California State University--Chico
Hallmarks and Quirks
Things I'm Good At:
- I'm great at churning out successful business majors ready to face the real world. There's nothing like going hard every night of the week to giving you the social skills needed to maneuver your way through the business industry. Oh, I suppose my award-winning programs and faculty don't hurt, either.
- Speaking of academics, I've also got a soft spot for other programs, like engineering (civil, mechanical, you name it), other technology-based majors, science, computing, performing arts, and environmental studies.
- Speaking of the environment, I'm committed to sustainability, whether it's through the construction of new buildings like Sutter Hall or the WREC Center, through education, or through programs like the Associated Students recycling.
- I may not be a big name university with a Division I football team, but that doesn't mean my athletics aren't up to snuff. I have one of the best Division II cross country teams in the nation, which is consistently ranked in the top five and has even won a national title in 2013, along with the track and field team.
My Top 5 Must-Haves:
- Klean Kanteen because it's symbolic of your ideological stance toward the environment. Or maybe it's a fashion statement. Either way, get one. I mean, what's not to like about insulated water bottles?
- A non-motorized mode of transportation. Most college living is pretty nearby, so it's a lot nicer to coast on your longboard than to pay for metered parking. Plus, there's nothing like some fresh morning air to wake you up before your 8:00AM Finance class. Just don't ride anything on campus because the popo will hunt you down.
- A ping pong table or similarly dimensioned surface. I have a thriving table tennis community. Didn't you know?
- A bike lock, or two…or three. Or just get a really old, rusty bike that no one would want to steal. Bring some extra tires, too. Seriously, lock those puppies up or they'll be gone faster than the innocence of a Disney Channel star.
- An old couch that you don't care much about…or a fire extinguisher to put out all those weird couch fires that keep popping up.
Why You Might Have Heard of Me:
- My most famous claim to fame was when Playboy Magazine named me the number one party school in the United States in 1987. Despite the fact that I've since been kicked off their prestigious list, my reputation as a party animal isn't going anywhere (to the delight of the faculty).
- I am way into sustainability efforts. A few years back, my students started a campaign that diverted over 600,000 pounds of recyclables from our local landfill over to places where they would be properly reused.
On a regular Saturday night, you can find me...
I'm probably at a bar. Just like every other night. Duh.
Okay, fine, maybe I'm at one of the many house parties happening downtown. In fact, I probably ran into you at that party on 4th and Chestnut (or was it 3rd and Ivy?)…wait a minute; your name is Darrel, right? No? Okay…
Heck, I may even be getting some late night reps in at the WREC Center; nothing beats the ultimate high of getting a swole bod…or the taste of strawberry protein whey powder. Actually, don't buy the strawberry. Get anything but the strawberry.
Favorite Hangouts:
- Madison Bear Garden. It's not a garden and there are no bears, it's just a bar with lots of your inebriated peers dancing, doing karaoke, buying overpriced hamburgers with peanut butter, and riding tiny tricycles in circles until they fall off.
- Thursday Night Market or Farmers' Market. You don't have to be a granola-muncher to enjoy some fresh produce, almond milk, handmade jewelry, and plenty of other artsy things. Come out and support the local economy.
- Bidwell Park. The upper-park's for hiking, lower-park's for walking and biking, five mile is for swimming (er, after looking at the water, maybe just for sunbathing), and can't forget about Annie's Glen.
Quirks:
- Most of my buildings, including the dorms, are named after the counties of Northern California. Sorry for making Yolo suddenly less interesting.
- I'm home to a few unknown echo chambers. There's one in the Free Speech area near Meriam Library, one on top of the Roth Planetarium, and another in a Butte Hall stairwell.
- You should show up early if you've got a class in Holt Hall. It's a total maze and the numbers don't exactly add up, but it's a life sciences building, so maybe that's to be expected. If you're lucky, maybe you'll stumble your way into the temperature-controlled herbarium.
Famous Alumni:
- Amanda Detmer, actress.
- Mike Thompson, U.S. congressman for California.
- Donald Young, U.S. congressman for Alaska.
- Mat Kearney, musician.
- Raymond Carver, author.