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Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

All content by Ashiah Scharaga
Illustration by Miles Huffman

No more vexed vaginas: Pap smears shouldn’t cause worry

Ashiah Scharaga
March 11, 2015
Thanks to a humorous doctor and a positive attitude, I slid through my first Pap smear (psychologically) unscathed.
Photo credit: Zak Magno

Uncle Dad’s asks for fans’ input on next album tribute

Ashiah Scharaga
March 9, 2015
Students can help choose the album for the art collective's sixth tribute concert by filling out a brief survey online.
Street art near the railroad tracks behind Nettleton Stadium in December 2014. This is one of the more popular areas in Chico that taggers and street artists use as a personal canvas for more intricate works. Photo credit: Ashiah Scharaga

Graffiti: Art or vandalism?

Ashiah Scharaga
January 25, 2015
Chico, whether residents like it or not, remains a massive canvas for budding artists and gangsters.
Photo courtesy of Bogg

Bogg’s ‘Summer Harvest’ album review

Ashiah Scharaga
December 20, 2014
The modern jazz band has harvested an eclectic collection of covers for its impressive and locally-recorded third album.
David Day is a custodian at Chico State during the week and performs country music for free on the weekends. "When you share that music and you're pouring your heart out, the people, they see it," Day said. "When you're doing it night after night, it becomes a job." Photo credit: Ashiah Scharaga

Day by Day: custodian, musician on fishing, fame

Ashiah Scharaga
December 17, 2014
David Day keeps the Student Services Center's fourth floor clean during the week and picks up his guitar and fishing pole on weekends.
Martin Salgado jokes with audience members at the Writer's Voice Graduate Writers' Workshop Thursday while reading a piece about his first love in junior high. Photo credit: Ashiah Scharaga

Students share works on God, widowers, first loves

Ashiah Scharaga
December 12, 2014
English graduate students read their original stories and poems of desire, anguish and speculation at the Writer's Voice Graduate Writers' Workshop on Thursday.
Illustration by Zachary Phillips

Divorce doesn’t dampen family holidays

Ashiah Scharaga
December 1, 2014
My first holiday without both parents helped me come to grips with emotions I'd been avoiding for months.
Hunter Hayes released his latest album "Storyline," showcasing his country croon and knack for penning catchy and empowering country hits. Photograph by CraigShipp.com via Wikimedia Commons.

Study Break: Hunter Hayes ‘Storyline’ Album Review

Ashiah Scharaga
May 8, 2014
The 22-year-old country crooner released a second album that's one for the storybooks.
Photo Courtesy of Chico Performances

Children’s classic delivers magical, musical ride on stage

Ashiah Scharaga
May 1, 2014
Chico residents won't have to travel far to see a whole new world next week.
Corrie Clark, James Gibbs and Noah Ben-Eishai lobbied for artists' rights in D.C. at the beginning of April. They Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Photo credit: Anita Gisborne.

Q&A: Students lobby for artists’ rights in D.C.

Ashiah Scharaga
April 23, 2014
The Orion chatted with two music industry students about lobbying, the Grammys on the Hill Awards and grazing Zac Hanson's tush.
Sarah Pike, Director of the University Film Series. Photo credit: Ashiah Scharaga

41-year-old university film series offers free showings of profound, artistic films

Ashiah Scharaga
April 17, 2014
The Orion sat down with Sarah Pike, director of the University Film Series at Chico State, to talk about why students should give their Netflix accounts a break every Tuesday night and catch a showing.
Amelia Bransky, a senior theater major at Chico State, directs Mike Bartlett's "The Enemy" and Mark Ravenhill's "Armageddon" in Chico State's School of the Arts production of the Donna Stone Breed Memorial One-Acts this year. Photo courtesy of Sylvia Lewis.

Backstage Q&A: Students showcase directing talent

Ashiah Scharaga
April 9, 2014
The Orion sat down with two student directors of the 2014 Donna Stone Breed Memorial One-Acts to discuss the rewards and excitement of directing.
Jon Mess screams during Dance Gavin Dance's Friday night performance at the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium. Photo credit: Grant Mahan

Auditorium hosts fist-pumping, crowd-surfing good time

Ashiah Scharaga
March 29, 2014
Dance Gavin Dance, Icarus the Owl and Clouds on Strings rocked the Bell Memorial Union Friday night.
Sue Hargrave Pate, a retiring Chico State Arts Professor, holds up an award while standing behind a wall she calls "the Memory Wall." Photo credit: Maisee Lee

Professor looks back on career, thanks Chico State

Ashiah Scharaga
March 13, 2014
A professor is retiring after 28 years of teaching theater and dance courses and directing and choreographing School of the Arts productions at Chico State.
Spirit and Science confronting each other through song in "Creation Stories". Photo credit: Shannon Miller

Theater professors, students weave thought-provoking creation stories into show

Ashiah Scharaga
March 5, 2014
Chico State's School of The Arts presents "Creation Stories" March 5-8 and 11-13, bringing laughs and inspiring thought about the different stories cultures tell about the beginning of life as we know it.
Julie Atlas shows off her 1920s fashion at the Rent Party costume contest Thursday night.Photo credit: Shannon Miller

Harlem Renaissance revived by rent party

Ashiah Scharaga
February 28, 2014
Chico State's ninth annual Harlem Renaissance Rent Party brings 1920s style and spirit to campus for a good cause.
Jana Lawton explains the themes of her work, including women's history, which is displayed at The Art House.Photo credit: Annie Paige

Married artists use house as sculpture, ceramics gallery

Ashiah Scharaga
February 26, 2014
The Art House features one-of-a-kind sculptures, furniture, mosaics and ceramic art.
This contemporary dance, "Royals," was choreographed by Jarrah Myles and performed during Sundays preview of Keeping Dance Alive!Photo credit: Grant Mahan

Dance showcase keeps art alive

Ashiah Scharaga
February 24, 2014
Keeping Dance Alive! returns to Laxson Auditorium March 7-8, showcasing a variety of local dance talents.
All eyes are on Suzi Q. Smith, as she performs her slam poetry show Thursday night at the UHUB on campus.Photo credit: Grant Mahan

Spoken word stuns, inspires student audience

Ashiah Scharaga
February 21, 2014
Suzi Q. Smith recited poems covering immigration, Justin Timberlake, kisses and war on Thursday night at the UHUB.
Artist Christian Laney-Clark presents one of his handmade backpacks at the Saturday night reopening of BOHO.Photo credit: Chelsea Jeffers

Shop reopening features local wearable art

Ashiah Scharaga
February 9, 2014
BOHO's reopening party on Saturday night featured psychedelic-inspired art and handmade products from local artists.
"Beans" Mitchel Davidovitz. Photo credit: Shayla Ramos

Chico Unplugged is finger-pickin’ good

Ashiah Scharaga
February 7, 2014
Chico Unplugged had Woodstock's Pizza packed with people whooping, clapping and singing along to local acoustic musicians on Thursday night.
Photo courtesy of Chico Performances.

Chico Performances gives Laxson Auditorium the blues

Ashiah Scharaga
February 6, 2014
Chico Performances' True Blues: History of Blues will showcase the history and culture of the blues through a night of music and conversation.
Performer of Mint Shekels and the Treif-Stars, keeping chico weird with their performance at the El Rey.Photo credit: Chelsea Jeffers

Keep Chico Weird talent show lives up to its name

Ashiah Scharaga
February 4, 2014
The inaugural Keep Chico Weird Talent Show had audiences clapping, whooping and laughing Saturday night at the El Rey Theatre.
Travis Stock, senior art major, sitting in one of his many revolutionary bikes.Photo credit: Chelsea Jeffers

Chico State senior creates extraordinary bicycles and artwork

Ashiah Scharaga
January 28, 2014
Chico State senior art major Travis Stock creates and welds modified bicycles, sculpts, draws, sings, acts and writes music. There is no limit to his artistic interests, abilities and creative vision.
Eddy "Eddy B." Baker, of Eddy B. and Pure Country Plus, soulfully croons to audiences at Cafe Flo on Saturday.Photo credit: Matthew Vacca

Bluegrass jam delivers great music, welcoming atmosphere

Ashiah Scharaga
January 26, 2014
Musicians with a variety of experience gathered at Cafe Flo to play standard bluegrass tunes with audience participation.

Ceramics studio provides creative environment for artists of all abilities

Ashiah Scharaga
January 19, 2014
Chico All Fired Up ceramic art center offers a variety of classes and pottery projects, and benefits the community.
Peter Janson warms up the crowd to their next song by explaining that the only person he could ever play well with is Larry Pattis, musically and in real life.Photo credit: Annie Paige

Acoustic guitarists astonish at 1078 Gallery

Ashiah Scharaga
January 17, 2014
Acoustic finger-style guitarists Peter Janson and Larry Pattis performed an intimate show at the 1078 Gallery Thursday.