The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Opinion

  • What does a naked actress have to do with sports?

    What does a naked actress have to do with sports?

    By Jacqueline Zuniga

    If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen a lot of controversy surrounding Sydney Sweeney. Once again, it’s an ad. This time it’s not about what jeans she’s wearing but what she’s not wearing. With football season nearing, the ad features a nude Sweeney using sports equipment to cover herself and pretending to play for the purpose of promoting the sports betting app Novig.

    What does nudity have to do with sports? Novig used Sweeney’s sex appeal to grab the audience’s attention, but at what cost? Whatever the reason is, it was exploitative and a slap in the face for women athletes and women at large. 

    “The highlight of my dislike was not towards Sydney Sweeney, but actually, the company and the companies that make this ad, or that made this ad, and the editors — the amount of people that had to approve this for this to be posted on such a wide scale,” said Vice President of the rugby club Rio Ross-Hirsh, a junior journalism major. 

    According to the Northeastern Global News, Sweeney gained an equity stake and a role as a strategic partner for Novig. Women athletes work hard every day to prove themselves in ways male athletes don’t, and to advertise betting on sports in such a promiscuous way is stupid and disrespectful.

    “It takes about double — if not triple — the amount of time and effort for a female to get that attention and recognition for their hard work and the amount of effort that is being put in because it’s not seen as the same,” said safety officer of the rugby club Acacia Crouch, a senior zoology major.

    If they wanted to gain attention from the mainstream media, they could have gotten an athlete or someone who isn’t controversial to promote their app. Like, go ahead and hit up LeBron James; he’d probably do it. I found it unnecessary to display a nude woman covering herself in basketballs to promote a sports betting app. 

    Throughout social media, I have seen people responding to the ad with montages of women athletes and their hard work. There is so much blood, sweat and tears being shed behind the scenes.

    “This is completely an overly optimistic silver lining, that most of the content I have seen on my Instagram and other social media has been super empowering and majorly pushing back against the narrative that Sydney Sweeney has created,” said triathlon athlete Averill Payne, an environmental science major and junior.

    Women for centuries have been trying to get taken seriously and not be sexualised, but this feels like a big setback. Sports are supposed to be a space for empowerment and hard work — not nudity. 

    “Kind of bringing that idea, that women are kind of only worth their body, and I think that [they’re] in a place that they could have put a female athlete or highlight a female sport, and especially the growth of women’s sports,” said Ross-Hirsh. 

    Women will continue to prevail and show off all of their hard work. After many years of hard work, they have a lot of support from people all around the world. A lot of little girls might aspire to be like them, just like I did growing up watching Alex Morgan and Amy Wambach play soccer. 

    Jacqueline is the super duper cool sports editor, social media manager for LJ and news manager for KRFH. 

  • Why Do I Do This to Myself?

    Why Do I Do This to Myself?

    By Keziah Rutschow

    Here’s the thing: beyond paying rent and tuition, the stress we put ourselves under to juggle every opportunity in our lives isn’t necessary. Every addition added to your schedule is a choice.

    Personally, I could’ve gone down easier routes to help pay for things. Yet I keep choosing the more interesting, time-consuming options because, if you are anything like me, you may have a terrible case of FOMO (which I likely inherited from my mom).

    I struggle to understand why I put so much on my plate. I bet a lot of you ask yourself the same question while walking to a lab, heading to a second job, or starting your day at the crack of dawn. You are not alone. But if you feel pressured to add one more thing to your plate, let me tell you what I learned after two years of recurring pressure as a student: it’s not social media telling me to do this or a classmate mentioning their cool summer internship; it’s me.

    I came into college as a student-athlete expecting to be busy, but not nearly as busy as I am now. Living on 5 a.m. practices and seven hours of sleep, on a good day. I learned to work smarter, not harder. I became best friends with good ol’ time management. Yet no amount of scheduled Google Calendar hangouts and practice times makes these things any less tiring.

    At the end of my first year, I added a paid job on top of athletics and a full course load. I had an amazing opportunity that I felt like I couldn’t give up. By sophomore year, I chose a minor after my advisors steered me away from double majoring. Then I took a second position with way more hours. Student-athlete, hopefully double major in progress, fifteen paid hours weekly, and a social life with many people I love. Even listing it out exhausts me. 

    Saying yes to every opportunity thrown at you is difficult to manage. You must ask yourself if the exhaustion, resume, money, etc. is worth it. If you say yes, it is worth it; all I ask is that you treat rest not as something you have to earn, but as something necessary.

    Stressful periods are normal and okay, but what matters is framing self-care as something that isn’t optional, it can’t just be a one-time spa day. It’s reflecting on what genuinely recharges you and then carving out intentional time the same way you’d carve out time for class or a shift. For me, it looks like leaving an unreasonable amount of time to get ready in the morning, or a nap at 5 p.m. even when there are class readings left undone. Even asking a professor for an extension because you need the day for something other than school, unapologetically.

    If you couldn’t finish class readings and you’re stuck eating PB&J’s because meal prep doesn’t exist. That’s not failure; sometimes that’s how the cookie crumbles, as my boss says. 

    Keziah is the science editor with an interest in crime & justice and politics

  • Ukraine is Better Off Without America 

    Ukraine is Better Off Without America 

    By Tatiana H Moore

    The United States of America is no longer a valuable ally, and we need to stop pretending that it is. Not that I needed to go to Ukraine to find myself with this opinion, but I did. I just got back from a three month stint in Ukraine where after visiting family, I volunteered and also worked at a summer camp for children of affected families. My relationship with Ukraine is more than just ancestral. I speak the language, I advocate, I get involved, and I even work for a Ukrainian American Non Government Organization (NGO).

     I never thought I would advocate for the US to leave Ukraine alone. For years, the U.S has touted itself as Ukraine’s greatest ally in the fight against Russia, but I disagree. The meetings with Putin, diminishing Financial aid packages, and hemming and hawing on air defense have only served to center the U.S in a conflict that Ukraine should be central to. American officials continue to position Washington as a necessary middleman between Kyiv and Moscow, while Ukraine is left having to respond to proposals that directly affect its territory and sovereignty. A country that believes the best solution for Ukraine is to cede territory and withdraw its EU application is no ally of Ukraine. 

    The U.S. needs to understand that Ukraine is not a chessboard for American foreign policy. The U.S. has every right to decide how it spends American money and what role it wants to play internationally, but what it does not have is the moral authority to decide what Ukrainians should sacrifice for peace. In my humble opinion, Ukraine is better off without the U.S. 

    There is an uncomfortable history with America’s relationship to Ukraine that I rarely hear discussed. In 1994, Ukraine agreed to surrender its nuclear arsenal, an arsenal that made it the third-largest nuclear power in the world at the time. In return, Ukraine joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and received security assurances from the United States, explicitly affirming respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and existing borders. This deal was made by the United States and helped create the conditions Ukraine finds itself in today. The U.S. has a responsibility to remember this history and more importantly, to uphold the promises made, but that hope has long been lost ever since the U.S. sat by and watched the annexation of Crimea in 2014. 

    The U.S has played a major role in supporting Ukraine, particularly through military and financial assistance, and while I do believe this support has been important, the time has come for America to bow out. Europe’s role has grown substantially as U.S support has declined. Europe has provided military aid, financial support, humanitarian aid, refugee support and training of Ukrainian soldiers. If Europe, a continent directly threatened by Russian aggression, can increasingly shoulder the responsibility of supporting Ukraine. Why does Washington still need to position itself as the indispensable leader of Ukraine’s future? 

    Tatiana H Moore is a senior journalism major and a reporter/writer with LJ thm18@humboldt.edu

  • Getting Scammed Sucks

    Getting Scammed Sucks

    The state of housing scams in Humboldt County

    By Winter Music

    After two years living on the beautiful Humboldt campus sharing a dorm room with strangers and experiencing back pain from the mattresses, I chose to start looking for off-campus housing. Who would think a cozy town like Arcata would be plagued by scammers? But then again, what else can you expect from random websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Getting bait and switched from a listing on the Humboldt.edu rental listings resources was a different level of upsetting.

    I spent about a month believing that I would soon get my own apartment. Panicked by the thought of losing a good housing opportunity, I forgot to be cautious. I sent the down payment and we scheduled a time to meet when I realized that someone was living in, what I thought was, my apartment. I had a sinking feeling I had taken risks I didn’t need to by sending deposit money before meeting the “landlord” in person. I didn’t make sure that the way I sent money could be cancelled, and I didn’t walk away when I first had doubts. When I went to the house, the “landlord” had dropped off the face of the planet. Suddenly, all the worries and concerns I had started to make more sense. I freaked out when I realized how bad the mistake I had just made was, but the damage had been done. I learned the hard way that small towns like Arcata can scam you just like everywhere else.

    While that website I got scammed on has been removed and replaced by a list of reputable rental companies, it’s important to know that scammers can find their way into places you might not expect. So when you take the leap, and move from campus into your own place, be sure to never send over any money until you’ve been to the location in person, met the landlord and signed documents.

    Winter Music, Copy Editor, wlm38@humboldt.edu

  • Mummy is Mortifying, Michael is Mesmerizing

    Mummy is Mortifying, Michael is Mesmerizing

    By Kaylon Coleman

    “In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment,” renowned London based food critic – Anton Ego said in Ratatouille. “We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so.”

    Both Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (LCTM) and Michael premiered this month with scathing reviews from critics ranging from The New York Times to The Associated Press. At time of writing, LCTM scores a 47% on the Tomatometer and Michael scores a 39%. To that I say: screw what the critics think. I know how that may sound coming from the mouth of a critic, but I’m not from the New York Times — I’m just a humble man sharing my thoughts on a public forum. I implore you to use your own judgment before jumping to conclusions. With that being said, both LCTM and Michael surprised, delighted and exceeded my expectations.

    I believe if you hated Michael, you also hate whimsy and joy. There’s plenty of  things wrong with the biopic, I’ll admit it. It’s relatively bland as far as biopics go, there’s no mention of Janet Jackson, it glosses over a lot of topics and the pacing is a bit fast. All valid criticisms, all valid contention points. Is it the best biopic out there? No. But the heart behind the project is what drew me in. 

     Jaafar Jackson does an exemplary job of bringing his uncle to life in the film. Aside from O’Shea Jackson Jr. playing young Ice Cube in the N.W.A. biopic, I can’t think of another instance where a celebrity’s relative has gotten to depict them onscreen – or at least, I haven’t seen any. Jackson brings such a passion to the role that I don’t think anyone else could achieve if they weren’t so directly related. Along with the production from the Jackson brothers, it felt as though this movie served more as a love letter to Michael Jackson wrapped in a bow of nostalgia than a traditional biopic — and I’m all for it. 

    I tried to contain myself during the movie, but Broadway Cinema unfortunately faced the brunt of my excitement. When Who’s Lovin’ You came on I nearly turned the theater into a personal karaoke session. The movie had me invested the whole way through. I’m hopeful for part two, especially since they added the “His Story Continues” line at the end of the film after positive screen testing. The movie did feel as if it ended abruptly though; even with a potential part two, I don’t think 30 more minutes of movie could’ve hurt.

    Colman Domingo also killed his performance as Joseph Jackson. He has officially entered the niche of black actors who portrayed their villain roles so well people still hate them in real life, like Richard T. Jones in Why Did I Get Married or Blair Underwood in Madea’s Family Reunion. Nia Long played her role well, per usual, but I wish they gave her more to do as Michael’s mom. I feel as though Michael and Joseph were the only characters to have any real depth explored within the film. I give Michael four out of five stars.

    Now, let’s talk about the mummy. I’ll be the first to admit I was hating on LCTM before it came out, but it was actually pretty good. I haven’t watched any previous Mummy movies — except for some clips from the Tom Cruise one — so it’s safe to say I walked in with some preconceived notions. I was so ready to tear this film to pieces, but what originated as cynicism quickly turned to intrigue. 

    The film follows a family reeling from the disappearance of their daughter in Cairo. Years later, she is found and returned to them, but as a mere shell of who she used to be. Almost immediately, I was locked in to the film. Shoutout journalist representations in movies — yes, I’m biased. 

    LCTM does something that most modern horror movies have failed to do for me: it made me feel something other than boredom.  *Cough, cough* Black Phone 2 *cough, cough* Undertone. I was squirming, I was jaw-dropped, I was shocked. This is definitely one of the most gruesome movies I’ve ever seen. I can’t say I was necessarily scared, but this is how you terrify. I think what reels me into horror films is how authentic the characters can be given the circumstances they’re facing.

    What I enjoy about this film is how realistic the family dynamic is. Each actor brings something different to the role, but in a way that presents itself as a family reeling from the disappearance and reappearance of their child before the supernatural elements come into full effect. The visuals were also appealing and added to my overall enjoyment. I did start to tune out near the end, as it started to feel a bit gimmicky, but overall, I give the movie a four and a half out of five.

    So, if you’re debating where to spend your money on a $5-movie-Tuesday, go to Michael if you want a fun time that’ll leave you mesmerized and go to LCTM if you want a frightening time that’ll leave you mortified.

    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. He can be reached at kc403@humboldt.edu 

  • The Power of Passion

    The Power of Passion

    By: Kaylon Coleman

    If there’s one thing that incites happiness within me and inspires me to be a better person, it’s witnessing passion flowing through someone else. Passion is beautiful; it’s so raw and true, you can’t fake it — you know it when you see it. It shows up in a myriad of ways: the homie that’s so geeked about their favorite show that they’ll talk your ear off about it any chance they get, or the friend that loves their craft so much that you can see them light up when asked about it.

    I’m talking about that spark — that’s what I love; someone caring so deeply and so enthusiastically about something in a society that constantly pushes nonchalant and apathetic attitudes. Which is why I say, please persist. Do what you love — do what you’re passionate about. This world is so unrelenting; it’s unforgiving and it feeds off of tarnishing your love for something. As we grow older, the weight of life’s responsibilities become more and more prevalent. With that, we may not have as much time to rock climb or make beats or knit, especially if there’s no money being made in the process. But, doing what you love is what fuels your soul.

    They say if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life, but I think there’s more to that. I love journalism. It’s a passion of mine that I’ve decided to pursue it as my career. But, there’s definitely work involved. I have to deal with a lot of doubt, especially self-doubt. I have to deal with the naysayers who say journalism is a dying industry. I’ve faced constant heartbreaking rejections, and I haven’t even graduated yet. But, I’m confident in my decision because I believe passion equals purpose.

    My whole life, I’ve been told to do what makes me happy, not what makes me money — and I hold that message dear. Living in a capitalistic society, I get it; people want security, they want a wage that’s livable. It might spawn from my optimistic nature, but I believe the money will come. Maybe not right away, but I’d rather scrape by doing what I love than be trapped doing what I don’t. That is why I implore you to keep your passions alive. Even if your passion isn’t what you want to do career wise, it’ll be the thing that keeps you going and keeps you grounded. Never forget: you were born to win!

    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.

  • The Drama is akin to laughing at a funeral 

    The Drama is akin to laughing at a funeral 

    By Julia Kelm

    The Drama follows a happily engaged couple, Emma and Charlie — played by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson — as they prepare for their upcoming wedding. However, their relationship is put to the test when an unexpected detail of Emma’s past is revealed during a conversation between friends. The question, “What is the worst thing you’ve ever done?” sends their relationship and wedding week completely off-track.

    The Drama is the latest addition to the repertoire of the emerging Norwegian director, Krisoffer Borgli. You may be familiar with his last A24 collaboration, Dream Scenario (2023), which starred Nicolas Cage. For me, however, The Drama was my first introduction to his work.

    I highly recommend going into this film blind, as the twist Emma reveals hits best when unexpected. I luckily — somehow — avoided spoilers before seeing this film Easter Sunday at the Minor Theatre in Arcata. 

    It takes a while for this film to get the ball rolling. However, once it does, it just leaves you in the wake of this massive twist. It places you in an achingly awkward and anxious state that is shared by both Emma and Charlie’s post twist. This feeling is heightened by Borgli’s surrealist auteurship, which is just a fancy way of saying a filmmaker’s style. Scenes where Emma’s ear bleeds while at dinner with Charlie, or when Charlie reflects on memories with Emma, seeing as her high school self; both act as excellent scenes in making the viewer feel the anxious stress and distrust Charlie feels for Emma.

    The aforementioned detail that Emma reveals is a hot piece of gossip and an even hotter topic within American society. The subject is handled in a mildly humorous way, which has already created mixed responses within online debates, with many who call the approach distasteful. I, for one, enjoyed the approach, finding it bold and unafraid to make audiences uncomfortable and encourage self-reflection.

    Zendaya and Pattinson were perfectly cast in their respective roles. Zendaya plays this seemingly idealized woman in the beginning — spunky and charismatic — who then becomes reserved, overtly anxious and paranoid. Pattinson plays an endearing, dorky British guy that turns into a man completely absorbed by delusion. Their performances are truly what made this film come alive for me.

    Another character worth mentioning is Rachel — Alana Haim — who is Emma’s bridesmaid and friend — honestly though, if that’s the kind of friend you like to keep, you should do some second guessing. Rachel is the embodiment of an entitled mean girl who can’t forgive Emma for the dark secret she reveals during the climatic conversation. Rachel is a primary factor in worsening things for Emma and Charlie, even though the secret Rachel reveals is debatably worse, or at least similar to Emma’s. To me, this represents the double standards we hold ourselves compared to others. 

    It’s often simpler to forgive ourselves because we can more easily rationalize our own actions and thoughts. I think the film acts as a reminder to pull the plank out of our eye, before criticizing the sawdust in our friends — or however the metaphor goes.

    Overall, I thought this was a solid film and I look forward to watching more Borgli in the future. 7/10 Julia’s.

    Julia is a journalism major and the co-Editor in Chief of the paper. She loves film and is a regular on Letterboxd. She also enjoys going on walks in the forest and taking pictures to relax. If you have a movie you’d like her to review, please email her at jk328@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.

  • Sell your iPhone

    Sell your iPhone

    By Bodhi Haugen

    For the past several years, innovation has been the last thing I’ve seen when I look at Apple and its products. The new features are becoming predictable: another camera, a different color phone, or maybe a better battery life that inevitably depletes within a year. 

    I owned an iPhone around six years ago, and it did its job just fine. It took photos, sent messages and the battery life was okay for a couple years. Fast forward and things don’t seem much different; the shape and design have been practically the same since the iPhone X, which came out in 2017. The software update that changed the app icons was the biggest milestone to note since Face ID. All my close friends and family still have iPhones, so maybe I was missing something. Could it be that the newest phone is now orange instead of silver? 

    Any new iPhone that comes to the market is either just shy of — or miles above — the $1000 mark. If there’s only one or two little changes every time, why spend so much money to make an upgrade? It’s an easy way for big companies to keep reselling you the same thing while trying to convince you it’s somehow different. 

    The truth is, you’re probably due to get off your high horse and consider other options. The new flashy iPhone isn’t doing anything for you or others around you. The novelty of an iPhone being trendy died a long time ago; nobody cares that the back of your phone now has an aluminum frame instead of titanium. 

    iPhone users shouldn’t be afraid to experiment with other brands. I used to hear my dad complain all the time about his shitty iPhone. I would ask why he didn’t switch brands and he always said he didn’t know how to work anything else. I used to think this was because he was just old, but I’m seeing this same behavior with friends and college students alike. 

    If you’re dissatisfied with Apple’s innovations, look into what other brands may offer. Companies like Samsung, Motorola and Razer have been creative, with design innovations that users can see. You can fold a Samsung Z Flip7 in half, and it has a touchscreen on the back of the phone for the same price as an iPhone. Even my flip phone, made by a tractor company, can literally have DUO Mobile installed. 

    It’s time for Apple to step down as the king of phones — and it’s time for you to wake up. Plenty of other phones are on the market, but consumers are looking the other way. If we want to see innovation in products, we need to show companies we actually care by supporting brands that are doing it.

    Selling your iPhone won’t only save you some money, but it might send a message.

    Bodhi Haugen is a journalism major and writer for the Lumberjack at Cal Poly Humboldt. Bodhi is on KRFH and enjoys reading, writing, photography, and art. You can reach him at bgh27@humboldt.edu.

  • Legalize dueling 

    Legalize dueling 

    By Barley Lewis-McCabe

    “Some of the rules that still apply to [US Senate], for instance dueling between two consenting adults, is still there,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary and nutjob Fascist Crybaby Markwayne Mullin said during a tense senate hearing to decide whether he would take control of our country’s least reputable department.

    “It’s been illegal for over 170 years,” Rand Paul, the lowly homeland security commission chief interrupted. 

    This isn’t an article about Mullins’ disastrous senate hearing, nor his recent appointment. No, I’m not here to harp about how a short tempered chud with anger issues that likes to play army-man is the worst person to be in charge of our country’s barely-regulated wholly unnecessary ultraviolent white-supremacist militia. I’m not even gonna talk about the despicable caning of Charles Sumner back in 1856. Mullins’ hearing reignited one of the longest standing debates in American history; what’s so bad about dueling? 

    For those who aren’t familiar with the hit musical Hamilton, a duel is a battle between two people when conventional conflict mediation techniques have been exhausted and someone’s honor offended in such a way that they would kill  to reclaim it.

     

    As a weed-smoking, bandana-wearing, Grateful Dead-listening Cal Poly Humboldt journalism student, I am, of course, against violence. But, despite everything, I’d have to agree with Marky-boy that dueling between two consenting adults is perfectly reasonable. 

    Yes, people can die, but duels were never just an easy way to kill someone; they were a way for two people, who are awful at communicating and don’t know the meaning of ‘forgive and forget,’ to fairly settle a dispute and reclaim lost honor. 

    Since people wanted a game of life or death to be as fair as possible, dueling followed a strict code. The most popular of which — Code Duello — was written in Ireland in 1777 and spread throughout the Western world. After the invitation to duel is accepted, both parties select a second, someone to ensure the duel is fair, attempt reconciliation on their friends behalf and hopefully prevent an unnecessary death. The challenger decides where they meet, and the challenged picks the weapons. Former Newspaper Columnist and — better known — President Abraham Lincoln once avoided a duel by exploiting his seven inch height advantage and choosing cavalry broadswords of the largest kind frightening his opponent, Newspaper Editor James Shields enough to reconcile. It’s not known if Abe apologized for the distasteful poems he published about Shields. 

    The duelers discuss their issues one more time; if no one apologizes, they battle. They each fire two shots at their opponent and if neither of them are injured, the duelists try to talk out their issues one more time. If that doesn’t work, they fight until someone is injured, killed or begged for mercy. A person could also apologize  during a duel to avoid death, which was also considered highly honorable whether you started it or not.

    Dueling isn’t just bloodsport, there’s no shortage of clauses in Code Duello that exist to prevent death. It’s simply a way to settle the classic immovable object vs unstoppable force dilemma. In the late 1800s, dueling lost popularity to the sport of fisticuffs — AKA, boxing — or mutual combat — all of which are, for the most part, legal. 

    Yes, duels are a relic of the past, and before you ask, no, our senators probably shouldn’t duel each other live on Kick. Violence is awful when exerted unnecessarily and on an innocent person, such as caning — which is still bad. If two people just can’t agree with each other, then they should be allowed to respectfully duel it out in accordance with Code Duello, with a mutual understanding that an apology would always be preferable to a kid without a parent. 

    Barley is the opinionated opinion editor and an untraditional reporter who focuses on social change and stories with a real human impact. If you’d like to reach him for whatever reason email bl258@humboldt.edu.

  • Woman Down is romanticized toxicity 

    Woman Down is romanticized toxicity 

    By Alba Galvan

    Book Review: Woman Down

    W.T.F. — that’s what I think about the book Woman Down. I have read 22 out of 23 of Colleen Hoover books, and although she’s considered problematic for her novels often romanticizing toxic and abusive relationships. Hoover is an instant buy for me every time. She has a way with words that tends to draw readers into her books.

    Hoover is a top-selling author, having sold over 50 million books worldwide and being titled a bestselling author by the New York Times. I even have a tattoo inspired by one of her books, so when I say I know her writing and that I know when one of her books is bad or good — you best believe I’m telling the truth. 

    Woman Down brought so many emotions out of me that I haven’t felt in a while, discomfort, enjoyment, sadness and the passion to want to read again. It was so unrealistic that it took me a whole day to fully process my emotions once I finished reading the book.

    This book is one of my least favorite books by Hoover after Maybe Someday and not because the writing was bad; it was good and simple. This book definitely got me out of a reading slump, but I dislike this book because of how selfish and stupid the female main character was from start to finish.  

    Woman Down is about an author named Petra Rose who’s been struggling with writer’s block after a movie adaptation of her latest book receives backlash. So, as a getaway, she decides to go on her yearly retreat to a secluded cabin on a lake.

    While on this trip, she expresses on a video call with her best friend that she feels her books are too unrealistic and that’s why she’s been in a slump. When asked if she would welcome the idea of the unrealistic becoming realistic, she agrees, and is then dragged into her fantasies when she meets and begins to lust over a married cop who is willing to help her find inspiration for her book. 

    Petra is now in a cycle of being unable to separate reality from fiction, and falls for this married cop, Saint, who is willingly cheating on his wife to help her find inspiration for her book. 

    Hoover starts the book by clarifying that its storyline isn’t based on her own life, and asks readers not to compare the two just because both her and her main character are writers. Although the first half of the book was filled with so much whining and complaining about her last movie adaptation that it sounded like Hoover was venting through Petra. It’s hard not to compare both real life author Hoover and book author Petra, given the backlash and the drama that happened. 

    The rest of the book is filled with plot twists after plot twists – this is where the spoilers come, Saint  helps Petra experience things she hadn’t gone through to bring her inspiration. One night, he decides to break into her cabin to give her the experience of fear so she can authentically write what her characters will go through in her book. Petra believes this is a life-or-death situation, and when she finally realizes it’s Saint, instead of going home AND CALLING THE COPS, SHE FORGIVES HIM! She forgives the same man who made her believe she almost died and reduces what happened to her as a misunderstanding. 

    What I didn’t like about this book is how much the phrases, “you wanted this,” and “you asked for this,” appear. The amount of guilt-tripping that Saint puts on Petra throughout the story is disgusting and disturbing. Only then is it revealed that she is married with children, and this story takes a bigger turn with darker tones as stalking, possessiveness and cheating become common throughout the book.

    This book ended in the most bothersome way, and all I can say is this was a two-and-a-half-star rating out of five for me. I went into this book blind, and it brought out so many conflicting emotions. It’s sitting heavily on me as I STILL try to process what I read, because I truly disliked this book and the characters. 

    Do I recommend this book? No, but if you can separate reality from fiction and realize how everything in this book is not a reflection of how love should be perceived, and you don’t romanticize the stalking and victim-blaming that goes throughout the book, then yes. Read it and form your own opinion. 

    Alba she/her, LumberJack reporter. Journalism major who loves to read and write. She’s very passionate about sharing and listening to different opinions and loves self-expression. Contact email: agg83@humboldt.edu 

  • People won’t fucking read and that’s why they keep putting out reboots

    People won’t fucking read and that’s why they keep putting out reboots

    By Jasmin Shirazian

    The art of nuance and the craft of writing have been spoiled, milked, to filth; what remains curdled somewhere between lazy and unimaginative writing. We’ve entered a period of time where reboots and remakes of what were once original ideas have taken priority to new, unexplored plots. To revel in nostalgia is simpler and for some — at this point in time, what feels like the many — more entertaining than the attempt to grasp a new concept.

    Why is there a Scrubs reboot? This is what set me off this week. The notion that we need another — ANOTHER — hospital based, semi-mockumentary style sitcom, much less a fucking reboot from 2007, is deeply weak-minded. I’m more so less upset about the premise than I am at the fact that it’s a reboot. I love a good concept, but seeing the show that I used to wake up to in the middle of the night blasting while my mom was at work is not the originality I was promised as a child. It’s literally another show about a goofy group of friends getting into shenanigans, but it’s placed in a hospital… did we have to make that a reboot? How did the original cast swing this? Have we run out of ideas? Lest there be more nipples left for us to suckle? 

    There are two parties to blame here, in my professional, know-it-all opinion: the network and the consumer. The insatiable thirst for content from the consumer and the overwhelmingly eager, gluttonous network producing it, overworking and underpaying original creatives; overlooking them for network-based nepo-monsters. We are losing the voices of generations to the greed encouraged by not only the puppetmasters, but the audience themself. 

    The network produces not what it thinks the consumer will enjoy, but what they will — you guessed it — consume the most of. Because that’s money. The gluttony; greed. But, we’re at fault, too, because we just keep giving into it. We consume the slop of mindless, empty dogshit nonsense that we can’t get enough of — why? Emily in Paris, Riverdale, the new season of Stranger Things where all the 14-year-olds now look 25… because they are. Why don’t we care about the quality of what we’re watching and indulging in? Have our expectations been weathered down so severely that we’ll just take whatever we can get? Yes, actually, I think so.

    Not only is the dopamine addiction to our phones a more alluring pull than the effort that goes into developing a story in your mind, but let’s factor in that the regular person is living in hell. For the last 10 years — with a small gap of absolutely nothing to show for in between — the 2016 and 2024 administrations continue to defund and destroy any means of education, with the undying support of the nation’s most undereducated populations. SHOCKER! Wonder if that has something to do with… anything. I would bet the money I’m actively losing to my streaming services that it does have something to do with anything. It’s disturbing to witness every form of art become commercialized and reduced to a principal of cash exchanges, and it sucks that we continue to contribute to it as silent investors. Investors that, rather than profiting, poison their own water supply. 

    Here’s the thing: I absolutely love TV — and no, movies do not satisfy the itch that a TV show can scratch. I love sitting in front of a screen and immersing myself in a show the way I do with a book. Whether it’s stupid and funny, or deeply depressing and gut-wrenching, all I ask is that there’s some heart in the writing, some depth to the plot and that writers are paid fairly. Unfortunately, for reasons that mostly come in shades of green, we can’t have those basic requests. And, while indie films and small-scale movie directors are semi-easy to support, I’ve personally never really heard of an independent TV show or network that is funded or owned by smaller groups. So, we lose good writers, we lose good art, we lose good TV. And we take what the big corporations who have the money to produce a long-format series give us, because those in power have made life so desperately miserable for the average individual that we just need something to help us get through the fucking day. 

    We consume the dogshit, the Kool-Aid, the unfulfilling plate of nonsense they place before us. We give them the money we don’t get enough of and we get through the day. And another day, and another day. And one day, everything will explode. Until then, support local artists and writers. Maybe, before we all explode, we’ll stop seeing reboots of preexisting poorly-written TV shows. 

    Jasmin Shirazian is the curly-headed copy editor and reporter of The Lumberjack. An award-winning journalist and media curator, she prefers to spend her free time watching and complaining about TV. More on the topic and others like such can be found on her Substack, @jasminscornerontheweb. She can be contacted at js760@humboldt.edu.

  • Seven years after the killing of Josiah Lawson, Arcata still mourns his loss

    Seven years after the killing of Josiah Lawson, Arcata still mourns his loss

    By Eli Farrington

    On April 15, 2017, David Josiah Lawson, an HSU sophomore, community leader, and member of the Black community, was killed at a house party in Arcata. He was sprayed with bear mace and then fatally stabbed six times after he was falsely accused of stealing someone’s cell phone. 

    On the seventh anniversary of Josiah’s passing, members of the Arcata community gathered in the square to honor his time on earth with a candlelight vigil and call for justice to be served. 

    Sarai Bordeaux, community member and former Humboldt State University student, spoke about the lack of justice surrounding Josiah’s case. She was heartbroken to hear that nothing was being done to bring Josiah’s attacker to justice. 

    “The fact that people knew who did it, knew who was involved, and very much could have done something, but didn’t, has stuck with me throughout my entire context in moving back to Humboldt,” Bordeaux said. “I’m a substitute teacher, and I work in the community, and to hear that there’s an event to celebrate Josiah’s life in the midst of a space that has done nothing to get justice for him just made me really want to come out.”

    For Bordeaux, the vigil served as a firm reminder that the Arcata community hasn’t forgotten about what happened to Josiah, and that the strength, persistence, and power of the community as a whole has the power to make positive change and make Arcata a safer place for people of color. As much as she loves the tight-knit community of Arcata, Bordeaux knows that it can be a bit intimidating and unwelcoming to marginalized communities coming here for the first time, especially when it comes to getting housing, jobs, and meeting locals. 

    “As much as I love coming out here, and as much as I need to come out here and see the community and know that we’re all still grieving, as much as I want space to be held for us, I am tired of holding it in trauma. the vigils that we hold are a visible display of our trauma,” Bordeaux said. “[The vigils] are important because people need to know that this is what we’re still dealing with here. We have to keep holding vigils because our folks keep getting murdered. We have to keep coming out to honor the lives of those that we have lost.” 

    Marlon Jones II, a community leader, activist, and organizer of the vigil, shared Bordeaux’s desires to create a safer and more accessible Arcata for people of color. He acknowledged the hard work and dedication of places like El Centro and the Umoja Center, but he expressed the fact that many black and brown students still feel unsafe outside of these environments. 

    “Through the vigils, I’ve met so many amazing people who all have this common goal of just making this place safer for Black and brown people, and providing these spaces where we can just exist,” Jones said. “Places where we can be ourselves and not feel threatened by this white supremacist, patriarchal society that tells us that we have to conform to certain spaces, or that we don’t belong in them at all.”

    Jones believes that Josiah’s vigil will continue to impact the community and motivate people to take action and seek justice, even when it may not be easy. 

    “It’s important to remember how to remain hopeful in a place that surrounds you with hopelessness,” Jones said. “It’s important to be the answer to the question … to understand that we the people, as a community, are the solution to this. We have to understand how powerful we are.”

    A major source of hope for the Justice for Josiah Committee and all of its supporters is Charmaine Lawson, Josiah’s mother. After Josiah’s passing, Jones was introduced to Charmaine. She immediately took him under her wing and showed him unconditional love and support. While she wasn’t able to attend the vigil this year, she has attended every year in the past, and even often comes on a regular basis, making the long trip up to Humboldt from Southern California to honor her son’s life and continue to spread love in Arcata. 

    “[Charmaine] does so many things for the Arcata community, despite the lack of justice,” Jones said. “She does so many things out of love and gratitude because that’s just who she is. That’s who her son is, even though he’s no longer with us physically. This young man was on the path to changing the world positively, and he was taken from us, through that avenue. There’s been so much love and support behind getting that justice, behind putting those minute steps into action, going to the courthouses, calling the [District Attorneys], and making sure that they know that this is important. Not just to Arcata, but to California, and to anybody that has had to deal with a missing or murdered person.”

    Charmaine Lawson’s goal since her son’s passing has been to continue to uplift the Cal Poly Humboldt and Arcata community. Her passion and positivity inspired countless others to follow in her footsteps, including Romi Hitchcock Tinseth, a community leader and organizer of the vigil. When Tinseth heard about Josiah’s murder, she immediately knew that she had a responsibility as a mother to take action and help the cause in any way that she could. 

    “It’s no wonder that DJ [David Josiah] was a spectacular human being, because his mother is a spectacular human being,” Tinseth said. “She has devoted her energy to carrying on the love that DJ gave, that is a product of her love. So she comes here, she does good in this community, she does the work that DJ would be doing, and she has come often every single month on the 15th, for years now. And it has been seven years. This is the first anniversary of DJ’s death that she was not here, because she chose to surround herself with her family in Southern California and celebrate DJ’s life that way.”

    Seven years after his passing, Josiah’s positive impact on the community is still being felt in many different ways, giving Tinseth and many others an outlet for creating a better Arcata and a better world. 

    “[He was] an incredible student at Humboldt State University, a leader, a person who was dedicated to changing people’s lives for the better, and fighting for justice in the world,” Tinseth said. “In fact, he was a criminology and justice studies major. He was President of Brothers United at Humboldt State, and just an amazing, good human being.”

    Michihiro Sugata, Cal Poly Humboldt Criminology & Justice Studies Program Coordinator, Associate Professor of Sociology, and former teacher of Josiah’s, spoke about who Josiah was as a student and a man. According to him, Josiah had a contagious smile that brought people in and kept them engaged. Josiah brought so much light and energy to his class, and his positivity was infectious. He loved to learn new things and take on new challenges, and he wasn’t afraid to discuss difficult topics. 

    “Losing Josiah was like watching hope die,” Sugata said. “I’ve never articulated it this way before, but Josiah was the type of student that [educators] put our hope in. He was the type of student that makes you believe that the challenges of this world can be met and overcome — he instilled hope in all of us and to lose that was just devastating. But I know he wasn’t the only one, and to see young people showing up to the vigil, to see young people painting murals and writing poetry about Josiah, that brings back the hope.”

    The vigil was ultimately a celebration of Josiah Lawson’s life, a life that was taken far too soon. But it was also a sobering reminder that justice has still not been served. 

    “These vigils remain important for many reasons,” Sugata said. “They keep us connected to one another, and keep us connected to the broader fight for injustices in our community and beyond. Just as important, the vigil serves as a symbol for the continued struggle for racial justice within this community and this country. For those of us who knew Josiah, gathering in community and fighting for just causes isn’t just an act of remembrance. It’s a way to honor the man he was and the life he lived. These are the things he embodied.”

  • Student dancers bring art to life in the Van Duzer

    By Dezmond Remington

    Dance Visions can’t be summed up in a few simple opening sentences. 

    The concert can’t be judged as a whole because of the six students and three faculty that choreographed 10 different dances, all performed by dancers from Humboldt’s dance department. Each dance had its own different look. There were fairy tales, night clubs, and cabaret halls all on stage, as well as a few more archetypal modern dance pieces. 

    It was a celebration of aesthetics. Though none of the costumes or lighting was overly elaborate, it was all rich. No dance was boring to watch. All of the dances were a thrill to watch as performers contorted and flipped, swayed and leaped. Broken Boundaries, a dance choreographed by professor Linda Maxwell and performed by just three dancers, looked like a moving painting. 

    Though the pieces by the professors were perfectly, reasonably interesting, the most entertaining and daring performances came courtesy of the student choreographers. Alli Bush’s 8te was a neo-burlesque extravaganza. Miriam Allen’s Evocative Pigment juxtaposed three different colors in a dazzling display of light and motion that was wholly captivating.

    The one criticism that could be thrown at Dance Visions is that art usually has some kind of meaning, a meaning that many of the dances seemed to lack. What significance or idea they expressed wasn’t easy to pick up on, though I’m no professional art critic.

    But how much does that even matter? Dance Visions was a beautiful spectacle, a fun look into the minds of Cal Poly Humboldt’s dance auteurs and performers. Meanings or messages can be overrated when it comes to critiquing art, especially at a college level when people are just learning how to express themselves. It was joyous, a delight to the senses. That in itself is a meaning. 

  • Horoscopes except it’s the type of milk you drink

    Horoscopes except it’s the type of milk you drink

    Dumberjack is out now! Find it on a newsstand near you!

    Courtesy of Dumberjack reporter, Radio Rebel

    OAT – If you drink oat milk, you probably have a Costco membership just to buy the bulk boxes of Kirkland brand cartons that don’t last nearly as long as they should. You might be a psych major holding a vape right now, and if you aren’t – you’ve thought about it. 

    SOY – Are you someone who doesn’t eat meat? You might be a soy milk drinker. It’s time to take that much needed social media break and maybe pick up that book that’s been collecting dust on your bedside table. Extra points if the book is anything other than fantasy. 

    WHOLE – In a world of 100 different types of milk, with a new milk type trending every day, it can be hard to stick to your roots. Whether you’re only drinking whole milk in your coffee or by the glass, you’re proud to be an American. 

    GOATS – You grew up shopping at the local health food store and it shows. If you drink goat milk, you were probably homeschooled but turned out pretty okay. When you pull up to the picnic, you’re definitely bringing the Humboldt Fog, and we thank you for it. 

    HEMP – A cannabis studies major, obviously. Hemp milk drinkers prefer chai over coffee and will engage in long form conversation about plant medicine. Long hikes in the woods are fun, and the mushrooms are fruitful, but it might be time to consider making some friends to join you.

    MACADAMIA – As a macadamia milk drinker, you’re either an art major who spends way too much money at your local coffee shop, or you just had macadamia milk for the first time because they were out of hemp milk. I’ll see you later at the open mic. 

    LACTOSE FREE – You’re a freak! Or lactose intolerant. Either way, you’re getting freaky in the bedroom. Lactose free milk drinkers are extremely well hydrated, and pretty buff considering the size of the hydroflask they’re always lugging around. How does it feel spending your paychecks on Lactaid?

    ALMOND – you’re the kind of person who takes 20-minute showers and leaves the water on while you’re brushing your teeth. Humboldt is the dream for you because you’ve been on travel influencer TikTok since you were 15. We’ve already seen that picture of your hiking boots hanging off Strawberry Rock, no need to post it every sunny weekend. 

    COCONUT – If you’re sitting in your dorm room still grieving the fact the only coastal town college you got into was Humboldt… you might be a coconut milk drinker. You had to buy your first warm jacket six months ago, and your surfboard doesn’t get used nearly as much as it used to. It’s okay though, you’ve got your outdoor recreation class to keep you busy. 

    BREAST MILK – What. There are only 3 types of people drinking breast milk: babies, curious husbands, and creepers who frequent Craigslist. If you’re a college student, stay away from all three. 

    graphics by TeenyTinyRat and Radio Rebel
  • Jasmin’s corner; what-ifs

    Jasmin’s corner; what-ifs

    Hello Jasmin, 

    I have this special person with whom I had a long standing relationship with. Going to college sort of brought an end to things and we came to a mutual understanding, so the breakup wasn’t bad at all and we’re still friends. It’s been 3 long hard lame ass years and she still pollutes my mind – it’s ridiculous. I can say I’m over the emotional heartbreak, but I still think I’m hung up on the idea that something might come of the future when I’m making big money and able to support that type of relationship. I saw them recently after a year or two of not talking and they seemed interested, though maybe I’m delusional. What’re your thoughts on revisiting relationships and do you think it’d be a good idea to try and pick up the pieces, or should I continue on as is? 

    Friend, you’re not over the emotional heartbreak or the girl. Leaving for any reason besides losing feelings or realizing your partner was actually a bum the whole time is always going to leave you with unresolved feelings and daydream-ey what-ifs. 

    If you think she’s interested, I don’t see why you wouldn’t at least try – especially if you’re not long distance. If you are, consider where you might both be in the future before you get too excited. No one should have to suffer through a long distance rekindle with an ex. You very obviously are holding out for this girl, so I definitely recommend not seeking anyone else romantically until you figure out your feelings and what to do with them. We don’t want anyone else getting their feelings hurt. 

    I don’t know the reasons behind your breakup, but I do insist that you reflect on the bad parts of your relationship and not only the warm, fuzzy memories. I will never tell you not to follow your heart – I actually encourage it. If you don’t think the timing is right, you’re right – it never is. We’re given the cards we’re dealt and have to figure out how to play them accordingly. You can show your love without having a big money job. The future isn’t promised and we have to act while the people we love are still around us. Just try to not be too aggressive or forthcoming with it.

    All in all, the only person that can tell you what to do is you. Would you rather suffer through the what-ifs or just find out for yourself? Is finding out for yourself worth the potential let-down of a second breakup? You tell me. 

    xoxo,

  • Depressing Dishes: recipes for when you’re feeling down

    By Alexandra Berrocal

    I normally don’t like spinach because people typically serve it raw. Many people don’t like “creamed” spinach either. Try this recipe. It isn’t raw, or creamed. It is simple to make. It is also very nutritious because it includes soybean paste, which adds nutrients. According to a research paper called Effects of Doenjang, traditional Korean Soybean paste has anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Garlic is also known as a natural antibiotic. The blanching in the cooking process also leaves most of the nutrients intact, unlike the boiling process in other recipes. 

    Depressed people often don’t feel up to doing anything fun. It was my goal in publishing “I am the darkness”, my recent cookbook, to let people know they aren’t alone in their depression. And, if they want to cook a recipe along the way, well, that’s great too!  The tofu recipe is also easy to multiply in case you want to serve it to others. The tofu recipe, on the other hand, is a simple, tasty way to prepare tofu. Usually tofu is a bit bland, but the sauce counters this. It is a good way to add more protein to your diet. You can combine the spinach and the tofu into a simple meal, if you like.

    SOY SPINACH

    1 bunch spinach (or other greens)

    Salt

    1 tablespoon soybean paste

    1 minced clove garlic

    1 tablespoon sesame oil

    Toasted sesame seeds

    Wash spinach and remove dead leaves and roots. Blanch spinach for about 20 seconds in boiling water. Cool with cold running water. Gently squeeze to get out as much excess water as possible. Add soybean paste, garlic, and sesame oil. Mix it all by hand. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top as garnish.

    PAN FRIED TOFU

    1 package medium firm tofu

    1 tablespoon avocado oil

    1 green onion

    4 teaspoons soy sauce

    2 teaspoons rice vinegar

    1 teaspoon sesame seeds

    1 teaspoon sugar

    Blot the tofu with paper towels. Cut the tofu block in half, then into slices.  Grease the pan with the oil. Place the tofu in the pan without overlapping or touching. Put the lid on the pan and cook for three minutes on high heat, or until crispy and golden brown on one side. Repeat on the other side.

    Thinly slice green onion, and combine all other ingredients in a bowl for the sauce. Enjoy!

  • An excerpt from Sanctuary

    An excerpt from Sanctuary

    Sanctuary: A book of essays on faith (with some romantic poetry mixed in) 

    By Alexandra Berrocal

    I

    Dream of

    Red hair and

    Soft green eyes. 

    The eyes of my mother.

    I have dreamed of her for

    Decades upon decades and

    Centuries upon centuries.  I paint

    Her because she is clear when all fades.

    The one thing I reliably recall.

    She walks into the front door of my space

    I feel like she has entered myself

    And with every painting she sees

    She gazes into my soul.

    A soul that’s filled with her.

    For time after time

    I look at her

    And feel I

    Collapse 

    In.

    Graphic by Griffin Mancuso
  • To fuck or not to fuck… your co-workers

    To fuck or not to fuck… your co-workers

    By Christina Mehr and Andres Felix Romero

    To fuck:

    Do you like making money? Do you like making love? Well, why not combine the two?

    I believe in messing around with the people you work with. The dating pool in Humboldt is already limited, so you have to take them where you can get them. If you’re already spread so thin between classes, homework, and work, why not get spread by someone you are literally getting paid to see? It’s the best of both worlds. 

    There’s plenty of benefits to being in cahoots with your coworkers, like getting to flirt with them in passing, sharing rides to work if you share the same schedule, or sneaking away together on breaks. On the plus side, if your work is getting overwhelming, you can turn that into sexual frustration towards that coworker. It creates some fun and exciting drama in an otherwise boring workplace. Having a work crush is amusing and gives you some more motivation to actually want to go to work. 

    However, I understand the opposing side of, ‘what if we break up or get in trouble?’ or whatever, but honestly if you’re at a minimum-wage college job, just go ahead and do it for the plot. 

    To not fuck:

    Workplace romance – it’s fun and exciting, but also a potential threat to you and your emotional wellbeing. I’m not disagreeing that a romance in the workplace isn’t a bit of a thrill, but from another perspective, you might be walking into a game where everybody can lose. 

    Obviously, things can get awkward if the passion fizzles out. Breakups hurt and can be as devastating as losing a loved one. Sometimes, breakups can be amicable. However, how many of you have had those relationships (or situationships) end with your gut feeling like it’s been poisoned? The lovely person who once made you smile suddenly turns into a bitter and painful relationship? 

    Want to know the cherry on top of the heartbreak cake? Imagine losing someone you care deeply about, then seeing them when you walk into the place that pays your bills, and seeing customers flirt with your former beloved. Jealousy is a poison, and it’ll infest your workplace and create tensions and conditions that are toxic and unbearable.

    Now, flirting in itself is a whole other beast of ethics, however the general rule is to back the hell off when someone isn’t showing interest or signs that they’re uncomfortable. At a bar or party, it’s easier for someone who isn’t interested to get some distance from your flirting skills. At a workplace, your crush is probably stuck with you. Do you really want to risk making your crush uncomfortable? Do you really want to make it awkward when y’all work together? Do you really want to go to human resources (HR)?

    If you have a little crush, it’s not the end of the world. A lesson I’ve learned is that it can be harder to control our feelings, but we are in control of our actions. I agree that the rush can be fun, but all highs have to come down when we come back to reality. It’s like a bong rip just before a morning class. It sounds great, and for a while, you feel like you’re walking on the clouds doing something you really shouldn’t be doing.

  • From the psych ward to the newsroom

    From the psych ward to the newsroom

    By Savana Robinson

    March 8, 2023, I was released from a psychiatric facility with two diagnoses: schizophrenia and bipolar I. A year later, I’m doing better than ever. I’ve got a nice job as a multimedia journalist, I’m close to graduating, and I have a great group of people who care about me. Getting here wasn’t easy – I had to reconstruct myself as a person. It took a lot of support, therapy, and medication, but I did it.

    I went back to the fundamentals of me. I left Humboldt and moved back into my childhood bedroom in Redwood Valley. The pink walls with pastel butterflies and flowers, my rock collection, and my numerous stuffed animals helped gently bring me back to where I needed to be.

    The first few weeks of being back in the world were scary. I wasn’t in psychosis anymore, but the paranoia and hallucinations of onset schizophrenia were still present. I had been started on medication for it a few days before I was released, but it still took some time and help to be manageable. I’ve been in therapy since the day I got out of the facility, which has helped tremendously. Of course, I chopped off my hair. Some people believe that hair holds on to memories, so I got a bob. I loved it for a while, but I eventually mourned my long hair. 

    Per my routine-abiding father’s suggestions, I started by waking up early, making my bed, walking the dogs, and making breakfast. I took it one day at a time and eventually, I was thriving. I had to drop advanced photojournalism, and I couldn’t use the school’s camera anymore, but I love taking photos, so I bought my own. 

    Photography is another form of therapy for me. It’s relaxing and lets me express my creativity. I got a job doing photography and blog writing at a mini golf course in Ukiah. I continued with a few of my classes from home, doing online work when I wasn’t taking pictures. I finished out the semester and by the summer, I felt that my medications had leveled out enough to feel “normal.” I didn’t feel like I was moving through jello anymore.

    Halfway through the summer, I decided that I wanted to go back to Humboldt, despite my parents’ protest. I found out my friend had a vacant room, so I moved back to Arcata and went back to school in person. I was a bit nervous, but I was confident that I would be fine. I worked on The Lumberjack and continued to take photos. I started doing sports photography and made some money doing it. I even did my first wedding photography gig. In January, I got my job at Redwood News. I’m just getting started in my career, but I’m optimistic for the future.

    After being released from the psychiatric facility, I had no idea where I’d be in a year. I was hopeful that I’d be somewhat successful, but I didn’t expect to be working as a professional journalist. If I had to do my year of healing all over again, I’d do it the same, because I’m very happy with how I turned out.

  • Mar’s Gaming Garage: HI-FI Rush

    Mar’s Gaming Garage: HI-FI Rush

    By Mario Orozco

    Every good game has music. Usually a game’s music plays in the background and has no actual effect on the gameplay. This week’s game uses music differently, it’s not just in the background of your gameplay, but part of the mechanics of the game itself. Justin Crittenden, a software engineering major, recommended “HI-FI Rush” to me, a rhythm-based action game released in 2023. Before I played this game, I was under the false impression that it would be like other rhythm games, but “HI-FI Rush” isn’t like anything I have experienced before. 

    This game has a really simple story, but it was well executed and had my complete attention throughout the playthrough. It did a fantastic job taking a simple plot and making it feel entertaining and fresh. One aspect of the game that I enjoyed was the art style. The characters are cel-shaded, giving the game a comic book like appearance and the main bosses of the game each had beautifully detailed freeze frames that contributed to this design. Another aspect I enjoyed were the characters; each character had clear motives and reasoning behind their actions which is extremely important. The characters were also very entertaining, the main cast had fantastic chemistry with each other and it was fun to see them interact and grow together. 

    The main aspect of the game that makes it memorable is the gameplay – the combat is amazing. There is a constant beat playing throughout the game and combos performed exactly on this beat increase the effectiveness of your attacks, which is also used to parry enemy attacks. The beat is useful in ways outside of combat too. It is used to move faster and assists in traversing through the levels. The style of gameplay temporarily switches a few times in specific portions, it even becomes like “Guitar Hero” in a few battles with buttons needing to be pressed exactly on time to the song playing in the background.

    Like always, there are a couple negatives that I would like to address. The first is the design of the levels. Most of them have a similar feel, following the same general outline. This is okay though, the main focus is the combat, which is fun enough for the repetitive nature to not really matter. The other issue is how difficult the timing can be. In the later stages of the game, there are just way too many enemies attacking you all at once to be able to focus on hitting your opponents with rhythm. Instead, it turned into me just dashing around chaotically, randomly swinging at everything close to me. If this is a problem, you can just turn the difficulty down and it’ll make staying on rhythm more manageable.

    “HI-FI Rush” took me a grand total of nine hours and one minute to complete. It is evident through playing the game that the developers had a blast making it, and it feels like a passion project. I rate this game a 4 out of 5, and if you like fast paced, hack-and-slash gameplay, then I strongly recommend this game to you. “HI-FI Rush” is definitely worth the purchase. 

    If you have any games you would like me to review you can email marsgaminggarage@gmail.com.

  • New shark discovery offers glimpse into a lost world

    New shark discovery offers glimpse into a lost world

    By Brad Butterfield

    326 million years ago, Arkansas was underwater and teeming with an unusual, gill-covered shark, a shark that is now called Cosmoselachus mehlingi after a years-long project led by Dr. Allison Bronson, a Cal Poly Humboldt professor. The unique conditions in the Fayetteville Shale preserved the precious cartilage that was critical in digitally reconstructing an accurate image of the ancient shark, which was named to honor Carl Mehling, a senior museum specialist for the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). The shark’s ancient origins and recent identification have been made possible by CT scans, digital reconstruction, and years of careful work carried out by Bronson alongside Alan Pradel, John Denton, and John Maisey. The findings were recently published by the journal Geodiversitas.

    Cosmoselachus mehlingi is distinctly important, according to Bronson, due to the fact that its ancestors survived a catastrophic mass extinction that killed 95% of the fish population in the Devonian period.

    “In the wake of these extinctions, we often have what we call an adaptive radiation where the groups that make it through can then diversify into all these niches that were left open,” Bronson said.

    The acidic and anoxic environment of Arkansas’ Fayetteville Shale preserved the shark’s delicate cartilage for millions of years until the 1970’s, when Royal and Gene Mapes, the husband and wife duo, discovered the fossil. The Mapes would eventually donate the specimen to the AMNH. 

    “Cartilage is really rare in the fossil record, because it’s soft and squishy, and usually microbes break it down before it can fossilize,” Bronson said.

    The rare preservation of the shark’s cartilage allowed Bronson and her collaborators to use CT scanning to digitally reconstruct the ancient shark’s biological structure and identify one of its most unique attributes, gill covers.

    “It’s made of little rays of cartilage that grow off of its gill arches,” Bronson said. “In our shark, unlike anything that’s been described in any cartilaginous fish, they’re all fused together.” 

    The gill covers may have functioned to help close the gill openings, according to Bronson. Though gill covers are found today in ratfish, Bronson and her colleagues’ statistical testing showed that it is unlikely that ratfish are descendents of the group of fishes that includes Cosmoselachus mehlingi. Additionally, the digital reconstruction revealed that the ancient shark had widely spaced teeth with tooth-like scales in between.

      Bronson and her colleagues’ work to identify Cosmoselachus mehlingi gives scientists a valuable glimpse into our ancient world and another datapoint that aids in our understanding of evolution over time.

    “Once you have an understanding of the long branching pattern of evolution, you can reconstruct the way that traits evolved over time with a group like cartilaginous fishes that’s been successful for more than 400 million years, and made it through multiple mass extinction events to now be the dominant predators of the ocean,” Bronson said. “A lot of evolution is just like, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

  • Smelting in the water

    Smelting in the water

    Cal Poly Humboldt fisheries professor is working with local tribes to create better fishing stewardship practices.

    By Gabriel Zucker

    Jose Marin Jarrin is a new assistant professor in the department of fisheries biology at Cal Poly Humboldt. He is leading a new form of fishery science in Northern California, using empathy and understanding when talking with impoverished communities. He is originally from South America and he never forgets where he came from. 

    “Being Latinx, I’m also from a historically excluded community,” Marin Jarrin said. “So I saw a lot of similarities.”

    Marin Jarrin was recently awarded a little over $1.1 million from the California Climate Action Seed Grant to research climate change resilience by looking at tribal fishery practices. His goal is to reinvigorate Northern California fishery research, while also building a center that will last for years. 

    He is working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and multiple local tribes, such as The Blue Lake Rancheria, Resighini Rancheria, Tolowa Dee-Ni’ Nation, and other smaller indigenous communities. Each native group was able to pick a fish that has historical and cultural value to their tribe. The fish that are being mainly researched are green sturgeon and smelt. Five grad students are working with Marin Jarrin, acting as liaisons for the different Rancherias. On top of doing research all over Northern California, the tribes and researchers have a monthly meeting where they go over the progress and find where they can improve.

    Creating a trusting relationship with the Indigenous communities is important. To solidify this relationship, Marin Jarrin signed a data sharing agreement with all of the tribes, giving them final say on what information is published. Historically this has not been the case, and some even admitted they had never been asked to do this before.

    “The researchers would go in, ask the tribes to participate, and then the tribes don’t get a say on how the data is used,” Marin Jarrin said. “And so, one of the things we wanted to ensure is that the tribes had complete ownership of that data. For the most part, they’re not too concerned about fishery species, they’re more interested in preserving their cultural data and history. What they don’t want is for people to just take information from them and disseminate in ways that are sometimes not correct or hurtful to the tribe.”

    Laurie Richmond is an environmental science and management professor at Cal Poly Humboldt. She has worked with the tribes for years, working a quarter time for California Sea Grant as an extension specialist. Where she connects local communities with coastal science knowledge. Her role for the study is in a partner advisory role, where she offers advice and direction when grad students need a new perspective. She has been working with Marin Jarrin since the beginning of the grant and is elated at the way he is going about his research.

    “I think it’s a really new way to be a scientist that I think [Marin Jarrin] is pursuing,” Richmond said. “It’s really exciting and it requires a lot of skills that scientists don’t always have, like building partnerships and facilitating and thinking about ethics. He’s done a great job of trying to learn those things, and he has some of those because of his unique background that he brings as a scientist.”

    To record the biodiversity of the fish in different areas, grad students are using environmental DNA metabarcoding techniques, giving them data about all of the animals that have come into that area.

    “If a fish swims by, it’ll leave its DNA in the water column,” Marin Jarrin said. “If you were to collect a sample and filter out the DNA from that, you can identify what species of fish was there. The idea is that if you then go around taking samples throughout the whole coast, you can identify all the fish – actually, not just fish. From bacteria all the way to mammals.”

    Before conducting this research, they had to work with the California Fish and Wildlife department. The advisor on the grant is Kenneth Oda, a former Humboldt State University student, who is with the Marine Region and works on the State Managed Finfish Research and Management Project. Oda gives advice and helps review the proposals before they are submitted. 

    “I was just asked to be an advisor… we approve protocols, if they’re gonna be taking fish, we need to have that spelled out, and the methodologies as well,” Oda said. “We review their permit application and then approve it. I also help them with protocols regarding surf perch and red tail.”

    Olivia Boeberitz, one of the graduate students on the team, just moved to Humboldt. She chose Humboldt partly because of this research project, and the opportunity to work closely with Indigenous tribes. She has been studying fisheries since 2020, focusing on fish that inhabit both freshwater and green water. This made the transition from inland to coastal easier. 

    “I’m working specifically with Blue Lake Rancheria on green sturgeon… I’m designing a project to get some baseline information on how green sturgeon are using Humboldt Bay,” she said. “There hasn’t been much of any research, at all, of green sturgeons in this area.”

    Boeberitz is in the methods phase of her research project. She is running through a couple ideas for data collection. She wants to use acoustic receivers, alerting if any previously tagged fish are using these areas. She is also planning to use satellite tags  on fish off the coast. None of the actual research will be conducted until the summer.

    Right now, she is most excited about working and meeting with the tribes. She has worked with tribes before, but never one on one.

    “I see and talk to them very frequently,” Boeberitz said. “As soon as I produce any drafts for my proposal, as soon as I come up with a schedule, they’re going to be incorporated every step of the way. Their feedback is both incredible and extremely valuable. I’m working on this project for them, they’re the center of this project. They’re guiding me – giving the guidance they need to start putting together what our goals are.”

    Marin Jarrin is changing how people view the scientific process. He is finding paths of communication that are not usually seen in western science. He is not just doing research, he is creating positive social change.

    “I want to help communities that have been historically excluded, to be better – better informed and the different techniques and methods they could be using to manage their fisheries,” Marin Jarrin said. “We want to empower people right. Our community to tribal communities, but to the community at large in the far north of California, so that they feel they are more capable of being stewards of their resources. But also, the students that we bring, we want to prepare the best students we can because they can go out… and bring this idea of diversity, equity, and inclusion to the next job that they take.”