DRAMA IN THE HOUSE
Read about the theater department’s stirring version of Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” Story C1
Chico State’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1975
YOUR VOTE COUNTS
Get to know each candidate running for Associated Students government. Spread A6 VOLUME 66 ISSUE 11
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011
FIRST COPY FREE
news all week at theorion.com
additional copies 50¢
Chico State to lose at least $13 million in funds
CAMPUS >>
Bryan Clendon STAFF WRITER
Human remains found in the backyard of a Chico home on Jan. 27 were determined to be those of a Native American child in between the ages of 2 and 4. The Chico State anthropology department examined the site, recovered the remains, and analyzed them to determine whose they were after Chico Police asked for the department’s assistance. Final disposition is in the hands of the Butte County Coroners’ Office.
Although Chico State already faces large budget reductions in the fall, the losses may still double. The California State University system may suffer a $500 million budget cut, $19 million of which will come directly out of Chico State’s pocket,
said Joe Wills, director of public affairs and publications. A 10 percent tuition fee hike approved last year for fall 2011 will compensate for $6 million, but this still leaves the Chico State budget $13 million short of what is expected, Wills said. The university anticipates reduced enrollment next semester because of these
cuts. “If you have less money, you simply can’t educate the same number of students,” Wills said. There is a possibility that the budget cuts across the CSU system could even double to $1 billion, Wills said. If legislators are not able to get a measure on the ballot for a temporary tax period
extension, or voters don't support such a measure, $1 billion in CSU budget cuts becomes even more likely. This would also increase Chico State’s budget cuts to $26 million — twice the amount that the university is already struggling to cope with. Yet even with the expected loss in state funding of $13 million, there will be little
Revised GE program moves into final stage Orion Staff
source: KRCR TV
The Associated Students is offering a sunset-to-fullmoon paddle trip April 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Forebay Aquatic Center. A California State Park Interpreter will be joining the group to explain natural features, history and folklore of the area. The paddling trip will go around the lake and is $18 for Chico State students. source: Associated Students
Nominations for the Paul Persons Sustainability Award are due April 15. Each year since 2008, the award has recognized the Chico State faculty member who best provides curriculum students on sustainability, incorporates sustainable methods and materials into classes and teaches ways to create a more sustainable organization. The award will be announced on Earth Day, April 22.
effect on the Chico State workforce, Wills said. “I would not expect widespread layoffs or furloughs,” he said. However, if the cuts were to increase, all cost saving measures would be considered, Wills said. “If tax extensions don’t pass, there will probably even >> please see CUTS | A7
DYING ART The mural on the east side of Taylor Hall was painted in 1981 by artist John Pugh. The dimensional illusion of the mural is a trademark of the artist.
Demolition may have life imitating art THE ORION • JOSH ZACK
Alexander Seymour STAFF WRITER
The planned demolition of Taylor Hall worries some members of community about the future of one of Chico’s most treasured pieces of art. The mural’s name, “Academe,” does not ring bells for many in Chico, but once the piece is described it is instantly recognizable, said history professor Michael
Magliari. The work painted on the east side of Taylor Hall across from Celestino’s New York Pizza depicts a crumbling wall that tricks onlookers into seeing Greek-style Doric columns through the “broken” side of the building. The original purpose of the work was to flaunt the cornerstone of the modern education system, which is still firmly rooted in that of the ancient Greek >> please see MURAL | A7
source: Campus Announcements
The final “stones” are being slotted into new general education pathways this semester — a major change that makes minors more accessible. Under the new system, the 48-unit general education requirement will be split into 10 different pathways that each focus on a different area of study, said Bill Loker, Chico State’s dean of Undergraduate Education. If a student follows that pathway for 18 units, including nine lower division and nine upper division units, they earn a minor in their pathway’s area of study, Loker said. The remaining 30 units will consist of “foundation” courses, which teach the fundamentals of higher education, such as beginning composition, math and philosophy. The existing general education system, which has not been changed for 10 years, will be completely revised by fall 2012 to make GE more relevant for incoming freshmen, Loker said. “Because there is a potential under the new program to get a minor, students will see value,” Loker said. The 10 pathways, which include “Great Books and Ideas,” “Gender and Sexuality” and “Science, Technology and Values” are intended to produce more worldly, wellrounded students, Loker said. “We wanted to be sure that students had exposure to some of the most important ideas in the world,” he said. Under the new system, students will not be forced to pick a pathway, Loker said. “They can still just sample broadly across GE,” Loker said. “There will still be a wide variety of classes to choose from.” Meetings will be held until the end of the semester to determine which courses will be included in each pathway, said Charley Turner, chair of the General Education Advisory Committee. Because there are only three courses allowed in a pathway per department, and because each department receives funding based on the amount of students it enrolls, there is some competition among professors to get their courses accepted. “If you have three tickets to a ball game and >> please see GE | A7
Diamond anniversary celebration put on hold for KCSC Allison Weeks STAFF WRITER
Social scientists at Chico State are using a mobile iPad lab to research people’s economic and political thoughts in the United States. The scientists have test subjects use iPad applications to test views of the fairness and equality of the economy. Older experiments used paper, and often ended with scientists carrying 20 pound reams of paper.
See Campus Spotlight D5
source: Chico State Public Affairs
THE ORION • FRANK REBELO
MIXING IT UP KCSC DJ Ian Fernie, a senior recording arts major, spins at a fundraising event held at Woodstock’s Pizza April 4.
INDEX >>
Chico State’s student-run radio station, KCSC, postponed its 60th anniversary events until fall 2011 in order to plan for a week full of activities. The radio station has a team of three directors who are solely dedicated to putting on the weeklong 60th anniversary events, said Quinn Mattingly, KCSC general manager and junior media arts major. The planning committee had only half a semester to put on an entire week’s worth of events, leading to the decision to postpone the events. “We have done promotions, but KCSC has never put on a
big event,” Mattingly said. “We decided to push it back a semester so we can get more people involved with a little bit more notice.” The radio station had three fundraisers last week in order to increase funds for next semester’s events, she said. KCSC management hopes to showcase local bands in the celebration, Mattingly said. These local bands will consist of Chico State students, Chico State graduates and musicians from Wild Oak Music Group, the independent record label from Chico State’s music industry program. “We can use our connections and, hopefully, get a band that is a little bit bigger — maybe not from the area — to perform in
the BMU Auditorium,” Mattingly said. “With more time and with this experience under our belt from knowing what we do now, we will have a much easier time putting it on.” The radio station wants to make sure everything they have planned for the 60th anniversary is available, said KCSC Promotional Coordinator and junior communication design major Erica Markham. “We are having fundraisers at Beach Hut and the Bear to show that we are involved in the Chico community as well as the school,” Markham said. The radio station is looking to advertise in the dorms, but they need a permit from the >> please see KCSC | A7
INSIDE >>
World News
A2
Directories
B5
Police Blotter
A4
Arts
C1
The_Webz
A4
Daily Dose
C5
Opinion
A8
Features
D1
Sports
B1
The Nebula
D5
TODAY
Opinion
Sports
Features
Ferid Ceslomanovic has come from civil war in Bosnia to collegiate soccer stardom in the States Story B1
Find out about Chico State’s notorious past that brought national attention to the campus Story D1
full week A2 >>
See the editorial board’s endorsements for A.S. elections Spread A8
60 42
high low