by Nick Escalada and Jasmin Shirazian

Throughout the school year and in the summer, many Cal Poly Humboldt students rely on the Cal Poly Humboldt Student Health and Wellbeing Services (SHWS) as their only source of medical assistance. Already limited services are worsened in the summer when staff is reduced, leaving students in urgent situations without many solutions. 

For students without reliable transportation, seeking help off-campus can be an obstacle. The Student Health Center’s (SHC) accommodations fell short for sophomore archeology major Nick Howell, who injured his rotator cuff while working on-campus this past summer. Even as a student throughout the academic year, Howell was not able to receive any emergency care due to not being enrolled in summer classes.

“I was working eight hours on campus for this position. I wasn’t in a class, but I was right there. I was in Nelson Hall, 10 feet away from the Health Center, that had these big signs,” Howell said. “I spent about 40 bucks on an Uber back-and-forth to go to Redwood Urgent Care, and then it was a $50 charge to [be seen]. At the end of the day, it’s nearly 100 bucks that could be free if I was allowed to be seen.”

The Student Health Center acts as the outpatient medical facility located on the university campus. There are two sides to the medical services provided by the SHC: one for scheduled care and one for acute — sudden — conditions, as Executive Director of Student Health & Wellbeing Service Jennifer Sanford explained. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) are also available to students during the school year, though it is a different sector of the Student Health and Wellbeing Services. During the summer, however, both medical and mental health services are reduced for returning and summer students alike. 

Even during the school year, the SHC is limited in its ability to treat all students’ needs, according to Sanford. While the center has an X-ray lab, other, more severe conditions must be referred to Mad River Community Hospital or other urgent care centers in the surrounding area. Only 14 medical professionals, ranging from physicians to medical assistants as listed on the SHWS website, worked at the center this past semester. Come summer, staff numbers are even lower, thus the already limited resources are unavailable, such as X-rays.

“We see a lot of sprained ankles, broken bones, upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, [gastrointestinal] stuff, rashes, issues with ears,” Sanford said. “It’s all kinds of stuff on the acute side. On the scheduled side, we do a lot of mental health, reproductive health care. What we would recommend [is that] students keep a primary doctor for things like diabetes or other chronic, ongoing conditions that should continue to be managed by their primary doctor.”

Senior criminology major Lanna Moor had been experiencing flu-like symptoms when the Student Health Center deferred her to off-campus resources. She said this made her feel dismissed and resulted in her paying out-of-pocket for a doctor’s visit and medication at Redwood Urgent Care in Eureka.

“I expected them to run a test, maybe a [COVID-19] or flu test, or anything really. Instead they handed me a sheet of paper saying that I should go buy some ibuprofen,” Moor said. “My expectation was to get something that I didn’t already know. I know that I can just go buy ibuprofen from the store. So, I was expecting maybe a little more help and resources and addressing why I was sick so that I could get back to class. Definitely made me feel like I was incompetent.”

Issues with Student Health and Wellbeing Services extend past the Health Center and physical ailments. Encounters at CAPS have left patients unsatisfied or unserviced, like senior critical race & gender studies major Rubyana Ashman, who has endured weeks and even months-long periods without therapy due to the program’s semesterly eight-session limit.

“It’s just a prevalent thing in our generation. I feel like most people our age have mental health issues or physical health issues that they need taken care of,” Ashman said. “I feel like [an improvement could be] making it easier for people to go more often without it being taxed, like having a limit on how many times someone can go to the Health Center.”

An alternative mental health resource offered by the university is TimelyCare, which is offered over the summer to students enrolled throughout the school year. Students like senior psychology major Mia Fikes, however, would not recommend this outlet to students unless absolutely necessary.

“TimelyCare often felt like gambling with your mental health,” Fikes said. “You would either receive a friendly voice of reason to help you see your problems in a positive light or someone audibly dismissive who made things worse. Chances were about 50/50.”

Sanford is hopeful, however, that as more students come to the university and with the new Housing, Dining and Health Building set to rehome SHWS, issues with the Student Health Center will improve. 

“I think having space will allow us to broaden our reach and actually offer more services,” Sanford said. “Because right now, we’re just out of space and we’re spread out in three locations. Eventually, when we have our new building, all of that will come together. I think as the student population increases, we will really listen to students about what services we don’t have that they might like.”

by Mia Costales

Every fall, community members gather in Old Town Eureka to celebrate Día de Muertos Festival de Altares, a community event celebrating the two-day Mexican holiday that honors the lives of deceased loved ones and celebrates their souls’ return to the overworld. Ofrendas line the gazebo, full of cempazúchitl, pan de muerto, copal, food and gifts. Mariachis perform classics like La Llorona and La Bruja. Most importantly, families come together to honor their culture and pay respects to the ones who came before them. However, this year was different — the celebration was canceled due to concerns that undocumented attendees could be targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Somos Medicina Collective is a non-profit organization founded by Xochi Quetzalli, with the goal of organizing events celebrating Latiné culture. The collective has been responsible for hosting the Día de Muertos Festival de Altares in Eureka every year since 2019. On Oct. 27, Quetzalli released a statement on Instagram announcing that this year’s event would be canceled. 

“With a heavy heart, we have decided to cancel our Day of the Dead Festival of Altars celebration this year,” the statement read. “In short, we feel that we cannot bring our people together safely at this time, when we are being targeted and kidnapped. We thank you for understanding and wish you a beautiful celebration con sus muertitos at your altares in your homes.” 

 Heightened instances of violence directed towards Latinos in the past months have caused many to be wary of celebrating publicly. On Oct. 30, Carlos Jimenez, a 24-year-old U.S. citizen, was shot and critically injured by an ICE officer in Ontario, Calif. According to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, 59,762 people are being held in ICE detention facilities as of Sept. 21. While there are still no confirmed cases of ICE sightings in Humboldt County, some Latino locals are taking precautionary measures such as avoiding public events such as Día de Muertos.

Despite the cancellation of hundreds of Día de Muertos celebrations throughout the country this year, Centro del Pueblo remained one of the few organizations that continued with their celebration. Centro del Pueblo Executive Director Brenda Peréz stressed the importance of showing up for her community even in times of struggle.

“We decided to continue with our event because we work with the purpose of revitalizing our culture,” Peréz said. “We wouldn’t have that if we interrupt. We decided to be firm with the decision of sharing our culture because that’s a statement of who we are. We are here to stay, and such an amazing time like Día de Muertos has to be protected by everyone coming together.”

Anna Martinez, a senior political science major with a law and policy concentration, was one of many Cal Poly Humboldt students who celebrated Día de Muertos and put up an ofrenda to honor her grandpa. 

“Whenever I go to events like that, I’m reminded of the community around me,” Martinez said. “I think it goes back to feeling sort of disconnected to my community here in Humboldt, it being so isolated. Having those events really shows us that we’re not alone. We have a lot of events with our community about like ‘know your rights’ and ICE and stuff like that, but sometimes it’s just nice to have an event where we can all just come together and sort of be happy and dance or watch people dance.”

Centro del Pueblo’s Día de Muertos event was held in the Eureka Theatre. It featured performances from Cal Poly Humboldt’s Mariachi Mar Pacifico, Danza Azteca and Ballet Folklorico, as well as ofrendas from community members and clubs such as McKinleyville Highschool’s Latinx club. 

“[Día de Muertos] in my opinion, is also a strong piece of advocacy [for] practicing our rights, our human rights,” Peréz said. “So, when someone cancels, that really affects us immigrants. When someone cancels it, it’s a message of sometimes censoring our culture.”

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.

by Bodhi Haugen

On Nov. 3, Cal Poly Humboldt sent a student-wide email addressing campus resources for food insecurity following the government shutdown across the nation. Due to the continued shutdown, the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been impacted for the month of November, a resource many students rely on. The email detailed the swipe assistance program, meal pickups beginning the second week of November in the Gutswurrak Student Activities Center, emergency grants from the Dean of Students’s office, and the Oh SNAP! Food pantry in room 122 of the Recreation and Wellness Center.​

As stated in a recent NPR article, “SNAP benefits will restart, but will be half the normal payment and delayed.”

The Trump administration announced that SNAP benefits for November would return with limited funding and delays, as only $5 billion in emergency funding was appropriated, while the total needed is $8 billion. 

It is unclear exactly when SNAP balances will be reloaded for recipients. Students are urged to reach out to the Dean of Students’s office at dos@humboldt.edu with any further questions.

by Nico Patakidis

A free New York Times (NYT) subscription will potentially be offered soon for all Cal Poly Humboldt students, courtesy of the Associated Students (A.S.). The most recent bi-weekly board of directors meeting on Oct. 31 discussed this item, which included feedback during public comment and a presentation given by Todd Halverson of NYT. 

NYT offers a variety of resources such as news articles, recipes for many different lifestyles, product recommendations and games. However, users can only view a certain amount of articles each month without a subscription. On Oct. 24, A.S. released a survey to determine how many students would be interested in receiving a free NYT subscription. The responses to the survey were a majority in favor of bringing free NYT subscriptions to Cal Poly Humboldt students. Out of the 72 respondents as of Oct. 31, 97.3% said they would be interested in the subscription. 

The presentation given by Todd Halverson, who has been with NYT for over 19 years, illustrated the different use cases that students may have with an NYT subscription and how the program can benefit Cal Poly Humboldt students. Halverson highlighted the resources that NYT has to offer apart from news, such as the cooking section where users can find low-cost recipes that are easy to prepare and can fit into a students schedule. Halverson said that the main goal of the program is to support students and stimulate educational, social and cultural wellness of the community. However, Halverson acknowledges that without a subscription, the resources offered by NYT are inaccessible. 

“What about those without the means to do so? So, where does that leave them?” Halverson said. “And where does that leave our society?”

Following the presentation and viewing the current student input from the earlier survey, A.S. Executive Vice President Ayan Cabot confirmed that the Board of Directors would continue discussing the offered NYT subscription program. As the discussion continues, the A.S. survey for NYT will continue to accept responses from students. 

Nico is a sophomore journalism major with an interest in covering local government and political affairs. In his free time he enjoys hanging out and having fun. Reach him at np211@humboldt.edu.

by Eli Farrington

As a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient and low-income student dealing with chronic illness, Gus Dorman understands — more than most — how important food security can be. 

Before coming to Humboldt, Dorman studied culinary arts at Diablo Valley College in the Bay Area. She is used to cooking for large groups of people and appreciates the positive impact that it can have on the community. When she saw her community struggling, she was inspired to roll up her sleeves and spring into action. 

“It’s important to me because I know what it means to be hungry, and I know what it means to be without [food],” Dorman said. “What’s happening right now is not okay. We don’t always have control over what’s happening outside our community, but we do have control over how we affect change while we’re in it — and this is the way I can do that.”

For Dorman, her fellow students and her professors in the art department have become her chosen family. As an older student and a mother, she views many of the younger students as her adopted children. 

Senior interdisciplinary studies major Ro Meisler designed the flyers for the event, and plans to help Dorman with Wednesday dinners going forward. Meisler has lots of love for the wider Arcata area and sees it as an incredibly unique place where a tight-knit community allows for mutual support networks to thrive. She also believes that the university often falls short when it comes to serving the basic needs of students, which inspired her to help Dorman bring this project to life. 

“There’s a bunch of different projects like this that are really successful already,” Meisler said. “Just having a web of people included in making a difference, so that so much burden doesn’t fall on any one person, is really helpful.”

Meisler and Dorman plan to connect with a network of local farms and grocery stores to source the food for their Wednesday night dinners. They have already partnered with several local farms and gardens who have agreed to donate produce, including Blue Lake Rancheria’s Daluviwi’ Community Garden, Goosefoot Farm in Arcata and Red Cedar Gardens in Fieldbrook. They are also accepting donations from the community in the form of monetary contributions through Cash App, as well as canned goods. 

This week’s menu includes vegan chili, meat chili, braised pork, cornbread, chips and salsa, salad, and bean and cheese burritos provided by a local community member. Community members are encouraged to bring their own cooked dishes to share and volunteers are welcome to join in on the mutual aid. 

“Our students are already pressed when this kind of stuff is not happening,” Dorman said. “The number of homeless students, the number of food insecure students, the number of displaced and ignored students — it’s a problem. I think the more we address it this way; it’s a kinder approach, and we’re asking people to be involved.”

Both Meisler and Dorman are passionate about social justice and advocacy for disenfranchised communities. They want their Wednesday dinners to help feed the campus community, but they also want to address the issue of food waste by connecting with more local grocery stores, bakeries and farms to make use of good food that would otherwise be thrown away due to imperfections or aesthetic reasons. 

“We have so many injustices in our own country and in the world,” Dorman said. “There’s not a lot of safety that people can trust in, but one thing is certain across every culture — that if you can sit down at the table and eat together, change can happen. It’s a really powerful way to have conversations that are difficult in other respects, and food bridges those gaps often. 

Eli Farrington is a senior journalism major and Managing Editor for The Lumberjack. He has a passion for social justice, and hopes to use his writing to shed light on underrepresented local communities. He can be reached at eaf62@humboldt.edu.

by Will Bishop

Outside the North Coast Co-Op, protesters spilled in from all directions — brandishing signs, flags and all manner of costumes, eager to voice their dissent and join their fellow citizens in peaceful protest. This past Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. on Oct. 18 in downtown Eureka a Humboldt Democracy Connections organized No Kings march made its way up 4th Street. They planned to join the main group of protesters outside the Humboldt County Courthouse.

No Kings is an international protest campaign intended to oppose the Trump Administration and fascism as a whole. The stated message, as seen on the official No Kings website, is as follows, “America has no kings, and the power belongs to the people.” An estimated five million Americans attended the previous protest in June, and this time the count was even higher, putting it around seven million.

The march started slowly as the sidewalks struggled to meet the capacity of the growing crowd. Still, the protesters remained orderly and respectful, with hardly a single person spilling out into the street. Finally, the march arrived at its destination, adding their numbers to a crowd estimated by some to be around 3,000 strong. The second No Kings protest was just getting started.

Protestor Gabe Vallee attended the No Kings march, his spirits high and expression joyful. This sense of optimism and camaraderie was frequently seen across the individuals in attendance. “These are all excellent Americans, you can tell,” Vallee said. “They got up here on a Saturday morning to be with their friends and to say, ‘we need to get rid of that guy.’”

Larry Passarini, a graduate of Humboldt State University who received his masters in education as well as a teaching credential from the institution, echoed Vallee’s sentiment. Passarini, as many others did, remarked on the sheer size of the crowd.

 “I’m lovin’ it here,” Passarini said. “There’s tons and tons of people, more than the last time. About two, three months ago we had another one about three or four thousand people. There’s gotta be a lot more than that here now.” 

Corbin Solomon, a veteran and longtime local, wore a Palestine banner around his neck and an Uncle Sam top hat on his head, and attempted to get a count of his own. 

“I’ve been in Humboldt County for 40-something years, it’s the biggest crowd ever,” Solomon said. “I can’t move on the sidewalks. I tried to count the thinnest corner over here and I counted three hundred people and then I stopped.”

Upside down U.S. flags, Palestinian flags, Ukrainian flags, pride flags, peace flags and One Piece flags stood among the litany of causes held high in the air. Repeated signs were few and far between, with the vast majority of those in attendance electing to make their own. There were costumes abound, at times resembling a politically-charged early Halloween party. Upon noticing a dinosaur in the crowd, one attendee jested, “Are you a member of the Republican party?” 

A small fleet of The Handmaid’s Tale cosplayers standing on the corner gloomed outward at the cars passing by. Their signs all followed the same template and highlighted the duality of our First Amendment rights, being used to both ensure that this assembly could freely take place and allow naysayers to offer their words of dissent. 

“Because of the Constitution, you have the right to call me a nasty woman,” one sign read.

Democratic officials nationwide have begun to take more aggressive steps to combat the Trump Administration. Some of these steps, such as California’s upcoming special election on Proposition 50, have been met by certain citizens with a degree of hesitation — but today, support for Prop 50 was proudly on display.

Beverly Kummerling, a dedicated advocate with Prop 50 sign in hand, has been personally committed to ensuring it passes. 

“I created a flier with all the points off of the website,” Kummerling said. “And at every protest I’ve been talking about Prop 50. I’ve been going door to door, I’ve been postcarding, I’ve been phonecalling and people are getting it.” 

Still, with the vote’s deadline looming on Nov. 4, Kummerling was quick to address the difficulty of communicating its benefits to her fellow voters. She believes strongly in the measure, and doesn’t feel that arguments against it are made in good faith. 

“It’s leveling the playing field, not gerrymandering. We didn’t want to do this,” Kummerling said. “Newsom gave Texas so many opportunities to back down and they didn’t. So, we’re gonna get this and we’re gonna win big.”

Community solidarity was strong. Music reverberated over the crowd and each time a group of cars drove by, hands waved out windows and palms jammed on their horns. A food drive held by Food Not Bombs, who co-organized the event, had a table at the base of the courthouse steps. 

Elizabeth Abbott, one of the volunteers working the station, strongly encouraged anyone interested in the organization to reach out. 

“We’re just out here collecting food that we can cook up and give people that are hungry as a free meal,” Abbott said.  “We are by the Bayshore Mall by Applebee’s Mondays between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Anyone who’s hungry is welcome, regardless of their housing status or anything else.”

Protestor Mary Ann Loch spoke on the importance of the occasion while her husband nimbly played an acoustic bass in the background. 

“There’s such power in assembly, and when we come together peacefully, and creatively, mountains can be moved,” Loch said. “Many hands make light work, so we don’t have to feel the burden of trying to change things overnight or immediately. But through enough assembly and policymaking, and voting with our dollar, mountains can be moved. And I think we are going to persevere.” 

Will Bishop is a Cal Poly Humboldt journalism major. He is prone to writing essays about things that bother him, and fictional works about things that also bother him but in different ways. A highly bothered individual, and a lover of cinema, music, and large trees/rocks, he can often be found in the woods, dancing to bring down the sky.

compiled by Barley Lewis-McCabe

Tuesday, Oct. 14

16:57 – 4:57 p.m.

Garbage Dumping/Littering

Occurred at Upper Playing Field 

Report of miscellaneous property dumped behind the upper play field. A work order was submitted for removal.

Wednesday, Oct. 15

16:03 – 4:03 p.m.

Emergency Elevator Button

Occurred at the Library on Sequoia.

911 from the north elevator, elevator noises heard and a male subject answered and then disconnected.

The officer was unable to locate any emergency.

Disposition: Rims Documentation only.

18:12 – 6:12 p.m.

Public intoxication – alcohol

Occurred at College Creek Marketplace on Harpst St.

Report of a male subject flagging people down on Rossow for a ride to Eureka and was in possession of alcohol.

Thursday, Oct. 16

11:28

Medical Aid

Occurred at Founders Hall on E Laurel Dr.

911 — 24-year-old female reported having vertigo and was laying down.

Subject was transported by ambulance. 

Disposition: Assisted.

Saturday, Oct. 18

00:40 – 12:40 a.m.

Welfare Check

Occurred at Cypress Residence Hall on Granite Ave.

Reporting person received concerning Instagram messages from a possible student. Officers were unable to locate the student of concern. Disposition: Report/Case Taken.

Sunday, Oct. 19 

11:59 a.m.

Suspicious Circumstances

Occurred at Upd on Rossow St. 

Email report of an assault, unable to identify or contact the reporting party.

Suspicious Person

Occurred at Library on Sequoia.

Reporting person requesting subject attempting to conceal himself behind book shelves be contacted.

Officers contacted the subject, negative laws violated.

Disposition: Unsubstantiated.

by Devin Bowen

Students with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are being held back by the lack of medical care in Humboldt County. The local hospital, St. Joseph Providence in Eureka, Calif., shows no record of having an endocrinologist for appointments and services for diabetic care through their website. The Providence website offers information about endocrinologist services and links to diabetes support, yet does not have an endocrinologist locally. The nearest endocrinologist that is provided by Providence is located in Santa Rosa, 250 miles away from campus.

​Emily Schwab, a Cal Poly Humboldt sophomore majoring in marine biology, shared her and her family’s worry about not having an accessible endocrinologist. 

“The most frustrating thing is my parents [are] worried about me having an episode or needing an endocrinologist in an emergency,” Schwab said. “There isn’t one in Humboldt, or anywhere near.”

Schwab and her family also harbor concerns about having to use alternative options like the Student Health & Wellbeing Services (SHWS) located on campus.

“I have used the health center to get my A1C reading, but not for supplies,” Schwab said. “They were helpful, but they only know so much. I have some other medical issues as a result of having Type One, and they were not knowledgeable enough to help too much.”

The SHWS on campus does provide medical care for T1D students yet still holds limits. Important services like A1C lab work are provided with SHWS. A1C is a blood test to measure the sugar levels for diabetic patients. Results on having high blood sugar can leave dangerous side effects like Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) from lack of medical supplies such as Insulin and Glucose Monitors. Though the SHWS does not have all the necessities for endocrinologist services, it is the best current alternative to driving 250 miles away for one. They are typically open for appointments, prescription pick-up and labs Monday through Friday, with alternating hours for students.

“Students can schedule appointments to discuss care plans, glucose monitoring, and referrals to off-campus specialists if needed,” Communications Specialist Melissa Hutsell said in an email on Oct.17. “For students with Type 1 diabetes, SHWS medical providers can provide care as a fill-in for their regular endocrinologist, do routine labs, refill prescriptions, check for infections, provide ongoing education and communicate with their endocrinologist as needed.”

​ Other resources for T1D through campus are the Campus Disability Resource Center (CDRC) and the DiabetesLink Club. Currently, the DiabetesLink Club has been inactive since spring of 2024, though their Instagram under @cph_diabeteslink provides links for diabetic support outside of the university. 

Junior mathematics major Aaron Ramirez has been a DiabetesLink club member since the fall of 2023. Ramirez shared how connecting with the club has been a gratifying experience while communicating other services that can benefit students with diabetes.

“I am truly grateful that there is a group here on campus that not only allows me to connect with other Type 1 Diabetics here in the community, but also allows me to be around people who also know the daily struggles of dealing with T1D,” Ramirez said. “Although diabetes is an invisible disability, it still takes a toll on those who have to deal with it every day. So, it would be nice to have some mental health services and some smaller resources that we have to use, like lancets or test strips.”

​

Devin Bowen is a journalism major and also the social media manager for the student-run radio station, KRFH. She enjoys collecting vinyl records and exploring new artists. They hope to spread new experiences and influence a different perspective with music and culture through The Lumberjack. Contact them at dlb155@humboldt.edu.

by Sadie Shields

Heading up the stairs towards Wiyot Plaza, the scent of salmon cooking over a fire wafted by as students, faculty, staff and elders gathered for the Indigenous Food Festival on Saturday afternoon.

The Indigenous Food Festival began as a student-led initiative to foster community while the Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab was still under construction. The event has grown bigger and bigger since it began, with members from the Native Youth Council, Wiyot Tribe, Aquili Metzil Cooperative, Native Women’s Collective, Aunties on The River, Yurok Tribe, Karuk tribe and the Tolowa Dee-ni’ nation in attendance. The festival is rooted in the celebration of Indigenous food practices, sovereignty and intergenerational knowledge-sharing throughout the community. Cutcha Risling Baldy, co-director of the Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab and an associate professor of Native American studies, stressed the importance of the event. 

“They wanted to bring people in so they could get a sense of this place and build community,” Baldy said. “We thought, yeah, we should bring everybody together in celebration of food sovereignty work.” 

Isaac Kinney, a second-year graduate student dedicated to environmental and community-based work, reflected on the broader significance of the Indigenous Foods Festival. For him, the event is more than a celebration — it’s a form of advocacy and cultural affirmation.

“This event is a direct action to continue the Indigenous voices on campus,” Kinney said.  “Making sure that the presence is a part of the experience of anyone coming through the school — as a student, as a parent, as a community member — they understand that things here are tribally-led, Indigenous women-led and that’s what this event means to me.”

One key difference in this year’s Indigenous Foods Festival was the opening of the Rou Dalugurr Food Sovereignty Lab to the public last year, which allowed for community workshops and broader engagement. Cal Poly Humboldt graduate and Graduate Student Coordinator for the Kelp Guardian project Delaney Schroeder-Echavarria explained that the lab’s purpose is to introduce people to the concept of traditional ecological knowledge as a legitimate and foundational science. 

Traditional ecological knowledge highlights how food sovereignty centers relationships with the land and interconnectedness — something she believes Western science has historically failed to recognize.

“A lot of Western scientists are finally starting to realize, ‘oh, everything is interconnected… we need to actually speak to the people who know how to be in relationships,’” Schroeder-Echavarria said.

However, while Rou Dalugurr Food Sovereignty Lab is community-based, it is not a public walk-in space.

“We are very much like any lab space on campus,” Schroeder-Echavarria said. “You can’t just go into the chemistry lab or the Marine Lab and fool around.”

While the lab is mostly closed, they are open to community members to do workshops and also host visiting scholars. These workshops and events prepare food for students and the community.

“[The class] is open to anybody to take, and you can take it more than once,” Schroeder-Echavarria said.  

Schroeder-Echavarria further encouraged students to take Native American Studies courses, explaining that it helps people learn skills necessary to work with one another.

Colonization had a huge impact on Indigenous communities, which went after the culture, the land, and the food traditions they passed down generations. 

Baldy expressed the importance of food to Indigenous culture.

“Colonization was attempting to really eradicate Indigenous peoples. It was trying to remove and just possess us of our land and really, it also went after our foods, ” Baldy said. “Our foods really tie us to a place. They really tie us to family and community and culture and knowledge.”

Even with the attempts to suppress the culture through colonization the cultural knowledge still endured. 

“Even with all of the attempts to try to make it so that we wouldn’t do this anymore, we still carried our food knowledge forward… Native people will still continue to pass on knowledge because they know it’s what’s right,” Baldy 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 Barley Lewis-McCabe and Nico Patakidis

The air was filled with copal tree sap smoke — a dense earthy smell that, combined with rhythmic we-we drumming and consistent rattling of ayoyote anklets, produced an unmistakable feeling of camaraderie and warmth on an otherwise chilly morning. 

Monday, Oct. 13, saw the kickoff of Indigenous Peoples week with an event hosted by the Indian Tribal & Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP). This featured dances in the Upper Quad from a number of indigenous cultures primarily from regions south of the United States border, according to Lonyx Landry, Native Programs Coordinator and drum leader.

“In a very authentic and grassroots way, how it came together, it is part of the manifestation of the prophecy of the eagle and the condor,” Landry said. “Today was absolutely a manifestation of that coming to fruition. And that is the peoples of the Americas coming back together.”

The Prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor is the belief that the barriers of hate that separates the people of the Americas will be eliminated, and North and South America, or the Eagle and the Condor, respectively, will fly together once again. The name comes from the similarities in shape between the continents and the birds they represent.

Isabelle “Bug” Carvajal, led a land acknowledgement at the start of the event, followed by a speech addressing the significance of Indigenous People’s day. She acknowledged the need for sovereignty of indigenous nations in society and also on the university campus, as well as recognizing the importance of the Land Back movement. 

“We stand by the word of local native communities,” Carvajal said. “Especially the women and elders that created ITEPP and the students who occupied the Native Forum in 2015, and remain steadfast in their call for more self-determination, sovereignty and dignity for indigenous people of this land.”

 Carvajal says that ITEPP seeks to prevent reducing concepts such as decolonization and “land back” into buzzwords. ITEPP wishes to see more action from the university in the form of funding cultural centers, recognizing sovereign indigenous knowledge within STEM programs and being less performative in their statements. 

The ceremonies opened with a song of honor, which served to open the experience and set the tone for what was to come. Then the drummers performed the Gourd Song, followed not long after by the Four Winds dance. Audience members were invited to follow in the dance, turning themselves to face in the same directions as the dancers. The Four Winds dance then led into the opening Permiso dance, a dance performed to open up the space that would be used in the beginning of a ceremony.

 During the dances, performers fanned copal smoke into the air high and low, spreading the scent throughout the quad. The performance ended with a dance dedicated to Mother Earth, called Tonantzin.

The ceremony ended as it began, with a heartfelt speech from MC Raith Williams. 

“Let us carry these truths forward, not as burdens, but as responsibilities,” Williams said. “Responsibilities to honor the land, to support one another, and to ensure that the future generations know who we are and where we come from, because we’re still here.” 

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.

Nico is a sophomore journalism major with an interest in covering local government and political affairs. In his free time he enjoys hanging out and having fun. Reach him at np211@humboldt.edu.

by Jess Carey

Bright and bouncy music drifts out of Fulkerson Hall on Monday evenings as Cal Poly Humboldt’s Calypso Ensemble gather for their weekly rehearsal. Rhythmic and soaring, it’s a vibrant sound with Caribbean origin. The program has been bringing the tropical sound of calypso to the fog-laden forests of northern California since 1986. 

The group of more than 50 musicians play an assortment of drum-like instruments, glimmering bright in stage lights across the dark auditorium. Their swinging bodies and delicate mallet work are precise and practiced, infused with a clear groove and sense of expression. 

It was a captivating performance. A hybrid of rhythm, dance, and bright melody — cut to a stop with a jarring clang as director Eugene Novotney banged mallets on his pan stand, apparently signaling to the band that something was up. Novotney founded the ensemble and has been directing the program ever since.

“Let’s take it again from section B,” he said with the wave of a hand. “I need percussion to sit this one out.”

Calypso originated in the islands of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. The music is recognizable by particularly melodic vocals, with down-to-earth lyrics spanning topics of daily life to political resistance. The style has roots in African musical tradition, fused with indigenous Caribbean and western elements. 

Novotney said that after spending time studying percussion techniques all over the world, he was inspired to start the ensemble in Humboldt because he felt like it was the right place for the project. 

“I just had an absolute sense and a positive feeling that if I could get a steel band going here, it would be very well received by the community,” Novotney said. 

And well-received it was. The group now consists of more than 50 students and community members. Calypso projects have also popped up in the surrounding community. The majority of instrumentalists play different sizes of the steel pan, the iconic instrument associated with calypso music. 

The steel pan was invented in an act of resilience by Trinidadians subject to oppressive colonial leadership. When British authorities outlawed skin drums in the 1880s in an effort to squash community organizing and self-expression, the people got creative. They made melodic drums out of bamboo, cookware, and junked 55-gallon oil drums.  

“Eventually, it was discovered that pitches could be tuned. Then pitch became a part of the style, evolving to what [the steel pan] is today,” Novotney said. 

Players in the ensemble perform on steel pans of several sizes, from the 4-foot-tall bass drums to the smaller tenor and cello pans. Larger, deeper-pitched drums have fewer notes per drum, and the smaller, higher-pitched pans have more notes per drum. Since each pan has a limited suite of pre-tuned notes, some musicians play several pans at the same time. Each of the bass players perform on four pans at once!

Senior marine biology major Aiden Mahl takes music classes for fun and plays the cello pan in the ensemble. His interest in the band sparked from hearing them practice while walking around campus. He said he enjoys how all the different parts come together to make one “big instrument.” 

“You have to move your arms around in a coordinated manner and swing your body to hit notes on the different pans,” Mahl said. “It lets you get into the music and dance along while you’re playing, which I think is really cool.”

In addition to dozens of steel pans, the calypso ensemble has a vibrant rhythm section. Novotney said they use the Trinidadian term, ‘engine room.’ Players utilize a drum kit, congas, bongos, timbales, scrapers, gogo bells, and more. The driving force of such an assortment of percussion is certainly momentous, much like an engine, and it lays the groundwork for the bright notes of the pans to dance on top of. One surprising addition is an automobile brake drum, struck with nails to produce a bright ting sound. Novotney explained that the brake was also used as a historical makeshift drum. 

“It’s still in the band as a wink and nod to the tradition in the genre,” he said. 

Novotney believes that the steel pan is an accessible and fun instrument, and the music speaks for itself. He emphasized that no matter how you play a pan, the pitch is there.

“The instrument speaks itself,” Novotney said. “And that is the beauty of percussion.” 

Jess Carey is a botanist, musician, and friend. They enjoy pondering the sky, running around, and making a scene. They are a senior studying ecology with a journalism minor. Reach them by email at jc876@humboldt.edu with comments or story ideas.

by Barley Lewis-McCabe
Life gets tiring — eventually, it’s all so boring. Same routine day in and day out, monotony becomes mandatory and breaking away gets more difficult by the day — wait! Starchildren of the universe, behold, for the Mothership has descended — free your mind and come fly with me. It’s hip on the Mothership.

I doubt anyone there, except for the man himself, could have imagined what was going to happen over the next two hours. It was transcendent and more spiritual than anything I’ve felt in a traditional house of god. 

On Saturday, I worshiped at the altar of groove, under the kind Prime Minister of Funk himself. 

“He’s gone by many names,” The band announced, “Dr. Funkenstein, Mr. Wiggles, Father, Grandfather, but we call him Big Brother. So pay attention to the man himself, George Clinton!” 

It was at that point that lightning struck the audience. A bolt sent from the funked-out guitar wriggled through the crowd; nothing could stop it. It was too late, our humdrum signal had been taken over by the Mothership Connection, the phenomenon of space based funk musicians, the embodiment of funk itself. The crowd was lost in space, nothing but stardust. Until the groove pulled us together, reformed in the image of Dr. Funkenstein. 

P-Funkadelic wasn’t stuck to just one genre — they don’t see funk strictly as a genre, but as a feeling, as the embodiment of the eternal groove. They zapped from a groovy funk beat to hard rock accompanied by shredding guitar solos that slowly calmed down to a steady blues groove. 

The saxophone told a story, accompanied by Lige Curry on guitar; they wailed out the audience’s blues and sang their praises. They performed something extraordinarily human — they knew how we felt and what we needed. For two gracefully long hours, we didn’t live in our world; we were transported somewhere new. 

Third generation P-Funker Thurt Deliq was raised in an environment of funk, and is a strong believer in its medicinal powers. 

“If you’re going through anything, even with world problems or whatever’s going on, you know, you throw on a little funk and, you know, it changed your mode and changes your mood,” Deliq said.

The audience lived in a world where no one wished for food or shelter, just funk! We lived in a nation united by groove, led by P-Funk and their cabinet of all-star players. 

I was holding my camera in front of me to snake through the crowd more easily. I tried to take photos, but had to constantly repeat “Excuse me, sorry, excuse me” to get anywhere. A man with a short beard, a blue aloha shirt with matching shorts, and pupils the size of a pen tip chopped my back repeatedly, “Come on man, get up there!” He shouted as he pushed me forward. I leaned against the barricade and watched the bright lights above Parliament dance in the Humboldt sky — my eyes glazed over and my mouth might as well have been full of dirt. 

I couldn’t sit, or stand, or lean, or photograph — I couldn’t consciously control my body. I was overwhelmed by the Mothership Connection; I had to dance. 

It felt like it would never end, and no one wanted it to. There were several final songs of the night; I don’t know why that was. It could’ve been the fact that they were waving and saying “Goodnight, everybody” over and over again, or more likely, it was the sheer showmanship that followed everything they performed. Every song felt like it was the big finish; every time it felt like they couldn’t go higher, they couldn’t possibly get any better — they did. 

I went to the side gate after the show and got my interview with Thurt. He brought me backstage and introduced me to Danny and Lige. We stood in a circle and engaged in a blazing hot conversation. I asked Lige what’s so special about Funk.

“It was always breaking the rules, but we always defied that by making it a party, you know? Yeah, it was a party out there tonight. 
And for George, that means everything. And for us as well. Of course.” Said Lige.

by Barley Lewis-McCabe and Nico Patakidis

Under close observation by the university’s free speech response team, no move went unnoticed. Protestors wore Keffiyahs and held Palestinian flags, as well as signs calling for an end to the genocide on the art quad stairs. Deans and administrators stood on the borders of the quad, leaning against any exit, seemingly waiting for something to happen. 

Rick Toledo, a member of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), delivered a booming sermon from his megaphone. 

“I am here because I believe in humanity and that people should not die,” Toledo said.

The vigil and subsequent march was originally planned to be in the lower quad, but due to the request not being filled out two weeks prior to the event, it had to be moved to the art quad to comply with Time, Place, Manner regulations.

Madden Tavernise from SDS addressed the crowd over a megaphone. They spoke about the changes they wish to see from the university and California State University system, as well as conversations that SDS has had with admin.

 “At this point, we want to publicly declare our demands for change in this university,” Tavernise said. “We want to see divestment from companies tied to Israel.”  

Tavernise elaborated by stating that 3.77 percent of the university’s foundation money, money that is donated by alumni, is held by a mutual fund that is owned by Vanguard. Vanguard is a company that is the number two investor in Elbit Systems, an Israeli weapons company. 

Toledo shouted for the protestors to get into marching formation. They packed up their banners and made their way through campus, walking past Harry Griffith Hall and College Creek. Assisted by a Parking Services vehicle following behind the crowd, they took to the street and marched up L K Wood Blvd. 

The protestors sweltered across sun-baked pavement, before stopping next to the parking lot that used to sit below Campus Apartments. They sang their chants to a chorus of honks from supporting community members. Administration followed close behind and observed the crowd. Eventually, they made their way back to campus and ended in front of The Depot. 

Student Jaret W., who requested his last name be anonymous, spoke on his past experiences with protests as a student that lived on campus. Jaret said that actions like this could build more momentum for activism on campus.

“The last marches I’ve seen that walked that path looked much more shrunken, much lighter, not as many people, their energy is less,” Jaret said. “This one seems very different. I was surprised to see the kind of crowd that showed up for it. I was here for the occupation, I remember when it kinda tumbled together. Look at the people that showed up, look at all the passion and the revolutionary sentiment. People are 2 years in, still sick of this shit.” 

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.

Nico is a sophomore journalism major with an interest in covering local government and political affairs. In his free time he enjoys hanging out and can be reached at np211@humboldt.edu.

by Julia Kelm 
It was a sweltering sunny day in Blue Lake on Sunday, Oct. 5 — though, it wasn’t just the sun that was blazing that afternoon. Sweat dripped from the band members’ faces as fire shot up before the crowd — Celtica Nova lit up the stage, a bagpipe-centric rock-and-roll group that impressed audiences with their magnificence for all near to hear.

Celtica Nova was formed in 2009 in Austria, originally called just Celtica. The band was created by guitarist Gajus Stappen and his former partner. However, the band fell apart; Stappen wished to continue, but struggled to find skilled bagpipe players. To solve this, he looked abroad, making connections with bagpipers in California. 

One of these connections was Duncan Knight, a bagpiper from Edinburgh, Scotland. From there, things snowballed for the band, leading them to perform at various cultural festivals and renaissance fairs. In 2018, the group split into two versions — one continuing to tour in Europe and the other performing across the United States. Knight, who was performing in both bands, just recently left the Europe group to perform full-time in the U.S. for the summer season.

Renaissance fairs, including the annual Medieval Festival of Courage, harbor a specific audience that cultivates an energetic scene.

“When you’re playing with an audience that appreciates what you’re doing and is energetic, you kind of feed off the energy,” Knight said. “It’s very much a reciprocal thing. We give energy, we get it back. Vice versa.”

This energy was definitely present in the crowd. Humboldt locals danced and moshed to the fiery sounds of bagpipes and heavy metal.

“It just builds up this adrenaline rush; it’s hard to describe the feeling, but it’s just transcendent,” Knight said.

 With that note, it was clear both the band and the crowd shared in that transcendent rush like none other. Sadie Decker, a senior sociology major and DJ for KRFH, absolutely loved the band’s performance.

 “It was truly a majesty to behold,” Decker said. “I was impressed; I think I’m going to include some Scottish bagpipe music into my day-to-day playlists and onto my radio show.” 

Some members of the crowd had come to see the band perform many times. Kyrie Flores, a College of the Redwoods alum, came for her friend’s birthday, but also for more aesthetic reasons. 

“They’re very rock-and-roll, they’ve got fire,” Flores said. “I like the arms of the men, and I like the fire. It’s very masculine, and I’m ovulating.”

Other members of the audience identified more with the culture, beyond just musical enjoyment. A community member, Andrew Willis, was dancing in the crowd with a group of friends. 

“No matter what the culture is, we share these touchstones. We share this rebellious spirit, this desire to be individual,” Willis said. “I think that that is really important to recognize cross-culturally, because today we live in such a divided time.” 

Overall, the crowd was an eclectic, lively bunch that was passionate about bagpipes and flames. It’s no wonder that the band continues to come back to Humboldt County year after year.  

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.

Additional reporting done by Ursula Newman: Ursula Newman is a journalism major, Lumberjack social media manager and Humboldt local. Contact her at uon1@humboldt.edu. 

Sunny Brae community comes together in a harmonious celebration of local music

by Mia Costales

The cozy little neighborhood of Sunny Brae is home to an eclectic group of residents. From families with young children to elderly folks who have lived in the area for decades to twenty-something-year-old college kids, Sunny Brae is a quiet and quaint sanctuary to many. But for one day out of the year, the community that many call home transforms into a lively music festival known as Porch Fest, complete with dozens of acts ranging from twangy folk numbers to electrifying punk.   

This past weekend marked the second-ever Porch Fest in Sunny Brae, Arcata. The festival was hosted by Humboldt Hot Air, one of Arcata’s local radio stations. 

However, the music festival wasn’t founded in Arcata or even Humboldt County. The first Porch Fest actually began in 2007 in Ithaca, New York, when Gretchen Hildreth and Lesley Greene were inspired to create a community music festival after enjoying local musicians perform from the comfort of their own porches. This first Porch Fest in 2007 sparked several other communities around the globe to host their own. Now in 2025, there are over 230 Porch Fests in the U.S., Canada and Australia. 

Neroli Devaney, Humboldt Hot Air station manager and event coordinator for Sunny Brae Porch Fest, explained how the event is a great opportunity to foster community. 

“It’s a cool neighborhood to try and unite,” Devaney said. “Like, ‘we’re all here, let’s all know each other.’ And that’s a huge part of the Sunny Brae Porch Fest, too. Everyone should meet their neighbors and it’s a great chance to go into your neighbor’s yard and talk to people because you’re being actively invited.”

Devaney coordinated the first Sunny Brae Porch fest last October after years of wanting to host a community music festival. It was a group effort — local businesses like Murphy’s Market in Sunny Brae posted flyers advertising the new event and Humboldt Hot Air booked bands via Instagram. However, this year was slightly different. Every act on the lineup was local to Arcata and the setlist saw an increase in porches hosting bands. Last year, 16 houses signed up to host roughly three bands. This year, 20 houses hosted and over 70 acts performed. 

“This year, every single [band] is local, which is really beautiful to me,” Devaney said. “That’s what Porch Fest is all about. And it definitely gives performers an opportunity to perform in front of people that they maybe wouldn’t always get to perform in front of and get their name out into the community.”

Dinner Service was one of many local bands on the lineup this year. Composed of Arcata locals Noah Thorwaldson, Matt Jioras, Ruben Vadas Williams, Ben Aldag and Hannah Roselee, their music borders the lines of psychedelic rock and indie with 90s and early 2000s punk influence. 

“As someone looking for new music, you have this whole area of town separated where you can wander and find a different band at every corner,” Thorwaldson said. “I think that’s a really cool, interesting way to promote the local music scene.”

Dinner Service first got invited to play at Porch Fest last year, partly because of Cal Poly Humboldt engineering student and Humboldt Hot Air DJ Vadas Williams’ connections to the event’s coordinator. After playing an acoustic set at the fest last year, they decided to return this year — this time with electric instruments. 

Another band on the lineup this year was Ponies of Harmony, a two-piece jazz folk fusion with Katie Belknap on the clarinet, bass clarinet and guitar and James Zeller on the guitar and trombone. Their songs felt like home — a fitting energy for their venue which was the grassy front yard of Sunny Brae resident Connie Stewart’s olive green abode. When asked how they’d describe their sound, they turned to their friend Beau Saunders who had stuck around after the set to lie in the grass and soak up the sun. 

“The sound of home remembered from a dream, carried on harmonious voices,” Saunders said.

The festival went on from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. and included dozens of different genres of music. Singer-songwriters, punk, cumbia, folk and even a 30-piece steel drum band known as Pan Dulce Steel Drum Orchestra could be heard ringing throughout the streets of Sunny Brae’s lively neighborhood. Young kids ran up the streets, spinning circles around the crowds. Humboldt college students lined up to support their friends’ bands and Sunny Brae’s long-time residents strolled around, watching their neighborhood come together in a celebration of Arcata’s vibrant music scene. 

“As is absolutely the goal of Humboldt Hot Air, being a community radio station, we aim to really amplify the diverse voices in our region and that includes so many different types of people,” Devaney said. “The goal is really to unite the community.”

Mia Costales 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.

by Kaylon Coleman

Music bumping, sun shining, fits popping, and melanin thriving. This was the scene for CultureCon 2025.

This past weekend, select Black Humboldt members had the opportunity to travel to Brooklyn, New York to attend CultureCon, an annual event celebrating Black creatives.

CultureCon was created by Imani Ellis as an opportunity for Black creatives to come together to celebrate culture, showcase fashion, network with others, attend panels and discussions, and leave feeling inspired to do the damn thing. Festivities included things such as activations for pop-ups to showcase their brands, a gaggle of food trucks, a creators lounge to mingle and network, an arts and crafts decompression zone and more. But the main attraction by far had to be the discussion panels with top tier celebrities including Taraji P. Henson, Cam Newton and Love Island 2024 winners Serena and Kordell, to name a few. 

Because they had so many different people coming up, the celebrity speakers had about 20 minutes before they were ushered offstage, so it was important to make that time count.

One of the panels included musicians Ferg, Joey Bada$$, Vic Mensa and Algee Smith. Mensa explained how he, as a creative, approachs success and failure. 

“I do think that success is a state of mind, it’s a state of being more so than a destination,” Mensa said. “Because it never feels the way you anticipated it would when you reach this certain plateau. The only lasting success I can say I’ve ever found was not through necessarily attainment of a goal, but believing in success as my being.” 

This idea of self-worth and self appreciation was reflected in the majority of responses from panelists, as well as faith, not just in God but in oneself and one’s abilities. During 2 Chainz’s segment, he discussed his book The Voice in My Head is God. He talked about the importance of quieting down the outside noises that don’t serve you, coining it the, “fuck it,” voice, and stating that for him at least, it’s important to center the voice that prioritizes love.

The theme of CultureCon this year was “Take Space: The New Frontier,” a call to action for Black creatives to claim their space and assert their presence. When asked how she embodies taking up space in her work, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT) winner Jennifer Hudson said that you must do just that. 

“Exactly what it says — taking space and knowing that no matter what room you walk into, you deserve to be there,” Hudson said. “And if they don’t know who you are when you get there, by the time you leave, oh they gon’ know who you are… but the one thing I keep with me, if God placed me here, then I have no choice but to be prepared, trust that and own the space.” 

The panel ended with Hudson being awarded the Creative Icon Award for her creativity, excellence and authenticity. She mentioned that she’d place the memento right next to the EGOT because she appreciates all things she has received from her hard work. 

It’s definitely safe to say CultureCon 2025 showed up for the culture, with creatives who attended hopefully leaving with some newfound inspiration to keep on taking up space and to do the damn thing!

Kaylon Coleman is a senior journalism major with a concentration in news and a minor in communications. He is the opinion editor for LJ. He is also the vice president of the Black Student Union at CPH, Marketing and Communications lead for the Umoja Center and a part-time radio DJ and merch manager for KRFH. If you have a movie you want him to review, email him at kc403@humboldt.edu

by Bodhi Haugen

EDIT: Content in this article was edited for accuracy.

Bicycles are one of the most common modes of transportation to and from Cal Poly Humboldt. As the semester progresses, proper bike safety becomes increasingly important to prevent theft on campus.

Chief Greg Allen of the University Police Department (UPD) provided data regarding bike registration and recovery efforts. As of Sept. 15, a total of 99 bicycles have been registered with the University Police Department (UPD), with 18 thefts reported since January. Of the stolen bikes, four have been successfully recovered, and four individuals have been arrested in connection with the thefts.

This means that roughly 22% of stolen bikes have been retrieved over the past nine months. Students need to know where and when they’re leaving their bikes to avoid losing not just their property, but potentially their main mode of transportation.

Sage Fowler, a psychology major at Cal Poly Humboldt, had her bike stolen on the first day of school. She parked it in front of the library using a vinyl-coated steel locking cable near surveillance cameras. Her bike was not yet registered with UPD.

“I just locked it up in front of the library,” Fowler said. “It hadn’t been very long — it had only been a few hours — and then I came back and it just vanished.”

When thefts increase, the University Police collaborate with APD to locate stolen bicycles. The exchange of registration details and suspect information between agencies plays a key role in identifying patterns and preventing future incidents.

To help prevent theft, UPD offers free U-locks to students who register their bikes with UPD. This initiative provides a stronger deterrent than typical cable locks and contributes to overall campus safety.

Another effective strategy is parking bikes near CCTV surveillance cameras.

“Bike racks across campus are monitored by CCTV cameras, providing broad coverage of storage areas, pedestrian pathways, and surrounding access points,” Allen said in an email on Sept. 15. “Camera placement helps deter theft, enhancing the overall safety of the campus community.”

However, not all bike racks are under camera surveillance. It’s important for students to park their bicycles in visible, well-monitored areas and check on them regularly with a proper lock.

Investing in a U-lock is one of the most effective deterrents against bike theft. Locking a bike correctly while securing the frame as well as both wheels with a U-lock and cable can make it significantly harder for thieves to steal parts or the entire bike.

Taking the initiative to keep your ride safe can give you peace of mind, both on and off campus.

Bodhi Haugen is a journalism major and writer for the Lumberjack at CalPoly Humboldt. Bodhi is on KRFH and enjoys  reading, writing, photography, and art. You can reach him at bgh27@humboldt.edu.

by Will Bishop

Near the beginning of summer in June, crowds estimated to be in the thousands gathered in Eureka as part of the national No Kings protest campaign. Now, as summer comes to a close, a small but dedicated group of locals still remain, many of whom started long before June. Turnout for this Saturday’s demonstration was modest, but the dedication on display was very clear.

Felicity Barstow, one of the protestors present, called for persistent action even in the face of apathy and adversity.

“We’ve been here almost every Saturday since March, this isn’t just today’s effort — it’s an every day, every minute effort,” Barstow said, seated directly beneath the courthouse flagpole. “It’s really sad what’s happening here. We’re losing our freedoms and people are scared.”

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, some expressed their hesitance to appear for this weekend’s gathering. 

“I’ve been protesting now since earlier this year and today was the first day I felt really anxious to be here,” said Stephanie Schultz, a class of ‘79 Humboldt State University alum who majored in psychology and minored in art history. 

Amidst a national atmosphere of worsening political violence, it’s become difficult to keep such anxieties in check. Still, Schultz emphasized the importance of showing up and standing for a de-escalation in political tension. 

“Our president is not a leader, he is not unifying us,” Schultz said. “We need to calm down the noise level and the conflict between various groups.”

The causes on display were diverse, with many drawing attention to broader more fundamental issues with American society and foreign policy. While the protest was primarily geared toward rallying against the Trump administration, several could be seen holding signs or flags emblazoned with “Free Palestine” — as well as one large banner for Black Lives Matter. 

“I’m here to combat fascism, both in this country and abroad,” said James Schultz, son of Stephanie Schultz. “As an Arab American who has been concerned about Palestine for many years, I was worried it was gonna get to this point. And as far as this country -– last ten years I’ve been saying we would get to this point with corporate oligarchy, with freedom of speech being taken away.”

Notably, James Schultz was one of very few people in the crowd who wasn’t of a much older demographic. The crowd consisted almost exclusively of grey-haired older folk, with essentially no young people in attendance.

“It’s mostly old people, there’s not even a handful of young, twenties, thirties,” said Lightning Larkin, his Free Palestine flag swirling in the air overhead. “They should be out here like they were in the sixties — it was all young people, and now it’s old.” 

Nonetheless, Larkin was encouraged by the turnout.

The event organizer for this particular gathering, a woman who goes by KT, expressed her frustration at the complacency seen among progressive communities. 

“There’s been a lot of apathy, and a lot of people just, ‘oh this isn’t bothering me,’ especially in Humboldt because we’re in a bubble,” KT said. “And so L.A. is almost like a whole other country to a lot of folks, but our state got invaded. And that just breaks my heart.”

These protests occur every Saturday from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. outside of the Humboldt County Superior Court on the corner of Fifth Street and I Street in Eureka.

Bio: Will Bishop is a Cal Poly Humboldt journalism major. He is prone to writing essays about things that bother him, and fictional works about things that also bother him but in different ways. A highly bothered individual, and a lover of cinema, music, and large trees/rocks. He can often be found in the woods, dancing to bring down the sky.

by Sadie Shields

Over the past 20 years, accessibility on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus has changed. From a new route on Dennis K. Walker Greenhouse to the new all-gender restroom at Jenkins Hall, different kinds of accessible infrastructure can be seen around campus everyday. Yet faculty, students and community members still address issues of accesibility on campus.

Cal Poly Humboldt is listening to concerns about accessibility raised by students, faculty and community members. Mike Fischer, acting vice president for administration and finance, assured the campus community that admin is addressing student concerns. 

“We know that accessibility concerns have been raised by our students, faculty and community members, and I want you to know that these voices are being heard.” Fischer said. “[There’s] encouraging news about the progress we’re making at Cal Poly Humboldt to ensure our campus is accessible to everyone in our community.”

Through the Committee for Accessibility and Accommodation Compliance (CAAC), Humboldt is working to make sure to remove those barriers created by accessibility issues and promote inclusivity where everyone can belong and participate.

Fisher also talks about how the hills create a difficult landscape to create accessibility around campus.

“It’s hard to rely solely on the exterior to be able to navigate north, south and those particular areas [of Founders Hall, University Center, Science Buildings and the BSS Building], so one thing about getting to this level from that level is accessing the elevators in buildings,” Fisher said. “This is a small little thing, but it is pretty significant in the amount of effort and time it truly takes. Previously, there was a trip hazard and a barrier of about an inch and a half where concrete sank over time.”

While the local geography poses a challenge, Cal Poly Humboldt plans to make the largest coordinated accessibility effort in its history. The university has already fixed at least 300 trip hazards across campus in their latest summer inspection. The fixed sidewalks included the west entrance to Siemens Hall, where the accessibility tour began. They have also installed 26 accessible drinking fountains around campus, completed 10 major projects which involved fixing sidewalks, doorways and doors, and updated 2,800 documents, 135 videos and 46 podcasts for digital accessibility. 

The Campus Disability Resource Center wait times for getting an appointment for the first steps into receiving accommodations wait time from four to six weeks to one to two weeks. Cal Poly Humboldt also had four drivers for two shuttles this semester, which makes the wait time less for those who use the disability shuttle. The CDRC also was able to prepare all returning student accommodation paperwork by the first week of classes. Humboldt is finalizing the updated ADA Transition Plan, expanding accessible parking and shuttle services and planning a Disability Awareness Day to strengthen dialogue throughout our community.

“We know that trust is earned through action, not words,” Fischer said. “Thanks to the dedication of our students, staff and faculty working alongside CAAC, we’re creating real change toward a campus where every person can participate fully and equitably.”

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