SWEET TREATS PAGES 10-11
THE LUMBER JACK MAR. 18, 2021 – MAR. 24, 2021
Online at JackCentral.org
From the Editor
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couple weeks ago, I was ordering my cap and gown for graduation. I never would’ve imagined I’d be graduating in the world we’re living in now. Then again, if you would have told me I’d be graduating a year earlier than I was supposed to, I never would have believed you. I was originally going to graduate after the fall 2021 semester, one semester early, but I managed to earn enough credits to finish an entire year early. To be completely honest, I cannot wait until the day I’m done with my academic career at NAU. I can’t wait to finally leave my other job, even though I know I’m going to miss my co-workers so much. Despite this, I will always be grateful for my experiences at NAU that helped me grow into the person I am today. I remember being so terrified when I first started school at NAU and began my job right away. Although I quickly grew into a routine, I wondered if I was making the right decision to study journalism at NAU. I wasn’t really enjoying some of my classes and sometimes I wanted to just leave school and go back home. During my second semester of freshman year, I took David Harpster’s basic reporting class. I had never done any journalism work before this class, and I was NAYOMI so nervous. This class made me realize how much of a grammar nerd I really am. GARCIA As weird as this may seem, I loved taking AP quizzes and learning about how I could improve my own writing. COPY CHIEF This love grew even more when I began to work at The Lumberjack as a writer. If I was nervous taking basic journalism classes, I was experiencing some other type of nerves when I began as a writer. I thought about dropping the class, even though I knew doing so wouldn’t help me. I’m so grateful I stayed and got to experience working for this amazing paper and the amazing people who work together to make our content. My time as an NAU student would have been completely different if I didn’t have the opportunity to be a part of the paper’s staff. Out of all the things I’ve learned about myself while at NAU, my biggest takeaway has to be that in the end, you’ll always have yourself. As clichéd and cheesy as it sounds, we’re all going to make mistakes and have regrets. This happens to everyone, but at the end of the day, remember you always have to be there for yourself. You’re stronger and braver than you may think.
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Phone: (928) 523-4921 Fax: (928) 523-9313 Lumberjack@nau.edu P.O. Box 6000 Flagstaff, AZ 86011
THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 111 ISSUE 10 Editor-in-Chief Scout Ehrler
Managing Editor Nathan Manni
Copy Chief Nayomi Garcia
Faculty Adviser David Harpster
Print Chief Jacob Meyer
Director of Digital Content Ash Lohmann
Media Innovation Center Editorial Board Director of Social Media Maddie Cohen
Op-Ed Editor Trinity Archie
Culture Editor Katelyn Rodriguez
Sports Adviser Rory Faust
News Editor Camille Sipple
Asst. Op-Ed Editor Kylie Soto
Asst. Culture Editor Kyler Edsitty
Director of Illustration Aleah Green
Asst. News Editor Mark Fabery
Features Editor Olivia Charlson
Sports Editor Brenden Martin
Asst. Dir. of Illustration Maddie Cohen
Online News Editor Kylie Soto
Asst. Features Editor Emily Gerdes
Asst. Sports Editor Will Hopkins
Senior Photographer Michael Patacsil
Senior Reporter Molly Brown
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Director of Photography & Multimedia Shawn Patti
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Senior Photographer Brian Burke
On the cover Dara Wong, owner and pastry chef at Shift Kitchen, prepares ingredients, March 12. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack
Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Scout Ehrler at see86@nau.edu.
PoliceBeat March 8 At 1:17 a.m., a Drury Inn & Suites employee reported a subject laying in the roadway. NAUPD responded, but no contact was made. At 9:52 a.m., Flagstaff Police Department (FPD) requested assistance with traffic control for a funeral procession. NAUPD responded and assistance was provided. At 12:26 p.m., a staff member reported two people with dogs that were not on their leashes near the Babbitt Academic Annex. NAUPD responded, but was unable to locate the subjects. March 9 At 2:03 a.m., a nonstudent who reported having suicidal ideation walked into NAUPD. The nonstudent was provided a public assist ride to the Guidance Center for a voluntary health evaluation. At 1:16 p.m., an anonymous subject reported a vehicle stopped in the middle of lot 16A blocking traffic. NAUPD responded, but the vehicle left prior to arrival. At 7:40 p.m., Applied Research and Development staff reported an open window. NAUPD responded and the window was secured.
transported to Flagstaff Skyview elevator. NAUPD Medical Center (FMC). responded and the student was extricated. Skyview At 6:27 p.m., FPD maintenance was notified. requested assistance with a disturbance of the peace March 13 fight off campus. NAUPD At 8:16 a.m., a student responded and the subject was late reported a conflict with detained. another student in University March 11 Union. NAUPD responded At 1:15 a.m., a Reilly and took a report. Hall RA reported someone throwing items at their door. At 8:00 p.m., a NAUPD responded and nonstudent reported a traffic provided information on no- problem on the corner of contact orders and injunctions. Knoles and McConnell drives. NAUPD responded and At 5:03 a.m., Drury assistance was provided. Inn & Suites staff reported a subject sleeping inside the At 8:12 p.m., NAUPD front entrance. NAUPD reported assisting multiple responded and the nonstudent vehicles stuck in snow at the was warned of trespass. corner of University Drive and Beaver Street. At 7:44 p.m., a student requested assistance with March 14 a dead battery in the San At 3:14 a.m., an Allen Francisco Parking Garage. Hall resident reported an NAUPD responded and unknown subject sleeping assistance was provided. in the hallway. NAUPD responded and the nonstudent At 5:04 p.m., a student was contacted. After medical requested assistance for a clearance at FMC, the student having a seizure in nonstudent was arrested and Taylor Hall. NAUPD, FFD booked into Coconino County and GMT responded and the Detention Facility for firststudent was transported to degree trespassing. FMC. At 12:22 p.m., a subject At 5:19 p.m., the reported a stray dog and Science Lab Facility reported requested NAUPD to patrol an elevator call. NAUPD the area around Pine Ridge responded and the area was Village. However, the stray dog searched with no criminal did not pose a security risk and activity witnessed. was gone upon arrival.
