The Lumberjack — Issue 4 — Spring 2013 by The Lumberjack

LUMBERJACK The

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NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT

INSIDE Life: Extreme Entrepreneurship p. 12 A&E: NAU alumna Grammy nomination p. 22 Sports: Women’s basketball p. 18

VOICE SINCE 1914 • VOL 99 • ISSUE 4 • FEB. 7 , 2013 - FEB. 13 , 2013

A dancer at this weekend’s Step Afrika! performance tries a daring move (Photo by Keenan Turner).

BY ABIGAIL O’BRIEN

nonymous confessions are taking over the Facebook newsfeeds of thousands of NAU students. Similar to other universities around the country, NAU now has a Facebook page dedicated to the secrets of students. The creator, a senior at NAU whose identity The Lumberjack decided to withhold, created the page on Jan. 23. Almost three weeks later, the page has more than 3,000 likes and more than 5,000 “people talking about this.” “I started the page because I saw a few other universities that had a confessions page and wondered why the [expletive] we couldn’t have one here as well. I thought it would be an interesting project senior year, and I would leave my mark . . . in a way,” the creator said. see CONFESSIONS page 6

Anonymous confession site results in controversy

Go to Jackcentral.com for daily updates, multimedia packages, extra content and stories before the issue hits the stands.

PoliceBeat Feb. 3 At 12:44 a.m., staff at Allen Hall called the Northern Arizona University Police Department (NAUPD) to report the odor of marijuana emanating from one of the rooms. Officers were dispatched and after investigation cited and released a subject for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. At 4:08 a.m., a resident of Taylor Hall called to report a friend of his, who was his guest for the night, had assaulted him. Officers arrived to find the subject declined to press charges. A report was taken for informational purposes only. At 6:23 p.m., a call was received that multiple suspects were observed urinating off a stairwell at the San Francisco Parking Garage. Officers arrived and after investigation deferred four suspects to the Dean’s office for possession of marijuana. Feb. 2 At 1:48 a.m., staff at Reilly Hall called to report a possible assault by one inebriated resident upon another resident. Officers were dispatched and determined upon investigation that no assault had occurred. One suspect was cited and released for underage consumption of alcohol. At 2:54 a.m., staff at Reilly Hall called to report a resident was intoxicated and had made comments construed as suicidal.

CommunitySpot BY GARY COLLINS

Officers responded to the call and, upon investigation, determined the comments were not of a suicidal nature. The resident was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center and treated for minor scratches. Feb. 1 At 11:44 a.m., a subject entered NAUPD Headquarters to report their backpack was stolen at Pine Knoll and McConnell Drive. Case closed. All leads exhausted. Jan. 31 At 1:01 p.m., staff at the Health and Learning Center said a student had become loud and disruptive in one of the counselor’s office. Officers responded to the call and, after investigation, transported the student to the Guidance Center for an involuntary mental health examination. At 2:38 p.m., a student called to report cash had been taken from her backpack. The incident occurred in her apartment at Hilltop Townhouses. Officers responded and the case remains open pending further investigation. Jan. 30 At 10:06 a.m., a report was received that a male suspect was harassing passersby. Officers responded, made contact with the suspect and determined everything was fine. A field interrogation was conducted and the suspect went

2 The Lumberjack | Jackcentral.com

about his way. Jan. 29 At 1:50 p.m., staff at the Chemistry building called to report the theft of a toolbox, tools and gas chromatograph. They reported the theft had occurred sometime between January 2011 and May 2011 and had been recently discovered. Officers conducted an investigation and the case was closed with all leads exhausted. At 10:53 p.m., staff at Reilly Hall called to report the odor of marijuana exuding from one of the rooms. Officers were dispatched and cited a resident for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. Jan. 28 At 1:51 a.m., an officer on patrol discovered a microwave had been thrown from a window of an upper floor of the San Francisco Parking Garage. The officer conducted an investigation but was unable to locate a perpetrator. At 6:24 p.m., a student called to report several suspects were throwing snowballs at passing cars from the San Francisco Parking Garage. Officers responded to the call but were unable to locate the suspects.

SEE MORE POLICE BEAT ENTRIES FROM THIS PAST WEEK AT JACKCENTRAL.COM

Events Calendar Calendar Events THURSDAY, FEB. 7 NAU Men’s Basketball [6:35 p.m./ Walkup Skydome] That 1 Guy [7:30 p.m./ Coconino Center for the Arts]

Spitfire Grill Musical [7:30 p.m./ Doris-Harper White Community Playhouse]

SATURDAY, FEB. 9 Dew Downtown [9 a.m./ Downtown Flagstaff]

TUESDAY, FEB. 12

SUNDAY, FEB. 10

In Flames [7:30 p.m./ Orpheum Theater]

Arizona Snowbowl Live Music [9 a.m./ Hart Prairie and Agassiz lodge]

FRIDAY, FEB. 8

Grupo Fantasma [9 p.m./ Flagstaff Green Room]

Deschutes Brewery Hot Tub Time Machine Costume Party [7 p.m./ Altitudes]

Trinity Hearts [5:45 p.m./ Trinity Heights Church]

MONDAY, FEB. 11 Sandra Day O’Connor talk: Holocaust Remembrance Day [7:30 p.m./ Ardrey Auditorium]

Taco Tuesday [5 p.m/ Green Room]

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13 Ladies ‘80s [8 p.m./ Flagstaff Green Room] Tom Russell [8 p.m./ Orpheum Theater] Pluto Tour [2 p.m./ Lowell Observatory]

Karaoke Night [8 p.m/ Flagstaff Green Room]

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FromTheEditors

bviously, here at The Lumberjack, we know we’re not perfect. We know our publication has room for improvement. We make mistakes, we screw up (as you can see in the corrections box below) and sometimes we misspell things. This past week, an anonymous poster on the infamous NAU Confessions (check out the front page for a full story on the site) dubbed us “The Lumberjoke” and criticized us behind the anonymity of a computer screen. As we said before, we admit we do have our flaws of our publication and know we have many areas in which we could improve — but we admit that. We are striving to improve and continue to progress as a newspaper. So, instead of bashing us anonymously, join our staff and help us make it better. Thank you for reading,

Kierstin Turnock, Editor-in-Chief

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CORRECTIONS In the Jan. 31 issue of The Lumberjack, a story covering the Jan. 25 and 26 Joel Olson Conference was inaccurate. The article included factual errors and misquotations due to a lapse in communication. The conference was titled “Fanaticism and the Abolition - Democracy: Critical Theory in the spirit of Joel Olson.” Corrections were published immediately on jackcentral.com. The Lumberjack regrets the errors. In the Jan. 31 issue of The Lumberjack, the photographer of the “Let it snow” photo on page six was incorrect. The photographer was actually Amanda Ray.

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

Editor-in-Chief Kierstin Turnock

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InTheNews

Gun legislation debate reaches Arizona Senate

BY WILLIAM BROWN

he Arizona legislature is taking part in the gun debate that has been going on for some time and has only been given more momentum since the Newtown, Conn. shooting that shocked the nation. State Rep. Steve Smith (R) has submitted a bill, HB 2288, which would allow people to carry firearms in public structures or allow for other measures to be taken if firearms are not permitted. “Take, for example, our Capitol building where we are right now,” Smith said. “There’s a sign on the gallery door that says ‘No guns allowed.’ That’s not real good security. So what the bill says is any public building, if they’re not going to allow firearms, like our Capitol, we want either armed security guards in attendance and/ or metal detectors.” Smith also said he has an answer about the inherent costs in increasing security for his critics. “So the answer I give people is, ‘Will there be a cost? Sure.’” Smith said. “I don’t know who’s going to bear it in terms of where the public facility is, whether it’s a state cost or a city cost but again, it doesn’t have to cost them anything. You don’t have to put in metal detectors, you just allow people to carry, allow lawful citizens to carry. Doesn’t cost you a dime. Just say, ‘You can carry.’” State Rep. Bob Thorpe (R), another supporter of HB2288, said he sees the bill as a way for Arizona to protect its citizens, as legislation has not always done. “It’s telling the federal government that

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we recognize the Second Amendment rights of our citizens,” Thorpe said. “One of the concerns that people down in the legislature have is that, goodness, 10–15 years ago we had a 10-year ban on assault weapons for example and on high capacity clips. Statistically, no one would find any information, any data that had any meaningful effect on violence.” After a bill allowing guns on campus failed to pass in 2012, whether Smith’s bill would allow guns on campus is an important question. However, Smith does not think his bill allows guns on campus. “You know, I don’t think this bill crosses the line of the ‘campus carry,’” Smith said. “It’s just public facilities.” Thorpe said he personally would leave the choice up to campuses. “I would probably want to leave that decision with the colleges itself,” Thorpe said. Laura Huenneke, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said students carrying guns might cause problems instead of averting them. “You’ve got the combination of lots of young people, lots of people under relative degrees of stress, people who haven’t necessarily developed the same kind of judgment they will 10 years down the road and that’s not necessarily the best combination of conditions of which to throw in lots of firearms,” Huenneke said. Regardless of whether Smith’s bill would apply to college campuses, HB1049, submitted by state senator Ed Ableser (D), would expand on current law, changing the meaning of school to include “postsecondary education” and making it a felony to possess a weapon on campus.

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InTheNews

Snowbowl celebrates 75th Anniversary

Lift lines at Snowbowl stretched out on Feb. 2. The majority of Snowbowl’s business happens on the weekends. (Photo by Jeff Bucher)

BY MITCH KULLOS

espite dry winters and a snowmaking controversy, Arizona Snowbowl has thrived and recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Since its establishment in 1938, neither Flagstaff nor NAU can be mentioned without drawing to mind the glossy slopes of Snowbowl. For years, many students have even made NAU their university choice due to the availability of a nearby ski resort. The resort and university have indeed shared mutual benefits in the 75 years of Snowbowl’s existence and have a rich history uniting the two. Snowbowl public relations representative David Smith had much to say on the relationship between Snowbowl and the university. “Well, the relationship between the university and the ski area has always been a very strong one. The very beginning when Snowbowl first opened, they did have their own ski team that did compete regionally. A lot of our employees are students,” Smith said. “When I came to NAU, I became a ski instructor and that’s how I got into the industry, and because of the mountain here. A lot of our pass holders are students. There has always been a great relationship between the ski area and NAU in supporting outdoor recreation.”

A testament to Smith’s comments regarding Snowbowl and NAU can be heard from the many students who frequent the ski park. “I’ve been snowboarding for four years. Since moving to Flag I’ve had a pass every year,” said Cody Duncan, a junior business management major. When asked if Snowbowl had impacted his decision to come to NAU, Duncan said, “Having a nearby mountain probably affected 10 percent of my decision.” While 10 percent may not seem like an astonishing number, college decisions may often come down to the smaller issues when two schools offer similar programs or have equivalent tuition costs. The backdrop to NAU and Flagstaff is just as much of a recruitment tool for possible students as are the standard reasons to attend. Jeff Haney, a business management and marketing major, who has been snowboarding for eight years, agreed. “[Snowbowl] definitely affected my decision because it adds more to the outdoor activities available. I figured I would be happier in a place with more recreational activities,” Haney said. Snowbowl has been able to sway many skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts to attend NAU. There is another benefit to the relationship between NAU and Snowbowl: most students

from elsewhere would have to flake out on class to take a trip to a ski resort, but NAU, in a partnership with Snowbowl, has created a Physical Education Services class specifically designed for those interested in learning how to snowboard or ski. Euston Smalley, a recent transfer student, compared his experience with Physical Education Services courses at other universities to NAU’s Downhill Ski and Snowboard classes saying, “I’ve taken different PES classes and in this NAU class, they really make you interact with other students and form friendships.” The Flagstaff and NAU community reflect on the history and impact on Snowbowl. Its history may be considered the founding of a ski team during Snowbowl’s first season in 1938 or the Downhill Ski and Snowboard class that united friends and uncovered unknown talents and passions in others. The defining answer is Snowbowl is deeply embedded in the Flagstaff and NAU community, which would have been drastically altered if Snowbowl’s doors had never opened. With the students and Flagstaff citizens in mind, Snowbowl has decided to come off the mountain and celebrate in the streets of downtown Flagstaff with a series of events they call “Snowbowl Goes Downtown.” Many of these will take place in various places downtown from Feb. 1 to 10. For more information, visit arizonasnowbowl.com/celebrate.

Feb. 7, 2013 - Feb. 13, 2013 | The Lumberjack 5

InTheNews

City ordinance discussed to increase protection of LGBTQ community

BY HANNAH SANDERSON

n a conscious effort to improve the lives of those residing in Flagstaff, an ordinance granting increased protection to those in the LGBTQ community was drafted and discussed on Jan. 29. The resolutions of the proposed ordinance would include expanding protection laws to cover the LGBTQ community. Federal housing, public accommodations and employment would be included in the ordinance. Coconino County Democratic Party Chairman Doug Ballard commented that passing the ordinance “is just the right thing to do.” “The costs of not passing this ordinance far outweigh the costs of implementing it,” said Gordon Watkins, a Flagstaff citizen. Watkins urges those who doubt the significance of this ordinance to look to other cites who have put laws like these into practice, saying these cities have had no complaints about such changes. “A community the size of ours — 65,000 people — with 500 youth who are homeless, either sent away from their homes, run away from homes or just wandering trying to find a place to live and to feel acceptance? That’s huge,” said Jamey Hasapis, a Flagstaff resident. If passed, the ordinance will provide the LGBTQ community

with sufficient protection against the existing negative biases in the community. The ordinance does provide an exemption for religious organizations. “This proposed ordinance rightly allows religious institutions to teach and practice their own particular standards and beliefs within their specific faith community,” said pastor Kenneth McIntosh, a pastor at First Congressional Church in Flagstaff. “It respects the separation of church and state and then ensures a healthy and fair city for all citizens.” “My concern is that the city of Flagstaff is going to be spending money where we don’t need to spend money, and therefore, we’re taking the money out of other places where we need it more urgently,” said Paul Meldrum, senior pastor at North Point Fellowship. Meldrum believes introducing this ordinance would demote the power of the Constitution; he feels the law the Constitution provides is merely not being utilized. One of the speakers following Meldrum argued there are “many instances where [civil rights issues] are not addressed comprehensively” in the Constitution, and this ordinance would help to clarify any discrepancies in the case of a crime. The council plans to discuss the ordinance again during a meeting on Feb. 19.

ASA debates over future of fees

BY GARY COLLINS

he Associated Students of Arizona (ASA) held their Spring Into Action Kickoff on Jan. 30. ASA interns put on the event, held at the beginning of each semester. Allyson Furey, a freshman elementary education major, was responsible for some of the details. “All the interns put on a kickoff where we call the student body forward and fight for the rights of students,” Furey said. Zachary Eliason, a sophomore politics, philosophy and law major, came to the event to find out what ASA was about. “Since this organization claims to educate students about the legislative political happenings in Arizona,” Eliason said, “I thought it would be good to see what they do.” What ASA does, according to their mission statement, is “make sure that higher education in Arizona is affordable and accessible by advocating to elected officials and running issue campaigns to engage students.” One activity at the event was to encourage students to write to their state legislators expressing opposition to House Bill 2169. The bill was introduced by Rep. John Kavanagh (R) District 23. Kavanagh has put a hold upon the bill pending the decision by the Arizona Board of Reagents (ABOR); he is reserving his right to move it forward if he is unhappy with the decision by the board. If enacted, the bill would prohibit any of the three state universities from distributing fees to any student organization that uses those fees to attempt to influence an election or advocate for or against any pend-

6 The Lumberjack | Jackcentral.com

ing or proposed legislation. “The problem that we have here now is that the university is helping collect money that may be diverted to political campaigns and I’m going to have to talk to some regents about that problem. No public money should be spent on political campaigns,” Kavanagh said. In the future, students would have to consent in writing to any fees given to a student organization. This latter provision differs from the proposed change in fee collection benefitting ASA, which is to be voted on by ABOR on Feb. 6. The difference lies in the ABOR ruling, which would not require written notification, only a simple opt-in. A more significant difference between the bill and the ABOR proposal is the HB 2169 would require a written opt-in by students for not only the ASA $2 fee but also the ASNAU 23 Fee and the Green Fund fee. It was because of the threat these two latter fees were facing that caused ASA to seek student support in helping make known the effect that it might have. “We’re trying to write letters to our legislators to tell them . . . why we need the $23 fee and the $2 fee,” Furey said. The 23 Fee is collected from NAU students each semester and distributed by the ASNAU Senate for student clubs, organizations, the spring concert, free legal counsel for students, extended hours at Cline Library and the Snow Jack Express. James Ballard, a freshman political science major who attended the event with his friends, felt there was more to education than just classwork and what ASNAU does helps foster a feeling of community. “Not all education comes out of a textbook,” Ballard said. “These groups all help education, in a way.”

from CONFESSIONS page 1

The creator has a team of four other administrators who help monitor and post the confessions. The page is not an official university website and under the First Amendment has the freedom to post without censorship by NAU. The content of the confessions include statuses about embarrassing stories, relationships, sex and often illegal behavior including drug use and underage drinking. With such controversial topics so public, the NAU administration has affirmed their Internet and student policies. “If any individual feels bullied, online or otherwise, NAU has policies and protocols in place to address those situations,” said Tom Bauer, director of the NAU Office of Public Affairs. Tanner Duke, a freshman theater major, Sami Moss a freshman psychology major and Frankie Difranco a sophmore hotel and resturant managment major are three of the five administrators for the page that spoke publicly with The Lumberjack. The administrators of the Facebook page created some rules to avoid online attacking. “The rules for names are if it’s a compliment, sometimes we leave the full name in; sometimes the admin abbreviates anyways,” Duke said. “If it is a personal attack or just overall pretty mean and directed at one person, it won't get posted.” NAU’s legal department has not had to face any legal obligations considering content, but did have to contact the Facebook administrators about their original logo. “The only action the university has taken that could be classified as legal was asking the administrators to remove the trademark NAU logo that originally appeared on the page,” Bauer said. The administrative staff of the page moderate content in various ways. “We also try not to post things related to rape or murder or anything that is incredibly illegal, however we do not get any of those at all. Otherwise its kind of up to each individual admin to screen and post what they think works,” Duke said. The reactions to the Facebook page have been varied. “I think the page is a nice idea, but people are taking advantage of it and sharing private information about others. This page may end up doing more harm then good,” said Alyssa Kelley, a sophomore psychology major. “I find it completely enjoyable to read and I think it is nice that there is a place where these people can confess what’s on their mind without a filter,” said Justine Carnelian, a freshman psychology major. According to the administrators, the only complaints thus far have been from students whose confessions did not get posted and often complaints from Greek Life for negative confessions involving the organizations. “The only complaints we really get are from fraternity and sorority members who feel that the mentions reflect badly on them. We also get complaints about not posting consistently enough, but all the admins have lives so we do what we can,” Duke said. The advancement in social networks brings about the universal debate of right and wrong. The confessions page offers students a way to communicate their “deepest darkest secrets” without being exposed but it also is exposing the Lumberjack community in a controversial light.

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Editorial&Opinion NAU Confessions page as dangerous as it is entertaining

STAFF EDITORIAL

ollowing the current trend set by major universities across the United States, the NAU Confessions Facebook page was founded on Jan. 23. With well over 3,000 likes already garnered in its short existence, it could easily be considered a success. In the previous two weeks, NAU students have gotten their fix of anonymous gossip, diverting their attention from lectures to catch up on all the ridiculous posts, similar but not limited to the likes of: “I lost my virginity after the D Chi winter wonderland party! Best. Night. Ever.” Lovely, anonymous poster, just lovely. The page allows anonymity by requiring those wishing to contribute to go through surveymonkey.com, in which they submit without a trace of true identity. That is, without a trace assuming those tracing them have an average knowledge of computers. What would happen if, say, a largescale crime were committed and a student is missing enough brain cells to anonymously confess to it via the page? If police caught wind of the viral confession, they would pursue it with the intensity of a bloodhound on the hunt. What students falling into the latest NAU Facebook craze don’t seem to realize is, though anonymous, some of the seemingly innocent blurbs have the potential to come back and bite them. Posts involving the mention of any illegal activities, such as the partaking in drugs or pills, leaves a negative impression of the university. Regardless of whether all the posts are even true, those anonymously posting blurbs into the cyber world should also know there are computer wizards able to track anonymity from far more obscure settings than their bedroom. It is still debatable whether a majority of the threads are even real or just fabricated for laughs. The posts have been getting weirder by the day, with the page beginning to read almost like a soft-core erotica novel revolving around selfconscious drug addiction. Because of the nature of a large number of the posts, it is hard to imagine why anyone would take the confessions page seriously, and above all, how students could find endless entertainment from it. Just like the NAU Memes page, it has become a platform of sorts. Unlike the meme page, it is a platform for filth and random BS and not witty humor. Some scandal has come forth because the page has sported NAU’s official badge, which insinuates a direct connection with the administration, a connection the university would never merit or endorse. With this almost stamp of authenticity, the lawbirds at NAU will certainly want it to be known that the university is, in no way, affiliated with the anonymous gibberish incessantly posted under its emblem. All in all, the page seems more of a burden than a form of amusement, both for the students naively posting on it and for the school’s image as a reputable institution. Potential parents of future students who come across the page would only be left to assume the school is full of drug-addled nymphomaniacs. Then again, that sounds about right when comparing college to the Animal House stereotype. To effectively utilize the platform for its intended purpose and not as a hotbed for nonsensical tirades and potential police leads, students simply need to watch what they are posting and consider what the consequences would be if their identity were to somehow be revealed. Editor’s note: Opinion Editor, Tom Blanton, wrote this editorial on behalf of the staff.

Political Cartoon by Brian Regan

Gov. Brewer should step back, let deferred action kids drive

ince August 2012, Gov. Jan Brewer has been doing everything she can to undermine the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which offers a temporary deferment from deportation for certain qualifying undocumented immigrants, as well as providing them with work permits for that period. Recently, the governor has been reconsidering her stance, and rightfully so. Being on the wrong side of history never looks good on anyone and states fighting federal immigration guidelines isn’t comprehensive in recent history, nor is it progress in the way we should expect. In fact, CLARK MINDOCK it’s regression. In order to qualify for the program, immigrants must have crossed the border before the age of 16, be currently under the age of 31, have a clean criminal record and meet other educational and military standards. Arizona, under executive order from the governor, has refused to issue drivers’ licenses to those who qualify for the program. Brewer’s executive order takes an understanding of the guidelines as saying beneficiaries are not lawfully present and determines that deferred action recipients are granted only a reprieve from deportation. In a state like Arizona, driving is less of a convenience and more of a necessity. The legality of refusing drivers licenses to these individuals in the state of Arizona is also questionable. A 1996 Arizona law states drivers’ licenses can only be issued should an individual prove his or her presence in the United States is authorized under federal law. While a state has the right to determine to whom and how a license is issued, Gov. Brewer is making a mean-spirited stab at immigrants and those without power who would otherwise be given these benefits. According to U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, “An

individual who has received deferred action is authorized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be present in the United States, and is therefore considered by DHS to be lawfully present during the period deferred action is in effect.” Deferral beneficiaries are authorized by the DHS to be present in the U.S. Federal law accepts the DHS as responsible for determining whether a person is in the U.S. legally. The DHS has made the status of beneficiaries clear. Looking back on that 1996 law with this in mind indicates these people can indeed receive licenses in Arizona. Politics and laws aren’t always correlated in a simple way, and Arizona lawmakers could pass stricter measures if demand and support were there. It doesn’t seem like the tides of politics are heading that way, though, nor should they be. The 2012 election was a wake-up call for many Republicans to the very real power of democracy and the power of previously marginalized groups in the system. In spite of welldocumented attempts to limit voters’ ability to cast their ballots, Republicans still felt the repercussions of a large Latino electorate speaking through their ballot. On the national scene, it seems the Republican party has realized a need to include more minority groups in their audience. A recent bipartisan agreement on immigration in the Senate is likely a result of that renewed stance towards politics. DACA is only a federal executive order. It isn’t comprehensive immigration reform that’s waiting to be signed into law. It’s an honest step forward, but a small one, that gives temporary two-year relief. President Obama had it right when he said duing the announcement of the executive order that these individuals “study in our schools, play in our neighborhoods, befriend our kids, pledge allegiance to our flag. It makes no sense to expel talented young people who are, for all intents and purposes, Americans.”

Feb. 7, 2013 - Feb 13, 2013 | The Lumberjack 9

Editorial&Opinion Women allowed in open combat, step toward future

Political Cartoon by Brian Regan

Arpaio needs a refresher course in Constitutional law

rpaio. We meet again. With the gun control debate on the tip of every tongue, it didn’t take long for controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to make an insipid comment. In a Jan. 16 interview with KFYI radio host Mike Broomhead, Arpaio voiced his opinion on the Obama administration’s proposed expansion to the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. “I took 10 oaths of office and they all say I will defend the Constitution of the United States and the laws of my state, Arizona. I take that very serious,” Arpaio said. “Now, if they’re going to tell the sheriff that he’s going to go around picking up guns from everybody, they’re going to have a MILES SCHNEIDERMAN problem. I may not enforce that federal law.” Did Arpaio — a law officer — say he might just flat-out ignore a federal law? Yes, he did. Grammatical problems aside, Arpaio isn’t the only sheriff around the country making noises like these. More than 100 U.S. sheriffs have expressed concern about the new gun regulations and how they could be seen as a violation of the Second Amendment. Here in Arizona, Pinal Country Sheriff Paul Babeu and Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher have made statements similar to Arpaio’s. On the same day Arpaio spoke with Broomhead, Babeu sent a letter to President Barack Obama. “I will also push for legislation which would make it a crime for any federal law enforcement officer to infringe upon any Constitutional rights of the citizens I am sworn to protect,” Babeu wrote. Some state legislators are pushing for that, as well. Two of the bills introduced in the new session, Senate Bill 1112, sponsored by Sen. Kelli Ward, and House Bill 2291, sponsored by Rep. Steve Smith, would effectively ban the enforcement of federal law in relation to guns and ammuni-

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tion in the state of Arizona. All these elected officials are insisting, at least in the case of firearms, state law trumps federal law. The problem is, that’s not how it works. If Joe Arpaio had spent more time actually reading the Constitution he claims to take so “serious,” he might have come accross something called the Supremacy Clause. Article VI, Clause II of the Constitution states the following: “This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.” Did you get that, Joe? It’s the supreme law of the land, anything in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. That applies even when a county sheriff happens to disagree with the supreme law of the land in question. Arpaio says his attitude comes from a desire to defend the Constitution, but the Constitution already has a system for dealing with questionable legislation. It’s called the judiciary branch. That’s where decisions are made about whether a law is constitutional. If Obama’s gun bill is passed in Congress and signed into law, there’s a very simple way for Joe Arpaio to have a say in the matter of its constitutionality. He just needs to get appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Until he does, the Constitution says he enforces federal law. Otherwise, he is in breach of oath and duty. Of course, Joe Arpaio might soon have more important things to worry about. The recall campaign organizers who successfully removed former Senate President Russell Pierce from office in 2011 have filed paperwork to get an Arpaio recall on the ballot in 2013. We meet again, Sheriff; perhaps for the last time.

n the history of the U.S. Armed Forces, women were not allowed to serve in front line military duties. According to USA Today, in 1994, a combat exclusion policy was officially put into place, banning women from ground combat units in the battalion level, which consists of 800 soldiers each, confining them to larger brigades. The reasoning behind this policy was because front line positions were too dangerous for women. However, the Pentagon is working to change this, allowing women to serve in smaller battalions and combat units. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced earlier this month the Pentagon would take this policy change to Congress with it going into effect at the end of January. The end of this discriminatory ban reflects the direction this country is fighting towards. Following NAPUA in the footsteps of the recent repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t KALANI Tell, this ban lift contributes to a more socially equal and just America. This change in military policy, which will mostly effect the Army and the Marines, comes after America having been at war for over a decade, with women making up 15 percent of the armed forces. Women have already been unofficially serving at military front lines, and this change was a long time coming. Women have unofficially manned combat front lines because, unlike older military ages, there is no actual front line and no way to limit fighting contact against any militia forces. Whatever the reason America decided to engage in the war on terrorism, and regardless of whether anyone personally supports it, the reality is the country is still in it. Allowing women to join men at the front lines supplements the lack of combat soldiers in the past. In the contemporary United States, gender restrictions in combat duties prove to be inadequate and irrelevant. There is a difference in the musculature of males and females, and certain tasks in some military sectors are very physically demanding, but if women are willing and able to perform these tasks, they should be allowed to serve their country in such a manner. It would be foolish to believe there are absolutely no women in America who are able to meet the physical requirements of special ops forces. Suppressing women’s rights to combat and infantry positions is an insult to the female population, and is reminiscent of segregation between whites and African Americans before the civil rights movement. The main concern with allowing women combat duties is that they won’t be able to match the physical qualifications that men can. Even though there are women in America who have the capability to keep up with their male peers, this military modification won’t immediately go into effect like Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. It will be a work in progress, giving the military time to work out the kinks in regulations and qualifications that are sufficient for both men and women. According to CNN News, the Department of Defense has until January 2016 to modify expectations. Lifting the ban on front line positions also gives women a better opportunity to rise to top ranking military positions. These promotion would allow the female soldiers to garner the combat experience their male counterparts have. Even though the military’s focus should be on ending all wars the U.S. is involved in, the lift of this gender discriminating ban proves that America is, in fact, evolving .

ComicSpot

Want to draw for the comic spot this semester? Contact comics editor Brian Regan at br366@ nau.edu Feb. 7, 2013 - Feb 13, 2013 | The Lumberjack 11

Life

Opportunity is knocking E x t r e m e E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p To u r k i c k s o f f a t N A U

BY AMBER GEORGE

any people believe attempting to create a successful business is an outrageous and risky choice. The Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour (EET) was preaching the exact opposite to students at NAU on Feb. 1. EET is a nationally known group that travels around the country, inspiring students to reach for their dreams. The group’s young and successful entrepreneurs speak about what it takes to start a business and how to be successful at it. The event at NAU showcased many different speakers who engaged the attendees with inspirational stories and gave them a chance to ask questions about their own ideas for businesses. A few hundred students were gathered at the showcase and Jonathan Yamasaki, a freshman business major, was one participant. “I am really interested with the workshop, because I wish to create my own non-profit organization to assist high school students

Jason Jannati, one of the owners of greenNEWit, a business devoted to energy efficiency, was a guest speaker for the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour on Feb. 1 in Ashurst Auditorium. Jannati ended his lecture with an inspirational quote by Brandon Mull, “Smart people learn from their mistakes, but the real sharp ones learn from the mistakes of others.” (Photo by Amanda Ray)

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into going to college,” Yamasaki said. “I hope to learn great techniques on how to become a well-spoken entrepreneur with my ideas and passions. I also wish to learn how to take calculated risk.” The EET kickoff day was enough of a push to students like Yamasaki to help them see the potential behind their ideas. Kevin Ordean, a first-year graduate student in the sustainable communities program at NAU, helped set up the event and is ecstatic about the turn-out so far. “The event was awesome; we had nearly 200 students attend,” Ordean said. “All of the speakers were motivational, inspirational and very knowledgeable about what it takes to get a business off the ground.” There was much involvement and personality in the lectures, which helped to get the crowd involved and excited about business. Students were able to easily connect with the speakers, because the lecturers were young and personable. “The moderator did a great job keeping all

of the energy high and all of the students engaged,” Ordean said. “This was a great event to get people excited for Start-up Weekend next Friday.” The lecture, intriguing and motivating all its own, is only the beginning of the EET’s events. On Feb. 8–11, there will be another business-related event were students will be put into groups and urged to create business plans with their new partners. They will have to overcome challenges, take chances and think outside the box in order to make their plans a success. In addition, the students will have the opportunity to receive up to $5,000 in start-up money after pitching their ideas to a panel of judges from the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET). The EET works toward helping students understand their dreams are not as impossible as they may think. Sheena Lindahl, co-creator and president of the organization behind EET, feels this is not only a wonderful opportunity for those seeking to start a business, but for ev-

eryone. “Whether or not individuals who attend go on to start a business, they will find tools and skills they can use to make them stand out,” Lindahl said. “They will learn about resources they can take advantage of, meet great people who have similar passions and get ideas about the first steps they can take on their entrepreneurial journey.” Overall, the goal is to have a positive impact on everyone who attends, in hopes to get more innovative and determined minds out into the business world. According to the EET website, “EET introduces all students to this new life framework and inspires them to plan, prioritize and pursue their own vision.” Students who missed the first event can still get involved with the EET’s Start-up Weekend. The event costs $25, which includes food and the chance to be involved with NACET. Interested students can find the registration and information at nau.startupweekend.org.

EJ Carrion, author of the Amazon best-selling book Accelerate Your Success: How to Create a Future and Stand Out When College is Not Enough, hosted the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour on Feb. 1 at Ashurst Auditorium. (Photo by Amanda Ray)

Health Nuts

(Photo courtesy NAU Health Nuts)

Life

Health and Learning Center staff creates blog to address student health concerns BY MIRANDA SCOTT

ith classes and work weighing heavily on their minds, college students do not need anything more to add to their list of worries. However, the cold and flu season is in full swing and, for the sake of grades and paychecks, students must now be concerned with their health. Fortunately, the NAU Health Promotions office is creating a health advice blog titled Health Nuts to provide students with the advice they need to stay healthy. The blog allows students to submit their health questions and get the answers they need rather than the ones they might find from a Google search. Students can go on the Health Promotions webpage on the NAU website, click on the icon of the squirrels in the nut and type in their name, question and email address; answers will be posted every Friday. Health Promotions is also currently working with the NAU PLAID, the campus blog, to provide answers there. Some students may feel uneasy about submitting their emails, but Melissa Griffin, the health promotions manager, said, “It’s only for personal questions or ones that are really urgent. We have four certified peer educators . . . and we want it

to be more of a student-to-student thing,” Griffin said. “It really is student-driven.” The answer team is young and enthusiastic about providing accurate answers. “I am especially interested in helping people with questions about mental health or relationships, and, of course, sex is always an interesting topic,” said Tori Juvera, a sophomore anthropology major and peer mentor. “We haven’t actually gotten a lot of questions yet, but so far just working together as a group has been great.” While many students live on microwavable macaroni and cheese and Pop-Tarts, some students are on the lookout for ways to be healthier, especially when it comes to nutrition. For this reason, there will be a nutritionist on the Health Nuts staff, which will be helpful for those who are falling prey to the temptations of bad eating habits. According to Griffin, there will also be an advisory board made up of professionals in the fields of mental, physical and sexual health. Having experts to review and assist the student employee answers will not only provide a fresher look at common health issues, but also may lay to rest some doubts worrying some students.

“I think the biggest challenge will be trying to formulate an answer that is knowledgeable, sincere and interesting,” Juvera said. “We don’t want to put someone to sleep with our answers, but we still want them to be aware of all the facts. It’s going to be an interesting balancing act.” Living and going to school in close quarters with thousands of other students can make it easy to get sick, and unhealthy eating habits are commonly formed. The ability to get real answers will help students stay on the right track to keep their bodies up and running. Hoping for help, freshman English major Haley Huzzey said, “I would probably ask if it is true that you can fat blast certain zones.” Health Nuts will also have an archive page on the website to eliminate the wait time for answers, specifically during the flu season when noses are red and heads are dizzy. “If people have a question and don’t want to ask it, they can just peruse the archives and find the answer,” Griffin said. The blog is located on the NAU Health Promotions website. Anyone who has been pondering a health-related question should submit their questions and be on their way to a worryfree, healthy lifestyle.

Reading in Thin Air

BY ALYSSA TILLEY

hen a person writes, whether it is poetry, song, fiction or nonfiction, they reveal a little bit about themselves. Writing is often personal, which can make reading it in front of an audience challenging and nerve-wracking. NAU students are being given the opportunity to gain experience with reading their works publicly through the on-campus reading events put on by Thin Air Magazine, a literary magazine created by NAU graduate students. Thin Air Magazine publishes a magazine once a year and includes a mix of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, book reviews, interviews and art August through December. The magazine’s staff accepts electronic submissions. Although most of their energy is put into the creation of the magazine, they also have a desire to host events where writers can come together and read their work. “We put on the events so that local authors and campus authors can have a place to share their work in front of an audience,” said John Hitzel, second-year graduate student studying English with a creative writing emphasis. Hitzel is the poetry editor and secretary for Thin Air. “It’s a place for practice as much as performance and the listening is not bad either.” According to Hitzel, the audience is made of primarily graduate students, but there has been a swell of undergraduate presence at the readings over the course of this past year.

“I really liked the environment of the whole event,” said Jermaine Barkley, freshman psychology major. “It’s good for a release, and I reccomend it to anyone who writes or just needs to get something off their chest.” Not only is reading one’s work fulfilling, but it can help improve public speaking skills as well. “Opening up and reading in front of an audience is initially hard,” said Jeff Huizinga, a second-year graduate student studying English with an emphasis in creative writing, who is the managing editor of Thin Air Magazine. “Two things help. Believing you have something important to offer and remembering that, at least at these on-campus readings, you are in a supportive environment with tolerant people who want to see you succeed.” The readings also allow writers to evaluate their writing and receive feedback. “To voice a written work in front of an audience forces the piece’s strengths and weaknesses to the surface,” Waller, assistant managing editor and assistant poetry editor of Thin Air Magazine said. “Based on the crowds’ reactions to a piece, the reader or author can make appropriate adjustments.” Many of the writers agree collaboration can be helpful when refining one’s work. “It allows for those necessary conversations about style between contemporaries, as well as dialogues about the effects the

Jermaine Barkley shares his poetry at Thin Air Magazine’s open mic night Jan. 30. (Photo by Matt Valley)

piece of writing had or didn’t have on a reader,” Hitzel said. “It’s important to take those conversations and the sharing of our own work outside of the classroom so the community can exist outside of the scholarly environment.” Thin Air Magazine’s reading events can help writers gain experience reading their works while improving their public speaking and receiving feedback in order to help them continue to improve. The next reading event is Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Liberal Arts building, room 136. Students can take advantage of the opportunity to express themselves while interacting with the community of writers here at NAU. For more information about Thin Air Magazine, go to www. thinairmagazine.com. The next issue of their magazine will be released this month.

Feb. 7, 2013 - Feb. 13, 2013 | The Lumberjack 13

14 The Lumberjack | Jackcentral.com

SPORTS CALENDAR

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

1 Register for 3pt Contest Register for Weight Lifting Competition nau.edu/imsports

Men's Basketball vs. Eastern Washington

3 Intro to Kayaking 6pm - PRM 210 nau.edu/outdoors

4 Women's Golf - The Lumberjack at Ocotillo @ Ocotillo Golf Resort Chandler, Ariz.

5 Women's Golf - The Lumberjack at Ocotillo @ Ocotillo Golf Resort Chandler, Ariz.

12 Weight Lifting Competition Squat-Dead Lift-Bench

nau.edu/imsports Swim Lessons M&W nau.edu/wac Register for 4v4 Flag Football nau.edu/imsports

Women's Golf - The Lumberjack at Ocotillo @ Octoillo Golf Course Chandler, Ariz.

Advanced Kayaking Intro to Avalanche Intro to Bike Maintenance nau.edu/outdoors

Track & Field – NAU Tune Up 4:30 p.m. Field Events & 5:00 p.m. Track Events @ the Skydome Women's Basketball vs. Northern Colorado 6:35 p.m @ Rolle NAU Date Night!

8 Avalanche Level 1 Training PRM 225 nau.edu/outdoors

2 HIIT 360 Workshop 8:30am – HLC Exercise Suite 1 nau.edu/ﬁtness Men's Basketball vs. Portland State 1:05 p.m @ the Skydome ‘80s Day / FREE

Sunglasses (1st 1,000)

Women's Basketball vs. North Dakota

6:35 p.m @ the Skydome Think Pink / FREE Pink Rally Towels (1st 500)

Intermediate Yoga 9am – HLC Exercise Suite 1 nau.edu/ﬁtness

Women's Basketball vs.Sacramento State

Swim Lessons T & Th nau.edu/wac

6:35 p.m @ the Skydome Think Pink / FREE Pink Rally Towels (1st 500)

SAT

6:35 p.m @ the Skydome National Girls & Women In Sports Night

Men's Basketball vs. Idaho State 6:35 p.m @ the Skydome Mascot Night

This Calendar brought to you by Campus Recreation Services & NAU Athletics

Feb. 7, 2013 - Feb. 13, 2013 | The Lumberjack 15

SportsReport Kemper soars above competition NAU track and field prove dominance in hosting the Mountain T’s Invitational

Sophomore Deante Kemper jumps at the Mountain T’s Invitational on Feb. 2 (Photo by Napua Kalani)

xcitement never ceased at the Walkup Skydome this past weekend when the Lumberjacks hosted the NAU Mountain T’s Invitational on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2. With his mother in attendance on day two of the meet, sophomore jumper and hurdler Deante Kemper had the performance of his career. Kemper tied his personal best record in the high jump at 7 feet, 2.25 inches, and also finished second in the 60-meter hurdles, setting another career best with a time of 8.13. “It felt really good tying my personal record,” Kemper said. “My next goal is break the record of 7 feet 3 inches. Every time I get ready to jump I try to jump high as possible.” In addition to Kemper’s performance, the throwers, redshirt sophomore Gus Margiotta, redshirt freshman Brian Thompson and freshman Shawn Collins all set personal best marks in their respective events. Margiotta threw for 55-10.25, a second-place finish in the weight throw; Thompson collected first with a toss of 58-6; and Collins closed out the shot put with 55-8.5, placing third. “It was kind of cool. I went in today hoping to push Brian as he was pushing me,” Margiotta said. “It’s good to have someone out there to train and throw with you as we both strive to be good as each other.” Associate head coach throws and multis Oscar Duncan expressed his happiness with

BY DEVONTAE BROWNE AND ALLI JENNEY

the performances of the throwers. “The biggest thing was [Thompson] needed his Big Sky qualifier, [which] he got soundly,” Duncan said. “It’s great to have two athletes who complement each other. [Margiotta] was also able to get his Big Sky qualifier.” Other noteworthy field performances include women throwers sophomore Jessica Bush and freshman Jessica Weise. The pair both set personal records in the shot put with 49-4.25 and 47-11.25, respectively. Junior Edgar Panford earned two fourth place finishes in both the long and triple jump, earning his season’s best of 48-9.5 in the triple jump. On the track, both the men’s and women’s squad continued the energy of the meet, achieving event wins, Big Sky Conference (BSC) Championship qualifying marks and personal bests. The men’s distance runners swept the top five spots in the mile run, led by redshirt senior All-American and Olympian Diego Estrada, who competed for the first time in an NAU uniform since the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships this past season. “It felt really good, just to get the nerves out of the way,” Estrada said. “I don’t know how fit I am yet, but definitely a good indication to be able to run a 4:12, with splits all over the place and feel good about it.” Altitude converted, Estrada’s time be-

SportShorts Men’s Basketball

Men’s Basketball

• vs. Portland State

• vs. Eastern Washington

6:35 p.m. on Feb. 7

1:05 p.m. on Feb. 9

at Walkup Skydome

16 The Lumberjack | Jackcentral.com

Runners Roman Acosta, Cody Reed and Alejandro Montano run the 5K on Feb 1. (Photo by Jing Wang)

comes 4:03.40, garnering a BSC qualifying bid, along with sophomore Caleb Hoover who ran for 4:09.60. Sophomore Alejandro Montano, redshirt senior Roman Acosta and redshirt sophomore Cody Reed rounded out the top five spots of the event. In the men’s 800-meter mid-distance run, junior Caleb Potts was shy of a BSC bid, but placed first with a time of 1:54.14. Senior sprinter Miles Di Sabella earned his second BSC qualifying mark by running 22.08, in the men’s 200-meter dash. For the women, sophomore sprinter Darriel Banks ran for a personal best in the 60-meter dash at 7.47, and a season best and BSC bid in the 200-meter dash, with a time of 24.91. Banks finished third overall in both events. In the 800-meter run, redshirt senior Agnes Laurent placed second overall, but recorded her career best with a 2:10.12 mark. The three Lumberjack competitors swept the first three ranks in the women’s mile run. Freshman Melanie Townsend took first at 5:12.98, and sophomores Lauren Justus and Sarah Baker followed up in second and third, with 5:27.23 and 5:33.25, respectively. “[Townsend traveled] all the way from Australia, a big adjustment for any freshman coming up to Flagstaff, so it was great to see her moving into that person we thought we recruited,” said director of cross country and track and field Eric Heins. “She ran two very

Go online to JackCentral.com to read a recap of the swim and dive team’s final regular season meet.

smart races, with the 5K, a big negative split at the end and the mile, it was great to see her be able to do that.” On Feb. 1, the final events were the men’s and women’s 5K run, and the Lumberjacks swept across both races. Montano, Reed and Acosta secured BSC bids with times of 14:38.49, 14:51.46 and 14:42.34, respectively. Having picked up a qualifier two weeks ago in the NAU Invitational, Acosta helped pace Montano and Reed to achieve theirs. Townsend (17:37.53), Justus (17:46.49) and sophomore Kylee Kieser (17:55.39) notched BSC bids, complementing the men with a sweep in the women’s race. Reflecting on her first appearance running indoors and her two wins, Townsend accredited running with Justus as helpful encouragement. “I didn’t really know what I was doing, and how many laps; I got completely confused, to be completely honest,” Townsend admitted. “I got a lot of confidence from [Friday], so coming in today, I felt good and I was ready to get that qualifier. It was so close, so it was bittersweet but [I’ll get it] next time.” The Lumberjacks will be back at it, dividing squads to two locations this weekend. The distance team will compete in the Husky Classic in Seattle, Wash. on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9., while other athletes will travel to New Mexico on Feb. 9.

Follow the Lumberjack Sports reporters on Twitter Lumberjack Sports: @LJ_Sports Cody Bashore: @CodyBashore Alli Jenney: @allijenney Raymond Reid: @YAC_TheeReid16

SportsReport DISTANCE PROGRAM POISED TO REMAIN SUCCESSFUL WITH TOP FRESHMAN

BY MARK SAUNDERS

nly one season is under his belt, but freshman Futsum Zeinasellassie has been busy making a name as one of NAU’s top cross country and track runners, and as of recently, top freshman in the nation. Flotrack.org named Zeinasellassie the top freshman in the nation in fall 2012 after his 31st-place finish at the NCAA National Cross Country Championship held on Nov. 17. However, as Zeinasellassie said, running is not the only aspect of his character. “If I knew I was getting these awards it wouldn’t be as joyful, or as surprising,” Zeinasellassie said. “What I have accomplished so far, I am very blessed and honored. What I have so far is not new to a lot of people. But to me it is, because of where I came from and what I have been through.” Zeinasellassie grew up in Eritrea, a small country along the northeast coast of Africa bordering Sudan and Ethiopia, before coming to America in 2007 with his mother and younger brother. In America, he was reunited with his father who had made the move in 2003 and petitioned to the U.S. Embassy for his family to join him.

Phenom Futsum Zeinasellassie adapts flawlessly to Lumberjack system. (Photo by Sean Ryan)

“I live like I am one of the richest kids in America,” Zeinasellassie said. “I’ve been to more places than a lot of people have been. So just coming from a small village and not knowing a lot of people in America [and] the background from what I’ve come from has just made this . . . great.” The prospect of running didn’t occur to Zeinasellassie when he arrived in America. Soccer was his first choice; however, unable to play due to lack of transportation and equipment needed. Running became viable option. “To be honest I wasn’t really good [at soccer] back home. Running, to me, it was very helpful,” Zeinasellassie said. “I found a lady who was able to give me a ride home after practices. My gym teacher, who didn’t know me, just saw me run a mile and bought me shoes. They weren’t just coaches, they were like parents too.” Director of cross country and track and field Eric Heins said his accomplishments on the track are as impressive as those off the track. “He came over to the U.S. from Africa and didn’t speak any English,” Heins said. “To see him come into his freshman year . . . and work as hard as he has with academics as well, says a lot about his character too. He knows his education is just as important.” In addition to his accomplishments during the fall at NAU, Zeinasellassie has also earned numerous honors at the high school level including Gatorade National Boys’ Cross Country Runner of the Year, Nike Cross Nationals Final course-record holder, runner-up at Foot Locker Nationals his junior and senior years, NXN Midwest Regional Championship, the Foot Locker Midwest Regional Championship wins and three-straight Indiana state titles in cross country. Despite these honors, Zeinasellassie expressed a strong commitment to remaining humble and cherishing the opportunities he has received in the past. “For me, being in all these places, it taught me to be very humble and to be myself; to be proud of whom I am,” Zeinasellassie said. “My dad is a priest and he always told me that whatever I have, if I don’t hold onto it as humbly as I can, God can take it away like that from me. There are so many people who have been through what I have been through. They have accomplished so many big things [too].” Zeinasellassie’s actions, in this respect, never go unnoticed. His teammates have come to know him as a great asset to the team and to their own pursuits on the track. Fellow freshman Nathan Weitz said he has become close friends with Zeinasellassie and noted his importance as a friend and teammate. “He always pushes us to go beyond what we think we can do,” Weitz said. “Whenever I’m in a hard workout and see him up there, he motivates me to push even more. He’s really down to earth and just relaxed about everything besides practice.”

READ THE REST OF THE STORY AT JACKCENTRAL.COM

Division III freshman goalie Josh Schwartz makes a save during the Feb. 1 matchup between the IceJacks and the Lobos game at Jay Lively Activity Center. (Photo by Amanda Ray)

Division III IceJacks cap off home schedule with sweep

BY TYLER CHILDERS

AU’s Division III IceJacks played their final home games of the season on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 when they welcomed the University of New Mexico (UNM) Lobos to the Jay Lively Activity Center. NAU blew out UNM on Feb. 1 9–2, but UNM bounced back from the loss for a much closer second game. However, the result stayed the same and NAU won 6–2. For the Feb. 2 matchup, UNM carried the momentum through the first half of the first period. UNM was inches away from scoring, but a strong defensive play cleared the loose puck out of the crease. NAU took the puck back the other way and with two quick goals, stole momentum away. Every time UNM looked to generate some momentum, the IceJacks responded with goals. NAU forward Kirby Carlson credits his success this past weekend to good chemistry with his linemates. “We’ve been playing really well in practice,” Carlson said. Special teams were a strength again for the IceJacks. In the fall semester, the IceJacks power play worked poorly, but the changes by head coach Kris Walsh have helped

get the puck to the back of the net. “We changed the full system,” Walsh said. “We’re creating more opportunities due to different positioning, that’s been a huge improvement.” UNM’s troubles began before the puck dropped on Feb. 1. Starting goalie Andrew Blair showed up to the rink late, and the car he drove contained six players’ skates. UNM ended up having to start the game with its backup goalie and only seven players. The rest of the team eventually got their skates, but the IceJacks would not be stopped. Carlson batted the UNM breakout pass out of midair, ripped a slap shot and beat backup UNM goalie Dakota Dyth under the glove to start the scoring. Carlson’s linemates also had great games. Benoit Cousineau recorded a hat trick for the second straight game, while Tyler Tritschler had five assists. “They’re just great players,” Cousineau said of Carlson and Tritschler. “They work hard all the time, they keep me happy, I keep them happy, [we’re] just having fun.” The IceJacks will face the Arizona State Sun Devils on Feb. 8 and 9 in Tempe. This will be the fourth series this season between the two teams. Every series up to this point has been split between the two.

Feb. 7, 2013 - Feb. 13, 2013 | The Lumberjack 17

SportsReport

MEN’S BASKETBALL SEEKS WIN Lumberjacks return home, STREAK AFTER LATE VICTORY win close game in overtime Senior Michael Dunn clutch again for Lumberjacks

BY BRIAN GOSSET

ith nine games remaining, NAU will enter a stretch determining whether they will be playing more basketball during spring break. The Lumberjacks (8–14, 5–6 Big Sky Conference) will finish the season against the top three teams in the conference, with a trip to Hawaii in between, but before they look ahead, they cannot take this weekend’s games lightly. After going 1–7 from Dec. 19 through Jan.17, the Lumberjacks have won three of the past five games following their thrilling 62–61 victory against Sacramento State on Feb. 4. Down 14 in the second half, NAU finished the game on a 25–10 run, highlighted by senior guard Michael Dunn’s game-winning free throws with 7.4 seconds left. “It was a very big win for us. Anytime you can win on the road, it [is] always a big deal and it will give us a lot of momentum,” said junior forward Max Jacobsen, who scored 16 points on 8-of11 shooting in the win. Now the Lumberjacks finish the week with two home games, first against Portland State University (PSU) on Feb. 7, then against Eastern Washington University (EWU) on Feb. 9. Both teams are in the bottom three of the conference standings, but only two games separate the three teams. With seven teams making the conference tournament in March, NAU stands at sixth, owning the tiebreaker with Sacramento State. “Now we’re tied with Sacramento State; we have a tiebreaker with them. We stay a game ahead of the pack, now we go home riding high,” said head coach Jack Murphy. PSU (5–14, 3–9 BSC) and EWU (6–16, 4–8 BSC) are a combined 0–20 on the road this season and only have seven conference wins combined, but two wins have come against the Lumberjacks. PSU won the first matchup, 79–74 on Jan. 12, behind senior forward Renado Parker’s 20 points. Four starters for NAU scored in double digits, but all five for the

Vikings had 12 or more and had 12 free throws made. Parker averages 10.9 points while junior forward Aaron Moore leads the team with an average of 12.3 per game. Jan. 10 was a different story in Cheney, Wash. NAU had fewer turnovers, less fouls and more free throws, but only shot 35 percent from the field compared to 50 percent for the Eagles. EWU out rebounded NAU 46–31 and had more assists and blocks on its way to an 82–59 win, their biggest of the season. In their other five wins, they have an average margin of victory of 5.4 points. Freshman forward Venky Jois leads the way for the Eagles. Australian-born Jois is almost averaging a double-double with 13.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, and leading the conference with 3.4 blocks. He had 14 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in the first meeting. EWU leads the conference with 6.2 blocks per game. “We’ve talked about this; we needed to steal a road win to make up for some of the home losses we’ve had. Now the challenge is to go home and protect our home court,” Murphy said. “We have two very talented and well-coached teams coming in this week in Portland State and Eastern Washington, so we have to regroup, get some rest these next two days and be ready to go Thursday night.” Four Lumberjacks are in the top 15 in steals per game, led by freshman guard DeWayne Russell’s 1.7. Jacobsen is second in the conference in field goal percentage at 64.9 percent. Senior guard Stallon Saldivar leads the conference with 5.3 assists and leads the team with a career-high 6.3 rebounds per game. NAU is last in the Big Sky in scoring defense, giving up 72.2 points per game in conference even though the Lumberjacks lead the Big Sky with 7.7 steals per game. Senior guard Gabe Rogers is fourth in the conference with 17.9 points per game. “We have to capitalize; we have two very good teams coming to the Skydome. We need these home games; these are big,” Murphy said.

18 The Lumberjack | Jackcentral.com

BY RAYMOND REID

hrough this season, the NAU women’s basketball team has played games that have tugged at heartstrings. Their past two contests, against the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds at home Feb. 4 and at the Sacramento State University Hornets Jan. 31, were no different. The Lumberjacks pulled out a close one against the Thunderbirds 76–74 in overtime and fell to the Hornets 73–67. “It’s a great day to be a Lumberjack,” said head coach Sue Darling. “Winning is fun and that was a fun one. I was really proud of our entire team . . . we got stops when we needed them. We hit a clutch shot at the end. Really, a clutch pass that led to a clutch shot.” The Jacks squared off against the Thunderbirds in a game that could very well have playoff tiebreaker implications when the dust settles. The Jacks also defeated the Thunderbirds in Cedar City, Utah during their first matchup on Jan. 3. The Lumberjacks played a game similar to this against Portland State. However, the game ended in a heartbreaker in the final seconds with the game tied. This time around, the Jacks pulled the victory out. With 4.2 seconds left in overtime, senior guard Amy Patton found junior guard Amanda Frost wide open under the basket for the go-ahead lay in. It was Patton’s ninth assist of the game, setting a new career-high. “If my shots aren’t falling I try to contribute in other ways, [and] tonight my passing was it,” Patton said. “I heard everyone screaming Amanda and I saw her and her eyes got so big. She makes that all the time . . . she made it and we got the win.” All five starters finished in double figures for the Jacks. Seniors Amy Patton, Aubrey Davis, Tyler Stephens-Jenkins and Paige Haynes all recorded 19, 14, 16 and 15 points respectively and junior Amanda Frost chipped in 12. The scoring output was Haynes’ career-high. “We worked well as a team and we played our game,” Frost said. “We told ourselves we weren’t going to lose this game again. Our coach Jamie [Shadian] said we weren’t clutch at the end [of Portland State] and this time we came up big.” This victory vaulted the Jacks into a tie with Southern Utah in seventh place. The Lumberjacks hold the tiebreaker over the Thunderbirds. If the season ended today, the Jacks would be in the Big Sky Conference Tournament for the first time in

the careers’ of the seniors. A week ago the Jacks faced off against the Hornets, a notoriously high-scoring team. The Lumberjacks would fall down 19 points in the first half before mounting a season-best 39–19 run to take the lead. The effort would prove to be just short as the Hornets had just enough to escape with the six-point victory. Frost led all scorers with 18 and Patton contributed 14 points. The next action for the Jacks will be Feb. 7 on the road against Portland State, where the Lumberjacks will look to enact revenge on the Vikings for the heartbreaker in the Skydome, followed by Feb. 9 at Eastern Washington.

Senior forward Tyler Stephens-Jenkins pulls up for a shot against Southern Utah in the Walkup Skydome on Feb. 4. The Lumberjacks won the game 76–74 in overtime. (Photo by Tate Lenkaitis)

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20 The Lumberjack | Jackcentral.com

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Arts&Entertainment

nominated for Grammy Award BY MYKEL VERNON-SEMBACH

The start of 2013 for NAU alumna Radmilla Cody has been in a whirlwind of excitement. A year after she released her latest album, Shi Keyah – Songs for the People (composed by her uncle, Herman Cody), she was nominated for a 2013 Grammy award. She spoke with The Lumberjack in detail about her album, the nomination and the upcoming ceremony. The Lumberjack: Tell us in cahoots with Whitney a little about your latest Houston because I grew up album. idolizing [Whitney]. Radmilla Cody: The LJ: Will you be attending latest album, Shi Keyah the Grammy Awards cer– Songs for the People, emony in Los Angeles? is an album that honors RC: Yes, I will be attending Mother Earth and all the Grammys. I’m very exthat we coexist with on cited . . . just the prepping Mother Earth such as process has been somewhat the horses, the plants, stressful but at the same the land, the people and time exciting. Stressful in a the various [Navajo] sense that I’m having all my agencies . . . and also our traditional clothes designed sacred mountains. So (Photo courtsey Canyon Records) by my aunt, Thelma Shoneverything that we conie, from her clothing line exist within this world in that regard is Shima E’ę’. She’s always made my tradiacknowledged and also honored in this tional clothes prior to Miss Navajo Naalbum. This album also honors our vet- tion and then during my term as Miss erans, our code talkers, honoring them Navajo Nation to present day. though songs such as “Navajo Warrior,” LJ: As of 2010, traditional Native Ameriwhich is about the different wars be- can music has been grouped together ginning first and foremost with WWI, with zydeco, Cajun and Hawaiian music WWII all the way to Iraq and in Af- into a category called Regional Roots for ghanistan, and saying things about our the Grammys. What is your opinion on warriors who are fighting for our free- this change? dom and for our country. Patriotism is RC: It would be nice to have our own certainly in place within this album. It’s categories back, but considering that we about life in general. It’s really about ev- are under Regional Roots category I am erything that encompasses our life today very grateful that we have had this opas Diné people and as people in general portunity to make that break through. and how we connect with everything in I see this as something positive in the our life and in our world. sense that we are treated as an equal staLJ: How does it feel to receive a Grammy tus. nomination? You must be excited. LJ: What do you look forward to most RC: I was shocked and surprised and I during the Grammy Awards? Any one recently lost my grandmother exactly you’re particularly excited to meet? a month and a day [ago]. My grand- RC: I went five years ago just to experimother, Dorothy Cody, is the person ence it, but going as a nominee now is who has raised me and has taught me all a whole other plain, a whole other level. the life-sustaining methods of the Diné- I’m looking forward to being apart of the people. I have always acknowledged her award ceremony and meeting all the diffor everything she has taught me. Imme- ferent musicians and recording academy diately, I thought of her at that moment members and just enjoying this journey. and looked up and started to cry, ask- I am excited to meet Alicia Keys, Riing her, ‘What are you doing up there, hanna, Mary J. Blige, Emeli Sandé and Grandma?’ In my mind, I still think she’s especially Adele.

22 The Lumberjack | Jackcentral.com

S t e p Afr k a ! !

NAU alumna

performers stomp onto stage

BY CALEB MCCLURE

he Black Student Union (BSU) at NAU hosted an exhilarating performance by step artists Step Afrika! on Feb. 1. The BSU is a club dedicated to diversity; Myliesha Martin, vice president of the BSU, hoped the event would draw more people to the club. “Well, right now our goal is to get more members,” Martin said. “We’re trying to be more diverse because right now most people think because it’s called the Black Student Union that it’s only for black students, but it’s not, so we’re trying to figure out a way to promote more diversity within the group.” The group also feels the performance displays an important part of African-American culture not witnessed often by NAU students. LaNiesha Newton, BSU president, wanted to have the group perform. “[I want] people [to] know history of how step originated, especially since we don’t have black

Greeks who constantly step, so it’s nice to at least have someone come in and do it and show everybody what it’s all about,” Newton said. Ardrey Auditorium buzzed with chatter as people took their seats, only growing louder and more excited as the lights dimmed and the production began. An explosion of proud cheering erupted as Step Afrika! was introduced and took the stage. It was apparent then that this was not going to be a quiet affair. The performance commenced with all six members stomping and singing onto the stage. They were both dancers and musicians, using their hands and feet as mallets, and the floor and body as their drum. They created rhythmic music through their stomping and, at one point, even used queued cheering from the crowd as sounds for the music they were creating. Their choreography was so precise, they were more like a single dancing organism rather than individuals acting on their own. The show covered the history and styles of step. Fraternity step-

ping is aggressive and was originally used to display the fraternity’s superiority over other campus organizations, using quick, rhythmic stomps and militaristic chanting. The sorority style was a less aggressive, but what they lacked they made up for in speed and sass. They also included the traditional roots of stepping from the Zulu tribe in South Africa to the gumboot dance from miners made popular in Cape Town. Step Afrika! showed the different ways dance was used through time — from communication to celebration. Most of the people congregated in the lobby afterwards praised the show animatedly. “I thought it was extremely exciting, incredibly energetic, a very unique experience that exposed me to a particular culture that I wasn’t aware of before,” said Adrian Verduzco, a junior business economics major. “I would definitely suggest it to anyone who had the opportunity to go.” It was a superb performance giving insight onto culture with a big bang.

Step Afrika! members perform a step for a full crowd this weekend at Ardrey Auditorium. (Photo by Keenan Turner)

Arts&Entertainment

SoundCheck

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Artist: Local Natives Album: Hummingbird Genre: Lo-fi pop

BY MYKEL VERNON-SEMBACH

ike a fine wine, Local Natives has greatly improved with age. Since 2012, this four-man band has hid away, concocting yet another beatific vision of audible liquor by the name of Hummingbird. Beautiful and dreamy as always, Local Natives tone down their percussion and rhythmic vocal loops only to gain on their post-production string work. Guitars take center stage — as usual — without competing with the other instruments, making for a relatively quiet and personal album. There is certainly some postproduction work on these tracks, but it is to the benefit of Hummingbird, making it sound full rather than a bland, coffee shop acoustic. The album’s starter track, “You & I” is much different from Gorilla Manor’s first track, “Wide Eyes.” While most of their songs are personal and involve some reference to a previous other, “You & I” is direct and confessional: “Believe me / And I woke up with my green eyes blue / and all I think about is you.” Honest and confrontational, “You & I” becomes a bitter and ironic reference to all the similarly titled songs that imply closeness and unity; it’s a pretty rough start to an album called Hummingbird. Hummingbird follows up with the track “Heavy Feet,” a more romantic perspective of parties than of the average party anthem by Ke$ha or LMFAO. “You were holding a styrofoam cup / Held between your teeth / Telling me how you’re going to outlive your body”; if that’s not inspired drunk conversation, then what is? The album’s increased tempo does not occur until halfway through the album at “Breakers.” With falsetto

“ooh oohs” and handclaps — c’mon! Handclaps, guys! Who doesn’t like a good handclap? — “Breakers” is a beautiful analysis of late-night neurotic overthinking — another strange mixture of poppy come-what-may instrumentals with unsettling lyrics. “Black Balloons” keeps Hummingbird upbeat with basic percussion and chorus vocals, while leaving behind any use of chords on the lead guitar. While musically coherent, “Black Balloons” follows a Sigur Rosesque gobbledigook, making for a pleasant singalong, even if singing “I look for a friend that’s flashing for a box” doesn’t make sense. Local Natives ask rather accusatory questions of themselves in “Colombia,” as they chant “Am I giving enough?” and “Am I loving enough?” This can be an immensely abrupt realization for those who decide to sing along, forcing the audience to question if they are enough. Local Natives have recorded an abstract, melodramatic album, at least compared to their previous album, Gorilla Manor. In three years, the band quickly went from writing songs about traffic jams (“World News”) to using lyrics such as “Lazy summer goddess / You can tell a whole empire / I don’t have to see you right now” to express indefinable contempt of past indiscretions. Hummingbird is most definitely an emotionally demanding record, requiring patience and attention. Fortunately, the album saves itself some singles to permit as background tracks to studying or driving. Despite its overbearing melancholy, Local Natives’ Hummingbird is a thoughtful album in an age where thought isn’t considered much in music, at least by consumers.

Best Tracks: “Heavy Feet,” “Breakers” and “Black Balloons”

Directed by: Tommy Wirkola Starring: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen Running time: 88 minutes Rated: R BY PAUL BEIMERS

ansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is the latest installment in Hollywood’s newest trend of reimagining classic fairytales as mature cinematic fare. Like many of these recent offerings, director and writer Tommy Wirkola’s attempt at a witty retelling of the old yarn, bread crumbs and candied houses tale largely fails to live up to its promising concept. Instead, the result is a film that, while not terrible, will be forgotten and dismissed the moment the viewer leaves the theater. Wirkola certainly has an interesting premise to play with, make no mistake. The film establishes the familiar story within the first few minutes, with siblings Hansel and Gretel left in the woods by their father and nearly eaten by a witch living within a gingerbread house. In the original tale, the pair’s story ends with them shoving the crone into her oven. Here, the opening credits quickly establish the basic idea of this retelling: the two, with no family to call their own, spend the years after their ordeal traveling the country and honing their professional witch hunt-

QuickFlick

BY DANIEL DAW

t is an unwritten rule that any movie with the word “movie” in its title is going to be full of bad decisions. While others can possibly fall within the range of mildly funny to guilty pleasure, this is not the case with Movie 43. This film falls way below the guilty pleasure threshold with utter stupidity and disgusting toilet humor. This film is really a collection of skits loosely tied together with a very weak plot about a very desperate — some would say deranged —

ing skills in the process. The remainder of the film finds the two (played by Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton), now fully grown, in the town of Augsburg, where they are hired by the mayor to save the local children who have been captured by a coven of powerful sorceresses, led by Muriel (Famke Janssen). Unlike many recent films of a similar nature, Hansel and Gretel stands out with its “R” rating, which results in plenty of over-the-top gore, nudity and swearing. It is clear the filmmakers were aiming for a comedy/ horror hybrid, simultaneously funny and frightening in its excessiveness. The problem is neither of these come across fully. The humor is scant and rarely genuine, while the serious elements are too cheesy to work effectively. The result is a story that feels like an indecisive mess rather than a clever meshing of genres. Thanks to its 88-minute running time, the movie’s biggest strength lies in its quick pace, which ensures the story never lags. However, this is also one of the film’s biggest weaknesses. With such a limited frame of delivery, the story relies on a steady stream of

coincidences and convenient encounters to move the sequence of events along. Despite their apparent prowess in combat and their arsenal of admittedly cool weapons, the titular siblings spend much of the movie being rescued by secondary characters, who always seem to inexplicably show up precisely when needed. The relationships developing between the main duo and these other players are, for the most part, meaningless; they happen too quickly to have any sort of emotional impact and are clearly included only to provide an easy way out when an issue arises. It is all so ineffectual that the film is only mildly entertaining and nothing else. Each of the movie’s well-done elements are overshadowed by a glaring fault of some sort. The dynamic between the siblings is rather nice, though not explored to the extent it could have been. The general inoffensiveness of the film ensures it is not wholly awful, and worth a viewing if one is looking for a bit of escapism. Those wanting something with a bit more substance, however, will want to skip this ultimately hollow Hollywood confection.

screenwriter whose proposed movie is where all of these bizarre scenes come from. This is really all that can be said about the so-called plot without the censors having to come out. The film is obviously supposed to be a comedy, but it is pretty clear the people behind this film are under the school of thought that being as gross or as offensive as possible is a good way to make a humorous movie. A comedy film — especially one with as many writers and directors as this film—has to be smart with its jokes, not just full of juvenile trash.

The cast is surprising, filled to the brim with normally very talented actors such as Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Richard Gere and Halle Berry. It is baffling to think all of these actors, who are otherwise very talented people, somehow got sucked into being a part of this awful piece of work. Most, if not all, of the actors were clearly very uncomfortable with what they had to do in this movie and their talent was squandered by awful direction and poor writing. The actors must have owed something to the people behind this film; that has to be it.

Movie 43

Feb. 7, 2013 - Feb. 13, 2013 | The Lumberjack 23