KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE PAGE 12
THE LUMBER JACK
OCT. 29, 2020 – NOV. 5, 2020
Online at JackCentral.org
From the Editor
I
have received two items of significance in the mail recently. The first was an envelope with my name on it containing a long piece of folded paper. Printed on this paper were empty bubbles, propositions and names, among which included the names Biden, Harris, Trump and Pence. The second piece of mail I received electronically. It was an email from NAU, informing me that I would need to take part in a mandatory COVID-19 test. Upon receiving these, my primary feeling was anxiety. These were more than just items of mail, they were symbols of the hardship and unrest many of us have faced this year. I realize, however, that I am not just doing this for myself, this is my responsibility to people in our community who are working to preserve what is most important to us, in a time where it is more difficult than ever. Take the NAU Latinx Student Union, for example, who are working hard to ensure Dia de los Muertos celebrations take place despite the challenges of a pandemic. Likewise, I think of people who work at polling stations in Flagstaff and around the country who are ensuring those who take part in this democracy do so safely and confidently. They are protecting sacred time for those of a certain MICHAEL background and a process fundamental to the nation we exist in. You can read PATACSIL more about these people and their efforts in this issue of The Lumberjack. DIRECTOR OF I had these people in mind as I walked through the dim lights of the PHOTOGRAPHY University Union Fieldhouse, nervous for the results I would receive in the following 24 to 48 hours. In a similar fashion, I filled in those bubbles, nervous for the results we will receive on November 3rd and perhaps in the days following. It can be easy to become apathetic or to avoid our own responsibilities, but we do these things to ensure the efforts made by all of us to protect what we hold most valuable does not go in vain. Stay safe Jacks, and make your voice heard.
Continuous local and campus covid-19 coverage available at jackcentral.org
Online at Issuu.com Latest Edition & Archive Social media
Thank you for reading.
Phone: (928) 523-4921 Fax: (928) 523-9313 Lumberjack@nau.edu P.O. Box 6000 Flagstaff, AZ 86011
THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 110 ISSUE 12 Editor-in-Chief Brady Wheeler
Managing Editor Scout Ehrler
Copy Chief Nathan Manni
Faculty Adviser David Harpster
Print Chief Jacob Meyer
Director of Digital Content Sabrina Profitt
Media Innovation Center Editorial Board Director of Social Media Maddie Cohen
Op-Ed Editor Ryan Dixon
Asst. Culture Editor Katelyn Rodriguez
Director of Illustration Aleah Green
News Editor Trevor Skeen
Asst. Op-Ed Editor Kyler Edsitty
Sports Editor David Church
Asst. Dir. of Illustration Blake Fernandez
Asst. News Editor Camille Sipple
Features Editor Ash Lohmann
Asst. Sports Editor Cameron Richardson
Director of Photography Michael Patacsil
Online News Editor Alliya Dulaney
Asst. Features Editor Olivia Charlson
Sports Adviser Rory Faust
Asst. Dir. of Photography Mackenzie Brower
Senior Reporter Mark Fabery
Culture Editor Nayomi Garcia
Senior Photographer Brian Burke
Director of Multimedia Shawn Patti
2
THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
On the cover The Ortiz family ofrenda at the Museum of Northern Arizona, Oct. 27, 2019. The Ortiz ofrenda features five generations of the Ortiz family. Brian Burke | The Lumberjack
Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Brady Wheeler at bew85@nau.edu.
PoliceBeat
Compiled by camille sipple
building called to request NAUPD responded and assistance with an unruly the issue was referred to the child. NAUPD responded and appropriate NAU department. assistance was provided. At 7:15 p.m., a nonstudent At 1:27 p.m., a staff at Pine Ridge Village reported member at the du Bois the theft of a Domino’s car Center reported finding a topper. An officer responded, bag of marijuana. NAUPD exhausted all leads and closed At 8:13 a.m., NAUPD responded and took a report. the case. received an intrusion alarm at Old Main. An officer Oct. 22 Oct. 24 responded and determined it At 1:35 a.m., staff at Pine At 12:34 a.m., staff at was caused by an employee. Ridge Village reported an Reilly Hall reported a loud unattended fire located in a fire party. NAUPD responded, At 9:17 a.m., a student pit. NAUPD responded and but no criminal activity was at McKay Village reported extinguished it. witnessed. someone had possibly trespassed in their room the At 11:36 p.m., NAUPD At 10:31 a.m., staff at previous night. NAUPD initiated a traffic stop. One the Walkup Skydome practice responded but no criminal nonstudent was cited and fields reported two nonstudents activity was witnessed. released for DUI to the causing a disturbance. NAUPD slightest degree and minor in responded and both subjects At 5:35 p.m., an alarm consumption of alcohol, and were warned of trespassing, company reported a burglary citations were also issued for and one was cited and released alarm at the Biological Sciences no proof of insurance and for disorderly conduct. Annex. NAUPD responded driving left of center. and determined a worker At 12:37 p.m., a accidentally triggered it. Oct. 23 nonstudent at the Applied At 12:11 a.m., a student Research and Development At 7:37 p.m., an at The Suites reported building reported an anonymous subject reported experiencing ear pain. unconscious subject. NAUPD, a student had a seizure at NAUPD, FFD and GMT FFD and GMT responded, University Union. NAUPD, responded, but the student but the person refused medical Flagstaff Fire Department refused medical transport. transport. The subject was (FFD) and Guardian Medical booked into jail for minor in Transport (GMT) responded, At 6:48 a.m., custodial consumption of alcohol and and the student was transported staff at NAU Postal Services third-degree trespassing. to Flagstaff Medical Center. reported accidentally activating an alarm. An officer responded At 8:48 p.m., staff at Oct. 20 to reset it. Drury Inn & Suites reported At 12:28 p.m., a student a nonstudent who was not at Ardrey Auditorium reported At 8:17 a.m., a student at breathing. NAUPD, FFD a vehicle driving on the the Walkup Skydome reported and GMT responded, and the pedestrian path outside the an injured cat. Officers subject was pronounced dead building. NAUPD responded, responded and transported at the scene. but the vehicle had already left the animal to High Country the area. Humane. Oct. 25 At 2:15 a.m., NAUPD At 7:11 p.m., NAUPD At 11:35 a.m., NAUPD initiated a traffic stop at the reported assisting Flagstaff reported assisting FPD in South San Francisco Street Police Department (FPD) with finding a subject armed with a and East Butler Avenue an injury accident on Lake knife on South San Francisco intersection. One nonstudent Mary Road and University Street. They were located. was cited and released for DUI Heights Drive. to the slightest degree, and At 11:39 a.m., staff at another citation was issued for Oct. 21 Cline Library reported a a stop sign violation. At 10:27 a.m., a suspicious vehicle drawing nonstudent at the Ponderosa electricity from the building. Oct. 19 At 3:25 a.m., a student at Wilson Hall reported two suspicious subjects, but they were gone upon officer arrival. NAUPD found the restrooms’ gender signs were switched and then transferred them back.
Coconino County COVID-19 Dashboard data
Community transmission Case rate
Moderate 173.5 per 100,000 pop.
Positivity percentage
6.7%
Cumulative cases
5,162
Flagstaff Medical Center COVID-19 Resources
In-house COVID-19 patients Hospital capacity Critical care capacity
Positive: 15 | Pending: 6 190/300 38/55
NAU Student Cases
Total on- and off-campus cases
51
Flagstaff in-n-out is on its way camille sipple
A
fter many years and rumors, In-N-Out has at last submitted concept plans to open a new branch of the fast-food chain in Flagstaff. The California-based burger chain has made plans to set up shop at 1860 S. Milton Road in Flagstaff, according to the Arizona Daily Sun. In 2016, In-N-Out sent a letter of interest to Flagstaff’s then-Mayor Jerry Nabours, and plans have ensued ever since. Originally, the new In-N-Out was supposed to share a lot with the Pizza Hut that already occupied the location. However, following the closure of the South Milton Pizza Hut, the building was closed with the burger chain looking to take its place. Despite the many years of planning, In-N-Out Vice President of Real Estate & Development Carl Arena said in an interview with the Arizona Daily Sun that the project is still in its earliest stages in terms of design and layout. Since the building is still in the beginning of its development, Arena was unable to provide an estimate for when the restaurant may begin construction or open to the public. “We do know that Flagstaff is a fantastic community, and we definitely look forward to serving customers there in the future,” Arena said to the Arizona Daily Sun. Read more online at jackcentral.org
OCTOBER 29, 2020 – NOVEMBER 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK
3
NEWS
Left: Earlier in the semester, some NAU students who were exposted to COVID-19 — but tested negative — quarantined at Drury Inn & Suites, Oct. 17. Right: According to an email from NAU spokerperson Kimberly Ott, Drury Inn & Suites is no longer used as designated quarantine space, Oct. 17. Benjamin Akers | The Lumberjack
Quarantining at Drury Inn & Suites lauren beckel
W
hen limited in-person instruction began in August, NAU prepared potential quarantine spaces, many of which were designated to on-campus facilities. In order to expand these locations, however, the university rented a block of rooms at Drury Inn & Suites for students exposed to COVID-19, none of which tested positive. During an Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) meeting Oct. 2, President Rita Cheng confirmed the university selectively used Drury Inn before students were transferred to oncampus housing locations. “We [had] an arrangement with Drury Hotels, and we have briefly used a few of those overnight capacities before students could be moved into campus isolation space,” Cheng told ABOR. Although employees at Drury Inn were unwilling to discuss quarantine spaces, NAU spokesperson Kimberly Ott confirmed offcampus facilities were previously used to temporarily house students. “I can say that while NAU was in the process of consolidating on-campus quarantine
4
space, there was a time when local hotels were used as temporary space,” Ott stated via email. “We try to ensure the privacy of our students, as well as the businesses that have stepped up to help our students, the university and the community. NAU is no longer using any hotel partners for quarantining students.” Freshman Aleah Rivas explained Drury Inn quarantine space was designated for students who were in close contact with someone who contracted the virus, but tested negative themselves. Rivas said she was in a room at Drury Inn for four days after she received negative results, but after testing positive, she was moved into an apartment-style residence hall. Rivas described her quarantine room in the hotel as very comfortable, which allowed her to isolate in a space with no roommate and her own bathroom. “I was in the hotel for four days, and it was actually really nice,” Rivas said. “You had your own room with a bathroom and television, and [you] had two beds just for you. I didn’t have a roommate, and the school paid for it.” For students used to having a roommate and being surrounded by others, quarantining alone has the potential to leave them feeling
THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
unmotivated. These feelings of solitude were shared by freshman Carolina Celso, who described her experience in the hotel as a lonely period that resulted in a problematic sleep schedule. Celso explained that after the first few days of quarantine, she became extremely sad and bored because she had a lot of time, but nothing to do. “Eventually, I was just tired all the time even though I wasn’t doing anything,” Celso said. “It really messed up my sleeping schedule, as I was awake all night and asleep all day.” Like all other quarantined students at Drury Inn, Celso was not allowed to have a roommate, but said she had several friends who were quarantining in the same building at the same time. While meeting in person was never an option, Celso said she and her friends would video chat constantly. However, she explained these digital connections were far different from in-person interactions. Unfortunately, self-quarantining is one of the many difficulties that may come with the COVID-19 pandemic, but despite this challenge, Celso said it offers students the chance to catch up or get ahead on schoolwork. Celso also described the types of meals
Drury Inn provided students with during their quarantine. In Celso’s opinion, the food was not a strongpoint of the overall experience and the servings were consistently cold and unenjoyable. “They had us use our meal plan for food, but the food was always cold, no matter what time it was,” Celso said. “It always looked and tasted like it had been left out for an hour, so it wasn’t even enjoyable.” Alexis Ward, another freshman who quarantined in the apartment-style dorms on campus, agreed that the meals distributed during isolation were disappointing. “The food could be better,” Ward said. “The chicken is dry, the fries are old and the food is usually cold. It never comes at the same time, and the delivery people bang on the door until you open it, which usually freaks me out.” Although some students who quarantined at Drury Inn were not necessarily thrilled with the experience, quarantine spaces remain vital — especially on a college campus. According to NAU’s COVID-19 website, the university is taking the necessary steps and precautions to prevent further spread.
NEWS
Arguments about same-day voter registration nicholas bratcher
A
rizona’s voter registration deadline was recently extended from Oct. 5 to Oct. 23, although an appeals later backtracked the deadine to Oct. 15, which sparked questions about the pros and cons of same-day voter registration. Some states, such as California and Washington, allow voters to register on the day of the election by following an automatic system utilizing driver’s licenses or other state identification. However, others like Arizona require voters to register ahead of time. Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen previously worked in Minnesota where voters can register on Election Day. However, Hansen noted this structure has some drawbacks. “The problem from the administration’s standpoint is we don’t know how many ballots are needed,” Hansen said. “We would have, in Minnesota, 125% of registered voters.” Additionally, Hansen explained some are concerned about voter fraud. In Minnesota, identification and proof of residence is mandated, whereas Arizona also requires proof of identification in order to prevent fraud. Hansen also described same-day voter legislation that was introduced in Arizona, but did not recall it gaining traction. Minnesota takes strong measures to prevent fraud, Hansen added, partly because the state does not have provisional voting. Based on this system, ballots are not counted until they are verified from eligible voters.
“Nobody was prevented from voting,” Hansen said. “I worked in Hennepin, the largest county in Minnesota in 2000 or 2002, and we had 104,000 registered voters on Election Day.” Hansen said she dislikes turning people away from the polls, a sentiment shared by NAU political science professor Andrew Dzeguze. He said anything that makes it easier for people to participate — in an informed way — is an important aspect of a democracy. “I think most people who teach American government wish our participation levels were higher, because we’ve spent 200 years expanding the franchise and over 100 years with declining participation in democracy at the same time,” Dzeguze said. Hansen said she sees the potential to make same-day registration work in Arizona. In 2004, Arizona voters passed Proposition 200, which
required proof of citizenship to register to vote and utilized data from the Social Security Administration and Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). “What they do is: When you turn 16 and you get a driver’s license for the first time, they preenroll you,” Dzeguze said. “When you hit 18, you’re automatically moved to the voter records. That’s as seamless as it can possibly be. Now you can choose not to register, but it becomes a personal choice on your part, not to register as opposed to being something you just forgot about.” Dzeguze raised more concerns about the practice of requiring citizens to register ahead of time, mainly arguing it limits democratic freedoms. He criticized the fact that not filling out paperwork could make the difference, which was based on past elections he observed.
“In those cases, those were in what turned out to be pretty close elections,” Dzeguze said. Hansen said a compromise is possible, suggesting that the deadline is extended to two weeks before the election — instead of the current 29 days. She explained this system was necessary when paper rosters were used at polling places, but modern technology is changing that premise. “Electronic poll books can be updated on the morning of the election,” Hansen said. According to data from the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, there are almost four million registered voters in Arizona, and Republican voters count for roughly 35% of the electorate. Meanwhile, Democrats number about 32%.
“I think most people who teach American government wish our participation levels were higher, because we’ve spent 200 years expanding the franchise and over 100 years with declining participation in democracy at the same time.” – lecturer andrew dzeguze Illustration By blake fernandez
OCTOBER 29, 2020 – NOVEMBER 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK
5
NEWS
NAU students plan for the holidays lauren beckel & mary goldmeer
T
he holiday season is rapidly approaching, and by the end of November, NAU students will travel off campus to spend time with their families and loved ones while taking a break from coursework. The semester started and is scheduled to end earlier due to COVID-19, consistent with a number of other changes during the winter season. According to The New York Times, a socially distanced Black Friday is expected, and as reported by USA Today, Macy’s department stores will not feature Santas for the first time in 158 years. Staying safe and healthy is always a priority during winter, and these precautions are especially relevant this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided tips on how to have a healthy holiday season. The CDC maintains everyone
should wash their hands often in order to prevent the spread of germs. Given it is flu season, the need for personal cleanliness and vaccinations is intensified. “Vaccinations help prevent diseases and save lives,” the CDC said. To continue to stay safe and aware, the CDC recommends wearing masks and getting tested regularly. Freshman Eric Lessing plans to keep the festivities as normal as possible while also staying safe. “I know everything is changing rapidly with COVID-19 news coming out daily, but my plan, for now, is to use my time hanging out with my best friends back
home, as we haven’t been able to all get together in a long time,” Lessing said. He also explained his plan to work for DoorDash over the holiday break, which will help earn extra spending money before returning to school. Additionally, he shared his intention to visit old co-workers at the TV station he previously worked for and maybe even film an episode or two of the show he participated in. Freshman Shyann Rivera’s winter break will consist of undergoing jaw surgery and staying at a Colorado cabin with her boyfriend for Christmas. She
explained the recovery will take six weeks, while only consuming liquids before resuming normal activities. Eventually, the couple said they hope to go snowboarding. Another freshman, Jack Thompson, plans to use the time off school to help build his skills and focus on his career, and he hopes to intern for a congressmember or state assemblyperson. He clarified he already contacted and communicated with congressional representatives and assembly offices, although the process is still ongoing. “I’ve been really passionate about politics for a while now, and I think that I want to get into that field when I’m older, whether it’s running
for office, working on campaigns or something like that,” Thompson said. With the semester coming to a close, students like Lessing, Rivera and Thompson will make their way off campus, each looking for a different experience before returning for the spring semester. The time away from school, especially with people traveling home or going on vacation, could pose risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Office of the President, “[students] must provide a negative result for a COVID-19 test completed within seven days prior to their return [on] January 11 ... [when] spring 2021 classes begin [via NAUFlex].” In accordance with these plans, the university promoted public safety and reminded students that the pandemic does not end with the calendar year.
Illustration By Dominic Davies
6
THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
COMIC SPOT From Left to Right: Aleah Green, Diana Ortega, Christian Ayala and Blake Fernandez
Inktober
Shelsey Braswell
Dominic Davies
OCTOBER 29, 2020 – NOVEMBER 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK
7
OPINION-EDITORIAL
Presidents need to be responsible online Kylie Soto
Dealing with daddy issues
I
became self-aware of my daddy issues when I was too obsessed with singer Lana Del Rey and the film “American Beauty” as a teenager. When I fantasized about myself in Mena Suvari’s role, I knew I had a problem. My issues stemmed from my childhood and my relationship with my dad. As a child, my dad worked out of town and only came home on weekends. As a teenager, my dad’s struggle with alcoholism put an even bigger wedge between us. Now that he is gone, I have to piece together the relationship without him. To unconsciously fill this missing bond, I exposed myself to risky behaviors, including meeting significantly older men almost immediately after I turned 18. The thought of an older man giving me KYLER attention and treating me well seemed too EDSITTY ASSISTANT OP-ED desirable. Although I knew these actions EDITOR were dangerous, I continued until one rendezvous turned repulsive. Feeling like an unwanted child left me afraid I was an undesirable person. In middle and high school, I had extremely low confidence and severe body image issues. This gave me the impression that men automatically did not find me attractive and caused me to resent them. In college, I’ve learned to accept my body and have never felt more confident. Now that I see myself as desirable, I know other men do. Because I resent them, this inclines me to treat them unfavorably by hooking up with them, leading them on and then intentionally hurting their feelings almost as revenge. Toxic masculinity tells men they shouldn’t share their emotions with one another or else they will be perceived as unmanly. As a closeted gay man, I abided by this unspoken rule as an attempt to pass as straight by not talking to my dad about my issues and feelings. Now, I am uncomfortable sharing feelings with people I date. When they have shared these emotions with me, I didn’t know how to respond or console them. This has stunted my ability to create emotional bonds rather than just physical ones. I acknowledge this is toxic behavior, but I’ve never had healthy relationships with men. I only know how to create unhealthy ones now. Because I can’t rebuild my relationship with dad, I found it easier to hold him accountable for his absence and struggles he put me through. It’s also made me realize that a male presence isn’t absolutely necessary for an adolescent. My mom filled the role fine and I should be more appreciative of that. I’ve also made a conscious effort to allow myself to be emotionally vulnerable around men, which will lead to healthier relationships in the future. It is important to realize that although daddy issues are seen as a joke, they have real consequences.