March 10 At 9:40 a.m., NAUPD reported teaching a class on March 12 traffic stops for the National At 1:35 a.m., an employee Park Services in Social requested a jump start in lot Behavioral Sciences West 33. NAUPD responded and building. assistance was provided. At 3:03 p.m., a staff member reported falling out of their car in lot 16A. NAUPD, Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) and Guardian Medical Transport (GMT) responded and the staff member was
Compiled by Mark fabery
At 7:00 p.m., NAUPD received a call from a Skyview elevator. NAUPD and FFD responded and the student was safely removed from the elevator and facilities were At 2:13 p.m., NAUPD notified. reported providing a public assist ride to a student at Ernest Calderón Learning Community. At 3:19 p.m., a student reported being stuck in a
Coconino County COVID-19 Dashboard data
Community transmission Case rate Positivity percentage Cumulative cases
Substantial 113.6 per 100,000 pop. 6.1% 16,723
Flagstaff Medical Center COVID-19 Resources
In-house COVID-19 patients Hospital capacity Critical care capacity
Positive: 18 | Pending: 2 199/300 31/55
NAU Student Cases
Total on- and off-campus cases
25
County Vaccine Facts
Vaccination rate (at least one dose)
Current phase
32.5% 1C & adults 35 and up
Dr. Cruz announces presidential transition team Mark fabery
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ewly appointed President-designate José Luis Cruz, Ph.D., announced via email March 11 to the NAU community the formation of a presidential transition core administrative team. Cruz appointed a transition team consisting of: Laurie Dickson, vice provost of Curriculum, Assessment and Accreditation, Associate Vice President of Communications Kimberly Ott and Director of President’s Office Operations Brian Register to take on the responsibility advancing the university’s mission during the transition. “An essential part of my commitment to ‘hitting the ground learning’ at NAU will be to get a quick, yet thorough, understanding of all significant issues occurring during the transition period and beyond that may have a long-term financial or political impact on the university,” Cruz said. Read more online at jackcentral.org
MARCH 18, 2021 – MARCH 24, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK
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NEWS
Illustration By Domininc Davies
A new gamble for Arizona sports fans Tess Spinker
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egalized online and in-person sports betting advanced in Arizona after the House of Representatives voted in favor of a bill that has moved to the Senate this month for potential approval. If approved, House Bill 2772 would authorize sports books in or near stadiums, authorize mobile and online fantasy league betting, allow betting kiosks to be placed in certain locations and permit Native American groups to allow betting off reservations, according to the legislation. The House approved the bill by a vote of 48-12 earlier this month. This proposition comes almost two decades after the current Arizona Tribal-State Gaming Compact was passed by voters in the 2002 November midterm election, according to the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG). This agreement between tribes and the state allowed a certain amount of revenue produced by the casinos to be distributed among Arizona counties and different state programs. Whether or not the bill passes, sports betting has proven to generate much revenue for the state, ADG reported. Within the last fiscal year, tribal gambling brought in roughly $2 billion in revenue, while also distributing about $103 million to the state and $13 million to cities, according to a report from ADG. The proposal, first introduced by Rep. Jeff Weninger, stated it would allow Arizona professional sports teams to incorporate betting into their own facilities.
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In a statement, Gov. Doug Ducey expressed his support of the new proposition last month. “[This is] an opportunity for a modernized gaming compact that will bring in more revenue for our tribal nations and our state budget,” Ducey said. According to a report published by The Brookings Institution, Flagstaff was ranked as the No. 10 city with the highest economic growth impact in response to COVID-19 in the nation. Many have looked as legalizing sports betting as an anvenue to increase revenue within the state and a possible solution to COVID-19 setbacks. NAU alumna Bailey Hickethier said she has been around sports her entire life and seeing how influential it is to people, it may just be the perfect economic engagement. “My dad and brother always have been placing bets on sports,” Hickethier said. “Seeing how upset they were that many sports got canceled when the pandemic hit, they seem to be twice as obsessed with sports.” Being from Montana, where sports gaming is already legal, Hickethier said she thinks there is no reason why it should be illegal. “People can gamble on things that mean absolutely nothing,” Hickethier said. “I mean if people want to blow their money on it, they have every right. Besides, if it contributes to the economy, then what is stopping them from passing the law.” Reported by the American Gaming Association (AGA), the threat of organized crime as been a primary concern for states when considering legalization. Organized crime involvement
in sports betting is most commonly associated bookies, or sportsbooks, who offer betting outside permit jurisdictions with the intent to target consumers, AGA stated. After the trial of Murphy v. NCAA, states began to overturn federal regulations and started regulating betting at the state level. In 2018, the NCAA was challenged by New Jersey Gov. Philip Murphy to overturn its federal laws and let states decide on the enforcement of these laws. Per reports from ESPN, there are currently 20 states with legalized sports betting. NAU golf head coach Bradley Bedortha said he will make sure that if laws change and sports betting becomes legal, his players will play the same. “Well, since our players must abide by the NCAA rules, and they wouldn’t be allowed to gamble on sports, we already do educate them and we would just need to continue with that education,” Bedortha said. While Bedortha is not as worried for people to bet on golf as some would for other sports, he still said he considers it a plausible solution. “I don’t have an issue with sports betting at all,” Bedortha said. “It’s become legal in most places and if people want to send their money gambling, that should be their right.” Currently, many local and state authorities regard this proposal to legalize sports betting to be financially beneficial to the state and assist in overcoming economic setbacks cities have faced over the past year.
NEWS
Bill Kuche: A fighter worth fighting for Molly Brown
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ill has always been a fighter.” This was the sentiment expressed by Penny Kuche as she reflected about her son Bill Kuche and his battle with stage five chronic kidney disease (CKD). As a 30-year veteran firefighter and superintendent of the T1 Flagstaff Interagency Hotshots in Flagstaff, Bill Kuche has devoted much of his life to fighting wildfires while looking out for the welfare and safety of those around him, Penny Kuche explained. “The challenge now is getting him to focus on himself,” Penny said. She talked about how Bill has always strived to make the job he loves safer and more efficient for everyone involved and began to influence change, even as a rookie. Bill proceeded to trim response times while focusing on keeping his team out of harm’s way as much as possible, and Penny explained that has been apparent in the reflections of so many who have worked by his side. Always the optimist with a great sense of humor, Bill takes on life’s challenges with a positive attitude and knows when it’s time to get down to business, Penny said. The Mayo Clinic website describes CKD as the loss of the kidneys’ filtering abilities, which leads to a dangerous buildup of fluids, electrolytes and waste in the body. “Kidney function that deteriorates to less than 10% of normal capacity results in endstage kidney disease, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to sustain life,” according to the Mayo Clinic. Although Bill has dealt with his kidney disease since he was diagnosed with glomerulonephritis as a child after contracting strep throat, the streptococcal virus, Penny said it was only recently that he took a turn for the worse. Glomerulonephritis is caused by the buildup of excess antibodies following recovery from strep throat resulting in the failure of tiny filters in the kidneys (glomeruli), which leads to a “rapid accumulation of waste products,” according to the Mayo Clinic website. Grace Kuche, Bill’s oldest daughter, expressed in an email how valuable her dad is to his co-workers, friends and family. “My dad always leads a positive life of health, fitness and unconditional devotion to his family, friends and colleagues,” Grace said. She mentioned how her dad was not able to
Bill Kuche, a 30-year veteran firefighter and superintendent of the T1 Flagstaff Interagency Hotshots in Flagstaff, is fighting stage five chronic kidney disease and is seeking a transplant. Courtesy of the Bill (William) Kuche Needs A Kidney Facebook page. celebrate his 20-year wedding anniversary with his wife, Lyndsey, in February because he was hospitalized while going through dialysis. As of March 11, Bill is preparing for arteriovenous (AV) fistula surgery as a safer means of receiving dialysis, Grace said. The Mayo Clinic reports AV as a complication with blood flow often caused by dialysis in those suffering with kidney disease. “Normally, blood flows from your arteries to your capillaries, and then on to your veins,” the Mayo Clinic website stated. “With an arteriovenous fistula, blood flows directly from an artery into a vein, bypassing some capillaries. People who have late-stage kidney failure may have an arteriovenous fistula surgically created in the forearm to make it easier to perform dialysis.” The Kuche family has been diligent in their research while getting the word out about Bill’s worsening condition and desperate need for a kidney. “There are 107,000 people waiting for some
sort of an organ transplant as of February 2021,” Grace said. “According to organdonor.gov, there are 17 people who die each day waiting for a transplant. Even the average wait time for a deceased organ donor’s kidney is approximately five years.” This makes live-donor kidney transplants even more pressing as a way to shorten the wait time and need for dialysis, according to the Mayo Clinic website. A GoFundMe page has been created by the Kuche family and as of March 13, it has raised $69,484 of the $100,000 goal. “On our GoFundMe page you can also find more information on where our family is personally at during this journey and some other things we’ve learned about live organ donation,” Grace said. More information about Bill’s condition and progress can be found on the Bill (William) Kuche Needs A Kidney Facebook page. “We decided to reach out not only to tell everyone a bit of his story and find him a match,
but we want to try to help the others on the list,” Grace said. She also provided links for the UNOS living donations, Mayo Clinic live-donor, National Living Donor Assistance Center and Health Resources & Services Administration websites to help those interested in more information about kidney donation. “The next step would be to fill out the questionnaire for the Mayo Clinic at mayoclinic.org/livingdonor to get started,” Grace said. “It is also a good idea to discuss with your own physician, letting them know you are considering being a live donor for someone who is in need of a transplant.” March is National Kidney Month and many resources such as the National Kidney Foundation are working to create more awareness and share information regarding the need for kidney donations.
MARCH 18, 2021 – MARCH 24, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK
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NEWS
Uncommon Flagstaff looks to attract students with resort-style living William Combs III
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menities, amenities, amenities! This seems to be the selling point of resort-style apartment communities to NAU students. As spring semester nears its end, first-year students are looking for a change of pace from the confines of dorm life and are beginning their search for off-campus housing for the upcoming fall semester. Uncommon Flagstaff is a new apartment complex opening next semester that is challenging other complexes of its kind. At a similar price as the well-known complex The Standard, Uncommon is betting that its amenities and location will draw in students. Property manager Sarah Glenn followed suit with this common selling point, highlighting the amenities provided by Uncommon. “Uncommon Flagstaff is an exciting new off-campus apartment community located on Milton Road, just steps from Cline Library,” Glenn said. “It was thoughtfully designed to provide the best resident experience possible and will feature exceptional community amenities for our residents to enjoy, including a 24/7 fitness center, outdoor spa, coworking and study spaces, retail and a skydeck. We also have on-site garage parking available. Uncommon offers studio and one to five-bedroom floor plans, all with private bathrooms.” According to Uncommon Flagstaff’s website, rent ranges from $1,330 a month for a studio apartment to the cheapest option available at $819 a month, per person, for a four bedroom apartment. Comparably, The Standard’s website notes that rent ranges from $1,309 a month for a studio apartment to $809 per person, for a five bedroom apartment. Both The Standard and Uncommon offer an in-unit washer and dryer, TV, Wi-Fi and fully furnished apartments. The Standard, however, has extra charges, which Uncommon does not.
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The Uncommon Flagstaff apartments under construction off of Milton Rd, March 14. Cole Stewart| The Lumberjack
Freshman Briana O’Donnell, who currently lives at The Standard, said a resident would have to pay for electricity, water, parking and a balcony if it is included with the apartment. At Uncommon, residents would only be required to pay for electricity and parking. O’Donnell said she believes the amenities provided outweigh the cost by far and notes the in-unit balcony was a key factor in her decision to move into the complex. “Living at The Standard, I have access to hot tubs, tanning beds, a brand-new, super nice gym and study rooms, along with a very nice
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lounge area,” O’Donnell said. “When picking out an apartment, you want to make sure that you are getting your money’s worth with all of it, and having super nice amenities that come with the apartment definitely makes the decision of whether or not it is worth it a lot easier.” Freshman Ethan Guinchard echoed O’Donnell by highlighting the practicality of the amenities provided, which ultimately led him to sign a lease at Uncommon. “I would say that overall, more amenities just makes everything easier in your life,” Guinchard said. “You don’t need to go outside for a good
gym, you don’t need to go somewhere else to get good food, you don’t need to go downstairs to wash your clothes. I think all of that makes up for the price of Uncommon.” A key advantage freshman Andrew Carrithers argued The Standard has over Uncommon is the square footage of the apartments. The Standard’s largest four bedroom apartment has almost 600 more square feet than Uncommon’s largest apartment of that size. Furthermore, The Standard offers an in-unit balcony in some floor plans, a feature Uncommon lacks. “Although Uncommon’s
amenities are better than The Standard, The Standard has better floor plans,” Carrithers said. “The amount of space you get for the price at The Standard is better than Uncommon.” What has become a battle between floor plans and amenities all comes down to personal preference in the long run. While some students prefer a larger apartment and are willing to sacrifice the new amenities, others argue for the opposite. Whatever the case, amenities remain at the forefront of the conversation when it comes to resort-style offcampus apartments.
ARTIST FEATURE
Diana Ortega
ARTIST FEATURE
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have worked for the paper since my second semester of freshman year after it was recommended by my Gateway adviser. I took art classes during high school, which helped me learn to paint realistically. My senior year of high school, I bought a Wacom tablet, and began to draw digitally. I was on a learning curve for the first year, but I persisted. My style also changed from realistic art to more of a cartoon style. Now, my favorite thing to do is to create comics and character design. Currently, I am learning how to animate so I can bring my comics to life! I like creating art because it genuinely makes me happy. I’m grateful I can come up with an idea, and make it happen on paper. I am part of The Lumberjack because it’s rewarding to see my work published.
