Japhy’s Soup and Noodles located on 1563 G Street right outside of campus, Japhy’s has a cozy atmosphere and open indoor dining. They have a tasty selection of soup and noodles prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Boasting a fairly priced menu with several options available for vegetarians, Japhy’s is an excellent option for any college student looking for a healthy meal. Their Thai-style curry in particular is as delicious as it is affordable, priced at an affordable $5.75 for a cup or $8.75 for a bowl.

Roman’s Kitchen is a food truck located only a few hundred yards off-campus on 1301 D Street. Anyone looking for a hearty American meal will be satisfied with the excellent hamburgers and sandwiches served here. Roman’s greatest strength is its robust selection of different types of burgers and sandwiches. With seventeen different burgers and 18 different sandwiches, there is always something new to try. The guacamole burger, priced at $9.60, is a standout for anyone with an avocado craving. They also have a fantastic fried mushroom plate for the same price of $9.60. If you’re willing to wait outside for 15 minutes or so, Roman’s is a great option located conveniently close to campus.

Sushi Spot is on 670 9th St. right outside of the Arcata Plaza. Both indoor seating and takeout are currently available. They have a wide selection of affordable sushi and a myriad of other Japanese dishes. Sushi Spot distinguishes itself from many other sushi restaurants by having a sizable vegetarian sushi selection, all of which is priced under $10. One of their most unique items is the Sushi Monsters collection which is all deep-fried sushi plates. The crunchy salmon roll has avocado, cream cheese, and salmon with a chili garlic sauce, and comes out to a reasonable $8.95.

Don’s Donuts and Pizza is located in the Arcata Plaza. Unsurprisingly, they are best known for their pizza and donuts. However, they have fantastic and affordable lesser-known meal options. Their pizza bagel is only $4.99 and it is a perfect lunch option. It comes with pizza sauce, cheese, and oregano, and you can choose one extra topping or add a dollar for two toppings. They also have personalized sandwiches for $6.50.

Tacos La Bonita is a taco truck on 1499 Spear Avenue. Featuring some of the best Mexican food in town, La Bonita’s has the most options under $10 on this list. In fact, everything on the menu costs less than $10. You can get a burrito for $6.99, a chimichanga for $8.99, or one of their tacos for just $2.50. The chavindeca is especially delicious and comes in at only $5.99. Despite the affordable pricing, the quality of the food is on par with more expensive Mexican restaurants in town and tastes considerably better than Taco Bell ever will.

Eating out can be really expensive and for some new students, it can be tempting to seek out the more familiar fast-food restaurants. Despite Arcata’s small size, it hosts restaurants with food from all over the world. Skip out on fast food and try something new for a more nutritious and filling dining experience.

Humboldt State University has opened its big green doors to the world once more and students are once again flowing through these bright and hallowed halls after an unprecedented hiatus during the onset of COVID-19.

However, the number of students who ended up attending school has gone down significantly, not only just since COVID-19 hit, but as a general trend over the last five years, according to data released by the HSU Division of Enrollment Management.

Applications have gone down by 38% since 2016, and more downward trending is predicted due to declining birth rates in California. The data also showed that 10,538 students applied to HSU for the Fall 2021 semester, 1,208 of which ended up registering for classes, compared to 14,226 and 1,642 respectively in Fall 2019.

On a more positive note, average GPA seemed to go up at the very onset of COVID-19. According to data on the HSU website, the average freshman GPA rose from 2.75 in Fall 2019 to 2.95 in the Fall 2020. Sophomore GPA rose from 2.96 to 3.06, and a similar trend was seen henceforth for all over class levels from the fall 2019 to the fall of 2020, with the exception of the credential program which saw a drop from 3.96 to 3.90.

These numbers were released just days apart from the submission of HSU’s official application for polytechnic status, which claimed outright that a polytechnic designation would drastically increase enrollment.

“Humboldt State University would expect to see enrollment increase 50% within three years and 100% within seven years, immediately adding highly educated and trained graduates to the California workforce,” the document said.

In an interview, representatives from the HSU Admissions team acknowledged the challenges that lay ahead but maintained a vigorous enthusiasm that these goals are more than attainable with some of the changes and improvements they have implemented.

“We’re building housing that’s going to be connected to academic space and have learning communities and residential Learning and have more connection with advisors and the career center because that’s a key part of seeing students stay. And then the other part is a sense of belonging,” Dr. Meriwether said.

The plan for polytechnic status includes funding for more student housing as well, an age-old issue for HSU. Dr. Meriwether said the plan would provide housing for roughly 2,200 students both on and off-campus.

An expanded look at some of the work being done by the Admissions Team to both bring students to HSU and keep them there will be covered in a future issue of the Lumberjack.

On Sept. 1, HSU announced that President Tom Jackson submitted the final draft of the prospectus to Chancellor Castro that resulted from the self-study that the university went through in Spring 2021 for the possibility of becoming a polytechnic institution.

Governor Newsom signed a budget in July authorizing Humboldt State with $433 million of one-time funding and $25 million in ongoing funding. Since then, many within the university’s community have questioned where exactly this money will be allocated.

University provost Jenn Capps and Deputy Chief of Staff Lisa Bond-Maupin held a Polytechnic Self Study session on Aug. 26 where they answered questions about the large grant of money given to HSU.

“This [Polytechnic Prospectus] is, again, a living document and can be updated and changed as we go and as we go into planning,” Bond-Maupin said.

They said that it is important to make sure that the allocated money is used for the best and most optimal purposes, but also fits into what HSU is about. Bond-Maupin also said that many of the community’s concerns point to some of the challenges that they are facing with the prospectus, but some are a matter of perception. They said that one concern that is part of this reality is the accessibility of housing for students, as well as faculty and staff.

“That is one of the things that keeps me up at night, how to create a space for faculty and staff to live and work, as well as our students,” Capps said.

They pointed out that the lack of housing for the campus community was one concern that really hit home for the Chancellor and the Governor. Capps said that the reason for the gigantic $433 million was to primarily support and fast-trac accessible housing for students.

In the prospectus, one of the challenges that the university presented is that of the local community not being able to grow at a pace to support the institution’s aspirations and growth.

Grant Scott-Goforth, HSU’s communications specialist, said that President Tom Jackson and the surrounding community are consistently working together to envision the progression that will have to come as the university seeks a polytechnic designation.

“The university leadership and city leadership teams meet frequently and this is part of an ongoing dialogue,” Scott-Goforth said. “Both groups know the importance of providing safe and accessible housing options both on and off campus.”

The 143 page prospectus that was made available to the public shows that housing is in the early planning stages. The document said that, with the infusion of the money given from the state, HSU can expect to see a 50% increase in enrollment within the next three years and a 100% increase within seven years.

During the session when asked about housing, Bond-Maupin ensured that President Tom Jackson is putting accessible housing on the forefront of his agenda within the next several years.

“Working with President Jackson, I can say that this [accessible housing] is his number one concern apart from all the other things that he cares about,” Bond-Maupin said.

Everyone may not understand the value of a pet, especially that of animals other than cats and dogs. Creatures such as fish are often treated as a decoration rather than a living being that deserves care and attention. While the average person may not dare to ask for your dog’s collar and bowl within a week of your loss, many would see nothing wrong with requesting a fish tank or terrarium whose occupant is no longer with you. This sort of societal apathy towards the lives of animals is part of what makes the loss of a pet so painful. Not only have you lost something that you loved and that loved you unconditionally, but with so few that understand, your options for support are limited. Even on pet loss forums, discussing the loss of a more unusual animal can and will get you hateful messages about how you should be thankful it wasn’t a dog.

My pet frog Fitzwilliam passed away recently. He’d become lethargic and started eating less, and before I could bring him in to the only vet in the county that even treated amphibians, he was gone. I spent that day unable to move from my couch, barely able to eat or speak.

I find it difficult to express my grief in writing. I loved that little guy. He was a baby, my baby, and now he’s gone. Of course I blamed myself. That’s part of the bargaining phase, right? Maybe if I’d been able to act quicker, I could have found him another vet. Maybe if I’d been more meticulous in cleaning his tank, he would never have gotten sick in the first place. Maybe if I had been better, I don’t know how, but if I’d just been better, he would still be here. He was only about six months old, just a baby. He should have had at least a decade ahead of him. Why couldn’t I give him that?

I had no one to talk to. Less than a day after losing him, people suggested simply getting a new frog as if he was an object to be replaced. For some people, moving on with a new pet might be best, but I couldn’t do it. I broke down in tears just seeing a stuffed frog in a store. I couldn’t handle having something that looked like him, sounded like him, but wasn’t him. It would be unfair to expect another animal to live up to him when the pain is still so fresh.

The truth is, I have been through a lot this summer, and in his own way, Fitz was there for me through everything. When I was feeling down, he was content to hop onto my hand and sit with me for as long as I needed. When I needed something to do, he had plants to mist and a water dish to refill. When I needed a distraction, he was there, perched on his favorite branch and ready to be admired. Even when I put on sad music, he would croak along to it. His favorite band was The Mountain Goats.

I am certain that many readers will see this as the ramblings of an overly emotional person with unhealthy attachments. Maybe they’re right, and they can go right back to drafting a letter to the editor about how I don’t understand real pain and other people have things so much worse than I do so I should just shut up. I just want you to know, he mattered to me.

A couple weeks before the start of the Fall semester, I incurred an injury during a walk near my house. It was in my best interest that the injury get looked at right away, so I called the Health Center on Campus. Upon dialing the number, I got a message that the facilities were closed but I could leave a message at a different number. I tried out the new number and actually spoke to someone there, Tracy. I let her know of my situation and she said she would see if anyone was on campus who could help me out. Unfortunately, I was told no one was on campus to help me with my wound, but that I could call back when they opened on Monday, August 16.

I am a transfer student, that lives about a mile off campus. I lost my job due to covid, and as a result, my insurance. So I’ve relied on the campus to help me with any health needs when necessary. As I drove to urgent care (having a slight meltdown with a close friend over the phone) I realized how inconvenient and unsafe it is that there is not one nurse practitioner on the Humboldt State University campus to care and treat for any students, faculty or staff should there be a need when we are on break.

For the upcoming fall semester my health service fee is $333 and my health facilities fee is $33. I have no doubt that this helps cover the cost of services and facilities during summer and winter break. I feel I deserve a bit more transparency as to where this money is going, if I don’t have access to care, yet I am helping keep the lights on. As a Humboldt University student, I can use my student ID for perks, discounts and public transportation throughout the year, even during summer breaks. Why is there a disparity in my access to healthcare on campus when we are between semesters?

Not everyone leaves Humboldt County between semesters. During off seasons, sports teams utilize the facilities, incoming freshman visit the campus and current students still utilize programs like Oh Snap! This year, early housing check in began on Saturday, August 14, two days before the Health Center would be available to students. When I called the health office on Wednesday, August 18 to make an appointment for the vaccine clinic, I got sent to voicemail. I am still awaiting a call back.

I expect that if I am paying the amount of tuition that I am, It is imperative that I receive the option to care year round. During a global pandemic, when care is harder to come by, it should be made simple for the University’s students to receive it. I implore the Health Center, as well as Humboldt Administration, to provide more information to it’s students and staff about what options are available to us, what services are provided and rethink our accessibility to said services, so we can be cared for year round. This would provide holistic understanding of us not just as students, but real people, who use our breaks to recharge before entering another semester.

After almost two years since the last conference-sanctioned competition, Lumberjack athletic teams will finally gain the opportunity to compete for conference championships and national qualifying after the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) announced it would return to play for the first full seasons since 2019.

Below are previews for each fall sport and what to expect when the ‘Jacks take the field again this fall.

Volleyball

Head Coach Kelly Wood returns seven women and welcomes 13 newcomers in the squad’s first official season since 2019. A new rotation and fresh faces will be crucial to help revitalize a program that has only won a single conference game in the last two seasons.

The team returns it’s top offensive weapon in junior outside hitter and 2019 all-CCAA honoree Lenox Loving, who led the team and finished fourth in the conference in kills last season. Setter Riley Tishlarich will look to manage the offense as the teams top returning assists leader. On the defensive side, libero Carla Crespo will anchor the team in digs alongside Loving. Malia Coyle returns as the team’s lead blocker.

The Lumberjacks begin their 2021 campaign on the road with a scrimmage match against Sonoma State on Friday, August 27 in Rohnert Park, CA. From there, they will play the next eight matches away, not returning to the friendly confines of Lumberjack Arena until a CCAA match against Stanislaus State on September 24.

Women’s Soccer

New coach Grant Landy will have his first crack to help the Lumberjacks climb the CCAA ladder after a short exhibition season in spring of 2021. The team faces no shortage of experience, with 19 returning players this season. Coming into the pre-season rankings tied for eighth in the conference, they will look to qualify for the six-team CCAA tournament in November.

The graduation of key players such as Lindsey Stoner and Sabine Postma, who both finished in the top 10 of the conference in multiple offensive statistical categories, opens up opportunities for multiple players to fill in. Seniors such as Tana Eri, Poppy Cartledge, Claire Bareilles, Mia Castaneda and Kendal Spencer will offer experience and leadership. Defensively, the Lumberjacks will have to fill in for goalkeeper Katie Talbert, who ranked fourth in the conference in shutouts per game and saves per game in 2019. She currently plays professionally in Iceland.

The women began their season with a pair of exhibition matches against National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) schools Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech. They play a final exhibition game against Santa Rosa Community College on Saturday, August 28, before starting their regular season on Friday, September 3 at home versus Dominican.

Men’s Soccer

Much like the women, the men’s soccer team comes off a successful spring exhibition season in which the team finished 4-1-1. After finishing 10th in the CCAA in 2019, they enter this season ranked ninth in the conference.

Marco Silveira and Devin Hauenstein return as the teams top offensive outputters from a 2019 squad which finished third in the conference in shots and goals. They will be bolstered by new young talent such as Thomas Augee and Gou Nitta, who both played well in the shortened spring season.

The team began the season with an exhibition match against Southern Oregon on Saturday, August 21. They will begin the regular season on the road against Westminster College in Salt Lake City on Thursday, September 2. They return for their first home match on Friday, September 17 against visiting Simpson University. This also marks the beginning of the team’s 50th anniversary season.

Men’s Cross Country

Men’s cross country comes off a 2019 campaign that saw its best team finish at the conference and regional levels since head coach Jamey Harris took the reins in 2017. The men finished sixth in the CCAA and 11th in the West Regional Championships. It also saw senior Daniel Tull qualify as an individual to the national championships, the first Lumberjack male to do so since 2012. With only a few graduates from that team and an impressive recruiting haul, the Lumberjacks will look to improve and crack into the top half of the conference.

The team returns a handful of fifth year seniors, such as Carson Cohn and Michael Gengo, which the team will rely on for leadership and experience. Junior Shane Burton also returns from the 2019 squad as one of its top finishers. Beyond that, a fresh crop of athletes will also look to make their mark in their first official cross country season since Covid. Sophomore Carson Smith had an impressive spring season where he broke the 15 minute 5k barrier as a freshman.

Women’s Cross Country

The women’s team returns three runners from its 2019 team, as well as a handful more from 2020, when no competition occurred. The team had a few opportunities to compete on the track this past spring, and they hope to carry this momentum into the fall in efforts to improve their 2019 performance, which saw the ‘Jacks place seventh in the conference and 13th in the West Region.

Returners from that squad include graduate student Rosa Granados who finished one spot out of all-Conference honors in 2019, and juniors Saedy Williams and Lucy Atkinson.

Both the men and women will host their lone home invitational on Saturday, September 18 at the Humboldt Invitational at Baywood Golf and Country Club in Arcata.

*Full disclosure: the author of this piece is a member of the men’s cross country team at Humboldt State University.

At 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23, state officials provided an update on the response and recovery efforts to California’s wildfires via livestream on the twitter page of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

Mark Ghilarducci, the Director of Cal OES, took to the stand to give an update on the current fire situation across the state of California and the coordinated efforts to protect the state.

“As of today, we have more that 13,000 state personnel helping combat these wildfires across the state,” Ghilarducci said.

They also mentioned that as of Monday afternoon, Governor Newsom requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to Aid Wildfire Response and Recovery Efforts for individual assistance, public assistance and hazard mitigation for the following counties: Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity.

Ghilarducci said that the request for Presidential assistance is in response to the already immense residential and infrastructure damage across the state in addition to what is to come.

Thom Porter, Chief Director of Cal Fire, was up next on the podium to provide an update on the fire agencies that are currently combatting the wildfires across the state, as well as what resources are looking like among these crews.

“All of these fires have their own specific needs for resources,” Porter said.

They said that we are currently in the middle point of the peak season for resources, so it is essential that they are used wisely. Porter explained that this means prioritizing resources to areas of California that are at a moderate risk level for new big fires.

Porter goes on to say that California is ahead of pace this year for the second year running. They said that the state is almost three times over the average acres burned over a five year period with this season alone.

“Fires are burning in ways that nobody has seen before,” Porter said. “Mother nature is in control and we are doing everything we can to save your lives and property.”

Tony Scardina, Deputy Regional Forester, then provided updates on forest and road closures.

“We, in California, are currently at preparedness level five which was triggered on July 14,” Scardina said. “That is the third time in 20 years that that has ever occurred.”

Scardina said that the fires that we are seeing are unique and historic. They said that the Dixie Fire is currently the number two priority fire in the state right now and its perimeter is 500 miles. This gives a picture of the size and magnitude of these fires that are being combatted.

There are currently nine large, active fires in the state of California and as of Sunday, Aug. 22, the state decided to close nine national forests to ensure the safety of citizens.

Porter said multiple times that preparedness is key in keeping people safe.

“You need to be ready to GO,” Porter said. “Every Californian needs to be ready.”

It is important for the citizens of California to put together a bag of important documents and have a set plan of action at all times.

The HSU bookstore has moved! It is now located at the former Tri-counties Bank on the corner of 8th and G street in the Arcata Plaza. The store is under renovation, but plans to have a soft opening near the end of the year and a grand opening during the spring semester of 2022. The benefits of the bookstore relocating would be for the student who grew up in urban cities to feel more comfortable and to have a more thriving community, whether financially and socially. Another few great benefits will be job opportunities, local high schools, College of the Redwoods, and other vendors will be selling merchandise/gear at the new storefront.

“The new bookstore will have a small coffee and tea lounge for customers to enjoy while shopping. It will also provide easy access to parking for shoppers, especially tourists, prospective students, and families visiting from out of the area.” As stated on the Humboldt State Now page.

So what happens to the old location? It will be changed into a “lounge space, activities, and entertainment. [Upon student request ] the bookstore will maintain its current warehouse space on campus for receiving and picking up textbooks, along with handling textbook rentals, and the university is exploring delivering textbooks to students in residence halls. The College Creek Marketplace on campus will continue to sell HSU Bookstore items in the store and expand upon the current selection.” As written on the Humboldt State Now page.

Amber H., a former HSU student, said, “When I was a freshman in college, I remember every time I walked off of campus alone, I instantly was lost and felt completely out of place. Being from a really urban and diverse community, Humboldt was very foreign to me, as I would expect the new students from similar backgrounds to feel.”

HSU’s campus within its own, is its own community. As soon as you step off that campus and into the official City of Arcata you will instantly feel like a fish out of water, especially if you are a person of color. As of this year, Arcata’s population is 18,801 people, and 74.95% of that population being white Americans, 4.08% Asian, 2.62% Black or African American, and only 2.16% Native American. So just imagine the culture shock one would feel walking through the streets of Arcata with $200 dollars worth of books in your hand.

The relocation has a plus side and a negative side. One being all the great benefits listed above. Job opportunities, getting to know the community, and the community itself working together to become financially stable. The downside would be the safety of all students and racial prejudice in the community as well. There is quite sometime before the grand opening so hopefully, more information will be provided soon.

Humboldt State University is replacing the J-point-based meal plans with new meal-swipe-based plans.

HSU’s old plans had been around for over 20 years, but they’ve now switched providers to Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services. There are a total of 15 meal plans, including plans for on-campus residents, commuters, faculty, and staff.

“They are heavily invested in local products, local farmers and sustainable serving as well as sustainable disposable type things, trying to do more to help us on the campus,” Senior Director of Housing Operations and Auxiliary Services, Todd Larson, said.

According to Larson, Chartwells has brought HSU’s dining operation to the industry norm. Larson also said that meal plan costs have gone down by about $800 to $100 per person per year.

These new plans are a combination of all-you-can-eat meal swipes, meal exchanges, and flex dollars. Some student plans even include guest meals which some students used for their parents during move-in.

“You can eat all day long, you never run out of points and so it’s entirely solved that food insecurity issue for folks,” Larson said.

With J-points, students would pick out their food and pay for everything at the end but with this new system, students use a swipe to get in and it’s all you can eat.

Also new this year is the J will have Executive Chef, Lalica Mariano.

“We will be doing a lot more plant-based foods,” Mariano said. “Our projected cycle has a lot of variety featuring as many fresh products that we are able to get in the area.”

Alyson Ashamalla, a sophomore anthropology student at HSU, said that she does a lot of her own cooking at home because there were times in the past when there weren’t many meatless options to choose from at the J.

“I am hopeful that this year they will work to listen to student feedback and make the necessary changes to provide decent meals for all but we will see as time goes on throughout the year,” Ashamalla said.

Allison Hair, a second-year student at HSU, has similar opinions. Although she’s enjoyed dining at the depot, she feels that so far the J doesn’t have many options for vegans and vegetarians.

“We are hoping that they will expand the options since the J is one of the main places we can get food at this semester,” Hair said.

There’s also new technology, you can check your swipes, exchanges, and flex dollars and also add funds through the GET app. You can also pre-order food and items from several dining locations through the Boost: Mobile Food Ordering app. In addition, there’ll be a launch of a catering system for events and clubs in the future.

In the past, OhSnap would donate J-points to students if they were running low, Larson said that he is still working with OhSnap to create a swipe collection system to donate swipes to students who need them.

In the early hours of Aug. 10, around 30 student athletes and coaches arrived at HSU after being evacuated from Lassen Community College (LCC) in Susanville, CA.

Four days later, the group made their way back to Susanville only to turn around on Aug. 18 and head back to HSU with another 70 students and staff.

Humboldt State University released a statement on Aug. 18 announcing the arrival of the now 100 plus LCC students.

“This is a difficult time for the LCC community and we ask HSU students, staff, and faculty to please keep them, their loved ones, and all the communities that have been affected by wildfires throughout the region in your thoughts,” the press release said.

HSU made sure to emphasize the precautionary measures that were being taken to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. The press release said that majority of the students and staff were vaccinated, but they were all tested upon arrival at HSU to be sure there were no positive cases.

Back in Susanville, the LCC campus was being used as an evacuation shelter for those who had to leave their homes in surrounding areas. The college was well seasoned in this department as it had to act as a shelter on two separate occasions last year.

Trevor Albertson, President of LCC, knew that acting quickly and efficiently was important as conditions drastically started to deteriorate in the days leading up to the relocation of students and faculty to HSU.

“It was awful, we had smoke so thick that you couldn’t see 100 feet in front of you,” Albertson said. “We had ash and debris falling all over campus; it was just horrid.”

They said that you never really expect to deal with a situation like this until you are thrown into it.

Albertson is especially grateful for the help of President Tom Jackson who he called at 2 a.m. asking for help. Jackson instantly told Albertson to send his kids up to HSU and extended a helping hand without hesitation.

“There were people here who didn’t have a home, didn’t have food to eat and HSU gave them that,” Albertson said. “What is more basically human and decent than that.”

Albertson made a quick trip up to Humboldt on Aug. 22 to speak with their students and since then, the LCC students and staff have returned to their campus. Their classes remain online and they intend to begin in-person classes in a week.

One concern that Albertson said they are now facing for their student athletes is the impact the wildfires will have on their sports seasons.

Andray Chitehwe is a freshman on the men’s soccer team at LCC from Zimbabwe. They reflected on finding out the sudden news of relocating from Susanville to HSU and the time spent with their team in Humboldt.

“The first time we found out, I didn’t know what to expect,” Chitehwe said. “I was surprised by the news that we were relocating.”

Chitehwe also said that the time spent in Humboldt was enjoyable and they hope that they get to experience something similar, minus the circumstances, again. They said that the services that HSU provided were top notch.

Although the students were able to return to Susanville, LCC continues to house evacuees from surrounding towns that are still under threat. Fire crews have since left the college and moved elsewhere to continue their fight against the ongoing fires.

As of Aug. 24, the Dixie fire has burned 1,137 square miles and is 40% contained.

This past year, an estimated 152 native Tule elk died at Point Reyes National Seashore. This was the result of the elks’ one predator: local ranchers. For an area that is home to some of the richest biodiversity in California, this is dangerous news for both the elk and the environment.

In Humboldt County, the Roosevelt elk roam free and plentiful throughout the Redwood National and State Parks. The largest of the seven herds of this subspecies in the park amounts to 250 elk – about the same amount as the entire population of Tule elk in all of Point Reyes. The large, healthy population of Roosevelt elk provides a stark contrast to the dwindling numbers of Tule elk. Even though the elk population of Humboldt County is not at risk, declines in endemic Tule elk are sure to affect the entirety of biodiversity in the state.

The Tule elk lived alongside the native Coast Miwok peoples for thousands of years until the late 1800s, when European settlers stole the land of the Coast Miwok and decimated the elk. The herd rapidly became endangered. In the 1970s, however, the Park Service were able to fully restore the native Tule elk herd to Point Reyes. Unfortunately, greed and carelessness reared their heads again about eight years ago when the local ranchers agreed to put up elk fences in the area. These fences block the elk from accessing food and water sources and have led to the deaths of nearly half the herd.

Laura Cunningham, the California director of the Western Watersheds Project, is a native grass ecologist whose organization was part of the original lawsuit to perform an Environmental Impact Statement on the ranches of Point Reyes. Cunningham explained the direct effect the fences have had on the Tule elk.

“The 8-foot-tall elk exclusion fence that traps Tule elk within a ‘zoo’ on Tomales Point to keep them out of cattle pastures, actually is contributing to a drought die-off of Tule elk,” Cunningham said. “They cannot migrate out to find water and better forage, and about 150 elk have already died, from a recent National Park Service survey. The park refuses to provide water or supplemental nutrition to these trapped elk on the narrow spit of land with poor water sources. Meanwhile, ranchers have been sinking new wells and pumping more water to their cows, to keep them from colicing of dehydration during this drought.”

Point Reyes is known for its picturesque beaches, lagoons, marshes, estuaries, and forests and is the only National Seashore on the West Coast. One can visit the area and expect to see an abundance of wildlife, plantlife, and many, many cows, creating a glaringly obvious contrast between untouched nature and the destructive agriculture of the area. Behind this juxtaposition of nature and destruction is a long and sinister history between ranch expansion and the National Park Service.

Skyler Thomas, the creator of The Shame of Point Reyes film and blog, believes the National Park Service is not managing the park appropriately.

“At this stage the mismanagement of the park is so ludicrous that one can’t even claim they are struggling to balance the challenge of having ranching and wildlife in the same place,” Thomas said. “What we have been observing is an absolutely blatant bias in favor of the ranchers… Point Reyes could be a living classroom for scientists to observe firsthand how the Tule elk interact with the soil, plants, rocks, even other animals. No studies like that are taking place even with the non captive herd, which should tell you something about the mindset of the park staff. For the Tule elk themselves, being held captive is likely a drawn out death sentence for the herd.”

The war between ranching and the environment has only gotten worse. Last year, Point Reyes National Seashore released their General Land Management Plan. This plan grants 20-year leases to ranchers, allowing them to diversify their operations by expanding their ranches and adding new animals to their businesses. Most notably, the plan allows for the culling of native Tule elk. This means that the Park Service has agreed to kill a certain amount of the herd each year. “Protecting the natural world” is a slogan on the homepage of the National Park Service’s website. This statement reeks of hypocrisy.

Local environmental activist Ken Bouley believes the National Park Service has violated public trust.

“[Ranching] impoverishes the land, causes barren monocultures, invites invasive species, displaces habitat, and pollutes the waterways,” Bouley said. “It significantly reduces biodiversity. Ranching always does this, and if you hear any greenwashing about ‘regenerative ranching,’ ‘carbon farming,’ etc., reach for your wallet; it means don’t trust it. All they ever mean, as far as I can tell, is that it is possible to somewhat mitigate impact on the land. The studies are usually from the agriculture industry, or universities who receive a lot of money from the agriculture industry.”

Point Reyes National Seashore is one of the most biodiverse regions in California – a state that’s already a biodiversity hotspot. According to the National Park Service’s website, “Over 45% of North American avian species and nearly 18% of California’s plant species are found in the park, due to the variety of habitat and uniqueness of the geology.” Within the seashore, there are around thirty federally-listed threatened or endangered animal species and six threatened or endangered plant species. A critical part of this intricate ecosystem are the Tule elk. The irony of the National Park Service preaching these facts online and then proceeding to commit this shameful act against the fragile ecosystem is striking.

Matthew Polvorosa Kline is a local wildlife photographer who has been documenting the Pierce Point Tule elk herd for the last twelve years.

“This [California coastal prairie] is the most species-rich grassland type in North America,” Polvorosa Kline said. “In Point Reyes, you can find remnants of this severely diminished habitat type in areas where cattle are prevented from going or restricted from heavy grazing, and where the invasive grasses that ranchers planted stop. I’m not the only one who believes that this endangered habitat type would be far, far better with native grazers like the Tule elk. Consider a key plant species like eelgrass or an ecosystem like marine eelgrass meadows and the incredible amount of biodiversity found within them. There are concerns that agriculture runoff is potentially affecting healthy eelgrass meadows through eutrophication of waterways.

Diana Oppenheim, founder of ForElk.org, an independent organization in support of saving the Tule elk, said it’s especially important to keep the elk alive in Point Reyes. An unfortunate irony lies in the fact that out of the twenty-two herds who exist throughout the state, the Point Reyes herd is the only one that is not allowed to be hunted.

“The National Park is some of the most protected land in the world,” Oppenheim said. “And there are supposed to be higher protections there for the elk. I think it is a really important thing to keep them alive in Point Reyes because this is the place where they should be safest, yet the Park Service is now planning on shooting them.”

Six thousand cattle graze in Point Reyes National Seashore. There are now less than three hundred Tule elk in that same area. Biodiversity is being ripped from the earth and in its place lies the decaying carcasses of elk. This ratio of agriculture to native wildlife represents a mucher larger existential threat at hand. The planet simply cannot afford the extinction of any more species.

“Extinction is forever,” Oppenheim said. “This is the Tule elks’ second chance. We should be protecting them at all costs, not shooting them to protect industry.”

Humboldt State Track & Field’s condensed regular season came to an end this Saturday with a flurry of season and personal bests at the OSU High Performance Meet on the Campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis.

In an HSU Athletic Department press release, Head Track & Field Coach Sarah Ingram praised her team’s individual performances.

“Across the board in all events, athletes achieved new personal bests time and time again,” Ingram said, “The different meets also offered a wide range of competitive experiences and very different levels of competition, offering lots of learning experiences for our mostly young team.”

Among the top Lumberjack competitors on the men’s side included freshmen Henry Hagen and Paul Domingue, as well as sophomore transfer Aris Valerio.

Among a field of high quality Division I schools, Hagen and Domingue held their own, with 5th and 4th place finishes in the men’s 110 meter-hurdles and triple jump events, respectively. In the middle distances, Valerio raced to a 14th place finish in the uber-competitive 800 meter run. Valerio’s time of 1:53.46 currently ranks him 9th among division II athletes in the West region and 71st nationally.

On the women’s side, sophomores Grace Kasberger and Joy Hano lead a young women’s squad in their respective events. Kasberger, a multi-event specialist, raced to a personal best time in the 800 meter run with a 24th place finish. She followed it up with a 21st place finish in the high jump. Hano finished the 100 meter-hurdles in 13th place.

Ingram also praised her squad’s resiliency in the face of a unique road schedule, which saw no home meets and involved extended periods on the road.

“I am really proud of how our team rose up to compete this year despite the many challenges they’ve had with COVID throughout the last year,” Ingram said. “This season has taught us all about resiliency and gratitude. We’ve all come away having learned more about each other and ourselves, and created invaluable team memories.”

The squad alternated its competitions at various sites in Oregon, traveling between Ashland, Salem and Corvallis, rather than returning home and having to quarantine after each individual meet, as per county and state health guidelines.

“As a coach, I am so grateful for my talented and dedicated staff, our administration that’s supported us to make this happen, and of course the athletes. It’s all about the athletes, and it’s so fulfilling to see them come away with personal growth and team success,” Ingram said.

By Jasmine Younger

Humboldt State University’s men’s basketball guard Victor Mijas, who some may know as Slick Vic, took on his senior year facing the challenges of COVID-19. The pandemic swept the nation by storm in 2019, leaving athletes across the world questioning whether or not they would be fortunate enough to see a 2020-2021 sports season. As luck would have it, they did – Humboldt State men’s basketball team was given the go-ahead to have a season.

This season, the Jacks endured extra precautions for COVID-19, they played every game away and overall went 4-5 for the season.

“When we started in August, we had to quarantine for 14 days before we started to get into the gym,” Mijas said. “In September, we actually started to get into the gym, but we were separated into pods of two groups of nine players for practice and when we were actually about to start scrimmaging and play against each other, Covid got really bad again and we all had to go back home. We practiced for two weeks and then started to play games, so it was hard for us to get in shape. Most of the teams we played were already playing a long time before us so their chemistry was better. And I think we could’ve been way better if we had more time to practice.”

However, the challenges presented by COVID-19 were not the only obstacles Mijas has had to overcome. When Mijas first started playing basketball at the age of six in Brazil, he was told that he would not make it far in the sport that he had such a deep love for.

“When I was young, a lot of people said to me that I would never go to the under 12, under 13, or under 17 team,” Mijas said. “But I knew what I was capable of and I never let those comments push me down.”

Mijas was devoted to the game and determined to make an impact on the sport itself and on others. He worked hard to make Brazil’s under 12, under 13, under 17, under 19 teams, and to pursue his collegiate career. He has had a powerful role in encouraging his teammates and exuberating confidence in the team that shows that they will come out stronger after a loss or any obstacle that comes their way.

“Something I learned from Vic was to always trust myself in anything I do,“ Sophomore forward Isaiah Hughes said of his teammate Mijas. “I once asked Victor how he shoots so well and he told me ‘I shoot every shot like I know it’s going in because I know I’ve made the same shot thousands of times.’”

Mijas has proven to not only be a confident, slick, great, and devoted athlete, but also a genuinely good person on and off the court. He has had the ability to create connections with every person who has crossed his path throughout his journey. One of the strong connections he created was with Humboldt State alum and former Jacks teammate, Zachariah Christian. Christian found great admiration for him and his journey.

“What I admire most about Slick Vic is definitely his story – leaving his family and country at a young age to chase his basketball dream and to get to where he is now is really remarkable,” Christain said. “Vic is going to be a pro after his collegiate career ends and how far he has come is really admirable.”

Mijas started every game this season and wrapped up his senior year having 104 points with the Jacks. However, this was not the end of Mijas’ basketball journey, but simply a chapter within the chronicles.

“I plan to keep on playing basketball until I can’t,” Mijas said. “My passion is to keep playing basketball and achieve my goals and dreams.”

1. The Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary

The Arcata Marsh is one of the easiest places to walk around and see staggering amounts of birds. Birders have spotted over 300 species of birds in the Arcata Marsh. You’ll see geese, ducks, cormorants, and a large amount of those little birds that stick their bills into the mud. The marsh is good for biking, walking, jogging, or sitting in your warm car in the parking lot by Klopp Lake and watching those birds dig around in the mud while avoiding all real contact with the outside world.

2. Behind the Eureka Target

I swear this is a good place. The Eureka Waterfront Trail has a convenient entrance right by Target that leads out onto a series of walking bridges extending out over parts of the Humboldt Bay mudflats. The section of the trail between the Eureka Slough and Samoa Bridge is ideal for spotting herons and shorebirds. The trail also has a great view of the bay. On a nice day you’ll be able to see the Arcata Marsh on the opposite shore.

3. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

This one’s a bit of a drive from HSU. Just off the 101 and a bit south of College of the Redwoods is a network of paths, sloughs, and creeks that make up the southernmost tip of Humboldt bay. The refuge has a visitor center, boat trails, and a designated hunting area if that’s your thing. The day before writing this I saw egrets, osprey, and cormorants from the Hookton Slough Boat Launch on the south side of the refuge.

4. Wherever your currently are

If you’re in Humboldt County and you go outside, it won’t be long before you see a bird. There’s nothing wrong with sitting outside for a bit and waiting for the birds to come to you. Aside from the crows, gulls, and vultures you probably see all the time, you might get a glimpse of a hummingbird, chickadee, junco, goldfinch, or any number of birds hanging out of passing through Humboldt. The best part about this method is you can just look out of a window and stay warm.

Author Bio: Jen is a Humboldt County local with a family more enthusiastic about local wildlife than they are about basic needs like eating and sleeping. After a childhood full of getting dragged out to cold places at unreasonable hours, Jen is sharing their hard won knowledge of how to experience nature in the least miserable way.