The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Category: News

  • My love/hate relationship with HyFlex

    My love/hate relationship with HyFlex

    I moved to Arcata in the spring of 2020. After recently graduating from community college with an associate’s degree in communications, I was eager to begin work on my bachelor’s. I worked up my courage, moved myself and belongings to a musty house in Pneumonia Gulch, and began to work. I was just finding a routine and making connections on campus when COVID hit. With worries of getting sick and the loneliness I began to feel at my rental, I packed up my belongings, one sickly anthurium and panic-moved in with my boyfriend in southern Humboldt. I worked through the rest of the semester. And the next semester. And the next. Now, halfway through the fall of 2021, I have learned to cope with HyFlex. The results? It’s difficult. It’s hard to hear what’s going on in class and I find myself missing the collaborations built on campus. I feel disconnected from my peers and teachers. Maybe it’s my anxiety talking, but the online community just doesn’t jive with the in-person folk. It’s hard to pipe up from Zoom, and if there is a shoddy internet connection, or the people in class are having a rowdy discussion, there’s just no point to even talk.

    Although it is arguably more difficult to communicate via HyFlex, I do appreciate the freedom that comes with online school. I have more time to focus on my studies, I don’t have to account for drive time, which always eats into the schedule, and I don’t have to relocate, which can be difficult in itself. During the pandemic, I also got a puppy. A giant goofball of a puppy, and my mom gave me her small dog. I also have a cat and chickens. I live on a decent sized farm in SoHum, but these responsibilities make moving more challenging. Even if I were to relocate, it would be difficult to find a place that allowed a petting zoo. Other options include some rehoming, maybe for the cats and chickens, but…who wants to rip apart the pack? Not me.

    At this point, I don’t even want to move to Arcata. With winter just beginning and Delta variant trends and rates of sickness only bound to increase due to winter’s lower temps, I just don’t think it’s feasible. What if campus shuts down again? Will I find myself in the same place as spring 2020?

    On one hand, Hyflex gives me the freedom that I love. I can accomplish my educational goals from the comfort of my home. I also have more time to focus on other irons I have in the fire, and believe me, there are a lot of them. On the other hand, I lack the camaraderie found in classroom settings. I find myself isolated from my peer group and unable to communicate effectively. It’s also difficult to work through the challenges of being a college level senior alone.

    Overall, I feel like my college experience was ripped from my hands. Now, with graduation just one semester away, I’m in limbo. Even though HyFlex has its downsides, it’s a better option than uprooting my menagerie. So for now, I’m staying put. HyFlex, shcmy-flex. I’m getting my degree no matter how many times I have to ask someone to repeat themselves.

  • you’re not fine, and that’s okay

    College is a time for people to explore who they really are and to live through so many monumental moments in their lives. However, it can also be a time of struggle and trauma.

    I have been on academic probation and have had to make a catastrophic withdrawal because of my mental health. I just gave up. One bad day, and then it takes me months to get back on track. Having conversations with my professors has done wonders for me academically. I was terrified I was going to have them laugh at me and tell me good luck. But instead, these wonderful people cared. They wanted to see me succeed and not struggle, especially in their class. Having these candid conversations is the key to a lot in life.

    On Sunday, November 4, 2018, I went back to my home in Arcata, CA, after spending the weekend in San Jose. I noticed a vehicle stopped on the Eel River Bridge, between Rio Dell and Fortuna, with the drivers’ door open and no lights. I pulled over in front of the car after seeing a man walking past the front of the car and walking towards the bridge’s railing. I ended up slowly running my car onto the bridge because I noticed something on his back that looked like a gun holster.

    I parked my car with the hazard lights on, concerned that a drunk driver in the middle of the Eel River Bridge also had a gun. I got out of my car with my pepper spray because I was unsure of what was happening but still felt the need to help this man. Since I believed that it was a drunk driver, I started talking to him from a distance and offered him some cookies, but then he started rocking back and forth on the railing. It’s when I knew that this man wasn’t a drunk driver, but instead, a man who needed help or else he would be at the bottom of the bridge.

    I ran to my car to grab my phone and call 911. As I was doing that, I tried to wave down every car that drove past, but no one did. I was so scared for him and myself before I saw those red and blue lights.

    I was sitting in my car with the other car’s lights in my face, and I could only see silhouettes. I had been curled up in my seat, trying to hide from any possible dangers, especially since I thought he had a gun. I was fearful that the gun would go off and go towards my car. I saw a flash of light, and then people were tackling the man. I watched as the ambulance drove by my car with him strapped in the back. We made eye contact.

    This man was going to jump off a bridge, something I almost did myself so many years ago. I know what it feels like to stand on the edge and look down below you and wait for the right moment to jump. There’s a fear of the unknown, but it’s an almost calm fear that numbs your body and mind.

    But I didn’t, that moment never came, and I immediately felt like a failure because I couldn’t even take one step forward. It took some time for me to realize I wasn’t a failure, I wasn’t weak– I was strong because I didn’t take a step forward. I took a step back, and then another, until I was safe and I wasn’t standing on that edge looking down at the world below me.

    Everyone suffers from mental health issues, even if they are the slightest thing. Untreated and ignored, it can snowball quickly before anyone even realizes something is wrong. It’s a part of being human, and we need to recognize it and speak about it. Most people see it as taboo to admit something is wrong– “oh, I’m just a bit sad, but it’s alright,” or “no, I’m FINE.”

    But you’re not fine, and that’s okay. Humboldt is a beautiful place, but it can also be a terrible place, especially for mental health. Finding resources and people to confide in, can at times, be a struggle. Talking about it, offering your triumphs, speaking of ways to get help, resources, and normalizing mental health is how we can help others and ourselves.

  • Thank you Humboldt

    Finding space isn’t always easy for someone who is nonbinary. Trying to be yourself in your own skin can be a challenge. Being yourself in a community can be even harder. There isn’t one particular challenge that all nonbinary people experience. It’s more like a multitude of tedious interactions that make you question if being yourself is even worth the effort. It’s draining to correct every pronoun. The worst is having to defend your own identity as if it’s something up for trial.

    I haven’t lived exactly inside the binary for years, but I found that since I moved to Humboldt it’s all been a bit more comfortable. There are a lot more people like me. Whether or not they are non-binary folks or just people pushing the limit of gender expression, I don’t stand out. Individuality complex aside, it’s nice to feel safety in numbers. There’s no integration on what exactly my gender is. Don’t get me wrong, I love to have a thought-provoking dialogue with cis folk. I just don’t want to speak for every nonbinary person’s experience every time I get the “but, why?” questions towards my identity. Explaining yourself can be draining.

    Humboldt might just be ahead of the curve. Here, using gender-neutral pronouns is the default. Using they/them is not something that sounds awkward or clunky coming out of cis folks’ mouths. I don’t get the odd stare from boomers trying to make out what gender category I fit into. I haven’t once been mistaken for a lost little boy with that patronizing “Hey little buddy, where’s your adult?” I don’t often find myself being misgendered, but when I do there is often someone in the room to speak up for me. I even have gym bros correcting others’ use of my pronouns.

    Before I moved here I never expected anyone to treat me in this way. I didn’t know that communities had common decency towards gender non-conforming folks. I figured it would just be a minor obstacle in my day indefinitely. And wow, I love just feeling normal. My existence isn’t some controversial affair, I get to just be a person. Not a controversy, obstacle, or special guest, just a person. A person who thinks this whole gender thing is a hoax made up by big bathroom to sell more toilets or something like that.

    On the occasions I leave this gender-happy bubble that is Humboldt county, I am harshly reminded of other realities. Ones that involve more staring, backhanded compliments, and arguments against me. As if someone could just convince me to unqueer my gender for their own comfort.

    Humboldt gives me opportunity to feel many happy gender moments, and I want to share a few of them with you. Climbers, using the right name and pronouns to cheer me up the wall. Moshers, allowing me to experience a show topless like no big deal, and without any comments or harassment. Drinking at Everett’s, where tipsy bar-goers correct their use of my pronouns unprompted. The patience of professors as I go through a name change. Here, it may seem like no big deal. Everywhere else I’ve lived, these interactions have been obstacles. So thank you Humboldt, for nothing special, but just allowing me to be me.

  • Men’s soccer wins fourth straight

    Men’s soccer wins fourth straight

    Humboldt State Men’s Soccer played a full offensive and defensive effort over 90 minutes of action, but it wasn’t until a shot in the last minute of regulation by junior Dylan Tovani that the Lumberjacks were able to pull away, outlasting visiting San Francisco State 1-0 at College Creek Field on Senior Day this past Sunday.

    Head coach Fred Jungemann said he was proud of the effort his team put into the match today, and that he was glad the effort paid off with a victory.

    “The boys put it in start to finish today,” Jungemann said. “We had a lot of chances. The boys played really really well, but it was just one of those games where we’re just a half step late or the ball was a little early. It was one of those games where it just wasn’t clicking in the attacking third.”

    Despite missed opportunities offensively, the Lumberjacks still outshot their opponents 26-12. Goalkeeper Adrian Gallardo anchored another solid defensive effort, earning his 7th shutout match. This puts him second on the all-time school single season shutout list.

    “We had another amazing performance from our defense and Adrian,” Jungemann said.

    With less than a minute before extra time, Tovani got a touch about 18 yards from the goal. This time though, the junior business major captured the opportunity, sailing a beautiful ball into the back right corner of the net to clinch the win.

    “Dylan stepped up in the last minute,” Jungemann said. “He took on the responsibility and scored an amazing goal.”

    For Tovani, the last thing he wanted was for the game to go to extra time.

    “When I took the touch I heard ‘one minute left,’” Tovani said. “All I thought was to shoot it, because we need a goal with 50 seconds left or we’re going to overtime, so we have to score.”

    Tovani felt the score reaffirmed the dominant effort his team had shown all game.

    “I think we dominated the whole game,” Tovani said. “We got a little sloppy at times at the end of the second half, but we dominated pretty much the whole game, the first half especially.”

    Sunday’s victory marked the 4th consecutive win for the Lumberjacks, as the team also won a nailbiter on Friday with an overtime golden goal victory over Northern California rival Sonoma State.

    The hot streak comes at a crucial time for the Lumberjacks, as the squad sits in fifth place in the CCAA regular season standings with only 3 games remaining in the regular season. Only the top six teams will advance to the conference playoffs beginning in November.

    Senior Marco Silveira, who currently sits in first place in the conference in assists and game-winning goals, noted that it was the perfect way to close out the final regular season homestand of the season.

    “That’s exactly what we wanted: the battle to the end,” Silveira said, “We had been pushing the whole game, so it was the perfect way to end our career here at College Creek Field.”

    Depending on how the next two weekends play out, Silveira may still yet be able to play at home one more time, as the jacks sit only two points behind fourth seeded Cal State San Bernardino. If the ‘Jacks can overtake the Coyotes in the standings with three matches remaining to jump into the top four seeds, they would host a first round home match on Nov. 7 for the opening round of the CCAA playoffs.

    With that being said, the team closes out their regular season with potentially the hardest road trip of the year. The squad begins its road trip on Friday Oct. 29 against Cal Poly Pomona, currently seeded second in the conference. On Oct. 31, the team faces off against #8 Cal State LA, who currently sits at the top of the conference standings. After that, the team will return to NorCal where they close out the regular season against their traditional foes, the Wildcats of Chico State on Nov. 4. The ‘Cats will be fighting for their playoff lives as well over the last two weekends, as they currently sit in the final tournament spot.

  • Cross Country runs at conference champs

    Cross Country runs at conference champs

    Sophomore Saedy Williamson and graduate student Rosa Granados both turned in excellent results for the Green & Gold at this past weekend’s CCAA Conference Cross Country Championships on the campus of Cal State San Marcos.

    Williamson finished 8th while Granados finished 10th to both claim all-conference honors, leading the Lumberjack women to a 6th place team finish. The pair are the first Lumberjack women to earn all-conference recognition since 2017.

    For Granados, both her and Williamson raced strategically in what is historically a fast starting race.

    “We raced pretty smart,” Granados said in a press conference on Tuesday. “There were a lot of teams that went out super hard the first half and me and Saedy really kept taking it upon ourselves to keep moving forward and passing girls. We started off around 20th and built ourselves to top-10. It’s just awesome to see the hard work we’ve been putting in.”

    Williamson also felt proud to achieve a goal she set at the beginning of the season.

    “That [top 15] was my goal the entire season,” Williamson said. “Through about half of the race, I was in there and I was like ‘ok wow I’m doing this,’ so it was kind of a shock to me too, but I’m really happy with it.”

    On the men’s side, transfer Ian Rusk led the way with a 32nd place finish as the Lumberjack men finished ninth.

    Both squads return to action at the NCAA Division II West Region Championships in Monmouth, Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 6.

    For both women, a good performance could potentially vault them to the national championships in Tampa, Florida on Nov. 20.

    “There’s a chance that me and Rosa could make it to Nationals,” Williamson said. “Going into it [the regionals] there’s expectations for us and the competition going into this race is pretty good. It’ll be a fun race, exciting and fast.”

  • Life of a campus raccoon

    Life of a campus raccoon

    The Humboldt State University campus doesn’t just house students. A whole ecosystem of local wildlife is nearby, living in the redwoods or hidden away on campus and eating all the food we toss in the trash. If you head out late at night you can probably catch a sighting of our neighbors, the raccoons. They are commonly seen all around campus on their search for something to eat and somewhere to hide.

    What brings raccoons to our campus? As mesocarnivores, they mostly eat meat, but are also able to digest a whole lot else. According to HSU Wildlife professor Barbara Clucas, this adaptability is what makes them such a common sight here and in cities across the country.

    “Raccoons are pretty adaptable, they do well in urban areas,” Clucas said. “They like the food, the trash.”

    This highly flexible diet is one of the reasons why raccoon populations are actually growing around the world and have even become an invasive species in some places. Their ability to eat nearly anything humans can and their skill at getting into garbage cans or forcing open food containers gives them access to food sources that other animals miss out on, and lets them stay fed with much less overall competition.

    According to the 2019 study “Current and future climatic regions favorable for a globally introduced carnivore the raccoon,” by Vivien Louppe, Boris Leroy, Anthony Herrel and Géraldine Veron published in Scientific Reports, raccoon populations are likely to grow and spread across more of the world as urbanization increases and areas that were previously unsuitable for them become warmer as weather changes.

    While this has already occurred to a degree, according to the report, by 2050 the population will spread quite a bit further.

    “The raccoon presents a tolerance to a very wide range of bioclimatic conditions resulting in extensive regions currently favorable to the species,” the report said. “Moreover, predictions for 2050 reveals wide newly favorable areas north of the current favorable regions.”

    Because campus is so close to the redwood forest, our raccoons can come back and forth between wild and urban environments, but those living in larger cities with fewer wild spaces face some problems. Animals in an urban environment tend to live in close proximity to each other and at a greater density. Because of the more abundant food, raccoons are more likely to end up all congregating around the same source. This makes them more likely to spread disease to one another and possibly to pets and even people.

    According to Richard Brown, a wildlife professor at HSU focusing on animal pathogens, animals in close contact with people can become a health issue.

    “Raccoons in urban areas may congregate at garbage dumpsters or in areas where people feed their pets outside, and congregation can also facilitate spread of some pathogens,” Brown said. “Rabies, of course, is a risk for humans as well as other mammals. Raccoons can also carry raccoon roundworms which can be a risk for people who try to clean up their latrine sites or people that are crawling around under houses, etc. Of course, there are a lot of pathogens in nature, but those are the two that come to mind.”

    While they may like the food, raccoons may not be better off for living in an urban area with us.

    “There is a perception that animals are doing great but that’s not really the case,” Clucas said. “They could have lower reproductive rates or be less healthy. They may be here but that doesn’t mean they’re doing great.”

  • Spooky Treats!

    Happy almost Halloween!!!!!

    Spooky season is here and the freighting snacks and decorations must be top tier.

    To get into the Halloween spirit usually, people go to a pumpkin patch and take cute fall pictures with loved ones and friends. And then you host a pumpkin carving party right?

    Well maybe. But times are a bit different and we still must be very cautious of covid regulations.

    So just like during Christmas time you could build gingerbread houses, homemade reefs for the door, and decorate the Christmas tree.

    Halloween has that too.

    In this article, you will be shown how to make some spooky snacks.

    Finger hotdogs, mummy cookies, and graveyard pudding. All of which is reasonably priced and can be found at your local grocery store and dollar tree. We are still college students who are on a budget.

    Finger hotdogs

    This is a four-ingredient recipe and it cost 5 bucks in total to make. You’ll need a pack of hot dogs, hot dog buns, ketchup, and thick-sliced pieces of white onion.

    You’re going to cut your hotdog some little lines that would resemble a finger and at the tip of your hotdog slice a fake nail bed. The best way to have these fingers look aesthetically pleasing cook them in the oven for 7 mins total until it gets a yummy golden-brown crust. Take your thick sliced onion and place it in the nail bed you created. Add your ketchup to the hot dog to make it look like it’s gushing with blood. And there you have it. Your spooky hotdog finger.

    Mummy cookies

    This is simple and incredibly easy and the cost was about 7 bucks.

    Purchase a pack of chocolate Oreo cookies, white frosting, and edible googly eyeballs.

    The best way to get the frosting on the cookie to resemble a mummy would be to heat the frosting a bit maybe 20 seconds in the microwave. Grab a fork and dip it into the frosting and maneuver the frosted fork over the oreo cookie in whatever pattern you think would resemble a mummy. Make sure to leave a smallish gap so you can have a space to place the googly eye. To help them stick better stick a little of the melted frosting onto the back of the eyes.

    Graveyard Pudding

    Same as the other two ingredients, this one was very easy and cheap to make.

    You’ll need some gummy worms, Oreos, either all-ready-made chocolate pudding or chocolate pudding mix. Whichever works for you. Now finding edible headstones were tricky so I just purchased some mini decorative ones from dollar tree.

    Place your pudding in a glass cup, mason jar, or glass bowl. With your Oreos, we really don’t need the white part so scoop that out to the side. And depending on how much you’re making you may not need a ton of Oreos. But once you have just the cookies place them in a ziplock bag and crush them as best you can. You’re going to add the crumbled cookies on top of the chocolate pudding. Place your gummy worms in an aesthetically pleasing way in and on top of the pudding. Add your gravestone and tada you’re completed.

  • Student-friendly virtual cooking classes by Oh SNAP!

    If you struggle to come up with meal ideas or want to learn more about cooking, Oh SNAP!’s virtual cooking classes are your answer. The purpose of these cooking classes is to teach college students how to make easy, convenient homecooked meals.

    When a class opens, the first 40 students who sign up can get a bag of ingredients to make the dish and pick it up at the Oh SNAP! Pantry (RWC 122) the week of the class.

    Students who aren’t in Humboldt can still sign up and get their ingredients for free through Instacart. If you can’t make it to the live Zoom session on the day of the class, the ingredient bags also include a printed recipe so you can make the dish on your own time.

    “Cooking can be intimidating for a lot of people, so I think that these cooking classes are a great way to step out of your comfort zone and learn how to make different types of recipes that you normally wouldn’t have tried to make before on your own,” said Veronica Amezola, one of the coordinators of the Oh SNAP! cooking classes.

    Amezola said that if she wasn’t working for the program, she would still sign up for the class as a student. She thinks that students should take advantage of the classes because they’re free, the recipes aren’t complicated, and you’ll learn how to make something new.

    Ariadne Lugo, also a coordinator of the Oh SNAP! cooking classes, said that she knows the feeling of being limited on ingredients but still wanting to make the most out of them.

    “Before working for Oh SNAP! I participated in a cooking class myself and it was a great experience,” Lugo said.

    Classes have been taught by students and other faculty, and if students are interested in hosting a live virtual cooking class, they can contact the cooking class coordinator.

    Associate Dean of Students Roger Wang has led two of these classes. When deciding what dish he wants to share, he said he makes sure it’s something that’s quick and doesn’t require appliances that students may not have access.

    “My mom never taught me how to cook things really so I had to learn myself as a college student,” Wang said. “I love cooking now and it takes up a lot of time, but it’s usually healthier and cheaper and so I want to share those skills.”

    There isn’t a schedule for upcoming classes, but they plan to have one a month. Amezola said that they usually always reach their 40 person limit and the best place to see when the next class will be is on their Instagram @hsuohsnap.

    “I hope that the students that join get a fun experience out of our cooking classes,” Amezola said. “We try our best to make these cooking classes very approachable and easy for students so that they’re able to gain more experience with cooking meals for themselves and expand their options as well.”

  • Arcata Mayor axed amidst cloud of hazy accusations and recent DUI

    The Arcata City Council gave a unanimous vote to remove Brett Watson as mayor and replace him with former Vice Mayor Stacy Atkins-Salazar in a meeting on October 20. Council Member Emily Grace Goldstein was elected Vice Mayor.

    Watson pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in September. He was pulled over by Arcata police officers August 1 after driving recklessly on Highway 101. It was later revealed that he was in possession of cocaine and was charged with a fine, court ordered counseling, and a rehabilitation program. However, it’s not clear that this situation is related to him being removed as mayor.

    Vice Mayor Goldstein explained the situation, choosing to keep the former mayor’s alleged wrongdoings confidential.

    “This last week, information came to light regarding alleged behaviors of Councilmember Watson that negatively affected the city and some of its staff members,” said Goldstein.

    Since Watson’s DUI case was over two months ago, it appears that Watson’s removal was due to unrelated actions. Watson was not present at the council meeting because of personal reasons.

    In a statement to the public last Friday, Watson announced that he will be entering a rehabilitation program.

    “On Monday October 11th, I informed the City Council and staff I would be stepping down as Mayor and entering a 30 day residential rehabilitation program to focus on depression and personal issues,” said Watson.

    The remaining city council would like to remove Watson from the city council as well, but have no legal authority to do so. It is not yet clear whether Watson will resign from the city council on his own accord.

    “We have no legal ability to remove him from the city council,” Goldstein said. “However, I believe we owe it to the people of Arcata to make it clear we do not align ourselves with the actions of council-member Watson.”

    Watson attributed his actions to a family tragedy that severely impacted him.

    “Last week was the one year anniversary of my father’s death,” Watson said in a press release after his arrest in August. “He was severely depressed and took his own life. I’ve really been struggling with the loss this last week.”

    Mayor Atkins-Salazar wants to keep the city’s focus on the future despite the drama surrounding the former mayor.

    “We’ve been elected to help run and guide the city of Arcata and that’s exactly what we want to do and are trying to do,” Atkins-Salazar said. “So it’s important that we move forward. To reiterate, this was not taken lightly.”

    Mayor Atkins-Salazar and Vice Mayor Goldstein will serve their positions until December 22, 2022 when a new mayor and vice mayor will be decided by the city council.

  • HSU hosts 23rd annual Campus Dialogue on Race

    Campus Dialogue on Race (CDOR) is an annual event hosted by the Social Justice Equity and Inclusion Center (SJEIC). The event aims to facilitate discussion on racial justice and its intersections. It creates spaces and structures for reflection, analysis, dialogue, and positive strategies for change. Each year students, faculty, and community members gather to share insight, present, and attend programs. This week the event takes place through Oct. 29.

    Frank Herrera, SJEIC Coordinator, helps students to organize the event. Herrera sees CDOR as a place of community on campus. In recent years, it has been adapting to the pandemic which has added challenges. Herrera explains the history and context of the event.

    “The local community and HSU come together to talk about race,” Herrera said. “It started with Bill Clinton in the 1990s. He challenged universities to have these discussions. [HSU has] been the only university that’s been continuously running CDOR for 23 years now.”

    CDOR hopes to create community, share, and learn about what’s happening in different cultural groups. It is a space to get informed and make positive impacts. Students can grow, learn, and leverage systems to create change.

    Shiara Naicker is on SJEIC staff and has been working to organize CDOR events. Naicker appreciates the open-minded space for discussion. It offers a space to be mindful of privileges. This year’s theme aims to uplift Asian communities.

    “It’s going to be great,” Naicker said. “We have some amazing speakers that are coming. We have Hari Kondabolu speaking about racism in media depictions of South Asians, specifically Indian people.”

    CDOR will offer events through Friday, registration for which can be found online. Keynote speaker Hari Kondabolu will speak on Thursday, Oct. 28. Lisa Nakamura will speak on intergenerational trauma and race solidarity within Japanese communities. Throughout the week, there are workshops on white accountability, black liberation through the arts, anti-racist student and faculty organizing, and unspoken queerness within.

  • Giving incarcerated youth a chance

    Giving incarcerated youth a chance

    The Juvenile Hall Recreation Program (JHRP) is one of the YES house’s longest running volunteer programs at HSU. Developed in 1974, the program took a short, few year hiatus, and has been running since 1980. It is one of the YES house’s many hands-on volunteer opportunities and a way for students at HSU to get practical experience in their fields.

    “Volunteers of JHRP spend time with the incarcerated youth at the Humboldt County Juvenile Hall in Eureka, and provide outside community contact during regularly scheduled recreation time,” the program’s mission states. “JHRP volunteers provide support and positive guidance to the youth they serve in an effort to restore a connection to the outside community.”

    It’s one of the most popular and long standing programs at YES. Typically volunteers visit during recreation time and help engage participants with art and games while providing social connection and productive distractions to youth in difficult situations. The HSU volunteers help build bonds and create prosocial connections.

    COVID-19 has been a challenging obstacle for these hands-on programs, but part of the goal for YES is to sustain the programs throughout the pandemic. Due to COVID, the typical protocol has shifted from a one hundred percent hands-on community learning experience to a remote program focused on juvenile justice issues. Deeper learning for volunteers has included presentations from alumni, films, and other media-based features to build personal knowledge.

    This semester, JHRP was able to collaborate with Scotia Middle School to create a pen pal program for students to engage with JHRP volunteers. This new collaborative effort is less tied to the JHRP mission, but still allows for HSU students to get hands-on learning experience.

    The current co-directors for JHRP, Brenda Ramirez and Ashley Ramos, have been working with the program for three semesters. Both started as volunteers and moved into leadership positions during the pandemic. For Ramos, the leadership deepened her understanding of JHRP.

    “It was a whole new perspective on the program,” Ramos said. “I felt like I valued JHRP more, being on the inside of it, seeing how much hard work goes into making sure our volunteers have a good experience.”

    Ramirez’s work within the program has been a time of growth. “It was a lot of personal growth,” Ramirez said. “For an introvert, that’s kind of going out of your shell.”

    Before COVID, JHRP created a support system for the youth at juvenile hall. Social collaborations were cornerstones of the program which all shifted due to the pandemic. Still wanting to sustain the program’s mission, the current directors have appreciated the hands-on experience of the pen pal program.

    “JHRP wants HSU students to collaborate with the community hands on,” Ramos said. “So [the pen pal program] was the only way we could provide that.”

    Current volunteer and social work major Jasmine Rafferty is eager to sustain the program and build knowledge throughout, and after, the pandemic.

    “[JHRP] creates a safe and welcoming space for everyone,” Rafferty said. “I can see myself staying with them for a while. They address community needs and support community organizations which really is what social work is about.”

    Rafferty is also passionate about the program’s mission and working with the incarcerated youth.

    “For me, it’s a super interesting focus to be working with kids that have met adversity in their early childhood, because if we can hopefully get through while they are young, then they won’t have to go through a lot of things that unfortunately might happen,” Rafferty said.

    Former program director Meg Bezak worked in leadership for three semesters and volunteered for JHRP for a year. During her time, the program worked often with the youth and did visits three times a week. The group would hold book drives, bring card games, and play board games or basketball, all centered around team building.

    “It was always amazing to see them open up, because in the beginning, they didn’t want anything to do with us,” Bezak said. “But as time goes on and you get to know them a little better, they realize, and you realize, how much you can get from maintaining that relationship.”

    Bezak describes the relationships she built as fleeting. “Some are there for a week, some are there for months, some come and go frequently.”

    However, these relationships were inspiring for the volunteers and helpful for the incarcerated youth.

    “It’s important for us to be that safe place for them and give them the hope that once they do get back out and start to live their life on the outside that they can do it,” Bezak said. “We try to provide them with the tools that can kind of help them transition back into that life again.”

  • Charmaine Lawson and the community coalition reveal new organization Justice in Humboldt

    Charmaine Lawson and the community coalition reveal new organization Justice in Humboldt

    Charmaine Lawson, the mother of HSU student Josiah Lawson who was murdered in 2017, unveiled a new organization in front of the Humboldt County Superior Court in Eureka, Justice in Humboldt. This was the 54th vigil that has been held for Josiah Lawson. Justice in Humboldt (JIH) is a collaborative effort between Justice for Josiah, Centro del Pueblo, Humboldt State Alumni, Buenlucha: Parent and Student Advocacy in Humboldt, and community members.

    The stated goals of JIH are to educate the public on the failures of Humboldt’s judiciary, policing, and other publicly-funded systems. The organization says that awareness will hold these systems accountable for how they have failed the BIPOC residents of Humboldt County.

    “From Maggie Fleming to Judge Dale Reinholsten, to the Eureka PD,” said Justice in Humboldt committee member Christina Lastra. “We’re putting it all on Justice in Humboldt, exposing behind the redwood curtain to let everybody know, in our beautiful Humboldt County, what is going on.”

    Lawson challenged the vigil attendees to educate anyone they can on her son’s story. She also said that she intends to keep advocating in Humboldt County even after justice is served for her son, and that it feels like home to her.

    “I’m going to challenge myself as well, to keep coming back and sharing other stories. So with Justice in Humboldt, bring your story to us, so that I can share that story, and we can get some type of justice. We have to get justice, and we will not give up,” said Lawson.

    Several Humboldt County mothers affected by similar issues spoke at the event, including Beverley Steichen. One of her sons, Aaron Kurt Steichen, was killed by her other son Jacob Steichen in September 2020 as the latter was in the midst of a psychotic episode. She says that her son’s death could have easily been prevented if Humboldt County law enforcement and mental health services had listened to her family’s pleas for help over the five weeks prior.

    “The connection that [Charmaine Lawson] and I have is that we’re in that mom’s club that we’re never supposed to be in,” said Steichen. “We also have the connection that we’re learning about the intricacies of this very corrupt county.”

    Lawson faced the courthouse and spoke directly at District Attorney Maggie Fleming as she closed out the vigil.

    “Maggie Flaming, I know that you don’t think my son’s life matters, but it matters,” Lawson said. “I’m not going anywhere. You will not silence me and you will not silence this community.”

    Justice in Humboldt has launched their new website justiceinhumboldt.com and are on Facebook and Instagram @justiceinhumboldt. There is an ongoing Gofundme campaign to raise funds for a billboard which the organization says will raise awareness for the organization, and for the unresolved case of Josiah Lawson.

    On their Gofundme page, JIH says, “If you, your friends, or your family have experienced a lack of justice due to indifference or disregard by the justice system in Humboldt, please contact Justice In Humboldt for free resources and to connect with other community members seeking justice.”

  • Don’t let yourself be clotheslined by seasonal mold

    Wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath. Symptoms of COVID-19? Not this time. Mold, a common form of fungi often attributed to warm damp environments, can also cause all these same symptoms. It can also be especially severe for those who suffer from asthma or any form of an immuno-compromising condition too. As our own local wet season begins to drop in like the rain, residents of Humboldt need to keep particular eyes out for the locations around them most susceptible to this mold growth. Just two years ago I had to experience this struggle myself, tearing through wall after wall to access the source of my home’s mold problem, a problem that could have been avoided more simply and more cheaply through proper preparation and knowledge.

    First and foremost, INVEST IN A DEHUMIDIFIER! This will be an absolute lifesaver stopping the mold from getting airborne. By filtering any mold or moisture out of the air, dehumidifiers not only protect you from inhaling the dangerous substance but also prevents the airborne mold from seeping into the walls, flooring, and ceiling, three locations you absolutely don’t want the mold ever getting into. The size of the room you put the device in will largely determine the size you’ll want your dehumidifier– the larger the room, the larger the dehumidifier. The level of moisture in said room will also determine how often you should check and change the filters on them. Usually, every 2 to 3 weeks is the best bet. Obviously you do not need to leave the device on 24/7, but a couple times a day during particularly wet days is what many find works best. Thankfully, the average price for a decently sized dehumidifier runs 30 to 60 dollars making it, in my personal opinion, a Humboldt home staple.

    Secondly, if you can, obtain some mattress and pillow protectors. These should fully zip over and around your mattresses and pillows much like a crinkly cover. These protectors not only protect your bedding from rips and stains but also from accumulating moisture that could encourage mold growth within them, generally increasing the longevity of your mattresses and its plethora of soft and fluffy assortments. You can purchase these extremely easily at any usual general store in the county (i.e Walmart, Target, etc). Both can be bought as cheaply as 10 dollars for the pillow projectors and 25 dollars for the mattresses protectors, respectively. As always, however, don’t allow this to make you slack on your responsibility to still routinely wash your uncovered bedding as well! Without this due diligence the protectors’ job becomes close to obsolete.

    Lastly, a change of daily and weekly habits is necessary. Additional habits to take up include the opening of doors and windows to let air flow through the rooms during the few warm and sunny days, and weekly to biweekly checks of dark areas and corners around the house that could be breeding grounds for mold infestations. Commonly overlooked places include behind posters, around the edges of wooden furniture, under rugs, and the ceiling itself. For deterring mold growth in the offensively damp bathroom, I highly recommend keeping a fan next to the door inside the room during this rainy season. After every hot shower, take the time to turn said fan for a reasonable period of time. Don’t worry too much, though! Many of these little annoyances can soon be forgotten again once the drier seasons decide to shine their warm glow upon us again!

  • An Ode to the Times of the Art Quad

    Once were the days

    of sneaking away

    into the Art Quad

    to hit our dear vapes.

    But now it is empty

    and our STIIIZYs are dead.

    Once were the days

    to get a rush to the head.

    There used to be slack lines

    and Scooby on guitar.

    We used to hear the bells

    because the Depot wasn’t far.

    Once were the days

    before masks were in place

    when you still had to sneak away

    to go get half baked.

  • Humboldt climbers stoked on neon dawn climbing competition

    Humboldt climbers stoked on neon dawn climbing competition

    Far North Climbing gym is back and offering new climbing events. This month the gym will host Neon Dawn: a late night, glow-in-the-dark, costumed competition. Doors will open at 6 pm and the competition starts at 7 pm. Categories will be inclusive to beginners, intermediate, and advanced. The event also plans to be gender inclusive with men’s, women’s, and open (all gender) categories. Prizes will be awarded for each category.

    So how does a climbing comp work? Fifty routes will be set in order of increasing difficulty. Climbers will climb to the highest number they can. Gym staff will sign off on each attempt. Each climb is worth a certain number of points. In the end, points are tallied to determine who climbed the hardest for each category.

    Gym staff and HSU wildlife major Bella Norton plans to compete. For Norton, the gym offers a chill space with familiar faces. Norton expects the event to be an opportunity to climb with friends.

    “The laid-back environment at Far North makes competitions more enjoyable,” Norton said. “I thought it would be like everyone watching me. But everyone all climbs together and hangs out, making it a lot less intimidating,” Norton said.

    Joaquin Estrada, general manager at Far North, encourages everyone to come to the event. For those who would like to come as spectators, there is no entry free. The competitor entry fee is $15 for those with a gym membership and $20 for non-members. First-place winners have the opportunity to win prizes from local businesses, cash, or climbing equipment.

    “There will be plenty of climbs accessible to folks of all climbing abilities,” Estrada said. “Many prizes to be awarded from climbing companies and local businesses, as well as at least $100 cash prize.”

    Several of the setters are HSU students bringing their creativity to route design. Taylor Woodruff challenges climbers to use their bodies in unique ways in route problem-solving. Woodruff designs routes that require climbers to pull with their feet or try funky positions to make moves possible.

    “The real joy comes when you get to watch people come up with different ways to solve the problem, whether or not they climb it in the way you envisioned,” Woodruff said. “I hope people come to Neon Dawn excited to get into some funky positions in order to get up the wall.”

    Kyle Fisher, HSU alumn and avid climber, will also be setting some routes for the event. Fisher tries to create sequences that are available to all climbers. He hopes to see folks get involved, have fun, and get some sick prizes.

    “There will be a boatload of sweet prizes for all categories,” Fisher said. “We’ve done some blacklight competitions before. It’s gonna be a great time”.

    Far North Climbing gym hopes to create a community of sport and fun. Soon to be announced are more climbing events, student nights, and more competitions. To stay in the loop, find them on Instagram or Facebook, @FarNorthArcata.

  • Soccer teams split with East Bay

    Soccer teams split with East Bay

    Men’s soccer wins big

    Pouring rain did nothing to dampen the offensive firepower of the Lumberjacks on Sunday, as the squad scored a season high six goals in a dominating 6-1 victory over visiting Cal State East Bay to remain afloat in the hunt for a CCAA postseason spot.

    For head coach Fred Jungemann, no amount of rain could hinder what he felt was a great all-around effort from his squad.

    “It was a great day,” Jungemann said. “We were a little worried about the weather at the beginning and got off to a little bit of a sluggish start, but they scored a great goal and I think it really kind of got everybody’s mojo moving in the right direction.”

    The mojo began early and often for the team, with no shortage of Jacks getting in on the action. Five total players netted goals on the day. The first came from Daniel Adeyeye in the 17th minute off a Marco Silveira corner kick. From there, the team scored often, netting two more before the half and three more in the second half.

    “I think it clicked a little bit today,” Jungemann said. “Guys were really feeling it and there was a lot of energy going forward as well, which is something that we’ve been missing.”

    Defensively, goalkeeper Adrian Gallardo recorded 4 saves, keeping the Pioneers scoreless until the 64th minute.

    Coach Jungemann also emphasized the importance of keeping the pressure on as the game progressed.

    “I think it’s just human nature,” Jungemann said. “When you’re up 3-0 at half, you want to relax a little bit. But I think for us today, it was really important for us to build some confidence out of this game by continuing to play well and then to do the things that it takes for us to be successful.”

    The victory on Sunday capped off a successful weekend for the Lumberjacks, who also won a road match on Thursday, Oct. 14 against Stanislaus State, 2-1. Both wins may prove crucial in securing a spot in the six-team CCAA tournament in November, with only five more regular season matches remaining.

    Women’s soccer drops low scoring affair

    The Lumberjacks executed tactically and made few mistakes, but failed to generate any offense of their own, dropping a 1-0 match at home against the Pioneers of Cal State East Bay.

    For head coach Grant Landy, the loss feels more frustrating given that his team has done everything he has asked of them.

    “We honestly fell asleep for 30 seconds,” Landy said. “They capitalized. We really just made one mistake all day.”

    The lapse came just two minutes into the second half, when East Bay’s Tami Kwong connected a shot to break a scoreless tie. From there, the Lumberjacks failed to equalize, despite outshooting their opponents 11-8.

    For Landy, the result doesn’t reflect the work and improvement his squad has shown throughout the season.

    “There was so much good today in so many ways.” Landy said. “We clearly created some really good chances. It’s one of those years where we’re just not getting a bounce here or there that we need to kind of change the game. There’s not much you can do about it other than just plugging forward.”

    Men’s soccer (8-2-2, 0-2-2 CCAA) and women’s soccer (3-6-4, 0-4-2) remain home this upcoming weekend for their final homestand of the season. Both squads play on Friday, Oct. 22 against Northern California rival Sonoma State, followed up with a senior day matchup on Sunday, Oct. 24 against San Francisco State.

  • Coming face to face with the reality of morality

    Hands dig into soft ground. Dirt is shuffled around as grass is pulled. The late afternoon sun beats down upon each of our backs as we work on our hands and knees, only utilizing the simple tools of water and baking soda to clean marble slab after marble slab. There are dates ranging as far back as the 1850s to as recently as 2021. Lifespans that ended too soon mixing with those that lived almost a century. Simplistic designs lay next to towering pillars. Yet, every one of its residents is equally buried under 6 feet of earth.

    For well over a year now, the many religious studies majors here at HSU have come together, under the direction of professor Sara Hart, to help clean the tombstones at Greenwood Cemetery in Arcata, a weekly endeavor that has taken place almost every Friday since its first conception. The event was originally created as a volunteer opportunity in association with the Arcata Veteran Hall for one of Dr. Hart’s classes, in which students would help tend specifically to the veteran graves of the area. Now, in partnership with the American Legion Auxiliary, the event has expanded to include any and all graves located within the Greenwood Cemetery.

    “I’m a big believer in service learning,” Hart said, expressing her inspiration in starting this practice. “I think service-learning is crucial to a full and flourishing intellectual experience.”

    Madeline Wilson, a religious study major at HSU, was one of the volunteers there at the time. She explained how she has been participating in the Friday graveyard clean-ups for well over eight months now, often bringing her friends and roommates along when they express interest.

    “[My friends have all had] differing responses, one of them decided that for his mental health that he needed to tap out after 15 minutes,” Wilson said. “He came, witnessed what we were doing, and went ‘this is a little too much for me’ and decided to walk home. A few others [however] have participated and really gotten into it!”

    For many who have come and continue to come to the event, strong emotional responses are not uncommon. These emotions, however, are not always negative and as Dr. Hart often expressed, are healthy and necessary to confront at times.

    “It’s been powerful for a lot of students,” Hart said. “I think in some ways this makes it easier, to [be able] put a physical face on an otherwise very scary mysterious thing. [It] makes it feel very embodied and earthy and natural… It reminds you that everyone is going to end up somewhere.”

    When asked what brought Wilson here time and time again, they explained the spirituality of it.

    “I feel really compelled by the energy exchange of it, by the physical attention to the tombstones, to the folks of the past, and to history more broadly,” Wilson said.

    Overall the reaction that the group has received by passersby has been overwhelmingly positive. Many of those visiting in grief and mourning instead find some amount of comfort in knowing at least some people are looking after the resting place of their loved ones.

    “A few months ago we had someone who was about to bury his brother the coming weekend,” Wilson said. “He came on site and talked to Dr. Sara for a long long time and then was talking to us as a group for a bit. That conversation was compelling, hearing about his own grief [and] his response about burying his brother…”

    While the event is targeted towards those in the religious studies department at HSU, those in the public interested in joining are absolutely welcomed to join as they please, even just to simply be with the group, no grave cleaning is explicitly required. Before saying my goodbyes, I asked if Dr. Hart has any words of encouragement to those interested in joining.

    “Everyone ends up here someday…” she said, Wilson quickly adding an additional “Might as well make it look pretty.”

  • Danza Azteca and indigenous culture at HSU

    Danza Azteca and indigenous culture at HSU

    The smell of copal incense fills the quad as dancers don their cultural wear. They are wearing bright and ornate traditional garb. As the dancers step into their space, the rattling of their ayoyotes announces their entry. Dancer Raymond Ramirez blows a conch horn and the drums beat to start the Danza Azteca performance. Students walking by cannot help but stop to see the occasion.

    Danza Azteca is a traditional form of dance to honor Earth, elements, and connection. The HSU community turned out to learn and participate in the cultural event on Friday. The colorful and energetic performance helped to share culture on campus.

    Milagros Ayoltzin, one of the dancers, began at the age of 6. Her 35 years of experience have helped to keep the culture alive. She began dancing in Los Angeles with one of the first Danza Azteca groups in the United States, Xipe Totec. She believes that it an important to bring culture to campuses.

    “It’s very important to share your culture,” Ayoltzin said. “Expressing ourselves is so important because it keeps us rooted to who we are. I think it’s something that is being lost. But it can help you find yourself no matter where you are.”

    HSU students can now learn about Danza Azteca on campus too. Salvador Hernadez is an HSU student who is currently in the Danza Azteca class. The class debuted this semester with an accompanying club.

    “We learn about the dances, the four directions, the ceremonies, we have the alter, blessings, and how to drum,” Hernadez said. “It’s my culture. Growing up, I never got to learn this. It’s exciting seeing it now even though it’s so far away from home.”

    Hernandez recommends the class or club which meet on Wednesdays 7-8 pm. He thinks of it as a family and as a space to heal from the stress of the day.

    “It’s spiritual when you get in the classroom, and you hear the drums beating, and you feel one with the Earth and yourself. You go and dance and get all the stress out. It’s emotional, but it’s like I’m having a bad day lets go dance about it.”

    Hernandez enjoyed watching the Fire Serpent dance as the dancers held fire to their skin. Dancers ask permission from the serpent to approach a flame. The Fire Serpent dance takes place as a ceremony every 52 years representing a reset. Dancer Juan Ruiz explained the personal meaning behind the dance after the event.

    “We’re all going through some struggle, some battle, [this dance] is a reminder to capture, reset, and keep going,” Ruiz said. “It is a way of closing and ending a cycle. It’s connected to every one of us.”

    Along with the performances on Friday and Saturday, dance, drumming, and copili feather workshops took place in the Jolly Green Commons throughout the weekend.

  • Chance to win free money

    The Humboldt State University Financial Aid Office just made the final disbursement of funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to students that qualified. If you did not qualify and are facing financial hardship, there are still funds available. Leftover funds will be disbursed to students that fill out a Hardship Funds Request form that are experiencing financial hardship.

    The maximum request amount per student is $750. Once you have submitted the form, there will be a two to three week waiting period where you may be accepted to receive funding.

    The form consists of a request amount and a text entry to express your position of financial hardship. Explain why you are requesting aid and what you need to use it on. This is a private form between the student and the Financial Aid Office, so there is no need to be embarrassed of your financial situation. This money is here for you, because you need it.

    To access this form, check your HSU email account for an email from the Financial Aid Office about applying for Covid emergency funds. You may also contact finaid@humboldt.edu or call (707) 826-4321 with questions. More information can also be found on the Financial Aid Instagram page (@hsufinaid) as well as their website finaid.humboldt.edu.

  • Purchase hot food with food stamps

    The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is allowing the purchase of hot food in Humboldt County from Sept. 29 to Oct. 28, 2021. CalFresh is the statewide program, and recipients are also included in this waiver. This will allow people to replace food that was lost due to the wildfires, according to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) disaster assistance program under the US Department of Agriculture. The wildfires have persisted through the years and increasingly cause more damage and lack of accessibility to food for the local communities affected. Counties that are included in this waiver to purchase hot food are Butte, Glenn, Humboldt, Mendocino, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity.

    Humboldt State University students participating in the CalFresh program find this waiver very helpful. Hannah LeWinter is a wildlife major, and has been on food stamps for almost two years.

    “It’s basic human rights to have access to food and shelter,” LeWinter said. “And they’re already struggling with the shelter aspect, because of the wildfires. And then on top of that, to have food struggles is even harder.”

    Due to the wildfires becoming larger and more frequent, it has affected people’s accessibility to basic necessities like food and shelter.

    LeWinter adds that some people struggling through the wildfires wouldn’t have access to stovetops or the ability to make hot food.

    “This [waiver] is especially important for those people who are being displaced from their homes to have access to a hot meal,” LeWinter said. “I think that everyone is deserving of that comfort.”

    Sarah Somers is a recent graduate of Humboldt State University, and also uses food stamps. Somers acknowledges the stigma around using benefits. Somers would like to dismantle the negative light that this program seemingly exists under, as the limitations to what can be purchased are very strict and specific.

    “We’re just trying to live here,” Somers said. “We’re just trying to eat food and not starve.”

    Jasmyn Lemus is also a student at HSU that uses food stamps. Lemus is very grateful for the ability to purchase hot-and-ready food through food stamps, but wishes that the termination date of this waiver was not approaching so soon.

    “I think they should definitely keep it around,” Lemus said. “I don’t think the wildfires are going to stop.”

    Lemus works in a local grocery store and has seen many wildfire survivors coming in first hand.

    “The last thing on their mind right now is, ‘oh, what should I make for dinner?’” Lemus said. “So having that hot-and-ready option is just very necessary.”

    Lemus noted that this should be extended because so many people are in tough positions as well. Lemus spoke about the firefighters working long days or people coming from an overnight shift.

    Somers reinforces that the FNS should be extending the waiver, and allowing the purchase of other necessities within these limitations.

    “I think they need to extend it to more than just hot food, but also toiletries like tampons, toilet paper and paper towels,” Somers said.

    LeWinter acknowledges the tough financial positions that most people on benefits are placed in.

    “If you’re already someone who’s struggling financially, enough to qualify for EBT [electronic benefits transfer], then you’re probably struggling in other aspects of your life,” LeWinter said. “So having access to hot food would be a benefit, if they potentially keep something like that on there.”

    Since the pandemic started, the ability to sign up online has become more user friendly and easier to upload documents. If you are interested in signing up for benefits through CalFresh or SNAP, contact the on campus HSU food service program, OhSnap! A good place to start learning about the application process is on their instagram page (@hsuohsnap).

    Lemus encourages other students to sign up for this program, as it is there to help people who need it.

    “We shouldn’t have to fight so much for food,” Lemus said. “If the government is offering assistance, we should not feel bad accepting it.”

  • Native American Studies Department breaks ground on Food Sovereignty Lab

    After years of research, planning and proposals, a groundbreaking ceremony for HSU’s Native American Studies Department’s Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab was finally held on Oct. 8. The goal of the lab is to study traditional Indigenous food systems and promote Indigenous representation.

    The idea for the lab was developed in the fall of 2019 by Cutcha Risling Baldy, Ph.D., the chair of the Native American Studies Department, and her Indigenous natural resources management practices course students. Later on, assistant professor of Native American Studies Kaitlin Reed, Ph.D., came on board as the lab’s co-director.

    “The students have been at the heart of literally everything this lab has accomplished so far,” Reed said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

    Two of the students instrumental in this project, Cody Henrickson and Carrie Tully, spoke about the journey of the lab’s creation at the ceremony. Henrickson talked about how the community he found at the Native American Studies Department and his personal academic success are nourished by programs like Rou Dalagurr.

    “The implementation of programs and spaces like Rou Dalagurr are vital to the well-being and success of Indigenous students,” Henrickson said. “Not only will this lab directly serve to support Indigenous students, but also the school as a whole, our local Tribes and our community.”

    Bringing her daughter up to the podium with her, Tully explained that one of the main reasons for creating the lab was for the youth. Tully said that the whole team is excited to pass on these opportunities to the youth because the lab is something that will go on and grow for generations to come.

    The lab is located in what many people know as Wiyot Plaza near the Goudi’ni Gallery and the Native American Forum. The name ‘Rou Dalagurr’ means “everyone works” or “work together” in the Wiyot language. Since HSU occupies Wiyot land, Risling Baldy said it was important for the team to name the lab in the Wiyot language.

    During the colonization and genocide that Native peoples experienced, Indigenous food practices and other traditions were disrupted and access to healthy traditional foods became restricted. Reed said that this lab is a great stride toward righting the wrongs and injustices that Indigenous peoples experience in their landscapes and in their bodies.

    Indigenous food sovereignty goes far beyond the cultivation or preparation of foods. It’s about the environment, climate resiliency, the land, and practicing ceremonies which are connected to the environment and Indigenous foods.

    “Indigenous peoples know that all things are interconnected,” Risling Baldy said. “So, food, it is connected to the health of our environment, and that is connected to the health of our people and that is connected to the health of our political systems and our ability to exercise our sovereignty and self-determination.”

    Risling Baldy said that it is only through the generosity of community members, alumni, and organizations that they’ve been able to raise enough money to start the remodel of the lab, but the work is not done yet. They are still in need of student volunteers and additional funding.

    “I am most looking forward to celebrating with the students and to starting our many dream projects that we already talk about with each other as we are doing the planning work,” Risling Baldy said. “We already have some funding for the start of our internship program so getting students into the community-based work is going to be important for us at the beginning.”

  • A midnight masterpiece

    Horror films are set to scare and terrify the audience, giving them the essence of dread, and fear, using people’s fear to invoke a response. The typical horror film usually has a shocking end, something to keep the audience captivated in the cathartic experience. Horror indulges our primal side, and our fears of vulnerability, being alienated, and the unknown.

    Everyone can find a piece of themselves in horror, and there’s that sense of superiorness that comes from yelling at the dumb protagonist for looking out the window at night.

    Now if you are a fan of anything that goes bump in the night, you have probably seen Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep, Before I Wake, or even Gerald’s Game. All of these movies are creations of director Mike Flanagan, who has once again made a wonderful experience filling you with dread the entire time.

    Midnight Mass is the newest creation that gives you the feeling of being watched and maybe a little bit of that Catholic guilt even if you weren’t raised Catholic. The new miniseries tells the story of a small fishing town located on an isolated island and the happenings inside the community.

    The main focus of the story is Riley Flynn, played by actor Zach Gilford, and his alcoholic blunder which landed him in prison for four years after killing a young woman. He returns to his hometown that now looks abandoned after years of being gone. A man who was once an altar boy is now a disgraced outcast.

    The town is mostly made up of devout Catholics and Riley further fails to fit in after he lost his faith in prison. Riley isn’t the only returning outcast. A childhood friend, Erin Greene, showed up a few months beforehand, pregnant and divorced joining Riley in the refuse of the town.

    Following the return of our lead, we meet Father Paul, a new parish priest. Father Paul’s arrival brings forth a mixture of supernatural and miraculous events with injuries healed and faith slowly being restored. From the start, it’s clear that theres something not quite right with Father Paul. The missing Monsignor and the overbearing member of St. Patrick’s Church, Bev Keane point to a more sinister plot.

  • Super Smash Bros Club: KO’ing loneliness with video games

    The Humboldt State Smash Crew has resurrected and is meeting every Friday at 5pm in Nelson Hall room 102. Casual conversations and practice matches take up the first few hours of the evening. However, after 7pm rolls around, the gamers face off in a bracket-style tournament.

    President of the club, Justin Packham, said that the Super Smash Bros Club offers a place of community for freshman and transfer students alike. He had previously been a member of the Smash Bros Club before it was disbanded because of COVID-19. Packham is a junior now, but he said as a freshman the club was a great opportunity for him.

    “I was feeling very homesick,” Packham said. “It was the first time I had ever been away from home for so long and for such a far distance away. So it was just a nice place where I could come and bond with people over this game I played and I made some of the best friendships I’ve ever made up here.”

    Packham revived the Smash Bros club after the old one dissolved and he plans to retain the same atmosphere that made him feel so welcome as a freshman. For Packham, it is about having a safe haven for people to unwind after classes and meet with fellow students.

    The Smash Crew plays a variety of fighting games, not just Super Smash Bros. Everyone can bring their own gaming setup and any fighting game that members want to play are welcome. A new hot topic in the fighting game scene is “Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl.” The game is essentially Super Smash Bros with characters from Nickelodeon cartoons instead of Nintendo characters. Packham says the game is fun but also trash. Several other club members chimed in to agree with that statement.

    The club has a more friendly than competitive atmosphere, but that does not mean they do not compete. In previous years they have done trips to one of the largest Smash Bros tournaments in the country, Genesis 8. The event takes place this upcoming January in San Jose and Packham is hoping to bring down a group of club members to compete. The event offers cash prizes and tournaments for several different fighting games. Packham hopes to get funding from the school for the trip but that all depends on how many people join the club or how much fundraising they can do.

    The Humboldt State Smash crew is open to the public and is welcoming any new members regardless of experience with video games. People are welcome to bring their own gaming setup and there are extra controllers and consoles available for people who don’t have their own.