The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Category: Editorial

  • Editorial: College Athletes Deserve Compensation

    Editorial: College Athletes Deserve Compensation

    Playing collegiate sports and taking a full-time schedule is the equivalent of having two full-time jobs

    During an online-only episode of “The Shop,” California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 206, or the Fair Pay to Play Act on Sept. 30.

    Along with several other former college athletes, Newsom believes college athletes, especially Division I athletes, deserve compensation for their hard work and dedication to the game that makes their “bosses” rich.

    “Colleges reap billions from student athletes but block them from earning a single dollar,” Newsom tweeted. “That’s a bankrupt model.”

    Despite Humboldt State being a NCAA Division II program, we still agree that our athletes deserve some type of compensation based on the amount of revenue our athletic program brings in.

    “The Shop” is a HBO talk show owned under the digital sports media company Uninterpreted. During the episode, Newsom was accompanied by NBA star LeBron James and they both shared the news on Twitter by posting a video snippet.

    In a world that is so divided, sports can bring people together. Whether an athlete plays for a professional team or a college team, the support and compassion they receive from fans remains loyal.

    In professional sports, athletes sign contracts with a team or an organization. When they sign, they are agreeing to the specific payment details they were offered or that they negotiated with their organization. For collegiate sports, college athletes are offered a scholarship breakdown and have the decision of accepting it or not.

    However, anyone who is up to date with our budget crisis around campus knows that our athletic program probably receives close to no money to provide to our athletes. Especially considering that we still have athletes attending HSU out of pocket to participate in an intercollegiate sports.

    HSU may not seem like a great example when pushing the idea that college athletes deserve compensation, but the Fair Pay to Play Act doesn’t allow athletes to be paid by their university, it just gives them the leeway to find sponsorship and make money off their hard work.

    When we consider professional athletes, endorsement deals are contracted regularly. These deals allow companies to use athletes’ names, numbers and any other marketing facet that’s agreed upon, in exchange for money paid to the athlete. College athletes do not receive endorsement offers, but they still partake in similar marketing techniques that bring in revenue for their college and coaches.

    The counterargument to this case states that college athletes are provided a scholarship that pays their tuition and resources that help them get through the academic portion of school.

    Although this is true, many fail to realize the dedication and time commitment it takes to be a successful student-athlete. Being a student-athlete is essentially equivalent to holding two full-time jobs: studying and playing. This doesn’t leave time for a job off-campus to provide a steady source of income.

    The fact that colleges and head coaches make money off their players’ successes is ludicrous, especially when the players themselves aren’t receiving any portion of that revenue. It is this exact argument that Newsom brought to light.

    The proposed bill allows college athletes to receive a portion of the revenue that their college receives and sign endorsement deals like the pro athletes they aspire to be. Although the NCAA fought against the signing of this bill, Newsom stuck to his belief. He proposed providing the NCAA with a grace period to narrow down rules and regulations in hopes of making the transition smooth and effective. Therefore, the bill does not play any effect on college sports in California until Jan. 1, 2023.

  • Editorial: Impeachment Should Be Mandatory

    Editorial: Impeachment Should Be Mandatory

    Senate requires 2/3 majority to fully impeach and we hope they get it

    Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment investigation against President of the United States Donald Trump on Sept. 24. The motion to charge the president is long overdue and the Senate must not fail us when the time comes to remove Trump from office.

    The U.S. has been teased with impeachment since the Mueller report and the investigation into Russia’s interference with the 2016 presidential election, however, it took until now to initiate the formal process.

    This time, the abuse of power that pushed the democrats and Pelosi to act was a whistleblower complaint regarding a controversial phone call between Trump and Ukrianian President Volodymyr Zelensky from July.

    The White House released a manuscript on Sept. 25, laying out how Trump abused his position of presidential power by asking Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. At the time of the call, Trump was withholding millions of dollars worth of military assistance from Ukraine.

    This is a clear act of bribery; and asking a foreign power to dig up dirt for the sake of reelection is a clear abuse of power. But does it matter?

    In order to be impeached from office, according to Article 2 Section 4 of the constitution, “the president, vice president and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”

    The impeachment of a president is rare and has only happened twice in U.S. history. It’s important to understand that impeachment does not mean removal.

    The 17th President of the United States Andrew Johnson was impeached for removing an appointed official without the consent of Congress in Feb. 24, 1868. Johnson was acquitted based on a Senate vote.

    The 37th President of the United States Richard Nixon faced imminent impeachment but became the first president to resign in August 8, 1974. In a “you can’t fire me because I quit” fashion, Nixon left office before he could forcibly booted after the infamous Watergate Scandal where he facilitated political spying to aid with reelection.

    The 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton was “impeached” but not necessarily removed. The House of Representatives impeached Clinton but just as with Johnson, the senate did not come to the necessary 2/3 majority agreement.

    Fast forward to 2019 and the recently exposed phone call.

    “…There’s a lot of talk about Biden’s son, that Biden stopped the persecution and a lot of people want to find out about that so whatever you can do with the Attorney General would be great,” Trump said in the phone call. “Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it… It sounds horrible to me.”

    This refers to Hunter Biden’s employment with Burisma Holdings, a Ukrianian gas company, back in May 2014. Trump states Joe Biden used his influence and wealth to persuade Ukraine to remove the prosecutor investigating Burisma and Biden’s son. Trump then says the prosecutor was replaced within hours of the request.

    The House of Representatives claims the phone call was a turning point for many Democrats, who, after reading the transcript, began to consider impeachment seriously.

    The House initially bet on the Mueller report to initiate an impeachment inquiry, but the report failed to surface any firm presidential wrongdoings. Additionally, Pelosi wanted to be mindful of the approaching 2020 election, making an effort to not popularize Trump’s platform or sway voters.

    The process seems to be moving along quickly, but the trial is postponed until security surrounding the whistleblower’s identity and safety is finalized.

    House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Shiff announced the whistleblower will testify “very soon.” Meanwhile, Schiff, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel and House Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings issued Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s lawyer, a subpoena.

    “You [Giuliani] acted as an agent of the President in a scheme to advance his personal political interests by abusing the power of the Office of the President…” the subpoena said.

    The subpoena requires that Giuliani present “…communications, and other related documents, to the Committees in order to determine the full extent of this effort by the President and his Administration to press Ukraine to interfere in our 2020 presidential election” by Oct. 15.

    We can only hope the Senate will pull through this time and formally remove the 45th President of the United States from office.

  • Editorial: Follow the Money

    Editorial: Follow the Money

    Companies outed on social media for funding political advocacy groups

    A long list of companies that use profits to fund pro-Trump advocacy groups was recently published to several social media sites.

    This scandal begs an important question, are our purchases worth it if they support a larger cause, or person, we might not necessarily support ourselves?

    Companies including SoulCycle, Equinox, CVS and Taco Bell were just a few of those exposed on Twitter and Instagram.

    SoulCycle and Equinox were the first two companies to feel the heat. Equinox was quickly trending on Twitter but for all the wrong reasons. With hashtags such as: “#BoycottEquinox” and “#BoycottSoulCycle,” both companies went under fire from paying subscribers.

    The social media frenzy didn’t go without notice for long, as both gym facilities soon released a public disclaimer on social media. Both claimed that the day-to-day operations are in no way affected or influenced by the owner, Stephen Ross, and his political affiliations.

    The boycott continues as news of Ross hosting a fundraiser for Trump in the Hamptons surfaced with tickets costing as much as $250,000.

    SoulCycle and Equinox were not the only major players under scrutiny.

    The boycott hashtag trend lives on with CVS. “#BoycottCVS” was created as the company donated $35,000 to the Trump Victory PAC (Political Action Committee), becoming one of four biggest donors involved in the reelection campaign. Additionally, they donated $500,000 to America First Policies in 2018.

    America First Policies, is a “non-profit organization supporting key policy initiatives that will work for all citizens in our country and put America first,” however, Mike Pence’s face is the first thing you see upon opening the homepage of the website; giving a strong indication of who is involved and what political beliefs are represented.

    Recently, the organization has been accused of being racist, homophobic, sexist and anti-Muslim after several outbursts containing these sentiments from the advocacy director were found online.

    Taco Bell, specifically the Taco PAC, is reportedly one of four companies to donate the most to the Trump election campaign in 2016. In regards to the 2020 election, however, no donations have currently been made to the Trump PAC.

    There are larger consequences to the spending decisions we make. This new information should make us challenge our mindfulness behind the actual value behind a purchase, knowing our money, in a way, is going toward supporting a larger cause. Ultimately, losing leverage and control over our money and what it is funding is an uncomfortable reality.

    However, between public disapproval and social media boycotts, the power in being a consumer is important to remember. Consumers have the power to persuade companies. All the recent public outcry towards Taco Bell has coincided with the withholding of any 2020 campaign donations from them and that is no coincidence.

    Regardless, the power of being a consumer is something we often forget and take for granted. The next time you find yourself in a Taco Bell drive-thru, ask yourself: is the taco really worth the dollar?

  • To the journalist from Yonkers

    To the journalist from Yonkers

    Lumberjack staff and editors bid farewell to their favorite adviser, knowing full-well she’ll be back in a few years

    After 14 years of hard work and dedication, Lumberjack Adviser Marcy Burstiner plans to take a step back from the paper and give other professors a chance to hold the reigns. As students and journalists we want to show our appreciation for Marcy the only way we know how: through words. This is for all those years, laughs and hair-pulling moments.

    “Thank you Marcy for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. If it wasn’t for you I don’t know where I would be at this point in my life. You’ve been the best hype woman/professor/adviser I could ask for. I couldn’t be more proud to serve as Lumberjack’s EIC with you as my adviser.” – Dajonea Robinson

    “Marcy Burstiner is someone who irritates you to no end, shows you that you’re loved and accepted and makes sure that you strive to be better in one fell swoop. Her attitude and her (hilarious) grace are inspiring and I’m more than grateful I was around while she advised the Lumberjack. Now we both deserve a drink.” – Deija Zavala

    “I will never forget my semesters working with you as my advisor. You know you have a good adviser above you when you’re equal parts ready to quit but working even harder than before. I’ll forever hear ‘You know what your problem is…’ in the back of my head when I’m overthinking things. You’ll be greatly missed.” – Megan Bender

    “Marcy’s enthusiasm for teaching always makes for an engaging class and an uplifting environment.” – Chelsea Wood

    “Marcy has given me the confidence to be the reporter I never thought I could be. She has always made Lumberjack a little more exciting than other classes by lighting up the room with her bubbly personality! Thank you for everything you have done for us, Marcy!” – Amanda Schultz

    “Thank you, Marcy! You are the best!” – Braeden Delome

    “You have been an amazing source of inspiration and courage as a reporter and person, thank you for being you, Marcy!” – Benji Goodale

    “Thank you for believing in me even when I don’t believe in myself.” – Liam Warner

    “I’d like to thank Marcy for opening the doors of organization, sticky notes and spread sheets. I’d also like to thank her for reminding me as a journalist that my flaws are my assets.” – T. William Wallin

    “Thank you so much Marcy for your wisdom and your guidance through my two semesters with you and the Lumberjack!” – Sebastian Lindner

    “Marcy tells you what you don’t want to hear sometimes but it ultimately benefits you in the long run. She’s supportive and amazing when you get to know her more.” – Silvia Alfonso

    “Thank you Marcy for inspiring me and showing me what it takes to be a journalist. You’ve taught me so much in the past nine months that have already been put to use. My only regret is that I have only one more year under your guidance.” – Freddy Brewster

    “Marcy taught us a lot and sees the potential in people, even in people who are quiet like me. She knows when she sees someone who can make their mark in the field of journalism. I’ve never heard of Yonkers before I met Marcy, but if people from there are like her, then it must be a pretty cool place.” – Luis E. Lopez Jr.

    “Marcy Burstiner has always inspired me to work my hardest, improve myself and find my passion.” – Cosette McCave

    “I would like to send a huge thank you to Marcy for inspiring me to join the journalism field; she has given me the confidence to keep questioning people and the world around me. The Lumberjack will truly miss her spunky energy.” – Christina Samoy

    “Marcy was always there to support everyone in the Lumberjack, she gave me great advice about being a reporter, writer and an overall journalist. For my first time reporting for the Lumberjack I was happy to have Marcy guide me through it.” – Skylar Gaven

    “Marcy can make a captivating story out of almost anything.” – Weston Lazarus

    “Marcy is a badass. I idolize her confidence and determination. Honestly, her entire persona. She genuinely has everyone’s best interest at heart and radiates positivity and good vibes, even her criticism leaves you feeling inspired and confident in your direction. Beyond journalism, Marcy cares and makes that apparent in every interaction you have with her.” – Grace Caswell

    “Thank you for making me a way better reporter and always keeping it real. The LJ won’t be the same without your crazy ass. Much love.” – Gabe Rivera

    “Marcy’s ability to balance energy and patience brought out the best reporter in me.” – Matt Shiffler

    “Even though Marcy thinks I have rejoined The Lumberjack because she is leaving, that is not completely the case. I want her to know that I so utterly appreciate her topsy-turvy teaching style as well as her push to help me pursue things I have once felt were unrealistic.” – Skye Kimya

    “Marcy taught me that no one cares if you just do what the job asks for, but you’ll also never get anywhere. The only way to keep moving forward is to consistently go above the bar that’s been set.” – Jett Williams

    “I don’t remember the exact moment, but I can always feel the passion behind what Marcy believes in. And that is something you cannot teach. Passion.” – Emily Osthimer

    “Thank you so much for making delicious bread and helping me recognize leads!” –Delaney Duarte

    “Thank you for dedicating your life to not only teaching us how to be better story tellers, but how to be better workers, motivators and hustlers. You are truly are of my favorite educators I have had in my schooling career. You have taught me more than just how to write a catchy lead, you have taught me how to navigate in a nothing-is-promised career. Thank you for being a BOSS!” – Maia Wood

    Even with all these true words of kindness nothing can describe or express the gratitude we all have for Marcy Burstiner. Thank you, Marcy. We love you. The Lumberjack misses you already.

  • Hold Those in Power Accountable

    Hold Those in Power Accountable

    We all need to be aware of the consequences of our mistakes. And that means owning up to them, too. 

    You learn by your mistakes. This doesn’t mean you intentionally make mistakes in your everyday life, but it means that you learn from them and try your best to own up and do better the next time around. We must take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves and others accountable.

    The Mueller Report was recently released, detailing Donald Trump’s campaign involvement with Russia. But instead of holding himself accountable to his actions, he has instead chosen to go back to his original tactic of tweeting and vocally voicing his denial of the report and the related evidence. Trump has intentionally diverted attention away from the Mueller report by calling it “politically motivated,” and painting himself as the victim.

    Despite the years of investigation that went into the report, many are in denial of its authenticity. Some supporters have gone as far as writing the report off as “written by Angry Democrats and Trump Haters” while they downplay the damning evidence that says otherwise.

    It’s important to acknowledge those who are in denial of the mounting evidence and to acknowledge those who claim the report is incorrect or untrue despite the evidence proving the opposite.

    With Lisa Rossbacher’s departure looming and the announcement of the next Humboldt State University president, we want to highlight some of the issues brought up when it comes to those not taking into account the effects of their actions. On the president’s webpage, it claims that she wants to focus on key areas, “supporting student success, providing a welcoming environment for our diverse community, ensuring we have the resources needed to fulfill our mission and expanding partnerships, both on- and off- campus”.

    While that may be the case, there are multiple things that President Rossbacher has done that show otherwise. She had significant involvement in shutting down the football program, there has been a complete lack of acknowledgement of the racism in the school and campus community and the majority of anti-immigrant rhetoric on campus. To top it off, Rossbacher and the committee decided to gut KHSU without warning and the Arcata community isn’t too happy either.

    We are all human. Every day we make decisions and their consequences may not be immediately known to us or others. There can be immense pressure on an individual to make a decision in the heat of the moment, but when the consequences of that decision come to reality, it is important to acknowledge any mistakes, own up to them and work to rectify the issues.

    A bit of modesty can go a long way, because mistakes and failures are a natural part of life. As editors, we see and make plenty of small, seemingly irrelevant mistakes: misplaced commas, poor grammar and spelling errors. When a writer at the Lumberjack hands in an article, they have tried their best to catch their own mistakes but it is a show of modesty to allow us editors to mark up their work so the final presentation is handsome and polished. Even then, mistakes slip through the cracks and we try our best to see to them all.

    We should hold those in power to the same standards. If we at the Lumberjack expect our writers and editors to edit their work and try their best to catch their mistakes, then the Humboldt State community needs to hold Lisa Rossbacher accountable for her inaction just as much as the country needs to hold Donald Trump accountable for his. People in power should not get a pass simply because of their position.

  • Editorial: Thank u, next

    Editorial: Thank u, next

    Who will be the next HSU president?

    When President Lisa Rossbacher announced in October that this spring will be her last year serving as president of HSU many wondered who will be the one to take her place.

    We’re already reaching our end of the school semester and there is still no word as to who will serve as HSU’s president. The last we’ve heard of the search publicly was back in February when there was an open forum for the search for the next HSU president, but there was still no announcement on who’s next.

    However, what’s more convenient is that the announcement of HSU’s next president will be after spring graduation. You know, when most students will not be in campus until their summer or fall semester starts. It’s convenient since there won’t be many students at that point voicing their opinions of the new president.

    President Rossbacher has been a controversial president, with the cutting of the football program, the administration’s lack of acknowledgment when it comes to racism around the community and the closing of the third street art gallery and KHSU’s shut down just to name a few things that don’t paint a positive picture for Rossbacher’s image. Many students, community members and faculty have spoken out against President Rossbacher’s actions and lack of taking action.

    While we’re happy to finally see an end to Rossbacher’s leadership there needs to be more transparency as to who will take on her role next. We don’t know if the next president will improve upon HSU’s issues and demands, resume the same leadership tactics as Rossbacher or be an even worse president than Rossbacher.

    With that in mind we should know who HSU’s next president is going to be at this point in our semester. We should know if our next president will stand with their students, faculty and community.

    We don’t want a president who will just stay quiet from the students’ and the community’s demands while cutting programs that meant a lot to the community and former alumni. Thank you Rossbacher for not completely burning HSU down to a crisp but, who’s next?

  • EDITORIAL: Warn us faster HSU

    EDITORIAL: Warn us faster HSU

    Our safety lies in the university’s hands, we want to know what’s going on

    As college students who pay thousands and put our safety in the university’s hands, we live on campus expecting to be safe. But that’s not what’s been happening.

    Last weekend a student assaulted another student on campus. This assault went unnoticed until nearly 24 hours later when the school sent out a mass text and email stating what had taken place.

    In our staff we have editors who have attended various colleges before HSU and recounted stories of students who weren’t alerted of crimes on time. Notices were given out days later if at all.

    There were some instances where students would hear about assaults and harmful events on campus from fellow students rather than the school themselves.

    When you’re a senior in high school looking for schools to attend, one thing that you’re not told to look out for are schools that fail to alert you if there is a dangerous person on campus. You’re not told to look out for schools that fail to alert their students about assaults, rapes, etc.

    In the past academic year at HSU we have received a lot of big news via mass emails and texts within hours of it occurring. We think that no matter how small or big the event, we should be alerted as soon as possible.

    We want to be told of everything that goes on on our campus. We do not pay for the school to decide what is worthy of being sent out in mass messages. We are tired of these messages being inconsistent with their timing.

    The amount of time between when an assault happens on campus or a student goes missing and when the school sends a message should be the same amount of time. One shouldn’t be told to students faster than the other. They are both serious events and they both should be treated as such.

    We want to feel safe on our school campus.

  • EDITORIAL: We stand with KHSU

    EDITORIAL: We stand with KHSU

    There is no excuse for the HSU administration to gut KHSU

    We at the Lumberjack newspaper stand behind KHSU. We stand behind the staff members and all the volunteers. We do not stand with HSU administration, Lisa Rossbacher, Craig Wruck or Peter Fretwell in their decision to dismantle our beloved local community radio station.

    There is no excuse they can give that will ever justify how they decided to gut an entire radio station. Lisa Rossbacher was given the audit report a couple days before the firing of all but two paid staff members at KHSU.

    If this was not a premeditated decision, then we would like some explanation as to how a decision as destructive and community-shattering as this one could be made in just 48 hours.

    To make matters even shadier, a week before this decision KHSU was having their annual spring pledge drive. Where does all the money go?

    Major underwriters and community members have stopped their monthly donations and are no longer supporting whatever KHSU will become. This shows HSU’s lack of respect for transparency and community relationships. What does this mean for us at the Lumberjack as journalists? Are we next to go?

    KHSU has been here for over 50 years with a slogan of “diverse public radio.” It appears HSU would like to keep the radio waves less diverse and fill it with non-local syndicated programs.

    Since the beginning KHSU has been talking about major issues like student housing shortages (still a problem today) and soothing the towns of Humboldt with jazz and folk music.

    Volunteers have always been a part of KHSU, building a bridge between the school and the community. By 2010 over 80 volunteers accounted for over 68 hours of day-to-day programming as well as over 63 hours of music production.

    There was a connection between the community and KHSU because the community had a part in the content being produced.

    Today more than ever we need more local involvement with the day-to-day occurrences of where we live. Throughout the country we are losing local media and getting our news and music replaced with syndicated programs that are no longer sourced in our towns.

    In Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman’s book “Manufacturing Consent” they criticize the consolidation and commodification of media. Large corporations must bend over backwards for their shareholders and financial interests, which trickles down to what they publish or produce. This in turn influences what gets to the public and what gets omitted.

    Local involvement means getting our news from our community, not a giant corporation intent on capitalist domination. HSU’s decision to gut KHSU can only mean they’re putting profit over people.

    HSU doesn’t care what’s being broadcasted on the airwaves as long as it makes them money, but they’ve just thrown themselves into a pit of controversy. With the loss of all staff and volunteers at KHSU, we are losing a piece of what makes this school special.

    As a community member at the recent KHSU protest during the Arcata plaza farmer’s market said, “we are losing a family member.”

  • EDITORIAL: Joe needs to start a-Biden by the law

    EDITORIAL: Joe needs to start a-Biden by the law

    Joe Biden is being a creepy old white man, and he needs to stop

    There’s something we need to talk about…Joe Biden being a creepy old white man. Some old men are for some reason allowed to be handsy or touchy with women and little kids and they get away with it. Is this okay?

    This is something that we definitely need to talk about. Growing up we are around elderly people of different genders and races. But, it’s sad to say that some elderly men have exhibited inappropriate behavior in the past, present and may do so in the future.

    We as editors stand with those who have experienced uncomfortable touching of the shoulders or inappropriate conversation from old men and women. However, being as they are elderly and they are supposed to have the respect of the community, it is a struggle when dealing with whether or not one should share how they feel about the situation.

    Now with the whole Joe Biden situation we have to decide whether or not we believe that his actions are appropriate. We have to look at the context of the situation. If there was a family event, then it may be okay for hugs and maybe kisses on the cheek. However, if you are at a professional or political event then you should probably stick to handshakes.

    In some videos posted on YouTube Joe Biden is seen taking pictures with senators and their families. When the families would pose to take pictures with Biden, he would specifically ask for the young girls in the family to come and stand next to him in the photo.

    While they were getting ready for the photo Biden is seen time and time again touching their hair and sometimes he is seen whispering something in their ear. It is clear that these little girls in the video are uncomfortable.

    In another video while somebody is giving a speech Joe Biden is standing behind the man’s wife with his hands on her shoulders and whispering something in her ear. Once again inappropriate… Not to mention, when the husband turns around to acknowledge his wife in the speech, Biden quickly puts his hands behind his back and steps away as if he knows that he is overstepping his boundaries.

    Whether or not these situations were all intentional or not, there needs to be a standard for situations like these. On behalf of The Lumberjack’s Editorial Staff, we believe that personal space is important and should be respected. If you ever find yourself questioning whether or not something is appropriate just play it safe! Be professional and respect their space.

  • EDITORIAL: Expand those taste buds

    EDITORIAL: Expand those taste buds

    The LJ editorial board encourages everyone to try alternative foods (at least once)

    When it comes to our diet as college students, we tend to stick with the same routine. Either cooking some ramen noodles, or grabbing a bite to eat at the various food courts or restaurants around HSU. Sometimes we don’t have the time to cook for ourselves but that shouldn’t hinder our chances of trying something new every once in a while.

    Let’s talk about cockroach milk. Cockroaches are without a doubt to some people disgusting and a pest to have running around at home or in public. A trend that has been going on recently is cockroach milk. The milk itself comes from the gut of one cockroach species, and is actually produced in crystalline form.

    While it may come in small amounts, scientists at the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in Bangalore, India discovered that cockroach milk is very nutritious and has three times the calories of buffalo milk. However, it should be noted that more studies on cockroach milk need to be done before it’s deemed safe for consumption.

    Cockroach milk is not the first insect food involving dairy. Casu marzu is a well known meal in Italy and France, consisting of a block of pecorino cheese that is left outside so Cheese Flies (Piophila Casei) can lay eggs inside the cheese. The cheese is then eaten with the larva inside. People who’ve eaten it have described the taste as a strong Gorgonzola.

    While it’s considered a delicacy in parts of Europe, Casu marzu is considered a dangerous food to eat, and illegal to produce. According to All Things Interesting, it’s important correctly chew and kill the maggots before swallowing.

    “Otherwise, they can live in the body and rip holes through the intestines. No biggie. But kind of a biggie.”

    If you are interested in eating insects safely, grasshoppers are considered to be rich in protein. Coming in a variety of flavors and varieties from chocolate-covered grasshoppers to toasted grasshoppers with salt and lime.

    In Thailand, it’s very common to walk through a market and find vendors selling stir-fried insects, ranging from giant water bugs to Bamboo worms.

    So if you’re a picky eater, try something new. Just be informed on what you eat, and be sure to chew hard if what you’re eating is still alive.

  • EDITORIAL: Education can be bought

    EDITORIAL: Education can be bought

    They say you can’t buy happiness, but it seems you can buy a college education

    On March 12, wealthy families were found to have paid thousands of dollars for their children to attend prestigious colleges. This includes the University of Southern California, Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University and many more. This was revealed after U.S. federal prosecutors found that the college admission recruiters and coaches were taking bribes since 2011. Those who are involved in the scandal include Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin, Mossimo Giannulli and various CEOs.

    For some this comes as no surprise that this was uncovered. The old adage of ‘happiness can’t be bought’ is a true statement. Sure, money can make life convenient, but it doesn’t necessarily solve all our issues in life. However, an education can be easily bought if you have enough capital for a degree.

    This is not an uncommon occurrence. In 2013 Buzzfeed published an article by a college recruiter that details their experience of parents bribing recruiters. Even this year in January, an assistant coach from Oklahoma State University was found guilty for taking bribes since 2017.

    Some of the methods used by wealthy families are totally legal. The New York Times highlighted the use of college consultants, where families can pay as high as $1.5 million directly to college consultant companies in order to have their kids steered to certain prestigious colleges from as far back as the start of their eighth grade education. There is even something known as ‘legacy admissions’ where alumni of certain schools like Harvard or Columbia are likely to accept their alumni’s kids to their respective university. Harvard University is known to practice legacy admission, even going so far as to defend the practice.

    Anthony Abraham Jack, an alumni and professor from Harvard University wrote a book called The Privilege of Poor. It focuses on impoverished students who attend prestigious colleges and how they still struggle in private colleges from policies that impact them negatively. Jack also discovered how little the racial diversity was in Harvard, even asking himself when he was there, “Am I the only poor black person here?”

    It’s unfair for disadvantaged students who work hard to attend prestigious colleges only to not be accepted because of their financial status. For these colleges it’s not about how good you were in school, but how deep pocketed your families are.

  • EDITORIAL: Badass womxn exist

    EDITORIAL: Badass womxn exist

    Represent the badass women in history

    It’s Women’s History Month and we want to talk about something that has been bothering us in the Lumberjack Newsroom: the lack of badass female representation in media.

    When there are badass female characters in a film or tv show, they’re usually relegated to the side for a male lead. Even when it comes to video game box art, you have publishers being pressured to not have a female on the front cover.

    With a surge of films and tv shows with female leads like “Wonder Woman” (2017), “Jessica Jones” and “Glow” we’re slowly getting more badass female representation. We would like to highlight some women in history that fall under this title.

    In 1941, Lyudmila Pavlichenko was 24 when she joined Russia’s Red Army to fight the Nazis. She joined the Red Army’s 25th rifle division as one of 2,000 female snipers. She rose to the rank of lieutenant in her division and killed 309 people, most of them Nazis.

    In June 1942 Pavlichenko met with President Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in an effort to convince the U.S. to support the European front of WWII. Pavlichenko and Eleanor Roosevelt got along well and developed a friendship with one another. When Reporters spoke with her, many of them criticized Pavlichenko for not looking ‘pretty enough.’ She was quoted as saying, “I wear my uniform with honor, it has the Order of Lenin on it. It has been covered with blood in battle.”

    In ’60s and ’70s Japan there was a gang known as the Sukeban girl gang that grew popular among high school girls. They were known to wear longer skirts and/or pants as a protest against the sexualization of young teens, and to give the middle finger to the traditional shorter skirts that girls were required to wear.

    They functioned similarly to the Yakuza gangs at the time with a strict code of honor, but focused on petty crimes like shoplifting and beating people up. Because of their popularity more films were made with a focus on all-female gangs like “Girl Boss Guerilla” and “The Pinky Violence.”

    When the Black Panther Party grew in Oakland in the 1960s, many young African Americans joined the group. One of them was 18-year-old Fredrika Newton. Newton disagreed with the image of how society portrayed the Black Panther Party as young African Americans carrying guns. Newton saw them as a group that helped African American communities by feeding them and getting them involved in local government.

    Newton married Huey Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, and founded the Huey P. Newton Foundation after his death. The foundation serves to carry on the Black Panther Party’s efforts in helping predominantly black communities while archiving the history of the Black Panther Party.

    This is just a small selection of badass women in history. There are many more out there who’re ultimate badasses. Maybe there’s even a badass woman in your life who doesn’t have as much recognition.

    Whether it’s your mom who took you to your first football game, or a friend who gave you the best advice to make you feel better, give the woman in your life thanks for being a badass.

  • EDITORIAL: Our code of ethics

    EDITORIAL: Our code of ethics

    Students serving the Humboldt State campus and community since 1929

    The Journalism Code of Ethics is what every journalist follows, whether they are a writer from a multi-media conglomerate or a student run newspaper. We of the Lumberjack newspaper hold these code of ethics to heart, as it helps us navigate the world of becoming a journalist and presenting our stories to readers or viewers.

    One of the most vital rules we follow is to never show our work to the sources. We strive to make our stories as accurate as possible, and when we are asked by sources to preview a story before it’s publish, it will most likely not happen. We follow this rule because it takes away the independence of a journalist from gathering, writing and editing their story. If we were to share the story it would no longer belong to the writer, it instead implies that it belongs to the source. Our job as journalists is to seek the truth to a story and report it. Allowing someone to preview the story takes that away from us.

    Previewing a story for a source also sets a precedent of having to allow every source in the Lumberjack newspaper to preview a story. Hypothetically speaking, say we allow a story to be previewed by source. But because a minimum amount of sources for a story is three, that means having to allow those sources to preview the story as well. Not only that, but other stories have to follow the same thing as well. It not only takes away the story from the writer, but it takes time needed for the news to be published.

    The only time a journalist is allowed to share what they wrote for a story, is if they are talking about something complex like quantum physics. In this case, an expert can be consulted for accuracy.

    We understand the concern of a source wanting to preview a story is for accuracy purposes, but it’s up to us as journalists to be accurate in our story. If more clarity is needed in a story, the journalists will most likely ask for it.

    Student journalism can be an unpaid profession. Some students have to juggle running the news, while also attending classes. We have a rare luxury of making mistakes in the Lumberjack, but we learn from them.

    Mistakes are bound to be made. When we make mistakes, we answer questions of accuracy and make necessary correction as soon as possible. For us it’s a learning experience to run the Lumberjack. We are held to a high standard for delivering an accurate and fair story to our readers, so much so that we’ve won awards for our excellence. We pride ourselves in delivering stories for our readers.

  • EDITORIAL: A chance to highlight pivotal African Americans

    EDITORIAL: A chance to highlight pivotal African Americans

    Don’t let Jussie Smollet’s actions ruin what Black History Month can accomplish

    Jussie Smollett is an American actor on the popular tv show “Empire” who staged a racially and homophobic attack on himself to boost his career. Smollett alleged attack has mountains of evidence that it was staged.

    The case has left Smollett’s fans and colleagues stunned. This scandal comes out on the tail end of Black History Month, which hurts more. We should not leave Black History Month on a bad note, so we want to highlight some black individuals who left their mark in history.

    Claudette Colvin was a teen in 1955 living in Montgomery, Alabama as an African American. While inside a bus, she refused to move from her seat for a white passenger, saying that it was a violation of her constitutional rights. She was arrested for the action and labeled a troublemaker by her community, leading her to drop out of school. Despite Colvin’s actions preceding Rosa Parks by nine months, little is known about what she did. She went on to be part of one of the four plaintiffs in Browder v. Gayle, where Montgomery’s segregation laws were found to be unconstitutional.

    Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman who passed away due to cervical cancer. Her cells were collected, and in a rare case they doubled every 24 hours. The aptly named HeLa cells are now used to study the effects of radiation and poisons without using human subjects, and were used for the development of the polio virus. Although there is controversy in the use of the HeLa cells, as Lacks’ family never received any recognition or compensation for the discovery. Despite this, the HeLa cells were pivotal in their medical uses.

    Bessie Coleman was the first African American woman to stage a public flight in America. Coleman lived in Atlanta, Texas in 1892 until moving to Chicago at age 23. She wanted to explore aviation, but due to being black and a woman she faced racial and gender discrimination. Despite challenges, she broke through those barriers and received her pilot’s license after moving to France. She had a dream of starting an African American flight school in the US, but tragically died during an aerial flight rehearsal at the age of 34. Coleman was a pioneer for other African Americans who aspired to become a pilot, and was inducted in the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2006.

    The Harlem Hellfighters were the 369th Infantry Regiment and mainly consisted of African Americans. The Harlem Hellfighters fought in the trenches of Germany during World War I for six months, the longest any American infantry regiment fought during World War I. Two of their bravest soldiers were privates Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts, who fought off 24 German soldiers killing four during a surprise attack. Both Johnson and Roberts were awarded the French Croix de Guerre and were the first Americans ever to receive the award. This is one of many awards that the Harlem Hellfighters received.

    We wanted to move away from the negativity that came from this year’s Black History Month. Instead we want to highlight these African American individuals that had a pivotal role in shaping history and inspiring others.

  • EDITORIAL: Self-love is self-care

    EDITORIAL: Self-love is self-care

    Remember to take time for yourself and stay mindful of stress factors

    Here at Humboldt State University, we’re in week five of the semester. We understand that for some this semester will be stressful and we want to encourage you to love yourself by promoting a healthy body and mind.

    The most important thing you can do is sleep for eight hours or more, don’t fret on getting assignments done and absolutely do not cram assignments. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the number of students who are lacking sleep or are sleep deprived are at an all time high. Not only can this lead to poorer work quality, but it can also lead to mood swings and higher potentials for motor accidents.

    Here are some things that can help you get a good night’s sleep. Drink Chamomile tea before bed; chamomile is known to have properties that induce sleep and it’s a mild effect so it won’t completely knock you out. Another thing that can help you sleep is to exercise often, go on walks or do a full cardio workout. What matters is exerting enough energy to make yourself tired so you knock out when you hit the bed.

    Speaking of exercising, it’s very important keep your body active when in college. The NCBI has said that students in university are lacking in physical activity; that is not surprising since we are juggling classes each semester that we don’t have time to even take care of our bodies.

    If you are one of those people who don’t have time then walking to class is a good enough exercise, doing stretches is also a good way to exercise. If you do have time and energy to exercise, HSU students are able to use the HSU Student Recreation Center, you just need to bring your student ID to sign up for a membership. It beats having to spend hundreds for a gym membership.

    It’s also important to budget your money wisely. Instead of eating out, cook something instead. It’s not only cheaper, it’s also healthy. Another plus side is that it’s also very rewarding to make something delicious. HSU also has the Oh SNAP! pantry that offers HSU students with food, spices and recipes, it’s a good alternative for those who are on a tight budget.

    Last but certainly not least, step away from assignments for a little bit and do something that’s fun for yourself. Play a video game, read a book, watch a movie, talk with friends…whatever keeps your mind away from all your stresses.

    Stress is a dangerous baggage to carry, which is why you should keep a level head. Some students come from far away locations, HSU has its own Counseling and Psychological Services Resource if you are dealing with stressful events.

  • EDITORIAL: Support black-owned businesses

    EDITORIAL: Support black-owned businesses

    It’s time for the Humboldt community to start supporting black-owned businesses

    Humboldt County is a predominantly white community. According to Data USA 75.4 percent of the population is made up of white residents. When it comes to the business ownership aspect the numbers are even lower. While they exist, there is a lack of black-owned businesses. According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2012 only 1,853 minority owned businesses around Humboldt County, meanwhile non-minority businesses make up 10,333 in Humboldt County.

    It’s important for us as students to highlight a lack of diverse groups around the Arcata community, as we strive to be a university that prides itself in having a diverse group of students.

    There are some black-owned businesses that are around Humboldt County. Over at Eureka there is Dewy’s Beauty Boutique that stocks ethnic hair care products. However, their products are on the expensive side for students who are already on a tight budget. If there were more business that provided this need, it’d be a different reality for many students.

    Last month, the Eureka NAACP chapter spoke about how important it is to support black businesses around Humboldt County, as it shows love and support to the black Humboldt communities. There are black-owned businesses like A Taste of Bim, Sistah’s Vegan and Shine Aesthetic just to name a few.

    In the first episode of Michael Santiago Render’s Netflix series “Killer Mike’s Trigger Warning,” Render lives three days supporting only black businesses in Atlanta, Georgia. However this proves to be difficult for Render, as there are no black-owned hotels or even foods in some cases, leaving him hungry and sleeping on public benches. The take-away from this episode is to highlight how sparse black businesses are in the USA.

    Luckily, there are some clubs, organizations and events to help with diversifying our community. The Multicultural Center at HSU is a student-led organization that helps the diverse student population, while also being open to everyone who is interested. They work closely with the D street community center to hold their events, such as the Home Away From Home Potluck. Also, there’s the African American Center, the Latinx center and the Native American center (ITEPP). All these organizations offer services and plan events for students and the community.

    The next locally black-owned businesses coming to campus is Shine Aesthetic and Dewy’s Pop Up. They’ll be on campus Wednesday Feb.13 from 2-5 p.m. at the African American Center for Academic Excellence in Nelson Hall 206. It’s up to us as a community to support them and other black-owned businesses as they come to Humboldt.

  • EDITORIAL: Entrapment of undocumented students is not okay

    EDITORIAL: Entrapment of undocumented students is not okay

    The University of Farmington was created by the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency in order to capture undocumented students

    Recently, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was discovered to have made a fake University in order to capture students who were illegal immigrants. Immigrants who signed up were promised asylum to the United States through their student visa, even if their visa was expired. However, instead of being given an education and a stay at the United States, they were detained by ICE and deported back to their country. The discovery of the fake college was found by The Detroit News.

    This operation has been going on since 2015, and ICE did not specify how many students they have detained. A professor from San Francisco University School of Law, Bill Ong Hing, called this tactic a form of entrapment. Of those who were involved in the sting operation, eight individuals were arrested by authorities for committing visa fraud.

    When it comes to entrapment cases, some law enforcement agencies have practiced this tactic for years. In 2014, a high school student was arrested for buying weed from an undercover cop, which also lead to his permanent expulsion from the high school. Jesse Snodgrass, the high school teen, said that the undercover cop befriended him for months, and then pressured him to buy weed.

    The use of entrapment is an unfair tactic to use on people who are unaware and even taken advantage of. There’s no guarantee on whether the people who were detained will be sent back to the United States, while Many of the students that were attending the school legally came to the United States with an F-1 visa. The fact that the people who were detained by ICE were students seeking an education, is where their actions were deplorable.

  • From the Editor: Dare to dream unapologetically

    From the Editor: Dare to dream unapologetically

    The Lumberjack has its first African American woman as editor-in-chief in 90 years

    In 1929 the Lumberjack as we know it today put out its first newspaper. Ninety years later I became the very first African American editor-in-chief in the history of the Lumberjack. To be true to myself, I identify first as an African American but I am also a woman who has made monumental history. Without first acknowledging that it took 90 years for someone who looks like me to hold this position disregards our history.

    If I’m being honest, it is disheartening that it took nine decades for an African American to be elected for this position. It shouldn’t have taken that long. However, I’m very pleased that the past 90 years of the LJ will soon be digitized. History will be made easily available for the public. They’ll be able to look back on our past and reflect or criticize how far we have came as a university and as a society.

    The way that the editor-in-chief is elected is through a democratic election process. Each candidate gives their statements to our classmates that explain who we are, our experience and our plans for the newspaper. Afterward, there is an election where each student votes who they think should be the next editor-in-chief.

    As a young black journalist coming from Oakland, I naively doubted my abilities to lead this paper, but my peers were confident in my leadership. After all, flowers never pick themselves.

    When I look around my peer group, I see young journalists who motivate me to become the best that I can be. They motivate me to challenge the current ideologies that surround us and they dare me to dream of accomplishing things much bigger than myself.

    My goals for this paper is to keep it cultured and to represent its student body. However, I plan to remain truthful to the realities that surround us and to do so unapologetically.

    I invite you to stand with me on this platform and walk this journey with me. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

    Sincerely,

    Dajonea Robinson

  • EDITORIAL: Overcoming this final stretch of stress

    EDITORIAL: Overcoming this final stretch of stress

    Breathe in. Breathe out.

    Stress and anxiety are an everyday part of student life. But with the final weeks of school upon us, there are more triggers than ever to make students feel stressed. The Lumberjack knows several tips to ensure that you perform your best in the last days of the semester.

    It’s easy to neglect the self and only focus on the tasks you’ve been assigned. Although your projects and homework are important, it’s critical to consider your physical and mental health as you finish up the semester.

    Many CSU students struggle with getting enough sleep. Exhaustion makes it harder to maintain a low level of stress, and higher levels of stress make it difficult to sleep, so the cycle continues.

    Make sure to get enough sleep during the final weeks, as insufficient amounts will affect your performance on final projects and exams. It’s counter-intuitive to sleep less while trying to get more done, as the quality and speed of work will be lower than if you had enough sleep.

    If you’re having trouble relaxing your mind and body to sleep, an effective, healthy method to calm yourself is drinking a mug of hot herbal tea. Not all teas will help you sleep, though. The best teas for relaxation and sleep are herbal teas like lavender, chamomile, peppermint and Valerian root.

    Caffeine is a popular choice for college students when it comes to finals week studying. While a cup or two of coffee can definitely enhance focus and drive to complete a tedious task, it can also have unpleasant side effects, especially when too much is taken quickly. It’s especially important to moderate your caffeine levels during these busy times.

    Think for a second, is that fourth cup of coffee or second yerba mate tea really worth it? Too much caffeine can cause extreme anxiety and restlessness, making it even harder to stay mentally healthy during these last weeks. Drinking caffeine too late in the night can also make it difficult to get quality sleep, making challenging finals even more intense.

    Just because finals are here doesn’t mean school is all you should focus on. It’s smart to take breaks and have time to yourself, where your studies aren’t the priority. It’s unrealistic to think we can devote all our time and energy into academia. Treat yourself to something nice and relaxing, especially if your anxiety levels are soaring through the roof.

    Remember folks, it’s not the end of the world and you can get through this. Moderate your caffeine consumption, do something nice for yourself and don’t forget to breathe. It will be over before you know it!

    For additional stress relief, in the coming week HSU will be hosting a few different events throughout campus including a game night, the annual pancake dinner and therapy dogs visiting the library.

  • EDITORIAL: Abandon the word accuser

    EDITORIAL: Abandon the word accuser

    The Lumberjack editorial board recognizes the sensitivity of this topic and the affect this discussion can have on victims and survivors. We would like to remind readers that the North Coast Rape Crisis team has a 24-hour hotline for those in need. You can reach the NCRC hotline at 707-445-2881.

    Brett Kavanaugh, Bill Cosby, Larry Nassar, Kobe Bryant, Donald Trump, and Harvey Weinstein. This brief and incomplete list of men with sexual violence and harassment charges are referred to by the media with their formal titles: Judge, doctor, priest, actor, athlete, president of the United States and so on.

    The women, and in some cases men, who came forward to speak up against these perpetrators, alleged or guilty, were almost always addressed as “accuser” or “accused.”

    Moving forward and after publication of this article we have decided to stop using this word in reference to victims of all forms of sexual violence or harassment and urge all news and media to do the same. We reached this decision after Humboldt State University’s Journalism professor Victoria Sama gave a presentation on Oct. 23 on the history of the use of the word accuser by mainstream media.

    In law, when referring to a victim of other crimes such as murder or robbery, we never call those victims “accusers.”

    Former trial attorney Michele Sharpe addresses this concept in an opinion on the Washington Post called “Who’s a victim? Who’s an ‘accuser’? The loaded language of sexual assault.”

    “American law has never had special terms for victims of crimes other than rape: We have only the generic terms ‘victim’ or ‘witness,’ as in murder victim and robbery witness,” Sharpe said.

    The language used to refer to sexual assault victims separates them from the definition of victims of other crimes. In the end, the word “accuser” implies that victims of sexual assault have something to prove.

    Sharpe encourages journalists reporting on sexual assault to include both names or to use identifying titles for both parties in case of requests for anonymity.

    Sama said in California state system, dating back to 1850, she found uses of the word “accuser,” but generally in reference to policy and law rather than an individual or party. Sama said the word began to carry with it “inferences of doubt,” in the 17th century for common English law and carried over to American law.

    During this time English Chief Justice Matthew Hale required instruction for juries to judge women. Women were the ones who primarily brought rape cases to trial in the 17th century. Hale claimed that rape was an easy charge to make and defend and juries should require cautionary examination of female persons in question.

    Eventually in 1975, this cautionary instruction was done away with after People vs. Rincon Pineda. A case concerning a woman who left her window open for her cat and was sexually assaulted by a drunk man who entered her home through the window.

    On a religious spectrum, the term accuser has adversarial or enemy implications. In the King James bible, the term accuser is a term used to reference the devil as the “accuser of the brethren.”

    The use of the word accuser is also written into some journalism standards. The Associated Press Style Book, quite often referred to as the journalist’s bible, guides journalists on grammar, punctuation, ethics and how to address people in specific circumstances and more. The style book is updated to reflect current happenings and terms every year.

    AP has updated entries in its 2018 edition with victim and survivor. According to this entry, “use those terms with care because they can be imprecise and politically and legally fraught.”

    The AP, the Washington Post, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, NPR, CNN and more, consistently use the word accuser when reporting on sexual assault and the victims thereof.

    As news publications that lead in responsibility to accurately report the news with clarity, we strongly urge them to stop using the word accuser. We ask that the Associated Press edit the terms victim and survivor in their style book. We ask that the media starts to consider the seriousness of separating victims of sexual assault from victims of other crimes.

    After exploring the history and trends of the word accuser in the media, law, religion and by definition we reached the same conclusion as Sharpe and Sama:

    “The word accuser is a superficially neutral term.”

  • EDITORIAL: Life, liberty and the pursuit of self care

    EDITORIAL: Life, liberty and the pursuit of self care

    We the people have a right to life, liberty. . . and self care.

    This has been an election with record high early voter turnout for a gubernatorial race just after two years of America’s most polarizing and unpopular president in history.

    There are also many critically important ballots and measures which could affect everyday life for people in Humboldt county, and it’s very important to take care of yourself during such a high pressure election.

    One of the most critical ballots for people’s livelihoods this year is measure K, an initiative to make Humboldt County a sanctuary county prohibiting local law enforcement with cooperating with federal immigration officers. Proponents of K claim this measure protects families of undocumented persons by granting custodial power and avoids unnecessary pain.

    This measure could likely make or break the practice of separating families in our county. Family separation can cause irreversible harm to kids and their parents. It makes sense that the people whose livelihoods and security depends on this measure will feel the stress this election season.

    Resources for undocumented students and/or citizens are available on both a national and local level.

    • Humboldt State University offers multiple resources through the Student Health and Wellbeing center for students including financial aid options, health care options and legal help.
    • The California State University system offers various resources for legal or con campus help for undocumented students.
    • Teresa Foster, Immigration Consultant 707 255-8666 – According to the St. Joseph’s Community Resource listing, Foster helps immigrants re-unite with loved ones through various visa processes, up to and including residency and citizenship; based in Napa, office serves the immigrant community throughout the state. Foster is not an attorney, she is a consultant with a bond on file at the CA Secretary of State. Because this location is farther away consider calling for information.
    • Catholic Charities, Immigration and Citizenship Services offers mostly legal services regarding citizenship classes, refugee resettlement, DACA, preparing documents for visa petitions, adjustments of status, affidavits of support, consular processing documents and work authorizations. This location involves a four hour drive south, but you can visit their website for general information on any of these topics or family reunification.
    • Those in need of help and advice can also find the closest resource to them through the National Immigration Legal Services Directory. A zip code search will bring up a list of near by resources. Click here to find resources around this a

    Though there is not an explicitly a decision on immigration, this election has the potential to sway the political power in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. We recognize the results of this election can still cause great distress about the future of important topics like immigration policies and reform.

    On a mental health care level, this election season, The Lumberjack has some suggestions for people who are feeling uneasy about the future. For whatever reason voters may feel stressed, depressed, angry, sad or happy, people can decompress by taking breaks from social media, watching funny animal videos, yoga and meditation, and emotion management.

    Taking a break from social media is a strong preemptive measure to reduce anxiety and depression for the election. Research from Anxiety and Depression Association of America suggests that social media usage is significantly associated with mood instability, including a prevalence of depression.

    If you see content that might cause you discomfort, turn your phone over for a little bit. There is no shame in logging off in the name of self care.

    Crying also has mood benefits, depending on the person. The act of crying leads to tension relief, and can help with psychological recovery from distress. It is possible that people may feel distress when realizing their candidate has lost, like when President Trump was elected. A healthy cry gets the job done to move on to the future.

    Try watching some online videos like funny animal videos or fail compilations. These are a great way to take the edge off a long election night. Skip the viral videos and play your favorite video game instead.

    Make some time to sleep or exercise as healthy distractions if viral videos and video games won’t cut it.

    Last, but most certainly not least, if you are feeling that you can not handle the pressure alone, here are some resources to connect to the person you need.

  • EDITORIAL: Ensuring safety must be group effort

    EDITORIAL: Ensuring safety must be group effort

    Safety a primary issue for Humboldt community

    For students at Humboldt State University, Arcata plaza is the place to go to grab a drink after a stressful day of exams or just to hang out. As a result, the bars are incredibly busy, loud, and dense with drunk people who make drunken mistakes. It’s a recipe for disaster when a person is in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people.

    On Oct. 25, a man was stabbed to death near Arcata plaza. The suspect was later arrested according to Arcata Police Department.

    This stabbing is close to home for HSU students. Students have witnessed several murders over the past five years including the murder of David Josiah Lawson, who was murdered at a party of campus. This stabbing could have easily been another student death.

    The incident calls to question the safety of Arcata and who is responsible for keeping it safe? How do we ensure that students can enjoy their cheap pints safely?

    The usual people we turn to are the police, and in cases involving students, we turn to HSU. As public servants, police are supposed to ensure security for the general welfare, and HSU brings students into that public.

    The APD say they have police patrolling Arcata Plaza at all times. They are often out and about, biking around and engaging with the local people. This is a great way to connect with the people and see them face to face.

    But with the amount of people that typically visit the bars, the police may have too much work to do. Interactions between people happen very quickly and in the case of a crowded bar or busy street, someone may not be around to help at a moment’s notice.

    Additional police would be great to have, but in reality, labor costs money and suggesting more police may not be cost effective. If HSU wants to invest in security for students, they can’t leave out the downtown Arcata nightlife. just like how HSU subsidizes the bus systems in Humboldt County.

    HSU and Arcata should consider having emergency blue light emergency phones extending from campus to Arcata plaza. Students, or people in general can have direct contact with Arcata or campus police. They offer a sense of security like a beacon in the fog. Just like security cameras, the presence of phones should at least deter violence in general.

    Arcata bars should also share the responsibility of security for their patrons. Bouncers are often posted outside of the bars, but rarely check people’s belongings. Weapons can be easily concealed and should be checked.

    Ultimately, safety still lies with the individual. Being aware of your environment and surroundings is the best way to rely on your safety. There won’t always be security nearby, so if you ever feel something fishy about the situation you’re in, whether it be the setting or the people you’re with, listen to your instincts.

  • Letters to the Editor: Vote No on Measure M and Remove McKinley

    Letters to the Editor: Vote No on Measure M and Remove McKinley

    One reader shares his opinion on Arcata’s statue of William McKinley

    The fight to remove the McKinley Statue from the Arcata Plaza has been a long fought battle. The McKinley Statue represents William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, who gave birth to U.S. imperialism through genocide and colonized over 7,000 islands in both the Pacific and Caribbean by instigating the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War. Domestically, McKinley had a similar impact among the Native American community through breaking up several tribes, abandoning the African American community during times of race riots, and driving the U.S. into a depression.

    The current movement to remove the McKinley Statue was launched by Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples because the Arcata Plaza is the same site where indigenous peoples were sold into slavery. Grassroots activism, led by the Historic Justice Alliance, successfully pressured Arcata City Council to vote to remove the McKinley statue on Feb. 21, and began the removal process. Following the vote, a small group of reactionaries organized a petition to keep the McKinley Statue, which was approved for the Nov. 6 ballot as Measure M.

    So what does Measure M do? If Measure M goes to a “Yes” vote it would do several things. First, it would overturn the Arcata City Council decision and keep the statue. Second, it would prevent any future modification of the statue. Third, it prevents Arcata City Council from having any future say on the McKinley Statue despite being the original body that erected the statue. Lastly, if the statue comes down before Nov. 6 then the Arcata City Council is legally obligated to put it back up.

    For students, this means that the next step in removing the McKinley Statue is going to the local polls where we have the power to influence the policies that affect future students. Currently, the Vote No on Measure M campaign is endorsed by more than 40 community organizations, including the Wiyot Tribal Council. Students are encouraged to vote “No” on Measure M on Nov. 6 by registering to vote by Oct. 22 in Arcata at https://registertovote.ca.gov.

    Nathaniel McGuigan

    Regional Mecha Co-Chair Northern California Minister of Communication

    Humboldt PSL Email: nam449@humboldt.edu