The Lumberjack -- October 20

Northern Arizona University’s student voice since 1914

José Luis Cruz Rivera’s Q&A with The Lumberjack

THE LUMBERJACK EDITORIAL BOARD

President José Luis Cruz Rivera was officially installed as NAU’s 17th president in late September. After a year of work as president, Cruz Rivera visited The Lumberjack Editorial Board Oct. 10 to talk about the future of accessibility and other issues at NAU.

Editorial Board: Now that the University Union Fieldhouse is no longer providing COVID-19 testing, are there any plans for what the building’s future could be?

José Luis Cruz Rivera: The fieldhouse is part of the broader campus conversation we are having around the master plan. We haven’t done a master plan for the university since 2010. We launched one several months ago. It’s an 18-month process, so I believe probably summer, early fall next year we will have

— I’m hoping — a beautifully modern plan that will allow us to decide what is the best use for our space in general, but the fieldhouse, I know it has a lot of attention on it and there will be some options of what we can do with it.

EB: Before COVID-19, there were plans of maybe bringing in a recreational ice rink and I know there’s other options as well. Have there been any preliminary discussions as to what those options could be?

JLCR: I am not part of the committee that is working on this, but I will say that in addition to the recreation facilities, there have been conversations around one-stop-shop-type services for students. There have been conversations about [if] is there an interesting way of converting that into student housing using some modern loft, buildingswithin-buildings-type architectural renditions.

We will be looking at what those options are. Of course, we want to make sure that whatever investments we make are widely consulted with students, faculty and staff, and ultimately that they make sense financially because we have great ambitions but we also need to figure out how to resource those ambitions.

EB: Now that minimum wage in Flagstaff is going to increase to $16.80 on the first of 2023, do you plan on supporting an increase in on-campus minimum wage to accommodate the rising cost of living in Flagstaff?

JLCR: We recently announced a $2.35 increase in the minimum wage, so we are now at $14.50. That required an investment of approximately $2.2 million from the university. We are not contemplating matching the city in January 2023, but we are keeping this topic front of mind with our newly

established University Budget Advisory Committee, because the reality is we have many aspirations and many things we want to do with student compensation, faculty compensation, staff compensation and benefits, but we have a limited pie in terms of the resources.

So, the question to the advisory board will be, “These are all of the asks, if you will, on the resources that we do have, how do we prioritize and perhaps how do we stretch them over time so we can get to where we want to, even if it takes us a little longer?”

That is where we are with the conversation. Of course, the city’s revenue base is very different than the university’s, and so we have to balance all that out.

Flagstaff market retains community

ZACHARY MARKEWICZ

It was one of the last Sundays in the season, and the Flagstaff Community Market was in full swing. A small sea of people slowly circled the rows of tents and stations, taking in the array of local produce and artists’ wares. Veteran vendors and long-time patrons have been returning each week this season despite a recent change that placed the Sedona Community Farmers Market on the same day and time.

In May, the Sedona farmers market began its summer season. Traditionally held weekly on Fridays, the market began operating on Sundays — the same day as Flagstaff’s market. The markets are located about an hour from each other with Flagstaff’s lasting from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Sedona’s lasting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Consequently, vendors and customers who could not attend both were forced to choose between markets.

With the Flagstaff market’s yearly season ending Oct. 30, the reasons regulars of the market have continued to attend are as varied as the people it attracts.

The Flagstaff Community Market began in 2000 with the primary purpose of supporting small- and medium-sized producers who could offer an alternative to corporate food production. The market is intended to encourage people to grow more of their own food and connect growers to consumers.

Aguiar Farms displays locally grown vegetables for purchase at the Flagstaff Community Market on Aspen Avenue, Oct. 16. Sara Williams | The Lumberjack

Senior reporter William Combs III listens to NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera at the the Media Innovation Center, Oct. 10. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack

NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera answers a question from the editorial staff of The Lumberjack during his visit, Oct. 10. Jacob Handley | The Lumberjack

FROM THE EDITOR

This past year has been incredibly stressful for me. Between finally being able to take in-person classes here at NAU after the pandemic upended everything, completing my capstone project, and going into my final semester, it’s safe to say that I’ve been feeling the pressure. In fact, it’s because of this pressure that I’ve come to a bit of a realization.

I have a serious problem.

I hate ending things. Just straight up, I despise the simple act of finishing something.

I never fully finished the last run of Amazing Spider-Man, my favorite character of all time — I don’t want to see the Marvel editorial board toss Ben Reilly into the trash again. I never got around to finishing Xenoblade Chronicles 3, a game that quite literally spiked my heart rate when it got announced because I was so excited — finishing the final chapter means the series that I have loved so dearly since 2015 is over. I haven’t even really finished writing this piece — this is my one chance to make myself heard, is this really how I want to do it?

The odd thing is, this is a recent development. I couldn’t wait to get out of high school. I wanted to be done so badly that I took extra classes at my local community college to graduate a year early, and you know what? I did it. I used to race my friends to be the first to finish a new book or game when it came out, but I can’t imagine doing that now. So, what gives? Why am I suddenly so scared of crossing the finish line?

I’m sure you can see where this is going by now. If not, I’ll go ahead and spell it out for you.

I’m scared of what comes next.

Although I’m not the biggest fan of the college experience, I’m scared of losing out on everything that I have right now. College has allowed me to make some incredible new friends and afforded me opportunities that I never would have thought of, all of which I am incredibly grateful for and wouldn’t trade for the world. But now, with just eight more weeks on the calendar, how do I tie this experience up in a bow and move on to the next one?

Ironically, I can’t wait to be done here. I’ve got a job lined up, a supportive group of family and friends that want to see me succeed, and honestly, I can’t wait to see my cat everyday again. Not to mention the fact that I won’t have to live with a roommate anymore. But I just can’t seem to shake the feeling that I shouldn’t be done yet.

Maybe it’s the fact that I’m only 20, maybe I still feel guilty about bombing a few tests along the way, but I’m worried about moving on, and I don’t think that ever-present pit in my stomach is going to dissipate.

Like I said at the start, I hate ending things, so it should come as no surprise that I’m not good at it. Any advice?

Thank you for reading!

hauler involved in crash Wednesday night

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Camille Sipple, Editor-in-Chief

Brenden Martin, Managing Editor

Emily Gerdes, Director of Digital Content

Marley Green, Copy Editor

Lian Muneno, Director of Print Design Lydia Nelson, Director of Marketing

EDITORIAL STAFF

Daisy Johnston, News Editor

Sophia Swainson, Assistant News Editor

Jorja Heinkel, Online News Editor

Xavier Juarez, Assistant Online News Editor

William Combs III, Senior Reporter

Jessie McCann, Opinion Editor

Maria Rodriguez, Assistant Opinion Editor

Hannah Elsmore, Features Editor

Brisa Karow, Assistant Features Editor

Emily Rehling, Culture Editor

Emma Long, Assistant Culture Editor

Evan McNelia, Sports Editor

Noah Butler, Assistant Sports Editor

Tess Bandstra, Assistant Director of Print Design

Amirah Rogers, Director of Social Media

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

VISUALS

Jonah Graham, Director of Photography

Rainee Favela, Director of Illustration

Collin Vanderwerf, Director of Multimedia Taylor McCormick, Assistant Director of Photography

Samantha Glaberman, Assistant Director of Illustration

Jacob Handley, Senior Photographer

Freeland, Senior Photographer

FACULTY ADVISERS

David Harpster, Faculty Adviser Rory Faust, Sports Adviser

The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Camille Sipple at ces475@nau.edu.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Flagstaff Songwriters Festival @ Heritage Square

SBS/CAL & Cline

Flagstaff Festival of Science - Journey to Giza @ Cline Library

NAU Soccer vs. Idaho @ Lumberjack Stadium

Things Not Seen: Art and Healing Art Exhibition @ Clara M. Lovett

Rising Tide: The Crossroads Project ft. the Fry Street Quartet @ Kitt Recital Hall

Library Film Series: The Peanut Butter Falcon @ Cline Library

Disability Pride and Heritage Fair @ University Union Pedway

Wingo @ Du Bois Center

NAU Soccer vs. Eastern Washington @ Lumberjack Stadium

Flu Vaccine Clinic @ Health and Learning Center

Family Weekend HRM Casino Night @ Du Bois Center

BonoboFragments Live Tour @ Orpheum Theater

Community Market @ City Hall Parking Lot

Inclusive Jeopardy hosted by the ID Scholar Peer Mentoring Program @ Office of Inclusion

NAU Volleyball vs. Portland State @ Rolle Activity Center

31

Sensory Crafts with IMQ @ University Union Fieldhouse

25

Geology Rocks Tour @ Mountain Sports

NAU Volleyball vs. Eastern Washington @ Rolle Activity Center

Louie’s Cupboard Food Distribution @ University Union

NAU Football vs. Cal Poly @ Walkup Skydome

Dusk Music Festival Flagstaff Battle of the Bands @ Orpheum Theater

BBNO$ @ Prochnow Auditorium

Horror Story Club @ Flagstaff Public Library

26 Pumpkin Painting @ University Union Pedway

28

Rainboo Halloween Dance Party @ University Union Fieldhouse

NAU Volleyball vs. Idaho @ Rolle Activity Center

29 Frightful Fête @ Prochnow Auditorium

Trick or Treat Trail @ Heritage Square and throughout Downtown Flagstaff

Northern Arizona University sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, on homelands sacred to Native Americans throughout the region. We honor their past, present, and future generations, who have lived here for millennia and will forever call this place home.

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Photo by Brian Burke

Biden pardons simple marijuana possessions

President Joe Biden pardoned all federal con victions of simple possessions of marijuana Oct. 6. Certificates of pardon will be issued to eligible individuals.

The executive order will pardon citizens who were federally convicted for simple cannabis charges between 1992 and 2021. Over 6,500 citizens will be eligible for pardon by this order.

A simple possession of cannabis occurs when cannabis is found on someone’s person with the intent to consume it, but not to sell or give away to another person.

A statement issued by the Biden administration gave an overview of the reason for this change and how it will impact the lives of individuals with convictions.

“There are thousands of people who have prior federal convictions for cannabis possession, who may be denied employment, housing or educational opportunities as a result,” Biden said in a press release.

Most offenders who hold federal criminal records have more serious charges than simple possession of cannabis. Therefore the order addresses a small portion of federal cannabis convictions. As a result, the pardon did not release offenders from prison. All those eligible for pardon have already been released.

Since 2015, Arizona has had the highest amount of cannabis-related federal offenses.

Meghan McDowell, assistant criminology and criminal justice professor at NAU, said the Biden administration should focus on drug abuse as a public health issue rather than a criminal justice issue.

“There are many things the Biden administration could do to address the crisis of incarceration and mass criminalization that impacts Black, Brown, Indigenous and poor people across this country,” McDowell said.

Since most incarcerations for cannabis possession stem from state law convictions, Biden has encouraged governors to follow the federal pardon.

Martin Hutchins, litigation manager for the

Arizona Marijuana Expungement Coalition and an attorney with the Arizona Justice Project, has been helping offenders for cannabis-related crimes since 2021.

“This is a great step forward considering the authority the prison has in relation to criminal justice,” Hutchins said. “However, the sentencing that was placed on offenders upon conviction does not mean they escaped everything. They are still going to deal with the collateral damages, because a pardon does not undo that.”

The Smart and Safe Arizona Act, otherwise known as Proposition 207, offers an expungement process for those convicted of cannabis-related crimes. Proposition 207 passed with about 60% of the vote in the 2020 general election.

Those who are eligible for expungement may be able to have their cannabis-related crimes sealed to the public, so they don’t have to specify any criminal record on job or housing applications.

“There are at least 169,000 records eligible for expungement, and only 14,452 petitions have been filed,” Hutchins said. “Each prosecuting agency has the ability to seek expungement on people including the various law groups and attorney general. Anyone that has prosecutorial authority needs to take advantage of the expungement law.”

Cannabis is currently listed as a Schedule I drug — legally classified as the most dangerous and addictive group of drugs.

Along with the pardon, Biden directed Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra and Attorney General Merrick Garland to begin an administrative process to decide if the classification of cannabis should remain the same.

“This is the same schedule as for heroin and LSD, and even higher than the classification of fentanyl and methamphetamine, the drugs that are driving our overdose epidemic,” Biden said.

Although Black and white individuals have shown

to use around the same amount of cannabis, Black people are incarcerated at higher rates for possession.

“Many, many people are in state prison for drug charges, most of them are mostly educated people in the prime of their lives,” McDowell said.

During Biden’s time as a senator from Delaware, he was on the Committee on the Judiciary for the AntiDrug Abuse Act. Biden co-sponsored and wrote some of this act which impacted penalties for drug crimes, contradicting the current cannabis-related pardon.

The act put mandatory minimum prison sentences in place for specific drug crimes. Powder cocaine, most used by white people, carries a five-year sentence for possession of 500 grams. Crack cocaine, shown to be used predominantly by Black people, receives the same sentence for five grams of crack.

The Arizona Marijuana Expungement Coalition is funded through the state by Proposition 207. The coalition provides free legal advice and can help offenders file for expungement.

UArizona shooting raises gun safety questions

EMMA WEAVER

On Oct. 5, a former student from University of Arizona walked onto the Tucson campus, and shot and killed a professor, adding to the number of fatal shootings that annually occur in the United States.

The U.S. has more than twice the number of guns per 100 people than any other country, according to data from the Small Arms Survey, with 120.5 firearms per 100 residents. The number of guns and mass shootings has increased, and gun-related deaths or incidents have doubled since 2017.

The definition of a mass shooting varies between different news agencies and research groups. The Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a nonprofit research group, defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.

The FBI does not have a mass shooting definition. Instead, the FBI uses the term “mass murder” as an incident where four or more people are killed.

Mass shooting incidents have increased in the U.S. In 2013, the GVA first began to track and record gun-related incidents. According to its website, there were a total of 273 mass shootings in 2014. In 2021, there were 691 mass shootings.

Sgt. Breana Orr from NAUPD

said the public can help police with active shooters by practicing situational awareness and reporting people who seem dangerous.

“One of the best pieces of advice that we like to discuss in our active shooter training would be ‘if you see something, say something,’” Orr said. “In context, we need the help from the public to report

suspicious activity or anything that they may think is out of the ordinary.”

As of Oct. 12, GVA has reported 533 mass shootings in 2022. These incidents include one in Uvalde, Texas, in which 19 children and two teachers were killed and a shooting in a grocery store in Buffalo, New York that left 10 Black people dead.

“I WAS CONCERNED IF SHE WAS ALREADY ON CAMPUS FOR HER 3 P.M. CLASS LAST WEDNESDAY. LUCKILY SHE CHECKED IN WITH ME AND WAS ON THE SUNLINK. SHE HAD GOTTEN NOTIFICATION THAT HER CLASS HAD BEEN CANCELED BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENT ON CAMPUS.” - Carol Satran, mother of two college students, one at UA

Carol Satran has two daughters in college, one at NAU and another at UA. When she heard about the shooting, she immediately thought of her child.

“I was concerned if she was already on campus for her 3 p.m. class last Wednesday,” Satran said. “Luckily she checked in with me and was on the Sunlink. She had gotten notification that her class had been canceled because of the incident on campus.”

Getting off the Sunlink bus, Satran’s daughter waited for the next train to take her back to her apartment. She told her mom that some people did not seem concerned about the alerts.

According to The Arizona Daily Star, Murad Dervish entered the Harshbarger Building and shot Professor Thomas Meixner in a colleague’s office.

Meixner, department head of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences earned his doctorate in 1999 from UA, joined its faculty as an assistant professor in 2005 and became department head in 2019.

“He described his work as ‘making the world better through biogeochemistry,’ but to us, he was trying to save the world’s most precious resource,” his family wrote in his obituary

Dervish had been expelled from UA in February and was barred from being on campus.

Continue reading on JackCentral.org

ILLUSTRATION BY RAINEE FAVELA

Two people hug after a shooting at the John W. Harshbarger Building on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, Arizona, Oct. 5. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Sasnett

Q&A continued from FRONT

EB: My question is about Louie’s Cupboard. It was created for faculty and students to donate canned food and boxed food to students who can’t afford a meal plan, but at the same time, so much food is wasted in campus dining halls. I was wondering if there is a way to make meal plans more accessible or just redistribute this resource, which is Campus Dining, so that students can have fresh meals instead of boxed food.

JLCR: We do have Louie’s Cupboard and several other food insecurity and housing insecurity programs on campus. We are bringing them all under one roof and under one program, which is our NAU Cares program. As part of that, we are looking at ways in which we can more coherently employ the resources we do have [...] how can we ensure that the resources we have available in the case of food insecurity are easier for students to access?

To your point, how can we make it more streamlined in the way that we go about doing business with for example our meal plans on campus? So, that is an evolving topic. It is one of our top concerns. Food insecurity, housing insecurity and mental health, those three are right there and we are doing a lot in terms of planning and implementation on those fronts during this year.

Because I mentioned mental health, we just launched the Jacks Care program — 24/7 mental health availability through Telehealth — and we have seen some significant numbers of student uptake of that program. And not just that first time, but actual repeat use of the services. So, more on that this year. I think the whole idea of Jacks Care, NAU Cares and our culture of care will be things that will be elevating to our campus.

EB: In your installation address, you touched on your commitment to the Access2Excellence initiative which expands access to higher ed for lower-income individuals. Could you touch on how you will expand on that initiative moving forward

in your presidency?

