Familial Bonds and Political Boundaries: Why you should prioritize yourself this holiday season

By Jordan Huber

Fall break is almost here. In a few days, many of you will make your way back home, or spend the break with friends, and get some much needed rest. Unfortunately for some of you, that might mean dealing with some family members who are going to loudly and proudly state that their guy won the election. As much as the rest of the family might groan and try to change the subject, Uncle John will keep saying how great the next four years are going to be and how the country is back on track. You could decide that it’s time to stop dealing with years of his incoherent ramblings and that you are ready for holiday festivities to be a shot-for-shot remake of the Christmas episode in the show The Bear. If that situation applies to you, you might be wondering: is it worth it to spend the holidays with people who voted differently than you?

I am excluding Green Party and Peace and Freedom Party voters in our scenario. I think most of them voted with good intentions, also despised Trump, and had some real criticisms of Harris that we could agree on. So, we can be trusted to not throw carving knives at each other.

You are valid for feeling like you should distance yourself from people who voted differently than you if you think it is going to be detrimental for your mental and physical well-being. These feelings are even more intense for those who know that a Trump presidency means their rights are now in jeopardy. Reproductive healthcare, mass deportations, and marriage equality are all threatened now. For those who identify with communities that face that level of harm, I do not think that wanting to avoid people who support a man who is going to try to take away your rights is something you should dismiss. You do not need to play nice with the family for the day with folks who support a man found liable of sexual abuse. You have the right to look out for yourself and take the time to digest what has transpired. 

To give you some background on my extended family, one of my family members has openly been a part of the LGBTQ+ community for decades. They found the love of their life with someone who was the same sexual orientation as them. They spent a lifetime with a partner, who has sadly since passed, in a country that did not allow same-sex marriages nationwide until 2015. Never would I consider voting for someone who has nominated Supreme Court Justices that treat my family member’s marriage as second-rate to straight couples. My great-grandfather flew 73 missions in a B-26 bomber in World War II. To vote for Trump, who exemplifies similar traits and policies as the same authoritarians who my great-grandfather risked his life 73 times to try to stop, is the ultimate dishonor to his memory. I cannot understand why people in my own family have voted for Trump not once, but multiple times. 

I do my best to try to put aside these feelings of anger, to put on a brave face in spite of all the things I would like to say to them. I do not think it makes you weak or cowardly to choose to distance yourself permanently or to put them on timeout for a few months. If your family cannot understand why you are choosing not to participate in holiday celebrations with them, that speaks far more about them than it ever could about you. 

Take care of yourselves and be mindful of other people that you think are struggling the next few weeks. If you are in distress and are in need of help or a community, look to some of these on-campus resources: the Umoja Center for Pan African Student Excellence, the Women’s Resource Center, or the Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion Center or the Counseling and Psychological Services. There is a community of people out here to support you, and sometimes that is the family who truly are worth spending your holidays with. 

Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaFamilial Bonds and Political Boundaries

By Eli Farrington

Are you a bummy little college kid with an addictive personality and zero self control? Do your eyebrows cartoonishly perk up at the thought of a drunk ciggy? Or, perhaps your mouth begins to water as the scent of a Miami Mint Geek Bar wafts into the room. If you answered yes to any of these questions, I’m afraid you may be addicted to nicotine. 

I know that might be a hard pill for some of you to swallow, but trust me when I say that all hope is not lost. Fear not, fiends, for I once stood in your shoes. I hereby present to you my extremely unorthodox, somewhat fried, highly foolish, and yet surprisingly effective method that helped me to quit nicotine twice. Beware, that does not mean it will work for you.

Phase one: I had a couple of drinks. I don’t support binge drinking, or abuse of any substance for that matter, but I guess the whole technique sort of depended on this first step. The next day, I woke up with a nasty hangover, and the absolute last thing that I wanted was to consume nicotine in any form. I spent the rest of the day taking it easy, and before I knew it, I’d gone a whole day without nicotine. 

Phase two: When I woke up on day two, I was feeling pretty good. The thought of nicotine did pop into my head a few times throughout the day, but I used the power of free will and self control to curb my cravings. I stayed home, watched some movies, and avoided hanging out with anyone that I would usually smoke with. I also intentionally avoided putting myself in stressful situations. 

Phase three: Day three was the real challenge. By this point, I would have bummed a cigarette from a soggy pile of dirt if given the chance. To get through day three, I basically did a lot of research. I always knew how bad smoking was for me, but it was so easy to ignore all the research. I did as much research as possible, to the point where I was able to convince myself how much I hated being addicted to nicotine. I convinced myself how much better my life would be without it, and that’s what got me through day three. 

Once I got through day four, I got myself to a week. From there, I knew I was over the hump. I’m now writing this after almost two weeks, which is around the same time that my cravings stopped last time I did this, about a year ago. I’m not saying that you should try this method yourself. All I’m saying is that it’s worked for me both of the times that I’ve tried it, and after completing it for a second time, I can confidently say that I’m never looking back. 

Eli Farrington is a junior journalism student and the news editor for The Lumberjack. He enjoys foiling secret plots, keeping his finger on the pulse, and getting to the bottom of mysteries in his free time.  

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This week has been a solemn, hard week for many people. I remember being 14 in an Applebee’s when I witnessed the live results showcasing Trump’s win. I’ve been a Bernie Sanders supporter since I first started getting into politics, and I remember feeling crushed when he wasn’t chosen as the 2016 Democratic nominee. Nonetheless, I had faith that we as a country would prevent a Trump presidency. I’m 22 now, feeling 14 and helpless again. 

A lot of us know people who voted for Trump this year, but some are in relationships with those people. My question to you is, why? Not only why, but how? How can you stay in a relationship with someone who willingly — happily, even — casted a vote against your rights? Against women’s rights? Someone who has actively called for the removal of birthright citizenship, who has invited speakers onto his platform to trash minorities, whose VP actively supported the claim that Haitians were committing vicious crimes against their neighbors, a claim that was debunked over and over again by various news outlets. 

I want to clarify that this isn’t a dig at people who are in relationships in which they are dependent on their partner, whether financially or otherwise. This also isn’t for people who voted for Trump; that’s a whole different type of nut that needs a lifetime of self-reflection and cannot be cracked at this time. This is specifically aimed at people who are capable of leaving their relationships, but choose to stay with someone who doesn’t respect them or their rights. 

There was a trend on TikTok recently, something about canceling out the vote of someone in their life. Many people exposed their partners for voting for Trump, but ultimately stayed in the relationship. To be so aware of the lack of care your partner has for anyone but themselves, just to stay in the end? I need you to look in the mirror and contemplate if the child in you, the one who dreamed of the perfect partner, one that would protect them and defend them through and through — would that child be proud of your choices? Is the person you’re dating — the one that voted for a man who was found liable for sexual abuse — someone you would want around little you?

I just can’t fathom how you can continue to love someone who so obviously does not love you.  If you voted for Harris to cancel out your partner’s Trump vote, you need to stand by your morals and leave them. You deserve better. You deserve someone who will stand up for you and for others, too.

By Julia Kelm

Imagine you and your friends are out on the town — the vibes are chill, that cheap beer you always buy tastes a little better than usual, things are simply going great. 

Then out of nowhere, someone pipes up.

“Hey, what if we went to Taco Bell?” 

You all freeze, and stare in absolute awe at this person who just made one of the most beautiful requests you’ve ever heard.

So you all pile into the car, blaring music, and make your way to the Taco Bell in Eureka. It’s almost 1 a.m., surely nobody will be there… right?

Unfortunately, you are then met with a drive-through lane over an hour long. Your night is ruined, morale is at an all-time low, and then someone sitting next to you says, “There’s no line at Burger King.”

The fact there are only two Taco Bells in the vicinity of Cal Poly Humboldt is a travesty. However, the lack of Taco Bells isn’t the only issue — the wait time at these restaurants is truly insane. 

I have personally walked into the Eureka Taco Bell, coming in around 6 p.m., ordered my food, and then proceeded to wait a full hour for two chicken quesadillas, two bean burritos, and three Baja Blast Freezes. The worst part is that they didn’t fill the cups all the way, AND they were the wrong size — smaller. It’s safe to say I was losing my mind.

Don’t believe me? Here are some reviews from Yelp that share my lousy experience:

 “Just don’t come here. Unless you want to wait all day. Spare yourself the disappointment,” Tanner R. said.

“They’re so slow they should just fire the whole crew and start over. It’s ridiculous in LA where I get Taco Bell you hand them your card they swipe it before you can put your card back in your wallet. You have your food almost in your face. I know it can be faster. These people suck,” Greg C. said.

“This is the worst Taco Bell on earth. Humboldt County deserves much better! I spent about 40 minutes in the Drive-Thru this evening. No empathy, no apologies,” Marcus R. said.

These are all one-star reviews, by the way. It is quite evident that I am not alone in my disappointment with the Taco Bells in this area. 

However, I think it’s important to mention that fast food places like Taco Bell have only one or two employees working late hours. So if anyone should be blamed, it’s the managers and owners that have these poor employees trying to feed the masses. 

As Marcus R. put it so eloquently, Humboldt County does deserve so much better. So, take this column as a plea to whoever decides where Taco Bells go. Please put one in Arcata, or at least a few more in Eureka. It would make me, and probably a lot of other people very happy. 

Julia is a journalism major at Cal Poly Humboldt. She loves film and is a regular on Letterboxd. To quote Robin Williams in her all-time favorite movie, Dead Poets Society, “The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”

By Jordan Huber.

Note: Jordan Huber is an election worker. The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Humboldt County Office of Elections.

So, the nightmare scenario has begun. Trump’s second successful presidential campaign might not be as much of a surprise as his first. What certainly was shocking was how fast the race was called. Harris’s campaign, built on a positive outlook for America and propelled by Gen-Z social media interns, ultimately was unable to win a single swing state. The Senate has also fallen under control of the Republican party, with the House of Representatives close to being called for Republicans as well. 

I spoke about hope last week, and I still have that hope after one of the darkest days that I can remember. However, I cannot say that this hope has been unwavering. While laying awake at 3 in the morning on Wednesday, I did something I had never done since I started studying political science. I questioned why I was even learning about political science anymore. Most major polling organizations had Harris in the lead. All the data and indicators pointed towards, at the minimum, a neck and neck race. So, how in the hell was this race an electoral blowout? What is the point in putting your time into a major if it will fail to predict the winner of the most important position in the country? Are there even going to be opportunities in my field in Trump’s America?

Question after question rang in my ears about what this election means for my future and the future of everyone else. I could not even begin to imagine any answers in the following 48 hours that Trump became the president-elect. I walked onto campus on Wednesday morning and you could feel the air sucked out of school. No one had answers, only grief and sadness. Classrooms became therapy sessions where even professors could not find the words to help people process what happened and what is to come. 

All of the conversations I have had in the week following the election have shown me that we cannot allow despair to swallow us whole. Students I have spoken with have commented that right now, the study of politics and political mobilization is at its greatest demand in our lifetimes. We need to know why alt-right conservatism, spearheaded by Trump, attained power once again. More importantly than the why, we need to know how to fight back. 

I do not think this is solely up to any one major or group of students. Journalism majors must rally and fight every day through the media to make sure that free speech is not limited by Trump’s revenge tour against news publications. Environmental science students need to know how to mobilize and educate the public on the dangerous “drill baby drill” strategy of Republicans that is going to devastate our world. Business majors will be forced to explain what a tariff is over Thanksgiving dinner and teach their loved ones just how backwards an economic policy is to claim that tariffs will help everyday people. 

I urge you all to take the next two months and prepare for the battle that is going to take place. We are going to need each other more than ever if we want to ensure that our democracy and that our loved ones remain unharmed for the next four years. Learning across academic disciplines will only strengthen our voice. Push yourself to take a class in national politics. Explore environmental communications. Learn about media law. Take a course on economic sustainability. You will find that there are so many others at Humboldt who are all working towards a better world, and our combined efforts are what will sustain us through the next Trump presidency. 

Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaningful discussion.

By Alina Ferguson 

Board games used to be a staple in homes. Game nights were a common phrase in the vernacular. Now, it seems digital games have taken that spot in homes. 

I remember my first experience playing a board game. It was actually Candyland. I really wanted to be the ice skating princess because she was pretty. The board itself was so beautiful, and since then, there have been many modern variations of it. I was still new to the states and to my family, and this was the perfect time to gauge them as people. 

I will admit, I was not very good at losing at this time, I was 6 and really wanted to win, so if I did lose, I would either flip the board or huff and puff. My family claims they started cheating to let me win. This may or may not be true — there is no substantial evidence to support their claims. What I know is that I grew out of this habit. I learned that a game is simply that — a game. I did not need to take it so seriously, especially when I had people in my corner. 

Video games are more immersive and the world building is insane, but board games are meant to keep you in the present. They are meant for you to interact with the people playing with you. Yes, the game is important, but it is more of an intermediary to bring people together, whether it be friends, families, or people in between. 

Yes, connecting with others online is great, but in our quest to make connections that reach beyond our borders, we have lost the ability to connect right here at home. 

Cheating in video games is easier; you can have a mod that overpowers your player, which may make it fun for you, but not for others. You can just buy a whole ton of buffs, weapons, coins, or anything else to help you level up. 

You don’t need wifi to play board games. You can play inside, outside, or anywhere, really. You can pack the game into a bag and play on the go. People can play video games on the go, but again, they are stuck in their phones. While they are living in the world in the game, they are not living in the world they are in now. 

My all-time favorite board game is Clue. It is a murder mystery, and you play as suspects in the murder. You have little potential murder weapons. Gosh, it is such a fun game. Then, you get to look at other people’s cards to tick off possible rooms of the murder, suspects, and weapons. You have to use deductive reasoning to solve the murder. You can play as the characters, or you can just play as you. 

I used to do irregular game nights with my family. They apparently only played because I liked playing, but at some point, they stopped. Maybe it is because I got older and they figured I did not need them anymore. 

No one, it seems, likes board games anymore. They are becoming much like DVDs, VHS, and CDs — a thing that makes you say, “Oh, yeah. I remember that, back in the day.” I feel old. 

Playing a board game is a good way to pass time, connect with people, and have fun in low-stakes competitions. You don’t have to spend money in-game and you do not have to devote years, hours — unless you’re playing Monopoly or Uno — to still get fulfillment and enjoyment out of it. 

So, get a glass of wine, a cup of tea, a cheese board, or a snack. Sit down on the floor, pull out your game of choice and gather with your trusted few to solve a murder, buy and trade properties, or whatever you choose to do. Just have fun. 

Alina Ferguson is a journalism and anthropology major at CalPolyHumboldt. She hopes to be a writer for anthropology to bring science to life in a way that everyone can consume..

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2016 to 2024: Holding on to hope in a divided America

By Jordan Huber

Disclaimer: Jordan Huber is an election worker. The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Humboldt County Office of Elections.

The 2024 election cycle has been an exhaustive 24/7 news frenzy. Millions upon millions of dollars were spent on advertisements ranging from local issues in Humboldt County all the way to the Oval Office. With the polls closed as of yesterday, I find myself in the peculiar position of writing without knowing the outcome. I will not be trying to write into existence what I think is going to happen. For all I know, the winner has already been announced, or it’s possible we will not know the winner for days after the election. Instead, I want to talk to you all about my first presidential election and how that night still lives with me.

I was a first-year student at Humboldt State during the fall of 2016. The drama of the election was coming to a close as I sat in my room trying to study for an engineering exam while I had election coverage playing in the background. I had proudly dropped my mail-in ballot off at the post office and was celebrating the fact that I had voted for the first time. Everything I read told me what the outcome was going to be, so I was not too worried about what would happen that night. Many of my friends and family were convinced that the race would be called for Hillary Clinton in the late evening, so we could rejoice, and then sleep peacefully. It ended up being anything but that.

The race steadily tilted in Trump’s favor as the hours ticked by. As he pulled further and further away from Hillary, I ended up completely ditching my studying to stare in disbelief at my laptop. An electoral map I expected to be covered in blue was instead stained in blood red. I watched as an assured victory turned into stunning defeat. I heard students outside of my dorm room in Sunset Hall gathering in anger and confusion. Further down my hall, students were shouting racial slurs out of their windows. RAs raced to my hall on the third floor to reach those hurling these shameful phrases as the rest of the hall gathered around to figure out who was saying such disgusting things. Suddenly, the shockwave of Trump’s election by voters thousands of miles away from us rippled all the way to our campus.

My spirit was broken. I was numb. I was scrolling through social media, watching the world come to terms with what just happened. I stumbled upon a video of President Obama that was posted during the midst of all the mayhem. It was filmed before election night. He highlighted how America has always had a wild streak when it comes to our elections, but in the end, we would endure. One line on the outcome of the election stood out to me, and its meaning has changed for me as time goes on.

“No matter what happens, the sun will rise in the morning,” Obama said.

At the time, it did not feel that way. I needed reassurance that we’d be alright, that we could move forward. His message did just that.

Eight years later, I find myself offering a twist to President Obama’s message: “No matter what happens, democracy does not die unless you believe it is dead.” Many of you may feel strongly that if Trump is re-elected, it will result in an effective end to the United States as we know it. They see the democratic processes crumbling and having an authoritarian structure built by Trump upon the rubble. I do not doubt that his actions will put us on the brink of catastrophe, but I have too much faith in all of you to let us be led down a path that we cannot return from. Even if the nightmare scenario you have told yourself could never happen again, I know that there will be those who stand in defiance. Almost half a million people took to the streets of Washington D.C. for the Women’s March the day after Trump’s inauguration in 2017. It will take herculean efforts from those willing to mobilize, showing that people stand with democracy even in our most dire moments. Maybe Vice President Harris wins, and this issue does not come to pass. I do not know. What I know is that even if my candidate loses, you will not see me shell-shocked for the next four years. Whatever this election brings, I am certain of this: democracy endures through us, and I will be right there, pressing forward to keep it alive — and I hope you will, too.

Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaningful discussion.

Trying to self Heal in a Time of a lot 

By Alina Ferguson

Hey you, 

So… you’re not a Superhero or a world famous writer. You’re not really anything, you just sort of exist? 

You’re sort of a smart-ass, but don’t worry, life puts you in your place. Let’s be real though, you will always be a smart-ass. You don’t dance anymore. Don’t worry, that was never really your dream and you said it yourself you’re not really good at it, but you sure do miss it. 

In fact, most of your dreams have not panned out yet. You’re 25 and you haven’t discovered you’re actually a secret witch and so, to protect yourself you have to run away with a handsome vampire — nor have you discovered a rare treasure.

Get more involved. You live so passively. Don’t be afraid to do things. Whatever interests you, go out there and just do it. You can’t live your life if you are just watching it passively. You discover many things later on in life, that you could be good at if you tried earlier. 

You have new dreams now, ones you would not have even thought about at your age. These are realistic dreams, ones you can actually accomplish. 

If you think being nice to yourself is a lot of work, healing from the self-hate is so much more work. 

You need to make sure you build a backbone. Being a nice, friendly person is NOT a personality and it is NOT the job of your friends to grow a spine for you. Lucky for you, you have amazing friends and they will be there for you while you grow the backbone. 

I know I sound cynical and sad, but I am not.
I have seen so much beauty, pain, joy, sorrow. You will laugh a lot, cry a lot, and have very low opinions of yourself. You will think you are not a writer, that you’re not meant to be because so many people are better than you. But, you will be you, and you will celebrate them and be happy for them, while inside, you are being your biggest hater. 

You have learned so much, things you never thought you would learn. You have explored the world, explored yourself. Maybe explored some fun substances.

You are you and that is honestly such a gift. You have really grown. You do not think you are better than everyone else. You have more confidence than you did, and it grows more everyday. 

You can keep going and you will. It’s a bit hard right now — I am writing to you in my senior year of college, which is wild — but it will improve because you want it to. 

Sincerely, 

You in the future 

It’s time to jump your situationship

By Jasmin Shirazian

I usually answer questions from my lovely readers in this column, but I’ve gotten a few very similar ones that I wanted to make a general comment on. I want to put it very clearly; situationship, bitch-uationship — that shit is not real. You are either talking, dating, or in a clarified relationship with set boundaries. There’s only one person standing in the gray area of situationships, and it’s the person that calls it situationship. 

I get it, you like this person, you’ve invested time into your relationship, but you haven’t clarified where you stand. The fear that comes with the dreaded, “What are we?” is something many people have to face. Well, you have to ask; what’s stopping you? If you know you’re going to get an answer you don’t like, then why are you there in the first place? Why waste your time and energy on someone who doesn’t care enough for your company to make a space for it in their life? 

And I think it usually boils down to not wanting to be alone. We’re social creatures, sure, but I think the emphasis put on having romantic relationships, especially from a young age, doesn’t help. But who doesn’t love love? And I know we’re sick of hearing the whole, “You have to love yourself to be loved by others,” blah-blah-blah, because that’s not particularly true – plenty of people can love you in any state, but it’s a matter of what love you’re accepting when you don’t love yourself. If you aren’t enjoying your own company and you don’t enjoy yourself, you will allow other people to treat you the same way you treat yourself. Because, I mean, what else do you think you deserve? I don’t think you deserve that, but you set the bar for the love you accept. 

Love isn’t supposed to be hard. That’s not to say you won’t go through hard times with your partner, or that you won’t fight or make mistakes you have to overcome, but you’ll still love each other nonetheless. If someone wanted to be with you, boast about you as their partner, they would. 

Again, there’s only ever one person in a situationship — the other person usually just calls it their roster. The real problem here is a lack of communication. You can date someone and also date other people, you can be in a talking stage that’s exclusive, but a situationship is really just an unfortunate situation where one person wants to communicate and the other doesn’t. 

Jump your situationship; refocus your love and energy into the relationships in your life that are proud to have you in theirs. 

xoxo, 

Jasmin Shirazian is the curly-haired head copy editor and social media manager for The Lumberjack. She is a TV show enthusiast and a cat lover. 

Voting your conscience or playing it safe in 2024?

By Jordan Huber

We are officially less than two weeks away from election day. Hopefully, all of you have been thinking about a plan to get out and vote or return your mail-in ballot. Even with the bait and switch of President Biden for Vice President Harris, there remain legitimate questions on who you should support on Nov. 5. To be abundantly clear, this is not a Trump vs. Harris debate. The question is: should I vote for VP Harris, or should I be supporting Green Party Candidate Jill Stein, or one of the many other names I see on the ballot?

Everyone is just going to vote for either Trump or Harris anyway right? 

Surprisingly, only 53% of voters between the ages of 18-29 are registered Democrat or Republican. Voters are moving away from being linked to establishment parties, so the door is open for outsider candidates to take more away from Trump or Harris. 

Does it even matter if I vote for a third-party candidate? 

In California, no. If you vote in a swing state, it is possible. Georgia came down to 12,000 votes. Arizona had a 10,000 vote difference. The difference can come down to a few select voters in these states. The Democratic National Committee thinks it matters. They have begun releasing attack ads on Jill Stein. 

Is it moral to vote for Harris?

Harris’ tenure as VP has seen a rise in domestic oil production and a lack of definitive action in the Middle East. It is absolutely worth criticizing her over. Activists need to be willing to push the establishment when the establishment is failing. Politicians need to be earning people’s votes and not just relying on their party affiliation to carry them to victory.

Is Jill Stein the right candidate?

I caution everyone from jumping right into the arms of like Jill Stein though. She is 74. She did not know how many people are in the House of Representatives (it is 435 by the way). It is valid to question if she is a serious candidate in this race. She has turned herself into the Pro-Palestine candidate. I do not know if this is genuine myself, or if she is just pandering to get votes from disgruntled leftists.

What do I recommend?

In non-swing states, I do not see an issue with supporting a third-party candidate. I think it is more valuable to vote for outsider candidates in local elections rather than national elections, but I will not push back on it. Swing state voters. I urge you to be cautious. Every poll is screaming that this race will be closer than any other in our lifetime. Every swing state is not only within the margin of error, but many are within a single point. I know political polls are not trusted like they used to. I can tell you from every polling report I have subjected myself to that this race is impossible to fully predict at this point. Voters need to make a choice. Are Trump and Kamala’s policies really so similar that you cannot fill in the box next to her name? Almost three-quarters of third-party voters were white in 2016. They have less to lose in these races than historically marginalized groups. Is the moral high ground worth the risk?

Disclaimer: Jordan Huber is an election worker. The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Humboldt County Office of Elections.

Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaningful discussion.

By Alexandra Berrocal

I asked him if he wanted to build life

Not a baby, just a life. I asked her

If she wanted to be my life partner

He said he was considering moving

I ask you, what about the Philippines

Is so goddamn attractive to the dude

And she didn’t respond to me at all

However, he said if he were to go

He would want to meet me in-person first

And I was able to have a deep talk

About bipolar mania with her

She didn’t shy away or anything

I count that a win. My friends are still my friends.

By Jasmin Shirazian

I take it all back — well, some of it. A couple years ago, I wrote a scathing opinion piece regarding the absolute lack of ethnic food dining options in Humboldt County, and for the most part, it still stands true. But, the new Susukino Ramen Bar that just opened up on G St. has me eating more than just my words — they have single-handedly fueled me with hope for the future of restaurants, at least in Arcata. 

I’m a middle eastern girl from Southern California, meaning I was blessed to have an abundance of culinary options at every corner on every street. This place damn near makes me feel like I get transported to my local ramen bar in SoCal, which makes it not only delicious, but also nostalgic. 

They are open for lunch and dinner, and so far, I’ve only been able to go for the latter. I love eating food by myself, particularly in front of a TV or tablet where I can also watch my favorite shows. Call me an iPad baby, I don’t care — I grew up eating meals on the coffee table with my brother while watching It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Family Guy or some other off-beat comedy. So, I like to sit at the bar, place my order, watch the chefs do their thing in that tiny, hot kitchen, get my TV show ready to watch on my phone and wait for my food to come out. 

I’ve had the fried chicken, fried rice, and the miso ramen, and each was special in its own way. I think the chefs and wait staff could literally hear me moaning with each bite I took. The first time I went, I literally could not help but physically express how good the food was. The fried chicken was battered and fried to crisp perfection, without a single bite of the weird, chewy tendon that often occurs in chicken nuggets or tenders that can easily put off a person who is sensitive to textures – aka, me. The fried rice was rich in flavor, but kind of a small serving. However, it was literally 5 dollars and I ate every single grain of rice, so I refuse to complain about it. The miso ramen, which had chashu pork, had depth in the broth and left joy in my heart. 

I haven’t stopped raving about Susukino since I was able to go and try it for myself. The food was so good, it inspired me to write about it. I keep meaning to go for lunch, specifically to try the pork bao buns, but I somehow — I know how — keep missing the open hours.

All in all, I really think restaurants like this are so much more to the community than dining. The more diversity we have in our food options, the more places people can go to either try something new, or get a taste of home in Humboldt. As a brown girl with limited Middle Eastern food options out here, I’m thankful to have the ability to cook whatever I can’t find, but it’s always nice to not have to cook for myself and have the option to taste my roots. I hope Arcata — and Humboldt County in general — gets to see more restaurants as good as Susukino. 

By Mario Orozco

To escape from the stress of reality, you take a job as a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness. This week’s edition of Mar’s Gaming Garage will focus on Firewatch, an indie game recommended to me by a psychology major. Firewatch had its share of ups and downs throughout my play through.  

One of the strongest moments was the opening scene of the game. It started with a devastating dialogue sequence that showed key moments in the main character Henry’s relationship with his wife Julia, and the effect her deteriorating mental health had on them both. This introduction got me hooked immediately and it felt reminiscent of the intro to the movie Up.

Firewatch also presents fantastic voice acting performances. In the game, you are completely isolated with the only real interaction being walkie-talkie communications with your boss, Delilah. The chemistry between Henry and Delilah felt so genuine and natural, as if their voice actors had known each other forever. Their performances carried the majority of this game and were my favorite part of the entire experience.

The art style of Firewatch is another exemplary aspect of this game. It was filled with stunning visuals. Everything looked amazing, from the trees in the forest to the random items in your office. It looked like a 2-D style of shading in a 3-D world. The artwork was done flawlessly and the game obviously took inspiration from the style of art used in national park posters.

The genre of Firewatch felt like it jumped around a lot throughout the game. It started off feeling like a drama game, transitioned into adventure and then finally became a mystery/thriller, while still keeping some really tragic drama aspects to it. I personally loved this transition; the isolated environment of this game lends really well to a thriller experience and it makes you feel like something — or someone — can jump out at you at any moment.

There are a few negatives that I don’t particularly like about this game. The first is how the game sort of ends very abruptly, without a real payoff to the story that you just spent hours investing in. It didn’t tie uppay off the story between Henry and Julia or the story between Henry and Delilah, which takes the game down a few notches. 

Firewatch also loses some more points through the amount of backtracking you have to do. It’s pretty easy to get lost in the game and have to backtrack through the same areas multiple times, which can be frustrating. The game does provide a map and a compass to help out, but the map is annoying to use and I had to constantly stop to make sure I was going the right way. 

Overall, Firewatch was a fun experience with an interesting story. It took me a total of 4 hours and 12 minutes to complete. While I enjoyed a lot of different aspects of this game, the ending took the wind out of my sails and took the game down substantially. I give Firewatch a 3.2 out of 5. If you own an Xbox Game Pass and can get this game for free, then I would definitely recommend it to you. If not, then you would probably be better off just watching a playthrough on YouTube. 

If you have any games you would like me to review, you can email marsgaminggarage@gmail.com.

Mario Orozco is a writer and assistant social media editor for The Lumberjack. He transferred to Cal Poly Humboldt in 2022 and his favorite game of all time is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

By Jasmin Shirazian

What do you do when you and your best friend both have gray area feelings for each other sometimes, but you know a romantic relationship wouldn’t be the best route, but you’re also scared to talk to other people in fear of losing the relationship you have with said best friend?

This is gonna seem harsh, but you guys need to get over it. Either over each other and under other people without getting upset, or over the whole, “it just wouldn’t work,” mindset. Personally, I think you should go with the latter.

What exactly are “gray area” feelings? Feelings should be full of color. If you’re confused on how you feel about each other, which is what I could understand as a gray area, you should sit down and talk about what is making it so confusing. Do you like each other or not? If so, why wouldn’t it work out?

It’s pretty hard to know if something would or wouldn’t work out unless you try it. If you want to work, you work things out — that’s just kind of how all relationships work. Work, work, work. 

And if you try, and things don’t work out, maybe you’ll find it’s easier to be friends who love each other, and want the other to be happy. You’ll forever be pining for them if you don’t take the risk, and there is nothing worse than being in a relationship with someone while desiring someone else. Except, probably, being the person whose partner is secretly in love with their best friend. 

If you love something, go after it. Whether it works out or not, you know you tried. 

Bridging the Gap: Networking in Humboldt Politics

By Jordan Huber

Bio: Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaningful discussion.

Caption for photo: From left to right: Jordan Huber, Interim President Michael Spagna, County Supervisor Steve Madrone at the Career in Politics Night in Founders Hall 166 on October 3rd. Photo credit to Lana Nizhoni.

Last Thursday, the Politics Club held a Career in Politics Night in Founders Hall to give students a chance to talk to professionals in the field of politics. The event ended up having guests whose careers ranged from a future judge, lawyers, heads of political parties, someone running for congress, and a person who was a party’s nominee for President of the United States. We had been planning this event since early August, when our officer team got together at Cafe Mokka and hashed out everything we wanted to accomplish this semester. As the president of the club, I can tell you that I had been dreading everything and worrying for the last two months about if we would even be able to pull it off. 

So how do you get 16 people, ranging from anti-establishment political activists to the interim president of the university, to show up to an event run by students? It starts with a barrage of emails. We contacted every single person that held any sort of position of power or was running for office that we had any kind of relationship with. Whether we had only been in the same room as them one time or had known them for a year, our officers crafted emails and sent them off into the world hoping we would get just a couple of people to say yes. 

We went with the, “worst they can say is no,” approach — we got a lot of no’s. We got some who did not want to show up unless they knew other people were going to show up. Then we got a yes. A few more yes’s piled in after that, and by the end of it, we had over sixteen people coming to talk with students. Getting students to show up resulted in us purchasing a Costco flatbed cart of pizza, muffins and drinks, and the promise that there would be people who are in the field that they are looking to break into. 

This article may seem like a brag, but it is meant to show that even in a place as small as Humboldt, there are channels for students to network. Is it harder than other places? In some ways, yes. In other ways, the smaller community means that people who live here care, and are willing to show up for students. So many of our community members are alumni, and would love to pass on their knowledge to the next generation of students. There is a gap that exists between the university and community. The community feels that in some ways, the campus is a castle on the hill that looms over Arcata and the surrounding community. They do not know how to reach us. This puts more pressure on students. If you can, reach out. You’ll be just as surprised as the Politics Club was that there are people who want to donate their time and give you the break that each student is looking for. 

By Jordan Huber

Jordan Huber is an election worker. The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Humboldt County Office of Elections.

Students at Humboldt struggle with housing insecurities at a staggering rate. A study done by the California State University (CSU) Basic Needs Initiative in 2018 showed that 20% of our fellow students will experience homelessness at some point in their time at our school. The university is building the Craftsman Mall complex across the highway, adding another 1,000 beds to the around 2,000 students currently housed in campus dorms. 

That still leaves around half of our student body to find housing off-campus. So, what are the options? Obviously, Arcata is the choice right? The average price to rent a one-bedroom apartment is $1,200. Anything more than a one-bedroom can take months of searching and application fees. McKinleyville? It is cheaper to rent there, but a lack of job opportunities for students in the area and transportation makes it difficult for students to live there, especially if they are unfamiliar to the area. McKinleyville struggles with a troubled past that leaves students hesitant to live there, particularly those that are non-white. It is the most removed from campus, and students struggle to find a community of people that they can identify with.

How about Eureka? The rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $300 cheaper than Arcata, the transportation system is better than McKinleyville, and there are plenty more jobs that work for student’s irregular schedules. The university boasts that it is the low-cost alternative to Arcata, and has even placed a campus store in downtown Eureka.

Eureka is designated as a pro-housing city by the state, allowing it access to special funds to fast-track housing. There are currently plans to build several new buildings specifically for low-income individuals in Old Town Eureka, with tens of millions of dollars secured in funding for these projects. 

Low-income housing always seems popular, until someone decides they do not want it next to their house or business. 

See the supporters for Measure F, the Housing for All Initiative.

Housing for All — that’s a good thing, right? Not this one. This is the best way to explain Measure F. Imagine there was a plan to ban plastic bags, but the company that makes the plastic bags is supporting it and will make a ton of money off of it. That’s this joke of a measure. Measures like this are why people hate politics. This measure has been allowed to have the name Housing for All, even though it will stop just under 200 units of affordable housing from being created. Eureka has already secured around $45 million dollars worth of funding for these projects. Passing Measure F means that Eureka will lose access to some of that money. 

Now why did I just throw a bunch of information and numbers at you about a ballot measure in Eureka? These types of shady dealings and misleading information on ballots are plaguing local communities. Professional landowners are trying to trick us by including phrases that they know students are in support of to get votes for fraudulent measures and propositions. If Eureka loses out on this housing, the price and pressure of housing will be passed on to us as well as vulnerable community members. The repercussions will be felt throughout the county. Students cannot afford to be priced out of even more housing. If you live in Eureka, consider re-registering to vote in Humboldt County so you can vote against Measure F and help protect housing for the next generation of students. 

Here are some even more horrifying reasons why we need to defeat Measure F. The reason that the Housing for All name has been allowed to stick is that Measure F will allegedly designate a piece of land, dubbed the Jacobs site, as a zone where the city can build housing. Supporters claim that they can take the housing projects that are projected to be built in Old Town and move it to this site that is further away from businesses. By passing this measure, it interferes with the city’s ability to decide how they want to use the space. The Jacobs site was already the subject of a mysterious deal this summer, where an unknown group of investors tried to swap other properties and over $5 million dollars for the property.

Measure F argues that parking spaces for businesses in Eureka are more important than providing housing. The company backing this project, Security National Master Holding Company, LLC, has spent over a $1 million dollars trying to get this passed, making it the most expensive measure in Eureka’s history. Almost every dollar spent in support of this measure has come from Security National. Security National also purchased the parking lot in front of Eureka City Hall and put up barricades so that no one can park in front of the building. Local business tycoon Rob Arkley is the one behind this company and has been on record disparaging the city manager of Eureka. Arkley has claimed that low income housing brings crime. Arkley was named in a scandal involving Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and a vacation stay that Arkley gifted Alito, which the Supreme Court Justice did not originally disclose in 2008. There is no way that Arkley has Eureka’s best interest at heart. He seeks to only serve himself and his associates by passing this measure.

The Rob Arkley’s of the world are counting on us to not be informed. Prove them wrong.

Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaningful discussion.

By Emma Wilson

When I was younger, perhaps 10 or 11, I remember staying awake at night crying, thinking about the realities of life and the wackiness that comes with it, and I couldn’t sleep. I stood up and walked into my dads office space and told him that I was having an existential crisis, and he looked at me in amusement and questioned what I meant. Then, I explained I didn’t understand where life goes after we all die, and he acknowledged that he also deals with those feelings and that I need to get used to those feelings, because they won’t go away.

Going into existential conversations can be so grueling and depressing, but I want to get away from that feeling. Feeling existentialism, and thinking about the circle of life and how on earth, humans simply started existing; these are conversations that do not need to harbor negative feelings.

The big reason why I wanted to write about existentialism is because of the variety of things that can lead to going down this path, and frankly I find it pretty easy to open up about the amazingly terrifying aspects life holds. 

On KRFH 105.1, Cal Poly Humboldt’s student-run radio station, I have had many show names dedicated to this very topic. Some examples are, Music to Make You Think, Let’s Get Existential, and now this semester, Pondering in the P.M. On my radio shows, I tend to play songs that express deep meanings.

I have chosen to pursue journalism, and with that, I find a lot of things to think about all the time. Everywhere I look, I can see an impactful story coming to life, and with that, I find life to be such a beautiful thing to discover.

But then, I look to Instagram — which, since having this thought, I have deleted instagram to take a mental break. Instagram gives me so much existential dread because of the mindless scrolling through thousands of different concepts, creators, professionals, human beings simply doing all this stuff. I often find myself needing to step away from the constant blur of content that people make, because there is sooooo much to see on social media and the Internet as a whole. 

This brings me to what gives me the most existential freedom; Mother Earth, the environment, all that is alive within Earth and its complex features that make up our soil and soil being the foundation of the world. Climate, how temperature, precipitation and wind impact the ecosystem of our very planet. The circle of life. Bugs.

I will continue to hear the earth brew with ideas and concepts that face me, and every human. Not just humans either, the whole environment and what works in between. 

Like I said in the beginning, existential dread is a really heavy concept. It is hard-hitting, mind-grueling, and you can end up drooling over the complex way life is and what comes afterwards. And that comes with the whole religious conversation and I choose not to go into that heavy conversation right now. That part of existentialism is not a part of this article.

Either way, that moment woke me up in understanding the full complexity life brings to anyone, and we all live a different one, experiencing those feelings differently of course, but this is just my interpretation of existential complexities. I’m finally trying to embrace those feelings, because they are so valid. Life is hard, and it really isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. 

What really got me thinking existentially, I believe, was growing up non-religious, without going to church or having a community of people in that way. I consider myself an atheist-agnostic, pretty much. I put the agnostic in there cause I really have no idea why we are here, but I would like to believe we are out here just being animals, working together with other animals within our ecosystem to keep it healthy and lively. At least, that’s what I hope we do. 

Not growing up in a religious household, I’ve really delved into the existentialist thought bubble more than I can count. Having these thoughts has opened a lot of doors and perspectives into my life and how to go about things in the world. Whenever I think too much, I definitely do get pretty anxious about things, and I try to accept that there are some things we can never understand. 

I get really stuck in the dread of life, but sometimes thinking about being alive actually does get me far. Seeing the beauty in things like clean rivers falling down a big ass mountain — that shit is so mind blowing to me. 

Over time though, I wonder if these existential thoughts and big extreme awakings will slow down, and I will accept the complexities of life. I would like to think they will be so far into my life, I already know how to calm those feelings through meditation, grounding in the grass and doing yoga, and connecting with being alive. But, death and dying are very real things, very hard things to feel. Loss will never be easy, but knowing everyone feels and knows that too, makes it all a little easier. 

Emma Wilson is a public relations journalism student at Cal Poly Humboldt minoring in envioronmental ethics. Wilson is an environmental reporter and science editor for the lumberjack. She is also the president of the Journalism Club of Cal Poly Humboldt. Wilson likes swimming, playing music on the raido, and making collages.

Growing up, I never dreamed I would become a journalist. My parents were very active in social rights movements, and I always believed that the best way to make a difference was by being active in the solution. My father was a public defender and an active member of changing the system. He talked at three-strike protests, took me and my siblings to peace rallies, and worked with different groups to actively change the system for the better.  

Sadly, he passed away when I was ten years old from brain cancer. Before he passed away, he received an award for all of his work in social justice. He was unable to attend due to his health at the time, but he made an acceptance video that I still listen to today. In it, he talks about his relationship with facts. He gave the three-strike law a face by talking about his client who was sentenced to 25 to life for joyriding. He talked about his love of fighting the good fight and all the people he has met along the way. He also said a quote from Martin Luther King that really hit home when my dad explained its effect on him.

“‘Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve,’” he said while staring into the camera. “That’s certainly been true with my involvement in facts. Come serve with me.”

For me, journalism is a way to fight the good fight. It gives me a platform to show what is really happening. There are so many ways to serve and be a conduit of facts. For some, it is protesting to get the message out. For others, like my dad, it was working to free the people oppressed by a system that is not on their side. As for myself, I want to use journalism as a way to give people a platform to be heard.

Gabriel Zucker is a senior journalism student at Cal Poly Humboldt. He is the photo editor for The Lumberjack. He loves photojournalism and wants to use his platform as a journalist to give a voice to the voiceless.

By Savana Robinson

I’m getting older, I think I’m aging well / I wish someone had told me I’d be doing this by myself 

Life can get in the way of the grind. Working with minimal days off is unsustainable and, eventually, something happens to throw everything off balance. Doctors appointments, endless laundry, and dealing with the fleas on my cat while going to school and work — plus trying to remember to take care of basic human needs is overwhelming. 

Getting Older by Billie Eilish is close to my heart. I also wish I had been informed that, eventually, I’d be on my own. Sometimes, it can feel like something greater is conspiring against me and I’m drowning in a never-ending fever dream of instant noodles and knots in my neck, and it sucks. It makes me not even want to try some days.

Things I once enjoyed / Just keep me employed now

I grew up making videos of my adventures with friends. Now, I work in TV as a multimedia journalist while finishing my degree. I’m in an awesome spot right now, and I have everything I wanted growing up; the boyfriend, the motorcycle, and the job… so why am I so stressed out? Does the exhaustion of the long hours and nagging deadlines outweigh the satisfaction of doing what I love? It doesn’t. I’m doing everything all at once, trying to get to a point where I can say I made it, that I fulfilled my dreams. But I forgot who was underneath it all — a little girl filming fairy rings in a field with an iPod touch.

I’m getting older, I’ve got more on my shoulders / But I’m getting better at admitting when I’m wrong

I try to remind myself that things will only get better from here. I’ve made my share of mistakes, but it’s all part of the learning experience, and hands-on is the best approach in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoy what I do, and I’m getting great experience reporting and producing at work while also working on this paper. It’s a lot, but it feels worth it. I have faith that time and opportunity will align to push me forward on my path. I need to trust myself and remember why I’m taking on so much responsibility — for that kid who wanted to explore, film videos, and share stories.

Savana Robinson is a senior journalism major and film minor at Cal Poly Humboldt. She is the managing editor for The Lumberjack and a multimedia journalist at Redwood News. She enjoys riding her Harley-Davidson and playing video games, and her favorite color is pink.

By Emma Wilson

Imagine walking into an office, classroom, a park, feeling very parched, knowing well that sugary drink won’t suffice your thirst and will make you more dehydrated. In a society striving for healthier lifestyles and greater sustainability, it is time we rethink our vending machine offerings. Making water readily available in these machines isn’t just a convenience, it’s a necessity that can drive positive change for our health, our environment and our communities.

Water is an essential part of our survival as humans on earth. One simple yet impactful change we can make is to ensure that water is available in vending machines. It’s a straightforward solution with far-reaching benefits for both individuals and the community. 

Vending machines continue to be stocked primarily with sugary, artificial sugar, and energy drinks. While I understand the importance of these drinks within moderation, they do not replace the fundamental need for hydration. Providing water in vending machines acknowledges that clean, accessible drinking water is a basic human necessity.

Incorporating water options into vending machines promotes healthier lifestyle choices. With rising rates of health issues, encouraging water consumption can play a crucial role in combating these trends.

I’ve seen studies show that when water is easily available, people are more likely to choose it over sugary beverages. By making water accessible, we empower individuals to make healthier decisions. 

I also emphasize the importance of aluminum bottled water instead of plastic water bottles, because they are easier to reuse. The environmental benefits of providing water in vending machines cannot be overstated.

I’ve noticed the marketplace and the depot both sell aluminum bottled water instead of plastic bottles, yet there are sugary plastic sodas readily available at every location with vending machines. 

In the United States alone, approximately 50 billion plastic water bottles are used each year. By offering water in vending machines, we can reduce the reliance of single-use plastic bottles. Moreover, this initiative can encourage the use of refillable water bottles, significantly reducing waste.

From an economic perspective, adding water options to vending machines is a no-brainer. Bottled water can be a profitable item, often selling for more than sugary drinks. Schools and businesses that embrace this change could see a boost in revenue while also supporting public health. Though I love the idea of free water in vending machines, this doesn’t seem economically sustainable in the long run.  

It is time for decision-makers on campus, in schools, workplaces, and public venues to prioritize water in vending machines. This change is not just about convenience, it’s about prioritizing public health, promoting environmental sustainability, and supporting economic growth. 

As a community, we must advocate for these changes and push for policies that reflect our collective commitment to health and sustainability. Let’s quench our thirst for change by making clean, accessible water a priority in every vending machine. After all, in a world where we are increasingly aware of the importance of what we consume, water should be at the forefront.

Emma Wilson is a public relations journalism student at Cal Poly Humboldt minoring in environmental ethics. Wilson is an environmental reporter and science editor for the lumberjack. She is also the president of the Journalism Club of Cal Poly Humboldt. Wilson likes swimming, playing music on the radio, and making abstract collages.

By Emma Wilson

Peaceful destructive wild calming serene force

Helps me dance and flow 

Through any traumatic remorse

One small move that can change mountains and shores

Lost and open keeping me aware of every movement 

Small flows that soften my skin 

Allowing me to dive into hydration

Forming the land in any direction

Helping my back stand with elevation

By Noah Pond

Bugs — why are they so damn annoying? You’re trying to fall asleep at night and that pesky mosquito keeps eeeeeeeeee-ming around your head and in your ear. Or, you order a burger and choose outdoor dining and you literally watch a fly rub his grubby little hands together, spit on them, and then start rubbing down your meal. Either way, you’re infuriated by such a little creature and its little actions.

Well, what if I told you, eating those nasty buggers could solve your problems. 

Me and my oldest friend used to pluck ants out of their marching line and toss them in our mouths for a little zip of spice while we were running around the backyard. 

Before you start freaking out, let me just say, you already eat bugs. 

The Kerria Llacca is a bug that dwells in the far east. Specifically, Thailand, China, and India. They live as a parasite in the Ber tree, (Ziziphus mauritiana) feeding off of its branches and secreting a sticky nest to protect themselves while they feast. Their nest is then harvested, precariously, and melted down into shellac.

Shellac is on so much shit, dude; most citrus fruits, apples, candy, chocolate, jelly beans, and even coffee beans. That’s why lemons from the grocery store are so much more waxy than those you would grow at home. 

But, I’m okay with that, and I’m gonna convince you why you should be okay with it, too. 

When I first heard of Kerria Lacca and shellac, I was low-key appalled. I was like, ‘“How are we just okay with eating these secretions?’ But, I have given it more thought and decided it is no different from eating honey. Bees collect pollen and bring it back to the hive to secrete wax and honey. Sometimes, I’ll go to Wildberries and just cop a honey stick when I get to the register. Once I realized that eating honey and being — bee-ing, lol — grossed out by shellac was hypocritical, I decided I’m pro bug-eating. 

Why don’t we eat more bugs?

They are high in protein, better for the environment than meat, and lower in cost. In addition, more than 2 billion people eat bugs on a daily basis. Popular bugs to eat are ants, mealworms, grasshoppers, and butterfly larvae. 

If you are eating meat but feel guilty about the environment, maybe you should switch to bugs. The National Library of Medicine did a study looking at the protein content of bugs (crickets, honeybees, silkworms, and mealworms) compared to meat. The study found that when compared to chicken, pork, and beef, these bugs have 9.9 to -35g of protein per 100 grams, whereas meat only has 16.8 to -20g of protein per 100 grams.

I know all the gym bruhs who have been wasting their money on their Chipotle bowls and meal prep are mad giddy reading that protein value. Realistically, I see bugs being part of a balanced meal in the future, whether it be because the cows farted their last farts, or 5 billion people take a page out of 2 billion peoples books. The bug revolution is coming.   

Noah Pond is a reporter and opinion editor for the Lumberjack. During his free time he enjoys cold beer and his skateboard. 

Time’s Up, Mark Johnson: he does not belong at Humboldt

By Jordan Huber

Over the last week, I spent many hours watching and rewatching the recently released bodycam footage from the Pro-Palestine protest that took place on April 22 on campus. The anger. The fear. The desperation in the voices of my fellow students, as what was supposed to be a sit-in protest erupted into national-headline clashes with police, still leaves me in shock 4 months later. 

My mind started to go even further back. I recalled how last fall, the university endangered students who were living out of vehicles by forcing them off of school parking lots at night, further exposing an already vulnerable segment of the student population. 

There is a pattern of dehumanization of students that has taken place this past year. This culture of mistreatment and harm of students coincides with the hire of the Chief of Staff for the President’s office.

Mark Johnson.

Many folks at this university and beyond placed most, if not all, the blame regarding the failures of the school in April on former President Tom Jackson. The bodycam footage from police officers that were at the protest that night tells a different story. Johnson was the one floundering the school’s response to student activism. Johnson was the one directing police on behalf of the university. Johnson was the one who decided property value was worth more than the safety of students that night and in the days that followed. 

Over the summer, the chief of police of Eureka had to stand in front of Eureka City Council and hear how an independent investigation showed that there were no threats to students, or anyone else, from the protest. The report detailed how there was a complete lack of a plan from administration. The ineptitude of school leadership, spearheaded by Johnson, ended up endangering not only the students, but every emergency responder that night. 

But wait — Johnson is not only the Chief of Staff, he got a promotion over the summer to the tune of just under $250,000 a year. Johnson is the new interim Vice President for University Advancement. This promotion includes becoming the Executive Director of the Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation, which leaves Johnson in charge of a fund that reported over $50 million dollars in assets last year. It is insulting to every person on this campus that he put people’s lives at risk, showed his lack of planning and professionalism, and he was given more responsibility and power. 

Where is the same level of accountability for Johnson and every other university decision maker for their actions? Mitch Mitchell, our Dean of Students, called former Associated Students President Ethan Levering unfit to be a representative of our university. Our administrators need to look in the mirror and at their fellow administrators. They will find people like Johnson, who not only do not deserve to represent Cal Poly Humboldt, but should be as far away as possible from being in charge of the safety and well-being of anybody. 

Since the administration won’t do it, let’s judge Johnson’s performance by the value statement posted on the University Advancement’s page that he is supposed to uphold.

RESPONSIBILITY – Went on record saying that they did everything they could to deescalate the situation on campus. He followed this up by stating that the outcomes would have been the same no matter what the university did. 

INTEGRITY – Said that the vote of no confidence from the general faculty that was nearly unanimous was just an inter-family conflict.

TEAMWORK – Left faculty, staff, students, their parents and the community at large in the dark as the university coordinated to bring in hundreds of police officers to campus to stomp out the protest. 

QUALITY –  Bullied faculty members through email for their concern for students and the criticisms the faculty had regarding the university’s response. 

ENTHUSIASM – Regarded the makeshift graduation ceremonies as preferable to the larger ceremonies held at the university in the Redwood Bowl. This shift, caused by administration’s decision to close campus, led to many students to not be able to attend each other’s graduation ceremonies and families to not be able to set foot on the campus where their children spent years of their lives — as well as thousands of dollars — working to earn their degrees.

INITIATIVE – Became the de facto leader of the university in the absence of President Tom Jackson, resulting in irreparable damage to the community and the student body.

LEADERSHIP – Abused power that he should not have had in the first place to further his own agenda of prioritizing buildings over the lives of the students.

By these standards, Johnson should never be allowed on our campus again. Humboldt is no longer a place you should have the honor to represent, and the fact you are still employed is an embarrassment and disrespectful to all past and present members of the university. You do not hold the qualities needed to represent Humboldt. Your decisions have done nothing but amplify the community’s dislike for the school, and cause students to lose their pride in our institution. 

We know you do not have an ounce of humility and shame, because someone with the ability to feel such things would have resigned already. I now call upon the nearly 200 faculty members who agreed how incompetent you are at your job and the student body to not allow your transgressions to be swept aside. Do not allow this person to sully our home. Email the CSU chancellor’s office, email our new president, contact the California State Student Association, attend University Senate meetings. He will not go away willingly. We must use these channels to let those above him know that he cannot continue being a part of our campus community. Explain to them how much he has done to hurt the place we love.

I am electing for the shit-show Mark, and I will never forgive you nor forget what you have done. 

Jordan is a senior political science major and the president of the Politics Club. With a keen interest in current affairs and a passion for informed debate, Jordan brings a well-rounded perspective to their opinion column. Through their studies and leadership, Jordan is dedicated to exploring the complexities of political issues and fostering meaningful discussion.