The Lumberjack -- January 30, 2020

RUMBLE ON THE MOUNTAIN THE LUMBER JACK

JAN. 30, 2020 – FEB. 5, 2020

PAGE 18

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

D

ear Kobe, I don’t think I spoke more than 50 words on Jan. 26. My phone was ringing so frequently I thought it would malfunction, and it felt like every human on the planet stopped to stare at the nearest screen that read the most unbelievable headline I’d ever seen.

“Kobe Bean Bryant cannot be dead, there is just no way,” I thought to myself. If there was any person who was unearthly tough enough to survive a tragic helicopter accident, I would’ve chose you in a heartbeat.

This is the second time I’ve addressed a letter with those two words — the first being in fourth grade. The teacher gave an assignment where each student in the class wrote a friendly letter to their hero. Many of my classmates had similar heroes like, “my mom,” President Obama or Katy Perry.

I wrote my letter to you. Ten-year-old me was obsessed with basketball, largely due to watching you play on TV, trying to mimic your post fadeaway on my backyard hoop at halftime of Lakers games. I irritated my mom by wearing your jersey to school on picture day as a child. Annually on Christmas, without NATHAN fail from the age of 7 to when I was 18, I was ecstatic as I knew I’d be unwrapping MANNI a new box of your Nike basketball shoes. You were my hero.

Although your artistic play style is what captivated me, you kept my CULTURE EDITOR attention because of something much bigger than basketball. Your incomparable work ethic and obsession with being great lit a fire in my adolescent heart, one that I’ll carry with me forever.

The passion you played with and your relentless work ethic inspired millions worldwide. Basketball players idolized you and tried to emulate your mindset and signature moves on the hardwood.

Creatives in all industries were moved by your diligence and respect for your craft. Parents everywhere were inspired by your love for family and your involvement in your children’s lives. Athletes of all ages wore No. 8 and No. 24 because of you. Humans globally embraced the “Mamba Mentality.”

You inspired and touched so many people, and the world will forever feel your impact. It would be impossible to tell the story of basketball without mentioning Kobe Bryant. It would be impossible to picture my childhood joys without Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. You touched so many people around the world, and it feels like all 7.5 billion of us are mourning you together.

Kobe, I love you more than I will ever love the Lakers. And I really love the Lakers.

I, along with millions, feel so overwhelmingly heartbroken that you’re no longer with ..us. Tenyear-old me saw your relentless passion for life, and he was immensely inspired. Nearly 10 years later, I still am. You’re still my hero.

Love, Nathan Thank you for reading.

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 109 ISSUE 3

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 Op-Ed Editor Online News Editor Director of Social Media Caitlin Burke Ray Anne Galzote Shannon Degrange Asst. Op-Ed Editor Features Editor Ryan Dixon News Editor Ash Lohmann Sports Editor Scout Ehrler Asst. Features Editor David Church Asst. News Editor Jacob Meyer Asst. Sports Editor Karin Johnson Cameron Richardson Culture Editor Director of Circulation Nathan Manni Online News Editor Anel Lamadrid Senior Reporter Asst. Culture Editor Asst. Dir. of Circulation Trevor Skeen Nayomi Garcia Micah Meehan

2

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

“It has been about us more than the other team.”

– Shane burcar. nau men’s basketball head coach

Redshirt sophomores Nik Manis (15), Keith Haymon (13), Luke Avdalovic (21) celebrate a victory against Portland State, Jan. 25. NAU defeated Portland 84-82.

Brian Burke | The Lumberjack

On the cover Andre Lomaintewa performs with the Hopi Hooypi dance group at the sixth Annual Rumble on the Mountain held at the Museum of Northern Arizona, Jan 25.

Megan Ford-Fyffe | 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. 20 At 12:15 a.m., a student called to report someone yelling outside The Suites.

NAUPD responded, but were unable to locate the subject.

officers reported attempting to locate a non-student that ran from FPD off campus. FPD located the subject.

room. NAUPD responded and advised it was possibly nail polish remover. The RA contacted maintenance.

At 8:56 p.m., an RA called to report a disturbance at South Village Apartments.

NAUPD responded and one student was found to be talking loudly on their phone, and was ID’d.

Jan. 25 At 12:17 a.m., University Safety Aides reported a person in a dumpster near lot 13.

NAUPD responded and found the person was a student. The student was ID’d and left the area.

At 7:45 a.m., an RA called to report a student at Cowden Hall who had passed out for an unknown reason. NAUPD, Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) and Guardian Medical Transport ambulance (GMT) At 9:51 p.m., an NAUPD responded. The patient was officer reported hearing a transported to FMC. subject scream at parking lot 16. No criminal activity was Jan. 21 witnessed, and no one was in At 8:33 a.m., a staff distress. member of the Science Lab Facility called to report a Jan. 23 student who had passed out At 1:43 p.m., a staff and hit their chin. NAUPD, member called to report FFD and GMT responded. an animal on campus near The patient refused medical SkyView apartments. NAUPD transport, but an NAUPD responded, but no animals officer provided a public assist were present. ride to the HLC. At 2:16 p.m., a staff At 2:18 p.m., a staff member called to report a member called to request an suspicious package at the escort for a student from the Science and Health building.

HLC to FMC. Assistance was NAUPD responded, but the provided by NAUPD. item was not in the area.

At 3:08 p.m., a staff member called to report the theft of a sweeper from their office at the Health Sciences.

NAUPD responded and took a report.

At 5:59 p.m., a student at the Aquatic and Tennis Complex called to report their shoes had been stolen.

NAUPD responded and took a report.

Compiled by KaRin Johnson

At 2:20 a.m., an RA called to report a student who was not a resident of Sechrist Hall refusing to leave. NAUPD responded, and the student was booked into Coconino County Sheriff’s Office jail for first-degree trespass and resisting arrest.

At 11:05 p.m., a student called to report a loud party at SkyView apartments. NAUPD responded, and five students were criminally deferred for underage consumption of alcohol.

Jan. 26 At 2:12 a.m., an RA at Reilly Hall called to report At 6:08 p.m., NAUPD that a student had been seen reported assisting FPD with a carrying an exit sign. NAUPD domestic violence incident off responded, and the student campus. was criminally deferred for possession of stolen property.

Jan. 24 At 10:53 a.m., a staff At 7:42 p.m., a student member at Babbitt Annex called to report another student called NAUPD with questions having a seizure at Pine Ridge regarding a possible stalking Village. NAUPD, FFD and incident. Information was GMT responded. The student provided. refused medical transport.

At 7:54 p.m., a staff member called to report a student with a dislocated finger at the Health and Learning Center. NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded. The patient refused medical transport and At 11:03 p.m., an RA the officer took a report. at South Village Apartments called to report that a At 6:26 a.m., NAUPD resident had a odor in the

Jan. 22 At 12:32 a.m., an RA called to request assistance for a student who had fallen and hit their head at Wilson Hall.

NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded. The student refused medical transport.

At 12:46 p.m., a staff member called to report a subject handing out fliers at Cline Library. NAUPD responded, but the subject was gone on arrival.

JANUARY 30, 2020 – FEBRUARY 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

3

NEWS

Sarah Rendon writes information from Eli Chee for the Point in Time (PIT) survey, Jan. 23 at the Flagstaff Family Food Center. The PIT survey attempts to document how many people were unsheltered on specific dates. Shannon Swain | The Lumberjack

Point in Time reveals complexity, humanity of homelessness Trevor Skeen

P

oint in Time (PIT) captures a brief moment within a complicated existence.

The annual event provides statistical documentation of a single night for the homeless population around the country. On Jan. 21, humanitarian workers, volunteers and other community members worked tirelessly to survey homeless people throughout the Flagstaff area.

Lanndhese Talice, director of housing for Flagstaff Shelter Services (FSS), explained how a large portion of PIT research is conducted in shelters and public spaces. For example, hundreds of homeless people have completed surveys at FSS and Catholic Charities, along with locations such as the Flagstaff Public Library, Joe C. Montoya Community and Senior Center, and Sunshine Rescue Mission.

4

Another component of PIT is outreach.

Last week, from Jan. 21 to Jan. 26, numerous volunteers explored Flagstaff, searching locations around downtown, parks and trails to survey a greater number of people. Additionally, Catholic Charities’ Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness team conducted remote fieldwork over the weekend to assess the surrounding areas of homeless populations.

This data collection examined a number of characteristics including backgrounds, demographics and sleeping situations, but it also provided the chance to converse and empathize.

Although PIT is a statistical study, it showcases communal outreach. Furthermore, volunteers around Flagstaff offered various incentives, including hygiene packs and snack bundles, to the homeless individuals who participated.

Despite PIT’s annual efforts and collection,

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

it is still an unreasonable challenge. Michael Van Ness, a part-time sociology professor, explained that homelessness is a subjective status rather than a concrete standing. Van Ness was heavily involved with Flagstaff shelters for years, and although he supports the volunteers and communities affiliated with PIT, he said the accompanying methodologies don’t always provide an accurate representation.

An Arizona Daily Sun article from 2018 referenced PIT’s overall measure of 415 homeless people in Coconino County. Van Ness, however, estimated that the demographic is comprised of 900 — more than double those surveyed.

Van Ness elaborated that the PIT count invariably misses hundreds of people who are staying with friends or family, temporarily renting motels or bouncing between homes.

Additionally, because all surveying occurs for the

night of Jan. 21, these missed numbers are often magnified by inclement winter weather.

“It’s hard to define what someone’s status is,” Van Ness said.

After addressing PIT’s weaknesses, Van Ness explained that volunteers and funding are integral to the program’s advancement.

Although it is difficult to survey the entire homeless population, more people and an increased budget could certainly help.

Ross Altenbaugh, executive director of FSS, echoed Van Ness’s belief that PIT would benefit from more participants and financing.

“The PIT count is a way for our community to truly understand who is in need in real time,” Altenbaugh said. “It absolutely helps us make a case to funders, both private and public, that we have data to show who and how many people are in a crisis in our community ... We can

NEWS always use more people to make the picture as robust as possible.”

PIT data also demonstrate an inherent diversity within the previous picture. Van Ness, who has bonded with numerous homeless people throughout the years, detailed how his encounters stretch over multiple different backgrounds.

For example, Van Ness has interacted with veterans, domestic violence victims, stranded travelers, undiagnosed mental health patients and others. He added that, oftentimes, society relegates the homeless demographic into an inaccurate category: lazy and hostile citizens.

In contrast, Van Ness’ experiences refute this prejudice.

Van Ness explained the homeless population also builds strong and supportive communities. Over the years, he has witnessed homeless people share money, food and stories, among other tips and tricks. This caring connectivity also counteracts various prejudices, which have been pervasive for decades.

Historically, the stereotypes about homelessness increased in the ’80s and ’90s, during the era of deinstitutionalization.

According to the website the balance, between 1955 and 1994, approximately 487,000 mental health patients were discharged from state hospitals, despite their ongoing conditions.

Another 2.2 million people did not receive any psychiatric treatment following the institutional closures.

These unresolved mental health conditions are common within the homeless population, creating another source of prejudice.

Van Ness said the best method for changing the conceptions of these stereotypes is to directly address the scenario.

“The best way to challenge a stereotype is to actually work with the people in those situations,” Van Ness said. “It’s arrogant to think that you can’t end up in that situation.”

Councilmember Charlie Odegaard also mentioned volunteering as a reliable method for

lessening prejudice.

“I really recommend people to volunteer to become more aware and understandable,” Odegaard said. “It takes a community to work together through partnerships to solve our issues.”

In Flagstaff, a variety of charities accept volunteers for a range of efforts. Helping the homeless can be as simple as making charitable donations, sharing food or preparing meals.

However, it can also be addressed through concepts such as the harm-reduction approach, housing first philosophy or multipronged approach.

Van Ness defined the harm-reduction approach as engaging in any efforts that make life better. He elaborated that if a homeless person has seven ferrets and 15 dogs, finding a suitable housing situation could take time and

“It takes a community to work together through partnerships to solve our issues.”

– Councilmember Charlie Odegaard

effort. However, feeding the person and pets is a more immediate, attainable goal. This method is the harm-reduction approach.

Similarly, the multipronged approach emphasizes helping in a variety of ways.

“Treat people with respect. Say hi, talk a little bit with them,” Van Ness said. “Volunteer some time, do some harm-reduction activities; work on creating spaces for homeless people.”

Homelessness is not a black-and-white subject. Instead, it is filled with subjectivity and variation, especially depending on the person and context. Flagstaff’s humanitarian organizations, such as FSS, Catholic Charities and Sunshine Rescue Mission, truly acknowledge and demonstrate that the homeless are people too. Instead of overlooking this population, PIT surveying analyzes and addresses it while also providing help.

While speaking about the importance of helping other people, Van Ness referenced the Dalai Lama’s — a globally recognized spiritual leader — perception of privilege and ignorance.

“I think the Dalai Lama’s right: We know when people suffer, but we’ve learned how to ignore it,” Van Ness said.

Left: Census water bottles are put in a crate outside the Flagstaff Family Food Center, Jan. 23. The water bottles are meant to inform people of the upcoming census. Right: Sarah Rendon holds Point in Time surveys outside the Flagstaff Family Food Center, Jan. 23. Shannon Swain | The Lumberjack

JANUARY 30, 2020 – FEBRUARY 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

5

NEWS

Some students see reduction in their hours this spring Tess Spinker

S

tudent employees of NAU Campus Dining are concerned after discovering this spring semester brings fewer hours of work and not enough money to pay for college expenses.

Sodexo, among one of the three major companies that manage retail on college campuses across the country, controls every dining unit on campus. The business provides a wide range of services — everything from catering and food to cleaning, energy management, grounds maintenance, building maintenance and security, according to the Sodexo website.

From the du Bois Center to Starbucks, Sodexo employs many part-time and full-time workers. As of January 2019, Sodexo said it employed 785 staff and 530 of them were NAU students and part-time employees, according to the NAU Sodexo Contract Audit Report. NAU students are offered a Federal Work-Study Program and are hired to make extra money to cover expenses like books, food and rent while holding a job close to home. However, the spring 2020 semester brought disappointment to many.

One student Sodexo worker, who wished to remain anonymous due to the risk of losing their job, fears they will not receive enough hours to be able to stay at NAU. “Rent is ridiculous like every student knows, and when you are trying to pay for books, food and everything else, it is almost impossible to afford,” they said. “My hours got cut in half this semester and now I am scrambling to find another job just so I can make rent next month.”

In a recent poll of Arizona counties and major cities conducted by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Arizona Housing Coalition, Flagstaff’s average rent prices ranges from $702 to $1,676 per month. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a renter would have to make around $30,000 to $60,000 a year, which is not a realistic task for students with demanding school schedules.

Sophomore Adrianna Little, an employee at Turnip the Greens, said her hours have not been as bad as some other units on campus, but inconsistent.

“Sodexo has been really accommodating with my schedule and also I have the weekends off, which is nice,” Little said.

“However the only hours I get are during the week, which makes things tough for school.”

Sodexo’s Campus Dining unit currently operates 27 oncampus retail facilities, including three on-campus markets, two dining halls, a mobile food truck and 21 specialty eating institutions, including Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Einstein Bros.

Bagels and Subway, according to the NAU Sodexo Contract Audit Report, updated April 25, 2019.

The report also included Sodexo’s fiscal year 2018 Dining Services sales. Sodexo disclosed sales of $37.4 million, resulting in the university commissions of $8,231,305, or 22% of sales.

“In the springtime, usually our mark of university dining services has a reduction in our student services by 11% to 12%,” resident dining manager Ben Hartley said. “This happens because many leave or graduate after fall, causing every year to get scaled back hours.”

Sodexo has had an overall positive relationship with NAU since it began back in 1997, doubling its commission to $8.2

6

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

million in 2018, according to the report.

Despite an increase in sales and an apparently beneficial partnership between NAU and Sodexo, some NAU student workers still feel the negative influences of not making enough money.

The average meal plan with 19 meals per week and $200 dining dollars per semester generates about $2,816 per semester for NAU, according to NAU Campus Dining.

Some resident dining units are understaffed and employees’ hours have increased, while others are desperately trying to fight for more. Overall, instead of arguing with managers or stressing

over how much student workers will get paid next week, Hartley has options for those in need.

“If Sodexo workers and students have concerns, they have options,” Hartley said. “[Employees] can talk with their managers and HR about the ability to pick up hours and shifts at other units not in their situation.”

Sodexo states it works inclusively with NAU student body groups and faculty to advance and incorporate special programs, according to its website. In response to trends and needs of the student body and all employees, it wants to further improve the campus dining work experience.

NAU employee Ilya Ya’qub greets customers at the north campus Starbucks, Jan. 25. Sharon Holtaway| The Lumberjack

LUNCH - DINNER - LATE NIGHT

E@ LATE NIT

D R A Y e h rday t u t a s & friday

DJ starts at 10pm FRIDAY $6.99 32oz YARD JARS saturday $4 PINTS PLAYING the best DANCE HITS from throughout the decades!

$4 DOUBLE WELLS

YARVIDA

THRUIRSDAY T

Sign Up Starts at 7pm, Seating Starts at 9pm The Game starts at 9:30pm! $2.75 Topless Cans & $7.99 Yard Jars

www.lumberyardbrewingcompany.com

Sunday - Thursday 11am - 12am Friday - Saturday 11am - 2am Late Night Menu Available Friday - Saturday

$10 PIZZA AND PINT FOR NAU STUDENTS! 8” WOOD-FIRED PIZZA AND 16OZ PINT OF BS BEER! JUST SHOW US YOUR NAU ID!

JOIN OUR BS BREW CLUB! $60 Annual Membership includes:

BS Brew Club Shirt BS Brew Club Glass $5 22oz Imperial Pints $9 64oz Growler Fills 25% OFF BSB Merch and Beer Gear 20% OFF Wood-Fired Pizzas 10% OFF All other Food items Happy Hour Pricing for Pool Free Pool on Mondays and Tuesdays Free Entry into Okto’Beer’Fest 25% Off all other BSB hosted Special Events Brew Club Sundays: Bring in a friend to receive the same great perks of membership!

www.beaverstreetbrewery.com

5 S SAN FRANCISCO ST | 928.779.2739 3 S Beaver St | Flagstaff, Az | 928.779.0079

JANUARY 30, 2020 – FEBRUARY 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

7

OPINION-EDITORIAL

ioc chooses silence over freedom Kylie soto

Empowerment through comedy

C

o-hosts of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Alex Cooper and Sofia Franklyn empower women in their sexuality through comedy while embracing taboo conversations.

“Call Her Daddy” is a sex and relationship podcast that is gaining attention from college students and young adults everywhere. Cooper and Franklyn talk openly about their personal sexual and dating experiences.

The podcast is appealing to college students because of the topics Cooper and Franklyn discuss. They share their experiences with hook-ups and navigating the dating scene.

On first listen, “Call Her Daddy” is shocking for its raunchy discussions.

The first time I listened to the podcast, Cooper and Franklyn instantly grabbed MADELINE my attention with their topics.

HOLLMAN The main purpose of “Call Her OP-ED WRITER Daddy” is to entertain listeners, but hearing two women talk freely about female sexuality is empowering.

Under the humor and behind the topics of sex and dating, Cooper and Franklyn portray the message that women should feel confident in their sexuality. They take a comedic approach to topics that may seem taboo in some situations. This tells listeners they are not alone in thinking about certain topics that they may not be talking about with their friends. “Call Her Daddy” is a sex-positive platform that does not shy away from stigmatized topics.

“Call Her Daddy” is a new age way of reclaiming femininity through media. Instead of women being sexualized without their consent, they are being sexual on their own terms.

Women having an open conversation about sexual topics that are not usually seen in the media is refreshing. The podcast is described by the co-hosts as being a locker room conversation by women.

We need more media attention about this podcast, and more mainstream media, in general, that empowers females to reclaim their sexuality.

Even though some of the situations discussed may strike some as vulgar, these are topics that are usually not talked about freely, which is unfair. Cooper and Franklyn state that women should not be ashamed of being sexually active. Not everybody is used to having an open conversation about sex. “Call Her Daddy” gives women leverage to feel confident with the topic of female sexuality through the use of comedy.

With the increasing popularity of podcasts, “Call Her Daddy” stands out because of the real and raw advice it gives listeners. The lighthearted tone gives a sense of familiarity with topics that often take people out of their comfort zone. Cooper and Franklyn are always transparent and speak their minds.

8

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

T

he International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently published Rule 50, which bans all political protest, before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Rule 50, as defined in a statement by the IOC Athletes Commission, directly states in the preamble that “the IOC Athletes’ Commission and the IOC are fully supportive of freedom of expression.” Then, it contradicts itself by stating, “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

It goes on to provide examples of what would qualify as a protest, which includes displaying any political signs or armbands, as well as any gestures of a political nature like kneeling. Lastly, Rule 50 states that the refusal to follow ceremonial protocol is a form of protest.

Many people took to social media to proclaim their disapproval for the new, seemingly partisan, rule.

Among these people are past medalists who took a stand for change on an Olympic podium. Two, in particular, were stripped of their medals because they chose to represent their community shamelessly in front of the whole world.

These two brave men, former Olympic gold medalist Tommie Smith and bronze medalist John Carlos, took a stand during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, as described in an online History article. Smith and Carlos were forced to return their medals for raising their black-gloved fists in the air while “The Star-Spangled Banner” was playing and for wearing necklaces made of black beads representing the African Americans who died from racially motivated attacks.

The IOC seems to be condemning the progress of the past, and rather than allowing athletes to represent their values and respective communities, is forcing them to stay silent and simply

accept the honor of being part of the Olympic Games.

An international event like the Olympics is the single best place for a person to protest for change. It is direct access to the entire globe and would spark important discussions about bettering the society we coexist in.

In a 2020 interview with The Nation, John Carlos responded to the new Olympics political protest ban. He stated the new rule is nonsense and that no person should be forced to “sacrifice their humanity to win a medal.” He also asserted that the silencing of people from a large organization like the Olympics is political.

This is something that should be taken into consideration.

Especially with the world being more divided than ever, it’s cruel to impose a rule on these individuals, which takes away their ability to make an impact beyond their country’s borders.

For example, professional soccer player Megan Rapinoe’s act of speaking out about equal pay after the United States women’s national soccer team World Cup win would spark tons of conversation if it were to be broadcast during the Olympics.

Granted, the majority of the world watches soccer avidly.

Nonetheless, the subject still has the potential to make even more of an impact during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

By demanding world-class athletes remain silent, the Olympics are defending a world of denial by refusing to allow positive change.

All of this is because the IOC is afraid of conflict.

Perhaps this shows exactly how much the world hasn’t changed since the 1960s and beyond. In order to live in a better world, people must stop convincing themselves that the world is just fine and dandy.

The Olympics is the perfect stage for change that could set off a chain reaction on a global scale. To take away the ability to stand in the spotlight for good is to comply with all the injustice in our society.

Illustration By AMY CZACHOWSKI

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Kobe’s impact went beyond the court ryan dixon

O

n Sunday, in the hills of Calabasas, California, nine people died in a helicopter crash. Mothers, fathers, daughters and coaches were ripped from their families and friends far too soon.

Sunday should have been a day filled with the sights and sounds of competition. Basketballs snapping through crisp, white nets and parents and fans screaming in support of their team.

Instead, Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna Bryant; Orange County College baseball coach John Altobelli, John’s wife, Keri Altobelli, and their daughter Alyssa Altobelli; mother Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton Chester; Mamba Academy basketball coach Christina Mauser; and pilot Ara Zobayan, died in a helicopter crash Sunday morning.

While those closest to the deceased mourned, the sports world grieved with them.

In arenas and on courts across the country, athletes were shocked and heartbroken. Disbelief is what I felt first. Surely not Kobe. Not Kobe … not Kobe. As dread welled up in the back of my throat, I hoped with all my heart TMZ had callously run a prank story. Then, one news source after another, it was confirmed.

With the rest of the basketball community, I felt my heart break for the man who was basketball personified, his budding superstar daughter and the other victims of the tragic crash.

There is no doubt that the world of sports lost one of the greatest athletes of my lifetime, and arguably of all time.

From the time Kobe picked up a basketball at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, the expectations were high. Everyone expected the 17-yearold son of former NBA player Joe Bryant to enter the league and tear it up, and that’s exactly what Kobe did.

It’s very rare for a young player to enter professional sports and live up to extreme levels of hype, but Kobe was rare. He not only lived up to the hype — he surpassed it.

In his 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe was the heart of the city. He dominated the first decade of my life with five NBA championships and countless other accolades. It was a storied career, one that will undoubtedly place him in the history books as one of the greatest to ever play the game. The name Kobe Bryant will forever be spoken in the same reverent tones as Michael Jordan, LeBron James and the future legends of basketball.

What set him a part was his mindset.

Kobe “The Black Mamba” Bryant was different.

Black Mamba snakes are deadly, not only because of their venom but also because they strike without provocation, making them an unpredictable and formidable threat. Kobe earned his nickname, and the Mamba Mentality was coined for the intense way Kobe obsessed over his goals, played through blood, sweat and tears, and always seemed

to win. He was a killer on the court.

The Mamba Mentality is a concept that has been adopted or sought after by athletes in every sport. A whole generation of kids grew up tossing items in the trash and yelling “Kobe!” when it went in. Kobe was synonymous with winning.

While I didn’t know him personally, Kobe had a massive influence on my life. His death felt devastating to me.

My freshman year of high school was the first time I seriously picked up a basketball. I was awful, I was slow, sloppy with my form and all-around a bench player. It was a humble beginning, but I wanted to be great. I wanted to be like No. 24, taking the game-winning shot and making it for my team. I knew what I had to do if I ever wanted that chance. Kobe showed me.

Even as an NBA starter and later as a star, Kobe was in the gym at 5 a.m. putting in work, always grinding to get better. So, I adopted the Mamba Mentality and got to work. Every morning I set my alarm for 4:45 a.m. and drove to the gym to train with my dad before school. When I got tired and the thousands of reps didn’t seem worth it, I’d remember Kobe. This was his recipe for success; I’d make it mine.

I spent years training with the Mamba M e n t a l i t y, studying

the handles and shooting form of No. 24, and eventually, it all paid off. I got that thrilling time on the court and got to feel the intensity of playing in the state tournament. I have Kobe to thank for that. His work ethic and determination made a young woman’s dream come true. It also made hundreds of thousands of other young athletes around the world dreams come true.

However, Kobe’s impact reached far beyond the basketball court, and that is what I think compounds the pain of his loss.

In the years following his retirement, Kobe’s presence in the media transitioned from basketball highlights to touching moments with his four daughters and his wife, Vanessa Bryant.

Basketball no longer was the highlight of his life — his family was.

Kobe’s Instagram is covered in photos of Vanessa; Natalia, 17; Gianna, 13; Bianka, 3; and Capri, who was born June 2019.

It was clear that his girls were his world. Videos from media and fans alike showed Kobe teaching the game to Gianna, not only as her coach for her Mamba Sports Academy basketball team, but as a father eager to share his love for the game with his daughter.

Gianna shared Kobe’s love for basketball, and her dedication to the game was so stunningly similar to Kobe’s that the Mambacita was no doubt destined for greatness in the Women’s National Basketball Association.

Kobe told Extra in July 2017, “[Gianna]’s pretty fierce.

She loves playing, she loves shooting. She came to me last summer and asked if I would teach her the game a little bit, so she really just started playing, but she picked up things innately.”

The pair’s bond surpassed just blood. It was rooted in a deep love for the game that Kobe dominated for years.

To lose a basketball legend and his young prodigy who seemed destined to take the WNBA by storm one day hurts. What hurts more is the world losing a father and a daughter.

The sports world will ache and grieve, and that’s OK. We lost an icon, a mentor, a legend, and the Bryant family lost their father, husband, daughter and sister.

However, even in the most challenging circumstances, the game keeps going. Like Kobe with a torn Achilles’ tendon, we have to limp back out to the free-throw line of life and keep playing.

Kobe once said, “Have a good time. Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged.

You have to keep it moving. You have to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, smile and just keep on rolling.”

Mamba Mentality forever.

Illustration By aleah green

JANUARY 30, 2020 – FEBRUARY 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

9

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Extremists give astrology a bad reputation Trinity archie

W

ith every trend comes extremists and the recycled fad of astrology is no exception. Most use Zodiac signs and horoscopes as an entertaining way of foreshadowing the future. Others take the pseudoscience way too seriously.

The pseudoscience of astrology initially achieved mainstream popularity in the 1970s and has gained new momentum in the age of social media. Apps like “Co-Star” fuel obsession with horoscopes and sign compatibility. Instagram and Twitter allow us to expand and share our knowledge of astrology. With such easy access to information and the appeal of blaming irresponsible behavior on the stars, it is no surprise that astrology has regained popularity.

According to Smithsonian Magazine, the first newspaper horoscope column was written by R.H. Naylor in 1930 for the British newspaper Sunday Express. The initial piece gained so much popularity that horoscope columns became a staple of newspaper publications. Eventually, horoscope columns became websites, and now apps.

Although more popular in some decades than others, astrology momentum never came to a complete stop. According to a 2017 poll by Pew Research Center, about 30% of Americans believe in astrology.

I am not part of this 30%. I don’t completely dismiss everyone who follows astrology as misled, but I do not believe in it myself. Choosing friends based on sign compatibility is restricting and leads to missed connections. Astrology is not a legitimate way of predicting a person’s personality and therefore cannot be used to disregard or establish relationships.

I question how something that was seen by many as a form of entertainment, when there weren’t many other options, is still so popular. Perhaps our generation uses astrology as a distraction from our crisis-filled realities. Maybe others need an excuse to dismiss their annoying co-worker or roommate. Either way, there are undoubtedly many who take the pseudoscience too seriously.

We all know that person who insists they can’t vibe with Scorpios or would never date a Libra. This mindset is extremely dismissive and limiting. While it can be entertaining to follow astrology, it is important to remember that it is not real science.

There have been no legitimate findings proving that celestial objects influence human behavior.

With this in mind, we cannot dismiss or excuse a person’s behavior based on their Zodiac sign. Too often, I’ve had friends go through a bad breakup and declare that they will never date a guy with that particular Zodiac sign ever again. When I ask why they explain how their signs are simply not compatible. I don’t understand how a toxic relationship has anything to do with astrology.

Instead of blaming behaviors on Zodiac signs, we should be communicating and making efforts to understand those we form relationships with. Maybe your best friend isn’t sensitive because they’re a Pisces and instead behaves that way because of a childhood trauma they experienced. Perhaps your partner isn’t controlling because they’re a Leo, but instead developed this defense mechanism due to low self-esteem.

10

Illustration BY ALEAH GREEN

Stop using astrology as a replacement for making efforts to genuinely understand others. Make healthy communication a habit. There is always a deeper explanation for human behavior that usually stems from past experiences, not astrology.

Another issue I have with astrology is its extreme generalization. Even if it were a recognized science, no one group of people is going to behave a certain way. Science acknowledges that there is too much variation throughout even established and proved human behaviors to predict how a certain group of people will behave in any given situation. For example, not every introvert is going to have stage fright and not every extrovert takes

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

up public speaking as a hobby.

I can only imagine how many potential marriages or lifelong friendships will be overlooked in the name of astrology.

Although astrology is often taken too seriously, I think it is harmless when followed in moderation. Human behavior is extremely complex and difficult to unravel, yet understanding it is necessary for successful communication.

It’s no surprise that we gravitate toward something that can predict the unpredictable.

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Mac Miller, the media and mental health conversations Frank espinoza

M

ac Miller’s death was a sudden and shocking tragedy that left rap culture at a loss for words. Miller was a happy soul who invested himself into others. He helped artists at their most crucial beginnings. Sadly, with his death, his music endeavors were left unfinished.

The Mac Miller Estate has recently released a posthumous album titled “Circles” almost a year-and-a-half after his overdose Sept. 7, 2018.

This new album comes as a companion to his 2018 album “Swimming,” which dove into Miller’s mental health before his sudden death. “Circles” offers longtime fans a final goodbye and some resolution to Miller’s mental health.

Some of Miller’s early hits like “Party on Fifth Ave” and “Best Day Ever” labeled him as a middle-class white kid who could rap, party and pull women. This was his appeal to many of his fans.

His music could make any moment feel like a party.

Miller’s musical influence came at a time when sagging jeans and wearing a snapback hat backward was cool. However, Miller had the charisma that matched the style.

Miller wanted to grow, not just as a person but also in his music. On his album “Watching Movies with The Sound Off,” he’s credited as producer under the name Larry Fisherman. He had the intention to distance himself from being the same mainstream rapper fans were used to.

Later work like “Macadelic,” “Delusional Thomas” and “Faces” showcased his most creative and original side. Miller didn’t want listeners to think he would ever go back to his catchy songs. In “Here we go” from the album “Faces,” Miller sings that he “ain’t little Malcolm with the babyface anymore.”

Miller showed that he could grow with his music. No single album of his is similar to the other.

His progression from having a mainstream appeal to abstract rap, and finally R&B-inspired music showed that he was extremely versatile.

To show how great Miller was, Jay-Z, arguably the biggest and most respected rapper ever, tweeted that he liked Miller in 2017. To receive approval from someone who is the greatest of all time is probably the greatest compliment a rapper could get.

Many people don’t know that Miller helped Vince Staples and Chance the Rapper early in their careers.

He took them both on the road with him and even produced a mix-tape for Staples.

Like most celebrities, Miller had a dark side. He struggled with his fame and coped with drugs and alcohol.

Many rappers and celebrities get caught in this vicious cycle, but Miller had more going on that no one seemed to recognize as concerning or disturbing.

In March 2018, Miller and Ariana Grande broke up after

dating for three years. Two months later, in May 2018, Miller was charged with a DUI after crashing his G-Wagon into a utility pole and blowing twice the legal limit.

Many media outlets attributed this accident to his spiral of depression. With his death in September 2018, people flocked to social media to unfairly and publicly blame Grande for leaving Miller to fight his demons by himself.

However, this side of Miller wasn’t new. In his 2014 mixtape, “Faces,” Miller was open about his struggles with drug addiction, depression and fame. In that mixtape, Miller alluded to his fear of joining the 27 club, which is widely known as an abstract list of musicians who died of at age 27, such as singer Amy Winehouse and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

Miller likely wanted to address his problems

through his music to give himself therapeutic relief.

The music video for “Self Care” shows Miller literally in a coffin as a metaphor for his struggle to free himself.

In his album “Circles,” Miller spoke about how he wanted to break free from this cycle. He expressed idealistic views that he would change his life and that this was the most important moment in his life.

Unfortunately, fate and the darkness that had left him a tortured soul, brought Miller’s life to a different end. By all apperances, Miller was successful, rich and talented. This goes to show that happiness isn’t in wealth and fame, but in heart and mind.

Mental health is an extremely important topic that is mentioned in mainstream music to a degree, however, the amount of people who still suffer silently is a reality that I hope to see decline. Asking for help should be advocated for in the music industry before it loses more talented artists in vain.

Illustration By MADISON COHEN

JANUARY 30, 2020 – FEBRUARY 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

11

FEATURES

The plant people: A way of Alliya Dulaney

A

long time ago all the people of the world walked on the same path known as “Sa’ah Naagháí Bik’eh Hózhóón” or the cosmic road. This included the holy people, the spirit people, the plant people, the four-legged people, the people that lived in the water, the people that flew and the two-legged people.

On this road, there was only “Hozho,” happiness, beauty and harmony. One wasn’t superior to the other. This is the story of how the plant people became the foundation of life as told by Lorenzo Max, Navajo traditional elder and cultural adviser for NAU’s Applied Indigenous Studies department and Native American Cultural Center.

One day, the world gradually changed and simple life soon became harsh orders. All the people traveled on this road until they started to try to control and dominate one another. When they started to wander off the cosmic road, they came up with ways to hurt one another. One group would create some evil ailment or disease to inflict upon another group, and other groups would retaliate. Spiritual warfare had begun.

The plant people got together and they held a council on what to do. They decided they were going to try to undo what was created. The people had fallen off the cosmic road and had already opened their eyes to other things. Some plant people decided to become an antidote for the disease or evil that was created.

Others decided to be food to nourish the body to overcome the disease. The plant people then became “Azee,” medicine and food.

This story as told by Max explained a

12

major part of Native Americans’ relationship with plants.

“We don’t just call them plants, we call them people,” Max said. “They’re just like us. They’re important to us because if we follow the cosmic order of life as they do, then life would be great.

We would live a long, happy life.”

The plant people are idolized in the highest regard in Native American teachings, as they are the purest forms of life due to never veering off the cosmic path. Max said the cosmic path reflects the “Hozho” of the individual to its tribe, nature and the universe.

A traditional elder is a vessel of cultural knowledge. Elders like Max relay songs that come from ancestral lineage.

Some songs include, but are not limited to, aspects of nature such as the mountains, the thunder and the plant people. Each aspect has a male and female counterpart to induce balance in the universe.

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Knowledge of a culture is shared among Native Americans through storytelling. Senior Thalius Belinti of the Navajo Nation grew up learning about her culture through narratives.

“Most of the knowledge that I know was taught to me by my parents and grandparents,” Belinti said. “My father is very traditional and often participates in various ceremonies. Plants, especially those with supposed medicinal properties, are important during ceremonies.”

Max said ceremonies are practiced as a way of bringing balance and harmony back to an individual’s relationship with nature.

While ceremonies can be about the wind, the mountain or any part of nature, in the end, everything goes back to the plant people.

The practice of plants in ceremonies provides a medium for Native Americans to pray. Pollen is used for praying as it is the one substance in common among all plant people. Belinti said the prayers that are recited when the cedar burns carry wishes to their ancestors in the sky.

“We use the corn pollen, white c o r n , yellow corn

FEATURES

f life for Native Americans and cedar tobacco to pray with,” Max said. “Other indigenous people throughout the world do so as well. We pray through the plant people in our ceremonies. We don’t pray through the plant people in our ceremonies. We don’t pray through another human being because the human has already sinned.”

Kirstin Olmon Phillips, a botany collections manager at the Museum of Northern Arizona, curates the museum’s botanical collection of ethnobotanical herbarium specimens. The Museum of Northern Arizona has historical and current ethnobotanical collections from the Navajo Nation, Hopi, Havasupai, Hualapai and San Carlos Apache Tribes.

“We grow coyote tobacco at the museum and have received several requests from the Hopi to collect it to be used in their ceremonies,” Phillips said. “We have also received requests to gather Arroyo willow boughs, which also grows in the museum gardens.”

The plant people have many roles in Native American culture. A guide toward a balance in life is one purpose. Another is using the plant people as a way of healing. Max said the energy the plant people draw from resides in the Earth, known as “Inil tah nii,” the harvest girl. The harvest girl gives life to all different plants.

Max said the spiritual energy from the plant people provides unique healing properties. This spiritual energy is known as “Baa’ aa’h leel,’ Bee’ Des Lah’” and is present in all people. How the energy is used is dependent on the individual and dictates the choice to do harm or heal.

“Whenever I felt stuffy and was unable to breathe properly, my parents would encourage me to place my head over a pan of sagebrush and water,” Belinti said. “They would then add in a red hot rock from the outside stove and the mixture would immediately start steaming. I’d then cover my head with several towels to contain all the steam.”

Nikki Cooley of

the Diné Nation and co-manager of the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals said that plants are family. They view plants as relatives that heal, soothe, comfort and accompany individuals on their journey. Plants have always been viewed as relatives and not objects to treat carelessly.

Medicinal plants are an integral part of Native American culture. The connection between nature and the individual is a mutual relationship. Cooley said they believe to take from the Earth means to give back to the Earth.

“The larger university community, especially students, need to be aware of how important plants are,” Cooley said. “They are not objects to use and discard but rather respect by taking the time to understand, respect and ensure the longevity for future generations to learn about.”

Max said with climate change being more prominent, the ability to find such plants for ceremonies is more difficult than ever. Max had been searching for a specific plant on the mountains that used to grow in large patches years ago but said he was only able to find one this year.

Confronting this challenge has made preserving Native American culture more difficult. Cooley said that plants deserve the utmost respect. Actions such as not stomping on plants, over-harvesting and writing on trees can help to preserve plants.

“Knowledge of plants and their uses is becoming lost,” Phillips said. “Traditional knowledge is not being passed down, so now people are no longer able to identify the common trees, grasses and flowers that grow in their neighborhood.”

Max said that everything revolves around the plant people in every ceremony, so much so that at the end of every song or prayer all things tie to the center of the cornfield, the main stalk of life.

“Plants represent resilience despite the past and current repetitive efforts to assimilate and whitewash the Native American culture,” Cooley said. “Plants have provided hope, which has long been a symbol of prosperity and love.”

The relationship between Native Americans and the plant people is that of a unique connection. The plant people represent a way of life as well as a means of healing and balance. They represent a culture that values its relationship with the land and its relatives.

“Plants have provided hope, which has long been a symbol of prosperity and love.”

– Nikki Cooley, co-manager of the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals

Illustrations By Tonesha Yazzie

JANUARY 30, 2020 – FEBRUARY 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

13

FEATURES

Big brothers big sisters helps Flagstaff’s youth Tess Stafford

F

or the past 53 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff has been supporting and mentoring children within the community. The organization helps cultivate lasting relationships between children known as littles and adult volunteers known as bigs. While many people are aware of the non-profit, the Flagstaff chapter benefits the community more than most locals know.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff currently oversees four mentoring programs: Community Based mentoring, School Based mentoring, Step Up mentoring and Bigs in Badges. Each program creates a unique experience for the child involved.

Community-based mentoring involves an individual match between a little and a big.

Volunteers make a one-year commitment to their little and typically spend time with them once a week. Volunteer and board member Jill Navran said the matching process is unique in itself, as the company considers compatibility between the pair.

“I think a lot goes into that process,” Navran said. “So, we have professional people in these roles to match [mentors to children].”

Employees of the organization do

everything possible to ensure success within the matches. This includes match support, which allows employees to check in with each match monthly to make sure the pair are spending time together and building a relationship.

School-based mentoring is similar to community-based mentoring in that there are individual matches, however, the littles and bigs spend time together at the child’s elementary school. It is offered during the fall and spring as a 10-week program.

The most unique program offered by the Flagstaff chapter is Step Up mentoring. This program allows volunteers to work with kids at the Coconino County Juvenile Court. CEO and executive director Kelly Elliott said group mentoring allows children to create connections with their community and their peers.

“The whole goal of it is to reduce their recidivism rates,” Elliott said. “They’re less likely to reoffend if they’re more connected to their community. Ninety percent of the kids that are in the group for one year do not reoffend.”

Recently, the chapter introduced a new program called Bigs in Badges. Similar to how it sounds, volunteers in this program are public servants who wear a uniform. This includes police officers, paramedics and forest service employees.

Magazines and pamphlets are laid out on a table in the entryway of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Flagstaff, Jan. 23. Shannon Swain | The Lumberjack

14

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

The Big Brothers Big Sisters building in Flagstaff, Jan. 23. Shannon Swain | The Lumberjack

While the mentoring encourages children to make smart and valuable life decisions, the top priority is to foster a long-lasting and priceless bond between the little and the big.

Typically, everyday activities help create a wonderful relationship.

“Really, I’ve seen kids be truly changed by just doing normal things with their big like going on a hike or going even to the grocery store together, or making brownies,” Elliott said.

“Normal things that you’re already doing that you could incorporate your little could truly impact their lives.”

Elliott said many of the kids involved in the Flagstaff chapter come from single-parent homes. The children value having someone they can depend on outside of their family. Navaran agreed that having an outside support system is vital to the kids’ success.

“I think it makes a difference to kids to know that there are adults who want to be a part of their lives,” Navran said.

While the organization impacts Flagstaff’s youth immensely, it also benefits adults in the community. Volunteers are often presented with experiences they may not have at other organizations.

The Flagstaff chapter is also unique as far as volunteers. Due to a large population of college students in Flagstaff, many of the bigs

also attend NAU. This provides an irreplaceable experience for the students and, in some cases, helps fulfill their education requirements. Volunteer and board member Rommy Sekhon said some NAU students choose to carry out their internships at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff.

“I got involved when I was a student at NAU. I was in the College of Ed[ucation] and I needed certain volunteer hours,” Sekhon said.

“Big Brothers was one of the agencies I was allowed to do those hours with.”

Sekhon has been working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff ever since his involvement in college. His participation in the program helped him find passion in what he does.

He said he was inspired to become a mentor to give kids a figure to look up to, like he had as a child. Although volunteers are only required to commit to the organization for a year, they often stay much longer. The rewarding experience tends to leave people wanting more.

Many one-on-one matches last throughout adolescence and even continue after the little has turned 18. Matches stay in contact through social media, texting and spending time together in person.

“I’ve mentored multiple kids through the Step Up mentoring program and I’m still in touch with a lot of those adults now,” Navran

Right: Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer and board member Jill Navran poses for a portrait, Jan. 23. Left: Hand-painted bird feeders are hung in a tree outside of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Flagstaff, Jan. 23. Shannon Swain | The Lumberjack

said. “They started as kids and now they have kids of their own and I still see them. We go out to lunch and they keep in touch with me when they need something. They always know they can call.”

Sekhon said he imagined only volunteering for one year and before he knew it, he had already been there for 12. Sekhon said time seems to go quickly at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff.

He often contemplates how unbelievable it is to see his littles now.

“I saw [my little] about a month ago,” Sekhon said. “He works for a distribution

company. I mean he drives a giant truck, which is crazy. Yeah, he went from a kid who was, like, 8 to a truck driver.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff works hard to create a community that nurtures the children. While the primary goal may be to ensure safety and happiness, the organization narrows in on building a future for each child.

“The best thing we can do for the future is to make sure that our kids are on the right path,” Elliott said. “We know that by providing them with a positive adult role model, they’re going to do better in school. They’re going to stay away

from drugs and alcohol. So, I think I just want them to be successful in whatever that looks like for them.”

Diversity among children is an important focus at the Flagstaff chapter. As Navran explained, the matching process of bigs and littles connects each match that has common interests and personalities.

Embracing differences enables an individualized approach to success for every little. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff values the future of the community, part of which is its youth.

“Changing the life of one kid or making them feel like they’re special can end up changing the lives of futures down the road because they are the future,” Navran said.

With dedicated employees and volunteers, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff is an organization that provides a valuable service to the Flagstaff community. Sekhon said the chapter has a family-like feel that keeps adults and kids involved for years. The organization is currently looking for more volunteers. Information about the program can be found on its website.

JANUARY 30, 2020 – FEBRUARY 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

15

CULTURE

The Odegaards seem to keep thriving Lisa Hall

The “Unbelievable” truth

H

ard to watch? Yes. Emotionally draining? Yes. Distasteful? No. Completely worth it? Yes. The Netflix original “Unbelievable” debuted in September 2019.

However, it wasn’t until the weekend before school that I devoured the eight one-hour-long episodes in one day.

The show unfolds as the viewers watch two different timelines: one in Colorado and one in Washington.

The Colorado timeline is that of two female detectives putting everything they have into catching a serial rapist.

The Washington timeline is the hard one to watch. Well, let’s be honest, when watching a show about the hunt of a serial rapist, nothing is easy. My point is, the story unfolding in Washington was absolutely soul-crushing to watch.

The viewers meet a rape victim by the name of BAILEY HELTON Marie Adler. If you know anything about that name you EDITOR-IN-CHIEF would know that in 2015, T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong wrote the true account, which this series was based on, “An unbelievable story of rape.” When Adler went to tell detectives and law enforcement about the trauma she had just experienced, she was met with the shocking reality of them thinking it was all a lie. This is something I have witnessed first hand and, unfortunately, is something that is still occurring.

Saying that I was captivated by this show is an understatement. My favorite part, what made me keep selecting “next episode,” was the perseverance showed by the female detectives. When Adler told the cops, two males, about what happened, she wasn’t believed. She was questioned while trying to relive her personal nightmare. On the flip side, when the female detectives met their victim, everything was different. Their voices were soft, they were supportive and they were comforting — something Adler’s detectives lacked.

The female detectives made everything worth it. We saw these two women go days without sleeping. We saw the passion. We saw the rawness of their desperation to catch this man that was committing awful acts. They showed us everything and to be honest, they instilled hope. Hope that maybe there are still law enforcement officials that care that much about doing right by the public.

I won’t spoil how this story ended, but what I cannot stress to you enough is that if there’s anything to learn from this miniseries, it’s that victims need support and need to be believed.

I’ll leave you with this: If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, there are resources available to help. Students can make an incident report through the Office of the Dean of Students or the NAU Police Department. Another resource always available is the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673).

16

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

M

om and pop shops are somewhat hard to find nowadays, but Odegaard’s Sewing Center is just around the corner. For those who do not know, Flagstaff City councilmember Charlie Odegaard is the third-generation owner of Odegaard’s Sewing Center. The sewing center offers a variety of classes for inexperienced and experienced sewers.

The most popular class offered is the Saturday Sampler. It is a class with an upfront cost and on the last Saturday of each month, sewers learn to make a block. By the end of the year, they have a finished quilt. Odegaard said the sewing center is known for a cycle of selling, servicing and instructing.

Odegaard’s Sewing Center is located at 2109 N. Fourth St., across from Fratelli Pizza. Inside, customers will find a large selection of fabrics, threads, sewing machines, needles and anything else a novice or expert sewer might need. The employees in the store are only concerned with helping the customers and creating the best sewing experience.

“Pay attention to every customer … you touch base with every person, even if you’re running crazy busy, you still say, ‘Hello, I’m here if you need me,’” employee Ruth Dolin said.

Odegaard’s Sewing Center was opened in 1969 by Odegaard’s grandparents. Odegaard may not have been expecting to be a third-generation store owner when the business started, but he and his employees help him keep operations running smoothly. Odegaard gave credit to many people who help him run the shop.

“My grandmother and grandfather both worked here. My grandpa was the sales guy and my grandma was the repair person,” Odegaard said. “It’s still a very momand-pop type of family business.”

He said his dad works at the shop four to five days a week and Odegaard himself works six. His wife, mother and several employees also assist in running the shop.

Upon entering the store people are greeted by many employees and every sewer’s needs are met. Someone might be looking for a specific material that is not sold anywhere else, perhaps leather, and they will likely find it at Odegaard’s. If someone is just looking to get their sewing machine fixed, the sewing center offers same-day services. The employees and owner go above and beyond for their customers, and try to accommodate any and all needs.

“The store is rooted in traditions of hard work and trying to provide the best customer service,” Odegaard said.

Ruth Dicob, a current volunteer teacher at Odegaard’s, started by buying her sewing supplies from the store. After her retirement, she decided to start teaching there for fun. She teaches the Saturday Sampler, and other quilting and technique classes. “[Odegaard] keeps saying, ‘I’m going to retire one of

these days and I don’t see that happening,” Dicob said. “I think he enjoys the people too much.”

People from all over northern Arizona come to Odegaard’s for its services. People from Page, Arizona, Prescott, Sedona, Phoenix and even Tucson visit Odegaard’s. The sewing center offers same day servicing because Odegaard said it wouldn’t be fair, especially to out-of-towners, to make them drive to Flagstaff to drop off their machine and make that drive again in a week. The consideration for people’s time really makes a difference for everyone who comes into Odegaard’s, creating a loyal customer relationship.

Odegaard has lived in Flagstaff for over 30 years and also attended NAU. He knows a lot about the community and is currently running for mayor of Flagstaff. Being a business owner, councilmember and mayoral candidate, one might wonder how Odegaard is able to juggle so many tasks at once.

“Yes, it’s challenging to find that balance but I seem to make it work,” Odegaard said.

Odegaard worked at the sewing center in his youth, doing small tasks for his grandmother like fetching yarn.

He said he started working at the sewing center full time when he was about 20 years old. The cycle of selling, servicing and instructing has been strong in the Odegaard family, and they have set a standard of consistency over generations. In the future, it looks like the shop will stay rooted in the city, leaving customers satisfied through attentiveness.

Thread is being fed into a sewing machine at Odegaard’s Sewing Center, Jan. 25.

Morgan Fisher | The Lumberjack

CULTURE

Professor by day, actor by night Katelyn Rodriguez

M

ichael Rulon is not the average NAU professor. He works in the Department of Global Languages and Cultures where he teaches French and world cinema, however, he is also an actor at Theatrikos Theatre Company in downtown Flagstaff. Rulon has been teaching at NAU for over six years and has been a vital part of Theatrikos since 2016.

Theatrikos is Flagstaff’s oldest running theater company. It has been around since 1972 and was previously known as The Flagstaff Playhouse and the Doris HarperWhite Playhouse. Theatrikos is almost entirely staffed by volunteers and produces six main stage productions a year, as well as numerous TheatriKids productions.

Rulon has been acting since he was cast as child No. 1 in his third grade production of “A Cause for Mrs. Claus.” He said his performances have been kind of sporadic since then, but he tried to remain involved with acting in high school and college. However, when Rulon was in graduate school, his passion for acting took a backseat until he came to Flagstaff.

“I took many, many years off because grad school doesn’t leave time for anything,” Rulon said. “When I got to Flagstaff, I made friends with some people at Theatrikos, and went and saw a few of their shows. I auditioned for “The Mousetrap” because there was a role in the play that I had wanted since I was 12. That’s when I decided I was going to make time for theater again.”

Since getting the role of Paravicini in “The Mousetrap,” Rulon has been in 13 additional productions at Theatrikos. Rulon said he did not act in all of these productions, but served as a director in two of them, as well as stage manager and sound and projection in the booth during two other performances. He also served as chair of the artistic committee in 2019 and is serving as its liaison this year. In addition to other tasks, Rulon said the artistic committee decides what plays will be performed each season.

Rulon enjoys acting because of the selfexploration that comes with it, as well as the ability to play someone completely different from himself.

“You get to be someone else and that allows you to explore sides of yourself that you don’t usually let out, and it lets you understand yourself a bit more,” Rulon said. “Every character I’ve ever played — even ones who are so different from me — they’ve become a part of me.”

When it comes to his teaching, Rulon said acting has definitely helped him in the classroom.

He said he used to be a shy individual, but acting training helped him learn how to project his voice, have a presence within the classroom, make eye contact and to improvise.

Rulon’s passion for teaching stems from the ability to make a difference in his students’ lives. Rulon said he hopes he has more students who feel his positive impact than those who feel a negative influence. Rulon also said his students know of his acting hobby and a few have attended productions he’s been in.

Flagstaff local Amelia Swann works as a contract archivist for Cline Library’s special collections and archives. She has been a peer of Rulon’s for four years and they were both cast in “The Mousetrap” in 2016. Swann also currently serves as co-chair on Theatrikos’ artistic committee.

Swann said Rulon is very loyal, compassionate and extremely honest. She also

said he has helped her when it comes to her theater performances.

“In regards to the theater, Michael has helped me develop the confidence I needed to direct, as well as take over the responsibility of artistic committee chair,” Swann said. “He also was a superb chair himself, and really worked hard to maintain the integrity, quality and artistic vision of Theatrikos.”

In addition to both of them being castmates and being on the artistic committee together, Swann said she has had the opportunity to direct Rulon in a show and he has also served as her stage manager when she has directed. She also said he is a lot of fun to work with and his stage presence and energy are tremendous.

NAU alumni Issi Fried knew Rulon from their time on campus where they would have conversations in the Babbitt Academic Annex on the way to class. Fried said they didn’t really get to know Rulon until they auditioned for “The Legend of Georgia McBride” at Theatrikos.

Fried said Rulon never failed to help pick them up when times got tough and that he reminded them of their potential while pushing Fried to recognize the hard work they were doing. Fried also said Rulon’s positive and easygoing personality makes him stand out from others.

“Michael is a great confidant when you need a sympathetic person to hear you out,” Fried said. “He’s not afraid to put his foot down and tell you what you need to hear to get better, even if you don’t want to hear it.”

Fried said Rulon brings his brightness and humor into his performances and that they look forward to working with him again when they get the chance.

This year, Rulon plans to take a step back from acting in productions, but still plans to be active with Theatrikos through directing productions and his position on the artistic committee.

A portrait of Micheal Rulon, a professor who spends his spare time acting at Theatrikos Theatre Company in Flagstaff, Jan. 25.

Taylor Schwartz-Olson | The Lumberjack

JANUARY 30, 2020 – FEBRUARY 5, 2020| THE LUMBERJACK

17

CULTURE

Six consecutive years of Rumble on the Mountain Gabrielle Huberty

R

umble on the Mountain is an annual event created to educate the community and celebrate Flagstaff’s neighboring tribes. This year’s edition was held Saturday at the Museum of Northern Arizona and was open to all ages.

Local organizations and community members came together to produce this event in an effort to bring attention to issues local tribes are facing, as well as recognizing the cultural background of Flagstaff.

Ed Kabotie, a Native American artist and activist, aided in much of the production of this year’s event.

His ideas are embedded in Rumble on the Mountain, as it works to unite the community through cultivating cultural awareness. Kabotie was also the event’s organizer.

“We have both the need and ability to foster understanding between native and non-native communities,” Kabotie said.

Organizations like the Sierra Club and the Committee Against Mining in the Grand Canyon Region worked together to speak out on the negative environmental and cultural implications of mining and expansion near, or on, sacred tribal lands.

Students in NAU’s CommunityUniversity Public Inquiry Program were also participants in the event by assisting and speaking between performances.

Native cultural dances performed by the Hopi Hooyapi Dance Group, musical talent from Ed Kabotie & Tha ‘Yoties and Sage Bond brought light to the captivating performance arts of local tribe traditions.

The event displayed a variety of artwork produced by Native Americans including photographs, sketches and paintings. The show highlighted Jerrel Singer, who produced live art during the presentations and performances.

Singer’s artwork was available to be won through a raffle and proceeds were donated to KUYI Hopi Radio.

Rumble on the Mountain brings in people from Flagstaff and

18

Top: Young dancers from the Hopi Hooypi dance group perform at the sixth annual Rumble on the Mountain held at the Museum of Northern Arizona, Jan 25. Bottom: Jerrell Singer demonstrates his painting during the sixth annual Rumble on the Mountain . Megan Ford-Fyffe | The Lumberjack

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

CULTURE

Left: Andre Lomaintewa performs with the Hopi Hooypi dance group at the sixth annual Rumble on the Mountain, Jan. 25. Right: The hallway leading to the sixth annual Rumble on the Mountain displays information about the indigenous tribes being celebrated, Jan. 25. Megan Ford-Fyffe | The Lumberjack

surrounding tribal villages to engage community members in a discussion about the Native American experience in northern Arizona. It continues to attract people each year as it works to create an understanding of the issues tribes and their lands are burdened by.

The event holds the opportunity for citizens to enact change and explore ways to make the community a better place.

Not only was the event a cultural insight, but educational speakers also brought light to the future environmental ramifications caused by mining and development in the Grand Canyon area. The Sierra Club focused on fighting industrial building that affects traffic, wildlife, and forests and parks. The Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter is actively working against building on the Grand

Canyon’s southern doorstep due to lack of water supply, government services and the negative effects it would pose for the environment.

The Sierra Club and other organizations involved in the event informed attendees about the threats produced from uranium mining.

The mining can generate significant issues for the groundwater supply in the Grand Canyon area. The Sierra Club stresses this issue due to the inability to fix groundwater after it is contaminated by uranium. Uranium mining in this area is also within Red Butte Traditional Cultural Property.

This land area holds significant religious and cultural importance to neighboring tribes, especially the Havasupai tribe.

Local author Sarah Weatherby addressed these native land claims in

her speech.

“It’s worth mentioning that the Hopi tribe did try to claim a nondiversionary or non-consumptive to keep water flowing in the lower [Little Colorado River (LCR)] gorge because of the areas cultural and religious significance,” Weatherby said. “But the claim was not quantified. Simply put, a number was not given to the amount of water needed to sustain the lower LCR’s various springs and as a result, the court did not award rights.”

As the speakers addressed each issue, they created a connection between tribal and non-tribal individuals. They explored these common issues between communities to bring individuals together. Rumble on the Mountain brings together the community through creating a unique learning environment that

expresses ideas and problems that are bigger than one group.

Alicyn Gitlin, a coordinator for Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter, explained how the event continues to draw in a large audience annually.

“It has been kind of a magical thing I have been trying to figure out for years, for every event we run,” Gitlin said. “It’s a really unique place where people really interact. So, it’s not like going to a lecture where you’re just getting what’s presented, but I feel like the people who are here are interested in engaging in a different way.”

The significance of Rumble on the Mountain is discovered by hearing activists speak out on the issues facing Native American members of the community. The emotions brought out by the facts displayed in the

presentations were brought to life by traditional performances and art.

Rumble on the Mountain illustrated the intertwining of the native communities surrounding Flagstaff.

This event returned to Flagstaff for its sixth year due to its success in the community.

“Part of it is the reaching of new people, but part of it is also building a community among artists, musicians, elders and activists,” Gitlin said.

Rumble on the Mountain continues to be a way for indigenous peoples and others to join together in an effort to make Flagstaff and its neighboring tribes better understand each other. Rumble on the Mountain continues to connect the community through education and cultural celebration.

JANUARY 30, 2020 – FEBRUARY 5, 2020| THE LUMBERJACK

19

SPORTS

Passion for the game over paycheck

W

inning the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup, the World Series or the NBA Finals is a huge accomplishment and goal for most athletes. However, it seems like the passion for these sports is dwindling as players’ focus turns to earning a higher salary instead of winning a championship.

With the NFL, playoffs can be an intense time for teams, especially for those who are expected to make it. Teams such as the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers have all built big franchises in the league. The players on these teams, however, are used to this now. They expect the brand deals, the fame and the money that comes with being on a competitive team. Being on pro teams comes with benefits but these KRISTEN CHANCELLOR players aren’t focused on the game, only the profit.

WRITER With these sports, the lack of passion has caused the games to seem repetitive and predictable. The players are continuing to play the game because they are contracted to and for the fame that comes with it. Most people want to be famous and be in the spotlight, which these athletes get to experience.

With fame comes fans of all ages. These athletes have an effect on these fans that can result in mimicked behavior. If the fans can tell that players are losing interest, then it can result in loss of fan engagement, which brings in revenue for teams.

Money is a huge part of the game because players undergo strenuous mental and physical health problems throughout their careers. Like these athletes, students go through emotional and mental difficulties with financial decisions as well. Being a student, you are constantly having to worry about paying for classes and where to live. Students often choose college based on the school that will provide the most financial aid. A lot of NAU students have come here due to good scholarship options, but have lost interest in the school because they didn’t have the passion to come here; it just led to the most financial benefit.

Athletes lean on one another for support and courage during games but if the teammates have the same mentality of showing up for the paycheck — than the team won’t succeed. It is common for teams to get stuck in their own head on success or failure, which can lead to the mental exhaustion players feel.

While there are some players who are truly in it for the game and their long-time passion, it is becoming transparent who is playing to earn the most before their careers end.

The less interested players seem, the fewer fans will want to see them play. Fans can tell by watching games that players show up, but are checked out. While in some players it is clear they are in it for the game and love of the sport, others seem to show up to collect a check at each game.

Finding a new home in Flagstaff CRISTIANA RAMOS

N

AU has done its part to promote diversity and inclusion on its campus, with more and more students traveling hundreds of miles to make a name for themselves. In this instance, NAU Athletics has taken a step forward to show diversity, and this time it is on the basketball court.

Freshman forward Sanjana “Sanj” Ramesh, from India, is the first international player to be recruited for the NAU women’s basketball team. She likes the excitement she gets when watching a scary movie, much like the way her heart pounds with enthusiasm when dribbling a basketball down the court.

She often spends her spare time watching movies featured at the NAU Prochnow Auditorium. Film fascinates Ramesh — the process of making films and the creativity behind the storylines.

Although Ramesh is majoring in business management, she is taking a creative media and film class called Introduction to Documentary Studies with professor Mark Ford. In this class, students analyze documentaries and write creatively to help them gain an understanding of filmmaking. Ford said he appreciates the diverse perspectives she brings to the class.

“She tends to go above and beyond what I ask of the students,” Ford said. “She is not afraid to show me she is willing to do work ... I am really thankful to actually have her in the class.”

Ramesh loves to talk with and meet new people. She liked to put herself out there even if she was unfamiliar with her surroundings, especially when ESPN came calling in 2018.

“Being on the big screen is almost every child’s dream and Sanj was meant to be in that spotlight,” NAU women’s basketball head coach Loree Payne said. “She sure didn’t mind all the news stories being written about her on ESPN or in [The Times of India]. She was already living a life you’d see right out of a movie.”

Ramesh was born in Chennai, South India and moved to

the state of West Bengal. Ramesh is one of those people who could try anything and be good at it; she is a natural-born athlete. Throughout her childhood, she played soccer, tennis and badminton. However, going into high school there wasn’t a soccer team, which was unfortunate or it was just fate. Basketball looked like an interesting sport but she never played a day in her life, so she decided to give that old basketball a bounce. Back then, she didn’t know that the decision was going to change her life. Within the next four years, she became NAU’s first international women’s basketball recruit and only the second India-born female player to ever be offered an NCAA Division I scholarship.

“I think the biggest thing for her is her potential,” Payne said. “This is a 6-foot kid [who] can get up and down the floor, [and] can get up and touch the rim.”

During the dog days of summer, Payne wasn’t kicking her feet in the blue saltwater of the Bahamas. Instead, she was traveling across the country trying to find her next MVP. She was contacted by a former colleague named Blair Hardiek, one of the global technical directors for the NBA Academy Women’s Programs. Hardiek worked with Ramesh when she attended one of the NBA camps in Asia. Refusing to let another team scoop Ramesh up, Payne stayed in touch with Ramesh through video calls over the months leading up to the recruitment process and signing day. The sun peaked from the horizon wishing Ramesh a good morning while her eyes struggled to open. That’s until she got the call from Payne.

“I was really tired, but when she called me I was so energized and ready for the day,” Ramesh said. “A month later she offered, and I couldn’t believe it.”

Without hesitation, Ramesh accepted her first college basketball offer to play on the NAU women’s basketball team. At 17 years old, she packed her bags and moved 8,000 miles away from home to chase her dreams.

Freshman forward Sanjana Ramesh dribbles the ball up the court in a game against Northern Colorado University, Jan. 18.

Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics.

20

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

SPORTS “I remember telling myself, ‘OK I’m going to go in a month, I’m going to go in two months, I’m going to be there in a few months,’” Ramesh said. “Now that I’m here, I still can’t believe it.

Honestly, it’s a surreal moment.”

Despite it being a surreal moment, Ramesh was alone in an unfamiliar land where the stars shined brighter than the sun and snow fell during winter. She didn’t have her little brother, mother or father to come home to after practice.

Ramesh and her mother were close, even closer than the nine months she spent in her mother’s womb. Leaving her family wasn’t the easiest decision to make, but they remained supportive of her dreams.

“My family isn’t very emotional, but they were happy for me and supported what I wanted to do,” Ramesh said.

She didn’t have the spices and flavors of the food she was used to eating. The only food she dared to try was the juicy, peelable and crispy chicken strips from Raising Cane’s three-finger combo meal. Everything was different.

Basketball in the United States was much different than what she learned in India.

Ramesh caught the ball, dribbled it through her legs and around her teammate into the paint. Just as she was about to make the jump shot, she plunged to the floor. She got back up with a dissapointed look and said “sorry.” The pressure can get to her head sometimes. Like the movie stars she looked up to, she kept herself motivated because she knows there’s a lot of young women back home she wants to inspire.

Her journey is still in the beginning stages and being in an unfamiliar place was scary at first. Regardless, Ramesh’s positive attitude has helped her transition become easier and has left a mark on her team.

“She’s super fun. She’s very positive. Her attitude is always on point,” senior guard Caitlin Malvar said. “I’ve never heard her complain.

I’ve never heard her say anything negative.

Having her around makes us not take things for granted.”

Payne said that not only was Ramesh’s attitude infectious, but the flu season was no match against her contagious smile. She could light up an entire room if she tried with the flash of a single tooth; she never stopped smiling.

That’s why it was effortless in helping her feel more at home and a part of the team.

“Our team is very, very welcoming and they were excited,” Payne said. “The team got to talk to her through FaceTime a few times before she got here, so already building that relationship.”

Payne blew hard into the whistle during practice. The sound echoed from every corner of the court. Malvar passed the ball to Ramesh.

Ramesh leapt into the air on one foot, lifting the ball like a lion cub and gently placing it into its crib. Teammates yelled “Yes, Sanj! There you go!” Malvar reached her hand out to give Ramesh a high-five. The two stood on the side of the court, as Ramesh nodded her head and Malvar whispered words into her ear.

“For her, everything she is going through this year is a learning experience,” Malvar said.

“So, as upperclassmen and a leader on the team, I think it’s important that I’m one of those people who she can look to and lean on if she needs help.”

Payne has shown Ramesh a lot of encouragement, as well as her teammates, by believing in her talent as a ballplayer. Less than

a year ago Ramesh tore her ACL during a game and she began to worry about her basketball career with NAU. “[Payne] reassured me she still wanted me and they are very supportive, making sure I had everything I needed,” Ramesh said.

Her skills as a player are still developing, but she has plenty of time to shed her cocoon, spread her wings and fly.

“She’s a very athletic player who we felt we could develop throughout her career here,” Payne said.

Ramesh joined the roars and approving claps of the crowd. Walking out of the auditorium doors, she gasped at the sight of the stars in the blackened night sky. Her experiences in the U.S. are different from her life in India, but two instances remain consistent and familiar to Ramesh: The overwhelming comfort she had when watching scary films and the roundness of a basketball. Both reminded her she wasn’t too much of a stranger in this unfamiliar place after all. She was, in a sense, home.

Campus ice rink construction back on track Johnny crane

F

or sports fans, nothing can be more irritating than a referee blowing their whistle to halt a team’s momentum. A drive might look promising until it is whistled back to where the play started.

This feeling of frustration can apply to the NAU ice rink construction project.

With countless delays, it was easy to wonder whether a rink on campus would ever become a reality. However, Kris Walsh, the IceJacks director of hockey, said the ice rink on campus is back on track and that it could be completed by the end of the year.

“Tentatively we have been told by NAU leadership that the project will be completed by August [or] September of 2020,” Walsh said.

The ice rink will be located in the University Union Fieldhouse on north campus. The Division II and III NAU IceJacks currently practice and play at the Jay Lively Center, located 2.2 miles off campus. Walsh said $4.5 million has been dedicated to completing the project.

To complete the project, Walsh said the university has requested the NAU hockey club to donate $130,000 to help to complete rink amenities. These amenities include team benches, penalty benches, protective netting and glass for the boards.

Additional amenities, including public restrooms and locker rooms, will also need to be completed.

Other hockey specific items will also be a leading conversation over the coming months, along with possible transportation of the equipment to Flagstaff.

“There will be several items that will need to be purchased, but those have not been determined yet,” Walsh said.

With the rink scheduled to be completed in less than a year, puck drops, bodies skating and crowds cheering will soon become a regularity on campus. Even still, past issues have occurred that have delayed the rink from being completed.

A project countlessly iced, but not terminated Ryan Haar, the NAU IceJacks Division III head coach and Jay Lively Activity Center rink manager, heard rumblings of an ice rink on campus when he was an IceJacks player. The idea of not having to traverse off campus was great on paper because it would be a closer commute from class to the rink.

Haar said fundraising drives for the rink had gained traction and the rink was planned to be completed by October 2018.

As the team started to get funds to help build the rink in the Fieldhouse, everything looked to be going smoothly. Despite this, the project kept getting pushed back year after year.

“Pretty much every year after that they pushed it back a year just because we did not have enough money available,” Haar said.

“I do not know too much about it, but it sounded like the hockey club needed NAU support and NAU needed money from the hockey club.”

The stalling of the rink project caused outside donors to shy away. A project that had quickly gained traction was getting iced into another failed project that would only live on through the dreams of players and fans alike.

“Last year, there was a possible donation of $50,000 from the Arizona Coyotes that fell through due to the rink project being

NAU j unior forward Alex Shupe shoots the puck at the ASU goaltender during the hockey game Saturday, February 2, 2018.

Matthew Strissel | The Lumberjack

JANUARY 30, 2020 – FEBRUARY 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

21

SPORTS stalled out,” Walsh said. “When we picked up the pieces this fall, the funding was already allocated to the state organizations and we missed out.”

Additional problems that have led to delays have included the transformation of the Fieldhouse into a building that can house a functional ice rink. This includes fulfilling the lower temperature requirements needed to operate a rink.

For Thomas Eberly, the executive director of campus services and activities, the goal has been to complete an engineering design that maximizes sustainability and efficiency.

However, the university was unable to meet these fulfillments.

“In the end, the combo project was not going to yield the return needed to make sense from an energy efficiency standpoint, but the process to determine the path forward was complex and took significant time nonetheless,” Eberly said.

Despite this substantial roadblock, the project looks to be gaining ground toward a solution. The Fieldhouse Multipurpose Facility (FMF) is looking to use the North Plant space to help accommodate the lower temperatures needed to sustain ice on the rink. The North Plant is located next to the Fieldhouse.

“Progress on the FMF is currently focused on the design of space in the North Plant to accommodate a new, low-temperature chiller that is needed to serve as the refrigeration equipment to create ice for an ice rink in the

FMF, associated supply and return lines between the North Plant and the FMF, and a seasonal ice rink in the FMF,” Eberly said.

Rink benefits are aplenty Logistical and physical issues have arisen with the Jay Lively Center being the rink where the IceJacks practice and play. The Jay Lively Center is a 10-minute commute on a good day and potentially a 20-minute commute on a bad one. Not all players on the team possess a vehicle, so carpooling must happen.

At times, even carpooling can be a struggle, especially once winter kicks into gear and snow starts falling. For Division III defenseman and captain Larry Yancy, commuting from campus to the rink in these conditions is dangerous.

“The major problem is that when it snows, there are high possibilities for people to slide off the roads and have serious injuries,” Yancy said.

Even without these problems, logistical issues are still prevalent, with some players having late classes that overlap with the IceJacks practice schedule.

“When we were practicing Tuesdays and Thursdays, we had a couple of kids who had class until 9:30 on Tuesday night and they would not show up to practice until close to 10:00. So, 45 minutes late,” Haar said. “Same on Thursdays.”

One benefit of a new rink is an easier commute to and from classes to practice. With a rink on campus, better commuting is possible, which alleviates potential travel concerns with

weather and also means players will be able to show up to practice earlier. However, one of the primary benefits with a rink on campus would be better ice-time availability for both club teams.

The Jay Lively Center has to schedule ice times for club teams in addition to other programs and teams across town. The priority ice time goes to youth programs and high school teams to make sure neither groups are out late at night.

“Once we move on campus, the ice time should be more available … we should be getting priority ice slots, so right now ideally, we would practice at 6 a.m. every single morning because the first class in college is not until 8 a.m.,” Haar said. “So, if we practiced at 6 a.m. there is no reason everyone can’t get there and it is on campus, so you can shower up at the rink and then go to class right after.”

With more suitable ice times on campus, mandatory morning practices coupled with other skate times for the team could be possible, creating an increased opportunity for more practices that do not conflict with classes.

Perhaps the biggest benefit for the club teams would be the increased publicity and possibility of both club teams being promoted.

“This rink will bring the IceJacks club to a whole new level,” Walsh said. “We will be recruiting some really great talent with the upgraded facility plans and that could propel us to the next level. There are plans to move the

Photo illustration showing the plans for the proposed NAU ice rink in the current Fieldhouse.|Lightvox Studio

22

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

two teams up in divisions once we move into the facility.”

Even with the new rink benefiting the club teams, it would not solely be used for hockey games and club teams. It would also be used for other activities students, organizations and clubs want to take part in. This makes the new rink an attraction every student at NAU can enjoy and be a part of.

Yancy said a new rink would only heighten the experience for upcoming students and current ones.

“I believe having a rink on campus will open up opportunities for not just the hockey team but also public skating options for freshmen, job opportunities and different on-ice clubs,” Yancy said. “The rink on campus would be the most beneficial thing for all aspects of NAU really contributing to the Lumberjack experience.”

With the new rink on track to be completed in less than a year, there is room for excitement, not only for the university but for the city as a whole. This excitement for hockey with a new rink could create endless bonds and relationships with the club teams, student body and city.

“It will be truly awesome to see the president of the university drop the first ever puck at the Fieldhouse with a packed crowd to watch NAU hockey,” Walsh said. “It would be awesome to witness and be part of. I am an NAU alumnus and it is so cool to see where the university and the club have come. Hopefully, we can continue to build this unique relationship.”

Men’s basketball takes down the Vikings 84-82

Left: Senior forward Brooks DeBisschop (22) slams the ball at the Walkup Skydome against Portland State, Jan. 25. Top Right: Redshirt sophomore Nik Mains (15), redshirt freshman Keith Haymon (13) and redshirt sophomore Luke Avdalovic (21) celebrate victory against Portland State, Jan. 25. Bottom Right: Head coach Shane Burcar speaks to his players during a timeout versus Portland State, Jan. 25.

Brian Burke | The Lumberjack

JANUARY 30, 2020 – FEBRUARY 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

23

24

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG