The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Category: Opinion

  • And then there were none, Natalya Estrada resigns amid KHSU shakeup

    And then there were none, Natalya Estrada resigns amid KHSU shakeup

    By Natalya Estrada

    Former KHSU employee Natalya Estrada speaks up after submitting her resignation

    My father always told me: Do no harm, but take no shit. It appears I’ve been surrounded by a monumental amount of fecal matter within the past few days. But make no mistake; I will not be buried by this.

    I came to KHSU in 2017, under the guise of needing to make a bit extra cash because I was paying double rent—my boyfriend at the time was helpful, but I still had two months left on my apartment lease. On the day of the interview, I had literally been under a fence. A large possibly, 300 pound wooden fence had fallen off of the rail on top of me as I was opening it so I could move my car out of the drive way. Was it a premonition? Was it a bad omen? I don’t know—one thing’s for sure, it made for a great interview topic. There were leaves in my hair, my red jacket had fresh mud stains and my legs were slightly swollen as I sat in the general manager’s office telling KHSU how much I love public radio. I got the job on the spot.

    And then a week later, I quit the Times-Standard, which was and still is one of my favorite jobs. It was where I met my best journalism friends and how I managed to come back to “Homeboldt” after a disappointing stint as a reporter in Southern California.

    Several months later, Katie was fired from KHSU; abruptly and without warning. It was chaos. I don’t have to remind everyone about how many sustainers canceled their membership, how much underwriting was lost to our bad reputation and how much of the community felt betrayed by the decisions of an institution. I was at a loss. Katie Whiteside was the first person I met at KHSU back during my internship as an undergrad at Humboldt State. She taught me how to manage the board during Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me, and Car Talk (RIP). She was the quintessential gem of KHSU, and I know I wasn’t the only person who felt like a piece of the station was forever lost with her dismissal.

    More months had passed and staff meetings became less and less about the station’s content and more about what kind of station we were pressed to become. Who were we in the eyes of the community, of the university and of the higher ups who seemed determined to challenge the format of good vibes, good words and good people?

    Eventually, we started having pledge drives again. None of us were sure we’d even get any kind of support—but we did. Why? Because despite the outrage, people believed we would come back, that we would get past this. And for I while, I also believed this. I was wrong.

    Thursday, April 11, 2019 does not seem like it happened in real life, but it did. While two of us were told to attend a separate meeting, our friends, our colleagues and basically our radio family were told of their fates. The two of us were left scrambling to figure out why this was happening.

    “David, what do we do? “

    “I don’t know honey. I had to go home.”

    Those were some of the last messages David and I sent to each other before the following day, when I was informed via phone call about his resignation. A couple minutes later, after texting Thad Greenson, Marc Valles and Andrew Goff, I read David’s Facebook post. I cried hysterically as I toggled between Morning Edition and the California Report. I switched on the mic and read the weather report: mostly cloudy and chances of rain—the weather has never represented me so well.

     It was done. KHSU was done.

    I called my friends, my sister, my mother and several of my editors. The bulk of the text messages I sent were: “I am fine. Please don’t worry about me.”

    But the reality was, I was crying to Carol King in studio A, and wanting to hide from the phone which kept ringing.

    “Something inside has died and I can’t hide and I just can’t fake it.”

    I think I answered close to 25 calls on Friday.

    Megan Bender, of The Osprey messaged me. Not about work, but about emotional support. At noon, on Friday, we met in Gist Hall to talk. She handed me an iced matcha latte and a breakfast sandwich. Damien Jimenez, a KHSU intern, waved me down as I was driving and gave me a hug through my car window—I asked him to pretend he doesn’t notice how messy my car is. Lumberjack reporter Freddy Brewster shook my hand and smiled warmly at me —it’s reassuring to know the future of journalism has compassion.

    Then came the hard part: the official part. Three meetings and perhaps the most “Don Draper” attitude I’ve ever had, prevented me from openly crying in front of two men in suits and one on a speaker phone. I don’t understand their narrative or their reasons. Perhaps I never will.

    Thank you all for letting me into your morning commute, for telling me your stories of hope, tragedy, triumph and love. Thank you for letting me speak your truths through an omni-directional microphone. Thank you for letting me take your photos and for calling me in the morning to let me know it’s White-THORN not Whitehorn. I will forever hold KHSU in my heart and memory as a place of acceptance, peace and home to the hardest working folks I’ve ever met.

    What now you may ask will a local unemployed radio gal do in this crisis?

    I’ll survive. I always do.

    I know many of you believe I was indifferent to the situation and that my stairway to the “top” consisted of bricks made of manure. I advise you to check my shoes and notice they’re crap-free.

  • Letter to the Editors: KHSU CAB member Barbara Boerger speaks out

    Letter to the Editors: KHSU CAB member Barbara Boerger speaks out

    By Barbara Boerger

    So, I haven’t yet communicated with all of the People Formerly Known as the KHSU CAB. Yes, I’ve been in touch with my friends. I’ve noticed that some of us have responded to emails or Facebook postings. But about half have been silent.

    That makes me wonder. Did some of you know something the rest of us did not? I’ve spent the day in turmoil, I’m going to take half my day as vacation time because I got nothing done at work. Granted some of you may not have as flexible of an employer as I do. But I feel there have been two factions in our group for some time. I don’t know if some of you are secretly happy about all this, and have confidence you’ll be involved in the new KHSU. I don’t know if some of you still think Peter, Craig, and Lisa are honorable folk, deserving of respect. I don’t know if some of you unwittingly contributed to this outcome, and further if you’re happy or you’re bummed.

    I only know that the station I have listened to since September 19, 1975, has now silenced our local voices, and life here on the North Coast will NEVER be the same.

    Yes, I sound melodramatic. It’s affected me that deeply that I’m prepared to pull out all the stops. Juliet and Ophelia, hold my beer.

