Emmy Award-Winning Alum Talks Filmmaking, Storytelling, Bending Rules

By Zachary Phillips, Editorial Assistant—Public Affairs and Publications

Photo courtesy: Dan Bruns

Matt Ritenour started working with California State University, Chico’s Advanced Laboratory for Visual Anthropology (ALVA) as a student in 2012. Since graduating in 2013, he has continued working with the lab, filming and editing documentaries that cover a wide array of topics. His most recent project—and his first as a director—is Impact of the Frolic, which won a Northern California-area Emmy Award on June 6, 2015. The documentary is a work of both auditory and visual storytelling, taking viewers through forests, over oceans, and across continents. It retraces archaeologist Thomas Layton’s discovery and research of an opium clipper that wrecked off the shores of Mendocino, California, in 1850, creating global connections that would change California forever.

How I Turned My College Town into My College Home

Hello Chico State! My name is Shyna Deepak, and I am the new social media intern for the Department of Public Affairs and Publications. I am about to enter my senior year, working on my BFA in Electronic Arts with a minor in communication design. After spending three years in Chico, I feel comfortable enough so say I have experienced a great deal here—the good and the bad.

“Holi: Festival of Colors”

As we all are aware, Chico State has a mixed reputation. Every visit to my hometown in the Bay Area, I run into someone who asks me what I do. I tell them I am a student at Chico State, and in response, I almost always get a wink as they say something along the lines of “majoring in partying, huh?” You would think it would be people my age range making this comments, but in fact I mostly hear it from adults in my parents’ social circle. It’s pretty embarrassing, and I always try to come up with a clever response.

However, when I am in Chico, I try my best to help this “party school” reputation disappear. I want to be able to explain to people that there is so much more to Chico than the nightlife. Within this small college town, I have learned about the existence of so many different types of communities. Chico State offers so much more than an education—it offers a home. A home is a place that should be respected. Who enjoys people running through their house and making a mess? Definitely not me!

  Don’t get me wrong. I would be lying if I said that I haven’t had any youthful indiscretions. But I have learned from my mistakes and choose not to live an unhealthy lifestyle.

“Bingo’s a Drag” at the UHUB

Since I have ventured away from this scene, I have learned more about what opportunities present themselves here in the town of Chico. We have an amazing park that includes outdoor planetarium, not to mention the abundance of quirky stores, 24-hour donuts and diners, and the most delicious independent restaurants. Chico has a small-town charm that I’ve grown to love and cherish.

What is there to do here? Well, last weekend my friend and I biked to T-Bar  through Bidwell Park, and made it in time for their happy hour. I got pomegranate lemonade and a chicken wrap—yum! During midterms, I went to the WREC and saw people studying with their flashcards in the hot tub. They were able to study and de-stress at the same time! On occasion, I will invite a friend over to watch cheesy horror movies and eat pita chips with hummus. If I’m alone, I’ll just watch 30 Rock on Netflix or brainstorm ideas for DIY projects (via Pinterest).

Participating in the Vagina Monologues

When it comes to your Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights, I’ve found there are plenty of things to do- you just need to figure out what makes your Chico Experience yours. 

Meet Some of Chico State’s Amazing New Graduates

Basketball star Damario Sims has left an indelible mark on Chico State athletics history over the past four years. But beyond the buzzer-beating shots is his most defining aspect: the obligation he feels to be a role model for young people from his hometown of West Oakland. Read More

If there’s one thing Ariel Ellis wants those who feel depressed to know, it’s that they’re not alone. In fact, the graduating psychology major has dedicated most of her four years at Chico State to spreading that message and other facts about mental health.  Read More

Spending time with Melissa Martinez today, you’d never guess that she was once a college dropout. After excelling in high school, Martinez enrolled in Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with the best of intentions, but found the transition to college life at 17 challenging. Martinez graduates on May 25 with a degree in biological sciences (cellular and molecular) and a minor in biochemistry. Read More

If the start of Adrian Sherrod’s high school career was an indication of the rest of his life, his future would likely look different now. After spending most of his young life in Mexico, his mother moved the family back to San Diego County for a fresh start, and the transition to the States was a rough one. That all changed when he was introduced to running track and cross country. Read More 

A few months before Nicole Walker started her freshman year at CSU, Chico, her mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Being too far away from her San Luis Obispo hometown to visit often, Walker decided to support her mom in a different way—by getting involved with the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Northern California. Read More

When Ian Ruddell came to CSU, Chico as a freshman, he was prepared to make change. The organizer of the first gay-straight alliance at Atascadero High was already a seasoned activist, used to making things happen. But he may not have anticipated that he would leave such an indelible stamp on both the University and the CSU—changing the way CSU, Chico supports LGBTQ students and voting on issues that directly impact the CSU’s 437,000 students. Read More

Until he was 25, Tim Sain did exactly what he says was expected of men in his family: He got into drugs, he dropped out of high school, he became an absentee father, he went to jail. He lost his house, his car, his job, his wife, and nearly, his three children. And then Sain did the unexpected. He decided to change everything. Read More

Greg Wells, who uses a wheelchair, was paralyzed at the age of 15 in a high school wrestling accident and also has a documented learning disability. These challenges, he says, make everything a little bit harder, but by staying true to his mantras of “keep going” and “never give up,” he has overcome them in a way that’s impressive by any standard. Read More

Graduating communication design major Dee Thao is promoting social change through a highly social medium: film. Thao, recipient of the College of Communication and Education’s 2013 Outstanding Student Leader Award, recently premiered a 24-minute film she created that documents her family’s journey as refugees from Thailand when she was 5. Read More

Michael Bluing came to Chico as a freshman, sight unseen, on the recommendation of high school teachers who were Chico State alums. “I heard their stories; I saw the brochure, saw all the trees, and thought ‘Hey, I like trees,’” he said, laughing. Bluing is especially passionate about integrating diversity awareness into the learning process. Read More

Few understand or embody the meaning of service work and leadership quite like graduating political science major Swan Toma. Born in Iraq under the regime of Saddam Hussein, Toma and his family, along with others, faced the threat of persecution in 1997 related to his father’s work with Western countries. Evacuating as refugees to camps in Turkey and Guam, the family eventually immigrated to the United States through the sponsorship of an uncle in San Diego County when he was just 6. Read More

Planning Events and Honoring Heroes

By Alison Healey, senior
Business- Marketing, and Recreation Management Major

“Recreation… So you’re majoring in playing?”

This is what statement I hear from many people when I tell them I am majoring in recreation. Most people don’t realize the recreation major encompasses many fields, including event planning, parks management, hospitality, and tourism.

Through my Recreation 474 class, Association Operations and Events, I was able to plan an event from start to finish. Throughout the semester my classmates and I helped plan Honoring Our Veterans event, campus event held on November 10, 2012.I am focusing on the event planning side of recreation and have become more passionate about it as I take higher level classes. This is because these courses actually let you get hands-on experience within your field of choice.

This was an event in honor of all veterans, but it focused specifically those that were associated with Chico State or the Chico Community. Chico State has been recognized as a veteran-friendly school by a number of publications, and this year the university wanted to take it a step further by hosting a special day for veterans. This is where my class came in.

My class was “hired” by Chico State to put on the Chico State Honoring Our Veterans event. We were given a budget and a venue that we had to work with. Besides those two points we were on our own.

Throughout the semester, we had to come up with the marketing plan, the menu, the entertainment, the decorations, and the program. I knew event planning was very detail oriented, but I never fully comprehended it until I was in this class. Details such as picking colors for the decorations that wouldn’t offend the veterans and following military protocol were not things we considered in our initial planning.

Although this was not my first time planning an event, it was beneficial to have my instructor, Polly Crabtree, mentor me through the process. She made us think about what many would consider the basics in event planning in a new way.

For example, inviting the guests seemed like it would be one of the easiest parts of the event. But, we were wrong. Because of the wide age range of our guests,  simple e-mail to everyone would most likely not reach the older population, but a letter in the mail might not reach the younger population. Professor Crabtree guided us through figuring out how to reach our target audience in multiple ways in order to reach everyone.

Student event planners from the Recreation 474 class at the Chico State Honoring Our Veterans event on November 10, 2012.

In the end, the Chico State Honoring Our Veterans event was a hit among the veterans and community members. As people left the event, I was thanked numerous times for my efforts. At times this class was challenging, but it was all worth it once I saw how happy and honored all the veterans looked after our event.

I <3 Chico, Even If It’s Not My Hometown

By Maija Glasier-Lawson, Anthropology Graduate Student

“My name is Maija Glasier-Lawson, and I am an anthropology graduate student at CSU, Chico.” I have written or spoken a variation of that sentence literally hundreds of times during my time here at Chico. At first I did so out of a need to identify myself, now I say it with pride. I am proud of my role as a graduate student, I am proud to be a student at CSU, Chico, and I am proud to call Chico my hometown, at least for now.

I moved to Chico in 2010, just in time to settle in before the start of the school year. My first weekend here, my roommate and I picked nectarines and experimented with homemade chutney, a great introduction to the bounty of Chico. I spent time in the park, hit the market, and checked out a few local watering holes. Then classes started, and my life as a grad student began. At first, I was a bit daunted by the reading (the unending reading!) and the high expectations of the faculty. Somewhere along the way, I realized that though they had high expectations, the entire anthropology department would be there to support us. Time and time again this has proven true.

The department, the entire university, has exceeded my expectations…all of them. I have worked with people across the campus on a variety of projects, and every single person has been helpful, supportive, and easy to work with. This kind of collegial atmosphere makes, well, it makes everything just a little bit easier. It has also made me want to be more engaged as a student and as a member of the campus community. The more involved I become, the more people I meet and the more impressed I am with the number of faculty, staff, and students who truly care about the students and this University.

My experience as a grad student is not limited to my time in classes, in the library, or late nights pouring through journal articles. When I look back on this part of my life, these things will actually fade, and it will be the Saturday market, swimming in the park, the long days, and the occasionally crazy nights that I smile about. Before I moved here, I had made the decision to plant a few roots in the community, and Chico welcomed me with open arms.

The rich soil and sunshine grows great food and enriches amazing people. There is music and art around every corner and friendly faces on every street. I can get my Thai fix or walk across the street for fine wine or great pub food. No conversation about Chico is complete without a mention of the beauty and sheer enjoyment that can be found in Bidwell Park. I could go on and on, but if you live here, you already know what I am talking about; if you don’t, then you should come and check us out. You won’t be disappointed!

I tell people that I love being a student, and I really do. I like my classes, I get to work on interesting projects, I respect and admire the people around me, and most of the time even the reading has its rewards. In my clearly biased opinion, the anthropology department is top notch, and the students who make it through are already doing great things. CSU, Chico is a place of opportunity and reward for the students who are up to the challenge.

I also mean it when I tell people that I love Chico. Whether you are from here or just passing through, Chico has something to offer. Though I cannot stay, I hope to be back some day. Though Chico is not my hometown, Chico will always have a home in my heart.

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Maija Glasier-Lawson is the 2012 recipient of the the William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement and the Trustee Emeritus Murray L. Galinson Scholar. Read more about her award and achievements on the CSU, Chico News website.

It’s Worth Every Mile

By: Alison Healey, Senior, Major: Marketing & Recreation

Summer is the time to get outside and enjoy your surroundings, and one of my favorite places to go is Feather Falls in Oroville. The trailhead to this stunning waterfall is about 45 minutes from campus, and then there’s a four-and-a-half mile hike to get to there, but it’s worth every step!

Along the way you will see the vast beauty of the Plumas National Forest. The trail crosses Frey Creek, which runs through the forest. Bald Rock Dome, a 2,000-foot granite slab located in the Feather River Canyon, can be seen in the distance at two points along the trail.

Once you reach the falls, the lookout point is a great place to enjoy the remarkable surroundings and take a break before starting your journey back. This 410-foot waterfall is one of the best outside of Yosemite, and it’s in our very own backyard!

If you are feeling adventurous, take the spur trail, which leads you to the head of the waterfall, where you can actually look over the edge of the falls. But take caution, because the rocks can be very slippery!

Even if you have already seen Feather Falls, it is a hike that many choose to experience over and over again. The hike takes about four and a half to five hours roundtrip, depending on how long you stay at the lookout. The trail is bike and dog friendly, so bring your furry friends or get to the falls faster on a bike! The trail is not paved, so be sure to have a mountain bike or bike that can withstand an unpaved trail.

Directions: From Oroville, take Hwy #162 east (Olive Hwy) for 6.7 miles; turn right on Forbestown Road for 6.3 miles; then turn left on Lumpkin Road for 11.4 miles to the signed turnoff for Feather Falls. Turn left at the sign and drive 1.5 miles to the trailhead.

As the new social media and photography intern for the Public Affairs and Publications department, I will use the official university social media sites to keep you connected to what is happening on and off the Chico State campus. Chico is filled with opportunities and beautiful destinations, so consider enjoying all of them while you’re here! In addition to describing fun places to visit, I will also keep you up-to-date via Facebook, Twitter and this blog on all that’s happening in Chico during the next year.

I’d love to share your favorite local destination, so please send me your ideas at paintern1@csuchico.edu!

Spring Photo Challenge

During the fall semester, we invited our Facebook followers to share photos of the changing seasons. We decided to re-awaken that creativity a few weeks back and launched a spring photo challenge. Here are the results, a handful of gorgeous photos that represent the spring season in Chico. Enjoy!

Photo by Connie Acosta

Photo by Kayleigh Loth

Photo by Laura Sederberg

Photo by Laura Sederberg

Photo by Ras Smith

Rediscovering a Love for Home

By Chelsea Beights, Senior, Art Studio

This spring semester has been one of the busiest of my college career. Between a full class schedule, multiple projects for my internship, planning a wedding, preparing for life after college, and attempting to get enough quality sleep to function, my agenda can begin to look like a Pollock painting. But even amidst the chaos, I always have a sense of grounding—although it took a weekend visit from a friend for me to really understand that feeling.

When my friend announced her vacation plans, I was both excited and terrified. I was exhausted. The thought of entertaining the entire weekend made me anxious, but looking back it was well worth it.

Saturday morning was spent driving around the Mansion Park neighborhood, the residential area adjacent to Bidwell Mansion. As I gushed over the adorable, well-kept houses in the area and described the history of General Bidwell and his association with Chico State, my friend turned to me and said, “You sure are proud of your town.”

She is entirely correct—I love Chico.

This proclamation was cemented when we arrived at the 38^th Annual International Festival on campus. A flurry of vibrant colors, striking dance moves, and powerful live music filled the Glenn Lawn as students, faculty, staff, and community encouraged the spectacle. Toddlers, teenagers, and adults alike were enjoying the company of the community and its accepting nature of diverse ideas, concepts, and cultures.

This past weekend I fell in love with Chico once again, and reaffirmed the stability that I encounter from living in this community. My friend’s visit was a perfect reminder of the beauty and authenticity that resonates throughout this beautiful city of ours.

Model United Nations: Best Experience of My College Career

By Chelsey Korman, Senior, Journalism

The Model United Nations is extremely difficult to describe in only 250 words, but here is my attempt. When I first started taking the class, the officers raved about how close we would all become and what a great experience Model United Nations is. To be honest, it just sounded like a whole lot of work to me. Turns out they were telling the truth.

We spend most of our time together, laughing, telling jokes, making fun of each other—you know, typical things you do with your friends. Then there is the other part of the class, the more personal level where you study a chosen country for an entire semester. You come to the realization that you can have an entire conversation with someone about a certain country, its political views, its problems, and its standing in the international world.

It is at that moment during the conversation that you realize how much you have learned from one class and the fact that you gathered and interpreted all of that knowledge on your own. Nobody put the notes on the board, and nobody emailed a PowerPoint. Hours upon hours of web searching, finding the information, and turning it into a speech to prepare for the position that you defended in conference.

There’s no doubt that Model United Nations is a lot of work. It’s stressful and there were quite a few times when I thought “what on earth have I done taking this class?” But when you are standing in front of a room of 400 people speaking about human trafficking, dressed in a shield of confidence because you know exactly what you are talking about because you taught it to yourself, that’s when it’s all worth it.

Model United Nations gives you the opportunity to see where your talents and passions lie, whether it is international relations, politics, public speaking, or a combination of those skills. I can honestly say that Model UN has been the best experience of my college career, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world (no pun intended).

From Iraq to Chico: An Intellectual Journey

By Michael Fitzpatrick, Senior, English & Philosophy

Two months after my high school graduation, I was on the other side of the United States from my home. Nine months after high school graduation, I was on the other side of the world, 7,000 miles from home. My name is Michael Fitzpatrick; I am a senior here at Chico State, but I was a soldier in the United States Army and served two tours in Iraq. During my final year of high school, I felt an incredible sense of uncertainty about what I wanted to do, and so instead of going off to college, I elected to join the Army as a way to go on an adventure and find myself. I did my basic training in Ft. Jackson, SC, before being assigned to a unit in the 1st Cavalry Division out of Ft. Hood, TX. My unit deployed to Iraq a month after I arrived.

While in Iraq, I was faced with some of the harshest existential realities a human can face. I saw friends die, I saw marriages dissolve, I stared into the faces of soldiers grappling with the weight of the duties they had to perform. I watched as we attempted to restore order to a land we had devastated. And the place where I found solace was in the depth of the classics, the works of Dostoevsky, Plato, Kierkegaard, Homer and Milton. These great works of humanity, books that lay forth the human soul, walked me through these struggles and taught me how to wrestle with the world without being overcome by it. By the end of my second tour, I knew that I wanted to get an education, not to get a job, but to become a person capable of living with such questions and tentatively developing answers. I possessed finally the direction I sought—to attend a university and study classic works of literature and philosophy.

I chose Chico State because of the outstanding reputation of the English Dept. I was not misinformed. During the four years I have been here, I have studied under some of the finest faculty in the field, and my knowledge of great literature, and my ability to understand its symbols, conceits, metaphors and values, is owed to their unwavering dedication to their students. While here, I discovered that we feature a wonderful Philosophy Dept., and so I extended my work to a double major in both.

My studies here have utterly changed me as a person. I have become very conscious of my role in the world, of the impact each decision has, whether it be a off-hand comment to a classmate, or a careless tossing of a recyclable water bottle into the trash. I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the humanities, for those areas of human life that serve as repositories for our most cherished values. I’ve realized that a university education is not about getting career qualifications—it’s about becoming a better human being, one with a versatile and wide-understanding of the world. I now practice a life of mindfulness, of being aware of my actions, words and thoughts, and actively seeking to bring them towards the highest ideals of human life. I shall never perfectly succeed, of course—none of us can. But I believe moving in that direction is what matters most. As a philosopher and student of literature, I am asking how I can make a difference in the world and share with others what really matters most.

It is my hope to finish a MA in literature while at Chico State, and then go on to complete a doctoral program in philosophy. As a tutor at the Student Learning Center, I have developed an intense passion for teaching. I would like to go into teaching at a university, an atmosphere where I can do my best to share the deep meaning of our cultural texts with other students, and share how they reflect the human soul in all of us.

I leave you with a reflection. Why are you here? Do you see your education as a means to an end? Or could it be an end in itself, one where the growth and dimension you develop as a person will shape the direction of your future?