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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 Kelsi Sibert
A truck on Skyway destroyed by the destruction of Camp Fire. Photo credit: Christian Solis

Camp Fire Day One: Thousands evacuate through Paradise and Chico

Extreme western winds push flames and smoke through Paradise on the first day of the Camp Fire. Updated 9:45 a.m. Friday CalFire's most recent briefing confirmed that the Camp Fire is at an estimated...

Kylie Taylor is graduating this week with a degree in economics and a minor in math and statistics. She will be attending the University of Texas in Austin next year to pursue a masters degree in economics. Photo credit: Image courtesy of Kylie Taylor

The CSU versus the American Dream

Lizzie Helmer
May 16, 2018

Chico State student finds “rags to riches” isn’t as realistic for low-income California State University students.Senior Kylie Taylor is one of the four students receiving honors in the...

Executive Director of the Gateway Science Museum Adrienne McGraw. Photo credit: Anne Chamberlain

Gateway Science Museum temporarily closing for instillation of new exhibits on climate change

Kelsi Sibert
May 14, 2018

The Gateway Science Museum is currently closed for exhibit installation from May 7 through May 25 and will open back up on May 26.Executive Director of the Gateway Science Museum Adrienne McGraw said the...

This chart is based on estimates from Chico State's Financial Aid and Scholarship office. Without factoring in financial aid, the average total cost of a degree for an in-state student is about $90,000

Chico State degree costs about $90,000

Lizzie Helmer
May 8, 2018

This chart is based on estimates from Chico State's Financial Aid and Scholarship office. Without factoring in financial aid, the average total cost of a degree for an in-state student is about $90,000

A.S. Dining Student Lead Jordan Menkes assembles a Post Plastic straw kit on May 2.

Chico State’s strawless challenge successful in first 72 hours

Kelsi Sibert
May 7, 2018

Less than 72 hours after going strawless, A.S. Dining sold 507 reusable straw kits at various coffee shops and dining areas on campus. On April 23, Chico State officially went strawless and traded...

Assistant Statistics Professor Robin Donatello said some of the posters presented at the poster session could possibly turn into papers and be submitted to scientific journals. While other posters are a contribution to a bigger research idea.

Poster session gives Natural Sciences students and faculty opportunity to showcase research projects

Kelsi Sibert
April 30, 2018

College of Natural Sciences majors and professors participated in the 14th annual poster session to show off their research Monday. Assistant Statistics Professor Robin Donatello is this years poster...

Mikie Believes Take Back the Night brings in good support and awareness for those effected by sexual assault. Photo credit: Kelsi Sibert

Take back the night: A place for survivors to tell their story

Kelsi Sibert
April 23, 2018

Since the 1970s, Chico State's Gender and Sexuality Equality Center, formerly known as the Women's Center, has put on an event called "Take Back the Night." Each year a different theme surrounding sexual...

Amanda Reinhart believes a waste audit is important to help students be aware of their waste habits and where their waste actually ends up. Photo credit: Kelsi Sibert

Waste Audit examines Chico State’s sustainable practices

Kelsi Sibert
April 18, 2018

A.S. Sustainability, in collaboration with A.S. Recycling, will be hosting a waste audit outside of Chico State's Student Service Center on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. A.S. Sustainability Assistant...

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez signed copies of his new book "We Rise" after Wednesday's talk.

Environmental activist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez speaks at the BMU

Lizzie Helmer
April 17, 2018

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez stepped up to the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium stage and immediately started rapping. The rap lasted under two minutes but incorporated three languages and the overarching message...

Local political candidates and  Chico State President Gayle Hutchinson sit on the panel at the March For Our Lives Chico town hall.

Student activists host town hall to discuss gun violence

Lizzie Helmer
April 10, 2018

March For Our Lives Chico put on a town hall Saturday at the El Rey theater that featured multiple congressional candidates and community leaders. Lizzie Helmer can be reached at [email protected] or @lizziehelmer on...

Volunteers Lakshmi and Frances Mann work together to create posters for the Martin Luther King remembrance walk. Photo credit: Carly Maxstone

Unity Group organizes a remembrance walk in honor Martin Luther King Jr.

Kelsi Sibert
April 4, 2018

The MLK Unity Group, in alliance with the Chico Peace and Justice Center, is hosting a walk to honor Martin Luther King on the 50-year anniversary of his assassination.On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King...

Mimi Baez speaks to Basement Talk attendees about how she hopes administrators, as well as students, will join future talks. Photo credit: Lizzie Helmer

New speaking series addresses life lessons

Lizzie Helmer
April 2, 2018

Love, relationships, spirituality, honesty, success and fear. These topics and more were covered in Basement Talks, a new speaking series created by the Student Philanthropy Council. The first 'talk' was...

Professor David Stachura examining the zebrafish under a microscope. Photo by Kelsi Sibert.

Chico State professor researches zebrafish in hopes of creating artificial blood

Kelsi Sibert
March 28, 2018

Chico State Associated Professor David Stachura is working with Chico State undergraduate and graduate students as well as collaborators from Harvard and UC San Diego to make blood using zebrafish. Stachura...

Professor Sue Hilderbrand discusses how she balances hosting a weekly radio show with producing a gun violence documentary while also teaching Chico State students.

Chico State professor creates educational experiences outside the classroom

Alex Grant and Kelsi Sibert
March 21, 2018

College educators often research independently to better learn educational subjects and to become more informed teachers. Political science and criminal justice lecturer Sue Hilderbrand uses two educational...

Chico State students march toward Kendall Hall to protest gun violence

Students protest gun violence

Alex Grant, Natalie Hanson, Kendall George and Lizzie Helmer can be reached at [email protected] or @theorion_news on Twitter.

Title IX Coordinator Dylan Saake doesn't believe Not Anymore will solve the issue of sexual violence, but he does think it can be a useful resource for many students. Photo credit: Maria Ramirez

Not Anymore deemed helpful yet repetitive

Kelsi Sibert
March 14, 2018

Each year, students at Chico State are required to participate in an online or in-person "inner personal violence awareness and prevention program."Not Anymore is designed to make sure that all students...

Kailyn Erb stands next to a section of the planned march route on Broadway Street. Photo credit: Lizzie Helmer

Local students organize Walkout protest

Lizzie Helmer
March 12, 2018

After 17 people were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, student survivors called for a national walkout and protest to happen. Two local students are taking action...

Mikaela "Mikie" Wiedman, GSEC women's program coordinator, is organizing the Let's Talk About Periods event at Chico State. Photo credit: Kelsi Sibert

GSEC hosts Let’s Talk About Periods, brings focus to women’s health

Kelsi Sibert
March 6, 2018

For the past three years, Chico State's Gender and Sexuality Equality Center has hosted an event focusing on menstruation and women's health. This year it's called Let's Talk About Periods. Let's Talk...

Judy Cline declines Joe's Bar GHB rumor. Photo credit: Courtesy of Enloe Medical Center

Enloe denies “date-rape” statistic in Facebook post

Lizzie Helmer
March 6, 2018

In a Facebook post on Feb. 20, Joe’s Bar stated Enloe Medical Center had reported 10 cases of the “date rape” drug GHB in the past two months. Representatives from Enloe Medical Center said they...

Child Development Professor Shrija Dirghangi is one of the leaders of the new weekly women's circle group. Photo credit: Kelsi Sibert

Weekly women’s circle inspires to lead future female youth discussions

Kelsi Sibert
February 27, 2018

A new weekly women's circle began Feb. 20 with the goal of teaching Chico State women how to encourage and guide future local girl groups. Shelley Hart and Shrija Dirghangi, two child development professors,...

Brigitte Dahrouj encourages all students that are interested in politics to come to a Democratic Club meeting. The club meets every Thursday at 6 p.m. in Butte 223. Photo credit: Alex Grant

Chico native runs to represent Northern California College Democrats

Kelsi Sibert and Alex Grant
February 22, 2018

President of the Chico State Democratic Club Brigitte Dahrouj is running for Northern Regional Director.This title is one of nine California College Democrats positions up for election. However, unlike...

Ultimaker 3 Extended 3-D printer printing a fish model Photo credit: Alex Grant

New Meriam Library Makerspace sends student projects to another dimension

Lizzie Helmer
February 21, 2018

A vinyl cutter, 3-D printers, a sewing machine and five high powered computers are now available to all Chico State students thanks to a new Makerspace that opened in Meriam Library Feb 6.Patrick Newell,...

The fencing will be up in front of Bell Memorial Union until the statue's unveiling on April 19 Photo credit: Lizzie Helmer

New Wildcat statue funded exclusively from donations

Lizzie Helmer
February 14, 2018

A new Wildcat statue is coming to Chico State and it’s funded in a way that’s the first of its kind. The about $145,000 necessary for the project came from a collaborative donations effort...

Photo credit: Alex Grant

Student officers share advice on the election process

Kelsi Sibert
February 13, 2018

The Associated Students election process begins early March and for those interested in getting involved there are multiple steps that potential candidates should take before election day. Nan Timmons,...

After a months-long national search, Chico state has named Adrienne McGraw as the new executive director of Gateway Science Museum. This image taken on January 25th shows the new director standing in front of the museum. Photo credit: Anne Chamberlain

New director of Gateway Science Museum aims for student and faculty involvement

Kelsi Sibert
January 31, 2018

After a lengthy search, Chico State named Adrienne McGraw as the new executive director for the Gateway Science Museum on Jan. 9. As a child, McGraw spent her summers surrounded by trees at Kings Canyon...

Alisha Sharma is ready to take on new position but still remains focused on past and current goals Photo credit: Kate Angeles

New student body president puts teamwork first

Lizzie Helmer
January 30, 2018

Over winter break, Dylan Gray resigned from his position as Associated Student president. In an email sent out to the entire student body, Executive Vice President Alisha Sharma said Gray left to focus...

Butte County spared from California influenza outbreak

Butte County spared from California influenza outbreak

Kelsi Sibert
January 23, 2018

This year already, California has experienced an influenza outbreak that hospitalized dozens of people and left several dead. However, Lisa Almaguer, the communication manager for Butte County Public...

Contenders for NFL MVP

Mathew Miranda
December 5, 2017

With only five weeks left in the regular season, the race for the MVP award is heating up. Early contenders, were lost to injury, while other unlikely players have put themselves in the discussion. Here’s...

Junior forward Korie Bozart kicks the ball after a stoppage in play. Photo credit: Lamar Lomack

Wildcats start slow, finish strong

Mathew Miranda
September 24, 2017

The Chico State women’s soccer team dominates the first half. They maintain possession of the ball, create scoring opportunities and out-shoot the opposing team. However, for all their strengths, the...

A couple club members table for their event. Photo courtesy of the Chico State Barbell Club

Smashing weight and donating cans

Mathew Miranda
September 12, 2017

The Chico Barbell Club will host a bench press competition to bring awareness to powerlifting and offer support to the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry. The event is open to all Chico State students and there...

Top 5 NFL contenders this season

Mathew Miranda
August 27, 2017

With the NFL preseason nearly over, fans are gearing up for the real games to start. These tune-up games give a good insight as to how teams will look once the regular season arrives. The contenders for...