The Lumberjack -- February 13, 2020

THE LUMBER JACK

FEB. 13, 2020 – FEB. 19, 2020

BLINDED BY

LOVE

A SPECIAL ISSUE

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

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ne morning not too long ago, I woke up to my alarm, turned it off and began scrolling through social media. This is usually my morning routine, and call it toxic if you want, but it is how I choose to wake myself up before crawling out of my warm bed and getting ready to brave the cold on my way to classes. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is always straight out of bed so he can start his day. I like to slowly wake my mind by scrolling through ridiculous video compilations on Instagram or seeing what my peers tweeted. That particular morning, I chose to open Twitter.

The dark mode Twitter screen refreshed and at the top of my feed was a post retweeted by one of the people I am following. The tweet by @brainwxrms read “Marrying your partner from sophomore year of high school is great and all but it’s also like saying chicken nuggets are ur favorite food even though chicken nuggets are the only thing you’ve ever ate.”

Needless to say, I felt called out. While I haven’t been dating my boyfriend since sophomore year, I have been dating him since my senior year of high school.

SABRINA This statement irritated me for many reasons, some personal and others not. We PROFFITT live in a time where everyone is worried about missing out, and they are also not even worried about their own lives, they are worried about everyone else too.

MANAGING Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a common saying because of this phenomenon.

EDITOR You’re worried about missing out on hooking up if you’re in a committed relationship, you’re worried about not being in a relationship if you’re being free and meeting new people. We also live in a world of shame. You’re shamed if you’re playing around too much and you’re even shamed if you’re in a longterm relationship.

Most of all, when I saw this tweet, I felt shamed. I thought being in a relationship headed toward marriage was what the media would applaud but here I was, having to defend myself for wanting to only eat chicken nuggets. I’ve always been an advocate for stopping the shame and stigma around hookup culture — we’re in college, we’re young, we should be free. Let’s stop the stigma around it all. If a person is happy and safe, let them date or sleep with whoever they want. If someone is in a relationship from their sophomore year of high school, if they are still happy, let them be. Let people eat the buffets of life, or let them enjoy their chicken nuggets.

“It was a bit of a leap of faith, but I love the mountains.”

– Jessica McCowan, transfer student from Melbourne, Australia

Thank you for reading.

Junior Jessica McCowan is a spring transfer student from Central Queensland University in Australia. McCowan is majoring in biology and works at Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, Jan. 3 MacKenzie Brower | The Lumberjack

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 109 ISSUE 5

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 Sales Manager Photo Adviser Print Chief Marsha Simon Taylor Mahoney Bella Valenzuela

Managing Editor Sabrina Proffitt Sports Adviser Rory Faust

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board Op-Ed Editor Director of Social Media Online News Editor Caitlin Burke Ray Anne Galzote Shannon Degrange Asst.

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

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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

On the cover Illustration by Diana Ortega

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 Feb. 3 At 2:26 a.m., a student had passed out in their room at Ernest Calderón Learning Community and called NAUPD to request assistance.

The student was transported to FMC.

At 3:03 a.m., NAUPD reported being out with two non-students at the Ponderosa building. One subject was found to have an outstanding warrant and was booked into the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office jail.

At 6:01 p.m., NAUPD reported a driver who had failed to stop at an intersection.

A written warning was issued for failure to obey a traffic control device.

Feb. 4 At 5:38 a.m., a nonstudent driving a garbage truck reported having been in a collision with another vehicle at Knoles and Runke Drives.

The student who drove the other vehicle received a minor injury, but refused medical transport. NAUPD responded and issued a citation to the student for failure to control a vehicle to avoid a collision.

At 9:22 a.m., a staff member at the University Union walked into NAUPD to report accidental damage to a Starship robot. A Police Aide responded, took a report and Starship Technologies was notified.

At 7:06 p.m., a staff member at Allen Hall reported the odor of marijuana. NAUPD responded, and one student was deferred for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Feb. 5 At 12:22 p.m., a student at the W. A. Franke College of Business reported a suspicious

person with a knife. NAUPD responded, and one nonstudent was booked into custody for threatening and intimidating, disorderly conduct, reckless display of a dangerous instrument and disruption of an educational institution.

At 2:42 p.m., an employee at the Drury Inn & Suites Flagstaff reported graffiti.

NAUPD responded and took a report. Facility Services was notified.

Feb. 6 At 9:02 a.m., a staff member called to report their vehicle had been struck while parked in the Knoles Parking Garage. NAUPD responded and took a report.

Compiled by Scout Ehrler At 11:37 p.m., Coconino County Detention Facility reported a non-student who turned themself in on an outstanding warrant. An FPD officer responded and served the warrant.

Feb. 8 At 1:09 a.m., staff at Allen Hall reported the odor of marijuana. NAUPD responded, and one student was deferred for possession and use of marijuana. Three students were deferred for use of marijuana.

At 11:39 a.m., a nonstudent reported personal property that had been stolen on campus. NAUPD responded and took a report.

The property was later recovered and returned to the At 3:50 p.m., an FPD owner. officer requested assistance in an off-campus theft involving At 9:46 p.m., a student a student. NAUPD responded, at McConnell Hall reported and one student was cited and a suspicious person. NAUPD released by FPD. responded, but no contact was made.

At 9:50 p.m., a staff member at the Performing and Feb. 9 Fine Arts building reported At 12:51 a.m., an multiple cars blocking the bus NAUPD officer reported a stop and roadway. NAUPD subject in the roadway on East responded and the cars were Route 66, but a train passed moved. before officers could make contact. The area was searched, Feb. 7 but no contact was made.

At 2:12 a.m., a resident at Ernest Calderón Learning At 8:14 p.m., a Community reported an community assistant at unknown subject knocking SkyView apartments reported at their door. One student a student with a potentially was deferred for minor in broken foot.

NAUPD consumption of alcohol. responded, but the student refused medical transport.

At 9:51 p.m., an officer reported being out with At 10:43 p.m., an RA three subjects at Hilltop at Sechrist Hall reported a Townhomes. Two students disturbance with two students. were deferred for minor in NAUPD responded and consumption and minor in both students were criminally possession. One student was deferred for minor in deferred for purchasing alcohol consumption of alcohol. for minors.

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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NEWS

Steven Jones sentenced to six years Brady Wheeler & Scout Ehrler

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AU gunman and former student Steven Jones was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday.

Jones, who acknowledged firing the shots that killed 20-year-old Colin Brough and injured three others Oct. 9, 2015, is required to serve a minimum of 85% of the sentence based on a plea agreement that was reached prior to the sentencing. Jones formally accepted a plea deal Jan. 9 shortly after an agreement was reached by the defendant and prosecutors.

Jones was sentenced to six years on one count of manslaughter and also recieved five years each on three counts of aggravated assault. Jones was allowed to serve the sentences concurrently, which amounted to six total years in prison based on his longest sentence. Jones has 212 days of credit based on previous time served.

“As to count one, manslaughter, charge involving Colin Brough, you are hereby sentenced to six years,” Judge Dan Slayton said.

Both the plea deal and sentencing followed a mistrial in 2017.

Victims and families share testimonies The prosecution began with a five-minute body cam video of one of the victims, Nick Piring, on the night of the incident. In the footage, Piring is shown being treated for gunshot wounds while he pleads for police to save his roommate, Colin Brough.

“Save him, save him. Colin. He’s the one that was shot in the chest,” Piring said in the video.

Victim Kyle Zientek described the shooting from his perspective.

Jones approached from a parking lot equipped with a handgun, mounted with a flashlight. Zientek said he and his friends first thought it was a police officer. Then, Jones began to fire in rapid succession.

Zientek was shot twice in the back. His friends, Piring and Nick Prato, were also shot. Piring sustained

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injuries to his shoulder and hip and Prato sustained an injury to his neck.

Prato was not present.

Prosecution attorney Lou Diesel read a letter on his behalf. Prato did not want to be involved or in the presence of Jones, the letter stated. Colin Brough, who was shot in the chest, died at the scene.

Colin Brough’s injuries included a perforated lung, vena cava and aorta. Both shots struck his front side, and a medical examiner’s report indicates that he was leaning forward at the time of being shot.

“I wanted to speak to you today because I felt like I owed it to Colin,” Zientek said while addressing Judge Dan Slayton.

Diesel also read a letter from Colin Brough’s brothers, Douglas and Ashton. Colin Brough’s father, Doug Brough, spoke about his son, the incident and paid respect to Nick Acevedo, a victim who committed suicide following the 2017 mistrial.

“There has been no remorse from the shooter or his family,” Doug said.

Colin Brough’s mother, Claudia Brough, was the last to speak for the prosecution. She spoke about her pain following her son’s death, which included “two nervous breakdowns in two different mental facilities.”

“My brain won’t ever work right again. It’s broken,” Claudia Brough said.

Colin Brough’s family expressed their love for him and their immense pain following his death. All victims, including family members who spoke on Colin Brough’s behalf, requested Jones be sentenced the maximum of 10 years.

Jones’ defense Following two hours of statements from the prosecution, the defense began by paying respects to the Colin Brough family. One of Jones’ attorneys, Christopher DuPont, talked about Jones’ life before the 2015 incident and cited praise from his peers.

Audio from a 911 call from the night of the incident played, followed

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by a demand for justice from the defense.

“We’re never going to get from here back to where we started. The best we can do at this point is justice,” DuPont said.

DuPont expressed his grief over the case, particularly in regard to Claudia Brough. He noted time spent in therapy and other personal experiences during the defense’s opening statement.

A presentation from the defense detailed the “convergence of circumstances that led Steven to be involved in this criminal conduct.”

DuPont said Jones had never been in a physical altercation before Oct. 9, 2015.

DuPont detailed the events leading up to the incident and relevant circumstances. The defense claimed Delta Chi, the fraternity of which the victims were involved, was a hub for criminal activity.

The attorney contended that fraternity members’ attack on Jones was an “unprovoked assault.” DuPont presented possible circumstances that led to the assault, including a ding dong ditch, alcohol and drug use, exclusion from a fraternity party and emotional convergence.

Environment, stress, drugs, alcohol and youth were among other factors listed by DuPont.

DuPont played a recording from Nick Pletke, member of Delta Chi who witnessed the shooting, describing the violence that can occur within fraternities. Pletke assaulted Jones, putting him in a “rear choke naked choke hold,” according to the defense.

Fraternities create a pattern of “coordinated thoughts and behaviors of relationship partners,” DuPont said. A video from Aug. 30, 2015 of a fight occuring at an NAU Delta Chi fraternity was played. In the video, yelling and bottles breaking can be heard in the background as a fight ensued. DuPont said he “would not be surprised” if the Aug. 30 altercation looked similar to the Oct. 9 incident

that led up to the shooting.

DuPont noted the positive actions that NAU fraternities take, but also said that fraternities exist as a way to circumvent state and university drinking policy.

The defense claimed Jones was “sucker punched,” during the Oct. 9, 2015 incident, knocking out his dental bridges and filling his mouth with blood.

“There’s nothing like tasting your own blood to get you excited,” DuPont said. “Fear.”

The defense primarily relied on police interviews from the night of the incident, which included testimonies not heard in court during the 2017 trial.

According to a witness testimony presented by Jones’ defense, a man in a white shirt, believed by DuPont to be Colin Brough, was running at Jones as Jones shouted, “Please stop.

I don’t want to do this,” Witness testimonies presented by the Jones’ defense also placed the man in the white shirt, who was supposedly Colin Brough, 13 feet from Jones just prior to running at Jones. The defense also claims Nick Piring moved toward Jones prior to any shots being fired.

The Jones’ defense conflicted with the prosecution’s accounts that Piring was shot after trying to aid the wounded Brough.

“While the prosecution may try to make it seem like the victims were

Former NAU student Steven Jones enters the courtroom as he prepares to be sentenced, Feb. 11. Brady Wheeler | The Lumberjack

NEWS standing around, trying to help, the truth is that they were all involved,” DuPont said.

DuPont also referenced a medical examination that confirmed that Zientek was shot in the back. The prosecution has often questioned the Jones defense for their claim of self defense based on this examination. DuPont said, that while Jones is legally responsible for Zientek’s assault, Jones was firing from his back on the ground.

“He’s been beaten, he’s been concussed, his teeth are knocked out; it is during these brief moments that Steven made the reckless decision,” said DuPont. “He was undoubtedly impaired.”

DuPont argued that given the number of victims, along with their size and strength, and the danger perceived by Jones, his actions were justified. Jones’ injuries at the time of his initial arrest, which included harm to his head, back

and chest, as well as a split lip, supplemented DuPont’s claims.

Mitigating circumstances cited were the conduct of the victims, substantial duress, impairment, cooperation during investigation, good character, young age and remorse. Jones lowered his head and began to cry as a portion of his police interview from the night of the event played before the courtroom.

The defense affirmed mitigation outweighs

aggravation, in this case.

Just before the sentencing was announced, Jones was given the opportunity to speak on his own behalf.

“I would in a heartbeat, right now, trade places with Colin Brough. If he could be home with his family and I could be dead ... If I could take his place, I would. That’s all I have to say,” Jones said.

How to stay safe while practicing kink Molly Brown

Editor’s note: Only the first name of sources were used to protect their identity.

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inky sexual encounters, often referred to as BDSM, can be fulfilling and exciting, but there are many risks involved.

Many are uncomfortable with the topic, but members of the kink community offer insight on the practice. For reference, those who practice kink classify the activities they take part in as playing.

Tom said the world of kink has become more popular and accepted. He said many people enjoy expressing that side of themselves but cautioned those wanting to rush into it.

“Learn, educate, explore slowly. Please don’t dive in completely,” Tom said. “I know the energy and frenzy is intoxicating. Slow down and enjoy the experience of growing.”

Physical risks can come into play, as Tom explained an incident where his partner sustained a severe injury to her ankle requiring a trip to the emergency room. This was simply due to an uneven floor and the aggressive nature of their interaction.

Scott said when people decide to cross over into kink, the risks increase even more because of other factors involved.

“Without a clear understanding of physical anatomy and functions, serious injury can occur,” Scott said. “Rope bondage can result in damage if the tie is done across nerves or too tightly, or again for too long. Spanking or flogging, if done to certain parts of the body, can damage organs.”

Not all injuries are physical and Tom said that is mainly attributed to the nature of the mental and emotional aspects explored in the world of kink.

“Emotions sneak up to get you. We’re playing with some deep stuff, things tied to trauma, things rooted deeply inside ourselves, things we hide from,” Tom said. “It’s part of the attraction.”

Rachel said some misconceptions about the riskier activities involved in the kink lifestyle cause many to judge and victim blame for putting themselves in those situations.

Rachel said someone crossed the line with her, which she said was sexual assault, even though she had consented to initial contact. Rachel expressed she didn’t feel comfortable reporting

the incident because of the stigmas attached to people practicing kink.

“Even though people are having a more open mind about kink, I felt that it would be seen as I was basically putting myself in that situation and nothing would come out of it,” Rachel said. “I think that there isn’t a whole lot of education among law enforcement about what kind of things people might agree to … people wouldn’t necessarily take me seriously because I’m already branded as a freak or

Illustration By Madison Cohen

something.”

Larry, teaches and lectures on the topic of kink while referencing his 50 years of experience. He said one of the biggest underlying issues is lack of knowledge.

“Never assume that you know what you are doing if you have not thoroughly investigated the activities [that] you want to be involved,” Larry said. “Learn what your partners like while learning what you like. Not everything in your kink fantasy has to happen the first time you try.”

Larry also explained that people don’t understand the concept of negotiating and consent, and that leads to a lot of issues of violation by crossing boundaries.

Another person active in the kink lifestyle is Lily, who agrees there is a lack of education and information. Lily referenced this issue as it pertains to the medical field.

“We most definitely do not see kink incorporated into sexual health education and few medical doctors know how to talk about it with their patients,” Lily said. “The risks are infinite, just as human sexuality is. However, I feel like I have seen more educational opportunities in the past few years.”

Those who practice kink on a regular basis can all agree there are dangers, but also that the experience can be intensely satisfying if proper care is taken.

“Kink touches the core being and is far deeper than the simplicity of sex, which is what makes it so appealing and tantalizing to many,” Scott said.

“Positive intent and actions are key to a healthy enjoyment of kink.”

Sex, in whatever form a person chooses to practice it, is risky, so education is important.

“Negotiation shouldn’t just be about what you want and what you don’t want,” Rachel said. “But also, what happens if something goes wrong.”

Regardless of how vanilla or kinky a person’s sexual encounters might be, negotiating wants and clarifying consent are good practices to incorporate.

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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NEWS

Assistant director Marian Griffin (left) and graduate assistant Anika Martin (right) plan for the Office of Inclusion’s Valentine’s Day events, Feb. 6. MacKenzie Brower | The Lumberjack

NAU supports LGBTQ+ spectrum students Zeina Helmy

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ince 2009, the LGBTQIA Commission has substantially grown on campus. Programs on campus intend to create acceptance of all sexualities and identities throughout the student body, which is particularly needed on Valentine’s Day. The LGBTQIA Commission aims to “promote acceptance of LGBTQIA, mutual respect, fairness, equality and a climate of inclusivity on campus.” The group also strives to build a safe environment for the community, from nonbinary and transgender bathrooms to diminishing discrimination.

Heather Martel, the co-chair of the LGBTQIA Commission, said that while improvements have been made, there is still more work to be done to create real inclusivity.

“Among faculty I know and in the classrooms I teach in, I see much more celebration of sexuality as one form of diversity,” Martel said. “I see this has improved during my time at NAU. However, I do know that students deal with homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism and ableism on campus. [There is] still more work to be done here.”

Co-chair of NAU’s LGBTQIA Commission, Ari Burford, said they would like to see more than just tolerance, acceptance or normalization of people who identify as being a part of the spectrum.

“Tolerance suggests a condescending attitude from people with privilege,” Burford said. “I would love to see more of the valuing of queer and/or trans peoples’ lives, and our struggles with intersecting forms of violence and other forms of oppression.”

Burford said there have been great strides in the past 10 years, but there is a point where the community as a whole must

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move past simply tolerance to integration.

Martel said the method the commission uses to endorse safety is based on observations the members make.

“Currently, we share our observations about what is happening in this community in order to come up with strategies for building a safe and vital community,” Martel said. “There is a working group working to identify and make bathrooms available for nonbinary and trans students.”

Marian Griffin, the assistant director of LGBTQIA Student Services, said the commission also supports and advertises various on-campus training through the Office of Inclusion, such as Safe Zone and TRANSparency Zone, which aim to educate the campus community to build a safer and more inclusive culture at NAU. Griffin said the Office of Inclusion is hosting an event called “Love Who You Love,” in honor of Valentine’s Day. She said the event “is intended to create inclusive spaces around this day.”

Another resource available to students is the Northern Arizona Pride Association. The association was founded in 1996 with the mission to increase acceptance and awareness of all LGBTQ+ community members.

Annual festivals typically have attracted between 3,900 and 4,200 individuals, according to the Flagstaff Pride website.

Outside of festivals, free HIV and AIDS testing, mental health counseling, transitioning questions, and alcohol and drug counseling are offered. This group is also affiliated with The Trevor Project, a national non-profit organization that creates a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth.

The Northern Arizona Pride Association is available to all NAU students. For students on a budget, the association offers

free physical and mental health care.

Despite multiple organizations’ presence, Burford said there are struggles with intersecting violence and other forms of oppression. NAU offering a safe environment for students to reach out is essential to building an inclusive environment. It is common for the amount of intolerance to rise as Valentine’s Day approaches.

“It could also feel hostile to go out on a date that night with my girlfriend,” Martel said. “The obligatory expressions of love can make straight people feel stressed. I figured that was behind their hostility.”

The History website stated the background of the holiday is based on the legend of St. Valentine, in which three saints were martyred for marrying men and women. In ancient Rome, the men who had wives did not make as strong soldiers as those who were single.

The marriage of men and women prevented war, leading to the celebration of Valentine’s Day. Those who are not heterosexual may not feel as comfortable going out on Valentine’s Day to celebrate with their significant other. Burford said, in general, it is a heteronormative holiday.

“Unfortunately, LGBTQIA+ folks have been scapegoated and are often singled out by stressed-out, straight people who feel free to victimize us,” Martel said.

The history of the holiday has influenced current day society to identify festivities to occur between men and women.

Advisers on campus can provide a safe environment for students. As Valentine’s Day approaches, there can be a need for a stronger support system, especially for LGBTQ+ people.

NEWS

Searching for love safely in Flagstaff Tess Spinker

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afety concerns arise for many people, especially NAU students, who go out drinking and attend events at local bars downtown during Valentine’s Day. Bar employees at many Flagstaff establishments undergo training to prevent sexual harassment situations. The Arizona Safer Bars Alliance is a statewide initiative that has provided safety training for people who work at bars so they know how to respond to specific cues, such as overly intoxicated people and inappropriate body language, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Staff at local bars like Lumberyard Brewing Co. receive training every year, including an initial five-hour training. Then, any returning staff attends a two-hour refresher.

Patty Walsh, Lumberyard executive operations manager and bartender, said the bar is prepared if sexual harassment occurs or anything looks out of the ordinary.

“We have trained our security to keep an eye out for anything that looks suspicious or step into a situation where they see a young lady that is maybe more intoxicated than the gentleman,” Walsh said. “They are trained to watch situations like that and be ready to handle them.”

According to NAU’s website, the student population grew to over 30,000 students in fall 2019, so the Lumberyard sees a spike in a young demographic on Friday and Saturday nights.

On Valentine’s Day, Lumberyard staff will be offering drink specials and a dessert special on the menu. The bar hosts a DJ and dancing on these nights, bringing in many single men and women to enjoy the event.

“We have flyers in our bathrooms that explain safety programs,” Walsh said. “We will get notified, call for security and make sure whoever is in danger gets safely into a cab or an Uber.”

Even though sexual harassment and disturbances have presented themselves, Walsh said she and the Lumberyard staff feel confident and plan ahead to keep their guests safe.

Many local bars have not experienced many problems with managing sexual harassment situations. However, sexual harassment situations and disturbances have occurred from over-intoxicated people, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Ryan Hays, restaurant manager and co-owner of Cornish Pasty Co., said some occurrences have escalated to become more intense.

“Recently, one time on a First Friday, we had a DJ and somebody was dancing and making people feel very uncomfortable,” Hays said. “He tried to get violent with us, so we tried to kick him out once. He ended up getting into a fight. That time, the cops had to come.”

Hays suggested the main reason why the bar and restaurant are successfully identifying uneasy situations is the advantage of having a tight net of servers always on the floor. Hays said the staff will not hesitate to ask someone to leave.

According to a report by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), sexual assault is a common issue on campuses, and many go unreported. Around college-age groups, between 18 and 24, one in five women experience sexual harassment or assault. The report also suggests that many students try alcohol and drugs their first time when in college, leading people to potentially dangerous situations.

According to the HHS report, sexual assault can include anything from continuous, non-consensual touching to rape.

Flagstaff resident Stephanie Lawrence said she has had experiences of sexual harassment when her friends have gone to socialize downtown.

“My roommates were really drunk and danced with a couple guys before we left the bar,” Lawrence said. “The two guys followed us outside trying to take [my roommates] home until a couple of other guys finally came and told them to leave us alone.”

Many assault cases, big or small, go unreported by victims, according to the HHS report. Approximately one in five people who are sexually assaulted actually report the attack to someone or the police. Talking about sexual assault to strangers can be difficult, but HHS encourages people to speak up so police can prevent future assaults.

Bars may be considered dangerous places prone to sexual harassment situations, but in some cases, good affairs happen. Walsh said the Lumberyard is also a place where love can begin.

“During trivia night, we are having a proposal,” Walsh said. “They had their first few dates here, and during trivia, we are going to enter the big question into one of the rounds.”

Walsh said many couples have met at the Lumberyard as well, so people searching for love should feel safe.

Top: The back shelf of the Lumberyard Brewing Co. bar in downtown Flagstaff, Feb. 7. Bottom: Two customers sit at the counter of Lumberyard in Flagstaff, Feb. 7.

Taylor Schwartz-Olson | The Lumberjack

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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comic By blake fernandez

comic By diana ortega

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

Self-love is far from selfish trinity archie

Emotional cheating misunderstood

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motional cheating is often associated with trust being diminished in a relationship. While not analogous to physical cheating, Jane E. Brody of The New York Times states connecting with a non-partner on an emotional level as comparable to flirting and engaging in the unsanctioned consumption of pornography. To many of us, this is wrong.

I believe it’s not wrong.

Emotional cheating, to me, is a word used to misrepresent the act of confiding in people. The belief that we, as human beings, are expected to only entrust one person with our personal commentary is idealistic. Humans are social creatures capable of multiple, complex relationships with varying levels of intimacy. To deny this is to deny a trait inherent in ourselves.

SHAWN Two years ago, I was in a longPATTI standing relationship. My partner was exceedingly capable of forming friendships WRITER wherever she went. I became accustomed to her aptness in speaking to strangers.

In fact, her confidence inspired me to become more social and charismatic with my peers. When we both began university in Phoenix, our relationship began to slowly erode. We constantly bickered and refused to adapt to our new lifestyles. It was only natural — people change in college.

Soon, my partner became more invested in other relationships. She often confided in close friends, family and even ex-partners. I felt unimportant and that it was my partner’s engagement in emotional cheating that was the root cause. I felt betrayed.

However, I was not betrayed, and my partner had not cheated on me. My own insecurities within our relationship had an easy answer for the betrayal: emotional cheating. However, it was not wrong for my partner to confide in others.

I entrusted my worries to family, friends and also expartners. I held my current partner to a standard I refused to attain due to my enjoyment of interacting personally with other people. I became a hypocrite.

This is not to say a lack of trust cannot be hurtful. A spouse speaking to an ex-partner about personal matters can be jarring.

At the end of the day, interacting with others is justified.

The relationships we form throughout our lives should not limit the way we engage with others. We should not allow ourselves to become enthralled in the petty belief that speaking plainly with friends detracts from our engagement with loving partners. If it is bothersome when your significant other speaks to someone who is not you, it is most likely insecurity derived from a failing relationship rather than a lack of commitment on their part.

Emotional cheating is a bandage of a label slapped hastily over a preexisting wound.

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hen I think of love, the first people who come to mind are friends, family and significant others. Most of us share the idea that acts of love must involve another person, but self-love is also important, especially on Valentine’s Day. It can be difficult to incorporate self-love into our busy schedules as college students, but it is also a necessary component in managing mental health. My definition of self-love encompasses understanding limits, active management of stress and overall mental health.

According to the fall 2018 National College Health Assessment conducted by the American College Health Association, 63% of United States college students reported feelings of overwhelming anxiety.

Additionally, 22.8% reported diagnosis or treatment for anxiety within that year.

These statistics serve as a startling reminder that college students should make self-love a priority.

It can be difficult to put yourself first, especially in college.

We carry burdens at this stage in life. Pressures include classes, work, finances, family and so many other factors.

This increase in anxiety must be acknowledged and managed.

According to Psychology Today, self-compassion is associated with decreases in anxiety and depression. There is a direct link between self-love and mental health.

I believe that self-love is a necessary aspect of navigating college. Throughout my years as an NAU student, I never made myself a priority. I didn’t think it was important to. I felt that if I properly managed everything else in my life, self-love would fall into place. With this mindset, I found myself stressed and overwhelmed.

I now understand the value of selfishness. I cannot care for anyone or anything else in my life if I am struggling.

I discovered simple ways to practice self-love. You do not need to dedicate hours a day or adjust your schedule to prioritize yourself. Self-love is expressed through the way we conduct our lives every day. It is useful to start by allowing yourself to make mistakes. Instead of self-criticizing when I don’t reach a goal, I begin devising a new approach to achieving that goal.

Another important component of self-love is vulnerability.

Allowing yourself to feel emotions to properly cope with them is a huge part of being vulnerable. Ignoring these aspects will only lead to heightened emotions later.

Illustration By christian ayala

It is also necessary to identify what brings you joy and to practice it every day. In college, we often let go of hobbies we developed and practiced throughout childhood. We simply do not have the time for them anymore. With some effort, you can incorporate these hobbies into your schedule.

I kept up with art and drawing until my first semester at NAU, when I became too busy for the hobby. Artistic creativity was a stress reliever for me, so I made an effort to continue my hobby and enrolled in entry-level art classes. This benefited me both academically and personally.

Although many acknowledge that self-love is critical, there are still skeptics. The idea is often labeled as a newly developed internet fad. Some see it as self-absorbed, but the concept is more than just a social media trend.

Research indicates that self-love is psychologically beneficial.

A study conducted by the American Psychological Association reported that college students who base self-esteem on internal sources are more likely to perform better in school and to not become dependent on drugs or alcohol.

Valentine’s Day is often spent looking for ways to make those in our lives happy. It is a holiday defined by selflessness, sharing and bringing others joy. These extravagant gestures often result in neglect of personal happiness.

This Valentine’s Day, don’t forget to love yourself. Improved mental health can be the greatest Valentine’s Day gift of all.

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Remembering Parkland madeline hollmann

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alentine’s Day marks the second anniversary of the Parkland shooting. In 2018, a gunman opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 14 innocent students and three administrative staff.

A day meant to be filled with love now has a tragic meaning.

Valentine’s Day will forever be a day of misery for the families and friends whose loved ones were killed.

While people are celebrating Valentine’s Day and exchanging gifts, we need to remember the tragedy that took place two years ago. The teens who were killed in the Parkland school shooting all had promising futures. They will never go to college, start their own families or celebrate another Valentine’s Day. Having a day of remembrance for the victims who were killed in the shooting is not enough.

It has been almost 21 years since the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado, that took 13 lives, and it has been eight years since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that killed 26 people, including 20 children.

The Parkland shooting shows that politicians have once again failed the children of this country.

Columbine should have been a wake-up call for policymakers to enact stricter gun control laws to protect children from gun violence in schools. Parents are still sending their kids off to school with the blind hope that they are safe, not realizing the chance they may never see them again.

Time and time again, there is another mass shooting in this country. I am tired of not seeing a change. I do not want to hear another politician say they are praying for the families of the children whose lives were lost and not using their power to prevent it from happening again.

I want to see a change in gun laws.

There needs to be stricter laws that prevent

guns from getting into the wrong hands. More thorough background checks need to be done and guns should not be available to the hands of children. The current background check system that is in place in gun retail stores, which is referred to as the National Instant Criminal

Background Check System, doesn’t do enough seeing as the number of mass shootings with this law in place is still absurdly high in this country.

It is idealistic to propose banning guns in a country that values the Second Amendment so heavily, but we can place regulations to reduce

the amount of gun violence.

I have seen too many news stories in my lifetime about mass shootings in the United States, as well as globally. It seems as though every day there is a shooting. I am tired of turning on the TV and feeling my heart break.

I hope future generations do not have to worry about being shot and killed while getting an education. The only way to do this is to pressure our leaders to pass laws to protect citizens from gun violence.

To honor the lives of the 17 victims who were killed on Feb. 14, 2018 and all of the other victims of school shootings, people should demand to see a change by protesting, supporting bills that enforce gun control and voting for politicians who support gun control.

No matter their political identity, people should agree that mass shootings need to be stopped.

Every time there is a mass shooting, there are some people who say “never again,” but then it happens again in a span of mere weeks or months. This is because there is no change in laws regulating access to firearms in the U.S. There is no way of knowing when or if there is going to be a mass shooting at another school. Despite the trauma and grief that has affected the whole country, each time there is a school shooting we see no change.

Every school shooting is a national tragedy and it seems as though the tragedy never ends.

There is an epidemic going on in the U.S. Every day, people die from gun violence.

Valentine’s Day should now be a day for activism. We need stricter gun laws that will keep this from happening again. It is our duty as a country to protect our children, and we cannot do that with the current state of the gun laws in the U.S. We need to encourage politicians to enact laws that will give stricter regulations on guns so that children and their families will never again be subjected to another tragedy.

Illustration By Tonesha Yazzie

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

The key to a successful relationship is friendship frank espinoza

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s Valentine’s Day approaches, many people are going out for a first date with their crush or making dinner at home with their long-term sweetheart. It’s important to note that taking it slow is key to a relationship. In my experience, it’s very important to be friends above anything else. Having a strong bond and feeling comfortable being yourself is essential for a healthy relationship.

Whether it’s doing homework together or going out to eat, it’s important to get a sense of who your partner is before you date seriously. Partaking in activities that allow you to talk and express your true self to your significant other is crucial when building a lasting attachment.

Before dating, you should feel that the person is close to you

and connects with you on an emotional level. You want to be able to laugh, talk and really feel comfortable around that special someone.

With a societal focus on social media, it’s easy to fall for someone based simply on sexual attraction or their appearance. It can be easy to miss out on the opportunities to grow a real interest in somebody if you only care about their looks instead of their personality. Sometimes we only value someone when we’re caught up in the warm, fuzzy feelings of the honeymoon stage.

The goal of most relationships is having a long future together. Feeling lasting attraction once the rose-colored glasses come off can be pretty tricky.

I’ve had my fair share of realizations that I don’t like someone as much as I originally thought. For me, it was easy to get caught up in the moment. However, once the moment ended, a deeper connection was missing and the opportunity for growth within the relationship was gone. I realized I didn’t feel as open to the person as I would have liked to be, and the sparks I felt were extinguished.

That’s the biggest problem I’ve faced in relationships — the feeling that we’re both not able to be open to each other. Building a friendship first helps eliminate t h a t

Illustration By aleah green

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problem.

In high school, I would often talk to one of the girls I liked.

I thought she was one of the best looking girls in school but past the shallow connection, we were very different people. When we talked about our shared interest in music, fashion and celebrities, I could tell she wasn’t engaged in my same interests or even the conversation. She was a very shy and reserved person, and that wasn’t something I preferred in a partner. We liked many of the same subjects, but she couldn’t keep a conversation going. I knew then that it wouldn’t work out.

For me, being able to keep up a constant conversation with someone is a critical component in my relationships. Everyone likes to share their thoughts and ideas with someone and feel understood. Finding somebody to talk to about anything and everything while having fun with them is a rare commodity, but it is a commonality that abounds in true friendship.

If these elements are necessary for friendship, they should be present in a relationship as well.

To be best friends you need to build trust, honesty and compassion. Starting with these building blocks of friendship is a great way to build a connection on an emotional level with a new or current partner. A true friend would never laugh or mock you for opening up to them, and the same should go for the person you’re dating. Your partner having an appropriate and meaningful response to your feelings is crucial in a relationship.

As much as an emotional connection is needed, it is important to foster the fun parts of loving someone and find a partner who has similar interests as you. Finding activities that you both enjoy will connect you to one another.

It can be difficult to find someone who likes all of the same activities and hobbies as you, but finding enough in common can be the start of something great.

If it’s impossible to find similar interests such as movies, music and hobbies then that person may not be for you.

For all those who are wanting to get into a relationship, it’s important to start slow and build a meaningful friendship first. If you want to find a real partner for life, you’ll need to work for it, even if that means it doesn’t work out.

It’s OK to have failed relationships.

Failing at something is how we grow and become more aware for our next attempt.

However, if you want to succeed in your relationship, find a partner who can also be your best friend. When you do, the possibilities for growth and love are endless.

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

Parents have a right to date, too kylie soto

V

alentine’s Day is an especially controversial holiday because of all the awkward situations one may witness.

Among all the pink and red, overpriced gifts and sudden viral wedding proposals, it’s difficult to bear through the day.

Adding an additional layer by being a child of divorced parents puts the icing on the cake.

As a child with divorced parents, one simply must come to terms that their parents are happier apart. It can be hard as the cringey boyfriends or girlfriends of parents come and go, and the feeling only amplifies due to the convenience of adults now using online dating.

Rather than choosing to revel in the awkward and uncomfortable, though, I choose to make the most of celebrating the relationships I have with my parents on Valentine’s Day. Parents in search of love alongside their children can be disastrously cringe-worthy.

Nothing is more unsettling than swiping past a parent’s profile on a dating app or being innocently nosy and catching a glimpse of a photo that one didn’t want to see.

This only gets worse when one feels like they must walk a tightrope in their own love life to not accidentally upset a parent who is starting a new relationship. Inversely, one may feel that navigating a parent’s new relationship feels like being frozen in place and forced to watch a two-star romantic comedy movie.

Children of divorce especially struggle when coming to terms with the honeymoon phase of a parent’s new relationship. I’ve had my fair share of times I wished I was able to evaporate when one of my parents kissed their significant other at the dinner table.

However, it is unfair for parents to never search for love again out of fear of making their children uncomfortable. Even divorced parents deserve to find love again. Every human is in search of their fairytale ending and deserves to feel unconditional love from a significant other and family.

In the past, my parents have always given me and my sister something special to let us know that we are loved and that they were thinking of us on Valentine’s Day. This gesture is something that always brightened my day, and I came to realize that my parents were my first loves.

In recent years, I took it upon myself to make gifts for my parents because I am a poor college student. Money aside, I feel individualized letters and gifts make the authenticity of sincerity behind the gift much stronger.

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Although the awkwardness that is Valentine’s Day is unavoidable, at least I know my parents feel some sort of love coming from me on that day, and every day after.

Beyond Valentine’s Day, parents also deserve support and patience as they get back into romance and dating.

That means accepting every factor that makes a relationship, including the public displays of affection. If parents can deal with their kids having broken hearts and can magically nurse them back into a functional human being, it’s only fair that the same feeling and process is reciprocated.

One may find that it actually feels great to talk to a parent about the ins and outs of dating, and it could be a newfound platform for connection.

Take it from a child of divorced parents, it can be difficult to accept the fact that one’s parents aren’t getting back together. The quicker that idea can be accepted, the quicker one can expect a less painful healing process.

Every situation is different, though, and I encourage every child of divorce to allow themselves and their parents patience and time to get everything back in order.

If there is one talent that parents are great at, it’s hiding their emotions from their kids.

More likely than not, one’s parents are also heartbroken over all that has happened just as much as, if not more than, any other person.

Valentine’s Day can be a great day for children and their divorced parents if they are allowed the time, given the patience and feel the love from one another.

At the dinner table on Valentine’s Day, take a moment to soak in all that a divorced parent has been through and try to lower any emotional walls you may have so that your parents can feel happy and accepted.

Illustration By diana ortega

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Illustration By aleah green

A tribute to Kobe Bryant Thomas Rodgers

I

Grant Blattman

W

e’ve all done it. We’ve all yelled “Kobe!” as we hit a step-back shot with only a balled-up piece of paper and a trash can. This is only one of the many ways in which Kobe Bryant has impacted the world. I remember when I was only a kid watching Kobe put up jawdropping dunks and fadeaway shots that I could only make in my wildest dreams. I would attempt to imitate these on my toy basketball hoop when I was young. He inspired me to pursue basketball in later years.

Kobe taught me that greatness is not only possible for people that are naturally talented at something, but it’s possible for everyone. Kobe taught me that hard-work and grit is the only way to greatness on the court and in every aspect of life.

It feels like I have not only lost a large piece of my childhood, but a close personal friend.

That is when we know we have lost someone great. My heart hurts for Kobe’s family and friends.

And even though I never met him, Kobe has impacted me in ways that he could never know.

Like mine, Kobe has touched so many lives. Kids all around the world did as I did. He inspired them to work to greatness and attempt the shots that they thought they could never make.

Mamba mentality forever.

t was 2010, the summer of my eighth grade year. I didn’t realize it then, but that would be one of the last summers I’d ever spend with some of my best friends for a long time.

Growing up in south San Diego, I didn’t have much. The San Diego Chargers went 13-3 the season prior, entering the playoffs as the No. 2 seed and had lost to the New York Jets in the divisional round.

A team headed by quarterback Mark Sanchez crushed my hopes of a Super Bowl run.

The Padres went 90-72 that year, which was a huge step up from their previous 2009 season record of 75-87. They were eliminated by a San Francisco Giants team that went on to the World Series that same season.

I was headed to school in the northern part of my town, to a school that was as prestigious as it was expensive. Through some financial aid early on, we decided to try it for a year in the hope I could stick it out. It was better than my district school of San Ysidro High, which in 2009 had a student bring homemade bombs to school as a “prank.” Bombs.

Very funny.

In a time of uncertainty, a time of great change for my younger self, I looked to you.

You had just won a championship the year prior, and with a unlikely crew of guys like Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, who feel like merely footnotes in history a decade later. Then you did it again. That’s when I became a firm believer in the Mamba Mentality.

You taught me the importance of work ethic. You taught me how to give myself to something entirely. You taught me how to remain focused when surrounded by chaos. You gave me the tools to deal with obstacles and the pain that brought me to where I am today.

I cannot thank you enough, and I hope in my own unique way I can always represent the Mamba Mentality in everything I do, too. Thank you, Kobe.

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

Relationships that are far Tess Stafford

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fter spending years in close proximity to loved ones, most NAU students struggle to cope with being distant from those they care about. Whether maintaining a relationship with family, friends or significant others, students explained longdistance relationships require dedication and meaningful effort.

While individuals make the decision to go long-distance for various reasons, some couples have more time to prepare for the change in their relationship than others. Freshman Haylee Emch said she was lucky enough to be able to prepare for her longdistance relationship. She and her partner met in high school but planned to date long-distance from the start.

Emch said her boyfriend had always expressed an interest in the military, which allowed them to plan to be far apart.

Additionally, she explained that her first day of college fell on the first day of boot camp for her boyfriend.

Both college and boot camp kept the two busy, which to Emch made the split easier. However, the couple still experienced some obstacles.

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“It was really hard with just no communication, but now we’re like four months in,” Emch said. “It’s a lot easier [now] because we do have communication and we’ve been figuring it out.”

While Emch’s boyfriend is based in Florida, she said the two have been able to see each other almost every two months. Being apart has allowed both of them to focus on their goals, but it has not changed their connection.

“I was really scared that we were going to change as people, but when we come together it’s just like continuing,” Emch said.

“It’s like nothing has changed. We both have become much better texters since then.”

However, Emch said she has faced difficult times due to her long-distance relationship. Being on a college campus has left her in a sea of couples at times, which can be upsetting as her loved one is on the opposite side of the country.

The physical distance from her partner has been challenging for Emch, she has stuggled with his absence. However, she said the distance has ultimately strengthened their relationship. Emch said that while they have encountered obstacles, she is lucky to have him and they have learned to appreciate their time together.

“Whenever we reunite, we still both get butterflies,” Emch

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said. “You know, when it’s your first few months of dating you have those special feelings. It’s cool because that will never go away, like you’re always excited to see each other.”

When Emch is unable to visit her partner, she said she keeps a journal to document her days. This way, she is able to tell him everything that has happened since they last talked on the phone. To Emch, the process makes it feel as though they have spent the day together.

Although it can be challenging, Emch said long-distance relationships are worth the effort. She said it is important to have a trusting and mature relationship to make it work.

“Just follow your heart and it will overcome the distance,” Emch said.

Similarly, junior Cara Chiappetta has maintained a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend for the past six months. Chiappetta and her boyfriend have been dating for two years but decided to go long-distance after his graduation in May 2019.

After spending nearly every day together, Chiappetta said they were able to try their hand at going long-distance because of the support from their friends and family. She said that having a solid group of friends has helped her get through rough patches, and living with her close friend has allowed her to stay positive.

“I guess we had been dating long enough,” Chiappetta said.

“It had been over a year and it was something that we thought we could do. My parents had done it, and they gave me a lot of advice about long-distance relationships and it worked out for them.”

“I was really scar going to change when we come to like cont

– Freshman H

FEATURES

r apart but close at heart Unlike Emch, Chiappetta has been able to see her boyfriend more frequently, as he lives in Phoenix. She said they take turns driving to their respective cities, which allows them to see each other roughly every two weeks.

Chiappetta said she and her boyfriend have not experienced many difficulties in their relationship since deciding to go long-distance.

She said organization has been a useful tool in keeping the two happy in their relationship.

“There weren’t really many obstacles,” Chiappetta said. “It was just kind of like, setting [up] things that we should be doing, like making sure that we’re setting aside time to talk on the phone or Skype every week.”

While Chiappetta and her boyfriend have been able to maintain their relationship by making plans and visiting each other frequently, she said the distance has still been a major adjustment.

She emphasized the importance of checking in with each other to make sure they are both coping with the distance well.

“The first few weeks are definitely the hardest to get adjusted [to],” Chiappetta said. “If you’re feeling bad at the beginning [or] if you want to work through it, it will get better. I’ve gotten used to it. So, just getting through the first few weeks is going to be hard.”

In addition to romantic relationships, close friendships can also be maintained over long distances. Many NAU students might have a hard time being apart from close friends.

Freshman Morgan Stricklin came to NAU from Las Vegas and her best friend planned to attend as well. However, when

red that we were e as people, but ogether it’s just tinuing. ”

Haylee Emch

plans changed, the two soon realized they would have to live nearly four hours apart.

After five years of friendship, Stricklin said she and her friend were initially upset about the arrangement. However, they soon realized they are not that far apart.

“We talk almost every day [and] we FaceTime at least once a week,” Stricklin said. “There are so many things we can do now that [people] couldn’t do when our parents were in college. So, it’s easier to maintain a friendship from far away.”

Stricklin said she values her relationship and the support she receives from her friend. However, she noted that it is still important to meet new people and develop new relationships.

“It’s hard to make new friends because you try to compare it to what you have already, but you’ve just got to stay open-minded I guess,” Stricklin said. “It’s a new experience and everything. I know I’m always going to have her, so it’s difficult being away. But it’s also nice knowing that foundation is there.”

Stricklin described her experience as an adjustment. She said she has traveled a lot in the past, which has helped her prepare to be far away from her friend. She drives back to Nevada every couple of weeks to make the distance feel shorter.

While leaving home can be daunting, Stricklin said taking the risk has been beneficial in the end. After seeing people from

her hometown drop out just a couple of months into their college careers, she said it is essential to branch out to make the experience of being away from home positive.

“I’ve had my friends go through that. A couple of them have gone out of state and then come back home,” Stricklin said. “I’d say if you don’t try to expand and broaden where you’re at, you’re never really going to leave that area. You want to experience new things and try new things, and it can be really scary but it can also be really fun.”

NAU students agree that moving away from the most important people in their lives can be a challenging adaptation.

For those considering taking the long-distance plunge, the experiences of students provide guidelines for how to make a relationship successful.

Photo Illustration By Shannon Swain

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

Love behind the screen: The Tinder taboo Alliya Dulaney

D

ating can be a beautiful, messy and awkward adventure to embark upon. While dating in the past might have been associated with grand gestures of affection but now dating has been reimagined. Online dating has brought meeting new people into the comfort of one’s phone.

Online dating apps like Tinder have combined the dating life with the digital life. This concept introduces the notion of first appearances, whereby a user swipes right if they have an attraction toward that individual and they swipe left if there is no attraction.

As Tinder stated on its website, a match occurs when both users swipe right on each other, prompting them to then communicate.

Tinder includes customized filters such as age-range and location proximity. With these settings, Tinder provides users an avenue to meet a better match.

Whatever the reason, the use of Tinder acts as a bridge for people, including students, to meet new matches and put themselves out there.

Sophomore Aaron Cox began using Tinder in December 2019 to try something new and see who was available.

“Love is such a powerful and common concept that it makes sense people would invent dating apps almost soon after apps started to become a thing,” Cox said.

While there is a current mentality of stopping the stigma around hookup culture. Tinder appears to have a reputation that makes online dating taboo. Senior Britton Lee was a Tinder user for four months and had been in a relationship for almost two years because of Tinder.

Lee said she told her co-workers about dating someone through Tinder and eventually told her best friend, but she was embarrassed about how she met her partner. Lee told others they met through a mutual friend.

To Lee, one aspect of the Tinder taboo is that users will sometimes not tell family and friends the truth about how they met someone online, as the thought of mentioning online dating can lead some to devalue a relationship.

“I think it’s OK to lie about meeting someone on Tinder if it will help their personal relationships and if their partner is OK with that,” Lee said.

Junior Chloe Staley used Tinder for a few months during her freshman year because her friends convinced her to create an account. Staley said that what typically happens on Tinder begins with simple conversations on the app. Then, users can exchange Snapchat accounts and if the conversation continues, a possible date is in the books.

The presence of generational differences has evolved from a time when stressing about how to talk to a crush has developed to seeking a relationship behind a screen.

“I don’t think my parents would fully understand the concept of Tinder,” Staley said. “If I told my mom I met a guy on Tinder, she’d ask me why I’m on Tinder or if I know that he’s not crazy.

It’s difficult because they don’t understand that it’s the culture of our generation.”

Sophomore Ashley Cornwall-Elysee used Tinder her freshman year and created an account when her friends asked for

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help with their profiles. Cornwall-Elysee said she only lied when it came to telling her parents because Tinder has such a negative stigma, and her parents would not be happy about it.

Another aspect that makes Tinder taboo is what some people see as its ultimate purpose. Staley said there is an overwhelming stigma that Tinder is an app just to hook up with people, and sophomore Grace Kimble, who has had a Tinder account since her freshman year, agreed.

“I think a lot of us are more concerned about our parents and family disapproving of a relationship solely because we met online and not traditionally in person,” Kimble said.

Sophomore James Reed began using Tinder during his senior year of high school.

Reed and some of his friends who had recently turned 18 were bored in a small town and wanted to see who else was on Tinder. Reed said that online dating is about as good as any other method to form a relationship. “ Ti n d e r has a reputation as the Circle K back alley of internet dating,” Reed said. “Not the classiest, but well-trafficked.”

Lee said that matches can act as emotional currency or validation, which can add to Tinder’s reputation of being superficial. People like receiving compliments, and Lee said Tinder can be perceived as superficial due to a lack of genuineness in simply swiping right on someone they find attractive.

Cornwall-Elysee said finding a relationship through Tinder depends on what both people are looking for. There isn’t an issue with starting a relationship with whoever one meets on Tinder. As long as both parties are happy, no one can really judge that.

“I feel [the stigma] has shifted in recent years,” Lee said. “I

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feel a lot more people are comfortable with online dating now than they were even a couple of years ago. I’m not judgmental at all of the people using it.”

As advancements in technology occur, Cox said that it’s becoming necessary to use dating apps, like Tinder, to engage in social romances. There has been a transition into a more digital age over the past generation, and more aspects of life are nearly being forced to become digital, like dating.

“I think it started due to convenience because technology has made it easier for people to connect with one another,” CornwallElysee said. “It’s easier for people to meet people online than to approach someone they see face to face.”

Kimble said to look for people who want to do more than just hook up and play it safe on Tinder, and dating apps in general. Users should make it clear what they’re looking for on the app.

Reed said meeting through Tinder is not a shameful act. Tinder enables individuals to create new relationships in whichever form they desire.

For people with fast lifestyles, Lee said online dating can certainly work or be an outlet to find a relationship.

“I believe dating and engaging in romantic interests at a young age is healthy and I feel there are parents that shame this, kind of like how there is a shame to sex,” Cox said. “Instead of shaming it, we should accept it, be aware of its natural existence, and learn how to be smart and healthy about it.”

Tinder holds many reputations that have individuals questioning the quality of an online relationship.

The idea of being able to meet someone in a nonintimidating environment appeals to young adults and is not as taboo as first appears.

Illustration By Blake Fernandez

FEATURES

Students share tales of their first date fails Camille Sipple

F

irst dates can be the start of a fairy tale, complete with the handsome prince and happy ending. However, for some NAU students, first dates can turn into horror stories.

Senior Kailah Goers said she was very excited to go out with the guy she was all eyes for until he made the date spiral so downhill there was no chance she would go out with him again.

“One time, I was really wine drunk and this guy — who was actually really cute, he knew how to speak Spanish and he was tall and all that stuff — picked me up because he had asked me to go get pizza with him,” Goers said. “We were talking, then we got in the car and he literally just grabbed my face and kissed me so hard that I had a bruise on my lip. He had just shaved his face so he had put aftershave on, but I was allergic to it so I had hives all over my face. Then he asked me on another date and I said no.”

Sophomore Justis Daniels-Bezout said his date also ended in pain, as it eventually landed him in the emergency room.

“My current girlfriend and I had just started seeing each other and we were having an intimate moment,” Daniels-Bezout said. “Come to find out, I had run out of handy-dandy condoms and so we used a condom that was the wrong size. We ended up making a joke about it,

saying, you know, it might cut off circulation.

“It ended up actually cutting off circulation to some of my most precious bits and I ended up having to go to the hospital. They put in a catheter because I couldn’t urinate. Then the catheter got infected.”

Daniels-Bezout said to top it off, the doctors then told him he had a kidney failure because of the catheter infection.

“That was definitely the worst first date I have ever been on,” Daniels-Bezout said. “We’re still together though, so that’s a testament. You can get through it, no matter how bad it is.”

While freshman Jillian Eckman’s date didn’t end in physical pain, she experienced a Tinder date gone wrong when instead of sweet words, she got underhanded insults from her match.

“I met him on Tinder and I was having a really bad night, so I was like ‘maybe you shouldn’t come over,’ and he was like ‘no, I’m coming over anyway,’” Eckman said.

Frustrated with him, Eckman said she asked her date why he chose to go over to her place instead of another girl he might have matched with. He then told her that he liked broken girls and proceeded to criticize her throughout the date.

“Then in the morning, he told me that I should start working out,” Eckman said. “Then he blocked me on everything.”

Illustrations By Aleah Green

The Tinder date horrors continued when junior Xavier Lyas was terribly catfished despite his precautions with the dating app.

“There was this one time I matched with this girl on Tinder and she looked fine as hell,” Lyas said. “So, I started talking to her and everything was smooth. I asked for her Snapchat because you have to always ask for Snapchat, or her number if you want to FaceTime, because I always want to make sure that the person is real.

“I got her Snapchat and sent her a snap of my face saying ‘what’s good’ and she hit me with not a face snap, but just like a picture of something else.

“I kept snapping her throughout the day and she would never just send me a snap of her face,” Lyas continued. “So, I literally asked her, ‘Hey, can you send me a picture of your face?’ And it was like, ‘Oh, I don’t have makeup on.’

‘Oh, I don’t look good right now.’ This and that.”

After a few days of talking, Lyas said he decided he should try to meet up with his match. So, the two planned to meet at the University Union.

“I gave her a spot and she snapped me where exactly she was at,” Lyas said. “So, I pull up to the Union and I know exactly where she’s at and this girl looks

absolutely nothing like her picture at all. Like night and day. I looked at her [and] was like ‘OK, that’s for sure not her’ and just walked away.

“I just deleted her off Snapchat because she catfished me. That’s just unacceptable.”

For senior Bre Smith, the problem wasn’t the person she was on the date with, it was their choice of food that sent their first date into chaos.

“So, I went on a date with a guy I was friends with in high school,” Smith said. “It was after high school and he took me to TGI Friday’s [and it was] really romantic. He ordered a shrimp pasta dish.

“I’m looking down at my food, talking and it’s time for him to respond. I look up and he is choking on a shrimp. So, I went, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re choking!’ And he throws it up back onto his plate and so I’m panicking. I start handing him napkins.”

Smith said her date decided they should leave after the episode, so the two awkwardly left the restaurant, thus putting an end to a bad date.

Dates gone wrong seems to be a rite of passage for some students regardless of how they met the person they went out with. Although bad dates may be unavoidable, it can eventually make a for a good story.

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

Pet love is a bond like no other Alyssa Schultze

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any celebrate Valentine’s Day with their loved ones to appreciate the special relationships they have. For some students, that relationship is with their pets. Their furry, feathery or even scaly friends are who they turn to in times of need, which leads owners to have a very special bond with their pets.

Freshman Lauren Phelan owns a goldfish named Superfish.

Even though the fish has been in her family for five years, she has only owned him for a few months. Before Superfish came into her family, he was owned by someone else and when her family took him in, he was already a few years old. She said she named him Superfish because goldfish typically don’t live as long as him. Phelan said she loves her Superfish because of his unique personality.

“He zooms around his bowl and he talks,” Phelan said. “He will swim up to the top of the water and gulp at it so it makes noise. He plays with the rocks. He splashes water at me when he’s mad. He has so much personality for a little fish.”

Phelan said she always wanted a fish for herself, and when her sister was deciding to get rid of Superfish, she knew she had to adopt him.

A goldfish can really be a woman’s best friend, as Phelan said having Superfish around is enjoyable because he helps her relieve stress. She said she enjoys talking to her fish in moments of loneliness and even though he doesn’t respond, she still loves having him around.

“I love this fish to pieces,” Phelan said. “If anything were to happen to this fish, I would have to take several mental health days. I would be so torn. I don’t think I’ll ever find a fish with as much personality as he has.”

Phelan isn’t the only one who has a lot of love for her pet.

Freshman Riley Boltz adores her leopard gecko, Peaches. Boltz owns three leopard geckos but decided to bring Peaches to NAU because she wanted an emotional support animal. Boltz said said she and Peaches take care of each other.

Boltz said Peaches suffered head trauma when he was little and was blind for a while. She said she noticed something was different when she first saw him at PetSmart. Boltz knew she couldn’t let him be put down, so she took him home.

“I got a discount, but I fell in love with him just because he was so tiny and pink,” Boltz said.

When considering getting an emotional support animal, Boltz said she was planning on getting a dog, but couldn’t think of leaving Peaches behind.

“Realistically, I love him more than anything in the world,” Boltz said. “He’s just one of those constants that’s there when there is overwhelming stuff going on, whenever there is a fight with friends or relationship problems. He’s just there to give me little kisses on my finger and scream at me when he wants to go to bed.”

Similar to Boltz, senior Haley Brady also owns an exotic pet, a parakeet, Luna. Brady owned a bird when she was younger and when she was in search of her next pet, she wanted another

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Senior Ariel Daniel and her bird, Mordecai, Feb. 8. Morgan Fisher | The Lumberjack

parakeet.

When Brady went to pet stores, she said she knew Luna was the bird for her because of her unique coloring. Luna’s yellow feathers, with white coloring on her neck, were so attractive that Brady said she had to adopt her.

Brady explained how, over time, her bond with Luna grew into a special love because of the trust they had to establish from the beginning. She said birds can take a while before they warm up to their owners, so Brady had to put effort into her relationship with Luna.

“I think it’s very rewarding because with a lot of other animals it doesn’t take as long to build trust, like with a cat or a dog,” Brady said. “But with birds, they’re very smart and it takes them a long time to trust their owner, so it’s just kind of a rewarding thing. It took a long time for her to love me, but I loved her right away.”

Brady said whenever someone gets a pet, it’s a commitment, especially for parakeets because they can live up to 10 years.

Despite the commitment, she said they aren’t too hard to care for.

Tending to Luna is fun for Brady because of Luna’s personality, which is one of the traits she loves most about her.

“She’s a drama queen,” Brady said. “It’s kind of funny, she just has such a big personality. I think I like that about her, she’s not boring. She is very sassy.”

Sophomore Leanne Brodie is the owner of an eight-monthold black cat. She named her Calici because when she got the cat, she found out she had feline calicivirus, which causes respiratory infection and oral disease in cats.

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Brodie said she has owned Calici for two months and that she loves having the cat around. When she went to the Coconino Humane Association to pick her out, Brodie said she knew she had to adopt Calici because of the way the cat acted when they first met.

“When I opened [the cage] up, she kind of backed away and she was really like standoffish toward me at first,” Brodie said. “I started scratching the back of her neck and then she got super into it. When I closed her cage, she came right up to the door and started sticking her paws through it and trying to reach me. I knew that she was the one I was taking home with me.”

Brodie owned cats before Calici, but said none have been quite like her. She said Calici is spunky and knocks items over in her room. She said it is worth it for other people to adopt cats, especially if they can put the time and effort into owning one.

Even though the relationship Brodie has with Calici is still new, she loves having her around because she enjoys just sitting back and observing her. “[Our love is] definitely still growing, that’s for sure,” Brodie said. “She is not the most cuddly cat in the world because she has so much energy. She’s constantly bouncing around. I do love her a lot, but it definitely is growing more every day.”

These students agreed that the love they have for their pets is unlike any other love, as it involves taking care of an animal that communicates so differently than humans. With time, though, the bond between an owner and their pet can be unbreakable.

FEATURES

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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CULTURE

What to do with a boo this Valentine’s Day Lisa Hall

Five romantic movies for a special holiday

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ith Valentine’s Day coming up, I keep thinking about all the romantic movies I have seen throughout my life. I’m a sucker for romance movies, even the cheesy Hallmark movies with predictable endings. If you’re spending this Valentine’s Day alone, with friends or a significant other, here are my top five romantic movies to watch: 5. “After” (2019) “After” is a movie based on a popular Harry Styles fan fiction made on Wattpad, an internet community for creating stories. After becoming popular on the website, books were published and the movie was announced. “After” follows a studious college freshman, Tessa Young, who meets the rebellious NAYOMI GARCIA Hardin Scott. My 13-year-old self was amazed to see a fan fiction I was obsessed with become a movie.

ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR Despite the cliches in “After,” it is a go-to movie if you’re looking for something fun to watch.

4. “Call Me by Your Name” (2017) This movie is absolutely beautiful. The location, cinematography, acting and soundtrack make “Call Me by Your Name” such a stunning movie. It follows young Elio Perlman as he is spending the summer at his family’s home in Italy. His father hosts an intern, Oliver, for the summer, and Elio begins to develop feelings for him. Even though this isn’t a typical romance movie due to its explicit sexual content, it is a movie I highly recommend. “Call Me by Your Name” shows how fragile having feelings for somebody can be and the fragility that comes with a new relationship.

3. “Mamma Mia!” (2008) Get ready to jam to ABBA throughout this movie, which floods the soundtrack. Set on a beautiful Greek island, Sophie is getting ready for her wedding in Greece. She invites three men from her mother’s past because she thinks one of them must be her father, and she wants her father to walk her down the aisle. This movie will make you want to break out in dance each time the characters sing iconic hits from the Swedish supergroup.

2. “La La Land” (2016) This movie follows Sebastian, a jazz musician, and Mia, an aspiring actress, as they fall in love while chasing their dreams in Los Angeles. As they get closer to achieving their goals, Sebastian and Mia realize that their careers are pulling them apart from one another. What makes this movie so wonderful is the soundtrack. It features classical and jazz music that makes the movie more vibrant, as we see Sebastian and Mia’s relationship grow.

1. “Dirty Dancing” (1987) You’ll have the time of your life watching “Dirty Dancing.” This classic ’80s film follows the intelligent protagonist, Baby, as she spends her summer at a resort in the Catskill Mountains during the ’60s. I love the ’60s and this movie makes me feel like I was teleported back to this time period. The movie features nostalgic music from the ’60s and ’80s, as a newfound summer romance develops. Even though Baby and Johnny’s romance only lasts a summer, it gives hope that a romance like theirs can occur whenever.

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alentine’s Day is a special holiday dedicated to celebrating love and happiness. Figuring out the right way to spend the holiday with a special someone can be a difficult process. Trying to figure out the best restaurant, activity or gift with all the available options can be overwhelming, all while trying to avoid cliches.

If on a budget this year, there are still plenty of activities to do in Flagstaff that are free and perfect for Valentine’s Day. For outdoor dwellers, Flagstaff has numerous hiking trails with varying difficulty levels.

Ti m o t h y Carlson, CEO for Hike the Planet!, ranked the best trails in Flagstaff.

Hike the Planet! is a website dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts, produces content that reviews backpacking gear and posts articles about hiking.

According to the article, Fatman’s Loop Trail is an easy-to-moderate 2.5-mile trail through a mixture of desert and coniferous forests. Kendrick Peak Illustration By Tonesha Yazzie Trail is a more difficult hike, taking a 4.5-mile trail each way. This trail is similar to the San Francisco Peaks, as hikers traverse the San Francisco volcanic field, but this hike will most likely have less traffic due to the difficulty.

Another easy and very romantic hike could be the Lava River Cave, with just under 2 miles of hiking roundtrip. Though this hike takes more preparation and research before embarking due to conditions in the caves, Carlson stated on his website that it may be one of the most interesting hikes in or around the city.

A way to make hikes even more special and romantic on Valentine’s Day could be to bring a picnic to share

with a significant other. Sit at the apex of a mountain, enjoy a breathtaking view and replenish the energy lost from the grueling trek.

Provided one has the budget and is looking to splurge on their significant other, flowers are one of the most simple, but effective ways to make someone feel special.

Sutcliffe Floral has been serving Flagstaff locals for over 75 years and was dubbed by the Arizona Daily Sun as the best florist in town in 2019. The shop was also awarded this title for 15 consecutive years, from 2002 to 2016.

Jordan Pynes is an arrangement designer and manager at Sutcliffe Floral and encourages Flagites to shop local this Valentine’s Day. Flowers are a lovely sentiment to give someone to show they are special. When buying flowers, picking the right bouquet can be difficult because there are so many options to choose from.

“People should know that you should always order through your local florist and not an online company,” Pynes said.

“You’re going to get way better service and way better product if you order locally. I would recommend a designer’s c h o i c e arrangement, and that’s when you let the designer choose the arrangement with what they think would look best.

Basically, we’re not having to copy a picture, and you get something unique and special every time.”

Although this is her personal recommendation, the classic dozen red roses is one of the most popular arrangements for Valentine’s Day, along with sunflowers and wildflowers. Pynes also discussed addons for offered arrangements, such as chocolate, balloons and jewelry. She added that Sutcliffe Floral also offers a discount on house plants to NAU students and faculty.

If one is looking to relax with their significant other this Valentine’s Day, getting a couples massage could be sufficient. Cheyanne Cuevas, front desk associate at Massage Envy, said that she recommends couples massages this holiday.

“Our couples massages are a great way to bond because

CULTURE it gives both of you an opportunity to relax in the same room.

We have add-ons with our lotions for different enhancements, our environment is also very calming as you can adjust the table warmers, lighting and music volume,” Cuevas said. “To book, we base on what customers want individually, a deeper or lighter pressure, to customize your own personal massage to do together.”

Cuevas also discussed how accommodating Massage Envy is for their customers, especially students, because they open at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. They do bookings online to make it easier for busy people to schedule massages and offer student discounts for their membership option.

Relaxing with a significant other can be a nice way to bond

and create a special memory that will last forever. Senior Taylor Tonge spent her last few holidays in town. She said that spending Valentine’s Day in Flagstaff in the past has been sort of a nostalgic time. Tonge has been dating her boyfriend for two years and in the past they have opted for a more low-key, conventional celebration.

“We went to Chili’s,” Tonge said. “That’s where we go for most of our date nights, so it was pretty nostalgic.”

Tonge plans on spending her Valentine’s Day a little different this year. She plans to spend this year’s holiday at Cornish Pasty Co., a restaurant and bar downtown that could be a fun way to spend the holiday.

An option for couples of drinking age could be an event hosted by the Granite Creek Vineyards, in Chino Valley, Arizona, called Valentine’s at the Vineyard. The event takes place over Valentine’s Day weekend, Friday through Sunday, running from noon to 5 p.m. The vineyard offers wine tasting, live music, complimentary desserts and entrees for purchase.

Aim to make this Valentine’s Day even more special than the last by trying some of these suggestions. Show that special someone how much they really mean and celebrate one another, together.

Celebrating Valentine’s day without romantic love and lust Olivia Charlson

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veryone wants someone to love this Valentine’s Day — or maybe they do not.

In a society that is gradually becoming more open and representative of different sexualities, there are still some groups that are not discussed enough. Asexual and aromantic people illustrate that love and lust do not have to go hand-in-hand. Society may want to cuddle up to the idea that sexuality is different for everyone and heteronormativity needs to make like last week’s flowers and die so that new ideologies can bloom.

Valentine’s Day inspires many people to buy cheap chocolates, expensive lingerie and to prepare for a special night with friends or a partner. While all of this can be fun and exciting, Valentine’s Day does not have to be limited to a sexual or romantic love to still be fun.

According to Merriam-Webster, a definition for asexuality is not having a sexual desire for other people and a definition for aromantic is the act of experiencing no romantic attraction toward others. While these definitions give a basic summary of the sexualities, these identities are more complicated and vary between each person.

Freshman Asher Robinson identifies as asexual. While Robinson still feels romantic feelings, he does not feel any sexual attraction to people. Robinson said Valentine’s Day is cool because it is a day to feel special for those who may not always have the chance to. He said he uses it for friends and platonic activities.

Robinson said he is a bi-romantic asexual, so he is interested in all genders, just not sexually.

“Asexual can mean a lot of different things,” Robinson said. “Asexuality is a spectrum just like any other sexuality. You can have some but you don’t have to have all of it, like demisexual where you only feel attraction after you have a

connection with people. Some people can be more sex-positive, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have sex, it means that you don’t have sexual attraction.

Robinson said it can be hard to tell the difference between a platonic crush and a romantic crush at the beginning of a new connection because it is based on their personality and not physical attraction.

He said that everyone experiences their own sexualities differently and that all are valid.

Asexuality and aromanticism are two forms of sexuality that are just gaining representation in the media, but are underrepresented in general.

Characters who are asexual make appearances in Netflix shows such as “Sex Education” and “Bojack Horseman,” but there are little to no aromantic characters, and both identities in the media are few and far between.

Meredith Heller, NAU lecturer and undergraduate program coordinator for women’s and gender studies, said that some shows use queerbaiting, a tactic to pull in queer audiences without actually confirming a character is queer.

This can happen a lot with characters showing signs of asexuality, but still not representing that identity. Heller said that even a bad representation can have power, and there are currently no representatives for aces — those who identify as asexual.

“I don’t think bad representation is great. But seeing yourself, and others, and knowing that you are not alone and that others exist around you is really important,” Heller said. “I think that is why it is really important to represent ace communities more so we don’t just say these people are frigid, or these people need to have more sex, but we say this is real and you exist. I think it is very hard for people to say I exist and I am here. It is

something that people have had to do in minority categories again and again, so while it continues to be a hard fight, it is not a new fight.”

This is a concept many people in the LGBTQ+ community agree with, including Marian Griffin, the adviser for the People Respecting Individuals and Sexual Minorities organization (PRISM) and the LGBTQ+ student services adviser in the Office of Inclusion. Griffin said a lot of parents’ reactions when their child comes out is to question how they would know because they have not been with anyone yet. She said that being heterosexual is the expectation and the norm in society.

“There is an assumption that if you’re asexual you don’t want to have any close romantic relationships, but you can be asexual and still be in romantic relationships,” Griffin said. “There are different ways to be attracted to people, and if we look at it and if we look at ourselves, we can feel it to varying degrees. The only way to express love and the only way to express that kind of care is not just through sex.

There are romantic relationships, friendships and aromantic folks as well.”

Heteronormativity is not going anywhere for a long time but the more society accepts all gender preferences and sexual identities, the more society can move toward an inclusive future.

Valentine’s Day can be commercialized, it can be overly sexual and it can be exclusionary to a lot of parties. One’s way of looking at it can make all the difference though. Valentine’s Day can be about love, it can be about close friends and it can be about sex. If one wants Valentine’s Day to be about lounging around in underwear and eating pizza, so be it. The heart wants what it wants.

Illustration By Shelsey Braswell

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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CULTURE

Illustrations By Aleah Green

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CULTURE

Captivated by the kitchen Katelyn Rodriguez

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ooking is a fundamental part of everyday life. Everyone cooks in some way or another, whether it be an elaborate, gourmet breakfast or microwaving a TV dinner. However, some individuals have had a passion for cooking from a young age and find immense joy in sharing their love of food with others around them through the dishes they create.

Senior hotel and restaurant management major Connie Rasmussen has been cooking since she was a child. Her grandmother taught her the ins and outs of southern homestyle cooking at a young age, showing her how to cook a variety of foods such as chicken-fried steak and mashed potatoes. Rasmussen said her grandmother served as her main culinary inspiration. Rasmussen did not realize she had a passion for the craft until she took a culinary class in high school.

“When I was getting ready to graduate from high school, I didn’t know what to do with my life,” Rasmussen said. “I had a culinary teacher and she suggested that I go to school for [hotel and restaurant management]. I didn’t even know that was a thing so that led me [to NAU] and I’ve learned so much. Cooking is such an integral part of my life, it’s such a relaxing thing to do.”

Although Rasmussen tends to stick to homestyle cooking, she said she also enjoys venturing out into other styles like Italian. She prefers to cook for big crowds instead of just one or two people, however, Rasmussen’s go-to date night dish to make for herself and her boyfriend is steak and potatoes. She said her boyfriend is always open to trying her crazy recipes and that it is nice to have a test subject who trusts her ability.

Every Sunday, Rasmussen sits down and plans her menu for the week before going shopping for the necessary ingredients. She also said

she tends to cook more if it is cold outside or if she is having a bad day.

“I’m a huge believer in comfort food if I’m having a bad day,” Rasmussen said. “I’m probably going to go home and cook something that’s deep-fried or mac and cheese. It’s the best comfort food and I love making that. So, if it’s cold outside or I’m having a bad time, you can bet I’ll be in the kitchen.”

Mark Molinaro, a chef and hotel and restaurant management senior lecturer, has been teaching at NAU for six years. Before coming to NAU, Molinaro was a chef at a culinary school, as well as for both the RitzCarlton Hotel Company and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

Molinaro said his mother had a big influence on him when it came to cooking because he was used to seeing her in the kitchen when he was a child. However, he said his main influence came from watching chefs on TV. “I think [the inspiration came] when I began to watch some of the old PBS shows,” Molinaro said. “Just watching Julia Child and Jacques Pépin, those two got me excited about thinking that I could actually do this for a living.”

He decided he wanted to test a cooking career after hiking the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and cooking for other hikers in youth hostels along the way. When he got back, he worked for Omni Hotels & Resorts, where a chef took Molinaro under his wing and encouraged him to go to culinary school, which he did. It was thereafter that he worked for the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons hotels.

Molinaro’s cooking style is rooted in French technique because that is how he was taught. He also puts cultural considerations into place when he is cooking, since there are many ways to cook in different cultures. Molinaro also said if he could only cook one dish for the rest of his life, it would be risotto because

Photo IllustrationS By Michael Patacsil

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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Photo Illustrations By Michael Patacsil

the process helps him focus on what he is doing, while also teaching him to work in an organized and timely way.

Molinaro said he believes in the idea that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach because of the way food is prepared with one’s hands, as well as with care, love and thoughtfulness.

“I believe you can touch people through food,” Molinaro said. “Food is so intimate. I don’t know any other art form that someone takes inside their body and it becomes a part of their molecular structure. That is very intimate, and I’m very honored and have a strong sense

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of responsibility as a chef to take that seriously.”

When it comes to teaching, Molinaro said his favorite part is interacting with his students to make the learning playful and relevant to them.

He said he is very fortunate to teach something people do daily and to give his students skills they will use for the rest of their lives Senior hotel and restaurant management major Nikolas Aguilar first started cooking when he was around 11 years old. He said his interest in the craft stemmed from his great grandfather who was an executive chef, one that has a leadership role in a kitchen. Aguilar realized it was a passion of his after his mother put him

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and his older brother in charge of dinners every other week over the summer.

“I was always trying new things and making fancier recipes, where my brother was doing easy ones,” Aguilar said. “I think that’s what kind of sparked it was me discovering it then.”

Aguilar continued his passion for cooking by attending high school at the Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology in Reno, Nevada, which focused on advanced technical education.

Similar to Rasmussen, Aguilar’s cooking style has its roots in comfort food because that’s what his mother would make when he was young. Aguilar said he loves cooking because of the way it can make someone find joy. He also said seeing the smile on someone’s face after eating something he made is the best feeling.

Aguilar said his cooking style depends on his mood, what the weather is like outside or what sounds tasty to him that day.

“If there’s a day where I’m super happy then I’ll go home and cook,” Aguilar said. “If I’m super stressed or worried about something, cooking is something I can do to take my mind

off of it and help me relax.”

Aguilar studied abroad in Bilbao, Spain for a semester and said it was the easiest way for him to go to Europe while still studying for his Spanish minor simultaneously. He said the food was his favorite part because he was in Basque Country, an autonomous community of Spain, which is world-renowned for its seafood. He also said he enjoys trying different cuisines and he hopes to one day try every type of food out there.

In addition to teaching students the skills and values of cooking and hospitality, the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management holds various events. These events include Savvy Soups and Pasta Palooza, where students run their own restaurants for the day and make a wide variety of soups and pasta dishes from scratch for guests to try.

Whether one finds joy in cooking or simply does it to put food in their stomach, it is an essential tool to life and is unique to many ethnicities and cultures.

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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SPORTS

NASCAR devotion

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t’s the most wonderful time of the year.

From the roar of 40 engines zooming by at 200 miles per hour, the smell of fuel burning and rubber coming off the tires, to the new coats of fresh paint being wrapped around the cars, it can only mean one thing: NASCAR is back.

This Sunday, the Daytona 500 takes place and I could not be more excited.

Racing is a sport I grew up watching as religiously as I would basketball, football or baseball. It’s one of the main aspects of my life that has made me who I am now and the sport that people identify me with the most.

I love all sports. There is not a single sport on this planet I dislike, but I have a special connection with racing that I don’t CAMERON RICHARDSON have with any other sport.

I’ve been watching NASCAR and ASSISTANT EDITOR going to races since I was 2 years old. I was lucky enough to live near the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, where the speedway hosted one race per year, and I have to say that NASCAR provides the best in-person experience for a sports fan.

There’s nothing like the majestic view of a racetrack in person. The size of a track alone is enough to make your jaw drop. If you pick the right seat, you don’t miss anything. You can see pit road, the backstretch of the track and every intricate detail of the infield that gives fans an up-close look at the cars and the crews that work on them.

NASCAR gives fans the most interactive experiences at a race. You can purchase passes that get you into the infield of a race facility. When inside, you get to walk around the garage area where you can check out cars from every series. You can watch cars enter and exit the track for practice and you can get autographs from your favorite drivers just hours prior to a race.

There are two reasons why I love this sport unconditionally.

First, NASCAR drivers do not isolate themselves from the fans. Whenever they have a chance to make themselves available for photos or autographs, they are there. You don’t get that often from the top NBA, NFL or MLB stars. It makes them feel human rather than a deity.

Second, NASCAR fans rarely have negative interactions with each other. At an NBA game, there are always those fans that make themselves look bad and try to pick fights with other fans because they are rooting for opposing teams. From my experiences, I have never had a fan tell me that I am in the wrong because of who I rooted for. Also, you never see NASCAR fan fights uploaded to YouTube unlike some NFL or MLB games.

NASCAR gets a lot of negative glares from sports fans but it’s time to take a step back from your perceptions and give it a shot. There’s no better time to get into NASCAR than Sunday with the Daytona 500.

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Former devensive back Wes Sutton signals the defense in the third qurter of the game against the University of North Dakota Nov. 17, 2018 at the Walkup Skydome. Maria Saldivar | The Lumberjack

A love that cannot be matched David Church

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ove for a person is understandable, but love for a sport can be confusing to some people. Similar to love between two people, a love for sports is built on an emotional connection and attachment. Non-sports fans may look at an individual with a tattoo of their favorite sports team logo as crazy, but others could see it as a sign of passion and loyalty.

Athletes are no different. Most of them have dedicated their lives to playing the sport of their choice, whether they have played that sport their whole life, or if it was love at first sight when they grew older.

Sophomore Zachry Friday, a goalie for the NAU Division III IceJacks Hockey club, started skating when he was just a child and soon found his passion for the sport, as well as learning valuable life lessons from it.

“At the time, I chose to play hockey back when I was about 11 or 12. It seemed like a fun sport to play,” Friday said. “Hockey opened my eyes and taught me hard work and dedication pays off over time. Every time I enter a rink dressed in my gear, I see a reflection of what I’ve learned over time and how all that brought together makes me who I am today.”

Often, sports can play a pivotal role in teaching athletes respect, work ethic and a drive to complete a goal.

While some athletes’ love for their sport can be found on their own, others developed a fondness for a game based on family ties. This was the scenario for NAU junior Eric Friedl, an outfielder on the NAU Club Baseball team. He discovered baseball through his brother.

“I decided to play baseball because my older brother played and it has been in my family for years,” Friedl said. “I have always loved baseball and always will.”

SPORTS Friedl expressed his love for his favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“My favorite sports team is the Diamondbacks because they are my home team,” Friedl said. “I have so many great memories going to D-backs games with family and friends.”

Sports that athletes fall in love with do not have to be the only aspect they discover from family. Their favorite sports teams can come from family cheering on a certain team.

Former NAU defensive back Wes Sutton explained how his choice of a favorite football team was influenced at a young age by his father.

“My favorite sports team is the New York Giants. I like them because my dad was a big fan, and I grew up watching them and hearing my dad cheer for them, so I hopped on the bandwagon as a young kid and it stuck ever since.” Sutton said.

“They’re my favorite because of the influence my dad has on me and how much I look up to him, so I naturally gravitated toward whatever he liked, sports-wise, growing up.”

Friday also discussed his favorite hockey teams, the Los Angeles Kings and Las Vegas Golden Knights, as well as his chosen team in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sutton and Friday are examples of finding the sport they love from their families. For Sutton though, it is about keeping the love for the sport alive, but in a professional sense. He is a member of the New York Guardians of the XFL, a newly resurfaced professional football league that takes place in the spring.

“I decided to play football because I grew up around it being in my family and always loved the competition that came with it,” Sutton said. “I love the sport.”

Various men and women have a love for playing music or for writing, but athletes have a love for competition and performing at the highest level, whether that be on the field, court or on the ice.

“I think people have so much affection for their sport because it makes them compete and drives them to accomplish certain goals,” Freidl said.

For athletes, love for sports is

NAU Club Baseball team comes together to celebrate after a win. Photo courtesy of the NAU Club Baseball team

not just a hobby, it is, in some ways, a way of life. For sports fans, there is nothing better than going out to the ballpark, or heading to a giant football stadium to see their favorite team play, where they feel the energy of being surrounded by like-minded people who have a shared love for sports.

Sports fans can also have an affection for a sport because of their previous history playing the sport.

Watching and being a fan of a sport that they once played can bring back wonderful memories. Sutton said this is the case for him.

“It can come from missing the sport they once played,” Sutton said.

“It gives them a sense of regained connection to the sport through the team they’re rooting for.”

Whether it be a love for sports or love for another activity, they all have something in common. They bring happiness and joy to the people that partake in them.

Many individuals view sports

as going out, being active and participating in an activity that brings delight. It can be heavenly just to step on a field, diamond or court. It’s one point to go out there and compete for their teammates and the fans, but others want to go out there and play for the love of the game.

FEBRUARY 13, 2020 – FEBRUARY 19, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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SPORTS

Married to the game while dating Sean clark

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laying sports, whether in little league, high school, college or professionally, can be a fun experience. Players get to travel to different places, form bonds with different teammates throughout their lives and most of them get to do something they enjoy.

However, it is a huge time commitment for athletes. According to an article in Business Insider, the NCAA restricts practice time to 20 hours a week, but even so, some student-athletes can practice up to 30 or 40 hours a week. Even athletes at the club level can spend anywhere between four to 10 hours a week with practice, team meetings, traveling and playing games each week. Moreover, both club and NCAA athletes must spend a lot of personal time working out and staying in shape so they can perform their best.

NAU Club Baseball junior catcher Nick Malcolm said he can spend up to 10 hours a week playing with his club team.

All this activity forces athletes to prioritize what is truly

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important and manage their time well. This goes for relationships, too.

Sports and relationships in life can be great but are time consuming, especially when grinding through college life. When a studentathlete has a relationship, athletics and school to deal with, problems can arise. According to the Arizona Board of Regents policy, for every credit hour, students usually spend at least one hour of class time and an hour on schoolwork outside of class. A typical semester sees a student taking 15 credits, which means about 30 hours a week for class time and schoolwork.

This can add stress to an athlete’s relationship, as they spend a lot of time at practice and are away for at least a day when a team travels for away games. While club sports may not be as time consuming as NCAA student-athletes, the time committed to them can still be a strain.

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Junior Nick Ligocki, a defenseman for the NAU Division II IceJacks Hockey club, has been in a relationship for four years and got engaged in 2019. He gives his perspective on being in a relationship as an athlete. He said it can be tough balancing both responsibilities.

“Sometimes it is challenging to keep up with hockey and a relationship,” Ligocki said.

“Playing hockey means skating multiple times a week and staying in shape off the ice, so that takes up a lot of time.”

While the IceJacks have multiple practices scheduled each week, players must spend extra time working out at the gym and practice skating.

Even with the time commitments involved, having a relationship can provide benefits for student-athletes.

“I think the best part of it is having a support system at home,” Ligocki said. “We have lived together for the last few years, so it is nice to be able to come home to family.

Being from the suburbs of Chicago, it is a lot for my parents to be able to travel here, so knowing that I have someone at home who will help me if I am hurt or not playing well is a huge support to have.”

While that is a positive aspect for Ligocki, there also are negatives that can be challenging to deal with.

“I think the worst part about it is the road trips,” Ligocki said. “We are engaged and we have two dogs at home with us, so in our way, we have our little family. Sometimes it is tough to go on the trips knowing I am leaving them at home alone, but even then, it is still nice that wherever we go Illustration By Amy czachowski they still gather around the TV and watch whatever game it is we have that day.”

This is an issue that athletes in relationships can struggle with, as leaving those they are closest to can be challenging. However, having

a support system is helpful during the grind of the season.

There are different ways to manage the stress and time of relationships. Even athletes without relationships can give some advice to those that are struggling with this issue. Malcolm offered advice on how he would assist an athlete in a relationship to deal with problems they may be facing.

“I would tell them to try and have good communication with their significant other,” Malcolm said. “Also, try and spend time with them when possible, because it is good to have some down time.”

Ligocki shared his experiences with being in a relationship while on the club hockey team, and ways he handled the two.

“The best way I have found to manage the two is to keep them mostly separated,” Ligocki said. “If I have a tough day at hockey, I make sure to forget about it by the time I get home so she doesn’t have to hear about it, and the same for hockey. If I am stressed out at home, I make sure to not let it bother me at the rink so that way I can make sure I am at my best for home and hockey.”

While it can be stressful to keep up with relationships and sports, on top of completing 120 credits to graduate, there are ways to juggle it all.

However, it doesn’t always work out.

Marcus Alford, a former NAU defensive back, explained how difficult being in a relationship can be, while also being a college athlete.

Although the relationship ended, he learned how to navigate both the life of a college athlete and the life of being a boyfriend.

“It was tough to keep my girlfriend satisfied with the attention she needed through doing (it) long distance,” Alford said. “My schedule was crazy, and she always wanted to be on the phone since we weren’t physically together. I had teammates in relationships, and they had the same problem as me and none of us ended our college careers with that same girlfriend.”

Although it is challenging, athletes advise that the best ways to juggle sports, school and a relationship are to cut out aspects that can get in the way of what is important and keep those commitments separate to get the most out of them.

Men’s tennis aces through Western New Mexico

Top Left: Men’s tennis gathers together before facing off against Western New Mexico University, Feb. 9. Bottom Left: Sophomore Mikael Purne reacts after scoring a point in his single’s match against Western New Mexico University’s Shaurya Piplani, Feb. 9. Right: Freshman Joachim Schaefer serves the ball over his doubles partner, sophomore Daniel Dillon, Feb. 9.

Michael Patacsil | The Lumberjack

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