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LUMBERJACK WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018 | VOL. 133 NO. 12
E D Q H S U L U M B E RJ A C K K T H E L U M B E R J A C K .O R G
From tragedy comes hope Lawson UPDATE
Humboldt State alumna takes action, creates harm reduction center
receives honorary degree
Photo courtesy of Justice For Josiah Facebook Page
by Tony Wallin
Photo by Tony Wallin Humboldt State Univesrity senior Angelica Flores-Cruz volunteers twice a week at HACHR. Cruz said she likes working in the exchange room the best were she distributes test kits, cleaning supplies and cleans syringes.
by Tony Wallin In 2011 Brandie Wilson lost a friend to heroin overdose. Then she lost another, and another. By 2013 she had lost six friends to overdoses and decided to do something about it. Wilson graduated from Humboldt State University with her masters in sociology and created Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction, or HACHR. She said there was only one government-managed needle exchange run by Humboldt county. The demand exceeded their capacity. “We have a large rural area with an extremely large drug use,” Wilson said. “There was more need than one program could handle.” In October the state authorized HACHR to operate. They can now increase hours of operation and broaden intended
Away with Whittaker
Arcata joins nationwide attorney general protests by Michael Weber Brennen Duck took an oath to defend this country from all enemies foreign and domestic.
outreach programs. “It takes a lot of work to truly make a safe space for the people that come here,” Wilson said. “And they may never have known what a safe space is.” Wilson started emailing everyone she knew involved with drug policy and was awarded a grant to start an organization. HACHR has been at its current location in Eureka for 18 months, and Wilson said they service between 90-150 people a week. She said there are groups against their services but the controversy elevates their work. “At least it has the entire community talking about an issue that has been shoved in the shadows the past 40 years,” Wilson said. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, there “And right now our president is acting as a domestic enemy,” Duck said. Duck, an Arcata community member, joined more than 20 people at Humboldt State University’s quad on Nov. 8 to protest against Donald Trump’s appointment of Matthew Whittaker as acting attorney general. This protest was part of a nationwide protest organized
Photo by Tony Wallin Brandie Wilson, founder of HACHR, and Jessica Smith, programs coordinator, unwind after a hectic Monday at Humboldt Area Center of Harm Reduction. Wilson started HACHR in 2013 and both are HSU alumni in socioolgy.
are more than 115 people in the U.S. that die from opioid overdose every day. An estimated 2 Photo by Michael Weber A group of protesters are gathered at HSU’s quad on Nov. 8. The protest is against newly appointed attorney general Matt Whittaker.
SEE AWAY n PAGE 3
million people suffer from SEE HARM n PAGE 3
David Josiah Lawson was set to graduate from Humboldt State University with his B.A. in criminology in spring 2019. His mother, Charmaine Lawson, requested from HSU President Lisa Rossbacher that she receive his degree in his name during the spring 2019 graduation ceremony. Charmaine Lawson said the California State University Board of Trustees Chair Adam Day had honored her request for Josiah’s honorary degree. Lawson, along with her son Anthony, and daughter Chloe, said they will walk in Josiah’s place to accept his degree and he will be commemorated. “Josiah would have a degree if he wasn’t murdered,” Charmaine Lawson said. Josiah Lawson was stabbed to death at an off-campus house party 19-months ago on April 15, 2017. Former interim police chief, Richard Elhe, temporarily took over after Tom Chapman resigned. Elhe told the Times-Standard the investigation was nearly wrapped up. On Oct. 31, Elhe told the Times-Standard that the Arcata Police Department would be handing over their completed investigation to Humboldt County D.A. Maggie Fleming on Nov. 2. Ehle said he feels confident he has enough evidence for the district attorney to move forward with a charge. As of Nov. 12 no arrests have been made.
Index News..............3 Science....4 Life & Arts....5 Opinion..........6 Sports............7 Classifieds...8
PG. 4 Beer and Science
PG. 5 Musical talent
PG. 7 Year of the woman