim director of nursing at American River College, made an appearance at the event and spoke to the guests about symptoms, statistics and how to prevent heart disease. “Every single Alpha Phi chapter has held this event… it’s a national event that all of the other chapters put on to help raise money for Women’s Heart Health,” said Rachael Kapp, Alpha Phi’s president. The group also received help from Sigma Pi members Myles Amitin and Mikey Halliday, the emceesfor the night who led the live auctions. “After the event is over and the money is collected, Alpha Phi donates 30 percent of the earnings to the Enloe Cardiac Unit,” said Emilia Spittler, chairman of the gala. Alpha Phi has held this event annually for many years and it has been its most successful philanthropic event. -Katherine Feaster
5k race brings awareness to human trafficking Many in the Chico community are looking forward to running or walking in the Aruna 5k, a race that raises awarenes and money for those who are being trafficked in different parts of Asia. The race will take place at 8 a.m. on Sat-
urday at Lower Bidwell Park by the softball fields. Those who are interested can sign up and learn more at arunaproject.com. Human trafficking is a problem across the world and this 5k event aims to help raise awareness and inform people about how widespread it has become and how badly victims are affected by it. The word Aruna means “bright morning sun” in Hindi. Those involved in the fundraiser are taking steps to help victims of human trafficking reach freedom and see the morning sun again. “Last year, we had 550 runners for our first ever Aruna 5k and helped rescue and rehabilitate these victims. Please register and surrender your Saturday morning to run or walk to help take action for those who cannot,” said Jordan Fastenau, a Chico resident who participated in last year’s run. -Hannah Suzuki
Faculty to demonstrate for Adjunct Walkout Day Chico State part-time faculty members will be tabling to express grievances concerning low salary, poor working conditions, job insecurity and large workloads relative to tenure-track faculty outside of Glenn Hall on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The demonstration is in response to an open letter released by the California Faculty Association Lecturer’s Council, which represents over 23,000 California employees, officially announcing National Adjunct Walkout Day. The statement calls for adjunct, tenured and tenure-track faculty to use the day to take part in symbolic gestures to show solidarity for contingent instructors, coaches, librarians and counselors alike. Chico State faculty members have decided to conduct informative tabling to properly adhere to collective bargaining agreements that bar the majority of contingent faculty from an actual walkout protest. According to a report by the American Association of University Professors, 76.4 percent of U.S. faculty across all institutional types are adjunct professors. Associate vice presidents of the CFA, Jonathan Karpf and Leslie Bryan, write, “The CFA Lecturers’ Council acknowledges that within many community colleges and universities, adjunct faculty constitute an unrepresented or under-represented majority, lacking rights, representation and recourse.” -Dylan de Wit
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The North State Symphony gives a beautiful performance. Check out the review and photo gallery at theorion.com. theorion.com/arts
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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2015
Students at low risk during flu season Michael Mcclurg
Staff Writer
February is the heart of flu season, but Chico State students tend to not place much emphasis on getting the annual shot promoted by health care agencies and providers. Although getting the shot is an important precaution and the vaccination can lower chances of contracting influenza, the risk is very low for healthy young adults, said Lyndall Ellingson, professor of health and community services. “College students are at their peak biological period,” she said. “College-age people are not going to die of the flu.” The flu is notoriously unpredictable, so guessing the correct strain each year is tough. More than 2,000 flu shots were given last semester through campus clinics, but this season’s shot is said to not be as effective as previous years. “It will still help prevent serious complications, including death, in people who have the vaccine and still contract influenza,” said Jill Cannaday, nursing supervisor at the Student Health Center. The goal of any vaccine is to immunize 85 percent of people, thus protecting the rest of the population. However, the flu is more difficult to control than other illnesses. “Influenza vaccines are difficult to produce at a high level of efficacy,” Ellingson said. “There are many strains and those strains can shift. One of the reasons it’s difficult to control influenza is because there is low perceived risk among healthy individuals.” Jake Tubbs, a mechanical engineering major, thinks young people don’t need to worry about the flu. “I don’t really take extra precautions,” Tubbs said. “Just the same ones I always do, like washing my hands regularly and trying to avoid contact with sick people. I don’t think the majority of students are overly concerned about it.” Health care professionals still have a long way to go to making the flu vaccine more effective. “The CDC reported that the 2014-2015 vaccine has low effectiveness,” Ellingson said. “In fact, I got the vaccine, and I got influenza.” Michael Mcclurg can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or
Brittany McClintock/The Orion
Staff and faculty members Juni Banerjee-Stevens, left, Maurice Bryan, Prisca Ngondo, Pedro Douglas and Tracy Butts discuss the challenges they face as minorities on Chico State’s campus.
Forum tackles diversity Minority faculty and staff discuss place on majority-white campus Brittany McClintock
Staff Writer
The spring 2015 Conversations on Diversity and Inclusion series held its first discussion on Feb. 18 and focused on the theme of “Being Black in the Ivory Tower.” Chico State is a predominately white campus with African Americans only making up about 2 percent of the students, faculty and staff on campus. Four different staff and faculty members with doctorates fielded questions from the discussion’s facilitator, English professor Tracy Butts, and the audience. The first topic highlighted was the panel members’ journeys to earn their Ph.D.s. All four kept the conversation light and joked about how long it took, all the school transfers that were required and what surprised them most about the lengthy process. The second question dove right into the challenges they felt they have faced and are still facing being a part of a minority. Pedro Douglas, vice president for Stu-
dent Affairs, discussed how his ideas were arriving to work, she discovered a swasdifferent from his co-workers because tika had been carved into her office door. of the way he was raised. He felt that if “Yes, I was shocked,” Ngondo said. “But he wanted something to change in the I prepared myself for it. It was just a matworkplace, he would have to almost make ter of when.” it seem like it was someone else’s idea After some more discussion, it was the rather than his own, he said. audience’s turn to start asking questions. Juni Banerjee-Stevens, a counselor One audience member asked why the with the Counseling and Wellness Center, administration hasn’t started recruiting talked about her time minority students. at a previous school If Chico State were Having a diverse and how she felt she to recruit, there would school benefits was hired centrally need to be some steps everyone, not just for her diversity and taken first, Douglas the black students. because she could said. Chico State needs relate to students to be a place where peoof different backple will want to come. Pedro Douglas, Vice grounds. President of Student Affairs Once they are here, Originally from there needs to be people Zimbabwe, journalavailable to help them ism professor Prisca feel comfortable. Ngondo didn’t really have a sense of “Having a diverse school benefits evbeing outside the majority until coming to eryone,” Douglas said, “not just the black America, she said. students.” “I became aware of my blackness when The spring 2015 Conversations on I moved to the states,” Ngondo said. “I was Diversity and Inclusion series will host like, ‘Oh, that’s a thing.’” four more discussions this semester on She didn’t think being black was a Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m in Bell challenge for her, but rather believed her Memorial Union 210. bigger challenge was being female, she said. Brittany McClintock can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or However, in November, Ngondo was the victim of a hate crime. One morning upon @b_mcclintock17 on Twitter.
@michaelmcclurg on Twitter.
Construction students nail down top honors
Chico State teams earn accolades at a competition in Nevada Austin Redfern
Staff Writer
Chico State construction management students had a chance to show off their skills in a regional competition held Feb. 5-7 in Sparks, Nevada, and brought home a trifecta of top-tier awards. The Associated Students of Construction Student Competition is a three-day event that challenges students to find solutions for tough problems in only 18 hours. The team’s ideas are then presented to a panel of industry judges for scoring. Eight Chico State teams competed, three of which secured top-three finishes in three separate categories: heavy civil, marine and commercial. The teams consist of six members each with two substitutes, who compete in other categories so they are still able to participate in the competition if they’re not needed to replace a starting team member. The heavy civil team, coached by professor Chris Souder, placed first, outperforming 16 other schools in the category. Souder also coached the marine team which placed third in its category.
Austin Redfern/The Orion
Chico State construction management students won three top-three finishes at the Associated Schools of Construction Student Competition in Nevada. “I’ve coached two teams for 10 years, and this is the first time that I’ve had both teams place (in the same competition),” Souder said. The heavy civil team prepared by doing mock sessions with practice problems, said Austin Rivas, a senior and team captain. “A practice problem is when we have a company send a couple of their full time employees to Chico to put on a mock problem like what we would get at the competition,” Rivas said. His team worked three of these problems, which usually take 10 to 12 hours to
complete. The commercial team, coached by professor Alan Bond, placed second in its category and missed out on first place by one point out of 200. Following the contest, each team attended a job fair where there were more than 110 companies in attendance. “Representatives from the companies will sit through almost 10 hours of presentations, taking notes and deciding which students they think did the best,” Bond said. Big names in the industry such as Granite Construction and Teichert
Construction attended and recruited for talent. “Myself and my teammates did receive interview offers from many companies that were present,” Rivas said. But the competitors get more than just interviews for competing. Students fight for monetary prizes, trophies and bragging rights. Getting first place is a substantial achievement and Rivas believes that Chico State’s teams will continue to be just as successful in future competitions, he said. “I absolutely hope they continue to be successful and have no doubt they will be,” Rivas said. “With the invaluable experience the returning guys received this year, and the help from our coach and industry, I believe they will bring Chico the first place trophy again.” The Associated Schools of Construction competition is held annually on the first weekend of February. Next year’s competition will be held again in Sparks, Nevada. Team selection for the next competition will begin in the fall. For more information regarding the competition please contact Alan Bond or Chris Souder at adbond@csuchico.edu and csouder@csuchico.edu, respectively. Austin Redfern can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or
@theorion_news on Twitter.
Drought: Chico State adjusts practices for water conservation » continued from A1 The department works to respond quickly to water issues reported in the building and encourages building occupants to report any water leaks as soon as possible. The grounds and irrigation department at Chico State has also replaced older spray heads with more efficient rotating heads that deliver a smaller amount of water. Calsense computer controls were installed on Chico State’s larger irrigation systems, Francis said. This system measures evaporation, humidity and temperature, and watering times are automatically adjusted to times when water is needed, Francis said. If it is raining, the system will not water and turns itself off if necessary to avoid flooding. The University Farm has also taken measures to conserve water. “There has been an ongoing evolution of improving irrigation practices for
many years,” said David Daley, interim dean of the University Farm. “Because of the drought, Because of groundwater is the drought, less available and groundwater is less there is less water available and there to go around.” is less water to go The farm has around. focused on improving its practices by modifying and David Daley, interim improving the deam of University Farm systems that they use. “We can always improve,” Daley said. “In agriculture, part of what we do is make things better.” Kristina Martinez can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or
@orion_news on Twitter.
Catalina Friz/The Orion
The University Farm has been focusing on improving irrigation practices during the California drought because groundwater is currently scarce.
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BLUE and
Call Type: Medical aid Thursday, 9:46 a.m., Glenn Hall Man down with unknown medical condition. Call Type: Brandishing 8:02 p.m. stadium “Female was upset over break-up and was found with a knife at the soccer stadium on West Sacramento Avenue.” Call Type: Suspicious Circumstance 9:28 a.m. Holt Hall “A cardboard box was found in Holt Hall that was duct-taped funny.. Call Type: Drunk in Public Saturday, 11: 56 p.m., Plumas Hall “Female lying down on bench, arrest was made.” Call Type: Suspicious Subject Saturday, 1:45 a.m., University Village “Subject was walking around bike racks, looking around areas; wearing dark clothes and a hat with light colors.” Call Type: Welfare Check Saturday, 11:34 p.m., Warner Street “Occured at the bridge on Warner Street. Female was down, she was later released to medical personnel.” Call Type: Standby-Keep the Peace Sunday, 8:17 a.m., Warner Street “Occurred at Shurmer Gym. Picking up paperwork from a coach and asked for an officer standby.” Call Type: Suspicious Circumstance Sunday, 4:36 a.m., Normal Avenue “Occurred at the parking structure. Subject may have gained access to roof from the parking garage.” Call Type: Suspicious Circumstance Sunday, 7:51 a.m., Normal Avenue “Occurred at parking structure. All outer covering from electric cart was moved to front of vehicle.”
Chico Police
University Police
The police blotter is a selection of information cited directly from Chico Police Department and University Police Department. Call Type: Suspicious Circumstance Monday, 5:56 p.m. “Two white male adults standing over a child laying on their side on Mangrove Avenue. Unclear if child male or female, and unclear why they were standing over the child.”
! w e n s y a w l a d n a
THE BLOTTER JUST GOT BETTER.
Call Type: Embezzlement Wednesday, 8:53 a.m., Notre Dame Boulevard “A former employee of six years at MJB Welding Acct was accused of billing the company $187.10 for repairs made on her personal vehicle at ProLube Oil Change Center. An attempt to contact the woman was made, but there is no way to reach her. Call Type: Suspicious Subject Wednesday, 9:21 a.m., E 3rd Street A male with a large knife in his back pocket was seen grabbing the knife and repeatedly removing it from his pocket while yelling “Die, die.” After shoving the knife into a duffel bag, police addressed the situation and counseled the man. Call Type: Traffic Hazard Wednesday, 7:02 p.m., Cohasset Road Female was walking very close to the road and talking to herself, dressed in her underwear and a blanket. Police advised her to walk on the bike path after she established that she did not want any help. Call Type: Refusing to leave Thursday, 11:32 a.m., McDonalds “A male customer at the establishment was cursing towards everyone inside because he felt money had been kept from him. Officers arrived to discover the dispute was over a dollar. The customer mentioned he will follow up with management.” Call Type: Fight Sunday, 9:23 a.m., Arcadian Avenue “Mostly verbal fight between a male and a few of his friends. One asked if another had his gun and was going to shoot it and he said yes. The two friends got in truck and left. 12 gauge shot-gun found.”
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015
EDITORIAL
Campus must better sexual assault education When first-year students first arrive at Chico State, they are required to participate in a program called Safe Start. During the program, the women are segregated in one room and given a keychain tag with tips on how to avoid being sexually assaulted: - If a situation doesn’t “feel” right, get away from the situation. - Go out with a group of friends and stay together. - Program important phone numbers into your cell phone. Also on the keychain is a rape whistle. The men watch a comedic sketch from “Chappelle’s Show.” Aside from the obvious distinction between the education of male and female students, there is another problem with Safe Start: It is students’ first and last required education on sexual assault at Chico State. The lack of student sexual assault education largely contributes to the reason why it remains a predominant issue on campus. In a federal audit released in June, Chico State was found lacking in several areas regarding sexual assault. Student education on sexual assault was one problem listed in the audit. Out of the 34 students polled in the audit, only 12 students were completely aware of resources available should they experience a sexual assault. One resource available is Student Judicial Affairs, which is responsible for processing and responding to sexual assault and harassment complaints. However, several complaints took too long to be processed, according to the audit. Some were not even completed at all. Regardless of the reasons surrounding the lack of investigation, there were students behind these complaints who believed they would be helped after they came forward, and they weren’t. It is Chico State’s responsibility to educate students on sexual assault and to keep students informed on what to do and who to talk to if they are ever sexually assaulted. The findings in the audit are atrocious and paint Chico State in a negative light — and rightfully so. Until students are fully educated on sexual assault, Chico State will continue to have the reputation of a university that does not care about its students.
Miles Huffman/The Orion
Smartphone smack curbs productivity, social life
MORE ON THEORION.COM Go to sexualassault. theorion.com for more information. The unsigned Orion editorial is the collaborative opinion of the editorial board.
Dylan de Wit
Opinion Columnist Every time you check your Twitter, Snapchat or start browsing on Tinder, you’re raising those dopamine levels to almost euphoric points. That’s not healthy. It’s so addictive that your mind is constantly searching for it, and once you get your fix, it isn’t enough. So you continue searching for it, making that craving more and more difficult to satisfy. This leads to what is known as the “dopamine loop.” That might be why people ages 18 to 24 are 49 percent more likely to develop an addiction to their smartphones. With this technology being so ubiquitous in our lives, it’s hard to stay away. Average cellphone users look at their phones 150 times a day, or every six minutes. I’m willing to bet my tuition and paycheck that you are not receiving 150 texts or updates a day. You’re not Ashton Kutcher. This constant distraction is unarguably detrimental for any person that needs to stay productive like you, me and the other 16.6 million working college students in the nation. I work a nine-to-five job, and I’m in a constant internal battle between my work-self and my always-needs-to-beon-the-phone self. Throw in coursework and other commitments, and I truly can’t afford to be constantly fiending for dopamine. So, my message is simple — put your phone away and be a more awesome you. I’ve committed to turning my phone off every day at work. I even stick a Post-it note to the screen that says
“Get back to work.” It’s made me a much more productive employee and has turned into a habit that translates outside of the office as well. When productivity is your goal, technology addiction can be your worst enemy. Leslie Perlow, professor of business at Harvard University, offers a compromise in her book “Sleeping With Your Smartphone” called “predictable time off.” The concept is fairly straightforward. It suggests that you designate a certain block of the day to being smartphone-free. This method not only allows you to be productive during these few hours but also helps cut down on your dependency throughout the day as well. Technology addiction is probably also affecting your social life. Behavioral scientist Andrew Przybylski found in a study that even the presence of a cellphone during a date put people on edge. So even if you aren’t using the phone, it’s making your date uncomfortable. “It sends a message,” Przybylski notes, “that I could stop talking to you at any moment and start another conversation.” So put it away, carry on a conversation and get your dopamine fix by enjoying time with another person. You’re already awesome. But constantly checking your smartphone to curb your dopamine addiction is keeping you from being awesome-er. Go be awesome-er. Put the phone away. Dylan de Wit can be reached at
opinioneditor@theorion.com or @DylanTdeWit on Twitter.
Losing my religion: Christian to agnostic to whatever is next Daisy Dardon
Opinion Columnist I’m agnostic. This is surprising to some because I’ve been going to a Christian church for years. They don’t understand how I could be unsure about the existence of God when I’ve been so involved in church. I used to be in choir and band. I used to be a youth leader. I was the first one to go pray at the altar. And now, I don’t even go to church. Over the years, I began to see things differently. Some moments in my life made me believe there was no God. For two years I thought that. I would get in arguments with my parents. They just couldn’t understand why I would say such things. They thought I was going through a rebellious stage. Although they knew my beliefs, they still took me to church hoping that one day I would regain my faith. I would say I had a lot of homework to get out of going, but my parents would always tell me that I could do it at church, so that never worked.
It wasn’t until I got to tending church. I didn’t to force my I was on my could make my It was where I
college that I stopped athave my parents here hand. own, and I own decisions. also here started
having doubts again. I questioned whether there was a God. I wanted there to be a God. I needed something to believe in. It was then that I realized no one can ever prove whether God exists or not. It’s a personal choice to believe whether there is one or is not. Nobody is wrong for believing what they choose. For some, finding what they believe in is easy. But for others, like me, it has been a struggle. I’m still discovering things about myself and trying to find my way around this life. But knowing that there could be something better than this has made everything a little better. It’s OK to get lost once in a while. It’s OK to believe in different gods. It’s OK if you don’t. As long as it feels right, it shouldn’t matter what other people think. I’m agnostic now, but I could change my beliefs yet again. That’s life— trial and error. Daisy Dardon can be reached at
Darian Maroney/The Orion
opinioneditor@theorion.com or @daisydardon on Twitter.
THUMBS Thumbs up to high-profile golfer Matt Hutchins signing his National Letter of Intent to play for Chico State. Hopefully his East Coast origins don’t drive a wedge between him and his new Chico home.
Thumbs down to students being unaware of the history of Chico. No, Washington was not the founder, it was John Bidwell. You know, the guy that massive mansion on campus is named after.
Thumbs up to the start of the spring 2015 Conversations on Diversity and Inclusion. It’s important for students to be aware of the lack of diversity on campus and work toward a more inclusive Chico State.
Thumbs down to the overwhelming nomination of white actors at the Oscars. For the first time since 1998, all 20 people nominated in the four acting categories are white. No progression in 17 years? Nice.
theorion.com/opinion | Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 | A7
COMIC STRIP
Celebrity culture detracts from reality In some instances, celebrities and media can be very informational, spurring important discussion. But more often than not, the media has become obsessed with celebrities’ lives and can even place value and focus on people that don’t necessarily deserve the amount of attention they receive. For instance — Kim Kardashian. She basically became famous just for having a sex tape and a big butt. And now makes millions for it. Is she entertaining? Yes. Does she deserve to be paid for what she does? Yes. But not nearly the amount she is actually paid to do it. Other celebrities are vastly overpaid for the jobs they do as well. Beyonce makes about $115 million per year. Jennifer Lawrence has made $35 million for making one of “The Hunger Games” movies. Are these people talented? Yes. But do they really deserve to be paid this amount for their jobs? It doesn’t seem fair, especially since other important professions, like teachers, are underpaid. Part of the problem is the sheer amount of information and focus on celebrities and their lives by the media. But the problem is also with society. It is easier for people to read and think about celebrities than serious issues. I’m not saying people should no longer read about celebrities. But it should be second to the concerns of this country which greatly affect everyone.
Allison Galbreath
Opinion Columnist
I love the entertainment industry. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without my favorite fictional characters. I’d be bored without trying to solve murders alongside the intelligent, discerning Sherlock Holmes. I wouldn’t be as happy without the hilariously witty Spider-Man. I wouldn’t have a distraction from my chaotic life without the complex, dismal world of “Game of Thrones.” But I also believe too much value and money is placed on entertainment to the detriment of other important matters. Think about “The Hunger Games.” In these books, the Capitol emphasizes Katniss and her relationship with Peeta to distract citizens from the serious problems their country is facing. Ironically, the media has often focused on the issue of Gale versus Peeta when talking about “The Hunger Games,” which is exactly what The Capitol does: They take the focus off the big issues by focusing on pettier, unimportant things, like celebrities’ lives. The value society places on celebrities is astonishing. More focus is given to celebrity coverage which often overshadows more serious, pressing news. People care more about who Jennifer Aniston is dating rather than what new laws are coming into place. People would rather talk about Angelina Jolie and her role in some upcoming film than discuss topics like capitalism or abortion. People would rather watch the Grammys than a political debate.
Allison Galbreath can be reached at
opinioneditor@theorion.com or @agalbreath19 on twitter.
Darian Maroney/The Orion
Tinder ignites casual sex, burns down thrill of chase Miles Inserra
Opinion Columnist Our world today is gravitating more and more toward a technology driven society. With recent technological advances resulting in devices like the iPad Air 2, the iMac and the iPhone 6, children now toy with gadgets that past generations would have received as graduation gifts. Thus, it should come as no surprise that even dating, a custom as old as time, is adapting to remain contemporary in cultures that operate daily on pocket-sized machines. Tinder is a matchmaking mobile app on the rise geared for a younger generation. Whereas most dating sites rely heavily on profiles, which tend to be fake or embellished, Tinder relies on just four factors: location, common interests, sexual interest and a mutual liking of each other’s profiles. In theory, this is “all the information one needs to make an informed first impression about a potential long-term mate,” said Liraz Margalit in her article “Tinder And Evolutionary Psychology.” In my experience, when meeting a long-term partner there needs to be a natural and emotional connection, not a paper-perfect description of a person on the screen from a device in the palm of your hand. I’m talking about the sort of connection that requires
eye contact. The developers who launched Tinder in 2012 first tested the app for success on college campuses. Turns out, the elements of this IOS dating app make it a gateway to casual hookups. Users immediately receive the geographic location, age, gender and similar interests of Tinder users within a specified radius. Swipe right on an attractive profile picture and you can instant message a person you’ve never met. It is no secret that Tinder’s prosperity is being fueled by young people’s insatiable sex drives. Tinder makes initiating sex as simple as sending a text. Call me old-fashioned, but I appreciate the chase. Nothing surpasses the satisfaction of wooing the girl next door. Whatever happened to being a “mack” and a smooth talker? Flirting is an art form. I respect a man or woman who speaks confidently and perhaps even seductively upon a first encounter. It’s an attractive quality. This sort of charisma can be learned, but it requires practice. Staring intently at a screen and planning each thought out instant message will not enhance this public speaking skill. So yes, the use of Tinder is socially and morally con-
TALKING POINT
Trevor Ryan/ The Orion
troversial. College students love Tinder because of its sexual potential and unintimidating method of matchmaking. Does this make Tinder users shallow? Perhaps it just makes them opportunists. Miles Inserra can be reached at
m_
opinioneditor@theorion.com or inserra on Twitter.
COMMENTS OF THE WEEK For the first time in history, more than 800 cubic feet of snow was trucked in from Mount Lassen and dumped in the City Plaza Friday night for a skiing and snowboarding grinding competition hosted by Soul id. Winners of the competition were awarded GoPros and Soul id gear.
In response to the features story “Vaping: Effective quitting technique or harmful trend?” by Nick Bragg: “I have been vaping for 90 days now and have not wanted a cigarette. I feel better both mentally and physically and for me that’s good enough.” -kerryg on theorion.com
In response to the news story “Freshman depression rates on the upswing” by Michael McClurg: “How many more people are going to try to take their own lives because of depression, before something other than throwing drugs at the problem is done?” -Martin_H_Parker on theorion.com
A8 | Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 | advertisements
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ONLINE: Full recap of the weekend’s sports games for Chico State.
B1
theorion.com/sports
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
SPORTIFY
PLAYLIST
Music pumps up Wildcats’ performance for gameday PLAY
Caio Calado/The Orion
Check out the Wildcats Mix on Spotify by scanning the QR Code.
Chico State athletes share the songs and artists that amp them up for competition Nick Martinez
Staff Writer
Even after putting on the uniform and stretching, some athletes still need one more element to put them in the zone before a game — music. Certain songs fire up athletes' intensity and get them pumped up for a game. Will Ferrell's character in the movie "Blades
of Glory" put it succinctly — "It gets the people going." A few Wildcats shared some of the music that helps them get ready before games. Nick Martinez-Esquibel can be reached at
sportseditor@theorion.com or @THENickMartinez on Twitter.
TRACK
ARTIST
Fight Night
Migos
Brooke Bowen junior
Women’s Basketball 0 To 100/The Catch Up
Whitney Branham first-year
Women’s Basketball Cupid Shuffle
junior
Softball Go Get It
Drake
sophomore
Softball Lose Yourself senior
Track and Field Who Do You Love?
Robert Engels senior
Baseball Feelin’ Myself senior
Baseball Dreams and Nightmares
Jordan Barton senior
0 To 100/The Catch Up
3:51
Time For A Change
3:37
Go Get It
“I listen to T.I.’s ‘Go Get It’ because it talks about grinding and hustling. Softball is my grind, and I’m hustling on the field so it motivates me.”
5:26
Curtain Call
“I’ve been doing it since high school, and it’s become kind of my pre-meet routine so I always have to do it.”
YG
3:53
My Krazy Life
“Something to get the blood going, something like that.”
Mac Dre
Gordon Deacon
4:35
“We listen to ‘Cupid Shuffle’ and dance. It’s our way of loosening up before it’s time to get down to business.”
Eminem
Emily Denton
Fight Night
“(I listen to) mostly rap songs that are upbeat and get you going.”
T.I.
Cailin Garmon
3:35
ALBUM
“Every time we are driving to the game as a team, we listen to ‘Fight Night’ because it gets us pumped up and ready for the game.”
Cupid
Brooke Langeloh
TIME
3:44
Ronald Dregan for President
“Some of their stuff can be pretty motivational, coming from nothing and now they’re making it.”
Meek Mill
3:50
Dreams and Nightmares
“It’s very inspirational and an upbeat kind of song.”
Men’s Basketball Hot Now (feat. J-Dubb)
Jalen McFerren first-year
Men’s Basketball 0:00
G-Baby
4:24
Hot Now
“It’s up-tempo and gets me going.” 3:35
B2 | Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 | theorion.com/sports
Wildcat Week of the Allie Cook
Cook reached a career milestone on Saturday after stealing base for the 53rd time in her career against Cal State East Bay. She tied Kari Hawkins as No. 1 all-time in Wildcat history. Cook is currently batting .393 with six stolen bases for the season.
Sport: Softball Position: Outfielder
ALLIE COOK
Class: Junior Major: Communication Studies
Orion file photo
Allie Cook throws the ball to a teammate on the field during a game.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
STAT ’CAT
1st
Baseball WEEKEND PERFORMANCE
3-0
(Women’s Basketball) Michelle Walker posted her first career double-double as a Wildcat on Saturday.
5 (Softball) Brooke Langeloh has a perfect record through the first five games of the season as a starting pitcher, with a 2.31 ERA.
The Chico State baseball team won all three of its games against Cal Sate Stanislaus this weekend to improve to 4-2 for the season. The team cruised to a 5-1 victory on Friday with the help of starting pitcher Luke Barker who posted a complete game with 11 strikeouts. The team relied on its defense to win both of its games in a doubleheader against the Warriors the following day. The series finale was canceled on Sunday because of a rainout. The ’Cats will resume play at home against Sonoma State in a four-game series that kicks off on Friday.
Men’s Basketball
Women’s Basketball
Softball
WEEKEND PERFORMANCE
WEEKEND PERFORMANCE
WEEKEND PERFORMANCE
The Chico State men’s basketball team went 2-0 for the weekend to conclude a four-game road trip. The ’Cats won a decisive game against Sonoma State on Friday, with a final score of 80-43. Chico State has won its last three games in Rohnert Park, after previously losing 15 straight in that venue. The team beat San Francisco State in its last road game of the season the following night. By defeating the Gators, Chico State got its 12th win in 13 games. The team will conclude the regular season at home against Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay.
The Chico State women’s basketball team split both of its games this weekend to end its tumultuous road trip. The team won its first game of the weekend on Friday against Sonoma State to snap a three-game skid. The ’Cats had seniors Hannah Womack and Annie Ward and first-year player Whitney Branham finishing the contest in double figures. Chico State ended its last road game of the season on a low note, losing to a previously winless opponent in San Francisco State on Saturday. The ’Cats will look to end a disappointing season in their last two games at home against Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay.
The Chico State softball team went 3-1 for the weekend against Cal State East Bay. The ’Cats split their first doubleheader of the weekend on Friday. After getting dominated in their first game of the series, the ’Cats bounced back by defeating Cal State East Bay 4-1 in the second game. The ’Cats continued their positive momentum by sweeping the Pioneers on Saturday. The team put together a combined 21 runs and 23 hits for the day. Chico State will play a 4-game series against San Francisco State on Feb. 27-28, before going on a two week road trip.
11
2-0
(Baseball) Starting pitcher Luke Barker achieved a career high by striking out 11 batters in Friday’s game against Cal State Stanislaus.
21st (Men’s Basketball) Jordan Semple posted his 21st career doubledouble on Saturday, tying Aaron Martella for most in school history.
Zach Aucella/The Orion
AJ Epstein, one of three pitchers on the Chico State baseball team, tries to pick off a runner attempting to steal a base during a game.
1-1
3-1
-Compiled by Jose Olivar
MORE ON THEORION.COM/SPORTS For live updates, follow along on Twitter @theorion_sports.
STANDINGS
MEN’S BASKETBALL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Cal Poly Pomona CHICO STATE Humboldt State UC San Diego Cal State Sanislaus Cal State San Bernardino Cal State Monterey Bay Sonoma State San Francisco State Cal State L.A. Cal State East Bay Cal State Dominguez Hills
BASEBALL
Cal State L.A. CHICO STATE Cal State Monterey Bay UC San Diego Cal Poly Pomona Cal State Dominguez Hills Cal State San Bernardino San Francisco State Cal State East Bay Cal State Sanislaus Sonoma State
CCAA 16-4 16-4 13-7 13-7 12-8 12-8 9-11 8-12 8-12 7-13 4-16 2-18
CCAA 4-0 3-0 3-0 6-2 3-1 1-3 1-3 1-3 0-3 0-3 0-3
Overall 20-5 19-6 19-7 15-9 15-10 12-11 13-13 11-13 10-14 9-15 6-20 6-20
Overall 9-2 4-2 7-4 10-5 8-2 6-6 3-10 2-8 3-4 5-8 3-7
UPCOMING GAMES
MEN’S BASKETBALL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Friday
Saturday
Cal State Montery Bay Cal State East Bay
7:30 P.M. in Acker Gym
7:30 P.M. in Acker Gym
Friday
Saturday
Cal State Montery Bay Cal State East Bay 5:30 P.M. in Acker Gym
5:30 P.M. in Acker Gym
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Humboldt State Cal State Dominguez Hills Cal Poly Pomona Cal State San Bernardino UC San Diego Cal State East Bay Cal State L.A. CHICO STATE Cal State Sanislaus Cal State Monterey Bay Sonoma State San Francisco State
SOFTBALL
Humboldt State UC San Diego Cal State Monterey Bay Sonoma State CHICO STATE Cal State East Bay Cal State San Bernardino Cal State Dominguez Hills Cal State Sanislaus San Francisco State
BASEBALL
This week’s series
Sonoma State University in Chico
Friday - 2 P.M. Saturday - 11 A.M. & 2 P.M. Sunday - 1 P.M.
CCAA
Overall
CCAA
Overall
18-2 17-3 16-4 14-6 14-6 11-9 8-12 6-14 6-14 5-15 4-16 1-19 4-0 7-1 3-1 3-1 3-1 4-4 1-3 1-3 2-6 0-8
22-3 22-6 18-6 18-6 16-9 16-10 9-15 9-15 8-16 7-18 6-18 1-23 7-4 14-2 10-1 9-3 6-2 9-5 9-8 3-8 6-8 1-11
SOFTBALL
This week’s series
San Francisco State in Chico
Friday - Noon & 2 P.M. Saturday - Noon & 2 P.M.
theorion.com/sports | Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015| B3
Women’s golf starts low on members Matthew Vislosky
Staff Writer
The Chico State women’s golf team will be driving and putting with only five golfers this upcoming spring season. The players currently on the roster are: Abbey McGrew, Dani O’Keefe, Spencer Downey, Sydney Zink and Bianca Armanini. Nick Green, head coach of the team, was holding open tryouts to add players, but nothing came out of it. “I put it out there because currently our entire roster is made up of five players,” he said, “and if one were to get injured I would have no backup.” It was more of an insurance, but the team will be moving forward with the five they have, Green said. “I was hopeful (to get players), but there was a score requirement and a lot of people are really busy,” Downey said. The decrease from seven to five players was not because of the team having issues with recruitment, but from a couple of players who did NICK not make the grade GREEN requirements to Women’s golf coach be eligible for the team, Green said. “Being a collegiate athlete, there’s three things,” he said. “You got school, your sport and then there’s everything else. You can only do two out of the three and be successful at them.” Because of the team being short-staffed, the players know they are going to have to play solid right from the get-go, Green said. “They know that there isn’t going to be much room for bad shots and bad scores — can’t make those big mistakes,” he said. Downey knows that having only a handful of players is a big impact on the team because if one of them is unable to play, the team will be left with four scores, she said. “There is no room for leeway,” Downey said. “Those five always travel and out of those five, four scores are counted at tournaments.” Despite the disadvantages of only having five players, the team is looking on the bright side, Green said. They are going to play no matter what. “There is no time for slacking in your practices or your preparations,” he said. “When you know you have to play a tournament, whether you enter it yourself or going as a team, you have to try and get yourself ready.” Friendship is a big part of any sport, and junior golfer O’Keefe realizes how close of a group they have become, she said. “We all have a good time being with each other,” O’Keefe said. “We encourage each other to do our best and have fun as well.” Downey also looks at the team as a family, she said. “The team has always stayed pretty small, so we’ve gotten used to that more tight-knit team orientation,” Downey said. The Wildcats are traveling to Texas for their first tournament of the spring season on Feb. 23 and 24. “I cannot wait for Texas,” Downey said. “We came off a fairly good ending last semester at our Sonoma tournament. I think we have the momentum, and I think we are going to make a statement in the opening of spring.” Matthew Vislosky can be reached at sportseditor@theorion.com or
@MattVislosky on Twitter.
Photos by Trevor Ryan/The Orion
Dan Danzberger hits the rail at Soul id’s downtown Rail Jam in Chico. Snowboarders and skiers hit the icy course this weekend to compete in Chico’s first-ever extreme winter sporting event.
Snowboarders, skiers converge in City Plaza for Rail Jam event Lars Gustafson
Staff Writer
For the first time in Chico’s history, snowboarders and skiers performed tricks at the City Plaza on Friday night. The Soul id Rail Jam was the first live event for the emerging extreme sports social media company, Soul id. Current Chico State Wildcat Ben Sampson and former ’Cat Greg Bellinger founded Soul id. Sampson is the chief executive officer while Bellinger is chief operating officer. The company aims to connect extreme sports athletes and photographers across the globe. “We also give them access to the top content for the sports that they love,” said Eli Libby, public relations director and Chico State senior. Rail Jam was held at City Plaza on Friday evening, but the snow began to form a huge pile around 2 p.m. Roughly 800 cubic feet of fresh snow was shipped in by five dump trucks from About Trees in the Lassen area. After the course was set up and covered in snow, practice runs began at 5:30 p.m. The tournament started at 6 p.m. The event consisted of a custom rails course, surrounded by the imported snow in which riders grind and perform tricks on to win the competition. Since City Plaza is flat, the snowboarders and skiers were towed by a two-winch system with six horsepower engines to give the riders enough speed to perform tricks. The riders held onto handles at the end of the towline and accelerated before reaching the rails. The participants were whipped at speeds reaching up to 15 mph, said Scott Rodriguez, Chico State wakeboarding president and winch operator. The riders had the option of attempting tricks on three different 12-foot rails. There were two straight rails with one raised about two feet into the air and a raised “kink” rail as well. A “kink” rail is a straight rail with a 70-degree upward angled kink at the end of the rail. The kink allows riders to perform big air tricks. The two raised rails were a few feet before the straight rail on the course, and some riders were able to perform tricks on both. The tournament was judged by three snowboarding and skiing experts, and the competitors were scored on style, difficulty of the trick and variation. Individual riders were allowed three attempts at landing their best tricks, and the best run was their final score in the competition.
Kenji Dorsey-Imabori clears the rail as the crowd looks on during Soul id’s Rail Jam in downtown on Saturday. Competitors and fans came from as far as Tahoe and Mt. Shasta to attend the Rail Jam, said Kyle Nelson, marketing director for Soul id. “Some guys said they traveled six hours (to get here),” Nelson said. Zach Pfeiffer, 15-year-old Mt. Shasta native, took third place in the skiing competition and has been skiing for more than a dozen years. Rail Jam was Pfeiffer’s first time using a winch system. Bracing yourself is key to success, he said. Soul id encourages Chico State extreme sports athletes and
SkiIng
Competition Winners
photographers to contact them to get to the next level. “If they reach out to us we can usually do a lot via social media on the Soul id profile,” Libby said. “They can post all their stats on their profile and hopefully get sponsored.” Lars Gustafson can be reached at sportseditor@theorion.com or
@larsonsports on Twitter.
Snowboarding
Competition Winners
1st Dan Danzberger 2nd Steve Lally
1st Zach Aucella 3rd Eric Push 2nd Chance Jackson 3rd Zach Pfeiffer
MORE ON THEORION.COM Check out a photo gallery and video of the event online.
Men’s golf signs high-profile player for next season Julie Ortega
Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Matt Hutchins
Chico State men’s golf recruit Matt Hutchins takes a swing during a tournament.
Coming from the East Coast, high school senior Matt Hutchins has signed his National Letter of Intent to play for the Chico State men’s golf team for fall of 2015. “I’m looking forward to playing golf with the team and getting to know them as well as other people at Chico,” Hutchins said. He became interested in the school because of Chico State’s competitive Division II team, Hutchins said. He has been playing golf for six years and is currently attending Lincoln-Sudbury High School in Massachusetts. The only challenges he might face involve transitioning to life on the West Coast and school population, he said. Hutchins key stats are: • United States Golf Association handicap: +0.8 • Low competitive round: 68 • 2014 tournament scoring average: 74 Brown has been watching Hutchins perform for two years and was impressed after the senior improved within a year by four shots a round, he said. “Matt showed the ability to play well — not just close to home but throughout the nation,” Brown said. In 2014, Hutchins won the New England Junior Amateur Invitational with Team Massachusetts. So far, it has been one of his greatest accomplishments, he said. Hutchins finished sixth in the Massachusetts Division
I State High School Golf Championship in 2014. He was also named twice by the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald for All-Scholastics teams in 2013 and 2014. Before competitions, Hutchins prepares by playing a practice round to get a feel of the course, followed by a specific routine for the day. It helps him get ready to play, he said. “I think coach Brown recruited me because of my consistency in tournaments and my improvement from last year to this year,” Hutchins said. “I think he saw that (I) improved a lot over the two-year span.” During Hutchins’ official visit to Chico State, he got a chance to meet some of the players on the team, which made him want to join the team even more, he said. Hutchins thinks the team has great golfers who will challenge him to become a better player, and he hopes to do the same for others, he said. “If a young man shows dedication to the team and then shows the ability to play his way into position, we want him here in Chico,” Brown said. One of Brown’s goals is for Hutchins to first adjust to the big move away from family and friends. Chico State’s golf team will be his family away from home, Brown said. “We can’t wait to get him here next fall,” he said. “I expect him to hit the ground running.” Julie Ortega can be reached at sportseditor@theorion.com or
@julieOrtega_ on Twitter.
B4 | Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 | theorion.com/sports
Former ’Cat drives deep in tournament Souza brings home first in overseas PGA China Tour qualifiers Dylan Wakefield
Staff Writer
Against the pressures of a long trip, language barriers and a foreign country,
former Chico State men’s golfer Kyle Souza found a way to win the second round of the PGA Tour China qualifiers. Taking home the first place medal of the second round qualifiers on Feb. 6 meant a lot more to him than just being a top contestant, Souza said. Handling the pressures was easy for Souza once he stepped onto the course, he said. “I feel like I’ve always handled pressure
really well, in terms of golf,” Souza said. On the golf course, it is easy for him to focus on what he has to do. “It’s like a little sanctuary for me,” he said. Souza feels confident knowing that he can travel and still maintain his ability to play during games, he said. “Golf is the same everywhere around the world,” he said. “If I play well, I know that I can pretty much contend with
Photo courtesy of Kyle Souza
Former Chico State golfer Kyle Souza drives the ball at the 10th hole of the PGA China Tour qualifiers on Feb. 6. Souza handled the game’s pressure well and took home the first place medal in the second round of the tournament.
the best of them no matter where I am playing.” It was a long time coming for him to win the China qualifier because of his work ethic and grit, said T.L. Brown, head coach of the Chico State men’s golf team, who also coached Souza in college. “He is focused on doing nothing but being successful as a professional golfer,” Brown said. Golfing at Chico State under the guidance of Brown played a big role in Souza’s development in terms of the mental side of the game, Souza said. When he first arrived at Chico State, Souza was a very aggressive golfer, said Eric Frazzetta, his former Chico State teammate. “Now, he is a lot more conservative,” Frazzetta said. “He just plays smarter now.” Brown expects the former Wildcat to work his way up to the PGA Tour in the next couple of years, he said. While playing for Chico State, Souza was a Division I caliber player and his willingness to sacrifice his time for his goals separated him from the competition, Brown said. “His heart as a competitor and his work ethic is probably at the top of any player I have ever coached,” he said. “He was there at the crack of dawn. He was there when it was pitch dark.” Souza is now gearing up for PGA Tour China. The 13-tournament event is set to begin in April and end in November. Souza hopes to place in the top five in order to make it onto the Web.com Tour. From there, he wants to earn his way into the PGA Tour, he said. Dylan Wakefield can be reached at sportseditor@theorion.com or
@dylan_wakefield on Twitter.
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Wednesday, February 25, 2015
PROFILE
S T L U E H FOR THE FOR THE
MUSCLE Senior student flaunts his brawn in bodybuilding world Nicole Santos
Staff Writer
Human Oompa Loompas walking around consuming massive amounts of sugar, women coated with makeup as if they were clowns and the smell of tanner can only mean one thing — backstage at a bodybuilding competition. Zach Batchelder, a senior nutrition major, has been at three of these competitions backstage because he’s been a competitor himself. “The first show that I’ve ever done was 2012 right when I got to Chico,” Batchelder said. As a transfer student from Diablo Valley College, a junior college in the Bay Area, he spent three years there and he’s been at Chico State for three more. Bodybuilding doesn’t run in Batchelder’s family. It’s something he wanted to take on by himself, he said. “I’ve always wanted to improve my physique since I was in middle school,” he said. “I wrestled in high school and the whole cutting weight aspect was something I wanted to learn more about. I would learn more on my own and that kind of developed into the knowledge for bodybuilding.” Even though Batchelder doesn’t have a planned competition coming up he still trains regularly. “Bodybuilding training is about four to five days a week, every week,” he said. “It’s very specific. It’s a different type of training than just getting stronger or say what a power lifter would do.” The priority is to get big and look pretty on stage, he said. “What you are looking for is muscular hypertrophy, and what that means is just making the muscles bigger,
not necessarily being strong but looking bigger,” he said. For each workout a specific body part is targeted, Batchelder said. “So there would be chest and tricep day, back and bicep day, one day reserved for legs and another day would be reserved for smaller accessory muscles like shoulders and arms in general,” he said. Probably the most crucial nutritional aspect is the amount of calories he has to consume each day, Batchelder said. As he gets closer to a competition date, he progressively decreases his calories as little as possible so that he’s maintaining his maximum fat loss but also eating as much as he possibly can while still losing weight. What he can eat as a bodybuilder is really controversial, he said. “There’s the whole eating clean aspect,” he said. “You know, eating tilapia and chicken breast and broccoli. But that’s kind of a bodybuilding tradition and it doesn’t need to be that way.” In the past Batchelder followed the tradition, but for later shows he said he didn’t and was a lot happier. “There’s no such thing as a clean food,” he said. “But one thing that’s important to take into account is still getting enough fiber and your fruits and vegetables so you get vitamins.” At Batchelder’s first and third competition, he went on his own. But the second time around he hired a coach named John Nguyen to help with a difficult part of training known as peak week. “This part is the week before the show, and that’s when you are manipulating things like your carb intake and your water,” he said. “It’s the last week that you dial yourself in perfectly. You kind of create like a saranwrap effect on your muscles.” As a nutrition major, there are definitely areas where bodybuilding and nutrition overlap, Batchelder said. “I can apply things that I’ve learned in my classes towards bodybuilding, such as the way your body absorbs
different nutrients,” he said. “I probably learned the most within my sports nutrition class, because we learn about things like carbohydrate loading, water and hydration.” As a senior preparing to graduate in May, Batchelder enjoys what the city of Chico has offered him over the past three years, he said. “It’s nice that there’s a lot to do, especially outdoors,” he said. “I like how it gets hot and you can go to Bear Hole and you can go hiking and play disc golf.” Since transferring schools, he has also had some great memories in Chico. “To be honest, just exploring the city, meeting new people and going through new experiences are where some of my best memories come from,” Batchelder said. Nicole Santos can be reached at
featureseditor@theorion.com or @Iam_NicoleS on Twitter.
Zach Batchelder, a senior nutrition major, competes in the 2014 Chico Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Contest at Laxson Auditorium on the Chico State campus. Batchelder sticks to a very tight schedule when it comes to eating and training in preparation for bodybuilding competitions.
“I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO IMPROVE MY PHYSIQUE SINCE I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.” -ZACH BATCHELDER
Senior nutrition major
Photos courtesy of Zach Batchelder
B6 | Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015 | Theorion.com/features
Student launches clothing website DJ Morris
Staff Writer
A simple phone call helped Alysa Kammermeyer’s dream of owning her own fashion website become a reality. Kammermeyer, a junior public affairs major, and her older sister have always loved fashion and were inspired by their parents to start a business, she said. Her sister called her a little over a month ago and told her that she had bought a domain name. “We have been talking about having ALYSA a clothing business KAMMERMEYER in an abstract way,” Junior public affairs Kammermeyer said. major “After she called me, we just hit the ground running.” The business is called Mina’s Closet, after Kammermeyer’s Moroccan name, Yasmina. “We choose our clothes from wholesalers, and they have an infinite amount,” she said. “We choose what fits our styles the best and what we like.” Growing up, she would travel back and forth between countries with her mother. Moving around a lot helped her develop an independent personality, she said. “I learned to adapt to situations quickly because I did not have a choice,” Kammermeyer said. In the business world, she started off in sales and retail. She knew it was good training and practice before she would become self-employed, she said. “I put in at least 15 hours a week doing the website design,” Kammermeyer said. “I edit our pictures. I also taught myself how to do HTML coding, and I create the banners on our website.” The slogan on the website is “simple, elegant and sexy.” Kammermeyer wants her clothing business to not only be affordable for college women but also help them present themselves in a positive and appealing way, she said. “Be proud of the fact that you are a woman,” Kammermeyer said. “You have a certain shape, and you’re attractive, but do not let that be your only point. Let it be the foot in the door.” DJ Morris can be reached at
featureseditor@theorion.com or @djthejournalist on Twitter.
Photo courtesy of Emily Hilbers
Emily Hilbers, a sophomore business management major, volunteers in the Dominican Republic during a summer trip. During those four weeks she spent time repairing homes and teaching local schoolchildren.
International volunteer discovers meaning through charitable work exhausting, she said. “We would wake up superearly and eat Staff Writer rice and beans for breakfast,” Hilbers said. Whether it’s exploring the mysteries of a “Then we would work until lunch and eat sunken ship, horseback riding through caves rice and beans again, while talking about our or making a difference in impoverished citprogress in the work. After that we would ies, Emily Hilbers’ adventures never seemed work five more hours until it was time to go to cease while volunteering abroad. home.” Last summer, the sophomore business Hilbers’ expectations did not exactly align management major signed up for a four-week with the reality of the volunteer work. She international volunteering program that was did not expect to build such meaningful life-altering, she said. relationships with the children, especially She ventured to the Dominican Republic to since there was a difficult language barrier, repair broken communities, educate undershe said. privileged children and immerse herself in a “You would expect construction to be new culture. the hardest part, but teaching little kids is Hilbers went on exhausting,” Hilbers her trip through the said. “I don’t speak They would use International Student any Spanish so that anything for shelter. Volunteer program, was hard. I didn’t Rebar and billboards which caters to univerreally click with the sities around the world, kids at first because (were used) for roofs. ... including Chico State. I couldn’t communiThese kids are just so Her trip consisted of a cate with them, but happy every single day. two-week volunteering they really grew on It is very humbling. project followed by a me.” two-week adventure Although Hilbers Emily Hilbers, sophomore segment. has not had much exbusiness management major perience interacting She spent her time working in towns near with kids previously, Santo Domigo, the she found that workcapital of the Dominican Republic. ing with the local children was extremely “We would alternate days repairing homes rewarding, she said. and going to the local schools, teaching the “They have the biggest hearts,” Hilbers kids about malaria and recycling,” Hilbers said. “We split the day into periods of P.E., said. art and English, and they were just so exAlthough she found joy in her work there, cited about learning.” her days were far from ordinary. Staying in a She was surprised by how close she behostel with 30 other volunteer students and came with the children and locals and truly working long days in the humid heat was admired them for loving life so much even Alisa Thorsen
though they had so little, she said. “They would use anything for shelter,” Hilbers said. “Rebar and billboards (were used) for roofs. It’s crazy. These kids are just so happy every single day. It is very humbling.” After she was through with a long and tiring day, Hilbers would return to the hostel where she would journal her experiences. Hilbers found great meaning in her work within the local community but was excited to begin the adventure portion of her trip. “It was ridiculous,” Hilbers said. “We went scuba diving through this beautiful 400-yearold sunken ship and also got to see the reefs. It seemed like a different world.” But the adventures were not limited to just scuba diving. She embarked on many wild excursions while abroad, she said. “We went parasailing, windsurfing an d horseback rode through caves, and that’s just one day,” Hilbers said. “We got to go spelunking, which is repelling down through dark caves, and then got to go swimming through these underwater tunnels.” Hilbers hopes to finish her degree in business management so she can continue her passion for philanthropy. She would love to work for the International Student Volunteer program in the future and continue making a difference in the lives of others and explore different cultures, she said. “Now that I have experienced this, it’s what I want to dedicate my life to,” Hilbers said. “It gave meaning to my life and I can’t wait to go back.” Alisa Thorsen can be reached at featureseditor@theorion.com or
@alisathorsen on Twitter.
THE O-FACE: MASTURBATION ENHANCES SEXUAL EDUCATION Sophia Xepoleas
Sex Columnist
The hierarchy growing up in the Xepoleas family went as such: We lived our day-to-day lives until one of us royally screwed up, in which case my dad would call a family meeting. This generally consisted of us sitting in our family room and respectfully listening to each other talk until it was time to put in our two cents. In layman’s terms it sounds pretty mild, but when you’re 17-year-old Sophia and John Xepoleas calls a family meeting, everything you have ever done wrong in life starts coming back to you in a huge, horrific flash. As I sunk into our old, worn-out recliner, I attempted to mask the terror that was brewing behind my poorly presented facade. I prepared myself for the worst and was ready to deny until the day’s end. My dad, being the man that he is, indulged in long, drawn-out silences that only worsened the suspense. You could cut the tension with a knife. This is it. I’m screwed. He knows every-
thing, and my life as I know it is over. That’s when those fateful words painfully escaped his mouth. “I found your vibrator.” Embarrassment poured into my veins, and I found myself at a loss for words. He argued that it was disrespectful to have such an unthinkable object in the first place, let alone to have it somewhere in plain sight. This may have been my fault to begin with, but for the love of God, was I really sitting in a family meeting that revolved around the little plastic friend that sleeps under my bed? I can’t blame the man for his animosity toward the situation, but a simple handoff to the maternal side of my family may have been more suitable. Masturbation can be a delicate subject, and to a certain extent has been viewed as a taboo in modern-day society. This often coincides with feelings such as guilt, shame and discomfort when discussing the topic. Masturbation is actually a completely normal activity. When handled correctly it can be beneficial for discovering exactly what buttons to press in order to stimulate
NEBULA
Crossword
STUMPED?
