theorion.com
|
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
|
Vol. 81, Issue 12
|
Print and online content is free
|
INSIDE Vol. 81, Issue 12 CONTACT | EDITORIAL Phone: 530.898.5627 Email: editorinchief@theorion.com
Editor-in-Chief Julia Maldonado Content Managing Editor Alex Grant Art Director Sergio Delgado Chief Copy Editor Katya Villegas News Editors Josh Cozine Mathew Miranda Opinion Editor Karen Limones Sports Editor Andrew Baumgartner A+E Editor Natalie Hanson Multimedia Editor Caitlyn Young Designer Chris Godbout Copy Editors Salma Reyes Hailey Vang Adviser Diego Aparicio CONTACT | BUSINESS Phone: 530.898.6919 Email: orionadvertisingmanager@gmail.com Website Fax www.theorion.com
ALEX GRANT—THE ORION
Cover Story: Read about how a Chico State student is rebuilding her life after losing her mother and home to the Camp Fire.
PAGE 6
PAGE 10 PAGE 10
JOSH COZINE—THE ORION
Butte College survived Camp Fire with minimal damage. Read about the number of students who have dropped out so far.
PAGE 14
IMAGE FROM IMDB.COM
“Creed II” is a masterful sequel that develops the Rocky and Apollo saga in new ways. Read our review on page 10.
PAGEs 20
530.898.4799
CORRECTIONS
PHOTO COURTESY OF GARY TOWNE
This week’s Wildcat of the Week is Jack Emanuel who burst onto the scene scoring in four of his six races.
GETTY IMAGES PHOTO BY PATCAMERA
There are many ways to help the Camp Fire victims, but it takes time to get through thousands of applications. It’s important to wait and help when it’s needed
BRIEFS
3
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
Vans donates Christmas preshoes to Camp view proceeds Fire victims go to Camp Fire relief Justin Jackson Staff Writer
Doing its part to help the victims of the Camp Fire, Vans went to Chico High on Saturday to give away free shoes. The first thing noticeable was the enormous line outside the Lincoln Center that many people would wait at least two hours to get through. If they did manage to get through it, they would enter a room of parents telling their kids to stop playing around and to try on shoes. With sizes from toddlers to 13, almost everyone could find what they needed. Vans also gave away T-shirts of many designs to go with everyone’s new shoes. Vans has helped victims of California fires before, visiting Shasta County last year to help victims of the Carr Fire. Steve Van Doren, whose family started Vans and has been working with it for 52 years, spoke to the Orion about helping victims of the Camp Fire. People really appreciate what Vans did to help. Bryan Sullivan was one such person, who had just picked up his pair of free shoes. “I think this is awesome,” Sullivan said. “ A lot of people say they want to help, but these guys are actually coming and doing it.” Justin Jackson can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or @JustJack0176 on Twitter
Auditorium. Box Office coordinator Christopher Zinna said that Cal Fire and the Town of Paradise contacted Stephen Cummins, director of Chico Performances, who then contacted the University Box Office to help organize the events. “At the beginning, the meetings were held every day,” Zinna said. “It would be Cal Fire one day, the Town of Paradise the next day.”
Olyvia Simpson Staff Writer
Members of the community gathered in Downtown Chico during the cold weather Sunday night to enjoy the 40th Annual Christmas Preview, where a portion of proceeds went toward Camp Fire relief efforts. The event was originally scheduled for Nov 18, but after the events of the Camp Fire, the holiday event was rescheduled for Dec 2. There were 24 businesses who participated in donating a portion of their proceeds made during the event to the North Valley Community Foundation Camp Fire Relief Fund. Downtown businesses who had a Camp Fire poster in their windows donated 5 to 10 percent of proceeds to the Camp Fire Relief Fund. Many of the local businesses and restaurants had #ButteStrong and #Rebuild bracelets for sale where 100 percent of the proceeds went towards the Camp Fire Relief Fund. Mayor of Chico, Sean Morgan, and Sheriff Kory Honea both spoke at the ceremony of the Christmas tree and Menorah lighting in the downtown city plaza. Mayor Morgan welcomed residents displaced by the Camp Fire and said that Chico City Hall can be used by the Paradise City Council because we are part of one community supporting one another. Downtown Dance and Down-
OLYVIA SIMPSON—THE ORION
Many downtown businesses sold #Rebuild and #ButteStrong bracelets where 100 percent of the proceeds went toward the Camp Fire Relief Fund. town Chico both hosted the event with special musical and dance performances every 30 to 45 minutes. Downtown businesses decorated their storefront windows with holiday decorations and dancers from various local companies framed by twinkling lights. Olyvia Simpson can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or @OSimpson15 on Twitter.
Laxson hosts Camp Fire meetings Olyvia Simpson Staff Writer
During the two weeks of the Camp Fire emergency, many of the meetings and briefings providing information to the community were held at Laxson
Both Cal Fire and the Town of Paradise prepared the information to update people on the containment of the fire each day. It was up to Zinna and his staff members to make sure everything was organized and ready to go. “We were there to support them in whatever way possible,” Zinna said. “The main reason they reached out to us was because we are the largest indoor area with AC,” Zinna said of the Laxson location. Acker Gym was also considered as the location, but their AC is nonexistent and the exhaust system wasn’t working properly with all of the smoke, Zinna explained. “We had about 750 people attend the first Cal Fire meeting, and the first town hall meeting was just about the same,” Zinna said. As far as meetings go, there aren’t any more planned but “We’re here to support and help the community as much as possible,” Zinna said. “Paradise is our neighboring town so we want to help as much as possible.” Olyvia Simpson can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or @OSimpson15 on Twitter
Read more on theorion.com
4
NEWS
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
LOCAL OUTREACH
Organizations provide safe spaces for children evacuees for their children to play.
