College Times - April 2021

11 THINGS

11 FACTS ABOUT 420

THE FUTURE ACAI OF NAU WAFFLES DR. JOSE LUIS CRUZ TAKES ON A NEW ROLE AT THE TOP

OFFERS FRESH, FRUITY AND UNIQUE TREATS

APRIL 2021

ZIPPING

THROUGH TOWN Zebra scooters focus on clean energy and mileage

EST. 2002

contents student life 4

11 Things

11 Facts About 420

news 5

The Future of NAU

Dr. José Luis Cruz takes on new role June 14.

entertainment 6

Fresh and Fruity

7

Zipping Through Town

Acai Waffles Offers Unique Treats To Downtown Tempe Zebra Scooters Focus on Clean Energy and mileage

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STUDENT LIFE

11 FACTS ABOUT 420 T ANNIKA TOMLIN • COLLEGE TIMES

he origin story of the unofficial holiday 420 began in 1971 and still has a significant impact for young adults all around the world. While one thing is for sure, 4/20 is all about marijuana there are some disputes about how the holiday came to be. Here are 11 facts about the unofficial holiday and its use around the world.

11. 420 LICENSE PLATE While 420 is not widely available to be placed on a license plate, Adam Eidinger was granted one in 2014

by Mayor Muriel Bowser after he helped successfully campaign Washington, D.C.’s Initiative 71. This initiative led to the legalization of recreational cannabis use in D.C. during the 2014 election.

10. CODE 420 Over the years, 420 has been commonly associated with marijuana and has been referenced as the legal code used for the drug.

However, there is no use of 420 for a penal or police dispatch code to mean illegal marijuana use. That being said, 420 is a penal code in California, but it’s for obstructing entry on public land. It’s not used as a police radio code in any context.

9. “PULP FICTION”

The next time that you watch the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film look at the clocks in the movie. The majority of them are set at 4:20. A wristwatch is set at 9 o’clock and some are set to other times, but most are 4:20.

8. MILE MARKER Several highways and roadways all around the country have stopped using 420 as a mile marker because they are frequently stolen. In 2014, the Colorado Department of Transportation replaced the mile marker 420 on Interstate 70, east of Denver with a 419.99 mile marker to deter all the would-be thieves.

It soon became common practice for those signs to be stolen as well.

Bonus fact: several hotels also ditch room 420 to avoid smoking in rooms.

7. CHEMICALS IN MARIJUANA Another theory is 420 is the number of chemicals in the plant. There are actually 483 known chemicals in cannabis that includes approximately 65 that are cannabinoids. The main psychoactive cannabinoid ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol).

6. UNOFFICIAL U.S. HOLIDAY Most teens and young adults will say 4/20 is an official holiday

celebrating pot on April 20. It isn’t.

In fact, outside of the United States and Canada, it is not as widely celebrated as it is here. That is mainly because countries within Europe and other parts of the world put the date first then month so for them it would be 20/4.

5. BEN & JERRY’S Ben & Jerry’s has used its platform to advocate for several political standings since its inception. The decriminalization of marijuana is no different. Last year the brand worked with ACLU to bring awareness and formally endorsed congressional legislation to deschedule cannabis and push restorative justice. On April 18, 2020, they tweeted a photo that said “Legalization without justice is HALF BAKED” referencing their widely popular Half Baked ice cream flavor.

4. FIRST LEGAL AZ 4/20 In November 2020, Arizona legalized recreational use and sale of marijuana. To date, 37 states have

medical marijuana available while 15 states and Washington, D.C., allow for recreational and medical consumption and sale of marijuana.

This year is the first in which 4/20 will be legally celebrated in Arizona.

3. AVERAGE COST The average amount each U.S. consumer spends on cannabis products ranges between $500 to $2,500 annually. Americans spent $18.3 billion on marijuana products in 2020. In comparison, $10.7 billion worth of products were sold in 2019.

One of the main contributing factors for the immense increase in sales was the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar to how people stocked up on toilet paper, Lysol and hand sanitizer, people who were/are legally able to purchase the product stocked up on it as well especially with the new online ordering and curbside pickup.

2. DEADHEADS FLYER On December 28, 1990, a group of Deadheads in Oakland handed out fliers that invited people to smoke “420” on April 20 at 4:20 p.m. One of the fliers was received by Steve Bloom, a reporter for High Times magazine. The publication printed the flier in 1991, marking the first widely published use of 420 in relation to marijuana.

1. HIGH SCHOOL BEGINNINGS/THE WALDOS The original story of how 420 came to be goes like this: In 1971, five students at San Rafael High School met at 4:20 p.m. by the campus’ statue of chemist Louis Pasteur to search for an abandoned cannabis crop based on a treasure map made by the grower referring to the plan as “4:20 Louis.” They chose that time because extracurricular activities at school ended by then. Steve Capper, Dave Reddix, Jeffery Noel, Larry Schwartz and Mark Gravich became known as the Waldos because they met at a wall outside the school. Eventually the group shortened the phrase to “4:20” using it as a code word to refer to smoking cannabis. CT 4 ECOLLEGETIMES.COM | APRIL 2021

THE FUTURE OF NAU

NEWS

DR. JOSÉ LUIS CRUZ TAKES ON NEW ROLE JUNE 14 ANNIKA TOMLIN • COLLEGE TIMES

A

s incoming NAU president, Dr. José Luis Cruz feels like he’s spent a lifetime preparing for this role.

He began his career as a faculty member in engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, rising through the ranks and serving as chair of the electrical and computer engineering department and dean of academic affairs. He is a former vice president of higher education policy and practice at The Education Trust in Washington, D.C., and a former chief student affairs officer for the University of Puerto Rico system. Previously, Dr. Cruz served as provost of California State University, Fullerton.

“When you put it all together, it’s been like I’ve been on the job training for it for NAU for 25 years,” Cruz says. “I feel fortunate and privileged to be given this opportunity.”

The Arizona Board of Regents approved Cruz as the 17th NAU president on March 10. Cruz earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, and then completed his master’s and doctorate at Georgia Institute of Technology, both in electrical engineering.

“Upon being close to graduating (with my bachelor’s) I accepted a job offer with a research company in Princeton, New Jersey,” Cruz says.

“A faculty member who I admire very much stopped me one day in the hallway and said, ‘I know you took this job, but why don’t you get a doctorate instead and come back and teach?’”

That is exactly what Cruz did.

“I applied to grad school, did my doctorate at Georgia Tech in Atlanta and went back to Puerto Rico to teach at my alumna mater,” Cruz says.

“I did that for several years but early on, I got into the administrative track, which is really what ultimately led to NAU.” Cruz’s most recent role was as the executive vice chancellor and university provost at The City University of New York (CUNY).

He began his tenure at CUNY in 2016 as the third president of Lehman College, the only senior

college in the Bronx, and was later elevated by the Board of Trustees to the role of executive vice chancellor and university provost for the 25-campus system in 2019.

Cruz received a vague call in December 2020 saying a leadership position was going to soon be available. He didn’t know the position was for the new NAU president.

“I wasn’t particularly in the market at that particular point in time,” Cruz says. “I’m listening, and they say it’s for Northern Arizona University, and I was like, ‘I know NAU. I’ve heard of NAU and it’s in Flagstaff.’ My wife (Rima) and I had taken a trip to the Grand Canyon and Sedona. That was our first trip as a couple 15 to 16 years ago.”

Cruz and his wife have a photo of themselves at the Grand Cnayon that they keep on the living room shelf. Going back there “has been a part of our imagination for a very long time, so we are very excited” about moving to Arizona.

“If we could be there tomorrow, we would be there tomorrow,” Cruz says. He and his family are in Puerto Rico doing what he needs to “transition out of my current position in a responsible way.”

Throughout the process of becoming the new NAU president, Cruz and his family have made several trips to Arizona, NAU and the surrounding area.

Cruz hopes to have two weeks between his final day at CUNY and his start date at NAU to check out the sights in Arizona.

“It’s obviously one of the larger states in the country in terms of geographic area so we will probably not be going to see but a fraction of it in those couple weeks but that is certainly our hope,” Cruz says.

“We also have a lot of interest in getting to know the community that we serve because we have a lot of Native American students,” he says.

“It’s at the top of our list to visit those Native nations in whatever capacity.”

FUTURE OF NAU Before Cruz accepted the NAU position, he met with many people at the school.

“It was a cumulative learning that occurred at that time when I was getting to know an institution that has a 120-year legacy of expanding

opportunity in Arizona.”

He discussed how NAU as an institution has seen an upward trend “in the percentage of Hispanic students” and how it should now be looking toward “what a Hispanic-serving institution really means and how to adapt to that.”

Cruz also touched on the institution’s commitment to “Native American success and firstgeneration student success.”

“The more I learned about where the university had been and where it aspires to be, the more I thought that I would want to be part of that,” Cruz says. “A part of the faculty and the staff and the community that went from where we are to where we want to be.”

He talked about how several new policies and practice have been put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue education.

“I really think that higher ed, in general now, is undergoing a real reckoning of what it should look like, not only post-pandemic — if we can call it that — but more toward the future in general and how we can leverage what we have learned in the past year through the pandemic to forage that future,” Cruz says.

“Generally speaking, my aspirations for NAU are in a very short amount of time to make it a nationally recognized model, comprehensive university for its ability to expand access, enhance learning, increase student outcomes, push the frontiers of knowledge and better serve their communities even when facing tough fiscal conditions and public health emergencies. How do we do things not only do things so well for our students that we get recognized, but that in being recognized we are helping other institutions across the country do the same for their students?”

The process has been a whirlwind and Cruz is just trying to stay focused.

“I would just say that we are not only excited about the opportunity but have also been very pleasantly surprised by the gracious welcome we have been receiving from Flagstaff and NAU and the Arizona Board of Regents system and community,” Cruz says.

“I have gotten to talk to so many people and exchange so many ideas and we really feel that it is the right place for us to be part of that community and I am very much looking forward to it.” CT

ECOLLEGETIMES.COM | APRIL 2021 5

ENTERTAINMENT

FRESH AND FRUITY ACAI WAFFLE OFFERS UNIQUE TREATS TO DOWNTOWN TEMPE KRISTEN CASTILLO • COLLEGE TIMES

V

inny Pante took the best of his culinary arts experience and blended it with his business acumen to open Acai Waffle in Downtown Tempe.

Pante’s father, Jimmy, suggested the acai theme based on his background as a personal trainer. After learning more about the benefits of the acai berry on cholesterol and brain function, the duo opened the shop.

“Everybody brings a little bit of everything to the table,” says Pante, whose family owns Amici Pizza in Mesa. “(My father) has been in the industry for over 20 years. So, he knows the hospitality side. He knows the ins and outs of the little business tricks you can do. I grew up in the kitchen and I went to culinary school so I can bring a little flair and bring everything up to date.”

Located on the corner of Mill Avenue and Fifth Street, Acai Waffle is a healthy eating alternative that’s close to ASU. “When my father told me about the benefits, I was like, ‘Yup. We can get behind this,’” Pante says. “I eat it.

He works out every day. He trains people every day and his customers love it, too. It was just a no brainer for us to give it a shot.”

The shop specializes in customizable acai bowls, waffles and smoothies. Customers have the option of adding a warm waffle, cone or bowl as the foundation for the frozen puree. The Sun Devil and The Mill Avenue are two of the signature bowls.

“We know it’s the college crowd so that’s why we actually threw

waffles on the menu instead of just having generic acai bowls,” Pante says. “You can actually come and have breakfast with us and have waffles.”

To begin customizing a buildyour-own bowl, customers may choose a small for $8 or a large for $11, and then a base of acai, pitaya, coconut and matcha. Then, the frozen puree is topped with one or more of their granola — original, hemp or pumpkin flax. Afterward, vanilla, matcha or chocolate chia pudding that sits underneath unlimited toppings like coconut flakes, goji berries, pumpkin seeds, nut butter and fresh fruit. Acai is delivered weekly from California and all fruit is organically sourced from an Arizona farmers market.

To adhere to social distancing guidelines, Acai Waffle only allows outdoor seating and enforces a 6-feet distance between customers.

Additionally, the restaurant offers delivery through GrubHub so customers can order the bowls, smoothies and waffles from their homes.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Pante says the business is dedicated to delivering fresh products to its customers.

“We’re a family that has a passion for fitness and staying healthy,” Pante says. “We’ve been in the industry, so we bring knowledge and we love the concept. We love acai and we love everything about it.” CT

Acai Waffle

425 S. Mill Avenue, Suite 108, Tempe 480.219.9465 acaiwaffletempe.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

ZIPPING THROUGH TOWN ZEBRA SCOOTERS FOCUS ON CLEAN ENERGY AND MILEAGE ANNIKA TOMLIN • COLLEGE TIMES

E

lectric scooters have seen a major increase in use over the past several years across the Valley. While some brands offer an inexpensive relief to the short around the corner excursion, trips ranging between 5 to 10 miles seem too far on smaller vehicles. That’s where Zebra comes in. “(Other scooters on the market) are very interesting pieces of equipment but they don’t serve the day-to-day utility,” says Zebra co-founder R.J. Napolitano. “It’s just based on if they are around or if you can get one.

“We saw that people in Europe and Asia were using these types of ebikes, e-mopeds and they were huge. We said, ‘What if we brought them here and we made them a little bit more accessible and flexible.’ We started testing out the idea and it turned out that a lot of people agreed with us and that’s really how we got the start.”

Zebra launched in July 2019 as an eco-friendly, 100% electric with zero carbon emission alternative to driving a regular gas-fueled car. The company offers three scooter models, ranging in size and mile range that it can cover with a single charge.

“We focus on clean energy and the green initiatives going on, that’s one of the main reasons we chose to

go electric,” Napolitano says.

Each Zebra comes as a fully assembled vehicle with one removable battery (two with ZX2) and one smart charger.

“Our longest-range model goes up to 120 miles, which is something that you can’t get anywhere else from electric,” Napolitano says.

“We also wanted to provide more utility, so we have the largest storage of any ebike on the market. It’s great for people who do food delivery or travel to the grocery store or run errands. We wanted something that is much more akin to a car replacement instead of just your typical bicycle.”

The smallest model, Z1, drives up to 35 miles on a single charge normally priced at $2,095 but currently on sale for $1,495. The next slightly larger model with utility storage called ZX1 goes up to 60 miles. It’s normally $2,599 and it’s currently $2,005. The longest battery-powered model, ZX2, drives up to 120 miles and retails for $3,095. It’s on sale for $2,595.

Buyers must be 16 or older, and shipping is free throughout the contiguous 48 states. “(Our Zebras) have all of the rights and capabilities of a traditional bicycle: riding it on the right-hand side of the

rode, bicycle lanes. Anywhere that you can ride your typical bike that’s where you can ride these.”

The name Zebra came from an original investor, but Napolitano and his co-founder, Kody Amburgey, stuck with it.

“We felt like we wanted something that stood out from a lot of the other options,” he says. “A lot of the naming recently within micromobility are these fun animal names, which are great because they are memorable and spellable and all of that.

“Zebras we felt were one of the animals that just stands out. It’s different. It’s a little quirky but we also thought it was very cool.”

Zebra was created with the customer in mind, after a lot of research.

“I think being an early-stage company is always challenging, but I think there had just been a ton of attention on transportation, electric, micromobility and trying to come up with a way to make it unique and differentiate from the other options that were out there was really the most challenging part in the beginning,” Napolitano says.

Throughout the pandemic Zebra has seen an uptick in sales as opposed to using ride share services “with other people that you have to be worried about,” Napolitano says.

“It’s been a really unfortunate year for everybody, and it’s presented its challenges, but we have seen a lot more people that are looking to their own safe sort of sanitary mode of transportation,” Napolitano says.

“What’s great about it is that no one else is going out and touching your scooter unless you allow them to, like someone that you

know. It’s your personal method of transportation.

“There’s a lot of people unfortunately that have lost their jobs or are underemployed at this point and so we really were trying to make this as something that is more accessible and more affordable than the current options that are out there.”

Napolitano says several reviews about their vehicles have come back saying that people are “finding new restaurants and spots to go” around town they would normally miss driving in a car.

“I think the best part is that you get to see new parts of your city or town that you never really knew were there by just driving a car,” Napolitano says. “A ton of our users, myself included, just love to take it out for fun if it’s a nice day and just go exploring.”

Zebra is located in West Phoenix, and allows for test rides on a caseby-case basis. Potential customers can email info@zebranow.com for their chance at a test ride on one of the three models.

UP NEXT FOR ZEBRA Zebra is sponsoring Downtown Tempe’s A Mountain Challenge throughout May 31.

“We really like what they are trying to do in terms of getting people out more and more active and just trying something new within the community,” Napolitano says.

Registration is available online until May 15. For more information about registration, prizes and how to record hikes go to downtowntempe.com.

For more information about Zebra go to ridezebras.com. CT

ECOLLEGETIMES.COM | APRIL 2021 7

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