The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Day: February 20, 2018

  • Men’s and women’s basketball Senior Night spoiled by UC San Diego

    Men’s and women’s basketball Senior Night spoiled by UC San Diego

    The men’s basketball team could not keep up with the first place University of California, San Diego Tritons, as they lost 77-57.

    Saturday’s game was no ordinary one for the Jacks, though, as it marked the last home game for each of the team’s seniors, who were honored at Senior Night in the Lumberjack Arena.

    The game marks a big milestone for all of the seniors, but specifically for locals Will Taylor and Ashton Pomrehn who started their Lumberjack careers as ball boys at an early age.

    “We were playing for the seniors,” head coach Steve Kinder said. “I thought that carried us through, and made the fans and their teammates proud.”

    Humboldt State was led by senior Davasyia Hagger, who had 14 points along with nine rebounds, while shooting 7-14 from the field. Those 14 points included a pair of dunks in the second half of the game that caused an eruption from the fans in the arena.

    “The effort was there,” Hagger said. “We’re gonna learn from this and battle back these next two games.”

    Another notable performance came from senior Justin Everett, who tallied 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

    “I was just out there getting my shots,” Everett said. “My teammates did a good job getting me open.”

    The Tritons were firing on all cylinders throughout the game, as they made 11 three-pointers on 30 shots (36.7 percent) opposed to only five made from the Jacks. Christian Bayne was a problem for the Jacks all game, as he led UCSD with 24 points, while shooting 8-11 from the field. Bayne also made his presence felt on defense, as he also had two steals and a block.

    “We think of [Bayne] as one of the better players in the conference,” Kinder said. “He’s a heck of a basketball player and has a great future ahead of him.”

    Aside from Bayne, other notable performers where Scott Everman (16 points) and Christian Oshita (14 points).

    San Diego played stingy defense all game as well, accumulating nine steals while forcing 13 turnovers.

    The loss is Humboldt’s second in a row, and moves their overall record to 9-17 (6-14 conference), while San Diego improves to 17-9 (14-6 conference). The Jacks will look to bounce back before the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament begins on Feb. 27, and will have two games to do so.

    Their next game will be on the road against Sonoma State University on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. They will then close out the regular season on Feb. 24 at San Francisco State University.

    The Humboldt State University women’s basketball team fell short of a comeback after a slow start in the first half, as they fell to University of California, San Diego by the score of 77-62.

    This was the last home game of the regular season for the Lumberjacks, making it Senior Night at the Lumberjack Arena.

    “This is a really special group to me,” head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. “To see the seniors honor their careers here is special.”

    The Jacks shot only 26.9% (7-26) from the field and were outscored 42-20 during the first half.

    On the other hand, the Tritons were hot from the field in the first half, as they made five of their first seven three-point attempts and put up 42 points before halftime.

    San Diego was led by Mikayla Williams (19 points, eight rebounds), Kayla Sato (17 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and Dalayna Sampton (16 points, 10 rebounds).

    However, the Jacks did battle back in the second half. At one point, they had the lead down to as little as 10 points during the third and fourth quarters.

    “We dug a huge hole for ourselves (in the first half) that we just couldn’t quite get all the way out of,” Bento-Jackson said.

    Tyla Turner led the team’s late run by scoring 24 of her team’s 42 points in the second half. The sophomore standout followed up her career high 32-point performance from her last game with 29 points in addition to eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in this one.

    “My team had my back, and that’s really what got me going,” Turner said. “I had to do it for them, and that’s why I had to turn it up.”

    Once Turner turned it up, her teammates responded. The team shot 15-29 (51.7 percent), while shooting 8-12 (66.7 percent) from beyond the arc. Jovanah Arrington was the most notable contributor, as she had 13 points while shooting 3-5 from three (3-4 in the second half).

    “I knew we had to catch up, and making threes is the quickest way to do that,” Arrington said.

    With regards to their upcoming schedule, coach Bento-Jackson had a clear message for her team.

    “We absolutely have to put this behind us. The bottom line is–going into that conference tournament–we want to be playing our best basketball,” Bento-Jackson said.

    The loss moves the Jacks’ record to 14-11 overall, with a 13-7 conference record. For San Diego, the win moves the team’s record to 23-3, with a dominant 19-1 record within the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

    They will have two games remaining before the conference tournament begins, HSU will play Sonoma State University on Feb. 23 and San Francisco State University on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m..

  • Tunnel of Oppression demonstrates discrimination

    Tunnel of Oppression demonstrates discrimination

    While Black History Month is in full swing, students who found themselves in Nelson Hall on Feb.15 discovered something a little different.

    The Tunnel of Oppression was a demonstration put on by Housing & Residence Life. The tunnel consisted of a series of skits that were meant to spread awareness of different forms of oppression, some that we see every day.

    Sasha Wallace, an area coordinator for Housing and Residence is one of the facilitators of this project.

    “We try to do this every year, but we were unable for the past two years,” Wallace said. “I’m really excited to get it going again.”

    At the start of the tunnel, you are given a guide to lead you through the demonstration and help ensure that anyone who feels uncomfortable can be escorted out.

    The first skit depicted two students walking and conversing in Spanish. A bystander approaches and barrages them with a wall of insults and racial slurs. The interaction ended with the attacker telling the pair to go back to Mexico. The skit was short, but it was something that most people have seen in their lives.

    The second skit was something more relatable for Humboldt State students. Two students were on a computer looking for potential housing options. They get an opportunity to speak to a landlord who sounds assuring that they will get the place. When they arrive to see it, the landlord notices they are a lesbian couple. Immediately, the situation changes when she tells them the place is no longer available.

    Elizabeth Alvarez, an HSU student and the landlord in the previous skit, felt being part of this project would be a good idea.

    “I know there’s a problem with housing discrimination in Humboldt County,” Alvarez said. “I think it plays a huge part as to why HSU students have trouble finding housing.”

    Between the skits, you can look at the various posters on the walls that contain information about different kinds of oppression.

    Another skit showed a young woman at a bar by herself. She is approached by a man who persistently buys her drinks and makes her drink them. Another woman at the bar sees this happening and quickly takes the drunk girl from this man. She sits her down and helps her find a way to get back to her own house. This situation at HSU is often known as a “Check-It” situation.

    Samantha Mariscal, an HSU student and a guide for the tunnel, was excited to be part of this project.

    “It challenges you out of your comfort zone and it makes you think differently,” Mariscal said. “I witness some of these things every day and I just want people to be more aware.”

    The final skit portrayed a student going to a meeting with his career advisor. The student shares his plans to go to UC Santa Cruz to be closer to his single father. He also discloses that English is his second language and he is having some trouble communicating. The career advisor refuses to even make eye contact with the student. Throughout the meeting the advisor is constantly putting him down and telling him to think about more “realistic” options. It gets to the point that the student feels so uncomfortable he asks to see another advisor, to which his request is denied. This skit was unique, as it showed faculty-to-student oppression, which is something a lot of people would not think of.

    The event was in honor of Black History Month, a time designated to recognize the oppression black people face in our country, but was not specifically tailored to the topic.

    At the end of the tunnel, you are taken to a debriefing room where you sit down with another person who lets you unpack everything you just saw.

    Tyler Ramsey, an HSU student, was one of the people helping with debriefing.

    “I’m always talking about social justice and I wanted to debrief so I can hear what other people thought of their experience here,” Ramsey said. “We want to show this to spread awareness. All we can do is educate people and hope they learn.”

     

  • HSU softball splits series against UC San Diego

    HSU softball splits series against UC San Diego

    Softball stays undefeated on Saturdays.

    Danica Grier sent a pitch into shallow center field that allowed Illa Haley to round third base and slide home for the game-winning run in extra innings for the first of two wins against University of California, San Diego on Feb. 17.

    “It was good competition, but we came back and performed the way we should every game. We’re strong and we work together,” Haley said.

    The Humboldt State University softball team went 2-2 in a four-game series against UCSD that started on Feb. 16 in the softball field. HSU lost the first two games on Friday, then turned around and came away with two wins on Saturday.

    HSU is now 0-4 on Fridays and 4-0 on Saturdays since starting play against California Collegiate Athletic Association opponents on Feb. 9.

    Shelli Sarchett, head coach of the HSU softball team, said that good things come when the players trust in themselves and their teammates.

    “Our Fridays are rough, but it shows the fortitude that these ladies have. Just because we’re beat and facing adversity–they’re going out there and not quitting,” Sarchett said. “They’re showing they can play the game of softball.”

    Jasmine Hill pitched seven scoreless innings in relief work for HSU throughout the games on Saturday, picking up the wins in both contests.

    “I saw a lot of team effort. I saw us come together as a family, finally gel and find that connection,” Hill said after the first win. “It was great. It was a great moment, a great experience.”

    UC San Diego head coach Patti Gerckens said that due to a couple missed spots by their pitchers, Humboldt had some hard hits on Saturday.

    “It was very disappointing,” Gerckens said. “I thought we would come away with one game today, if not two.”

    The HSU and UCSD softball teams now have a 4-4 record in the CCAA after the weekend. The same as two other teams, California State University, East Bay and San Francisco State University.

    On Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 the softball team will host a four-game series against California State University, Stanislaus.

  • A drinking place with a crafting problem

    A drinking place with a crafting problem

    New beer, wine and craft bar Arts and Drafts opens their doors in Old Town Eureka on Feb. 17.

    An improv acoustic guitar solo and noises of lively voices filled the rooms of the E. Janssen Building in Old Town Eureka on Feb. 17.

    The once hardware store became home to Arts and Drafts, a “drinking place with a crafting problem.”

    The venue is divided into two spacious sections. Couches and large wooden tables geared with puzzles, sketchbooks and watercolor pencils surround the bar. Guests are encouraged to leave an art piece in the sketchbook, similar to a visual guest book.

    A bright mural of purple, psychedelic cats and a four-foot wine glass filled with colorful yarn make up the Kitty Corner of the room. The ambiance of the space is relaxed, open and gives the impression of a cozy living room.

    Through the bar, in a separate room, is an art workshop space filled with supplies and art-lined walls. Here, patrons can purchase pre-made DIY art projects, from paintable stone coasters to string art or bring in their own supplies to craft up while hanging out.

    Owner of Arts and Drafts, Tracy Dorgan, said she wanted her dream to come true in Old Town Eureka. After extensive searching for the best possible venue, Dorgan said she fell in love with this one.

    “When I walked into this building,” Dorgan said, “my entire vision changed and expanded.”

    The space is much bigger than her original plan, which ended up doubling Dorgan’s budget.

    The grand opening of the new bar brought a steady flow of people throughout the day.

    Greggory Allbright, Humboldt State University alumnus, high school teacher and artist, says he often enjoys drinking a cold beer while creating.

    “Sitting down and doing art is a lot harder than sitting and drinking,” Allbright said.

    Allbright is setting up for a surrealist art show at the Wine Stop and sketched at Arts and Drafts on the day of the grand opening.

    Brooks Heaslet from Maple Creek, a bartender at Arts and Drafts, said the crowd was a mixture of locals and tourists.

    For Heaslet, the art and beer bar combined two of his passions. Heaslet said he not only works the bar, but also helped build it with his father at Maple Creek Woodworks.

    “Woodwork and beer are definitely my mediums.” Heaslet said.

    The bar offers 12 different taps, including local beers, ciders, kombucha and nitro coffee, as well as an extensive wine list.

    “The only shot glasses we have are the ones you can paint,” Dorgan said.

    The small kitchen offers diverse snacks, such as cheesy jalapeno bread and local vegetarian Sushi Agogo.

    Dorgan said she worked to make the space welcoming to students.

    “You can come hang out, drink a beer and do a mini project for under $10.”

    In the back of the bar, Mark Talbert and wife Laurie of Eureka, sipped ales while weaving a burgundy string through nails in the shape of a wine glass.

    “She convinced me into it!” Talbert said. “I’m generally anti-social, but I feel totally comfortable walking and nailing nails onto a board.”

    Not only are the employees of Arts and Drafts brew buffs, they are craft connoisseurs as well.

    Amanda Anderson painted a wooden wine caddy in a deep, nut brown to demonstrate one of the crafts available for purchase at the venue.

    Anderson, a wildlife conservation major at Humboldt State University, scored a job at Arts and Drafts thanks to her experience with crafting and teaching. As a statistics tutor at HSU, she felt confident in her ability to guide creatively.

    “The goal here is to spread creativity,” Anderson said. “People are going to love this. It’s Arcata, people love their art.”

    Dorgan said that in the future, she plans to extend the working hours and the kitchen, as well as work on an option to divide the space in order to accommodate kids.

    Arts and Drafts is located on 422 1st Street in Old Town Eureka.

  • Career & Volunteer Expo offers job opportunities

    Career & Volunteer Expo offers job opportunities

    The West Gym at Humboldt State held the annual Career & Volunteer Expo on Feb. 15. Employers’ tables were placed systematically in rows, a photographer took free headshots for prospective employees and there was a designated table for students to fill out applications.

    Studio art major Sam Donnell usually drops three hundred dollars on one class for initial art supplies. That amount doesn’t include extra art supplies over the course of the semester.

    “I’ll take any job,” Donnell said. “I need art supply money.”

    Mike Orr, Mad River Park supervisor, graduated from Humboldt State and said almost 100 percent of his recruitment comes from HSU.

    Orr said HSU has changed over the years and such expos were not around in his day.

    “I wish they had this when I was a student, because when you’re a student, you don’t know to access the information,” Orr said.

    Social work and Spanish major Ana Monjaras works for the Academic and Career Advising Center. Monjaras helped create handouts and greeted guests at the expo.

    “It’s really fun and helpful,” Monjaras said. “We are the first ones to know who’s coming.”

    HSU alum and administrative support coordinator Shannon Berge has been part of the Academic and Career Advising Center since 2005.

    “We really do try to get as many types of major jobs as possible to have a nice well-rounded fair,” Berge said.

    HSU alum Amy Martin is the job development coordinator for the academic center. Martin worked for the center when she was a student, but now she coordinates it.

    “It’s much bigger than it was when I started a long time ago,” Martin said.

    Martin works with the Humboldt Chamber of Commerce and national recruiters to bring opportunities to the students.

    “People reach out to us all year,” Martin said. “I keep a list. We have huge databases of the employers in and around the area. [There] are lots of different ways to recruit.”

    The expo had 115 employers this year. Local employers were present, such as the North Coast Co-op, the Arcata Playhouse and Coast Central Credit Union.

    “Seeing all the tables, the students networking and making connections with the employers is the best part,” Martin said.

  • Johnston brothers present at Conservation Lecture Series

    Johnston brothers present at Conservation Lecture Series

    “I’ve always been inspired by biodiversity and animals,” Humboldt State senior Jon Johnston said. “Though I’m inspired mostly by the local people.”

    The Sequoia Park Zoo hosted brothers Phil and Jon Johnston on Feb. 14 to give a two-part presentation as part of their ongoing Conservation Lecture Series.

    Jon, a wildlife major at HSU, presented his senior project “The Wildlife of Ecuador’s Disappearing Coastal Dry Forests.” His research brought him to the tropical dry forest of La Cordillera del Balsamo, Ecuador. Tropical dry forests are among the most endangered forest types – about 70 percent have been deforested.

    In an effort to gain information on the animals that live in these forests, Jon deployed cameras that capture pictures automatically when movement is detected, allowing him to leave them out for an extended period of time.

    “Each batch of pictures gives us a new idea of the animals that might live in tropical dry forests,” Jon said.

    Some pictures already collected from the project include animals like the South American coati, the critically endangered Ecuadorian capuchin monkey, and the rufous-headed chachalaca.

    Phil, the mountain lion & fisher biologist for the Hoopa Valley Tribe and HSU wildlife alumnus, presented findings from his research on Lake Earl river otters in Del Norte County. In a repeated diet study originally done by R. Modafferi and C. F. Yocom in 1964, Phil located areas called latrines that are frequently used by otters.

    “In otters, latrines are used for rolling as a way to distribute oils in their coat and for sleeping sites,” Phil said.

    Latrines are also used by otters as sites for repeated defecation. Once a latrine is located, any scat that was found was collected and brought back to the lab for analysis. By carefully examining the scat samples, Phil was able to determine what the otters were eating.

    In the original study, otter diet consisted mainly of starry flounder and crab. In the follow-up study done by Phil, however, otter diet consisted of staghorn sculpin and three-spine stickleback. Another somewhat surprising aspect of the study was the discovery that the latrines were found in similar locations from the original study.

    “Even latrines that were under water for four to five months were reformed after the water had drained,” Phil said. “It’s exciting.”

    Both Johnston were recipients of the Conservation Grant given by Sequoia Park Zoo.

    “Grants that are given out to projects are decided by committee,” zoo director Gretchen Ziegler said.

    Projects are ranked based on certain criteria. A project ranks higher if it is located closer to Humboldt County, as well as how much funds are thought to make a difference and how feasible the project is expected to be.

    Community members can help fund conservation projects by buying a Sequoia Park Zoo membership. One dollar spent for each membership goes into the Sequoia Park Zoo Conservation Fund, which is used to finance conservation projects both locally and abroad.

    The next installment of the Conservation Lecture Series will be “The Zen of Deep Evolution” by Fred Allendorf at Humboldt State University on March 6.