The Lumberjack -- January 16, 2020

TURN OF THE DECADE PAGE 18

THE LUMBER JACK

JAN. 16, 2019 – JAN. 22, 2020

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

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s the new decade begins, part of my New Year’s resolution is to do some self-reflection. There have been countless changes in my life over the past years, including graduating high school, transferring from California State University, Chico to NAU, changing my major, discovering new music and, most importantly, getting a cat.

This decade has been full of ups and downs for me. I failed a lot, but I also succeeded in many other areas. For example, since transferring to NAU, I have been apart of NAU’s newspaper, The Lumberjack, for five semesters now.

I have made mistakes in my 21 years on this planet, many of which I regret and wish I could re-do, but that’s not how life works. However, in a way, the many mistakes I have made over the decade have taught me more than some of my successes.

The biggest improvement I have made was getting myself together academically and improving my education. I went from a 1.2 GPA to six consecutive semesters of having nothing lower than a 3.5 GPA and even earning a 4.0 twice. When I look back on those improvements, I can only think it was because I failed so miserably before. In high school, I was never the type of SEBASTIAN student to get great grades. Did I pass? Obviously, but I spent more time playing MOORE hooky during my senior year of high school than actually going to my classes.

COPY EDITOR Those bad habits transferred over to my first year of college and the results were less than perfect.

If I hadn’t done so poorly studying business administration, which I absolutely hated, I am not sure where I would be. Would I still be at Chico studying a subject I hated? Would I have dropped out? I am not sure what direction my life would have taken, but I have found my path in journalism and communications.

If I hadn’t transferred to NAU, I also would never have met the cutest little furball that I can call mine. My cat’s name is Wilson — yes, like the volleyball from the movie “Cast Away” — and the best part of my day is when I come home and she immediately comes running to me.

I don’t have a significant other in my life, and I do admit I am lonely on occasion, but Wilson helps ease that feeling. I mean, how can I be upset or sad when her head strokes against my leg and I hear the tiniest “meow” come out of her mouth. I can’t — it’s impossible.

I encourage all readers to take a step back this decade and do some self-reflection. Look at yourself critically, and understand where you found success and where you found failure. Am I a perfect human? Absolutely not — but then again, nobody is. The only way we can grow and mature is by understanding our faults and failures, and simply learning from them. It’s like the old saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Don’t fool yourself by making the same mistake twice. Live and learn, then move on.

Thank you for reading.

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 109 ISSUE 1

Editor-in-Chief Bailey Helton Faculty Adviser David Harpster

Phone: (928) 523-4921 Fax: (928) 523-9313 Lumberjack@nau.edu P.O. Box 6000 Flagstaff, AZ 86011

Director of Digital Content Managing Editor Copy Chief Senior Reporter Sabrina Proffitt Sebastian Moore Brady Wheeler Print Chief Sports Adviser Sales Manager Photo Adviser Bella Valenzuela Rory Faust Marsha Simon Taylor Mahoney

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board Director of Social Media Shannon Degrange News Editor Scout Ehrler Asst. News Editor Karin Johnson Online News Editor Senior Reporter Trevor Skeen

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Online News Editor Ray Anne Galzote

Op-Ed Editor Caitlin Burke Asst. Op-Ed Editor Features Editor Ryan Dixon Ash Lohmann Sports Editor Asst. Features Editor David Church Jacob Meyer Asst. Sports Editor Cameron Richardson Culture Editor Director of Circulation Nathan Manni Anel Lamadrid Asst. Culture Editor Asst. Dir. of Circulation Nayomi Garcia Micah Meehan

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Director of Illustration Madison Cohen Asst. Dir. of Illustration Aleah Green Director of Photography Morgan Fisher Asst. Dir. of Photography Bess Valdez Senior Photographer Shannon Swain Director of Multimedia Shawn Patti

“A prison term is mandatory. The incident occurred on Oct. 5, 2015 at NAU. The function of our process is to do justice. This plea is a meaningful step in that direction.”

– Coconino County press release

Steven Jones listens to closing statements April 25, 2017. Halie Chavez| The Lumberjack

On the cover Illustration by Aleah Green | The Lumberjack

Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Bailey Helton at brs289@nau.edu.

PoliceBeat Jan. 5 At 8:02 a.m., staff at the Drury Inn & Suites called NAUPD to report a nonstudent passed out in the lobby.

NAUPD responded. The nonstudent refused transport and left the area.

safely removed, and Facility Services was notified.

At 2:51 p.m., a staff member at NAUPD reported finding a fictitious license.

NAUPD responded, and one student was deferred for possession of a fake ID.

At 10:42 a.m., staff at the Drury Inn & Suites called Jan. 8 NAUPD to report a guest had At 2:35 a.m., a Campus left a gun in their room. The Heights resident was locked owner was contacted, and the out of their residence and item was returned. reported it to NAUPD. NAUPD responded and Jan. 6 provided assistance.

At 12:32 a.m., a student at Pine Ridge Village called Jan. 9 NAUPD to report an audible At 12:57 p.m., an RA at alarm and voice coming from Knoles and University Drives outside. NAUPD responded, called NAUPD to report four but were unable to locate the vehicles blocking the roadway. source of the sound.

NAUPD responded, and the vehicles were moved.

At 11:57 a.m., a staff member at Cline Library called At 8:16 p.m., a student NAUPD to report graffiti in a at lot 41 called NAUPD to stairwell. NAUPD responded, request assistance because their and a report was taken. vehicle was stuck in the snow.

NAUPD provided assistance, At 4:33 p.m., a staff but was unable to move the member at Gammage building vehicle. A do-not-cite request called NAUPD to report a was passed on to Parking suspicious phone call. NAUPD Services. responded, and took a report.

Jan. 10 At 11:35 p.m., NAUPD At 7:08 a.m., staff at reported receiving information Cline Library called NAUPD from two students about a to report a subject sleeping non-student trying to stop and outside the front doors. talk to them at parking lot 31. NAUPD responded, but the The non-student was identified subject was gone upon arrival.

by NAUPD and left the area.

At 8:28 a.m. a staff Jan. 7 member at the du Bois Center At 8:54 a.m., a staff called NAUPD to report an member at Facility Services odor. NAUPD responded, called NAUPD to report and the cause was found to be an odor. NAUPD and the appliances. Fire Life Safety and Flagstaff Fire Department Facility Services were notified. responded, and determined the cause of the odor to be sewage.

At 5:06 p.m., a staff member at the Union Field At 11:28 a.m., an House called NAUPD to individual at the Biological report that another staff Sciences Annex called NAUPD member had fallen on ice. to report being stuck in an The patient was transported to elevator. The individual was FMC.

Compiled by Ray Anne Galzote Jan. 11 At 1:27 a.m., a resident at Mountain View Hall reported to NAUPD that a subject had knocked on their window. NAUPD responded and discovered the subject was trying to gain access to their residence, but their key card was not working.

At 7:22 p.m., a student at The Suites called NAUPD to report a student having difficulty breathing. NAUPD responded, and the student was transported to FMC. At 11:31 p.m., staff at Reilly Hall reported to NAUPD an odor of marijuana. NAUPD responded, and one student was charged with possession of narcotics, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jan. 12 At 2:17 a.m., a student at the Ernest CalderĂłn Learning Community reported to NAUPD that a student had passed out. NAUPD responded, and the student was transported to FMC for treatment.

At 6:54 p.m., an RA at McConnell Hall called NAUPD to report a student with an injured finger.

NAUPD responded, but the student refused transport to FMC.

JANUARY 16, 2020 – JANUARY 22, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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NEWS

President Cheng lacks documentation for travel, State Audit reveals Brady Wheeler

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AU President Rita Cheng and her spouse’s travel to conferences, athletic events, donor meetings and other university events were the subjects of a state audit in November 2019, which found that Cheng spent upward of $40,000 on travel expenses that did not comply with university travel policies or lacked proper documentation.

Cheng’s spending included business- and first-class airfare to Russia, as well as multiple hotel bookings, valet parking, room service and early check-in fees. In the 2019 fiscal year, Cheng was reimbursed nearly $65,000 for her travel, leaving 62% of her spending in question, as reported in the audit.

“Please note that while the auditor general does characterize the travel reimbursement as ‘inappropriate,’ this word was used solely because the auditor general found that documentation was insufficient — importantly, the report does not question the legitimacy of the travel itself,” Cheng said in an email exchange with NAU Faculty Senate President Gioia Woods.

NAU reimbursed Cheng $30,641 for both business- and firstclass tickets to Russia, as well as two replacement business-class tickets. NAU also purchased a $5,862 round-trip business-class ticket for Cheng’s husband, Tom Cheng, to attend a conference in Israel with her, despite a sponsor offering reimbursement for either two coach tickets or a business-class ticket.

After receiving the results of the audit in October 2019, the NAU Foundation reimbursed the university $37,785 from the Foundation President’s Fund to cover the airfare to Russia, Tom Cheng’s airfare to Israel, Russian visas and early check-in fees, according to the audit. Financial statements reported the total assets of the foundation to be $216,346, as of June 30, 2018.

In an interview with The Arizona Republic, Cheng said she would reimburse the Northern Arizona University Foundation for the difference between coach and business-class tickets.

“I need to take responsibility for the lack of documentation pertaining to the ticketing of my travel, and I’ll be repaying the foundation for the cost of difference between the business and coach travel,” Cheng said.

The audit also called Cheng into question regarding five business trips, which included personal travel, of which university employees were unable to provide required documentation.

Among the required documentation is a cost analysis discerning whether personal travel increased the accommodation cost, which was not provided by NAU. Cheng and her spouse’s hotel bookings were noted in the audit, which found that 13 of the president’s hotel stays were reported to have exceeded the allowable state government rate, costing the university an additional $1,751. Documentation management failed to provide evidence supporting public purpose for excess spending.

“The president’s travel expense summaries she signed as correct and proper did not include required documentation of the public purpose and benefit, or any justification and approval for deviating from university and ABOR policies,” according to the audit of the 17 expense summaries and two purchasing card payments, which were reviewed.

According to the report released by the Arizona Auditor

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THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

General, Cheng is not exempt from university and ABOR travel policies that apply to all employees. The university staff failed to request advanced approval or provide justification for the spending, which was greater than the amount allotted.

Additionally, the university did not include the required public purpose justification.

“NAU firmly believes no employee deliberately did not comply with applicable policies,” a required response signed

by NAU Chief Financial Officer Bjorn Flugstad stated. “The president’s staff … believed they were complying with all travel policies when preparing and approving the travel expense summaries for the president’s signature.”

The official NAU statement provided details pertaining to the expenses reviewed in the audit and claimed that staff carefully reviewed the “appropriateness of both travel and the expenditure of each trip noted” in line with the process of review for university travel. The statement also noted that spousal travel was approved for Cheng in 2014 and did not require preauthorization.

Addressing the trip to Russia, NAU responded with a written justification for the business- and first-class flights, noting the length of the international flight and the overall schedule

of the trip. NAU is also aware that the trip was not properly documented. Additional fares were purchased because of “carriercaused delays” to ensure that the trip was successful.

Regarding the 13 hotel stays mentioned in the audit, nine were in Phoenix. Rates in Phoenix can exceed the allowable government rate, according to the NAU statement, specifically during the spring season, which coincides with the Arizona Legislative session. However, the university lacked proper documentation to justify paying a higher cost.

“Each example [in the audit] resulted in demonstrable results, which benefitted the university, from the enrollment of new students to establishing new visiting scholar’s exchanges,” Flugstad wrote.

Moving forward, NAU will look to handle Cheng’s travel expenses with more diligence. In addition to the reimbursement from the NAU Foundation, the university plans to move travel reimbursement claims to the Chief Financial Office and will include separate travel expense summaries for each individual trip.

Staff will also undergo training to ensure that Cheng’s spending is documented correctly, according to NAU’s statement.

President Rita Cheng is surrounded by media and protesters asking for a statement on the use of fossil fuels at NAU, Apr. 28, 2016.

J. Daniel Hud| The Lumberjack

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JANUARY 16, 2020 – JANUARY 22, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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NEWS

Flagstaff City Council reconvenes after a holiday recess Scout Ehrler

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fter a three-week recess, city council reunited at the dais to discuss a bridge expansion on I-40 and reviewed a recent survey regarding a minimum wage increase.

The city council spent a significant portion of the meeting considering a resolution to amend an agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to complete the Fourth Street and I-40 bridge replacement project. The partnership between the city and ADOT was initially approved in 2018.

The project was originally estimated to cost $10.5 million, but by September 2019, the cost increased to $12.3 million. When ADOT and the city made the agreement, there was a “50/50 commitment” in the partnership, but “ADOT bit the project” in December 2019, Capital Improvements Engineer Bret Petersen said.

The total cost of the project currently stands at $16.3 million with the city paying $8.1 million. Flagstaff has a shortfall of $2.3 million on the project. Funding for the project has primarily come from a transportation tax, which absorbed $7.5 million of the cost. About $1 million will come from the city’s Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) fund.

Councilmember Jamie Whelan expressed concern regarding the usage of FUTS money, which maintains Flagstaff’s trails.

“I don’t want to rob Paul to pay Peter,” Whelan said. “My concern is that by shifting this money … those trails that are so important won’t get done.”

Petersen assured council that no FUTS projects would be canceled or delayed. Council agreed on the importance of the project and passed the motion unanimously.

A recent evaluation of the minimum wage was next on the agenda.

The city originally contracted Rounds Consulting Group, Inc. to conduct the survey, but a proposed change order would allow Seidman Research Institute of ASU to co-author the study and conduct analysis.

The incorporation of a third-party contractor and the associated change order would increase the cost of the contract over $50,000, higher than the previously set limit. In order to surpass the cost, a motion and subsequent vote were needed.

Councilmember Austin Aslan raised a discussion regarding the reputability of Seidman. He said the institute allegedly provided Arizona Public Service with numbers on a “contentious study, which resulted in a political storm.” From there, discourse among the council revolved around the potential bias of the contractor.

“I’d really like to make sure that the new consultant, which is associated with ASU, that we’re actually using an actual academic entity to do the additional consulting role and we’re not just reverting to a professional economist,” Aslan said.

A handful of alternative consultants were named, such as the Grand Canyon Institute, a Phoenix-based think tank, and the Goldwater Institute, as options to replace Seidman Research Institute in this study.

Council and public commenters had many concerns regarding the accuracy of the study, as well as the reputability of the consultant affiliation. However, the city’s goal is to conduct an objective and informed study, City Manager Greg Clifton said.

A motion proposed by councilmember Regina Salas rejected the change order, hence the use of a third-party contractor. After much discourse among the council, the motion passed; the contract will remain as is with no co-author.

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Those discussions proved to be useless when Rounds Consulting Group Inc. President Jim Rounds informed council via a letter Friday, Jan. 10, that his company would deliver the preliminary findings of the study before ending its contract with the city. According to the Arizona Daily Sun, Rounds cited defamatory statements made by council members as the primary reason for ending the contract.

Fiscal and economic consulting company TischlerBise, Inc. provided a presentation in regard to a proposed development fee.

These fees provide funding for public services such as public safety, development, and water and street facilities. Updating these fees would more than double — in some cases quadruple — the development fees applied to households.

The new fee would be broken down by household, increasing according to the number of bedrooms. A four-bedroom, single-family unit would pay a $2,029 fee. However, TischlerBise, Inc. assured the council the costs are not set in stone.

Questions of affordability arose from council. Flagstaff is dedicated to affordable housing, but these proposed fees could be counterintuitive to those efforts. The topic will be moved forward to future meetings for further discussion.

One of approximately 270 concerned citizens speaks during a city council meeting concerning the issues faced by the city since the passing of Proposition 414 at City Hall Feb. 14, 2017.

Andrew Holt Frazier| The Lumberjack

Jones accepts plea deal, faces 10 years Brady Wheeler and Scout Ehrler

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teven Jones, a former NAU student who acknowledged firing the shots that injured three students and killed 20-year-old Colin Brough, formally accepted a plea deal Jan. 9.

Jones pleaded guilty to one charge of manslaughter and three counts of aggravated assault in exchange for a maximum 10-year prison sentence, of which he will be required to serve a minimum of 85%. Jones will also pay a maximum amount of $100,000 in restitution to each of the four victims and their families.

“A prison term is mandatory. The incident occurred on Oct. 5, 2015 at NAU. The function of our process is to do justice. This plea is a meaningful step in that direction,” an official Coconino County press release stated. “We reserve the balance of our statements for the sentencing phase of proceedings.”

Coconino County Division II Judge Dan Slayton accepted the plea deal between the two parties following Jones’ guilty plea. Slayton ordered Jones to report to the Coconino County Detention Facility Friday, Jan. 17, to begin his sentencing.

Richard Robertson, a private investigator working with Jones’ team, confirmed the plea agreement prior to Jones’ apperance at the Coconino County Superior Court Jan. 9.

“I understand that [the plea change] is very unexpected for a lot of people,” Robertson said.

A judge had recently accepted the request of prosecutors to reduce a first-degree murder charge to second-degree. Had the case gone to trial, Jones would have faced a second-degree murder charge as well as multiple counts of aggravated assault. Carrie Faultner, Coconino Superior Court Division II judicial assistant, said hearings for the retrial were expected to begin as early as January, with jury summons expected to be sent out next week.

Jones’ formal sentencing will take place at the Coconino County Superior Court Feb. 11.

NEWS

2020 embodies past conflicts and future ambitions Trevor Skeen

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hroughout the last decade, the infrastructure, improvements and identity of the northern Arizona community have dramatically transformed, while also remaining strikingly similar to its previous form.

This development has influenced students, residents and organizations in various ways, creating both raging conflicts and incredible partnerships.

Looking forward to the new year and beyond, the past decade’s development can be applied to the present and future.

One compelling change within the local community is demographics.

Since 2010, enrollment figures at the university have expanded considerably, along with Flagstaff’s overall population. In spring 2010, a total of 22,421 students attended NAU, according to The Office of Institutional Research and Analysis.

Nearly 10 years later, in fall 2019, NAU’s overall enrollment was measured at 30,736 students, also according to the institutional research office. Over this 10 year period, enrollment increased by 8,315 students or roughly 37%. If this trend

continues, the university’s student population can double between 2010 and 2037, embodying a serious and swift change for the area.

Since 2010, Flagstaff’s population has also increased. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had 66,023 residents at the start of the decade, compared to an estimated 73,964 inhabitants in July 2019.

These statistics display a population increase of 12%, which has prompted subsequent development throughout the region.

Alex Hayden, who was born and raised in Flagstaff, has observed this progression for many years.

Although Hayden is currently a sophomore at ASU, he has continued to monitor the ongoing expansion within and around NAU. As a longterm resident, Hayden explained that student housing is a major theme within the last decade.

“A single event that summarizes NAU’s development on and off campus is the construction of the Hub, because it demonstrates the conflict between the growing needs of the university, its students and the needs of Flagstaff residents,” Hayden said. “It shows that there is no easy

solution that satisfies everyone, and displays that compromises must be made in order to allow for growth.”

As Hayden mentioned, the Hub is one of the numerous housing complexes that have been designed and constructed within the last decade. On campus, the Honors Living and Learning Community, The Suites and SkyView have opened since 2010. Off campus, The Grove at Flagstaff, The Standard at Flagstaff, Hub Flagstaff and Fremont Station Apartments are among those that have also been introduced in the last decade.

From a population perspective, these facilities are necessary for accommodating the university’s recent growth. However, they also threaten to jeopardize the city’s small-town personality and intimate community, which are traits that many residents cherish. Although growth is generally perceived as good, it also carries some ramifications.

Robyn Martin, a senior lecturer at the Honors College, was raised in Flagstaff. Throughout the years, she has witnessed the aforementioned development and expansion around the region, including the progress

NAU’s newest on-campus dorm, the Honors College, houses freshman honors students and staff. The hall features classrooms, a gym, study lounges, laundry rooms and more, Sept. 23, 2018. Morgan Fisher | The Lumberjack

within NAU. Martin addressed the ongoing struggle between the university and locals, describing it as “a university that ate the town” conflict.

Since 2010, as the dispute between city and university has persisted, numerous solutions have also been examined. Martin and Hayden each explained how compromise is an influential tool for both parties to utilize.

“It is important to maintain the small-town feel of the city that residents have grown to love, possibly by limiting NAU’s expansion to areas that don’t replace existing Flagstaff sites or disrupt the feel of the town,” Hayden said. “This should help maintain the tourism appeal of the city and its uniqueness in the eyes of citizens while supporting the needs of students.”

Martin described how Flagstaff’s distinct character is enhanced by its surrounding natural beauty. As the university and city continue to expand, this meaningful and aesthetic environment must be considered, particularly as it pertains to a multicultural history.

“We’re surrounded by national monuments and national parks, as well as the Coconino National Forest, near the Hopi and Navajo nations, which offer ways to enjoy nature and learn about our environment, and the importance of protecting it,” Martin said. “I hope that we can continue to draw both science and environment together to protect this unique landscape and resources for future generations.”

Flagstaff’s surrounding natural features, although gorgeous, also confine the city to a specific area.

As the community evolves, certain areas have become more gentrified, potentially due to a lack of space.

Jessica Drum, communications manager for the City of Flagstaff, referenced the High Occupancy Housing Plan and the Regional Plan as significant economic developments over the last decade.

According to the city’s website, the High Occupancy Housing Plan is

denoted by buildings that house over 75 people per acre, or have over 30 units per acre in dormitory-style complexes or apartments. Through heightened density, this form of development generates affordable housing and prevents implausible or unnecessary outward expansion. According to the same website, numerous housing plans have been implemented around town since 2010, including The Village at Aspen Place. Furthermore, these establishments promote greater walkability to recreational activities, employers and schools, along with increased accessibility to public transportation.

Flagstaff’s Regional Plan, which was ratified in May 2014, also focuses on the shared goals of accessibility, circulation, affordable housing, commercial development, employment and open space. The Regional Plan, which is found on the city’s website, outlines a clear path for city staff to follow when decisions are made about reports, budgets and other requirements. In this sense, Flagstaff’s long-term plan utilizes past problems and present desires to prepare for a better future.

Although the past decade presented plenty of challenges, these difficulties also revealed a promising potential. Hayden said that struggles can lead to a solution.

“Rather than good or bad, I perceive the compromises and questions Flagstaff faces as a challenge that, if met properly, have the potential to unite the community as it comes together to create a city that everyone can love and call home,” Hayden said.

Although time is conceptual, the turn of the decade is a meaningful moment. For NAU and Flagstaff, the last 10 years have supplied both incredible choices and disappointing results, each contributing in some respective way. Looking forward, these multifaceted memories can be turned into collective compromises, starting in 2020.

JANUARY 16, 2020 – JANUARY 22, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

Impeached, but here to stay Ryan dixon

Trafficking prevention

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t is disorienting to have discovered that sex trafficking and kidnapping are at an all-time high. According to an article, “There are more than 4 million victims of sex trafficking globally. In its 2019 report, the United States State Department found the top three nations of origin for human trafficking victims were the U.S., Mexico and the Philippines. It does not break that figure down for sex trafficking alone.”

Upon the surfacing of disturbing and shocking Twitter videos of women crying out for help and some escaping from the trunks of cars recently, the demand for action to be taken has become a regular topic of conversation among people on all social media platforms.

It is vital that people understand that KYLIE it is never the victim’s fault in these cases.

SOTO Under no circumstances do women ask WRITER for it. No amount of clothing, no amount of makeup and no amount of femininity will ever express a woman asking to be whisked away into a living nightmare.

Due to this epidemic, women have resorted to creating weapons for self-defense. Some examples are pocketknives disguised as keys, lipstick stun guns and more.

Many shop owners on Etsy, which is a retail website that focuses on handmade and custom items from small businesses, have made highly decorated keychains that are disguised to not be an obvious weapon.

There are also many apps available, which can help ensure a bit more security. One example is “Noonlight,” formerly known as “SafeTrek,” which is free to download with a small monthly subscription fee. All one has to do is hold down the button until they feel safe. If one lets go of the button and doesn’t enter a pin number, the app will automatically contact the local police. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices.

It’s also important to know about safety tactics anyone can do in case they feel they may be in danger.

In the event that someone feels they are being followed, try to stay as calm as possible. It is much easier to think when the brain has time to process and pay attention to what is happening. Then, try to throw the follower off your track. If possible, getting to a public place may help to eradicate the situation completely.

No matter what, contact the police if possible.

Too often, women and children go missing and are never heard from again. The recurrence of women in specific areas disappearing is impossible to ignore.

Women have refused to be silent and compliant in this global epidemic of targeted violence. Sex trafficking and kidnapping have plagued the Earth for much too long.

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fter taking office in January 2017, almost three years ago, the Trump administration has faced extreme criticism from Democratic officials and the public. Despite many economic achievements and successes, worries about President Donald Trump’s behavior and relations with foreign leaders escalated to the point of impeachment.

Here’s a short recap of how we got there.

In August 2019, a whistleblower filed a complaint about Trump’s call to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump asked Ukraine for a “favor” of investigating many of his political opponents, including presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden, and his family.

The American public balked at the quid pro quo implications and the possibility of Ukraine interfering in American politics.

After the past accusations of inappropriate political relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, it’s safe to say the Democrat’s tolerance for Trump’s favors and friends reached a breaking point.

The U.S. House of Representatives investigation into whether Trump pressured Ukraine into investigations to benefit him politically lasted for months and came to an end Dec. 18, 2019.

The House voted on two articles of impeachment after one day of debate.

The first article accused Trump of abusing the power of the presidency for his own benefit, and the second article accused him of obstructing Congress’s investigation into his alleged misdeeds.

Both articles passed, with not a single Republican voting in favor of impeachment. Still, Trump was impeached.

Republicans voiced outrage and frustration with the “witch hunt” they believe Democrats held against Trump from the beginning. Democrats fumed at the Republicans who they accused of blindly covering for the president.

However, as Twitter celebrated and many people across the country rejoiced Trump’s admission into the impeached club, the process isn’t over.

People stormed social media with memes of Trump packing his bags and declarations that Trump was out.

As a political science major, I joined the more politically inclined crew that knew this wasn’t the end of his presidential road.

Impeached does not mean removed from office. Say it with me, everyone who threw parties and celebrated prematurely.

Impeachment without removal is just a slap on the wrist in the world of politics. Whether or not Trump is stripped of his title and kicked out of the White House is to be determined by the Senate.

The Constitution states that a Senate trial has to be held after House proceedings to determine if a president will be removed.

I can’t see into the future, but here’s a hint: he won’t be convicted.

The House has a Democratic majority and the Senate has a Republican majority.

Congress and the nation are so divided along party lines that there is no way Trump will be removed from office.

I’d bet my very limited life savings that Trump will finish out his term in the Oval Office.

Congress requires a twothirds majority vote for impeachment. It would take every Democratic-voting Illustration By aleah green senator, along with 20 of the 53 Republican voting senators to vote in favor of removal, for Trump to bid us adieu.

That is not going to happen. The House Republicans displayed remarkable unity with not a single representative voting in favor of impeachment.

To think that the Senate would provide a massive party defection in defiance of their party’s voters is just naive. If there is one thing everyone agrees on despite party alliances, it’s that there should be a fair trial.

For the sake of democracy, let’s hope once House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hands over the articles of impeachment to the Senate, that a fair trial is what we get.

Until we see the final results of the Senate trial, I think it’s safe to say that the only way Trump is leaving office is if he’s defeated in November. Even after being impeached, defeat is not guaranteed.

letter to the editor: greek Life bonds Morgan Butler Editor’s note: Morgan Butler is the College Panhellenic Council president at NAU. This letter to the editors was written in resposnse to the Dec. 5, 2019 op-ed titled “Greek life is an exclusive idea of family” written by Kylie Soto.

