The Lumberjack -- Sept. 21, 2017

T H E L U M BE R JACK

SEPT. 21, 2017 – SEPT. 27, 2017

A PEACEFUL REPRIEVE PAGE 18

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

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grew up in a town full of many closed-minded people. Racism, homophobia and sexism ran rampant. If you stayed there long enough, you would start to consider this type of behavior normal. Soon enough, you would adapt and a lot of these issues seemed like they weren’t worth fighting anymore. I was a senior in high school when I noticed things were escalating. Police killing unarmed black men became a trend. A new hashtag appeared on my Twitter feed every day. Rest in peace Trayvon Martin Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Tamir Rice. The list goes on. My tiny farm town became a heated and irritable place, and a lot of people were afraid to speak up. To add fuel to the fire, that previous summer, gay marriage had just become legal in all 50 states. Most of the residents of the town were not happy. People who I had previously considered my friends were now calling me things like “faggot” PEGGY PACKER and “abomination.” This was the first time I struggled with being black or bisexual, and I had never expected it to be that bad. ASST. OP-ED EDITOR I couldn’t remain quiet. I started by taking my stance on social media, but realized I wasn’t accomplishing anything by starting an argument. As long as the comment button existed, people weren’t as focused on listening to what I had to say as they were on generating a hurtful reply. I wanted to have conversations that would broaden everyone’s mindset. I wanted to show people how what was happening in the world was wrong. But everyone was listening with the focus of replying rather than understanding. These conversations failed to help anyone. A week before graduation, an article I wrote in advocacy for the Black Lives Matter movement was published in my high school’s newspaper. It had done exactly what I wanted: got people talking. People were actually reading the article instead of focusing on what their next comment would be, and even people who disagreed with me were partaking in somewhat meaningful discourse. It was then that I realized that conversation is arguably one of the biggest tools our society has for making change. Writing articles about things that I feel are important, despite the fact that they may be uncomfortable to talk about, has the ability to get people talking about what matters, and possibly inspire them to make a change. Being a part of The Lumberjack has given me a platform that I can use to make positive change and inspire others to do the same. Thank you for reading.

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 105 ISSUE 5

An individual was struck and killed by a train Friday evening near San Francisco Street and Route 66. Nick Humphries | The Lumberjack 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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Two pedestrians were struck and killed by trains in separate incidents downtown near the amtrak train station Sept. 15 and Sept. 18.

On the cover A meditation table containing flowers, light, tea and a meditation handbook sits inside a tranquil room of the International Kadampa Retreat Center. The center is located in Williams, Arizona, and opened Sept. 16. Austin Sudweeks | 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

Compiled by Hayley O’connor

Sept. 11 At 10:08 a.m., a staff member in the Newman Center called NAUPD to report an intoxicated individual walking toward campus. An NAUPD officer checked the area but could not find the individual.

two students were criminally deferred for possession and use of marijuana.

Sept. 14 At 6:01 a.m., NAUPD received a supervisory alarm from the Student and Academic Services building. The area was searched, and it was determined that the alarm was caused by a water issue. Fire Life Safety and Facilities At 12:39 p.m., staff at Services were notified. the Walkup Skydome called NAUPD to report that two At 10:41 a.m., NAUPD bicyclists collided. FFD, was called to the Whispering NAUPD and Guardian Winds Hotel. NAUPD Medical Transport responded, booked a non-student into and one non-student was taken CCDF for identity theft, to FMC. The other refused providing alcohol to a minor medical transport. and false reporting a to law enforcement. At 6:20 p.m., a student in Raymond Hall reported to At 7:15 p.m., a nurse NAUPD that another student at FMC called NAUPD to assaulted them. NAUPD report that an NAU student responded to the dorm, and was sexually assaulted earlier one student was booked into in September. NAUPD Coconino County Detention opened an investigation into Facility for assault, resisting the alleged assault, and it is arrest, threatening and ongoing. intimidating and minor in consumption (MIC). At 8:19 p.m., an RA called NAUPD to report the odor of Sept. 12 marijuana in Tinsley Hall. An At 11:43 a.m., a student NAUPD officer went to search in Reilly Hall called to report the dorm, and one student the theft of their ATV from the was criminally deferred for dorm parking lot. An NAUPD possession of marijuana and officer responded and took a drug paraphernalia. report. It was determined the theft occurred sometime in the Sept. 15 previous 24 hours. The case At 1:21 a.m., two female was closed as all leads were students reported two male exhausted. students making inappropriate remarks near the intersection Sept. 13 of San Francisco Street and At 7:32 p.m., FFD University Drive. NAUPD received a call from an elevator made contact with the two in the Performing and Fine females but were unable to Arts building. Subjects were locate the two males. safely removed from elevator and Facilities Services were At 8:11 p.m., the Allen notified. Hall RHD called to report two non-residents in the building. At 7:41 p.m., a residence The subjects were students and hall director called to request a were warned of trespassing and welfare check on a student. The were given a verbal warning for student was not located, and disturbing the peace. no further action was taken. There were no direct indication At 9:38 p.m., an RA called of a threat to the subject. NAUPD to report the odor of marijuana in Allen Hall. NAUPD checked the hall, and

At 11:51 p.m., NAU Saferide reported an intoxicated student at the Health and Learning Center. The student was in good health and was in safe keeping with friends. Everything was fine. Sept. 16 At 12:52 a.m., staff reported an intoxicated student in Mountain View Hall. FFD, NAUPD and GMT responded to the dorm, and the student was transported to FMC. The student was also criminally charged for a MIC. At 11:11 p.m., a student called to report a non-student had difficulty breathing at the Skydome. NAUPD, FFD and GMT responded, but the nonstudent refused medical help. Sept. 17 At 12:41 a.m., NAUPD stopped a vehicle at the intersection of Beaver Street and Ellery Avenue. A student was cited and released for DUI to the slightest degree, DUI over .08 and DUI over .2. The student was also cited for stop sign violation. At 11:14 a.m., NAUPD received a 911 call transferred from FPD about a non-student making threats against another non-student at the South Fields Complex. An NAUPD officer responded and took an informational report. At 7:12 p.m., a student called to report a subject looking into vehicles and trying to open vehicle doors. An NAUPD officer responded but couldn’t find the person in question.

NEWS

Students say parking too expensive, NAU says otherwise Rylee Sherouse

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AU Parking and Shuttle Services, which makes millions of dollars every semester in fees, fines and permits, said there are hundreds of vacant stalls on campus available for students with parking passes. Students say otherwise. Erin Stam, director of Parking and Shuttle Services, oversees all permit sales and is conservative with her numbers, said no student ever goes without a space in their zone. She told The Lumberjack via email that students often times have misconceptions about parking on campus. “Students are often not aware of all the places they can park with their permit. For example a ‘South Commuter’ permit has four large parking lots P62, P64, P65 and P66. We notice students park in P62, right off the highway, and call saying it’s full,” said Stam. Stam knows that it is a typical practice to oversell passes. After sales are capped for certain lots, her team creates a small wait list and only sells more passes once they have assessed the desired parking lots. “Four times every day my staff counts the number of vacant spaces. That is done for a few weeks. We determine the lowest number always available and work to accommodate the wait-list,” Stam said. “We continue to assess vacant spaces and monitor permit use very closely, again, to ensure a permit holder will always find a space.” Graduate student Megan Wagy said she wanted to buy a North Commuter parking pass, but the lot was at capacity so she was refused one. Wagy also said that she didn’t believe the price for a North Commuter pass was too high. Dee Kater has a spot in the South Commuter parking lot, but does not think the pass was worth the price. “It’s a very expensive pass that rarely has parking. I have spent 10-15 minutes waiting for someone to come out so I can steal their space,” said Kater. Sophomore interior design major Sarah Gerth had a Knoles Parking Garage pass during the 2016-2017 school year and has negative feelings about buying a pass again. “Last year, when I had my permit, there were snowy days where they had no spots left in the garage. They didn’t have the roof plowed off because NAU doesn’t have the equipment to plow it. So, we were limited on spots to start with,” said Gerth. “Allowing everyone to purchase day passes on the biggest snow day of the year was what made it fill up. For someone like me, purchasing a $650 permit, you’d think I would be promised a spot every day, but that was not the case.” Gerth called parking services and they told her if the parking garage was full, that there would be parking at the Walkup Skydome or P66. “By the time I go to the Dome and get across campus on a bus, my class would be over. Students don’t have time to show up an hour early for class, assuming there won’t be parking in the garage they pay for,” Gerth said. Veronica Rodriguez, a sophomore clinical mental health counseling student, said that there are benefits of not buying a parking pass. “I don’t have a parking pass because they are very expensive. I would rather save the money for an emergency. I park off campus. The walk is great exercise, but I have to plan for weather. Rain equals pack an umbrella and waterproof jacket and snow equals switch to my snowshoes and Kahtoolas.” Although parking off campus seems like a good idea, many businesses can be negatively impacted by students parking in their lots. It creates less parking spots for customers. NAU student Holly Gibson shares how she parks on campus without having a parking pass. “I use the parkmobile app. It’s just an app you can download to your smartphone and you just link it up to your license plate and your credit card number,” Gibson said. “I have to park on different sides of campus different days so I didn’t want to get a pass just for one side of campus. It’s really easy. You can add time when it expires, and it alerts you.” Currently, 8,367 permits of the 8,791 total stalls on campus have been sold. Parking services still have many south commuter parking passes available for purchase. Parking services revenue for the 2016-17 school year was $8.6 million, and in the 2017-18 school year they have made $3.6 million already. Erin Stam explained that parking services is selffunded.

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Infographic by Colton Starley

“We are responsible for all maintenance and repair, improvements including new buses, debt service, personnel and [employee related expenses], admin overhead and insurance, utilities and operations including bus maintenance and repair and technology/ vendor services,” Stam said. The main challenge that Stam said Parking Services faces is the misperception about parking on campus. She hopes to educate students by presenting to clubs, organizations and residence halls about parking services.

NEWS

Arizona residents rally support for hurricane victims Jessie Russell

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he United States and the Caribbean experienced category four and five hurricanes over the past several weeks and Flagstaff residents are coming together to help send relief. Lasting from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1, category four Hurricane Harvey devastated southeast Texas and other areas with a final death toll of 70. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) provides this statistic as part of a monthly hurricane report for August. Hurricane Irma had a death toll of 69. “Hurricane Harvey was the first major hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since Hurricane Wilma in 2005, ending a record-long 12-year streak of no major hurricanes hitting the United States,” the NCEI reported. According to the report, “Many locations received over three feet of rain over the 5 days that Harvey slowly moved through the region with precipitation totals over 40 inches common and a few isolated totals of 50 inches or more. Pending final review, these precipitation totals in excess of 50 inches will surpass the 5-day and tropical storm related precipitation totals for the contiguous United States.“ Harvey also had maximum-sustained winds of 130 mph. Hurricane Irma had maximumsustained winds of 185 mph. Hurricane winds more than 111 mph have only been recorded three times in U.S. history since 1851. Hurricane Harvey made landfall in three places: Barbados, Rockport, Texas and near the Texas-Louisiana border. Irma made landfall in Florida twice. According to USA Today, Harvey dumped 51.9 inches of rain, the most rainfall from a hurricane in decades. In Texas, this rainfall accumulated to over 19 million gallons of rain. Louisiana received approximately 5.5 million gallons of rain. Additionally, 9,400 flights were canceled, and several insurance companies have changed their policies due to severe flooding. Hurricane Irma become a tropical depression after Sept. 11. Yet, as of Sept. 15, there was still 19.2 feet of flooding at the Peace River in Arcadia, Florida, and 9.1 feet of flooding at the Palmdale Fisheating Creek in Palmdale, Florida. According to the United States Census Bureau, Hurricane Harvey affected a population of 19,674,993, and Hurricane Irma affected a population of 19,412,073.

The remains of a destroyed house sit near the coastal waters of Big Pine Key, Florida Sept. 13. Alan Diaz | Associated Press

Many Flagstaff residents and NAU students worried for their loved ones during this time. Freshman mechanical engineering major Ysabel Elycio has a friend whose father works on base in Texas. “Those who work in the Air Force on Texas bases were forced to call home to say they were safe,” said Elycio. The U.S. Bureau of Transportation highlighted some of the significance of Florida’s unavailability in transportation. “1.002 trillion dollars in freight move to, from and within Florida annually, 222,300 passengers fly out of Florida airports every day and 84.40 million tons of freight move through Florida’s port annually.” Texas Governor Greg Abbott estimates the

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cost of damage from Hurricane Harvey to be between $150 billion and $180 billion. “Over 210,000 people applied for assistance from FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency],” said Abbott. “Furthermore, the Senate approved a ceiling lift on national debt to allow a bill for government relief for the hurricane. This bill allows $22 billion, including an extra $7.85 billion per request of the President’s administration, toward relief through FEMA.” Arizona has had a hand in operations involving the recent hurricanes. According to the Miami Herald, during Hurricane Irma the Pentagon shut down its southern base of operations in Miami and relocated it to the Davis-Monthan Air Force base in Tucson. Ben Ruddell, NAU associate professor

in the School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems and researchers used a $3 million National Foundation Grant funded project called FEWSion to predict some of the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Ruddell doesn’t believe Flagstaff will be affected greatly by the hurricane, but some of the U.S. economy will be affected by Houston’s lack of exports. The U.S. government reflects Ruddell’s concern on the subject, as the U.S. Census Bureau made a collective report on the state of imports and exports from Houston and South Florida. Flagstaff, as well as other Arizona communities, set up relief funds for the hurricanes. Throughout Flagstaff, many stores started their own relief funds for both Harvey and Irma victims. Walmart and Chick-fil-A matched donations from customers for Hurricane Harvey, with a note informing costumers at registers throughout the store and online. Google is doing the same for Hurricane Irma, matching donations of users online. Walgreens as a corporation donated $200,000 to the American Red Cross while also allowing customers the option to donate at the register. Several businesses encourage customers to donate toward relief funds at checkout including Staples, Verizon, the Orpheum Theatre, Wells Fargo ATMs and the NAU Bookstore. Some businesses, such as Buffalo Wild Wings and Boot Barn, give employees the opportunity to donate their vacation days or some of their pay toward relief funds. Additionally, people from Flagstaff volunteered to go to Texas to help with relief efforts. These individuals came from churches and other service organizations. To further help in the relief effort on an individual level, Ruddell had a few suggestions. “If you live in Flagstaff, you can choose to do business with people and in places that are doing a good job managing these risks and dealing with climate change,” said Ruddell. “This is good for both sides by protecting your business and discouraging building and investment in dangerous areas.” Ruddell said that one can also help prevent the traumatic effect of natural disasters in the future by becoming politically active. In this way, individuals should insist on better city planning and engineering, decreasing the damage of floods.

NEWS

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich gestures to supporters at the Republican election night party in Phoenix Nov. 4, 2014. Ross D. Franklin | Associated Press

Arizona AG Files Lawsuit against ABOR Hayley o’connor

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rizona District Attorney Mark Brnovich sued the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) Sept. 8 regrading tuition costs. Brnovich claimed tuition prices are too high, and it is not possible for students from lowincome financial backgrounds to get a fouryear degree. This lawsuit was motivated by the increase of tuition prices that have been in effect since 2003. The increase in tuition prices has risen over 300 percent at Arizona’s largest four-year universities, ASU, NAU and UA. The lawsuit claims that the rise in tuition is unconstitutional because ABOR is supposed to ensure prices are “almost free” for its residents. This rule is written in the Arizona Constitution saying that “the university and all other state educational institutions shall be open to students of both sexes, and the instruction furnished shall be as nearly free as possible.” A press release from the Attorney General’s office released Sept. 8 said “The State alleges that

ABOR has adopted unconstitutional tuitionsetting policies, has abandoned its duty to serve as a check on the university presidents and has ceased driving tuition rates from the actual cost of instruction.” ABOR Chair Bill Ridenour issued a press release about the lawsuit. They are welcoming the lawsuit because they think it will be an opportunity to present the facts from their side of the issue. “We have long resisted filing a challenge against the state regarding the funding of universities and had chosen instead to work with Governor Ducey and the Arizona Legislature for a solution that would reduce the financial burden for students and their families,” said Ridenour. ABOR also considered the lawsuit a surprise because the Attorney General had not previously stated his opinion about the rising cost of tuition. Ridenour thinks the Attorney General is filing his lawsuit to protect DACA students, but it would have been more appropriate to bring up concerns to ABOR instead of pursuing legal action.

