9.28.22

Students frustrated with Title IX assault case handling

Lost cases, lack of response, inadequate support…

by Angel Barker

Cal Poly Humboldt’s students, or ganizations, and community are un happy with the Title IX office as well as President Tom Jackson after re cent speeches and handling of cases.

Title IX is the law adopted in 1972 that stipulates, “no person in the Unit ed States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be de nied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education al program or activity receiving fed eral financial assistance,” (From Cal Poly Humboldt’s Title IX & Discrim ination, Harassment, & Retaliation Prevention website). Title IX is also intended to protect students against sexual misconduct including harass ment and assault.

Female student Jane Doe (whose name has been changed for privacy reasons) reported an assault to Hum boldt’s Title IX office in June. It is now September, and from her per spective, not much has been done. At one point in the summer, her case was lost.

“This whole summer I went through without having responses,” Doe said. “I get there are multiple things they have to deal with, but how do you tell a victim…that you flat out lost her case [and message thread],” referenc ing an email she received from David Hickcox apologizing for the delayed response. Hickcox is the Coordinator

of the Cal Poly Humboldt Title IX of fice.

Doe says due to rumors surround ing the university’s handling of Title IX reports, she did not want to file a report.

“I didn’t want to go in the first place because I had heard of people putting multiple complaints in and nothing being done,” Doe said. “So I went in with [the mindset of] ‘we’ll see where it goes’.”

The Title IX office told her they could do two things for her. First, she could get the support she might need, like withdrawing from classes, and having them monitor her aca demic progress. The other option was to go through a formal reporting pro cess that leads to a thorough investi gation of everything that happened. This choice could have led to getting her assailant expelled from campus, through the Student Conduct office. Doe chose the support option.

“They didn’t make me comfortable to come clean about everything so I took the safer route,’’ Doe said. “I chose that one because I don’t want him to know what I have against him. That kind of defeats the purpose of having a Title IX.” Doe was told that if she took the investigation route, her assailant would be made aware of her accusation.

Doe was assaulted in a campus housing dorm room, and now she doesn’t feel safe on campus. “I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. I see him everywhere,” Doe said.

Humboldt Alumni speak out against Homecoming in Hawai

More than 255 alumni sign open letter in opposition

by Oden Taylor and Ollie Hancock

Humboldt’s alumni organization, Forever Humboldt, planned home coming this fall in Lahaina, Hawaiʻi, on the island of Maui. In an email, the alumni organization shared their plans for a “fun spin” on homecoming where they would “spread the Lumberjack spirit” in Hawaii.

Colleen Chalmers, Sabrina Gaill er, and over 255 other alumni felt this plan did not reflect their values and what they had learned at the univer sity. Chalmers and Gailler drafted an open letter in dissent, hoping the uni versity would reconsider their plans.

Chalmers is a Native woman who graduated from Humboldt with a de gree in Journalism and Native Amer ican Studies in 2013 and now works in communications and racial equity and homelessness policy. She felt that Forever Humboldt’s plans contradict ed what she studied. She also felt the homecoming event doesn’t align with the school’s own vision, core values and beliefs, and purpose statements.

“The University consistently says that traditional ecological knowledge is central to solving environmental crises,” Chalmers said. “Then, [they] don’t listen to traditional ecological knowledge when it comes to choosing the location of their next homecom ing event or choosing how to engage in recruitment for new students.”

The school cites Traditional Ecolog ical Knowledge (TEK) as a core tenet of learning across curriculums. Tradi tional Ecological Knowledge, decoloni zation, and sustainability are all terms used across the school’s stated prin ciples. Kānaka Maoli—people indige nous to Hawaiʻi—have been outspoken about the negative impacts of tourism on their place and people. Many alum ni who signed the letter left comments of disapproval and disappointment.

“The reality is that centuries of co lonialism and racism have taken a toll on Kānaka Maoli, the land, and the water,” Chalmers said. “America has illegally occupied Hawai’i for 129 years. An institution like Humboldt that cares about equity and anti-racist work should care about it in all their decisions. I don’t see that in this deci sion to go to Hawaii during this time.”

Their open letter has garnered signatures from current and former students across nearly 70 different majors, representing graduates from 1973 through 2022. The letter was also endorsed by two nonprofits, Hawaiʻi People’s Fund and Seventh Generation Fund. Kānaka Maoli alumnus Brissa Christopherson signed the letter and left a comment for admin and event planners.