    So what do think, those of you that previously appeared to think we should be more accepting of the changes? Do you think it would have changed anything? I’m really curious. The People Formerly Known as the KHSU CAB, could our playing nice with the Visioning Statement have saved our little slice of heaven? Or do you see that we were played? Lied to (and gods know I hate ending a sentence with a preposition)? A plan was in place, maybe not fully formed, but taking shape.

    Lisa Rossbacher lied to us. The review report was a sham. She and Craig Wruck get to retire with lovely pensions, courtesy of the taxpayers of California. But a group of my friends are now trying to figure out how to pay next month’s rent.

    I’m still processing. Obviously not as affected as those employees who were ESCORTED BY UPD to clean out their offices.

    And I haven’t even touched on the stalwart employees of “Advancement” who have had to answer the calls of all the betrayed supporters who are asking for their pledges back. Or the unsuspecting folks at NSPU in Chico who had no idea the the request to help out a “colleague” was really a disingenuous ploy.

    I’ve been living with this anxiety since Monday night, when Lisa breathlessly communicated her “just now” receipt of the review. But by Wednesday night, they had it all figured out – although to the People Formerly Known as the KHSU CAB, she said they were still trying to formulate a plan. No details. Asking us to take a “hiatus” as if we would ever be invited back.

    Do you feel played? I really want to know.

    Your friend/maybe former friend,

    Barbara

  • 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.

  • OPINION: Let that yellow mellow

    OPINION: Let that yellow mellow

    Flushing your toilet has a larger impact on the environment than you may think

    Many homes across the country have a motto, “If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.” This saying encourages water conservation when it comes to flushing the toilet.

    The amount of water a toilet uses depends on how old it is. If your toilet was made before 1982, then it could be using anywhere from five to seven gallons of water each flush. Newer toilets use about two gallons per flush. The average person flushes about five times each day. That is 10 gallons of water thrown out every day.

    You can check how much water your toilet uses by looking at the little block right behind the seat or under the tank lid, or you can check for the year in the tank of the toilet which could give you a good idea of how much it is using.

    Flushing can also be very dirty. Each flush can spew water as far as six feet. That could reach your toothbrush! So letting the yellow mellow may help you avoid having your toothbrush become more covered in germs.

    Saving your flush also saves water. Water usage is projected to increase by 55% from 2000 to 2050. This increase creates problems as 21 of 37 aquifers across India and China, and the U.S. and France are draining at an alarming rate.

    CA is a good example of overuse of water. The state’s aquifers receded about 16 trillion acre-feet per year. That caused CA to have 1,900 wells dry up from 2011-2016. Letting the yellow mellow could have helped save some of that water.

    Each time you flush your yellow down the toilet, it’s like flushing three tenths of a cent with it. This adds up to about $10.95 per year. You can save $7.66 each year by letting the yellow mellow. Not only does saving your flush save water, but it also saves money.

    If you were to flush every third time you used the restroom, you would be saving about six gallons of water each day. That means more clean water for drinking, or showering, or even future flushing.

  • How to become a Humboldt surfer in 5 “easy” steps

    How to become a Humboldt surfer in 5 “easy” steps

    Once you’ve completed all the steps you will truly understand what it’s like to give up your life to the never-ending pursuit for something that could be better.

    In five easy steps, you can live out your life long fantasy of becoming a surfer in Humboldt County. Before devoting your life to these exaggerated guidelines, remember that surfing is based purely around enjoyment, and that everyone has their own definition of surfing because everyone surfs for their own reasons.

    Surfing has a long history, so please always remember to be respectful of the history, the ocean and to all others enjoying it. Let us begin.

    Step 1

    First head to Craigslist and look for an old surfboard and wetsuit, preferably sold together by a sketchy, but nice mid-50’s man named Rusty who came up to Humboldt 20 years ago to, as he says, “Escape the so-cal crowd bro.”

    Get ready to haggle, because there’s no way you’re spending over $80 for what he calls a “vintage” wetsuit and his magic wand from the 80s. Once the purchase is complete, he will enrich you with far-fetched stories of 25 foot Camel Rock, and when he paddled the jetty alone when it was 60 feet. Make sure to smile, nod and be respectful, because you have just been privileged enough to have a conversation with your future self.

    Step 2

    The next step is to convert your life to surfing. Do this by purchasing roof racks for your car, start wearing sunglasses everywhere you go, stop cutting your hair and most importantly, change up your whole wardrobe to surf attire.

    If you manage to come out looking anything like Jeff Spicoli from “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” you’re in the clear, ready to mingle and surf where you like.

    Step 3

    You’re going to need to find a friend or a local who surfs. So for the third step, you should get back in contact with Ol’ Rusty and see if he has any buddies who would be able to show you around.

    Of course, he won’t, because he may have never surfed in the first place. So move on and head to Moonstone to look for some friends. You’re looking for someone your age or a little older who has experience.

    Finding someone with the ability to shame you into constantly trying to surf better is a plus. They should be, for lack of a better word, an asshole. He, or she, will become your surfing confidant, as they will know how little you know about surfing while promoting you as someone who’s been surfing their whole life. Once you find your Bodhi from Point Break, you will then be able to experience the big storm.

    Step 4

    This step is all about patience. You must stick with it. Just because people told you surfing is fun and easy doesn’t mean you’re going to be good at it. Surfing is something many devote their lives to, not as a profession, but for the never-ending search of the same feeling.

    So make sure to know your place and don’t screw it up for everybody else. Unless you’re a freak, you’re going to suck at first. Stay calm, take advice, and be prepared to embarrass yourself. It’s going to take at least a year of surfing once or twice a week for you not to suck and feel embarrassed. So embrace the year of suck and gather knowledge about spots, surfboards, sneaker waves and the Humboldt coastline.

    Always be on the lookout for more old surfboards and wetsuits. Keep one thing in mind during this step. You should go on every wave that you can no matter the size or shape, go, as long as you’re not cutting someone off.

    Pull into closeouts, throw yourself over the falls, go through the washing machine and meet Johnny hold down. Try and have fun doing it because more waves always equal more practice. Just make sure you’re safe and not alone, like Rusty when he paddled 45 foot Camel Rock alone back in ‘85.

    Step 5

    The final step is to buy an 80s conversion van during your senior year and drop out a semester before graduation, because hey, you can always go back when there’s no surf.

    Only once you obtain the van will you truly understand what it means to be a surfer in Humboldt County. The world is now yours. You’re free to roam and surf where you like with the ability to tell others you really have goals, knowing you can go back to school for a semester and graduate.

    Surfing is a beautiful activity, hobby, sport or whatever you want to call it. Please remember everyone starts surfing at different skill levels and takes their necessary steps to get better, so who’s to say that these five steps couldn’t work for you.

  • The future of plastic: Hemp

    The future of plastic: Hemp

    Packaging is ingrained in our lives in some form or another. Whether it’s packaging for food, mail orders or gadgets it’s all very excessive and often made from non-recyclable plastics. Another contributor to the plethora and plight of plastic packaging pollution is pot.

    The cannabis industry is adding to the plastic pollution epidemic that’s choking our planet with chemicals and micro-plastics through the numerous layers of required yet redundant cannabis packaging.

    If you’re 21 and up, chances are you’ve tried legal marijuana in California, whether it’s from a dispensary or elsewhere. Have you ever noticed the amount of packaging a couple buds requires?

    The January 2018 enactment of Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, brought new regulations on the way dispensaries must package their products. Childproof resealable bags and prescription pill-like bottle caps have been implemented in addition to individual cannabis cultivator and distributor packaging.

    Unfortunately, aspects of waste weren’t considered in the packaging portion of Prop 64.

    All the layers of brand and protective packaging are an immense and detrimental waste, but an alternative may save the day, if only used ubiquitously.

    That alternative, hemp-made plastics.

    Hemp plastics are non-toxic, biodegradable, durable and versatile. There are even food and pharmaceutical-grade hemp plastics out in the market.

    Hemp itself is a variant of the Cannabaceae family, which houses the psychoactive Sativa and Indica plants as well as the low-THC-producing Cannabis Ruderalis.

    The main difference hemp has over cannabis is, of course, the lack of cannabinoids like THC and CBD. These cannabinoids are what make Cannabis Sativa and Indica drug-producing plants, whereas hemp isn’t valued for psychoactivity and medicinal aspects since it has none.

    Hemp is still highly practical. Like its THC-containing cousins, hemp grows relatively quickly and can be harvested for use after four months. In comparison to the cultivation of cotton, hemp needs about 50 percent less water to grow.

    When it comes to the decomposition of hemp plastics versus traditional plastics, there’s no competition. It takes an average plastic bottle roughly 450 years to decompose whereas hemp plastic can biodegrade within six months, given the proper environment.

    Hemp has long been a valued production plant as it’s fibers are strong and can create fabric, paper and concrete.

    Industrial hemp has woven itself in and out of the United States’ history since the Colonial Era when citizens were legally required to cultivate hemp as part of war efforts.

    The U.S. government previously recognized hemp as distinctly different than marijuana. However, since the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, industrial hemp has substantially withered. While it’s still used for small scale production, it isn’t being used to its full potential.

    Plastics from hemp can make anything from homes, cars, toys, electronics and cosmetics. The opportunities for hemp plastics don’t end at cannabis dispensaries. Why can’t hemp-made plastic be the new plastic?

    If one tiny portion of our oil use is diverted away from the production of traditional plastics and replaced with hemp the reverberation of that change can make a sizable impact to prevent further plastic pollution.

  • 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.

  • OPINION: Listen to young people

    OPINION: Listen to young people

    The youngest generation is a driven, opinionated, connected group of people who deserve to be respected and listened to

    Today, young people all over the world are finding their voice. The awesome power of the people is being embraced and exercised by these young people. In our own nation young people are advocating for change. It is necessary to let them to grow and act in the world they will inherit.

    I have noticed a significant social change in this current generation. Rather than be influenced by the nurturing of their parents, many young people have taken it upon themselves to teach and influence one another to an unprecedented degree. High school students have begun to grasp lessons in critical thinking. The opinions of others are taken with a grain of salt. Society’s status quo is being criticized by very loud voices. Young people are taking a stand for what they believe in and they are taking action to make it happen.

    Listen to young people, or else the foundation under the feet of leaders worldwide shall be shook by their determination. In 2018 the average age of representatives in the U.S. Senate was 61 and the average age in Congress was 57. The midterm elections in 2019 ushered in a fresh group of 25 representatives who are under 40 years old. The youngest elected was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who at 29 years old is the youngest person elected to Congress. She has tremendous support from young people as they organize behind her in the Sunrise Movement.

    For too many years the establishment has been dominated by stubborn old men and women who, in the immortal words of Diane Feinstein, have been doing this for 30 years and know what they’re doing.

    “I’ve gotten elected. I just ran,” Feinstein said. “I was elected by almost a million-vote plurality, and I know what I’m doing. So, you know, maybe people should listen a little bit.”

    She was responding to a group of children who were advocating for the Green New Deal. These children were excluded from the democratic process on the basis of their age yet work to advocate for policies they believe in.

    I had the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with a group of high school students from the North Coast Preparatory Academy. Melissa Horne and Autumn Wright had joined their fellow classmates walking out for the “Youth Strike 4 Climate Change.” Seven of them were sitting in front of Arcata City Hall with signs advocating for a shift in climate policy. They said they were inspired by Greta Thunberg, an individual who is a mover in the 21st century.

    While we were sitting in front of City Hall the group got a bunch of different reactions from people passing by. There were a lot of horns honking. Some guy walked up and shouted about how oil is the only reason the world runs. Mark Andre, the director of Arcata Environmental Services came out personally to talk with the students about Arcata’s goal to be gasoline free by 2020. Aaron Heart, a wandering thinker, made a point to sit down with everyone and talk about what he had learned throughout his life.

    Heart was interesting and engaging. He was an older man, well experienced in the ways of the world, but he would not listen to these young people. He had seen Leo Peerson’s sign which read “Grow up. Save the planet.” Heart wanted to encourage everybody to grow their spirit “vertically” rather than “horizontally.” He spent a solid hour talking about things he knew, rarely asking questions of Peerson who had caught his attention in the first place. After awhile he stopped and said, “I am not a lecturer, I am a facilitator.”

    I jumped on this, posing a challenge to Heart by saying, “How about we do this like Socrates and ask each other questions rather than just listen to you talk. Let’s begin with Autumn Wright. Autumn, how do you want to see the world change?” And then, believe it or not, she began to talk.

  • Letter to the Editor: Charmaine Lawson in response to APD’S press release

    Letter to the Editor: Charmaine Lawson in response to APD’S press release

    PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release

    Charmaine Lawson, mother of David Josiah Lawson: In response to APD’s Press Release

    Dear Humboldt County Community Members,

    I, Charmaine Lawson (Mother of DJ Lawson), was disheartened and outraged at the press release issued yesterday from the Arcata Police Department (APD). For the first time after almost two years of allegedly investigating the murder of my first born son, APD set up a 24-hour tip line and released images of potential witnesses. Why weren’t these actions taken two years ago? And, why is the APD primarily releasing images of African American attendees of the party?

    As a Mother who raised two ambitious, amazing, brilliant, outstanding, young Black men (that both went to college), I am deeply disturbed by the recent actions of the APD. When I viewed the blurry images from the press release, all I saw was Black and Brown young people leaving the scene. Why didn’t the officers on the scene that night obtain their names, contact information and statements at the time of the murder? Why – after two years – is the APD just now trying to identify people in attendance at the birthday party? This is beyond negligent.

    I was told by the three chiefs of police from APD and a city official that Kyle Zoellner’s DNA is on the knife that was used to murder my son. It is time that Humboldt County residents call out and address the Arcata City officials and Humboldt County DA Maggie Fleming regarding DNA evidence appearing on the knife that wasused to murder a young college student. I cannot bring my son back, but we can help take a murderer off the streets. Why should a murderer walk the streets with your loved ones? If he killed once, he will kill again. Do you feel safer as a result of the actions the APD has taken in connection with this case? If not, then I encourage you to demand answers from your local representatives.

    ***I demand that the DA’s office hand over a copy of the official Grand Jury transcript to my lawyers.***

    This case must be immediately turned over to the CA Department Of Justice (DOJ). DA Fleming has previously called in the FBI and State Attorney General for help during the Sheriff’s Office corruption investigation. Fleming emphasized the urgency of the need for assistance to these outside agencies during that investigation. Why did she not push for the DOJ to take over the investigation of the murder of my son (especially after she failed to present adequate and/or sufficient evidence at both the preliminary hearing and grand jury proceedings)? The DOJ will not decline a county official request.

    I have been informed that there are only two major DNA contributors on the knife. DNA does not LIE. But, the DA has decided that in order to take any further action on this case the investigators need to find an eye witness. In other words, District Attorney Fleming wants the public to believe that eyewitness testimony is more reliable than the results of scientific DNA forensic testing. This is beyond absurd.

    ● Ann O’keefe was 11 years old when she was strangled to death in Southern California in 1973. DNA evidence brought her murderer to justice about 3 weeks ago.

    ● Anna Hiavka was found murdered in Portland in 1979. DNA evidence identified her killer as Jerry “Animal” McFadden.

    ● Grim Sleeper, serial killer Lonnie Franklin, responsible for decades of murders, was caught through DNA evidence.

    ● The Golden State Killer – 13 murder counts from 1970s to the 1980s – was caught through DNA evidence.

    These are just a few examples of how DNA evidence can identify a person(s) responsible for committing crimes. How long will I have to grieve before my son’s murderer is brought to justice?

    Two years ago, my son and his friends were leaving a birthday party when they were approached by a young woman and her friends about a missing cell phone. My son lost his life over a cell phone. A phone that was later found by Lila Ortega.

    I will fight for justice for my son. I will fight for justice in Humboldt County. There are many murder cases on DA Fleming’s desk that she is unwilling to prosecute. I am fighting for those families as well. The failure of the APD to protect and serve this community is an issue that is greater than my son. I will not accept the lack of justice for families (like mine) that have suffered as a result of incompetence, lack of proper training, and/or intentional or negligent mishandling of serious criminal investigations. My son is not the only murder victim whose case has been buried and swept under the rug in Humboldt County, California. Enough is enough. It is time to speak truth to power.

    I would like to offer my condolences and heartbreak to the family of Brandon Brocious, for the loss of your son, and miscarriage of justice today. The Lawson family stands with you. Justice for Brandon.

    “To be a man is to be responsible, is to feel shame at the sight of unmerited misery” – David Josiah Lawson, my beloved DJ.

    REST IN POWER MY SWEET LOVE. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. ALWAYS AND FOREVER,

    MOMMYS ANGEL.

    In love and justice,

    Charmaine Lawson

  • Blotter bytes

    Blotter bytes

    Oh man, there must have been something in the air the week before Spring Break. Someone turned himself in for an outstanding warrant, there were multiple fights on campus and on the bus, slit car tires, drunk people on campus and finally, multiple skateboard violations. Oh yeah, and some folks got their pieces seized, bummer! But don’t worry, the week of Spring Break had its own eccentricities.

    The Rolling Count:

    · Possession charges = 5

    · Contraband/paraphernalia seizures = 6

    Holler hootie hoo!

    Monday March 18

    · RAAAGEEEE FACE!!— “A vehicle owner who was irate with Parking staff regarding a parking citation was warned and advised of proper complaint procedure.” I get it, tickets suck. However, the parking staff are just doing their jobs, don’t scream at them.

    · The circus is in town— “A male who was balancing on a large red ball while juggling bowling pins in the parking lot was asked to move to a safer location.” I don’t know what a “safer location” would entail, but the dude is literally standing on a ball while juggling. I think he has it under control. But maybe not, ya’ never know.

    Tuesday March 19

    · This isn’t your room, it’s down the hall—So someone in Fern Residence Hall was “staying in a different room than the room which was rented to him.” Dude, just go home. If it smells, tell your roomies to clean the eff up.

    Wednesday March 20

    · Someone stole a scooter and that is about it for Wednesday.

    Thursday March 21

    · Open window policy?—Someone was spotted climbing through a window at the Fern Residence Hall. UPD was unable to find the person but concluded, “it was a resident who possibly lost his key.”

    Friday March 22

    · Take it outside—Someone was warned for skating inside of the Science D building.

    Saturday March 23

    · Stop it kid!—Literal children called UPD from one of those blue light emergency post things. UPD heard the “voices of children” in the background. Don’t worry, “the parents will admonish their children.”

    Sunday March 24

    · GHOSTS!!—I freakin’ knew it!! One of the librarians called UPD because she believed “there may be someone on the second or third floor.” UPD showed up… and found someone on the third floor. Dang it, I was psyched for some paranormal activity. One of these days, we will find some legit ghost activity.

  • OPINION: The World Surf League is just a glorified hobby

    OPINION: The World Surf League is just a glorified hobby

    Will professional surfing be here to stay after the fifth attempt?

    Surfing can be defined as a cutthroat sport to the Australians and Brazilians, and as a hobby by pretentious hipsters who are all about the vibe and the feeling they get from the waves. The fact that anyone can find enjoyment in surfing is what makes it great, so forget about the money or professional aspect and ask yourself, is surfing a sport?

    From 1964 to 1982 there were three attempts to make surfing a sport, none of which stuck until now. The WSL formed in 2015 and is the current platform for professional surfing. Before, there was a 31-year failed effort to represent surfing from the Association of Surfing Professionals. During the ASP professional surfing was not considered a sport because of the notion that burnouts, potheads, druggies and alcoholics were the ones competing. During the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s surfers didn’t command much respect from the general public, leaving them without any corporate sponsors or backing. Without money the ASP was forced to hold competitions at low-level spots that were accessible to all.

    Humboldt State senior Liam Salcuni questions the playing field.

    “It’s hard to consider surfing a sport when they have to rely on the ocean to just give them the opportunity to compete,” Salcuni said.

    After a spark in young talent, the WSL adopted the ASP format and began work to give surfing an excellent professional representation. One of the WSL’s first actions was to provide men and women equal pay. The equal pay when broken down for the 32 men and 22 women averages between $250,000-$400,000 a season considering where they place in the ten events.

    This average doesn’t account for the cost of equipment, entrance fees and the hefty amount of travel expenses when competing in remote destinations ten times a year. There’s only so much money that can be made during these ten events to fund a world sport. This brings into question how many people pay attention to the WSL and how much money are they making?

    Local surfer Mike Krakauer had little to say about the WSL.

    “I don’t pay attention to professional surfing until the season,” Krakauer said. “Even during it, I never watch any of the events live.”

    The surfing industry generates around $13 billion a year even though surfers don’t care about watching professional surfing live on a screen, they want to be surfing. The WSL is owned by Floridian billionaire Dirk Edward Ziff, who has invested a good chunk of his own money in making sure the WSL survives. With a billionaire’s bank roll, wave pools on the horizon and an invite to the Olympics, professional surfing seems to be on track, right?

    Hurley sales representative Mark Simpson shared facts about WSL viewership.

    “They average just over 1,000 viewers per event worldwide,” Simpson said.

    Even with all the positive steps professional surfing has taken the WSL still can’t seem to get the viewership to validate their success. It’s hard to consider surfing a sport because of a lack of viewership. They’re the World Surf League, where some of the most athletic surfers compete, but if only 1,000 people in the world are watching can you consider it a sport?

    Some facts show both sides, one being that Australia’s national sport is surfing, and two, surfing is the state sport of California. On the other hand, thousands of people surf and hundreds of people can surf better than the WSL competitors, but hey, they have day jobs. If you ask me, surfing isn’t a sport, it’s entertainment that a billionaire is trying to profit off of.

  • OPINION: Reddit is the sports fan’s best friend

    OPINION: Reddit is the sports fan’s best friend

    It’s only the way almost all of us stream our sports

    With six simple steps, you can master the art of streaming any live sporting event for free. All you need is a computer, internet, and the ability not to question something possibly illegal.

    Stealing a sporting event broadcasted by Comcast, ESPN, ABC or any network is illegal, but that doesn’t stop streamers from catering to the people. These streamers take live, national and local sporting events, and manipulate them to stream to thousands of viewers, which takes the athleticism of a 400-pound person sitting in a La-Z-Boy sipping on diet coke. In my eyes, they are athletes, nay, heroes. Streaming live sports from Reddit gives students the ability to watch their home team, a big game or even some college lacrosse.

    HSU alumni Tanner Wise uses Reddit often for streaming sports.

    “Reddit is my savior when it comes to streaming sports,” Wise said. “Because for one event, there’s always multiple streams.”

    You can stream any live event from award shows too little league baseball. Reddit makes the illegal seem legal by giving streamers a platform to help the viewer. If you can’t pay for sports or entertainment packages, turn to Reddit and embrace it. Streaming off Reddit is almost too good to be true, as you can go from one sporting event to the next all day to help get you through that Sunday hangover.

    HSU senior Brad Smith also uses Reddit to stream games and likes that it’s free.

    “I like the convenience, price and that I can watch MLB and NFL games anywhere,” Smith said.

    To better understand the six easy steps to stream live sports off Reddit pretend you’re hunting for a basketball game to watch. First, open your preferred internet browser and search ‘best NBA streams Reddit.’ Second, click on the first result, most likely titled ‘NBAStreams Reddit.’ You’ll get redirected to the happy place, where there’s a list of all the games in progress. From here choose your game and click. Once you do, a lengthy list of links and streams will appear.

    Veteran tip: stick to the top links that are in the box titled ‘Verified Streamers.’ Nobody knows who these fine verified streams are, but they’re legends to all sports fans. Countless viewers will remember their work.

    Step four, click on one of the top four links from the list of streams. You’ll enter a questionable website that makes you want to put duct tape over your laptop camera. But that’s the least of your worries, because, well…sports. The last step, click play, and experience freedom. Make sure to go full screen, as the advertisements on the side are a bit suggestive, and will make a stranger cringe.

    College of the Redwoods student Alex Wohlberg has embraced the convenience of Reddit but reminds us there are other ways to watch sporting events.

    “I sometimes go out to watch sports, but that’s only when there’s a big game,” Wohlberg said. “It’s more fun to be part of the crowd.”

    There is no right way to watch sports. Some pay thousands to be there in person, and others spend hundreds to watch it on their television. Sounds like a waste of money when you could be streaming it all for free via the almighty Reddit.

  • OPINION: R. Kelly is not the victim

    OPINION: R. Kelly is not the victim

    Robert Kelly is just one man and he had a whole team of people who allowed him to be foul

    Most of you by now have probably seen the meme of R. Kelly crying in front of Gayle King. The R. Kelly Gayle King interview has millions of views online. This has probably been the most ratings CBS morning has had in awhile, I now understand why the network agreed to take the interview. There’s also this nagging voice telling me, ‘At what point do we say R. Kelly has had his chance to talk and we can finally mute him?’

    Even though Kelly was acquitted of all charges in his 2008 trial, it does not mean there wasn’t a video of him with an underage girl. Let’s also not forget him marrying Aaliyah when she was only 15. While not being successfully prosecuted (yet), I feel he has had his chance to make his imprint on the already vulnerable African American culture and community. When we stop trying to listen, hear and understand Robert Kelly we should only be focusing on the real victims he has caused pain to.

    I think that anyone who helped Kelly in facilitating young women should be prosecuted too. Including the people who have been allegedly extorting Kelly for now three confirmed tapes with underage girls.

    I think the saddest thing about this situation is that once again young black girls are being failed by everyone who was supposed to protect them. In some cases, victims were given to Kelly with the parents’ permission.

    I think fame is one hell of a drug that many people are chasing. I think, while Kelly is a sick disturbed man, there were adults who allowed him to do what he wanted because of his status and perceived powers.

    I am not going to lie about being happy to see a man who has gotten away with ruining lives for 30 plus years finally being taken down (hopefully for good). I am not happy however with how the mainstream media is handling an extremely sensitive situation. While to the world we see the Kelly situation as this week’s drama or meme, we all must remember there are real victims and real pain.

  • Letter to the Editors

    Letter to the Editors

    SQE students demand disarming campus police as part of statewide campaign at Board of Trustees

    Starting at 10:00 am on March 19th, members of the Students for Quality Education will be advocating for disarming campus police and security along their peers at the Board of Trustees meeting at the Office of the Chancellor in Long Beach, California as part of their “No Harm, Disarm!” campaign. The demand is one of many to address student safety on campus, which also includes working to create community-led crisis intervention and response teams, investing in more mental health counselors and supports, investing in Black resource centers and other cultural centers, mandatory de-escalation and unconscious bias training for all campus police and security, and more.

    Members of the campus and local news media are invited to attend:

    Board of Trustees meeting/March 19th at 10:00am

    Office of the Chancellor/Long Beach

    Office map with parking information: https://www2.calstate.edu/maps-and-directions-to-chancellors-office

    Members of the Students for Quality Education will be at the meeting.

    Following the meeting, SQE students will be available to speak to media and reporters.

    BACKGROUND

    We want ALL students to feel safe on our campus. Instead of funding more firearms and officers on our campuses, our CSU’s should be investing in proactive and preventative solutions, like more mental health counselors and cultural centers for students.

    Regardless of how students react to police, campus police officers should undergo mandatory de-escalation and unconscious bias training to adequately deal with situations regarding all students. We recognize the over-policing of black and brown students and demand our CSU work with communities to explore alternatives to police and find solutions to police and student disparities. We want our schools to start adopting restorative justice practices to redefine what justice looks like in our communities, focusing less on punishment, and more on healing and repairing harm.

    More information about our “No Harm, Disarm!” campaign and our demands can be found here: http://csusqe.org/noharmdisarm/

    ABOUT STUDENTS FOR QUALITY EDUCATION (SQE): Students for Quality Education was formed in the 2007-2008 academic year by students in the California State University (CSU) system to build the student movement for educational rights in public higher education. They are assisted in their efforts by the California Faculty Association. For more information about SQE and information about chapters, go to http://csusqe.org.

    For more information contact: ealcantar@calfac.org

  • Letter to the Editors

    Letter to the Editors

    j4j_statement-2.jpg

  • 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.

  • Blotter bytes

    Blotter bytes

    No new weed incidents to report. However, there was a report of a mountain lion on campus, a guy throwing a brick through his car window and some “suspicious circumstances.” A few incidents of mental health breakdowns also took place. If you are experiencing a tough time and need someone to talk to, reach out to the Counseling and Psychological Services folks at (707) 826-3236. Hopefully the blotter bytes can bring a few laughs to your life!

    The Rolling Count:

    · Possession charges = 5

    · Contraband/paraphernalia seizures = 4

    Holler hootie hoo!

    Monday, March 4

    · Aww pretty kitty—A mountain lion was hanging out on the softball field around 8:30 p.m. Don’t try to pet wild animals, please.

    · Good guy alert x5—UPD helped with some jumpstarts and locked doors. Thanks!

    · Skating is not a crime…yet—Three people were warned for skating on campus. One blew through a stop sign and two “juvenile boys” were “riding tricks on the front steps” of the library.

    Tuesday, March 5

    · Nothing really happened on Tuesday. A couple people didn’t like stop signs and decided to ignore them and one person had a speeding problem. Maybe Wednesday will have something more interesting?

    Wednesday, March 6

    · Hit by car—A pedestrian was hit by a car on Plaza Ave. around 5:00 p.m. and was taken to hospital via ambulance. Listen up everyone, make sure to drive slow on campus and to be aware of your surroundings.

    · You get the boot!—Two vehicles received “vehicle immobilization” boots due to unpaid parking tickets. A lot of us are guilty of not paying parking tickets (what up Denver, CO!), but UPD can be lenient at times. Check in with them if you get one, or two. But after that you too may get the boot!

    Thursday, March 7

    · “Suspicious circumstances”—Two people were standing in the parking lot talking and “watching passersby.” So, someone called the cops. Pretty lame…

    · Harassment—Someone reported being harassed by an “unidentified male subject.” If you feel unsafe at night, or at any other time for that matter, don’t hesitate to call UPD for a safety escort. The phone number is (707) 826-5555.

    Friday, March 8

    · Loud noises!—There was a report of a man yelling at women near the Plaza Circle. However, when UPD showed up “no subjects were yelling.”

    · Maybe it was a fart?—Someone reported a gas leak near the sculpture lab on LK Wood. UPD showed up and were “unable to locate any issue.” The smell must have “up and vanished like a fart in the wind.”

    · Does it look like I’m camping?—Two people were thought to be camping on campus. Turns out one guy was charging his phone and the other was just in the Art B building around 6 a.m. Art is like the news, it doesn’t wait for anyone. Or something like that.

    Saturday, March 9

    · WTF?—Someone reported seeing “an unknown subject throwing a brick through the window of his vehicle.” Y’know, UPD will unlock the doors for you. You don’t have to shatter a window bro. There is another way.

    · Mistaken identity… kind of—UPD arrested a man for 148.9 PC. Which means that he falsely identified himself “as a fictitious person to…evade the process of the court, or to evade the proper identification of the person by the investigating officer.”

    Sunday, March 10

    · Outside assist—UPD helped the Arcata police look for four people who were “looking into vehicles.” I looked into a vehicle once, I wonder if the cops were called on me?

    · Mental health awareness—There were two incidents on Sunday that touched on aspects of mental health. Reports of mental health incidents have gone up in the last few weeks. Reach out to friends or family or the folks in the Student Health center. Also check out the mental health art exhibit outside of the Kate Buchanan room. It is titled Invisible Battles.

  • 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.

  • OPINION: What happened on Live from HSU?

    OPINION: What happened on Live from HSU?

    Live from HSU Instagram stirred with controversial discussion

    Social media can be a powerful platform where people can express their opinions and uplift others or it can be a complete abuse of power. Recently the student-run Instagram ‘Live from HSU’ posted several photos about logging practices and the negative effects on forests. A stream of user comments responded. A mix of forestry students and plenty of science majors defended the logging industry, saying that practices have drastically changed in the past 100 years.

    Live from HSU brought this up as an open topic for people to bring different opinions to the table, and that’s exactly what happened. The posts got negative and defensive backlash as they were not backed up by factual evidence.

    The question is where does one draw the line when it comes to freedom of speech? When it comes to controversial topics the strongest amount of evidence backs up a claim the most.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Maddy Tervet” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]”I don’t think that using the student-run Instagram was necessarily the best platform to relay his message…”[/perfectpullquote]

    When emotion and opinion get dragged in the waters get muddy and people lash out angrily. What came out of one post continued to come out with several other posts. Students spoke out in a way to defend the forestry department, but the account continued to respond in an emotional way.

    Maddy Tervet is an oceanography and chemistry major at HSU. Tervet said that she thinks the instagram user at the time had a valid point about these issues not being brought up enough.

    “But I don’t think that using the student-run Instagram was necessarily the best platform to relay his message,” Tervet said. “I think that if he’d been a lot less hostile in responding to people’s comments and had done his research before he posted, his message would have been well received.”

    The controversial topic about the logging industry is that people are clear cutting land due to historic intensive logging. The thing about the logging industry however, is that it has drastically changed over the years. What students are learning extensively now is how to restore the forests and fix what was done years ago. Sustainably managing the forests is what is being emphasized in the current forestry program.

    Colleen Sloan was among many of the forestry majors that responded on their defense to the Live from HSU Instagram post.

    “I see space for growth and fixing things that are broken,” Sloan said. “We’re in school to learn and go more in depth, so that what happened back in the day can be changed.”

    The ‘Live from HSU Quick Start Guide’ specifically states that the purpose of the Instagram is to show what it’s like being a student on this campus and share about their clubs and activities.

    [perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”Frank Whitlatch, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”16″]“I think that in a lot of cases he crossed the line a bit, but we really try not to intervene. We don’t want to be controlling [the Instagram], we want it to be as authentic as possible.”[/perfectpullquote]

    Students receive a guide as to what they should and should not post at the start of their week and it specifically states, “because you are representing the Humboldt State and the CSU System DO NOT post…” the list goes on to show ‘views on politics or policies’ as one of the things to strictly not post about.

    Frank Whitlatch is the associate vice president for marketing and communication at HSU.

    “I think that in a lot of cases he crossed the line a bit, but we really try not to intervene,” Whitlatch said. “We don’t want to be controlling [the Instagram], we want it to be as authentic as possible.”

    Live from HSU took a student platform and abused its power, discrediting the school and some of its departments. Students took the platform as a way to defend the truth. Plenty, if not all, students responded in an emotional way, but did not fail to back up their comments with data or facts. It was a constant battle when the account responded and continued to make posts with negative rhetoric.

    Erik Van Steinburg is a wildlife major and was one of the many students defending misconceptions of the logging industry.

    “It’s just not right, a bunch of false statements were said,” Van Steinburg said. “To bash doesn’t make sense. It was emotional based and no facts were supporting [their claims].”

    The individual running the account declined to make a comment about the debacle. They took to the Instagram page to call out the journalism department and said that a journalist’s objective viewpoints can be problematic. With this came a new cycle of students and alumni responding all over again.

    “Misrepresentation in the media is seldom intentional, but it often happens to people whose viewpoint is radically different from the status-quo,” the individual said in a post.

    When emotion fights with emotion, the argument gets nowhere. This was clear as the week went on with several posts ending up the exact same way through the exact same cycle. The posts brought up controversies that should be discussed, but the individual who ran the account lacked the credibility to back up their facts.

    A platform like Live from HSU should be used to share a student’s experience here on campus, it can also be a platform where students can have open discussion about a topic they are passionate about.

    Students should know full well what kind of power comes with a platform like Instagram, especially when the platform associates with a public university.

  • 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.

  • OPINION: So long and farewell

    OPINION: So long and farewell

    Bring on the pineapple?

    Upon walking around the Arcata plaza, you will notice a certain individual missing in a familiar place, William McKinley.

    The McKinley Statue was dedicated to Arcata by George Zehndery a couple of months after the Great Quake in San Francisco and was removed early Wednesday morning after watching over the Arcata Plaza since its arrival on July 4, 1906. McKinley’s absence is the result of a communal effort and last November’s election, and it is heard that his statue will be put into a museum.

    With the presence of our nation’s 25th president dominating the center of the plaza gone, it’s wondered what will fill the void. With a controversial icon removed from the plaza, it’s possible that the city of Arcata does not want to rush into anything. Yet the ideas to fill McKinley’s spot must be running through Arcatian’s minds.

    One idea floating around the Lumberjack newsroom is a giant pineapple. With the recent passing of HSU alumni and Spongebob creator Stephen Hillenburg, a giant pineapple should grace the Plaza’s presence where it is said that Arcata and HSU were Hillenburg’s inspiration for the show. Dedicating a giant pineapple in the middle of the Arcata Plaza would truly be a wonderful commemoration of the former HSU alumni.

    Here at The Lumberjack we are brainstorming ideas for potential candidates to fill the spot of McKinley.

    With such a key spot in town, something ought to fill the centerpiece of Arcata. If you, the reader, have any suggestions to what that could possibly be, post on the Lumberjack page on Facebook or Instagram and explain why you think your choice would be a great fit for the plaza.

  • Jussie Smollett calls himself the ‘Gay Tupac’

    Jussie Smollett calls himself the ‘Gay Tupac’

    Jussie Smollett’s lies affect other hate crime victims

    I was shocked but not surprised when I first heard Jussie Smollett was attacked by men in MAGA hats. I remember turning to my friend and saying, “This sounds like an episode of ‘Empire,’ it’s so crazy!” I mean we are living in 2019, Trump’s America, anything is possible. Then the details of what happened started to emerge and it made me think twice.

    If someone tells me they are a victim I automatically believe them. I will always believe the victim until evidence proves otherwise. Celebrities and politicians were coming from every direction in support of Smollett and calling out the racists who hurt him.

    I admit I had my doubts about the story from the start. I mean, who goes to get Subway during a polar vortex (Chicago was colder than Antarctica) at 2 a.m.? I think the biggest red flag is what they yelled, “Aren’t you that empire…?!” This statement made me think, “What racist white person is watching Empire in 2019?” I barely know black people who watch empire. Most of us fell off in season two. I know people are extremely racist, but who’s really trying to mess with Jamal Lyon from Empire? Before this scandal Smollett was non-problematic, which made the attack situation more shocking.

    Then we started getting reports from the Cook County Chicago police that Smollett wasn’t sharing the full story with everyone. The two white men in MAGA hats were in fact two big buff Nigerian men. Then we started to hear that Smollett paid them $3,000 to stage the attack with the fake letter and all. Even with these reports I needed to see evidence to believe it because Chicago police have a history of corruption and falsifying evidence. When the video of the men purchasing the bleach and rope emerged, I was no longer on Smollett side. As the days unraveled, we found the police had a phone record of him calling the men and the check that Smollett wrote to the men.

    The police charged Smollett for falsifying a police report. Smollett’s alleged motive was to make more money on his “Empire” salary. I believe that he was not working alone in his attempted hate crime hoax. I think there are more people involved. Who knows but Jussie Smollett decided to be the scapegoat so now he must face the consequences. I also want the two Nigerian men to be held responsible too. While they told the truth they still agreed to be complicit in the deceit. I’m sure if the police didn’t find out the real story those men would’ve never came out with the truth.

    What makes me the most upset about this situation is there are real hate crimes happening every day. Smollett used police resources for a publicity stunt. This event does affect people when they report because it makes people second guess victims when they do report crimes. In such divided times we didn’t need a Jussie Smollett hate crime hoax.

    I’m disappointed as a fan because I liked Smollett before all the drama. I thought he was a good role model for other black gay men. He never seemed like someone who would go to great lengths for exposure. It’s sad to see a someone with so much talent throw it away for nothing. We will just have to watch the justice system do their job in handling the Gay Tupac.