According to the lawsuit, ABOR has misinterpreted its “nearly free” mandate to mean whatever the market rate is for peer institutions and made itself as the arbiter of “affordability” for Arizona’s students and families. They also claim part-time and online students are paying more for their education than they need to. They are being charged for their instructional classes as well as technology and health fees that shouldn’t apply to them. This is not the first time ABOR has been sued over a tuition increase. Students from UA filed a lawsuit in 2003 regarding the increase of 30 percent over the course of one year. Their reasonings also were that the “almost free” decision was not being implemented. NAU, ASU and UA have not yet commented on the most recent lawsuit. In his press release, Brnovich said, “Within the last 15 years, Arizona went from having some of the most affordable public universities to having some of the most expensive. We believe the Board of Regents needs to be held accountable and answer tough questions for Arizona’s skyrocketing tuition rates.” Some

NAU students supported the lawsuit. Arianna Guyette, a senior from Mesa, Arizona, explained how she chose to go to school in Arizona because it was more affordable to attend an in-state university than to go to a four-year university in a different state. “I think the Attorney General is correct when he is claiming that tuition prices are still unconstitutional. Most of us NAU students are going to be drowning in student-loan debt for a long time, which will affect the way we start our lives after college,” said Guyette. Guyette thinks the lawsuit is not likely to be found in favor of the Brnovich, but she hopes prices will change to help future college students. Amanda Moyer, a junior from California, was surprised by the amount tuition prices have increased. She chose to attend NAU because “schools in California are competitive to get into, and I like NAU’s pledge program.” The pledge program guarantees students will pay the same tuition price all four years they are a enrolled at NAU.

SEPT. 21, 2017 – SEPT. 27, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 7

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Acknowledging the B in LGBTQ CHARLOTTE WILSON

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rowing up, I liked both the prince and the princess fairytales. I felt confused by that, but I didn’t give it too much thought. Then, middle school came around, and my confusion increased. Through some odd grapevine, I heard the term “bisexual.” Curiosity overcame me, and I searched for the definition. Something clicked when I read it. I am bisexual. I like men, and I like women. It’s not one or the other. It’s both. Just like some people like chocolate, others like vanilla, and some like both chocolate and vanilla. Just because you’re eating chocolate at the moment doesn’t mean you don’t like vanilla. As I started coming out to friends, they’d laugh and tell me I was just experimenting. As if coming out as being gay wasn’t hard enough, bisexual people are dismissed and invalidated even in the gay community. I’d get asked questions like, “Well, if you’re dating a boy, doesn’t that mean you’re straight?” Or, “Well, if you’re dating a girl doesn’t that mean you’re lesbian?” And mostly, “Are you sure? Are you sure you aren’t just bi-curious?” It felt terrible to be so overlooked, and thus, I learned exactly what bi-erasure is. Bi-erasure isn’t just present among the people around us but in our media, too. On Glee, Blaine, a gay character who came out as gay and was fully out of the closet, suddenly begins to question whether or not he is bisexual. Other characters on the show don’t take him seriously, laugh and dismiss him. Ultimately, he decides

he is not bisexual and that is that. There is no safety for bisexuals from either side of Another character on Glee, Britney, experiences the spectrum. the same treatment from the writers as Blaine. Bi-erasure sucks. Bisexual people have Throughout the series, Britney is shown with both to deal with both homophobia, which men and women but ultimately ends up with covers the entire gay spectrum and Santana, a woman. Once she ends up with biphobia from members of the LGBTQ Santana, she is written off as lesbian, and the community. Bisexuals are consistently writers completely ignore her past attraction to invalidated, and it’s killing us. According men. to lgbtmap.org, bisexual people are more likely Mystique, a bisexual X-Men character, to be affected by “higher rates of poverty, unemployment who has a canon relationship with another woman in the and negative health outcomes” than their lesbian and gay comics, is portrayed exclusively as heterosexual in the movies. counterparts. Another canonically bisexual character, John Constantine Outing myself as bisexual opens me up to dirty from Constantine, has been declared by NBC to only be glares and ignorant questions no matter who I’m heterosexual on the show. talking to. Sometimes, I wish I could simply be The LGBTQ community routinely dismisses lesbian or straight so, when someone asks about my bisexuality, seemingly forgetting the B in the name. sexuality, I have what feels like a simple answer and You’re either gay or you’re heterosexual with no can receive a simple response. inbetween. Sexuality, just like gender, is so much more The B in LGBTQ is just as important as the fluid than that, but the LGBTQ community seems to be L, the G, the T and now the Q. Bisexual people having a hard time wrapping its head around this idea. struggle with discrimination just like the rest of the Ph.D Tangela Roberts and two professors at the community. We deserve the same representation as University of Massachusetts did a survey of 745 bisexual anyone else. Our sexuality is completely valid, and people about their experiences with discrimination. we are just as proud to be bisexual as you may be The study showed that they were almost equally to be straight, gay, lesbian, transgender or queer. discriminated against by lesbian women and gay men It’s time we stood together to fight the inequality as they were by heterosexual people. at hand, rather than stand against each other. Illustration By Kaleb Kirsop

Can we better prepare for hurricanes? LIA MARTINEZ

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urricane Irma created a trail of devastation in Florida and Georgia, leaving families without homes and cities flooded. Before the storm hit, many cities in south Florida called for evacuation only to experience a shortage of gas making it impossible for many residents to escape the danger zones. There wasn’t even enough room in shelters, which forced schools to hold the overflow. The question this situation poses is: Why doesn’t Florida, a state known for hurricanes, have a better crisis plan for these situations? According to a study featured in Naples Daily News, most counties in Florida don’t have enough room for a Category 4 or 5 hurricane. Hurricane Irma was a Category 5 hurricane, and, even with three years to prepare, Florida was still not ready. Sadly, the destruction doesn’t end with Hurricane Irma. There are two more hurricanes following close behind. Will Florida be equipped to shelter, feed and provide water for people through two more

major hurricanes? BBC News reported that eight elders in the care of a nursing home died from lack of power. Hospitals have backup generators, so why don’t nursing homes have generators for situations like this? The nursing home didn’t move the elderly because it could be a hazard to their health, but leaving them without a plan to keep them safe was not any safer than relocating them. Florida is known for its history of natural disasters. As a child living in Georgia, I lived through some of those hurricanes. I have family in Florida and south Georgia, so when I heard they were running out of room in shelters, gas, food and water, I was — and still am — deeply concerned. Being prepared and even overprepared could save lives. There is so much Florida can learn from Hurricane Irma, but there may not be enough time before the next hurricane to prepare. Illustration By Ari Hauglid

SEPT. 21, 2017 – SEPT. 27, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 9

OPINION-EDITORIAL

‘You up?’ D’ANNA DAVIS

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uzz. Buzz. The phone vibrates at 1 a.m. Underneath the message icon, a text reads, “You up?” This text is familiar to most, whether sent or received. There is a clear meaning behind this message. In modern day, this is a text message version of a booty call. Defined as a sexual invitation or rendezvous, a booty call is used most commonly in the late hours of the night or early hours of the morning when someone is searching for sexual activity. Booty calls are a staple of hookup culture, which can be described as the normalization of mutually casual sexual relationships. One-night stands and hookups are often portrayed negatively, whether this be in the media or by members of society. Regardless of the situation, people have their own opinions about hooking up. Often times, people will immediately turn to judgement if they find out someone is involved in a relationship based solely on casual sex. Why? It has been theorized that, thanks to hookup culture, young people are having more sex than ever before. This is simply not true. A 2016 study by Jean Twenge, a psychology researcher at San Diego State University in California, suggested that, out of adults between the ages of 20 and 24, 15 percent of them reported not having sex since they turned 18. In all other previous generations, except for the 1920s, it was only 6 percent. With that being said, hookup culture is still very prominent, especially on college campuses. Lisa Wade, a sociologist at Occidental College, published a book encompassing this. Her book, titled “American Hookups: The New Culture of Sex on Campus,” includes her five-year investigation on hook-up culture on American college and university campuses. In her book, Wade writes that there is a difference between meaningful and meaningless sex. Sexual partners must go out of their way to “perform meaninglessness.” There is a stigma around meaningless sex. When in a relationship, there’s not only emotion involved but generally more trust. Meaningless sex can run the risk of sexually transmitted diseases due to a lack of trust and established boundaries. This is why, as always, protection is vital. Sex should be enjoyable for all participants. Keeping open communication, no matter the sexual relationship, can prevent STDs. Another worry many people have when it comes to hooking up is rape culture. These two things could not be more different. Everydayfeminism. com posted an article titled, “5 Problems with Hookup Culture – And How to Take It Back from Sexism,” which describes how hooking up puts an emphasis on heavy drinking and minimal communication, promoting rape culture. The difference between hookup culture and rape culture, however, is that hooking up is based on mutual pleasure, and rape is a nonconsensual, sexual act. People love to blame hook-up culture on dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble. Although these apps might be a stepping stone in the process, they do not necessarily promote casual sex. It’s not likely that hookup culture will ever be fully socially accepted. Regardless of its bad reputation, if you are in a consenting, solely sexual relationship, the only opinion that matters is your own.

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Any means necessary MEGAN MUELLER

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e’ve seen it before, and we’ll see it again. In light of police brutality targeted against minorities in recent years, specifically black citizens, there has been no shortage of protests in the United States. The scene is familiar: “If there ain’t no justice, then there ain’t no peace.” The rhythmic chant echoes through the streets and through the bones of onlookers as a group of young, black citizens march in protest of the denial of their basic human dignities. Signs and posters reiterate the notorious words of Malcolm X, “By any means necessary.” News media air images of flying trashcans, smashed windows and cars ablaze. A riot. The white, liberal, want-to-beactivists of the U.S. gasp collectively alongside their conservative counterparts. “But peaceful protest!” They stammer, “MLK said!” Of course, there is a lot to be said about peaceful protest. In fact, it may even be the better option. Martin Luther King Jr. famously told us that, “Only love can drive out hate.” King also told us, less famously, that riots are the “language of the unheard.” Furthermore, King expressed constant disappointment in the “white moderate.” While he was not an advocate of violence, he was also not an advocate for silence in the face of injustice. But today, when white America wants to ignore the fact that a history of institutionalized racism has led to the continued discrimination against black people, Martin Luther King Jr.’s life of activism is reduced to one speech about his dream and one quote about peace. There is an argument that violent protests detract from the effectiveness of the message. It’s possible this argument is accurate, but it shouldn’t be. The reality is that riots, and more hostile forms of protest, are for the tired. They are for a group of people exhausted from being silenced for many generations. When peaceful protesting brings no change, riots are for people who will no longer politely ask for the

chance to speak for those who demand to be heard. This is not to say that in order to claim to support black people one must support protest in every form. It is to say that, in order to claim to support black citizens, one must support the message of black people regardless of the channel of protest it’s presented in. It’s to say that, in order to claim to support black citizens, one must express more outrage over the unjust death of a black child than a broken window. Rioters protesting the wrongful theft of a young, black life have to be recipients of more respect than rioters “celebrating” winning the Worlds Series. Peaceful protest, in an effort to create safe environments, should be the primary course of action when protesting any injustice. It should even be the secondary and tertiary courses of action. In fact, there should be an effort to maintain peace whenever possible. But if completely valid anger sparks hostile environments, it is imperative the people in positions of power, the people with the authority to enact change and the people who claim to care about others recognize the problems that created this anger and work to make a change. Justice is more than erasing prejudice from U.S. laws and legislation. It must also be removed from U.S. institutions, U.S. attitudes and U.S. daily life. As long as black citizens are forced to live in fear of flashing red and blue lights, there cannot be peace. As long as routine traffic stops end with murder, there cannot be peace. As long as police officers are able to abuse their position of power, there cannot be peace. To live in a country without riots, the source of the riot — the unethical, continuous discrimination against minorities in the U.S. — must be completely eradicated. To be a peaceful nation, the U.S. must first become a just nation. As long as there is an absence of justice, there cannot be peace. Illustration By Beneva Fatt

OPINION-EDITORIAL

A new parallel-parking option in the middle of Sechrist parking lot was added at the beginning of the semester. Victoria Kaschl | The Lumberjack

The expensive reality of parking at school MARIA ANGULO

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ne thing I never understood is why students have to pay for a parking space at a university when we already pay thousands of dollars in tuition. I understand the administration does it to have some sort of control of the people who use a car at school, but the real question is this: Does NAU have a limit on how many parking spots they have to sell? As a car owner, parking on campus is always a challenge. There are so many rules and so little space, and there is no doubt NAU has a huge problem with this. Since I arrived at NAU last semester, this has been an issue for me. In order to park my car close to where I lived, I had to pay $316 for a parking pass for the semester. Besides paying rent and tuition, I also had to pay a lot of money for a parking space in just one zone. I needed somewhere to park my car, so I paid for the parking pass, but I soon realized the permit didn’t really ensure I would have a parking space. Sometimes, all the spots would be taken, and I would have to park in a parking lot even farther from my suite. It’s not that far,

but imagine having to carry all your grocery bags a long distance because there are no loading zones. I would risk getting a ticket just for unloading groceries, so some weeks, I wouldn’t even take my car out because it didn’t know if I would find a parking space. Students have to take different classes on different parts of campus. Most of them don’t have cars, but some do, and if they live in dorms, they need to park outside their hall. If students want to park in another parking zone, they either pay for a day or by the hour. It’s really inconvenient. There are the South Commuter lots, which include the Walkup Skydome parking lot and the one behind the Social and Behavioral Science buildings. Then there is the residency hall, and then there is the North Commuter parking lot behind Cline Library that costs $465 for an annual permit, but by semester it has a price of $348. The garages cost $565 annually and $423 per semester and also have other parking spaces that can be paid either by the hour or half hour. Something else that surprised me about parking at NAU is that employees have to pay for parking permits. Teachers and staff

have to pay to park their cars to come to work, which is extremely strange because they should get a permit just on the basis of being employees. Another thing is how there are very few parking meters and 15-minute parking spots. Sometimes, you just need to drop off or pick up something, but you have to pay at least $1.50 or $2 for an hour for a 10-minute dropoff. It doesn’t make any sense. I understand this is a way for school to get money for other needs, but why does it need to be so expensive? Why do the permits only apply to some parking lots instead of being able to use them for all the lots at the school? I know students could walk or use the bus, they’re better for the environment and save money, but sometimes students leave campus and need a car to get back on time from one side of a campus to another. School is expensive as is and we already pay other fees in addition to tuition. We shouldn’t need to pay extra money to park our cars.

SEPT. 21, 2017 – SEPT. 27, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 11

FEATURES

Compassion and awareness for suicide prevention Ray Anne Galzote

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or many people, September welcomes the school year, but it also marks the beginning of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness website, this month is used to “reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services.” Many people are unaware of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month or incognizant to the epidemic of suicide and mental illness. The stigmas associated with mental health also have the potential to hinder one from becoming knowledgeable about mental health and the severity of the subject of suicide or depression. “[Suicide and mental illness is] not something I learned in school. I became familiar with both at a young age because I’ve learned from my own experiences and have had my own struggles with them. I have lost family members and friends to suicide,” said sophomore English major Anela Medeiros. Medeiros is just one of many whose lives has been influenced by suicide. Through her experiences, Medeiros has become compassionate and knowledgeable about mental health awareness. Some people, however, may not be exposed to experiences like Medeiros’. Consequently, people may be left in the dark to how much suicide, depression and other mental imbalances are prevalent on a global spectrum. Sophomore nursing major Rosielle Facun explained that suicide can be a suppressed topic of discussion and noted that people may see suicide as merely a local problem as opposed to a national problem. In regard to the way people cope with and confront mental health and suicide, Facun shed light on coping mechanisms, such as the tendencies for people to take to social media. With the use of social media as a coping mechanism, Facun said that people posting about suicide or mental health may undermine the seriousness of the epidemic as people talk about the issue and quickly move on as if suicide or depression are epidemics that cease to exist. This can create an impression that suicide and mental health can be easily forgotten. “Suicide affects many people whether it’s directly or indirectly. But, at the same time, I don’t think it affects people enough. I mean that in the sense that suicide is a prominent issue in our societies, and yet, for some reason, it still isn’t enough for some to realize how their words and actions affect others,” Medeiros said. Many people are still unaware of the information surrounding suicide and mental health. With the increased popularity of the Internet, statistics and official information have become more accessible. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), 44,193 Americans die each year from suicide. The AFSP also mentions suicide being the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. To make the epidemic more tangible, an American dies from suicide every 12.3 minutes, and there is an estimated 1.1 million suicide attempts in the U.S. annually. While all age groups can be affected by suicide and mental health, according to the AFSP, the rate of suicide is higher in those who are middle-aged, specifically white men. In the U.S., those who are white or Native American have higher suicide rates versus those who are Asian or AfricanAmerican. With the number of suicides, and suicide attempts, in the U.S. alone, the combined medical and work costs average about $41 billion per year. This substantial amount is something that can be

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To Write Love on Her Arms and Project Semicolon, two nonprofit organizations, seek to help those struggling with depression, suicide, self-injury and addiction. A recent movement in the body-art community uses a semicolon to signify that a person could have chosen to end their “sentence,” but did not, and continued to live their lives. Photo illustration by Emily Burks

FEATURES important to help people become more aware to the epidemic. Nationally, there are several credible websites available regarding suicide and mental illness. The AFSP is one of them. Other websites include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the National Institute of Mental Health. These websites and organizations strive to inform the public on suicide and mental illnesses by providing statistics and other information that people can use and learn from. Their common goals include preventing suicide, working to raise awareness and to help those affected. These are just a few outlets that can be explored to get more information on mental health and that allow one to take action to hinder the epidemic from escalating. There are also local programs in different cities and states. In Flagstaff, Native Americans for Community Action (NACA) is a non-profit organization that offers services for suicide prevention, support and several services regarding health and wellness. They provide a Native youth support line for peer-to-peer support. NACA’s mission, according to their website, is to “provide preventive wellness strategies, empower and advocate for Native peoples and others in need to create a healthy community based on Harmony, Respect and Indigenous Values.” Another organization that can be found locally is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They also include a helpline and information relating to mental health, knowing the signs and treatment for those affected. Both organizations have programs and events to get community members involved and knowledgeable on suicide prevention. For NAU students, there are various outlets and programs for students who are looking for support. One place students can go to is the on-campus counseling services. Students can either call or walk in for an appointment to talk to one of the many counselors available. Counseling types range from individual to group sessions as well as behavioral and substance abuse programs. They ensure confidentiality between client and counselor. This is just one of the many resources for students facing mental imbalances to go and feel comfortable enough to talk out issues. NAU has an office dedicated to suicide prevention in the Health and Learning Center where students can go to in order to get information regarding suicide and mental illness. They can use the information to look for signs of suicide within their friends or with other students around campus. Sally Millon, a sophomore pre-nutrition and dietetics major at La Sierra University, acknowledges the importance of understanding the epidemic of suicide and mental health and how mental health can be reliant on physical health and nutrition. “Suicide and mental illnesses are also a result of brain chemical imbalance, so health and nutrition plays a role in mental and emotional health,” said Millon. Focusing on physical health and nutrition to achieve mental health is something that people may not have to specifically seek out suicide prevention specialist to be able to make a change to one’s life. The HLC on campus does, however, offer many programs on health promotion, nutrition, fitness and general health. As a result of suicide becoming more prevalent in society, and for the younger generation, many influencers have created shows and songs to raise awareness. Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, a rapper known as Logic, released a song specifically titled “1-800273-8255.” The title is the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. “I love [the song “1-800-273-8255.”] The music video, storyline and lyrics are so good. It highlights a big problem, especially in the Unites States and especially for teenagers. People should definitely listen to it,” Facun said. “The percentage of people calling in the suicide hotline raised since the release of the song and music video.” Freshman with an undeclared major, John Dapar also enjoyed the song for similar reasons. Dapar notes, however, that suicide is an ongoing epidemic and should remain at the forefront of people’s concerns. “It’s a great song. It reminds everyone how serious of a problem suicide and mental illnesses are. It helped us realize that we should always keep an eye on people who we think is, or is, going through a mental illness.” Suicide and other mental illnesses have also made their way into the show 13 Reasons Why. This is a Netflix original series that premiered in March based on the book by Jay Asher. The series follows a girl suffering from depression who committed suicide and how her classmates, who have been involved in her depression, have dealt with it. The show has received positive and negative feedback as many people continue to talk about it months after its release. “[13 Reasons Why] was difficult for me to get through. There were scenarios that were extremely real and uncomfortable for me to watch,” Medeiros said. “I think the show could have done a better

Illustration by Katie Dobrydney

If you or a friend struggle with mental health and are seeking support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 Call 1-800-273-8255 job in being a little more sensitive to those who may have been triggered with certain scenes of the show. But I understand the show’s intent and why they felt the need to create it. However, there are far too many medias that are too sensitive and don’t present enough raw content to inspire viewers to change their ways, seek help and help someone.” Both Logic’s song and the Netflix show have raised awareness for mental health, and they have provided a source of connection for people coping with mental health. Whether people have personal experiences with mental health, or are seeking information about the suicide epidemic, it can be beneficial to reach out to a friend or professional for guidance.

SEPT. 21, 2017 – SEPT. 27, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 13

FEATURES

Humans of NAU NAU students and Flagstaff locals reveal personal and compassionate stories and opinions about September Suicide Prevention Month, and the global epidemics of suicide, depression and self-injury.

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David Knutson

Gabrielle Hernandez

Dani Balloue

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Creative Media and Film Communication

Biomedical Science

Biomedical Science and Sociology minor

Sydney, Australia

Phoenix

Rancho Cucamonga, California

I think that there is such a social stigma around [mental health] now. If you have depression or anxiety or anything like that, you are labeled different. So, people just keep quiet about it. I think that [drugs and alcohol] could definitely be a factor [to mental health] because over long periods of time you just start feeling worse and worse without it, and it has long lasting effects on your body and can definitely lead to that. Mental health affects the way we interact in the world daily. People who are happier are much more likely to be active, I think, than someone who kinda feels down. When they have 5k walk for cancer, why not have one for mental health awareness?”

“

When some people think of depression they think that that person is just sad and so, when they hear those types of things, it makes them not want to talk about it because they think that ‘people are going to make fun of me.’ Society just views it as something you shouldn’t really talk about, but I feel like now days it’s something more people are talking about, which is really cool because it is something that happens quite frequently among people our age. So, I think it should be talked about more because it helps people when you talk about it. Listen to them, because just being there for someone is nice. I was suicidal for a long time, when I had my friends hang out with me that meant so much to me, and having friends that were always checking up on me and talking to me a lot. That really helped. Society is now recognizing that there are a lot more mentally ill people. It’s changing humor and how we view certain things like the shows that are coming out like 13 Reasons Why and those memes that are really self-deprecating. I feel like it’s been changing what is being said about suicide in the media.”

Stories by Lauren Hazel | Photos by Summer Hale

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“

I feel like all these artists shouldn’t be going towards the suicide way because one song came out with the lyrics of ‘all my friends are dead, push me to the edge.’ Now there’s just more and more suicide songs being talked about and I feel like I don’t know if it’s just our generation or if it’s the time period that we are in, but people are more and more depressed or thinking about suicide. I’ve personally lost a lot of friends to suicide, but if you have a voice in society and people will listen to you, you shouldn’t be talking about wanting to kill yourself. You should be lifting people up and, like, talking to them about how it’s ok. Everyone is going through stuff, and you should be helping people and bringing them to things that will help them in the future.”

jackcentral.org | @jackcentral

CULTURE

Bluegrass in the green pines Joe Wielinski

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he blazing sound of bluegrass music rose over the pine trees that surround Fort Tuthill County Park and meandered through the crowd. Hundreds of bluegrass fans had gathered for the Pickin’ in the Pines Music Festival Sept. 15, a three-day event dedicated to the diverse community of modern bluegrass music. Although not the first preference for most college students to blast from their dorm rooms, bluegrass music is deeply rooted in Americana culture and remains relevant to this day. Over time, bluegrass music has grown and adapted to changing tastes in music, yet still today it remains in one of the most deeply rooted American genres of music. The word “bluegrass” may be ambiguous to those who are unfamiliar with this folksy genre. There is generally an agreement among members of the community about what it is, but different musicians have varying interpretations of the exact definition. “The word ‘bluegrass’ has become so broad,” said Rapidgrass band member Alex Johnstone, whose band is from Colorado. “I think of it more as a recipe for how to bring string band instruments together to form a big sound by all being percussive in each instrument’s register. It’s more of a template language than it is just another type of music. It’s rooted somewhere between country and jazz. It’s a true American language and art form.” Johnstone sings, plays the mandolin and the fiddle. The percussive quality of bluegrass music was a common theme among all the bands performing, the first day of the festival. The first band to play the Pepsi Amphitheater stage was Sugar & the Mint. “The name ‘Sugar & the Mint’ came from a song by the Punch Brothers,” said Johan Glidden, member of Sugar & the Mint. “They’re one of our biggest modern influences.” This collective of young, multi-talented musicians that form Sugar & the Mint are all Prescott locals who came up for the festival. “We were originally in a group at Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott,” Glidden said. “They wanted to put together a group of young musicians. Whoever wanted to be a part of it could be. We all met each other through that. After we lost that sponsorship from the museum,

Balsam Range perform Americana bluegrass music during the Pickin’ in the Pines local music festival at Fort Tuthill County Park Sept. 16. Spencer Chan | The Lumberjack

the group condensed to our current set of band members.” The band’s sound was explosive, with powerful vocals from Kiva Rain Keith balanced by Jason Howard’s upright bass. Instruments were mixed and matched between band members with ease. This combination of vocal and instrumental consistency has led to the band being awarded many ribbons. Most recently, Sugar & the Mint won first place at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colorado. Organizations like the Arizona Bluegrass Association are working to create opportunities

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for more young people to take their first steps into the bluegrass genre, like the members of Sugar & the Mint. “We promote bluegrass music throughout Arizona,” said Glenn Urie, volunteer for the Arizona Bluegrass Association. “We had a youth group that was from an underprivileged area. They could get free lessons, and we built up quite a program until they went independent this year.” The association is now looking for other groups. Apart from teaching young kids, the Arizona Bluegrass Association holds other events

geared toward more experienced musicians. “We sponsor jams in different places,” said volunteer for Arizona Bluegrass Association, Steve Hartwell. “When people become members of the Arizona Bluegrass Association, they get a newsletter every month. In it, they list all the Arizona bluegrass-affiliated bands and jam sessions.” These music programs provide a sense of community to young people who prefer bluegrass over other music genres and bring together old and young to celebrate this style. “I think bluegrass music is as strong as it has ever been on a national scale,” Johnstone said. “I hope that it keeps drawing the attention of young people. I consider the bluegrass genre as more of a language. As more young people learn the language, they’ll discover a new method of expression. That makes it different from something like rock and roll, or other genres that are more individual.” After completing their show of skill, they dialed back their volume and allowed a single member the spotlight as they performed a solo. Urie said this chemistry is not acquired without practice. “The jam sessions are an open, inviting area where mistakes are encouraged,” Urie said. “In our genre, you don’t learn how to play until you step out there and take a chance. As much as you might practice at home, when you start playing in a group it’s a whole different set of dynamics.” Urie believes learning how to create a stage presence is an important step in becoming a good musician. “If you graduate from one of our groups, you’ll have no fear of playing in front of people. You’ve made the mistake a hundred times, and it will no longer scare you,” Urie said. As the air began to cool down and the sun set, the blue-lit trees at the back of the stage were a prominent backdrop to the performances. The majority of the crowd sat or stood with their acquaintances, soaking in the sounds. Other individuals expressed themselves by dancing to the side of the stage. Despite the difference in choice of music appreciation, the sense of companionship in the air was indisputable. “To me, bluegrass is a bunch of musicians who can get together without hearing each others’ songs,” Urie said. “At the end of the evening, they can play together like they’ve been doing it for years.”

CULTURE

Uncommon comedy downtown Ashley Besing

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n Sept. 15, the Orpheum Theater opened its doors for the second night of The Big Pine Comedy Festival. Community members, comedy lovers and NAU students came to see the Big Pride Night, a show dedicated to LGBTQ performers. Big Pine first came to Flagstaff in 2015. This year, the festival hosted more than 80 different comedians from all over the country at eight different venues including Prochnow Auditorium. Pride Night was primarily focused on LGBTQ performers and featured several stand-up comedians who commented on their experiences, including comedians Gene Moore, Jess Miller, Bruce Jingles and EJ Nonstop. The comedians’ sketches focused on topics such as their significant others, marriage, sex, being mistaken for the opposite gender and other LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ topics. The main performers were Steven Roberts and Marsha Warfield. Steven Roberts is known for performing in the L.A. Comedy Club, the Las Vegas Stratosphere and hosting the show “The Marsha Warfield Experience.” He joked about his experience growing up gay in Texas and being a husband and father to his recently graduated son. “How hard would it be if you were a son with two gay dads to rebel?” Roberts said during his performance. “You have two choices, really: Christian, Republican, right-wing or dead-beat, metal head, Satan worshiper. We got the Satan worshiper, thank God!” The main performance, and finale, was Marsha Warfield’s skit. Warfield is best known for her role of Russell on the NBC sitcom Night Court from 1986 to 1992 but has appeared in several movies and TV shows and starred in The Marsha Warfield Show from 1990 to 1991. Warfield commented on a variety of relevant social issues, including the current presidency, being gay, the legalization of marijuana, being black, her love affair with pizza and aging. “It’s important to talk about things that people find uncomfortable,” said Warfield during her show. “Because if people never talk about them they’ll never get solved.” Warfield also commented on how coming out two years ago has affected her career.

Stand-up comedian EJ Nonstop performs at the Orpheum Theater at the Big Pine Comedy Festival Sept. 15. Aaron Fortin | The Lumberjack

“I haven’t had any problems [after coming out], but there’s a voice that’s missing in the conversation,” Warfield said. “You don’t hear about people my age having to come to grips with who they are. Until the '90s nobody came out.” Warfield’s coming out has affected more than just her personal career, it has affected the people around her as well. “There are a lot of are married women with children who are just now coming out and come to me after my shows and are so glad to hear somebody speaking to who they are,” Warfield

said.

Warfield, who retired for 15 years, has just recently returned to comedy. She explained how much the comedy industry has grown, and what she has noticed is different upon returning. “Everything changed. It’s all social media driven,” Warfield said, referring to the modern comedy scene. “Technology has changed everything. It’s a whole different world.” One person in particular who was happy to see Warfield’s performance was Timothy Campbell, a junior computer information systems major.

“It was a small crowd but it was enjoyable,” said Campbell. “My parents were big Marsha Warfield fans, so it was cool seeing her in person ... The other comedians were hilarious as well. I’m really glad my friends and I decided to come tonight.” Campbell said there was something in the show for everyone. “Even though I’m straight, I didn’t feel left out in any of the humor,” Campbell said. “It was hilarious from start to finish. I was dying laughing. It’s great how they could incorporate important issues and topics with comedy.”

SEPT. 21, 2017 – SEPT. 27, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 17

CULTURE

Modernizing meditation Max Becker

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orty miles west of Flagstaff, tucked away at the end of the winding Mountain Ranch Road just off the I-40, lies the recently opened International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon, a sprawling estate featuring 73 rooms, a pool, a full-service kitchen and, of course, a meditation room. The building, which was formerly the Mountain Ranch Resort, was repurposed to provide a center for Kadampa Buddhism — a form of Buddhism focused on taking the traditional teachings and applying them in modern everyday life. The center opened their doors Sept. 16 for an open house that included free guided meditation and tours. “We’re not doing anything structural to the hotel, mainly just painting and cleaning,” said Michelle Gauthier, the education program coordinator of the center. “There are about four or five people steadily living here, and we have volunteers come from centers all over the country who help out.” The biggest goal for the retreat is already in the works: A plan to build a temple that can hold 1,000 people and be visible from the highway. “We had to get permission from the county, but they were absolutely amazing to work with,” Gauthier said. “We’re expecting it to be done in Fall 2019.” The true spirit of the International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon lies in the meditation room, a banquet hall that has been remodeled with traditional Buddhist artwork. It is here that the Gen-la, or senior teacher, Kelsang Jampa gives weekly guided meditations and classes. Jampa is the resident teacher of the Grand Canyon location. “Buddhist or non-Buddhist, everyone is welcome to come,” said Jampa. “We’ll be offering teachings in Kadampa Buddhism and helping people to learn to meditate. In the chaotic and stressful modern world, Jampa firmly believes practicing Kadampa can help the average person in their everyday life. “The purpose of [Kadampa] is to control and transform the mind from an unpeaceful state to a peaceful, positive and beneficial state. We learn to solve our daily problems that come from anger, uncontrolled desire, selfish intention, jealousy and pride and replace them with patience, as well as developing peaceful

minds and cherishing others,” Jampa said. Jampa first began practicing Buddhism in Seattle, where he eventually began teaching meditation. He has since traveled the world. In the past year alone he has traveled throughout Asia, Australia, Europe and South America. He has settled in Williams for now. “The environment is very beautiful, and I was very much looking forward to getting to know the people in Williams and Flagstaff and the surrounding areas,” said Jampa. “Mainly, I’m a student, but I’m very happy to have the opportunity to pass on what I’ve learned. My best advice would be come to a class and hear some basic teachings, and listen for which ones make the most sense, and try to apply those to your everyday life. What we learn in Kadampa is to unify the experience in the meditation and our daily activities,” said Jampa. Jampa held guided meditations every hour throughout the open house, which included a 10-minute breathing meditation exercise and reading basic Buddhist teachings. “It helps me feel better, it really helps me clear my mind. I think there’s a definite health benefit,” said Mike Irons, a retired accountant and participant in the meditation. “We’re all running around stressing about things, and there’s things that you can’t do anything about, but this helps a lot. Just the meditation aspect … I think can be really beneficial in your life.” While Irons does not consider himself a Buddhist, he still finds time to meditate everyday. “I don’t feel I’m qualified enough to call myself a Buddhist,” Irons said. “I just think it’s a wonderful thing in the world for people to have that option.” The resort offers classes and guided meditations on all levels and is open to anyone interested in learning about Kadampa Buddhism. In addition to the classes given by the resident teacher, there will also be guest teachings by monks from across the globe as well as a festival planned for when the new temple is completed. “A Kadampa is somebody who’s putting Buddhist teachings or person advice into practice in their daily life,” Jampa said. “Compassion, wisdom and patience. These are the instructions we want to give to people, and hopefully it will Top: Gen-la Kelsang Jampa is the resident teacher at the International Kadampa Retreat Center give them practical benefit in their daily life.” Sept. 16. Shannon Cowan| The Lumberjack Bottom: The Center, formerly a hotel, now houses

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long-term residents and guests for meditation. Austin Sudweeks| The Lumberjack

CULTURE

The Clark Telescope captures views of the of the moon’s surface. The telescope is sheltered inside a large wooden dome, which rotates as the telescope moves with the stars and planets Sept. 14, 2016. David Carballido-Jeans | The Lumberjack

The stars of the party Nevin McReynolds

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azing up to the brightly lit stars above is one of the many enchantments Flagstaff offers. The Star Party provides a chance for residents, visitors and students to enjoy the clear, beautiful nightscape that Flagstaff has helped preserve for more than 50 years. The fourth Flagstaff Star Party is scheduled for Sept. 21-23 at Buffalo Park from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Star Party is set to feature numerous free, familyfriendly events including informational lectures, nature hikes and telescope viewings. Lance Diskan, founder of Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition, said that over two dozen telescopes will be available to guests for stargazing. The coalition is also offering a telescope workshop and photography workshop provided community members register on the Star Party website. The Coalition recommends that attendees should dress warmly, and that changes to event scheduling could

occur due to weather. Upon arrival, community members will receive a special red LED thumb flashlight. The Coalition explains on their website that white light flashlights disrupt the night sky viewing experience and are not allowed to be used inside the park’s boundaries during the event. The Flagstaff Star Party has grown in popularity over the years. Their website boasts almost double the attendees from 2015 to 2016 and is gearing up for an even bigger event turnout this year. Though the Flagstaff Star Party is now a main event, the city has had status as a leader in dark sky coalitions long before the Star Parties took place. In 1958, Flagstaff enacted the world’s first outdoor lighting ordinance in order to preserve the views from city observatories. The Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition was formed in 1999. The founders of the Coalition wanted to convince not only the city of

Flagstaff, but the entire world affected by lighting pollution, that appropriate lighting is useful for more than astronomers. On Oct. 24, 2001, the city was inaugurated as the world’s first International Dark Sky City. The International DarkSky Association (IDA), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving dark sky environments, gave the award to the city to commemorate its commitment to saving the night sky. Since then, more than 14 cities across the globe have been certified as “dark-sky communities” by the IDA. Three of them — Flagstaff, Oak Creek and Sedona — are in Arizona, making it the most dense cluster of dark-sky communities, according to a 12 News report. At its heart, the Star Party maintains the same goal: viewing and appreciating the dark night sky and encouraging attendees to think broadly about night sky preservation.

SEPT. 21, 2017 – SEPT. 27, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 19

SPORTS

A celebration? Lance Hartzler

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isa Campos, NAU vice president for intercollegiate athletics, said at a recent press conference that head football coach Jerome Souers will not return after this season, also saying that IT is a celebration of Souers’ time at NAU. But really, what is there to celebrate? Despite the idea of a celebration, the Sept. 11 press conference felt like anything but. Souers’ facial expressions did not match the occassion Campos repeatedly brought up throughout. Others in the back of the room appeared equally uneasy. The room was heavy with apprehension. Why celebrate a coach who has only won roughly half of his games at NAU? He has not made the football program into a powerhouse. The team has been mediocre for the majority of his time. Souers has one Big Sky Conference title and is the all-time wins leader in the Big Sky with 112. Yet, he is also the second all-time losingest in conference history with 105 losses, potentially with more to come. Also, why now? The announcement comes just two games into the season. It seems odd that this big of an announcement would come following two losses, rather than before the season or even after. This “celebration” feels like a way to forget what has happened early in Souers’ career at NAU and to just praise his longevity. The past is still relevant. The first notable issue came in 2001, when the NCAA found the football program guilty of changing grades for athletes so they could remain eligible beginning in the 1999 fall semester, The Arizona Daily Sun reported. Professors in the art and communication departments both raised former NAU wide receiver Francis St. Paul’s grades upon request. The NCAA found a “lack of institutional control” at NAU. Following the NCAA’s ruling, NAU was put on three years probation with the result being a loss of four scholarships. The NCAA also vacated any wins that St. Paul played in. NAU allowed St. Paul’s grade to be raised as high as two letter grades so the athlete could remain eligible. Gerald Hughes, one of the three professors who changed grades for St. Paul, said to The Arizona Daily Sun that he was instructed by someone in the athletics department to send St. Paul’s grades in an email directly to Patrick Martin, the registrar at the time. On June 30, 2002, The Arizona Republic published an article about recent arrests in the program during the 2001-2002 season. “Nearly one-fourth of the players on last year’s Northern Arizona University football team have been arrested and convicted of recent crimes,” The Arizona Republic reported. The article said that 19 NAU players had been arrested at one point in their lives. Sports media frontrunners USA Today, Sports Illustrated and CBS sports radio host Jim Rome also reported on the story. The story turned out to be exaggerated by media outlets, but the point still stands. The NAU football program has had its share of ugly times. December 2002, Souers was arrested in Scottsdale on charges of driving under the influence and pleaded to one count of DUI Feb. 28, 2003, The Arizona Daily Sun reported. He was sentenced to 24 hours in jail, a $450 fine and 16 hours of DUI education. At the time, Souers had a clause in his contract saying if the same circumstance were to happen again, it would be grounds for termination. To be fair, Souers has a clean record in the last decade following the DUI. That does not excuse what transpired in the past or the inconsistency on the field in recent years. Souers has been at NAU longer that the current university president, athletic director and all other coaches in the athletic department. To say Souers has had multiple chances is an understatement. With assistant coaches just trying to stay focused on the rest of this year, this season only adds to the fire around the decision-making within NAU Athletics and who really is influencing these high-profile choices. But, it’s a celebration. Go out and praise mediocrity.

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Jerome Souers speaks at a press conference Sept. 11 after NAU announced this season will be his last. Matthew Strissel | The Lumberjack

Jerome Souers: A look back Maddy Willett

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he evening of Sept. 11 resulted in numerous confused faces in the press conference room of the NAU Athletics office in the Walkup Skydome. Lisa Campos, NAU vice president for intercollegiate athletics, announced that NAU football head coach Jerome Souers would be honoring his last season with the team. Souers is currently in his 20th year of coaching for the Lumberjacks with an overall coaching record of 112-105 and a 76-71 record in Big Sky Conference play. Souers began his career with NAU in 1998 and showed promise as he helped turn the NAU program into a winning team. He became the first coach since Dwain Painter in 1979 to begin his career with a winning record. In just his second season with the Lumberjacks in 1999, Souers received the honor of Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year. Last season, he became the all-time wins leader for a head coach in Big Sky history. The Lumberjacks fell short of expecations in the 2016 season. The same team that was selected to win the Big Sky in both the coaches and media preseason polls came to a halt after severe injuries steered the team to a 5-6 record. In 2015, NAU narrowly missed a chance of competing in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. The team finished with a 7-4 overall record,

going 5-3 in Big Sky play. This would be the third time during Souers’ coaching career that he led the team to an undefeated home record. The team averaged 51 points at home that season. Over his 20-year career, Souers also assisted in classroom-related awards. He had overseen nine Golden Eagle Scholar Athlete of the Year awards and 176 Big Sky AllAmerican honors. His 100th career win came during his 17th season in 2014, becoming the second coach in Big Sky history reach that mark. Souers currently has 112 career wins which is first all-time in the conference. Chris Ault, former head coach at the University of Nevada, is second all-time in wins with 111 in 13 seasons. Ault was the first to have reached 100 career wins in his 11th season in 1988. One of Souers’ most impressive seasons as head coach for NAU came in 2013 when the team finished second in the Big Sky Conference with a record of 9-3, 7-1 in conference. This was the first time since 2003 the Lumberjacks were offered a bid to FCS playoffs. 2003 can be viewed as Souers’ most accomplished season when he became a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award, an award given out to coaches Nick Saban and Urban Meyers in previous years. Souers led the team to a quarterfinal appearance in the FCS playoffs, leading to a Big Sky Conference title for the first time since 1978.

SPORTS

President of the Kendo Club, Chiaki Yamada (left), assists Wesley Koweek how to properly use the shinai in the HLC Sept. 15.. McKenna Rodriquez | The Lumberjack

Kendo: The way of the sword Amber Neate

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lectric spirit echoes through the multipurpose gym located in the Health and Learning Center every Friday evening. Swords clash and bare feet grip the gym floor during two hours of training. Sept. 8 marked the first day of Kendo practice this semester. Kendo is a contemporary Japanese martial art that was once used as a safe method to train Samurai. The two-person art teaches students sword-handling, attacking and counterattacking. The practice also enhances strength and refines the mind through lessons of self-control, honesty, technical skill and discipline. Returning club member Chiaki Yamada said the sport teaches discipline in academics and everyday personal life. Before combat, coach John Mark initiates the respectful opening bow followed by a series of stretches and warmup exercises. Participants discover how to handle the shinai, a sword made of four dried bamboo slats bound by leather twine and a rubber disc. Size and weight of the shinai vary depending on a person’s body type. The construction of the weapon allows the wooden slats to flex and absorb the impact of a strike. In contrast to the katana, the shinai lacks a blade and is incapable of seriously

maiming the opponent, however, Kendoists’ handle the shinai as if it were a real sword. Safety precautions must be taken before practice. The shinai must be thoroughly inspected for splinters, cracks or loose ties. Use of a damaged shinai can lead to injury. The training is heavily structured with sets of movements that appear simple to ordinary spectators but demand steadiness and strenuous skill from the student. “I came in with an open mind,” said Brock Schroeder. “I’ve never done anything like this before. It’s formal and foreign, but if you’re adventurous, give it a try.” In the beginning, students are taught stances, footwork and basic swing movements of the sword. Protective gear is used to prevent injury. The armor consists of a caged helmet, breastplate, wrist guards and gloves. Traditional Kendo attire illustrates intensity and rigidity. As competitors engage in combat, a sign of energy is expressed through a loud, aggressive shout also known as kiai. This makes Kendo a noisy but powerful sport. Competitors grasp the shinai using both hands and strike their opponent. Strikes may be executed on the top of the head “men,” on the wrist, “kote,” on either side of the abdomen, “do,” and to the throat, “tsuki.” With an assortment of Japanese terminology, it is useful to understand

the basic phrase of maneuvers prior to attempting them. The first athlete to score two strikes on any target point wins the match. A match tends to last two to five minutes. If the shinai is dropped, or the contestant steps out of bounds or if unnecessary roughness occurs, participants are subject to penalty. To be successful in Kendo, one must be disciplined and persistent. Three-year member John MacLean practices 50 to 100 swings a day. Precision and intensive training are used to build character, honor and confidence. Understanding the opponent’s rhythm and responding to strikes with natural and precise movement is essential to victory. Competitors progress in rank as they master each rank, also known as kata. To earn a higher title, the athlete must demonstrate proper attitude, form, control and technique. Based on the performance, experienced judges determine if the fighter is ready to advance. The NAU team trains in an unofficial dojo, so members of the club must travel to the dojo (a room used to practice martial arts) in Tucson for evaluation if they wish to be formally ranked. Mark, a six-year Kendo veteran, provides personalized training to each of the six members of the club, including two women and four men. The team hopes to attract new members

SEPT. 21, 2017 – SEPT. 27, 2017 | THE LUMBERJACK 21

SPORTS who are willing to step out of their comfort zones and engage in thrilling, full-contact sparring. Prior to coaching Kendo at NAU, Mark lived in Japan for 10 years where he taught junior high and high school Kendo classes. The All-Japan Kendo Federation, a government program in Japan, works to promote amateur Kendo training. The organization strives to instill civil etiquette, knowledge, sincerity and courtesy as a way of life. “[Kendo] is not about defeat,” said Mark. “It is about being superior to the self you were yesterday.” The club is not expected to compete against other teams this season but is planning to attend a Kendo seminar at the dojo in Tucson. To participate in Kendo, students must be self accountable and maintain grades no lower than a 3.0 gpa. Membership of the club is a thrilling and rewarding experience. Mark has high expectations for the team. He said failure is not an option, clearly showing the club takes what they do seriously. Students enjoy a unique atmosphere, challenging workouts and friendly competition. Club members also develop wisdom and general understanding of self-defense. The club allows students to learn a unique and culturally diverse sport, something traditional sports may not give.

Bottom Left: Chiaki Yamada, president of the Kendo club, practices his form using the shinai Sept. 15. Top: Students Wesley Koweek (left), Angel Claw (middle), and Jessica Collins practice their form alongside Chiaki Yamada (far right), president of the kendo club in the HLC on Sept 15. Bottom Right: Instructor J.M. Dunn (middle) shows students Wesley Koweek, Angel Claw and Jessica Collins how to properly use a shinai against an opponent in the HLC on Sept 15. McKenna Rodriquez | The Lumberjack

22 THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

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