The Lumberjack -- September 2, 2021

CLASS 0F ’24 RETURNS TO CAMPUS PAGE 12

THE LUMBER JACK SEPT. 2, 2021 – SEPT. 8 2021

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

T

his entry may start a little depressing, but I am hoping to share my journey so the readers of The Lumberjack can learn from my experiences.

It is no secret this has been an arduous year. It feels like everyone has faced isolation and is only presenting hatred toward one another and themselves. I know these feelings very well. This past year, my life has been tripped, tumbled and trampled. I had to face many changes and challenges in my personal life and endured watching it play out. However, the most important thing I learned from this year is that you need to believe in yourself.

Let’s start from the beginning. I joined NAU in the fall of 2019. I was so excited to write and learn how to convey people’s stories. I joined a sorority and clubs and thought I saw my life beginning to form. Then, the dark day in March 2020 fell, and I watched my future drown. I moved back home, and honestly, the rest of the semester is a blank.

I moved back to NAU the following fall, only to find circumstances the same as when I left. I was questioning if I was doing the right thing and if this was where the universe wanted me. I felt myself slipping away into the stresses and repetition of daily life. I have always struggled with confidence and selfHAYLEE discovery, but it was drastically harder during this time.

EMCH One day, I woke up and decided to escape and work on myself, which I did by studying abroad in Greece in the spring semester of 2021. My semester ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR abroad was the greatest challenge I had faced. I had to uproot my life and say goodbye to everything holding me back. For the first time, I was completely alone and had to discover myself.

It is in my darkest areas that I learn the most. I was able to find identity in what I wanted in life and found joy. I came home to open arms that made me no longer feel alone, but I had changed. I took advantage of opportunities and spoke for myself. I worked hard over the summer and will now be graduating a year early so I can start the life I had glimpses of.

I am back at NAU, and for the first time, I feel at home. I have found both community and confidence and am ecstatic to continue following this journey. If you take away anything from this, remember to trust in yourself and be confident that you will find your place in the world. You are going through something for a reason, and the outcome will help you understand your journey.

Thank you for reading.

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 112 ISSUE 1

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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Sports Adviser Rory Faust

Asst. Features Editor Lauren Anderson

Asst. News Editor Tess Stafford

Culture Editor Katelyn Rodriguez

Director of Photography MacKenzie Brower

Op-Ed Editor Kylie Soto

Asst. Culture Editor Haylee Emch

Asst. Dir. of Photography Brian Burke

Asst. Op-Ed Editor Marley Green

Sports Editor Brenden Martin

Features Editor Olivia Charlson

Asst. Sports Editor Will Hopkins

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

Editor-in-Chief Nathan Manni

News Editor Mark Fabery

continuous local and campus covid coverage available at jackcentral.org

Director of Illustration Diana Ortega Director of Multimedia Shawn Patti

On the cover Sophomores Nataani Jaques and Grace Carr reviewing work before submitting, Aug. 29. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack

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

PoliceBeat Aug. 23 At 10:11 a.m., a Social and Behavioral Sciences faculty member reported finding a cartridge from a weapon.

NAUPD responded and removed the item for disposal.

assistance for a nonstudent in lot 3. NAUPD, FFD and Guardian Medical Transport (GMT) responded, and the nonstudent was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) for intoxication.

At 10:48 a.m., a Liberal Arts faculty member reported the theft of items from a display case. NAUPD responded and took a report.

At 8:33 p.m., a RA reported a subject yelling at passersby near lot 27. NAUPD responded and made no contact.

At 8:12 p.m., NAUPD reported hearing an alarm coming from Sechrist Hall.

Upon further investigation, the sound was caused by Facility Services working on an alarm with a bad battery.

At 9:22 p.m., a SkyView resident reported a subject knocking on windows.

NAUPD responded and made contact with one student, who was not the suspect. No criminal activity was witnessed.

Aug. 24 At 2:11 p.m., a nonstudent reported unknown subjects distributing flyers in Central Quad. NAUPD responded and found the flyers were from a legitimate organization.

Compiled by Mark Fabery reported assisting Human Resources with a suspicious letter. No criminal activity was witnessed.

Aug. 28 At 12:38 a.m., an intrusion alarm was reported in Cline Library. NAUPD responded and found a student who had been locked in the building after it closed. No criminal activity was witnessed.

At 4:07 p.m., a McConnell Hall RA reported a drug offense. NAUPD responded and one student was issued an administrative referral.

At 9:13 p.m., a staff member reported a subject attempting to fight students in lot 42. NAUPD and University Safety Aides (USAs) responded.

One nonstudent was cited and released for disorderly conduct and trespass.

Aug. 26 At 12:28 a.m., NAUPD reported making contact with six nonstudents arguing off campus. They were advised to quiet down and disperse.

At 2:05 p.m, a Liberal Arts employee reported Aug. 29 a service dog in need of At 12:16 a.m., a Wilson At 10:59 p.m., a student assistance. NAUPD responded Hall RA requested medical reported being stuck in an and provided assistance. assistance for an intoxicated elevator at The Suites. NAUPD student. NAUPD, USAs, FFD and Flagstaff Fire Department At 8:21 p.m., a University and GMT responded, and the (FFD) responded, but the Safety Aide reported a student was criminally deferred student freed themself prior to suspicious person looking for minor in consumption arrival. into cars in lot 46. NAUPD of alcohol before being responded, but the subject was transported to FMC. At 11:55 p.m., a resident gone upon arrival. at The Suites reported vehicles At 1:19 p.m., a Wilson parked illegally. NAUPD At 10:40 p.m., a Hall RA reported a student responded and determined the University Safety Aide reported trying to gain entry into other vehicles were indeed parked — a suspicious vehicle in lot 32A. residents’ rooms. NAUPD legally.

NAUPD responded and found responded and deferred the the vehicle was with Southwest student for trespassing.

Aug. 25 Security for American Campus At 2:09 p.m., a Health Community properties.

At 9:35 p.m., while and Learning Center staff responding to another call, member reported a conflict Aug. 27 NAUPD reported the theft of between two nonstudents.

At 11:59 a.m., a a NAUPD traffic cone near NAUPD responded, and one nonstudent reported an San Francisco Parking Garage. nonstudent was booked into injury collision on the corner One student was issued a Coconino County Juvenile of South Beaver Street and summons for theft.

Detention Facility for criminal Runke Drive. NAUPD, FFD damage and domestic violence. and GMT responded. One nonstudent was transported to At 3:48 p.m., a staff FMC. member requested medical At 1:45 p.m., NAUPD

Flagstaff City Council discusses current COVID-19 trends Mark Fabery

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or the first time during the pandemic, Mayor Paul Deasy and city council met in person Aug. 24 to discuss a plethora of agenda items, implementing changes to COVID-19 mitigation requirements as it relates to the city’s Re-Entry Plan.

Currently, Flagstaff is in phase three of its four-phase approach, which recommends facial coverings in public settings and working from home, if possible. However, due to the increase in infections in recent weeks, city staff requested guidance from council regarding changes to COVID-19 mitigation requirements for special events.

Flagstaff Deputy City Manager Shannon Anderson told council that Coconino County has seen a steady rise in the number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations since the week of July 31, with Flagstaff accounting for most of the infections.

“In the week ending Aug. 14, we had 318 new cases here in Coconino County, so we are continuing to see a rise, with Flagstaff seeing a majority of cases,” Anderson said. “Our current incidence rate of community transmission is 224.8 per 100,000 with a 9.8% positivity rate, while our level

of community transmission continues to be high.”

While community transmission is currently on the rise in the county, Anderson did note the increased number of residents rolling up their sleeves and getting vaccinated.

However, the everincreasing number of cases involves different strains, especially the Delta variant.

Which according to the data provided to council still has county and city officials watching closely.

“The good news is that we are seeing an increase in the number of Coconino County residents who are vaccinated — this has increased from 55.5% to 56.4% — so we are seeing larger increases in vaccinations than we’ve had in previous weeks.” Anderson said. “We are watching closely the Delta variant as we have seen a jump from 64 cases to 139 cases in a matter of a week.”

After completing her presentation, Anderson solicited comments from councilmembers regarding establishing a framework for communicating with special event organizers. If approved, the city would be required to notify special event organizers 72 hours in advance when making changes to COVID-19 mitigation requirements.

Moreover, Anderson

stressed to council the goal of establishing a framework that will protect the investments made by event organizers during a time of uncertainty.

Councilmember Austin Aslan voiced support for the framework along with the rest of council, but made his concerns known about the recent rise of COVID-19 hospitalizations and infections.

“I think it’s incumbent upon us to give event organizers this 72-hour notice,” Aslan said. “I do have my concerns about the phase we are in and our ability if we need to move up and down those phases.

This decision is ours and we have the ability to move into a more stricter phase if we need to.”

Deasy ended the discussion by requesting city staff to provide the council with bi-weekly COVID-19 updates, as they follow the council’s current work session.

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 8, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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NAU students experience issues with new digital JacksCard Tess Stafford

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fter using physical JacksCards for years, members of NAU’s Flagstaff Mountain campus now have access to a digital version of the identification card. However, following the new development, students began to notice issues with the digital version.

JacksCards, the official ID card of NAU, are used for many campus amenities and activities. Specifically, they are necessary for meal plans, building access, printing facilities, laundry services and event access.

Though JacksCards have been central to the student experience for some time, the digital version of the ID rolled out just in time for the fall semester. Director of Campus Operations Joe Harting said the new service was introduced to provide a more convenient and secure option for students, while maintaining the abilities of physical cards.

“The digital JacksCard is just like the classic physical plastic ID that we are all familiar with, but this one lives in Apple Wallet and provides the same access to services that the traditional JacksCard does,” Harting said.

Students now use digital JacksCards on their phones to enter buildings and pay on campus. However, physical JacksCards stop working after getting the digital version.

Megan Ford-Fyffe | The Lumberjack

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While the digital JacksCard is the preferred option of many, Harting noted those who choose this service cannot also use a physical ID. This distinction is due to safety concerns, he said, as students who use both types of cards may not notice right away if their physical ID is lost or stolen.

For junior and exchange student Noah Nübling, the inability to have both options was troubling. Before arriving on campus, Nübling said he chose the digital JacksCard based on its convenience and heavy promotion. However, this selection changed after interacting with the community.

“Everyone was implying that the physical JacksCard is much better as soon as I arrived on campus — except for the JacksCard Office,” Nübling said.

Shortly after arriving on campus, Nübling said he could not get into his dorm with his digital JacksCard. After a call to the JacksCard Office, he was told the system needed to be reset and his card would work properly in about 30 minutes.

Moreover, Nübling explained he was transferred from Pine Ridge Village to Roseberry Hall just two days before he arrived in Flagstaff, and was told this change may have led to access issues.

“There were some technical difficulties,” Nübling said. “I had to be on the phone and walk from office to office for hours

before someone could activate it.”

After several phone calls, Nübling said his digital JacksCard worked as advertised. Further, Harting explained it is not uncommon for there to be a few quirks with card access at the beginning of the semester.

Harting said students often have questions about how to use their JacksCard when the service is new to them. In the case of digital cards, he added some individuals had issues with their phone’s near-field communication (NFC) chip, which resulted in lack of access.

NFC chips allow wireless communication between two devices, such as the phone and card reader. Harting said this issue only occurred for a handful of students, while other problems often came down to user error.

“In virtually every case where a student has come to us with an issue accessing their building or performing a transaction, it was because of a misunderstanding on how to use the digital JacksCard,” Harting said. “In some cases, the card wasn’t provisioned properly or they simply weren’t tapping their phone correctly.”

Another concern Nübling referenced about the digital JacksCard was using it when his phone lost charge. He said his phone’s battery nearly died numerous times, leaving him to worry about getting back into his dorm.

Luckily, Nübling said his roommate was home in all of these instances. Calling it a “fatal flaw,” he explained it was quite stressful to have to keep an eye on his phone’s battery when he was out late. Ultimately, he said this made him choose to get a physical JacksCard after all.

However, this situation can be easily avoided, according to the JacksCard FAQ page. If users turn on express mode, the digital JacksCard will work for up to five hours after the phone battery has died, as iPhones possess the ability to reserve enough power to pull up card transactions.

Similar to Nübling, however, other students may find the benefits of the physical JacksCard to suit their needs more appropriately. For those questioning which form to choose, he recommended one option over the other.

“I think it would be nice if you could have the JacksCard physically as well as on your phone, but since you have to choose, the physical card is a much better option,” Nübling said.

Despite some challenges with the introduction of this new service, Harting said the response from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Specifically, he said many enjoy the ability to add their ID to Apple Wallet.

Looking toward the future, Harting said the digital JacksCard will soon be available to Android users. Additionally, new abilities and features may be added to the ID cards.

“We are also exploring other possibilities to leverage the new technology to expand the things our JacksCard can do, like community discounts, special offers and opportunities for additional engagement,” Harting said.

For those who are experiencing issues with their JacksCard, physical or digital, Harting said he recommends calling the JacksCard Office or stopping by Univeristy Union.

NEWS

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 8, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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NEWS

One of Arizona’s main water sources is drying up Mark Fabery

T

he Colorado River is the lifeline of the American Southwest, as it runs nearly 1,500 miles, supplying water and electricity to seven states, as well as Mexico.

Just over 40 million people rely on its resources, but 20 years of drought, made worse by climate change, has created a crisis.

On Aug. 16, the dilemma led to the federal government declaring a first-ever water shortage on the Colorado River. Mandatory water consumption cutbacks were announced for Southwestern states starting in 2022, also reducing the water allotments for Nevada and Mexico.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s formal declaration of a water shortage was anticipated for months and triggered by the spiraling decline of Lake Mead, which stores water used

by Arizona, California, Nevada and Mexico.

Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the country by volume, but according to The Arizona Republic, it has drained at an alarming rate this year. About 1,067 feet above sea level and just 35% full, the reservoir is at its lowest mark since Hoover Dam’s construction was completed and the lake was filled in the 1930s.

The country’s second-largest reservoir, Lake Powell, which is also fed by the Colorado River, recently sank to a record low and is now at 32% capacity, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation data.

Camille Touton, Bureau of Reclamation deputy commissioner, said during a news conference that consumption cutbacks are due to how severe the drought has become as well as how seriously climate change is affecting the river.

“The Bureau of Reclamation cannot control the hydrology, and we also recognize the very real possibility that the hydrology that was planned for years ago may not be the worst that the basin may see in the future,” Touton said.

“This may also mean that additional actions will likely be necessary in the very near future.”

In order to prevent Lake Mead from falling to critically low levels, state officials from Arizona, California and Nevada announced they have started meeting to discuss additional steps, which could potentially mean more cuts.

Under the current complex priority system of which states will face the most severe cuts, Arizona and Nevada will be specifically affected by the Tier-1 shortage. Arizona will see the biggest decrease in the state’s total Colorado River supply with an 18% reduction, primarily impacting agriculture throughout the state.

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The cuts will be the largest to date on the river, shrinking the flow of water through the 336-mile Central Arizona Project Canal, which has supplied Arizona’s expansive farmlands and growing desert metropolises with water for more than three decades.

Central Arizona farmers will face major cutbacks in water deliveries next year, and some farmers are preparing for their supplies to be entirely depleted by 2023. These reductions will force Pinal County growers such as Will Thelander, whose family has been farming in Arizona for three generations, to leave some fields dry and unplanted.

“The cutbacks are happening,” Thelander said. “The water’s not there. We’ll shrink as much as we can until we go away. That’s all the future basically is.”

Like many farmers, however, Thelander is not planning to give up without a fight, as he has planned on planting guayule, a desert shrub that produces natural rubber.

“It’s got a lot of potential to be a crop that we could still grow on a lot less water and could still make us profitable to keep us in business, but we’ll see,” Thelander said.

If Lake Mead continues to drop, additional cuts will affect farmers, Phoenix-area cities and tribal communities. Amid the current crisis, Touton pointed to a long-term drought made worse by warmer temperatures and climate change.

A United Nations report released Aug. 16 emphasized the role human-caused climate change plays in drought frequency and intensity.

According to the report, droughts that may have occurred once every 10 years now happen 70% more frequently.

Haley Paul, policy director for the National Audubon Society, said the river’s resources were overallocated in the 1920s, when data was collected and used during an abnormally wet period. Thereafter, residents of the Colorado River Basin were promised more water annually than what actually existed.

“This would have caught up to us eventually, even without climate change, because politicians overpromised back in the 1920s what the river could offer,” Paul said. “I think overall, we all need to get with the program of learning to live with a smaller river.”

Moreover, Paul said if Mead and Powell continue to drop as projected, the story to watch is in governmental responses over the coming years.

The current operating guidelines for how states share the river’s resources are set to expire in 2026, but Paul said it is time for them to

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rethink operations within the Colorado River Basin.

“Inevitably we were going to face this,” Paul said. “It’s just that climate change accelerated how quickly these decisions came upon us.”

Jack Schmidt, professor of watershed sciences at Utah State University, has conducted research trips on the Colorado for decades. He explained that he has never seen the river so low, in addition to describing the drought as a long-term indicator of regional dryness and exacerbated climate change.

“Given the fact that the reservoirs are a third full, you’re asking for a really hard, difficult, unprecedented conversation with a ticking clock,” Schmidt said. “We are in a crisis now.

Let’s not kid ourselves. The question is: How intense does that crisis get? Everything we are seeing suggests there may not be enough time for the incremental approach to change, which has always worked in the past.”

From 1906 to 2019, the average annual flow of the Colorado River was 14.8 million acre-feet. The 1922 Colorado River Compact assumed at least 15 million acre-feet of water

would be available each year, apportioning 7.5 million acre-feet to both the upper and lower basins. However, the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty guaranteed Mexico 1.5 million acre-feet of water each year.

This allocation has ultimately led to mounting tensions over water rights among states, which Schmidt compared to the higheststakes poker game ever imagined.

“When you’re talking about cutting water coming out of somebody’s spigot, or cutting somebody’s hopes and dreams, something’s got to give,” Schmidt said. “That means really hardnosed negotiations are going to have to be made to redistribute water.”

Both Mead and Powell provide a critical supply of drinking water, hydropower and irrigation for many areas. With the announcement of an official water shortage, and as the feeder of these two reservoirs, managing the Colorado River is extremely important. In the era of drought, climate change and other environmental effects, Schmidt said everyone must do their part in limiting water use.

Photo Courtesy of Associated Press

COMIC SPOT

SEPT. 2 - SEPT.8, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

Don’t expect thanks for fundamental human rights Kylie Soto

I The ultimate straw man: Critical race theory

L

et it be known first and foremost: Critical race theory is not a Marxist plot to teach children to hate the United States. In fact, it is not a plot to do anything. It’s a framework designed to help us understand the truth: Systemic racism is a significant part of education, health care, criminal justice and other such institutions in the U.S. MARLEY In other words, racism is woven into GREEN everyday American life, whether it is ASSISTANT OP-ED obvious or not.

EDITOR Critics — usually conservatives— claim critical race theory is divisive and meant to shame white people for having been born white.

However, as the Brookings Institution pointed out in August, critical race theory “does not attribute racism to white people as individuals or even to entire groups of people.” It criticizes the system more than anything else.

Conservatives are so serious about it that in June, The Washington Post reported critical race theory had been mentioned almost 2,000 times this year on Fox News.

Legislation to ban critical race theory in public schools passed in eight states and has been or will be introduced in 20 more as of September. However, the language is so vague that it is unclear what is actually being banned. Only a few of the bills mention the words “critical race theory,” so what are the bills against?

The truth is, critical race theory itself is not being taught at the K-12 level. The bills are truly against teaching racism throughout history, and deem such efforts divisive. The bill in Rhode Island doesn’t allow schools to teach that the U.S. is “fundamentally racist and sexist.”

It is remarkable that the discourse is deafening while, at the foundation of it, lacking fundamental understanding. I am not aware of any case where school districts have aimed to divide students from one another. Teaching students the truth, however — that the U.S. is founded on principles of racism still prevalent today — is something schools should strive for.

What happened in the U.S. historically and how it affects us today is unalterable and unavoidable, no matter the context.

Conservatives aren’t offended by other curricula, because they don’t force them to face their discomfort.

Unfortunately, if legislators neglect to educate themselves on topics they are making laws about, it becomes constituents’ jobs to educate themselves beyond what partisan news outlets tell them. The best way to do this is to read and listen to scholars and experts, as well as to question our own discomforts by diving into them head first.

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only recently discovered some feminists boast about their hand in the existence of the LGBTQ+ community, with the degree of acceptance it has today. They believe in that contribution so much, they even feel deserving of thanks.

Yet there are several reasons why feminists don’t deserve credit for aiding LGBTQ+ people in getting to the excruciatingly low amount of acceptance the community still has, even in 2021.

A Gallup poll from May shows evidence of a drop in support for transgender people in several regards. Among women, there was a 5% decrease in backing transgender people in the military since 2019.

The same Gallup poll demonstrated that only 43% of women approve of transgender people playing on teams that embrace gender identity as opposed to birth gender.

The growth of Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists (TERFs) is a looming threat to transgender people, so long as these radical feminists have access to the internet. An article

by The Atlantic lists a number of places the TERFs express themselves, and it is simply mind-boggling that they are still receiving so much attention.

The same publication mentions how these women are “convinced that trans-women are men and trans-rights activism is just another weapon of the patriarchy,” and yet, they claim to be feminists.

These aren’t only ordinary, Facebook-crazed women either. J.K. Rowling, famous for authoring the “Harry Potter” franchise, is also a well known TERF. She even went as far as to confirm it on Twitter back in 2019, as a Forbes article stated.

To exclude one part of the LGBTQ+ community because of some outlandish circular reasoning is to outright deny a large group of people the right to be themselves. That very idea is the opposite of what feminists are meant to stand for.

Illustration By Diana ortega

Additionally, the core values of the two movements are different.

One goal of the LGBTQ+ rights movement is to gain recognition as human beings, and to become no different than anyone who follows heteronormative roles or doesn’t identify as part of the group.

On the other hand, women have fundamental rights, are recognized as human beings and, overall, have achieved more than the LGBTQ+ movement has been able to do.

In contrast, people are still debating whether or not nonbinary, transgender and gender nonconforming people are allowed to identify as themselves. It’s ludicrous to think the two group’s journeys have been remotely similar, let alone that the LGBTQ+ community should be thanking women for its rights.

This same group of people, the one believing it deserves thanks, is directly discriminatory toward nonbinary people.

In 2019, Pew Research conducted a poll about genderneutral pronouns. One question was revealing — “Are Americans comfortable with the use of gender-neutral pronouns?” — as 47% of respondents said “they would be somewhat or very uncomfortable doing so.”

Pew also found that about 60% of Americans between ages 18 and 29 would be “somewhat to very comfortable” with using gender-neutral pronouns. However, the statistics decrease to 52% of people ages 30 to 49 and 48% of those 50+ expressing comfort.

Unsurprisingly, the very people with complete power over legislation are uncomfortable with using another human being’s preferred pronouns.

A WRAL-TV article from January shared that “Many antiLGBTQ+ policymakers attacked the new reforms, including Representative Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader, who supported the Defense of Marriage Act banning same-sex marriage.”

This reaction came after White House speaker Nancy Pelosi passed a new code of conduct that changed the acceptable language during hearings to include gender-neutral pronouns.

In the aftermath McCarthy tweeted, “This is stupid. Signed a father, son and brother.”

News flash: No one is going to compromise their identity for the sake of others’ comfort, nor should they.

How can feminists truly believe they deserve thanks when they’ve done nothing to directly help the very community they claim owes them for existing? They’re only contributing to the issue by sitting on their hands, instead of holding signs and linking arms with the LGBTQ+ community in protest.

Only recently, and in small increments, have I seen women my age who view themselves as feminists begin talking about transgender and nonbinary rights. Even then, the majority of feminists stick to defending cisgendered, white women — and not really anyone else.

I firmly believe the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t owe any woman thanks, because it hasn’t even reached full acceptance.

The fight hasn’t ended, so it’s wrong of women to expect a gold star and first-place trophy from one of the most marginalized groups to exist.

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Forgetting the definition of ‘true crime’ Marley Green

T

rue crime has always been fascinating; although, a few years ago, the most accessible form of consumption was through television. Shows like “Dateline” and “Forensic Files” have been gracing American television as early as the 1990s.

However, online versions of true crime content have gained traction in the past few years in the form of videos and podcasts.

The fact that true crime is one of few genres able to transcend different types of media platforms is the very reason it is so abundant. For example, it would be difficult to find a television show solely about makeup or video games, but both are popular on YouTube specifically.

Since true crime has been on television for decades, it has more of a foundation and history than other common types of YouTube videos.

In terms of podcasts, streaming apps such as Spotify and iTunes are more accessible via

mobile devices than television shows. It’s easier than ever for consumers to listen to true crime podcasts during their morning commute or while getting ready for the day.

Some people may think it’s odd to do daily, mundane tasks while nonchalantly listening to the last day of someone’s life. However, psychologists say it’s normal. Evil, taboo subjects are interesting to us as humans. It’s a way for us to experience the thrill and adrenaline rush of being scared, while in a safe environment — the same reason we like watching horror movies in the comfort of our own homes.

The ethical issue with true crime lies more with creators than consumers. Regardless of the genre’s popularity, the fact of the matter is content creators profit off real tragedy and retraumatizing families of victims.

I question whether creators send any portion of the revenue from advertisements and sponsorships to families of victims, or use their platform at all to promote funding efforts or

foundations set up in memory of violent crime victims.

YouTube creators can be seen in true crime videos doing their makeup or eating food while speaking about real, tragic events. I find this very off-putting. If creators must monetize tragedy, the least they can do is have the decency to look solemn, or even the least bit professional, in their videos.

Some viewers argue that watching YouTubers put on makeup makes the violence and gore easier to stomach. That logic sounds reasonable at first, but what this tells me is viewers want their true crime neatly packaged and delivered in a way that’s scary, but not so scary they fear for their own lives — as victims likely did in their last moments. They want it delivered in a way that is sad, but not so sad they truly know what it feels like to find out their loved one died in a violent manner.

Coping with a sudden, tragic loss of a loved one is something families of victims cannot

escape when they wake up every day, while viewers and listeners can go about the rest of their commutes or morning routines.

I’m not writing to say true crime content should be banned or that people should stop watching it. I’m not saying it needs to be completely demonetized. I think the process standards need to be tweaked when it comes to protecting victims, considering their families and being sensitive to the subject material when producing these types of videos and podcasts.

Unsolved mysteries and murders from years ago are less likely to cause emotional distress and retraumatization for victims’ families and loved ones, and there is no shortage of these kinds of cases. If a true crime creator truly has good research skills, it shouldn’t be a problem to find something obscure or old enough to cover.

I also believe true crime content is acceptable when creators have explicit approval from victims’ families to cover the situation, or when they are raising awareness of a particular cause. For example, crime YouTuber Kendall Rae is an example of someone who I believe is correctly approaching the delicate subject matter.

Her viewers can submit their own loved ones’ stories to be discussed on her channel, which means it’s safe to assume parties connected with the cases are not only approving of these features, but also wanting them.

This process solves the problem of consent that rubs me the wrong way about most other crime YouTubers — it’s not always clear if creators received approval from families to talk about their loved one’s case.

Rae also hosts families of victims on her channel to hear them talk about their memories of the victim, and she uses her 2.86 million subscriber base to garner support for fundraising or charity efforts established by victims’ families to honor them.

It is natural to be interested in true crime, but the best way to create and consume this kind of content is carefully and thoughtfully. The context, presentation and level of monetization all matter when deciding what content is the most ethical.

The events in the story are true, the characters are real and, most importantly, the resulting wounds are not healed — and likely never will be. Using the fascination for good is the best way to move forward with our consumption of true crime.

Illustration By Diana ortega

SEPT. 2 - SEPT.8, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

Camp Colton celebrates 50 yea Olivia Charlson

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taring out the window in a stuffy classroom and doing a worksheet is only so much fun, especially when Flagstaff’s mountainous terrain and flourishing nature is just beyond reach. That’s why Camp Colton provides a hands-on opportunity for young students to learn about the environment around them, and Flagstaff City Council recently declared Aug. 23-27 Camp Colton week to commemorate its 50-year anniversary. As the program hits this milestone, staff and followers prove that though it is up a mountain, it is not yet over the hill.

Camp Colton is an educational program that works with Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) to provide middle school students with an immersive sleepaway learning experience.

Friends of Camp Colton is a nonprofit organization that helps make sure every student enrolled in FUSD can go to camp and, according to its website, over 44,000 people have been through the program since 1971.

Listed on the website, one of Camp Colton’s objectives is to keep the program thriving for another 50 years. This goal

is reflected by employees like Ari Wilder, executive director of Friends of Camp Colton.

Wilder said the original project was designed by dedicated parents, teachers and school leaders to expose children to the natural environment. Friends of Camp Colton was created when budgets were tight and the camp was possibly on the chopping block, she added.

Camp Colton is now evolving to have more programs and reach more students, but Wilder said it has always been free to sixth graders in FUSD, therefore affecting many who grew up in Flagstaff.

“It’s this traditional rite of passage,” Wilder said. “Lots of kids haven’t slept away from home before. Lots of kids haven’t gone camping before. It’s this real confidence and independence building experience. That’s what’s been around for 50 years.”

Jackson Carranco, NAU alumnus and program coordinator for Camp Colton, said the best part of his job is getting to teach campers what they are capable of. He said he can show students to look at the small details around them and how to feel connected to the planet.

“It’s this traditional rite of passage. Lots of kids haven’t slept away from home before. Lots of kids haven’t gone camping before. It’s this real confidence and independence building experience. That’s what’s been around for 50 years.”

– Ari Wilder, executive director of Friends of camp colton

The Camp Colton bus is parked on the side of the campground, Aug. 26. Owen Sexton| The Lumberjack

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Corranco explained students reach better understandings when they are able to get a close look at something in nature. For example, he said if a group of students is looking at lichen, a slowgrowing plant that forms a leafy crust over rocks and trees, they are taught that it has a purpose. Corranco added that it is fun to see kids make connections, even ones as simple as not wanting to crush the lichen on rocks.

“That’s one facet of building this lifelong relationship of feeling like you actually are on planet Earth with other things,” Corranco said. “A lot of the kids out here have not spent time away from home — potentially ever. So I analogize it to a roller coaster, if you can remember the first time that you rode a roller coaster. I was super nervous with anxiety the whole way up until I got to the top, then the roller coaster dropped and it was fun from that point on. We can get [the campers] over some of those humps of showering in a more group setting or sleeping away from home. As soon as they experience it and get over that hump, they have a lot of really positive experiences.”

Camp Colton recently began a program called Summer Seed Experience, in which local science teachers were able to nominate students who may not normally have an opportunity to go to an expensive summer camp, Corranco said. He said this group of students was able to learn from experienced science teachers and design their own research projects.

Wilder said this was a grant-funded project that involved intense STEM research. For example, some students researched

FEATURES

ars of environmental education fire ecology so they could ask questions of a visitor from the United States Forest Service. This process allowed students to ask questions, build background knowledge and collect data in the field. The fire ecology group went to multiple burn sites, then compared the soil and the plants.

Corranco is looking to add more cultural presentations to the program as well. He said they began introducing a Navajo cultural speaker who talks to campers and helps them connect what they have learned about science to the culture of the land.

Camp Colton Director Mary Giannola works closely with FUSD and environmental experts in the community to ensure everything runs smoothly. Giannola said forest management is necessary because the camp has 33 acres and mixed conifers, so one always has to be looking at the health and safety of the trees with students around. The kids are taught to analyze what a healthy forest looks like as well, she said.

“There’s a purpose for [sixth graders] to be here,” Giannola said. “It’s not only the beautiful experience of being able to come to camp. You have a lot of character growth that comes along with that independent experience, but academically they have an opportunity to learn science.”

Giannola explained they have great gear and other luxuries because of community support, which helps to keep the camp running.

“We have the most incredible community ever that supports

us,” Giannola said. “They support us financially. They support us with volunteer days. This community has just really supported the tradition of this program. You have generations of kids whose parents are saying this was one of my most valuable experiences growing up.”

As vice mayor of Flagstaff and executive director for Friends of Camp Colton, Becky Daggett said this program has made progress for outdoor and scientific education. She explained she is a supporter of environmental outdoor education, especially with NAU’s scientific institutions and Flagstaff’s storied ethic of environmental stewardship.

The business community also pitched in to help celebrate the anniversary. Wilder said two local businesses that did Camp Colton specials were the McMillan Bar and Kitchen and Mountain Sports Flagstaff.

“It’s yet another thing that makes Flagstaff so special; our small businesses are incredibly generous to the schools and to nonprofit organizations,” Daggett said. “[Camp Colton Week] symbolizes a huge milestone and achievement, and any nonprofit organization that has existed so long deserves the community’s thanks and a round of applause from all of us. They have been able to impact generations of students.”

For the students at camp, Wilder said all studies are presented in the context of climate change.

Local scientists tell them of their predictions about how the climate crisis will affect the community in coming years and, while these lessons are realistic, Wilder concluded it is a fun experience overall.

Camp Colton’s anniversary is something that many will celebrate and commemorate but, according to staff, there are goals to run toward, hurdles to jump and finish lines to cross in the next 50 years. Camp Colton week is an example of the ways education has shaped the city.

“There’s so much social and emotional growth that happens as well, but it’s also a very rigorous academic experience,” Wilder said. “What we like to say about Camp Colton programs is everything the kids do up at camp, we want to be something that can only be done at Camp Colton. If it’s something they can do in a classroom, like a worksheet, they should be doing it in a classroom. We want everything to be hands-on and experiential.

We want to let them really connect with nature and where they live.”

“We have the most incredible community ever that supports us. They support us financially. They support us with volunteer days. This community has just really supported the tradition of this program. You have generations of kids whose parents are saying this was one of my most valuable experiences growing up.”

– Ari Wilder, executive director of Friends of camp colton

The tents that students sleep in during their stay at Camp Colton are shown at the campground, Aug. 29. Owen Sexton | The Lumberjack

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 8, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

Class of 2024 returns to campus W

Lauren Anderson

ith the return of in-person classes, students are welcomed to a vibrant campus life and the opportunity to try — or discover — some of their favorite parts. Members of the class of 2024 are experiencing college in a way they never have before. After a year of hybrid or remote coursework, these sophomores are taking in all of the opportunities they hardly expected to experience during college.

Sophomore Kolby Nelson was one of many students who stayed home during his freshman year and completed online classes. Following the first week of face-to-face instruction, Nelson said his arrival to campus was a step in the right direction.

“I wasn’t on campus [last year], … so I am taking it in like any other freshman or new student at NAU,” Nelson said. “I am learning everything at the same time. I am learning where all the buildings are, what foods are the best to get and what times you are supposed to go places, but I’ve liked it so far.”

Nelson said he last attended an in-person class at the end of his senior year of high school, so the adjustment to a full lecture hall has been significant. In reference to learning, Nelson explained he is grateful in-person classes are better and more effective.

And, as a social person, he added the return to events, activities and general campus life is appealing.

“I am a huge student life person,” Nelson said. “I love the sporting events, I am in a ton of clubs and it’s obviously not something that we have gotten to experience for a while. I know that I just want to put myself out there and go back to socializing like I used to, of course with the proper restrictions and whatnot.”

This class has the chance to help fellow students like never before, Nelson said. In an effort to create a greater sense of community following the return to typical college life, sophomores have the opportunity to assist their peers.

Nelson said his arrival to campus has been a positive experience, and he cited the overwhelming feeling of community as a result of in-person classes and face-to-face interactions.

“We are all in this together, and I think more than we would have been in other years,” Nelson said. “I think we have a bigger sense of community. I know we are trying to build that as Lumberjacks, and it is something that is definitely felt by someone who wasn’t here last year. I felt like I got wrapped in a giant hug.”

After completing the spring semester of her freshman year online, sophomore Gabrielle Hall shared similar sentiments regarding her recent return.

Hall said she is excited to return to in-person classes because of the academic opportunities that will once again be available.

One advantage she looks forward to is being able to interact with peers in the classroom and during campus activities, especially after only seeing them on a screen.

“This year I have moved back to campus, and I really love it,”

“You [new students] are not alone, and everyone else is going through it. Luckily there are people and students out there who feel that and are trying to make your sophomore year the best it can be.”

– Sophomore Gabrielle Hall

Hall said. “It is so nice to be able to talk to my teachers and have classmates around me and do in-person activities. I really like the activities that NAU has put on, and I am really happy to get involved again.”

Hall said it was difficult to make friends last academic year because many of the people she interacted with were residents of the same dormitory. This experience prompted Hall’s desire to help many of the students she met this year, she added.

“You [new students] are not alone, and everyone else is going through it,” Hall said. “Luckily there are people and students out there who feel that and are trying to make your sophomore year the best that it can be. It gives more motivation academically and academics are still a priority.”

Sophomore Meagan Ballew experienced the same feelings as other students in the class of 2024 as she went through the anxieties of navigating campus and finding classes. Some of the positives Ballew cited upon returning to campus were the ability to meet new people and the chance to focus better in the classroom.

Although she lived in Allen Hall last year, Ballew said she was not able to meet and connect with many other students. Since moving back to Flagstaff, she had the opportunity to attend many of the events designed to reclaim aspects of freshman year, while also becoming better acquainted with her classes.

Entering sophomore year, Ballew said she experienced the social aspects of a typical freshman year for the first time.

However, she explained that last year still provided an academic foundation to build upon — and to continue progressing from.

This fall semester, many students in the sophomore class are forging their own college traditions and facing new challenges as they navigate the beginnings of a somewhat normal college experience.

Left: NAU sophomores now can experience a more enriched college community, Aug. 29. Right: Sophomores Nataani Jaques and Grace Carr reviewing work before submitting, Aug. 29.

Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack

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CULTURE

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 8, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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CULTURE

The metamorphosis of Halsey

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alsey, the once blue-haired singer who rose to fame in 2015 with the release of “Badlands,” has changed form once again. The release of their highly-anticipated fourth album, “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” (“IICHLIWP”), in addition to the accompanying film of the same name, marks a musical and personal turning point for the singer. The album focuses on “the joys and horrors of pregnancy and childbirth.” Halsey wrote and recorded KATELYN the album, along with acting in the film, while RODRIGUEZ pregnant with her and boyfriend Alev Aydin’s first CULTURE EDITOR child. She announced the birth of their son via Instagram in July.

She enlisted Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to produce and co-write the album with her. Their collaboration pays off immensely. This album is heavily rock influenced and even branches out to include hip-hop at one point. It also features the artistic stylings of former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham on “Darling” and Foo Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl on “Honey,” just to name a few.

The evolution of Halsey’s songwriting is clear on “IICHLIWP.” Each song tells an in-depth story laced with imagery and emotion. The album begins with “The Tradition,” which sounds like something straight out of a movie — and in a sense, it is. As the album progresses, listeners are met with themes of anger, fear, longing, insecurity and eventually acceptance of love and this new life being given to them. Some of the songs are slower, while most are rock-driven, showcasing Halsey’s versatility through crossing genres like they did on “Manic” in 2020.

It’s been difficult for me to find a favorite on “IICHLIWP” because I’m in love with each song. There are no skips on this album. However, the songs that enthralled me are “You asked for this,” “The Lighthouse” and “Ya’aburnee.”

“You asked for this” is a rock track that delves into the process of accepting growing older, getting and dealing with what you asked for and not wanting to sacrifice who you are in the process. “The Lighthouse” is an extremely vivid song in which Halsey uses the mythology of the siren to form a lyrical masterpiece. “Ya’aburnee” is the final track on the album and is Arabic for “you bury me.” It’s a beautiful ballad detailing the love for their partner and child, and one that explains how they can’t fathom living without them at the end of their life.

Seeing Halsey’s evolution as an artist, both lyrically and musically, since their “Room 93” EP was released in 2014 has been one of the most thrilling experiences. “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” adds another reason to the list of why I love them. Their ability to focus on a subject many are hesitant about shows the kind of person they are, while also allowing them to continue breaking barriers.

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Louie’s Cupboard’s Fill the Van event took place during Welcome Week in order to gather food for the NAU community. Cole Stewart| The Lumberjack

Food trucks are out; fill a van with food Haylee emch

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he F ​​ ill the Van Service lasted from Aug. 23-26, and occurred outside University Union on the pedway in front of Starbucks. The event was the result of a collaboration between The Lumberjack Experience (LJX) and Louie’s Cupboard to collect nonperishable food, hygiene items, laundry supplies and school-related objects.

According to its website, LJX helps new students get involved at NAU by creating a wide range of activities and experiences. Donations from this event will go to members of the university community who have a hard time paying for these items, especially considering the cost strains associated with higher education.

Azah Dolores Quach, one of the head organizers for the event and affiliate of Louie’s Cupboard, said the van was selected because of multiple benefits, including its help with fundraising for food insecurity. The vehicle is a new addition to the service, she explained, which is used for transporting donations and gaining visibility.

“In addition to generating donations, having the Louie’s Cupboard van on the pedway helps raise awareness about food insecurity on campus,” Quach said. “We are always working toward normalizing the use of the Cupboard — making sure it is not embarrassing or shameful for students to access food.”

According to its website, Louie’s Cupboard was established in 2012 through a class project, and is currently a full-campus food pantry. Its goal is to reduce food insecurity and provide for students struggling with college expenses. The organization gives back to hundreds of students and staff via food distributions.

Its contributions include bi-weekly distributions, as well as grab-and-go bags available during weekdays. The items include nonperishable goods such as canned meat, fruit and grains. Louie’s Cupboard also partnered with Flagstaff Family Food Center (FFFC) by offering trips to participate in their Food Box Service featuring bread, produce, meats and dairy.

Louie’s Cupboard prides itself on being available to everyone in need around the NAU community. One factor is clearly displayed on its website: “No eligibility requirements and [is] open to anyone needing food.”

Quach said the Fill the Van Service was created by two members of the welcome week staff: Michelle Gardner and Taylor Rice. They brought the idea to Quach and other organizers, who collectively decided it would be a great way to engage students and the NAU community.

“I think the success of this event has grown incredibly,” Quach said. “Students will benefit from the food items that are donated, the multiple volunteer opportunities and building a sense of leadership by joining the club.

Louie’s Cupboard helps students, faculty and staff in many ways, and we will continue to expand and learn from the community.”

Senior Hayley-Rose Hardison, a volunteer with Fill the Van, has worked with Louie’s Cupboard for three years.

She said the program has grown significantly and that it was able to get a larger space to distribute food.

“We were able to get a fridge, so we could provide fresh produce instead of just canned foods,” Hardison said.

“We have had more people using our services since the pandemic, and I am glad that we are able to be a resource on campus for everyone who needs it.”

Hardison said her favorite part of volunteering with the event was watching all the donations get piled up. She said it’s wonderful to witness people donate to Louie’s Cupboard, so those involved can continue helping students and staff.

Considering the rise of food insecurity in Arizona, this service is needed now more than ever. UArizona’s The Daily Wildcat reported food insecurity has doubled since the pandemic. Its study looked at food security levels from March and November of 2020, ultimately showing students with high levels of food security dropping from 75.8% to 59.4%, while those with less food security increased by eight to nine percent.

Together, Louie’s Cupboard and LJX produced an event to help many members of the NAU community. By providing resources for struggling students and staff, they have already supported and are continuing to assist with the rising problem of food insecurity. These establishments have created opportunities for students wanting to get involved or volunteer, as well as for those who need assistance.

CULTURE

NAU student and event coordinator Joy Johnson takes a photo of NAU sophomores Brianna Martinez (left), Liberty Tilus (middle) and Kaia Gieszler (right) at the Sophomore Zoom IRL event, Aug. 24. Madison Easton | The Lumberjack

Zoom IRL event gives sophomores a chance to start fresh Emily Rehling

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t the Zoom IRL event Aug. 24, sophomores had the chance to rewind the clock and experience the college transition they missed last year. The night was filled with activities, socializing and snacks. Students met at South Bowl to get to know the NAU community face-to-face and, although the pandemic is ongoing, attendees were optimistic about getting back to normal in the coming year.

The Office of Leadership, Engagement, Activities and Peer Mentoring (LEAP) organized Zoom IRL as part of the Lumberjack Experience, a series of August events that aim to guide new students around the university. Zoom IRL was one of many plans, but the only one specifically set up for sophomores.

LEAP organizer Brianna Boitano explained why this sophomores-only event was coordinated for the Lumberjack Experience, in addition to why it was so important.

“They didn’t really get a freshman year,” Boitano said. “They didn’t get the experience that everybody else got before them and now after them, so they get to feel special for a week.”

Zoom IRL offered students the opportunity to get to know each other through an activity called speed-friending. Pairs of participants would ask each other questions from a provided card, then switch to the next participant when time was up. This process allowed students to get to know each other and potentially put a face to the Zoom screen names they may have seen last year.

Boitano also explained that near the center of the speedfriending activity, a large board stood where students could stick a note stating what they missed during their freshman year, what they were looking forward to this year, or both. This helped students visualize their hopes for year one of face-to-face

instruction.

After the activities, attendees mingled with those they met earlier in the evening, while also enjoying the provided refreshments. Some made use of the photo booth that was set up to commemorate the event and capture their first moments of in-person college life.

Sophomore Lauren Powell said she was happy to have gotten to know new people through the speed-friending activity.

“I think the questions were very personal, so we got to know people on a deeper level,” Powell said. “And the hors d’oeuvres were great.”

Others in attendance expressed their excitement to get back in the swing of things and to make up for lost time with their peers, such as sophomore Kaitlyn McGrane.

To better connect with NAU as a whole, McGrane said she is looking forward to events with the entire student body, and not just sophomores.

“It was just nice to talk to people that we haven’t met before,” McGrane said. “We didn’t do a lot of that last year.”

Similarly, sophomore Lily Rodriguez highlighted sporting

“It was just nice to talk to people that we haven’t met before. We didn’t do a lot of that last year.”

– Sophomore Kaitlyn McGrane

events as something her sights are set on, especially after the isolation of online college.

“I didn’t have a lot of [athletic events] in my high school,” Rodgriguez said. “There weren’t big sports games or anything, so it would be cool to be a part of more of those, [to] watch more, [to] be more involved.”

With football season having kicked off Sept. 2, students do not have long to wait before getting back into the Walkup Skydome.

Joy Johnson, another organizer for LEAP, stressed the significance of helping sophomores get acclimated to an in-person college experience following last year’s loneliness.

“With COVID and everything, sophomores didn’t really get a chance to connect with their class,” Johnson said. “This event gives them that chance to meet those people that they didn’t get the chance to meet … it gives them that little reliving of freshman year.”

Johnson also discussed events for the Lumberjack Experience, such as the Make it Blue and Gold and Wood Cookie Paint Night, which took place during the first week of classes. These types of programs are helpful for new students, Johnson added, because their interactive nature features attendees sitting down and getting to know each other. Johnson said she hopes that because of this format, students will make connections as they work together on activities.

As campus springs back to life, more events like Zoom IRL are designed to bring students together. From the excitement expressed by sophomores at the event, to NAU’s commitment to a fully in-person semester, it seems students and the university alike are ready to get back into action.

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 8, 2021 | THE LUMBERJACK

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SPORTS

Blue and Gold In Action Messi’s move emphasizes money over passion

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aris Saint-Germain (PSG) has turned the soccer world upside down. Prior to the 2021-22 season, Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi spent his entire career at FC Barcelona, while further cementing his case as the greatest soccer player to ever live. His dribbling skills, playmaking and left-foot shooting made him an icon in not just soccer, but of sports history.

SEAN Due to Barcelona’s wasteful CLARK spending habits, it could not afford to re-sign Messi when his contract expired WRITER this summer. The main culprit was paying over 300 million euros in transfer fees for players Antoine Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele.

Then, for the first time, Messi was on the transfer market.

He was immediately snatched by PSG, a club without a single Champions League Final appearance. They also play in Ligue 1, which according to UEFA, is no longer a top-five league.

Owned by a Qatar-based ownership group, Messi will earn 35 million euros per year upon joining the club. PSG has one of the highest wage bills in the world with nearly 4 million euros per week.

These expenditures beg the question: Why did Messi join a club that lacks history and is successful due to money?

The answer: Soccer has turned into what college football has become; players choosing where to go based on money and success. It is the equivalent of quarterbacks Bryce Young and D.J. Uiagalelei going from their high schools to Alabama and Clemson for fame, also to find their best avenue to the NFL. Messi went to PSG because of the offered money, on top of playing with fellow superstar, Neymar.

Young and Uiagalelei could have stayed in Los Angeles and attended USC or UCLA, vaulting them to the top of college football with their five-star skill. Instead, they chose money, fame and future success with Alabama and Clemson.

Instead of returning to his native Argentina or another club in Spain, the country he’s lived in for over 20 years, Messi went to PSG, the poster child of cash-dominated clubs.

In 2021, sports have become more business and brandoriented. Instead of accepting challenges, players take the avenues convenient in building their fame and earnings, which is why midfielder Jack Grealish left his boyhood club, Aston Villa, for Manchester City last summer.

Soccer is still a beautiful game, especially with moves such as Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Manchester United reminding the world of a LeBron James homecoming to the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, money has taken the emphasis in player’s careers — and that is the reality.

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Upcoming Games SFA Tournament: NAU Volleyball vs Texas A&M - Corpus Cristi Sept. 3, 2 p.m.

NAU Soccer vs Grand Canyon Sept. 3, 7 p.m.

SFA Tournament: NAU Volleyball vs Louisiana Sept.4, 9 a.m.

NAU Soccer VS New Mexico Sept. 9, 5:30 P.m.

Recent Game Scores Tiger Classic: VolleyBall AUg 27: NAU vs Florida State Final: (L) NAU 0 - Florida State 3 Aug 28: NAU @ LSU Final: (L) NAU 1 - LSU 3 NAU vs Michigan CANceled (Hurricane IDa) NAU vs Nicholls State Canceled (Hurricane IDa) NAU Soccer Aug 27: NAU @ Arizona Final: (L) NAU 1-Arizona 2 Aug 29: NAU @ Oregon Final: (L) Nau 2 - Oregon 4

SPORTS

Lumberjack Lacrosse: In the hands of an All-American Will Hopkins

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AU is officially back in session and, with vaccines widely available, students finally returned to campus for the first time since March 2020. Despite the many protocols still in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, the university looks normal when compared to last year. One of the big organizations returning this year is club sports, and as the new season lurks around the corner, one sport in particular has high expectations.

Northern Arizona Lacrosse returned to the fields at the start of the 2021-22 school year, but after nearly 18 months off, a lot changed for the program. Former All-American goalkeeper Alec Gastony was named head coach of the ’Jacks in February, just two seasons removed from playing in net for NAU. Gastony was a key contributor to plenty of the Lumberjacks’ accomplishments and, up to this point, their greatest season in program history. While playing in goal, he led the team to its first-ever conference title and national championship tournament appearance. Despite not being able to take the field any more, Gastony is just as excited for this season as any other.

“This is my dream job, I’m not gonna lie to you,” Gastony said about taking over the position. “I love Flagstaff, I never intend on leaving. We had discussions about me stepping in, and I wanted a little more experience, but this is something that I’ve been working toward for a long time.”

Gastony, who is still playing with the Mexican national team, mentioned that he had always aimed to coach lacrosse in some form, but hadn’t considered the chance to start at the college level. After studying history at NAU, his main goal was to become a teacher, especially because he wanted the ability to coach. Being around the game is clearly important to Gastony, and it shows when he’s on the practice field.

Gastony was a member of the class of 2019, meaning this year’s roster still holds athletes who have played long enough to have suited up with the former All-American. One of those players is senior defenseman Jake Smith.

“I came in my freshman year to a lineup of seniors and older guys, so I was ready to ride the bench and work hard. I ended up becoming a starter and he kept coaching me and continuing to make me a better player,” Smith said about his experience playing alongside Gastony. “I’ve been coached by him ever since I’ve been here, so it’s

Photo courtesy of NAU men’s Lacrosse

just super cool to see him as an actual coach now. I respected him my freshman year, just because he’s older and our goalie and everything, but now I feel like I’m gonna respect him more and in a better way because he’s our coach.”

While the headline may be Gastony’s rapid ascent to the head coaching role, it’s not the only major addition for the ‘Jacks this season.

However, one of the biggest question marks for this year’s team is the sophomore class. Despite being on campus last year, this is their first chance to play live reps at the college level.

“We probably got together 10 times, but we were pretty spaced out,” sophomore and long stick midfielder Clayton Polanchek said. “It was

a slower practice and it never lasted as long as we would have wanted.”

Polanchek also mentioned college practices have shown him how much faster this level is, while demanding further adjustments.

This year’s freshman class is also new to the scene, but it is perhaps the most success NAU has ever had in the recruiting field, with 19 players joining the team. The high number of newcomers gives Gastony a good opportunity to mold this team into his system for years to come.

One of those freshmen, Gray Osgood, has already been asked to make a significant change in his game, moving from an attackman to an

“This is my dream job, I’m not gonna lie to you.”

– head coach Alec Gastony

offensive midfielder. Despite his limited time with the team, Osgood has already noticed the difficulty of transitioning to the college level, which still hasn’t deterred him from trying to be a key contributor to the ’Jacks during his first year.

“I would say as a freshman it is definitely hard to stand out, but that just shows how much hard work I have to put in,” Osgood said.

“Hopefully it shows come game time.”

With the return of Lumberjack lacrosse comes the renewal of high expectations. The last full season the team played Gastony was in goal, leading the Lumberjacks to unprecedented success. Now, despite his move to the sideline, the coach isn’t shy about what he thinks this team can do. The coach’s prediction?

“No doubt in my mind: we’re gonna end up top 4,” Gastony said.

The Lumberjacks will start their season this spring with the expectation of a return to the national championships.

SEPT. 2 - SEPT. 8, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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SPORTS

NAU volleyball freshman class b Brenden Martin

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fter a shortened, COVID-riddled season that saw NAU volleyball only take on conference opponents, the Lumberjacks look locked and loaded to remain atop of the Big Sky Conference — or locked and reloaded, to be specific.

At the highest level of competition they have ever played, a new set of freshmen athletes are looking to find their fit.

While NAU does return a whopping 12 players, the team also brings three freshmen into the fold: outside hitter Kacee Moore, defensive specialist Jordan Cherniss and opposite hitter Sophia Wadsworth. Head coach Ken Murphy sees these freshmen are ready to play, despite joining a roster largely filled by veterans.

“All three of these players are very talented, pretty far along in their careers [and] they’ve played a lot of volleyball, so adding them to the gym has been really easy,” Murphy said. “In my mind, you can’t really tell which ones are the freshmen most of the time.

Honestly, they’re at that level already.”

With the large number of returning players, this new freshman class is not as big as last year’s, which had five players.

While this team is still on the younger side, these sophomores have plenty of advice to give to the freshman trio.

Freshman outside hitter Kacee Moore Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics

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For the freshmen, input and instruction have been key No. 1-seeded Wildcats eventually became conference champions. parts of making the transition from high school to college as However, the ’Jacks handed Weber State its only loss last season, comfortable as possible. Moore, from Farmington, New Mexico, on March 7 in Rolle Activity Center, by a score of 3-1 in the first quickly pointed out a new face who has played a big part in of a doubleheader. guiding her.

The rivalry looks to be even hotter this season. The 2021 “For me personally, I feel like I can always talk to Neche Big Sky Volleyball Coaches’ Poll put Weber State as the favorite Newton and Aubrea Bandfield,” Moore said. “They’re just super to repeat as conference champions, receiving every first-place welcoming and make me feel like it’s OK to talk to them.” vote from fellow Big Sky teams. NAU received the remaining Moore added Newton has been her warm-up partner since first-place selection from Weber State itself, as coaches were not she arrived in Flagstaff, contributing to their dynamic both on allowed to vote for their own teams. and off the court.

NAU and Weber State are scheduled to play each other Wadsworth echoed Moore’s sentiment on Bandfield, referencing her openness and genuineness in talking separate from volleyball. However, it’s not just the returning sophomores providing guidance, but also the upperclassmen playing a huge role.

“I think they’re all doing a good job,” Murphy said about his veteran players offering advice to the freshmen.

“I think Taylor Jacobsen is probably the strongest personality and leader. Morgan Gappmayer is doing a great job. All of our freshmen from last year are doing a great job with them.”

Jacobsen, a junior outside hitter from Chandler, Arizona, who earned a spot on the All-Big Sky First Team last season, seems to be a great choice for the rookie players to look toward for help on and off the court.

The turnaround to get ready for the fall season is fast, especially coming off condensed spring competition that concluded for the Lumberjacks at the start of April. Despite NAU opening the season in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the Tiger Classic against three Power 5 schools in Florida State, LSU and Michigan, the team has not been distracted from the real target.

“Weber State,” Cherniss answered quickly regarding the matchup she is most excited about. “Just because from what I’ve seen, it’s always seemed like they are our toughest challenge [and] our biggest opponent, so I’m excited to get into that.”

The Wildcats have been a huge rival of NAU’s over the past few years, especially upon defeating the Lumberjacks in two consecutive semifinals: fall 2019 and spring 2021. The more recent of those two losses came on April 1, before the Freshman opposite hitter Sophia Wadsworth (right) returning the volleyball back toward the LSU

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bring experience to young core twice this season, starting Oct. 16 in Flagstaff and then Nov. 11 in Ogden, Utah. Both matches will be available to stream on ESPN+.

Connections played a big part in getting Moore to Flagstaff.

In her first year playing club volleyball, she was teammates with current NAU sophomore Millie O’Ketter, and the two continued for a number of years together. The same goes for sophomore Jordan Elder, who Moore met about two years later and played with on that same club team.

Club volleyball also played a huge role in Cherniss’ career.

The outside hitter-turned-defensive specialist still had a club

U side of the net, Aug. 28. Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics

season during COVID-19, despite her high school senior season being canceled. While she couldn’t make a run at a fourth Citrus Belt League honor for Redlands East Valley High School in California, she still enjoyed some competition.

Cherniss, like her fellow freshmen and teammates, comes from an athletic background. Both her parents played collegiate volleyball, and her mother, Kim, is head coach at the school where Jordan’s father, Peter, played: California State San Bernardino (CSUSB). Kim Cherniss has been head coach for CSUSB since 1991 and has a career record of 648-225, including 14 California Collegiate Athletic Association championships and the 2019 Division II national championship.

With such accomplished parents, and a national championship-winning mother, Jordan knew she wanted to go off and make a name for herself.

“Not a chance,” Cherniss said about having her mother as a potential college coach. “From a young age, I’ve always been like: ‘My mom will not be my coach.’

It’s just like that parent-coach thing, I mean it’s hard when she actually knows what she’s talking about … I respect her on another level as a coach and I mean I’d love to be coached by her if she wasn’t my mom.”

Athletic backgrounds are certainly a recurring theme for these freshmen, although Wadsworth’s family history is unique. Her father, Andre Wadsworth, played college football at Florida State, which happened to be last week’s opening match for women’s volleyball. He was drafted third overall in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, behind Hall-of-Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, Hall-of-Fame defensive back Charles Woodson and quarterback Ryan Leaf.

“In a way, it’s really nice to have another person who’s been through highlevel athletics to turn to if I ever have a question about anything or need extra motivation,” Wadsworth said about having her father’s support. “It’s really like a blessing that I have another person, not as a parent, but as an ex-professional and collegiate athlete.”

Having her father drafted by the Cardinals has played a role in Wadsworth’s athletic career in the Phoenix area. In her senior season in Scottsdale, she was named Arizona 2A Conference and 2A Metro Region Player of the Year. All four years

of high school, she was also an all-region honoree and helped her team win the 2A Arizona state championship.

In this four-year run’s final championship match, Wadsworth earned 11 of the team’s 40 kills and had a kill percentage of 45.8%.

She also had three service aces, a dig and an assist.

Wadsworth explained that her winning experience can be a huge asset for collegiate athletics and NAU. “We won all four state championships while I was there, so it gives me extra motivation to win a couple while I’m here to keep that winning streak going on,” Wadsworth said.

This freshmen class looks well-equipped and ready to take on what’s in front of them. With Moore’s height, Cherniss’s adaptability to change positions and Wadsworth’s championship experience, NAU looks ready to take the next step and become Big Sky Champions once again.

Freshman defensive specialist Jordan Cherniss Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics

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