Makayla Richardson

Multimedia Journalist with experience in video, print and audio journalism. News Director for NAZ Today. Former Lifestyle Editor for The Lumberjack and News Manager of KJACK Radio. She has experience as an intern for the Flagstaff Bureau of Arizona's Family and KAFF Radio. 

Articles

Written for The Lumberjack, Northern Arizona University's student newspaper.

The Lumberjack •

Having courage in grassroots rallycross

Allison Murao, a rallycross racer from Camp Verde, Arizona, fell silent as her 1997 Honda Civic pulled up to the starting line. The track’s course worker leaned slightly over her car and placed a white flag on the windshield. After looking across the track to the timing booth, the course worker nodded and began counting down to the start of the race.

When the course worker pulled the flag off Mauro’s car, she pressed her foot all the way down on the accelerator and began her first timed trial i
The Lumberjack •

Punk "The Man"

Loud noise, bodies slamming into each other and head thrashing often accompany the aggressive nature of punk music. Lyrics about going against “The Man” or tearing down mainstream society are associated with the genre rooted in anarchy.

Punk is a subculture that presents itself in fashion, music and attitude. Those who consider themselves punk typically believe in going against what is expected of them from society.

The subculture was born at the CBGB club in New York City in the 1970s before
The Lumberjack •

Simon Says Theatre opens doors for young directors

Editor's note: Parker McGraw's name was previously misstated as Parker McGrath. It has been fixed as of Nov. 21. The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, email Marley Green at mkg249@nau.edu.

One by one, audience members at the Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation read off one of the “million brilliant things” integral to the plot of the play, “Every Brilliant Thing.”

Two of these “brilliant things” were given to each audie
The Lumberjack •

Nothing and everything

my response every time you see

there is something occupying my thoughts

is what I say.

Is everything but.

and the first time I called you mine.

you know the one

where the sun was setting,

the windows were down …

because all I could focus on

Walking and looking at the stars.

I’ve been with you.

and smiling at the ground

I never noticed the little things

but you help me see

The speck of brown in your right eye,

The ever-present pack of gum in your pocket

The scar on your knee from
The Lumberjack •

Hometown Spotlight: Chino Hills, California

Last weekend, I went home for the first time in four months. I love driving home, even if it is a seven-hour drive along I-40. The endless expanses of desert are such an easy obstacle to overcome once I am an hour away from my hometown. All the stores and landmarks on the side of the highway become familiar as my excitement to see my family grows.

When I drove into Chino Hills, California, I felt the sun hit my shoulders through the shade of the trees in a way I can’t seem to find anywhere else
The Lumberjack •

Dash for Daniella: the costumed 5K fundraiser

Butterflies, wizards, an elephant and an Egyptian pharaoh gathered at Buffalo Park on Saturday in preparation for a costumed 5K run to raise money for a young girl living with sickle cell anemia.

At 8 a.m., the fundraiser created most of the foot traffic around the area, with about 35 runners and volunteers. To participate, runners and their families were encouraged to donate whatever money they could rather than paying a set fee. Classic Halloween songs, like “The Monster Mash” and “Thriller,”
The Lumberjack •

The solidarity in spoken word poetry

The artistry Flagstaff is known for extends to the poets walking the streets downtown and echoes through the words of their spoken performances.

Open mics designed to provide space for local poets to showcase their work in different venues throughout the city occur on a weekly basis.

With events hosted by at least four groups each month, poets have their choice of performance locations, each with its own goals and presenting styles.

In the spring, two open mic-style performances began, giving
The Lumberjack •

Talking consent through comedy

Editor’s Note: This story contains mention of sexual assault and violence which some may find disturbing.

Prochnow Auditorium almost reached its full capacity on Wednesday as students found their seats with one question on their mind: “Can I kiss you?” The speaker, wearing a purple suit and offering comedic relief, of the so-titled event grabbed the audience’s attention and took advantage of the space on the stage, walking back and forth while pantomiming his sketches.

Hosted by Campus Living,
The Lumberjack •

Cultivating coffee culture

Residents, tourists and students who visit Flagstaff may be familiar with its Historic Downtown area teeming with storefronts and restaurants. A common sight is coffee shops, 10 of which are located in this area alone.

Longstanding locations, such as Macy’s European Coffee House and Bakery and Late For The Train, have remained in business while several new coffeehouses have opened in Flagstaff since a boom in 2008.

Since these new coffee houses opened their doors, they experienced individual d
The Lumberjack •

Glass ceilings

The broadcast journalism industry is not what I expected it to be. This weekend, I attended the awards and conference for the Broadcast Education Association. I had a fantastic time listening to the panels and speakers while learning a lot of new information to make our NAZ Today broadcast better. However, two particular panels changed my entire perspective on the field I am entering.

On the first day at the conference, one of the opening events was a panel for the top research presentations of
The Lumberjack •

Celebrating literature at the Northern Arizona Book Festival

Bright Side Bookstore closed early on Thursday, March 30. The doors locked to the public at 6:30 p.m., but a silent audience occupied the independent bookstore, hanging onto each word read by Anahi Molina, a graduate student in the NAU Master of Fine Arts creative writing program. Molina read from a collection of essays written for her thesis. Sharing personally-written content was a theme that continued long after the last word was read.

The “Cinder Skies Reading” marked the beginning of the N
The Lumberjack •

Northern Arizona Book Festival: four days, four values

The 26th annual Northern Arizona Book Festival (NOAZBF) will be in Flagstaff from Thursday, March 30 to Sunday, April 2. Partnering with different locations across town, the festival celebrates the northern Arizona community by highlighting local artists and encouraging residents to take interest in literary arts. NOAZBF is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization that works in collaboration with local businesses, artists and publishers.

The festival will include events such as book signings,
The Lumberjack •

Deanna Tsosie: Saving lives and changing minds

Every morning, Deanna Tsosie wakes up to care for an ever-changing number of dogs she provides shelter for. She has made it her duty to assist her community on the Navajo Nation and became well known on social media platforms through her efforts to save the reservation dogs who live there.

Growing up on the reservation, Tsosie said seeing an abundance of strays was normal. In an area as large as West Virginia, there are only two veterinary clinics and no animal rescue centers on the Navajo Nati
The Lumberjack •

Flagstaff's "tattitude"

In spite of the stigma surrounding individuals with tattoos, tattoo culture is evolving. In 2023, it was reported over 145 million Americans have a tattoo.

Flagstaff serves as a prime location for a diverse tattoo community to develop: It welcomes over 6 million tourists annually. Its location on Route 66 has brought myriad artistic influences into the industry. Upward of 13 independent tattoo shops are providing their services to the abundance of tourists, college students and locals.

Many of
The Lumberjack •

New club aims to fill the gender gap in film

Women and Non Binary Individuals in Film Club (WANBIF), the newest club on campus, has been established at NAU to help foster a community of people who are not heavily represented in the film industry. The club invited students interested in the film industry to join their first meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 25 in the John Haeger Health and Learning Center.

As students walked into the classroom, they were welcomed by Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” playing through the speakers. Posters lined one of the
The Lumberjack •

Exploring Lumberjack country

Northern Arizona is home to over 95 hiking trails and is surrounded by states that value outdoor exploration such as Utah and Nevada. One group at NAU takes pride in exploring these trails and appreciating the natural beauty that surrounds Lumberjack country.

As the oldest club on campus, the NAU Hiking Club travels to trails as close as Humphrey’s Peak to locations as far as Zion National Park in Utah.

The club was founded in 1927 and since then has not lost its importance on campus, with a l
The Lumberjack •

Outdoor education: The future of schooling

The Glen Canyon Outdoor Academy is one of the first schools in northern Arizona to implement what could be the future of education. The public charter school uses a hybrid learning system, called Expeditionary Learning, to create a relationship between outdoor learning and a modified indoor curriculum.

The academy opened its doors for the first time this August to 90 children ranging from first- to sixth-grade.

Susan Pilkington is the director of operations, director of special services and pr
The Lumberjack •

Humans of NAU: National Women’s Small Business Month

October is National Women’s Small Business Month. This national celebration provides an opportunity to recognize the hard-working women on campus who balance schoolwork and managing their own livelihood. The Open-Air Market is a seasonal farmers market-esque event where business owners are able to display their work or sell their products.

Business Name: At the time of publishing, Grace’s business name was undecided.

“I make handmade candles. I thrift jars or mugs and turn them into candles an
The Lumberjack •

“Rocky Horror”: More than a cult classic

The city of Flagstaff waits in “antici…pation” for the return of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” each year and the eccentric traditions that ensue within The Orpheum Theater during showings. For most “Rocky” fans, the meaning of this film extends far past its zany storyline.

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is traditionally shown near Halloween and attendees are encouraged to dress for the event in such a way that reflects the camp-like nature of the film. Guests are encouraged to indulge in the
The Lumberjack •

“My story”: Becoming a voice for those who were silenced

Editor's Note: This article contains mentions of sexual assault and may be triggering to some.

At the time of publication, The Lumberjack staff was in contact with the NAU Title IX office regarding any potential clarifications or updates to the office's current operations.

Sexual assault is the most underreported crime on college campuses. However, there are survivors who choose to share their story in hopes of receiving justice. Megan Campeau, a senior, reported her sexual assault but said ju
The Lumberjack •

Navigating the Red Zone

While the beginning of the school year can bring about many positive experiences in a student’s life, they should also be aware of the very real dangers it can harbor. On a college campus, the threat of sexual assault is never more prominent than it is during these first few months of autumn.

The #MeToo movement calls this period of heightened sexual assault cases “The Red Zone.”

The Red Zone spans from the beginning of the school year to Thanksgiving break. More than 50% of all on-campus sexu