atty Henry had six hours to prepare for her flight from her home in Colorado after receiving a call Nov. 8
P
create a sculpture of his house in flames. According to Henry, even though CDS brings their own supplies, they would not run as efficiently without the help of FEMA, Target and other organi-
around 9 a.m., asking if she could be a project manager for the Camp Fire. “This was the fastest one [disaster] I’ve ever had to move on,” Henry said. Henry is one of the over 3,000 volunteers with Children Disaster Services (CDS) who travel all around the United States when a crisis occurs. CDS provides children with a safe space to play, while their parents speak to other resources at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Center. The organization, founded in 1979, has helped over 80,000 children in over 230 incidents according to their website. CDS volunteers came from Iowa, Ohio and Florida to assist the victims of Camp Fire. “It’s further traumatizing them [children] to have to sit in line for hours and to hear the tragedy retold and retold and retold in each of the interviews,” Henry said. The center is designed for children to express themselves with artistic and sensory outlets, such as painting and drawing. They also have the option to play in an active center with basketballs and hoops. Henry recalls a child pounding on a map of Paradise saying that he was going to fix the town while another used Play-Doh to
zations. FEMA created makeshift table borders to enclose the space at the local assistance center, Target donated $700 to purchase necessary materials for the children and three different organizations donated diapers after two families with children came to Henry asking if they had any in supply. “This community has really come together for these kids and for these families,” Henry said. Although children are reluctant at first, Henry seen their moods change once they get their hands on activities and surround themselves with other children. “We’ve had them come in where they don’t want to come in and they’re quiet and they’re clingy,” Henry said. “They don’t really want to play. By the time we had them a couple hours, they don’t want to leave.” Bryan Marshall also decided to help families during the initial days after Camp Fire by providing his store, Bryan’s Bricks. as a safe space for evacuees to bring their children to destress and enjoy Legos. The local Chico store gives LEGO enthusiasts the opportunity to buy, sell and trade. Marshall said that approximately one third of the people who have visited his store over the last few weeks have been victims of the fire looking for a place
Butte County Sheriff ’s Office as useful practice for his own business and with helping disaster victims. “I’m still dealing with people in emotional settings,” Marshall said. “It has been helpful, the training and experience I have.” Marshall is also giving free estimates on the prices of Lego collections so that Camp Fire victims can provide them to their insurance companies for reimbursement. Four families have come in so far and he believes more will come in the following weeks. “We are the area’s foremost authority,” Marshall said. “I’d be willing to sign an affidavit on something that says this is what it’s worth based on my experience and research. I’m willing to do that for them if that means getting some of these sets back to them.” Jason Threewit, store manager, posted on social media informing families that Bryan’s Bricks was a space for families to come by with no cost. Threewit stated that the store has been a big part of his life and he was happy to share his passion with so many others who have been affected by the fires. “It’s really crazy about how fast it happened, exactly what happened and how it affected people, but I’m glad that we’re a place
Brian Luong Staff Writer
Marshall also offered his store as a space for families following the Oroville Dam disaster. He credits his past career experience of working with the
people can come to, especially if they want to rebuild their collection, because Lego is a thing that will be around forever,” Threewit said. Henry stressed the importance of local organizations and businesses helping children in times of disasters. “If they are traumatized as a child and it’s not addressed, it can affect them for their whole life,” Henry said. “We don’t want that to happen, we want to try to minimize that as much as we can.” Brian Luong can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or @brianluongorion on Twitter
BRIAN LUONG—THE ORION
Bryan’s Bricks sells, buys and trades LEGO.
BRIAN LUONG—THE ORION
Bryan Marshall talks with a customer about pricing on Friday afternoon at his store Bryan’s Bricks.
NEWS
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018 Wednesday Sept. 26, 2018
5
HEALTH
Butte county Group seeks to Reduce
drug overdoses Amelia Storm Staff Writer
A
local harm reduction group is looking to combat the rise of opioid abuse and overdose among Butte County residents. In light of the Camp Fire, members of the Northern Valley Harm Reduction Coalition (NVHRC) have been visiting unofficial shelters to provide sharp containers for needles and opioid overdose training trainings. The 100 percent volunteer run organization was founded in July 2018 by 20 individuals initially looking to fix the shortage of syringe depositories in Butte County. The coalition now provides services ranging from educational seminars to free opioid overdose-prevention training and aid kits. Opioid is an umbrella term describing prescription drugs as well as street drugs. Drugs in this class range from doctor-prescribed Percocet to street drugs like heroin. “The amount of opioids prescribed to Butte County residents is two times higher than the state average and three times the national average,” says Butte County Public Information Officer, Lisa Almaguer. According to Almaguer, well-intentioned hospital prescriptions may cause lasting harm.
“For opioid non-users who leave the hospital with a 30-day
“This can depress the body’s central nervous system and slows
prescription of an opioid painkiller, 30 percent of them will still be on an opioid one year later and 25 percent of them will still be on an opioid three years later,” Almaguer said. The NVHRC provides localized trainings free of charge, aimed at educating and arming the public. NVHRC core member and treasurer, Angel Gomez, spoke on the trainings. “Every training includes going over what puts people at risk for overdose, how to recognize an overdose, how to respond and aftercare,” Gomez said. “Everyone receives a pamphlet of the information we give as well as a box of Narcan, the nasal spray Naloxone.” Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. According to Almaguer, in an overdose situation, minutes can decide if someone lives or dies. Since last year, 17 people have died in Butte County from preventable opioid overdoses. “Often times first responders can not make it to the scene in those first few minutes or are never called out of fear,” Gomez said. “Our hopes are that there will be someone there with naloxone as soon as the overdose occurs.” In an overdose, receptors in the brain are targeted by opioids.
or stops the vital activities of the body, including breathing and heart rate,” Almaguer said. The drug Naloxone has a stronger attraction to these receptors than the opioids, preventing brain damage and other harm. Despite its aggressive behavior, the public doesn’t need to worry about using Naloxone. “It is as safe as Tylenol,” Gomez said. “Naloxone saves lives.” Beyond the immediate death reduction, the group is also a pioneer for social rights. “We accept, for better and or worse, that licit and illicit drug use is part of our world and choose to work to minimize its harmful effects rather than simply ignore or condemn them,” Gomez said. “We do not attempt to minimize or ignore the real and tragic harm and danger associated with licit and illicit drug use.” NVHRC is hosting upcoming free Naloxone trainings at the Stonewall Alliance Center on Dec. 6 at 7 pm, and hourly on Dec. 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. To schedule a oneon-one training or group training go to the NVHRC website. Amelia Storm can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or @Amelia_Storm on Twitter
AMELIA STORM—THE ORION
The infographic demonstrates how Butte County compares to the rest of the country in terms of opioid addiction.
6
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018 Wednesday Sept. 26, 2018
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Samia Yaqub in front of her third story window where she could see damages from the Camp Fire on the outskirts of the Butte College campus.
NEWS
JOSH COZINE—THE ORION
Butte College weathers the Camp Fire, lends assistance to Cal Fire and students Josh Cozine News Editor
P
resident of Butte College, Samia Yaqub, stood up and walked over to the south facing window of her office in the third floor of the Student and Administrative Services building of the college’s main campus. From the high vantage point she began pointing out burnt and blackened patches of fields that surrounded the college where the Camp Fire had encroached just up to the campus gates. “Right there, and you can see
where it burned over there, (and) it burned over there...and then it burned on that side too” Yaqub said, pointing all around the campus. Chief of Police for the college, Casey Carlson was also in the office. Despite the fact that he and his family had to be evacuated from Paradise, he still organized the set up of the Public Safety Training Grounds (PSTG) area, which is often called upon during large scale disasters and repurposed into a base of operations for law enforcement and fire personnel.
“There’s plenty of parking, internet connectivity, and when power shuts down we can bring in a generator and everything is connected and ready to-go,” Carlson said. Before the Camp Fire, Butte College’s PSTG has served as an operation base for other fires, and the Oroville Dam spillway crisis last year. The college also shared over $40,000 worth of fuel with Cal Fire. “It was just more efficient for them to fuel up here,” Carlson said, rather than having to drive into Chico or Oroville and
compete with the long lines that plagued most gas stations the first day of the evacuation.
T
he fire was first reported miles away in the small community of Pulga, just after 6 a.m. By noon it had spread so quickly that Yaqub made the decision to cancel all classes and evacuate the campus. Students from Paradise, who even at that early hour quite possibly had no home to return to, were loaded onto buses and taken to the Butte County Fairgrounds which had opened as an evacuation center.
Chief Carlson kept an eye on the fire the entire first day, other than a brief early morning trip up the Paradise to evacuate his family and his travel trailer which now serves as his home for the time being. It wasn’t until the early hours of the next morning, after fire personnel had bulldozed large fire break lines all around the campus, that he finally reported the campus as safe. “I didn’t feel comfortable about saying that until about 1 ‘o’clock in the morning,” Carlson said.
5NEWS
7
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
One of the Buttes—small rocky hills where Butte County gets its namesake—can be seen visibly charred, with grass already starting to grow back. “The campus acted almost like a seawall,” he said, noting how the fire came up against it and burned in an almost triangle like pattern around the college. It reached the fire-break lines set up by Cal Fire, which also helped to slow the spread of the fire to other areas around the college. If the winds had shifted the wrong way he added, it could have done much more damage to the campus. Thankfully, only one structure was lost, a remote pump house, along with damage to the solar array that powered
it. The damages to the pump house and infrastructure came to around $500,000. Carlson also added that all campus buildings had to have their air filters changed out prematurely, but overall it could have been much worse.
C
lasses started back in session Nov. 26 at Butte College, and so far Yaqub says that despite the difficulties, students and faculty have said they are happy to be returning. “People need the return to normalcy,” she said, “it’s an import-
ant part of the healing process after a crisis.” So far 112 students have dropped out, a number she wishes was smaller, but considering the size of the catastrophe she says it could have been much higher. Also, considering the extent of the damages she says it’s been difficult to decide how to go forward, but she’s fallen back on campus values to help her make decisions. “Our first campus value is ‘students first.’ So that leaves us with a guideline,” she says. “Other
things can take a back seat.” Yaqub said she’s “giving professors creativity” to work with students after missing so much class time, especially those directly affected by the fire. She’s also asked faculty to reach out to any student who has been affected, and asking them what they need. The college has set up a gofundme to aid students affected by the Camp Fire, which has nearly reached $40,000 at the time of this writing and has started sending out its first checks already. She said the first person to do-
JOSH COZINE—THE ORION
nate was a Paradise resident who had lost everything and donated their last $2 “The generosity of the community has been simply amazing” Yaqub said. Josh Cozine can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or @joshCozine on Twitter
8
ARTS
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
SHOWCASE
Students share artwork presented at gallery show anderlust is the latest group art show to come to the Masters of Fine Arts Gallery. The name and concept for the show stem from the artists finding their
work in the gallery. Yashinsky is on the cusp of graduating and has felt an obsession with what happens next. This is reflected in her piece “Movin’ On.” “I’m about to graduate and that’s having me obsessing over what happens next and like where to go next, so this came
decide where you go. Another student artist, Hope Blackwell, displayed an art installation that features two video pieces and a final painting called “Purging.” “It’s a very intimate experience - I have it set up to where you push play yourself, you put
the two videos features Blackwell painting on a white canvas with black paint while listening to “Hostage” by Billie Eilish, while the second video features paint over that with white paint while listing to “When’s the party,” also by Billie Eilish. The end result is the painting
place in the world. The featured artists in the gallery are from the graduate seminar class in the art department at Chico State. Acacia Blue Yashinsky was one of the artists who showed off her
very much out of that,” Yashisky said. Each package in her art piece features assorted maps from an old atlas from the ‘60s - you grab the included art and let fate
on a pair of headphones and you watch this performance,” Blackwell said. Blackwell describes the piece being about expressing things and letting them go. The first of
featured in the gallery. “I really allowed myself to not really think about the movement I was going to do and just allow my instinct and the music and my filings to really guide my
Alex Coba Staff Writer
W
TARA KILLORAN—THE ORION
Franziska Kolling’s photo narrative consisted of self portraits with birds.
Toni Del Guidice’s colorful paintings depicted surreal and serene imagery.
hand across the canvas,” Blackwell said. Yashinsky and Blackwell, along with three other featured artists, had their artwork featured at Masters of Fine Arts Gallery until Sunday,. Check back at the gallery again for the next display of work from local artists. Alex Coba can be reached at artseditor@theorion.com or @theorion_news on Twitter
TARA KILLORAN—THE ORION
ARTS VIDEO GAME
9
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
‘Odyssey’ is a near-perfect ‘Assassin’s Creed’ volution is often necessary in games when a formula becomes stale. While “Odyssey” is far from the typical “Assassin’s Creed” game in terms
The main story tries to hit the same highs as “Assassin’s Creed II” and “Origins,” but it doesn’t really get where it needs to. The story of Alexios and Kassandra has moments that really draw in the player, but the shaky writing and weird character animations
spread out more evenly. Leveling up feels like a step forward every time instead of after every few levels. Even the new dialogue choices feel like they have impact. A common complaint about this game has been that it’s too big for its own good and that the
worth doing and which ones are meaningless. The naval combat doesn’t feel as deep as it did in “Black Flag,” but it does feel faster. The task of boarding enemy ships also lacks the same feeling of piracy. It’s a shame that the overall naval
for modern games and while the formula is familiar it’s still done well. All the moments that create that feeling of a true adventure are what make this game great and worth playing. The inconsistent story and bloat are problems, but they are minor compared to
of story and gameplay, it’s still a game that fits within the series. The best aspect of “Odyssey” is that it feels like an epic journey, similar to the ones that inspired it. Greece is steeped in a rich culture and historical significance, and the theme of myths and legends being forged makes quests feel grander, especially during the larger scale battles.
in cutscenes often undermine the plot. It also has those patented moments of wackiness that the series is known for. Those scenes are either great or awful depending on what you already think about the story and lore. The RPG elements that are added in are better utilized in this game than they were in “Origins.” Loot is balanced better and
grind becomes too much. While the game does feel bloated with busy work, I’ll also say that the grind isn’t necessary as long as the player seeks out side quests at a normal pace. If one were to rush through the story then they would be under-leveled, but that’s not unusual for RPGs. The annoying part is that the player has no idea which side quests are
gameplay doesn’t have as much depth and use as it did before. Taking on legendary ships makes for satisfying fights, but the rewards are usually either not significant or purely cosmetic. The epic scale of this game is often a great thing, but it does feel like too much at various points. The loop and combat, exploration and rewards are nothing
the rest of the experience. That’s why “Odyssey” earns four and a half stars.
Ulises Duenas Staff Writer
E
Ulises Duenas can be reached at artseditor@theorion.com or @OrionUlisesD on Twitter.
IMAGE FROM IMDB.COM
10
ARTS MOVIES ‘Creed II’ takes on family and perseverance Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
Creed II” blends the world of drama and sports in a way that feels natural and engaging. This film is packed with captivating performances,
of film to make it feel even more visceral and personal. The action is backed up by Jordan and Stallone’s best dramatic work. While every character and relationship in this movie feels grounded and real, their scenes are the ones that will hit you in the gut the
lose everything and he’s placed the burden of redemption on his son. The rivalry between Creed and Drago is a deeply personal one and the fact that Viktor is given his own reason to fight makes it even better. The fight scenes in this movie
greatest training montage of all time. I can already see the eventual YouTube video of it having tens of millions of views. Adonis Creed has to deal with the idea of starting a family of his own and the pressure it can cause as well as the support
there been a sports movie that transcends the label in such a way. If you’ve never seen a “Rocky” movie, or even if you’re not a fan of sports in general, there’s still plenty of reason to watch this. Every scene has a purpose and nothing is wasted.
with Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Creed and Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa standing tall as champions. The most impressive thing about “Creed II” is the perfect balance it achieves. It manages to capture the big fight feel of championship boxing matches while using the high production
most. The story of Apollo Creed’s son fighting for his family’s past and future is something that will hook someone whether they’ve seen “Rocky IV” or not. The relationship between Ivan Drago and his son, Viktor, is a lot more fleshed out than expected. Losing to Rocky in the ‘80s made Ivan
are used to great effect. There aren’t a lot of fights shown, but each one is exciting to watch and effective at telling a story without dialogue. Getting thoughts and emotions across purely through body language isn’t easy and “Creed II” manages to do that. I should also mention that this movie has what is perhaps the
family can provide. He and Drago present two opposites of what that can do to someone in multiple scenes. It’s an interesting dynamic that I wasn’t expecting from this and it elevates the whole film from a sports flick to something more profound and meaningful. Not since “Raging Bull” has
It does everything it sets out to do with flawless execution and it easily earns five stars.
Ulises Duenas Staff Writer
“
Ulises Duenas can be reached at artseditor@theorion.com or @OrionUlisesD on Twitter.
IMAGE FROM IMDB.COM
ARTS THEATER
11
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
'A Charlie Brown Christmas' brings nostalgia for the holiday classic Lucy’s exaggerated moments quite well, especially when it came to the part where Snoopy kisses Lucy and a subsequent freakout occurs. Oliver Loll as Lunis brought that innocence that the character is known for as he gave his speech about what Christmas is
Alex Coba Staff Writer
G
ood grief, it’s Christmas time again and with it comes all that commercialism this time of year brings. It’s lucky the Chico State Department of Music and Theater put on the perfect escape from the rampant commercialism: “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The iconic Christmas special was beautifully adapted to the stage last weekend. For those unfamiliar with the special, it follows Charlie Brown as he struggles to find the meaning of Christmas. The television special is a staple of the holiday seasons and it was incredible to see it come to the stage. The set design puts you right into the story with many of the prominent landmarks making it into the play like Snoopy’s doghouse, Lucy’s “Psychiatric Help” booth and Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. They even managed to recreate the ice skating scene by cleverly disguising roller blades. Quite impressive, given the fact that the cast was singing and skating while making it look effortless the way they do in the TV special. “I think my favorite set piece would have to be Snoopy’s little house,” audience member Ingrid Casillas said. “It looked so good, it was crazy with details - Lucy’s help booth thing is a close second.” Another incredible feat was the costumes. The costume shop did an excellent job recreating the clothes from the actual Christmas special, right down to Charlie Brown’s iconic zig-zag shirt.
DAELIN WOFFORD—THE ORION
Charlie Brown (Casey Schneider) getting “psychiatric help” from Lucy Van Pelt (Zoe Stamos). The acting in the play was really well done. The cast did an incredible job really capturing that Christmas feeling from watching the Christmas special as a kid, right down to the repet-
itive dancing the “Peanuts” are known for, And yes, it’s incredibly entertaining watching grown actors do it. “It was like I was watching the Christmas special on TV - it was
so cute to see,” attendant Amy Willard said. Casey Schneider as Charlie Brown and Zoe Stamos ss Lucy played off each other really well. Stamos, in particular, captured
about. Loll garnered many sighs of adoration from the audience as he wrapped his blanket around Charlie Brown’s tree. Another fun performance to see was Sophia Gutierrez as Charlie Brown’s faithful companion Snoopy. The cast as a whole was great and really brought their “A” game as they also sang Christmas classics in between scenes like “Joy to the world” and “Christmas Time is Here,” just to name a few. The play ended with an audience sing-along to three Holiday Classics, “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Silent Night” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Overall, the cast and crew did a fantastic job capturing the magic that made this Christmas special such a classic in the first place. To keep up your holiday spirit, the Department of Music and Theater will be putting on the 2018 Glorious Sounds of the Season fundraiser concert next weekend. Each will take place on Dec. 7-8 at 7:30 P.M., with a 2 P.M. matinee on Dec. 9 at the Harlen Adams Theatre. Alex Coba can be reached at artseditor@theorion.com or @theorion_news on Twitter
12
COVER
Christina Taft A student’s tragic tale of loss
13
STORY
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINA TAFT
Victoria Taft died in her Paradise home during the Camp Fire. Yaritza Ayon Staff Writer
C
hristina Taft woke up early, Nov. 8, to a neighbor urging her to evacuate. She initially didn’t take the evacuation order seriously, but after showering she began to pack up her car. Christina said she packed for about an hour before noticing that her 66-year-old mother, Victoria Taft, was still in her pajamas and had hardly filled her suitcase. Christina and her mother argued on whether to evacuate and ultimately her mother decided to stay put because she had not heard evacuation orders from officials. “It took me an hour and a half to get through the town and the whole time I’m like angry and sad that I have all this stuff and not my mom in the car,” Christina said. “I didn’t understand why she stayed, it doesn’t make sense to me.” Christina recalled the last
major fire that occurred in and near Paradise, the Humboldt Fire which burned 23,344 acres and forced many residents to evacuate. Christina thought the community responded to the Camp Fire in a calmer manner than the Humboldt Fire where she remembers people evacuating urgently. The community’s reaction led Christina to believe that was the reason for her mother not wanting to evacuate. Christina also said she believes she saw a police car pass by her home while she packed up her car. She said the officer did not tell her to evacuate. Christina felt that the community could have done better job of warning the town of the disaster. While Christina evacuated, she picked up a hitchhiker who told her he would help her go back for her mother. However, at that point, officials were not letting civilians back in to town. “Other people, they got their fam-
The Tafts’ rental unit on Copeland Road in Paradise burned to the ground during the Camp Fire. ily or maybe some of their pets, but they left their stuff,”Christina said. “(My story) is the opposite.” According to Christina, she called 911 several times to see if they could send someone to get her mother out, but nothing was done. According to Town of Paradise Public Information Officer Matthew Gates, the disbatch center was overwhelmed with calls. Gates said that officers tried to help as many people as possible even after it was unsafe to do so. “Perservation of human life is our priority, our number one goal,” he said. Over the next few days she went to multiple evacuation centers with the hope of finding her mother. After failing to hear any news, Christina decided to report her missing. A DNA crosscheck on Thanksgiving revealed her mother had died in the fire. Victoria was one of 88 people
who died in Camp Fire. A few days after the fire, Christina emailed all her professors to update them on her situation. Her Business Entrepreneurship Professor Colleen Robb decided to step in and help Christina out. “Well she sent all of her professors an email, just basically saying what happened and so of course I freaked out,” Robb said. “I was like ‘OK, what do you need, what’s going on and where are you staying?’” Taft at that time was staying with a close friend still trying figure out the status of her mom. Robb took Christina into her home until they could find her permanent housing. She also spoke with the Business Management Department about accommodating Christina. The faculty from the department met and created a GoFundMe page for students from Paradise. They were able to give Christina $500. Christina, an entrepreneurial
ALEX GRANT—THE ORION
business student, was upset with the lack of proper communication during the fire so she was inspired to create an Emergency Communication Platform so other communities don’t face the same ordeal. “One of the things that this issue brought up is maybe developing some sort of platform that allows for this kind of communication,” Robb said. Christina is now provided with campus housing at University Village. Her housing and food necessities for the upcoming semester will be paid by an alumnus of the Business Management department. Christina started her own GoFundMe page to help her cover funeral expenses and long-term housing for her final year at Chico State. So far she has raised over $5,000, but the process of rebuilding her life is just beginning. Yaritza Ayon can be reached at newseditor@theorion.com or @theorion_news on Twitter
14
SPORTS
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
Jack Emmanuel Ricardo Tovar Staff Writer
J
ack Emanuel is a Chico native who redshirted cross-country and track during his true freshman year. The construction management major has been in the scoring mix in four out of Chico State’s six races this season; five of those being first place wins for the Wildcats. He finished 34th out of 203 in his season debut at the Capital Cross Challenge and 16th out of 176 runners at the Bronco invitational. At the Triton Classic Emanuel finished 6th out of 90, in a race where the first eight finishers were Chico State runners. In his playoff debut at the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships Emanuel finished 4th out of 84 and followed that with an 18th place finish out of 169 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association West Regional Championships. Emanuel finished the season finishing 126th out of 261 in the NCAA Championships, putting an end to a truly monstrous first season.
