The Lumberjack -- February 3, 2022

THE LUMBER JACK FEB. 3, 2022 – FEB. 9, 2022

CONTRAST IN THE CITY PAGE 6

ONLINE AT JACKCENTRAL.ORG

FROM THE EDITOR

J

unior year of college has been a lot more action packed than I had ever anticipated.

All in one semester I have begun working as The Lumberjack’s Copy Chief, gotten cast in an NAU Department of Theatre mainstage show and pledged to the Beta Nu cast of Alpha Psi Omega — a national honorary theater fraternity.

From my 6 a.m. alarm to my 11 p.m. sleep notification, I am grateful for every single thing I get to be a part of. This amazing life I’ve fallen in love with doesn’t come without challenges, of course. Between COVID-19 and the pressure of ensuring I am evenly involved in all my commitments, I’ve learned to take my limits into account and set boundaries for my work.

KYLIE But I cannot take all the credit.

SOTO Without my beloved boyfriend, Ian Burnett, I know exactly where I’d be — falling off the edge of the earth into oblivion. His support is solely what keeps me going.

COPY CHIEF If my life was a lego set, he’d be the sole builder. In our five years together so far, he has acted as my therapist, pillow, personal comedian, best friend and alarm clock. He makes sure I get up on time and stay caught up on homework, but also forces me to slow down and take time for myself, and never fails to make me cry of laughter.

Many people ask me to explain how we’ve gotten this far and what it’s like to be committed to someone at such a young age. I always reply with a smile, it’s difficult to describe something I can’t even put into words.

But if I had to, I’d say loving him is like the warm, fuzzy comfort I felt when my parents carried me to bed and tucked me in and I was pretending to sleep.

Before I met him I thought I’d do anything for that feeling again, and ever since he’s been by my side, I live in that sensation during every second of every day.

Only he would understand this, but here is my favorite quote he’s ever said on a stage: “O, a cherubim Thou wast that did preserve me. Thou didst smile.

Infused with a fortitude from heaven …” — William Shakespeare “The Tempest.”

Thank you for reading (this sappy love letter).

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 113 ISSUE 3

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

New Year’s resolutions: a realistic approach Continue reading on jackcentral.com

ONLINE AT ISSUU.COM Latest Edition & Archive

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 Senior Reporter William Combs III

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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

Asst. Sports Editor Will Hopkins

Director of Photography Brian Burke

Senior Photographer Madison Easton

Asst. Dir. of Photography Megan Ford-Fyffe

Senior Photographer Jonah Graham

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Sports Adviser Rory Faust

Director of Marketing Lydia Nelson Asst. Print Chief Lian Muneno

ON THE COVER Traffic flows down South Milton Road near the Uncommon student housing complex, Jan. 30.

Brian Burke | 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. 24 At 5:02 a.m., custodial staff requested a walkthrough of the Performing and Fine Arts building.

Officers responded and one building violation was found.

taken for information only.

At 5:41 p.m., a student reported an intoxicated subject bothering passersby outside of Cline Library.

Officers responded and one non-student was cited for At 8:47 a.m., a ROTC trespassing and left the area. staff member reported the theft of gasoline from a vehicle.

At 9:06 p.m., an Allen NAUPD responded and took a Hall RA reported the theft report. of a soap dispenser. NAUPD responded and took a report.

At 10:53 p.m., University Safety Aides (USAs) reported Jan. 27 issuing a university parking At 2:31 p.m., a student warning to an improperly reported an aggressive dog on parked vehicle in the Skydome campus near lot 48. NAUPD parking lot. responded and one nonstudent was cited for the Jan. 25 aggressive dog.

At 11:45 a.m., NAUPD received a call from Flagstaff At 8:08 p.m., a student Police Department regarding in Gabaldon Hall reported an a Roseberry Hall resident argument. Officers responded making suicidal threats. and one student was criminally NAUPD, Flagstaff Fire deferred for disorderly conduct Department (FFD) and and domestic violence.

Guardian Medical Transport (GMT) responded and the At 10:31 p.m., a student was transported to McConnell Hall resident Flagstaff Medical Center reported having trouble (FMC). breathing. NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded and the At 3:28 p.m., a Gammage student was transported to building staff member reported FMC. a suspicious person in the area.

NAUPD responded and one Jan. 28 non-student was identified and At 9 a.m., a student then they left the area. reported the theft of their vehicle’s catalytic converter at At 9:37 p.m., USAs South Village Apartments. An reported a vehicle left running officer responded and took a for an extended period of time report. at South Village apartments.

The vehicle owner was later At 6:51 p.m., a noncontacted. student reported the theft of a purse from their vehicle in the Jan. 26 Skyview parking lot. NAUPD At 1:09 a.m., a student responded and took a report. reported experiencing suicidal ideation outside McConnell At 8:49 p.m., a Cline Hall. NAUPD responded, and Library staff member requested the student was transported assistance for a non-student to The Guidance Center for who passed out. NAUPD, FFD a mandatory mental health and GMT responded. The evaluation. Counseling Services non-student was identified, was notified and a report was warned for trespassing and

Compiled by Mark Fabery transported to FMC. At 11:50 p.m., a Tinsley Hall RA requested assistance for an intoxicated resident.

NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded.

The resident refused transport to FMC, and was deferred for underage consumption of alcohol.

Jan. 29 At 3:58 a.m., a Hilltop Townhomes resident requested assistance for their roommate who was intoxicated. NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded, and the resident was transported to FMC. At 7:27 a.m., a student reported a couple fighting at The Suites. Officers responded and one student was voluntarily transported to The Guidance Center for an evaluation. A report was taken for domestic violence and disturbance of the peace.

At 11:31 p.m., USAs requested a welfare check on a subject outside the School of Nursing. NAUPD responded and the non-student was not in distress.

Deasy seeks to create Flagstaff’s first rainbow crosswalk josh ostby

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lagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy addressed the rest of the city council this Tuesday to express his desire for a Flagstaff’s first rainbow crosswalk to be painted.

Deasy explained that this small action would be an important step in the right direction for progress, citing that other cities in Arizona have already installed their own inclusive intersections.

“I would like to see us as a city embrace that inclusion that we have seen in other cities,” Deasy said. “ [We should] embrace the recognition that we need to progress forward.”

Since 2018, the city of Phoenix has installed two rainbow crosswalks in its efforts to show support for LGBTQ rights. Tucson also touts a similar colorful walkway, which was installed in 2017.

“I think this would be a great way to show our support and show our encouragement to a more inclusive future and a more inclusive city,” Deasy said.

The proposed site for Flagstaff’s new crosswalk is preferrably along the intersection between Wheeler Park and the lawn of Flagstaff City Hall, Deasy said, though he was open to other suggestions.

Council members Regina Salas, Miranda Sweet, Adam Shimoni and Vice Mayor Becky Dagget all showed support for agendizing this item and tabling it for a future discussion.

“When we do discuss this, we also should consider a project like this for the east side, perhaps along Fourth Street,” Shimoni said.

“Roy G. Biv!” Salas said excitedly. “Roy G. Biv” is the elementary acronym used when describing the order of colors in the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

While this proposal was embraced by council members, when Deasy took to social media to share the details of his project, there were mixed reviews.

Some citizens shared their delight for the plan, expressing a hope for the project to really come to fruition.

Continue reading on jackcentral.com

Jan. 30 At 11:19 a.m., a Pine Ridge Village resident requested assistance with abdominal pain. NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded, and the student was transported to FMC. At 4:30 p.m., a Cline Library staff member requested a welfare check. One nonstudent was identified and warned of trespass from Cline Library. The non-student requested Terros Health and they will handle further.

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FEB. 3, 2022 – FEB. 9, 2022 | THE LUMBERJACK

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NEWS

ANNUAL POINT-IN-TIME COUNT DELAYED Xavier Juarez

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he annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count has been delayed a month due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. The nationwide program works to count unsheltered individuals in an area, using that number to document the number of homeless people living across the country at a single point in time. The survey, which is required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, typically takes place in January.

The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website describes the PIT count as a “count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January.”

HUD requires Continuums of Care — local planning bodies that coordinate housing and funding for homeless individuals — to conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing and Safe Havens on a single night. The data gathered from each PIT count is then stored in the Homelessness Data Exchange to accurately track the number of unsheltered individuals.

The decision to delay the count was made out of an abundance of caution regarding the omicron variant.

James Kennedy, one of this year’s organizers, said this decision was made not only for the count’s volunteers, but the unsheltered individuals they would be helping.

“Part of this most recent delay was … a Continuum of Care,” Kennedy said. “[We would] email the state saying, ‘Hey, it’s not looking too good for us, how about a delay’ and that led to another conversation and eventually we had this delay.”

Kennedy said that because there is no official outline on how to plan the PIT count, the majority of it was planned with his partners.

“There’s no specific guideline on, ‘Hey, this is how you organize it. Ten days out, you do this! Five days out, you do this!’ So, a lot of it’s up to us.” Kennedy said.

With the PIT count delayed a month, it gives organizers a better chance to try to get more volunteers for the program, which they say is vital to the success of the survey.

Sarah Rendon, another event coordinator, said the delay may actually be beneficial.

“We rely heavily on NAU volunteers for sure,” Rendon said. “[The delay] might be a positive thing as far as

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THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

getting volunteers from NAU just because you guys are coming back right off of Christmas vacation, then boom, it’s the count.”

Rendon said they are hopeful delaying the count will give PIT more time to get the word out and recruit more volunteers.

The extra time they have been afforded now allows them to get into more classrooms, interact with the community and advertise the count more. Around 40 volunteers are needed on average.

Organizers say it is important that people sign up to help.

Moreover, not every volunteer shows up when their shift comes.

On the day of the count, volunteers will be split into groups.

Volunteers are either assigned to mobile or stationary units in groups of two or more. Stationary units will be set up near the East Side Library, food bank and senior center.

Meanwhile, mobile units will go around town looking for unsheltered individuals. Volunteers then take small shifts

— around two to three hours — where they will give a small questionnaire to unsheltered individuals. Those individuals then receive $5 in “better bucks,” which are vouchers worth a dollar that can be used for goods such as a hygiene kit or a snack pack, at participating locations.

On Feb. 9, there will be a mandatory virtual zoom training session at 10 a.m. with instructors going into more detail on what volunteers should expect heading into the survey.

“We’re going to be doing that over Zoom,” Rendon said.

“Anybody that volunteers is required to watch that training … just because we go over the survey in detail.”

The survey that volunteers will be handing out is five pages in length, and will ask the unsheltered individual where they slept Feb. 22. Volunteers will also have a resource guide to give to the unsheltered person to help them complete the survey.

Rendon said the volunteer work is simple, but necessary, consisting of reaching out to unsheltered individuals to see if they are willing to help.

With everything all set, event organizers say the count is ready to be done next month without any further delays.

Organizers said the initial delay may have been a minor setback, but they are hoping it will pay off in the long run. Any interested volunteers can learn more information and sign up by visiting the city of Flagstaff website.

Illustration By Diana Ortega

NEWS

Concealed carry coming to Arizona colleges?

Shay Maruna

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n Jan. 20 Senate Bill 1123 was passed by Arizona’s Senate Judiciary Committee. Introduced by Senator Wendy Rogers, the bill allows any student with a concealed carry permit to carry a gun on Arizona college campuses. S.B. 1123 passed 4-3 in the Senate Judiciary Committee and will now move on to the full Senate for another round of debate and approval.

Should the new bill pass in both the Arizona House and Senate, and receive a signature from Gov. Doug Ducey, individuals with adequate permits would be allowed to carry guns on Arizona college campuses — joining other states like Utah and Colorado.

The hearing of this bill was met with debate from both those in favor and those opposed to the self-defense bill. A recent KPNX-TV Phoenix article wrote that the controversy regarding guns on campus is not new to the state of Arizona. Lawmakers have discussed the topic multiple times since 2008.

After the mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007 — which killed 32 people and still remains the worst school shooting in United States history — some Arizona lawmakers pushed to allow anyone 21 and older to carry concealed weapons at public universities and colleges. Although the bill did not pass, local lawmakers revisited the subject when a similar bill was proposed in 2011.

A bill introduced after the 2011 Tucson shooting, which killed six people and seriously injured U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, pushed to allow weapons in public areas of college campuses, but was later vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer. In 2016, the debate over guns on campus was discussed again after a campus shooting led to the death of a NAU student. However, this bill was also not passed.

The most recent bill was sponsored by Rogers, who represents Arizona’s 6th legislative district which covers portions of the Coconino, Gila, Navajo and Yavapai counties. Rogers was the first to give testimony for the bill during the Senate Judiciary meeting Jan. 20.

“I am a believer that guns save lives,” Rogers said. “If a college student has a concealed carry weapons permit then he or she should be allowed to carry on campus, and thus make campus safer.”

Later, Rogers responded to opposition by suggesting that potential perpetrators may be less likely to inflict harm knowing that other students may have personal weapons to defend themselves. Rogers additionally pointed out that an unknown number of illegal weapons may already be present on Arizona campuses.

ASU Police Chief Michael Thompson was among those giving testimony in opposition to the bill. Thompson said college students and firearms are a bad combination as college students face challenges such as immaturity and mental health issues.

“I’m here to tell you firsthand experience that university students make very poor decisions on a daily basis — sometimes on an hourly basis,” Thompson said. “The potential for a student to make a rash decision that is irreversible is only increased with guns on campus.”

The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) — the governing

body of the public university system within the state — has also taken an opposing stance. ABOR stated they are disappointed that a legislative committee advanced the bill and asked lawmakers to consider the concerns of campus police chiefs.

“Our state’s university presidents, faculty and student associations and Arizona Association of Police Chiefs have consistently in past years voiced strong opposition to legislation enabling firearms on campus,” ABOR said in a statement to The Lumberjack. “The board and university presidents take seriously their obligation to provide a safe environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. This legislation is counterproductive to that effort.”

Some students disagree with the new bill and instead would feel safer without the presence of guns on their campus.

Junior Jaelenn Johnson said he believes college should be a safe environment that excludes carrying weapons.

“A school campus shouldn’t be a place where you need to carry a gun unless you are law or police. It’s their job to protect,

not the students,” Johnson said. “Most college students can be immature and might do something that can harm another student.”

During the Jan. 20 hearing, Michael Infanzon spoke on behalf of the Arizona Citizens Defense League in support of S.B. 1123. Infanzon said that instead of talking about the dangers of permitted carriers having guns on campus, we should recognize data from states that already allow concealed carry weapons on college campuses.

Infanzon said that permit holders commit firearm-related violations at an even lower rate than law enforcement. He also said that data from college campuses which already allow guns on campus such as Michigan and Nevada shows that the rate is just as low for college-age permit holders.

Infanzon was the last speaker to share testimony before S.B. 1123 was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. However, the debate continues among Arizona citizens and students as the bill awaits hearing within the state’s Senate and House.

Gov. Doug Ducey speaks at a ceremony on Dec. 7, 2021, in Phoenix. Courtesy of Associated Press

FEB. 3, 2022 – FEB. 9, 2022 | THE LUMBERJACK

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

Luxury student housing vs. local loss Emily Rehling

“Encanto” doesn’t need assigned sexual identities

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hat broke the camel’s back?

Easy.

Luisa Madrigal knows it’s the pressure of expectations.

Disney’s latest animated release, “Encanto,” focuses on interpersonal dynamics concerning family, child displacement and Hispanic cultureal pressures — heavy but essential recognition for the community.

MARIA The film doesn’t need people RODRIGUEZ projecting sexual orientations onto OP-ED WRITER characters — it sets an ignorant precedent that applying labels to those who don’t “meet” society’s expectations is acceptable.

Simply because Isabella doesn’t want an arranged marriage to a man doesn’t make her a lesbian, nor does Luisa’s body type constrain her to masculine gender roles.

Camilo isn’t nonbinary because he can turn into different people of different genders. These assumptions and classifications stereotype sexual and gender identities which the characters do not identify as, at the same time erasing their personality and culture.

In a Disney Wiki fandom post for “Encanto,” user Carebearheart said, “[Luisa] being a buff, hilarious woman character ... I would not [be] surprised if Luisa is a butch lesbian or bisexual.”

Some may be wondering why this matters. They may think fictional characters impact nobody.

To me, phrases like this are dangerous; they erase members of the LGBTQIA+ community who exist in real life.

To assume all butch lesbians are buff women, or marginalized people can choose who they are, is unacceptable.

No amount of rephrasing makes these generalizations better.

As a Hispanic lesbian, I understand why people want characters who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community — I want that too. However, the depiction of Colombian culture in “Encanto” is also significant.

Let’s demand better representation; we shouldn’t settle and change the depictions of the limited People of Color that already exist in Disney films. While the push for intersectionality in Disney characters is monumental, there are too many harmful assumptions surrounding the cultural shift.

Just because certain media perceptions of People of Color or LGBTQIA+ people might seem accurate doesn’t mean reinforcing those expectations has no damage.

People will go to extreme lengths to bring sexuality into the picture for fictional characters, and believe that they are righteous in doing so. Viewers of “Encanto” should celebrate diverse characters’ stories without generalization and pressure for more labels.

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THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

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hile traveling to Tucson to visit my sister at UArizona nearly 10 years ago, my dad pointed out a tall, brand new building as we approached the university’s campus — the first of many luxury student apartments to go up in Tucson.

It seemed ridiculous at the time; wasn’t college about packaged ramen noodles and sharing a closet-sized room with a stranger?

It turns out I had the wrong idea.

Now, those luxury towers are popping up everywhere, including Flagstaff.

First was Fremont Station and Skyview in 2017, then The Standard and most recently, Uncommon. Flagstaff is the last place one would expect to be overtaken by consumerism. Now, promotions bombard students daily — with a bit of mystery as to how their contact information was obtained — and construction sites are littering the city, with structures popping up everywhere. It’s a trend in development that does not seem to stop, and locals are starting to feel the consequences in their neighborhoods.

Rent costs in Flagstaff are rising rapidly. The city saw an estimated 26% increase in rent costs from last year with a 15% higher cost of living than the national average.

Meanwhile, student renters make up over one-fifth of the rental market in Flagstaff. Property managers justify high rent costs at student apartment complexes with high-end amenities and high-risk tenants. But those costs affect the neighboring community by raising property values and, in turn, driving up rent costs.

It’s another point of contention in the ongoing battle between NAU and the Flagstaff community. Although Flagstaff is a growing college town, it was a small mountain town first. With the university growing and generating income for the city, there’s not much that can be done for residents already affected

by Flagstaff’s uniquely complicated housing situation.

The city lacks major employers, and therefore lacks high-paying jobs, so gross income in Flagstaff is already low

at $58,748.

Issues such as low-income jobs, limited affordable housing and a growing student population are accumulating, and sometimes driving locals out of their own homes. It’s not just unfair for locals to have their neighborhood transformed into an expensive college town without reaping any of the benefits — it’s devastating.

A 2018 survey of 86 unsheltered individuals, a majority of whom were aged 45-54, showed that those surveyed attributed their situation to “loss of jobs and no affordable housing.” The next year, the same survey found the same results, but with a younger age group of 35-44 taking over the majority.

As Flagstaff gentrifies, its residents are exiled. Luxury student housing is only exacerbating the problem year by year.

But if the crippling impacts on residents’ lives are not enough, consider the fact that the buildings are just plain ugly.

The massive, multi-story constructions simply don’t fit in aesthetically with Flagstaff’s small-town feel. They are designed to look like colossal, homogenous cabins, and are eyesores in comparison to the rest of the city’s modest architecture. Not only that, but they seem

to be forced to fit into their lots like pieces from the wrong puzzle.

While driving through Flagstaff, it’s extremely jarring to see buildings stick out like sore thumbs and block the view of the mountains. These complexes might make student living more enjoyable, but they are overrunning the city.

The optics for these complexes also pose an unsettling reflection of the economic disparity that exists in Flagstaff.

While students experience the extravagant lifestyle offered in the brand-new towers, there are Flagstaff residents sleeping without shelter in freezing temperatures just down the street, and in some cases just outside. The juxtaposition of that image is undeniably disturbing.

This is not the fault of either party, but of the city and those developing it.

Flagstaff was never known as the flashiest city in Arizona. People came here to escape materialism, consumerism and just about any other -ism that’s currently rampant in other cities. Flagstaff is known for its connectedness to the natural environment and community. The race to modernize the city strips it of its virtues and tears at its humanity.

Traffic flows down South Milton Road near the Uncommon student housing complex, Jan. 30. Brian Burke | The Lumberjack

OPINION-EDITORIAL

The dysphoria of “Euphoria’s” sexual content Lisa Hall

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eason 2 of “Euphoria” premiered on HBO last month; it’s time to take a look back at the show’s history and discuss the shocking sexual content.

An article from The Hollywood Reporter called the show “the new teen drama that offers perhaps the most unflinching, not to mention explicit, take on modern adolescence ever to hit United States television.”

The sexual content from Season 1 has returned in Season 2 in the same dramatic fashion, showing an unusual and unrealistic amount of nudity for actors portraying minors.

Before the shooting of Season 1, actor Brian “Astro” Bradley, 22, was meant to play the role of college student, Christopher McKay. Bradley stopped production during the filming of the pilot and wanted out due to script changes in the show that he was uncomfortable with.

The scene in question was an intense sex scene with actress Sydney Sweeney, who portrays high school student Cassie Howard. Although both characters are legal adults, the fact that such an intense sex scene that an actor was too uncomfortable with was aired, should tell producers that a line was clearly crossed.

Common Sense Media rated the show suitable for ages 18 and over due to the explicit content, and IMDb said of the show, “male genitalia, breasts, buttocks, erect penises are all shown explicitly.”

According to IMDb, “Instances of sexual harassment, assault, rape, masturbation, sexual fetishes, oral, vaginal and anal sex are shown graphically and involves minors.”

“Euphoria” isn’t the only show that has pushed boundaries surrounding the sexualization of minors.

Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why” included similar themes concerning sexual content such as nudity, sex and assault. Even still, the show does not compare to the extreme explicit nature of “Euphoria,” making it appear more like an “after school special,” as stated by the Hollywood Reporter.

“13 Reasons Why” was extreme on the mental health and sexual abuse front, whereas “Euphoria” includes themes of mental health, drug abuse and sexual content.

Since both shows depict high schoolaged characters, they may give the inappropriate

appearance that they are suitable for young audiences when, in reality, they are not. Parents are often shocked at the level of nudity shown.

Parents Television Council (PTC) president Tim Winter argued that the series “appears to be overtly, intentionally marketing extremely graphic adult content — sex, violence, profanity and drug use — to teens and preteens.”

The issue goes far beyond an unrealistic portrayal of a high school experience and overly sexualized minors.

“Seventy-three percent of televised sexual incidents that involved girls under 18 were designed to be funny, thus using ‘laughter to desensitize and trivialize topics that might normally be viewed as disturbing,’” according to a study published by the PTC. But the shows discussed here don’t use sexual content in this way, rather in a hyper-sexualized and traumatic way.

Furthermore, the sexual content put out by television networks shows that as younger audiences watch, they are more likely to participate in the behavior depicted in the programs. This particularly goes for sexual content; a 2008 study linked exposure to sexual content with the occurrence of pregnancy before the age of 20.

The PTC said that “girls are increasingly shown as having their worth dependent upon their sexuality, a media phenomenon [the study] says leads to passivity, depression, eating disorders and low self esteem.”

The actors playing high school characters are fully matured and have huge budgets to maintain their bodies, skin, wardrobe and makeup. Takes are reshot or edited to show them at their very best. This media only sets body standards that the typical high school student can’t achieve.

Women are too commonly seen as sex symbols all throughout their lives. The over-sexualization of underage girls does not only feed into this stereotype — it further propels the idea that women are only as good as their bodies look.

The over-sexualization issue has an effect on young men as well; they face problems with self esteem issues and depression due to media depictions.

Teenage boys on television have six-packs, chiseled jaw bones and carved muscles, which is not a realistic body type for a high school student. The long-term effects of these characterizations over the years are jarring, with more and more young adults struggling with sexuality, mental health, confidence and self-worth.

Sexual scenes as a medium of entertainment could lead to adults forming intimacy or attachment issues later on in life.

These types of shows are becoming more commonplace. Protecting young people from the risks that are presented by this type of content is more important now than ever.

It’s disturbing to think of the amount of sexual content in shows based around minors, so much so that it presents an idea of borderline pedophilia in society. As that the characters in high school are meant to be between the ages of 14-18, the level of explicit content portrayed by these characters is far too unrealistic and begs questioning.

Illustration By Tonesha Yazzie

FEB. 3, 2022 – FEB. 9, 2022| THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

Story by Hannah Elsmore |

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or many individuals in Flagstaff, thrifting provide money. NAU Thrift Jacks is a club centered arou of sustainability and accessibility. As a back-to-sc Reilly Hall. Residents donated clothes beginning Jan. Jan. 28 to Reil

Kidney Reynolds Freshman Psychological Science “[Thrifting] has always been pretty relevant in my life, I didn’t grow up with a lot of money, so we would get a lot of our stuff at the thrift store,” Reynolds said. “It was a pretty great thing for our family.

“My pants I got from a thrift store, or someone gave them to me from a thrift store. Basically everything I am wearing, if it is not thrifted, was given to me.”

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Grace Harris-Norman Freshman Biomedical Sciences “I probably got into thrifting my sophomore year of high school, so like three years ago,” Norman said. “My favorite thrift store in Flagstaff is Goodwill, it is very versatile.”

Nate Doseck Sophomore Forestry “Pretty much all of this stuff [I am wearing] — besides the shoes — are thrifted,” Doseck said. “I got them all at Savers on Monday, so half-off. I love the fact that I can wear something that maybe someone doesn’t want anymore, and give it a new use.”

FEATURES

| Photos by Madison Easton

es opportunities to expand their closets while saving und secondhand clothing, emphasizing the importance chool event, the club recently hosted a clothing drive in 24. After collecting donations, Thrift Jacks came back lly Hall lobby.

Allison Parker Junior Environmental & Sustainability Studies “I was really interested in thrifting and kind of just the fashion industry and definitely as a college student, I wanted to see the more affordable options there were for clothing,” Parker said. “I like going to Runway Fashion because it is close to campus.

I definitely get hand-me-downs from siblings, relatives and clothing swaps.”

Kailey Giguere Freshman Biomedical Sciences “Normally I kind of just look for flannels or graphic tees. I don’t usually think about it. I usually just check to see if something’s going to fall apart,” Giguere said. “That it is going to make less buildup in landfills and it will be easier for people to find clothes.”

Connor Carreon Freshman Theatre Studies “I like that clothes that have brought you memories can bring happy memories to someone else,” Carreon said. “It’s just like that full circulation. If something rips you can always mend it, and that is just like a new memory for someone else [when you donate or swap your clothing].

“For the winter, I try to find good jackets, maybe if they have a few rips that’s okay because I know how to sew and fix clothes,” Carreon said. “Just to get something that is warm and might last me as long as the last person. I think when I am looking for clothes, it’s something I know I am going to wear on the daily, so that I know I’m not wasting money.

“What I like about sustainable fashion is that it is going to make less buildup in landfills and it will be easier for people to find clothes.”

FEB. 3, 2022 – FEB. 9, 2022 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center hosts win Hunter Launius-Socha

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he newest therapy center has opened in Flagstaff, and the community celebrated with an inclusive family event to spread the word about the services the facility offers.

Families gathered in east Flagstaff at the newest Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center Jan. 26 for a winter wonderland event.

Events catered to individuals with autism are not very common; children and parents alike were excited to be able to experience different types of sensory activities specifically designed for those with special needs.

Children of all ages could participate in activities such as a ball pit, balloon animals, glitter tattoos, juggling and taking pictures with family or friends. Hopebridge’s main goal is to provide these children with a safe space to be themselves and have fun.

Natalie Arnold has been working as a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) for the last two years, and recently moved to Flagstaff to begin working at Hopebridge.

The employees working on a patient’s personalized care plan have the title of RBT. The most important role of this position is to love and appreciate those who are in need.

“It has been pretty fun getting ready for the open house,” Arnold said. “We got to make

all our hallways have different themes, such as Monsters Inc. and Sesame Street.”

The decorations provided an inviting atmosphere, showing off popular characters and winter themes.

Hopebridge has displayed that having fun while learning crucial skills is the center’s ultimate goal.

It can be an overwhelming experience for a young child to go to any type of therapy.

Hopebridge confronts this and welcomes every patient warmly into the facility. The center’s mission is to make them feel incredibly important and valued by working with each child individually.

There is something for everyone that visits the facility, and as time goes on Hopebridge aims to add more inclusive activities.

Czarina Depadue, an RBT at Hopebridge, said autism evaluations are done by a BoardCertified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). After this evaluation, a specific plan is designed for the patient, and they work one-on-one with an RBT. Children have the option to spend either a full day or half a day at Hopebridge.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) defines Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as, “the occurrence of persistent impairments in social interaction and the presence of restricted,

Debbie Zeller has been working as the manager of Hopebridge Flagstaff since it opened.

Jonah Graham| The Lumberjack

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repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities.”

Not everyone who is diagnosed with autism will experience it the same way. What works well for one child may not work for another. There are different degrees to how drastically autism may affect an individual.

Hopebridge has over a decade of experience across the country — with the original location in Indiana — treating younger children with autism. They specialize in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and work individually with children in order to reach specific goals or develop skills that will help them later in life.

The founder of Hopebridge, Kim Strunk, originally proposed ABA therapy for autistic patients in 2005 after working as an occupational therapist.

She could see the characteristics of autism in patients, and that traditional types of therapy were not working. Although it was an uphill battle for Strunk — between insurance prices and proving the legitimacy of ABA therapy to others — she did not give up. This is how Hopebridge has become what it is today. Their services now include not only ABA therapy, but also occupational, speech and feeding therapy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been a dramatic increase in the numbers of children

“I know a lot of families that have moved out of Flagstaff because there weren’t resources for their kids.”

– Debbie Zeller, manager of hopebridge flagstaff diagnosed with autism between the years 2000 and 2016. In the year 2000, ASD was only prevalent in 1 in 150 children. Over 16 years, the number has changed to 1 in 54 children.

ASD is also approximately four times more likely to be present in boys than girls.

Autism is not necessarily more common now, there are simply more resources available for diagnosis and treatment. As more children are diagnosed with autism, it is becoming increasingly important to provide children with the care they need, especially in expansive areas like Flagstaff.

Hopebridge staff prepared winter-themed decor to welcome guests.

Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack

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nter wonderland event The first timer’s guide to Flagstaff

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Natalie Arnold has been working as a Registered Behavioral Technician for the last two years, and recently moved to Flagstaff to work at Hopebridge. Jonah Graham| The Lumberjack

Debbie Zeller is the manager of the Hopebridge Flagstaff location.

“Unfortunately, with northern Arizona being so widespread, and a lot of it rural, a lot of the kids we’ve had have been outside of Flagstaff and our services are Monday through Friday so there’s some barriers of them coming into town,” Zeller said. “I know a lot of families that have moved out of Flagstaff because there weren’t resources for their kids.”

Between insurance, doctor referrals or willingness from the patient, individuals like Zeller believe the stress of traveling is the last thing that parents should be worried about when it comes to care for their child. While Hopebridge has spread around Arizona since 2019 — with multiple locations in Phoenix and Tucson — this new location is more accessible for northern Arizona families.

While Hopebridge is the first comprehensive therapy center to offer in-center ABA treatment, there are still resources for families seeking additional forms of therapy.

Genie Burns is a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Flagstaff which specializes in child and adolescent therapy.

When Burns saw a similar issue of children

not getting the care they need, she created Psychological and Therapeutic Healing Services (PATHS). Burns’ center provides testing for disabilities, and assists with mental health support for children aged six to 18.

Her practice is similar to Hopebridge in the sense that she encourages children to play and express themselves. In a previous interview with the Arizona Daily Sun, Burns said she believes this is especially crucial for younger children who do not possess the language to describe problems they might have. Burns offers treatments such as individual or family therapy, yoga and mindful outdoor experiences.

Both practices are important developments for Flagstaff, as there are few nearby resources for families that may be struggling to get their children certain types of care. With additional practices, it will be possible for patients to avoid a months-long wait to receive aid.

As the future unfolds, Flagstaff may become home to other facilities and new types of care. Until then, Hopebridge will continue to keep their doors open for new patients and anyone looking for answers.

For more information about receiving care for autism, visit the Hopebridge website.

s a four-year NAU student, I like to think I know a thing or two about the city of Flagstaff. I’ve lived through four Tequila Sunrises, two Cross-country National Championships and two university presidents, so one could say I am seasoned at this point. Another thing I am is an excellent tour guide, and I take great pleasure in helping firsttime visitors check things off their Flagstaff to-do lists. So, forget the KODY visitor center, this is the only guide you will need for your venture into MALOUF the Great White North.

Snowbowl CULTURE/SPORTS If you are a skier and have not torn up — or slowly pizza-pied your WRITER way down — the slopes of the Arizona Snowbowl, you are not much of a skier at all. That is not to say Snowbowl is one of the premiere skiing destinations in the country, it isn’t. Hell, it appears they even have better skiing in California, but it is a ski lodge in Arizona and that’s pretty dang cool.

Collins (for the ASU crowd) For the half of you coming from ASU, looking for a tiny, minuscule, watered-down slice of home, Collins Irish Pub and Grill is the spot for you. This little number has everything: a jam-packed, can’t-move-two-inches dance floor, sweat, drinks and various other liquids being poured on you at any given moment, an earsplitting loop of “Hollaback Girl” and seven dollar screwdrivers. Seriously though, this is the best bar we have, please be nice. If you still want to go out but want to get as far away from the ASU scene as possible, I recommend the Gopher Hole.

Stop and smell the dog food If you venture far enough east in Flagstaff, you might notice the strange odor of what smells like dog food. Do not worry, you are not having a stroke, you have just gotten within whiffing distance of our famous Nestle Purina Petcare dog food plant, yummy. Residents have been complaining about the persistent odor of dog chow being “made with real chicken” for years, but the plant brings in an estimated $54 million per year for the local economy, so I doubt its life span will be measured in dog years. If you see something that looks like an Uzbekistanian nuclear reactor with smoke billowing from its chimney, maybe do not go to the mall for a while — honestly, why would you though? Then again, you will smell it before you see it.

(Get your kicks on) Route 66 One of the city’s biggest tourist attractions — we even got a name-drop in the song — the Main Street of America runs right through the heart of downtown. It is the most breathtakinglybeautiful asphalt highway I have ever laid eyes on, and that is high praise. After you are done gazing upon a wonder of modern man, head over to one of the nearby shops and pick up a Route 66 mug or Christmas tree ornament, you deserve it. You can even take a drive on the historic highway if you are so inclined. You might even get lucky and end up in Radiator Springs.

In all seriousness, there are a lot of fun things to do in Flagstaff, but this is not that kind of list. This was obviously written in jest, but like the poet Jermaine Cole put it, “I’m just playin’, but all good jokes contain true shit.”

Continue reading on jackcentral.com

FEB. 3, 2022 – FEB. 9, 2022 | THE LUMBERJACK

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Lund Canyon Coffee Madeleine Shillington

Years & Years delivers ‘80s inspired album “Night Call”

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f you are looking for a new dance-oriented album to listen to on your way to work, school or that dreaded spin class you signed up for, then Years & Years’ latest album, “Night Call,” might just be for you.

Released Jan. 21, “Night Call” marks the first album by Years & Years since 2019’s “Palo Santo,” and the first solo album from lead singer Olly Alexander following the announcement of LAUREN the original trio’s split. Years & Years — originally GOMEZ composed of Alexander, Emre Turkmen and Mikey Goldsworthy — announced their split PRINT CHIEF March 18, 2021.

When Alexander posted to his social media announcing the album and its release date, I nearly cried tears of joy. After the disappointment “Palo Santo” brought following the 2015 release of “Communion,” I was not sure when this album would see the light of day.

I had high hopes and to say this album exceeded my expectations would be an understatement.

Be prepared to be taken back to the ‘80s with this album as all 16 songs deliver an electric beat — a sound that has become popular in recent albums such as The Weeknd’s “Dawn FM” and Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia.” I would be lying if I said this style of music has not grown on me. I played both “Dawn FM” and “Future Nostalgia” on repeat for weeks after their releases, no matter how much it may have annoyed my partner. There is something about this style of music and how it makes you feel — other pop songs do not have the same effect.

Alexander’s inspiration for “Night Call” does not come from these other ‘80s inspired albums, however. In an interview with The Glasgow Times, Alexander said the disco music you would hear during the ‘80s — “the spirit of the dance floor,” as Alexander described it — ultimately fed into the creation of “Night Call.”

While Alexander spends most of his time producing music, he spends the remainder acting in the British miniseries, “It’s a Sin.” The television drama, set in 1981, is a coming-of-age series following a group of friends living in London, England, but I’ll save that review for another time.

While “Night Call” does contain primarily brand new songs from Alexander, “Starstruck” and “Sweet Talker,” were released prior to the album’s arrival. According to Spotify, both are the two most played songs on the album. These also happen to be my favorite, which would explain my excitement for “Night Call.” I would like to think “Starstruck” tells a feel-good story while also providing its listeners with a song to sing nonstop in the shower. Whereas “Sweet Talker” leans more toward describing the intimate connection between two people.

Overall, I applaud Alexander for creating “Night Call” the way he did. The album brings its listeners into the topic of young love and the good and the bad of it, all while keeping an upbeat and feel-good tone.

It will be hard for him to top this album, although I look forward to the future of his music.

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offee shops are known for their warm, welcoming aroma, and Lund Canyon is no exception. This family-owned and operated business provides a homey atmosphere with an inspiring focus on local art from the Flagstaff community.

Lund Canyon is sandwiched between two fitness studios at Aspen Place at The Sawmill. The shop is run

by Mahmud Lund and his two sons, Ibrahim and Kasim, who were later joined by family friend Jasin Brown. The men were living in England running a different coffee shop called Espresso Gallery when Mahmud decided he wanted to open a new store in the United States.

“When the pandemic hit, I left South America to travel up and down the west coast [of the States] with my father,” Ibrahim said. “Stumbling upon Flagstaff was completely by chance ... everything was in lockdown in California, and the next stop was Arizona.”

Mahmud knew he wanted to set up shop in a location with a sizable Native American population; he felt it was best to settle where he could give back to the community.

Ibrahim said a ten minute conversation with a Native American on the street was the moment his father decided Flagstaff was the place for Lund Canyon.

Since opening the coffee shop in June 2021, the Lund family created two goals: one, to provide the highest quality coffee Flagstaff has ever seen, and two, to give back to the

“Stumbling upon Flagstaff was completely by chance ... everything was in lockdown in California, and the next stop was Arizona.”

– Ibrahim Lund community around them and support other local businesses.

According to an article from the Arizona Daily Sun, Lund Canyon gets its coffee beans from local roasters such as Single Speed, which has since rebranded to Foret, and a Navajo roaster called Yeego Coffee. The coffee shop also provides food items from Biff’s Bagels located in downtown Flagstaff.

In order to discuss Lund Canyon’s impact on the city of Flagstaff, it is worth mentioning the coffee shop’s contribution to the art community. Paintings by local artists litter the walls, further adding to the comforting feel of the coffee shop. Lund Canyon is almost reminiscent of an art gallery.

On certain days, an artist by the name of Randal comes to paint in the store, much to the joy of customers and employees alike. His recent piece was a beautiful interpretation of Lund Canyon itself, and many of his other paintings decorate the shop.

Lund Canyon Coffee shop, a local family run business, is located on East Piccadilly Drive, Jan. 21.

Octavia Freeland | The Lumberjack

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sets the bar for local coffee shops “We love supporting local artists in the Flagstaff community and are always looking for more art pieces for Lund Canyon,” Ibrahim said. “[Randal’s] paintings have been the highlight of our experience. After he spent many days drawing in our shop, we asked if he could paint in-store, and it’s been a hit ever since. We are looking to do more events with the community, like movie nights or live music shows.”

According to Ibrahim, Randal is the shop’s bestselling artist. Kari Cerreta, a regular customer at Lund Canyon, watched Randal paint directly in the shop during her first visit.

Cerreta said she felt like this was a oncein-a-lifetime experience, which made Lund Canyon stand out to her. When she walked in, she said she was surprised to see a man painting near the entrance.

“How many times do you get to watch an extremely talented artist paint in real time,”

Cerreta said. “How often do you see that at a coffee shop?”

Since her first time at Lund Canyon, Cerreta said she has returned at least twice a week to get her caffeine fix and peruse the multitude of paintings around the shop.

The coffee shop is slowly but surely building a regular customer base — due partially to the ambiance the artwork provides.

“It has been a privilege to work in Flagstaff; the community and customer base we’ve built in such a short time is really astounding to all of us,” Ibrahim said. “We hope our business continues to grow so we can begin to plan events or activities for our regulars.”

Lund Canyon Coffee’s Instagram and Facebook are both searchable under its name, as well as its website. The shop’s hours are Tuesday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“How many times do you get to watch an extremely talented artist paint in real time?”

– kari cerreta

Coffee stations are located along the wall of the coffee shop, offering customers a chance to see how their coffee is made, Jan. 21. Octavia Freeland | The Lumberjack

A sign posted outside welcoming customers in for a warm cup of coffee, Jan. 21.

Octavia Freeland | The Lumberjack

Finished product of a cappuccino, Jan. 21. Octavia Freeland | The Lumberjack

FEB. 3, 2022 – FEB. 9, 2022 | THE LUMBERJACK

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PEDWAY PUTS ON NAU CLUB FAIR

NAU clubs line up along the Union Pedway to recruit new members for the spring semester, Jan. 19. Megan Ford-Fyffe | The Lumberjack

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FEB. 3, 2022 – FEB. 9, 2022 | THE LUMBERJACK

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SPORTS

BLUE AND GOLD IN ACTION NFL needs to change overtime rules

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vertime in the NFL has always been a point of contention. The rules of how a 60-minute football game should be extended if both teams have the same number of points by the end have always been a contentious issue.

Two weeks ago, during the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the debate on the current overtime rules was once again reopened like a freshly scabbed wound, BRENDEN and will surely be reopened again if MARTIN something isn’t done about it.

SPORTS EDITOR In what was a historic postseason duel between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills, both teams used their offensive firepower to score a combined 17 points in the final two minutes of regulation. After the Bills scored a touchdown to take the lead with 13 seconds left, the Chiefs marched down the field, with three timeouts, to kick a field goal and send the game to overtime.

In the NFL, possession in overtime is determined via coin toss. The winner of the coin toss elects to receive the ball and the loser plays defense.

The team that scores a touchdown first, no matter which team it is, wins the game outright. In that case, the team that wins the coin toss and receives that ball has a very good chance of scoring on the opening drive without the opposing team getting a chance to respond.

That is what happened between the Chiefs and Bills.

Kansas City won the coin toss, scored on a touchdown and Buffalo wasn’t able to respond. The coin toss decided the winner.

Proponents of the current format will say that defense is a part of the game that needs to be emphasized, which is a hard argument to sell when a team can win in overtime without having to play defense during the extra time.

It is time to revisit and alter the overtime rules. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who has been on the losing end of postseason overtime before, said even after the recent win that he believes it would be equal if both offenses and defenses saw the field.

In other North American sports, there aren’t many cases of sudden-death overtime like in the NFL. The MLB is designed so that both teams get to bat in extra innings just as they do in the first nine. The NBA simply adds five minutes of play, a team doesn’t win by being the first to score a basket.

The NFL should get with the times and allow both teams to play in overtime. The goal of football, like most sports, is to score more points than the opponent. If only one team is handed the ball with a chance to win outright, it makes it much easier for them to achieve that goal.

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Recent game Scores Men’s Tennis NAU vs Arizona Christian Saturday, Jan. 29, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Flagstaff, Arizona Aquatic and Tennis Complex Final: NAU 7 - ACU 0; NAU 6 - ACU 1 NAU vs Western New Mexico Sunday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Flagstaff, Arizona Aquatic and Tennis Complex final: NAU 6 - WNM 1; NAU 7 - WNM 0

Men’s Basketball NAU vs Portland State Saturday, Jan. 29, 2 p.m.

Flagstaff, Arizona Walkup Skydome Final: NAU 76 - Portland State 97 NAU @ Southern Utah Monday, Jan. 31, 5 p.m.

Cedar City, Utah America First Event Center Final: NAU 66 - Southern Utah 78

Women’s Basketball NAU @ Portland State Saturday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m.

Portland, Oregon Viking Pavilion Final: NAU 79 - Portland State 68 NAU vs Nothern Colorado Monday, Jan. 31, 6 p.m.

Flagstaff, Arizona Walkup Skydome Final: NAU 49 - Northern Colorado 61

Upcoming Events Men’s Basketball NAU vs Northern Colorado Saturday, Feb. 5, 2 p.m.

Flagstaff, Arizona Walkup Skydome NAU @ Northern Colorado Monday, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.

Greeley, Colorado bank of Colorado Arena NAU @ Montana Thursday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m.

Missoula, Montana Dahlberg Arena

Women’s Basketball NAU @ Northern Colorado Saturday, Feb. 5, 2 p.m.

Greeley, Colorado bank of Colorado Arena NAU @ Montana THURSDAY, Feb. 10, 6 p.m.

Flagstaff, Arizona Walkup Skydome

SPORTS

Gino Campiotti’s road from NAU tight end to UMass quarterback Will Hopkins

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n Jan. 16, former NAU quarterback Gino Campiotti announced on Twitter that he would be joining the University of Massachusetts. This announcement came after two seasons played at the junior college level and a lot of attention gained from the national media. Campiotti, who spent the 2018 season backing up NAU quarterback Case Cookus and moved to tight end in 2019, commits as the second-ranked junior college quarterback, according to 24/7 Sports. The Minuteman did not have an easy path, but Campiotti said he does not regret any of the things that led him to this point.

Campiotti spent two years with the Lumberjacks: The 2018 season where he played quarterback behind Case Cookus and the 2019 season where he transitioned to playing tight end. 2018 was a year in which most people familiar with the Lumberjacks would not have bet on Campiotti seeing the field. Cookus was the clear-cut starter from day one for the Lumberjacks, but the hope for the then-young quarterback was to take over when Cookus graduated. 2018 was not a bad year for Campiotti, playing in three games with 192 yards passing on 24 completions, but the Lumberjacks needed to fill other positions and Campiotti was asked to move to tight end after the 2018 season.

While at tight end, Campiotti recorded 14 receptions for 137 yards and one touchdown — a good season for a player who still had time to develop. However, the then-sophomore did not feel complete in the role that he occupied, and began to think about the future he wanted for himself.

“Moving to play tight end and athlete, it was really fun, but I knew in my heart that if I wanted to play on Sundays, and that’s ultimately my goal, it’s gonna come playing quarterback,” Campiotti said regarding his decision to try his luck at the junior college level.

Campiotti decided to transfer and bet on himself at the junior college level, a decision that in hindsight has paid off, but at the time was very difficult.

When asked if he could tell NAU head coach Chris Ball one thing, Campiotti gave a somewhat surprising response.

“I would thank him, I would absolutely just thank him,” Campiotti said. “I came here in February [2020] and just got to work after a meeting I had with him. It definitely changed who I was as a football player and as a man, so I would thank him for that.”

NAU football chose not to comment on Campiotti.

While the decision may have been difficult for Campiotti, it is clear now that it was the right decision for him. The quarterback points to his coaches at Modesto Junior College as the defining figures who helped him strengthen not just his playing ability, but the love for the game that drives him.

“I’ve always loved football but it made me find a whole new understanding of how amazing this game can be and the relationships it can build,” Campiotti said. “The people at Modesto are incredible. Coach Stivers, when I called him he was fired up and welcomed me with open arms, he’s done nothing but help me try to be successful from day one.”

Campiotti moves back to Division I college football, this

Quarterback Gino Campiotti throwing a pass against Northern Colorado at Nottingham Field on Oct. 20, 2018.

Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics

time playing a subdivision above NAU, in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), rather than the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). For Campiotti, the chance to move up is exciting, but the opportunity to play for a school that he believes in is equally as exciting. UMass has just one bowl win in program history, almost 50 years ago in 1972. The lack of success does not make it any less significant to Campiotti though, who feels blessed to have the opportunity to return to Division I college football.

“It’s probably one of the most incredible feelings of selffulfillment,” Campiotti said. “I worked really hard.”

Another thing that excited Campiotti was the opportunity to play under the last UMass coach to have a winning record with the program. Don Brown returning to the Minutemen was a key part of Campiotti’s decision. Brown won an FCS national championship with UMass in 1998 and spent 2004-2008 in Hadley as well. Campiotti was excited by the chance to play with

a coach who has historic success with the program, but he also cited the success other programs have had under Brown.

“He’s turned programs around and that’s just the base of everything,” Campiotti said. “The guy’s just a winner and I know that he’s turned more 1-8, 1-9 programs around than any other coach I could find any research on.”

The ultimate goal for Campiotti is to move onto the NFL level and continue his career for as long as possible. Playing FBS football allows him to play on a larger stage that NAU could not have given him. Still, it will be an uphill battle for the quarterback, as he now has just two years to prove himself. However, with the story of his career so far, it’s not outside the realm of possibility.

Campiotti has not been named the starter, but he has proven that a chance is all he needs. Many would not have bet on him playing Division I football again, but through grit, grind and determination Campiotti finds himself with the opportunity of a lifetime.

FEB. 3, 2022 – FEB. 9, 2022 | THE LUMBERJACK

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SPORTS

NAU wins both matches of doublehe Brenden Martin

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oming off a nearly perfect doubleheader the day prior, NAU men’s tennis did not skip a beat in the second doubleheader of its opening weekend against the Western New Mexico Mustangs.

Just as they did on Saturday, the Lumberjacks only dropped one point throughout the day to win the first match, 6-1, and the second match, 7-0.

“The guys just started to feel better and better as the whole weekend went on,” NAU head coach Maciej Bogusz said. “I do think we played our best tennis in both singles and doubles in the last match.”

Unlike in the two matches against Arizona Christian, the Lumberjacks did tinker with its doubles lineup this time around.

The pairing of sophomore Dominik Buzonics and junior Alex Groves was the only duo that remained the same in the first match. The chemistry between the two was on display as they made quick work of their court one opponents, junior Joaquin Delpino and freshman Yu Jhe Du, winning 6-1.

The Lumberjacks’ doubles domination continued on court two. Senior Facundo Tumosa, who made his first appearance of the season, was paired with doubles specialist senior Daniel Dillon. Tumosa was playing in the stead of graduate Eban Straker Meads, who was also due for a day off after he and Tumosa competed in the ITA National Fall Championships.

Tumosa and Dillon won on court two, defeating sophomore Jonathan Vega and freshman Javier Romero, 6-3, to give NAU the doubles point.

Even though NAU already won the doubles portion of the match, the battle on court three showed how deep this NAU roster is.

On court three, senior Marcus Sulen and junior Joachim Schaefer showed themselves as a potential doubles pairing down the line with a comeback win against senior Rodrigo Mere and sophomore Brendan Lock. Falling behind 2-4 and on the brink of defeat at 4-5, the Lumberjacks won three games in a row to win an extended doubles set, 7-5.

While the final doubles win didn’t mean anything for NAU’s team score in the grand scheme of things, the ability to make a comeback of that caliber is something Bogusz said they like to see.

Singles play was yet another showing of the multiple options the Lumberjacks have in terms of personnel. Most of NAU’s singles matches got off to a strong start by taking the first point of the opening set.

Buzonics continued to be the most dominant player for the Lumberjacks on court two where he has played the most.

Matched up against Delpino just as he was in doubles, the same outcome occurred as Buzonics was the first to complete his match with two identical sets, 6-1, 6-1.

His teammate, sophomore Maciej Ziomber, followed up with two identical sets of his own. Fresh from not playing doubles, Ziomber used his energy to Romero in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Just like that, NAU was one point away from reaching the threshold needed to win the team match.

Groves crossed the threshold, as he continues to be one of

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Junior Alex Groves returning a ball against Western New Mexico at the Aquatic and Tennis Center on Jan. 30.

Brian Burke | NAU Athletics

the quickest working Lumberjacks. He was matched up with Yu Jhe Du, just as he was in doubles. After dominating the first set, Groves began to grow frustrated as Du hung around in the second set. However, Groves composed himself and added to the Lumberjack sweepstakes on court four, 6-0, 6-3.

NAU won the match with its strong performances in the middle courts, but was pushed to its limits on center court and at the edges of the Aquatic and Tennis Center.

Making his NAU debut, freshman Morgan Donovan looked to do what freshman Dani Torres couldn’t do the day before, which was win his inaugural singles match. The freshman from Fountain Hills, Arizona looked strong at the start by winning his opening game, but his celebratory roars halted as freshman Patricio Larrea led by as much as 2-5. Donovan took it upon himself to win five games in a row to take the set.

The confidence Donovan gained from that carried him to a straight-set win, 7-5, 6-1.

Even though his win came against a fellow freshman, achieving victory in his first match is something he will carry for a long time.

“I was a little bit nervous in the beginning, but my team was very supportive of me, got behind me, and coach Ruben [Montano] really showed me the ropes and I finished it off phenomenally,” Donovan said.

The final two matches proved to be the most difficult for the

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Lumberjacks. On court one, Tumosa and Vega traded huge blows in another rematch from doubles. Leading 5-2 and appearing to be in the driver’s seat, Tumosa lost five games in a row to drop the first set. He responded by holding on to his lead in the second set to force a first-to-10 tiebreaker.

In a match that couldn’t get much closer, the two were tied at five with Vega taking a 7-5 lead late. With the support of his teammates, Tumosa won five points in a row to take the victory, 5-7, 7-5, (10-7).

The one match that didn’t go NAU’s way was on court five.

Graduate Chris Steele gave himself a lead in set one but was bested in set two to force a tiebreaker. Unlike his match yesterday that he won via tiebreaker, Steele was on the losing end the result, 4-6, 7-6, (10-7).

“I don’t think we handled the mistakes and the lost games and breaks as well in the first match this morning,” Bogusz said.

“So we talked about it between matches that we have to do a better job bouncing back and overcoming adversity and setbacks.

I think the guys were able to show that in the second match today.”

Just like yesterday, Steele did not play in the second match of the doubleheader.

The second match showed even more promise with the changes made in the lineup.

In doubles, Buzonics and Groves were once again paired

SPORTS

eader against Western New Mexico

Freshman Morgan Donovan returning a ball in his first career college match against Western New Mexico freshman Patricio Larrea at the Aquatic and Tennis Center on Jan. 30.

Brian Burke| NAU Athetics

together, further solidifying the two as a long-term duo in the future. The two cleaned up just as well as they did in the first match as they defeated Vega and Romero, 6-3.

Just seconds before that, the new pairing of Tumosa and Schaefer took care of Mere and Lock to clinch the doubles point, 6-3.

To open up doubles, Ziomber and Dillon easily defeated Delpino and Yu, 6-1. The two Lumberjacks jumped to a 5-0 lead in the dual.

In singles play, the Lumberjacks asserted their dominance to close out the jam-packed weekend. In the blink of an eye, Ziomber pulled off a perfect, 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Yu. Ziomber only gave up four games on the day, less than any Lumberjack.

Tumosa, who was moved to court two after his tiebreak win in the morning, was next to get the Lumberjacks on the board after a long gap thanks to Ziomber’s sweep. Tumosa defeated Romero, 6-2, 6-3 in what was a much cleaner match for him.

Needing one more point to secure the doubleheader sweep, likely the most consistent Lumberjack, Groves, closed the door on an NAU win with his 6-1, 6-3 victory over Lock. With a fourth win this weekend under wraps, NAU could focus on getting another sweep.

Sulen quietly did his part on court five as he came away with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Larrea. To get the sweep, the Lumberjacks needed to come away with a couple of tiebreaker comebacks.

Buzonics, who has been a rock for NAU this weekend, looked like he was on his way to another coasting victory when he took the first set, 6-1. However, Vega couldn’t make it easy for him as he responded with a 6-1 set win of his own. Once in the tiebreaking set, Buzonics quickly trailed, 4-1.

Bogusz was on court one with Buzonics to coach him up and reassure him as the match entered crunch time. His coaching worked as Buzonics went on a 5-2 run to tie the set at six heading into a quick break. A 4-1 Buzonics run sealed the win for him, 6-1, 1-6, (10-7).

With NAU up 6-0, all hopes of a sweep rested in the arms of freshman Dani Torres, who was the sole Lumberjack to lose a match on Saturday in his debut.

A poor start for the freshman put him behind 3-0 in the first set. He did begin to pull it together, but just a tad late as he lost the first set, 7-6. The momentum he had carried into the second set where he doubled up Mere, 6-3.

Once again going into a tiebreaker set, the Lumberjacks watched closely as Torres looked to do what Donovan did in the match before and win his first college match. The tiebreaker set became an extended one as the two competitors were tied at nine apiece and needed to win the set by two to claim victory. After taking the lead and forcing match point, Torres won the match as Mere’s return went long. Torres took his first career college win, 6-7, 6-3, (12-10).

“He had a tough loss yesterday and actually ended up losing the first set in a tiebreak,” Bogusz said. “It just speaks highly of him, his character. He’s going to be a competitor. I’m very happy for his first college win.”

The Lumberjacks began the weekend with a sweep Saturday morning and ended the weekend with a sweep Sunday afternoon.

NAU (4-0, 0-0 Big Sky) is quickly on a four-match winning streak after just a couple of days. The Lumberjacks will hit the road next weekend to take on the University of Denver on Friday, Feb. 4 at 5 p.m.

“We had an opportunity to try all the guys in both singles and doubles this weekend, which is great to see where we are,” Bogusz said. “Next week we get to play three days in a row, so that itself presents a challenge as well.”

Friday’s match is the first of three matches in three days throughout next weekend in the state of Colorado.

Western New Mexico (0-2, 0-0 Lone Star) remains winless against NAU since 2011. The Mustangs will have its home opener on Sunday, Feb. 6 at noon MST in Silver City, New Mexico when it hosts New Mexico Military Institute.

FEB. 3, 2022 – FEB. 9, 2022 | THE LUMBERJACK

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THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG