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Chico State

’Cat Tales: Celebrating Black History Month, Comedic Improv and Free Books


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By Quinn Western, social media intern

Wildcats Plan Second Comedic Throw-down

After last year’s successful improv comedy put on by Kaila Young, the Late Night Lounge is bringing back Wild Cat’n Out to Selvester 100 on Friday night 8-11 p.m.

It’s an improv comedy battle between two teams for students to step out of their comfort zones, laugh and meet new people, said Griselda Avila, a paraprofessional for the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center and one of the people putting on the event.

“Students should go if they are interested in improv comedy,” Avila said. “This is a perfect event students can attend on a Friday night. It’s perfect if you like to laugh or if you would like to meet new people.”

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Costume Party for a Cause and Celebrating Unsung Heroes

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center, and the School of the Arts are throwing a party.RentParty3

Harlen Adams Theatre will become Harlem for one night, on Feb. 27 from 6-10 p.m., with live art, music, food, and entertainment to channel rent parties during the Harlem Renaissance.

Harlemites used to throw rent parties in the 1920s and ’30s by hiring musicians and cooking food—the proceeds would go toward their rent.

This “costume party for a cause” is free for anybody to attend with a suggested donation of $5. The proceeds will go toward Chapman Elementary School.

Dress up as your favorite character (real or fictional) from this time period and wiggle on over to the party.

Another event in honor of Black History Month is “Unsung Heroes” Feb. 26 in the CCLC in Meriam Library 172.

From 3-4:30 p.m. every Wednesday this month an unknown hero of the Civil Rights movement was discussed to gain a better understanding of the movement. This will be the last discussion of the month. While most are familiar with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks, this event is designed to bring light to those icons who are not as well known.

Photo courtesy of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

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Give a Book, Take a Book

Little boxes filled with books—free for the taking—are popping up in Chico neighborhoods.

A national movement of little free libraries have flourished neighborhoods for years and have now reached the Chapmantown area in Chico, thanks to the Love Chapmantown Community Coalition.

David Overton, a senior social work major, was presented with a list of projects being done by the coalition when he came on as an intern.

Because of his experience in construction, Overton thought the library project was a good fit.

“I thought this was something I could do that would help contribute to the neighborhood,” Overton said. “I like the whole idea of a community library that’s based in the neighborhood.”

Overton said there were a lot of people involved in the project before he jumped in.

“Just a part of a larger group that’s trying to provide services in the Chapmantown neighborhood,” he said.

One of Overton’s partners on the project was Oliver Allen, the Butte County Library Outreach Coordinator. Allen was a co-sponsor who helped get a donation of $250 worth of books from Lyon Books for the project.

Residents are using the little libraries. Both are filled up, and there hasn’t been any damage or graffiti, Overton said.

“Books are going out and coming back, so it looks like it’s a successful project,” he added.