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here is something about the Greek life at NAU that is completely unique from other experiences that exist in the communities of other schools. With every passing year, more individuals choose to join the recruitment processes of the three councils to find connections in an unfamiliar environment. In recent events, there has been an article criticizing the connections that arise from Greek organizations. These Greek Councils include the Panhellenic, Interfraternity and United Greek councils, with the National Pan-Hellenic council joining us soon. While each person is entitled to their opinion, there is something I must share in defense of the organizations that many students call home.

Here, our school’s Greek life is constantly focused on increasing positive views from those who do not wish to “go Greek.” Many have shared so many stories with me that weave the same finishing storyline; the bonds made here at NAU are sincere, durable and constantly expanding. So many men and women find some element so strong, that it lasts a lifetime.

It hurts the whole community to hear that these bonds have been considered monetary. I understand that many will think the friendships made here are bought, but money is not the unifying factor lying underneath Greek bonds. Generations of traditions and values have been compiled for each chapter to be unique.

While connecting through these values, many heartwarming companionships arise without force. In such a formation, people begin to feel like family. Sisters and brothers will forever be kin.

Though many ideas swirl around from rumors and stereotypes condemning Greek life, I urge people to see beyond portrayals in movies and to listen beyond rumors some may have spread. This community has issued many homes for people that were initially lost upon their arrival at the university. As it has been said, from the outside looking in, you can never understand it. From the inside looking out, you can never explain it.

Here are just some of those sharing their thoughts of Greek Life from within the community: “As a woman who is now an active member of Greek life, is a little, a big, a twin and, of next semester, will hold a position; I can wholeheartedly say that my experience has been more positive, loving than I ever could have imagined.” -Anna “This bond is deeper than college; it is a lifelong brotherhood so much to the point where blood couldn’t make us closer.” -Bryce “Greek life to me is the people around me who know I need help before I even know I need it. The people who haven’t had to tell me they’ll be there for me no matter what, because they have shown it instead.” -Jakob

Illustration By blake fernandez

JANUARY 16, 2020 – JANUARY 22, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

Point-Counterpoint: Voting ryan dixon

O

ver a century ago, in 1872, at a polling booth in Rochester, New York, Susan B. Anthony was arrested and later brought to trial for attempting to vote in the presidential election.

Around the same time in Grand Rapids, Michigan, social justice advocate and former slave, Sojourner Truth demanded a ballot, but she was denied one.

For centuries, the battle for equal voting rights waged in the United States has seen women, minorities and the privileged voters sympathetic to their cause participate. These people risked their lives to spark social change.

How soon generations come to forget the struggle of their ancestors.

When it comes to voting as a college student, the election season brings an abundance of non-partisan tablers who might stop a student walking by the University Union or the South Quad to ask if they are registered to vote. This ends up becoming annoying come the end of October, however, it is important that these people are dedicating time to ensuring students realize that their voice must be used to shape the future of our society.

There’s nothing wrong with asking students if they are registered to vote on their way to class, even if it may seem bothersome and pushy. Someone needs to be the person to tell us naive and young college students that being registered to vote is a civic duty.

Our current society sees eligible voters decline to vote for numerous reasons: “The polling station is too far,” “I don’t know

enough about the candidates,” “I’m too lazy to register,” “My vote doesn’t really make a difference.”

To the people who subscribe to these ridiculous excuses, that’s a shame.

Polling stations are conveniently located throughout all the states. If someone can road trip to Disneyland or the family cabin, they can get out and vote on Election Day. Information on candidates is blasted across TV screens for a year before Election Day, and an even more in-depth look is only a Google search away. Every vote makes a difference. Elections are determined one vote at a time. Registration is as simple as following prompts online.

There are no excuses.

Deciding not to vote is a slap in the face to all the people who died, spent time in jail or butchered their reputations to give the right to exercise democratic power to this generation. I can’t imagine sitting across from Susan B. Anthony and telling her I just don’t believe my vote matters.

As U.S. citizens, we are blessed to live in a nation where we have a say in who our leaders are. There are countries where people have to live their whole lives under the crippling reign of a ruler who they didn’t elect. At least when a U.S. president is elected, half the nation got their pick.

Thousands of American troops dedicate and risk their lives to defending our freedom. Declining to enjoy that freedom seems ridiculous to me when considering the people who believe the ability to vote is worth the risk of dying.

Voting is a crucial right of self-expression as well. Everyone has the right to support issues they care about and it’s as easy as

checking a box on a ballot. One person can have the power to change the world with their vote. That is the power of democracy.

Former President Abraham Lincoln once said, “Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”

There is power in one voice. One voice and one vote matters.

Illustration By madison cohen

Illustration By maidson cohen

kylie soto

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AU’s campus has been infiltrated by strangers who are pushing and shoving for students to register to vote.

The feeling of not wanting to be approached by

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anyone rises as soon as students can see people wearing red, white and blue with their clipboards covered in American flag stickers.

Students understand how important their votes are. It’s unnecessary to harass passing students into registering on the way to class. In fact, it is this pressure that may be deterring students from casting their vote.

The numbers don’t lie. In 2018, the college student voting turnout dramatically increased. Tufts University’s Institute for Democracy & Higher Education study found that college students between the ages 18-21 voted 21.5% more in 2018 than the 12.6% voting rate in 2014. Students more than doubled the voting rate in the previous midterm election.

However, from the same source, it should be noted that based on its findings, in 2018, 74.2% of students attending a four-year public university were registered to vote, and only 53% of them actually went out and voted.

Obviously, there was an element that caused 21.2% of the registered students to not make it to the polls. From experience here on campus, it can be intimidating when a stranger approaches and attempts to find out if a student is registered and voting.

As previous generations continuously demonstrate,

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millennials and younger generations are criticized as is, but it is especially notable when civic duty is the topic at hand. Naturally, this induces fear in students who may have not registered yet.

However, it is foolish to assume that this generation doesn’t participate in any of its civic duties or exercise its rights. For example, Red for Ed took Arizona by storm. Both students and teachers participated in rallies and walkouts for the betterment of the education system. Students have also created and organized their own walkouts to protest gun violence.

Additionally, students reserve the right to not vote equally as much as they reserve the right to vote. It’s no one’s business to know whether or not a student is or is not registered. Also, a student’s decision whether or not to vote is not correlated with whether or not they fundamentally believe voting is important.

It is this pressured voting that causes ill-informed students to vote at random or for a candidate they don’t truly believe in. This results in unsatisfactory poll results for everyone involved because, arguably, a blind and uninformed vote is equal to not voting in the first place.

All in all, the pressure that is put on the upcoming generations is crushing as is, and shaming a person into registering and voting is just as cruel as intimidating someone to keep them from voting.

JANUARY 16, 2020 – JANUARY 22, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

Appearance changes to cope Ash Lohmann

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e it bangs after a breakup, a new crazy color after a car crash or piercings post family problems, it is common for people to want to shake up their appearance following a traumatic experience.

Jesse Hornbeck, hairstylist and owner of Flagstaff’s Pin Up Salon, said people often switch up how they look as a means to cope with and get over whatever it might be they are struggling with.

“People love to change their appearance drastically in times of crisis,” Hornbeck said. “I think it’s a way of shedding that situation from what you see in the mirror and visually starting over.”

Akin to assuming a new identity, Hornbeck said the subconscious feeling of a fresh start can be healing to many and is often what people crave after going through something tough. Flagstaff residents Tara McGee and Claire Kerata said this coping mechanism is more common than people might assume.

“I hadn’t really thought about it much until now, but traumatic experiences pretty much always trigger me to change my appearance,” Kerata said.

McGee said her appearance has changed in an array of

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ways, and that new piercings, tattoos and different colored hair all have helped her feel as though her slate had been wiped clean.

The popularity of changing one’s appearance for a fresh start holds strong. Flagstaff resident Camille Wishart said she hardly goes through a challenging time without changing up her hair. After breaking up with her long-term high school boyfriend, she dyed her hair for the very first time. When she started college, she cut her hair the shortest it had ever been.

“It is kind of just something I do,” Wishart said.

“The change doesn’t feel real unless I also change something about my appearance.”

Hornbeck said an easy way for someone to switch up their look is by changing their hair. The change can be therapeutic because everyone sees it and a different hairstyle can do so much to alter, or polish, a look. She said a different hairstyle is a relatively achievable way to increase confidence.

If someone wants to change their hair but doesn’t want to do so as drastically or dramatically, Hornbeck said nonpermanent options include temporary color, wigs, extensions, makeup and different styling techniques. Regardless, she said

even the temporary change could reap the same empowerment of a permanent change.

“Seeing yourself in a different look makes you think about all the other things in your life

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maybe you can or can’t change for whatever reason,” Hornbeck said. “I think that’s inspiring and therapeutic on every level.”

Kerata said in addition to healing, a change in look can spark a confident, rebellious attitude that paves the way for greater independence.

“Getting a haircut can feel like chopping off all the old, bad stuff [like] the people or the experience that was hurtful,” Kerata said.

“Dyeing hair can feel like you are a new spicy person who doesn’t [care] what people think.

Getting piercings is definitely my rebel action that makes me feel cool and badass, that’s why I have so many. I have done it after hard times with my parents, breakups; any time where someone told me I shouldn’t look a certain way, and I finally feel like I can let go of that criticism of the way I want to live or look.”

Hornbeck said defying expectations or norms can be empowering and rebellious, which is a valid and healthy way to get over something.

She said that especially if an external influence like work or parents dictates a person’s appearance, going against those rules can make someone feel exciting, strong and independent, which to Kerata is most

important.

“I’m my own person, I’m taking care of myself and working through what happened, and I don’t need your help doing it,” Kerata said.

“I like to feel and come off very independent even if I’m suffering a lot and need support. The way I look has a lot to do with feeling confident.”

Whatever factor makes a change appealing to an individual, Kerata and Hornbeck agree that it is a valid and healthy method to gain independence through embracing a more rebellious look.

The popularity of someone changing how they look to overcome something has rocketed to social media’s forefront. Individuals, typically teenage girls, post videos of themselves dying their own hair bright colors while saying they’re having a mental breakdown. Such videos have become a trend, one that Hornbeck said is not healthy for everyone.

“I think everyone should try something completely different with their life, whether that be clothes, hair or makeup,” Hornbeck said.

“I don’t think coloring your hair yourself and claiming to be having a

FEATURES

e: Fresh hair for a fresh start mental breakdown is good for anyone though.

People should have the freedom to do what they wish with their appearance when they want, without criticism.”

A drastic change in appearance is so publically paired with the idea of needing to cope with difficulties. Hornbeck said people might not feel free to alter their look in a way that they’ve been wanting to without facing judgment or people assuming they are having a crisis.

“My favorite part of my job is that I make people love what they see in the mirror,” Hornbeck said. “If they love what they see, no one should have the power to make them feel any other way.”

So long as people are accepting of whatever change someone makes to their appearance, it isn’t necessarily harmful, Kerata said. However, when people assume there is something going on, some might be hurt by those assumptions.

“I’ve had [people] directly ask me if changing my hair was related to, or a product of, what happened to me,” Kerata said. “I felt judged when people came to me like that for

sure, but I don’t think anyone really looked at me negatively for changing once they realized what I went through.”

Kerata also said it is important to recognize that sometimes someone’s appearance might change accidentally.

Unintentional changes to someone’s look might also be the product of going through a tough time, but she said instead of reflecting a person’s stride toward healing, it might be reflective of the person shutting down.

An unintentional appearance change due to shutting down can manifest in various ways, be it a decline or increase in self-care and hygiene, the muting of someone’s style, or in Kerata’s case, weight change.

“Right after I went through one of the

hardest events of my life about three years ago, I lost a lot of weight, but I didn’t really realize it until people started talking to me about it,” Kerata said. “It was really confusing to process the way people treated me during that time because everyone was telling me I looked great.”

She said it can be difficult to want an appearance to change in some ways, such as hairstyle change, but she was watching herself change in another way that she didn’t want to.

Kerata said it was difficult because oftentimes, the reason people want to change their look in the first place is so they can take control of how they look, but she felt as though she was losing control.

Wishart said it is important to be receptive to what people are going through and let

“My favorite part of my job is that I make people love what they see in the mirror” – Hair stylist Jesse Hornbeck

them take control of their own bodies without judgment. McGee also said it is important to make sure they are all right.

“I’d definitely start with a compliment on the new appearance and then just ask how everything is going in their life,” McGee said.

“Maybe reassure them that I’m available to talk about anything and everything if they need it.”

Kerata and McGee agree that being compassionate is key and that there is no place for judgment when someone changes their look, intentionally or unintentionally. Someone’s appearance can mean something different to everyone, and Hornbeck said she wants people to find a way to be confident and empowered with their look regardless.

Photo illustrations by Bailey Helton| The Lumberjack

JANUARY 16, 2020 – JANUARY 22, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

New Year's resolutions don’t have to be impossible Jacob Meyer

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very new year, millions across the world reflect on the past year and pledge to make changes going into the next. Many resolutions focus on self-improvement and a better year with goals such as being healthful, getting better grades and saving money.

However, despite the optimism on New Year's Day, many of these aspirations fall flat and many resolutions go unresolved.

Research has shown that most people struggle to fulfill their New Year’s commitments.

Statistics from the University of Scranton indicate that a majority of people tend to abandon their resolutions within the first few weeks or months of the new year.

The American public also has an overall pessimistic attitude toward resolutions. A study from YouGov, an international research and analytics organization, found that 80% of Americans stated most people will abandon their resolutions and nearly half stated resolutions are pointless.

Despite the high rates of failure and seemingly negative opinions surrounding resolutions, it is possible to buck the trends and remain committed year-round.

Tom Filsinger is an entrepreneur, author and instructor of social and personality psychology at NAU. He said that many people fail to keep their resolutions not because they lack discipline, but because they form goals in a way that is not conducive to success.

“I don’t think people make goals that are specific enough, I think they talk in broad terms, like ‘My New Year's resolution is to lose weight,’” Filsinger said. “That’s a good idea, but one should have specific targets and specific goals for specific times.”

Specificity is not the only important factor.

Filsinger also pointed out that a goal can be specific, but still unreasonable.

He stressed that goals need to be realistic and that people need to pace themselves.

Keeping resolutions practical is critical to sustaining them in the long run.

“People sometimes try to do too much too fast and then that discourages them,” Filsinger said. “They say, ‘Maybe I want to quit smoking cold turkey’ and that’s a hard thing to do. It's better to go gradually, to say, ‘I’m going to cut down to so many cigarettes a day by the end of January and so many by the end of February.’”

Tracking progress is important to avoid

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The exercise room at Pine Ridge Village sits empty, Jan. 13. Morgan Fisher | The Lumberjack

getting behind. When Filsinger completes a resolution goal he makes a mark on his calendar for that day to keep a record of his progress.

He also encourages using friends and family as a check on progress by opening up about goals with them.

“A way to be successful with resolutions is also to not make it private, to share it with other people so that they can help hold you accountable as well,” Filsinger said. “You tell people on social media or when you’re out with them socially.”

Junior Corey Clemetsen has multiple resolutions to try and make 2020 a better year.

He said he does not make resolutions every year, but he is really focusing on them for 2020.

“The main idea overall was to live my life to the fullest, which is kind of cliche,” Clemetsen said. “I just want to better myself in all different types of ways and not really care what others thought so much, and more of doing what I want to do.”

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His goals for 2020 include raising his GPA, improving his finances and expanding his presence on social media.

While these might seem like the kind of open-ended, tough-to-fulfill goals that Filsinger warned against, Clemetsen has specific checkpoints along the way. He has set a GPA target for the midterm, budgeting goals for June and plans to make weekly social media posts.

Clemetsen said that he wants to stick with his resolutions, and has learned from previous years about trying to go too big and too broad.

Past resolutions to go to the gym and certain fitness goals ended up being impractical given his schedule.

“I’ve learned in the past of what I’m capable of and what I’m not capable of,” Clemetsen said.

“Instead of just saying, ‘I want to go to the gym every single day this year,’ making it more specific three times on Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week.”

Clemetsen has also found that social media

can give people a warped sense of resolutions.

In his experience, the people who post the most about their resolutions focus on them to the extent that most people are unable to match.

The average person simply cannot spare the time that certain social media influencers have to work on their resolutions.

“If you look online, you’re only going to see the people that are actually achieving things, but they’re not in school or they’re not working; they’re doing the big things and they have the time to do it,” Clemetsen said. “I think time is one of the biggest things for New Year’s resolutions that people struggle with, especially if you’re going to school.”

Clemetsen said resolutions can be a useful tool when adjusted to match the person. People should not try to keep up with anyone else, but instead set resolutions that they can realistically accomplish while challenging themselves.

“I definitely think [resolutions are] a good tool, however, I do think that you need to be able to use it to your advantage and use it how you see fit,” Clemetsen said. “I don’t think everyone can take a New Year's resolution and use it the exact same way. You’ve got to figure out what works for you, what doesn’t work for you and adjust it.”

Sophomore Estacia Aguilera is also getting involved in resolutions for the first time in recent years.

She plans to use 2020 as a year of selfimprovement, especially in her social life. She does not typically participate in the yearly ritual but sees 2020 as a turning point.

Aguilera wants to be an overall better person and is starting out by focusing on becoming more thoughtful in her decision making and interactions with others.

“I want to work on myself so that I can make others feel better,” Aguilera said. “Basically to just be nicer, be more understanding of other people’s feelings."

She said that for most people, New Year's resolutions are just a silly part of the new year, and that her friends and family set resolutions that quickly fizzle out. However, depending on the person and the situation, she said that resolutions can truly represent a new start.

New Year's resolutions can be tough. It's easy to make goals too big or too vague, and there are countless ways to get discouraged or simply lose track. However, with the proper goal setting strategies, support and a healthy amount of commitment, resolutions can give anyone a fresh start and be a tool for self-improvement.

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JANUARY 16, 2020 – JANUARY 22, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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CULTURE

New year, new views on resolutions Nayomi Garcia

Reality competitions move to YouTube

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’m not a big fan of reality shows, but shows that involve competition are always fun to watch. There are moments where I wonder if the challenges the hosts create will make people quit, or if they’ll continue to participate.

The competitions tend to get intense, and rooting for your favorite contestant makes each one more exciting.

Last year, YouTube creators Kian Lawley and J.C. Caylen created their YouTube series “The Reality House” on their channel KianAndJc. At first, I didn’t know what to think about this. I had never watched a reality series on YouTube before, so I didn’t think I would enjoy it. I was completely wrong.

In the series, the contestants live in a house while participating in challenges Lawley and Caylen created.

The challenges involve outdoor activities, eating gross NAYOMI foods and trivia contests. Throughout the season, one GARCIA person was eliminated after each challenge.

The final episode of the first season featured ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR YouTubers Crawford Collins, Jake Webber and Kristen McAtee trying to win the grand prize of $25,000.

In the finale, the three contestants had to run around an area of the house searching for clues that would help them answer the question Lawley and Caylen came up with. In the end, Collins took home the $25,000 prize.

When I first saw the promotion for season two, I wasn’t very thrilled about who the contestants were. I’m not too familiar with most of them, which didn’t make me feel as excited to watch the new season. Even though I didn’t know the contestants, the first episode surprised me.

Like the first, the second season is sponsored by “SeatGeek,” an app used to buy tickets to concerts, sports games and other events. This season, Lawley and Caylen decided to make a change by driving the contestants to Temecula, California. The 12 contestants rode a bus to the new house and were told their first challenge begins then.

In order to receive a spot in the house, the contestants had to sort through a bin filled with flour to find a bean. If they found the bean, they gave it to the hosts and moved to the next task, which was to pop a balloon. If the balloon contained flour, the contestant got a spot in the house.

I was amazed to see how a few of the contestants found a bean within a few minutes into the challenge. I would have been so frustrated looking through the flour, but the contestants made it seem like a simple task. At the end of the challenge, two contestants were eliminated — social media personalities Brittany Broski and Yousef Erakat.

Now, with 10 contestants remaining, I’m excited to see what challenges Lawley and Caylen make for them. I think this season will feature crazier challenges that will push contestants to the edge. Overall, I can’t wait to see what is in store for viewers of “The Reality House.”

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or some people, the end of a year is a moment filled with nostalgia about the last 12 months. However, others see it as an opportunity to set a resolution for the new one. The new year can be seen as a time to set a new goal, try something extraordinary, or even change routines and habits.

Despite the excitement of starting something new, some people see the beginning of a year as just a regular day. For these people, the new year is just an excuse to create goals that could actually be pursued at any time.

Senior Carla Mendoza said goals can be set whenever someone puts their mind to accomplishing them.

“I think people get excited about resolutions when the year begins, but that mentality doesn’t last long,” Mendoza said. “It’s always fun to celebrate a new beginning, but I think someone can set a new goal whenever they want.

Even though a new year is an opportunity to try new things, it doesn’t mean resolutions have to start on Jan. 1.”

Mendoza said she has tried setting resolutions before but failed to go through with them. In the past, she said she has set resolutions, such as becoming more organized in school, but this goal did not go as planned.

After failing at keeping her resolutions, Mendoza said she no longer plans to set a resolution each new year.

“I was upset about not keeping my resolution, but then I realized setting a resolution isn’t necessary,” Mendoza said. “I haven’t set a resolution for a while and I think that’s OK. People shouldn’t feel pressured to start a resolution if they don’t want to. Sometimes change can be good, but I don’t think it has to happen.”

Freshman Shannan Barrett said she has been successful with a few resolutions. Barrett said she decided to become vegetarian four years ago for the new year. She is still vegetarian, but she said resolutions can also have a negative impact.

Barrett said she has seen people act hard on themselves in achieving their resolution.

“I’ve seen some friends and family be negative toward themselves because of a New Year’s resolution,” Barrett said. “I think it’s a great idea to set a resolution, but people shouldn’t be harsh on themselves to keep up with it.”

For a positive outcome of a resolution, Barrett said people should set more attainable resolutions. She said that even though becoming vegetarian is not an easy goal, she made it easier for herself by being patient and not rushing her goal.

Although Barrett found success in one of her resolutions, she said there were times where she felt like resolutions did not serve a purpose.

“I’m glad that my resolution of becoming a vegetarian worked, but I was close to giving up,” Barrett said. “I don’t think people should get caught up in the idea that the start of a new year is the only chance they have to start a new goal. I think the mentality that the

new year is the only opportunity for a fresh start is what impacts people negatively. People shouldn’t have to rush things if they really want to achieve their resolution.”

Similar to Barrett, freshman Brittany Tomes said she has seen negative outcomes from setting resolutions.

In her experience, she said New Year’s resolutions have mostly been about proving something to other people rather than focusing on the goal itself. Tomes said she has seen people become toxic about setting their goals and they have become obsessed with achieving the goal they set for themselves.

“Goals should have a positive impact rather than a negative one,” Tomes said. “It’s great to say that you achieved a New Year’s resolution, but you have to do it for yourself. I think it’s about the way someone thinks about their goal. Sometimes it’s OK to be stubborn about a goal, but it can also have negative outcomes.”

Tomes said that she experienced withdrawals from setting resolutions. She said that at first she had been excited to follow her resolution, but eventually she did not have the motivation to keep up with it. She said she felt like there was no point in following her resolution a few weeks into the year.

“I became really lazy after setting my resolution, and I didn’t see the point in following it anymore,” Tomes said. “I would forget to follow the rules I had set, feel unmotivated or just feel like it was a chore I had to follow.

I was excited about my goal, but the feeling went away.

I didn’t see the point of keeping up with my resolution anymore.”

Even though resolutions create excitement for people at the beginning of a new year, resolutions can be accomplished whenever someone sets their mind to create a new goal for themselves.

Unused weights are locked away in the exercise room at Pine Ridge Village, Jan. 13.

Morgan Fisher | The Lumberjack

CULTURE

Winter Sun Trading Company’s Native art and herbs Olivia Charlson

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ative American art and tradition are a large part of Flagstaff’s history, and this little shop is showing it off. Winter Sun Trading Company sells art made by local Native Americans and is widely known for its herbal medicine, beauty products and remedies.

The store captured the hearts of art enthusiasts, and have caught the attention of travelers who are fascinated by the wide variety of organic and herbal products.

The store is divided into art and jewelry on one side, herbal beauty products on the other and a small room with herbal medicines in the back. Herbalist Phyllis Hogan has been running the store for 43 years. Hogan said that though the art and herbalism are connected, they are two different worlds. The herbalism is healing arts, and the dolls and jewelry are visual arts.

Hogan said she feels reciprocity between herself and the artists. She worked with the grandparents and parents of a lot of the artists she currently represents, and is all about cooperation within her business and having products that are not made out of the country.

She said their jewelry is allnatural turquoise and real silver.

Winter Sun mostly has art from the Colorado Plateau tribes, including some from New Mexico.

“When you walk into our store and you see the walls are covered with Kachina dolls ... those are religious education items that teach the religion to the Hopi children,” Hogan said.

“They’re all hand-carved from cottonwood root and they’re mostly mineral pigment paint.

They all have their own significance of different tribes. They represent nature in its fullest, most elaborate form.”

Hogan said even though the store has been voted as the best Native American jewelry store in Flagstaff by readers of the Arizona Daily Sun, the store is more well-known for their herbal medicine. Hogan was trained by a Mexican healer who owned her own shop. The healer ran her own business, but gave Hogan her blessing to start one when she retired. Hogan was a committed apprentice and was interested in perpetuating the knowledge of the traditional elders and their herb use.

“You have to realize that 45 years ago there were no health food stores on every corner,

there was no internet or cell phones, and people did not know,” Hogan said. “It was mostly indigenous people who knew about using herbs.

I was interested in ethnobotany, the study of plants, especially southwest plants and how they are used by the native people. That’s what inspired me in preserving the tradition of herbs.”

Winter Sun is also a family shop. Hogan said she works with her two daughters, who have produced a line of natural skincare products.

Hogan said they have been in business alongside her for almost 30 years. Hogan acts as a teacher and her employees as apprentices. She passes on her knowledge of herbalism so they can learn and help customers.

Employee Meaghan Smith said that working with Hogan has always been really important to her. She said the experience has been daily knowledge in a relaxed environment from an expert, which you can not find in a class. Smith learned most of her knowledge from Hogan.

“She has first-hand knowledge of southwestern medicine and herbs, and has direct knowledge passed down from Navajo and Hopi elders,” Smith said. “So, it’s an honor in that way and it’s nice to have that traditional knowledge from her to be able to apply it to modernday people who come from all over and who want this medicine.”

Sasha Holiday is a Flagstaff local and an example of a regular at Winter Sun. Holiday said she loves that it is a family business that supports the community with organic products.

“The jewelry is amazing,” Holiday said.

“The prices are really reasonable for the jewelry and skin products, and it’s all organic and mostly local stuff. It just works really well with my skin and my friend’s skin, and that is why I shop here.”

Hogan said all of the essential oils are from high-quality companies and the herbs are mostly from organic growers in the Pacific Northwest.

Hogan said everything in the store is either connected to the wild or grown organically.

The Winter Sun Trading Company has deep roots and is culturally rich. The herbalism products are healing for one’s health and wellness. It is more than a regular shop, it is a part of Flagstaff’s history. It has been here for a long time, and is here to stay.

“They represent nature in its fullest, most elaborate form.”

– Phyllis Hogan, owner

Top: Janek Keediniihii, employee at Winter Sun Trading Company, puts out new jewelry, Nov. 1, 2019. Bottom: Locally made Hopi Native American jewelry sits on display at Winter Sun Trading Company, Nov. 1, 2019. Megan Ford-Fyffe | The Lumberjack

JANUARY 16, 2020 – JANUARY 22, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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CULTURE

Recapping pop culture of the 2010s Nathan Manni

T

en years passed quicker than anticipated.

Reflecting on how much has changed in media and popular culture from 2010 to the present day can take one on a recollective roller coaster that feels enigmatic to visualize without the fear of forgetfully omitting something substantial. The way people access media and receive news changed drastically, with the rapid ascension of social media users and the making of new methods to send messages to the masses.

