by Ryndi Greenwell

**Name of volunteer not shared due to protecting their anonymity/ability to volunteer. This article will refer to them as “volunteer” or “presenter.”

On Dec. 8, Cal Poly Humboldt received a report back from the West Bank — a presentation and Q&A from a volunteer who spent three months in the West Bank of Israeli-occupied Palestine. They spent most of their time in Masafer Yatta, a rural collection of 19 villages within the occupied West Bank. The presentation took place at the Behavioral and Social Sciences building on campus, drawing in about 20 students and community members. 

The presentation covered a volunteer’s personal experience while in Masafer Yatta, including risks they encountered as well as the joy they found there. The presenter worked with the volunteer group Masafer Yatta Solidarity Alliance (MYSA), who work to establish a protective presence of international volunteers in the homes and properties of local Palestinians. The presenter discussed how the presence of volunteers made Palestinian families less prone to targeted actions from Israeli settlers.

“Families are less likely to get attacked if a volunteer is present,” the presenter said. 

The volunteer reported that in the area they stayed, there was some kind of incident with Israeli citizens or the Israeli Occupational Force (IOF) daily. The force is also known as the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), however the volunteer clarified that the defense part of the acronym is not accurate to their imperial actions. These daily incidents included the deployment of sound grenades to disrupt gatherings, IOF harassing locals for documentation frequently, destroying property and crops, water sabotage and more. Many of the incidents the presenter encountered were related to livestock and land protection.

“Settler shepherds were encroaching on their land,” they said. “Some days as early as 6 a.m., some days at 8 a.m..” 

Another main goal of the volunteer organization is to document incidents as they happen. Having a witness to violent or unfair treatment may help the families have a better case in court, and settler forces are less likely to harm Palestinians if an international volunteer is recording. Their phones or cameras are also much less likely to be seized or broken by the IOF. 

For those who might consider volunteer work like this, the presenter shared that there are few barriers to entry. Volunteers must complete an online training program before they can travel to the West Bank and can choose to not participate even after the training is completed. MYSA asks that volunteers stay for a minimum of three weeks in order to complete necessary on-the-ground training, but encourages the full three months in order to have the most impact. 

“The relationships you can build are deeper the longer you stay,” the presenter said. 

That was one major takeaway from the presentation — much of the difference one can make is creating close relationships with local Palestinians. Protective presence volunteer work gives communities some safety, but also leaves volunteers with a greater understanding of human rights. The presenter explained that most volunteers find themselves wanting to stay in the West Bank, and may return many times. 

“It is a life-changing, radicalizing experience,” the volunteer said. 

For more information or questions about volunteering, check out MYSA’s Instagram @masaferyattasolidarityalliance or their website my-sa.org

Ryndi is a news journalism major who loves to cook, paint and sing. Contact her rg315@humboldt.edu

by Sadie Shields

California State University, East Bay Professor and Philosophical Counselor Susi Ferrarello has spent years exploring the intersection of philosophy, literature and human emotion, ultimately shaping a body of work that bridges intellectual inquiry and lived experience. Her career in philosophical counseling gradually inspired her to write a book devoted entirely to the practice.

“I started doing philosophical counseling and then the experience accumulated,” Ferrarello said. “I thought it might be interesting to write a book about that.”

In her recent keynote at Cal Poly Humboldt on Nov. 6 titled “On the Philosopher’s Couch,” Ferrarello invited students to reconsider what it means to love intentionally. Blending philosophy, literature and personal anecdotes from her practice, she encouraged the audience to explore the potential for deliberate, mindful engagement in their relationships. 

“I wanted to give students that space — the same one I try to create for my clients — to know that we can become smarter when it comes to love,” Ferrarello said.

Preparing the lecture posed unique challenges. Ferrarello was aware she would be addressing a diverse audience including students, faculty and community members, and she sought to create a discourse that would resonate with all.

“When we want to share love with someone, we don’t need to act out of an invisible pressure,” Ferrarello said. “There is a space to make relevant choices in our loving life.”

Ferrarello explored two primary themes in her talk: the nature of choice in relationships and the role of emotions — particularly rage — in shaping human interactions. Drawing on Homeric literature, she referenced Penelope and Odysseus as an archetype of relational choice. Ferrarello paralleled this with a client named Christina, who, after more than a decade of marriage, faced continual choices regarding her life and identity within the relationship.

“Love is not just an intention,” Ferrarello said. “Even if I act in good faith, the outcome is not guaranteed.” 

Rage, she said, often complicates the capacity for rational choice in relationships. Referencing the Iliad, she examined Agamemnon’s destructive anger and drew upon stoic philosophy to distinguish between empty, unnatural rage and justified, purposeful thumos — a form of courageous anger grounded in values. 

“It’s not blind, violent rage,” she said. “It’s thumos — the kind of courage that lets us stand our ground and assert who we are. In those moments, we become heroes — we become agathos.” 

