The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: college students

  • Students Stressed and Frustrated Going into Somber Spring Break

    Students Stressed and Frustrated Going into Somber Spring Break

    Students react to in-person class cancellations due to global pandemic

    As spring break arrived and the COVID-19 pandemic continued its tear across the globe, many Humboldt State University students wondered what to do as HSU canceled face-to-face instruction until at least April 17. Some students stuck around while others went home. The pandemic, directly or not, has affected all students.

    “I feel like it’s a very serious outbreak and people need to take it seriously. I do think it’s getting blown out of proportion in some ways and people are panicking before they need to, but it’s just something I’m kind of trying to roll with, essentially.”

    Ashley Bailey, molecular biology major

    Ashley Bailey, a junior molecular biology major, planned to travel home. She admitted feeling stressed.

    “I feel like it’s a very serious outbreak and people need to take it seriously,” Bailey said. “I do think it’s getting blown out of proportion in some ways and people are panicking before they need to, but it’s just something I’m kind of trying to roll with, essentially.”

    Kiera Price, a junior journalism major, also said she would travel home. She thought both academic and national leaders should be more vigilant.

    “I feel like instead of limiting social interaction, they should do more to prepare for it,” Price said. “Like, for example, the fact that there isn’t more of a stricter way to limit survivors from coming in.”

    Price recognized there isn’t a lot to be done, but still expressed a longing for something more.

    Tim Arceneaux, a senior English major, looked forward to staying in Humboldt. With a sigh, Arceneaux said he understood the measures taken by HSU.

    “I think the precautions that the University is taking here and all around the country make sense, but at the same time, I find them to be really frustrating,” Arceneaux said. “I hope that this issue will bring the global community together and allow people to realize the importance of universal healthcare.”

    • Journalism major Kiera Price on March 13. | Photo by Gabe Kim
    • Film major Norbert Rodriguez on March 13. | Photo by Gabe Kim
    • English major Tim Arceneaux on March 13. | Photo by Gabe Kim

    Arceneaux said there was one key thing HSU could do to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.

    “They could try to alert students more about the health resources on campus,” Arceneaux said. “Because I feel like at this point, it’s almost an inevitability that someone is going to contract the coronavirus, and I’m not sure exactly what health resources are going to be available to students that contract the disease.”

    Norbert Rodriguez, a junior film major, had planned to travel to Southern California to visit family, but decided to stick around once the coronavirus broke out. He said he thought HSU took too long to respond to the pandemic compared to other universities.

    “At the moment, there aren’t any test kits [in Humboldt], so there’s really no way of knowing that there are any confirmed cases,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like it should’ve been a bit more proactive.”

    Editor’s note: St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals have set up screening tents for patients with COVID-19 symptoms.

  • Students Seeking Friendship

    Students Seeking Friendship

    According to students, a better college experience comes with connection

    Humboldt State maintains its unique character through its rural location and off-grid environment. This tight-knit community holds a rare and refreshing authenticity that can take some time to fully recognize.

    With a small student body and independent style that defies mainstream media and trends, the HSU community tends to be accepting towards all students and individuals in general.

    However, this experience doesn’t come without effort. Advice both to and from college students is to reach out and make connections, as it is said to be beneficial to a college experience. Second-year psychology major Analiise Calderon thinks the best way to connect in a college environment is in the classroom.

    “Try and make at least one friend in every class,” Calderon said. “Always try and reach out because people are so open here.”

    But not all connections and relationships work at first and college is a transformative period. Marlena McVey, a second-year art major, believes some things are meant to be temporary.

    “Don’t think the very first person you meet is going to be your forever friend,” McVey said.

    Maybe that is the case though, maybe the first person you meet on campus becomes your best friend forever. It happens, but McVey is simply sharing the recognition that not every connection is going to work out and that’s okay.

    “It’s down down to earth. It’s definitely not the normal, stereotypical party scene. It’s more like whoever can come out, comes out and is getting together to genuinely have fun.”

    Shelby Cabral

    College cliques aren’t instantaneous and the reality is far from the clichéd Hollywood depiction. Individuality is valued in Humboldt and friendship, along with acceptance, comes easy with that.

    “Humboldt is unique and open,” Maddie McCluskey, a second-year student, said. “I’ve never experienced and felt such genuine acceptance before.”

    College is meant to be an experience, whether good or bad, and it is a place to learn lessons and continue to grow as an individual. Business major Shelby Cabral comments on what it is like during a night out in Humboldt.

    “It’s down down to earth,” Cabral said. “It is definitely not the normal, stereotypical party scene. It’s more like whoever can come out, comes out and is getting together to genuinely have fun.”

    Nightlife in Humboldt holds a more personal setting with house shows and live music as a popular weekend activity. It may not be the stereotypical college-night-out but it is get-togethers like these that help carry Humboldt’s character and charm.