Under a purple and orange sky, graduates from Chico State’s College of Behavioral Health and Social Sciences walked across the stage to accept their bachelor’s degrees Saturday night.  The BSS...

Reporting contributed by: Andrew Vojta, Ronald Bolling, Jr. and Owen Daniels.    Thirteen days after Steve Perez shed the interim tag from his title as president of Chico State, he fired the...

Wildfire smoke. Extreme heat. Floods. With a warming climate, increasingly dramatic weather-related events are arising and the university isn’t prepared. But a class at Chico State is seeking to change...

Nearly $17 million was how much the California State University system paid for OpenAI's artificial intelligence model geared for education, ChatGPT Edu. Now, the contract is being negotiated again, and...

The Associated Students Government Affairs Committee had its second to last meeting. On the agenda was recycling and contamination, success in participation at events, and voting on the Activity Fee budget...

The university flag was lowered Thursday on campus to honor the passing of former Chico State President Paul Zingg. He passed away on April 9 at the age of 80. He served as president from 2004 to 2016....

University Police Department arrested the Associated Students Concession Supervisor, Gannon Rodriguez, Wednesday night on suspicion of driving an AS Dining Services cart under the influence. He’s no...

You threw away trash in the wrong bin and thought nobody was watching. Turns out Green Campus was, and Thursday was its annual trash audit of Chico State University. A green tarp laid in front of the...

Last year, Catalyst Domestic Violence Services responded to 96 hospital calls related to sexual assault, now a Honors 393 class project is gathering donations. The aim is to spread awareness and make waiting...

From voicing opinions on campus initiatives to advocating for changes to their own program, students have more sway in shaping academic life than they might realize. That is, in part, what the Associated...

This story reviews the University Police Department’s daily crime logs. An Orion reporter spoke with Lt. Bryce Davison for more information regarding certain logged events from the weeks of March 26...

As young, winter-run Chinook salmon swim from where they were born below Shasta and Keswick dams, they’re forced through levees in Battle Creek. Before those levees, Battle Creek would’ve been used...

Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression sent a letter Tuesday to the university alleging that it violated the First Amendment. This comes just months after Chico State paused recruitment for member...

Wednesday’s Associated Student’s Board of Directors meeting presented a strong quarterly budget, calls for more student voices on committee initiatives on campus and highlighted the effects of the...

The negotiation table sits empty as the Teamsters Local 2010 union wraps up its final day of striking against California State University over contractual step raises.  About 1,100 Skilled-trade workers...

As snow fell onto campus for the first time since 1988, the Teamsters Local 2010 union formed their picket lines across campus. Chico State President Steve Perez stopped by in the morning to speak with...

Wednesday began in the early morning as skilled-trade workers in the Teamsters Local 2010 union formed their picket lines for day two of a strike over step raises.  Steve Phillips, a member of...

For the past 16 years, Robert Francis has stepped onto Chico State’s campus, clocked in and went to work. On Tuesday, he arrived on campus with a sign, side-by-side with about 60 other skilled-trade...

Skilled-trade workers across the California State University system will strike beginning Tuesday. The four day strike comes after failed negotiations between the Teamsters Local 2010 union and the CSU...

Last semester, three fraternities in the Interfraternity Council were put on probation after hazing pledges. Now, Fraternity and Sorority Life has decided to pause rush for one semester in an effort to...

Next year, the university might crawl out of its deficit and into a surplus of just over $4 million, announced President Steve Perez during Tuesday's State of the University address. This news flipped...

Over 100 students, faculty and staff chanted, marched and waived protest signs Friday, decrying recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Students for Quality Education (SQE) and Students...

The first Associated Students Board of the Directors meeting of the spring semester kicked off on Wednesday with updates on the executive director position, a decision made by the Interfraternity Council...

For two weeks, waves won’t represent a gateway into an open sea, instead, on Meriam Library’s windows it’ll represent a charge toward sustainability efforts and the promotion of this year’s Book...

With the sun making an appearance after a downpour of rain over winter break, students, faculty and staff have returned to campus for the Spring 2026 semester. With the buzzing excitement of new classes...

From snowshoeing by volcanoes to fighting through raging water on a kayak, Adventure Outings has opened up its trip registration for Spring 2026. A mix of free and paid outings are balanced with clinics...

Chico State student Alexandra Wynter, 28, was killed in what the Chico Police Department believes is a case of domestic violence. Her body, along with her partner Anthony Lopez’s body, was found by officers...

With a monthly campus energy cost ranging from about $200,000 to $600,000, the university’s extensive infrastructure is a mix of old, outdated buildings and new, sustainable buildings. But a team on...

For seven years, Ashley Gebb told stories of Chico State’s community as the publications editor for Chico State Today. Before that, she worked for many years in local journalism. Then, in 2022, she stepped...

After a semester of attempting to restructure the university’s 7-college model — often to pushback and frustrations from the campus community — the reimagining initiative led by Provost Leslie Cornick...

An email was sent to the campus community on Tuesday by the California State University Employee Union accusing administrators in Associated Students of anti-union efforts. This follows a mandatory, confidential...

Executive Director of the Associated Students Jamie Clyde has stepped down from her role. Her last day will be Jan 1, according to an email sent to The Orion by a staffer in Associated Students.  Clyde...

The campus community may have noticed tree maintenance work along their routes through campus last week. Tree work is carried out year-round and is performed based on “ongoing” and “immediate need,”...

The university has launched an internal search for an interim associate dean of Meriam Library. This follows after Provost Leslie Cornick assumed operational and leadership control of the library on Sept....

With November just around the corner, and SNAP funding a day away from stopping, two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must use SNAP’s approximately $5-6 billion contingency fund to...

Update 11/4: Associated Students and Basic Needs have collaborated to offer EBT recipients a daily free meal at the dining hall from now until Friday, as opposed to the one free meal offered through the...

Immigration enforcement, food insecurity, campus structure and more were all questions and concerns pressed upon President Steve Perez and Associated Students President Tia Saunders in a special town hall...

Smoke settled into Chico from what CAL FIRE is attributing to an agriculture burn outside of Chico, most likely in the rice fields, according to Dan Collins, public information officer for CAL FIRE Butte...

Through mist and strobe lights, Redding-based band Youthquake stepped onto a platformed stage Thursday night to play a series of original songs — most prepared just the week before — for a transfixed...

  Chris Hutton can be reached at [email protected] or [email protected]

Flowers on the Creek is an annual event to honor the victims of domestic violence. This year, it was held at Chico State. Photo taken by Chris Hutton on Oct. 8, 2025.

I arrived outside of Naked Lounge Saturday night with a camera slung over my shoulder — one that would prove to be unusable. Light from passing cars and street lamps cut through the darkness to illuminate...

Just steps away from Chico State’s campus in downtown Chico, the month-long event, ARTober Fest, invites attendees to sip on wine or cocktails and listen to live music, all while celebrating the cultural...

For over 10 years, Sarah Downs has been at NSPR, working through the initial transition of NSPR’s licensing from Chico State Enterprises to Capital Radio, then back to CSE. Now, quickly approaching the...

Chico State’s enrollment numbers have been finalized for the fall semester, with full-time-equivalent students (FTES) and total enrollment having increased. However, the final numbers were slightly lower...

As the seven-year anniversary of the Camp Fire approaches, the courageous story of a bus driver — Kevin McKay — driving through grid-locked traffic, inflamed roads and suffocating smoke to bring a...

Meriam Library has undergone a leadership change, as Provost Leslie Cornick will assume the role of Interim Dean Patrick Newell and have administrative and operational control of the library.  The...

Update 9/15: "The University has identified, through video surveillance, an individual believed to be responsible. The situation is proceeding through the student conduct process." Staples said. University...

Just above Lake Oroville, near the rebuilding town of Berry Creek, lies an exposed granite batholith called Big Bald Rock. Nestled into the 1,146,000-acre Plumas National Forest, Bald Rock — commonly...

Chico State carried forward a $2.5 million deficit, which it paid for with its reserves, rather than the initially projected $8 million in the 2024-25 academic year. The university did this through tuition...

California State Parks is requesting community feedback as part of its newly announced “Reimagine Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park” planning effort. It will “take place over the next 15 months...

While students shuffled off of campus and spent the summer with family and friends, Chico State continued to move along. Here is what to expect upon returning to campus for the Fall semester.  The...

Former Chico State professor David Stachura lost his appeal this week to overturn a workplace violence restraining order that prohibits him from campus. This follows threats he allegedly made against two...

As students entered campus for the semester, they scrambled to find their classes, meet new people and prepare a game plan on how to make this semester one of passing classes and balancing a social life...

Over summer Chico State opened the first mass timber building in the California State University system. The University Services Building (USB) is home to Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety...

The seven residential halls filled in Wednesday and Thursday as incoming students could be seen moving into their dormitories under the baking sun. After checking in and receiving their Wildcat Card, students...

Energy and excitement commanded the Saturday night 2025 graduation commencement ceremony honoring the college of business. It was the second ceremony of the day for the college of behavioral and social...

Under a cloudless Wednesday sky, with sunlight radiating down to the anxious and excited crowds below, graduate students march onto the lawn of University Stadium. The expanse of grass was covered in black,...

Provost Leslie Cornick avoided a resolution for a vote of no confidence at the last Academic Senate meeting Thursday. While the senators discussed the feedback from their constituents, none of the senators...

Several student employees in the IT services department have had their hours reinstated following what has been characterized as a “miscommunication,” according to Vice President of the Division of...

Update 11:30 a.m. Two anonymous sources that spoke with The Orion reached out and shared that their hours were reinstated following a meeting with Director of ITSS Amandeep Grewall. Grewall told a source...

Graduating students, friends, faculty and community members gathered outside Kendall Hall to preserve the graduating class of 2025’s memorabilia, commemorating their time at Chico State.  The ceremony...

As ChatGPT Edu enters campus, students, faculty and staff consider the ways campus learning will be impacted by the new tool.  ChatGPT Edu is a large language model geared for academia. It was acquired...

Emerging from a pandemic, the Camp Fire, enrollment drop, hybridization of classes and the threat of a buyout, Chico State’s Dining Services is gearing up to implement a 5-year plan to reshape all its...

Springtime is here, that means markets are back. The Thursday Night Market, Spring Market and Saturday Markets return with Chico’s Brewfest happening as well. While it is a slow week for music events...

The 4th annual Woofstock Festival, put on by the Butte Humane Society, will take place at Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The festival will feature four local bands, food, vendors...

Chico State will make OpenAI’s large language model, ChatGPT Edu, which focuses on education, available to all students, faculty and staff with a csuchico email beginning Tuesday. This follows a deal...

Music: Old 97’s and Grey Delisle Date/Time: Tuesday at 7-9 p.m. Location: Lost on Main  Cost: $32.36 Tickets: TicketWeb Age Restrictions: 21+   Allah-las with Monde UFO Date/Time:...

UPDATE APRIL 3: The link to the models has been fixed.  The second round of models for the restructuring of academic affairs was presented via webinar hosted by Provost Leslie Conrick Tuesday morning....

Music: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong w/ High Fade Date/Time: Tuesday at 7-9 p.m. Location: Sierra Nevada Big Room  Cost: $32.64 Tickets: Eventbrite Age Restrictions: All Ages   Jazz...

Provost Leslie Cornick sent an email Wednesday to the campus community regarding the rescheduling of the Academic Affairs expo’s following feedback from the community.  Cornick followed up this email...

Faculty, students and staff attended the Reimagining Academic Affairs Town Hall on Monday to hear Provost Leslie Cornick provide updates on the models from Phase One and to have a chance to raise their...

Music: Jenny Don’t and The Spurs Date/Time: March 5 at 8 p.m. Location: Winchester Goose Cost: $17.85 Tickets: Bandsintown Age restriction: 21+   Live Jazz Date/Time: March...

Before the pandemic, university leadership considered ways to restructure Academic Affairs. As COVID-19 shook the foundations of universities and their communities went online, the plans for restructuring...

For many, childhood is a time of boundless creativity and imagination. Sadly with age, those imaginative worlds have a tendency to dissipate. But for some, like Daniel Chimal, they find a way to capture...

Correction Feb. 26 - Corrected a Miranda Flint's major Through exasperated breaths, Miranda Flint, a senior studying geology, pressured Provost Leslie Cornick on the future of her degree and what it...

President Donald Trump was found dead in the Oval Office with a Big Mac in his hand Friday after giving a heated speech about Social Security payments going to dead people. Melania Trump, his third...

College is a place where many foster their creativity through art and pour it into their passions or prospects. Whether it’s for a major or a hobby, that spirit of creativity can be cultivated in college....

The only absolute in life is death. “The Monkey,” written and directed by Osgood Perkins – director of “Long Legs” – and adapted from the short story of the same name by Stephen King, brings...

Over 100 natural science students and allied community members clashed with Provost Leslie Cornick in Selvesters before the final expo of phase two, round one, in the reimagining of academic affairs initiative...

A variety of music events swing into Chico this week, from jazz to EDM there are events for all music lovers. The Oscars are approaching and Cinemark will be starting to showcase each of the Oscar-nominated...

*This article was edited on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 to correct the scope of The Special Action Team   Academic Affairs is seeking to restructure the division through three distinct models. Provost...

Academic Affairs is reimagining the academic structure of Chico State through three models. These proposals will change the organizational structure of colleges and departments starting the implementation...

The Trump Administration stated in a press release Tuesday that it had misplaced the U.S. Constitution after taking it down to move it to President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-lago estate.  “Curious on...

Heavy metal and jazz will dominate the town as Chico’s venues open their doors for several music events. If you’re getting on your Oscar grind then check out The Pageant’s lineup for short film nominations...

This year's Oscars race nominated a wide range of films, from suspenseful mysteries about the Catholic Church to blood-soaked thrillers that take aim at the misogyny in the entertainment industry. The...

The Universal Pictures film “Love Hurts,” comes in time for Valentine’s Day to remind us all that love hurts. The season of love has arrived and Hollywood is making its effort to rake in that holiday...

Cupid’s arrow is whizzing through the air. Events are springing up around Chico to get you in the Valentine’s Day mood. From card making to live music, this week is packed with events for just about...

As the U.S. Agency for International Development’s doors slammed shut and the federal aid money ceased to flow to humanitarian stations around the world, I struggle to grapple with the injustices playing...

“Si se puede,” chanted a crowd of protestors during the late afternoon on Monday, holding signs advocating for immigrant rights in response to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, following...

Graphic by Chris Hutton

Cupid’s arrow is whizzing through the air. Events are springing up around Chico to get you in the Valentine’s Day mood. From card making to live music, this week is packed with events for just about...

“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...

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...

For lovers of jazz, get your dancing feet ready, this week is packed with events. Two Oscar-nominated movies will also be shown in town, “The Brutalist,” nominated for best picture and nine other Oscars,...

For fans of handmade artwork and supporting emerging artists, the 2025 Chico Zine Fair is an event that can’t be flipped past.   Zines, pronounced “zeens,” are printed booklets featuring drawings,...