The Lumberjack -- Sept. 14, 2017

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T H E L U M BE R JACK

SEPT. 14, 2017 – SEPT. 20, 2017

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

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’ve wanted to be a writer since the moment I realized just how much I lived and breathed writing. I’d fill notebooks with my sloppy handwriting, daydreaming until the sun went down, and I’d come up with more characters than my mind could keep track of. It was a wonder it took me so long to realize that writing was all I wanted to do with my life. And yet, these days, I rarely find the will to scribble a thought much less a chapter of anything significant. At what point did my life veer off from the vision I’d held for so long? I had this silly image of myself living happily alone, writing book after book after book until my very own “The End.” I can still see it now. I close my eyes, and I can feel the sweet seclusion of my tiny, dark bedroom. I can smell a strong pot of coffee brewing at my bedside, and I can feel the rounded ridges of the keys on my laptop under my frantically flying fingers. I can feel my ELIZABETH heart race as I weave words together I’d read in countless novels, exploring the WENDLER worlds I’d only ever seen in my dreams. OPINION-EDITORIAL This dream is not yet dead to me. There’s still time. It may not feel like it and EDITOR understandably so. We are not given much time in this world; not enough to love those we wish to love the way they deserve to be loved; not enough to live the way we want; not enough to finish what we start. So look back, and find in yourself what you’ve known all along. Look ahead and set a path to follow, one you can be proud to call your own. And, most importantly, look to the now. The now is terrifying. The now does not hold the finality of the past nor does it offer the promise of the future. This very moment, and every moment on, is a decision — one that leads to the next and to the next and to the end. To the end, I will live. To the end, I will love. To the end, I will write. Or, at the very least, I will try. Thank you for reading.

“Growing up here, you don’t see [hate] on this scale or [see it] so publicized. It made my heart heavy just to see that.” - Josephine Gresham, 2017 In the afternoon of Sept. 9, Flagstaff locals and NAU students held an anti-hate rally in Heritage Square, just outside the hookah lounge, the target for an apparent hate crime and arson earlier in the week. Maxim Mascolo | The Lumberjack

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 105 ISSUE 4

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

Editor-in-Chief Megan Troutman

Managing Editor Kari Scott

Copy Chief Emma Helfrich

Faculty Advisor Mary Tolan

Faculty Advisor, Visuals Jennifer Swanson

Sales Manager Marsha Simon

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board News Editor Conor Sweetman Asst. News Editor Joey Postiglione

Opinion-Editorial Editor Elizabeth Wendler

Sports Editor Lance Hartzler

Director of Photography Michael Patacsil

Asst. Opinion-Editorial Editor Asst. Sports Editor Director of Illustration Peggy Packer Kade Gilliss Colton Starley

Features Editor Makenna Lepowsky Asst. Features Editor MaryAnn Witt

Culture Editor Katie Sawyer

Web Chief Ariel Cianfarano

Director of Multimedia Christian Walton

Asst. Culture Editor Kaitlyn Sampson

Print Chief Matthew Strissel

Director of Circulation Luis Gardetto

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On the cover Junior forward Lucas Lomax will be wearing jersey No. 18 for the 2017-2018 season with the IceJacks DII team. Wyatt Rutt | The Lumberjack

Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Megan Troutman at mlt273@nau.edu.

PoliceBeat Sept. 4 At 12:39 a.m., two officers initiated a traffic stop on Franklin Avenue and Buckingham Lane where a non-student was cited and released for underage DUI and DUI above 0.8. The individual was also cited for driving in the wrong lane. At 5:15 a.m., NAUPD initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Beaver Street and Butler Avenue. A verbal warning was given to the driver for driving the wrong way on Beaver Street. At 7:52 a.m., a staff member called to report a nonstudent sleeping in a stairwell at the Drury Inn. NAUPD responded to the call and two non-students were interviewed by NAUPD and left the area. Sept. 5 At 1:55 a.m., NAUPD received an emergency blue phone call in the area of Pine Knoll and McConnell drives. Police searched the area, but no criminal activity was witnessed. At 6:49 a.m., a staff member in Gabaldon Hall called to report disorderly conduct. One NAUPD officer responded, and one student was deferred for assault. At 8:30 a.m., staff in the Social and Behavioral Sciences building called to report a faculty member being threatened. NAUPD responded. The investigation is open. At 4:27 p.m., an NAU employee reported that a bus driver found marijuana on a bus. The substance was brought to NAUPD for destruction. Everything was fine, except for the person who lost their weed. Sept. 6 At 7:05 a.m., an RA saw

smoke and heard an alarm in Gabaldon Hall. FFD, NAUPD and a Guardian Medical Transport responded to the call. The cause was determined to be from work being done on the ceiling. Fire Life Safety and Facility Services was notified. Sept. 7 At 4:12 a.m., a fire alarm in Allen Hall went off due to a malfunctioning fan motor. FFD and NAUPD responded to the call. The area was cleared, and Fire Life Safety was notified.

Compiled by Tiera Oliver park. At 4:52 p.m., a staff member called about multiple individuals who were walking around with an open alcohol containers near the Centennial building. NAUPD respond, but the individuals were gone when officers arrived. At 5:10 p.m., a student in the San Fransisco Parking Garage reported smoke coming from the engine block of an unoccupied car. An NAUPD officer responded but could not find the vehicle.

Sept. 8 At 1:09 a.m., a student Sept. 10 called about the theft of their At 1:18 a.m., Skyview bicycle. Officers responded and dorm residents called to report took a report. The investigation that another resident was was closed. intoxicated and sleeping in front of their door. NAUPD At 1:15 a.m., NAUPD responded, and the student assisted FPD in a call regarding was cited and released for an a large party at 555 W. Forest minor in consumption. Meadows St. Two officers responded to the address At 1:33 a.m., staff in and assistance was provided. Sechrist Hall reported the odor Everything was fine. of marijuana in the building. NAUPD responded to the Sept. 9 call. When the officers arrived, At 1:10 a.m., an officer however, they did not find the reported being with a subject in source of the odor. parking lot 7A. The individual was criminally deferred for a At 2:09 a.m., a nurse minor with liquor in the body. at Flagstaff Medical Center reported a student who At 2:38 a.m., a student was assaulted at an earlier in McConnell Hall called to time. One NAUPD officer report an intoxicated student. responded and took a report. FFD, NAUPD and GMT responded to the dorm, but At 11:11 a.m., an RA the student refused medical in Sechrist Hall called to assistance. The student was report strobe lights flashing cited for underage drinking. throughout the building with no audible alarm. The area At 12:06 p.m., numerous was searched and NAUPD NAUPD officers went to the determined that the lights were Walkup Skydome to assist at caused by burnt food. Fire Life the football game. No criminal Safety was notified. activity was reported. At 1:11 p.m., an RA At 4:48 p.m. an RA called in Gabaldon Hall called to to report that multiple vehicles report a resident in possession were blocking a fire lane at of marijuana. One NAUPD the South Village Apartments. officer responded and deferred NAUPD informed non- a student for possession of residents on where to properly marijuana.

NEWS

How effective are campus blue phones? Jessie Russell

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ne hundred and sixty-two emergency blue phones stand alert on campus, deterring confrontations and providing close safe havens for worried students. Or do they? Many colleges throughout the country, including UA, ASU and campuses in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Washington use blue phones, or something similar, for on-campus safety. Blue Phones’ purpose is that if you see something happening and don’t have a phone or feel unsafe because someone is following you, you can activate the phones and NAUPD will respond. The system was designed so students could see another blue phone from the original phone where the call was made and, in theory, leave a trail for police to follow. With advancing mobile-phone technology and safety apps, some colleges debate the practicality of the blue phones. Melissa Zak, police chief of Boulder, Colorado, made a statement to University of Colorado students explaining the decision to do away with blue phones. Referencing a 90 percent increase in prank and false calls, she wrote in CU Boulder Today’s paper, “The ‘blue light’ phones were a great technology 20 years ago, but they have become outdated as mobile technology expands.” Because the blue phones were designed for campus safety, much of their effectiveness revolves around other campus factors including open landscapes rather than dark, isolated ones as well as clear sight lines between phones. It is a system that Public Infromation Officer Dillon Jenkins said is “always a work in progress,” and this is seen in NAUPD’s Nighttime Safety Walks on campus every October. During this event, groups of volunteers walk through the campus in sections, checking for malfunctions in the lights, deficiency in lighting, potentially dangerous landscape such as trees that cover students’ paths and areas in need of more blue phones. The university regularly maintains the blue phones, as the NAUPD affirmed that University Safety Walkers regularly check the lights during walks, and students workers from the Office of Emergency Management test the phones monthly during the summer. NAU technical workers repair any phones that have problems, and workers test the blue phone PA system quarterly every year. Although the NAUPD does not believe “all paths or social trails should be lighted or used at night,” they are using their annual night walks to find new places to install blue phones and lighting. Some of these locations include behind the Gammage building and on the Flagstaff urban trail system near the Skyview housing building “Some of the future locations will be along foot paths and pedways and will link paths that have been phone-less in the past,” said Jenkins. Sometimes, the potential helpfulness of these blue phones is detracted from some old models of phones.

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The emergency blue phone outside the Science Lab Facility on the north campus pedway is one of 162 around campus, Sept. 5. The blue phones provide a direct line to NAUPD in case of an emergency and allow NAUPD to communicate to the public during a crisis. Michael Patacsil | The Lumberjack

“There are times when it might not be as apparent that a blue phone is there because they’re not always that one, tall blue post,” Jenkins said. “Some of them are simply a phone on a wall with a blue light on it, in what looks like a yellow box.” This might make it more difficult to spot older models of blue phones, but Jenkins said new phones are being installed over time to reduce old model phones. NAUPD claimed that they have never experienced the phones being abused. According to NAUPD police blotters however, which track the activity of the department over the course of a day, there are days with multiple blue phone activations that NAUPD investigates but does find anyone in trouble. Sometimes a student will push the button, not because they are in danger, but because they want a night escort. “When a student does use a blue phone to summon a safety walk, the NAU dispatcher uses it as a chance to educate the student on the proper procedure to request a safety escort,” said

NAUPD. “We do not consider this abuse as it shows the students know it can be used to contact the police department.” The Blue Phone System may prove to be most helpful as a precaution for disasters. One of the key features of the blue phones is a two-way speaker. When activated, these speakers can be used as a PA system to the public, alerting them to disasters in the area including what is happening and where to evacuate to. Jenkins used an active-shooter situation as a possible circumstance that would prompt the use of the PA system. “[If Blue Phone System]... needed to be used for that one time to prevent someone from being assaulted or something like that in an area, because they were able to go to a blue phone and push a button, or if there’s a big disaster of some kind, we can announce from that [blue light] for people to [take] shelter and give them enough of a warning, it would be worth it for that one time. It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Jenkins said.

NEWS

The Honors College is being built over the former parking lot for Tinsley, Allen and Wilson halls Sept. 7. The Honors College will provide both housing and academic spaces in the heart of campus. Michaela Leikam | The Lumberjack

Constant construction impacts campus Tiera Oliver

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ince mid-2015, construction at NAU has been a common sight. From the Aquatics and Tennis Complex completed this past year to the recently started building of a new recital hall, construction has been nearly constant. This past summer was especially filled with construction projects going on around campus. With more students being admitted each year, the university must provide more housing as well as update and renovate a number of the existing buildings. Unfortunately, some of those renovations, although needed, are causing problems for students and staff. The Honors College at NAU began construction this summer and is currently ongoing. The construction of this building is a huge step considering the cost, which is at nearly $60 million according to a statement made by NAU spokesperson Kimberly Ott. The new Honors College will provide housing and academic learning spaces. The construction takes place on two of NAU’s busiest

campus roads, Knoles Drive and University Avenue. These streets carry a bulk of the university’s motor and pedestrian traffic. Knoles Drive is one of two main roads on campus that link north and south campus and is also the main bus route for campus buses and Mountain Link public transportation lines. The Skyview dormitory on Knoles Drive opened in August after approximately a year of construction. The new dorm is an on-campus apartment complex, operated by American Campus Communities, which also operates Hilltop Townhomes and The Suites. Another building project is the NAU recital hall that has been under construction since mid-summer. The recital hall is being built onto the existing NAU Performing Arts building and Ardrey Auditorium. The cost of this renovation estimates at about $15 million and is approximately 26,863 square feet. The recital hall is expected to be completed by October 2018. The building is said to be funded by various bonds and fundraising gifts. Many students are not big fans of the construction on campus. “I’ve been dealing with the campus construction for all four years I’ve been at NAU,” said Katana Faaloto, senior crime and

criminal justice major. “There is always traffic going on somewhere on campus and it’s a problem because it causes students to be late for class. The buses are late because of traffic, and because of that they get overcrowded.” Many students wonder if construction will ever be completed. Some are frustrated with the fact that they must plan their trips to class according to the traffic. Faaloto also said that parking has played a big factor in getting to classes. What used to be a parking lot on Knoles Drive has been closed off for the construction as well. Students are no longer able to park in the area, which decreases the amount of available parking spots around campus. NAU junior education major Kennedy Jamieson said the campus construction regularly affects her ability to get the class on time. She said that, on one occurrence, the bus took up to 30 minutes to arrive at her stop, which made her late for class during the first week of this semester. “Sometimes the street lights don’t work,” said Jamieson. “They’ll flash yellow sometimes and cars and students who are trying to cross get confused.”

SEPT. 14, 2017 – SEPT. 20, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 5

NEWS

Practicing ‘situational awareness’ on bike paths

A student rides along the bike path outside of McKay Village Apartments Sept. 5. There are multiple paths that run though campus and across Flagstaff for bikers to utilize. Bess Valdez | The Lumberjack

Owen Sexton

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iding a bike from class to class is a fast and efficient way to get around campus. Flagstaff is a bicycle-friendly town, and campus is no exception. NAU has bike paths that crisscross the entire campus and make it easily accessible. During certain times of the day, particularly when several classes get out all at once, some of these bike paths become dangerously congested with pedestrians, and accidents can happen. For bike riders, pedestrians are not prohibited from walking in paths designated for bicycle use as per local law. According to Flagstaff Arizona Municipal code section 9-05-001-0008, “A person riding a bicycle, skateboard or play vehicle on a path shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians and exempt vehicles. Such person shall give an audible signal before overtaking any pedestrian or exempt vehicle traveling in the same direction on the path.” State law uses more forceful wording in designating the bike lane. According to Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28-815 subsection C, “A path or lane that is designated as a bicycle path or

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lane by state or local authorities is for the exclusive use of bicycles even though other uses are permitted pursuant to subsection D or are otherwise permitted by state or local authorities.” Senior biomedical science major Jon De Leo rides his bike nearly every day from his house in the Lake Mary area to campus. Throughout his academic career at NAU, De Leo has both witnessed and been involved in accidents with pedestrians on a bike path. Last year, he saw a bicyclist swerve to miss a pedestrian walking in the bike path on the hill by the Walkup Skydome. “He was going fast down the hill and swerved to dodge a pedestrian. When he did, he lost control and his front tire hit the fence post on the side of the path,” said De Leo. “He went over the bars, and his face went into the post right at the end.” The pedestrian was uninjured, but the bicyclist required medical attention for his injuries. De Leo recently ran into a student riding on a longboard in the bike path. “He was riding in my lane,” De Leo said. “That was the issue.” Neither De Leo nor the longboarder were injured, and De Leo said that the student riding the longboard was apologetic and admitted he was riding in the wrong direction of traffic.

Students lock their bikes outside the University Union to keep them secure. Bess Valdez | The Lumberjack

“Police can’t stop and detain someone unless they have probable cause of an actual crime being committed,” said NAUPD public information officer Dillon Jenkins. “We still want to respect people’s rights.” Every year, NAUPD receives reports of bicyclists getting into accidents with pedestrians. When pedestrians walk on bicycle paths, there is nothing NAUPD can do to control that, partly due to not having the time or resources. Jenkins said he agrees that pedestrians walking in the bike path is an issue that needs to be addressed, and he has a simple solution as well. He added that for everyone’s general safety on bike paths, cyclists need to watch their speed and be cognizant of their surroundings. “Situational awareness,” Jenkins said. “You cannot rely on anything but that.”

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

Respect for sex workers, respect for all KAYLIN DUNNETT

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he other night, I was lying in bed, drifting in and out of sleep, while noncommittally scrolling through my phone’s Twitter feed. As I was browsing, a video caught my eye that a fellow user reposted. The content was shocking enough to shake me from my nighttime stupor. The video began with a couple of young men in a car coasting through an urban cityscape. While at a stoplight, one passenger looked over and noticed a woman who seemed to be searching for something, or someone, near the street. The two men decided she was a sex worker and called out to her from their window. She approached, her voice quizzical as she asked whether or not they were potential customers. Under the guise of seriousness, they proposed several services and offered to pick her up at a curb down the road. The video then cut to the car slowing down at the meeting point, and the woman walked over to the car. Before she could speak, the passenger closest to her pulled the lid off a fountain drink and cruelly threw its contents on her, soaking the woman with what appeared to be soda. The people in the car sped away laughing as the video ended. The post, which has since been deleted from Twitter, left a lasting impression on me, prompting me to write this piece. Sex workers are not deserving of the dehumanizing treatment and portrayal they so often get by the media and from the general public. It’s time to start viewing sex workers as complex, feeling, working human beings who are more than a one-dimensional, “hooker” trope. A popular argument those that are against sex work propose

is that the criminalization of sex work will eliminate the issue, and that keeping prostitution out of sight and out of mind will solve the supposed problem of sex workers on the street. Sex work, however, cannot be criminalized without violating human rights. According to the Open Society Foundations, if sex work were to be criminalized, it would “drive sex work underground,” furthering abuses that may not be recognized by law enforcement. Open Society Foundations also explains how individuals participate in sex work for a variety of reasons. Many choose to participate in sex work to explore and express their sexuality, while others participate in sex work due to its flexible working conditions. Some individuals don’t have the luxury of choice and pursue sex work due to poverty, inadequate education or lack of an economically viable job. Open Society Foundations also writes that sex workers are “often treated as less than human, both in cultural attitude and in public policy.” Marginalized groups may suffer from pre-existing biases held by employers or law enforcement, including people of color and transgender or gender-nonconforming people. According to reporter Paul Harris of The Guardian, undocumented immigrants are especially vulnerable because of their citizenship status and may be afraid to approach law enforcement for help should they ever be in a dangerous situation. These circumstances and reasons paint a picture of a very diverse group of people whose work influences their lives in a multitude of ways. Regarding sex work and the empowerment that workers can derive from it, I found a very interesting collective of writings focused on “black or brown womanists  —  women and femme, cis or trans  —  who are pro-sex and/or are sex workers and support sex worker rights.” The collective in

question, titled “Heauxthots,” was written by blogger Suprihmbé on empowerment exclusive to people of color and the ownership of their sexuality and bodies. Proheauxism, the term that Suprihmbé coined for the movement, encompasses the de-stigmatization of black bodies as well as the decriminalization of sex work. Suprihmbé’s work is important, as it uplifts marginalized voices and allows for a positive space for the sexuality of people of color to be embraced and de-fetishized. You may be wondering how one can be respectful and take action regarding the support of sex workers. Remember, first and foremost, that many sex workers have agency over their bodies. Monica Shores from alternet.org wrote about the importance of letting a sex worker decide for themselves whether or not they have been coerced or forced into sex work. Shores also advised against using terminology such as “used goods” or “prostituted” when discussing the body of a sex worker. Degrading language like this implies a sex worker is dirty, which is extremely alienating. Support can also be given with education. Visit blogs and websites of sex workers to understand their experiences firsthand. Look into activist groups dedicated to the safety and welfare of sex workers as well. A lot of unnecessary hatred and bigotry comes from a lack of exposure — the fear of unknown territory. Education is empowering. Education is liberating. Education is humanizing. Of all the ways to respect sex workers, listening to their stories and experiences, and thus empowering their voices, is the most poignant. Sex work is work, and sex workers are workers.

who contributed to the U.S.’s history and may have also owned slaves or committed acts of racism. Many of these figures are responsible for some of the most honorable and patriotic acts that have helped mold the U.S. into what it is today. They are the reason we are able to call it “the land of the free and home of the brave.” Now, when we look at the rally in Charlottesville, we have to recognize that the original groups from the right went through the legal process of obtaining a permit to protest. Regrettably, many white nationalist and supremacist groups saw this as a key moment to have their voices heard and exploit their hate for people of color and Jewish people. The protest did start out somewhat peacefully until the Ku Klux Klan, and other white nationalist groups, began to overrun the majority of the initially peaceful rally. On the far left, anti-fascist groups quickly responded and stormed through the streets with their all-black costumes and face covers, homemade riot shields and clubs and bats to resist and continue to provoke more violence with the white nationalists. This isn’t to say that groups on the left are all corrupt, but certain characteristics of hate seem to be common factors that play a role

when tragic events such as the Charlottesville rally happen. Another fact that needs to be recognized is that this isn’t the first time the anti-fascists appeared at the scene and provoked violence. If you look within the past year, from Berkeley, California, to Seattle, Washington, anti-facist counter-protests cost the cities thousands of dollars in damage, and there were countless arrests and charges that were made for assault, vandalism and more. This is in no way condoning the acts of the white supremacists or neo-Nazis. They committed murders and provoked violence, too. The most recent and perfect example being in Charlottesville when 20-year-old white supremacist, James Alex Fields Jr., drove his car into the streets, murdering anti-racism protester Heather Heyer and injuring at least 19 others. At the end of the day, we need to recognize that, regardless of race, gender and sexual orientation, we are all human beings. These criminal and horrific acts of violence must come to an end before we tear each other apart and ultimately start another civil war, which will inevitably result in even more death on home soil. This starts with denouncing certain actions by groups on both ends of the spectrum and attempting to make it known that there are more peaceful ways to protest the issues in our country.

Violence on both sides of Charlottesville TANNER DUARTE

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t’s indisputable that the United States has a past of racism and pressed a harshly unequal treatment onto people of color throughout the country. But now that we are in 2017, things have changed. Unfortunately, racism is still alive, though arguably not in the severe ways it used to be. There are, of course, exceptions. Aug. 12 in Charlottesville, Virginia, there was a “Unite The Right” rally. This rally was planned and put together by Jason Kessler, a former journalist and current member of the Proud Boys, a libertarian group of people from all backgrounds who aim to keep U.S. patriotism and Western culture alive. This rally was originally formed to protest the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue, in an effort to preserve U.S. history. The statue was going to be taken down because Lee was a slave owner. At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves this: What is going to come next? Is our country’s very first president, George Washington, then Thomas Jefferson’s statue going to be next, followed by the historic faces of Mt. Rushmore? We need to realize that, although there were many people

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

Asians whitewashed by Hollywood CHARLOTTE WILSON

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hen I was young and pretended to be Disney princesses with other girls, I was confined to the role of Mulan, Pocahontas or Princess Jasmine. Growing up, I was as excited as any other girl when I saw those life-sized dolls appear on the shelves but ended up disappointed when I couldn’t find one with tan skin and black hair. There were only blond-haired and blue-eyed white dolls or curly, black-haired and brown-eyed black dolls. When I used to watch old movies from the 1950s with my parents, Asian women weren’t even played by Asian women but, rather, by white women with black hair and squinting eyes. Even though we have progressed to a time where blatant racism against Asian people in the United States is mostly obsolete, whitewashing and Asian erasure in Hollywood are still major issues. Examples include old films with characters like O-Lan from The Good Earth, Jane from Dragon Seed, Fah Lo See from The Mask of Fu Manchu and Tumptim from The King and I. There are even examples as recent as Allison Ng from the movie Aloha, the Ancient One from Doctor Strange, Motoko Kusangi in Ghost in the Shell and Light Yagami from the live-action Netflix remake of Death Note. Western culture, and the U.S. in particular, seems to be obsessed with Eastern Asian culture so they take stories and different elements of Asian culture but hardly ever actually cast Asian people. The entertainment industry has so many opportunities where they could cast Asian characters, but don’t actually take that opportunity. The representation of Asian people in Hollywood media is very little. Asians are rarely cast as the lead male actor in romantic films, and just as rare, are main characters who are Asian. Excuses for this are made often, with the most common being that international films aim to appeal to international audiences. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was an international film with an Asian

cast. It appealed to and excelled with international audiences. Another line of excuses were made for Ghost in the Shell. Many people made the argument that the director of the original anime said it was OK, and people in Japan said they didn’t see it as an issue. Well, of course, people in Asia don’t struggle with representation in their media because Asia is filled with Asians. In the U.S., where we pride ourselves on being a culturally and ethnically diverse country, Asians still have to struggle to get any sort of recognition in media. It’s an issue that can’t be ignored or dismissed. Scarlett Johansson plays Major in Ghost in the Shell because she appeals to international audiences, and Major is a cyborg, so why does her ethnicity matter? While these are good points, this is another missed opportunity for Hollywood to cast Asian actors and actresses in much-needed roles. An Asian actress could have appealed internationally just as much as Johansson. Death Note producer Masi Oka, said he wanted to cast an Asian-born actor but couldn’t find one who spoke English well enough. It wasn’t a matter of casting an actor from Asia but one that was ethnically Asian. Tilda Swinton defended her role as the Ancient One, saying that the producers recognized that the Ancient One was a stereotypically Tibetan character, and they wanted to avoid controversy by casting her instead. Essentially, they couldn’t write a nonstereotypical Asian character. Hollywood needs to stop making excuses that they can’t write Asian roles or that there are no Asian actors or actresses. There are plenty of roles that could use Asian characters and plenty of amazing Asian actors and actresses. Diversity and representation for Asians in media is attainable. We have to keep fighting for it to happen.

Illustration By Colton Starley

SEPT. 14, 2017 – SEPT. 20, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 11

FEATURES

Community members gather for a guided session of Vedic Meditation at the Temple of the Divine Mother in Flagstaff. The practice comes from an ancient tradition in India and is a technique used to achieve tranquility and peace Sept. 4. Shelbie Smithson | The Lumberjack

The unique practice of Vedic Meditation Brittany Viar

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editation can be universally defined as a practice involving a person sitting down, with honed posture, legs crossed, eyes closed or unfocused while humming mantras such as “om.” There is more to its essence than what is initially inferred of the practice. Meditation is a reflective technique that can be mastered over time. It requires a certain type of patience and inner peace. This practice was first documented thousands of years ago in India, around 1500 BCE. Some historians believe it began much earlier. Throughout its earlier stages, it was also adopted by neighboring countries and was then formulated into religious practices. Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Islam all use meditation in some way. The word Vedic comes from Sanskrit, an ancient language of India. While meditation has much cultural and religious context, what is Vedic Meditation and how is it practiced? According to the Vedic Path Meditation website, it is not as complicated as it is perceived to be. Unlike standard meditation, Vedic Meditation does not entail spiritual implementation or exclusion of oneself from society, and it is not fixated on disciplined concentration. Though meditation itself is known as a difficult practice, it does not necessarily have to be as straining. Vedic Meditation stands out because it’s not as complex in its form as other types of meditation. “Vedic Meditation is a technique that I learned almost five years ago,” said Alec Soderberg, a

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meditation instructor at the Temple of the Divine Mother in downtown Flagstaff. “It comes from an ancient tradition in India and is a technique that helps the mind be able to move from that active level of thinking to subtler and subtler states of awareness until it brings the brain to its least-excited state. This really makes it different from other types of meditation.” Soderberg is certified as an instructor in India and is a devoted follower of the practice. Soderberg acknowledges the multifaceted abilities of Vedic Meditation: the ability to bring the body to a hypo-metabolic state in which the body is resting deeply. His classes are intended provide the community with a new way to achieve peace and decompression. “I was raised in a holistic family, so I always knew that meditation existed,” said Marco Bifano, one of Alec Soderberg’s students. “It just took me to get a little older and more mature to begin practicing meditation. I practiced Apostle Meditation, and it was working for a long time. And then, I almost started losing my practice. Right around that time, I actually met Alec, and he started talking to me about Vedic Meditation.” It is also known as a household form of meditation, meaning it was created for the average human being. “After going to one of Alec’s talks, it really inspired me and made me want to try a practice that has been passed down for thousands of years and been refined over that time to be the most effective practice for people who are ‘householders.’ It’s for people like us. We’re going to go to work, go to the store and interact everyday. We’re not going to be the monk in the cave. We’re going to be out in society,” Bifano said.

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A statue of a Hindu God stands in the Temple of the Divine Mother. Shelbie Smithson | The Lumberjack

Soderberg said this type of meditation is a way for the mind and body to heal and recover. It can offer tranquility and inner experience for a person while one is still awake. “Luckily, the body knows how to heal itself. Our body is very intelligent. So, basically, if we can learn to get out of our own way and be able to access this very subtle state of consciousness. We’ll be able to facilitate a great amount of healing and relaxation. It’s inevitable that the body falls away and disease and things like this happen — meditators don’t live forever — but what it does, is it helps to relieve stress,” Soderberg said. Stress can create unnecessary problems for individuals and societies. It can lead to suffering, but it can be prevented. “I met Alec Soderberg last summer while I was taking a solo road trip and stayed in Flagstaff,” said Weston Chapman, another one of Soderberg’s pupils. “I encountered Alec and found out he was a meditation teacher, and then I decided to join an introduction talk he was having that week. After his talk, I was sold, due to how he emphasized how the Vedic Meditation practice he taught was ‘effortless.’” Society and everyday life can be hectic, and one’s mind can become cluttered and overloaded. Vedic Meditation and other forms offer a remedy for restoring mental wellness. “I had been practicing a mindful breathing meditation for a couple years before this trip, and I was looking for some more guidance in deepening my meditation practice. The mindfulness practice was nice, but it felt like I plateaued, and it also felt more like a forced exercise than a practice that was enjoyable and relaxing,” Chapman said.

Vedic Meditation allows the use of mantras. A mantra is a repeated word or sound utilized to enhance the meditative experience. “I didn’t make any of this up. This is coming from this ancient knowledge of India. When I teach people to meditate, I give them their own unique mantra which is a thought-sound vibration. It’s the way that we use the mantra that unexcites the mind through this experience of transcendence,” Soderberg said. Soderberg values tradition and is a firm believer in sustaining the cultural background of meditation. He does not encourage or force any lifestyle changes, a meditators life can naturally change for the better. “This mantra-based meditation has really transformed my daily practice. I’ve been practicing it for over a year now. It is truly effortless once you get the hang of the technique, and meditation is now something I look forward to everyday. Before, I treated it more like a chore. The more I stick to the practice the more I feel a deepening state of inner contentment that is there through the ups and downs of life,” Chapman said. To gain the benefits of meditating means to practice its entirety, and when one incorporates the practice into his or her daily routine, it can transcend from a task into a way of life. “Living is a truly blissful experience, and that’s what I’ve learned through meditating,” Soderberg said. “The technique doesn’t work on belief. It really works if you’re regular with it, and when you master the technique. That’s why it works.”

SEPT. 14, 2017 – SEPT. 20, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 13

FEATURES

Parenting vegetarian children Zara Glidden

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he dinner table in the Campbell home is set for four: three seats and a high chair with a candle lit in the center of the table. Hanna and Cory Campbell sit down with their two kids, Bradley who is 7 years old and Poppy who is 1. The Campbell family is sitting down to eat a meal that, until two months ago, may have included meat. Having discussed the idea of becoming a vegetarian family for a while, the Campbells have made the transition, and are pleased with their decision. The Campbells are just one family among an increasingly mainstream demographic that are choosing to cut animal-based foods from their diet. Fifty years ago, the vegetarian movement was largely populated by certain religious groups and intellectual elites, but it no longer raises many eyebrows. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as of 2016, 3.3 percent of Americans were either vegetarian, cutting out meat and fish, or vegan, nixing all animal products including dairy and eggs. Often times, people who follow a plant-based diet may have made the decision to alter their diet as a young adult. More individuals, however, may be becoming more cognizant to health and nutrition at a younger age, and the idea of a plant-based diet can be perceived to be more appealing among. With health and nutrition comes freedom of choice. This can introduce the concept of raising children free of meat, which can raise many concerns. One concern in particular is whether or not children will be malnourished on a plant-based diet because of a lack of protein. Kelley Kelson is the primary registered dietician nutritionist at the Flagstaff Medical Center. Kelson noted that these fears are largely misconceptions. “Protein’s kind of the big one that people throw out there as a concern. And honestly, on the American diet, most people do not need to worry about their protein,” said Kelson. “They’re either meeting the requirement or exceeding it. If you have a really bad diet in general, with mostly processed carbohydrate foods and are not eating nutrient dense, that’s a different story. But, if your diet is healthful, moderate and varied, you have nothing to worry about.” Kelson is more concerned with the possibility of micronutrient deficiencies, which can occur in children on “haphazard” vegetarian meal plans. Nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, zinc and iron are harder to come by on plant-heavy diets, and can require more careful parental consideration. Deficiencies in nutrients can be especially true for vegans as foods like milk and eggs that are fairly rich sources of these vitamins. Whether one is a vegan or vegetarian, remaining cognizant to health education can be what leads one to follow his or her diet successfully. “They’re both going to be something where you have a concern for vitamin B12 deficiency,” Kelson said. “However,

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both those counts can be addressed through supplementation or by making sure you choose foods that have been fortified with B12 like certain cereals and milk alternatives.” According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “Appropriately planned vegetarian, including vegan, diets are healthful [and] appropriate for all stages of the life cycle.” Kelson defined a well-planned diet on the vegetarian spectrum as being “minimally processed, and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.” It also includes conscious supplementation where necessary and regular check ups for children. While agreeing that plant-based diets can be beneficial for the health of both adults and children, Kelson stressed the importance of parents knowing what they’re getting into. For the Campbells, who chose their new lifestyle for both animal welfare and health concerns, eating a nutritious diet is a must. An on-again off-again vegetarian since her teens, Hanna Campbell already has a number of recipes up her sleeve that have helped to ease the transition. “I make a lot of lentil stews, vegetables, salads, potatoes and homemade bread,” said Hanna Campbell. “For any meaty meals we used to have, we now just substitute more vegetables.” For the Campbells’ son Bradley, the family change was no change at all. Disliking the taste and texture of meat, he has always refused it, a choice his parents respected even while eating meat themselves. There are as many different approaches to raising vegetarian children as there are versions of the diet. Parents who raise children on plant-based diets bring a unique set of reasons and beliefs to the table which can create an infinite variety of family dynamics. Diane Iverson, a Prescott resident, writer and longtime social-justice worker, raised her two children on an entirely meatless diet and lifestyle. “Their entire lives, until they left home, they were vegetarian. My mother thought they would die, or not have good bones or something, but they were both very healthy kids. We lived in a very remote area in northern California, so we lived off the land. We had a cow, so we had milk, and I made cheese. And we had a garden and grew everything. It was part of the back-to-the-land movement that was going on at the time,” said Iverson. A near-lifetime vegetarian herself, she cited spiritual, environmental and economic reasons for the choice she made at

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years old. “I think that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and I think that what we put in them should be good for us,” Iverson said. “If you compare the amount of water and grain that it takes to create a pound of beef, it’s so much that I thought it would be good to skip the middleman, or middle cow, and go straight for the grain itself.” Dr. Priscilla Lee, a northern Arizona mother, seeks to influence her 9-year-old daughter Annabelle by example only. Lee has been vegetarian for around six years, and her beliefs about her choice are deep-seated. As a Buddhist, Lee believes in avoiding meat for karmic reasons, especially meat that has been inhumanely produced. “Taste kept me from becoming vegetarian for a long time,” said Lee, “But, the other reasons, which had always been there, eventually overpowered that. It became too heavy in my soul to eat meat.” Lee, however, does not impose her own soul’s burdens on anyone else, noting that her daughter eats almost entirely a vegetarian diet. However, she allows her daughter to make independent choice as well in regard to food. “I feel like she really enjoys food. She’ll try anything, and I don’t want to try and curb that part of her personality,” Lee said. “She’s still growing and she needs to experience life the way she needs to. She needs to go live her own life and then make decisions about what’s right for her.” Lee’s approaches to health and nutrition can be instilled into one’s life during adolescence. This notion rings true for Lee as her mother is a lifelong vegetarian who took a similar approach to child-rearing. “My mom was never one of those vegetarians who was like, ‘You should be vegetarian,’” Lee said. “She never felt it necessary that my sister or I followed suit. It was her choice.” Although she hopes that Annabelle Lee may eventually follow her example, Lee notes that no one else’s choices are hers to make, including those of her daughter. When it comes to a child’s diet, where is the dividing line between discernment and excessive legalism? This is a decision that many parents conscientiously make for their families, and is something that the Campbells continue to ethically consider. Illustration By Alanna Secrest

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Arizona universities’ statements on DACA September 5, 2017 Dear ASU Community: Two days ago, I made clear ASU’s intention to honor its constitutionally mandated mission to provide a quality education to Arizona’s college bound students – all of them. I had previously reaffirmed ASU’s “historic commitment to Dreamers generally and to DACA students in particular.” I stand by that commitment, including my promise that “If DACA is eliminated, we will rise to the challenge,” just as we did before DACA existed by finding resources for these students from private sources. In my November statement, I provided the broad outlines of our action plan. Here are some specific steps we are taking in response to today’s announcement: 1. We will work with the Arizona Congressional Delegation and other members of Congress to enact the DREAM Act or other appropriate federal legislation to provide an alternative to DACA by the administration’s March 5, 2018, deadline. I have asked Matt Salmon, ASU’s Vice President for Government Affairs, to lead this effort. I am hopeful that this time we will succeed in finding what I have long considered a pathway to an educated future for the thousands of young people who have done nothing wrong. 2. We will engage the members of the Arizona business community and the various Arizona Chambers of Commerce who have supported these efforts in the past to assist with our federal policy work. Matt Salmon and his team will also coordinate this work. 3. We will facilitate legal advice for and to our students. I have asked Sr. Vice President and General Counsel, José Cárdenas, and the dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law, Doug Sylvester, to coordinate this effort. 4. Past experience has taught us that despite overwhelming public support for the DREAM Act, passage is not a certainty. To cover that eventuality, we will begin work now with individual, corporate, and foundation donors to help provide scholarships and

other resources to our students. I’ve asked Gretchen Buhlig, president of the ASU Foundation, and ASU Sr. Vice President Christine Wilkinson, to lead this effort. 5. Our contingency planning will include discussions with Mexican and other international universities to identify and develop higher education programs that may be of assistance to our students. Executive Vice President and University Provost Mark Searle and General Counsel José Cárdenas will lead this effort. All of these steps are in addition to those we initiated last November and earlier this year, and that we have enhanced since then. For example, in November we began providing counseling services to our DACA students, and over the course of the last several months we have touched base with every one of our DACA students to reaffirm our support for the completion of their college education. And earlier this year we established a web page for DACA students and for international staff and faculty, and we will continue to use it to provide additional and up-to-date information. We have already added links to the three DHS documents concerning the administration’s decision to rescind DACA: A press release, a memorandum and an FAQ about the decision. All three can be found on ASU’s immigration and travel resources page. I previously said we would talk to our DACA scholarship partner, TheDream.US, about ways in which they can continue to support the recipients of their scholarship funds. Those discussions have been ongoing, including as recently as last week when they advised their ASU scholars that TheDream.US is “exploring options that will enable us to continue to support your college education,” should DACA end. They have also said that, if need be, they will make scholarships available for ASU’s online program. As I said on Sunday, rest assured that we will, “within the law, do everything we possibly can do to help young people move their lives forward – regardless of the circumstances that brought them to this country.” ASU President Michael Crow

September 5, 2017 Dear Lumberjack family, Northern Arizona University recognizes how challenging and difficult today’s decision is for our DACA students and their families. The decision is particularly difficult in Arizona because we have many DACA students in the state. Educating all students regardless of status is very important to NAU and to me personally. All of our students bring unique perspectives and experiences to our campus, which enrich the living and learning experience at NAU. As we review the impact of today’s decision, NAU will continue to maintain our commitment to accessible and affordable higher education for all. NAU will remain in close contact with our DACA students to ensure they have the services and information they need now and throughout this year. We will continue to work within the law to support our DACA students to ensure they can achieve their education goals. I join the Arizona Board of Regents and other university presidents across the country in asking Congress to act swiftly on immigration reform that provides legal clarity for DACA students. Rita Hartung Cheng President

September 5, 2017 “The University of Arizona is urging Congress to deliver an expedient legislative solution that provides all DACA students with certainty in fulfilling all of their educational potential. In concert with our governing board, the Arizona Board of Regents, we are providing all of the support possible to DACA students as permitted by law. “The University of Arizona is dedicated to providing quality higher education to advance our communities, our country and our world. In that regard, it is our goal to make education accessible to all students and lifelong learners. In the meantime, the UA is offering resources through the Immigrant Student Resource Center with the goal of assisting DACA students with the completion of their educational ambitions, and we continue to explore available options.” Robert C. Robbins President of University of Arizona

SEPT. 14, 2017 – SEPT. 20, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 15

CULTURE

Amanda Meeks (left) leads a presentation to a group of students at the Women/Trans/Femme Makers Night Sept. 7. Rye So | The Lumberjack

Women/Trans/Femme Makers in the making Max Becker

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n the first Thursday of every month, the local LGBTQ community and their allies gather together for the Women/Trans/Femme Makers Night. The Maker Lab in Cline Library is reserved from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and inside members participate in arts and crafts as well as put on demonstrations for various skills that could be beneficial in everyday life. The Maker Lab offers students a creative outlet through the use of 3D-printing technology and other tools. The meetings were started spring semester 2017 by Amanda Meeks, a teaching, learning and services librarian in the Cline Library.

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“I started this event because there is a gender gap in the science, technology, engineering and math fields, and in the maker culture across the board,” said Meeks. Meeks hopes to bridge that gap by providing NAU students, as well as the wider Flagstaff community, a safe space to participate in that same maker culture. Meeks explained the event as a doit-yourself crafts night with an emphasis on technology. She also collaborates with one of the libraries at UA, which holds a similar event on the same day. “We share a hashtag so that we can share what’s happening at both locations and build a community across Arizona, not just Flagstaff,” Meeks said, referring to the event’s Twitter hashtag #AZMakersWTF.

There was no shortage of events and workshops for attendees to participate in. There was a button and magnet-crafting station with pronoun-conscious slogans, materials to create personal “zines” — low-cost, self-publishing medium that allows the creator to share ideas on a single piece of paper — and a demonstration given on basic coding and website building. There were also oneon-one sessions. A web-design demonstration was given by senior mechanical engineering major Azalea Grant, an ally to the LGBTQ community. Grant is in charge of the website for the Engineering and Fabrication shop inside the Engineering Research building, which is where she first learned how to code websites. “The school provides storage for everyone,” said Grant. “You

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can have your own website [that] you can start completely from scratch. What I’m going to be working on this semester is putting together a portfolio, so my website and resume can be available to future employers.” Her presentation included an introduction to HTML coding, which is the basis for all websites, as well as information on how to access the storage provided by the university for students. After the demonstration, those in attendance mingled and worked on their individual projects. Junior special education major Audrey McPherron was working on a twine — an intricate series of coding for a choose-your-own-adventure-style video game. “It’s just a place to kind of chill. The people here are really great. Everyone’s really nice,” said McPherron. “We learned how to knit and how to use the 3D printers last semester, and if you didn’t want to do that, you could just do your own thing.” Future projects for Women/Trans/Femme Maker Nights include tutorials for basic clothing and backpack repairs as well as sticking with the technology theme by demonstrating how to write and edit Wikipedia pages. Additionally, Meeks is chaperoning a trip to the 3rd Annual Women Techmakers Tucson Hackathon from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1, that will feature more detailed seminars will be given on the fundamentals of website coding. The Women/Trans/Femme Makers Night provides the LGBTQ community and its allies an environment to express themselves and work with people they can relate to. Meeks looks forward to attracting more participants in the coming months. Top Left: Meeks (left) demonstrates to Audrey McPherron (right) how to make a button Sept. 7. Top Right: Amanda Meeks (left) and “This semester is going to be much better,” she said. “I think Azalea Grant (right) present at the Women/Trans/Femme Makers Night, which was started to create unity within STEM fields Sept. 7. we’re going to grow a lot this year.” Bottom: Button making was one of the workshops offered to attendees Sept. 7. Rye So | The Lumberjack

SEPT. 14, 2017 – SEPT. 20, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 17

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Arizona: Keeping it wild, keeping it clean Joe Wielinski

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ost people find themselves rising early to return to work Tuesday morning after Labor Day. The morning of Sept. 5, however, a group of nearly 30 people gathered around a picnic table at Slide Rock National Park in Sedona. These environmentalists had started their day early, some even taking off work, to clean up trash left behind by Labor Day weekend vacationers — including dirty diapers. The gatherers spent the next two hours participating in the cleanup project held by Keep It Wild Co., a nature-tailored clothing company based in Flagstaff. Married couple Cameron and Casi Jarman started the company in October 2016, after their website Arizona Hikers Guide achieved success. Keep it Wild Co. primarily produces apparel, and fun slogans related to the natural world are a common theme throughout their clothing. Their shirts have expressions like, “I’d Hike That” and “The Desert is Calling & I Must Go.” This clothing is showcased throughout the company’s Instagram page, which has been a contributor to their success and a way to spread their message. “I started following Keep It Wild on Instagram, and then we started buying their clothes for our store in Sedona,” said Nicole Davis, owner of the T-shirt store, Cheers. Davis and her daughter Haley volunteered at the cleanup event. Keep It Wild Co. has used their social media influence and their website, keepitwildco.com, to fuel their environmentally friendly message. Ten percent of all profits from their store go toward a fund used to host cleanups around Arizona. Cameron and Casi Jarman notify their followers when a new cleanup event is coming up, using Facebook and Instagram. The event at Slide Rock was the first to happen on a Tuesday. Normally, the cleanups are scheduled on Saturdays to ensure a large amount of people will be able to attend. People did not seem to be deterred on the Tuesday morning. “We do our best to make sure each volunteer has a good time, meets new like-minded friends and take a new sense of pride and stewardship for the beautiful wild places we all enjoy,” said Cameron Jarman in an email. At the picnic site, the cleanup volunteers were supplied with an abundant amount of fruit. Freshly picked apples were even brought to share by one of the park rangers. Fueled by fruits and with excitement in the air, the group split into three separate sections. One large group traveled on the trail that leads to Slide Rock, while another worked its way north along U.S. Highway 89A. The smallest group walked south along the highway. The groups split in their respective directions armed with gloves, trash bags and mechanical trash-pickup tools. A dirty diaper that had been thrown out of a car was one of the first waste items to be found, with several more scattered around one turn off. Half-full plastic water bottles were haphazardly scattered throughout the roadside areas, along with cigarette butts that had been stomped into the dirt. By the time the group returned to the meet-up location, each person in the group had accumulated approximately 20 to 30 pounds of litter. When the trash was accounted for, more than 500 pounds of

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Photo courtesy of Keep It Wild Co.

trash had been collected and removed from Slide Rock State Park in a single cleanup. “I’ve done more than a dozen cleanups for other organizations. These cleanups are important to get all this trash off this beautiful canyon and 89A,” said Rick Lee, Flagstaff resident and longtime cleanup project participant. “When I’m hiking, I always pick stuff up along the way, but you never notice how much there really is. Obviously, a lot of people throw stuff out the window here, especially down by these secret creek spots. People just leave everything, so it gets pretty gross.” The trip back was difficult for volunteers, as it was not immediately apparent how heavy the trash bags were until the participants had to carry them about a half a mile back to the parking lot, but spirits remained high. “We hope that volunteers will gain a sense of accomplishment and will spread the word and [be] good examples in their social

circles,” Cameron Jarman said in an email. Keep It Wild Co. has big goals for the future of their cleanups. In 2017, they have collected just short of 1,000 bags of trash, which adds up to 22,015 pounds of litter removed from the local ecosystem alone according to their website. “We plan to reach 100,000 pounds of trash by the end of 2018,” said Cameron Jarman. This goal cannot be reached without the participation of local citizens. All the labor is done by volunteers because park rangers often do not have the staff to clean up after the millions of people that attend the sites yearly. “We’re making up for what the local government can’t do,” said NAU alumna Haley Davis. The next cleanup project is scheduled to take place Sept. 16, when Keep It Wild Co. intends to clean up their adopted section of the Urban Trail System behind the Flagstaff Mall.

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SPORTS

The Weekly Take: Not just a sport

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ootball has been a part of my life for the better part of 15 years. I can’t quite recall the exact moment it took over, I can only recollect the slow transition that soon manifested my childhood — something that I, frankly, had little control over. Like most hobbies, it was thrust upon me at such a young age by my family that, after a while, life didn’t make sense without it. Thankfully, I grew quite fond of the sport. I eventually started playing organized tackle football for my Pop Warner league at the age of 8, although recent scientific research would discourage with that, but let’s just forget about that. I know I will. KADE Starting off, I wasn’t the best player on our GILLISS Mighty Panther’s squad. As a matter of fact I ASSISTANT was quite terrible. My pigeon-toed running SPORTS EDITOR never impressed the coaches, and my dad screaming from the sidelines wasn’t too persuasive either. Time and practice would soon become my best friends, and by the time next season rolled around, I was an official starter on defense. The season came to a close and, will you look at that, bestowed upon me was the most lucrative and prized trophy any castaway teammate could achieve: the Mighty Panther’s Most Improved Player Award. Putting in all that effort, being rewarded and noticed for my hard work by my coaches and their noticing how far I had come was a big deal to me. Plus, I noticed it as well. It was the first time I truly learned what is was like to be disciplined. It was at this time, the word “dedication” started making its way into my personal dictionary. The next eight years of my life revolved strictly around football: striving to becoming a better player, running faster, lifting harder and studying the game more. My focus was set to tunnel vision toward athletic dominance. How I performed on the field became my obsession. Yet, with all that focused attention, there was something out of my peripheral that extended beyond the field. The same teachings that I carried with my pads, navigated its way into my everyday life. Discipline gave me knowledge of how to overcome previous academic obstacles, which had plagued me since middle school. Being able to come from that to the dean’s list was a remarkable turnaround I didn’t know I was capable of. The game taught me perseverance when I needed it most: losing a loved one, living without running water or electricity, trying to comprehend my parents’ divorce at 10 years old. I was able to overcome these personal struggles because of the lessons I’ve been taught on the gridiron. Sports can shape us. They can mold us into better versions of ourselves and help us challenge tasks we never thought possible. For some, it is deeply rooted within us. Football is not just a sport. It’s who I am.

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Sophomore goalie Jaxson Gosnell has been with the IceJacks DII squad since 2015-2016 and has a career record of 22-11 Sept. 7. Wyatt Rutt | The Lumberjack

NAU DII IceJacks preparing for the puck drop Ryan Wright

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he NAU Division II IceJacks are back on the ice and gearing up for the 2017-2018 season. They will host their 2017-2018 season opener against the Phoenix Knights Sept. 23 at Jay Lively Activity Center at 8 p.m. The Phoenix Knights are a junior team, but that doesn’t mean this game should be taken lightly. The Knights have signed Arunas Bermejo, a returning player for this season. Bermejo averaged more than a point a game in the 2015-2016 season and is expected to be a main contributor for the Knights. The IceJacks have their work cut out for them this season, but they are more than ready to start the season on a high note. “Last year was a true test to see where these Lumberjacks stack up against the competition,” said director of hockey AJ Fairchild. “This year they are hopeful to get another shot at nationals and are motivated to have a better outcome.” Despite the outcome of the national tournament, the IceJacks were the No. 2 ranked team in the West region last season. Players said they are eager to get the season started and plan to kick it off with a win at home. The IceJacks were successful last year, going 25-7 in the regular season. They fell short in the American Collegiate Hockey Association national championships, but they are hungry to make an appearance again this year.

“Nationals was tough ­— three games lost by a goal — but I feel that we got a couple of new guys to make that jump into the quarterfinals, semifinals, finals and nationals,” said head coach Travis Johanson. There will be many familiar faces on the roster this season because only four players graduating last semester. Junior forward Lucas Lomax, sophomores defenseman Kyle Lindstrom and goalkeeper Jaxson Gosnell are among the returners. Lomax played in 34 games last season and scored 33 goals. He not only led the team in goals, but he also almost averaged a goal a game. “Being able to make it to nationals was great, some of us haven’t been on that stage before, so, getting there at that level is a good way to judge our team,” said Lomax. “Playing on a national level really gives the coaches, players and fans an idea of what to expect this upcoming year. Based on how well last season went, there are some high expectations going forward.” Lindstrom is an enforcer and had one of the highest number of penalty minutes on the team last season with 36 minutes in the box. Due to his role as an enforcer, he was bound to have a higher amount of penalties called against him, but he is a key player when it comes to defense. The defense has a responsibility to push guys off the puck or force a bad shot by the opposing team.

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“[We] are looking better than last year,” said Lindstrom. “The main goal on everyone’s mind this season is to make it back to nationals and take home the trophy.” Gosnell had a successful season last year as the IceJacks won all but six games when he was between the pipes. He was able to save more than 650 shots last season. He did well in the regular season as well as in tournaments the team competed at last year. “We did really well on the road against teams in the Utah and Colorado tournaments last year,” said Gosnell. “Every game is just as important as the last, and winning tournaments gives the team a mental boost to finish the season strong.” The coaching staff, as well as the players, believe in Gosnell and give him high praise for the hard work he put in last season. “[Gosnell] was a fabulous goalie. I didn’t see any goalies in the national tournament that were better than him,” Fairchild said. The coaching staff, the director of the team, players and many fans agree with the coach and are hopeful for another successful season. With the addition of some new players, the IceJacks appear to be a team that will compete with the top teams. “We are going to make some noise this year,” Johanson said.

Top Left: Director of hockey AJ Fairchild began his career with the NAU DIII team as head coach just before the 2005-2006 season. Top Right: Jaxson Gosnell (left), Reise Keiffer (center), and Travis Hernbroth (right) are all returning for the 2017/2018 season with the NAU IceJacks DII team, Sep. 7 Bottom: Lomax (center) returns to the IceJacks DII team for his second year with a career total of 33 goals Sept. 7. Wyatt Rutt | The Lumberjack

SEPT. 14, 2017 – SEPT. 20, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 21

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NAU’s investment in the passing game Maddy Willet Editor’s note: In NAU’s 38-20 loss to Western Illinois University Sept. 9, Emmanuel Butler sustained a shoulder injury. NAU Athletics has not disclosed his current status.

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epth is essential to any position in football. It helps having players ready to fill in due to injury and gives the team a boost overall. NAU football boasts that type of depth with the heavily-insured wide receiver position. For the Lumberjacks, the 16-man deep wide receiver group will be necessary to help replace star senior wide receivers Emmanuel Butler and Elijah Marks who are both in their final year of eligibility. The roster features a diverse group of five freshmen, one sophomore, six juniors, three seniors and a lone redshirt. Senior wide receiver Hunter Burton was a playmaker for the Lumberjacks last season when he played in all 11 games with three starts. Burton averaged 14 yards per catch and had 21 catches for 290 yards. Burton isn’t limited to just catching passes. On the road against Western Illinois University last season, he threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Butler. Marks had more reps than Burton last season, as he started seven of 10 games. He recorded a career high of 43 catches for 770 yards on year. Butler experienced his second consecutive season with more than 1,000 yards receiving, with 1,003 in the 2016-2017 season. He is the only receiver in Lumberjack history to garner backto-back 1,000-yard seasons. Butler started all 11 games for the Lumberjacks and is currently No. 5 on the NAU all-time career, receiving yardage listed at 2,541 yards. Marks and Butler attribute their offensive success to junior quarterback Case Cookus. Marks and Butler said they agree that the timing of pass to catch has been perfected through several years of work. “We continue to grow every day,” said Butler. “Timing is everything in a quarterback-receiver relationship. We really like to focus on our timing.” Chemistry can be difficult when throwing to a receiver as explosive as Marks. “With Marks, I had to get used to his speed,” said Cookus. “Early on my freshman year, I would under throw him a lot.” Developing a connection between quarterback and receiver tends to take time while they work out the kinks. Butler was the one exception. “With E [Butler], [chemistry] has always been there,” Cookus said. “His ability to come get the ball is amazing.” In order to sustain their pass-heavy offense, head coach Jerome Souers made a priority to protect the team’s offensive identity. “What we have been preparing is next guy in line,” said Souers. “Our receiver core will be as deep as it has ever been. It has a lot of talent and experience.” NAU announced Sept. 11 that Souers will not return

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NAU wide receiver Elijah Marks walks in sync with defensive back Xavier Rowe of Western Illinois University Sept. 9. Austin Sudweeks | The Lumberjack

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NAU football head coach Jerome Souers addresses the press Sept. 11 following an announcement that his contract will not be extended at the end of this football season. Matthew Strissel | The Lumberjack

NAU’s depth at wide receiver will be challenged following Emmanuel Butler’s injury, which occurred playing against Western Illinois University Sept. 9. Austin Sudweeks | The Lumberjack

following the conclusion of the current season. The process of developing the young talent is a continuous one led by Butler and Marks through their big-brother system, an exclusive invitation reserved for some incoming freshmen that could have similar impacts on the football program. Freshmen wide receivers Justis Stokes and Chancellor Brewington are the two who have the ability to work closely with the offensive giants. Marks and Butler said they both take the time to show them the details of Lumberjack football. It’s a matter of becoming comfortable with the offense and helping familiarize themselves with the playbook. Marks said he enjoys taking on the big-brother role in hopes that he can have an even further impact on the football program. “We keep telling them to keep on the right path,” said Marks. “We like to let them know that no one gets this opportunity.” Butler has also embraced the program with excitement and a willingness to teach. “It is about telling them the mistakes we made our freshman year so they don’t make the same mistakes,” Butler said. “Just show them everything we know, help them in the offense and really guide them to be great players.” Stokes and Brewington both saw time on the field in the season opener against UA. Alongside Stokes and Brewington are freshmen Cole Beatty, Terrell Brown and Brandon Porter. These five players joined a group of seven returning players. With four of them being the Lumberjack’s top receivers from last year. “I think every position has so many guys that can create big plays for us,” Cookus said. “Now there are a few new guys that we need to make sure are on the same page.” In addition to Burton, Marks and Butler, is junior wide receiver William Morehand, who started five out of 10 games last season. He finished the season with 35 receptions for 456 yards. Currently, Morehand is still recovering from a November

foot injury sustained against North Dakota University. The injury is keeping him on day-to-day availability. “We are taking it slow,” Souers said. “The worst thing that could happen is forcing him to relapse.” This allows some of the other receivers to step up in the position earlier than expected and gain some more experience. Junior wide receivers Jaeren Burch and Quinton Garrett are junior-college recruits from the Phoenix College Bears. Burch signed with the freshmen class last spring, and Garrett was signed last June. Lumberjack wide receivers coach Aaron Pflugrad has ties to the Bears. During recruitment, Robin Pflugrad, his father, was the offensive coordinator and is currently serving as their interim head coach. The Lumberjacks wide-receiver core has the building blocks it needs succeed. The freshmen will need to be ready when the time comes, and the coaches will need to implement mentoring programs and make sure the young players get the necessary reps during practice. When it comes to the future of Marks and Butler, both remain optimistic but focused. This can be difficult given the presence of NFL scouts throughout training camp and leading into the season. “We have been thinking about playing professional football since we were kids,” Butler said. “We try to not focus on that and help NAU win.” Marks is also aware of the presence of scouts during practices and games. “We have a long season ahead of us, and that is something we will worry about after season,” Marks said. “We know that we have what it takes to play football after this.” Marks and Butler both have potential to reach 1,000-yard seasons with a now healthy Cookus.

This season to be Souers’ last at NAU Lance Hartzler

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ice president for intercollegiate athletics Lisa Campos announced Sept. 11 at a press conference in the Walkup Skydome that Jerome Souers, head football coach of 20 years at NAU, will not return next season. “I want to be very clear, this decision had nothing to do with the outcome of the recent games,” said Campos. “This is a result of many conversations that Jerome and I have had over the last several months.” Campos said that there was no other reason behind the decision, and that she and Souers had decided this was the best course of action, despite the announcement coming just two games into the season. “There’s no perfect timing for these types of announcements, and we thought this would be a great time right before conference play to celebrate the 20 years,” Campos said. Souers has a career record of 112-105 and 76-71 in Big Sky Conference play with NAU and is the winningest coach in Big Sky Conference history. He has seen the Lumberjacks lose their first two games of the season, each by double digits. Souers took time to thank former and current coaches and players. He was also clear about NAU’s goals remaining the same throughout the season. Souers said that over the final nine games, his team will be put to the test but nothing will change. “With nine games left I can tell you the coaching staff and student athletes will remain committed,” said Souers. Campos said the press conference was held to give Souers the recognition he deserves and to celebrate his 20 years at NAU. “It’s been a heck of a ride, and no better way to finish it up than to finish on the right note. And that’s what our intention is for the remainder of the season,” Souers said. Souers contract is up in January 2018, at the conclusion of the season.

SEPT. 14, 2017 – SEPT. 20, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 23

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