“As a Kānaka Maoli and lifetime res ident of Maui, I would highly encour

Curry Leaf

Malaysian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean,Thai food, and more

age changing location for this event,” Christopherson wrote. “Our Maui community has been facing over-tour ism, detrimental to natural areas and depleting limited water, in addition to the covid epidemic. Please stop perpet uating colonialist behavior with the fe tishizing of our island culture.”

The university issued a statement that they heard the concerns raised in the open letter. The university cited

recruitment efforts and alumni in Ha waiʻi as reasons for the location of the event. The university intends to follow through with its plans to host home coming in Hawaiʻi.

“[The University] will distrib ute information about respectful and low-impact tourism to those who will be participating,” school representa tive Grant Scott-Goforth said.

Mycology Club

Fun-gis in the forest

club sports

Campus clubs revive after pandemic troubles

The Lumberjack

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

OLLIE HANCOCK

MANAGING EDITOR: AUGUST LINTON

NEWS EDITOR: CARLOS PEDRAZA

LIFE & ARTS EDITOR: NINA HUFMAN

SCIENCE EDITOR: AUGUST LINTON

SPORTS EDITOR: DEZMOND REMINGTON

OPINION EDITOR: CAMILLE DELANY

PHOTO EDITOR: JACK HALLINAN

COPY EDITORS: SOPHIA ESCUDERO

CASH RION

JASMIN SHIRAZIAN

EQUITY EDITOR: STEFFI PUERTO

LAYOUT EDITORS: OLLIE HANCOCK

AUGUST LINTON CAMILLE DELANY

NINA HUFMAN ANGEL BARKER CARLOS PEDRAZA

WEB EDITOR: ANGEL BARKER

DELIVERY DRIVER: JASMYN LEMUS

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: ALANA HACKMAN

FACULTY ADVISER: KIRBY MOSS

CONTRIBUTORS:

ANGEL BARKER

ODEN TAYLOR

OLLIE HANCOCK

JACK HALLINAN

VICTORIA OLSEN

CAMILLE DELANY

ALINA FERGUSON DEZMOND REMINGTON

Mission Statement

The Mission of this newspaper is to fairly inform and share the stories of the Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community. We strive to report with accuracy and honesty. We hold ourselves accountable for errors in our reporting. We invite all readers to participate. Views and contents of The Lumberjack are those of the author and not those of Cal Poly Humboldt. Unsigned editorials appearing in the Opinion section reflect a majority opinion of the editorial staff. Advertising material is for informational purposes and is not an expressed or implied endorsement of such commercial ventures of The Lumberjack, Associated Students or Cal Poly Humboldt.

CONTACT US: CONTACTTHELUMBERJACK@ HUMBOLDT.EDU 707-826-3271

Do you want to purchase an ad with the Lumberjack? Contact us: Email: lumberjack. ads2@gmail.com

Or visit our website for more info.

Students also feel like the Title IX office is not timely enough and that the process takes too long.

“I think it just takes way too long for students to get the help they need,” said Iman Jackson, a senior who was sexu ally assaulted at an off-campus party.

“It is just a long process,” Jackson said. “Maybe if they warned people that it is a long process it might be better, but if you can’t do it in a timely manner, at least have a plan.”

Jackson does not think that the pro cess is meaningful enough. “I feel like they kind of fall short in regards to helping men who have been sexually assualted or harrassed,” he said. “I feel like if they want to change the rhetoric of being supportive and inclusive to all, I think they probably change how their procedure goes.”

Students have taken to social media to express grievances against the Title IX reporting process. Student com menter Lexi Holloman commented on a Humboldt Poly Confessions Insta gram post that her report was lost and that she had to file more than once.

“I contacted Title IX and they said

JUMP

FROM PAGE 1

they have been handling the reports of [assailant’s name] in the ways that they can, and so I made another report be cause they didn’t even have my original report,” Holloman commented.

When asked to respond to student accusations of lost cases and lack of re sponse, David Hickcox said that he was unaware of any lost cases but “encour ages them to contact [his] office.”

In response to feedback on social media, Hickcox said, “I’m aware of the [Humboldt Confessions page] and there is this perception that we do nothing.”

“I looked at Humboldt Confessions today and I can tell you what I saw on there today is not an accurate represen tation of what Title IX is doing,” Hick cox said. “It makes Title IX’s job a lot harder when people don’t believe in the process.”

Recently, President Jackson implied in a speech that it would be better to keep Title IX complaints out of the me dia.

“I hate being in the news, because we have so many positive things hap pening on our campus,” Jackson said.

He also stated that the Title IX process is designed to resolve cases “behind the doors in a meaningful amicable way.”

This speech damaged Doe’s opinion on the president and campus’ Title IX handling.

“I was offended. Although I had no say in the media aspect of my assaulter, it made me shy away from going to the office and tainted my self-esteem walk ing into my appointment,” Doe said.

Hickcox views the President’s re marks differently.

“I understand that people are up set because they are inferring that he is saying to not report to Title IX,” Hickcox said. “I think the President is expressing frustration that when sensi tive confidential Title IX details get into the media that it lowers the credibility of the process.”

Students and student organizations like Students for Quality Education are calling on the university to take respon sibility and make a better Title IX pro cess. The following is a comment from Students for Quality Education.

“We as Students for Quality Educa tion denounce the words and actions

done by President Jackson. He has fur thered harm toward victims and sur vivors on campus and is an active per petuator of rape culture. As the leader of a public university you’d expect his comments to be more in line with 2022 rather than the 1950s and you cannot expect systems and institutions of op pression to be fixed by whispers and behind closed doors. It took little to no courage for a man in power to say such things about victims and survivors as if we are still in the past. Secrets do not fix harm. President Jackson has failed to protect students, staff and faculty. Cal Poly Humboldt and the CSU as a whole needs to reform Title IX and continue to support and build on programs fo cused on supporting and bringing jus tice for victims and survivors rather than protecting a public image and de fending institutions of harm.”

Arcata Turns out for climate Protest

Photo by Ollie Hancock | Climate protesters march around the Plaza square.

Photo by Ollie Hancock | (above) Jamie Blatter, volunteer organizer from local climate action group Humboldt350 speaks on the Arcata Plaza to climate protesters on Friday Sep. 23.

Photo by Ollie Hancock | Alder Keenan, age 5, attended the climate march with friends and family.

Photo by Ollie Hancock | Humboldt students Paige Davis, Neo Linky, and Zoe Jacobs brought signs to the protest.

Photo by Ollie Hancock | (below) Jamie Blatter speaks to the crowd on Friday Sep. 23.

Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month

by Victoria Olsen

Cal Poly Humboldt is an Hispanic Serving institution (HSI), so it is sig nificant for students and faculty to be knowledgeable of these events. Latinx Heritage Month takes place from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, acknowledging the time frame in which many Latin countries declared and gained independence.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a mo ment to recognize and honor the his tory of struggle of Latinx people in the United States. To recognize their achievements, their successes and their contributions to this nation,” said El Centro Coordinator Fernando Paz.

Former President Lyndon B. John son signed this Hispanic Heritage Week into effect that same Sept. of 1968 following Latin heritage being ac knowledged in the Civil Rights Move ment. Years later, former President Ronald Reagan officially changed it to Hispanic Heritage Month in Aug. of 1988.

Sept. 15 marks the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatema la, Honduras and Nicaragua. Sept. 16 celebrates Mexico, and Chile indepen dence day is Sept. 18.

Latinx Heritage is a month of reflec tion, celebrating culture and growth. It is important to acknowledge one of the biggest questions and debates in the Hispanic/Latinx community right now is between the preference for be ing called “Latinx” or “Hispanic.”

“It’s a part of an ongoing debate, and discussion that’s happening within our community, and currently the debate around Latinx is that it is a term that is elitist, though it strives to be more gender inclusive and more embracing of everybody from Latin American de scent…,” said El Centro Coordinator, Fernando Paz.

Paz also recognized that the term “Latinx” still fails to be completely inclusive and that the term does not translate well to the other spoken Latin languages.

José Juan Rodríguez Gutierrez is a

student here at Cal Poly Humboldt and works in the El Centro office.

“I think it’s important for a lot of us Latin people that have been in the U.S. throughout our life and maybe have felt that our people have been ignored in the way history is told, but this is a time for us to let them know we’ve been here,” said Gutierrez. “Aquí hemos es tado y aquí estaremos.”

Melissa Torres Esacalante is a stu dent who enjoys spending time in El Centros office.

“It’s not very widely celebrated back home in the motherland, but like here, we kinda need to. We need to celebrate our accomplishments with what we’ve done here,” said Esaclante.

According to the U.S. The Depart ment of Education, Hispanic Heri tage Month this year is going to focus on the theme of “Building Prosperous and Healthy Communities.” Each week during the month will have a new goal or focus.

September 15: Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off Day

Week of September 19th: Jobs and the Economy

Week of September 26th: Climate

Week of October 3rd: Education and Investing in HSIs

Week of October 10th: Mental Health and Wellness

October 15: Last Day of Hispanic Heritage Month

“We have this term called ‘La Cultu ra Cura,’ it translates to culture heals, and it’s exactly that principle that there are elements within our cultural ma trix that help us heal and become bet ter and stronger, ideals, values, beliefs, those kinds of things,” Paz said.

People should spend this month recognizing the debates going on in Latin America. It is important to ac knowledge the history and trauma of colonialism, and what we can do now to repair the damage.

Restaurant Review: Curry Leaf

by Oden Taylor

Get out your wallets, folks, this is not your average Asian eatery.

Curry Leaf: Asian Fusion and Sake Bar opened earlier this month in Eure ka, making its place as the only restau rant in Humboldt county to serve Ma laysian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai food, and more, all under one roof.

Opened by Chef Joe Tan, who de signed the sushi bar at Bayfront Restau rant in Eureka, as well as partnering to open Nori in Arcata, Curry Leaf is Tan’s third Humboldt restaurant and it’s gearing up to be a major success.

Walking into Curry Leaf, you are greeted by a pair of Chinese guardian lions. The restaurant space feels re freshed and has undergone renovations since its days as the restaurant Gonsea.

My partner and I were greeted warmly and seated quickly at a purple leather booth near the back of the bus tling restaurant. I was beyond thrilled when I looked at the menu and saw the range of options available to me.

Curry Leaf is a cultural explosion for the city of Eureka, bringing many new foods to the diners of Humboldt coun ty. The menu includes ingredients like screwpine leaves, dried chili coated an chovies and fried taro nests, to name a few.

To start off the meal, I ordered the fried street wontons with special szech uan red chili sauce. The wontons come either steamed or fried and contain ground pork, shrimp, yellow onion,

and black mushrooms.

They were so crunchy and flavorful. The red chili sauce is made with a sa vory spicy bright red chili oil that really compliments the wontons.

Even the side salad we ordered was beautifully plated and had crisp, fresh ingredients with a delicious tangy sweet miso dressing.

Make sure to order appetizers be cause though the waitstaff is friendly and professional, it can be a bit of wait due to the popularity of the restaurant.

For our entrees my partner and I shared the beef chow fun and the honey glazed prawns.

The beef chow fun is a large por tion of velvety beef, rice noodles, bean sprouts, soy sauce and green onions. This dish is hearty and perfect for shar ing.

The honey glazed prawns were the star of the evening. The prawns are lightly fried and coated in a succulent honey lemon glaze. The portion is huge and is served with perfectly cooked broccoli and aromatic steamed rice.

For lovers of classic honey walnut shrimp, the honey glazed prawns at Curry Leaf elevate this dish to the next level.

As our meal came to a close we shared the almond pudding—a Chinese soft-style jelly made of apricot kernel milk, topped with whipped cream, honey and bright goji berries.

This dish is served cold and has a similar texture to flan, but tastes like an almond vanilla ice cream. It’s sweet and rich, making it the perfect ending to a very well crafted meal.

All of the food was cooked perfect ly and plated professionally. Even the drink menu is fantastic with desert al cohols like chocolate negroni

sake, as well as more traditional beer, wine and sake. The restaurant also of fers free refills on non-alcoholic spe cialty drinks like Roy Rogers and Shir ley Temples.

If you are looking for a delicious meal and a good night out, Curry Leaf is the place for you.

Curry Leaf is located at 2335 US101 in Eureka and can be reached for take-out at (707) 798-2049. It is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.

Photo by Oden Taylor |

Honey Glazed Prawns from Curry Leaf

Free Radicals chemistry club plays with science

by Dezmond Remington

On Sep. 20 in room 564 of the sci ence A building, approximately 20 peo ple ingested a toxic chemical known as propylthiouracil. It was not a mass sui cide attempt. It was not a Jonestown re-enactment, nor were they getting high. It was a meeting of the Humboldt chemistry club.

Propylthiouracil is a chemical used to test if an individual is especially sensitive to taste, someone known as a “supertaster.” If the paper contain ing the substance was especially bitter, then chances are good that person is a supertaster. The members of the Free Radicals, the chemistry club on cam pus, were testing if they were super tasters.

“I just put poison on my tongue, so I guess I’m ok with anything,” laughed member Angela Takahara.

If the energy of the Free Radicals could be put into one quote, that would probably be it.

“People. That’s the best part,” club president Jack McLaughlin said. “It’s probably the best place for chemistry majors and a lot of other majors to so cialize. It’s just a great community to have and to talk to, because not a lot of other people really understand chem istry…it’s nice to have people who un derstand you, where you don’t have to explain every other concept.”

McLaughlin joined the club his freshman year, and hasn’t regretted it once. He said it’s an excellent way to get connected with important resourc es and more experienced students, as well as guest speakers who are in the industry or are teaching currently.

“It really helps guide newer stu dents and even sophomores, juniors, and such towards figuring out what to do with their chemistry degree,” Mc Laughlin said, “And also how to make

the most out of college.”

The Free Radicals aren’t only open to those working on chemistry degrees, however. Shay Konradsdottir, the club’s Social Director and Events Co ordinator, is a molecular biology and computer science double major, with only a minor in chemistry. Her favor ite part of being in the club is putting events on, such as a tie-dye event the club held last semester to showcase the science of colors.

“As social coordinator here, I really enjoy planning the events and making

McLaughlin said the nature of chemis try being everywhere was the appeal, and how it oftentimes was the key to understanding so much of life.

“[Chemistry] is like the building blocks of the universe,” McLaughlin said. “...I feel like I can pursue all of my passions for environmentalism and such through chemistry.”

Senior Sam Emerson, attending his first meeting at the Chemistry Club, holds a similar viewpoint.

“I like figuring out what makes the universe run the way it does,” Emerson said. “It feels like getting to know the game engine behind everything…I’ve always thought life was really fascinat ing and that although the universe pre fers disorder, there are certain, random spins of chemicals that happen to make order out of nothing.”

or making more effective medical diag nostic tools.

“I felt really awful about when I’ve heard stories from my friends or even some family members that were pre vented from doing the things they loved doing because they got an injury or they got sick,” Konradsdottir said. “I myself, being a diabetic, there are lots of things I missed out on because I’m a diabetic, so being able to catch those things and prevent them from happen ing–that’s interesting to me.”

fun things,” Konradsdottir said. “Mak ing this stuff, and sharing this interest in the sciences and interest in chemis try in a way that’s not just ‘here’s what the reactions are called.’”

And it is that interest in chemistry that binds all of the members together.

Konradsdottir, who Emerson cred its with convincing him to join the Free Radicals, has a much more personal background with science and how it interacts with their lives. She was di agnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was young, and was a subject in med ical studies. It was a defining moment in her life, she said, and it inspired her to become a doctor and help people. Eventually, she became interested in coding, and that led her to where she is today; gunning for an MD-PhD and potentially opening her own free clinic

Being the club events coordinator, Konradsdottir hopes to share that fas cination with the rest of campus. Last semester, she went on a field trip where she got to make a pleasant-smelling chemical, but wasn’t allowed to take any home. If the club had unlimited money, she would hold an event where anyone could show up, get a free lab coat and goggles, and concoct some thing similar to what she got to make–with the difference being they would get to keep it.

“It’s fun! We just do fun stuff here,” McLaughlin said. “It’s not like actual work…you don’t have to understand anything about chemistry, so long as you show up with a good attitude.”

Mycology club: Fun-gis in the forest

by Alina Ferguson

cycler, gives you a visual representa tion of what it looks like, you compare it to what it’s supposed to look like, what you’re expecting.”

All of the prep work will be done at the two day workshop. This includes the collection, the DNA sequencing and the comparison of the DNA.

Then, their guest speaker Damon Tighe will get back to them with the results. Tighe is a mycologist working out of Oakland and is working with the Company Bio-Rad. He is driving into Humboldt with all the equipment.

The logging industry has a negative impact on mushroom culture. Unlike foragers, who simply take the ‘exten sion’ so to speak, of the fungi, what is known as the fruiting bodies, loggers do damage with their machines that dig into the ground.

Logging practices harm the myceli um, the other part of the fungus’ body. Mycelium is a root-like network that grows under the soil, it is what pro duces the fruiting bodies we know as mushrooms. According to Tighe, my celium is just the vegetative state of a fungus.

Treasurer Sam Parker said he was drawn to the foraging aspect of Mycol ogy.

“I first learned to do that when I was around eight with morels, and I just love being out in the woods,” said Parker “Mushrooms are a very diverse lifeform and I feel like they just kinda tie everything together, and I just think they are just interesting to learn about,” said Parker.

Mycology is a very young science, a baby in fact. Up until 1969, Fungi did not even have their own kingdom, as they do now, but were technically con sidered to be plants. Mushrooms are not plants, contrary to what many may believe.

Some of the most prominent and common mushrooms in Humboldt are actually the edible ones such as the King Bolete and the Pacific Gold en Chanterelle. According to Cal Poly Humboldt Mycology Club President Jack Mccann both of these mushrooms are very delicious.

Mccann said what brought him to the Mycology Club was cooking.

“As a mushroom person I really love to cook,” said Mccann. “I think I like to cook first, that’s part of what got me into mushrooms, it’s just cause it opens a whole new world of food,” said Mc cann.

The club holds weekly mushroom hikes on Fridays, which are open to everybody regardless of club member ship. This is a chance for the hikers to go out and experience the forest through

a mycologist’s perspective. Every al ternating Friday, they host workshops and guest lecturers. These meetings are more targeted towards people who al ready know about fungi.

The Mycology Club is having a two day DNA barcoding workshop on Sep tember 30th-October 1, 2022. The club members will learn about the process used to genetically test the species of a mushroom. This process can often lead to the discovery of new species. During the workshop, club members will see if there is a difference between different mushrooms on a genetic level.

“We’re gonna borrow a lab and, basically in a pretty sterile environ ment you separate the mushroom us ing some primers, seek out the genes you’re looking for and then amplify those genes so you could actually read them,” said Mccan.

Essentially, what Mccan said is that the club will be collecting mushrooms and then using their DNA to see if there are any genetic differences between species of mushrooms.

“The machine, known as a thermal

it’s nice to have people who understand you, where you don’t have to explain every other concept.”

-Club President Jack McLaughlin

Photo by Dezmond Remington | Members of the Free Radicals chemistry club lick paper containing propylthiouracil on Sep. 20.

Photo courtesy of JAck Mccan | Mycology club members out on a muchroom walk

As students return to campus post-COVID, so do club sports

by Alina Ferguson

COVID-19 disturbed, disrupted, and delayed many lives and events over the past few years. Club sports at Cal Poly Humboldt were no exception. Sport clubs that have been around since the 90s had to be put on hold, as none of their members could meet in person. Some clubs had to completely cancel competitions, events and all club ac tivities. Now that it is once again safe to gather, club sports are making a comeback. Various clubs on campus are seeking to grow their numbers, and are once again practicing and compet ing as a group.

Archery

The Archery club has a team that travels for competitions. This club is reliant on frequent practices, which was difficult to do away from the field. This year, with the participation of new freshmen, club membership is growing.

“To join you need no experience or gear,” club president Zachary Gaydosh said. “Our practices [are] at the Student Recreation Center next to the football field on Saturdays 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. [and on] Thursdays 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.”

Disc Golf

President of the Disc Golf Club Mal colm Silva said he is looking for new members. Club membership was neg

atively impacted by COVID, as mem bers could no longer meet together. At the start of the pandemic, many of the players that had been on the team were in their final years at Humboldt and have since graduated. While the club as an organization was affected, Sil va thinks the restrictions on activities during the pandemic were to the ben efit of the solitary sport in some ways. When there was nothing else to do, many people just went out and prac ticed playing the game. The club itself could not partake in any competitions.

“That really gave us the time to hone our craft and get a lot better at it,” said Edwards Silva.

Silva said that they are losing a good chunk of their team this semester and he definitely wants to get more people in the Disc Golf Club this year.

“We do Redwood Bowl every Sun day and on Wednesdays we do putting practice, that’s just where you throw the target at the basket,” said Edwards Silva.

Slacklining

If readers are interested in walking amongst the trees, so to speak, Slack jacks is the club for that. Slacklining is very popular among both students and locals.

Slackjacks is for all levels, includ ing beginners. Most common slack lines are 1 inch or 2 inches in width; beginners would most likely start on a 2 inch.

Aang Sterling, a club member, said the real secret to walking on a slack line is mental.

Club President Joseph Aguilar said the club was really born in 2018, but then had to take a hiatus during COVID. It has been difficult recruiting new members.

This club not only teaches you to slackline, but it’s a community. Many

people get together to jam, hangout, or even study for tests.

“We always have people who come and play guitar,” Sterling said.

Sterling also said they bring spirit cards, snacks, and circus props.

“It’s just a bunch of kids playing,” Sterling said.

The Slack Jacks typically meet at the Mad River Pump Station on Sun days, known as Slack Sunday by its members. They have a loosely set time of 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Cycling

Humboldt’s Cycling Club formed between the years of 2008-2009.

Club president Ian Bowden says he feels that the pandemic definitely im pacted this club; the season they were about to embark on in 2020 was com pletely canceled.

“As a team we were struggling to find a way to organize any meet ings and schedule COVID-safe group rides,” Bowden said. “During the 2020 season if we were to see people riding in the forest at the same time we would only wave before going down and con tinuing to ride alone.”

This kind of isolation impacted club morale, only a few people showed up to races in 2021.

Bowden said this season is gear ing up to be one of their best yet. He feels they are back to nearly full mem bership. They are excited about their growing membership of 25 cyclists.

“I personally have made great ef forts to unite people and recruit riders to join the club, personally asking peo ple when I see them riding in the forest if they go to the college,” Bowden said. “I love the cycling community in Hum boldt and foresee a definite increase in interested people as the years keep coming.”

The cycling club does both moun

tain and road racing. The club season opening on the 24th and 25th was hosted by Bowden.

“I am extremely excited for this race, as it is the first one that I have organized,” Bowden said, prior to the event. “I think we will have a good turnout from the schools in the divi sion.”

How do I join?

The Club Sports section of the Rec reational Sports page on the Universi ty’s website illustrates more options, including fencing, Ultimate Frisbee, and men’s crew. Follow the Archery club’s activities @humboldtarchery on Instagram, and keep up with the Slack Jacks @humboldt_slackjacks.

PSA: Mexican Independence Day ≠ Cinco de Mayo Yes, these are two different days

memorates a single battle, while Mex ican Independence on September 16 is, well, Independence Day. Understand ing the history of the day, why it is im portant and really, if it is important is an essential step in the celebration of

any holiday. If there is any day you cel ebrate because you enjoy the festivities and culture, great! However, please make sure you know who and what you are celebrating before deciding to par ticipate.

Graphic by Victoria Olsen

Being that it is Hispanic or Latinx Heritage Month, and last week was Mexican Independence Day, I think it’s as good a time as ever to sort this one out. I had never noticed until recently how many people don’t know the dif ference between Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day. Let’s set the record straight.

First of all, these are two very differ ent holidays. At first I found it funny that there was any confusion between the two, and to be completely honest, I thought the people I heard this from were just joking. After some time with this information and realizing that they were being serious, I started to realize how ridiculous this is and honestly a little bit frustrating. Not quite as bad as someone asking when Cinco de Mayo is, though.

Cinco de Mayo is May 5, in case any one still didn’t know. It commemorates the May 5, 1862 victory of the Mexican army over French forces at the Battle of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo is largely cele brated in the US. Personally, my family doesn’t celebrate because it isn’t recog nized as a holiday to the same extent in Mexican culture. Cinco de Mayo has become very Americanized and it seems to have become an excuse for Americans to throw big parties and im merse themselves in Mexican culture.

While this should be great and it is fun to learn about the culture, a lot of people do not even know what they are celebrating. I am sure if you went to one of these parties and asked people why they were there, a lot of people would assume “Mexican Independence,” or

maybe some would admit they don’t know. I believe the modern signifi cance of Cinco de Mayo in America is to recognize Mexican-American people and culture, but be aware of that when you decide to celebrate.

Mexican Independence Day, or El Grito de la Independencia (The Cry of Independence), is celebrated on Sept. 16. This day commemorates Mexi co’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810, though the country did not officially achieve independence from Spain until the end of the war in 1821. Since Hispanic Heritage Month includes the dates commemorating in dependence in Latin countries, most of America does not actually know any thing about these specific dates or the countries involved. This is a big reason a lot of Americans think Cinco de Mayo is synonymous with Independence Day. In September, you only hear about Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, not Mexican Independence Day.

