T H E L U M BE R JACK
FEB. 18 - FEB. 24, 2016
j ail n urses PAGE 13
Online at JackCentral.org
From the Editor
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his past week, while many people were taking care of their Valentine’s Day plans, both of the club hockey teams closed out their seasons. The Division II Icejacks fell to the Arizona State Sun Devils in a high-scoring and competitive matchup at the Jay Lively Activity Center. With the Icejacks down 5–4 as the game wound down, the Sun Devils clinched the game with an empty-net goal. The Division III team won both of their matchups against Air Force Academy this weekend and sent their seniors out on a winning note. The track and field program enjoyed another successful weekend, hosting the NAU Invite Feb. 12-13. Many Lumberjacks continue to qualify for conference as the Big Sky Conference Indoor Championships draw closer. Unfortunately, men’s and women’s basketball dropped both of their matchups this past weekend, but each team keeps improving as ZACH ASHTON the season goes on and the Big Sky Tournament approaches. This year, SPORTS EDITOR every team in the conference, seeds one through 12, will be playing. In the Sports section this week, Niki DeShazo talks about her experience being a member of NAU’s Quidditch team the past few weeks and how it has changed her. The News section covers NAU’s addition of new buses to its fleet, as well as an update on an ISIS member who helped hold humanitarian aide worker and NAU alumna Kayla Mueller hostage in Iraq. The story on Kayla Mueller also gives information on a playground the city of Prescott is building in her honor. In the Culture section, our staff takes a look into the life of Laura Elam, a nurse at the Coconino County jail, and how she goes about her day-to-day life. In the Opinion section, our staff gives their outlook on Black History Month and voter apathy in the United States. This week’s paper should be a good one like always.
Thank you for reading.
LJ
T HE LUM BE R JACK VOL 102 ISSUE 21
Creative Director Mitchell Forbes
Managing Editor Grace Fenlason
Faculty Advisors Peter Friederici Jennifer Swanson
Phone: (928) 523-4921 Fax: (928) 523-9313
lumberjack@nau.edu P.O. Box 6000 Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Web Editor Jasmyn Wimbish
News Editor Scott Buffon Assoc. News Editor Amy Owings Sports Editor Zach Ashton Illustration Editor Alanna Secrest
Communinty members fill the City Council chambers at City Hall Feb. 16. BY ADRIAN SKABELUND
About 185 individuals attended the Flagstaff City Council meeting Feb. 16 where Core Campus presented their application to build a five-story student housing project between Mikes Pike Street and Phoenix Avenue. The application from Core Campus was brought to the council after its approval by the Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission in a special meeting Feb. 3. Due to the amount of public interest in the issue, the council decided to postpone any public comments until Feb. 23. Because of this, the council only heard presentations from the city staff and the developer.
See the rest ofthis story and our ongoing coverage on The Hub at JackCentral.org.
On the cover Katie Ciaccio, senior early childhood education major, left, and Andrea Garcia, senior journalism major, right, are part of the Fall 2015 graduating class. See the stories behind their caps and others on page 12. (Photo by Halie Chavez)
Sales Manager Marsha Simon
Student Media Center Editorial Board Photo Editor Anna Hernandez Assoc. Photo Editor Cory Walters Senior Photographer Zac Velarde Copy Chief Aubrey Magee
(Photo by Michael Patacsil)
Culture Editor Taylor Haynes Assoc. Culture Editor Megan Troutman Features Editor RobinLi Uber Opinion Editor Cheyanne Mumphrey
2 T HE LUMBER JACK | JACKCEN TR AL .ORG
Web Technical Director Nick Humphries Multimedia Editor Keely Damara Sr. Multimedia Producer Alan Viramontes Print Design Chief Matthew Kiewiet
Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email gf226@nau.edu.
PoliceBeat Feb. 8 At 12:53 a.m., two NAUPD officers, Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) and Guardian Medical Transport (GMT) responded to a call at Allen Hall to assist a resident who was having a seizure. The subject was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC).
BY YESENIA DE GARCIA
staff member reported two subjects who appeared to be impaired. Two NAUPD officers responded and the subjects were helped with a taxi and tow truck. Feb. 11 At 5:45 a.m., a subject called to request assistance near the University Union for a Sodexo employee who had passed out. One NAUPD officer, FFD and GMT assisted the employee and transported him to FMC.
At 12:04 p.m., two NAUPD officers were dispatched to Wilson Hall because a subject who had been denied access had entered the building. One subject At 3:56 p.m., a concerned was taken into Coconino parent called to report they had County Detention Facility for not heard from their student in trespassing. several days. An officer spoke to the student’s neighbors at At 2:09 p.m., a staff Mountain View Hall, who member reported an stated the student had been intoxicated subject was recently seen in good health. shouting at students at the north side of the University At 4:12 p.m., a staff Union. Two NAUPD officers member from the Drury Inn responded and cited the subject reported suspicious subjects for trespassing. were asking students for money. Two NAUPD officers Feb. 9 were dispatched and located At 4:43 p.m., a resident the subjects. One subject from Tinsley Hall reported was arrested and booked into being threatened by his Coconino County Sheriff’s roommate. An NAUPD Office on a warrant out of Page officer was dispatched and the Police Department. investigation is ongoing. Feb. 12 At 10:25 p.m., Tinsley At 9:33 a.m., an NAU Hall staff called to request an police officer reported an officer to stand by while they intoxicated subject at 1230 served a move order and denial S. Milton St. The subject of access to a resident. Two requested medical assistance. NAU police officers assisted FFD and GMT assisted and and the papers were served to the subject was transported to the resident with no issues. FMC. Feb. 10 At 1:08 p.m., a student called to report a subject exposed himself to her. Three NAUPD officers checked the area but did not find the subject. The officers gave a description of the subject to surrounding agencies. At 7:09 p.m., an NAU
Feb. 13 At 12:55 a.m., staff from McConnell Hall reported an intoxicated student. Two NAUPD officers deferred the student to FPD for minor in consumption of alcohol. At 10:19 p.m., staff at Sechrist Hall reported the odor of marijuana. One officer deferred two students to FPD for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. At 11:11 p.m., subject reported a non-student had passed out at Cline Library. Two officers, FFD and GMT responded and the non-student was transported to FMC for further evaluation. At 12:15 p.m., a blue phone by Mountain View Hall was activated. An officer searched the area and everything was fine. Feb. 14 At 8:02 a.m., two officers reported to Lot 66 for a hit and run accident. A subject had reported witnessing the accident. The case is open and the investigation is pending. At 1:30 p.m., a Resident Assistant from Tinsley Hall reported a student with denied access had entered the building. Two NAUPD officers stood by while the student took their belongings.
At 7:08 p.m., a student called to report dropping At 4:18 p.m., a citizen property in a trash bin. One reported subjects were asking NAUPD officer assisted the passersby to be in a movie they subject in retrieving the items. were filming near the Native American Cultural Center. Two At 9:59 p.m., a student officers were dispatched and the at Tinsley Hall reported an subjects were gone upon arrival. unknown subject had been There was no crime committed knocking on her door for a long and everything was fine. period of time. An NAUPD officer responded but the case was closed due to a lack of leads.
RIDE INwith... THE DAY
NAU introduces new, sleeker buses to its fleet
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BY THALIA ESPAÑA
arking and Shuttle Services at NAU has a regular fleet of 21 buses on campus with 16 in use everyday. The university will soon be adding three new buses in preparation to eventually replace three that are slowly breaking down as they age. It takes about a year to have a bus built, so the department rated three of their buses with poor out of a scale of excellent, good, fair and poor last year. Currently, there is a new bus making runs around campus. The all-white, slick and different features are just some of the few characteristics that make it stand out from NAU’s regular fleet of buses; however, that bus was a loaned bus as a show of goodwill from two different companies on the state contract, Auto Safety House and Creative Bus Sales. “The demand on shuttle services has increased exponentially in my eight years,” said Erin Stam, the director of Parking and Shuttle Services. “When I started, ridership was maybe 25,000 a week. Last year it was about 50,000 a week, and this year we’re seeing 60,000 a week. It’s significant growth. The only way we are keeping up with that is with the support of the transportation fee.” As Parking and Shuttle Services waited for the regular buses to arrive before the week of Feb. 15, the vendors loaned a bus to NAU; as enrollment and ridership increases, they saw the need for it on campus as the buses were also behind on their delivery date. Of the three buses purchased, two will look like existing buses and one will look like the loaned bus — also known as a low-floor model. All three buses will still have the regular design of the forest green and navy blue lines with the NAU logo on it, unlike the allwhite appearance. Before purchasing the buses, the department looked at aspects such as price, eco-friendliness, durability and an overall cost-benefit analysis. Funded by each students’ transportation fee each semester, a low-floor model costs around $275,000, making it about $100,000 more than the regular model. Unlike the loaned low-floor model, the purchased bus will include all perimeter seating to accommodate standing space, hand straps, bars and stop request signals. It is called a low-floor model for the lack of steps to get on like the regular model. The low stepless entrance will not only allow for faster student entrance, but it also has easier and quicker access for anyone who may deal with physical challenges as it flips open rather than using a lift. “I live on south campus [in McConnell] and all my classes are on north campus,” said freshman exercise science major Shannon O’Dell. “[The loaned bus] has a lot of room…It feels a lot wider, there’s more space. I think it makes it easier to get on, especially since it’s lower to the ground you don’t have to step up all the stairs and stuff like that.” The new bus will also be eco-friendly, as are the regular fleet of buses. Like the regular buses, the new ones will also have a component in the engine allowing them to produce zero emissions, according to Parking and Shuttle Services. As ridership increases, the department has been working to have quicker loading and unloading time where even three minutes could create a significant difference. By timing students getting on and off, the department will assess the pros-and-cons of the different model. That observation data will allow the department to see if the difference in cost is worth the benefits. The students are not the only ones who have noticed differences as drivers also get a unique experience in their position. “The drivers have shared with me that they really like the air ride suspension and the handling of the vehicle. This allows for a very smooth ride,” said Judy Manor, program coordinator of
Pictured in the Skydome parking lot, the loaned bus waits to depart Feb. 8. The model of the loaned bus is similar in style and capacity to the design of the new buses, which will debut on campus sometime this week. (Photos by David Carballido-Jeans)
Parking and Shuttle Services. “They have also said that it has an excellent turn radius. That is important because some of the turns on campus are pretty tight for large vehicles.” As part of their observational data, the department is also working with an automated passenger count system on each bus entrance through lasers that work with the GPS system. Parking and Shuttle services is taking advantage of the advances in technology as they see the rise and demand for student riders. “I like how frequently [the buses] come,” O’Dell said. “It’s important for people like me who live on the other side of campus. Also, when it’s a lot colder out and people don’t want to walk as far, or they’ll just get on the bus for a quick ride.” In addition to working to provide better service for the demand, Stam also has a goal to teach students how to “ride smarter” as the bus system has become an essential service. In hopes of possibly starting an educational poster campaign in the future, she wants to come up with a “golden solution” to have
balance and equal distance between bus arrivals. For example, during peak hours — 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. — the buses are more crowded as students jump on 20 minutes before class. Stam wants to teach students that arriving at the bus stop as little as five minutes before could really make a difference. Through these tips, Stam believes that the perception toward the bus services would change among students who believe there should be more buses in circulation than the 16 at peak hours. “The reason we bought the buses is to ensure that we could provide an excellent service to the students,” Stam said. “Knowing that we have three buses that are aging, we want to make sure that we can always continue to provide great service and we have to have the buses to do that…I really want to make sure that the service I’m providing always continues to strive to be the best for [the students].” The two regular model buses are expected to arrive Feb. 15 and the low-floor model Feb. 17. They will be used soon after arriving.
FEB. 18 - FEB. 24, 2016 | T HE LUMBER JACK 5
NEWS
New playground honors Kayla Mueller; ISIS member charged for role in death BY HANNAH COOK
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ebruary marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Kayla Mueller, an NAU alumna and humanitarian aide worker who was captured by ISIS and later killed in Syria. In the year since Mueller’s death, her hometown of Prescott, Ariz., has worked to create a playground in her honor, and Iraq has prepared for the upcoming trial of an ISIS member connected to her imprisonment. In August 2013, Mueller was captured by ISIS as she left a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Syria to return to Turkey. After being captured and held in Syria for more than one year, Mueller was transported to Iraq, where she was held alongside two Kurdish prisoners. During her time in Iraq, Mueller was held in captivity under the ever-watchful presence of Abu Sayyaf and his wife Umm Sayyaf in their home littered with ISIS memorabilia and weapons. Abu Sayyaf, a senior leader for the Islamic terrorist group, managed the group’s oil distribution — an endeavor that proved to be among the group’s most successful money-making operations. Although his wife, Umm Sayyaf, was not allowed to hold an official senior ranking within ISIS, she also proved her worth as an essential leader to the group by helping to kidnap, detain and sell women, most often Yazidis from northern Iraq, to other ISIS members. “Behind every successful man is a woman, and ISIS is no exception,” said an unnamed senior administration official in an interview with The Daily Beast. He said that although Umm Sayyaf held no official position within ISIS, she was still an influential and trusted advisor. During a raid in Syria in 2015, Abu Sayyaf was killed and Umm Sayyaf was taken into custody to be questioned by U.S. officials. In an FBI interrogation Umm Sayyaf admitted to opening her house to ISIS members such as leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and to her involvement in the imprisonment of Mueller and other prisoners. On Feb. 8, the Department of Justice announced that Umm Sayyaf will be charged for her role in Mueller’s death. She is awaiting trial by Iraq’s Kurdish regional government. After the announcement of Mueller’s death one year ago, her parents created a non-profit organization to support humanitarian work across the world. Through this foundation – Kayla’s Hands – the Mueller family hopes to keep their daughter’s spirit alive. On Jan. 25, the Kiwanis Club of Prescott announced that recent fundraising efforts spear-headed by both Mueller’s family and by the club itself had been successful enough to build a playground in Kayla’s memory. Gary Ballard, president of the Kiwanis Club of Prescott, said the idea for a park struck him after attending a meeting with Gary Mueller, Kayla Mueller’s father. With no grave and no marker to remember his daughter by, the Mueller family had no way to honor their daughter in their community. “I made up my mind right then that our club was going to do something to give them a place to go remember their daughter and to celebrate her life with the community,” Ballard said. Since that meeting, the Kiwanis Club in Prescott has put together a team to manage the project and has completed about 75 percent of their fundraising goal. The club has raised $160,000 of the estimated $206,000 necessary to build the playground in Prescott’s Pioneer Park. APS and The Diamondbacks each donated $20,000, with additional smaller donations coming in from local businesses,
such as the Margaret T. Morris Center and the Harold James Family Trust. The Shade Foundation, a national nonprofit devoted to preventing skin cancer in children, donated $1,000 to provide a cover for the park. The Prescott Youth Hockey Association, which is directly connected to the future location of the Kayla’s Hands Playground, hosted a Skate-A-Thon in December to benefit the Kayla’s Hands Playground. The event raised $2,500. The Prescott Youth Hockey Association also created a Go Fund Me account that still continues to bring in small donations. “Anything we could do to help make it happen we were more than willing to do,” President of the Prescott Youth Hockey Association Matthew Robinson said. “It was a no-brainer for us. Everyone felt like it was a good memorial for the Mueller family.” Other organizations within Prescott are also eager to help with the project. The Yavapai County Jeep Posse is partnering with the Kiwanis Club of Prescott to help coordinate their annual auction. This year, the proceeds will be used to fund the playground. “We’re running the auction – answering the phones and being part of the event to help out with the community,” said Yavapai County Jeep Posse Captain Graham Batcheler. In addition to their search and rescue efforts, Batcheler said posse members also volunteer in the community and help with various projects. The members of the Yavapai County Jeep Posse are ready to help the city build the playground in whatever way they can. “We’re doing this for the Muellers and for the community, so that they will never ever forget what a beautiful young lady she was and how much she helped the community,” Ballard said. “As long as she saw people suffering or in need, she was always there to help.” Kayla’s Hands Playground is projected to be completed and ready to use in May.
TOP: In 2013, Kayla Mueller was captured by ISIS while working in Syria as a humanitarian aide worker. (Photo by Casey Myrick) BOTTOM: The Prescott Kiwanis Club is building a children’s playground to honor the legacy of the NAU alumna. (Photo Courtesy of Prescott Kiwanis Club)
FEB. 18 - FEB. 24, 2016 | T HE LUMBER JACK 7
FEB. 18 - FEB. 24, 2016 | T HE LUMBER JACK 9
Reclaiming Sexy
BY CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AND RACHEL DEXTER
Dear Diary, Sexy — it’s merely a word. A word that’s spit at girls who walk by in short shorts and v-neck shirts. It is whispered among guys who sit around the bar. It has become negative — a sign of objectification. But at one point sexy was beautiful, sexy was strong — a sign of power. Spoken word artist and poet Michael Lee, better known as Tenrai Kenshin, has been one of the many artists who has represented and reclaimed this sensual and provocative word. “Sexy is taking all the evil things people call you as compliments and using the rocks they’ve thrown to build mansions,” said Lee in his poem “Sexy.” It should be used synonymously with beautiful, strong and intelligent and not a word to describe the “girl that gets around.” What happened to the time when sexy was empowering? A word to describe the strength of a female, the confidence in herself and the pride in being a woman. Sexy is beautiful. Sexy is strong. Sexy is intelligent — sexy is you. Sincerely, Your Opinion Editors
Political Cartoon of the Week
Faculty Opinion
A Changing Economy Affects College Students In a world where students struggle to afford an education that will grant them access into a well-paid, fulfilling career, economic inequality flourishes. “Young people have been hit harder by the changing economy than any other demographic,” said politics and international affairs lecturer John Hultgren. “State funding for public education continues to decrease and as a consequence, tuition keeps rising.” The student loan debt per undergraduate averages out at about $30,000 per person, and with that alarming amount of government-borrowed money John Hultgren comes the unemployment rates that graduates are then faced with after college. The sick double standard that students are then faced with leaves hundreds in a Politics and International Affairs lifelong state of owing money and struggling financially. “College students need to recognize that it was not always this way,” Lecturer Hultgren said. “To put it simply, the Baby Boomers have screwed over the millennials and post-millennials. People who are roughly 50 to 75 years old reaped the benefits of statesubsidized public education because of their desire to keep their taxes low, so that they can enjoy more all-you-can-eat buffets or golf outings and the country club in Sun City.” Although these past generations benefited from cheaper, more affordable college tuition, higher wages and a generally lower cost of living, many of them simply refuse to fund the institutions that would allow younger generations to use them for their long-term advantages. While putting all of the blame on past generations is easier, they are not the root of the problem. According to Hultgren the neoliberal ideology common among even young people is toxic to the way politics are thought about, especially education. “The basic idea of neoliberalism is that a corporate logic should be applied to all aspects of social life,” Hultgren said. “Neoliberals argue that if social spending is reduced, regulations are removed and taxes are decreased that government will become cheaper. The irony is that as this logic has been institutionalized, what we have seen in universities is the addition of layers of bureaucracy.” Hultgren explained that students are paying more and in turn being provided with luxury living spaces and fancy recreational centers, but are receiving what could only be described as an inferior education. “To fix this broken system students need to join social movements, to organize, and in some cases, to take to the streets. The youth need to rebel against the existing political economic order. It is our best hope for change,” Hultgren said. Interview conducted by Emma Helfrich.
Political Updates
Want to write a letter?
The Lumberjack encourages an open forum on appropriate public issues. All letters must include the author’s name, major or profession, and email or phone number. The Lumberjack reserves the right to correct inaccuracies, grammatical errors or cut for length. To post letters online please e-mail them to OpEd Editor Cheyanne Mumphrey at clm473@nau. edu. To have letters printed please email them to OpEd Assistant Editor Rachel Dexter at rld277@ nau.edu.
10 T HE LUMBER JACK | JACKCEN TR AL .ORG
The sixth Democratic debate took place Feb. 11 and featured a verbal boxing match between senator Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Online polls conducted by Time and Slate revealed that more people considered Sanders the winner. Pundits seemed to waver between the two and many consider the debate a draw. The Republican field has also undergone new developments with three candidates suspending their campaigns. Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina and Jim Gilmore have all dropped out of the race. The next crucial test for Republicans will be the Nevada Caucus on Feb. 23 and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 20. Six candidates now remain in the GOP field. As for the Democrats, the Nevada Caucus will be held on Feb. 20 and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 27. Justice Antonin Scalia’s death has sparked monumental election-year battle in Washington over whether President Barack Obama should choose a successor who could tilt the Supreme Court toward liberal values, according to CNN. Many Republicans argue that the justice nomination should wait until after the presidential election. Donald Trump stated, “I think it’s up to Mitch McConnell, and everybody else to stop it. It’s called delay, delay, delay.” Obama is the president until Jan. 20, meaning he still has the responsibility to nominate a justice and the Senate has the responsibility to vote on his decision.
Use Your Voice
Cartoon by Alanna Secrest
T
The Importance of Black History Month
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BY INDIA BLACKSHEAR
n the United States there is a lack of diversity when it comes to how history is taught. Students are taught European and Greek history in classes that hardly touch on African-American history. Thus, there is Black History Month, a month that should be celebrated every year. In recent years, Black History Month has been frequently discussed within the black community. There have been arguments about if Black History should be continued as a holiday or not, which causes controversy every February. There are generally two sides to this argument; however, both want the same thing — acknowledgement of their race and their contributions to American and African history. The side that supports Black History Month wants AfricanAmerican accomplishments to be recognized and their history to be taught within U.S. school systems, especially in February. The other side believes that African-American history should be integrated into the U.S. school curriculum, and because history courses would be more integrated, there would be no need for a Black History Month. The history would be taught in schools every day. For me, Black History Month was the only time I was able to learn anything about other African-Americans. When I was a younger student, I remember wondering why Black History Month was the only time I ever learned about African-Americans. I remember wondering why I hardly learned about people of color in general. During my
junior high and high school years, I primarily learned about European history and people and how they created America. In high school specifically, I learned about American history. We went in depth about how America was formed into what it is today. Blacks were rarely mentioned and when they were, it was to discuss what they did as slaves. Martin Luther King Jr. was only mentioned on MLK Day and Malcolm X was only mentioned during Black History Month. Other than those times, I heard nothing about people of color in any of my high school history classes. The idea for Black History Month was originally developed by an African-American man named Carter G. Woodson in 1926. He formed a group called The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. It started out with the holiday only being for a week. It was called Negro History Week. The group that he was involved in loved the idea of Negro History Week and wanted to celebrate it for a longer period of time. Because of this, Negro History Week was turned into Black History Month. I enjoy Black History Month and getting to learn more and more about people of my own race. On this campus, Black Student Union hosts events during Black History Month every year, and I love being able to learn and get to know more African-American students. Black history is an important part of America’s culture; however, I would like for Black History Month to no longer be needed. Black History should be taught regardless. Black history is also America’s history.
BY KATHRYN HEFFERNON
here are people who have decided to ignore politics until the GOP presidential nominee is decided. Others have strong “Feel the Bern” sentiment, but will register to vote later — whenever later is. And some are not going to vote at all because there is a lack of favorable options. Coming from a family that talks about politics regularly, this apathy among my peers shocked me when I first came to NAU. Unfortunately, I’ve realized these people are the norm, rather than the expectation. Voter turnout among 18- to 29-year-olds has dropped from 25.1 percent in 1978 to 17.1 percent in 2014, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Even though this is only an 8 percent drop, a 17.1 percent voter turnout isn’t exactly what I would call good. There are a number of reasons why young voters don’t plan on showing up to the polls. Some say that politics is corrupt and that the system is rigged, while others argue that politics is so far removed that it doesn’t have an effect on everyday life. These reasons are valid to a certain extent, but what people are really getting at is that they just don’t care to vote. They’re apathetic. Young people don’t see the value in voting. This attitude is dangerous and does nothing to better the country. American citizens have a duty to stay informed and a duty to vote responsibly. This includes college students. Let’s begin with the idea of staying informed. Too many young people rely on social media sites like Twitter and Buzzfeed to keep them in the loop; they are not gathering their information from reliable news sources. Social media hones in on Hillary Clinton’s scandals and Bernie and Trump’s radicalism, which is why so many students think these are the only people in the presidential race. Throw out a name like Marco Rubio and their brows furrow in confusion. Say Jeb Bush and they shrink back in horror — not because they don’t like his policies (or know his policies) but because “we just can’t have another Bush in the White House.” People’s ignorance is almost comical. Almost. In all seriousness, having an ill-informed electorate is terrifying, especially in an age where information is literally at our fingertips. Sure, millennials don’t make up the entire voting population, but they are significant. More importantly, young people are the future. If they’re not voting now, what reason is there to believe that they’re going to vote when they’re older? I’m not under any illusion. One of the most important job titles of every United States citizen is “voter.” The U.S. is a republic, meaning that citizens vote for people to represent them in government. It amazes me that young people are such strong advocates for minority rights and humanitarian causes, yet don’t vote. They refuse to exercise their single greatest right and best tool to use their voice for good. If millennials truly want change, if they truly want to send a message to the “Washington establishment,” then they should vote and put new people in office. People don’t have any right to complain about the current state of affairs if they’re not going to take a key step in changing things. All votes send a message. Likewise, no votes send a message as well. You may perceive not voting as making a statement of rebellion, but all it really means is that you’re content with the way things are. Not voting is a self-fulfilling prophecy for those who say the system’s rigged — you rigged it by letting everyone else choose who’s going to represent you. This presidential election and all elections are about more than the candidates. If you don’t love any one candidate in particular, so what? Choose the lesser of two evils. By not voting, you forfeit your choice to someone else. It’s not the corporations or Wall Street or donors who are putting people in office. It’s your apathy. America is the greatest country because it gives you the freedom to choose. Choose your representatives, choose your behavior, choose your destiny. Furthermore, what you choose for yourself has a consequence on other people’s lives, for better or for worse. So use your voice and vote. But please, vote responsibly.
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CULTURE
Student’s guide to Flagstaff: HIKING SPOTS
BY ARIEL CIANFARANO
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inding trails, scenic views and all kinds of wildlife are found along Flagstaff’s hiking trails, waiting to be discovered. Need a weekend gateway? Grab some friends or go by yourself and see some of the hiking spots below.
For the Amateur:
The Red Mountain Trail is a short and beautiful hike located in the Coconino National Forest. The trail is a little over a mile and features some of Northern Arizona’s beauty, like a volcanic cinder cone and interesting rock formations. The Red Mountain Trail is good for relaxing and de-stressing from a long school week. Take a day to breathe some fresh mountain air and take in all the natural beauty.
The Intermediate Hiker:
West Fork Trail is a seven-mile hike, round trip. The trail behins at Oak Creek Canyon and showcases natural wonders like the canyon itself, streams and large ponderosa trees. West Fork Trail is good for hikers who want to go a little further with a rougher terrain. Since the trail is a little longer, take a few friends for some company.
For the Pro:
Humphrey’s Peak is a popular summertime trail for many students in Flagstaff. Although it is a relatively easy hike up during the warm season, the high altitude and strong winds make it a difficult and long climb. It is around nine miles. Hikers should bring food and lots of water to combat the rough conditions.
For the Family:
Are your parents here for the weekend? The Lava River Cave is an interesting and fun adventure for the whole family. Located in the forest, you will have to take a dirt road off the highway to get to the cave. The Lava River Cave is less than a mile and features low rock ceilings (watch your head) and other intricate rock formations. The cave is pitch black, so bring a couple of flashlights.
For the Adventure Seekers:
The Grand Canyon offers many different hiking trails with varying attractions and skill levels. The Phantom Ranch to Ribbon Falls trail is about eleven miles round trip. Hikers will need to get reservations at Phantom Ranch and be prepared to spend a couple of days doing this hike. Although long, the reward is Ribbon Falls and other unique rock formations in the Grand Canyon. Being prepared with water, food, a first aid kit and all of the other essentials is very important for this trip. This hike would be a fun weekend trip with some friends. If you have more time, there are other hiking trails that fork off from the main path and lead to other beautiful waterfalls.
12 T HE LUMBER JACK | JACKCEN TR AL .ORG
The West Fork trail still has a lot of snow Feb. 13. Sunlight rarely reaches the canyon floor during winter. (Photo by Sarah Booth)
CULTUR E
Coffee and Chocolate: the daily routine of a jail nurse BY ZAC VELARDE
“S
ome people would think this a yucky job, because they think we are dealing with the scum of the earth, the low-class people. There are high-class people who come in here too. It doesn’t matter class or race, everyone has an addiction. Some are legal, some are not. If sweets were illegal, I’d be a frequent flyer here,” says Laura Elam as she opens her first Reese’s chocolate of the day. Elam has been employed for three days at Coconino County Jail as a nurse, and loves it already. She had been a nurse for 25 years before deciding to make the switch to jail nursing. It was not an overnight decision. Elam took around seven months to research the position. She talked to employees about the autonomy, and found the staff friendly and willing to work together. It was a perfect fit for her. 5:30 a.m. — Nurses show up for work The nurses view their tasks for the 12-hour shift and stock up their cart for first “med pass,” when the nurses hand out daily medicine to the inmates. They can go through 150 Tylenol tablets in every pass. Standing at their mobile nursing station, they can find everyone in the jail block that needs medicine. They then label cups with the inmates’ specific rooms and cells. Efficient organization lets two nurses distribute pills to the entire jail population. 7:00 a.m. — First med pass begins “The detention officers have that authority role; we still get that respect but they see us as the compassionate ones,” says Andrea Guthrie, a three-year jail nurse. “They don’t see us as the mean person telling them what to do.” Even at the breakfast med pass, the inmates make sure to show their thanks through the hand hole where they receive meals and other items. They know to line up right after the intercom med call, their I.D. wristband on display. But Guthrie does not need to see the wristband to know who was at the door, she knows them all by name. The jail is divided into pods, with male and females separated and different levels of security. When Guthrie reaches F Pod, her favorite all women’s section of the jail, she has a unique med call for them. “I’m looking for trouble!” Guthrie yells. Guthrie’s “crazy girls” all laugh at her announcement as they file toward the door. She got into jail nursing because she wanted to make a difference using her personality, her nursing and her psychology knowledge. She’s accomplishing that goal. “On a couple of occasions I’ve had a few inmates tell
me, ‘The best part of being here is talking to you.’ Because I like joking with them, I try and get some laughs… I’m a little silly,” Guthrie says. “I can go home at the end of the day and think, ‘here is someone who is absolutely miserable, they might be dealing with sentencing and I got them to laugh.’ To me that is part of nursing: the whole person, not just their physical beings.” 8:30 a.m. — Video court starts After a person is arraigned and staying in jail, nurses begin processing to learn their individual medical histories. This time for the inmate is stressful; they know what their bail is set at (which many can’t afford) and now have to stay in jail until their trial. At that exact moment, nurses have to pry personal information out of them for the inmate’s safety. “The hardest part is seeing people that have made bad choices and continue to make those choices even though they have all the resources and help they can get,” Elam says. “Really, it’s heartbreaking. Until the light bulb comes on, you can’t change them.” The nurses learn to not take it personally. They know some of the inmates do not have support on the outside and some are mentally ill. Summer Wolf, the mental health clinician, estimates there are two dorms full of people she would classify as mentally ill. Her goals for the next few years are to get a better diversion plan for the mentally ill. “Mental illness is not a crime. They don’t belong in jail, they need support from the groups that receive money for that specific reason,” Wolf says. Wolf argues the process would relieve some of the backup with the judicial system and help taxpayers’ money be used more efficiently. Noon - 2:30 p.m. — Time to update paperwork. Guthrie finishes her 24-ounce Circle K coffee, takes her new paperwork from the court proceedings and enters them in the computer. “I like the 12-hour shifts. I like being here when they get up in the morning and right before they go to bed,” Guthrie says. “If they ask for something in the morning I make sure they get it before I leave. I don’t have to report anything onto the next shift person.” While the nurses update files, they often sneak in a bite to eat. Five styros, or jail plates, are ordered for the office and delivered by a trustee from the kitchen. Each plate has a seasoned chicken thigh, mashed potatoes, a small salad, diced carrots, three oatmeal cookies and a piece of bread. This is the exact same meal the inmates have. see JAIL NURSE on page 14
Nurse director Lisa Hirsch hands out first med pass to B Pod at Coconino County Jail Dec. 10. Hirsch labels the cups with inmate information to ensure correct prescriptions are delivered to the inmates. (Photo by Zac Velarde)
FEB. 18 - FEB. 24, 2016 | T HE LUMBER JACK 13
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JAIL NURSE from page 13
3 p.m. — Intake books new people After a quick restock of the cart, Guthrie heads to intake. “[The detention officers] may have that big tough front they are putting on but that’s because they don’t know what’s coming through those doors,” Elam says. Safety is the first priority. A nurse can’t respond until the officers say it is safe. The officers that work directly with the nurses are specially trained to help the nurses. They learn to keep things stocked, help with weighing the inmates and keeping the equipment safe. Ultimately, safety becomes a process involving the whole team. “The nurses believe in the safety structure so we aren’t hovering over them,” says detention officer Christopher Rose. “I don’t have to worry about them doing something stupid and getting themselves hurt.” The trust between officers and nurses is strong. Without the trust, the nurses’ jobs would be much more difficult. The maturity of the staff allows them to talk, make sure they are on the same page and keep each other safe.
Lisa Hirsch applies a new bandage to an inmate’s finger at Coconino County Jail Dec. 10. The inmate had severed his finger while out at work months prior. (Photo by Zac Velarde)
At this time of day, intake receives several intoxicated individuals. When they test at anything over 0.20 BAC, the nurses have to examine immediately for the inmate’s safety. The legal limit is 0.08 BAC; the
Dancing for a cause
highest they have received is a 0.51 BAC. 4:30 p.m. — Finishing paperwork With the nurses’ shifts almost over, it’s back to paperwork and closing duties. Elam has one more Payday candy bar to help her power through the last steps. The day flies by with how busy they are. But being a jail nurse takes a special kind of person. “You have to have a certain demeanor. You have to be outgoing and confident,” Guthrie says and Elam agrees. “You need to be able to secure in your own decision-making skills; you don’t have a hospital to rely on. This is it. You have the nursing supervisor and nurse practitioner. Those are your resources. Everything else is on your shoulders. You have to be fluent in your practices.” They are short four nurses out of the seven for a full staff. “One problem is the pay scale is not very good for new nurses but since then they have bumped the salary way up (during the last three years). The second problem is the perception of working in the jail,” says jail nurse supervisor Lisa Hirsch. “This is where you use your critical thinking. We are the eyes and ears and hands of our provider because she doesn’t go out there, we go out there and tell her who needs to be seen.”
BY BRIANNA FIELDS
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n the nicest day of the week, in costumes and tulle skirts, people danced to end violence against women. In Flagstaff and countries across the world, men and women joined the 1 Billion Rising movement on Feb. 13. This organization was created in response to the statistic that 1 in 3 women will be beaten or raped in their lifetime. 1 Billion Rising seeks to create change using an unconventional method — there are no protests or marches on the capital, instead there is liberation through artistic expression and dance. Wherever the movement was represented, people danced the same steps to the same song, “Break the Chain,” and creating a global community that supports its members wherever they are. “When I heard about this movement, I was just really excited about it because one of the best ways to deal with this issue of violence against women can be dealt with through the body and through artistic expression,” said dancer and Flagstaff flash mob organizer Hilary Giovale. Through dance and life, Giovale has worked with many groups of women. For her, seeing how the statistics affect people, friends, family and co-workers has made the issue of violence against women a personal as well as a cultural issue. Having the opportunity to make the world better for her daughter and all the women of the world is another reason Giovale chose to get involved with 1 Billion Rising. “The solution has a lot to do with shifting the consciousness that we have about these issues,” Giovale said. “I’ve seen a lot of healing happen with teaching the ‘Break the Chain.’ I think that healing is going to create the change we want to see in the long term.” From high school students in bright tights to the matrons of the movement, everybody was dancing and having a good time. The dancers were not the only ones enjoying themselves — onlookers and their canine friends had a chance to sit in the sun and support a group of people trying to make a difference. “It’s a really important social topic and one that deserves a lot of attention,” said Joanie Garcia, program director of Flagstaff Aerial Arts. “We have a lot of work to do as a society and part of the human race to end violence against women.” This was Garcia’s second year helping to organize this annual Valentine’s Day flash mob. As a dancer, she said that the 1 Billion Rising movement provides a unique opportunity for her to use her
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Dancers fill Heritage Square Feb. 13 during the 1 Billion Rising Flash Mob, a movement that speaks out against violence against women. The performance was organized by Flagstaff Aerial Arts. (Photo by Michael Patacsil)
skills for social change. Besides the flash mob, Garcia is also putting on an aerial cabaret show and hosting a panel of love experts to answer audience questions. There are not many events that are as inclusive as this one and many people hesitate to join a movement whose cause does not directly affect them. That is not the case with 1 Billion Rising — anyone can join because everyone is affected and everyone is responsible. Everyone dancing was enthusiastic and glad to be a part of the movement and some were even returning for their second or third year. Marcy Roof, a four-year veteran of Flagstaff’s 1 Billion Rising, spoke about how the flash mob contributes to the solution. “I think the solution is just knowing that we all support each other and we can come together and have those safe women friendships,” Roof said. “At times, people are scared because they don’t know where to go.” In the end, the community came together to make this event a success. Dance studios across town donated space for rehearsal and people came to watch, support and share their own stories.
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or over 22 years, the Sedona International Film Festival has been giving opportunity and enlightenment to aspiring film makers around the world. It’s that time of year again: the nine-day experience begins Feb. 20, celebrating the greatest international films coming from all around the world. During the full days of film there will be over 160 productions being shown — from features to short films and documentaries. There will also be animation and foreign student film to add to the mix. There will be celebrities, filmmakers, workshops, parties and much more to include in the experience. “Each year one should mark their calendar and go down to Sedona for a full week or just a full day and see films from around the world,” said NAU instructor and filmmaker Bob Reynolds. According to Reynolds, college students should attend in order to learn about the marketing dynamics of running a festival, and potentially get an internship to learn more. Sedona International Film Festival also displays the NAU winning short films of the year. At the festival, students and others interested in the film industry will get to meet with people who have been in the industry and know how it works. This offers opportunity to make connections for future careers. Audience members and directors from all over the world come to participate in the celebration of independent film. The Grammy Award-winning rock band Chicago will be opening the 22nd annual festival with a benefit concert Feb. 19 at the Sedona Performing Arts Center. They will also be featured in a premiere screening of a documentary Feb. 20 called Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago. “You never see the same thing twice at the Sedona Film Festival,” said photography major Emina Omeragic. “Going to the Sedona Film Festival is not only tremendously fun, but beneficial because you get to meet so many different people that have the same interest and ideas as you.” Additionally, there will be a screening of American Graffiti and a reunion of various recognizable actors. Because this has become the most successful film festival in Arizona, over 10,000 film lovers attend to experience the event for themselves. “The Sedona International Film Festival is a tremendously engaging, creative and content-rich event that brings together great filmmakers with audiences that understand and appreciate independent filmmaking,” said film festival executive director Pat Schweiss. This has become a significant event for all of Sedona and more. The festival brings the entire community together to make sure that the week is unforgettable. It is an exciting experience to get to sit and talk with filmmakers and hear advice from people who are well educated in film and have advice to give. “Today, we have filmmakers pleading with us to let their films be screened,” Schweiss said. “Watching and being part of the festival’s growth has been incredible on many levels.” Sedona Film Festival has developed the reputation as being one of the best regional festivals in the United States. The most important part of the festival is it brings together all people experienced and inexperienced to share a common interest and passion in film. Over the 22 years of the event being active, it has achieved recognition as a world-class film festival.
Amenities subject to change. While supplies last. See office for details.
FEB. 18 - FEB. 24, 2016 | T HE LUMBER JACK 15
THE GREATEST SUMMER OF YOUR LIFE CAMP PONTIAC IS COMING TO NAU! Camp Pontiac, a premier co-ed overnight camp located in New York, is looking for fun, enthusiastic and mature individuals who can teach and assist in all areas of athletics, aquatics, the arts, or as a general bunk counselor.
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Sun Devils spoil senior night for Division II hockey
The IceJacks celebrate senior forward Corey Briody's goal against ASU during the second period Feb. 13 at Jay Lively Activity Center. The Jacks lost to ASU 6-4. (Photo by Halie Chavez)
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BY KARI SCOTT
here was no love lost between the NAU Division II IceJacks and the Arizona State Sun Devils Feb. 13 at the Jay Lively Activity Center. In a match where the gloves flew off, the Jacks put up a good fight in a losing effort, falling to the Sun Devils 6–4. The IceJacks said farewell to their biggest group of seniors ever. Before the game, there was a ceremony to honor the 12 seniors on the team. These players were honored on the ice with coaches, parents and other influences on their college hockey careers. The Sun Devils scored the first goal of the game early in the first period. NAU answered by scoring two goals less than one minute apart around the 10-minute mark thanks to sophomore defender Kyle Lindstrom and senior forward Jack Manning. The IceJacks held this 2−1 lead for several minutes before ASU scored two more times before the first period ended. Spirits were high in the second period of the game. Senior forward Corey Briody tied the score for NAU less than two minutes in. Energy was brought to a boiling point when a brawl broke out between the two teams. The brawl started after IceJacks senior forward Kirby Carlson slid into the Sun Devils net. “[I was] just trying to get the boys stirred up any way possible and get some energy going,” Carlson said. “The scrum definitely got us all going.” The energy never ceased, with checks and chirps from players and heckles from fans. None of this fazed ASU. The Sun Devils scored again, putting them in the lead 4−3 by the end of the second period. The third period opened with ASU scoring a goal and making the score 5−3. Both teams were in fighting form as conflicts continued and penalties were called. Sophomore defender Jacob Pascale scored late in the period for the IceJacks, pushing the score to 5-4 and giving NAU less than a minute and a half to tie and push the game into overtime. NAU pulled the goalie in hopes of scoring once again, but this decision led to ASU forward Ryan McNeely getting an empty-net goal, completing a hat trick and ending the game 6–4. The IceJacks finished the season with a 15-14-1 record. “Every game is tough with [ASU],” said head coach Travis Johanson. “You know it is just going to come down to the wire and be a battle the whole time.” The seniors played hard and made their last game at the Jay Lively Activity Center memorable. The team will have the next couple weeks off until the ACHA D2 Western Regional Tournament Feb. 27.
Division III hockey ends season with win over Air Force Academy
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BY ZACKII BRADLEY
ith the season winding down and the Division III hockey team already ruled out of regional play, the IceJacks closed out the 2015-2016 season strong, securing a 2−1 win over the Air Force Academy Falcons Feb. 14 at the Jay Lively Activity Center. Both teams scored in the first period with the Falcons getting on the board first. Sophomore forward Kyle Erwin responded for NAU with a goal off the faceoff in the last two minutes of the period. The second period saw no goals, but produced multiple turnovers from checks that forced players from both teams to ice against the boards. Air Force drew two penalties while NAU drew one, but neither team was able to capitalize on their power plays. “I think us being physical helps create a tempo that we wanna play at,” said head Coach Kris Walsh. “We don’t shy away from physical play by any means.” Strong goaltending added to both teams’ second period deadlock. Senior goalie Anthony Caruso faced 15 shots on goal in the second period alone, and three of those shots came in succession during a penalty kill. “A lot of the shots they were just trying to force in the point and they were looking for a lot of plays in front," Caruso said. " The defense did a good job keeping things to the outside." Junior defenseman Kyle Neith ended the stalemate with a slap shot goal off a pass from junior forward Kristian Fontaine late in the third period. “It was kinda weird," Neith said. "Fontaine had the puck in the corner and next thing you know he throws up to me and all I thought was get it to the net. The goalie didn’t see it the whole way.” This weekend’s sweep ended the Jack’s season at 7-22-3 for the year. It was the last time the seniors will ever lace up their skates at the Jay Lively Activity Center. “It’s definitely a challenge with all the injuries we suffered and how things went, but it’s definitely a good way to finish,” Caruso said. Despite having a rough season, the Jacks have to feel good ending the season on a positive note sending out their seniors the right way.
Senior forward Alex Stewart steals the puck from an Air Force opponent Feb. 13 at Jay Lively Activity Center. The IceJacks deafeated the Air Force Academy Falcons 2–1. (Photo by Sara Krug).
Fotinos qualifies for conference in women’s 400-meter
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Senior Jessica Weise launches the shot put during the Friday Night Duals meet in the Walkup Skydome Jan. 22. Weise finished second in the shot put at the NAU Invite Feb. 13 with a throw of of 14.22 meters. (photo by Anna Bradley)
BY OLAOLU FISAYO
op-five finishes came in bunches for the NAU track and field program Feb. 13 during the second day of the NAU Invite. Six athletes finished in the top five in field events and track events as well. “We’re a plane descending, coming in to land,” said head coach Eric Heins. “The conference is the destination, we’re coming in and we’re right where we want to be.” One of the top performers for NAU was junior Shawn Collins. Collins threw close to a personal record in the men’s shot put to win the competition. Following Collins was senior Micael Ljungberg, who got second in the event. The women’s throwers also registered top five finishes in the shot put event with senior Jessica Weise finishing second, sophomore Tiana Hatler-Stefick in third and junior Jazzmine Ecker in fifth. Assistant coach Nathan Ott has been getting good finishes out of his athletes the past couple of meets, a positive sign with just one more meet before the Big Sky Indoor Championships. In track, senior JaShawn Combs set a new personal best in the 60-meter hurdles, getting second place with a time of 8.13 seconds. Junior Isaiah Kennedy also came away with a good result in the 60-meter dash, finishing in second as well with a time of 6.85 seconds. A big result also came from junior Nicole Fotinos, who came away with a win in her first race this season. Fotinos recorded a time of 56.23 seconds in the 400-meter dash, qualifying for conference in the process. “It feels really good, it was really nerve-wracking,” Fotinos said. “As soon as I got on the line I said, I just got to run.” NAU will host their final home meet of the season, the NAU Tune-Up, Feb. 19 at the Walkup Skydome.
FEB. 18 - FEB. 24, 2016 | T HE LUMBER JACK 19
HELP WANTED in the Student Media Center
WANT TO EARN $200.00 A WEEK AND MORE?? WANT TO EARN TUITION WAIVER MONEY?? The Student Media Center is looking for a Sales Person and a Sales Assistant.
SALES ASSISTANT •This is a student tuition waiver type of payment. You will earn tuition waiver money per semester. •Approx.. 20 hours a week. (No weekends or holidays)
THE LUMBER JACK w w w. j a c k c e n t r a l . o r g
•You will take care of and maintain all ready existing clients, paperwork, contracts. •You will do some online and phone sales (This is not a telemarketing type of sales job)
MEDIA CONSULTANT •The more you sale the more you can make. •You will be selling advertising for NAZ Today TV, The Lumberjack, KJACK radio, and Jackcentral.com •You will earn on the average of $200.00 per week •No weekends or holidays
•Some design work required (knowledge of Adobe CC is a plus)
To apply contact Marsha Simon at Marsha.Simon@nau.edu
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YOUR AD COULD BE HERE To Advertise, Contact Marsha.Simon@nau.edu
From Bookworm to Athlete:
NAU Narwhals do not need brooms to fly
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BY NIKI DESHAZO
ccio Narwhals! You don’t have to hop on Platform 9 ¾ and take a long train ride in order to enjoy a thrilling game of Quidditch. NAU’s Quidditch team, the Narwhals, is every Muggle’s dream come true. My name is Niki DeShazo. I am a theatre major and a freshman here at NAU. I joined the Quidditch team during my very first week and, going in, I had no idea what to expect. I
tried my hardest to use my Hermione powers to absorb all the information I was given, and exercise the athletic abilities I have never had when — stupefy! — I took a bludger to the face. Don’t worry, I didn’t literally get knocked out, though my glasses took a nice trip across the field. Eventually, I started to get the hang of this beautiful sport called Quidditch, and now I can usuallysometimes-mostly-much-better-than-before catch a ball. The team has been patient, kind and welcoming from the start. I was overwhelmed by the level of encouragement. Everyone
cheers each other on with the same energy as if we had all won the House Cup, and if I failed, the team pushed me forward with the same sincere words of enthusiasm. According to United States Quidditch (USQ), Muggle Quidditch was invented in 2005 at Middlebury College by Xander Manshel. It was originally just something fun for Manshel and his friends but over the years, the sport has spread through hundreds of universities and many other countries around the world.
The keeper for the Narwhals blocks the quaffle (white ball) from going through his team’s hoop, while two beaters aim bludgers (red balls) at opposing players Feb. 10 at South Fields. The Narwhals split into two teams, scrimmage-style, in order to practice against each other. (Photo by Erin Twarogal)
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So, how is Muggle Quidditch played? Sara Humphries, a senior criminology and criminal justice major, has been playing Quidditch since 2012. She explains the game as “a sort of mixture of rugby and dodgeball, with a bit of flag football thrown in at the end.” The game consists of three chasers whose job is to score points through one of opponent’s three hoops while wielding a ball called the quaffle. The keeper, or fourth chaser, guards the team’s hoops. Each team also has two beaters who act as either defensive or offensive aid when needed, hitting the other team with the balls called bludgers in an effort to temporarily take that individual out of the game. Seventeen and a half minutes into the game, the golden snitch is released; after the snitch has a 30-second head start, a seeker for each team is released. The game only ends when the snitch is captured, which wins 30 points for the team that catches the snitch. Quidditch is a co-ed, full-contact tackling sport that consists of players riding plastic brooms. The question everyone asks, of course, is “How does the golden snitch work?” “If I had a dollar for every time I was asked that, I’d be a very rich man,” said Narwhals team coach and captain Adam Beller. “The snitch is a tennis ball inside what resembles a sock, attached to the back of some shorts that someone who isn’t affiliated with either team wears during the games. Their goal is not to let either seeker get the ball, by any means necessary.” Beller is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Spanish, and his duties on the team include “running weekly practices, fielding a roster of 21 at tournaments, and improving the overall skill level of the individual team members in order to create a well-rounded, competitive team.” Most importantly, many Muggles would like to know if we actually fly. “Oh yeah, the Quidditch community has perfected the art of flying, but we’re hiding it from the rest of the world,” said sophomore criminology and criminal justice major Hannah Avery. Unfortunately, the team loses their flying abilities in the Muggle world. “Well, we’re still working on that hoverboard technology, so I imagine once that gets completed we’ll play the sport as it was intended to be played — hundreds of feet in the air with absolutely nothing preventing a fall or a metal ball to the face,” Humphries said. “For now, though, we grudgingly stick to PVC pipes and our own two feet, like common muggles.” Quidditch is a wonderful place to make friends and there is a strong bond that people develop with their teammates. “The Narwhals are an extremely tight-knit group, but I always love how quickly new players are brought into the fold of things and how determined people are to make them feel welcome,” Humphries said. The entire team greets new members with warmth and excitement, while cherishing the old members with lasting memories and friendships. Whether I need someone to bring me my water bottle after a tough play, or a night out with my friends, I can always count on my team. “I think that more than anything, Quidditch has brought to me many friendships that I am sure I will have for the rest of my life,” Beller said. “We are more than a team, we are a family, and the connections I’ve made with players not just at NAU are priceless.” On top of this, I have found playing Quidditch has sincerely helped me in my academic life. As a theatre major, it is hard for
During an intense practice, the NAU Narwhals run to the middle line to get the two bludgers and the quaffle at South Fields Feb. 10. (Photo by Erin Twarogal)
me to find something I can do for the sheer fun of it, because I made everything I loved into a career. Quidditch gives me the ability to clear my head for seven hours a week, exercise, spend time with amazing friends, and nerd out while playing a sport I love. Other members of the team have their own unique journeys and ways that Quidditch has enriched their lives. “It definitely makes me a lot better at time management. I have to plan around practices and tournaments, as well as other things I need to do in order to make sure the program runs smoothly,” Beller said. Fear not, Muggles. If you find Quidditch intriguing, but are not a die-hard Harry Potter fan, you can still be a Narwhal. We have quite a few players on the team who have never read any of the books or seen the movies. It’s extremely fun to nerd out over Quidditch, but it is a sport of its own. Often when I play, I forget it’s a game inspired by Harry Potter — though the references and jokes run rampant throughout the practices. When I focus on playing, it becomes all about the game, rather than the origins of the game. Another fear I have heard from many NAU Muggles is that they are not athletic. Well, again, not to worry. Members of the team who came in with no athletic ability have grown as athletes by being on the team. For competitions, there is a 21-player
roster. Every single person who joins the team practices together, but as there are way more people on the team than spots on the roster, 21 players are selected for each competition to actually play for USQ ratings. The Narwhals recently attended the Dan Hanson Strike 3 in Tempe, taking third place. The team will be attending the Western Cup in UCLA Feb. 27 and 28. If the team ranks highly during the Western Cup, they move on to the World Cup (the national competition) in South Carolina in April. “There’s no exact words to describe the feeling before a game goes brooms up,” Beller said. “It’s almost like the calm before the storm. Everything is quiet, focused, tranquil, and then all of a sudden, we’re playing, and there’s this overwhelming feeling of intensity that is almost too much to handle.” I learned a valuable lesson by being part of the Quidditch team. Before college, I never considered myself an athlete. I tried out for softball in middle school and broke my finger during tryouts. I have run my whole life, but I primarily ran alone. My love for reading and Harry Potter prompted me to join the Quidditch team, where I realized the true meaning of team sports. Sports are a wonderful way to have fun, de-stress, spend time with friends and enjoy life. I gained a respect for sports that I never had before, and I took on an identity that I never thought I would: I became an athlete.
FEB. 18 - FEB. 24, 2016 | T HE LUMBER JACK 23