STORM CHASING
The Orion explores the possibility of a tornado in Chico Story A5
QUITTING PAINS Stressed-out student finds it hard to quit smoking Story A9
Chico State’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1975
VOLUME 66 ISSUE 9
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2011
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RIVER RACER Senior business major Sean Field rides his bike through the flooded bike path next to the Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater, which had flooded due to heavy rains over the weekend.
CAMPUS >>
source: Student Announcements
A four-week film series is being presented by the Environmental Action Resource Center. The film “For the Next 7 Generations” will be shown 7 p.m. April 7 in Ayres 120. It is an educational film about diversity in the environment. The film, provided by the Office of Diversity, is about 13 indigenous grandmothers from all different parts of the world and their efforts to spread their message and concerns about taking care of the planet. Sharleen Lowry from Associated Students Human Resources will be a guest speaker at the event.
THE ORION • SAMANTHA YOUNGMAN
Chico left underwater after week of stormy weather Dario Gut STAFF WRITER
A fierce storm blew through the streets of Chico the weekend starting March 19, pulling down branches and flooding the streets with at least 1.5 inches of rain. Wet and windy weather early March 20 caused dozens of power outages in Chico, affecting more than 5,000 homes and businesses, said Paul Moreno, a Pacific Gas and Electric Company media spokesman. Westpark Plaza, an apartment complex located on 920
West Fourth Ave., was just one of many places that were affected by the power outage, Moreno said. “The first outage began at 1:30 a.m. when a tree branch broke a power line at North Cedar and West Fourth Avenue,” Moreno said. “This caused an outage affecting 1,727 homes and businesses.” The PG&E crew worked all day Sunday until all the power was restored for 500 customers at 2 p.m. and the remaining customers at 5:45 p.m., Moreno said. A large section in Westpark
Plaza lost power due to a branch collapsing on the power grid, said Traci DeDontney, assistant manager of Westpark Plaza Apartments. “I got a call at 1 a.m. by a Plaza resident saying that their power went out,” DeDontney said. “The next morning there was a PG&E truck outside my window fixing the lines.” Not all the apartments in the complex were affected by the power outage, she said. The center apartments all lost power, but the outer buildings continued to have power. Junior Sam Wilson, a
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Alexander Seymour
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source: Student Announcements
CAVE is putting on a “handme-up” clothing drive today benefiting the Torres Shelter. Students are asked to bring slightly used or new clothes and shoes to donate. The drive will be located at the walkway between Glenn and Siskiyou Halls from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations should be dropped off at the CAVE Chico Ambassador table. For more information, contact the CAVE office located in Bell Memorial Union Room 309 or call 530-898-5817. source: Student Announcements
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ILLUSTRATION BY LIAM TURNER
Chaos from Japan spilled over into Chico State’s Study Abroad Office as the organization scrambled to ensure the safe return of its overseas students. Six Chico State students had their Japan study abroad program cut short last week as they were called back to the United States, said Tasha Dev, International Exchange and Study Abroad coordinator. The students’ recall was issued by the chancellor of the California State University system and applies to all CSU students in Japan, she said. “We have evacuated all of them and are bringing them home,” Dev said. None of Chico State’s students have been harmed by the events overseas or were in any >> please see JAPAN | A6
Likely cuts mean tough choices Allison Weeks STAFF WRITER
As California State University officials grapple with California’s budget shortfall, they announced March 22 that they will let in 10,000 fewer students next school term, as a result of the $500 million proposed CSU education cut by Gov. Jerry Brown. “If it remains a $500 million cut, the net effect to CSU Chico would be a reduction of $13 million to our campus,” said Joe Wills, director of Public Affairs and Publications. “That takes the state cut to our campus approximately $19 million minus the added funds we would receive from the 10 percent tuition increase approved by CSU Trustees for 2011-12.” It is still unknown what impacts the planned budget reductions will have on Chico State, since those numbers have yet to be calculated by the school.
INDEX >>
cause for that specific power outage,” Moreno said. “All the customers had electricity again by 2 p.m. that day though.” Brandon Russell, another Westpark Plaza resident and Chico State graduate student, witnessed the power outage late the night before. “There was a crack and then a flash outside my window,” Russell said. “It was a real pain to do simple everyday things with no power. I was scared the food in my fridge would go bad.” Dario Gut can be reached at dgut@theorion.com
Solicitor arrested after many reports of invasive tactics
STAFF WRITER
T N E D U ST N O I T A EVACU
source: Student Announcements
The Museum Without Walls four-part lecture series Microbes on Extreme Missions will begin Wednesday, April 6 at the Chico Area Recreation District Center. The lectures, put on by Gateway Science Museum and the College of Natural Sciences at Chico State, will each be on a Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Students get in free with a student ID, and a $3 donation is requested from all other adults. There will be a question and answer session after each lecture.
geography major living in the complex, experienced the power outage in his home that morning. “We were using flashlights from our camping supplies to see at night,” Wilson said. “I even had a camping stove to cook my food outside, which was pretty fun.” A second outage occurred at 2:30 a.m. Sunday when another line broke near Hobart and West First Avenue that affected 1,990 homes and businesses, Moreno said. “The working crew was unable to determine the exact
Students forced back stateside C
A live magic show is coming to Laxson Auditorium. Chico Performances is hosting Spencer’s Theatre of Illusion at 7:30 p.m. on April 5. The show will feature original elements of traditional magic as well as new-age lighting and special effects. It will include elements of drama, comedy, romance and suspense as well as tricks and illusions. The performance is sponsored by Twin Oaks Post Acute Rehab. Tickets are $27 for premium seats, $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students and children. Tickets can be purchased at the University Box Office or at www.chicoperformances.com.
“Whatever our budget reduction, and as we consider what areas to cut, we keep in mind that our top campus priority will continue to be serving students with the instruction and services they need to graduate,” Wills said. Faculty salaries make up 84 percent of the CSU’s operating budget, sadi Erik Fallis, media consultant for the CSU Chancellor’s office. “The other 16 percent is for maintaining the grounds of the CSU campuses.” Of the $500 million in proposed cuts, the 23 CSU campuses will need to reduce their funds by at least $281 million. This may require schools to further reduce employees. The CSU system has lost 4,145 employees since the 2008-2009 school year, according to a press release by the CSU Chancellor’s office. Letting in 10,000 fewer students is expected to save the CSUs $60 million. “We are at the lowest point we have been in a decade,”
Fallis said. “The only difference now is we are serving 70,000 more students.” Despite these cuts, Chico State is trying to provide its students with required classes. Some students, like senior communication studies major Lissa Cunningham, are worried about the reduction of classes, she said. The college may face deeper cuts if Brown’s proposed tax extensions are not on the June ballot or are rejected by California voters. “If the Governor does not receive the revenue budget cuts, we could face up to $1 billion in cuts, which would be incredibly difficult and painful for everyone,” Fallis said. While the effects of the budget reduction on the Chico State campus is still unknown, some faculty will be laid off and face furloughs, said Jeff Bell, chair of the Department of Biology. “Faculty will face a 10 percent cut in pay or less than 10
percent,” Bell said. “With a decreasing number of faculty, we will see an increase in class sizes. When they say they will decrease the number of students, it is code for they will decrease the number of faculty.” At Chico State, faculty members that have seniority get paid more than junior members, he said. Both junior faculty and parttime faculty will be the first ones to be laid off, Bell said. Associated Students, funded exclusively by students, is focusing on ways to preserve student services for next year, A.S. President Amro Jayousi said. “Instead of having employees work 12 months out of the year, we are thinking about reducing it to 11 months due to the decreasing enrollment,” Jayousi said. “We are also thinking about cutting salaries because of this.” Allison Weeks can be reached at aweeks@theorion.com
Ben Mullin STAFF WRITER
Chico State students teamed up with University Police to catch an aggressive magazine salesman last Wednesday. Chico police were fi rst alerted to the presence of the “pushy salesman” on March 22 when they received a call from a distressed female student, University Police Chief Eric Reichel said. “He followed her in, and she was concerned for her safety,” Reichel said. “She ended up paying for a subscription just to get him out of there.” University Police received reports of an aggressive salesman the following day whose description matched the man who harassed the student on March 22, Reichel said. In an effort to catch him, the police sent out a bulletin to every Chico State student asking for help identifying the salesperson. “We requested information from students on campus, and man, they were wonderful,” Reichel said. “Within 20 minutes, I had 15 responses.” After receiving a breaking tip from a student, the suspect was identified as David Lawrenz, a resident of Milwaukee and a sales employee of Direct Subscription Services, Reichel said. “He was very cooperative,” Reichel said. “We have enough information now to fi le for an arrest warrant on this individual for trespassing and soliciting without a license.” Lawrenz was working with six other salespeople also employed by Direct Subscription Services, a company operating out of Texas, Reichel said. Lawrenz could not be >> please see SALESMAN | A6
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World News
A2
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B5
Police Blotter
A4
Arts
C1
The_Webz
A4
Daily Dose
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A8
Features
D1
Sports
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The Nebula
D5
TODAY
Sports
Arts
Features
Moshing adds to rock experience
Find out what’s on the secret food menu around Chico
full week A2 >>
One of Chico’s best imports tearing up the track for the Wildcats Story B1
Story C2
Story D1
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