MARCH 18, 2021 – MARCH 24, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK
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OPINION-EDITORIAL
Normalize gender neutral pronouns As seen in those statistics, it is becoming fairly common for people to identify with pronouns other than she/her and he/him. ecently, pronouns have become a topic of conversation. However, we still have much to accomplish before gender neutral Many people now identify with pronouns other than pronouns are fully accepted and normalized. she/her and he/him. The personal decision to identify with the pronouns you feel Some people have quickly adapted to others’ preferences by comfortable with should not matter to other people. respectfully using their correct pronouns. However, many others The simple act of using someone’s correct pronouns can still have difficulty grasping the concept. Some purposely oppose make a huge difference in their lives, especially when there are anything other than the standard pronouns they automatically so many other people who may refuse to do that for them. We associate with a person based on physical appearance. need to realize that although some people may not understand Ongoing efforts to normalize all pronouns include an or agree with stating and using correct pronouns, it is respectful increase in educators asking students for their pronouns when and easy to do. a course begins. Along with these efforts, many social media This controversy also seems to come from a lack of users now add their pronouns to their bios, right along with understanding of pronouns and the effect they have on a person’s other identifying information we are accustomed to sharing, identity. As a society, we need to put out more information about like name and age. the topic to combat the lack of understanding leading to such Both of these have helped to normalize stating your ignorance. pronouns and not assuming what other people’s pronouns are. Many people oppose those who state their pronouns because Although these efforts have been effective, controversy still they feel it is silly or should not matter, but it does affect the remains an obstacle in the fight for respect of others’ identities. person whose identity is being completely disregarded. For example, a Time article detailed the story of a student Imagine for a moment that while you feel most comfortable at Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg, Indiana who with she/her pronouns, one person keeps referring to you as he/ experienced discrimination regarding his gender identity. The him. This would most likely make you feel uncomfortable and student’s orchestra teacher failed to respect his pronouns and question yourself. That is how those who are misgendered feel was forced to resign. As a result, this teacher filed a currently when someone disregards their pronouns. ongoing federal lawsuit against the school. This is a small change that can have such a big impact on an Even though society is slowly becoming more accepting individual. of everyone’s identities, there are still many examples of At the end of the day, a person’s pronouns do not affect discrimination similar to the one involving the Indiana teacher. anyone’s life but their own. Refusing to respect pronouns is just Some people oppose it for ignorant and rude to the religious reasons, while person asking to be addressed others simply only feel like the way they are most referring to people with the comfortable with. pronouns they are most We need to expand our familiar with. knowledge on pronouns A blog post by director and start doing a better job and animator Nina Paley of respecting every single explained one individual’s person’s identity because it reasoning for rejecting does matter. peoples’ correct pronouns. For example, a 2018 “Like most mammals, study published by The I can’t help but identify American Academy of someone’s sex with +99% Pediatrics revealed over half accuracy,” Paley writes. of transgender male teens Throughout the post, who were surveyed had she expressed that she feels attempted suicide in their referring to someone from lifetime. Another concerning a perception outside of statistic resulting from the Illustration By Aleah Green your own denies reality. study showed 29.9% of transgender There are many others like Paley female teens said they attempted who still do not agree with respecting and stating pronouns. suicide. About one in five United States citizens know someone This is why it is so imperative that we respect an individual’s who goes by a gender-neutral pronoun. Along with that statistic, gender identity. Misgendering may be a joke to some, but it can only about half of this population says they would be somewhat have detrimental emotional effects on those who experience this or very comfortable using gender-neutral pronouns, as revealed cruel invalidation on a daily basis. by a 2019 Pew Research Center survey.
Hayley Bostian
Blindly backing Biden is a dangerous decision
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e are about to reach the halfway mark of President Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office, and many citizens seem to have critical opinions about his actions. Biden has been responsible for bombing Syria and the deportation of immigrants, leading many Republicans to question the winner of the election. However, Biden supporters are voicing their negative opinions while not backing away from who they voted for. Conservatives who most likely did not vote for Biden seem to think those who did are regretting their decision. CAROLINE While this may be the situation in some SNELLING cases, it is not the overall consensus. The WRITER president of the United States will not always make the right decision, so it is imperative that we stop blindly supporting politicians. When a politician in a person’s preferred political party does things that seem unethical or against their personal beliefs, one should be angry and have an opinion. Just like any prior presidency, Biden is not the end-all be-all for the Democratic party and should be held responsible for his actions. We have been forced to blindly pick between political candidates due to our political system being dominated by two major political parties. Party affiliation aside, it is crucial to think for yourself and vote for the candidate with the characteristics and goals you want implemented in the future. No one is perfect, especially those leading the government. There will often be times where our personal beliefs go against what the current president is carrying out for the country. This does not mean we have to throw in the towel and suck it up because of who we voted for. This actually gives even more of a push and drive to continue to voice opinions and hope that our leadership will learn from these mistakes and carry out change in the future. Our country’s leaders should care about citizens’ reactions to their mistakes. It is not the president’s job to have everyone like them, but it is their job to do what is best for the country. At the end of the day, whether you are Republican, Independent or Democrat, there is a natural consensus that we all want the U.S. to thrive and be the best it can be. The people owe it to themselves to continue to do research, stay educated, speak up when they do not agree with something and most importantly: vote.
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OPINION-EDITORIAL
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s thumbs down broke promises Tyler Lee
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he trend of politicians promising one thing while campaigning, then disregarding it when they are in office is not new. However, every time it happens I still feel incredibly disappointed. Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema continued this trend when she voted against raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The wage increase was an amendment Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders wanted to add to the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package proposed by President Joe Biden. The amendment was not added to the package after losing the Senate vote 58-42 on Friday, March 5. Sinema was just one of eight Senate Democrats who voted against the bill. Her decision, as well as her behavior on the Senate floor, shocked many Arizonans. In 2014, Sinema posted a tweet claiming raising the minimum wage was a “no-brainer.” Yet, when she was given the opportunity to facilitate that change for the country, she quite literally gave it a big thumbs down. Much of Sinema’s career in Arizona politics has focused on getting Arizonans better opportunities, including a higher minimum wage. While she has supported state wage increases in the past, this does not excuse her denying an increase that would help the whole nation. On Sinema’s website, she talks about her experience growing up in poverty and how that made her want to help others facing the same situation. She also states a large part of what she wants to do is create “good-paying jobs for Arizonans.” She has supported incremental wage increases in Arizona in both 2006 and 2016, while serving in the Arizona House of Representatives and later in the United States House. That same support should have been awarded in this situation as well. The New York Times called Sinema a wild card in her party and described her political stance as “Green Party activist turned centrist.” In a statement Sinema released on Twitter after the vote, she said that while she supported a nationwide wage increase, she did not think now was the right time. She said she wanted a debate solely about the minimum wage, rather than it being wrapped into the COVID-19 relief package. This statement came off like nothing more than a placating remark. Why should the decision to raise the minimum wage, a decision that could have helped millions of U.S. citizens during the pandemic, be pushed off? Why should it be a separate debate when both COVID-19 relief and the national minimum wage are so intertwined at this point in time? Due to the pandemic, finances have been a struggle for many, especially those with minimum wage income. The increase had the potential to help millions of people, but it was pushed to the side once again. Sinema seemingly had no problem with this as all she had to say was she did not think it was the right time. Not only was her decision devastating for the millions
of U.S. citizens who would have benefitted from the addition of this amendment to the relief package, but it also provided Arizona voters a view of her priorities. She would rather keep her allies across the aisle than vote for the needs of the country. What shocked not only Arizonans, but her fellow senators as well, was Sinema’s behavior while she cast her vote against the proposed amendment. Her body language while doing so, giving an exaggerated thumbs down as a no vote, was yet another show of
her disregard for the promises she made while running for office. Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib quote-tweeted the video of Sinema casting her “no” vote stating “No one should be this happy to vote against uplifting people out of poverty.” Other members of Congress joined Tlaib in condemning Sinema’s behavior and decision. Illinois Rep. Marie Newman brought up the fact that Arizonans overwhelmingly support a $15 an hour minimum wage. The minimum wage increase vote was not the first instance where Sinema angered members of her party. Her recent refusal to kill the Senate filibuster also landed her in hot water. Unfortunately, this vote has been cast and the federal minimum wage will remain at $7.25 per hour for now. However, this does not mean Arizonans should simply forgive and forget Sinema’s blatant disregard for her previous promises. While she is not up for reelection until 2025, it is the duty of Arizonans to remember this when the time for her reelection comes.
