The Orion - Spring 2012, Issue 10

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Chico State’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1975

CANDIDATE VISITS Visit theorion.com for coverage of presidential candidate Ron Paul’s rally at Chico State Tuesday night.

“J” OF ALL TRADES Chico State track and field decathlete J. Patrick Smith defines all-around talent. Story A7

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FACILITIES FEES

Chico State ‘open’ to facility charge changes The second facilities fees forum explored the differences between student clubs and auxiliary groups. The school signaled modifications could be made to lower fees for student groups.

discussions. I can’t just open the campus back up 24/7.” The facility-fee policy allows student clubs to use the Bell Memorial Union for free, but clubs have to pay the same amount as non-schoolaffiliated clubs to use any other building on campus after the school’s “normal hours,” which usually end at 5 p.m. weekdays. Because of this, students must pay to use campus facilities other than the BMU for events on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Students already pay for the BMU as part of student activity fees, Hoff man said. “If you are a recognized student club and you want to have an event, the BMU is not the last place you should go,” she said. “It’s the first.” The goal is to consolidate student meeting places and times to reduce carbon emissions, Hoff man said. It is possible that using fewer buildings will >> please see FEES | A4

Juniper Rose A SST. NE WS EDITOR

The university’s facility-use policy, which has troubled some student organizations, may be modified yet. Fees for student clubs may become flexible for those who want to use campus facilities during non-normal hours, said Lorraine Hoffman, vice president for business and finance, in an interview Monday after the second forum was held to discuss the university’s policy. “I’m open to discussions,” she said. “I’ve always known that the policy would need to be modified, but I want to have thoughtful

THE ORION • FRANK REBELO

TALK IT OUT Lorraine Hoff man [right], vice president for business and finance, addresses a forum of about 50 people Monday in Kendall Hall to explain the fee policy.

Faculty mull vote to strike over contract Juniper Rose ASST. NE WS EDITOR

THE ORION • BRETT EDWARDS

THE ORION • ANNIE PAIGE

DIFFERENT Butte College student Emma Chappell strums a guitar during Cesar Chavez Day weekend. Partygoers donned costumes that have been criticized as an insensitive way to celebrate Chavez.

BEATS Andrea Hernandez told demonstrators to take a stand and tell partygoers the “real” reasons to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day. The march winded through the south-campus area Saturday.

Traditions split on Chavez Day Arrests down over last two years Demonstrators take to streets on traditional drinking holiday to honor labor leader’s legacy August Walsh

Luke Minton

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

Dowtown revelery peaked Friday before inclement weather on Cesar Chavez Day drove the sombrero-laden crowds indoors. Chico State closed its campus Friday in observance of the state holiday, which has traditionally seen increased drinking in town. Forty-two arrests were made during the holiday weekend, according to a press release by Chico police. This is the lowest number in two years. In 2011, 50 arrests were made, and in 2010, there were 43, according to the release. Eleven Chico State students were arrested this year, most on the suspicion of being drunk in public. Three Butte College students, seven other students and 21 non-students were arrested, according to the release. Most of the arrests were alcohol-related. There was a noticeable decrease in activity on Saturday compared to Friday, Chico police Sgt. Rob Merrifield said. There were a significant number of partygoers by 5 p.m. Friday, but festivities mellowed out Saturday. “We thought it was going to busier than that,” Merrifield said. “A lot of it depends on >> please see CESAR | A4

Chico State’s Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan club held its sixth annual demonstration on Cesar Chavez Day to, in part, protest how the holiday is celebrated downtown. A march was held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in City Plaza, where about 50 demonstrators marched from the plaza, down Main Street and past Riley’s on the corner of West Fifth and Ivy streets. Cesar Chavez worked for the laborers and never just for Latino workers, said Manuel Rivera, a coordinator of the march. Race didn’t play a part in what Chavez worked for. “Cesar Chavez sacrificed himself for others,” Rivera said. “Now we need more people to stand up and take over.” As demonstrators marched downtown they chanted, “Chicano power,” and “Si, se puede,” which translates to “Yes, we can.” Some onlookers raised their middle fingers and offered demonstrators shots of tequila as they passed. “If you disagree with how things are, let them know,” Rivera said. “The one thing we don’t want is silence.” One man exposed himself as the protesters passed, while another threw oranges at the >> please see CHAVEZ | A3

INDEX >> World News

California State University faculty members are expected to vote for a systemwide strike that could close campuses at the beginning of the fall semester. Voting will take place on the 23 California State University campuses and online April 16-27, said Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the California Faculty Association. The majority of faculty members are expected to support this action, Ferguson said. “They really are upset about what is being done and how their profession is being diminished by many of the things the Chancellor’s Office is doing,” he said, “whether it is dolling out pay raises to executives or other misplaced priorities.” The collective bargaining agreement CSU faculty members work under expired in June 2010, and a new collective bargaining agreement is currently being negotiated, Ferguson said. However, it is unknown when the new contract agreement will be reached. “We don’t want to strike, but we will,” he said. “It looks like this is something that has to happen in order to bring the chancellor to his senses.” The proposals presented by the CSU system demand large concessions from faculty and would diminish the quality of education, Ferguson said. “For us, a good deal would be something that protected the quality of education, bearing in mind that we are in a tough economic spot,” he said. “The things that we are proposing aren’t things that cost a lot of money or are going to bankrupt the state or make student fees go up.” The strike would take place at the beginning of the upcoming fall semester, Ferguson said. If the negotiation is unsuccessful, “it could very easily set in motion a series of events that would result in some campuses not reopening in the fall, because they’ll be on strike,” he said. If the strike takes place, professors will be asked not to teach their classes for the days the campus is on strike, Ferguson said. In fall 2011, a one-day strike took place at Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State East Bay, where an estimated 86 percent of classes were canceled, Ferguson said. The CSU Chancellor’s Office is currently negotiating with a mediator for the new collective bargaining agreement, said Mike Uhlenkamp, a representative for the CSU. There are 41 different articles of the collective bargaining agreement, which cover raises, salaries, layoffs and holidays, among other things, Uhlenkamp said. Coming to >> please see STRIKE | A3

INSIDE >> A2

Arts

B1

Weather

A2

Features

B3

Police Blotter

A4

Service Directory

B5

Sports

A6

Opinion

B7

Arts

TODAY

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full week A2 >>

April brings not only showers, but a museum, too. Story B2

Features Japanese Animation Club continues to host Mini Con despite fee increases. Story B5

Opinion Read about why it’s a bad idea to have a pet in college. Column B7


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