The Lumberjack -- April 7, 2022 by The Lumberjack

Northern Arizona University’s student voice since 1914 Vol. 113 Issue 11 | April 7, 2022 — April 13, 2022

NAU renames health and learning center to honor former president Haeger

NAU holds inaugural Student Organization Service Day

WILLIAM COMBS III

AU held a ceremony April 1 to rename the Health and Learning Center (HLC) in honor of John Haeger, former president of the university. According to NAU’s biography of Haeger, he served as president from 2001 to 2014. His tenure was focused on rebranding NAU through roughly $1 billion in new building development, which led to a 40% increase in enrollment. Haeger was also an advocate for diversity and inclusion through the implementation of “The Pledge” — NAU’s commitment to a flat tuition rate for incoming first-year students’ first four years. The third floor of the HLC was filled with distinguished guests, including members of the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), Coconino County Board of Supervisors and President José Luis Cruz Rivera. The formal event started out as a cocktail mixer with drinks and appetizers until the crowd funneled into the northwest wing, where a podium and media crew were waiting. Positioned next to the stage was an acrobatic pyramid structure where two hired gymnasts were practicing their aerial routine. As guests began to crowd the wing, the structure created some difficulty in finding a place for individuals to stand. When Chief Administrative Officer Christy Farley took the stage, the gymnasts rolled down the structure and stood in attendance with the rest of the crowd. Farley began her speech by explaining her relationship with the former president, noting his contribution in the development of the HLC and other buildings on campus such as the High Country Conference Center. She then introduced the other guest speakers of the evening and stepped off the podium. See HLC page 4

Joseph Strode, biomedical science major, contributes to the club clean up through the Student Organization Service Day event of cleaning up the local community, April 1. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack

Morgan Lewis, Kodi Boersma and Alison Pickett pose for a quick photo during the club collaboration, April 1. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack See SERVICE page 6

Patrons and staff call for Firecreek boycott

DAISY JOHNSTON

eports of a mice infestation, unsafe working conditions and transphobia at Firecreek Coffee Company began circulating on social media March 24. While Firecreek has served as a beloved venue to many local artists, patrons are now calling for a boycott. Firecreek is based in Flagstaff, Arizona. Firecreek also roasts coffee for sale to restaurants and grocery stores, with three locations in northern Arizona. According to its website, the team consists of entrepreneurial engineers, artists, musicians and designers who are passionate about living and working in good company. Moreover, the coffee shop is one of few local businesses to offer its space for musicians and poets to put on events — with many of these artists identifying as part of the queer scene in Flagstaff. However, former patrons and employees have taken to Instagram in recent weeks to say Firecreek’s inclusive image is a misrepresentation. Jade Price started working at Firecreek in May 2021. Price was working as lead barista when they were terminated. “I went in for my shift and I was voicing my concerns to my manager,” Price said. “The manager looked me in the eyes and said, ‘If you don’t like it you can An orange sign covers the front door to the local Firecreek Coffee Company leave.’” See FIRECREEK page 5

explaining the closure by order of the Coconino County Department of Public Health, March 26. Madison Easton | The Lumberjack

FROM THE EDITOR

’m friends with a lot of ambitious people. As third- and fourth-year college students, we’re all trying to figure out which paths we want to diverge down. As motivated individuals, we also all fill up our schedules to the point where we forget to eat. It’s amazing to see all of the incredible things everyone is doing with their lives. However, if I ever want to spend any time with them, I practically have to set up an appointment with them at least three months in advance. How am I supposed to balance three jobs, school work, physical activity, mental health, eating, sleeping, and a social life into a day? Wasn’t I supposed to have fun and make memories with friends in college? I don’t have time for myself, let alone other people. And yet, I value my friendships more than anything. Even though I’m extremely independent and self-motivated, I kind of hate being alone. I would much rather go have lunch with someone than make an at-home meal and sit on the couch. I also try to multitask by MEGAN including social time with other tasks. For example, I could go to the store on my own, but it’s so much more fun to FORD-FYFFE go shopping with others. I love sharing my life with other people, but trying to do this in college has proven to be difficult. I’m at a point in my life where I am asking myself what truly makes me happy. What do I want to continue doing ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF throughout my life and as I enter adulthood? I’ve realized that the happiest times seem to be the few chances I do PHOTOGRAPHY get to see friends. Time stands still for a moment during a random taco night at my friend’s apartment. Everyone is laughing at inside jokes and ignoring the lingering deadline of homework due at 11:59 p.m. that night. Fitting in moments like this along with working on my future is a consistent challenge, but one I believe is absolutely worth the struggle. As long as I keep prioritizing these relationships and making memories like this in life, I think I’ll be OK. Thank you for reading

ONLINE AT JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Campus-wide salary increases for students and faculty announced Continue reading on JackCentral.org

VOL. 113 ISSUE 11

EXECUTIVE BOARD MacKenzie Brower, Editor-in-Chief Camille Sipple, Managing Editor Emily Gerdes, Director of Digital Content and Social Media Kylie Soto, Copy Editor Lauren Gomez, Director of Print Design Lydia Nelson, Director of Marketing

EDITORIAL STAFF Mark Fabery, News Editor Daisy Johnston, Assistant News Editor Josh Ostby, Online News Editor William Combs III, Senior Reporter Marley Green, Op-Ed Editor Jessie McCann, Assistant Op-Ed Editor Hannah Elsmore, Features Editor John Chaffeur, Assistant Features Editor Katelyn Rodriguez, Culture Editor Haylee Sorensen, Assistant Culture Editor Brenden Martin, Sports Editor Will Hopkins, Assistant Sports Editor Lian Mueno, Assistant Director of Print

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

VISUALS Brittani Poeppel, Director of Illustration Shawn Patti, Director of Multimedia Brian Burke, Director of photography Megan Ford-Fyffe, Assitant Director of Photography Jonah Graham, Senior Photographer Madison Easton, Senior Photographer

FACULTY ADVISERS David Harpster, Faculty Adviser Rory Faust, Sports Adviser

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

In Vol. 113, Issue 2 and 4 of The Lumberjack, stories titled “The line between fetishization and attraction” and “Spirituality: A capitalist hoax?” were published containing unattributed statements and have since been retracted from JackCentral.org. The Lumberjack is committed to ethical and original work. The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email MacKenzie Brower at msb389@nau.edu. APRIL 7, 2022 — APRIL 13, 2022

EVENTS CALENDAR APRIL Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday 1

2 Global Game Day @ the International Pavilion

Spring Has Sprung NAU Global Cabaret Virtual Art Exhibit @ Hozhoni Art Gallery

10 Moonshine Bandits on their Bucked Up tour @ The Museum Club 17 Theatrikos “Steel Magnolias”

11 OhGeesy World Tour @ Orpheum Theater

NAU School of Art Faculty Exhibition @ NAU Art Museums

19 CAL/SBS Film Series: “Into the Wild”

Built to Spill @ Orpheum Theater

25 Spring Has Sprung Virtual Art Exhibit @ Hozhoni Art Gallery

Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival @ Orpheum Theater

NAU Jazz Combos Concert @ Kitt Recital Hall

Prochnow Movie Night: “The 355”

Prochnow Movie Night: “A Journal for Jordan”

“Our Town” @ Clifford E. White Theater

Big Sky Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championship begins

Anger Management Comedy Show @ Orpheum Theater

Big Sky Women’s Between Two Edges: Golf Championship Intersecting Cultural ends Identities Art Exhibit Display

27 AXE Out Stress @ Union Pedway

Between Two Edges: NAU Undergraduate Intersecting Cultural Expo Identities Art Exhibit Display

NAU Undergraduate Expo 24

Sarah Shook and the Disarmers concert @ Orpheum Theater

NAU School of Art Faculty Exhibition @ NAU Art Museums

Big Sky Women’s Golf Championship begins

Saturday

NAU 2022 Film Festival @ Orpheum Theater

The Zookeepers Live @ The Museum Club

16 ZoSo: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience @ Orpheum Theater 23 NAU Undergraduate Expo

30 Big Sky Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championship ends

SOCIAL MEDIA

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THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

NEWS COMPILED BY MARK FABERY

March 28 At 6:04 a.m., a Drury Inn & Suites employee requested a welfare March 7 two non-students. NAUPD check on At 8:56 a.m., aand student responded, onerequested non-student assistance outside McKay Village was arrested and booked intoafter the falling on ice. NAUPD, Flagstaff Fire Coconino County Detention Facility Department and Guardian (CCDF) for(FFD) first-degree trespassing Medical Transport (GMT) responded. and bringing contraband into the jail. The student was transported to FlagThe other non-student was arrested staff (FMC). for firstand Medical booked Center into CCDF degree trespassing, false reporting At p.m.,toa identify. RA reported a “Mcand12:54 refusing Connell Hall” sign had been taken. NAUPD responded and later reported deAt 4:36 p.m., NAUPD termined the sign had already beenand multiple cases of criminal damage found. theft of multiple exit signs in Tinsley Hall, and a report was taken. March 7 At 8:56 a.m., aMarch student29 requested assistance Village after At 1:44outside a.m., McKay NAUPD reported falling NAUPD, Flagstaff giving on a ice. driver a warning nearFire the Department (FFD) and Guardian Communication building for driving Medical Transport responded. the wrong way in a(GMT) one-way zone. The student was transported to FlagstaffAtMedical CenterNAUPD (FMC). reported 9:46 a.m., assisting a student who reported being At 12:54 p.m., RA reported “Mcthreatened. Ana officer took a areport. Connell Hall” sign had been taken. NAUPD responded and later deAt 9:48 p.m., a non-student walked termined the sign had already been into NAUPD to retrieve a lost wallet found. and reported missing money. An

officer took a report. At 10:27 p.m., a subject reported a Reilly Hall resident making suicidal March 30 statements. loAt 2:26NAUPD p.m., responded, Flagstaff Police cated the student in good health and a Department (FPD) transferred provided the student public suicide attempt callwith at aThe Suites assist ride to The Guidance Center. to NAUPD. Officers, Flagstaff Fire

Department (FFD) and Guardian March 8 Transport (GMT) responded Medical At NAUPD mul-to and6:03 thep.m., student was received transported tiple fire alarm notifications coming Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC). from Mountain View Hall. NAUPD andAt FFD responded, area Hall was RA 8:13 p.m., anthe Allen searched determined alarm reported and damage to athebathroom was caused byNAUPD a mechanical failureand placard sign. responded from dryer. Fire Life Safety was notook aa report. tified. March 31 March 9 At 12:31 a.m., a Skyview At 12:20 p.m., an employee reported Apartments resident reported needing finding drugs in the University Union. medical attention. NAUPD, FFD and NAUPD responded and entered the GMT responded. The student was found drugs to into evidence. A report transported FMC. was taken for information only. At 9:24 a.m., a student reported the At 7:02 Campus Heights theft ofp.m., theira longboard at thestaff John member reported having constipaHaeger Health and Learning Center. tion. NAUPD, FFD and NAUPD responded andGMT took arereport. sponded and the staff member was transported to FMC. At 6:56 p.m., du Bois center staff

March 10 At 6:16anp.m., a student reported with injury. NAUPD, FFDthree and vehicles stuck in the snow near the GMT responded. The student was Skydome Practice Fields. NAUPD transported to FMC. responded and assistance was provided. Facility was contacted to At 7:37 Services p.m., Skyview Apartments plow roads aand put cinders on the staff the reported subject knocking on hill. doors. NAUPD responded and the

non-student was given a public assist At 10:53 p.m., an Allen Hall RA ride off campus. reported a damaged ceiling tile. NAUPD responded Apriland 1 took a report. President José Luis Cruz Rivera presents a plaque dedicated to former president At 12:26 a.m., a Sechrist Hall RA John Haeger during a ceremony at the newly renamed John Haeger Health and March 11 three students with alcohol. Learning Center, April 1. Megan Ford-Fyffe | The Lumberjack reported At 8:29 p.m., a Druryand Innthree & Suites NAUPD responded students HLC continued from page 1 Haeger’s time,” Cruz Rivera said. “Those staff member reported a male were criminally deferred for underage After a speech from ABOR Chair initiatives were at least a decade or two non-student for clothing. Officonsumptionasking of alcohol. Lyndel Manson, Farley called Cruz ahead of their time and that speaks to cers responded and no criminal activRivera to the stage, met with applause his visionary leadership and his real ity was witnessed. At 6:07 p.m., a Science and Health from the audience. Cruz Rivera joked interest in thinking deeply about how building staff member reported safety about his relationship with Haeger, to better the lives of the students that March 12 involving skateboarders. concerns saying people often compare his he served.” At 12:04 a.m., a faculty member re-the NAUPD responded and advised administrative policies to those of his Cruz Rivera finished his speech quested a welfare check on a previous skaters of all safety precautions. predecessor. Haeger’s commitment by unveiling a plaque with Haeger’s student. NAUPD was unable to conto the student body and diversity on portrait and the building’s new name: tact the subject April and the requesting 2 campus were big shoes to fill, he said. John Haeger Health and Learning party was notified. At 2:15 a.m., a concerned citizen “So as we embark in addressing Center. reported two subjects carrying a sign these challenges, it makes sense to Cruz Rivera and Haeger shared March 13Francisco Street and Franklin near San look back at what President Haeger a handshake and a photo before the At 11:11 a.m., NAUPD reported Avenue. NAUPD responded and two did,” Cruz Rivera said. “It isn’t difficult former president took the podium to observing a vehicle violation off camstudents were deferred for theft and to do that because every time I ask thank everyone in attendance. Haeger pus. A citation was issued for driving they returned the sign. someone about any one of these topics kept his speech short, but noted the without a valid license, no valid reg— for example the importance of trust, development of the building was not istration of insurance. The At and 10:03proofp.m., a Skyview transparency and respect in leading the only completed through his work, but vehicle was towed for a mandatory Apartments resident reported a university of NAU — I will hear things through the action of the student body. 20-day impound. disturbance. NAUPD responded. One like, ‘You know, President Haeger…’ fill “In walks [with] the Associate Dean student was cited and deferred for in the blank. In these first nine months of Students and the people of Student March minor 14 in consumption of alcohol and of my presidency, if there were to be Life, they said to me, ‘Mr. President, we At 6:58 p.m.,ofaastudent reported suspossession fictitious license.a Five a word cloud, it would be President have a proposal for you, how about a picious person in the area of lot 3C. students were deferred for disturbing Haeger, President Haeger, President $110 million dollar building, bigger NAUPD responded but no contactwas the peace, and one student Haeger.” than anything you ever did and the was made. deferred for making threats. It was hard living under the shadow students would help you pay for it of such a great leader, he added, but it by taxing themselves,’” Haeger said. March 15 April 3 was also an inspiration. He said the work “Now these were the same students At 4:26 p.m., a staff member reportAt 12:06 a.m., a student outside Haeger did for the NAU community that opposed every tuition increase ed graffiti a blue light phone near The Suitesonrequested assistance with was ahead of its time. I suggested for 12 years, and they did Knoles and McConnell DrivesAt 4:44 retrieving property from a storm “When you think about the it. That is how this building eventually drain. NAUPD responded and importance of creating spaces in emerged — from the ability to be provided assistance. a diversity setting so that diverse entrepreneurial. My name stands on students could affirm their identity, so this building, but in many ways it is for At 9:18 a.m., a non-student that they could build community and everyone that worked for me and I very reported a board over a window empower them to invite others to learn much appreciate it. Thank you.” had been removed at an off-campus from the diversity they have brought After the speeches, the acrobats business. NAUPD responded, but to the campus, all of those things resumed their routine as the crowd left it did not appear that anybody had were accomplished during President the newly named building. made entry. At 10:22 a.m. a Hilltop Townhomes resident reported a loose dog. NAUPD responded and caught the dog which was turned over to a FPD animal control officer.

requested assistance for a student

A plaque dedicated to the newly renamed John Haeger Health and Learning Center is uncovered during a ceremony, April 1. Megan Ford-Fyffe | The Lumberjack

APRIL 7, 2022 — APRIL 13, 2022

Two girls holding cups of coffee walk past the temporarily closed Firecreek Coffee Company, March 26. The coffee shop was closed by the Coconino County Department of Public Health March 24, when word got out of a rat infestation within the establishment. Madison Easton | The Lumberjack FIRECREEK continued from page 1 After they were terminated, Price messaged the store’s owner Mike Funk for clarification. In a response over Slack, a business communication platform, Funk thanked Price for their contributions and misgendered them. Funk also wrote, “Now we can get back to the business of being the most kick ass coffee shop in Flagstaff without any ulterior priorities,” and later deleted it. Price said messages in Slack getting deleted or changed was a recurring issue employees had with Firecreek management. After one of their coworkers sent pictures of a mice infestation in the group message, Price said they were later deleted by Funk. “We would send pictures of the dead mice in the bakery, the feces that was on the cabinets and near the ingredients, near the espresso beans,” Price said. “We would send him pictures of a plastic bag of bread being chewed through and droppings being in the kitchen. He would delete them. He’s the admin so he can delete, edit and remove.” Price said they feel guilty for serving food they did not believe was sanitary, but were told by Funk that mice infestations are a normal issue. Because most of the staff were young adults, Price said it was easy to trust the decisions of more experienced management. While Price was terminated, they said they should have walked out after Funk allegedly yelled at a transgender employee for wearing a “F**k your binary” sweater. The employee, who put the sweater on after signing out of their shift, was confronted by Funk in front of customers. Funk told Price the sweater might as well say “F**k you, Mike Funk.” Price said they believed Funk had misinterpreted the shirt as an insult to cisgendered people. Junior Cedar Morris is the secretary at PRISM, short for “People Respecting Individuals and Sexual Minorities.” Morris said he agreed Funk misinterpreted the sweater which was a celebration of transgender people, not an attack against cisgendered. Morris was hired at Firecreek to replace the several employees who walked out, but quit shortly after seeing the posts circulating on Instagram. “I was hoping to work there for at least the last year I’m going to be here in Flagstaff,” Morris said. “But within the week I was officially hired, there was no

communication, it was all over the place, four people quit and even that day I was there, the owner of the place came in and dead-named me and misgendered another employee in front of me.” Getting hired at Firecreek — where he heard many of the staff identified as queer — Morris said he hoped it would be a more inclusive space than his previous job. On his first day of work, Morris said Funk joked that misgendering people was his thing. “I thought that Firecreek was going to be a complete change of pace,” Morris said. “But I’m not willing to compromise my mental health and my safety as a trans person for a coffee shop that’s falling apart in other ways too.” Morris said he would have been willing to stay if he believed things could change at Firecreek. However, after hearing from former employees that transphobia had been an ongoing issue with the store owner, Morris quit. Some evenings, Firecreek transitions from coffee shop to a performance venue for local artists. On Wednesdays, Firecreek typically hosts open mic nights for Flagstaff Poetry Slam (FlagSlam). On March 28, organizers of Flagstaff Poetry Slam said in a Facebook post they will officially be moving venues in solidarity with the transgender community. Kimberly Jarchow is a graduate teaching assistant at NAU and one of the organizers for FlagSlam. Jarchow said the weekly event has a long-standing relationship with Firecreek, going back a couple decades. “It’s not Firecreek itself that carries importance, but the role that this particular venue plays in our community,” Jarchow said. “It has long been a space for queer and marginalized folks to showcase their art, music, poetry and much more. It’s a space for communities to gather, a place many called home.” All of these problems were a surprise to the FlagSlam community, Jarchow said. If she had known what was going on with Funk and how employees were being treated, Jarchow said FlagSlam would have moved venues a long time ago. “We’ve come to the conclusion that until Firecreek implements radical change to its management and worldview, we will not support this venue,” Jarchow said. “Radical change means fair treatment for all employees, a potential new owner and a clean and safe work environment.”

In addition to poetry slams, Firecreek also served as a venue to local bands. Senior Logan Warren sings and plays guitar for local groove band Gone Before Us. As a music venue, Warren said Firecreek always had impressive turnouts. Firecreek is one of few venues for live music in Flagstaff. Warren said Firecreek was one of his favorite venues to play at in Flagstaff when he was unaware of the conditions there. As a patron and musician, Warren said hearing the news was a painful blow. “It makes me upset that they had such terrible conditions, and honestly thinking about the few times I’ve had coffee there makes me sick just knowing how dirty the place actually was,” Warren said. “On top of all that, it sounds like the person who ran the place is super bigoted and hateful which is more upsetting because I always thought Firecreek was a place of love and peace.” In the future, Warren said Gone Before Us is unsure if they will ever play at Firecreek again. While they would like to, Warren said he thinks the members of the band all agree not to support a company which is not only hateful, but also unhealthy. “If management changes and the place gets cleaned up then we might consider it,” Warren said. “But in its current state with its current ideals, we have no interest.” Firecreek has been closed by the Coconino County Department of Public Health since March 24, for failing to meet the minimum standards of Coconino County Sanitary Code, but posted a sign on the window stating it will reopen April 8. An apology was posted on the store’s window from management to customers, stating that mice were found in the building and the store will be closed temporarily. The initial poster claimed Firecreek would reopen April 2. Recently, however, a new poster has the date changed to April 8. “We feel we can be better for our employees and our customers, and we want to take this week to improve ourselves,” read a sign written by Firecreek management. The Lumberjack reached out to Firecreek owner Mike Funk for a statement and did not receive a response in time for publication. Check JackCentral.org for updates to this story.

THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

Left: Volunteers were divided into multiple groups, covering various parts of the area close to campus. Right: Kyra Precie, biomedical science major, picks up trash near the public roads, April 1. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack SERVICE continued from page 1

XAVIER JUAREZ

tudents, clubs and organizers from across campus came together April 1 to help clean up both the NAU campus and the surrounding Flagstaff area. The Student Organization Service Day started at 2 p.m. at the North Quad before making its way into the city. Michelle Gardner, NAU’s assistant director of Student Life, organized the event which brought multiple clubs together. She said it is not only important to get involved with clubs, but it also opens up opportunities and creates memories that last a lifetime. “I cannot express the importance of getting involved in a club — not only to help your college experience,” Gardner said. “I still carry the lessons and skills I’ve learned from when I graduated from NAU in 2008 from the clubs I’ve been a part of. It’s a lifelong involvement with those clubs.” Having worked at NAU for nine years — and in her current role for the past two. Gardner said she saw a lack of events at NAU compared to her experience as a college student at Texas A&M University. “I went to graduate school at Texas A&M University, and they have a gigantic event called ‘The Big Event,’ where about 15,000 of their students come together to go and do service

in their community,” Gardner said. “I was like, ‘Why not at NAU?’ This is the first-ever student organization service day, because I wanted to take a piece of inspiration from that event and bring it to NAU.” Over 100 participants showed up in support of the cleanup operation. Gardner said even more students expressed interest in the event. Having only expected around 50 or so students when she first had the idea for the event, she said she was blown away by the number of volunteers who showed up. Gardner said the only reason not as many could participate was due to supplies. The event itself has been in the works since September 2021. Gardner said an ASNAU service day made her realize a bigger event was possible with all of the clubs. This event, however, was bigger not only in the number of participants, but also in the area it covered. “Because we have way more students than expected, we are dividing into four groups, and we are going to cover all of Southside,” Gardner said. “So we’re actually going to go into Flagstaff, into the community. We’re gonna go all throughout the neighborhoods, from Phoenix Avenue down to Butler, from Mike’s Pike to San Francisco, and we’re also going to cover La Plaza Veija …We’re gonna be everywhere.” Gardner said the plan is for

Student Organization Service Day to become an annual tradition. She said she hoped the turnout of this event would show the city — who supplied the event with vests and other supplies — the demand for community service. One of the volunteers was Rebecca Seeger, president of the Graduate Student Government. Seeger said she was excited to see an opportunity for herself and others to get involved. “There’s a lot of ways to get involved,” Seeger said. “Students keep saying they want to get involved, they’ve just got to. They’re here, just do it.” Seeger said while she was unsure of where exactly her group was heading, she was excited to spend her day cleaning up the local area. One of the people working with Seeger was Emily Borsom, president of the Biology Graduate Student Association, who had a similar thought process. “We’re here to keep our area clean,” Borsom said. “We want to give back to our campus.” Seeger and Borsom attended the event not only to aid in the cleanup efforts, but also to demonstrate the involvement of the graduate student community at NAU. Both the Biology Graduate Student Association and the Graduate Student Government are focused on getting and keeping their students involved

on campus according to their websites. Students and volunteers spent the next two and a half hours working their way around campus, cleaning up trash and litter found. Anyone interested in

participating in future events can keep up with the organization by following on Instagram or by checking the website.

The cleanup event was not performed by one single club, but rather through the collaboration of all clubs and groups from NAU, April 1. Jonah Graham | The Lumberjack

Vice Mayor Daggett resigns and announces her official mayoral campaign

MARK FABERY

fter turning in the required amount of signatures needed to run for mayor, Vice Mayor Becky Daggett announced her resignation from Flagstaff City Council, as required by Arizona law. Daggett said in a press release that her decision to run for mayor was not an easy decision, however after calls from community members and leaders, she made the decision to run. “People want to see a mayor who listens and will work collaboratively with councilmembers and community stakeholders,” Daggett said. “I have the experience and temperament needed in the role of mayor. The lack of

APRIL 7, 2022 — APRIL 13, 2022

collaborative leadership in the mayor’s office stymies the important work of the city and the council and change can’t wait.” All councilmembers, excluding Regina Salas, who is also running for mayor, have endorsed Daggett. Councilmember Jim McCarthy explained he encouraged her to run. “Becky Daggett is the best choice to be our new mayor,” McCarthy said. “I base this on my work with her on the Flagstaff City Council and having known her over the past two decades. It’s clear that Becky is the best choice; in fact, I encouraged her to run.” Daggett explained in her campaign’s

press release that her top priorities include the creation of affordable housing, mitigating the impacts of climate change on the community and supporting small business growth and job creation. Another priority includes working on building parks, with an increased investment in the Flagstaff Urban Trail System and pedestrian, bike and bus transportation. Daggett will face incumbent Mayor Paul Deasy, Salas and Daniel Williamson in the Mayoral Primary Election, which is scheduled for August 2, with the Mayoral Election scheduled for November 8.

Stacey Saltzburg (left) and Flagstaff Vice Mayor Becky Daggett (right) pose for a photo, April 4. Photo courtesy of Becky Daggett

A police car seen through the fence at the Coconino County Sheriff ’s Office, April 3. Jacob Handley | The Lumberjack

Coconino County Sheriff’s Department to receive compensation plan

WILLIAM COMBS III

he Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved a $1.4 million compensation plan to combat low levels of hiring retention among the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department. The funding will go into effect April 19. The new funds will amount to roughly a 3% pay raise for deputies and correction officers, as well as a $2,000 hiring bonus. The raise is based on a step increase scale that encourages long-term employment for eligible patrol and detention employees. County Sheriff Jim Driscoll expressed his concerns over low staffing levels to the board over a month ago. There are currently 55 openings in the detention facility and 11 for in-field deputies. Driscoll said the problem right now is not only attracting people to these jobs, but also keeping them for the long haul. “We were not competitive with a number of other agencies around the state,” Driscoll said. “We became a training ground for a lot of other agencies. After we trained them, they would hire them away. Our

“WE BECAME A TRAINING GROUND FOR A LOT OF OTHER AGENCIES. AFTER WE TRAINED THEM, THEY WOULD HIRE THEM AWAY.”

– Jim Driscoll, Coconino County Sheriff

a bill that would boost pay across the state. However, Horstman said the bill would take power out of the local government and cause even more problems for Coconino County. “All counties would have to pay their sheriff deputies based off of the DPS rate,” Horstman said. “You could see how that could cause some real problems with each county trying to balance their budget if we have a mandatory salary. I don’t think it is going anywhere, but it calls us to attention to meet the needs of our sheriff’s department in Coconino County so that we are competitive, because if we aren’t, we aren’t going to keep people and we aren’t going to recruit people.” The bill is currently being redrafted to address these concerns. Horstman said these initiatives are the wrong way to implement positive changes at the local level. Horstman said the salaries will continue to be determined through the county’s 10-year budget plan and will be assessed on a yearly basis.

cost to train a patrolman was about $100,000 a year, and to spend that kind of money, make that kind of investment and lose them after that first year when they become functional, was really devastating.” Low employment has led to forced overtime, which has raised concerns of burnout within the department. Driscoll said this problem has contributed to health and safety risks for the community. The current salary is not viable for the housing market or the levels of inflation seen in Flagstaff and he understands why new recruits would look elsewhere for employment, Driscoll said. Through this new funding plan, he hopes to establish a competitive edge with the agencies that used to hire out of Coconino County. “What we call a retention payout is part of this plan, where after an employee is here for a couple years they get a bonus,” Driscoll said. “After four years they get two, after six years they get another payout and so on. We believe those kinds of incentives will be very helpful in retaining people and really allowing them to be more a part of the community instead of a stepping stone to some other agency.” Planting roots in the community is something Driscoll said is vital to meeting the public safety needs of the county. Through the step increase, he said he believes more people will stay for good. Moving forward, Driscoll said the department must be ahead of the curve so they do not run into more funding issues down the road. Maintaining quality training and implementing new technology are factors that need to be taken into consideration, Driscoll said. Patrice Horstman, Coconino County Board of Supervisors chair, said this is the first of many when it comes to compensation plans among the county’s various departments. “We are going to be taking a look across the board at other compensation across the country but this was a health and safety risk that we felt we needed to address immediately, and so we did,” Horstman said. The main cause for the lack of retention is due to the high salaries that the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) offers to new hires, Horstman said. DPS has made it difficult to stay competitive in The Arizona state flag blows in the wind outside the job market, she added, but with this new funding the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office with the San that is bound to change. In an attempt to address deputy compensation on a A sign is located outside Coconino County Sheriff ’s Francisco peaks in the background, April 4. state level, the Arizona legislature introduced SB 1381, Office, April 3. Jacob Handley | The Lumberjack Jacob Handley | The Lumberjack

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OPINION

The dairy industry illusion Trigger warning: Mentions of animal cruelty, bodily fluids and slaughter NAZREEN ALI s a vegan, I have come to realize the deceptiveness of the dairy industry. They sell lies through lively, brightly colored and persuasive commercials or advertisements. The purpose of spreading the word about abuse in the dairy industry isn’t just to preach about adopting a vegan lifestyle. It is to unveil the reality that dairy products are not so nutritious anymore compared to their plantbased alternatives. I never truly understood the importance of being vegan or vegetarian when I was younger — I grew up in a household that loved Saturday barbecues and having milk every morning with our cereal. Learning about the dairy industry’s practices of animal cruelty was what prompted my switch. I came across a documentary about humans working in dairy farms that were overworking their cows and causing severe trauma to innocent animals. I remember crying as I thought about the amount of money I had put into supporting such an industry. I decided to change my ways by educating myself and those around me about the harassment animals go through on a daily basis. A 2021 article from The Humane League (THL) stated that cows are brutally killed at age 2 for meat consumption. On top of this, cows in the dairy industry are forcibly impregnated to satisfy the world’s desire for milk. Once a calf is born, it is taken away from the mother immediately, and the mother is not able to grieve the loss of her child. Instead, the cow is forced through life-threatening machines that pull at their sensitive udders all day, every day for two years until the cow is impregnated again. “Cows are trapped in an endless cycle of pregnancy which forces their bodies to produce the largest amounts of milk possible,” a THL article said. “These practices, combined with the conditions on factory farms, give rise to numerous physical problems in cows that often result in chronic and debilitating pain.” The act of removing a calf from its mother is inhumane and cruel. In addition to this trauma, THL article also states that most calves aren’t allowed to live the full 15-to-20-year life expectancy of most cows. Not only are animals exposed to diseases that eventually kill them, humans are repeatedly seen beating and intentionally killing the cows at the dairy farms. Animal Outlook released a video in 2020

Right person, wrong time doesn’t exist

ight person, wrong time — chances are you’ve heard this numerous times. But if two people are truly meant to love each other, they should be able to make it work no matter the circumstances. I’m sure many have also heard the classic saying, “If you love something, let it go, and if they come back, it was meant to be.” But perhaps people are too EMMY afraid to admit the truth: In the BINING back of their subconscious, they don’t want it to work. The case isn’t right person, wrong time. On the OP-ED contrary, it is simply the wrong WRITER person at the wrong time. I am all about self-growth, and it’s important that we grow in our own ways to progress in life, but who says we can’t do this while having a partner? This is possible with the right amount of balance. We all know people that have gotten into a relationship, and ultimately, it becomes their entire life. But it doesn’t need to be this way, we can still reach out to our friends and family and do things on our own. Of course you should make time for your partner. But you must also make time for your family, your friends, work and most importantly yourself. I wanted to find myself before I settled down with anyone. I thought I needed to be alone to find out who I was, but now I have realized the key is to find yourself through being reflective on who you are and finding new passions. Some may use long distance as an excuse to break up, but ultimately, distance makes the heart grow fonder. If you have found the right person, why on earth would you want to let them go? Relationships require sacrifices on both ends. Your answer about whether someone is the right person lies in whether your significant other means that much to you. If they are the “one,” there is always a way to make it work. You know you’re with the right person when you just can’t imagine your life without them. I am not talking about the feeling of safety that comes with being used to having someone — rather, a feeling in your gut because when you know, you know. Using the timing is an excuse for a breakup. Maybe deep down, you know this isn’t what you want, but instead, what you are used to. True love is timeless.

exposing graphic pictures and videos of cows on a farm being beaten with metal rods, and dead animals lying around the farm. The dairy industry has been proven to trick its consumers into thinking that cows can produce rapid amounts of milk naturally on their own. In reality, cows are terribly overmilked to force the cows to lactate. Sonja Swenson, a research coordinator at the Centers for Health Policy and Primary Care, often reports on animal rights issues. She conducted an interview with Dan Shannon, coordinator of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal’s 2002 “Got Pus?” campaign. Shannon asserted poor living conditions for cows, in which they are forced to “produce four to 10 times the amount of milk they are naturally supposed to,” increases levels of pus in their milk. Shannon also told Swenson that the stress on the cows’ bodies could weaken immunity to diseases such as mastitis, an inflammation of the udder, leading to higher amounts of pus in milk. In this case, how on earth has cow milk passed FDA tests and nutritious studies on milk? Especially in 2003, when demand for milk was even higher, cows were brutally overmilked as much as they are today. This caused not only the cows’ health to deteriorate, but also bacteria, blood and pus to build up in “safe-to-consume” everyday milk. The New York Times reported the FDA was in a feud with the dairy industry when testing milk for traces of drugs or any other unsuitable products traced in store-bought milk. The FDA stated in the article that they were concerned that the meat residues around the dairy farms could actually result in drug residues in the milk they were producing. In response to the press, the FDA document also reported milk sold to consumers was inherently safe for consumption. People often look away from commercials or documentaries when they begin to talk about the behind-the-scenes cruelty of the dairy industry. Still, they chow down on cheese curds that, despite being loaded with all kinds of terrible ingredients, have been marketed to brainwash the consumer. Even after witnessing acts of inhumanity within the dairy industry, people across the world don’t consider these findings and fall for industry giants' illusions. I implore consumers to educate themselves on these unethical practices as much as possible, as these schemes will only continue to persist.

ILLUSTRATION BY BRITTANI POEPPEL

APRIL 7, 2022 — APRIL 13, 2022

ILLUSTRATION BY DIANA ORTEGA

What more can we say about the slap?

JESSIE MCCANN

ll anyone can talk about right now is actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards ceremony. Coined “the slap heard around the world,” Smith slapped Rock after he joked about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The joke in question was a reference to Pinkett Smith’s bald head, which she decided to shave after opening up about her experience with alopecia, a hair loss condition. After Rock said he couldn’t wait for her sequel to the 1997 film “G.I. Jane," Pinkett Smith was not amused and visibly rolled her eyes. The moment Smith slapped Rock, the audience fell into an awkward silence. At first, no one could tell whether it was staged or not, or what propelled Smith to cause such a scene, as he proceeded to shout curse words when returning to his seat. After being awarded Best Actor for his role in “King Richard,” Smith apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and his fellow nominees for his actions, but not to Rock. The week after the show, my entire Twitter feed was bombarded with extremely varied opinions on the whole debacle. I see why this would cause such a commotion in the media, but what is there to really gain from blowing this into a bigger issue than it actually is? Everyone has a different take on whether the joke was offensive or not, and whether Smith’s reaction to it should be condemned or applauded.

Almost every person appears to have a differing opinion on the subject. While some believe Smith’s actions were rooted in toxic masculinity, others praised him for protecting his wife. “When I saw a Black man stand up for his wife, that meant so much to me,” comedian Tiffany Haddish said. “And maybe the world might not like how it went down, but for me, it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Targeting a Black woman about her medical condition during a historically white-centric award show in a predominantly white industry was not the most sensible move on Rock’s part. Rock never apologized to Pinkett Smith either, which many consider to be necessary, given the poor taste of the joke. Contrary to Haddish’s sentiments, actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner tweeted, “Will Smith owes Chris Rock a huge apology. There is no excuse for what he did. He’s lucky Chris is not filing assault charges.” After the Academy issued a statement condemning Smith’s actions, Smith posted a formal apology on his Instagram account, this time including Rock. The actor also resigned from the Academy and said he would accept any further consequences from the Academy Board of Governors. This presents the possibility that he could be stripped of his Oscar, something I believe to be a drastic measure. The Academy and its respective Hollywood scene would be preserving their image more than anything by doing that.

It is admirable that Smith resigned himself, considering the high honor it is to be invited, and that very few people have ever been expelled. “I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film,” Smith said. “So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate.” I am not completely on one side or the other. This is a complex issue, because although Rock’s joke was insensitive, I don’t believe much good has come from Smith’s actions. Sure, it was a surprising and unexpected moment, and Smith has merit in his anger, but this act diminished the recognition of the award winners’ achievements. Pivoted into a source of entertainment, many have said they only tuned into the Oscars to watch the event unfold, and that no one would have cared otherwise about the show. If Smith had, perhaps, used his words instead of resorting to violence, he could have had a more influential impact while not hurting anyone in the process. There is something to be said about the misguided chivalry of his actions, considering that the actor originally laughed at the joke. As people spout opinions left and right without a care, news of important events gets lost in the mix. Magnified into the biggest trending topic in social media, the incident is taking away from

the spread of pressing, real-world issues. Did everyone suddenly forget about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine? People float from one trend to the next, but the Smith vs. Rock discourse has only seemed to grow exponentially since it occurred. It hasn’t just been a matter of people taking sides. In fact, I’ve seen more jokes and invasive comments about the Smith family than anything else. Referring to photos capturing the slap, one viral tweet read, “They have so many angles of this it’s like the JFK assassination.” Others have questioned why Smith hit Rock, instead of singer and rapper August Alsina, who dated Pinkett Smith while they were married. After consistent prying from the press, the family has admitted to their marriage problems in the past. Now, this issue is being revived once again, just to stir matters up more. Since celebrities are always in the limelight, people feel they can say whatever they want, even regarding personal matters. Considering how much has come about from this isolated incident I have to wonder: How much more can be said about one person slapping another? The aftermath of this event has proven to cause more harm than good. As unexpected as this was, there is a good chance actors attending the ceremony will only feel emboldened to copy such behavior in the future. If only people were as invested in social justice action as they are in celebrity beef and the Smith family’s drama.

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FEATURES

A student’s guide to BRISA KAROW

n the mountainous region of the San Francisco Peaks, Flagstaff offers various outdoor recreation opportunities. One, in particular, is NAU’s Outdoor Adventure Program (OA) which sets up its trip leader staff with extensive knowledge of outdoor recreation. Over the past year, OA began its rebuilding process, initiated by new leadership. Myriam Bishop, coordinator of logistics at NAU Campus Recreation, began working with the team in January. Born and raised in the French Alps, she carries a passion for outdoor recreation — something Bishop said inspired her greatest travel and career decisions. Bishop went from guiding backpack trips in Iceland to doing the same in the Grand Canyon. Now, she brings an extensive background in outdoor jobs to OA. Bishop said she is excited to get the program back up and running after the pandemic shutdown. The OA program offers various activities for NAU students: Mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, whitewater and flatwater trips. Bishop said she wants the program to focus on accommodating and cultivating the students’ interests. It intends to cater to many experience levels, ranging from highly inclusive, beginner-friendly trips to advanced trips for those who want to push their skills to the next level. Before the pandemic, the program would organize two to three trips a month. “We’re going to start humble and build up,” Bishop said. This begins with training new staff for trip leader positions. The position offers staff the opportunity to guide their fellow students and off-campus groups in outdoor adventures. Before exercising their leadership role, staff must complete general training. This covers first aid, risk management, group dynamics, team building and even learning to assess psychological components. Anxiety, fear of heights, or homesickness can result from people stepping outside their comfort zones. Activity-specific training will further prepare staff to lead outfitting trips. Throughout the training, staff members acquire various certifications, qualifying them to take on whatever is thrown at them. “If it’s for a backpacking trip, we’re actually going to go with those students on a backpacking trip and

run them through all the elements that it takes to be a trip leader,” Bishop said. The trainees went to the Grand Canyon last week to work on trail education — covering topics like safety, education of the area and how to run a trip smoothly. Bishop was a Grand Canyon guide for six years and passed along extensive knowledge of interesting facts and necessary information about hiking on the trails.

“THE STAFF IS ALWAYS TRYING TO BRAINSTORM NEW WAYS TO GET MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE WHICH IS SOMETHING I JUST ADORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM.”

-Maggie Lowndes, first-year student Second-year student Luke Neville is a trainee in the trip leader training program. Growing up, Neville said he spent a lot of time outdoors, finding his passion for being outside. The pandemic gave him a chance to spend more time exploring the Oregon area and developing his outdoor interests. Neville said his friends who work at the John Haeger Health and Learning Center (HLC) climbing wall told him about the open position, and he looks forward to where it will take him. “This job is definitely a stepping stone,” Neville said. The trip leader position offers experience Neville said he would have struggled to obtain otherwise. He applied for many summer jobs and was turned down because he lacked experience. Now, every time he earns a new certification in the training process, he immediately plugs it into his resume. Neville said this job will make him more hireable, even after the little time he has been with OA. “I think just the whole process of planning something [and] carrying it out [is important] — recognizing everything that you need to do, and then, at the end of it being able to talk about what went really well and what [didn’t],” Neville said. Neville said he is excited about the learning experiences he will gain within this job as well as the places he will travel to for future trips.

“I’m really excited to do a rim-to-rim in the Grand Canyon — a week-plus backpacking trip — or something like that,” Neville said. Bishop provides extensive knowledge and many accessible resources to her staff. Neville said he feels this will better prepare him for a career in his field of study — parks and recreation. Neville said he is happy the program is starting up again. He said he believes it will benefit NAU students wishing for a better introduction to wilderness adventures. “We’re restarting the program, trying to publicize it, trying to get people to know that it’s a thing,” Neville said. “I think the most important thing is just to get it off the ground again because it is a super cool opportunity for students who like to get outside or who have never been outside.” The training process prepares trip leaders to guide and educate students by obtaining various certifications, specific to safety and the outdoors. Second-year student Elizabeth Paddison is another trip leader trainee. She said she grew up boating and camping at Lake Powell with her family, which is where she found a love for the outdoors. Her sister joined the OA program at the University of Arizona and inspired her to do the same at NAU. Since training began, Paddison said she is already applying what she learned from completing Coconino County’s Backcountry Food Specialist Certification to her daily life. This course educates students on how to cook in an outdoor environment while also accommodating various food restrictions. Examples of this include how to prepare and preserve raw meat, filter water properly to avoid a case of food poisoning and safely plan their meals based on the wildlife and weather in their location. This was just the first of many courses Paddison plans to take. “I really want to get [a certification] called the wilderness first responder,” Paddison said. “It’s a higher level of first aid in the wilderness [for] when you can’t get to a hospital quickly.” These certifications help trip leaders feel prepared to guide various activity trips. By educating themselves, staff can also pass on their wilderness knowledge. Paddison emphasized the importance of educating people about outdoor recreation; trainees learn how to

Maggie Lowndes, a first-year student, displays outdoor gear for Campus Recreation at the Open Air Market, March 23. Brisa Karow | The Lumberjack

APRIL 7, 2022 — APRIL 13, 2022

outdoor adventures keep the outdoors safe, sustainable and clean. Paddison said she looks forward to introducing people to the outdoors. “I know a lot of people are hesitant,” Paddison said. “I've been hesitant, but being able to be a door for somebody to start falling in love with backpacking or camping or hiking or rafting, I think it’d be a lot of fun to share that.” One of the upcoming trips is the Wilderness Welcome Program — 10 days full of outdoor activities for first-years to orient themselves and build new relationships. “We are hoping to have one backpacking trip, one multi-activity trip, and two different river trips,” Bishop said. Bishop said in the future she wants both the trip leaders and student participants to have a say in locations and activities. She intends on making their outdoor aspirations a reality, so she takes their wishes into account. A few students expressed interest in ice climbing, but northern Arizona lacks a safe location for the activity. Therefore, Bishop said she is considering the idea of a trip to Colorado where students could have an immersive, safe experience of ice climbing. While ice gear would not be a practical purchase for Campus Recreation, most other outdoor equipment is available for students to check out. First-year student Maggie Lowndes works at the OA gear checkout room. Lowndes said the outdoor atmosphere attracted her to Flagstaff and she hopes to share outdoor experiences with others by applying for the trip leader position. “I think [the gear checkout program] is a super cool — and price-efficient — way for people to experiment with a variety of things in the outdoors, learn about what they want to get into, and all the ways they can have fun outside,” Lowndes said. “The staff is always trying to brainstorm new ways to get more people outside which is something I just adore about our program.” Students can visit the OA website to see the full list of outdoor equipment available for rent.

Top: Sam Thomason boulders at the climbing wall located inside the HLC, Jan. 31, 2019. John Chaides | The Lumberjack. Bottom left: Myriam Bishop brings a lifetime of outdoor recreation experience as the new coordinator of logistics at NAU Outdoor Adventures. Photo courtesy of Myriam Bishop. Bottom right: The Outdoor Adventure Program leads hikes in areas like Sedona and Oak Creek. Photo courtesy of NAU Hiking Club.

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FEATURES Downtown Diner is Back

Top right: Waitress Marissa Mix makes coffee for the customers at the Downtown Diner in Downtown Flagstaff, March 23. Middle: Downtown Diner reopens under new ownership in Downtown Flagstaff, March 23. Bottom left: Wayne Van Boven exits the Downtown Diner with his family in Downtown Flagstaff, March 23. Bottom right: Downtown Diner waitress Marissa Mix takes orders for the customers in Downtown Flagstaff, March 23. Megan Ford-Fyffe | The Lumberjack.

APRIL 7, 2022 — APRIL 13, 2022

When reality hits Working is a part of life. No matter what, given you don’t win the lottery, you will hat does being an adult look like? need to work to achieve your goals. It seems Is it an 18th birthday party? A like a daunting task, but keeping your head freshly stamped diploma proving down and focusing on the day-to-day will you made it through the trials of education? lead you to prosperity. MICHAEL MCCLURE

These are things I once thought to be notions of adulthood. An emblem of achievement that shows the world you are capable of surviving in an always shifting landscape of life.

One thing my father always told me growing up was to plan for tomorrow, but live for today. Set yourself up for success, align yourself with your aspirations, but do not get consumed by it.

Now, my perspectives have shifted to an entirely new realm.

Hug your loved ones and acknowledge how lucky we are to live this life. There will always be bad days but it is our job to find the beauty in the small things. If you work your whole life away, to what end did you accomplish anything?

We all joke about the “big boy” jobs after college, you know the ones where Monday to Friday are spent grinding away and your free time really becomes a rare commodity. When I entered the “big boy” realm, that is when I truly grasped what being an adult looks like. You know, it’s not as scary as what I pictured it to be. Pressed suits, hustle and bustle, no time to stop; it really does not look like that. Entering the workforce is undoubtedly an anxiety ridden process, but one that is worth the trials. One thing I underestimated is at the end of the day, everyone is human just like you. Business owners and colleagues seem like perfect people who do not mess up and whose track records are nothing but perfection. I will be the first to tell you, we all fall at some point in time. What separates those who fall however are those who get back on their feet and make the most of what is ahead of them.

I will be leaving this beautiful university in May to pursue my dreams. To think that this will be the first summer of my life where August does not mean the first day of school is scary and I know I’m not alone in that respect. This is the year where I become an adult. Part of me feels nervous but more of me feels excited. I cannot wait to move forward throughout my life to create beautiful memories. When becoming an adult presents itself to you, embrace it with your arms wide open. Use this one life we have for good and always enjoy yourself along the way.

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FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT

Jacob Handley

link and it's gone. Time is always moving, but with photography I try to save little moments for later. My name is Jacob Handley and I’m a photographer for The Lumberjack. I’m currently a sophomore pursuing a degree in photography with a minor in photojournalism. I knew I wanted to make photography my career after documenting the virtual freshman year my friends and I had during the pandemic. It was a time of great confusion and I used photography to express how I was feeling — I was surprised to find that a lot of people resonated with what I had to say. My style is very hard to pin down but overall I would describe it as experimental with a hint of lifestyle photography. As for the inspiration behind my photos, it comes from quite literally everywhere. I’m constantly looking at pictures by other artists, as well as finding inspiration in weird places such as in the pictures in textbooks. In the future I would like to be a fashion photographer or anywhere where I can let my creativity flow but still make enough to pay the bills.

APRIL 7, 2022 — APRIL 13, 2022

NAU Climate Teach-in

Top: President José Luis Cruz Rivera speaks about the importance of taking action against climate change at NAU’s Climate & Justice Teach-In, March 30. Bottom: A student takes a photo while listening to Ann Marie Chischilly speak at NAU’s limate & Justice Teach-In, March 30. Jacob Handley | The Lumberjack

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CULTURE Harry Styles embraces change and welcomes fans home

Hometown Spotlight: Fountain Valley, CA My hometown of Fountain Valley, California truly lives up to its slogan: “A Nice Place to Live”

arries rejoice! New music from singer Harry Styles has been released for the first time since “Fine Line” in December 2019. After a successful 2021 — filled with a Grammy win for Best Pop Solo Performance for “Watermelon Sugar” and finally a nearly sold-out U.S. tour in the fall, which was aptly titled “Love on Tour” — Styles has announced the impending release of his third album “Harry’s House” on May 20. Fans had been suspecting an upcoming announcement from Styles after a website, KATELYN Instagram and Twitter accounts, as well as RODRIGUEZ newspaper ads with the words “You Are Home” began surfacing mid-March. They were right. Styles CULTURE EDITOR followed both accounts soon after and announced the album on Instagram and Twitter March 23. “As It Was,” the album’s debut single, was released April 1 alongside its music video. No, this wasn’t some sort of elaborate April Fools’ Day joke. “C’mon, Harry, we wanna say goodnight to you,” are the first words uttered in the song. What makes this sentiment so special is that it is a feature from Styles’ goddaughter Ruby, whose father is producer Ben Winston. The track then jumps into something straight out of the 1980s. This is a different route for Styles, who has been crossing genres throughout his solo career. In 2017 his self-titled debut album brought more of a 1970s psychedelic and soft-rock sound, whereas 2019’s “Fine Line” gave listeners more of a pop vibe with commercial hits such as “Watermelon Sugar” and “Golden.” Both album’s initial singles are also drastically different from “As It Was.” “Sign of the Times” is a nearly six minute rock ballad, which launched Styles’ solo career away from the spotlight of One Direction, whereas “Lights Up” is an upbeat R&B-esque track that posed fans with the question “Do you know who you are?” Continue reading on JackCentral.org

Machine Gun Kelly is aware and wants you to know he’s a “Mainstream Sellout”

n Sept. 25, 2020, Machine Gun Kelly, otherwise known as Colson Baker, released “Tickets to My Downfall” — his debut in the pop-punk genre. After years of flirting with the sounds of rock music in his previous rap albums, Kelly, with help from drumming legend Travis Barker, decided to go all in on this new musical experiment. “Tickets to My Downfall” would receive positive reviews from critics, including a 72 out of 100 from Metacritic. The reviews seemed MONTRELL impressed with Kelly’s transition from hip hop to GANTT pop-punk. British publication Kerrang gave a glowing WRITER review of the album when it was released. “It celebrates everything great about pop-punk without feeling cookie-cutter or third division,” Nick Ruskell wrote. Kelly’s sixth album, “Mainstream Sellout,” does not do that. Here is the thing, the album’s title is brilliant. Fans and artists within the rock community have been extremely critical of Kelly since his pivot to poppunk. Corey Taylor, of metal band Slipknot, indirectly called out Kelly for “failing in one genre.” They see him as too mainstream to claim a place in their world. Hip hop fans, including myself initially, view Kelly as a sellout and a traitor. The rapper who ran to another genre after seemingly being humiliated by Eminem in their feud from fall 2018. The guy who traded in his snapbacks, skinny jeans and designer brands for guitars, nail polish and pink hair. Continue reading on JackCentral.org

APRIL 7, 2022 — APRIL 13, 2022

Families gathered at Lookout Point in Newport Beach, next to Fountain Valley, on Tuesday, March 15. Marley Green | The Lumberjack MARLEY GREEN

I miss a lot when I am in Flagstaff. When I come home, I always make here’s a stereotype that Southern sure to fit in a coastal drive at sunset, Californians love to talk about whether alone or with friends. how they are from Southern When I am asked why I chose NAU, California. I understand the jealousy — my answer is usually that I wanted to ahem — annoyance. I know we tend to experience four seasons, rather than the go on and on about the beaches, sunny one-and-a-half we get at home. While weather and authentic Mexican food. this is true, I secretly love the sunny In truth, it comes from a place of and mild weather we get all through gratitude rather than one of boasting. I the year — especially when it snows for love where I’m from. seemingly days on end in Flagstaff. My hometown of Fountain Valley, My favorite part of home, though, in coastal Orange County, is a quick, is the cultural diversity my area has 10-minute drive from the beach; to offer. Orange County would not it doesn’t have the same expensive be what it is if not for its diverse flashiness a beach city would. While it population of immigrants. is quiet and residential, its proximity to There are many restaurants to try the beach and urban areas make the city which offer cuisine from all sorts of the best of both worlds. Asian cultures. I spent time in high Although Fountain Valley is densely school studying at boba shops and populated, the sense of community laughing with my friends over Korean is strong. I grew up attending yearly barbecue. Viva La Vida Santa Ana, a summer festivals at the park and nonprofit based in our neighboring city Veterans Day memorials. Traditions of Santa Ana, organizes a Dia de los like these are always what I am looking Muertos festival every year. Community forward to when I go home. members reserve altar spaces and Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t celebrate Hispanic culture every discuss the beach. A common summer November. activity for my friends and I is to get in I do not think I would be who I am the car and drive down the Pacific Coast today if I didn’t grow up in Fountain Highway during sunset while screaming Valley. I am so grateful to have been along to music. Sometimes we pull over exposed to other cultures from a young somewhere and eat dinner on the sand. age. I am a more accepting and worldly I was never someone who went to the person because of it. beach a ton, but I admit it is something

Noel Miller delivers comedy to Flagstaff on April Fools’ Day LAUREN GOMEZ

ust a week after Prochnow Auditorium hosted Texas-based group Surfaces and Tennessee-based duo Nox Holloway, it welcomed YouTuber and

“The Tiny Meat Gang Podcast” co-host Noel Miller for a night full of comedy on April 1. People lined up outside of Prochnow, waiting for doors to open Friday night. However, some waited longer than others. Second-year student Kylee Kelley said she got to Prochnow with her friends at 2 p.m. — six hours before doors opened. “We are very dedicated,” Kelley said. “We really enjoy Noel’s content and we wanted to be in the front row.” First-year student Lee Ironsiee, who waited alongside Kelley, said he has been a fan of Miller for years and listens to “The Tiny Meat Gang Podcast” every day. Ironsiee also said he has never been front row at an event before. Shelby Bietz, event coordinator for Campus Event Operations and Support (CEOS), said she was looking forward to Noel Miller’s event because production for a stand-up comedian is often easier to set up than a concert. “A lot of artists’ tours or groups have specific requests that the production company we use may not have,” Bietz said. “For a comedian, they just want a mic and maybe a backup mic and that is it.” Mary Martin, event manager for CEOS, said the production process for concerts often takes several hours with sound checks. “Surfaces were there for a while [before the show],” Martin said. The Noel Miller show was open to the public, allowing the Flagstaff community to attend alongside NAU students, Bietz said. Trenton Lyndon, event manager for CEOS, said students should take advantage of the on-campus events because they are free. “Flagstaff is also several hours away from big cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas where people travel for concerts,” Lundin said. “These are the opportunities for people to attend a show of that size [in Flagstaff].” Bietz said putting on shows during the winter is important as most of Flagstaff ’s activities revolve around the outdoors. “Providing good experiences and fun on campus is important to us,” Bietz said. Once the rest of Miller’s fans trickled in the doors, Prochnow Auditorium got loud. The lights dimmed, signaling the start of the show. Yet, Miller was not the first to enter the stage. Comedian and “Mostly True Opinions” podcast co-host Katie K took the stage announcing herself as the show’s host and introduced the show’s opening performer, Daniel Bridge-Gadd. Bridge-Gadd, a Phoenix native, started the night by entertaining the crowd with jokes about his days spent at NAU. According to the NAU Athletics website, Bridge-Gadd was the quarterback for the football team in 2018. He knew how to entertain his crowd by including jokes about NAU’s former president, Rita Cheng. Once Bridge-Gadd concluded his portion of the show, Katie K then returned to the stage for her own comedy bit, sharing pieces of her personal life with the audience. “All right, are you ready to see who you actually came here for?” K said before introducing Miller to the stage. The fans in the audience screamed with excitement

Comedian and popular YouTube personality Noel Miller performs his comedy special in Prochnow Auditorium, April 1. Miller’s comedy tour will continue until April 18. Madison Easton | The Lumberjack the moment Miller walked out. Miller’s performance was filled with laughs from the start. Jokes were quickly made toward subjects such as American Airlines — referring to his experience with the amount of flying he has done for his tour. The remainder of Miller’s performance included bits of his childhood experience, leaving members of the crowd teary-eyed from laughing. As the show came to an end, Miller put on a Q & A where some of his answers included back-handed replies. “Hey, surprise, but everyone in this room has a birthday — you’re an only child aren’t you?” Miller

said in reply to a fan in the audience. As the show concluded and the audience began to make their way toward the exit, third-year students Nick Lucchese, Nick Soehl and Cody Tabor stayed in their front-row seats and discussed their favorite moments of the show with one another. “The show was amazing, it exceeded my expectations and made me cry,” Lucchese said. “I could not have asked for more.” Prochnow Auditorium is not finished providing events for students this semester. Los Angeles-based trio Wallows is set to perform their sold-out show on April 13. Prochnow Movie Nights will continue until April 30 with showings T h ursday through Saturday.

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CULTURE

MARK FABERY

In the past, the Eunson Award ceremony has allowed students and faculty to come together to celebrate the recipients of the Eunson Alumni Achievement Award and the Eunson Distinguished Lecturer Award, which recognizes those who have proven themselves in their journalistic careers. The awards were created in celebration of the late Robert R. Eunson, which honors his career as a correspondent during World War II where he committed to showing the world the truths of the war. NAU alumnus Bill Bradley, current sports editor at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, was honored with the Distinguished Eunson Journalist Award at the 2022 ceremony that took place March 31. Bradley came to the Review-Journal in September 2015 from NFL Media where part of his foray into digital journalism he created four websites, including one that used student journalists to cover a Division I college. Bradley has previously worked as the sports editor of the Sacramento Bee and the Nashville Tennessean for five years each. Before that he was deputy sports editor at The Arizona Republic. Historian and journalist Bob “Boze” Bell was honored as the 2022 Distinguished Lecturer Award recipient. He has written books on the life and times of old West legends — Billy the Kid, Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hickok. In 2014, he published “The 66 Kid” a memoir of growing up on Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona.

Top left: Bob “Boze” Bell, winner of 2022 Distinguished Lecturer Award, signs an autograph after the Eunson Awards, March 31. Bottom left: Bill Bradley and Bob “Boze” Bell talk while posing for a photo after the Eunson Awards, March 31. Top right: Bob “Boze” Bell tells an anecdote during his acceptance speech at the Eunson Awards, March 31. Right middle: Bill Bradley, winner of the Distinguished Eunson Journalist Award, sits while giving his acceptance speech, March 31. Bottom right: Bill Bradley listens while Bob “Boze” Bell gives his acceptance speech at the Eunson Awards, March 31. Jacob Handley | The Lumberjack

APRIL 7, 2022 — APRIL 13, 2022

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SPORTS

NAU head coach Loree Payne agrees to five-year contract extension

Russell is rolling into the Rockies

he Denver Broncos were in the market for a new quarterback after last season’s rough ride with the duo of Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater as they ended the season 7-10. They have looked to end their rut since winning the Super Bowl in the 2015-16 season. Denver thought its tough times may be over when rumors surfaced that Aaron Rodgers could be coming KRISTEN to the Broncos. These rumors spiked CHANCELLOR when Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was hired as the WRITER Broncos’ head coach. However, Rodgers signed back with the Packers for a three-year, $150 million deal. This news came as a shock, as most fans thought Rodgers was unhappy with the Packers. After the deal, Denver fans were left wondering what hope they had for a new quarterback. Well, Broncos country might have found its new hope as they secured a veteran quarterback for the team. While we all wish Peyton Manning would come out of retirement and play again, he’s not the new quarterback. The new man on the field is former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who has been in the league since 2012 after being selected 75th overall in the third round. A player who has been a consistent force on the Seahawks lineup for 10 years, Wilson has been a carrying force for the Seahawks. Seattle ended with a record of 7-10 last season — matching the Broncos. The Seahawks and Broncos have always been tough competitors. In the 2014 Super Bowl, Wilson’s team took home the trophy defeating the Broncos 43-8. Wilson is a 5’11, 215 pound quarterback with a fair share of achievements in the league. Coming from school in Wisconsin, the 33-year-old is looking for a fresh start in the NFL. On the Seahawks, Wilson had to run the ball due to a lacking offensive line. Due to this, Wilson has racked up 4,689 rushing yards throughout his 10 years of being in the NFL. Wilson is a good addition to the Broncos, given the team has lacked a steady veteran quarterback since the Manning era. As someone who has played every team in the league, he has experience with different playing techniques as well as opponent structures. Having someone like Wilson on the team may bring in a new leadership role — something Bridgewater did well. Wilson will have depth on offense with players such as Javonte Williams, Jerry Jeudy and others, as well as finally having an offensive line to protect him from just running the ball. He could bring a winning culture back to Broncos country.

NAU head coach Loree Payne talks to her players during a timeout against Eastern Washington, March 2. Brian Burke | NAU Athletics

AU women’s basketball head coach Loree Payne has agreed to a five-year contract extension, according to a NAU Athletics press release on April 5. The deal is now subject to approval by the Arizona Board of Regents. “I am incredibly excited to continue leading the NAU women’s basketball program,” Payne said in a press release. “In five years, we have taken a program that had been consistently at the bottom of the conference to becoming a Big Sky Championship contender. I am grateful for my staff, as well as our former players who have laid the foundation for a championship program and I am beyond excited for our current and future student-athletes to elevate our program to the next level.” The extension takes Payne’s contract up to the 2026-27 season, doubling her tenure at NAU after just completing her fifth season as head coach. Payne was hired as head coach on April 7, 2017. Her contract extension comes just two days shy of the fifth anniversary of the announcement of her hiring. Payne took over a Lumberjack program that went 9-21 the year before her arrival under

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BRENDEN MARTIN

then-interim head coach Robyne Bostick. In Payne’s first season at NAU, the Lumberjacks went 7-23 and ended their season with a loss to Portland State in the first round of the Big Sky Conference Tournament. After losing seasons in her first two years as head coach, Payne has led the Lumberjacks to three straight winning seasons for the first time since the mid-2000s. This season, NAU went to the conference championship game for the first time since 2006-07. NAU’s 17 total wins this season is the most by the team since that same season. “Loree Payne has guided our women’s basketball program on an upward trajectory over the course of her five seasons of leadership,” Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Marlow said in a press release. “She has a championship mentality, big vision for NAU women’s basketball, places a high priority on academics and cares deeply about the young women in her program.” The Lumberjacks are losing five players, including graduate forward Khiarica Rasheed and senior guard Lauren Orndoff who were the only remaining players on the roster that have been on the team since Payne’s first season at NAU.

Follow The Lumberjack sports reporters for live tweets and game updates! MIC Sports: @NAU_MICsports Sports Editor: Brenden Martin @BrendenMartin_

Asst. Sports Editor: Will Hopkins @Will_Hopkins_LJ

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Kristen Chancellor @Kristen_SportsJ

Evan McNelia @evanmcnelia

Saturday scrimmage at Saguaro caps second week of spring for NAU football

EVAN MCNELIA

AU football wrapped up its second week of spring practices on Saturday, scrimmaging at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale. NAU head coach Chris Ball said the event gave the team the chance to compete in a road game-like atmosphere in front of fans in the valley. NAU currently has two players on its roster who attended Saguaro High School. Sophomore athlete Xander Werner and freshman defensive lineman Alani Ma’afu were both 2021 Saguaro graduates. Over the past two weeks, energy has remained high at NAU practices as the squad makes strides toward improving for the 2022 season. Every practice offers a new opportunity for competition and a chance to learn and grow. NAU’s defense has its sights set on reducing the number of big plays it gives up going into 2022 — one of the things they struggled with last year. “We were really good on third down last year, we took the ball away last year, but we’ve got to minimize the big plays,” defensive coordinator Jerry Partridge said. “The first couple of days I thought there were too many big plays. Days three and four we did a good job, and today there were a couple big ones. If we can minimize those big plays and keep doing the things we are doing on third down, taking it away, we’ll be a good defense.” NAU returns 10 defensive backs who have starting experience in 2022, making the position group one of the deepest on the team. The familiarity and continuity within the fall 2022 group may lead to some of NAU’s biggest defensive improvements this upcoming season. Sophomore defensive back Brady Shough returns to the lineup after missing the final five games of his freshman season, due to an injury. He played in his first six games, including one start. Redshirt freshman Kamdan Hightower and redshirt junior Anthony Sweeney are also poised for a big return after Sweeney missed all of last year and Hightower missed the final nine games. Health means everything during the stretch of the season and NAU has plenty of depth among its defensive backs in order to cope. NAU lost both its weak and strong side linebackers this offseason with the

departures of graduates Tristen Vance and Harrison Beemiller. Luckily for the Lumberjack linebacker room, Beemiller has returned as a graduate linebacker assistant. Beemiller and Vance both started every game in 2021, leaving big shoes to fill in the middle of the defense. Junior Jhasi Wilson appeared in all 11 games last season, totaling 29 tackles, and will likely be filling one of the two linebacker positions. Graduate Heston Lameta missed all of 2021 with an injury but will be back and healthy to potentially fill the other role, though nothing is certain. On the defensive line, there is a little more consistency within the group but the loss of graduate Carson Taylor is likely going to be felt. Taylor climbed up the alltime lists at NAU for sacks and tackles-for-loss in his final season and will be missed as a dominant force on the edge. NAU returns five players who started in 2021 on the defensive line, much like the defensive back depth which has the benefit of a lot of carried-over experience in 2022. Twin defensive linemen Eloi and Cosmas Kwete combined for 59 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and six sacks in 2021 with Eloi carrying most of that weight. They will be looking to grow those numbers in 2022, possibly with the help of their younger brother Richard who did not see any playing time during his redshirt freshman year. Junior Mark Ho Ching started 10 games last season at nose tackle and recorded 13 tackles — two and a half behind the line of scrimmage — and had one and a half sacks. Sophomore defensive lineman Sheldon Newton appeared in all 11 games in 2021 and finished with 22 tackles and two sacks and could cement himself next season as a key playmaker for NAU on the interior defensive line. Consistency and carryover this spring, going into next season, will help NAU become a more complete unit as a football team. NAU looks like it may soon reap the benefits of its tremendous recruiting efforts the past few seasons, especially with a lot of marquee in-state talent blossoming on the roster. NAU spring football continues with three practices a week, ending on April 22 with the team’s spring game at 6 p.m.

Redshirt wide receiver Elijah Tayor (14) attempts to catch a pass over junior defensive back Tavian Montgomery (17) at NAU football’s first spring scrimmage at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, March 2. Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics

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SPORTS

Idaho State’s Oltrogge

New NAU graduate transfer guard Montana Oltrogge takes photos to announce her playing her final collegiate season for the Lumberjacks. Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics

BRENDEN MARTIN

eturning home. That is what former Idaho State guard Montana Oltrogge will be doing next season as she transfers to NAU to play her final collegiate season with an NAU women’s basketball team that was minutes away from winning a Big Sky Conference championship. “I had a great four years at Idaho State,” Oltrogge said. “I made some great friends, had some great experiences, met some really good people. I think I was just ready for a change of scenery, a change of atmosphere and I’m wanting to play somewhere closer to home. NAU gives me that chance.” The Phoenix native returned to Arizona for a chance to play closer to her family and be with her sister, who began as a student at NAU in January. Oltrogge played high school ball at Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix where she was an All-Premier Region first team player in a junior season that saw her average 15.3 points per game. She followed that up by averaging 18.1 points per game her senior season, helping her attain the title of Premier Region Player of the Year. Having graduated a year after NAU head coach Loree Payne took charge in Flagstaff, Oltrogge wasn’t on the Lumberjacks’ radar when it came to recruiting. “I really wish that we would have explored it a lot more,” Payne said about recruiting Oltrogge out of high school. “When we first got here we were really just trying to figure out what the needs of the program were. We had gotten a few transfers once we got an idea of where our program was and how much work needed to be done. We definitely missed out on that one early but I’m really glad we got it at the end. It came full circle and we have the opportunity to let her

APRIL 7, 2022 — APRIL 13, 2022

finish her career here.” Payne and Oltrogge confirmed that it was Oltrogge who initially reached out for an official visit as she was already in Arizona for spring break. Payne said that she received a call from Oltrogge saying she wanted to come to NAU about two days after her visit. Oltrogge joins a Lumberjack squad that is losing a fair amount of key players that are graduating and have exhausted their eligibility. The departures of senior guards Lauren Orndoff, Nina Radford, Miki’ala Maio and graduate forward Khiarica Rasheed — all of whom averaged over 23 minutes per game this past season — leave gaping holes in a Lumberjack rotation that hit its highest peak in over a decade by reaching the conference championship game in Boise, Idaho last month for the first time since 2007. “We’re going to be young next year so I think Montana coming on as a graduate transfer, as someone who has experience and maturity, I think it’s going to be a great addition for a team that’s going to be very eager and very hungry but very young,” Payne said. Oltrogge figures to slot right into the fold for NAU, averaging 23.7 minutes in her last season at Idaho State, which included 13 starts. While her numbers mirror those of the outgoing seniors, Payne said she isn’t there to replace a single player, but to bolster the team at a position it needs. “I don’t think she directly replaces anyone,” Payne said. “I think she enhances our production at kind of that four/five spot. She’s so versatile. She’s 6’1, can step out and shoot the three so she can stretch the defense out. I think her size, quickness and versatility just really gives us a lot of options at the four, the five and even at the three [positions].” Payne also said Oltrogge’s addition, alongside returning sophomore guard/forward Emily Rodabaugh, will give the team a good tandem of stretch forwards

that do similar things such as shoot the ball while still having a valuable presence in the post. Idaho State’s loss is NAU’s gain; Oltrogge is one of a handful of Bengals that entered the transfer portal after taking an upset loss as the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Tournament against No. 8 Northern Colorado 72-54 and suffering a first-round exit in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament to Wyoming in overtime 76-73. Payne said she believes her experience at a program like Idaho State will bolster her team’s championship mentality. “She’s been at a program that has had tremendous success,” Payne said. “She’s been in a championship atmosphere, obviously a veteran player who understands the conference.” Idaho State has had a lot of recent success — finishing with a winning record in each of the last seven seasons under head coach Seton Sobolewski, who has been in the role since 2008. The Bengals’ success has reached a new level since Oltrogge arrived in Pocatello, Idaho in 2018. In 2021, Idaho State won the regular season and conference championship with a 22-4 overall record and a perfect 14-0 record at home leading to a commanding 84-49 win against cross-state rival Idaho on March 12, 2021. Last season was not any different for the Bengals before the conference tournament, once again winning the regular season title with a 15-5 conference record that was one game better than eventual conference champions Montana State, who ended with a 14-6 record against the Big Sky. Coming from another Big Sky school, Oltrogge naturally played her fair share of games against NAU. In seven games against NAU in her career, Oltrogge averaged over six points per game, including a monstrous 21 point game in her final game against

returning home to NAU the Lumberjacks at Reed Gym that included her scoring 16 of Idaho State’s 30 points in the fourth quarter where she nailed five 3-pointers to lead the Bengals to a comeback win with only a few games left in the season, 77-66. Payne remembers that fateful game all too well. “When she reached out she put in the message who she was and I’m like ‘I know who you are. You single-handedly beat us this year in Pocatello,’” Payne said. Oltrogge said she did not make it a point to remain in the Big Sky, but that it just happened to work out that way. She also remembers that game against NAU and was reminded of it by her future teammates. “I definitely heard that on my visit,” Oltrogge said. “The perks of playing a good

game is that the coaches remember you.” Now Oltrogge will put on the uniform that she has played a role in defeating four times and is excited to play against her former team. “Playing against ISU is definitely going to be weird,” Oltrogge said. “I’ve had that jersey on for four years. I’m just going to go out and play as hard as I can against them and every other game that we have.” Schedules for the 2022-23 Big Sky basketball season are being finalized and are to be revealed in the near future, according to the conference. As Southern Utah leaves the conference next year, the schedule is subject to some moderate changes. Under the 11-team model the conference was in the past few years, teams played each other twice in the regular season, with each team hosting one game.

New NAU graduate transfer guard Montana Oltrogge throws a basketball in the air for a photo shoot. Photo courtesy of NAU Athletics

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APRIL 7, 2022 — APRIL 13, 2022