The Lumberjack -- November 4, 2021

ROCKIN’ OUT WITH RIGHTEOUS HARMONY PAGE 17 THE LUMBER JACK NOV. 4, 2021 – NOV. 10 2021

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

T

hese past six months have been the most transformative of my life.

On May 28, I took part in the Flagstaff Bike Party group ride around the downtown area. At approximately 6:50 p.m. we were at the intersection of Beaver Street and Butler Avenue. A few seconds after the light turned green, the first line of riders proceeded through the light. That was when the tow truck pulling a moving truck struck six cyclists in front of me.

A few seconds before, I was at the light behind Joanna Wheaton, who was tragically killed on impact.

Over the next few months I would learn how to deal with that traumatic BRIAN event and how I could use this experience to move forward. If this event taught BURKE me anything, it is that we only have the moment in front of us, we can’t change the past, but we can influence the future. We have the current moment to ASST. DIRECTOR OF change how we use this time on the planet to do the most good. Most of us PHOTOGRAHY go throughout the day with little consideration to how we use our time, either wasting time on social media or procrastinating from the work we should be doing to better ourselves. In our own way we have the power to influence our future.

Witnessing the beauty of life, riding alongside my friends on a summer evening, and having that night end in tragedy has taught me that we have to stop wasting time. It’s OK to take a break to reevaluate our path, but when we wake up to a new day, we are presented with an opportunity that others do not have. I had only met Joanna that day, but from what I have heard, she was a vital source of leadership and kindness in the city.

Today, I am weeks away from completing my Emergency Medical Technician course at Coconino Community College. After I am certified I hope to join Guardian Medical Transport to care for the Flagstaff community. I hope to have the calming and professional impact that those medics had on the victims who were struck that day. Every day since May 28, I have had an opportunity to take hold of my life and that is an opportunity that Joanna will never have again. As we move forward into the holiday season, I encourage you to take stock of your life and embrace every day we are fortunate to have. This is a time to come together with family and friends, to give thanks for what we have and to discover how each of us can give back to those around us.

Thank you for reading.

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 112 ISSUE 11

NAU soccer was eliminated from the big sky conference tournament by Sacramento state, 1-0

Online at Issuu.com Latest Edition & Archive Social media

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

Editor-in-Chief Nathan Manni

Managing Editor Camille Sipple

Copy Chief Trevor Skeen

Faculty Adviser David Harpster

Print Chief Ash Lohmann

Director of Digital Content and Social Media Emily Gerdes

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board News Editor Mark Fabery Asst. News Editor Tess Stafford Op-Ed Editor Kylie Soto Asst. Op-Ed Editor Marley Green Features Editor Olivia Charlson

2

Asst. Features Editor Lauren Anderson

Sports Adviser Rory Faust

Culture Editor Katelyn Rodriguez

Director of Photography MacKenzie Brower

Asst. Culture Editor Haylee Emch

Asst. Dir. of Photography Brian Burke

Sports Editor Brenden Martin Asst. Sports Editor Will Hopkins

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Director of Illustration Diana Ortega Director of Multimedia Shawn Patti

On the cover Ceta Singley plays the keyboard for Righteous Harmony as the band begins its set, Oct. 30.

Owen Sexton | The Lumberjack

Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Nathan Manni at nem233@nau.edu.

PoliceBeat Oct. 25 At 8:42 a.m., a staff member reported another staff member stuck inside a San Francisco Parking Garage elevator. NAUPD and Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) responded, and the employee was safely removed.

At 3:57 p.m., a staff member reported a possible drug offense in lot 16. NAUPD responded, but no contact was made.

At 7:22 p.m., a student reported possibly twisting their ankle in University Union.

NAUPD, FFD and GMT At 2:04 p.m., a Reilly responded, but the student Hall resident reported criminal refused medical transport. damage. NAUPD responded and took a report.

Oct. 28 At 6:08 a.m., a student At 8:13 p.m., a reported a car alarm sounding McConnell Hall RA reported in lot 16A. NAUPD damage to an exit sign. responded and witnessed no NAUPD responded and took criminal activity. The owner a report. was notified and silenced the alarm.

Oct. 26 At 4:24 p.m., a student At 2:38 p.m., a student reported their vehicle was reported a noninjury traffic stalled in the roadway near collision in the intersection the intersection of South San of East Pine Knoll Drive and Francisco Street and East South Huffer Lane. NAUPD, McConnell Drive. NAUPD FFD, GMT and San Francisco responded, removed the Parking Garage responded. A vehicle from the roadway and report was taken. provided a public assist ride to The Suites.

At 9:03 p.m., a student called with questions about At 8:02 p.m., a subject how to report an incident. reported another subject Information was provided. sitting on the sidewalk on the corner of East Pine Knoll At 10:27 p.m., an Allen Drive and East McConnell Hall resident reported the theft Drive, partially blocking the of a religious item. NAUPD roadway. NAUPD responded responded and took a report. and the subject left the area.

Oct. 29 At 8:22 p.m., a student At 10:15 a.m., a staff reported another student member reported graffiti on a had passed out in the Health bench outside Cline Library. and Learning Center. NAUPD responded and took NAUPD, FFD and Guardian a report.

Medical Transport (GMT) responded, and the student At 5:07 p.m., a student was transported to Flagstaff requested assistance with Medical Center (FMC). recovering personal property at Rolle Activity Center. NAUPD Oct. 27 responded and provided At 9:34 a.m., NAUPD assistance. reported receiving a call from a Reilly Hall elevator. An officer Oct. 30 responded, searched the area At 11:14 a.m., a student and witnessed no criminal reported the theft of their activity. phone. An officer responded,

compiled by Mark Fabery but the student discovered their phone had not been stolen while the report was being taken.

At 12:21 p.m., a nonstudent requested assistance finding their spouse in lot 64. NAUPD responded and located the subject in good health.

At 8:28 p.m., an officer reported conducting community policing with four subjects in Citizens Cemetery.

Information was provided on cemetery hours.

Oct. 31 At 3:50 p.m., an Allen Hall resident reported damage to their dorm window.

NAUPD responded and took a report.

At 7:36 p.m., a student late reported an assault.

NAUPD responded and determined it was a false report. An officer criminally deferred the student for false reporting to law enforcement.

At 10:14 p.m., a McConnell Hall RA reported a verbal dispute between a student and a nonstudent.

NAUPD responded, separated both parties and took a report for domestic violence and disturbance of the peace.

At 11:00 p.m., a Raymond Hall resident requested medical assistance for a nonstudent with possible alcohol poisoning.

NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded, and transported the nonstudent to FMC. One student was contacted and criminally deferred for minor in consumption of alcohol.

City council SNow operations for the upcoming winter season Marissa Abreu In preparation for the upcoming winter season, Streets Section Director Scott Overton made his usual annual appearance Oct. 26 to speak with Flagstaff City Council about snow operations. He set forth a brief presentation addressing snow preparation and readiness on behalf of the Public Works Division.

“A lot of the discussion will revolve around the streets operations,” Overton said. “It’s by far the largest snow operation that we have in the city of Flagstaff.”

He said he cannot guarantee what winter will look like as operations rely on the National Weather Service (NWS), but will nevertheless implement the procedures and policies that public works have created. Ordinarily, the operations start Nov. 1.

Overton provided the council with details of the winter storm readiness presentation. His presentation addressed forecasting and storm preparations, winter operations for the streets and parks sections of the department, post-storm operations, community expectations and parking ordinance.

Moreover, Overton said he and the Streets Section will watch the weather and visit their NWS partners often. Typically, he said they can see storm fronts build up on the West Coast moving toward Arizona, which could potentially give the group days to prepare a thought-out storm response.

“Within those days, we often consult with our partners at the National Weather Service for updated information, what conditions might look like and the best forecasting model we can find,” Overton said.

If a storm approaches, snow operations include 12-hour shifts and consultations with on-call supervisors as they analyze the weather and road conditions more closely. Supervisors will observe radar, pavement temperature and storm timing. Overton said they communicate with other cities, including Williams and Kingman, to ensure snow operations have sufficient information about the storm.

As far as streets operations, public works have 20 new 10-wheel plow/spreader box trucks and four 6-wheel plow/spreader box trucks. They also have road graders, heavy equipment with long blades, used to create a flat surface, front-end loaders to haul any debris, as well as a snow thrower and tractor-trailers for hauling operations.

The operation continues 24/7, and a number of employees are on-call if a winter storm hits Flagstaff unexpectedly, Overton explained. Additionally, there are street equipment operators at the ready to clear roads, commercial driver’s license operators who are long-haul truck drivers and full-time operations supervisors to work during the day and night. However, he said the section has been understaffed recently.

“As a heads-up, we don’t anticipate having those [positions] filled by snow season,” Overton said.

Further, Overton said certain streets are high priority, while others are considered secondary.

First-priority routes include main routes and roads, major hills, the downtown area and Mountain Line bus routes. These high-priority regions are typically passable and open for anyone. On the other hand, however, second-priority routes include residential streets and cul-de-sacs.

Continue reading at jackcentral.org

NOV. 4, 2021 – NOV. 10 2021| THE LUMBERJACK

3

Court sides with Flagstaff, protecting minimum wage Daisy Johnston

O

n Oct. 11, the Maricopa County Superior Court blocked an attempt from the state of Arizona that would have penalized Flagstaff for having a higher minimum wage than the state standard of $12.80 per hour. While the state can still appeal the ruling, Flagstaff is protected from the proposed charges for the time being.

The $1.1 million charge was intended to cover indirect expenses from Flagstaff’s $15 per hour minimum wage since it was raised in 2016.

For the state, these costs mainly include paying state independent contractors in Flagstaff the higher minimum wage. Judge James Smith ruled the penalty defied Proposition 202, a motion Flagstaff enacted in 2006 to change minimum wage based on the Consumer Price Index.

Freshman Mia Tucker said the raise helped her afford things she would not be able to purchase otherwise. Tucker worked at Little Caesars in Lake Havasu City where she was paid $12.15 per hour for her job as a manager. In Flagstaff, Tucker makes $15 per hour as a crew member with the same company.

“The raise has made it easier on me,” Tucker said. “I can now afford to do more for myself. Before, I couldn’t get money for a therapist medication or anything for my own health; now, I’m able to afford those things.”

Tucker said despite working at a lower-ranking position, she has been earning higher paychecks, allowing her to loosen her typically strict budget and increase savings for her studies.

Moreover, sophomore Jacob Handley said Flagstaff’s minimum wage incentivizes him to work. Compared to his hometown — Boise, Idaho — where he was paid $10 per hour, Handley said the value of his labor is better reflected in Flagstaff.

“That’s why I quit my job in Idaho,” Handley said. “It made no sense working when I felt like I wasn’t getting paid enough for what I was doing. If I was getting paid the same $10 per hour here, I wouldn’t have worked.”

Despite praise from Flagstaff workers, critics of minimum wage believe locals will not benefit from the higher earnings.

Nancy Baca, senior lecturer in the W.A. Franke College of Business, said increased wages result in heightened prices for everyone.

4

“Flagstaff voters brought it upon themselves simply because they did not understand the economics of the issue” – Nancy baca, Senior Lecturer, W.A. Franke college of Business “Upping the minimum wage is never good from an economic perspective,” Baca said. “ I think it’s pretty commonly understood in our discipline that minimum wage and increasing minimum wage is not beneficial to the community.”

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

During the Flagstaff minimum wage bump in 2016, Baca said she noticed a rise in the prices of goods — despite her salary remaining the same.

“The people who get the increase in minimum wage get a boost in their

income, and then when the prices go up accordingly, they don’t actually end up better off or worse off,” Baca said. “But if you think about everyone else in that economy who didn’t get a bump in wages, they are now paying higher prices, and they don’t have a higher income.”

The raise in minimum wage has decreased the buying power of highly trained and educated individuals, Baca explained. While minimum wage workers will notice a rise in their spending ability, at least initially, Baca said it will level out from the increase in prices of consumer goods.

For those who are apprehensive of how the higher minimum wage may affect Flagstaff’s economy, Baca said layoffs and business closures are legitimate concerns.

“Locals should be worried,” Baca said. “We have actually seen a trend, even before COVID, of small businesses having to shut down or lay off employees because they simply couldn’t afford the labor, but here’s the thing; Flagstaff voted for the increase in minimum wage.

Flagstaff voters brought it upon themselves simply because they did not understand the economics of the issue.”

As a scholar of economics, Baca said she wonders if she could have done more to educate Flagstaff voters on the effects a higher minimum wage may have on the community.

“Maybe I’m partially to blame,” Baca said. “There wasn’t enough education on the other side; I assumed that people understood more about economics than they did.”

While Baca explained it is understandable to offer a raise to laborers who have gained experience or have more training, it is economically nonsensical to do it “just because.” On the other hand, some believe it is essential to raise the minimum wage, as consumer prices have continued to rise regardless of worker pay.

As Flagstaff locals experience the positive and negative effects of Maricopa County’s Superior Court ruling, the office of Gov. Doug Ducey has announced the governor’s intention to review the ruling. Flagstaff voters can find more information about Proposition 202 on the Arizona Secretary of State website.

Illustration By Tonesha Yazzie

NEWS

ASNAU approves Climate Emergency Declaration Lauryn Steitz

A

SNAU, Green Jacks and the Environmental Caucus have been constructing the Climate Emergency Declaration to raise awareness on campus and around the city about the climate change crisis, in addition to providing students with the resources they need to become more sustainable.

This resolution was revised by Green Jacks President Caroline Reed, along with Jacob Carter and Sierra Tyson, ASNAU senators for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, among other teams who are dedicated to the climate action fight.

The climate issues that have forced awareness among residents include the increase in flash flooding, wildfires and drought in Arizona. Similar to Flagstaff, other cities around Arizona have declared a climate emergency.

Reed said it is necessary to take action before it is too late for the city and state to make changes to their sustainability habits; a dire point of no return may be soon.

The city of Flagstaff has extended a request to NAU asking for help regarding the Carbon Neutrality Plan. Flagstaff cannot reach neutrality by 2030 without the university’s assistance, Reed said. NAU is the biggest employer in the city, Carter added, and it has the means to achieve full sustainability — but has not shown cooperation with the city in making this change.

“Declaring a climate emergency goes handin-hand with Flagstaff’s Climate Action Plan,” Carter said.

Other documents contribute to the Climate Action Plan, including the Active Transportation Master Plan, Carbon Neutrality Plan, the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030 and now, the Climate Emergency Declaration.

The last climate action plan came from the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which former NAU President John Haeger signed on behalf of the university in 2007. This plan was set to reach carbon neutrality by 2020, but only decreased emissions by 10% over a span of 12 years.

“This shows how institutional investments to combat climate change have not been a priority for the university, and that they did not necessarily take this pledge seriously,” Carter said. “Of course, changing administrations and budget challenges do complicate the process, so all we are asking, as ASNAU, is for them to commit to a new carbon neutrality goal and actually take great strides to achieve it.”

The Climate Emergency Declaration was

passed from the Environmental Caucus to Green Jacks to ASNAU. Reed said the Environmental Caucus graduate student section started the document, before sharing it with Green Jacks for revisions and recommendations. Then, the student-run club adjusted the verbiage while emphasizing the benefits for students in declaring a climate emergency. Keeping the students in mind, Green Jacks was able to receive more recognition.

Furthermore, club members took the document to ASNAU and asked the student government to amplify this message around the university. To receive official endorsements from undergraduate students, Carter said the

declaration needed to be adapted into a formal resolution — he and Tyson made this decision together.

“Now, we are working on publicizing the resolution and setting up meetings with the administration and community leaders to make sure an emergency declaration is made,” Carter said.

Carter, Tyson and Reed all said the current declaration has reached this point in the approval process due to the agreement between individuals and organizations looking to implement change. With the shift among NAU officials since the last climate action plan, there is a greater chance of success this

ASNAU President Maylee Acosta signed the university’s Climate Emergency Declaration this week, Oct. 31. MacKenzie Brower | The Lumberjack

“Student support, paired with a new administration who is eager to make climate policy a priority on campus, is allowing for hard-fought climate policy improvements to finally become a reality here at NAU,” – Sierra Tyson, ASNAU Senator time around.

“I think this resolution has a great shot at actually influencing policy because we have a new administration that wants to listen and learn from the students,” Carter said. “The new administration is a clean slate for NAU, and I think this is the best chance we have to get the ball rolling, at the very least.”

The Climate Emergency Declaration asks President José Luis Cruz Rivera to join the others who have already committed to change, Carter said. If he approves this plan, more powerful actions and steps can be taken.

As Cruz Rivera attends town hall meetings, in addition to student events and activities, Carter said he has made supportive remarks about reducing NAU’s carbon emissions. If the declaration is approved, Reed explained one of the next steps is holding the president accountable for these comments and claims.

Tyson and Carter said the resolution is not the document that implements change; instead, it shows the university that students are dedicated to mitigating climate change.

Furthermore, they explained this document is the tangible piece needed to hold university administration accountable to the city’s climate goals.

“Student support, paired with a new administration who is eager to make climate policy a priority on campus, is allowing for hardfought climate policy improvements to finally become a reality here at NAU,” Tyson said.

Overall, the Climate Emergency Declaration emphasizes the dangers of the climate crisis and asks NAU administrators to join the climate action plan by standing with students who have proven their dedication to this cause.

NOV. 4, 2021 – NOV. 10 2021| THE LUMBERJACK

5

NEWS

6

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

COMIC SPOT

Trunk or Treat 2021

Top Left: Austin Lee poses for a photo at the photo booth as Deadpool during Trunk-R-Treat in Central Quad, Oct. 29. Top Right: John Hardy, 6, plays ring toss at the Wilson Hall booth during Trunk-R-Treat in Central Quad, Oct. 29. Bottom Left: Wilson Hall RA Lindsay Charvet reaches for utensils after ordering food from Where's the Food Truck at Trunk-R-Treat in Central Quad, Oct. 29. Bottom Right: National Residence Hall Honorary members votes for the most creative costume during the TrunkR-Treat costume contest in Central Quad, Oct. 29. Megan Ford-Fyffe | The Lumberjack

NOV. 4, 2021 – NOV. 10 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

7

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Out with prop guns in film Marley Green

facebook's flaws mean our downfall

S

ocial media is undoubtedly the most controversial modern technology people use on a regular basis — either by choice or because of its addictiveness.

Recently, Facebook in particular has come under fire for the data and research it's collected on the different qualities social media offers.

KYLIE For example, it's done research on SOTO the negative effects Instagram has on teenagers’ mental health. The Wall Street OP-ED EDITOR Journal has a podcast series on this topic, among other horrible things that have been discovered in the investigation of the giant company.

When keeping the app installed does more harm than good, some are beginning to question whether it’s OK or not to continue supporting these tech companies.

However, this isn’t Facebook's only problematic characteristic. The Washington Post has reported on the whistleblower, Frances Haugen, and the internal documents she turned over to authorities. It was revealed that in November 2020, before the election, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg objected to the idea of providing voting information on the WhatsApp messaging platform.

Allegedly, he said doing so would make the company appear “partisan.” This is utterly blasphemous; inclusivity is not political.

Considering Hispanic people use Whatsapp more than anyone else, I think it’d be better for the company to cater to the group that uses the app the most.

However, it is clear that all Zuckerberg is concerned with is the idea of expanding his business — and therefore his pockets.

As of 2021, Zuckerberg's net worth is a ridiculous $121.6 billion, according to Bloomberg.

According to The New York Times, he announced on Oct. 28 that Facebook is rebranding and changing its name to Meta. Apparently, this shift has been in the works. However, it does make one wonder if Zuckerburg is attempting to give the company a break from the awful findings that are surfacing each day.

Regardless, he is awful for lying to the public about the company’s research findings, and for blatantly disregarding all criticism from those who use the platform.

The Wall Street Journal released a podcast that dives into Haugen's statements and the findings of the Facebook files.

As a society, we have reached a point where it is up to us to decide whether or not we want to continue down this path, or if we want to shift and hold Zuckerberg, and others like him,

8

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

E

mmy-winning actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun that accidentally killed one person and injured another on the set of “Rust” on Oct. 21, and I haven’t felt the same since then.

Investigations by the Santa Fe Police Department revealed the gun was loaded with a live round, and not blank cartridges like typical prop guns. Assistant director Dave Halls handed Baldwin the gun just before the shooting, shouting that it was “cold,” meaning it contained no live ammunition.

Baldwin pulled the trigger, rehearsing a scene which involved pointing the gun toward the camera lens, and a real bullet fired, which killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza.

The news of the tragedy has left me with a disquieting twinge of pain in my chest since I first read the headline.

Perhaps it’s my generation’s general distaste for guns; some have referenced Generation Z as the “mass shooting generation,” referring to the prevalence of mass shootings and ensuing youth-led protests during our adolescence.

Instances of gun violence and accidents are particularly difficult for me and others my age to digest. Tragedies such as these have shaped our opinions on gun control since we were young, as the latest news already has. As the story developed, a group of The Lumberjack staffers, including myself, stopped what we were doing in the Media Innovation Center and stood transfixed around the TV to watch news coverage of the incident.

I’ve been mulling over how such a catastrophe could have happened for days; for starters, the fact that live ammunition was anywhere near the film set is close to incomprehensible to me.

How the gun was declared cold when it certainly wasn’t is another mystery. I’m not a gun expert, but if I was, I imagine I would know whether the ammunition in the gun had the capacity to kill or injure anyone. This leads me to suspect the gun wasn’t adequately checked in the first place.

With that being said, the investigation is ongoing, and Sante Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said criminal charges are among possibilities moving forward. Law enforcement gets paid to get to the bottom of what happened, and lawyers get paid to prosecute or defend criminal charges.

I’m not going to attempt to do either of those things here.

However, I do want to raise the question: Why are prop guns still being used in the first place?

They’ve proven time and time again to be dangerous.

Brandon Lee died under similar circumstances while filming “The Crow” in 1993 — in a hauntingly similar incident, the prop gun his co-star fired to accidentally kill him was loaded with a live bullet.

Nevertheless, they are still dangerous when loaded with blank cartridges instead of real ammunition. Actor Jon-Erik Hexum died in 1984 after shooting himself with a prop gun blank on the set of the TV show “Cover Up.” In a wrongful death lawsuit, his mother alleged he should have been warned about the dangers of blanks.

TV writer David Slack tweeted, “Prop guns are guns. Blanks have real gunpowder in them. They can injure or kill — and they have. If you’re ever on a set where prop guns are treated without proper caution and safe handling, walk away.”

In the digital age, it’s easy for computers to generate animation and sound to mimic the firing of a gun. Considering muzzle flashes and other special effects are often added in postproduction, regardless of whether a prop gun was used, using computer-generated images (CGI) is a much safer and more convenient option. Prop guns have the capacity to kill, yet I can’t imagine a scenario wherein CGI injures or kills anyone on a film set.

Some film professionals say firing real guns with blank cartridges makes the scene look more realistic than any other method. But this aspect comes at too high a cost when human error and faulty equipment cause injury or death on set.

Technology gets more advanced every day, so complaints about a lack of authenticity will become less of a problem as time goes on. Until then, most people seeing a movie in theaters won’t notice or care whether a gunshot is CGI. A life isn’t worth a marginally more realistic camera shot.

Illustration By Christian Ayala

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Let’s talk about sex … education Lisa Hall

S

ex education in public schools is such a taboo topic, and for what? Sex is one of the most natural things in the world and, if not properly educated about it, people put themselves and others at risk.

Public schools need to be required to give fully inclusive sex education to students, teaching appropriate material at suitable ages.

When researching Arizona public schools' sex education, one of the first things found is that there are no requirements to teach it at all.

If a school decides to include a sex education course, there are opt-in policies requiring parents to give written permission for students to participate. This creates an unnecessary barrier between students and sex education.

Until 2019, “no promo homo” legislation restricted Arizona teachers from educating about homosexuality in a positive way. Furthermore, according to Associated Press, there are no requirements for schools to teach about gender identity or sexual orientation. The lack of proper sex education adds another item to the long list of challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces.

With harsh restrictions such as these, how are students expected to receive a comprehensive sex education that will guide them to make smart and safe choices?

In addition to courses not being required, teachers must prioritize abstinence over safe practices. It is proven that preaching abstinence does not work. Research conducted by Laura Lindberg and others stated programs that teach abstinence are “ineffective, stigmatizing and unethical.”

In turn, students become sexually active without being educated on contraception, STIs and STDs, which can result in major health issues for themselves and their partners.

The blatant disregard of the LGBTQ+ community in the courses — if there are any — puts an entire group of people at risk. It’s clear legislators learned nothing from the AIDS epidemic.

Not properly educating students before sending them into the world can lead to outbreaks of STDs and STIs. It’s extremely dangerous, and it applies to students at NAU and other universities around the nation. This problem exists nearly everywhere in the United States.

Junior Sienna Wallen attended Sahuarita High School in Tucson. As a pansexual woman, Wallen said her sex education did not properly

prepare her for sexual activity in her adult life.

Unsurprisingly, Arizona public schools followed the typical approach at Sahuarita and taught abstinence. Education regarding the LGBTQ+ community was nonexistent.

“At the time of my middle school education I wasn’t super concerned as I hadn't quite explored my sexuality yet, but thinking about it now, it is quite upsetting,” Wallen said. “I think if it was included, I would have felt more comfortable exploring that part of me and discussing it with those important to me. I think it’s also important to include these issues so that they become normalized and people feel comfortable in their own bodies.”

Most sex education classes miss the mark on inclusivity.

This is clear through the tendency to avoid discussing topics such as sexuality and gender identity. However, these conversations are necessary, as some aspects of sexual health are unique to the LGBTQ+ community.

Moreover, sex education and health classes are two different things. Health classes focus on bodily functions, drug and alcohol abuse and general health, such as getting exercise and eating nutritiously. On the other hand, sex education classes are meant to teach about STIs, STDs, contraception and safe sex practices.

“In high school, we were required to take a six-week health course,” Wallen said. “My school employed the fear technique and showed us pictures of the STDs one could contract from unprotected sex. They insisted that abstinence was the only way to avoid these, and briefly mentioned condoms.”

Discussing safe sex, and how to prevent STIs and STDs while being sexually active, was largely ignored in her education. There was no mention of treatments or methods of handling the situation, such as informing partners of the infection.

“We learned about condoms, but not much beyond that,” Wallen said. “There was nothing that covered gay sex, oral sex or anything other

Illustration By Diana Ortega

than traditional penis-in-vagina sex. An example was putting condoms on the right way. … We did not learn about the treatments for STIs or STDs, or the difference between curable and treatable, which has not done me well post high school.”

The school failed to teach safe sex practices.

Wallen added the curriculum briefly mentioned birth control, but one form of “contraceptive” was discussed the most: Abstinence.

College students are one of the demographics most vulnerable to STIs or STDs. Among this age range, the most common diagnoses are HPV, chlamydia and herpes, with nearly 50% being people ages 15-24.

Chlamydia is an STI and curable, while HPV and herpes are STDs that are long-term and manageable.

Due to the lack of education, people have unprotected sex without knowing the consequences. Some STIs and STDs do not present with symptoms. This results in people continuing to be sexually active and spreading infections, completely oblivious unless they’re

getting tested regularly.

Schools don’t even touch on the topic of regular testing, or how to have discussions with partners regarding sexual histories. These are extremely important conversations to have to ensure a healthy sex life.

Inside Higher Ed provided examples of universities around the U.S. that are finally starting to understand most students don’t have a sex education, in addition to taking matters into their own hands.

The University of Oregon and University of Wisconsin have taken steps to educate students in residence halls, fraternities and sororities through peer educators. Orientations have been changed to include sexual health and legal rights information. Accessible screening has become available on these campuses at little-tono cost, depending on the test, along with free contraceptives.

Other universities should follow these practices and implement similar programs to help ensure sexual health of students.

Arizona public schools need to change their approach to sex education. As of now, students are making adult decisions without being fully aware of the consequences. Having the education and not using it is always better than needing the education and not having it.

NOV. 4, 2021 – NOV. 10 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

9

FEATURES

Composting within Hotel and restau

“I decided I didn’t want to said. “I wanted to do more because it was really an av change I wan

–Andrew Nettels, Gr

Alexandria Vallejo

N

Left, Right & Top: The Hotel and Restaurant Management garden is illuminated by the evening sun, Oct. 29. Madison Easton| The Lumberjack

10

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

AU Green Fund, along with the Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) program, have teamed up on a new composting project to pursue more environmental friendliness and sustainability at the university. Composting will now be available for students in the program.

Senior Andrew Nettels, Green Fund treasurer and HRM major, proposed the idea.

Nettels joined Green Fund a year ago and, after gaining more experience, decided his biggest concern was student involvement with the organization’s initiatives. He said he wanted to educate students about sustainability on campus, as well as see more involvement on their end. Students can then hold the university accountable for environmental impacts, Nettels explained.

The Green Fund is NAU’s source of sustainability funding. If students are trying to reduce the university’s environmental footprint through various projects, like composting, they can submit proposals and receive funding through the organization. The $15 Green Fee, included under tuition and fees each semester, generates these assets.

NAU has a history of sustainability and environmentalism. In 1973, it became one of the first universities in the country to offer an environmental studies degree, as referenced in the Green Fund’s legacy of sustainability.

From there, the university further advocated for sustainability, and the Green Fund is one method of environmental stewardship driven directly by students. According to its website, the fund began in 2010 and receives upward

of $600,000 annually from the Green Fee. The solar panels atop San Francisco Parking Garage are one example of a project proposal, which turned into a sustainable reality on campus.

Though Nettels began working on the composting project a year ago, it was not his first with the Green Fund. His involvement with a campus-wide sustainability initiative based in bathrooms. Around campus, students, faculty and staff can see 700 “remember… these come from trees” stickers in 300 public restrooms.

To complete this project, Nettels gathered 66 student volunteers and used no money from the Green Fund.

Furthermore, Nettels said it won the sustainability project of the year award through the university’s Environmental Caucus. Despite organizing a project as successful as this one, he was not finished.

“I decided I didn’t want to just stop there,” Nettels said. “I wanted to do more Green Fund projects, just because it was really an avenue for implementing the change I wanted to see.”

Senior Darnelle Chery is pursuing a HRM minor. Chery explained her unfamiliarity with the process of composting, and although she acknowledged certain parts of trash are used, she had only seen it within clubs that did not involve her.

“I just feel like I don’t see it as much on campus,” Chery said. “Perhaps that is because it’s more of a low-key thing being done behind the scenes.”

Nettels explained the start of his composting initiative involved reaching out to various leaders on campus who could help him move forward. A year ago, he also gathered as much information as possible while communicating

FEATURES

urant Management is now a reality

just stop there,” Nettels Green Fund projects, just venue for implementing the nted to see.”

reen Fund treasurer

and forming these relationships.

He gained the support of people such as Thomas Eberly, associate vice president of campus operations; Mark Molinaro, the interim associate executive director of HRM; and Facility Services manager Ralph Padilla. Around campus, these faculty and staff members played a part in making the project a reality. Padilla, for example, verified the logistical possibility of composting — ­primarily how the material will be received and where it will be kept — according to the project proposal Nettels sent to these sources.

Prepping, cooking and serving meals entails waste, and HRM is no different. Culinary classes offered in the program have leftovers, such as banana peels or other parts of food that are not consumed. Now, they will be composted from within the college.

Nettels said he wants to tackle this sort of issue within his environmental initiatives. With a project such as this one, students are able to be more directly involved with sustainability.

“I wanted to make sure that students are involved with compost,’’ Nettels said. “Like with the sticker project, it’s getting students to think about sustainability.”

There are plenty of specifics within the composting program at HRM. According to the project proposal, a bin will be placed within the HRM garden. Additionally, signage above this bin is designed to educate and explain the acceptable types of waste to be composted by students. From there, student-workers in the HRM building’s cafe — Cult Artisan Beverage Company Learning Café, a student-run coffee shop and study area, will move the bin to the union loading/receiving dock every other

Wednesday. Finally, the bin is transported to Howard’s Mesa, an on-campus composting processing plant with a small plot specifically designated for HRM compost.

The total cost of the project is approximately $450, according to the proposal. Materials were purchased at the end of October, and community engagement was finished as well.

However, full implementation of these supplies is set to conclude in early November.

In an email interview, HRM executive director Frederick DeMicco stated the project is beneficial in many ways. Eventually, the compost will be used in the school’s herb garden, which supplies students in HRM’s J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Demonstration Kitchen. This way, students can see their composting efforts come full circle.

Neither Nettels nor DeMicco see this project as the last environmental push for HRM. “We are always looking to be innovative and develop new environmental practices for hotels and restaurants to assist the industry,” DeMicco said via email. “Today’s guests have a high expectation that we do all we can to reduce, reuse and recycle to help the environment.”

Composting teaches students to be mindful of their waste, along with considering other uses.

On campus, HRM is one school with leftovers that can, and now will be, composted. As the Green Fund continues to educate students about the environment and implement new sustainability projects on an annual basis, this sort of mindfulness being spread throughout campus can carry onto a much wider scale.

NOV. 4 - NOV. 10, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

11

FEATURES

story and visuals compiled by Octavia Freeland

H

aving a place to study, destress, and hang out with family or friends is something local businesses offer, in addition to providing diversity and inclusi big and small achievements in their academic careers. NAU students shared their favorite local businesses and gave insight as to why they like them.

Likiya Holiday Second year Archaeology Masters’ Program

Ellisha Tsinnijinnie Senior Political Science

Rhiannon Moser Sophomore Psychology

“My favorite memory would be eating [at Swaddee Thai] with my best friend, during undergrad, after midterms and finals. Just celebrating getting through another semester,” Holiday said. “The environment’s vibe is pretty chill. No need to dress up, but still a reason to go out and look good. There is an easygoing atmosphere. It is really welcoming to college students, and its lunch specials during the week are easy on the budget. Great food and good prices — nothing beats that.”

“My favorite local business would have to be a coffee shop downtown called Late for the Train,” Tsinnijinnie said. “I really like the vibe that they have because you can study there, and not too many people go there. And they have a nice out back area between the alleys, and they have nice outdoor tables and stuff. It’s a really good coffee shop; I usually get the Coconino Mocha, hot.”

“My favorite memory would be when my family first visited me from home,” Moser said.

“I am from out of state, so having them come visit and take me [to The Lumberyard] was comforting, and now we go there every time they come to visit. It’s become a tradition for us. The vibe is super laid back and friendly.

They are pretty welcoming of college students, and the good food makes it worth the money,” Moser said.

12

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

“For m cuisin Barbe the fo consu

FEATURES

Olivia Charlson

W

ivity through cultural cuisines. Further, these businesses support college students through .

Makaius Marks Junior Applied Indigenous Studies

me, being Indigenous, I can relate to the ne and the foods offered [at Hawaiian eque], and I could see part of myself within oods I eat. I feel better about myself after uming such foods,” Marks said.

Haylee Patchell Junior Criminology and Criminal Justice “[Civano Coffee House] really supports LGBTQ+ [community members], and they do drag shows and stuff like that,” Patchell said.

“And I think it’s really cool, they used to be in Tucson and then they moved up here.”

elcome! Calling all creatives and writers with a taste for something different. This is the beginning of Creative Corner, the Features section’s new column for those looking to curl up and read for a few minutes, or to share their work with the NAU community. This is a place for all creative fiction, poetry, satire — you name it. Perhaps the rules are obvious, but don’t have overly dark and dreary themes, and please keep swearing to a minimum. I don’t want to see your erotica either — not here at least. We’re looking to publish new work and spread a love of writing, as it comes in many forms, and the intention is to open this up so everyone can submit work. Keep up with The Lumberjack and our social media for updates, but without further ado, I offer my work for the first publication. Thanks for stopping by.

Go to get more coffee — and oh, look, we’re out of filters.

But there’s always been filters here before.

It whisks away all the pretentious weirdos who want to push their own dramatics forward.

Anyways.

I’m 2/4s through college, where I had set out to tell the truth.

Everyone thinks the media is broken and news should be free.

Look forward to freelancing for the rest of your youth, everyone always says to me.

24 24 24 That’s what I was told the other day.

They’ll take a 24 year old, they’ll make them work for 24 hours a day, and they’ll pay them 24 thousand a year.

You have to understand, I love literature, but the honesty and deadlines and structure are … not as satisfying as they used to be.

I tell myself: you are not your news.

But after twenty years of being led here, what is it all for?

Give me more responsibility or give me death.

If you scrape the truth off the top, my eyes are straining, but where’s the lie?

A little white lie never hurts anyone unless you’re consuming them every night.

Choke on the chalkiness of the day’s chagrin.

You lie down for the night, but here I am still working.

And when I do close my eyes I hear a mantra of 24 24 24 24 24 24 “That kid,” they’ll whisper in the newsroom.

“Just need the tools to not be so forlorn,” “A story a day keeps the commenters away,” “They’re spitting out wood chips with that stick so far u-“ “Hey kid,” The boss will say “Are you too behind or have you finished all your work for today?”

The stress shows up in cold sores and stomach aches and shedding and a burning at the back of my throat.

And I’ll smile “Sure thing,” I said. “Almost at my 24th hour.”

They’ll nod and tell me, “Keep on writing kid, it’s got to be good for something.”

NOV. 4 - NOV. 10, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

13

CULTURE

College Admissions Scandal documentary reignites frustrations

H

eartbreaking, unnerving and shocking are all words that describe Netflix’s latest documentary, “Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal.” In my opinion, the roughly 90-minute film is worth a watch because it is an important news story.

When I was a senior in high school, I remember talking about the college admissions scandal in my AP English class. Every day, we would discuss current TAYLOR events, and this issue was important to us — the topic SCHWARTZwas sensitive and troubling.

OLSON Additionally, everyone was talking: It was on every WRITER TV and radio station, and many frustrated students took to social media to express their opinions on the scandal. For many, the release of the documentary brought a renewed interest in the case as more information became available about what happened.

The documentary pulled at my heartstrings and, at one point, almost brought me to tears. It started happily; videos of students shouting and jumping with joy after being accepted into their dream schools were depicted. The introduction included breaking news clips, social media videos from outraged students and clips of those involved in the scandal. Afterward, videos of anguished students who received rejection letters from their dream colleges appeared. Those moments were hard to watch as students’ aspirations died before my eyes.

The documentary mainly focused on Rick Singer, the orchestrator of the scandal. Singer acted as a liaison between clients, college admission staff and Mark Riddell, the man responsible for rigging ACT and SAT scores. The documentary also honed in on several high-profile clients, such as actress Lori Loughlin and lawyer Gordon Caplan.

Approached from the perspective of investigative journalism, the subject is attacked from all angles and admonished from different aspects of the scandal. Clients, admission workers, students, investigators and the journalist who helped break the story were all interviewed. Hearing from people involved in the scandal is interesting and gives a deep, unique perspective on the story.

Interviews, news and video clips, events from the internet and reenactments of actual conversations all contributed to the storytelling. The dramatizations made it feel like I was watching a movie and learning about something important. The story wasn’t exaggerated, either; all the scenes were based on original phone transcripts. While watching it, I was engaged, and afterward, it left me thinking about the scandal’s ramifications.

Overall, the documentary was well made. It filled in the gaps of previous news coverage and told the complete story. For those interested in the scandal and how it came about, this documentary is a must watch, and I highly recommend it.

14

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Oct. 25 to 31: Rock hall induction and upcoming productions Recent releases:

Katelyn Rodriguez

“Something For Thee Hotties” by Megan Thee Stallion Top five stories of the week: 1. The highly-anticipated sequel to “Dune” was (album) announced Oct. 26 by Warner Bros. Pictures and will “=” by Ed Sheeran (album) be released Oct. 20, 2023. “Dune” part one hit theaters Oct. 22.

“Family” by David Guetta featuring Bebe Rexha, A 2. Nominees for the People’s Choice Awards were

Boogie Wit da Hoodie and Ty Dolla $ign (single) announced Oct. 27.

3. People reported singer Zayn Malik and supermodel “House of Gucci” trailer Gigi Hadid split following an alleged altercation between Malik and Hadid’s mother Yolanda. Malik released a Pixar’s “Lightyear” trailer statement denying the incident.

4. The Rock and Roll Hall of fame induction Netflix’s “Cowboy Bebop” trailer ceremony took place Oct. 30 in Cleveland. Some of this year’s inductees included Tina Turner, Carole King and Netflix’s “Tiger King 2” trailer Jay-Z. 5. Singer Billie Eilish played the role of Sally at the “Passing” (in select theaters) “The Nightmare Before Christmas” live-to-film concert experience in Los Angeles which took place at Banc of “Last Night in Soho” (in theaters) California Stadium Oct. 29 and 31.

Top 15 charting songs: 1. “Easy On Me” by Adele 2. “STAY” by The Kid LAROI featuring Justin Bieber 3. “INDUSTRY BABY” by Lil Nas X featuring

Jack Harlow 4. “Fancy Like” by Walker Hayes 5. “Bad Habits” by Ed Sheeran 6. “Way 2 Sexy” by Drake featuring Future and

Young Thug 7. “good 4 u” by Olivia Rodrigo 8. “Levitating” by Dua Lipa 9. “Shivers” by Ed Sheeran 10. “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat featuring SZA 11. “Need to Know” by Doja Cat 12. “Essence” by WizKid featuring Justin Bieber

and Tems 13. “My Universe” by Coldplay featuring BTS 14. “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals 15. “Beggin’” by Måneskin Song data from Billboard’s The Hot 100 Chart

Award show update: American Music Awards (AMAs) Nominees

Artist of the year: Ariana Grande, BTS, Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd

New artist of the year: 24kGoldn, GIVĒON, Masked Wolf, Olivia Rodrigo and The Kid LAROI

Favorite male pop artist: Drake, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Lil Nas X and The Weeknd

Favorite female pop artist: Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, Doja Cat and Olivia Rodrigo

A complete list of AMAs nominees can be found on its website.

CULTURE

‘The Tempest:’ A modern-day twist on Shakespeare’s classic Photo courtesy of University Marketing

Taylor Schwartz-Olson

A

fter being delayed two weeks, “The Tempest” finally saw the light of day, or in this case, the light of the stage.

Opening night was originally set for Oct. 14, but was pushed back to Oct. 28.

Christina Gutierrez-Dennehy, the play’s director, said the show was delayed to accommodate health concerns in the department and ensure the whole production team had time to be healthy. She explained it was the first inperson production since February 2020, and everyone was excited to have audiences back to share this story of magic with them.

Last spring, the department decided to have “The Tempest” re-open live theater at NAU, Gutierrez-Dennehy said. Work was put into the production for months leading up to opening night.

“I spent last summer researching and preparing, as well as cutting the text,” GutierrezDennehy said. “We had our first meeting with the design team the week before school started, and then auditions in the second and third days of the semester. We have been rehearsing ever since.”

Originally a work of Shakespeare, the story was adapted to become more inclusive and modern, and the current version does not glorify

“We are using ‘The Tempest’ to explore early colonialism and its impact. ... The themes we’re talking about are inherently modern.”

– Junior Alexander Furash colonialism.

According to the playbill, “‘The [original] Tempest’ stages burgeoning English notions of whiteness and racial difference, ultimately vindicating its European characters while damaging its native ones.”

The playbill also stated the new anticolonialist story uses Shakespeare’s text to center the voices of Indigenous islanders rather than colonizers.

Alexander Furash, a junior and dramaturg for the show, helped rework the play to tell this updated narrative. Furash said his role involved compiling historical research on the play and its themes, which began last semester.

“Over the summer, about halfway through, I was in contact with the director, and she told me both about the play and what the themes are in the play that she was interested in telling,” Furash said. “So, those themes dealt with race and colonialism.”

In order to provide information the actors could use, he also researched when it was written and set.

“We are using ‘The Tempest’ to explore early colonialism and its impact, and so I think

because we live in a world that directly stems from that colonialism, I think that even though the language might be historical, the themes we’re talking about are inherently modern,” Furash said.

Gutierrez-Dennehy said in the original version, the native islanders were largely forgotten. Instead, her approach was to tell the story of those Indigenous characters, and to focus on them rather than Prospero, one of the Europeans.

Sophomore Jeremiah Montgomery, played one of the lead native islanders — a man named Caliban. “[Caliban] grew up on this island but got it taken away from him by putting his trust in the wrong person,” Montgomery said.

The show took place Oct. 28-31 at the Clifford E. White Theater. The second night, it began a couple minutes after 7:30 p.m. and ended at 9:30 p.m., with a 15-minute intermission scheduled halfway through the production.

Guests were checked in by ushers and, upon entering the venue, had the option of scanning a QR code to view the playbill. It

featured the names of cast and crew, as well as a play description and a director’s note.

The theater was nearly full by the time the lights dimmed and the performance commenced. During the intermission, attendees stood, stretched and mingled about, talking about the first half of the show. A constant stream of chatter persisted, even as the lights died and actors retook the stage.

The crowd remained enticed throughout the production, laughing at funny lines and yelling in reaction to stunts. As the stage lights faded to black at the end, the sound of applause swelled and shouts echoed in the theater, lasting several minutes as cast members bowed and curtsied.

The cast left the stage, and the audience lights grew brighter. Purses were gathered and coats put on as the doors spread for the crowd exiting the theater.

After two more nights of successful shows continued through Halloween weekend, “The Tempest” wrapped up. The final production of the year, “Moving Through Grief,” is set to take place Nov. 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 20-21 at 2 p.m. Additionally, The One Act Festival is scheduled for Dec. 3-4 at 7:30 p.m. The Department of Theatre also already has several shows planned and scheduled for next year.

NOV. 4 - NOV. 10, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

15

CULTURE

Righteous Harmony rocks

“Being on stage just gives me so much energy and empowerment, so getting to jump around, sing my songs and see the audience having a good time is enough for me” – Sierra Bryan, singer Page 16: Locals packed the house to hear Righteous Harmony perform at Firecreek Coffee Company, Oct. 30. Page 17 Left: Sierra Bryan (right) leads Sammy Riddle (center), Ariel Smith (left) and Brianna Hobbit (back middle) as they perform the opening set, Oct 30. Page 17 Right: Ceta Singley plays the keyboard for Righteous Harmony as the band begins its set, Oct. 30. Owen Sexton | The Lumberjack

Camille Sipple

D

espite being the Saturday night of Halloween weekend, a full house turned out to see Righteous Harmony, along with Sierra Bryan and her Spooktacular band, perform at Firecreek Coffee Company on Oct. 30. Both bands are local to Flagstaff and performed consistently throughout the summer around the northern Arizona region.

Though the crowd trickled in slowly at first, by the time Bryan and her band played their first song, Firecreek’s concert space was nearly full. At the request of Righteous Harmony — on their performance flyer — almost every attendee was costumed in varying, eclectic ensembles. Each and every band member, from both groups, was also in costume for the night.

16

Sierra Bryan and her Spooktacular band sufficiently warmed up the crowd, as the energy immediately shifted from mingling and getting drinks to upbeat dancing and nodding to the beats. Throughout the opening set, the audience’s intensity only grew. A moshpit of people jumping and dancing to the music also formed early on.

Bryan said she loves performing live with her bandmates because of the energy that radiates off the crowd.

“Being on stage just gives me so much energy and empowerment, so getting to jump around, sing my songs and see the audience having a good time is enough for me,” Bryan said.

She and her band also have a blast performing for live audiences because they are

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

truly able to be entertainers for the night, Bryan explained.

“Entertaining is fun, especially when that’s the reason people are there to begin with,” Bryan said. “They’re already there, so now it’s kind of your job to show them a good time, which often looks like having fun on stage and being a little showy.”

After their performance, Bryan and her band members walked off stage — followed by applause — and joined the crowd to watch Righteous Harmony.

After a brief set-up break between the two groups, Righteous Harmony took the stage.

During the lull, the zeal of the crowd had significantly decreased. However, all it took was the beginning of Righteous Harmony’s first song to get the crowd back on their feet, dancing

the night away.

By the band’s second song, Firecreek was filled to the brim with enthusiastic audience members.

Righteous Harmony drummer Zion Lee said the crowd’s energy truly elevates his experience, as well that of fellow band members when they play.

“It’s just so much fun seeing the crowd’s reaction and seeing people mosh out there,” Lee said. “It’s honestly the best feeling in the world.”

Guitarist Canyon Willis-Green also remarked on the vibrancy of the crowd during the band’s performance.

“The energy that comes back from the audience is mind blowing,” Willis-Green said.

“It’s probably the most invigorating thing out there.”

CULTURE

Firecreek Coffee Company

“It’s just so much fun seeing the crowd’s reaction and seeing people mosh out there,” – Zion lee, Righteous Harmony drummer

There is no correct way to describe Righteous Harmony’s music genre, other than to mention the instruments that typically accompany their sets. On Oct. 30, the band featured two lead guitars, a bass guitar, drum set, keyboard, saxophone and bongo drums.

Though each band member had the opportunity to perform solo during the show, the saxophone solos in particular made the crowd go wild.

Inklings of rock, folk, country and jazz were all present throughout Righteous Harmony’s performance, but it is impossible to box them into just one of those categories.

“We’re a little bit of everything, in the best way possible,” Willis-Green said.

Righteous Harmony’s eclectic style made for an animated crowd that never stopped moving and even formed a dance circle at one

point — which devolved into another mosh pit.

The improvisational portions of their performance, undoubtedly, resulted in the most cheers and applause from the already lively audience.

The band typically operates with a set structure while practicing, but Lee said it is able to fall away during shows, allowing the band members to seamlessly move with each other’s musical stylings. After playing together for nearly two years, the band knows each other so well musically that this spontaneous form of performance is functional for them, Lee explained.

“One person can do something and then we all follow behind that person,” Lee said. “So I think just having that kind of synergy, and understanding each other, makes it easy to play

together.”

Willis-Green and Lee also acknowledged the nerves that arise when they walk on stage and see a full house eagerly awaiting their performance. However, they explained that they try not to worry and put on the best show they can.

“Even if I’m tired or feeling sick, if I can get on that drum set, I’m going to put it all out there,” Lee said.

In terms of their fans and audiences, both musicians expressed their gratitude. To the band, it feels like they just started up and began performing not too long ago, and now they are playing to packed houses — it puts smiles on their faces, Willis-Green said.

Lee explained that he especially appreciates the support of fans who have come along for

the ride since their first few performances in downtown Flagstaff, and he hopes they continue coming out to their shows.

“I feel like the shows are only going to get better,” Lee said. “We love the support of all the people showing up, especially since day one at all our shows at Late For The Train and even before that, when our band was going by different names.”

Bryan said she and her band have now played alongside Righteous Harmony several times. They love joining the group for shows because of their encouraging and welcoming attitudes, Bryan added.

Righteous Harmony has not announced another concert, but the band typically posts on their Instagram page in advance of their performances.

NOV. 4 - NOV. 10, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

17

CULTURE

Hayden Barcello of the band Ruff Stuff plays bass backed by Josh Oxley on drums during Groovethon at the Orpheum Theater, Oct. 30. Madison Easton| The Lumberjack

Nicholas Bodenstadt of the band Ruff Stuff sings into his mic backed up by his brother and guitarist Andrew Bodenstadt during Groovethon at the Orpheum Theater, Oct. 30. Madison Easton| The Lumberjack

18

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Bassist Hayden Barcello of local Flagstaff band Ruff Stuff sings their song “Days Like This” during Groovethon at the Orpheum Theater, Oct. 30. Madison Easton| The Lumberjack

CULTURE

Audience members wave at their friends on stage as Ruff Stuff performs during Groovethon at the Orpheum Theater, Oct. 30. Madison Easton| The Lumberjack

Guests, dressed in their Halloween costume dance and cheer as Ruff Stuff performs during Groovethon at the Orpheum Theater, Oct. 30. Madison Easton| The Lumberjack

Drummer Josh Oxley of local Flagstaff band Ruff Stuff kicks off their setlist during Groovethon at the Orpheum Theater, Oct. 30. Madison Easton| The Lumberjack

RUFF STUFF KICKS OFF GROOVETHON NOV. 4 - NOV. 10, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

19

SPORTS

BLUE AND GOLD IN ACTION Gruden ‘resignation’ adds to NFL’s issues

I

t’s been weeks since Jon Gruden resigned from his role as Las Vegas Raiders head coach. This surprising news developed after an investigation into the Washington Football Team unearthed emails he sent to former team president Bruce Allen. In the correspondence, Gruden used disparaging language about DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association. Furthermore, BRENDEN they contained racist terms regarding MARTIN Smith and comments on his appearance, SPORTS EDITOR along with homophobic and misogynistic language about others in the league.

The NFL investigation revealed a series of emails from Gruden ranging from 2011, when he was a commentator for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” to 2018, when he was hired as head coach of the Raiders. These emails contained more than the racist comments he made about Smith — Gruden took aim at all types of people. He called NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a f*****, used as a slur for those who identify as homosexual, as well as other terms. He also accused Goodell of forcing the St. Louis Rams to draft Michael Sam, a player who came out as gay before being drafted in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

These comments became even more problematic; the Raiders have the first and only openly gay player in the league, defensive end Carl Nassib. The news was a lot for Nassib to handle, and he understandably took a personal day of absence the week of Gruden’s resignation.

Gruden wasn’t shy about any of his thoughts on the NFL, calling out everything from the introduction of female referees to the league’s campaign to raise awareness on concussions and its attempts to limit them.

Emails between Gruden and others also included photos of half-naked women. One of the photos was of cheerleaders on the Washington Football Team.

Gruden is the tip of the iceberg, and this story doesn’t end with him. His behavior is emblematic of the macho mentality that permeates the NFL. The fact that these emails surfaced in an investigation of an entirely different team speaks volumes to the culture problem in professional football. The league stated it has no intention to release findings of the investigation, which drew the ire of Raiders owner Mark Davis. The best way to kill this issue is to air out all the dirty laundry and be fully open with what was said in the 650,000 emails the league reviewed.

Gruden needed to go, but there are plenty of others who are being protected by the NFL, whether acting the same way or idly sitting by and allowing this behavior to poison football.

20

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Recent game scores Volleyball

Upcoming games Volleyball

NAU @ Eastern Washington Thursday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m.

Final: (L) NAU 1 - ESU 3

NAU vs Southern Utah Thursday, Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m.

(Flagstaff, Arizona/Rolle Activity Center)

NAU @ Idaho Saturday, Oct.30, 6 p.m.

Final: (W) NAU 3 - Idaho 0

NAU vs Sacramento State Saturday, Nov. 6 6 p.m.

(Flagstaff, Arizona/Rolle Activity Center)

Football

Football

NAU @ Idaho Saturday, Oct. 30, 1 p.m.

Final: (W) NAU 38 - Idaho 31

NAU vs No.7 UC Davis Saturday, Nov 6. 1 p.m.

(Flagstaff, Arizona/ Walkup SkyDome)

SPORTS

Madison Montgomery left it all on the pitch Will Hopkins

W

hen asking about senior forward Madison Montgomery, a leader for the NAU soccer team, different people will give varying answers.

“She’s a bit of a fireball, but she’s a fireball with a big heart,” her father, Davin Montgomery, said. “She’s a person that gives her all at everything. All of her emotion, all of her effort, all of her passion gets put into everything.”

For head coach Kylie Louw, the opposite is true. “[Montgomery] is a teddy bear off the field,” Louw said about her star forward. “She’s had probably the most growth I’ve ever seen as a coach. She went through a lot of personal issues, and now she is someone who has confidence and shows that she cares a lot.”

Above anything else, Montgomery herself values how she treats those around her.

“I’d say I’m a pretty genuine person who likes to be there to support my friends,” Montgomery said. “I take pride in who I am off the field, just because soccer’s not gonna be in your life forever.”

Born in Colorado Springs, Montgomery’s family moved to Chandler, Arizona when she was 6 years old.

MONTGOMERY Montgomery began playing soccer after the move and, despite some hesitance, quickly discovered a passion for the sport.

“I remember my parents having to kind of coach me into it,” Montgomery said, regarding her early memories of soccer. “I was kind of nervous, [but] it was nice to be able to join such a good club [Gilbert Arsenal]. I made a lot of good friends as soon as I got here, so it was super easy to get into soccer in Arizona.”

Montgomery spent a decade of her soccer career at Gilbert Arsenal, winning a state championship in the 2014-15 season.

She committed to the Lumberjacks early on, as a high school sophomore, despite knowing plenty of other programs would look to sign her.

“I heard from my club coach that NAU was looking at me, and I honestly didn’t know where NAU was,” Montgomery said of the recruiting process. “It was one of my first Division I offers that wasn’t just a walk-on spot, so I came on to visit and I loved Flagstaff. It’s so different from the valley [and] reminded me of Colorado Springs.”

Despite being an exciting prospect, Montgomery’s freshman year was a struggle. As a defender, she started six games that season — mostly to defender and the now-graduated Amanda Bennett.

However, Montgomery had an equally hard time off the field, as the transition to college and being away from home made things difficult.

“I think there were a lot of things going on with myself and my family that I was working through,” Montgomery said.

“Obviously I was trying to prove myself as a player. You go from high school [with] everyone starting, playing 90 minutes, [and] being a big player at your club, and you come in as a freshman,

Senior forward Madison Montgomery celebrates after scoring a goal against Southern Utah University on senior night at Max Spilsbury Field at Lumberjack Stadium, Oct. 17. Brian Burke | The Lumberjack

and obviously you’re at the bottom of the food chain. It’s big on the confidence, so that combined with personal issues made it hard to even perform at practice.”

Despite the struggle, Montgomery returned as a force to be reckoned with during her sophomore year. Starting 15 games and scoring in seven of those matches — while playing defense — Montgomery earned a Big Sky second-team nod. Regardless of the success, NAU’s Big Sky Tournament appearance ended on a controversial missed offsides call against the eventual champions, Northern Colorado. However, with the season concluding, the biggest offseason of Montgomery’s career began.

While the rest of the world focused on the pandemic, Montgomery concentrated on one of the most dramatic position changes a player can go through in the sport. In 2020, she spent a good portion of the offseason prepping to play forward after being a defender for her entire NAU career.

Montgomery set new highs during her junior season, scoring nine goals in nine starts and finishing as the Big Sky Offensive MVP and Golden Boot. Outside the Big Sky, Montgomery earned more recognition and made the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team. It was a season of dreams, as NAU earned the Big Sky South’s top seed in the shortened season.

Following a 1-0 win over the Idaho Vandals in the conference semifinal, in which Montgomery was the lone goal scorer, NAU geared up for a showdown with Big Sky North’s highest-ranked

team: Montana. Then, disaster struck.

“Coach [Louw] sent us a zoom link and told us that we weren’t gonna be able to compete and that we were gonna have to forfeit the title to Montana,” Montgomery said. “I felt so bad for the seniors, because they had obviously stayed an extra semester — most seniors don’t stay in the spring. It translates into this year because I want to be able to win a championship for those seniors that didn’t get to last year.”

It has been an up-and-down year for the Lumberjacks, but the team earned the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament and entered red hot having won the previous six games.

As a senior herself, Montgomery will soon say goodbye to the sport she has dedicated almost 15 years to, but she knows exactly what she wants following this season.

“I’m gonna treasure [my time at NAU] for a little bit, but then I’m gonna start studying for the LSAT, and I plan on going to law school after that,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery and the Lumberjacks ultimately fell short of the title, losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Sacramento State Hornets in the first round of the conference tournament.

She leaves behind a historic legacy with the Lumberjacks, and the program will certainly not look the same in her absence.

Montgomery’s perserverance set her apart as a soccer star, but will surely help her to succeed in any walk of life.

NOV. 4 - NOV. 10, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

21

SPORTS

men’s basketball enters 202 Brenden Martin

A

t long last, after a 243-day long offseason that saw players leaving, entering and graduating, the NAU men’s basketball season is returning in full swing. The Lumberjacks, fresh off of a win in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament in March, are ready to run it back yet again starting Nov. 9 under the bright lights of McKale Memorial Center, home of the Arizona Wildcats.

After a tumultuous season that saw NAU go 6-16 overall with a 4-10 conference record, the Lumberjacks are ready to move forward — with a different group of players in a new chapter.

The offseason began with a gut-punch, as NAU lost two of its most dynamic players. Cameron Shelton, a 6-foot-2 guard from Chino, California, released his plan to transfer from NAU in March. A week later, the All-Big Sky first teamer announced he would transfer to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

That was not the only loss NAU dealt with; 6-foot-5 guard Luke Avdalovic also entered the transfer portal and moved to Pacific University in Stockton, California, not too far from his hometown of Folsom.

NAU also lost 6-foot-2 guard Carter Mahaney, who officially entered the transfer portal on Oct. 27.

These losses were huge when they occurred, as Shelton and Avdalovic were the team’s top scorers last season. At 19.2 and 10.8 points per game, the duo comprised NAU’s only players who averaged in the double-digits. Shelton even led the Big Sky in scoring. With both Shelton and Avdalovic leaving for the West Coast Conference, NAU has big shoes to fill.

Despite the departure, head coach Shane Burcar had nothing but praise for the two stars.

“My first year as an assistant, [Shelton] was a true freshman, and we just had that special bond — and we still do have that,” Burcar said. “I got two new favorite teams in the West Coast Conference: Pacific and Loyola Marymount. I hope nothing but the best for those guys.”

Burcar credited the two for working to recruit other players, and others did come. NAU was able to make up for its losses by adding 5-foot-11 guard Jalen Cone from Virginia Tech, 6-foot2 guard Mason Stark from Northern State (S.D.) and 6-foot10 center Ezekiel Richards out of Santa Clara from the transfer portal.

Cone and Stark seem to fit the bill to be the successors to Shelton and Avdalovic. Richards, on the other hand, provides the Lumberjacks with an option they lacked before.

“I think [Cone] will make an immediate impact,” Burcar said. “I mean, he needs to start every game for us at point guard.

That’s why we recruited him. Mason Stark [is] someone who can shoot the ball. He’s an undervalued defender. And I think you add someone like [Richards,] who adds size to us, probably our first true big guy that we have who can block some shots.”

22

Redshirt junior forward Nik Mains dunking against Southern Utah, Feb. 26. Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics

Burcar confirmed Cone will be the only starter of the transfer group, while adding that he expects the guard to play similar minutes to Shelton, who averaged 35.6 per game last season. Stark and Richards can potentially make that leap during the season — as they fill the needs of size and shooting — but significant playing time is anticipated nonetheless.

For the Lumberjacks, size was a real issue last season. Without a true center like Richards, NAU was one of the worst defensive teams in the conference. The Lumberjacks gave up an average of 74.5 points a game, second-most in the Big Sky and just trailing the Idaho Vandals, who surrendered 76.5. The lack of size was also apparent in the rebounding department: NAU ranked last in total rebounding, (28.5 per game), last in defensive rebounds, (20.5 per game) and last rebound differential, (-5.3 per game).

Sophomore guard Isaiah Lewis made it his goal to become a better defender.

“Just go out and lock up every night,” Lewis said. “That’s my personal challenge, but we play defense as a team, too.”

Paired with the team’s defensive woes, the Lumberjacks were

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

“Just go out and lock up every night.

That’s my personal challenge, but we play defense as a team, too. ” – Sophomore Guard Isaiah Lewis

SPORTS

21-22 with reshuffled roster

Sophomore guard Isaiah Lewis driving to the basket against a Portland State Vikings defender, March 10. Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics

extremely top-heavy on offense last season. While Shelton led the conference in scoring, Avdalovic barely cracked the top 20 as the team’s next best scorer.

The Lumberjacks scored the second fewest points last season, averaging 63.2 per game, just ahead of Idaho’s 61. To put that into perspective, Southern Utah, the defending regular season champions, led the Big Sky in scoring with 84.2 per game. That 21-point swing is a major problem, and also the reason why many have low hopes for the team this year.

These expectations were shown with the release of the Big Sky Men’s Basketball Coaches and Media Preseason Polls on Oct. 21.

Both polls picked Southern Utah as the favorite to win the conference, with the Thunderbirds earning eight of the 10 possible first place votes in the coaches’ poll and 23 of the 29 media tallies. Southern Utah had the best record in the Big Sky last season, finishing 20-4 overall and 12-2 against conference

opponents. However, the Thunderbirds suffered a huge upset loss to the No. 4 seed Montana State Bobcats, 80-77, in overtime of the Big Sky tournament semifinals.

NAU didn’t earn a first place vote in either of the preseason polls. The Lumberjacks finished ninth on the coaches’ poll — ahead of Sacramento State and Idaho — and 10th in the media poll, ahead of only the Vandals.

“Yeah, I think it’s fair,” Burcar said about the ranking. “It’s someone’s opinion. The coaches we have in this league, I respect 100%. They’re all good coaches in this league; I just hope they’re wrong.”

The Lumberjacks last had a winning record in the 2019-20 season, when they went 16-14 overall with a 10-10 conference record. That year, the No. 6 seed Lumberjacks lost to the No. 11 seed Idaho State Bengals, 64-62. The next morning, the Big Sky Conference canceled the remainder of the tournament due to the growing concern of COVID-19.

The pandemic played a huge role in last season’s schedule.

NAU’s first three games were postponed, and its long-awaited matchup against No. 1 Gonzaga was delayed two weeks. The Lumberjacks had six total games canceled, including five consecutive that kept the team off the floor for 21 days.

“This season is special because we’re coming from a COVID year,” Lewis said. “Last year we didn’t have any fans. It was a unique season.”

Fans were not allowed at any of NAU’s home games last season, while other Big Sky schools had limited capacity. That all changes when the Lumberjacks play their home opener on Nov. 15 against Benedictine Mesa at Rolle Activity Center at 6 p.m.

However, NAU has a pair of road games against PAC-12 teams before playing at home.

The season starts on Nov. 9 on the road against UArizona in Tucson, followed by a trip to Seattle to play the University of Washington Huskies. Both games start at 8:30 p.m.

NOV. 4 - NOV. 10, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

23

24

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG