the
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STUDENTS SERVING THE HUMBOLDT CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY SINCE 1929
LUMBERJACK WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 , 2022 | VOL. 120 NO. 11
E D Q H U M B O L D T L U M B E RJ A C K K
T H E L U M B E RJ A C K .O R G
Associated Students Search for homicide
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Opinion...................8 Life
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LAX last chance
STUDENTS STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH EL SALVADOR
Photo by Carlos Pedraza | After giving her speech at the Arcata Plaza Klara Hernandez poses with an organizer at the protest on April 7.
by Alana Hackman and Carlos Pedraza Cal Poly Humboldt students and Arcata residents gathered around the plaza Thursday, April 7 in solidarity with El Salvador. The event was led by Klara Hernandez, a senior environmental studies student at Cal Poly Humboldt. Hernandez organized the event through her senior project and organization Eko Social Justice. Hernandez
was also joined by Centro De Pueblo an immigrant rights organization for Southern Indigenous communities also joined the event. The protest began at 4 pm and carried on into the evening around 6 pm. Hernandez walked to the center of the plaza megaphone in hand and began her speech with a land acknowledgment
and thoughtful address to her family who fled to the U.S from El Salvador. Hernandez called for solidarity with the people of El Salvador and pointed out problems of racial discrimination against Indigenous and Afro-Salvadorian citizens as they are forced to adopt Spanish culture. Hernandez also addressed abortion
SEE EL SALVADOR ● PAGE 3
Campus community hosts Food Summit
by Angel Baker
A three-week-long Food Summit is on campus, and you’re invited. On-campus organizations El Centro, HEIF, Umoja Center, the Food Sovereignty Lab, Oh Snap!, WRAPP, and La Comida Nos Une all collaborated to make this event happen. Liszet Burgueno, Developmental Manager for the Humboldt Energy Independence Fund (HEIF) and environmental resource engineering major, talked about the nature of the event. “The Food Summit is a collaborative event where multiple campus organizations came together to start conversations about food justice, food sovereignty, and to give people food,” Burgueno said. The first week was about the general topics to introduce people to the issues of food sustainability and justice. This week is about jobs and exploration in the food industry, and next week is about environmental justice and social justice. HEIF is funding the Food Summit Photo by Angel Barker| Students getting cookies from one of the many tables at the food summit on Apr 6. according to Katie Koscielak, Cal Poly organization. This event is not only to educate, coordinator for El Centro. Humboldt’s sustainability analyst and “Last semester, El Centro came to but to get students involved with interAccording to Paz, the event itself is, advisor for the event. HEIF and submitted an idea paper, active events to help make the planet a way to really reflect on our carbon im“The campus has done other food where they wanted to get reusable a better place. This event is really im- pact in terms of food that we use. summits, but not in several years, and utensils,” Burgueno said. portant to Torres, as food insecurity is This Thursday, April 14, there will this is the first one funded by HEIF,” Darin Torres, criminology and jour- a huge part of the greater Humboldt be a film screening of Gather hosted on Koscielak said. nalism major, pitched the idea this community. Zoom, and on Friday there is a plant HEIF funds sustainability projects semester for a food summit. Torres “We have issues with indigenous tour on campus and an opportunity to on campus through instructionally re- spearheaded the ideas and planning, cultures’ food not being respected,” volunteer at Bayside Farm. Many more lated activities fees that students pay and after months of collaborating with Torres said. “Food is a major insecurity events are also scheduled throughfor each semester. Past projects have many campus groups and local orga- in Humboldt County, we have students out the week. To find the whole event included water refilling stations, com- nizations, the event planning has been who face hunger and homelessness so schedule, go to https://lcae.humboldt. post bins, lots of lighting upgrades successful. much. So we just wanted to incorporate edu/food-summit. throughout campus, hand dryers, and “I am really proud of what we’ve it all into the food summit.” “This event is made for you in mind, many more. These projects take effect done so far,” Torres said. “Education is “We have regenerated, and hopeful- it was made for students, by students,” when students submit proposals to the power.” ly it will continue,” said Fernando Paz, Torres said.
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THE LUMBERJACK
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
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THE LUMBERJACK
NEWS
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
PAGE 3
EL SALVADOR FROM PAGE 1
She continued to speak against many problems, including corporations privatizing and contaminating water, Bitcoin being adopted as their main currency is hurting those who don’t have access to it, and the LGBTQ+ community facing discrimination and violence in the country. An attendee of the protest was Alice Turk who heard of the protest from social media. The women’s rights issues spoke to her most and she feels people need to stand in solidarity with women everywhere. “I think the fact it’s a crime to have [an] abortion is something that needs to change, it’s a problem that is happening all over the place,” Turk said. Cal Poly Humboldt students Ben Cross and Evina Romero came out to the event also after being sent the social media post by friend and Cal Poly Humboldt psychology major Cheyanne Elam. Elam found out about the event through a class and was attending to learn more about what she can do for the people of El Salvador. All agreed it was important to use their privilege to be at this event and show their support for the citizens of El Salvador. “Immigrants from El Salvador and all over South America are being turned away at our borders, and the U.S. really
area so I wanna speak it out,” Hernandez said. Hernandez will be holding an art show at Brainwash Thrift Thursday, April 21 in solidarity with El Salvador. The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will include Hernandez’s own photography and art.
Photo by Carlos Pedraza | Members of the crowd look while Klara Hernandez gives her speech on April 7 2022.
has the ability to rectify these things,” said Cross. Hernandez ended her initial speech with a call to action toward environmental justice and immigration rights for all. The crowd wavered cheers and screams from around the plaza flashing cardboard signs reading, “U.S. out of El Salvador,” “Women’s rights in El Salvador,” and “Indigenous sovereignty in El Salvador.” The signs were written
Local manhunt for homicide suspect ends with arrest
by Sophia Escudero
One week after campus alerts of a homicide suspect on campus, a Rhode Island man is in custody After one week at large, the suspect in a Kneeland homicide was taken into custody on April 10. Austin Michael Medeiros, 27, of Rhode Island, had been the subject of a search involving the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Arcata Police, and University Police following the suspicious death of a Kneeland woman, 28-year-old Emily Rose May Lobba, on April 3. Medeiros was apprehended in Santa Cruz attempting to steal a boat and was transferred to the Santa Cruz Police Department. SCPD officers found a stolen loaded gun and psychedelic mushrooms in Medeiros’ possession during a search. On April 3, a caretaker arrived at Lobba’s residence and was denied entrance by Medeiros, leading to an argument. According to the caretaker, Medeiros and Lobba knew each other and had been spending time together the time prior to the incident. Medeiros assaulted the caretaker and fled the scene in Lobba’s vehicle, and the caretaker found Lobba deceased inside the home and contacted the authorities. A car chase between Medeiros and law enforcement ensued, ultimately resulting in Medeiros fleeing on foot into the Arcata Community Forest. Poppy Cartledge, a journalism student, witnessed the chase, driving to a sporting event with her partner when she heard police sirens and pulled over. “This van came right at us and swerved into our lane, and at first I thought it was a civilian driving, like, ‘ah, I gotta get out of the way real fast,’ but I realized they weren’t gonna stop, and then they ran the stop sign, and at that point I realized, this was a chase,” Cartledge said. “At that time, I thought it was just something with drugs, but it was crazy to find out it was a murder.” This case is particularly close to the campus community after an alert to the student body informing them of a search in the Arcata Community Forest, followed by an update just two hours later saying that the search had ceased. Still, the suspect had not been found. According to interim chief of University Police Peter Cress, the Sheriff’s Office had handled the majority of the search.
“We had one unit on duty that day, one officer, and when the pursuit finished up on Fickle Hill Road and it was reported that the subject had fled into the woods, our officer on duty, Sergeant Carpenter, went up to Redwood Park and asked folks to stay out of the park,” Cress said. “Obviously, if the suspect had run through the park, he would have detained him or gone after him, but he was mostly there just to keep people out of the park at that time.” The search was conducted from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m and involved multiple ground crews, ATVs, and K-9 units. Officials called off the search when the suspect could not be found. According to Sheriff’s Office public information specialist Samantha Karges, it is believed that the suspect had fled the area soon after escaping the chase. “It’s my impression that he got out pretty quickly,” Karges said. “A lot of the time people won’t hang around where they escaped. They know it’s a hot area, people are going to be looking for them, and they want to get out of town.” It’s believed that Medeiros escaped to Santa Cruz by hitchhiking. No related violent incidents or injuries were reported during Medeiros’ time as a fugitive. Still, Karges urges members of the campus community always to be careful. “You could be a victim of a crime at any time,” Karges said. “It’s really important that we are aware of our surroundings, who we’re hanging out with, where we’re going, what we’re doing, those sorts of things. I know in university, we meet a lot of people, we make risky decisions when we’re young, so really think through who you’re getting in a car with, whose house or room you’re going to. Be cautious of new people, and get to know them before you invite them where you live or get into a car with them. Just use an abundance of caution.” Medeiros is currently being held in the Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of grand theft, carrying a loaded stolen firearm, and possession of a controlled substance. He is pending extradition to Humboldt County on charges of murder, evading an officer, assault and battery, and possession of a controlled substance. The bail is at $1 million.
in both English and Spanish. Hernandez mentioned her organization, Eko Social Justice, and that this event is an effort to use her voice for good and represent her home country of El Salvador in Humboldt County before her graduation and departure to Los Angeles this May. “The [Salvadorian] community is so tiny here that these things don’t get addressed. It’s like we’re invisible in this
Photo by Carlos Pedraza | Klara Hernandez gives her speech in front of the crowd in the center of the Arcata Plaza on April 7 2022.
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THE LUMBERJACK
AS Elections
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS
ELECTION
Administrative Vice President
Student Affairs Vice President
Sawyer Chrisman
Tashenea Burns-Young
Hello everyone, my name is Sawyer Chrisman (he/him/ his) and I am going to be a senior next school year. I am a communications major with a minor in international studies. I came to Cal Poly Humboldt to be able to attend an affordable CSU, and to learn more about the environment and how to be sustainable in my future career. My goal for next school year is to be Associated Students’ Administrative Vice President. I am currently vice president of the Communications Club, but I like to explore different activities and clubs that Humboldt has to offer. I am a good candidate for this position based on my previous experience as president of my student government in community college, president of International Club, and treasurer of Students Services United. I am very outspoken, expressive, and care about what I set my mind to. I want to be able to represent student needs by finding ways that Associated Students can find funding for events that benefit everyone at Humboldt. For the 2022-2023 school year, I want to be a part of the association that tries to bring back more of the student life on campus, and I specifically want to be responsible for the financial sides and be able to make better decisions that help fund events and programs for students. I believe that with my previous experience and my potential goals for next year, I can best serve the people as Administrative Vice President.
My name is Tashenea M. Burns-Young. I am a computer science major with a minor in German studies and my pronouns are she/hers. Although I am a computer science major, my passions and hobbies revolve around self-care and advocacy. I value the quality of treatment for all students and staff. In addition, I tend to have a curious mind and think of new ways to improve myself and how I can be the best support to people. I am applying for the Students Affairs Vice President position because I am currently working on building out trans health recognition. As I do not identify as LGBTQA+, I find it important to use my position to learn from various communities and others to get a grasp of holistic styles of support for students and staff. This leads me to my passion for seeking collaborative structure within Associated Students to promote learning and work ethics to ensure fairness in many decisions regarding student affairs. I also find interest in ensuring that the cultural centers on campus have the necessary finances to give to students as student wages. I am currently Student Affairs Vice President, and I find it very fulfilling, if given a chance, to get into this position as a fresh start. It will allow me to work towards getting local medical and health services for students to be available to all Cal Poly Humboldt bodies coming from outside of Humboldt county.
Legislative Vice President
Thomas Gray Hello. My fellow student is Thomas Gray and I’m originally from the Bay Area. I’m an African American student majoring in criminology and justice studies. I have been here at Cal Poly Humboldt for 3 years now. I will be running for Associate Students Legislative Vice President. My vision is to create a safe and healthy school community for all. I am currently an Associated Students board member. I previously held a position on the board as a College of Art Humanities and Social Science representative. I had the privilege of being student government Vice President in high school so I am equipped with the tools and skills to properly advocate for students. I have worked with other groups on campus to give back to the Cal Poly Humboldt community and Humboldt County as a whole. I worked in the African American Center for Academic Excellence at Cal Poly Humboldt. I also work as a peer tutor at Zane Middle School and Eureka High School. I created a program on campus called Public Safety Law Enforcement and Fire Speaker Series. For this program I invite high school and middle school students on campus, gave them a tour and had a speaker give a presentation. I also travel to middle and high school to give
speeches and create scavenger hunts with students. I have worked with lots of students to create more programs on campus. I have been exposed to a lot of leadership training skills over the past few years. I believe I am most qualified to be an efficient legislative vice president in the student council. I will work with the university to create more student jobs on campus. My mission if elected will be to create beneficial programs on campus and support other programs that already exist such as the NAOMI, EL Centro, Native American Center, as well as other programs on campus. Some of the issues I will be tackling include student health care, support for clubs on campus, job opportunities on campus, as well as creating a safe space for students of all backgrounds. If I’m elected as Legislative Vice President I will work with each and every student, staff, and faculty to make our institution a better place. I envision an institution with good relations between students and faculty members. I care about each of you and your right to be treated fairly. I will work with the university to make parking passes cheaper here at Cal Poly Humboldt. I ask nothing but your votes. I would be deeply honored if you’ll vote for me on election day.
HOW TO VOTE
Check your HSU email for the ballot link! Links to the e-ballot will be sent to your individual HSU email once per day until you cast your vote! You’ll be able to cast your vote one time between 12am Monday, April 18th and 11:59 pm Friday, April 22nd.
A.S. Pre
Juan Giovanni Guerrero Hello, my name is Juan Giovanni Guerrero. Like many of you, I am a first gen, Chicanx student, born and raised in a working class family. While attending Cal Poly Humboldt, I have served my campus community as a student advocate with El Centro, the Latinx center, and as an Associated Students vice president and representative. I came to Cal Poly Humboldt as a freshman straight out of high school in San Diego, and I have endured my fair share of challenges. I’ve had to navigate through college on my own, work multiple jobs while attending school full time to pay my living expenses, and skip meals because I didn’t have the time or groceries to eat, and somehow I’m still here, motivated and persisting. I point to my experiences as a testament of solidarity. Many of our students at Cal Poly Humboldt share common backgrounds, experiences, and struggles. If elected president I am committed to uplifting student voices and interests and fighting to undue financial and structural burdens, such as the fines associated with the university’s parking policies, an astounding $40. I will work to lessen the penalty on students and expand free parking hours from after 10 p.m. on weekdays to after 5 p.m., so students can access the library and other campus resources without having to walk home at night. I am committed to ensuring the university addresses housing affordability and shortages as our campus expands. I will continue to bring front and center the stories from BIPOC students on the unfair treatment and processes from on campus housing. In addition, I hope to expand opportunities from Associated Students and ensure spaces on campus like the Women’s Resource Center, the Queer Resource Center, WRAPP, and the Diverse Male Scholar Initiative are permanently funded through Associated Students so that their budgets are preserved every year, among other items I hope to address. I hope I will have your confidence to continue fighting for our students. Vote Gio for President, and may our student association go with grace and lead us to a positive place.
THE LUMBERJACK
AS Elections
2022-2023
GUIDE
esident
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
PAGE 5
YOUR CHANCE TO MEET THE CANDIDATES
At-Large Representative
Social Justice & Equity Officer
Environmental Sustainability
Chase Marcum
Sebastian Taylor
Gerardo Hernandez
Payton Belle
Mark Bulgara
This candidate will interrupt your regularly scheduled political programming with a steadfast purpose to redistribute power back to the students, bring truth to light, amplify your voices, promote unity, and create a positive and healthy student experience here at Cal Poly Humboldt. I have had the great opportunity to serve my fellow students over the past year as the Student Affairs Vice President last semester and the Administrative Vice President this semester. In those endeavors I have championed important causes such as student access to all campus spaces and resources, exemplified by the reopening of buildings and facilities such as the student swimming pool and dining facilities last semester. This semester I co-authored, introduced, and passed through A.S. game changing policies to increase student wages, including back pay for student workers, and will continue to pursue equal access to benefits such as local healthcare, dental, and vision. I fully intend to continue my advocacy for just and worthy causes that will benefit my fellow students now and into the future in an honest, transparent, and collaborative way. I ask for your vote humbly as it is not a vote for one but a vote for many, a vote to uplift and empower all of us: the students.
I am a lifetime local born in Humboldt County, and my name is Sebastian Taylor. In taking the time to visit one Associated Student meeting, I noticed how many roles were vacant. The university is beginning to transition into a polytechnic university utilizing a state grant amounting to over 7% of the entire GDP of Humboldt County. It is vital for the Associated Students to be running and communicating efficiently in order for the student community to reap the benefits of this transition. This is an immense endowment upon the administration as well as the students of this institution, and the decisions made in transition will have lasting effects on the students, locals, and the efficacy of this institution. In running for At-Large Representative, I assume the representation of the student community as a whole. This role allows me to take on initiatives that we feel are the most pertinent to the student body. The lack of connection between the Associated Students Representatives and their constituents is the most pressing issue for student government after we were all forced to go digital for multiple semesters. My biggest initiative, no matter what role I am in at this university, is connecting students to the positions that empower them. I believe my attitude as a Black, local, impoverished student supporting myself is necessary in translating the ideas of the student community to the Associated Students during this historic transformation into California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. Utilizing my experience as sophomore Class President at Saint Bernard’s Academy and my growing expertise as a digital media student, I plan to implement innovation by reconnecting the students with their institution and each other. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Hello everyone my name is Gerardo Hernadez, my major is Political Science and I am a first generation student at Cal Poly Humboldt. I am running to be your At-Large Representative for this year’s Associated Students’ elections because I want to lead, represent, and give students a platform to express their feelings and concerns to A.S. about Cal Poly Humboldt. This position gives me the opportunity to connect with our organizations and departments that are not affiliated with an academic college. Not only will it give me a chance to talk with them, it will give me a chance to talk to you and see how A.S. can help our entire student union. I come from humble beginnings, my grandparents crossed the Mexico/U.S. Border to give opportunities for my family to prosper in America. My grandmother is a huge inspiration for me, she always cared so much for her community in Los Angeles and would attend nearly every city council meeting because she valued the roots she put forth to my family. Throughout the four years in high school, I participated in my high school debate team and not only did I have the opportunity to debate various topics but I also learned the importance of advocacy and transparency. If I am on the A.S. Board, I will advocate on your behalf and I will promote awareness of our Student Body Government. As Cal Poly Humboldt becomes the first Polytechnic University in Northern California, I applaud that our University wants to increase enrollment for the entire student body by 50% within three years, although it’s important to recognise that our students continue to experience housing and/or food insecurity. In 2018, a statewide study authorized by the CSU system, showed there were high rates of CSU students experiencing housing insecurity and 19 percent of Cal Poly Humboldt students reported being housing insecure at least once in those last 12 months of that statewide study. I will advocate to the A.S. Board to prioritize advocating and addressing expanding resources towards students experiencing housing and/or food insecurities. If you want someone to advocate for you and be transparent on what is happening in our Student Government, I will strongly do that to the best of my ability.
She/Her I came to Humboldt because of how far away it is from my home and how beautiful the area around the school is, however I have remained at our school because of the friendships and communities I have established here. I have also stayed here because I am a Criminology and Justice Studies major and I love the education that I am getting from the program and I feel like I would not get the same information anywhere else. On campus I’m involved in Delta Phi Epsilon where I have gotten the opportunity to serve as the first Vice President of Equity and Belonging, with that position I have been able to educate my sisters on various topics throughout the semester. Being a part of DPhiE has helped me become more professional and has even allowed me to be an advocate for my sisters and others. I have also been involved with CHECK IT on campus which is one of my favorite organizations because they promote a consent culture and just overall allow people to feel welcomed and loved. I had almost transferred schools for personal reasons but I knew I was not ready to leave my friends that I had made up here just yet. I have learned so much from the people I surround myself with and they are the reasons why I want to run for Social Justice and Equity Officer. I believe that a majority of our students are underrepresented and that they need a voice to understand them and speak for them. I want to be that voice and to have those conversations with my peers in regards to how they feel or to see what they would like to see happen in regards to our school or even community. I would also like to see our cultural centers uplifted more so our students who are people of color can know that they have a place to go and actually feel welcomed. I want to be an advocate for our students and to help them get the resources that they need, I really want to help promote the resources that are available to our students currently. Overall I want to be someone that my peers feel comfortable with to come up to and just have a conversation with, I really want our students to know that I am here for them and to help them in any way possible.
My name is Mark Bulgara, and my pronouns are He/Him. My major is Environmental Resource Engineering. I choose Cal Poly Humboldt because of the scenery and peace. Before coming here, I attended UC San Diego, and It was loud, busy, and fast-paced. It wasn’t something I wanted to stay in, and when I found out about Cal Poly Humboldt, I knew it was a campus I wanted to attend. After experiencing this campus and town, I knew it was just meant to be. The peaceful atmosphere, surrounded by nature, and the small-town life are just what I needed. As a student of Environmental Resource Engineering, I have a problem-solving mindset. I used the principles of my major of problem-solving to become a student advocate. Hence I became one of the College of Natural Resources & Sciences representatives. Every day I reflect on my experiences as a student, engineer, and representative to ensure that we keep a clean environment and green campus. I am seeking the position of Environmental Sustainability Officer because I care deeply about how natural resources are utilized and how well our environment is sustained. If given the opportunity as the Environmental Sustainability Officer, I find it crucial for student outreach by attending Associated Students body meetings where the public has the right to speak of issues they’d like to see addressed, and I will serve as a voice for my fellow board members to assist in all ways that necessary. One project I find interest in is affordable housing. This is an important issue we face currently as students. Many know the struggles of finding a place to live while pursuing our education, and we will make sure to create affordable housing for all students to access; I’ll make it my priority to make sure that housing space for students to access is easy to find and utilize with the support of our upcoming/ returning board members.
Graphic by Poppy Cartledge
Proofread and copyedited by Lumberjack Staff
PAGE 6
SPORTS
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
THE LUMBERJACK
Humboldt’s ultimate Buds
by Gabriel Zucker
A look at the Ultimate Team’s race to regionals A silence fell over the field, all eyes looking up as the frisbee flew. Then, as one, every player let out a wail of pain, watching as it flew out of bounds, bouncing off the hard track and finally coming to a rest. One of the Buds dropped to the floor, groaning as they all did ten push-ups. Scott Estepa, a member of the team, explained this was important to get down the basics of the game. “It encourages us not to throw it out of bounds and make sure our throws are accurate,” Estepa said. “Also, a good workout.” The Buds are the Cal Poly Humboldt men’s Ultimate Frisbee team. They are listed as a competitive sports team in the USA Ultimate College Series in the Southwest Region. They are the winner of three national tournaments and are focused on making it through sectionals this year. They practice Monday 6-8 p.m., Wednesday 8-10 p.m., and Saturday 12-2:30 p.m. On top of this, they hold a scrimmage every Sunday against alumni that come out to teach and play against current Buds.
by Eddie Carpenter
Each practice includes rigorous conditioning, learning, practicing different strategies, and finally a scrimmage against each other. Even though the schedule is rigorous, the Buds come out every practice, ready to not only work out but to join in the camaraderie. The Buds as a group are very close and welcoming to everyone. “It was the community,” Estepa said. “All the Buds are really tight and really nice people. Everybody is welcoming to everyone. The first time everyone was so chill and so happy. We had a great time at practice, practice wasn’t serious.” On top of practicing together, the Buds take advantage of the frisbee golf course in the community forest. “We have Buds disc golf outing where we get a ton of people and break up into teams of two and wreak havoc on the course,” said Collin Silva, safety officer for the Buds team. All of this practice and conditioning is not only for meeting new people, and the Buds regularly partake in tournaments. They play the likes of Oregon State and Reno for the opportunity to reach the top in their division. Galen Trexler, a Bud from 20102015, is one of the coaches for the team. He told me that he was more there to pass down his knowledge than to coach, as most of the coaching is done by older students. Trexler and other alumni
give back to the Buds by giving their time to help coach, teach, and play with the newer generation of Buds, passing down their wisdom for a chance to feel young again.
Towards the end of practice, after a bud dropped an easy catch, Trexler made the Buds run a lap. “We lose, we all lose,” Trexler yelled. “We win, we all win.”
Showing Some
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Humboldt Hogs play last home game
On April 9, Humboldt Men’s Lacrosse Team competed against UCSC Banana Slugs in their final game of a winless season. The Humboldt Hogs fought against significant gusts of wind at the Redwood Bowl under a cloudless sky.
Freshman Gino Grier expressed an insurmountable passion for the sport itself. “This sport is beautiful,” Grier said. “There’s barely enough time to think! It’s like driving too fast, really. If you
Photo by Morgan Hancock | The Hogs rally between quarters in the Saturday game on March 26.
Cal Poly Humboldt Dance Program Presents:
think, you’re behind someone… It’s gotta be animalistic in a way. You see everyone out here? They’re happy not because we lost, but they’re happy with a loss. That’s my team right there, and I’m proud as hell of that!” As a long-stick midfielder, Grier loves lacrosse because it keeps him balanced. The Hogs have played the whole year with the minimum number of players necessary to compete. Seth Velasco, the senior team captain, gave it his all on the field on Saturday. “This is my last game. I would’ve liked... a win, but I mean, I just enjoy playing lacrosse,” Velasco said. “Ever since I started playing it in high school, I enjoyed it. It was my favorite game to play. I enjoy being a part of this team. We only had three guys starting this season off, so recruiting a bunch of guys getting them to join the sport. It was fun. I wouldn’t want to play with another team.” During halftime, the Humboldt Hogs take mustard shots for muscle cramps. Currently, there’s no scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of using mustard to help treat or prevent muscle cramps. Needless to say, the Hogs are hungry to rebuild after two seasons lost to COVID-19. Before the season opener, the team hadn’t had a home game in 753 days due to the pandemic.
Zack Gamble is Humboldt’s other senior team captain. Gamble expressed how his team overcame a lot of adversity this season. “Seth, Riley, and I worked really hard to bring the team back from nothing,” Gamble said. “And we’ve got a solid squad of guys here now. And these guys just have no quit in them. I mean it’s just been an honor playing on this team. Despite having no subs [and] no help— half of the time, we don’t really have enough guys at practice. We were able to put a season together and really show people what Humboldt Lacrosse is about.” Humboldt Men’s Lacrosse is all about heart and soul. The team has a new coach under a new school name and they are preparing for their 40th anniversary. The Hogs have shown that the sport was about putting up a good fight when the odds were stacked against them. Senior defenseman Riley Switzler expressed the need for his squad to work like clockwork. “I would like to see everyone come together as a team more,” Switzler said. “I’d like to see more team camaraderie. Everybody being friends with each other and being there for each other on and off the field… We could put up more of a fight against these bigger schools.”
“DANCE VISIONS”
APRIL 13-17 WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY 7:30 PM, SUNDAY MATINEE 2 PM
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JVD
THE LUMBERJACK
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
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Wednesday, April 13, 2022
LIFE & ARTS
THE LUMBERJACK
Take Back the Night coordinators raise concerns about event speaker A presentation sparks discussions about restorative justice
by Matthew Taylor Cal Poly Humboldt’s Campus Advocacy Team (CAT), along with the help of the North Coast Rape Crisis Center, hosted the annual international event known as Take Back the Night last Friday. This college campus-focused event looks to empower women and other vulnerable minorities. This year’s event began with a presentation by Dr. Rachel King, a specialist in issues of sexual misconduct within higher education. Her presentation explored the usage of restorative justice in situations of sexual assault on college campuses. Restorative justice focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with their victim(s) and the
community at-large. The framework often assumes that the offender committed their crime due to a perceived need in their life that wasn’t being met or a lack of knowledge towards the harm they inflicted. Proponents say that restorative justice has the capability to be incredibly effective and healing to all parties involved in a crime. However, should we assume sexual assault falls into this category of effectiveness? An hour into the presentation, many participants were disheartened, disgusted, and frustrated. At multiple points in the Zoom-based presentation, King implied that many perpetrators of sexual assault did so based on a simple ignorance or misunderstanding of the situation. While this could be true for a
minority of cases, statistically, the vast majority of sexual assaults are done with the explicit understanding that these actions were unwanted. “It’s not about ignorance, it’s about power and control,” an event coordinator said after the presentation. Many of the event coordinators present refused to speak on the record regarding their feelings on the hour-long speech. Their reasons ranged from the sensitivity of the topic to a perceived backlash from the administration. “I personally have a very hard time with restorative justice as a survivor myself, working as an advocate, and hearing survivors on a daily basis,” another event coordinator said. “I’m not saying that the normal system is
Graphic by Matthew Taylor
[made] to protect the survivors in any way. It’s not. The traditional justice system is very re-victimizing and very re-traumatizing for survivors, but the model that was shown today could also be set up for survivors to be re-victimized and re-traumatized.” Whether intentional or not, restorative justice processes can put the offender and the victim on equal levels of legitimacy. In the case of sexual assault, this makes little to no sense. As advocates in this area, the members of CAT and the North Coast Rape Crisis Center know that these actions predominantly come from an abuse of power or a complete apathy towards the victim, not due to innocent miscommunication. “I feel like this presentation weighed a bit too heavily on the perpetrator and their choices,” a coordinator said. “It just wasn’t all that comfortable for me to hear, it’s like ‘if they get this little bit of accountability, then they’ll never do it again’ when we know that that’s not true.” The event ended four hours earlier than its intended conclusion, in part due to the extremely low turnout. It is unknown if CAT and the North Coast Rape Crisis Center will continue to use Rachel King as a resource for sexual assault trainings, especially in light of the negative reaction towards her presentation. Both teams stand firm in their mission to empower survivors on campus, whether they wish to take a restorative justice approach or a traditionally retributive one. Their concern lies solely with the victims and their personal well being. The Campus Advocate Team runs a 24 hour anonymous support line for any and all student victims of sexual assault that can be reached at (707) 445-5881.
OPINION
Dropping the mask Masking mental illness is a privilege by Lex Valtenbergs I could tell that the woman lingering at the bus stop was mentally ill within the first few moments of speaking to her, although it wasn’t my place to surmise what mental illness she suffered from. She asked me a question about the bus schedule and muttered something aloud as if in reply, but not to me. When her eyes met mine again, she blurted, “Oh!” as if she forgot I was there. My initial reaction was to fear her; I didn’t understand the inner workings of her mind nor their outward manifestations. I perceived her as volatile and therefore threatening. At that time, I was also going through a protracted depressive episode marked by the distinctive mistrust and self-sabotaging tendencies that are all too common in borderline personality disorder. As a result I had little to no verve to engage with her. In our own respective ways we were unmasked. The difference between her and myself is that I have the privilege to mask, or hide the symptoms of my mental illness to the best of my ability. She’s always visible; not by choice but by circumstance. Ironically, my masking urge to ‘help’ in some way and assuage her symptoms that brought me discomfort was snuffed out by my own unmasked symptoms. I was defying the neurotypical script and the internalized ableism - discrimination against people with disablities, mentally ill and neurodivergent people - that came with it. I got on the bus and sat down, trying to push away the dread and discomfort
that were triggered by the brief interaction that I had with the mentally ill stranger at the bus stop. As if being summoned by telepathy, the woman appeared at the open back door of the bus and asked me another question that I didn’t have an answer to. Just before the back door slid shut, she snuck inside the bus without paying at the front and sat down across from me. For the next half hour or so, she had an ongoing dialogue with no one in particular, constantly shifted in her seat and ripped up a handful of white paper straw covers from a fast food restaurant. At one point her eyes wandered to mine and she asked me point-blank, “Are you okay?” I was baffled by her lucidity. I curtly replied, “I’m good,” even though I wasn’t. She didn’t push me like I feared she would. At the last Northbound bus stop in Eureka, she abruptly stood up from her seat. She left a pair of brown moccasin boots under her seat. As she passed by me, she gently touched my shoulder and said, “I love you.” The physical contact was unexpected but not entirely unwelcome. When she told me that she loved me - a misplaced but sincere disclosure - I felt the burning touch of shame press firmly inward. What were the people around us were thinking? Would they associate me with her? It didn’t matter, I consoled myself. I always try to deconstruct any ableist narratives that crop up in my mind. Then I learn from it and strive not to
Graphic by Lex Valtenbergs
repeat it again. If we dare to overcome our fear of judgement, we are more prepared to dig through the other discriminatory narratives that are ingrained in us. She turned around. “Could you be a dear and grab my boots for me?” I cynically inferred that she left her boots on purpose just so I could get them for her, but I realized that I couldn’t be certain. Even if I was, her intention wasn’t malicious. I stooped down to grab them, and brought them
out to her. It felt like we understood each other as I handed her the boots. She took her boots from my hands, and then she was gone. I almost cried as I sat in silence, my heart twinging painfully with every second the bus pulled away. I am mentally ill. I am broken. I am whole, but not seamless. The woman on the bus couldn’t seal her cracks as well as I can, and that’s a privilege that weighs heavily on me.
