The Orion

Deceased graduate remembered as ‘multidimensional, adventurous’

Risa Johnson
October 10, 2015

Jennifer Tancreto had just received her master's degree in fine arts with an emphasis in printmaking in May. Family, colleagues and students describe her as a humble, talented intellectual admired locally and internationally for her work.

Anthropology lab draws students, cases across state

Risa Johnson
May 16, 2014

Chico State's anthropology graduate students explain the hidden gem that is the Human Identification Lab and why the anthropology graduate program is renowned across the state and nation.

Blacksmith Club sends sparks flying

Risa Johnson
April 15, 2014

The group started this semester and forges everything from practical tools to armor.

Professor animated for ‘The Hobbit’ productions

Risa Johnson
March 9, 2014

A Chico State professor has worked on animating a variety of Hollywood films, most recently "The Hobbit."

Engineering students build race car for competition

Risa Johnson
December 15, 2013

A student club has built a 600 pound car with 60 horsepower, mostly from scratch.

Entrepreneurship students build businesses

Risa Johnson
December 14, 2013

Students have received up to $10,000 from the Center for Entrepreneurship for their work in lecturer David Rahn's class.

Commemorating Chesterman

Risa Johnson
December 9, 2013

Nigerian clinic to be built in nursing student’s name

Nigerian clinic to be built in honor of deceased nursing student

Risa Johnson
December 8, 2013

Clinic to break ground in summer 2015.

Knights fight drinking dangers

Risa Johnson
December 2, 2013

Club works to promote safer drinking habits

Cardio ‘Cat: Training through illness

Risa Johnson
December 1, 2013

Being sick doesn't mean you have to miss a day at the gym

‘Spring Awakening’ shows off skin, skill

Risa Johnson
November 19, 2013

Imagine a world where parents don’t give “the talk.” A world where teenagers don’t know what sex is and girls get pregnant without understanding how. This is the world brought to life in the sexually-explicit and captivating play, “Spring Awakening,” in the intimate setting of Chico State’s Wismer Theatre. Based off an 1891 German play...

Thanksgiving, making the most out of your week-long break

Risa Johnson
November 18, 2013

Three ways to spend your Thanksgiving break in Chico.

Cardio ‘Cat: Gear up for triathlons

Risa Johnson
November 17, 2013

Arms thrashing and legs kicking their way through the water in a sea of people. Road bikes, tri bikes, all kinds of bikes, speeding around corners. And lastly, a mad dash with whatever is left in their somehow still-moving bodies. In the near future, I want to take on a triathlon, and it will be...

Mock trial addresses party culture

Risa Johnson
November 12, 2013

This event explained the consequences of alchohol-related deaths and provided a forum for discussing party culture concerns.

Winter Workout Wear

Risa Johnson
November 9, 2013

Don't let the cold keep you inside

Party patrol

Risa Johnson
November 5, 2013

Orion reporters accompany police on Halloween

Cardio ‘Cat: Food for fuel

Risa Johnson
November 3, 2013

I had a friend in high school that would down two scoops of ice cream right before track practice, no problem. Unfortunately, I am not as lucky, and food has a big impact on my work-outs. Knowing...

Live blog with Lt. Laver

Risa Johnson
October 31, 2013

Risa Johnson, the asst. features editor, will be starting a live blog at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday with live updates about her ride along with Lt. George Laver of Chico police.

Students learn about life behind bars

Risa Johnson
October 29, 2013

A group of Chico State students spent their Friday talking to convicts in a jail—and they liked it. The Community Legal Information Center sent students from the Penal Law Project to visit San Quentin State Prison. The prison is located along the coast, 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, adjacent to multi-million dollar...

Cardio ‘Cat: Telling your old shoes to take a hike

Risa Johnson
October 29, 2013

Out with the old, in with the new, why you need new running shoes.

Honorable haunting

Risa Johnson
October 22, 2013

Fraternity hosts a horrendous house to benefit charity.

Cardio ‘Cat: Effects of caffeine and alcohol on a workout

Risa Johnson
October 21, 2013

The pros and cons of alcohol and caffeine.

Cardio ‘Cat: Lessons learned from running a half-marathon

Risa Johnson
October 15, 2013

My first half-marathon was the most rewarding race I’ve ever finished, including 10k and 5k races. I have never had so much trouble walking after a race, but more importantly, I have never had so much support from friends, family and strangers ringing bells and waving signs along the way. Hopefully sharing my experience will...

Stop and smell the roses

Risa Johnson
October 15, 2013

George Peterson Rose Garden is filled with history, beauty

Death row inmate may get retrial

Risa Johnson
October 8, 2013

After 24 years, new hope for former student on death row.

Fall for the season

Risa Johnson
October 8, 2013

Autumn is here, along with 3 fun activities you can’t miss.

‘Cardio Cat: Preventing injuries

Risa Johnson
October 8, 2013

A few tips for increasing flexibility and keeping injury-free.

Mixed martial arts kicks up curriculum

Risa Johnson
October 6, 2013

Pairs of students are putting their partners in chokeholds and knocking them to the ground. It's just another day in mixed martial arts class. Farshad Azad, or “Grandmaster” as his students...

Cardio ‘Cat: Spice up your workout

Risa Johnson
September 30, 2013

We are already into week six of the semester and midterms are looming. With my small amount of free time, do I really want to go to the WREC—or do I want to curl up in bed and catch up on Breaking Bad? I think it’s important to spice things up with work outs in...

Professor hosts reptile show

Risa Johnson
September 24, 2013

In a small building crawling with boa constrictors, large lizards and other exotic reptiles, a man stands in a corner with a shirt that reads: "Got Wood? I do." Outside of teaching at Chico State and...

Assaults linger

Risa Johnson
September 24, 2013

As the trial for Lonnie Scott Keith begins, many rapes remain unsolved.

Music to our gears

Risa Johnson
September 18, 2013

Singing cyclist serenades students with freestyle jams.

Cardio ‘Cat: Benefits of personal training

Risa Johnson
September 18, 2013

Ten-hut! If you want an intense, almost militaristic motivator when you work out, then personal training may be for you. A friend who goes to Boot Camp sessions at the Wildcat Recreation Center recently sold me on joining personal training. I tried CrossFit last year and injured myself lifting weights because I wasn’t getting...

Cardio ’Cat: Tips for toned abs

Risa Johnson
September 10, 2013

How to get a toned midsection.

A legacy of giving: Dan Giustina discusses his large gift; dedicated to his longtime friend

Risa Johnson
September 9, 2013

The Orion sat down with Dan Giustina, who donated the largest gift in university history.

Cardio ‘Cat: Upbeat playlists improve workout

Risa Johnson
September 9, 2013

Turn up the tunes to improve your workout.

Limb fall probably caused by water load

Risa Johnson
September 7, 2013

After a student was killed by a fallen tree branch, an arborist discovered the limb was carrying extra water from the summer.

Professor jams with Jay-Z in music video

Risa Johnson
August 29, 2013

One Chico State professor will show students what he did this summer by displaying his name in the credits for Jay-Z’s music video “Picasso Baby.” “I have to stay relevant,” said John Roussell, a communications professor. “This instantly will catch their attention.” Roussell and his wife, Cathrine Himberg, a kinesiology professor at Chico State, were...

Cardio ‘Cat: 5 ways to be healthy this fall

Risa Johnson
August 28, 2013

This summer I ran a 5,000 and a 10,000-meter race and went to the gym after work four to five days a week. I lost 10 pounds and gained speed and endurance every week. So I got to thinking: how the heck...