CHAMPIONS ONCE AGAIN PAGE 20
T H E L U M BE R JACK
NOV. 29, 2018 – DEC. 5, 2018
Online at JackCentral.org
From the Editor
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bout four years ago, I was a junior in high school taking community college classes. In one of those classes, I had to take an exam that conflicted with something significant in my life. I had to attend a memorial service for a very good friend of mine. This required knowing the material so I could complete my exam quickly and arrive at the service on time. It was one of the first times I realized just how prepared I needed to be if I wanted to complete everything on my agenda. Now I’m a junior in college and the whole “being prepared” thing is still true. Except now, I have to pay bills, buy groceries and my classes don’t occur all in one big chunk of time. I’m now the Director of Photography for The Lumberjack and I have to be prepared every week for unplanned circumstances. I have to give myself room in my schedule to help other photographers, to edit photographs or to reshoot assignments. This makes being prepared a bit more difficult. So how do you make the most out of an unplanned life and an unplanned week? You just do the most with the time that isn’t filled. You update your website, SHANNON go on a photo shoot, watch a movie, cook a bunch of food, research lighting setups SWAIN and internships. Prepare by doing things that refresh you. Being refueled is one of DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY the most important components of being prepared for the rest of life. If your general day-to-day life is unfulfilling, it probably means the “free time” isn’t being spent in an effective way. Instead of scrolling through social media, watching other people be fulfilled, take a walk or create something or clean out your closet. Contact people you haven’t seen in a while to get coffee or study together. Life becomes a lot more beautiful when you realize how lucky you are to be alive. Prepare for the hard parts by being the person you aspire to be. It’s much more refreshing to go into a jam-packed day feeling as though you are living life in a way that makes you happy. There will always be difficult parts to life, but they become a lot easier when you’re fulfilled. Thank you for reading.
“I find [horror] an endlessly fascinating genre because it has been around since the beginning of cinema.” - NAU Lecturer David Church
Illustration by Alexy Flores Phone: (928) 523-4921 Fax: (928) 523-9313 Lumberjack@nau.edu P.O. Box 6000 Flagstaff, AZ 86011
THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 107 ISSUE 14
Editor-in-Chief Matthew Strissel
Managing Editor Ariel Cianfarano
Director of Digital Content Conor Sweetman
Copy Chief Ashley Besing
Faculty Adviser Annette McGivney
Faculty Adviser, Photo Taylor Mahoney
Sales Manager Marsha Simon
Print Chief Brady Wheeler
Media Innovation Center Editorial Board News Editor Owen Sexton
Features Editor MaryAnn Witt
Asst. News Editor Chandler Staley
Asst. Features Editor Devyn Coons
Op-Ed Editor Peggy Packer
Sports Editor Kade Gilliss
Asst. Op-Ed Editor Maria Angulo
Asst. Sports Editor Bailey Helton
Culture Editor Sebastian Moore
Director of Photography Shannon Swain
Asst. Dir. of Photography Director of Circulation Shannon Ainsley Cowan Deja Berkstrsser Senior Photographer Michael Patacsil Asst. Dir. of Circulation Director of Illustration Sebastian Kwit Katie Dobyrdney Director of Multimedia James Lemarr
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Senior Illustrator Colton Starley
On the cover Redshirt junior Geordie Beamish hoists the national championship trophy Nov. 18 outside the Walkup Skydome after the Lumberjack men’s cross country team won their third-straight national championship the previous day in Madison, Wisconsin. Michael Patacsil | The Lumberjack
Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Matthew Strissel at mbs263@nau.edu.
PoliceBeat Nov. 18 At 4:05 a.m., a Drury Inn staff member requested a wellness check on a subject staying at the inn. An NAUPD officer responded and one nonstudent was given a ride to Denny’s. Nov. 19 At 9:46 a.m., a Gammage building staff member reported sighting someone camping under a tree near the building. A NAUPD officer responded, but the subject had vacated the premises before their arrival. At 10:30 a.m., a Science and Health building staff member reported a possible gas leak in the building. Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) and NAUPD responded but no odor was present. At 10 p.m., an RA reported the odor of marijuana at Gabaldon Hall. NAUPD officers responded but were unable to find the source of the smell. At 10:12 p.m., the same NAUPD officers reported being told of the odor of marijuana at Gabaldon Hall. The officers searched the area again and still found nobody. Nov. 20 At 12:01 p.m., an NAU Bookstore staff member reported catching two students stealing merchandise. An NAUPD officer responded and both students were cited and released for shoplifting. At 3:55 p.m., a subject reported watching a skateboarder hit their head in a fall at the intersection of West University Drive and Runke Drive. Guardian Medical Transport (GMT) and an NAUPD officer responded, and the skateboarder was transported to Flagstaff
Medical Center (FMC). Nov. 21 At 8:12 a.m., a Facilities staff member reported a fire in the woods south of the area. An NAUPD officer responded and discovered that it was just construction equipment stirring up dust. At 10:46 p.m., a student reported a possible trespasser in their apartment at Hilltop Townhomes. NAUPD officers responded, but the apartment was secure and no criminal activity was witnessed.
Compiled by Owen Sexton dispatch reported an intoxicated subject looking for his wife near the intersection of South San Francisco Street and McCreary Drive. NAUPD officers responded and gave the subject a ride to North Leroux Street and East Route 66. At 2:01 a.m., NAUPD officers initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of West Saunders Drive and South Milton Road. One nonstudent was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). The subject was driving with a DUI suspended license, a DUI with a person under the age of 15 in the vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving without valid plates, registration or insurance and two warrants from another jurisdiction. The nonstudent was transported to Coconino County Detention Facility (CCDF).
Nov. 22 At 9:07 a.m., a student reported a fellow student sustained a dislocated shoulder at the South Village Apartments. FFD, GMT and an NAUPD officer responded, but the student refused transport to FMC as they did not want to miss Thanksgiving At 2:35 a.m., a Calderon dinner. Learning Community staff member reported that a student Nov. 23 had been assaulted. FFD, At 10:14 p.m., a student GMT and an NAUPD officer sighted a mountain lion responded and transported the near the Aquatic and Tennis student to FMC. NAUPD is Complex. NAUPD officers still investigating. responded but no wild animals were found upon a search of At 7:31 p.m., a student the area. sighted a subject from another assault case near the du Bois At 10:41 p.m., NAUPD Center. NAUPD officers officers initiated a traffic stop responded and one student was near the intersection of South arrested on charges of assault Milton Road and West Butler and disorderly conduct and Avenue. One nonstudent booked into CCDF. was cited for driving with suspended plates and a At 7:21 p.m., a Gabaldon suspended license. Hall staff member reported the odor of marijuana. NAUPD Nov. 24 officers responded but were At 6:01 p.m., a nonstudent unable to smell anything upon requested a wellness check on a arrival. student living in Reilly Hall. NAUPD officers responded At 9:40 p.m., a McConnell and discovered the student in Hall staff member reported the good health. odor of marijuana. NAUPD officers responded but nobody Nov. 25 answered at the suspected At 1:14 a.m., Flagstaff residence.
NOV. 29 – DEC. 5, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 3
NEWS
Volcanic field around Flagstaff remains a moderate threat Makayla Clark
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ocated in the south part of the San Francisco Volcanic Field, Flagstaff’s horizon is layered with volcanoes. There is Humphrey’s Peak, Mount Elden and Sunset Crater just to name a few. They have all been dormant with Sunset Crater last erupting nearly 1,000 years ago. However, a United States Geological Survey (USGS) report from October is now calling the field a moderate threat. A previous survey in 2005 also classified the area as a moderate treat, according to USGS Volcanologist John Ewert, who worked on both reports. The recent survey has confirmed the results of the 2005 survey. There are about 600 volcanoes in the San Francisco Volcanic Field, which stretches from Williams to east of Flagstaff as Michael Ort, professor at NAU’s School of Earth and Sustainability, explained. “Pretty much every hill you see around here is volcanic,” Ort said. There are a few different types of volcanoes in the field, but the area is mostly made up of cinder cones. They are not the typical type of volcano that people think of. Cinder cones shoot lava out of the ground, which can be flat or hilly. The cone shape is created when chunks of lava solidify in the air during an eruption by the time they hit the ground and accumulate, according to Ort. The question is should people be concerned about the volcanic field? The short answer is no. While any area can erupt at any time without warning, the probability of that occurring is astronomically low. Ort stated the moderate classification just means we should be aware. Ort also said there are many factors considered when geologists classify the risk of a volcanic region. “We look into a lot of things, including the chance of an eruption, how big that eruption might be and then who’s in the way,” Ort said. “And, you combine those things together to figure out sort of the risk.” Ort explained the San Francisco Volcanic Field erupts on average about every 10,000 to 15,000 years. However, the moderate threat classification does not spell out when the next eruption is likely to happen. According to Ort, the likelihood of an eruption during our lifetime is quite small. However, there may have been magmatic activity in the area a few years ago. “About five or six years ago, there’s some
Sunset Crater is one of the many volcanoes within the San Francisco volcanic field, Nov. 17. Makayla Clark | The Lumberjack
evidence that down sort of between [Sunset Crater] and [Wupatki National Monument] there was an intrusion,” Ort said. “Magma came up and it was breaking the rock as it came, and it stopped, and so that may have been a bit of magmatic activity that didn’t break the surface.” He further explained that figuring out when the magma will break the surface is not an exact science. “Nine out of 10 times we think that what happens, is it doesn’t break the surface, it’s one out of 10 times that it does, and knowing which of those 10 is going to do it is a hard question,” Ort said. It is not proven that this was magmatic activity, but Ort said the type of earthquakes that were produced looked like ones caused by magma moving toward the surface.
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Despite the moderate threat, Ort stated there isn’t anything to worry about, but said it was a good idea to have a plan ready just in case. “With a moderate-threat volcano, I wouldn’t stay up at night worrying,” Ort said. “I would develop the response plans for an eruption and have those ready.” In the extremely rare event that Flagstaff experiences a volcanic eruption, it has a response plan in place already, created by Coconino County Emergency Management. The Coconino County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan does not have a specific procedure for a volcanic eruption, but Todd Whitney, Coconino County director of emergency management, explained that they are prepared for any type of natural disaster. “We’ve adopted an approach of all hazards,”
Whitney said. “So, whether it’s a fire, flood or another disaster like a volcano, we would employ the all hazards approach.” If evacuation becomes necessary, the county would partner with the City of Flagstaff and other agencies. Whitney stated local law enforcement would have a say as well. “There is legal authority with the police department to issue evacuation orders,” Whitney said. “And then, we would help support those evacuation orders however they would see fit.” Despite the plans having been drawn up, there has been no use for them as the San Francisco Volcanic Field continues to remain in a dormant state.
NEWS
Flagstaff firefighter Will Giannola poses for portraits Nov. 27 at Flagstaff Fire Station #5. Giannola, who has fought in wildfires across the nation, was sent to Thousand Oaks, California to fight the Woolsey Fire. Michael Patacsil | The Lumberjack
Flagstaff firefighters home from California wildfires Jake Grosvenor
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ith the damage and death toll of the wildfires still rising in northern California, the Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) recently sent four of their firefighters to Woolsey, California in order to aid efforts to stifle the blaze. They returned earlier this month on Nov. 11. According to Katie Brown, a firefighter and paramedic for FFD, sending out firefighters to other states is a common practice for the department and they can be called on
for multiple reasons. For this fire, FFD was requested to bring out an engine to help the blaze and were out helping for seven days, which does not include the time to drive there. However, when large fires break out, many local fire departments request a multitude of services and items. “They [fire departments requesting resources] ask for qualified supervisors, fire engines, heavy equipment like tractors and dozers. For us specifically they asked for an [fire] engine,” said Brown. While their assist trip was only
seven days, according to the Arizona Forestry Department contract that FFD is under, some trips for national fires can last as long as 14 days. Being part of this contract makes FFD one of the many fire departments that can be called on when other states request resources, making them a state cooperator. Despite the department having sent out firefighters to California, the functions and resources of FFD were not affected while they were gone. This is due to the fact that earlier this year FFD prepared to have their resources and fire fighters deployed to
other parts of the country to ensure the city still has ample firefighters for itself. As of now, FFD is not planning on sending any more firefighters to California but they are always prepared if another request comes in. According to the Associated Press, there are still 203 people missing and the death toll has risen to 88 due to the fires, as of publication time. President Donald Trump visited the area Nov. 17 to survey the damage and meet with state officials. Before he traveled to California, Trump tweeted his opinions on the issue.
“There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests,” Trump said in a tweet. While the actual cause of the fires is still under investigation, many residents in Butte County who lost their homes have sued the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. claiming negligence and lack of maintenance.
NOV. 29 – DEC. 5, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 5
NEWS
A healthy lifestyle made easy with U CAN
The University Coaching for Activity and Nutrition (U CAN) program focuses on helping students improve their academic and personal lives by using strategies that affect their eating habits, physical activities and their overall body image. Chanel Smith | The Lumberjack
Jayna Arola
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he trend of staying fit and eating right continues at NAU with more opportunities for students to get dieting and exercise help. Last week ASNAU announced the new “U CAN” program in their weekly newsletter. The acronym stands for University Coaching for Activity and Nutrition. According to the newsletter, the program was created to give students more aid to make changes in their personal lives. U CAN was made to lead students toward a healthy lifestyle with a strong support system.
U CAN founder and director Dawn Clifford explained the goal of the program. “We are here to provide a health coaching service for any NAU student who is interested in making a positive change,” Clifford said. U CAN kicked off this fall semester with multiple sessions that were available for students. If students are interested, their first session is free, which allows students to test the program and meet different health coaches. The next optional session costs $5. However, there are other options students can choose for session plans. This includes six sessions for $20. Clifford highly recommends that if students want to find sustainable changes
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they should sign up for the full six session program. Clifford stated she started U CAN for two reasons. The first was to help students with better access to health coaches. She also hopes to train students to use what they learn in the program in their professional careers beyond NAU. The U CAN health coaches are NAU students who are dedicated to helping other students with their own physical and nutritional journey. According to U CAN’s website, the health coaches have to complete a minimum of 45 hours of training before being allowed to coach their fellow students. U CAN coaches are trained mainly to
tackle helping students develop and stick with a healthier lifestyle. This means that U CAN coaches will help students with meal planning, grocery shopping and meal preparation. In addition to these changes, the coaches will also help students with their physical health by encouraging them to be more active. In addition, there are also counseling services that support students with any type of change they would like to make in their personal dieting or exercise routines and follow through on those changes. U CAN uses a holistic view of health within the overall program. The program is not focused on things like getting on a scale every week, but instead supports students. “We want to support students in looking at behaviors that improve physical health, while also supporting emotional health,” Clifford said. In addition to these health improvements, U CAN is focused on promoting body positivity. The program is not centered on diets or restricting calories because of the detrimental effects that dieting can cause including eating disorders. When a student fails a diet, this can also negatively impact the student’s mental health. Therefore, the program strays away from diets. “Students learn to love their bodies without feeling like they have to change their bodies and find small, sustainable ways to take care of themselves in ways that boost energy and mood,” Clifford said. Sammie Levine, junior criminal justice major, thought that the program sounded like a good idea. “I like the idea of someone walking me through nutrition that catered to me specifically,” Levine said. In addition, she stated the price is good for how much is being offered with the oneon-one time that would be received, especially when compared to what health coaches can cost outside the university. Levine plans on signing up for U CAN next semester. There had already been some impacts within students for the first semester of U CAN. “There has been a growth of number of students we service by getting the word out there and we’re also seeing a huge surge in interest from students wanting to go through the motivational interviewing training to become a U CAN health coach,” Clifford said. The U CAN program and its team are very excited for the future and hope the new program continues to grow.
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5 S SAN FRANCISCO ST | 928.779.2739 3 S Beaver St | Flagstaff, Az | 928.779.0079
NOV. 29 – DEC. 5, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 7
COMIC SPOT
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NOV. 29 – DEC. 5, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 9
OPINION-EDITORIAL
Modern day slavery in America Scout EHRLER
Be cautious of the cold
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erpes season is upon us. I mean, every season is herpes season. But cold weather brings a weakened immune system and possibly cold sores or canker sores. Cold sores are those little — or big — sores that you may sometimes get on your mouth. Not only are they painful, but they are highly contagious. What some people may not know is that these cold sores are a form of herpes. According to Planned Parenthood, “Herpes is a super-common infection that stays in your body for life. More than half of Americans have oral herpes, and about one out of six Americans have genital herpes.” Yes, you read right. For life. Once you become infected with herpes, you carry the virus forever. Since the disease is permanent and everPEGGY so-contagious, it is important to be very PACKER careful in avoiding coming in contact with OP-ED EDITOR the disease. “Herpes is spread from skin-toskin contact with infected areas, often during vaginal sex, oral sex, anal sex, and kissing,” according to Planned Parenthood. Often, people don’t realize they are infected and continue passing it on. Whether you have visible sores or not, you could still have the infection. So what can you do? The answer is: be cautious. Don’t kiss anyone if either of you has sores or recently had a sore. Be aware of sharing drinks or Chapstick. Don’t kiss any babies if you have symptoms (herpes can be deadly for them). In fact, most people who are infected with herpes contracted the infection as children. And last, but not least, DO NOT GO DOWN ON ANYONE IF YOU HAVE A COLD SORE. A cold sore on the mouth plus a little oral sex can easily lead to genital herpes. According to Planned Parenthood, “You can spread herpes to other parts of your body if you touch a herpes sore and then touch your mouth, genitals, or eyes without washing your hands first. You can also pass herpes to someone else this way.” Basically, any contact between the sore and other mouths or genitals can cause a herpes infection. The only way to prevent the spread of the infection is to be aware and to be careful. If you already have the infection, it isn’t the end of the world. You don’t need to be quarantined. Many people live regular day-to-day lives with herpes. The cold sore outbreaks may be uncomfortable, but they won’t be there forever. This doesn’t mark the end of your sex life. You can still do all the things that unaffected people can, just while being a little more cautious. There are medications that can help with the discomfort and lower the chances of you spreading herpes to others. Keep in mind that the infection is common, and you’re not the only person out there who deals with it. We all need to do our best to prevent the spreading of this uncomfortable infection.
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t only 242 years old, our country has managed to become the unilateral power of the world over the span of the last 50 years. This is largely due to colonization and slavery. We built our history on the backs of societies we were able to overpower and take advantage of. Despite a handful of amendments to the Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation and the freedom of slaves, slavery still exists today. It is no secret that slavery is an integral part of American history. Today, slavery has a different meaning than the one that often comes to mind. According to the U.S. Department of State, slavery can be anything that falls under the umbrella terms of sex trafficking, forced labor or domestic servitude. It is estimated that there a large amount of people around the world who are in modern slavery. According to The Guardian, 400,000 of those are in the United States. “The U.S. figures are in themselves deceptive because the U.S. exacerbates the global slavery problem b y importing products, including laptops, computers, mobile phones, garments, fish, cocoa and timber, at risk of being produced through forced labor,” states The Guardian. America and forced labor are very good friends. Such close ties to this form of slavery cause the net amount of people affected by modern slavery in America to be a bit difficult to pin down. Forced labor in prisons has been a hot topic since the Netflix documentary, “13th” came out in 2016. The film explores racial inequality in the U.S. and largely focuses on prisons. There is a disproportionate number of Black individuals in prisons and the prison labor they are forced to do for little to no pay classifies as modern slavery. One might respond to this with, “who cares? If someone does something bad enough to be in prison, they deserve it.” If that were you, and by “it” you mean “to be enslaved,” don’t get ahead of yourself. The 13th amendment is not the abolishment of slavery, it is only the reformation of it. In an editorial written for The Guardian, a death row inmate named Kevin Rashid Johnson said, “Anybody convicted of a crime after 1865 could be leased out by the state to private corporations who would extract their labor for little or no
pay.”
Statistics from the Federal Bureau of Prisons estimates that 38 percent of the prison population is Black. However, the U.S. population of Black individuals only clocks in at about 12.7 percent. In comparison, the discrepancy between total White individuals in the U.S. and those in prisons is only a four percent difference. The difference in those margins is upsetting and indicates that a disproportionate number of Black individuals are imprisoned. Slavery still exists and not just in some far-away land that you can ignore because it’s across an ocean. It exists under our noses. My hometown in San Diego is one of the sex trafficking capitals of the country. It’s all around us. Especially in our prisons. Black people are still being enslaved. Read that again. Many disgusting things are happening around us every single day here in the land of the free, home of the brave. I’m White and I know I am largely — and in many ways, inherently — ignorant. But we should work to use our privilege for good and to speak out for the voiceless. Like those 400,000 individuals who are slaves right here in the U.S.
Illustration By Katie Dobrydney
OPINION-EDITORIAL
Sustainability starts with students Vianella Burns
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AU prides itself on being a sustainable and environmentally conscious school. Flagstaff as a whole is considered to be very environmentally friendly compared to other Arizona college towns. Through multiple campus-wide initiatives such as reducing plastic consumption and using a majority of locally-grown food in our dining facilities, NAU has built up a green reputation. The effort to be more sustainable should not stop at the university level. It is up to the students to take matters into their own hands. One major use of energy comes from the on-campus housing at NAU. Since students who choose to live in NAU housing do not have to pay for their utilities, a large amount of water and power is wasted. The option to live on campus and not have to worry about paying an electricity and water bill is attractive to many students, since a lot of people do not necessarily have the means to pay for utilities. However, with this system in place, students are not able to really understand how much power they are using and wasting throughout the month. Without seeing the amount of money that it costs to take those 30-minute hot showers in the winter, students are not able to fully connect the environmental
repercussions to their actions. extra effort. NAU should follow in the steps of As much as I attempt to be sustainable, I will other universities and create programming admit that I make mistakes and do not live a perfect where freshmen are taught how to better green life. I forget to turn my kitchen light off and leave their habits and shown the importance of living a the heater running in my living room almost all the time. sustainable life. However, just because I am used to living a certain way Colorado State University (CSU) is considered does not mean that I am incapable of change. one of the most environmentally friendly schools in Turn off the water when you are brushing your the country, and throughout the past few years, they teeth, buy a reusable bag for when you go have created multiple programs to encourage their grocery shopping, donate old items that students to be more sustainable. you no longer use. Being sustainable One of the projects from CSU that would work does not need to include a massive well in Flagstaff is ultra low flow shower heads for all lifestyle change. If people do their small on-campus showers.“The calculated water savings part to live a more conscious life then we on an annual basis is 2.3 million gallons of water, as students will be making a difference. resulting in an annual savings of $10,300 in Humans all share one place to water/wastewater costs and another $13,482 Illustration By Colton Starley live and thus the responsibility to take in avoided fuel costs,” according to the CSU project. care of our planet is on us. With the In a study done by The University of Michigan, they found current political administration not really putting an emphasis that “Washing clothes on ‘cold’ reduces CO2 emissions by 1.2- on environmental issues, it truly is up to the people to make a 14.9 pounds per laundry load, depending on washing machine change. type, hot water temperature, and electricity source.” Earlier this year scientists in an agreement from the Starting with a small action, such as washing your laundry Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said that Earth is with cold water instead of warm can make a big difference in on a ticking clock and change must be done to reduce emissions. the long run and is something that every student can do with no Being sustainable just makes sense.
The trendy tiny house movement Caitlin Burke
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he tiny house movement has been on the rise for the past few, in large part due to the exposure it got from HGTV shows that center around trendy millennials and financially struggling families. The houses, oftentimes built on wheels, are no larger than 600 square feet. People looking to purchase tiny houses explain their different reasonings on HGTV as being young and wanting to travel without the string attachments of a traditional home. Or perhaps they are the outdoorsy couple who would rather spend more time in nature than cooped up indoors, or they are the free-spirited millennial couple who just want to get off the grid but still conform to trendy home furnishings and granite counter tops in a $150,000 box. Lesser times, they are simply families who see the tiny house movement as a financial alternative to their inevitable debt from a crippling mortgage. All of the demographics of tiny house hunters are on the search for a cheaper alternative to the traditionally expensive American housing situation. According to an article in The Guardian, tiny houses “are a growing presence in cities across the U.S. In Arizona, the Vail School District is building one for teachers who otherwise can’t
afford to live in Vail, a community 25 miles southeast of Tucson “trailer park trash” is mainly the price point they bought their where the median home price is $257,500.” 600 square-feet box-on-wheels for. The Guardian’s explanation for the boom in the tiny housing It is a bit preposterous to look down on people who live in market puts the blame on the lack of affordable housing after the a trailer home, and yet think that the tiny house movement is an 2008 market crash. ingenious and adorable solution to the affordable housing crisis Curbed.com also provides a similar outlook, stating that in America. “Shows like House Hunters and Tiny House Hunters flourish, In this unique case of gentrification, the tables have turned in part, because even now, after the mortgage crisis and and White people in trailer homes are the ones financial collapse, home ownership and the American dream are seeing the price of living raised in their synonymous. Home ownership represents success and the putting community when other White people, down of roots. Home ensures the stability of typically millennials, are turning trailer the American family.” homes into a cutesy, adventurous Although an attempt at solving the prospect under a new name. affordable housing crisis is undoubtedly Trailer parks populated mostly by imperative and an admirable effort, there’s White people are seeing their living style an issue with the nature of the tiny house as still having a negative connotation by trend. the American public, despite the opinion that The only new and innovative aspect tiny homes deserve the limelight and garnering of a transportable living situation under attention through multiple HGTV shows, which is 600 feet is the perception of it as trendy, unfair and hypocritical. considering the tiny houses showcased on Saving money is a respectable goal, and it HGTV are no different than a trailer home. should not matter if it is through a trailer home or The key difference between someone who has a tiny house since there is virtually bought a quirky tiny house and someone labeled as Illustration By Katie Dobrydney no difference between the two.
NOV. 29 – DEC. 5, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 11
FEATURES
Left: Children pose with Chawkward the elf at the North Pole Experience Nov. 18. The North Pole Experience runs annually through November and December. Right: A woman walks to check in at the North Pole Experience Nov. 18. The North Pole Experience is celebrating its tenth year of operation. Jack Mehl | The Lumberjack
Santa Claus is coming to town Matthew Kruelle
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hrough methods and negotiations yet unknown, Scott Pace has convinced jolly old St. Nicholas to give him exclusive access to run tours of the North Pole. All it takes is some slick navigation through a magic portal located just outside Flagstaff. The North Pole Experience is currently in its 10th season of operation, giving children and parents alike an authentic Christmas activity. It spent its first three seasons in Greer, Arizona but has since been re-located to Flagstaff. “We want to go back in time and have a traditional, authentic family experience,” said CEO and founder Pace. Much like Santa’s real workshop, the North Pole Experience works the whole year in preparation for Christmas. Construction of the
workshop takes three and a half months. 220 elves are hired primarily from local schools and NAU to populate Santa’s workshop. “We’re in the holiday spirit all year round,” Pace said. The elf actors are masters of improvisation, capable and ready to answer any question in character. What’s Santa’s favorite language? Latin. When do the reindeer eat? 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Pace founded the North Pole Experience after his children were disillusioned by a different Christmas-themed activity located in Williams, Arizona. “My daughters were five and said ‘Hey dad we wanna go to the real North Pole where elves are and build toys,’” Pace said. He searched for an authentic North Pole, to no avail, and decided to open his own
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using his knowledge he received from the toy manufacturing business. The journey begins when families board buses rigged with hydraulics and lights at the Little America Hotel and depart for a magic portal that leads them to the “North Pole”. The location of the workshop itself is kept carefully under wraps, but a quick look out the trolley’s window or on Google Maps reveals the location to be Fort Tuthill County Park. On the drive, elf actors shout over screaming babies about bus safety and North Pole lore, all while trying to successfully raise enough Christmas spirit to get through the magical portal. By the trolley’s end the passengers have magically traveled 3,794 miles to the North Pole. “Going through the portal is the most magical part and it’s also the most challenging
to make kids believe that they’re actually going through a portal to the North Pole,” said Hailee Mason, sophomore nursing student at NAU. She is known to the children by her elf name of Hailstorm. The North Pole Experience itself is divided into nine rooms. First, children knock on a large wooden door to enter into the Toy Hall of Fame. The room houses a myriad of classic toys from Rockem Sock-em Robots to Mr. Potato Head to Etch A Sketch in museum style displays. “If you’re a grandparent, a parent or a kid you’re going to see toys you played with,” Pace said. After two toy soldier actors finish their conversation, the group heads into the second room: Santa’s original workshop. Here a master elf serves as orientation for the rooms to come.
FEATURES All details are accounted for in the North Pole Experience. Props are made of wood and metal, with very little plastic and synthetic materials. Pipes glow and bubble, capturing the Aurora Borealis and Christmas spirit, which powers everything in Santa’s workshop. “Everything we do in the workshop we try to make as realistic and authentic as possible so the kids and parents feel like they’re really at the North Pole,” Pace said. Following Santa’s workshop, the children make toys with the elves. This year, children construct teddy bears and trucks with the elves. Each elf invented their own toy, and participants are encouraged to ask about it. One elf, Nutmeg, invented finger paints and glow sticks. Another named Whistle, with four of his cohorts, invented the sock-monkey (one elf for each appendage plus the head.) A third elf invented Super Soakers and NERF Guns, though she did not see the North Pole militarizing anytime soon. Elves skirt around the toy factory in intricate costumes with smiles all around. “Going to Santa’s real workshop [is something] every child dreams of,” Pace said. After children have completed their toys with the elves, they head to a massive room with a working conveyor belt known as the factory room. Here, the kids help elves load sacks of toy parts, which are carried up and away, presumably for other elves to build toys with. Next is another highlight of the trip: Mrs. Claus’ bakery. Here, children and adults alike get to eat Mrs. Claus’ baking, made fresh on location. This year the meal consists of Snowman Soup (hot cocoa) and “Yeti-O’s,” which are akin to a small doughnut. Then, elves sing a song and teach the children a dance which, after the introduction of toddlers, takes a turn from wellchoreographed to ecstatic flailing. “Seeing the children’s reaction to Mrs. Claus and the hot cocoa and treats she brought out [was my favorite part],” said Paul Jajou, a parent visiting the North Pole Experience with his family. With bellies full, the group then heads to class at Elf University. The professor elf teaches children Santa’s Nine Golden Rules, one of which is the actual Golden Rule. After they complete their tenure at Elf University, participants receive a graduation certificate, deeming them an “Honorary Elf.” Now college graduates, the children and their parents in a blob of 45 people head to the mailroom. A copy of the official Naughty or Nice List lays on a table. Letters to Santa are strewn about with disregard. In this portion of the experience children write letters to deliver to Santa. Some children are more adept at drafting letters than others. Elves and parents stand ready
to assist younger children turn their mindless scrawling into something legible. The group next enters the penultimate room: mission control. An elf spins dials and monitors the magic portal from a NASA-esque station. Santa’s new-and-improved sleigh sits ready for Christmas Eve. It is situated with a radar and other high-tech gadgets. This room mainly serves as a buffer for families to visit with the Big Man himself. Each family gets exclusive one-on-one access to Santa. “A lot of those things you see with Santa are not authentic, so for us [after going] through the workshop and building toys with the elves, Santa is kind of the cherry on top,” Pace said. His Santa Claus is the spitting image of the mythical character, not an old man in a fake beard with a pillow under the shirt. Authenticity is carried out start to finish by the North Pole Experience. “It seems to get more magical every year I come back,” Mason said. In the coming years Pace plans to add more to his Christmas Factory. The hour-and-a-half tour is will see new rooms, props and special effects. Tickets for the event are released in April and continually sold through the last day of the experience on Dec. 28.
Top: An elf helps children build teddy bears in the toy factory at the North Pole Experience Nov. 18. Bottom: A woman and her child watch elves in the toy factory Nov. 18. Jack Mehl| The Lumberjack
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FEATURES
Living with Louie: A way to find off-campus housing Alexandria Vallejo
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common phrase said by students learning how to be an adult is, “They didn’t teach me this in school.” Becoming an adult includes being responsible for things like renting or owning a house. When the time comes however, students can often find themselves at a dead end not knowing where to start or what the terms mortgage and lease even mean. There is also a safety concern when finding a roommate. The fear of not getting along with a roommate is prevalent among students. Because of this predicament, NAU’s new tool, Louie’s List, is intended to help students find off-campus housing. Louie’s List, launched at the beginning of the fall 2016 semester, allows students to connect with one another if they need to find roommates or just housing off campus. The website only allows NAU students, both undergraduate and graduate students as well as incoming transfer students to join. The plan is to extend the site to include faculty and staff once Louie’s List is on its feet. Students are required to fill out their personal profile detailing what they are looking for. Any student seeking housing can do an in-depth search to find exactly what they need. The website allows for students to filter out their options such as price range, allowance of pets, amount of bedroom and bath, different listing types and many more preferences for their ideal living arrangement. The site also allows for users to find roommates they can match with in hopes of making sure they will find someone they will most likely get along with. When one finds someone they are willing to room with, the two parties can settle on a living space they can both afford and lease conditions they agree upon. In addition to this, both parties are required to fill out a roommate agreement just as incoming freshman do in the dorms. “A lot of my residents just simply don’t know where to start. They don’t
Illustration by Colton Starley
know how leases work, and they don’t know how contracts work off campus. I think NAU makes it easy to find housing on campus because it’s just one centralized application,” said residential assistant Gaby De Anda. “The biggest struggle for them is just ‘OK where do I even begin with housing and how does rent work?’ They just don’t know too much.” The website includes many resources regarding this. This includes links to the Flagstaff Municipal Service Billing. This site includes instructions on how to pay bills, how to start or stop services and set up paperless billing or auto pay. It also includes information on rates for water, storm water and wastewater for the year. There is also a link to the NAU Off-Campus Housing Guide, which details the first steps for students to take if they are considering living off campus. It also goes into detail on
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leases, city codes, ordinances and also home safety. This guide is provided to ensure students have clarity on the big step they are taking to live off campus and be responsible for all aspects of their living space. On top of everything this new resource provides, it also allows for students to look for roommates and living spaces in a safer and much more trusting way. Use of the site limits the chances of students being scammed. A common way students find roommates is by the use of websites such as Craigslist. This website limits the amount of safety for a student, and can feel like a last resort. Louie’s List offers the safer alternative, and it only allows students to sign up and search for roommates. Students also have the opportunity to search for roommates based on detailed preferences such as undergraduate or graduate students only, desired number of roommates,
cleanliness preference and various interests to ensure students are pleased with those they will be living with. “Finding roommates is a huge thing because of a lot of experiences they’ve had. They’re like, ‘I don’t want a bad roommate’ so [it has] been a struggle for them,” said residential assistant Daniel DeShazer. DeShazer has noted among many of his residents that they worry about their roommate situation above all else. This is understandable considering how many students attend NAU from different backgrounds and have different living routines. DeShazer also noted that most of his residents seem to want to get along with their roommates, and consider it a top priority when searching for a place to live and people to live with. With Louie’s List providing a variety of preferences for a student to fill out, it makes it easier and convenient for students with similar
interests and living habits to find each other. Students may not be able to avoid bad roommates throughout their college life, but at the least Louie’s List helps limit the chances of having a bad roommate. The level of safety that comes with this new website does not just stop at personally ensuring students, it also provides a sense of safety to parents of students. This includes transfer students’ parents who have the opportunity, now, to see the place their student will be living even before they move in or arrive in town. “With this resource, they can go on there, see photos, see distance to campus, and there’s Google Maps where they can click and see photos,” said Louie’s List coordinator Leslie Mitchell. Louie’s list provides pictures and locations of all the living spaces available to students, some including floor plans as well, so parents and incoming transfer students can feel safer knowing everything they need to know about the living space they will be occupying. This new housing tool for students was created with resources a student would need and also has plans for improvement the more it is used with student feedback. Louie’s List is still in the first phase of being launched. As of now, it is available for all students to use for their own needs of finding housing and roommates, or simply just finding roommates. Because it is still considered new, there is still room for development and there are hopes of making Louie’s List not just for undergraduate students, graduate students and incoming transfer students, but also help faculty and staff who need assistance in looking for housing around Flagstaff. Overall, the tool might be pushed further to benefit NAU as whole. However, for the time being, Louie’s List is serving as a tool for any student seeking housing or roommates off campus in a safe and convenient way.
ENROLL NOW FOR WINTER TERM! Get ahead!
Earn 3 credits in 4 weeks. All winter term classes are entirely online.
nau.edu/winter2018
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CULTURE
A new frontier for film at UTV Studios Collin W. Clayton
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new era of student filmmaking unfolds as members of NAU’s UTV Studios begin production on a short film that will be unlike any of the organization’s previously released titles. The new film, “Hare-th,” will employ techniques of stop-motion animation to tell the story of a rabbit named Wesley. He leaves his one-true love behind and blasts off to the far reaches of outer space in search of knowledge and adventure. Senior film major and director Spenser Williamson expressed the intent behind the film’s title. He said “Hare-th” on a surface level, is a nod to the fact that the main character is a hare, but the word also has deep historical roots that tie in well with the theme of the film. “It’s kind of a play on words,” Williamson said. “Our story centers around this Welsh word, ‘hareth,’ which has no direct English translation, but can most closely be defined as a deep longing for a home that no longer exists.” Williamson said the film will be a somewhat somber tale — one that students in critical stages of development might find relatable. Themes of loss and consequence will be explored as the main character contends with loneliness and heartbreak aboard his interstellar starship. “It’s a story of tragedy in the sense that [Wesley] thought he wanted this exploration in space but slowly starts to regret his decision as he realizes his best discovery was on Earth,” Williamson said. “It’s a universal story about an impasse when you have to choose one thing over another.” Influenced by films such as “Isle of Dogs” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” the film’s creators have constructed elaborate set pieces that contrast the harsh, clinical environment of Wesley’s spacecraft against the bucolic charm of his lover’s earthbound estate. Williamson said he has woven elements of interdimensional travel into the plot and imagery of his science-fiction film. “I want our space to feel like a prison. I want Wesley’s room to seem a little too big for the things in it. It evokes this idea of isolation,” Williamson said. “One thing we play within our film is duality. We wanted to draw a distinction between Earth and space. We have Earth Wesley and his significant other, Olive, who are in this blooming relationship. We’re cutting from them to space Wesley, who elected to leave. The two Wesleys are the same, but they’re also different.” Creating Wesley’s world has not been
Freshman Ember Crowley carefully makes slight adjustments to Wesley, the main character in the stop-motion film “Hare-th,” which is being created by NAU students. Crowley is one of the animators for the film, which is set to debut at the NAU Film Festival in May, 2019. Morgan Fisher | The Lumberjack
simple. Dana Kamberg, a senior art major and production designer, said this is the first time a UTV crew has done a piece featuring stopmotion animation, which is a style of filmmaking in which inanimate objects appear lifelike and mobile after being captured one frame at a time. Kamberg described some of the challenges intrinsic to stop motion animation. She said it’s an art form that requires a heavy time commitment and hands-on participation from the crew. “It’s super time-consuming,” said Kamberg. “With stop motion, you’re creating the actors and sets. You’re in charge of making it all come to life.” UTV faculty adviser Bill Carter admitted that, at first, he was doubtful of the studio’s logistical ability to produce such a demanding film and was hesitant to approve the project.
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However, after two years of brainstorming between creators, Carter said he felt the crew was finally ready to get to work. “I wasn’t going to do it because I knew what it would take, and I didn’t know if we’d have everyone on the same page to be able to do it,” Carter said. “[Williamson and Kamberg] pitched it to me over the summer and really laid out why we should do it and how it was going to work. [They] convinced me.” Carter highlighted some of the efforts put forth by student participants and said he approved of the work that had been accomplished since the start of production in August. “[The students] built every single thing from scratch. They have to have many heads for each change of Wesley’s expression. You might have a smile that develops over four different heads; that’s four different heads you have to
build,” Carter said. “It’s a lot of work. It all looks legit and they’ve done a great job of filming.” Williamson’s sight has remained fixed on achieving success as crew members navigate through a variety of uncharted techniques. Williamson said difficulties faced by members of the team have only served to plot a course toward experiential learning. “Our first goal is to make a good movie,” Williamson said. “Filmmaking is all about learning to me. It’s always a new challenge. We want to explore this world that we’ve all been creating together.” “Hare-th” is set to premiere May 2019 at UTV’s annual student film festival. Community members of all ages are encouraged to attend and show their support for NAU’s vibrant student-film scene.
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CULTURE
Skateboard art pivots toward preserving heritage
Grand Canyon University student Ashlee Toney experiences the Pivot: Skateboard Deck Art Exhibit at the Museum of Northern Arizona Nov. 14. Rylee Flowers | The Lumberjack
Jay Buttcane
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rtists can find the ability to express emotion using a wide range of tools and a variety of items can be used as a canvas for artists. The new art exhibit at the Museum of Northern Arizona presents 100 skateboard decks, which over 30 artists from the Colorado Plateau were invited to create. Curated by Duane Koyawena and Landis Bahe, Pivot: Skateboard Deck Art is an exhibition aimed at allowing Native American artists to express past traditions in a new and unique way. Traditions such as weaving and pottery can now be
expressed in contemporary ways through a skateboard deck. Sophomore interior design major Makayla Cortez visited the exhibit to see what designs the artists came up with. She said the museum did a very nice job presenting all the different artworks equally. “The presentation of the boards is really well done,” Cortez said. “Every board made me want to come examine them up close.” The blank skateboard decks were sent out to the artists with Zuni, Hopi, Navajo, Comanche, O’odham and Latinx backgrounds. The artists returned designs made to add a contemporary flair to the traditions of
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Native American life. The goal was to highlight the commonalities and differences the tribes share with each other. The name Pivot serves as a double entendre for being a pivotal moment for Native American art as well as a skateboarding maneuver. “It’s amazing to see how these artists can all be given the same object to work with and be able to come up with designs that are completely unique,” Cortez said. “In a way, it shows how different upbringings throughout the tribes can have an effect on what the artwork looks like, but that they also all share an appreciation for where they come
from.” Phoenix resident Javier Perez attended the exhibit. Perez was intrigued to see the exhibit because of his enthusiasm for skateboarding. “For skaters, a skateboard that you ride on is almost like an extension for yourself and in that way it should have a design that represents you the most,” Perez said. “What better way to have a skateboard that aligns with your personality than to design your own?” To Perez, a skateboard is already a canvas to display art when it’s being used. Having the decks framed for people to explore gives viewers the ability to experience the artistic
intentions up close. “These decks may not necessarily be for actually turning into a rideable skateboard, Perez said. “They still represent that extension of someone.” Flagstaff resident Ivan Rafael appreciates the sentiment of using skateboarding as a way to bring people closer together. In the case of the exhibit, having the art come from Native American culture is a way to educate others about their heritage. “People sometimes don’t realize just how many tribes there are and how important it can be to create a sense of unity and peace,” Rafael said. “This is such a fantastic way to bring people together, especially the youth because of the skateboarding aspect of it.” Rafael is a skateboarder himself and notices how closely the sport and art can be related. He acknowledged the effort in both art and skateboarding and said they are a great way to combine two passions into one. “They’re both passions filled with dedication. It’s a thrill to reach a new limit in your craft and step back to see all of your hard work,” Rafael said. “The designs must have taken a long time to master, just like the effort it takes to master a new trick on a skateboard. Every deck seems like it had the most care put into the designs.” The Museum of Northern Arizona has a mission of preserving the heritage of the region and cultures around the Colorado Plateau through the collection of artifacts and creations from the area. For 90 years, the museum has aimed to be a place for learning and aesthetic enjoyment of historical pieces and artwork. The exhibit will be available to attend until March 31, 2019. Fulltime NAU students with a school ID are admitted for free. Normal admission for adults is $12 while children under 10 are free. The hours of the museum are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
CULTURE
Left: A gingerbread house is displayed after being created during a Disney Club meeting Nov. 14. Right: (From right to left) Lizbeth Ibanez and Giselle Rojas build gingerbread houses during a Disney Club meeting Nov. 14. Caleb Autry | The Lumberjack
Disney inspires students to give back Pruthvi Khilosia
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he Disney Club at NAU is more than a fan club and members describe themselves as a reflection of the Walt Disney company itself with core values and acts of community service. Briana Rodriguez, president and founder of the Disney Club is a senior business management major. She started a Disney Club at her high school in Orange County, California and when she came to NAU as a freshman she thought of starting one again. “It was a challenge for sure when I started the club back home. We were pretty close to the Anaheim, [California] Disneyland Resort, so we were able to engage students wanting to be involved,” Rodriguez said. “Engaging the members was more difficult [because] they were a little shy. This year has been more successful than last year given the feedback that we received on the activities we had.”
Rodriguez said the purpose of having this club at NAU is to implement and mirror the values of the Walt Disney company on campus. Through fundraising, community service and social bonding activities, members who are passionate about Disney can come together. Freshman business management major McKenna Summers joined the Disney Club in the third week of school and heard about it through the NAU Snapchat while it was being taken over by two members on a trip to Disneyland, which ultimately lead to her joining the club. “I’m a huge fan of Disney. My whole career path is aiming toward Disney and my life has been Disney ever since I was born,” Summers said. “It was important to me that I get to meet people with similar interests.” Disney Club is more than just an open door to a future career. Summers said she has benefited a lot from joining the Disney Club and has helped her during her freshman year.
“I got a lot of friends and three of the girls are going to be my roommates next year,” Summers said. “I can recognize people out and about now and as a freshman that’s cool to make that many friends to hang out with.” Summers said the club is full of people who are very passionate about one specific thing and people come together to apply the values about what they’re passionate about. Disney is for the community and the club applies those values by volunteering, such as doing the highway pickup or working concessions for NAU football games. Addison Sandoz, a freshman hotel and restaurant management major and social chair, is in charge of coming up with events such as gingerbread decorating and Friendsgiving. “We do community service like a food drive,” said Sandoz. “We’re not just a fan club, we’re a community service and we want to help people.” Kelsey Stein, a sophomore hotel and restaurant management major, is the community
service chair and is following her mother’s inspiration. Stein talks with local food banks to plan events the club can do. She has looked into helping children with homework, prepare food and give out sandwiches. “When I saw the Disney Club, I knew I had to join and I’ve done a lot of community service,” Stein said. “My mom is the current president of rotary in Oro Valley and all they do is community service.” The club is currently hosting a blanket and canned food drive. Stein said they should be doing the highway cleanup but had difficulty with the weather this year. NAU’s Disney Club is an opportunity offered to all students to take advantage of. It offers a chance to meet new people, get a head start in a Disney career and make an impact in community service, just like Walt Disney.
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SPORTS
Men’s Cross country: THREE-TIME NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
The three-time cross country NCAA National Champions came home after earning their title in Madison, Wisconsin Nov. 18. Top left: Freshman Ryan Raff holds the national championship trophy. Top right: Senior Peter Lomong greets people outside the Walkup Skydome. Bottom left: NAU cross country poses with the national championship trophy. Bottom right: Senior Matt Baxter signs and writes a message on a poster outside the Skydome. Michael Patacsil | The Lumberjack
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SPORTS
The true Warrior
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understand the current mold of the perfect NBA player. It’s a player who is fast, durable, a tweener and most importantly, considered a big. This is nothing new. In the past 11 seasons, a forward has won NBA Finals MVP eight times, with Kobe Bryant winning the other two. Since 1999 a point guard has only won the award twice. The last two honors have gone to none other than Kevin Durant. He is the presumable second-best player in the league, give or take a couple votes for Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo because, well, you know why. I challenge that presumption, and more KADE people should. Durant is not the second-best GILLISS player in the NBA, even his own head coach SPORTS EDITOR Steve Kerr has claimed. He is the second-best player on his team. It wasn’t long ago that the Golden State Warriors were sitting pretty, as they have been the past five seasons. Bolstering an 11-2 record, looking well on their way to making the league just a season-long battle for second place. Then Steph Curry got hurt and, my goodness, has Golden State ever looked worse. The Warriors are now 13-7, sitting at fourth in the Western Conference and that includes a four-game losing stretch — something that hasn’t happened to the team since 2013. The team’s highlight during this stretch has been Draymond Green’s outburst at Durant that has only served as an echo of truth, “we don’t need you.” But, Durant is a seven-foot sniper that can guard all across the court. He’s the second-best player in the league playing alongside one of the greatest shooters, Klay Thompson. Yeah, how has that worked out? Durant is an added piece to Golden State. A significant piece at that, but nothing more. Curry, at 6-foot 3-inches, is the machine that runs the Warriors. He is the power switch, he is what stirs the pot and blends everyone’s talents, he is the most valuable player because he is their best player. When the Warriors are without their best player, they experience what any other team would — a dip in productivity. According to NBCSports, the Warriors are a plus-16.9 point differential per 100 possessions since Durant joined the team. That’s not only great, that is downright the most unjustifiable amount of greatness for a single team in league history. Only three teams this past decade have reached doubledigit plus — two being the Warriors. What happens with Curry off the floor? A plummet. All the way down to just plus-4.9. They are not even the same team. Without Curry and with Durant, the team is 23-22. Switch those two stars availability and the Warriors are 25-7 during that span. Don’t let the state of versatile bigs cloud your mind. Curry is the Warriors, and Durant is a piece.
Living up to expectations Maria angulo As the fall season is ending, we take a look back to the incoming players who were seen as the “future playmakers” for the Lumberjacks.
RYANN DAVIS
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fter ultimately making the recruitment process and the decision to come to NAU, Ryann Davis was excited for her first season to start on the volleyball team. “It’s everything I expected. Coming into this team — especially going back to the recruiting process — I knew I wanted to be part of a team where I could have an impact,” Davis said. “I just saw myself being on the team. And that was part of my big decision, and everything I wanted to happen came true.” Davis has had a great start as a Lumberjack with her first game against Nevada, recording six kills. Davis currently ranks fourth in team kills with a total of 260. Davis knew that she would have to adjust from her club and high school years where she used to be the go-to player for her coaches. “I kept doing what I do, playing the way I play with my aggression and doing what I can do to provide for the team,” Davis said. During her time at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona, Davis finished as a two-time all-conference player. She finished her high school career with 1,088 kills and a 2.84 hitting percentage, according to NAU Athletics. Davis currently ranks fourth on the team in kills per set with 2.32. NAU as a school has also been great for Davis, even though at the beginning balancing academics with all the traveling the team does for away games, she is very appreciative of how her professors are understanding. “Our goal is to win [the] Big Sky [Conference],” Davis said. “The way we are playing right now, it feels we are unstoppable and hopefully we will reach that goal.” After having a 12-game winning streak, the Lumberjacks beat the Idaho
Freshman Ryann Davis spikes the ball against University of Idaho November 15. Bess Valdez | The Lumberjack
Vandals 3-0, winning the Big Sky championship and earning NAU a place in Division I NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament. The Lumberjacks are scheduled to take on No. 16 Washington State Nov. 30.
Davis goes into this tournament with the title of Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year. This will be the second title for the volleyball team since 2015 and their third in the program history.
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SPORTS
DANIEL BRIDGE-GADD
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aking the role as starting quarterback after junior firststring quarterback Case Cookus got injured against No. 1 in the conference Eastern Washington, Daniel BridgeGadd entered that same game and almost turned it around gaining 243 total yards and three touchdowns. “Daniel is the guy, he has a great skill set. He can throw and he can run and we were very lucky to get him,” said offensive coordinator Aaron Pflugrad. “He is still learning and growing — learning the offense so he still has a real bright future with us with all of his abilities.” The coaching staff was hoping that Bridge-Gadd could sit back and learn for a year but sometimes players get thrown into the game. “He made a lot of big-time plays for us as well,” Pflugrad said. “We are really looking forward down the road in the future and his playmaking abilities with a better understanding of the offense as he moves on in his career.” Bridge-Gadd had an average passing of 189.1 yards with his highest passing yard game recording 313 against Idaho State. Falling into the bad luck of injured quarterbacks, BridgeGadd’s season ended when he got injured against Northern Colorado. He is now in the rehabilitation process and the team is looking forward to his return next season. “It is a difficult time and a difficult deal, but sometimes adversity makes you stronger. He is going to be that much stronger going in next year,” Pflugrad said.
SYDNEY DENNIS
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or incoming midfielder Sydney Dennis, this season was short. After only playing one game in the preseason, Dennis ended up redshirting for the rest of it. “I played one preseason game for a couple of minutes. I practice a lot, even though I didn’t play, I got a lot out of it,” Dennis said. For Dennis NAU was everything she wanted. “I have met a lot of people and the campus — I love it,” Dennis said. Balancing practice and school were not as hard as Dennis imagined, as the team had a study hall and a number of hours per week to complete. During the offseason, she plans on practicing and working with the teams strength coach. As for what’s next, Dennis is excited to be able to play in the spring, but she is most excited about next fall and the incoming freshmen. “We had a very good season this season and I [would] just like to see how this [progresses],” Dennis said.
Stories by Maria angulo | Photos by Bailey Helton
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CIANA ‘ANA’ RIVERA
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ut of the 10 incoming freshmen for NAU soccer, half of them got to play during the season, with one of them being freshman forward Ciana Rivera. During the preseason, she thought she would only be conditioning, but instead, she became an important part of this team. “To me, it was pretty fun going through everything,” Rivera said. “I did not expect to do anything this season. To do everything I did, it was kind of surprising and uplifting for me.” Rivera scored three goals and two assists in 17 games, playing 589 minutes. “We had so many games and I always got one shot and I was like ‘Oh my God. Every time I shot the ball I thought it was going to go in and it didn’t and I got so mad. And when I kicked that ball, I was so happy and I didn’t know what I did with my celebration it was so bad,’” Rivera said about her first goal against Southern Utah. Rivera was honored as a member of the Big Sky AllConference team along with four of her teammates. NAU has also been good to Rivera, who is majoring in kinesiology. “At first, it was rough. I had 20 breakdowns [but] it got easier and everyone here was reassuring and making each other succeed,” Rivera said. “My professors are really flexible on the road, we have study hall hours. At first, it was hectic.” For now, during the offseason and while she waits for the next, Rivera will continue to practice as she stays in shape and works on her touches. “I want to do more, more than this season. That is always how I feel — like I could have done more,” Rivera said.
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