T H E L U M BE R JACK
DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018
GRADUATION A SPECIAL ISSUE
Online at JackCentral.org
From the Editor
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ush yourself outside of your comfort zone. Embrace new opportunities wherever they present themselves. Remember these are the years to figure yourself out. There are three things outside of my academic studies that I will take away with me from my time at NAU. I learned plenty when it came to my studies thanks to the great professors I have had along the way. I understand how to write a proper lede – the old-school journalism word for a story’s hook. I have a rudimentary understanding of the complex political issue of campaign finance, and the Supreme Court cases that affect it. I also ponder Sartre’s Being and Nothingness late at night and wonder if I am living my life in bad faith or not, while also thinking if me wondering this makes it true. There’s a lot of thinking involved in having a philosophy minor. As much as college is a place of academic learning, I believe it is also a place of social learning. It is where you start what can only be explained as the awkward transition phase from being a teenager to an adult. A phase, I think, some people JOEY would say never ends. It can be rough and challenging sometimes, but it can also be POSTIGLIONE rewarding and inspirational. ASSISTANT NEWS Those three lessons are the three things that have led me to happiness most of EDITOR the time. If I never pushed myself outside of my comfort zone, I never would have ended up as the assistant news editor for The Lumberjack. I used to be a shy guy who kept to himself, but in my last semester, I put my name out every week on stories I wanted the NAU community to read. If I had not embraced opportunities that came along for me from what, at the time, seemed the oddest of places, I never would have known this remarkable town named Flagstaff and the wonderful community it offers. Like I said, the process can be rough. I have had my dark days and sudden major changes in my life that I have had to adapt to. That’s why remembering that these years I am living right now are my years to figure out who I want to be and that it is OK if things are susceptible to sudden change. I am still figuring it all out. So, thank you NAU. Not only for the great professors and amazing opportunities, but also for the life lessons. It is my time here that has prepped me for the journey that lies ahead in my post-grad life.
“If you just remember your dreams, it will take you on a trip to your unconscious and tell you all the things about yourself that maybe you’ve forgotten or repressed.” - Larry Stevens, psychological sciences professor, 2017
Thank you for reading. The field of sleep psychology focuses on people’s sleep patterns, dreams and disorders, Oct. 15. Photo Illustration by Shannon Swain Phone: (928) 523-4921 Fax: (928) 523-9313 Lumberjack@nau.edu P.O. Box 6000 Flagstaff, AZ 86011
THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 105 ISSUE 15
Editor-in-Chief Megan Troutman
Managing Editor Lance Hartzler
Copy Chief Emma Helfrich
Web Chief Ariel Cianfarano
Faculty Advisor Mary Tolan
Faculty Advisor, Visuals Jennifer Swanson
Sales Manager Marsha Simon
Print Chief Matthew Strissel
Media Innovation Center Editorial Board News Editor Conor Sweetman
Opinion-Editorial Editor Director of Circulation Director of Illustration Elizabeth Wendler Colton Starley Luis Gardetto
Asst. News Editor Asst. Opinion-Editorial Editor Senior Reporter Adrian Skabelund Mikayla Shoup Peggy Packer Features Editor Makenna Lepowsky Asst. Features Editor MaryAnn Witt
Director of Photography Shannon Cowan
Culture Editor Katie Sawyer
Sports Editor Bailey Helton
Asst. Culture Editor Kaitlyn Sampson
Asst. Sports Editor Quinn Snyder
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Asst. Director of Photography Maxim Mascolo Senior Photographer Michael Patacsil
On the cover Diplomas in hand, after years of dedication students are ready to ceremoniously move their tassels from the right to the left. Illustration by Megan Troutman
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.
OF T S E B Aug. 25 At 11:50 p.m., NAUPD initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Lone Tree Road and O’Leary Street. The passenger, a student, was booked into Coconino County Detention Facility for two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of disorderly conduct, threats and criminal damage. Citations were also issued to the driver for driving in a bike lane and operating a motorcycle without a license. Sept. 10 At 11:11 a.m., an RA in Sechrist Hall called to report strobe lights flashing throughout the building with no audible alarm. The area was searched and NAUPD determined that the lights were caused by burnt food. Fire Life Safety was notified. Sept. 12 At 11:43 a.m., a student in Reilly Hall called to report the theft of their ATV from the dorm parking lot. An NAUPD officer responded and took a report. It was determined the theft occurred sometime in the previous 24 hours. The case was closed as all leads were exhausted. Sept. 23 At 1:50 a.m., NAUPD discovered two subjects lying under a van in parking lot 8. NAUPD responded, and one non-student, who was a minor, was referred to juvenile courts for possessions of alcohol, marijuana and fireworks. The juvenile also had a firearm while under 21 years old and possession of a deadly weapon while committing a felony. A second non-student was referred to juvenile courts for underage drinking and use of marijuana.
PoliceBeat
Compiled by Conor Sweetman
At 8:44 p.m., an on-call general maintenance manager reported a strange odor in a stairwell of Reilly Hall. A fire alarm pull station was activated as a precaution, and the building was evacuated. FFD, Guardian Medical Transport and NAUPD responded. No gases or substances were found by the fire department, and one student was treated at the scene for coughing but refused medical transport. Sept. 28 At 9:09 p.m., an NAUPD officer responded to Tinsley Hall to check on students who possibly had drug-related posts on social media, but no one was home. Twenty minutes later, the officer checked again and made contact with the students. No drugs were found. Oct. 4 At 12:09 p.m., Reilly Hall staff called to report the odor of marijuana. NAUPD responded and deferred one student for use and possession of marijuana. NAUPD deferred the other students for use of marijuana, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and a minor in possession of alcohol.
Oct. 14 At 12:02 a.m., a staff member in McConnell Hall called to report a student with alcohol and marijuana in their dorm room. NAUPD responded, and the student was cited and released for possession of drug paraphernalia, a minor in consumption (MIC), possession of spirituous liquor and fireworks. The student also faced three NAU policy violations for possession of a large knife, BB gun and the fireworks. Oct. 17 At 8:08 a.m., a staff member called to report a subject throwing a deer’s head at the Gammage Building. One NAUPD officer responded but saw no criminal activity. It is unknown if this was a freshly severed head or if it was a mount. Facility Services was notified to clean the area.
Oct. 27 At 2:18 p.m., a student called to report a child being neglected at The Suites. NAUPD responded, and arrested one non-student, who was booked into Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Jail for child endangerment, child neglect and underage consumption of alcohol. Oct. 13 Child Protective Services was At 7:17 p.m., a staff notified, and two children were member at the University returned to their mother. Union called to report an intoxicated non-student on Nov. 1 campus. NAUPD responded At 2:05 a.m., a resident and arrested the non-student in Allen Hall reported an for aggravated assault, intoxicated student. An disturbing the peace, littering NAUPD officer responded and disrupting an educational and deferred the student in institution. The non-student question for an MIC. While was booked into Coconino on this call, the officer spotted County Detention Center. another intoxicated student The assault and disturbing- in the hall. At 2:19 a.m., the the-peace charges occurred off officer cited and released campus at FMC. another student for an MIC and possession of a fake ID.
DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 3
NEWS
The Hub, under construction Dec. 2, is the newest housing complex developed by American Campus Communities in Flagstaff. It is expected to open in fall 2018. The high-occupancy housing complex will have the capacity for more than 600 students. The Hub created controversy for Flagstaff residents due to its potential impacts on the Southside neighborhood and the traffic it might bring. Emily Burks | The Lumberjack
High-Occupancy Housing Plan moves forward Adrian Skabelund
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early two years ago, city staff began working on the new plan outlining how Flagstaff should deal with highoccupancy housing (HOH) developments. Now, after a myriad of community forums and approximately 800 public comments, the plan is finally nearing fruition. In part, the plan is an effort by the city to play catch-up after so many residents were caught off guard by large student housing developments, such as the Hub and the Standard, and the controversy that came with them. The Hub faced so much community backlash that it was eventually challenged in court, although a Pima County judge eventually ruled in favor of the developer April 21. Nonetheless, Flagstaff planning manager Sara Dechter, who headed the project, said when that plan is implemented, a development like the Hub would be far less likely. “First of all, [the Hub] could not have been all one building,” said Dechter. “They would
have to break it into several buildings to comply with this plan. We had always assumed that the land downtown was too expensive for anyone to assemble or that anyone would assemble that much land in that configuration.” It wasn’t just the size of the Hub that was a problem for so many, but also its location in the Southside neighborhood. The plan also tries to address these public concerns of community character and where such developments are appropriate across Flagstaff. The plan does this in a few ways, but it is limited in what is feasible for the city to do. For example, Dechter said they tried to simply ask people where they do and do not want these developments, but that was not very successful. “Why can’t we just draw a map and show where everybody doesn’t want this stuff?” Dechter said. “Because the answer will be everywhere but the mall. Nobody really wants this kind of building where they live.” Instead, the plan aims to use incentives to pull developers into different areas of town, not only spreading out the impact across the city but also not concentrating developments in one
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area. The plan is also trying to meet some of the goals laid out in Flagstaff’s regional plan. In the plan, the city suggests HOH developments be built around activity centers. These, the plan describes, are places in town “containing more overall or more specialized attractions.” The activity centers are places designed for walkability with a mix of commercial and residential use. Dechter said there could be a few HOH developments grouped around different activity centers and pointed to Sawmill Road as an example of what this could look like. “Someone living in the Village at Aspen Place does not have to drive anywhere to get anything in Flagstaff unless they want to,” Dechter said. “They can go to the grocery store, they can go to yoga class, they can go get dinner, they can walk to a park and catch a running trail at Sinclair wash. Those are really what we describe as live, work, play communities, and [they] benefit the whole community because of the fewer vehicle trips [people living there must take].” By placing HOH, which is defined by the plan as having “more than 75 bedrooms per acre
[or] more than 30 units per acre in dormitory or apartment-style units,” in these areas reduces the impact on traffic and congestion that developments have. According to the plan, this also encourages the use of pedestrian and bicycle commuting, as well as the use of public transportation. Dechter added that these developments actually have a lot of potential to improve parts of town that are currently dominated by the car, like Milton Road. “Nothing about [Milton] makes it a place you want to live, but it could be,” Dechter said. But more than suggesting to developers where HOH should be built, the plan also has recommendations as to how they should look. In more urban, and especially historic, parts of town, the size and footprint of buildings would remain fairly small, and developers would be encouraged to preserve or help create a traditional streets and alleyway grid system. Areas like this might include places closer to downtown and developments near Fourth Street. In suburban areas, the plan describes larger developments that still maintain as much
The Grove, Dec. 2, a popular housing complex for students, opened their apartments in 2011 and their townhomes in 2013. Emily Burks | The Lumberjack
walkability as possible. Dechter said they want these developments to be integrated into the community, not like the Hub, which some on the planning and zoning commission have described as looking like a fortress. She added that the goal is for HOH developments to not just be for students but for community members who want to live in them, as well. The plan also suggests the use of more parks in development areas. Currently the city has a policy of not approving any parks under two acres. If a developer had one acre of land they were not going to use and wanted to give it up as a park, the city would deny it. On Nov. 8, Dechter suggested changing this during a joint work session with the city council and the planning and zoning commission, and the idea was met with praise from some on the council. “I really believe in parks, no matter what size they are,” said Councilmember Charlie Odegaard. “[They] add value to the neighborhood and create community.” That same day, the council considered lowering the max height in the city’s code for certain historic parts of town as well, and the plan suggests that, in some parts of town, the goals of character and historic preservation be prioritized over that of housing. But Dechter said that when writing the plan, staff also didn’t want to go too far in
limiting HOH or regulations such as building height, as similar changes in other cities have caused housing prices to climb. “What we don’t want to see is that we end up like Aspen where we have a really pretty place where only students [due to loans] and affluent people can afford to live,” Dechter said. This is especially important in a city like Flagstaff, as state laws severely limit the municipalities in the ways they can create affordable housing with developers. Dechter said Texas and Arizona are the only two states in the county that have these laws, and they limit what cities can ask of developers when it comes to low-income housing. But as Felipe Zubia, a contractor working with the city on the new Southside neighborhood plan, pointed out, Flagstaff may be uniquely able to implement the HOH plan successfully. “Flagstaff is the most progressive in the state when it comes to land-use controls and being able to request urban design, walkability and mixed use and [they work] with the residents to make it happen,” said Zubia. The first public hearing with the planning and zoning commission is Dec. 13 at the Flagstaff Aquaplex. The second hearing is scheduled for Jan. 10 at Flagstaff City Hall, and the Flagstaff City Council hopes to adopt the plan by Feb. 6, 2018.
DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 5
NEWS
ParkFlag meets mixed reviews two months in Owen Sexton
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he holiday season has officially started, Thanksgiving and Black Friday have passed, and downtown retailers have their sights set on the final push until Christmas. This year, though, shopping downtown is different as a majority of the downtown area has parking meters and free parking is limited to early morning and late night hours. Downtown’s new parking system, ParkFlag, has been running for nearly two months now, after a lengthy delay on the initial Aug. 1 rollout, and reactions from downtown businesses and shoppers have been mixed. Some think that the system really has not had an effect on business. “I don’t really feel like it’s increased or decreased because, no matter what, people are coming downtown,” said Kiana Gibson, team manager at Black Hound Gallerie. “A lot of the people coming downtown don’t even know what the parking is like. Because most downtown areas have paid parking, I feel like a lot of tourists aren’t surprised by that.” Gibson said, of the complaints she had heard, most came from locals. “It’s mostly locals who are either annoyed or surprised by paying to park. Otherwise a dollar, compared to most cities in the country, is pretty cheap I think,” Gibson said. “I’m from Phoenix, and even in Phoenix it costs more than that [to park downtown], and who wants to go there?” Gibson said she especially enjoys the convenience of being able to feed the meter using her phone. “I like it, and I have actually paid to park a couple of times,” Gibson said. “But for me, I would rather just use my cell phone and upload money from the app to it rather than having to move my car every two hours, because I’ve been ticketed for two-hour
Parking meters were installed in downtown Flagstaff throughout the fall, Dec. 3. Shannon Cowan | The Lumberjack
parking spots before. So I think it’s good.” The phone app will also make it easy to avoid being ticketed in the new ParkFlag system. The free app is called Whoosh!. However, not all downtown businesses are content with the parking changes. Some business owners have noticed a decrease in traffic to the downtown area, or at least to certain parts. Bob McGill, a manager at the Orpheum Theater, explained
that he’s noticed a trend of customers choosing to go to corporate restaurants outside of the downtown area with free parking. “I definitely feel that it has hurt downtown businesses,” said McGill. “Because people are just now going out to the corporate restaurants more since they have free parking. Since they have parking, they’re easier to go to, I guess. We also have lots of people complaining about [ParkFlag], generally from locals.” McGill said that it was at least becoming easier to park downtown as a result of this trend. “The good thing is there is definitely a lot more parking spots around downtown now,” McGill said. “Because less people are coming to downtown.” Another concern McGill brought up was the issue of increased traffic in the neighborhoods surrounding the downtown area. He thinks that, of the people that are still coming downtown, many now seek to park in the surrounding neighborhoods with free parking. “I know the owner of this place lives up the street up here, and I know that the neighborhood didn’t use to have any traffic,” McGill said. “Well now everybody parks up there. They’re parking up the street, up Leroux, up San Francisco. Their quiet neighborhoods are now parking areas.” From the business owners he had talked to, McGill said the general attitude toward the ParkFlag system was negative. “It’s affected a lot of business owners in town,” McGill said. “Pretty much everybody feels that it’s hurting them.” Whether the new ParkFlag system creates more problems than it solves, or solves more problems than it creates, has yet to be determined. Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the city did make all parking free for “Small Business Saturday” in an effort to encourage shoppers to come and offer their patronage at local stores and restaurants downtown.
NAU four-year graduation rates lag behind ASU, UA Jessie Russell
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his December, 7,273 NAU students are expected to receive diplomas for their years of dedication to their field of study. Of these, 5,991 students anticipate receiving a bachelor’s degree, 1,049 students a master’s degree and 233 students a doctoral degree. NAU has varying graduation rates for students with different circumstances, such as field and college of study, number of years spent at school and financial situations. NAU’s Office of Institutional Research and Analysis recently released data of graduation rates for the fall 2017 semester. Compared to ASU and UA, NAU’s graduation rate is lower. UA’s 2016 four-year graduation rate was 47.4 percent, ASU’s four-year graduation rate was 51.9 percent, while NAU’s fouryear graduation rate was 36.5 percent, according to each school’s graduation report. NAU has improved its graduation rate over the years. In 2007, NAU’s four-year graduation rate was 28.8 percent. For the class of fall 2016, the colleges with the highest
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graduation rates were the College of Education with 53.6 percent, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) with 42.6 percent and the W.A. Franke College of Business with 38.7 percent. The College of Education has the highest retention rate among colleges at NAU as well. The College of Health and Human Services retains the lowest number of students. Measuring three years from fall 2013 to fall 2016, the College of Education retained 53 percent of students over three years, followed by SBS with 45.6 percent and the W.A. Franke College of Business with 45 percent of students after the third year. In fall 2017, majority of graduates are expected to be from the College of Engineering, Forestry and Natural Sciences with 33.6 percent, followed by SBS at 19.9 percent. Compare this to the graduating class a year ago, when the largest number of bachelor’s degrees were awarded in business management, marketing and related support services with 19 percent each, followed by health professions and related programs
with 13 percent and education with 9 percent. The graduation rate significantly increased when students spend more than four years pursuing their degree. Failing some classes can cause students to be set back on a four-year degree plan by a semester or two, or sometimes several years. At NAU, for the 2015 fall class, the four-year graduation rate was 36.5 percent, the five-year graduation rate was 49.5 percent and the six-year graduation rate was 51.9 percent. There is also a correlation between students receiving less financial aid and having higher graduation rates. According to the 2017 fall graduating class, students who received a Pell Grant and a Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan in 2013 had a 30.4 percent graduation rate, while those who received only a Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan had a 39.4 percent graduation rate. Those who received only a Pell Grant had a 41.7 percent graduation rate, and those who received no financial assistance had a 45.3 percent graduation rate.
DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 7
COMIC SPOT
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DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 9
OPINION-EDITORIAL
Goodbye, farewell and amen KARI SCOTT
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he Lumberjack has been a primary part of my life for the past two-and-a-half years. It has helped me through some of the most difficult times of my life. It has been my raison d’etre. I worked my way up from being an arts and entertainment writer to assistant culture editor, to culture editor, then to managing editor. It took countless hours of writing, editing and hard work. It has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I have had the honor of working on an incredible publication with an outstanding staff. While my time at NAU is not over, my time at The Lumberjack is. One of the most difficult things I’ve had to do in my college career is say goodbye to the place I’ve called home for so long. It seems to be the right thing, though. This place has taught me about my own strengths and brought out my fiercest passions. It is time for me to share these with other parts of the journalism world, hopefully, as a freelance journalist. The advisers at The Lumberjack have been my pillars of support and my biggest role models. Every one of them has inspired me to explore something unfamiliar and to accept new challenges, and this time in my life is no different. As a student, the advisers have taught me so much, and yet they always treated me with respect. I am forever grateful for their compassion, kindness and inspiration. My colleagues at the newspaper have become some of my best friends and have felt like family at times. The late nights in the newsroom, countless cups of coffee, numerous meetings, happy hours and the jokes told during production will always be fond memories to me. Each member of The Lumberjack
Editorial Boards I have had the pleasure to be a part of, has taught me something new about journalism and myself. These wonderful people are the strongest and most outstanding that I have ever known, and I imagine they always will be. This past semester’s staff has been especially powerful, and I could not be any more proud than I have been these past months watching us all grow and learn together. Thank you to you all. Even the newspaper itself has changed during my time working on The Lumberjack. But one thing has not changed. We are real news — always have been and always will be. An incredible amount of effort and time has been put into this paper by students out of their sheer love of journalism, and it is admirable. The Lumberjack produces quality work, and it is not something to be discredited or questioned. It is genuine journalism through and through. To The Lumberjack and Flagstaff: It has been an honor to serve you as a journalist, and I thank you for allowing me to do so.
Illustration By Katie Dobrydney
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Good night, and good luck JOEY POSTIGLIONE
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n a way, ending my collegiate career at The Lumberjack is fitting. After all, my threeand-half year journey began here at the school paper. Back then, I was a bright-eyed freshman who wanted to try something new, and before attending NAU, I had never written something for public consumption. I wanted a challenge, and I sure ended up with one. I started as a writer for the arts and entertainment section of the paper: a section that has since been transformed into our great culture section. As a freshman who had never written anything before and had never taken a journalism class, the task of writing one article a week was a daunting one. I struggled my first semester at the paper. Ultimately, the arts were not what I was meant to write about, but I was always proud when I saw my byline in the paper. Even though I took time off from the paper after my first semester, this would not be a proper goodbye if I did not mention where I first got my taste for writing and the two great editors who guided me. To Kelly Church and Grace Fenlason, my two editors, I thank you. I did some growing in the semesters I took off from The Lumberjack. I became a great deal more outgoing, my interests broadened and I think, most importantly, I took some journalism classes with some great professors. By my senior year, I was ready to get back to the paper, this time writing for the news section. It could not have been a more perfect fit. One of the things I realized in my time away from my paper was that I had a passion for the facts. Being a news reporter was the perfect position for me to pursue that passion. In my time as a writer and an editor, I have written stories about a variety of topics, and every story I approached in the same way, with the same starting question: What are the facts? Being at the paper allowed me the opportunity to not only answer that question for myself but to also share
it with the public. If there is one thing I hope for my time at The Lumberjack, it is that people 50 years from now look back on my work and get some sense of what the year 2017 was like at NAU. For giving me that opportunity, I am eternally grateful. The Lumberjack gave me one more thing during my senior year: a family. The bond I share with everyone on the paper is almost indescribable. The long hours, the late nights and, I think, the responsibility of running a paper has brought us all together in a quick and unbreakable manner. There are too many names to write out, and I am approaching my word count, so, I think I will end it on this note. To every single person who puts their blood, sweat and tears into The Lumberjack, thank you for being my family. We will always stick together.
Illustration By Katie Dobrydney
OPINION-EDITORIAL
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen; I'm done! MAKENNA LEPOWSKY
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s the last days of my senior semester trickle away, so do the tears on my face as the reality sets in that the best years of my life are coming to an end. I have had a tug-of-war with my mind each night between envisioning my future and reminiscing on my past. The friends that have come and gone, the lust I mistook for love sophomore year and the time I almost got an A in Rory Faust’s sports reporting class. While these memories are distant, they feel as familiar as yesterday morning. But here I am today, 22 years old, about to graduate from college wondering where the time went and how I can get it back. Looking back to the day I bid my parents farewell four years ago, the girl I was back then is a stranger to me. Like a puppy, wide-eyed and manic, I jumped into college life looking for the nook I would fit best. In the blink of an eye, my freshman year suddenly had turned into my junior year. While it took some time, I found my life’s purpose in the written word, politics and human-rights activism by working for The Lumberjack newspaper. I also found it in holding my public relations and marketing internship at the nonprofit Native Americans for Community Action. While I had found some peace in life, what I had not truly found was the one thing everyone had told me I would discover: college best friends that would last a lifetime. I kept asking myself, “What rock have these supposed college best friends crawled under, and where can I find them?” It wasn’t until I joined The Lumberjack Editorial Board my junior year that I found my true college best friends. They are not the ones I met at late night parties that turned into mornings, or the people I had meaningless conversations with at bars downtown. My true college best friends are the ones I spent days and nights with in the Media Innovation Center
working on podcasts, creating video packages and honing our abilities with the written word together. These people have become my friends and family, and I am honored to have best friends that I share common ethics, values and dreams with. You all have shown me hope in times of despair and have helped me continue when I felt like I had nothing left to give. While The Lumberjack staff started out as my colleagues, you have become family. Ten years from now, when I’m working wherever my heart leads me, I will never abandon my roots, and I will always be a Lumberjack at heart. This not the end, but the beginning. I will see you all out in the field doing what we do best: writing, growing and striving for truth.
Illustration By Kaleb Kirsop
How to escape postgraduation stagnation Delaney Jackson
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Illustration By Katie Dobrydney
or many college graduates, falling into the after-college rut is inevitable. If students do not have jobs lined up or an internship that could potentially turn into a job, then the responsibility of the “real world” can be daunting. The mundane adult life immediately after college brings bills, trips to the grocery store and working in a boring, gray cubicle. This, however, doesn’t have to be the case for every graduate. Often, students in their junior or senior year have an internship in place. Not all internships turn into jobs post-graduation, but many do. Students should not worry about that. The college years and the time right after graduation is opportune for young adults to figure out who they are and what they want to be. Whoever said taking some time off after graduation to figure out where one wants their life to go is a bad thing? Just as taking a gap year between high school and college, it is perfectly acceptable to take time off after getting a degree. The difficult lifestyle that typically comes with life after graduation does not have to affect everyone. Here are some tips to avoid falling into a post-graduation rut:
1. Make short- and long-term goals. People are far more likely to follow through with something if they have made logical and achievable goals. Write them down somewhere and tell a few close family or friends about them. If there is someone who can help to keep those goals in check, then it will be much harder to fall away from working on them. 2. Work hard but have some fun, too. If people worked all the time it would make for a very miserable lifestyle. While on the journey to finding one’s career, it is important to allow for some free time. Work hard during the week, then have a little down time on the weekend as a reward. 3. Don’t throw a pity party. As easy as it is to fall into a slump, avoid falling into that trap. Everybody has a time to peak. Some reach their full potential sooner than others. If people felt sorry for themselves all the time, nobody would get anywhere. By following these few suggestions, it is less likely for graduates to fall into post-college stagnation. No one said every student needs to become a stereotypical sad sap, and it’s common to not have a set career immediately after graduation. One’s future can be whatever they choose it to be.
DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 11
FEATURES
NAU alumni take center stage Brittany Viar
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raduating students make their way through the Walkup Skydome. They are draped in dark blue, which is complimented by the gold tassels dangling from their graduation caps. As they continue to take steps toward the graduation stage, they are also taking steps toward new life chapters. This includes their future careers. Upon receiving a degree, people may view the world as their oyster, but many graduates end up settling in different places. The Lumberjack newspaper asked School of Communication alumni about their time at NAU and beyond. “NAU was everything I thought it would be and more,” said alumnus Ben Molzhon in an email. “Even before I started classes I knew Flagstaff and NAU were home. I fell in love with the town and college the more I became involved. NAU is an extremely involved college when it comes to extracurricular activities. I effortlessly found a niche and grew exponentially as a student and person.” Molzhon graduated in May 2017 with a degree in strategic communication and an advertising emphasis. Molzhon works as a paid public relations intern for the Coconino County Public Works Department. “I didn’t necessarily picture myself in a position like this during college, but I always thought living and working in Flagstaff postgraduation was a definite possibility,” Molzhon said. “My current internship and my previous internship at Coconino Community College shed a lot of light on the versatility in my degree in strategic communication. I have learned that communication professionals jump to different types of positions and markets all of the time in their careers.” In pursuit of his career, Molzhon has stayed motivated after graduation. “The world of communication moves fast and is extremely versatile. I am not sure what specific position I will have in the future, but I do know the direction I will move toward,” 2003 NAU journalism graduate Michelle McManimon is the intake housing specialist at Catholic Charities Community Services, Dec. 1. Molzhon said. Rye So | The Lumberjack
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FEATURES Another notable NAU alumna is Andrea Garcia who graduated in December 2015. Garcia studied journalism and worked for the arts and entertainment section of The Lumberjack her junior year. “My love for journalism would definitely not have been the same without The Lumberjack,” said Garcia. “It was my first hands-on experience and really gave me an understanding of what it means to be a journalist. I always had a love for journalism, but my passion and respect for it grew tremendously after seeing everything that goes into putting together a publication. I will always be grateful for The Lumberjack and for the colleagues I met along the way who were all passionate, creative and inspiring people.” When choosing a college to attend, NAU was a suitable choice for Garcia because it felt like home. Now, she works as a reporter for The Mountain News in Lake Arrowhead, California. Alongside her reporting job, she has other passions that she enjoys. “Of course, in the position I have now, I’m strictly just writing and working with graphic designers, but I’m always trying to learn new things with cameras and put videos together just so I can have my own personal experience,” Garcia said. Alumna Michelle McManimon also shares Garcia’s passion for the written word. McManimon graduated in the fall of 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, but this was not always her first choice. Medical school was a career path she considered, but her love for writing prevailed and became her career choice. Throughout her undergraduate career studying journalism, McManimon built relationships with several memorable professors, but one stuck out in particular. “My sophomore year, I joined The Lumberjack. I had an amazing professor in journalism, Annette McGivney. She suggested that I be a copy editor for the student newspaper. I started working there, and I thought, ‘Wow I really want to be a journalist. This is what I want to do,’” said McManimon. McManimon had several reporting jobs throughout her career, including working at the Arizona Daily Sun writing on the crime and courts beat and the education beat. McManimon said working each beat was at times emotional because she needs to be able to cover things fairly but also compassionately. “Whether they’re seen as the good guy or the bad guy in the story, they’re still your neighbors and members of your community. It made the community even more endearing to me,” McManimon said. Her experience writing for crime and courts inspired her to help people in need, and in December 2016, she left the Arizona Daily Sun to work at Catholic Charities. “I interview people who are going through homelessness, and I help them find resources to survive,” McManimon said. McManimon said people can write about others who have been forgotten, and give them the opportunity to tell the community their life stories. McManimon also had a desire to help people, and this is one of the main reasons why she chose to work for Catholic Charities. Dating back to 1980, when students like Keven Ann Willey were walking across the graduation stage, they may have only been able to dream of the accomplishment they would be proud of today. Willey is an alumna who graduated with a bachelor’s in journalism and has written for several publications along the way, such as the Associated Press in Phoenix. “I knew that I wanted to do something that had to do with
Photo courtesy of Ben Molzhon
writing,” said Willey. “I actually went to NAU with the intention of only going there for two years and then transferring to the Claremont Colleges in California. I enjoyed NAU so much that I never got around to transferring.” Willey’s appreciation for journalism may remain the same, however, she noted that journalism is much different than it used to be when she was fresh out of college. “[Journalism] has changed dramatically. Not so much the ethos as much as the platforms. We were actually still doing stories on typewriters,” Willey said. When she worked for the Associated Press in Phoenix, she was taught how to use a computer to write stories, and later in her career, she went on to work for The Arizona Republic. During this time of her career, digital journalism was beginning to blossom. “The biggest thing about going from a college environment to working for the Associated Press I think was just the autonomy and the expectations,” Willey said. “You would be given an assignment and were expected to deliver it and there wasn’t a teacher that you could go consult or a textbook to look up an answer.” Willey became vice president and editorial page editor at The Dallas Morning News in November 2002. In 2008, her pages at The Dallas Morning News were a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and the Bridging Dallas’ North-South Gap’s section won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing in the year 2010. “The Pulitzer Prize is like the prestigious journalism prize, so we were very pleased to be able to enter our series of editorials,” Willey said. “It’s actually the work of three specific writers in my department, and it was recognized with a Pulitzer, which was just a tremendous honor for them and the entire department.” Each semester, new alumni leave the nest of college that has been home for years. This semester, on the day of the fall 2017 commencement, the Walkup Skydome will be flooded by a sea of people dressed in blue and gold. While the students of the graduating class may all look the same from the bleachers, what is unidentical is the future that awaits them.
Photo courtesy of Andrea Garcia
Photo courtesy of Keven Willey
DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 13
FEATURES
Humans of NAU As the fall 2017 semester comes to an end, NAU seniors graduating in December reflect on their college experience and share what they have planned for their life after graduation.
Ben Girardo
Meredith Prentice
Kyle Baarde
Senior
Senior
Senior
Biomedical science
Environmental studies, emphasis in global sustainability
Filmmaking
Glendale, Arizona
New Orleans, Louisiana
Pittsburg, California
“
The best [part of college] is experiences — meeting people and friends. [The worst] is taking tests.”
“I was actually at U of A first and then decided to come to NAU. My brother was here and some friends were here, so, I transferred up here.” “I’ve been here since fall 2015. That year was hectic. I didn’t really know any people besides a few friends. That was my junior year, which was my hardest I think. Then senior year was a lot more fun, relaxing, and I enjoyed it a lot better than junior year.” “[After I graduate, I will go to] grad school and hopefully [get my medical degree]. [To celebrate my graduation], I’m traveling to Michigan to be with family there and traveling to San Diego to be with family and friends there.”
“
I’ve been exposed to a lot of really cool opportunities on and off-campus. I’ve worked at an institute in the Forestry building, the Ecological Restoration Institute, and that has been one of the best experiences of my undergraduate because I’ve gotten to do a lot of cool things like doing field work. At NAU, within my coursework, the Women and Gender Studies department has been really amazing, and I’ve learned a lot through what I’ve studied there.” “[The worst part of college is] the lack of time. I feel like it’s very exhausting to be in college, and it’s hard to balance everything and take care of yourself and attend to other areas in your life outside of the academic setting.” “One of the downfalls of being in school is being removed from the world outside of academia, as well. You’re so immersed in this specific niche that you lose touch with what’s happening outside of it.”
Stories by Ray Anne Galzote | Photos by Libby Cummings
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“
The best part [of college] is being by yourself and just having fun and being more independent without family around. I would say the worst part is probably putting yourself in a hole throughout the course of the semester because it messed you up. But, other than that, that’s really the only downside of college in my opinion.” “Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about college before I graduated [from high school]. I was just forced to apply here, and then I got in and so I was like, ‘sure.’ I thought of it as an opportunity to experience something new in a different state, so, I thought it was a good opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and experience something that I never thought I’d experience before.” “[In 10 years], I expect to see myself having a career in the film industry because that’s what I came to school to do. It’s what I [took out] loans for.”
DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 15
FEATURES
A very ‘beary’ cozy winter Savannah Oviedo
A
s temperatures drop, Flagstaff citizens dress in layers, with their hands tucked away in fleece mittens. Animals such as the bats and black bears of northern Arizona, however, prepare differently for the winter. Instead of bundling up, bears are retreating to their dens and bats to their caves for hibernation. Similar to bears, bats often choose to hibernate in caves and, in some cases, mines. Other times, bats may find their way into houses to hibernate during the winter. Skunks and snakes also take part in a form of hibernation. They become significantly less active in the winter months and will stay burrowed in their dens for most of the season. While all these animals hibernate, bears spend the most time in hibernation: about seven-and-a-half months. According to geology.com, black bears are the most common bear species found throughout the United States, including Arizona. According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, there are approximately 2,500 to 3,000 black bears in Arizona, most commonly in the White Mountains located near the border of Arizona and New Mexico, but also in the Coconino National Forest. Black bears tend to live in places with an elevation between 4,000 to 10,000 feet, which makes the meadows and forests of northern Arizona a perfect habitat for these bears. Although the largest amount of Arizona’s black bear population can be found by the Mogollon Rim, the Coconino National Forest is a great habitat for them because of its lush forests, greenery and ample supply of their favorite foods: nuts, berries, cactus plants and insects. “It’s not uncommon for bears to travel more south toward the valley in search of food and water, but they tend to stick to higher elevations in the winter,” said Debra Mollet, deputy district ranger of the Coconino National Forest. After hibernating in the colder and more elevated habitats, black bears will migrate more in the spring and summer months for food after hibernation. According to the North American Bear Center, the hibernation cycle of a black bear has five steps: hibernation, walking hibernation, normal activity, hyperphagia and fall transition. Walking hibernation refers to the few weeks after bears leave their den when they begin to adapt to regular life again. Normal activity and eating patterns for bears begin around midspring or summer. Prior to hibernation, bears will begin to eat excessively and drink to bulk up their bodies for the upcoming hibernation. This stage is known as hyperphagia and takes place during the fall. “Black bear hibernation is often a misconception in that these bears do not go in their dens and sleep all winter,” said Laura Jo West, a supervisor for the Coconino National Forest. “Hibernation for black bears just means they do not need to eat or urinate, and they tend to sleep most of the time they are in their den.”
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Matthew Strissel | The Lumberjack
The hibernation of black bears usually occurs between November and March. Female black bears will begin finding or creating their dens in October, while male black bears wait about a month after to begin to den. These dens can be found throughout the Coconino National Forest. Bears make their dens by digging in the ground and pulling down materials such as tree bark and leaves to create a warm and sustainable home. Northern Arizona has a mountainous terrain, therefore, the most common place to find bear dens is under large boulders or near rock ledges. This winter, black bears will spend three months sleeping in the warmth of their dens with slowed heart rates, and will rarely eat the food they have stored. January, however, can welcome the birth of bear cubs despite it being a month of hibernation. These cubs usually come in twos and will leave the den with their mother around April or May. The cubs will stay with their mother through the summer and will typically den with her one more year before going off on their own. The idea of bears living in the Coconino National Forest may be unnerving for some people as the forest is a popular area for hiking and camping. Although bears hibernate in winter and may
not be a concern during the season, people still need to be wary of bear dens and encounters. The Friends of Northern Arizona Forests is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the natural landscapes of northern Arizona including the preservation of wildlife habitats. One danger people may not be aware of in bear country, besides encountering a bear, is damaging or coming too close to a den. “Although the dens are empty in springtime, hikers need to watch out for them since bears sometimes return to their den or choose to hibernate in an already-existing den from a previous bear’s hibernation,” said Tom Mackin, a member of the Friends of Northern Arizona Forests. During the spring, people should be more wary of bear encounters because there is an increased number of female bears with cubs. Theses mama bears can be more aggressive because they become protective of their young. Hikers should take extra precaution when venturing into the Coconino National Forest and be on the lookout for bear habitats in the months following hibernation experts said. This winter, nearly all of the bear population in northern Arizona will be underground or in the safe haven of their dens.
CULTURE
December Events Calendar Ho Ho Drag Show — The Green Room — Dec. 8 @ 7 p.m. Lucky Lenny Live — Firecreek Coffee — Dec. 8 @ 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. Snowflake Festival —The Orpheum Theater — Dec. 9 @ 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. (Santa 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.) St. Cinder, The Canaries, Sean Golightly — Firecreek Coffee — Dec. 9 @ 8 p.m. Holiday Artsand Crafts Fair — United Way of Northern Arizona — Nov. 18-19 Luminaria stroll — Downtown Flagstaff — Dec. 12 @ 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Terror — The Green Room — Dec. 12 @ 7 p.m. Gingerbread house building, 18 & younger — Flagstaff public library — Dec. 12 @ 10:30 Cody Jinks — The Green Room — Dec. 12 @ 7 p.m. Hanukkah begins — Dec. 13 Ugly Sweater Party at The Orpheum Theater — The Orpheum Theater — Dec. 14 @ 7:30 p.m. Circus Bacchus - A Naughty Night With St. Nick — The Green Room — Dec. 15 @ 9 p.m. Native American Festival of Art and Culture — DoubleTree by Hilton — Dec. 16 @ 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. The Olate Dogs — The Orpheum Theater — Dec. 19 @ 7 p.m. 5th Annual Winter Solstice Run — Buffalo Park — Dec. 21 @ 5 p.m. Something Like Seduction — Hotel Monte Vista — Dec. 22 @ 10 p.m. Christmas — Dec. 25 New Year’s Eve Midnight Meditation Ceremony — Heart and Soul Sanctuary — Dec. 31 @ 10:30 p.m. The Great Pinecone Drop — Downtown Flagstaff — Dec. 31 @ 10 p.m. (first drop), midnight (second drop) Illustration By Katie Sawyer
DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 17
CULTURE
Making graduation accessible AsHLeY BESING
W
ith fall graduation just around the corner Dec. 15, many NAU students will don their cap and gown and join in the annual commencement ceremony to celebrate their graduation. NAU graduates represent a diverse community, and while many might not give a second thought to how they will participate at graduation, some will need accommodations provided by Disability Resources on campus. The NAU Equity and Access Office website states their mission is to “ensure the university is meeting its obligations regarding accessibility and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.” Because the ceremony is set to take place in the Walkup Skydome, there are different arrangements for people with limited mobility to get down onto field level. Jamie Axelrod is the director of disability resources at NAU, an ADA coordinator and a 504 compliance officer for civil rights, tries to ensure the university meets the specific standards regarding disability adaptations. “We do have an elevator there [in the Skydome] for students that need to take the elevator in order to come down to [the] commencement,” said Axelrod. “If we have a student with an injury that impairs their ability at the last moment, they can contact the Equity and Access Office, and we’ll arrange for someone to ensure their mobility to get to the stage and onto the stage.” After the students are in their seats, the ceremony begins. “There’s currently a wheelchair lift that takes students who are wheelchair users or have another mobility impairment and can’t navigate steps ... up on the stage so they can commence across the stage and get down with their peers,” Axelrod said. There are also accommodations for those with a hearing impairment. “The entire commencement is closed captioned on big screens so that folks that are attending with hearing impairments, whether students or parents or guests, they all have access,” Axelrod said. An American Sign Language interpreter will also be provided if someone has a special request for one. Students and guests are able to contact Equity and Access Office or Disability Resources ahead of time to set up accommodations for disabilities, and their services are available at the event itself. Lauren Copeland-Glenn is the program manager of Equity and Access Office, an Equity and Access Office co-chair and commission on disability access and design and is invested in making sure that all accommodations are met. “We talk with students ahead of time. We ask for students to let us know when they’re graduating that they need an accommodation at least a week out,” said Copeland-Glenn. “NAU in general does a pretty good job of providing access at events. Right now what we have for commencement is one lift, we don’t have ramps. We haven’t made any changes to the stage set-
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up for a number of years. Ramps are definitely what we’ve been talking about doing.” Besides the basics already provided at commencement, a student can make a special request for an accommodation so they can participate in the ceremony through the Equity and Access Office website, calling the office or emailing them at equityandaccess@nau.edu. “If there’s a student that needs something so that they can participate in the commencement exercises, we will do our best to make that happen,” Copeland-Glenn said. “To my knowledge there’s not a request that has happened that we couldn’t do. The whole idea is that students have spent their time, their effort, their money and their brain power to make it through, and we’re going to do everything we can so they can cross that stage if they want to.” The Equity and Access Office follows a universal design to present the simplest way for individuals with disabilities to access certain areas. “The issue that comes up with ramps is there are specifications. You have to have a certain percentage in grade, and that often makes ramps impractical because of how long they have to be,” Copeland-Glenn said. Regarding seating, students with disabilities do not have a specified seating area. They are provided assistance through Equity and Access Office workers at the event to help with any additional needs that may arise. “We don’t have sections or partition people off. If there is a student with a wheelchair, they sit with their group always. We pull out a chair so they can sit where they need to be, and there’s always somebody from our office or from Disability Resources on the floor to make sure that everything goes smoothly,” Copeland-Glenn said. The Equity and Access Office also provides adjustments to the guests of the graduating students to guarantee everyone is able to access the event. “There’s a whole mezzanine level of wheelchair and companion seating that’s right by the stage on both sides of the dome,” Copeland-Glenn said. “Parking and Shuttle Services provides golf cart rides to and from the buses and also the parking lot up to the doors [of the Skydome] too. We rent wheelchairs to help people get to and from seating as well.” Not only are there special accommodations made, but there are other requirements for how the event is set up so that they follow American Disabilities Act guidelines. “There are about 36 inches [required] for an aisleways, but we have much more space than that,” Axelrod said. “All those widths are part of the requirements for the setups
of any large gatherings. The event is set up primarily by the Walkup Skydome staff who have experience with meeting these guidelines. “[The staff has] a whole process for setting up the stage and setting up the seating. That’s all part of what they do and have been doing for years,” Axelrod said. Axelrod wants to make sure that everyone, regardless of disability, is able to participate in the commencement. “It’s the culminating event of your educational career,” Axelrod said. “We want to make sure that everyone is there and can participate fully if they choose to commence … It’s a great achievement and we want to make sure everybody’s achievement is celebrated and that everyone has access to that celebration and can be involved and be engaged.” Not only does Disability Resources want to make sure that everyone can graduate, it is a legal obligation under the American Disabilities Act. “It’s a program or service that the university offers, and it’s required under federal law … that, as a government entity and someone who receives federal funds, that we have a requirement to ensure that program is accessible to everyone,” Axelrod said. Besides the design that goes into graduation, Disability Resources also works with NAU to improve campus accessibility. “In general, we also consult with campus to ensure that the physical spaces … and accessible routes of travel are created and maintained around campus,” Axelrod said. Some of the newer buildings built around campus were built with the mobility of students in mind. “Some things that we’ve done that meet a more universal design center, as opposed to just the strict guidelines by the ADA, if you look at the new campus Aquatic Center, you’ll notice that, instead of having stairs everywhere, the primary approach to the front doors are what are called gently sloping sidewalks,” Axelrod said. Disabilities Resources said that they will do what they can to ensure the safe mobility of its students, regardless of what laws are in place. “There are not internal requirements for the [American Disabilities Act], but we do take extra steps in buildings to ensure that wayfinding within buildings is accessible for people,” Axelrod said. Axelrod, along with Disability Resources and the Equity and Access Office, want to ensure anyone can participate in the graduation ceremony Dec. 15. “We’ll make sure that whatever their need is that’s necessary for the ceremony will get met,” Axelrod said.
Illustration By Colton Starley
DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 19
SPORTS
I
Passing the axe
’ve spent the past three semesters working as a writer, assistant editor and editor for the sports section of The Lumberjack. During my time as sports editor, I’ve learned the real value of sports and how they affect the world. I’ve reported on stories that I’ve sought out myself and dug through public documents. Writing about sports is what I love. This semester, I had the chance to report on the most eventful semester for NAU Athletics news in my time at NAU. One story that was especially important was the initial dismissal of head football coach Jerome Souers, to him now returning for one more season in 2018. There was also the monthLANCE long saga of the departure of Lisa Campos, former HARTZLER NAU vice president for intercollegiate athletics, that MANAGING EDITOR captured fans and boosters around NAU like no other sports story has this semester — my favorite. Most importantly, I have seen the sports section grow and become something I am proud of. The work done by the writers, the photographers, my assistant editor Kade Gilliss and the executive editors on The Lumberjack, who have helped make the section the best it can be, has been incredible. Next semester, I will no longer be the sports editor. I am taking on a new challenge. I am now the managing editor and will work to improve each section and help continue The Lumberjack’s maturation. The sports section will still be great. Bailey Helton will take over as the sports editor, Quinn Snyder will take over as assistant, and both will continue to provide the type of sports content readers want.
H
ello readers. I’m Bailey Helton, your new sports editor for The Lumberjack. Here’s a little bit about me: I am a sophomore here at NAU studying journalism with a minor in photography. When I came to NAU, I came with the desire to write and to write a lot. That’s not really what happened. Within my first semester, I enrolled in a sports journalism class and found a hobby I never thought would capture me. What may that hobby be? Broadcasting. So that’s where I’ve been. In my second semester, I was given the opportunity to be the KJACK Radio sports assistant director and then returned in the fall of this year as the KJACK BAILEY sports director. And although I love KJACK and HELTON broadcasting, I am so very stoked to do what I came SPORTS EDITOR here to do: write. Writing has been a passion of mine for over eight years and sports, well, that’s just in my blood. In my lifetime, I have played soccer, basketball and volleyball. However, it wasn’t until I sustained an injury that took me out of the athletic world that I figured out I wanted to be a sports journalist. With that being said, I am so very excited, and I love what my predecessor Lance Hartzler has done with this sports section. I plan to carry out his changes as well as add a fresh new perspective.
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Illustration By Megan TroutMan
NAU Athletics continues high grad rate Kade Gilliss
T
he NCAA implemented the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in 2002, a tool designed to accurately show the proportion of student-athletes on a given team who earn a college degree. NAU, along with every other division I and division II university in the nation, is required to report annual graduation rates on their athletes to the NCAA. The 2016-2017 GSR report released Nov. 8, and NAU’s was reported at 85 percent, a 1-percent increase from the past year. The 85 percent ranks second highest among Arizona universities and second in the Big Sky Conference. Northern Colorado finished at the top of the conference with an 86 percent GSR, while Portland State finished last with 74 percent. ASU finished ahead of NAU with an 87 percent GSR while UA trailed the other in-state universities at 84 percent. NAU takes proactive steps toward development of their student-athletes in order to lessen their course work during the season. “Taking summer school courses to get ahead a little bit. So when their season comes around they can take a little lighter load [to avoid] overworking themselves,” said Alessandro Stecca, assistant academic adviser and mentor. “I think having that support and making sure that they take their classes and support their decisions. I think it helps the [student-athlete] finish and get that degree that they want.” Stecca is a graduate assistant that graduated from NAU in 2016 after playing for the men’s basketball team for three seasons. Stecca finished his collegiate career with the only
men’s team in the Big Sky to record a perfect GSR. Four NAU teams notched the 100 percent GSR, one more than the year prior. For the fourth consecutive year, women’s tennis posted 100 percent, while women’s soccer extended their perfect score to three straight years. Both men and women’s basketball improved to a perfect graduation rate as well. NAU men’s basketball was the only men’s basketball program within the Big Sky to record a 100 percent GSR. Since 2000, when NAU posted its lowest GSR of 58 percent, the university has been on a drastic incline. By 2001, the GSR was 69 percent and by 2005, the GSR had risen to 83 percent. For more than a decade, NAU has consistently achieved an 83 through 85 percent GSR, which often results in top marks within the state and conference. Although NAU’s rate was one percent lower in 2016, it still led the Big Sky in GSR at 84 percent. For the second consecutive academic year, NAU studentathletes finished with a 3.12 overall cumulative GPA, and had 59 graduating athletes. In 2016-2017, 190 athletes were recognized for the Golden Eagle Award, an award given out to student-athletes who make contributions to the athletic program while maintaining a 3.0 GPA. The university has made substantial efforts toward academic success for student-athletes in the past 17 years. Since 2004, when NAU first got their GSR over the 80-percent barrier, the university has been nothing but consistent in maintaining that standard.
DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 21
SPORTS
Lumberjack tennis season comes to a close ELIZABETH WENDLER
T
he NAU Lumberjack men’s and women’s tennis teams wrapped up their fall season Nov. 5, both teams optimistic about the upcoming spring season. The fall marked the return of 10 men’s tennis players and added newcomer freshman Chris Steel. Men’s tennis saw the rise of powerhouse players junior Ruben Montano and senior Felix Schumann. “This was our best fall,” said men’s head coach Ki Kroll. “I think we’re playing really well right now.” Junior Tim Handel kicked off the season playing fiercely but ultimately fell in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Masters tournament. The Lumberjacks then competed in the Wildcats Invitational, gaining a 6-3 overall record in doubles. Part of the team won five singles and three doubles matches at the University of New Mexico (UNM) Balloon Invitational, while the other half fell at the All-American Championships. The team then went 16-11 in singles and 10-3 in doubles at the ITA Division I Men’s Mountain Regionals. Handel and Montano were named top doubles pair at the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships. The Lumberjacks ended the fall season at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Easley Memorial Classic, with just one win from Schumann in singles. Handel spoke highly of his team, remarking on the sense of camaraderie and respect they share on the court. “I think we’re all very good friends,” said Handel. “Everyone gets along really well.” Handel ranked No. 116 in singles in the nation this fall and No. 40 in doubles alongside Ruben Montano. Handel went 6-5 in singles and 5-3 in doubles. Handel competed in four major tournaments this season, including ITA Mountain Regionals and the ITA National Fall Championships. His main goal is to play well, win conference in the regular season and get to the NCAA tournament. Despite the women’s tennis team being comprised mostly of newcomers, four freshmen and one new head coach Maciej Bogusz, the team had a few powerhouse players on the roster this season. Sophomore Chiara Tomasetti, who went 3-5 in singles and 9-4 in doubles this season, thrusted into a leadership role after only being a freshman the year prior. Tomasetti powered through and rose up to earn a No. 53 rank in doubles alongside junior Hanneke Lodewijks this fall. This wasn’t Tomasetti’s first run-in with success, as she was named freshman of the year in the Big Sky Conference last season. “These awards mean a lot to me,” said Tomasetti. “The season in the spring last year was a lot of fun.” The NAU women’s tennis team started their season at the UNLV Invitational and garnered nine singles wins and six doubles wins. The Lumberjacks then competed in the All-American Championships where Tomasetti and Lodewijks went 3-2 overall. The team made a winning record and went 14-7 overall at the ITA Mountain Regionals. They went 8-1 in doubles and 9-9 in singles at the New Mexico Lobos Hidden Dual Invitational, scooping up yet another winning record.
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Junior Tim Handel, at the Wall Aquatics and Tennis Complex Nov. 15, ended the fall season ranked No. 116 nationally in singles and No. 53 nationally in doubles paired with teammate junior Ruben Montano. Maria Saldivar | The Lumberjack
Lodewijks and Tomasetti went 3-0 in doubles against ASU and won 6-4 against the University of Illinois, 6-2 against the University of Notre Dame and 6-1 against the University of Oklahoma at the Arizona Thunderbird Invitational. Meanwhile, the Lumberjacks went 6-5 singles, a winning record, and 3-5 in doubles at the Grand Canyon University Invitational. Tomasetti said how much the team changed under the direction of Bogusz, and that the coach pushed the team to
practice hard and often. All that practice will likely serve the Lumberjacks well. Tomasetti said she’d like to see the women’s tennis team win the regular season again, aiming to also win the Big Sky tournament. NAU women’s tennis will start the spring season Jan. 20, competing against ASU in Tempe. The NAU men’s tennis will start the spring season Jan. 27 and will compete against the UNM in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
DEC. 7, 2017 – JAN. 17, 2018 | THE LUMBERJACK 23