The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Community

  • Humboldt Hot Air takes over local radio airwaves

    by Eddie Carpenter

    Nearly four years ago, Cal Poly Humboldt decided to abandon local-based programming for KHSU. This heartbreaking decision left local radio personalities with no creative outlet to broadcast from. Recently, some of those same people were able to redeem themselves on a radio station known as Humboldt Hot Air. In its humble beginnings, the station began as a simple recording studio. Any content that was created would be sent to a community-based radio station known as KZZH. In October 2021, station manager Neroli Devaney had set up a live streaming service, which gave rise to an underdog known as Humboldt Hot Air.

    “We are an online internet radio station,” Devaney said. “We are based in the Arcata Playhouse. We are very eclectic and diverse in our programming. We have talk shows [and] lots of music shows. We program every other day of the week except for Tuesdays.”

    Devaney made it clear that she was not the one who founded Humboldt Hot Air. However, the 24-year-old manager also shared what inspired her to take on this role.

    “I did four years of radio at UC Santa Cruz. When I was there, I worked at KZSC, which is the radio station on campus there,” Devaney said. “When I was there, I did a bunch of different stuff, I was also a hip-hop director through a bunch of events, I just found myself really into radio and really passionate about it. I am from Arcata and when I graduated from UC Santa Cruz, I came back to Arcata. When I was in high school, I used to volunteer with the Arcata Playhouse with their teen program, which is called Apprentice Entertainment. Jackie Dandeneau, who is executive director of the Arcata Playhouse reached out to me. [She] said that she started this project called Humboldt Hot Air. They were recording audio and they had this goal of eventually having a live stream…She asked if I wanted to get involved and I said yes. [I] thought it sounded really fun.”

    Devaney also explained how the former KHSU audience had become her most avid listeners.

    “When we started a lot of people felt that there was this need for community radio in Arcata. A lot of the DJs saw that we were doing Humboldt Hot Air and I started getting a couple old KHSU DJs,” Devaney said.

    “We’re still kind of attracting that crowd, which has been really awesome, especially for our own publicity,” Devaney said. “KHSU had this huge fanbase in the community, so to be able to bring DJs back and have them do their shows again– a lot of the community has had a positive response to that, those are our most popular shows, people will be like, ‘oh my god I listened to that show for thirty years and it’s back, that’s so amazing! It’s the same DJ.’ It’s just been really fun.”

    Humboldt Hot Air strives to one day become an FM station.

  • Minor Theater is back after closure scare

    Minor Theater is back after closure scare

    GoFundMe saves The Minor Theater thanks to community support.

    The Minor Theater has reopened to the public after closing at the start of the COVID-19 outbreaks eight months ago.

    Reopening was never a certainty for Josh Neff, building owner and co-owner of The Minor.

    “I was trying to have an optimistic outlook and thinking this is something we can handle. We’re gonna get through it and it’ll take a few weeks then we’ll be back to some sort of new norm or a norm, but that was not the case,” Neff said. “We were nursing the business along by paying the minimal amount of bills and rent that we could and just kinda running out of money.”

    Coming into late July and early August, the likelihood of reopening was slim. But, on Sept. 28, the theater opened a GoFundMe page in hopes they would earn enough money to reopen.

    “It was either that or fold the business, that’s where we were at,” Neff said. “We didn’t want to ask for anything for free. That’s why we did the incentive program and gave them the discounted theater rentals in exchange for the donations.”

    Currently the GoFundMe has raised $32,805, well over their $20,000 goal, with 364 donors. This outpouring of support from the community came as a surprise to Neff.

    “I didn’t think it would be so generous and so fast,” Neff said. “I did expect that the community would have a heartfelt response to our donation request but I didn’t realize that it would come so fast and exceed our expectations like it did.”

    Travis Bille, a community member and donor to the Minor, expressed the significance and importance of keeping the Minor operating.

    “It’s a staple of the community,” Bille said. “I love this place.”

    Before they could open up, they had to make some health and safety changes first to comply with COVID-19 guidelines.

    “I put a two stage HEPA air filtration system in and it runs 24 hours a day,” Neff said. “We did a 60 percent seating capacity reduction, we implemented some COVID software that allows people to pick the actual seat they want to sit in, and you can buy it online and it automatically gets rid of the seats next to you on both sides. We did a bunch of enhanced cleaning safety protocols, obviously masks are being worn at all times.”

    On Oct. 9, the Minor Theater reopened its doors to the public for weekend showings with the new safety protocol in place.

    “We followed all the health and safety measures that the county guidelines put out and then we sorta went above and beyond and did everything else we could think of to do,” Neff said.

    Fans of the theater, like Christy Mast, were thankful that the theater was able to bounce back and begin showing again.

    “It was nice to just get back in with the community and be at the movies again,” Mast said.

    Neff is extremely thankful and overjoyed by the community’s effort to save his business. He recalls the day the Minor reopened with glee.

    “I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face the day that we opened,” Neff said. “Just to have the theater experience, have those doors open, have the marquee lit up, and have the popcorn machine running. It was glorious, everything you had hoped for.”

  • Remembering Evelyn: A Ray of Sunshine in Humboldt

    Remembering Evelyn: A Ray of Sunshine in Humboldt

    Members of the community rally to celebrate the life of Evelyn Andrews

    When Evelyn Andrews came to Humboldt State University, she had already beaten cancer once. In her senior year of high school, Andrews successfully fought off lymphoma and made the decision to redshirt her freshman year to recover fully. She expected to be back on the field for her sophomore season.

    Things changed in late September when a bad hop at practice hit Andrews in the face, causing continuous bleeding. After spending time at Mad River Hospital, Andrews went to University of California, Davis, where she was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia.

    Andrews underwent chemo treatment and beat leukemia. Following the treatment, she went back to the hospital for 10 days due to a blood infection that caused additional blood clots throughout her body. Andrews died after being taken off life support Feb. 17.

    Roommate and teammate Morgan Brant took Andrews to the hospital after the injury at practice and knew her since they were both 12 years old.

    “She would just go into a room and light it up.”

    Morgan Brant

    “It crushed her to redshirt her freshman year,” Brant said. “She was just the type of person to put her head down and work and to get the job done. She was always there. She gave you the brutal truth even if you didn’t want to hear it. But you then found out that it was coming from a place of love and a place of compassion. She wanted the best for everybody.”

    Brant said that this was even more clear knowing Andrews off the field.

    “She would just go into a room and light it up,” Brant said. “She had the best sense of humor. She had the best smile and she was just like everybody has said, like a ray of sunshine. She really held a lot of love for everybody in her heart.”

    One thing Andrews brought to the team that has been embraced by the whole organization has been a ‘Don’t Suck’ mentality. Brant said this is something that originally came from Andrews’ family and spread to the rest of the team.

    “It was kind of like a thing that they said when she was struggling at bat,” Brant said. “She said it to Shelli one time and it just kind of became her thing. It was her thing since she was little kid and it just kind of stuck with the team and it showed that brutal honesty. Don’t suck as a person, don’t suck as a player and then you’re going to be successful.”

    Head Softball Coach Shelli Sarchett said the ‘Don’t Suck’ mentality has really been accepted by the whole team, especially when Andrews began cancer treatment for the second time.

    “Once this happened to her we adopted it as a team,” Sarchett said. “It doesn’t mean don’t suck, don’t be afraid to lose. It just means go out there and give your best. And even if your best isn’t good enough at that time, doesn’t mean that you did wrong.”

    • Members of Evelyn Andrews’ family applaud after a speech at her celebration of life ceremony at Lumberjack Arena on Feb. 23. | Thomas Lal
    • A small picture frame stands in the entry to Lumberjack Arena before the Humboldt State Athletics Department holds a celebration of life on Feb. 23 for Evelyn Andrews. | Thomas Lal
    • Members of the Humboldt State softball team and other programs comfort each other at a celebration of life for Evelyn Andrews on Feb. 23.

    As her coach, Sarchett also observed Andrew’s ability to be caring and honest with people as she interacted with her teammates.

    “She was the first person to hug you when you were down and the first person to kick you in the ass when you needed it,” Sarchett said. “She was a role model pretty much and she’s a superhero in our books. She’s a fighter and I think we could all take a little bit from Evelyn and learn about her spirit and use it to our advantage and to help us be better people.”

    Another thing that stood out to Sarchett was how much Andrews cared for the people around her, whether that was her parents and brother or her teammates.

    “It’s been amazing. The outpouring of support from not only the community but the softball community in general.”

    Shelli Sarchett

    “She loved her family,” Sarchett said. “It was all about family for her. Whether it be her actual family or her softball family. She defines that sense of family, that culture that we want here when it comes to family and she’s the daughter that everybody should want. If my daughters have half the heart she does, I’ve done pretty well.”

    Sarchett also said she had never been through anything like this before, but the support from Humboldt State Athletics and the softball community as a whole has been fantastic as herself and the team work through this hard time.

    “It’s been amazing. The outpouring of support from not only the community but the softball community in general,” Sarchett said. “How many coaching colleagues of mine reached out to me and to my assistants. And former coaches of my players reached out and her story has gone a long way, and we can only hope that it’s a lesson in just how to fight for things.”

    Andrews never got the chance to take the field for the Lumberjacks for a game, but her memory will remain with the people she played with and interacted with during her time among the redwoods. Brant was confident that she would remember Andrews for the rest of her life on and off the field.

    “I think we should remember Evelyn as a ray of sunshine,” Brant said. “We were saying it all last weekend when we played Chico. We were playing home games in February. We don’t do that here with the rain. So we really knew that she brought out that sunshine for us and she’s just this positive light and this big ball of energy. She had this beautiful smile and a beautiful mind and she was just always happy. I want people to remember that.”

    Brant pointed out that Andrews wouldn’t have wanted to be remembered as a patient.

    “She wasn’t a cancer patient,” Brant said. “She was someone who just fought cancer. So separating that from who she was as a person was very important to her. She was a ball of life, a ball of sunshine.”

  • Equity Arcata Holds Home Away From Home Potluck

    Equity Arcata Holds Home Away From Home Potluck

    Potluck seeks to bring together and welcome students to the community

    Equity Arcata’s Home Away From Home Potluck is an event that happens four times a year. There are two during the spring semester and two during the fall semester. The purpose is to bring together all students, community members and local businesses and make them feel welcome within the community while enjoying a free meal.

  • Instagram Updates Are Wack

    Instagram Updates Are Wack

    With each new update comes new changes that seem to have no input from the user community

    With 1 billion active monthly users you’d expect app developers to listen to users’ comments and concerns about improvements. It doesn’t seem like this is the case for Instagram.

    With each new update comes new changes that seem to have no input from the user community. Although Instagram beta tests new features with random selections of users, it’s done to decipher the functionality of new algorithms and not to satisfy user needs.

    The billion-dollar corporation makes new features and updates for monetary gain rather than to appease consumers and users who beg for practical updates.

    Instagram tests loads of new updates that focus heavily on new features for advertising. Most of the recent and upcoming updates are focused around business profile improvements and shopping accessibility, like augmented reality updates that allow users to try on products before purchasing.

    These changes are made primarily to reel in more investors and advertisers. Other changes seem to be made for no apparent reason.

    Recently, Instagram removed the “following” tab, which was a feature that showed who and what your followers were liking, commenting on and following.

    The purpose of having this moderately unnecessary feature was to further the impact of similar content discovery through the content your followers enjoy. It was a somewhat invasive feature, but it did serve its purpose. Although, some may argue it also caused drama.

    Now that this feature is gone there’s plenty of room for continued drama over the fact that users can’t stalk their followers’ digital actions.

    As if there weren’t enough moving parts to consider in this social media machine and all its updates, users may now lose one of the main reasons why they became hooked to Instagram in the first place: likes.

    With the impending feature removal of like and view counts on posts, users have yet another unnecessary update to deal with.

    With the impending feature removal of like and view counts on posts, users have yet another unnecessary update to deal with.

    Although having like and view counts is trivial, this basic feature is standard across most social media platforms. Reddit has its upvotes, YouTube has its channel statistics, Twitter has its retweets and Facebook has its shares, but now Instagram doesn’t seem to care about this simple facet of what made the app likable. All these features are helpful for potential viewers to discern the relevance or importance of something.

    Last year Instagram released a different unnecessary and invasive feature, which allowed users to delete direct messages they previously sent, but in turn notifying the correspondent that a message was “unsent.”

    This component was ridiculous to have initially. When you send move something to junk mail or delete a text, these actions don’t notify the sender. So why does this feature even exist for Instagram, let alone give the ability to delete a direct message in the first place?

    A benefit from the plethora of recent Instagram updates is the notification one receives when someone screen captures a photo sent through DM. While this is yet another somewhat gratuitous update, the new features are invasive yet beneficial. While they enable users to be more mindful of their social activities, they also can inhibit basic privacy.

    The Instagram user community should have more sway of what features should come and go, not just advertising investors.

  • This Week: Campus & Community Dialogue on Race

    This Week: Campus & Community Dialogue on Race

    A week of open dialogue to learn about cultures within the Humboldt community

    This week, Humboldt State kicks off its annual Campus & Community Dialogue on Race workshops. Starting Nov. 4 and lasting through to Nov. 8, the theme is Dismantling & Deconstructing To Build.

    Lectures and workshops offer an opportunity for people to come together and have an open dialogue to learn about subcultures within the community. The workshops are open to all students, faculty and locals.

    Programs cover topics such as intersectionality, racial justice, mental health, election activism and more. A wide variety of workshops are offered throughout the week and provide plenty of opportunities to participate. Workshops include an Intro to Social Justice Seminar, an overview of Critical Muslim Studies and a Dia De Los Muertos celebration that includes food and movies.

    Several guest are scheduled to speak in the Kate Buchanan Room, University Center 225, during this event. Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Stockton University Nazia Kazi, Ph.D. speaks on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Director of the Center for Diversity & Inclusion at Sacramento State University John Johnson, Ph.D. speaks Thursday at 5 p.m. Professor and Associate Dean of the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at Arizona State University Asao Inoue, Ph.D is scheduled to speak Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.

    The CDOR started in 1998 as a recognition of America as a diverse society. Their mission statement fleshes out the intent of the multi-day event.

    “The vision of Campus & Community Dialogue on Race is to achieve racial, social, and environmental justice,” the statement says. “The program’s mission is to promote and facilitate social and environmental change by engaging a diverse range of individuals, communities, and viewpoints to explore the impact of racism and its intersections with all forms of oppression.”

  • Paint the Town

    Paint the Town

    An early reflection of the second annual Eureka Street Art Festival

    Artists from around the world swarmed Eureka with colorful supplies on hand ready to paint vibrant and diverse murals.

    The Second Annual Eureka Street Art Festival kicked off July 27 and ended August 3. Artists were sponsored by local businesses and the Headwaters Reserve Fund. Last year, organizers brought several artists to paint murals on many of Eureka’s downtown buildings with the intent to beautify the area.

    • Eureka local and artist Lucas Thornton specs out his mural on the side of the Redwood Art Association Gallery. | Photo by Deija Zavala
    • Shipping container design by Bay Area artist Benjamin Goulart (the Mural-Man) across from Humboldt Bay Fire in Eureka. | Photo by Deija Zavala
    • Sponsored by the Eureka Chamber of Commerce, Miami-based artist Eric Karbeling’s mural sits in the parking lot on the corner of 6th and G in Eureka. | Photo by Deija Zavala
    • Mural sponsored by the Local Cider Bar on the Picky Picky Picky Store 6th Street wall. | Photo by Deija Zavala
    • Mural by Seattle-based artist Genevieve St. Charles-Monet (@goldsuit) at 6th and E Neighborhood Eatery. | Photo by Deija Zavala
    • Southern California artists Dave Van Patten and James Carey collaborated on this piece at 6th and F Streets in Eureka. | Photo by Deija Zavala
    • Humboldt resident Sonny Wong’s mural sits on the corner of 6th and G Streets in Eureka. | Photo by Deija Zavala
    • Mural for Humboldt Bay Fire by Miami-based artist Eric Karbeling. | Photo by Deija Zavala
    • Argentinian artist Mabel Vicentef’s mural in the parking lot of Picky Picky Picky Store. The mural was originally planned for the second-level 6th Street wall of the Eureka Theatre. | Photo by Deija Zavala

    The murals painted were put up to benefit the community. It’s been less than a month since the street festival and the official unveiling of these pieces, but an early reflection was in order to highlight the impact of the pieces.

    “I think it’s great and it’s not costing the taxpayers anything,” said Margaret Gibson, a Eureka local when asked about her thoughts on the benefit of having these murals.

    Nathan Mathers, who has resided in different parts of Humboldt County for the last 20 years, wishes that the funds that pay the artists for these projects would be used in helping other parts of the community.

    “There’s no reason these businesses can’t donate to help the homeless or fix the roads instead of paying people to paint the buildings,” Mathers said.

    While the majority of the projects have focused on areas closer to Eureka Old Town, Humboldt natives like Jessica Warren hopes that in years to come they’ll see murals throughout the entirety of Eureka.

    “Why stop at Old Town? If we want these murals to benefit the community they need to be seen everywhere,” Warren said.

    Another local by the name of Sheri Jacobs said that she believes these murals will have several positive effects on the community.

    “Some people might drive through Eureka and think it’s rundown, but how can they say that with all these vibrant murals hanging around,” Jacobs said. “It might make people want to stop and do their business here but if not, at least we all have something pretty to look at.”

  • KHSU protest in the plaza

    KHSU protest in the plaza

    The last remaining KSHU staff members resign, join a peaceful gathering of a few dozen held during weekly farmers market

    Forty-eight hours after the artery of the community was severed, a few dozen KHSU supporters took to the plaza in protest during the weekly farmers market.

    Natalya Estrada resigned her position this afternoon as the last remaining paid staff member of KHSU. Estrada’s resignation came after administrators at Humboldt State University decided to fire all volunteers and terminate all but two paid positions at KHSU on April 11. David Reed was the second of the two remaining employees but resigned on Friday, April 12.

    Estrada was at the protest to show support and said staying in the position would not only compromise her career in journalism but affect her overall health.

    “There comes a time in life when you need to make a decision in life and I made that decision,” Estrada said. “I knew what I was going to do but I needed to know how and when.”

    IMG_0041.jpg
    Local artist Lisa Enge holds a sign in support for KHSU during a peaceful protest at the weekly Arcata plaza farmer’s market on Saturday April 13. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    After Reed resigned Estrada was the last staff member running the station. Estrada said when the California Report came on she put on Caroline King and cried at her desk.

    “It was very lonely being the last person left,” Estrada said. “It felt like 48 hours on the 405 during rush hour traffic.”

    Tom Cairns was one of the volunteers to be let go during the dismantling of KHSU, but he isn’t just any volunteer. Cairns has been with KHSU for 47 years, making him the longest running volunteer at the station.

    IMG_0046.jpg
    Community member, Carrie Slack, and former host of Jazz with a Groove, Rob Enge, hold signs in support for KHSU during a peaceful protest at the weekly Arcata plaza farmer’s market on Saturday April 13. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Cairns was at the protest because he felt the way everyone was fired was wicked and shameful. Cairns felt the audit report done on KHSU was just an excuse for firing everybody and HSU administrators were planning this even before then.

    “The way they handled it was bold face lies,” Cairns said. “They had checks written out already even before the meeting. They had it all planned.”

    In the 47 years as a volunteer Cairns has seen KHSU have its ups and downs but “it’s always continued and was never shut off the air.” Cairns said the unfortunate thing about the station now is it has become a typical NPR station with all news and very little music.

    “Basically it’s just another McDonald’s public radio station,” Cairns said.

    IMG_0066.jpg
    Public citizens, Mark Mueller and Lisa Hockaday, hold signs in support for KHSU during a peaceful protest at the weekly Arcata plaza farmer’s market on Saturday April 13. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    When asked what he felt the biggest loss was Cairns said the community of the station. Cairns said those that work with KHSU are very active in the larger northwest community and engaged in the arts, food, and news.

    “The music, public affairs, and local programming is what made KHSU unique and a viable source for the community,” Cairns said.

    IMG_0074.jpg
    A few dozen protesters gathered with signs during the Saturday farmer’s market at Arcata Plaza to show support for KHSU on April 13. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Rob Enge, former host of Jazz with a Groove, was a member and sustainer with KHSU for 25 years and agreed with Cairns. Enge said this has been a loss of a community forum where connection was made.

    “This was a good place for people to put their energy,” Enge said.

    Enge moved to Humboldt in 1992 and the first thing he did was get connected with the local radio station. Enge was an avid listener of KPFK in southern California and said public radio stations are an important way in getting connected with community.

    “This has been an erosion of community,” Enge said. “This isn’t social media from out of the community, this is real people talking locally and when we lose that its a shame.”

    IMG_0048.jpg
    Community members show support for KHSU during a peaceful protest at the weekly Arcata plaza farmer’s market on Saturday April 13. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Local artist Lisa Enge has also been a supporter of KHSU since 1992 and felt the loss of KHSU was like losing a friend. She said KHSU was a treasure in the community and it was a cruel way that it was cut.

    “Cutting volunteer and staff is unconscionable, shameful really,” Lisa Enge said.

    IMG_0069.jpg
    Jax Stuber (left) has been listening to KHSU everyday for the last six years and said she will miss all the music and diverse programming. | Photo by T.William Wallin

    Lisa Enge said once general manager Peter Fretwell fired KHSU program director, Katie Whiteside, the love for KHSU waned. She said as an artist the radio kept her company while she worked and she didn’t feel so lonely.

    “The people, DJs, and programmers became friends,” Lisa Enge said. “It’s like losing a friend, or a family member really.”

  • Radio silence

    Radio silence

    Abrupt firings at KHSU send shockwaves, not sound waves, throughout the community

    In a blow to the local community, administrators at Humboldt State decided to fire all volunteers and terminate all but two paid positions at the local NPR affiliate, KHSU, on April 11. The firings, and other reorganizations, came after months of tense back and forths with the administration and the KHSU Community Advisory Board. Some in the community felt that the hostile tensions were behind and that future broadcasting was no longer in jeopardy.

    “This is fraud. KHSU is community radio. You just don’t knock the community out like that.”

    Joyce Houston

    Last week Joyce Houston volunteered during the KHSU fund drive and donated money to the future of the station. Houston said she has volunteered and donated money to the station for the last 30 years and felt that she was scammed given the administration’s decision for the firings.

    “This is fraud,” Houston said. “KHSU is community radio. You just don’t knock the community out like that.”

    According to a press release from HSU, changes to station include the elimination of five staff positions, the General Manager and Chief Engineer positions and an “indefinite suspension of volunteer-run programs.”

    The press release mentions the administration will look into allowing students to take on a more active role at KHSU, however there is already a student-run radio program at HSU. Amy Berkowitz, KRFH radio news faculty advisor, said she has been contacted numerous times by the administration asking for students to be more involved at KHSU but said that was not necessary because of the student run station.

    “KRFH is for students, by students,” Berkowitz said. “KHSU is for the community. Our area relies on the radio for emergencies. Having this gone is a loss to the safety of our community.”

    Berkowitz said that the loss of the community programs is why it is such a blow. Some of the programs that were broadcast on KHSU had been on air for over 30 years, according to Berkowitz.

    “Right now, they are just rebroadcasting out of Chico,” Berkowitz said. “We can all just ask our smartphones to play NPR, but that is not why we listen to KHSU.”

    Some of the programs currently cut from the air are the KHSU magazine, The Race Beat hosted by Lorna Bryant, the Thursday Night Talk with Eric Kirk, and Immigrant Voices hosted by James Floss.

    Lisa Rossbacher, president of Humboldt State University, said the reasoning for the abrupt firings was because of budget reasons, a realignment of the mission between KHSU and the university, and an advisory review from the CSU chancellor’s office that she received on “Monday or Tuesday of this week.”

    “People think of volunteers of not costing anything, but in fact it takes two to three hours of paid staff time to support every hour of programming that is generated by volunteers,” Rossbacher said.

    When questioned on how much oversight and time that paid staff have to give to volunteers who have been part of KHSU for over 30 years, Rossbacher acknowledged she didn’t know the exact details of the matter.

    “I can’t speak to the details of how that programming gets produced, but it requires staff involvement to support them,” Rossbacher said.

    On the future of KHSU, Rossbacher said the university is looking for partners to collaborate with and could not speak of the details of what that collaboration would look like or who it would involve.

    [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Cliff Berkowitz” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”17″]“I understand budget concerns, but one of the main jobs of being president is trying to strike a balance. Cutting a vital part of the community is foolish.”[/perfectpullquote]

    “We still want to have local programming,” Rossbacher said. “We still have to cover it within our budget and so I can’t tell you right now exactly what that looks like. If any of the volunteers ask to be able to take any of the programs that they have already produced with them, we are absolutely cool with that. Some of what has appeared in the past may show up again through other media, but I don’t know exactly what the future is going to hold.”

    During Rossbacher’s five-year term at HSU she has oversaw the closing of the HSU Third Street Art Gallery, the cutting of the football program, and now the massive firing and change of direction at KHSU—all integral components of the Humboldt community. When asked about the reasoning on why she made these decisions Rossbacher said it had to deal with shortfalls in money.

    “My goal is to get to a balanced budget,” Rossbacher said. “There have been some difficult choices in the process of getting there. Over the last two years the university overall has managed to reduce spending by about $9 million, with another million dollars we need to find in the next year.”

    Cliff Berkowitz, husband of Amy Berkowitz and fellow KRFH faculty member, felt that the abrupt firings were a betrayal of the community and noted that KHSU has been an integral part of the Humboldt community for over 50 years.

    “I understand budget concerns, but one of the main jobs of being president is trying to strike a balance,” Cliff Berkowitz said. “Cutting a vital part of the community is foolish.”

    Cliff Berkowitz has been teaching at HSU for 11 years and said that the announcement of the KHSU firings was a “gut punch.”

    “The most telling example of how sinister this is, is evident in the letting go of the volunteers,” Cliff Berkowitz said. “Their shows and their connection to the community are the reason why the underwriters have contributed. And it is gone.”

  • Housing conference weighs homelessness in Humboldt County

    Housing conference weighs homelessness in Humboldt County

    By | Charlotte Rutigliano

    Chant’e Catt and Mike Barnes, along with the Homeless Student Advocate Alliance (HSAA), are seeking to create a greater connection for students, the university, and the community. Something they plan on doing with the upcoming events after fall break.

    Catt is the founder and president of the HSAA. She said that an estimated 15 percent of students experience homelessness while attending HSU.

    Catt founded the HSAA last September to give a voice to students experiencing homelessness.

    “I eat, breathe and sleep this club,” Catt said. “This club is support for students who find themselves seeking housing.”

    Barnes, who is the current vice president for HSAA, said the three-day event is one of the biggest events they’ve done on campus, especially since they’ve taken on a lot of the event planning and marketing.

    “If I described this event in one word, it would be ‘necessary,’” said Barnes.

    Barnes said there isn’t enough information for students who have housing insecurities.

    According to Barnes, the event will include both student and community led organizations, such as the Affordable Homeless Housing Alternatives, Inc. (AHHA).

    Nezzie Wade is president of the board of AHHA. Wade said that they have worked with several groups of students at the university on housing-related issues and projects.

    Both Catt and Barnes said this event will open up a dialogue for students and will help bridge the local community with the student community.

    Barnes said that it might be hard to find seating for the first two days of the events because of how much support they’ve gotten from the community.

    ————————

    Day 1 – Nov. 28 from noon to 1 p.m. on the HSU University Quad.

    Afternoon sustainability fair consisting of student innovations and ideas of sustainable living outside of traditional dwellings.

    Housing: Indigenous Insights 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Native American Forum at HSU.

    A night of storytelling featuring Jene McCovey, an open forum for attendees to share their stories.

    Day 2 – Housing: Social Justice Insights Nov. 29th from 6 pm to 8 pm in the Native American Forum at HSU.

    Perspectives on social justice and breaking stigma. Featuring a Native Speaker and Vernon Price, a highly knowledgeable advocate for homelessness rights and co-star in I Am I was Homeless, a featured video to be shown; faculty members from the Department of Social Work, members of the Multi-Cultural Center, Affordable Homeless Housing Alternatives and more representatives from HSU.

    Day 3 – Housing: Innovative Insights Nov. 30 from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. in the University Center Quad at HSU.

    The final day of the summit will consist of an idea fair, featuring student, faculty, and community projects focusing on anecdotal solutions to housing insecurity. The workshop will provide opportunities to acquire skills that will help support the lifestyle should you encounter it.

  • Student Veterans gains larger community space

    Student Veterans gains larger community space

    By | Lauren Shea

    The community space for student veterans has grown as the support for student veterans continues.

    The Student Veterans Association cafe is up and running again. The café helps fund activities and events for student veterans. The café resides outside the Veterans office on the lower level of the library.

    The food ranges from coffee to organic food and gluten free options. James Lamping, Forestry Major, talked about the type of food they have at the cafe.

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    Mural inside the Veterans Office in the Lower Library room 58. Photo credit: Lauren Shea

    “We usually try to have healthier options,” Lamping said. “Once we move into the larger community space, we would like to try to create SVA mason jars for students.”

    Lamping is a U.S. Navy veteran where he spent six years in the service.

    “The biggest off-putting factor of going back to school after the military is the huge age gap,” Lamping said. “Being 28 in college with people much younger than me was tough. It helps to find a common ground with people.”

    The Student Veterans Association not only provides resources for student veterans, but a space to build relationships in a familiar community. They’re closely linked with the Student Veterans Association on the national level. They help to represent student veterans with programs such as the GI Bill and their healthcare and give them the opportunity to be heard and represented as a military population in the government but on a school level.

    “The organization really puts a huge effort into creating awareness of the challenges that veterans go through when transitioning back into civilian life,” Lamping said.

    Lamping had the support of the Veterans Resource Center at his community college.

    “The transition wasn’t that insane to me, but I know people that have come out with PTSD and other mental trauma,” Lamping said. “It’s really important to have that community space where you can talk with people about it.”

    One of their main goals is to create and have a community space for veterans to build a support system in a familiar community. They plan to have a soft opening of the space soon and hope to get grant money in the future to furnish it.

    Some of the activities that the Student Veterans Association have are intramural sports. Last year, they played Dodgeball. This year they’re playing Volleyball. Their team is named the Blue Falcons.

    Myra Hallman, the scribe for the association helps plan some of the events for the student veterans. She is also involved with planning activities in the Outdoor Program.

    “The Outdoor Program really helps vets with getting them outdoors and decompressing,” Hallman said. “We’ve done quite a few different activities. Some of the activities we have are hiking, rafting, kayaking and snowboarding.”

    Kim Hall, the Veterans Program Administrator, helps veterans transition, get enrolled and provide resources for their start at HSU.

    “The program is run mainly by student veterans in the program,” Hall said. “We provide them with the sense of community for people transitioning into civilian life.”

    The Student Veterans Association and the Veterans Transition services are closely tied with the Veterans Resource Center in Eureka.

    “I think the support for veterans is important and the program helps bring awareness to community,” Hall said.

    HSU veterans and students in the community will come together on Veterans Day to honor their services.

     

  • The fight for David Josiah Lawson’s justice continues

    The fight for David Josiah Lawson’s justice continues

    Community members expressed frustration with the progress of the Lawson case at a community meeting held by Arcata City Council on Oct. 26.

    The second of six planned community sessions was held to provide Lawson case updates and discuss student safety. Humboldt State University students and faculty and Arcata community members filled the D Street Neighborhood Center expecting answers.

    Arcata Police Department Chief, Tom Chapman gave updates on the Lawson murder case. Chief Chapman said APD has recruited Tom Parker, former FBI agent “to objectively review the case…considering the complexities and subtleties.”

    Chapman said forensic evidence testing results have been received, yet APD is “a couple months out from ability to do testing on the last, outstanding piece of evidence.”

    Limited information was provided due to the confidentiality of the case.

    Community members urged for more transparency with the current process of the investigation and activism on behalf of the city.

    Students of HSU voiced concerns of student safety both on campus and in the community.

    Humboldt State University President, Lisa Rossbacher said “we [HSU] are working in conjunction with the city to ensure we have a safer environment for students.”

    “By hearing stories of students feeling threatened… give city insights of how to provide safety for students.” Rossbacher said.

    Chief Chapman urges students to come forward with any safety concerns, as well as suggestions for community involvement.

     

  • Homecoming Paddlefest

    Homecoming Paddlefest

    By | Reza Sadeghzadeh and Andre Hascall

    Warm, sunny days are nice to enjoy while you have the chance in Humboldt county. Homecoming and Family weekend happened to land on some days like that.

    IMG_1618.jpg
    Photo credit: Reza Sadeghzadeh

    One of the weekends events, known as Paddlefest, put together by the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, located in Eureka.

    Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center works with HSU Center activities. Working together to provide a unique experience, building relations among local community members, organizations and the HSU campus.

    Josh Remley, a freshman at HSU, experienced his first college homecoming weekend.

    IMG_1615-Edit.jpg
    Photo credit: Reza Sadeghzadeh

    “We get to enjoy this beautiful sunny day out on the water,” Remley said. “Today is special because my family is here to visit me.”

    Junior, Aaron Tasub, Zoology major, had his fourth go-around at Paddlefest this year

    “I moved up here from from Southern California and you can’t get this kind of experience down there,” Tasub said.

    Paddlefest takes place annually, and is reserved as a Family weekend event, but is open to all.

    “The Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center offers students the chance to do a lot more outdoor activity,” Tasub said. “I try to get out her and kayak as much as possible.”

  • Plaza Pastels: A 30 year tradition

    Plaza Pastels: A 30 year tradition

    By | Andre Hascall

    At first a one-time event, Pastels on the Arcata Plaza has become a tradition in our slice of Humboldt. Starting in 1987 with 29 pastels, the event has grown to surround the entire plaza with artwork.

    Many of the local businesses sponsor a square, they purchase one for $125 or $225, and the profits are donated to Northcoast Children’s Services. Artists pitch in their free time to keep this event going year in and year out.

    Sidelines and TJ’s bars are two of the businesses sponsoring squares this year, but are no stranger to Pastels on the Plaza. Sidelines Manager Nicole Costanzo was one of the many artists contributing.

    “It’s a learning process being out her, I wasn’t prepared my first time,” Costanzo said. “You need a lot more water than you think.”

    IMG_1511_Web.jpg
    Legacy Club surrounds their Pastel at the Plaza. | Photo by Andre Hascall

    The water helps with the water art of course, but with October as one of Arcata’s warmest months its a good idea to keep it close by during the long event.

    “Its pretty hard work,” Costanzo said. “The artists get here at Eight in the morning and aren’t done until two in the afternoon.”

    One group in particular made their mark on the community for a second year in a row. HSU club, Legacy created a pastel to imprint their group in the event and community. Along with having their own pastel, they helped the children at the plaza get their own little paintings done as well.

    Fourth year Child Development major, Dee Breaux is a member of Legacy.

    “For our pastel design this year, half the group came up with a tree,” Breaux said. “And the leaves will have our initials on them.”

    Legacy’s colors are purple and gold, and that showed on their pastel. Fourth Year Pyschology Major, Danni Pittman had a few words on her groups artwork.

    “It’s like the tree of life, and the ‘L’ in the middle makes a statement,” Pittman said. “The crown empowers us, like we are queens dripping in gold.”

  • A needed nursing comeback

    A needed nursing comeback

    By | Charlotte Rutigliano

    Early last spring, the University announced a potential partnership between Humboldt State and College of the Redwoods that could bring the Nursing program back to HSU.

    The partnership would create a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) program. This would allow nurses living in the community to continue their education.

    Dr. Manohar Singh, Dean of the College of Professional Studies (CPS) said that the classes would be held at the College of the Redwoods campus with HSU faculty, and this program would be housed within the CPS.

    “The two-year program would really only be for College of the Redwoods students,” Singh said. “Or for students who already have their RN license.”

    This will be the first time since 2011 that HSU will have had a BSN program. The program was discontinued due to the costs and challenges of recruiting qualified faculty.

    Singh said that the University is still trying to collect all the necessary resources to make this program happen. The program is looking to decide on curriculum, hire qualified faculty and get enough financial and community support.

    “Any community input and support is welcome,” Singh said.

    Joe Rogers, Executive Director of Hospice of Humboldt, said that nursing is becoming more and more complex, and many organizations are recommending or requiring nurses to have a BSN.

    College of the Redwoods currently graduates around 55 registered nursing students a year. According to the release estimates from California’s Employment Development Department, the North Coast region will need an additional 48 registered nurses per year for the next ten years.

    According to Alex Enyedi, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, this program could generate around 30-50 nurses with a BSN per year which would greatly fill the community need.

    “There is a tremendous demand for nurses in the community,” Enyedi said. “This program is a natural solution for the problem we have here.”

    According to Enyedi, there has been no objection from the California State University Board of Trustees They are eager for this program to happen.

    “This program is HSU doing its part to help make the community a better place,” Enyedi said. “It’s a true win win for everyone.”

    Enyedi said that this new partnership and program could be up and running by the fall semester of 2019.

     

  • Making recycling an art

    Making recycling an art

    By Juan Herrera

    2500 degrees fahrenheit. That’s the heat it takes to perfectly mold glass into the shape your heart desires.

    Fire and Light is a local company in Arcata that hand crafts an array of colored glass tableware. This local company puts on Hot Glass Tours that allows you to be up close to watch the process it takes to make these fascinating pieces.

    worker 1
    An employee of Fire and Light getting melted glass from their furnace. Photo credit: Juan Herrera

    John McClurg, the president of Fire and Light, discusses the tour and some about his product.

    “These tours give people a small sense of how long and hard the process is to making hand crafted objects,” McClurg said. “It also brings light to how much we actually do recycle when making our products.”

    JHMillCreekGallery_Web-3.jpg
    Some of the many finished products that Fire and Light hand crafts. Photo credit: Juan Herrera

    The tours take place Monday through Friday, at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and at 2 p.m.. According to McClurg the tours have been great for his company as well as to the community members.

    Fire and Light purchase their used glass from the Arcata Community Recycling Center to make everything made out of the community’s glass. According to McClurg they are the first glass company to use all recycle objects to make their product in the United States.

    Kelli Welch, an employee of Fire and Light, discussed her role in the business and about some of her favorite hand made pieces.

    “I pretty much help wherever needs to be helped, but mostly I set up the display store and help costumers here,” Welch said. “Helping here in the store makes it hard to narrow down a favorite, but I have a special liking to the foot bowls we make.”

    JHMillCreekGallery_Web-2.jpg
    An employee of Fire and Light getting ready to mold a cup with melted glass Photo credit: Juan Herrera

    According to Welch the ideas of what to make come from the community and shows they attend out of the state. Welch mentioned how she came up with a heart shaped design glass that they now create. Fire and Light’s showroom is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., located at 100 Ericson Ct, Suite 100A in Arcata.

    During the tour Humboldt State graduate, Lorea Euskadi, said how this was not her first time on the tour and describes her top three favorite pieces.

    “I’ve been living here for about 5 years now. This is my fourth time touring this place, and the products just keep getting better and better,” Euskadi said. “It’s so hard to pin point favorites here but if I had to only keep three they would be my dogs custom bowl, my favorite soup bowl and lastly my crazy multi-colored vase.”

    According to Euskadi, if you haven’t been to the Fire and Light tour or store, you are severely missing out on an awesome art form.

    “I honestly look forward to it every year and encourage more people to come on down and join in on the action,” Euskadi said.

  • David Josiah Lawson’s four month vigil

    David Josiah Lawson’s four month vigil

    IMG_3317
    Mayor Susan Ornelas answers questions from community members at a vigil for David Josiah Lawson, August 15, Arcata Plaza. | Photo by Curran Daly

    By Iridian Casarez and Curran Daly

    What began as a vigil for HSU student David Josiah Lawson turned into a conversation about the safety and acceptance of people of color in the community.

    Four months after the death of HSU student David Josiah Lawson students and community members organized a vigil to remember Lawson.

    The night started with a message from Charmaine Lawson, Lawson’s mother, through Chryste Johnson. Johnson works as a faculty member in the social work department. Johnson is connected to students on campus through her work. She puts together student support programs during Spring  Preview plus.

    “Whatever the students need me to do, I would do,” Johnson said. “Today, they needed me to read this message from Charmaine.”

    Johnson read the message Lawson’s mother wrote to the crowd.

    “I am D.J.’s voice and I’m going to continue to fight for him,” Lawson said.

    In the message, Lawson’s mother shared a speech that Lawson wrote in the summer of 2015, in which he spoke about his mother being his father figure.

    Julio Torres a.k.a. Julio Perdido performed a song he wrote for Lawson called “3 Chords for the Movement.” Torres wrote the song for Lawson.

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    Julio Torres performs “3 chords for the Movement” at David Josiah Lawson’s vigil, August 15, Arcata Plaza | Photo by Curran Daly

    “For me music helps me get through anything,” Torres said. “It’s the biggest tool that can push for change.”

    The vigil facilitator who did not want to give their name, said to the crowd that they are more than welcome to ask questions about the case. When the facilitator addressed the time it is taking for police to investigate the case, Susan Ornelas, mayor of the city of Arcata spoke to the crowd.

    “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.”

    According to Ornelas, the Arcata Police Department has hired a private investigator, an ex FBI agent, to help with the case. Ornelas said to the crowd that she urges anyone to come forward who was at the party to talk to the police.

    Chelsea Trillo is a master of social work student who identifies as brown and queer. Trillo said to the Mayor “How am I as a brown person going to tell others that they are safe here?” Trillo said she believes this situation is an isolated one. Trillo said she wanted to give an accurate presentation of Arcata to people who are coming into the community.

    Erin Youngblood-Smith, a master of social work student, also addressed the issue of the safety of people of color.

    “We come here because we feel we can make this a better place,” Youngblood-Smith said. “Students of color represent themselves.”

    Mayor Ornelas responded by naming all the efforts the community has put together to try to make the city feel safer for students and people of color.

    Sarah Torres, a native community member, began to ask the Mayor to put Arcata at the forefront of a movement to deal with racism in Humboldt county. She referenced past racial injustices in the county’s history and called for the city to act as the catalyst for change in Humboldt county.

    “The system is not set up for people of color,” Torres said. “Arcata can set the example by taking down the statue of Mckinley.”

    The discussion continued with the Mayor answering questions from additional audience members.

    The vigil ended with a prayer from an HSU student. It has been four months since David Josiah Lawson was stabbed at an off-campus party.

     

  • Consent Culture

    Consent Culture

    By Andre Hascall

    Consent culture has been a vital part of Humboldt State University since Check It, as student led movement to prevent sexual assault, arrived in 2014. That culture is growing further with the new themed dorms in Creekview. The dorms will be called the Consent Culture Living Community.

    The living community will provide a space of comfort for survivors and other supportive students. There are a few themed dorms on campus, with dorms themed for gaming, outdoor adventure and sciences among others. The themed dorms that HSU already has on campus grow together through events geared towards their themes. The events can be as small as ice-breakers or, as we’ve seen in recent years, something as big a creating a community garden.

    The Consent Culture Living Community will have events catering towards consent related activities.

    Morgan Fahey-Reye is a former community advocate while Check It was in its beginning stages at HSU.

    “Check it puts on a lot of events which are safer alternatives to going out on the weekends,” Fahey-Reyes said. “I also like how they do trainings with student leaders to educate them about addressing unsafe situations.”

    Activities that the Consent Culture Living Community will have are centered toward teaching the community about the situations in which they should “check it”, which means ask for consent, and intervene if you think someone could be in danger of sexual assault. However, some believe that this themed housing isn’t necessary such as Adrian Zavala, a freshman at HSU.

    “Campus should already be aware that consent is required,” Zavala said. “There shouldn’t have to be a separate dorm for that.”

    Humboldt State University is taking the steps to make it known on campus that consent is required. The Consent Culture Living Community will be one of HSU’s tools to combat sexual harassment and assault.

  • Athletics department faces deficit growth

    Athletics department faces deficit growth

    By | Andrew George Butler and Keaundrey Clark

    Humboldt State University’s athletics department will face a budget deficit as the fiscal year comes to a close on June 30, 2017 for the second consecutive year. The athletic department is expected to come up $669,000 short, once again requiring HSU to divert $500,000 from its general fund to help curtail the deficit.

    HSU students spend $4.3 million a year on athletics, resulting in the highest Instructionally Related Activities fee of any CSU, at $674 a year for full-time students. The next highest IRA fee at a CSU is $460 a year, at Sonoma State. 77 percent or $518 of HSU’s IRA fee goes towards athletics.  In 2015, HSU students paid $4,221,825 toward athletics. The median of all other CCAA schools in the same year was $2,181,874, and a median of $16,737 for all of Division II.

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    HSU track and field. Photo by Iridian Casarez

    It’s important to note, in respect to athletics, that along with an abnormally high student fee, athletics also generates far above the median when it comes to advertisements and donations. Athletics raised $345,775 in royalties, licensing, advertising and sponsorships in 2015. The CCAA median was $34,775 and the Division II median was $15,045. HSU also raised in-kind donations, such as goods and services, of $246,280 compared to $13,189 for other CCAA schools.

    In November 2016, HSU President Lisa Rossbacher contracted Strategic Edge Consulting LLC to conduct a review of HSU’s various intercollegiate athletics programs and the athletic department as a whole. The 100-page report viewed the athletic deficit holisticly and highlighted areas HSU’s administration could improve.

    The report reads, “It also became clear that there appears to be a “divide” between athletics and other parts of campus…One of the things that became obvious through the sessions with the Advancement Foundation Board, Athletics Department staff, the Philanthropy staff and others on campus was that the Athletics Department and the Advancement Office do not communicate well and have not historically worked with each other.”

    Frank Whitlatch, associate vice president of Marketing and Communications at HSU, in partnership said that the athletic deficit issue isn’t due to an indifference to teamwork between departments. “HSU is essentially a very large organization,” Whitlatch said. “It’s easy for individuals in various departments to put their heads down and work at solving an issue to the point that communication suffers.”

    President Rossbacher responded indirectly, through a mediary, to a couple of questions from The Lumberjack that were related to the Strategic Edge report.

    “I requested that Athletics and Advancement meet regularly for the next six months, with very specific outcomes required.  The first meeting has taken place and work is ongoing to improve coordination in the areas of fundraising and communication.”

    When Rossbacher was asked if HSU athletics are “too big to fail,” she said, “General funds have already been used to offset the deficit in Athletics.  We have to consider every option to ensure that all HSU programs are financially sustainable.”

    The 2016-2017 year also saw a 3.5 percent reduction in enrollment at HSU. Additionally, HSU expects to see another dip in enrollment for the 2017-2018 year. On whether or not a public deficit issue might dissuade potential students from enrolling at HSU, Whitlatch said, “I don’t believe that a visible deficit will affect potential enrollment, the reality is most CSU’s have some level of a deficit issue.”

    Strategic Edge suggested a few options for HSU athletics. Among these were HSU remaining a member of the NCAA and changing divisional affiliation to NCAA Division III, remaining a member of NCAA Division II and moving to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference for all sports, or transferring to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics .

    In a memo sent in March to all administrators and coaches affiliated with Athletics, President Rossbacher indicated that HSU intends to remain within Division II and make no changes to its divisional affiliation.

    In the memo, Rossbacher left potential cuts to athletic programs on the table. Sports such as baseball, women’s swimming, and wrestling have been cut in the past. Former and current HSU athletes are making their voices known with the potential upheaval of HSU Athletics.

    “It makes me feel uncomfortable for the student athletes that are currently there and it saddens me every time I hear, ‘they might cut this,’ ‘the school is getting rid of this,’ ‘there isn’t enough money to do this,’” said former HSU soccer player Emily Huska. “It happened all throughout my four years of being a student athlete.”

    HSU soccer player McCalla Madriago is also concerned about potential cuts.

    “Honestly, it would hurt HSU and the community because HSU athletics are the closest thing to having live sporting events anywhere in Humboldt county,” said Madriago. “We’re isolated and sports bring the community together or makes it excited and a topic to be shared. Not only that, HSU athletes are a huge influence on the younger generations around here.”

    In November 2017, HSU will review the deficit issue both within athletics and HSU in general. Any potential cuts, revenue hikes, or other changes will be left to speculation until then.

  • HSU takes back the night

    HSU takes back the night

    By Charlotte Rutigliano

    Students, faculty and members of the community came out to the Kate Buchanan Room this past Friday to show their support for survivors of sexualized violence.

    One student who came out to show support was graduate student Irene Vasquez.

    “I think it’s wonderful that the university cares about the students and is spreading awareness like this,”  Vasquez said.

    The university has been the host of the take back the night events since the mid-1980’s. Take Back the Night was co-sponsored by the North Coast Rape Crisis team and the Women’s Resource Center.

    Paula Arrowsmith-Jones, Community Outreach Coordinator for the North Coast Rape Crisis Team,  said that these events have been going on since the 1970s but have been held on and off campus since the mid-1980s.

    “Back in the 70s women were told not to go certain places at night without a male chaperone,” Arrowsmith-Jones said. “Because if something happened it fell on the women. These events were created to reclaim everyone’s right to go somewhere and not get hurt.”

    According to Arrowsmith-Jones, it’s important for the university to hold events like this because there is so much shame, secrecy and denial that surrounds sexualized violence, it’s about raising awareness for those who don’t think it happens. CFR69 - TBTN 1

    Take back the night student coordinator and graduate student Ariel Fishkin said we are living in a rape supported society, where individuals are taught that “rape culture” is okay and where victim blaming is too common.

    “I have experience with sharing,” Fishkin said. “People don’t realize that it’s a systemic thing that’s why we have these events.”

    Take Back the Night was part of a week long event to let survivors know that they are believed. The week long event took place during sexual assault awareness month.

    “Sexual violence is so prevalent,” Arrowsmith-Jones said “we want to show people affected that they are supported, we have counselors at all the events to help.”

    The university does have a lot of student activism with Check It, Peer Health Education, and the Women’s Resource Center. Fishkin hopes to continue to bring awareness to this issue as a campus to the community.  

    Sophomore zoology major Katie Marks said it is amazing that the university is doing this because she knows people who have experienced sexualized violence and she wants to be a part of the change for a world without violence.

    “Hopefully this will inspire other universities and communities to change too,” Marks said.

  • 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.

  • Day of solidarity for the greater HSU community

    Day of solidarity for the greater HSU community

    Staff and students invited to a day of healing

    By: Andrew George Butler

    Waking up on the first day of the semester with a hundred tasks and no answers, many miles from home in small town Arcata, can make the most sturdy of students anxious. If that’s not enough, there’s a change of presidency Friday, Jan. 20. 

    While the inauguration marks the end of an election process that divided many Americans, Humboldt State is using the day as an opportunity to bring the community together. This “Day of Solidarity” event will be held throughout Friday in several different campus locations.

    HSU’s Educational Opportunities Program will be facilitating a host of campus-wide and day long events geared toward ensuring students continue to feel safe and respected during the inaugural process. 

    When the Obamas leave and the Trumps set up shop, many HSU students may feel some sort of a bowling ball-like mass in the top of their chest and then squint blurry-eyed as it drops all the way down during Trumps procession through the D.C. streets.

    Whether your chest hurts because Obama is leaving or because you feel misunderstood as a Trump supporter, Friday is bound to be a day full of emotion and two-ply tissue. 

    Starting in the Kate Buchanan room at 1 p.m., students will be invited to enjoy free massages, food, meditation and other relaxation methods. Later in the day, students and staff of HSU are invited to the Great Hall for an open mic event. Students are urged to respectfully talk about their feelings and thoughts going into the new presidency.