The Lumberjack -- December 5, 2019

FIND YOUR ROOTS A SPECIAL ISSUE

THE LUMBER JACK

DEC. 5, 2019 – JAN. 15, 2020

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

I

t’s The Lumberjack’s last issue of the semester, and it’s also that time of year again. The ends of semesters provide an opportunity to reflect on all you have learned, both academically and in your personal life. They allow you a chance to reevaluate the path you are on.

This issue of the newspaper is about roots: family roots, routes and literal plant roots. In accordance with the theme of roots, I invite you to ask yourself a few questions: Where are your roots?

Where do you want to put your roots down if you feel uprooted? What grounds you? Where are your priorities? In what ways do you heal other humans and the more-than-human world? In what ways are you being reciprocal with the land you live on?

The Earth needs help, both the land itself and the creatures that live on it.

We all could use some healing, and connecting to our roots can help with that.

I believe I come from a family of healers and that I, too, carry the potential to benefit the life surrounding me.

As you read that, what may have come first to your mind is a circle of KARIN cloaked people gathering around an ill person and a wood fire, holding hands JOHNSON and chanting — that is not what I mean when I say I believe my roots lie in a family of healers.

ASSISTANT NEWS My dad was a gifted chef. His food brought the family together, even if EDITOR just for a moment, and it nourished our bodies. He had the potential to heal whether he realized it or not. My mom is a nurse practitioner who, at the end of the day, has a passion for her ability to take the pain and illness away from other humans and make connections with them.

My brother likes to make music. Whenever he shares with me something new he is working on, the sound sparks a fire in my soul, and I am sure his music does the same for others. My grandmother loves plants and honors their existence. My grandfather looks forward to the next opportunity he can take to make his grandkids laugh.

I believe I love deeply and authentically, not just human beings but the rest of our Earth community too, even if it really hurts sometimes. That love follows me everywhere with everything I do.

But I, like most people, am still learning my gifts and honing my talents. I am still figuring out my family roots as well as the routes opening up to me with each passing day. My family members and I are just like most people — I simply believe everyone has the potential to be a healer. Everyone in some capacity has helped another being at some point in our lives.

I invite you to get back in touch with that, with the roots of the earth and with your family roots.

Get back in touch with your gifts to the world, with your magic. Once you do that, imagine how you can direct your life in a more grounded, rooted direction.

Thank you for reading.

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 108 ISSUE 15

Editor-in-Chief Bailey Helton Faculty Adviser David Harpster

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

Director of Digital Content Copy Chief Senior Reporter Sebastian Moore Brady Wheeler Print Chief Sales Manager Photo Adviser Bella Valenzuela Marsha Simon Taylor Mahoney

Managing Editor Sabrina Proffitt Sports Adviser Rory Faust

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board Director of Social Media Senior Reporter Shannon Degrange Collin W. Clayton News Editor Features Editor Scout Ehrler Ash Lohmann Asst. News Editor Karin Johnson

Asst. Features Editor Jacob Meyer

Online News Editor Ray Anne Galzote

Culture Editor Nathan Manni

Online News Editor Trevor Skeen

Asst. Culture Editor Nayomi Garcia

2

Op-Ed Editor Caitlin Burke Asst. Op-Ed Editor Ryan Dixon Sports Editor David Church Asst. Sports Editor Cameron Richardson Director of Circulation Anel Lamadrid Asst. Dir. of Circulation Micah Meehan

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

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

“I think they especially love the people and how we welcome everyone in the community.”

– Astronomy Club treasurer sophomore Ryan Jundt

Illustration By shelsy braswell

On the cover Illustration By Aleah Green

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

PoliceBeat Sept. 3 At 8:10 p.m., a residence hall director at Reilly Hall called to report subjects having a barbecue with a grill in the bed of a truck. NAUPD responded, and a report was taken.

Sept. 9 At 9:30 a.m., staff at the Facility Services building reported that an NAU vehicle backed into a Starship robot.

NAUPD responded and took a report.

Sept. 10 At 2:24 p.m., a student at the Honors College called to report an injured bird on campus. NAUPD responded, and the bird appeared to be in good health. It eventually flew away.

Sept. 21 At 1:25 p.m., a student at McConnell Hall called to report a skunk that appeared ill. NAUPD responded, but the animal left the area.

Sept. 24 At 11:39 a.m., a student called to report a sick bird.

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

At 2:34 p.m., NAUPD was waved down to assist with a loose dog on campus.

The area was searched, but no contact was made.

Oct. 1 At 12:14 a.m., a subject at SkyView Apartments called to report stray kittens on campus.

NAUPD responded, and information was provided.

Oct. 9 At 7:09 p.m., a student called NAUPD to report an unidentifiable stray animal in the area near the Social and Behavioral Sciences buildings.

The animal was located by NAUPD, but it was unable to be caught.

Compiled by Scout Ehrler and Karin Johnson

Oct. 10 At 5:08 a.m., NAUPD reported hearing two stray dogs near the Hotel and Restaurant Management building. The area was checked, but no dogs were found.

Nov. 7 At 2:45 p.m., a staff member at the School of Communication reported a strange odor inside the building. NAUPD responded, and the odor was found to be spilled diesel fuel.

At 5:38 a.m., a student Environmental Health and reported two stray dogs near Safety responded. the Health and Learning Center. The area was searched, Nov. 8 but no dogs were found.

At 6:58 p.m., NAUPD discovered two kittens on the Oct. 24 road near Hilltop Townhomes.

At 2:21 p.m., a staff The officers were unable to member at Old Main called to catch the kittens. report finding a bag of liquid.

NAUPD responded, and it was Nov. 13 found to be filled with urine.

At 3:55 p.m., a staff The bag was disposed of by member at the Social and NAUPD. Behavioral Sciences buildings Oct. 27 called to report a subject At 10:56 p.m., Wilson singing loudly.

NAUPD Hall staff reported the odor responded, but the subject was of marijuana. Flagstaff Fire gone when officers arrived.

Department, GMT and NAUPD responded. The Nov. 14 student fainted upon officer At 8:28 p.m., an RA arrival and refused medical at the Cowden Learning transport. Officers deferred the Community called to report student for use of marijuana. drug paraphernalia. NAUPD responded, and the item Oct. 28 in question was not drug At 2:15 p.m., a student at paraphernalia. the Learning Resource Center called to report an injured bird.

Nov. 15 NAUPD responded, and the At 7:43 p.m., a staff bird was moved to a location member at Mountain View off campus, per Arizona Hall called to report a cat in Game and Fish Department the lobby. NAUPD responded, instructions. but the cat ran outside and left the area.

At 6:12 p.m., a student called to report kittens under At 8:52 p.m., a nontwo vehicles at parking lot 32. student called to report that NAUPD responded, but the a cat had possibly been struck kittens could not be caught. by a car near the intersection Residents of surrounding of Pine Knoll Drive and dorms were advised to check McConnell Drive. NAUPD underneath their vehicles responded, but were unable to before starting them. locate the cat.

Oct. 29 At 9:37 p.m., an RA at McKay Village called to report a stray kitten in the area.

NAUPD responded, but no contact was made.

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

3

NEWS

Mayor Evans reflects on her Flagstaff roots “I hope to bring the voices of local municipalities to the State House. I hope for us to address local control, education (preschool through adult education) [and] major environmental challenges, including water and forest health.”

– Mayor Coral Evans

4

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Top Left: Coral Evans gives a speech in front of city hall to announce her bid for mayor of Flagstaff in the 2016 election Jan. 27, 2016.

J. Daniel Hud | The Lumberjack Bottom Left: Mayor Coral Evans has served on Flagstaff City Council since 2008, and was elected mayor in 2016. Evans is running for the House of Representatives in 2020 as the

Democratic candidate for the Arizona State House in legislative District 6, Sept. 4.

Bess Valdez | The Lumberjack Right: Former Vice Mayor Coral Evans gives a speech on the importance of voting during an event held by the Arizona Students’ Association Sept. 10, 2016.

Ashleigh Vance | The Lumberjack

NEWS

Lowell Observatory celebrates 125 years of education and groundbreaking research Jacob Meyer

F

ounded in 1894, the Lowell Observatory has been a center for research, education and important astronomical discoveries for 125 years.

Kevin Schindler, Lowell’s resident historian and public information officer, explained the origins of the observatory regarding founder Percival Lowell. Schindler said that Lowell settled on what was then Arizona Territory to build the observatory after considering multiple sites across the state.

“It was kind of the wild frontier, it was dark — good air out there,” Schindler said. “He sent an assistant out in the spring of 1894 and he went to several sites around Arizona Territory, and finally came to Flagstaff and decided this is the place.”

The Lowell historian explained that the conditions in Flagstaff are especially good for astronomical observations. The high altitude reduces atmospheric distortion and the city is relatively far from major metropolitan areas and other sources of light pollution.

Lowell initially built the observatory and its Clark Telescope to closely study the surface of Mars.

Schindler discussed the founder’s fascination with the idea that Mars could harbor life.

“Percival Lowell, back in 1894, got interested in Mars and the possibility of intelligent life there, so he wanted to study astronomy himself and try to prove the existence of life on Mars,” Schindler said.

However, work at the observatory later pivoted from Lowell’s misguided belief in Martians to groundbreaking discoveries that remain valid.

Schindler said that the observatory is home to some of the most famous astronomical breakthroughs of the 20th century.

Among many developments, the observatory is well known for the discovery of Pluto and the expanding universe.

Although many of the observatory’s greatest achievements

are in the past, Schindler explained that the discoveries remain important to the field of astronomy.

Much of the observatory’s current research centers around the Discovery Channel Telescope, one of the largest telescopes in the country.

“The Discovery Channel Telescope has been fully operational for five years,” Schindler said. “The research program is thriving, perhaps more than any other time in the past.”

Schindler said alongside the observatory’s own work, Lowell scientists have also been closely involved in important research with other organizations.

One of those efforts is a partnership between Lowell scientists, NASA and a plethora of other organizations on the New Horizons mission. The mission, which launched in 2006 and is ongoing, sent a spacecraft to observe Pluto and the asteroid belts for the first time.

“For that mission, they have several different teams of scientists.

