The Lumberjack -- May 10, 2016

Congratulations graduates!

ce le su br c c at es in s g

T H E L U M BE R JAC K

MAY 10 - JUNE 1, 2016

First-generation graduates reflect on their journeys PAGE 26

Graduating student athletes starting on page 31

NEWS

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

A

s another semester comes to a close here at The Lumberjack, it is time to say goodbye to our graduating seniors.

We finally did it. All those late nights and strict deadlines are now just a memory, as we get ready to toss our caps in the air at graduation and say goodbye to NAU. Working at the paper for four years has had its ups and downs, and has left me with so many memories.

It was one hell of a ride working for this publication and I could not have asked for a better group of people and friends to work with. I am so proud of the work we have done at the paper this semester — and this year as a whole — as The Lumberjack continues to redefine itself.

From our space-themed issue to our coverage of Bernie Sanders’ trip to Flagstaff, there were so many creative ideas that went into the production of the paper each week. Not only has our print publication progressed this semester, but with the help of our social media team, the presence of The Lumberjack has grown incredibly from where it was just last semester.

Although we were unable to roll out a new layout of JackCentral.

JASMYN org, we were more consistent with our time-sensitive content, which WIMBISH helped establish a better web presence for the paper. I cannot say thank WEB EDITOR you enough to all of our editors, writers, photographers and most importantly our faculty advisors, Peter Friederici and Jenny Swanson.

Without their hard work and willingness to help all of us, the paper would not be as great of a publication as it is today.

Moving forward, I know the paper is in great hands next semester with Grace Fenlason running the show as Editor-in-Chief and Scott Buffon as Managing Editor.

Congratulations to all of my fellow graduating seniors and good luck in all of your future endeavors.

Visit JackCentral.org for e-editions of The Lumberjack!

Thank you for reading.

LJ

T HE LUMBE R JAC K VOL 102 ISSUE 29

Creative Director Mitchell Forbes

Managing Editor Grace Fenlason

Faculty Advisors Peter Friederici Jennifer Swanson

Phone: (928) 523-4921 Fax: (928) 523-9313

lumberjack@nau.edu P.O. Box 6000 Flagstaff, AZ 86011

Web Editor Jasmyn Wimbish

News Editor Scott Buffon Assoc. News Editor Amy Owings Sports Editor Zach Ashton Illustration Editor Alanna Secrest

The Lumberjack’s graduation issue features several students from the 2016 graduating class as they reflect on how NAU has impacted their lives. (Photos by Halie Chavez and Cory Walters. Photo illustration by Mitchell Forbes.)

Sales Manager Marsha Simon

Student Media Center Editorial Board Photo Editor Anna Hernandez Assoc. Photo Editor Cory Walters Senior Photographer Zac Velarde Copy Chief Aubrey Magee

On the cover

Culture Editor Taylor Haynes Assoc. Culture Editor Megan Troutman Features Editor RobinLi Uber Opinion Editor Cheyanne Mumphrey

2 T HE LUMBER JACK | JACKCEN T R AL .ORG

Web Technical Director Nick Humphries Multimedia Editor Keely Damara Sr. Multimedia Producer Alan Viramontes Print Design Chief Matthew Kiewiet

Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email gf226@nau.edu.

OF T S E B PoliceBeat Jan. 12 At 1:47 p.m., a subject claimed the American flag outside Gammage was flying upside down. One NAUPD officer was sent to investigate but found the flag was flying properly.

Jan. 16 At 8:42 p.m., two NAUPD officers stopped a vehicle on suspicion of DUI near the Engineering building.

The vehicle, however, was found to be swerving because of a “spilled ice-cream issue.”

Jan. 19 At 3:59 p.m., staff from the Liberal Arts building called to report an unknown person was repeatedly causing a toilet to overflow in a firstfloor restroom. This had been going on since October 2015.

Feb. 3 At 9:05 p.m., a student reported hearing someone call out for help. One NAUPD officer responded and contacted the subject in question. The subject was lost and was given directions to where he needed to go.

Feb. 7 At 1:24 p.m., NAUPD received a call from a staff member reporting a subject hitting their vehicle while yelling profanities. When an NAUPD officer got to the scene the suspect was gone and no contact was made.

Feb. 12 At 4:18 p.m., a citizen reported subjects were asking passersby to be in a movie they were filming near the Native American Cultural Center. Two NAUPD officers were dispatched and the subjects were gone upon arrival. There was no crime

BY AMY OWINGS

committed and everything tube to create a very loud, was fine. shotgun-like sound. One NAUPD officer responded.

Feb. 14 The subjects were found to At 9:59 p.m., a student be working on a class project at Tinsley hall reported an and everything was fine. unknown subject had been knocking on her door for April 11 a long period of time. One At 2:49 p.m., a staff NAUPD officer responded member reported a subject but the case was closed due eating his lunch suspiciously to a lack of leads. near the parking lot behind the Gammage building. One March 4 NAUPD officer responded At 6:53 a.m., a staff to the call but the suspicious member from Reilly hall lunch-goer was gone. reported a mannequin dressed as a fireman at the bus stop.

April 15 Two NAUPD officers and At 1:48 a.m., an Flagstaff Fire Department NAUPD officer spoke with (FFD) responded and two subjects who were upset explained the mannequin was about being told to leave there for training purposes. a bar. The subjects were advised to take their concerns March 11 to the manager tomorrow.

At 2:25 p.m., a student in Ernest Calderón reported April 21 having trouble breathing due At 11:52 p.m., staff to snorting mucus; he refused in Wilson hall reported a medical transport when student had gotten their asked by an NAUPD officer. finger stuck in the coin It is unclear where the mucus return on a vending machine. originated.

Guardian Medical Transport, FFD and one NAUPD March 17 officer responded.

FFD At 5:31 p.m., a subject was able to free the student called to report his wife, from the vending machine. an employee of the school, The student refused medical had not been answering her transport. No charges will phone for several hours. be filed against the vending NAUPD contacted her office machine. and it was discovered she was getting a massage off-campus.

April 27 At 8 a.m., a resident March 26 assistant (RA) at Reilly Hall At 12:56 a.m., a subject called to report burnt toilet called NAUPD to report paper on two floors. One they believed someone NAUPD officer responded. had been in their room in No damage was found and Gillenwater hall and moved the area was cleaned. things around. One NAUPD officer assisted the subject April 29 and nothing appeared to be At 12:44 a.m., an RA missing. The case was closed. at Taylor hall reported Postit notes had been left in April 8 an obscene shape on their At 3:33 p.m., a staff door. One NAUPD officer member of Health Sciences responded and a report was reported a subject using a filed for information only.

NEWS

Rita Cheng appointed to State Board of Education to oversee K-12 policies

BY HANNAH COOK

President Rita Cheng, an accomplished accounting and business scholar, has been confirmed as the newest member of the Arizona State Board of Education.

After having been selected by Gov. Doug Ducey in March and appearing in front of the Senate Education Committee, Cheng received her confirmation April 14.

Cheng’s role on the board as university president encompasses all-grade levels from K-12.

“I serve as one of 11 members on this constitutionally-created body responsible for adopting various policies for K-12 education in Arizona,” said Cheng. “My goal is to further efforts to ensure all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities across our state, including great teachers.”

Before serving as the university’s president, Cheng was a professor of accounting and business for more than 20 years. She has also contributed to numerous articles, books and presentations spanning business, management, accounting and higher education.

“I bring to the board financial management and interest in the non-profit education sector from

the business world, but more importantly, I’ve spent my career in education and I look forward to the contributions that I can make,” Cheng said as she introduced herself at the April 21 board meeting.

Cheng’s previous positions contain no primaryor secondary-education experience, yet her position on the board is directly related to implementing policies that would affect those establishments.

“University representation on the State Board of Education connects teacher preparation with certification policies and practices as well as K-12 student success and college preparedness initiatives to positively impact student success and degree attainment in Arizona,” Cheng said.

Some NAU education students, however, question her qualifications due to her lack of experience in K-12 education.

“I think they need more input from people that are actually in schools, day-to-day,” said junior elementary education major Rachel Geltmaker.

“Not just a university president, but people who are actually in our K-12 schools and see what’s going on and what the actual problems are.”

Cheng is not the only board member without occupational teaching experience in the primaryor secondary-grade levels, though. Of the 10 active board members, only three have classroom

Grade Level 2006

High School Concurrent Freshman Sophomores Juniors Seniors Non-Degree Undergrad Post-Baccalaureate Non-Degree Grad Graduate

0.02% 13.12% 13.4% 18% 23.16% 0.81% 1.46% 2.6% 27.44%

experience.

Several key members of the board, including President Greg Miller, Vice President Reginald Ballantye III and Superintendent Diane Douglas, have no teaching experience at any level. Cheng and James Rottweiler, community college president, have taught at the collegiate level, but not K-12.

“I have a lot of problems with the Board of Education to begin with, because this kind of thing tends to happen a lot,” Geltmaker said.

Junior special education and elementary education major Alycia Garcia also raised concerns about the eclectic make-up of the board.

“I don’t like that [Cheng] hasn’t had that experience in primary or secondary education because that’s kind of how it is with politicians right now,” said Garcia. “I think I speak for a lot of people when I say it just irritates us because people shouldn’t be making decisions for teachers that have no idea what goes on in the classroom — they just think that they know.”

With the inclusion of this new position, Cheng has 15 leadership commitments on a variety of boards and committees outside of her role as NAU’s president. The news of her appointment, though, was quietly added to her biography on NAU’s website without a definite announcement.

“I don’t get why [NAU] didn’t make [her appointment] a bigger deal,” Garcia said. “I don’t understand how I didn’t hear about that.”

During her time on the board, Cheng said she hopes to implement policies at the high-school level to better guarantee each graduate is prepared for their next step.

President Rita Cheng sits in the UTV control room May 4. Cheng has recently been elected to the Arizona Board of Education. (Photo by Ashley Null)

Residency 2016

High School Concurrent Freshman Sophomores Juniors Seniors Non-Degree Undergrad Post-Baccalaureate Non-Degree Grad Graduate

0.01% 18.05% 16.49% 22.08% 27.75% 3.76% 1.71% 0.42% 13.12%

Enrollment data over the years: NAU through the last decade 4 T HE LUMBER JACK | JACKCEN T R AL .ORG

Ethnicity

2006

AZ Residency Non-AZ Residency

2006

American Indian/Alaskan Native Asian Black/African American Hispanic/Latino Native Hawaiian/ Islander International/ Non-resident Alien Not Specified Two or More White

83.61% 16.84%

6.26% 1.68% 2.41% 11.98% 0.04% 1.89% 2.15% 0.29% 73.28%

2016

AZ Residency Non-AZ Residency

2016

69% 31%

American Indian/Alaskan Native Asian Black/African American Hispanic/Latino Native Hawaiian/ Islander International/ Non-resident Alien Not Specified Two or More White

2.88% 1.87% 3.17% 20.76% 0.26% 4.31% 0.88% 5.11% 60.75%

Source: PAIR’s reports on enrollemnt highlights by semester — Illustration by Alanna Secrest

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NEWS

A shortage of university funding reduces availability of tenure-track positions

T

BY TARSA WEIKERT

here is a misconception on college campuses that all professors are well protected and paid for their work; those professors who do not qualify for tenure would disagree.

When professors apply to an university, the most secure job that can be offered is one that provides the opportunity to earn tenure. This type of employment provides individuals with more job security, whereas a professor without tenure must have their contract renewed every year. Tenure also protects professors’ academic freedom, which protects faculty members from being fired for questioning the university and academic ideas. Academic freedom also gives faculty the freedom to teach students critical ideas.

Dean of the College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences, Paul Jagodzinski, works closely with the tenure and non-tenure system and has a thorough understanding of both.

“Tenure gives me a certain amount of protections,” said Jagodzinski. “It really simply allows me to state my beliefs, even if the upward administration disagrees.”

Those who do not have tenure need to renew their contract each year. Non-tenure track professors go through a constant contract renewal process that offers less job stability than that of a tenured professor. Professors who do not have tenure include instructors, lecturers, researchers, clinical professors and practicing professors. More people are hired on as nontenure faculty at universities across the nation due to a lack of funding.

According to an article published by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, the number of professors being hired into a tenure-track position dropped from 78.3 percent in 1969 to 33.5 percent in 2009.

The NAU non-tenure track organizing committee is dedicated to raising awareness about the issues non-tenure faculty members face. Co-chair and instructor at University College, Michael Caulkins believes job security is a major issue.

“If you feel like your job is not secure, if you feel like your job could go away at any time, you don’t really feel much loyalty, you don’t really feel like you belong,” said Caulkins.

Matthew Goodwin, senior lecturer of philosophy, agrees with Caulkins’ sentiments.

“By being non-tenure track it really feels like the university doesn’t commit to us,” said Goodwin.

However, Jagodzinski does not question the commitment NAU has to those without tenure. According to Jagodzinski, hiring enough non-tenure track faculty to teach 50 classes normally taught by tenured professors would cost nearly $1 million.

“We are very committed to them, we need them,” Jagodzinski said. “They are here because they fulfill an extremely important role.”

According to Caulkins, having tenure can provide more incentives and opportunities. “[Those who have tenure are] going to really go above and beyond what is expected of them,” Caulkins said. If Caulkins had tenure, he said, “I [wouldn’t] have to worry about my review process, about whether I’m going to be retained at all. I can think much more clearly around my students [and ensure they] are getting the absolute best curriculum.”

Goodwin agrees non-tenured faculty members are struggling to be retained.

Caulkins believes NAU is very receptive to the issues non-tenure individuals face.

“I think the university is doing a reasonably good job trying to protect its faculty, but I think it could do more,” Caulkins said.

However, Jagodzinski believes tenure is no longer considered to be the status quo.

Jagodzinski said this is because the state is investing less in higher education. According to Jagodzinski, in 2008, 40 percent of NAU’s funding was provided by the state, while only 25 percent came from tuition.

In 2016, only 19 percent of NAU’s funding comes from the state, while 42 percent comes from tuition. A lack of funding leads to hiring individuals at the lower pay rates of nontenured positions.

Philippa Winkler, the chairperson for the NAU chapter American Association of University Professors (AAUP), offers a reason for the drop in tenured-eligible positions.

“The university is forced to adopt a corporate model when state budgets for faculty pay is cut,” said Winkler. “Administrators have to constantly figure out how to extract labor at lower pay from the faculty, janitorial staff and administrative assistants.”

There are fewer professors hired for tenuretrack jobs, while the cost of tuition is going up in order to compensate for the lack of support from the state.

“Faculty pay is just barely keeping pace with inflation,” Goodwin said. “It is definitely not increasing as much as tuition is increasing.”

Nora Timmerman, an NAU lecturer of sustainable communities, is part of the nontenure organizing committee. Timmerman also

Illustration by Alanna Secrest

believes the pay difference between those with and without tenure is important to consider.

Those who get tenure get a salary increase and have the opportunity to apply for research grants over the summer. Goodwin believes this difference in pay can be problematic.

“When you have half of a department that is making so much less than the other half, I just think that creates some problems,” Goodwin said.

Jagodzinski does not think it’s just nontenure professors who are underpaid.

“There are tenured faculty who are underpaid as well,” Jagodzinski said.

Beyond being just a matter of pay, Caulkins believes tenure is necessary for the positive development of research and discussion in society.

“Tenure exists because it allows for professors, philosophers, writers, researchers, teachers, to talk about and do research on issues that other people may not like,” Caulkins said.

Professors in non-tenure positions are not eligible to apply for most research grants. That means often research must be done using an individual’s personal budget and time.

One aspect of gaining tenure is that teachers must demonstrate they have been productive in research. Because research must be done on a person’s own time and budget, it is difficult for many non-tenured teachers to

meet this requirement.

Professors without tenure are often unable to apply for research grants and sometimes have to take a second job. Goodwin sometimes works as a Grand Canyon tour guide to make up for only being paid 10 months out of the year.

Goodwin, Timmerman and Caulkins would love to have the opportunity to demonstrate their worthiness for tenure.

“I want something that shows to me as a faculty member at NAU that I am increasingly valued for my time here,” Caulkins said.

On May 10, the AAUP will be holding a campus-wide forum from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the University Union to explore issues such as job security, academic freedom and rigor.

Caulkins is interested to see how not having tenure affects what is taught and talked about in the classroom setting. He will be attending the forum as a panelist.

“I have colleagues who have been asked not to teach certain things or not say certain things,” Caulkins said. “That’s just the reality that we live in.”

Jagodzinski believes the issues non-tenure faculty face are extremely important.

“I think it’s important for everyone to understand that non-tenure track faculty actually do feel very vulnerable,” Jagodzinski said.

M AY 10 - JUNE 1, 2016 | T HE LUMBER JACK 7

NEWS

Local group petitions for $15 minimum wage to reduce poverty in Flagstaff

20% Illustration by Alanna Secrest

A

BY TARSA WEIKERT

n organization called Flagstaff Needs a Raise is starting an initiative in order to provide a more livable wage for employees in the area. They hope to garner enough signatures to place the initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot.

In order to begin collecting signatures, the organization filed for an initiative petition serial number on March 28. The overall goal of the initiative is to increase Flagstaff’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2021. This is proposed to happen in increments, as the minimum wage would change to $10-per hour by July 1, 2017, and then rise by a dollar each year until 2021.

Flagstaff’s current minimum wage is $8.05per hour — the same wage mandated across

Arizona. However, because there is such a high cost of living in Flagstaff, it leaves citizens wondering if they can comfortably live off of the minimum wage.

Communications manager for the city of Flagstaff Kimberly Ott said the initiative has a deadline of July to get the necessary signatures.

“If they successfully get the required number of signatures by July 8, the initiative will be placed on the Nov. 8 ballot,” said Ott. The treasurer of the Flagstaff Needs a Raise organization, Joseph Bader, said he is confident they will meet the deadline.

“The response we are getting from the voters is overwhelmingly positive,” said Bader.

“We are confident we will meet the deadline for turning in the required number of signatures.”

The petition needs at least 2,537 signatures before it can move to the next step of verifying the signatures on the petition.

“If they get enough signatures and it comes in, there’s still steps that we go through here before it’s determined if it goes on the ballot,” said Flagstaff City Clerk Elizabeth Burke.

If the petition is successful in getting the required amount of signatures, it will go through a random sampling procedure, which will verify that the people who signed the petition are registered voters.

However, if the petition meets the minimum number of required signatures, but 20 percent of the random sampling group are unregistered voters, then 20 percent of the total signatures on the ballot would be removed.

Depending on the number of unregistered voters found, the petition could potentially fall short of the required 2,537 signatures.

If the petition still has enough signatures once the random sampling has been completed, then it can be placed on the November ballot.

Ott is not aware of the amount of signatures the petition currently has.

Ruben Abeyta, the general manager of Holiday Inn Express and the president of The Flagstaff Lodging and Restaurant Association, does not agree with raising the minimum wage.

“People don’t realize when they do decide to raise minimum wage … it’s also going to raise prices of goods,” said Abeyta.

Abeyta does not think individuals are looking at raising the minimum wage from the perception of a business. Abeyta believes a wage increase would actually cause employers to hire fewer people.

“If [businesses] do hire, they’re going to hire someone with more experience,” Abeyta said.

Abeyta said he believes businesses should have a direct say when it comes to raising wages.

Bader, on the other hand, said he does not believe raising the minimum wage would have an adverse effect on the Flagstaff community.

“Recent studies by the [University of California], Berkeley Institute of Labor Relations, and economists at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, confirm … little to no impact on either employment or prices by phased-in increases to the minimum wage,” Bader said.

Junior philosophy major Andie Solomon is currently paid minimum wage and said a forced increase of the minimum wage would be detrimental to small business.

Solomon said she deserves to be paid minimum wage as an inexperienced worker, but she’s unsure if other workers can live on a minimum wage salary.

“I don’t know if people can survive on minimum wage,” said Solomon. “It wasn’t really set up to be something to live on. It’s a starting point.”

According to a report published in Governing magazine in March 2015, Flagstaff has the lowest wages of any metropolitan area in the country when the cost of living is taken into consideration. When adjusted, the average Flagstaff resident makes approximately $14.31 an hour — down from $16.91 in 2014.

“We have an overall poverty rate of 25 percent, with 27 percent of children living in poverty,” Bader said. “25 percent of the jobs in Flagstaff pay under $10.”

If the petition can garner enough supporters

by July, Flagstaff voters could see the measure on their November ballots.

Sigma Chi mistakenly reported as sanctioned for NAU shooting

I

BY HANNAH COOK

n media outlets across Arizona, NAU fraternities Delta Chi and Sigma Chi have returned to the spotlight for their involvement in the Oct. 9 NAU shooting.

The media coverage stems from a recent disciplinary posting on Sigma Chi’s record.

Outlets have mistakenly reported this post as being related to the NAU shooting.

Sigma Chi’s disciplinary action stems from an alcohol violation, coupled with a violation of university rules and an off-campus safety violation. It is entirely unrelated to the shooting.

The fraternity received a letter of warning from the university and had to complete additional community service and “Good Neighbor Education.”

“I’m disappointed in the way the media portrays NAU’s Greek community,” said Sigma Chi president Matthew Ferguson. “I have seen no recognition of the Delta Chi and Sigma Chi event held on campus where we raised $4,500 for cancer research. Nor have I seen anything about the 200 pounds of canned food raised by Sigma Chi and Delta Chi for the Family Food Center that same day.”

On the other hand, Delta Chi has been on social probation since March and is unable to host or attend chapter social events until Jan. 1, 2017. This probationary period is in direct response to last semester’s shooting which killed one student. The fraternity is allowed to participate in only recruitment and rush events, philanthropy events and occasional brotherhood

8 T HE LUMBER JACK | JACKCEN T R AL .ORG

events if given approval from Kevin Gemoets, the assistant director of fraternity and sorority life.

“The media is going to want whatever is going to make the biggest story,” said Kyle Brown, president of Phi Delta Theta. “If Greek life was like a nice car, the media cares more about the small scratches on it than they do about the actual performance of it.”

Sigma Chi has joined the five other fraternities who have violated the code of conduct in some way during this academic year.

All sororities and fraternities are bound by the same set of rules, which are determined by the university and the Arizona Board of Regents.

Brown said the positive aspects of Greek life, such as the leadership skills they learn, the

volunteer work they do and the philanthropy events they host, are often overlooked. While the university is generally supportive of Greek life, Brown said, the disciplinary measures often taken are far from beneficial.

“I think the school needs to move away from just slapping a probation on a fraternity or sorority,” Brown said. “That really doesn’t teach anybody anything. I’m sure some people learn from that, but the overall chapter really doesn’t. I feel like more educational — hands on approaches — work.”

Sigma Chi is working with the university to make amends for their letter of warning.

“We have taken the required steps to comply with the warning and we are moving forward,” Ferguson said.

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NEWS

City to implement parking fees in downtown, southside

BY ADRIAN SKABELUND

W

hile NAU plans to remove freeparking access on campus, the city of Flagstaff prepares to institute paid parking in the southside neighborhood, downtown and the adjacent areas.

According to Karl Eberhard, Community Design and Redevelopment manager for the city of Flagstaff, the initiative is part of the city’s Comprehensive Parking Management Program. The ordinance is meant to address the growing concern of those who live and work in areas which have become inundated with NAU students, faculty and staff who park off campus to avoid purchasing a parking pass.

Barbara Packard, manager of Full Circle Trade & Thrift Shop on Beaver Street, said parking has become problematic. With the lack of parking availability, Packard said it can be difficult for businesses receiving shipments, for shoppers and, most of all, for the residents.

“I just feel sorry for the people who live here — that they can park in their driveways but otherwise everything else is taken up and the cars are there all day,” said Packard. “It’s different if someone’s here for two or four hours, but here on Phoenix [Avenue], they’re here all day.”

Once implemented, the system will be fully digital, Eberhard said. There will be no parking meters on the streets or permits in users’ windshields. Instead, the entire system will work through a free app provided by the city and will identify vehicles through license plate numbers alone. The app will allow users to pay and check their remaining time throughout the city.

“Say you’re sitting in a coffee shop and your time runs out,” said Eberhard. “The app will be able to text you an alert and, if you want, you can just pay right there.”

This digital approach also means the start-up costs will be relatively low for the city, as it won’t have to go through the expensive process of buying and installing parking meters.

While the price of parking is not yet fully known, Eberhard said residents, as well as those who work in the neighborhood, will not have to pay.

“It’s too bad that it has come to [this] but it’s a necessary expense,” Packard said.

“It’s a horrible thing that we don’t have any [parking garages instead] or something

here for people to park so they can shop downtown here, but I think it’s still needed.”

Teresa Del Vecchio, an academic adviser for the Department of Biological Sciences at NAU, often parks in the southside but said the ordinance would probably force her to find somewhere else to park.

“I think it’s okay because anything that encourages me to get out of my car and on to my bike is a good thing,” said Del Vecchio.

Del Vecchio also mentioned she doubted her colleagues who also park there would share her optimism when it comes to finding alternate ways of getting to work.

Sarah Dowling, a volunteer for the Flagstaff Community-Supported Agriculture & Local Market, said she does not support the idea of paid parking.

“I feel like it makes each parking spot a commodity — an item to be purchased — which makes it feel less connected as a community and more commercialized,” said Dowling.

The ordinance will most likely go into effect by the end of the year. Though no specifics have been decided on, Eberhard said people parking in the spots will likely have a short amount of time without charge for those who are simply running errands.

The money made from the program will be split two ways, Eberhard said. The first is simply to cover the cost of the program while the second will go toward funding other “parking solutions” for the areas affected by the ordinance.

Currently, parking meters are used sparingly in Flagstaff. The new system, which will be implemented closer to NAU, will be controlled by smartphone. (Photo by Sarah Booth)

10 T HE LUMBER JACK | JACKCEN T R AL .ORG

Flagstaff resident to be deported; concerns raised over GoFundMe page

O

BY YESENIA DE GARCIA

ne Flagstaff resident, Frankie Madrid, is set to be deported to Mexico, but a GoFundMe created

by Flagstaff councilwoman Eva Putzova is trying to keep him in the country.

Some contributors to the GoFundMe page claim it is not clear Madrid was arrested for a shoplifting charge and was found in possession of 20 grams of heroin.

The 25-year-old was arrested by Flagstaff Police Department (FPD) in January and then turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when he was unable to document his status as an United States citizen. Putzova created a GoFundMe page for Madrid in hopes of raising money to fight for his right to stay in the country.

“He had 20 grams of heroin on him? I don’t care who you are or what you’ve done, that’s the crap we need to keep off our streets,” said Belinda Wood on Putzova’s Facebook post that shared the GoFundMe page. “And the GoFundMe account that was started for his defense is bull. Twenty grams of a bad drug, thankfully that’s 20 less grams on our streets in our community.”

Madrid was two months old when he was brought to the U.S. by his mother and has not returned to Mexico since. He’s an active member of the Flagstaff community, and while it’s not clear how close he is to Putzova, he participated in events supporting her campaign for city council.

Putzova stated on her GoFundMe page, “Frankie has been nothing but an asset to Flagstaff, rallying against SB1070 [A Senate bill that allows police to determine the immigration status of someone arrested or detained] and for marriage equality and helping everyone in need.”

On the GoFundMe page, Putzova doesn’t mention the charges Madrid faces.

“On Jan. 23 he was picked up by Flagstaff police and turned over to ICE for being unable to document his legal status,” said the page. “He is a victim of our senseless immigration policy that breaks families apart and leaves communities devastated.”

The charges against Madrid originated when he was detained by FPD after shoplifting at Wal-Mart. The officers discovered he had a misdemeanor warrant

out for his arrest because he couldn’t make due payments for former shoplifting charges. When the officers searched the car, they found a handgun and a backpack in Madrid’s possession containing illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.

This led to Madrid’s arrest for drug and drug paraphernalia possession and carrying a weapon in the commission of a felony crime, and when he could not prove citizenship he was transferred to ICE, where he is now in immigration removal proceedings.

Flagstaff resident Robert White read the GoFundMe page and was left confused with the details of Madrid’s story. As a former FPD officer, White says he “has never seen or heard of anyone being picked up from the streets simply because of their legal status.” This led White to buy the police report on Madrid.

After learning the details of Madrid’s arrest, White felt that the description on the Putzova’s GoFundMe page was lacking.

“The information was clear . . . this is how the police came in contact with him, this is how he wound up in the custody of immigration officials,” said White.

White said he is “not anti-immigrant, but there was a lot left to the imagination from the description [on the GoFundMe page].”

The Lumberjack reached out to Eva Putzova for comment, but she did not respond.

Flagstaff mayor Jerry Nabours feels Putzova’s fund was given added weight due to her name.

“What bothers me a little bit is that she is using her position as a councilmember and using that credibility if you will . . .

I don’t believe she is telling the complete story in the Facebook posting and the GoFundMe page,” said Nabours.

However, Nabours does not believe Eva Putzova did anything unlawful, and whoever donated money to help Madrid through the GoFundMe page was operating under a personal choice to do so. He said that if Flagstaff residents feel misled by the information provided on the page Nabours they should contact Putzova.

The GoFundMe page has raised more than $3,400 to date, and community members continue to donate.

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EDI TORIAL & OPINION

Letter to the Editor

Available resources for student assistance In response to “At-risk students: Is NAU’s policy on self-harm proactive or detrimental?”

S

tudent mental health, self-harm and suicide are serious issues on college campuses across the nation, including NAU. However, a recent article in The Lumberjack regarding this issue unfortunately included inaccurate information on how NAU responds to students who may be in crisis. It is important that students in crisis immediately receive support and assistance, so we are writing to clarify how students can reach out for help and how the university addresses these types of issues.

When a staff member at NAU becomes aware a student may be in crisis, the first priority is to ensure the safety of the student and to connect the student with a professionally trained staff member in Counseling Services. Additionally, it is important to clarify that a student who has engaged in self-harm is not in danger of being suspended from the university.

Rather, our goal is to both ensure the student is receiving professional treatment, and to help the student navigate any academic difficulties he or she may be experiencing so that the student can be successful at NAU. Counseling Services is an important part of making this happen.

NAU Counseling Services is a confidential resource available to assist any student who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. As a confidential resource, the information a student shares during their interactions with a Counseling Services staff member is not provided to other staff members on campus without that student’s permission or as otherwise required by law. This means a student in crisis would not be reported to Student Life or Housing and Residence Life.

We strongly encourage any student that needs help to contact Counseling Services via phone at 928-523-2261. This number is answered 24 hours a day.

Additionally, Counseling Services may see students in crisis on a walk-in basis on the first floor of the Health and Learning Center (Building #25) during regular business hours. Counseling Services is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, please reach out for help. Counseling Services, Housing and Residence Life, and the Office of Student Life are all available to assist any student. Also, if you are a student who has questions or concerns about how your case was handled, please contact Housing and Residence Life at 928-523-7616 or the Office of Student Life at 923-5235181.

Submitted by Dean of Students Dr. Cindy Anderson, Counseling Services Director Dr. Carol O’Saben and Housing and Residence Life Executive Director Dr. Rich Payne.

12 T HE LUMBER JACK | JACKCEN T R AL .ORG

With both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions around the corner, the race for the Oval Office is down to three candidates. Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee, while Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are still battling it out for the Democratic nomination.

Many political analysts believe that Clinton already has enough pledged delegates to win the nomination, while the Sanders campaign believes there is a possibility of going to a contested convention.

The total delegates needed to win the nomination is set at 2,383; Clinton currently has 1,701, while Sanders has 1,411.

Sanders campaign manager, Jeff Weaver stated, “We’ve mapped out a path to victory in our campaign in terms of delegates — pledged delegates — and we don’t have to win everywhere, but we do have to win most of the states coming up.” The plan is to reach enough delegates in order to create a contested convention.

In Washington state, the official tally of the March 26 caucus has been announced and Sanders is the winner. According to The Associated Press, Sanders picks up 49 delegates, while Clinton receives 18.

Meanwhile, in the United States territory of Guam, Clinton took home a win with 60 percent of the vote.

The Democratic Party is taking the first step toward eliminating superdelegates. The Maine Democratic Party has officially voted to eliminates its superdelegates. A superdelegate is an unelected delegate who is free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party’s national convention.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has publicly stated he cannot endorse Trump. Ryan’s position makes him the highest-level GOP official to reject Trump. He has stated he is willing to compromise, but only if Trump makes the first move.

Political Cartoon of the Week

CARTOON BY ALANNA SECREST

Want to write a letter?

The Lumberjack encourages an open forum on appropriate public issues. All letters must include the author’s name, major or profession, and email or phone number.

The Lumberjack reserves the right to correct inaccuracies, grammatical errors or cut for length. To post letters online please email them to OpEd Editor Cheyanne Mumphrey at clm473@nau.edu. To have letters printed please email them to OpEd Assistant Editor Rachel Dexter at rld277@nau.edu.

COMIC SPOT

Designers, illustrators, and cartoonists needed

BAD DESIGN contact ALANNA SECREST at as3428@nau.edu

SAVE THE LUMBERJACK FROM

Earm credit hours with jls 208 for spring 2016 M AY 10 - JUNE 1, 2016 | T HE LUMBER JACK 13

EDI TORIAL & OPINION

THE LUMBERJACK 2016 GRADUATES ILLUSTRATION BY ALANNA SECREST

ASHTON SPORTS EDITOR

VELARDE

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

MAGEE

When I first arrived in Flagstaff, I had no idea what to expect. There is no way I could have predicted how much I was going to change at NAU. I originally intended to major in business, but I realized I wanted to do something that inspires me. I wanted to major in something that would keep me going every single day for years, and possibly decades, to come.

Journalism is unique in that there are a lot of stories worth telling and they come from unexpected places. In my pursuit of a bachelor’s degree, I found myself in places I would have never thought to venture in. The Lumberjack has given me more experiences than I ever could have imagined.

As sports editor, I got to combine work with my interests and develop as a journalist. I interacted with people across all realms of existence: coaches, city officials and even a pastor. The memories I created at NAU and in the Student Media Center (SMC) are ones that I will never forget.

I’ve spent four years working with college newspapers, but the last two years at The Lumberjack have by far been the best. What made the experience so outstanding were the people. Every last staff member had an effect on me and my time here. The relationships were stronger than just coworkers; we were friends, going out for trivia, taking day trips, and participating in last-minute 2 a.m. projects. The friendships I’ve created will truly last a lifetime.

As photo editor, scrambling to cover photo stories made for stressful days, but it really developed my leadership skills.

Being senior photographer let me hone in on my shooting skills and learn that I never really wanted to be a photo editor. I live to be the person out there producing the images.

Every day I was able to learn more about where I wanted to end up in the real world. All of this was possible because of The Lumberjack.

I’m more than excited to begin life knowing the experiences from college will carry me through.

My time at NAU and The Lumberjack almost overlap completely as I fell into working for the paper in October of my freshman year. I had no intention of spending almost my entire college career as copy chief, but that’s how it happened. And I suppose that’s how the best things happen — unexpectedly.

As a student at NAU and a staff member for The Lumberjack, I can confidently say these three years have been the best of my life. I found my husband, my passions and myself in Flagstaff. My job at The Lumberjack has given me a knowledge base and skills I will use for the rest of my career.

I wouldn’t give up the memories, relationships and experiences for anything.

I have encountered so many wonderful people, both peers and professors, who have made indelible marks on my experience and who I am. But I am also very excited to get married and begin my life fully immersed in the adult world.

Thank you to the staff at the paper, both past and present, and to all my friends here too. It is because of you all that leaving NAU is so difficult.

14 T HE LUMBER JACK | JACKCEN T R AL .ORG

COPY CHIEF

UBER

WIMBISH

For my first few semesters at NAU I was too intimidated to join The Lumberjack, even though I had always wanted to work in print journalism. The staff seemed airtight and the thought of trying to fit in made me feel anxious and inadequate. Halfway through my sophomore year I was offered the opportunity, after a professor had recommended me, to join the staff by coming on as the managing editor. Obviously this was even more intimidating, but I am glad I decided to get over it, because I have stuck with The Lumberjack ever since.

Through my time on staff I have not only gained awesome experience in the field I feel passionately about, I have also been able to find my niche at NAU. The Lumberjack has become a place where I don’t have to try to fit in, which is something I think every student should have the opportunity to find and something I will greatly miss.

Being part of The Lumberjack these past four years has definitely made my college career memorable: from the late-Tuesday production nights, to covering big events like the men’s basketball team’s run in the CIT tournament.

I was given so many great opportunities while working at the paper and learned so much from all my co-workers and professors who have helped me become a better writer.

The SMC became my second home at NAU, and as much as I don’t want to admit it, I will miss it so much.

I’ve been able to meet amazing people and develop great friendships while working at the paper, and was very lucky to work with such a dedicated staff.

Although I’m going to miss NAU and Flagstaff, I’m very excited to be moving to the midwest to attend graduate school at the University of Kansas this fall. Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!

FEATURES EDITOR

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

EDI TOR IAL & OPINION

HUD

WALTERS

MALONE

WOOD

VAGNOZZI

PHOTOGRAPHER

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

The Lumberjack was without a doubt one of the very most important things I did with my time at NAU. The exercise and challenge of regular shooting, editing and publishing helped me grow so much as a photographer.

Being a photographer at The Lumberjack has been my vehicle for experiencing Flagstaff in a way that I don’t think is possible by any other means.

The Lumberjack allows for so much creative freedom from every member. Anybody that comes to the paper with a good idea will be heard and there’s always a place for experimentation among various media outlets. If anybody at NAU is at all serious about working in photojournalism my advice to them is to join The Lumberjack as soon as possible and involve yourself as much as you can.

If nothing else, you will meet and build relationships with some cool people.

Working for The Lumberjack is something I will never forget.

I have met some amazing people and had the pleasure of working with a great staff. The newspaper is not a one-person job and through my two years on staff, I have really experienced teamwork. Everyone has to give their best effort in order to make our weekly publication a reality.

As I carry my journalism degree out of the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome May 13, I can easily say I am very happy with the career path I have chosen for myself. I can’t thank our staff and faculty enough for preparing me for what the real world has in store for me. I was able to go beyond my comfort zone at times. I photographed all various events I never would have had the chance to without The Lumberjack, such as NAU football, concerts, art galleries, carnivals and more, each requiring a different set of skills that will prepare me for my future. Working for a time-sensitive publication as a staff member, senior photographer and photo editor is something that will carry me through my future career path and I will never forget it.

During the past three semesters, I was able to work with some of the most talented students in the SMC. The staff at The Lumberjack are dedicated young reporters, photographers and illustrators sacrificing their time and energy to put forth the best possible publication every week. Working for the paper has been an incredible experience. I want to thank The Lumberjack faculty advisor Peter Friederici for taking a chance by creating the first social media team.

For the millionth time, Carolyn and Alexa, thank you for an amazing semester. You guys were more than what I could ever hope for going into this semester. You both are extremely talented and I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked with you.

Finally, thank you Jerry Thull for allowing me to explore the limits of our digital content within the SMC the last three semesters.

Thank you for the guidance and encouragement this semester. I am truly grateful to you for being my mentor during my time at NAU.

As my undergraduate career comes to a close, I’m left wondering where the time went. Did I use it wisely? Am I walking out of here different than I walked in — more kind and more grateful? And exactly just how much money would I have in my bank account if I hadn’t spent it on coffee?

Like most experiences, college is one that shapes you, so long as you let it.

Everything has the ability to leave a lasting impression — and it certainly makes leaving a little harder.

The Lumberjack was really no different, allowing me to network and learn more about a place I’ve called home for four years. In a time where my mental state fluctuated between excitement and sheer terror, working with the paper offered some consistency in the whirlwind of uncertainty. I was fortunate enough to work with a great staff and advisors, as well as two other incredible women as part of the new social media team.

I’ve always loved NAU. It was the only school I applied to, and every day I know I made the right choice. The opportunity to share students’ voices about something I am so passionate about has solidified that for me, and has made this semester one for the books.

While I’m no stranger to the SMC, this was my first and only semester working at The Lumberjack. Going into my final 16 weeks at NAU as one-third of the new social media team was intimidating, but exciting.

The opportunity to develop new skills, and add more to not only my resume, but to the student newspaper itself, is something I’d never thought would be so satisfying. My time may have been short, but I’ve loved every minute of it, and I only hope the newbies of next year will continue our work.

In hindsight, I wish there had been a social media team before this semester. It’s helped me narrow down what I want to do with my future, and I’m proud of the work our team has accomplished. Being part of The Lumberjack is an honor, and if only I had started here earlier, my life might have been quite different.

But the best part about all of it? I met a plethora of people, and I ended up with some amazing new friends.

M AY 10 - JUNE 1, 2016 | T HE LUMBER JACK 15

EDI TORIAL & OPINION

Is debt worth it?

Success without college

BY MAX COHEN

BY INDIA BLACKSHEAR

Y

ears ago, going to college and receiving a degree meant success. Having that piece of paper meant a student was going to have a successful career and a comfortable life. Today, obtaining a degree means you just have a lower chance of being unemployed in the future. If you are not studying a specific topic that pertains to a specific job, there is close to no point in spending the large amount of money that a college degree requires. This is especially true if you take out loans.

According to a Huffington Post article, “in 2010, 39.3 percent of adults between the ages of 25 and 34 had a post-secondary degree, up from 38.8 percent in 2009. While the rate has creeped up steadily since 2008, underemployment has kept pace, according to Vedder’s research — the report found that the number of college grads will grow by 19 million between 2010 and 2020, while the number of jobs requiring that education is expected to grow by less than 7 million.”

Many students who graduate high school feel that college is the next logical step on the road to success.

However, not many students are informed about student loans or the debt that comes with it. We are told how careers will come if we get an education. There are no high school classes that teach students about loans, or what they are getting into. And if these financial classes are offered, they are only available at elite schools with students whose families are already financially stable or have taught their children to manage their wallets.

Many students just take the financial aid their universities offer them without knowing how much of it they have to pay back. For instance, we are not told the difference between a subsidized loan and an unsubsidized loan. We are left to figure out that a subsidized loan is one the U.S. Department of Education pays interest on, while an unsubsidized loan piles up daily interest.

Many students are not aware that, according to State

by State Data, “seven in 10 seniors who graduated from public and nonprofit colleges in 2014 had student loan debt, with an average of $28,950 per borrower.”

According to College Factual, the average loan amount for all undergrads at NAU is $6,832 per year.

Low-income families often do not get the chance to enroll their students in financial-literacy classes or get them financial coaches. They are the ones who receive the short end of the stick when it comes to student loans and future employment. They also do not have the connections it takes to receive decent jobs in today’s society.

The students of low-income families go to college and take the financial-aid package offered to them. They do not get the chance to have their parents help with the cost of their education which in turn could lead to less debt. These students often go to college, take out student loans and end up taking multiple years to pay it off because there is no guarantee they will receive the income or career they want.

I

like to think of our education system as a long and well-oiled conveyor belt. Every year we plop a fresh batch of wide-eyed kids onto the kindergarten section, and watch over time as the belt slides them through the elementary, middle school and high school years. On both sides of the belt, swiveling robotic arms reach down and append to each kid the knowledge, tools and abilities necessary to survive in what some people call the real world. Although we have the freedom to hop off after high school, many of us choose to stay on the belt and let it convey us toward a college degree. That’s because many of us believe the only route to professional success requires a four-year stint at an university, and the long-coveted diploma handed out at the end of it.

This view is so pervasive that a person might come to feel it must, for that reason, be true. But given the exorbitant cost of college these days, along with the hostility of the job market toward recent grads, we may have to tweak our opinion of the issue. After all, a majority of students graduate thousands of dollars in debt, and many of them are finding it difficult to secure a job equal to their education level.

Traditional wisdom says an individual has to get a college degree in order to find a decent-paying job, but there are numerous professions that pay good salaries without one. Web developers, real-estate brokers, dental hygienists, paralegals and registered nurses are examples of professions with good salaries.

People interested in these professions may need an associate’s degree or a certificate of some kind, but can nonetheless bypass the typical route taken by most individuals.

And then there are the entrepreneurs, who have the potential to create a tremendously successful product or business without having to pick up a degree in order to do so.

In fact, a surprising number of extremely popular websites, used by millions of people every year, were founded either by college dropouts or by people who sidestepped college altogether.

You don’t have to be Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg to start a successful business. And furthermore, the time and money you throw at college could otherwise be invested in making your company thrive.

Artists, writers and musicians, along with other creative types, might also achieve success for themselves without relying on college to make that success possible.

Of course, these alternative career paths are much riskier than getting your diploma. One of the benefits of a bachelor’s degree is that it provides you with a safety net, which is always a comforting and reassuring thing to have. Not to mention that many professions, in fact, require a bachelor’s degree at the minimum, if not more schooling beyond that.

Whether college is right for a particular individual depends upon that person’s circumstances. Whereas the four-year plan might work for some people, it might represent an unnecessary burden for others, who have neither the money nor the time to commit to it. Ultimately, an individual has to weigh the pros and cons as they relate to his or her own unique and particular situation. Success without college is possible, but it requires the right kind of career, the right conditions and the courage to make it happen.

16 T HE LUMBER JACK | JACKCEN T R AL .ORG

Congrats, now what?

BY EMMA HELFRICH

O

ne of the most stressful moments of my 20 years on this planet was choosing a major when I applied to NAU. I was torn between making the next four years and thousands of dollars of student-loan debt worth my while or staying up until 3 a.m. doing half-hearted anatomy homework that would earn me a six-figure job right out of college. This is because for over a decade, the bachelor’s degree has gradually stopped providing college graduates a leg up in job interviews and career endeavors, but has instead become more of an expectation for their livelihood once those four years are up.

High schoolers have stopped choosing to attend universities and community colleges after their senior years, simply because they want the education, and instead apply out of fear their intelligence alone will not land them the jobs they deserve. All because college is no longer about the experience and opportunity for higher learning. It has instead become a requirement to succeed in today’s society — an expensive, daunting and often discouraging requirement.

The idea that a young adult must carry with them a piece of paper worth upward of $40,000 in order to be prosperous in the “real world” takes the enjoyment out of going to school for what you love. English majors are advised to turn away from their dreams of being a novelist because it is not practical enough, theatre majors are asked if they do not care about job security and aspiring teachers are joked about for the money they have agreed to not make for the rest of their lives.

Young adults should not be shamed for wanting to enter their own field of dreams. Because whether or not monetary success comes from engineering and medicine rather than elementary school and music, everyone has benefited from them one way or another.

Writing in Jacobin Magazine, Miya Tokumitsu argues that the concept of “doing what you love” is an elitist ideology. She claims that the mantra devalues the hard labor so many members of the proletariat work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in order to produce. I respectfully disagree. While there is logic in Tokimitsu’s argument and her assertion that the labor produced by members of the working class often goes unnoticed, the fault in that does not lie with people and their lifelong hunt for a better quality of life.

Few love their part-time job at the Conoco down the street, and even fewer love the cubicle drudgery they are running late for because they were out of coffee at said Conoco. It is all a matter of paying dues. Being fully aware of the self-sacrifices being made throughout everyone’s century-long pursuit of happiness is what makes the student loans, relentless discouragement and inevitable toilet scrubbing worthwhile. Doing things you hate is sometimes the only way to learn anything about yourself and the way the world works.

Once money starts to dictate life’s more important choices, the identity of a mindless drone in a capitalistic society might as well be assumed. Holding on to what separates us from the seven billion others running side by side in competition for this vague and almost narcissistic happy ending is where true fulfillment hides.

Loving what you do is a process. It is the endgame. Just like bad things put good things into perspective, the challenges and obstacles that follow once the graduation caps fall from the rafters and hit the floor are what ultimately guide us to the vindication we spend so much time and money searching for.

Congratulations,

hope for the best!

2016

Congrats on your BS in environmental

Congrats on your BS family in environmental engineering!!!

Your is extremely engineering!!!

Your family is extremely proud. Your love for the outdoors and proud.

Your love for the outdoors sustainable Environmental practices carry youfarming far and wide. andwill sustainable practices will carry you far and wide.

Spring 2016

Spring 2016

Best Wishes & Bittersweet Farewell

To three superb graduating student assistants:

Gabrielle Sherwood RobinLi Uber Tessa Alexander In the words of Edward Abbey’s “Benedicto,”

“May your trails be crooked....”

-”Teach”

Oh, the Places You’ll go!

Congratulations Kaele!

You did, done good!

LuvYa lots, Mom, Daddy-o & Kami

CONGRATULATIONS to all of the NAU graduates―from your local La Fonda Mexican Food Restaurant!

Special wishes to: 2VJOUJO ,JNF "MFY 5PMMJWFS .JDIBFM -POH /JDL .JMMFS -PVJT 8JUUF 1900 N. 2nd St. Flagstaff, AZ 86004 (928) 779-0296

Congratulations to all Graduating Seniors from The Lumberjack UTV KJACK NAZ Today Communication Building Workers

Zach Ashton Braden Carmen Conner Chase Dalton Constance Tessa Collum Misha Cothran Austin Davis Olivia Franc Leo Fayt Ashley Flood Stephanie Frederking Sierra Ferguson Eduardo Garcia Taylor Gipe Hannah Gibson

Maeve Golden Cristina Guerrero J. Daniel Hud Tyler Jacobs Jessica Keller Erika Leitz Zach Melmet Shannon Murphy Kelsey McHugh Sarah Magee Casei Malone Sarah Magee Casei Malone Simone Malveau Nate Patton Mary Rawlins

Sarah Sattler Samantha Steffen Samantha Shipp Josh Schwartz Matt Stern Colleen Sikora Taylor Tracy RobinLi Uber Alexa Vagnozzi Zac Velarde Alan Viramontes Cory Walters Jasmyn Wimbish Karen Winters Carolyn Wood

CULTUR E

Cannabis on campus

Believe Marijuana Should be Illegal Believe Marijuana Should be Legal 84%

No Response

81%

BY TAYLOR HAYNES

66%

I

n 2010, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Initiative (Proposition 203) was passed.

Prop. 203 legalized the possession and consumption of medical cannabis (commonly known as marijuana) for registered card holders in the state of Arizona. Since then, individuals who suffer from a number of ailments, such as Crohn’s disease, HIV/ AIDS, PTSD or seizures, can be prescribed medical cannabis.

In Arizona there has been a rapid growth in patients choosing to medicate with cannabis rather than more traditional means.

According to NORML, a pro-legalization organization, there are an estimated 76,573 adults and 125 minors who are registered medical cannabis patients. As of 2012, the state had issued 126 dispensary licenses.

Nationwide, the conversation around cannabis is changing.

As of 2015, 24 states had legalized medical cannabis. For many, it is no longer the illicit drug of Reefer Madness. Instead, many people depend on it in place of various opiates and narcotics for relief. Medical cannabis has become normalized — in many states, physicians have the option of prescribing it in place of painkillers or other pharmaceuticals.

According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Americans who favor legalizing marijuana grew steadily since 1969, with Millennials taking the lead (68 percent supported legalization in 2015.) In turn, the number of Americans who support continued illegality dropped to 44 percent in 2015.

According to another survey conducted by Pew in 2013, 77 percent of Americans say that marijuana has legitimate medical uses.

However, some controversy remains — marijuana still is federally illegal. Therefore, universities that receive federal funding are often put in a difficult position.

Officer Jake Bradley, with the NAU Police Department, stressed the importance of upholding federal law.

“I believe NAU will not change its policy until marijuana is 100 percent federally legal,” said Bradley. “However, NAU is smoke-free campus and smoking marijuana will still be against school policy. I cannot comment positively on those policy changes and this is just my personal thoughts and opinions on the policy change if marijuana becomes federally legal.”

Marijuana contains a number of cannabinoids. Of these, the two that are discussed the most are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). There are products with only CBD, to eliminate the psychoactive effects caused by THC. Bradley commented that CBD, or hemp products, are not illegal, but may be tested for any amount of THC by a law enforcement officer.

More so, in 2012, a bill titled HB2349 was passed in Arizona, making the possession or consumption of cannabis a felony on either public or private college campuses for cardholders and noncardholders alike. This includes cannabis in the plant form, but

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Statistics from PEW Research Center

(Illustration by Alanna Secrest)

also in edible and infused products.

HB2349 was introduced by Rep. Amanda Reeve, who stated that schools that do not comply with federal law would lose funding and financial aid — therefore, according to Reeve, compliance with federal law is of utmost importance.

As a result, access to medical cannabis was further restricted for those living on college campuses in Arizona, NAU or elsewhere, even if it was prescribed by a physician. Students who live on campus have virtually no option — either forgo medical marijuana or risk facing expulsion and criminal charges.

NAU’s drug policy states: “Growing and using marijuana remains a crime under federal law … The university receives more than $44 million in federal grants and contracts and about $172 million in financial aid for more than 15,000 students.”

One NAU student, who first received a medical marijuana card as a freshman and has one still today, primarily uses medical

marijuana to treat chronic back pain, but also noted its role in treating severe anxiety. He wished to remain anonymous for fear of losing his job.

“It feels unfair that [medical marijuana] patients don’t have access to their medication while on campus, while more harmful and addictive drugs like painkillers and anti-anxiety medications are allowed on campus if prescribed,” said the student. “I feel like people should have the liberty to choose a more natural alternative to these harmful drugs while on campus without having to worry about getting themselves into trouble with the university.”

A survey-based study conducted by the University of Michigan in 2014 found an increase in marijuana use by college students (medical or non-medical), reaching the highest level seen in the past 35 years. According to the study, 5.9 percent of see CANNABIS on page 22

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CANNABIS from page 21

students in 2014 used marijuana on a daily basis. While this was not the only drug on the rise, there was a notable drop in alcohol and narcotic drug use.

Students who said they had been drunk in the last 30 days dropped from 48 percent in 2006, to 43 percent in 2014.

Cigarette smoking also declined. Furthermore, the nonmedical use of narcotic drugs declined among college students to 4.8 percent in 2014.

The study hypothesizes that this rise in marijuana use by young people is due to an increased positive perception of marijuana; young people are less likely to view marijuana as a dangerous drug.

While pro-legalization groups might agree patients should be able to medicate regardless of their living situation, some have a different viewpoint. Another NAU student and medical marijuana card-holder, who also wishes to remain anonymous, while he has benefitted from medical marijuana, was a little apprehensive about cannabis on campus.

“From a societal perspective, school is not the place for marijuana. Allowing collegiate students to ingest marijuana on campus may give NAU a ‘bad reputation’ and may attract students to our school for the wrong reasons,” said the student.

He personally does not believe NAU should change its current policy, and added that a more lenient policy may drastically increase NAU’s population — something he does not see as sustainable.

“One idea is for NAU to allow for medicinal marijuana use in designated areas on campus only. However, that could be very hard to police, and again, this allowance may create negative connotations about the school,” the student said.

Furthermore, the Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act may appear on Arizona voters’ ballots in Nov. 2016; if passed, it would legalize the possession and consumption of marijuana by all adults over the age of 21. However, a change in university policy is unlikely.

The medical marijuana industry has grown unlike any other business in recent years. Attitudes are definitely changing at the state level and there are signs of change at the federal level as well. In April, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) approved a study aimed at treating veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with cannabis.

This study will be conducted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and Dr. Sue Sisley, who was fired from the University of Arizona in 2014 because of her cannabis-related work.

According to MAPS, this study “marks the first time a clinical trial intended to develop smoked botanical marijuana into a legal prescription drug has received full approval from U.S. regulatory agencies.”

Will medicinal cannabis eventually be legalized at the federal level? With the change that the U.S. has seen in the past five years, along with increased research and upcoming studies, federally legal cannabis has a very possible future.

In the coming years, universities and colleges will undoubtedly grapple with the possibility of allowing cannabis on campus, with the health of students, faculty and staff in mind.

(Photo courtesy of Rising Appalachia)

Folk to Flagstaff: Rising Appalachia

BY CHRISTINA LEWIS

S

outhern-inspired folk-band Rising Appalachia creates an unforgettable collection of sounds, stories and songs, rooted in tradition and world culture.

“We grew up in a very multi-cultural neighborhood and city,” said Rising Appalacia musician Leah Smith. “I took tons of West African dance classes, tap-dancing classes, jazz and piano. We were involved in a bunch of amazing elements of world culture as well.”

Rising Appalachia is composed of sisters, Chloe and Leah Smith. They are accompanied by their percussionist, Biko Casini, and bassist/guitarist David Brown. The soul in their tracks is apparent — helping listeners better understand the stories told through the music.

The sound is so unique it would be impossible to create without some kind of chemistry between the members. The band’s musically gifted family has helped with their success.

Growing up, Leah and Chloe were raised in Atlanta, not far from the base of the Appalachian Mountains. Their mother was also involved in music, notably the influential traditions of southern Appalachian folk music.

“Our whole lives we would be in the city during the week, and on the weekend we would be all over the southern Appalachian in north Georgia, North Carolina, West Virginia … we would go up for the weekend and chase fiddle music,” said Chloe.

Six albums in, Rising Appalachia has been making genre-defying music. In 2015, Rising Appalachia found the Slow Music Movement, to help maintain an independent

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musical spirit in the face of a fast-paced world. They are focused on keeping their music accessible locally, even in the most unknown areas. The band even keeps a travel blog on their website to maintain a close relationship with their fan base. Here, Leah and Chloe post about their life and experiences.

As the group makes their way to Flagstaff on their tour, “Slow Music Meet & Greets,” this is an opportunity for the artists and the fans to connect on a deeper level.

“In the bigger sense ‘The Slow Music Movement’ is our effort to take the glitz and glam out of the music industry and bring performance back to its roots, that of public service — a service where musicians are not just part of fast-paced entertainment world, but instead influence the cultural shift as troubadours, activists, storytellers and catalysts of justice,” Chloe said.

Maintaining an independent status, Rising Appalachia has been able to make their music for over 11 years. They believe the roots of their old songs are important and ever evolving.

“Rising Appalachia is a melting pot of folk music,” said band manager James Keane. “Simplistic, textured songwriting that highlights vocal harmonies and incorporates elements of clawhammer banjo, fiddle, double bass and acoustic guitar — along with world percussion such as the djembe, barra and bodhran. We also like to feature a lot of spoken word.

Our goal is for Rising Appalachia to be both genre bending and familiar at the same time.”

Experience the Rising Appalachia’s folky, down-to-earth melodies at the Orpheum May 12.

The pinnacle of your class Congratulations, Flinn Scholars!

We look forward to the difference you will make — at home and abroad.

Twenty Arizona high school seniors have been chosen as this state’s best and brightest; they are the 2016 Flinn Scholars who will attend one of Arizona’s three public universities: 13 at ASU, six at UA and one at NAU. These Flinn Scholars will pursue enriched educational offerings at home and abroad that expand life and career options while creating the kind of stimulating, intellectually challenging environment they might find at the nation’s most selective colleges.

We congratulate all 2016 Flinn Scholars, and we look forward to the contributions you will make while thriving — personally and educationally — as scholars in this prestigious program.

#1 in the U.S. for innovation #1 ASU #2 Stanford #3 MIT

Learn to thrive asu.edu

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Andrea Luque Karam • 22 • Senior • Music major • Arts and culture management minor What gives artists, musicians & poets their inspiration to create? The Lumberjack interviews Flagstaff creatives of all types and finds out what makes their imaginations spark.

BY JACQUELINE CASTILLO

them saying I wasn’t — but here I am.

| Tell me about yourself. How did you get to NAU?

| Is your family a little more supportive now?

I am from a small city in the southern part of Sonora, Mexico. I came to NAU because, seven years ago, I visited on vacation with my family and my parents loved the town. The music program in my city was very low-quality education and the other option in Mexico was a lot farther than coming to the U.S. So my parents said, ‘Well, we can have you 10 hours from our home if you go to a different country, versus 20 hours if you go south in Mexico.’ They remembered how charming Flagstaff was and I liked the major here.

I feel like they have kind of gotten over it, but I still don’t think they respect it. They don’t think I will have a serious job when I get out of school. They think I am going to teach private lessons and that’s it.

| At what age did you begin playing instruments? What instruments to do you play?

I began playing [music] at seven years old. When I began, it was a recorder at school; I really liked it and my teacher motivated me.

After six months of playing the recorder, I signed up for piano lessons at a private academy … then my recorder teacher told me I should learn to play the flute. So at 10 years old, I began playing the flute, but there was not an official flute teacher in the city. I had a teacher who taught me some notes, but I was mostly on my own — that is why it has always been my second instrument. Even though I love [playing the flute], I always had a piano teacher, so that was my main focus. | Is your family musical?

My dad and brother sing and play the guitar as a hobby. My mom is not. Even if [my family] likes music, they didn’t respect it as a major. When I told them I wanted to be a musician, they said [I could pursue it] as a hobby, but asked me what I wanted to study. I told them I wanted to study music and it took a while for them to get it.

It was a three-year drama of me saying I wanted to study music, and

| What do you want to do professionally with music?

I do want to teach, but I also want to fund my own school of music. Originally, the idea was [to fund one] in my city because I feel that it needs more musical activities. Right now, I feel like there are a lot of communities in need of musical culture, so it doesn’t have to be my hometown, but at some point I will do that. After my bachelor’s degree, I want to go into a composition masters in arts management.

I really like advocating for the arts. As of right now, I perform, teach and compose. I want to advocate for musicians and artists in general.

I want to also promote the arts through my students. | Since you started at a very young age, you directed a summer music camp for kids. Why did you choose to do that?

The camp is not only for kids. Our marketing usually targets kids because the idea of a summer camp. We do offer classes and individual lessons for adults — we actually did workshops for adults last summer. It was really fun and we had plenty of people there. It is also for the youth because I think that unites a community. I did the summer camp, because for me, it is the startup of my school. I don’t know how long or when I will be able to officially open and register it as one, but this will be the third year of the camp. We do have a very strict lesson and progression plan. We are not babysitters — I

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(Photos by Ashley marie null)

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hire real teachers who have music degrees. The kids have different classes, learn about music history and they choose one instrument.

Hopefully, by the end of the summer, they know how to read notes, rhythms and how to keep going with that instrument. I wanted to wake up their curiosity for music and go from there. | You were invited to perform for the government in Jalisco, Mexico.

Can you tell me a little about that experience?

After my first semester at NAU, I dropped out because it was very hard [because of ] the cultural differences. Originally I didn’t want to come to the U.S. My parents liked it because it was safer.

So I tried for them. I couldn’t stand it and I used to cry every day. I then went to Guadalajara, Mexico, for a year and a half. This school had a more popular emphasis, so we had pop and jazz assembles so it was very different. There was nothing classical at all, so I paired up with a great singer from Panama, Maria Del Carmen Barria. We used to sing and play together for fun.

Suddenly, the secretary came and asked us if we wanted to be the representatives for the university, that they would take us to plazas and other places to play. She took us to the mall and we would play for an hour. One day, the government contacted them because they wanted to promote more music in the small towns

of Jalisco. They started taking us to tiny towns I didn’t even know existed. They were very traditional Mexican towns and I love them — they were extremely beautiful.

It was a lot of fun, one time they sent a big bus for us and there were only 40 of us preforming. It was really funny because we would be on stage playing pop music, then in the other corner of the plaza there would be a Mexican band playing Banda or corridos with brass instruments, and in the other corner there would be a mariachi. Even though we were mic’d, [the other bands] would be higher in volume than us … we were singing, but you could barely hear us. It was a very different experience than playing on stage or in a hall. | You also organized your own recital for over 500 people. What drove you to do that and how did you organize all of that?

That was my last semester of high school. I wanted it to be the beginning of me officially being a musician as well as a goodbye because I was leaving town and coming to Flagstaff. I got sponsors for the printing of the programs, posters, photographer and even the florist. We even rented a hall and decorated it. It was very pretty.

A lot of my musician friends helped me set up the ensembles. I played the piano by myself, but I also played with a guitarist and

a percussionist.

We performed one of my compositions, which was a year of work. It involved planning, rehearsing and spreading the word about it. Since I had different performers, we attracted more people. There were around 500 people but, as always, my family was discouraging me when I was planning — they didn’t believe I could fill the auditorium because no one liked classical music in the city. I gave a speech about how important it is to support the arts. | What advice would you give beginners who are nervous?

If it is a student or a friend, I always tell them to visualize themselves in the future. I always ask if they see themselves teaching music because that is what many musicians think, and I think it is a great career. If you want to teach, you then have to be prepared to teach. A lot of people underestimate that and think they can have music as a hobby. I don’t agree in teaching music if you don’t have a music degree, or if you didn’t think music was as important. Many musicians in my hometown study engineering, but end up being musicians even though they didn’t get the experience of knowing everything about their field. It is very sad when it ends up being something superficial, while music, like any other art, can be so deep. So if you are going to do it, do it well.

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Graduating first-generation students start a new journey

BY ARIEL CIANFARANO

Graduation is just around the corner and many first-generation students will be walking across the stage and flipping their tassels.

After long nights, piles of homework and countless cups of coffee, these first-generation graduates will take their first step in the real world with their degrees by their side.

Christina Lewis Public relations major

|What is your favorite memory in your college career?

My favorite memory all of college would be my entire junior year — I finally figured out what I was good at and pursued it. I also had really good times with friends. |How has your family helped you in your college journey?

My mom has supported me 100 percent, my dad not so much. My freshman year I asked him for money for books and he told me he didn’t understand why I was going, that it wasn’t in the cards for our family. So that motivated me even more to keep going. I have managed to pay for everything on my own. My mom would throw money here and there but she’s been there more emotionally and mentally for me, providing the support I needed when I wanted to quit. |What are your plans for after college?

After school I plan to work for public relations somewhere — hopefully the Warriors [basketball team]. I want to write for a company. Honestly, right now, I’m not sure. All I know is I want to love what I do and make a lot of money doing it to help my family.

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Stefan Rosic Political science and Spanish major

|What are you most proud of about your college career?

I am most proud of all of the work I accomplished. I am proud of the connections I’ve made with the people on campus. |What are your plans after college?

Short term: move to Tuscon and hopefully get an internship in local politics. I am looking

into grad schools, specifically for Latin American studies or a law program. |What would you have told yourself freshman year that you know now?

I would have told myself that getting to college is going to be very challenging but the important thing is to create a support network of friends and family. I think graduating is more of a group accomplishment.

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Places to celebrate graduation

BY KARI SCOTT

D

uring graduation weekend, Flagstaff fills with visitors and families who have gathered to spend time together.

There are an abundance of places in town to have a family meal, including several locally run restaurants. Here is a guide to the best eateries to celebrate the end of the school year.

Ashlee Blalock Biomedical major

|How does your family feel about your graduation?

They are really proud. Everyone in my family doesn’t know how I managed all of this. But they are super proud. |What are your plans for after college?

I’m moving to Tucson and planning on going to a medical school down there.

Vanessa Billegas Criminology and criminal justice major Gold Axe recipient

|What are your plans for after college?

I’m going to be working as a team leader at the summer academy this summer. In July, I’ll be moving to Sacramento to be working with a program called City Year where I’ll be mentoring inner-city youth. |What were some challenges being a first-generation college student?

If I didn’t have the STAR program, it would’ve been hard to navigate. I didn’t know what to bring to college. It was hard for me to settle in here.

(Photos by Halie Chavez)

Altitudes Bar and Grill This downtown, winter sport-themed restaurant has outdoor seating and a view of the Peaks. Altitudes features multiple luncheons during the weekend. Live entertainment will be performed at the restaurant during the festivities. Saturday morning, there will be build-your-own mimosa and bloody mary bars. The restaurant is family-friendly, with a children’s menu. The regular menu consists of appetizers, signature burgers and sandwiches, daily specials and desserts.

“We are proud of our NAU graduates and want to celebrate with them and their families,” said owner Lynda Fleischer.

Taverna Greek Grill Taverna Greek Grill is a Greek-themed restaurant featuring an eclectic menu. Food choices range from traditional Greek food — like avgolemono, gyros, souvlaki and baklava — to pastas, entrees, sandwiches and pizza.

There is something to satisfy any and every taste. Taverna is located in the Woodlands Village area. Because of the warm and welcoming atmosphere, diverse menu and family-friendly environment, it is a favorite destination for graduation.

“We are young and like to have fun,” said manager Tod Gardner. “We want to make sure our graduates are taken care of and give them a thank you, we want to give them a something a little special.”

The restaurant might offer the graduate a complimentary dessert or shot depending on preference and age.

Lumberyard Brewing Company As a downtown favorite, the Lumberyard is one of the busiest restaurants at graduation time. The menu is full of classic brewery

food with unique twists. A wide selection of local craft beers and signature drinks are is available for those of age.

The Lumberyard also has an outdoor dining area with a fire pit. “We have the outdoor patio which is great, and kids love to see the train go by,” said the manager.

The restaurant often has a weekend special. Because it is a popular choice for celebrating, there is usually a wait during the graduation weekend, however, that should not deter people from going to the restaurant.

Josephine’s Modern American Bistro Already booked for the May 2016 graduation, Josephine’s is not just a common choice for graduation, but for also for other events such as parents’ weekend. Reservations are definitely encouraged at Josephine’s. The menu features extravagant food and lavish cuts of meat. The restaurant encouraged graduates and families to dine there in the future.

“We are a pretty popular choice when families come into town, people come in for the atmosphere, food quality and the service,” said manager Colby Emerson.

Beaver Street Brewery Beaver Street Brewery’s menu has a southwestern flair to many familiar dishes.

The restaurant also offers fondue appetizers and a selection of craft beers. For graduation weekend, Beaver Street Brewery will be offering dinner specials. Families and children are encouraged to dine at the restaurant.

For the 21-and-up crowd, Beaver Street Brewery has a semi-attached billiards room, Brews and Cues, with the same menu as the restaurant plus nightly drink specials.

There is a wide variety of restaurants to choose from in Flagstaff — both local and national chains — and your graduate probably even has a favorite. Anywhere is a valid choice, what really matters is the celebration and the company it comes with.

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NAU alumna teaches international refugees

BY JESS HUFF

N

AU alumna Susanna Dart has been working with refugees seeking shelter in Bochum, a city in North-RhineWestphalia, Germany.

Since the refugee crisis began, thousands of people fleeing war are integrated into European culture. Dart’s work involves educating people living in refugee camps and assisting in educating international students at Bert-Brecht-Gymnasium — a local college preparatory school — in the city of Dortmund, just north of Bochum.

Dart graduated from NAU with a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Bachelor of Arts in modern languages with an emphasis in German. Through NAU she was able to gain experience in teaching and helping people in difficult situations.

“Being a Supplemental Instruction Leader and also being a teaching assistant kind of gave me some ideas about how to teach very difficult topics,” said Dart. “Also, as the German Club president, we would cook dinner for people at Hope Cottage, a center of refuge in Flagstaff for homeless women and children. I was also a peer mentor with NAU’s peer mentor program for transfer students and you could say that also helped give me this compassionate way to deal with people.”

In addition to her work at NAU, Dart also gained experience teaching German and English to people from diverse backgrounds in Herne, Germany. Her background proved to be helpful because Germany needed volunteer teachers for the incoming refugees. In an attempt to help refugees integrate, the U.N. mandated every country providing asylum must offer some sort of base education. The issue with this mandate is the lack of power to regulate how that education system would be carried out in each country. Many European nations have provided free education for those in need.

Currently, Bochum is home to 5,908 refugees. Of those, certain school-aged children are allowed in the permitting local schools.

Others hoping to learn rely on volunteers to teach; these students include those who are too old or too young for traditional school, or children from areas that have not been approved for courses.

Dart currently does work for both types of cases. Not only has she been working as a volunteer coordinator and language instructor with the Hamme Hilft, a local community action organization centered on helping refugees integrate, but also with Bert-BrechtGymnasium, which accepts refugees.

“There are some [students] who say ‘we want to help the refugees.’ They wrote to big companies to get some stuff for the lessons and we got so many supplies for the international class,” said the vice principal of the Dortmund school, who wished to remain anonymous. “Now in some of situations, the refugees are in the normal classes. One girl, she is in my class, and it is so nice to see how she is a part of the class and how her German gets better and better.”

Dart’s mornings and afternoons are spent at the school in Dortmund where she works as a teaching assistant three to four days a week. She goes to classes, like the teachers, and listens to assignments, presentations and lectures from the German students. She also teaches independent lessons, designs supplemental projects that are several weeks long and runs after-school workshops for students.

The international classes are a little different. While German students have been in the same classes with each other for years and have learned how to work with their teachers, the international classes consist of students from differing backgrounds, ages and countries.

Some students have not missed a day of school while others have barely been. A recurring theme in these classes is the war and the U.N.’s refugee camps unable to provide consistent or adequate education. The teachers and students work together to overcome these barriers.

Educators assumed that communication between students would be the biggest issue. But they have developed their own system of making sure that not only is everyone included, but they can learn with the rest of the group. Many of the students speak several different languages, or are at least bilingual, which is what enables a positive form of communication.

“Some of our students speak several languages,” said one of the teachers who works with the international class, who also wished to be anonymous. “There is this girl who is from Spain … and English is her mother language or native tongue. And sometimes if I have translation problems I can tell her something in English, then she can say it in Spanish, the Spanish girl who speaks Arabic can say it in Arabic, and in the Spanish terms, the Italian children can also understand. Everyone understands at some point what this word means, and that is how we get around it.”

Following her day in Dortmund, Dart works at the refugee center to teach those who await asylum status, or who are unable to attend school. While her work at the school is as an assistant, her work at the home is as a teacher. She prepares the lessons by herself.

“Before you work with them you have to come into the mindset that they are people like you that just happen to be living in a gym because their country is at war,” Dart said. “I think a lot of people don’t realize that we have doctors and people with doctorates and people who are highly educated. Really we have all the professions

in the refugee home and I think a lot of people don’t realize that …

When they come and they see people that are just like them, that can be really hard.”

There are a few different techniques Dart teaches with. She explains how at the beginning of each lesson she will work with the people who are just learning the Latin alphabet and numbers. There are a few students who never grew up using these letters, and while they may be able to speak a Latin-based language, they cannot read it. Following that part of the lesson, she moves on to something more practical the entire group can join in on, such as conversational German.

Lessons can be about anything, but they often develop differently than expected. Dart may have a “really nice lesson planned out” but because it is snowing outside, she may give impromptu lessons on weather because it is what the class is interested in at that moment.

The important part is these students are learning to understand a language and a culture so they can assimilate and hopefully get their lives back.

These practical lessons may also be followed by other social events. The city of Bochum itself provides activities free to refugees in an attempt to help them socialize with local community members.

These events also help dismantle fear and negative connotations surrounding the refugees. The homes and local churches do the same. Events such as “meet and greets” or large social dinners are held monthly or bi-monthly to assist in creating a community.

Not only does Dart volunteer and teach, but also helps organize events like these so refugees have the chance to thrive in a difficult situation.

Dart, an NAU alumna, works with refugees in Germany. This girl lives in a refugee home with her family. The photo was taken at the Epiphanies Autobahnkirche in Bochum-Hamme, Germany. (Photo courtesy of Susanna Dart)

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Album reViews |

BY DARRION EDWARDS

A

lmost three years since his last studio album was released, Aubrey “Drake” Graham has released his newest and highly anticipated album Views.

The album, with the cover a picture of Drake sitting on the edge of Toronto’s CN Tower, is dedicated to Drake’s newest lifestyle heavily influenced by his fame, success and record label October’s Very Own (OVO). It also pays homage to his Caribbean-influenced lifestyle and his hometown of Toronto.

Drake uses a mixture of simpler beats and instrumentals to help focus on the content of each song. His production continues to switch the beats and sounds in the middle of songs, helping him continue as a versatile artist.

Unlike many other rappers today, Drake does not use the typical beats that have helped spawn the creation of the now popular “trap” music. The end of each song seems to fade out with a nostalgic sound of strings any music fan could

Drake underwhelms fans with his latest work

appreciate.

Drake has always provided our generation with lyrics detailing his personal life, which his fans relate to. Although he uses a couple of simple one-liners, the underlying theme of his music — struggling to be successful while also trying to find meaningful relationships — seems to attract fans. His lyrics connect his fame and wealth with his difficulties finding a loyal and honest partner.

Drake has, once again, established himself as an icon for music lovers of this generation. While many love Drake’s rapping style, his singing has changed the way his music is received. By implementing a more Caribbean-style and R&B influences into his slower songs, he is able to bring attention to romance.

However, it should be noted, Drake uses an abundance of auto-tune to improve his average singing abilities. This makes some of his songs harder to enjoy — his longer notes sound too robotic.

Views is a 100 percent OVO-run project, with most of

the production coming from 40, a Canadian record producer.

Drake features other big-name artists such as Rihanna, Future, Kanye West and Jay Z to add different styles to the album.

This album represents a way for Drake to express his newest lifestyle and to showcase Toronto. Whether it is still having feelings for exes, not knowing who to trust or wanting to make Toronto-based artists more successful, Drake uses his own life to speak for a generation of people.

While Drake fans anticipated another classic, Views turned out to be a different album than expected. Although he continues to influence many artists and provides some powerful and relatable lyrics, Drake did not provide an album as good as many hoped for. The truth is: for a self-proclaimed rapper, he sang too much. The auto-tune drowned out the meanings of some songs and made the album cringe-worthy at moments.

Even so, Drake is one of the most powerful and influential artists in music today, and there’s no doubt he will continue to be successful for years to come.

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