The Lumberjack -- February 28, 2019

T H E L U M BE R JACK

FEB. 28, 2019 – MARCH 6, 2019

LEARNING TO FALL PAGES 20–21

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

C

onviction: A firmly held belief or opinion. This, my friends, the world needs more of. Speaking with conviction, acting with conviction and leading by it. There is a lack of conviction that this generation is going through and it is destroying our individuality.

We should be embracing the things that make us unique, quirks and all, instead of conforming to the masses. We shouldn’t be holding our tongues to make someone else feel more comfortable when we disagree with them. The only way society will evolve and get better is if we speak our minds and come to conclusions together for improvement. It’s not going to happen if we just roll over and let the more dominant person pave the way.

No one is perfect, and that includes me. I recognize that even I need more conviction in my life, to say the things that I think are important to the people I think need to hear it.

Life is about growing, and I am trying to implement more conviction in my life in order to grow into a better person every day.

Don’t let social media dictate what you like and what you don’t like. Don’t let ARIEL CIANFARANO a Buzzfeed article tell you that you need this special product in order to be desirable Don’t let someone push you into doing something that goes against your morals DIRECTOR OF and values.

CIRCULATION You are you, so be that person.

There will be people who will try to push you in to a box and make you believe that this one thing you are is the one thing that you will ever be. They will do this just so they can feel safe in knowing that you are not at 100 percent. Don’t let them.

You are not something that fits in a four-cornered cardboard box. We are fluid people and we all wear different hats.

Speaking of conviction, The Lumberjack’s OpEd section is full of opinions and people who write with conviction because they are solid on what they think is right or wrong.

Take a look at this week’s stories and see where their conviction lies.

Thank you for reading.

“The idea of multiterm enrollment was to guarantee students that they would have their sections and be able to register in advance, but now we can’t guarantee the faculty for [the classes]” - Faculty Senate president Gioia Woods Members of the NAU Faculty Senate meet inside the duBois Center to discuss issues, such as the state of on-campus mental health care, Feb. 25. Jack Mehl | The Lumberjack

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

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 108 ISSUE 7

Editor-in-Chief Matthew Strissel

Managing Editor Bailey Helton

Director of Digital Content Conor Sweetman

Copy Chief Ashley Besing

Faculty Adviser Annette McGivney

Faculty Adviser, Photo Taylor Mahoney

Sales Manager Marsha Simon

Print Chief Brady Wheeler

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board News Editor Chandler Staley

Features Editor Collin W. Clayton

Sports Editor Molly Smith

Director of Multimedia James LeMarr

Asst. News Editor Ray Anne Galzote

Asst. Features Editor Pruthvi Khilosa

Asst. Sports Editor Amber Neate

Director of Photography Shannon Swain

Senior Reporter Owen Sexton

Culture Editor Sebastian Moore

Director of Illustration Katie Dobrydney

Asst. Dir. of Photography Rylee Flowers

Op-Ed Editor Peggy Packer

Asst. Culture Editor Sabrina Proffitt

Asst. Dir. of Illustration Colton Starley

Senior Photographer Michael Patacsil

Asst. Op-Ed Editor María Angulo

Director of Circulation Ariel Cianfarano

Asst. Dir. of Circulation Robyn Monroe

Senior Photographer Jack Mehl

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On the cover Ice skating instructor Cyanne Henson practices her routine Feb. 20 at the Jay Lively Activity Center. Bess Valdez | The Lumberjack

Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Matthew Strissel at mbs263@nau.edu.

PoliceBeat Feb. 18 At 8 a.m., a grounds employee called in and reported they damaged a state vehicle while clearing snow off it in parking lot 8. An NAUPD officer responded and took a report.

At 4:08 p.m., a Campus Health Services staff member reported a possible blood clot in a student’s leg. The patient was transferred to Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC).

At 7:03 p.m., three officers took part in a traffic stop on South Beaver Street and East University Drive.

They cited one student for possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and an open container of liquor in the vehicle. The student was released after receiving a citation.

Feb. 19 At 8:08 a.m., NAUPD responded to a fire alarm at Gabaldon Hall. After a search of the area, officers determined the cause to be a broken steam pipe. Fire Life Safety (FLS) was notified.

At 2 p.m., an NAUPD sergeant reported a vehicle collision in lot 62.

A citation was issued for reckless driving and a failure to control speed in prevention of the collision.

At 6:57 p.m., an officer reported a vehicle blocking a service drive way by McConnell Hall and noted that the vehicle smelled like marijuana. Three students were cited and released for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. One student was cited and released for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Feb. 20 At 3 p.m., an RA at Sechrist hall reported the odor of marijuana. Two

Compiled by Montgomery Glaser

students were criminally deferred for use of marijuana. One student was cited for use of marijuana.

At 5:37 p.m., a student called to report the theft of a ring. An officer responded and took a report.

Feb. 21 At 1:56 p.m., an officer reported warning a driver about pulling a subject on skis.

At 4:21 p.m., Facilities staff called to report several subjects that had been sliding off the Walkup Skydome roof. Subjects were contacted and warned against doing so.

Hall reported suspicious activity. Six students were criminally deferred for minor in consumption of alcohol and minor in possession of alcohol.

At 12:45 p.m., one student was booked in to CCDF for first degree criminal trespass, criminal damage, disorderly conduct and threatening.

At 1:11 p.m., a student called to report a city bus stuck in the snow.

Assistance was provided.

At 6:43 p.m., one student was cited and released for threatening, intimidating and disorderly conduct noise.

At 5:28 p.m., a student called to report receiving harassing phone calls. Officers responded but the student decided not to file a report.

At 8:42 p.m., a student reported an injury from a traffic collision and hit-and-run. Officers responded and took a report. The victim, a student, was transferred to FMC.

At 11:41 p.m., an officer reported assisting, citing and releasing a motorcyclist who blew a 0.08, which resulted in a DUI offense.

Feb. 24 At 12:45 a.m., Flagstaff Communication Center reported a sick student who was then transported to FMC.

Feb. 22 At 1:47 a.m., a Tinsley Hall resident reported that they were assaulted. Two students were criminally deferred for fighting.

At 2:37 p.m., Reilly Hall staff reported their second floor fire extinguisher missing and presumed stolen. Officers responded and took a report.

At 6:43 p.m., NAUPD assisted FPD with investigating a burglary off campus.

At 3:55 p.m., a subject called to report their property locked inside someone else’s vehicle. Officers responded and assistance was provided.

At 7:02 p.m., staff at The Suites reported a disturbance of the peace.

A student was arrested and booked in to Coconino County Detention Facility (CCDF) for assault relating to domestic violence and possession of drug paraphernalia.

At 10:45 p.m., one student was cited and released for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia at Sechrist Hall.

Feb. 23 At 12:50 a.m., staff at Wilson

FEB. 28, 2019 – MARCH 6, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 3

NEWS

Healthy snowpack shows promise for regional water Conor Sweetman

T

he cycle of snow falling and melting is an essential environmental pillar in northern Arizona. The amount of snow an area receives is known as a snowpack, and it is a substantial source for water.

According to Erin Young, Flagstaff’s Water Resources manager, the snowpack is the main driver of water in Flagstaff. The runoff during the spring melt is vital to recharging Flagstaff’s surface water supply.

“We like to hit 65 percent capacity in Upper Lake Mary if possible,” Carey said.

As the primary driver of water resources in Flagstaff, snowpack levels on the San Francisco Peaks greatly determine the potential outcome of the upcoming fire season and the availability of potable water resources.

According to a report issued

by Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), on Feb. 14, snowpack levels in northern Arizona are currently at roughly 85 percent of the median, compared with a mere 13 percent approximately the same time last year.

Christopher MacDonald, Coconino National Forest Soils and Watershed Protection manager, said that with continued precipitation in the coming weeks, the Peaks could see 100 percent of median snowpack levels.

“We’ve had a much better snowpack this year,” MacDonald said.

“If we continue to have precipitation events like we’ve had, we could hit our normal, which is a very good thing.”

In a forest as large as Coconino, and with a city as large as Flagstaff, water is a vital resource for sustaining people, continued growth and basic survival. Places in northern Arizona, like Flagstaff, are better suited than other Arizona cities when it comes to water resources.

Cities like Phoenix and Tucson are primarily reliant on the Colorado River to bring them water and to feed smaller river and stream systems.

Mount Humphreys and the other summits in the San Francisco Peaks are covered with snow. Feb. 25 Joseph Whitney | The Lumberjack

However, those in Phoenix also partially depend on runoff from the snowmelt from the San Francisco Peaks and the White Mountains.

“Our watersheds up here drive water supplies down in the Valley,” MacDonald said. “They drive water down in the Verde, Gila and Salt rivers. So much of the snow that falls in the mountains of northern Arizona, through snow melt, makes its way down to the users in the Valley.”

The impacts felt from snowpack high above the trees in Flagstaff are felt hundreds of miles away, highlighting its importance in both local and distant water resources.

“It’s mostly runoff from snowmelt that recharges our aquifers, that recharges our surface water and it also recharges a lot of the streams that flow in to stock tanks,” MacDonald

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said. “The main driver is snowpack.”

Because the impacts of the snowpacks are so broadly felt, having an accurate picture of the snowpack is vital to predict runoff when agencies plan their water resources and how best to use the water.

As snow melts and runs off the mountain, it will naturally collect in Upper Lake Mary and help replenish the surface water supply.

During spans, like 2017 to 2018, when snowpack levels are lower, surface water in Upper Lake Mary is diminished. But during wetter spans, like 2015 to 2016, water will flow with ease over the dam that separates Lower and Upper Lake Mary. This, in effect, turns the lower part of the lake into a marsh-land.

According to MacDonald, when snowpack levels are higher, there’s a

trickle-down effect with the water.

More snowpack means more runoff, more runoff means wetter areas.

These wetter areas then contribute to increased vegetation and higher wildlife numbers.

“The better our snowpack, the longer the moisture will persist on the landscape,” MacDonald said.

“That means that trees and other forest vegetation won’t be as drought stressed.”

While the snow melt will prolong the moisture and growing period for vegetation, if the monsoon rains are delayed, then the forest is put at a higher risk of fire due to the extended periods without moisture.

In addition to higher vegetation levels and better wildlife populations, on average, wetter years see more springs flow in the national forest.

While there’s not much individuals can do to help maintain snowpack levels, the current forest thinning operations on Mount Elden and elsewhere will help with snowpack levels in those areas for short periods of time. When forests are densely populated by towering Ponderosas, snow will often accumulate in the thick canopy above and not reach the ground in mass. Thinning operations, both crown thinning and full tree removal help clear the path for snow to make it to the forest floor and thus, the snowpack levels.

For now, snowpack levels in northern Arizona and throughout the Colorado River Basin are looking favorable for the coming summer.

NEWS

Skunks living in the suburbs Brennah Brown

S

kunks have been skulking in the shadows of Flagstaff’s neighborhoods for decades.

Though many consider skunks to be woodland creatures that prefer the shady isolation of the forest, scientists suggest that the striped and spotted creatures in and around Flagstaff prefer the conveniences of suburbia over the wild.

According to NAU vertebrate ecology professor Tad Theimer, northern Arizona’s skunk situation spiked in 2001 when a rabies outbreak became the main concern to city health officials and wildlife protection agencies in Flagstaff.

Theimer said that Flagstaff locals were unprepared for the sudden rabies outbreak.

Despite the city’s interest in wildlife and environmental health, almost no mammalian specialist had researched the role of skunks in an American suburbia. Theimer said the community was not aware of skunk urbanization relative to the rabies outbreak.

“When that outbreak occurred, we realized we didn’t really know how skunks functioned in urban areas,” Theimer said. “The only extensive research concerning skunks in the U.S. focused on skunk populations in true wildlife areas, such as wetlands and prairies.”

Theimer and various graduate students set skunk traps in the Ponderosa pine forest surrounding Flagstaff. They also prepared the same traps in the populated suburban neighborhoods of eastern Flagstaff. Their findings strongly suggest skunks favor the shelter and food sources that apartment complexes and houses provide.

“Most skunks find the suburban area a much better place to live than forested area,” Theimer said. “They burrow under houses, under sheds, in rock crevices and in places where there is food available.”

Many places on and around campus shelter these exact amenities, specifically south campus near Pine Ridge Village and McConnell Hall.

The hilly surfaces and various food items left behind by students are extremely favorable to skunks, and this has attracted a large population of them every semester.

According to Madi Moore, a Pine Ridge Village front desk employee, Pine Ridge Village personnel often discuss skunk activity around the area.

“Lots of my bosses have mentioned that we do have a skunk problem,” Moore said.

“Personally, I’ve seen skunks in the parking lot next to Pine Ridge and in the surrounding area. They seem to come out during the warmer months, like August and April.”

Jillian Rollins, a McConnell Hall front desk employee, also elaborated on various encounters with skunks around the dorm building.

“Students do call in and report skunks around the dumpsters near our hall,” Rollins said. “One student was actually sprayed at the beginning of the semester after he accidentally locked himself out of the building. The skunk got to him before an RA could.”

Rollins further commented that students generally try to avoid skunks and that spraying incidents are rare on south campus.

In order to avoid excessive skunk populations in urban areas, Theimer suggests adequate property management.

“If we remove food attractants — bird feeders, compost piles, overflowing trash cans and gardens — we should be able to [effectively] reduce the skunk population naturally,” Theimer said.

Additionally, Theimer urges homeowners to invest in quality fencing.

“If you are going to try and completely rid your property of skunks, refer to the quote ‘Good fences make good neighbors,’” Theimer said. “Skunks aren’t territorial. There could be 10 to 15 skunks visiting your yard at once.

All you need to do is to block their access into your property and it’s a done deal.”

Additionally, skunks are prone to carrying rabies. However, many pet owners believe the practice of vaccination to be unnecessary and, in turn, don’t vaccinate their pets. Theimer does not underestimate the negative effect this has on domestic animals.

“I cannot stress this enough — vaccinate your pets,” Theimer said. “Not only can rabid skunks bite us, but they can also bite your

“When skunks contract rabies ... They often walk as if they’re drunk” - NAU vertebrate ecology professor Tad Theimer

animals, which can then pass the disease on to you.”

As for students who do not own yarded property, wildlife etiquette should always be practiced properly. Theimer advised that everyone should avoid skunks, given their nature of spraying potential threats.

“When skunks contract rabies they’re out during the day, and they often walk as if they’re drunk,” Theimer said. “If anyone witnesses these characteristics, they should inform animal control immediately.”

According to Theimer, controlling wildlife diseases almost completely depends on citizens being aware of the wildlife in their community.

Skunks will continue to populate Flagstaff suburbia and campus property, regardless of what locals and professionals do.

Locals should try to educate each other about proper skunk etiquette, and the various actions available in order to actively maintain a healthy relationship with surrounding wildlife.

Illustration By Kaitlin Gould

FEB. 28, 2019 – MARCH 6, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 5

NEWS

Left A bike rack along with the bikes lay buried in the snow, along NAU’s Pedway. Feb. 24. Elliot Lovell | The Lumberjack Right NAU students Bryan Blair and James Abres get help from a street cleaner who bulldozes a path for them to back their car into. The two students got their car stuck in a snow berm outside Pine Ridge Apartments. Chase Warren| The Lumberjack

Inconvenient ice slows students down Jake Grosvenor

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ecently, students have been trudging through the snow and treading lightly on ice-covered sidewalks. Flagstaff was hit with several snow storms within the last two weeks, leaving sidewalks and streets covered in ice and snow for days at a time.

Jamie Axelrod, NAU director of Disability Resources, said that students with mobility impairments have a harder time getting around campus when there is heavy snow. To combat this, snow and ice removal has become a priority for students and faculty with mobility impairments to have areas cleared that need to be accessible.

According to NAU’s Faculty Services website, NAU’s Operations and Maintenance is responsible for maintaining campus grounds and for the removal of snow on sidewalks and other areas around campus.

Axelrod said NAU has a prioritized a list of buildings that must be first accessible to students and staff. These buildings have high priority for snow removal and NAU staff work with Facility

Services to get this removal completed.

“The first thing on that list are all the accessible paths of travel around campus,” Axelrod said. “These are spaces that folks who have mobility devices would use to get around campus.”

With services to help students and staff get around campus, there are still concerns over the safety of students when large snowstorms hit NAU. Last weekend, Flagstaff was hit with recordbreaking snowfall. According to the National Weather Service’s Snowfall Report, the Flagstaff area received around 40 inches of snow between the night of Feb. 20 and the morning of Feb. 22.

This snowstorm also caused NAU President Rita Cheng to send an email alerting all students of what was going to take place over the course of the storm.

“Classes on Northern Arizona University’s Flagstaff campus are canceled on Thursday, Feb. 21, due to the anticipated impacts of significant snowfall, cold and high winds,” Cheng said in the email. “While classes are canceled, employees who are called in or are employed in designated

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essential services should report to work.”

In a second email to students from Cheng, classes for Feb. 22 were also canceled.

This issue is not new, and some students have more experience with it than others.

Creighton Penido, an NAU alumni who graduated in 2015, explained his experiences with snow and ice after a storm during his time at NAU. “During the winter months, the NAU Facility Services team were amazing about keeping the roads and pathways plowed. I was never in a situation where I couldn’t get somewhere because of a buildup of snow,” Penido said. “There was a lot of ice though. I would fall almost every other week because my bike tires would hit a patch of ice.”

Penido said that when he was living at Hilltop Townhomes, he saw how snow and ice removal was different on campus as opposed to the rest of Flagstaff.

“Flagstaff wasn’t as quick to plow, so the roads would be filled with snow and slush,” Penido said. “This made riding my bike much more difficult if I needed to go somewhere off

campus.”

Freshman Clayton Bozeman also had issues with the snow and ice leftover from the previous storms and has had a different experience.

“These storms made it difficult to get to my classes due to paths not being cleared before my classes started,” Bozeman said.

Bozeman said he has mixed feelings toward the way NAU has handled recent snow, with the biggest issue being ice left on the walkways.

“I feel it is safer to walk in the snow next to the paths due to not putting sand or dirt on the ice,” Bozeman said. “There have been many times where I have almost fallen on a patch of ice because I have no traction.”

Bozeman explained that along with himself, he has seen students slip and fall multiple times and cars have also lost control as a result of the ice.

Students will continue to experience more of the same issues with the current ice and snow and need to travel with caution during the winter months.

FEB. 28, 2019 – MARCH 6, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 7

COMIC SPOT

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FEB. 28, 2019 – MARCH 6, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 9

OPINION-EDITORIAL

What is socialism, anyway? scout ehrler

Cheating versus innocent intentions

I

believe that intention is everything. It is inevitable to find some people to be physically attractive, even when in a relationship with a different person.

For example, if any person in a relationship says they think Megan Fox or Zac Efron is physically unattractive, they’re just in denial or simply lying to their partner to protect their feelings.

Or they’re asexual, but that’s another topic of conversation.

Attraction still happens even if a person is 100 percent committed to a monogamous relationship with their partner, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

However, there can be conflict, if a simple and spontaneous attraction turns into a crush that has an intention that is anything CAITLIN less than innocent.

BURKE Emotional cheating has become a OP-ED WRITER common term since it has risen in popularity with the help of technology and social media.

Infidelity isn’t just defined as having sex with someone other than your partner. But that aspect of it is the easiest way to clearly determine when a line has been crossed.

The same can’t be said about emotional cheating. It can be subjective and often hard to tell when a line has been crossed.

For me, the golden rule of knowing when a line is crossed is if the trust of my partner is broken or in question.

Forms of emotional cheating can include getting unnecessarily happy to talk to another person, talking about things with a person that you don’t talk about with your partner, downplaying the relationship to friends or your partner, or keeping it a secret altogether.

The difference between these activities becoming emotional cheating or just being a simple crush is the intention. I don’t think there should be any problem with having an attraction to someone physically or mentally, as long as there is no intention for the attraction to ever leave the mind of the person experiencing it.

Acknowledging the attraction and deciding to pursue it by spending extra time with the person is very problematic and crosses the line of emotional infidelity pretty quickly.

But, from my perspective as someone in a long-term, longdistance relationship, I personally don’t see anything wrong with my partner being attracted to another person. As long as they wouldn’t ever have any thoughts to act on their attraction outside of the normal parameters of interaction.

My two cents are that if you feel as though you are intentionally acting on something that makes you feel guilty and it’s something that would break your partner’s trust, reevaluate your desire to be in a monogamous relationship.

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B

ernie Sanders is not a socialist. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not a socialist. Venezuela isn’t even a socialist country, and I’ll tell you why.

Socialism is viewed as dirty and taboo. Each time a political figure or pundit advocates for social programs — Medicaid, food stamps, housing assistance and so on — and seeks to create a community of healthy and protected individuals, they are called socialist.

We’re approaching the Red Scare 2.0.

The negative connotation of socialism is tied to the Cold War, a time where “communists” were blacklisted, ostracized and punished. I believe we are so programmed by capitalism that anything that appears to be a threat to it instills fear, and this fear morphs into hatred and anger.

Capitalism rules the world economy through globalization, and it’s not very easy to just break away from that.

Beyond that, a core idea within the theories of socialism and communism is one of anarchy, per se. These ideologies are defined by a lack of power, or rather, the power lies within the people. Socialism is a stepping stone to communism, which is the almighty Karl Marx’s Nirvana.

The kicker is, no one is willing to give up power. If a socialist project goes as planned, over time there will be a transition where the government and controlling powers begin to dissolve.

This has n e v e r been done.

Venezuela has a president, Nicolas Maduro, who takes advantage of and neglects to take care of his people.

Rather than placing the power in the peoples’ hands, Maduro dangles the rights of his people in front of them like a carrot while making a profit.

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are a completely different part of the conversation. In a strong, capitalist society such as that the United States, it is part of the culture.

Capitalism is in our veins. Our foundations are capitalistic, the American dream is capitalistic, everything in this country is capitalistic. When that is threatened, people tend to lash out at these threatening individuals. While Ocasio-Cortez is a self-described socialist and Bernie has stated that he is a “democratic socialist,” this does not mean they have the power or desire to dismantle North American

capitalism, let alone global capitalism. As long as this country stands, capitalism will run through Lady Liberty’s veins.

There are proposals which people call socialist, such as the Green New Deal. This usage of the term is the very reason I’m writing this. Just because a politician wants good lives for the people of this country and prospering communities meanwhile improving our environment, does not mean they are a socialist or a threat to this country.

Additionally, someone declaring they are a socialist has no real implication beyond personal ideology. Socialists and communists are not seeping into our government with the intention of ripping it apart from the inside out. Again, it’s never going to happen. These politicians simply write leftist policy which can sometimes reflect a socialist ideology and suddenly become threatening.

Our economic system will never be in danger no matter how many Bernies there may be.

True socialism has become unattainable as capitalism has spread throughout the world, but of course, the ideology still stands. And in my eyes, this truly is not a bad thing. It allows politicians such as Ocasio-Cortez to write sympathetic and thoughtful policy with the American people in mind.

What’s so threatening about that?

Illustration By Tonesha tazzie

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Trump versus SNL: a war raged on Twitter Caitlin Burke

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he simulation is truly broken.

When Donald Trump hosted Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 2015, in the middle of his presidential campaign, he said during his monologue, “Part of the reason I’m here is because I know how to take a joke.”

This leads me to believe that the president of the United States has surely become a different person from the one who hosted SNL merely four years ago compared to the one who is behind the recent Tweets trying to wage war with the satirical comedy show.

President Trump has repeatedly gone to Twitter to attack SNL every time they air a skit that ridicules his job as president. Every time Trump Illustration By Amy Czachowski tweets about being offended by the comedy skits, he calls it fake news.

Does Trump actually think SNL is a news show?

Surely, since he was on the set of SNL, what seems like a lifetime ago, he has seen first hand that the work they produce on their show is pure comedy and nothing compared to actual

news productions.

Perhaps our president sees the “news” set behind recent Weekend Update hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che and assumes it’s a news production. Or maybe Trump is too used to watching the laughability that Fox News has become and is mixing up the similarities between SNL’s satire and Fox News’ unreliable and biased reporting. On one hand, our president’s establishment of a war on journalism through the term “fake news” is a battle within itself.

It’s extremely mind-boggling to try to imagine any past U.S. President publicly stating “The New York Times reporting is false. They are a true ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!” Another one of my favorite Trump-authored tweets is “The Washington Post is a Fact Checker only for the Democrats. For the Republicans, and for your all-time favorite President, it is a Fake Fact Checker!”

Regardless, I fully believe Donald Trump can’t actually distinguish the fake from the real, considering he keeps calling a comedy show “fake news.” Saying this, along with all the other slander against actual reputable news publications, is too darn close to government censorship.

It is almost sad to think that our president doesn’t have

the brain cells capable of taking a joke in 2019. I’m unsure of what happened between Trump’s 2015 SNL appearance and now because he apparently didn’t find the show as disgusting back then as he does now.

At least the so-called hyper-sensitive snowflakes can laugh.

Clearly, sometimes comedy just doesn’t strike the right chord with certain people, which is fine considering everyone is allowed to their own individual sense of humor. I’ve yet to figure out what President Trump thinks is something to laugh at, other than mocking disabled reporters during his 2015 campaign.

As per Trump’s Feb. 17 tweet, “Nothing funny about tired Saturday Night Live on Fake News NBC! Question is, how do the networks get away with these total Republican hit jobs without retribution? Likewise for many other shows? Very unfair and should be looked into. This is the real Collusion!”

Collusion can’t happen between a satirical comedy show and its audience — silly Donald.

To further the war waged on Twitter, which is supposed to be an app intended for accounts like @WeRateDogs to prevail rather than have presidents declare legislation, Alec Baldwin tossed his hat in the ring by tweeting: “I wonder if a sitting President exhorting his followers that my role in a TV comedy qualifies me as an enemy to the people constitutes a threat to my safety and that of my family?”

The Trump impressionist has a valid point.

I just wish our administration would focus their attention on actual political issues in our country rather than get paid to cry on social media when the president’s feelings get hurt.

Kaepernick’s message remains as strong as ever brady wheeler

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ll pending grievances have been resolved. Colin Kaepernick’s long-fought labor dispute with the NFL is over.

Almost two and a half years have passed since Kaepernick made his first public protest. Now, the former 49ers quarterback and the NFL have agreed to a ceasefire contingent on undisclosed terms.

The ending is fitting. Kaepernick ended his protest just as it began: silently.

Admittedly, this is not the ending I hoped for. Society prides itself on being on the winning side, and it seems there will be no clear winner. A settlement implies that both Kaepernick and the NFL must have had reasonable doubts that winning was a possibility.

While it is likely America will never get a legally-defined winner, I worry that the purpose of the protest will be lost.

Many Americans seem to think that the lawsuit is proof that Kaepernick was in it for the money and fame. This is false.

I think it is more important now than ever to remember how the protests began.

When Kaepernick began his national anthem protest, it NFL owners that tried to remove him from the league. It simply went unnoticed. He sat on the bench during the anthem for two does not tell the whole story. weeks before the media realized his absence. He was not seeking The terms of Kaepernick’s settlement are unclear. Perhaps to broadcast his opposition; the media came to him first. this is the NFL buying his silence. Maybe the NFL thinks this The protest was simply a silent, personal rejection of America’s will blow over if Kaepernick stops taking about it. The truth is, unwillingness to address police violence toward Black the terms and dollar amount present in the agreement do not Americans. Nobody — not even Kaepernick — could matter. have predicted the magnitude of what followed.

This is why: I have kept up with the NFL for many When asked about his protest, Kaepernick years. I would consider myself more than just a casual fan. said, “to me, this is bigger than football and it I am aware of almost every roster change. I watch almost would be selfish on my part to look the other way.” every game.

It is still bigger than football.

I also question the validity of every single quarterback I would like to remind you that Kaepernick that is signed to a new contract because I am confident that still does not have a job in the NFL. He still Kaepernick is more deserving than most. Every time this has not been paid the $61 million supposedly happens, I find myself losing interest in the NFL. “guaranteed” in his record-breaking $126 million So, yes, Kaepernick was paid a settlement, but it has contract extension. He is still receiving death in no way strained his message. threats.

Kaepernick has every right to try and recuperate the To imply that Kaepernick is in it for financial losses that occurred when the NFL tried to silence the money and fame completely discounts him. The labor dispute does not delegitimize his message. the sacrifices he has made by protesting. It What the NFL fails to recognize is that silence is, completely discounts the wrongdoings of the Illustration By pruthvi khilosia and will always be, his strongest asset.

FEB. 28, 2019 – MARCH 6, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 11

FEATURES

Humans W

ith the recent onslaught of snow, NAU students shared whether the spring semester, harsh weather can make it challenging for transportation or a basic lack of motivation.

JAsmine Schowalter

Ryan Fenske

Adrianna Weise

Sophomore

Senior

Sophomore

Hotel and Restaurant Management

History

Physics and Astronomy

Phoenix, Arizona

Gilbert, Arizona

Buffalo, Minnesota

“M

y attendance has been partially effected by the snowy weather because classes keep getting canceled. Teachers simply can’t leave their homes in this weather. I have a teacher who lives in Munds Park and my class got canceled today because she couldn’t come.”

“I usually still attend my classes even when it’s cold outside.

I’m a pretty good student, so I try to go even when it’s snowing and freezing outside.”

“I

wouldn’t say my attendance has been effected by the snow. I still go to all of my classes. I actually enjoy walking in the snow. None of my professors have canceled classes this semester. In the past years they have, but not this year.”

“I

don’t really feel like my attendance is effected in this weather because I live in Gillenwater Hall. Since it’s on campus, I can get to my classes pretty easily. If I lived off campus it would probably be different, because I might have a hard time getting to campus as roads might be blocked from the snow. I’m from Minnesota, so I’m used to the snow and this type of weather.”

Stories by MAdeline Hollmann

12 THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

FEATURES

of NAU

r their attendance has been affected by adverse weather conditions. During r students to get to class, whether it is because of obstacles presented to

Aspen Jack

Colton Stewart

Erika Gozar

Junior

Freshman

Freshman

Environmental Sustainability

Vocal Performance

Vocal Performance

Fountain Hills, Arizona

Gilbert, Arizona

Peoria, Arizona

“L

ately, I’ve felt less motivated to go to classes because of the snow. It makes me want to just sit at home and be warm and comfy as opposed to walking around campus in the cold. Last week, I missed my first class because it was really snowy. A lot of my classes have been canceled, but that doesn’t really have to do with me. That’s my teachers’ choosing. One of my classes just got canceled for later today, actually. Two of my classes got canceled yesterday and another class last week, too.”

“I

do feel like my attendance is being effected because of the snow. I live off campus, so that is a factor.

The snow itself wouldn’t be bad, it’s the lack of snow plows in my neighborhood that’s the problem. Since I live off campus, the snow effects my attendance more because I have to drive to school. I’ve skipped class this semester due to the weather. I have a really long driveway, so it takes a long time to shovel it. Sometimes it takes up to an hour. It’s not really worth it for me. I’ll just shovel it later when I’m not tired, exhausted and when it’s not 6 o’clock in the morning.”

“M

y attendance is not exactly effected. However, the snow does pose as a challenge. It’s much more inconvenient, especially walking to class when there is a lot of ice. I have to be careful while walking on ice because I don’t want to slip and fall. I just have to walk slower to class, so I usually plan ahead for that. So far I haven’t fallen.”

| Photos by Mackenzie Brower

FEB. 28, 2019 – MARCH 6, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 13

FEATURES

New political club pushes social reform on campus Tehya Morison Editor’s note: Scout Ehrler and Caitlin Burke are both writers for The Lumberjack.

L

umberjack Advocates for Political Progress (LAPP) is a new club on campus that is looking to make waves in and around the Flagstaff community. According to LAPP club members, the group’s goals are to listen to students’ concerns and to bring the most important issues to light within the community.

The club was founded by sophomore Scout Ehrler, who serves as its president. Junior Valentine Sargent, LAPP’s vice president, also helped Ehrler get the club off the ground.

In the club’s inaugural meeting Feb. 14, the two students established a set of goals for the new organization and talked about ways they plan to bring the student body closer together. They drafted a club constitution, which states that LAPP is a leftist, intersectional organization that promotes the progress of human rights on both state and national levels. Above all else, Sargent said LAPP is about giving a platform to those who feel unheard by society.

“A huge thing I wanted to highlight with Scout is that we want to give people a voice, especially when they feel they don’t have one,” Sargent said. “We aren’t affiliated with any specific political party, but rather we seek to guide our activism by adhering to a few moral principles that we view as integral to our stated goal of working toward political progress.”

The club is open to all students regardless of race, ethnicity, background or beliefs. Their constitution states that the club will not tolerate any form of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia or transphobia for any reason. LAPP members say they value equality, fairness, inclusivity and environmental sustainability above all else.

Members of the club also seek to promote nonpartisan discourse between students who hold varying

Illustration By Colton Starley

political beliefs. Sargent said they’re not interested in blindly adhering to party lines, but that club members are willing to collaborate with opposing party candidates for the sake of challenging their views and participating in political discourse.

Some club members feel that because they are focused on human rights activism, they have become part of something bigger than themselves.

Junior Caitlin Burke, a LAPP member, said the club makes her feel included because of its relatively small member base. She said she finds it easy to share her thoughts and opinions with other members. Burke said that for her, LAPP is a safe space where she is free to discuss her political frustrations

14 THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

with others who feel similarly.

“I became interested in the club because I’m very involved in politics, but I’m not very involved in clubs on campus,” Burke said. “I thought that joining this club might be a great way to start.”

Professor Marisa Garcia Rodriguez is the head faculty adviser for LAPP. Garcia Rodriguez said she was more than willing to support Ehrler in creating the club.

“One day Ehrler asked if I’d be the adviser for the club,” Garcia Rodriguez said. “She really wanted to start a club that was engaged in social justice and concerned about contemporary politics. That is my area of interest as well, so I agreed to

support her application for the club.”

Climate change was a hot topic at last week’s meeting. This discussion was driven in large part by the proposition of the Green New Deal by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Feb. 7 at a United States congressional meeting.

Ehrler explained in the club meeting that the new deal pushes for environmental reform as a means to improve global climate conditions.

The deal aims to do so in a way that simultaneously improves the U.S. economy.

Discussions about the deal then lead to talk surrounding President Donald Trump and his recently declared state of emergency, which

will serve as a means to begin construction on a Mexican-American border wall.

The majority of club members said they felt it was unnecessary and unreasonable for Trump to call for a state of emergency. LAPP’s views on the current immigration laws are that they limit basic human rights.

Ehrler and Sargent said there is much in store for the club’s future.

For instance, Ehrler will set up booths around campus to promote the club.

Ehrler also said she plans to reach a more conservative audience by contacting members of the Arizona Republican Party to advocate for the Green New Deal.

Members of the club have created a Facebook page and website in order to reach out to community members through various online channels. They have also begun an online petition to protest the deepfake effect. Deepfakes are digitally fabricated images or videos which are often used to make politicians look bad.

One goal for LAPP is to increase the size of it’s member base with each new meeting. According to Ehrler, five people were in attendance at the club’s first meeting, and as the following week progressed, more students signed up to participate.

Ehrler said that members of LAPP seek to collaborate with other organizations on campus such as the Black Student Union and the Ladies of Truth in order to achieve shared political goals.

“We’re always recruiting,” Ehrler said. “We’re trying to plant our roots in as many parts of the university as possible.”

Members of the club say they welcome all students and community members with open arms, no matter their party affiliation.

Sargent said she encourages Flagstaff residents to get involved by attending club meetings and being more communicative about the social, political and environmental problems prevalent within the community.

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FEB. 28, 2019 – MARCH 6, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 15

CULTURE

Get smart with your creative body art

Flagstaff resident Jay Thomas cringes with pain as he gets his nipples pierced by Dan Duke at Woody’s Old School Tattoos and Piercings, Feb. 23.

Joseph Whitney| The Lumberjack

Audrey Woods

T

he way someone chooses to express themselves can take many forms. Some choose to dye their hair, some use makeup or clothing to create a unique look and others choose to trust a professional with a needle.

Body modification isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the Committee on Adolescence reports it is becoming increasingly more mainstream with 38 percent of 18 to 29-year-old’s having at least one tattoo and 23 percent with piercings in locations other than an earlobe. If this is the case, learning all the facts before making a permanent decision can be helpful.

Anyone over the age of 18 can walk into a tattoo or piercing shop to get the body art they want. However, Dan Duke, a piercer at Woody’s Old School Tattoos and Piercings, explained it isn’t doesn’t have to be difficult to find a reputable piercer or tattoo artist.

“There are organizations out there

that certify piercers, as well as government organizations,” Duke said. “So definitely do your research beforehand like you would before any kind of medical procedure.”

Coconino County happens to be the only county in Arizona that regulates body modification. This means the studios that tattoo and pierce are inspected at random twice a year and must meet certain regulations as far as procedures followed and sterility.

Both professional tattoo artists and piercers have to take sterilization seriously when they are working with multiple clients every day. It is illegal to use a needle or substance on more than one person unless it has been properly sterilized.

It is also illegal to pierce with a piercing gun in a professional piercing studio. Because of this, many studios use prepackaged, disposable sterilized needles for procedures.

Many tattoo artists and piercers post portfolios of their work on either social media or their studio’s website. Potential clients can research artists to pick out a design or style they

16 THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

like. Many artists welcome walk-ins and will tattoo a design the client picked out or sketched on their own.

“Some people don’t want custom art, they just found something perfect online that they like and I have no problem doing that,” said Woody’s tattoo artist Mike Williams.

Williams explained the importance of preparing before getting a tattoo because tattoos are technically wounds. Tattoos can be painful, but the pain varies client to client and the location on the body. He recommends eating a healthy meal and getting a full night’s sleep to ensure the client is comfortable during the entire visit. Senior Austin “AJ” Taylor said he felt great after getting his first tattoo.

“I didn’t know what the pain would be like but it turned out not to be that bad. Also I was surprised at how long it took to actually do the tattoo,” Taylor said. “It took so much longer than I thought. ” The same goes for piercings but the pain is typically felt for a much shorter period of

time. However, Duke usually won’t give a client more than one or two piercings in a specific area to allow for proper healing. Pain can vary depending on the location of the piercing but again can vary from client to the client.

“I think 80 percent is based on the person because a lot of times you can do an earlobe and the person has a complete psychological breakdown, whereas you can be doing an intense genital piercing or nipple piercing and the person’s just sitting there chatting up with their friend,” Duke said. “So really there are so many variables involved.”

A client should prepare for the proper length of healing time after any new piercing or tattoo. The healing time varies depending on size and location. For piercings, the standard healing time is typically between six and nine weeks, but Duke said some piercings require up to a year. For tattoos, Williams said to expect the wound to heal in about two weeks, but with more intricate pieces it could take three or four weeks.

Taking good care of new body art reduces the chance of infection and helps the art hold its quality. Williams stresseed the importance of wearing sunscreen and practicing basic skin care with a new tattoo. He also suggested using Aquaphor or A&D Ointment on a new tattoo because thicker products like Vaseline can suck the ink out of the tattoo. Duke gives each new client either a commercial piercing aftercare solution or a sterile saline bottle to clean new piercings.

Tattoos are permanent, but depending on the quality of ink and location, tattoos can fade while piercings are more reversible as they can close up in roughly a month. Duke warned that as with any wound, there may be some minor scarring. If body art is done properly and taken care of it shouldn’t cause any problems after it is healed. However, if problems do arise, clients should contact their piercer, tattoo artist or a doctor, depending on the severity.

“I always tell people you want to feel confident, sexy and beautiful with your new body art piece, so if you’re uncomfortable with it contact your piercer, they should be able to help you out and resolve anything like that,” Duke said.

Many people choose to express themselves with body art. When considering getting a new piercing or tattoo, learning what to expect can help alleviate stress and ensure a fun and relaxing visit.

CULTURE

NAU faculty lacking in Black representation Kiara Brown

N

AU has approximately 35 faculty and professional staff members of AfricanAmerican descent, according to Bernadine Lewis, the director of undergraduate programs for the W.A. Franke College of Business. Although the number of Black students has increased, the group is not seeing themselves reflected in their educators.

Lewis and the other Black employees take note when a new Black faculty member is employed because that’s how few there are and they are easy to account for when compared to about 2,500 other NAU faculty and professional staff. Black faculty and staff represent only 1 percent of NAU’s professional staff. According to NAU, there were approximately 1,500 students that identify as Black in the fall 2018 semester.

“Typically when we hear about business, the words globalization, inclusion and diversity are common words,” Lewis said.

Lewis has worked for NAU for nine years and has seen at most five Black faculty and staff members work in the W.A Franke College of Business. Now there are three including herself.

“Flagstaff is a different place to live in if you’re accustomed to diversity,” Lewis said. “The problem is in retention. They come, but they do not stay.”

The W.A Franke College of Business is not the only area of campus where there is a lack of Black representation. Junior engineering major Clarreese Greene said she experienced difficulties in her major that she doesn’t think she would have had to face if she would’ve had someone in her college who could represent her.

“I feel like sometimes there are [professors] who are more lenient with students who look like them, versus students who look like me,” Greene said.

Greene is the vice president of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), which she said is small but necessary to exist as a support system for Black students in the technical field.

There are currently 12 members in the NSBE. “With NSBE, we support you and then you do the same for others,” Greene said.

Ivy Banks, the director of The Office of Inclusion for Multicultural & LGBTQIA Student Services (IMQ), agrees that some students of color feel the lack of Black faculty members is hindering their success. IMQ exists to assist in reducing some of the discomfort students of color feel attending a predominantly

Illustration By Tyler Hammar and Katie Dobrydney

White institution. It is located in the University Union Field House and welcomes everyone of all ethnicities.

“You need to see what you can do and what you can become so that you know it’s possible,” Banks said.

Banks emphasized the importance of growing NAU’s Black faculty members for the sake of the students. She also said she knows that she’s needed at NAU. She drives five hours every day, to and from work, from Gilbert, Arizona.

“I love being everybody’s momma here,” Banks said. “I love you all, you are the reason I do what I do.”

There are resources, such as NSBE, that exist to create support systems. There are clubs on campus for students of color, such as the

Black Student Union, the United Diversity Council and the Latino Student Union. Banks said these all help, but they are still not enough.

NAU’s human resources site has a Diversity Fellow position open for those who are interested in a job promoting diversity. This position has been modified to a part-time position instead of a full-time position. The job description says the person who fills this role will focus on molding NAU to be a Hispanic serving institute.

“If that is what trends in our recruitment efforts, of course, that’s a wonderful thing. But here I go back to retention,” Lewis said. “Have we really fully completed our initiative toward Native Americans? Have we fully and completely finished our initiative toward students of African descent?”

Lewis said she fears that NAU recruits students of color and once a certain number is reached, they move on to the next ethnic group.

However, Lewis said numbers can tend to drop if there isn’t an active plan to maintain those already in attendance at NAU. If any students are looking for additional support, the Student Services community in the W.A Franke College of Business is an option.

Lewis said someone doesn’t have to be a business student to go there and that they aren’t alone.

“We do any number of things, during any given day,” Lewis said. “If that means feeding a student here, because they don’t have a lunch, giving them gas money or giving them a suit if they need one, that’s what this office is for.”

FEB. 28, 2019 – MARCH 6, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 17

CULTURE

WINTER STORM Students walk south through campus Feb. 21. Classes were canceled Thursday and Friday because of a record-breaking snowstorm. Photos by Michael Patacsil| The Lumberjack

Right: Heaps of snow accumulate on the Louie statue outside the University Union.

Bottom Left: Two sledders make their way down a hill.

Bottom Right: Emilee Eychner, left, extends a hand to Sam Gates, right, after he falls in the snow.

18 THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

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SPORTS

Overpaying for overrated

H

ow much are you worth? According to seeker.com, the human heart can sell for $1 million.

But, can you really put a dollar sign on a living, breathing person? No problem. Professional sports do it every day.

MLB’s website says Alex Rodriguez held the most lucrative contract in baseball when he re-signed with the Yankee’s in 2007 for $275 million.

This year, after a two-hour meeting, San Diego Padres Chairman and free agent Manny Machado came to terms on a deal. A 10-year contract and $300 million. According to MLB, this is the largest free agent deal in American sports history.

Say what you want about America’s MOLLY pastime, but it just broke records.

SMITH In my opinion, Machado’s contract is SPORTS EDITOR far too long. On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith summed it up perfectly: No one is worth a 10-year deal.

Machado is young and temperamental. We saw that in the 2018 National League Championship Series less than a year ago. He sprinted down the baseline on an easy ground-out and dragged his leg to take out Brewers first baseman Jesus Aguilar.

Being new to the Dodger’s, fans didn’t leave that game very fond of Machado.

In 2016, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia limped off the field after Machado slid into second base and cleated Pedroia’s leg.

There’s more examples, but I’ll stop here.

The point I’m trying to get at: He’s 26 and has a history. A 10-year contract means the Padres cannot get rid of him for an entire decade. Machado is a free agent and is allowed to leave and go wherever he pleases whenever. If he signed for five years and after the third season the Padres don’t like him with the franchise, they could have waited it out for a couple of years.

But if Manny Machado enjoys southern California, the money he’s getting, along with the publicity, he’s staying a Padre until he’s in his mid-30s.

There’s an article that SportingNews.com titled “Manny Machado explains why he chose the Padres…”

Does there really need to be an explanation? If you had that much money waved in your face you’d be foolish not to take it.

But then again, the Padres are foolish for offering. The Padres have been off the radar for a while now. They haven’t even made it past division championships since 2006. If they’re hoping Machado is going to take them to the Series, they’re wrong.

He plays and he plays well — but he’s no Mike Trout, who is arguably the only MLB player worth $300 million.

20 THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Figure skaters practice new skills Feb. 20 at Jay Lively Ice Activity Center. Bess Valdez | The Lumberjack

Falling figure skaters rise back up Will Hopkins

S

ports is what some might argue is essential in the character development of children. The wins and ribbons are rewarding but the dedication, losses and the falls are what figure skating is all about.

Falling is something young children often struggle with.

Any parent can tell you that watching their child fall becomes a regularity, but the crying and bruises eventually stop. The child tries and tries again, until one day, there is no more falling. By the time the child is 6 or 7 years old, they are walking comfortably and the days of falling are long forgotten. So, why would a parent put their child in a position to fall again?

Sports are an avenue for teaching kids how to accomplish things in life. Many parents like to put their children onto a field to teach them teamwork and how to overcome obstacles. Some may say this can lead to kids not knowing how to work alone.

Children quickly forget how to fall and get back up again without help. This is why many parents make the decision to watch their child fall all over again.

Ice skating is an often overlooked sport, especially when kids are just getting their feet under them and learning how to walk. Putting them on the ice can be daunting for parents. Some

may go their whole life not knowing how to ice skate and that is just fine. Very few brave the ice because they fear having to learn to walk all over again. So, why learn the beauty and grace of this sport?

Jay Lively Activity Center offers a wide variety of activities that are available to new and experienced skaters alike. Young children get out on the ice and learn from experienced instructors who perform incredible routines in preparation for upcoming competitions.

“The first thing I teach my students is how to fall and get back up on the ice,” said skating instructor Cyanne Henson.

When watching the younger groups skate, it is rare to see them standing. They are always encouraged by the instructors and they never stay down for long.

From a parent’s perspective, getting children out on the ice has several benefits.

“This was something we don’t have to force her to do,” said Jennifer Rohirg, mother of Nikki Rohirgg, one of the more experienced skaters.

Jennifer Rohirg has been watching her daughter skate since she was 3 years old, which is a very young age for anyone to get out on the ice. Eight years later, she still loves going to the rink everyday to work on routines and get better at all things skating.

Katrina Littlefoot is just getting her child into the sport.

“Normally its just me and him at home and this is a good

“The first thing I teach my students is how to fall and get back up on the ice” -CYANNAE HENSON, SKATING INSTRUCTIOR

SPORTS

Men’s Basketball —The Lumberjacks are coming off an at-home win against the Idaho Vandals 75-54.

They lost against Eastern Washington Saturday 86-73. March 2 they will take on the Bobcats in Bozeman, Montana.

Men’s Tennis— Gonzaga University beat NAU 4-3 in Las Vegas Feb. 24. NAU senior Tim Handel and senior Ruben Montano had their fourth win of the season as a doubles pair.

The duo defeated Gonzaga University junior Sam Feit and senior Ruadhan O’Sullivan 7-6. Men’s Tennis will host Southern Utah Univerity at home March 2.

Track and Field — Men’s track and field took home their 21st Big Sky Indoor Conference Championship title at the twoday tournament in Bozeman, Montana. Junior Blaise Ferro won the title of 2019 Big Sky Indoor Men’s Most Valuable Athlete.

NAU track will participate in the NCAA tournament in Birmingham, Alabama March 8.

Instructor Morgan Coverdale helps Emmalee Ho with her ice skating routine Feb. 20 at Jay Lively Ice Activity Center.

Bess Valdez | The Lumberjack

chance to get him out and interacting with other kids,” Littlefoot said.

She watched as her son fell, got up and made his way off the ice. Then, he would work his way back out to the rink with a determination that is rarely seen in kids. He’d fall again and repeat the process.

The 7-year-old continued to work on his skills, driven by the desire for success.

Parents and skaters are fond of coach Antoni Rucker. Jennifer Rohirg praised Rucker for her dedication to the club and the kids she coached. Rucker’s students lovingly call her Toni. Rucker talks through routines with her more experienced skaters

and guides the younger skaters while they learn their way around the ice. Rucker is personal with each of her skaters and offers them one-on-one attention.

To Rucker, skating teaches independence, dedication and much more.

“It really challenges the kids to work for themselves,” Rucker said. “I don’t know what kid can be judged at the age of five, six or seven and go win gracefully and lose gracefully.”

Rucker values the relationships she builds with her current and former students. Those former students often call to tell her they went skating and

are grateful for the good memories they shared.

Ice skating is a challenging sport, but it is just as rewarding. With every fall comes a learning moment. Although the student is alone on the ice, he or she is not alone on the journey. Behind them are countless mentors. Students can rely on parents, coaches and other skaters to teach them and offer a hand up after a rough fall.

Ice skating teaches students to get back up, stay strong and create friendships with other skaters who will always have their back.

Women’s Basketball — The Lumberjacks are coming off back-toback losses against the Vandals 90-72 and Eastern Washington 86-73. They will host Montana State March 2 at 2 p.m.

Women’s Golf— NAU placed 15th out of 20 teams at the two-day Grand Canyon Invitational. Ashley Croft and Aleksandra Chekalina led the Lumberjacks at T19 with a total of 224 points each. They will face Northern Colorado in an away meet March 1.

FEB. 28, 2019 – MARCH 6, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 21

SPORTS

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HOW TO APPLY

APPLICATION FORM: www.twinarrows.com/employment Submit a letter of interest, writing sample, resume with references & employment application.

Forward submissions to the attention of: Pamela Dokis, Director of Training Email: NNGETrainingStaff@nnge.org US Mail: 1801 W Route 66, Suite 100, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Application Deadline: 5PM, April 5, 2019 * Must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment drug/alcohol screen, background investigation & obtain/maintain a gaming license.*Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE NAVAJO PEOPLE BY GROWING A SUCCESSFUL GAMING ECONOMY

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