The Goods
Commemorate Black History Month
There’s not a lot of publicity surrounding Black History Month here in Chico, but there’s certainly a lot to celebrate. During the month of February, Chico State is hosting a variety of events including Kappa Alpha Psi’s second annual Set it Off II Dance Competition and Fashion Show in the BMU Auditorium from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 15. There will also be a showing of the film Stompin’ directed by Chico State graduate Deion Reid, at the BMU Feb. 17. Ladysmith Black Mambazo (pictured) will be performing at Laxson Auditorium on Feb. 29—the tickets will be a bit pricier than the other events, but well worth it. If you are broke or into poetry, or both, the National Slam Poetry Competition is set for Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. at the BMU Common Grounds. You can also save 20 percent on books from the BMU bookstore relating to black culture throughout the month.
A leg up on the Web
Take a break from MySpace and you just might learn something. A guy by the name of Bruce Pinchbeck Jr. has been making Web sites since he was 9 years old, but now, in his 20th year, he has developed a site specially designed for college students, bjpinchbeck.net. Most of the content is links, including information on scholarships and financial aid, “12 ways NOT to Choose a College,” “College Professor Pet Peeves and Student Behaviors,” and “How to Trim a Beard”—among many other helpful links. So if you need to find a transfer school, learn to do your own laundry, or it’s three in the morning and no one is responding to your MySpace messages, BJ Pinchbeck is your man.
Buy yourself an internship
Many elite magazines now offer a new way to answer phones (or get a leg up in the business)—bidding. Charitybuzz.com runs auctions supporting various causes, and the winner becomes an intern at the offering institution. Fashion and publishing are apparently the most popular. The bids range in the thousands as parents shell out the dough to get their kids on the road to success. Critique, however, is high, as people complain that the program caters to students with money. So, do you have $5,000? Become an intern at Harper’s Bazaar! (If not, we hear there’s a great weekly in town that loves to offer experience—for free!)
Creative lighting
The Chico State Interior Design Department is accepting submissions for an eco-friendly lighting competition judged by industry professionals. Submissions are due Feb. 29 and may be a model, illustration or actual fixture, but must include a written description of the design. The cash prize is $200, so what do you have to lose?
One more number
For all those students interested in Tuition Relief Now (see “Freeze, fees!” Campus, Jan. 31), here’s another contact. Chico State student Julia Murphy can be e-mailed at juliam@tuitionreliefnow.org or give her a call at (510) 485-4765. There are volunteer trainings every Wednesday at 6 p.m. outside the main entrance of Meriam Library.
Brain Freeze
The most popular book on students’ reading-for-fun lists right now is Stephen Colbert’s I Am America (And So Can You!).
