The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Arcata

  • Put em’ in a cage they say!

    Put em’ in a cage they say!

    By Phillip Santos

    The HSU campus is not a zoo. After attending this university for almost four years I’m inclined to disagree with that statement for a variety of reasons, but those who carry that sentiment have made their voices heard. Last semester the HSU Senate passed a draft resolution banning all animals except service animals from campus buildings. Who does this policy affect? Everyone really, but three groups in particular.

    The first group is made up of those who have certified service animals. Service animals go through a vigorous training regiment and are considered “working” animals who assist people with disabilities. Various examples include calming individuals with PTSD, alerting others if the owner is having a seizure, etc. Service animals are trained to perform a task specifically related to the disability the owner has.

    IMG_20170831_165334161.jpg
    Michelle Meyers with her seizure alert dog, ” Roody.”

    The second group is made up of the people who have emotional support animals. There are a few distinct differences between emotional support animals and service animals, but I will only outline two. The first is that emotional support animals are intended to help treat persons with psychological and emotional disorders. Whether or not these qualify as legitimate disabilities is something that mainstream society continues to argue about. The second difference is that emotional support animals don’t go through a vigorous training program, they are essentially prescribed by a licensed medical professional as a way to ease the symptoms of the patient’s disorder.

    IMG_20170831_164941367.jpg
    Kimber Nguyen and her emotional support anima, “Duke.”

    The third group is probably the largest of the three. These are the people who bring their pets to class because they can. When a dog jumps up onto a food surface in the Depot or leaves behind a steamy pile of excrement, these are the people that passerbys think of. Based on the comments made during the HSU Senate meeting when this resolution passed, this is the group that is being targeted by the new pet policy.

    The problem with this policy is that it uses broad measures to target a specific group of people and in the process, causes substantial damage to students with real and pressing needs. These are the students who depend on emotional support animals to make it through a tough class, or to even get there in the first place. Companionship is a powerful thing that enables human beings to do incredible things, but it’s at times necessary to achieve the ordinary. Because sometimes the ordinary becomes the impossible, but an impossible that can be diminished by a familiar friend doing what any friend would do, which is to offer support.

    This policy is also cruel towards the emotional support animals themselves. The policy mandates that emotional support animals be caged or kenneled while their owners are in class. Does anyone have class all day? Both the owner and the emotional support animal lose out in this arrangement. But this collateral damage is readily accepted in an environment where members of the HSU campus are tired of dealing with students who have abused the tolerance towards animals on campus.

    One of the worst things about this policy is that it doesn’t have to be crafted this way. Emotional support animals can be allowed in classrooms, and they should be. But the easiest solution to the host of issues that animals on campus have created is the current version of this policy. Supposed “modest revisions” are being made, but I’m skeptical that will amount to more than the correction of a typo.

    The other awful aspect of this policy is the lack of student input. During the HSU Senate meeting when this draft resolution passed, multiple Senate members expressed the need for student input to formulate a better pet policy. When it comes to this policy, it’s not that the HSU Senate isn’t listening, it’s that the student body isn’t talking. Don’t “sit down, be humble” stand up, don’t mumble!

    Through a variety of voices and action, HSU students and staff have created amazing programs and initiatives to address a variety of issues and interests such as : Check It (a nationally renowned movement to eradicate sexual assault and violence), KRFH (a FM college radio station that reels in awards every year), and WRRAP ( a waste reduction program which has reduced waste by 50% since 1996!). There is no reason that animals on campus cannot be met with the same type of creative and effective measures, but there is an explanation as to why that isn’t happening – I’ll let you finish that thought.

  • We are still in

    We are still in

    Mayor, governors, college and university leaders, businesses and investors are coming together to declare that they will still support the Paris Climate Agreement to combat climate change. President Trump’s announcement to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement was met with widespread criticism, and local and state governments are taking responsibility to decrease greenhouse gas emissions in response. Susan Ornelas, the mayor of the City of Arcata, gives her thoughts on this growing international community known as We Are Still In. BDSusanOrnelas.jpeg

    Q: When did you first hear of We Are Still In? Was there an envelope in the mail?

    A: No, I came across it on Facebook or the internet. I just saw that, and saw that mayors were signing on and I thought while looking at the Paris Accord, “Well the city of Arcata has internal documents that direct us to do these things already!” So it wasn’t a big decision to have to make, it was kind of like, “we’re in!” We’re already in, and I just thought about the citizens and that they would like to see the city of Arcata on this list. So I just contacted the city manager and Mark Andre (Director of Environmental Services) and said, “yeah, lets sign up, let’s get our name in there.”

    Q: How was it implemented? How did you get your name signed on?

    A: Well we just wrote a letter based on, we have kind of a legislative platform that if things come up that fit the platform that we already approved, the mayor could just send a letter. So I just sent a letter saying the City of Arcata is still in on the accord, and like I said, and internally I knew that our policies were already working towards these things so wasn’t too difficult to do.

    Q: What has the city and university done to contribute to the “We Are Still In” agreement?

    A: The city and the university are working well together right now which is a contribution in itself. We have a lot of good coordination and the university has made some strides I feel like. The city has made strides like years ago and we’re still making further strides into zero waste and understanding that…The university did the whole sustainability analysis of themselves…that whole effort of reducing waste, more sustainable systems, less carbon use, you know. I think as a society many of us are trying to reduce our carbon use. Transportation is one of the biggest challenges for this county.

    Q: Like moving to the autonomous car?

    A: Yeah that will help, although you really have to look at where you’re getting your electricity and is that a good source. Is that a carbon free source, is that non-polluting as much as possible. It’s good that solar has gotten as inexpensive as it has.

    Q: Is that probably going to become the norm at some point?

    A: “Yeah, and then do you know about the Community Choice Energy Program? That’s another thing the city of Arcata is involved in. The whole county is actually involved in this…. So the Community Choice Energy Program is that Humboldt County now runs or purchases its own energy. It’s still run through PG&E but it’s called Community Choice Energy…. But this also goes in with the whole Paris Climate Accord because the county now is choosing more renewable sources of energy and investing in local solar arrays and things like that. So that’s what called a Joint Powers Agreement, a J.P.A., which means the county and the cities have joined together and we all sit on a board, and we’re overseeing this Redwood Coast Energy authority purchasing now energy for the county, and we’re getting it a little cheaper, and we’re emphasizing renewables. So that’s another way that we’re working to sort of you know weave ourselves out of carbon. And then another thing that I would say that the City of Arcata does is we study some carbon sequestation in like marsh lands because that’s another good source of carbon sink. So the City of Arcata is investing in marsh lands now, working with the university, with students doing studies and things of carbon sequestration in marsh lands. That’s another thing that we’re interested in that we work towards. We see the value of them. I mean there used to be people would just drain marsh lands and farmed it, but we see the value in them for bird habitats for ecosystem diversity and…

    Q: Kind of like estuaries?

    A: Yeah kind of like estuaries. You know a marsh land, yeah.

    Q: In your opinion why do you think We Are Still In holds such significance for our community?

    A: Well you know I think because Arcatans really take pride in their environmental stances and they wanted to feel like they supported this. They didn’t want to just give this up after the whole country had, you know, promised to join and then we pulled out, and I think there’s something powerful about all these mayors getting together because the mayors are closer to the people and they’re joining forces and saying whatever is going on at this level we’re still doing this. We still believe that we want to make sure we leave something for our children and things like that. So I think the mayors are speaking more for the people and that’s also kind of heart warming but also powerful stance. I think people liked that too. I think it’s important and people want to feel that we’re not going backwards, you know, I think that would be depressing for people. There’s ways we’re feeling like were watching our society and we are going backwards. But with this particular thing with the mayors coming forward and you know, saying “no, we’re still in”, that at least didn’t go backwards for people.