In Mexico, Independence Day is celebrated; not hugely and not every where, but definitely more than Cinco de Mayo. Though I have never been to Mexico, my family and friends say that Independence Day is celebrated with parades and all kinds of festivities: street parties, food, fireworks, military parades, traditional dancing and mari achi band performances. Think of how the US celebrates Cinco de Mayo and you’re pretty close to how Mexico cele brates Independence Day.

It is worth knowing the difference between these two significant but very different days. Cinco de Mayo com

11

In praise of Arcata garage sales

by Camille Delany

So, you’ve found the perfect place to live while studying here at Cal Poly Humboldt — a shady house with a handful of housemates, a campus apartment packed with textbooks, a bed at the Comfort Inn. But it’s rather empty, barren even.

If you’re new in town, you like ly don’t know where to start when it comes to finding home furnishings on a student’s budget. So, I thought I’d com pile a list of some of my favorite plac es in the area to shop sustainably and cheaply. In doing so, however, I found myself simply writing an ode to my ab solute favorite of all affordable furnish ing options — garage sales.

If you haven’t already picked up on it from the layers of signs advertising yard- or garage sales that occupy ev ery bulletin board and telephone pole, Arcata has a robust garage sale-ing cul ture. On a weekend stroll around town, you’re certain to find many groups of friends, families, and housemates set ting up displays of gently-used goods in their front yards.

Arcata garage sales are especially common during the balmy weather of the early fall and end of summer. On

a day like this past Saturday, with the autumn breeze blowing but the sum mer sun still shining, you can expect a sale on every block, often even more frequently. Yard sales are thus largely accessible without the use of a car, in Arcata it’s quite possible to walk from one to another. Just be sure you have transportation options, in case you find the perfect sofa or other large furniture item.

A walking day around Arcata sounds far preferable to a lot of the other, less sustainable, less affordable options for furnishing your home. For instance, when I first moved out of my parent’s home, IKEA seemed the best choice for cheap furniture essentials. Yes, you can walk the wide linoleum pathways of big box stores and find everything you need in an afternoon. Sometimes this is the only way to quickly acquire an affordable knife set or a mattress, as it was in my case. But we’re all well aware of the role that such corporations and purchases play in environmental de struction and the climate crisis.

I don’t mean to suggest that the ac tion needed to slow and reverse those trends is better individual consumer

choices alone. The fact remains that each purchase you make is the product of a long chain of resource and labor exploitation — except at garage sales. Second-hand items are subsidized not by neocolonialism or automated pro duction, but by their aged, unique na ture.

And Arcata’s yard sales are over flowing with such items. Many sales are hosted by older homeowners in the area, offering a lifetime of memories in a house that they’re now downsizing from. Estate sales, so-called because the estate’s entire contents are being sold, can yield gardening tools, old re cords, furniture, and emotional tours through older Arcata homes.

Smaller sales are often hosted by fel low students or recent Humboldt grads, who typically gather friends together to make a buck off old clothes and decor. On a nice day, such sales can approach a casual daytime party; live music and free food and drink are not uncommon.

If you’d like to plan ahead, you can find listings on Craigslist and Facebook

Marketplace during the week promot ing sales on the weekend. Often these will include descriptions of some items sellers are trying to get rid of, so you can keep an eye out for particular piec es you’re on the hunt for.

One honorable mention from my personal experience furnishing a house on a student budget is the Humboldt Flea Market. On the first Sunday of each month, rain or shine, many eclec tic stalls set up in the Arcata Communi ty Center. Keep your eye out for kitchen staples like a well-seasoned cast iron or cute silverware organizer, two purchas es I’ve made there in the past. Friendly sellers also peddle vinyl records, vin tage buttons, hatchets, art books, and more.

Next time you’re in the market for a household item, check out local yard sales on the weekend. It’s a wonder ful way to get acquainted with a new neighborhood and to make friends with fellow students. Even if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, I can promise you’ll be entertained.

Photo by Camille Delany | Ricardo Paredes (playing alto sax) accompanies Joey Aguilar (vocals and guitar) as they perform a lively cover of “La Bamba” and an apparent original, “Yard Sale Blues” for a small group gathered at a yard sale on Saturday, Sept. 24.

by Victoria Olsen

Photo by Camille Delany

A surfboard and clothes set up at a yard sale overlooking the bay on