PHOTO COURTESY BY GARY TOWNE
Jack Emanuel running at the NCA West Regional Championships in Billings, Montana. Emanuel finished 18th.
What does Chico State’s two decade legacy of success mean to you? For me personally, I’m just
year to put me to the next level is pretty much just do everything Gary tells me, focus on training more than racing and training
happy that I can contribute to a legacy. Running in Montana for the NCAA West Regional Championships, what was that like? Especially since you’ve been running in warm weather all year. Running in Montana was pretty much a culture shock. We were not ready to run in the snow. At that point you’re just trying to finish the race, you know no one is going to run fast. The good thing is everyone else has to do it too. Did you expect this level of success as a freshman runner? I didn’t really expect myself to score for the team my freshman year honestly. But, I don’t really plan on waiting around to do what I need to do. So, no time like the present I guess. What does coach Gary Towne do that sets him apart from other coaches? Especially for you? I think what sets Gary apart from all the other coaches, in DII, let alone DI, DIII, or whatever... Is he’s really personal with training and he knows what needs to be done for each individual. He’ll let you know what you are doing and he’ll also let you know what you’re doing wrong. So, I think that’s really important. What have you done this year that has taken you to that next level? What I think I’ve done this
in silence will allow the races to make all the noise. Is it a lot of pressure being a part of a winning culture? Does the pressure ever get to you? There is a lot of pressure being in a winning culture but I know that at the end of the day that the team, no matter what, if it’s me or if it’s the next guy will get the job done. So, I’m not too worried. How do you balance being a student athlete and student? It’s not that hard balancing a running and academic career. If you really put your mind to it you can accomplish it pretty easily. With running though we practice twice a day, which doesn’t give us a lot of down time, but just enough to where we can get things done. What advice can you give to upcoming Chico State runners? Specifically about helping contribute to a winning culture? So my advice I’d give to incoming freshman and runners for a winning culture is that you just got to come being humble and optimistic. Pretty much do whatever Gary says, knowing that you’re not going to be the best right away. Ricardo Tovar can be reached at sportseditor@theorion.com or @rtovarg13 on Twitter.
SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
15
Ending the season in top 10 for the men and women Ricardo Tovar Staff Writer
I
t wasn’t ideal running conditions for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships on Saturday morning. The Bob O’Connor Golf Course at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a hill-covered course. The muddy terrain forced runners to use half-inch spikes. Coach Gary Towne said it was one of the toughest courses he has seen in his 23 years. Chico State’s men and women’s cross-country both finished in the top ten in their respective races; the men for the 19th time in 20 season and women for the 16th time in 17 seasons. The men placed 7th overall out of 34 teams in their 8k race, two places better than last season. While women’s placed 8th out of 34 teams in their 6k race, but unfortunately broke a three year streak of 4th place podium finishes. Men’s cross-country ended up producing three All-Americans, given to those who place in the top-50: Teddy Kassa lead the way in 37th place with a 33:23.4 time, following him was Wyatt Baxter in 39th and the last Chico All-American was Jhavahn Holston in 40th. Rounding out the Wildcats scoring was the CCAA and West Region Athlete of the year Eddie King, who fell sick during the week, and yet still placed 79th. Jason Intravaia finished 85th, Jack Johnson in 125th and right behind him in 126th was freshman runner Jack Emanuel with a time of 34:54.5, making the final score 230.
“Honestly, we had one heck of a season and though we didn’t get a podium finish we put our hearts out there on an extremely difficult course,” Emanuel said. “I wasn’t really satisfied with my race but I plan on coming away with the experience for future championships.” The women were lead by Nora Pizzella in 53rd place, at 23:46.6, followed by Desirae Jones in 63rd, next was Karlie Garcia in 74th. Talia Swangler, a local from Paradise whose hometown was decimated by the Camp Fire, finished in 84th, Kayden Carpenter in 96th, Haley Boynton in 103rd and topping-off the scoring was Alexandria Tucker at 128th with a time of 24:41.9. “This race was tough,” Garcia said. “It wasn’t like any race I’ve ever experienced, which was cool because cross-country is about grit and I think Chico State showcased that. Nationals was a neat experience and although the cards weren’t in our favor going into it, I feel we made the most of what we could.” Overall, the season was not what the team was hoping for, but it nonetheless stretched the two decades of dominance under coach Towne that Chico State has had. With many faces returning next year we can expect more, if not the same, from Chico State cross-country next season. Coach Gary Towne has shown that his teams can make some noise every year.
PHOTO COURTESY BY GARY TOWNE
Eddie King leads pack of Chico State runners at the NCAA West Regional Championships in Billings, Montana.
Ricardo Tovar can be reached at sportseditor@theorion.com or @rtovarg13 on Twitter. PHOTO COURTESY BY GARY TOWNE
Kayden Carpenter (left) and Karlie Garcia (right) run in the women’s 6k in the NCAA West Regional Championships.
16
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
BLOTTER SOCIAL MEDIA @theorion_news @theorion_arts
Call Type: Vandalism Tuesday 11:58 a.m., Parking Structure 1 Reporting party stated their tire had been slashed. When officers arrived they discovered that the reporting party had a flat tire and was advised to call road assistance. Call Type: Suspicious Circumstance Wednesday 9:11 a.m., Butte Hall Reporting party states she received a package in the mail from an anonymous individual. The package reportedly contained miscellaneous items and a letter with racial slurs. Call Type: Narcotics Violation Friday 4:31 p.m., University Track Stadium Subjects were reportedly smoking marijuana on the east side of the building under the eaves. When officers arrived on scene there were multiple subjects but no smoking in progress. Subjects denied smoking. Call Type: Theft Thursday 3:39 a.m., Arts and Humanities Two microphones were stolen and a bong was left behind. Call Type: Elevator Malfuncion Saturday 3:15 a.m., Whitney Hall Elevator #2 became stuck on the 8th floor trapping one female subject inside.
Chico Police
University Police
The police blotter is a selection of information cited directly from the Chico Police Department and the University Police Department. Call Type: Assault with a Deadly Weapon Monday 3:40 p.m., 700 East Avenue Reporting party stated two subjects were driving around flipping him off. The driver of the vehicle had backed into the vehicle of the reporting party. When officers arrived the suspect vehicle fled down East Ave. and onto Connors Ave. When officers attempted to stop the suspect vehicle the driver took off. A short pursuit ensued down Connors Ave., onto East Ave., and onto the 99 freeway. The vehicle then exited onto Eaton Rd. before turning onto Hicks Lane and into a mobile home park where police successfully detained the driver. Call Type: Fight Wednesday 4:36 p.m., 2500 Esplanade Police received reports of a fight inside a business. Two female subjects were reportedly beating up another female subject before leaving the area. Call Type: Robbery Wednesday 4:48 p.m., 100 Silver Dollar Way Reporting party stopped to help suspect with a sign at Torres Shelter. When the reporting party stopped, a second suspect entered the rear of the vehicle and told him to drive to the Foodmaxx parking lot. The suspect then stole the reporting party’s wallet and vehicle.
@theorion_sports @theorion
TheOrion75
EDITORIAL
17
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
EDITORIAL -
NOW YOU KNOW A WEEKLY FACTOID FEATURE
Q:
Why should I join The Orion?
A: The Orion is on hands, real experience in the world of news and business.
Reporters have the chance to interview sources and have their work published in a print and online copy.
Students can hold editor positions that allows them to manage a team and decide what content they want in the paper.
The advertising department helps students gain sales experience by working with real clients around Chico.
The editorial process is completely student run. Have a question? Email us at orionmanagingeditor@gmail.com.
THUMBS Thumbs up to three more weeks of school! Winter break is in reach. Thumbs down to 30 to 40 degree weather. Walking biking to school in the morning is miserable. Thumbs up to all the volunteering for the Camp Fire evacuees. Community and helping one another is more important than ever. Thumbs down to a limited amount of counseling services on campus after the Camp Fire. Eleven counselors aren’t enough.
We took our vacation, now it’s time for a moment of silence Sitting in the northwest foothills of California’s Central Valley is Paradise, a Butte County town now widely known for perishing during the Camp Fire in a matter of 24 hours. According to Data
ever, there is nothing wrong with wanting the world to know people deserve more remembrance since it was more than likely a possibility we may have been inhaling their ashes.
USA, a population of 26,396 residents lost their homes during The Camp Fire. The Camp Fire was also announced as one of the worst fires in California history, leaving cities such as Chico, Oroville and Gridley filled with crowds of evacuees. Days later and we still see a big number of people and families trying to find ways to settle in cramped shelters or finding a home with no job to make money. As communities continue to find ways to support victims, by creating shelters and gathering donations, it almost seems to create a sense of security we’ll make it through. The enthusiasm within the community to support others is honestly breathtaking. As someone who’s been homeless, one piece of clothing is like having a full closet of wardrobe. However, it seems we are forgetting people still lost their lives, and although the idea is prevalent, is it too much to ask, we take a moment of silence to mourn over those lost lives of loved ones, friends, or relatives who were innocently decimated in such a crisis?
After reading that a couple universities that are located a few hours away from Paradise had petitioned to be released on break early due to the air quality, I was outraged by the ridiculousness of these petitions. This idea seemed disrespectful to the people who have yet to mourn for everything they lost. Meanwhile survivors built the strength to take a risk through a fire, lose a home, live in a shelter. Some even have to wonder if someone who stayed behind, may have made it through, while others selfishly took advantage of such a crisis to vacation early. It is so disappointing to see how society doesn’t even seem to care or recognize the impact the Camp Fire had on humans just like them. Especially with our president showing little to no affliction to the fact that so many lives were lost. At this point, it’s obvious we were left empty-handed with only the help we proceed to have from the good-hearted people who help. As the old proverb goes, you don’t know what you don’t know, until you know. Until then, the best thing we can do is take the time to lend a helping hand or even let a loved one know you care.
According to whatculture, burning is number three in one of the top ten worst ways to die. Forgive me, for mentioning undesired memories of the Camp Fire. How-
Karen Limones can be reached at opinioneditor@theorion.com or @theorion_news on Twitter.
18
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
CALENDAR
UPCOMING EVENTS Wed 5
sat 8
CAVE Volunteer Open House
Momentum Fall Showcase
Come learn about volunteering and programs that the Community Action
Momentum’s semi-annual showcase is here! Come watch student dancers perform a variety
Volunteers in Education have to offer. Contact Jackie at cavekidsdirector@
of dances they have prepared all semester. The doors will be opening 30 minutes prior to
csuchico.edu for more information.
the show and the show is about 90 minutes long with a 15 minute intermission. Momentum
Where: Bell Memorial Union Auditorium 309
apparel and a raffle drawing will also be at the show.
When: 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Where: Bell Memorial Union Auditorium
Price: Free
When: 2 and 7 p.m.
Thu 6
Price: $5 pre-sale and $7 at the door
Virtual Reality Game Night
Student Learning Fee - Request for Proposals – DEADLINE EXTENSION A campus fund created by the consolidation of course fees, the Student Learning Fee (SLF), is now available for the submission of proposals that will lead to the enhancement
Ever been interested in virtual reality? Come out to the Bell Memorial Union
of student learning. The estimated amount available for the 2019-2020 award year is
to play some games using VR headsets provided by the Meriam Library.
$1,700,000. Awards will be determined by colleges, the Division of Student Affairs,
Where: Bell Memorial Union When: 6 to 8 p.m. Price: Free for Chico State students
Fri 7
Glorious Sounds of the Season
and the Campus Fee Advisory Committee (CFAC), each of which has received specific allocation amounts. CFAC accepts proposals from non-college academic units and interdisciplinary teams. In this context, “interdisciplinary” refers to proposals that cross college or division lines. Proposals may be submitted by students, faculty, and staff via the SLF web application located at: https://slf.csuchico.edu/. If you are part of an academic college, or the division of Student Affairs, please discuss your funding needs, and how to submit a proposal/expenditure request, with your college office or the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.
A Chico State tradition, this concert will feature Christmas favorites. Chico
Please refer to the SLF website (http://www.csuchico.edu/slf) and go to the Guidelines
State students, faculty and community members are performing. This is the
section for more information on the proposal process.
opening day and there will be another performance Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Proposals may be submitted online until the final submission deadline of 5:00 p.m. De-
and Sunday at 2 p.m. Where: Harlen Adams Theatre When: 7:30 p.m. Price: $20
cember 20, 2018. Please note that the submission period has been extended by a week from the original date of December 13, 2018. If you have any questions or issues, please send an email to: slf@csuchico.edu. Thank you for your participation in this opportunity to support and enhance student learning.
CALENDAR
19
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
UPCOMING EVENTS sun 9
Mon 10
Tues 11
Believe - Inspired by the Polar Express
Posada Navidena
Sense of Place
Performing for the sixth time, an array of dancers will be cre-
The HUB, Nu Alpha Kappa Inc. and the Cross Cultural
This event will focus on sustainability and how the
ating magic onstage in the form of ballet, contemporary and
Leadership Center will host Posada Navidena and educate
community can get involved. Other organizations on
more dances. This is the final performance of the weekend.
the community about the event. Food is provided.
campus such as Adventure Outings will be there.
Where: Laxson Auditorium
Where: Trinty Commons
Where: Bell Memorial Union
Price: $28 Premium, $22 Adult, $20 Senior, $15 Youth
When: 7 to 9 p.m.
When: 5:30 to 8 p.m.
and Chico State student
Price: Free
Price: Free
When: 2 p.m.
20
OPINION
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
SUPPORT
Chico State ignores student health unless in a crisis ere we are, just mere weeks after the Camp Fire started a few Thursday mornings ago. Classes are back in session, campus jobs are
ments) to supply 17,000+ students with their counseling needs. And now, these same counselors are expected to be enough for all of those thousands of students, plus the hundreds affected by the Camp Fire. As much as campus will preach
up and running and we are now left with the aftermath of dealing with both school and also the most deadly and destructive fire in California history. The campus has been offering support for students, staff and faculty who are being affected by the fire. From an email written by Chico State President Gayle Hutchinson sent to campus during the campus closure, “This is only the beginning and we will be here for you all along the way. Together, Wildcats rise.” Counseling services have been extended during the first week back, including workshops navigating through feelings associated with grief and loss, pop-up and individual counseling for those affected by this crisis and other helpful resources. This is absolutely needed for those who need this help. They have gone through so much and will continue to need this type of support. But with that being said, counseling services are still severely lacking. Before this devastation, students were already struggling with being able to set up counseling appointments, sometimes even more than a month apart from each other. Same-day appointments were already hard to come by, even if you called exactly at 8 a.m. This is because our campus only has 11 counselors (only 9 offer same-day appoint-
that they are here for us, and will be here for us, they have already shown us that they are not. We do not have enough counselors to deal with regular amounts of crises, trauma, mental illnesses and mental health issues that already exist within our community. In the wake of this disaster, we were not prepared. And I know that our counselors are fighting tooth and nail to help as many people in a day as possible, but the bottom line is that there is just not enough counselors and resources. It’s fair to say that the campus was not prepared for any amount of mass crisis, at all. During the week that campus was closed, I missed a counseling appointment that I waited a month for. I’m not alone in this, as every person who had counseling set up or needed a crisis appointment that week was also not able to get those services. My next scheduled appointment is not for another few weeks, so I rely heavily on same day appointments in between my far and few appointments. During the three days I had time for counseling this week, I called exactly at 8 in the morning to try and set something up. On all three days, the lines were flooding with calls across campus and I had to hang up and recall, repeatedly, until somebody picked up my line. And every time, I was
Rayanne Painter Staff Writer
H
Counseling gives us relief of depression, especially in an aftermath of a fire. told that all the appointments were booked for the day and only if I was in crisis, I could come into the office. I feel guilty enough when I have to schedule a same-day appointment for myself and take it away from somebody else who may need it as much as I do, or even more. And now that this type of devastation exists in our community, it feels impossible to use a crisis appointment when I feel I need it, because I may be taking away that time from a person affected by the fire. I can’t afford private counsel-
ing, along with the rest of us who rely on it. I know people who pay $150 a session to see somebody privately. That’s more than the entire cost of my groceries and gas for a week. Chico State has failed us. I’ve heard talk of more counselors being hired next semester, but I don’t know if that’s true. If it is, then fantastic. But it still took a mass crisis for that to happen. They shouldn’t wait until the worst case scenario to fix things. They should have fixed things so that we could have been prepared for a worst-case scenario.
GETTY IMAGES PHOTO BY STEVE DEBENPORT
Regardless, the campus and community still is struggling and will continue to struggle for an unknown amount of months or years. I beg campus to reevaluate every protocol, policy, resource and service provided to campus, so in the following months, accessibility will improve for counseling services and any other service. But until then, I guess we have no other choice but to trek on. Rayanne Painter can be reached at opinioneditor@theorion.com or @rayphenomenon on Twitter
OPINION
21
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
VOLUNTEER
Crucial advice to consider before donating
There are many ways to be more effective when helping after a catastrophe Rayanne Painter Staff Writer
I
t’s difficult to watch your community struggle through
a devastation as impactful and detrimental as the Camp Fire. If you were able to return to your intact house, town, schools and jobs, it’s even more difficult to come back to Butte County and try and continue to live the life you were living before, when so many other people are not. For those who were relatively unaffected by the fire, many have been in this limbo of wanting to help, but not exactly being needed or knowing where they’re needed. More than 6,000 volunteer applications have been pouring into Caring Choices, Northern California’s Emergency Volunteer Center, during these past few weeks. There are only so many volunteer positions needing to be filled yet so many of those applications have not been processed or possibly lost in all the chaos. But, this does not mean that they will not need you. I’m sure this isn’t news to some, but Camp Fire relief efforts will be a marathon, not a race. If you have the time and energy to donate volunteer hours now, then by all means, submit an application to them online. They might call you tomorrow or maybe in a month, but the best way to help their efforts is to wait until they reach out to you. A lot of the time, they are prioritizing certain volunteer skill sets over others. I relate to the feeling of wanting
to rush right out to the shelters in the wake of this tragedy, which is exactly what I did in the days following the start of the fire. Although I had an early start com-
ly. I remember reading their Facebook updates just a few days after the blaze had begun and they were essentially begging people to stop lining up with applica-
submitting your application then getting frustrated when not contacted. There could be a reason and chances are, you’ll be needed soon. Unfortunately, this
a phone call or email, before dropping off any donations. Again, I know donators mean well, but it takes tremendous amounts of volunteer energy to sort through
pared to some people, there were still an outpour of volunteers at every shelter I volunteered at, even the ones not organized by Caring Choices. This surge of support from our community may have been more harmful than what people were intending. Of course, everybody submitting applications, calling their office and showing up at their front doors meant well, but Caring Choice’s energy could have been used more productive-
tions in hand and dropping boxes of donations at their doorstep.
community still has a long way to go until recovery and volunteer energy will lessen. Take this time to conserve energy now, so that in later months you can be more useful. Listening to shelters and an organization’s exact needs is a crucial step to take for donations, as well. While some shelters might need specific items, others might just need simple donations such as gift cards. It’s good practice to ask first, whether that be
unwanted donations when their time could be used elsewhere. And if you can’t get ahold of a certain shelter, monetary donations are always helpful and can be made to groups like North Valley Community Foundation and Wildcats Rise Fire Recovery Fund.
This surge of support from our community may have been more harmful than what people were intending. Caring Choices is pretty on top of updating their website, Facebook and Twitter pages, so take a quick glance before
The community coming together when a crisis takes part.
Rayanne Painter can be reached at opinioneditor@theorion.com or @rayphenomenon on Twitter
GETTY IMAGES PHOTO BY PATCAMERA
22
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
SURVIVORS
OPINION
Some heroes have four legs and a snout Rachael Bayuk Staff Writer
T
he breeze cast a chill over the American Red Cross evacuation center. The registration tent offered much appreciated heat. Despite the cheery first glance at volunteers, real heartbreak and despair filled the air. Every evacuee I talked to described the same situation; not nearly enough time, a black sky and no where to go. The roads were congested with gridlock conditions. How was the fire able to move so fast and catch an entire town off guard? It caused people and their lives to burn up. The Camp Fire and it’s conditions were an unacceptable oversight on someone’s part. But who that ultimately is, won’t be known for months to come. Yet through everything, the kindness of volunteers and the many services offered, still helps to comfort the evacuees at the Silver Dollar Campgrounds American Red Cross shelter. Evacuees are referred to as “clients” at the center. Their needs are met when they ask. Snacks are available throughout the day.
Holly and her boy A client from Paradise who’s trailer burned down in the Camp Fire, Holly Hamilton, is sitting in the cafeteria waiting for dinner. Her 5-year-old son, Bobby sleeps next to her in a stroller. Bobby has Autism, but Hamilton says his transition at the center has been alright. Hamilton saved several lives at the trailer park she called home. As soon as she got the evacuation
notice, she opened her door and started yelling for everyone to get their butts outta there. Her son was in school when she was evacuated. Her father came up to get her. As she was getting ready to leave Hamilton began hearing ash fall.
“When the ash started dropping it sounded like rain in the trees” Hamilton said, “that’s how hard it was coming down.” As her father rushed down the road to get them out, they got stuck in traffic. After at least an hour and a half, they took hollywood boulevard and went around to get out of the area. The flames jumped to the other side of the road behind them. Flames 15 feet away, Hamilton says she had never seen her father so close to tears. She describes ash and embers about two-inches in diameter falling from the blackened sky. Once she was reunited with her son, “All I did was give him kisses and hugs.” Hamilton says.
Brandy and Boss Another “client,” Brandi Cloutier, who is rooming with her sweet 6-year-old pup, Boss, said her journey out of Paradise was a war zone. Paradise is her self described stomping grounds, she went to high school there and her 15-yearold daughter was born there. “I’ve lived a lot of places but always returned to Paradise.” Cloutier said. Her dog woke her up by licking her face and pawing at her. She finally arose and went outside to be greeted by the dark, smokey sky. The fire was already there, she
DOMINIQUE WOOD—THE ORION
Writer Rachael Bayuk talked to both survivors in the cafeteria. Clients were being served food by American Red Cross Volunteers. didn’t have time to grab anything but her grandmother’s ring, which by luck happened to be sitting out. She jumped into a neighbor’s car, with Boss. Gridlock traffic was clear down the road. She couldn’t see anything above her but black smoke. They ‘off-roaded.’ Around the car there were people running, all while there were explosions about every minute. A tire on the vehicle that she was in, popped because of the fires heat, she described it as sounding like a gun firing. They got out of the car and ran in opposite directions. “The propane tanks were consistently bursting around me, everyone was afraid of the propane tanks, I was getting hit by the shrapnel, it felt like a war zone.” She found a friend and got into
their car. The image she cannot get out of her head is of a horse running by, it’s tail had just been caught on fire. She begins crying, describing further, that if she were to make a movie of all this that would be the cover. “You know, I know this fire is on purpose. I know It like I know the sky is blue.” Cloutier says, “I’m not a conspiracy theorist and I am an educated women and there are just things that don’t add up.” A friend of her’s went up three days later and counted 17 bodies on the side of the road. Cloutier says she wants to just go home, but there is no home to go back to. She says she no longer has the option to live in her hometown, but she is very proud to be from Paradise. While she lost her home and many possessions in the fire, including the last jewelry item her first husband gave her before
he passed. “But, I have me and I have my dog,” Cloutier said, “And my daughter and my mother are safe.” She says she now knows why god created shock. A man who recognized Cloutier, bumped elbows with her (a more hygienic greeting as apposed to shaking hands). “All we don’t need for Christmas is the Norovirus!” Said the man, while laughing and walking away. The humor and laughter still present in their lives proves that there is so much hope and the people who have had to evacuate are incredibly strong. Let us rally around them and may we all be “Butte Strong.” Rachael Bayuk can be reached at opinioneditor@theorion.com or @BayukRachael on Twitter
OPINION
23
Wednesday Dec. 5, 2018
COMMUNITY
Affected students need more than just money Chico State can do more to help the community get their lives back to “normal” to make your own budget change and adapt to helping those in need.
Rachael Bayuk Staff Writer
H
ow to apply for grant
money and why you should be getting more than that anyways. Now that all this money has been raised for Wildcats Rise Fire Recovery Fund, where will it all go? According to the campus website, for assistance one (who qualifies) may simply apply for assistance from the fund. There is up to $1,500 one may receive through the grant based on need. Applying for the grant is simple, after signing in with your Chico State ID, you can access the form. One can also be downloaded and filled out by hand. The Wildcat’s Rise Fire Relief Fund has raised beyond the $500,000 goal. For easy donating you can text WildcatsRise to 71777 or visit the fundraising website to donate as a specific group. There are other resources being offered such as loans and scholarships for campus community members affected. If you have questions refer to the campus Camp Fire FAQ page. If your questions still aren’t answered reach out to the campus directly. $1,500 just doesn’t go very far, but how can we as a community do more?
If you have questions refer to the campus Camp Fire FAQ page.
Chico State must do more than just hand out grants. But our own adaptation to kindness is what is needed. Chico State has to change its full priorities, give more money to things that are important to the overall campus and less money to photo op spots and PR missions.
We are Butte Strong and we will rise, no matter what.
Rachael Bayuk can be reached at opinioneditor@theorion.com or @ BayukRachael on Twitter.
GETTY IMAGE BY ASISEEIT
Money is not the only way to help students. A students education goes far beyond the value of a dollar. Fundraisers are great, and scholarships are too. But why not give free meals to those who are impacted, especially students. They should be able to receive free meals at least twice a day on campus while sourcing the Wildcat pantry for weekend meal essentials. Money is helpful but once bills and new rent is due, people will be left hungry. The meals we all buy on campus are already
inflated so giving some away shouldn’t be a problem.
For easy donating you can text WildcatsRise to 71777 or visit the fundraising website to donate as a specific group. What about waiving tuition and fees for those affected by the Camp Fire. Give them their
textbooks for free, too. Allow them to spend grant money on rebuilding their life, or getting a new pair of boots, or support for their children. Let them worry about everything except the huge bill going to school places above student’s heads. Chico State must do more than just hand out grants. It is really easy to give away fundraising money, because it is someone else’s. But it is a different thing
For more Camp Fire information and for applying for aid please visit Chico State’s Camp Fire Information and Wildcat Rise pages.
6
SPORTS