The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: CSU East Bay

  • It’s time to axe the Lumberjack

    It’s time to axe the Lumberjack

    by Oden Taylor

    Pioneer, prospector, lumberjack— what do they all have in common? A significant role in the colonization of North America and a place as a California State University mascot. CSU mascots are rife with cultural insensitivity and, at times, blatant racism— if you don’t believe me, just google the San Diego State University Aztec Warrior. 

    The names of CSU campus newspapers also nearly always correspond with the school mascot. For example, CSU East Bay’s mascot is Pioneer Pete and the school paper, “The Pioneer.”   

    At Cal Poly Humboldt, “The Lumberjack,” both as a mascot and the name of our paper, symbolizes white supremacy and colonization. It is time for a change, starting with us. The Lumberjack must change its name to continue the removal of white power structures and symbols from indigenous land.

    Lumberjacks worked alongside prospectors during the gold rush, making way for new settlers to build towns and ravage the land for its resources. After the gold rush ended, lumberjacks cleared old-growth redwood forests well into the twentieth century.  

    In fact, only 5% of the original old-growth redwood forest stands from Southern Oregon to Central California, according to the Save the Redwoods League. 

    There have been many name changes taking place across Humboldt county, from the Gutswurrak Student Activity Center here on campus to the name restoration of Sue-meg State Park. This change comes after nearly 170 years of being called “Patrick’s Point” for Patrick Beegan, a private land owner and accused murderer of Indigenous people, including a Yurok boy. 

    As of 2018, CSU Long Beach abandoned its longtime mascot, Prospector Pete, for Elbee the Shark. Shortly after CSU East Bay claimed to do the same, saying goodbye to Pioneer Pete. Four years later they have yet to choose a new mascot, according to their website. 

    Unfortunately, despite the example set by other schools and the opportunity presented by an expensive rebrand, Cal Poly Humboldt did not find it necessary to retire the Lumberjack, telling El Leñador in March that there are no current plans to change the mascot.

    Though Long Beach has chosen a new mascot, neither campus changed the name of their newspaper. They remain Long Beach’s Daily Forty-Niner and East Bay’s The Pioneer. This lack of meaningful change promotes white supremacy in newsrooms, including ours. 

    We must move beyond just acknowledging the land we occupy and think critically about the messages we distribute and the symbols we use on it. 

    All CSU campus newspapers should reconsider what they call themselves and why. Does your publication’s name honor and represent your campus community? 

    It’s time we axed the Lumberjack. If the administration isn’t willing to do it, the change must start with us

  • Humboldt State Softball Pitcher threw a no-hitter on March 6 against Cal State East Bay.

    Humboldt State Softball Pitcher threw a no-hitter on March 6 against Cal State East Bay.

    By Curran Daly

    Maddison WIlliams threw a no hitter in a 6-1 win over Cal State East Bay on Monday.

    Cal State East Bay first batter reached second base on a Lumberjack error, which doesn’t count as a hit. The baserunner then made their way to third after a ground out. Finally they came home on a wild pitch. That sequence left the Lumberjacks trailing 1-0 but meant that Williams hadn’t let up a hit.

    After the sequence Head Coach Shelli Sarchett saw Williams go to work to keep Humboldt in the game.

    “Maddy was just really being her typical maddy. East Bay, looking on paper, they have a really good hitting team.” Coach Sarchett said, “She continued to keep them off balance with her off speed and down pitches.”

    Williams went on to strike-out seven East Bay hitters throughout the game. Keeping Humboldt in the game until a third inning run could tie the game. The game stayed tied until the seventh inning when Humboldt scored five runs to win the game 6-1.

    Williams realized how well she was pitching in the third inning and knew what she had to do to keep her team in the game.

    “I was thinking to myself, I’m not gonna let them score again, if they get on base,” Williams said, “I’m not gonna let them get a hit off of me, I’m not gonna let them beat me on my best pitch.”

    The no-hitter came after Williams and Humboldt first loss of the season to Stanislaus State on March 4.

    “After coming off a loss, her first loss of the season, she really buckled down,” Coach Sarchett said, “she came back and threw the game that we know that Maddy is capable of.”

    This was Williams second no-hitter of her career at Humboldt State. Hard-work throughout her four years have prepared her according to her pitching coach, Hannah Jones.

    “Her hard work, determination, and focus sets her apart from the competition,” Jones said, “and it has been a joy to witness her growth over the years.”

    Hard work pays off and Williams recognizes that time spent during practice and in the offseason helped her grow into the pitcher she is this season for the Lumberjacks.

    “It’s really cool, like having all my hard work pay off,” Williams said, “what you do in practice really does make a difference in the game and it just feels really good that i can help my team out.”

    In typical softball and baseball fashion no one mentioned the potential no-hitter to Williams during the game. Coach Sarchett was surprised to see after the game that Williams had pitched a no-hitter.

    “Maddy comes up to me after the game and said ‘Did i throw a no hitter?’” after looking down at her clipboard Coach Sarchett said, “yup, you did.”

    The Lumberjacks hope to host Cal State Dominguez hills this weekend it what would be their first home game. Due to wet conditions and their normal field being unplayable, the games may be held at Mckinleyville High School. As of right now the games are scheduled for noon and 2 p.m. friday and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. saturday.