The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Humboldt State University

  • Film Department loses budget and resources

    Film Department loses budget and resources

    Annual Humboldt International Film Festival proceeds without a budget

    Ann Alter is chair of the film program at Humboldt State University. She and other film professors significantly adjusted their instruction to the new format of virtual learning. The department typically relies on in-class teaching, specifically, access to a film set.

    “Everything is modified,” Alter said. “The scope of classes, student activities, interactions between students and faculty, teaching, assignments, grading, equipment and facilities access and even the films we are able to show in our film studies classes.”

    Professor David Scheerer is also frustrated with the uncertainty of online teaching and how its affecting students’ education.

    “Teaching the incredibly complex and aesthetically challenging on-set techniques of the filmmaking process is virtually impossible,” Scheerer said. “There is no other way but hands-on instruction to teach students the actual professional practices in order to prepare them for post-graduation reality.”

    Teachers are still requiring students to work with a partner to complete assignments, expecting them to follow safety precautions.

    Bodhi Kim-Foulk, a senior film student, transferred to HSU in the fall of 2019. He believes working with another student will help him in the long run.

    “It’s probably for the best that we still have to find a way to work with others, because the pandemic is ultimately going to end at some point and overcoming obstacles in production is what filmmaking is all about,” Kim-Foulk said. “Learning to confront these challenges can only make us more resilient as artists.”

    Despite frustrations, Scheerer does what he can to look positively on the situation.

    “I have turned a lemon into lemonade by making this an excellent exercise in solving an entirely new series of practical production problems, while students must also solve the ‘usual’ creative problems to tell their story,” Scheerer said.

    Kylie Holub is a transfer student film major. With less time spent on socializing, Holub has had the opportunity to focus more on screenwriting.

    “It’s all about finding the silver lining in what we have to work with,” Holub said. “This is a crazy time to be alive and a crazy semester we are experiencing right now. But, filmmaking and writing films, I can say, have been a major component for keeping my spirits up.”

    The film program has also experienced a lack of mentoring opportunities this semester for beginning students. Not having access to work on a film set has been detrimental. According to Alter, this historically been a key strength of the film program. Additionally, the department’s annual Humboldt International Film Festival, a tradition dating back 53 years at HSU, was given no budget this year because of the pandemic.

    Michelle Cartier is a lecturer and first year coordinator of the festival. The budget issue has forced Cartier and their team to improvise a creative strategy to keep the event going. As of now, the festival is planned for April 22-25, 2021.

    The student run event includes four different categories of films: Experimental and Animation, Narrative, Documentary and Best of the Fest. For 2021, they’ve added new categories including COVID-19, Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+.

    While the event has been held at the Minor Theater for several years, access to the Minor Theater is in question due to funding. The festival team is considering other options including drive-ins, a virtual format and other live venues.

    Along with the impacts on students’ education, the lack of resources is affecting opportunities for students post-graduation.

    “When [a student] gets to work on a professional film production, they have something meaningful to put on their resume,” Alter said.

    Film students and instructors avoid filming in crowded areas, keep their crews small and reduce the number of actors they work with. If anything, the pandemic has helped students become more creative and resourceful in the way they tell their stories.

    “HSU film students are resilient, passionate about film, and they have important, wacky, scary, adventurous, romantic, informative and moving cinematic stories to share with the world,” Alter said. “We will continue doing this in a safe and meaningful way through all the challenges that this pandemic is bringing for everyone.”

  • HSU creates election coping resources for students

    Post election assistance for those that feel anxious about the future of the country

    From educational campaigns across social media to election dialogues, Humboldt State University provides students with resources despite the difficulty of being virtual. Check It! and Associated Students are working to give students the counseling and services they need.

    Students can also learn ways to keep themselves and others safe while taking part in community action. Faculty from Native American studies, history and environmental law will host a panel to discuss the history of elections, social change movements and impacts.

    “Our purpose and our responsibility is here to educate students about the importance of voting and why to vote, and then providing them the space if and when they need to or want to decompress,” said Kresl.

    Dean of Students Eboni Turnbow sent an email to students Oct. 30 to remind and students of HSU’s resources for the election.

    “We encourage our students to exercise their First Amendment rights in a safe and healthy way,” Turnbow said in an email. “For some this is on social media, others through dialogue with family and friends, and others through community action. Despite your preferred outlet, we want to help you be prepared.”

    Two election follow ups by Counseling and Psych Services, Associated Students, and the Dean of Students Office will meet on Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. and Nov. 12 at noon to discuss anxiety and fear following the election.

    El Centro, the LatinX center will discuss the elections this Fri., Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. as well.

    HSU also created the HSU Votes website to give students resources and information regarding voting and to give students resources while social distancing.

    “No matter which way this goes, there is going to be stress and anxiety and anger on both and on either side, not exclusively because of the outcome but because of the whole process,” said HSU Student Life Coordinator Molly Kresl.

    CAPS has drop-in hours on Wednesday and a crisis hotline for students who are experiencing any emotions post election, or if they just need to talk.

    Additionally, a virtual tool-kit has been created for students that provides information about self care, difficult dialogues, election education, resources and how to navigate emotions and stress during and after elections.

    “At the core of it is for students to know that we see them, we recognize them, and we value them,” said Kresl.

    HSU has recommended, not mandated, faculty to limit assignments if they can, check in with students and provide resources within their class. HSU recommended groups and organizations exercise activities this week to provide support to students.

    “Remember, feeling overwhelmed is human and natural, so using these vital resources is important to self-care,” Turnbow said in the email.

    Despite the election results, students are reminded that their vote matters, and HSU will be ready to support them in any way they feel and react.

    Wrenna Williams is a forestry and restoration major who is taking a gap year due to COVID-19. Williams voted and expressed the anxiety that followed, but won’t use HSU’s services due to it being strictly available for students currently enrolled.

    “Especially if I was living on campus still, I would totally go use those services. They’re great,” said Williams.

    Carlos Ochoa-Silvas, a freshman at HSU, mailed in his voting ballots a few weeks ago and expressed concern toward the election, the aftermath and riots. He said he would think about reaching out to HSU’s services if he felt too anxious.

    “I definitely think that it’s important for people who are more sensitive about the topic or people who want to express how they feel with the community and see other people’s views,” Ochoa-Silvas said.

  • Humboldt State Hall Of Fame Inductees

    Humboldt State Hall Of Fame Inductees

    Hall of Fame nominees for class of 2020 and class of 2021 announced

    Humboldt State University’s Department of Athletics announced the Hall of Fame nominees for the classes of 2020 and 2021.

    The class of 2020 inductees are Laura Champ, Heather Johnston, Scott Peters, Lisa Petty, Lyndon Rowells and Chrissy Stalf.

    The class of 2021 inductees are Nicholas Bawden, Bridget Berg, Dan Collen, Katie Harris, Staci Self, Anetra Torres, Zack Weinberger and the 1976 Men’s Cross Country team.

    Chrissy Stalf, softball, 2010, was very excited and felt honored to be inducted into HSU’s Hall Of Fame.

    “There are many great athletes in the Hall Of Fame as we speak and being considered one of them is an honor,” Stalf said in an email.

    Stalf is upset her head coach, Frank Cheek, would be unable to attend the induction ceremony due to his recent passing. Cheek recalled how a few years after finishing her career at HSU, Cheek was going to write her a nomination for the Hall Of Fame. She felt honored to hear that from him.

    Stalf enjoyed playing softball in the middle of the Redwoods and felt no other campus could compete with the surrounding view while playing. The town would come out to support the softball team, win or loss.

    “When you walked around town, they knew who we were,” Stalf said. “I am proud to say I am a Lumberjack Alumni!”

    Lyndon Rowells, football, 2010-2011, felt humbled and honored to be recognized for all the hard work he put into playing the sport he loves. Rowells found out that he was being inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Rowells said his favorite thing to do while playing football was winning.

    “Scoring a touchdown was fun and all but it meant nothing if we didn’t get the victory,” Rowells said in an email.

    Lisa Petty felt honored to be inducted into the 2020 HSU Hall of Fame after being a member of the women’s basketball team. It reminds Petty that the work ethic she put into playing basketball was worth it.

    “Athletes spend countless hours practicing and working towards their goals so to be recognized for one of the greatest achievements in sports, is truly humbling to me,” Petty said in an email.

    Petty found out a couple of weeks ago when former HSU Interim Athletics Director Tom Trepiak gave her a call. During one of her final press conferences of her career at Humboldt, Trepiak was the one who had mentioned to Petty that maybe one day they will see her in the Hall of Fame. Petty thought it was a joke.

    “To get the news from him, someone who cheered me on during my entire career, was a gift,” Petty said.

    Petty’s favorite thing when she played at HSU was the camaraderie with her teammates and coaching staff. She said she made lifelong friends and connections at Humboldt.

    “During games, we went to war together,” Petty said. “We battled and left everything we had on the floor and that’s the one thing I always look back on and am beyond grateful for.”

    Petty is grateful for the opportunity to play competitively for the Lumberjacks.

    “I am competitive in nature,” Petty said. “It didn’t matter if it was practice or in a game, I was out to win and I would do whatever I could to get the job done. But again, over the years, the relationships and the friendships I developed are some of my most cherished memories.”

  • Baseball clubs across California come together

    Baseball clubs across California come together

    Club baseball organizations from the CSU system discuss COVID-19 obstacles

    Humboldt State University club teams are not the only ones having issues with recruiting and getting on the field. Baseball clubs across the Cal State system came together to discuss the cancellations of their seasons due to COVID-19.

    Most teams present have been unable to do anything in-person due to quarantine. Players from University of San Francisco came up with a unique idea to combat restricted field access.

    Alex Bradshaw, a member of the USF baseball club, is able to practice with his teammates because of a homemade batting cage.

    “Saul Diaz [a member of USF baseball] was able to build a homemade batting cage that some of us are able to meet up at and hit some balls,” Bradshaw said. “There are only about five of us on the team right now so no rules are broken and we are doing our part in social distancing.”

    HSU athletic clubs aren’t the only ones getting the short end of the stick when it comes to not being able to get on the field.

    Aiden Patterson, president of the USF baseball club, has been facing the same problems when it comes to creating a game plan to get back on the field.

    “They are slowly bringing sports back into our area. Our university is not working with us now and they never did,” Patterson said. “Our club is not allowed to use equipment or fields on campus. Our club sports representative has been trying to work with the Athletic Director but they have not even budged a little on the issue.”

    Robert Rocha, president of Long Beach State University’s baseball club, has been working hard with his university to get the team back to practicing.

    “Up until two weeks ago there was no chance of us getting back on the field,” Rocha said. “ Then I received and email last week with guidelines for practice from a representative of the NCAA that I sent to club sports and they are reviewing the situation right now.”

    During the meeting, Martin Gordillo, president of HSU’s baseball club, questioned if club teams would compete in the spring season, some were hesitant to say yes. The debate surrounds wanting to compete and not wanting to expose players to COVID-19.

    “Going back to practice is hard to decide,” Rocha said. “It is frustrating because we want to practice, but I do not want to have guys risk their own health for us to play baseball.”

    Daniel Pena, Cal State Fullerton University’s baseball club president, spoke on the risk of COVID-19 extending beyond players on the field and into their households.

    “I know some of my players live with their parents and grandparents,” Pena said. “I just don’t want any house to be jeopardized. It is a hard decision because we don’t want to force the issue of people being hurt and sick.”

    The biggest problem at hand surrounds lack of players for the competitive season. COVID-19 has created boundaries surrounding club outreach and recruitment.

    “We are only three to five people,” Patterson said. “It isn’t a matter of will, but if we will be able to compete. We can’t even recruit during these times. We just don’t have the numbers.”

    Recruitment and outreach has limited player enrollment. Pena found it difficult to motivate returning players, adding that the team’s competitive attitude is down due to the cancellation of their season.

    “A lot of guys graduated,” Pena said. “Recruiting is going horrible and I have difficulty contacting my teammates. They don’t respond to me probably because there is no effort put into this season. It’s hard to be competitive when there is no season to look forward to.”

    The meeting between CSU baseball clubs has solidified the fact that the spring season remains undecided. Even if teams were permitted to compete in the spring, they may be unable to play due to the lack of players on the field.

  • Dismal democracy

    Dismal democracy

    The Lumberjack editorial staff comments on America’s flawed electoral system

    As the world watches the United States 2020 election results, waiting for our pseudodemocratic process to churn out a new president, historically unprecedented voting methods misrepresents the reported Election Day results.

    A common misconception surrounding the democratic voting process is that a casted ballot directly counts toward and impacts the presidential election. However, the reality is that every individual’s vote doesn’t hold the same amount of power or equitable value.

    The power and value behind your vote is entirely dependent on where you live. Because the electoral college ultimately chooses the president, not the people, the real value of your vote is determined by the ratio of individual votes to electoral votes in each state. 

    For example, California has a population of about 39.5 million. We have 55 electoral votes, one for each of our congressional representatives. That works out to about 718,000 people per electoral vote. Wyoming has a population of about 579,000. They have three electoral votes. Only one from their representative in the house, but two from their representatives in the senate like every other state. That works out to about 193,000 people per electoral vote. If you’re from California, a Wyoming presidential vote is worth 3.7 times the amount of yours. The story is the same for many of the less populated states.

    The voting process falsely validates casted ballots and ultimately undermines votes through the electoral college’s overriding casted vote. Ultimately, you’re not directly voting for a presidential candidate, you’re informing the decision of the electors who do. 

    Within battleground states, Democrats are sending in more mail-in ballots than their Republican counterparts. The New York Times estimates that 64 million mail in ballots were cast in this election, nearly three times the amount cast in the 2016 election. While COVID-19 played a significant factor in the disparity, pushes came from Democratic candidates across the nation to gain momentum moving into Election Day.

    Due to mail-in ballots accounting anywhere from 20-50 percent of the votes in different states, we may not know actual election results until days after election night. States, such as North Carolina, are planning to accept ballots postmarked on election night until Nov. 12. Some states have relatively small margins of difference, which could result in swing states prolonging the definitive results of the election.

    Additionally, the United States leaves self-declared territories, for example Guam and the Dominican Republic, neglected in the political process and without influence in the choice of US president. The same could be said for the millions of American citizens who have been deprived of their right to vote because of the criminal justice system. This imbalance significantly alters the demographic of voting participants, therefore not valuing or accounting for every community’s perspective. 

    This disparity leads to presidents with less votes defeating their opponents, or candidates never getting a clear majority. 

    While the Lumberjack staff believes the US’s democratic process is deceitful in terms of transparency, we do not agree or echo any of Trump’s sentiments that discredit voting. Instead, we believe his spewing of misinformation contributes to the detriment of the country’s Democratic Republic status. 

    The US glamorizes its democratic facade as legitimate, straight forward and for the people, however, systemic strategies have displaced and deprived American citizens of their Constitutional right to vote. Between systemic imbalance of the electoral college, active voter suppression and unequal voter representation, our democracy is rooted in unequal representation. 

  • Students speak honestly on voting in 2020 the elections

    Students speak honestly on voting in 2020 the elections

    Students look toward an uncertain future while factoring in the past four years.

    Students at Humboldt State University took the steps to cast their ballots in the 2020 presidential election.

    For some, like Alejandra Sanchez, it was the first election she could vote in. Sanchez, a criminology major, was not optimistic about what a second term for President Trump would mean.

    “Being a woman and being brown, four more years…four more years would not be the best for me,” Sanchez said.

    Sanchez felt especially disappointed in the Democratic party candidates. She believed the Democratic party could have done better.

    “In my eyes, we were settling for Biden,” Sanchez said. “It’s just like horrible and slightly less horrible, either way you vote it’s not that great. I’m sure there will be little differences that do help.”

    The 2020 election painted Biden as a candidate voters settled for, or defensively voted for in strong dissent of a reelection.

    Maia Nguyen, a wildlife major, believed Biden is not the strongest or most ideal Democratic party candidate. In comparison to Trump, Biden offers more promising initiatives like environmental advocacy.

    “We definitely settled for him as democrats, but I would feel better with him as a president,” said Nguyen. “Someone who takes clean energy and the environment more seriously than Trump does.”

    While Nguyen was not old enough to vote in 2016, she made sure to cast her vote early for the 2020 election. Nguyen emphasized how the past presidential term has been difficult to witness.

    “As a wildlife major, it meant a lot of disappointment overall,” Nguyen said. “You can see terrible things happening and people not listening to scientists. Just a disappointment overall, I would say.”

    On the subject of the 2020 election, Nguyen looked at how future presidents would affect her fields of study. She mentioned the discrediting effects a less science focused presidency could bring.

    “Honestly, I’ve been thinking about that a lot, and I would say that it would be harder in my field,” said Nguyen. “Our funding comes from government funding so if we had pushback, my work would be affected, and a lot of pushback for us because people wouldn’t want to work with scientists.”

    Tayler Reedy, a child development major, voted in 2016 but felt a personal need to vote in the 2020 election and defend communities Trump harms.

    “Well for me personally, with everything that Trump has done with immigration and everything he has said, as someone who is a bisexual woman and person of color it’s a little scary to see how he treated everyone in those categories,” Reedy said.

    Reedy echoed the overarching assumption that a vote for Biden was simply a defensive vote against a Trump reelection.

    “I feel like Biden is more accepting of people like that. He’s not my favorite,” Reedy said. “I was more about Elizabeth Warren at the time, but I feel like he’ll do a better job than Trump.”

    California polls close at 8 p.m., with the state historically leaning Democratic. While initial election results may be called on Nov. 3, the New York Times states that approximately nine of the 50 states will have final results in by noon the day after the election.

  • The Mario triple pack invokes a nostalgia attack

    When I was a child, the first video game system I owned was a Nintendo 64. Among the games I played was Super Mario 64. I played it all the time and when I wasn’t playing it, I was lying on the floor watching my younger brother play it.

    Mario 64 is one of my favorite games and it started an intense love for Nintendo that remains to this day.

    My favorite part was the freedom the game gave you. Jumping into levels to find the stars in any order you wanted, that’s what made it so special. It was one of the first games I played all the way through, of course, with help from my Dad.

    Over the years, I experienced many more adventures with Mario. I started playing Super Mario Sunshine after I found a Gamecube at a garage sale with my Dad. Essentially, it was Mario 64 again, but this time you had a water jetpack and explored an island town plagued by paint creatures. The updated graphics, new location, and ability to fly high up in the air with your jetpack made this game a blast to play.

    In 2006, Nintendo released the Wii and I woke up early in the morning with my Dad and my brother to wait in line on release day to pick up our console. The next year, “Super Mario Galaxy,” was released and of course we had to get it. Flying through space and jumping to different planets felt amazing and brought back the same euphoric sensation I got from Mario Sunshine and Mario 64 before that.

    A few years ago, before I left for college, I got the nostalgic craving to return to Peach’s castle for another battle with Bowser in Mario 64 again. After setting up our old N64, I looked everywhere and couldn’t find our copy of the game. It was gone and the only copies left were sold for small fortunes on eBay. It was so disheartening. I thought I would never be able to experience those memories again.

    When I’d finally given up the shred of hope that my craving for Mario 64 would ever be quenched, about a month ago, something incredible happened. To celebrate Mario’s 35th anniversary, Nintendo released a 3-D Mario bundle for the Switch. Super Mario 3-D All-Stars includes, in my opinion, potentially three of the best Mario games of all time: Mario 64, Mario Sunshine and Mario Galaxy.

    Playing through the bundle today was like paying a visit to my childhood. While the games were only ported over with slightly improved graphics, it didn’t matter to me. In my mind, I was back in my childhood bedroom watching Mario run and jump around on his adventures once again and peace was restored in the world.

    Re-experiencing these games again for the first time in around a decade was exactly the comforting gaming experience I and every Nintendo fan needs to improve their existence in 2020. The nostalgia pack is something to help us escape, even if only for a moment, back to the days when it was just you and Mario trying to collect all 120 stars together.

  • Music Department returns to rehearsals

    Band, symphony and orchestras proceed with in-person instruction this semester

    While the world remains in lockdown, music lives on. Students attending Humboldt State University have returned to in-person music classes where they can rehearse without the complications of connecting online.

    Professor Dan Aldag teaches two classes face-to-face, jazz orchestra and jazz combo. Although students have returned, he says the jazz orchestra isn’t entirely in-person.

    “We’re doing a reduced instrumentation of what we would normally do,” Aldag said.

    The transition from 17 people to nine resulted in a significant difference in musical quality. Music depends strongly on how many people and which instruments are present. Changing those factors can change the orchestra’s sound entirely.

    With such limited numbers, students and professors alike miss social aspects of classes.

    “I miss the folks that aren’t here,” Aldag said. “The nature of the jazz orchestra is that a lot of people play in it multiple semesters and multiple years, and so it feels like we’ve got people missing.”

    Like the rest of HSU, in-person orchestra have restrictions and precautions like wearing masks, covering horn instruments and taking breaks outside to let air refresh.

    “We’re used to having two straight hours of rehearsal and instead we go for 30 minutes then take a 15 minute break, and then another 30, and another 15 minute break so rehearsals feel a little choppy,” Aldag said.

    Less rehearsal time for students can negatively affect their performance. Since student musicians had their time cut short last semester, finding the time and space to practice has been a challenge for students.

    Kayla Rodenburg, a senior at HSU, hasn’t had an opportunity to practice and felt out of tune with her instrument.

    “We haven’t had the time to practice, so me going back now I’m really rusty,” Rodenburg said.

    Rodenburg is in the Humboldt Symphony and practices in person with her string trio. She’s still getting the hang of learning music online, especially with the symphony only meeting once weekly.

    “During COVID, it’s pretty different because we have to go online and record quick tracks so we can have everybody playing,” Rodenburg said. “The winds and brass and everyone that plays an instrument that you have to blow through, we can’t practice with them in person.”

    Music is strongly dependent on the people surrounding you as you play, and it’s harder to learn music without hearing the other musicians. Those in the Symphony who cannot join in-person join through a Zoom meeting.

    “There used to be more from the community, but a lot of them are more elderly and maybe they just don’t want to be in person right now,” Rodenburg said. “It’s a few of us but we make it work.”

    Joel Costello, HSU freshman, plays in the HSU Jazz Band twice weekly. Students meet when they’re part of a song that’s being rehearsed, however, with in-person instruction coming to an end in early Nov., that likely won’t last long.

    “It’d be cool if the school could find a way for there to still be in-person wind ensembles,” Costello said.

    Outside of group rehearsals, Costello currently practices in his dorm room. He said he felt noisy at first, but eventually realized he didn’t have any other choice.

    “Practice rooms is just too much of a hassle with pandemic requirements,” Costello said.

    The practice rooms are only open in certain buildings a few times a week, and students are struggling to get enough individual rehearsal done.

    Musicians are operating in a different reality, practicing music in dorm halls that are silent from a lack of students, little time to play with other students, limited ways to learn new music and a lack of community between musicians.

    “All in all, I think everybody is doing the best with the hand that we’ve been dealt,” Aldag said. “Hopefully we’ll be back to normal sooner rather than later.”

  • Women’s lacrosse drops their competitive season

    Women’s lacrosse drops their competitive season

    Greta Roberts, president and player of Humboldt State University’s women’s lacrosse team, made the decision with her coach and teammates to cancel the upcoming spring season. The team decided that not being able to recruit in the fall would be an issue for spring and it was best to drop the season.

    “We do most of our recruiting at the beginning of each semester and with everything being online, this was not a viable option,” Roberts said. “Most people coming to our team having never played lacrosse and our first semester is really about teaching and connecting.”

    Another reason factoring into canceling season was player safety. Roberts and her coaches would not be able to get new players on track and able to play the game safely.

    “The decision to suspend our season this year was based on the safety and sustainability of our team,” Roberts said. “Since we are not permitted to have any physical practices, it is impossible to teach the game correctly. At the end of last spring, almost half of our team graduated and by the beginning of this fall, almost all of our players have moved out of Humboldt County.”

    Kiya Guire, a member of the women’s Lacrosse team, felt the decision was very difficult to make because the team is so close.

    “As a student athlete, this decision was a hard one to make because we love our sport and we love our team who has become our family,” Guire said. “But with the current situation, we wanted to do what we thought was right for our team.”

    Jacob Hluboky, head coach of the men’s lacrosse team, has not made the final decision to cancel the 2021 season, but believes the decision will be made very soon.

    “With this whole COVID-19 situation it has become hard to recruit for this season,” Hluboky said. “Retaining players has also been a major factor as many are not up here right now. It is understandable and we just need to go full boar on recruiting for the next season so we have a solid team to put on the field.”

    Hluboky has declared that even if the team does not have a season, he and his coaching staff are going all in on recruiting for the 2022 MCLA Divison II season.

    “We have a network of scouting in about 15 states,” Hluboky said. “My assistant coaches and I are looking for the players we want and need. We are going to put all our effort into recruiting these areas and bringing talent onto this team.”

  • LJ reporter Anthony Aragon ranks local, Oktoberfest inspired beers

    LJ reporter Anthony Aragon ranks local, Oktoberfest inspired beers

    With public gatherings limited, Oktoberfest celebrations are confined to the crib this year

    October has become synonymous with leaves changing colors, pumpkin spice lattes and the beloved “spooky season.”

    Amongst the spirited festivities exclusive to fall, one tradition reigns supreme in the hearts of many beer lovers around the world: Oktoberfest. With the absence of Halloween parties, pumpkin patches and Oktoberfest festivals this year, October just feels different.

    Though many of the celebrations and fairs that pay homage to German heritage have been canceled to lower the spread of COVID-19, beer drinkers around the world are rushing to store shelves in hopes of tasting commemorative ales from their favorite breweries.

    Fortunately for Humboldt County residents and Humboldt State University students who enjoy the occasional pint between study sessions, there is no shortage of local craft breweries pumping out beer to consume year-round. The assortment of IPA’s, lagers, ales and sours offered at the local brew houses are guaranteed to satisfy the most fastidious of beer connoisseurs.

    On Sun., Oct. 18, I visited Redwood Curtain Brewing Co. in Arcata, hoping to sample a variety of brews that compliment the changing seasons. Unfortunately, RCBC is taking a breather on concocting their traditional German inspired lagers that are usually available this time of the year.

    Refusing to leave in defeat, employee Chris Galleron, assisted me in scouring their selection to find some substitutes that are adequate for any at home Oktoberfest celebration. I left with three crawlers filled with different brews ready to be enjoyed, a nice change of pace from cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon and poorly crafted mixed drinks most of us endear in our college careers.

    First up was Muddy Nut Bush, which is made in collaboration with Muddy Waters Coffee Company in the neighboring city McKinleyville.

    At first glance I was taken back by the idea of a coffee infused beer, especially one that utilizes a rather potent cold brew. My original expectations were tainted by long nights during finals week, where caffeine fuels overnight cramming sessions and last minute procrastination. The nutty beer is infused with Muddy Water’s cold brew, which delivers a smooth and robust finish at 4.2 percent ABV. I found myself pleasantly surprised by the aroma of this one, the coffee notes derived from the cold brew creates a rather sweet flavor that is subtle yet delicious.

    Next up, in the second generous sized canister was Logger in the Dark. This international dark logger is Redwood Curtain’s closest comparable option to a traditional German Lager.

    Logger in the Dark is exceptionally balanced despite its amber color and bright aroma. Malty notes complimented the sweet hints of caramel and chocolate. By no means lacking flavor, this dark beer delivers a dessert like taste without overpowering your palette coming in at 4.4 percent ABV. This dark beer is perfect to pair with a warm, hearty meal on a cold autumn evening in Humboldt.

    Last up in our three pack of crafted malt elixirs was my personal favorite, Sticky Fingers IPA. This Indiana Pale Ale is affectionately named after the long lasting crop Humboldt County is infamous for.

    This beer is the hoppiest of our three picks, but possibly the most flavorful. The crisp hazy tones of Sticky Fingers is balanced by the bright citrus hues that are tasted at the end of each sip. A Redwood Curtain favorite amongst its customers, this IPA is sure to please anyone looking for an ale with a bite. Measuring in at 6.1 percent ABV, this brew will definitely give you a run for your money, creating a mellow sensation for drinkers.

    Regardless of how different things might look this fall, the spirit of Oktoberfest lives throughout Humboldt County. So, grab a pint of your favorite local brew, hold your glass up high and cheers to the uncertainty this year has presented us with.

  • 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.”

  • Humboldt State’s women’s basketball team races for racial change

    5K race to protest social and racial injustices while raising money for AACAE

    The Humboldt State Women’s Basketball team participated in Race For Change that started on Oct. 15 and ended Oct. 18. The event was a virtual 5k run, walk, or bike ride to bring awareness about the social and racial injustice happening. 

    The team joined other universities in the California State University system in participating to raise funds in order to support the African American Center for Excellence at HSU.The team plans on making this an annual event they will continue to participate in.    

     “UC San Diego women’s basketball initiated this terrific event to athletic programs across the country and we were on board from the beginning,” Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. “We saw this as an opportunity to continue to use our voices and to put into action our passion towards social justice.  One of our main objectives in the event was to get as much participation as possible to continue to bring awareness both locally and throughout other communities.”  

    The women’s basketball team raised over $1,100 and will be giving the proceeds to the AACAE. Douglas Smith, director of the AACAE, is grateful that the women’s basketball team took the initiative and supported them by participating in Race for Change.

    “Funding for the Center has been a challenge since it opened its doors five years ago,” Smith said. “So this type of support will help us engage and develop a sense of belonging in the Black student community.”

    The ACCAE team appreciated the HSU athletes who participated and showed their support. The other HSU teams who joined in the event were the women’s volleyball team and women’s rowing. With moving forward to next year the women’s basketball team expects an even bigger event with more participants. 

    The team had numerous team discussions and individual conversations about racism and social injustice prior to the event. Samantha Caries, a junior on the team, believes that the conversations that have been happening on an individual and a national level deserve to be recognized.

    “I feel like they’re finally shedding light on racism that takes place daily in the world,” Caries said. “This coverage should not go away. We are lost for words to how this is continuing to happen.” 

    Caries struggled to express her frustration over the fact that the world was already forgetting about the Black Lives Matter movement and the systemic targeting of the Black community.

    “To be honest, I can’t find strong enough words to fully express how strongly I feel about the social injustices, the hate, and the racism that continues to occur in our world,” Caries said.  “It disgusts me, it makes me extremely angry, and I feel sad and apologetic to the Black community.  

    Bento-Jackson hoped people could open their eyes, their ears and their hearts to attempt to understand the life that the Black community and BIPOC have to endure on a daily basis and to genuinely show empathy. 

    Smith expressed appreciation for the women’s basketball team providing the AACAE with the much needed funding to continue their work and dialogue within the HSU community.

    “Raising awareness is one step in the long process of having honest and real change in our society,” Smith said. “This is the role the women’s basketball team assumed and it is appreciated. We all have a direct role to play with regards to addressing social injustice and how it manifests itself in the lives of so many people in this country and around the world.”

  • Dobby’s proposition opinions

    Haven’t voted yet? Well, you’re running out of time. Here’s a quick rundown of California’s propositions on the ballot this year

    Prop 14

    Proposition 14 would allow the state to sell bonds to fund stem cell research. Stem cells are cells that have not yet chosen an organ to major in. They can be injected into a liver, heart or other organ of your choice. They are regeneration cells, and have the potential to treat diseases including Alzheimer’s, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and cancer. Stem cells are most effective when harvested from fertilized human eggs that are four to five days old, causing some controversy in people who care about that sort of thing. Vote yes to authorize the state to sell bonds to raise money for this research, or no to not fund the research.

    Prop 15

    This is a tax bill that will increase taxes for corporations, cut taxes for home-based business and raise money for schools. Vote yes.

    Prop 16

    Affirmative action is legal in 42 states, but was voted out of California in the 90s. Enrollment of minorities at competitive universities dropped as a result. The recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson and many lost Black lives have brought racial inequalities into a starker light, making affirmative action more appealing. Opponents say California is already doing enough and that it would be “reverse racism,” which is not a thing. Vote yes to approve affirmative action.

    Prop 17

    Restores voting rights for people on parole. Currently, a person who is in jail or has completed their sentence and related parole can vote. Felons in state prison or on parole cannot. People on parole have committed serious crimes, such as murder, rape, robbery, arson, or kidnapping. After their prison term, they are assigned a parole officer and must follow strict rules. This bill will also allow parolees to run for office if they haven’t been convicted of perjury or bribery. Vote yes to restore voting rights or no to keep restrictions.

    Prop 18

    Vote yes to grant 17-year-olds the right to vote in primary elections if they turn 18 in the next general election. This does not mean that a 17-year-old will be able to vote in the general election, but if they turn 18 on or before election day, they can vote in the primary before the general election.

    Prop 19

    A property tax that increases the tax rate on inherited properties if the person inheriting it does not live there. It would also expand moving for seniors by allowing them to transfer the lower tax rate of their old homes into a new place up to three times throughout the state. Currently, they can only move once within the same county to keep the tax rate of the first property when they bought it. It would generate a few million dollars per year, 75 percent of which would go to fund fire protection. Vote yes to increase taxes on wealthy families.

    Prop 20

    This would revive tough-on-crime by reclassifying property crimes as ‘wobblers’ that are either misdemeanors or felonies. It would boost penalties for parole violations, and require DNA samples for misdemeanor property crimes. It would also create a new list of offenses that deny eligibility for early parole, including domestic violence, which isn’t currently classified as a violent crime. That is a problem. I don’t blame you if you skip this one, but vote no to not be tough-on-crime, or yes to be tough-on-crime.

    Prop 21

    This would repeal parts of the Costa-Hawkins Act, which limited local rent control laws across California. A yes vote would allow cities to enact stronger rent control laws on most properties older than 15 years, and cap rent increases for new tenants at 15 percent with no increase for three years. A no vote would maintain current rent control laws.

    Prop 22

    VOTE NO. Proposition 22 would classify app-based drivers as independent contractors, who are only paid while driving, but not while waiting. They do not have full health insurance. Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart have spent $170 million to back this because they profit from not classifying their employees as such. A no vote would force the state to classify drivers as a special category, neither independent contractors nor regular employees.

    Prop 23

    Would add more requirements for dialysis clinics, including having at least one physician on-site, report infection data, have state approval before closing and prohibit insurance discrimination. Vote yes for more requirements or no to not add requirements.

    Prop 24

    Amends data protection laws and establishes a new state agency to enforce them. Critics say this would keep the current system, where a consumer has to opt out to protect their data. An alternative would be setting ‘don’t sell my data’ as the default, and companies would have to ask them to opt-in. Vote yes to amend the current data protection laws, or no to keep the current data protection system.

    Prop 25

    Vote yes to replace cash bail with risk assessment based on public safety and flight risk. Defendants who can’t pay bail are nine times more likely to plead guilty despite innocence. Opponents say that the risk assessment tool can be overridden by a judge, who may be in favor of locking more people up, especially if they are Black. The Public Policy Institute Of California predicts that 142,000 people per year would spend less time in jail under Prop 25.

    Measure F

    Vote yes to raise fire protection funds. The funds would pay to unfreeze eight firefighting positions and reopen a third fire station. It would address aging equipment as needed. Paid for by renewing the three percent Utility Users Tax.

  • Corporations buy out propositions

    In a series of general and misleading advertisements, corporate backers of Propositions 22 and 23 show their grubby hands

    If you’ve been on the internet over the past two or three weeks you have seen a Yes on Prop 22 ad. These ads provide vague promises of “guaranteed earnings, healthcare benefits, and personal protections” while also touting the freedom of schedule that being an independent contractor would provide.

    This proposition comes at the perfect time for Uber and Lyft as California’s Assembly Bill 5 in 2019, drivers for those companies will be treated as employees. Uber & Lyft attempted to overturn the bill but it was upheld last Thurs., Oct. 22.

    If Proposition 22 passes, Uber and Lyft will be able to continue to treat their workers as independent contractors rather than employees.

    Before 2019, Uber and Lyft were able to classify their workers as independent contractors by arguing that they were not a transportation company, but merely a tech platform. This means that the drivers for Uber are merely partners with the app and are not required to be classified as employees like they would be if they worked for any other transportation company.

    The healthcare benefits guaranteed by Proposition 22 come under the condition that drivers have 25 hours of “engaged time” a week. “Engaged time” is defined as the period of time from when the driver accepts a ride until they complete the ride.

    At first glance this would provide benefits for a little over 25 hours of work but according to some rideshare drivers, over half of the time they spend using the app is actually spent waiting for a ride. It would be very likely that drivers would have to work more than 40 hours a week for these benefits.

    Advertisements also quote that “If drivers are forced to become employees, up to 90 percent of app-based driving jobs could disappear.” This statistic was not sourced. If a company is not able to provide their employees the minimum wage and benefits, required by California labor laws, then they are not a viable company.

    Proposition 23 requires that a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant be on site during dialysis treatment. Additionally, it prohibits clinics from reducing services without state approval, and from refusing to treat patients based on payment source.

    As it currently stands, any complications that come up have to be sent to the ER and handled offsite, lengthening the amount of time it takes for a patient to get care and complicating treatment.

    Advertisements have stated that Prop 23’s enactment would threaten to close many dialysis centers. Written directly into Prop 23 is that clinics cannot reduce services without state approval. There are provisions that allow for clinics to hire nurse practitioners or physicians’ assistants in the event of shortages of doctors. Currently, all dialysis clinics are required to have a doctor on staff to be the medical director, but they do not have to be onsite.

    Dialysis clinics in California boast an annual revenue of more than $3 billion. This booming industry is not one that would be destroyed by higher standards of care and more providers. Rather, this highlights the way that their ad campaigns utilize fear tactics about closing clinics and rising costs to justify putting patient safety at risk to line their own pockets.

  • Tackling incarceration with education

    Tackling incarceration with education

    Project Rebound, seeks to help students on campus who have experienced incarceration

    Project Rebound was founded by John Erwin, Ph.D in 1967 at San Francisco State University, before it began to branch out to other campuses in the state. Erwin’s goal was to help students who were formerly incarcerated achieve educational success. This year, HSU joins the list of California State University’s to officially integrate the program.

    For Program Coordinator Tony Wallin, the work done by the group is personal. Wallin, who recently graduated from HSU, came to the campus after his own run-ins with the law. When he arrived at HSU, Wallin said he didn’t feel entirely like he belonged.

    “For a year, it was essentially just me, working by myself,” Wallin said.

    After almost giving up his first year here, Wallin would go on to create the Formerly Incarcerated Students Club at HSU with encouragement and help from others.

    Kory Lambert, office coordinator for Project Rebound, said he felt the same out of place feeling Wallin felt when he first arrived at HSU.

    “When I first came to HSU, I don’t know if it was self imposed, but it took me a whole semester to learn about Oh SNAP!,” Lambert said. “I think people take it for granted, they know these programs are there but they don’t really think about them.”

    Lambert is an environmental science major focusing on social justice with a minor in scientific diving. He is looking to study how disasters and natural events disproportionally affect marginalized communities.

    Lambert had just turned 18 when he was arrested in 2013. The arrest lead to him being kicked out of his community college and off the football team.

    “That set me on a way different path,” Lambert said. “It’s kind of a different experience from people who just never went through that.”

    Project Rebound tackled these problems by working on programs that focus on education and prevention. Their motto “From G.E.D. to PhD” reinforces the idea of an inclusive education.

    According to the official statement provided by HSU, Project Rebound has a “…95% graduation rate while the CSU system as a whole has a 25% rate who finish within four years and 61% within six.”

    For many, getting a degree is the first step in being respected and taken seriously when trying to reintegrate into society.

    “A degree is a piece of paper,” said Wallin. “But if you’ve been formerly incarcerated it makes people go ‘okay, I’ll listen to you.’”

    Project Rebound has spent the summer writing to current Pelican Bay State Prison occupants who are interested in pursuing their education inside and outside of its walls.

    According to Lambert, interest expressed by prisoners surround the possibility of voting and getting involved in politics. Proposition 17 on the California ballot would reinstate the voting rights of many formerly incarcerated individuals if passed.

    Due to COVID-19 regulations, the group has not been able to visit the supermax prison in Crescent City in-person, but hope to host workshops on things like tuition and classes in the future.

    Currently the group hosts regular Zoom meetings to discuss future events in addition to check-ins, and listening to anyone in need who has past incarceration history.

    “It doesn’t matter if you’ve spent a day in jail or 30 days in prison,” Wallin said. “We don’t discriminate.”

  • Lumberjack basketball welcomes a new head coach

    Lumberjack basketball welcomes a new head coach

    Exclusive interview between reporter Jazmin Pacheco and Tae Norwood

    Tae Norwood, brings nearly two decades of collegiate basketball coaching experience to the Lumberjack family as the new head coach of the Humboldt State University men’s basketball team. 

    “They are going to get a coach that is honest, that’s transparent, that’s available,” Norwood said. “Who is going to push them to their limits and try to get every ounce of talent I could out of them on the court, but also challenge them mentally to be greater students in the classroom.” 

    Norwood grew up in Brooklyn, New York and was the first in his family to go to college. Norwood said he’s an inspiring example for his nieces, nephews, cousins and younger family members to know that if he could be a first generation graduate, so could they.

    “I was a measuring stick, as they would say, if I can do it, they [family members] can accomplish the same things,” Norwood said.

    Norwood was a natural athlete. He played baseball and football but fell in love with the game of basketball. He started playing at the age of five after his Uncle introduced him to the game and encouraged him to play sports. He played basketball all throughout college and got into coaching after that. 

    Norwood completed his undergraduate work at Green Mountain College, a private institution in Vermont, where he received his bachelor’s degree in recreation and leisure services. 

    Norwood was a four-year letter-winner at GMC, earning two all-conference selections and helped the Eagles win three conference championships throughout his four years there. He was the program’s all-time leader in steals and assists, and was inducted into the Green Mountain Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.

    He received his master’s degree in health and kinesiology with a focus on coaching from Georgia Southern University.

    In 2018, Norwood was a National Assistant Coach of the Year while coaching at Lynn University. He coached there for a total of six seasons. 

    As head coach, Norwood has high expectations for the men’s basketball team and plans to gain national recognition.

    “This basketball program has a great tradition and a great legacy from the early Coach Wood days to Coach Kinder,” Norwood said. “So I expect our program to be competitive nationally. I expect our team to compete on the top of the CCAA conference on a yearly basis and ultimately have the opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament to compete for national championships.”

    Norwood recruited 12 new players to the men’s team. He expects the new team to bond and become supportive, family-like.

    “We’re not going to cripple them in life by giving them everything. They got to work for everything they’re going to get. We’re going to give them every opportunity they can have in order to grow and be successful,” said Norwood

    Norwood says Matt Dempsey, his college basketball coach, made a huge impact on his life and helped him become the man he is today. He hopes to provide that same support, mentorship, and commitment to his own team. 

    “So many life lessons are being taught by playing sports and being in a group dynamic that are transparent when it comes to everyday life,” Norwood said. 

    Norwood’s philosophy at HSU is all about family, having great cohesiveness and great inclusion. He believes successful athletes require building relationships off the court to understand who they are as people, not athletes.

    “My expectations for these young men is that they care about their academics, about their education and about graduating,” Norwood said. “That they play hard with great effort and great energy and when I mean play hard, I mean play hard in the classroom as well as playing hard on the court because winning is a big product of doing those things.”

  • Sweet Mama Janisse hit hard by COVID-19

    Sweet Mama Janisse hit hard by COVID-19

    Local owner of Sweet Mama Janisse, Marie Janisse-Wilkins struggles to make up losses

    The Arcata community came together to save Marie Janisse-Wilkins, owner and operator of the local, soul food catering business, Sweet Mama Janisse, Inc., from eviction as COVID-19 has wiped away all her revenue for this year.

    During a garage sale Fri. Oct. 23, Janisse-Wilkins explained how she used her own money to start her business and when the business got into financial trouble, she refinanced her house to keep the business afloat, then COVID-19 struck.

    Janisse-Wilkins said she had paid all her bills before COVID-19 hit. Without the money from catering, she struggles to pay her mortgage.

    “[The banks] have no sympathy. They want their money. They want their money,” Janisse-Wilkins said.

    The Federal Reserve reported COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black owned businesses. Janisse-Wilkins is Louisiana Creole, which includes a diverse heritage of European, African, and Indigenous America traditions.

    Shelter-in-place orders began in March and wiped away Janisse-Wilkins yearly schedule of catering for weddings, special events, graduation celebrations and the annual Independence Day celebrations in Eureka.

    The Federal Reserve said in a report titled “Double Jeopardy: COVID-19’s Concentrated Health and Wealth Effects in Black Communities” that while the national average of active small business owners dropped by 22 percent between Feb. and April, Black owned businesses saw a drop of 41 percent, almost twice the average, and the biggest decline of any racial group.

    This disparity is the result of historically unequal relationships to banks, increased likelihood of not being able to qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program and the higher rate of COVID-19 impact on Black communities.

    An online GoFundMe fundraiser started by Janisse-Wilkins’ friend, Julie du Bois, raised about $7,000 in two weeks. With a goal of $50,000, her friends have helped her host yard sales to sell off her possessions.

    Bob Dorn, friend of Janisse-Wilkins and writer of The Hum, a column that runs in the Mad River Union, received about 2000 of her books, mostly cookbooks, and decided to offer them in exchange for donations outside his storage unit at Arcata Bay Self Storage.

    “What she has going for her is she is an incredibly generous woman,” Dorn said.

    Nearing retirement age and without an income from her business, Janisse-Wilkins fears being homeless. She is currently unable to afford her rent, forcing her to ask for help.

    “It’s hard when you have to ask people to do something like this for you,” Janisse-Wilkins said.

    Oryan Peterson-Jones, Arcata City Council candidate, unloaded Janisse-Wilkins’ books from a storage unit and stated how he grew up in Arcata, and his first job was with Janisse-Wilkins as a dishwasher.

    “It was the best job I ever had,” Peterson-Jones said. “Marie was such an important person on my early development as a musician.”

    Peterson-Jones explained before Janisse-Wilkins moved to Humboldt in the 1990s, she worked at the Topanga Corral, which was a hot spot for rock and movie stars in the 1970s in Topanga Ca., just north of Hollywood.

    “She had all these stories and pictures of her with George Harrison, and the Rolling Stones,” Peterson-Jones said.

    Henry Saint Clair Fredericks, the multi-Grammy award winning musician known as Taj Mahal, is Janisse-Wilkins best friend. Fredricks even wrote a song, “Sweet Mama Janisse,” about her which tells of how good her cooking is. She even did two cruise gigs with Fredricks, called the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, where he sang and she did catering.

    Spencer Kennedy, another former dishwasher of Janisse-Wilkins, volunteered to help host a yard sale and recalled how Janisse-Wilkins made the restaurant feel special.

    “I hope we can get a lot of customers to make some money to make a difference,” Kennedy said. “I haven’t seen anyone walk out of the kitchen and talk to everyone in the restaurant. But Marie did that with every table.”

    Jannise-Wilkins said while she is able to cater during COVID-19 and sells a line of sauce, finding work is tough as clients are not booking very many events and employees are harder to find.

    “I just hope everything gets better and I can cook food for people again,” Janisse-Wilkins said.

  • The class of 2021 scrambles to reach the finish line

    The class of 2021 scrambles to reach the finish line

    Seniors surrender to an unexpected finish to their college career

    Mary Swisher is a senior Humboldt State University athlete and an elementary education major who’s been impacted tremendously by the pandemic.

    “It’s honestly quite heartbreaking that this pandemic ended my collegiate career early,” Swisher said. “I also haven’t seen my family since coming to school in August because of the rules that Athletics has put forward.”

    Previously, Swisher’s education involved fieldwork and equipped in-person classrooms now, classes are strictly on Zoom and involve limited interaction with others.

    “All of the rules are in good meaning and are necessary,” Swisher said. “But I haven’t seen anyone but my roommates in months.”

    Madison Kiser, an HSU senior, was most worried she would miss social interaction with peers. To her surprise, Kiser is grateful for Zoom classes and the ability to interact with classmates.

    “I still get to be my social butterfly self thanks to Zoom and other ways to spend time together virtually,” Kiser said.

    Despite her frustration, Kiser is grateful her professors have been understanding with the situation.

    Danica Grier, senior softball player for HSU, had her final collegiate season cancelled after last year was cut short but is thankful for being able to complete school work on her own time and the deepened her bond with her roommates.

    “I was able to go home early where I met my boyfriend,” Grier said. “I was also able to get a puppy during this time since I was going to be home for the Southern California lockdown.”

    Alex Kandalaft, an HSU senior, stopped working when the pandemic began and made the decision to move back in with her family.

    “I moved back home, which is something that I did not expect to do in my wildest dreams, my last year of college,” Kandalaft said. “It’s definitely weird not being able to go out to bars on the weekends and social stuff like that but I’m making the most of it.”

    With the obstacles this semester has presented, Kandalaft wishes that she is given a proper ceremony to close out the end of her college career.

    “You never expect to experience your graduation in sweats, back in your hometown, watching a video recording over YouTube,” Kandalaft said.

    The virtual commencement for the class of 2020 sat poorly with the graduating class. As of Oct. 20, the format of graduation for the 2021 class is undecided.

    “If graduation would be online I would be really hurt,” Kiser said. “I know that the pandemic is serious and we don’t want any outbreaks. I think if we follow guidelines and think outside the box, we can have a rewarding in person graduation.”

  • Resident Advisors struggle to keep dorm life normal

    Resident Advisors struggle to keep dorm life normal

    Due to the transition to online, campus life is lonelier than ever this semester

    Social distancing policies forces Resident Advisors to rely on tools like social media and video-chatting to stay in touch with students. To make up for the lack of in-person events, housing is putting on several Grab-N-Go programs this semester, where students pick up supplies and participate in door decorating competitions from the safety of their dorms.

    Generally speaking, RA responsibilities include daily room and floor rounds, enforce housing policies and provide connections to resources for students in their building.

    Stephen St. Onge is the associate vice president for student success at HSU. According to Onge, the RA job responsibilities have not changed, besides the move to online.

    The most notable impact of the pandemic on RAs has been on the ability to encourage students to engage with the campus community.

    “They are still doing outreach to their residents virtually,” Onge said. “They are still doing duty rounds, the programming, they are just doing it a little bit differently.”

    Victor Garcia Balderas is a second year RA. Balderas feels the blackouts of last fall and the transition to online in the spring has prepared him as an RA.

    “Because it is my second year as an RA, I feel I have a grasp of how things work,” Balderas said. “I’m flexible and have been hit with so many random events like last year when we had the blackouts.”

    Last semester, Balderas worked with new students. In contrast, this semester he works with returning and transfer students. Balderas says these students tend to already have established their own communities, making engagement much more challenging.

    Director of Residence Life Donyet King believes engaging with students during a pandemic just requires some outside of the box thinking.

    “We have to get really creative about it,” King said. “Initially when programs were held online, people were still adjusting to the pandemic.”

    Despite the efforts of housing to fabricate a sense of normality, the single occupancy policy, while necessary, generates an unavoidable sense of isolation for dorm students.

    “I’ve gotten lonely and a little bit sad,” Balderas said. “I feel like I am alone.”

  • Arcata Plaza hosts a Halloween car parade

    Arcata Plaza hosts a Halloween car parade

    Arcata plaza adjusts to a new, safe way for families to trick or treat on Halloween.

    Arcata has adapted to COVID-19 guidelines in order to host a Spooky Plaza car parade in support of a social distant Halloween. Arcata Main Street is a non-profit organization hosting this year’s COVID-19 friendly, Halloween in Arcata Plaza.

    The car parade will be hosted at Arcata Plaza on Oct. 31 from 7 to 11 p.m. All the spooky features and characters can be seen while inside the vehicle.

    Each part of the inner sidewalk of the plaza will have a different theme with characters and decorations. The event was thought of in late August and planned through September.

    Rose Shoshanna Anthony a consultant and volunteer with Arcata Main Street assured people it will be safe to participate as long as community members follow guidelines and protocols.

    “The event is to substitute for our usual Trick or Treat on the Plaza that gathers several thousand people over the course of several hours,” Shoshanna said. “So this time we have a decorated plaza with a limited number of volunteers being characters on the plaza and then people drive around.”

    To discourage people from the outer sidewalks from walking over the barricades into the plaza spooky area, monitored volunteers and traffic control have been implemented to make sure the event stays in accordance with COVID-19 protocol.

    The drives starts on the corner of the Tri County bank and finishes by exiting at the Jacoby Storehouse.

    Ceva Courtemanche, board member and vice president for Arcata Main Street, stated that the non-profit organization was determined to host a Halloween event.

    “We wanted to not fully give up on Halloween but we wanted to make sure it was gonna be safe for everybody,” Courtemanche said.”So, we put together a plan of doing an open spooky haunted house where participants will be driving in their vehicles around the plaza.”

    Lee Lazon, a volunteer for Arcata Main Street, has been working on graveyard and spider props for the haunted drive-by.

    “This year has been anything but normal and this is a favorite event for a lot of people and families,” Lazon said. “So, I think a lot of people are very interested just because there’s an opportunity to bring back at least a little bit of normal.”

    For more information about the Spooky Plaza car parade visit Arcata Mainstreet.com and check out their Facebook for info on signing up to volunteer.

  • CDOR continues virtually

    CDOR continues virtually

    The Campus and Community Dialogue On Race returns covering global justice for Black Lives.

    The theme for this year’s Campus and Community Dialogue on Race will be “Global Justice for Black Lives: Examining the Past and Reimagining the Future.” Two guest speakers will present at the end of October and a keynote speaker will be introduced at the beginning of November. This event provides students, staff, faculty and community members a safe space to discuss race.

    The events will take place on Zoom and instead of lasting a week, there will be talks and workshops taking place for two weeks from Oct. 26 – Nov. 7.

    Featured speakers will be on Zoom and will be viewed webinar style, meaning the audience will not be able to view all other attendees, just the speaker.

    CDOR has been holding annual events since 1998 and has grown exponentially since then. CDOR gives attendees the opportunity to participate in workshops, have those important discussions and listen to keynote speakers.

    Claudia Rankine is the featured keynote speaker for this years’ CDOR event. She will be participating in two student engagements. The first will be a book talk at 11 a.m. for her new book “Just Us.” Next, is her keynote event taking place in the afternoon at 2 p.m. for “Citizen: An American Lyric,” a book loaded with poetry and media that questions racial politics.

    Rankine’s talk will take place on Nov. 7 conveniently after the election.

    Corrina Wells, the program coordinator for the Developing Hispanic Serving Institution (DHSI) grant program, explained that Rankine makes these questions about the topic available for her readers.

    “What’s really powerful about the book is that she, as a Black woman, is making [racial politics] visible for all of her readers,” Wells said.

    They added that Rankine makes relatable content for BIPOC and educational content for non-BIPOC.

    The keynote event will also touch on Rankine’s process of writing and creating “Citizen,” a book-length poem about race in America.

    Lawrence Ross will be holding a virtual talk Mon., Oct. 26 speaking on the politics of race in American colleges. This will be a follow-up on the talk he had earlier this year in February addressing campus racism.

    Ross will be referencing his book, “Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on American Campuses.” The book exposes the racist practices prevalent in university politics that targets and distances students of color from engagement.

    “Ross really focuses on higher education and the ways that racism is perpetuated in institutions of higher education,” Wells said.

    Ross’ talk from earlier this year in February is available on the CDOR website on the welcome page.

    Bettina Love, Ph.D, will be presenting during the “So You Want To Teach” series all day and cover various aspects regarding white supremacy, incarceration, and abolition on Tues., Oct. 27.

    Douglas Smith, the African American Center for Academic Excellence Coordinator, explains that Love’s talk is about restoring humanity for children in schools.

    Love will be incorporating her new book, “We Want To Do More Than Survive” in her talk.

    “Dr. Love focuses on K-12, the overall education industrial complex and the ways that racism happens there,” Wells said

    CDOR is also a class that gives students credit for helping plan and participate in the events. Indigo Eden, a CDOR peer mentor, expressed great appreciation for this year’s event planning.

    “I give so much respect to the planning committee and everyone involved,” Eden said.

    Registration is open and required for all featured speakers and sessions.

  • COVID-19 hits student parents with a hurricane of obligation

    COVID-19 hits student parents with a hurricane of obligation

    Humboldt State students with children carry the weight of multiple educations this semester

    Carrie Tully is a single mother in the graduate program at Humboldt State University. Having completed all of her course work in the spring, Tully holds down two jobs and assists in her daughter’s education while completing her own graduate thesis.

    “I haven’t been doing very much thesis work at all,” Tully said. “Things are really not going as according to what I thought my plan was gonna be when I entered grad-school.”

    Tully’s daughter attended preschool last year through HSU’s Children Center. This year, she’s attending Fuente Nueva Charter School where all of her instruction is online.

    “It’s hard for her, it’s hard for me, of course. Children her age need socialization and that’s mainly what they are supposed to be doing in school right now,” Tully said. “It’s really nearly impossible for them to do that via Zoom.”

    Beyond her daughter’s quality of education, Tully is stressed about her daughter’s emotional education suffering.

    “I don’t have the financial or mental ability to be able to be 100 percent present for her all the time,” Tully said. “That’s the hardest part. She needs attention, I need space to do good work and it clashes.”

    Between Tully’s two jobs, her thesis project and playing a leadership role in HSU’s food sovereignty lab project, she spends the majority of her day in Zoom meetings. After a full day, Tully has little energy to give her daughter and she is usually greeted with an explosion of a mess.

    “Cars, toys, cards, books, stuffed animals everywhere,” Tully said. “That’s when parents have mini panic attacks. Like, I’ve been on Zoom all day long and I just need to take a break and sit down but I can’t because my couch is covered in stuff.”

    Tully said the lack of personal space in constantly being around each other also proves challenging at times.

    “Just like any relationship,” Tully said. “You need to be able to be apart in order to really appreciate that love.”

    Between managing work and her daughter’s progress in school, Tully has had to sacrifice a great deal of time she originally planned to spend on her thesis.

    “To me, the most important thing that I need to be focused on right now is my child’s education,” Tully said. “Because I’m in my mid thirties and I have my education. I have my career things that I’m working on. I can go with the flow.”

    Carrie Tully’s daughter Kallie Gregg attends kindergarten virtually from her room this semester. | Photo by Carrie Tully

    Sayde Mendes is a business major and mother of three children, ages 2, 9, and 11. Thanks to the transition to online classes, on top of parenting responsibilities and pursuing her own education, Mendes has to provide an education for her children.

    “No matter how much teachers try and how much they do,” Mendes said. “There’s still quite a hefty reliance upon parents.”

    In her senior year of high school, Mendes was date raped and suffered a brain injury when she was rehydrated too rapidly at the hospital. The injury caused her to lose control of her motor skills and forced her to relearn all functions virtually. Mendes also suffers an intellectual disability, impairing her power to both pursue her own education and her childrens’.

    Mendes’ husband spends the majority of his waking hours at work, leaving her with little time and energy to complete her own responsibilities like work, school and providing for her children.

    “I feel like I have to kind of push them away sometimes, because I need to be present for my class,” Mendes said.

    While HSU only offers tutoring to students and not their children, the Childcare Center continues offering its services to student parents five days a week at approximately 50 percent capacity to meet COVID-19 protocols.

    Grants are available to students whose incomes qualify for reduced or no cost for childcare, through California’s Early Head Start program.

    According to Director Steve St. Onge, the most challenging part of operating during the pandemic is keeping the children in line with regulations.

    “I gotta tell you, having a 2 and 3 year old wear masks is not easy,” Onge said.

    Onge’s daughter attends kindergarten two days a week for two hours, leaving him as the majority role in his child’s education this year.

    “I think I would speak for many of us parents of children in school that are also working,” Onge said. “Our days start earlier and end later. We’re still getting the job done, it’s just taking us a lot longer to do it.”

  • COVID-19 isolation increases domestic violence

    COVID-19 isolation increases domestic violence

    October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

    COVID-19 social distancing has increased the demand on local domestic violence services according to some professionals in the field.

    Locally a 27-year-old Asian woman was forced into a car at gun point in Fieldbrook, seven miles north of Arcata, on Aug. 4, and returned safe after the suspect, a 43-year-old George Rose, previously known to the victim, turned himself in after fleeing the state to Oregon.

    In nearby Mendocino, Khadijah Britton, a member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, was forced into a car at gun point on Feb. 7 2018, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend. Britton is still missing and there is a $50,000 reward for information on her location.

    Stephanie Weldon, Humboldt State University social work masters graduate and Yurok Tribe member, was the director of the Yurok Tribe Department of Health and Human Services until August and currently is a consultant for state and federal agencies on tribal social services.

    Weldon said the tribe received increased calls related to domestic violence as the shelter in place orders went into place in March, and she has heard anecdotes from clients regarding the challenges that COVID-19 places on an already underserved population of victims.

    Brenda Bishop, executive director of Humboldt Domestic Violence Services, and HSU alumna, said “Rape culture is very alive and well on [HSU] campus.” The HDVS runs a 24/7 emergency domestic violence hotline which has had a reduction in the number of calls.

    Bishop said she suspects this is related to the difficulty for victims to make personal phone calls for help while living in close quarters with their abusers.

    Bishop does not believe the reduced number of calls reflects a reduction in domestic violence incidents, and in fact may indicate victims are in increased danger.

    Bishop said domestic violence includes intimate partner sexual violence and sex trafficking which may start as intimate partner violence.

    “We see a lot of HSU women that get involved in trafficking as well,” Bishop said. Usually this occurs through intimate partner violence with non-students, but sometimes with other students as well.

    Lundy Bancroft, author of an Amazon bestseller, “Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men,” said in an abuser’s mind everything is about winning and losing and the woman is not seen as having equal rights, her purpose is to satisfy his needs.

    Abusive partners can be even more violent when victims try and leave, or immediately after they leave.

    “The attitude abusers exhibit in this type of violence when women attempt to leave their partners is, ‘she must have to pay for my unhappiness,’” Bancroft said.

    About double the number of women were killed by current or ex-male partners than US soldiers died in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2001 and 2012, 11,766 and 6,488 respectively, according to a report by the Huffington Post.

    Police historically do not treat domestic violence as a crime but as a private matter meaning many incidents are not reported. Victims have expressed that they feel their reports are not taken seriously by police.

    Entrenched sexist bias is compounded by race. Weldon said, “You can’t talk about trauma without talking about race. How can you talk about a mission to wipe [Native American] people out, without talking about the impact that has had on those communities?”

    The structure of tribal police, which rely onUS police to cross-deputize the force and certify criminal charge procedures, aren’t able to collect tax revenue that could improve investigative work.

    “You go from no response and no intervention to overreaction where a ton of [non-tribal] law enforcement shows up because it’s a known family name,” Weldon said.

    According to the Institute For Women’s Policy Research, Black women are two and a half times more likely to be murdered by men than their White counterparts.

    Meanwhile, according to the study “Race and the Likelihood of Intimate Partner Violence Arrest and Dual Arrest,” non-white female victims of intimate partner violence are less likely to have their perpetrators arrested by police.

    Guns in the home increase the deadliness of domestic violence incidents. According to Giffords Law Center, “Guns kept in the home are more likely to be involved in a fatal or nonfatal unintentional shooting, criminal assault or suicide attempt than to be used to injure or kill in self-defense. Rather than conferring protection, guns in the home are associated with an increased risk of homicide by a family member or intimate acquaintance.”

    Bishop encouraged victims to call the 24/7 hour HDVS hotline for resources and emergency help.

    Bishop believes the most important thing for people in domestic violence situations is to feel supported and hear affirmation.

    “We believe you,” Bishop said. “And the longer you’ve been in abusive relationships the harder it is to make that call.”