To translate these insights into practice, Ferrarello shared exercises from her book The Ethics of Love, designed to help readers reconnect with their capacity for thoughtful, intentional love. Ferrarello said her interest in love is both personal and professional; her book emerged from the intense emotional experiences of counseling clients during the pandemic alongside formative memories from her childhood in Rome. She recalled a neighbor, a woman subjected to psychiatric treatments, whose life left a profound impression.

“I always thought, oh my God, what a terrible life this woman is having,” she said. 

Ferrarello also reflected on the experiences of three other women, two of whom died by suicide following abusive relationships. She dedicated her book to these women, citing her own challenging upbringing as a lens through which she could understand the risks and complexities of love. 

“I could touch with my hands how dangerous and painful love can be if we don’t put our mind into it,” Ferrarello said.

Anxiety and possessiveness, Ferrarello noted, are pervasive challenges in human relationships. An anxious individual may be warm and affectionate yet fail to truly perceive the needs of others because they are consumed by their own fears. 

“The other person becomes an object, not the actual person,” Ferrarello said. 

Recognizing such patterns, she argued, is a crucial step toward healthier relational dynamics. For Ferrarello, the cultivation of self-awareness and humility is central to meaningful love. Humility, she added, prevents people from overestimating themselves or allowing others to define their worth.

Ferrarello explained that healthy self-love is not selfishness, but an ethical engagement with one’s own needs and potential. It involves recognizing one’s unique talents, moral responsibilities and inherent dignity. From this foundation, individuals are better equipped to nurture themselves and others. Ferrarello warned against seeking validation through superficial markers like popularity or wealth, noting that these forms of recognition are fleeting and can leave individuals vulnerable to manipulation. 

“This is another easy way of being loved that does not bring true happiness or fulfillment,” she said.

Ferrarello’s work underscores a central principle: love is a skill that requires reflection, ethical consideration and intentional practice. Through her counseling, writing and lectures, she seeks to equip individuals with the tools to navigate emotion, choice and human connection with greater clarity, compassion and courage.

Sadie is a junior communications major, journalism minor at Cal Poly Humboldt who has an interest in covering and taking photos for sports and wildlife journalism and a slight interest in breaking news. She can be reached at sls331@humboldt.edu.

by Luke Shanafelt

Everyone’s seen a cigarette butt on the ground at some point in their life — a yellowed, plastic tip sitting in the street, waiting to be disposed of. It’s the mascot behind the “I.D.G.A.F” mindset. 

The Surfrider foundation fights for plastic reduction, ocean protection, clean water and more. On Nov. 4, Surfrider Humboldt threw an event with a screening of The Cigarette Surfboard that showcased the process of creating a surfboard made up of over 10,000 cigarette butts. 

Dozens of community members flowed through the doors of the Arcata Theater Lounge to support the cause and listen to the filmmaker Ben Judkins talk about the idea behind it all.

Judkins, a former Arcata resident, was at the event and held a Q&A session after the screening.

There were many familiar faces interviewed for the documentary. One notable waterman and musician, Jack Johnson, had a significant role talking about environmental consciousness in the film. Local Humboldt student Andy Garvin marveled about the impact of the film.

“It showed how small amounts of people could make big changes in government,” Garvin said. 

In the film, Santa Cruz local Taylor Lane entered a contest to create a creative surfboard and his cigarette surfboard entry won. This sparked a movement with Lane refining the design and having real professional surfers like Mikey February styling on the board in a high performance surfing display.

The film was inspiringly disturbing. Many cigarette butts end up on the beach, then consumed by sea life and birds that come across the discarded pieces of plastic. With the help of local surfers, Lane went to the Santa Cruz city council and passed a bill that will outlaw the sale of filtered cigarettes by 2027. This bill is a huge step in the right direction for ocean conservation — the cigarette surfboard has a movement big enough to initiate change behind it. Starting from a hopeful ideal to reuse a product that most people find useless enough to flick on the ground with no regards, to real legislation being passed in the city of Santa Cruz.

Humboldt’s surf community has long balanced a love of good waves with a commitment to protecting the places that make them possible. That’s what made this film so real — it turned a familiar object into a mirror of self reflection. The next time you have a cigarette after watching this movie, it is going to be hard to disregard all of the hard work these folks are putting in to combat all the years of flicking butts. 

Luke is a senior journalism transfer from Socal who enjoys video editing, music journalism, and man on the street interviews. Contact him at ls432@humboldt.edu. 

by Dylan Jewett

On a quiet evening, the Eric Rofes Multicultural Queer Resource Center (ERC) hosted an event for students on campus called Queer Joy in Nelson Hall. The event held on Nov. 14 aimed to provide an opportunity to express yourself through makeup and gender-affirming clothing, surrounded by a like-minded community. 

During the event, there were a lot of different gender-affirming items available for guests to use and take home. This included guides on how to use the makeup, a clothing closet and drinks available for the guests. Groups across campus like the Women’s Resource Center, Campus Advocate Team and Student Health and Wellbeing Services were also tabling, offering a place for students to ask questions and learn about what their respective offices offer and how they can serve the student body.

Event Organizer and Fiscal Director Jesse Benefiel put together the Queer Joy event to showcase the resources available on campus for queer students and to give them a space to express themselves. Queer Joy started before Benefiel came to the school, but he continues to host the event. 

“It’s a chance to express yourself,” Benefiel said. “That’s an important thing for our community, being able to express yourself.”

Junior criminology major Alejandra Sanchez came to the event to explore more ways to support queer people and students.

 “It’s really nice to know that there’s a space where they can come and express themselves and have fun,” Sanchez said. “It’s an opportunity where you get to meet other queer students and find community.”

The live DJ for the event, Parker Smith, was mixing songs and bringing dance tunes for the crowd to enjoy. Smith has been a DJ for other events at Cal Poly Humboldt like Skate Night and TrExpo, and does other live music as well. She likes to DJ these kinds of events because she can highlight queer musicians and give back to her community. 

“Queer joy at its core is love, experimentation and expression,” Smith said. “I feel like it’s something we’re actually good at. I love that we can all share; it’s joyous.”

Cal Poly Humboldt student Jamie Lambaren attended the event and was decorating the laces of their shoes with pony beads. Lambaren likes coming to queer events hosted by the school because they are more inclusive. 

“I’m glad there’s a space for that and they’re allowing that,” Lambaren said. “I couldn’t think of any other way of having it.”

The ERC hosts other events throughout the school year like Queer Karaoke, crafting events and tabling in the quad for Transgender Day of Remembrance. Next semester, they are hosting TrExpo, a trans expo where they highlight resources around the community for trans students. 

“It’s very good to remind everyone that we have this community here,” Benefiel said. “It shows that there’s people who are there for you.”

Dylan Jewett is a fourth-year Journalism major at Cal Poly Humboldt. You can catch them wandering the forest, exploring the coast with their camera, enjoying live music and crocheting little things in their free time. Contact them at daj59@humboldt.edu. 

by Sadie Shields

Walking into the normally routine dining hall felt like something out of a fall postcard. Warm lights, decorated tables and the sweet aroma of pumpkin spice welcomed guests as KRFH DJs filled the space with upbeat music.

 The “spiceful” event — one of only two major programs Humboldt Dining has organized this fall — brought together students, staff and friends for an afternoon rich with seasonal flavor and campus spirit. Student organizations set up tables to share information, promote their own upcoming events and answer questions, turning dinner into an opportunity for involvement and connection.

Attendees got hands-on with autumn-inspired crafts, where they created their own pumpkin-spice blends and tea bags to pair with their J-ordered meals. For many, it was a chance not only to grab food, but to slow down, socialize and enjoy the shift into the colder months. A pumpkin carving contest also brought an element of competition to the mix, with students casting votes for the most creative gourd on display. 

The event came as a complete surprise in the best way. Hannah Callahan, a junior sociology major, described the excitement of unexpectedly stumbling into the seasonal celebration.  

“I just walked into the J, and I didn’t know what was going on,” Callahan said. “I think that would be kind of cool to walk in [on] like a regular day you normally would, and then all of a sudden, there’s the big event.”

Despite the surprise factor, crowds quickly grew as word spread, and the J was quickly filled to almost full capacity. Humboldt Dining staff and volunteers worked steadily to support the crowd; they offered supplies, answered questions and helped guests navigate activities.

In a semester filled with assignments, storms and fast-approaching finals, the event provided a welcome opportunity to come together and celebrate the season. 

Sadie is a junior communications major, journalism minor at Cal Poly Humboldt who has an interest in covering and taking photos for sports and wildlife journalism, and a slight interest in breaking news. She can be reached at sls331@humboldt.edu.

by Julia Kelm

The stage was lit in a warm glow — light cascaded down onto the faces of dancing actors holding golden goblets, celebrating the end of a war and the crowning of a new king. However, in a turn of expectations, these celebrations soon turned bittersweet. Cal Poly Humboldt’s theater department’s interpretation of the Greek tragedy, Antigone, came to life in the opening scene. 

Antigone will be open for public viewing in Gist Hall Theatre on Nov. 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 9 and 16 at 2:00 p.m.

Antigone was written by the ancient Greek tragedian, Sophocles. The story follows a female protagonist, Antigone, as she defies the new king, Creon, by burying her brother, Polynices, whom the king had declared a traitor and left unburied. It follows themes of female empowerment and an anti-government call to action.

The play was chosen by the university, with Tony-nominated actress Cynthia Martells hired to direct the play.

Martells believes that the story of Antigone is just as important as it was a millennium ago. 

“Even though we do use some older terms, there’s a lot about this play that is very modern,” Martells said. “[The play] has a lot of references to things that are happening in our time, so [audiences] might not find this so foreign as you might think.” 

The theater welcomes all who are interested in seeing this production of Antigone. Your support of local theater helps keep this ancient tradition alive.

Julia is a journalism major, and is the life and arts editor for the paper. She loves film and is a regular on Letterboxd. She also enjoys going on walks in the forest, and taking pictures to relax. If you have a movie you want her to review, email her at jk328@humboldt.edu.

by Carmen Ruiz Fernandez

“Coyote and the Monsters Yet to Slay,” now taking place from Oct. 16 to Nov. 22 in the Goudi’ni Gallery, showcases the latest collection by Pacific Northwest Native American artist Ryan Elizabeth Feddersen. Located on the bottom floor of the Behavioral & Social Sciences Building, the exhibition invites viewers to explore how ancient Coyote stories confront the monsters of today’s world.

This series of artworks addresses contemporary social issues through the lens of the Plateau lore, a group of Native American tribes from the non-coastal regions of the Northwestern U.S., Canada and parts of British Columbia. The main plot of the stories unfolds on the day that the animal people received their final names, and Spirit Chief appointed Coyote chief of all the tribes. Spirit Chief warned him about human-devouring monsters and tasked him with stopping them from killing all the people. Because Coyote’s mission was dangerous, he was granted special powers to transform, to be revived from death and to call on his excrement for advice. In this project, Feddersen embodies social problems as monsters themed around modern issues like wealth, hoarding, greed, relentlessness and killing, inviting viewers to name and symbolically slay them.

The collection consists of ten pieces: two main paintings titled “Coyote and Corporate Convenience” and “Coyote and the wormhole,” four smaller framed serigraphs, a large rack displaying small hand-painted gouache serigraphs titled “Coyote tries again” and three painted glass vessels.

 According to the gallery director, Brittany Britton, she already had an idea of the kind of artist she wanted to feature when planning this exhibition. The main goal of the gallery is to showcase the work of local Native American artists, while also bringing Native artists from other regions to encourage cultural exchange. Britton said this diversity benefits art students, Native American students and others across campus. She specifically wanted someone from the Pacific Northwest to exhibit this time, since it had been a while since the gallery featured an artist from that area. Britton came across Fedderson online and remembered meeting her in person during a show at the Portland Art museum and knew she would be the perfect fit for this exhibition.

“Our main goal is to showcase local Native artists, but we also have a focus of bringing artists from other tribes to our area, so that we do have more of a cross-cultural exchange,” Britton said. “[Fedderson’s] work really fits in line with the mission of the gallery, as well as thinking about the ways that art impacts political systems and how we think about the world.”

Feddersen said the main message she wanted people to take away from this collection is that, like Coyote, humanity must always try again in everything it does. Especially if humankind is working towards living in a better world, failure is inevitable. She mentioned that her most meaningful piece of the exhibition is the painting “Coyote and Corporate convenience,” which depicts people being smothered by an ominous black cloud, raising their hands with money towards a monster above them that consumes all of the profit, while offering them corporatized conveniences in exchange. She explained that she thinks about this painting often, as it carries a profound message about how much convenience costs us as a society, coming at the expense of the planet and air quality.

The painting also stands out among the others because, on the black clouds, people can use their body heat to unveil secret icons related to collateral damage underneath.

“It’s a way of showing something that is hidden,” Feddersen said. “When you create an action in order to reveal things that are hidden, people are going to put in the effort to reveal those messages. It’s a parallel with life, it can be brought to other aspects of the world. People hide things from us, so this teaches us to go for the things that are hidden for us, to keep searching.”

Tristan Brown, a first-year transfer majoring in studio arts, came to the exhibit for a class assignment. Once there, he found the pieces had profound meaning, making him reflect on how trapped modern society can be by corporations and responsibilities.

“I think this collection shows a lot about a lost cultural identity,” Brown said. “It’s kind of a blend between Indigenous culture, modern society and some of the things we’ve lost as a civilization.”

Carmen is a freshman journalism major whose passion is to write stories for newspapers. She is a writer and photographer, and likes to read and take walks through the forest in her free time. She can be reached at cr433@humboldt.edu 

by Sadie Shields 

Students and community members recently came together in the Library Fishbowl on Monday, Oct. 20 to co-create a zine for the Campus and Community Dialogue on Race (CDOR), an initiative known for fostering conversation on equity and inclusion. The themes centered on concepts of rest as a right. In addition, there were also themes of boundaries and centering the self. 

A zine — a self-published, small-circulation magazine — has long served as a grassroots medium for self-expression and activism. Participants collaged with magazines, newspapers and stickers creating one cohesive zine. Through collage and sketching, they created a story. This collaboration marked the first CDOR event of the academic year. The event not only sparked creativity, but also encouraged healing through shared storytelling.

Sage Brislen, a senior rangeland major, helped organize this event through College Corps. They focused on providing support and making sure the logistics of the event ran smoothly.

“I think events like this that encourage artistry, creativity and connection are vital to building community,” Brislen said. “I think often art is not appreciated or prioritized because of some severe environmental pressures, but making a space for activities like this is really important for us as humans. Especially at CDOR, because it’s a great way to connect with others.”

Sadie is a junior communications major, journalism minor at Cal Poly Humboldt who has an interest in covering and taking photos for sports and wildlife journalism, and a slight interest in breaking news. She can be reached at sls331@humboldt.edu.

by Barley Lewis-McCabe

An earthquake is inevitable — you can’t control where or when it’ll strike, but you can control how you respond. 

“If an earthquake happens, someone’s gonna be caught with a torch in their hand,” jewelry student Lily Wolf said during an impromptu earthquake drill in the Cal Poly Humboldt Jewelry Lab. 

Oct. 16. saw California’s annual Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. Shakeout is a yearly statewide earthquake drill that happens on the third Thursday of October. The drill is asynchronous, and people are encouraged to drop for cover no matter where they are or when it is. This coincides with our university’s safety week, placing earthquakes fresh in the minds of students.  

Geology Professor Amanda Admire spoke about the unique seismic conditions seen in Humboldt County.

“We live in one of the most seismically active regions in the United States outside of Alaska,” Admire said “We also live along a convergent boundary known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone. So, it has the capability of producing significant earthquakes, but then we also have other faults in the area.” 

The Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) is where the Juan De Franca plate slides underneath the North American Plate. The CSZ is a part of the Mendocino Triple Junction, which is where three plates — the two aforementioned and the Pacific Plate — meet in Cape Mendocino. This causes a significant build up of pressure which will someday release into a large-scale earthquake that is expected to be catastrophic. 

Jewelry lab studio monitor, Sophia Portolese, talked about how the lab handles unexpected threats due to the potentially dangerous nature of the work

“We are really on top of general safety, and safety within the tools that we use every single day,” Portolese said, “I don’t think we think enough about larger hazards that are out of our control. So, I wanted to bring the ShakeOut Drill to the studio.” 

Coinciding with the ShakeOut, portolese led a spontaneous earthquake drill which consisted of her walking up to different artists as they worked and asking, “What would you do if there was an 8.0 magnitude earthquake right now?” while weaving through large tables, demonstrating how she’d get low to the ground or under something sturdy. 

“When a tank falls over, it doesn’t just explode,” Portolese said. “It torpedoes, and creates almost like a fire tornado.” 

The safety measures that we would use in our homes are different than what they do in the jewelry lab, but, according to Admire, doing anything is better than nothing,

  “The important thing is we want to build your muscle memory for this,” Admire said. “We can’t schedule them for any specific time. All we can really control is how we’re going to respond to them. 
So, the more you take time to practice for these events, the better your response will be and the better off you’ll be during one of these events.”

Barley is the photo editor and an untraditional reporter who focuses on social change and stories with a real human impact. If you’d like to reach him for whatever reason email bl258@humboldt.edu.

by Carmen Ruiz Fernandez

Inside the campus Great Hall, community members gathered to celebrate the annual Mid-Autumn moon festival, a traditional Chinese celebration meant for family reunion and moon honoring on Friday, Oct. 10.

This festival originated in China over 3,000 years ago during the Shang dynasty. However, it wasn’t until the Song dynasty that it became an official celebration. It was mainly a time for harvest celebration and imperial ceremonies dedicated to the sun in spring and the moon in autumn. Mythologically, it is tied to two stories: the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess and Jade the Rabbit. The legend says Chang’e was hero Hou Yi’s wife, who, after bravely shooting down nine of the ten suns in the sky, was given an immortality pill as a reward. He entrusted his wife with the pill, but after disciple Peng Meng tried to steal it, Chang’e decided to swallow the pill instead, making her ascend to the moon. Jade the Rabbit, her companion on the moon, ascended as well after being rewarded for sacrificing itself to the fire for the Jade emperor.

The event was organized by the Asian Desi Pacific Islander Middle Eastern & North African Center for Academic Excellence (ADPI-MENA) on campus. The event featured a few activities: traditional Chinese calligraphy teaching, origami, a wish tree, lantern and fan making and decoration, traditional food and desserts, and a dance performance by the local White Lotus organization. Head Coordinator Sean Masuda explained that they started doing the Mid-Autumn Festival annually for the past few years and he thinks it’s a very important opportunity to build connections and share culture.

“It’s important to create a community as Asian Americans or as Asians on campus,” Masuda said. “We’re such a small population here, so it’s important to have and find community within ourselves at Cal Poly Humboldt. This event is open to the general public, one for Asians to feel welcome and included, as well as to share our culture with others and teach people and have other people learn and experience what Mid-Autumn festival is.”

The dance performance featured two Hmong and Lao dances, and it was performed by girls from the local organization. They wore traditional attire and executed classic hand movements in sync with the music, captivating the audience. Lucky and Bao Syphanthong are the couple who organized the dances: the first one was a typical Lao dance that’s usually done at parties or at New Year’s to celebrate getting together, and the second one was more of a mix between Hmong and Lao cultures. However, both songs had a mixture of traditional and modern elements, which made it more fun to plan and perform.

“It was very fun and challenging to implement elements of different cultures,” Bao Syphanthong said. “Because the first one is a Lao dance, but at the same time, there’s some modernized elements in it. As you can see, the girl was rapping in the part of the bridge. However, with the hand movements, you just have to be very careful with respect to the culture. You don’t want to modernize it, you just want to keep the hands, just to match the song.” 

Shane McDemas, a second-year transfer majoring in chemistry, decided to come to the event after seeing a flyer about it in front of the ADPI-MENA office. He said it sounded like a great opportunity to find out more about an event he had never heard of before.

“I’m not really like in the ADPI-MENA group or anything, but I did think it was super cool just seeing so many people like coming together for this cultural event, and everyone just seems to be having so much fun,” McDemas said. “I think my favorite thing about it is that it’s such a good community-building event — seeing so many people show up and everyone’s enjoying themselves, it’s a great time.”

Carmen is a freshman journalism major whose passion is to write stories for newspapers. She is a writer and photographer, and likes to read and take walks through the forest in her free time. She can be reached at cr433@humboldt.edu 

by Sadie Shields

For students interested in performance or composition, the applied music concentration requires an audition. Students in this pathway receive four years of private lessons to prepare for audition-level performance. Composition students receive coursework and, in some cases, individual instruction to prepare a portfolio. The applied concentration culminates in a senior recital.

The music teacher preparation degree is intended for students pursuing public school teaching careers. Like the applied track, it requires an audition, typically at the end of the sophomore year. Transfer students often audition after their first semester. A music minor is also available and popular across the university. Additionally, a proposed minor in music production, which includes instruction in recording technology, beat-making and related journalism-radio coursework, is expected to launch in Fall 2026.

The program also emphasizes the importance of music and the arts as essential components of human development. While some students specialize in music, members of the department like department head Cindy Moyer also value those who pursue it recreationally. 

“It’s really good that we have engineers who also are going to make music for fun and that we have people who are excited about being consumers of music and knowledgeable about it, just because it enriches their lives,” Moyer said.

Students graduating with music degrees pursue a wide variety of careers. These include performers, composers, conductors, music educators and more. 

Alumni have found success in diverse fields, with one recent graduate winning a Grammy and another contributing to a Star Wars movie soundtrack, according to Moyer.

The music program emphasizes transferable skills such as long-term goal setting, problem-solving, time management and collaboration. Students learn how to break complex tasks into manageable parts, persist through frustration, and prepare for high-stakes performances. Collaborative ensemble work also teaches students how to make artistic decisions together in a constructive, respectful environment. These skills are broadly valued across career fields. One alumnus, for example, now works for the CIA analyzing data patterns, attributing much of their analytical ability to their background in music performance.

To support students in career readiness, the department offers a career skills class. It focuses on resume development, cover letter writing, and preparation for both performing arts and non-arts careers.

While the program does not currently offer formal internships, faculty occasionally assist students in securing off-campus opportunities, particularly in the commercial music industry. The university also hosts summer music workshops — some for pre-college students and others for amateur or professional musicians — which serve both as educational experiences and recruitment tools.

A defining feature of the Humboldt music program is its inclusive and collaborative culture. Non-majors are fully welcomed and often excel within the program — winning competitions, performing as principal players in ensembles, and even presenting senior recitals.

Mechanical engineering major and freshman Sean Hartzell joined the beginner guitar class with minimal technical training. 

“I played guitar a year or two prior to this, mainly because my cousin got me to play it, and then some of my friends are in this class. I [was] like, ‘I might as well come to a class and see how it is,’ and I just joined,” Hartzell said. 

Sierra Carrere, a senior and cultural anthropology major, has been a musician and singer for over 30 years, and she still finds she is learning new stuff every day in her beginner class. 

“What I like about this class is how the teacher really breaks it down slowly. So, even though I’ve been doing music my whole life, I’m still learning new things every day with her and in a really slow way,” Carrere said. “And, I actually almost failed music theory in high school, and she’s making music theory makes sense. I’m really appreciating that, and it’s so much fun.”

Unlike many competitive conservatory environments, the Humboldt music community is known for its supportive atmosphere.

 “Our students are super friendly and super supportive of each other, even though they have widely different skill levels,” Cindy Moyer said. 

The program also offers beginning-level classes for students who have never played an instrument. Instruments are provided during instruction, allowing students to explore new creative outlets without needing to invest in their own equipment.

From aspiring professionals to curious beginners, the Humboldt music program offers a welcoming space to grow artistically and personally.

Sadie is a junior communications major, journalism minor at Cal Poly Humboldt who has an interest in covering and taking photos for sports and wildlife journalism, and a slight interest in breaking news. She can be reached at sls331@humboldt.edu.

by Sadie Shields

The music shop on campus has been repairing instruments for music majors since 1913.  Nowadays, the music shop manages an encyclopedic collection of over 500 instruments. This includes all standard modern orchestral strings, woodwinds and brass, as well as baroque and rarer specialty instruments. The music department supports a large program and offers opportunities for those pursuing careers in music education or for students interested in music for personal enrichment.

While the shop is open on campus, they prioritize the needs of music majors and students enrolled in music courses. To rent out an instrument, students need the permission of a teacher or faculty.

  “Some instruments, such as 88-note keyboards, require an appointment,” Adrian Carcione, the piano technician at the shop, said. “The instrument technician is available in the shop for approximately four hours each day.”

Carcione performs a wide range of services, including comprehensive repairs, reconditioning and rebuilding, depending on the available budget. With a collection of 62 pianos, ongoing tuning and mechanical adjustments are a regular part of maintenance. While the shop is not authorized to repair privately owned instruments for-profit or use university resources for that purpose, staff are happy to help with small tasks such as string changes if students provide their own supplies. These informal services are offered freely and with enthusiasm.

Sophomore music major Andrew Shaver has utilized the shop in the past.

“I’ve gone in there to get a bass. I needed one, so I asked Adrian, and he gave me the code. I’ve never fixed an instrument there, though,” Shaver said.

While Shaver did not get his instruments fixed there, Gladys Arechiga, a designer and former student, talked about her past as a music major and how the rental system worked when she was a student.

“I was a music performance major, and my instrument of choice was saxophone. My experience was pretty good,” Arechiga said. “I pretty much had an instrument for like, three years. If there was something wrong with the instrument, I would take it in and [they] would fix it for me.”

Although there are currently no official student positions or work-study opportunities available at the instrument shop, students are welcome to observe technicians at work. Those interested in expanding their involvement in music are encouraged to consider a double major or minor, or to join any ensemble of their choosing. Piano classes are open to all students and are beginner, intermediate and advanced. 

“See you at Music B room 145,” Carcione said.

Sadie is a junior communications major, journalism minor at Cal Poly Humboldt who has an interest in covering and taking photos for sports and wildlife journalism, and a slight interest in breaking news. She can be reached at sls331@humboldt.edu.

by Ryan Diaz

Wounded Animal showcased their funky folk-style music live from the bowels of Gist Hall in the LIXX lounge on Thursday, Sept. 25, with a spin on various genres. Local LIXX is a weekly show every Thursday night from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. that features local artists and bands live on air.

“The genre I’ve landed on is bard-core. It’s folk and punk, but not what people mean when they say folk-punk,” Ethan Rubin said. “As I am writing songs, all those different styles and genres that I’ve learned over the years surface, letting those boundaries be more permeable.” 

Rubin began Wounded Animal as a solo project in 2019, but often collaborates with other local musicians. Rubin collaborated with Polimana and Norm Crawford around the time he relocated to Humboldt County in January of this year. 

Rubin, originally from Philadelphia, moved to Boston for his undergraduate degree in philosophy from Boston University. Afterwards, he pursued his master’s degree in education at Cambridge University in England and his doctorate in education at the University of California, Irvine, which ultimately led Rubin to California. After living in Southern California, he and his wife relocated to Humboldt County for work. 

Rubin has been a musician since he was young, which started with classical violin at age six. Rubin plays the viola and does vocals for Wounded Animal and was joined for this recent on-air performance by Polimana, who plays the fretless gourd banjo. The name, “Wounded Animal,” originates from a deeper concept that inspired the chosen name. 

“When I originally named the project, I was looking for something that sounded cool and had the aesthetic,” Rubin said. “I think it is the perspective of the project; a lot of storytelling, different characters, something about the human condition there.” 

He also derives inspiration from fellow musicians. 

“My biggest musical influences are other people I play with,” Rubin said. “A lot of my music is thematically and stylistically driven by curiosity. There is something interesting about everything.” 

Polimana is most recently from San Bernardino and plays their music at venues and on air, and has performed some of their own projects on KRFH before for LIXX.  Polimana’s music is similar to Wounded Animal’s, but with a few key differences.

“My music is more like a sort of progressive, fuzz, bedroom-folk project,” Polimana said. 

Crawford is from Chicago, but has been local to Humboldt since 1993 and has played bass since he was 14. He plays with a few local bands but does not do any solo work, and joins in on Wounded Animal often.

 “The music scene in Humboldt is great, we have a really rich and diverse group of people,” Crawford said. “Bard-core is a mix of a bit of folk and punk rock, mixed with a little theatrical literary Shakespearean, almost. It’s intellectual.”

Rubin has only recently incorporated vocals into his music as he began to understand the physical constraints of the viola that allowed him to sing and play simultaneously.

“[Singing] wasn’t something I took seriously until around the time when I switched over to viola,” Rubin said. “I wanted to prove that I could be a fully self-sufficient singer-songwriter just with fiddle and vocals, that was the challenge that started things off… I have to figure out how I can physically do this; often, it’s the constraints of my instrument that shape the way I write. I have to let the instrument guide me.”

Bard-core isn’t something you come across every day. It’s a unique interpretation of various genres with a blend of folk, punk and theatrics that has made its way to Humboldt and adds character to the local music scene. 

“I’ve really valued the music and community I’ve found here in Humboldt,” Rubin said. 

Ryan Diaz is a senior at Cal Poly Humboldt and a second-semester reporter with an ambition to work in the public relations field after graduation. He is also a DJ on KRFH 105.1 FM and krfh.net, hosting a weekly show on Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m..

by Mia Costales

The rumble of drums echoed throughout the square — the deep boom gave the already living organism that is the North Country Fair a pulsing heartbeat. A sea of Samba dancers draped in sparkling fabric twirled by the onlookers, swaying their hips and waving their arms to the beat. Booths wrapped all around the Arcata square. Some were filled with homemade pottery, baked goods and paintings, while others handed out political pamphlets, hot dogs and bouquets of flowers. Arcata locals, families and Cal Poly Humboldt students wandered around the square as the festivities rang on around them. 

This past weekend marked the 51st annual North Country Fair. On Sept. 20 and 21, local vendors, bands, performers and community members took to the Arcata Plaza to celebrate Arcata’s lively community and participate in a weekend of zero waste. The North Country Fair is a Humboldt County tradition, spanning back to 1974 and typically takes place the third weekend of September. In 2007, a group of community organizers dubbed, the “Same Old People,” banded together to form an official non-profit group and dedicate themselves to upholding the original spirit of the first North Country Fair in 1974. The Same Old People have been committed to organizing the event ever since. 

Director Alex Ozaki-McNeill worked with co-director Jessy Preciado and the Same Old People several months in advance to execute this year’s fair.

“Our theme this year was ‘Rise Up’ and is captured beautifully by artist Lynn Jones of Lynnoleum on our poster,” Ozaki-McNeill said. “The theme is chosen more than six months before the event, and it has felt more and more appropriate this year. The board of directors, affectionately called the “Same Old People” felt that it conveyed a similar message to ‘resist’ but in a more positive, uplifting way. The idea was that together, we rise up, as a community, hand in hand.”

One of the defining factors of the North Country Fair is its commitment to zero waste. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own plates, cups and utensils or use the reusable cutlery provided by the fair. Plastic bus tubs were dispersed throughout the square to serve as  dumping grounds for any dirty dishes. The fair relies on volunteers to monitor waste stations and direct people to the correct waste bins. Walking and biking to the event were also encouraged over driving to decrease emissions.  

Breann Burgess, a Cal Poly Humboldt environmental student and Humboldt local, shared that this year’s fair was even more packed than in previous years.

“As an environmental education and interpretation major, I loved the booths based around our local non-profits like Redwood Rising and Environmental Protection [because] I could network and meet people,” Burgess said. “I love seeing the community come together for events like this and I love how much local artists are showcased at the North Country Fair.” 

The All Species Parade and the Samba Parade were the pinnacle of the fair, drawing in people from all corners of Arcata and its surrounding areas. The All Species Parade, which took place on Sat., Sept. 20, embraced Arcata’s unique connection to our fauna and encouraged those participating in the parade to dress up as their favorite animal. On Sun., Sept. 21, the annual Samba Parade was the highlight, featuring Samba de Alegria and Samba do Mar Humboldt.

Another highlight of the North Country Fair is its family friendly activities. Several booths catered to children and families with activities such as face painting, games and even a DIY fort building station complete with cardboard boxes and markers. 

“It is a fantastic time for really eclectic local artisan goods, new good music you’ve never heard about, happy uplifting people and vibrations,” Kol Wannigman, a North Country Fair security personnel, said. “Good food, good fun and happy family vibes.”

The North Country Fair is a quintessentially Humboldt event and it is deeply ingrained in the fabric of our quirky community. Thanks to a couple eccentric people back in the 70s, hundreds of Arcata locals can proudly say that they’ve experienced the love and community that is the North Country fair.

“To steal [or] paraphrase from another artist, Catlin Blair, “The North Country Fair feels like a giant hug from the community,”” Ozaki-McNeill said. “This quote lives rent free in my head. And again with the theme of this year, it is incredibly meaningful to help pull off a large scale event that uplifts artists and makers in our community and that together we ‘rise up.’”

Mia is a journalism major and the Editor in Chief of The Lumberjack. She hopes to give a platform to underrepresented communities through her writing and provide the public with thoughtful and informed stories. In her free time she enjoys cooking, reading and playing the violin. Contact her at mdc140@humboldt.edu.