  • Welcome to Arcata

    Welcome to Arcata

    By|Ian Benjamin Finnegan Thompson

    Welcome back students and staff. For those who are new to HSU here are photos of some cool spots in Humboldt County. There’s photos of places to savor the sunset and immerse yourself in nature, photos of spots to skate and do other recreational activities, some great places to study, eat and relax.

     

  • Looking for answers

    Looking for answers

    By Curran Daly

    David Josiah Lawson died in the early morning hours of April 15, after a fight and stabbing at an off-campus party. On May 7, Judge Dale Reinholtsen ordered the release of Kyle Zoellner, a Mckinleyville native detained shortly after Lawson’s death, citing the prosecution’s insufficient amount of evidence to proceed to trial.

    Since then Humboldt State students left Humboldt County and four months have passed since Lawson’s death. As students return to the University and the surrounding area, the case is still unsolved and local law enforcement and the Lawson family are still searching for answers.

    A vigil to mark four months since Josiah’s death was held in the Arcata Plaza on August 15. At the Vigil, Arcata City Mayor Susan Ornelas fielded questions from community members about the case and the safety of people of color in the community.

    During the vigil it was revealed that a retired FBI investigator was to arrive in Arcata on August 16, to assist with the case. The investigator was brought to the city’s attention by the Lawson family’s legal representation and a contract had recently been agreed to between him and the City of Arcata.

    Mayor Ornelas also spoke of the role of the Justice Department in the investigation.

    “I hate that this is taking so long,” Ornelas said. “The city and I personally contacted the Department of Justice and they can only help us with the forensics of this case.”

    Forensic evidence was recently returned to the Arcata Police Department from the United States Department of Justice.

    At an Arcata City Council meeting on August 2, Ornelas relayed a message from Arcata Chief of Police, Tom Chapman.

    “The investigation is open and ongoing, additional witnesses have recently come forward,” Ornelas said. “We are beginning to recieve forensic testing results from the Department of Justice.”

    The City Council recently approved a community reward program for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. The program was announced in a press release on August 1, from the City of Arcata that also confirmed the involvement of an outside agency.

    “Chief Chapman also confirmed that an outside agency from a large city that did not want to be named has committed two experienced homicide detectives to the Lawson case,” according to the press release. “’It’s not uncommon for agencies to take a look at an investigation from the outside, and looking at the investigative steps, make a determination if there is something more that can be done,’ said Chapman. ‘That is in process.’”

    Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Arcata Police Department  at (707) 822-2428. The Lumberjack will continue to stay up-to-date on the progress of the investigation into David Josiah Lawson’s death.

  • Lost Lumberjacks

    Lost Lumberjacks

    By Curran C. Daly

    Sadly, a few members of the Lumberjack family will not be returning to HSU this fall.

    John Vayo

    John Vayo_Web
    Photo provided by Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction Facebook page.

    John Vayo passed away on July 2, 2017. He was entering his last year in the undergraduate Social Work program.

    “John struck me as a ‘would give you the shirt of his back’ kind of person—this is not a phrase I use very often—I found that hopeful and inspiring. John was deeply committed to the values and practices of harm reduction and, though he had already done a lot of good, would have gone on to shape our human service community in seriously positive ways,” said Ronnie Swartz, Social Work department chair and a personal friend of Vayo’s.

    Vayo will be missed around campus and in the community. He was an avid outdoorsman and volunteered with the Humboldt Area Center for Harm Reduction. Vayo is survived by his son Aiden. Vayo was 38 years-old.

    Michelle Lane

    Michelle Lane, Business, professor, portrait,
    Photo provided by Humboldt State Business Department.

    Michelle Lane passed away on August 7, 2017. She was an Associate Professor in the university’s School of Business.

    “Michelle was very pleasant and always smiling. She was always helping students and faculty beyond what was necessary,” said Hari Signh, professor and department chair of the School of Business. “Her most important legacy was helping the students succeed.”

    Lane helped launch the M.B.A. program for the School of Business five years ago. She was a big advocate for sustainability. Lane loved animals and was on the Board of Directors for the Sequoia Humane Society. She is survived by her husband, three children and three grandchildren.

  • Smoking Ban at HSU

    Smoking Ban at HSU

    By Danny Dunn

    This fall Humboldt State University will officially become a tobacco and smoke free campus. This ban includes all tobacco products such as, but not limited to cigarettes, tobacco pipes, and cigars along with electronic smoking devices like vape pens and box mods.

    Several California State Universities have already enforced this rule, and all 23 CSUs will eventually become smoke free.

    There are some exceptions to this ban, though not very many. According to the Executive Order 1108 exceptions include: smoking in a university sponsored theater, as well as ceremonial campus events may be authorized by the President or designee only when a required part of a specific performance. This includes smoking and tobacco use for traditional ceremonial activities of recognized cultural and religious groups.

    The use of nicotine cessation products such as Nicorette products are permitted under the order.

    This order will help to create a safer and more healthy environment on campus, but not everyone is onboard with this new smoke free campus.

    HSU student Jason Henkle believes that this new order treads on his rights as a smoker on campus and that it will give smokers a bad look among their fellow classmates.

    “There will be a stigma now for smokers at CSUs,” Henkle said. “This ban is going to isolate smokers from the non smokers.”

    Henkle went on to say that if he had not already planned on living off campus next fall, that this order would have made that decision for him.

    HSU student Joseph Keith also believes that smokers and even some non smokers social lives will take a hit from this new ban, because of the connections that people make throughout the gazebos on campus, most notably the gazebo at the bottom of campus apartments.

    “What are people going to do, we are not going to hang out our tiny ass living rooms all day,” Keith said. “I have friends now that I would have never had, not just through smoking, but me having a friend that I smoked with that introduced me to their friends.”

    HSU student Oscar Arzate admits that he is relieved that HSU is becoming a smoke free campus.

    “Honestly I am glad people will not be smoking or vaping on campus,” Arzate said. “The smell is very irritating to me.”

  • Taqueria La Chiquita

    Taqueria La Chiquita

    By Carlos Olloqui

  • Food review: Kebab Cafe

    Food review: Kebab Cafe

    By Bryan Donoghue

    To me, there’s nothing compared to a greeting full of warmth. Whether it be the humid sun of the Mediterranean or the staff of Kebab Cafe, genuine warmth is the type of feeling that makes someone feel right at home. Kebab Cafe’s warmth is akin to nostalgia, and you can feel right at home at 5000 Valley West Blvd in Arcata.

    BDDKebab03
    The cooking station in Kebab Cafe | Photo by Bryan Donoghue

    Their lighting in the front of the restaurant is fluorescent leading into a dim casual setting in the back of cafe, and the staff welcomes me with a similar brightness as I tell them it’s my first time at the Kebab Cafe. Every team member is open and amiable as they show me the menu, their cabinet display full of fresh food, and even the open grill where the kebabs are made. In their presentation about what’s on the menu, the highlight I chose was the gyro sandwich, and before starting me off with that, I ordered a few dolmas.

    I need to attest to the flavor of the dolmas Kebab Cafe makes in house. Dolmas are a unique appetizer among any cuisine. They are seasoned rice and herbs that are tossed together before being formed, and ultimately, wrapped with a grape leaf. It reminds me of a vegan burrito, but with a harmony of Mediterranean tastes, and much smaller in scale. Dolmas tend to be finger food, but Kebab Cafe’s freshly wrapped dolmas feel relatively too small in comparison to dolmas I’ve had previously.

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    Four dolmas neatly arranged in a plate | Bryan Donoghue

    That being said, size isn’t a testament to how they taste. The ratio of flavors is the key impact this dish had. At first bite, my taste buds note a splash of lemon as I bite into the leaf, until the herbs combine with the citrus flavor. The chewy texture of the rice along with the prominent flavors of herb and citrus make these little wrapped bundles delicious. Kebab Cafe’s dolmas are 90 cents each, and I recommend getting more than one.

    After I devour the dolmas, I move into the gyro sandwich. Kebab Cafe’s gyro meat is a blend of ground beef and ground lamb that’s first seasoned seasoned until being grilled on a vertical boiler. The meat is thinly sliced and served inside a warm pita with a combination of raw onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce. You choose your sauce, with the choices being either tzatziki or red sauce. I chose tzatziki, a sauce made from yogurt and cucumbers that have a tangy kick. In accompaniment to the dolmas, this was the absolute best follow up I could have chosen as my main plate. As I chew, I notice it’s soft, chewy, and plays a trick on my perception of temperature because of how it’s layered. The pita is warm, as well as the meat in the middle. The contrast is in the vegetables, as they’re cold and smothered with tzatziki sauce. This contrast makes each bite different from the last, as the temperature of the sandwich is trying to find an equilibrium. This is one of the few meals I’ve had in recent times where not only did I finish my plate at the restaurant, but I couldn’t think of a single piece of criticism. It’s a remarkable dish at $8.35.

    From Santorini to Turkey, Kebab Cafe captures the essence of the Mediterranean, but condenses it into a small cafe where customers can feel at home. Open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., or Saturday from noon to 7 p.m., Kebab Cafe is cooking up food six days a week.

  • Humboldt’s hidden hate

    Humboldt’s hidden hate

    By Alexandria Hasenstab

    Humboldt State University has not had a reported incident of blatant racism on campus in the past few years, however, the same cannot be said for the surrounding areas of Humboldt County. Several incidents of racist attacks, both verbal and physical, have been reported in Arcata. The most recent suspected incident resulted in the death of sophomore David Josiah Lawson.

    Elijah Chandler is a close friend of Lawson. The two were members of Brothers United, a cultural club at HSU where Lawson served as president. Chandler felt a culture shock coming up to Arcata, which is predominately white, from South Central California which is known to have a high a population of people of color. He also believes that the population from Humboldt County has a hard time accepting the students of color entering the community

    “People fear what they don’t understand,” Chandler said. “Most of these people aren’t used to seeing people of color. It’s a shock to their system as well. And when people fear something they lash out in hate towards it.”

    Another member of Brothers United, Katauri Thompson, has dealt with racism in the community first hand only about two weeks ago.

    Thompson and some of his friends were approached by police officers who had their guns drawn in Arcata and were asked to get on the ground. Thompson said that when he asked the officer what description they were going off of, the officer replied the only description was that some people in town from Florida were armed and in the area.

    “That’s Florida, that’s a state that’s not a race,” Thompson said. “So why would you pick us out?”

    Despite this, Thompson said that he doesn’t assume that all Humboldt County locals are prejudiced.

    “It’s more ignorance,” Thompson said.

    Thompson expected the community to be less diverse than what he was used to in Inglewood, California. However, he said he felt that the school’s reputation is misleading.

    “I was told it would be liberal and diverse, and I don’t consider this to be diverse,” Thompson said.

    HSU’s President Lisa Rossbacher acknowledges the lack of diversity in Humboldt County and the negative effects it can have.

    “There isn’t a lot of ethnic and racial diversity in this region, except for what the university contributes,” Rossbacher said. “We do end up being a very diverse community as a university in the midst of a region that is far less diverse. That certainly creates some tensions.”

    For student Laura Carlos, who is from San Jose, coming to Arcata from a very diverse area was difficult.

    “I don’t feel unwelcome due to my skintone,” Carlos said. “But as soon as I speak or can’t pronounce words I can feel some vibes and get some looks that’s like ‘you don’t have the potential’.”

    Carlos also feel that professors and lecturers need to be more understanding of students from different backgrounds and incorporate that into their teaching.

    “It’s a downer as a Latina who’s working hard to reach a certain goal for their family,” Carlos said.

    Although racism is everywhere junior child development major Brianna Allen believes that Humboldt State was not transparent about the lack of diversity and racism in the community.

    “You learn about racism, but you don’t know what it really is until you’re in a white environment and a white institution,” Allen said.

    Allen said that the school could be more proactive in creating a safe space for students of color. One solution she thought of was hiring more faculty and staff of different races.

    “I can count on one hand the number of professors of color I’ve had,” Allen said. “It’s hard to get staff of color because of the environment.”

    Allen said that when she first arrived in Humboldt she truly believed it has an open minded and liberal place.

    “My little blindfold about Humboldt came off very quickly,” Allen said. “The school likes to present itself as liberal. They’re hippies in their appearance, but in terms of activism there’s no fight.”

    Allen has been able to avoid racism in the community, although she did face a racist remark in the residence halls. As a community advocate, Allen has been able to live on campus for the past three years.

    “I felt like being able to live on campus was a safety net,” Allen said.“Now I’m not doing the job and I am worried because I will have to live in the community.”

    Allen said that the school is held more accountable than the city, but still more could done between both parties.

    “I feel like more discussion about social and environmental issues and justice, especially in the community,” Allen said.

    One staff member who is taking initiative is Corliss Bennett-McBride. Bennett-McBride is the director of the Cultural Center for Academic Excellence. She came to Humboldt nine months ago and has already been working to make changes in the community.

    “I’m on several committees and task forces,” Bennett- McBride said

    Bennett McBride works with local business to help them become culturally sensitive when people of color enter their businesses.

    “You have a student who walks into a grocery store in Arcata and when she reaches into her purse to get her payment the cashier says ‘we don’t take EBT’,” Bennett-McBride said. “And that was a Latina student.”

    Bennett knows that the students have a lot of power in the city because they make up such a large portion of the population.

    Bennett-McBride also joined the Arcata Public Safety Task force in an effort to create a safer community for students.

    “I know the relationship with the police, no matter where you live, and being a person of color is an issue,” Bennett – McBride said.

    The task force works with the local government and the police to create a safer city.

    Ben Yang is a local from Eureka and a member of the Asian Desi Pacific Islander Collective. As an Asian-American he felt that Humboldt had no spaces for him.

    “I think usually when you see a person of color and you’re a white person you have a feeling that ‘I’m white I’m more privileged’,” Yang said.

    Yang does not feel that HSU is big improvement from the county in term of resources for people of color.

    In regards to the stigma about locals, especially after the stabbing this month, Yang felt that people have the rights to make judgments about the Humboldt locals based off of people’s actions. Yang also feels that many Humboldt locals are conservative despite HSU’s liberal ideals.

    “I think they’re conservative deep down inside,” Yang said. “But I’m sure they could be an ally when it’s necessary.”

    Senior Emily Murphy has also lived in Humboldt County her entire life

    “I thought I knew everything about Humboldt County until I came to HSU,” Murphy said.

    Growing up in Trinidad, Murphy attended Arcata high, but had friends from neighboring town Eureka and Mckinleyville.

    Murphy didn’t see racism first-hand growing up but she acknowledges that exists in Humboldt County, especially in the institutions and the police. Murphy believes that the reason that many conservative people live in Humboldt County is because many of the towns were built off of logging, the logging community tends to be conservative.

    Murphy admits that she wonders whether people make assumptions about her due to the fact that she is a white local.

    “I don’t want to be stereotyped,” Murphy said.

    Murphy hopes that people won’t judge all people from Humboldt County based off the racist actions of certain individuals.

    “That’s a total misrepresentation of what the locals are like,” Murphy said.

    Murphy is not the only person who fears people make assumptions about her because she is white. President Rossbacher said that she constantly faces the challenge of people assuming she is not fit to handle issues of racism as a white female.

    “What I find difficult is that I find people assuming that I have particular challenges,” Rossbacher said. “The assumptions that are made about the challenges of leading an institution as a white woman.”

    Rossbacher has had experience dealing with race when she worked at a school in Georgia with a high population of students of color.

    “That challenging part is finding the ways and the times and the places to have the conversation,” Rossbacher said.

    Bennett- McBride acknowledged that  Rossbacher and the administration were very supportive

    Chandler, on the other hand,  feels that having the conversation in college is too late. He feels that intervention in the youth is necessary to make change because adults already have ideas ingrained in their head.

    “It takes a particular type of person to see past that after they’ve become an adult after they have theses ideas reinforced,” Chandler said.

    Despite the pain the Chandler has endured at the hands of resident of Humboldt County, he still refuses to give into hate

    “I can’t let other people’s actions shape who I am,” Chandler said. “That’s become increasingly harder, but I still don’t hate them. Hate won’t bring anything positive.”

  • This week in news (April 19 to April 25)

    This week in news (April 19 to April 25)

    Local

    -New housing development in Arcata

    A new housing development is in the works that will house around 800 students. The new 11 acres housing called ‘The Village’ will be located on St. Louis Road in Arcata.

    ‘The Village’ is one of a half a dozen new housing projects proposed by developers.

    Source: Mad River Union

    -Jewish community honor Holocaust victims

    A local Jewish community honored Holocaust victims on Sunday at a solemn service for Holocaust Remembrance Day at Temple Beth El in Eureka. Temple Rabbi Naomi Steinberg led the event that included a discussion about the Holocaust and choir songs in Hebrew and English

    Source: Eureka Times Standard

    -Table Bluff fire

    A wildfire burned about 58 acres of land near Table Bluff Saturday afternoon. Many authorities responded to the fire including Cal Fire, Loleta, Ferndale, and the Rio Dell Volunteer Fire departments, along with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

    Source: News Channel 3

    U.S.

    -New Orleans takes down confederate statues

    New Orleans began taking down statutes that commemorated the confederacy Monday morning. Workers took down a monument that was dedicated to the Battle of Liberty Place and honored members of the “Crescent City White League” who in 1874 fought against the racially integrated New Orleans police and state militia.

    Source: New York Times

    -Arkansas double execution

    Arkansas executed two inmates Monday night. It was their first double execution since 2000. After plenty of legal battles Arkansas is finally going to execute eight men in 11 days.

    Source:CNN

    -Peggy Whitson breaks a new record

    Peggy Whitson, a NASA astronaut, broke the record for most time spent in space. Whitson officially set the US record for most cumulative days in space, she surpassed Jeff Williams’ record of 534 days in space.

    Source: CNN

    World

    -Declaration of Independence

    Harvard University researchers found a copy of the Declaration of Independence in England on Friday. Researchers Emily Sneff and Danielle Allen found the copy in a records office in Chichester, a city near England’s southern coast.

    Source: Washington Post

    -Colombia gets hit with another landslide

    Heavy rains caused a landslide in Manizales, Colombia. The landslide killed at least 17 people, while seven others are still missing. Colombia’s President, Juan Manuel Santos visited the area and said humanitarian aid was being sent.

    Source: BBC News

    -Russia sending weapons to Taliban

    According to the Washington Post, a U.S. General confirmed that Russia is sending weapons to the Taliban. An intervention that will likely further complicate the 15-year-old war here and the Kremlin’s relations with the U.S.

    Source: Washington post

  • Residence halls cede to weed

    Residence halls cede to weed

    By Curran Daly

    Humboldt County has a reputation for accepting the widespread use of cannabis. While Humboldt State gives a stern warning to students that weed is not allowed in the dorms upon orientation, it is still present. One freshman smokes almost everyday and believes that one of the hardest parts of getting high discreetly is that weed can be very potent.

    “Depending on your CA it can be pretty hard sometimes, the smell can give you away,” they said. “It depends on what you’re smoking. If its wax, it doesn’t necessarily smell as bad as if you are smoking actual bud.”

    For this particular student, the fear of being caught has subsided since the beginning of the year.

    “At first there was a nervousness, but then you realize that everyone smokes and everyone is used it so you’re not worried about being caught,” they said.

    Being caught comes with severe punishment. The Humboldt State housing handbook outlines the potential outcomes of being caught while in possession or under the influence of any drug or controlled substance.

    According to the housing handbook, “Outcomes may include educational administrative sanctions, a student’s removal from Housing, and referral to Student Affairs, and possible legal charges (including arrest and fines).”

    These harsh penalties cause some people living in campus housing to not risk smoking in their rooms. One resident in campus apartments admits to smoking, but never in their room.

    “I have never been caught,” they said. “I honestly never smoke in the dorms, always outside.”

    These types of measures are necessary to not get caught with a very strict and observant CA.

    They believe that the school does not care about students smoking.

    “No [they don’t care] but, they are still a school, and have to function as such,” they said. “Smoking weed openly in dorms would discredit the school I believe.”

    In Creekview, there is only one CA per building. One resident has only ever met their CA three times. To stop from being caught smoking in their dorm, the Creekview resident has their smoke detector covered and window open.

    “It is very very easy to smoke in Creekview,” they said, “It is also very easy to hide, we don’t really have to do it, but we do it as a precaution.”

    Marijuana is a known occurrence in Humboldt County and while the school preaches that it does not allow marijuana on campus, it is readily available and people smoke it openly in the dorms.

  • $75,000 bong for sale at Humboldt Glassblowers

    $75,000 bong for sale at Humboldt Glassblowers

    By Erin Chessin

    On display and for sale at Humboldt Glassblowers, is a $75,000 bong. You can find psychedelic and intricate glassworks of nearly a hundred local artists at the bong and pipe store located in downtown Arcata.

    IMG_0562
    Two of the most expensive bongs. On the right is Banjo Glass $75,000 bong. | Photo by Andre Hascall

    Arthur Ecker works at Humboldt Glassblowers. He said the asking price for the bong, made by local glassblower Banjo Glass, is appropriate due to the intricacy and precision of the bong.

    “The amount of time and energy that was put into that piece shows just how hungry that artist was,” Ecker said.

    Ecker said the amount of hours these Humboldt County artists put into their artistry is unfathomable. An artist can spend anywhere from 300-400 hours creating just a single piece, which equates to four to six months of hard work and craftsmanship.

    “These people have families, and children they need to put food on the table for,” Ecker said. “These artists are incredibly hardworking people.”

    This new breed of contemporary artistry sprouted new beginnings for Banjo Glass. Ecker said Bango Glass is a devoted father who was driven in his earlier years to make his best quality work in efforts of supporting his children. 

    Utilizing his past experience in art school, the aspiring artist was committed to creating iridescent, three-dimensional, and functional glass pieces.

    Humboldt Glassblowers was in awe when they obtained one of his most extravagant pieces which is on sale for $75,000.

    Customers are also impressed by the quality of the work when they walk into Humboldt Glassblowers.

    Isaiah Harris was visiting a friend in Arcata for the week and made a point to visit Humboldt Glassblowers on his trip.

    IMG_0579
    Animal Rigs | Photo by Andre Hascall

    “I was impressed by the intricate artwork,” Harris said.“The quality of the glass is what sets them apart from other glass shops in different areas.”

    Located at 815 Ninth St. the Arcata Plaza, Humboldt Glassblowers has the works of numerous local artists for sale and on display. Artists from all over Humboldt County bring their artwork to Humboldt Glassblowers. The shop holds pieces from 80 to 100 different artists, many of them local.

    For efficiency, the shop is divided in half. On the left side of the store, customers will find small, multicolored glass pipes where prices ranges based on the complexity of the glass patterns.

    Then there is the right side of the store, where Humboldt Glassblowers puts its finest glass pieces on display. Prices can run through the thousands depending on the intricacy and size of the bong.

    Glass bongs and pipes have become not just a functional aspect of weed culture, but also an artistic element.

    IMG_0589
    Papa Smurf Pipe | Photo by Andre Hascall

    What use to be an online-only market for glassblowers has now become a state-of-the-art level of craftsmanship. Nowadays, the public is able to walk into a store and visually experience the glasswork.

    As customers walk in and experience these inspiring pieces of art, they gain appreciation for the artistry.

    “People are now respecting the art by being exposed to it,” said Dan Belo, who works with Ecker at the shop.

    Belo and Ecker agreed that with legalization, glassblowers should gain more recognition for their craft with time because there is no longer a reason to be secretive about their artistry.

    “With legalization you will start to see artists become more public about their work,” said Ecker.

     

  • Butane ban from Arcata

    Butane ban from Arcata

    The process to make butane hash oil can result in explosions and chemical fires.

    Butane hash oil, also known as wax, honey oil, shatter, and dab, is made by butane extraction. This process is used to create butane hash oil containing large amounts of THC, the intoxicant in marijuana, by blasting marijuana with butane.

    Butane is odorless and can be easily ignited, and is typically used as camp fuel, propellant, and lighter fluid. Many explosions occur as a result of handling chemicals in an unsafe, non-lab environment such as a house.

    Arcata joined a growing list of cities regulating butane products due to concerns over dangers from its use in producing butane hash oil.

    In an effort to deter people from exploding their homes, garages and other residential areas, Arcata City Council approved an ordinance that regulates the sale and possession of butane.

    City Attorney Nancy Diamond attended the Arcata City Council meeting held on Jan. 4 when the ordinance was approved.

    “Because butane is highly volatile and it is being used in an unregulated context,” Diamond said. “It is causing a particular hazard to the public and first responders.”

    The typical consumer container of butane is 300 ml as opposed to a typical refillable lighter which contains about 5.5 ml.

    Arcata City Councilmember Michael Winkler approved the ordinance due to his concern for an increase in public safety and the overall hazard associated with butane use for extraction of THC.

    Since the ordinance having gone into effect on Feb. 4, there have been two fires where there have been leads to the use of butane, according to Arcata Fire District Chief Justin McDonald.

    On Jan. 8, there was one incident which according to the report was most likely drug related, according to Arcata Fire Chief Justin McDonald.

    In Manila on Jan. 14, inside a trailer, a butane hash oil explosion occurred due the extraction process that blew the doors and the windows out of the building.

    “It absolutely ripped the trailer park apart,” McDonald said. “When our crews got there, the exterior walls were blown 15 to 20 feet out.”

    Not many drug related fires can compare to those of butane fires, according to McDonald. Grow house fires, where someone converts a single family residence into a grow operation, don’t grow as rapidly as a butane explosion, according to McDonald.

    “The fire starts off slow and then builds versus the butane goes, boom, it’s big,” McDonald said.

    In 2016, two people were injured after they ignited their cigarette in their car after making butane hash oil in their car, according to McDonald.

    McDonald has been seeing the evolution of these types of incidents, which he calls catastrophic, while being in the Arcata Fire District for 23 years.

    “The ones [fires] that I have been to, the windows and doors have been blown out of the buildings and if people are in there quite often they are pretty severely burned,” McDonald said. “Hair burned off or singed and skin burned off and hanging from their arms.”

    The most recent explosion in Manila in Midway Court was the most devastating butane related incident that McDonald has seen.

    “There were butane bottles zinging through the air because they were still exploding,” McDonald said. “There were enough butane canisters that sustained and kept burning.”

    Arcata has had a history of butane hash oil explosions with six occurring within the last four years. Eureka has also had its number of incidents and has had regulations on butane since Nov. 2016.

    In Nov. 2016, California voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana use.  Now adults over the age of 21 can partake in using, possessing and sharing cannabis, as well as growing it at home.

    Under California law, it’s legal for medical marijuana patients to purchase butane hash oil, but the process of making the oil is illegal.

    A law recently signed, called AB 2679, which will go into effect in 2018, provides a framework for legitimate marijuana manufacturers and allows the extraction process to occur under certain conditions.

    AB 2679 addresses the problem of law enforcement now not being able to shut down facilities that have obtained permits by the city for manufacturing. This law clarifies specific requirements both for a legal form of butane extraction and for extraction using solvents that don’t allow fumes to escape during the process.

    Labs often use solvents to extract the psychoactive ingredient THC from dry marijuana. The process produces a gooey residue that contains a highly concentrated dose of THC and is widely popular at medical marijuana dispensaries.

    “I am not against the licensed process of butane extraction, but it has to be done with the proper permits,” Winkler said. “The city of Arcata will issue permits for manufacturing butane extraction that is legal and safe.”

    Patients, pot identification card-holders, caregivers, collectives and cooperatives will not face state criminal sanctions if they follow the new rules.

    Up until this new law, all forms of butane extraction in California were illegal. The process of creating butane hash oil is legal in places like Colorado.

    The city’s ordinance prohibits retailers from selling more than 600 ml of butane to a buyer in one month. One can of butane contains 320 ml. The law would make it illegal for any person who is not a vendor to have more than 600 ml of butane at any given time.

    Store retailers are required to track the sale of butane canisters and and record the buyer’s name and address and keep this record on file for two years. This is for the city to be aware of their own butane sales and to keep track of an individual’s butane purchases.

    Along with this, butane cans must be placed in glass cases within the store where purchasers would not have access without an employee’s assistance.

    Butane cans are now stored in inaccessible glass cases, where purchasers cannot access without employee assistance.

    “Stores would sell cases of butane, twelve at a time,” Winkler said. “Now there is a monthly limit and stricter rules on how many can be bought at one time.”

    These prohibitions are similar among the various butane sales regulation ordinances adopted across the state to date, according to the ordinance.

    Violators of the ordinance would be charged with a misdemeanor or an infraction.

  • No car, no problem

    No car, no problem

    HSU’s JackPass offers students unlimited city bus access

    By Alexandria Hasenstab

    Humboldt State student Miami Liscano was having an enjoyable spring break until their car broke down. They knew they would need to find a new means of transportation. Luckily, Liscano already knew about the JackPass, a program that allows students access to the city buses with just a swipe of their student I.D. card.

    “I used to use the bus a lot my freshman year,” Liscano said. “If I didn’t have the bus, I would have never left campus.”

    An Arcata-Mad River Transit bus driving down H Street. | Photo by Robert Perez

    Liscano is now a sophomore and, like many other students, takes the bus due to a lack of a personal vehicle. But JackPass is not only for students without cars. It’s an effort to reduce the number of students who drive to school as well as reducing HSU’s carbon footprint.

    According to the 2016-2017 catalog, the JackPass offers students unlimited free rides on the Arcata & Mad River Transit System, the Redwood Transit System, and the Eureka Transit System. This means students can take the bus all the way from Scotia to Trinidad and even to Willow Creek for a day at the river.

    However, the JackPass is not free. Every student pays for it whether they use the bus or not. A portion of HSU registration fees, amounting to $29.02 a semester, is used to fund the JackPass according to Humboldt State’s financial services webpage.

    For students who live out of town like senior Noah Dunkley, the JackPass is a necessity.  

    “I totally agree it’s worth paying for the bus pass in our tuition,” Dunkley said.

    Dunkley lives in Eureka. In order to get to school and back home he has to take the Redwood Transit System. A monthly pass for the RTS is $60 according to their website. This means that a student would pay twice as much for a one-month RTS pass as they do for a 5-month JackPass.

    Charles Burdick is the public transit manager for the Arcata-Mad River Transit. According to Burdick, over 70 percent of bus riders for the Arcata-Mad River Transit are HSU students. He believes that the JackPass is beneficial because it lessens the number of students parking on campus and increases the use of the city bus.

    “There’s a lack of parking there [at HSU],” Burdick said. “They would rather students not take their cars to campus.”

    Humboldt State has been notorious for inadequate parking spaces. According to HSU’s parking and commuter services website, a parking pass for the fall and spring semesters is $315. The parking pass does not ensure students will find a spot.

    JackPass is a great deal for HSU students, but students who use the local transit do experience some flaws.

    “The bus will come either really late or really early,” Liscano said.

    To avoid missing the bus Liscano uses an app called Transit that offers accurate, real-time predictions for public transit arrival times.

    Dunkley has also experience some flaws on the RTS including sagging bus seats and fights breaking out on the bus, but he feels like these flaws are ignorable.

    “Overall it’s a pleasant experience,” Dunkley said. 

    KBBus
    Graphic by Kelly Bessem
  • This week in news (April 5 to April 11)

    This week in news (April 5 to April 11)

    Local

    -Baywood Country Club

    The Baywood country club is broke and is soon planning a golf course timber harvest. The country club is going to file a Timber Harvest plan that looks to lodge roughly 73 forested acres in and around its 18 holes. The harvest could make as much as $700,000 for the country club.

    Source: Mad River Union

    -New tech for St. Joseph’s

    St. Joseph’s Hospital in Eureka has new technology that could help take a closer look at people’s lungs and chest. St. Joseph’s Hospital has the first and only Endobronchial Ultrasound, a device that helps doctors take a closer look at the lungs and chest.

    The machine helps evaluate and examine lymph nodes, identify chest infections, diagnose non cancerous inflammatory disease like sarcoidosis, detect lymphoma and determine stages of lung cancer.

    Source: Times Standard

    -Eureka Moose Lodge

    The Eureka Moose Lodge donated $10,000 to local fire and law enforcement agencies. One donation of $2,000 went to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Animal Shelter for use towards the shelter’s emergency medical fund. The money will be used to help animals in need of medical attention.

    Source: News Channel 3

    -Karuk tribe cuts salmon count

    The Karuk tribe is going to limit their ceremonial salmon harvests for tribal members because of the record low forecast for returning Chinook salmon on the Klamath River.

    Source: Times Standard

    U.S.

    -San Bernardino shooting

    A man walked into North Park Elementary school and started shooting. Cedric Anderson, 53 walked into the elementary school and fatally shot his estranged wife and an 8-year-old boy and injured one other students. The shooting came 15 months after the terrorist attack San Bernardino endured November of 2014.

    Source: Washington Post

    -United Airlines passenger dragged

    A United Airlines passenger was dragged from an overbooked flight Sunday evening. A security officer involved in the incident has been placed on leave. The federal Transportation Department is investigating whether the airline complied with rules regarding overbooking.

    Source: New York Times

    -Gun shop burglary

    A man suspected of a gun shop burglary is on the run after allegedly sending a manifesto to President Donald Trump on his grievances about the government. Joseph A. Jakubowski, 32, allegedly robbed the gun shop in Janesville, Wisconsin last week.

    Source: CNN

    -Texas voter ID law discriminates

    A federal judge ruled that the voter identification law the Texas Legislature passed in 2011 was enacted with the intent to discriminate against Black and Hispanic voters. The judge found that the law violates the federal Voter Rights Act.

    Source: New York Times

    -NY State free tuition

    The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, announced free tuition in the state of New York. New York is the first state in the country to offer free tuition for middle-class students from households earning less than $125,000 a year.

    Source: Now This

    World

    -Stockholm truck attack

    A truck ran into pedestrians in one of the busiest streets in Stockholm killing four people. Two suspects were arrested. One suspect, a 39-year-old man from the central Asian nation of Uzbekistan, was known to intelligence services before he was arrested on Friday. He had shown sympathies for ISIS.

    Source: BBC News

    -Growing tensions with North Korea

    The U.S. Navy sent an aircraft carrier and three guided-missile destroyers and cruisers to the Korean peninsula on Saturday, in response to growing tensions with North Korea. On Monday, officials in China and South Korea agreed to impose a tougher stance on North Korea if Kim Jong Un continues to launch nuclear or long range missile tests.

    Source: New York Times

  • KHSU public radio faces possible defunding

    KHSU public radio faces possible defunding

    By Curran Daly

    Humboldt State’s radio station, KHSU, is facing a 16 percent funding decrease under Donald Trump’s proposed 2018 Budget Outline.

    KHSU has an annual operating budget of just over a million dollars. In 2016, KHSU received $175,061 in grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. CPB is the largest source of funding for public radio. With the complete defunding of the CPB, KHSU would have to look elsewhere for funding.

    Peter Fretwell, KHSU’s new general manager, was attracted to the position as general manager at KHSU due to it’s large community involvement.

    “KHSU is near the top, if not the top of the most listened to stations in Humboldt county,” Fretwell said. “In my experience community involvement is important and I was attracted to Humboldt county and KHSU because of the deep community engagement.”

    KHSU is a noncommercial, public radio station, supported by Humboldt State University. KHSU is largely community based on and acts to provide intellectual perspectives on local and national issues.

    KHSU receives a large amount of their funding from donations from the community. In 2016 $336,289 was donated in listener support. It is this kind of support from the community that will be able to maintain KHSU’s ability to broadcast.

    KHSU is a vital resource for the community. Humboldt is relatively cut off from the world and in the face of potential natural disaster, public radio would be vital for public service.

    The recent budget outline, released on March 16, called for a complete cut to CPB funding. Similar stations with similar communal obligations all around the country face these cuts as well. Patricia Harrison, CPB’s president and CEO, outlined the importance of public media in a statement made after the budget outline was released.

    “The elimination of federal funding to CPB would initially devastate, and ultimately destroy public media’s role in early childhood education, public safety, connecting citizens to our history, and promoting civil discussions,” Harrison said.

    Fretwell has seen proposed cuts to CPB before and believes that, as before, the CPB will be able to retain its funding.

  • Breaking: Kyle Zoellner to be released following Pre-trial hearings

    Breaking: Kyle Zoellner to be released following Pre-trial hearings

    By Curran Daly

    23-year-old Kyle Zoellner will be released following the week long pre-trial hearing that took place this week.

    Judge Dale Reinholtsen decided after hearing four and a half days of testimony that the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

    Zoellner was arrested and held on the April 15 stabbing death of 19-year-old Humboldt State student, David Josiah Lawson.

    The Arcata Police Department released a statement shortly after Judge Reinholtsen made his decision.

    “After five days of testimony, this afternoon a Superior Court Judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to hold Kyle Zoellner in the death of David Josiah Lawson.  The following are statements from Arcata Vice-Mayor Sofia Pereira and Police Chief Tom Chapman:

    Vice-Mayor Pereira: ‘My thoughts are with the Lawson family, our community and the students at HSU. We continue to grieve and search for answers to this senseless act of violence. The city and the police department’s focus must continue to remain on achieving justice for Josiah. I have been in communication with the Police Chief and I know our officers are continuing their work on this case. Once the investigation is complete the city will also review all aspects of our response to this tragedy. I have confidence in our police department’s dedication to solve this murder and I support their efforts to find the truth.’

    Chief Chapman: ‘The result of the preliminary hearing does not change the vigor in which we will continue to pursue this case. The men and women of the Arcata Police Department are committed to justice for Josiah. As shown by the sworn testimony at the hearing, this case is difficult. However, we will not stop our investigation. Our focus will remain on this investigation and the pursuit of justice.’”

    The Lumberjack will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

  • Attempted murder on the plaza

    Attempted murder on the plaza

    On April 3, at approximately 5:30 p.m. a man attacked another man in the Arcata Plaza.

    The attacker, Nicholas Inskip Kistler, ran up and hit another man over the head with a hammer.

    Photo by Claire Roth

    The attacker was caught on camera running away from the scene by passerby, Terry Finigan.

    “I always have my camera ready,” Finigan said, “I saw all these people screaming and yelling, so I just followed him for a while.”

    Kistler was chased by a group of observers towards Safeway, where he hid under a house. Arcata Police Department’s K-9 unit arrived on scene and apprehended Kistler.

    “With the aid of K-9 ‘Baron’, officers were able to locate the suspect hiding under an occupied residence,” An APD press release said. “After refusing numerous commands to come out from under the residence, the K9 was deployed and the assault suspect was quickly taken into custody.”

    Kistler, a Eureka resident, was already on court ordered probation.

  • Slippery slopes at the Arcata Community Forest Run

    Slippery slopes at the Arcata Community Forest Run

    By | Erin Chessin

    Runners were lucky enough to experience dry conditions and no weather delays at the Arcata Community Forest Run hosted by the Six Rivers Running Club on March 26.

    Many competed in either a 2-mile race or a 5.5-mile race at 10 a.m. that day. The course started and ended at Redwood Park and took runners on a journey through the redwoods. Runners were challenged with steep, muddy hills due to consistent rainfall over the past couple of weeks.

    The Six Rivers Running Club arranges and hosts races in the most scenic areas of Humboldt County. The club strives to encourage locals and adolescents to run competitively and noncompetitively as a community.

    The race director and Mckinleyville resident, Matthew Kidwell, said the meet went well overall despite the precarious slippery, steep hills.

    “People were slipping on the downhills, thankfully no one was injured,” Kidwell said.

    Kidwell is a long distance runner for the Six Rivers Running Club and has been a meet director of the club’s various events for over four years. He will be competing in the Boston Marathon in three weeks.

    The Arcata Community Forest Run course map, found on the Six Rivers Running Club’s website at www.6srrc.com. | Erin Chessin
    The Arcata Community Forest Run course map, found on the Six Rivers Running Club’s website at http://www.6srrc.com. | Erin Chessin

    Kidwell knew rain was not going to be a problem at the event because he is also a meteorologist.

    “I work for the National Weather Service,” Kidwell said. “So I was semi-confident that the rain would hold off for the run.”

    In the men’s division of the 5.5-mile race, Aaron Campbell placed first at less than 36 minutes, followed by Jasper Severn and Ben Davenport.

    “It’s a great course. The hills are tough, but I ran a personal best today,”Davenport said. Davenport is an active member of the Six Rivers Running Club. He is a long distance runner for the club who competes in anywhere from 5-mile races up to marathons.

    Tami Beall was the first woman to cross the line at almost 42 and a half minutes, followed by Kristal Mendez and Ivy Price.

    There were some standout youth in the 2-mile race. In the boy’s division, Mathias Severn finished in first just above 14 minutes, followed by Everett Halikas and Ian Letts.

    People of all ages competed in the Arcata Community Forest Run. Sheri Culver, 52, was the first woman to finish in the 2-mile event at almost 17 minutes, followed by Annie Lanning who was only 9 years old, and Iris Mohany.

    Retired Chief of Police for the Humboldt State University, Tom Dewey, was first in his age division for the 5.5-mile race.

    “The race was a hard one but a good one,” Dewey said.

    Dewey is also a member of the Six Rivers Running Club.

    Members of the Six Rivers Running Club often participate or compete in the Six Rivers Running Club Circuit, which comprises of six signature races. The Avenue of the Giants Marathon and the Humboldt Redwoods Marathon are the club’s most well known races, both of which attract various runners from all over the country.

    The club hosts dozens of races all year around and welcomes Humboldt County residents and people of all ages to compete.

    Race results and photos can be found at the Six Rivers Running Club’s website. Registration and information about upcoming races in Humboldt County can also be found on the club’s website.

  • This Week in News (March 22 to March 28)

    This Week in News (March 22 to March 28)

    By | Iridian Casarez

    Local

    -House fire in Arcata

    A father and son managed to escape a fire that quickly engulfed their home on March 24. The fire started in a closet and spread into a bedroom. Both of them managed to escape from the backyard.

    Source: North Coast News

    -Arcata School of Massage closes for good

    The Arcata School of Massage closes after receiving “pending denial” from the California Massage Therapy Council. Arcata School of Massage Director Tobin Rangdrol said he discussed closing the school with the 15 students who are enrolled in the program. The council designates whether the school’s graduates are eligible for certification to work within the state.

    Source: Times Standard

    -Klamath management zone closed this season

    The commercial and recreational ocean Chinook salmon fishing seasons in the Klamath Management Zone from southern Oregon to north of Shelter Cove will be closed this season. Climate change caused parasites and disease in the Klamath that affected the salmon. The Pacific Fishery Management Council, is considering a statewide closure of the commercial Chinook salmon season.

    Source: Mad River Union

    U.S.

    -Cincinnati club shooting

    A gunfight broke out outside of a nightclub in Cincinnati leaving one dead and 16 others injured on Sunday night. There were no links to the shooting being a terrorist attack. Police are still looking for suspects.

    Source: Chicago Tribune

    -33 reptiles dead at zoo

    33 reptiles were found dead at a zoo in Knoxville, Tennessee. The herpetology team at the zoo couldn’t find an explanation as to how the reptiles died. The zoo housed 52 reptiles.

    Source: CNN

    -Las Vegas shooting

    A gunman was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder after he started shooting on a Las Vegas bus. The gunman was identified as Rolando Cardenas, 55. Authorities said when Cardenas started shooting he appeared delusional.  

    Source: NBC News

    World

    -London Attack

    A man drove a car onto the sidewalk of the Westminster Bridge by the House of Parliament hitting pedestrians and killing three on March 22.  The man was identified by authorities as Khalid Masood. Masood stabbed and killed a police inside the Palace of Westminster. There was no evidence that the attack was linked to so-called Islamic State or al-Qaeda.

    Source: BBC News

    -Russian Protest

    Sixty thousand demonstrators took part in more than 80 anti-corruption protests across Russia. Boycotting the government of President Vladimir Putin. More than 700 people were  arrested and detained.

    Source: Now This

    -Cyclone Debbie

    A powerful cyclone hit Queensland Australia Tuesday afternoon. The storm’s winds gusted to 160 mph. Reports suggested that 30 inches of rain fell 0ver the course of the storm’s duration.

    Source: Washington Post

  • College of the Redwoods Iranian student suing school

    College of the Redwoods Iranian student suing school

    By Morgan Brizee

    Amir Maleki, a 21-year-old College of the Redwoods student, is suing the school after he was unable to join his classes late in the semester. Maleki was unable to join his classes because some of the deans from CR refusing to sign off to allow late entry. Maleki said the deans felt “unforfortable” allowing him into classes late. Maleki, who is from Iran, felt that they were racially profiling him since two deans were okay with it while the other two were not.

    Maleki said he decided to wait for his brother, Mohammad, to get his visa renewed in Dubai before coming back to Humboldt together. Maleki was able to get back before Trump’s immigration ban, a week after classes started at College of the Redwoods.

    “I got back to Arcata and was going around speaking to the professors, sending out emails, and calling up a few of the professors,” Maleki said.

    After trying to get signatures to be allowed into the classes, Maleki found out that two of the six classes he had signed up for were overcrowded, while four classes were still open with teachers willing to allow him in.

    “I was supposed to get four classes which means 13 or 14 credit hours and two of the deans refused to sign the papers,” Maleki said.

    The deans overrode the teacher’s decisions for two of the classes and decided to not let Maleki to join the classes. He is now short of the 12 units he needed.

    “That’s considered a violation against the Homeland Security law,” Maleki said. “In order for an international student to remain in the United States they must have at least 12 credit hours.”

    Maleki learned that because he was unable to join enough classes, and in turn violated the Homeland Security law, he would not be able to go to the classes he did get into. He decided that suing the school was his only hope for staying in the country.

    “They[the lawyers] said they could make a racial profile case out of it,” Maleki said.  Maleki said that since the deans’ only reason for not allowing him to join classes was that they were uncomfortable, it can be seen as a decision based off personal reasons.

    If Maleki doesn’t end up winning the case he would be faced with going back to Iran. Once he is in Iran he would be forced to join the Iranian military for at least two years.

    “In case I have to go back to Iran I would not be able to leave the country unless I join the army and serve in the army,” Maleki said.

    Megan Mefford, coordinator of International Admission & Immigration at Humboldt State, has helped both Maleki and his brother Mohammad this semester. Mohammad had issues coming back from Iran after Trump’s immigration ban.

    “When Amir came to see me, he shared with me that he found instructors that approved of his late add, but someone higher on the chain refused to sign,” Mefford said. “It’s a tough situation for everyone – but especially Amir.”

    Mefford was unable to do much to help Maleki because he didn’t reach out to her until after the situation.

    “Unfortunately, Amir did not seek my council until CR had already taken severe action on his academic and immigration status,” Mefford said. “Had he come to me earlier I may have been able to make some phone calls to mentor the CR staff advising him.”

    Mefford advised Maleki to find legal help and explained what College of the Redwoods actions meant for him.

    Dave Bazard, Interim Dean of Academic Affairs at College of the Redwoods, signed to allow Maleki to join classes late.

    “I signed paperwork to allow him to register late for courses, and I was glad to be able to help him given the circumstances he described,” Bazard said.

    Maleki has reached out to numerous lawyers to help in his situation. He said that even if he does win the case and is able to stay, he doesn’t know if he will stay very long.

    “You don’t want to be living in a place where you’re not respected for who you are,” Maleki said.

  • Uber now available in Arcata

    Uber now available in Arcata

    By Onaja Waki

    The friendly ride sharing app Uber is now available in Arcata giving Humboldt State students and locals the opportunity to sign up as drivers or request rides. With Uber being a fairly new transportation system, news is still getting around that it is being offered. For those in need of a ride in Arcata, drivers are on standby.

    “An uber is cheaper than an DUI.” HSU student and Uber driver Joseph Marmolejo Said.

    Marmolejo recently joined the Uber driving team here in Arcata prior to spring break. He signed up with Uber to help him with his car expenses as well as provide rides to other HSU students.

    “Essentially Uber is helping me with my car payments, that’s why I started driving…I started the Monday before spring break. March 6 I believe,” Marmolejo said. “I knew there wasn’t many drivers up here, and mostly students need rides. Plus I didn’t want students to drink and drive.”

    As a student and Uber driver Marmolejo manages to balance school and work. Uber driving is an easy process for him, and he likes the pay.

    “Yes! [Uber driving is] Very flexible, I’m taking 19 units so it works with my schedule,” Marmolejo said. “I just turn on the app, tell it I’m online, the signal goes out to everyone on the app, and within 3 sec you have a request. But it’s not that fast all the time.”

    Although Uber takes a portion of the drivers’ money, Marmolejo still feels that he makes pretty good money.

    “I get 80 percent and Uber takes 2o percent. For example I had a ride from Manila to Eureka then  back to campus, and the rider paid $14. So I got $12 out of that,” Marmolejo said.

    Being that Marmolejo is a relatively new driver he hasn’t had any out of the ordinary experiences with any riders yet. But he still wants to take extra precautions for any accidents that may happen in the car with a rider.

    “I’ve been thinking about putting plastic in my back seat in case of any accidents. Somebody was also telling me to get pepper spray, mace, and a dash cam for safety reasons,” Marmolejo said .

    Students like Reggie McGrue who have taken an Uber more than once recalls his experiences with the drivers to be relatively well.

    “It’s hella convenient and cheap,” McGrue said. “Like $5 and some change from my house to library circle[about 10 minutes]. I had three different drivers…one was older, one was a firefighter and the other one was driving as a second job. All local people from Humboldt- nice cars too.”

    HSU student Leylah Teal, also a user of the Uber app, says her rides are always comfortable. During most of her rides she was able to chose the music or plug up her phone to the drivers AUX cord, and listen to her music.

    “I’ve taken an Uber a few times just to get around town, and maybe sometimes to go to Eureka, and almost like every time I was able to ride to favorite songs. It makes the rides that much more chill,” Teal said. “I wasn’t all weirded out by none of the Uber drivers I’ve had; at least not yet!”

  • Arcata National Women’s Day rally ends early as man is taken into custody by police

    Arcata National Women’s Day rally ends early as man is taken into custody by police

    By  Alex Hasenstab

    Additional reporting by Curran Daly

    Earlier today several dozen women gathered on the plaza dressed in red and pink to celebrate National Women’s Day. The rally began at approximately noon, however, less than an hour later the celebration was interrupted by loud sirens.

    Cat Koshkin holding a sign at Arcata women’s rally | Curran Daly

    A man who appeared to be around 50 years of age became disruptive during the onset of the event and later collapsed to the ground. He initially walked up to rally participant, Cat Koshkin, and put his hand on her shoulder.

    “Please stop him please,” the man said.

    “What happened?” Koshkin said .  

    “I can’t catch up with him,” the man replied.

    The man then collapsed and began shaking. A nearby parking enforcement officer had the man sit down. After the officer was unable to get any clear response from the man he called an ambulance.  

    Man arrested by APD | Alex Hassenstab

    The Arcata Fire Department, Mad River Hospital ambulance and the Arcata Police Department arrived at the scene shortly after the call was made. The man refused medical attention and after screaming and showing aggression towards medical workers he was taken into custody by the Arcata Police Department.
    The Lumberjack will provide additional updates as more information becomes available