For scale, here is a mind-blowing comparison from world-renowned data provider Statista; the amount of active Facebook

users in 2010 opposed to 2019 jumped from approximately 550 million to over 2.4 billion, respectively.

With forms of text, image, video, livestreaming and even virtual reality, it now seems as there are endless avenues to create and consume. Countless pop culture creatives have taken advantage of the sheer availability of current people, as anyone can open Twitter at any moment to see a viral video or hear a song made by someone located time zones away. This has made the 2010s arguably the most saturated media decade to date, and at times it can be difficult to stand out from other content creators, but this recap hones in on the ones who accomplished just that. Here are the

most dominant, influential and commercially successful of the decade — in music, TV, film, fashion and gaming.

Music In the past decade, music changed the most out of the four pop culture genres that will be mentioned. Nielsen, an American data and information entity, released a 2017 year-end report that showed rock was dethroned by hiphop as the world’s most popular music genre.

It appears that this trend will not change in the foreseeable future, as the Billboard Hot 100 chart of the week of Jan. 11 has the No. 1 and 3 spot belonging to rappers Post Malone and Roddy Ricch, respectively.

Illustration By Aleah Green

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The report also stated that the feat was “powered by a 72% increase in on-demand audio streaming” that ultimately took hip-hop to the summit of the musical world. Audio streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have essentially replaced the purchasing of physical albums, with sporadic vinyl collectors, like myself, withstanding.

The best artist of the 2010s goes to Canadian rapper Drake. Whether one likes him or not, it is quite difficult to go anywhere without hearing him. His songs are on the radio and at social gatherings — the guy has something for every occasion. Revelatory or desolate, upbeat or slowpaced, Drake’s sound reaches every part of the spectrum. According to Billboard, he has six No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 chart, 35 that charted in the Top 10 and has sold over 10 million albums.

Numbers do not lie, people.

TV and Film The way people watch TV and movies has gone untraditional and more innovative, largely due to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu including the most popular programs on their viewing platforms. Deloitte reported that 69% of consumers subscribe to a form of video streaming service, while 65% of consumers pay for traditional cable TV. With more video streaming entities being created, like Disney+ that offers exclusive content, I expect the gap to continue to widen in favor of video streaming. According to Bloomberg, admissions to United States and Canadian movie theaters in 2017 was at its lowest since 1992. That number has since increased due to outstanding motion pictures like “Avengers: Endgame,” but nonetheless still illustrates that many would rather watch from their couches.

The TV and film industry are arguably the most competitive of all pop culture genres. It seems like there are so many phenomenal shows and movies accessible, that other great ones go unmentioned in debates of the most prestigious. Considering all released in both TV and film this decade, the most outstanding would have to be HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” inspired by the book series

by George R.R. Martin. According to Statista, the show has 32 Emmy Award nominations

CULTURE and in the show’s eighth season, the production budget for a single episode reached $15 million.

This show’s critical acclaim and digital size verify it as the best of the 2010s.

Fashion The judgment of fashion varies from person to person, as everyone seemingly believes their opinion reigns supreme.

Armchair fashion designers donning sweatpants and oversized T-shirts harshly criticize the outfits of the Met Gala attendees annually, as if they have a better outfit in their wardrobe. We are all guilty of it, but one must understand that fashion could be the most arbitrary realm of pop culture. People have tastes and interests in many different styles of clothing, from streetwear to vintage, to something more sophisticated and dapper, and some don’t have any interest at all, e.g. Mark Zuckerberg.

Recently, fashion and music have almost fused into one, hence rapper Travis Scott’s collaborations with Nike-owned Jordan Brand, which have resold for over $1,500 via online fashion marketplace StockX. This, along with other collaborations such as Kanye West and Pharrell Williams apparel with Adidas, changed the culture in a way that anything can be fashionable if worn by an influential person.

The best fashion designer of the decade is Virgil Abloh. In the decade he founded Off-White, a luxury fashion label based in Milan, Italy, and was named artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton. Abloh truly has the Midas touch, as everything he designs seems to sell out in seconds and eventually pop up on StockX for an insane asking price.

Gaming In the 2010s, video games evolved from pastime to sport. With the help of Twitch, a video livestreaming website where professional gamers showcase their play, esports has earned merit and a colossal following worldwide. Years ago, some would scoff at a professional video game player’s title, but now there are plenty of them who rake in millions annually. According to Dot Esports, a competitive gaming news entity, 17-year-old Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf earned a whopping $3 million for winning the “Fortnite” World Cup and he also assisted in putting esports into the public eye.

This decade, many quality video games have been released across all genres of play. Popular open-world, or sandbox, games such as “Grand Theft Auto V,” “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” and “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” emphasized that players yearn for as little restriction on the

playable character as possible, so that they may roam the virtual world and alter it as they desire. Shooters still remained beloved as well, proved by the 2019 release of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” that accrued $600 million within its initial three days, according to Forbes.

The best video game of the decade is easily “Minecraft,” officially released in 2011 by Mojang, a Swedish video game developer. This game allows the player to do just about anything imaginable in an ever-expanding, blocky virtual world.

According to IGN, “Minecraft” has sold over 176 million copies as of May 2019, and there are 200 million more free users playing in China. This game should be credited with the facet of building in games like “Fortnite,” and it also pioneered giving full control of the virtual world to the player.

Illustration By Aleah Green

JANUARY 16, 2020 – JANUARY 22, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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SPORTS

I

Turning passion into career

wear a lot of hats, both literally and figuratively. Being a writer for a website and co-hosting an on-air radio show, keeping up with some form of social life and, now, being the sports editor for The Lumberjack.

It’s a lot of work, but I would not change anything about it.

I love the grind that comes with editing and making the sports section of this newspaper the best it can possibly be. I never saw myself in this position, but now that I am here, I could not be happier with where I am.

As a kid, I had so many different ideas of what I wanted to do with my life.

Police officer, businessman and, of course, a professional baseball player. I started out as a business major at NAU, but was introduced to business math and said DAVID “No, thank you.”

CHURCH I had no idea what I was going to do.

SPORTS EDITOR Then, I took a chance and signed up for a sports journalism class.

At the time, I had no idea what exactly I was getting myself into. Since then, I have been lucky enough to be a playby-play announcer for high school baseball games, a co-host on my very own sports radio show, the beat reporter for the NAU volleyball team, and a writer for this newspaper.

The point is that it’s OK to not know what you are going to do. It is OK to try out different avenues of life and see what sticks. As long as you find what you are passionate about, put your heart into it and never stop working to improve, and be the best version of yourself.

I was never the kid to have a 4.0 GPA or be on the dean’s list, but I have always done well in English classes where I can write and let my imagination transfer onto pages. Now, I am working to take my passion and turn it into a career.

I know that my chosen career path is not the highest paying one — no one goes into sports journalism to be rich and famous. Though I have always told myself that I am chasing my passion and happiness over chasing a paycheck.

It’s cliche to say go after your dreams, but I believe in it.

Whatever your strengths and skills are, don’t be afraid to go after what you want to do in life. People are always going to doubt you. There is always going to be that person that is waiting for you to fail — do not listen to that person.

You have the power to create your own destiny, so live your life to the fullest, no matter what comes.

So with all that being said, I am incredibly honored to be the new sports editor for The Lumberjack. I also thank all of the people that had a hand in helping me get to this point in my career.

I am incredibly excited to be at the helm of this section of the newspaper and bring readers the best sports stories that northern Arizona has to offer. I hope everyone enjoys and has a great semester.

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Illustration By Madison Cohen

Women in sports: The clear divide in sports media Joi Johnson

E

rin Andrews, Alex Curry, Cari Champion, Rachel Nichols and Jenn Brown are women who have a few distinctions in common, other than the fact that they are all successful female sports reporters.

They were all included in an article written by Men’s Journal magazine as being the best female sports reporters in the game, but something was off.

Instead of keeping the same trend of simply stating that these were the best female sports reporters, the Men’s Journal editors decided to go with something different.

The headline is,“15 Hottest Female Sports Reporters.”

For years, women have had to fight to prove themselves worthy of a seat at the table in the world of sports. Whether they are reporters, anchors, athletes, trainers or coaches, women have had to stand up for themselves in an industry that continues to be dominated by men. Even in sports media, the field continues

to be dominated by men.

Tina Cervasio, a sports reporter for FOX 5 New York, said in an article in the business news publication Quartz that she “still get[s] tweets to go back in the kitchen.”

Kim Jones of the NFL Network also said that she’s received tweets that the only reason she has her job is because of her looks.

This inequality makes it difficult for women to make a name for themselves, and even when they do, women tend to face more scrutiny when they are trying to do their jobs.

With that being said, the male dominated sports media industry is working to correct the inequality that still exists. More women are being hired and given opportunities to showcase their talent across the country, and that representation is what inspires women to continue pursuing their dreams, even if it may seem like a dead end.

Stayson Isobe, director for athletics communications for NAU, said sports are increasingly becoming a world where women are receiving more opportunities to thrive.

SPORTS “You look on TV, on the sidelines and throughout athletic departments across the country, you see lots of exceptional female role models for any woman who may be looking to pursue a career in athletics,” Isobe said. “Hopefully we’ll see a day where inequity doesn’t exist, but until then, I do believe that progress is being made for women to have increased opportunities in athletics.”

As the director, Isobe said he has been fortunate enough to never personally experience sexism in the sports world. He acknowledged the hard work that interns at NAU Athletics put in, regardless of gender.

“Male or female, it doesn’t matter to me. As long as they can do the job, that’s what matters most,” Isobe said. “Over my six and a half years of being a full-time employee in athletics here at NAU, I would say probably 80% of our interns have been female.

They’ve been great, and I’ve had nothing but positive experiences.”

Brenna McGowan, an intern who works for Isobe, said the experiences she’s had working for NAU Athletics have been positive and uplifting.

Sports is something McGowan has always been passionate about, which led her to her internship at NAU Athletics. Without looking for any job openings online, McGowan sought out Randall Press, the previous director of athletic communications at NAU, and emailed him directly, telling him that she’d work for free if it meant being involved in the program.

Now, she’s been involved with the NAU Athletics program for almost two years.

“I’ve seen how sports can change people’s lives and that makes me happy,” McGowan said. “It’s not necessarily about the sport, it’s what the sport does for people, so I wanted to be a part of that.”

Like Isobe mentioned, McGowan hasn’t experienced any outright sexism at her internship, but the issues she faces happen outside of work.

“I’ll be having a conversation with somebody about football

and then they’ll ask, ‘Well, who played this game on Sept. 15, 1974?’ or something ridiculous, and that’s what gets me,” McGowan said. “I can watch football games on mute because I don’t need someone to explain to me what’s going on. Typically, it’s the outside comments that I hear the most, so stuff like that sucks because I know what I’m talking about.”

For McGowan, working for NAU Athletics has given her an opportunity to feel comfortable in the workplace with no repercussions, even though the harsh realities still follow.

Although McGowan’s days of being an athlete are over, she insists that women entering the world of sports should be prepared to do whatever kind of work is handed to them, especially because these opportunities will only help them in the long run.

“It’s gonna suck sometimes, and you’ll see that different people get favored and have different work to do,” McGowan said. “I had to transcribe every football game, and its stats, in NAU history from a flipbook to a word document — it took me months. But, it’s all about accepting the fact that you have to do the dirty work, so do the work and don’t let being a woman hold you back. Think of it as something that will continue to push you forward.”

If there’s one aspect Kaleigh Emery, FOX9 associate producer and former sports reporter, wants anyone coming into the industry, especially sports media, to know it’s that negativity will always be a factor in the job.

Emery knew she wanted to be a broadcast journalist when she was 6 years old, a dream that she spent much of her academic career working toward. In high school, she was the sports reporter for her school’s newspaper. The pursuit continued during her time at NAU. “I focused my attention on broadcast, being completely involved with the NAZ Today sports department,” Emery said.

“On top of being a full-time student every semester, I interned at KVNA Sports Radio, did play-by-play and color for hockey

and baseball games on KJACK Radio, and was a freelance writer for The Lumberjack newspaper. Dipping my toes into every news outlet available was what helped me land my first on-air job.”

After graduating from NAU, Emery became a sports anchor and reporter for KFYR-TV, a newscast based out of Bismarck, North Dakota. She covered almost everything from NFL Training Camps and the 2017 Super Bowl. Working with KFYR-TV gave her the opportunity to work as a sideline reporter for NCAA football and basketball games.

“There are still a lot of people out there that don’t agree with women in sports,” Emery said. “When I was on air with NBC, I had a viewer call every day for four days in a row to tell me I didn’t deserve to be on television, I didn’t deserve to talk about sports, along with a number of other terrible things.”

Emery also mentioned that the industry is filled with people who want to watch someone fail.

“If you are a woman in sports, or even a woman in the media, be prepared to receive mean messages, be told hurtful things and everything in between.” Emery said. “At the end of the day, if you let it get to you, it’s going to affect your work and it’s going to affect your well being.”

Emery went on to explain that people can also realize that a phrase such as “you throw like a girl” can no longer dictate the sports industry, especially if it means putting others down and making them feel like they are inadequate based on their gender.

In the same breath, creating an open, welcoming environment allows everyone to be actively heard and included in the conversation.

More women are earning the chance to sit at the sports anchor’s desk, because at the end of the day, sports are for everyone.

Breaking ground: The new NAU performance center David Smith

T

he area across from the Walkup Skydome and next to the Sports Activity Practice Field is rugged, slightly slanted and covered in dense foliage. With soft, wet ground and piles of snow littering the area, it is a little hard to believe that a 77,000-square-foot sports center will be built on this landscape. Mike Marlow, vice president for NAU’s intercollegiate athletics, is eager for the upcoming construction of the new facility. He is certain it will benefit both students and the campus alike.

“It will be different primarily in size and scope,” Marlow said. “It will allow all of our athletics programs adequate space for academics, treatment, and strength and conditioning. It is also different because of the benefits that it provides to the student body and collaborative opportunities that it will have with campus.”

The end product is designed to cater to

NAU’s 358 student-athletes. The center will have a sports gymnasium with approximately 5,000 seats, strength and conditioning accommodations, a nutrition station, oxygenrelated altitude training, injury treatment area and academic support space. In addition, there will be a team lounge, a box office, an entranceway, and offices for coaches and staff, which will feature the NAU Hall of Fame.

Marlow also mentioned that the facility will allow NAU athletes to better their bodies and keep themselves in peak performance when it is their time to step onto the field.

“It will allow our students to have a location dedicated to the maximization of their athletic and academic potential,” Marlow said. “They’ll be able to walk into the doors of this building, get athletic medicine treatment, nutrition, strength and conditioning, as well as visit our academic personnel and take advantage of those resources.”

Sophomore linebacker Seth Long is a member of the student advisory committee, which is a committee designed to have student weigh in on investment opportunites within athletics. Long has been a part of the NAU football team since 2017, and has seen instances where training could be improved.

For him, the new facility will provide much-needed service for his team to have a better chance to build on their abilities in the days before game day.

“The sports medicine facility we currently have in the dome is extremely small and lacks recovery options, such as a sufficient amount of tubs,” Long said. “The new facility will be double the size of the one we have now, giving athletes the space and equipment they need to recover. A recurring theme for athletes, especially football players, is gaining and maintaining weight.

Athletes continue to lose weight every year as soon as the season starts. Having a nutrition

station would help resolve this issue because it would allow athletes to eat before and after workouts.”

One reason NAU proposed the creation of the center was so the school’s athletics can stay competitive with other Big Sky schools like the University of Montana, Weber State University and Portland State University, which have advanced equipment and academic space. It also provides the opportunity for NAU to keep potential recruits interested in playing for NAU. The center will bring all the sports teams together, giving them an area where they can all gather and train. With the new performance center, the football team will no longer have to host meetings at the W. A. Franke College of Business. Space will be freed up at the Rolle Activity Center and the South Recreational Fields as the soccer, football, basketball and volleyball teams will now convene at the new facility.

JANUARY 16, 2020 – JANUARY 22, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

21

SPORTS Redshirt junior Caitlin Malvar is a member of the NAU women’s basketball team and a part of the student advisory committee. She views the concept of the new facility as a welcome change to how her team has been conducting training and studying.

“Right now, our practice facilities, athletic training room and study hall are all at different locations,” Malvar said. “Having them all in the same place will help us save time and energy throughout our busy days.”

Marlow mentioned that there have been no issues in preparing for the construction phase.

The center will be positioned close to the Lura Kinsey Elementary School, but the facility will remain within NAU boundaries. An additional crosswalk will be added to help pedestrian traffic, while the Skydome’s parking lot will be available to both student-athletes and staff.

For most student-athletes, the new facility will not only offer necessary accommodations, but it will also serve as a luxury.

“The part of the performance center that I am most excited about are the study hall rooms and lounges,” Malvar said. “Finding space on campus to do homework is hard as it is, so having a place especially for student-athletes in the same building that they practice will be very convenient.”

Long also looks forward to seeing the completion of the facility and has many plans for the building’s future potential.

“The one thing I hope they are able to do in the future is potentially adding bleachers and make the practice gym a space where they also play their games,” Long said. “I think both students and athletes would be able to enjoy and appreciate the center even more if they had basketball or volleyball events they could attend.”

For now, Marlow said that the High Performance Center will be used exclusively for training and academic purposes only. All game events will continue to be held in the Rolle Activity Center and the Skydome.

However, at the mid-September Arizona Board of Regents meeting, some students voiced their concerns for the construction of the $46 million project. NAU Student Regent Lauren L’Ecuyer felt the student body was underrepresented and out of the loop in this regard.

“That’s really where my concern comes from, and I think we heard a similar concern earlier in calls to the audience,” L’Ecuyer said.

“Agreeing to 25 years of dedicated student fee money at that 60% level without adequate consultation of the students, the advisory board and the students at large — I guess I struggle

22

with that.”

Regardless, the Capital Improvement and Development plans were approved by the board, along with the authorization for the center’s construction.

“We’re just so grateful for the level of collaboration that exists on our campus and we’re excited to deliver to the broader NAU community a transformative building that will not only elevate our athletic program, but the image of NAU as a whole,” Marlow said.

The High Performance Center is projected to be completed by fall or early winter 2021.

Groundbreaking took place this month.

Photo illustration courtesy of NAU Athletics.

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

SPORTS

NAU defeated by idaho state 71-67

Top Left: Junior guard Cameron Satterwhite shoots the ball against Idaho State. Bottom Left: Freshman guard Charles Burns cheers on his teamates. Right: Senior forward Brooks Debisschop (22) screens for Satterwhite while he shoots the ball in a game against Idaho State, Jan. 11. Bess Valdez | The Lumberjack

JANUARY 16, 2020 – JANUARY 22, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

23

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