APRIL 14, 2015
A&E
SPORTS
PAGE 7
Final decision, Tanaina Center will leave UAA in May for good Child Development Center announces partnership with St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
PHOTOS BY JAMES EVANS
Ken Baitsholts and his daughter hold signs protesting the planned eviction of Tanaina Child Development Center as UAA Chancellor Tom Case and his cabinet members hold a prioritization open forum in the student union. The center, which has been on campus since 1979, received an eviction notice from UAA on January 27th and will be leaving UAA in May to relocate temporarily to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church until they find a permanent location.
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The UAA Chancellor’s Cabinet has reiterated the decision to evict Tanaina Child Development Center. However, hope is not lost for Tanaina, which has announced a new partnership with St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. The church is located a few blocks from UAA, on the corner of Tudor and Lake Otis Parkway. “When we were invited by St. Mary’s to use their space, I was relieved. My staff and I feel stable and full of hope again,” said Tanaina director Stefanie O’Brien. The Chancellor’s Cabinet issued Tanaina Child Development Center an eviction notice Jan. 27, terminating their 36-year partnership. Since then, a university task force recommended Tanaina be allowed to return to UAA in the fall and remain on campus for two to three years while the center raised funds for renovating a new off-campus space. However, according to a press release from the Tanaina Child Development Center issued April 9, the Chancellor’s Cabinet rejected their recommendations, finalizing the decision to evict Tanaina.
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This is when Tanaina’s board of directors approached St. Mary’s about collaborating with them. “We have a long history with Tanaina. Many of their families are our families. We share the same or similar philosophies of early childhood development and learning,” stated St. Mary’s Rector Michael Burke in the press release. “This is simply another way we live out our mission to make sure all are welcome at St. Mary’s.” “Together, this partnership will allow Tanaina to keep its doors open and continue to offer Anchorage families early childhood education and childcare services,” the press release stated. St. Mary’s says the Tanaina Center and St. Mary’s Creative Playschool program will not converge. They will simply share space. “Each organization, which has a long history itself, is going to continue as their own fully functional organization,” Burke said in a phone interview. “At this point, each group and each classroom will be scheduling their own time on the playground. Each classroom, and of course the Tanaina classrooms, will be different than the St. Mary’s Creative Playschool classrooms,” he said.
Violence on campus trails sparks fear in community By Victoria Petersen
vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org
John Sallee
jsallee@thenorthernlight.org
In light of the recent violence on the trail systems near UAA, students who walk, bike or run these trails are becoming more cautious. UAA international studies major Madeline Neel uses the trail daily to get to and from class. “I love the trail system behind UAA ... l walk there still, but not as frequently,” Neel said. In the last few months, assaults and suspicious activity have reported on or near the university campus. A sexual assault near the Mosquito Lake trail on the Alaska Pacific University campus was reported April 7. Anchorage Police Department and the University Police department are jointly investigating the assault. “Last year, when my friend was at the dorms, her and I would walk the trails almost every day at all hours of the day or night. We never ran into anyone else, and it became almost a meditative experience. We could easily go out and enjoy the nature to ourselves,” Neel said. But last year Neel noticed more homeless camps and foot traffic on the trails, so her path through the woods has changed. “There seem to be more tents hidden or in-use in the woods. Once we’re on the trail it seems ‘safe,’ but we’ve learned to stay away from the typical trail heads, or from Goose Lake where we’ve noticed a lot of questionable foot traffic comes through,” Neel said. ‘’I actually avoid the trails to get to class. That’s why I use my car all the time,” said UAA music student Joy Kil. “From all the incidents that have been happening lately, I’m not going to take my chances. Students should not even have to be worried about their safety when they go to class, but it’s a good thing that the campus police are notifying us when and where an incident happens.” The University of Alaska Police Department is following the protocol for when violence erupts on or near campus and is contacting students and faculty via email. UPD is reminding students to walk in pairs and avoid anything one sees as suspicious. Christie Grenier, a computer science major at UAA, has used the trails to get to class for two years now has noticed a pattern when it comes to the trails and this time of the year. “I don’t think it’s actually getting worse. I just think it’s because of the time of year. Seems like crime usually has a bit of a surge when spring comes. … Last year was similar. Yes, I walk to school a lot, but I don’t usually worry about my safety during the day so it hasn’t stopped me from doing that, just got to make sure to steer clear of parks and trails once it starts getting dark, especially if I’m alone. Some areas are worse than others,” Grenier said. The trails are available for not only all UAA students, but for the public as well. When walking the trail systems, it is recommended to walk in pairs during the daytime, and to be aware of one’s surroundings. No one should have to worry about getting assaulted when utilizing the trails, but preventative measures are suggested.
PHOTO BY KIERRA HAMMONS
Parents and children march on February 10 to protest the planned eviction of Tanaina Child Development Center from UAA. The Development Center will now temporarily be located at the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
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Violence on trail systems near campus has many students concerned for their safety while walking to and from campus. UPD sent an email out to students warning them to exercise caution on the trails.
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