The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Month: September 2019

  • Banned Books Week at HSU

    Banned Books Week at HSU

    Controversial books read aloud at HSU library in protest and celebration

    Humboldt State University students and faculty gathered in front of the HSU library on Tuesday, Sept. 24 for a banned book reading in celebration of Banned Books Week.

    Garrett Purchio, librarian for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, worked with Marcy Burstiner from the Humboldt Center for Constitutional Rights to host one of many readings held across the country for the campaign promoted by the American Library Association.

    “It’s a chance to really listen to different people’s perspectives,” Purchio said. “I think it’s always great to hear, you know, people are reading this book because of the impact it has on them, or maybe it really opened their eyes to the world.”

    Harriet Burr reads For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway at the banned book reading in front of Humboldt State University’s library on Sept. 24. Burr chose the book because of its value in representing the Spanish Civil War. | Photo by Michael Weber

    Readers chose from a rack of more than 50 banned or challenged books, including books of diverse content—defined by the ALA to have content by or about people of color, LGBTQ+ people or people with disabilities.

    Purchio said that while many people feel we are at a point in history beyond censorship, literature still faces frequent challenges.

    “Every year there’s always a list of new words that are challenged for different reasons,” Purchio said. “The ALA puts out a list of the top books challenged in 2018, 2019.”

    Ocean Campbell, a graduate student in social work, read David Levithan’s Two Boys Kissing. According to the ALA, the book is ranked number 11 for the most challenged and burned book in 2018 because it included LGBTQ+ content.

    “I really wish that this book had existed when I was a teenager,” Campbell said. “I think it possibly could have changed my whole life.”

    Campbell said the book had a powerful message and brilliant moments that resonated with her. Campbell said any young person who wants the book should be able to have it.

    Harriet Burr, a librarian with a master’s degree in community economic development, read For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway, a book set during the Spanish Civil War.

    “How many of you learned about the Spanish Civil War in school?” Burr said. No hands raised in the audience. “Why don’t we teach this?”

    Burr said people are unaware of a lot of history, in part due to purposeful obfuscation. Burr blamed former President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Catholic Church for ignoring the Spanish Civil War.

    Purchio said people ban or challenge books because they feel threatened by a work and have a desire to respond. He said the book reading celebrates the freedom to read.

    Journalism professor Marcy Burstiner reads a banned book during a banned book reading in front of HSU’s library on Sept. 24. | Photo by Michael Weber

    Marcy Burstiner, who is also a HSU journalism professor, added a similar sentiment.

    “You can threaten the writers, but the book will go on,” Burstiner said.

    According to the ALA, it launched Banned Books Week in the 1980s after a United States Supreme Court case ruling said school officials could not ban books in libraries because of their content.

    Since then, the ALA has compiled lists of challenged books each year. The ALA also posts additional information on banned books on their website.

    “It’s still happening,” Purchio said. “It’s important to keep this band going, because it’s good to show that even though censorship exists in the world, there’s some people who champion freedom of speech and freedom to read.”

    A previous version of this article listed the author of “Two Boys Kissing” as David Campbell, but the author is David Levithan.

  • Vaping Epidemic Overshadows Opioid Crisis

    Vaping Epidemic Overshadows Opioid Crisis

    Opioid crisis overlooked as ‘vaping epidemic’ is brought to the foreground

    With Hollywood actors and prominent public figures accessorizing day-to-day life with a JUUL in hand, vaping was quick to enter the teenage party scene and develop a reputation amongst the younger crowd.

    Years ago, public disapproval was primarily aimed at the advertisements vaping companies released. The younger crowd became the target audience with the promotion of sweet, tempting flavors, and the original audience, adults who were looking to quit cigarettes, quickly became a secondary target.

    In late August, seven deaths in relation to vaping were confirmed. Beyond that, 530 cases of lung illness found in young adults have been attached to vaping with the numbers on the rise. Regardless of whether marijuana or nicotine cartridges are being used, an unrelated chemical substance is being singled out. Vitamin E acetate, a common diluent used in vaping cartridges to cut the product and increase shelf longevity, appears to be the cause.

    Vitamin E comes in many forms and is most commonly known for its moisturizing and adhering quality. Physicians are dumbfounded by the idea of smoking it. Medical officials compare smoking Vitamin E acetate to “[s]aran wrap around your lungs” as the tocopherol element adheres to the lungs liner fluid, blocking oxygen travel.

    The light on vaping has cast a shadow on a much older and somehow less prominent issue affecting our country, the opioid epidemic. Since the ’90s, medical officials began distributing pain relievers at a higher rate after pharmaceutical companies assured them of their non-addictive quality. Proven to be false, this ultimately resulted in over 700,000 people dying from a drug overdose within the 1999 to 2017 time period. And according to the CDC, 400,000 of the deaths were due to overdose involving opioids, prescription and illicit.

    Since then, an estimated 130 people die daily from opioid-related drug overdoses. Unlike the vaping “epidemic,” officials are aware that 40% of opioid overdose deaths are connected to a prescription but refuse to take action and put restrictions on pharmaceutical companies.

    Focus continues to surround vaping. Measures are being introduced to limit access to vaping devices. Meanwhile, the country has been at war with drugs since the ’70s with little to no improvement.

    It took less than two months for legislators to begin discussions on vaping issues and introduce more than 200 bills to combat it. In almost half a century the opioid epidemic has claimed more than 400,000 lives, with 47,000 in 2017 alone, and leaves 1.7 million people suffering from substance disorders relating to prescription opioid pain relievers.

    The more urgent issue is somehow the least prominent thought in any officials mind.

    Before jumping into the next news-worthy drug epidemic, let’s overcome the current opioid battle we’ve been struggling with for almost 50 years and relieve the pain of over a million people before forgetting them altogether.

  • Dying for a Climate Cause

    Dying for a Climate Cause

    Die-in protest advocates for action on climate change

    Motionless bodies lay in the Humboldt State University quad on Friday.

    Junior wildlife major Olivia Brock joined a die-in protest put on by Extinction Rebellion with help from Earth First.

    “We want to show them that if they’re gonna kill us, then they have to see us,” Brock said.

    A variety of HSU students pretended to be dead on the ground, with many holding flowers in their hands and some wearing face paint.

    • HSU student Vanessa Argonza lying prone for a die-in climate protest in HSU’s quad on Sept. 27. | Photo by James Wilde
    • Signs at a die-in climate protest in HSU’s quad on Sept. 27. | Photo by James Wilde
    • John Powell (tie-dye), College of the Redwood agriculture student, and J.T. Abbott, HSU botany student, hugging on the ground for a die-in climate protest in HSU’s quad on Sept. 27. | Photo by James Wilde

    Extinction Rebellion and Earth First advocate and protest for governmental action on climate change and environmental issues.

    Junior forestry major Arvel Reeves joined the protest despite not knowing about it beforehand.

    “Climate change is something I really worry about,” Reeves said. “It’s only going to get worse.”

    Lily Price, HSU botany student, played a morose tune over the protesters’ bodies on a harmonium, an organ instrument that sounds similar to an accordion.

    The protest came one week after a global climate strike that saw thousands of protests around the world, including one in Arcata.

    Ellis Hanson, a junior wildlife biology major, wanted to help stand for the earth.

    “I did this to do a demonstration,” Hanson said. “To make sure everyone remembers the crisis we’re in.”

    • Ellis Hanson, HSU wildlife biology junior, lying down for a die-in climate protest in HSU’s quad on Sept. 27. | Photo by James Wilde
    • Lily Price, HSU botany student, plays a somber song on a harmonium for a die-in climate protest in HSU’s quad on Sept. 27. | Photo by James Wilde
    • Protesters lying down for a die-in climate protest in HSU’s quad on Sept. 27. | Photo by James Wilde
    • Protestors gathering in a circle after a die-in climate protest in HSU’s quad on Sept. 27. | Photo by James Wilde

    Students passing by showed mixed reactions to the protesters. Some stopped and watched. Others took photos on their phones. Others scurried along without a second glance.

    Brock hoped the visual nature of the protest would draw attention.

    “We want to make the people of Humboldt County see the future we’re being handed,” Brock said.

    Heri Hawthorn, a local activist, helped create some of the signs and banners for the protest. Hawthorn held a sign above the protesters while they lay still.

    “There’s nothing else to do except support others and curb what’s happening,” Hawthorn said.

    Early on, when a University Center employee took down an unpermitted protest banner. Brock took notice.

    “Don’t you care about your children?” Brock asked the employee. “The earth is dying!”

