By | Curran C. Daly
The UC Quad was alive with music and dancing at noon on Tuesday as Zion I performed for students. An Associated Students Presents event, the free show featured Zion I’s Baba Zumbi, also known as MC Zion, R&B and Reggae artist Winstrong, and DJ Twelvz.
By | Charlotte Rutigliano
According to Recreation and Administration professor Gen Marchand, the challenge started in 2013 with only about 10 participating schools. This year, there are 92 colleges and universities across the nation participating in the challenge.
“Last year was the first year HSU participated, and we won,” Marchand said.
HSU won about three thousand dollars worth of North Face camping gear. Any HSU student can rent the gear for free, minus a small cleaning fee.
Marketing professor Nancy Vizenor said events like this are really great for HSU, and that it’s good for both students and the school to be involved in a competition like this.
“So many of our students are attracted to HSU because of the amazing outdoor experiences,” Vizenor said, “so if potential students who enjoy time outdoors see that HSU is apart of this challenge, they may feel sure that the university will offer experiences they desire.”
Marchand said there is an outdoor for everyone, that going for a walk in the park is the same thing as mountain biking.
“There’s a point system that has many layers,” Marchand said. “Most things are either five or ten points, but you get more points for being in groups, or participating in school-sponsored activities.”
Activities like last Sunday’s Paddlefest, a school-sponsored event that took place at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center in Eureka.
The event allowed students and community members to use paddle boards, kayaks and canoes for free. Each person who logged their activity on the Outdoor Nation app gained ten points for participating in a paddle sport. Center Activities also set up hammocks, which would add an additional five points. Participants also gained more points for either having three or more people in the photo, sharing the post on either Facebook or Twitter, and indicating that it was a school-sponsored event.
Because of Paddlefest, HSU was able to pass CSU Sacramento and move into third place, with the point total currently at 86,314. HSU is trailing behind second-place Texas Woman’s University by almost seven thousand points.
You can join the challenge by downloading the Outdoor Nation app. The challenge ends on October 15th.
By | Robert Brown
“Outdoor Nation is a fun way to get outside and be active,” Bridgette Hanson of Center Activities said. “That’s different for everyone, it’s why Humboldt won last year.”
Open to students and anyone in the community, all you have to do is download the app, get out and take pictures of yourself, then post them to win prizes. The challenge is sponsored by REI, The North Face, eno, and Hydro Flask, and local businesses Adventures Edge, Minor Theatre, and Muddy Waters.
“It’s so inspiring to live in this community,” Scott McCrary, student representative for ON said. “We have some of the most amazing nature spots here in Humboldt.”
Some examples of ON Challenge events are guided walks, tidepool exploration, restoration projects, crafting, and volunteer events, also workshops on hiking, bike maintenance and birding.
“Our biggest event is Paddlefest,” Hanson said. “Around 200 people come to that event, some people get to try kayaking for the first time.”
Each event accomplished earns a certain amount of points, for instance, backpacking, camping, and biking earn 10 points. Skateboarding, slacklining, and yoga earn 5 points. Birdwatching, gardening and stargazing earn 2 points. Add up points by completing as many events as you can and use them to redeem prizes.
“A really fun event is the scavenger hunt,” McCrary said. “People follow clues through the week hidden in different places. Then take a picture with the clue once they’ve found them and post them in the app. to win a North Face backpack.”
Along with an individual winner, schools are also competing to have the most number of people participating in their communities challenge. Last year HSU won the title of number one outdoorsiest school.
“Winning was exhilarating,” one of last years winners, Ruby Garcia said. “Especially because we did it as a community and we won a $3,000 gear library that is available to students free of cost.”
To find out more go to hsuoutdoors.humboldt.edu or www.oncampuschallenge.org
“A big thank you to the Humboldt community,” McCrary said. “This wouldn’t be possible without the local radio and local sponsors.”
By | Phillip Santos
I want to be a Snowflake, not a Lumberjack! Imagine the announcer’s voice rolling over the Redwood Bowl, “And here comes the Humboldt State Snowflakes!” What a better mascot to represent Humboldt State. It’s better than a term used by conservatives to make fun of us sensitive liberals. If you think this is absurd, then we need to talk about Lucky the Lumberjack.
Almost 60 years ago the Lumberjack was selected as HSU’s mascot. It made sense historically as logging was still a major practice in the area. Times have changed and Lucky the Lumberjack just doesn’t make sense anymore. It’s time to pick another mascot. Electing a new mascot could be a move towards strengthening HSU’s message of environmental responsibility and promoting gender inclusion. It would also be a fun opportunity to keep Humboldt State relevant to contemporary times.
When I see Lucky the Lumberjack, I see the legacy of lumberjacks. Lucky represents the unchecked destruction wrought by the timber boom. Most of the area around us was once a redwood forest. What we know as the Arcata Community Forest is what was allowed to grow back. Enshrining the legacy of lumberjacks by having it as a mascot directly counters the sentiment of environmental stewardship that HSU represents. If you think the image of a lumberjack is flexible, I challenge you to imagine Lucky the Lumberjack chaining himself to a tree to keep it from being cut down. It just doesn’t work; it’s comical.
Lucky the Lumberjack is a presumably buff and bearded white man, but I have a question. What do you call a female lumberjack? The lack of an answer to this question shows us that Lucky the Lumberjack promotes the classic white male archetype. In a society which seems to be promoting gender inclusion and deconstruction of patriarchy and toxic masculinity, Lucky the Lumberjack needs to go because he reinforces all of those things.
Finally, let’s talk about why this would be fun. Electing a new mascot would be an exciting way to update the relevance of HSU’s mascot. I am not saying that history doesn’t matter, but rather emphasizing that it’s perfectly fine to move away from reinforcing a history (through our mascot) that is destructive and undesirable. We are not confined to the past.
It’s funny to think about us as the HSU Snowflakes, but what’s wrong with funny? Think of the endless possibilities that could become our mascot: a cannabis plant, an oyster or a space cat. You get the idea! If you have an idea for a new mascot, let us know at thejack@humboldt.edu and we’ll put together an online poll. Vote Snowflakes!
By | Charlotte Rutigliano
As the semester began, the new Dean of the College of Professional Studies (CPS), Manohar Singh, set out to form new resources to help incoming students to HSU feel more at home.
“I want students to feel welcome, all students, not just those housed in CPS,” Singh said, “we want to make HSU a home away from home.”
Singh said these resources include setting up an online chat room connected to the CPS website, dedicated office hours for students, a discussion group, and a dedicated phone line and email for students to reach out to the CPS office.
Kevin Cheli-Colando, the administrative analyst in the CPS office, explained that while the technical specifications for the online chat room are still in the works, the service will most likely be available in real time during the normal office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Singh and Cheli-Colando both said they wanted to create these new resources to help students in their transition to college.
“We want students to have their voice heard, and we want to offer support,” Cheli-Colando said, “we can help them with any challenges they face in their academic and social lives.”
Jessica Rocha, a business administration transfer student, said that because she’s local to the Humboldt area she had a smooth transition into HSU. She also said, however, these new resources could definitely be helpful to the incoming freshman who are new to college life.
“Any sort of outreach program for students is always helpful,” Rocha said, “I think these services will help students feel more welcome and like someone is looking out for them.”
The dedicated office hours and discussion groups started on September 19 and will continue throughout the semester every Tuesday and Friday from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
To learn more about these services, you can contact the College of Professional Studies at cps@humboldt.edu or at 707-826-3968.
Humboldt State University was one of 24 institutions nationwide to be selected for a $1 million STEM grant by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
The grant is part of HHMI’s program, Inclusive Excellence, which is designed to cultivate inclusion and diversity within the STEM community.
By funding STEM programs throughout the nation, HHMI Inclusive Excellence strives to enable science education capacity in four-year institutions to provide opportunities for all students to succeed in the field.
At HSU, this means developing better ways to serve incoming STEM students.
Matt Johnson, Ph.D. and Wildlife professor said this includes development of student involvement programs, as well as faculty training.
Johnson, along with Biology professor Amy Sprowles founded an integrative, place-based learning community called “Klamath Connection.” The direct field experience is one of the two current STEM place-based learning communities.
Through these diverse programs, STEM students are integrated into the field through hands-on learning in the local environment.
“These feelings help students feel a sense of belonging and community.” Johnson said. “With an approximate 6 percent of HSU students coming from Humboldt County, it is important to introduce incoming students to their new geographical, environmental and cultural environment.”
Additionally, the grant will allow university faculty to participate in workshops and training opportunities to learn and utilize how to create a culturally inclusive environment.
David Asai, senior director for science education at HHMI, says it is important to acknowledge that good ideas can originate anywhere. Asai said that often, a person’s success in science been a reflection of where they come from, not where they want to go, causing growing disparities in science education.
Underrepresented incoming STEM scholars have significantly lower retention rates than their Caucasian or Asian counterparts.
According to a 2015 report by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, the percentage of students who receive STEM bachelor’s degrees is nearly half of the students who initially enrolled in science higher education.
Laura Carlos, a 22-year-old senior studying Zoology, said she did not feel prepared and included when she first started her science education at HSU. Carlos said that not all students are given the same opportunities in high school, which makes it difficult for students to have the same starting point in college.
“Without proper resources and tools, underrepresented students can only dream of what it’s actually like to be a STEM student.” Carlos said.
Over the last few weeks, a lot of rumor, fear and misinformation have been circling about the possible loss of Lumberjack football next year. As a 40 year old alumnus and former football player, I felt it is important to share my perspective on what it meant to be a student athlete, and more importantly, a student athlete at Humboldt. I speak from my perspective, however I would imagine many other guys feel the same way. I think this is important for three main reasons.
First, to let the administration know how much that Redwood surrounded stadium and campus means to all of the alumni. Secondly, to offer perspective to the student body and community who may not be football fans. Finally and most importantly, to publicly ask for answers from the administration that is making this decision.
All alumni have different levels of involvement with the program. My personal involvement is of course as a fan, but also as a booster. I have always tried to support the program when I can and always will. I proudly share my alma mater in my living room with my 6 year old son just about every Saturday in the fall. So at 40 years of age, with kids, wife, a demanding career, why such a die-hard connection? The answer is simple; pride and connection. I am proud of where I went to school, I am proud to have worn Humboldt State on my chest for 21 Saturdays, I am proud of the work I put in with Drew to prepare myself, I am proud to share my university with my children. Most importantly, I am connected. I am connected to men who did the same thing as I. I am connected to these men for life. I am connected to men from Compton, Santa Rosa, San Diego, Hawthorne, Eureka, and Reno. I am connected to men from a myriad of backgrounds that I would have never known had it not been for football. I now realize this is what matters. Yes, winning games is important and feels great. As you get older, what will become more important are the relationships you have built. One thing is certain, as a student athlete you will build relationships with people from backgrounds you would otherwise never be connected to. As a professional in a highly-competitive field that has made a great impact on my life for the better, I have been outside of my comfort-zone. I am able to appreciate other world perspectives. I have shared in different peoples life experiences. I don’t want that valuable opportunity erased from campus.
So with such positive experiences why is there talk of cutting football? We are being told budget. Well, according to the research study commissioned by the school, cutting football would not relieve the budget issues. Why are athletics not budgeted out of the general fund? We are being told enrollment is down. Why are there 1,500 applications not being looked at? By no means do I claim to be a CSU budget expert, none of us are. So why isn’t the administration having a public forum to discuss the possible loss of an obviously beloved part of the community? Are they looking at better ways to budget? Are we actively seeking out corporate sponsorships? Can athletics do a better job of reaching out to alumni? Why is attendance at football games being underreported? These are all great questions. Why are there no answers? I don’t have the answers, unfortunately those that do remain silent or give noncommittal statements. I would like something from the AD and President as to what the plan is. Is the plan to cut the program and they’re too cowardly to admit it now? Are they looking at ways to budget correctly? I don’t know, we don’t know, I am frightened they may not know.
I am not a professional writer, I am not a seasoned College administrator, I am a former mediocre college athlete who loves his Green and Gold brothers, and loves his University. My goal in writing this is to try and let those understand the importance my college experience has played in my live. Learning how to compete, how to work, coping with failure, instilling empathy for different life experiences. All of these things have made me a better person. College is about academics but it is also about learning to be a better person. I ask you to evaluate the importance of football not on your love for the game but on your appreciation for the importance of connection. I ask that all my brothers, the community, boosters, students, stand up and speak and fight any attempt to erase this program. I ask the administration to communicate with us. Involve us in the process, let us help, we want to fight with you not against you.
Respectfully,
Jarrod Klein
Class of 2000
GO JACKS!!!!!
I hope that this letter reaches all of my former Humboldt State teammates, former Jacks that have worn the Green and Gold and all of the Lumberjack supporters out there. I will be sending this letter on to Dr. Lisa Rossbacher along with the rest of the leaders on the HSU campus and in the CSU. Football won’t be cut from Humboldt State without a fight.
This past week some awful news, news that many inside the Humboldt State Athletic Department and University have known about and anticipated for years, was released. Instead of the focus being on the Humboldt State football team going on the road and taking down the No. 8 team in the country, rival Azusa Pacific, it was on whether there will be a football program in two short months. The outcry and response from the news that I have seen through multiple news outlets will hopefully force the administration to pause and think again before they make this decision.
First, to be clear, there is not a financial problem at Humboldt State, there is a leadership problem, starting at the top. Having known about the financial shortfall that was coming when the current President took the job, she has only let it grow and has lacked the decisive decision-making that is required of the position. HSU spent tens-of-thousands of dollars to bring in a consulting firm to help advise her in the process of finding solutions to the current financial problem which she COMPLETELY THREW OUT and ignored. She has also postponed making a decision several times which has continued to let the deficit grow.
The President said a year ago that the “Humboldt State University strategic plan is focused on four key areas: supporting student success, providing a welcoming environment for our diverse community, ensuring that we have the resources needed to fulfill our educational mission, and expanding partnerships, both on- and off-campus.” In what ways will cutting the most successful program on campus be beneficial in serving your strategic plan?
How is cutting athletic programs, specifically football, in line with your strategic plan for the University, which INCLUDES athletics. Getting rid of football is harming students and their pursuit of receiving a degree. It gets rid of the diversity that our University desperately needs that football provides and also will damage partnerships and relationships that have been cultivated over the past decades. There are countless donors and supporters that support the Athletic programs because of the impact sports has on student-athletes.
Coming from a small town in North Bend, Washington, Humboldt State football helped build me into the man I am today. The relationships I made, the people I met, the lessons I learned are all 100 percent attributed to the Humboldt State football program. Coming from a high school that lacked diversity, I was thrown a major curve ball when I arrived in 2011 to a locker room that had players from every corner of the west coast. Oakland, Sacramento, Rocklin, San Diego, Poway, Compton, Los Angeles, you name it. I was able to meet, bond, connect, and work with individuals that I can now call my teammates and brothers FOR LIFE even though we all came from entirely different backgrounds. We all shared a common goal. No where else on campus does a group of students come together like they do in college athletics.
A current report states that there are only 281 (3.41 percent) Black or African American students at Humboldt State University. How are you promoting diversity when a high number of these students are involved with college athletics? There is no question that this group is under-served and not represented properly at Humboldt State and in our community. How is cutting Humboldt State football and athletic teams helping with your strategic plan in promoting diversity when it does the complete opposite?
Most importantly through this ugly situation, what about the kids? What about the coaches that may lose their jobs and their families? Announcing this decision in November will only allow students one month to find new homes before the start of the spring semester as they will no longer be able to pursue their goals and passion in college athletics at Humboldt State. You are in a position to SERVE our students. Announcing this decision in November may be what’s best for you and your colleagues, but don’t forget WHY you have a job and WHO’S best interest you should be considering. The fact that this news broke in the middle of another historical football season at HSU is beyond inappropriate and unprofessional.
I have seen the number of “around 200-250 students” will transfer from the University if football is dropped. I believe that number is a low estimate as that is only the number of student-athletes that will be leaving. This does not include the other students at Humboldt that came because of football and the other athletic programs as they wanted to be a part of the special community too. With struggling enrollment that is showing no signs of improving, how is getting RID of more students going to help? The athletic teams continue to fill their rosters to the maximum number, what good is it to get rid of the schools best recruiters?
What about Arcata and Humboldt County? Only five times a year do 7,000 and more people come together in the community and it is on Saturday nights in the Redwood Bowl. What will Homecoming weekend be like without football? What purpose will the weekend serve if it is not highlighted by a football game in the Redwood Bowl? The sense of community and togetherness that the football program and Humboldt athletics brings can not and should not be underestimated. It should also be noted the potential financial impact that HSU athletics and the football program has for the community, what about the local businesses?
When you add the tens of thousands of dollars spent on the Strategic Edge Report, the hundreds of thousands of dollars missing from IRA fees of the “missing” students that were projected to be attending the University, and another $58,000 in the form of a cancelled Pepsi sponsorship, you have have over $250,000. Yes, with the major financial hole, the leaders on campus elected to not renew a sponsorship which had totaled $58,000.
Seeing the overwhelming support for the program on social media has been special, but changes will have to come from within the University. Just this past spring, all of the Athletic programs were asked to raise money and as football raised over $100,000 which went directly toward athletic scholarships. Football raised their money and a portion of it even went to other teams.
Before you think about cutting the football program, think about the long-lasting impact it will have on YOUR students, coaches, administrators, community members, local business owners and alumni. Cutting the football program will set the University back years and hundreds-of-thousands of more dollars. Taking the easy way out by simply cutting the “biggest” budget item is lazy, irresponsible and won’t be tolerated. The impact the HSU football program had on myself and so many others including your current student-athletes is irreplaceable and a better solution needs to be found.
– Taylor Mitchell, Former HSU Football Player
By | Michelle N. Meyers
A thick, grey haze blankets the state of California. People everywhere are being evacuated from their homes, while thousands of wildfires burn across hundreds of thousands of acres of land. Firefighters and emergency personnel from different towns, cities, states, and even countries have been fighting the California blazes for months.
(Photo: Ian T.)
This year to date, 6,744 fires that have burned a total of 731,260 acres according to Cal Fire. Currently, there are 35 wildfires burning statewide according to the Incident Information System, InciWeb. In order to battle the blazes, there have also been some 21,000 firefighters assigned to fires in 10 Western States. (NIFC)
“We have a lot of dedicated men and women out there working to put this thing out,” says Shawn Compton, Orleans Complex Information Officer and firefighter since 1993
(Photo: Ian T.)
In addition, the NIFC states that the National Preparedness Level for wildfires has been elevated to National Preparedness Level 5 as of August 10, 2017, the highest level since august of 2013. Preparedness Levels are established by The National Multi-Agency Coordination Group (NMAC) throughout the year to ensure that firefighting resources are prepared to respond when incidents arise. According to the National Park Service, Preparedness Level 5 is a situation in which several geographic areas that are experiencing major incidents that have the potential to exhaust all resources.
With so many fires going on this season at such high intensities, firefighters have been strapped for resources.
“It doesn’t help right now with all the hurricanes going on either,” says Compton. “When you have no more resources nationwide, it’s really hard to find them.” The scarcity of resources makes it much harder to respond to these fires. With so much going on at one time, there are only so many resources to go around and Compton says it ultimately comes down to “what fire is more important to the other.”
While this season proves to be a difficult one to manage, Curtis Coots, The Orleans Complex Incident Commander says that, “When it comes down to it, life and property, that’s always the focus.”
But what’s going to stop the blazes? While manpower alone can redirect and slow down the progression of fires, it isn’t manpower that’s going to stop these high intensity fires.
“You can put 1000 firefighters in front of a crown fire, its not going to stop it,” says Compton. “A season ending event, that’s what’s going to put the fire out.”
(Photo: Ian T.)
California Fire Map as of Sept. 13, 2017
Spotlight On The La Tuna Fire
Some say the La Tuna Fire may be the largest fire in Los Angeles’s history. So far, it has scorched some 7,194 acres of land, obliterated 4 homes, and prompted Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency. Yet, as of now, The La Tuna Fire is 100 percent contained.
On Sept. 4, 2017, while fighting the perimeter of the La Tuna Fire, Torrance Firefighters came across the Theodore Payne Foundation For Wildflowers and Native Plants in Sun Valley. When they saw it, they fell in love with its beauty and its mission, and they felt that they couldn’t let the place go up in smoke.
After fighting fire around the parameters of the foundation, the firefighters slept on their picnic tables over the night. The next morning, Foundation Director of Horticulture Tim Becker and Foundation Executive Director Kitty Connolly were relieved to find a large fire engine in their parking lot with four firefighters standing by.
“We were really happy that they were here,” says Connolly.
After being evacuated several days earlier, they were on pins and needles that all would be lost in the fire, and it nearly was.
“They stopped the fire right at the edge of our property,” says Connolly, “their skill is incredible.”
All surrounding areas of the foundation have been burned.
“It’s just heartbreaking to come down the canyon,” says Connolly, “it’s just black.”
By | Bryan Donoghue
Samuel Vassallo, sophomore, Wildlife major — “I hope to work outdoors and possibly for government agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or the park service, or the U.S.G.S., or any of the state agencies that are equivalent to national agencies like those. I could work for a nonprofit like the World Wildlife Foundation, or Nature Conservancy, or I could work for a company that needs to do environmental impact and see if there are any endangered species on their property, so if they could log or mine. Probably not as much into working for a private company, I would like to work for the government. I love the classes, it’s great. When I chose this major I just thought it sounded cool and looked at the course list and chose it. You had to pick a major as a freshman to be in the Klamath Connection, which was a program I was in. We show up a week early to school and meet our professors, and I just picked Wildlife because it sounded cool and when I got here I’ve been loving every minute of it, so I feel like I’m in the right major, it’s pretty lucky.”
Romeo Javier Dominguez-Rameriz, recent graduate, Criminology major — “I’m doing an extra semester to see what I want to do with my graduate program. Right now I’m looking into international relations, so I’ve been looking in to see what programs I can go into that are in Germany. Nothing set in stone or anything. Personally, I love it up here. I’m from the SoCal area, the main reason why I came here was because of the environment and everything and I pretty much enjoy the people and environment like I hoped I would. The staff from my department is pretty rock-on, so I’m most fortunate for our faculty.”
Jade Simms, senior, Engineering major — “I’m hoping to get a job. I think it would be cool to work in river restoration, but we’ll see who wants to hire me. I think the Engineering department is a very supportive department, I’ve been given a lot of opportunities to learn what I want to learn. For future Engineering majors, do it! Don’t be afraid. I’ve talked to a lot of people, I know women especially are a little intimidated, but screw it, just do it.”
By | Lauren Shea
It’s about creating a safe community where students can look out for each other.
The Check it program was created at HSU to prevention acts of sexual assault in the community. It’s a student led movement to encourage us with acting against sexual assault and to create a presence of power that sexual violence is unacceptable and not welcomed here. Check it helps teach students of the community to recognize sexual violence and how you can prevent and stop it.
Marco Gonzalez, senior at HSU, the Volunteer Coordinator for Check it.
“My experience with Check it has been throughout my whole time spent at HSU,” Gonzalez said. “Being able to see the change from when I was a freshman to now is just incredible.”
Skye Peredo, a student at HSU, the Media Development Coordinator for Check it.
“It’s been great volunteering with Check it,” Peredo said. “This movement was created by the students and for the students. Check it has helped spread confidence to people and to notice harm making the campus feel safer.
Anyone can volunteer with Check it. The volunteer drop in hours are 4pm-6pm on Fridays in the Rec and Wellness Center drop in lounge. Through this program and volunteer opportunities, students can learn more about ways to check it.
Jayda Kosar, senior at HSU, the Event and Presentation Coordinator for Check it.
“It’s been great working on the program and expanding it for more people to learn about it,” Kosar said. “Incoming freshman already know about Check it before they’re even on campus.”
Student volunteers also attend the Check It Volunteer team retreat on Saturday, Sept. 23, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in the Goodwin Forum. There will be opportunities to participate in campus campaigns and build a better community as well as become part of the movement that Check it has created.
Check it is also looking for volunteers for the Consent Project. The Consent Project works to create a culture and community where students can talk about how we express consent and how that plays a role in our choices and actions. The project works to create a safe environment on our campus where we can listen to and support other survivors of sexualized violence. The Consent Project meets every Thursday at 5 p.m. until Oct. 5, in the Rec. and Wellness Center room No. 124.
To register for the volunteer retreat, contact Mary Sue Savage, Prevention Coordinator at: mss62@humboldt.edu
For more information on Check it, visit: http://www.checkithsu.com/
By | Diego Linares
The football team has now scored 185 points over its first three games of the season after defeating Simon Fraser University, 72-14, in the Redwood Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 16.
“It’s awesome. I love those guys,” Humboldt State University quarterback, Robert Webber, said about his offensive line. “Those guys really do one heck of a job to keep me upright and allow me to do what I do, but none of this would happen without them.”
Webber recently, against Azusa Pacific University, became the all-time leader in passing yards and completions for HSU and managed to keep that momentum into Saturday’s game. Webber finished with five touchdowns and 224-yards on 15 completions out of 18 attempts.
“When you have a running game, running backs like Ja’Quan (Gardner) and Jabar (Byrd) and all them, and an offensive line that dominates the line of scrimmage, it makes it easier on me because they try to load the box,” Webber said.
Gardner had 85-yards on his first six carries of the game and finished with 121-yards and a touchdown. The rushing attack sparked the offense and kept the opposing team’s defense honest having to commit to stopping the run throughout the game.
Simon Fraser was able to score two touchdowns in the second quarter to keep things interesting in the first half, but HSU managed to go on a 51-point tear.
“It’s important that you don’t let your play drop off,” HSU head coach Rob Smith said. “I thought we were flat when we came out, but then the players responded. We’ve got a lot of weapons on the offensive side and we were able to utilize many of them tonight.”
While the offense was handling things on its end, the HSU defense was also able to put pressure on the opposing quarterback, contain Simon Fraser’s running back, Jalen Jana, and create a turnover late in the game.
HSU defensive lineman Sefa Tauanu’u managed to get in the backfield for two tackles for loss against Simon Fraser, while also getting three quarterback hits in last week’s win against Azusa Pacific.
“If I trust them and they trust me, then we’ll get it,” Tauanu’u said about working with his teammates. “If I’m taking on a double-team, I trust that one of my fellow defensive linemen can get a sack or a tackle for loss.”
Simon Fraser is now on a 26-game losing streak, winning 10 games since the 2012 season.
“For us to compete, we need to execute at a very high level,” Simon Fraser head coach Kelly Bates said. Which means great decision making, and we’re just not consistent enough right now.”
The football team’s next game is Saturday, Sept. 23 against Central Washington University, the only other team in the Greater Northwestern Athletic Conference with a 3-0 record.
Breathing in the Arcata air, you can feel the humidity invading your lungs. The usually crisp forest air has been exchanged for a hot, humid mugginess.
The weather may be nice for weekend adventures, but trekking up the stairs to Founders Hall has now become a sweaty, smelly challenge for most students. Those returning to the HSU campus are noticing the difference in the weather.
Kristen VanGilder, a general biology major in her fourth year at HSU, has mixed sentiments on the change in the weather.
“It’s nice that it’s been so warm, you get to go to the beach and it’s not raining, but walk into classes and you’re drenched in sweat,” said VanGilder.
“Last year we got buckets, and then so far this year it’s just been hot, really, really hot. Recently it’s also been pretty humid.”
Jeffrey Kane, a 2008 HSU alum and associate professor in the Forestry and Wildland Resources department, provides some insight into the intense heat and humidity.
“It seems like there has been a change from wetter to dryer, and now we might be going into a wetter cycle again,” said Jeffrey Kane, “and that seems to be consistent with the ideas of how the climate for California is predicted to change.”
During the three years Kane was a grad-student, Humboldt State was cold, wet and foggy most of the time. Originally arriving in Humboldt in 2005, Kane has been here during the wet seasons as well as the multi-year drought.
“I came back in 2012, which happened to be the first year of the drought that lasted up until about last year,” said Kane. “I think last year was a pretty average year.”
Unlike last year, the last couple months of the summer heat and humidity has been higher than in recent years. While temperatures above 80 degrees are usually rare, this past summer saw temperature frequently in the 80s and 90s.
“What they’re predicting is increasing temperatures, and what did we have this year? We had 90 degree temperatures here in Arcata,” said Kane. “That was record breaking in some areas and very hot, uncharacteristic I would say.”
The heat and humidity within Humboldt county is unusual for the area, but correlates with the general increase in temperatures in California and around the world. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, temperatures worldwide are rising.
Kane said that the increase in temperature here in Arcata is consistent with the ideas and predictions on changing temperatures, “largely attributed to climate change, global warming, and the increase in Co2 in the atmosphere.”
While the increase in heat has some fun outside benefits, the constant fluctuating humidity is a huge drawback.
“Precipitation is a little more complex,” said Kane. “What they’re predicting isn’t that we’ll necessarily get less precipitation, but that well get more variable precipitation.”
Basically the weather patterns themselves have not altered, though the general temperature and climate have changed creating repercussions for the local weather patterns.
“It’s concerning, but I have hope that it will turn around, and we’ll get some rain,” said VanGilder.
Rainfall is expected to increase as we enter autumn. However, the heat and humidity may also continue for longer than we have experienced before.
“We can look forward to dryer drys and wetter wets,” said Kane.
Jermaine Wilson, a criminology major also in his fourth year at HSU, came to Humboldt to escape the heat of LA, only to have the heat follow him here.
“It pretty much makes you want to just lay down in bed, in cold conditions,” said Wilson. “It’s to hot to do anything else.”
We’ll just have to wait and see if the humidity dissipates. In the mean time, drink water, take advantage of the sun, and give yourself enough time to walk to class.
On a seemingly quiet Friday afternoon on the Humboldt State University campus, the MultiCultural Center was booming with energy, as international music and the savory smell of lumpia filled the air. Dozens of HSU students gathered in front of the center on Sept. 12 for the MCC open house to represent and celebrate the various cultures our campus consists of.
The center open house aimed to familiarize students with the numerous cultural centers available on campus and create a comfortable environment for socializing and learning.
Among the representatives were Scholars without Borders (SWB), Women’s Resource Center (WRC), the Latinx Center, and the Eric Rofes Multicultural Queer Resource Center (ERC). These centers, as well as much more serve as resources to anyone on campus, especially students who may feel marginalized.
Although these centers and clubs seem to differ, they all share a passion for solidarity and intersectionality. Jonathon Salinas, 20, is majoring in Spanish and currently working as the event coordinator at ERC. Salinas says instead of viewing activism as separate social movements, it’s important to support each other, heal and move forward together.
According to a 2013 Humboldt retention report, an average of 25 percent of the first year, full-time undergraduate students were not retained.
Cesar Abarca, faculty coordinator of SWB and an assistant professor in the Social Work department said this emphasizes the importance of student support centers, such as the MultiCultural Center and SWB.
“In a small, rural area,” Abarca said. “It’s really important to make students feel welcome and accepted.”
Abarca also said there needs to be support and advocacy specifically for underrepresented students
As of late, SWB has shifted their focus towards assisting undocumented students, specifically with the application process for D.A.C.A. renewal. This includes providing information about the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and basic guidelines and civil rights when dealing with law enforcement.
Angie Muñoz, current editor of the Cultural Times said the MCC caters to what students need and can benefit from the most. This includes representing student voices and opinions in the Cultural Times, as well as opening up staff meetings to students with suggestions for the center.
The MultiCultural Center on campus is located in the Balabanis House and is open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
By Andre Hascall
Students often walk around, to-and-from campus with headphones on and music turned up. With all of us having our own musical tastes, the thought of what others were listening to was an intriguing thought. Regardless of their tastes in music all of us students have one thing in common, and it is that our music means something to us.
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.
By | Skye Kimya
This weekend the Humboldt State Lumberjacks faced off against rival, Azusa Pacific Cougars, on the road for its first 2017 season game. The Jacks defeated the 8th ranked Cougars 30-19.
After losing to Azusa twice last season by a combined score of 83 – 40, the Jacks were ready to create a different narrative this year. The win also snapped the Cougars’ nine-game GNAC win streak and also ended their eight-game home winning streak.
Ereon Nash, a sophomore defensive back who played against Azusa Pacific last season, knew they had to come back and play better this year.
“We prepared all week,” Nash said, “we know we had to bring it and come out here ready.”
An offensive battle, the jacks outgained the Cougars in total offensive yards 456-405. Senior Running Back Ja’Quan Gardner had 168 yards on 31 carries, scoring three touchdowns. The preformarnce helped him claim the GNAC Football Offensive Player of the Week award.
Junior John Todd led the Jacks with 58 receiving yards, including a 14 yard catch that secured the school’s all-time passing record for Senior Quarterback Robert Webber.
“We stepped up when we needed to step up,” Todd said, “we want that ring, so we need to make things happen.”
With the win, Humboldt State finds itself top of the list among teams receiving votes in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Lumberjacks trail No. 25 Slippery Rock by just four points.
Humboldt State continues its conference schedule next weekend, hosting Simon Fraser on Sat., Sept. 16 at the Redwood Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
“We just showed up, handled business, and shut it down,” Nash said.
By | Charlotte Rutigliano
A recent press release by the University informed students and staff that HSU has been ranked among the best colleges in the West by the Princeton Review.
The press release said that HSU was one of 127 western schools recommended in the Review’s “2018 Best Colleges: Region by Region” web feature.
According to the Princeton Review’s website, students say they enjoy Humboldt State’s beautiful and relaxed atmosphere.
The relaxing space is one reason HSU Alum Mario Torres, a transfer student from Los Angeles who majored in Art Education, said he chose to come to HSU.
“I wanted a little to no distractions in my last two years of my undergraduate work,” Torres said, “I came to HSU for the opportunity to study under the giant redwoods and get away from it all.”
According to the press release, HSU students highlighted the tight-knit community the university has as well as the emphasis on learning to live with people of all different lifestyles and doing it in a socially responsible way.
Torres said that he had never heard of this ranking system or the Princeton Review.
“Honestly it sounds like click bait,” Torres said. “Or something you’d see in a Buzzfeed article or video.”
HSU was one of eight California State Universities that made the list out of a total of 23 CSU’s.
According to the Princeton Review’s website, there is no official ranking of the schools listed that they consider “academically outstanding and well worth consideration in a college search.”
Other schools that made it onto this list for the West were Oregon State and Stanford University.
By | Iridian Casarez and Curran C. Daly
Updated Thursday 3:30
A fire started at 12:24 p.m. on private property 200 feet away from the Arcata Community Forrest. Cal fire responded from Mad River Station, according to Captain Alex Manousous. It was a slow deep seated fire on a redwood stump.
“Right now we are just focusing on extinguishing the fire,” Manousous said. “This was a small fire, typical for the forest.”
There is active logging in the area that was unrelated to the fire. The cause of the fire is still undetermined until further investigation. The fire was less than a 10th of an acre.
Cal Fire helicopters were in the air before Arcata Fire district arrived.
Mike McDowall, City of Arcata’s natural resource technician, came to the scene. He came to determine if the fire was on the City of Arcata’s property and if the Arcata Fire District needed extra help.
Updated Thursday 1:45 P.M.
A Cal Fire helicopter is currently dropping water on a fire in the Arcata Community Forest. The fire is about 2 miles east of the Humboldt State University campus. The Lumberjack will continue to update this story as we learn more.
Original Post:
There is a helicopter circling the Arcata community forest amid reports of a fire in the forest. The Lumberjack will provide additional information when it is made available.
Lumberjacks football star, Chase Krivashei is going to break the Lumberjacks all-time record for receptions this season, but don’t tell him that. He has his mind set on one thing. Winning.
The Corona, California product has been rewriting the record books here at HSU and that was a goal in the beginning.
“The recruiting process was really tough for me,” Krivashei said. “Almost my whole high school career, I was told I was gonna go D-1 and when I ended up going Division 2, I just told myself I’m going to be the best player I can be at that school and just try to break every record possible.”
Krivashei plays slot receiver, which means he is constantly asked to go over the middle for catches in traffic, which exposes him to the hardest hits in the game, but at only 5’9”, Krivashei’s small stature has never been an excuse for him in a game played with giants.
“I try to use it to my advantage in certain situations,” Krivashei said. “Some guys if they’re a little bit taller, they cant get into certain areas as easy or they get hit easier.”
Krivashei’s athletic ability isn’t his only contribution to the team. He has shown his grit by coming back strong this season after a season ending injury a year ago and he’s a natural born leader on and off the field. Jacks receivers coach, Nick Williams appreciates everything Krivashei brings to the table.
“The special thing about Chase is his presence. It’s not just about football,” Williams said. “It’s about being around the guys on and off the field. Just having him around makes everyone around him better, it makes all of us better.”
Krivashei holds the records at HSU for receptions in a game (18) and for a season (96) and as of now, right before the Jacks big game at Azusa Pacific University, he is a mere 38 receptions away from the all-time career mark.
“I broke a couple records already,” Krivashei said. “I’m not too worried about breaking anymore. You’ll remember winning more than you’ll remember breaking records.”
By | Juan Herrera
“You get three minutes,” Johnathan Salinas said. “Then it’s on to the next.”
According to Salinas, head coordinator for Queer “Speed Friending”, this is the seventh time they have put on this event and each time the LGBTQA community gets stronger and stronger at HSU.
“We tried to imitate the speed dating concept, but for friends,” said Salinas.
Making a new friend in just three minutes is something that is hard to do. Not a lot of people have the time, resources, or ability to sit down and conversate with new people to get to know them.
Queer “Speed-Friending” is an event that makes this possible. It gives queer people on campus an opportunity to make new friends in a comfortable sober environment. The idea of this event is to bring together everyone regardless of their sexual orientation or sexual preference.
Salinas also mentioned Queer “Speed-Friending” encourages people to be open minded and try not be nervous so everyone is comfortable during their time.
During this event there were multiple clubs that had a booth to promote their organization’s messages and activities. One of the clubs that attended was Pure Health.
According to Aly Weaver, a member of Pure Health, this organization focuses on non-fear based education regarding alcohol, sex, and mental health issues. During the event Weaver and her crew were promoting to be strong and not have fear about those issues.
“Our message here was to bring more awareness of fearful topics on campus,” Weaver said. “Our end goal is to keep people safe.”
Weaver also mentioned that this is Pure Health’s first time attending Queer “Speed-Friending”, and it won’t be their last.
Another first-timer, HSU student Connor Ray Austin, expects his first experience at this event to be successful with new friends and full of surprises.
“There’s tons of new people on campus and this seemed like a good way to meet them,” Austin said. “I just picked up the flyer one day and thought it was a cool idea so I came.”
Salinas and his crew put on this event at least once a semester so people have the opportunity to meet and greet all the new faces at Humboldt State.
“If you’re new here or just want to make new friends Queer ‘Speed-Friending’ is the place for you!” Salinas said.
By | Robert Brown
Humboldt State broke into the top 50 of Washington Monthly’s most recent annual National College Guide for master’s universities. The guide rates universities across the nation and evaluates them based on graduation rate, price of tuition, and other factors.
The publication is changing the way universities are valued; instead of rewarding colleges for the number of applications they reject, they get credit for enrolling large numbers of low-income and first-generation students. Instead of promoting the most expensive schools, universities that produce research, train next generation scientists and PhDs and instill the importance of public service are acknowledged.
“We rate schools based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories,” Washington Monthly magazine said.
“Social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).”
Dr. Meredith Williams, Assistant Professor of Sociology, said the faculty and coordinators in the master’s programs are always looking for new and better ways of making programs affordable for all students.
“That is who we are as a university and as the CSU system,” Williams said.
Dr. Yvonne Everett, Professor of Environmental Science and Management, said that despite the CSU system’s pledge to help low-income students, getting funding for graduate school is challenging.
“There is financial aid available for students who qualify and there are a few scholarships students can apply for,” Everett said.
“Students in the natural sciences may also be funded through their faculty members’ research grants.”
“HSU’s graduate programs are different because HSU is different,” Williams said.
“We have great relationships with local businesses, nonprofits and community organizations to connect with in classes, as a volunteer, and with required internships and projects.”
According to Williams, the learning here is hands-on. Many of our graduate programs are focused on applied, real life skills, using the skills and knowledge of our disciplines to create lasting, systemic social change.
“Many students do their M.A./M.S. research or projects on topics in the public interest or that benefit a community organization,” Everett said.
“Graduate students in social work do all kinds of projects with local agencies to help them monitor and improve their services. For graduate students in Wildlife and Natural Resources, HSU is located very close to field research sites with many state and federal agency professionals to collaborate with.”
TRiO is a federally funded outreach and student services program aimed to provide services for students with a disadvantaged background.
Upward Bound is one of eight national programs within TRiO. The program is designed for first-generation college students who exhibit the potential and interest to strive in college. As members of this program, students benefit from resources such as financial aid assistance and academic counseling.
Upward Bound has been serving the Humboldt and Trinity school districts since 1965. Within these counties, the program is affiliated with six local high schools: Hoopa Valley, Arcata, South Fork, Southern Trinity, Hayfork, and Trinity.
Arcata High senior, Tatyanna Keeling said Upward Bound has been particularly helpful with financial aid counseling, as well as deadline reminders and reinforcement.
This year, Upward Bound received a five-year $1.25 million extension grant. Each five-year renewal, new advancements are developed into the program to ensure quality improvement, as well as operational funding.
With the funding, Upward Bound began their new summer “Bridge Year” program. This feature strives to provide participating high school seniors with an immersive college experience.
Upward Bound Director at HSU, Jen Dyke said the summer is the best time to get students committed to following through with their college plans and there is no better way than to allow participants to become “real college students.”
For the duration of the five-week summer program, students live in the Cypress Residence Hall and get a head start on college courses, all provided by TRiO.
For the remainder of the school year, students have access to college and career counseling, as well as academic and financial tutoring. The program also organizes and engages students in local social and cultural events, as well as college campus touring.
Shayna McCullough, a 21-year-old senior majoring in Social Work is an alum from Upward Bound. She said Upward Bound instilled pride in her. As a first-generation student, she has found a lot of emotional support and inspiration in fellow colleagues who also participate in Upward Bound.
Upward Bound is just one of the three TRiO programs at HSU. Other federal-funded programs, including Talent Search and Student Support Services, which all aim to ease the transition of disadvantaged students from high school to college.