8
THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
S
the world, which makes these conspiracy theories and Trump’s public apathy for the status of the pandemic in the U.S. so hazardous. A separate CNN article reported the tweet regarding Covid-19 deaths was taken down Aug. 30 because it violated Twitter user guidelines. They also explained that the tweet was removed for “containing a false claim about coronavirus death statistics that was made by a supporter of the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory.” Of Trump’s 87.3 million followers on Twitter, some are bound to hold the misinformation he has spread as fact. Considering ways to keep COVID-19 from spreading are to be considerate of one another and wear a mask, this is extremely counterproductive. His careless online presence does not bode well for him, either. Politico conducted a poll in 2019 showing, “Nearly half of respondents, 46% ... say that, yes, Trump’s Twitter use hurts his bid for reelection — more than twice the number who say his direct-to-voters Twitter account is an asset.” Because U.S. citizens recognize his brash, click-happy nature online, and he does nothing to act on it, this shows he seemingly does care to be the professional face of the U.S. The Politico article also reported, “Seven in 10 respondents said Trump uses Twitter too much, and 14% said he uses it the right amount. There were actually a few respondents, 1%, who said Trump doesn’t tweet enough.” Do not mistake my criticism for the president’s irresponsible, self-destructive behavior online as me saying presidents should not use social media to spread news. I think Twitter is a very handy tool for elected officials to stay up-to-date on things going on in the country and to keep citizens informed and engaged. Trump, and all future presidents for that matter, simply need to recognize the power that spreading misinformation and Reddit-worthy conspiracy theories holds and take responsibility for doing so before people get hurt for believing in unproven QAnon conspiracy theories.
ocial media has become a modern way to display one’s life to a massive amount of people. This allows an increasing amount of occupations to require employees to present social media profiles during the hiring process. This means people are held responsible for representing the business they work for both online and offline. Failure to do so may result in the probation, suspension and even termination of employment. Media software company Cision reported, “A third of employers (34%) have reprimanded or fired an employee based on content found online” in 2018. Additionally, The New York Times disclosed a government requirement that began in 2019, in which “visa applicants to the United States are required to submit any information about social media accounts they have used in the past five years under a State Department policy.” If both the average employee and visa applicants are held to this standard, the president of the U.S. should not be able to freely tweet, retweet or like dangerously radical and misleading content without questions or repercussions. CNN recently reported on nine conspiracy theories President Donald Trump has pushed onto his followers. The content of these conspiracy theories cover protests, COVID-19, elections and former Vice President Joe Biden. Each of the theories have been debunked, but it is alarming that the leader of the free world spreads such extreme notions while simultaneously claiming them to be true. For example, CNN cited an instance in which Trump tweeted and claimed in a Fox News interview that “the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had admitted that only 6% of reported COVID-19 deaths are people who ‘actually’ died from COVID-19.” Of course, the CDC rebutted the president’s misleading claim and stated that, “6% of COVID-19 victims’ death certificates listed only COVID-19 as a cause of death. The other 94% of death certificates included other conditions as well — but the presence of ‘comorbidities’ does not mean COVID-19 didn’t cause the death.” Trump’s reckless Twitter presence causes U.S citizens to mistrust science, which he has also proved he doesn’t believe in. ABC News displayed his evident disregard for science in May, reporting, “Trump has not only dismissed the findings of studies but suggested — without evidence — that their authors were motivated by politics and out to undermine his efforts to roll back coronavirus restrictions.” Although quarantine has felt like an eternity, COVID-19 is still fairly new to Illustration By shelsey braswell
OPINION-EDITORIAL
Affirmative action is not discrimination Trinity Archie
C
alifornia’s Proposition 16 reignited discussion on affirmative action policies, which have been banned in California since 1996. According to the California voter’s guide, Prop. 16 would reinstate these programs and allow government agencies to consider inequalities in race, sex, color and ethnicity when making admission and hiring decisions. A survey conducted by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California suggests almost 47% of voters are opposed to Prop. 16. These results were consistent throughout every region in California, besides the Bay Area where 40% of people voted in favor of the proposition and 41% voted against. It is unlikely that the proposition will be successful due to the immense amount of misinformation surrounding the policies. Misinformation includes the ideas that quotes would be initiated and unqualified students would be admitted due to their race or ethnic background. Affirmative action critics rarely make valid or even accurate points when expressing why they disagree with the policies. The amount of false information surrounding affirmative action programs is alarming. I have far too often heard arguments about unfair admission regarding California universities that do not even utilize affirmative action, given it is banned in the state. The journey to affirmative action arguably began during Brown v. Board of Education, when the United States Supreme Court ruled that the “separate but equal” doctrine upheld by Plessy v. Ferguson violates the Constitution. This led to civil rights discussions in legislation that influenced former President John F. Kennedy to sign affirmative action into effect. According to the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity, President Kennedy’s executive order stated federal contractors must admit and hire regardless of race, creed, color or nationality. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson amended affirmative action to also address gender discrimination. With all of these factors, tension and debate focuses intensely on the racial aspects of affirmative actions. I assume this is a result of the completely false idea that affirmative action is solely racebased. I also assume these false assumptions come from people who are simply looking for an avenue to justify their racism. There is no other reason to completely disregard the variety of demographics that benefit from affirmative action, including white people. Too often, this misinformation is used to discredit racial minority students’ achievements. I have experienced this firsthand as people often dismiss my academic achievements, including private merit
scholarships that were not awarded with race or even financial need in mind. Critics also make the argument that affirmative action takes away from their chance at admission into certain universities. They suggest minorities with lower test scores and below average grades are taking the spots of well-qualified candidates. This is simply not how these policies function. It should be obvious that a practice like this would be illegal. It should not be difficult to believe there are minorities who are intelligent, experienced and qualified. I can assure you that your failure to get into your dream school had nothing to do with affirmative action and everything to do with your 2.6 GPA. To elaborate, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ruled that affirmative action cannot compromise valid job or educational qualification. It must only serve to repair a clear history of past discrimination and achieve balance in governmentfunded employment and educational spaces. Affirmative action does not unfairly place minorities ahead. It aims to provide them with equal opportunity. Students for Fair Admissions have concerns for the effects of affirmative action on Asian American students, according to The Washington Post. There is a belief that these students are turned away from colleges because they are held to a higher academic standard. The amount of ethnic diversity among Asian Americans equates to a huge gap in educational and economic opportunities among certain Asian American communities. For example, a report from the Center for American Progress found that while nearly half of Asian Americans
have at least a bachelor’s degree, only of 27% of Vietnamese Americans achieve this level of education. This is due to many factors, including economic struggles these communities face. As a result, these Asian Americans rightfully benefit from affirmative action. California is an example of the effects of an affirmative action ban. There is evidence that the absence of these programs negatively impacts Asian American students. According to an NBC News article, the California ban forced colleges to cancel many race-focused programs aimed to tackle ethnic issues within these institutions. California’s Asian American ethnic groups, including Hmong and Cambodian communities, were greatly impacted by this change. The false narrative that affirmative action was only created to get underperforming minorities into college is harmful here as well. People seem to forget that these programs also deal with hiring. This is an instance when California’s Asian Americans have suffered since the ban. A study conducted by the Campaign for College Opportunity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring equal access to college for Californians, found that an overwhelming majority of tenured faculty at California’s public colleges were white. Janelle Wong, senior researcher at Asian American and Pacific Islander Data, spoke on the topic in an interview with NBC News. Wong noted that affirmative action would ensure Asian Americans also fill these positions. “Schools would be able to tackle race-specific issues by hiring more faculty and staff who understand the nuances and uniqueness of Asian American students to ensure they are successful,” Wong told NBC News. The idea that affirmative action threatens Asian American students’ college admission is based on misinformation created by nonminorities to build resentment among our communities. Unfortunately, many do not understand that this narrative is pushed to create distance between Asian Americans and their fellow minorities. This distance manifests as votes that do nothing but contribute to white privilege. This only hurts Asian American communities who believe they are somehow benefiting from these actions. Affirmative action is not evil. It was not created to sabotage nonminorities out of an education. It is simply an effort to establish some level of equality within the institutions that determine our futures.
Illustration By Aleah Green
OCTOBER 29, 2020 – NOVEMBER 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK
9
FEATURES
NAU has transitioned through many changes this year, one of the biggest being t president. Students are talking about what changes they want to see a
Stories Compiled by Olivia Charlson, P
Kaitlyn Bolland Junior Environmental and sustainability studies “I want honesty,” Bolland said. “People don’t have to have it all figured out, but I want them to at least be honest with the process. Being a transfer student from California, I didn’t have much knowledge about any issues with administration coming into it, but I feel a little frustrated that I found out from peers and gossip about the current president’s dishonesty and her administration, and that was kind of a letdown. So, I definitely would like an ethical person as the next president. “I don’t feel like we’re being told the truth necessarily about the state of COVID on the campus and what the exact numbers are. I’m frustrated because I am not blaming the administration for COVID, but it feels like no one has it together right now. You should at least be honest about it, you know, let us know what’s going on. “It’s awkward having [Cheng] send out these encouraging messages like ‘Hey, we’re going to survive COVID and everything,’ when I don’t feel like the administration is dealing with it. I don’t feel a clear sense of leadership and direction from the school right now.”
10
THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
Ashlyn Alvarado Senior Studio art “[With the next president] we definitely need transparency, especially with how the pandemic and everything is going on,” Alvarado said. “I know they’re not telling us a lot of things right now. “A lot of the classes are still — for certain majors — in person and they haven’t been doing too much of a good job with that. Like, I’m a studio art major and we still have classes all in person, and everyone has to go touch the same things and everything. Even though they have signs in every room that say that the rooms are cleaned every day, for the printmaking studio for instance, our professor was talking about how they have never come in, even one time, all year to clean it. It wasn’t cleaned up over summer or anything, they won’t even pick up trash. So yeah, we definitely need more protocols trying to keep us safe if we’re being forced to meet in person.”
Lorena Ortiz Sophomore Anthropology and political science “I definitely would want to see someone who brings more inclusivity and diversity on campus and prioritizes students’ well-being more than getting funding,” Ortiz said. “It seems like all that our current president cares about is getting money and not using it for actual student purposes. “Well right now, since COVID is a big issue, I would hope that they would figure out a better plan on how to deal with cases on campus, and to actually be more transparent with cases.”
FEATURES
that President Rita Cheng will step down and someone new will enter the role of and some have shared what they are looking for in NAU’s leadership.
Photos Courtesy of Featured Students
Abby Royer Junior Criminal justice
David Alaniz Senior Creative media and film
Alexis Jex Sophomore Secondary education - English “I would have liked to have seen more proactive or preemptive action as opposed to reactive, like especially in regard to the pandemic,” Jex said. “So, a lot of the NAU action has been reactive like ‘Oh, people are sick, now we quarantine’ or like ‘Oh, now this is happening, I guess we’ll go online [instruction].’”
“Personally, I would like our next president to try to be more involved with the student body,” Alaniz said. “Like, probably make their presence known a bit more on campus, such as participating in more events like greeting students and such, instead of just only coming here when there’s an opportunity to look good in front of the press. It would also be nice for the next president to care more about students’ well-being than about money. “[The new president should] listen to what faculty and students are feeling about these certain issues, and really take that into consideration and try to make a decision that is best for them without just having it be only the higher-ups deciding.”
“I think, for our next president, I’m personally looking for someone who really takes time and dedication to care about sustainability within the community living in Flagstaff,” Royer said. “Especially since sustainability is a huge component of the lifestyle here, and I think our president should match with what the students care about and that’s definitely the environment and sustainability. “I just think really listening to the students, having ASNAU be responsible for listening to what the students are asking for and then administration taking those thoughts into consideration and listening to what the students want [is important]. This is an example, I don’t think students wanted to go back to school almost three weeks early. So, I think reaching out and trying to understand what exactly our situations are before they make big decisions would be really important.”
OCTOBER 29, 2020 – NOVEMBER 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK
11
FEATURES
A celebration of life and Nancy Flores
T
hroughout 2020, federal shelter-in-place orders and social distancing measures have led to a pause in festivals and social gatherings. In Flagstaff, locals have found ways to continue to celebrate life in the face of death during Días De Los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead. Nuestras Raíces, which translates to “our roots,” is a nonprofit organization in Flagstaff that’s mission is to promote Hispanic culture and history in the city’s community, according to its website. The organization was co-founded by President Lydia Anaya and her sister, Clorinda Quiroz Lozano. For 17 years, the Museum of Northern Arizona and Nuestras Raíces held an annual “Celebraciones de la Gente,” or “celebration of the people,” festival for Day of the Dead so the Flagstaff community can honor their loved ones. Anaya said due to COVID-19, in-person celebrations this year have been canceled. Anaya said the festival, much like many other events across the city, went virtual this year. She explained Nuestras
Raíces wanted to keep everyone safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19, leading the board of Nuestras Raíces to cancel inperson events. According to the organization’s website, the festival is focused on featuring different types of art, such as crafts, music and dance. The festival also has colorful and elaborate ofrendas, or altars, that honor the community members’ loved ones who have died. The website said the weekend-long event usually offers insightful heritage programs to educate the community. Traditional holidays like Day of the Dead can put populations at higher risk of contracting COVID-19, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC released alternative activities for families to honor their loved ones while preventing and mitigating the spread of the virus. It suggests families stay at home and celebrate by playing music, decorating masks and altars and attending virtual events.
Anaya said Nuestras Raíces hosted a virtual event Oct. 7, teaching local families how to set up an altar for their loved ones in their own homes and how to personalize them. “[The altars are] a way to share their story,” Anaya said. “If they had a drink every now and then, we’ll put their favorite drink, whether it’s tequila or beer.” Nuestras Raíces has inspired many families and community businesses to set up altars. According to Nuestras Raíces’ Facebook page, Colton’s Community Garden chose to celebrate the Latinx tradition of Day of the Dead. The community garden also set up Day of the Dead altars, which will be open for members of the community to come and place their offerings, photos of their loved ones and blessings. Anaya said that while each altar is different, there are some must-haves. The traditional Day of the Dead flowers, marigolds, are used because of their purification properties and their strong smell is said to draw a deceased family member’s spirit to the altar. Water is also typically included to help the passed loved ones refresh after their long journey to the altar. Nuestras Raíces is not the only organization in Flagstaff
Left: Mariachi Del Azteca perform in the Branigar auditorium for the day of the dead festival at the Museum of Northern Arizona, Oct. 27, 2019. Azteca are a mariachi band from Tucson and have performed a Right: A dancer twirls her dress during a Mexican folk dance as part of the Day of the Dead Festival at Museum of Northern Arizona, Oct. 24, 2015. The dancers are a part of Ballet Folklorico de Colores, a non Background: The Ortiz family ofrenda at the Museum of Northern Arizona, Oct. 27, 2019. The Ortiz ofrenda features five generations of the Ortiz family. Brian Burke | The Lumberjack
12
THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
FEATURES
death amid a pandemic offering celebration alternatives to the public. NAU’s Latinx Student Union (LSU) graduate assistant Oscar Lujan said LSU is partnering with NAU’s Office of Inclusion to set up an altar for the NAU Latinx community to have a space to honor their loved ones. Lujan said the altar will continue to follow NAU and the CDC’s guidelines for social distancing. It will be open for a week starting Nov. 2 through Nov. 6, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “The altar will stand alone within the IMQ [Office of Inclusion] center, so no gatherings or anything like that will be occurring,” Lujan said, “It is going to be a place where people can put pictures of loved ones.” LSU faculty adviser Jermaine Martinez said death is a lingering thought in the minds of the NAU community. Because of COVID-19, LSU wants this altar to be more than a part of a tradition. “We really want to present this altar as a gift to the campus community,” Martinez said. With death on the minds of many students at NAU, LSU
wants this altar to be a cathartic or therapeutic space for students to come and reflect, Martinez said. He explained that LSU hopes the altar will help students confront the anxiety they might have over death during the pandemic. Martinez said the Latinx community has a unique relationship with death compared to other cultures, and Day of the Dead is an opportunity for the Latinx community to share their experiences with others. Senior and LSU club member Julie Joseph said the Day of the Dead is about more than celebrating the life of her ancestors. “It is a celebration of our lives as continuing the legacy of our ancestors and what they have provided to us throughout the development of our cultural identity and of our families and ourselves,” Joseph said. Martinez said Day of the Dead is very personal to the Latinx community because it looks at life and death from a different perspective. “It is honoring those who have passed, and celebrating life in the face of death,” Martinez said. “That’s a fundamentally different
way of relating to death than what we encounter oftentimes in the most conventional U.S. culture.” LSU will also work with NAU’s Mental Help Support Squad (MHHS) to offer resources and aid anyone in need during the holiday season and pandemic, Martinez explained. According to Campus Health Services, MHSS is a group of students who are trained by Counseling Services to be a resource for their peers. These students are trained to identify and assist others with mental health distress, as well as provide resources for long-term help and advice. For those who want to participate in the celebration but do not feel comfortable visiting the altar, Joseph said they should reach out to Lujan and herself via the LSU Instagram account. Students can send photos of their loved one and Lujan or Joseph will print the photos out and place them on the altar themselves. Joseph explained that LSU wants students to feel welcomed to participate in this holiday, and comfortable to participate on their own terms. She said LSU wants to make sure students know their culture and traditions can also be found away from home.
at the festival for the past six years. Brian Burke | The Lumberjack n-profit that teaches the youth about popular Mexican culture. Alan Viramontes | The Lumberjack
OCTOBER 29, 2020 – NOVEMBER 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK
13
CULTURE
14
THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
CULTURE
Among Us and its rise to fame Sophia Salazar
Avengers assemble for the battle for the soul of the nation
C
hris Evans (Captain America), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Mark Ruffalo (the Hulk), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Don Cheadle (War Machine) and Zoe Saldana (Gamora), along with “Avengers: Endgame” directors Joe and Anthony Russo, joined Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris for a grassroots fundraising event. The event, held Oct. 20, aptly titled “Voters Assemble,” was livestreamed for individuals willing to donate to the Biden-Harris campaign. It began with an introduction by the Russo brothers, who encouraged those watching to vote and be patient with the process before introducing the cast. KATELYN They chatted with the cast about what they’ve been up RODRIGUEZ to during quarantine, in which Evans said he had been spending his time outdoors, while Johansson, Saldana, ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR Rudd and Ruffalo said they’ve been spending time with their kids. During this time, Cheadle revealed a family member died from COVID-19. The cast was also asked if they voted early or were waiting to go to the polling station on Election Day. Harris, whose birthday was the day of the livestream, then joined them for the rest of the event. She expressed her thanks to the cast for joining her, speaking out and supporting her and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. She also explained she’s a huge Marvel fan and paid tribute to Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), who died of colon cancer in August. Harris then compared the values shown in the “Avengers” films to the core values some Americans hold. “The importance of honor, courage and unity and those being some of the guiding principles, among many in the ‘Avengers’ series, honor and decency,” Harris said. “Joe and I, of course, are committed to honoring the dignity of work, protecting the most vulnerable, respecting science and truth in the White House. And of course we all know honor and decency matters whether you’re saving the universe from Thanos or fighting for the soul of our nation.” She went on to explain how she’s seen people across the country ready to “suit up” to fight for democracy. The cast asked Harris questions and, in turn, she had some of her own for them. The event then changed course and they all participated in “Avengers”- themed trivia. Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) was brought on as a special guest and Anthony Mackie (Falcon) was also supposed to appear alongside Downey Jr. from London, where he is filming the anticipated Disney+ series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” with Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier). However, due to unknown issues, he didn’t join the call. The event closed with Harris urging viewers to go out and vote Nov. 3. Despite technical difficulties and a disappointing audience Q&A, watching this livestream allowed me to see Harris in a different light. Her casual fangirling over the cast and franchise showed me she’s just like us when it comes to our interests. However, what I found most important was her devotion to the campaign and the people never wavered, even during the fun.
A
s students juggle college classes, exams and assignments, a 2018 video game called Among Us resurfaced. This multiplayer game can be played with four to 10 players, with one to three being the imposter, depending on how many people are in a group. The game takes place on a spaceship where the goal is to complete sets of tasks and successfully pinpoint who the imposters are among the group. Before the game starts, players can pick from an assortment of colors for their character, as well as any additional items like hats, masks and goggles. As players take part in the game, they can report bodies that have been killed by the imposter and call emergency meetings. After an emergency meeting, players must decide on whether they would like to skip the vote or vote someone they believe to be the imposter out. If crewmates pinpoint the imposter, they will win the game as a team. If the imposter kills enough crewmates, then they will triumph in victory. Freshman Colin Brown said he enjoys playing Among Us with friends because it tests everyone’s critical thinking skills. “Sometimes you have to second guess whether you know your friends or not, if you’re playing with a group,” Brown said. “When you have a group of friends to play with, it makes the experience a lot more enjoyable.” PlayTracker, a gaming statistics database, recorded Among Us has skyrocketed in popularity over October with an estimated 6.7 million players across iOS, Android and Microsoft Windows. Among Us quickly picked up fame in 2020 after several streamers livestreamed the game via Twitch. According to Film Daily, an entertainment news site, Twitch had a viewership of over 100,000 viewers watching Among Us livestreams. As of Oct. 21, Twitch Tracker recorded a peak of 753,943 Among Us viewers. Senior Jade Luther, an Advanced Media Lab (AML) student, said the game gained popularity due to its comprehensible layout. “I think it became popular based on the fact that it’s a relatively simple game in a pandemic where everything is complicated, and everyone wants to let off stress,” Luther said. Luther has played other games that have
some of the same concepts as Among Us, like the games Mafia and Secret Hitler. These games have one thing in common with one another: hidden identity. One must navigate through the game in order to target the disguised killer. If one is interested in playing Among Us, free-to-play public servers are available, as well as private servers which require a six-digit code to play. According to Among Us game developer Innersloth, they will launch some updates to the game including creating an account system and colorblind support. Creating an account will give players the option to add friends and create a server promptly. The creator of the server can decide whether to make the server public or private and has full control over settings, including character movement speed. The server owner can also kick players out at their discretion. Colorblind support allows players who are colorblind to have identifiers for tasks that are color-based like connecting blue, red, yellow and pink wires in the electrical unit. Luther said the NAU Esports club sometimes holds Friday game nights in the AML where they play Among Us. The AML provides club members with an area to practice and participate in competitions. There are multiple gaming setups within the lab, including a drone that has been used in AML projects. One project the AML has taken part in is the Lowell Meteor Project. The drone has since been placed on one of their tables and can be admired as one sits in their lounge area. Continue reading on jackcentral.org
Illustration By Aleah Green
OCTOBER 29, 2020 – NOVEMBER 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK
15
CULTURE
Citizens Cemetery is home to some of the oldest graves in Flagstaff and is one of the tour’s stops. The Downtown Ghost Tour hosted by Freaky Flagstaff Foottours is a spooky socially distanced tour of Flagstaff’s most haunted locations, Oct. 20. Madison Easton| The Lumberjack
Flagstaff Frights: A look into the town’s haunted history Lisa Hall
F
lagstaff is known for its Ponderosa pine trees and high peaks, but the rich culture that lies in the town’s history is another staple of the community. Locals tend to know more of the ghost stories, so the best way for tourists to get to know the history is touring the city. Freaky Flagstaff Foottours offers guided tours of downtown Flagstaff. According to its website, the Downtown Flagstaff Haunted History Tour takes visitors to haunted hangouts and tells stories of the restless brakeman who was crushed between two trains, the phantom boy who roams the halls of the historic Hotel Monte Vista and the murderous maintenance man whose ghost haunts the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library. Owner Nick Jones said even with COVID-19, the tours are still a big hit. One of the major changes is pets are no longer allowed unless guests bring a service animal, due to social
16
distancing protocol. “We used to have 15 to 18 people per tour and we cut it down to 10,” Jones said. “The hardest thing has been the demand. We’re running three tours a day four times a week and people are still struggling to get in. We’re opening up for the entire month of November because of it.” Jones said it feels really good to be able to give back to the community right now, since people have still been interested in going on the tours despite the pandemic. He commended customers on their attitudes toward the mask mandate and social distancing rules as well. With tours centered around adults, college students are bound to have a good time while learning about the history of the town they attend school in. There is also a student discount for this frightful adventure. “With the way we put the tour together, you will enjoy it as an adult,” Jones said. “You’ll learn bits of history that most locals
THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
don’t know about. It’s spooky and you hear ghost stories, but we also talk a lot about the history that not a lot of people know about.” These tours are made special by tour guide Andres “Dapper Dre” Adauto. He said being a tour guide has allowed him to keep enjoying hosting events since the pandemic began. “Being a tour guide has been a great outlet in times of COVID-19 to be able to do this type of performance for people,” Adauto said. “Because of all the restrictions, it’s been nice to get in front of people and share this art form with them.” Knowing people can go on self-guided tours around the city, Adauto said he still recommends guided tours for the storytelling experience. Reading the information and learning about it by oneself is completely different than having a guide expand on the details and embellish in storytelling, Adauto said. An additional positive aspect to group tours is the stories of other visitors. Adauto said he’s been able to hear about others’
CULTURE
Hotel Monte Vista is known for its ghostly tales and is one of the stops of the tour, Oct. 20. Madison Easton | The Lumberjack
ghostly encounters and eye-opening stories. Another local attraction to see on a tour is Hotel Monte Vista. Although tours of the hotel are not offered, one can experience the creepy occurrences during an overnight stay. Front desk associate Kacee Perry said guests who stay in the rooms listed as haunted almost always experience something supernatural. Perry said she recommends staying at the hotel just for the experience of staying somewhere haunted. With the amount of ghostly encounters guests report, this separates it from other haunted locations in Flagstaff. “Depending on the room, if they pick a haunted room there could be poltergeist-type things happening,” Perry said. “They may see a rocking chair move or feel someone grab on them in the middle of the night.” Guests have also been known to report ghostly happenings in the rooms that aren’t haunted as well, she said. Lights flicker and TVs turn on by themselves. Staying at the hotel is truly the only way to figure out if these stories are true. If a self-guided tour seems to be the way to go, there are
“With the Way we put the tour together, you will enjoy it as an adult. you’ll learn bits of history that most locals don’t know about.” – Freaky Flagstaff Foottours owner Nick Jones
some must-see places to add to the list, such as the Weatherford Hotel and the Flagstaff City-Coconino Public Library. The Weatherford Hotel opened in the 1900s, and in the 1930s, a couple on their honeymoon was murdered in Room 54. This room has since been turned into a storage closet, but that doesn’t stop rumors of hauntings in and around the room. The Zane Grey ballroom is also reportedly haunted by another ghost that can be spotted gliding above the dance floor, according to Simply Wander. The Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library is the home of a legend passed down by employees about a departed janitor. It’s said the staff member killed his entire family and then went to the library and committed suicide, according to downtown Flagstaff. The library used to be Emerson School, and has a basement where the custodian allegedly committed suicide. Overall, Flagstaff may not be what it seems on the surface and with spooky season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to dive into the haunted history of this old city.
OCTOBER 29, 2020 – NOVEMBER 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK
17
SPORTS
The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race
C
incinnati quarterback Joe Burrow, Kansas City running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor, and even Pittsburgh wide receiver Chase Claypool make up most of the stacked offensive rookie class this NFL season. Young playmakers have emerged over the last few years in the NFL, and have solidified a new era in football that emphasizes throwing the ball all over the field with talented quarterbacks leading franchises’ futures. The Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY) race is a heated one with many people, including the Las Vegas odds-makers, looking to crown Burrow or Edwards-Helaire award recipients. But is there a dark horse that some people aren’t MITCHELL considering? SULLIVAN Through Week 7, a rookie WRITER quarterback has a 67.4% completion percentage, thrown for 1,542 yards with 12 touchdowns, and is leading all rookies in QBR through four starts this season. Even with these impressive stats, Justin Herbert has been overlooked as one of the top rookies to come out of the 2019 draft class. A large part of that is based on his record. Herbert is 0-4 to start his career and the Los Angeles Chargers are sitting in last place in the AFC West. Many people forget how he played in those four games. However, Herbert was matched up against Mahomes, Drew Brees and Tom Brady in three of his first four starts this season, and took the loss in each contest. Dueling with some of the greats is not the best welcome Herbert could have received to start this year, but I believe the future of the Chargers’ season and Herbert’s OROY case are actually in great positions. Herbert and the Chargers square off against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets over the next five weeks. All five teams combine for nine total wins and have a reputation for their lessthan-dominant defenses. This is a perfect opportunity for Herbert to put himself on notice for OROY. In the Chargers pass-heavy offense, Herbert’s statistics will continue to improve as he tries to lead his team back in the playoff race. Voters heavily consider a team’s record when determining OROY, which is one of the reasons Herbert is overlooked. If Herbert can rattle off some wins against some struggling teams in the next month or so, we could see Herbert become one of the favorites to win. If somehow Herbert can lead his franchise to the playoffs, it’s hard to argue his potential for being named OROY. While there’s still a lot of football to be played this season, don’t count out up-and-coming star Herbert, as he tries to lead his team to success and pick up the OROY award in the process.
18
THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG
Sophomore forward Ajang Aguek recieves high-fives after a timeout is called Feb. 27 at Walkup Skydome. NAU defeated Montana 57-56. Michael Patacsil| The Lumberjack
NAU men’s basketball makes a long-awaited return will hopkins
W
ith sports in flux, it can be hard to keep up with current events. The NBA will return in the winter, and the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series Tuesday night. Through all of this, many forget NCAA basketball is quickly approaching. With this in mind, the NAU men’s basketball team is working hard as a promising season is now just over a month away. The team returned to workouts Oct. 15 after a long hiatus due to COVID-19, but that has only made the team hungrier. “Just get better daily, that’s the only thing we can control,” head coach Shane Burcar said. “We have to focus on our play on the court and just try to be ready whenever our numbers are called.” The Lumberjacks will return with 10 players from last year’s squad, which will be helpful due to the shortened preseason and the lack of preconference games as the team has a level of
familiarity with one another. While returning faces will play a key role, they also have a number of new ones that will make a difference this season. This may be the biggest challenge for NAU, as they will have to replace key players from last year’s squad in order to improve and continue to work their way up the Big Sky Conference. One of the names that falls into that category is Australian UNLV transfer guard Jay Green, who was quick to point to the team’s uniform, as a sign for optimism and a showing of team performance being the highest priority. “Individually, I’m sure we’ve got our own goals, but it all comes back to us winning as many games as possible,” Green said. Green isn’t the only newcomer, as a new group of recruits also find themselves in an unfamiliar situation heading into this season. Freshman forward Wynton Brown, who is from Bellflower, California, had high praise for his teammates and how they integrated him.
SPORTS “It already felt like I knew them from the first day,” Brown said. “I feel really good about what we have right now. I think we can surprise a lot of people.” After Burcar took over midway through the season, the team finished their highest in the Big Sky since 2015, reaching No. 5 with a 10-10 in-conference record. Despite the first-round loss to Idaho State in the Big Sky tournament, NAU returns key pieces from last year’s team like junior guard Cameron Shelton, who averaged a team-leading 14.8 points per game. The Lumberjacks will need to find another scorer to back up Shelton. The only other players on the roster who averaged double-digit scoring per game last season were forward Bernie Andre, who transferred to the University of Vermont, forward Brooks DeBisschop, who graduated and is now playing professionally in Belarus, and guard Ted McCree, who left the team midway through last season for personal reasons. Besides Shelton, the highest-scoring returner will be guard Luke Avdalovic, who put up 8.9 points per game last season. Avdalovic led the team in 3-point efficiency by shooting 41.3% from beyond the arc, but the Lumberjacks will likely need some other players to step up in order to get points on the scoreboard. The team may also struggle with experience inside the paint. The returning forwards who played at least 100 minutes last season are junior Nik Mains, sophomore Keith Haymon and sophomore Ajang Aguek. The only player in this group who started any games last season was Mains, and the group totaled six blocks last season. It may also lead to a problem on the boards, but from what was shown last year, that will likely be a team effort, as Shelton was the team’s third-leading rebounder last year. This season will present plenty of new challenges, especially with the schedule only allowing for conference play. The Big Sky will play sets of games in one of the team’s home stadiums for all but two of their trips. Visiting teams will have more time to acclimate to the 7,000-foot elevation. The Lumberjacks will get almost a month to adjust after the Eastern Washington series before they travel to Moscow, Idaho to face the Idaho Vandals. This season is set to be a challenge for the Lumberjacks, but it won’t be an unwelcome one. The team looks to build on their previous success, and the bar will be high for the Lumberjacks. Coach Burcar put it simply: “Our goal every season is to play in the NCAA tournament,” he said. “There are ten other good coaches and a lot of good players in this league.” The Lumberjacks will look to get off to the right start at home against last season’s first-place finisher, Eastern Washington, Dec. 3. Redshirt junior guard Luke Avdalovic (21) drives past an Eastern Washington defender at Walkup Skydome, Feb. 3. Brian Burke | The Lumberjack
OCTOBER 29, 2020 – NOVEMBER 5, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK
19
20
THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG