The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Category: News

  • A night of appreciation

    A night of appreciation

    HSU sisterhood, The Legacy celebrates men and women of color

     

    As the sun set and people shuffled into the KBR HSU club and sisterhood, The Legacy welcomed about 50 students and community members to their annual Brotha’s and Sista’s Appreciation Night.

    This was a night filled with gospel music, good food and love spread all throughout the crowd. Every seat was filled and the room was bustling with noise as The Legacy ladies opened up the night with the Nu Heavenly Tone singers.

    As the night went on a table filled with food was open and the members of The Legacy served everyone while enjoying a Black History Month playlist. As community members and students ate fried chicken, potato salad and bread rolls there were a few videos that started to play. One video in particular showcased The Legacy and why their members thought it was important to appreciate black students.

    CAUDILLO.APP.NIGHT.201920190227 (2).jpg
    The Legacy provided free fried chicken, potato salad and bread rolls to the community members and students who attended. | Photo by Cassaundra Caudillo

    Taye Triggs, the director of student life, attended the event with her daughter who will be giving her own workshop Saturday afternoon on how it is to be a young black girl in Humboldt County. Triggs mentioned that this event was not closed off to those who are not black.

    “It’s an opportunity for people to come together for all people of all races,” Triggs said. “To bring awareness to some very pertinent people for Black History Month.”

    As people cleared off their plates The Legacy played videos of spoken word that pertained to Black History Month and the empowerment of men and women of color who might feel otherwise. A spoken word video in particular touched on the need for men to be open with their emotions and not be afraid to express how they truly feel.

    Spanish major and first year Legacy member, Monze Garcia shared that this event has been in the works since the end of last semester. Having collaborated with the Social Justice Summit’s week-long event, they were able to settle on a date to bring this celebration to fruition. Being a part of a group of women that do volunteer work constantly and trying to bring together community members, this event was a success.

    “We try to promote a good community for women of all ethnicities that need empowerment and encouragement and be there for each other,” Garcia said.

    As the event came to an end The Legacy led with a saying that the audience was welcome to join in. The Legacy members would start by saying, “My love is…” and the audience would shout out words for how they would finish off the phrase. The night was one of self-love and appreciation of others and ourselves.

    “To come together and know the community that’s around us,” Garcia said, “and support one another as minorities.”

    For transparency Editor-in-Chief, Dajonea Robinson is a member of The Legacy.

  • Humboldt Startup Weekend

    Humboldt Startup Weekend

    Have you ever had an idea for a business and want to find out how to start?

    Humboldt Startup Weekend is your chance to create the dream business you always imagined. The 54-hour weekend event takes place from March 8 through 10 and is hosted by Humboldt State’s entrepreneurs club and sponsored by Google. People are put into teams where they create a start-up business plan that can be used in real life.

    The weekend starts at 5 p.m. Friday, March 8. This is when the participants check in and meet each other. The first night is where ideas are pitched and teams are formed to start working on the business plans. Saturday from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. is when teams put together the bulk of their business plans.

    Copy of busi032318_0103.jpg Mentor Speaking at 2018 Humboldt Startup Weekend. | Photo courtesy Natalie Dubbel

    Community entrepreneurs will serve as mentors to offer hands-on advice for successful businesses. Sunday is the final day where teams finalize their plans to be presented to a panel of community judges in a “Shark Tank”-style presentation. The weekend ends when the awards are handed out to the top three teams.

    Nancy Vizenor is the adviser of Entrepreneur’s Club Institute for Entrepreneurship Education and one the lead coordinators of the event. She highlights the inspiration the event creates for students.

    “Whether you come with a business idea or not, you get a team on Friday night and go from idea to near launch by Sunday,” Vizenor said. “It is absolutely a transformational experience. It’s definitely something our students look back on as being a highlight of their time at HSU.”

    Startup Weekend is not just for HSU students, It’s open to anyone who has an idea they want to share. Natalie Dubbel is the president of the HSU Entrepreneur’s Club and the events student coordinator.

    “Typically other majors have the best ideas,” Dubbel said.

    Some of the ideas presented get turned into real businesses. Like Humbots, a company that uses drones to survey the forest. This started as an idea that students first pitched at the Humboldt Start-up weekend two years ago. Now, they are a real business that does surveying in Humboldt County.

    Copy of IMG_0948.jpg Taken at Humboldt Startup Weekend 2018. | Photo courtesy Natalie Dubbel

    Tickets start at $55 with food, a t-shirt and all materials being provided. This event takes place all over the world and gives people the opportunity and inspiration to turn their ideas into reality.

    “It is absolutely a transformational experience where learning is at its highest because you are actually working to start a business,” Vizenor said.

    For more information and tickets on how to be a part of Humboldt Startup Weekend visit http://communities.techstars.com/usa/humboldt-ca-usa/startup-weekend/14156

  • Coalition looks to improve pedestrian safety

    Coalition looks to improve pedestrian safety

    New criteria, if adopted, could lead to pedestrian-focused modifications for Arcata square

    Colin Fiske has a vision for a safer, cleaner and more pedestrian-friendly Arcata. Last Thursday the Plaza Improvement Task Force looked into adopting criteria focused on protecting pedestrians and cyclists, bringing Fiske’s vision closer to reality.

    Fiske is the executive director and co-founder of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities, or CRTP. Fiske said the project started to challenge a move to widen sections of the 101 highway near Richardson Grove that would allow oversized truck access. From there, it grew into a multifaceted coalition focused on advocating for non-vehicular commuters and transportation mode shifting.

    “Getting into a car is the most dangerous activity most people do every day, statistically,” Fiske said. “Even if you’re walking, taking the bus or riding a bike, you’re still affected by our landscape which is built for and dominated by cars.”

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”David Miller” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]“We’re in a culture where people are comfortable walking right out into the street without looking first.”[/perfectpullquote]

    Soon, the city will make moves to revitalize the plaza as a more inclusive space, where families can let their kids play freely without worrying about shady people or heavy vehicle traffic. Proposed modifications range from small changes like clearly marked public restroom signs and motion-activated lighting to big overhaul projects, like closing 8th and 9th streets to vehicular traffic.

    Police officer David Miller has spent many hours on the plaza as a member of Arcata’s homeless liason and said pedestrians and bicyclists must exert due diligence before entering the roadways, lest they place themselves in danger.

    “You probably heard me yelling at two people for jaywalking as you pulled up,” Miller said. “We’re in a culture where people are comfortable walking right out into the street without looking first.”

    For pedestrians, jaywalking poses the biggest risk, as it exposes you to vehicle traffic without the protection of an intersection. Many drivers are distracted by cell phones, food or a passenger. This could mean disaster for someone jaywalking.

    [perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”David Miller” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]“I saw a woman on a bike who struck a pedestrian crossing the crosswalk, and ended up with a seven year sentence for vehicular manslaughter after killing the pedestrian.”[/perfectpullquote]

    Miller said that cyclists have an even greater responsibility when commuting, as they must comply and assume all the responsibilities that motor vehicles have according to California Vehicle Code 21200.

    “I saw a woman on a bike who struck a pedestrian crossing the crosswalk, and ended up with a seven year sentence for vehicular manslaughter after killing the pedestrian,” Miller said.“For bikes, the fines are the same, the points on your license are the same and the courts don’t offer leniency,” Miller said.

    This high stakes environment is what Fiske is trying to change. He envisions a plaza and community where bikes, cars and foot traffic can coexist peacefully. The addition of his criteria to the list was a victory, but the battle is not yet over.

    The task force that has been assembled to rate and approve changes to the plaza is conducting a survey of all Arcata residents and community members to see what they want changed in the plaza. Anyone who uses the plaza is encouraged to take the survey, as the results will affect the final decisions of the task force.

  • Blotter bytes

    Blotter bytes

    So, this week did not have any marijuana-related incidents. Good job guys! However, there was a stuck raccoon in a sewer grate, some ghosts and a few incidents of actual crime on campus, one involving a man trying to break into a vehicle while someone was in it. Make sure to avoid traveling alone at night and if you have to, call UPD for a late-night escort. They can be reached at (707) 826-5555.

    The Rolling Count:

    Possession charges = 4

    Contraband/paraphernalia seizures = 2

    Holler hootie hoo!

    Monday Feb. 25

    · HELP I’m stuck!—“Solo female stuck inside the elevator” in the Jolly Giant commons. Guys, take the stairs.

    · HELP that thing is stuck!—Someone around 17 and B streets called UPD to report “a raccoon that appears to be stuck in a sewer grate.” Must have been a chubby bubby.

    · Good guy alert—Someone locked their keys in their car and UPD helped them out. Thanks fellas!

    Tuesday Feb. 26

    · Good guy alert x2—UPD helped with a late-night escort and locked car doors. And that was all that really happened this day…pretty chill really.

    Wednesday Feb. 27

    · Car troubles—Someone backed into a parked car around Laurel Drive and B Street and that’s all that really happened this day.

    Thursday Feb. 28

    · Whose dog is that?—A dog was “running loose” near Founder’s Hall. Parking officers caught the lil’ buddy and it was returned to the owner.

    · Ghosts again—UPD responded to an emergency call from the elevator at University Plaza. No one was there when they showed up so it has to be ghosts.

    · Danger bike—You know that bike that someone puts in the top rack of the skateboard rack outside the library? Yeah someone called the cops on it. Someone called the cops on a bike…locked in a rack…

    Friday March 1

    · I’m not leaving—Someone refused to leave the Kinesiology and Athletics building at 11:49 p.m., so the custodian called UPD. Late-night swole sessions have to end at some time guys.

    · Fun police!—UPD assisted the Arcata Police in breaking up three parties. Freakin’ buzzkill guys. Let us rage in peace.

    · Actual crime—Someone was caught trying to steal bikes near the Madrone Residence Hall. The person was arrested and had outstanding warrents.

    · Actual crime part deux—Someone stole a bike an hour after the other guy was arrested.

    · That is not my post—Someone called UPD because they noticed that there was a Facebook post that they did not make. I’m not a lawyer but I don’t think this is a crime and the person probably didn’t log out of their account or their friend is messing with them. Lighten up!

    Saturday March 2

    · Fun police x2—UPD helped break up more parties! This one was on 12th Street. Lame!!!!!

    Sunday March 3

    · Actual crime—Someone was “inside of his vehicle when a male attempted to break [in].” The person fled the scene but was later arrested and had an outstanding warrant. Be careful out there everyone, it seems like crime is on the rise lately. I wonder if it has to do with the lack of sunshine?

    · Graffiti—Someone called the cops because “a large piece of plastic… was spray painted” in the forest near Creekview. Really? The graffiti probably made that “large piece of plastic” look better.

    · “Suspicious circumstances”—Someone knocked over some bikes at the Tan Oak Residence Hall and someone may or may not have stolen a tire.

  • Backpacking not Ruck marching

    Backpacking not Ruck marching

    Outdoor program creates community for HSU veteran students

    Driving back to Humboldt County after the Lightning in a Bottle music festival, Sean Dent found out his roommate kicked him out for no reason. Immediately after hearing the news he got into a car accident. Fresh out of the military and brand new to Humboldt State University, Dent felt lost in 2016. After weighing out his options he went straight to the VETS Office’s outdoor program and went on his first hiking trip with other veterans. The trip changed his life forever.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Sean Dent” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]”I lived in my car a few months while looking for a place. It wasn’t until I found a community here that helped my mindset. That community was other vets.”[/perfectpullquote]

    “It was my first trip and my favorite trip,” Dent said. “I was foreign to California and recently out of the Army. The hike was beautiful. A mentor brought me in and gave me strength. He physically reached out because it helped him in the past.”

    Dent is an environmental science and management major with an emphasis in ecological restoration. Originally from Virginia, Dent enlisted in the Army “out of necessity” because that was his best option. While enlisted in the military from 2012-2015, Dent was stationed in Louisiana until he was deployed to Afghanistan.

    “It was a hard transition into college,” Dent said. “I lived in my car a few months while looking for a place. It wasn’t until I found a community here that helped my mindset. That community was other vets.”

    IMG_9699.jpg The Veteran’s Office gives out free pint glasses for veterans. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Environmental resource engineer Paulo Martin had a similar experience when first enrolling at HSU. Martin was born in the Philippines and was stationed in South Korea from 2009-2013. He now handles the VETS Office’s social media and promotes the positive events they’e doing, such as the outdoor program. Martin said the VETS Office takes care of soldiers transitioning into students but would like to see more vets coming in.

    “It’s weird coming from a soldier training for war or getting gassed everyday,” Martin said. “We are told what to think everyday and as a student it isn’t like that, we are told to think for ourselves. The outdoor program helps with that transition.”

    Both Dent and Martin didn’t think they would like backpacking or hiking because of all the ruck marching they had to do in the military. But as civilians Martin said his favorite trip is the hiking trip. Through the outdoor program HSU veterans take multi day trips to places like the Trinity Alps or for the upcoming spring break, Mt. Bachelor, for snowboarding. After a three day hike they will end the trip with white water rafting.

    “At first if you tell someone in the army you’re going hiking they roll their eyes,” Martin said. “But being able to hike without a weapon and a 50 lbs. bag has made me love hiking.”

    Coming from a military background Martin is used to being with a squad and the outdoor program creates a similar community for him. Martin said vets have more pitfalls and rough personalities, having a platform to go out in nature that is different than the toxic state of the army is refreshing.

    “I don’t like to talk to regular citizens about my military experience,” Martin said. “But with other vets we’re on the same plane and can relate with one another. Some people freak out about my stories.”

    IMG_9700.jpg Kim Hall founded the HSU’s veteran’s resource center over 30 years ago and started the outdoor program in 2009 as a therapeutic program for soldiers transitioning into students. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Veteran program administrator Kim Hall created the outdoor program in 2009 through Outward Bound. The program was created as a wilderness therapy to support veterans transitioning as HSU students. Hall also established the HSU VETS in 1990, the veterans resource center on campus. It was one of the first in the state as well as being one of the largest today, serving around 500 military affiliated students.

    “At the time there was a lot of vets coming in trying to navigate the CSU system,” Hall said. “I was working in administration and saw the need for more. I liked working with them better than traditional students. What keeps me coming back to campus are the vet students.”

    Dent said the outdoor program has brought a lot vets who are new to the area together and life long friendships have bonded. Dent said he has met his best friends in the outdoor program, like Paulo Martin.

    “I can’t even explain what the outdoor program has done for me,” Dent said. “We’re always looking for a challenge. Going through a challenge together like hiking or snowboarding builds camaraderie deeper than normal friendships because we’re going through the same things. I now have life long friends.”

    Next Veterans meeting is at E&O bowling in Blue Lake on March 8 at 7:30 p.m.

  • Earth First!

    Earth First!

    Two free events promoting a new HSU scholarship in memory of slain environmental activist

    A new scholarship is available for HSU students in memory of slain environmentalist David Nathan “Gypsy” Chain. Chain was was a young forest activist killed in 1998 while trying to prevent illegal logging near Grizzly Creek in the Van Duzen River valley.

    On the 20th anniversary of his death community leaders, friends and fellow activists established the David Nathan “Gypsy” Chain Memorial Scholarship to provide an annual $1,000 scholarship for students who have demonstrated commitment to issues of forest ecology through volunteer or academic projects.

    Environmental activist Rabbi Naomi Steinberg said the idea started from a conversation between friends who were active in the Headwaters efforts 20 years ago.

    [perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”Rabbi Naomi Steinberg” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]”We don’t want anyone else to lose their life, God forbid. Students need to understand making change requires great effort, dedication and certain kinds of sacrifice.”[/perfectpullquote]

    “Gypsy’s death practically happened in my backyard…it was heart wrenching,” Steinberg said. “When I realized it was going to be the 20th anniversary of his death I said to my friends we should do something positive to immortalize him.”

    Gypsy moved to Humboldt County in the 1990s from Texas to join Earth First! in the midst of the timber controversy. He learned non-violent protesting tactics and how to climb 200 foot redwood trees, and participated in tree sittings.

    In 1998 Gypsy and other activists were in Grizzly Creek National Redwood Park to persuade tree loggers to stop cutting down trees and to wait for the California Division of Forestry. This is the state agency charged with overseeing timber harvest plans on non-federal land throughout the state, to assess the land for endangered species.

    Pacific Lumber Company logger Arlington Earl “A.E.” Ammons argued all morning with activists and decided to start cutting down trees that were positioned on slopes. The last tree Ammons cut fell directly onto Gypsy, killing him on Sept. 17, 1998.

    “We want this scholarship to keep Gypsy’s story alive because he was a wonderful idealist and young person,” Steinberg said. “We want students to understand 20 years ago a young man was willing to put his life on the line at great risk to prevent illegal logging. We don’t want anyone else to lose their life, God forbid, students need to understand making change requires great effort, dedication and certain kinds of sacrifice.”

    Two upcoming events will be taking place to benefit the scholarship. The first event is part of HSU’s Social Justice Summit on March 2 with a showing of “Who Bombed Judi Bari?” followed by a workshop and singing. The second event will be a benefit show at the Arcata Playhouse on March 9. Local activist and musician Darryl Cherney will be hosting both events and playing music.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Judith Mayer” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]”It was a nonviolent movement and remains so, yet many of these activists had been labeled as eco-terrorists.”[/perfectpullquote]

    Judith Mayer, environmental planner and HSU lecturer in environmental science and management, said that the benefit is meant to honor Gypsy’s memory and the forest defenders.

    “This is to support local students at HSU and CR who are pursuing further studies and have a commitment to environmental activism and protection,” Mayer said.

    Mayer organized the event for the Social Justice Summit and said Gypsy was emphatic in his forest defense and one of hundreds of young people in Humboldt at the time involved in the movement.

    “It was a nonviolent movement and remains so, yet many of these activists had been labeled as eco-terrorists,” Mayer said. “The bottom line is to see the defense of the forest in our ecoregion of the north coast not only in terms of environment, but social justice and sustaining life on Earth.”

    Mayer wants to encourage students to apply for the scholarship soon. She said the scholarship is for students who are graduating from any Humboldt high school and planning on attending HSU or CR. The scholarship is also available for first year students at HSU or CR who are planning on continuing.

    “The people who established the scholarship initially conceived it as an academic landing pad for environmental activists in college,” Mayer said.

    One of the creators of the scholarship, Marion Nina Amber, wanted the scholarship to bring awareness of environmental issues and help students understand activism. Amber’s son was friends with Gypsy and said it could have been anyone else at that time getting killed due to the high tensions between activists and loggers. Amber said students are unaware of the timber wars that occurred in Humboldt County and this scholarship will help teach history.

    “Those ancient redwoods cannot reproduce themselves, we are planting more but the conditions are not like they were back then due to climate change,” Amber said. “People need to know about the value of the natural landscapes. Gypsy is a symbol and was willing to put his life on the line and defend this. We need to teach about him and people should know about him.”

    More info on the scholarship: http://www.wildcalifornia.org/about-us/who-we-work-with/david-nathan-chain-scholarship-fund/

  • Murder Mountain demystified

    Murder Mountain demystified

    The other side of the mountain gets a turn to share its story

    The latest documentary to depict Humboldt County investigates a murder within the cannabis culture atop the infamous Murder Mountain. But Murder Mountain, named after the actions of the Carson serial killers in the Rancho Sequoia area of Alderpoint, is only a small piece in Humboldt County’s cannabis culture. On Wednesday evening in the Kate Buchanan Room a group panelist of media practitioners and active members in the cannabis community discussed the other side of that mountain.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Chrystal Ortiz” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]”Instead of finding a way to bridge our likeness, it has built on the fact that we are different… Local press should recognize they do shape culture.”[/perfectpullquote]

    The event, The Other Side of Murder Mountain, was part of HSU’s 25th annual week long Social Justice Summit. Panelist Chrystal Ortiz, a board member of the International Cannabis Farmers Association, said as a resident of Humboldt County she is impacted by the local press on cannabis.

    “Local opinions and local press has shaped the world view of the people who live here in the ability to continue to create discord,” Ortiz said. “A cannabis leaf on the cover sold newspapers. The representation in the press was negative because cannabis was in the crime section. If we went back 20 years we would be hard press to find any positive press of cannabis.”

    Ortiz believes local press has a responsibility and perspective with covering cannabis and has an effect on how we relate with one side or the other. She said local press has had an impact on how our community relates with the cannabis culture within Humboldt County and plays a part in shaping it.

    “Instead of finding a way to bridge our likeness it has built on the fact that we are different,” Ortiz said. “Such as what we do for our kids is different than what they do for their kids or what our jobs are like with what their jobs are like. But I am glad to see that changing and it has been changing. Local press should recognize they do shape culture.”

    Hank Sims, Dr. Deidre Pike, Chrystal Ortiz, and Rio Anderson made up the panel of media practitioners and active cannabis community members at the event “The Other Side of Murder Mountain” during HSU’s 25 annual social justice summit. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Panelist Rio Anders, Co-founder of SoHum Guild, agreed with Ortiz and said it’s hard to live in a bubble in Southern Humboldt and hear a story like Murder Mountain because it has no real reality based on his life. Anders said recently there’s been a constant feedback of negativity but recognizes that crimes like that in Murder Mountain are real.

    “It’s real and I’m not saying it isn’t but it didn’t bring people into conversation,” Anders said. “It only allowed people to cast judgment on each other. This shapes the discourse between the cannabis community which is a part of this community.”

    [perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”15″]Not all stories of Humboldt County are that of vigilantes and missing persons that happen in places like Murder Mountain.[/perfectpullquote]

    Moderator Dominic Corva of the Center for the Study of Cannabis Policy, asked the panelists what does it even matter what people outside of Humboldt County think of people in Humboldt County in media representations. Editor for the Lost Coast Outpost Hank Sims said stories like that of Murder Mountain are the stories people hear outside of Humboldt County and have ramifications.

    “People in the Marijuana industry in particular are sometimes facing backlash and competition in the industry who say growing in Humboldt County is unsafe,” Sims said. “Murder Mountain and stories like it has shaped perception of Humboldt County from those outside of Humboldt County.”

    IMG_9633.jpg
    Sociology professor and co-director of Humboldt Institute for Interdisciplinary Marijuana Research Josh Meisel reads questions from the audience at the event The Other Side of The Mountain during HSU’s 25 annual social justice summit. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Not all stories of Humboldt County are that of vigilantes and missing persons that happen in places like Murder Mountain. Chrystal Ortiz was quick to respond with positive representations she’s experienced when in 2016 a journalist for NPR camped on her property in the Avenue of the Giants because he couldn’t find open camping.

    “When he [NPR reporter] came through he camped on my farm and the California Report then became his experience on my farm and how different it was than he expected,” Ortiz said. “When that aired I got call after call after call…about how my friends wanted to come visit and how proud they were.”

    Panelist Deidre Pike, department chair of the HSU Department of journalism and mass communication, said the NPR California Report on Ortiz’s farm was a great example of how culture is shaping our story telling and there’s a feedback loop of shaping going on. Pike suggested a positive spin on Murder Mountain in which a theme park is built with a memorial for Garret Rodriguez.

    “Maybe you can make Murder Mountain a tourist attraction,” Pike said. “You already have in place farms with farm tours. You can do an educational tour with permaculture and train folks to do permaculture and then they show others. It’s an idea that may demystify that culture of the scary outlaw culture and maybe honor the good outlaw culture.”

  • Bridging the gap

    Bridging the gap

    How HSU and Graduation Initiative 2025 are attacking low graduation rates

    Freshman Isabel Duplantier, is planning to graduate in four years, but the odds are stacked against her. According to a recent report, Humboldt State currently has a four year graduation rate of 22 percent. Duplantier, a journalism major, is determined to beat the odds.

    “My first semester was hard, because it took a lot of time adjusting,” Duplantier said. “But this semester I feel like I have figured out how I perceive myself and how others perceive me. I made it my home.”

    Duplantier’s troubles adjusting to HSU are not uncommon. They are the reason why such a low number of students graduate within four years. However, those numbers are not unique to HSU. The California State University system started Graduation Initiative 2025 in 2009 with the intent to “increase graduation rates for all CSU students while eliminating opportunity and achievement gaps.” It didn’t go into effect until 2016, but in that short amount of time progress has been made.

    “When we started GI 2025, our four-year graduation rate was 14 percent,” Lisa Castellino, Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness at HSU, said. “So, we have gone from 14 to 22 percent.”

    By 2025, HSU is hoping to have a four-year graduation rate of 30 percent and a six year graduation rate of 56 percent. Castellino said that HSU had a six year graduation rate of 46 percent when the initiative started, but raised it to 52 percent two years ahead of schedule.

    “That’s a success story that the university should hold up,” Castellino said.

    Some of the contributing factors behind why students either tend to drop out or graduate in a longer amount of time can be complex. Students face a myriad of issues that range from housing and mental health to food insecurity.

    “I know a few freshmen that are having trouble with housing and financial aid,” Duplantier said. “I feel like the school could be better at giving them resources to figure that stuff out.”

    That is where GI 2025 comes in. There are six pillars to GI 2025 and all are aimed at breaking down barriers. The six pillars include: academic preparation, enrollment management, student engagement and well-being, financial support, data-driven decision making and removing academic barriers.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Lisa Castellino” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]“Peer mentoring is very effective, and it is a best practice in higher education.”[/perfectpullquote]

    In the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 budget cycles, the state spent nearly $75 million a year on GI 2025. This year’s Governor Gavin Newsom announced the California budget would allocate $45 million for GI 2025. A cut of nearly $30 million, but the first time that it was officially a part of the California Budget Proposal. A part of the student engagement and well-being pillar is to “[foster] a strong sense of belonging on campus.” To do that Castellino said HSU is planning on expanding the “Oh SNAP!” program as well as others that have been successful.

    “Peer mentoring is very effective, and it is a best practice in higher education,” Castellino said. “We are looking to expand cultural pedagogy as well.”

    Part of the GI 2025 report points out achievement gaps for underrepresented minorities (URM) and Pell Grant recipients. URMs are defined as those who identify as Black, Latinx or American Indian. Pell Grant recipients are those who come from low-income backgrounds. The URM equity gap rate is 14 percent lower and the Pell Grant equity gap is 11 percent lower than their white, financially secure counterparts, meaning that individuals from these two groups graduated at lower rates than their peers.

    To help bridge that gap HSU announced they would be adding $435,000 for student jobs starting in fall 2019 and hiring a number of new tenure-track faculty members. The boost in student jobs is being implemented to “help students pay for college, enhance their skills to build their resume and engage with campus in new ways,” according to a recent announcement from the HSU news and information department.

    To reach her goal of graduating in four years, Duplantier said she will utilize some of the resources here on campus. So far she has used the writing center and a bit of of counseling from her advisor. Duplantier wants to waste little time in reaching her dreams.

    “Once I graduate, I’m hoping to design and write for some sort of magazine,” Duplantier said. “Maybe start up my own at some point.”

  • Blotter bytes

    Blotter bytes

    This past week had some serious crime. Someone was caught with a “weapon” while selling weed and a “casing” was found on the soccer field Sunday morning. Someone tried to fight somebody in the library and there may or may not be meth in the water. This week saw some contraband confiscations in the Jolly Giant Commons and a suspicious baby. Check it out!

    The Rolling Count:

    Possession charges = 5

    Contraband/paraphernalia seizures = 4

    Blotter bytes

    Monday Feb. 18

    · BIKERS, YA GOTTA STOP —Five bicyclists were stopped and warned for blowing through stop signs.

    · Good guy alert x5—UPD helped five people with jumpstarts. They are here to serve and protect, that’s for sure.

    · Suspicious baby—There was a report of a man “[wandering] aimlessly, perhaps lost” with a small child. Must have been a sketchy looking baby.

    · A problem worth addressing—UPD warned a “male non-student” for camping on campus. The housing problem here is ridiculous and needs to be addressed. City council meetings are every first and third Wednesday at 6 p.m. Show up and demand change.

    Tuesday Feb. 19

    · DRUG ACTIVITY—Someone in the Jolly Giant mailroom got their piece seized. Bummer bruh, keep that shish on the D.L. next time.

    · GUNS AND DRUGS—Someone was arrested for “possession of a weapon on campus,” and for selling weed around the Rossow and Harpst Street area. That’s some real crime.

    · Smokin’ ciggies—Someone was busted smoking in the art quad. Smoking on campus anywhere is against the university tobacco policy. Head off campus or just start chewin’ ‘tabacka’. Dip spit is sexy in some parts of America.

    · Good guy alert x4—UPD helped with two jumpstarts, locked car doors and a late-night escort. Thanks fellas!

    Wednesday Feb. 20

    · I hope you’re alright—“The welfare of a student was checked at the request of faculty.” It is that time of the year when the sun leaves and the clouds drop their emotions upon us in the form of rain. If you’re experiencing tough times and need someone to talk to, check out the mental health services at the Student Health Center.

    · That’s gonna hurt—Someone twisted their ankle near the Campus Apartments and requested medical aid. Best wishes for a speedy recovery pal.

    · Good guy alert x5—Man UPD has been crushing it this week with helping people out. Two jumpstarts and three late-night escorts!

    Thursday Feb. 21

    · Fight club—“Second hand information of a fight on the third floor” of the library. This weather is really getting to people. The library is for studying, not fighting.

    · That is NOT your spot—Someone parked in a handicap spot without a placard near Redwood Hall. The driver was warned and let go without a ticket. I know parking is tight on campus but you should not park in a handicap spot!!

    · “Any type of contraband”—This just sounds cool. Talk about a cool band name, right?!?! Actually, what happened was some RA requested a pick up of “confiscated marijuana” and UPD collected it “for destruction.” I wonder if the cops smoke weed? Hmm, maybe I should follow this up for a story…

    Friday Feb. 22

    · Grand theft bicycle—There was a report of a stolen bike near B Street. It is a bummer that it was stolen, but at least it is one less person blowing through stop signs, right?

    · “Vehicle investigation”—“Subjects parked and walked down to the duck pond.” That’s literally word for word what the report says. WTF happened? Did they kill a duck? Smoke some weed? Partake in some deviant acts? You’re leaving us hanging here UPD!!

    · There’s meth in the water!!—Someone called 911 and reported that they were having a heart attack because “someone put meth in his water.” I’ve never done meth before, but I don’t think that is how it works. I could be wrong. The guy survived the night and doctors told him that there was no meth in his water.

    Saturday Feb. 23

    · It’s two in the morning… go home—At 2:38 a.m., two people went into a room in Nelson Hall East, “closed the doors and shut off the lights.” “They lit candles and started summoning demons,” officer Joe Schmoe said. “It was dope as hell.”

    Sunday Feb. 24

    · Suspicious circumstances—A casing was found on the soccer field by a coach around 11 in the morning. What the eff?

    · They can track you—Someone called 911 and when the operators called back they just hung up, multiple times. So, they used the cell towers to locate the phone. Creepyyyy.

  • Jared Huffman and Jim Wood visit Eureka

    Jared Huffman and Jim Wood visit Eureka

    Government representatives hold town hall meeting to discuss issues that affect both sides of the political divide

    Congressman Jared Huffman and California State Representative Jim Wood held a town hall meeting at St. Bernard’s Academy to talk about subjects like veterans, the Green New Deal and healthcare, among others.

    “It isn’t very often you get a state representative and a congressman in the same room together,” Huffman said. “It’s valuable, so many issues have a federal and state element.”

    There was a lot of ground to cover but only a couple hours to talk. Huffman and Wood began the event by updating the crowd on some of the things going on with State and Federal politics. The event was somewhat political but Huffman made it clear he wanted to have a civil conversation with people who have different ideas than him.

    IMG_3439.jpg Many community members attended the town hall to listen to congressman Jarred Huffman and state representative Jim Wood speak and answer questions. | Photo by Amanda Schultz

    U.S. army veteran Jeremy Campbell, a student at College of the Redwoods, asked a serious question to Huffman and Wood. Campbell asked the representatives for more support for veterans. The United States has a knack for asking a lot from their soldiers but providing little for their veterans. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs there were 20.4 million veterans in the country. Our veterans need support in the face of a number of challenges including homelessness, substance abuse and PTSD.

    Huffman said he would try to support veterans. The spending on the border wall is being realized through an emergency declaration by the president, allowing him to reallocate money from the U.S. defense budget towards the construction of the border wall.

    “We are going to stop Trump from clawing away money from veterans,” Huffman said.

    A number of people brought up the issue of healthcare in Northern Calif. A serious understaffing problem is plaguing Humboldt County according to the National Union of Healthcare Workers. Citizens in the county are feeling the pressure. In light of the failure of the Calif. high speed rail, one of the people said they would like to see the funds put into better hospital infrastructure.

    “I have to drive for hours to get anything more than a CT scan,” a community member said. “We need a better hospital up here.”

    The Green New Deal was another hot topic. A couple of Humboldt State students had the opportunity to ask questions about the subject. David Grover, an ESM student on campus, had prepared a question for Huffman before he arrived at the event. Grover was excited for the opportunity to address his congressman directly. Grover intended to get Huffman’s opinion on whether he supported Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s proposed Green New Deal, currently being reviewed by House subcommittees, or if he supported the Green Party’s Green New Deal.

    IMG_7135.JPG Kelsey Reedy asking state representative Jim Wood and congressman Jared Huffman a question during the event. | Photo by Amanda Schultz

    Lily Price, an HSU junior studying botany, represented the Sunrise Movement at the town hall. Price asked Huffman to address the U.S. Speaker of the House on the subject.

    “I think we can bring the smartest minds to the conversation and move the needle,” Huffman said. “I think we’re going to do good stuff with this subcommittee.”

    Updated 03/05/19: A previous version of this article misquoted Jeremy Campbell.

  • Some progress, but far from perfection

    Some progress, but far from perfection

    Homeless Student Advocate Alliance aims to avoid homelessness

    The housing situation at Humboldt State University has been a huge problem since 2016. In the last year, about 19 percent of HSU students were homeless, according to a recent study done by CSU Chancellor’s office social work professor Jennifer Maguire and CSU Long Beach social work professor Rashida Crutchfield.

    Many students demand more housing. Fernanda Estrada, a junior in psychology, has lived on campus her entire student career and said her biggest fear is not being able to find housing within the next few years she has left here.

    “I am still unsure whether I will even have granted housing next year, to live on campus,” Estrada said. “This school has a huge problem on not having a lot of housing for on campus living. For someone who doesn’t have a car, it is very hard to live off campus as well. I feel like a lot of students aren’t taking action into this situation, and they only will unless they are in this situation.”

    IMG_3703.JPG
    HSU student, Fernanda Estrada reaches for a book. | Photo by Delaney Duarte

    We are mostly unaware of the students that are homeless. We see them on campus and don’t even know they’re having housing insecurity. We see these students in our classes, walking out on the quad, or even in the Depot without knowing they have nowhere to sleep. Christopher Regalado is a junior in marine biology who was homeless for a semester and knows how it feels to be homeless.

    “It was really tough, I had to sleep from one friend’s place to another and I even had a tent, so sometimes I slept in the forest,” Regalado said. “I didn’t want to bother my friends all the time because that is their place and not mine.”

    IMG_1622.jpg
    HSU student, Christopher Regalado stands in College Creek’s soccer field. | Photo by Delany Duarte

    Regalado couldn’t find any housing available on campus or off campus. When he applied for housing on campus he’d gotten a waitlist number, which was 272. That number was far from a single digit number to even have a slight chance on getting a place to live.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Christopher Regalado” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”19″]“I really hope those students who are homeless currently know they aren’t alone…”[/perfectpullquote]

    “I was really disappointed with how the system of on campus was set up,” Regalado said. “It is very unfair. I wouldn’t wish being homeless on anyone, it is such a stressful time.”

    Regalado said he had a hard enough time being homeless for one semester and couldn’t imagine the students who are homeless for a year or more. Regalado hopes that housing changes very soon for those students suffering without a safe place to live.

    “I really hope those students who are homeless currently know they aren’t alone, Regalado said. “And I hope they have supportive friends like I did at a time where I needed them the most.

    On campus, there’s supportive advocates to help those students who can’t find homes.The Homeless Student Advocate Alliance, is a club that creates dialogue services and awareness of housing issues are overlooked. This club was started by Chant’e Catt, who is also the Off-Campus Housing Coordinator. Chant’e Catt assists students who are homeless to find homes off campus and helps support them.

    “There is a lot of awareness now on campus, so professors and faculty staff know what to look for when they see a student in need so they do refer those students to me,” Catt said. “Also when students are brave enough to come out and find help, they are immediately directed to me.”

    Many students want these housing issues to be improved and get better as time goes on. Catt said that the housing situation has improved throughout the years she’s been working on the issue.

    “HSU, while people like to think we aren’t doing a lot, are actually the leader in solving and supporting the students around this need,” Catt said.

    There has been a lot of people who blame the school itself, and the people that work within housing. Catt said that there is emergency housing on campus in the woodworks for next semester that can house one or two students. This

    “I see a lot of progress going on for student basic need,” Catt said. “A lot of people like to blame a specific area or one person but in reality it is just a system failure in the institution.”

    If you are currently going through a similar situation, you can contact Chant’e Catt at cmc1776@humboldt.edu.

  • Beyond these walls

    Beyond these walls

    Tony Platt discusses the truth behind the American criminal justice system

    Criminal justice author Tony Platt visited Humboldt State on Feb. 14 to discuss with a panel his new book, “Beyond These Walls: Rethinking Crime and Punishment in the United States.” Students, professors and community members filled the Native American Forum where the event took place.

    IMG_9189.jpg
    Renee Byrd, sociology professor, introduced author Tony Platt, whose work changed her life. | Photo by T. William Wallin

    Nancy Perez, critical race, gender and sexuality studies professor at HSU and Stephanie Lumsden, scholar and teacher finishing her Ph.D. in gender studies at UCLA, completed the panel. Dr. Renee Byrd, professor of sociology, introduced Platt and said reading his work as an undergraduate in Oakland changed her life forever.

    “Platt is a co-author of my favorite text, ‘The Iron Fist and The Velvet Glove,’” Byrd said. “There were few books at the time that really took a radical approach that looked to the causes of state violence and corrupt criminal activity.”

    Platt is a distinguished affiliated scholar at the Center for the Study of Law & Society, University of California, Berkeley and is familiar with Humboldt county. He resides both in Berkeley and Big Lagoon. Platt said he has been visiting Humboldt county since 1975 and it feels like coming home since he’s done a lot of research here.

    IMG_9197.jpg
    Tony Platt, author of ‘Beyond These Walls: Rethinking Crime and Punishment in the United States, speaks to students, professors, and community memebrs in The Native American Forum on Feb. 14. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Platt began his talk with the four main themes of his new book: We’re too weak for the fight for social justice within our own movement. Public police and prison guards are just a small portion of how coercive power and social control are executed. The problems now are not products of Trump nor the leftover issues of the past. We have to learn from our forgotten history and bridge activists ranging from high school kids marching for gun control to Black Lives Matter.

    [perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”Tony Platt” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”We have the highest incarceration rate of any other country.”[/perfectpullquote]

    “We have the highest incarceration rate of any other country,” Platt said. “Our solitary confinement violates U.N rules and regulations. The 99 percent of those incarcerated are poor and dis-proportionally African American. We have 30 percent of all women incarcerated in the world.”

    Platt is the author of ten books and 150 essays and articles dealing with issues of race, inequality and social justice in American history. Platt said currently we are too often left picking a choice at the detriment of another group.

    “We’re in an in-between moment in history where were deciding what do we want to look like,” Pratt said. “We know what we don’t want. For the next generation it’s up to them to decide what they want and who it will help.”

    IMG_9182.jpg
    Nancy Perez, CRGS professor, Stephanie Lumsden, scholar and teacher finishing her Ph.D in Gender Studies at UCLA, and Tony Pratt, author of ‘Beyond These Walls: Rethinking Crime and Punishment in the United States, in The Native American Forum on February 14 2019. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Panelist and abolitionist Stephanie Lumsden agreed and said although it’s negative that there’s so much violence occurring right now this is also the moment of opportunity for us to organize and do something about it.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Stephanie Lumsden” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]”I am not a reformist, I am an abolitionist… I don’t think we should lock people away in cages which for some reason is a radical idea to some people.”[/perfectpullquote]

    “What do we do about justice?” Lumsden said. “Prisons aren’t solving crime. Police aren’t solving crime. Racial capitalism is what we’re working with. Abolitionist politics is overtaking this order. It is taking apart this system.”

    Lumsden said she valued Pratt’s new book for its thorough research. She said the main thing she reflected on was the critique it had on reform work and the reformist attitudes that build the state.

    “I am not a reformist, I am an abolitionist,” Lumsden said. “I don’t think we should lock people away in cages which for some reason is a radical idea to some people.”

    Javon Patterson, a junior in computer science, came to the discussion with his altruism and compassion class to hear the panel talk on how we deal with prisoners when they integrate back into the world.

    “I think this is important because prisoners are not treated very well when coming back into society,” Patterson said. “Even if they try their best to change society makes it difficult. It’s important to talk about this and how we can change.”

  • New program for Arcata tenants & landlords

    New program for Arcata tenants & landlords

    Educated Landlord and Tenant Program aims to educate both parties on mutually beneficial renting practices

    One of the most daunting prospects of ‘adulting’ is moving into your own space. Soon Humboldt State will offer a program to make that transition easier. Students and faculty presented information on a proposed landlord-tenant certification program, tentatively called the Educated Landlord and Tenant Program, on Feb. 15, at the D Street Community Center.

    The intent of ELTP is to create an equity-based program that educates both tenants and landlords on life skills, their rights and responsibilities and the best practices to follow when renting. Chant’e Catt, who is the off-campus housing director and project leader, said the idea came from a meeting she attended three years ago where students complained about the lack of tenant education programs offered by HSU. The concept stuck in her head until she began collecting input from the community with a team of students eight months ago.

    “What we started hearing was that landlords were interested as well,” Catt said. “The student tenants were being treated poorly, but some landlords could say the same.”

    With this knowledge, the project blossomed into a grassroots community effort to include both landlords and tenants in the discussion, and create a program that could benefit both parties equitably. The team held three town hall meetings to gather information from the community on what the structure of the class would look like, and what specific curriculum would be covered.

    “We felt it was important that all voices came into the planning of this education program,” Catt said. “There’s no way people in the community can say they didn’t have input.”

    MVIMG_20190215_120811.jpg
    Chant’e Catt, the driving force behind ELTP, describes where she plans to take the program in the coming months. | Photo by Jett Williams

    The proposed two to three hour free class session would allow landlords and tenants to learn cooperatively and earn ‘gold star certifications’ upon completion of the program. The certification would be a sign that the tenant or landlord is educated on all aspects of renting a room or apartment. The program is expected to be implemented early next semester.

    One of the landlords attending the town hall meeting was Simone Wyche. Wyche is the office manager of Strombeck Properties and said she is excited to see the execution of this program.

    “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Wyche said. “We won’t just pick tenants with the certification, but it would definitely be enticing.”

    MVIMG_20190215_114121.jpg
    A blend of students, landlords and interested community members gathered to hear the details behind ELTP and provide vital community feedback. | Photo by Jett Williams

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Jesse Richards” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]“Waking up and going to the bathroom sounds simple, but for a homeless person it’s never that easy.”[/perfectpullquote]

    Forestry major and ELTP Research Collaborator Jesse Richards’ struggles with housing motivated him to help build the program. He survived living out of the trunk of his car and sleeping in the community forest before buying a van and outfitting it into a livable space.

    “Being homeless adds stress to your day, because so much of your time is spent dealing with simple tasks that become much harder when you don’t have a place to stay,” Richards said. “Waking up and going to the bathroom sounds simple, but for a homeless person it’s never that easy.”

    If this program had been in place when he first came to campus, Richards said he absolutely would have utilized it.

    “This program is designed partly as a buffer to help students with insecure housing, to prevent them from becoming homeless,” Richards said. “Knowing that there’s someone on your side, advocating for you sometimes is all you need to go to school and do things in your daily life.”

  • Continuing to fight for Josiah Lawson

    Continuing to fight for Josiah Lawson

    At the 22nd vigil, Josiah Lawson is remembered through Cool Runnings

    Honoring Josiah Lawson and black history month, the 22nd vigil of his passing was held on Feb. 15 at the Arcata United Methodist Church. The community of Justice for Josiah hosted a movie, Cool Runnings, which was based off of a true story of the first Jamaican bobsledding team.

    Jazmin Sandoval, president of Associated Students, joined the Justice For Josiah committee a year and a half ago to help bring justice.

    “I think this is a way to show solidarity and bring the community to have a safe space where people can really remember Josiah, and that could have been me or any other student,” Sandoval said.

    IMG_1709.jpg
    Community come together to watch a movie in support of Josiah Lawson and black history month. | Photo by Delaney Duarte

    Sandoval said she wants to make sure that not only are they wanting justice for Josiah, but justice for any students that deserve to be treated equally.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Xiomara Fambrough” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]“I come to events like these because I want to support my community no matter what community that is…It is really important to me because I know that’s the real way the world is going to change.”[/perfectpullquote]

    “I just like to come in solidarity to show support for Michelle-Charmaine and try to pressure the law enforcement to push his case forward and demand justice for Charmaine,” Sandoval said.

    Students received free pizza from J4J members to go along with their movie. The committee was also selling shirts and pins that said Justice for Josiah, and let students borrow blankets for the cold.

    IMG_1706.jpg
    The Justice for Josiah committee give pizza out to the community. | Photo by Delaney Duarte

    Xiomara Fambrough, a 25-year-old who recently moved to Arcata, joined the community and took part in her first vigil for David Josiah.

    “I come to events like these because I want to support my community no matter what community that is, no matter how new I am to the community,” Fambrough said. “It is really important to me because I know that’s the real way the world is going to change.”

    Justice for Josiah has been communicated throughout the community, dispersing the story multiple times. Fambrough heard of Justice for Josiah as soon as she stepped foot into Arcata.

    “I heard about Justice for Josiah and the unfortunates of the event leading up to what happened to him,” Fambrough said. “Everyone I have talked to has so much details about it because there are flyers everywhere, people talking about it and not letting his name fall.”

    IMG_1710.jpg
    The remembrance of Josiah Lawson. | Photo by Delaney Duarte

    Jill Larrabee organizes all of the Justice for Josiah vigils, was present at the event and everyone feel welcomed. Larrabee organizes the vigils every 15th of the month.

    “We wanted to bring families together and eat food together while watching a movie that relates to both black history month and the background of Josiah’s heritage of being Jamaican,” Larrabee said.

    Like many other people who want justice for students like Josiah, Larrabee had words of wisdom of her own for HSU students.

    “It is extremely important to be vocal, not be silenced and keep going forward,” Larrabee said. “In any of these issues going on, there is so much injustice and evil in the world, we need to get together, and as a community come together to fight for justice. We have to fight, just fight for what we want until we get it.”

  • Blotter bytes

    Blotter bytes

    The Rolling Count:

    Alright, alright, this week had some activity! No one was charged—which is dope. However, some folks got in trouble…metaphorically speaking. Or maybe not; the report is ambiguous. Hemlock, Alder, Tan Oak and even the parking lot at Forbes Gym all saw some action.

    Possession charges = 4

    Contraband/paraphernalia seizures = 2

    Monday Feb. 11

    · Mental health awareness—The past week had a number of welfare checks, which are enacted if someone is concerned about another’s wellbeing. With that said, if you are experiencing a tough time and need someone to talk to, you can access counseling and other mental health services at the Student Health Center. Check out their website.

    · Good guy alert—Someone got an escort to their vehicle late at night from UPD. Give a cop a high-five next time you see one!

    · Three Butt dials!—UPD was called three times with no one answering from the other end. Guys, airplane mode is a thing. So is not calling 911 on accident. Come on, you’re better than that.

    · A problem worth addressing—Someone was warned for camping on HSU property near the Kinesiology and Athletics buildings. Those in power need to help our more vulnerable counterparts…not everyone has the luxury of a home.

    Tuesday Feb. 12

    · Art Heist—It looks like we have an art burglar in the Pepperwood Residence Hall. Stealing art in the movies looks cool, but in real life it’s not. So, don’t do it. M’kay?

    · Petty Theft x2—A backpack and other items were stolen from the Kinesiology building. Please don’t steal.

    · Smokin’ in the boys’ room—Drug activity at Hemlock Residence Hall! Two people were caught with marijuana. They only received an “incident memo,” so that’s cool.

    Wednesday Feb. 13

    · Buzzkill—“A campus parking officer found three rolled marijuana joints on the ground and turned them in for destruction.” Destruction? I bet the guy in the evidence room smoked them.

    · Good guy alert—UPD helped someone get into a locked car. Now, that’s pretty cool.

    · Let’s Mötley Crüe this place—Someone punched a whole bunch of holes in their walls in Laurel Residence Hall. Don’t worry though, “he is code four, negative crime.” Whatever that means.

    · Buzzkill part deux—“Housing out with a resident in the kitchen in possession of marijuana.” The wording of that sentence sounds like a bad Bob Dylan song.

    · Stop! (in the name of love) x4—The cops were on a mission this day. Four people were stopped for blowing through stop signs on a bike. Bikers, ya gotta stop. Sometimes it’s in the name of love. Other times it’s in the name of the law.

    Thursday Feb. 14

    · Good guy alert x3—UPD helped with a jumpstart, locked car doors and a late-night escort…on valentine’s day. Aren’t they sweethearts?

    · Trespass—A “transient female has been in the restroom for at least 30 minutes.” It breaks my heart that our homeless counterparts routinely have the police called on them for pejorative actions. The woman was warned about her “recent trespass.” On public property…

    · Smokin’ ciggies—“Several subjects [were] smoking in the stairwell area” at the Hagopian House. Although UPD didn’t see them smoking, they admitted to it…amateurs.

    Friday Feb. 15

    · “Making a scene”—Someone refused to take their backpack off when entering the College Creek Marketplace and threw a fit. Not gonna lie, this backpack policy is the stupidest effing policy on campus. Those who enacted it assume that students are thieves. A former LJ editorial team wrote a piece about this and the ridiculous prices.

    Saturday Feb. 16

    · Momma’s boy—A Lyft driver called someone’s mom after he left his cell phone in the car. Like a good mother, she called the police to check in on the situation. The phone was returned and the owner was “advised to contact his mother.” Aww, that’s sweet.

    · Fallen soldier—An RA in the Alder Residence Hall seized someone’s pipe and turned it into UPD. Now I’m not one to glorify military stuff, but let’s salute this fallen soldier. Cue “Taps.”

    Sunday Feb. 17

    · Someone barfed—“Someone vomited in the Fieldhouse and the game is unable to resume until it is cleaned up…” Oh man, that is something there, imagine the smell. Seriously think about…taste it… smell it….Okay see ya next week!

  • Kittens and volunteers at HSU’s volunteer expo

    Kittens and volunteers at HSU’s volunteer expo

    Humboldt State Career and Volunteer Expo hosts 95 organizations

    Nearly 100 organizations made the journey through sideways rain for the Humboldt State Career and Volunteer Expo. The event was held in the west gym on Feb. 14 from 12 p.m. to 4p.m. and included prospecting volunteers and job recruiters that ranged from California Conservation Corps to Companion Animal Foundation.

    HSU’s career advisor Joy Soll, said that 70 percent are received because of networking.

    “This gives students an opportunity to actually meet employees and to actually talk to people,” Soll said.

    WALLIN.CAREER.02.14.1920190214 (5).jpg
    This year professors and chamber of commerce members donated professional clothing for students during The Career and Volunteer Expo on February 14, 2019. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    This year Soll said they wanted students to look as professional as possible. Professors, faculty and chamber of commerce members donated clothing for the event so students could grab a blazer or a button up shirt before introducing themselves. Because of the government shutdown Soll said there were a few less organizations but they still expected a similar turn out at last year, around 800 students.

    “Because of the government shutdown we had to actually extend our deadline,” Soll said. “We work with a lot of professors to encourage their students to attend the event since they don’t always know the opportunities that are here for them.”

    WALLIN.CAREER.02.14.1920190214 (1).jpg
    Kyle Barney, senior in enironmental studies, gets a free professional portrait from Kelli Jo Brown, photographer for MarComm at HSU, during The Career and Volunteer Expo on Feb. 14. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Kyle Barney, senior in environmental studies, was one of those students. He said his professor made him come for his Capstone class but was taking the opportunity to get more knowledge on the jobs that are available. Barney, along with every other student attending, was even able to get free professional portraits from Kellie Jo Brown of MarCom.

    “Today will just to be figuring out what I might want to do,” Barney said. “I’m sticking around till next summer so I’m just going to see what comes up.”

    Trena Neel, general biology junior, was at the event with Companion Animal Foundation. Neel has been volunteering with the organization since May of 2018.

    “I walked into Companion Animal Foundation’s thrift store looking for a job but they didn’t have any openings,” Need said. “I applied as a volunteer instead because I want to be a vet tech.”

    WALLIN.CAREER.02.14.1920190214.jpg
    Jacks, of Companion Animal Foundation, which supports animal adoptions and community outreach services during The Career and Volunteer Expo on Feb. 14. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Neel said she grew up with animals all her life and so volunteering with Companion Animal Foundation fulfills that.

    “I just want to be around animals and help them when their sick,” Neel said. “If you love your job then it’s not really work.”

    Shanna Gunn, lead animal technician for Companion Animal Foundation, said they use their thrift store to support their animal adoptions and they take part community outreach in Arcata. They also help those with financial difficulty to spray and neuter their animals.

    “We’re here because we want to get more people volunteering and involved,” Gunn said. “There has been a lot of people coming and showing interest. That’s why we are here.”

  • City destroys legacy bike trails

    City destroys legacy bike trails

    Several popular unsanctioned trails were decommissioned, but mountain bikers remain optimistic

    Over winter break, teams of city-directed California Conservation Corps (CCC) work crews destroyed three popular unsanctioned bike trails in Arcata city forests. They were the lifeblood of the community forest for generations of bike riders. Then, in a day, they were gone.

    BEFORE: The lines of the illegal trails were sculpted from hours of shovel work into functional works of art for bikes to flow over. | Photo by Jett Williams

    The crews were thorough, ensuring that the lines would not be easily rebuilt. They dug up and flattened berms and jumps, laid logs and planted ferns in the trails. The idea was to let the forest reclaim what had been there, leaving no trace of trail behind.

    Darius Damonte is the natural resources crew leader for Arcata’s environmental services. He also rides mountain bikes. Damonte said that the trails had been slated for destruction for years, but the recent government shutdown allowed the city to execute their plans.

    “With the government shutdown, some of the federal contracts that the CCC had fell through,” Damonte said. “We’ve got a pretty good reputation with [them], so they sent us a bunch of free crew time.”

    The three trails each had their own distinct personality. ‘Sam’s trail’ was the oldest, built before the city owned it. ‘Sam’s’ had hosted several HSU collegiate cycling downhill races, during which it supported upwards of 600 runs over a few days time.

    ‘Loam’s Palace’ had been around for many years as a fast bomb line. The trail was a local favorite, in addition to hosting many bike races and rides over the years.

    ‘Road Dome,’ ‘Joey’s Trail’ or ‘Nino’s Favorite’ was a line running parallel to Fickle Hill road, and saw huge strides in development the month before its destruction from a group of student trailbuilders. The team constructed sweeping berms and jumps, leading many bikers to call this trail, at the time, the best in the forest.

    AFTER.jpg AFTER: The trails are almost unrecognizable, with the berms destroyed and branches laid across the line. Local rider Lucas Perez surveys the damage. | Photo by Jett Williams

    One of the builders is forestry minor Ian Wilson. Wilson said that the motivation for building came from wanting more out of a trail than what the community forest provided.

    “We wanted to build our own trail, or trails, that we could have fun on,” Wilson said. “There are fun trails, but it’s not the kind of riding that we’re into.”

    The riding that Wilson’s into includes faster speeds and more intense, bike-specific features. Not for everyone, but the demand is there. Over 100 different riders had put runs in on ‘Road Dome’ before it was decommissioned.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Ian Wilson” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]”Essentially we’re only moving stuff if it’s in the way or prevents a hazard. It doesn’t seem right to go and f-ck up someone’s private property.”[/perfectpullquote]

    Wilson said when him and his friends build, they ensure that their work isn’t hurting the ecosystem.

    “Essentially we’re only moving stuff if it’s in the way or prevents a hazard,” Wilson said. “It doesn’t seem right to go and f-ck up someone’s private property.”

    Wilson and many other local riders want to see more bike-specific trails in the community forest. As it stands, there are no bike-specific lines, although several of the multi-use trails have mountain-bike friendly corners and flow.

    Damonte knows how unenthusiastic the city can be towards the interests of mountain bikers, oftentimes dragging its feet for no reason.

    “I’ve seen it the whole time I’ve been with the city. Mountain bikers try to get stuff done, and want to build what we want to ride, but the city’s been unable to accommodate them,” Damonte said. “I don’t understand why the system is so lethargic.”

    Steven Pearl is an HSU cycling alumni and a member of the Redwood Coast Mountain Bike Association (RCMBA), the local mountain bike advocacy group. He thinks the solution to the current issue is cooperation between motivated trailbuilders and the city, but doesn’t advocate for illegal trailbuilding.

    “It doesn’t help the broader mission of the mountain bike club, which is to bring mountain bike trails into the community forest,” Pearl said. “When the ACF associates mountain biking with something that’s illegal and not well-thought-out, it creates more work for us and we become guilty by association.”

    At the end of the day, all riders share a common goal of seeing more trails. Despite the disheartening destruction of legacy trails that have been around for years, all of these riders remained optimistic about the future of Arcata’s mountain bike scene.

    “I think that mountain biking is here to stay, and it can create a destination-type situation for the city,” Damonte said. “We’re always going to have illegal trailbuilders, until we build what the community wants to ride.”

  • Food for the soul

    Food for the soul

    The Arcata community and Humboldt students come together for an Equity Potluck

    The Equity Arcata’s “Home Away From Home Potluck” brought many people within the community of Arcata. The potluck, organized by community members of Arcata, invited HSU students to enjoy a free soul food meal.

    IMG_1654.jpg
    Free donated house goods for the students that attend HSU. | Photo by Delaney Duarte

    The event was located at the Neighborhood Center on D St. in Arcata from 5-7 p.m. on Feb. 10. Community members brought one soul food dish of their choosing to put out for the students, they also collected donations of household items to give out to the students.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Christian Boyd” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]”A lot of students don’t get off campus. So when they come to these events…they feel even more welcomed into the community.”[/perfectpullquote]

    Christian Boyd, a second year student at HSU majoring in political science, is the youngest diversity coordinator for Equity Arcata. She recruited the majority of students to come to this event.

    “This event is to create a more equitable space between community members and students, mainly for students of color to get a feel of the community and who’s apart of the community,” Boyd said. “A lot of students don’t get off campus, so when they come to these events and meet community members and see what they do for them, they feel even more welcomed into the community.”

    IMG_5120.jpg
    Students and community members indulge in food and conversation on Feb. 10. | Photo by Dajonea Robinson

    There were over 100 students that attended the event. Some students even shared seating because there weren’t enough chairs for all of them.

    Wesley Chesbro, a 1974 HSU alumni, is a volunteer co-coordinator for the Equity Arcata organization. Chesbro said that the potlucks started in the fall of 2017 and typically 30-40 community members volunteer and 75-150 students participate.

    “A group of community members had felt that it is important to show in a real way that students of color not only belong here, but we really want them here,” Chesbro said. “It is said that food is love so it is a way of showing our love and appreciation that without the students we would be nobody.”

    IMG_1684.jpg
    HSU students lined up to choose their likings. | Photo by Delaney Duarte

    The organization had live music and raffles as entertainment for the event. The event had a variety of soul food such as sweet potatoes, ham, cornbread and much more. Afua Mensah, a second year student at HSU who is majoring in international studies, attended the event to meet the people who make up the community of Arcata.

    “It was really nice meeting new people from the community, we usually don’t get that opportunity since we all sit with our friends or students that attend the school,” Mensah said. “I enjoyed the food so much, but other than the food the music was most enjoyable, especially the rap, which was really powerful and moving to hear.”

    Image-1.jpg
    Nu Heavenly Tone singers took the stage at the Equity Potluck. | Photo by Dajonea Robinson

    This organization tries to welcome HSU students as much as they can to participate within the community. HSU students talked with local community members and got to know the city a little more. The Equity Arcata organization usually coordinates more than one potluck event a year, with the next event coming up sometime in March.

  • Any one of us

    Any one of us

    Humboldt State alumni gives voice to incarcerated women in play

    On an overcast afternoon with lightly peppered rain, the Siren’s Song Tavern in Eureka doubled as a rehearsal stage for the upcoming play “Any One Of Us: Words From Women In Prison.” Humboldt State University alumni and activist for formerly incarcerated rights, Vanessa Vrtiak, will direct Eve Ensler’s production for the second time in Humboldt County. The press release states the play “is a collection of stories from formerly and currently incarcerated women from across the nation moving forward toward healing, understanding and change with the goal of using their writing and voices to impact policy, laws and treatment of incarcerated women.”

    “These women are not defined by their crimes, but we hear news of some horrific crime and define someone solely on that,” Vrtiak said. “These issues trickle down and almost make re-entry impossible. We label constantly because it’s so easy to cast stones before we know who they are.”

    VV1.jpg
    Caterina Keen, Megan McAllister, Michelle “Chelly” Purnell, Vanessa Vrtiak, Nezzie Wade, and Klark Swan at rehearsal for the play “Any One Of Us” at Sirens Song Tavern. | Photo by T. William Wallin

    Vrtiak first directed the play in 2011 with five shows and is excited to be creating it again. After rehearsal she said it feels more intense than before because of where the state of the country is, but believes it’s the right time to be performing.

    [perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”Nezzie Wade” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]“What these women have been subjected to it’s amazing they’re even alive to be incarcerated.”[/perfectpullquote]

    “Still after all this time there’s a lack of support and resources for formerly incarcerated individuals in the community,” Vrtiak said. “I know how powerful and poignant this play is. It’s dark but there is hope in this play.”

    Community activist and founder of the Affordable Homeless Housing Association (AHHA), Nezzie Wade, has performed with Vrtiak before and said the acting in “Any One Of Us” uses criminal justice dialogue to bring light to all of our systems of court and prosecution. The stories are heavy and link the correlation between women in prison and the violence they have endured.

    “Peeling back the layers of these women is very moving,” Wade said. “But what these women have been subjected to it’s amazing they’re even alive to be incarcerated.”

    Wade, who works closely with the homeless population in Humboldt County, said we use incarceration as a tool to manage and store people and this play sheds light on our current system.

    “It’s become so easy to dehumanize people and detach,” Wade said. “We want a community that cares deeply about the situation.”

    Actress and HSU alumni Michelle “Chelly” Purnell agrees with Wade and said she is acting in the play because there aren’t many people of color in Eve Ensler’s plays.

    “They aren’t intersexual in Humboldt County,” Purnell said. “There should always be a person of color in those works because there isn’t any.”

    For Purnell this play reaffirms how important art and activism is to allow voices to be heard.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Michelle Purnell” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Art is activism in every shape and form.”[/perfectpullquote]

    “We don’t think about how people get to where they are,” Purnell said. “We need to ask: ‘What has happened to them that we could have changed?’ Art is activism in every shape and form.”

    Vrtiak said this play will be a kick-off for a bigger project in the community and is only the beginning. She is starting Humboldt County Re-entry Initiative, a non-profit that will benefit formerly incarcerated individuals in the community.

    “The money from the play will go to formerly incarcerated individuals to be reintegrated back into the community,” Vrtiak said. “We have a lot of work to do in the community with incarceration, homeless, people of color and the list going on and on and on.”

    IMG_9801.jpg
    Nezzie Wade, Michelle “Chelly” Purnell, Vanessa Vrtiak, Megan McAllister, Caterina Kein, at rehearsal for the play “Any One Of Us” at Sirens Song Tavern. | Photo by T. William Wallin

    “What we say on stage helps the community to engage and understand what happens in the criminal justice system,” Wade said.

    Performance Dates:

    March 23, 7 p.m. at The Sanctuary in Arcata

    March 24, 5-9 p.m. at The Sanctuary in Arcata

    April 5, 7-9 p.m. at the Siren’s Song Tavern in Eureka

    April 19, 6-9 p.m. at the Eureka Women’s Club, the dinner starts at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. *This show includes a dinner*

    General Admission: $12, $10 with a valid student ID

    The April 19 show is $25, which includes a dinner before the performance.

    Tickets on sale: Feb. 1, at Wildberries Marketplace.

    Tickets are also available online at: brownpapertickets.com

  • Blotter bytes

    Blotter bytes

    The Rolling Count

    As mentioned in a previous article, it is still illegal to possess weed on campus. Since the new year, four people have been charged with marijuana possession on campus, two of them being for individuals between the ages of 18-20. Although it happened last year, it is worth noting that there were 22 cases of either paraphernalia or “contraband” being seized in 2018. “Contraband” can be considered bongs, bowls, pipes, grinders, you know all the things needed to “blow ‘dro”, “puff cheeba”, “blaze up” or whatever else you call it.

    As part of this series, The Lumberjack will be keeping track of all marijuana possession charges, as well as paraphernalia and “contraband” charges. So far the “Rolling Count” for possession charges is at four and the the “Rolling Count” for paraphernalia and contraband is at zero.

    “Hollerin’ ‘hootie hoo!’ when we see the cops”

    Monday Jan. 28

    • Ew what is that?!?!—Bloody tissues were found along side a blanket near the Rohner Admission Center around 9:00 a.m., however the owner of the bloody tissues and blanket were nowhere to be found.
    • Someone stole something—A petty theft of an item valued over $50 was taken from the Music B building at around 1:30 p.m. hopefully the item will be returned in the near future.

    Tuesday Jan. 29

    • Someone buttdialed the cops—This happens way too often as you will see in future Blotter Bytes.
    • You can’t smoke here bro!—UPD was called to respond to multiple reports of someone smoking on campus. Listen up folx, HSU is a no tobacco campus, puff that stuff elsewhere.
    • A case of mistaken identity (aka fraud)—A camera was previously checked out from the Library using someone else’s ID and was not returned and was reported at 8:19 a.m. as fraud.
    • A trespassing charge was issued to a man “asking the housing department desk for info regarding a homeless shelter.” It is shameful to think that when a person was asking for help, he was detained and arrested instead. Shame on the powers that be.

    Wednesday Jan. 30

    • The skatepark is that-a-way homie!—Someone called the cops to report “skateboarders creating a hazard to pedestrians.” Skateboarding is not a crime…unless UPD catches you.

    Thursday Jan. 31

    • An issue worth addressing—Some of our more marginalized and needing counterparts call our streets, parking lots, forested areas and underpasses home for the night. UPD was called because of a camping violation under the underpass that leads from campus to G Street. The individual was let go without a ticket.
    • Another unneeded call to 911—Arcata Police (UPD and APD work together sometimes) responded and the caller said it was an accident.
    • No Fly Zone—A man was flying a drone around campus at 11:46 p.m. UPD responded and told the individual to land his aircraft, because people thought that aliens were coming. JK JK aliens aren’t coming here, he just didn’t have the proper paperwork.

    Friday Feb. 1

    • Nothing too substantial happened. Just another unneeded 911 call (I told you this happens a lot), someone drew something on a “Telecom box” outside of Maple Residence hall and some people were pulled over for not stopping at a stop sign. I thought Fridays were supposed to wild.

    Saturday Feb. 2

    • Umm excuse me, but you don’t live here—“Two suspicious subjects” were asked to leave the Sunset Residence hall at around 10:00 p.m.
    • Drug Activity! (calm down it’s just weed)—Someone was cited for 11357 (a)(2) at around 10:15 p.m. 11357 (a)(2) is written out for marijuana possession for adults ages 18-20.
    • What the eff is that smell?—A burning smell was reported in Fern Residence hall at 3:14 p.m. Turns out nothing was on fire but a fan in one of the bathrooms stopped working.

    Sunday Feb 3.

    • Super Bowl Sunday! Things are going to get lit AF for sure, right?!?! Turns out not really. Just a couple of people got pulled over and someone accidentally went into the wrong room.
  • Yellow vests in the quad

    Yellow vests in the quad

    Clubs and activities fair disrupted by Party for Socialism and Liberation

    Beneath scattered clouds and a radiant blue sky, HSU’s clubs and activities fair kicked off with students posing in yoga postures, walking along slacklines, juggling pins…and dropping an eight foot handmade banner protesting US involvement in Venezuela. The sun glared off yellow vested activists as they went around passing out fliers titled “Oppose the US-backed coup in Venezuela.”

    IMG_9900.jpg Nathaniel McGuigan, member of the Party For Socialism and Liberation, handed out fliers calling for oppostion of American involvement in Venezuela during clubs and activtites fair at HSU on February 6th 2019. By T.William Wallin

    “We’re here to disrupt this event and pass out information,” Nathaniel McGuigan, member of the party for socialism and liberation, said. “This is basically to tell people why to back Venezuela, to defend the Bolivarian revolution, the Venezuelan people, and president Maduro.”

    It’s of no surprise that the American government has had its hands in Latin America for decades, trying to influence its agenda by any means. They did it before with Guatemalan president, Jacobo Arbenz, in 1954, as well as Chilean president, Salvador Allende, in 1973, not to mention Ronald Reagan and the Contras in Nicaragua.

    Recently the democratically-elected government of Nicolas Maduro broke relations with the US government and ordered the removal of their embassy. The Trump administration is backing a member of the Popular Will party who gained no votes, Juan Guaido, and declaring him president even though Maduro was re-elected last year with 67 percent of the vote.

    “Students should support the revolution and as working class people it’s our duty to stand up to other countries sovereignty,” McGuigan said. “We oppose countries in power that overthrow regimes that benefit their people.”

    IMG_9907.jpg Simone Rani McGowan, member of Earth Guardians, and Nathaniel McGuigan, member of the Party For Socialism and Liberation, handed out fliers calling for oppostion of American involvement in Venezuela during clubs and activtites fair at HSU on Feb. 6. Photo by T.William Wallin

    Standing next to McGuigan, yellow vest included, was Simone Rani McGowan, an environmental studies major and member of the Earth Guardians. McGowan said her club and the PSL team up quite often, usually raising awareness on tuition struggles and campus climate, but with heavier topics as well such as marching in solidarity with the Honduran caravan.

    “This whole idea is to support community and to remind people of the compassion needed in these issues,” McGowan said. “Every day we have to reconnect with our humanity. It’s important to educate our youth in resistance.”

    Chad Friefeld, member of Climate Change Club, agrees with McGowan and said that one of the main things for students to know is American history is full of examples of US corrupted involvement in latin america.

    “We are trying to break through the western capital media which is not portraying the truth in Venezuela,” Friefeld said. “We want to talk to people about this coup and that the Trump administration and Venezuelan opposition is not democratic. We are standing in solidarity to help spread the word.”

    IMG_9895.jpg A handmade sign opposing American invovlement in Venezuela was hung above the clubs and activities fair at HSU on February 6th 2019. By T.William Wallin

    Among the handful of yellow vests and crowd of students tabling was UPD officer Chance Carpenter. Carpenter was at the event talking with all the clubs and opening up for any questions or comments to be addressed. Because it was Wednesday, it was Carpenter’s shift but he said he was the face of UPD for the day and acting as the safety advocate. When asked about the PSL banner, Carpenter said it was above his pay raise for a comment but he does like free speech.

    “I certainly do like people exercising their free speech,” Carpenter said. “I’ve had to actually protect people in the past on campus who had conflicting difference with other groups.”

  • Celebration of a civil rights hero

    Celebration of a civil rights hero

    Fred Korematsu Day Of Civil Liberties celebrated at Humboldt State

    January 30 marked the 100th birthday of civil rights hero Fred Korematsu. Students, alumni, faculty and community members filled the fishbowl of the library at Humboldt State University to celebrate the national civil rights hero who refused to go to the government’s incarceration camps for Japanese Americans. Kumi Watanabe-Schock, HSU’s library media coordinator, coordinated the event and said it started because Karen Korematsu, Fred Korematsu’s daughter, visited HSU in 2012.

    “This is an annual event and the fifth time we’ve done it,” Watanabe-Schock said. “We usually get a huge turn out and a lot of the Japanese community members attend too.”

    Watanabe-Schock credits the films they show and the facilitators they have for such a big crowd. This year criminology and justice studies professor, Michihiro Clark Sugata, and critical race, gender and sexuality studies professor, Christina Accomando, hosted the event. The film shown was “Resistance At Tule Lake,” a first hand account of survivors who were incarcerated at the largest and longest active concentration camp in northern California.

    fredkormatsu.jpg
    Day of Civil Liberties Event in the fishbowl on Jan. 30. | Photo by Tony Wallin

    “It was very refreshing to watch a documentary that was told by first hand accounts of people who were in the camps,” Michel-Ange Siaba, criminology and justice studies sophomore, said. “[Michihiro] Clark made a strong point in my class that the movie showing had something new to bring. I wanted to learn something new and I did.“

    Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties is celebrated because he defied the order of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the U.S. military to remove over 120,000 people of Japanese descent, the majority of whom were American citizens, from their homes and forced them into American prison camps throughout the United States. Korematsu was ultimately arrested and convicted, but appealed his case all the way to the Supreme Court. In 1944 the Supreme Court ruled against him, stating it was legal to imprison Japanese-Americans for military necessity. It wasn’t until 1983 that Korematsu’s conviction was overturned in federal court in San Francisco.

    “This is a clear example of how the government’s backward tactics were used to badly treat the Japanese,” Siaba said. “It’s very sad, but it’s an eye opener. That is my biggest take away from today.”

    Franco Imperial was a special guest at the event promoting San Jose Taiko’s symposium show coming to Humboldt County next year. Imperial has been with San Jose Taiko since 1998 and has played alongside survivors of concentration camps. Imperial was invited by Amy Uyeki, a visual artist in Arcata and contributor to the documentary “Searchlight Serenade.”

    “In Humboldt County there is interest (in Taiko) and an audience that’s curious and younger,” Imperial said. “It’s up to our generation to carry on the story and to do it in conjunction with Humboldt and the community is exciting and important.”

    fredkormatsu2.jpg
    Franco Imperial, drummer for San Jose Taiko, was a special guest at Fred Korematsu Day Of Civil Liberties promoting San Jose Taiko Symposium coming to Humboldt County in 2020. | Photo by Tony Wallin

    San Jose Taiko is a performance art company that Imperial said toured through Humboldt in the early ‘90s but the symposium show will be the first one outside of San Jose. Imperial said the show coming next year will be a living story and involve the entire audience.

    “Next year will be an immersive theatre experience,” Imperial said. “The audience isn’t passively sitting in their seats, they are in the middle of the action and drama and music and dance. They are surrounded by it all, a totally different experience. It’s for the audience to connect with something deeper.”

    Watanabe-Schock said this year was especially exciting because they had Imperial as a guest.

    “Because (Amy) Uyeki is both connected to the event every year and with Imperial we can talk about Taiko and Japanese internment camps together,” Watanabe-Schock said. “The Japanese community will be getting together to talk about the Taiko project.”