The Lumberjack -- Nov. 16, 2017

T H E L U M BE R JACK

NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, 2017

COLD HARD CASH A SPECIAL ISSUE

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

H

ard work, determination and success: This is the American dream that nourishes the palates of Americans hungry for financial success. Since childhood, we have been encouraged to follow the American dream and the path that would lead us to earn more money and strive for higher living standards than our parents.

After four-and-a-half years, I am finally approaching the road’s end of my college career and will be pried from the haven of college and spit out into the “real world.” More than ever, the pressure to fulfill the expectations of my parents and my peers has become a jarring and frightening concept.

Time and time again, I have watched people close to me buckle to their fears of failure and pain, and I have always scoffed at the idea of becoming submissive to fear. Ironically, I now find myself in their shoes. I am standing at the edge of a cliff with my fears deterring me from taking the leap into the water of my passions below. This semester, I have musingly watched in self-pity numerous aspects of my life destabilize: my romantic relationship, mental health and financial stability MAKENNA — I have probably spent more money on NAU parking tickets than I have on LEPOWSKY groceries in the past few months.

FEATURES EDITOR Like storm clouds consuming a clear, blue sky, the pressure to achieve success, financial stability and fulfill people’s expectations of me are at the forefront of my mind.

All I seek from graduation is stability, comfort and affirmation that the debt I have accumulated over the years to receive my degrees in journalism, political science and studio art, will all be worth it in the end. Slowly, my love for these subjects has been replaced by my fears of instability, and it has been difficult for me to pinpoint when I began to let fear influence my choices. What I can pinpoint, however, is when and who is responsible for my choice to no longer live in the shadows of fear. My change starts now, and my colleagues at The Lumberjack have become my voice of reason.

They have helped me revive my belief in myself and the importance in not sacrificing dreams at the hands of fear.

Life is a game where the odds may not always be in one’s favor, but what we can control is how we handle the cards we are dealt. Throughout college, I have held onto the idea that one day the nights that turned into mornings would be worth it in the end. With graduation just weeks away, those late nights will soon be worth it. As I close one door and open the door to my future, I will not be stifled by fears but instead let my struggles fuel my passions so my passions may fuel others.

VOL. 105 ISSUE 13

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

Editor-in-Chief Megan Troutman

Managing Editor Kari Scott

Copy Chief Emma Helfrich

Faculty Advisor Mary Tolan

Faculty Advisor, Visuals Jennifer Swanson

Sales Manager Marsha Simon

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board News Editor Conor Sweetman Asst. News Editor Joey Postiglione

Opinion-Editorial Editor Elizabeth Wendler

Sports Editor Lance Hartzler

Director of Photography Michael Patacsil

Asst. Opinion-Editorial Editor Asst. Sports Editor Director of Illustration Peggy Packer Kade Gilliss Colton Starley

Features Editor Makenna Lepowsky Asst. Features Editor MaryAnn Witt

Culture Editor Katie Sawyer

Web Chief Ariel Cianfarano

Asst. Culture Editor Kaitlyn Sampson

Print Chief Matthew Strissel

2 THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

- Congressman Tom O’Halleran, 2017 NAU students engage while listening to Tom O’Halleran, congressman and Arizona’s 1st Congressional District’s Representative, in a town hall forum at the SBS Castro building Nov. 11.

Shelbie Smithson | The Lumberjack

Thank you for reading.

THE LUMBERJACK

“It saddens me, in fact, that this populous for the most part is not involved in even voting, and you have to understand what that ‘vote’ means.”

Director of Circulation Luis Gardetto

On the cover This special issue of The Lumberjack is all about money and how cold hard cash shapes our lives.

Photo Illustration by Michaela Leikam

Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Megan Troutman at mlt273@nau.edu.

PoliceBeat Nov. 6 At 12:46 a.m., a driver was stopped by NAUPD in parking lot 66 and was given a citation for not having a driver’s license. A verbal warning for speeding was also issued.

entering the dorm.

At 7:41 a.m., a staff member reported graffiti on the sidewalk near the intersection of Knoles and McConnell drives. An NAUPD officer responded and took a report.

The case was closed as all leads were exhausted.

At 12:42 p.m., a student in McConnell Hall reported difficulty breathing. NAUPD, FFD and Guardian Medical Transport (GMT) responded.

The student was transported to FMC.

Nov. 8 At 12:08 a.m., McConnell Hall staff reported the odor of marijuana.

NAUPD responded. Two students were deferred for the use of At 2:11 a.m., an NAUPD marijuana. Another student officer assisted FPD with a was deferred for the use of fight in the 100 block of North marijuana and possession of San Francisco Street. drug paraphernalia.

At 12:01 p.m., a parent called to report not hearing from their non-student last seen on campus at approximately 2 a.m. that morning. The nonstudent was found visiting a student on campus.

Nov. 7 At 10:41 a.m., staff in the Student and Academic Services building reported graffiti on the roof. An NAUPD officer responded and took a report.

Facility Services were notified to clean the area.

At 3:58 p.m., a student reported a bicyclist had run into them. An NAUPD officer responded and took a report.

At 8:22 p.m., an RA at Tinsley Hall reported the odor of marijuana. NAUPD responded to the dorm. One student was criminally deferred for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

At 10:11 p.m., an RA in Reilly Hall reported the odor of marijuana. NAUPD responded and made contact with the subject. The subject had a valid medical marijuana card and had smoked before

Compiled by Jessie Russel Parking Garage cited one student for a minor in consumption. Another student was cited for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Nov. 11 At 12:59 a.m., staff in McConnell Hall reported the odor of marijuana. One student was cited and released for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

At 6:35 a.m., FPD transferred a medical assistance call from the Drury Inn to NAUPD. NAUPD, GMT and FFD responded. A nonstudent was taken to FMC.

At 1:35 p.m., a student went into NAUPD At 7:10 p.m., an RA headquarters to report a sexual in Cowden Hall reported assault. An officer took a report the odor of marijuana. One and notified Victim Witness. student was deferred for possession of marijuana and At 5:30 p.m., a Mountain drug paraphernalia.

The View Hall staff member student was also cited for use reported the odor of marijuana. of marijuana.

NAUPD responded. Three students were deferred for At 10:54 p.m., staff in possession of marijuana and McConnell Hall reported drug paraphernalia. students had Nerf guns. An

NAUPD officer responded Nov. 9 and informed students of the At 9 p.m., McConnell campus weapons policy.

Hall staff reported the odor of marijuana. A student was Nov. 12 criminally deferred for use of At 12:34 p.m., a staff marijuana and possession of member at South Fields drug paraphernalia.

Complex reported a student had broken their finger. The Nov. 10 student refused help.

At 12:07 a.m., a student reported a subject throwing up At 2:07 p.m., NAUPD in parking lot 46. The student received an intrusion alarm was contacted and refused from the Communication assistance. Everything was fine. building. An NAUPD officer responded and searched the At 12:17 a.m., Reilly area. No criminal activity as Hall staff reported damage witnessed. to several doors. An officer responded and took a report.

At 2:47 p.m., an RA After a brief investigation, the at McKay Village reported case was closed. the odor of marijuana. One student was cited for possession At 3:38 a.m., NAUPD of drug paraphernalia. officers at the San Francisco

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NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 3

NEWS

Department of Interior proposes park-fee increase Hayley O’Connor

T

he National Park Service (NPS) has proposed a targeted increase in their parkentry fees at 17 of the most visited parks in the United States. The NPS announced in an Oct. 24 press release that the proposed increase is to address the backlog of maintenance at the parks. The proposed change would affect only 17 of the 417 national parks and monuments.

The 17 affected are some of the most popular, and the entrance fee would take effect at the beginning of peak season, which the NPS has defined as the busiest contiguous five-month period a year. This is typically from May through September.

“The infrastructure of our national parks is aging and in need of renovation and restoration,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke in the NPS press release. “Targeted fee increases at some of our most-visited parks will help ensure that they are protected and preserved in perpetuity and that visitors enjoy a world-class experience that mirrors the amazing destinations they are visiting. Shoring up our parks’ aging infrastructure will do that.”

Most parks charge $30 for a single car to enter, $25 for motorcycles and $15 for an individual on foot or bike, but, under this proposal, 17 national parks would raise the entry fee to $70 for a non-commercial vehicle, $50 per motorcycle and $30 per person on bike or foot.

A park-specific annual pass for any of the 17 parks would be available for $75, according to the press release from the NPS. The 17 parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Denali, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Olympic, Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Acadia, Mount Rainier, Rocky Mountain, Joshua Tree and Shenandoah National Parks, could all raise their prices. The bulk of those parks would have their first peak-season fee raise on May 1, 2018 and the rest by June 1.

Rachel Rietkopp works at the Embassy Suites in Flagstaff and thinks the potential fee increase will not negatively affect local businesses.

“I don’t think it will matter. People will visit the Grand Canyon no matter what,” said Rietkopp. “It’s famous around the world, and I think if someone travels this far to see it, a $50 increase in the price won’t stop anyone. I can understand why some locals might be annoyed by the price hike, especially if they go there often.

[Flagstaff] is the closest big city to the Canyon,

Rain falls over the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park Nov. 5. Shelbie Smithson | The Lumberjack

and if someone is looking to save money, they can stay in Flagstaff instead of an expensive hotel [closer to] the Grand Canyon.”

Visitor traffic is the highest during summer when the weather is warm and more people are able to travel due to fewer work or school obligations.

The NPS is also proposing an entry and permit fee increase for commercial tour operations. The proposal would not only increase entry fees for commercial operators, but standardize commercial use authorization requirements for road-based tours.

Thomas McCullough is an employee at Babbitt’s Backcountry Backpackers, a store

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specializing in sporting goods and outdoor gear and frequently outfits those headed to the Canyon.

“We get a lot of tourist traffic in Flagstaff, but I think a lot of the people going to the Grand Canyon have made it a vacation,” said McCullough. “I find a lot of people are traveling for river trips, which are expensive already, so they have saved up and they might not be concerned with extra costs at that point. We will just have to see because there are many ways how the increase can play out. It might not be a big deal for travelers.”

NAU hiking club member Jillian Fahringer said the fee increase would greatly increase the

parks system and help everyone in the long run. “[The fee increase] will allow the parks to stay open for many years,” said Fahringer. “In the short run, the significant increase in pricing alters a lot of peoples willingness to go ... this decreases some of the crowding and stress on the parks.”

Fahringer is a frequent visitor to the Grand Canyon and other national parks .

While the proposal is under review, the NPS has a public comment period lasting until Nov. 23. Comments can be submitted at www. nps.gov.

NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 5

NEWS

Centralization continues on campus Rylee Sherouse

I

n July 2016, a centralized student employment program was established within the Career Development Department to ensure consistent practices for student employees across campus. Although the university claims there are no negatives to this program, some student workers think otherwise.

This practice implements consistent pay across university departments for the same work students do in different departments.

Emily McCarthy, Director of NAU’s Career Development office, explained the process that will take place across campus.

“The departments will be given a pay range based on a student employee’s role and level of responsibility and will be able to exercise discretion within that range,” said McCarthy.

McCarthy said that wage issues was brought to the department’s attention how important this topic is in spring 2016.

“An internal audit conducted in spring 2016 emphasized the importance of consistent pay across campus,” McCarthy said. “The benefit of consistent pay practices is that students receive similar pay for similar work no matter where they work on campus. Additionally, consistent pay practices will allow us to maintain a large

number of student jobs on campus.”

Freshman criminal justice major Anaid Torres works for NAU athletics and thinks that there are benefits — and shortfalls — to the new pay system.

“I believe that every student should be paid the same amount whether they are working games or food, or anything else because a job is a job,” said Torres. “As college students, we have responsibilities, and we need money to pay for things such as books. Yet, we are all working hard, but we are not paid the same.”

Torres also acknowledged the negatives of the program.

“It is unfair that a student can spend all four years, learn to practically run the job and yet get paid the same amount as when [they] started.

How is that going to motivate them to try hard and achieve more? I believe this is not going to work, especially if the university decides to stay at $8 an hour,” said Torres.

McCarthy is confident that the program will be effectively implemented across the university.

“At this point in time, we do not foresee reducing pay, unless the current pay is significantly out of alignment with the student’s Continued on page 7

Above Right: Student workers Mariah Delgado and Hannah Turner help a fellow student at the information desk in the University Union Nov. 12. Bottom Left: Student worker, Andrew Manzur, working as an on-duty Resident Assistant at Cowden Hall Nov. 12. Bottom Right: Student worker Amy Sanderson helps fellow student Lindsay Marsh check out a laptop in Cline Library Nov. 12.

Libby Cummings | The Lumberjack

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NEWS Continued from page 6 level of responsibility,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy thinks this whole program will positively affect the university.

“NAU will be able to gain a better understanding of the critical work our students perform on campus, and that consistency in pay practices will enable us to maintain our large number of student employment positions,” McCarthy said.

Junior criminal justice major Divina Velasquez works as a peer coach for the Academic Transitioning Program, a program to help students with low high school GPAs succeed in university life.

She thinks the consistent pay program will ensure that her pay will remain stable and not fluctuate.

Velasquez, however, is worried about her hours under the new campus payment system.

“It brings in more people, but we get less hours,” said Velasquez.

Senior anthropology major Rachel Neisen, who works as an aid for support in the Student Tech Center, thinks that the wage differentiation will work but only in some cases.

“I think, depending on the job, the wage should differ. While everyone should be paid minimum wage, I do think there are some jobs on campus that require more training [or] work thus they deserve to be paid more,” said Neisen.

Neisen thinks the interaction between the university and students needs to be improved for this to be effective.

“I think, for many people at my work, we feel that the school lacks in working with its students to understand their needs, so if everyone did end up making the same regardless of time spent at the job or the job itself, many people would be very frustrated, more so than they already are,” Neisen said.

McCarthy said she recognizes that change might be hard, but she hopes for students to appreciate consistent pay.

In addition to consistent pay practices, the Student Employment Program is planning to implement consistent hiring, training and performance management practices to have a more consistent practice across the university.

NAU is the first Arizona university to make the move to a more structured Student Employment Program, but UA and ASU are looking into their student employment practices. This program takes effect summer 2018.

Sexual misconduct records still not delivered Joey Postiglione

I

n 2016, NAU spokesperson Kimberly Ott told The Lumberjack that, since 2010, there had been 10 formal complaints of sexual harassment and three formal complaints of sexual assault by NAU faculty members against students.

Since late 2016, The Lumberjack has made repeated requests to Ott through phone calls, email and in person to learn more about these and other possible allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment by NAU faculty, but has been met with delays from the President’s Office.

On Nov. 7 in an email, Ott told The Lumberjack to expect records regarding sexual misconduct by faculty against students “as soon as next week.” The Lumberjack has not yet received any of those records.

In an email Nov. 6, Ott wrote, “I am still working on a redacted copy of the recommendations from the Hearing Board for the past six months.” One week later on Nov. 13, Ott wrote The Lumberjack and said, “We have no records from the Hearing Board regarding students that involve faculty and staff.”

In response, The Lumberjack sent another public records request Nov. 14 specifically asking for records related to the 13 complaints of sexual misconduct that have been filed since 2010.

Since learning in 2016 from Ott of the 13 cases of sexual misconduct by faculty, The Lumberjack has attempted to uncover more details through the freedom of information laws regarding how those complaints were handled and how NAU protects students from predatory faculty.

The Lumberjack has made three public records requests addressed to NAU: on Feb. 17, Sept. 19 and Nov. 14. The first request asked for Memorandums of the Finding and Sanctions from the past six months, May 2016 to Feb. 2017. These memorandums are a form that the Dean of Students produces after an investigation is conducted about a Title IX complaint. The memo is a compilation of all the evidence found in investigation of a complaint.

In communicating with Ott, The Lumberjack reporters specifically asked for information about complaints that involved NAU faculty. Ott assured The Lumberjack multiple times that the request would be completed soon.

Ott, assistant to the president for executive communications and media relations, first responded to the Feb. 17 request March 23 with the following statement over email: “Allegations of gender discrimination,

harassment or violence against employees of the university are addressed by the Equity and Access Office (EAO) under the Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy (SWALE). This process is different from the process followed by the Office of Student Life for alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct. Formal investigations by EAO result in a finding of ‘cause’ or ‘no cause’ using a preponderance of evidence standard. Findings and, when appropriate, recommendations for response, are shared with the employee’s supervisory chain of command for implementation,” said Ott via email.

Ott’s March 23 response did not provide the information about cases of sexual misconduct that had been requested.

Ott’s second response to the Feb. 17 request was received on April 14, and the two documents that were received were blank templates of the memorandum. At the time, Ott told The Lumberjack that eight cases in the last six months have had a memo issued, with only one case having sufficient evidence. It was unclear if those cases were faculty misconduct as requested or if they were student misconduct. It is also unclear if the eight cases are part of the 13 cases of sexual misconduct that Ott originally shared with The Lumberjack. No further information was given about the eight cases.

In response to the Feb. 17 request, Ott said in an email: “In order to establish that a student is responsible for a violation of the code of conduct there must be sufficient evidence to determine that it is ‘more likely than not’ that the violation occurred,” Ott wrote. “Depending on the severity of the violation, possible sanctions include a warning, probation, suspension, or expulsion from the university.”

She did not provide any information about faculty violations.

The Lumberjack made a second public records request Sept. 19, this time explicitly requesting memos that dealt with faculty misconduct against students in the past six months, April 2017 to Sept. 2017. This request was sent not only to Ott but to Joanne Keene, executive vice president and chief of staff, and general counsel Michelle Parker.

Ott said Nov. 7 over email that “NAU takes any allegations against an employee seriously and is thoroughly responsive.” She added, “there are many times when government and academic institutions would like nothing more than to have the opportunity to assure the public by discussing how we have handled a situation with an employee or student, but cannot because of

privacy laws.”

In an attempt to learn more about the process of handling allegations of sexual misconduct, The Lumberjack contacted the Office of Equity and Access, which also houses the Title IX office, but was referred to go through Ott in the President’s Office.

If a complaint of sexual misconduct by faculty is brought to the Dean’s office of a college, the office is required, both by federal law and university rules, to immediately report it to the Office of Equity and Access.

“If something was to come to the Dean’s office, we would immediately have to report that,” said Kevin Trainor, associate dean of the W.A. Franke Business College. “Equity and Access and the Title IX offices are the experts we go to.”

Trainor also referred to Section IV of the Safe Working and Learning Environment policy, which requires individuals in roles of authority to inform the Office of Equity and Access of cases of misconduct.

As to what happens after the incident is reported and the involvement of the college in this process, Trainor said he could not comment on this because he has never had to go through that process.

ASNAU also directs students who have experienced sexual misconduct by any person to the proper channels of reporting, one of them being through the Office of Equity and Access.

All NAU faculty are required to complete the NAU Conduct, Ethics, Reporting and Transparency course that covers sexual harassment, among other topics. The course can now be completed online, but faculty formerly had to complete the course in person.

“For many years, it was conducted in person, a relatively small group of faculty and staff, about 25 at a time. This was completed annually,” said Eugene Moan, educational psychology professor and former teacher of these in-person classes. “[Student-faculty relationships] was a pretty significant part of the training, about an hour out of a four-hour training.”

The Lumberjack is still investigating the 13 cases of sexual misconduct that Ott confirmed in 2016 and other possible allegations of sexual misconduct by NAU faculty, in addition to how NAU handles cases of inappropriate relationships between students and faculty.

Students, faculty and staff who would like to contact The Lumberjack can email reporters Megan Troutman (mlt273@nau.edu), Joey Postiglione (jpp93@nau.edu) or Adrian Skabelund (acs447@ nau.edu).

NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 7

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NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, , 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 9

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Learning to accept femininity in adulthood Kaylin Dunnett

“

children, the rejection of capitalist femininity as tweens, then finally learning to see “girly things” as something that doesn’t define one’s gender.

No, I’m not saying I was a budding socialist from my early tweens. It was more that I hated what I was supposed to like and rebelled against it in the spirit of not being like other girls.

The problem with the idea of “not being like other girls” is summed up perfectly in an article on The Odyssey by writer Julia DiSanti, who wrote, “There is no wrong way of being a girl.” I agree.

Aligning oneself with this mantra can be as bad as telling women they’re doing woman things wrong. It’s the same sentiment that femininity is weak and dumb, but that women are obligated to be feminine regardless.

According to DiSanti’s article, “When people use the phrase ‘not like other girls,’ it puts us all in a box and implies that certain types of girls are better than others because maybe they don’t shop at certain stores or wear a full face of makeup every day.”

I found that loving feminine things came from within, from my own unique experience as a woman. It took growing up and embracing makeup as a non-gendered art and clothing as gender-neutral. I realized my gender isn’t dictated by what little girls played with in commercials.

It took self-love.

You may be thinking, “Kaylin, I don’t think loving Care Bears and glittery crap as a college student is really all that deep,” but I think it’s indicative of something more. It’s a celebration of oneself and the freedom to choose what I enjoy without the fear of being labeled less of a woman, or less of a person, for it.

So, I say, do it. Love cheerful, colorful aesthetics.

Embrace rainbows.

Sprinkle glitter. A person can dress up like a Barbie doll if they want, no matter who they are. If it makes them feel awesome, more power to them. No one is any less valid because of it.

I’m not like other girls.”

Eleven-year-old Kaylin was a fanatic of various interests and aesthetics. I wore an olive green cargo fishing hat to school every day because I thought it looked cool. I drew snails with fabric markers on Hanes white T-shirts, and they were a staple of my everyday outfits.

I often threaded skinny, sequined scarves through my jeans and tied them tight as a substitute for a belt. To top it all off, I had a tendency to wear a hideous, puke-green parka bought for me several years prior, which for some reason, my mother allowed me to wear out of the house.

I vehemently hated makeup. I now realize I hated makeup for what I thought it stood for.

Wearing makeup was for self-absorbed girls.

Painting my fingernails was stupid — and I was very, very bad at it. I hated how I looked in pink and how my mother struggled to make me retire my beloved fishing hat for something cuter.

Girlier.

Sparklier.

Something that would loudly proclaim, “I am a girl, and this is what girls are supposed to like.”

I used to love Care Bears and My Little Pony. I also loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers. It wasn’t until it became apparent to my younger self that the aforementioned shows weren’t meant for me that I started hating the pinktoy aisle.

I’m nearing 20 now, and I can’t seem to get enough of Care Bears, makeup, the color pink and anything frilly. But why?

Why is it that young women, young men and people of other genders are now finding themselves in so-called girly things — things they may have hated years ago?

I believe this shift has everything to do with the rigid gender stereotypes people are forced to grow into as Illustration By Katie Dobrydney

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NAU Mental health fees depress students By the end of the school year, I would have paid about $850 in counseling fees and much hether a student has an interest in more if I didn’t pay the HRF. That’s a lot of physical fitness or not, NAU tuition money, especially for college students who are covers a gym membership already having to pay yearly tuition and at the Health and Learning Center other added expenses.

(HLC). Personally, I’d rather swan If mental health services dive into the River Styx than jog were covered by tuition, maybe for 10 minutes on a treadmill, more students who are struggling but that’s just me. with mental illness would take Tuition covers a wide advantage and get the help they array of other fees from firstneed. year housing, access to the College is liberating, but Wall Aquatic Center, the it is also unbelievably stressful.

Safe Ride bus program and Today’s students are the rock climbing wall. I think being crushed under the it’s awesome that NAU students pressure of debilitating debt in have access to varying recreational order to further their education. activities.

This can lead to extreme stress, Yet, I am still left with a depression and anxiety, which persistent question: Why aren’t result in a rapid decline in mental health services covered but academic performance. Mental an olympic-size swimming pool illness can make something as is? simple as getting out of bed feel As far as prices go, the like climbing Mt. Everest, let cost of counseling at NAU is alone mustering the energy to go relatively low. That is because all to class, complete assignments and NAU students pay a $250 fee per study for exams. semester, in addition to tuition, The stigma surrounding mental called the Health and Recreation Fee health and therapy is damaging (HRF), which lowers the cost of mental for those who need it most. There is no health services and covers fitness activities weakness in acknowledging when one’s on campus. mental health has taken control Counseling Services offers Illustration By Dominic Davies of their life. It takes immense numerous types of counseling strength to start the process of with varying concentrations. The initial reclaiming one’s life and tremendous bravery to consultation is completely free, but private reach out for help. appointments after that are typically $25. If a If you or someone you know is showing student hasn’t paid the HRF for the semester, symptoms of depression, anxiety or any other appointments are more expensive. mental illnesses, I strongly urge you to seek help.

At first glance, those prices seem NAU has a 24-hour call line where students are reasonable, but consider students struggling able to speak to counselors on their own time. with mental illness who benefit from frequent Plus, it’s absolutely free. counseling sessions.

While I strongly support NAU’s mental Battling mental illness myself, I have been health services, I don’t support making students in and out of therapy most of my life. The more pay for essential services that could improve I went to counseling, the more my mental their overall well-being, academic success and state improved. Imagine that I paid my fee and could potentially save their life. If a student attended counseling at the HLC once a week would rather have their HRF covered in their since the first week of school. tuition than the gym, they should have that That is $100 a month. option.

Savannah Tate

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

The NRA doesn’t speak for me MEgan Mueller

G

uns and money.

Money and guns.

A society where just about everything is controlled by guns and money seems like the perfect setting for an action television show with lots of running from explosions with dramatic catchphrases said in the face of danger.

A society where everything is controlled by guns and money is a show I would want to watch. It is not, however, a society I would want to live in. It is a society I would be frightened to live in.

I would be wary of mass murder by firearm and the government’s lack of cooperation in working to prevent it. I would be nervous that officials elected to represent me in the House and the Senate had interests geared more toward personal power than toward the well-being of their constituents.

Unfortunately, the nation I live in today is exactly that society. The United States is very much controlled by guns and money.

In response to the many tragic mass shootings seen in recent years, many U.S. citizens have called for gun control reform. They feel that it is much too easy to obtain weapons capable of mass murder. Many elected officials, however, do not offer the promise of a safer nation.

Instead, they offer thoughts and prayers, not action.

It is easy for a politician to condemn something when they have no personal strings attached to it. It is difficult to condemn

something that owns them. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a U.S. organization advocating for gun rights and it has poured millions of dollars into politics.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan “research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy,” the NRA gave $838,215 to federal candidates in the 2016 cycle alone, most of them Republican.

Senator John McCain offered prayers and condolences to the victims of the Oct. 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas. However, Senator McCain, throughout his career, received almost $8 million from the NRA. Senator Richard Burr reminded the citizens of the U.S. that the violence of mass shootings “has absolutely no place here in America.” Senator Burr received almost $7 million from the NRA. Senator Roy Blunt told citizens he was “saddened by the tragic loss of life” after the Las Vegas shooting. Senator Blunt, throughout his career, has received about $4.5 million from the NRA. The list goes on.

Money from guns maintain a level of control in U.S policy making. When an organization is funding a politician’s career, it is expected that said politician doesn’t vote for policies working against the organization. And that’s dangerous.

When an unspoken promise of loyalty to an organization interferes with a politician’s ability to best represent their constituents and fight for their wellbeing, the U.S. political system has failed. When the citizens’ voice in government is stomped on by big money, the U.S. political system has failed.

Does my elected representative care more about their money or my life? Do the Senators and members of Congress prioritize me, or do they prioritize power?

Here’s a hint: The answers aren’t me and my life.

In a television show about a society controlled by guns and money, the protagonist survives and the nameless, faceless, unimportant background characters do not.

In real life, however, there is no surviving protagonist. The main characters are the very real victims of gun violence. They have names and they have faces. Every day that goes by without working to prevent such tragedy from Illustration By Beneva Fatt happening again is disgraceful.

I understand the yearning to defend the Second Amendment, but I refuse to let gun control go without reform because I refuse to be presented with more opportunities to mourn the loss of my fellow citizens.

I refuse to let politics influenced by guns and money speak for me.

Scholarship: The Lumberjack is wack Kailey Saenz

E

veryone knows how expensive college is. Memes all over the internet joke about the crippling debt a college education can leave a person in. The saving grace of college is scholarships.

Here at NAU, there are a few different scholarships for Arizona residents, the largest one being the Lumberjack scholarship.

The Lumberjack scholarship is awarded to any Arizona resident who gets no grade lower than a B throughout high school.

The scholarship is worth approximately $16,000 a year. While this may seem like plenty of money to cover college expenses, it is very misleading.

The Lumberjack scholarship only covers tuition, which leaves housing, meal plans, textbooks and other expenses to be paid. Many freshmen I know came to NAU solely because of the Lumberjack scholarship only to discover they had much more still to pay.

Tuition is only a fraction of what it costs attend university.

Some freshman dorms cost more than $5,000 a year to live in,

and many students decide to get a meal plan, adding more than $2,000 per semester to the cost.

When it comes to these costs, the bold promises of the Lumberjack scholarship don’t hold up.

Rather than actually helping the students pay for their education, the Lumberjack provides an illusion of being debtfree, pulling students in before they realize how much they have to pay except tuition. Not having to pay for classes is awesome but being stuck with expensive textbooks, overpriced dorms and meal plans really sucks.

Receiving a scholarship large enough to cover tuition lowers the amount of the financial aid a student can receive, making it even more difficult to pay for things like housing and meals. Even if one is not a freshman but lives on campus, meal plans are still a good option. Even living off-campus, rent and food are not cheap.

For many who struggle to pay for college, getting a job on campus often seems like a good idea. Campus jobs, however, sometimes pay below the city minimum wage.

One of the misconceptions many freshmen suffer from is the idea that any scholarship or financial aid they receive is for the semester, not the year. First generation students and others

who lack resources may not realize this. So, when the money is suddenly divided in half, they find there isn’t enough to cover additional expenses.

If the past due balance on an NAU student’s Louie account is more than $500, they are unable to do simple things such as register for next semester’s classes. If the hold lasts for too long or grows too large, students could be evicted from their dorm or lose their meal plan. Students with eviction notices are given less than a week to either pay up or move out.

Financial aid and scholarships don’t come close to covering the basics when it comes to college, even big, fancy scholarships like the Lumberjack. There should be more in place to help students rather than just attempting to squeeze as much money out of them as possible.

With so many jobs requiring a college degrees, college has become a requirement. Yet, it leaves people in severe debt. Even with jobs with high pay rates, student debt can haunt college alumni for decades after they graduate, limiting their spending — and their lives — for years.

NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, , 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 11

FEATURES

Majors that offer financial security Connor Whitt

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he world is rapidly changing and, changing with it, are job opportunities. Many jobs are becoming more lucrative, which may clear the confusion regarding job security and opportunity for one’s future.

During college, many students prepare to enter the workforce and whatever will be thrown their way when graduating. This preparation may require one to find a balance or make a sacrifice between a major that one enjoys and one that is lucrative.

A lucrative college major is one that can promise high starting salaries and employment soon after graduation.

According to Economic Modeling Specialists International, a company that uses labor market data to connect people, education, and business, computer science is one of the fastest growing industries, and it is expected by 2020 that areas including California, Arizona and some states on the East Coast are where information technology (IT) jobs are expected to grow most. The six IT positions that are expected to be most in-demand in the next five years include: information security analysts, application software developers, computer systems analysts, web developers, software developers and computer user support specialists.

“The number of domains where technology is becoming central is increasing,” said John Georgas, associate director of Research and Graduate Programs for the School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems. “A lot of this is driven by the big data revolution. And more and more organizations are collecting data about what they do and how to improve that, and are in need of software developers and computer scientists to help drive that for them.”

Georgas also noted that companies across the entire spectrum of industries are looking to develop their own software in order to keep up with a constantly evolving, increasingly technological world.

“It is fairly common for computer science majors to be hired prior to graduating college, and entry-level software developers can expect a starting salary of $70,000-$80,000 per year, depending on who they work for,” Georgas said.

Government software development jobs, such as the United States Geological Survey, are often paid slightly less than this, and Silicon Valley jobs can make six-figure salaries at entry level.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2016 median pay for software developers was $102,000. Because of the low number of computer science graduates, computer science majors may face less uncertainty when looking for a job.

“There are some wrong negative stereotypes that seem to keep people away from computer science and there are other stereotypes that seem to bring people into computer science for the wrong reasons,” Georgas said.

Some may perceive computer science as a job that entails solitary work, but this is not always the case. In a growing industry, communication is crucial among computer scientists depending on what area of computer science people explore, such as video game design.

“A lot of students come into computer science expecting it

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Illustration By Alanna Secrest

to be all about making computer games. That is a possible path, but there is a lot more involved in computer science than that,” Georgas said.

Georgas noted that the software-development field is expanding daily, and more and more companies are looking for software developers.

Other degrees offered by NAU that are good for job prospects and lucrative careers include engineering, construction management, the sciences and more.

On the other side of the spectrum are majors that may not be as lucrative or in high demand. According to CNBC, art, photography, music and religious studies are jobs included in a list of 10 majors to not choose if you want a high-paying job. A starting salary for someone with an art degree is $37,000, a midcareer salary is $59,600, and 19 percent of those who majored in the subject have dropped out of the workforce.

Additionally, education may also not be a lucrative field for college graduates to enter. First, elementary and early-childhood educators receive some of the lowest salaries out of all college majors in the country. Entry-level elementary and early childhood educators can expect a salary of $41,000 to $45,000, which is lower than the average salary for all U.S. citizens, which has been

calculated at $56,516 according to a 2017 article from CNBC. According to the U.S. Department of Education, preschool teachers are often paid less than mail order clerks, tree trimmers and pest-control technicians, jobs which do not require a college education or even necessarily a high school education. Many early-childhood educators earn so little that they qualify for public benefits. The median annual pay for preschool teachers is approximately $28,000.

According to Payscale.com, the average pay for preschool teachers in Arizona is lower than the national average at roughly $23,000 with elementary school teachers receiving an annual salary of around $39,000. The highest paying region for preschool teachers is Washington D.C., with an average annual pay of just under $40,000. Despite the numbers, the field of education does not always mean low pay. In Connecticut, the median salary for elementary school teachers is almost $76,000, which is on par with the entry level salary for software engineers nationally.

The working world is innovative and competitive, and college students are exploring all avenues to prepare for the future.

When choosing a major that will be financially and personally rewarding, one may find a crossroad between happiness and success regarding a career path.

FEATURES

dollar Dollar dates y'all Kayla Rutledge

For many college students, the idea of asking someone out on a first date can rattle nerves, especially on a tight budget. But dating doesn’t need to be a costly affair. There are many restaurants and attractions in downtown and Southside that will cost approximately $10 for a night of fun.

For those looking for a more intimate date that allows people the one-on-one time they are looking for, Steep Leaf Lounge can provide a quaint first-date experience. As people settle down in the window seats of the establishment, they can enjoy a fresh brew of unique tea blends in the company of their dates.

“We actually have a bunch of board games that people can come up and ask to play, so that’s a really fun kind of throwback. Our teas aren’t too expensive, and our ambiance is very just kind of chill,” said Steep employee Zoë Harrison. “We have these adorable little seats in the windows. You can just sit on a pillow with a tiny table and just chill in the window. It’s super super cute.”

Other bars like the Green Room host events for people 21 and older nearly every weekend. With inexpensive drinks and shows held regularly throughout the week, it can be a first-stop destination to let a first date take its course. The Green Room has featured bands from a multitude of genres like punk, indie and reggae music. While many events at the Green Room may be 21 and up, they do host some events for people younger than 21.

Shannon Cowan | The Lumberjack

Wyatt Rutt | The Lumberjack

Wyatt Rutt | The Lumberjack

Wyatt Rutt | The Lumberjack

Students who are looking to have their first date revolve around music can look to places like Firecreek Coffee Company, a coffee-meets-music venue, located in downtown Flagstaff, north of the train tracks.

At night, the cafe transitions from a place used for studying to a mini concert hall. Shows at Firecreek can start as low as $5, as can coffee and alcoholic beverages like local beers from Mother Road Brewery and Wanderlust Brewing Company. Firecreek has brought bands to its venue from across the United States but stays true to hosting local bands. Firecreek’s lively yet comforting atmosphere can make for a memorable first date that may lead to a second or third down the line.

The Lumberyard Brewing Co. is a restaurant and brewery located in the Southside neighborhood.

People on first dates could find themselves at Bingo night at Lumberyard. The game is free to play, prizes are given away and whoever wins the round gets a prize. If a one-on-one date like Bingo seems too nerve-wracking or not as inclusive, the brewery also has a trivia night that can make for a casual, fun and engaging date. Up to six people can be on a trivia team.

“You can bring your date with your friends and see how smart they are,” said Lumberyard manager Kelly Hanseth .

Every Friday and Saturday, the Lumberyard hosts two-stepping lessons. The brewery clears out the dining area and holds the lessons there. A DJ is present at the event and will mix the latest hits, both country and other styles of music, and Lumberyard tries to make the event inclusive for everyone.

“You don’t have to be a country person all decked out in your boots and belt buckles to come and have a good time,” Hanseth said.

NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 13

FEATURES

Humans of NAU With the semester coming to a close and the holidays quickly approaching, students share their opinions about school, the changing of the seasons and their holiday plans.

Rodney Ross

Grace Oresman

Malik GilLum

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

International affairs

Photography and advertising

Creative Media and Film

Surprise, Arizona

Tucson

Los Angeles

“

So far, the fall semester is a little bit challenging, but it’s going pretty good. I’m currently doing water polo right now and that’s about it.”

“I think I enjoy fall more than winter just because the leaves, the atmosphere. It’s not as cold, but it’s still nice out. I dislike the freezing temperatures of winter. With fall, I don’t have any complaints, but with winter, [I dislike] it being so cold.”

“I celebrated Halloween. I’ll celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’ll probably go back to my family and just hang out with them, spend some time with them and friends. I like that I can get close with people, but I dislike the [chaos] of it, but just spending time with people. That’s what I really like.”

“

[My fall semester] has got its ups and downs. Classes are pretty stressful, but I’m enjoying them because they’re more focused on my majors.”

“I enjoy [fall and winter]. I’m not used to the cold quite yet just because I’m from Tucson, but it’s been pretty fun. I enjoy actually having seasons. You get to watch the leaves change and all the photo-ops are gorgeous. Aesthetics wise I love it, and obviously the clothes, warm clothes. [I dislike] living day-to-day with snow. It’s really hard to walk. [I live off-campus, and] I have to walk on- campus every day, so that’s a struggle.”

“I celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah because I’m half Jewish. I really like the fact that everyone’s together and it’s festive, like, you have to be happy. And the food is always great. Family can be stressful but, at the same time, it’s the only time you can really enjoy family.”

Stories by Ray Anne Galzote | Photos by Summer Hale

14 THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

“

This semester] is probably my best semester at this school for fall out of the three years I’ve been here so far. The classes [have] been pretty chill. I skateboard, I make videos and I play basketball.”

“I enjoy fall and winter because, in the fall time, I’m able to be outside skateboarding. During the winter, it’s snowing and stuff, so I try to take advantage of the nice air and the weather before it starts getting cold. The only thing I don’t like about fall and winter is what I can’t really do anything about. [In] fall, all the trees look pretty with all the colorful leaves, and when the leaves fall off, it looks terrible.”

“I celebrate every holiday. This year I’m going back home for Thanksgiving and winter break to spend time with my family and friends and work on videos. I make videos for YouTube: short films, skits, challenges, [video blogs], pranks — a lot of videos.”

GET AHEAD WITH WINTER CLASSES » Lighten your spring course load.

» Earn credits to get ahead.

» Find an online class to take while you’re away.

» Enroll in a class that fills up quickly in fall and spring.

» Fulfill a requirement and stay on track to graduate.

NAU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution/UM_226155_11.09

Learn any time, anywhere!

nau.edu/winter NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 15

CULTURE

Above: Home Invasion, a local Flagstaff band, opens for Dead Boys at the Green Room Nov. 8. Top Right: Cheetah Chrome, one of the original members of the Dead Boys, during the show at the Green Room. Shannon Cowan| The Lumberjack Bottom Right: Frontman Jake Hout performs with Dead Boys Nov. 8 at the Green Room, standing in for original lead vocalist Stiv Bators, who died in 1990. Summer Hale | The Lumberjack

Punk Rock Pioneers Max Becker

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lack, ripped skinny jeans, copious amounts of mascara and loose-fitting neckties flapping wildly. Such is the style of a punk-rock performance. 40 years later, Dead Boys continue to embody the same style that they helped popularize in the 1970s.

The band was formed in Cleveland in 1976 and is largely credited with being one of the first pioneers of hardcore punk rock in the United States. Their first studio album, Young Loud and Snotty quickly became a notable album coming in at No. 189 on the Billboard 200 for four weeks starting Nov. 5, 1977.

The record’s successes came with the help of the hit single “Sonic Reducer,” including lyrics such as, “I don’t need anyone / Don’t need no mom and dad / Don’t need no pretty face / Don’t need

16 THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

no human race.”

The group released one more studio album before breaking up. Coupled with the death of lead vocalist Steven “Stiv” Bators in 1990, the band would have little presence aside from small reunions in the mid 2000s.

Four decades later and with the assistance of Ricky Rat on bass, Jason Kottwitz on guitar, and vocalist Jake Hout of Dead Boys cover band UNdead Boys, the group is celebrating their 40th anniversary with Still Snotty: Young Loud and Snotty at 40, which includes a United States tour and a re-recording of the original album. This tour landed Dead Boys in Flagstaff’s the Green Room Nov. 9, along with local bands StainHaus, Home Invasion and Heebie-Jeebies.

As far as venues go, the Green Room is reminiscent of the places where Dead Boys played in the 1970s as they helped birth

the American punk rock scene. A small and dimly lit stage was just large enough to house the band while still being up close and personal with the audience.

Drinks were spilled as both the young and the old clashed in the mosh pit over the sounds of furious drumming and screeching guitars.

StainHaus, a local band with a unique sound and message, played the first set.

“StainHaus wants to bring marginalized voices to the front of the music scene. When you’re putting together a show, you should definitely take into account the demographic of the bands on the bill and try to include women, people of color, trans individuals, people that would normally have a harder time getting that platform,” said Sam Bee, synthesizer player for the band StainHaus.

CULTURE Bee originally moved to Flagstaff to become a hairdresser but decided to pursue the punkrock lifestyle instead.

“When I am nervous on stage, but I have that platform, I try to channel it into talking about issues that I think are important and that don’t usually get discussed,” Bee said. “Even though I am nervous, I’m up on a stage with a bunch of people listening to me, and I’m going to tell them something that will hopefully make them think.”

StainHaus’s set was followed by a short set

by Home Invasion, another local band with a heavier emphasis on the hardcore side of punk, reminiscent of the goth genre. The HeebieJeebies followed.

When it was time for Dead Boys to perform, founding member Cheetah Chrome appeared on stage first, tuning his guitar and riffing some solos to the cheering crowd while his bandmates set up their equipment. In true punk-rock fashion, frontman Jake Hout elected to climb up on stage through the audience as opposed to taking the stairs that flanked the platform. Immediately, the band jumped into their song “Sonic Reducer,” which sent the crowd into a frenzy as they aggressively threw their bodies into one another for songs at a time.

The band played the entirety of Young Loud and Snotty and dedicated a song to the late Stiv Bators. “[The tour] is going great, we’re filling places out even though it’s been a bit of a rough road,” said Jake Hout. “We’re having a lot of fun.”

Though their audiences may have changed, the band agrees the vibe remains the same.

“We get a lot of mixed crowds,” said founding member Johnny Blitz. “We get kids, we get guys in wheelchairs, we get them all.”

Blitz said that playing this tour produced a nostalgic reaction.

“It’s the same feeling. Great band, this band is just as good as the original band we had, it all feels the same,” Blitz said. “There’s hope. [Punk rock] is in good hands, it’s gonna be fine.”

After the show the band hung around the merchandise table, posing for pictures and chatting with fans.

“What happened tonight was history as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been waiting for this for 25 to 30 years, I was raised on this stuff,” said Flagstaff resident and truck driver Korry Begay.

“This is a staple of punk music, and anyone that didn’t come to the show missed out. I’m 46 now, and I still wake up and go to bed every day listening to Dead Boys.”

Although it was a small show, it was a rambunctious one. As concert-goers filtered out into the night, it was apparent that the spirit of punk rock is still alive and kicking in Flagstaff.

Fees for degrees Rylee Halla

O

ften paid with a solemn click through a student’s Louie account, university fees are part of the NAU experience. The list of these expenses can seem daunting and unnecessary but are an integral to the services the university provides.

From charges for campus transportation to the $250 drawn out of accounts to utilize the Health and Learning Center, student fees fund the running of campus whether or not students actually ride the bus or go to the gym. Beneath these larger fees are hidden smaller perks like access to programs and applications that may help students.

Varying between majors and degree programs, many courses have attached fees that cover more than just textbooks but also online programs often used in the workforce.

When thinking of the added fees for these programs, it’s easy to forget the unsung heroes students use everyday. Class fees cover programs used daily by students, such as marking themselves present on TopHat, an attendance app and website used in class, or Google Drive, the go-to for accessing any document saved. These programs aren’t free, and the additional fee students pay for them is meager compared to the would-be costs.

Sophomore business management major Justin Thompson uses programs like Google Drive and Webassign that hold the course textbook and homework assignments everyday.

“It’s lighter than a textbook, in cost and weight,” said Thompson.

“Everything I need for class is right there on my laptop.”

Prior to the days of online learning, class-required textbooks added hundreds to upwards of a thousand dollars a semester to student fees. Now, professors are able to condense these textbooks into web links with lecture notes and homework attached, and add smaller fees to classes that allow for more accessible learning.

Other classes in the School of Communication provide access to programs like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom — programs that often accumulate costs a few hundred dollars for those trying to purchase them outside the classroom. For communication majors focusing on photography, these programs are vital in the workforce and allow handson training before graduation.

Sophomore mechanical engineering major Jacob Grudynski explained that his additional class fees gave him access to programs that are already being used in his career field.

“We use SolidWorks and MATLAB,” said Grudynski. “[These applications] allow us to program and make our own models through computer-aided design.”

MATLAB is a product of MathWorks that provides practice with programming for students and engineers. It’s a program used within businesses, industrial factories and even robotics. Related to Mathworks is SolidWorks, used within businesses globally creating designs and models for companies to enterprise, according to their website.

“I’m working with programs that are real and relevant. It’s not sitting at a desk and learning from a worksheet,” Grudynski said.

Beyond the classroom charges, these fees also cater to other student’s services like Campus Health Services and the growing list of computer labs throughout campus.

Sophomore social work major Kylie Dvorak explained the tricks she learned during her first year at NAU to make sure she got her money’s worth out of the fees.

“There’s no point in buying a parking pass,” said Dvorak. “To fight for a spot in any of these lots isn’t worth it. The buses run constantly around campus, even by my off-campus apartment, and we’re all already paying for it. The technology fee is almost $200. So use the Mac labs, print for free in the [Native American] Cultural Center … Try it all out.

You’re already paying for it.”

Some students draw the line where courses have required fees that assume students will utilize the extra accommodations.

Junior business major Zach Prusinski said that the cost of added online programs isn’t worth the chance that they will glitch or delete student work when trying to submit homework.

“It depends on the class, but sometimes Webassign will freeze.

And unless you know someone who can help, or find a way to restart it, you can miss the deadline and the points,” said Prusinski. “Turning in assignments in class avoids that, and it’s free.”

As the education system continues to grow and change, NAU and professors are working to find new ways to make learning and student life more accessible.

Illustration by beneva fatt

NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 17

CULTURE

Black Friday or Slack Friday Ashley Besing

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lack Friday fills malls and department stores every year with crazy crowds, long lines and sometimes violent shoppers. With Americans spending around $655 billion on Black Friday in 2016 and a projected increase of 4 percent this year according to thebalance.com, it’s no secret that stores across the United States will be filled to the brim with excited shoppers come Nov. 24.

Not everyone is on board with this day of hectic shopping. The Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance has decided to ditch the idea of a stressful Black Friday and are instead opting for Slack Friday, a relaxed version of the holiday, for some of the businesses in downtown Flagstaff.

Terry Madeksza is the executive director of the alliance and is excited to kick off the second year of Slack Friday.

“What we’re really trying to do is create the antiBlack Friday experience. Instead of the feeling like you’re in line and people are elbowing you. Downtown, our businesses have unique gifts and they’re going to create a really personal and positive experience for people who come downtown to shop,” said Madeksza.

Just because Slack Friday is the anti-Black Friday doesn’t mean there will be a lack of sales.

“The downtown stores have lots of specials and offers and they’re going to take care of you in a way that the big-box stores can’t,” Madeksza said. “It ranges everywhere from retail stores, to restaurants to even a photography studio.”

Some deals include $2 mimosas and Bloody Marys at MIX, 20 percent off one item at Fool’s Gold, 10 percent off total purchases at Flagstaff General Store and 50 percent off gift certificates at The R2 Studio.

In addition to the stores opening at reasonable times and creating a leisurely shopping experience, downtown will be covered in Christmas lights and decorations.

“When [shoppers] come downtown, they feel like they are part of the holidays,” Madeksza said.

There are around 10 businesses currently slated to participate in Slack Friday as Nov. 24 approaches.

“The downtown businesses really want to make sure people are considering coming downtown for not just the deals and the specials, but for the great experience,” Madeksza said. “You’ll have an experience

here that you won’t have anywhere else.”

Shoes and Such is one of the businesses participating in Slack Friday downtown.

“Participation [in Slack Friday] is really important to support one another and drive customers to local businesses,” said general manager Kristen Cornette.

Still, Cornette has her own fond memories of Black Friday. “[Black Friday] is fun, there’s a lot of memories I have as a kid going Black Friday shopping,” Cornette said.

Though it is one of the busiest days of the year, Cornette enjoys the craziness with some old and new faces.

“We get super busy, but it’s all manageable. It’s not ugly,” Cornette said. “We see a lot of regulars. It’s a lot of fun,” Cornette said.

Shoes and Such is joining the holiday cheer with crazy matching Christmas sweaters.

“They’re bright green and have reindeer on them,” Cornette said. “It’s fun but also lets us see each other better in the store.”

Slack Friday is just the beginning of a many events happening this holiday season downtown, like Christmas Tree lighting, a luminaria event and a breakfast with Santa.

“Slack Friday is the kick off to the holiday season,” Madeksza said.

In addition to the winter events, The Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance continues to promote the positive culture and local businesses in downtown Flagstaff throughout the year.

“We’re an organization that is dedicated to creating vibrancy downtown, getting people downtown and getting them into the businesses whether it’s to eat or shop … It’s to create downtown as the destination for locals and visitors to come and experience what our businesses have to offer,” Madeksza said.

Some department stores around the country will be opening their doors early this November to welcome eager customers, and some, like REI with their #OptOutside initiative, will close completely.

However, Slack Friday is the happy medium to enjoy Black Friday shopping without the usual stresses that come with it and an opportunity to also support local businesses.

“Sleep in, don’t wake up at 4 a.m., come downtown,” Madeksza said.

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November Events Calendar Holiday of Lights — Little America Hotel — Nov. 16 @ 5 p.m.

Grieves — The Green Room — Nov. 16 @ 7 p.m.

KJACK Live Arts Festival —The Orpheum Theater — Nov. 16 @ 8 p.m.

ASWI Presents: RIOT Fest with Fetal Pink, Fake Nails and more at The Hive Nov. 17 @ 8 p.m.

Faces of Immigration — Murdoch Community Center — Nov. 18 @ 4 p.m.

Wrecking Ball: a Monthly Queer Resist*dance at Party at the Green Room Nov. 18 @ 9 p.m.

Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair — United Way of Northern Arizona — Nov. 18-19 King John — NAU Theatre Department — Nov. 18Dec. 3 The Free Show You Didn’t Ask For at The Hive – Nov. 19 @ 4 p.m.

Gratitude Workshop and Poetry Slam! at Firecreek Coffee Company – Nov. 22 @ 6:30 p.m.

Rocky Horror Picture Show — Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy — Nov. 30-Dec. 2 Holiday Dinner — NAU School of Music — Nov. 30Dec. 3

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NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 19

SPORTS

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Pay the players

ince its conception in 1910, the NCAA has operated as a nonprofit organization. Despite that, in 2014, the NCAA generated almost a billion dollars in total revenue.

In 2015, The Washington Post reported that schools spend just under the amount of money that they bring in. So the question is, where does this money go?

A majority of the money is spent on renovating stadiums and purchasing more gear for each sport. In short, the money doesn’t make it directly to those who are the driving force of bringing it in — the student athletes.

The NCAA’s model for their student athletes is amateurism, which does not allow the athletes to make money from their play as long as they are playing for a NCAA-sanctioned school. Colleges and the NCAA make money off the athletes while the players get a small LANCE HARTZLER portion in the form of a scholarship that averages to be SPORTS EDITOR about $14,000 and a monthly stipend for the scholarship between $2,000 and $5,000.

The argument against paying student athletes is that having a full-ride scholarship is enough. Some argue the education they get is worth it.

That is wrong.

The amount of restrictions placed on student athletes by the NCAA would not be allowed in nearly any other facet of life. If a music major on a music scholarship wanted to be paid for performing live in front of a crowd, they are praised and encouraged for it. If a college basketball player receives a free meal because they play for a local university, the NCAA will start an investigation alleging impermissible benefits and can revoke the athlete’s scholarship.

The myth around the athletic scholarship is that the school loses money on the athlete. They don’t. They are funneling money to the athlete only to get the money funneled right back to the university.

In a 2015 interview with Maurice Peebles of Complex, ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas suggested a solution to the NCAA’s current system. Bilas described an open-market system that would treat recruits like professional free agents. Schools would compete against each other by negotiating and offering contracts to the athletes with obvious academic stipulations.

What Bilas suggested would solve many of the scandals that have become routine in the world of college basketball and football. In the 1980s, Southern Methodist University boosters illicitly paid dozens of football players. A University of Kentucky envelope mailed to the father of recruit Chris Mills in the late 1980s had $1,000 fall out while being delivered, which sparked an NCAA investigation. Michigan’s Fab Five took under-the-table payments in the 1990s.The University of Colorado admitted in 2004 that it used sex and alcohol to lure prospective student-athletes into signing with the school.

Currently, the FBI is investigating charges of bribing recruits by members of eight Division I programs. The investigation is ongoing, and some believe it will shake college basketball to its core.

I have little doubt anything will change. The argument of paying college athletes their due has been in discussion since the early 1900s. The topic will peak during every scandal with columns and articles calling out the NCAA. But, as normal, it will calm back down. The NCAA claims it has no reason to change anything yet – but, ethically, they should.

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David Lucia (left), Austin Reeves (middle left), Chris Palmese (middle right) and Ryan Munoz (right) pose for a photo Nov. 12. The team is led by president Michael Lopez and vice president Ryan Munoz.

Tehlor Takahata | The Lumberjack

For the Love of the Game Adrianna Candelaria

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AU carried Division I baseball as a part of its sports program approximately 40 years ago. Due to administrative budget cuts, by 1981 baseball was long-gone. It would, however, take more than a financial setback to keep current baseball players from competing in their sport. In 2011, the NAU club baseball team was formed.

The roster has 25 members, each contributing about $500 for the regular spring season and approximately $100 for the shorter fall season. The overall cost for the season is divided into paying for uniforms, including three jerseys and a hat for each player. The cost also covers field time, umpires, hotels and transportation fees. Food is the only out-of-pocket expense on trips.

ASU, UA and Grand Canyon University are a few teams that share NAU’s conference. Hotel and travel expenses comprise most of their budget. Last year, the

team took three road trips, but this year they will only be traveling to the University of California, San Diego, and UA. The teams typically take turns travelling to away games each year.

Ryan Munoz, NAU baseball club vice president and junior third baseman, said the Jacks have phenomenal family support for their players. Even at away tournaments, the team has the same amount of support, if not more, than the home team.

“I think I’ve only felt like we’ve had less representation one time,” said Munoz.

Part of the team’s support comes from their tightknitted alumni who are present throughout the season.

Some even provide donations, including the first club president, Austin Daugherty, who helped start the club team when he was an NAU student in 2011.

They also receive equipment from the National Club Baseball Association that they pay a flat membership fee of $2,100 per year that provides baseballs, bats and helmets

Junior pitcher David Lucia is on the executive board for the NAU club baseball team.

Tehlor Takahata | The Lumberjack

for the team.

The university sponsors the Jacks as well by providing the team with extra funds every semester. There are also new batting cages up and running. One is currently inside the Union Field House.

Even with accumulated funding, the team still hosts fundraisers. Club president and senior outfielder Michael Lopez explained that the team often works at NAU IceJacks hockey games to raise money, as well as partners with restaurants like Chipotle, Someburros and The Mayor in downtown Flagstaff.

The Jacks also give back and contribute efforts whenever they can. Occasionally, Flagstaff weather can make the simplest of tasks rather daunting.

Lopez mentioned that a few years ago

there was a bad snow storm before one of their games, and the tewam was out on the field two hours before the game shoveling and raking the snow off the field. It may sound bad, but Lopez remembers it fondly.

“It was an awesome memory,” said Lopez.

Munoz and Lopez both explained that they had played baseball for many years prior to attending NAU, and seeing that even though there was not an official Division I team was difficult, being able to join the club on campus was a huge relief.

“I’ve made friends on this team that I’m going to have for the rest of my life,” Lopez said. “This experience definitely means more, and we are putting in all the work that we can because we are paying for this ourselves.”

NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 21

SPORTS

The business of NAU athletics Editors note: The following data was compiled through the Equity in Athletics Data Analysis (EADA) report over the past four years, and the NAU State and Local Operating Budget Report.

Kade Gilliss

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fforts in maintaining an efficient university sports program is like a complex game of chess.

It’s a system of constantly moving pieces that must be heavily monitored. Negligence can result in the potential loss of millions of dollars.

So, how has NAU fared?

NAU, much like other schools in the Big Sky Conference, usually breaks even at the end of the year when it comes to the athletics department. In 2015-2016, the university had approximately $16.7 million in total expenses that was made back through revenue. In 2016-2017 the school garnered over $18.5 million, and, like the year prior, the revenue was distributed from annual expenses.

The outlier came during the 2013-2014 academic year when the university pocketed $226,049. This money did not come by direct revenue from the sports themselves. Possibilities are that the money could have come through fundraisers or donations.

This is often the case when it comes to the athletic budget ­— which may not gain money, but certainly does not lose it. Within the conference, the university that reaped the most financially in 20152016 was Southern Utah. Their revenue exceeded their expenses by $1.1 million with the football team being responsible for $851,876.

In the 2015 season, Southern Utah football went 8-4 to capture their first Big Sky title with a 49-41 win over NAU in the final game of the regular season.

The EADA reported that Sacramento State came away with the heaviest financial burden that year with a $7.3 million deficit. The university granted $3.5 million in 2014 toward upgrading sports facilities and a complete repair of their baseball field, but the EADA report is vague as to where the remaining money was spent.

NAU has put reasonable effort to stay in the middle of the pack when it comes to financial gain or loss. With NAU’s expenses on the rise, however, people may wonder where the money goes.

Last year, the university spent just under $5 million toward athletically related student aid. Male student-athletes got 54.7 percent of the scholarships at $2.7 million, while female student-athletes got $2.2 million worth, the second-highest for women in all the Big Sky schools.

One of the most significant changes in the budget comes from money spent on recruiting.

Since 2013-2014, athletics has increased recruiting expenses by 72.5 percent for men, increasing from $180,982 in 2013 to $312,238 in 2016.

Since 2013, women’s teams’ recruiting expenses have gone from $109,389 to $143,495 in 2016, a 31 percent increase.

So, how do the salaries of those who recruit stack up?

According to the 2015-2016 EADA report, the four NAU men’s head coaches on average make $115,470, while the seven women’s head coaches brought in $77,520 on average. Both figures are above the conference’s average of $107,120 for men and $68,482 for women.

According to the 2016-2017 NAU State and Local Operating Budget Report, head coaching salaries range from $50,000 to $185,400 for men and $53,045 to $145,000 for women.

Idaho State University represented the lowest annual total for both head coaches, paying men $61,112 on average and $43,825 for women.

Although NAU was already more progressive when it came to salaries, that didn’t stop them from drastically increasing their spending the following year.

In 2016-2017, the university increased their mens’ head coaching salary average by nearly 46 percent to $168,502. Women head coaches on average made $84,747, a 9.3 percent increase from the previous year.

That number of head coaching positions has not changed between the two reports, but men’s head tennis coach Ki Kroll temporarily split head coaching duties to fill the coaching vacancy for women’s tennis.

Coaching salary will always be determined by the amount of revenue that sports directly brings to the school. Most of the time, the top earners will be football or men’s basketball.

For NAU, football came away with $4.2 million making up 23.1 percent of the total revenue for all university sports. Men’s basketball brought in $1.7 million, pushing all men’s teams to covering 39.5 percent of the total revenue, over $7.3 million.

Women’s sports weren’t far behind, bringing in almost $6 million, totaling 32.1 percent of the total revenue.

NAU experienced no loss or gain on the year.

Each year, expenses will most likely continue to grow, salaries will dip or rise and money will be shifted throughout positions and departments deemed most beneficial. Even with a campus that is regularly innovated, NAU has been conservative on athletics’ financial budget.

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illustration by Megan Troutman

NOV. 16, 2017 – NOV. 29, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 23