Chico State’s Independent Student News Source since 1975 OPINION:
NEWS » Police: The city of Chico decides to increase police pay and lower crime rates. A3 SPORTS»Steals: Outfielder Alli Cook is now the Wildcats’ all-time leader in stolen bases. B1
»Communication: Columnist explains how stronger listening skills can improve relationships. A6
FEATURES »Science: Biochemistry major excels in several areas, including cancer research. B5 Miles Huffman/The Orion
ARTS»Musician: Alumnus Jack Wittich works on new music as he enters the studio. B7
Theorion.com | Wednesday, March 25, 2015 | Vol. 74, Issue 9 | First copy free, additional copies 50¢
Proposed funding for CSU falls short
PRESIDENT
Jenice Tupelo
Staff Writer
Sixty-nine hundred qualified students could be receiving rejection letters next winter if the state does not come through with the $97 million requested by the California State University system. Gov. Jerry Brown proposed a 2015-16 budget of $119 million for the CSU, while the Board of Trustees says that $268 million is needed to operate at full capacity. If the $97 million gap is not bridged, state universities can expect to see an increase of temporary faculty, deferred maintenance and decreased enrollment, said Darion Johnston, the Associated Students director of legislative affairs. Johnston, along with six other A.S. officers, visited the state Capitol on March 2 to advocate for the additional funding. “The idea was to show our legislators here at Chico the real student experience,” Johnston said. “It gives you a face to who your decisions are affecting.” A decrease in tenure-track professors at the university is a reflection of the instability in the CSU budget and directly affects students. Temporary faculty, or lecturers, have less responsibility and stability with varying benefits in comparison to tenure-track professors, said Dana Ferris, a professor in the writing program at UC Davis. Lecturers can be hired on a semester-to-semester basis or however long the university decides to keep them under contract. “Some (lecturers) are often teaching at two or three different places, which turns out to be not so good for students,” Ferris said. Students could also be impacted by the continuation of deferred maintenance. The CSU system has wracked up $1.8 billion in deferred maintenance, Johnston said. “We’ve had elevators drop on people,” she said. “This is absolutely not the fault of anyone on our campus — this is an issue of funding. “ The governor’s current budget allows for an enrollment increase of 1 percent or 3,000 to 4,000 students. Next year, the CSU system is expected to receive 20-30,000 applications from qualified students, with half accepting admission and the other half being turned away because of lack of room for enrollment growth in the budget. The $97 million would increase enrollment by 12,000 to 15,000 students. “It’s supposed to be a system that’s accessible to everyone who meets a few basic requirements,” Johnston said. “We’re not able to fulfill the promise to families who have students who want to go to a CSU.” By the year 2025, California is expected to be short 1 million college-educated graduates. Debate over state funding has begun in the Legislature, but a budget is still yet to be determined. “We’re asking the state,” Johnston said, “including the governor and especially the Legislature to come up with a number that fills that gap.” Jenice Tupelo can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or
@JayTupolo on Twitter.
INDEX Corrections
A2
Weather
A2
Police Blotter
A4
Opinion
A6
Sports
B1
Directory
B3
Features
B5
Sex Column
B6
A+E
B7
Weather
81 51
Precipitation: 0% Humidity: 47% Wind: 13 mph
App Our brand new app is available on the App Store and Google Play.
WELCOMING
INTERIM PRESIDENT Former Humboldt State President Rollin Richmond takes the reins following President Paul Zingg’s recent heart bypass surgery By Dylan de Wit STAFF WRITER
R
ollin Richmond, the former president of Humboldt State, has been appointed as acting president for Chico State in the wake of President Paul Zingg’s recent heart surgery and necessary recuperation period. Chancellor Timothy White selected Zingg’s interim replacement and on the California State University public affairs blog wrote, “On behalf of the entire CSU, I wish President Zingg a speedy and full recovery.” Zingg, 69, underwent successful heart bypass surgery on March 15 at Enloe Medical Center and is expected to make a full recovery with time. “Up to this point, President Zingg has been great to work with,” said Taylor Herren, Associated Students president. “He’s someone that I have a really genuine relation with. All professional and A.S. stuff aside, I hope he’s okay.” Richmond, 70, served as Humboldt State’s president for 12 years and retired in 2014. The chancellor’s decision was announced on March 18.
“Dr. Richmond has extensive experience leading a university and his focus on students, diversity and sustainability parallel the vision and values of CSU Chico,” White said. “I am pleased that he is available to help guide the university in President Zingg’s absence.” Richmond is a product of the CSU system, having obtained his bachelor’s degree at San Diego State. Preceding his time as Humboldt State’s president, he served as provost and professor at Iowa State University. “(Richmond’s) long history of leadership in the CSU and at other institutions, familiarity with our region, and past partnerships with CSU, Chico makes him a natural choice to lead us during this interim period,” said Sarah Langford, Chico State’s public affairs coordinator. Zingg’s absence will be a challenge for the student and university administration, especially considering that three out of five cabinet members are also interim, Herren said. With commencement just six weeks away, she and the rest of A.S. eager to help however they can.
“There are very real challenges in changing leadership,” she said. “I just want to build a good relationship and have a good partnership with the incoming interim president.” While under Richmond, Humboldt State was able to build three buildings, even when faced with the recession. He was able to improve “town-gown” relationships and worked to enhance and maintain diversity among the student body. In 2014, Humboldt State qualified as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a recognition Chico State has also received. Overall, representatives from CSU and Chico State alike have conveyed confidence that Richmond is more than cut out for the job at hand. “I have the utmost confidence in Rollin to work with the faculty, staff, students and community to continue to advance the work of the university while Paul is recuperating,” White said. of the university while Paul is recuperating.” Dylan de Wit can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or @DylanTdeWit on Twitter.
TOP: Rollin Richmond, the president of Humboldt State from 2002 to 2014, will be taking over as acting president at Chico State on Thursday. Photo courtesy of Humboldt Magazine
Lacrosse works to recover from suspension Men’s team plans to apply for reinstatement following alcohol violations and student’s death Michael McClurg
Staff Writer
The men’s lacrosse team is striving to show itself in a positive light following the death of first-year student Nicholas Castellanos, who was struck by a car and killed on Jan. 16. Both the men’s and women’s teams were suspended in February for violating the alcohol policy in the sport club program’s code of conduct, according to a Chico State press release.
In the course of investigating the circumstances of Castellanos’ death, university officials discovered parties held by the teams on Jan. 10 and 16 where alcohol was available. The men’s lacrosse team will get a chance to be reinstated in April and is actively working with the community to improve its image. The club is helping coach the Rebels, a youth lacrosse team in
Chico, and is hoping to do alcohol education presentations on campus as well as community outreach events. “We are hoping to show the school and the community that what happened was a freak accident,” said Evan Forayter, club president and senior manufacturing engineering major. “And we are taking steps to make sure that it never happens again.” In April, each sports club has to put in a request to receive funding from Chico State for the
EVAN FORAYTER
» please see LACROSSE| A3