The Summer Lumberjack — June

LUMBERJACK The Summer

NorthernArizonaNews.com

NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT

SUMMER INSIDE

News: New adventure parks opens in Flag, p 4 News: NAU ranked 53rd in degrees for Hispanics, p 8 Sports: Climbing through the cracks, p 18 Arts: Fun. performs in Flagstaff, p 25

VOICE SINCE 1914 • SPECIAL EDITION • VOL 99 • JUNE 2012

Welcome to life at 7,000 feet

A future freshman’s guide to where to eat, what to do and how to get the most out of northern Arizona

Photo courtesy of NAU Marketing

Go to NorthernArizonaNews.com for daily updates, multimedia packages, extra content and stories before the issue hits the stands.

CommunitySpot

June Calendar June Events Events Calendar Events Calendar Events Calendar Friday, June 8 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest [Fri., Sat 8 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m.]

Computer Workshop for Beginners 1 p.m.-3 p.m. or 5 p.m.-7 p.m./ The Literacy Center] Family Open Skate Night [6:30 p.m./Flagstaff Athletic Center]

Saturday, June 9 “A is for Arizona” Dance Performance [2 p.m. or 7 p.m./ Coconino High School] Flagstaff Chili Festival [11 a.m./ Thorpe Park] Flagstaff Music Festival [All day/ Heritage Square] Country Night [10 p.m./ Lumberyard Brewing Company] Movies on the Square [3 p.m./ Heritage Square]

Sunday, June 10

Flagstaff Chili Festival [10 a.m./ Thorpe Park] Flagstaff Music Festival [All day/ Heritage Square] Farmers Market [8 a.m./ Flagstaff City Hall Parking Lot] Live Music Every Sunday [7 p.m. /San Felipes Cantina]

Monday, June 11 Weekly Wine Tasting [6 p.m./ Wine Loft]

Thursday, June 14 Yu-Gi-oh Tournament [4 p.m./ Cab Comics] Trivia Night [12 a.m./ Lumberyard Brewing Co.] Open Mic Night [9 p.m./ Mia’s Lounge]

Friday, June 15 Family Open Skate Night [6:30 p.m./Flagstaff Athletic Center]

Warhammer & Warmachine [4 p.m./ Cab Comics]

Computer Workshop for Beginners 1 p.m.-3 p.m. or 5 p.m.-7 p.m./ The Literacy Center]

Warhammer & Warmachine [4 p.m./ Cab Comics]

Saturday, June 16

Tuesday, June 12

Country Night [10 p.m./ Lumberyard Brewing Company]

Monday Night Blues [7 p.m. /Charly’s Pub and Grill]

Movies on the Square [3 p.m./ Heritage Square]

Wednesday, June 13 Open Mic Nights [9 p.m./ Mia’s Lounge]

Sunday, June 17 Farmers Market

Monthly Picks

[8 a.m./ Flagstaff City Hall Parking Lot] Live Music Every Sunday [7 p.m. /San Felipes Cantina]

Monday, June 18 Warhammer & Warmachine [4 p.m./ Cab Comics] Weekly Wine Tasting [6 p.m./ Wine Loft]

Tuesday, June 19 Percussion Discovery [10 a.m./ NAU Performing and Fine Arts Building]

Wednesday, June 20 Open Mic Nights [9 p.m./ Mia’s Lounge]

Thursday, June 21 Yu-Gi-oh Tournament [4 p.m./ Cab Comics]

Weekend Picks

Farmers Market Sundays @ 8 a.m. in the Flagstaff City Hall Parking Lot Enjoy shopping for fresh vegitables, fruits, baked goods and more while enjoying Flagstaff’s beautiful weather .

Family Open Skate Night Fridays @ 6:30 p.m. in the SportsStop @ FAC Bring the family along to enjoy some roller skating with the girls from the High Altitude Roller Derby team.

2 The Lumberjack | NorthernArizonaNews.com

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June 7, 2012 - July 5, 2012 | The Lumberjack 3

InTheNews

Adventures in the canopy New park offers ziplining and climbing thrills

S

BY NATASHA REEVES

pend a day playing in the trees, skateboarding more than 30 feet off the ground and jumping from log to log in the new Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course.

The new park opened this spring at Fort Tuthill County Park. The park is set up with four different courses, green being the easiest course and black being the hardest. Each is filled with different obstacles such as rope swings and wobbly bridges.

The course contains a variety of games.

In one such challenge, participants would attempt to jump on a moving wooden skateboard. In another, visitors would scale a miniature climbing wall before ziplining to the finish line.

Some of the courses within the park are specifically geared toward children.

“Once you complete the course, it’s almost a rite of passage, because for a lot of people — even if you’re not afraid of heights — it puts you out of your element,” said Rob Arnold, one of the guides at the park. “We want it to be something fun to do, but also an accomplishment.”

The highest course is 60 feet, high

enough to feel the trees sway back and forth if it is windy. With this in mind, the park has put in place several safety precautions. Guests are always hooked to a harness and safety wire. There are safety guides all throughout the park who can come and rescue anyone who feels uncomfortable on the courses. The guides can also help you decipher the next obstacle. There is a 30-minute training session before you start on the green course, so people are aware of the safety rules. The park offers gloves to those who find that they are getting blisters during the course, and provides hooks so that customers can bring water bottles with them to remain hydrated. While the park wants visitors to remain safe, the staff stresses that they still want people to have a good time.

Recent customer Alexa Stroh described her experience as being exuberant and different. “I expected to be freaked out by the heights, but I felt really safe because of the safety cables,” Stroh said. “I picked up on the course easily. It was fun and good exercise.”

The course is made for participants to feel an adrenaline rush from the heights so that they can push through all of the obstacles.

4 The Lumberjack | NorthernArizonaNews.com

see COURSE page 7

Visitors to the Course are able to walk across tightropes suspended high across the forest canopy. In addition, park customers have the choice of ziplining over and between the ponderosas found at Fort Tuthill County Park. The highest course takes guests up 60 feet. (Photos by Natasha Reeves)

InTheNews (Photo by Rolando Garcia)

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Summer provides advantages for students, NAU

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BY ROLANDO GARCIA

AU faculty and staff are focused on providing students enrolled in summer courses a complete, more immersed university experience, and the opportunity to graduate more rapidly--high costs and restricted class availability present obstacles.

The university has said higher costs are a consequence of a lack of state funding between the months of May and August, and thorough research has been conducted to offer more required courses for graduation and increase the number of classes offered online.

Karen Pugliesi, the Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, said the classes available are intended to help students progress in their academic plans.

Students will be better able to satisfy major and liberal studies requirements. “The thing that our colleges do is look at past enrollment data to understand what sort of courses students want to take, and also what modality students prefer,� Pugliesi said.

As an alternative for students leaving Flagstaff for the summer, NAU has adapted by providing more online courses. “When possible, we have actually shifted to offering many of our courses online so students can do that while at home,� Pugliesi said.

Pugliesi said an additional thing to consider about class availability is colleges run on revenue. “We can’t offer all of our courses; most of

them wouldn’t enroll sufficiently for us to go forward,� Pugliesi said, “and we have to make it work in a business way.� The school does not receive state funding for summer terms, and the university has to pay faculty and provide library services, academic support services, health services and advising.

Pauline Entin, the associate dean for academic affairs for the College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences, said she believes there is a correlation between what is beneficial to students and economic viability. “Economically viable just means, as a rule of thumb, about a dozen students,� Entin said.

Entin cited an instance when she taught a course with four students. The class produced neither enough revenue for the university nor an excellent learning environment. “It’s difficult if you want to have conversation; if you want to do a group project, you have one group,� she said.

After the university has determined what range of courses are economically viable and helpful in advancing a student’s academic progress, each college and their respective professors have a say in what they would like to teach. “We tend to be given the opportunity to choose the classes that we want to teach in the summer from a range,� Associate Professor of philosophy Julie Piering said. She currently teaches PHI 105, Introduction to Ethics, and is grateful for the opportunity the summer term provides to teach outside of her normal rotation. see SUMMER page 7

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6 The Lumberjack | NorthernArizonaNews.com

from COURSE page 4

InTheNews

“When you are concentrating on bal- New York. French and Canadian engineers ancing across a bridge or climbing up one helped create the park. Paul Kent, the ownof the obstacles you rarely ever notice the er and creator of the park, found Flagstaff heights,” Stroh said. to be the perfect place with its tight comThe courses create munity and pleasant yearSummer Hours: a social environment round weather. as well. Many partici- Open Friday, Saturday and Kent was inspired by a pants are put together similar park in New York Sunday starting @ 8:30 in large groups to go up called Adirondack Extreme a.m. through Sept. 10 onto the courses. It beAdventure Course. “I visited comes easy for stranga park like this one in New Cost: ers to converse and • Full Adult Course $42 York and I’ve always loved help each other on the outdoor active fun including (Ages 16 and up) course. There is somemaking zip lines for my kids, thing about being high • Half Adult Course $35 etc.” Kent said. “This was up in the air facing viga way to get people off the (ONLY Ages 12-15) orous, physical games couch and into the trees and that makes it easier to • Private Guiding $45 see nature’s beauty.” bond with others; espeThe Flagstaff Extreme cially when you need help or get stuck on Adventure Course is a unique experience a challenge. that is perfect for people of all ages. From There are only one other park like the large groups to a couple, anyone can come Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course in the and try inching across a rope or climbing United States; the other park is located in up a net right after getting off a zip line. from SUMMER page 5

Kamran Sheikh, an electrical engineering major who just completed his fifth year of higher education said he is taking summer courses to satisfy liberal studies requirements.

“I want to get it done, so that way my load is lighter so I can take upper-division courses next semester, do a research project and hopefully publish a paper,” Sheikh said.

Hamad Alrushaid, a junior who is double majoring in marketing and finance, said he is taking summer courses to finish his degree quickly. Alrushaid is an international student and wants to return home as soon as possible.

However, not all students are as quick as Sheikh and Alrushaid to enroll in summer courses. Jessie Gould, a junior English major, and Kelli Lorenz, a senior comparative cultural studies major with an emphasis in religious studies both opted out of the summer term.

“It’s money that I don’t really want to spend when I can be getting the classes I need from the regular term. I can just keep cramming classes into the regular term and save money,” Gould said. She usually enrolls in 17 to 18 credit hours per semester.

Lorenz is more concerned about the quality of education she would receive from summer courses.

“You’re not getting the same attention or the same amount of time to study; I don’t think it’s as beneficial,” Lorenz said.

In order for summer courses to completely cover their curriculum, professors must teach at a very fast pace. “Students are

moving in this three-week section at a week a day: each day is three hours of class time,” said Piering.

Entin and Piering said professors are able to teach the content just as effectively as they do during the fall or spring semesters.

“My guess would be the summer teaching is just as effective. It also comes down to strategy: some students really like being able to focus on just one class at a time,” Entin said.

Sheikh described his experience as “quicker, faster-paced and straight to the point — there is no bologna in between.” Alrushaid said, “I like focusing on one class; it is easier in the summer because you can focus on one subject.”

Piering said she believes the summer term may actually prove more effective for students.

“There is not that sense of exhaustion that can hit students at the end of the fall or spring semesters; the last stuff you assign is very quickly read, they have to do a calculation,” Piering said. Students calculate their options and often choose to sacrifice new readings or smaller assignments in order to turn in an essay or a project worth many points.

“You don’t have that problem in summer; they are focusing intensively on this: there is a great benefit to that. The content, by distilling it, is all the more clearly understood and appreciated; however, other ideas just take time—they take time to sit with us,” Piering said.

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June 7, 2012 - July 5, 2012 | The Lumberjack 7

InTheNews

NAU ranked 53rd in degrees for Hispanics

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This Sunflower Farmer’s Market is located in Colorado. The chain will be opening its eighth branch in the state of Arizona by the end of the year in Flagstaff. (Photo courtesy of The Dallas Morning News)

Sunflower coming to Flag

Sherrell: NAU students a ready customer base

AU is moving up in the ranks, scoring 53rd in the country for awarding the most bachelors degrees to Hispanics in The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine. It has made a steady climb since 2003, moving up 16 places in the ranking in eight years.

David Camacho, the Associate vice president for diversity, said NAU uses the same strategies to retain all students at the university.

“Like with all students, we engage our Latino students in a way to retain them,” Camacho said. “We know that joining student organizations is an important indicator of retention. We work with all of our students in our residence halls. We have student support services for academic efficiency for all of our students.”

Camacho said he thinks the rise in more Hispanic graduates could be related to both NAU developing a

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8 The Lumberjack | NorthernArizonaNews.com

good reputation and more students doing research on universities and colleges before they decide to enroll.

“I think in part it is just the number of students we are attracting,” Camacho said. “I’d like to think that it is the reputation of NAU as well. I do know students like to study the university that they want to attend and you know the same way they look for their major and we have the curriculum to serve their academic interests. I think they look to see how well we do with retention and graduation of our students.”

Many of the top 100 colleges listed by the magazine are located in U.S. Mexico border states. Justin Fuentes, a junior pre-med major, said that he wasn’t surprised that NAU ranked high on the charts because Arizona has a high Hispanic population in general.

“We are closer to the border,” Fuentes said. “On a demographic degree like going towards a certain demographic if you go down south to

where a lot of black people are there are more black people in university with undergraduate programs.”

Fuentes said he believes that, due to the high population of Hispanic culture in the area and the opportunities that are available, cultural diversity in universities is being turned into a stereotype thing and said it seems like universities pay more attention to try to be more diverse and it just seems more racist.

Camacho said he is proud of NAU’s achievements, but believes the school excels in retaining students and it’s excellent reputation by working with all the students equally.

“Clearly, NAU is proud of it’s record,” Camacho said. “We do very, very well with our Native American students as well but, again, I really do think it is an overall strategy of trying to serve all students that we are responsible for. We are studentcentered and just our efforts to work with all our students. “

More states may join Ariz. in requiring off-road stickers

BY MARIA DICOSOLA

lagstaff residents can expect to be able to shop at a new full-service grocery store by the end the year.

Sunflower Farmers Market, an increasingly popular whole foods store, is moving into the University Meadows Shopping Center on Riordan, home of shops including Michaels, Bookmans and Hastings.

Expected to be 26,000 square feet, the store boasts a large variety of fresh — ­ and occasionally — locally grown produce, all-natural meats, items that accommodate special dietary needs, as well as a Natural Living department which will offer health and wellness products.

Additionally, they plan on bringing 100 jobs to the area.

Chris Sherrell, Sunflower’s CEO, said the company is enthusiastic about their expansion to Flagstaff.

“We’re thrilled to bring value-priced, healthy, natural and organic groceries to Flagstaff ’s college students and families,” Sherrell said in a press release. “We’ve consistently been very well-received in university towns – like Tucson, Tempe, Orem, and Boulder, for example – and look forward to filling a similar demand in Flagstaff, both with our serious food, silly prices and smiling faces and with the jobs we will be able to fill with the new location.”

This branch will be the eighth of its kind in Arizona.

Natural Grocers is expected to open in the old Furniture Barn later this year as well.

BY DELAINEY NOE

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BY FELICIA FONSECA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAGSTAFF — Laws in Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin that make it easier for law enforcement officials to identify the owners of off-road vehicles are being highlighted by a group pushing for a uniform way to spot illegal riders.

Responsible Trails America released its second annual national report Tuesday that shows the three states require large license plates or decals with contrasting colors and a minimum font size that are easy for law enforcement officials to see.

States that use those models also would help private property owners in rural areas deter trespassers when no authorities are nearby, the group said.

“We know by talking to law enforcement that having a larger license plate or sticker decal is one of the easiest tools they can use to identify somebody that’s breaking the law,” said the group’s director,

Shannon Raborn.

The report found that identification requirements vary across the country, with 12 states that mandate large, visible plates or decals with a minimum font size. Others state laws don’t address the size of fonts or decals, and 13 states have no identification requirements, the report said.

Arizona has a license plate with an off-road vehicle decal. Wisconsin’s governor signed a law earlier this year under which off-road vehicle owners must have a license plate with black-and-white lettering that they can buy or make themselves.

Legislation passed in Nevada in 2009 requires off-road vehicle registration starting next month.

Bray Addison, a patrol captain with the U.S. Forest Service in central Arizona, sees a mix of off-road vehicles from states that do and do not have identification mandates.

The majority of the area he covers is in the nearly 3 million-acre Tonto National Forest, just outside Phoe-

nix. It’s one of the country’s largest forests with 6 million visitors a year, many of whom are off-road enthusiasts in an area better known for its desert terrain than trees.

Stickers or license plates can help law enforcement track down stolen off-road vehicles or ensure that riders are complying with the law, Addison said.

“It does make it more difficult for us to find that person without those plate numbers,” he said.

“Sometimes we’re successful, and sometimes we’re not.”

While the report saw no change in the number of states with identification requirements over last year’s report, Raborn pointed out a possible trend. Six states attempted to pass legislation for visible identification on off-road vehicles.

“We think it’s positive so many states have an ID in place,” she said.

“If we can push and encourage states to make those IDs larger, that would be helpful.”

Summer

Looking to take a (cheap and quick) summer vacation? Try these trips

BY AMANDA HORNER

W

ith a bag of beef jerky, a 79-cent fountain drink in the cup holder, and good friends in the backseat, road trips are sacred journeys for college students. They help to remind students of why college seemed like so much fun, after getting lost underneath stacks of notebooks and financial aid statements. Everyone knows there is no better

feeling of the freeway with the windows rolled down, and all the time in the world to blast the JayZ, or Belle and Sebastian’s Dear Catastrophe Waitress – whichever your prerogative. NAU’s location offers round-trip destinations to satisfy everyone’s interests, and bank accounts. So load up a cooler of snacks, bring the mix CDs and attempt to keep all the Facebook pictures to a somewhat reasonable number.

Devil’s Canyon (near Globe, Arizona) Travel time: 3 hours, 33 minutes. Devil’s Canyon is located between Globe, Arizona and Superior, Arizona. The canyon is a beautiful hiking spot for any outdoorsy type, but is not for the faint of heart.

The hike, round trip, is 4.8 miles, and takes approximately 8 hours to complete. There are no actual trails in the canyon, so climbing ropes, a harness, ascending and descending gear are necessary for the journey. However, for the adventurous and athletic it is a sight worth seeing. Inside the canyon are pools of water and vegetation that would seem misplaced for the normal southwestern habitat. The best time to take this trip would be in the warmer months; April through June

Bisbee, Arizona

Travel time: 5 hours, 47 minutes. This southern Arizona town has an abundance of things to do. Anyone would be able to find something to their liking, while getting out of the cold Flagstaff weather for a weekend. The Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory is located in Bisbee, for biology and environment fanatics. One can also participate in the Hearse Tour, riding around in a hearse, visiting the allegedly haunted places in town, such as a haunted courthouse and the famous “Clawson House”- a home haunted by its previous owner. There are several haunted hotels to stay in, such as the Copper Queen Hotel, which offers tours of haunted alleyways and buildings in Bisbee every weekend. It was even featured on an episode of SyFy Channels’ “Ghost Hunters”. The Bisbee Mini Museum of the Bizarre is also an attraction; it includes a shrunken head, among many other strange things. It is open Thursday through Sunday, from 11 a.m., to 5 p.m., with a $3 admission.

Jerome, Arizona Travel time: 1 hour, 21 minutes. Getting to this historic mining town, involves an incredibly steep, but gorgeous drive. The city is popular for its local shops, crafts and artistic population of about 400 people. It is rich in history, and the close distance to NAU makes it a great day trip for students. A popular winery, “Jerome’s Winery” attracts those over 21, as well as saloons to visit and enjoy the sights of the gorgeous mountains surrounding. Jerome has many events that attract people to the “most vertical city” year round, such as the Jerome Art Walk, the first Saturday of every month, from 5-8 p.m. October holds several events related to the ghostly history of the town, such as the “Ghost Walk” where there are guided tours throughout the town and haunted stories. Art junkies can also enjoy a plethora of galleries, such as Gallery 527. Gallery 527 includes more than paintings, it also includes ceramics and beautiful blown glass, as well as photography and “Ecological Trash Assemblage.”

Oak Creek Canyon (near Sedona, Arizona) Travel time: 52 minutes. The scenic drive through State Route 89A is a refreshing start to visiting Oak Creek Canyon, located in the northern end of Sedona. It is included as one of the top 5 scenic drives in the U.S. by Rand McNally. The canyon itself is a colorful gorge of red rock, and lush vegetation- the second most visited site in the state of Arizona, after the Grand Canyon. The entire canyon is about 12 miles long, with hiking trails that are not too challenging for those without much outdoors experience. However, along the bottom flows a small river, so one should bring shoes that are good for getting wet and dirty. The temperature remains relatively cool, but is not a trip one should take in the very cold months. Since the location is close to Flagstaff, this trip is rather inexpensive. Kevin Montoya, a junior mechanical engineering major said about his trip, “The weather was amazing, through some of the canyons it gets a little windy but that’s the worst of it.” He also adds, “From Flagstaff [the drive] is even more gorgeous because you get to drive through the entire canyon and you can see the canyon from the highest point possible.”

Willow Beach (near Las Vegas, Nevada)

Travel time: 3 hours, 24 minutes. This Black Canyon region of the Colorado River is a great area to go to retreat from the Flagstaff cold for a day or two. Located in northwest Arizona, the temperature is warm year-round, perfect for picnics, hiking, camping, boating and fishing.

Canoe rentals are $15 an hour, with a three-hour minimum. Three adults fit into one canoe. Single person Kayaks are $10 an hour to rent, and two-person Kayaks are $20 an hour to rent. The person renting must be at least 21 years old, and show a valid driver’s license, but no experience is needed to rent the boats. Fishing in the region includes everything from large mouth bass to trout. Several campsites surround the area and it is even possible to camp along the shore of the river. There are many places to explore around the canyons and hike, and enjoy the fantastic photo-op. Willow Beach is also fewer than 50 miles from the heart of Las Vegas, making it an enjoyable stopping point on the way to, or the return from one’s Las Vegas trip. for two more suggestions, see TRIPS page 11

June 7 - July 5, 2012 | The Lumberjack 9

Summer

A letter to the future students of NAU written by Kevin Bertram, the editor-in-chief of The Lumberjack

W

elcome to college. In case you were wondering, you’ve just arrived. In a smaller sense, in Flagstaff and at NAU. In the larger picture, at the juncture of the rest of your lives.

I am aware the above paragraph probably somewhat resembles a much abridged version of the speech given by the valedictorian at your high school graduation, both in its cliched optimism and overemphasis on the importance of the present. After all, maybe you harbored similar sentiments after KEVIN BERTRAM escaping middle school, only to be disappointed when you realized that few things actually changed.

This time around, however, things do actually change. It’s here that you get a clean slate: it’s here that you get to start things over and begin again.

At this point, you might think that I’m under the impression that this year’s incoming freshman class consists of repentful convicts or something. I’m not. What I am saying is that you need to be prepared for the emotional hardship of being seperated from your family and friends.

Despite being heavily involved in several organizations, clubs and classes, I couldn’t wait to leave high school behind. My family was irksome; some of my classes tedious and unchallenging. I knew what I wanted to do with my life from then-on-out: I wanted to be a high school history teacher. My college education was, at best, a formality. At worst, it seemed like a roadblock to a future I was so sure of.

Almost four years later, I am nearing the end of my time here at NAU. And, in many ways, I am torn. Half the time I think about it, I’d do everything the same over again. And the other half of the time, I think about how I

would have done everything differently.

And, sometimes, I think that’s the way NAU would think about itself if it had the capacity to, well, think.

--My freshman year, my father helped me move into Cowden Hall. I had no job and relatively easy classes, between which I spent my time hanging out with some friends from high school.

I’d like to say that I originally joined The Lumberjack because I had an interest in the paper. In fact, that is what I tell people, and it’s partially true: I had been an opinion columnist for my high school paper, and I had some experience with writing. The other side of the coin that I don’t often, um, recollect, is that I was bored and broke, and I was looking to fill my time and my wallet.

A bit of a spoiler: like most college students, I found it easy to fill the former and hard to make the latter go where I needed it to.

I attended a job fair, hoping to find out more about the student newspaper. I was in luck: I found that The Lumberjack had a booth in the du Bois ballroom. I was also unfortunate, because the booth was abandoned.

I visited the newspaper office, located in the downstairs of the School of Communication. My persistance paid off. The one person in the office was the new News Editor, and — desperate to augment his staff with living, breathing reporters — hired me, despite my reluctance to write things objectively and without bias.

It was a turn of events that changed my life. Throughout the subsequent semesters, I worked my way up through the paper’s heirarchy. I became so enamored with reporting that I changed my major after the first semester of my freshman year. For those of you keeping track at home, this means that I dropped the

LUMBERJACK The Summer

NorthernArizonaNews.com

NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT

VOICE SINCE 1914

idea of being an educator — formerly, what I wanted to do with my life — after less than six months of being in Flagstaff.

Today, I am the editor-in-chief of the paper, and I hope to be a professional journalist when I graduate. And, no, most don’t use the words “hope” and “professional journalist” together. I do, however.

--Sometimes, I think about how things would have worked out if I had given up after failing to find the newspaper at that first job fair. I probably would not be a journalism major, and I most certainly would not be writing this column right now. And while leaving behind my dreams of being a teacher was difficult, it was made easier by me finding something that I liked even more. Be prepared to handle change and adapt to the future. In some form or another, college will throw you a curveball — in fact, multiple curveballs. You may know what you want to do for the rest of your life right now, and that may not change when you graduate from here. But, you need to be prepared for it to change, along with the rest of your life.

I’m a strong believer that no one is perfect, and I’ve never claimed to be the smartest, strongest or best-qualified person in the room.

I know those who interview me for jobs after college will see that. But, what I take pride in is my work ethic. No one ever regretted working hard for something that was worthwhile. The important thing about hard work, however, is also knowing when to apply the brakes. Those who know me will understandably and justifiably roll their eyes at the idea of me expressing this idea, but going 110 percent at everything, all the time, is a recipie for disaster. Find a happy medium that works for you.

Grades are not everything in college.

Grad schools and employers will look at your

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

entire body of work over the course of your time at NAU. Seek out employment related to your major, and inquire with your professors regularly about internships. This applies to certain majors more than others, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a major that doesn’t have such opportunities available to students.

Finally, take some time to familiarize yourself with the city and the campus. I was one of those freshman who rarely ventured far from a pre-set radius that surrounded my dorm, the Union and my classes. If I could do it again, I would have explored the city from the outset.

At the very least, I would have been able to eat Fratelli’s pizza from an earlier point. Try some local restaurants — go to the First Friday artwalk downtown. Meet some new people and, maybe, make some new friends.

--The campus has changed so much since I arrived here. Buildings have fallen, only to have new ones erected in their place. Old friends have moved on, and new ones have arrived, much like you have. No doubt, in your time here, you will see major physical and psycohological changes to the campus.

The university, in many ways, has been forced by reduced state funding to move to more of a privatized model. What consequences this has are yet seen, but I believe what it will yield is something akin to what has been happening at larger universities across the nation: the commodification of the college education.

Less experienced professors will greet you in the classroom, and cloudy job prospects will meet you outside of it.

You can and must actively work throughout your time here to make the experience worth it. No one will — or can — do that for you.

You must be prepared to actively shape your future. How do you plan to do that?

The Summer Lumberjack is the summer edition of The Lumberjack student newspaper of Northern Arizona University, and is published monthly between June and August. Those interested in employment opportunities for either publication should contact us at lumberjack@nau.edu.

Editor-in-Chief Kevin Bertram

Sports & Outdoors Editor Derek Schroeder

Arts Editor Maria DiCosola

Sales Director Jon Allen

Sales Manager Marsha Simon

News & Features Editor Kevin Bertram

Sports Sub-editors Chuck Constantino Travis Guy

Comics Editor Brian Regan

Faculty Adviser Rory Faust

Circulation Director Daniel Laskowski

10 The Lumberjack | NorthernArizonaNews.com

from TRIPS page 9

Two out-of-state trips worth taking this summer

Summer

Aztec Ruins (near Aztec, N.M.) Travel time: 5 hours, 17 minutes. This ancient national monument is open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day of the year. It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and News Year’s Day. The park stays open until 6 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The cost is $5 per adult. At the monument, there is a self-guided trail, where visitors explore an Ancestral Puebloan home, with well-maintained original artifacts and building structures. The national monument also includes a visitor museum with ancient Aztec artifacts. Two miles from there is another Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village, which is a collection of buildings representing the local area in the early 20th century.

People go there to enjoy the fascinating culture and history of the Aztecs. It is a more original road trip experience, highly enjoyable for students.

Desert Hot Springs, California Travel time: 6 hours, 28 minutes. Desert Hot Springs is most famous for being home to a number of mineral water spas, attracting people from all over the area. While the spas are relaxing, they also bring a variety of health and stress-relieving benefits, great for students who need to remove themselves from the immense pressures of school for a weekend. Minerals absorbed through the skin help to relax tense muscles and bones that can come from being bent over a laptop for hours at a time, every single evening. And from ancient times, minerals have been known to aid in helping sickness — deficiencies of minerals leave one extremely vulnerable to all kinds of illness. The desert resorts come in many styles, from extremely modern to “Moroccan themed.” And this is absolutely not a girls only roadtrip, either. Soaking in hot mineral water also increased blood circulation and improves the amount of oxygen getting the cells, great for athletes and people who work out and stay in shape. Everyone should spoil themselves at times, and make sure they stay healthy and relax with friends — this a great place to do so.

FROM PAGE 9, TOP TO BOTTOM: Devil’s Canyon (Photo courtesy of gemland.com). Bisbee, Ariz. (Photo courtesy of ghosttowngallery.com). Jerome, Ariz. (Photo courtesy of legendsofamerica.com). Oak Creek Canyon (Photo courtesy of gatewaytosedona.com). Willow Beach (Photo courtesy of squidoo.com). PAGE 11, TOP: Aztec Ruins (Photo courtesy of britannica.com).

PAGE 11, BOTTOM: Desert Hot Springs (Photo courtesy of cityofdhs.org).

Loren Vickers opens the door to the Skydome for over 30 years

A

BY RAYMOND REID

s most of both the Flagstaff and Big Sky Conference communities know, the J.L. Walkup Skydome underwent a much-publicized renovation last year leaving drastic changes in its interior appearance. However, one of the few things unchanged is the very noticeable yellow garage door. Facing the west end of the dome, the 17-by-17 foot door prominently displays, in blue lettering, the name and company information of Loren Vickers’ Overhead Door.

The door is noticeable throughout the many different events held in the Skydome. Whether it’s an NAU football game, the Big Sky Conference Track and Field meet, high school football or basketball playoff games, concerts or graduations, the door draws its share of attention from visitors to the Skydome.

“When I was little I thought it was super cool, then I got to high school and college and I’ve been asked about it, but not nearly as much as growing up,” said Vickers’ daughter Kendall, a student here at NAU. The name that they all have seen is that of a lifelong Flagstaff resident and father of six: Loren Vickers.

“The university has grown so much in the past 15 to 20 years — it’s crazy … I’ve seen a lot of changes over there,” Vickers said. “The dome was

such a big thing when it was built ... I remember when south campus was thought of — it’s amazing.”

This family-owned and operated company has been providing residential and commercial garage and overhead freight door services to the northern Arizona area since 1976.

“You get to see the true roots of the town, the

true makeup of people,” Vickers said.

In addition to servicing the community, Vickers’ company, in fact, is rooted squarely in the pulse of the Flagstaff, with his shop located on North Center Street near Route 66. With over 36 years of experience in the industry, the Loren Vickers name and company symbol have become mainstays with

The Loren Vickers door can be seen in this photo from a NAU football game in the Skydome in late 2011. (Photo by Sarah Hamilton)

NAU Athletics as well as the student body.

Vickers has two children that currently attend NAU: his son Carter, a sophomore, and his daughter Kendall, a junior. He also has two older daughters who are alumni of the university, Christine and Nicki.

Currently, Vickers, his wife, Susan, and Carter are on the NAU postcard that was recently sent out to parents and students.

His ties to the university do not end there.

He is also a good friend of former NAU men’s and women’s basketball coach Dave Brown. The two have been friends since the late ‘70s.

“I probably wouldn’t have met Dave Brown if it hadn’t have been for being in the business we’re in,” Vickers said. “To me, he’s a phenomenal guy, we get along so well.”

After such a long time in the manual labor industry, Loren Vickers still has the fire for what he does and there is no reason to think that fire will dim at any time in the near future.

“I still enjoy it every day,” he said. “Today, I’m working harder than I’ve ever worked. I enjoy meeting people, I enjoy talking to people and I think the good, basic community is still there in every aspect. Everybody wants the same; they want things to be better.”

“Being in the right place at the right time and not being afraid to make acquaintances, and not being afraid to talk to people,” Vickers said.

June 7, 2012 - July 5, 2012 | The Lumberjack 11

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Summer

Home-cooked deals for students at La Fonda’s

BY RAYMOND REID

W

Freshmen run onto the field of the newly renovated Skydome as football opens their home schedule against Fort Lewis College. (Photo courtesy Matt Beatty via NAU Athletics)

Running of the freshmen becomes a tradition

BY TRAVIS GUY

N

AU’s running of the freshmen may not be an original idea, but it is one that many involved with the program believe helps strengthen school spirit and gives freshmen a unique opportunity to participate in something not many other students get to.

“You know, we stole the idea, from, I think one of the schools in the SEC (Southeastern Conference),” said football head coach Jerome Souers. “I can’t remember who does it, but it wasn’t an original idea, but it’s a great idea.”

NAU begin the tradition of the running of the freshmen in 2008, taking a page out of the Vanderbilt University Commodores’ book. First-year students get the opportunity to run onto the field of the Walkup Skydome before the football team’s home opener.

“What it does is it, you get an opportunity to welcome and em-

brace ... the freshman students, upon their arrival on campus,” Souers said. “Running on the field at the start of a contest in football is historically an honor.

You’re applauded and cheered by the fans … it’s a neat deal.”

Rocky Silvestri, marketing and special events director for NAU Athletics, has only been with the school for about a year, but hopes to grow the running of the freshmen, and other programs, into traditions that get students and fans excited for Lumberjack sporting events, even if they have to borrow some ideas from other schools.

“This will continue to grow and wouldn’t it be great to have the whole freshman class running out,” Silvestri said. “We are just doing a lot, really pushing Lumberjack country with a new athletic director onboard and myself as new, within the last year, just bringing some bigger elements from bigger schools and making sure that we are bringing them to NAU to make

sure we are no different from anybody else.”

Nicole Bird, a junior business major, did not plan on participating in the event her first semester in Flagstaff, but one of her dormmates convinced her to come along, even if it was so she would not run alone.

“One of the girls in the dorms that I was living in my freshman year asked if I wanted to do it with her because she didn’t know anyone else doing it,” Bird said. “I had that freshman ‘sure, why not, lets do it’ [attitude].”

Coach Souers remembers the first time NAU did the running of the freshmen, and there were only a few hundred freshmen that ran on the field, compared to the 2011 home opening game, where it took nearly 10 minutes for all of the freshmen to get into the tunnel and run onto the field.

“The football team, themselves, absolutely love it,” Souers

ithin college towns, there are the typical popular college hangouts and eateries. Here at NAU, that is not the case. Although it is one of Flagstaff ’s most hidden gems, La Fonda Mexican restaurant is without a doubt on the culinary map of many students. The location of the restaurant is one of the more difficult to find. However, the NAU population seems to be able to pick it out of a lineup. La Fonda is located just off of Route 66 on North Second Street.

“It’s the hardest place in Flagstaff to find but people find it,” said Stephanie Miller, an NAU graduate and third generation manager of this family-owned business.

In 1957, three brothers started this business. Sylvester, Frank Sr. and Albert Garcia started La Fonda with $6,000. Over the years they have expanded the business here in Flagstaff as well as in two other locations, Camp Verde and Prescott. With over 50 years in the community the buzz around

this restaurant is still strong.

“It tastes like real Mexican food,” said Caley DuPlessis, a junior sociology major and orientation leader at NAU. “Meaning it’s similar to home cooked Mexican food and its fresh, not like Taco Bell, plus they have good service.”

The restaurant has many community and student friendly specials and themed days. Their most popular among students are their 99 cent “Taco Tuesdays” and their “Starving Students Sundays” which offers students a 50 percent discount with their campus I.D. “We try to reach out to the students because we know that when the students are away from their family they can come here and have a good meal at a reasonable price,” Miller said. We also have servers that come here and go to NAU and work here for four years.”

The community feel is alive and well in the restaurant during the busy times. The friendly service as well as the at-home feeling inside can be felt. Being that it is a home-grown product; the big see LA FONDAS page 27

(Photo courtesy of outwestfoodreviews.blogspot)

see RUNNING page 17

June 7, 2012 - July 5, 2012 | The Lumberjack 13

Summer

New to town? The best places to grab a bite in Flag The editors of The Lumberjack pick their favorite eateries, restaurants and shops

Maria DiCosola, summer Arts editor #1: “Mix”

Kevin Bertram, editor-in-chief #1: “Fratelli’s”

First, I need to clarify that I am really not a salad eater.

As childish as it sounds, the textures of many vegetables just make them unbearable to munch on. That being said, Mix, a restaurant downtown that features a create-your-own salad menu, is hands-down my favorite restaurant in Flagstaff.

As part of the Old Town Shoppes, which are also home to Bigfoot BBQ and The Basement boutique, Mix fits the relaxed feel of the downtown area and also prides itself in being avid followers of the slow food movement that is idolized by many restaurants in the city.

Mix boasts a broad slue of ingredients for customers to add to their salad. I enjoy adding the fresh pasta and their amazing homemade boursin cheese to my salads — to name a few ingredients.

Mix also has a delicious breakfast menu as well as various sandwiches and soups.

It is a great place to stop for lunch or breakfast after a run downtown or a bike ride up by Snowbowl because you still feel like your workout counts even after you finish your meal.

Mix can get pricey as you start adding meat to your salad, but the portions are significant enough that your salad could possibly feed you twice.

I’m a big fan of the classic pizza place, and Fratelli’s — with two locations on Phoenix Avenue and on Fourth Street — fits the bill. This is a great place to get a whole pie to split with some friends and, well, if you’re really hungry, add some delicious wings to go along with it. The atmosphere in both places is great.

Fratelli’s also has some great custom slices that rock. Try the “Route 66” pizza sometime. Made with BBQ sauce, mozzarella, green chiles, red peppers, red onion, cheddar cheese, grilled chicken and — thank goodness! — bacon.

Of course, I’m more of a simple pepperoni and cheese guy. And Fratelli’s is great for that, too.

#2: “Flame Broiler” Flame Broiler, located next to Campus Coffee Bean off of University Drive is a great place to stop by for a quick and healthy bite to eat. The menu is simple: order a bowl of rice with a choice of chicken, beef, half-and-half, or add in some mixed veggies.

To top it off, you can add green onions on the top as well as experiment with their soy sauce and a spicier sauce.

It seems basic, but trust me, eventually you will randomly start craving it like some do with McDonalds or Taco Bell.

The portions are filling and the price is low. Additionally, the coupon books that are sporadically left around campus have really good deals for this restaurant.

#3: “Louie’s Chicken Shack” While I can admit I haven’t ordered anything other than chicken and waffles off their menu, that dish alone is good enough to assume the rest of their food is at least decent. The restaurant, off of Milton Road behind Strombollis, provides a convenient delivery option to campus and a wide range of off-campus housing for those who don’t feel like crossing the street.

The chicken and waffles is their signature dish, although other restaurants have other variations. The waffles have a mouth-watering cinnamon touch to them, and the chicken is breaded in a sweet batter, as if they too are covered in waffle mix (that could be the secret, actually).

The menu is fairly inexpensive, and the location is close to campus. Many students of drinking age enjoy their bar.

#2: “Mama Burger” I have to show “Mama” some love, even though their new location — at the base of N. Fort Valley Road — is farther away from me at lunchtime than their old one downtown.

Flagstaff might not have an In-N-Out Burger, but there’s no need to wait around for one, because “Mama” makes great burgers that remind me of the former’s style. That being said, the burgers simultaneously remind you of something that you could make on the grill at a barbeque — which is not a bad thing. Perfect shoestring fries complete the package, and occaisionally, I like to spend a little more and get a milkshake with my meal.

That’s what I call a lunch. Or a dinner. Just ask them for the double cheeseburger with fries and a drink. You can’t go wrong with that.

#3: “Louie’s Chicken Shack” If you haven’t had chicken and waffles yet, you should, preferably as soon as possible. The chicken tastes amazing, and the house sauce that they provide you with is so tasty that I have a full-on debate with myself whenever I go in as to whether or not it’s wrong to put it on my waffles instead of the maple syrup. It’s always a tough choice.

Strangely enough, vegetarian eaters should not be completely turned away just because of the name. The waffles themselves are so good that they’re worth ordering by themselves.

#4: “Alpine Pizza” This place may have the best lunch special in Flagstaff.

When you order a slice, you’re actually getting what is essentially half a pizza. That’s a good thing for those of you who are trying to make your dollar go farther. I like to stop here when I’m downtown and grab a slice and a soda. The environment is pretty neat: the establishment has allowed various customers over the years to etch their names in the wood of the booths and walls. It gives a unique feel to the place that is quite unlike any other in town.

TOP: Mama Burger (Photo courtesy of Arizona Highways). BOTTOM: Mix (Photo courtesy of Mix) Located at N. Leroux Street and Route 66.

14 The Lumberjack | NorthernArizonaNews.com

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16 The Lumberjack | NorthernArizonaNews.com

Summer from RUNNING page 14

said. “It started out with several hundred and has grown to several, well, several thousand, I could not tell you how many. I think the first time we did it, it only took a couple minutes to get all the freshmen on the field before our team took the field. And then the last time we did it, I think we were about eight minutes and we had to, I’m not even sure we got all the freshmen all the way out. But it was really fun because they were body painted blue and gold, they were dressed up crazy like football fans do and [it gave] an opportunity for our football team to see them [and] to be able to applaud and honor them for coming, the guys way of saying thank you.”

For Bird, it was a chance to see the Skydome for the first time, and get a taste of college football from the players perspective.

“I didn’t realize how big the stadium was, so running in and just, you were just surrounded,“ Bird said.

And for Souers and the team, it is a way to make a connection with the freshmen and welcome them to the school.

“We want to, first of all, thank them for coming, acknowledge the importance of them being at our football games and then, by making sure their early experience was one that reflects enthusiasm and passion for their school and their sports,” Souers

said. “To see it grow the way it has is a reflection of what that then brings [to NAU].”

Silvestri, along with new athletic director Lisa Campos and various coaches and athletes, have been making a push into the Flagstaff community to increase awareness and get more people to join “Lumberjack Country.”

“This summer, we made a bigger effort to get out into the Flagstaff community and the new student community,” Silvestri said. “Each orientation session we’ve had our new basketball coach Jack Murphy and a coach that has some history here whether it be Andre Luciano (soccer), Jerome Souers (football), or Andy Johns (swim and dive) teach the fight song.”

Silvestri’s main goal is to help grow “Lumberjack Country” and show your school spirit at all events.

“We don’t care if your going to an athletic event or a theater event or an art event, we just want you to be proud of where you are,” Silvestri said. “That you’re NAU and you’re a Lumberjack. Just being involved definitely achieves that [and] I just hope that this new infusion of spirit and pride and true blue NAU really gets the students going, whether, like I said, it’s at an athletic event, or something else on campus. Being a part of your college experience kinda of molds you to who you are. ” Part of the 2011 freshman class run onto the field before foot-

ball’s first home game. (Photo courtesy Matt Beatty via NAU Athletics)

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June 7, 2012 - July 5, 2012 | The Lumberjack 17

Sports&Outdoors

On the rocks

Climbing between the cracks

I

BY DEREK SCHROEDER

can’t feel my toes or hear my own thoughts.

My fingers are bleeding. I’m scared. I’m lonely. If my arm wasn’t stuck inside this crack, I think the wind would pick me up and take me to the valley by now. My partner is 60 feet below me and I can’t see him or hear him any more. If I fell, would he catch me? I look at the cam tucked softly in the sandstone crack, peacefully contradicting the turmoil in my mind and the burning in my arms. I can slowly feel the blood draining from my fingertips and my mouth fills with sand.

I look up for the shiny solace of a bolted anchor— a place where I can secure myself and bring my partner up to me. I wiggle one foot upward, then torque it sideways making sure it doesn’t move.

All my weight transfers onto my ankle as I slowly reach up for another hand jam. My sweaty fingers grip the corner then worm their way into the darkness, where I can feel a handhold the width of my fingertip. I breathe a sigh of relief as I wrap my shaking fingers around it and that’s when my see CLIMBING page 19

(Photos by Derek Schroeder)

18 The Lumberjack | NorthernArizonaNews.com

from CLIMBING page 18

foot slipped.

It’s a myth that the scariest part of climbing is falling. When it comes to climbing towers in the desert, the hands down, most nerve-racking part of ascending a tower of fossilized mud is walking up to it — the approach, in climbing-speak.

It’s sort of like how the best horror movies leave the gruesome parts to the imagination. When your mind has time to imagine all that could go wrong it tends to do just that. What if my carabiner disintegrates in my hand from the heat? What if the rope snaps? Did I put my harness on right?

What if I sneeze and my protection blows, sending me careening into the bottom of the tower?

But, a funny thing happens the moment you touch your skin to that rock, or when you unload a backpack full of cams, nuts and rope — gear that you know will save your life if you use it properly. You tend to forget about that anxiety and the fear slips away into the bottom of your toes where you can’t feel it anyway because they’re too tired from being shoved inside a crack all day.

Sports&Outdoors Crack climbing is a sport without comparison — even among the other styles of climbing. Imagine a UFC match with a game of Risk in the center of the ring. Not only do you have to stay alive, but you have to do some serious problem solving in order to do it.

Right. Back to me falling. A little bit of context I’m sure would be appreciated.

My friend Dion and I decided to escape the spring wind and deceivingly cold mountain air for a moderate trad. climb called Dr. Rubo’s Wild Ride (5.9). The route follows a fist or hand sized crack for about 200 hundred feet before it traverses into the open air and tops out on an iconic spire. At this point in time I was a little more than three-fourths of the way through the hand crack, completely exhausted from battling gale force winds and a crack climbing technique that has, let’s say, room for improvement. Don’t worry though, mom, I didn’t fall far. My heart leapt into my chest and was abruptly stopped from leaping out of my ribcage as my foot landed gently on the last cam I had placed. I shook my head, let out a whoop to calm my nerves and hauled my leaden

muscles to the anchors, and salvation.

I have taken a lot of falls in my seven years of rock climbing. I’ve missed crash pads, taken lead climbing falls longer than some people walk in a week and I’ve deep water soloed above cold mountain lakes.

What goes up must come down. It’s at the behest of my mother that I follow the path that I do, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I moved to Arizona because I wanted to chase rocks—and good grades, of course, but if there is one thing this crazy sport has taught me, it’s determination.

When you find yourself twenty feet above your last piece of protection, completely gripped, sweating profusely and shaking uncontrollably just remember, the only one responsible for putting you in this situation is yourself and that same person is the only one who can get you out of it.

Believe it or not, that’s exactly how college feels at times. Sure, social anxiety or finals week stress don’t quite chock up to the adrenaline surge of a life-threatening fall, but they can be just as debilitating. The trick is to keep your eyes focused on the next move and your feet beneath you.

June 7, 2012 - July 5, 2012 | The Lumberjack 19

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Everything you need to know about NAU sports

F

Football

ootball entered the 2011 season with the newly renovated Walkup Skydome, a new starting quarterback (Cary Grossart), and a younger team that looked to make an impact in the Big Sky. What ensued was a 4–7 record to end the season and a two-game losing streak. Sophomore running back Zach Bauman was the shinning spot on the team, accruing 1,435 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns and 29 receptions for 352 yards and one touchdown.

Senior Khalil Paden led the team with 61 receptions for 991 yards and eight touchdowns. Coach Jerome Souers and new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello will have to replace Paden’s production, and will look to soon-to-be junior Ify Umodu to pick up the slack. Under the tutelage of former NAU quarterback and two-time Super Bowl winner Jeff Lewis, Umodu and the rest of the receiver corps will look to improve the offense into a two-prong threat. Leading the recruiting class is Peoria native Casey Jahn. Jahn is a running back that was named the Arizona Republic’s Small Schools Player of the Year, rushing for 7,333 career yards and 107 touchdowns. The upcoming season will be difficult for the Jacks, opening against ASU, followed by UNLV before playing Fort Lewis in their home opener. The Jacks will also be welcoming four new schools to the Big Sky -- Universit of California Davis, University of North Dakota, Southern Utah University and Cal Poly San Louis Obispo, adding some diversity to the schedule. NAU played many close games this past season, and if the offense can come together under the two new coaches, the Jacks could end the season with a better record than previous seasons.

T

Women’s golf

he golf squad had an up-and-down year. During the fall, the ladies notched two top-10 finishes in four tournaments before taking some time off to get ready for the spring and Big Sky Championships. The women notched three more top-10 finishes in five competitions leading up to their third place finish in the conference tournament. Of the three signees that fourth-year coach Brad Bedortha got, Darian Spivey from Chandler joined the team in the spring and helped the ladies to that third place finish. Along with Spivey, Bedortha inked Washington native Savana Bezdicek and India Matthews from Australia. Standout junior Stephanie Kim will be the only senior on the team next season, and will be the leader of the team with soon-to-be junior Kaitlen Parsons and current freshman Laura Jabczenski. With the influx of new and returning talent, the ladies should be able to finish in the top-3 again, if not take top honors.

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Men’s basketball

his past season was a rough season for the men’s basketball team. After stronger recruiting class that included Big Sky freshman of the year James Douglas, the team took a huge hit when longtime head coach Mike Adras unexpectedly resigned and former NAU women’s basketball coach Dave Brown took over as interim head coach. Brown saw some early success with wins over Sacramento State, Cal State Bakersfield, and a huge upset over ASU. Following the win over Sac State, NAU went on to lose its last 16 games and finish with a 5–24 record. In April, the Jacks hired former University of Memphis assistant coach Jack Murphy to take over the head coaching job. With Murphy coming to Flagstaff about halfway through recruiting season, the former Tiger assistant was introduced and then went on the road to see whom he could recruit. The new head coach was able to get five student-athletes, including a transfer from Texas Tech. Looking forward to next season, Murphy will have six seniors returning, but only one freshman will return, forward Gaellan Bewernick. Of the six seniors, guards Gabe Rogers and Michael Dunn will be the ones to watch. If Rogers can return to the form that took his team to the Big Sky Tournament in 2010, and Dunn can continue to improve, these two should be the leaders of the team.

Track and Field

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ust as successful as the cross country program is NAU’s track and field program. Estrada led the way for the runners, freshman Deante Kemper for the jumpers and throwers Pascal Tang and Nicole Elliot leading on the field. Estrada set a new school record and the second best time in the nation for the mile run in his second meet of the season, running a 3:55.46 altitude converted mile. Kemper asserted himself as the top freshman high jumper in the nation, and sixth best overall, setting a personal best high jump with a height of 7 feet, two and a quarter inches. Elliot, while not finding the success she was hoping for during her senior year, still placed near or at the top of every event she competed in, while Tang qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships June 6-9. With the influx of the new recruits, the track and field squads should be able to place in the top-10 of the NCAA’s and win Big Sky gold again.

Women’s volleyball

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he Lumberjacks had the best start in program history, beginning 12–0, which included the Fiesta Bowl Tournament crown. NAU was among one of the few schools that began its season 12–0, but the team hit some bumps in the road, starting with the loss of senior Kobi Christensen and then a few losing streaks that doomed the ladies to a 6–10 conference record and a seventh place finish in the Big Sky. The ladies ended the season 15–10 overall. Following the disappointing finish to a great start, coach Craig Choate went on the recruiting trail and made some roster moves (most notably moving setter Kelli Dallmann to the outside hitter position). NAU held four exhibition matches during the spring, going 4–0, including a sweep of Pac-12 school ASU. Dallmann will be returning in the fall with libero Anna Gott, both of whom should lead the team, which will consist of a majority of seniors. The ladies will begin next season with three road tournaments at UNLV, Colorado and Cal Berkeley. One recruit that should help the team is transfer student Erin Truett. Truett is a 6-foot, 2-inch setter from South Mountain Community College.

She originally went to Kansas State, but got injured and returned to Arizona to attend South Mountain, before coming to NAU.

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Men’s tennis

he men’s team ended the 2011 season with a loss to Big Sky power Sacramento State in the finals of the conference tournament and finished with a 6–2 conference record. The team looked poised to make a run at the top spot this season with returning players Dominic Bermudez and Patrick Schimmelbauer leading the way, but five and eight loss streaks marred the season. The men did close out with two wins over Portland State University and Seattle University but were not able to secure a bid to the tournament.

Schimmelbauer will be joined by four other seniors next season, but no recruits have been announced for the 2012-2013 seasons yet, so it is hard to say how they will fare next season.

June 7, 2012 - July 5, 2012 | The Lumberjack 21

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Swim and Dive

he swim and dive squad accrued a 7–5 record through the season in dual meets and had strong showings in tournaments, including a second place at the WAC (Western Athletic Conference) Championships. The diving team went onto the NCAA Zone E Regional Championships and finished 18th. Leading the divers to a top-20 finish were freshman Kali Lents and junior Kristy Ardavanis. Following their season, Chalene Dirks-Ryan and Emma Lowther went to their home countries, Canada and New Zealand, respectively, in an attempt to earn bids to the 2012 Olympics in London.

Both Jacks participated in multiple events, with Lowther coming the closest to gaining a qualifier in the 800-meter free relay. Following the teams season, junior Fi Connell and sophomores Jordan Burnes, Lowther and Rachel Palmer were all awarded Mid-Major All-American honors by CollegeSwimming.com. These four student-athletes should be leading the way for the ladies next season, with Lowther emerging as the leader of the pack.

Women’s basketball

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hile the women’s team fared better than the men’s, they did not do much better. The ladies stated the season 6–4 before dropping a game in double overtime with fringe-25 team Nebraska Cornhuskers. Following that loss, the Lumberjacks lost the next eight games before picking up a win over Weber State.

The ladies would tally three more wins, another against Weber, Sacramento State and finished the season with a win over Montana. The ladies lost two seniors, but will be returning a young team that includes five freshmen and transfer standout Amanda Frost. On April 20, head coach Laurie Kelly announced that she was leaving NAU to return home and take a head-coaching job at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. While there have been mixed reactions from the team, they should be able to come together under the new coach (who has not been hired/announced yet). Soon-to-be senior Amy Patton is poised to break several NAU records, including the all-time scoring record. If Frost can find more minutes in games, she should become one of the nation’s top 3-point shooters.

An introduction to NAU athletics

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Women’s soccer

omen’s soccer went into the season at the top of the Big Sky preseason rankings, but injuries and a tough slate of games marred the season and left the Jacks with a 3–9–7 record. The ladies dropped their first six games, followed by two ties before notching their first win against EmbryRiddle Aeronautical Academy. NAU would only find two more wins through the rest of the season and set a program record for most ties (seven) and most overtime games (nine, with eight double-overtime games). A surprise from the season was freshman goaltender Lauren Weaver. Weaver allowed one or less goal in 10 games, and stopped 105 shots through the season. Weaver also tallied two shutouts, against Evansville and Air Force. Coach Andre Luciano knew what he had to add to the team after losing nine seniors and to return them to prominence, got letters of intent from 10 freshmen in a way to increase their offense. Half of the recruits are scorers, which includes 259 goals between them during high school. One of the recruits to watch is Cottonwood native Torey Braly. Braly netted 117 goals during high school.

BY TRAVIS GUY

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Cross Country

ypically not a spectator sport, the cross country squad is one of the most successful programs, garnering 19 individual top-20 NCAA finishes, 29 top-5 regional team finishes and 40 All-Americans, 38 Big Sky championships and 35 individual Big Sky champions. The program has always had outstanding athletes, but there are a few that stand out above the rest. In the past it was Lopez Lomong, David McNeil, Veronica Pohl and Johanna Nilsson. This season, Diego Estrada and Tim Freriks helped lead the men and Rochelle Kanuho led the women to conference and NCAA success. Estrada finished seventh at the NCAA’s and helped the team to a 14th place finish, their 18th top-15 finish since 1984.

Coach Eric Heins recruited some of the top runners in the nation to strengthen the squad, with sophomore Bahlbi Gebreyohans’ brother Futsum Zienasellassie leading the recruitment class with Nate Weitz. The entire program is one to watch next season with Estrada being the standout to see if he can continue to be one of the best runners in the nation.

PAGE 21, CLOCKWISE: NAU football (Photo by Sarah Hamilton).

Men’s basketball (Photo by Sarah Hamilton). Track and Field (Photo by Garry Hart). Men’s tennis (Photo by Holly Golich) PAGE 22, CLOCKWISE: Swim and Dive (Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics). Women’s basketball (Photo by Holly Golich). Women’s soccer (Photo by Holly Golich). Women’s tennis (Photo by Sarah Hamilton). Cross Country (Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics).

22 The Lumberjack | NorthernArizonaNews.com

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Women’s tennis

he women finished their season with a 10–13 overall record and only dropped one match in conference, to Sac State, before going to the conference tournament and dropping their first match to the University of Montana. The women, like the men, claimed second last season and with the additions of Hannah Stone, Johanna Vang and Alice Pacut, looked to repeat that success and possibly top Sac State. That did not happen and now the women look to next season with a team full of seniors except for Stone and Vang, who were the only freshmen this season. Ghizelene Doballah should be returning to the No. 1 court, but Vang and Stone led the team in doubles victories and with Stone at the No. 2 and Vang at the No. 4 spots, have the talent and youth to lead the team next year and the following years.

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24 The Lumberjack | NorthernArizonaNews.com

Arts&Entertainment

Fun. throws a concert to remember

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BY MARIA DICOSOLA

t was a spur of the moment decision to buy tickets for a band that I knew, but I certainly wasn’t one of those fans who know every lyric. Nonetheless, going to see the band Fun. Under the stars and tucked into the trees was a decision I certainly do not regret. And, being that this was my first real concert experience (aside from those oldies concerts my parents dragged me to), it was a great show to learn many of the do’s and don’ts of concerts.

Fun. has been taking the music scene by storm since the release of their second album, Some Nights, in 2011.

Their most popular song as of late is We Are Young, which hit the top of both the U.S. and U.K. Top 100 Billboard lists.

Originally singing for the Format until their split in 2008, Nate Ruess is now the lead vocalist for the new band. In combination with instrumentalists and vocalists Andrew Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff, the trio create

an impeccable harmony that you can’t help but smile and sway to — hence the name FUN, in my opinion.

Aside from their unique sound and entertaining performances, one of the biggest draws to Fun. for younger people are their lyrics. All of their songs tell a story and describe situations that this generation may be commonly experiencing. Other songs preach about youth empowerment and feeling secure as a person.

Another large appeal to Fun. is that their performances actually sound like their album, meaning their voices are not fabricated. Ruess was sick during his concert in Flagstaff, but aside from the occasional sniffle and him telling us he was ill, I would have never guessed. His voice was still powerful and perfectly in tune.

Not only did I thoroughly enjoy my experience at the Fun. concert, but as a newbie to the music scene, I learned a few things to remember for next time.

First: Ladies, don’t wear flip-flops or bring purses.

Your feet will hurt and your bag will start to feel like you

have a child pulling on you while you try to dance.

Second: closer is not always better. My friends and I stood in the middle of the giant blob of people in front of the stage, but because everyone is holding their cameras in the air, sometimes it’s hard to see when everyone is at the same level as you. Instead, go to the sides or on a hill to get more height. However, being in the crowd was a great experience because what you could see was very clear, and dancing and singing at the top of your lungs in a giant crowd feels pretty empowering.

Third: Know at least a majority of the songs the band is going to play ahead of time. This way you can share the enthusiasm of the rest of the crowd and you’re not that awkward fan swaying and commenting on the lights because you don’t know what’s going on.

Most of all, remember to let loose and allow the music as well as the energy of the songs, fans and performers take you away. That is the difference between going to a concert and listening to a song on the radio in your car.

Nate Ruess, the lead vocalist of Fun., performs in a concert in Portland the week before their show in Flagstaff. (Photo courtesy of Laurel

June 7, 2012 - July 5, 2012 | The Lumberjack 25

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26 The Lumberjack | NorthernArizonaNews.com

California Celts bring kilts, bagpipes to Flag

The California Celts, a folk band that specializes in British and Carribean Island music, is performing at the Flagstaff Folk Festival this month. (Photo courtesy California Celts)

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BY MARIA DICOSOLA

ringing a modern twist to songs of the sea and returning to his former university, Chris Poland is introducing his band, the California Celts, to Flagstaff at the end of June to perform at the Green Room and the Flagstaff Folk Festival.

Poland explained that the band’s sound is an eclectic mesh of British and Caribbean island music as well as Celtic rock. They routinely begin their shows with a march from the street to the stage, and always wear kilts while performing.

The California Celts are scheduled to perform at the Flagstaff Folk Music Festival on June 30. Excited to bring his band back to his former school, Poland said they plan to play a wide variety of folk that night.

“We got a slot at the Flagstaff Folk Festival, FFF as some people call it, and for acoustics, we’ll be wearing our kilts, we’re going to be playing bagpipes and acoustic guitar, parading with the ballad drums and then singing some Irish drinking songs, some Scottish marching songs – and at the end – Mexican folk songs.”

Additionally, the band performs at the Green Room for free the night before the festival. “[The Flagstaff Folk Festival] is the gig that

brought us to Flagstaff, and so what I did is I actually got on the phone and tried to book a club gig that Friday night,” Poland said. “So, Friday will be a completely different show. It’s electric, a plugged in version of our world beat, we’ve got reggae with Celtic gig, pirate themed music – a lot of pirate themed music on our tour.”

Poland was inspired to pursue a career in Celtic music after meeting a man who goes by Johnny the Fox, a musician originally from Dublin, Ireland who made a living by performing in Irish pubs throughout the United States.

Before meeting Johnny the Fox, Poland was originally in a band he started with his brother at NAU in 1991 called the Warsaw Polish Bros.

“What happened was when we finally met this Irish lad, he heard our disc, we heard his disc, a love connection was made, and then he showed us the ropes on how to make a living in Irish pubs.”

Poland and his band began to make music with Johnny the Fox, which formed the group Sally’s Gap. California Celts was formed nearly six years ago after Johnny and Poland parted ways.

Now, the band has a solid pub circuit, but they hope to move toward a more consistent festival and theater circuit.

They also have a new record coming out called “Take Me Away” to follow their self-titled album, “California Celts.”

A musician for the majority of his life, Poland loves every minute of being on stage.

“In the words of one of my lads, Miguelangelo Casares, he puts it as, ‘I’m addicted to the stage,’” Poland said. “And it is kind of true. Once you’re making music with your mates, and are lined up and everyone’s harmonizing, it feels like all of the sudden it’s not a job anymore. You’re literally getting high, you know, you’re on drugs and all of that, you get a good rush out of it – being harmonic.”

As a 1992 NAU graduate of the School of Music, Poland reminisced on his time in Flagstaff.

“I was like the last class that didn’t have computers. That was one major thing that is probably different. We had a thing called a computer lab, and if you wanted to use one you were usually a science major or maybe an English major, and you would have a word processor. And it’s like a fancy typewriter that would save your stuff. Before that we would have to pay someone to type up our papers.”

For more information on the California Celts, visit californiacelts.com.

from LA FONDAS page 14

national chain monotony is not present at La Fonda. There is a vibrant sense of life, laughter and color circulating throughout the building.

“It’s a very exciting thing, because it’s my grandfather’s restaurant,” Miller said. “There are customers that have been coming here since they were little, and I’ve been working here since I was little. It’s a great thing to hear that we have such an impact.”

The menu at La Fonda mirrors the atmosphere, with simple down-home cooking, yet filling items.

“They have great customer service and a good happy hour,” said Brittney Pintard, a senior at NAU. “I also like Taco Tuesday, they’re so popular because the price is right and they don’t charge too much for college kids.”

La Fonda also has ties to the Arizona Cardinals. During their time in Flagstaff for training camp, season ticket holders of section 111, one of whom is second generation La Fonda owner Marty, lead the charge to have the Cardinals as well as spectators come to the restaurant after practices. The restaurant’s door even dons the logo of the Cardinals.

“When the Cardinals come into town that’s a huge promotion we have,” Miller said. “My dad’s a huge die-hard Cardinals fan. That’s our uniform, that’s who we want to come into town … we have promotions where if you come into La Fonda you get 10 percent off if you have Cardinals gear on.”

The La Fonda family is in its third generation, with over 50 years in the Flagstaff community, the student popularity only looks to increase with time.

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