The Lumberjack -- October 2, 2019

SUSTAINING FLAGSTAFF A SPECIAL EDITION

THE LUMBER JACK

OCT. 3, 2019 – OCT. 9, 2019

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

S

ustainability is a tricky word. Like many other things, it has been usurped to serve a commercial purpose. It serves as a label on products marketed to make you feel good about your purchases.

It has joined the ranks of words like “green” and “eco-friendly” as a tool to sell.

But sustainability really isn’t all that complicated. It begs a simple question: Can we continue?

Can our consumption be sustained? Can our relationship to the land continue in the way it has for the past hundred years? Can our relationships to each other continue in the ways they have for so long?

I believe, if we take an honest look at the facts and at ourselves, we find that the answer, quite simply, is no.

Sustainability is hard. It requires self-reflection. It requires awareness, both of yourself and of the tension between your needs and desires. It requires awareness of your community and the needs of those around you. It requires an awareness of nature and the priceless gifts it gives. Ultimately, it requires an evaluation of your place within a vast universe.

My goal in life is to be at peace with the world around me, and that COLLIN W. sometimes requires sacrifice. Peace is an ideology that is antithetical to the egoistic CLAYTON structures of modern society, but it is essential to establishing environmental COPY CHIEF sustainability and healthful relationships between people.

As I take steps toward lowering my footprint on the Earth, I begin to experience freedom from a corrupt system driven by selfish and individualistic intent. Ghandi said, “Our greatest ability as humans is not to change the world, but to change ourselves,” and even though things look bleak, I have hope in human decency — hope that things will change.

There are still many stories to be told and truths to be shared about the Earth and its inhabitants.

We’re writing out this story as we live it — we are the ones who decide our fate.

I implore you reader: stay informed. Stay involved. Let your actions match your words, and challenge yourself to strive for sustainability by making peace with the world around you.

Thank you for reading.

“you have to score more than the other team and that’s what we did.”

– Kylie Louw, Head coach

Women’s soccer defeated the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds in NAU’s first conference game Sept. 29. Brian Burke | The Lumberjack

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 108 ISSUE 8

Editor-in-Chief Bailey Helton Faculty Adviser David Harpster

Managing Editor Sebastian Moore Sports Adviser Rory Faust

Director of Digital Content Brady Wheeler

Sales Manager Marsha Simon

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

Faculty Adviser, Visuals Taylor Mahoney Valerie Devoy

Print Chief Bella Valenzuela

News Editor Scout Ehrler

Features Editor Shaelene Walker

Sports Editor Molly Smith

Asst. Dir. of Illustration Aleah Green

Asst. News Editor Trevor Skeen

Asst. Features Editor Ash Lohmann

Asst. Sports Editor Jacob Terrill

Director of Photography Morgan Fisher

Online News Editor Ray Anne Galzote

Culture Editor Sabrina Proffitt

Director of Circulation Robyn Monroe

Asst. Dir. of Photography Bess Valdez

Asst. Dir. of Circulation Anel Lamadrid

Senior Photographer Shannon Swain

Director of Illustration Madison Cohen

Director of Multimedia Shawn Patti

Op-Ed Editor Caitlin Burke

2

Asst. Culture Editor Nathan Manni Asst. Op-Ed Editor D’Anna Davis

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Illustration by Christian Ayala | The Lumberjack

Copy Chief Collin W. Clayton

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board

Online News Editor Karin Johnson

On the cover

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 Sept. 23 At 12:25 p.m., a Sodexo employee called to report their ex-boyfriend had assaulted them. FPD responded and booked the non-student into Coconino County Detention Facility for domestic violence and assault.

At 5:20 p.m., a professor at Biological Sciences called to report an unconscious student.

Flagstaff Fire Department responded, but the student refused medical transport.

At 9:47 p.m., a student at Reilly Hall reported the odor of marijuana present in their dorm room. NAUPD responded and acknowledged the odor, but no subject was present. Information was provided.

Sept. 24 At 1:03 a.m., NAUPD officers reported assisting FPD with a domestic violence incident on South Lone Tree Lane.

At 9:49 a.m., a student at Reilly Hall reported a student in possession of drugs.

NAUPD responded, and one student was long-formed for possible charges of possession of narcotics.

At 11:39 a.m., a student called to report a sick bird.

NAUPD responded, and the bird was relocated to a safe location.

Compiled by scout ehrler

were criminally deferred for At 7:23 p.m., a RA at use of marijuana, and one Cowden Hall called NAUPD student was deferred for use to report the odor of marijuana. and possession of marijuana.

One student was criminally deferred for possession of Sept. 25 marijuana.

At 10:29 a.m., a staff member reported a car parked Sept. 28 on the sidewalk in parking lot At 12:33 a.m., FPD 6. NAUPD responded, and the initiated a traffic stop on owner was notified to move the Riordan Road and Milton vehicle.

Road. Two non-students were cited and released for At 3:12 p.m., a RA at possession of marijuana and McKay Village reported a drug paraphernalia. A verbal bike storage unit containing warning was given for driving drug paraphernalia. NAUPD without headlights. responded, and one student was referred for possession of At 1:00 a.m., FPD drug paraphernalia. contacted NAUPD for assistance with a fight at Sept. 26 Fountain Street and Franklin At 10:09 a.m., a staff Avenue.

Assistance was member at the Rolle Activity provided.

Center called to report three suspicious subjects. NAUPD At 2:54 p.m., a carbon responded, the subjects monoxide alarm at Campus provided identification and Heights Apartments was then vacated the area. triggered. NAUPD responded, the apartment was secured, and At 6:29 p.m., NAUPD the fire marshal was contacted. reported contact with a student in possession of marijuana Sept. 29 at Sechrist Hall. The student At 1:46 a.m., staff at was cited and released for Mountain View Hall reported possession of marijuana and to NAUPD an unconscious drug paraphernalia. student. The student refused medical transport and was Sept. 27 deferred for disorderly At 2:22 a.m., NAUPD conduct. initiated a traffic stop at lot 31. A non-student was cited At 12:24 p.m., a staff for a DUI to the slightest member at the du Bois Center degree and possession of an reported a student who had open container in the vehicle. a seizure to NAUPD. The Another citation was issued for student was transported to failure to obey a traffic device. FMC.

At 2:34 p.m., NAUPD was waved down to assist At 4:02 p.m., a student with a loose dog on campus. at Wilson Hall called to The area was searched, but no request a welfare check on contact was made. another student. The student was contacted by NAUPD at At 8:54 p.m., a RA 8:18 p.m. and was transported at Sechrist Hall requested to the Guidance Center for medical assistance for multiple a voluntary mental health students who had ingested evaluation. edible marijuana. NAUPD responded and two students

At 7:53 p.m., a security guard at Citizens Cemetery reported two vehicles in the cemetery after hours.

NAUPD responded and the vehicles were removed.

Three non-students provided identification and left the area.

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK

3

NEWS

The Standard is a new student housing option for off campus residents. It is located on Route 66 and blocks the view of Mars Hill and some of the San Fransisco Peaks, Sept. 29.

Shannon Swain | The Lumberjack

Flagstaff relies on environmental planning trevor skeen

A

n NAU Planning, Design and Construction (PDC) Captial Project Report details 148 construction projects around NAU. The activities listed on this report, released May 1, vary immensely in scope, ranging from minor renovation efforts to major construction plans, which include Kitt Recital Hall, the Student Athlete High Performance Center and the Multi-Discipline Academic Research STEM Building. These projects entail hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, extensive resources and long-term planning.

Despite the significant amount of construction on campus, the number of students has reduced, according to an email from Kimberly Ott, the assistant to the president for executive communication and media relations.

Ott’s email stated student enrollment at NAU has decreased in the last year.

Undergraduate enrollment in 2018 was 27,078.

This year, it is 26,513. These statistics represent a

4

decrease of 565 students, or approximately 2.1% of NAU’s undergraduate student population.

Additionally, NAU’s total enrollment, which includes both undergraduate and graduate students, has diminished by 337 students since 2018, or roughly 1.1%.

The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) Operational and Financial Review Background Report details the predicted institutional metrics for NAU by 2025. As stated by the report, ABOR’s goal is to reach an undergraduate enrollment count of 30,312 students. ABOR also projects an increase of more than 4,000 in total enrollment numbers, projecting that NAU will have nearly 35,000 students in 2025.

Although enrollment rates have only stalled recently, the demographic transition predicts long-term population stability or decline. In turn, NAU’s targeted student enrollment count could be unrealistic, particularly as the American population grows older.

Over the years, as NAU has continued to advance, parts of Flagstaff have paralleled its

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

expansion. The west side of town highlights this trend through complexes such as Aspen Place at the Sawmill, Fremont Station Apartments and Hub Flagstaff. Additionally, the sustainability of the region — both environmentally and economically — has been called into question.

Margo Wheeler is a professor in the Department of Geography, Planning and Recreation. Wheeler is an accomplished urban planner and has developed numerous sustainability efforts throughout cities in the southwest, including Las Vegas and San Bernardino. Wheeler’s occupation has familiarized her with demographic trends and urbanization efforts throughout the United States.

Wheeler said the recent decline in NAU’s enrollment has not been significant or prolonged enough to warrant serious concern.

Furthermore, she said current enrollment figures are merely a temporary lull, not a longterm trend. Wheeler added that this lull will not likely stagnate development projects, both

residential and commercial, throughout campus and Flagstaff.

“When ABOR looks at data that suggests continued growth, they recommend various developments to each of the three [Arizona public] universities,” Wheeler said. “New construction projects don’t mirror, they follow.”

Wheeler also said reliable enrollment trends are challenging to forecast. Population patterns frequently vary between different years, and subsequently, development projects are often organized independently. Rather than perfectly following the demand, construction is either behind or ahead of it.

Zack Hansen, a sophomore at the UA Honors College, majors in civil engineering and minors in sustainable built environments.

Hansen was born and raised in Flagstaff, and through the years, he has been involved in the NAU community. Similar to Wheeler, Hansen said the decrease in enrollment is not serious enough to alter development patterns.

“If the decline in enrollment had been

NEWS systemic or progressive over the last few years, I think that’s what would make it start to matter,” Hansen said. “Five years is probably the drawing point, because that’s a full cycle of students and a new freshman class.”

Demography and sustainability are both dynamic, complex fields. The United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development is one organization that centers around the globalization of sustainable planning and environmental awareness. In 1980, the department created a common definition for sustainability. “[Sustainability is] the physical development and institutional practices that meet the needs of present users without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” the committee stated.

The city of Flagstaff’s comprehensive planning website states there is a regional plan employed until 2030 that outlines extensive development within the current city boundaries, in addition to expansion efforts along the perimeter. It also emphasizes a balance between the various economic, environmental and cultural resources found in the area.

“The greater Flagstaff community embraces the region’s extraordinary cultural and ecological setting on the Colorado Plateau through active stewardship of the natural and built environments,” the website states. “Residents and visitors encourage and advance intellectual, environmental, social and economic vitality for today’s citizens and future generations.”

The city and the United Nations both reference the current and future implications of environmental planning. Although present needs may demand increased infrastructure, a long-term perspective must also be maintained. This visionary outlook is demonstrated by the prolonged regional plan, of which NAU is a critical component.

According to an economic report prepared by the Alliance Bank Economy Policy Institute, NAU supplied 19,500 jobs to Coconino County in 2017-18. These employees, along with other fiscal institutional assets, also contributed $1.96 billion in economic activity. Through its continued growth and infrastructure, the university represents a considerable portion of the local community.

Despite the benefits of NAU, Hansen said the university is compromising the future of Flagstaff. The rapid expansion and development of campus infrastructure may have ramifications for the greater area. Although current student enrollment is relatively stable, the university and its numerous third-party partners, continue to expand. Hansen said this growth has dramatically altered his hometown.

“I think the answer [to sustainability] lies in respecting our home and preserving the college-town identity,” Hansen said. “I get that it’s natural for a college to want to grow and that it can be beneficial for students, but that only applies for universities who do so in a targeted manner.”

Hansen said the university and city must work together. In order to be well-equipped for the present while also respecting the future, sustainability must be a priority for all parties.

“As much as Flagstaff is a college-town, I think that the key to being sustainable is for neither the university or city to overpower the other. The two need to be symbiotic, but distinctly separate,” Hansen said. “That seems to be the problem that we’re running into right now, because NAU is overexpanding its boundaries into Flagstaff.”

Illustration By DOMINIC DAVIES

URANIUM MINIng puts groundwater at risk Jacob Meyer

S

erious concerns have been raised over the pollution of groundwater at the Canyon Uranium Mine as environmental advocates push back against the attempts of mining interests to expand access near the Grand Canyon.

According to the United States Forest Service (USFS), the Canyon Uranium Mine had a long history of lawsuits and shutdowns since Energy Fuels Inc. first submitted plans for a mine in 1984. The site has only been in continuous operation since 2012 and construction of the mineshaft was completed in 2018.

Ore has yet to be extracted, but Amber Reimondo, the energy program director for Grand Canyon Trust, said her organization is already concerned about the Canyon Mine.

“The primary concern has to do with groundwater and the possibility for groundwater contamination,” Reimondo said. “Once water comes into contact with uranium ore, there’s an increased risk that contamination will spread, especially underground. Low and behold, in 2013 the mine’s owner actually started striking perched aquifers.”

Reimondo stressed that contaminated groundwater at the

mining site could spread significant distances, posing a threat to a wide area of the Grand Canyon region.

“Canyon Mine is only about 6 miles as the crow flies from the rim of the Grand Canyon,” Reimondo said. “If groundwater beneath the mine were to be contaminated, it doesn’t stay there — it will go into the Grand Canyon. Whether it goes south toward Cataract Canyon, which is where Havasupai Village is, or it goes north into the main part of the canyon.”

Energy Fuels, the company that owns the mine, has downplayed fears that their operations could affect the groundwater. In an interview with the Phoenix New Times, Curtis Moore, Energy Fuels’ vice president of marketing and corporate development, dismissed concerns about the mine. “... Despite the hysterical claims by activists in the letter, there are zero issues with water at the site,” Moore said. “Any inference that there is any sort of water contamination at the site is just plain false.”

Documents from Energy Fuels show that in 2018, over 9.6 million gallons of water were pumped from the Canyon Mine.

Additionally, water samples showed dangerously high levels of arsenic and uranium.

Continued on page 6

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK

5

NEWS Alicyn Gitlin, a member of the Sierra Club, expressed concerns similar to Reimondo’s regarding the Canyon Mine. She also explained that the mine’s aquifer protection permit from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is due for renewal. She said the mine’s current permit is problematic.

“Canyon Mine is operating under what’s called a general aquifer protection permit.

A general permit is something that is issued for really common uses, something like a gas station,” Gitlin said. “I would argue that a uranium mine does not qualify for a general permit. The general permit for Canyon Mine is just a few pages long. All of the requirements in it are voluntary.”

Gitlin explained the various efforts of the Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Trust and other environmental advocacy groups to address the issues surrounding the Canyon Mine.

“We, along with several other conservation organizations, submitted very detailed comments to ADEQ asking for the shutdown

of the mine, or at least for an individual permit,” Gitlin said. “We’re communicating directly with ADEQ and letting them know what our fears and our concerns are.”

Gitlin said water contamination at the mine could have lasting consequences for other natural entities, including soil, plant and animal life.

“A study showed that even after reclamation at Grand Canyon area mines, the contaminant levels in the soil were elevated above pre-mining levels,” Gitlin said. “We don’t know how to contain this. We don’t know how to clean it up.

We’ve never successfully cleaned up groundwater once it’s contaminated, so we need to stop that

“the contaminant levels in the soil were elevated above premining levels” - Alicyn Gitlin, Sierra Club Member

Photo courtesy of High Country News

6

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

risk before it even starts.”

According to the USFS, Energy Fuels was given operating rights to the Canyon Uranium Mine in 1984. The decision was quickly met with backlash and ultimately unsuccessful litigation from the Havasupai Tribe and others.

While initial preparations for mining began that year, economic factors halted actual mining operations, but Energy Fuels maintained rights to the site.

Despite economic difficulties, Energy Fuels decided to resume operations at the Canyon Mine. USFS documents state that Denison Mines, which is an organization merged with Energy Fuels, informed the local forest supervisor of the company’s intent to restart operations in June 2012.

A decision from the Secretary of the Interior on Jan. 9, 2012, legally restricted new mining claims in the portion of northern Arizona that

includes Canyon Mine. However, the Forest Service determined that the original 1984 claim remained valid, which allowed Energy

Fuels to resume operations.

During the conflict over Canyon Mine, Energy Fuels and other mining organizations sought to expand mining access near the Grand Canyon. This included efforts to rescind the 2012 Interior Department order, which created a 20-year ban on new mining claims near the Grand Canyon. Furthermore, a recent letter from the Nuclear Energy Institute to President Donald Trump’s national security adviser called for expanding mining access in addition to increased domestic production of uranium.

In an attempt to permanently solidify the Interior Department’s moratorium on mining, U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, alongside several co-sponsors, introduced H.R. 1373, the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act. The bill seeks to permanently exclude over one million acres of federal land near the Grand Canyon and is currently working its way through Congress.

Sunday - Thursday 11am - 12am Friday - Saturday 11am - 2am

LUNCH - DINNER - LATE NIGHT

E@ LATE NIT

D R A Y e ay h d r t satu 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

Late Night Menu Available Friday - Saturday

BS BINGO NEW NIGHT: FRIDAYS @ 8PM

FREE TO PLAY | STARTS AT 8PM How it Works:

Come in...

Take a seat...

Play some Bingo!

DRINK SPECIALS: $5 BS Mules $3 Bingo Shots

ROLLOVER BLACK OUT GRAND PRIZE:

At the end of each Bingo Night we will play our Blackout Game.

The winner of the game will win a $50 Gift Card If no one wins... we will rollover the prize each week until someone wins the Grand Prize!

Happiness is Yelling...

BINGO!

www.beaverstreetbrewery.com

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

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK

7

NEWS

Climate is for everyone at the Climate 2020 summit Nancy Flores

A

rizona’s three major universities — NAU, ASU and UA — will join together to confront the comprehensive issues of climate change in the state of Arizona.

Climate 2020: Seven Generations for Arizona is a two-day statewide summit that will take place in Flagstaff at the High Country Conference Center Nov. 15 and 16.

Brian Hungate, the director for the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (Ecoss) at NAU said the idea began after he and some colleagues decided to “change the conversation about climate change.”

“If we can start with the premise that everyone has something interesting, useful and valuable to contribute to the conversation, it will be a success,” Hungate said.

Ecoss coordinator Kate Petersen said collaboration between the institutions could be highly effective.

“World-class research is being done at all three universities, but coming together is something so obvious we never thought of before,” Petersen said.

All three schools were ready to join the effort and contribute, Hungate said. Ultimately, this willingness to interact and work together led to the decision to host a public forum. The forum will discuss various topics, such as the dangers, influences and solutions for climate change.

“We want to create a space for a different kind of conversation to try and highlight success stories about the cities making changes, like Flagstaff,” Petersen said.

The summit will include 30 keynote speakers, panel discussions and performances from leaders of all ages and backgrounds. One of the scheduled speakers at the summit is Kathrine Hayhoe, a well-known atmospheric scientist who has served on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, discussing the threats climate change poses today. Alongside Hayhoe will be former Governor of Arizona Bruce Babbitt.

On a broad scale, the forum will focus on the dangers of climate change within Arizona.

The discussions at the summit will cover a variety of topics, including gender, climate, preparation for increased temperatures and dryness, and increasing the state’s renewable energy markets.

Additionally, there will be extensive discourse regarding what each community can provide to their environment in order to achieve various goals.

8

“We want this to be a cross-generation conversation,” Petersen said. “It can no longer be specific people in conference rooms.”

While the conference is geared for all participants, the focus is on educating the youth, Peterson said. The conference is free for students in K-12. An important aspect that separates this summit from others is that at Climate 2020, students will be some of those 30 keynote speakers, leading breakouts and speaking on panels.

“The summit is centered around youth voices,” Petersen said. “They are powerful.”

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, the director for the youth Earth Guardians, is one of the scheduled speakers at the climate forum.

Additionally, Martinez will perform at the Orpheum Theatre on the first evening of the summit.

Martinez said he has spent his youth traveling to educate his generation.

Earth Guardians organized global youth climate strikes that occurred all over the country, including one that took place in Flagstaff, Sept.

20.

According to the Climate 2020 website, Flagstaff will host the summit, because it

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

is considered a model of partnerships and advanced research. NAU itself has received recognition both nationally and internationally for its research on the implications of climate change and impacted communities.

The climate forum is structured to create a strong local community that can come up with ways to move the conversation of climate change into the national spotlight. Petersen said the population can show that it cares by coming together to change the status quo.

Hungate said that with the summit approaching, he wants Flagstaff and NAU to join the conversation.

Climate 2020: Seven Generations for Arizona Summit, is a public platform for the discussion to advance.

“We want to create a space for a different kind of conversation to try and highlight success stories about the cities making changes, like Flagstaff.”

– Kate Petersen, Ecosystem, science and society coordinator

Illustration By Madison Cohen

Immediate

Move-In Available You've never lived like this. · Walk or bike to class at NAU · Private bedrooms and bathrooms available · Fully furnished apartments

Sign a lease and pay

ONLY $299 for your first installment!

You've never lived like this.

· State-of-the-art fitness center with strength equipment and free weights

· Walk or bike to class at NAU

· Academic Success Centers with iMacs and free printing

· Private bedrooms and bathrooms available · Fully furnished apartments

· 24-hour, state-of-the-art fitness center with strength equipment and free weights · Two-story academic lounge with iMacs and free printing

Apply online today at HubFlagstaff.com

Apply online today at AmericanCampus.com/Flasgstaff HUBFLAGSTAFF.COM Amenities are subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.

Rates/installments and amenities are subject to change. Rates/installments do not represent a monthly rental amount (and are not prorated), but rather the total base rent due for the lease term divided by the number of installments.

Limited time only. See office for details.

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019| THE LUMBERJACK

9

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Save the Earth and our wallets kylie soto

PMS: Periods murder the seas

Y

et another thing to add to the list of why periods suck is the aspect that they are terrible for the environment.

Details are unclear about what’s actually in the products that menstruating individuals stick in or near their bodies every month.

However, one thing is clear: our home is dying because of us, and everyone needs to make an effort to fix it.

An article in the HuffPost states, “Most tampons and pads and their packaging contain nonbiodegradable — and potentially toxic — plastic and other synthetic materials like glue and petrochemical additives.”

This prompted me to think about the fact that every tampon I’ve ever used is still intact somewhere.

Not only did I discover the disgusting truth about what happens to tampons, but the article KYLIE also exposed the fact that the plastic backstrip of SOTO a sanitary napkin and plastic tampon applicators are made from “low-density polyethylene and are WRITER particularly damaging to the planet.” In essence, they take centuries to disintegrate and need a highly concentrated supply of fossil fuels to make.

In addition to their environmental impacts, the perfumes added to feminine hygiene products can throw off the PH balance down there.

This can result in frequent yeast infections, among other really bad things.

The moral of the story is to keep scented products away from that highly sensitive area.

There are many alternatives that have been created to help not only the vast majority of menstruating people but also the planet.

Organic tampons made from 100% cotton with no chlorine, dye or pesticides have been more commonly seen on store shelves. These organic tampons have some redeeming qualities that justify their higher cost. According to an article on Elevays, a website dedicated to promoting healthier lifestyles, there are six reasons why organic tampons are the most desirable option. It states organic tampons don’t contain “endocrinedisrupting elements,” they may lower the risk of toxic shock syndrome, they’re biodegradable and more.

I personally have used organic tampons and didn’t notice much of a difference, which I suppose is a good thing, since I hate knowing that I’m constantly bleeding during my time of the month.

Knowing that I have helped save the Earth during the worst time of every month was worth the splurge.

Menstrual cups are another sustainable alternative and, although intimidating, have many reported advantages. The Cleveland Clinic, a self-described “nonprofit multi-specialty academic medical center,” stated on its website that cups provide a more affordable option and contribute less landfill waste, less embarrassing odor and a few other notable pros.

Ultimately, there are an array of alternatives that will make the Earth and everyone’s vaginas happy. The body is a temple, and the Earth is our home. Treat them as such.

10

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

W

ith consumers’ increased interest in eco-friendly products, actions and lifestyles, everything seems to be looking up for the welfare of our planet.

That is, until someone takes a reluctant peek at their bank account. I’ve wondered if everyone is trying to live a more sustainable life, why is it that only the upper class can afford it?

Looking into average pricing for ordinary women’s T-shirts from Patagonia, Reformation and Aurorei was shocking.

Patagonia’s price for women’s T-shirts was roughly estimated to be $40 after taxes, Reformation’s average price was estimated to be $50 after taxes and Aurorei’s rough estimate of a standard T-shirt price was a whopping $90 after taxes.

As a broke college student, my wallet and I audibly gasped at the sight of these figures.

That’s a lot of money for a plain T-shirt similar to what could easily be found on the clearance rack at Forever 21 at a fraction of the price, although that company isn’t as concerned with sustainability.

The most sensible assumption as to who could actually afford these prices are either t h e

extremely well-off and well-dressed nature enthusiasts, snobby frat boys who attend posh liberal arts schools on the East Coast or trendy and stylish Instagram influencers.

I was not surprised, yet still enraged by a recently published comment on Aurorei’s website.The comment stated that “although sustainable fashion is growing in popularity, it is still a niche industry.”

However, if a company is claiming everyone needs to make an effort to clean up our planet, they should make an effort to allow the change to happen by

Illustration By angelo sanchez

lowering their prices.

Patagonia, known by some as Patagucci, is known for its expensive outdoor gear. An article from CRM, a business-customer relations company, stated “54% [of their customers] make efforts to buy fairtrade products.” In other words, a little over half of their demographic actually seeks to help the Earth. This confirms the status symbol that sustainable fashion brands hold in today’s society.

While there are many sustainable brands that are overpriced, some appear to be kind to online shoppers’ checking accounts and to the planet. They just aren’t as popular as these expensive brands for whatever reason.

The first company that comes to mind is Kotn. Not only does Kotn use organic, hand-picked, direct trade Egyptian cotton, but it also donates money with every purchase to help build schools and pay teachers for children in the Nile Delta to be able to get laptops and more. Nothing is better than donating to an amazing cause that doesn’t break the bank.

Everyone deserves to have the choice to help save our planet. Admittedly for some, the sustainability trend has sparked more interest into the look of the clothing rather than the topic of putting hard-earned dollars into environmental sustainability.

Nonetheless, it is still important that everyone is able to make a difference, and a price tag shouldn’t negate anyone’s ability to do so.

Shopping second-hand at thrift stores such as Savers or Goodwill can create a trendy outfit that is much cheaper and more sustainable than using the energy that comes with creating new clothing, no matter the amount of sustainable branding that the company advertises with.

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Recyling right isn’t a waste of time ryan dixon

O

ver the past couple of decades, recycling has become a household habit rather than a hippie extremist practice.

While many people seem to partake in the righteous act of recycling, most people aren’t doing it right, and their mistakes are negating many of the positive effects recycling can have.

Flagstaff has restrictions on what can and can’t be recycled. Ignoring these restrictions just makes the efforts a waste of time.

The city of Flagstaff’s website states, “In Flagstaff, you can recycle plastic bottles, jugs, and jars. All other plastics need to go in your trash bin.”

Frequently used plastic or plasticcoated beverage cups, straws and lids are not acceptable.

Seniors Morgan Minitti and Rayanne Pollard both said they strive to recycle as much as they can in an effort to live sustainably. However, when asked if they knew what could and could not be recycled in Flagstaff, they couldn’t answer definitively.

Knowing what types of plastics belong in the trash can be confusing, but the effort of understanding is worth the endeavor.

The industry typically labels plastics with different numbers and symbols to categorize their type. For Flagstaff, the plastics that can be recycled are plastic bottles, jugs, and jars. All other plastics need to go in your trash bin, according to the city’s website.

Not only does recycling save finite natural resources, it also creates jobs.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a 2016 study found “in a single year, recycling and reuse activities in the United States accounted for 757,000 jobs, $36.6 billion in wages and $6.7 billion in tax revenues.”

But if we’re not recycling right, we’re just wasting valuable time and

Illustration By Brooke Berry

energy.

Daniel K. Benjamin, a senior member of the Property and Environment Research Center stated in an article on Bigthink’s website, “In most cities across the nation, recycling of household trash is, in fact, wasteful even when we take into account the meager environmental benefits of such recycling.”

It’s easy to feel good about tossing a paper bag into the recycling bin. It is paper, after all. However, the sauce that’s spilling around the sides and pooling at the bottom isn’t

recyclable, and the saucy bag just ruined pounds of usable material. The same goes for tin cans, cardboard and any other type of recyclable material — labels and food waste can hinder recyclability.

National Geographic reported in a 2018 article that, “With the rise of “single-stream” recycling systems in the late 1990s, the number of people partaking in recycling skyrocketed.

Consumers in many areas no longer had to sort their recycling by the type of material ... it has also led to a significant amount of contamination

— both in terms of damaged materials and unwanted stuff that gums up the works.”

Every day the sorting plant is tasked with categorizing contaminated materials from good, recyclable products. Entire bales of material get rejected daily due to too much contamination. The National Geographic article claimed, “Today, about a quarter of everything consumers place in recycling bins ultimately can’t be recycled by the programs that collect them.”

If plant workers are spending

hours sorting contaminated items, labor costs go up, along with the expense of shipping the material to a landfill. It becomes difficult to justify the recycling effort.

However, despite the difficulties that accompany recycling, I urge NAU students, as well as Flagstaff locals, to recycle correctly. Make informed decisions, do what is right and make recycling actually beneficial by being a responsible and conscious consumer.

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019| THE LUMBERJACK

11

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Veganism is a committment, not a trend Madeline hollmann

G

auging from the recent trend of fast-food chains offering new vegan options, it seems as though there is a spike in people switching to vegan or vegetarian lifestyles. As their popularity increases, it is more common to find meatless and dairy-free options at quick-service restaurants like Del Taco, Burger King and Chipotle.

For almost every dairy product at the grocery store, there is a soy, almond or coconut equivalent. Brands are realizing there are more people who live a vegan lifestyle and are beginning to offer more options to profit from this market.

Veganism and vegetarianism should not just be a popular trend. I have known people who will try out the diet for a few weeks or a month and then give up. Some of them quit due to a lack of protein in these diets, which is a common misconception in general. With all the plant-based protein options that are available, in combination with natural sources of plant protein, there is really no excuse why someone shouldn’t stick with eating vegetarian or vegan.

We need to be doing all we can to fight climate change, which means treating vegetarian and vegan lifestyles with validity and seriousness. The meat industry produces an unnecessary carbon footprint. The United States Environmental Protective Agency reported that one-third of the greenhouse emissions from the agriculture industry can be contributed to the raising of livestock, like cattle.

Recently, some universities have even banned beef on campus. Last month, the University of London Goldsmiths campus announced that the campus would no longer sell beef products in an effort to cut carbon usage, as reported by EcoWatch.

The announcement came after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a draft report recommending

12

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

a global shift to vegetarian diets. The newest university to adopt the same ban is Portugal’s oldest. The University of Coimbra has 23,000 students, and it is estimated that they consumed 20 tons of beef per year before the beef ban, according to Newsweek.

I personally stopped eating meat for sustainability reasons. I was inspired to commit to this lifestyle after learning in a class during my first semester of college that the meat industry emits a large amount of carbon into the atmosphere.

Through my journey, I have also become increasingly aware of the unethical practices in the meat industry. For ethical reasons, I plan to never consume meat again. It is not a hard diet to stick to. With all of the dairy-free and meatless options that are readily available, being vegan or vegetarian is convenient if an effort is made.

It is a great thing that brands are realizing people want convenient, meatless options, but they should be available year-round and not just offered when they want to hop on trends to make a profit. Burger King has stated that its Impossible Whopper is only limitededition, according to USA Today.

Having convenient and inexpensive vegan and vegetarian options is important. More people will be willing to stop eating meat if they can easily obtain plant-based proteins.

Veganism and vegetarianism shouldn’t just be a fun thing to try out. It should be taken seriously, instead of being a trendy diet that won’t last.

The IPCC reports that 2030 is our deadline for irreversible climate change.

If we don’t start doing something soon, we will never be able to fix it. Making this one change can help combat climate change.

Illustrations By christian ayala

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019| THE LUMBERJACK

13

FEATURES

Sustainable style Katelyn Rodriguez

W

hen one thinks about clothing and jewelry, the idea of them being sustainable may seem hard to grasp. However, one lesser known way to promote sustainability comes in the form of local artists who make jewelry from a wide variety of sustainable materials. These local shops and artists use their work to raise awareness about being sustainable within the ever-growing Flagstaff community, while selling customers something they can enjoy wearing.

Fool’s Gold owner Meredith Butler creates and sells sustainable jewelry in her boutique. Butler said she had the idea Fool’s Gold while studying architecture in college.

She incorporated sustainability into her work because she was learning about it in her classes and knew she needed to address it in some way. Butler and her boyfriend, Micheal Murphey started the business together.

“We started Fool’s Gold and set out to challenge the current jewelry and fashion industries,” Butler said. “We chose to use alternative materials to the standard diamonds, gemstones and gold, while using our platform to spread awareness about the negative impacts of these industries.”

The materials Butler uses for her jewelry line include wood that is sustainably harvested in Finland. The suppliers they work with ensure the metals used aren’t harming the environment when they’re being mined. They also certify that the fabrics used by clothing brands they carry leave less of a touch on the

14

Workspace in the back of Fool’s Gold where Meredith Butler creates jewelry and furniture pieces, Sept.

29. Shannon Swain | The Lumberjack

environment, and the packaging is both recycled and recyclable.

When it comes to creating designs for her jewelry, Butler draws inspiration from both art and architecture from a variety of regions and historical eras.

She tries to design something new every day on the brand’s Instagram: @wearefoolsgold.

Butler said the new pieces she tries to come up with daily are typically based on something or someone she encountered throughout the day.

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Butler tries to make the jewelry she sells in store and has junior Ava Miller as a production assistant. Miller has acted as Butler’s production assistant at Fool’s Gold since last spring, and the boutique even sells some of Miller’s earrings.

“I loved the modern feel of her jewelry and the fact that the material wasn’t the focus, just a means to an end,” Butler said.

“It was such a natural fit for the store, and I’m thrilled to be a part of her journey.”

Miller creates a variety of earrings out of recycled bike tubes, which she gets from Flagstaff Bike Revolution.

She sells them at other places downtown in addition to Fool’s Gold, as well as on her Etsy shop.

She decided to start this project because she would always make art out of glass that she found in a lake near her hometown in Wisconsin.

She later found the inspiration to create earrings out of bike tubes because she is a mountain

biker, and her boyfriend works at Flagstaff Bike Revolution. This gives her an endless supply of bike tubes, especially because the tubes get thrown away if they’re punctured.

“When a tube is punctured, there is this white, powdery stuff on the inside, so I cut up all the tubes and wash them with warm water and dish soap,” Miller said.

“I either keep them in tube form or make them flat — it depends on what kind of earrings I’m making.”

She said she has always been the outdoorsy type and wanted to become more sustainable during her junior year of high school after attending an environmental school in northern Wisconsin called Conserve School.

Classroom sessions took place outdoors, where she said she learns best.

Miller is majoring in special and elementary education and plans to incorporate environmental lessons into her future classroom because it is important for children to see the effects they have on the environment.

She said her overall goal is to get people excited about recycled materials and get her product into as many stores as possible.

“I feel like people are super materialistic, and even my earrings are contributing to that,” Miller said. “However, people can be materialistic about sustainable things too. I want to change the perspective on that.”

Butler said her goal is to spread awareness and educate people about sustainability while selling something customers can relate to. She said she wants customers to learn about being sustainable through

“people can be mate about sustainable too. I want to cha perspective on t

– Ava Miller Fool’s gold production assis

erialistic e things ange the that.”

r, d stant

FEATURES

Meredith Butler in her Fool’s Gold boutique Sept. 29. Shannon Swain | The Lumberjack

buying earrings and that they’ll think of the impact their purchase has on the environment, or will at least tell someone else about it. Part of spreading that awareness comes from the boutique donating 10% of profits to causes ranging from environmental and ethical issues to local outreach programs.

Both Miller and Butler said sustainability has high value in their everyday lives. For Butler, every decision she makes throughout the day is centered around sustainability, even though it can be difficult sometimes.

“Occasionally I want cute knickknacks for my home from Target,”

Butler said. “When I pick it up in the store, I think about the impoverished hands that made it, the designer they knocked off to steal the design and the precious and limited resources that were stripped from the Earth to create this throw-away item. Then I no longer need it or want it.”

Miller said she finds it frustrating when she has to throw out her trash bin multiple times a week, and she often wonders if she is getting full use out of a product before she has to throw it out. She said it’s important that individuals understand they can save money and time by being sustainable.

Butler and Miller also offered advice to students and community members who want to get involved with being more sustainable. Butler

said to simply buy less and choose well. She said researching the companies they buy from to confirm the CEO’s and the company’s ethical values align with their own is a great way to be conscious of environmental decisions. She also suggested getting involved with the community through volunteering to aid with ethical or environmental projects.

Miller said people think being sustainable is harder than it actually is. It’s about making smart choices, such as switching out regular plastic bags for reusable ones like she did.

NAU alumna Jill Sans owns The HeArt Box Gallery in downtown Flagstaff and sells Miller’s sustainable earrings, as well as other sustainable art made from recycled materials, such as plastic and vinyl records.

“[Miller] brought in this pair of earrings, and I couldn’t believe it,” Sans said. “I thought they were so incredibly elegant and beautiful.”

Sans eventually asked Miller if she wanted to keep some of the earrings in the gallery to sell, thus creating the partnership they have now.

“It’s a good price point for people, and they get something cool, but they’re also supporting someone who’s trying to get on their feet in the business,” Sans said.

Overall, both Butler and Miller want to encourage students and community members alike to try to be more sustainable in their everyday lives whether, it be through purchasing one of their products or making small changes in daily routines.

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK

15

FEATURES

Reinventing the NAU Office of Sustainability Ashlyn Easley

T

he NAU Office of Sustainability works with various groups on campus to promote sustainable practices, whether it be through composting, recycling or lowering energy consumption. The 20 student workers who are involved with the office work hard to promote sustainability around campus.

The Office of Sustainability has six main programs. These include Green Jacks, the Green Fund, the Environmental Caucus and its action teams, the Coordinating Committee for Sustainability, various conservation programs and the Academic Sustainability Committee.

Green Jacks is the student sustainability club on NAU’s campus. Junior Breanna Fimbres is the Green Jacks chair.

Fimbres, who studies geographical science and community planning, said students have the potential to make a big difference in sustainability.

“I’m the first student gateway for sustainability, and I know that you just have to get involved to make a change in our community,” Fimbres said.

The NAU Green Fund is a student organization within the Office of Sustainability that solicits proposals for projects regarding campus sustainability. The Office of Sustainability

NAU sustainability manager Matthew Muchna shows the blue ribbon compost in the Facility Services building Sept. 25.

Renee Hanneken| The Lumberjack

16

allows anyone to submit a proposal to the NAU Green Fund, as long as it adheres to the sustainability and education guidelines.

The Green Fund receives its project budget from the Green Fee, a fee paid by all students each year. The Green Fund is the only organization within the Office of Sustainability to have a dedicated project budget, and community members are encouraged to submit project proposals year-round.

NAU project manager Andrew Iacona is the Office of Sustainability project manager. When former sustainability manager Ellen Vaughan left campus September 2018, the Office of Sustainability fell into disarray, Iacona said. In an attempt to get campus sustainability back on track, the planning, design and construction branches of NAU’s Facility Services put Iacona on a special assignment to support the incoming sustainability manager, Matthew Muchna.

Currently, Iacona and the Office of Sustainability are focused on creating a new, more implementable Climate Action Plan. Past plans were more aspirational, and therefore less effective, Iacona said. In addition, the office strives to create a better system for updating the plan in a timely manner.

“All of our past action plans have only been revisited every 5 years, but we are going to check up on this one every 6 months, if not sooner, and adjust accordingly,” Iacona said. “Carbon neutrality cannot be achieved overnight, so this will be a longterm, multi-year effort.”

The Environmental Caucus is a community environmental forum within the Office of Sustainability that meets monthly.

It has five action teams, which include transport, energy, waste, landscape and environmental justice. The Office of Sustainability plans to create more programs in the future to include other areas affected by climate change. Caucus meetings are open to the public, and it will be one of the main oversight committees for the Climate Action Plan.

NAU’s Coordinating Committee for Sustainability is responsible for representing and communicating sustainability across campus. With monthly executive meetings, this group works to procure administrative support for the Office of Sustainability’s various initiatives.

“The Coordinating Committee for Sustainability, or CoCoSus, is our most important conduit of information to and from administration,” Iacona said. “Without them, we would not have the support needed to get our projects off the ground.”

The Office of Sustainability also supervises conservation programs, such as the Sustainable Ambassadors, the Energy Mentors and the Green Office Certification program.

The Sustainable Ambassador program is a student-focused group that gives students an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of sustainability. According to the Office of Sustainability, the program is designed to prepare students to take on sustainability challenges as individuals, community members and professionals.

“We are hoping to establish a badging process for the Sustainable Ambassador program to make it even more official,” Muchna said. “Currently, students who complete the program become certified sustainable ambassadors and receive a certificate of completion.”

Similar to the Sustainable Ambassadors, the Energy Mentors

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Produce in the SNAIL Garden located on south campus is maintained by the Students Nurturing Alternatives in Landscaping club, Sept. 25.

Renee Hanneken | The Lumberjack

are staff and faculty members who encourage their coworkers to adopt more sustainable energy habits. These mentors act as a voice for sustainability on campus, promoting energy conservation in their departments and other shared spaces.

For staff members who want to work in a more sustainable environment, NAU offers a Green Office Certification Program.

This program is focused on all offices on campus, whether it be one professor’s cubicle or an entire building. Student workers enter these offices to evaluate the sustainability level of the space and then suggest options to further minimize the office’s environmental impact, such as recycling or unplugging electronics when not in use.

The Academic Sustainability Committee is composed of faculty members who work alongside the Office of Sustainability to incorporate sustainability into student curricula. Although this committee is currently inactive, the Office of Sustainability is working to recruit new members.

In the coming months, Muchna said community input will be exceedingly valuable, and everyone is encouraged to attend public work sessions and climate action forums. The Office of Sustainability strives to obtain student and faculty input regarding all aspects of campus sustainability. Muchna said this input will be essential for creating a more engaging and effective Climate Action Plan.

Iacona said the Office of Sustainability encourages anyone and everyone to speak up and get involved with climate action.

There are numerous opportunities for students and faculty to learn about and promote sustainability on campus.

By getting involved with the Office of Sustainability, people can help NAU move toward a more sustainable future.

Urban Gardening Last year, flower beds were added to the Students for Sustainable Living and Urban Gardening (SSLUG) garden to attract more bees, Sept. 26, 2019.

MacKenzie Brower | The Lumberjack

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK

17

CULTURE

Educating the way to change Kyler Edsitty

Flagstaff’s best vegan eateries

A

meatless life is a life of sacrifice, but luckily in Flagstaff, sustaining a vegan lifestyle doesn’t have to be too much of a struggle. New vegans should know they can still enjoy a meal out on the town at any one of these eco-conscious eateries.

Macy’s European Coffee House & Bakery (8.5/10) Macy’s is the perfect place to open a textbook, sip a coffee and think to yourself how sophisticated you must look right now. It’s a Flagstaff staple and a Beaver Street landmark, but many locals have no idea this quaint little nook has one of the most diverse, robust and wholesome vegan menus in town.

I’m a sucker for their classic BLT with juicy tempeh bacon and avocado spread that sits between two slices of whole wheat. I also love their uncustomary take on a Mexican COLLIN burro, which they stuff with black beans, quinoa and sauteed CLAYTON veggies. The burrito offers a generous portion, and after COPY CHIEF eating one, alongside tortilla chips and a cafe Mexicano, I feel fit to tackle the day’s most challenging assignments.

A meal at Macy’s shouldn’t break the bank, but the coffee will definitely cost you. I’d say choosing one or the other is best for the cost-conscious Lumberjack.

The Pizza Patio (7.5/10) The Pizza Patio seems to beckon the freaks and weirdos of Flagstaff with its bright neon lights and quirky, eccentric vibe. Tucked between Dara Thai and an industrial warehouse on East Phoenix Avenue, this bunker of vegan flavor is easy to miss.

Rest assured that whatever cheesy, crunchy or forbidden fantasies you may have as a newfound vegan can be fulfilled here. Try the vegan parmesan herb fries, the rich and gooey vegan mozzarella sticks, the crunchy, spicy cauliflower wings or the sinful vegan chicken strips to kick off a night. There are local brews on tap, Kombuchas in the fridge and a menu that features 14 different pub-style appetizers that can be made vegan or not. If you’re feeling famished, bring some friends and dive into a deep-dish vegan pizza piled high with fresh ingredients, but be ready to pay a pretty penny — their thin-crust pizzas cost about $24 for a medium pie.

If it’s a nice night, sit out on the patio by the fire and check out the trippy alien mural on the wall. Even though I’m a little sore about the burnt chocolate-chip cookie pie I received last time, The Pizza Patio is nonetheless essential for new vegans who yearn for a taste of their meaty pasts.

Red Curry Vegan Kitchen (8.5/10) Whenever the harsh winter weather nips my nose and I feel like I desperately need a hug from the Asian mother I never had, I usually find respite in a warm braid of noodles and a pot of hot tea at Red Curry Vegan Kitchen. Red Curry asks nothing of you — its neutral walls and natural decor feel Zen after a difficult day.

Don’t expect the syrupy sweet flavors you’d get at Panda Express. Red Curry is all about modesty and unadulterated ingredients. I’m addicted to the pad Thai, with tender, nutty noodles and crispy, fried slabs of tofu on the side. But the orange soy chicken hits a soft spot for me, and their selection of creamy curries can’t be overlooked.

Each entree comes with a crunchy fried spring roll at a price that definitely works. Red Curry is a great place for small talks with friends or peaceful, quiet nights alone — it’s a safe space for the weary vegan.

18

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

E

stablished in 1992, the Institution for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) is an organization that supports the environmental protection of Native American natural resources. The organization does this by working with NAU, tribal governments, the state and the federal government.

ITEP has created a program that aims to educate people about the effects climate change will have on indigenous land. It does this by giving lectures and informing people on legislation that affects the environment. ITEP also gives NAU students the opportunity to become educators.

Kat Evans, an assistant instructor for the ITEP Environmental Education Outreach Program, majors in applied indigenous studies and anthropology. Evans said she began working at ITEP because of her passion for educating others about sustainability.

As an assistant instructor, Evans travels to different locations on the Hopi and Navajo reservation to educate children about sustainability, and sometimes the children will come to NAU to learn as well.

Among these lessons, Evans teaches how to conserve water, which substances contaminate water and how to avoid using those substances. The kids also learn the importance of renewable

energy and alternative options to fossil fuels. They also discuss the importance of air quality and ways to minimize air pollution. Evans said her position with ITEP has offered her a fulfilling experience.

“It’s given me a lot of hope,” Evans said. “I can tell [the children] are thinking about [sustainability], and I can tell that they enjoy learning about it, and hopefully they will use this knowledge in the future.”

Evans shared her concerns about the environment and how those issues are being addressed.

“I like that there’s a bigger movement now of people around my age pushing for sustainability,” Evans said. “I just don’t think [reversing climate change] will happen in time, and that really scares me.”

Although indigenous people are trying to practice sustainability on campus, others are working in their hometowns.

Junior Maree Mahkewa is affiliated with the Hopi Tutskwa Permaculture Institute, a nonprofit organization that tries to create community oriented sustainability practices to pass to future generations. This is also done by educating kids and promoting teaching methods rooted in preserving their culture and the environment.

The institute builds homes for low-income families on the Hopi Reservation out of all-natural materials, such as straw and adobe.

The houses are also powered by

Illustration By Shelsey Braswell

solar energy and come equipped with a system that collects rainwater for drinking and agriculture.

The organization also offers programs to kids about farming methods, and how to use what they grow for food and medicine.

They organize farmers markets that reinforce trading rather than buying. Another program is an attempt to sustain the bee population by teaching beekeeping methods. Mahkewa said that everyone has the capacity to be more sustainable, and that it doesn’t need to be a hard process.

“I think a lot of people are making a bigger effort to be more sustainable,” Mahkewa said. “I think we need to focus more on producing less waste and single-use plastics.”

Students like sophomore Breanna Davis are an example of how students can incorporate sustainability in their everyday lives.

Throughout her time at NAU, Davis has tried to reduce her carbon footprint by using less electricity and taking advantage of public transportation. She said she has limited her consumption of single-use plastics by using reusable straws and water bottles. These lifestyle changes are implemented in her home on the reservation.

“People say it doesn’t make a difference, but I think it does,” Davis said. “If everyone made the effort to have a more sustainable life, I think the environment would eventually prosper again.”

Evans said teaching kids sustainability to carry into the future is great, but it won’t create immediate change. She said people need to make these changes now and start seeing the Earth as a priority.

“A lot of indigenous culture is rooted in the preservation of the Earth,” Evans said. “This idea is what we need to embrace in order to save it.”

EST. 2003

MAJESTIC MARKETPLACE FINE SPIRITS, CRAFT BEER & WINE

e u q i n U “As ” f f a t s g as F la HAPPY HOUR DAILY 4-7 PM $2 OFF anything on TAP WINE & BEER BAR 41 CRAFT BEERS & 4 WINES ON TAP INDOOR & PATIO SEATING WORLD CLASS LIQUOUR EMPORIUM KEGS, KEGS. AND MORE KEGS FINE CIGARS SPECIALTY WINES PET FRIENDLY

(928) 773-0313 ASPEN PLACE AT THE SAWMILL 601 E. PICCADILLY DRIVE #95

MAJESTICMARKETPLACEAZ.COM OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019| THE LUMBERJACK

19

CULTURE

The plant doctors of Flagstaff Olivia charlson

E

veryone is guilty of at least one plant murder or two — that bamboo plant that was forgotten, or the succulent who had the life sucked out of it by confusing watering habits. Whether a person has a green thumb or red hands, there are resources for students wanting to spruce up their apartment or dorm with some houseplants.

Warner’s Nursery & Landscape Co. is a local gardening store where students can hang out at the coffee shop, wander around the expansive outdoor sales area or buy some houseplants. One of the ways Warner’s connects with students is through their plant truck, known as Warner’s on Wheels. This truck was on campus within the first week of the semester, dishing out potted plants to interested students.

Warner’s retail operations specialist Caitlin Thomas said they wanted to take their company mobile after noticing the trend.

“We just wanted to have the ability to give an air of convenience to buying house plants,” Thomas said. “We found this awesome vintage trailer down in Phoenix, and we brought that up, and we renovated it to be able to do some sales out of it. It’s been a really good hit in Flagstaff.”

Warner’s attempts to make caring for plants more convenient and accessible to the community. Thomas said different plants have unique care requirements, such as the amount of light or water they need.

“A succulent is going to require more light than something like a fern, so you want to pay attention to what type of plant you bought,” Thomas said. “It helps if the topsoil is fairly dry, but you don’t want it to get so dry down at the bottom. The bigger the pot you have, the longer it takes to dry out, so a lot of people end up killing larger houseplants because they’re watering it too often.”

Thomas said the employees at Warner’s and those working in the Warner’s on Wheels truck are a resource for students who have questions as new parents to a houseplant.

“We’re really knowledgeable, so [students] are welcome to ask us. You can call us if you’re not sure,” Thomas said. “Really what separates us is that we’re willing to provide the knowledge and expertise to help people along. If someone calls or brings in a plant that they are sure they’re killing, or if there’s a problem that they don’t

20

Illustration By Aleah Green

know [how to fix], they can bring it in, and we will help them with that.”

Thomas and the rest of the organization are proactively trying to make a difference in their community. They are promoting sustainability by rooting their work in classes and teaching people the importance of plants in our world and about the fun in gardening. Thomas said they are educating younger generations, because caring for a plant or planting some wildflowers does make a difference.

There are also plant experts on campus.

Botany Club faculty adviser Tina Ayers said the club prepared for its biannual sale, which took place Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. Ayers said they combed

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

through the greenhouse preparing different plants.

“There are whole bunches of plants here that we use in all of our botany classes,” Ayers said.

“Now the cool part about having to maintain a bunch of parental plants for the biology classes is that we have a club that takes little bits of [our plants] off, and we sell them twice a year. All of the funds that the students make from the sale go back into taking care of this greenhouse.”

Junior Cailey Clarke is the greenhouse technician, a work-study student who runs the teaching in the greenhouse. Clarke recieves help from the Botany Club. She manages the club and knows her way around a garden.

“Make sure to research your plant, so you know how much water and sun your plants want to have,” Clarke said. “It’s easy to overwater them, so you just have to be cautious of that.

They’ll start dropping their leaves or turning yellow, so the plant will tell you when it’s upset, usually.”

Whether a student wants to buy a plant from Warner’s on Wheels or from NAU’s Botany Club plant sale, their new plant doesn’t have to fall to an deadly fate.

There are organizations and clubs on and off campus to help learn how to correctly take care of the flora in people’s homes.

CULTURE

The mat-making movement Nayomi Garcia

I

nstead of wasting plastic bags, National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) has begun to collect them at residence halls to begin their plastic bag yarn (PLARN) project. The goal of this project is to collect as many plastic bags as possible to create mats, which will be donated to homeless shelters in Flagstaff.

This is the first year that NRHH has participated in a PLARN project.

Sophomore Destenie Kurtz is the director of service for NRHH. Kurtz is in charge of this project and works with other members to make the mats.

“I’ve seen lots of other university organizations participate in PLARN projects,” Kurtz said. “I thought it would be great to do it here at NAU to help out as much as we can. It’s especially great for NRHH because we do a lot of service projects.”

Kurtz said PLARN starts by putting up boxes at the front desks of all the residence halls. Their first collection of plastic bags lasted from Sept. 2 through Sept. 10. Kurtz stated that 818 bags were accumulated in the first collection.

After collecting these bags, Kurtz explained members of NRHH got together for their PLARN party to crochet the mats. Members began by cutting the plastic bags into strips and then began the yarn and needle process. The organization has two members that know how to crochet, and those members taught the others in order to craft as many mats as possible.

“We didn’t advertise our project at all except for telling the residence hall directors at the residence halls, so we were all really happy with the amount [of bags] we got,” Kurtz said.

“All the bags we received for this collection allowed us to create two mats. We’re hoping to get about five or 10 made within the next month so we can deliver them to Flagstaff Shelter Services.”

Apart from donating the mats to Flagstaff Shelter Services, NRHH is also planning on donating backpacks with snacks and water bottles to the shelter.

“Our goal is to provide every person at the shelter with a PLARN mat, a blanket and a backpack,” Kurtz said. “We are all excited to make our first delivery to the shelter. The mats we make are waterproof and extra durable, so I think the mats will be

a great contribution for the people there.”

Senior NRHH President Eryn McCoy said the club has been having a great time working on this project.

“The members of the club are looking forward to going out and delivering the mats,” McCoy said. “In my opinion, this is one of the best projects we’ve worked on at NRHH. Lots of people have asked us what this project is and how they can contribute

to it. This makes me really happy, because it shows that people care and want to help their community.”

McCoy said this project will proceed for the rest of the school year and will hopefully continue beyond that. Although McCoy will no longer be a student next year, she said members like Kurtz are working hard to continue the project.

“We all really want to continue this project for the future of our club,

so we’re hoping the rest of the year goes well,” McCoy said. “I see that Destenie and other members that are her age are really passionate about this project. I’m super happy that they want to continue the PLARN project and want to continue to be members of our organization. I can’t wait to see the future of this club, because I know it will show a lot of growth from our members.”

NRHH adviser Tommy Newsom said he’s happy to see that club members enjoy being a part of the PLARN project.

“There are only 28 members in NRHH, but the work ethic goes far beyond that,” Newsom said. “For this project, our members have worked hard to get community members to drop off their plastic bags. They’ve encouraged a lot of students on campus, as well as students off campus, to stop by a residence hall and leave their bags.”

Newsom said what he admires most about this project is that NRHH gets to make a difference in people’s lives.

“The PLARN project allows us to not only recognize some of the privileges and materials we take for granted, but also understand the experiences of what our homeless population deals with,” Newsom said. “This is a further indication of how the PLARN project not only benefits these individuals, but really highlights the larger need for support that our members want to assist with.

At its root, it helps our members gain empathy, compassion and a willingness to help better everyone, themselves included.”

The PLARN project offers students and community members a way to get rid of their plastic bags without wasting them. The next collection of bags will be held from Oct. 3 through Oct. 10. The collection boxes will be placed at the front desks of every residence hall, and anyone can drop off bags.

Photo illustration by Jay Soliz | The Lumberjack

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019| THE LUMBERJACK

21

Illustration By Kaylyn Dunn

22

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

NAU STUDENT DISCOUNT

20 Off 10 Off %

or

OPTICAL FRAMES 1

%

DISPOSABLE CONTACT LENSES 2

Best Prices on all Major Brands of Contact Lenses

Schedule your appointment at: 1-800-EYE-CARE or nationwidevision.com FLAGSTAFF | 801 S. MILTON | 86001 | (928) 213-1400

VISION BENEfITS GO fURThER AT NATIONWIDE.

WE ACCEPT MOST MAJOR VISION CARE PLANS INCLUDING MEDICARE

DOCTOrS IN EvEry OffICE!*

VSP®3 (GENERALLY APPROVED PROVIDER) • SPECTERA / OPTUM HEALTH • AVESIS • ALL AHCCCS PLANS • DAVIS VISION • BLUE CROSS • UNITED HEALTHCARE • HUMANA • CIGNA VISION • EYEMED AND MANY MORE!

Offers cannot be combined with any other coupon, special offer or insurance plan unless otherwise noted. Certain Restrictions Apply, See Store for Details. All offers and prices are subject to change without notice. All exams performed by Associate Doctors of Nationwide Optometry.(1) Current NAU Students Only. Must present current NAU School ID. Discount on frames of $159 and above. (2) Contact lens fitting fee and exam additional. Contact Lens discount on 6 months supply or more. (3) VSP® is a registered trademark of Vision Service Plan and is not affiliated with Nationwide Vision.

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK

23

SPORTS

Got fresh Skydome efforts inch toward reusable cups air? No. Jacob terrill

T

he 2016 Olympic Games attracted around 500,000 tourists to add to Rio de Janeiro’s population of 6 million. On top of this, over 10,000 athletes competed in the games.

The influx of people brought in by hosting the games is sure to create a shock in any community. In 2009, Rio was given the opportunity to host the 2016 games and quickly began pledges to ensure the safety of the environment.

When Tokyo was named home for the upcoming 2020 Olympics, organizers took a similar initiative.

The official Olympics website stated the committee decided, since there are so many medals given out within the span of 16 days, the winners’ medals will be made MOLLY of recycled electronic devices. This is just SMITH one example of their efforts to contribute SPORTS EDITOR to sustainability.

Although these efforts are sweet, when I think of Tokyo, I think of beautiful, busy streets and pollution that leads to some of the worst air quality.

That was just my initial thought, but it is worth stating that the website activesustainability.com found Japan is listed as the fifth biggest polluter. So congrats Japan, you’re not quite winning this one.

A 2017 study published by The Lancet, an independent medical journal, found at least 60,000 premature deaths per year were caused by air pollution and particles entering the lungs of Japanese citizens.

How did they get granted this honor of hosting the Olympic Games?

After doing further research, I still have no idea.

There are no articles, studies or research on why this is questionable. My knowledge on environmental health is, quite honestly, limited to say the least. I know that Japan has poor air quality, and when I heard that the largest athletic event is being held there, I could not help but cock my head.

The top and most talented athletes from around the world are competing and exerting energy in one of the worst places to do so.

Nothing outwardly stated why this is not the best idea, but The Japan Times released an article referring to runners competing in the 2018 Asian Games. Indonesian Walker Hendro was grateful to complete the race. He finished in last place, 30 minutes behind the gold medalist. Hendro made it very clear that the combination of heat and air quality largely affected his performance.

There is now less than a year until the Summer Games.

Japan may be taking measures to combat negative factors, but there is no way decades of bad air quality will be reversed in time.

N

AU has become more sustainable over the years by improving its waste management and using alternative options for cups. Sodexo, a company that provides meals for schools like NAU, contributes to this success.

Football games at the Walkup Skydome can be difficult to make environmentally sustainable.

With thousands of fans attending to support NAU, food venues in the arena sell a large amount of food and drinks during the games.

Sodexo provides food for the Skydome during games and has discoverd different strategies to make events more sustainable. One strategy includes upgrading to compostable and reusable cups.

“All the cups we [sell at the Skydome] that aren’t reusable are all biodegradable,” Casey Fisher, the director for strategic planning and marketing for Sodexo, said.

“Over the last 3 or 4 years, we have leaned on Pepsi, our vendor that provides our product, and we’re really only taking the products that they can supply that are biodegradable.”

The only beverages that can be bought at the games that are not biodegradable are the water bottles. This is why Sodexo does recommend fans lean toward the reusable cups, also known as loyalty cups, that people

can buy for $3 at games.

These cups are similar to the reward cups offered at Harkins Theatres. People can bring these cups back to the game and purchase a beverage for $1. Gaby Galvan, the Skydome sustainability specialist for Sodexo, said promotion for these cups isn’t necessary, because they sell themselves.

“So even if people aren’t thinking about the sustainability, they are going to do it because it’s cheaper,” Galvan said.

In addition, Sodexo holds special events throughout the year to promote differently designed cups.

“We have the family game coming up,” Fisher said. “And we have a special commemorative cup for family weekend that is a reusable cup. We will have one for homecoming, too.”

The family weekend football game will be Oct. 5 against University of Northern Colorado. The homecoming football game will be Oct. 26 against Portland State University.

Fisher said the Sodexo team is acknowledged by the community because they compost. They are able to use the organic material from different waste products to produce a soil conditioner.

Sodexo has its own large-scale compost program it developed themselves.

A dish return machine for both of the food courts on campus was created, which composts almost all food waste produced.

In addition, they were able to go strawless at the beginning of last year and stopped using plastic bags in 2009.

One of the student leaders

within NAU’s sustainable communities graduate program, Tyler Linner, said there have been some tensions between NAU and environmental activists in Flagstaff.

NAU is growing quickly and Linner said he has some ideas on how to repair the relationship.

“If athletics partnered with the same people doing the community events, then it would send a message that NAU is trying to improve and be a part of the community,” Linner said. “NAU is like an island, and it would be good to see it and the community come together and become one.”

An advantage that athletics has is knowing nearly the exact data that comes from these types of events. They are able to break down the percentage of what material was used during certain events.

This knowledge is very valuable because it can give event planners an understanding about what materials they use the most, and they can partner with groups within the community to find waste management solutions.

An event that NAU football has done over the years is the Green Game.

This is a game where they don’t use any type of waste throughout the entire game.

Over the years, they have been striving to have this standard for every game.

“The Green Jacks are really good at going to games to facilitate recycling to help people,” Galvan said.

The Green Jacks and the NAU Green Fund are sustainability programs that Sodexo works with to make the university more sustainable. Both groups are mostly comprised of students who help with a number of sustainability related projects.

Galvan said the Green Jacks focus more time on athletics than the rest of the programs on campus.

These programs have constantly tried to upgrade NAU’s sustainability.

With programs and projects, they will try to improve the Flagstaff lifestyle and make the city and campus as environmentally friendly as possible, one simple act at a time.

Illustration By Blake Fernandez

24

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

SPORTS

The Skydome practice fields were remodeled and turf was installed to help with water conservation Sept. 28. Italia Diazbarigga | The Lumberjack

Weighing the pros and cons of turf molly smith

T

he good ol’ sandlot is a place where vacant land is taken over by amateur athletes. If those players make their way to higher levels of play, they are awarded with nicer fields.

As mankind progresses, more and more elements of life begin to be artificial, including grass.

The typical baseball, football and soccer fields have an outstretched lawn that span for a 100 yards.

This year, the Sports Activity Practice Fields underwent major renovations. Before, the field was a natural grass lawn, and post-renovations it is now a turf field.

NAU project manager Andrew Iacona said the project was initiated as a request from the Student Advisory Committee, and became a partnership between NAU Athletics and Campus Recreation to execute.

There were many factors responsible for the conversion from natural grass to artificial turf, but low maintenance trumps all.

“There is a significant water use savings by switching to artificial turf,” Iacona said.

“Similarly, the need for weekly mowing, line painting, fertilization and regular irrigation maintenance is no longer necessary.”

Washington State University conducted a study on soil-based soccer fields. They listed seven steps that require a field to be top quality.

The study shows that a bad field is one that is inconsistently watered. Whether in season or not, good fields are watered with 1 to 2 inches of water per week.

The trouble with this is that it is possible for grass to be overwatered. Flagstaff experiences extreme weather elements with snow and rain, creating muddy or frozen conditions. Outdoor facilities in Flagstaff seem to favor artificial turf for this reason only, although there are plenty of other supporting elements.

All sports require some sort of boundary and line markings. Grass fields are constantly being spray painted, and aerosol cans are heavily relied on for this.

In the 1970s, there were nationwide bans on the chemicals in spray cans because of their effect on the ozone layer. The chemical that was specifically banned is called chlorofluorocarbons.

Modern day aerosol cans are almost completely free of chlorofluorocarbons. Still, it is possible that aerosols could be harmful to the environment.

Turf fields do not require any type of spray paint. The different colors that are seen are actually individually colored strands that do not require reservicing.

So when looking at the pros and cons, turf seems to take the win in favor of the environment.

Where turf can lose out to natural grass is production. Grass is fertilized, grown and laid. Turf goes through a factorized production process. Many factories have a carbon discharge of some kind, but artificial grass only goes through this process once, while grass constantly needs attention from carbon-emitting equipment.

Iacona said he was unsure about what would be better for the environment.

“Due to the known difficulties of maintaining a grass sports field in our region, between the ongoing maintenance efforts, continual line paint, mowing, fertilization and significant water use, I am going to guess that the artificial turf might be more sustainable,” Iacona said.

Turf reduces carbon emissions due to a lower amount of maintenance required, because fossil fuels are not being used for lawn mowers and trimmers. On the other hand, turf factories probably contributed to the 6,457 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2017, as stated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

That’s not to say lawn mowers and other gas powered tools are not contributors as well. The

EPA also completed a study that found nearly 23 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions belonged to these gadgets in 2018.

Another plus for artificial grass is that the rubber particles, which lay in the artificial blades of grass, are actually made from recycled waste. However, this fact is bittersweet for the argument against turf.

Though some rubber bits are made of recycled waste, the entirety of turf cannot yet be made from recycled material. Some companies are researching ways to keep their products from ending up in a landfill, but others might not consider the aftereffects.

Player preference is another important factor in the arguments for or against turf.

Senior soccer defender Amanda Bennett prefers playing on grass.

“It feels like an actual surface compared to turf,” Bennett said. “Turf gets hard, and it gets really hot as well. It also sucks to fall on.”

The old-school way of thinking is that grass is better for the environment because it is natural. Although the newfound way of thinking is that turf has plenty of counterpoints to combat this argument. Even the production process is no longer an imporance.

People must look at what is at risk in order to constantly maintain something as simple as grass.

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK

25

SPORTS

athletes Play hard while being cruelty free david church

T

here is often a stigma that gets brought up when discussing college athletes and their diets.

Some people say that since they are an athlete, they are taking in every amount of animal protein possible with no care in the world about where it comes from. While hard-hitting, strength-based sports like football and basketball do require a high protein diet to build muscle mass, some athletes find alternative ways to keep themselves in peak physical shape without a need for animal products.

Veganism has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it is no different in the sports world. Athletes from different sports, including soccer, mixed martial arts and even football, consider vegan diets capable of keeping their bodies strong.

Whether an athlete follows a vegan diet or not, the food that athletes put into their bodies plays a key role in their performance.

“My diet played a huge role,” former NAU football player Wes Sutton said. “First off, you must maintain a certain weight to enable you to perform at your highest level.

Watching what I ate became much more of a priority during my junior and senior year. Those happened to be my best years. Diet and nutrition are extremely important.”

The importance of diet was confirmed by current NAU strength and conditioning coach, Sam Lackey, as he explained how important it is for athletes to watch what they eat.

“I always tell our athletes that we can’t out-train a bad diet. As hard as we train and as much stress as we put on the body, you gotta be able to recover,” Lackey said. “I’m only in charge of them for one hour out of the day, so that gives the athlete 23 hours to screw it up potentially, but that’s why we focus so much on the education side of things.”

Whether it be because of dietary reasons or for activism purposes, an athlete can choose to be vegan for

26

Illustration By Madison Cohen

various reasons. Some feel that a vegan diet is a perfect plan to follow for their specific body type. Sarah Auble, former soccer player from Chandler Gilbert Community College, is just one example of an athlete who chose to go vegan.

“I decided to go vegan as both a lifestyle choice and morally as well,” Auble said. “When I played soccer in college I knew I needed my body to be able to perform under high periods of stress, and for me personally, going on a vegan diet was the best way for

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

me to get to that point.”

Since vegans do not eat animal products, they require alternative sources of amino acids from the fods they eat. According to Heathline, a nutrion website, high protein foods, such as tofu, nuts, seeds, lentils and quinoa are good sources of these acids.

How a vegan diet will affect an athlete’s performance depends on what that athlete eats. At the end of the day, it is about finding what works best for the athlete and their body type.

“I’m not too sure if an athlete being vegan can affect their performance,” Sutton said. “I believe as long as you’re getting the right nutrients into your body that it needs on a consistent basis, then your body will adapt to those circumstances, especially if it is healthy foods like most of the vegan food is.”

NAU has made efforts to tackle specific diet plans for athletes with dietary concerns, whether it be by their own choice or for medical reasons.

Lackey said there is a growing partnership with the NAU Health Sciences department to help validate strong meal plans and better portion controls to help athletes monitor the nutrients they take in.

“We have all kinds of dietary concerns for our athletes. We have athletes that are lactose intolerant, athletes with celiac disease, to athletes that are vegan,” Lackey said. “You want to make sure you don’t give any misinformation, so we’re constantly asking them questions about how they’re doing, diet-wise.”

There is not a lot of research that shows following a vegan diet has any real positive or negative effects on an athlete’s performance when game day comes. It is important to remember that everybody is different — some athletes will react better to a vegan diet than others.

“You just want to make sure that if they’re going to do it, they are informed on it,” Lackey said.

“If that’s the route they want to go, they need to know all the pros and cons of it. Knowing you may need to supplement some things — minerals, nutrients, vitamin B12 — stuff that plays a key role in recovery.”

Being vegan is not a step back in being competitive. It may even be an advantage for some. Many people use it as an important diet tool to keep their body performing at maximum.

“Sometimes when I tell people I am vegan, they start looking at me differently,” Auble said. “In my opinion, being vegan is just another example of free will. Some people choose to be vegan because they, like others, think it’s disgusting and will never try it, and that’s OK.” Athletes have to perform well both on the playing field and the classroom. There is a lot that goes into being an athlete and performing at the highest levels, and diet is on top of the list.

Vegan or not, doing what is best for the athlete’s own body is the best way to go.

SPORTS

Lumberjacks sweep University of Houston 3-0

Top: NAU women’s soccer celebrates after scoring a goal against the University of Houston Sept. 27. Bottom Left: Sophomore midfielder Rylee Mitchell (3) challenges University of Houston defender Emma Clarke Sept. 27. Bottom Right: Senior forward Mei-Te Coco (2) and senior midfielder Carly George (23) celebrate Coco’s goal Sept. 27. Brian Burke | The Lumberjack

OCTOBER 3, 2019 – OCTOBER 9, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK

27

Welcome Lumberjacks!

Secure your housing today!

You’ve never lived like this. · Private bedrooms and bathrooms available · Fully furnished apartments with leather-style furniture · Amenities for a fit and healthy lifestyle

· Academic Success Center with iMacs and free printing · State-of-the-art fitness center · Internet and cable TV included

Learn more and apply online at AmericanCampus.com/Flagstaff

Amenities and utilities included are subject to change. Limited time only. See office for details.

28

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

AS #848783 | 611, 608 &615