By Eli Farrington and Noah Pond

Antonio Jordan’s passion for aviation started early in life, fueled by a lofty childhood dream — a dream shared by countless children across the world, but only pursued by a select few once they reach adulthood: flying.

“Honestly, the main thing is that I always wanted to fly. I would see people flying whether they’re superheroes or whatnot on TV and I was like, ‘Damn, I can’t do that,’ but flying planes is kind of the closest we can get to that,” Jordan said at Airport Day, an event hosted by the Aviation Club at Samoa Field Airport on Saturday, April 26. The event showcased multiple aircrafts and companies in the field of aviation and aeronautical technologies, and highlighted the resources and opportunities offered by the Aviation Club.

Jordan is a freshman environmental science and management major and the Aviation Club’s treasurer. He dealt with all of the expenses of the Airport Day event, which was overseen by David Marshall, a computer science lecturer and the club’s advisor.

Before Marshall advised the Aviation Club, he was the advisor to the PC Gaming Club. He wanted the PC Gaming Club to do something for the entire community — something beyond video games. 

“I told the students in that club that [they] need to do something that impacts the whole campus, and they decided to build a flight simulator,” Marshall said. “And so, there was a flight simulator at the library for three years and it was based on gaming [equipment] — it was plastic pedals, plastic everything.”

It wasn’t until years later that Marshall was contacted by a former Humboldt State University journalism student, Meg Godlewski class of ‘87, about getting a new simulator that was Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified. As an editor for FLYING Magazine, Godlewski presented an opportunity to take the aviation club to new heights. 

“[Godlewski] was doing a story for a flight magazine and was in the offices of a company called Precision Flight Controls, and they’re in Sacramento,” Marshall said. “It just so happened that the president’s phone rang, and the very wealthy gentleman who flies his own planes said, ‘I’m getting a new airplane, build me a new simulator. I want to give away the one I have.’” 

Godlewski got in contact with Marshall and asked him if the aviation club wanted the simulator, to which Marshall replied with a resounding yes. The simulator that Godlewski donated is an advanced aviation training device (AATD), which retails for about $140,000. Renting an AATD would usually cost around $50-$100 an hour, but Cal Poly Humboldt students get to use it for free. 

Marshall co-owns two planes with C.D. Hoyle, a fellow Cal Poly Humboldt professor in the physics department. The pair were originally introduced to each other by a certified flight instructor. They purchased their first plane back in 2008 and their second in 2013. 

“We started out as co-workers on campus and became buddies through plane ownership,” Hoyle said.  

Hoyle got his pilot’s license at 18, and has been flying for over 30 years. He loves flying for both the convenience and the understanding of weather patterns that he has learned over the years. 

“I like how it makes you kind of in tune with the weather,” Hoyle said. “There’s this aspect of flying where if you’re preparing for a flight, you have to be constantly in tune with what’s happening with the environment around you.” 

Unfortunately, the weather was not in the aviation club’s favor on Airport day, as a combination of rain and low-hanging fog prevented anyone from taking off or landing. Hoyle explained that a lack of visibility, coupled with the fact that Samoa Field Airport doesn’t have air traffic control, caused the event to have a smaller turnout than expected. Had the event taken place on a clear day, the airport would have seen dozens of model and full size planes taking off and landing. Despite the bad weather, the event was still a hit. 

Aviation club president Lee Donohue was disappointed with the harsh conditions, but didn’t let the rain dampen his good mood. As club president, it is Donohue’s job to preside over meetings and help organize events like Airport Day. This year, he was able to assemble a group of volunteers and tech companies to table at the event. 

“We’ve asked a lot of organizations to come in and volunteer their time and efforts to showcase how they’re involved with the community,” Donohue said. “Some of it is involved directly with aviation, some isn’t. A lot of it is showcasing emerging technologies and people’s connections to aviation, whether that be with fixed wing aircraft or with paragliders and drones. I think it’s just really cool that we were able to pull this off and show off the technology.”