JLCR: There are a few ways in which we hope to do that. One, is the Access2Excellence program was really an attempt to clarify our messaging to students about access and affordability. So basically, the message is very simple now. It wasn’t as simple before. Which is, in the case of students from Arizona, if you graduate from high school in Arizona with a 3.0 GPA you are assured admission. That’s it. Period. Graduate from high school, 3.0, you are assured admission. And if you happen to come from a household with an income of less than $65,000 a year, which is more than one out of every two households in Arizona, the excellent education that you will get at NAU will be tuition free. And so we are able to do that by really looking at the way we package our financial aid and make sure that we were able to backfill some of the needs of our lowest income students so that we can just come out and say it’s gonna be tuition free. So that takes care of access and affordability.

The next step is scale. And we think that the financing, the financials of that project are such that we actually will be able to increase enrollment of students who may not have thought that college was in the cards for them — being able to offset the costs — so it’s financially sustainable. The question is, how do you take it to scale? And so, the day before installation

I believe, I presented to the board of regents the state of the university address, and there I announced the launch of the A++ initiative, which is the Arizona Attainment Alliance.

And so what we’re doing is we have partnered with the 10 community college districts across the state, and the Arizona Commerce Authority, and during the next year we will be developing implementation plans that will allow us to work better together in ensuring that students from Arizona — right out of high school or even if they’re already in the workforce — have an easier, seamless pathway to one of our programs. The Arizona Commerce Authority has great data and projections on what the jobs in two or three years will look like, what types, what industries. And so they will be feeding us that information, and then NAU will be the convener

of all of these community colleges to discuss how we have the right academics programs in place, the right articulation agreements, the right financial aid policies, the right admissions practices so that we can better position our students, not only for those jobs, but to be effective and live lives of consequence.

And so through that project, I think we will be able to see that expansion that we’re looking for, not just in Flagstaff, but more importantly across the state. So the A++ alliance spans the 15 counties across the state and currently serves 322,000 students. You can imagine that if we can get our act together, so to speak, in several of the dimensions that I just mentioned, we can see significantly higher numbers of students, right out of high school or adult learners, coming back, getting a credential, getting a degree, lifelong learning and being positioned for new jobs.

EB: How do you plan to address the lack of on-campus housing for students, especially as the university continues efforts to increase enrollment?

JLCR: That is an important part of our master plan. So as we’re looking at our facilities through this master planning process — which, just to make sure we’re all on the same page, what that means is that we have a set of consultants that are in the architecture — and development and facilities world, looking at our 700 acres here and our billions of dollars of infrastructure, looking at our policies in terms of we’re now a hybridfirst workplace, so not everybody has to come in every day to work, so what does that mean in terms of maybe repurposing space? They’re looking at our enrollment trends, etc, and will be making recommendations as to how to repurpose existing space, renovate other space, build new space. And housing is an important component of that work. I think we have seven to eight thousand beds right now, we’re top 1% in the country for residential living. But I think if we had a couple more thousand beds, we could fill them. We were talking about the fieldhouse just a minute ago, so that’s part of the question for us. How do we better utilize our resources in a way that will expand access to opportunity, but also ensure that we have the financial

President José Luis Cruz Rivera listens to a question being asked by Xavier Juarez during his visit to the Media Innovation Center, Oct. 10. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack

sustainability moving forward and being [in] better graces with the city of Flagstaff, who would like us to be a little bit more contained as we grow?

I think last week we announced the open forums for the master planning process. So the idea there is that the architects and all of these people — and we have a very large committee, internal, that’s working through this — will hear input from the university community on how they would like the new campus of the future to look like. You know, what are the types of buildings, services, etc? So it would be great if some of you could participate.

EB: We have systems in place for promoting safety and sexual assault awareness, but there’s an increase in sexual assault reports on campus this year. Are there any plans to further address the root of the problem?

JLCR: Yes, so during the past year we have done some major reorganization around our Title IX, our counseling, our investigative services. One of the roots of the causes, of course, is education. How do we better onboard students to the NAU experience to understand what the values are and the requirements of being a good student while you’re going here, what those look like? So I expect that, as part of our launching of the new Title IX work that we’re doing and the new offices that we have created, that we will be announcing more on the front end on the education as well as making sure that people understand what the processes look like. They are very much driven by Title IX regulations

and federal law and understand our commitment to ensuring that each and every allegation that comes our way is fully investigated and that due process is followed so that we can get to a good resolution. It’s imperfect. It’s imperfect here, it’s imperfect at every university across the country. Title IX regulations during the Trump administration changed dramatically, and everybody had to scramble — I was in New York at the time and I remember scrambling to try and align with that. We expect additional changes to come down through the Biden administration, but we’re very much committed to safety and education on this front.

EB: What are the future plans for the university and athletics partnership in terms of development, whether it be building or non-building projects?

JLCR: I don’t think there is any new building project in the works. The way and the reasoning I feel fairly confident about that is that all of our new building projects, when they get to the level of maturity that it’s likely to happen, they first have to go on a list of capital improvements that is approved by the Board of Regents. And I don’t think I’ve seen any, there’s a lot of conversation, right, about things that could happen, but nothing right now. I would expect that again. Sorry to keep going back to the master planning process, but we’re trying to take a holistic view of our facilities that there may be some potential ideas that come out of the process of what could happen in terms of athletic facilities. But none that are imminent or being currently considered.

EB: If I could kind of follow up on that, are there any specific ideas? I know you said that there’s of course a list of ideas, are there any that are more likely or seem more realistic than others currently at this time?

JLCR: These are longstanding ideas that have been around for many years.

So, I don’t know if the fact that they’ve been around for many years means that they are due or that they’re just gonna be several more years before, you know, they actually get the backing. I’ve heard, for example — and this is more of a public-private partnership city involvement type idea — of sort of an arena. Not an NAU arena, but like a Flagstaff arena for not only basketball games, but also, you know, major concerts. So, sort of a draw for northern Arizona. So, that’s, I think that’s been an idea that’s been floated for many years.

And so I’ve heard it being a year and a half into the job, I’ve heard it. But is it, like, anywhere near a plan, though? I’ve heard that it would be good to have for a cross country team, some form of [a] loop around campus for them to do their training, right? I think those are the two things I’ve heard. I’m trying to share everything I know, but nothing beyond that at this point.

“WE FELT VERY PROUD ABOUT THE MOMENT BECAUSE BEYOND OURSELVES, RIGHT, IT SIGNIFIED THAT THE WORK WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY DONE DURING THE PAST YEAR, AND THE PROJECTIONS WE HAVE FOR THE FUTURE HAVE RESONATED.”

- NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera

NAU president Josè Luis Cruz Rivera answers Senior Reporter William Combs III’s question in the Media Innovation Center, Oct. 10. Taylor McCormick | The Lumberjack

NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera discusses plans for the future of NAU during his biannual meeting with The Lumberjack Editorial Board, Oct. 7. Jacob Handley | The Lumberjack

NAU president Josè Luis Cruz Rivera listens as News Editor Daisy Johnston asks a question regarding meal plan accessibility, Oct. 10. Taylor McCormick | The Lumberjack

Continue reading on JackCentral.org

SCOTUS vs voters: A tug-of-war

With the overturn of Roe v. Wade and a New York gun safety law in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA) v. Bruen, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has moved closer to the right and set a precedent for states to follow its lead. The decisions on these cases question our most important human rights issues and have fired people up.

Stop giving serial killers screen time

Trigger warning: Mention of murder and trauma experienced by victims' families.

In September, Netflix came out with the show “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” which gained a lot of attention on many social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Twitter. The show has become Netflix’s second biggest English language show behind Stranger Things.

ROSE BAILLIE

OPINION WRITER

These rulings have contributed to the polarized nature of our political zeitgeist, as these issues have been a long-standing point of contention between Democrats and Republicans. Now more than ever, both parties want to elect officials who firmly back their ideals.

As a result of the SCOTUS decisions, the three major aspects that will impact voters’ decisions in this midterm election are economic concerns, abortion and gun regulation

Additionally, if SCOTUS continues in its recent direction, Democrats will need their state representatives to uphold more liberal standards and not cede to conservative ideals.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case particularly sparked major political discourse and will be a driving force in voter turnout. Many women and Democrats find this ruling to be an infringement upon human rights, while pro-life supporters and many Republicans see it as a win.

Since the Dobbs decision, 17 states have added abortion bans or restrictions. As of right now, Arizona's abortion laws are in question. A near-total abortion ban was enacted at the end of September; however, on Oct. 7, this ban was blocked indefinitely. Regardless, Arizona has limited abortion access as Gov. Doug Ducey signed a new state law banning abortions after 15 weeks.

A poll published Oct. 12 by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found 50% of voters are more inclined to vote in the November 2022 midterm elections because of the overturn of Roe. Democratic-leaning voters and women of reproductive age are among the most motivated.

In NYSRPA v. Bruen, SCOTUS conferred that restricting concealed carry for the purpose of self-defense is unconstitutional; another conservative decision.

This ruling has increased the desire for stricter gun safety laws, especially among Democrats.

However, gun freedom supporters, notably Republicans, are wary of imposed regulations as they may limit access to guns and ammunition.

Just like Dobbs, the NYSRPA ruling has caused ripple effects throughout states to support concealed carry.

In the new term, there are many important cases regarding affirmative action, the Voting Rights Act, the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, freedom of expression leading to discrimination and independent state legislature theory.

These cases question interpretations of the First and Second Amendments and address critical issues: Race, civil rights, sexual discrimination, freedom of expression and election rules. There is an apparent theme of Republicans vs. Democrats.

The weight of these cases on party opinion will contribute to higher voter turnout as another KFF report reflects that partisanship has increased peoples’ desire to vote.

The chances of SCOTUS leaning conservative in these rulings is highly plausible, given its decisions in the last term. As with any election, but especially one that will impact the state of humanity, it is imperative to exercise your right to vote in the upcoming midterms.

However, Jeffrey Dahmer is not the only serial killer who has been brought back into the spotlight after being portrayed in a television show; the list of serial killers that Netflix and other streaming sites have featured in a series or a movie is extremely long. In 2019, “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” was released, bringing more attention to Ted Bundy.

Some may wonder why all this attention is necessarily bad. It might be interesting to try to understand why they did what they did and what events in their life led them to it. But, for some reason, teenagers especially idolize serial killers.

ILLUSTRATION BY LENORE OTERO-STRONG

difficult to fathom how the victims' families are supposed to ignore this and move on with their lives.

I've seen memes, tweets and comments on all my social media platforms about how attractive a serial killer is or how the media portrays that this supposedly is not a big deal to victims' families. Casting conventionally attractive or well-known actors does not help the situation; it brings more attention.

If serial killers are to get any attention, it should not be because they're “attractive” or because people are simply fascinated with how they managed to pull off their crimes. People tend to forget that families are still grieving over their loved ones, and seeing the killers and murders in such detail, without production companies even asking for the family’s consent, can truly affect their mental health.

Netflix did not consider the victims’ families in the making of the Dahmer show; they found out about the show at the same time as the rest of the world, with no idea the murder of the victims would be in such detail.

Twitter has been the biggest platform where people have voiced their opinions on the show, which is why Eric Perry, one of the victims’ family members, tweeted this when he found out how utterly disturbing and insensitive this was to him and his family.

“I’m not telling anyone what to watch, I know true crime media is huge [right now], but if you’re actually curious about the victims, my family [the Isbells] are pissed about this show,” Perry wrote in the tweet. “It’s retraumatizing over and over again, and for what? How many movies/shows/ documentaries do we need?”

While the tweet speaks for itself, under it are replies telling Perry that he should simply not watch the show. How can these families avoid a show about the murder of a loved one when it is all over social media?

Only 12 days after the show was released, audiences watched for a total of 496.1 million hours, with at least 56 million households participating in watching the show. It's

When Netflix was promoting the Dahmer show, the company released a two-minute teaser from one of the episodes and took to Twitter for a reaction.

“Can’t stop thinking about this disturbing scene from DAHMER where one of Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims finally manages to escape ... and the police actually bring him back inside the apartment,” Netflix tweeted

Netflix’s use of this horrifying teaser with its unsympathetic word choice highlights just how insensitive this show is to grieving families and could even trigger others who have lost someone due to murder.

Netflix also tagged the series as “LGBTQIA+,” which caused a lot of backlash to the platform, and has since removed the tag. Using LGBTQIA rights as a connection to the Dahmer show is wrong, considering that gay people in the show were killed, and it does not promote their rights in any way.

After all of these factors, why do strangers on the Internet believe they have a say on how these victims’ families are processing their loved ones’ deaths or get mad when they speak out and give their opinion?

There are many serial killers I have never heard of until streaming sites bring out shows or movies. Since the increase in exposure of killers, many documentaries have been released, especially on YouTube. There is a specific channel that releases serial killer documentaries, which already has 723,000 subscribers and over 40.2 million views Serial killers already have more than enough documentaries, shows.

Serial killers don't need or deserve so much attention, and streaming sites should leave victims alone and respect the families who are still mourning.

Many wounds are still fresh and unable to heal properly, especially when families are constantly reminded of how their loved ones passed away with insensitive depictions.

ANGELICA NAVARRO

Let's pull the plug on electric cars

SAMANTHA LOGERWELL

Electric cars have quickly become a big part of our daily lives — you see people driving them everywhere, and estimates say there are about 16 million electric cars on the road worldwide.

Many major car companies have made their version of an electric car. Companies like Kia, Hyundai, Toyota and many more sell electric car models, but more famously, Tesla has many versions of the electric vehicle.

What makes electric cars different from petroleum-based cars is that electric cars have a battery instead of a gasoline tank, and they have an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine

Electric vehicles work by using a large battery to power the electric motor, and then the cars must be plugged into charging equipment to operate.

As one would assume, there are lots of positives to these modern vehicles, including the fact that cars don’t produce any greenhouse emissions by itself. In today’s day and age, where we need to lower carbon dioxide emissions to reduce the effects of climate change, electric cars are viewed favorably.

These cars are all marketed as being good for the environment because they don’t require gasoline to run and don’t produce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the same way traditional cars do.

However, what marketing campaigns don’t tell consumers is what goes into making electric car batteries. It is a resource-draining process that includes digging up precious metals like lithium, nickel and cobalt, which are the main metals used to make the batteries.

Furthermore, carbon dioxide is also emitted when people are using the do the mining. This process is complicated

and emits more carbon than most people think.

The process of mining for these minerals is destructive because when industries dig, they release carbon that is stored in the Earth’s crust. The carbon that is released is about 3.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide annually. This releases big, underground carbon sinks and flood emissions into the atmosphere, therefore polluting the world with more carbon dioxide and creating a bigger greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect is what happens when heat gets trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane and therefore warms the planet. This is significant because mining for the materials to make electric cars releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contributes to the greenhouse effect.

Another issue with mining is that resources are limited, and eventually, the planet will run out of lithium and those other minerals. Electric cars are not sustainable to manufacture, and in the future, production of electric cars won’t be possible unless a more efficient way to produce the batteries is discovered. When something is sustainable to produce, that means it doesn't have to count on a resource that won't be there forever to make it. Since we need minerals to make electric car batteries, we won't be able to make them forever, because eventually we will run out of minerals to dig up.

Other metals required for the production of electric cars are also hard to retrieve. Cobalt is important for making batteries. The mining of this substance is not only dangerous but very toxic to humans. Cobalt miners have no protection against toxic dust and exposure to it can lead to many health

toxins, and everyone that lives around the mines is also exposed to cobalt, so not only is mining harmful to the environment, but it is also damaging to people.

Also, the amount of carbon emissions it takes to transport the batteries and cars to the dealership to be sold after they are made is significant.

In yet another blow to the sustainability argument of electric cars, most are produced in China and shipped to the United States to be sold. This is estimated to be about 4 metric tons of carbon dioxide released for just one trip from China to the U.S.

Not only does manufacturing and transporting electric cars produce carbon dioxide, but for the cars to work, they need fossil fuels.

Breaking down how electricity is created is crucial to understanding the argument against electric cars. In order to produce electricity, fossil fuels are burned in a turbine generator, and then the heat that is produced is used to make steam, which turns the turbine.

So, producing any kind of electricity to power a car and home creates carbon dioxide, which many people don’t consider since electricity is marketed as a greener way to get energy, and they don’t connect it to fossil fuels.

But, if you decide the risks aren’t high enough and still want to purchase an electric car, please don’t buy a Tesla; no one needs to give Elon Musk more money.

Instead of ignoring the facts of electric car production, make an informed choice — and if you do get an electric car, make sure you're aware it won't be sustainable for the future.

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXIS BEAMAN

FEATURES

MARKET continued from FRONT

Part of the Flagstaff market’s experience comes from the lines of tents manned by farmers and producers from all over Arizona. Locally grown vegetables, restaurants’ food stations and the occasional artist’s booth can all be found within a few steps of each other.

Peggy Pollak, a former biology professor at NAU, has been growing produce at her Tree A’Lolly Farm and selling it at the Flagstaff market for over ten years. She said her farm is not a business, but a hobby. Pollak said she does not sell her produce anywhere but the Flagstaff Market and does so simply for the satisfaction of providing people with food.

“I have extra food, so I bring it,” Pollak said. “I’m retired, so [farming] is not important as far as income but connecting with the community and the good feeling I get with providing people with healthy food and something to do in my retirement, is what’s important.”

Pollak said she has not noticed a change in business this season, even with the scheduling conflict.

Orchard Canyon on Oak Creek is a resort located 15 minutes north of Sedona that doubles as an apple orchard that sells assorted apple products. Rob Lautze has been with the orchard for over 30 years and said he thinks his booth was one of the original vendors at the Flagstaff market.

Despite his proximity to Sedona, Lautze usually attends Flagstaff’s market.

“In my opinion, this is a much stronger market,” Lautze said. “I just have a history of being here on Sunday mornings for, what, almost 30 years now.”

Although, Lautze said he did have one problem with the local markets. Both markets have a practice of charging a 10% fee for products sold, which Lautze said he feels is too high for the farmers. He explained his orchard often struggles to break even financially and the market fee makes it harder to make a profit.

Meg Kabotie Adakai, a board member for the market staff, manages the market. This means she is present on Sundays to make sure everything runs smoothly. She is the one to come to with questions. She explained the 10% fee is used to pay for staff, permits, costs of road closures, portable toilets and any other costs associated with running a business.

Juan Aguiar of Blooming Reed Farm has been selling his farm’s produce at the Flagstaff market for three seasons. Aguiar has experience with the Flagstaff, Sedona and Prescott farmers markets through helping his father who sold produce from his farm, Aguiar Farm. When Aguiar decided to start his own farm, he knew the Flagstaff market would be an important market for his business, he said.

“We love it,” Aguiar said. “It was hard for the first couple of years because I think we really didn’t have the recognition or return clientele. But we’ve started noticing that people remember who we are now, so we’re doing pretty good.”

Aguiar did not have a problem with the 10% charge but said the registration fees can sometimes be expensive. However, the registration fees are paid once a season, and Aguiar said overall, they were not that large of a price tag for being able to sell at the market.

Of course, the vendors are not the only people at the Flagstaff market. There is also the large crowd of locals everyone must weave through to get to their favorite stands. Market veterans make beelines for the tents they came for. Families travel in packs, bringing with them a fleet of strollers. Young college students wander with friends while snacking on market foods.

Joe Canepa visited the market last Sunday for what he thought was his third or fourth year. Canepa said he primarily comes to the market for the crêpes from Old Town Creperie

“The crêpes are just out of this world,” Canepa said. “But I like the fresh produce too.”

Another Flagstaff local, Tasha Griffith, has been coming to the Flagstaff market for over a decade. Griffith said she comes for the vegetables and purchases whatever looks good, planning meals around the food she finds.

“It’s just a fun experience,” Griffith said. “It’s also important to me to support local [businesses], and I also get fresher produce here.”

Adakai said the Flagstaff market’s staff believes in supporting local food and coming together to celebrate at the market. While another season comes to an end, Adakai said her plans for the future of the market are to keep having Sunday markets continue to grow.

The Flagstaff community market started as a 10-vendor farmers market in a dirt lot downtown. There are now over 85 participating vendors in the downtown market. The market staff attributes the difference between then and now to the support of the local community.

“I HAVE EXTRA FOOD, SO I BRING IT. I’M RETIRED, SO [FARMING] IS NOT IMPORTANT AS FAR AS INCOME BUT CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE GOOD FEELING I GET WITH PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH HEALTHY FOOD AND SOMETHING TO DO IN MY RETIREMENT, IS WHAT’S IMPORTANT."

– Peggy Pollak, Tree A'Lolly Farm owner

Left: People line up at food trucks towards the entrance of the Flagstaff farmers market. Right: Lillie Mae’s jarred green beans, pickled beets, bleu cheese stuffed olives shelved here are family recipes in their tent at the Flagstaff farmers market on Aspen Avenue, Oct 16. Sara Williams | The Lumberjack

Top Left: Blooming Reed Farm’s tent had a large variety of vegetables and flowers. Top Right: Valerie Gonzalez from Windmill Garden Pecan Farm talks to customers about her apprenticeship under the same man who grew the pecans in front of them. Middle Left: Lillie Mae’s jarred fruits and vegetables on display in their tent. Middle Right: Blooming Reed Farms’ fresh vegetables laid out on tables in front of the tent. Bottom Left: A family favorite recipe transformed into a delicious product for more to enjoy in Lillie Mae’s tent. Bottom Right: Hernandez Farms grills up some red and green chillies to serve to hungry customers at the Flagstaff farmers markets on Aspen Avenue, Oct 16. Sara Williams | The Lumberjack

Adaptive sports program rebrands

BRISA KAROW

Visitors who frequent Snowbowl can often identify the adaptive ski program by its recognizable jackets and equipment. However, what started as a ski program under the name Northern Arizona Adaptive Sports Association has since changed to High Country Adaptive Sports (HCAS), encompassing activities like hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and rock climbing in addition to their established snow-sports program.

Its staff — many of which started as volunteers or remain as such — provide opportunities and a community for adaptive exercise through their highly inclusive and interactive program, now spanning across a larger geographic area.

14-year-old Alex Dorman is one of the newer attendees of HCAS’s events and is a frequent participant of the summer activities. He is diagnosed with autism, a condition that affects his social behavior, speech, cognition and attention. Alex also has epilepsy, which causes recurrent seizures.

Prior to learning about HCAS, his mother, Sarah Dorman, was wary of letting him participate in independent sports.

As a parent — especially when you have a child with an intellectual disability — sometimes you think too much independence might not be a good thing, she said.

He could take off on a kayak or a bike or just run for it without telling her, Dorman said.

However, by participating in HCAS activities and interacting with the staff, Dorman said she has adjusted her mindset, a little less worried about her son kayaking or skiing on his own.

Truman Shoaff, the summer program manager, has been right by Alex and Sarah Dorman’s side as they learn to take on new activities. His role is to make adjustments for families so they remain comfortable while trying out a new sport.

“There’s a lot of folks that didn’t know this world existed for them,” Shoaff said.

He continued, saying there are ways to make adaptive sports possible and independent for people with disabilities. HCAS’s mission is to enrich people’s lives through adaptive recreation.

Alex Davenport founded the program in 2015 after pressure from his college friends pushed him toward a ski instructor job at Snowbowl, joking he could teach lessons in the morning and ski around with them all afternoon. However, Davenport found a different avenue through the job: Teaching adaptive sports.

One day, his supervisor asked him to ski with a 14-year-old who was nonverbal and had autism; they ended up skiing for three hours attached by a bamboo pole, he said. At the end of the lesson, Davenport said he let the child ski on his own, who slid to a stop with a huge smile on his face.

The father had been watching and was astonished, Davenport said.

“He said, ‘Alex, you have no idea what you’ve done … the doctor said my kid would never play soccer, he would never ride a bike, he would never do all these things that kids do, but for a split second, I saw my son ski,’” Davenport said.

That was a turning point for Davenport, and he recognized there was a huge need for adaptive support in sports. He built the program up from scratch, learning as it progressed, Davenport said.

From there, the program snowballed, growing larger and larger each year, eventually rolling into the summer months.

Shoaff, the summer program manager, started as a volunteer for the program six years ago while attending NAU as a parks and recreation major. He was working

in the Snowbowl rental shop at the time and volunteered for the ski resort’s special olympics competition day.

“I fell in love, right then and there,” Shoaff said.

He returned to volunteer for HCAS each year as a ski instructor, and over the years, he worked alongside Davenport and other volunteers to make the program into what it is today.

“The community, the people you meet — both athletes and professionals in the field — are incredible people,” Shoaff said. “Every time we do something, we’re amazed that we’re paid to do this.”

His job has brought him to places all over Arizona, Shoaff said, listing Prescott, Phoenix, Pine Top, Crested Butte and Clear Creek as locations HCAS has held or attended events. With more grants and funding, Shoaff said he hopes to expand their reach more north — in Page and for Indigenous populations — providing transportation for individuals to attend their events around Flagstaff or creating events closer to them.

The two-year-old summer program provides activities consisting of weekly, guided bike rides in and around Flagstaff, weekly climbing at Flagstaff Climbing and biweekly kayaking at Lake Mary.

With the addition of summer activities and many of its participants traveling up from Phoenix, Davenport said he thought a rebranding was in order.

“The idea was now that we’ve expanded to all these other activities, we wanted a brand that was more encompassing of the entire state of Arizona,” Davenport said.

The biggest barrier is funding — paying for the equipment and staff needed to make a program like this work, Davenport said. He continued saying parents often have to pay exuberant amounts of money if they have a kid with a disability wanting to try out a hobby.

HCAS provides activities people of all ages can try without making a financial commitment.

“We’re always fundraising to try and level the playing field, really — to get people with disabilities equal access to everything that we love,” Davenport said.

Dorman said instead of making large investments for active equipment — like

Top: The trails at Fort Tuthill are scattered with wildflowers bikers view as they ride by, Oct. 1. Photo Courtesy of High Country Adaptive Sports

Alex Dorman kayaks with his family at Clear Creek Reservoir near Winslow, Oct. 23, 2021. Photo Courtesy of Sarah Dorman

rebrands for increased inclusivity

kayaks — that her son may or may not enjoy, HCAS provides the equipment, allowing participants to try out and learn different sports.

“It enriches our life by giving us more opportunities to do things I didn’t think we could do before or that I never even thought of,” Dorman said.

Since participating in HCAS’ events, Alex has skied, kayaked and hiked around the Flagstaff area.

Dorman said Alex first interacted with the program in fifth grade when his school arranged a ski trip to Snowbowl.

“They were kind enough to have an instructor there for him so that he could participate with his peers that day, which was really meaningful, and he had a great time,” Dorman said.

After that initial lesson, Alex frequently asked to go skiing again, Dorman said. However, due to the family’s busy schedule, COVID-19 and various other factors, Alex didn’t interact with the program until last year, when Dorman heard the program was venturing into summer activities.

That was when Alex and Dorman tried out kayaking for the first time. Dorman, who had planned on sitting on the beach with a book, was encouraged by Shoaff to join Alex in the kayak. She had never kayaked before and was very wary.

“I went out, and we had a great time,” Dorman said. “It was a lot of fun, really relaxing.”

After that first year of signing up for a few weekend events, Alex became much more involved.

Dorman said she signed him up for another ski lesson, and he had a really patient instructor. Then, in the summer, the family’s schedule was a lot more open, and Alex participated in each kayaking trip at Lake Mary.

By participating in HCAS, Dorman said she hopes Alex can use the sports he enjoys as avenues to connect with others on a social level, helping him grow toward a fuller life.

Shoaff said HCAS is going to continue expanding to provide more activities and accommodations for the disabled community.

Businesses and programs around town, like Ski Haus and Snow Mountain River, have donated equipment to HCAS over the years, which helps the program expand, Shoaff said. Snowbowl has also continued to donate all lift tickets and rentals HCAS requires for its ski program. In June, Forest Highlands Foundation raised $50,000 for the program, he added.

Partnerships with the University of Utah, among other organizations, helped HCAS add new Tetra equipment to its inventory. This new equipment allows users to control a water ski or snow ski with a joystick or with their breath, something

Shoaff said he and other volunteers got to try out and learn.

“So, the community support is there,” Shoaff said. “We just haven’t been very good at getting our name out there.”

That was a big motivation for rebranding, Shoaff emphasized.

The rebranding allows the program to encompass more than just winter sports and an expansion over a larger area. Shoaff said, while the winter program was built up from scratch, it has gained quite the following, catering to over 100 kids per month at the ski resort.

Davenport said one of the reasons the program is so successful and could expand into summer activities was because of a partnership in 2021 with the Institute for Human Development at NAU.

This allowed for free hiking and kayaking excursions through HCAS across the Flagstaff area.

Another main contributor to funding was the Arizona Office of Tourism, which gave HCAS an Arizona Revitalization grant, specifically for the rebranding, Davenport said. The grant intended to increase travel within the state of Arizona as well as promote travelers to come to Arizona, he explained.

Davenport manages the majority of HCAS’ funding, writing grant proposals and making connections within the community, which takes up the time he used to spend teaching kids to ski. but he often reflects on teaching ski lessons to students.

He said he often reflects on teaching ski lessons to students and misses the feeling everyone would get after a lesson; in particular, parents would be blown away seeing their kid skiing.

“I’ll never forget, one time I saw Truman at the end of his lesson, hugging one of my students,” Davenport said. “They had the best time ever. And I looked at him and I said, ‘You know, I used to get those hugs.’”

While he misses those personal interactions with the students, Davenport said he understands he’s making a bigger impact and is now involved on a national level.

He trains the instructors who train other instructors and volunteers, comparing it to a spiderweb.

“The spiderweb just keeps growing and growing, and that’s probably the most rewarding thing for me right now,” Davenport said.

With an adaptive program that continues to grow, he said he would like to see people’s perceptions of disability change, learning what various disabilities are and what they are not. Davenport said he hopes with more exposure and a growing community, disabilities will become more normalized.

Left: Truman Shoaff belays a participant at Flagstaff Climbing during one of HCAS's weekly climbing events in September 2022. Right: Adaptive skiers unload from Arizona Gondola at the top of Snowbowl, February 2022. Photo Courtesy of High Country Adaptive Sports

“THE COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE YOU MEET — BOTH ATHLETES AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD — ARE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE. EVERY TIME WE DO SOMETHING, WE’RE AMAZED THAT WE’RE PAID TO DO THIS.”

– Truman Shoaff, High Country Adaptive Sports summer program manager

Photograher Spotlight Victoria Medina

In eighth grade, I had the opportunity to travel to one of my hometown's local high schools to get insights on a career program of our choice. The program I chose was photography and I have been in love with it ever since. Then when I started my first photography class in high school, I had no idea it would lead me to where I am today. My name is Victoria Medina and I am a Junior Photographer for The Lumberjack . I am a sophomore, majoring in marketing, with a minor in photography. This is my first semester being a part of the Lumberjack's photography team as well as being a photojournalist, and so far I am having so much fun! I like to think my style doesn't fall under any one category. I love taking pictures of nature, animals, sports, events, and people. I also love setting up props and challenging my creativity in order to get a great picture. And now, as the semester continues, I am starting to have a love for photojournalism. I am hoping that my time with The Lumberjack will help me evolve my skills and improve my techniques when it comes to photography. I actually feel that I have already improved with the critiques and support from the other photographers on my team, which is amazing! With that, I'm so excited to share more of my work with you all throughout the rest of the semester! You can also visit @ vsm.gallery on Instagram to see more of my work.

In my mind, I live in my childhood bedroom

I’ll never be in the same place I once was, A thought that sparks a flame every time it is said aloud, Minton Drive is no more than an old street, And my sixteenth birthday was already three years ago.

Girlhood is dead and I’m faced with learning how to be a woman now. I don’t know what that means, Most days I act like a child.

When I went home to visit my family, my house felt foreign. My room is not mine anymore and will never be again.

The first time I went back to my high school after graduation, it felt wrong.

If I knew that beforehand, I would’ve never gone back.

Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I could change the past. But I can’t, so I let it go.

I wonder if I made the wrong decision, Or if I am meant to be here, to learn a lesson and grow. I like to believe the second answer, If I were to find out the first is true, I’d collapse.

When I find my mind on the highest volume, I think of sixteen-year-old me. She would call me a nerd or say “I care too much” I do.

Reminiscing on the past isn’t wrong, but obsession will be the ultimate demise.

LJ Illustration Inktober

ILLUSTRATION BY LENORE OTERO STRONG

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXIS BEAMAN

Not a biopic, but a traumatic whirlwind

Trigger warning: Mention of sexual assault andabortion

If you were thinking of watching “Blonde,” the new Marilyn Monroe biopic, let me cut to the chase: Don’t.

Netflix’s “Blonde,” written and directed by Andrew Dominik, premiered Sept. 16 and quickly became the second most watched movie in the Global Top 10 chart.

JESSIE MCCANN

OPINION EDITOR

Anticipation accompanied the film’s release due to it being 10 years in the making as well as it being the first movie to receive an NC-17 rating in over a decade.

Following its premiere, critics and viewers alike struck debate over the film’s controversy.

Some praised the cinematography and aesthetic value, as well as Ana de Armas’ performance as Monroe.

“#Blonde is one of the most aesthetically pleasing films of 2022, that’s unnecessarily mean from a visionary- and writer’s standpoint,” film critic @TheFlemishSeth tweeted. “Ana de Armas gives a heart wrenching performance, and while this nightmare-wrapped-inan-ethereal-dream isn’t perfect, I didn’t hate it.”

Many more people voiced their opposition to the movie’s incessant display of exploitation and subjugation of the acclaimed actress.

“It is exploitative, demeaning and not an accurate representation of the power and wit that was Marilyn Monroe,” @TaraTeacher1 tweeted. “I feel ashamed for watching this; what a misogynistic, black and white view of a multifaceted and complex woman.”

For a movie meant to tell the life of a renowned woman, it does not paint an even close to accurate picture, but rather focuses on fetishizing female pain.

Opening on a fabricated depiction of Monroe’s relationship with her abusive mother and her childhood trauma set the tone for the rest of the story’s dramatization. Though based on her tragic upbringing, almost every single graphic scene involving Monroe in the movie was never confirmed to be true.

What was arguably the most controversial aspect of the film were the scenes where Monroe has an abortion. Monroe is shown having two abortions during the movie, both of which she was forced into. The film showed the fetus as a fully-grown baby and included a vaginal canal shot; Planned Parenthood even called it anti-abortion propaganda.

The film was adapted from Joyce Carol Oates’ 738-page book, but failed to account for Monroe being written as more than a helpless woman. As the movie goes on and as her fame grows, she is continually mistreated, without a word of defense. The Norma Jeane — her real name before the Monroe persona was born — that Dominik created was made to serve the male gaze.

Monroe did have a challenging life from being pinned as a “sexpot,” but the movie simply tells it through a misogynistic lens, affirming that label to be true and turning her legacy into nothing more than a spectacle for men to drool over. In centering on this twisted, hypersexualized characterization, “Blonde” does not even scratch the surface of the woman inside. You would never have known Monroe’s personality, intelligence, ambitions, work ethic, etc. having only seen this movie.

What was made out to be one of the most anticipated films of the year was surely one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. It’s not just a disgrace because of its graphic depiction of sexual assault and abortion — it’s an attack on women entirely.

No matter your gender, this movie should surely disgust you and should have never been produced in the first place. Sure, the actors’ performances were good, but that can’t make up for the awful, fallacious portrayal of Monroe and its subsiding sexist, anti-abortion approach.

Hometown Spotlight: Upland, CA

CAMILLE SIPPLE

Growing up in Upland, California is kind of like growing up in a bubble. From kindergarten onward, you basically progress through your childhood alongside the same people. I feel like I am a prime example of this because three of my best friends from home were also some of the first people I met in kindergarten. Despite going through a few fake friend detours in high school, I have ultimately come out the other end with the realization that these three girls from kindergarten are the ones that have stuck by me for 17 years and will always be there for me.

Some may think that growing up in a “bubble” would be constricting or boring; yes, sometimes Upland could be very boring, and going off to college was all my friends and I dreamed of. However, once I left I realized I really missed some of those unique small-town things that only people who grew up in Upland would know about: The Lemon Festival, the Christmas Parade around the downtown gazebo and the small local airport’s annual air show.

Upland, and several of its surrounding cities, used to be filled with citrus groves once upon a time — at least, that’s what they taught us in elementary school when we got to our local history units. I honestly love that Upland’s citrus origins are still celebrated every year with the local Lemon Festival; yes, the rides may be rickety, and the vendor booths are always the same but, for me, there’s a comfort in it.

Before the sprawling citrus groves, however, children who grow up in Upland are taught about the pioneers who first hiked Euclid Avenue — a street that is now emblematic of Upland. You really can’t go too far in the city without crossing Euclid in one way or another. One of my favorite elementary school stories about these so-called pioneers was about how they got their donkeys back down the massive hill that is now Euclid after a long day. The donkeys would pull these pioneers’ carts of materials and goods up the hill all day, so they were quite tired once the sun started setting. The pioneers’ solution? Put the donkey in its cart and let it roll all the way down the hill. Even now, envisioning these donkeys sitting in their respective carts and rolling down Euclid gives me a chuckle.

I also love the fact that Upland has an adorable downtown area that is quite literally used twice a year. However, those two weekends out of the year — Lemon Festival weekend and the Christmas Parade —- bring almost every Upland resident out of their homes to create some of my favorite town gatherings and memories.

I was very fortunate to grow up in a hometown like Upland that is, in California terms, quite close to anywhere you’d want to go. Whenever anyone asks me to describe my hometown, my immediate response is, ‘Oh, it’s an hour outside of Los Angeles, an hour from the beach and an hour from the mountains.’ Now, like I said, this is in California terms — so all of those commute times are likely to fluctuate with the five-lane freeways of traffic that characterize the state on a daily basis. All in all, spending my childhood in Upland was pretty great. Even if not for anything else about the city, I wouldn’t change a thing because if I hadn’t grown up there I wouldn’t have met my best friends.

A view of the sunset over Upland, CA | Photo courtesy of Camille Sipple

The annual Lemon Festival in Upland, CA often includes rides and carnival games. Photo courtesy of The Daily Bulletin

Line dancing down at Museum Club

The Museum Club was voted “Flagstaff’s favorite place to go dancing” by the readers of the Arizona Daily Sun. The Museum Club hosts free dance lessons every Tuesday and Thursday from 5-8 p.m. including beginner line dancing, advanced line dancing, couple’s swing dancing and two-step dancing.

Since 1931, the Museum Club has brought live music and traditional western dancing to the Flagstaff community on Route 66.

It began as a “boyhood dream” of taxidermist Dean Eldredge in 1931. Eldredge purchased the property, then hired lumberjacks to cut trees and created his selftitled “largest cabin in Flagstaff.”

He later decided to title it “the Zoo,” which is a nickname that the building has kept to this day, according to the Museum Club’s website.

Eventually, Eldredge passed away, and the building has had several owners since, but the main profits of the business come from a nightclub, recording studio and roadhouse, according to the website.

Notable performers throughout the years at the Museum Club include Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Marty Brown and Asleep at the Wheel. Some guests have also reported seeing past performers’ and owners’ ghosts hanging around the Museum Club, according to the website.

As of today, the Museum Club is a popular roadhouse and dance club that offers live music, ghost stories and dancing as the main attraction.

The club offers dance lessons multiple times a week. This tends to bring a larger audience, especially for beginners line dancing. The host of beginners line dancing, Annette Fallaha, teaches at the Museum Club twice a week from 5-6 p.m.

Fallaha teaches classic dances such as the Watermelon Crawl, Boot Scootin’ Boogie and Cottonhead Road.

“Anybody with any level of experience is welcome, this is a great opportunity for the community to learn new moves and make new friends,” Fallaha said.

Fallaha has been teaching at the Museum Club since 2007 and has been dancing since she was six years old.

“Growing up, I was self-taught and it’s something that I carry with me in my own teachings,” Fallaha said. “If I can learn without years of practice, so can anyone else who may stop in.”

Fallaha said being social and interacting with the community is the most enjoyable part of her teaching. She said she wants to make sure that everyone, including herself, feels welcome and comfortable during her teaching session.

At 5 p.m., Fallaha told the dancers to spread out and get comfortable before beginning with a warm up. Then, after the warm-up, she began teaching easy-tolearn dances that looked as if they had been well rehearsed.

Standing right behind the instructor can feel intimidating, said one dancer, Mariel Smith. Smith has been attending dance classes at the Museum Club since 2019.

She attends regularly, twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-9 p.m. Most of the time Smith stands in the front in order to help those who may be confused behind her.

“My favorite part of coming here is practicing my dancing skills, as well as meeting others who come here looking for friends and support on their own dancing,” Smith said.

Throughout the hour, Smith and her brown detailed cowboy boots danced

around helping others that had a hard time keeping up. She kept a smile on her face the entire time and ended up grabbing drinks with some other women that she had met on the dance floor.

“It is really refreshing to see people come out and support not only the instructor but the community that the Museum Club has formed,” Smith said. “Being able to relate through dance with others has helped me find community in Flagstaff.”

The atmosphere in the Museum Club was lively, with a crowd of more than 50 people. The weekly Thursday turnout was one that bartender Cody Tilton said he had not seen in a while.

“Normally I work the Tuesday and Wednesday shifts and tend to see a lot less people, but the turnout for Thursdays usually are much larger,” Tilton said. “This Thursday for the beginners class is bigger than I’ve personally seen here in a while.”

Tilton picks up shifts at the Museum Club as often as he can. He said he always makes an effort to pick up shifts on Thursdays. Tilton said the community at the Museum Club is what makes him proud to work here.

“Whether it’s women or their husbands, everyone is supportive of one another,” Tilton said. “Not just of one another, but the business itself.”

The Museum Club hosts several other events weekly, including karaoke nights, live band performances, open mic nights and more. For more information, visit the Museum Club’s website or call ahead at (928) 440-4331.

STELLA SPERIDON

A beginner swing dancer follows along with the demonstration by Annette Fallaha at the Museum Club, Oct. 13. Ethon Peddle | The Lumberjack

The Museum Club hosts a swing dancing class weekly on Thursdays, Oct. 13. Ethon Peddle | The Lumberjack

CFP expansion came a year late

NAU soccer wins 2-1 against Montana

NAU soccer secured its fifth win in a row on Sunday in its last road match against the Montana Grizzlies. In a fast and physically intense contest, the Lumberjacks put in a total team effort to win the match 2-1 at South Campus Stadium in Missoula. The Lumberjacks now sit in first place in the Big Sky Conference with a 5-1 record

WILL HOPKINS WRITER

W hen the College Football Playoff (CFP) was first announced in October 2013, it was met with celebration. The opportunity for more teams at the top of the college game to compete for a national title was going to usher in a new age and give smaller schools the chance to make it to the national championship game. However, looking back on the last eight years, this hasn’t been the case.

With only four spots and five major conferences, at least one major power is going to be left out. Oftentimes, two are left out in favor of teams like Notre Dame or smaller schools that sneak in.

When Texas and Oklahoma announced they would be leaving the Big 12 to join the already loaded SEC, it put the wheels in motion to destroy the regionalization of college football.

All of a sudden, teams were left scrambling to secure their spot in a conference that could ensure they always had a chance to play in the largest competition college football had to offer. Among all this, there was conversation of a playoff expansion, which may have allowed this change to happen without the need for more dominoes to fall. However, all was lost when no change was announced before the end of 2021, and the possibility of expansion was pushed back to 2026.

The news of UCLA and USC leaving the PAC-12 to join the Big 10 officially killed college football’s chances of holding its regionalized nature. Two west coast teams joining a conference across the country started a landslide that is likely to see one of the power five conferences fall apart. The Big 12, ACC and the PAC12 are all looking to add teams, but with a lack of high-level teams remaining in each region to poach from smaller conferences, they are all going to have to poach from each other instead.

The blame for this colossal shift does not fall on USC or UCLA, and it certainly isn’t a problem that comes from Oklahoma and Texas. The NCAA and the other groups involved in the CFP had a chance to keep major conferences alive, but instead, they forced athletic departments to ensure their own survival by reaching out to conferences that could ensure their chances to play in the CFP.

The damage is not just exclusive to football. All these teams are moving away from their conferences in all sports. That means a rivalry like Stanford and UCLA volleyball is in jeopardy. Oklahoma and Kansas will no longer be a staple matchup on the hardwood when March is looming large in everyone’s mind. Every college sport is now changed forever.

The team started the mission to extend its wining streak early after scoring the first goal not even two minutes into the match. Montana goalkeeper, redshirt sophomore Camellia Xu, tried to pass the ball back to one of her defenders. An errant pass allowed NAU junior forward Allison Veloz to take advantage. She interfered, snatched the ball, and put it through Xu’s arms in the bottom right corner of the net.

The Lumberjacks did not hold back after that and pressed high on the Grizzlies. But Montana recovered from the early goal. In the ninth minute, senior forward Jaden Griggs passed the ball to sophomore forward Ava Samuelson who shot it from the left midfield straight to the box. The ball found the head of sophomore forward Delaney Lou Schorr, and Montana’s top goal scorer of the season headed the ball into the bottom left corner. NAU sophomore goalkeeper Trinity Corcoran, the reigning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week, jumped into that corner too late and allowed her first goal in five matches.

After Schorr brought the Grizzlies back into the match, both teams aimed for the opponent’s goal several times. The match’s pace increased as the ball went back and forth on the pitch. The match became more physical over time, resulting in several fouls and free kicks for Montana. The Lumberjacks ended up with 16 fouls in total during the match and one yellow card for senior defender Rylie Curran for a particularly hard foul at the end of the first half.

Tied 1-1 by halftime, both teams were not satisfied with taking only one point out of the match. The Lumberjacks had better answers in the second half. Being slightly more aggressive,

the NAU strikers tested the Lady Griz goalkeeper, putting up seven shots on goal. Junior forward Dai Williams challenged Xu six times, with three of her shots on goal. In the 63rd minute of the match, Williams dribbled and turned around a Grizzly defender on the edge of the box and shot, aiming for the left bottom corner of the goal. The ball could not get past Xu, though, and Williams’ second dangerous attempt just two minutes later from five yards directly in front of the goalkeeper was stopped by Xu. The Grizzlies’ goalkeeper redeemed herself in the second half after her mistake leading to NAU’s early goal in the first half by saving nine shots.

Williams did not reward herself for the numerous attempts by pushing the Lumberjacks back in the lead, but Veloz did. Only four minutes later, Montana moved fast to the box of Corcoran. Redshirt senior defender Jaylin Borden stopped the ball deep in the Lumberjacks’ half of the field. She hit the ball hard straight into the Grizzlies’ box. Veloz sprinted past two defenders and put the ball in a one-on-one situation through the legs of Xu in the bottom right corner with her right foot.

The Grizzlies were determined to turn the match around in the last 20 minutes. In the 71st minute, Corcoran had to make two saves in her box to keep the Lumberjacks in the lead. Ten minutes later, the Grizzlies took another chance when sophomore forward Skyleigh Thompson got the ball in the box. She could not control it, and it bounced off her chest, letting NAU breathe again and try for another goal on the other side of the field.

With five minutes left on the clock, the Grizzlies started their most dangerous attack in the match. Thompson got the ball at the center edge of the box and passed it in the direction of freshman forward Eliza Bentler. The Lumberjack defense tried interfering to give Corcoran time to dive on top of the ball. Bentler, however, got the ball out of Corcoran’s hands and scored for the Grizzlies.

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10/13:

Hopkins

LENA ZAUBZER

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Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics

Ott makes early impact for Lumberjacks

EVAN MCNELIA

NAU soccer has gone through an offensive transformation this season following the departure of key senior contributors forward Madison Montgomery and midfielder Sam Larberg after last season. Needing to build offensive and team consistency with a new group, NAU has come to rely on freshman midfielder Avery Ott early in her Lumberjack career.

Ott is one of seven freshmen on the NAU roster this year and leads the group in playing time in their first season. Ott has appeared in every match for NAU, starting 14 of 15 matches this season. She has averaged 65.8 minutes per match and has the seventh most total minutes on the team.

Hailing from Centennial, Colorado, Ott went to Arapahoe High School of the 5A/4A Centennial League. Ott was a two-year varsity starter with the Warriors. In her junior year in the spring of 2021, Ott played in 12 matches and had six goals with seven assists. During her senior season, she scored five goals and two assists. The Warriors made the state playoff in both years that Ott was on the team.

When she was younger, Ott played for the Colorado Rush Soccer Club. She did gymnastics as well but had to decide between soccer and gymnastics, ultimately sticking with soccer. From that moment, soccer was the direction of Ott’s future.

“I think from a young age when I started, I was playing with other people who were as competitive as me,” Ott said. “It created an environment where [playing at a higher-level] was the next step. I have always loved soccer, it’s my passion. I didn’t make a conscious decision that I wanted to play, I just kind of always knew, growing up in that environment.”

Ott played around a lot of the same people throughout her years of youth soccer experience. The relationships she created with teammates were a huge part of her love for the game.

Ott’s interest in NAU began when she was approached by coaches during her recruiting process.

“I didn’t really know much about NAU and the coaches came and saw me play,” Ott said. “They were just super nice, super welcoming and super supportive of me. They welcomed how I want to play and my style. I love their coaching philosophy.”

Ott said her recruitment was a long and tedious process of contacting and getting to know coaches. With NAU, she said, the connection almost felt instant as her interactions with coaches reminded her of conversations with her parents. She committed to NAU during the winter of her senior year of high school.

Ott has settled in with NAU’s squad well over the course of her first season. She prides her abilities in possession control and ball distribution and noted on multiple occasions how much contributing to the team as a whole meant to her.

The Lumberjacks started slower out of the gates this season, as they only won one match in their first 11 contests. The lone win came against NAIA Ottawa University on Sept. 15 in a record-breaking 11-0 performance

Ott wasted no time contributing for NAU in her first game. In the season opener against Utah State, Ott scored the first goal of the season for the Lumberjacks in their 2-2 draw.

In a 3-2 loss to South Dakota State Aug. 23, Ott assisted on a goal by junior forward Josie Novak.

Ott played the full 90 minutes against UC San Diego and Air Force. She recorded three shots on goal on four shots in the two matches. NAU dropped both matches by just one score.

Ott was one of five NAU players to score two goals in the win over Ottawa. In 50 minutes, she got off four shots with three landing on goal with the two going through for scores.

Ott said the support of her teammates early in her time at NAU has helped her

transition to college and allowed her to keep confidence in her play at the next level. Though, the schedule juggling between classes, practice, traveling and games is an adjustment for most freshman college athletes around the country.

Ott said cooking with her teammates, watching movies and documentaries with the group and playing cards together has helped the group build chemistry throughout this school year.

It took NAU until October to get its next win, coming against Big Sky Conference opponent Idaho State

“We have some momentum going forward now with the win,” Ott said following the match with Idaho State. “It’s been a rallying point for us.”

That match began the five-game win streak the Lumberjacks are currently on, all against conference opponents. They also posted four straight clean sheets in that span. NAU is now 6-5-4 on the year and in first place in the Big Sky with a 5-1 conference record

NAU has two matches left in the regular season, both at home. On Friday, Oct. 21, the Lumberjacks will face Sacramento State, which is fourth in the conference with a 4-2-1 record. The Lumberjacks close out the season Sunday, Oct. 23 against third place, (4-1-2) Portland State

Ott has big aspirations for her future at NAU, and is off to a strong start as the Lumberjacks pose a threat to win the Big Sky Championship.

“I’m looking forward to growing as a player and a person,” Ott said. “Obviously as you get older you are kind of in more of a leadership role, so just growing into that aspect of myself and creating the same environment for other people that our seniors have created this year, and just welcoming everyone.”

The Big Sky Soccer Tournament begins Wednesday, Nov. 2 in Greeley, Colorado and run will through Nov. 6, the day of the championship game.

Avery Ott (28) welcomes senior defender Abby Donathan (16) to the field with her team at Lumberjack Stadium for the first game of the season against UC San Diego, Aug. 30. Taylor McCormick | The Lumberjack

Freshman midfielder Avery Ott looks for a teammate to pass to during a match against Eastern Washington University at Lumberjack Stadium, Oct. 6. Mallory Derrick | The Lumberjack