After two years of no live performances due to COVID-19, the HSU Theatre Arts Department is returning with the musical comedy Something Rotten!, which opened on Broadway in 2015 with music by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell. According to an email announcement:

“Set in 1595, this hilarious show tells the story of Nick and Nigel Bottom, two brothers who are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first MUSICAL!”

There are roles available for approximately 20 performers. Aspiring actors do not have to be in the theatre program, but must be at least 18 years old and have proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

“Those auditioning should prepare a monologue (maximum two minutes) and a song excerpt in English (maximum one minute) and come prepared to learn a short dance routine. Bring sheet music for the pianist (or pre-recorded accompaniment and portable speaker, etc.),” the email read.

Auditions will take place in the Gist Hall Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 5 from 6 to 8pm and on Monday, Dec. 6 from 4 to 7pm. Callbacks will take place at 8pm on Dec. 6. Schedule an audition time by contacting stage manager Ian Aguilera at daa63@humboldt.edu.

Charmaine Lawson and Justice in Humboldt plans to raise money for a billboard located on Hwy 101 between Arcata and Eureka were cut short when the company in control of the billboard refused last-minute to accept their artwork due to its “negative opinion” on D.A. Maggie Flemming. Charmaine Lawson announced this via a post on the Justice for Josiah Facebook page on Nov. 8.

“Censorship has delayed our project to broadcast our message to the public,” Charmaine Lawson said in the post.

She said that for now, the money that has been raised for the billboard has been refunded back to her and Justice in Humboldt. They intend to use the funds for another billboard owned by another company or alternate published media to promote Justice In Humboldt.

Justice in Humboldt is a new project to assist in holding County officials and institutions accountable for wrongdoings and incompetence.

Originally, the project said on their website that they intended to strategically place the billboard on Hwy 101 between Arcata and Eureka then another along the freeway in Southern California. Their intention was to target students who return home from college to enjoy the holidays. Lawson and Justice in Humboldt hoped to prompt a discussion outside of Humboldt County as well as within the community.

According to Justice in Humboldt, the billboard would advertise 3 points of importance. It would promote the Justice in Humboldt website, advertise the unresolved murder of David Josiah Lawson, and address the need for a Humboldt DA who fights for the rights of all equally.

On Nov. 14 Charmaine Lawson went live on Facebook again to speak to the Justice for Josiah community.

“I shouldn’t have to beg for justice for my child, but here i am begging for justice for my son,” Charmaine Lawson said. “Whoever is listening that can help me, I am pleading for help.”

It’s been four and a half years since the untimely death of HSU student David Josiah Lawson. His family and friends, as well as advocates within the community have never given up hope in seeking justice for his death.

Charmaine Lawson said on Facebook that if you made a donation towards the billboard and would like your money back or want to contribute your idea(s) on how the money should be used, please contact us at justiceinhumboldt@gmail.com.

Over 130 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members tuned in to the polytechnic open forum last week. The forum provided an opportunity for students and faculty to come together and discuss perspectives. Participants came with varied feedback and concerns about the polytechnic change.

Several graduate students came prepared with a statement and questions about the Polytechnic designation. Their concerns were about the polytechnic emphasis on Indigenous traditional ecologic knowledge (TEK). Provost Jenn Capps explained that Humboldt would be different from other polytechnics. Emphasis on unique location and relationships with TEK and CAHSS would set Humboldt apart from other polytechnic universities.

“The focus is on making sure that we infuse concepts of sustainability traditional ecological knowledge, making sure that liberal arts and social sciences and humanities remain at the center of what we’re doing,” Capps said.

The group of graduate students wanted to understand how the polytechnic transition will support, uplift, and provide funding for indigenous and sustainability programs. Concerns were for programs such as Native American Studies (NAS), the Indian Tribal & Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP), the Indian Natural Resources, Science and Engineering Program (INRSEP), the Food Sovereignty Lab, and Critical Race, Gender and Sexuality Studies (CRGS).

“If TEK and Indigenous knowledge are integral to this transition, how is the university funding, staffing, and filling positions to aid these core programs?” the letter reads. “Where are the cluster hires and faculty positions for NAS and CRGS? Where are the funding initiatives that support Indigenous students and all students within these programs?”

The forum did not have enough time to fully address these students’ questions or the letter.

Graduate student Marlene Dusek spoke on behalf of the student group in the forum. Dusek pointed out NAS and TEK seem to be integral in the polytechnic transition, yet will not receive the same attention and funding as the new natural resources and STEM programs soon to be rolled out.

“Native American studies and TEK is mentioned more than sustainability in the prospectus, where is the Native program state of the art remodel and buildings as a part of this plan?” Dusek asked during the forum. At the end of the forum, Dusek’s peers noted that these questions were still unanswered.

Provost Capps explains why STEM-based programs are being propped up in this stage of the polytechnic transition.

“In order for us to seek the designation, there were some programs that we needed to offer,” Capps said. “More engineering and technology programs, otherwise we wouldn’t be eligible for the designation, so we did. A large portion of the funding that we received was to support that.”

The students and administration will continue to discuss these matters. In a separate interview, Capps discussed communicative efforts with students about polytechnic changes.

“I suspect that a lot of [polytechnic] communications are going to faculty staff and community members, and not to students,” Capps said. “It makes me realize that we need to target specifically to students and perhaps do some open forum sessions.”

Faculty member and attendee Daniel Barton spoke up about this being an opportunity to reflect on this school’s image. Barton challenged the mascot, and if it reflects Humboldt’s values.

“Can we rethink whether we want to keep using a gendered symbol of colonial, natural resource extraction?” Barton said. “[Let’s] assemble something other than patriarchy. The lumberjack is gendered as a noun and as our mascot, violent colonialism, and exploitation of labor because that’s what the lumberjack symbolizes in a contemporary context.”

A presenter responded that a logo change will be a further examined item. There are arguments in favor of both sides and will be covered in depth at an unspecified later time. Changes are happening university-wide, giving students and faculty opportune time to address the school’s image and values.