“American Totem” gets ‘sneak preview’ The film: “We are not one nation when it comes to guns”

photo by Guillermo Mash

CSUC President Gayle E. Hutchinson introduces “American Totem” at Bell Memorial Union auditorium Monday.

“American Totem,” a film exploring the topic of guns in America, was a project three years in the making which premiered as a free “sneak preview” public showing at the Chico State Bell Memorial Union on March 26, with hundreds of movie-goers nearly filling the 800-seat auditorium.

Political Science honor society Alpha Sigma Phi hosted the event and facilitated an audience Q-and-A panel discussion after the film. read more

Teenagers fire up thousands in City Plaza March for Our Lives speakers demand school safety

photo by Karen Laslo

At City Plaza

by Dave Waddell

Chico teenagers spoke out passionately Saturday against school gun violence to a crowd of thousands at City Plaza, leaving some of their older listeners not only admiring their steely resolve but in tears at their stirring words.

“Do you know how it feels to hear the ‘all clear’ in a Code Red and say ‘Thank god I’m alive’ when across the country parents are crying ‘God, why? God, why did my baby have to die, their lives stretching out before them, withering in opportunity and promise?” asked Bailey Christiansen, a 15-year-old Chico High School sophomore. read more

Two fathers take food to City Plaza Phillips memorial becomes an act of sharing

The “One Year Without Justice for Desmond Phillips” gathering at the Chico Women’s Club on March 17 had dozens of hamburgers and hot dogs left over that were given out with fellowship and kindness at Chico’s downtown plaza by Scott Rushing and David Phillips, whose sons were both killed in shootings that involved Chico police officers. read more

Hundreds of #Enough students pour into City Plaza Walkouts protest gun violence on school campuses

photo by Dave Waddell

Sharon DeMeyer participated in the march along with her daughter, Zoe Karch, a student walkout leader.

by Dave Waddell

Hundreds of students of assorted ages poured into Chico’s City Plaza this morning, joining in a loud chant that didn’t let up for several minutes: “No More Silence, End Gun Violence.”

The students came from different campuses, ranging from Chico State to junior highs and charter schools, to participate in #Enough National School Walkout. The protest was inspired by the shooting deaths of 17 staff members and students Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Empower, the youth branch of Women’s March that helped in organizing events nationwide, had counted 3,136 walkouts at the time this story was posted. read more

Tiny House Club helps shelter homeless Chico's first tiny house underway

by Karen Laslo

On this past Sunday morning, Charles Withuhn of the Chico Housing Action Team (CHAT), along with a retired contractor and nine Chico State students from the Tiny House Club, showed up behind the university’s Langdon Hall to get to work on the first tiny house in Chico. (Click on arrows to see slideshow below.)

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Their goal for the day: To put up the framed walls they’d previously hammered together at another work session. read more

Art lovers turn out for Amick’s last show Chico artist's work on display all month

Scores of friends, family, acquaintances and art aficionados gathered at Beatnik’s Coffee House in Chico Sunday afternoon for Molly Amick’s Paper Collage Art Opening, consisting of 23 pieces of art ranging from originals to prints down to postcard size. A steady stream of people visited with Amick, who is in the late stages of inoperable breast cancer, exchanging their love for the person and her art in smooches and kind words. read more