Airport Day played host to a number of guests and volunteers, including a handful of aeronautics companies, Humboldt County Sheriff Bomb Disposal Squad and Cal Poly Humboldt’s very own Marching Lumberjacks.  

“I think it’s a unique event where you have this mosaic of people who came and are passionate about the technology they use to help serve the community and, you know, explore their own hobbies and passions,” Donohue said. 

Donohue is not a pilot yet, but his goal is to use the tools provided by the aviation club to eventually get a license. For him, campus resources like the on campus flight simulator bring him one step closer to a seat in the cockpit. He plans to take advantage of all the resources he can, and learn to fly before he graduates. 

One aviation club member who goes above and beyond when it comes to flying is Kendra Char. Char is a junior marine biology major and student pilot, and just two weeks ago, she soloed an airplane for her first time — a huge milestone in her flight training. 

“[Soloing] is going up in the aircraft by yourself … I flew a Piper Cherokee 140,” Char said. “It’s a lot of work to get to that point, and it built my self confidence. It’s scary at first — it’s weird — but it’s incredibly rewarding.”

The FAA requires 40 hours of flight time for a private pilot’s license, and 10 of them have to be solo. Char has completed about 35 training hours, and is now in the process of completing 10 solo hours before getting her license. She eventually wants to turn her passion for flying into a career and work for an airline, but for now she’s enjoying the fruits of her labor, about to pay off.

“I love the freedom of it,” Char said. “I’ve flown over campus a couple times, and it seems so small when I’m up there. At its core, flying is freedom from the ground. You get so much of a new perspective on everything from flying… I joined the aviation club because flying is something I love, and I want to share my love and experiences with other people who also love aviation.” 

Eli Farrington is a junior journalism major working as the opinion editor for the Lumberjack. Noah Pond is a junior journalism major working as the managing editor. Together, they work around the clock, uncovering secrecies, solving mysteries, and leaving no stone unturned.

By Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal

This past month, students from Cal Poly Humboldt’s political science department attended two international Model United Nations conferences. The National Model United Nations (NMUN) conference in New York, the largest and most iconic of the Model UN, is open to over 5,000 students from around the globe. Students and faculty then rushed back to the west coast as the Model United Nations of the Far West (MUNFW) conference took place in San Francisco the following weekend, inviting over 400 students from the western U.S. and The Philippines. 

Our school’s team, representing the country of South Sudan, brought back an honorable mention award from NMUN-NY. 

Our school’s team representing Egypt won an award for outstanding delegation in San Francisco. Additionally, student Amanda Cawthron was chosen as a lead author in the best resolution and Kiera Sladen was named best delegate within her committee.

Political science sophomores and Model UN members Ruth Worthington and Kiera Sladen shared their takeaways from their first time attending the iconic, back-to-back, bi-coastal conferences. 

“There was a lot of office siren action,”  Sladen said, referring to the “Office Siren” fashion aesthetic adored by Gen-Z that combines 90s and 2000s formal business wear with a sexy and confident feminine energy. 

 “It’s a lot of fun, I think it’s rewarding, it’s worth it. It’s open to not just political science majors, so that’s a plus. It’s definitely beneficial for anyone looking to build skills in public speaking, teamwork, leadership and cooperation, and it’s overall just a fun experience.”

From showing Dr. Zerbe Never have I ever — Gen Z’s favorite on-screen portrayal of Model UN — to appreciating baddies in business casual and sitting in the iconic United Nations General Assembly inside the global headquarters of the United Nations, this trip was one for the books. 

“It was super cool because we went to the actual UN for the closing ceremony, so that was pretty epic,” Worthington said. 

Cal Poly Humboldt has also been selected as the host institution for MUNFW-SF 2027, with Kiera Sladen as Secretary General and Ruth Worthington as Under Secretary General of the conference. 

Over the next year they will decide and plan the theme and select committees for MUNFW-S 2027, where they will then present it to the president and board of the conference, next spring in 2026.

Students interested in joining Model UN must enroll in PSCI 376, a two unit seminar course and one unit PSCI 377 conference lab open to students of any and all majors, political standings and knowledge. Contact polisci@humboldt.edu for more information. 

Kimberly Alexsandra Madrigal is a multimedia journalist who lives for cruising in her ‘05 convertible beetle, lowballing on facebook marketplace, yacht rock and oversharing on the internet. 🙂

By Nick Escalada

Dream vacation spots are a good indicator of personality, but certain locales tend to become common favorites due to their sheer romantic appeal. Fiji might come to mind, or maybe Morocco, the Bahamas, Italy, Humboldt County… wait.

A mild traffic jam occurred in Eureka on Sunday, April 27 as drivers halted in fascination at the colossal cruise liner parked at the humble Schneider Dock. The MS Europa 2, brought forth by German shipping company Hapag Lloyd, made a stop in Humboldt on its 18-day round voyage along the West Coast to Canada from Los Angeles. According to a press release from the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District, 370 crewmates and 460 passengers disembarked from the vessel and got a taste of life behind the redwood curtain.

For the short day they spent here, the tourists were offered most of northern Humboldt’s landmark excursions, including walks through Old Town Eureka and Prairie Redwoods State Park, tours of local manufacturers, and kayaking in Trinidad Harbor. In the evening, onlookers from Eureka to the North Jetty caught stellar views of the ship’s departure up the narrow passage to the open ocean.

The Europa 2 will return to Los Angeles on May 1 after stops in Santa Barbara and San Diego. Mass tourism is a rare sight in Humboldt and this luxury liner was met with little apart from excitement and intrigue from locals.

Nick is a sophomore minoring in journalism who reports on happenings of all sorts. As a wildlife major, he enjoys nature-related pieces. On his off days, you can find him taking a hike behind campus or collecting shiny stuff on the beach.

by Ursula Newman

At the start of the spring semester, Cal Poly Humboldt notified the California Faculty Association (CFA) and university community that one department, one major, one minor and one credential program will be discontinued, while one other major will be suspended until further notice. 

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jenn Capps said these changes are attributed to low enrollment and budget constraints. Students within these programs will have a clear path to completion, and there will be no layoffs as a result of these cuts. A total of 56 students are enrolled in these five programs. 

“It’s common for academic institutions to streamline programs by adding, modifying and discontinuing academic offerings,” Capps said. “In our case, discussions of discontinuing or suspending certain programs have been ongoing in the Integrated Curriculum Committee (ICC), a faculty-lead committee of the University Senate, for quite some time and well before our current budget challenges.”

The religious studies department, economics major, German minor and educational leadership credential will be discontinued. The international studies major will be suspended until further notice. As a result of the discontinuation of the religious studies department and major, the history department has updated its offerings to retain the entire religious studies curriculum, and offer a related concentration. With the discontinuation of the economics major, a concentration in economics through the business department will remain along with the economics minor.

Religious studies 

The religious studies department and major will be discontinued and, moving forward, a history of religions concentration will be offered within the history department. Religious Studies Department Chair Sarah Jaye Hart said that although the department is being discontinued, the entire religious studies curriculum will be retained through the history department’s updated courses. According to the university’s enrollment numbers, there were 10 students in the 2024-25 academic year enrolled as religious studies majors.

“Faculty from both the history and the religious studies departments have worked steadily for well over a year now to reshape the history curriculum in ways that meet the cutting edge of both fields and that serve our students,” Hart said.

In the 2025-26 catalog, the history major will have three concentrations — history, history education and history of religions. 

“Through general education courses across the major, students from all majors have the opportunity to take these classes,” Hart said. “The faculty remain committed to teaching them, knowing as we do that an understanding of history and of belief-based traditions, and a commitment to education, are critical to democracy.”

Economics

With the discontinuation of the economics major, Professor Erick Eschker, chair of the department of economics, wanted students to know that they can still study economics. The economics concentration in the business administration bachelor of science degree will remain. A minor in economics will continue to be offered, as well as all of the economics classes required for several other majors. Eschker said that they are still signing up new economics majors. 

“That’s because the process of major discontinuation is uncertain, long and probably won’t be implemented until the 2027-28 catalog,” Eschker said. “Any new economics majors will be able to graduate on time.”

There are 22 students enrolled as economics majors during the 2024-25 academic year. Cal Poly Humboldt is also discussing merging the economics and business departments. However, the process is on pause right now as discussions with the CFA begin.

“The hope is that faculty will become energized, and that new projects and initiatives will develop,” Eschker said.

German minor

With the discontinuation of the German minor, German language courses will no longer be offered at the university. Kate Foley-Beining, a lecturer in the department of world languages and cultures, said she hasn’t taught any German language courses for two years due to enrolled students having already completed those courses. 

The 2024-25 school year only had four students in the German minor, according to the university’s enrollment numbers. Foley-Beining said that the low enrollment could be combated with more recruitment, and has felt that there is not much spirit for increasing the humanities. 

Foley-Beining said that in the midst of the school transitioning to a Cal Poly, there should be more of a focus on STEAM instead of STEM, an acronym which would better serve and include the arts.

“It slowly dawned on me that there would be no more German languages taught at Humboldt University, that’s named for Alexander von Humboldt,” Foley-Beining said.

Educational leadership credential

The educational leadership credential will no longer be offered through the school of education. For the 2024-25 school year, there were nine students enrolled in the credential. 

As stated on the educational credential fact sheet on the university website, after earning a bachelor’s degree and passing exams, students must get a teaching credential grounded in field experiences, which allows them to teach. 

The school of education will offer three remaining credential programs, the elementary education, secondary education and special education credentials.

International studies department

The 2024-25 year only had 11 students enrolled in the international studies department, according to the university’s enrollment numbers. Again, low enrollment is credited for the discontinuation and suspension of these programs. The major is set to be suspended, not discontinued.

Capps stated that there are still several options available for students to explore international study and global engagement.

“Some examples include: the International Studies Minor, the Global Studies Concentration in Politics, the International Service Learning Program, study abroad options available in summer and winter breaks, and Anthropology field schools which provide valuable learning and study abroad opportunities,” Capps said.

Conclusion

The university has been intentional in preserving some of the coursework from these discontinued programs, and recognizes the value of these disciplines, according to Capps. She said that it is common for academic institutions to add, modify and discontinue academic offerings to streamline programs and meet student demand. 

“Since 2023 and the university’s transition to a polytechnic, we have launched 12 new degree programs in a broad range of disciplines including Mechanical Engineering, Applied Anthropology and Marine Biology,” Capps said. “We will be launching a number of new programs in 2026 including Applied Humanities, Media Arts, and Health Sciences.” 

Ursula Newman is a journalism major and Humboldt local. You can find her all over town doing all kinds of things, and talking to all sorts of people.

Cal Poly Humboldt continues construction of new dorm buildings

By Andres Felix Romero

Among the gravel, milling construction workers and a small fleet of construction vehicles lies potential for the largest housing project in Cal Poly Humboldt’s history. Currently, the Craftsman Mall dorm buildings and complex lack the color it will have upon completion. One half of the dorms, called Hinarr Hu Moulik — pronounced hee-NOD huh MOO-leek, meaning “Our Home” in the Wiyot language — will be completed and ready for students to move in by the fall semester. As for the other building, major construction, painting and furnishing will be completed in the fall. The building will be ready for students to move in by Spring 2026. 

The dual dorms are among the largest buildings at the university. Each one sits at about the height of the Behavioral Sciences building, which itself stands at five stories tall. The buildings are also being constructed with A-1 materials, which are composed of non-combustible substances. Upon completion of construction, there will be plenty of outdoor space and features including an acre of green space and small hills rolling between the dual dorms, with plenty of outdoor seating. Along with the outdoor space there will be activities, such as basketball hoops, a pickleball court, a ping pong table and a cornhole setup.

As for the inside of the dorms, there will also be recreational options with a multipurpose room for lounging and other events, including a foosball table. The multipurpose room will also have wall-height glass doors that open to the grassy hills for more space. In terms of dining, Craftsman Mall will have a large professional kitchen staffed with cooks to prepare hot and ready meals, as well as meals to order for the campus community. In the same area will be a market similar to The Marketplace for snacks and essentials.

The living dorms themselves will be able to host 1,050 students in apartment-style dorms. Each suite will have four to six residents. The apartments have a modern feel with wood-laminate finish furniture, black leather and green cloth seats, and a dishwasher. These dorms will be reserved for upperclassmen.

There will be a few options for travel between the main campus and the dual dorms. The City of Arcata and Cal Poly Humboldt have partnered to develop the Annie Marie trail, a pathway that leads to Sunset Avenue. The university and the city of Arcata have also been allotted funds to reconstruct the Sunset Ave. overpass to make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Those with bicycles will have access to a lot area with 200 spaces that is essentially a giant cage to protect their wheels from theft. The campus’ Green and Gold bus route will also have a stop here, alongside a dedicated shuttle between Craftsman Mall and the main campus that runs every 30 minutes.

One of the leads on this project from Cal Poly Humboldt is Vice President of Finance and Humboldt State alumnus Mike Fisher. Fisher understands the dorm life of a Lumberjack as he lived in the Sunset dorms. He also understands the hesitation the new Craftsman Mall residents may have living a bit of distance from campus, but Fisher hopes that these new dorms can begin a new chapter of Lumberjack residents.

“I know this place will be a community unto itself,” said Fisher. “It will feel like you’re on campus, but also independent.”

Andres Felix Romero is a senior and reporter for The Lumberjack. He is passionate about writing to improve the world around him and can often be found hiking in the woods with his dog, Uichu.

By Nick Escalada

A collection of Arcata residents, HSU alumni and members of Black Humboldt gathered at the community garden El Jardin Sanctuario on Tuesday, April 15, for a candlelight vigil in memory of David Josiah Lawson. The day marked the 8 year anniversary of the Humboldt student’s fatal stabbing at a house party, which the Arcata Police Department recognized to have been mishandled in court by the Humboldt County DA’s office. The city community has remained steadfast in its support of Josiah’s family and their efforts to ensure the still-open case reaches a just conclusion. 

Rosemary Grady, a member of Black Humboldt, Changing Tides and the activist group Justice for Josiah, voiced her motivations behind her work as a community organizer. 

“Of course we want justice. We keep saying that Josiah was lost, but he wasn’t lost. He was stolen, and that deserves justice, and his mother deserves justice,” Grady said. “But the thing that I continue to move forward with is just the fact that we are in community, there are people to share this heaviness with. There are people who are ready to support and continue to show up, so that’s why I continue to show up.”

Lawson’s routine vigils have grown into a powerful point of convention in Arcata such that people who did not know him personally or did not live in Humboldt during his death continue to appear to pay him homage. Kris Coy, who has been involved with Justice for Josiah for most of its existence, expressed appreciation for the growing public support while acknowledging the continued activism needed to see proper change.

“[Josiah’s killing] occurred when I was a student, and it really emboldened me to join the student-led movement at the time and to continue to follow it after I graduated,” Coy said. “I think that giving the spotlight to the people who are actually doing the work is the responsibility of all those people who are here. There’s been hundreds, probably thousands of hours I’ve gone into stuff like this, and props to those who just show up, but the work gets to be done.”

Participants mobilized through town to conclude the vigil by Josiah’s mural across the street from the Cal Poly Humboldt campus. While these events are a strong vessel for further community awareness and healing, their organizers make it clear that efforts for justice are not limited to Lawson’s death anniversary. Justice for Josiah persists in working with city authorities and judiciaries to ensure this case closes with equity and respect.

Nick is a sophomore minoring in journalism who reports on happenings of all sorts. As a wildlife major, he enjoys nature-related pieces. On his off days, you can find him taking a hike behind campus or collecting shiny stuff on the beach.