On Friday, April 2 at 8 pm, the first play of two commenced as HSU students within the Theatre, Film and Dance Department presented via Zoom their own new-aged rendition of “The Living Newspaper.” With topics including the unexpected effects of gender-reveal parties, relationships with virtual friends and robots during the time of COVID-19, the erasure and silencing of marginalized voices, and more. The second play will be streamed on Friday, April 16 at 8 pm.

Michael Thomas, lecturer, publicist and production manager for the department of theatre, film and dance at HSU describes what a living newspaper is and where the theme originated from.

“Living Newspaper is a type of theatre that presents plays about current events,” Thomas said. “This idea was created during the Great Depression, in the 1930’s, by a government production called the Works Progress Administration. The idea was to give jobs to the people.”

Thomas further spoke upon the validity within this type of play and the importance of accurately presenting current news and events to the public.

“In the past they did shows on things that were bothering people at the moment: housing situations, lack of housing, slum housing, the lack of electricity, how some people have electricity, some don’t, they did shows on contaminated water supply and social-political conditions,” Thomas said. “They researched all the facts and put it in the plays. It’s all very factual-based. That was very important to them. They wanted people to be able to depend on this. Current events of the day put on stage — people loved it!”

This production is featuring a partnership with three directors from Dell’Arte: Michael Fields, Carlos Gallegos and Elizabeth Colón Nelson.

Michael Fields, founding member and producing artistic director of the Dell’Arte Company, and director of the California State Summer School for the Arts explained the intent of this project in a press release last week.

“These pieces will be ‘devised’, that is, created collectively as an ensemble in a short time with a specific intent,” Fields said. “It will give voice to this generation at HSU. It is an opportunity to experience something that has not been done before with new voices.”

Both shows are created, performed and stage-managed by HSU students alongside dramaturg, producer and associate professor, Dr. Troy Lescher. They will be available to stream after their opening performances.

Dr. Lescher shared his excitement for the production in last week’s press release.

“[This is] such an exciting project-based learning experience,” Dr. Lescher said. “This project and collaboration with Dell’Arte engages students in creative processes that diverge from our usual approaches and encourages students to reimagine how they can participate within and serve the ensemble.”

Rachel Samet is holding her choir class outside in the Redwood Bowl. The class is split up into eight students groups three times per week to meet up and sing. The class also broadcasts on Zoom for those not scheduled for the in-person choir class or not local.

Pablo Murcia, a music education major, is one of the students attending this class. He has thoroughly enjoyed the class and learning from the professor. It has been better than the alternative, strictly online through Zoom. The students practice all sorts of types of music and songs.

“There is a soprano, alto, tenor and bass, and we sing a variety of music,” Murcia said. “We sing renaissance type music, we sing contemporary pieces, and mostly acapella.”

By singing outside while following COVID-19 guidelines, the students get the normal experience from before the pandemic. Doing it through Zoom left out that feeling.

“The way we’ve been doing it is through Zoom and we are all muted and our teacher takes us through all the different parts and warms us up,” Murcia said. “It’s been weird doing it over Zoom because, in a choir, you want to be able to hear the other singers.”

Now the students can hear and sing together in a more choral style as opposed to online video recordings. Soprano Dulcie Feinstein, a vocal performance major at HSU has been with the group and class for four semesters and is a teacher’s assistant. Feinstein also had difficulty with choir and music classes over Zoom.

“We started this semester just online,” Feinstein said. “It’s hard to know what we are doing or how we sound. It’s hard to unify those voices.”

Now, later into the semester, the class meets three times a week outside and the rest of the week online. Now that it is partially in person, Feinstein finds it motivating.

“Obviously one of the pros is just to be able to do it in general, and I can already see so many improvements,” Feinstein said.“ Just being in person the first day it was like wow. It’s crazy how much we have forgotten how to be a choir.”

Emily Morse, a music education major at HSU, is another soprano in the group. Morse has taken the class before and has enjoyed it so much to continue through the pandemic.

“I love being in class with Rachel Samet, she is the best choir teacher that I’ve ever had and she has helped me improve my voice,” Morse said. “It’s kind of like a little family.”

Morse was also excited about being able to be outside while singing but it is different compared to when the choir sang in the recital hall on campus.

“Rachel has kept it pretty much the same. It’s just the fact that only eight of us can sing at a time, it kind of sucks,” Morse said. “At least we get the in-person experience to how we were before.”

Morse also enjoys the idea of singing outside in nature since the choir class is being held in the Redwood Bowl.

“It’s nice actually to sing outside, especially when the weather is nice because we didn’t get to do that before COVID hit,” Morse said. “I feel like music and nature are connected so it’s nice to be able to sing with the trees, as silly as that may sound.”

As soon as the pandemic hit, many Humboldt State University students were cut off from the world. With isolation and stay-at-home orders increasing, staying connected to the community was often challenging. However, students were able to find a glimmer of hope for it seemed as if video games brought them closer than ever before.

In order to stay connected, many sisters from Delta Phi Epsilon, a sorority on Humboldt State’s campus, had turned to video games as a way to bond and still be in touch with sisters during extremely tough times. Sorority sister Krystal Padilla had a particular love of Animal Crossing.

“I played Animal Crossing New Horizons with some of my sisters and we even made a group chat, it was nice,” Padilla said. “During the pandemic, I would just eat and sleep but playing with sisters helped me calmed down and reminded me why I loved playing video games in the first place.”

Padilla even named her island Opal which was her nickname in the sorority.

Fellow sister Tabitha Page was able to also share her experience about how the pandemic brought her closer to sisters and reminded her of her love for video games.

“Since classes take up less time, I can sometimes hop on and play on my Switch more than I could before,” Page said. “Animal Crossing had a big impact on the first few months of COVID and I was able to stay connected with some of my sisters.”

Page named her island after Lofoten, Norway, a place she hopes to visit one day. She also enjoys playing The Legend of Zelda on her Nintendo Switch.

“Similar to Animal Crossing, my older brother was really into video games, so I saw him playing Legend of Zelda and I wanted to play too,” Page said.

Meghan Burket, another sister from Delta Phi Epsilon, also shared her experience about how video games helped her get through this pandemic.

“I started playing Animal Crossing New Horizon from the day it came out, it was something great to play with during quarantine and helped a lot with my motivation,” Burket said.

As students of Humboldt State University face the middle of the semester, it can be a stressful and busy time for many. Many college students love to drink coffee or tea in order to give them an energy boost as they manage all of their exams and homework for this semester. While some students prefer coffee, it seems as if many Humboldt State students find tea to be more soothing and helpful to the soul.

“I like chamomile, turmeric ginger, lemongrass and lavender for the taste, health benefits and for improving mood,” said Mandy Hackney, a student at Humboldt State University.

It is important to take care of one’s health as students handle the stressors of school.

“It is doctor’s orders, I have a few mild stomach conditions like acid reflux and IBS that are maintained by diet.” Hackney said.

Hackney prefers tea over coffee because of her experiences at Lavender Ranch and the KitTea Cat Cafe.

“It was really pretty to see the lavender fields and the gift shop smelled great. The owner showed us her stash of brewed lavender tea so my friends and I bought some, took it home to Chico, and steeped it. It was delicious!” Hackney said.

On Hackney’s birthday in 2019, she had the opportunity to further enjoy the pleasant taste of tea.

“At KitTea Cat Cafe, you could have a cup of tea while you get to play with cats and some of them were even up for adoption. The herbal teas were very tasty,” Hackney said.

Ruby Bailey, another Humboldt State student, seems to agree with Hackney’s love for tea.

“Peppermint tea has always been a comfort drink for me,” Bailey said. “I would drink it whenever I was sick as a little kid because it made my throat feel better.”

Tea isn’t just a comforting drink and beneficial to the health but it also seems to bring up great memories for Humboldt students.

“I like chai because it tastes like fall in a cup and I love fall. My earliest memory of having chai was in line to see the midnight showing of The Hunger Games.” Bailey said.

“I used to get sushi with my dad and we would drink green tea so tea brings up nice memories for me,” said Olivia Kakacek, another HSU student.

With the great memories of friendships, new experiences and benefits to one’s health, it seems like tea for Humboldt students is a must rather than coffee.

“The reason why I like tea is because of the several different flavors you can try, it’s simple to make, it’s very soothing and relaxing.” Kakacek said.

Recent phone releases in the tech world will have your ears perked and eyes peeled. Both of these take a nostalgic approach in the way we use our phone yet are strikingly different in their branding, operations and appeal.

Released in mid February the Samsung Z Flip made its first debut as it unfolded, becoming a mini tablet device. With a versatile split screen feature, users can watch YouTube on the top while replying to emails on the bottom. This is the first flip phone of its kind with a folding glass screen.

The Light Phone, what they’re calling a credit-card size, low-tech tool, was initiated on Kickstarter in a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2015 and later launched in 2017. However, their second edition and newest release has began to receive attention from social media users. Light advocates their phone is “designed to be used as little as possible.”

The company has stripped the phone of any and all social media. We’re talking email, apps, games, music and more. They are encouraging users to use the phone as a tool rather than a tool for distraction.

Dominic Rushe, a reporter for The Guardian decided to try the phone for himself. What he gained in his experience shocked him in ways he didn’t see coming.

“I used to draw a lot,” Rushe said. “I am drawing again. By midweek, I’m also writing more. At least these thoughts and drawings, however scattered, are my own. Maybe a new me is emerging, or an old one. One that draws and thinks for himself rather than following Silicon Valley’s addictive maze.”

However, a question worth asking is whether this is sustainable for a 21st century individual, one with emails to be answered and important tasks and reminders from classes, colleagues or employers, or those who truly rely on their phones for a means of income such as those working for Uber, Door Dash, or similar apps.

Julia Jacobo, ABC News reporter in a 2019 study concluded unsurprisingly that students spend an increasingly large amount of time on screens, not including screen time used for schoolwork.

“Teens spend an average of seven hours and 22 minutes on their phones a day,” Jacobo said. “When figuring in activities such as reading books and listening to music, the numbers jumped to nine hours and 49 minutes.”

Chance Callahan, an HSU natural resources graduate contemplated whether or not he felt he would be able to go entirely without all media apps, such as the Light phone.

“I’d still probably prefer my phone,” Callahan said. “But I’d be willing to try the Light phone for a week trial to see what it’s about. It would be good to take a break for a while but it’s hard to say if I could go without social media entirely.”

TikTok videos are becoming much more than just entertainment by helping students with their mental health, body positivity and more.

The app has become one of the most popular of our generation. Its main feed, or the ‘for you’ page, is geared towards each individual’s interests.

Molly Crandell is a junior in the LSEE program. She admits she spends more time on TikTok than she really should. She has been inspired, however, by its empowering videos.

“My for you page is filled with content where people seem to genuinely feel confident and comfortable being their true selves, or as true as they are portrayed,” Crandell said. “There’s lots of humor regarding real life situations, body types, and even friendships and relationships.”

Crandell has specifically been affected in terms of body positivity. She’s noticed how authentic TikTok is compared to the social norms people feel they have to follow on other apps like Instagram.

“Since I’ve downloaded TikTok, I think it’s definitely changed my perspective on the various forms of body shaming that happen, and helped me to realize that so many people are affected by their own insecurities,” Crandell said.

Crandell often sees Lizzo on her for you page and enjoys the content she puts out into the world.

“She’s constantly coming across my for you page with body positive content and recipes,” Crandell said. “In addition, Babyeagan is another influencer I see a lot of. She constantly talks about how she is perceived, whether it be about her body after two kids or the stigma of being a young mom.”

With being in a global pandemic while balancing 19 units this semester, Crandell has leaned on TikTok to relieve some of her stress.

“Watching my for you page is an easy way to take a break or 10 from distance learning,” Crandell said. “It’s humorous and positive content that’s pretty uplifting when there’s not much to do but stay at home.”

Nyah Guynup is a senior psychology major who is new to TikTok, but has already been positively affected by it.

“[TikTok] does seem to spread body positivism when people of all body types and skin color are embracing themselves,” Guynup said. “The app seems to definitely generate my interests well, which can be a negative factor because I’m not being exposed to other perspectives and lifestyles. The ‘for you’ primarily pertains strictly to you.”

Despite being new to TikTok, she has found ways the app brings positivity into her life.

“TikTok has definitely allowed me to laugh more and to be exposed to different perspectives and issues that aren’t typically presented to the public,” Guynup said.

AJ Alberino is an incoming freshman who is going to major in business administration and management. TikTok has allowed her to have a break from the noise of the world and just scroll through entertaining and empowering videos.

“My TikTok for you page has impacted me positively, with the world being in its current state,” Alberino said. “It’s helped connect me to new friends, and gave me a smile when I needed one.”

Some of her favorite influencers are Spencewuah, Ballehurns, Skincarebyhyram, Wisdm8 and Brittany_broski.

“These people have such an impact on me, whether it’s by making me smile or showing me a new outfit,” Alberino said. “[They] empower women, talk about the LGBTQ+ community and even social injustice. They not only make me feel better, but they also educate, and I think that’s super important and one of the best products of social media today.”

Delaney Hughes is in her first year of the Masters program in kinesiology who is also on TikTok. She tries her best to avoid the unhealthy culture of the app.

“Sometimes there’s too many ‘what I eat in a day’ videos, which get me too into my head with food,” Hughes said. “But I really only react and like and follow positive videos.”

TikTok influencers that Hughes watches include Sarah Rae Vargas, Remi Jo, Raeann Langas and Samantha Jo.

Every type of social media has its own positives and negatives but for Alberino, the app has helped her in more ways than one.

“TikTok has impacted my mental health mostly,” Alberino said. “It has its good and bad, but for the most part, it has given me inspiration, knowledge, confidence and smiles.”

For the past year now, we’ve seen hundreds of memes and TikTok videos poking fun at the bizarreness of having our cameras on for Zoom meetings and class times. Undeniably, there is a very personal aspect to our camera that makes individuals feel uncomfortable. Or maybe, for some, a little rebellious.

You know, if you’re one of the many who show up with a button up shirt on top and sweats on the bottom. Or maybe you’re not wearing pants at all? I think we can agree weirder things have happened at this point.

Raven Linton, a public relations major, says she doesn’t feel intimidated by the camera. However, whether or not she turns her camera on or not depends on how presentable she feels.

“I typically have it off because I’m usually in my pajamas,” Linton said. “It definitely feels different. However, I actually kind of like the fact that some of the online classes have this because I’m a visual learner, and to me, it feels the same in a sense of getting an ‘in-person’ lecture.”

Though Linton feels rather comfortable either way, it’s obvious some students get anxious more than others and whether or not you’ll experience it or not is hard to say.

Kimberly Cossio, an environmental studies major, says she prefers to have her camera off for mostly privacy reasons. Noting a lot of the time she is doing other things like cooking or getting ready for work. She adds that for herself, Zoom can get slightly uncomfortable opposed to in-person.

“It is very different to have a camera on you at all times and it can get pretty uncomfortable, just knowing that everyone in the class can see you, rather than being in class when everyone’s focus is on the professor,” Cossio said. “Most times in in-person classes you can’t see other students’ faces but only their backside and so there is a significant difference.”

Delaney Duarte, a journalism major with a minor in communication studies says she prefers to have in-person sessions because she likes feeling like she has a place to go and enjoys being able to get dressed up, go out and not just be in her pajamas for class, which is why she says she keeps her camera turned off most days.

“I tend to have my camera off,” Duarte said. “Sometimes I like having my camera on if I’m put together. I personally don’t get anxious though, that’s not really me. I don’t really get nervous on camera.”

Duarte attests that keeping her camera on or off doesn’t have much to do with shyness, nerves or anxiety. Yet, she understands that other students may be experiencing this.

“I know a lot of students get anxious though so I’m not saying everyone is like me,” Duarte said. “But I do know a lot of students don’t want people seeing their background and where they’re at. It’s your personal space and you’re showing it to everyone so they might be anxious with that.”

The year long, ongoing global pandemic has led many college students to find themselves spending their free time at home on streaming services.

Two of the most popular, Netflix and Hulu both have positives and negatives that appeal to a variety of people. But their appeal can become expensive especially for college students.

Netflix offers three different plans with monthly payments: Basic for $5.99, Standard for $13.99 and Premium for $17.99. Prices differ based on the number of people on each account simultaneously.

Hulu offers four different subscription monthly plans, one starting at $5.99, a no ad option for $11.99, a live TV option for $64.99 and a live TV option that includes no ads for $70.00.

Despite the similarities, HSU students have strong opinions about which one they prefer.

Abby Miller is a senior and kinesiology pre-pt major who doesn’t pay for cable, which makes paying $16.99 per month for Netflix well worth it for her.

“I like Netflix more mainly because of the content that they have and what I currently have right now,” Miller said.

Miller loves finding new shows and movies to watch but also loves watching classic Adam Sandler movies.

“Netflix has no ads and there are a lot of shows to watch,” Miller said. “However, I was bummed when they took “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” off. I have had time to explore other shows like “New Girl” and “Bridgerton,” and I always love classic movies.”

Jordan Howery is a junior majoring in zoology. She has a strong opinion that Hulu is much better than Netflix all around. Even though Hulu has ads, she sees past that and admires the content it gives her.

“My favorite thing about Hulu is the better variety of movies and shows to watch,” Howery said.

Many college students share their accounts with their friends in order to save money, which is what Howery does. She enjoys watching crime and mystery especially “Bones” and “Sons of Anarchy” which are both, unsurprisingly, available on Hulu.

“I’m a person who tries out a little bit of everything when it comes to movies and shows,” Howery said.

Netflix has one thing that Hulu does not: no ads. Not having to watch commercials is one of the biggest advantages that Netflix has.

Macy Thomas is a junior and a business venture management major with a minor in health education.

“Oddly, I resort to Netflix more, but not because I necessarily like it more, it’s honestly just my go to,” Thomas said. “It definitely gets a point for no ads/commercials. My Hulu subscription is the basic one and the ads get super old.”

Being a college student with a limited budget, streaming services are often difficult to afford.

“Right now I am still freeloading off my parents’ Netflix subscription but I know it’s getting upwards of $18+ a month,” Thomas said. “I’d say it is worth it, but when you remember the days it was $10 a month, it kind of sucks.”

Along with Hulu, Netflix continues to raise their prices each year, but with the continued effects of the pandemic, streaming services still continue to gain popularity with all ages.

“Netflix is way more user friendly and better designed than Hulu,” Thomas said. “I rely on Netflix to rewatch the show “Grace and Frankie.” I absolutely love this show and it’s one I can sit and watch to enjoy or have it on in the background and still be productive.”

While we’re moving more and more into a digital era, it seems there are still a few things we may prefer to consume in an old-fashioned manner. In 2016, the LA Times and Tech Times found that print books still remain more popular than e-books. But by 2020, Times Higher Education stated that while students still prefer physical books to digital, sales of physical copies have declined.

Cash Rion, a journalism major, agrees that each has its own appeal and purpose. However, he much prefers physical books for a few reasons.

“I love the feel of having a physical book in my hand, especially small paperbacks,” Rion said. “There’s no need to go ‘charge’ your book with a physical copy, and they’re easy to read before bed without having all that blue light from a screen keeping you awake.”

Though Rion prefers physical copies for personal reading, he adds there are certainly times when he may opt for a digital copy over a physical one.

“Digital books do have their own appeal,” Rion said. “It’s great being able to have hundreds of books at your fingertips on your phone or tablet, and being able to pick up where you left off so easily! And for textbooks, there’s no need to go lugging around massive tomes as you head from class to the library to study.”

Edward Carpenter, a communication major, also prefers physical books, noting there are things he feels are missing when it comes to digital books.

“I love the crisp sounds of a page turn,” Carpenter said. “I would say that you don’t really get that essence when you are reading a digital copy. In a digital format, I tend to gloss over words without much attention to detail. However, when I’m reading something in print, I tend to have a better comprehension of the message the author is trying to get across to me.”

Emily McCollum, a senior journalism major, feels digital books are trying too hard and prefers reading tactile books — ones she can annotate. McCollum still prefers to buy a physical copy even if a free digital version is available, noting that they are easier to annotate and reflect more of her learning style.

“I just personally have a good attachment to regular bound books,” McCollum said. “I think they smell good, they’re easy on my eyes, and personally, I have very bad vision so looking at a screen for long periods of time wears me out really fast and makes my eyes sore.”

Blessed Earth Herbals is a holistic herbal body care company that is owned and operated by a woman of color, Christa Rose.

After graduating from Humboldt State in 2015 with a Bachelor’s of science in botany, Rose started her business in May 2020. She primarily advertises through social media, which has led to reaching more customers and getting more traction. As a new business, she is still working on getting her business license and launching the main website soon.

“We strive to make our products available to all, as we believe herbal medicine is the people’s medicine,” Rose said.

Rose’s company specializes in using ethically sourced, organic ingredients. She and her business partner create products intended to promote healing naturally with the use of medicinal plants, and their products range from bath soak blends and bath bombs to facial serums and mud masks.

Interest in herbal medicine and general sustainability due to the pandemic led many to seek out natural ways to care for their health.

“Conversations surrounding natural products became much more mainstream, which we think is very empowering,” Rose said. “Greater support emerged for POC businesses, and people seemed very happy to see the positive representation we strive to be.”

Being a small business, Rose believes it’s important to be genuine.

“A product does not have to be flashy or gimmicky if it is made well, serves its purpose and is made with love and intention,” Rose said.

Cate Be is a pottery maker and multidimensional artist who graduated from Humboldt State in 2013. She works with commercially manufactured stoneware and porcelain clay and owns a business called CBeCeramics.

She had reached a following of 10,000 followers the summer before she decided to go full time. Her business now has over 63,000 followers.

The first summer after graduation, Be was given a gift of a 10-week workshop in ceramics at the local art center.

“Meeting once a week, for 10 weeks, for two hours, it became my therapy, my meditation, my sacred space,” Be said.

The next year in 2017, she decided to take CBeCeramics full-time. Be sees her work as a reflection of herself.

“It mirrors the past and current inner workings of my being,” Be said. “This ranges from natural resource and environmental aspects such as botany, wildlife and mycology, to sexual health/awareness, medicinal herbs and medicine, identity, and self-care and love.”

CBeCeramics carved itself a niche online before the pandemic hit. She had already built a reliable customer base without the need for physical interaction.

“Sharing a community space surprisingly limits my creative potential in quantity and content; that’s an entirely different can of worms I have to manage,” Be said.

The biggest lesson Be has learned since starting their business is community is more important than competition.

“Everyone’s journey looks and is different; don’t compare your brand or self to anyone else’s,” Be said.