One team focuses on what the surface of Pluto is made of and one focuses on the atmosphere,” Schindler said. “The head of the surface composition team is a Lowell scientist, Will Grundy.”

In addition to their focus on scientific research, the observatory has long had an emphasis on education and public outreach.

Schindler described how Lowell’s education efforts date back to its founding and complement the observatory’s scientific research.

“Scientific research is why we were founded, but even from the beginning, Percival Lowell said, ‘If we’re going to do science we should share it with people,’” Schindler said.

“The research and the outreach kind of go hand-in-hand. The science drives the outreach in a lot of ways.”

Schindler discussed how soon after its construction, the observatory began inviting the public to look through its telescopes. Tourists began visiting the observatory from around the world following the famous discovery of Pluto in 1930, which eventually led to the opening of the formal visitor’s center in 1994.

The Slipher Building located at Lowell Observatory is the administration building at the complex. The building, which is used as a library and museum, was erected in 1915. Jaden Sonive| The Lumberjack

Additionally, many of the employees in the observatory’s education programs are NAU students.

Junior Megan Gialluca works at Lowell as a public program educator.

She gives tours, teaches on various topics and operates equipment at telescope viewings.

Gialluca said that Lowell seeks out NAU students to fill positions.

“Lowell tends to hire students from the university first,” Gialluca said. “They come in and tell classes here about when hiring opportunities are happening.”

NAU and Lowell Observatory also have many formal ties on a variety of academic and research projects.

Stephen Tegler is a professor of physics and astronomy who has taught at NAU for 25 years. He discussed his experience with Lowell Observatory, including working alongside Lowell scientists at the joint NAU-Lowell astrophysical materials laboratory.

“I work closely with some of their

astronomers. We have what we call the astrophysical materials lab upstairs that’s jointly run by astronomers at Lowell and astronomers here at NAU,” Tegler said. “We investigate the materials that are thought to exist on the surface of objects in the outer solar system, so we simulate that here in the lab.”

Tegler’s work in the laboratory includes research with Grundy and other Lowell astronomers as a part of the New Horizons mission. For the mission, conditions observed on Pluto were recreated in the lab.

One of the current projects in the laboratory involves recreating and studying materials found on Titan, one of Saturn’s moons.

Alongside research at the laboratory, NAU works with Lowell on its flagship telescope.

“We’re also partners in the Discovery Channel Telescope. That’s a partnership between NAU and Lowell Observatory,” Tegler said. “All the astronomers at NAU are involved

in that and take advantage of that facility.”

Lowell astronomers also work directly with NAU students on various projects. Tegler said that they aid undergraduates in research and advise Ph.D. students.

Tegler emphasized that NAU and Lowell have had a close and longstanding relationship on a wide range of topics.

“The ties between Lowell and NAU have grown very tight and strong over the years,” Tegler said.

Throughout its first 125 years, Lowell Observatory has long had a commitment to public outreach, built strong relationships in higher education and made significant contributions to the field of astronomy.

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

5

NEWS

Left: The Colorado River flows outside of Page and the Navajo Generating Station, Nov. 27. Right: The Navajo Generating Station in Page, Arizona was closed earlier this month. The station and the Kayenta coal mine were both closed because there are other gases that are more efficient than coal to run power plants and generating stations. Shannon Swain | The Lumberjack

Mining reclamation plans are concerning for the Navajo Nation Molly Brown

T

he closing of the Kayenta coal mine and Navajo Generating Station (NGS) have many residents of the Navajo Nation questioning what comes next.

Percy Deal, a 70-year-old Navajo man, lives near the Kayenta mine and said the impact on the land over the past 50 years has been devastating.

“Down in the wash you can real[ly] easily dig maybe like three or four feet with your hand and then you see water coming up,” Deal said. “That’s one major change. There’s no more water.

All the natural springs and the wells are dry.”

Peabody Energy, the parent company of the Kayenta mine, told residents like Deal the mine would recharge the aquifer used in its mining operations, but Deal said there is no evidence of the company working to reshape the watershed. He also said there has been a lack of communication by Peabody regarding specific plans.

Charlene Murdock, Peabody director of communication, said the company provides reclamation updates on a regular basis.

“Kayenta’s reclamation plan was approved by the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe and is subject to additional review and approval by the U.S. Department of the Interior,” Murdock said.

“The plan is available to the public.”

Robyn Jackson, the energy and climate outreach coordinator for Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment (C.A.R.E.), said the mine used millions of gallons of Navajo aquifer water and its depletion is affecting the Navajo communities in the surrounding area.

“Water quantity and quality is an ever-increasing concern for Navajo communities, especially those located in this area, particularly since the prolonged drought has already been affecting

6

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Navajo communities and the Southwest,” Jackson said.

Deal said without this water, it is very difficult to grow any crops, which are not only a source of food but also symbolic in traditional ceremonies and the release of sacred pollen. He also mentioned many of the herbs and plants no longer growing were used for medicinal purposes.

Deal explained Navajo women are unable to find the vegetation for the natural dyes to make the wool rugs they are so well known for. The use of synthetic dyes affects the tradition of the art and causes the rugs to be of less value.

The disappearance of local wildlife is another issue. Deal said the animals have left the area to seek water and vegetation elsewhere. He explained that in the Navajo culture, the animals are brothers, so losing them is like losing family members.

Deal said his family has been on land near the mined area for five or six generations, and they always had cattle and sheep to raise. However, he is unable to maintain herds with the lack of natural vegetation for them to eat. He talked about having to care for his calves himself because the mother cows have no milk due to dehydration.

Jackson said the closures give the Navajo people the opportunity to move toward investing in more environmentally conscious forms of energy production other than the extraction industries.

“Still, many of our Navajo public and local grassroots organizations have been encouraging the Navajo Nation leadership to pursue diversifying their economic portfolio and invest in more renewable and sustainable sources of economic development and generation,” Jackson said.

The 2010 census shows that 53% of the Navajo population live off the reservation. Deal said the elderly that are left are doing their best to hang on to their traditional way of life despite family

separation. He said the negative effects are tearing the Navajo Nation apart.

“Elders have a responsibility to leave plentiful resources for future generations,” Deal said. “With no economic development for jobs for the educated young people, they are moving away for work.”

Deal said his mother told him about discussions between traditional Diné speaking tribal council members and English speaking Peabody executives 50 years ago, which required an interpreter to explain the lease that had already been awarded for mining their land. Deal explained that those involved were not warned of the impact mining would have and were told mainly of the economic security they would receive as a result. Deal said they were never told of the water disappearing, herbs and plants dying, crops not growing, wildlife leaving and health problems becoming prevalent.

Even with grassroots organizations like Diné C.A.R.E. and Black Mesa Water Coalition advocating for assurance that Peabody Energy will keep its word, Deal said he is not sure if he will ever see plants, land and water return to the way they were when he was young.

Jackson said there are more concerns with the water usage of the Colorado River and emphasized the need for larger cities like Phoenix and Tucson to be mindful of conservation efforts and sustainability.

“There was, and in many ways is still, a lot of environmental injustice that occurred from central and southern Arizona being dependent on electricity and water from NGS. The Central Arizona Project that came at a great expense to Navajo communities, who to this day do not have the same infrastructure — electric and water — as these modern cities,” Jackson said.

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

7

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Why a degree is not worth it Ryan dixon

Should I stay or should I go?

T

his February, my boyfriend and I will be celebrating our five-year anniversary. We both expected to graduate college three months later in May. Now, it seems like only I will be receiving my diploma this spring.

Most college students know a fifth or sixth year of enrollment is common. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that only 41% of undergraduates received their bachelor’s degree within a four-year enrollment period. Given those odds, one of us was bound to need some more time in Flagstaff.

We both left our homes in Phoenix to attend NAU. Just like so many students before us, we were planning on bidding farewell to this town to begin our postgrad life elsewhere. Now, it is an incredibly BELLA VALENZUELA unlikely scenario that we both meet our four-year goal.

PRINT CHIEF My boyfriend shouldn’t feel guilty for needing an extra semester or two. I do not wish to blame him for taking school a little slower than I. However, Flagstaff’s rent is high, and I can’t start my career here.

This dilemma has made me consider moving home. It’s free, and I can begin a job pertaining to my major. But, do I want to be away from my boyfriend for, potentially, a year? Can I commit to making that two-hour drive up the mountain to see him as often as I can? Can I trust him to routinely make the same trip down the mountain?

I have more questions and considerations than I can tolerate to ponder. We’ve never done long distance. Even with less than 100 miles between us, I’m not sure I can bear being away from someone I’m with every day.

If I were to stay in Flagstaff, I would be putting a hold on starting my professional life. I would likely work full-time, but only to extend the dates on my resume and save money. However, this could provide me with a gap year before starting my career – using this as a transition period between school and professional life might aid in acclimating me to post-college adulthood.

Discussing these possibilities with my boyfriend always feels selfish — is what he wants more important than what is smart for me?

When faced with a significant relationship decision, communication is key. I don’t want this to read like a diary entry, as the purpose of sharing my experience is to warn those looking to stay together of post-graduation of problems that may arise; different career paths, housing costs and extra coursework can all get in the way of a relationship. What I recommend, and what my boyfriend and I have done, is to start talking about it early on.

Whatever happens, we know it’ll work out. We’ve made it through college together just as in love as we were when we graduated high school. Two more graduations can’t kill us.

8

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

F

or students my age, going to college is a requirement that is drilled into us from a young age.

Elementary school teachers ask us what school we want to go to when we grow up. High school teachers tell us that our college professors will grade a lot harsher than they do. If a student is an athlete, the goal of wearing a university jersey is more of an expectation than a dream.

With the idea of college so ingrained into childhood and adolescence, there is little time to consider the possibility of other options. I never stepped back and asked myself why I wanted to go to college, if it was worth it for me or how a college education would benefit me.

Many college students are in the same situation.

Society said, “go to college,” and we all enrolled.

Now, in the back of our minds behind the mountain of assignments and stress of submission deadlines is the nagging fear of “is this all really worth it?”

For most of the class of 2019 graduates, I don’t think it is.

Finals week looms and soon, NAU’s graduating students will be ready to walk across the stage. For many of them, as they step into the beginning of their new life, they will be handed nearly insurmountable amounts of student debt along with their degree.

The average total cost for students living on campus at four-year public, instate universities was $24,320 in 201718, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

I definitely didn’t have $25,000 sitting around as a senior in high school.

One route taken by students who

can’t afford the upfront cost of college is taking out student loans to pay back later after accumulating a sum of interest.

While it might seem appealing to get “free” money and just pay off college a few years later, that is not quite a reality anymore. According to the NCES, about 63% of 2007-08 bachelor’s degree recipients who did not further their education owed an average of $24,000 four years after graduating.

The plan to pay off student loan debt quickly isn’t happening. A study by

Cengage states it takes graduates close to 20 years to completely erase their student debt.

Being saddled with thousands of dollars of debt in one’s 20s and into one’s 40s for a degree is simply not worth it.

You might frown and say, “Well you’re in college, Ryan. Take your own advice.”

Let me explain. I have scholarships that cover my tuition and some fees, I’m working nearly full-time and I’m cutting expenses. It’s an intense path that requires a lot of hard work and dedication, but I’m graduating with little to no debt. That makes college worth it for me.

Accumulating student loan debt is often justified by the promise of getting a better paying job in the future. But does every degree really guarantee a better starting salary than someone who didn’t seek higher education after college?

The average college graduate’s salary is more than $30,000 higher than the average salary for a worker with a high school diploma, according to the New York Federal Reserve’s website. While that is an appealing pay gap, the student debt still has to be paid off. By the time all costs are calculated, the final earning jump of a college graduate over a high school graduate is a much less satisfying and justifiable number.

Almost anything taught in a college lecture hall can be learned through on the job experience in your field of interest, or on the internet if you devote enough time.

If college is worth it, it should have an answer that is unique to each student.

To the freshly graduated students who contribute to the $1.48 trillion of national student debt, I’d advise them to hope and pray that presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren’s student loan forgiveness plan makes its way into action.

Illustration By Christian Ayala

Sign a lease and pay

ONLY $299 for your first installment!

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

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

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

Limited time only. See office for details.

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 THE LUMBERJACK

9

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Greek life families are not real bonds Kylie Soto

T

he holidays emphasize the feeling of family unity.

However, in college, there are multiple definitions of family. There is a family in the traditional sense, and there is a family that you pay to be a part of. At NAU, and across the nation, the latter is called Greek life.

This begs the question of whether or not Greek life is a true definition of family if one must pay large sums of money, and go through harsh initiation in some cases, just to be included in a glorified college club.

I believe that family is founded upon a common love and appreciation for each and every family member, along with biological relation in the most basic sense. Family continues for all of a person’s life and doesn’t end at graduation.

Paying to be in a sorority or fraternity to be a part of a family gives a false sense of security when considering what true heritage and roots really are.

As previously mentioned, Greek life consists of glorified clubs. Paying to be part of a community does not make it a family.

It just means people are forced into being associated with their “bigs and littles” on a more personal level. The concept of having bigs and littles is essentially a label for choosing friends based off similar interests, but being forced into paying significant amounts of money on baskets full of presents to buy the affection and friendship of the littles in the family.

Not to mention, money is a requirement for this kind of family. Greek life is exclusive to the people who can afford it. A person who would be able to pay to be in a sorority or fraternity more than likely has hung around the same, if not similar, individuals all their lives. This is due to the simple fact that they’re able to afford to be in expensive clubs.

A Forbes article specifically points out how costly it can be to be part of Greek Life. The article called “Buying Into Greek Life: Is It Worth It?” states that a person is forced to pay anywhere between $45 to $11,316, depending on the university.

At that point, it truly is not OK to consider this a family because it is so financially draining to be a part of.

Family is about acceptance, inclusivity and open-mindedness.

Family should remain unbothered by how much a family member may or may not make in their paycheck.

Another consideration would be if members of sororities or fraternities even talk to their Greek life family over school breaks.

Upon observation and analyzation, these bonds are more friendship, at their core, as opposed to being family.

Friends hang out when school is in session. Similarly, sororities and fraternities only really gather during the school year.

That’s not to say that the friendships made in Greek life aren’t valid or as strong as the next.

However, it is a jump to say that these friendships are similar in strength to a family’s bond.

I believe Greek life is an overrated part of college. With all the themed parties and cult-like lettered T-shirts, it simply isn’t my scene.

That being said, I have a very strong familial connection. It is exceptionally rare for me to not talk to a family member at least

10

one time per day. My standards for considering someone like my family is extremely high.

I am very confident in what I believe a family is and is not.

A club I have to pay to be a part of would never be considered my family.

Simply because, as soon as I cross that graduation stage, I know the likelihood of me connecting with fellow members of my sorority or fraternity after graduation is very low to nothing.

This is simply not what family is meant to be about.

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Illustration By blake fernandez

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Full circle with circulation robyn monroe

M

y time here at NAU was such an amazing and life changing experience! I never imagined that I would have met so many amazing people and fall into the role I did at The Lumberjack. I am so thankful that I was able to take on the role as Director of Circulation.

This was something that was completely out of my element, but I was up for the challenge and made the best of this experience. I am grateful that the staff of The Lumberjack welcomed me so warmly. I will be sad to leave this collection of people that I have come to appreciate so much.

I will miss NAU and treasure the memories I have made here! The Lumberjack gave me different opportunities that were greatly appreciated, but my attendance at NAU would not have been possible without the support of my parents. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for everything they have done for me. As children we do not realize all the sacrifices our parents make for us, but as we get older and more independent, we realize that our parents are usually our biggest supporters. My parents and family were that for me. I cannot say this enough, but thank you to everyone for the opportunities, friendship, and support!

Illustration By Aleah Green

If you’re not first, you’re last Brooke Berry

I

started writing for the sports section of the paper when I was a sophomore at NAU. Although I loved writing about sports, from tennis to snowboarding, I wanted to get my artistic talents involved. I then went on to work for the illustration department for three semesters and loved every minute of it! I would personally like to thank both my professors and my editors at NAU. Particularly I’d love to thank Rachel Cox for being a huge role model for my life and for genuinely teaching me so much about video and environmental journalism. My great experience at NAU early on pushed me to study journalism in the Netherlands for my entire junior year. While abroad, I had many opportunities, such as to become the editor-in-chief of an art magazine project. If I were to give advice to any underclassmen, I would say to keep a balance of hobbies, social life and school as all three are important.

Illustration By Maddie Cohen

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 THE LUMBERJACK

11

OPINION-EDITORIAL

I just took a DNA test, turns out it changed D’Anna Davis

I

’m a broke college student with a fear of extreme consumerism and capitalism, but if something is advertised the right way, I’m sold.

In early high school, I developed an infatuation with finding out where my ancestors came from. Look, I always knew I was white, but I was tired of hearing the same answer from my parents, calling us Heinz 57, referencing the variety of ketchup Heinz offered.

The curiosity was especially prevalent when various YouTubers and social media influencers were posting about DNA genetic testing services like Ancestry and 23andMe. During my freshman year of college, after what felt like a lifetime of waiting, I received an Ancestry DNA kit for Christmas. Finally, I would know exactly where my ancestors came from and what I am.

One spit sample and eight weeks later, my results were in. All of my questions were answered.

As much as I wish I could share the original results, they are no longer accessible due to the updated results replacing the initial ones online. While the concept of knowing about your ancestors is great, the science Ancestry uses is continuously changing. With the changes in their methods, come the changes in DNA results.

The problem here is that the science used isn’t explained to those who have purchased and completed an Ancestry DNA test. Selfishly, I preferred my original results. It showed more diversity in my DNA, while now, I am simply 76% Northwestern European, and 24% Irish and Scottish.

The difference between my original results and my current ones makes me question the accuracy of these tests, and I’m not the first to struggle with this revelation.

A contributor for Live Science, a science news website, decided to test the accuracy of the kits through conducting three tests with three different DNA genetic testing services. With each test, results varied up to 15%.

Not only is accuracy an issue, but also the questionable business practices that go on without the consumer’s knowledge.

Privacy is a major concern among users, especially after over 92 million accounts from the DNA service MyHeritage were found on a private server in October 2017, according to CNBC. Although the hacking didn’t regard DNA specifically, the breach made customers apprehensive. There is no way to know whether exposure of their private information could occur again on a more sinister scale.

Along with privacy concerns caused by hackers, the testing service also faces the issue of consumer privacy from the government. Law enforcement agencies are not eligible to view and access the data as they please, but they are trying.

In the case of the Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo Jr., DNA from a genealogy website helped solve his crimes after over 30 years, according to The Washington Post.

The feat of catching a serial killer after all that time is incredible, but it is also terrifying that law enforcement could target the killer through DNA without him being in any of the

12

DNA testing systems.

Although law enforcement cannot currently access data, the privacy statement can always change, according to the same CNBC article.

Jennifer King, director of consumer privacy at Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society, told CNBC, “There are no limits on what these companies can do. They just have to state it in their privacy policies, which they can change at any time, though you may have to consent to it again.”

With that being said, these DNA testing companies can do whatever they want with the DNA they’ve received.

Nobody reads

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

the terms and conditions, anyway.

DNA testing companies provide a false sense of security for their consumers, not only because of the privacy violations but also because of the lack of verified science used, and the consistently changing data.

After being a consumer, I wouldn’t trust these practices.

The majority of people could find more reliable information about their heritage and familial roots simply from asking their grandmother or grandfather where they come from. Granted, this might mean a lengthy spiel at the Thanksgiving table with the opening phrase of “back when I was your age,” but those stories can be of value — sometimes.

Illustration By blake fernandez

OPINION-EDITORIAL Illustration By Amy Czachowski

Seeing through the smoke of prescribed burns Madeline Hollmann

O

ne of the aspects I love most about Flagstaff is the clean, fresh air. As soon as I go outside and breathe in, it is a literal breath of fresh air.

Flagstaff’s clean air is one of the many reasons I chose to move here from Phoenix.

As stated by the Phoenix New Times, the Environmental Protection Program (EPA) reports that Phoenix has the highest levels of the carcinogenic gas ethylene oxide in the country. In the same article, it also claims that Phoenix is notorious for hazy air and often fails to meet certain air-quality standards. Moving to Flagstaff, I expected to always have fresh air outside. I did not account for the prescribed burns that happen here.

Before moving to Flagstaff, I had no idea

what prescribed burns were. Every time there was smoke in the air, I assumed it was from a wildfire because I was used to hearing about the California fires. The first time I was told it was an intentional fire, I was confused as to why anyone would purposely burn down trees in the forest.

According to the Arizona Emergency Information Network, prescribed burns are used to help reduce the risk of severe wildfires around communities and important infrastructure. By strategically causing controlled fires, it eliminates the risk of unmanageable natural wildfires from taking place.

Every once in a while, I will go outside and the air will be polluted with smoke. On days like these, when I’m walking around campus, my eyes will start burning and my throat will be sore all day long. It is extremely annoying but

when the smoke clears up, I’m fine.

For me, it is just a nuisance, but for someone who has a preexisting lung condition, it can be dangerous. Luckily, I just have bad allergies and smoke is nothing serious. People with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at a greater health risk from the smoke.

The Cedars-Sinai Medical Center states that wildfire smoke can cause adverse reactions to all people regardless of their general health.

That’s why taking precautions is important. For the most part, any symptoms that result from exposure to wildfire smoke are temporary.

No one enjoys breathing in smoke. It is inconvenient, but it is also necessary.

These prescribed burns help the forest.

According to the National Parks Service, the fire may be designed to create a diverse habitat for plants and animals, to help endangered

species recover, or to reduce fuels and prevent a destructive fire from naturally occurring.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has a Smoke Management Program in place that is certified by the EPA. According to the ADEQ, prescribed burns are necessary for Arizona because the arid climate can make the land more susceptible to catastrophic wildfires. Prescribed burns maintain the health of the forest. Dry debris on forest floors can easily ignite a severe fire if not burned properly by a controlled fire.

All of the irritating side effects of living in an area with occasional prescribed burns are worth dealing with for the sake of having a healthy forest. Without controlled fires, wildfires would most likely cause more health problems than an occasional smoky day would.

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 THE LUMBERJACK

13

FEATURES

Get some kicks, road trips an

Ash Lohmann

O

n its 93rd anniversary just last month, Route 66 celebrated its rich history as a road that connected previously distant corners of the United States. While Chicago, Los Angeles and cities in between, including Flagstaff, all witnessed the cultural, economic and artistic influence Route 66 had, its fame spread globally as it became an international symbol of adventure and the American dream.

Sean Evans, archivist and Cline Library’s resident expert on Route 66, said the route got its start from a group of businessmen in the 1920s led by Cyrus Avery, now recognized as the father of Route 66. The businessmen wanted to connect the major industrial cities with the then flourishing Los Angeles through one major roadway. Evans said most interstates went from either north to south or east to west, but as Route 66 had more curves than those, its establishment and numbering were more difficult.

“So, by the time they got around to naming that road, 60 was taken and so was 70,” Evans said. “It was in between [60 and 70], so it getting called 66 was just dumb luck.”

Route 66 wasn’t built from scratch upon its establishment. It rather followed roads that already existed to give travelers a path to get from one side of the country to the other. Evans said these roads were often unpaved and held dangerous driving conditions for early travelers,

14

which became part of the adventure of Route 66.

The route famously wound around mountains and through valleys. Evans said that while the early Route 66 might have taken longer to travel, especially with speed limits being around 25 and 35 mph, its scenery was unbelievably gorgeous. “[The road] was pretty bad but it was part of the landscape,” Evans said. “If you’ve ever seen the movie “Cars,” they have that great soliloquy about when the road flowed with the land rather than cutting through it. That’s what they’re referring to.”

Though as the 20th century progressed, Route 66 got its fair share of makeovers. Evans said Route 66 maintenance projects made the road far less dangerous to travel on, though road builders often had to cut into mountains and build bridges over canyons to make that possible.

While Route 66 originally flowed with the natural contours of the landscape, it ended up changing the land over the years too, just as it largely shaped the towns it ran through.

Evans said similarly to other towns Route 66 weaved through, Flagstaff was sculpted by it. Flagstaff’s physical, economic and cultural shapes were also greatly influenced by Route 66.

“Towns had developed east and west along their Route 66 main street,” Evans said. “If you’re a businessman, you wanted to be the first

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

motel or first gas station, or maybe the last gas station in the town along the road. So, towns not only grew in a kind of funny way, in this linear fashion on one side of the road and on the other, but they tended to spread out along the road on the entry side of the town or the exit side of the town.”

Evans said Flagstaff’s shape is no exception to this trend, and Flagstaff businesses are no exception to using Route 66 to its advantage, even now.

According to its website, the popular Flagstaff brewery, Mother Road Brewing Company, was named after Route 66’s nickname in John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath.” Evans said a large amount of the brewery’s appeal comes from its location near Route 66 and its use of the roadway as a sort of subbrand, especially with the Route 66 merchandise sold there.

Mother Road Brewing Company is not alone in using Route 66 merchandise or banking on the Route 66 feel. Joshua Hudlow, the event coordinator and administration specialist at the Flagstaff Visitor Center, said that with its history of being a symbol for adventure and Americanism, just the idea of Route 66 has developed a certain air about it.

“For me, what comes to mind is drive-in burger joints at sunset, a small town USA main street covered in flashing neon lights, the sense of isolation when you’re on the road all alone, driving with the top down in the desert on a hot

summer day, music blasting [and] just cruising,” Hudlow said.

Flagstaff has many businesses that both started at the height of Route 66’s traffic, as well as newer businesses that try to recreate that famous feel some are looking for. Hudlow said that the most apparent of these businesses are motor coach motels.

“As the road got more popular, the 66 motor coach motels started to pop up along the route,” Hudlow said. “These will be recognized with their famous neon signs and heated garages that came with your motel room. The most famous Flagstaff motor coach hotel is the Motel Dubeau: Travelers Inn, a great place with the awesome Nomad’s Lounge inside.”

Evans said Route 66 businesses like Motel Dubeau, Mother Road Brewing Company and Lumberyard Brewing Company made Flagstaff more of a tourist destination. Tourists sought out Route 66 as it developed its own subculture.

Senior film major Huntr McMillan said these themes also made Route 66 popular in the film industry with movies such as “Forrest Gump,” “Two-Lane Blacktop,” “Easy Rider,” “Little Miss Sunshine” and “National Lampoons Vacation.”

“Because of its history and association with a manifest destiny mindset, Route 66 holds such an appeal to filmmakers,” McMillan said. “The idea of the harden[ed] road naturally comes with something like this and filmmakers love it. The

FEATURES

nd flicks with the roots of 66 ‘‘The most famous Flagstaff motor coach hotel is the Motel Du beau: Travelers Inn, a great place with the awesome Nomad’s Lounge inside.”

–Joshua Hudlow, Flagstaff Visitor Center event coordinator and administ ration specialist themes in these movies are usually associated with a longing to find one’s inner purpose or to confront some sort of turmoil. The journey through the mountains has always been part of legends and stories no matter where you look.”

McMillan said films set on Route 66 have been largely successful not only because of the cultural allure of Route 66, but also the gorgeous and diverse scenery.

“With huge films like “Forrest Gump” and “Easy Rider,” people began to follow the journeys the characters took in the film, which leads them down the highway the films follow,” McMillan said. “The fact that the road goes through so many different parts of the country makes for very scenic visuals that, when combined with a compelling story, can get really powerful and entertaining content.”

The film industry ultimately contributed to Route 66’s popularity, as did other forms of art, especially the music industry.

Evans said Route 66 was heavily featured in popular music, be it in “Take it Easy” by The Eagles, or more obviously in “Route 66” by Bobby

Troup.

“Bobby Troup came back from the war and decided to leave Pittsburgh, and I think he and his wife drove to Los Angeles,” Evans said. “He was wanting to make it in the movies and along the way, he and his wife wrote a song, “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66” and it reflected their trip.”

Evans said “Route 66” became the most commercially recorded song in history with a wide variety of versions now available from various artists like The Rolling Stones, Nat King Cole and Chuck Berry.

The song’s sheer popularity, he said, only reflects how much the road made its way into American, and even international, culture as an idea of something fun and exciting.

Evans said that for Americans, Route 66 introduced new parts of the country with rich and differing cultural roots and practices, which can be most apparent in the food.

Evans said that his family from New York wasn’t at all familiar with Mexican food until reaching New Mexico along Route 66. Being introduced to new cultures, foods and even different sceneries across the

Mural of old Route 66 near Motel Du Beau, Nov. 26.

Jay Soliz | The Lumberjack

Motel Du Beau is Flagstaff’s most famous motor coach hotel, Nov. 26.

Jay Soliz| The Lumberjack

U.S. made traveling along Route 66 such an adventure.

“A huge thing that goes on with Route 66 is that it makes your own country feel exotic in a way,” Evans said. “Especially if you come out of Texas where the land looks either

brown and flat or green and flat, depending on the season, then you come to New Mexico with these big red cliffs and canyons and everything.

It can be like landing on Mars.”

For those who enjoy the excitement and adventure of Route

66, Evans said Historic Route 66 Associations, nonprofit organizations made to restore and enjoy Route 66, have popped up all around the globe. The first Historic Route 66 Association was created by Angel Delgadillo in Kingman, where there is now a Route 66 museum.

Yet, the locations of some Route 66 Associations can be surprising, like Japan, Chile and the Netherlands.

Evans said this goes to show how far the appeal of Route 66 can reach.

“No other road that I know has that kind of exposure in an ongoing way for over 50 to 60 years,” Evans said.

He said that with its international fans, and exposure in music, film, literature and more, there is no denying Route 66’s cultural impacts.

So, be it driving through some small town looking at the neon signs in the 1960s searching for a diner to refuel and grab a burger, or driving between downtown Flagstaff and the railroad tracks now, as Bobby Troup said in his hit song “Route 66,” the historic road is where many have come and gone to get their kicks.

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

15

FEATURES

The growth of local Flagstaff businesses Katelyn Rodriguez

F

lagstaff is home to a wide variety of one-of-a-kind, local establishments that range from restaurants to boutiques.

Establishments such as these can especially be found in downtown Flagstaff. These establishments helped build Flagstaff’s unique culture as they grew from smaller seedlings of businesses to what they are now.

Salt and Peak Boutique, which was created by NAU alumna Erica Borunda, has been a part of downtown Flagstaff since 2017.

On top of owning Salt and Peak, Borunda teaches first grade at Knoles Elementary School.

Borunda said she has been selling her boutique products online since 2011, and that they represent the ocean and mountains, which are her two favorite landscapes. She was inspired to create the company after her son was born in 2011.

“I couldn’t find anything I liked to decorate his room with, so I created my own designs,” Borunda said. “It was addicting to make and sell things that people bought and loved, so I learned how to make candles, and bath and body products shortly after that.”

When Borunda first opened the boutique store, she faced challenges regarding her schedule as both a teacher, full-time business owner and shop clientele. She said she hardly had time to spend with her kids at first and that she didn’t know who the shop’s customers were going to be, so she felt that she was basically flying by the seat of her pants.

Borunda said Salt and Peak Boutique overcame these challenges once she returned to teaching after an eight-month break and handed the business over to employees to run during the day. She said this helped them financially and allowed her more time to spend with her children.

Borunda picked Flagstaff as the location for her business after she and her family moved back to the area in 2016.

16

“It just felt right when we moved up here that opening a storefront would be the next step,” Borunda said. “It’s small enough where you can have a footprint, and downtown is such a beautiful spot, popular with tourists.”

Borunda said her family is very supportive of her, especially her husband, when she feels overwhelmed.

She said that he helps with the store by pouring candles, works in the shop and helps her with their children. She also said that she has had friends and family run the storefront during busy times and that her mother helps clean and organize when she comes to visit.

Salt and Peak carries a wide variety of handmade items for customers to enjoy. They have numerous candles and soaps, which are their number one seller, for customers to choose from. Borunda said they also added a “make your own candle station” in which customers can create their own candle in the container of their choice before picking it up a few hours later.

She also said their customers are the foundation of the business.

Another establishment that got its start here in Flagstaff is Corvette’N America, which has been a part of Flagstaff since 2004 after Dwayne Bublitz and his wife came up with the idea to host tours for Corvette enthusiasts.

Bublitz said he has lived in Flagstaff his entire life and that his parents owned a Route 66 motel when he was younger. The motel inspired the creation of Corvette’N America since his parents would tell him about the joys of owning a business and being their own boss.

When the company first opened, Bublitz said they faced a variety of challenges.

“Corvette owners had no idea what Corvette’N America Tours was,” Bublitz said. “Most had never heard of Corvette tours since our company was the first to offer them. We were also concerned about attendance since most Corvette owners live more than a day’s drive from Flagstaff.”

He said the company overcame

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Shannon Cowan working at the Salt and Peak Boutique in downtown Flagstaff, Nov. 23. Jay Soliz | The Lumberjack

these challenges through persevering and constantly believing in the product they had created.

Bublitz’s family is also actively involved in the business. His daughters, Kirsten, an NAU junior, and Faith, an NAU sophomore, as well as his parents, have contributed to every tour the company had hosted.

“My daughters help with advertising and marketing,” Bublitz said. “Kirsten has written email blasts and Faith has done all our videos. My parents follow at the back of the tours to make sure our participants all stay together.”

Bublitz said they have completed close to 40 tours while hosting Corvette enthusiasts from across the United States and the world. He said he was inspired to create the company due to his love of the classic car and his desire to show people the scenery of the U.S. The tour company has even been featured in Autotrader Classics magazine, as well as “Samantha Brown’s Great Weekends” on the Travel Channel.

“We offer customers a first class touring experience without the hassle of planning where to stay, eat and what roads to travel,” Bublitz said.

Corvette’N America offers two tours a year, one in June and one in September. The tours offered by the

company include the Yellowstone and Teton, Route 66, Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains, as well as National Park tours.

Bublitz said he wanted to provide customers with a safe and comfortable environment while also giving them the feeling that they are going on vacation with their family.

A third business that has roots in Flagstaff is The McMillan Bar and Kitchen, which opened in July 2014. It is currently run by General Manager Leah Thistle, who has been working at The McMillan for almost four years.

Thistle said the building that houses The McMillan was built in 1886 and is the oldest standing building in Flagstaff. When it was first built, the lower part of the building served as a bank while the upper section was a hotel.

“The McMillan was named after Thomas McMillan,” Thistle said. “He owned the building and was one of Flagstaff’s first permanent settlers in the 1870s.”

Thistle said the current owners, who also own The Vig in Phoenix, wanted to keep the historic look of the building to give it some Flagstaff charm. The restaurant even coined some menu items after the building’s namesake, as well as more of Flagstaff’s

historical figures.

She also said the establishment houses a vintage arcade that features classic games such as Frogger, Mortal Kombat and Pac-Man. The McMillan offers customers a wide array of food items ranging from Mexican to pad thai. Thistle said they also offer numerous specials throughout the week, all of which can be found on their website.

When it comes to helping the community, The McMillan holds a community tap handle every month.

During this event, they pick a beer from a brewing company to feature on tap for the month. For every pint purchased of the selected brewery’s beer, they will donate $1 to $2 to a local nonprofit.

Thistle said when customers come in, she wants them to have a fun time, enjoy delicious food, enjoy the history and receive impeccable service.

These three unique Flagstaff businesses all have roots planted within the mountain town and can appeal to a variety of interests. The stores’ roots demonstrate that each offers customers something they might not be able to find elsewhere, whether it be a handmade gift or a piece of local history.

Kaliko Kuts @ Monarch Studio

Color, Cut and Style $5 off Haircut & Style or

$10 off full color service

928-362-4440 CALL OR TEXT TODAY!

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

17

CULTURE

The roots of those who take care of roots Illustration By diana ortega

Christmas has never been so campy

K

acey Musgraves released a special show on Amazon Prime called “The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show” just in time for the holiday season. A day after Thanksgiving, the show was available only for those who had Amazon Prime.

I’m going to start with that. While I understand Amazon and other companies try to keep up with Netflix and the new arrival of Disney+, I found it odd that you had to have Amazon Prime to watch the special. Many people don’t, including me, and it just seems like a weird platform to have it on. I borrowed my boyfriend’s account to watch it, only because I’m a huge Musgraves fan, but I would have preferred to watch it on YouTube or Netflix.

Moving on, the show opens up SABRINA with Musgraves scrambling to get ready PROFFITT for the holiday on Christmas Eve. She MANAGING has lost her tree topper, forgotten to buy EDITOR her band members presents and has a ton to do before her guests arrive.

The show is a campy “Saturday Night Live” style skit that involved numerous celebrity friends coming over too early and hilarity ensues, all while they sing Christmas songs.

While I love Musgraves’ music, I wasn’t a huge fan of the skits and poor acting. I hope the show is purposely on-thenose and fictitious to be funny, but I think I would have really preferred something more down-to-earth and laid back.

The guest star list was huge including James Corden, Camila Cabello, Lana Del Rey, Kendall Jenner and many others. The guests were great and all of the songs performed were beautiful, especially Lana Del Rey’s. Overall, there weren’t many people I thought were missing from the list, they all paired well and created an amazing soundtrack.

Once again, I’d like to point out that I would have really preferred it to be less hokey. I’m not a huge skit kind of gal and the songs could have been just as fun without all the annoying and overexaggerated acting in between. I love Christmas and everyone who was involved with the show, but I think it could have been done better. Even the narrator, Dan Levy, could have told the stories in between songs and it would have improved.

Amazing music, amazing people, a beautiful set and costumes but overall a weird show with an unnecessary plot.

With all that talent rolled into one show, you would think it would be showcased in a way that didn’t take away from it.

I love you Kacey, but please stick to singing next time.

18

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Ian Sloan

F

lagstaff is a city with deep-rooted history, culture and community.

The town has plenty of attractions and places to see, provided one is willing to do some digging. Some might notice the local businesses that take care of roots on a daily basis. Not plant roots, but hair roots.

One of these businesses is Val’s Workshop on San Francisco Street. Owner Alberto Valenzuela has been cutting hair for 35 years but has only owned his current workspace for two.

“My dad is a restaurant guy,” Valenzuela said. “He had a couple [of ] different restaurants, but I did not want to follow in his footsteps. He told me to go into the military. I listened to him and went down to take the test, and the hair cutting school was right next door. My dad was happy because at least I was doing something instead of living off his dime.”

Having been in the business for so long, Valenzuela said he immensely enjoys his work. While his initial clientele were primarily women, he eventually taught himself how to do men’s hair.

“I did women’s high-end hair for about 25 years,” Valenzuela said. “They started bringing in their boyfriends and husbands, and that’s when I started doing men’s hair. It’s less stress and I just had a good time doing it.”

Valenzuela is not the only hairstylist in Flagstaff who enjoys their job. General manager of HeadSpace Southside Salon, Caity Summers, and owner Vanessa Villaverde take pride in the work they do and their place in the city.

Before Summers paired with Villaverde, she worked in the retail industry for 10 years. When the salon opened, she operated as its general manager, which she still does while also learning how to style hair.

“When [HeadSpace Southside Salon] was opening, the

building needed an entirely new plumbing system,” Summers said. “The building is over 100 years old so the first thing [to do] was that, which cost a lot of money. Working on the foundation of the building was a big struggle.

We found ways to make income by offering hair cuts and colorings at a set price, and the community pitched in to help us.”

This salon is no stranger to operating within the community.

During the six years it has been open, employees have cemented themselves in Flagstaff with a customer base that keeps coming back for more.

“One of the big pros about this is the community,” Summers said. “You get to know a lot of people who keep coming back and you’re also constantly learning. There is a big time investment, and Vanessa and I typically work 10-hour days. However, because we are an independent business, there is a freedom of self-scheduling.”

As Summers said, learning is a constant part of the job. Angela Ortiz, owner of Beyond the Basics Hair Salon, is no exception to this. In her 25 years of doing hair and 15 years of owning her own business, she is taking more steps toward community involvement.

In a similar way that HeadSpace Southside Salon has its loyal customer base, Beyond the Basics has a loyal customer base of its own with one big difference — Ortiz and her family make their customers a part of their family.

“We have had most of our customers for a long time,” Ortiz said. “Most of them have been the same for most of the time I have done hair. To see them come back all the time, they get to be your family.”

Regardless of where one goes to get their hair done, Flagstaff is home to many salons and barbers whose goal is to make their customers feel good about themselves.

Between the services offered and the price ranges each businesshas, finding the next place to get a haircut is readily available in town.

CULTURE

First-generation students acknowledge parental support Kyler Edsitty

T

he transition from high school to college can be challenging for first-generation students. From the college application process to buying a cap and gown, some NAU seniors seek support from their parents.

Senior Dena Tingley, majoring in criminology and women and gender studies, received support from her parents when she first came to NAU. During her first two years, her parents were willing to support her financially until she got a job on campus.

Being a first-gen student, Tingley said she had a hard time talking to her parents about what she was studying. A lot of the issues she wanted to discuss with them did not translate well because of the education barrier.

She said she did not feel comfortable telling them about the problems and stresses she faced because she knew they had not experienced those emotions in the same way she had.

However, her parents still tried their best to offer her emotional support during her time at NAU. They were especially supportive when she changed her major several times and during her senior year, when she said her stress level was higher than ever.

“I think if I hadn’t had the strong support network that I came into college with, I would not be a double major, nor would I be as driven as I am to do well,” Tingley said. “[My parents] mean the world to me and it means a lot to me that they pushed me to do the most with the potential they saw in me. I know not everyone is that lucky.”

Other students aim to reciprocate the support their parents provided.

Senior anthropology major Likiya Holiday received a lot of emotional support from her father, both leading up to enrollment and throughout each semester.

Although her father was not familiar with the college admission process, he tried his best to guide her through the rocky time period. Other students at the high school she attended were other potential first-gen students as well, and they all navigated the process together.

“My dad taught me how to work hard, rise before the sun and try to be as productive as I could be,” Holiday said. “He taught me my worth and that everything done by the people before me was to present me with such an opportunity, and I shouldn’t waste it.”

She acknowledged the financial hardship her father faced when she was younger. Even through college, he tried to provide enough

financial aid to support her while he was raising her younger siblings. This motivated her to work harder so she could one day financially support her own family, just as her father did for her.

“I expect my siblings to be working hard as well and that they should be doing good to support our dad,” Holiday said.

Many first-gen students were told that mental health was a priority in college.

Senior sociology major Bethany Cox did not know what to expect when she first came to college, but her parents offered her assistance and having access to higher education pushed her to succeed.

Her parents tried their best to help her every step of the way, whether it was applying to NAU or moving into her freshman dorm. They also ensured she would be able to return home whenever she wanted.

Cox always felt comfortable telling them when she struggled with her mental health and they encouraged her to rest when she needed to.

“They taught me to be hardworking and motivated, but to always make sure I put my happiness first,” Cox said. “I truly wouldn’t have been able to make it through college without their support, both emotionally and financially.”

Cox said there are struggles to being a firstgen student, but there are university resources to aid students.

The Office of Indigenous Student Success offers peer mentorships to indigenous freshmen who need assistance with enrollment and financial aid. According to the office’s website, it aims to create a seamless transition into college while acknowledging indigenous identity and culture.

Tingley received additional support from the Student Support Services, a program that seeks to improve college retention and graduation rates. The program does this by offering peer mentor programs and providing scholarships to qualifying students.

“First-generation students shouldn’t be afraid to get out there,” Tingley said. “They also shouldn’t be afraid to tell others when they need support and that it’s fine to admit when they’re not OK.” Being the first person in a family to go to college can bring loads of pressure. NAU provides plenty of resources that are available to help first-gen students through the ups and downs.

Top: Senior Likiya Holiday is a first-generation student from Kayenta, Arizona, Nov. 22.

Bottom: Senior Bethany Cox is a first-generation student, Nov. 22.

MacKenzie Brower | The Lumberjack

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

19

CULTURE

Small town students with big dreams Nayomi Garcia

F

lagstaff is somewhat known for being a smaller city, but has expanded into a more populated college town. For students from small towns, Flagstaff is an adjustment because they come from places where the student population is closer to the size of their hometowns. Despite this, NAU becomes a home for these students.

Senior Hope Noriega began attending NAU in the fall of 2016. Noriega was born in Minnesota but moved to Arizona when she was 9 years old. Noriega said she moved to Rio Rico, Arizona so her dad could be close to his family.

“Rio Rico is about a 20 minute drive to the Mexico border,” Noriega said. “My grandpa was sick and my dad wanted to be closer to him before he passed away. I had been to Rio Rico before, but I wasn’t sure if I would like living there.”

When Noriega began school, she felt nervous because her new home was so different from Minnesota. Although Rio Rico was a change to Noriega’s life, she said it was a great town to grow up in.

As Noriega grew older, she said she became appreciative of the uniqueness of her hometown.

“Many people from Rio Rico can’t wait to get out of town once they graduate,” Noriega said. “I didn’t exactly feel this way when I graduated.

I love the culture in Rio Rico, the scenery there is beautiful and the people are always kind.

Residents of the town always say there’s nothing to do, but I think Rio Rico is special in its own unique way.”

Noriega decided to attend NAU after graduating from Rio Rico High School. Her older sister attended NAU, so she had already explored Flagstaff before her enrollment.

For Noriega, NAU was the best fit financially. She was considering attending school in Vermont, but chose NAU because she did not want to be far from home.

“I’m always excited for change in my life,” Noriega said. “I’m graduating next month, but I couldn’t have asked for a better experience in Flagstaff. Like most kids, I was so nervous

20

“I learned to adjust to life here by myself.

Even though learning to adjust was difficult, I realized that everyone has different upbringings that make us all unique.”

– Keyera Thompson, Junior

Illustration By aleah green

when I got here. Seeing the diverse population was shocking to me, but I got used to life here. No matter what, I’m proud of where I’m from and I’m thankful that NAU felt like a second home for me.”

Sophomore Nicole Pablo is from Gallup, New Mexico. She said she lived in Gallup her entire life before moving to Flagstaff.

Pablo said she enjoyed growing up in Gallup. Although it has a small population, she liked experiencing life there before moving to Flagstaff.

“The population in Gallup is mostly Native American,” Pablo said. “There is a diverse group of Native American students at NAU, but not like back home. Adjusting to this was probably the most difficult part of beginning college.”

Although Pablo faced struggles when she began her freshman year, she said the Native American Cultural Center (NACC) helped make her feel more at home.

Before Pablo began school, she attended

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

a two week bridge program that the NACC hosts.

“Attending the center’s bridge program made me feel more comfortable about attending school in Flagstaff,” Pablo said. “I met a lot of kids like me that had only been exposed to Native American culture. By attending this program, I felt more excited about moving to Flagstaff. Some of the kids I met at the bridge program are still my friends now, and I’m grateful we all stayed friends after spending two weeks together.”

Junior Keyera Thompson is from Benson, Arizona. She said that even though her town does not have many residents, the community is like a family.

Thompson said that growing up in Benson was a humbling experience for her. She said that even though her town is small, she would not have wanted to grow up anywhere else.

“Benson is about a five-hour drive from Flagstaff,” Thompson said. “I chose NAU because it was close enough to home, but far enough to gain independence and gain life experiences on

my own.”

When Thompson first arrived in Flagstaff, she experienced culture shock. She said it was hard for her to adjust to being around so many people because she is accustomed to the smaller community in Benson.

After a month, Thompson said she felt comfortable within the community.

“I think it was just a matter of putting myself out there,” Thompson said. “I learned to adjust to life here by myself. Even though learning to adjust was difficult, I realized that everyone has different upbringings that make us all unique. This is important to remember because we can learn a lot from someone else’s upbringing.”

Although moving to a college town may be intimidating for a student from a small town, remembering who they are can help them along their journey in higher education.

LUNCH - DINNER - LATE NIGHT

E@ LATE NIT

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

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

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

$4 DOUBLE WELLS

HAPPY HOUR 3PM - 6PM

MONDAY - FRIDAY

$4 PINTS | $3.50 WELLS AND MORE!

www.lumberyardbrewingcompany.com

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

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

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

www.beaverstreetbrewery.com

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

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

21

CULTURE

Moving to a home away from home Olivia Charlson

G

etting accepted into college is a moment many people will always remember, but applying for college is something some recall as difficult. The decision is a heavy one, but it’s a milestone in a person’s life. Universities typically have students from all over the world.

Each person has their own individual experiences that led to their acceptance and decision to go to a college or university of their choice.

Some people come to Flagstaff for the climate, for the programs or for financial reasons. Whatever the reason may be, the student population is diverse in many different ways.

Freshman Makenna Haley is from Golden, Colorado. Haley said that Golden is very similar to Flagstaff because of the foothills. She said the forest and trees remind her of her old backyard.

Both the residents in her town and Flagstaff are active and eco-friendly, however, life feels much busier in her hometown. Haley chose to attend

NAU because it felt like a home away from home.

“Going out of state gets me into a different culture,” Haley said. “Attending NAU has allowed me to see the world more than an instate college would. All my friends back home went to the University of Colorado Boulder, which is a big school in Colorado, but I didn’t want to stay with the same people. I wanted to make my own path in life and see where it took me.”

Many kids go to college to escape from their home life. Many students along the West Coast were encouraged to attend NAU by the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program. According to NAU’s website, the states that qualify for this program receive 40% less than NAU’s out of state tuition. This is a motive for some who want to move far, but at a lower cost.

Freshman Gabrielle Strunk chose NAU because it was a part of the WUE program.

Strunk grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. She also

said Flagstaff feels like her backyard sometimes.

She said she was not a fan of the city when she moved in and the temperature was around 80 or 90 degrees in fall. Strunk said now that winter is approaching, it is even slightly colder than Alaska’s weather.

“For me, there was always this thing where you get pushed out like, ‘get out of the cold’ or ‘get out of Alaska for once,’” Strunk said.

“We just had a new governor who edited our budget and pulled about $140 million out of the education budget. I was sitting here and this program I was going to do got non-accredited.

The state stopped funding at the main campus I was going to go to before, which sucks, but I heard [NAU] is a WUE school and it felt like a good fit.”

Not only are there many out of state students, but also international students.

According to NAU’s website, the school has more than 1,400 students from 80 different countries. The Center for International Education integrates international students to

the university and hosts different cultural events to help bring a bit of their home life to college.

Jae Guieong is a senior who is a part of the international program and is from Seoul, South Korea. Guieong said he is from a big city, so when he first moved here he was a little confused.

He also said that NAU is quite larger than he thought because, in Korea, the universities are not as big. Guieong moved to Flagstaff to try to enjoy traveling.

“I want to have new experiences before I get older, and I also wanted to improve my English skills,” Guieong said. “I am really enjoying traveling in Flagstaff. There is nature like the Grand Canyon, Utah is near here and I think it is quite easy to go anywhere from western cities.”

Each student has their own path that led to their decision to come to NAU. The majority of students are Arizonans, but there are still many who come from different places. Everyone’s own stories and backgrounds differ, but all have the same goal – to walk away with higher education degree and some new life experiences.

Left: Senior Jae Guieong is involved with the international program and talks about his move to Flagstaff, and why he chose NAU, Nov. 21. Right: Freshman Makenna Haley talks about moving to Flagstaff for college and how it differs from her hometown, Nov. 21. Jay Soliz | The Lumberjack

22

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

ENROLL NOW FOR WINTER TERM! Get ahead!

Earn 3 credits in 4 weeks. All winter term classes are entirely online.

nau.edu/winter2019

Buy One Pair and Get the Second Pair

For a Limited Time!

% 50 Off

Complete Pair of Eyeglasses!

December 1st Through December 24th Only!

(1)

% 50 Off

YOU CAN USE YOUR VISION INSURANCE (2)

Schedule your appointment at: 1-800-EYE-CARE or nationwidevision.com

Use your vision insurance benefits before they expire!

FLAGSTAFF | 801 S. MILTON | 86001 | (928) 213-1400

VISION BENEfITS GO fURThER AT NATIONWIDE.

WE ACCEPT MOST MAJOR VISION CARE PLANS INCLUDING MEDICARE

Doctors in EvEry officE!*

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

Offers cannot be combined with any other coupon, special offer or insurance plan, unless otherwise noted. Certain restrictions apply, see store for details. All offers and prices are subject to change without notice. *All exams performed by Associate Doctors of Nationwide Optometry. (1) Purchase one complete pair of eyeglasses and receive 50% off the total. Optical glasses only, does not apply to sunglasses. Some frame brands excluded. Upgrade charges may apply. Offer ends 12/24/2019. (2) Purchase one complete pair of glasses at full price, the second complete pair of glasses must be of equal or lesser value. (3) VSP® is a registered trademark of Vision Service Plan and is not affiliated with Nationwide Vision.

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

23

SPORTS

Esports is a sport

W

hen I was a kid, there were only a few things that piqued my interest: writing, baseball and video games. About 15 years later, nothing has changed.

I write for The Lumberjack, I watch baseball religiously and I play video games every day, typically either Minecraft, Rocket League, MLB The Show or a combination of all three.

I love playing video games, I think it’s a great hobby and gives people something to look forward to after a long day at work or school. It is an opportunity to relax, unwind and play your heart out.

Many gamers probably wouldn’t consider themselves to be a competitive gamer. I casually play games to simply play. However, just because some are not a part of the competitive gaming SEBASTIAN atmosphere doesn’t mean playing video MOORE games shouldn’t be considered a sport, COPY CHIEF and participating gamers shouldn’t be considered athletes. I mean, let’s be honest, if we can classify NASCAR as a sport, then why can’t we do the same for esports?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary lists several definitions for the word “sport,” but the one that stands out is that sports are “a physical activity engaged in for pleasure.” Based on this definition, esports should be classified as a sport. The word “athlete,” as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is “a person who is trained or skilled in exercise, sports or games requiring physical strength, agility or stamina.” Again, based on this definition, esports competitive gamers should be classified as athletes.

Esports should be considered a sport and taken seriously because it is a competition between teams attempting to win a match. Gamers compete against each other, require stamina and endurance to play for several hours at a time and need to strategize. A gamer needs to have the mental endurance to continue playing and adjust mid-game to defeat their opponent.

For these reasons, I believe esports and its gamers should be right there with all the other mainstream sports and its athletes like baseball, football and hockey.

Sure, there is an argument that esports is nothing more than mashing buttons and staring at a screen. Those that observe an esports event won’t see the physical aspect of the sport like football, baseball, soccer or basketball fans see. However, according to a Syracuse University article, it is predicted that esports finals will have the second-highest United States viewership by 2021, right behind the NFL finals. The esports fan base is also rapidly growing with a predicted 495 million viewers by 2020, which is an increase of 225 million viewers since 2016.

As a former athlete myself, I respect any person that competes in their field of expertise. Whether that is hitting a baseball, smashing buttons or anything in between, esports is a sport, and probably more popular than your favorite sport, too.

24

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Senior Devlin Nipper, game captain for League of Legends, plays on his computer in the Engineering building Nov. 9.

Sebastian Moore | The Lumberjack

NAU’s Esport club receives recognition Sebastian Moore

C

ables scattered across the floor, fingers frantically tapping on keyboards and the occasional scream of defeat or victory comprised the 12-hour NAU Esports club gaming event.

Cups of coffee and bottles of water stood next to a majority of gamers’ computers, as they stared at their screens with their headsets on, listening to every sound their game produced.

The 12-hour gaming event, which took place Nov. 9, was the second one hosted by the club in the fall 2019 semester. Including the club officers, there were over 30 students, men and women, in attendance for the majority of the day. Lugging their expensive computers, keyboards and headsets to the Engineering building on south campus was not easy, but it was well worth it for many of the student gamers.

The event was sponsored by Tespa, an esports company comprised of students and competitors to help bring together collegiate esports athletes. There were four competitions at the event that attendees could enter to win prizes, provided by Tespa.

The esports club was founded in 2017, as an unofficial club by the current president and senior Gabriel Santos. In 2018, it became an official NAU club after being connected with True Blue Connects and the Office of the Dean of Students.

Santos said while some may not consider esports to be a conventional sport like baseball or football, the sport has gained popularity over the last few years, including at NAU. The NAU Esports club and its members casually and competitively play games, such as Overwatch and League of Legends, with the goal of being part of the expanding sport.

“We want to turn it more like football where we have scouts come to our games, they look at our players and we can start feeding into [a] proper system like traditional sports have built,” Santos said. “So, that was kind of the end goal but it’s just really building up a strong community of building all these teams.”

Coaches Similar to traditional sports, the NAU Esports club has coaches and two playing divisions — the Division I gold team and the Division II blue team. Senior Devlin Nipper, League of Legends game

captain, is one of the esports coaches.

Nipper joined in 2017 when it was still an unofficial club. Since then, Nipper said he has seen the club make huge leaps.

“Instead of being like multiple individual game clubs, it’s come together as a unified community, we’ve become more formally recognized by NAU and, within the club itself, we’re competing in more tournaments,” Nipper said. “It’s basically just become a more official deal over the span of time.”

As a coach, Nipper guides and develops gamers. Like any other sport, Nipper encourages his gamers to develop healthy habits so they are fit to compete in tournaments.

“It very closely resembles what you would expect from a traditional sports team,” Nipper said. “It sounds cliche, but it’s all the standard stuff, you know, drink enough water each day, eat a balanced diet, get eight hours of sleep each night, prioritize school over the game and even exercise is a part of it.”

Nipper said there are a variety of exercises that work the reflex muscles in the arms, back, shoulders and neck.

Although esports is not a very physical sport, gamers need fast reflexes and

SPORTS reaction times. Nipper said when a gamer is playing at peak performance, it will take half a second to recognize and react to something happening in the game.

To warm up, Nipper encourages his gamers to jump right into the action and just start playing the game of the player’s choice. Nipper said that after a certain amount of lessons, players will pick up on key themes that he wants them to work on.

Being an esports competitor requires a strong mentality as opposed to being physical like in traditional sports because players need to make in-game adjustments and focus for several hours during a tournament. Nipper said healthy habits, exercise and diet all play into a strong mentality, but there are supplemental materials he can provide.

“There’s all kinds of sites, videos — little just warm-up strategies that I’ve used over the years,” Nipper said. “But the biggest thing to improve the mental is just to get in the right mindset. You have to go in there in that right frame of mind to play at your best level because if you are even distracted by any one little thing, it’ll hamper how you play.”

Nipper said the biggest misconception that surrounds esports is that it is not a sport, and its participants are not athletes.

“There’s many elements to esports that mirror traditional sports,” Nipper said. “We’ve got competitive audiences that like to watch and we’ve got [a] win or lose environment. There’s so many parallels that can be drawn and people still tend to think that it’s not on the same level as an actual, traditional sport.”

Similarly, how sports are broadcast on TV, esports competitions, along with gamers content, can be publicized on streaming services such as Twitch and YouTube.

Sophomore Eliseo “Eli” Cruz joined the club this semester and uses Twitch to stream his gameplay. He has played Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege for years before joining the club, which is the game he plays competitively for the DII team.

Although he doesn’t have many Twitch followers, Cruz said the platform is great to get recognition. Two of his followers are his parents, who have supported his gaming passion since before he was in high school.

“I am able to stream my games and so they watch them over Twitch, and they’ll watch a couple when they have time,” Cruz said. “They’ll ask me how the team’s going and everything like that. So, they’re very supportive.”

Vision of the Future Since the club was founded, Santos said he has a vision for the club to expand since esports are growing in popularity nationwide. Santos said the goal for the NAU Esports club is to be on the same level as Ohio Technical College and Grand Canyon University, two private universities with top esports teams.

Santos said his vision is to have scholarships for players, a dedicated playing space — which is being brought to NAU in the form of a new virtual reality (VR) lab — and most importantly, equipment.

“One of the primary things we are working on sooner rather than later is equipment,” Santos said. “We have players that are playing on their own computer that are playing at 40 frames per second, which is like playing with a plastic bat in baseball.”

Although the club is fairly new to NAU, President Rita Cheng, along with other faculty members, are supportive of the club’s growth due to its rising popularity and opportunities for students.

“I was aware pretty early on that there was a lot of attention being given to esports, even by the NCAA, as an opportunity to

bring competitive spirit to a non-athletic type of sport,” Cheng said. “I think that when I look at our club, they’ve done so much in a very short time that I can’t wait to see what a more structured environment [it] will provide.”