    • Blu, HSU environmental studies senior, lies covered up for a die-in climate protest in HSU’s quad on Sept. 27. | Photo by James Wilde
  • Bruce Bochy’s Giant Impact

    Bruce Bochy’s Giant Impact

    Capping off a legendary career, Bruce Bochy retires as manager of the San Francisco Giants

    When Bruce Bochy got his job as manager of the San Francisco Giants in 2007, the Giants hadn’t won a World Series title since the franchise moved from New York in 1958. The Giants weren’t necessarily a lousy franchise since moving to San Francisco, reaching the World Series in 1962, 1989 and 2002 but they were never able to claim baseball’s ultimate prize.

    Bochy’s first few years as manager of the Giants were subpar, but in 2010 Bochy gave San Francisco something the city had waited for decades to get: a World Series title.

    As a die-hard Giants fan, things have gone pretty well over the last decade with Bochy at the helm (with the exception of the last few seasons). The Giants won the World Series three times in a span of five years: 2010, 2012 and 2014. Which is something the Giants’ blue colored rivals to the south haven’t done since before I was born.

    Bochy ended his hall of fame career today after the Giants played their last game of the regular season at Oracle Park in San Francisco. It’s been an emotional day for every single person that is a fan of the Giants or has been a part of the organization. There have been tributes from players and coaches past and present. I guarantee that tears have been shed, including my own.

    It may be hard to understand what Bochy has meant to San Francisco and the game of baseball if you’re not a Giants fan. The impact he has made on both the franchise and the game of baseball is hard to put into words. It starts with the way that he treats his players and the way that he situated his players to win three World Series titles.

    In 2010 the Giants had few superstar players and no one expected them to make the postseason, much less win the World Series. The team had a budding superstar as catcher, Buster Posey, and Tim Lincecum, a Cy Young Award winner, as its pitching ace. Outside of that the Giants were never expected to be a World Series contender.

    After winning the division and beating the Braves and Phillies, the Giants found themselves in the World Series against the Texas Rangers and were able to beat them in five games to capture the title.

    The players are the ones that win the game, but the manager moves the pieces around so that the team has the best chance to win. Baseball is a very detail-oriented game, and Bochy was able to create lineups and use his pitching rotation to put his teams in the best position to win. It also speaks to Bochy’s character that he treated his players with respect. In every World Series team that Bochy managed, his players bought in and played their absolute hardest for him.

    Another aspect of Bochy’s style that is unique in this day and age, is that he manages with his gut. Nowadays, baseball is about advanced metrics and stats. Almost every lineup and pitching decision is made off of computer data. Bochy still manages the game the old-fashioned way, using his knowledge of the game and scouting reports of opponents to set his lineups and make pitching changes.

    The entire 2019 season, at every ballpark that Bochy visited for the last time, he was presented with a gift from the opposing manager and given a standing ovation by opposing players and fans. But there was one moment in particular that stood out to me during Bochy’s farewell tour.

    On Sept. 7th at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, a place where pure hatred of the Giants is felt every time they make the trip down, the Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts presented Bruce Bochy with a gift. A montage of Bochy’s highlights played on the big screen, including his World Series highlights.

    For those who don’t understand the rivalry between the Giants and the Dodgers, the teams and the fans hate everything that has to do with the other. When the presentation was shown at Dodger Stadium that night, fans cheered. In a rare moment, the SoCal team and its fans showed respect for the Giants and their manager that had been their adversary for so long.

    Bruce Bochy will forever live on as one of the greatest managers in San Francisco Giants’ history. After today, the Giants will search for a new manager and hopefully return to the glory days of beating the Dodgers and parading the World Series trophy through the streets of San Francisco.

  • Musician Feature: Preston Thibo

    Musician Feature: Preston Thibo

    A look at one of the key players in the underground Humboldt electronic scene

    Twenty-two-year-old Preston Thibo is a Humboldt State studio art major who mixes his own electronic music and throws underground parties, but that’s only a piece of what he envisions for the future of electronic music in Humboldt.

    Thibo’s music career sprouted from his passion for throwing “renegades,” a term used to describe underground electronic concerts showcasing lesser-known artists at secret locations. He began throwing renegades a year ago, and soon found himself mixing music for his own shows.

    “I wanted to give people a place to dance to electronic music instead of punk, which isn’t for everyone,” Thibo said. “And I didn’t see a scene up here so I created one.”

    Throwing renegades was spear-headed because electronic music shows in Humboldt aren’t exactly accessible for people under the legal drinking age of 21 because electronic music shows are often held at venues that serve alcohol.

    Thibo relaxing before heading to the stage for his set at The Jam on Sept. 22. | Photo by Jerame Saunders

    This drove Thibo to begin working on full-fledged concerts stationed in landmark Humboldt locations. Eventually, he was sucked into becoming one of the showcased artists.

    “I think I was on the forefront of making it happen,” Thibo said. “There are a lot of people up here who mix and who create, but there wasn’t really anywhere for them to perform.”

    After the first renegade in 2018, the support from the community and fellow artists was substantial enough for him to throw more, all while performing at shows on and off-campus.

    “The success in terms of money is not at all,” Thibo said. “Success in the terms of making people happy and giving people a good time, it’s been amazing.”

    Preston Thibo plays music with a partner for a small crowd at The Jam on Friday, Sep. 20. | Photo by Jerame Saunders

    Thibo was led to Humboldt to escape the urban trappings of Los Angeles and he quickly fell in love with the environment. However, there are still drawbacks to being an artist in such a unique area like Humboldt County.

    “Pros are that it’s such a small community that you get to know everyone in it,” Thibo said. “But that can lead to a con as well.”

    Thibo doesn’t necessarily consider his mixes as representative of the Humboldt electronic scene, which he describes as trippy, ambient and with deep bass.

    “For me, I like to play disco and house music, and what gets people moving on an upper level and not so much on a downer level,” Thibo said.

    “[Music] is everything to me. If I didn’t have a platform for me to share my music, I probably wouldn’t be as outgoing as I am today.”

    Preston Thibo

    According to Thibo, he is constantly striving to improve at making music, by accumulating better equipment and furthering his renegade brand called Esoteric Method with the name Kabbalah, his personal label as an artist. His other passions include stage design, making art installations and transporting people into the worlds he creates.

    “I guess my goal is to unite people with similar interests who have awesome nights where they don’t have to worry about work tomorrow, school or class,” Thibo said. “They come and are in the moment and in the now, having fun with people they might not know.”

    Thibo uses his creative outlets for social connection and to have a place where his music and art may impact the lives of others.

    “[Music] is everything to me. If I didn’t have a platform for me to share my music, I probably wouldn’t be as outgoing as I am today,” Thibo said. “I grew up very shy and to myself. But now being able to play music and express myself through what I listen to with other people, it just makes me content with my every day life.”

    To check out Thibo’s mixes, go to SoundCloud of MixCloud under the name “Monsieur.”

  • Hoodies with Holes Trigger Responses

    Hoodies with Holes Trigger Responses

    Did streetwear fashion brand Bstroy take tragedy too far?

    Earlier this month at New York’s Fashion Week, streetwear brand Bstroy sparked controversy after unveiling a line of clothing inspired by school shootings.

    Founders of Bstroy and Atlanta based designers Brick Owens and Dieter Grams presented hoodies riddled with bullet holes and emblazoned with names of schools where mass shooting took place: Sandy Hook, Columbine, Virginia Tech and Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

    Bstroy’s Instagram page shares the brands description, a “Neo-Native Menswear Design House.” Owens and Grams have come under scrutiny and have defended their creations as a form of art and expression.

    After some of the backlash, Owens took to Instagram in an attempt to explain.

    “Sometimes life can be painfully ironic,” Owens wrote. “Like the irony of dying violently in a place you consider to be a safe, controlled environment, like school. We are reminded all the time of life’s fragility, shortness, and unpredictability yet we are also reminded of its infinite potential.”

    Grams and Owens sent a statement to TIME, the New York Times, the Cut and the Washington Post claiming their brand simply used its platform to shed light on important issues.

    “We wanted to make a comment on gun violence and the type of gun violence that needs preventative attention and what its origins are,” the statement read. “While also empowering the survivors of tragedy through storytelling in the clothes. Arts job is to wring emotion out, what we do with it after is subjective and on us.”

    Fred Guttenburg’s Twitter response.

    However, not everyone views the act in an artistic light. Family members of victims took to social media to share their views. Fred Guttenburg, whose daughter Jamie Guttenburg was killed by the gunman at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting, went to Twitter to express his disgust.

    “Under what scenario could somebody think this was a good idea?” Guttenburg wrote. “This has me so upset. If any of my followers [know] anybody involved with this clothing line, please ask them to stop it immediately.”

    Shawn Sherlock, whose niece Gina Rose Montalto was also a victim at the Stoneman Douglas shooting, posted a tweet in response as well.

    “My 14-year-old fashionista niece was murdered in Parkland,” Sherlock wrote. “She was a professional illustrator and aspired to be clothing designer like you. You should be ashamed of taking advantage of her death to make [money].”

    Some HSU students noted that if Bstroy were to donate some of their proceeds, they could be more likely to accept the creators’ stance.

    Screengrab of Sherlock’s tweet in response to Bstroy’s hoodies.

    Journalism major Israel Landes said he found Owens’ explanation insincere, seeing it more as Owens defending his artistic choice and saying he thought there were ways to make it clear they were making a statement.

    “If at the event, fashion show, maybe just a quick announcement, ‘Hey we’re doing this to represent whatever group, whatever victims, whoever’s being affected by these shootings,’” Landes said. “He could if he wanted to go the extra mile and say ‘Hey you know we are donating X number of the proceeds to families of the victims.’”

    Mari Agaton, an art history major, agreed with the charity aspect lightening the grim connotation of the hoodies.

    “Coming as an artistic statement, if the proceeds were donated to the families I could buy into it better,” Agaton said.

    Owens and Grams met on MySpace while they were both living in Atlanta, and while they initially planned to have the sweaters be only for NYFW, they have stated they’re now considering putting them up for sale.

  • Ask Evergreen: Meaningful Friendships

    Ask Evergreen: Meaningful Friendships

    Ask Evergreen is a weekly advice column by the students of the Lumberjack.

    Each week we’ll answer anonymous questions sent in by readers about anything and everything.

    Dear Evergreen,

    How do we navigate meaningful friendships in a college setting where friendships are based on talking about bullshit?

    Dear Friendship Keeper,

    Friendships come in all different forms, some healthy and others not. Genuine friendships usually aren’t based from a bond of bullshit talking, but to each their own. You can do a couple different things to avoid befriending bombastic people who blather.

    First, find people that you might have common interests with. This is the easiest place to start when searching for a meaningful connection, as you control who and what you let into your life. Join a club or frequent places that you enjoy to find others interested in similar activities. Strike up a friendly conversation with someone at your favorite bookstore or while you’re hiking in the community forest on a special trail.

    Second, when you notice people itching to gossip or spew meaningless rhetoric, separate yourself from those situations. If you strive to surround yourself with positive-thinking people, chances are one of those people will vibe with you. Don’t settle if it isn’t significant and beneficial to you.

    Third, get out of your comfort zone. Maybe you’ve allowed yourself to become complacent with the type of people who are around you. Change that. Voice your discomfort when it comes to people forcing their absurdities upon you. Challenge yourself to push for what you want rather than settling for what others push onto you. If you don’t want to have small talk about the weather, or a heated conversation about politics, say something to change that. Be the navigator of this ship we call life, and choose who you want on your crew.

    Lastly, it’s okay if you’re a lone wolf for the time being. It’s no fun when people around you drain your energy, so don’t feel selfish for choosing not to have them in your life. Sometimes we just need to self-reflect and ask ourselves if what we have is enough. The best things come to those who wait, right? A meaningful friendship can’t be forced, so don’t rush into anything and trust your gut.

    All the best!

    Sincerely,

    Evergreen

    If you have any questions you’d like to send in, email us at contactthejack@gmail.com. We won’t publish any names and you don’t need to use one.

  • Get Ahead of the Humboldt Hack

    Get Ahead of the Humboldt Hack

    Vitamin D and zinc can help the immune system battle the common cold and the flu

    In addition to getting your annual flu shot, there are other things to do to protect yourself from the flu virus.

    The flu spreads most commonly through the air, which is why sneezing and coughing, in a hygienic way, help to prevent the sickness from spreading. A study published in the journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection has concluded that the flu virus can stay on unwashed human hands for up to 30 minutes.

    “It was possible to recover infectious influenza A (H3N2) and A (H1N1) 2009 viruses for a period of time extending up to 30 min,” Yves Thomas, the lead researcher, wrote.

    The likelihood of contracting the flu virus rises significantly with hand-to-face contact, allowing the virus access to mucous membranes.

    As always, eating fruits and vegetables and moderate exercise will give you the best odds to beat sickness, but once you start feeling the symptoms, what can you do?

    Vitamin C, in conjunction with other vitamins and minerals such as zinc and vitamin D, can be used to strengthen the immune system for a small period of time, but over long stretches proved no more effective than placebo.

    Harri Hemilä, Ph.D. tested 1-2 grams/day of Vitamin C and found that the likelihood of catching a cold dropped.

    “The duration of colds was reduced by 8% (3% to 12%),” Hemilä wrote. “The severity of colds was also reduced by regular vitamin C administration.”

    Athletes can especially benefit from regular vitamin C supplementation. The vitamin C acts as an antioxidant for athletes as it works to potentially reverse oxidative damage that occurs with exercising. The article states that vitamin C may be useful for those exposed to brief periods of severe physical exercise.

    Mariangelea Rondanelli and other researchers investigated the effects three compounds have on colds. Vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D seem to be the holy trinity of risk reduction for cold and flu. Once symptoms occur, these have been shown to lessen the severity and length of sickness.

    “Considering zinc, the supplementation may shorten the duration of colds by approximately 33%,” Rondanelli wrote. “Common cold patients may be instructed to try zinc within 24 hours of onset of symptoms. As for vitamin D, the supplementation protected against the common cold overall, considering baseline levels and age.”

    Of course, not everyone has the same reaction to dosages, and it’s possible these might not help everyone fight sickness. A change in diet can increase zinc levels easily. Eating an extra serving of nuts or seeds at breakfast is more inviting and customizable compared to buying zinc lozenges, packets or pills.

    Vitamin D can be obtained through the sun, but here in Arcata that option leaves just as the worst of the flu season hits. A small supplement of vitamin D may help with more than just immune issues, and many Americans are vitamin D deficient without even realizing it.

    Beyond that, one would have to eat a lot of oranges to match the one to two grams of daily vitamin C that was tested in the study, but an increased intake of any amount wouldn’t be wasted. EmergenC, Airborne and other supplements will deliver a dense dose of the vitamin. Hemilä said patients should try out an increase in vitamin C.

    “Nevertheless, given the consistent effect of vitamin C on the duration and severity of colds in the regular supplementation studies, and the low cost and safety,” Hemilä wrote. “It may be worthwhile for common cold patients to test on an individual basis whether therapeutic vitamin C is beneficial for them.”

  • Humboldt Lacks Medi-Cal Resources

    Humboldt Lacks Medi-Cal Resources

    When dentists don’t take Medi-Cal, it forces individuals to travel to seek treatment

    For any students dealing with dental issues while attending Humboldt State, I suggest you plan out time to take off from your courses and work to go home and have it dealt with. The sad truth is that the proper resources don’t exist in Humboldt County, and traveling great distances to receive medical attention isn’t actually that uncommon.

    When I was 11, I ran face-first into a pole and broke my front tooth in half. Followed by days of crying and constant mirror checks, I would switch between laughing at how stupid I felt I looked to uncontrollable sobbing. I couldn’t eat anything cold or my whole face would be met with a violent sensitive reaction. The only option I had as a self-conscious 11-year-old was to replace the broken tooth with a filling and hope it looked as normal as possible, so that’s what I did.

    While the sensitivity eventually subsided, a year later the filling fell out. Again, I was hit with overwhelming sensitivity and due to my being a pre-teen, I was also terribly embarrassed. Every time the filling fell out after, it would be remade. I figured it was time to find a permanent fix and my dentist told me I would eventually need a veneer.

    Veneers are what Instagram models and celebrities have on their teeth to make them look like perfect pearls. Basically, it’s a thin layer of material that’s placed directly over the tooth and protects the natural tooth’s surface, making your smile flawless.

    “The sad truth is that the proper resources don’t exist in Humboldt County, and traveling great distances to receive medical attention isn’t actually that uncommon.”

    I was scheduled to receive a single veneer. This is because I only needed one tooth fixed, but in large part because they are terribly expensive. I was told that getting just one was risky, as it has to be perfectly engineered to match the rest of my teeth. I was willing to take the risk.

    This past semester I was hit with that same violent sensitive feeling in my tooth but the filling hadn’t fallen out. It seemed that the filling was slowly deteriorating and I began to feel it everyday. The tooth slowly turned a different shade and began to chip away. I knew that I was going to need an even better permanent fix. This meant looking at getting a full set of veneers.

    My normal dentist and physician are five hours away. Not a horrible distance, but not next door. I knew for this procedure I would have to leave and miss some days of school, but I wanted to explore my options first.

    I went to the campus health center to see if they could help me with my sensitivity or lead me in the right direction to begin services with a local dentist. I was met with two nurses that seemed disappointed to tell me that the center couldn’t help much with dental issues. They prescribed me a numbing cream and gave me a list of local dentists.

    Of the local dentists, only one took Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. This was disheartening as it was my only insurance but I made an appointment anyway. The facility was called the Open Door Clinic Dental and was located in Eureka.

    The appointment was short and they told me I needed a root canal. Unfortunately, the clinic doesn’t provide the procedure and they gave me another list of dentists, more specifically endodontists, that could help me. As I called around, I realized that none of the dentists listed accepted Medi-Cal either and I was faced with the reality that I was going to have to travel back home to seek treatment.

    While I understand that Eureka, Arcata and McKinleyville are small, I think there should be more medical professionals that accept Medi-Cal in Humboldt County.

    Medi-Cal is a free state program. It’s what you sign up for if you can’t afford other insurances. Because it’s a state program you’d think it’d be more widely accepted, but it seems to be the other way around. Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?

  • Artist Feature: Taylor Bruzza

    Artist Feature: Taylor Bruzza

    Art is more than just another form of expression, it’s a lifeline

    Taylor Bruzza is a studio art major at Humboldt State University whose love for creating art can be traced back to when she was first able to hold a pencil. Bruzza enjoys painting, making jewelry and drawing. She uses a wide range of mediums including ink, watercolors and colored pencils, but she predominately dabbles with acrylic paints. She takes inspiration from nature as she often creates art pieces involving biological and hyper-realistic forms.

  • HSU Athletics Press Conference Breakdown 9/24

    HSU Athletics Press Conference Breakdown 9/24

    Women’s and men’s soccer win big, cross country performs well in Oregon and volleyball faces some tough competition at home

    This past week was successful for Humboldt State Athletics. The women’s soccer team soundly defeated the visiting William Jessup Warriors 4-0 in the friendly confines of College Creek Field. Men’s soccer traveled to Redding and kept their goal scoring barrage going with a 5-1 win over Simpson University. Cross Country traveled to Monmouth, Oregon and reached excellent individual numbers with both the men’s and women’s teams finishing in fourth place. Volleyball started their CCAA conference schedule at home in Lumberjack Arena, winning the first match and then losing the next two to some very tough competition.

    Tuesday’s press conference at Lumberjack Arena featured comments from all of the head coaches and selected athletes from each sport.

    Women’s Soccer

    The Jacks played their home opener on Saturday and played effectively against the visiting William Jessup Warriors. The tone was set early in the match when senior midfielder Lindsay Stoner scored just three minutes in. From there, the Jacks never relinquished control of the game.

    Even though, to the untrained eye, there was not much fault in the game for the Jacks, Head Coach Paul Karver noticed that after scoring the first goal his players were losing a bit of focus.

    “We had a conversation at halftime about we need to play our style, and we need to have a real identity and we need to get back to that,” Karver said. “And that was a challenge because everyone is trying to do more and get on the scoreboard.”

    Men’s Soccer

    Right now, the Jacks seem like an offensive force that is going to be very hard to stop. In the last two games the Jacks have outscored their opponents 10-2 and overall this season they are already averaging almost four goals per game. Head Coach Fred Jungemann was happy with the results of his team thus far. He feels that his team is ready for the tough CCAA conference which begins on Friday as the Jacks take on Sonoma State in Rohnert Park.

    “Certainly the preseason has helped and brought us to a level of confidence,” Jungemann said. “We’re going to this game on Friday with a self-belief that we can step on the field and compete with anybody we play against whether we score five goals or not.”

    Cross Country

    In addition to both cross country teams finishing in fourth place, the Jacks had some standout performances. For the men, it was Daniel Tull who finished second in the race and earned himself an all CCAA award for the second time this season. For the women it was Cessair McKinney who had the standout performance for the Jacks, finishing seventh and earning herself student-athlete of the week.

    The men’s team also earned an 8th place NCAA regional ranking based on their recent performances and for freshman runner Finn Tyvoll the ranking is a validation of the team’s success.

    “It’s fantastic because it shows how much work we’re putting in,” Tyvoll said. “It’s worth it because of the grind and putting Humboldt on the map.”

    Volleyball

    The Jacks volleyball team went 1-2 on their opening homestand at Lumberjack Arena last week. They won their home opener 3-1 against Cal State Monterey Bay in front of a packed crowd. The next night, the Jacks lost 1-3 to the nationally ranked Cal Poly Pamona Bronco’s. A significant challenge was presented to the Jacks on Saturday as the No. 1 team in the nation, Cal State San Bernardino, played at Lumberjack Arena and swept the Jacks 3-0.

    Despite the daunting task, Head Coach Kelly Wood was not phased by the level of competition that CSU San Bernardino presented.

    “Overall we went into it very loose, understanding that the pressure is always on the team that’s expected to win,” Wood said. “I think we could have competed harder than we did and maybe we could have played a little better and taken a few more points off of them, but there’s always room for improvement.”

  • LJ Sports Podcast 9/19

    LJ Sports Podcast 9/19

    Listen to the KRFH Sports Show live on Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on 105.1 KRFH or KRFH.net

    https://soundcloud.com/user-815505871/lj-sports-podcast

    Featuring: Thomas Lal, Deion Alston, Albert Muro, Skye Kimya and Elliott Portillo

    Part 1: We talk about Humboldt State sports from the week including the volleyball team’s first conference win at home. We also discuss the men’s and women’s soccer team away games. At the end of the segment, conversation turns to international sports and we talk about the U.S. women’s national team.

    Part 2: We discuss the start of the NHL preseason with a focus on the San Jose Sharks and LA Kings while brining any non-hockey fans up to date on the rivalry between the Sharks and the Las Vegas Golden Knights. We also address the IIHF’s banning of Evgeny Kuznetsov for four years compared to the NHL’s three game ban for illegal substance use.

    Part 3: After waiting on the topic last week, we finally delve into the Antonio Brown saga and attempt to understand exactly what went wrong in Oakland and how on earth the Patriots keep getting better and better. We also talk about week two performances around the NFL and our favorite teams.

    Part 4: In the debrief section of the show we talk a little baseball with playoffs just around the corner. We also discuss Bruce Bochy’s 2000th career win as a manager and the Humboldt Crabs Alumni who made it to the MLB.

  • ‘Parts Unknown’ Producer Visits HSU

    ‘Parts Unknown’ Producer Visits HSU

    Humboldt State Alumnus Josh Ferrell talks food and travel storytelling

    Join this Friday, Sept. 27, as the Anthropology and Journalism and Mass Communication departments invite Humboldt State University alumnus Josh Ferrell back to his stomping grounds to educate students on his dream-like career in a free event that is open to the university community and general public. 

    Ferrell graduated from HSU in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication. He quickly worked his way up the ranks and become a television producer for National Geographic and CNN. Some notable shows that he worked on include “No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain” and CNN’s “Parts Unknown.”

    According to a press release for the event, Ferrell has traveled to more than 40 countries for his work with the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain (1956-2018). During the event Ferrell will discuss food and travel storytelling.

    Visit the Library Fishbowl at 1 p.m. to hear Ferrell present Food and Travel Journalism: Compelling Storytelling in Digestible Portions.

    “Parts Unknown” crew shooting an episode in Antarctica. Josh Ferrell is center with Anthony Bourdain to his left. | Photo courtesy Josh Ferrell
  • Ready, set, vote!

    Ready, set, vote!

    National Voter Registration Day hits HSU

    Representatives working with Humboldt’s League of Women Voters tabled at the Humboldt State University library on Tuesday for National Voter Registration Day.

    With national elections just around the corner, Vincent Thomas, environmental resources engineering senior and receptionist for Associated Students, urged library visitors to register.

    “Voting gives you the right to complain about what’s going on,” Thomas said. “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.”

    Beside Thomas sat Margaret Augustine, a 20-year-old Eureka resident and member of the League of Women Voters. Augustine simply wanted to provide students with information on how to vote.

    “It’s non-partisan,” Augustine said. “We just get people to vote and express their opinion.”

    According to National Voter Registration Day’s website, the holiday has been held on the fourth Tuesday of every September since 2012. The holiday’s goal is simple: get people to vote. According to the site, 800,000 people registered to vote on the holiday in 2018.

    The U.S. Census’ website also reports that 61.3% of U.S. citizens registered to vote in 2018, and 49% actually did so.

    The lowest voter turnout in 2018 came from citizens between the ages of 18 and 24, at 30.1%. Voter turnout increased with age, with the highest voter turnout from citizens between 65 and 74, at 65.6%.

    Thomas emphasized that voting gives citizens a voice.

    “Just getting people to register to vote so they have that option to vote if they need to is very important,” Thomas said. “We want to get as many people to have their voices heard as possible.”

    At midday on Tuesday, Thomas said around a dozen individuals had registered.

    “Most of the students who have come by said, ‘yeah, they’ve already got it done,’ which is pretty good,” Thomas said.

    Thomas said registering only takes about five minutes. Outside of National Voter Registration Day, a prospective voter can register at their local election office or online at Vote.gov, an official website of the U.S. government that helps people figure out how to register. The nearest election office to HSU resides in Eureka at 2426 6th St.

  • PC Gaming Club Installs Flight Simulator

    PC Gaming Club Installs Flight Simulator

    Bing! Flight attendants, please prepare for take-off

    We are now departing from the Humboldt State University library.

    Since fall 2018, Humboldt State University’s PC Gaming Club planned, fundraised and constructed a flight simulator for anyone to use. Students, faculty, staff and community members can learn how to fly an airplane by practicing in the simulator on the third floor of the library.

    “The amazing thing about simulations is that it’s designed to simulate real life,” Sarah Livingstone, president of the PC Gaming Club, said. “You are still having the same neural connections and the same wavelengths in your brain to replicate that. So then when you do step inside a real airplane, you are doing all the exact same things; you know how to do everything correctly.”

    The control wheel or “yoke,” juts out from the instrument panel of the flight simulator. | Photo by Michael Weber

    The simulator features all the levers, buttons, instruments, windows and pedals that one would see in a real-life cockpit. Library pilots can choose their airplane model, airport location, flight conditions and other variables within the software, Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

    Step-by-step instructions are posted nearby so that anyone may start the simulation solo. Livingstone said the club wants to hire a trained student to teach the public to operate the simulator and hire a flight instructor to allow anyone to obtain a real pilot license.

    “We’re looking into working with extended education to bring forward this flat ground school program that would help students get their pilot’s license at HSU.”

    Sarah Livingstone

    “We’re looking into working with extended education to bring forward this flat ground school program that would help students get their pilot’s license at HSU,” Livingstone said.

    Just like getting a license to drive a car, the two requirements for a pilot’s license—as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration—are to pass a written test and record 40 hours of flight practice with a professional.

    David Marshall, the advisor to the PC Gaming Club, said a pilot-in-training may save a significant amount of money for the 40 hours of practice by using a simulator rather than a real, gasoline-consuming airplane.

    A nearby supplemental book for pleasure reading rests on the flight simulator desk at the Humboldt State University Library on Sept. 23. | Photo by Michael Weber

    “The cheapest airplane is right around $100 an hour. On top of that, you get another $30 an hour for your instructor,” Marshall said. “So every hour, an airplane costs $130. In the simulator, if somebody else builds it for you, it’s just an instructor and it’s $30 an hour to put book time.”

    The club is searching for more funding to provide a classroom to study the written test and a professional instructor for the simulator.

    Livingstone said they are looking into purchasing the final flight instruments, headphones, a new cover for the chair and a pillow for younger pilots-in-training to access the simulator.

    The project started one year ago when Marshall said he required the club to create a project with a positive, meaningful and educational experience.

    “I suggested gently that gaming is really simulation,” Marshall said. “And there’s a lot of stuff we can do in simulation.”

    The club then raised $10,000 for the furniture, chairs, equipment, computer and software by writing grants, fundraising and working with community members that provided some equipment and furniture.

    Livingstone said the simulator caught the attention of HSU President Tom Jackson, Jr. and Provost Alex Enyedi, who are both aviators. Livingstone encountered unexpected enthusiasm when she met with Jackson.

    “It was supposed to only be a 40-minute meeting, but it ended up being an hour and a half,” Livingstone said. “He was having so much fun.”

  • #ExploreHumboldt: Patrick’s Point

    #ExploreHumboldt: Patrick’s Point

    Patrick’s Point offers multiple options for beach-lovers at an affordable price

    This week’s #ExploreHumboldt column covers a fan favorite, the majestic and expansive Patrick’s Point. This one-square-mile State Park features some of the best beach spots around and is a perfect destination for a daytime picnic, sunset beach run or weekend camping trip.

    As a state park, Patrick’s Point includes amenities that we have not seen in previous #ExploreHumboldt entries. These include bathrooms with running water, clearly marked trailheads with accurate mileage, picnic tables with BBQ grills and over 120 overnight camping spots.

    Because of its State Park status, Patrick’s Point has well-maintained and clearly-marked trails with mileage indicators. | Photo by Jett Williams

    However, these benefits come at a cost. There is a $8 vehicle fee, with no student discount. The litany of areas to explore and the overall quality of the experience make it worth the price of admission. You should leave a couple hours of time minimum to to fully experience the park and get your money’s worth.

    Patrick’s Point also features several “Hike n’ Bike” campsites. Those who bike or hike into the park benefit from free admission as well as their own area with campsites reserved for non-car users. These sites include all the features of a car site, with a location closer to the best points of interest.

    The view looking north from Wedding Rock is one of the most spectacular in the park. The beach access trail can be seen in the bottom left corner. | Photo by Jett Williams

    To get to Patrick’s Point, take Hwy 101 north past Trinidad, and take the ‘Patrick’s Point’ exit. Turn left, and continue until you see signs for the park. Alternatively, you can drive to Trinidad and bike along Stagecoach Road, turning left onto Patrick’s Point drive before arriving at the park. This way, you get a bit of extra exploration in, while avoiding the $8 vehicle fee.

    If you want to see everything, it’s worth bringing some hiking shoes and a day pack to walk the length of the park. There are a ton of different spots to visit at Patrick’s Point, so I’ll quickly go over some of my favorites.

    Sea Anemones are easily found at the tidepools near Palmer’s Point during low tide. Tide tables are available online and at the park’s entrance. | Photo by Jett Williams

    A network of trails connects the different points of interest spread throughout the park. Plan to hike at least a couple of miles if you want to see everything. Most of the main rim trail is fairly flat and some sections are wheelchair-accessible. However, the access trails that take you to most of the prominent locations are very steep, as they often run straight up and down the steep coastal hills.

    Wedding Rock is the most spectacular point in the park. This massive rock structure juts up from the coastline, providing stellar views of the surrounding rough coastline. The park’s original caretaker was married there in the early 1900s, and Wedding Rock has been home to several weddings every year since.

    Sumeg Village is a recreated Yurok village, built by the local tribe with modern tools and traditional materials and practices. The village is used by the tribe for cultural traditions and features two redwood canoes, a sweat room and a native plant garden, also maintained by the tribe.

    Sumeg Village provides a nice spot for quiet reflection. The area was built with traditional Yurok techniques by the local tribe, and is still used today for rituals and ceremonies. | Photo by Jett Williams

    The Agate Beach is another location worth your time. This expansive stretch of coastline seems to span as far as the eye can see, with a pristine beach of light sand and naturally-occurring agate stones.

    When visiting Patrick’s Point, remember that swimming in the frigid North Coast waters is highly discouraged. The undertow is strong, and sweeper waves can catch unattentive visitors off-guard. Dogs are allowed, on-leash only, but are not permitted on trails or beaches. Also, refrain from picking the local mushrooms and wildflowers. They have a hard enough time surviving without being plucked by the unaware.

    After a long school week, we all need a bit of calm reflection and relaxation. Carve out at least an afternoon later this week or this weekend to visit our closest state park, and don’t forget to keep exploring!

  • Women’s Soccer Triumphs Over Jessup Warriors

    Women’s Soccer Triumphs Over Jessup Warriors

    Jacks make it look easy as they beat William Jessup 4-0 at home

    It was a moment of glory for Humboldt State women’s soccer as they shut out the William Jessup Warriors and collected their first win. After a rough start to the season, the Jacks found a way to turn their errors around and create game winning plays.

    Three minutes into the first half was all it took for midfielder Lindsay Stoner to score the opening goal. This scoring opportunity gave midfielder Sabine Postma a chance to capitalize on a second goal minutes later. Jacks held a 2-0 lead just five minutes into the game.

    Since the start of the season, the Jacks have outshot every opponent but have come up short on finishing for a goal. Midfielder Pikake Hix produced six shots on goal and scored during the second half, putting the Jacks at a 3-0 lead.

    “I think we’ve always been able to build well as a team,” Hix said. “We just haven’t been able to finish.”

    • HSU forward #4 Kendal Spencer tries for a standing tackle on the William Jessup. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • HSU midfielder #7 Rose Hartman sizes up the Jessup defender. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • HSU midfielder #16 Sabine Postma takes on the William Jessup defender. | Photo by Liam Warner

    Warriors’ goalkeeper Camile Cavey put forth a valiant effort of 13 saves, but it was not enough to sway her team’s morale to overcome the onslaught of the Jacks’ offensive line.

    “We knew we had to come out hard,” Hix said. “Especially for our first home-opener, we were excited. We wanted to keep the momentum up.”

    It was all quiet on the western front for Jacks’ goalkeeper Katelin Talbert. The effectiveness of their offense ensured that the Warriors would struggle to keep the ball out of their zone.

    With the second half winding down, the final goal came from Jacks’ midfielder Rose Harman. The Jacks now held a 4-0 lead over the Warriors. Harman pointed out that an important strategy of the game was to capitalize on the momentum.

    “We had more of an attacking mentality especially coming into the second half,” Harman said. “We knew we needed more goals and wanted more goals. So playing positive instead of negatively and just finding the pockets to play the ball was definitely our strategy.”

    • Jessup forward #44 Abigail House takes on HSU midfielder #16 Sabine Postma. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • HSU midfielder Rose Harmon looks for her next move as she takes the ball up the field. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • HSU midfielder Pikake Hix sends a cross into the penalty box with a Jessup defender in front of her. | Photo by Liam Warner

    After the game, head coach Paul Karver spoke with his players about their performance against William Jessup. He was satisfied with overcoming a scoring deficit that the team has experienced in their last games, but most importantly he enjoyed letting all his players get play time. However, Karver didn’t ignore the fact that too many opportunities for goals were overlooked.

    “When you have as much goal creating production as we have I think we need to do a better job at finishing the opportunities,” Karver said. “We spent the last year and a half really reworking the system to create these opportunities for the players, and it’s something that’s difficult.”

    Women’s soccer will play their next game at College Creek Field against San Francisco State University. This recent win has created momentum for the team to capitalize on, and for players like Rose Harman, they look forward to competing against SFSU.

    • HSU forward Erin Siegel #2 gets a shot off as she is draped by Jessup defenders. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • #14 Selena Osorio leads the attack for the Jacks in the second half. | Photo by Liam Warner
    • #16 Sabine Postma and #22 Pikake Hix celebrate after the Jacks scored to go up 4-0 and seal the win. | Photo by Liam Warner

    “We need to keep the attacking mentality like I said in this game during the second half,” Harman said. “They’re a good team and it’s gonna be a challenge, but we’re up for it.”

  • Protesting Climate Change

    Protesting Climate Change

    AHS and HSU students strike to advocate for climate action

    Video by James Wilde & Collin Slavey | Editing by Chelsea Wood

    Anxious and irritated with the lack of governmental action against climate change, masses of young people and students from Arcata High School and Humboldt State University took to the streets surrounding the Arcata Plaza on Friday as part of the Global Climate Strike.

    Inspired by the International Youth for Climate Action, the Humboldt Sunrise Movement in association with the Extinction Rebellion and students of AHS organized and executed the local school strike protesting climate change.

    Students were excited to show how strong their voices could be when used in unison. Maddie Marriott, a member of Extinction Rebellion, said the organization was aimed at gathering people for peaceful protest and that is what they hoped to achieve.

    • Maddie Marriot stands out in the crowd of demonstrators as she walks down I Street on Sept. 20. | Photo by Collin Slavey
    • Locals with an interest in helping the environment and pushing the government toward action participated in the youth strike too. | Photo by Collin Slavey
    • Maddie Marriot and Vanessa Argonza march down I street, shouting out chants and slogans on their way to the plaza. | Photo by Collin Slavey

    “We dance, yell, sing and chant to show our energy,” Marriott said. “This shows we are cheerful and hopeful and happy in the face of this threat. It is rejuvenating and these friends are empowering. Now we have to wait and see if our voice is being heard.”

    Marriott ended up agreeing to hold a sign that said “Protect Rainbow Ridge, our forests and our climate.” Ecological protection is one of the main goals of the movement, but Extinction Rebellion as a national organization demands governments tell the truth about climate change and act now to prevent species loss and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

    Vanessa Argonza, a Humboldt State student and member of the Extinction Rebellion, said speaking out and advocating for action is important. Change requires people to care and be passionate about an issue, while also realizing we can come together to create change.

    • Members of the Extinction Rebellion stand and watch the demonstrations on Sept. 20 in the Arcata Plaza. | Photo by Collin Slavey
    • Creative signs were a centerpiece to the demonstrations. | Photo by Collin Slavey
    • Maddie Marriot walks down I Street on Sept. 20 on her way to the Arcata Plaza. | Photo by Collin Slavey
    • Demonstrators gather in Arcata plaza, carrying with them a blow up planet earth. Hundreds of people were in attendance. | Photo by Collin Slavey
    • Signs help spread messages aiming to educate and advocate for action. | Photo by Collin Slavey
    • Vanessa Argonza leads the crowd of young people standing against climate change on Sept. 20. | Photo by Collin Slavey

    “In moments of injustice you must speak out because if you do not, you are part of the problem,” Argonza said. “The youth is well aware and willing to be part of the change because it affects them. We can come together and make change. You just have to be aware of your footprint and educate yourself before you speak out.”

    The protest did run into some technical issues as it spilled out into the Arcata Plaza. Unfortunately, the strike organizers failed to bring a speaker system that was loud enough for all of the attendees to hear, causing the message to fall flat. Joanne McGarry, a local supporter of the Environmental Advocacy and self-prescribed ‘gadfly’ suggested better planning in the future for a more impactful demonstration.

    Jene L. McCovey delivers a powerful, emotional speech about the threats to the Earth faces. | Photo by Collin Slavey

    “I am more than happy to let young people lead, they just have to lead well,” McGarry said. “Having music is important when you’re walking into the plaza, during the demonstration and as you exit the plaza. Having a speaker that is loud enough for the entire crowd to hear is unbelievably important.”

    The Sunrise movement was originally created as a youth advocacy group to show support for the Green New Deal, a stimulus package proposed by politician and activist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in February of this year. The Sunrise Movement intends to work within ‘the system’ while actively changing the system, in pursuit of environmental and social justice through nonviolent and direct action. They are building an army of young people to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.

    Tribal elder Jene L. McCovey began the rally in the plaza with a song called “Feeling Sorry for My Womenfolk,” a somber tune that spoke of hate and woe. She went on to tell stories and sing more songs to give purpose to the actions of the demonstrators.

    “The stumps are really big- that is all we have left of the old forest,” McCovey said. “Clear cutters, defilers, denude the land down to the earth and they burn it. Wherever you find your trials, be that healer. Be that person that walks with people in that good way. Be the water protectors.”

  • Musician Feature: Alex Rumbel

    Musician Feature: Alex Rumbel

    Multi-instrumentalist learns to play 10 instruments in 19 years

    Science can often disprove the idea of innate abilities found in humans at birth, but a discussion with Humboldt State botany major and multi-instrumentalist, Alex Rumbel, argues against this theory.

    Rumbel’s capacity for understanding instruments has brought her to play over 10 instruments during the span of her 19 years of life and be a vital part of countless bands including Loud Neighbors Brass Band, the World-Famous Crab Grass Band, Laser Bear and Humboldt’s own Marching Lumberjacks.

    Rumbel’s first memories of music date back to when she was five years old.

    Alex Rumbel plays the trumpet after a show with her band, The Loud Neighbors Brass Band, on Sept. 7 at Outer Space Arcata. | Photo by Jerame Saunders

    “My mom has always been a vocalist, and when I was a young kid, she performed in an a cappella group that sang at renaissance fairs,” Rumbel said. “I’d say the introduction to the rowdy bunch of people that come with a renaissance fair was good for preparing me to go to Humboldt State.”

    Rumbel’s early musical ambitions sprouted from vocals but moved to guitar when she began studying music outside of school. With the extra finger dexterity from playing at such a young age, moving to a stand-up bass in middle school was a logical first step in learning to play multiple instruments.

    “Instead of continuing in strings which could have been dead-end at some point,” Rumbel said. “I decided that I wanted to be a multi-instrumentalist.

    “Humboldt County is a DIY thing, and that’s one of the things I love about being a musician here; I feel like there is less pressure to be something you’re not.”

    Alex Rumbel

    Trombone was the first brass instrument she picked up before she moved up to bass drums for the high school marching band. Rumbel’s high school music career was a flurry of new instruments and new bands. She played electric guitar, electric bass and drums for small rock bands. She also played in the drumline for a marching band, electric guitar for the advanced jazz band, percussion for a band performing in concert and advanced wind ensemble. Then, just for fun, she learned the viola for orchestra.

    Rumbel broke her foot during her senior year of high school, which pushed her into social isolation. Because of this Rumbel started college with the mentality of not wanting to be a part of the social aspect of music creation.

    “When I came up here, I brought my guitar just to play by myself and I brought my drum pad and my sticks,” Rumbel said. “But I didn’t intend to play in any bands.”

    HSU student Alex Rumbel poses with her trumpet after a show with her band, The Loud Neighbors Brass Band, on Sept. 7 at Outer Space Arcata. | Photo by Jerame Saunders

    After living in the dorms for a short amount of time, Rumbel found herself in the middle of the Marching Lumberjack’s “dorm storming” where they play around campus to recruit new musicians. She came down from her dorm and quickly found herself dragged back into band performance, learning yet another new instrument.

    “I started playing trumpet,” Rumbel said. “That was the best decision I made after deciding to come to Humboldt State. When I first started playing the trumpet, it wasn’t as expressive, and it wasn’t as in tune with how I felt, but then it started becoming perfectly in tune with how I felt.”

    It wasn’t long before Rumbel found herself ingrained in the local music scene, mainly playing trumpet for local bands. Recently, she found time to start playing bass for the Laser Bears. The local music scene is described by her as a very tight-knit group of musicians willing to collaborate, great venues with open doors to small bands, and a Do-It-Yourself/Psychedelic thread that defines Humboldt.

    “Music has been my lifeline to everything else of meaning that I can imagine.”

    Alex Rumbel

    “Humboldt County is a D.I.Y. thing,” Rumbel said. “That’s one of the things I love about being a musician here; I feel like there is less pressure to be something you’re not.”

    Rumbel’s musical journey shows how something physical like an instrument can have an undefinable effect on the musician playing it. Music has the affect of rippling through the audience as it leaves a piece of each artist in the minds of each listener, and that is one of Rumbel’s greatest connections with the art.

    “Music has been my lifeline to everything else of meaning that I can imagine,” Rumbel said. “It has been my social connection for many years being in so many bands and interacting with so many people, but it’s also introspective in the same way, and I feel like, and I know it sounds cliché, I feel like I can actually express myself with music.”

  • Jacks Fall to Conference Leaders CSUSB

    Jacks Fall to Conference Leaders CSUSB

    HSU Volleyball hopes to rest up after losing to CSUSB 40-19

    The Humboldt State volleyball team saw their current homestand end Saturday night with a loss to the number-one-ranked team in the nation, Cal State San Bernardino.

    Outside hitter Summer Hansen knocks the ball across the net towards the opposition during Humboldt State’s match against CSUSB on Sept. 21 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    The Jacks lost all three sets and were out-killed 40-19 by the Coyotes on a night where they struggled to find a way to crack CSUSB’s tall front line. Humboldt’s scoring leader for the night was sophomore Lenox Loving, who managed to put up eight kills. Loving was followed by Lexi Riggs and Summer Hansen who had four kills apiece.

    The Coyotes established the tempo of the match early on in the first set, scoring quickly and often. The Jacks were outworked on several occasions and were only able to score 10 points to CSUSB’s 25. Another contributing factor was a handful of unforced errors when it came to passing the ball, which resulted in giving up several scoring opportunities for the Jacks.

    Outside hitter Lenox Loving delivers a ball across the net during Humboldt State’s match against Cal State San Bernardino on Sept. 21 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    Coach Kelly Wood made some rotation adjustments throughout the second set. She hoped to help the team find a way past the Coyote’s tough defense. The changes had some success as the Jacks improved to 13 points but CSUSB still took the set with 25 points.

    In the final set of the evening, Humboldt State slightly improved as they moved up to 15 points, but CSUSB still took it with 25 points. The Jacks seemed determined to put up a fight, capitalizing on more scoring opportunities and maintaining a roughly five-point gap through the middle stages of the set before falling back.

    The Humboldt State volleyball team encourage each other after being scored on in their match against Cal State Bernardino at Lumberjack Arena on Sept. 21. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    Redshirt sophomore Carla Crespo recorded five digs for the Jacks. Crespo was disappointed that the Jacks didn’t perform better but made it clear that the team was strong enough to rebound from the loss.

    “I think our team is a really resilient team,” Crespo said. “We do whatever we can to try to support each other, we’re pretty close-knit. It can be hard when there’s a really good team, but I think we do a good job at playing together. We win together and we lose together.”

    Volleyball head coach Kelly wood talks with her players during a short time-out during Humboldt State’s match against Cal State San Bernardino on Sept. 21 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    After the match Head Coach Kelly Wood felt that her team had been somewhat worn down by the Coyotes defense and she was slightly disappointed at the lack of change to effectively adapt to the pace of the game.

    “We were getting blocked a lot,” Wood said. “They were big, and they were a presence at the net. Our girls were kind of scratching their heads a little bit trying to figure out how to put balls away against them. It tends to wear on you a little bit when you’re getting blocked over and over, but I just want to see them stay aggressive, keep swinging high and mixing up shots here and there.”

    Outside hitter Lenox Love serves the ball during the third and final set during Humboldt State’s match against CSUSB on Sept. 21 at Lumberjack Arena. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    After a lengthy stint of games that saw the Jacks compete in four matches over seven days, Coach Wood hopes to use the week in between their next game to allow athletes to recover.

    “We haven’t had an opportunity to heal or just get through
    soreness because we’ve been on such a marathon of matches,” Wood said. “I’m
    excited for the girls to get some rest and come back strong next week.”

  • HSU’s Budgetary Future

    HSU’s Budgetary Future

    Humboldt State’s Budget Committee seeks best path forward

    Humboldt State University’s University Resources and Planning Committee met on Sept. 12 to begin planning a three-year university budget.

    Art Education Assistant Professor and Co-Chair of URPC James Woglom said URPC hopes for a budget that will allow HSU to be its best.

    “My hope is to have the best university we can be in the context of what we have,” Woglom said. “I think that is the hope of everybody involved.”

    URPC exists as part of the University Senate, with 14 members, including administration, faculty and students.

    URPC released an update on Sept. 16 in which it estimated a $5.4 million budget gap by the fiscal year of 2021 to 2022.

    HSU Budget Director Amber Blakeslee said HSU has already made over $10 million of budget reductions in the last few years. The $5.4 million projected gap comes from the continuing decline in student enrollment.

    Assistant Professor of Art Education and Co-Chair of the University Resources and Planning Committee James Woglom in the HSU library on Sept. 20. Woglom emphasized the need for imaginative thinking to create the best budget possible for HSU. | Photo by James Wilde

    “If there are less students on campus there’s less tuition coming in the door,” Blakeslee said. “So it’s not that all-of-the-sudden we’re spending more. It’s that there’s less revenue coming in to support the spending that we have.”

    HSU’s enrollment dropped from 7,774 to 6,763 students this year. Projections expect enrollment to continue to drop. HSU has yet to update its website, which still lists 7,774 students enrolled and advertises having over 8,000 students.

    HSU issued a press release on Tuesday, Sept. 24 detailing new efforts to increase enrollment, including a focus on local recruitment, improving student analytics and decreasing costs. 

    However, Blakeslee said that HSU’s plans to recover enrollment numbers will take time. Until then, the budget gap must be reconciled.

    Blakeslee hoped the budget cuts won’t have an impact on students, but Blakeslee acknowledged that any cuts will be difficult.

    “There’s not a single thing we do on this campus that doesn’t have strong, passionate people behind it,” Blakeslee said. “If you’re talking about cutting things, you’re talking about the difference between multiple good things.”

    “If there are less students on campus there’s less tuition coming in the door. So it’s not that all-of-the-sudden we’re spending more. It’s that there’s less revenue coming in to support the spending that we have.”

    Amber Blakeslee

    At this early stage, neither Blakeslee nor Woglom could rule out any specific cuts.

    “We do need to have everything on the table in terms of our discussion so that we can make the best decision,” Woglom said.

    Woglom emphasized multiple times that URPC will have to use its imagination to maintain HSU’s educational mission while cutting back financially.

    “We do need to be creative within the context of the resources that we do have,” Woglom said. “If a course is not offered, how do we make sure that the curricular needs of the students is met with what we do have?”

    Blakeslee said that while HSU is currently reducing expenditures, it is still trying to improve the student experience.

    “There is simultaneous new investment happening, so it’s not like we’re just in a reduction mindset purely” Blakeslee said.

    URPC expects to complete a plan by Dec. 6. Before then, both Blakeslee and Woglom emphasized the importance of seeking input from the HSU community.

    “As much stakeholder input as we can get, the better our decisions are going to be, and the more interpersonally-invested we’re going to be,” Woglom said.

    Blakeslee and Woglom said URPC will be holding public forums to discuss the budget, but no dates have been set.

    Once URPC finalizes its plan in December, the plan will go to University President Tom Jackson, Jr., who will have the final say over the plan.

    This article was updated Sept. 26 to include information from Humboldt State’s press release on the topic.

  • What (Not) To Watch This Week: ‘The Dirt’

    What (Not) To Watch This Week: ‘The Dirt’

    There are many ways to make a decent biopic, but this wasn’t it

    We’re all familiar with the term ‘clickbait’—that thing YouTubers, social media influencers and crappy publications utilize to get views by advertising mind-blowing topics that don’t pan out too much. Netflix is guilty of this.

    Netflix advertises original movies with all-star casts on popular topics and many have been total flops. It’s mind-blowing to try to analyze why these movies haven’t worked out as there are usually decent actors and a whole lot of money thrown at scripts approved by Netflix executives. Yet, somehow we end up with biopics like “The Dirt.”

    The film follows the life and times of the band Mötley Crüe, a rock group from the 80s that were as influential to rock as N.W.A. was to rap. The movie is based on the autobiography of the band by the same name and the production received first-hand help from the members themselves. Somehow, it still managed to suck.

    I would go as far as referring to it as a dumpster fire, but one with a $28 million budget. I hate this expensive dumpster fire so much that it inspired me to start this column, investigating and deconstructing Netflix’s worst original movies.

    “The Dirt” starts with a cliché voice over as we watch the band form, negotiate a signing and start making music before they dive headfirst into a world of debauchery. Despite this and heavy sourced material, the plot feels empty.

    I would go as far as referring to it as a dumpster fire, but one with a $28 million budget.

    There’s tons of drama, struggles with addiction and the rockstar lifestyle, yet all of it feels disconnected. What is a crazy and interesting true story turns into a passionless montage of crude humor, nudity and subplots that have no bearing on the rest of the story.

    The poor structure and terrible acting could be forgiven if the writing didn’t feel so lazy. There were far too many conflicts that resolved due to convenience or off-screen. When the band formed they were down a lead singer. They sought out Vince Neil at a half-nude backyard party and gave him their mixtape in hopes that he’ll join their band.

    Neil starts making out with a girl as a voiceover plays (did I mention that they pointlessly include these fourth-wall-breaking voiceovers that aren’t even consistent throughout?) of him saying he had no interest in joining the band because he was only in a band to get chicks.

    Fast forward five seconds to him and this same girl at his house, the voiceover plays again and he randomly decides that he will call the band back. He hasn’t had an epiphany of any kind, Neil just decides to join the band. Instances like these are prevalent and pointless but, hey, writing like this gives us more time to watch the band do drugs and hang out with naked women. And, of course, see Ozzy Osbourne drink urine off the ground.

    When I said that the movie was a bad montage, I wasn’t exaggerating. The filmmakers decided to take all of the band’s most iconic and emotional moments and reenact them for the camera. Then they threw in some basic cut edits of band arguments and performances. The scenes are exaggerated for shock value and not narratively rewarding.

    This brings us to N.W.A. and their 2015 biopic. The exaggerations made by the screenwriters of “Straight Outta Compton” were intentional and contributed to tension within the movie which helped hold it together. The characters that N.W.A. struggled with in the film motivated the audience to root for their success.

    Mötley Crüe’s biopic has no antagonists or even attempts to emphasize tensions felt between members. When the band gets back together at the end of “The Dirt,” I felt nothing.

    Mötley Crüe’s biopic has no antagonists or even attempts to emphasize tensions felt between members. When the band gets back together at the end of “The Dirt,” I felt nothing. There was no struggle to get to that point and the movie never made a play for conflict in that regard. Besides external motivations, I also felt very little about Nikki Sixx’s overdose and his continuous struggle with addiction due to the way it was portrayed.

    Meanwhile, I cry every time I watch Eazy-E receive his HIV/AIDS diagnosis in “Straight Outta Compton.” I don’t cry in the scene where he dies, but the scene where he is diagnosed. Why? Because after all the conflict that he and fellow group members survived, this moment pulls everything out from under them.

    What happens with Sixx’s initial overdose and the band’s continuous struggles with addiction? The directors chose to do a thirty-second scene where the band decides to go to rehab. That’s cool, I guess. Not as much of an emotional impact, though.

    And while we’re on the topic, here are some other things that bothered me about this garbage fire of a movie: Machine Gun Kelly’s over-acted and exaggerated portrayal of Tommy Lee, the recurring mention of the band’s lead guitarist Mick Mars always being sick and no one caring, the weird humor they try to force onto Pete Davidson’s character Tom Zutaut (including a scene where he speaks with a band member through a door while the same band member has sexual relations with Zutaut’s girlfriend), Machine Gun Kelly’s acting (again), the lack of cohesion between personal and on-stage life and finally, the lack of grounding in real world events. I, obviously, could keep going.

    The absence of tension, overarching narrative or fun scenes showing off the band’s greatness doom this movie from the get-go. Even if you were able to look past those issues, the terrible writing and bad performances, the movie leaves you with nothing more than unintentional laughter and the urge to turn it off. Which isn’t anything that even shock value or sweet nostalgia can salvage.

  • JPEGMAFIA: All My Heroes Are Cornballs

    JPEGMAFIA: All My Heroes Are Cornballs

    JPEGMAFIA’s new album is a demented ride through the rappers mind

    JPEGMAFIA’s third studio album, “All My Heroes are Cornballs,” was released Sept. 14 and it perfectly embodies the production characteristics that define his music.

    JPEGMAFIA is the brainchild of music producer and rapper Barrington Hendricks. Hendricks gained interest in music by learning to sample while he was stationed in Japan with the United States Air Force.

    After being honorably discharged in 2016, Hendricks moved to Baltimore, Maryland and began working on producing his first studio album, “Black Ben Carson.” In 2018, he released his critically acclaimed album, “Veteran,” which was a healthy introduction into Hendricks’ twisted, gritty version of postmodern, experimental hip hop.

    The entirety of the “All My Heroes are Cornballs” album, from production to rapping, was done by Hendricks. Hendricks has yet to stray away from the things that define his music production. The choppy, industrial sounds that seem to harass your senses in the best possible way. The usual hi-hats, claps and kick sounds found in a generic rap beat are replaced with clicks, static and pre-2000s computer sounds which seem to invade your privacy. The framework for the bass and ASMR-like drum patterns are still prevalent, but this is what sets Hendricks apart from other producers in the genre.

    While applying his signature drum patterns, Hendricks adds sounds that have never been used in his beats before. There are softer, inviting motifs connected to every melody behind the drums. They usually consist of a few soft piano keys with audio effects added, a lightly strummed guitar or synths that are reminiscent of ’80s and ’90s video games. The sounds radiate nostalgia, spirituality and a sense of peace which largely contrast the rough, nail-biting sounds of “Veteran.”

    These sounds give a more introspective look into what makes Hendricks who he is rather than the persona he gives off in his music. The downside to the project has to do with the lyrics. He changes the flow of his raps on a regular basis but each time they still fall into a generic pattern. The lyrical content rarely strays away from the subjects of fighting internet haters with guns and being better than other artists. Most of the bars consist of Hendricks yelling one of his coined ad-libs. It’s hard to expect any different from a person who is labeled as an internet warrior with a track record of pissing off the alt-right. The lyrics become redundant and feel recycled from past albums.

    Hendricks ventures more into singing on this project and surprisingly, it is one of the best things about the album. Some of the stand out tracks on this album are “Jesus Forgive Me I Am A Thot,” “Free The Frail,” “Thot Tactics” and ”BasicBitchTearGas.” He harnesses the energies of 90s R&B and it perfectly ties together the crunchy, psychedelic beats to produce one of his most personal projects.

    The production on this album is perfect. The chord progressions, song transitions and signature drum beats are completely on par with the JPEGMAFIA sound. The only thing lacking is lyrical variance, but the singing and melodies make up for it entirely. This can easily be one of the best experimental rap albums of the year.