The Lumberjack -- September 30, 2021

A RENAISSANCE FOR NAU DANCE PAGE 19 THE LUMBER JACK SEPT. 30, 2021 – OCT. 6 2021

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

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ast time I wrote a letter from the editor was the week I turned 21.

Since, my life has been turned on its head over and over again, almost as if someone turned the spin cycle on. This year has proven, within its 10 months, that life is unpredictable and hurts you in ways you aren’t prepared for.

Almost a month after my birthday I had to go home, not my literal home in California, but to the place I’ve considered home my entire life: Iowa.

I remember the two flights I had to take as being the longest and most nervewracking hours of my life. When I finally arrived, it felt like a breath of fresh air. However, not even 24 hours later it was knocked out of my lungs and KATELYN replaced with immeasurable grief.

RODRIGUEZ It’s almost been eight months since then and my mind still replays those CULTURE EDITOR moments with my family on a loop. I know they’re going through it worse than I am. That week reconnected my cousins and I in ways I didn’t think would happen, but I’m extremely grateful that it did. It taught me to not take life for granted and to hold family and friends as close as possible.

In terms of this semester, I’ve already had my fair share of breakdowns and exhaustion, as well as days spent worrying about how my future is going to turn out. It’s as if we’re walking a very fine line between wanting to better ourselves, as well as our education, and wanting to push everything aside and just live. I’ve realized that I need to worry less about things I can’t control and let them play out the way they’re supposed to. This will definitely be difficult since I always want to rush into the next opportunity that comes my way, but I know, for the sake of my sanity, that this slow-down is needed.

I’m lucky to have friends and family that wholeheartedly support me in everything I pursue and lift me up in my lowest moments. If my cousins or aunt read this, know that I love you and will always be here for you. If my mom reads this, thank you for being my most constant beacon of light in life’s darkest moments — I’ll never know how to thank you enough.

Overall, life is difficult. Things are happening every day that we can’t control. All we can do is try to get through them without giving up. I know one thing for certain though, and it’s something I tell myself often when life gets the best of me: We’ll be alright.

NAU offense struggles and falls to Northern Colorado 2-0

Online at Issuu.com Latest Edition & Archive Social media

Thank you for reading.

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 112 ISSUE 6

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

Editor-in-Chief Nathan Manni

Managing Editor Camille Sipple

Copy Chief Trevor Skeen

Faculty Adviser David Harpster

Print Chief Ash Lohmann

Director of Digital Content and Social Media Emily Gerdes

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board

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News Editor Mark Fabery

Asst. Features Editor Lauren Anderson

Sports Adviser Rory Faust

Asst. News Editor Tess Stafford

Culture Editor Katelyn Rodriguez

Director of Photography MacKenzie Brower

Op-Ed Editor Kylie Soto Asst. Op-Ed Editor Marley Green Features Editor Olivia Charlson

Asst. Culture Editor Haylee Emch Sports Editor Brenden Martin Asst. Sports Editor Will Hopkins

Asst. Dir. of Photography Brian Burke Director of Illustration Diana Ortega Director of Multimedia Shawn Patti

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

On the cover Half of the NAU Dance Team stands in their game lines, preparing to do a routine to start practice in the Health and Learning Center, Sept. 20. Taylor McCormick | The Lumberjack

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

PoliceBeat Sept. 20 At 10:02 a.m., a Science and Health building staff member reported graffiti.

NAUPD responded and found it was actually food on the wall. A work order was placed for cleanup.

At 3:26 p.m., a student at W.A. Franke College of At 10:33 a.m., the Allen Business reported a laptop Hall RHD reported the theft. NAUPD responded and theft of fire alarms. NAUPD took a report. responded and took a report.

At 9:32 p.m., a bus driver near Campus Heights reported another vehicle’s driver At 2:27 p.m., a Cowden throwing an object at the bus.

Hall RA reported damage to an NAUPD responded, but no exit sign. NAUPD responded contact was made. and took a report.

At 10:11 p.m., an Ardrey At 6:41 p.m., multiple Auditorium staff member people reported a small reported a broken elevator. brushfire in lot 33. Officers NAUPD responded and responded and the fire was confirmed no one was stuck extinguished. inside. Work Control was notified.

Sept. 21 At 7:00 a.m., a staff Sept. 23 member reported a nonstudent At 2:05 p.m., a student laying on the ground in front of reported a bicycle that rearGammage. NAUPD, Flagstaff end collided with a vehicle in Fire Department (FFD) and lot 68. NAUPD responded Guardian Medical Transport and took a report for a public (GMT) responded, and the accident. nonstudent was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center At 7:27 p.m., a Taylor (FMC).

Hall resident reported the theft of their bicycle. NAUPD At 9:34 a.m., a Facility responded and took a report.

Services staff member reported a suspicious odor. NAUPD At 10:46 p.m., a responded and found a McConnell Hall RA reported pressure washer caused it. a broken exit sign. NAUPD responded, discovered a report At 1:48 p.m., a faculty was already taken and provided member at the Communication information. building requested assistance for a student who had passed At 11:31 p.m., a out. NAUPD, FFD and GMT Tinsley Hall RA reported an responded, and the student intoxicated student. NAUPD, was transported to FMC. FFD and GMT responded.

GMT cleared the student At 8:25 p.m., an Allen and they were booked into Hall RA reported a damaged Coconino County Sheriff’s exit sign. NAUPD responded Office Jail for underage and took a report. consumption of alcohol.

Sept. 22 At 10:46 a.m, an Allen Hall resident reported an injury. NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded, but the student declined medical transport.

compiled by Mark Fabery

Total Number of COVID-19 VACCINE DOSES ADMINISTERED:

At 4:59 p.m., South Village Apartments received a supervisory alarm. NAUPD responded and discovered steam as the cause. Fire Life Safety was notified.

157,207 PERCENT OF COVID-19 VACCINE DOSES UTILIZED: 143.2%

Sept. 25 At 7:17 p.m., an Allen Hall RA reported an alarm going off in the sprinkler rising room. NAUPD responded and the alarm was cleared.

TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF COVID-19 VACCINE: 86,254

At 8:28 p.m., a McConnell Hall resident reported a student was attempting suicide. NAUPD responded and the subject was found in good health. Terros Health responded and will continue providing assistance.

PERCENT OF PEOPLE VACCINATED: 58.6% NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19: 74,082

Sept. 26 At 12:37 a.m., Facility Services reported an audible alarm sounding in Pine Ridge Village. NAUPD and FFD responded and found a malfunctioning system caused it. Fire Life Safety was notified.

At 1:18 a.m., a University Safety Aide reported observing subjects taking a Parking Services sign at Pine Knoll Drive and South Huffer Lane. One nonstudent and two students were cited and released for failure to provide truthful names. The parking signs were returned.

At 7:26 p.m., a Cowden Hall staff member reported Sept. 24 a stolen fire extinguisher.

At 12:24 a.m., a McKay NAUPD responded and took Village resident reported a report. subjects who were possibly on the roof and being loud.

NAUPD responded and witnessed no criminal activity.

Judge throws out Arizona’s ban on mask mandates Mark Fabery

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new state law preventing schools from imposing mask mandates on students, teachers and staff is unconstitutional, a Maricopa County judge ruled Monday.

Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper said the ban on COVID-19 mitigation measures violated the single-subject rule because the budget reconciliation bills among which it and other legislation were included did not accurately inform voters of changes.

“The bill is classic logrolling — a medley of special interests cobbled together to force a vote for all or none,” Cooper said in her 17-page ruling.

Moreover, Cooper voided a plethora of laws approved by the state legislature during the final days of its session, some which related to the election process. Read more at jackcentral.org

SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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NAU Advanced Media Lab exploring the effects of climate change Marissa Abreu

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or about a year, the Advanced Media Lab (AML) has encouraged students to explore their abilities by using technology to push the limits of creativity. This inspired senior Kaitlyn Bolland, and in order to combine her interests in environmental studies and drone photography, along with documenting how climate change affects wildfires and floods in northern Arizona, she began brainstorming.

Bolland pitched a series of written stories with a focus on flooding and fires, along with addressing the general principle of climate change driving natural disasters.

Prior to her work with the AML, Bolland said she was unaware of the facility and its opportunities — until a friend connected her with Giovanni Castillo, visual communication lecturer and AML director. Bolland said they discussed her interest in environmental studies, and Castillo suggested the idea of natural disasters and climate change.

“It was kind of what I was already interested in and what people here [in Flagstaff] knew were issues that my talents and skills could report on,” Bolland said.

Moreover, the three-part documentary will cover flooding, wildfires and how these relate to climate change. Bolland also plans to collaborate with the AML’s film and media team to gather footage for the five-to-six-minute documentary.

Much like Bolland, the film and media team has connections to potential sources, most of whom are faculty and staff, including Tayloe Dubay, knowledge specialist at the Ecological Restoration Institute; JoAnna Ignac, longtime Flagstaff resident; Brady Smith, public information officer for Coconino National Forest; and professor of sustainable communities Peter Friederici.

Bolland said she anticipates holding discussions with residents personally impacted by the disasters. Furthermore, she aims to speak with locals who were impacted by the destruction of this summer’s monsoon flooding. She explained her intent to interview local wildland firefighters to learn more about the burn scars, fire locations and impacts on the community.

“I really want to tell a compelling story about what’s going on here because there are floods, fires and there is climate change,” Bolland said. “I don’t know if many people know they’re connected.”

Among the film and media team is group lead and junior Aidan Williams, who is researching burn sites and flooding areas, including Mount Elden, the Rafael Fire scar and neighborhoods like Sunnyside and Linda Vista. To gain diverse footage for the documentary, they propose going further outside Flagstaff.

“We were talking about potentially going to Tonto National Forest,” Williams said. “They were hit extremely hard by the recent wildfires in the summer.”

Williams also discussed the possibility of going to the Sedona area, which was impacted by the Rafael Fire this summer. The fire burned both Tule and Sycamore canyons, and visiting would allow the documentary team the chance to integrate burn sites.

In addition, Williams said they plan to use drones to capture the majority of the footage — especially for analyzing the landscape — but the team intends to interview residents who

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THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Jayden Mason, Giovanni Castillo, Graham Hagerty, Aidan Williams, and Kaitlyn Bolland (left to right) watch the Advanced Media Lab’s drone as they take footage for their environmental documentary off Elden Lookout Road, Sept. 20.

Megan Ford-Fyffe| The Lumberjack

“[We’re] drawing this connection between drought, climate change, fires and flooding. We’re tying it in, making people aware [of the situation].”

– Graham Hagerty, AML arts director and lab manager

are victims of natural disasters in Flagstaff. Williams added that when the documentary is finished, it will look like a journalistic production.

Bolland, Castillo and several AML interns, along with the film and media teams, traveled to Mount Elden on Sept. 20 to shoot footage of burn sites and washouts. The burn site they analyzed was from the 2019 Museum Fire, and this same location

contributed to the summer’s flooding.

Graham Hagerty, AML arts director and lab manager, was among the group that visited Mount Elden. He explained a number of people do not understand that catastrophic flooding can be inflicted by long-term droughts.

With recent forest fires and current drought conditions, the soil essentially becomes as hard as pavement, Hagerty said. If the soil is impermeable, rainwater slides off. “[We’re] drawing this connection between drought, climate change, fires and flooding,” Hagerty said. “We’re tying it in, making people aware [of the situation].”

Bolland said she hopes the documentary will show the precise impacts wildfires and flooding have on communities. In turn, Bolland also explained her aspirations are to inform the public and accurately illustrate the increase in natural disasters.

The documentary is scheduled to be finished by the end of the fall semester. Students in the AML have released projects similar to Bolland’s, such as “Vanishing River,” which documents the Colorado River’s decline down to Lake Mead. Additionally, a display wall titled Life of a Meteor allows scientists to track meteors and inform the public about them. Bolland’s project is an example of what the AML strives for: exploring new horizons and pushing the boundaries of creativity.

NEWS

A new framework for a path to carbon neutrality Annika Beck

Illustration By Christian Ayala

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s a potential solution to the climate emergency declared in June 2020, Flagstaff City Council discussed the adoption of the Flagstaff Carbon Neutrality Plan (FCNP) during a June 15 meeting. The FCNP builds upon the 2018 Flagstaff Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP).

Climate change, which is greatly affected by greenhouse gase emissions, has drastically changed global weather patterns.

Greenhouse gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere and eventually cause temperatures to rise. Furthermore, these atmospheric changes can cause poor air conditions, extreme weather and an increase in wildfires. The Carbon Neutrality Plan anticipates this climate change and aims for a carbon-neutral environment.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 2% since 1990. Global warming has been observed through rising sea levels, ocean temperatures and air temperatures. According to the CAAP, as climate change progresses, the Flagstaff region is bound to experience drastic weather changes such as warmer temperatures, a decrease in snow levels and vulnerability to wildfires.

The CAAP provides community climate resilience to act against negative changes, which is connected to improved infrastructure systems and educating the public on climate change, in addition to less dependency on vehicles.

Additionally, gas emissions will be reduced around the city to anticipate, accommodate and adjust to the hazards of a changing climate. Climate adaptation will prepare the region for the current and future effects of global warming. Moreover, adaptability actions will ensure Flagstaff is better suited for climate emergencies and can flourish amid short-term disruptions and long-term change.

The FCNP aims to achieve a community net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. To achieve this, the Flagstaff Carbon Neutrality Plan is shown to make improvements in city systems to reduce miles traveled by vehicles and repair buildings with new electrical systems. The plan also shows carbon dioxide removal and renewable energy designs for buildings.

Jillian Goulet, climate engagement coordinator for the city of Flagstaff, oversees a variety of programs related to climate change.

Goulet manages social media accounts, newsletters, events and different climate programs like educational and sustainability training.

“There really is no exact timeframe for this plan,” Goulet said. “The goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, but we must keep going beyond that. Climate change is happening now, and we must be taking action.”

In order to estimate the appropriate budget for carbon neutrality, the plan is currently undergoing a financial analysis.

Goulet explained once the process is finished, CAAP could receive allocations from relocated city funds or by raising taxes.

The proposal calls for migration action, which reduces the severity of climate change by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting their concentration in the atmosphere. Flagstaff is set to adopt sustainable mobility options that include electric public transportation, e-bikes and the rapid market increase of electric

vehicles.

The FCNP requests improvement of land-use systems and transportation, which could ameliorate the community’s dependency on cars, as well as encouraging walking, biking and public transportation. The U.S. EPA classifies the burning of fossil fuel activity for heat, electricity and transportation as the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions nationwide; on average, a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Flagstaff sustainability manager Nicole Antonopoulos helps to create and implement sustainability programs and policies within Flagstaff. In order to reach carbon neutrality, she noted the city needs to rethink how it utilizes energy.

“We need to rethink our neighborhoods, our land and how we get around town, as well as how we relate to each other,” Antonopoulos said. “We need to rethink our energy sources and what fuels we use in our homes and vehicles. Here in Flagstaff, 50% of emissions come from operating our buildings, therefore we must reduce our buildings’ emissions. … 30% of our emissions come from transportation, therefore we must reduce these emissions by transforming our community so it becomes one that requires less driving.”

Goulet mentioned some controversy regarding the plan, but she said survery responses have been positive, demonstrating

transparent communication between the city and community. Additionally, Goulet explained the importance of community resilience and migration, which are two of nine goals the plan proposes.

“They’re all important, but they are different goals,” Goulet said. “Community resilience is how we respond to climate change. We know it’s changing, and we need to deal with the effects and adjust to what the city needs. On the migration side, it’s important to decrease energy sources and be less dependent on cars.”

According to the United Nations, there are many ways for individuals to take action against climate change. Simple acts such as shopping with a reusable bag, cutting food waste and turning off the lights can help the environment immensely.

“One less car trip a week is all it takes, and see what you can do from there,” Goulet said. “I really like the quote by Katharine Hayhoe, who said the number one thing you can do to combat climate change is talk about climate change.”

To achieve carbon neutrality, the city intends to measure annual emissions produced by the Flagstaff community. The plan will take many years and extensive community action. As the Flagstaff Carbon Neutrality Plan is integrated, it could serve as a cushion for the future effects of climate change.

SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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NEWS

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COMIC SPOT

Hello Lumberjacks, We are NAU’s student-run newspaper, The Lumberjack. We are starting a weekly newsletter, the LJ Express, to get the news you need to know straight into your inbox! We will be sharing with you COVID-19 updates, city council news, sports coverage and all the happenings within the Flagstaff and NAU community.

If you would like to subscribe click here!

If you have any questions feel free to email us at lumberjack@nau.edu.

SEPT. 30- OCT. 6, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

Heel, sit, think before you adopt a new pet Josh Ostby

Media fixation with missing white women

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y TikTok and Instagram feeds have recently been flooded with amateur sleuths trying to help authorities find Gabby Petito, a young woman who was reported missing Sept. 11 after her fiance, Brian Laundrie, returned home Sept. 1 from a monthlong, cross-country road trip — without her.

Petito’s remains were found in Grand MARLEY Teton National Park in Wyoming on Sept.

GREEN 19, and her death was ruled a homicide ASSISTANT OP-ED two days later. Laundrie, who has been EDITOR uncooperative with police, was reported missing Sept. 17.

In August, bystanders called police after witnessing Laundrie repeatedly slap Petito, but neither mentioned this incident to law enforcement officials. The couple chose not to press charges, and police decided it’d be best to separate them for the night.

It's safe to say the case has taken the internet by storm; feeds are overflowing with posts mourning her death or theorizing about what happened.

While the case is tragic and compelling, the conversation it sparks about what some dub “missing white woman syndrome” is one worth having.

It’s unequivocal that missing white women get much more media coverage and, as a result, public outrage than women of color. Gabby Petito, JonBenét Ramsey and Elizabeth Smart are all stories most people are relatively familiar with.

Almost 40% of missing persons in 2020 were People of Color. We don’t know their names.

In Wyoming, where Petito was found, over 700 Indigenous people are missing, and only 30% of them have received media coverage.

When the media falls short, Black and Missing is a nonprofit organization committed to raising awareness of missing Persons of Color. They credit the gap in media coverage to desensitization and criminalization of minority groups.

“It is believed that missing minorities live in impoverished conditions and crime is a regular part of their lives,” the nonprofit’s infographic on 2020 missing persons statistics stated.

As a journalism student, this disparity is extremely disquieting, and it should be to everyone. It’s not to say white women’s stories aren’t tragic. The issue concerns all of the nation.

I want justice for Gabby Petito — her story is gutwrenching. But I also want justice for the hundreds of missing People of Color. Surely, there is space in newsrooms for their stories as well.

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THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

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oneliness is a common feeling, and many resort to animal companionship to remedy it.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the country was at its loneliest, pet adoption rates soared. Shelter Animals Count operates a database that tracks shelter and rescue activity — keeping tabs on approximately 2,000 organizations around the country — and it saw a 17% increase in adoptions in 2020 compared to the previous year.

Unfortunately, 8 to 10% of the time, those pets are given back, as stated by Shelter Animals Count data report from January.

Last week, my roommate fell victim to that same cycle. He had been talking about it for a while, saying he just “wanted a little buddy around the house” and asking “wouldn’t it be cute?”

One day, I came home and saw a dog bowl being filled with water and a happy Australian shepherd puppy lapping it up before a drop could go to waste. Its cone made it difficult to keep the bowl in place, but the dog didn’t seem to notice. Every new person who walked into the room got a greeting in the form of a sniff and a lick, and we all thought this was a pretty nice addition to the house.

I witnessed the excitement of getting a new dog firsthand — initially being devoted to making sure the pet’s arrival was comfortable — but then, almost out of nowhere, a severe drop in attention occurred when my roommate realized he still had a life of his own.

A variety of situations happened: He was gone for school, work or whatever else and, all of a sudden, this dog wasn’t getting the attention it deserved.

As roommates and observers, of course, the other tenants and I felt bad. Within days, we found ourselves having to feed, water and potty-train this dog when the owner wasn’t around.

It wasn’t hard work, but we didn’t sign up to take care of a dog. It’s for this reason we don’t have other pets around the house ourselves.

Upon noticing the unfair situation involving this dog, that roommate did the responsible thing. After heartfelt goodbyes, he decided to return it to the shelter: Coconino Humane Association.

Coconino Humane is a no-kill shelter that recorded a 96% live release rate in 2019-20, which means that percentage of animals were given away or passed to another no-kill shelter. However, there is still a chance that if nobody adopted the animal again, it could transferred to a different shelter — potentially one practicing euthanasia.

Owners adopt with the intention of caring for a pet until the end of its lifetime, which could be close to a 20-year endeavor. If potential pet owners haven't contemplated that factor, they could feel overwhelming anxiety when suddenly needing to take care of a new dog or cat.

As for my roommate, he realized adopting the dog

would be a responsibility for much longer than he was fully capable of committing to.

If that’s the case, then it’s worth considering a shorter-term commitment like adopting a much older animal or fostering a pet for a temporary period.

Also, if pet owners find themselves in this situation — wherein they can’t take care of the adopted animal — it’s helpful to remember the dog or cat doesn’t have to return to the pound right away.

Consider putting in some work and looking around for anybody else trying to get a new pet. If the return process can be avoided and the pet can find a new, loving home right away, then that's the safest bet.

Most importantly, we should not shame a new pet owner for returning an animal. It is good to know when you have bit off more than you can chew. Instead of continuing with a lack of commitment, or even negligence, the owner is giving an opportunity for that pet to have the best life possible. It's always better to find that pet a loving home.

However, before the paperwork goes through and that dog or cat is put in your car with a cone on its head, think of the implications.

It isn’t something to do on a whim; those animals deserve better than being an off-the-cuff purchase and hasty return.

Illustration By Jessie Siemens

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Real heroes don't wear uniforms Trevor Skeen

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arly in quarantine, and shortly before Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests, infamous words echoed around the country: “I can’t breathe.” Repeatedly and resolutely, George Floyd used this phrase until his death in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Former police officer Derek Chauvin was charged with murdering Floyd — and was eventually convicted in court — presenting a rare instance of police accountability after discriminatory and violent practices.

In Flagstaff and around Arizona, people were angry. I read about systemic racism, discussed inequality and marched in solidarity at BLM protests. I smiled for a number of reasons: My friends talking, petitions circling and conversations of change starting nationwide.

From my 19-year-old perspective, and somehow happening during a global health crisis, this was progress.

But Floyd died in the system. Although litigating Chauvin and remembering Floyd are good starting points, an inestimable number of people have been h u r t ,

abandoned or killed by the same principles of racism and inequality.

Many of their names are left unheard, some closer to home than the Minneapolis Police Department.

Almost two and a half years before him, another human died at the hands of police: Muhammad Muhaymin.

This time, however, the brutality happened at a community center in Phoenix. When trying to use the bathroom with his service dog and chihuahua, Chiquita, a manager refused and called the police. After officers arrived, Muhammad was allowed to use the bathroom — as the law required — but authorities ran his name and found a warrant for possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to Ben Cohen, one-half of Ben & Jerry's, and musician Aloe Blacc’s podcast, “Unaccountable,” Muhammad was worried about Chiquita and resisted arrest — before officers killed him.

Based on the audio from that day, his situation was eerily similar to Floyd’s: “Why are you doing this?” “I can't believe this” and finally, “I can’t breathe” were statements he desperately used.

After eight minutes and 30 seconds, approximately, Muhammad’s body went limp, he vomited and his heart stopped. While Chiquita ran in circles, he died on the sidewalk.

“At one point, as many as six Phoenix police officers were on top of Muhammad as he pleaded for his life,” Blacc said during the podcast.

Unfortunately, Muhammad’s demographics are unsurprising: Black, homeless and diagnosed with schizophrenia. His sister, Mussalina Muhaymin, said Chiquita was his “child.”

Unlike the situation between Floyd and Chauvin, there was no cellphone footage of Phoenix police officers killing Muhammad, which eliminated public pressure in forcing prosecutors to file charges.

Based on these circumstances, Blacc said Mussalina’s only option was to litigate, following a civil rights violation, but another standard makes that nearly impossible: Qualified Immunity.

According to the American Bar Association (ABA), Qualified Immunity holds police and other law enforcement bureaus to “near-zero accountability,” despite their job to enforce such principles and their obligation to act reasonably.

As Ben Cohen addressed in the podcast, plenty of irony stems from police agencies being trained in and trusted to use lethal force — unlike other elements of society — despite their unaccountability in doing so.

As referenced by the ABA, and remarked

by Don Willett, a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals, “qualified immunity smacks of unqualified impunity [to some observers], letting public officials duck consequences for bad behavior — no matter how palpably

unreasonable — as long as they were the first to behave badly.”

During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the Supreme Court created Qualified Immunity and “eviscerated” congressional legislation allowing citizens to sue police officers for violating civil and constitutional rights, as Cohen said.

The right to litigate passed in 1871, when ironically, police officers by day and Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members by night were terrorizing Black communities. This overlap between law enforcement and white supremacy translated into the people’s right to prosecute, but again, everything changed in the '60s and with Qualified Immunity.

“Under this doctrine, government agents — including, but not limited to police officers — can never be sued for violating someone’s civil rights, unless they violated ‘clearly established law,’” the ABA stated. “While this is an amorphous, malleable standard, it generally requires civil rights plaintiffs to show not just a clear legal rule, but a prior case with functionally identical facts.”

Further, the ABA concluded courts commonly hold police officers and government agents as violating someone’s rights, but no remedy is possible without the exact precedent of misconduct.

Looking back to Muhammad’s situation, then, it is demonstrative of Qualified Immunity making justice unlikely — and nearly impossible.

Attorney Faraj Harem found an “eerily similar” case in Anaheim, California, as mentioned in the podcast, wherein officers kneeled on Brian Drummond and put him in a vegetative state during a mental health episode.

He died seven years later.

Despite parallel, and almost identical, circumstances, litigators found one difference: Muhammad’s hands were forcefully put in front of him, while Drummond’s were handcuffed behind him the entire time.

In all likelihood, this minute distinction is enough for Qualified Immunity to protect Illustration By diana Ortega

Continued on Page 10

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OPINION-EDITORIAL the podcast. Muhammad's case is still scheduled for an April 25 trial, albeit four year after his death, according to Associated Press.

However, if history shows anything, the odds are unfavorable.

“The system is rigged; it’s rigged to catch only the most blatant and egregious violations of law,” attorney David Chami remarked.

Despite all the downsides, there is hope.

Although states must abide by federal law, at least to an extent, they are capable of passing their own legislation.

According to the National Conference of State Legislators, Colorado statutorily limited Qualified Immunity for police officers and law enforcement officials in cases at the state level. Further, and similar to the congressional legislation enacted when KKK members were commonly in the police force, officers are personally liable for 5% or $25,000 of the judgment — whichever is less —

if their actions are proven unlawful.

Through HB 6004, Connecticut also eradicated governmental immunity as a defense, but without referencing Qualified Immunity explicitly.

Under President Joe Biden and the Democratic administration, progress is finally starting on a national level. According to Congress, the House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act on March 3, which limits qualified immunity as a defense to liability.

However, NPR noted the act faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where Republicans are pursuing a different plan to limit chokeholds — but not ban them. The last update provided by Congress recognized the Senate as receiving this legislation, but provided no timeline for voting.

Despite these developments, officers and the Phoenix Police Department have not faced consequences for Muhammad’s death. Aligning with the theme of

Cohen and Blacc’s “Unaccountable” podcast, there has been little to no accountability.

However, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an investigation in August.

“This investigation will assess all types of use of force by PhxPD officers, including deadly force,” a DOJ release stated. “[It] will include a comprehensive review of PhxPD policies, training, supervision and force investigations, as well as PhxPD’s system of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition and discipline.”

The DOJ’s assessment is pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits law enforcement officers from depriving individual rights through patterns and practices of conduct.

“One of the highest priorities of the Civil Rights Division is to ensure that every person in this country benefits from policing that is lawful, effective, transparent, and free from discrimination,” Clarke said. “Police officers across the country must use their authority in a manner that adheres to the Constitution, complies with federal civil rights laws and respects human dignity.”

Cohen and Blacc, meanwhile, demanded individual action. The U.S. Capitol Switchboard is available for anyone to call — at (202) 2243121 — and connect with their state senate’s office.

Be direct: Qualified Immunity is nonsensical, and it must end.

In our longstanding system of racism and inequality, change must come from everywhere, especially from the people.

On Jan. 4, 2017, when police officers killed Muhammad at a community center, I was returning to high school from winter break. My

Mussalina Muhaymin, brother of Muhammad Muhaymin, sits in her home June 5, 2020. Phoenix police officers faced no discipline, nor criminal conviction, for their actions. Courtesy of Associated Press.

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life was normal: Stress about classes, excitement about sports, uncertainty about college. Meanwhile, a human died for trying to use a bathroom and for worrying about his dog.

Until a few weeks ago, and upon reading a piece in USA Today, I had never heard Muhammad’s name — probably. Even worse is the possibility that I watched his name on the news, glanced at it on a headline or listened as someone mentioned it. Truthfully, I have no idea.

The doctrine of Qualified Immunity, on the other hand, was more recognizable. Even though I knew about it, and hated the irony of police officers enforcing accountability for others while evading it themselves, I was unaware of its calamitous effect.

“Qualified Immunity is killing him a second time, because it’s allowing the individuals who perpetuated this to get away with it — and continue to get away with it,” Mussalina said about her brother.

Not all police officers are bad, but many are, and the system in which they operate is even worse. Real heroes do not wear uniforms; instead, they are loving, fighting and charging their way toward reform. They are targeting the very structure that gives uniforms.

Mussalina authored the opinion article that educated and inspired me on her brother’s life. Regardless of when and where I heard Muhammad’s name for the first time, I remember it because of her.

After her article, USA Today stated Mussalina is a HIT Training Manager in a community health center, and one who “devoted herself to the pursuit of justice” for Muhammad.

She also works with the Campaign to End Qualified Immunity, which is the same organization Cohen co-chairs with Jerry Greenfield, the secondhalf of Ben & Jerry's. After losing her brother to the system, Mussalina is advocating for and advancing toward equal treatment under law.

Remember one thing: She is the hero.

OPINION-EDITORIAL

SEPT. 30- OCT. 6, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

People turn to food banks for Amarjyot Bining

T “between the mobile home distributions, home deliveries and food bank-based emergency food box distribution programs, FFFC is projected to distribute 7 million pounds of food to the community in 2021 — up 3 million pounds from 2019.”

– Volunteer Coordinator Jason Kordosky

Sunshine Rescue Mission & Hope Cottage serves the community as a food kitchen to all and an emergency-restoration shelter for men, Sept. 26. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack

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he COVID-19 pandemic left many people financially unstable and, in some instances, businesses were forced to close and lay off workers. Despite these struggles, homeless shelters and food banks opened their doors to individuals in need.

Paycheck Protection Program is a form of financial aid that helped businesses pay employees earlier in the pandemic. However, according to a Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce study conducted in 2020, 31% of those surveyed believed they would need additional assistance beyond the program’s expiration date: May 31.

When the pandemic began, roughly four out of 10 people visited food banks for the first time, according to Feeding America. As a community, there are many ways to help food banks: Conducting volunteer work, signing pledges and writing letters of appreciation for food bank workers, to name a few.

According to the organization’s website, Flagstaff Family Food Center (FFFC) provides emergency food boxes for community members facing food insecurity. The center offers a range of different services to help, such as home deliveries and mobile distributions.

Employees served 63,000 hot meals last year, and another 695,000 were distributed to local nonprofits.

Samantha Stone, programs and city partnership director for FFFC, said the pandemic was a serious problem for the center, which had to shut down due to the lack of volunteers. Without enough people available, she said no options remained.

“One major difficulty for us during the pandemic was declining volunteer participation,” Stone said.

“We need 58 volunteers daily to operate all 13 of our hunger relief programs, and many of our volunteers are part of the high-risk populations for COVID-19, and so had to step down.”

After the federal government halted unemployment aid available earlier in the pandemic, Stone said people became more unstable financially.

“In order to meet the increased needs of the community during the pandemic, FFFC has begun a mobile distribution program; this was with seven weekly community distributions,” Stone said. “This also expanded the homebound delivery program to serve not only seniors, but also individuals who were affected by the pandemic. Between mobile distributions, home deliveries and food bank-based emergency food box distribution programs, FFFC is projected to distribute 7 million pounds of food to the community in 2021 — up 3 million pounds from 2019.”

Stone said she and her team organized emergency food banks at elementary schools and other locations. She added that for some people, these sites were convenient and accessible.

When food stamps and funds were disbursed through the federal government, FFFC volunteer coordinator Jason Kordosky said the organization saw less demand. Once again, FFFC is helping more people who need assistance from food banks, which is similar to the onset of COVID-19.

“We definitely had an increase of people needing

FEATURES

r support amid the pandemic “We did struggle at the start — we had to cancel volunteer shifts as everyone’s health and safety was a priority — but this meant everyone who was still working had to face an increased demand.”

– Volunteer Coordinator Jason Kordosky food assistance at the start of the pandemic,” Kordosky said. “We did struggle at the start — we had to cancel volunteer shifts as everyone’s health and safety was a priority — but this meant everyone who was still working had to face an increased demand.”

According to its website, Green Jacks aims to create a culture of sustainability on campus, and the club teamed with Neighborhood Ventures to harvest apples for the food center.

Green Jacks President and sophomore Caroline Reed said working with partners, such as Willow Bend Environmental Education Center and Louie’s Cupboard, enables the club to make a significant impact within Flagstaff. Additionally, the group has helped other food banks, as well as organized volunteer efforts for distribution days.

“It’s nice to do something outside NAU, so we’re able to help Flagstaff as a community rather than primarily just focus on NAU,” Reed said. “It’s nice to know that we can make impacts across the Flagstaff community and have focused on all of the city.

[Partnering with Neighborhood Ventures] involves [the board] and five others from Green Jacks who have volunteered. We’ll be picking apples with Micro Roots Farm.”

A survey conducted at NAU in 2019 documented that 57.9% of participating students could not always afford balanced meals; in general, Reed said the college demographic struggles with food insecurity, which was heightened by the pandemic. Although restrictions eased in certain places, difficult situations are still prevalent in many shapes and forms.

A number of small businesses collapsed, but more persisted, as did many nonprofits. In their effort to help the community, food banks are continuously looking for volunteers, and FFFC’s website lists this as one resource for students, faculty and other residents to give back.

At Sunshine Rescue Mission, James Heth has taken advantage of the shelter and hot meals, Sept. 26. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack

A man eats a meal after a volunteer gives it to him at Target, Sept. 26.

Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack

SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

5 under 5: Hiking trails in Flagstaff under 5 miles Shay Maruna

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estled in the mountains and surrounded

by Ponderosa pines, Flagstaff is one of the gems of Arizona. The city is home to the tallest mountain in the state and is one of few places with a heavy snow season in comparison to the surrounding ecosystems.

The college town is a great place to explore the outdoors and partake in an array of activities like hiking.

In addition to being beneficial to physical well-being, hiking improves emotions in all aspects of life. In a city bursting with culture and scenic spots, Coconino County locals can sightsee almost every day.

One study published in Nature Neuroscience examined the positive correlation between mental health and daily variability in physical location.

Junior Isaiah Lopez said he has seen the positive impact of hiking in his life. When he has free time between classes and studying, getting outside has proven to be a good way to unwind during a long week.

“Whenever I’ve had a stressful day, or just need some time to reset, I like to clear my mind by taking a walk or a hike,” Lopez said. “After taking a pause, I find that I can come back to my work feeling refreshed and ready to start again with more energy than I had before.”

Lopez recently picked up hiking in his free time, something he had not tried before moving to Flagstaff for college. Although he currently enjoys shorter hikes closer to campus, Lopez said he is not opposed to experimenting with more difficult trails in the future.

“Part of the reason I’ve acquired a love for hiking is because I can go for a little while whenever I have the time,” Lopez said. “I hope I can do bigger hikes soon; those just take more time and preparation to plan. As a college student, it’s less difficult to do [a] spontaneous and quick [hike] when the opportunity presents itself.”

Junior John Mecklin has been a frequent hiker for the last three years. Mecklin said he believes the outdoors positively affected his life and he plans to use his parks and recreation management degree to become an interpretive park ranger upon graduation.

Mecklin said he enjoys listening to the sounds of nature away from the noise people make. Being outside allows Mecklin to think and reflect without the worry of constant interference. He said, to him, nature has a way of connecting people in a healthy and

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meaningful way. Living in Flagstaff has provided Mecklin with an abundance of outdoor settings, he explained, where his love for nature can grow even stronger.

“As long as I am outside and getting to show people how cool the outdoors are, I’m happy with anything,” Mecklin said. “There is so much love and acceptance in the outdoors, and I think it would be a shame to not go looking for it.

People should go outside and take advantage of the breathtaking public lands that we are lucky enough to be surrounded by.”

According to the Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS), there are about 56 miles of trails in the city. In addition, there are plans for another 75 miles, which would total approximately 130 miles of trails in the area.

FUTS also documented these trails as ranging from areas along busy streets to more secluded parts of canyons, forests and meadows. The system also features easy, moderate and hard levels of terrain.

For individuals living in or visiting Flagstaff, and looking for an easy trail with beautiful scenery, Buffalo Park Trail is an excellent option. According to hikers using All Trails, Buffalo Park is a 2.2-mile trail that takes an estimated 60 minutes to complete and is located eight minutes from campus. This hiking loop sees high traffic and welcomes dogs on leashes. Further, the trail has an average rating of 4.4 stars and over 1,600 people have marked it as completed on the All Trails website.

Another hike located within city limits is Fatman’s Loop Trail, which is 11 minutes from campus and rated as moderate difficulty.

With 4.5 stars, this particular hike is rated slightly better than Buffalo Park Trail, although it is usually busy with hikers. The hike can be expected to take around an hour and a half.

For those looking for a slightly longer trek, but wanting to keep a manageable level of difficulty, Rio de Flag South Trail might be a great option to get outdoors. This trail is approximately 4.2 miles and takes around two hours to complete, according to All Trails. Only a four-minute drive from campus, people can look forward to a moderately trafficked loop that welcomes pets on leashes and features a natural escape — with plenty of wildflowers.

Similarly, the Soldier and Highlands Trail Loop is 4.3 miles, roundtrip, within the Flagstaff area. This trail is recognized as moderate difficulty and takes roughly one hour and 45 minutes to complete. Seven minutes south of campus, this loop also receives a fair amount of foot traffic and includes river scenery,

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as well as forests.

Lastly, for those looking for a bit more of a challenge, the Walnut Canyon Short Hike is located 20 minutes from campus. Taking an estimated two hours and thirty minutes to complete, this trail is 4.8 miles long. This moderate trip takes hikers on an out-and-back trail that passes through various terrains.

In and around Flagstaff, these are a few of the abundant trails people can enjoy. Students also have the option of choosing to explore individually, or connecting with a group such as the NAU Hiking Club. Members partake in hikes, camping and other activities, while learning basic wilderness survival and other valuable skills. Hikers described the organization as consisting of a wonderful group of people and being a safe place to meet those with diverse backgrounds.

Since she joined the club freshman year, senior Julia Totty has been a NAU Hiking Club officer. Totty also manages the club’s social

media accounts and promotes appreciation of the outdoors.

“I love to be outside, so [Flagstaff] is the perfect place to do that,” Totty said. “Enjoy the Earth; it would be a shame not to be familiar with it.”

Totty said a lot of people underestimate themselves, and she encourages them to not be scared of the outdoors. Part of the reason Totty enjoys being part of the NAU Hiking Club is because of the supportive atmosphere the group fosters. With hiking events planned weekly, she said it is easy for everyone involved to grow in their own way.

The mountain town of Flagstaff has something to offer beginning and expert hikers alike. Throughout the city, visitors and residents have the option to get outside and be healthy.

People around Coconino County have the unique chance to dive into surrounding culture while benefiting from an increase in positivity — even on an easy trail.

A trail is shown in Buffalo Park. Trevor Skeen | The Lumberjack

FEATURES

SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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CULTURE

‘Rule of Wolves’ is the perfect bookend for the Grishaverse

T

hough the series is considered fantasy, I felt “Rule of Wolves” was the first book within the Grishaverse that captured everything the genre means. Leigh Bardugo took her time weaving these plots together, allowing the characters and stories to be independent in their own right.

In this book, readers were able to dive into General Zoya Nazyalensky’s past, and could see her inner dialogue play out as she literally and figuratively pulled EMILY GERDES back her scales, opening herself up to being loved.

Bardugo did an amazing job illustrating the inner DIRECTOR OF workings of Fjerda’s elite society: The Ice Court. Hanne DIGITAL CONTENT and Nina’s relationship, which developed while the couple was secretly spying on Fjerdan military activity on the behalf of Ravka, absolutely pulled on my heartstrings as they went from platonic friends to something more — husband and wife. Actually, let me correct myself, they ultimately became Fjerda’s Grisha king and Grisha queen. The rulers of a country built upon the fear and hatred of Grisha.

This ending leaves my mind racing about the future of Ravka and Fjerda.

If they put their differences aside, they would be a truly unstoppable alliance.

The genius brain of Nikolai to trick Queen Makhi Kir-Taban of Shu Han to attend the royal wedding of Genya and David was truly the icing on the cake for me to fall right back in love with him. Nikolai’s schemes and political moves add so much dimension to the story and his character. After waiting years, “Rule of Wolves” gave fans the declaration of feelings between Nikolai and Zoya. All the angst and pining between the King of Scars and Queen of Storms finally paid off.

Genya and David’s relationship is pure, especially in a world where a man has the power to summon literal darkness. I do believe the Darkling’s redemption arc was unnecessary, but I appreciated the people who were wronged by him having the chance to stand up and make a final speech in their defense.

This book wrapped up the future of so many characters with a bow, yet allowed them to remain unknown at the same time. Will Nikolai rule alongside Zoya, or will he take to the seas as his alternate persona, privateer Sturmhond? Will he work with the Wraith? Will Zoya, Genya, and Alina free the Darkling? Does Hanne’s family ever find out the truth about them being alive or that they are Grisha?

If you are interested in exploring the King of Scars duology, I have a warning: The book is written from multiple points of view with all the plots rotating around one another. This structure is much easier to understand if you have already read the “Shadow and Bone” and “Six of Crows” series.

In the end, I am giving “Rule of Wolves” a 10/10, because after I closed the back cover I was left with that wonderful mixture of sadness; it was over, but I was satisfied with how it ended.

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Sept. 20-26: Voice casting and Emmy awards Recent releases:

Katelyn Rodriguez Top five stories of the week: 1. R&B singer Sarah Dash, who was part of the group Labelle, died. She was 76.

2. Actor Willie Garson, known for his role of Stanford Blatch on “Sex and the City,” died. He was 57.

3. According to Page Six, singer Grimes and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have broke up after three years. The pair has a one-year-old son, X Æ A-12 Musk.

4. The voice cast for the upcoming “Super Mario Bros.” movie has been revealed and includes Chris Pratt (Mario), Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach) and Jack Black (Bowser), just to name a few.

5. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney sued the estates of Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and Gene Colan, to keep the rights of popular Avengers characters, which include Iron Man, Falcon, Dr. Strange, Spider-Man and Black Widow, among others.

Top 15 charting songs: 1. “STAY” by the Kid LAROI featuring Justin Bieber 2. “Way 2 Sexy” by Drake featuring Future and Young Thug 3. “Bad Habits” by Ed Sheeran 4. “Knife Talk” by Drake featuring 21 Savage and Project Pat 5. “Fancy Like” by Walker Hayes 6. “INDUSTRY BABY” by Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow 7. “good 4 u” by Olivia Rodrigo 8. “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat featuring SZA 9. “Levitating” by Dua Lipa 10. “Girls Want Girls” by Drake featuring Lil Baby 11. “Fair Trade” by Drake featuring Travis Scott 12. “Save Your Tears” by The Weeknd featuring Ariana Grande 13. “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” by Lil Nas X 14. “Butter” by BTS 15. “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals Song data from Billboard’s The Hot 100 Chart

“Foundation” (Apple TV+) “Christmas Isn’t Canceled (Just You)” by Kelly Clarkson (single) “In The Meantime” by Alessia Cara (album) “My Universe” by Coldplay featuring BTS (single) “Spencer” trailer “Dear Evan Hansen” (in theaters)

Award show update: Tony Awards Best Play: “The Inheritance” Best Musical: “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” Best Revival of a Play: “A Soldier’s Play” Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play: Andrew Burnap (“The Inheritance”) Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a play: Mary-Louise Parker (“The Sound Inside”) Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical: Aaron Tveit (“Moulin Rouge! The Musical”) Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical: Adrienne Warren (“Tina – The Tina Turner Musical”) A full list of Tony Award winners can be found on Variety’s website.

CULTURE

Peace day 2021 Downtown Flagstaff Top left: Rebecca Durrenberger, founder of Flagstaff’s Peace One Day leads the peace walk with her family throughout downtown Flagstaff, Sept. 25. Top right: Attendees go through downtown Flagstaff with signs during the peace walk on Peace One Day, Sept. 25. Bottom left: The Montessori Charter School sings a song during Peace One Day in Heritage Square, Sept. 25. Bottom right: Musician Ed Kabotie plays guitar for the crowd at Flagstaff Peace One Day in Heritage Square, Sept. 25. Madison Easton | The Lumberjack

SEPT. 30 2021 – OCT. 6, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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SPORTS

BLUE AND GOLD IN ACTION Manchester is red again! Or, is it?

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anchester United finally decided to open its checkbook and spend some cash this offseason. Is it enough to make the team a frontrunner for the Premier League title, or is Manchester City going to prove they are the top team in town once again?

Manchester United brought in three huge signings this summer with winger Jadon Sancho, defender Raphael Varane CASEY and forward Cristiano Ronaldo — and EVERETT didn’t have to fork over much money to WRITER do it. In total, Manchester United paid £76.5 million for Sancho, £36 million for Varane and £13.5 million for Ronaldo.

Manchester City, meanwhile, paid £100 million for Jack Grealish. Think about that for a moment: £100 million for one player. Manchester United paid £126 million, in total, for the three superstars. Manchester United attacked all its weak points with these signings and is proving the desire to win now.

Do not get it twisted: Manchester City still has a top-level squad. The club kept a lot of important players from last season, when it won the Premier League, but are they enough? Sergio Agüero was the main player who left, and that is going to hurt.

The Argentine now plays as a striker for FC Barcelona.

The problem for Manchester City is deciding who will play striker. Right now, it seems the team is trying out Ferran Torres and Raheem Sterling — but they are not real strikers, they are wingers, and the team is heavy at this position. Sooner or later, the squad will not be able to deal with the absence of a true striker. Maybe forward Harry Kane should have been signed?

On the other hand, Manchester United has a good mixture of strikers and wingers. Forward Anthony Martial has proven he can be a lethal striker when he wants; forward Marcus Rashford scores goals for fun from both the wing and as a striker; Ronaldo is still one of the best goal scorers in the world at the age of 36 and Bruno Fernandes is a midfielder who scores regularly. This United team will undoubtedly rack up goals. Scoring has been a problem for the last decade, but now, it has players who can — and that’s terrifying.

While it’s presumed this is going to be a close title race, the lack of a true number nine is scary. Both teams are solid defensively and have amazing midfielders, so getting goals will decide the title race. Manchester United has proven scorers, and Manchester City should have went all-out to sign Kane. So, is Manchester red again? I believe so. With the moves made this summer, the club has only become better. Manchester United is a title contender.

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Recent Game scores Vollyball NAU vs Idaho Thursday, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m.

Final (W) NAU 3 - Idaho 0 NAU vs Eastern Washington Saturday, Sept. 25, 12 p.m.

Final (W): NAU 3 - EWU 0 NAu @ Southern Utah Tuesday, Sept. 27, 5 p.m Final (W): NAU 3 - SUU 0

Soccer NAU vs Montana Friday Sept. 24, 7 P.m.

Final (L): NAU 0 - Montana 1 NAU vs Northern Colorado Sunday, Sept. 26, 1 P.m.

Final: (L): NAU 0 - UNC 2

Football NAU @ Northern Colorado Saturday, Sept. 25, 12 p.m.

Final (L): NAU 10 - UNC 17 (OT)

Upcoming Games Vollyball NAU @ Northern Colorado Saturday, Oct. 2, 5 P.m.

(Greeley, Colorado)

Soccer NAU @ Idaho Friday, Oct. 1, 6 p.m.

(Moscow, Idaho) NAU @ Eastern Washington Sunday, Oct. 3, 1 p.m.

(Cheney, Washington)

Football NAU vs Idaho State Saturday, Oct. 2, 1 p.m.

Walkup Skydome (Flagstaff, Arizona)

Sophomore Middle Blocker Savannah Bloom (11) serving against the University of New Mexico at the Rolle Activity Center, Sept. 16. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack

SPORTS

NAU Dance: Never seen like this Lauren Suthers

T

he NAU Dance Team is back and better than ever, performing and cheering at Lumberjack sports events.

Team captain, Lexie Curry is leading the team to its best performances yet — and during her sophomore year. Dancers have created a new image, adding more pom and hip-hop styles to the choreography.

“In the past years, the dances have been very strict, formal and prissy-pretty, and now we are showing a different side of us,” sophomore Skylar Lehman said.

To create new pieces for every performance, dancers and their leaders have contributed 20-plus hours weekly to collaborating with one another. Meanwhile, Curry said the crowd is passionate, screaming from the stands during and after their performances.

Due to previous COVID-19 restrictions, the dance team has been eager to take the field this year, and members worked hard to ensure they could dance their hearts out. At their first performance at NAU’s opening football game against Sam Houston State, the audience’s reactions fueled these dancers and made them feel as if they blacked out. They described it as walking on and off the field without any recollection of the invigorating performance.

Nobody is more excited than football players, coaches and athletic directors to have the dance team back, cheering them on.

“They are really supportive and love having us there to interact and feed off our energy,” Curry said. “The teams have encouraging interactions and are excited for each other’s accomplishments during performances and games.”

Curry, Lehman and sophomore Montana Hamlin, all attended the NAU-UArizona football game on Sept. 18, along with three other returning dancers. This was a moment the dancers, players and fans would never forget. Curry described their disbelief.

“We were looking at the scoreboard — there was a picture of us — and we were stressed out hoping the score would stay put,” Curry said.

NAU beat the Wildcats for the first time since 1932, and a win that big certainly warranted a celebration from the dance team.

“When it hit the third quarter and we were still winning … it was a big shock, and it’s still settling in,” Hamlin said. “It was something the fans didn’t think would ever happen, and the team walked away with victory.”

This semester, the dance team has immersed itself in the new choreography. The “cookie-cutter dances,” as Lehman described, are not what this team is focused on anymore; instead, they plan to make risky choices in their practices and routines until they are perfected.

By adding popular styles such as pom and hip-hop, Curry said the dancers want to entertain the crowd and become unique performers for years to come.

“We have a lot to prove to show how much we want this,” Hamlin said. “I think people just see us as some dance club, but we’re not. We are full-time students and full-time athletes with young leaders, so it takes a lot. We have put in enough time and years to also be considered real athletes.”

Half of the NAU Dance Team stands in their game lines, preparing to do a routine to start practice in the Health and Learning Center, Sept. 20. Taylor McCormick | The Lumberjack

After a year with no football games, national competitions or social events, the dancers can finally return to in-person instruction and more typical interactions. With national collegiate competition coming in February 2022, the NAU dancers are excited to show off new members with versatile dance training. Lehman said they are working hard to match the fire and technique of the other squads they will compete against.

Only one member of the dance team competed in nationals previously —junior Maddie Witten — so members are looking to her for all the help they can get. Studying previous video performances is how new dancers will learn to match the levels of returners, Hamlin explained.

The young dancers are proving themselves every day in their successes and aspirations to win future titles. Even when they are practicing and performing diligently, the team needs all the support it can get from followers of NAU sports. Furthermore,

Curry said in order to be more involved with athletics, receiving invitations to events is high on the team’s list of priorities.

This year, the NAU Dance Team will host fundraising opportunities needed to generate financial backing. The team will have the ability to support the football and basketball teams at home games, and cheer for them at certain away games as well. It has been challenging, but Hamlin said they are making this year the best possible experience for incoming and returning dancers.

SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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SPORTS

One night in Tucson: RJ Mart Will Hopkins

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AU football has spent the majority of the 21st century in darkness. Since its last Big Sky Conference title in 2003, the team has plenty of hope, but little success.

However, Sept. 18 may have marked the beginning of a long-awaited turnaround. The Lumberjacks upset an in-state rival for the first time in 89 years. In a night that saw the program snap its 14-game losing streak against UArizona, the Lumberjacks had a somewhat atypical quarterback situation. With graduate student quarterback Keondre Wudtee out due to an ankle injury, redshirt freshman Jeff Widener got the starting nod, but, in an unusual move, was not planned to take the majority of the snaps.

True freshman quarterback RJ Martinez was a successful prep player in Round Rock, Texas at Westwood High School. According to MaxPreps, he threw for over 340 yards per game as a junior with a 29-5 touchdown-tointerception ratio. That same season, he added 13 more scores with his legs, as well as over 800 rushing yards. For Martinez, the choice to play for the Lumberjacks was easy. Martinez committed to NAU early in the recruiting process, when many around him thought he could have attended a bigger school.

“RJ is capable of being successful at any level of football,” Anthony Wood, Martinez’ former coach at Westwood, said. “He’s that type of kid, and he’s that kind of athlete.”

Even with the possibility of more offers, Martinez felt confident committing to NAU. “I had heard a lot of good things about Flagstaff, the campus and things like that … I was blown away by how beautiful this place is,” Martinez said about his decision. “Obviously the coaches played a big part in it, just their belief in me. I’m a man of faith, and a lot of these coaches are, too, so not only am I going to be a better football player here, I plan to be a better man here just because of the men I’m surrounded by.”

Even with the recruiting accolades, the freshman jogged onto the field with few expectations in a game against a PAC-12 opponent. UArizona came into the game as 24-point favorites — having beat NAU 65-41 in their previous meeting. Martinez took his first college snap trailing 13-0.

Knowing he would get the opportunity to show his ability, Martinez stepped onto the field

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“RJ is capable of being successful at any level of football. He’s that type of kid, and he’s that kind of athlete.”

– Anthony Wood, Martinez’ former Coach at Westwood High School and was confident in his ability.

“I knew I prepared pretty well throughout the week, so it was really just about getting my mind in the right frame,” Martinez said about his first in-game experience at the collegiate level.

Martinez did not have the first drive he dreamed of, fumbling on a play recovered by freshman running back Kevin Daniels and ultimately failing to score after a fumble by Draycen Hall, another freshman running back.

The next drive also ended in disappointment; Martinez threw an interception while trying to find sophomore wide receiver Hendrix Johnson.

Ultimately, NAU’s defense had its first breakthrough when freshman defensive back Brady Shough intercepted an Arizona pass and took it all the way to the house, bringing the Lumberjacks within one score: 13-7.

The plan, coach Chris Ball explained, was to give Martinez the chance to take over in the second quarter — a decision they chose to stick with in the locker room at halftime. Despite his struggles, Martinez put the team in scoring position twice and, following the pick six, gave NAU the momentum to make this game special.

“It’s something that we do, [and] we did it last year with Jeff [Widener],” Ball said. “[We’ll] schedule a series for a guy we want to get some experience with, and we just made the decision at halftime to go with RJ [Martinez].”

On the opening drive of the second half, Martinez still did not have his hero moment; instead, he needed one more drive to push the Lumberjacks into the lead. More specifically, Daniels punched the ball into the end zone on a 12-yard run, but Martinez looked just as happy handing the ball off as he would have throwing

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Freshman quarterback RJ Martinez. Courtesy of NAU Athletics

his own touchdown. This trait is common for him: Lifting others up no matter what.

Wood recalled seeing him walk through the hallways as a high school senior and telling his brother he loved him, something the coach described as “the coolest thing I had ever heard one of my players say.” Moreover, Wood thought this action best summed up Martinez’s off-thefield attitude.

Later on, Martinez found his own touchdown; a pass that hit Johnson’s hands in the end zone. Once again, Martinez was one of the first players celebrating with his teammate.

This gave the Lumberjacks a larger lead, but the game had one last twist.

After a full-field drive concluded with a touchdown for the Wildcats, the game came down to a two-point conversion. Both sides knew if the Lumberjacks held their ground, it would be a historic night. The biggest win in the history of NAU football hung by a thread but, for Martinez, there was no doubt about what would come next.

“I had confidence in our defense,” Martinez said. “They had stepped up all game, [and] they

had a really great week of practice, so I knew they were gonna get the stop. I never really doubted them. I know coach [Jerry] Partridge and the defensive staff had a really good game plan.”

Just as Martinez expected, the defense came up big, and the game was secured after an onside kick recovery. Both Martinez and Ball downplayed the importance of this win, but the buzz surrounding the victory was clear in Arizona and around the country. Come December, NAU’s first win this season may impact the College Football Playoff, considering the Big Sky conference secured its second win over a PAC-12 school in the young college football season.

At the center of the upset was a quarterback whose commitment to NAU came as a surprise to many, but the future is bright for this young star. Martinez may not have attended a the most prestigious football school, but the talent and character he possesses will surely be something for NAU fans to look forward to in the coming years.

SPORTS

tinez leads the lumberjacks

NAU wide receivers warming up before playing UArizona at Arizona Stadium, Sept. 18. Courtesy of NAU Athletics

SEPT. 30 - OCT. 6, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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