The Lumberjack -- October 15, 2020

THE LUMBER JACK

OCT. 15, 2020 – OCT. 21, 2020

DREAM ON PAGE 15

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

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hat a year, man. The world is getting crazier, Twitter keeps getting angrier and people’s conditions are getting worse. It doesn’t stop. It’s all a mess. The train is off the rails and nobody knows where it is going. That said, we all appreciate you, the readers who take their minds off of the chaos once in a while, by reading about the chaos happening around NAU, Flagstaff and the world.

At the end of the day we’re just a student-run newspaper with the goal of being the student’s voice.

Media literacy in the internet age is incredibly difficult to develop. We have to navigate through special interest groups, trolls, ads, conspiracies, fake accounts, satire, sensationalism, and beyond, in order to find credible source material and relevant experts buried under the mess.

It’s easy to post about data from trusted institutions to echo chambers of those who already have faith in those institutions. The hard work is going to people in our lives who need to hear these facts, but can only hear them from real relationships, not through lectures.

MARK It’s good to keep an open mind, but once you’ve consulted expert consensus FABERY and credible sources a time comes to close it. Combat misinformation, but SENIOR REPORTER remember the person behind the screen. You can’t help those on the ground from your high horse.

The only thing I ask for you to do is to register to vote if you haven’t already, register to vote. The deadline to register to vote in Arizona was extended until the end of today, Oct. 15. There is no excuse to not register to vote or to not vote in this year’s election.

2020 has been a consequential year, let’s vote like your life depends on it, because your vote can change how America functions for the next four years.

This week, I urge our readers to register and vote for this upcoming presidential election and educate yourself on the candidates and issues that will surely affect all of us.

Thank you for reading.

Continuous local and campus covid-19 coverage available at jackcentral.org

Online at Issuu.com Latest Edition & Archive Social media

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

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 110 ISSUE 10 Editor-in-Chief Brady Wheeler

Managing Editor Scout Ehrler

Copy Chief Nathan Manni

Faculty Adviser David Harpster

Print Chief Jacob Meyer

Director of Digital Content Sabrina Profitt

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board Director of Social Media Maddie Cohen

Op-Ed Editor Ryan Dixon

Asst. Culture Editor Katelyn Rodriguez

Director of Illustration Aleah Green

News Editor Trevor Skeen

Asst. Op-Ed Editor Kyler Edsitty

Sports Editor David Church

Asst. Dir. of Illustration Blake Fernandez

Asst. News Editor Camille Sipple

Features Editor Ash Lohmann

Asst. Sports Editor Cameron Richardson

Director of Photography Michael Patacsil

Online News Editor Alliya Dulaney

Asst. Features Editor Olivia Charlson

Sports Adviser Rory Faust

Asst. Dir. of Photography Mackenzie Brower

Senior Reporter Mark Fabery

Culture Editor Nayomi Garcia

Senior Photographer Brian Burke

Director of Multimedia Shawn Patti

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On the cover Musician Jackson Browne performs at Verde Valley School Dream Concert on Oct. 10. Ben Akers| The Lumberjack

Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Brady Wheeler at bew85@nau.edu.

PoliceBeat Oct. 5 At 10:27 a.m., staff at University Union reported another staff member who lost consciousness. NAUPD, Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) and Guardian Medical Transport (GMT) responded, but the subject refused medical transport.

At 11:19 a.m., a student at Tinsley Hall reported a stolen bike, which was described as a black Marlin mountain bike.

NAUPD responded, exhausted all leads and closed the case.

Oct. 6 At 7:28 a.m., a student at Ernest CalderĂłn Learning Community reported another student experiencing chest pain. NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded, and the student was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC).

At 2:17 p.m., a student at Hilltop Townhomes late-reported a hit-andrun accident. A Police Aide responded and took a report.

At 5:08 p.m., a student at the intersection of South San Francisco Street and East Dupont Avenue reported someone hit their vehicle and fled the scene. An officer responded, exhausted all leads and closed the case.

At 5:25 p.m., a student at the Honors College reported a masked subject following them. An officer responded, saw the incident was a misunderstanding and provided information.

At 7:49 p.m., staff at Allen Hall reported a student making suicidal statements.

NAUPD responded, located the subject and provided contact information for Terros Health. Counseling Services was notified.

Compiled by trevor skeen At 2:06 p.m., staff at McConnell Hall received a supervisory alarm. NAUPD responded, searched the area and discovered the alarm was caused by burnt food.

Oct. 10 At 12:22 a.m., officers at the intersection of South San Francisco Street and West Birch Avenue cited and released a nonstudent for an extreme DUI. A public assist ride was provided.

At 9:21 p.m., a student at the Union reported a nonstudent requested an ambulance. NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded, and the subject was transported to FMC.

At 10:02 p.m., officers at the intersection of North Oct. 8 Leroux Street and West At 8:35 a.m., an NAUPD Dupont Avenue reported officer on East Butler Avenue assisting FPD with a weapons reported assisting FPD with a violation. suspicious circumstance. No further details were provided.

Oct. 11 At 9:34 a.m., the resident At 4:05 p.m., NAUPD hall director at Cowden Hall received a blue phone call from late-reported a sexual assault the intersection of Knoles and incident involving a student.

McCreary drives. The call An officer responded, took was triggered by work being a report and the case is open conducted on the phone. pending investigation.

Oct. 7 At 12:57 a.m., Flagstaff Communications Center reported a nonstudent at lot 1D experiencing abdominal pain. NAUPD, FFD and Oct. 9 GMT responded, and the At 1:34 a.m., multiple subject was transported to anonymous subjects reported FMC. a loud party at the Honors College. NAUPD responded, At 1:55 a.m., Flagstaff contacted the students and Communications Center witnessed no criminal activity. reported three subjects yelling The students were asked to be outside The Suites, which quiet. prompted officers to respond to the scene. One nonstudent At 2:32 a.m., an officer at was arrested and booked lot 62 initiated a close patrol. into Coconino County A student was contacted and Detention Facility for minor the case remains open pending in consumption of alcohol, lab results in reference to public consumption and false possession of narcotics. reporting to law enforcement.

At 6:22 p.m., NAUPD reported assisting FPD with a protest in downtown Flagstaff.

At 6:34 p.m., NAUPD reported assisting FPD with a fight on East Route 66.

Coconino County COVID-19 Dashboard data

Community transmission Case rate

Moderate 109.2 per 100,000 pop.

Positivity percentage

4.4%

Cumulative cases

4,536

Flagstaff Medical Center COVID-19 Resources

In-house COVID-19 patients Hospital capacity Critical care capacity

Positive: 11 | Pending: 16

202/300 44/55

NAU Student Cases

Total on- and off-campus cases

79

CARES Act grant application available in November Alliya Dulaney

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AU posted on its website that applications for phase two of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act will open in November for students to apply.

The first phase of the CARES Act distributed in the spring with the university awarding approximately 52% of its funds according to the NAU CARES Act website with the second phase set to distribute in the fall.

Eligible students are required to have a 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid application on file for eligibility of this aid. Those eligible will receive an email when the application is available for submission.

Once the form is completed and submitted, students can expect funds to distribute via check or direct deposit. Students are advised to check their LOUIE accounts to confirm information regarding their direct deposit or mailing address.

The NAU CARES Act website stated funds will not be restricted should a student have current charges on their account.

Further information regarding the CARES Act can be found on the NAU website.

OCTOBER 15, 2020 – OCTOBER 21, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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NEWS

Left: A sign placed by Keith Schaafsma showing her discontent with President Trump stands in her yard, Oct. 8. Right: Signs supporting President Trump’s reelection stand in front of Matt Black’s home in east Flagstaff, Oct. 8. Brian Burke | The Lumberjack

Young voters are changing the game tess spinker

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s the general election approaches, Arizona could make a historic swing from a red, Republican-dominated state to a blue, Democratic one. This anticipation comes as the Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, leads President Donald Trump in both statewide and national polls.

According to The New York Times, Biden held a 49 to 41% advantage over Trump in recent Arizona polls, and if this advantage carries into the general election, it would be the first time the state majority favored the democratic candidate since 1996. Furthermore, the Senate race also shows Democrat Mark Kelly leading Republican Sen. Martha McSally.

Coconino County Democrats Chair Ann Heitland said she expects young adults to significantly influence the upcoming election, in addition to the future of Arizona’s political party preference.

“I think younger generations like NAU students will certainly contribute to which candidate will win in our state,” Heitland said. “Younger people are paying much more attention than they did a decade ago.”

Despite coronavirus-related setbacks and restrictions, Heitland said she hopes students will continue to pay attention and support the Democratic nominee, even though Coconino County Democrats cannot hold any in-person events.

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In 2016, young people ages 18 to 29 voted more Democratic than Republican by a 58 to 28% margin, according to a report by the Pew Research Center. Although these voters did not sway the previous election’s results, an additional 37% more young adults voted in the 2018 midterms.

Sophomore Jacob Carter, secretary of NAU Young Democrats and vice president of finance for the Young Democrats of Arizona, said he suspects younger generations will have an immense impact on the 2020 election.

“I was only 15 years old during the 2016 presidential election,” Carter said. “I could not vote, but I still followed the election very closely. Needless to say, I was dismayed at the outcome and felt powerless to do anything about it. I know many young people were in the same position in 2016, but now, four years later, the majority of us have turned 18 and we have become a huge voting block in Arizona.”

Referencing the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to mail-in voting and extended voter registration until Oct. 15, Carter thinks Arizona is on track to set record numbers of youth voter turnout.

“NAU students have to make their voices heard, not only for the sake of our entire country, but also to make sure Arizona’s legislature flips blue so we can see more investment into our public universities,” Carter said.

The New York Times also suggested the

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state’s voting shift is developing beyond the presidential election, noting the senate race between former astronaut Kelly and current Sen. McSally. Kelly has currently secured a strong lead over his Republican competitor.

In contrast to the young voter turnout, Pew Research Center reported “older voters” — ages 65 and up — favored the GOP and constituted approximately one-third of all voters in 2016.

Additionally, their representation was nearly three times larger than the 18- to 29-year-old demographic.

Regardless of recent statistics, junior and NAU College Republicans President Joseph Divelbiss anticipated younger people will vote Republican based on event turnouts in Flagstaff.

“We have had some events on Saturdays for Students for Trump,” Divelbiss said. “People like Charlie Kirk, or even Donald Trump Jr. in Phoenix, will speak to us and motivate us before the election.”

Kirk is the founder and president of Turning Point USA, a movement that allows over 250,000 students to be youth activists for the Republican party.

Students for Trump is the fastest-growing student organization around the country, according to its website, which holds media and informational assets that they said reach millions of students every year.

“I see Trump being favored in Arizona right now from the polls I have seen and from fellow club members,” Divelbiss said. “Young voters

will have a big impact, and I do believe they have a huge role in Arizona’s change.”

According to another statistic published by The New York Times, only six out of 10 people actually end up voting, with 40% of people choosing not to. While education generally increases political knowledge and engagement, the factors that drive an individual to pursue education may be the same ones that lead to participation in politics.

Senior Lindsey Wilson said the statistics in this year’s election do not really matter due to the general election’s candidates.

“I have absolutely no desire to vote, and I know people think that I am not helping the problem, but the whole situation is the problem,” Wilson said. “After the presidential debate, everything I had questioned got verified so that I can’t choose between either candidate.”

Wilson also mentioned that she understands 2020 has not been easy for anyone.

“It is almost like an election during this time would be ridiculous, making people make a decision with the world being as it is,” Wilson said. “In my opinion, I think people who are educated should vote and people who are undecided should sit out this one.”

With the general election quickly approaching Nov. 3, Arizona could play a crucial role in who wins the presidency. To register to vote, go to ServiceArizona.com before the Oct. 15 deadline.

NEWS

The question of presidential succession camille sipple

S

ince the COVID-19 pandemic first struck the United States in late February and early March, there have been some concerns among the public regarding the upcoming presidential election in November.

As the election creeps closer, these worries were magnified by the news that President Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19.

The current question plaguing the minds of both citizens and politicians is: “What would happen if a presidential candidate were to die close to an election?,” according to The Washington Post. Andrew Dzeguze, professor of politics and international affairs, explained that little is known about what happens if a presidential candidate dies between now and when the Electoral College meets in December.

He also clarified that with the presidential election, U.S. citizens are selecting electors for the Electoral College rather than using the popular vote to finalize the president.

“Until the Electoral College meets, votes and either declares a winner or can’t — if no one gets 270 votes — then, theoretically, what happened on Election Day wouldn’t tell us who won,” Dzeguze said in an email interview. “Since the candidates were chosen by the Democratic and Republican parties, and technically we are picking Democratic or Republican declared electors, it might be that the winning party would claim the power to substitute in a candidate.”

Another topic of discussion is that several states within the U.S. retain laws declaring citizen votes as strict instructions for an elector to vote for a specific candidate. According to The Washington Post, Colorado is one such state that requires electors to cast their votes for the same candidate who carried the highest number of votes in the general election.

These state laws regarding electors’ votes were recently questioned in the Chiafalo v.

Washington Supreme Court case that was argued May 13 and decided July 6. Chiafalo’s summary states that three Washington electors violated their pledges to support former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, in accordance with the general election’s popular vote. The state of Washington, in turn, fined each elector $1,000 apiece, which was subsequently disputed by the electors in Chiafalo v. Washington.

“The electors challenged their fines in state court, arguing that the Constitution

gives members of the Electoral College the right to vote however they please,” Chiafalo v.

Washington’s summary stated.

The Washington Superior Court ultimately rejected the electors’ claim, and the State Supreme Court affirmed the superior court’s decision. Lastly, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Washington over the electors.

Dzeguze said because of the elector laws upheld by certain states, such as Colorado, decisions would essentially occur on a state-bystate basis if votes for a deceased candidate were still coming in.

“Technically, too, the ultimate power for naming electors lies with the state government, so the legislature could try to declare the result invalid and appoint a whole new set of electors (which would come with huge risks of being seen as ‘stealing an election’),” Dzeguze said.

Sophomore Ramy Logan said he understands when a current president passes away, there is a line of succession that includes the vice president and speaker of the House of Representatives. However, he acknowledged that this process would become more complicated shortly before an election.

“If a candidate dies, under normal circumstances, their respective national convention would reconvene and vote in a replacement candidate,” Logan said. “Given the current conditions with COVID and mailin ballots already being cast, it would probably be a complex process with the vice presidential nominee taking over.”

Freshman Grant Gibson said he could foresee chaos within the country if the current president or a presidential candidate were to pass away. However, he said it would still be likely for the vice presidential candidate to take their place. Freshmen Wyatt Morgan, Helena Urrea and Cameron Hanson also said the vice presidential candidate would potentially take the place of a candidate unable to continue running. Urrea said she would not expect to see much difference in the process, even if it did happen on or near Election Day. Although sophomore Marlen Alcala said presidential power would be passed to the next individual in line, not much change would occur within the country or government itself.

“I believe the vice president takes office if the current president dies, so while the president is deceased, I don’t believe there would be much change because they are both from the same party and the branches of the government would

still be involved to pass laws,” Alcala said.

If President Trump is reelected, but not sworn in for a second term upon passing away, Dzeguze explained the vice presidential elect — Mike Pence — would take his place.

Additionally, if the president and vice president die during this process of inauguration, and before a replacement vice president was chosen, the country would be in “uncharted territory.”

“Another weird thing could be if both the president and VP were temporarily unable to serve — like they both were on a ventilator for a while — and then it became a matter of figuring out when one or both of them was no longer impaired/could return to office,” Dzeguze said.

Flagstaff resident Jarrod Holgate said past candidates from a political party’s primaries could make a reappearance, should a candidate pass away or become unfit for office prior to the general election. Although Holgate said the process would essentially follow the same guidelines as a president dying in office, he also supported the possibility of previous candidates,

from the primaries, to return to the political playing field.

Other than these unprecedented situations, the basic presidential line of succession would remain intact if something were to happen to President Trump: vice president, speaker of the House, president pro tempore of the Senate, secretary of state and many more replacements thereafter, according to Brian Blodgett of the Department of Homeland Security.

Presidential succession can be both simple and complicated based on the circumstances, Dzeguze added. Overall, the question of who becomes the next U.S. president if the current president were to die is one that involves a fair amount of chaos, regardless of the context.

“So let’s all really hope we don’t have to deal with this possibility — that instead we get a clear result and the winning candidate takes office in January,” Dzeguze said.

Illustration By Rainee Favela

OCTOBER 15, 2020 – OCTOBER 21, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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NEWS

How COVID-19 hurts physical and mental health jared winters

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s society inches closer to a vaccine to combat COVID-19, certain issues still need to be addressed, including those that may outlast the negative effects of the disease. These problems include worsened mental health, the consequences of isolation and the economic recession’s high unemployment rates.

Junior Patrick O’Connell said oftentimes, he became lonely and depressed during selfisolation, which can limit people’s abilities to deal with their mental states.

“The problem is that people are cooped up,” O’Connell said. “We need to be free to make our own choices and deal with it on our own.”

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll from mid-July, 53% of adults in the United States were negatively affected by poor mental health due to stress and worry over COVID-19. The study also showed there was a 12% increase in alcohol abuse as the pandemic continued, along with a 12% rise in worsening chronic conditions. Additionally, the study documented that the struggle for mental health could be connected to a lack of social experiences.

“These measures [social distancing and other safety precautions] may limit their interactions with caregivers and loved ones, which could lead to increased feelings of loneliness and anxiety, in addition to general feelings of fear and uncertainty due to the pandemic,” KFF stated.

The Mental Health Association in New Jersey reported some states started offering additional help to people dealing with mental health issues related to the pandemic. In New Jersey specifically, the state’s behavioral health information and referral service now provides free and confidential support.

With self-quarantining and social distancing, another concern is that certain medicines may be inaccessible. If someone cannot get methadone or Suboxone — commonly used prescriptions for narcotics addictions — they are more likely to self-medicate withdrawals. For this reason, the American Medical Association urged governors to be flexible in evaluating patients and prescribing treatments using telemedicine, which generally allows people to receive care without further compromising mental health or substance abuse problems.

Similarly, a recent NPR report stated a spike in deadly drug overdoses, which occurred around the U.S. during the pandemic, was

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evident in 60% of counties that contributed to data collection.

According to KFF, deteriorating mental health was also associated with peoples’ overall fear of the virus. While this situation is mostly separate from an individual’s control, O’Connell said it can intensify any previously negative or harmful mentalities.

“Try to get out of your bubble and stop stressing about it, because bottom line, it’s out of our control,” O’Connell said. “All we can do is sit and wait.”

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statement from July 1 claimed that knowing the facts about COVID-19 — and slowing the spread of rumors — can make the outbreak less stressful. By understanding the risk to oneself and others, people can form connections.

However, this experience can be more challenging for those with mental health conditions or substance abuse problems, who may be more vulnerable during the pandemic.

“Taking care of your friends and your family can be a stress reliever, but it should be balanced with care for yourself,” the CDC reported. “During times of increased social distancing, people can still maintain social connections and care for their mental health. Phone calls or video chats can help you and your loved ones feel socially connected, less lonely or isolated.”

According to The Washington Post, federal agencies and experts warn of a looming mental health crisis with depression, substance abuse and PTSD if the pandemic continues. Susan Borja, who leads the Dimensional Traumatic Stress Research Program at the National Institute of Mental Health, even shared concerns about “suffering that’s going to go untreated on such a large scale.”

Following the mental health problems caused by isolation tactics, O’Connell said he supports ending these safety precautions.

“Let us make our own choices on how to deal with the virus,” O’Connell said. “Let us make our own decisions. We know what’s right for us, [and] we are intelligent.”

The CDC, however, claimed these actions are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, regardless of the accompanying mental health consequences.

KFF also showed that the national unemployment rate throughout the pandemic — which hit 14.7% in April — is linked to increases in depression, anxiety and low

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self-esteem. Without social interactions or employment, O’Connell said happiness is hard to find.

“We can’t remain happy if we don’t have jobs and are all alone,” O’Connell said.

If you or anyone you know is

struggling with mental health, please contact Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s national help hotline at 1-800662-HELP.

Illustration By tonesha yazzie

COMIC SPOT

OCTOBER 15, 2020 – OCTOBER 21, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

The presidential debate prioritizes drama TRINITY ARCHIE

Hookups are not hot Alex Thorne Editor’s note: The writer has used an alias to protect their identity.

T

he many sleep-deprived, sweaty and emotionless hookups I’ve had led me to one solid conclusion: Casual sex is not my thing.

I came out of high school riding the high of finally realizing my sexuality as a lesbian woman. My ego was inflated, I had a player reputation and I was the brand new star of the college rugby team. Women would fangirl at games, flirt incessantly at parties and my friends would pair me off like I was a contestant on “The Bachelor.” It’s a trope seen in movies. The athlete always goes home with the hot girls and the playboy persona is normalized. Plus, my friends were clear: Turning down casual sex with willing women would be weird, and I agreed.

For the first few years, I accepted my stereotypical role of the athletic f**kboy lesbian. I’d go home with random girls and add to my sexual body count. It was awful. By no means am I slut-shaming anyone who enjoys casual sex and hookups, but it is certainly not my preference.

The late-night panic of how to kick someone out, or when is an appropriate time to leave after sex, is too awkward to be enjoyable. The rules of courtesy are too blurred. Do you send a text the next day — if you even saved their phone number — or do you ignore all attempts at communication and risk looking like a jerk?

Worse than the unspoken terms of engagement are the awkward pillow talks that accompany hookups. Stumbling through the basic questions of “What’s your major?,” “Where are you from?,” “So do you like NAU?” to fill the gaping chasm of not knowing each other is so inane to me when the truth is, neither of you really care. You end up with mental files of random facts about people that will serve absolutely no use after the one night of pleasure.

Along with the minor annoyances of hookups, emotional distance is a huge factor that turns me off from casual sex. I thrive on the emotional intimacy and that comes from having sex with someone I love.

When I’m done sleeping with someone, I want to cuddle and be romantic. Sadly, soft kisses and whispered “I love yous” make you look unhinged when the person you’re sleeping with isn’t your long-term partner. Seriously, don’t do that with the girl you met at a party three hours ago.

A real emotional connection is missing when the person you’re sleeping with has said less words to you than the minimum word count of a discussion board post, and has no intention of staying the night. But a soul-deep connection with someone is what is so sexy to me. Show me your feelings, not just your body.

So sure, I’m DTF if you’re down to fall in love.

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resident Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden caused a social media frenzy in what was possibly the most unruly presidential debate in United States history.

The first presidential debate of 2020 was an exchange of personal attacks and loud interruptions.

According to an article by CBS News, the Sept. 29 presidential debate was the first scheduled to take place this election year. Moderated by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, the event served as an opportunity for Trump and Biden to make a case for themselves during this year’s tumultuous presidential race.

Neither candidate took advantage of this opportunity.

Instead, chaos erupted almost immediately. At the start of the debate, Wallace asked questions regarding health care and the Supreme Court. He first asked Trump about plans to replace the health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare.

“Over the last four years you have promised to repeal and replace Obamacare, but you have never in these four years, come up with a plan, a comprehensive plan, to replace Obamacare,” Wallace said during the debate.

Trump cut the moderator off before he could even complete his question. The president, for some reason, redirected his answer to criticize Biden.

“Drug prices will be coming down, 80 or 90%,” Trump said. “You could have done it during your 47-year period in government but you didn’t do it. Nobody’s done it.”

Trump’s response should not have involved Biden. The president has served for nearly four years and should be able to articulate his plan for health care without involving other politicians. We were left without a clear answer to Wallace’s question. I am still unsure on how exactly Trump plans to replace Obamacare.

Trump deflected questions and interrupted both Biden and Wallace throughout the entire debate. The interruptions escalated to the point where Trump was practically debating with the moderator.

Although I expected a certain amount of unprofessionalism, I was still disappointed in our president’s lack of empathy. Trump’s remarks regarding Biden’s sons were particularly disturbing.

When Biden spoke about his son Beau Biden’s time in the military, Trump responded by attacking his

other son, Hunter Biden, and his battle with addiction.

“I don’t know Beau,” Trump said during the debate. “I know Hunter. Hunter got thrown out of the military. He was thrown out, dishonorably discharged for cocaine use.”

Trump worsened his reputation even further when asked to condemn white supremacists and far-right groups, like the Proud Boys.

“Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,” Trump said during the debate. “But I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem. This is a left-wing problem.”

He not only failed to condemn white supremacy, but also went on to change the subject and place blame on anti-fascismfocused groups.

Although Trump’s constant interruptions left little opportunity for Biden to get a word in, Biden did make some strong points throughout the night.

When Trump criticized Biden’s handling of the economy as vice president, he reminded us of the 2008 recession. He cited that many jobs were created to repair the damaged economy.

“Look, we inherited the worst recession, short of a depression, in American history,” Biden said during the debate. “I was asked to bring it back. We were able to have an economic recovery, the crazy jobs you’re talking about.”

Biden is not to blame for a recession that began prior to his term as vice president, and he was quick to point out Trump’s error here.

While I believe Biden came out on top, he did not exactly map out a clear strategy on how he plans to run the U.S. if elected, and threw insults at Trump as well.

However, I know that Biden is a good candidate and I trust that his experience in politics will have a positive impact on the country, but I feel that he relies too much on our vulnerability under the Trump administration to push his campaign.

We’ve been experiencing the effects of Trump’s faults for nearly four years. I did not want to hear Biden explain why Trump is bad, I am already aware. I wanted to hear Biden make a case for himself. I was hoping he would delve deeper into his policies and economic plans.

Overall, the debate was disappointing.

The U.S. needs reassurance and civility during these difficult times, and the explosiveness of the event was far from civil. I hope future debates will prioritize citizens’ concerns and maintain some level of professionalism.

Illustration By Diana Ortega

OPINION-EDITORIAL

TRUMP ADVERSARIES SHOULD NOT wish for death KYLIE SOTO

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resident Donald Trump’s announcement that he and the first lady had tested positive COVID-19 Oct. 2 was a shock to the nation and caused widespread concern as the presidential election nears.

Some Democrats took this as an opportunity to publicly hope for the president’s death.

Since the announcement, CBS News relayed the similar decisions that Facebook, Twitter and TikTok came to, in which the platforms assert that posts wishing for someone’s death or inviting violence will be removed for violating user guidelines.

Rebel News reported on the words of previous staffers for former President Barack Obama, as well as Elizabeth Warren and Hillary Clinton’s respective campaigns.

The article cited former Obama staffer Zara Rahim specifically, as she said in a since-deleted tweet, “It’s been against my moral identity to tweet this for the past four years, but, I hope he dies.”

It is statements like this one from ex-staffers like Rahim that force the entire Democratic Party directly into the trap the Republican Party has set for them.

The partisan division of the nation has produced a flood of polarizing articles, videos and advertisements seeking to bring down the opposing party.

NBC News reported that at the Republican National Convention, Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani said, “Soon protests turned into riots in many other American cities, almost all Democrats.”

Additionally, according to the NBC News article, “[Giuliani] blamed the violence on ‘Black Lives Matter and ANTIFA’ who he said ‘sprang into action’ and ‘hijacked peaceful protest into vicious brutal riots.’”

Of course, Democrats are blamed for the violence in the country, which is why these vicious comments about Trump’s health do nothing but harm the Democratic Party. Frankly, I think statements wishing for the president’s death are qualifying exactly what the Republican Party says about the Democrats, and proves to the public that neither party lies on a higher moral ground than the other.

It does not help the Democratic Party’s image when a member of the party who formerly worked for reputable politicians attack the president so personally. Every person is a representative of their party nowadays, and reckless statements tarnish everyone who identifies with the speaker’s party.

Now, I’m not saying everyone must push their feelings aside to comfort Trump and that the nation, even the world, should reassess him and his past actions. I am not a fan of Trump, but I will not stand with anyone who wishes for another person’s death, no matter their background or the content of their character.

However, I think it is fair, warranted even, for people to share their feelings toward Trump and his administration’s handling of COVID-19. People are not obligated to worry for him, especially since he could’ve taken action earlier when he gained intelligence on the matter earlier this year, before the United States truly understood what COVID-19 actually was.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas’ District 35 posted a timeline of Trump’s coronavirus responses on his own government page. He provides the dates and statements Trump made to address the nation regarding COVID-19.

The timeline showed that it took Trump until Jan. 22 just to say, “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. It’s going to be just fine.”

Doggett also shows the Trump administration’s previous detrimental actions, which disbanded the White House pandemic response team in May 2018 and removed the role of China’s disease control epidemiologist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in July 2019.

Since the administration’s refusal to act quickly with heavyduty restrictions, more than 210,000 U.S. citizens have died, according to the CDC’s COVID-19 data tracker. Families have

endured immeasurable pain in every aspect of the word.

At the very least, U.S. citizens should be allowed to express bitterness toward the president who seems to believe downplaying the severity of COVID-19 would spare the nation. However, I believe publicly hoping for Trump to die is counterintuitive and forces the left to take two steps back from progress.

The Death Penalty Information Center stated that not only does the Democratic Party disagree with the death penalty, “Democrats continue to support abolishing the death penalty.”

Disagreement and distaste for the politics of a human should not be grounds for a death sentence.

The president does not deserve the forgiveness of the people nor does he deserve sympathy, but he also does not deserve death.

And it is shameful for certain Democrats to believe so.

Illustration By Christian Ayala

OCTOBER 15, 2020 – OCTOBER 21, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

Strong Mouse Merino: A sma Joey Wright

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trong Mouse Merino is a sheep farm based on the idea that common people and entities can have a big impact, explained owner Dulcy Perkins. She is working toward creating a sustainable farm that enriches the lives of people in the community and contributes to the local economy.

Perkins’ farm is located in Cornville, Arizona, a town about an hour south of Flagstaff, where she bought nine acres of land about two years ago. She said she hopes to create a space for traditional crafts like spinning and weaving to be learned and practiced in the community.

Growing up on a cattle farm, Perkins said her interest in the fiber arts — ­­ arts consisting of components such as fabric or yarn — is actually what drove her to start her own sheep farm.

“I had the interest in learning how to process wool into yarn,” Perkins said. “I really find the fiber arts to be quite lovely, so I bought those first six sheep specifically for that purpose.”

Perkins is currently working on setting up an educational experience for homeschooled children to learn how to process raw wool for felting and spinning. She said teaching people where their clothes and food comes from is extremely important in order to create sustainable communities. Having knowledge of how and where material goods are created also results in people becoming more likely to take care of their items and appreciate the work that was put into them, she explained.

When items are produced across the world, Perkins explained, we don’t see all of the time and effort that goes into creating them. This

problem occurs when clothing is created in China, but sold in the United States.

“When it’s so far removed from us individually, we don’t know how much overgrazing is occurring so that the economy in China can flow, so they can get to Americans this cheap product that we will wear for a short amount of time,” Perkins said. “If you can source what you’re getting from local places, you can see this is a place that is concerned about the viability of their pasture.”

Perkins said large industrial farms are less likely to care about pasture viability because their focus is on how much product can be made in the shortest amount of time for the cheapest price.

“When you don’t have farmers calling the shots, you have investors calling the shots, and their bottom line is money,” Perkins said.

However, there are some good things large industrial farms are doing, Perkins said. One practice large farms do to be more sustainable is turning the methane that is produced from animal waste into electricity. This electricity can then power the large farms.

While small local farms also have to think about money, Perkins said they are more likely to also think about the long-term effects of the farm, as well as keep money within the local economy. Perkins’ sister, Memi, helps sell the lamb meat at farmers markets, which helps achieve Strong Mouse Merino’s goal of supporting local economies.

“I love to hear when people spend money locally because that just keeps the money flowing around in a circle,” Memi Perkins said.

“So, that $10 that you spend, if it stays local,

“When you don’t have farmers calling the shots, you have investors calling the shots, and their bottom line is money.”

– Strong Mouse Merino owner Dulcy Perkins Memi Perkins helps her sister sell lamb’s wool at the Flagstaff Farmers Market, Oct. 11.

MacKenzie Brower | The Lumberjack

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FEATURES

all farm making a big impact becomes $1,000 because it gets moved so many times within that local economy. You spend $10 online, and that $10 is now taken out of your local economy.”

Dulcy Perkins is also a volunteer for Water for Agriculture, a group that discusses ways to manage the finite amount of water in Arizona.

According to its website, the group’s goal is to select and design a community-led project based on locals’ priorities and interests for water and agriculture. Other goals include implementing the project through education, research and collaboration.

One idea for the project is creating a brand for farmers in the Verde Valley who adhere to criteria set for water conservation, Dulcy Perkins said. She also said the brand would be called Verde Grown and producers who adhere to the guidelines would be able to display a label on their products when they are sold at farmers markets or grocery stores.

Dulcy Perkins said she feels as though this brand would compel people to buy their produce because they would know where it came from, how it was grown and that the people who grew it are using their resources wisely.

On top of a brand that compels farmers to use water more efficiently, Dulcy Perkins said another sustainability initiative she would like to see is the use of mobile butchers in the Verde Valley. She said a meat processor who travels to the farms would be beneficial because that way, farmers wouldn’t have to haul their livestock to a different location that is potentially far away in order to slaughter their animals. A mobile butcher would be able to cut the meat exactly how the farmer wants, as well as make sure all of the parts of the animals, including organs get

used, Dulcy Perkins said.

One of the biggest problems with taking livestock to a butcher in a different place is the expenses that come with it, Dulcy Perkins explained. The saved costs of having a butcher come to the farm would allow the farmers to have more meat butchered at one time. This could potentially allow small producers to sell directly to grocery stores and farmers markets.

However, an issue with the idea of mobile butchers is they must get United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approval, which Dulcy Perkins explained is no easy task.

She said she knows of a mobile butcher based in Williams, Arizona, but they are not yet USDA approved. While she doesn’t have a lot of power when it comes to changing the regulations, one thing Dulcy Perkins said she plans to do is write to local government officials about the issue of mobile butchers to see if their contribution would make an impact.

Dulcy Perkins said she hopes to start reaching some of her goals for the farm within the next few years. Creating a space for people to participate in traditional crafts and a sustainable farm culture are just a few of these goals. Even though she said she sometimes feels small, she has big dreams for Strong Mouse Merino.

“I was feeling a little bit down and small in the world, and someone I know was like ‘Yeah, you are small — like a mouse. Like a really strong mouse,’” Dulcy Perkins said. “It’s kind of like even if you are just a little person or entity, you have a lot of capabilities.”

“Even if you are just a little person or entity, you have a lot of capabilities.”

– Strong Mouse Merino owner Dulcy Perkins Strong Mouse Merino owns over 100 lambs and one ram on its farm, Oct. 11.

MacKenzie Brower | The Lumberjack

OCTOBER 15, 2020 – OCTOBER 21, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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FEATURES

Spooky season lifts spirits amid a pandemic Nancy Flores

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s Halloween creeps closer on calendars, what the Celtic holiday will look like midpandemic is in question for NAU students and Flagstaff residents. Local officials have yet to release a statement regarding how the upcoming holiday will be impacted by COVID-19 regulations and if events will be canceled.

According to USA Today, many community leaders across the nation have released plans for Halloween celebrations, whether that be releasing guidelines or canceling seasonal events altogether.

Additionally, Dallas county health officials recommend parents not take their children trick-or-treating this year due to the difficulty of following social distancing guidelines, according to Dallas radio station WFAA ABC Channel 8. On the other hand, Tarrant County health officials in Texas released a list of safety precautions for those who choose to trick-ortreat. Some of such guidelines include carrying hand sanitizer and using it regularly, as well as wiping down all candy once the night ends.

However, uncertainty about COVID-19 has not stopped the Flagstaff community from celebrating the fall season and kicking off Halloween a bit early. Junior Estacia Aguilera said she began celebrating the Halloween season in early September with her roommates. They have embraced the spooky season by decorating their apartment and binging Halloween movies, she said.

“We love spooky season, and one month isn’t enough,” Aguilera said. “So, it was better to start earlier than later.”

With COVID-19 precautions limiting social gatherings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines for anyone who chooses to celebrate traditionally social holidays, such as Halloween, Day of the Dead and Christmas. As for Halloween, the CDC detailed alternative activities that promote social distancing, yet still keep the festivities alive.

Such activities include hosting a virtual costume contest, carving pumpkins, having a spooky movie night and decorating for the occasion.

Aguilera said she and her roommates saw decorating their apartment as a great way to bond with one another, and celebrate the upcoming holidays and bring some excitement

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to pandemic living.

While Aguilera said she is mainly looking forward to Halloween, many are focusing on celebrating autumn’s arrival and activities associated with it, such as dressing for sweater weather, ordering pumpkin spice lattes, baking pies and visiting pumpkin patches. Manager Jessie Bangle at Viola’s Flower Garden said she and her staff are excited for the fall season and to share the hard work they have put into creating their yearly pumpkin patch for the Flagstaff community.

Bangle explained that every year since 2001, Viola’s Flower Garden has been transformed into a pumpkin patch for the community to enjoy. However, according to the nursery’s website, the pumpkin patch is closing early on

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Oct. 16 this year due to pandemic restrictions.

Earlier this year, Viola’s Flower Garden staff was trained on how to manage seasonal crowds amid the pandemic, Bangle explained.

While celebrating autumn and Halloween look different this year, she said she is confident in the staff’s ability to manage COVID-19 precautions.

“We have been open as a nursery since May, and we have been requiring masks the whole time,” Bangle said. “So, I think the spiel of how to talk about needing to wear a mask, we have mastered.”

Bangle explained that every guest is required to wear a mask while on their property and maintain a six-foot distance. This year, Viola’s Flower Garden also chose to eliminate

Illustration By Dominic Davies

parts of their traditional activities in order to accommodate COVID-19 precautions. Instead, she said the staff instilled new activities, such as a scavenger hunt and a maze, for customers to enjoy while maintaining their distance from others.

The staff will continue to mitigate crowd control as the nursery gets busier throughout October, Bangle explained. She also explained they are willing to enforce even more precautions if necessary like limiting the amount of people in the pumpkin patch.

Though so far, Bangle said guests have been respectful of the business’ requirements, and are following the rules with ease.

“We were shocked, we were prepared for the worst,” Bangle said. “We have been extremely lucky. I think we did a good job of making our requirements known.”

While visiting a pumpkin patch continues to be a popular way to celebrate the start of fall in Flagstaff, Aguilera said she and her friends have found other ways to celebrate autumn while maintaining their distance.

Aguilera said she has joined in on the popular TikTok ghost photoshoot trend.

According to HITC, a pop culture and sports news website, the ghost photoshoot trend consists of people dressing up as sheet ghosts and taking photos in a location that shows off the changing colors that accompany the fall season. The trend began in early September and has gained over 14.8 million views on the social media platform.

Aguilera and her friends went to Aspen Corner, she said, a popular Flagstaff spot filled with aspen trees that turn yellow during autumn.

Aguilera and her friends decided to join in on the trend and have a picnic to celebrate the fall season, and to find some enjoyment during the academic year.

“I feel it is good to put some life into college, because it’s the little things that make it feel like home,” Aguilera said. “It brings everyone together and shows that college isn’t just about the classes.”

Whether it is going to Viola’s Pumpkin Patch, decorating their space or even participating in a spooky TikTok trend, Flagstaff locals can be sure that their spooky season and fall fun is here to enjoy, even while the pandemic persists.

CULTURE

NAU College Republicans share their voices lisa hall

A recap of ‘Dancing with the Stars’

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ach year when I watch “Dancing With the Stars,” I wonder how the show can get any more chaotic. When I first started watching it, I was amazed at the celebrities who were chosen to dance. Then as it continued, the show started choosing celebrities I had never even heard of.

I decided to watch the show again this year because Tyra Banks was announced as the new host.

Banks has such an extravagant personality, and I wanted to see how she would handle hosting the show.

Apart from Banks’ new arrival, Derek Hough, who was a dancer on the show for many seasons, moved his way up to be a judge. I loved watching Hough tear up the ballroom floor during previous seasons, so I NAYOMI knew he was going to be a great judge.

GARCIA Each season, there’s always that one random CULTURE EDITOR celebrity that seems out of place compared to the other contestants. This season, that person was Carole Baskin, who was part of the Netflix show “Tiger King.”

I never got into “Tiger King” when it was blowing up, but I found her to be such a random contestant. She only made it to week three of the show and all of her dances weren’t fun to watch. As much as I love cats, Baskin included way too many cat themes in her performances. It was sad watching these weak dances, but I was definitely not surprised she was the second guest to be eliminated.

One contestant I’m rooting for is Nev Schulman from “Catfish.”

Schulman blew me away on the first night with a charming foxtrot to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Michael Bublé. This is one of my favorite songs, and he and his partner, Jenna Johnson, absolutely killed it. Not surprisingly, they received a score of 20 out of 30 for their first performance.

During the first week, former Disney Channel star Skai Jackson also stood out to me as one of the top guests. Although she did a great job during her first performance, scoring a 21 out of 30, her samba during week two didn’t go too well. The dance started off strong, but Jackson lost her balance and almost fell in the middle of the performance. I felt bad this happened because Jackson earned a good score the first week, but she redeemed herself during week four by earning a 28, which was the highest score of the night.

For week four, Jackson and her partner, Alan Bersten, performed a foxtrot dedicated to her late Disney Channel co-star Cameron Boyce. Their powerful dance made me shed a few tears as the couple earned the first 10 of the season from judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

This season has taken me by surprise compared to prior ones. I’ve been impressed by lots of the celebrity dancers, and I’m excited to see where the show goes as the eliminations continue.

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college campus is expected to mold future leaders, encourage diversity in opinions and thoughts and help students find their path. The NAU College Republicans club is one of the places where students can find a comfortable place to represent themselves.

According to the True Blue Connects website, “The NAU College Republicans are dedicated to promoting modern Republican ideology to NAU’s campus, while providing support to Republican candidates, representatives and students around the state.”

This club allows students to look at different perspectives and learn more about what others believe in. The College Republicans club gives students a place to share similar views and discuss the current political climate.

Senior Steve Marin is a club member who said he enjoys being able to share his views with others.

“The university would be pretty boring if there was only one political club,” Marin said. “There will always be situations where people have different views and different ideas, and it’s important that people can share them with like-minded people without the fear of being called out.”

He said having multiple political clubs present on campus is another factor as to why he’s interested in the club. Marin said it’s important to have an opposing view because others may see something that can change their perspective. When done correctly, having multiple political clubs can be mutually beneficial, Marin said.

There are stereotypes that follow every political party, and Marin wants people to know the College Republicans are very tolerable and may not be what one expects. He said as a Latinx man, joining this club and being welcomed with open arms was a different feeling because other members didn’t care about the color of his skin.

With this, he was able to bring his own thoughts and perspectives to conversations just as other members were. The club has members from similar backgrounds, and they’re able to come together based on personal experiences and can discuss how they think certain policies may play out based on their experiences.

“We talk about serious issues, but we have fun with it,” Marin said. “The club is a great place to meet

people and to share ideas. We are welcoming and really don’t care where you politically align yourself.”

Marin said the College Republicans had people come from different clubs to debate and some found their meetings to be a welcoming environment.

The club also allows for members to grow as they continue being active participants. Junior Joseph Divelbiss is the club’s president and became involved with the College Republicans his freshman year, then climbed up the ranks.

Divelbiss said a couple of reasons he is involved in the club is because of other members and the opportunities he’s given to be politically involved.

“The club allows for me to be around like-minded individuals and be involved in the community,” Divelbiss said.

He helps organize meetings and events for the organization, as well as listen to and meet with local and state leaders. Divelbiss said he’s also been able to volunteer with local candidates and learn about their campaigns.

Divelbiss said he believes this club is important on a college campus because it gives students the opportunity to be involved and voice their opinions.

College Republicans faculty adviser Stephen NuñoPerez has been involved with the club for the last 12 years.

He said the club is different every year and truly relies on the interests of students. If students find being politically active important, they will find a way to be involved and create something new in the club.

“We live in a democracy, which requires participation,” Nuño-Perez said. “It requires genuine conversation about issues, so that we may come together collectively to make decisions about the values of our society and the priorities of our government. This club is a part of that conversation. The more that participate, the better.”

Although the club is open to everyone, it is politically charged and has a specific goal. Members want Republican views to be represented in communities and they support Republican candidates, agendas and ideals.

Getting involved with a political campus club is an option available to those who want to learn more about the governmental spectrum. The lasting relationships made between members can be beneficial now and in the future.

Courtesy of NAU College Republicans

OCTOBER 15, 2020 – OCTOBER 21, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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CULTURE

Flagstaff’s response to the Breonna Taylor verdict JORJA HEINKEL

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he death of emergency medical technician Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky and the lack of urgency from the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) regarding the case sparked outcry across the nation. This inspired Flagstaff residents to speak out against the nation’s justice system.

The investigative report conducted by the LMPD stated that around 1 a.m. on March 13, officers Brett Hankison, Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly entered Taylor’s residence with a battering ram during a no-knock narcotics raid. The officers had a search warrant to look for drugs and Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, a narcotics dealer who no longer lived at the apartment.

During the raid, Taylor was shot six times. After an investigation into the botched raid, in which an investigation report stated there were no injuries to Taylor, a grand jury charged Hankison with wanton endangerment for shooting toward a neighboring apartment Sept. 23.

Since March 13, Taylor’s death became another part of major protests regarding the death of George Floyd and other unarmed Black citizens in Louisville, Los Angeles, Chicago and many cities nationwide. As previously reported by The Lumberjack, Flagstaff has also seen numerous protests following the deaths of Taylor, George Floyd, and other victims of police brutality.

Director of ethnic studies Wendy Rountree said the verdict on Taylor’s case is tragic, but not completely unexpected.

“Historically the African American woman’s body has experienced such brutality,” Rountree said. “Their voices have been silenced over and over again. This seems like another form of this silencing and not acknowledging the human rights of this particular individual — in this case, Breonna Taylor.”

Rountree said the Trump administration seemed to treat Taylor’s case, and other cases of police brutality, as an afterthought.

Despite the case verdict, Rountree said she still has hope in the power of public outcry and the dedication of this generation of college students.

“The struggle to make democracy a real democracy for everyone has resonated with many different groups of people,” Rountree said. “I’ve been watching [this generation] and they are already educating themselves on current issues and delving into the past. I want to encourage them to do that more.”

NAU students have been active in protests since the deaths of Taylor and Floyd, including the June 2 protest at Flagstaff City Hall.

Sophomore Kendra Edwards protested for Black Lives Matter (BLM) and said Black women’s lives have always been undervalued and misunderstood.

“My life, along with my Black brothers and sisters’ lives are always in jeopardy,” Edwards said.

Edwards said she fears for her safety at BLM protests, but

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she does not let fear stop her from protesting for Black lives in solidarity of her family, her generation and future ones.

In protest, Edwards calls for patriarchal abolishment and reparations, not necessarily represented by a dollar amount, but a cultural movement that puts money into low-income schools and focuses on education. The key to this cultural movement, Edwards said, is love.

“Until we abolish things that undermine that love, our society won’t ever truly know it,” Edwards said. “People have to have love in order to understand experiences other than your own.”

NAU President Rita Cheng released a statement on the Flagstaff protests and the deaths of Floyd, Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, in which Cheng said the deaths are a challenge to stand against injustice and violence, and that NAU offers support to those who have been affected by recent and historical events.

Edwards acknowledged the statement, but said NAU is still not doing enough for its students and the surrounding community.

“Anyone can acknowledge that slavery was wrong, but how are you going to fix that?” Edwards

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Illustration By aleah green

asked. “You need to stand in front of us and use your privilege to protect.”

Cheng’s statement encouraged students to continue speaking out and to attend a June 4 virtual moment of silence, as well as univiersity Diversity Dialogues and Unconscious Bias trainings put on by the Office of Inclusion, which were meant to help one recognize their biases, rid them and start being more inclusive and accepting.

Registration for Diversity Dialogues — online events that discuss problems facing diversity and inclusion — can be arranged by contacting the Office of Inclusion. Enrollment in Unconscious Bias can be done by requesting training enrollment through the self-service, and learning and development links on LOUIE. The call for change is not only at NAU, but in the works of Flagstaff City Council as well. Flagstaff Vice Mayor and advocate of cultural sensitivity, Adam Shimoni, said right now is the time for action.

“This is a time to step up to the plate and take leadership roles,” Shimoni said. “If you don’t like the system, change the system. Run for office, get involved, organize and fix it from within.”

Shimoni said he saw the death of Taylor as a call to action not only on a national level, but in Flagstaff as well. He encouraged students to attend council meetings and join commissions for subjects that inspire them, noting organizations like the Flagstaff Citizen’s Liaison Committee and the Neighborhood Blockwatch Program.

Flagstaff is working on a four-part approach to the Flagstaff Police Department to reinvent the way local police protect and serve the public, Shimoni said.

This plan includes redirecting 911 calls to mental health professionals, creating safe locations for individuals recovering from substance abuse, providing support for individuals experiencing homelessness and creating a mental health transition team to support the homeless community in Flagstaff.

Shimoni said he envisions Flagstaff to be a national leader in holistic community approaches — practices that target the causes of crime and create preventative measures to better support those in need.

“I’m grateful that the BLM movement and the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless other individuals have lit a fire underneath elected officials,” Shimoni said.

“We have this opportunity to do things that might have taken years to do.”

Shimoni encouraged NAU students to maintain their passion and attend the Oct. 13 city council meeting to discuss policing alternatives in Flagstaff to start a pattern of change in the city.

CULTURE

Dream Concert makes dreams come true Sophia sALAZAR

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fter a long work week, folks gathered to watch the Dream Concert, a virtual event hosted by Verde Valley School (VVS) in Sedona to raise tuition funds for Native American students. Musicians who performed at the virtual concert Oct. 10 include singer-songwriter Clyde Jackson Browne, Mike Posner and C.J. Ramone. The first Dream Concert, which was held annually until the 2000s, was created over 30 years ago

by Browne in hopes to raise money for Native American students.

The Native American Scholarship Fund supports VVS programs and workshops directly benefiting students. According to the school, it is committed to bringing awareness and support for Native American students through the scholarship.

Due to COVID-19, Browne brought the Dream Concert back to life after its first appearance three decades ago.

Bill Carter, Creative Media and Film faculty member and producer of the Dream Concert at VVS, said musicians were eager to assist the making of the benefit event.

“The artists, all of them, jumped in immediately,” Carter said. “It was just an incredible response of people wanting to be a part of this.”

The event started off with Browne singing “The Barricades of Heaven.” Browne is a highly decorated singer-songwriter who has had two songs, “Doctor My Eyes” and “Somebody’s Baby,” hit the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. The song “Doctor My Eyes” peaked at #8 in 1972, while “Somebody’s Baby” landed itself at #7 in 1982. Browne’s album, “Late for the Sky,” was also nominated for a Grammy Award and landed on Billboard’s Pop Album chart in 1975.

Artists were introduced one at a time throughout the night, where they talked about their own personal stories on why they were performing at the Dream Concert. Each artist requested everyone watching online donate to the school’s Native American Scholarship Fund.

Jeneda Benally, former recipient of the Native American Scholarship Fund, said VVS helps students become well-rounded global citizens.

“Verde Valley School really helps to nurture global citizenship from the students,” Benally said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from. It’s not a division, but it’s embraced. It’s those kind of values that we get to learn about each other. We get to love each other.”

Benally said students break down any preconceived stereotypes and prejudices when given the opportunity to learn about each other. She said bringing peace and inclusion to an educational environment helps one another to move forward in solidarity.

There are currently 85 boarding students and 35 day students enrolled at VVS. Day students do not live on campus, but attend VVS while school is in session.

At VVS, students acquire a strong sense of peace with one another and personal responsibility through field trips, projectbased learning and practicing sustainability on campus. Thanks to the Dream Concert donations, Native American students will have the opportunity to experience an education at VVS, where

Junior Kearstin Saxton, is a suppoter of the Verde Valley School Native American Scholarship Fund. Kearstin attended the concert virtually on Oct. 10. Ben Akers| The Lumberjack

the dorms are surrounded by views of Cathedral Rock.

Junior Joshua Falevai attended a boarding school similar to VVS, and was happy to support the Dream Concert’s vision.

“I’ve had the opportunity to attend a school that is very similar to VVS called Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, and being a Native American myself, I know that having a chance at an education like the one VVS offers is totally life-changing,” Falevai said. “Keeping that in mind, I was happy to support the cause, attend the concert and I wasn’t disappointed by the quality of the performances or comments that were made. I appreciated everything that was done to make this concert happen.”

VVS, a coeducational international boarding school for high school students in Sedona, was founded in 1948. The school strives to have an inclusive community where students learn and grow with one another’s culture. They have opportunities to experience activities outside the classroom like horseback riding, trail running and rock climbing when enrolled at VVS. Junior Kearstin Saxton, who attended the concert, said she was strongly in favor of the Native American Scholarship Fund.

“I think it’s absolutely amazing to give students the chance at a scholarship through creative and far-reaching means,” Saxton said in an email interview. “It’ll give many students the opportunity to have a unique schooling experience where more

resources will be available for them to succeed.”

On-campus programs like poetry readings, pottery and dance performances give students the chance to explore what they are interested in. VVS has an alternative way of learning, where their education is oftentimes hands-on, which can be demonstrated through VVS’s class IB+ Dirt. Juniors and Seniors at VVS are given the opportunity to learn through the usage of outside resources, including collecting yucca leaves, making sandals and creating a musical production with dancers and scriptwriting.

These classes also give students the chance to collaborate on class projects. VVS values unity, diversity and inclusivity, according to its guiding principles. The Dream Concert made that clear when VVS’s values aligned with the event.

Junior Ally Frisch said she enjoyed the diversity of singers, as well as the finale, which featured a mashup of the artists singing “Take it Easy” by the Eagles, co-written by Browne.

“It was very appealing, it was very soothing, I enjoyed it,” Frisch said. “I think the last part, where all the singers were singing together, that was my favorite part.”

The Dream Concert left viewers with a message that unity and inclusion are welcomed. The concert’s finale stood for what VVS supports and aligns with, which is to celebrate the differences between one another.

OCTOBER 15, 2020 – OCTOBER 21, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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SPORTS

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The razor’s edge

s a cross country runner for NAU, there are times when I toe the starting line and think to myself, “Why didn’t I do something easier with my life?”

In these situations, I am totally vulnerable. I’m the most bare and exposed to everything I know when I am in the set position on the starting line. There are numbers of people counting on me to hold up my end of the bargain.

They are expecting me to do what I have done in the past. There are others trying to stop that from happening.

It is a scary place to be, but why do I do it? Because it’s my job? Because it’s what I signed up for?

When I am eight kilometers deep into a 10-kilometer race, I do not have any DREW other option than to keep fighting.

BOSLEY These are all valid thoughts, but none SPORTS WRITER are reasons. Ultimately, to me, there is nothing like living on the razor’s edge.

What is the razor’s edge one might ask?

In the big picture, it is training for weeks, months and years on end for a race that only takes as long as it did for you to read this column.

The razor’s edge is giving everything you have to offer — body, mind and soul — to one aspect of your life and never expecting anything in return.

Someone might never see that day. I might never see the days I dream of, but that is what makes distance running so compelling.

A deeper analysis could be the day-to-day lifestyle that is required. Early wake-ups and bedtimes, endless training miles, multiple aches and pains, every single day is a fight with your mind — a battle that needs to be fought.

It is giving everything to fill the capacity of one’s athletic ability, and a realization that nobody will do this but me.

One day, a door will open that has never been opened before.

Another day, a door that is usually open will stay closed.

This is the battle. Go too far on one side, do too much, do too little, not be tough enough … that is living on the razor’s edge day-to-day.

In the end, the razor’s edge teaches many lessons: in accountability, respect, ownership, love, fear, joy, gratitude, fulfillment, friendship, patience, hard work, toughness, passion and service. It is taking the journey and trying not to fall.

Because I took this journey, my legs won’t work anymore one day. Hopefully on that day, I will be closer to the son, brother, future husband, future father, future coach, co-worker, friend, teammate, community member and Christ follower that I am striving to become.

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Members of the Lumberjack Marching Band head into the Walkup Skydome for a NAU football game, Oct. 20, 2018.

Matthew Strissel| The Lumberjack

A season of music and joy Nayomi Garcia

T

he exciting sound of a marching band cheering and playing pep tunes is a sound that adds to the thrilling environment of sporting events. With the cancellation of NAU football games this fall, the Lumberjack Marching Band (LMB) is finding ways to safely perform their music.

This fall, the marching band has 150 members. Before beginning rehearsals in person, the LMB began meeting over Zoom to prepare for its rehearsals.

Director William Kinne said their Zoom meetings were essential for the students to prepare for their upcoming season.

“We would meet over Zoom as a band, and then in smaller sections to build our social support network, which is a critical part of any marching band,” Kinne said. “Then we hosted a

guest panel of NAU band alumni and former directors, and we discussed the traditions, memories and lifelong friendships that have been so important to the LMB over the years.”

When the band was allowed to rehearse in person, the band was split up into two groups to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Kinne said the bands were split up based on seniority and experience in order to balance the representation of each instrument in the band.

At each rehearsal, mask-wearing is enforced and members are required to keep their distance from other players. During rehearsals, the bands practices the show they had planned for this year. This show celebrates 1980s music, including the songs “Call Me” by Blondie, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston, “Africa” by Toto and “Call Me Al” by Paul Simon.

While the band is unsure of when they will be able to

SPORTS perform their show for a crowd, they are still finding ways to perform safely.

“We came up with the idea for a Friday Lumberjack Send-Off where we could make people smile as they drove by to start their weekend,” Kinne said. “We divided the band into three groups to perform at three major intersections on campus two weeks ago on a Friday afternoon. It was a blast for our students to perform, and our audience honked and waved as they drove by. Still, we cannot wait to return to the [Walkup] Skydome and Rolle Activity Center to cheer on our athletes and entertain our fans.”

As the band continues to find ways to perform, the LMB will now be led by Stephen Meyer as Kinne prepares to take paternity leave. Meyer is currently the director of bands for the NAU School of Music, and he said he is excited to direct the band this fall.

Meyer said his plan for leading the band is to try to retain the traditions the LMB has carried on each marching season. The environment the band creates is what makes the LMB so special, he said.

“What is amazing is that this is not a required course for the majority of these students, and yet, they still show up and want to be at rehearsal, even though they know that there are no football games,” Meyer said. “Our students have been extremely vigilant about following the new safety precautions because we want this to continue and do not want the LMB to go virtual.”

While dealing with so many challenges related to COVID-19, Meyer said the students have been very cooperative with transitioning to a new director.

Many students know him from previous classes in the School of Music, so it was not a difficult change, he said.

Prior to Kinne’s paternity leave, Meyer met with the band’s student leadership in order to adjust to him starting as director.

Senior Andre LeBaron, trombone section leader, said adjusting to a new director wasn’t as difficult because the band still keeps many of its same traditions. Despite this, he said adjusting to social distancing precautions was difficult at first because his section couldn’t rehearse as a whole.

“It has been difficult to adjust to the changes because of the pandemic, but everyone tries to keep things positive,” LeBaron said. “We have to adapt and work with what we have in these uncertain times.”

Because this will be LeBaron’s final year in the band, he said he is working to improve his leadership skills for his section. Although he doesn’t get to rehearse with his full section, LeBaron said he still encourages everyone to have fun and enjoy the marching season.

While the season continues, the LMB will continue to rehearse their show music and the pep tunes they perform at games.The band will be featured in the upcoming NAU Virtual Homecoming Parade.

As long as band members are healthy, the LMB will continue providing music for their fans in the Top: The Lumberjack Marching Band practices social distancing at a rehearsal led by Stephen Meyer, Sept. 28. Nayomi Garcia| The community.

Lumberjack Bottom: The Lumberjack Marching Band cheer on the NAU football team, Oct. 20, 2018. Matthew Strissel| The Lumberjack

OCTOBER 15, 2020 – OCTOBER 21, 2020 | THE LUMBERJACK

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THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG