The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: OP/ED

  • Wren’s Whimsical Window: The Artist’s Plight

    Wren’s Whimsical Window: The Artist’s Plight

    By Wren Salazar

    Somewhere in a field of tall golden grass, a pendulum swings, one made from brass. Above the brass swaying, a platform does emerge. It hangs the pendulum, while an overseer looks, and sits on the verge. The Artist is here, master of the swing. Always here, time after time, painting the world is the purpose of their being.

    The pendulum sways from side to side, making great leaps as history abides. The rise and fall of nations great. Empires flow like the tide, always succumbing to fate. The Artist watches, timeless in their gaze. They watch everything, while time goes by in phases. Sat in the reflection of brass so clear, faces of people cry, tear after tear. For only on one side does this pendulum show the cruelest of fates, a world full of woe.

    The Artist’s plight, you see, is one in us all, held so dear. It only looks down when misery is near. So, the Artist sees not the joy and the smiles of countless faces, but only hate and empty, desolate places. The world the Artist has painted is not all bad. There’s joy anywhere you look, even in just a small fad. So, do what you like and paint your world. Don’t only look down when misery is near.

    Experience what you can, and leave what you must. There’s more in this world than what’s been left to rust.

    Wren is an artist and story writer looking to add some whimsy and curiosity to those around her. A lover of all things, Wren seeks to help others around her with advice or humor. She can be reached at ws81@humboldt.edu.

  • The Beauty of Hope

    The Beauty of Hope

    By Kaylon Coleman

    For as long as I can remember, I’ve always looked at life through the lens of a glass half full. A guiding mantra I’ve carried with me since inception is that everything will work out. I love being an optimist. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that optimists are few and far between in a world full of pessimists and pragmatists — which unfortunately, is extremely valid given the current state of our world. 

    Why should I expect a better and brighter future when everything that I see online and in my day to day and online such a lifestyle? I’ll tell you, I didn’t become an optimist purely because of my cheerful disposition on life, but because I recognize the beauty of hope.

    Just like other metaphysical concepts throughout life, such as love or faith, hope is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, hope provides you with aspiration. It fills you with a fire and desire for a better future like Drake; but on the other hand, it can lead to insurmountable disappointment and heartbreak, like Drake.

     When you allow yourself to be vulnerable and to feel something so personal like your raw unadulterated feelings, you open the door to letting those same feelings tear you up. If you’ve watched the newer Spider-man movies you may have heard MJ say, “If you expect disappointment, then you can never really get disappointed.” While she has a point, I just can’t co-sign this way of thinking.

    Living your life on a half measure is no way to live. In a relationship, you can’t half-love to walk out half-hurt. It’s not fair to either side. You must burn brightly the whole way through. If things don’t work out, c’est la vie. At least you can say you went full throttle the whole way and never sold yourself short of your emotions — which is the exact sentiment you should hold when it comes to optimism.

    Everyone wants to live a better life, everyone prays for better days. So, why not embrace it all gas no brakes, regardless of how it may turn out? Yes, not everything is gonna work out, but when does it ever? It’s like Princess Leia says in The Last Jedi, “Hope is like the sun. If you only believe in it when you see it, you’ll never make it through the night.”

    And, for those who may be struggling to find their optimism — I get it. Even I don’t wake up bright and cheery everyday; it’s impossible. There will be just as many bad days as good ones. I’d love to have the answers, but I don’t. Although, I can tell you about some of the things that have gotten me through tough times: Friendship. Community. Music. Food. Movies. Video games. The Sun. The outside. Aimless drives. Weed. 

    Find your support system. It’s easy to scroll and to rot and to wallow in your misery, thinking “this is the worst,” but know that this too shall pass. Frank Ocean said it best, “Every night fucks every day up. Every day patches the night up.”

    Hope is beautiful. It’s inspiring. It spawns resilience in all those who embrace it. As someone on the verge of graduating, with no prospects but plenty of  dreams, I can’t help but be excited for the future laid out for me, because I know everything will work out — I have to believe that. Not only does it make life worth living, but it adds a kick of spice to everything. Am I gonna make it big one day? Damn right. Do I know how I’m gonna get there? Absolutely not. But that’s where the fun comes in. Life is Roblox; I have no idea what’s in store for me and neither does anyone else. So, why let negative attitudes steer your direction? In a world of pessimists and pragmatists, be an optimist. I promise you, it’s much more fun that way.

    Kaylon Coleman is a senior journalism major with a concentration in news and a minor in communications. He is the Life & Arts editor for LJ, Marketing and Communications lead for the Umoja Center and a part-time radio DJ and merch manager for KRFH. If you have a topic you want him to discuss, email him at kc403@humboldt.edu.

  • Wren’s Whimsical Window: Pest Control

    By Wren Salazar

    I received the strangest call earlier today from an unknown number. I was told to peer out my window tonight and if I did, I’d see something unlike what I have ever seen before. Afterwards, there was some stifled giggling and they hung up. What a strange proposal. Obviously, I’m not quick to trust the random caller. As I decided I would look to see what’s going on, my phone buzzed once more. Unknown number again, but I picked up.

    “A little birdie told me you might need some pest control,” a different voice said. “I will take care of them for you. Surely, it will be a spectacle.”

    Pest control? For what? Could it be unlike what I’ve seen before? Sensing my hesitation, the voice continued.

    “The fae will arrive for you tonight,” he said. “Best to be safe, don’t look outside, no matter what you’ve heard or seen.”

    Then, he hung up. This has to be a coordinated prank. Fae don’t exist. Why would it be bad to look outside tonight? I doubt anything will happen, but I’m closing my blinds anyway.

    I lounged in my room, as it got closer to evening — a creeping anxiety grew stronger with each passing minute. I heard a knock at my door, but a spark from behind my blinds caught my attention. Then, another spark, blink after blink, numbers rapidly increasing. Flittering and flickering light poured through the blinds in bursts of orange, purple and blue, floating as though they were refracted through water. I felt as though I’d been placed inside a kaleidoscope. I had to look. Banging on my door and muffled yelling made me hesitate, but I had to look. It’s beautiful. No matter the cost.

    Wren is an artist and story writer looking to add some whimsy and curiosity to those around her. A lover of all things, Wren seeks to help others around her with advice or humor. She can be reached at ws81@humboldt.edu.

  • AstroloTea for the Week of April 6th

    AstroloTea for the Week of April 6th

    By Serah Blackstone-Fredericks

    This week, the sun is squaring Saturn and Jupiter and we are offered a gauge on if we overdo things or are too cautious. We are feeling the impacts of the world, so connect with your community for some gentle and consensual co-regulation. How can we be present with ourselves and others?

    For fire signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius (sun, moon, rising):

    This is your season; the energy of fire is rising, and the warmth of the sun offers you hope for a more encouraging tomorrow. Avoid burnout by ensuring you are not saying yes to everything that comes your way. Spring is here, and there is so much to see, share and do. This is a year to ensure you are not missing connections with those you want to spend time with. Invite in joy by saying yes to whatever feels like a hell yes and save the rest for later. Good teas for this week would be jasmine, and to combat those terrible allergies, try nettle.

    For water signs Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces (sun, moon, rising):

    Despite how disorienting the world feels right now, watch how much you are latching onto bad news. Have some awareness around your sensitivity this week and reach out to friends for support if you find yourself caught in emotional turbulence. Be mindful of your emotional state and if you feel stuck, remember if you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t extend it to others, so be considerate of your own needs too. For the energy of this season, make sure your lungs are supported with mullein, elecampane and licorice.

    For air signs Gemini, Libra and Aquarius (sun, moon, rising):

    Are you present right now in your body? Do you know how you are feeling right now? If you don’t have clarity on where you are at right now, find a time on your calendar to schedule a pause. I find it takes a moment to pause, so it can help to schedule it in. A pause can look like putting your phone down, sitting on a bench and watching a bee pollinate a flower. It can look like taking a walk and searching for five blue things for each sense, starting with one you see, one you smell, etc. Supportive teas for this week will be anything that has a root in the ground such as ashwagandha, dandelion and astragalus.

    For earth signs Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn (sun, moon, rising):

    Sometimes, we lean into collapse when we are overloaded. Sometimes we shut everyone out when life feels hard. Where do you feel struggle and where do you feel joy? In this season of emergence and growth, I want you to be aware of your thinking patterns. Reflect on your self talk and how you feel mirrored by those around you. Remember, you see things differently and you can hold two truths and accept this. Now is a good season to clarify if you see yourself how you actually are showing up in the world. Ground and be present with rose, thyme and sage.

    However you use this week’s guidance, remember where your boundaries are. Have reverence for the walls which keep you safe and comfortable and be open to the stretching that is available to you in the spring time

     Serah Blackstone-Fredericks is a cross-disciplinary anthropology major, minoring in arts in health and narrative medicine. A multidisciplinary artist, mother, and multilingual global citizen, you can find her prancing in her garden or in her kitchen baking, fermenting, and exploring natural dye via experiments. Her work explores storytelling from a perspective of cultural humility, ever curious on  shaped connections and how we live and heal. Feel free to connect with her at sb625@humboldt.edu.

  • A billboard badly done beyond all believable bounds

    A billboard badly done beyond all believable bounds

    by  Dezmond Remington

    I wish I could start this article with a funny anecdote about a billboard I once saw somewhere. I wish I could remember something about the giant ads on the side of the road that beg for your dollar with flaking stock photos of smiling people, content with their decisions to consume product X. That would make an incredible comparison to Cal Poly Humboldt’s website, but the problem is that they’re both too boring and too similar for it to even be clever. 

    The fonts are huge. The slogans are worn and used. It’s completely uninformative, incredibly boring, and entirely useless. It’s a 2.5 second elevator pitch meant for the uninitiated, the outsiders. What’s the real difference between a beer ad featuring a picture of a frosty bottle 12 feet tall and a glamor shot of a redwood on campus? 

    The website as it is designed now is simply the front-facing outlet for the administration’s constant hunger for more; more money, more students, more buildings, a Moloch filled with an evil lust. Very little is there for the current students, unless they figure out how to navigate its byzantine backrooms. Want an easy answer for when tuition is due? Good luck. How about some information about major requirements or how scholarships are processed? Have fun banging your head on your desk after searching relentlessly for an hour for an easy answer. How do I add a minor? Go fuck yourself. 

    The answers to so many really important questions aren’t on the website at all, as I’ve found out too many times, but trapped in the heads of some advisor I didn’t even know I had or a luddite department chair with an allergy to answering emails. Instead of taking the time to make a well-linked, easy to use website with simple answers to common questions for students, the website is filled with factoids about platitudes such as how many alumni graduate with practical experience or how strong the campus community is. Who cares? Whoever designed the damned thing made it really easy to find information about energy-saving programs that have long since gone broke or their supposed commitment to “inclusive excellence,” but not crucial need-to-know things for, say, disabled students or people here on a WUE scholarship. 

    If the website had simply always been this way, maybe there would be an excuse. Maybe it got grandfathered in, unable to face the challenges of a polytechnic with a lot of outside interest to the tune of over 20,000 applicants for this fall semester. However, it got redone this year, with brand-new typefaces and different photos, updated housing pages and a clearer “Purpose and Vision” page, whatever that means. Current students were not consulted on what they would have liked done with it outside of purely aesthetic choices, buried in a survey launched in one of dozens of official emails most students get. 

    It’s sad. It would be so nice if it was completely redesigned, with actual input from students beyond simple feedback on logos designed by East Coast marketing firms. There should be a focus on making the important stuff people want to know very clear. The website should function beyond mere solicitation. I hope there’s a push to change that. Make the big paragraph on the homepage claiming to “help you find the answers” true.