CHANGING LANES PAGE 10 THE LUMBER JACK JAN. 20, 2022 – JAN. 26, 2022
Online at JackCentral.org
From the Editor
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hen I think back to the last three and a half years of my life at NAU, it’s hard to not get a little emotional. Living in Flagstaff has brought me several opportunities and I am more than grateful for them. If you would have asked me four years ago while I was still in high school if I would be getting a degree in journalism and working for the school newspaper, I would have laughed in your face. Unlike most of my fellow students who work for The Lumberjack, I was not involved in anything related to the journalism field before attending college. I had little idea of what I wanted to major in when I first applied LAUREN to NAU. It took me two semesters worth of classes to realize biology was not my GOMEZ forte. PRINT CHIEF After watching “13 Going on 30” in my dorm room one night, I was fairly inspired by Jenna Rinks career as a magazine editor in Manhattan, New York. So, I enrolled in a few journalism classes and the rest is history. As mad as I was finding out that my first two semesters of college were — in my eyes — a waste of time, I’m glad those classes didn’t work out because I wouldn’t be here writing this for you all otherwise. My point is that it’s okay if you are unsure about what to major in or what type of career you want after you graduate. What matters is the journey you take to get there, and the rest will come naturally. I’m excited for what’s to come this semester and look forward to providing you with an outstanding weekly publication. To everyone who graduates this spring, I wish you all the luck in your last few months as well as your post-grad journey. Thank you for reading.
NAU celebrates MLK Jr.’s legacy
Online at Issuu.com Latest Edition & Archive
THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 113 ISSUE 1
Phone: (928) 523-4921 Fax: (928) 523-9313 Lumberjack@nau.edu P.O. Box 6000 Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Editor-in-Chief MacKenzie Brower
Managing Editor Camille Sipple
Copy Chief Kylie Soto
Faculty Adviser David Harpster
Print Chief Lauren Gomez
Director of Digital Content and Social Media Emily Gerdes
Social media
Media Innovation Center Editorial Board News Editor Mark Fabery Asst. Op-Ed Editor Jessie McCann
Asst. Culture Editor Haylee Sorensen
Director of Illustration Brittani Poeppel
Asst. News Editor Daisy Johnston
Online News Editor Josh Ostby
Op-Ed Editor Marley Green
Features Editor Hannah Elsmore
Asst. Features Editor John Chaffeur
Culture Editor Katelyn Rodriguez
Sports Editor Brenden Martin
Director of Multimedia Shawn Patti
Senior Reporter William Combs III
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Asst. Sports Editor Will Hopkins
Director of Photography Brian Burke
Senior Photographer Madison Easton
THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
Sports Adviser Rory Faust
Asst. Dir. of Photography Megan Ford-Fyffe
Senior Photographer Jonah Graham
On the cover Protected bike lanes will expand to other streets in the near future, Jan 15. 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 MacKenzie Brower at msb389@nau.edu.
PoliceBeat Jan. 10 At 9:54 a.m., NAUPD reported being out with a student who lost their phone inside the Gateway Student Success Center. The lost property was later found and returned to the student. At 1:05 p.m., a Cowden Hall resident reported the theft of their bicycle. NAUPD responded and took a report. At 7:44 p.m., a Cowden Hall resident reported the theft of their bicycle. NAUPD responded and took a report. Jan. 11 At 3:19 a.m., NAUPD reported assisting the Department of Public Safety with an injury accident off campus. At 12:23 p.m., an Allen Hall RA reported the theft of a peephole. NAUPD responded and took a report. At 12:59 p.m., a McConnell Hall RA reported the theft of a parking sign. NAUPD responded and took a report for possession of stolen property. At 5:56 p.m., an employee reported a civil matter inside the University Union. Officers responded and the parties were told to separate. A report was taken. At 10:20 p.m., an anonymous subject reported an unattended vehicle with an open door outside the High Country Conference Center. NAUPD responded, and no criminal activity was witnessed. The vehicle was secured.
Compiled by Mark fabery
Guardian Medical Transport area, but no criminal activity responded, and the employee was witnessed. was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC). At 9:00 p.m., a student requested assistance with At 9:55 a.m., an employee traffic control while a tow reported a non-injury traffic truck picked up their vehicle. collision in the intersection of University Safety Aides (USAs) Knoles and University Drive. responded, and assistance was NAUPD responded and provided. took a report. A citation was issued for failure to yield at an At 10:53 p.m., officers intersection. reported two people arguing in lot 31. One subject was an At 7:57 p.m., NAUPD employee, the other was a nonreported assisting Flagstaff student. Both subjects were Police Department with a given rides to their off-campus domestic violence call off residences. campus. Jan. 15 Jan. 13 At 1:49 a.m., a student At 12:38 p.m., a non- reported a sexual assault off student reported an assault campus. NAUPD provided in the Ponderosa building. transport to FMC and FPD NAUPD responded but no was dispatched to investigate. contact was made with the suspect. An attempt-to-locate At 4:48 a.m., a student was sent to FPD, and NAUPD reported a subject who was took a report. yelling outside of The Suites. Officers responded and At 4:27 p.m., a student identified the subject as a reported a vehicle hit their student, and he was given a vehicle and fled the scene in lot public assist ride to his off13A. NAUPD responded and campus residence. took a report. At 10:12 p.m., a subject At 7:44 p.m., a student requested a vehicle jumpstart reported a bus driving over in lot 42. USAs responded and the speed limit earlier in provided assistance. the day near San Francisco Street and University Drive. Jan. 16 NAUPD took the information At 1:00 a.m., NAUPD and passed it along to the initiated a traffic stop near the appropriate department on intersection of Knoles Drive campus. and West Riordan Road. One student was cited for a minor Jan. 14 in consumption of alcohol, At 1:05 p.m., a student and a citation was issued for a reported having problems with stop sign violation. their heater in their apartment. NAUPD and FFD responded. At 3:42 p.m., a nonFFD checked and cleared the student requested information heater, and maintenance was regarding an off-campus report. notified. Information was provided.
Jan. 12 At 9:12 a.m., a Tinsley At 3:51 p.m., NAUPD Hall employee reported an recieved a call from an elevator illness. NAUPD, Flagstaff inside The Suites. NAUPD Fire Department (FFD) and responded, and searched the
Free COVID-19 test kit website launches a day ahead of schedule
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Josh Ostby
he Biden Administration surprised Americans on Tuesday when it soft-launched its new website for citizens to request free at-home COVID-19 tests — a day before the site was officially scheduled to go live. It is the latest step taken by President Joe Biden to address criticism about low inventory and long lines for testing during a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant. By visiting COVIDTests.gov, Americans can order four at-home tests per residential address by filling out the form linked on the website. The orders will be shipped through the U.S. Postal Service. “The tests will be completely free — there are no shipping costs and you don’t need to enter a credit card number,” the website states. Biden announced last month that the U.S. would purchase 500 million at-home tests to launch the program, but — amid concerns of supply issues — on Jan. 13 the president announced he was doubling the order to one billion tests. The White House estimates the cost of purchasing and distributing the first 500 million tests at about $4 billion. Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, which was signed into law in March of 2021, will be the primary source of funding for the at-home tests. Read more at jackcentral.org
Subscribe to our newsletter! The LJ Express is the weekly newsletter curated by the staff of NAU’s student newspaper, The Lumberjack. Subscribing allows the best stories of the week to arrive directly in your inbox. JAN. 20, 2022 - JAN. 26, 2022| THE LUMBERJACK
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NEWS
New Flagstaff public transit center coming 2023 William combs III
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n partnership with the city of Flagstaff, Mountain Line — the local public transit service — will begin construction on a new Downtown Connection Center (DCC) this summer, and aims to complete the project in 2023. According to the project’s website, the new DCC will build upon the existing facility on Phoenix Avenue to include new bus bays, administrative offices, dispatch spaces and resources for riders such as restrooms and customer service. Mountain Line Deputy General Manager Kate Morley, said the new facility was well overdue. With production ramping up since Mountain Line began in 2008, she explained the infrastructure in place was not enough to sustain the transit system’s needs. “There were one million riders in 2008 and in 2019, before COVID-19, there were more than 2.5 million trips on the Mountain Line system,” Morley said. “We have grown from six routes to 10, as well as doubled the number of buses that are used on a daily basis. Our buses are much larger than they were in 2008. They
were 30 feet then and now they’re 40 and 60 feet, yet the space where we house them has not grown, so we are really out of space.” Since the beginning of the pandemic, Flagstaff ridership has dropped from its 2019 peak. However, with the upcoming project’s new improvements to the transit experience, Morley said she sees potential for ridership numbers to increase once again. As for the funding of the project, Mountain Line will rely on grants from the state and federal government. Morley said the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) grant they received in 2017 was not enough to cover the cost of the project as a whole. Instead, they looked to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for additional funding. “We were awarded $6.7 million for the project, but once we started designing and realizing the true scope of everything we wanted to do, we wrote a competitive grant to the Federal Transit Administration and were awarded the largest grant in the country at $17 million,” Morley said. “Since that time we have been continuing to further our designs and hoping to get shovels in the ground next summer.” Mountain Line presented their development
plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission Dec. 8, 2021 to request a conditional use permit or a leasing agreement between the city and Mountain Line. The request was granted by the commission with a unanimous vote. Senior planner Tiffany Antol said permits like these are a standard thing for a project such as the DCC, and the conditions Mountain Line must meet for the permit are nothing out of the ordinary. There is, however, one extenuating circumstance. The Rio de Flag flood control project must be completed before construction on the DCC civic space can begin. “The property is owned by the city of Flagstaff, so the conditions are that they operate and develop the site in accordance with the plan that they submitted in their application,” Antol said. “The second condition is an intergovernmental agreement between the city and Mountain Line to use the city of Flagstaff’s property. And the last one is a parking demand study which the city council had already approved. Phase one of the project can be constructed, but new development, the civic space, is contingent on the Rio de Flag project being finished.” Marie Jones, a member of the Planning
The Mountain Line Downtown Connection Center is located at Phoenix Avenue, Jan. 17. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack
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and Zoning Commission for the city, said she is very enthusiastic about the project as it bolsters Flagstaff’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and will include a modern, eye-catching facility that will be integrated with local art. Although she is optimistic about the project, Jones said there is work to be done in the design process, specifically regarding the civic center. “The civic space needs to reach all the way out to Beaver Street to engage the entire neighborhood and be surrounded by restaurants and shops like Heritage Square is surrounded by businesses,” Jones said. “I understand the business community is concerned about parking spaces, but removing just 14 spaces would allow the park to touch Beaver, leaving over 100 spaces for ParkFlag to use. That is the design alternative I plan to advocate for as the project moves forward.” While discussions about the development of phase two of the project — the civic center — are uncertain at this time, both the city and Mountain Line say they are confident in the new DCC and its ability to attract residents to public transportation in Flagstaff.
NEWS
NAU community learning to cope with the omicron variant Daisy Johnston
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AU is taking steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 on campus, amid a surge in cases due to the more contagious omicron variant. Students and faculty are optimistic about in-person instruction while also feeling the impact of COVID on their mental wellness. On Dec. 20, 2021, reports released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted omicron cases will likely reach a national surge in January. Consequently, several colleges across the U.S. have decided to postpone in-person classes and return to remote learning models. Despite growing concern over the weeks ahead, NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera said campus opened for business with classes as of Jan. 10. Plans to handle the spread of the omicron variant were shared with NAU community members in an email from Cruz Rivera on Dec. 27, 2021. In the message Cruz Rivera said it is encouraged that students do their part by getting vaccinated and wearing a mask. In turn, the school will continue to make resources such as vaccinations and COVID-19 tests available on campus. Cruz Rivera wrote that the university is confident in this model because it is based off of the previous plan which was used to slow the spread of the delta variant during the fall 2021 semester. Gregory McLean, NAU Communications instructor, has been teaching at NAU since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. McLean said he believes Cruz Rivera and the School of Communication have been thoughtful and forthcoming with their planning for the upcoming semester. “I understand how the decisions were made and how diverse the opinions about the situation must be,” McLean said. While McLean said he does not generally worry about exposure to COVID-19 during in-person instruction, he noted others may be in more compromising positions. “I am fortunate to have a family that is relatively, statistically, lower risk,” McLean said. “I am concerned about the community of individuals who have preexisting conditions that make them more susceptible to worse outcomes from contracting the disease, and so I participate in behaviors that I hope may minimize their risks as well.” Like many others, McLean said he has experienced disappointment and frustration with how the past years have gone, but he is optimistic about the future. Additionally, he said when he is depressed or discouraged, he relies on communication and exercise to push through and lift himself up. Freshman Maya Loucks also spoke on mental health issues she has experienced during the pandemic. Loucks was living in the Honors College when she received a positive test for COVID-19 after returning from Thanksgiving break. Upon receiving her positive result, Loucks said she was relocated to campus dorms intended for COVID-19 positive students to isolate. “It was honestly difficult to get through, as the room was very empty and dark,” Loucks said. “There were a few windows that helped during the day but it was super outdated and a little dirty. I found dead bugs and trash from other people who stayed there.”
Loucks said she also struggled academically during her isolation. Over the course of her final exams, she was unable to attend any scheduled review sessions and had few studying materials. A large part of quarantining is learning to keep yourself company, she explained. “It was super difficult to see my friends soak up the rest of their time together for the semester while I was alone in bed for 10 days,” Loucks said. “I found it difficult to stay motivated to keep myself hygienic. I found it difficult to find myself beautiful. I found it difficult to feed myself.” Despite issues with the dorms, Loucks said the isolation rooms are a good solution for students with COVID-19. However, Loucks said if students are able to isolate themselves at home, that is likely a more beneficial option to recover physically
and mentally. For students living on campus who may have to relocate to isolation dorms during the omicron surge, Loucks recommends bringing photos and books that they enjoy. Furthermore, Loucks said to be vocal with professors and reach out to teacher’s assistants for extra aid. Lastly, Loucks said it is helpful to stay in contact with friends and family. “The most important part to me though would be talking to those you love when you need it,” Loucks said. “Losing human interaction is definitely the hardest part, but there are always people who want to listen and lend an ear.” Free COVID-19 testing at the NAU Fieldhouse was made available Jan. 10. Those who would like to learn more about NAU’s response to the omicron variant can access the town hall hosted by Cruz Rivera on YouTube.
In the Lumberjack Mathematic Center, new NAU policies regarding the omicron variant are written on a whiteboard prior to entering the space, Jan. 14. Taylor McCormick | The Lumberjack
JAN. 20, 2022 - JAN. 26, 2022| THE LUMBERJACK
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NEWS
The Lumberjack’s best news stories of 2021
Around 150 protestors made the march all the way from NAU to City Hall, and were joined by even more protestors once there, Oct. 2, 2021. Owen Sexton | The Lumberjack
Mark Fabery The effects of social media bans in the modern age | Camille Sipple After inciting the insurrection on the Capitol Building, former President Donald Trump was banned from all social media platforms. The subsequent ban led to an outcry from countless citizens who claim these restrictions infringe on their freedom of speech. José Luis Cruz Rivera will become the 17th president of NAU | Mark Fabery After former NAU President Rita Cheng announced she would not seek a contract extension in fall 2020, the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) started a search for NAU’s 17th president. The search led ABOR to announce José Luis Cruz Rivera as the 17th president of NAU during a late-night meeting. A day on campus with José Luis Cruz Rivera | Scout Ehrler The university’s 17th president, his wife Rima Brusi, Regents Lyndel Manson and Fred DuVal, along with a few others were carted around campus Friday, touring various facilities and meeting with community leaders. Throughout the afternoon, Cruz Rivera met with numerous deans and spoke with the faculty senate, as well as other leaders on campus.
NAU Birds Aren’t Real club insists birds are simply government drones | Mark Fabery There exists a meta conspiracy movement that has taken over NAU’s campus with the goal to out-conspire all other conspiracies. Birds Aren’t Real is the parody organization that claims the United States government has participated in a genocide of birds from 19592001 by releasing a virus to kill them off. Now, the movement claims, the birds have been replaced with surveillance drone replicas that watch U.S. citizens everyday. Ducey vs. Deasy: The battle of mask mandates | Camille Sipple On March 25, 2021, Gov. Doug Ducey’s executive order stated that all mask mandates within all local municipalities be repealed. However, Flagstaff City Council and Mayor Paul Deasy had other plans and defied the governor’s order. One of Arizona’s main water sources is drying up | Mark Fabery The Colorado River is the lifeline of the American Southwest, as it runs nearly 1,500 miles, supplying water and electricity to seven states, as well as Mexico. Just over 40 million people rely on its resources, but 20 years of drought, made worse by climate change, has created a crisis. NAU students experience issues with new digital JacksCard | Tess Stafford
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THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
President of the NAU Birds Aren’t Real club Brendan Trachsel stands outside the Union in protest of birds, Feb. 26, 2021. Brian Burke| The Lumberjack
As the fall semester was well underway, NAU students began to experience issues with digital JacksCards. NAU staff and students weighed in on their experiences and how to troubleshoot some of the issues at hand. NAU faces campus-wide staff shortages | Daisy Johnston During the 2020-21 academic year, the reduction in customer capacity and lack of on-campus students resulted in the university’s dining facilities hiring fewer employees. Due to the lack of staff, NAU campus dining saw increased patronages at campus dining facilities across campus. Judge throws out Arizona’s ban on mask mandates | Mark Fabery A new state law signed by Gov. Doug Ducey, which prevented schools from imposing mask mandates on students, teachers and staff, was deemed unconstitutional in late September of 2021. At the time, Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper said the ban on COVID-19 mitigation measures violated the single-subject rule because the budget reconciliation bills and other legislation did not accurately inform voters of changes. Students and locals flood Flagstaff streets in a call for women’s rights | Mark Fabery, Daisy Johnston and Sophia Swainson Hundreds of NAU students and Flagstaff residents took to the streets and met at Flagstaff
City Hall to protest abortion rights, as one of over 500 marches scheduled around the country on Oct. 2 for the 2021 Women’s March. Dropping temperatures put homeless lives at risk | Daisy Johnston As temperatures started to drop in early October 2021, increased emphasis was placed on the homeless population in Flagstaff and the surrounding communities. In large part, this is due to the freezing temperatures threatening the homeless population with frostbite and hypothermia. NAU announces fall 2021 in-person commencement | Mark Fabery In mid-October 2021, NAU officially announced the first in-person commencement since the pandemic began. In addition, NAU released plans for a special in-person celebration to recognize the accomplishments of the classes of spring 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021. Terros Health leading FPD’s Alternative Response Model | Sophia Swainson In October 2021, Terros Health was awarded a contract to be Flagstaff’s Alternative Response Model mobile care unit. The contract will allow Terros Health to support the city’s police and fire departments by responding to substance abuse and mental-health related 911 calls.
COMIC SPOT
JAN. 20, 2022– JAN. 26, 2022| THE LUMBERJACK
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OPINION-EDITORIAL
Missed your plane? COVID’S not all to blame Jessie McCann
Tapping out of Spotify Wrapped
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potify Wrapped gives users a complete look into their listening habits for the year, coming out at the beginning of each December. Since Spotify began the Spotify Wrapped campaign in 2016, listeners anticipate their music streaming statistics every year. People love sharing music, and JESSIE Spotify Wrapped capitalized off of that. MCCANN In 2021, Spotify Wrapped was one of the highest trending social media campaigns, OP-ED ASSISTANT dominating apps like Twitter and EDITOR TikTok. Allowing users to share their favorite artists, songs, genres and podcasts, the marketing campaign has become increasingly popular over the last few years. There’s also a feature that shows what percentile of artists’ top listeners that users fall into. In response to the concept’s popularity, other companies have began adopting similar strategies. It’s easy to deduce that corporations want to consider how trends can be utilized for their own brand name, but at what point does it become blatant copying? Apps ranging from food delivery to digital study resources have used Spotify’s story format and features to a certain extent. I think I speak for most people when I say that I wouldn’t care to know what restaurant I ordered the most from during the year. What a person listens to can show an intimate aspect of their identity, but the same can’t be said for which study sets one may use on Quizlet or the frequency of food orders they have. The development of Spotify Wrapped is arguably what has put the app at the top in comparison to other music streaming apps. In fact, the feeble attempt Apple Music has made to replicate Spotify’s features has become a running joke. Competing corporations are making the fatal assumption that because Spotify users are raving for their data to be collected like nothing before, that somehow consumers will equally appreciate data collection from their own branding. Despite the success, Spotify was criticized for their cringey, overdone tendency to quote trends in 2021. Now, more than ever, media companies are trying to appeal to younger audiences and appear to have a more relatable presence. The push for relatability feels extremely forced and irrelevant to users just wanting to see their most streamed songs. Marketing is becoming more geared towards what is trending, and that isn’t always a good approach. While trends may reach a wider audience, companies are not considering their own consumer base.
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ith a spike in COVID-19 cases and a cutback in quarantine guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s fair to say 2022 is off to a rough start. Just as things were starting to get under control, a new variant came into the picture. The omicron variant has been spreading at a faster rate than previous variants, restoring panic worldwide. Along with the spread of the virus, weather conditions have been alarming, resulting in a record number of canceled flights within the last month. Since the first signs of trouble on Christmas Eve, there have been over 28,000 flights canceled. As recorded by aviation data provider FlightAware, there were over 970 cancellations of flights on Dec. 29, 2021, with United Airlines canceling the most flights among major U.S. carriers. The harsh reality is there have not been this many flight disruptions since the beginning of the pandemic. This speaks to the apathy of the public regarding COVID. While even scientists couldn’t have thoroughly predicted the new variant’s effect, airlines could have better prepared for the situation. Flight cancellations aren’t the only disruptions as well; one-third of flights were delayed nationwide just in the first two weeks of January. It’s commendable that airlines are taking precautionary measures by canceling, but giving ticket holders more advance notice would make a monumental difference in the ongoing travel meltdown. Airline carriers have faced considerable backlash for their lack of cancellation notice. When the situation first arose around the holidays, many people had to cancel plans last minute and put family visits on hold. In most cases, airlines canceled within the day or week of departure. While it may seem a small price to pay, there’s a decent number of people who are following CDC guidelines and are in need of travel for school and work purposes. As someone who had a flight canceled days before, there was no notice and I was lucky to even be able to schedule another one in time to attend school. When flights are canceled as late as within 50 minutes prior to departure,
consumers are very limited in their ability to reschedule. For those whose flights are delayed and have connected flights, there’s no means of getting to their next destination in time. The scramble to reschedule flights is a major point of difficulty for people, too. Depending on the airline, there are some cases where travelers are not able to switch flights for a full refund. Prices only go up when buying at the last minute, which puts customers in a tight position. No matter the carrier, reaching customer service workers is almost impossible on the phone as well. The wait time can last hours before someone picks up. Some airlines, such as American Airlines, have handled the conditions more smoothly and reported “significantly less disruption than others, a record it attributes to changes made during a lengthy ramping-up process that included its own meltdowns last year.” Airline staffing has also become an issue due to high exposure rates resulting in sick pilots and flight attendants. To compensate for the health risks and staffing shortages, the United Airlines pilots’ union — the Air Line Pilots Association — negotiated tripling their usual pay to employees. United isn’t the only airline to implement this, but all airlines should strive to give employees better working conditions, given the current state of affairs. At first glance, the CDC recommendation to shorten isolation periods for those who test positive for COVID is risky, but it pays off in mitigating the staffing crunch that airlines and the general workforce face. Most major carriers such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are in accordance with President Biden’s vaccine mandate for workers. On the flight attendee end, however, not all domestic flights require vaccinations, which falls back on the U.S. federal government. With a 90% effective rate in preventing hospitalizations and serious cases of COVID, requiring people to get vaccinated is the quickest way to ensure problem-free travel again. If airlines continue to accommodate their employees, give ticket holders advance notice of issues and crewmembers follow vaccine mandates, the current chaos of flight cancellations will lessen. Although the spread of the omicron variant is out of airline control, measures can be taken to keep flights on track. Illustration by Brittani Poeppel
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THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
OPINION-EDITORIAL
The modern copyright fight Marley Green
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n 2019, Christian rapper FLAME sued singer Katy Perry for her 2013 single, “Dark Horse.” In the lawsuit, he claimed the song bore resemblance to his 2008 song, “Joyful Noise.” The lawsuit doesn’t cite a specific part of “Dark Horse” that sounds like “Joyful Noise.” Instead, it mentions the “false association” between FLAME’s music with “witchcraft, paganism, black magic and Illuminati imagery” which he claims is present in Perry’s song.
Illustration by Diana Ortega
The songs don’t have the same melody, chord progression or bass line. They don’t have any similar lyrical themes. What they do have in common is a similar ostinato, a sort of repeated musical phrase or theme that is meant to highlight the melody. Without too much musical jargon, the best way to explain the similar ostinatos is that both of them go down the minor scale over and over — this pattern is incredibly prevalent and has been since music was first composed. Perry lost the lawsuit, but eventually the verdict was overturned after an appeal in 2020. Still, the lawsuit set a dangerous precedent for money-grabbing infringement lawsuits to come. Up until this point, only melodies had been copyrighted. Now, it appears artists can copyright much more: a minor ostinato in the background, a similar 4-measure structure or even a song’s ‘vibe.’ A common strategy of these kinds of lawsuits is hiring an expert musicologist to give testimony. The musicologist’s role is to imply that common musical ideas originated with the artists who hired legal representation, which is objectively false. For example, Todd Decker, professor of Musicology at Washington State University, testified during the Katy Perry vs. FLAME case and said the two songs had very similar timbre, or tone. But as musician and YouTuber Adam Neely pointed out in a 2019 video discussing the case, that is simply untrue. Even if it were true, Neely goes on to say, it’s impossible to copyright a certain tone. If it were, people could claim ownership of extremely basic things, like the sound of a piano. “I sincerely doubt you would make the arguments you made in court at an academic conference,” Neely said in a part of the video specifically addressed to Decker. “Or you wouldn’t write them down in a scholarly article because your academic peers would absolutely eviscerate you for saying some of those things.” Some of the jargon may be confusing to readers who are not familiar with music terminology. With this in mind, try to imagine someone known to be an expert using those terms in front of you excessively to make an argument. Then, imagine needing to make a serious decision based on this argument which you hardly understand. When prosecuting teams appoint expert witnesses for testimony in these cases, they are exploiting jury members’ lack of expertise in the field. There is no room to give them the benefit of the doubt, either; FLAME’s prosecution team in the Katy Perry suit specifically requested a trial by jury, likely for this exact reason. “I hope that you were paid well,” Neely addressed expert witness Decker in his Katy Perry video, “because you kind of sold us all out on this.” What’s more concerning is plagiarism claims against artists who sing a song that elicits a similar vibe to another song. A recent example of this is Olivia Rodrigo’s single, “good 4 u” off her debut album, which sounds similar to Paramore’s “Misery Business.”
After the song’s release, Rodrigo drew criticism among TikTok users for allegedly stealing from Paramore. The songs target the same tones every four measures and both follow a similar structure. Listening to the two songs, it’s impossible to think they don’t sound alike, or that one was inspired by the other. As a result of all the speculation surrounding the similarities on social media, Rodrigo decided to give Paramore’s lead singer, Hayley Williams, and ex-guitarist, Josh Farro, songwriting credit on the track. Despite the fact that Rodrigo’s album was universally well received, some critics claim her music too obviously draws inspiration from other female artists like Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey and Lorde. “Olivia is a good person but unoriginal and totally manufactured,” one YouTube commenter wrote of the commonalities between Rodrigo’s and others’ art. “Nothing organic about her.” Some comments are even directed beyond her music and more at her personality or her treatment in the media. This type of rhetoric leads me to wonder if she’s receiving criticism more because of her age, gender and popularity than because of her music inspiration. “Her music and cover are a ripoff and the media just wants to let it slide,” an angry internet user said. “But they’ll jump all over any other artist … She’s a joke!” But these critics fail to remember that pop punk did not start with Paramore — Hayley Williams likely drew inspiration from other music when she wrote “Misery Business” as well. Avril Lavigne, dubbed the queen of pop punk, was releasing similar music as many as five years before “Misery Business” came out. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day also follows a similar song structure to Rodrigo’s and Paramore’s songs in question — but no one thought Hayley Williams stole music from Green Day. The truth is that most songs overall draw some kind of inspiration from past music and artists, whether distant or recent. In fact, most anything draws inspiration from precedents. As far as I know, the first author to write a dystopian young adult novel did not file any lawsuits against Suzanne Collins or other popular author who published a book with a similar theme in 2014. I’m not aware of any artist who has tried to sue another for using a similar color palette as they did. And with the introduction of social media in recent years, nearly everything we do today is based on what is trending. It is an extremely dangerous precedent to allow songs to be copyrighted for something as miniscule as an ostinato, or as broad as an entire vibe. While artists have every right to protect their work from exploitation and harm, they must look at their own actions. Most of them do not officially credit their own inspirations.
JAN. 20, 2022– JAN. 26, 2022| THE LUMBERJACK
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FEATURES
Local cyclists share their experiences wit Hannah Elsmore
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or many Flagstaff locals, cycling is something that can offer means of transportation, leisure and community. The city is home to many organizations centered around biking and promoting bike safety, such as Flagstaff Cycling, Red Rock Racing and the Flagstaff Bicycle Advisory Committee. Many cyclists gathered to advocate for bike safety and sharing the road during the May 28, 2021 Flagstaff Bike Party. That same day, at the intersection of Beaver Street and Butler Avenue, a tow truck hit six of the group members. The accident injured five cyclists and killed Joanna Wheaton on impact. The purpose of the meetup was to allow cyclists to navigate the streets safely together, wearing traffic cones and lights. Cyclist safety was not guaranteed, even with an event that was centered around it. After the accident, many who were affected or passionate about bike safety decided to raise awareness. A new project was formed to find a solution to road sharing on Flagstaff’s busiest streets. The city’s new bike lane project was completed Nov. 29, 2021, allowing cyclists the opportunity to try out the lanes prior to the new year. The separate bike lanes were built to span Butler Avenue, between Milton Road and Sawmill Road. These lanes include a concrete curb to create a physical separation between cyclists and vehicles.
Sophomore Collin Wiedeman is the treasurer of the NAU Cycling Club and spends a lot of his free time bicycling in town. “As a whole, Flagstaff is a much better community for cyclists compared to Utah, where I am from,” Weideman said. “The area as a whole seems to support cyclists a lot more, and people are more considerate when driving past cyclists.” Weideman said Flagstaff’s cycling community, in combination with the town’s other easily accessible outdoor recreational activities, initially drew him to NAU. Despite the prevalence of cycling in town, it is not uncommon for individuals to encounter issues, whether it be with vehicles or drivers. Lots of cyclists rely on bikes to commute to work, which can cause issues when traffic gets heavy. Larger roads in Flagstaff, such as Butler Avenue and South Milton Road, are typically the most impacted by rush hours. Flagstaff City Council decided to pursue this plan to provide frequent commuting cyclists with a sense of security. The council rapidly responded to the public’s request for change; the bike lane project was created within a month of the citizens’ petition. Cyclists’ response to the new bike lanes has been positive, but many maintain there is still room for growth. “I have only used the new bike lanes a handful of times, but they do make commuting on the larger roads feel significantly safer,” Weideman said. “This is mainly because cars don’t get as close to you, but I do think the presence of the curb adds a little protection from cars actually swerving into cyclists.”
Alongside initial backlash about the smaller vehicle lane sizes, the city works team anticipated the barriers would cause maintence issues. These setbacks became visible after the most recent snowstorm. Some local homeowners experienced issues with trash can placement, ice and dirt buildup. “One of the issues I have noticed recently is cinders and snow piled in the bike lanes that make it so I have to swerve into the normal lane to get around them,” Weideman said. “Flagstaff could do a better job of keeping the bike lanes clear of hazards like that.” Cyclists and homeowners are hoping the city can maintain the functionality of the new lanes. Nate Milton lived in Flagstaff his entire life before recently moving to Tucson to continue his cycling career. As someone who has seen the city’s biking community grow, he was happy to see this change. “About a year ago I had someone point a gun at my head simply because he was sharing the road with me, a cyclist,” Milton said. Milton said this experience made him realize there is a lot more steps that need to be taken for Flagstaff to be completely safe for cyclists. Road rage experiences like his remind him of the changes that still need to happen, he said. “Even though the guy was arrested, I think this situation shows there is a lack of respect for cyclists in town,” Milton said. Flagstaff is growing in population, which brings individuals
Left: Many bikes can be seen locked outside of the Honors College of Northern Arizona University. Middle: The bike lanes can be found spanning Butler Avenue, consisting of concrete dividers and staggered
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FEATURES
th the new bike lanes to town who are not as accustomed to sharing the road. Milton said he is happy to see the city grow, but he hopes anyone moving into town can acknowledge that the city has been home to cyclists for a long time. “As a whole I feel like Flagstaff is a better community for cyclists than most places,” Weideman said. “Projects like the bike barriers would never happen in most places, and it’s good to see communities taking action when needed.” Cyclists like Weideman want to show gratitude for these implementations in the first place, but also acknowledge that maintenance and conversation are the best ways to allow for further growth in the community. Milton also mentioned that many cyclists in Flagstaff are training — as he often was — so they
are going at speeds much faster than the average commuting cyclists. The new bike lane offers a divide in busy areas, so there is less chance of a collision. Now that the lanes provide a sense of security for bicyclists, they are asking that conversations centered around road safety continue, so that everyone can feel comfortable on the road. “I think that if everyone understood that we are all just trying to get to our destinations safely, this wouldn’t be as difficult,” Milton said. At the end of the day, getting home safely is a priority for everyone. Flagstaff City Council has shown their ability to ensure the safety of the local cycling community as new issues arise.
“Flagstaff could do a better job of keeping the bike lanes clear of hazards like that.” – sOPHOMORE Collin WIEDEMAN
American Spirits
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was sure the world was ending but convinced such self importance was melodramatic — a generation born with nerve endings outside of our skin. here in our rooms, hunchedover our cellphones, spinal-clacking, grasping at these phantom limbs. convining ourselves that the world on fire, will cash out in our MICAELA lifetime, MERRYMAN how bold of me to assume the dragging of my chain on this EDITOR-IN-CHIEF immortal highway, OF SONDER sparks more burning than the beating that this bottomed out MAGAZINE eternity has already taken from us, cowered in bunkers — whistling skyrockets — skin whipped raw — packed like sardines in ships — murder headlines on the radio — lives — fished-for-the-pickings-out-of-lottery-bowls — tin foil sleeping bags — face mask wrinkle lines — garbage filled, gutter lined, cardboard folded avenues — freaks storming the White House! wondering if the haze came from the bay or the city.
lane identifiers. Right: A closeup of a bike seen on campus at Northern Arizona University, Jan. 15. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack
JAN. 20, 2022 - JAN. 26, 2022 | THE LUMBERJACK
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CULTURE
Lumberjack staff’s top albums of 2021 Haylee Sorensen
The Weeknd brings us to the light with “Dawn FM”
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f you have ever wondered what an experience in purgatory would be like, look no further, for a fullblown dance party awaits. The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, released his fifth studio album “Dawn FM” Jan. 7 after revealing on Instagram New Years’ Eve that he would be foregoing the traditional album rollout. The album was executive produced by KATELYN Tesfaye, Max Martin and Oneohtrix RODRIGUEZ CULTURE EDITOR Point Never. This is The Weeknd’s first full release since 2020’s hit-spawning and record-breaking “After Hours.” “Dawn FM” is filled with ‘80s synth beats and The Weeknd’s signature R&B sound and falsettos we’ve become accustomed to. The transitions in between songs, specifically “How Do I Make You Love Me?” leading into “Take My Breath,” are immaculate. However, what makes “Dawn FM” unique is its entire concept. In the creative mind of Tesfaye, “Dawn FM” is a radio show listeners tune into while they are waiting in the space between life and the afterlife, commercials included. In a November 2021 interview with Billboard, he described how he pictured purgatory like being stuck in traffic. The album is disc jockeyed by actor Jim Carrey, and features Quincy Jones on “A Tale By Quincy,” Tyler, the Creator on “Here We Go… Again” and Lil Wayne on “I Heard You’re Married.” Each song on “Dawn FM” is seemingly a reflection of The Weeknd’s life in terms of relationships, while showing self-reflection, self-destructive tendencies and, eventually, acceptance. While the lyricism of the album is sometimes reminiscent of his previous discography, the songs tell a complete story and give listeners more insight into the once anonymous singer. It makes sense that a purgatorial traffic jam would cause one to reflect on the highs and lows of their life, much like regular traffic does, as they wait to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. The album begins with the title track, which makes one feel as if they were transported into the world The Weeknd has created for us. It includes an eerie outro from Carrey that introduces listeners to the fictional station, complete with its jingle of “103.5 Dawn FM.” There is something about “Sacrifice” that is reminiscent of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson — specifically the guitar riff at the beginning of the track. It is pretty close to the one in “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” off Jackson’s 1982 album “Thriller.” Continue reading on jackcentral.org
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he year 2021 was a musically significant year with the release of many records and albums that impacted many people during difficult times. Some members of The Lumberjack staff described their top choices and why these tracks were played on a loop in their heads. The album most mentioned as a top pick by The Lumberjack staff was “SOUR” by Olivia Rodrigo. Copy Editor Kylie Soto said it was her choice because she listened to the album the most, and her Spotify Wrapped consisted of many of the songs. Emily Gerdes, director of digital content and social media, agreed with Soto on her favorite album. Gerdes said Rodrigo is from her hometown and her rise to fame was unprecedented. She also said Rodrigo is iconic and even her dad enjoys the album. Along with Soto and Gerdes, Op-Ed Editor Marley Green, said SOUR takes the cake for her. “It may be basic, but it is a solid album musically, the songs are fun, heartbreaking and reflective of teenage life,” Green said. “Her voice is phenomenal, and so is her ability to draw inspiration from multiple genres and artists and make something distinctly her own.” The staff was not alone in their choice. According to Billboard, “SOUR” was the number one choice among the staff list for the best 50 albums of the year. As impactful as this album was, many other pieces captured our staff’s attention. Culture Editor Katelyn Rodriguez said her top choice was a toss-up between “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” (“IICHLIWP”) by Halsey and “30” by Adele. She said she was most looking forward to “IICHLIWP” because of her enthusiasm for Halsey. Rodriguez said the album was different from past releases due to the collaborations, variations and focus within the songs. Rodriguez also said she had anticipated “30” for six years as Adele is one of her favorite artists and her albums are pivotal for her. “This album, while touching on her divorce, also focuses on Adele’s relationship with herself, which is what makes it so powerful,” Rodriguez said. “The rawness of the lyrics on each track, in addition to her seemingly always flawless vocals, help solidify “30” as one of her best albums to date.” Online News Editor Josh Ostby said his favorite album was “Let it Be (Super Deluxe)” by The Beatles because of the inclusion of the outtakes and behindthe-scenes audio footage. He said this gave fans a glimpse into the creative process of the artists Illustration By Diana Ortega during a turbulent time
for the band. Ostby also said the recent release, “Sick!” by Earl Sweatshirt will probably make it onto his rotation this year. Features Editor Hannah Elsmore said her favorite album was “For Emma, Forever Ago” by Bon Iver because this album provided comfort to her in the past year, and Bon Iver has a beautiful voice that reminds her of being at the creek in Sedona. Illustration By Diana Ortega Other albums mentioned included “Blue Banisters” by Lana Del Rey, which was Senior Photographer Maddie Easton’s top choice, and “The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” by Saint Motel was Managing Editor Camille Sipple’s favorite. Moving forward from last year, staff members also shared what album releases in 2022 they are most interested in. Many of the albums mentioned by staff have already been released or are arriving during the current month. Green said she was excited for The Lumineers’ “BRIGHTSIDE.” She said it has been three years since their last release, and the band members have spoken about their excitement for the new era for the group. “In typical Lumineers fashion, the singles are emotional and poetic, but in a subtle way — you wouldn’t know unless you listened intently to the lyrics,” Green said. Rodriguez said “Dawn FM” by The Weeknd has already been released, but it is not stopping her from appreciating the talent from the artist’s vocals and creativity. She said the album embodies this and each track is infused with 80s synth beats with some exciting cameos. Soto also does not have to wait long as she said she is looking forward to Anaïs Mitchell’s release this month. “She wrote the music for Hadestown, a Broadway musical, and I love her writing style,” Soto said. “It is like a mixture of jazz and indie and it’s just wonderful.” Another release happening this month includes “Prey//IV” by Alice Glass. Easton is excited for this album because it is the artist’s debut after leaving her former group, Crystal Castles. She said she is excited to see what the artist can accomplish on her own. However, other staff members are anticipating releases where the dates are not yet known. Elsmore said she is ready for any new music from SZA, who tends to hide her releases. While Gerdes said she is excited for all of Taylor Swift’s re-recordings, but especially “RED” and “Reputation.” Sipple said she is anticipating the release of the grandson’s latest album based on a hint she saw on Twitter. 2021 proved to be an exciting year for music, and it seems 2022 is going to carry that momentum in the eyes of The Lumberjack staff.
JAN. 20, 2022 - JAN. 26, 2022 | THE LUMBERJACK
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SPORTS
Recent Game Scores Women's Basketball FIA tarnished legendary F1 title race
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rom start to finish, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton engaged in an epic title race throughout 2021. To start the season, Hamilton narrowly held off Verstappen on the final lap in the Bahrain Grand Prix to establish how competitive their duel for the Formula 1 World Championship would become. The lead changed hands seven times SEAN with some incredible duels, controversial CLARK moments and world-class drives. Heading into the season finale at the WRITER Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, the two contenders were even on points. Hamilton, who came into the race hoping to win his record-breaking eighth world championship, dominated the race after passing Verstappen on the first lap. However, on lap 53, Williams Racing driver Nicholas Latifi crashed, causing the safety car to release onto the track. There were four lap cars between Hamilton and Verstappen as the laps trickled down. With one lap to go, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) declared the lap cars would stay one lap down. Seconds later, racing director Michael Masi declared one green-flag lap and the four unlapped cars were returned to the lead lap. Only those four lap cars were able to unlap themselves — not the ones between Verstappen and third-place driver Carlos Sainz. It provided an unfair advantage for Verstappen, who had fresher tires than Hamilton after a free pit stop during the safety car. During the last-lap shootout, Verstappen cleared Hamilton to win his first driver’s championship. This was a travesty for numerous reasons. There is no precedent or rule in the FIA guidelines to allow this to happen. It was manufactured by Masi to create a one-lap shootout so the championship would not be decided under the safety car, even though Hamilton should have been rewarded for the advantage earned throughout the race. “No Michael, no, no that was so not right,” Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff said to Masi. What should have happened is either the race ended under the safety car to allow Hamilton the reward of winning after dominating, or prevent the lap cars from unlapping themselves to have Verstappen push his way through four lap cars and Hamilton to win the championship. While the 2022 Formula 1 season will be full of intriguing storylines including George Russell’s debut season with Mercedes, the wounds of this debacle will be fresh for a long time.
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NAU @ Sacramento State MOnday, Jan. 10, 8 p.m. Sacramento, California Final: NAU 68 - Sac State 57 men's Basketball NAU vs Idaho MOnday, Jan. 17, 6 p.m. Flagstaff, Arizona Walkup Skydome Final: NAU 74 - Idaho 72
Women's Tennis NAU @ ASU Monday, Jan. 17, noon Tempe, Arizona Whiteman Tennis Center Final: NAU 0 - ASU 7
Upcoming Events Track and Field Lumberjack Team Challenge Friday, Jan. 21, 2 p.m. Flagstaff, Arizona Walkup Skydome
Women's Swim
NAU @ New Mexico State Saturday, Jan. 22, 11 a.m. Flagstaff, Arizona Aquatic and Tennis Complex
men's Basketball NAU vs Montana Saturday, Jan. 22, 2 p.m. Flagstaff, Arizona Walkup Skydome NAU vs Sacrameno State Monday, Jan. 24, 6 p.m. Flagstaff, Arizona Walkup Skydome
Women's Basketball NAU @ Montana Saturday, Jan. 22, 2 p.m. Missoula, Montana Dahlberg Arena NAU @ Eastern Washington Monday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m. Cheney, Washiington Reese Court
SPORTS
JJ Nakai will miss rest of season due to academic ineligibility Brenden Martin
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AU women’s basketball senior guard JJ Nakai will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season due to academic ineligibility. The Flagstaff native will not step on the floor again and the Lumberjacks will be missing their leading scorer from last season. She has been officially removed from the team’s 2021-22 roster. NAU head coach Loree Payne confirmed the news after the Lumberjacks’ win against Sacramento State on Jan. 10, where Nakai was noticeably absent. “JJ is academically ineligible so we will not be seeing her the rest of the semester,” Payne said. No information was provided regarding the specifics of Nakai’s ineligibility, but the Big Sky Conference lays out details on academic requirements for student-athletes. The Big Sky is one of a handful of conferences in the country that require stricter eligibility requirements than the NCAA, according to its website. Its eligibility rules are listed below: a) a 1.6 cumulative GPA by the beginning of his or her second term. For quarter schools, the student-athlete must also achieve a 1.8 cumulative GPA by the beginning of his or her third quarter of enrollment. b) a 2.0 cumulative GPA by the beginning of his or her second year of collegiate enrollment and thereafter. c) a 2.0 cumulative GPA for all credit hours earned only at the certifying institution for his or her final season of competition. Nakai, a decorated player for Coconino High School, led the Coconino Panthers to back-to-back region titles in 2016 and 2017. She was a three-time first team all-region player, made first team all-state in 2017 and a two-time Arizona Daily Sun Player of the Year. Nakai began her college career playing at Pima Community College in Tucson for two years. She earned two Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Year awards and was first team National Junior College Athletic Association Division II All-American honors while playing for the Pima Aztecs. Nakai set a program record with 1,397 points and 442 assists and led the ACCAC in scoring as a sophomore. Nakai made the huge leap to Division I play for the University of Nevada her junior year. In one season with the Wolfpack, she played in 21 of the team’s 31 games, including one start against Utah State. She averaged 14.3 minutes per game, shot 36% from the field and 32.8% from 3-point range. She had a season-best 12 points against San Jose State on Jan. 8, 2020. On April 15, 2020, it was announced that Nakai was transferring from Nevada and coming back to her hometown to play for the Lumberjacks. Payne said at the time, NAU had been recruiting Nakai since she was at Pima. In the 2020-21 season, Nakai was NAU’s leading scorer, averaging 13.6 points to place her eighth in the Big Sky. She also placed third in the conference for 3-pointers per game (2.24) and third in 3-point field goal percentage (38.9%), an aspect the Lumberjacks have continued to excel at in her absence this season. Nakai won Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, the second
Senior guard JJ Nakai (3) rushes down the court against University of Montana at the Rolle Activity Center, Jan. 16, 2021. NAU defeated Montana, 89-76. Brian Burke| The Lumberjack
straight year the award went to a Lumberjack, and was an All-Big Sky Honorable Mention. She was also a Golden Eagle ScholarAthlete Award recipient in 2021. Due to the pandemic, Nakai was unable to play in front of her hometown fans last season. Flagstaff locals finally had a chance to see their hometown product play, as NAU allowed fans in the stands at home games. However, Nakai was noticeably absent for the start of the year and missed the first seven games. She made her first appearance on Dec. 11, 2021, against Cal Baptist, leading the Lumberjacks with 13 points and making 3-of-5 3-pointers. “We were pretty much just waiting for the semester to finish up academically,” Payne said after the Cal Baptist game. “Things are moving in the right direction.” Payne said that Nakai had been practicing with the team during her early-season absence. Nakai’s season debut occurred on the Saturday after finals week of the fall 2021 semester. As winter break went on, Nakai played three games across six days. Her final game was NAU’s first game at the Skydome against No. 4 UArizona on Dec. 17, 2021. She scored nine points, including two 3-pointers.
In three games this season, Nakai scored 19 points in 42 total minutes played. Her final outing was her only game in the Skydome, as all home games last season took place in the Rolle Activity Center. Player availability is important this season, as many games have been postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. The Big Sky adjusted its cancellation policy for games played this season which states teams need at least seven available players and one full-time coach for a postponed game to be rescheduled. “I think this year is a little bit challenging in that there’s gonna be people out for different protocols and those type of things,” Payne said. NAU has had its fair share of operating with limited players. On Dec. 30, 2021, the Lumberjacks pulled off an impressive road win against Idaho with only seven available players. Since Nakai played the three games in mid-December, they will count against her senior year eligibility. As it stands, Nakai’s collegiate career ends prematurely and the Lumberjacks will have to carry on without her.
JAN. 20, 2022 - JAN. 26, 2022| THE LUMBERJACK
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NAU Football earns largest ea Brenden Martin
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AU football secured the largest recruiting class in the Big Sky Conference as the Division I early national signing day period began on Dec. 15, 2021. The program secured 20 commitments from both high school players and college transfers — notably more than the schools that it is in direct competition with. “We feel great about this class,” NAU head coach Chris Ball said. “We met every need we needed.” The team closest to NAU’s early recruiting numbers in the conference was Montana State, last season’s Football Championship Subdivision national runners-up, at 16 players. The strong recruiting class Ball and his coaching staff have put together continues to grow the football program in his image. Ball, entering his fourth year as NAU’s head coach, now has his handprints on the recruiting of a majority of the players on the roster. The big distinction between recruiting this season compared to last was the ability to hit the recruiting trail after not being inperson due to COVID-19. “It was really nice,” Ball said. “We had a bye [week] halfway through the season and we got out that week to go to some games and man it was like Christmas just to get out and talk to coaches.” This year’s recruiting class is balanced on all sides of the ball.
Of the 20 signees, 10 play on defense, eight play on offense and two are filling gaps on special teams. Special teams players were an aspect the Lumberjacks desperately needed to look into since the team will be down its All-American trifecta of special teamers: kicker Luis Aguilar, long snapper Justin Hathoot and punter DJ Arnson — all of which were graduate students last season. “Those guys are hard to replace, not just as players but as people too,” Ball said. “Running backs coach/special teams coordinator Dave Ungerer did a great job identifying the guys that we got signed and are really really pleased with them. We had our pick of some guys and feel really, really good about the guys we got.” The changing of the guard on special teams includes Brophy College Prep High School kicker/punter Marcus Lye. The Phoenix local was named All-6A Desert Valley Region First Team as a kicker in 2019 and 2021 and was an honorable mention as a punter in 2020, showing his versatility in times of need. Lye announced his commitment to NAU via Twitter on Dec. 6, 2021. NAU also earned the commitment of long snapper Sean Farfan out of Mt. San Antonio College in California. Farfan is just one of two recruits coming out of another college. “Sean has excellent size and frame, has great velocity accuracy and covers very well down the field on punts,” Ungerer said. “[He
is] a man of great character. We look forward to watching Sean develop into one of the best long snappers in the country." After the early signing period, the Lumberjacks continued to gain some big recruits that are expected to be officially announced on Feb. 2, the first day of the regular signing period. Another addition to special teams that should be a part of that regular signing day next month is kicker/punter Eemil Herranen. The transfer out of McNeese State holds the distinction of being the first-ever Finnish Division I punter/kicker. Herranen announced his intention to transfer from McNeese State via Twitter on Nov. 22 of last year. With four years of eligibility remaining, Herranen announced he received an offer from NAU exactly one month after hitting the portal and an offer from the University of San Diego four days later. Herranen opted for NAU on Jan. 5, giving the team options as both kicker and punter. He is one of only a handful of players NAU picked up out of the transfer portal. However, Ball emphasized that his program is typically focused on going after players straight out of high school as opposed to college players looking to play for another school. “Why are they leaving?” Ball said. “Why are they leaving their teammates? First and foremost, that’s a red flag to us. We haven’t had great success with guys [in the portal]. Was it too hard? Were they applying themselves? We get on a portal player,
Left: Casa Grande senior quarterback Angel Flores officially committed to NAU at his college signing day on Dec. 16, 2021. Right: Casa Grande senior quarterback Angel Flores runs the ball against Peoria Hig
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arly recruiting class in Big Sky we talk to the position coach or the head coach of that school and he’s going to tell you everything you want to hear about him because they are trying to get rid of him.” Ball also said that through conversations with trainers, strength coaches and academic advisors he learned more about transfer players that he had an eye on. In some cases, the knowledge gained from those interactions was enough to cut certain players loose who were subsequently picked up by Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools. “I’ve got to be careful on who I bring in here,” Ball said. “We’ve got a strong culture and it’s headed in the right direction and we feel really good about it.” The high school player that has garnered the most attention has been Casa Grande High School quarterback Angel Flores. Flores could perhaps be the biggest recruit NAU has landed in the Chris Ball era and is a player who was sought after by many schools. The 2021 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl High School Player of the Year received offers from schools such as Fresno State and Rice University. The Big Sky also looked to poach Flores as some top conference contenders gave him offers. Eastern Washington, Weber State and Portland State gave Flores offers to play, with the latter offering him a full scholarship. Amid all the offers, some from FBS schools, Flores opted to stay home in Arizona. On Dec. 2, 2021, the back-to-back 4A
Kino Region Player of the Year announced his commitment to NAU. “He’s what we’re looking for,” Ball said. “Probably the most impressive thing that he brings is his running ability. He runs the ball a lot better than what people think. We’ll be able to do some quarterback run stuff with him.” According to Flores’s Twitter, NAU made him an offer back in December 2020, right after his junior season. His senior season, however, was easily his most notable. Flores led his team to a perfect 9-0 regular season and a No. 2 seed in the AIA 4A State Championship. The Casa Grande Cougars beat Deer Valley, St. Mary’s and Mesquite to reach the state title game against No. 1 Poston Butte. In the championship game at Sun Devil Stadium on Dec. 10, 2021, Flores led his team to a hard-fought 33-28 victory as he threw for 299 yards and touchdown and rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns. “You look at his team and some of the other teams that have won a state championship, he’s surrounded by good players but not great ones,” Ball said. “He pretty much led that team to a state championship.” Ball said the team looked into quarterbacks at Chaparral and Salpointe Catholic High School, but Flores was the only one offered. On a home visit the week before Casa Grande played Mesquite in the semifinals, Flores informed the NAU coaching
staff that he intended to become a Lumberjack. Flores officially signed his National Letter of Intent at his high school on Dec. 16, 2021, one day shy of the first anniversary of his announcement of NAU’s offer. When asked about the potential of Flores competing for the starting quarterback job next season, Ball characteristically held his cards close to his chest. “Every player on our team knows the best player is going to play,” Ball said. “I don’t care if you are a true freshman or a redshirt senior. The best players play and how much time they play is up to them.” The quarterback battle will certainly be one to look forward to. Last season, NAU played multiple quarterbacks largely due to injuries but eventually stuck with reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year RJ Martinez. Graduate quarterback Keondre Wudtee has left the team, redshirt sophomore quarterback Jeff Widener will be out for an extended period after undergoing knee surgery and redshirt freshman quarterback Cale Millen entered the transfer portal and is now at the University of Connecticut. Flores and the other new 2022 recruits will get a chance to get some playing time during spring ball in the offseason. NAU will open the 2022 season on Thursday, Sept. 1 against ASU at Sun Devil Stadium, the same venue Flores led Casa Grande to the school’s first-ever state title.
gh School on Sept. 10, 2021. Casa Grande defeated Peoria, 35-21. David Church | Courtesy of Pinal Central
JAN. 20, 2022 - JAN. 26, 2022| THE LUMBERJACK
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