Skip to Main Content
Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

(from back center) Roz (Lupita N’yongo), and Brightbill (Kit Connor) in DreamWorks Animation’s “Wild Robot,” directed by Chris Sanders. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures.

My top five 2024 films, and what’s in store for 2025

Elena Mendonsa, Reporter
February 2, 2025

This past year gave audiences all over the world a wide plethora of films to dive into. Whether viewers were thrown into the world of gladiators, minions, emotions or the Land of Oz, 2024 was a wild ride...

Photo taken by Chris Hutton on Jan. 25

The terrifying reminder of our place in ‘Presence’

Chris Hutton, Entertainment and Features Editor
January 29, 2025

“Presence” captures the unfiltered rawness of family life through the point-of-view of a ghost in an exceptionally experimental way. As a family settles into their new house, secrets and tensions are...

Cutline: Animation presents itself in a variety of ways, the most common we see being computer animation. Photo courtesy of Pexels, taken by Antoni Shkraba on June 4, 2019.

The underappreciated captivating nature of animation

Chris Hutton, Entertainment and Features Editor
January 29, 2025

People often begin their relationship to film with animation, whether watching cartoons like ”SpongeBob SquarePants” or animated movies like “Cars.” Sadly, it seems that people are reluctant to...

Streaming services are becoming cable

Streaming services are becoming cable

Owen Daniels, Reporter
December 10, 2024

Streaming services are like cable where you would pay for all these channels that you don't ever watch, but certain programs and channels you do want to watch you have to pay more for.  Why am I paying...

Why attendance should not affect grades

Why attendance should not affect grades

Owen Daniels, Reporter
December 5, 2024

I am paying thousands of dollars to attend classes at Chico State. So when I choose to skip a class, why should it affect my grade if I am the one paying for it? Most instructors now allow you a certain...

Student Pavan Kasukurti (left) and owner Ahmad Ghous (right) outside the truck. Taken by Dominic Curcuro on Oct. 27th, 2024.

Halal Platter: An underrated food option on campus

Dominic Curcuro, Writer
November 29, 2024

Over the past few months I have often got food from the red Halal Platter food truck on my way to classes, and it has quickly become my favorite food option on campus. Usually parked outside the Wildcat...

A student checking their grade only to find that she’s received a failing grade due to her work being flagged by an AI detector. Graphic created by Jessica Miller on Oct. 25.

AI detectors: A hypocritical and discriminatory practice

Jessica Miller, News Editor
November 29, 2024

It has become increasingly popular for professors and universities to use artificial intelligence detectors on student work to try and prevent students from using it to complete assignments. This is done...

 The cover of “Destiny Disrupted.”

‘Destiny Disrupted’: The story of Islam and world history

Ari Sorokin, Opinion Reporter
November 28, 2024

"Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes" by Tamim Ansary is one of my favorite reads this year. It provides an eye-opening experience revealing the common ways the world’s 1.5...

Downtown Chico is a popular area for walking, shopping and visiting the university. Photo taken on Oct. 18.

Downtown Chico dangerous for pedestrians and drivers

Owen Daniels, Reporter
November 26, 2024

Downtown Chico’s roads are horribly laid out and make driving downtown stressful and dangerous. There are four-way intersections where there are only yield signs for two of the ways, there will be a...

Graphic of a woman watching Love Is Blind on her television. Created by Burklee Waddell on Nov. 4, 2024.

Reality TV should be your not-so-guilty pleasure

Sophia MacKinnon, Food Reporter
November 15, 2024

Many people view reality television as a “guilty pleasure,” but I see it as a way to gain important insights into human behavior, learn social skills without first hand experience and view ethical...

In terms of polling numbers, 3rd parties are always behind. Graphic was created on Oct 24 by Nadia Hill.

Third-party presidential politics: Pointless and potentially harmful

Sean Shanks, Reporter
November 2, 2024

Attempts by third-party candidates to inject themselves into the national political conversation have become fruitless. At best, they can mobilize some voters and bring increased awareness to certain issues....

In our heightened political climate, it's easy to point the finger. Graphic was created on Oct 24 by Nadia Hill.

Democracy is fine for now

Ari Sorokin, Opinion Reporter
October 31, 2024

Throughout this hotly-contested run for president, divisive messages have been flying from both sides of the aisle. Both sides seek to create the perception that the republic is at risk and that they will...