all the right senses. If you don’t even know your own anatomy, how is your partner supposed to know what bean to flick? The perks are endless. Planned Parenthood even suggests that masturbation can be good for both physical and mental health. It can provide benefits such as: improved sleep, increased self-esteem, reduced stress, release of sexual tension, and despite popular belief, can improve relationships and increase sexual satisfaction. Don’t be afraid to invest some time in yourself and do something that not only feels good, but is also good for you. While it may seem like an embarrassing or shameful activity, masturbation is really just a part of life and isn’t something to shy away from. Get comfortable with yourself and get to know your body in the process. You never know what you might discover. Sophia Xepoleas can be reached at sexcolumnist@theorion.com or
@soph_mxx on Twitter. J.Q. Hammer/The Orion
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Arts & Entertainment
Check out the video for Chico’s Soul Shake, a weekly dancing event at the Dorothy Johnson Center.
theorion.com/arts
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
CALENDAR
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EXHIBIT
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MUSIC
Zap
Mama
Photo courtesy of Gateway Science
Chico State’s Gateway Science Museum is currently displaying a kid-friendly exhibit by Environmental Exhibit Collaborative. It explores in-depth the insects that like to suck your blood. WHERE: Gateway Science Museum WHEN: All day PRICE: FREE
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PERFORMANCE Photo courtesy of Chico Performances
Zap Mama performed with Antibalas on Feb. 18 at Laxson Auditorium, spreading messages of positivity through their vibrant sounds.
Photo courtesy of School of the Arts
The 11th annual New Music Symposium will begin with a concert of original music from student composers and conclude with a featured performance from the Bay Area’s Earplay, a group of classical performers. WHERE: Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall WHEN: 7:30 p.m. PRICE: FREE
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Empowering concert brings together two eclectic performances Trevor Whitney Staff Writer Four women dressed in tight black outfits with gold chains and sleeves casually walked into the spotlight onstage singing in harmony. It was hypnotizing. The shiniest of the quartet, group founder and lead vocalist Marie Daulne, started beatboxing and improvising her own separate melodies as the other three continued harmonizing on the previous one. Daulne looped the beat, adding subtle changes each time. The other singers built up underneath her with a gradual intensity and right when it felt like it was going to pop, everyone cut out simultaneously in resounding silence. Daulne’s Afro-pop group, Zap Mama, stopped by Laxson Auditorium Wednesday night as part of its current national tour with the Brooklyn Afrobeat and funk band Antibalas. Antibalas consists of 12 members: lead vocals, trumpet, trombone, tenor and baritone saxophone, drums, keyboards, two guitarists, bass and
percussion featuring congas and shekshow than they have been in the past.” ere. The band was founded by baritone Depending on the success of the saxophonist Martin Perna. tour and the schedules of the parties “Antibalas literally means anti-bulinvolved, there is a possibility for lets and colloquially means bulletfuture collaborations in the studio, proof,” Perna said. “The double-meanPerna said. In the meantime, all of ing describes the robustness of the the material that Antibalas is playing music we play underscored by an on tour is new, and they hope to get it anti-imperialist sensibility as a band recorded sometime this year. based in the U.S. but oftentimes in opDespite perfect execution of the position with state violence both inside new material, some of the jams went the U.S. and abroad.” on too long. For the most part, the A few performance songs into was both Expect to sing like you’ve the Zap exciting and never sung before, dance Mama set, mesmerizing. like you’ve never danced members But toward the before. of Antibaend of the set, Martin Perna, similar grooves las started creeping founding member of Antibalas seemed to go onstage to on too far past back them the point that it up. Eventually the show transitioned should’ve built into something else. into their set until they were rejoined To those unfamiliar with Zap Mama for the finale and encore. and Antibalas, their performances Collaborating with Zap Mama has are a celebration of the power of the been a fitting counterbalance to what human voice, Perna said. the musicians of Antibalas normally “The voice can create positive or negdo on their own, Perna said. ative energy in the world,” Perna said. “There’s a lot of masculine energy “We need positive energy, to channel — 12 guys onstage with instruments,” the righteous anger about income inPerna said. “By adding four talented, equality, police violence, institutional strong female vocalists we create a racism, misogyny, clim much fuller sound than we are normally able to achieve. The long instruTrevor Whitney can be reached at artseditor@theorion.com or mental sections are even more present than the vocal elements, and vocals @tomsundgren on Twitter. will be a much stronger part of our
Q&A Photo courtesy of JMAX productions
Swedish heavy metal band In Flames will be coming to Chico as part of its Charming America Tour with American heavy metal band All that Remains. WHERE: The Senator Theatre WHEN: 7:30 p.m. PRICE: $27
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Photo courtesy of Webster PR
North Carolina bluegrass sensation NuBlu will be bringing its progressive take on the genre to Trinity United Methodist Church.
WHERE: Trinity United Methodist Church WHEN: 7 p.m. PRICE: FREE
West By Swan on name origin, venues Tom Sundgren
Staff Writer
West By Swan will be coming forth with its experimental rock music at Monstros Pizza on March 20. Bassist Greg Hopkins discusses background influences, the dynamic of the band, where they have been and what is in store for the future. What are some of your guys’ artist or band influences? Greg: Well, we’re older. So you know, a lot of Fugazi. D.C. bands. I was born in D.C. and lived in Maryland and Virginia until I was 22. So a lot of that stuff. Bad Brains for me. Where did the name West By Swan come from? Before West By Swan, Dan told me he and Conrad, who was the first bassist, were in another band together called North Magnetic. They wanted to keep the directional name continued, and the words sounded really good together. Then they found out there was a river called Swan River west of Perth in Australia. It wasn’t really the namesake, but it was funny to figure that out later. What local venues do you guys usually play at? Monstros Pizza, The Maltese, 1078 Gallery, Cafe Coda. I don’t think there is a venue we haven’t played here. There is
Photo courtesy of Shannon Corr Photography
Bassist Greg Hopkins, left, drummer Daniel Taylor and guitarist Dan Greenfield perform at the PRF West Coast music festival in Oakland last year. also a smaller spot that has a show once a month on Orange and Sixth. We’ve played there. Really anywhere that will have us. I prefer all-ages shows. For one, there will be more younger people there who are not necessarily there to drink but to actually listen to music. I have a 14-year-old son, and he has been to a couple of our shows, so they come to the all-ages show. It’s cool. Last year, when we did our CD release show, Dave’s kid’s band opened up for the show. What local bands are you guys into? We love Cold Blue Mountain. They’re just really good and heavy. I like Shadow Limb, Surrogate, Teeph, Cities.
Are you guys wanting to do a U.S. tour in the near future? We haven’t toured in a while. Last year, we did a small tour from here, Yuba City, Redding, Sacramento and a festival in Oakland. This year has been a little more low key then normal. But we would like to tour more. Dan has a 4-year-old and an infant. And I’ve got two kids, and Dave has two kids. Daniel has been really busy with his other bands as well. So we do what we can. Buy you know, that is not holding us back. Tom Sundgren can be reached at artseditor@theorion.com or
@tomsundgren on Twitter.
B8 | Wednesday, feb. 25, 2015 | Arts & Entertainment
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Learn more or to RSVP call 916.920.0157 visit www.usfca.edu/sacramento or email sacramentocampus@usfca.edu
Feb 28 Groove Session, Big Tree Downtown Chico’s Fall Down, Sofa King Mar 06 GRUB Fundraiser Mar 07 Mac Sabbath, This Glass House, Bogart The Monster Mar 15 MoonHooch, Big Sticky Mess, Smokey The Groove
Best Live Music Venue Mar 17 St Pattys Day: Swamp Zen and ZuhG Mar 19 Exquisite Corp and Pig War Mar 20 Not Cal Roller Derby Fundraiser Mar 21 Funkanauts w/Black Star Safari Mar 25 Pimps of Joytime Mar 27 Brothers Comatose w/Low Flying Birds
Burger and Billiards! 319 Main St. | 530.892-2473 Open Hours
Mon-Thurs 2pm-1am Fri-Sun 11am-1am All ages till 10pm!
Bring this in to recieve 1 hour of free pool with the purchase of any burger or sandwich