The Lumberjack--April 12, 2018

T H E L U M BE R JACK

APRIL 12, 2018 – APRIL 18, 2018

TAILS WAG FOR NEW PARK PAGE 23

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

I

didn’t have a New Year’s resolution for 2018, but self-care quickly became my motto as the days started to pass by. With my extremely busy schedule, it is vital for me to take time for myself.

Without my Sunday “me time,” I would be a shell of myself, dragging my body through the newsroom, missing deadlines and dreading every class.

Instead, I am fueled from within to take on my weeks with vigor. It is easier for me to maintain my positive and happy mood when I take time for myself. Not saying I don’t have bad days or feel stressed, because I do. But going through my routine every week helps elevate any hectic days I have. Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be a big deal, either. Eating healthy food, working out or thinking positive thoughts are all part of self-care. The little things you do for yourself matter.

On Sundays, I usually take care of myself by painting my nails, putting a face mask on and deep conditioning my hair. I make sure all my homework for the weekend is done, and I can just sit and relax.

I wake up the next morning feeling refreshed, and it really helps my mental health as well. When I feel good, I treat people better and do work that I am proud ARIEL CIANFARANO of. I didn’t even realize that my weekly routine on Sunday was important to me until WEB CHIEF I mentioned it in an interview.

The interviewer asked me how I prioritize my time with all my responsibilities.

I answered the question, going through how I make time for everything, and then I said, “Making sure I take time for myself is also so important to me.”

After the interview, I was a little embarrassed, thinking that probably wasn’t the best way to answer the question.

It was the truth, though, and it was real.

While I am here talking about self-love and mental health, the Op-Ed section has an article about mental health on page 11. I can’t stress enough how important it is to stay true to yourself and to treat yourself kindly. Next week’s Lumberjack will be a special issue on sexual health and awareness, so make sure you pick up a copy.

It’s also the season of spring cleaning, and I don’t just mean cleaning out the closet. Spring cleaning can be decluttering your brain and trying to think more positively. Spring cleaning can mean letting go of people who only bring you down. It could mean being more thankful for what you have.

All of these can be examples of revitalizing your mind, body and spirit.

Thank you for reading.

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

VOL. 106 ISSUE 12

Editor-in-Chief Megan Troutman

Managing Editor Lance Hartzler

Copy Chief Emma Helfrich

Web Chief Ariel Cianfarano

Faculty Advisor Mary Tolan

Faculty Advisor, Visuals Jennifer Swanson

Sales Manager Marsha Simon

Print Chief Matthew Strissel

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board News Editor Conor Sweetman

Op-Ed Editor Elizabeth Wendler

Sports Editor Bailey Helton

Director of Illustration Colton Starley

Asst. News Editor Mikayla Shoup

Asst. Op-Ed Editor Peggy Packer

Asst. Sports Editor Quinn Snyder

Director of Photography Shannon Cowan

Senior Reporters Adrian Skabelund Chandler Coiner

Culture Editor Katie Sawyer

Features Editor Darrion Edwards

Asst. Director of Photography Maxim Mascolo

Asst. Features Editor MaryAnn Witt

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- freshman Chris Steele, 2018 NAU junior Lucas Taylor, from London, England, returns the ball during a singles tennis match against Montana State April 7. Taylor won the match 6-1 and 6-2.

Matthew Strissel | The Lumberjack

THE LUMBERJACK

Director of Circulation Asst. Culture Editor Luis Gardetto Ashley Besing

“we’ve all been fighting. even if we’re a little sick, We still put it all out there on the court.”

Senior Photographer Michael Patacsil

On the cover A husky named Onyx, from the Coconino Humane Association, is available for adoption. Onyx was one of the dogs at the grand opening of The Grove’s new dog park April 6.

Rylee Flowers | The Lumberjack

Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Megan Troutman at mlt273@nau.edu.

PoliceBeat April 2 At 4:15 p.m., a staff member at the South Beaver School called to report a possible hate crime. NAUPD officers responded and information was provided.

At 5:51 p.m., NAUPD received a call made from a person in an elevator at the Performing and Fine Arts building. An NAUPD officer responded and searched the area. No criminal activity was witnessed.

At 9:14 p.m., an RA at Campus Heights reported seeing drug paraphernalia. One student was cited and released for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

April 3 At 11:36 a.m., a student called to report a vehicle at Pine Ridge Village with open doors and windows. An NAUPD officer responded and searched the area. No contact was made, and no criminal activity was witnessed.

At 6:00 p.m., a student called NAUPD to report the theft of their backpack at the HLC. An officer responded and took a report.

At 11:04 p.m., a resident at Hilltop Townhomes reported loud music coming from the San Francisco Parking Garage. An NAUPD officer responded. The subjects in question were contacted and left the area.

April 4 At 8:06 a.m., a supervisory alarm went off at Morton Hall.

An NAUPD officer responded, and the area was checked. No criminal activity was witnessed, and Fire Life Safety and dorm staff were notified.

At 4:52 p.m., an RA

called to report an animal on campus at Pine Ridge Village.

An NAUPD officer responded and located the animal. The animal was brought to the humane society.

Compiled by Jayna Arola responded and took a report.

The case was closed after all leads were exhausted.

At 5:08 p.m., a student called to report harassment.

An NAUPD officer responded At 9:55 p.m., an RA at and took a report. The case McKay Village called to report is an open and pending drug paraphernalia inside a investigation. room. An officer responded and searched the area but April 7 could not find any drugs.

At 2:12 a.m., a student at Hilltop Townhomes called to April 5 report a vehicle with headlights At 5:06 a.m., Flagstaff on that had been in the parking Communications Center lot for several hours. NAUPD reported a 911 hang-up near responded and made contact the Hilltop Townhomes. An with the subject in the vehicle.

NAUPD officer responded and The subject was a security checked the area. However, no guard. Everything was safe. criminal activity was witnessed.

At 8:52 a.m., a student At 12:23 p.m., a staff reported the theft of their member called to report a vehicle from the Mountain student with denial of access View Parking Garage. NAUPD trespassing in McConnell Hall. responded, and after a brief NAUPD responded, and one investigation, they discovered student was booked into the the student’s friend moved the Coconino County Detention vehicle.

Facility for trespassing.

At 6:26 p.m., an NAUPD At 8:46 p.m., a student officer made a traffic stop in called to report people parking lot 66. Three more throwing water balloons from officers responded to the stop, a vehicle near the intersection and one student was booked of San Francisco Street and into CCDF for possession Mountain View Drive. of narcotics and drug NAUPD responded, but the paraphernalia. water balloon bandits were gone when they arrived.

April 8 At 6:40 p.m., an RA April 6 in McConnell Hall called At 12:49 a.m., a staff to report students who were member at McConnell Hall throwing water balloons out reported an intoxicated of their window. An NAUPD student. FFD, a Guardian officer responded, and negative Medical Transport (GMT) contact was made. It is ambulance and NAUPD unknown if these are the same responded. The student was water balloon bandits from transported to FMC for earlier in the week. treatment, and deferred for a minor in consumption of At 2:15 a.m., a student alcohol. called to report a suspicious subject standing in a wooded At 3:41 p.m., a student area near Pine Ridge Village. called to report damage to their NAUPD responded, but the vehicle mirror in the Skyview subject was gone upon arrival.

Garage. An NAUPD officer Everything was fine.

APRIL 12, 2018 – APRIL 18, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 3

NEWS

IRS special agents warn of fraud during tax season Chandler Coiner

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he deadline to file taxes is next week, and Americans have been filing since as early as January — but you might want to beware of predators trying to commit fraud.

“You want to make sure you [file] with some caution because those preparers who are out there telling you that they can get you a larger refund, and they’re basing it on some kind of new tax law that most people don’t know about, usually that’s a big red flag for fraud,” said Lisa Sukenic, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) special agent specializing in criminal fraud.

Sukenic and Special Agent Brian Watson, also with the IRS’s criminal fraud division, spoke to NAU media Feb. 7 about some of the best practices for tax filing in the United States.

While 55 percent of tax filers choose to hire a return preparer, not all are the professionals one might hope to be paying for. Some preparers might not be as well-versed as others on current tax laws and could land you in trouble down the line. For example, they could award you a higher refund than what you are actually owed, so choose wisely.

But the big scam that the IRS and taxpayers have been butting heads with since 2013 is from IRS impostors over the phone. Watson said that more than $62 million has been lost in this scheme. With about 155 million individual tax filers in the U.S., according to an IRS report, that is 40 cents from every U.S. taxpayer.

Watson said the phone scammers’ tactics are not subtle, but demonstrably effective. They threaten lawsuits, deportation and even imprisonment, preying upon not just the elderly or new immigrants, but also just the average taxpayer, as it has all been proven effective.

“Hang up on these people. That’s not how we do business,” said Watson. “[The] IRS, we’re very old school in that when we need to talk to you, we send you a letter in the mail explaining the situation. We’re never going to call you up out of the blue and demand money over the phone.”

One of the best ways to sniff out a fraudster is to hang up and directly call the IRS to verify that the alleged agent is legitimate.

The IRS also investigates fraud outside of taxes. Watson spoke about a 2017 case where Mary Bauer, a fundraising consultant in Phoenix, started a scheme with charities as clients.

Bauer promised fundraising for charities while collecting various fees in the process despite the donors not actually existing.

“Frauds against charities are far-reaching because they hurt not only the organizations, but the people the charities seek to serve and the persons who have given to support the cause,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Strange. “Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who targets charitable organizations.”

The IRS investigated the Bauer case, and she was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison along with having to pay $1 million in restitution fees.

Some might think the IRS only sees itself as existing to annoy the average taxpayer and keep the money flowing to the top, but even ignoring the fraud cases it goes after, like with Bauer, Watson said the philosophy is not quite so clear cut.

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Lisa Sukenic and Brian Watson, special agents with the IRS fraud department, are interview by NAZ Today’s Conor Sweetman in the NAZ Today studio Feb. 7. Devyn Coons | The Lumberjack

“In some of our cases, the victim is the government where if someone commits a straight tax-evasion case, the victim is the United States government. But in reality, it’s all of us because if someone is not paying their fair share, it leaves more for the rest of us to pick up the tab,” Watson said.

But fraud doesn’t just happen over the phone from a stranger.

Employers have the responsibility to withhold payroll taxes and send them to the U.S. Treasury in the form of a trust. This money comes back to the wage earner in the form of a tax credit and Social Security.

Unfortunately, Sukenic said the IRS is finding a lot of “unscrupulous” employers are not turning over those funds.

“This is devastating. We’re seeing a lot of this,” Sukenic said.

“Those are cases that we certainly address, and we will work with all of the victims because in this case, it’s not only the government that’s a victim, but it’s all these employees who had thought that their employer was turning over the funds withheld from their paychecks when, in fact, years later you come to find out from Social Security you’re not getting credit for this.”

Watson said it is a good idea for employees to create an

account at ssa.gov and track year-by-year to be sure their employer is reporting withholdings properly.

“There’s definitely willful intent when you see that an employer is obviously withholding these taxes and then filing fraudulent tax returns, spending the money on his own, you know, for his own personal gain,” Sukenic said. “You’ve just got to be cautious.”

And Americans are cautious. According to a 2017 survey done by the data and security insurance company Munich Re, 67 percent of Americans are concerned about tax fraud and identity theft, just over two-thirds.

The IRS often implements new systems for security. With recent data breaches, Social Security numbers may not be the best way to verify a tax filer, so in 2018 new verification numbers might appear on a W-2 as a unique identifier. Watson said in the future all tax filers might even have their own unique numbers and pins as Americans get closer to 100 percent electronic filing.

Despite this, fraud is still rampant.

Tax day is April 17.

APRIL 12, 2018 – APRIL 18, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 5

NEWS

Flagstaff local embroiled in legal battle with APS Owen Sexton

F

lagstaff local Chuck Crandell is amid a legal battle with the Arizona Public Service Company (APS) over leaning power lines located in an easement on the edge of Crandell’s property line near Buffalo Park, which he says is dangerously close to a tree growing on his property. Although the tree has been trimmed, the poles are still leaning and Crandell has sued APS over the process in which the tree trimming was conducted.

Given that the poles are still leaning, Crandell, who’s a consulting electrician, is also concerned about the possible fire hazard they pose. With the abnormally dry winter northern Arizona saw, he fears a similar wildfire situation in California.

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in California is currently facing multiple lawsuits alleging that improperly maintained power lines and overgrown vegetation caused multiple wildfires in 2017 as reported by The Sacramento Bee Nov. 14, 2017.

Crandell is suing APS because he believes his Fifth Amendment right to due process was violated and that APS has purposely acted with a lack of transparency and abused its authority with their actions. This lawsuit has been pending since 2016 and Crandell is representing himself.

Although APS is not a government institution and therefore cannot be held accountable to the Fifth Amendment, Crandell believes because Arizona’s government has granted protection and privileges to APS, they should be held accountable to the Constitution the same as any other government agency.

The dispute has been going on for years and even ended up with Crandell being charged and arrested for disorderly conduct in November 2015. Crandell originally told APS about the leaning poles in 2014, but when inspectors came they elected not to perform maintenance on the leaning poles and instead told him they needed to trim any vegetation within 10 feet of a pole.

Crandell said that the leaning poles on the edge of his property have been an issue since 2003, but it was not until 2015 that APS decided to cut back the tree.

“For roughly 12 years I’ve heard nothing from APS concerning the vegetation on my property. Now APS employees come onto my property, tromping it, destroying small trees I’ve been nurturing, and stating, ‘We get to come onto your property any time we want and do whatever we want,’” said Crandell in a Nov. 11, 2015, letter to APS. Throughout 2015, Crandell exchanged letters with APS, with him repeatedly requesting that APS workers re-align the leaning poles.

“I have indicated in the past that APS needs to maintain utility poles properly so that communication lines and power lines do not encroach on my property or vegetation,” Crandell said in a March 4, 2015 letter to APS. “APS has failed to take action. APS has had years to correct the encroachment issue.”

Several more letters were exchanged, with Crandell requesting not only pole maintenance but asking APS officials for details and specifications on both pole maintenance and easements.

In an August 2015 letter, he asked what the legal scope APS is allowed for easement, how far outside of easement is the vegetation to be cleared out, are the power and communication lines within the easement, what the responsibilities and duties of

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Chuck Crandell walks on his property near Buffalo Park April 9 near the leaning power poles that are the point of contention in an ongoing lawsuit against Arizona Public Service Company. Michael Patacsil | The Lumberjack

property owners adjacent to the easement are, and what the legal scope of APS’ authority for easements is.

With APS’ refusal to give him information on leaning poles and given his engineering background, Crandell calculated the degree of lean in the poles behind his house himself.

“The south pole leans to the east, 17 degrees. The north pole leans 9.5 degrees to the east. This combined east leaning of the two poles,” said Crandell in another Aug. 5, 2015 letter, “places utility wires on the east boundary of the respective easement. The wires visually appear to leave the easement.”

Most of the APS officials’ responses were the same, informing Crandell that they intended to have APS workers come out to his property to remove vegetation, insisting that the poles were fine and it was just vegetation on Crandell’s property encroaching on their power lines.

Then finally on Nov. 13, 2015, APS workers attempted to gain entry to Crandell’s property to prune the tree, only to be prevented from doing so by Crandell.

According to the police report, it was an APS worker who originally called the Flagstaff Police Department (FPD) who responded. The officers allowed APS workers onto Crandell’s property after being shown Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) 40431 by one of the APS workers, which allows agents of public service corporations to inspect the corporation property anywhere at any reasonable time and makes attempting to stop them a class-2 misdemeanor.

Once on the property, the workers began to trim the tree and Crandell walked underneath the area they were working in. At this point the FPD officers decided he was a danger to the workers and to himself, so he was handcuffed and arrested while the APS workers finished their pruning.

In the police report the arresting officer stated that ARS 40431 may have actually been abused in the situation.

“Andy showed me an ARS code giving him this authority, 40-431. I looked into that code and it clearly states they are only

allowed on the property if they are only inspecting the utilities and obviously cutting trees is not only inspecting the utility,” the officer said in the police report. “I informed Andy that he was not allowed to go onto Chuck’s property and if he did he could run the risk of being charged with trespassing.”

At this point the tree had been pruned already, and APS did not attempt to return to Crandell’s property again, and Crandell began to prepare his lawsuit.

APS Communications Consultant Annie DeGraw declined to comment on Crandell’s suit, but did offer some information pertaining to the inspection of power poles.

“APS is on a four-year line inspection cycle, which is an industry best practice,” DeGraw said in an email. “It is important to note that our troublemen and crews are in the areas performing routine maintenance and construction work and will report line abnormalities when identified.”

Troublemen are the APS workers in the Flagstaff area that climb the power poles.

This contradicts what was said in a Dec. 17, 2015 letter APS Northeast Division Manager Richard Nicosia sent to Crandell that claimed inspections were done annually. Nicosia was responding to yet another letter from Crandell asking about leaning lines and when they were inspected.

“The poles you refer to were inspected by a journeyman lineman and the supervisor for that department,” Nicosia said in the letter. “I reiterate to you [that] we have no concerns about the current condition of the poles or the associated line. For your information, we do perform annual line patrols to ensure we are continuing to provide safe and reliable service.”

With the power poles still leaning, Crandell is continuing his legal battle in the hopes that his fight will prevent future companies like APS from committing the abuses he alleges and to improve maintenance and safety standards with power lines within the state.

APRIL 12, 2018 – APRIL 18, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 7

COMIC SPOT

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APRIL 12, 2018 – APRIL 18, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 9

OPINION-EDITORIAL

From search engine to stalker database from all of your devices. I logged onto Google’s “My Activity” application on my computer, and a YouTube video that ’m sure everyone has heard that the internet keeps track of I watched on my phone yesterday was the first thing that was what we search for, but just how much of our activity is shown. My Activity tracked my internet search history all the way actually being monitored? back to 2014 when I started using a Gmail account associated Most people have heard about Facebook tailoring with my NAU email account. advertisements based on one’s political stance Google will also trace what you search for and outside firms using people’s personal on the internet and create advertisements Facebook information. based on your internet history to try Google has also been to sell you products based on engaging in some sketchy your interests. Google creates business that most of a profile for advertisements the general public is based on your location, completely unaware age, gender, hobbies, of. What they are career and doing should be relationship status. illegal because They essentially it is essentially know you better an invasion of than you know privacy. yourself. It is a If you genius form use any of capitalism, Go o g l e but I apps on believe it is your phone, unnecessary Google will and creepy. track your Google exact location has the from the day option of you started downloading using their all of the services. If you information that log onto Google it stores about Maps and click on you. You can request their Timeline button, to download it and see you can see every place what Google — or “Big you have been in the past Brother” — knows about few years. On their Timeline you. application, there is a map of the I requested information United States. Zooming into the city and was sent a file that was nearly 5 you live in will allow you to see hundreds of gigabytes. This is approximately 3 million little red dots that indicate practically everywhere Illustration By Katie Dobrydney Word documents filled with my every move on the you have been.

Internet ever since I started using Google for my Google has tracked me all the way back to Nov. 9, 2016. email in 2014.

On that day, Google said I was at the University Plaza Shopping Google has gone completely overboard when it comes to Center. Flagstaff’s Sprint store is in that shopping center, and that tracking us. I would perhaps be supportive of these internet is when I purchased my current iPhone. Ever since then, Google tracking services if they were able to alert authorities about a has been tracking my every move. It even says that I was in Italy school shooter or terrorism. But that has yet to happen. Google is in September, which is accurate. tracking our every move just because they can.

It is possible to turn off Google’s Timeline Tracker. Although, Google is one of the most powerful corporations in the when someone creates a Google account, it automatically turns world. They should not be allowed to track their consumers this on the tracker without telling you. You have to be aware that way. Google has to either stop what they are doing or at least alert Google is tracking your every move, and you must physically go their users to it so we can disable it if needed. into the app and turn off the tracker. I just disabled mine, which I was blind to what Google was doing to me since 2014.

I highly recommend for everyone.

Now, I know and have disabled every tracking service they have. I Google will store your search history across a separate suggest you do the same.

HARRISON DOWNING

Shake your money maker

W

orking women just can’t seem to catch a break, can they?

To this day, women and nonbinary people in the United States are policed for dressing “inappropriately” at work, get fired for being pregnant and are paid less than their male counterparts in the workplace. No wonder making a couple hundred bucks a night at the local T and A bar starts to look pretty good. Yet, stripping remains a taboo, and strippers are actively shamed because of it.

In fact, why is such a lucrative career path closed off for so many women?

Most jobs come with pros and cons, ELIZABETH draw-ins and drawbacks. Gossipy coworkers, WENDLER pervy bosses and cruel customers are par-forOP-ED EDITOR the-course in the world of customer service.

That said, being a fast-food worker won’t garner the same level of hatred, ignorance and judgment that being a stripper would.

I’m not afraid to admit I’m a cashier or that I used to be a callcenter employee. If I were to admit that I was a stripper, I’d immediately face backlash. The stigma against stripping is so bad that it turns people who are living day-to-day from what could be a life-saving job.

I was nearly a stripper myself not too long ago. I was struggling hardcore and had no one to help me. I couldn’t find a job no matter how hard I tried. With no options, a starving bank account and my senior year approaching quickly, along with the need for books, rent and food, I was desperate.

So, I did what I never thought I’d do. I went to a local strip club, received a tour from the manager and was told that I could start immediately and earn nearly $800 a night if I was willing to dance naked for strangers. I was terrified, insecure about my physical appearance and worried what my mother would think. But ultimately, it wasn’t any of these things that turned me away.

What stopped me? I couldn’t afford the shoes. And as we all know, everything but the shoes come off.

Stripping is a viable source of income. Denying people, especially women, the opportunity to make as much money as a man in a society that actively works against others yet routinely objectifies them, is cruel.

Strippers are people just like me, just like you. They’re people who enjoy performing for others. They’re people who have confidence in their bodies and maybe aren’t bothered by other people ogling them. They’re people who don’t have the same support others might.

Whatever their situation or motivations are, strippers aren’t shameful and neither is stripping. If I’m being honest, now that I have a decent pair of shoes, I might give it another shot. And you can bet your tassels I won’t feel badly about it.

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

Return of the redundant reboot KELSEY SPIGELMIRE

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s a child, I was definitely a Disney Channel girl — no shame. I spent hours watching shows like “That’s So Raven” and “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.” These shows and many others bring back nostalgia for the good old, stress-free days where my biggest issue was finishing my ice cream cone before it melted.

Many kids in the popular shows I watched were about the same age as me. Now that they’re grown up, too, they’re getting sucked into doing spin-offs of their own original shows. Many of the storylines portray the original characters as parents with the focus on their kids. This not only sucks because it makes me feel extremely old at 21, but it just isn’t necessary.

Television networks are obsessed with bringing back what used to be successful and trying to make it successful once again.

I think many people would agree that, when it comes to most things in life, the original is always better.

“American Idol” was recently rebooted after being canceled for two years — as if 15 seasons wasn’t enough already. The show has had an array of judges over the years in an attempt to boost ratings after the original iconic trio — Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson — left the show.

According to New York Daily News, “Cowell said he is still close with the other co-stars, Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest. But ‘Idol’ producers — whom Simon said he remains friendly with — have struggled to find a panel of judges to match the original chemistry and the panel has had many faces since he and Abdul departed.”

Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie are now the

judges for the reboot. After watching one of the signature audition episodes, I almost lost it. What was once an extremely entertaining, sometimes-cutthroat competition has turned into a looney, sob-story fest. The judges had the least amount of chemistry I have seen on pretty much any talentbased TV show.

Rebooting was a mistake.

“American Idol” and other iconic shows currently making spin-offs or remakes should all just stop.

Other spin-offs include “Girl Meets World,” which is about Cory and Topanga Matthews, a teen power couple of the ’90s, and their two children going through life. They try to portray Cory as a Mr. Feeny type of figure, but let’s face it, no one is as great as Mr. Feeny. Clearly this show was extremely less successful than the original “Boy Meets World” because it only lasted three seasons on Disney Channel, according to Deadline Hollywood.

Likewise, the “That’s So Raven” spin-off, known as “Raven’s Home,” has a similar storyline. The title character Raven Baxter’s son named Booker ends up inheriting her psychic powers. The show follows him on his journey of learning

how to use them much like in “That’s So Raven.”

How boring.

If Disney executives want to live in the past so badly, they should just start airing all the old hits again, especially if they’re going to have an almost identical storyline in the spin-off anyway. People should be open to new, original thinking.

Making the networks listen is a huge problem, though.

The only way to get executives to take a hint is to boycott these so-called “new” shows so they get bad ratings and are ultimately canceled. It is only then that networks will realize that bringing back old shows is not the way to go.

Is this what my parents feel like when I tell them I went to see a new movie without the slightest clue that it was a remake of a classic ’80s movie?

I sure hope not. Maybe I’m getting old, but pardon me for wanting to see something fresh.

Only one thing is certain: I can only hope that one day my future kids don’t think Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie are the iconic judges of “American Idol.”

Illustration By BENEVA FATT

Campus catastrophe: a plague of mental illness BECA BAPTISTA

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or most, the college experience is an adventure decorated with social freedom, self-exploration and exciting challenges.

For others, anxiety and depression have become a fervent symptom of the education system. The American Psychological Association recently published a report indicating a rapid increase in severe psychological impairments on college campuses.

Fortunately, this growing issue has catapulted the discussion surrounding mental health to the forefront of what it takes to be successful in college. The drastic rise in mental illness among students has left universities scrambling for a permanent solution.

For example, NAU has begun to offer a wide range of mental and behavioral support systems, even going as far as to offer classes such as “Back on Track” in order to help students deal with the stress of adjusting to life on a college campus.

These programs emphasize the importance of a dedicated support system and the benefit of increased social interaction when dealing with mental illness. Also, factors such as a balanced

diet, exercise and getting enough sleep are discussed as potential coping mechanisms. More importantly, people are recognizing the severity of the issue at hand.

Fewer and fewer people are saying, “Just get over it,” and are instead taking steps in a positive direction to offer beneficial assistance to those who need it.

Although effort is being made, it is not enough. It is still all too easy for parents and friends to miss the signs of mental health problems. In fact, poor academic performance can be a clear indicator of psychological afflictions.

Acute stress in moderate bursts is beneficial to a person, while chronic stress can inflict harmful damage upon its catalyst, according to Berkeley News. Students riddled with depression and anxiety often struggle with completing tasks that feel too overwhelming, especially if failure is an option. Students are less likely to put forth full effort when faced with even the idea of being unsuccessful.

Memory is also an important component of whether or not an individual is successful in an academic setting. Symptoms

of depression include cognitive impairment, debilitated concentration levels and inept decision-making abilities. This can lead to an inability to express oneself as well as a weakened capacity to communicate thoughts and ideas.

Dealing with mental illness is like wearing a set of glasses that distort one’s perception of everything from their self-image, to confidence levels and to relationships, usually in a detrimentally negative aspect.

The American College Health Association published a survey in 2011 where 30 percent of the college students surveyed felt, “So depressed that it was difficult to function.” The levels of stress indicated here are not helpful to anyone.

There is a well-defined connection between mental illness and academic performance. Near the heart of such a multi-faceted issue is a myriad of culprits — academic pressures, social pressures or the general strain of transitioning into college life.

Whatever the case may be, records are indicating that the rate of depression is at an unsurpassed high — and student’s grades are suffering because of it.

APRIL 12, 2018 – APRIL 18, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 11

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Learn Spanish beyond SPA 101 Maria Angulo

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uando me fui por cinco meses a estudiar de Intercambio a Ecuador, me di cuenta del deseo que muchas personas tienen de hablar un segundo idioma, especialmente el Inglés, que se escuchaba en cada esquina.

Los ecuatorianos me explicaron que tendrían muchas más oportunidades si hablan Inglés con fluidez. ¿Por qué en Estados Unidos no es una prioridad el aprender Español como en otros países es el aprender Inglés?

Según CNN, el Español es el segundo idioma más dominante en EE. UU después del Inglés. “El español es hablado por más de 40 millones de personas Hispanas en el país y más de 2.6 millones de personas no Hispanas.”

Acorde con el mismo artículo, “Para el año 2060, la Oficina de Censo de los EE. UU proyecta que la población Hispana será el 28% de la población total con 119 millones de personas viviendo en EE. UU.” A pesar de la necesidad de ciudadanos estadounidenses en convertirse en personas bilingües, hay otros que desaniman el uso del Español, defendiendo las leyes de sólo hablar Inglés.

Hay personas que abogan por leyes de solo Inglés con el objetivo de hacer el Inglés el idioma común. En un artículo del Washington Post Karin Davenport, que está de acuerdo con esta ley dice,” “Se trata de hacer el Inglés el vínculo con nos ata juntos en nuestra diversidad.”

Pero el establecer el Inglés como el único idioma hace exactamente lo contrario de fomentar la diversidad. No respeta la expresión de la cultura y el idioma de más de 40 millones de personas que viven en los EE. UU. Las personas que hablan en Inglés deberían de considerar comunicarse con los millones de hispanohablantes en su propio idioma. Comunicarse con alguien en su lengua natal no solo hace que una persona se sienta apreciada pero también te da la gran habilidad de avanzar en la sociedad.

Como un beneficio personal, aprender Español abrirá diferentes puertas y oportunidades en la carrera, permitirá nuevos destinos de viajes a más de 20 países y permitirá conectarse con más personas.

El Español está creciendo en los EE. UU. ¿No quieres crecer con él?

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Vanessa Savel

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hen I studied abroad in Ecuador for five months, I observed that the desire to speak a second language, specifically English, was around every corner.

Ecuadorians explained to me that doors of opportunity would be opened if they were fluent in English. Why can’t learning Spanish be as much of a priority in the United States as learning English is in other countries?

According to CNN, Spanish is the secondmost dominant language in the U.S. after English, and, “It is spoken by approximately 40 million Hispanic people in the country, plus an additional 2.6 million non-Hispanic people.”

According to the same article, “By 2060, the Census Bureau projects that Hispanic people will comprise over 28% of the total population with 119 million residing in the United States.”

Despite the growing need for U.S. citizens to become bilingual, there are people who discourage the use of Spanish. They advocate for English-only laws that aim to make English the only common language. In an article by The Washington Post, one such advocate named Karin Davenport said, “It’s about making English the bond that ties us together in our diversity.”

But establishing English as the common language does the exact opposite of encouraging diversity.

It disrespects the expression of culture and language for the more than 40 million people who live in the U.S. English speakers should be willing to communicate with the millions of Spanish speakers in the U.S. directly in their native language. Communicating with someone else in their native language does not only make that person feel appreciated, but it gives them a greater ability to progress in society.

As a personal benefit, learning Spanish will open doors to more career opportunities, unlock travel destinations to 20 other countries and expand one’s human connection.

Spanish language is on the rise in the U.S. Illustration By Camryn Bowers and megan Troutman Don’t you want to rise with it?

APRIL 12, 2018 – APRIL 18, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 13

FEATURES

Living in a car to stay in school Kade Gilliss

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ituated behind Cline Library at NAU was a parking lot dimly lit at night with flickering streetlights, encompassing parking spots in a yellow aura. Directly under one of these lights was a lone vehicle, a bangedup 2001 beige Honda Accord. Alone in the car lay a lengthy 6-foot-7-inch man with long, dark, curly hair, balled up, his knees hugged tight with a blanket against him and a pack of cigarettes off to the side. Smoking had become a recent habit after he was forced to move out of his room because he could not afford it.

Hours past and Stephen Broaddus’ legs became sore in their uncomfortable state. A shining light different from the flaxen-hued streetlight pierced through the backseat window while someone was banging on the glass.

The flashlight shined into his eyes as he was slouching, scratching his jeans against the seats as he rolled down the window.

“You know you can’t be here, right?” asked the officer.

Broaddus paused, squinting at the officer.

“Well, what am I supposed to do?” uttered Broaddus.

“Tonight, you’ll be OK, but just know that you’re not allowed to sleep here,” the officer repeated.

Broaddus nodded, rolled up his window and went back to sleep after the 2 a.m. intervention.

The following day, he purchased a couple of windshield visors for his car and fastened them onto his side and back windows. He then constructed a fort by putting one of his extra blankets over the driver and passenger seats, then resided the car into a patchy area of darkness in the parking lot, directly behind the library’s exterior walls. Broaddus avoided any other confrontation with an officer for the rest of his sophomore spring semester in 2015.

Growing up with a family that always battled financial struggles, Broaddus adapted to the perpetuate lifestyle. This, however, was his first experience being homeless. It occurred in his second year of college, heading into his fourth semester. Broaddus’ only job was cleaning windows around Flagstaff, which paid varying on availability for work. With a spotty work schedule, bills soon caught up to him. Financial holds and money owed to the university blocked his ability to enroll in classes for the spring

Alumnus Stephen Broaddus spent homeless nights living out of his car in the Cline Library parking lot in 2015. Photo courtesy of Kade Gilliss

semester, and Broaddus became stuck between paying rent to have a home for at least another month, or attend school.

“I said, ‘You know what, I started school, and I want to finish it,’” Broaddus said. “So, I took all the money I had, and instead of paying rent and bills, I signed up for classes, and I was just kind of like, well, I’ll figure this out.”

Within a week of the decision, he took his clothes, toothbrush and school supplies to his car, and sought out a place to park, and essentially live, for the next few months. His first destination became the local Walmart, about half a mile from NAU, and a place where he could grab a quick bite when needed. Within the first night, he noticed other vagrants surrounding his car when he was trying to sleep, and he knew that his stay there would be limited.

Broaddus noticed how open the parking lot behind Cline Library was. This was during a time when parking wasn’t as heavily monitored for ticketing as it is today. So, he made the change.

“When I tell most people they’re kind of like, ‘Oh I’m so sorry, that must have been

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terrible.’ It’s not that bad,” Broaddus said. “I wouldn’t consider myself as being completely homeless, because having a car is a huge thing.

My car was my home.”

Broaddus’ meals consisted mainly of ramen and non-perishable foods throughout this time.

Giant, the gas station on south Milton Road, had a coffee machine that dispersed hot water he used to cook his noodles every morning.

Living short-handed was something that he had become accustomed to over the years and throughout his childhood, and he believes it helped for a smoother transition to becoming homeless.

“I grew up super, super poor when I was a kid. So, I knew already how to live super frugally,” Broaddus said. “That wasn’t an issue ...

So I guess that was a good thing to have growing up dirt f---ing poor.”

For many, that is the case. Coming into college life is a new and often costly experience.

This can be especially true in Flagstaff.

According to Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona, a nonprofit organization, an annual report on rental availability found that rent for

a two-bedroom apartment in Flagstaff is 8.19 percent higher than their suggested fair-market rent, totaling almost $400 more. For a shared room, the cost is 18.63 percent higher than the fair-market rate. The report was conducted on a survey from 46 different apartment complexes (6,639 units) and 10 incomerestricted complexes (730 units) throughout the community.

AreaVibes.com puts the city’s cost of living 15 percent higher than the national average, and 18 percent higher than Arizona’s average.

Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona was founded in 1990 and provides people with affordable housing in a community that is sparse on availability. They have multiple departments that assist each person in different ways, including affordable rental units that are on a constant waitlist. In 2017, approximately 475 individuals were placed on the market-rate complex waitlist, while another 788 were placed on the income-restricted complex waitlist.

Devonna McLaughlin, CEO of Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona, has been at the forefront of these programs for the past eight

FEATURES years and has seen the city’s drastic change in the housing and rental market.

“The rental market has changed in the past eight years, because that time period also includes the recession,” said McLaughlin in fall 2017. “During the recession, our evaluation in demand went down so rentals were more affordable at that time. Since the market has recovered, however, there’s been increasing demands and limited supply, which has caused rental prices to grow pretty heavily over the past four or five years.”

Flagstaff has a unique and unfortunate circumstance that other cities in the state do not have to overcome. Flagstaff has a closed real estate market due to its protected environmental surroundings. Northern Arizona also has to maintain external demands from the students that make up approximately a third of the city’s total population.

In an 11-year span from 2006-2017, NAU increased its on-campus enrollment by nearly 10,000 students, from 13,443 to 22,740. The Arizona Board of Regents set a goal for the university to reach 25,000 students by 2020, and the school is well on pace.

With the supply of rental housing being outweighed by the demand of new residence, the market price has been able to increase with minimal resistance.

McLaughlin knows that any solution for the market predicament would be long-term, but even then, she is uncertain of an exact resolution.

“I wouldn’t consider myself as being completely homeless, because having a car is a huge thing. My car was my home.”

-Stephen Broaddus “I think if we’re going to work toward solutions, certainly it would include an investment in money or land to create new units of housing that are affordable and available to low- and moderate-income households,” McLaughlin said. “The market by itself is not going to solve the problem. And even if we have investments, it would not solve the problem, it might provide additional resources and help several families, but it’s not going to make us a more affordable place to live, period.”

Student homelessness is a topic that is often cast aside or ignored with limited studies.

One of the few outliers was a study conducted by the Wisconsin HOPE Lab, which provided information on student homelessness in community colleges. A study that surveyed more than 30,000 students at 70 community colleges in 24 states, found that 13 to 14 percent of students were homeless and almost half were housing insecure. Additionally, in the study, two-thirds of community college students had experienced food insecurity.

In 2014, NAU opened up its own food pantry, Louie’s Cupboard, which provides students who are food insecure with assistance.

In their first year of distribution, Louie’s Cupboard helped 87 individual clients. In the 2017 year, they assisted 259 people, almost three times as many.

There were 654 requests in 2017 alone, with the average student requesting food six times.

In the four years since the pantry’s opening, 1,856 requests have gone through for food aid.

In partnering with the Flagstaff Family Food Center, the program has received $53,220.87 in donations and an additional $25,000 endowment in its four years of operation.

In October 2016, a national study was conducted by the College and University Food Bank Alliance, National Student campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, Student Government Resource Center, and the Student Public Interest Research Groups.

The survey found that “48 percent of respondents reported food insecurity in the previous 30 days.” The data was conducted at 26 universities, eight community colleges and 12 states, surveying 3,765 students.

Universities also often have assistance programs for housing that can help students in finding housing options that are cheaper to help accommodate.

NAU provides emergency loans of up to $300 that is to be repaid within six weeks of the financial disbursement.

It still, however, leaves a possibility for those like Broaddus who do not have the steady income to pay rent. Some schools like Kennesaw State University in Georgia have made dorms available specifically for homeless and at-risk homeless students through their emergency housing program. Sacramento State has a similar housing program at their university that holds four spots for students in need.

NAU currently houses about 10,000 students after the new Skyview housing opening. The university ranks in the top 1 percent nationally for on-campus housing capacity, meaning NAU has more on-campus housing than 99 percent of other colleges and universities in the nation.

NAU spokeswoman Kimberly Ott said the university takes different approaches for students

NAU alumnus Stephen Broaddus was once homeless for a semester, but now works as a Flagstaff Realtor, March 31. Emily Burks| The Lumberjack

in need, whether it would be through additional financial aid or locating available housing.

“We typically only receive a few calls from students needing immediate housing, and we’re generally able to find them space,” said Ott in an email. “Occasionally we receive calls from students who need immediate housing, and we offer options based on space availability.”

Ott also stated that the university’s Transfer and Commuter Connections assists students through a Facebook page where people post available rooms off campus.

Broaddus reflected on his experience with homelessness, back in the library parking lot where he spent most of his sophomore year.

“I didn’t regret [being homeless], it wasn’t begrudgingly that I did that,” Broaddus said. “I was kind of looking for new experiences anyways so that’s kind of what urged me also to do that.

When the choice was up to living comfortably versus going to school, you know nobody in my family had ever finished school, so I was like, ‘I want to do this, I want to be the first one.’”

Throughout the semester, Broaddus was able to save up money by starting up his own sign-building company specifically designed for Realtors in Flagstaff. His mom, a Realtor, knew the demand that signs would bring to a Realtor in northern Arizona. So, with the spare money he had left, Broaddus invested in tools and wood that he could construct into posts.

As a child, he often times would find himself at construction sites for hours just watching the workers, listening to the machines cutting through material. By the age of 14, he impressed a contractor with his personal work and got a job at a cabinet shop.

Now, he makes around $60-$75 per sign made and installed, and doing so on his own time. By the time summer came around, he had his old room back.

Broaddus has been tobacco-free for five months after smoking for two years. He obtained his real-estate license in November 2017, and is working alongside his mom as a Realtor in Flagstaff.

APRIL 12, 2018 – APRIL 18, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 15

FEATURES

Photo courtesy of Travis Doerfler

Finances in the red: teachers Fight for funding Brittany Viar

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any students have had at least one school teacher that has helped shape them into who they are today.

Teachers share their wisdom with the world, and they do all of this often wearing a genuine smile because they love what they do. They realize their students are the future. These teachers want to make a difference in any way they can, yet, they make a rather small amount of money doing so.

Teachers will sometimes spend late nights grading papers and creating lesson plans for

the days ahead, but some even do this while stressing over how they are going to pay their monthly bills.

Red for Education, also known as Red for Ed, is a movement calling for a rise in funding for education, and it has been occurring across the United States. Teachers, and those in support of them, are wearing red to signify that finances are “in the red” for those who teach.

Travis Doerfler, a fifth grade social studies and science teacher at Kinsey Inquiry and Discovery School, has been involved in education for five years. Prior to teaching, he worked at Olive Garden and explained that he

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made significantly more money in the restaurant business than he does currently.

Doerfler said as a teacher in Flagstaff he needs to make sure he budgets his money properly in order to manage his expenses.

He explained that he and his wife are both in education and plan to move to California after the school year is over because it will mean a more stable income. Combined, the two will make $40,000 more each year, simply by moving locations.

“I love Flagstaff, and I love everything it has to offer. I love teaching here, and I love the kids so much. This is a great school [with]

great opportunities. But providing for a family is impossible,” Doerfler said. “There is not money in education, and there doesn’t seem to be an answer.”

According to ASU’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy, the Bureau of Labor Statistics “ranked Arizona 49th with a median pay of $39,300” in 2015. However, with the cost of living adjustment “Arizona slipped into the 50th slot with median salary of $40,768.”

Doerfler pointed things out in his classroom and noted items he paid for out of pocket.

Snacks, writing utensils, posters, educational Continued on page 18

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FEATURES Continued from page 16

games and books are among some of the items Doerfler had to purchase. Many teachers have spent their own money to provide for their classrooms and students.

“Most jobs you sneak stuff away from work to bring home. Teaching, you sneak stuff from home to bring into work,” Doerfler said.

“It is what it is, and that’s why the Red for Ed movement is taking off like it is.”

Doerfler said educators do not make a significant amount of money. He originally went to school to study public relations but took an education class that reminded him of his fondness of kids and teaching.

Funding for education is often cut, with the most recent cuts in 2015 resulting in Arizona totaling in the most reduced state funding in the nation with 36.6 percent. This reduced funding has left schools with less resources for their students.

“This is supposed to be a profession to support yourself, and you can’t. You can’t support,” Doerfler said. “[Red for Ed] is important to me because if I don’t speak up, if people don’t speak up, if we don’t do this, who’s going to do it for us? Because, we’ve always been on the back burner of everything else. The money is out there, we’ve just been put on the back burner for so long.”

Doerfler knows many educators who have a second job to support themselves.

“We’re not doing it for the money, [but] it’d just be nice if we didn’t have to worry about the money,” Doerfler said.

In comparison to many teachers in the U.S., those in Arizona are among some the lowest paid. A Red for Ed event outside Flagstaff City Hall occurred March 28. Teachers, students, children, principals and others involved in education joined in marches across the country dressed in red attire.

“We’re asking for the state of Arizona to stand up and start standing with the funding of education for the kids,” said third grade teacher Sara Horton from Big Park Community School in Sedona.

Laurie Altringer, who teaches sixth grade at Big Park Community School, joined Horton at the protest.

“We both moved [to Flagstaff] this past year, and I took a $22,000 pay cut as a teacher, so that’s what’s happening,” Altringer said, referring to Horton as well.

The cost of living in Flagstaff is much higher than that of the Phoenix area because of its smaller size, location and being surrounded by public lands, which is creating more of a struggle for teachers to make a living in northern Arizona.

Travis Doerfler teaches at Kinsey Inquiry and Discovery School and is the Flagstaff leader of Red for Education. He works to organize rallies, walk-ins and other work for the movement and recruits teachers and parents to support it, April 5. Emily Burks| The Lumberjack

Jeff Taylor, Flagstaff High School AP chemistry and environmental science teacher, explained that he will be leaving Arizona at the end of the school year.

Taylor said that when he took his first job as a teacher in Page, Arizona, in 2002, he made $34,000 per year. Taylor’s current base salary is $44,700 per year.

“Now, when you adjust for inflation, I made $1,000 more as a first-year teacher in 2002 than I do right now as a teacher with 12 years of experience,” said Taylor, the 2014 Coconino

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Teacher of the Year. “Clearly our legislature has not been keeping up with the funding.”

Taylor taught in Page for a couple years before teaching for the Department of Defense overseas for four years. He traveled for two years before working as a teacher again in northern Arizona, and has been in Flagstaff for the past seven years.

“When I look at my daughter’s education and look at these growing class sizes, I look at these skyrocketing college tuition rates and I look at the universities back in Washington

and Oregon where tuition is half of what it is at NAU, I’m like, ‘Why do I want my daughter to grow up in this community, in this state that doesn’t value education,” Taylor said.

Taylor and his family have made the decision to move back to Washington because of the expenses of living in Flagstaff. He explained that his wife is also a teacher. In Washington, they will also make $40,000 more combined than they would make if they continued to live in Flagstaff, just like the Doerflers.

“It’s not because I don’t love Flagstaff, and I love my colleagues, but teachers are leaving the state like crazy, and these are the reasons why,” Taylor said. “And if you want to know why we have a 3,000-teacher shortage [and why] positions are going all through the year just with substitutes, [it’s] because you can do other things in other places with better money. And so that’s why I’m leaving Arizona.”

In the beginning of 2018, Gov. Doug Ducey made it a plan to increase Arizona’s education capital funding by $371 million in the next five years. However, according the Arizona Daily Star, in Ducey’s first three years as governor, school districts’ and charters’ state funds were cut by approximately $1 billion. Of that, Ducey authorized cutting $348 million.

Teachers across Arizona are demanding a 20 percent increase pay raise, but Ducey rejected the request. As a result, more teachers and fellow supporters are taking a stand across the state to advocate for change.

According to The Arizona Republic, 866 teachers quit within the first four months of the 2017-18 school year.

“This year alone, four to possibly five teachers are leaving Flagstaff High alone, simply because they cannot afford to live in Flagstaff,” said Tony Cullen, Flagstaff High School principal.

Cullen explained that he knows of many teachers that rent a room, or live with roommates because they cannot afford to live on their own.

He also noted that a beginning teacher’s salary is $1,000 higher than the amount needed to receive food stamps.

“I look at the sea of red here today and I think, there’s a whole lot more brothers and sisters out there, right? But guess where they’re at today? They’re at a second job because they can’t afford to be here,” Cullen said. “They go to their second job, they’ll work until 10 or 11 tonight, and they’ll wake up and still report to school to teach your child tomorrow.”

This movement has brought teachers from all over the state of Arizona together to fight for something they all believe in. Young students are the future, and the outcome of their future relies heavily on their education.

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APRIL 12, 2018 – APRIL 18, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 19

CULTURE

Review: a confluence of artistic expression Kendra Hastings

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vivid blend of primary colors radiates throughout the Museum of Northern Arizona’s art exhibit, “Confluence of Color.” The exhibit features brilliant glass sculptures and magnificent oil paintings by renowned painter Serena Supplee and glassblower artist George Averbeck. These southwest artists collaborated to create a beautiful confluence of artistic expression while celebrating the grandeur of the Colorado Plateau.

Both artists attended NAU as fine-arts students and became close friends through the fine arts program in 1978. Following graduation, each artist took on new endeavors.

Supplee moved to Moab, Utah, while Averbeck remained in Flagstaff and opened a hand-blown glass studio called Fire on the Mountain. The two close friends reunited and, along with museum curator Alan Peterson, created a confluence of artistic expression.

The works of both artists compliment each other well by using intentionally similar color palettes and a blend of sunset gradients. Upon entering the exhibit, the viewers are welcomed with vibrant colors of the resilient Colorado Plateau’s natural forms.

Averbeck’s blown-glass bowls and vases are placed in glass pedestals in relation to Supplee’s paintings based on similar color palettes.

Spotlights illuminate each one of Supplee’s paintings and Averbeck’s glass pieces, which create halos of light around each art piece and draw the focus into the paintings and glass art.

“The colors just drew me right in, and it makes [the paintings] look like a fantasy world,” said Kim Sann, an art enthusiast from Prescott, Arizona. “If you were to go to any of these places that may not be that vivid, but it’s like taking what you’re seeing and enhancing the colors.”

The exhibit also contained a separate, darker room that housed night-themed artwork from both artists. The night room still connected to the other works of the exhibit because the artists applied the same use of rich colors just on a darker gradient.

The night room has gray walls and low lighting, creating a tranquil mood. The various aspects within this room bring to life a calming sensation. Supplee’s paintings depict night landscapes with deep-violet skies and darkmagenta canyon walls, which encompass the overall theme of the night room.

The room also contains two metal light structures featuring works of Averbeck. A

Left: “Orang-a-band,” a work of art created by George Averbeck using hand-blown glass techniques, is displayed at the Museum of Northern Arizona April 5. Top Right: “Merrily Along,” created by Serena Supplee, is an oil on canvas April 5. Bottom Right: “Living Gold,” also created by Serena Supplee using oil on canvas, is displayed at the Museum of Northern Arizona April 5. Danny Saldivar | The Lumberjack

chandelier of lavender glass orbs hangs in the center of the room, reinforcing that calming sensation. In the corner of the room, another abstract light structure displays white glass pieces shaped like Datura flowers. The light structures emit soft light that add to the serenity of the night room.

Moving to the other aspects of the exhibit, many of Supplee’s paintings depict deep canyon valleys of the canyonlands in Utah to the Grand Canyon. She created detail using a wide gradient of colors. The various shades of colors show the different layers and depths of the canyon valleys and lively flow of the Colorado River.

“The exhibit is very uplifting and positive — the colors make you smile. [Supplee] uses a lot of wonderful colors, and everything is

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very bright,” said Babette Burns, a visitor from Phoenix.

Unlike other artists who have tried for years to depict the canyons realistically, Supplee abstracted them and used the vibrant colors to evoke those same thrilling emotions viewers feel while actually being in the places depicted in her paintings.

The glass pieces show minimalist scenes of the canyon landscapes, while others capture the saturated hues, inspired by the distinct colors of the canyon and Supplee’s narrative use of vivid colors. Definitive horizon lines of colors travel down the vases and bowls, mimicking the various layers of the canyon walls. The various glass pieces of Averbeck comprised of pastels and vibrant colors create a striking contrast of hues.

“I’m really enjoying this exhibit because it’s so inspirational, it stirs up all those feelings of wanting to be creative, and the colors are just so vivid,” said Greta Hanneman, an art enthusiast that comes from a family of painters. “This is so wonderful and lovely. It makes me want to go home and paint.”

Averbeck’s blown-glass pieces and Supplee’s paintings are inspiring others to be creative and transport the viewer into the beautiful Colorado Plateau. The distinct colors of the stunning Colorado Plateau erupt from both artists’ creations. The flow of the exhibit guides the viewer through a colorful excursion across the captivating canyonlands of the Southwest. The Exhibit runs through May 28.

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CULTURE

Celebrating Hawaiian culture 2,881 miles away Sebastian A. Moore

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awaii’s culture is unique to the tiny islands in the very middle of the Pacific Ocean, but April 7, the NAU HAPA Hawaiian Club brought their cultural heritage to the du Bois Center ballroom. The 13th Annual Lū‘au began at 5 p.m., and as the night wore on hula hips shook, the aroma of Polynesian-style food was in the air, and the beating of drums could be heard echoing through the du Bois Center.

While a majority of members consist of native Hawaiians, members from other Polynesian cultures such as Samoan, Fijian and Māorian also have joined the club, providing a broader cultural background. The word “Hapa” originated from the Hawaiian word for “half ” and is used by the club to refer to someone of mixed ethnic heritage.

Sophomore public relations major ‘Auli’i Solomon is the lū‘au coordinator. Solomon joined the Hawaiian Club for the same reason that many other members join — to help with the adjustment from being so far away from home.

“Our islands are so small, and being in a bigger state is really a culture shock,” said Solomon. “[Hawaiian Club] gives us a sense of belonging so that we don’t feel so overwhelmed, [and] we get to be a part of something.”

The Hawaiian community in Flagstaff is much larger than some people may expect, due to the variety of programs offered to outof-state students. The Western Undergraduate Exchange program (WUE) offers significant tuition discounts for students who live in the 14 Western states and United States territories, including Hawaii.

According to NAU, 63 students enrolled at NAU in spring 2018 identified as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, but this number may be inaccurate because some students choose to identify differently. The Hawaiian Club anticipates to have about 80 members each year, according to their club details on NAU’s website.

Members of the club often get together to experience their shared culture in a more relaxed setting.

“In Hawaii, we do speak English, but there is different slang, and we also have the Hawaiian language,” Solomon said. “When we are together, we do get that chance to talk a little more comfortably and, like, what we’re used to.”

While most members of the Hawaiian Club share some form of Polynesian culture, the

Keefe Reyes performs a Haka, a traditional Māori war dance, during the 13th annual HAPA Hawaiian Club Lū‘au April 7. Shannon Swain | The Lumberjack

club is open to anyone who wants to learn about Polynesian history. The goal of the Hawaiian Club is to spread cultural awareness, knowledge and traditions of the culture to those eager to learn.

“We like to bring that knowledge and that aloha spirit that Hawaii is known for, as well as providing an outlet for our fellow Polynesians being away from home,” Solomon said.

The word “aloha” is the Hawaiian word for greeting someone or saying goodbye. The Hawaiian aloha spirit is very welcoming.

The lū‘au is the biggest event of the year for the Hawaiian Club. It takes the most time, effort and planning out of all of their other events.

When the Hawaiian Club isn’t preparing for their lū‘au event, the club organizes other events around Flagstaff.

“Our club likes to get involved with a lot of community service. For example, we do concessions with different kinds of sports and events at the dome,” Solomon said. “We host

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meetings every other Monday that can be open to the public, not just club members, and we go over cultural practices and current events in Hawaii.”

This was the first year the lū‘au sold out before the event started. The lū‘au included a country store, a booth which sold Hawaiian snacks and souvenirs such as chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, postcards, coffee and Hawaiian butter.

The profits from tickets and souvenir sales go back to the Hawaiian Club and help fund other events throughout the year.

Junior public relations major Brandie Peltier is in charge of social media for the Hawaiian Club, but worked at the country store during the lū‘au. Peltier has been a member since her freshman year.

“We do a welcome-back dinner for new freshmen coming into NAU from Hawaii, and all of that goes into supporting that event and other smaller events,” said Peltier. “Since

I started running the country store three years ago, I think this has been one of the biggest years. We have gotten more donations from families and definitely got more volunteers with our members. This year we had six helpers with the country store, and that never happens.”

Dinner began at 6 p.m., and the menu was packed with delicious Hawaiian meals such as chicken lū‘au, white rice, lomi tomato, kalua pig and Hawaiian coconut cake for dessert.

The performances began after dinner at 7 p.m., which included 15 separate performances from the Hawaiian Club members.

The performances began with the men’s Kahiko Tū ’Oe dance, a traditional style of dance with a procreation chant honoring chief Kāualilikoi of Maui.

Junior Katana Faaloto has been a Hawaiian Club member since 2017. With help from Solomon, Faaloto choreographed the performances for the event.

“I bring in the variety so that it is not just Hawaiian, it’s other Polynesian cultures like Samoan, Fijian, Tokelauan, Tahitian, Tongan and Māori,” said Faaloto. “Hawaiian is very proper. Samoan is very loose. Fijian is very crazy and loud. Tokelauan and Māori use more chanting and props. Tongan is very stiff, and Tahitian focuses on the hips and the hair. As a choreographer, you have to be a dancer and know each different style, but you also have know the history behind it.”

The music for each dance was as critical to the performance as the actual dance being performed. Polynesian culture has a different style of dance for each culture, so the style of music had to be chosen correctly as well.

The men’s Haka Poropeihana performance tells a story of how the natives in New Zealand were unhappy with the changes missionaries were forcing upon them. Haka is a war cry and the performance relied heavily on drums and loud chanting to convey a powerful, emotional message of refusal to oppression.

On the other hand, the womens’ Samoan Pei Ao Uma dance used a much gentler tune and softer movements to tell the story of a Samoan woman’s pride and her willingness to be a good woman.

Like most other members, senior health and wellness major and Hawaiian Club president Hokuala Kamaka, took part in over half of the performances during the lū‘au.

Every year the club pushes for a bigger and more diverse turnout to celebrate their culture and heritage and to educate attendees.

CULTURE

Left: Grove resident Kasey Johnston gives her dog Tonka some love at The Grove’s grand opening of its new dog park April 6. Right: Drew Bandhauer, Grove resident, brings his dog to the grand opening of The Grove’s new dog park April 6. Rylee Flowers | The Lumberjack

New dog park gets two paws up Kaylin Dunnett

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he afternoon of April 6 was a sunny day filled with hotdogs, good times and fluffy puppy tails.

The Grove Apartments celebrated the opening of their newly created dog park with a barbecue event open not just to residents of the complex, but to dog lovers across the Flagstaff area.

Keegan Malone, the leasing manager of The Grove Apartments, also oversees their marketing and events.

“Here at The Grove, we’ve been around since 2012, and we are one of the only student housing [complexes] that are pet friendly. We have always had residents who have dogs and cats,” said Malone. “One way we wanted to give back to those residents was adding in an amenity that would be beneficial to both them and northern Arizona.”

This get-together is especially close to Malone’s heart, as she adopted her own animal from the Coconino Humane Association, which was a partner for the event.

“We wanted to open it up to Flagstaff ... just to come out and learn about healthy pets, how to take care of your pets and

to do an adoption event as well to give back to the community,” Malone said.

The Grove partnered with several groups to put on the grand opening, which included Canyon Pet Hospital, Wags and Whiskers Pet Resort, Off-Leash Training of Northern Arizona and the Garden Thrift Store.

“A majority of our residents do have pets with them at some point, so it’s nice to give them a space where they can run around and not be stuck in an apartment all day,” Malone said.

Caitlyn Hailey, general manager of The Grove, also realized that there was a need for the space after seeing the bond that the residents have with their furry friends.

“We love our pets. We feel that they are just as much family as any brother or sister,” said Hailey.

She said the dog park was built relatively quickly, taking roughly two weeks to complete. Hailey recalled that before the space was converted, it was nothing more than an empty grassy area — perfect for a dog park.

“We noticed that every single night, pets came out and had their own scheduled playdates. We thought, ‘How great would it be to have an area that’s secure, safe for [dogs] to be off-leash and

to have a good time?’” Hailey said.

Kelsey Cambier is a community associate at The Grove who also was in attendance at the barbecue party. She stated that before the dog park at The Grove was built, she would have to drive her pup to the nearest dog park, which is a 10-minute drive away.

“When I work my six-hour shifts, and [my dog] has been in her kennel all day, I can just come here,” said Cambier. “She can get all of her energy out.”

Kendra Cutright, who also works as a community associate at The Grove, believes that the space will serve as an invaluable social outlet for both residents and their canine companions.

“Overall, it just creates a better sense of community ... with having this space out here for the dogs,” Cutright said. “It’s nice to have the fencing up there — give it some barriers, but at the same time let the dogs run around free, and give the owners less stress as they don’t have to chase their dogs.”

As the event concluded, multiple animals from the Coconino Humane Association were able to find their “fur-ever” homes, and both humans and dogs left howling over the new dog park.

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SPORTS

A

From cyborg to insanely human

s I sat down on a Friday afternoon to write this column, Tiger Woods was 4-over par heading into the 12th hole at of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. He hasn’t won a Masters tournament for 13 years. I, along with the rest of America, just hoped he would make the cut.

Along with the rest of America ...

Something about that phrase just doesn’t sit well with me.

Growing up, Tiger was perhaps the most polarizing figure in sports. You were in or you were way, way, way out. To the golf outsider, he was a bridge between the ultra-competitive, team-sport culture, and the respectfully posh world of golf. To MATTHEW the golf purist, though, Tiger was looked JARECKI at as brash, domineering and, at times, HOST OF “THE JERK” ON KJACK neglectful of “golf etiquette.” Now, 13 years later, the sports media and American public are all aboard the “Tiger train.”

Why now, after years of injuries, mediocre play, substance-abuse questions, and of course, serially cheating on his wife?

Folks, Tiger’s not personable. That’s Phil Mickleson’s territory. Tiger’s not wholesome. That’s Bubba Watson. Is he cool? Maybe, but Dustin Johnson is engaged to a Maximcover model ­— he owns golf ’s “cool” space.

What is Tiger Woods besides a golfer? Ten years ago, if you asked me that, I would’ve drawn a blank. The guy grew up hyper-focused on one sport. He won the biggest event in that sport by a record score at age 21, and was compared to an all-time great by age 25. All we knew was, Tiger Woods: Golfer. Relatability wise, he checked no other boxes than simply being a golfer. In the span of 10 years, that all changed.

Infidelity? Check! Substance abuse? Check! Nagging injuries? Check! Being mediocre at one’s profession? Check!

Throw in McDonald’s at 3 a.m. and a Polar Pop from Circle K on the way home, and I just described the beautiful country of the U.S.A.! Now we’re cooking with oil, folks.

Funny, as much as we demand cyborg-like focus from our sports icons in America, for years Tiger was met by a portion of the American public with disdain because of just that.

Now, as average round after average round turn Tiger from cyborg to slightly-less-than, America seems to be coming full circle in its embrace of him. He’s finally becoming one of us.

On the Friday of Masters weekend, Tiger approached the 18th hole, needing a bogey or better to make the cut.

Tiger three-way tied for 32nd, while Patrick Reed raised the trophy.

The fun’s over. It’s 2018 and Tiger’s a human, just like you and me.

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Graduate student Erika Manilla (left) and sophomore Erin Boadway (right) play for the NAU Racquetjacks. Together they won the national title in doubles March 14 at the Intercollegiate Racquetball Tournament in Minneapolis. Yuanchen Bao | The Lumberjack

Dynamic duo creates quite a racket Chandler Staley

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AU is home to many talented athletes and has officially added two new athletes to that list. NAU’s club racquetball team, the Racquetjacks, have brought home another national title.

On March 14, the Racquetjacks sent first-year graduate student Erin Boadway and sophomore Erika Manilla to Minneapolis to compete in the National Intercollegiate Championships.

However, this is not the team’s first time in the spotlight.

This is the second consecutive national title in women’s doubles, as the Racquetjacks also took first place in 2017. Their success can be attributed to many factors, the first being their calculated chemistry on the court.

“I think it’s why we beat a lot of the teams that we do. Not saying that we’re better than them, but it’s because doubles partners takes two,” said Manilla.

Manilla first picked up a racquet when she was just 4 years old and began competing in tournaments when she was 6. Throughout her nearly life-long career, Manilla has built many connections in

the world of racquetball.

“I like the family feeling,” Manilla said. “When you travel across the world you only get to see those people once or twice a year. Racquetball is such a small sport that when you play in big tournaments you get to reunite with friends, which is really fun.”

It is a double-edged sword for Manilla because her friends are scattered throughout the country, combined with the rarity of seeing them.

Boadway has a different history with racquetball, as she has only played for seven years. However, despite her relatively late start at the age of 17, Boadway has been determined to prove her critics wrong.

“We expect to win,” said Boadway. “My philosophy is that second place isn’t OK.” This philosophy seems to have worked for the dynamic duo since they became teammates two years ago. Over the season, the pair did not have the luxury of testing their talent on other schools and were unable to measure the competition, which would seem like a disadvantage. To incentivize winning, the teammates played against clubmates and bet on lunch or dinner.

SPORTS This system fueled their hunger for success and propelled them toward the National Intercollegiate Championships.

“We wanted to win as always,” Manilla said. “We won last year so we were driven to get our two-peat championship.”

They began the tournament by beating Montana State in the first round, then Brigham Young University in the second. Then in the semifinals, they pushed Utah State out of the tournament and advanced to the finals to face Oregon State University (OSU).

On OSU’s team is Lexi York, one of Manilla’s best friends from the national team.

“I’ve grown up with her,” Manilla said. “We’ve been playing since [we were] 6 or 8 years old. She played awesome, and her partner did too.”

Despite their shared history and friendship, there was no love lost when they defeated OSU and secured first place in the doubles section. Boadway had some extra motivation that elevated her level of play.

“I wanted to go out on a high note because I think this is it,” Boadway said. “We’ll see.”

Boadway is unsure whether she will return to racquetball or devote more time to pursuing her master’s degree in business.

Manilla is attempting to persuade her to stay, as Boadway is eligible to play with her for one more year, and Manilla hopes to achieve a three-peat.

Despite their uncertain future together, Manilla has her own individual aspirations, since she made it to the final round for singles in the tournament. She was aiming to make the USANational team. She made it to the finals, but came up short against Carla Munoz, a Chilean professional racquetball player representing Colorado State’s club. However, Manilla’s impressive performance qualified her to join the national team, something she had been striving for her whole life.

“Between 6 to 18 years old I traveled to different countries, playing for the United States of America in the junior league,” Manilla said. “Wearing that on your back means more than you’ll ever know. You’re representing your country, which is indescribable.”

Manilla has been on the junior national team for 12 years.

This performance allows her to advance to her professional career.

To qualify, you must be first or second in your country, so you must play at the national tournament and play against the best in the U.S. Only the top two players have the privilege to play on the international level in the professional realm of racquetball.

“I’m up there with people I’ve looked up to my whole entire life,” Manilla said.

Through these experiences, both Manilla and Boadway have learned valuable lessons about themselves. For Boadway, the pressure of doubt from one’s peers can form diamonds in the right situation.

“From where I started out, people were saying ‘She’s never going [to] make it. She’s never going to play well,’” Boadway said.

“Being able to play against Erika, Lexi York, Carla Munoz and all these people who are playing at a much higher level proves them all wrong.”

As Manilla begins her professional career, she has had several epiphanies about balancing school, sports and a social life.

Claiming that it is a constant juggling act, she realizes which ball is going to stick around.

“Racquetball is always going to be there for me, no matter what,” Manilla said.

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SPORTS

The 7000’s climb their way back to the top Cara Heise

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hey are on television. They are decked out in school colors and have their faces painted. The NAU student section, also known as The 7000’s at athletic events, has created a space to cheer for their teams and showcase school spirit.

NAU typically does not come to mind when thinking of powerhouse sports schools.

Regardless of having athletic events and students who are big sports fans, school spirit lacks.

“During my freshman and sophomore year of college the student section was called the Lumberyard, and the Jack Pack was involved,” said December 2017 NAU alumna Kali Morris.

“Although I went to multiple games for all sports, I found there was a lack of a ‘studentrun’ section. There was little direction on what or how to cheer and only about 20 students who were really into the game.”

Shirts were made with “The Lumberyard” written on them, but that was the only identifying factor of the student section.

“All students were a part of the Lumberyard, but no one really knew what it was ... [or what] was being done,” Morris said.

“Therefore, the name was mentioned at every sporting event I went to, but again, there was a lack of involvement and action. Where I believe a true student section could make a difference is switching things up, planning band, cheer, dance and mascot and make the students feel excited to come to every game.”

In 2015, the men’s basketball program made it to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. NAU hosted every game, except the championship game. The Skydome was filled with students and local sports fans, and when the team won the semifinal game, the students rushed the court.

That is when the want and need for a student section started.

Direction was needed, and Morris helped head the start of The 7000’s after she was approached by the athletic department.

“This was during the end of my sophomore year, and I knew something has to be done, and I needed to be a part of it,” Morris said. “All of those big schools have students running the section simply because they love the atmosphere [of ] sporting events, and most importantly, their school. I wanted to be one of those people, I just didn’t see the opportunity until that meeting.”

Junior marketing major Janet Aguirre helped develop the student section into what it is now, and she has no plans on stopping. She is

currently the club’s president.

“My second year here I became involved with athletic marketing, and The 7000’s was kind of just an idea, and there wasn’t a lot of background to it yet,” said Aguirre. “This year we kicked it off even more and started getting branding, and we now have a section dedicated to students.”

Last summer the club sat down with interim director of athletic marketing Alison Mercado and went over the logistics.

“All of that kind of came together really on an 8-by-10 piece of paper,” said Mercado. “We were charting on how the structure works. ‘This is what the report system will look like, this is protocol on how we envision these entities working within the department, within campus community and how it fluctuates.’ That was great to kind of give the concept some construction.”

The name The 7000’s came from Flagstaff’s elevation.

“When sports teams come up here they usually have a hard time breathing because our air is so much thinner than it is at lower elevation,” Aguirre said. “So our slogan, which is, ‘Elevation is not the only thing to fear’ is referring to the student section as well as the

literal air.”

The purpose of The 7000’s is to bring a more energetic atmosphere to the student section for all NCAA-sanctioned sports.

There are challenges to starting a student section, especially on a campus that is not sports oriented. The pioneers of the student section, which included Morris, had to first reach out to students and inform them of the changes.

“Although we are a Division-I school in the Big Sky Conference, we are not ASU, GCU or U of A,” Morris said. “We do not have the basis for a student section, and it was going to have to start being created by The 7000’s. We looked at those schools at the start to understand what they do or have that we don’t and what we can create that kind of atmosphere.”

Right now, The 7000’s have eight executive positions and about 20 core members. The core members are those who are involved and get free things like fanny packs and hats before anyone else does.

“What’s interesting about The 7000’s this year is that they don’t even know each other,” Mercado said. “For some reason we created this space where this core group is [comfortable] together.”

Over the past two years, The 7000’s has grown as it has gained popularity among students. Parents and students are involved on social media, and incoming students are excited to come to NAU to experience the student section.

With NAU-sanctioned sports winding down, the club is in full planning mode.

“We hit the orientation part, and we get all of those fresh, new freshmen who are excited about school and get them on board,” Aguirre said. “We like to see their new ideas and what really interests them and what we can do to get more freshmen to come in.”

Planning big events for next year is on the agenda for The 7000’s right now. The goal is to get underclassmen as involved as possible because starting from the bottom allows the club to grow over the years.

“The first year of getting The 7000’s established and known was very difficult as there were only four of us students working with athletics to get it going,” Morris said. “However, the next year there was a platform created over [the] summer. We were able to reach out to students who are into sporting events and crowd involvement, and start something unbelievable.”

Members of The 7000’s, the NAU student section, cheer on the Lumberjacks during the first quarter of the football game against Western Illinois University Sept. 9, 2017. Austin Sudweeks | The Lumberjack

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