Virtual Reality Lab Steven Burrell, ITS vice president and chief information officer, along with the esports secondary adviser Rye Heidinger and primary adviser Jeremy Anderson, are excited and supportive of the club’s growth.

Anderson said NAU is not currently looking to become an NCAA affiliated esports program, but it is something to consider in the future.

“At this moment, I think our ideals don’t line up and we’re just focusing on trying to build the community we have here,” Anderson said.

Giovanni Castillo, the founding director of NAU’s VR lab, is the mastermind behind the designs of the lab, which will be located in Room 112 of the Communication building. The lab, which has the working title of Advanced Media Lab, will be a dedicated space for the esports club to use, however, it will also be used to integrate students from a variety of different majors.

Castillo said the VR lab is a culmination of a five-year plan, which is what he considers to be his legacy at NAU. The development of the VR lab is a commitment that Castillo described as something that would be meaningful for students, faculty and researchers.

“The idea of beginning the lab was trying to find some sort of lab we could develop that would create collaborative research opportunities with undergrads and also people from different disciplines and scholars,” Castillo said.

Castillo said Burrell asked him to create a proposal for the lab and that if it could integrate research opportunities, then he would consider the proposal. Castillo presented the proposal and designs for the lab, which he created himself.

“Now the university is essentially looking at ways to fund the buildup of the lab that would potentially cost anywhere between $500,000 and $1.5 million,” Castillo said.

Looking ahead to the spring 2020 semester, the esports

club will be competing in a League of Legends season. Anderson said the club is currently registering a 10-player roster that will compete in the season, which will take place from January to March 2020. There will be two games per weekend during the season and each tmatch will consist of a best of three competition.

The NAU Esports club, along with its players, officers and supporting faculty, wants to continue to grow the club and have it be recognized as a legitimate and valued sport that many students can participate in.

Top: Members of the NAU Esports club gathered to participate in a 12-hour gaming event in the Engineering building Nov. 9.

Sebastian Moore | The Lumberjack Bottom: Illustration of the lab courtesy of Giovanni Castillo, the founding director of NAU’s VR Lab.

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

25

SPORTS

Photo courtesy of the McCree family.

Motown to small town: The journey of Ted McCree Jr. ryan peretti

W

ith no air conditioning inside Joe Dumars Fieldhouse, sweat runs down the brow of Ted McCree Jr. as he crosses the blue F that sits at midcourt. The screams from fans on the wooden bleachers echo off the blue metal domed roof.

Midnight black hair looks like a windy day along Lake Erie, as waves ripple along his head.

He stands at a lengthy 6-foot-4, with a slim and defined build. His right hand enters the cookie jar on the top shelf as he releases and watches the ball drop through the bottom of the net.

McCree has blossomed into a standout senior guard at NAU, but his basketball roots run deep beneath the Motor City of Detroit, where he was born in 1997. He soon began his journey when he first touched a basketball at 4 years old and a year later, he began playing competitively.

With memberships to most gyms in Detroit, Ted Jr. and his father Ted McCree Sr. work out often. Their workouts ranged from basketball drills, weight lifting and cardio.

“Now that I look back on it, I wouldn’t want anyone else working me out,” Ted Jr. said.

Two treadmills screamed faster and faster as four shoes effortlessly kissed the black belt. Fiveyear-old Ted Jr. ran next to his father. Increasing the speed, Ted Jr. sprinted faster and farther

26

away from the concrete jungle’s distractions.

As a child, Ted Jr. did not like working out with his dad, but his father pushed him like no one else. He said he needed every part of it.

Living with just his father, Ted Sr., taught his son how to be self-sufficient. He worked as an operational manager at General Motors during the night shift. Ted Jr. often came home from school to his father’s meal prep before work.

Being independent was a huge part of Ted Jr.’s childhood. He loved growing up with his father, who he called “a man’s man,” as well as his best friend. His dad taught him everything he needed to know about being a man.

The man’s voice, like a perfectly tuned bass guitar, boomed over the phone. After hearing one sentence from Ted Sr. the sheer size of his voice, like a colossal redwood towers over anyone listening.

“Become a man, learn how to do things on your own,” Ted Sr. said. “Because when you rely on other people, you put yourself in a position of a lot of heartaches and they’re going to fail you because you’re not their primary responsibility.”

The fatherly advice was taken to heart for Ted Jr., who never depended on anyone else.

Young, yet independent, Ted Jr. was faced with a lot of distractions growing up. His father was from Detroit and knew the culture. He allowed his son to talk to him about anything and offered his best advice due to his experience

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

of seeing distractions first-hand.

Distractions were fairly close to Ted Jr. Two roads down from Joe Dumars Fieldhouse is East Seven Mile Road. Old brick houses that don’t reach over two stories are terrorized by the Seven Mile Bloods, a gang that declared a “war zone” in the 48205 ZIP code. Locals refer to it as 4820-Die. The McCree’s lived away from the distractions in a suburb northwest of Detroit called West Bloomfield Township. Despite that, Ted Sr. still saw his son ending up in the city.

“He had cousins, he had friends and he always ended up in Detroit and that’s not a good place when you’re focused on trying to be successful,” Ted Sr. said. “There’s too many distractions, you got the drugs, the gangs, peer pressure — just got too many obstacles for a young guy to navigate.”

Coming from a concerned father’s perspective, he wanted the best life for his son.

Ted Jr. saw family and friends cave into the pit, but he never fell.

“People on the outside look in and they might say it’s dangerous because of the statistics,” Ted Jr. said. “But when you [are] living there, you don’t think about the outside things that [were] going on. It was fun for me.”

According to The Detroit News, with a population of nearly 700,000, the Motor City is the nation’s most violent big city with a rate

of about 39 homicides per 100,000 residents, which is ranked third highest in the United States. It was even worse when Ted Jr. was growing up.

Ted Jr. knew that Detroit was not the safest city and that the distractions limited his success.

“I think I would be in school, but the chances of me messing up on my opportunity would be higher,” Ted Jr. said.

Training his son for 16 years, Ted Sr. saw the basketball program at St. Mary’s High School in Orchard Lake not pushing his son hard enough.

Basketball runs through the blood of the McCree family. Ted Jr.’s grandfather played against the Harlem Globetrotters with the Washington Generals. Ted Sr. played for Wayne State and his brother played at Oklahoma and ASU. Ted Sr. sought programs that would help his son succeed both athletically and academically.

He contacted the head coach of Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, who promised that his son would get playing time.

Ted Jr. was 16 years old when he was faced with a life-changing decision.

“My dad asked me if I wanted to stay or go to Phoenix, and I chose to go to prep school because opportunities would open up,” Ted Jr. said.

He moved to Phoenix with one of his six siblings. His dad came out searching for a job

SPORTS but did not find one he liked and returned to Detroit. After 16 years of being with his best friend and father, they were now 1,985 miles apart from each other.

His father had no problem sending his boy across the country, stating Ted Jr. was mature enough and wanted to give him an opportunity to be successful.

While at Hillcrest Prep, he lived in the dorms. Finally, away from the distractions, he focused solely on basketball — it never once crossed his mind to give up Kobe Bryant’s “mamba mentality.”

“My parents weren’t there,” Ted Jr. said. “It wasn’t like I had someone to go home to. I was by myself, so I was always in that working mindset.”

After graduating from Hillcrest in 2016, he played at Gillette College in Wyoming. It was a culture shock at first but the small school of 2,165 students gave Ted Jr. a warm welcome.

“As we kept progressing and winning, the love for us kept building up,” Ted Jr. said. “You didn’t think about where you were at.”

During his freshman season, he helped the Pronghorns to the second round of the National Junior College Athletic Associate (NJCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball Championship with a final record of 32-4.

As a sophomore, Ted. Jr. averaged 17 points per game and shot just under 50% from the field. This began to catch eyes of other schools, including NAU. NAU’s former head coach Jack Murphy recruited Ted Jr. “Coach Murph would call me consistently,” Ted Jr. said.

NAU interim head coach Shane Burcar played a role in Ted Jr. transferring, too. At the time he was being recruited, Burcar was the assistant coach. There was a personal connection with the two Michigan locals.

“I know we cut from the same cloth, so it made it a little bit easier to talk to him,” Ted Jr. said.

Burcar lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The two developed a bond off the court by talking about Michigan and the Detroit Tigers baseball team.

The first year with the Lumberjacks, Ted Jr. averaged just

under 11 points per game and made 51 threes in 26 games. He was an expert extending the floor. The first time Burcar saw Ted Jr. play, he knew he was a lethal shooter.

After Ted Jr.’s first year with NAU, Burcar noticed the leadership that he brings to the team for this upcoming season.

“He’s like a quiet leader,” Burcar said. “His game is very unselfish and I think he’s almost taking a next step to understanding how important he is to the team.”

While at NAU, Ted Jr. was able to show his true personality to his teammates. Junior forward Bernie Andre joined the team last season as well.

“He was quiet at first, but once I met him in person, he was a whole different person,” Andre said. “He has two personalities.”

His facial expressions are absent as a vacant motel. Underneath Ted Jr.’s serious smile is an electric laugh that forces a smile on those around him.

Ironically, Ted Jr. does not consider himself to be shy and said he’s very selective of what he says, but has no problem speaking up.

“I’m pretty funny, not a lot of people get to see that side of me,” Ted Jr. said. “I’m serious most of the time but you might find me on a good day acting goofy.”

His love for the game is stronger than ever, now entering his senior campaign under Burcar for the Lumberjacks this season. While Ted Jr. is playing under yet another head coach, he stays true to his roots with his best friend, trainer and father being the best coach that he could have asked for.

“I talk to him almost every day,” Ted Sr. said. “Sometimes I give him a break because as he grows and becomes more and more independent, I see him doing things that I’ve shown him how to do.”

Photos courtesy of the McCree family.

DECEMBER 5, 2019 – JANUARY 15, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

27

Now accepting applications for Fall 2020!

You've never lived like this.

Walk or bike to class at Northern Arizona University Private bedrooms and bathrooms available Fully furnished apartments

State-of-the-art fitness center with strength equipment and free weights Academic Success Centers with iMacs and free printing

Apply online today at AmericanCampus.com/Flagstaff

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

28

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG