The Lumberjack -- February 11, 2021 by The Lumberjack

ENTERTAINMENT EVOLUTION A SPECIAL ISSUE

THE LUMBER JACK

FEB. 11, 2021 – FEB. 17, 2021

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

he entertainment industry is a critical part of who I am. From “The Lord of the Rings” to “The Big Bang Theory,” media and film have guided me and expanded my worldview. For the past year, film production has been severely affected by the new coronavirus. According to Variety, the movie industry declined 80% in 2020. These losses pushed movie theaters like the Alamo Drafthouse to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Before I moved to Flagstaff, I attended the Alamo Drafthouse almost every week to see the newest movie or reruns of classic films like “Princess Mononoke,” “Mean Girls” and “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” In fact, I attended movies so frequently that I was listed as a Commandant: an in-house rank gained from attending 48 screenings in a year. Movies are very important to me. However, it has become difficult to find the motivation to watch films anymore. Like many other people, the pandemic has caused many other aspects of my life to take priority and more energy than before — school, work, news and socializing. SHAWN What are we to do? PATTI We should make the time. As strange as it may seem, taking the time to sit down and binge a TV show or watch a full-length movie is very rewarding. It DIRECTOR OF took me an entire week back home in Phoenix to bring me to that realization. PHOTOGRAPHY AND MULTIMEDIA Plus, watching something with others — whether in-person or online — is a much needed social stimulant that we have lost during our time 6 feet apart. Movies are an incredible and valuable tool to our development and we would be foolish to let our focus on the growing pains of our new reality get in the way of that. In addition, books and podcasts are excellent ways to achieve similar effects. My most valued sentiments have come from authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. The decline of the movie industry and entertainment as a whole does not mean that it is a natural progression. We should make the effort to consume the media we still enjoy and not feel guilty or exhausted for it. Watching movies is a relaxing experience and the more we avoid it, the more of a task it becomes. So, my fellow cinephiles: live long and prosper.

Continuous local and campus covid-19 coverage available at jackcentral.org

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Thank you for reading.

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

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 111 ISSUE 5 Editor-in-Chief Scout Ehrler

Managing Editor Nathan Manni

Copy Chief Nayomi Garcia

Faculty Adviser David Harpster

Print Chief Jacob Meyer

Director of Digital Content Ash Lohmann

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board Director of Social Media Maddie Cohen

Op-Ed Editor Trinity Archie

Culture Editor Katelyn Rodriguez

Sports Adviser Rory Faust

News Editor Camille Sipple

Asst. Op-Ed Editor Kylie Soto

Asst. Culture Editor Kyler Edsitty

Director of Illustration Aleah Green

Asst. News Editor Mark Fabery

Features Editor Olivia Charlson

Sports Editor Cameron Richardson

Asst. Dir. of Illustration Maddie Cohen

Online News Editor Kylie Soto

Asst. Features Editor Emily Gerdes

Asst. Sports Editor Brenden Martin

Senior Photographer Michael Patacsil

Senior Reporter Molly Brown

Director of Photography & Multimedia Shawn Patti

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Senior Photographer Brian Burke

On the cover Illustration By Tonesha Yazzie

Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Scout Ehrler at see86@nau.edu.

PoliceBeat

Feb. 1 At 7:38 a.m., a resident at Hilltop Townhomes reported issues with their roommate. NAUPD responded and the issue will be resolved with residential hall staff.

At 2:25 p.m., a Centennial building staff member reported fraud. NAUPD responded and took a report. At 7:57 p.m., an Honors College resident reported the theft of their bicycle. NAUPD responded and took a report. Feb. 2 At 12:31 p.m., NAUPD reported assisting Flagstaff Police Department (FPD) with attempting to locate a vehicle off campus, but no contact was made. At 2:47 p.m., a Health and Learning Center employee reported fraud. NAUPD responded and took a report. At 9:18 p.m., a nonstudent requested a welfare check on a Skyview resident. NAUPD responded and the student was found in good health. Feb. 3 At 12:21 a.m., a passerby reported smoke coming from the ground outside The Suites. NAUPD and Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) responded and upon further investigation, the smoke was determined to be steam from an electrical junction box. Facility Services was notified. At 2:04 a.m., a Gillenwater Hall resident reported an unknown subject entered their residence. NAUPD responded and no criminal activity was witnessed. At 8:22 a.m., a Health Professions staff member reported another staff member had passed out. NAUPD,

Compiled by Mark Fabery

FFD and Guardian Medical At 8:17 a.m., a staff Transport (GMT) responded member reported a suspicious and the staff member refused vehicle near the University transport. Union Fieldhouse. NAUPD responded and no criminal At 11:31 a.m., a High activity was witnessed. Country Conference Center staff member reported At 12:05 p.m., a graffiti on a vehicle. NAUPD nonstudent requested responded and took a report. assistance with an impounded vehicle. NAUPD responded At 8:51 p.m., a nonstudent and assistance was provided. residing in The Suites requested medical assistance. NAUPD, Feb. 6 FFD and GMT responded. The At 4:23 a.m., FPD nonstudent was transported requested assistance removing to Flagstaff Medical Center shopping carts from the (FMC). roadway at Beulah Boulevard. off campus. NAUPD Feb. 4 responded and assistance was At 12:23 a.m, NAUPD provided. received a fire alarm indication for McConnell Hall. NAUPD At 7:12 a.m. a Drury Inn responded and found the & Suites staff member reported alarm was set off by a fire two transient people sleeping extinguisher. A work order on the property. NAUPD was placed for a cleanup in the responded and the subjects stairwell and replacement of were gone upon arrival. the fire extinguisher. At 11:40 p.m., a Gabaldon At 4:14 a.m., a Health Hall staff member reported a Professions staff member student had expressed suicidal requested a building check intentions. NAUPD responded because of an unlocked door. and the student was located NAUPD responded and in good health and stated assistance was provided. they were not feeling suicidal. Student did not wish to speak At 11:39 a.m., a to counseling services. nonstudent reported a group of suspicious people in lot Feb. 7 1D. NAUPD responded and At 2:32 a.m., NAUPD contacted one nonstudent who reported assisting FPD with was identified and left the area. a disturbance of the peace off campus. At 7:27 p.m., a staff member reported a nonstudent At 7:36 p.m., a Drury Inn lying next to a tent in lot 3. & Suites staff member reported NAUPD responded and the a nonguest sleeping in the subject was in good health and building. NAUPD responded left the area. and the subject was identified and left the area. Feb. 5 At 12:14 a.m., a Sechrist Hall RA reported a student attempting suicide. NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded, the student was located and transported to FMC. Counseling services were notified.

Coconino County COVID-19 Dashboard data

Community transmission Case rate

Substantial 296.9 per 100,000 pop.

Positivity percentage

11.8%

Cumulative cases

15,708

Flagstaff Medical Center COVID-19 Resources

In-house COVID-19 patients Hospital capacity Critical care capacity

Positive: 42 | Pending: 4 224/300 37/55

NAU Staff & Student Cases

Cumulative 2021 Cases

561

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 – FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

NEWS

The cost of entertaining campus life Molly Brown

OVID-19 has altered the landscape of college campuses nationwide, making attendance at in-person events no longer part of the college experience, at least for now. For decades, the emphasis has leaned more toward providing students a fun, inviting environment with less of a focus on funding curriculum and faculty, according to an article from McKinsey & Company. “The core mission of colleges and universities is instruction, research and service,” McKinsey & Company stated. “In recent decades, though, many have engaged in the so-called student-amenities arms race, with expansive offerings in areas, such as entertainment, gourmet dining and wellness.” In an article for Inside Higher Ed, Richard Keeling and Richard Hersh refer to the cycle many universities are stuck in by offering more campus perks to boost enrollment, which pays for those perks. Keeling and Hersh discussed the demand on college campuses to attain elevated rankings through sheer numbers versus the quality of the education being provided. This, in turn, leads to no institution wanting to be the first to make a change. “The leaders of many, if not most, colleges and universities might agree with this assessment of the problem, but would likely argue, with some justice, that no single institution can risk being the only one to change; that restoring attention to the fundamentals, rather than the frills, would put that one institution at serious risk,” Keeling and Hersh wrote. In a society where the majority agrees a person attends college to get a good job, a 2013 Gallup-Lumina Foundation poll on higher education illustrates how differently it is valued from varying perspectives. According to Gallup, 96% of chief academic officers at higher

education institutions claim their institutions are effective in preparing students for the workforce, while only 14% of United States citizens would agree and only 11% of business leaders would say the same. Lynn Pasquerella, president of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, said much of these issues remain, but the pandemic may provide a starting point for turning things around. “I think COVID-19 is going to revolutionize higher education in profound and lasting ways,” Pasquerella said. “College and university presidents have recognized that in this quick pivot to remote and online learning.” Pasquerella said she does not necessarily subscribe to the opinion that many campuses emphasize entertainment over all and said much of the issue lies in the lack of financial backing for public education, which leaves institutions scrambling to find ways of funding themselves. “There certainly is this trope about how colleges and universities have become places where there are lazy rivers and climbing walls, and it’s all about who can compete for students who are looking for the best concierge services,” Pasquerella said. “That’s not the reality at most institutions, especially state-funded institutions that are putting their resources elsewhere. We can’t continue to raise tuition and have burgeoning loan burdens for students, especially at a time when job prospects are uncertain.” This also lends itself to the issue of rising costs for higher education and what tuition is paying for. “There’s been, over the past several decades, a decline in public funding of higher education, so we move from this notion of higher education as a public good to a private commodity,” Pasquerella said. “In many states, they’re facing those situations where they’re not getting the support from the state, so they have to charge more in tuition and room and board, which means they

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are in danger of thwarting their own mission of serving the needs of people in their state.” State appropriation for ASU went down just over 15% from 2009 to 2019 and its tuition went up almost 20%, according to ASU’s current budget report. NAU records show a decrease in state appropriation funding from 33.3% in 2009 to 17.1% in 2019, while the tuition revenue increased from 27.4% in 2009 to 39.4% in 2019. During the same period of 2009 to 2019, UArizona reports illustrate its state appropriations went from 24.4% to 11.8%, and tuition rose from 18.8% to 31.4% of the university’s annual revenue. McKinsey & Company reported that spending on student services has been four times that of spending on instruction. “While students surely appreciate things like luxury gyms and other services, there is a need to distinguish between what students like and what is necessary to serve the core education mission,” McKinsey & Company stated. “Given the budget stresses of the COVID-19 crisis, higher-education institutions may want to consider providing fewer, better ancillary services, while keeping the broader well-being of their students in mind.” As explained by Keeling and Hersh, the need to influence change at the collegiate level is a societal issue and must involve people at every level. “Cultural problems require cultural solutions, starting with a national conversation about what is wrong and what is needed in higher education,” Keeling and Hersh said. “The country should reasonably expect higher education to lead this conversation. For real change to occur, discussions about the quality and quantity of learning in higher education and the need for reform must occur at multiple levels, in many places, and over a significant period of time — most importantly on campuses themselves.” An article by Michael Smith for

Illustration By Maddie Cohen

The Atlantic showcased the similarities between the entertainment industry and higher education from a business perspective by explaining how technology had been looked at as a secondary option, putting the inperson experience above all else. Smith discussed how the music and cable industries once got away with raising prices on CDs and premium channels until they were forced to acknowledge the impact of digital copies and streaming. By comparison, he said the same of colleges and universities continuing to increase tuition and fees with the promise of a better experience than online, but the pandemic has exposed the volatility of campus life when accessibility is limited. “And this past semester, the coronavirus pandemic transformed distance learning from a quaint side product that few elite schools took seriously to a central part of our degree-granting programs,” Smith said. “Arguments for the inherent superiority of the residential college experience will be less convincing now that we’ve conferred the same credentials — and charged the same tuition — for education delivered remotely.” Arizona Board of Regents

(ABOR) communications director, Julie Newberg, responded in an email that questions about this topic would be better directed at each individual institution. ASU senior media relations officer Jerry Gonzalez referred back to ABOR’s operations and finance review, streaming live Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. “The best person to address these types of questions is our university president, but unfortunately, it is very difficult to get into his schedule,” Gonzalez said in an email. NAU spokesperson Kimberly Ott, described in an email how the university’s technology evolved to make classes more accessible. “We have already transformed much of the ways in which we do business,” Ott said. “With 95 percent of our classrooms equipped with NAUFlex technology during COVID-19, faculty and students have embraced the technology, resulting in impressive statistics. Technology has strengthened our ability to remain engaged with our students, a critical factor in maintaining strong retention.” UArizona had yet to comment at the time of publication.

NEWS

Left: Patrons wait in line for the next ski lift. Center: Snowboarders cruise down the slopes. Right: The sun shines down on the Snowbowl sign, Jan. 31. Cole Stewart| The Lumberjack

Where snowstorms lead, snowboarders follow Camille Sipple

anuary’s recent snow storms have been ranked as the 13th wettest and 13th snowiest January on record in Flagstaff, according to the National Weather Service. Warning coordination meteorologist Tony Merriman said the month of January provided Flagstaff with more precipitation than the 2019 and 2020 monsoon seasons combined. The majority of the past month’s snowfall was the result of two separate storm systems that moved into the northern Arizona region one after another, Merriman explained. Both of these systems hit Flagstaff between Jan. 23 through Jan. 26, with the second being the colder of the two. Staff at Arizona Snowbowl were also keeping an eye on the storm and preparing for customers as the clouds began rolling in. Snowbowl marketing manager Li Cui said the resort sold out fairly quickly once the storm hit Flagstaff. “With the sudden snowfall, everybody wanted to come up and experience the conditions,” Cui said. “So quite frankly, it was more customers than we could accommodate up here due to the size of the mountain and COVID-19.” Snowbowl began limiting their daily ticket sales due to COVID-19, and enforced several other safety regulations, Cui said. As with most ski resorts that have opened up for the winter season, Snowbowl is only allowing customers to purchase lift tickets online in order to avoid the congregation of people waiting in long lines. Masks are now required when visiting Snowbowl and ski

patrol staff have been dispersed around the resort enforcing the COVID-19 safety regulation, Cui said. “We’re operating in accordance with all local and federal guidelines,” Cui said. “We’re limiting the amount of people on the mountain, masks are required when visiting Snowbowl and we have ski patrol and other staff actively enforcing this rule in our lift lines.” Thomas Russo, professor and chief of the division of

“quite frankly, it was more customers than we could accommodate up here due to the size of the mountain and COVID-19.” – Li Cui, Snowbowl Marketing Manager infectious disease at the University of Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said in a Business Insider article that he believes one could likely wear a mask without affecting their resort activity in any way. Russo also explained despite being outside, limited customer intakes as well as physical distancing are very important aspects in terms of COVID-19 safety at ski resorts. Customers who refuse to follow Snowbowl’s new safety

guidelines run the risk of being denied service for the day or multiple days thereafter, Cui said. Cui explained Snowbowl is truly trying to communicate to potential customers that there are real changes occurring at the resort this year. The season will be vastly different than past years due to the pandemic. Due to the immense snowpack produced by the January storm systems, Cui said Snowbowl currently predicts their resort season to run through the end of April. However, if any more storms move into the northern Arizona region, a season extension could be in order. Reporting by the Arizona Daily Sun specified that the recent storms dropped over 31 inches of snow within Flagstaff and as much as 47 inches across other areas of Coconino County. Given the immense drought northern Arizona has experienced in recent months, the moisture provided by these storms was a welcome sight, Merriman said. “This kind of moisture will help put a dent in our exceptional and extreme drought being observed across northern Arizona,” Merriman said. “However, the period from February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021 is still the fifth-driest February through January period on record in Flagstaff, so we have quite a ways to go regarding improving drought conditions significantly.” While the storms provided some aid in terms of drought relief, northern Arizona may continue to struggle with drought in the coming months. This is mainly because there does not appear to be any forecast storms that match the January systems’ caliber in the near future, Merriman said.

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 – FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

NEWS

Grand Canyon Deer Farm provides interactive entertainment Jorja Heinkel

he Grand Canyon Deer Farm allows visitors to feed deer and see a wide range of animals for socially distant entertainment. Located in the outskirts of Williams, just 25 minutes out of Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon Deer Farm hosts a herd of 70 deer that flock around any visitor with a purchased cup of mottled green food pellets. The farm not only promises modestly priced interactive experiences for visitors, but also provides care and rehabilitation for local wildlife. Many of the friendly deer and other animals at the Grand Canyon Deer Farm are rescues, such as Luna the cow elk. Luna was rescued in June after being attacked by four dogs when she was about two weeks old. Director of animal care Amy Kravitz was afraid Luna would not survive her injuries, but Kravitz was determined to give Luna all the resources the Grand Canyon Deer Farm had to offer. Eight months later, Luna is a large chestnut brown cow elk that adores Kravitz and enjoys a warm bottle of milk on a cold day. She joins other rescues like Stormy, the 600-pound elk. Though the deer are the only animals visitors can feed from their hands, there are over 25 species to see at the deer farm. Moreover, the farm has unique residents such as Zoolander, the half-zebra, half-donkey hybrid, and reindeers Rudolph and Dasher. Many of the animal enclosures have information plaques to identify their inhabitants, and educated staff to help with questions, or tell hidden stories such as the love story between the resident zebus Norman and Irish. Animal care general assistant Rachel Irvine said spectators might even get hissed at by Alvin the sika deer, who clumps mud on his chest during rutting season. “He thinks he looks good,” Irvine said as Alvin showed off his clumps of mud. “He turns into a monster.”

Reindeer are just one of the various animals at the Grand Canyon Deer Farm, among bison, mules and even llamas. Jonah Graham| The Lumberjack

Animals such as Alvin, Zoolander, Rudolph, Dasher and Ginger the bison cannot be fed by visitors, but Kravitz said the proximity to the animals, including the deer, is not an experience many people will find outside of the Grand Canyon Deer Farm. However, the visitor experience is not the only priority for the deer farm. Animal care, rescue, rehabilitation and comfort is a main priority for Kravitz, who started as a volunteer at the deer farm. “We have a lot of aging animals, and it’s a lot of work to take care of aging animals,” Kravitz said. “We’re basically providing a home for

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something that would have died.” Two visitors from Oklahoma, Michael and Denise King, were celebrating their 20-year anniversary in Arizona and stopped by the deer farm for an interactive experience. The couple explained the deer farm has done an excellent job taking care of the animals. Kravitz said the cost of a $14 adult ticket helps pay for the range of needs for the animals, such as veterinarian visits, food and shelter upgrades. Additional purchases, such as a $4 small feed cup, $6 large feed cup or $12 feed tub keep the farm running. The deer farm also hosts a

small gift shop full of locally made ornaments and jewelry, T-shirts, watercolor paintings, stuffed animals and special snacks. Lucky gift shop visitors might even meet Pumpkin, the plump calico cat who occasionally roams the gift shop in search of affection. Maintaining 10 acres of land filled with deer, wallabies, miniature donkeys, peacocks, a potbellied pig, a camel and more is undoubtedly a lot to manage, but Kravitz and Irvine said it is always worth it. “Creating a safe environment for animals and people is the goal,” Irvine said. “Good experiences on both sides.”

The 52-year-old deer farm is open daily with operation hours and more information listed on its website. The farm is available for walk-ins, but visitors interested in a more involved behind-the-scenes experience like the Zoo Keeper program require a reservation. This allows participants to follow and help the zookeepers feed and take care of the animals on the farm. Whether visitors are looking for an involved experience like the Zoo Keeper program or just some friendly deer with big appetites, the animals and staff at the Grand Canyon Deer Farm provide a welcoming and fun experience for all.

COMIC SPOT

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FEBRUARY 11, 2021 – FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

OPINION-EDITORIAL

TikTok has revolutionized the music industry Tyler Lee

T Let celebrities voice their political opinions

n November 2018, Taylor Swift broke her long-standing political silence via an Instagram post. The global superstar spoke out in support of two democratic candidates running to represent her home state of Tennessee. “In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now,” Swift wrote in part. Although the content of this post was less than controversial, chaos erupted soon TRINITY after Swift’s post went public. ARCHIE Upset Twitter users suggested Swift OPINION EDITOR stick to music and some felt it was not her place, as a celebrity, to publicly speak on politics at all. This sparked debate regarding whether or not entertainment stars should voice their political beliefs online. There is no denying that when highly influential celebrities like Swift speak about politics, they have the power to sway their young and impressionable audiences. However, celebrities can be a positive influence when they choose to use their platforms to educate followers about relevant political topics. Many argue these statements are manipulative because celebrities are in positions of power. It is our responsibility to properly educate ourselves on these topics and form our own opinions. Public figures cannot force us to vote for a certain candidate or alter our political beliefs. It is refreshing to see celebrities use their influence to educate their large followings. Influencers helped their young audiences craft their own opinions within this confusing and chaotic political climate. There is proof these efforts can have a positive impact. Swift’s viral Instagram caption seemed to have caused an increase in voter registration in the days following the incident, as reported in a CNN article. Kamari Guthrie, director of communications for the nonprofit Vote.org, spoke on the possible correlation between the simple Instagram caption and the surge in voter registration. “We are up to 65,000 registrations in a single 24-hour period since [Swift’s] post,” Guthrie told CNN. Swift, among other notoriously neutral public figures, chose to finally break her political silence and used her influence for good. This is not an abuse of power. Celebrities do not have to silence themselves to make you comfortable.

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ikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media apps. This comes as no surprise, given entertainment is now limited to virtual platforms like social media and online streaming services. With the COVID-19 pandemic persisting, people are staying home and exploring new forms of entertainment. The video sharing platform became a place for people to share their art and creativity with the world while remaining socially distanced. According to CNBC, TikTok revealed there were nearly 700 million global monthly users in July 2020. The app trails Facebook in active monthly users, but it is still one of the fastestgrowing social platforms. With the large number of people who use the app and how many TikToks each person sees, any creator has a chance of going viral. Users typically gain traction for painting, dancing or releasing a new song. A single viral video can accumulate a large following for the creator. Once the audience is hooked, artists are able to continue growing. Young musicians are using the platform as a tool to promote new music. When creators use songs in videos or dance tutorials, they boost artists’ music and careers. Without a clear sense of which videos will get attention, artists get creative by participating in and creating new trends. Content creator and aspiring musician Miggie Snyder shared her thoughts on how TikTok has changed the music industry. Snyder graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in musical theater performance in 2019. In May 2020, she released her first song. She is a prime example of a creator who experienced a video go viral unexpectedly. When thinking back to her first popular video, she explained why the reach was surprising. “It has absolutely nothing to do with my music,” Snyder said. “It was just a silly video I made.” The aspiring artist’s TikTok following has grown to almost 65,000 since that first popular video in December 2019. With her growing following, Snyder started sharing her music online, and her audience loved it. Snyder noticed her fans enjoyed listening to her music just as much as she enjoyed making it, so she felt motivated to share more. “TikTok is part of the reason I started chasing this dream,” Snyder said. “Before I put my music on TikTok, I genuinely didn’t think anyone would care to hear my music. I very much felt like it was just something I was doing for me.” I was also curious to hear how Snyder felt about using TikTok as a marketing tool. Throughout the last nine months, I have seen and supported multiple new artists because I saw their videos on the app. This way, artists are able to get noticed even with no big label attached to their name. Snyder agreed the app is a great marketing tool for smaller artists to gain recognition.

She noted how she believed that with TikTok’s growing popularity as a music sharing platform, marketing trends get overused and boring quickly, so creators always have to be thinking of new and exciting ways to catch attention. Despite this, she explained the app is a revolutionary platform for musicians. The support Snyder has received on TikTok boosted her confidence as an artist. On Feb. 5, she released an album titled “Legends.” The album consists of her original song “Legend Lake,” released Sept. 16, 2020, along with five parodies she wrote and posted on TikTok while promoting the original release. Snyder said the album was extremely influenced by the app. “When I was promoting my song ‘Legend Lake,’ I put out some parodies of the song because so many people said they felt it could connect them to other things like ‘Percy Jackson’ or ‘Harry Potter,’” Snyder said. Snyder’s success is just one example of how TikTok allows artists to grow and challenge themselves creatively. The app offers inspiration in unexpected ways and has ushered in a new way of finding an audience in a time where it is nearly impossible to do so in person. While some may see the app as just another social platform, TikTok has grown into so much more. I believe the platform will have a lasting impact on the music industry, even after the pandemic.

Illustration By Diana ortega

OPINION-EDITORIAL

COVID-19 does not belong on screen Marley Green

s production companies now have approval to continue working on new seasons of TV shows and films, the pandemic takes a starring role in most of them. The “Chicago” series on NBC, for example, has fully incorporated the pandemic into its cinematic universe. The latest season of the long-running medical drama, “Grey’s Anatomy,” is centered around the pandemic as well, with the titular character undergoing treatment for COVID-19. There has also been a plethora of movies attempting to portray the realities of life in quarantine. “Locked Down,” starring actors Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor, details the life of a couple driving each other crazy during quarantine. “Host,” a horror movie filmed entirely over Zoom, tells the story of a group of friends who are under quarantine during the pandemic. In “Safer at Home,” an upcoming thriller set in 2022, the pandemic has left Los Angeles in chaos and turned the city into a police state. So much to the dismay of everyone relying on TV and movies as a form of escapism, the pandemic has seeped into our vacation plans, our social lives, daily work and school routines, the news we watch and now the media we consume. I fully understand the pandemic is part of our reality — we have gone through nearly a year of staying inside, masking up and washing our hands more vigorously than ever before. As many of us continue to hunker down in our homes, binge-watching the latest television shows and movies is not only a way for us to stay entertained, it is also a way for us to feel connected to the rest of the world. The pandemic is now part of every aspect of our lives. This is precisely the reason why we need fewer television shows and movies surrounding the topic. From grocery shopping, to ads on social media and ordinary news channels, it is everywhere we turn. While I am not looking to ignore the seriousness of the situation, turn my back on health care professionals or ignore the fact that the pandemic is disproportionately affecting marginalized groups, I would like just one avenue of my life to talk about something else, anything else. There are ways around including the pandemic for existing pieces of media.

It is not an impossible task. The latest season of Fox’s “Last Man Standing” is set postpandemic. FX’s “American Horror Story” and “American Crime Story” are simply leaving these events out altogether, under the idea that the show is set in a completely alternate universe. Other shows could address the pandemic for an episode or two, then move on to the originally planned plot. In terms of new media, I would argue part of the reason Netflix’s “Bridgerton” is so popular is that it is set in a completely different time period, with no semblance of a pandemic going on at all. This is a good time for entertainment companies to pitch period pieces, especially after seeing the success and positive ratings “Bridgerton” received. Aside from the fact that we cannot escape from COVID-19 on or off the screen, I believe that

including the pandemic in movie and television show plots can be too easily mishandled. It is very difficult to include the subplot responsibly. On “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” for example, the characters are frequently shown wearing their masks right up until the moment they come up and talk to each other, which is precisely the opposite of what you are supposed to do. In the “Chicago” series, main characters have not worn masks at all in recently aired episodes.

If directors are going to include the pandemic in their productions, the characters on the show should at the very least be responsible in their practices. After all, characters are often seen wearing seatbelts while in a car because that is a standard safety practice we engage in every day, much like wearing a mask. It is natural and frankly not surprising the entertainment industry would look to tell stories about what the world is going through in hopes we may find comfort in stories. However, the pandemic is a collective trauma we are still going through as a society, and it is too soon to be attempting to portray this crisis in television and movies.

Illustration By Tonesha yazzie

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 – FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

FEATURES

Aspen Sports: A one-stop-s Michael McClure

Aspen Sports owner Rich Reading poses for a portrait in the loft overlooking the store, Feb. 2. Brian Burke | The Lumberjack

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any folks from all over the state come to Flagstaff to enjoy the snow, whether it be for the slopes of Arizona Snowbowl or the winter wonderland of downtown Flagstaff. In a season when outdoor activities are occurring in abundance, Aspen Sports is working to accommodate mountain gear and apparel needs. Married couple Rich and Heather Reading have recently become the new owners of Aspen Sports, a sports goods shop located in downtown Flagstaff, and are already seeing huge amounts of traffic within the store. “We have been fortunate enough to not struggle through this pandemic like many other shops and businesses have,” Rich Reading said. “These last few weekends, we will start off with, let’s say, 400 pairs of gloves on the shelf and by Sunday, we will be down to 100 or less. People have been coming in here and other shops to buy cross country skis, and we won’t be getting any new skis until next year. That is how crazy the demand is.” Aspen Sports carries a variety of items besides gloves and cross country skis. According to its website, brands such as Marmot, Kuhl, Black Diamond and Wigwam are just a few of the names on the shelf. Besides being an outfitting shop for the extremes, both in terms of weather and adventure, Aspen Sports is Flagstaff’s only local full service skate shop. Being full service means the store builds boards, is stocked with all the necessary accessories and gives classes for beginners to learn to stand and move on a skateboard. Selling skateboards creates a large customer base for the Readings. Rich Reading said during the warmer months of the year when the sales of technical clothing and equipment dip down, usually the sales of skateboards and the associated equipment pick up the slack. He said having a younger crowd shop downtown has been great for them. Large amounts of business come locally, he said, but there is also considerable amounts coming from Phoenix and surrounding areas. “[Business is a] mix between local and college students and a good blend of people coming from the valley,” Rich Reading said. “On weekends like the ones we have been seeing, a lot of the traffic is from Phoenix or elsewhere. We see faces from all over northern Arizona, but I would say our customer base is about 50/50. Many customers have been coming into the shop for 30-plus years and some just moved into the area. Our numbers have been as good as ever and we expect the same going forward.” Senior Madeline Salberg has been a visitor to Aspen

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shop for outdoor adventure “We have been fortunate enough to not struggle through this pandemic like many other shops and businesses have.” – Aspen Sports owner Rich Reading

Left: A sign encourages customers to sanitize their hands before shopping, Feb. 2. Right: A pair of Spy ski goggles sit on display at Aspen Sports. Brian Burke| The Lumberjack

Sports throughout her college career. Some specialty items the shop carries keep her coming in on occasion to check out the new stock and shop around. “I don’t shop there as frequently as I used to, but my favorite things they carry are Hydro Flasks with all the accessories and also the wide variety of beanies,” Salberg said via Instagram direct message. Salberg said Aspen Sports has a solid selection of products, but said she believes there might be a little bit of room for improvement. She said she wishes they would start doing

rentals again and provide more products in the upstairs section. Senior Charlie Schroeter finds himself skiing during the winter months like many Flagstaff residents, but said his draw to Aspen Sports is not for the alpine equipment and clothing. Instead, it is for the store’s skate shop. “[I] stop in from time to time, most of the products I buy are from the skate section, but this time of year I am spending most of my time on the mountain skiing,” Schroeter said over Instagram direct message. With the ski season in full swing, many

visitors to Flagstaff and Snowbowl do not own winter gear or the necessary equipment to navigate the mountain terrain. According to Bloomberg, $800 is not an uncommon price to spend on skis, boots and bindings alone, omitting the price of quality cold weather gear, which can become equally as expensive. Rich Reading said on an almost daily basis, locals and tourists are flocking to the shop in order to buy gear they may have lost, forgotten or finally destroyed. “Every afternoon people come into the store looking for new equipment, gloves,

jackets, goggles, you name it,” Rich Reading said. “People will ski all day then come back into town looking for a better deal than what they saw on the mountain and that is why we are here.” Aspen Sports has been a leader on the scene of mountain equipment, clothing and hardware in Flagstaff for over 30 years. Aspen Sports can be a start for those looking to take part in Flagstaff’s sports.

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 – FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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Jacks on Broadway: Center stage has become more flexible Sonia Leyva

acks on Broadway focuses on bringing the musical theater experience to students on campus. The program encourages students who have an interest in music and choreography to take to the stage — or Zoom call — and use their passions in front of an audience. The club was founded in 2012 by three women who saw a lack of musical theater at NAU’s School of Music. NAU Lyric Theater director Eric Gibson decided he would put on a show to provoke the start of a club that would continue for years to come. He directed a three-women show that sparked the passion of musical repertoire over the years at NAU. Anne Anderson, senior and Jacks on Broadway president, said they became an official club through ASNAU in February 2012. Once made official, the club started the audition process to gain members and select them for roles in musical numbers. The club has had to get creative with their performances and meetings because of the pandemic. To maintain safe distance and take precautions to stop the spread of the virus, Anderson said they changed their whole dynamic. To continue the joy and passion of Jacks on Broadway, the club decided to take an innovative approach. Anderson said it produced their first virtual show in December 2020 and it was a huge success. “Everyone just recorded the individual song they chose at their leisure,” Anderson said. “They sent the tapes in, we edited them ourselves, premiered it on YouTube and posted fliers everywhere.” After the success of the first virtual showcase, the club will produce a second show for the spring semester. However, Anderson said having a winning showcase has not been easy for the club as it has struggled to gain new members. “We are a relatively large club; we average about 30 members by the end of the audition process,” Anderson said. “However, we had about six to seven people audition this semester, so our club is smaller than it normally is because of COVID. Right now we’re sitting at 24, which is pretty good for COVID guidelines.” The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a positive impact on the club. Anderson said it made rehearsals a lot more structured and improved the schedule flexibility with its members because they practiced on their own time. Initially, the board members decided to

hold in-person rehearsals while considering COVID-19 precautions. However, it posed to be more challenging because of the large number of members attending. According to the Jacks on Broadway constitution, members were required to be tested one week prior to attending rehearsal, though it was tough considering each member had a different schedule. “We’ve done a really great job at adapting with Jacks on Broadway,” Anderson said. “Things are really different this year. Normally we have in-person rehearsals and produce fulltime shows, but we’ve just had to manage. I think the hardest part for all our members right now is screen fatigue because everything is online now.” No matter the obstacles this organization has faced, members still push themselves to adapt to new circumstances, especially those who have seen the club’s growth throughout the years. Carly Durrer, senior and Jacks on Broadway stage director, said she has many fond memories with the organization. She joined the club when she was a freshman and became part of the board her sophomore year. She said she is extremely passionate about the direction the club is going and that is why she has kept herself motivated throughout all the hardships. Durrer said COVID-19 may have been a blessing in disguise for this organization regarding giving members a chance to experience musical theater more. “We usually had one big show at the end of the year, but now because of COVID we produced two shows and they are virtual so people can enjoy it from their homes,” Durrer said. “Our members have more opportunities to perform and it has given us [board members] a chance to connect with other people in another format.” Durrer said the result of all their hard work is worth every second they spend rehearsing. She said the moment members hear all their voices intertwine in the final production is a moment of relief, gratitude and love all around. “I will never forget the joy, passion and the love I felt in my heart the day we gave our acknowledgments for our most recent show,” Durrer said. “We were surprised by our cast members with roses that had words to describe the board member that it was going to. It was so special and rewarding and it showed how appreciative everyone was to be a part of this. It was inspirational.” The kindness and relationships shown between the cast members even inspired others to

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audition for the upcoming semester. Sophomore Hillary Salazar said she has been interested in joining Jacks on Broadway for a long time, but because of COVID-19 she has had to dedicate herself to school and a full-time job. Salazar said she has been interested in musical theater since her high school years. She has had a passion for Broadway that was piqued when she took part in a school production of “Into the Woods,” an adventure musical retelling a series of characters and plots from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. “I’ve always had a passion for musical theater and I wanted an outlet for that, so Jacks

on Broadway was a perfect fit for me,” Salazar said. “I wanted to be surrounded by people who had similar interests, even though it’s not something I would pursue professionally. I wanted to keep it as a pastime.” For those who are interested in joining Jacks on Broadway for the upcoming semester, the organization can be reached through email or on social media. The club will have many challenges ahead, but the work ethic and relationship between the members will allow them to create entertaining content and continue to fulfill their passion center stage.

Photo of Jacks on Broadway members courtesy of Anne Anderson

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FEBRUARY 11, 2021 – FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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Remembering Sophie and her divine music

n Jan. 30, Grammy-nominated artist Sophie Xenon died in Athens, Greece. According to record label Transgressive, she slipped and fell from a balcony when climbing to watch the full moon. The music innovator worked with many artists like Charli XCX, Madonna, Vince Staples and Lady Gaga. To many fans, she was a queer icon that bent the rules of pop music and identity. During her career, she dropped many singles that were very experimental, to say the least. Every track had minimal cover art with a random object against a white background, which had become a staple for Sophie. Each track had trap music inspiration that mixes EDM KYLER EDSITTY music with sounds that emulate latex. These initial projects are what introduced people ASSISTANT to PC music and hyperpop, subgenres that mix EDM CULTURE EDITOR and electronic music that is futuristic in sound. I remember listening to “MSMSMSM” for the first time and being bewildered at first by how strange and different it sounded. Now I see it as a bop that I’m aching to hear at a club once everyone is vaccinated. Three days before her death, Sophie dropped “UNISIL,” a track that encompasses her unique style. The song has no lyrics, but has production that mimics a rave in space with a repetitive beat and avant-garde sounds. This differs from her album, which has a larger narrative with fascinating visuals. Released in 2018, Sophie’s first album “OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UNINSIDES” completely changed how pop music was made. Every track is a psychedelic trip combined with heavenly vocals that birth a beautiful, yet jarring experience that everyone should hear at least once. My favorite track “Is It Cold In The Water?” has the most angelic vocals and lyrics that prove Sophie was a siren. “Ponyboy” is an aggressive track that attacks the senses with a demonic chorus mixed with donkey noises to create a kinky anthem. “Whole New World/Pretend World” is the violent, yet cinematic nine-minute outro that perfectly closes the new reality Sophie built in her album. I oddly feel comfort when “Immaterial” is playing because I hear a person realizing their gender and sexual identity under the upbeat production. “I was just a lonely girl / In the eyes of my inner child / I can’t be held down / I could be anything I want / Any form, any shape, anyway, anything, anything I want,” Sophie sings on the track. As a queer person, this song further cements the fact that gender norms and expectations are immaterial objects that have no need to be followed or policed. Therefore, I think this album was made to break conventional rules, whether it concerns gender performance or music industry standards. I think it’s nearly impossible for anyone to meet Sophie’s standard and make music that matches her talent. She will always be remembered for pushing boundaries and will be a huge inspiration for queer people everywhere.

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Photo of local band Valley Orange courtesy of Jared Murray

Local bands overcom Annika bECK

ue to current events, many local bands are currently facing hardship with the entertainment industry shut down. Bars, restaurants, venues and weddings are all currently on hold because of the pandemic. During this time, local bands and artists are limited to available spaces to perform live. Valley Orange, consisting of drummer Andrew Centanni, vocalist Maya Chavez and guitarist and bassist Corey Goldman, have been together for two years and remain located in the Flagstaff area. The band members touched on the effects the pandemic has taken on their music career. Due to COVID-19, the band has been able to focus their time and energy on writing, recording and producing video content. “In August, we basically turned our drummer’s house into a recording studio, investing in equipment and sound-treating rooms,” Centanni said in an email interview. “We’re now able to record on demand! This has been an unexpected benefit of the shutdowns, as we likely wouldn’t have thought to do this pre-COVID!”

Valley Orange still continues to promote their music through Instagram, YouTube and are on multiple streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. Despite the halt in Valley Orange’s live performances, the pandemic has opened up many new possibilities to further their careers in a positive way. Artist Michael Lucarelli, an acoustic guitar soloist located in Cottonwood, Arizona, also talked about the positive experience COVID-19 has brought to his music career. Lucarelli and Valley Orange continue to promote their music and perform on YouTube, compared to life before COVID-19 when they could perform a live show and network there. “I relocated because of this pandemic and 2020 was the best year of my life,” Lucarelli said. “I made it a beautiful thing. Obviously, financially I took a dip, but we made out on our house. I took this downtime even though I did record two CDs during this pandemic. We just haven’t promoted it.” Lucarelli said he used the dead time to his advantage and is feeling much more inspired in Cottonwood. He has been in the music industry for over 36 years

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Logan Sager, bassist of now defunct band Minivan, known then as Glazed Jeans, performed at KJACK Radio’s Battle of the Bands at Orpheum Theater, March 8, 2019. Jay Soliz | The Lumberjack

me hardship during the pandemic and has released over 15 albums before moving from Las Vegas where he was performing at corporate events and personal parties. Regardless of his new inspiration and advancement in composing and creating YouTube content, Lucarelli still acknowledges the negative effects of the pandemic on his music career. “Its been hard because I used to perform a lot, constantly,” Lucarelli said. “When I first started as an entertainer, I didn’t know how to network. I was living gig to gig. If this were to hit me back then I would be in a world of hurt, and there’s a lot of people in life right now going through it.” Lucarelli said he looks forward to performing live again and his next show is an outdoor performance Feb. 14 in Cottonwood at the restaurant Fojol Bros. Lucarelli’s music has over 55 million views on YouTube and can also be found on Spotify, Apple Music and his website. Valley Orange does not have any upcoming dates for performances. However, they are currently searching for a bassist and looking to play live in the future. “It’s caused us to really think about what we want to accomplish as a group and given us a drive to overcome the challenges of this past year to succeed as artists,” Centanni said. “The industry has been given a tough hand, not just the artists, but the live venues and fans. But, the industry has found ways of

adapting to the struggles and will come out stronger on the other side!” Although Valley Orange and Lucarelli have turned this pandemic into a positive, this was not the case for every artist. Members of the since disbanded Minivan, which consisted of NAU students, also relocated to Los Angeles during the pandemic. Vocalist JJ Soleimani discussed the difficulty the band faced when the pandemic hit. “It separated a band that I genuinely had faith in,” Soleimani said in an email interview. “I dropped out of college to pursue Minivan full time about two months before the pandemic ended our progress. Before COVID, we would try to play a show every week with different bands, so we could expose different fans based on our songs. We were going to release an album and start promoting it on Instagram and TikTok.” Soleimani said he’s currently working on music projects in Los Angeles. Because the band was struggling financially, the pandemic forced them to break up and one of the band members even struggled with homelessness. However, Minivan still has demos on SoundCloud and Instagram. Phoenix band Life and Limb have been using this downtime to grow and focus on new material. The band’s guitarist Mike Hyde addressed how the pandemic has drastically changed their

music careers and live performances. “COVID has affected everyone pretty negatively from venues, promoters and bands,” Hyde said. “We had just finished playing our first out-of-state shows and had a bunch of shows lined up for 2020. We were actually supposed to head back out again when quarantine was announced.” Life and Limb’s music is currently available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music, while they continue to promote their work on Instagram. The band has participated in virtual performances such as the benefit for Black Lives Matter Phoenix, Poder in Action and one at the Nile Theater in Mesa, Arizona. In spite of the discouraging time quarantine brought, Hyde decided to use it to write new music and prepare for post pandemic. “We plan on hitting the ground running when the pandemic is lifted and venues can open back up safely,’’ Hyde said. “We’ve written a new EP with all the downtime we’ve had and plan on demoing it very soon. Then we want to get back out there and play all the shows we can.” Regardless of the setbacks and financial issues the pandemic has inflicted on the music industry, numerous local bands have turned this year into a positive outcome and continue to produce music.

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 – FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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The rise of TikTok musicals AND THEIR FUTURE mARIA rODRIGUEZ

uring the pandemic, with most people at home producing and watching lots of content, TikTok has certainly evolved. According to CNBC, in January 2019 there were around 27 million TikTok users in the United States, which later rose to approximately 91 million in June 2020, a few months into the self-isolation surge. TikTok musicals, which are musical concepts produced on the social media platform, are the next big upand-coming niche that has some people overjoyed and others questioning the merit of these musicals produced by TikTokers. Freshman and vocal performance major Margaret Greene has been performing for several years and isn’t very interested in TikTok. Greene said she is unsure if TikTok musicals would ever turn into full-scale productions, but there is an interested audience. “I think everyone expresses their interest in different ways, and it’s not really my thing but I can respect it,” Greene said. Although Greene doesn’t think TikTok musicals are a way to perform musical theater, her roommate Katelyn Mason has a different opinion. Freshman Katelyn Mason, a choral music education major at NAU, has an entirely different perspective on TikTok musicals and their impact as an avid watcher. “I think [TikTok is] making musicals more accessible,” Mason said. “Broadway musicals are so expensive, but making them online lets other people get excited about them and kind of participate in the process of the musical.” TikTok creators joined forces to release “Ratatouille: The Musical” Jan. 1, while TikTok’s latest musical, “Bridgerton: The Musical” recently had part 12 posted by TikTok user Abigail Barlow Feb. 6. Greene recognizes TikTok musicals aren’t for her, but said they certainly have an influence on the entertainment

industry. “So many people now are using TikTok, and if you ever wanted to get your message out there, that would be the way to do it,” Greene said. TikTok’s “Ratatouille: The Musical” united over 200 million viewers to raise money for The Actors Fund, an organization that helps provide financial support to those struggling in the entertainment industry. COVID has changed how the entertainment industry operates, with Broadway suspending all performances until May 30, 2021, but still allowing the purchase of tickets for upcoming shows. Greene commented further on COVID’s impact on how entertainment is produced and shared with consumers. “[COVID] set us back a little bit because most people in the entertainment industry are used to performing in front of audiences,” Greene said. “It’s definitely a different atmosphere when you’re not performing in front of real people. If you’re just performing in front of a camera or a livestream I think it just affects how we perform because it’s a different vibe.” TikTok musicals may be how Broadway and other theater companies can get back into the scene and regularly perform, although it would look different from anything produced before. “I think that [Broadway] should be trying to do [remote productions] just because of everything going on, but at the same time I don’t think that it’s a very effective way to do things like musical theater,” Greene said. Mason is in full support of TikTok’s musicals, often watching many of her favorite TikTokers on the platform since they’re involved in musicals. Mason said the TikTokers she is currently following the most are Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear and Anna-Lee Wright. Barlow and Bear are the cocreators and producers of “Bridgerton: The Musical” circulating on TikTok, with Wright, a Broadway member sharing her experiences with the

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company on her TikTok. “Lately, I’ve been following ‘Bridgerton: The Musical’ just because I like the show so much,” Mason said. Although Mason enjoys the app and the musicals the platform has to offer, she is not confident Broadway would go for TikTok’s style of production and theater approach. “I think my first instinct is to say no, that Broadway is pretty traditional and they have

a set way that’s worked ... but I do think there would have to be a huge shift in the way Broadway works for TikTok musicals to actually make it to full production,” Mason said. TikTok musicals can be the new era of theater and possibly change the way young people and audiences respond to musicals and the arts in general. Broadway might consider turning a full TikTok musical idea or

production and transform it into a fullscale musical with the highest quality resources available, although there are legal matters and logistics issues which would need to be addressed before a collaboration or adaptation could begin. “I do think that if the musicals on TikTok were to be transferred to onstage, they would have to completely rethink how they do Broadway show production like the process of putting shows on Broadway ... the issues of rights, who they give credit to, who would get royalties and stuff,” Mason said. The rise of TikTok musicals is not yet at its peak, and there is no telling what the future has in store for future productions and collaborations.

Illustration By ALEAH GREEN

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FEBRUARY 11, 2021 – FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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The Grammy Awards preview: Wh Katelyn Rodriguez

wards season is among us once again and in the coming months, Hollywood’s elite will be gearing up for some of the most important nights of their careers. The 63rd annual Grammy Awards is one of the first award shows to occur on March 14 after being postponed from its usual date in late January. The nominees were announced Nov. 24, 2020 and since then, I’ve had time to look through all 83 categories and make some predictions in regard to who I think is going to win the coveted golden gramophone. However, for the sake of this story, I’ll be highlighting some of the night’s biggest categories. Record of the Year “Black Parade” — Beyoncé “Colors” — Black Pumas “Rockstar” — DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch “Say So” — Doja Cat “Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish “Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa “Circles” — Post Malone “Savage” — Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé Song of the Year “Black Parade’’—Beyoncé “The Box” — Roddy Ricch “cardigan” — Taylor Swift “Circles” — Post Malone “Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa “Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish “I Can’t Breathe” — H.E.R. “If The World Was Ending” — JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels

Illustration By Maddie Cohen

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For record of the year and song of the year, Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now” is my predicted winner. “Don’t Start Now” is the perfect mix of 1980s disco with electronic undertones that make you want to dance. It shows off Lipa’s vocal ability while highlighting a selftransformation post breakup, as well

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ho’s who on music’s biggest night as an attempt by the ex in question to wiggle their way back into her life. It’s a shame we weren’t able to experience the full beauty of this song live, in clubs or at a rollerskating rink even, but the track receiving a Grammy nomination is a telltale sign the Recording Academy has been paying attention to its impact. Album of the Year “Chilombo” — Jhené Aiko “Black Pumas (Deluxe)” — Black Pumas “Everyday Life” — Coldplay “Djesse Vol. 3” — Jacob Collier “Future Nostalgia” — Dua Lipa “folklore” — Taylor Swift Being the first of two surprise albums from Taylor Swift in 2020, “folklore” is definitely deserving a Grammy nomination and my prediction of winner for album of the year. The stripped-down folk tones Swift incorporated, as well as the vivid stories in each track, make this album one of the standout releases of 2020. Swift perfectly wraps up the feelings of love and loss in 16 tracks in a way only she’s capable of and includes a heartbreaking piano ballad with Bon Iver that’s sure to punch you in the gut. It’s an album that’s stark in contrast to Swift’s other recent releases and continues to prove her diversity as an artist. Best New Artist Ingrid Andress Phoebe Bridgers Chika Noah Cyrus D Smoke Doja Cat Kaytranada Megan Thee Stallion My prediction for best new artist is indie pop artist Phoebe Bridgers. Her sophomore album “Punisher,” which is also nominated for best alternative music album, has thrust

her even further into the spotlight. Her vocal abilities are strong, yet softspoken, but that’s what makes her stand out as an artist beside the raw nature of her music. Each song on “Punisher” shows off her songwriting abilities through the descriptions and context weaved throughout each individual lyric. Bridgers’ Grammy nomination is deserved and only solidifies her place within the evergrowing industry. Best Pop Solo Performance “Yummy” — Justin Bieber “Say So” — Doja Cat “Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish “Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa “Watermelon Sugar” — Harry Styles “cardigan” — Taylor Swift “Watermelon Sugar’’ by Harry Styles is my predicted winner for best pop solo performance. It served as the song of summer 2020 for many despite being stuck inside — Styles himself even dedicated the song’s music video to touching. The track exudes the energy of summertime and makes me want to frolic along the shore everytime I listen to it. Styles’ vocal abilities shine through the entire track, as do the backing instruments consisting of guitars, horns and percussion to name a few. The track starts off with just Styles and a guitar but grows to its full production soon after. While there seems to be an ongoing discussion regarding the true meaning of the lyrics, one thing is certain and it’s that “Watermelon Sugar” was the upbeat, feel-good song we needed in 2020. Best Pop Vocal Album “Changes” — Justin Bieber “Chromatica” — Lady Gaga “Future Nostalgia” — Dua Lipa “Fine Line” — Harry Styles “folklore” — Taylor Swift Harry Styles’ sophomore album

“Fine Line’’ is my pick for best pop vocal album. It’s one of the albums that will go down in history for its production and lyrics. It has also been praised by rock goddess Stevie Nicks as being Styles’ own “Rumors.” Each track shows off a different side of Styles’ lyricism and tells a cohesive story about what it’s like to fall in love, lose that love and eventually come to terms with that loss. It’s a beautifullyproduced album that has gotten me through some difficult times and contains some of my favorite songs to date. The Grammy nomination for “Fine Line” solidifies Styles’ status as a solo artist and gives the album the credit it’s deserving of. Best Rock Performance “Shameika” — Fiona Apple “Not” — Big Thief “Kyoto” — Phoebe Bridgers “The Steps” — HAIM “Stay High” — Brittany Howard “Daylight” — Grace Potter My prediction for winner of best rock performance is “The Steps” by HAIM. The song is heavily guitar and drum-driven and paired with lyrics that embody what it feels like when a lover doesn’t understand the path their significant other is taking. The sisters’ vocals shine through on the track with gritty and airy falsettos. The song also exudes 1970s vibes mixed with what you’d expect to hear while driving down California’s coast, which makes it stand out. Best Rock Album “A Hero’s Death” — Fontaines D.C. “Kiwanuka” — Michael Kiwanuka “Daylight” — Grace Potter “Sound & Fury” — Sturgill Simpson “The New Abnormal” — The Strokes For my predicted winner, the best rock album goes to “The New

Abnormal” by The Strokes. For being a rock album, “The New Abnormal” tests the waters by including some ’80s synth-like beats on “Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus” and “At The Door,” while including some killer guitar on “Not The Same Anymore” and “Selfless.” For their first album in seven years, The Strokes deliver a fun rock album that shows off lead singer Julian Casablancas’ range while providing listeners with the usual rock elements. Best R&B Performance “Lightning and Thunder” — Jhené Aiko featuring John Legend “Black Parade” — Beyoncé “All I Need” — Jacob Collier featuring Mahalia and Ty Dolla $ign “Goat Head” — Brittany Howard “See Me” — Emily King My predicted winner for best R&B performance is “Black Parade” by Beyoncé. It’s a powerful song celebrating Black culture and was released on Juneteenth, the day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The song shows off Bey’s extensive vocal abilities from gritty alto to her signature falsetto, while the imagery of the lyrics gives off a sense of pride for Black culture and communities. It’s songs like these that are remembered for generations to come, and I have no doubt this will be incorporated into that list. Best Progressive R&B Album “Chilombo” — Jhené Aiko “Ungodly Hour” — Chloe x Halle “Free Nationals” — Free Nationals “F*** Yo Feelings” — Robert Glasper “It Is What It Is” — Thundercat Sister duo Chloe x Halle’s sophomore album “Ungodly Hour”

is my predicted winner for best progressive R&B album. The vocal abilities of both women stand out on each track, offering listeners both heavenly falsettos and sultry tones. Each track offers something different from the sisters, whether it be upbeat track “Do It” or ballad “Wonder What She Thinks of Me.” Each performance from Chloe x Halle over the last year has also set them apart from other artists in terms of production and design — each performance was also filmed on their tennis court. “Ungodly Hour” is definitely an album that shows what the duo is capable of and this nomination is only a testament to that. Best Alternative Music Album “Fetch The Bolt Cutters” — Fiona Apple “Hyperspace” — Beck “Punisher” — Phoebe Bridgers “Jaime” — Brittany Howard “The Slow Rush” — Tame Impala “Punisher” by Phoebe Bridgers is my predicted winner for best alternative music album. This is Bridgers’ sophomore album and each track stands out in its own way, whether it be the upbeat nature of “Kyoto” or the heartbreaking loss felt in “Chinese Satellite.” Bridgers’ lyrics also stand out and wrap listeners in its tendrils, whisking them away on a journey to a world that’s filled with melancholy, while stripping away layers of oneself until they’re left bare. It solidifies Bridgers’ songwriting abilities and leaves listeners wanting to spend more time in this world she’s created. Overall, this year’s Grammy Awards is sure to be full of amazing performances by nominees, surprises and commentary from host Trevor Noah. I’m looking forward to tuning in and seeing if some of my predictions come true in the coming weeks.

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 – FEBRUARY 17, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

SPORTS

‘Safety’ portrays struggles of college athletes

isney+ recently released “Safety” on the streaming platform. It’s a movie based on the true experience of former Clemson University football player Ray McElrathbey and the difficulty of playing college football while being a first-year college student. The movie became available to subscribers Dec. 11, 2020 and received an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This heartwarming sports story is put on the big screen and brought to life. The story starts by showing a struggling new Clemson football team and how players are fighting their way to make the team during the 2005 season. Main character Ray McElrathbey, or “Ray Ray,” is a freshman running back aspiring to make the team his first year. KRISTEN Throughout the film, you see the CHANCELLOR challenges and perks of being a studentWRITER athlete as Ray manages his new career. Ray was doing well until a family crisis took his mind out of the game. He finds himself taking in his little brother, juggling football and being a student all at the same time. All these challenges cloud his judgment and time management, inevitably leading to disaster striking. After all the hardships, however, Ray finds himself on the final roster and managing school and a new lifestyle just fine. I didn’t know much about the background information, but it was easy to follow and stay focused on the plot. Despite not knowing the backstory before the movie, by the end it had me wanting to know more about it. The story was well-written and didn’t hold back any punches when dealing with tougher subjects. One of the unique aspects of the film was showing the mental imagination from Ray’s perspective when he made certain decisions. The film added smaller details like playful scenes about Ray’s brotherly bond or growing up with no parental figures, but still enjoying life. It added a family element to the movie, which was touching because it makes you want to be grateful for what you have in your life. This movie seemed to have a good reflection based on the true story. I think some aspects might have been dramatized for the film, but the majority of the story seemed spot-on and represented their personal story well. I really enjoyed this movie and thought it was a great family movie for all ages. Watching this will make you feel happy and sad, but you will find that happy medium as the story continues. I recommend this to any football fan.

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NAU women’s basketball celebrates a win over the Sacramento State Hornets, Feb. 4. Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics

The union between athletes and music Cameron Richardson

nyone who watched the ESPN Films documentary “The Last Dance” understands the relationship between music and athletes. From the editors layering songs from different eras throughout the series to match the anecdote being told, the significance of the Chicago Bulls’ theme song “Sirius” by The Alan Parsons Project, to NBA legend Michael Jordan jamming out to R&B singer Kenny Lattimore’s “Days Like This” before tipoff of the 1998 NBA Finals, the documentary showed just how impactful music can be in the sporting world. But why? Why do athletes feel the need to listen to music before games? “Certain songs can help you get focused and get locked in,” NAU men’s basketball freshman guard Carter Mahaney said. Mahaney said he doesn’t have a deeper connection with music in any way, but it’s just an activity he enjoys doing in certain scenarios. For NAU women’s basketball junior guard Regan Schenck, she has a solidified passion for it. “Ever since I was little, I would always be in the car, turn up the music as loud as possible and just dance,” Schenck

said. “Some people like to watch TV, others like playing video games, but I’m someone who will just sit in my room and blast music.” Not only does music get players focused for their upcoming events, but studies show music can actually enhance athletic performance. Costas Karageorghis, a world-leading researcher in sports psychology, said music should be thought of as a legal performance-enhancing drug. The importance of music for athletes was on full display when runners voiced their displeasure in 2007 after the governing body of USA Track & Field banned the use of headphones or portable audio players during its races due to safety and liability concerns. No matter if it is before or during the event, there is an effect music has on athletes for performance. Dissociation, internal motivation, synchronized rhythms and evoking emotions are ways athletes’ performances are enhanced, according to the Health Sciences Academy. NAU women’s basketball head coach Loree Payne emphasized the importance of music for her team. “I think there’s an element to music that can really bring your team together,” Payne said. “It can provide the energy needed when the mood is down.” So what are athletes listening to before games?

WBB - 2/4: W 75-51 vs. Sacramento State, 2/6: W 76-75 vs. Sacramento State. NEXT: 2/11, 2/13: @ Portland State MBB - 2/4,2/6: @ Sacramento State, CANCELED 2/11, 2/13: vs. Portland State, CANCELED | VB - 2/6: W 3-2 @ Montana State, 2/7: L 0-3 @ Montana State. NEXT: 2/14, 2/15 vs. Eastern Washington | WTEN - 2/5: L 2-5 @ UArizona. NEXT: 2/13 vs. Utah State

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SPORTS Like many NBA players, Mahaney leans on a specific genre to get him ready before he hits the court. “I just go through my ‘liked songs’ playlist and there’s a lot of rap on there,” Mahaney said. Mahaney said he didn’t have specific songs, but shuffles his playlist and stops on tracks matching his mood. For Payne, her preferred choice of music changed as she transitioned from player to coach. “We used to listen to some old hip-hop before games like 50 Cent when he was big,” Payne said. “Now, my go-to is chilled. I go for some Alicia Keys and more within that genre.” Schenck also expressed her affinity for throwbacks. “I don’t have throwbacks from a long time ago, but music from the early 2000s like Lil Wayne,” Schenck said. “I’ll listen to Shakira and Fergie every once in a while as well.” Music isn’t just used for players before games. It’s also used for introductions in many scenarios. Across all 30 teams in MLB, batters walk up to the plate with specific songs that show their personality for a sport where personality is rarely emphasized and not encouraged. One of the more popular walkups in recent memory was free agent outfielder Josh Reddick walking up to the saxophone-led “Careless Whisper” by George Michael when he was a member of the Oakland Athletics. However, music is synonymous with closers in MLB. The prime example being Mariano Rivera, former New York Yankees closer and Hall of Famer, who walked out from the bullpen to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” In the UFC, fighters always walk out to the octagon with a song to either intimidate their opponent or get fans in the arena excited for the ensuing contest. Former middleweight champion Anderson Silva had a calm demeanor on his way to the octagon, but with “No Sunshine” by DMX playing, fans and experts alike knew exactly what Silva was thinking about just before it was time to perform. Of course, one can’t mention UFC walkouts without Conor McGregor’s medley of Sinead O’Connor’s “The Foggy Dew,” Duran Duran’s “Notorious” and The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize.” Even NASCAR drivers get a shot to show off their favorite songs with their own introductions annually at the Bristol Night Race that takes place during the dog days of summer. So what would NAU Athletics members have as their song of choice if it were to be played whenever they entered a location? Mahaney knew exactly what he would go to. “‘Dreams and Nightmares’ by Meek Mill for sure,” Mahaney said. “It’s a classic and I’ve been listening to it for a long time.” The Philadelphia native’s song was also used by the Philadelphia Eagles as they ran out to the field prior to their Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots. Payne said she would stick with Keys as an artist for her introduction, but also some Hawaiian reggae music, such as Common Kings. Schenck didn’t have a specific song in mind, but went to rapper Lil Durk and the song “Finesse Out The Gang Way” from the deluxe release of his latest album “The Voice.” “I’ve been listening to Lil Durk a lot lately, so that would probably be my song,” Schenck said. Regardless of song choice, music will always be a staple of sports and serve as a motivating force for athletes before, during and after games.

UFC lightweight Conor McGregor walks to the octagon before the main event of UFC 246, Jan. 18, 2020. Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas | USA TODAY Sports

FEBRUARY 11, 2021 – FEBRUARY 17, 2021| THE LUMBERJACK

SPORTS

Revisiting the five-best sports video games Ever Sean Clark

side from playing sports and watching the professionals and college athletes participate in them, another way for people to connect with sports is through video games. There are many classic sports games many can enjoy today by themselves or with friends, along with newer additions that are still fun to play. Let’s look at five of the best sports video games to ever be released. 5. NCAA Football 2004 The NCAA Football franchise is one of the most beloved sports video game franchises for good reasons. The gameplay allowed players to play an open style of football that is lacking in many Madden games. On top of that, players can take control of their favorite schools or alma maters and lead them to dominance in the fantastic career mode. NCAA Football 2004 has these features and much more. The menu cycles through each school’s fight song, a feature not present in most of the later editions of the franchise. Also, you can rewrite or relive history by playing classic moments such as former Florida State University quarterback Doug Flutie’s hail mary throw at the University of Miami in 1984. The game also allows gamers to play as mascots. The gameplay still holds up today and it remains my favorite in the franchise. 4. Mario Superstar Baseball This is the one game on the list that does not involve professional players being represented in a video game. Mario Superstar Baseball is one of the most fun Mario franchise games out there, as it takes baseball and makes it ridiculously fun like Mario Kart does for racing games. While the basic rules are still the same, there are drastic differences. First, the main characters — Mario, Bowser and Daisy — have their own powerups, allowing for unique pitches and hits. For example, Mario can pitch fastballs and Daisy can hit a ball that turns into flower petals on contact, making it nearly impossible for fielders to catch. On top of that, the fields are usually chaotic with crocodiles at the Donkey Kong Jungle that inhibit the speed of fielders and baserunners, chain-chomps in the outfield at Wario Palace and blocks everywhere at Peach Garden. With the special abilities of the characters, such as the balance of Mario, the power of Bowser and the speed of Yoshi, the game becomes unpredictable

and fun with every play. 3. Madden NFL 07 While I have roasted Madden in this column already, Madden NFL 07 is one of my favorite sports games of all time and the best in the franchise. My issue with modern Madden games is that the gameplay feels stale and simulated, preventing my skill from dictating the outcome of each game. Madden NFL 07 does not have this issue as the gameplay is very free, allowing the user to sprint in the pocket and the backfield while finding the best course of action during each passing play. Also, the defense is balanced, allowing one to actually read plays and not give up 80-yard touchdown passes every single time an offensive player gets slightly behind the defender. This game allows defenses to have a fighting chance and as a result, games feel dramatic. The biggest reason this game works so well is the Superstar: Hall of Fame mode. You control a player who gets drafted into the NFL and slowly work your way through the league as you attempt to build a Hall-ofFame career. It is very

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interactive, with the main lobby being the player’s house and you have a calendar to do whatever you want. It allows the player to create a great story and with the organic flow of the career, it remains one of the best gaming modes in all of sports gaming history. 2. MVP Baseball 2005 This is the perfect baseball game that will never be topped. MVP Baseball 2005 provides players with a smooth and satisfying baseballgaming experience that still holds up today. The game introduces hitter’s eye, allowing the player to see the pitch on a level camera and read the pitch to decide whether to swing or not. The fielding and mechanics are better than those on MLB: The Show 20 as it doesn’t feel simulated at all. What truly makes this game legendary is the unlockable players feature and the menu music. The player can earn MVP points while playing games, unlocking legends of the

baseball world, such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Walter Johnson. This rewards players for grinding and lets them control any player they prefer. Also, songs like “Let it Dive” by And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead and “We Got the Noise” by Donots, make scrolling through the menu an entertaining experience each and every time. 1. NBA 2K14 When I think of sports video games, I think of NBA 2K14. It is the perfect sports game as the gameplay is tremendous, the menu music is the greatest of all time and the career mode is amazing. Like many modern sports video games, modern NBA 2K games feel simulated and clunky, eliminating the fun. Like normal, shooting relies on timing but in 2K14, the chance of the shots going in is impacted by defense. Also, alleyoops are the best in this game as transition offense is the smoothest of any NBA 2K. The menu music is perfect with bangers like “Now or Never” by Kendrick Lamar featuring Mary J. Blige and “Not Afraid” by Eminem to make simply launching the menu a thrilling experience. The career mode is realistic, allowing for satisfying player development and tense rivalries as opponents play up to their potential. In every way, it is the perfect sports video game.

Illustration By Aleah Green

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FEBRUARY 11, 2021 – FEBRUARY 17, 2021| THE LUMBERJACK

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