Illustration By christian ayala
MARCH 18, 2021 – MARCH 24, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK
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FEATURES
Satisfying a sweet tooth at Sonia Leyva
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owntown Flagstaff caters to a bunch of different palates where local foodies and travelers can find something that satisfies their taste buds. Shift Kitchen and Bar dedicates the first Saturday of each month to individuals with a sweet tooth. Owner and pastry chef Dara Wong has continued this tradition since Shift opened in April 2016. Wong said in a Q&A published in VoyagePhoenix that she is loving almost every minute of running her own restaurant. Wong is an entrepreneur and the sole owner of Shift. She studied business management at the University of Denver and after graduating, immersed herself in a culinary program called Cook Street School of Culinary Arts where she found her passion for making pastries. She moved to Flagstaff in hopes
Left: Small jars of spices line the shelves at Shift Kitchen, March 12. Right: Monica De La Torre, Environmental Sustainability major at NAU, helps prepare the kitchen before customers arrive, March 12. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack
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of starting her own culinary business and that is how Shift came to be. Shift is a restaurant that challenges the norm of everyday meals and reinvents them by adding a personal touch. According to its website, the goal is to shift the mentality of the normal dining experience with its creations. In 2018, Shift won the Excellence in Innovation award from the Devour Excellence Awards. Not only does the restaurant create savory meals, but Shift hosts a bake sale each month to display its chefs’ pastry-making talents. Wong and employees make a variety of pastries when the event rolls around. It is most recognized for the croissant selections, but that is not all it has to offer. “It’s a lot of different croissants, danishes, quiches, breakfast sandwiches and more,” Wong said. “It all depends on what I want to make, so
FEATURES
t Shift Kitchen’s Bake Sale it’s not always the same as the month before.” According to its website, the bake sale runs from 8-11 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month, with pastries often selling out in a short period of time. However, due to the pandemic, the way Shift operates has changed. It has limited the amount of people inside the establishment and is only operating at 50% capacity to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Wong said people start lining up around 7:45 a.m. waiting to be called in, but sometimes not everyone is able to be served. The restaurant only has three parties inside at a time to stay cautious with the virus, Wong explained. The pandemic has limited occupancy, but its customer list continues to grow. Senior and local foodie Yarleni Grande said she is fond of Shift and has been since she first visited in 2017. “I lean on the sweeter side of things when
it comes to food,” Grande said. “I’ve always had a sweet tooth, but I try to be very mindful about what I treat myself to. I’ll never forget this chocolate cannoli that I tried at Shift. It was one of my favorites and I always think back to it.” Grande said Shift Kitchen will always have a special place in her heart because it was one of her early memories when visiting Flagstaff, and she rates it one of the best eateries in town. She said she plans on attending Shift Kitchen’s next bake sale. The next bake sale will be held on April 3 and will be full of tasty surprises. Wong said none of the items at the bake sale are featured on the website or on the menu. This means customers who attend will be tasting exclusive, in-house treats. The surprise menu items are so enticing that they are bringing in new customers from
the community, especially NAU students. Junior Esequiel Camacho said he plans on visiting the establishment as soon as time allows. Camacho is a full-time student and works as an emergency medical technician. In his free time, he tries to find new places to dine whenever he has the chance. His search for new restaurants includes browsing through the dessert menu for unique treats, and he said he is excited to plan his visit to Shift Kitchen’s bake sale to try some pastries and the espresso. “Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and I would definitely say that loving sweet foods stems off of that,” Camacho said. “My partner and I are always up for trying new places and she’s a huge coffee fan, so she’s excited to try the coffee options at Shift with the goods we’ll be getting.” The Shift bake sale is operated on a first-
come, first-served basis. At the moment, Shift does not have a system in place for preorders for the bake sale, but Wong said she will be considering it for the months to come. The bake sale has been a tradition that has continued for almost five years, bringing the community together and making Saturday mornings that much sweeter. Wong said the bake sale will continue every month for the foreseeable future. For those looking to try something new, Shift is a place to visit when in Flagstaff. Its menu is full of platters that cater to every mood. Shift gives a new meaning to innovation and brings a sweeter essence to the community with baked goods galore.
“I’ll never forget this chocolate cannoli that I tried at Shift. It was one of my favorites and I always think back to it.” -Senior Yarleni Grande
Dara Wong, owner and pastry chef at Shift Kitchen, prepares ingredients, March 12. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack
MARCH 18, 2021 – MARCH 24, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK
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Cupid vs. COVID: The pandemic’s impact on dating Emily Rehling
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ossibly one of the biggest challenges presented by COVID-19 restrictions has been the absence of regular social interaction that people held dearly. For many, the difficulty posed was amplified by not having a partner, leading to a conundrum: How does one conquer loneliness without being able to go out and meet people? A year into the pandemic, some have it all figured out, while many are still struggling to navigate the challenge. For NAU students, there are a distinct set of obstacles in meeting or getting to know a partner due to the environment of being on a college campus during a pandemic. Communal living in dormitories and apartments, group dining and other shared amenities provided by campus all pose risks, which the university has had to adapt in order to combat the virus. Freshman Gemma Martin is currently living on campus in the Honors College, where restrictions on visitors are among those obstacles. Students are not allowed to enter a residence hall other than one’s own, and off-campus visitors are not allowed in any residence halls. These COVID-19 restrictions, which are listed in NAU’s standards of residence, have made it difficult for students looking to meet a partner and getting to know each other in a personal setting, Martin said. “It’s hard to meet people; if you do meet them, they’re in a different dorm,” Martin said. “There’s not really a place you can hang out without it being super awkward.” Meeting new people while in a pandemic is already difficult enough, Martin explained. Outside of dating apps, she said approaching someone she sees while on campus is one of the only ways to meet somebody new — something she said she is reluctant to do because most people have their faces covered by masks while on campus. Martin said in her experience, potential connections have not had a chance to develop due to the lack of a comfortable environment. While she has tried to make connections with
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Illustration By Diana Ortega
potential partners, she said that the barrier of being in different halls is difficult to overcome. “It just impacts everything because getting to know someone is a big part of dating and if you don’t have time to sit down and actually get to know them, there’s no chance of [a relationship] happening,” Martin said. In contrast, sophomore Corey Dillon said he felt more optimistic about navigating the dating situation created by the pandemic, restrictions and all. “Not a lot of people are meeting up in person, and a lot of people are scared because of the virus,” Dillon said. “But now that people are getting vaccinated, I feel like that’s changing a bit.” Dillon said he felt despite the more impersonal nature required of COVID-safe dating, relationships could still prosper. While social distancing and masked meet-ups might seem unnatural to some, Dillon argued that
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depending on the person, it could be made to work. Given both parties are willing and comfortable with the environment, he said he felt it could be made to not be awkward. Regardless, Dillon acknowledged there is a definite change in the way relationships are progressing due to the effects of the pandemic. “I feel like it’s never just an immediate date or something like that,” Dillon said. “It’s always a long talk over text now, and I feel like it’s a lot harder for people to [go out] and call it a date.” While both Dillon and Martin agreed that dating while in Flagstaff has been challenging, many students found opportunities to make the most of the extended time spent at home last year, with some being lucky enough to have found that spark. Sophomore Nikki Curtis reconnected with her longtime friend, ASU student Christian Contreras, over the summer. The two have maintained a longdistance relationship since the beginning of the
fall semester, a decision Contreras said the pandemic played a small role in. “I felt like I was more willing to get into a relationship,” Contreras said. “When Nikki and I met up again, it was easy to jump right into a relationship without the other distractions.” While the pandemic might have been influential, it still poses challenges for maintaining a relationship. However, Curtis said those challenges are manageable. “He goes to ASU and I’m at NAU, but we make it work,” Curtis said. “We’ll go and visit each other quite often, once a week at least.” Another silver lining the pair noted was the additional time together that attending classes remotely has provided them. Curtis said that normally, traveling back and forth for visits would be difficult to fit in between classes. While classes are now online, the couple said they have much more time in their schedules to make the trip from Flagstaff to Tempe and vice versa. While Curtis and Contreras have found positives in the difficult sea of issues the past year has created, they agree that there are some aspects of a relationship the pandemic has drastically changed. “We can’t do as much as we would like to,” Curtis said. “We can’t travel, we can’t really go on regular dates.” Martin shared Curtis’ sentiment that longdistance relationships are more manageable during the pandemic, with tools like Zoom being used more frequently than ever. Citing examples from her own life, Martin said she felt as if people are more willing to make long-distance relationships work. She said because many people are not able to see their partners in person regardless of their location, the physical distance between them becomes irrelevant. Whether in different residence halls or in different cities, a couple’s proximity to each other is less significant when they are not able to meet. Though COVID-19 has created countless changes and demanded many sacrifices, love and relationships have remained a constant. There is no telling when all the rules will change, but what remains clear is that people will adapt to find the good in a bad situation.
CULTURE
MARCH 18, 2021 – MARCH 24, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK
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CULTURE
Grammy performances: Hits and misses
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he socially distanced 63rd Annual Grammy Awards gave us many performances that ranged from show-stopping to head-scratching. Megan Thee Stallion and Dua Lipa dominated while others didn’t make the cut. Although I love Cardi B, I found the performance of her latest single “Up” to be incredibly awkward to watch. I was fond of her metallic outfit, but not wowed and it seemed to be in the way of her choreography, which came across as very clunky. The early 2000s imagery in the background was the only thing that kept me entertained until this performance’s savior, Megan Thee Stallion, entered during the two artists’ KYLER EDSITTY collaboration “WAP.” Overall, the entire performance sounded choppy and I think that’s because both songs were incredibly censored for obvious reasons. However, ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR I’m excited to hear her upcoming projects. In her own performance, Best New Artist winner Megan Thee Stallion brought us into the roaring 2020s with “Body” and “Savage,” which won the award for Best Rap Song. All the other performers lacked entertaining choreography, which made this set even more outstanding. The gold set populated with flappers was so fun to see. This 1920s jazz-inspired rendition was done so well that I keep rewatching the performance over and over again. Megan is an artist that I love to see succeed and watching her win her first Grammy awards was so satisfying. Dua Lipa performed songs “Levitating” and “Don’t Start Now” from her album “Future Nostalgia,” which won Best Pop Vocal Album and was nominated for Album of the Year. Lipa easily overshadowed DaBaby whose presence was honestly unnecessary. I found myself waiting for his verse to be over so I could continue watching Lipa. Although she is comedically known for not having the best choreography, she surprised me in this set and I can’t wait to see more from this artist. I also love the fact that she wore three different monochromatic outfits throughout the performance. Harry Styles always gives great looks and vocals and this performance was no different. Donning a leather suit and lime green boa, Styles once again proved himself to be one of the best current artists and fashion icons. In another jazz-inspired performance, Styles flawlessly sang “Watermelon Sugar,” which won Best Pop Solo Performance. He is able to have such a magical stage presence that one song wasn’t enough for me and now I need an entire set from him. Billie Eilish once again delivered another haunting performance with “everything i wanted,” which won Record of the Year that evening. Although I didn’t love Eilish’s jeweled outfit, I thought the set was absolutely stunning with its wrecked car and foggy atmosphere. Eilish can do no wrong with her dreamy vocals and haunting lyrics. I’ve been following her for almost five years and I have such high expectations for her next project and I’m sure she won’t disappoint. Although the Grammys can be controversial in terms of snubbing and nominations, it is still an event I look forward to every year and I’m glad the pandemic wasn’t able to stop it.
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The donation drop-off box for Zeta Phi Beta’s female necessity drive for Hope Cottage located in NAU’s Office of Inclusion, M
Zeta Phi Beta sorority hos Annika Beck
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he Omicron Phi chapter of Zeta Phi Beta was chartered at NAU April 1, 2019. The sorority has hosted multiple drives for the community, such as a resource drive for Flagstaff Medical Center and a grocery bag drive for Killip Elementary School. For the month of March, the chapter is hosting a Female Necessity Drive for a local shelter. Hope Cottage is a shelter for homeless women and children that has provided food, shelter and clothing for the past 60 years. According to its website, “Hope Cottage provides a loving and accountable environment of grace. We have found this allows the women and children who come to us for assistance to heal from the inside out.” Hope Cottage is a part of the Sunshine Rescue Mission Inc., which was founded in 1957. Sunshine Rescue Mission has been providing meals and shelter for the homeless while sharing resources and teaching about Jesus Christ. On Oct. 1, 1995 the doors of Hope Cottage were opened, which would be used as a separate house
for women and children. In 2010, a local Flagstaff family donated their land for a new Hope Cottage to support the community. That same year it was named Arizona Daily Sun’s Organization of the Year and is currently serving over 60 women and children a night. The housing accommodates up to 35 single ladies, with nine of them being mothers with children. There are 10 to 20 children and range anywhere from infants to teenagers. The drive is looking for donations like diapers, baby wipes, notebooks, backpacks and other items that could benefit the women and children at Hope Cottage. The donation drop box is located in the NAU Office of Inclusion and will remain there throughout March. Sophomore Hannah Imohi, second vice president of Zeta Phi Beta, talked about the importance of this particular drive. “This drive is important because it allows people in our community to give back to women in need,” Imohi said. “I believe that people should not have to experience being unable to provide for themselves. If the institutions
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March 9. Madison Easton | The Lumberjack
sts female necessity drive for Hope Cottage established in our country are not going to help us, then we need to show up for those who need help.” Imohi said because March is Women’s History Month, it was a main goal to coincide in empowering womanhood. Imohi shared that this is Zeta Phi Beta’s final drive of the year and it has a goal of gathering 50 items to donate to Hope Cottage. Not only does Hope Cottage provide human necessities, but the shelter also provides Christ-centered classes, chapel services, life skills, jobs and computer skills courses for residents. Director of Hope Cottage, Sharon Rose Wilcox, talked about its mission and goals for the future. “Our mission is to serve all who enter our shelter with love and compassion,” Wilcox said via email. “Our goal is to provide a safe haven for women and children to feel safe, have a place to call home. We work toward giving them tools they can use for the rest of their lives to have a healthy, stable and productive life.” Wilcox said there are items needed on a day-to-day basis, such as feminine hygiene products and cleaning supplies. Other supplies Hope Cottage recommends are toilet paper, napkins, facial tissue, hand soap, laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, antacid, disposable razors,
cotton swabs, acetaminophen and undergarments in various sizes. “We are in the process of updating/revamping our long-term program” Wilcox said. “We are keeping some components of the original program and adding new classes, leaders, etc. This is a more individualized program. In addition to group classes and projects, one of the ladies is interested in becoming a Chaplain and the other is interested in pursuing education in the mental health arena. We are so happy to walk alongside and help them set goals and move toward achieving them.” Wilcox also shared that Hope Cottage is working on upgrading its children’s yard. There were donated funds to install AstroTurf and even a new swing set. In 2018, the Arizona Daily Sun reported 415 people in Coconino County were recorded as homeless with 86% located in Flagstaff. 287 were located in shelters and 118 were found outside of shelters. In 2006, the city proposed an annual action plan for housing and homelessness in the area. According to the document, “... throughout Arizona, and especially within Flagstaff, there are a large number of households earning less than a livable wage who are at high risk of becoming homeless.”
In response, a three-to-five year strategic plan accommodating to homeless needs was proposed. The Homeless Section of the 2006 Consolidated Plan has been developed through weekly focus groups, surveys and public forums. The Arizona Rural Continuum of Care committee is closely helping with the plan through organizations within the community, nonprofits, local coalitions and consumers. Before, Hope Cottage, operated by the Sunshine Rescue Mission, consisted of 18 beds for homeless women and three family rooms for homeless women with children, totaling up to 32 beds. Within the next decade, the total number of beds increased to 70 and continues to serve single women and children. The Sunshine Rescue Mission website has more details surrounding community, media, donations and volunteer opportunities. For more information on the drive, Zeta Phi Beta posts updates via Instagram or Twitter.
MARCH 18, 2021 – MARCH 24, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK
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March 8 to 12: Directoral debuts and movie news Katelyn Rodriguez
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his week in Hollywood brings musical adaptations, firings and award show boycotting. Here’s the latest out of the entertainment industry.
Monday, March 8 Singer Miley Cyrus released a music video for “Angels Like You” off her latest album “Plastic Hearts.” Cyrus revealed in a tweet she shot the video at the #TikTokTailgate prior to Super Bowl LV. _________ According to theater website Playbill, “The Queen’s Gambit” is in the works to become a musical after production company Level Forward acquired the rights to rework the novel. In October 2020, “The Queen’s Gambit” grabbed the attention of many after Netflix released its miniseries based on Walter Tevis’ 1983 novel of the same name. Tuesday, March 9 Independent Television announced broadcaster Piers Morgan would be leaving his position as presenter on “Good Morning Britain,” effective immediately, following comments he made on the show regarding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfrey, which aired Sunday, March 7. _________ The CW Network has found its leads for its upcoming liveaction “The Powerpuff Girls” series. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, actors Dove Cameron (“Descendants”), Chloe Bennet (“Agents of SHIELD”) and Yana Perrault (“Jagged Little Pill” on Broadway) are set to play the sister trio that consists of Buttercup, Bubbles and Blossom. _________ Singer and Academy Award-winning actress Lady Gaga posted a behind the scenes look at her upcoming film “House of Gucci,” which she stars alongside Academy Award-nominated actor Adam Driver (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”). Gaga
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shared a photo of herself and Driver clad in snow gear to her Instagram and Twitter accounts with the caption “Signore e Signora Gucci #HouseOfGucci,” which translates from Italian to “Mr. and Mrs. Gucci.”
Singer and actor Joshua Bassett released his self-titled debut EP Friday, which consists of six songs. Alongside the release, Bassett released the music video for his song “Telling Myself.” _________
Wednesday, March 10 Actor and producer Michael B. Jordan is set to make his directorial debut with the upcoming “Creed III,” MGM announced Wednesday. Jordan is also set to star in the film, which will be released Nov. 22, 2022 as reported by Variety. _________
Singer Nick Jonas released his new album “Spaceman” Friday. The album follows the release of its titular single on Feb. 25 and “This Is Heaven” on March 4.
The Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival, which is set to take place Sept. 17 to 19 in Las Vegas, announced its lineup consisting of Billie Eilish, Green Day and Tame Impala as headliners. Tickets for the festival go on sale Friday, March 12. Thursday, March 11 Singer Gwen Stefani released her new single “Slow Clap” after announcing it to fans via social media Tuesday by posting a photo of the single’s cover art. _________ Singer The Weeknd announced in a statement to The New York Times that he is boycotting the Grammy Awards and he will “no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys.” The Weeknd wasn’t nominated for any awards in this year’s ceremony despite his song “Blinding Lights” topping the charts. As reported by Complex, “Blinding Lights ... has now spent 52 weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart” and has “become the first song in the history of the Hot 100 to spend a year in the top ten.” Friday, March 12 Pop rock group Imagine Dragons released two singles, “Follow You” and “Cutthroat,” off their upcoming album. Lead singer Dan Reynolds posted about each song’s meaning on his Instagram account prior to their release and mentioned that the group’s upcoming album has been in the making for three years. _________
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Award show update, The Grammys: - Best New Artist: Megan Thee Stallion - Best Country Album: “Wildcard” by Miranda Lambert - Best Pop Solo Performance: “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles - Song of the Year: “I Can’t Breathe” by H.E.R. - Best Rap Song: “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé - Best Pop Vocal Album: “Future Nostalgia” by Dua Lipa - Best R&B Performance: “BLACK PARADE” by Beyoncé - Album of the Year: “folklore” by Taylor Swift - Record of the Year: “everything i wanted” by Billie Eilish
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MARCH 18, 2021 – MARCH 24, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK
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Illustration By Tonesha Yazzie
Trey Lance: Diamond in the rough or FCS bust?
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orth Dakota State University quarterback Trey Lance has been receiving a lot of buzz lately despite only starting one year at an FCS school. With that being said, North Dakota State is known for producing talents such as quarterback Carson Wentz, offensive tackle Billy Turner and quarterback Easton Stick. Additionally, the team has dominated the FCS division with eight national championships in the last 10 years. As a redshirt freshman, Lance led his team to a 16-0 record while also having an impressive stat line of 28 touchdown passess and zero interceptions. Yes, that’s right, no interceptions, which is what led to his phenomenal quarterback rating CONOR of 180.6. Oh yeah, did I mention that SJOERDSMA he also ran for over 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns in his one season as a Bison? WRITER Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see much of a second season from Lance as North Dakota State played just one game during the fall season due to COVID concerns. Many mock drafts, such as some from CBS Sports have Lance going anywhere from fourth to 12th overall in the upcoming April 29 draft. It would appear that Lance is entering the draft at just the right time, as many teams are looking for their next franchise quarterback. My ceiling for Lance is relatively high, as we have seen nothing but impressive performances from him. I think the best scenario for him would be to get drafted by a team like the Atlanta Falcons. He would be able to sit on the bench for a year or two and learn behind veteran quarterback Matt Ryan. It would be beneficial for Lance if he could take some time to get adjusted to NFL speed and competition before being thrown into any starting role. If developed correctly, I could see Lance being a top-five quarterback in the league within the next 10 years. He is a polished quarterback despite his age and lack of experience. My floor for Lance is also pretty low as I believe he is a boom-or-bust player. If he is drafted to a team such as the New England Patriots or Carolina Panthers, I think he will have a relatively short career. Lance is not a guy that will instantly impact your team, and starting him in his rookie season would be detrimental to his career and long-term development. Continue reading on jackcentral.org
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Spring training is in full swing with COVID still looming Kristen Chancellor
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pring training is off to a swinging start despite COVID-19 still playing a factor in the season. While this year will be different than previous years, that does not change the enjoyment spring training has for the MLB community. Spring training takes place in both Arizona and Florida, with each state hosting 15 teams play in each state. Spring training has been in Florida since 1913 and in Arizona since 1929. This tradition started just 44 years after MLB began. Fans come from all over the country to watch their favorite teams gearing up for the season. This longstanding tradition has brought the baseball community together, giving unique opportunities for fan engagement. MLB describes spring training as an event that brings “Unparalleled player access, intimate ballparks with distinct personalities, and up-close encounters with veteran stars and blossoming prospects,” that makes for a special experience. This environment is filled with baseball fans of all ages, bringing the joy of the ballpark back to life this season. With fans having the opportunity to see their favorite players close up, it allows for fans to be engaged more in the season itself beyond spring training. Getting to see glimpses of teams’ potential early in the season allows fans to enjoy the experience that much more. While spring training usually has thousands of fans filling stadiums, due to COVID-19, that is not the case this season. After spring training and the regular season went on without
fans last year, the 2021 season is looking to have limited fan access for these games. MLB announced its plans to allow teams to decide a reasonable amount of fans at the games. “The Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox, for example, will be limiting their crowds to 2,400 people apiece,” RJ Anderson of CBS Sports reported. “Other teams figure to impose similar limitations as a means of generating some gate revenue.” Other COVID-19 guidelines include social distancing regulations, masks having to be worn at all times except while eating or drinking and lines will be more spread out than normal. These regulations are being put into place to ensure the safety of not only spectators, but the teams and staff as well. Like other leagues, MLB is looking to sell tickets in pods, making it accessible for friends and family to sit together while remaining distanced from others. These pods are being sold in packages of two, four and six tickets to ensure spreading out fans within the stadium. Another change in spring training is the teams are not bringing their entire rosters to these camps. While a majority of the rosters will still be there, teams are excluding some players over others, trying to make sure rookies and veterans get their time to practice and warm up for the season ahead. They will look to section off players and allow 75 at a time, rotating players out in groups once the previous one departs. The Arizona Cactus League specifically made similar changes as an extra precaution. In some stadiums, the spitting of sunflower seeds will be regulated to reduce any potential spread. Another change in Arizona spring training is that almost no bags will be allowed in the venue. Only diaper bags, small clutches or medical
SPORTS use bags will be permitted. The Florida Grapefruit League will look a bit different beyond just restrictions this season. While stadiums in Arizona are much closer together, that is not the case for the sunshine state. MLB decided on two hubs for the Grapefruit League this season to make it safer for team travel, allowing more space and practices for teams. “Florida’s teams will play a limited schedule of games in 2021 spring training, which keeps travel to a smaller area for most teams,” Jonathan Tully of the Palm Beach Post wrote. While these changes are new to the Grapefruit League, the bottom line for fans is baseball is back. Spring training, which began Feb. 28, did see some COVID-19 cases during the initial reporting rounds, but MLB has tried to remain as safe as possible since. With a lot of games left in spring training, there is plenty of time for teams to continue gearing up for the season, ensuring plenty of practice to start off strong. MLB is set to start its regular season April 1, which is right around the corner. Opening day will feature a full slate of games across the league. Only time will tell if MLB has learned lessons from last season to mitigate the spread and keep its teams safe.
Second baseman Jonathan Villar (1) and first baseman José Martinez (16) of the New York Mets walk to the clubhouse wearing masks after the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins in a spring training game in Jupiter, Fla. Photo courtesy of Mark Brown | Getty Images
This week in NAU Athletics Soccer @ Southern Utah: Friday, March 19, 11 a.m (Pluto TV Channel 1055) Women’s Tennis @ Pacific: Friday, March 19, 12 p.m. Women’s Basketball Invitational: NAU vs FIU: Friday, March 19, 4:30 p.m. Women’s Tennis @ Sacramento State: Saturday, March 20, 12 p.m. Soccer @ Southern Utah: Sunday, March 21, 11 a.m. (Pluto TV Channel 1055) Men’s Tennis VS Seattle University: Wednesday, March 24, 10 a.m. MARCH 18, 2021 – MARCH 24, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK
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