08-23-11Kick-off_final by The Northern Light

Get Smart: 2011 Kick-Off Guide

Editorial: Drinking age lowered?

Perks of Public School Public universities prove the better choice for those looking to save on tuition

News page 02

Meet the Seawolf: Micah Savageau TNL interview with senior thespian studying sets, costumes and acting

21 encourages unhealthy drinking behaviours in 18-20 year olds Opinion page 12

A&E page B7

Popular professors: top, bottom five

Overtime: music and sports

Ratemyprofessor.com scores for UAA professors. How do yours compare?

Science su[[prts the connection between athletic performance and beats

Features page 08

Index:

News.....A2

Features.....A3 Opinion.....A5

A&E.....B2

Sports page B10

Sports......B6

02 CAMPUS BRIEFS

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News| Kick-Off Guide

Alaska World Affairs Council offering free lectures for students For students interested in meeting former ambassadors or current writers for the Economist, the Alaska World Affairs Council continues to offer free lectures for UAA students throughout this academic year. The next presenter, Chris Paul De Cure, is an Australian Consul General. “Australia and Alaska: Is China’s demand for resources shifting the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region?” is scheduled for August 26 at the Hilton. Student Life and Leadership launches “Snackin Wagon” The “Snackin wagon” will continue its sporadic roam through the halls of UAA this fall semester. Wherever it pops up, students are encouraged to grab a snack. It began when Stephanie Schuman, a student activities member, suggested the group buy a 99 dollar wagon from Costco. While there, they would fill up on snacks, everything from hi-c’s to Grandma’s cookies. Jenna Roosdette, also with student activities, has supervised it over the summer. She made the banner on its sides and composed the shopping list for the hundreds of snacks in the wagon. Unlike the scheduled runs that

took place around 3pm during the summer, this semester, the runs will remain unannounced. Students can find out where the snackin wagon is by visiting the UAA Student Activities Facebook page. Pulitzer Prize winning author visits UAA The Honors College is sponsoring Freshman Convocation at the Wendy Williamson Center this Saturday at 3:30. All incoming students to the class of 2015 are welcome to attend. The keynote speaker will be Michael Dirda, a Pulitzer-prize winning author, and book critic for the Washington Post. The post described his work and attitude in the following: “Although he earned a Ph.D. in comparative literature from Cornell, Dirda has somehow managed to retain a myopic 12-year-old’s passion for reading. He particularly enjoys comic novels, intellectual history, lockedroom mysteries, innovative fiction of all sorts.” Freshman Convocation has been held since 2002. For several years, Convocation occurred along with kick off. In 2005, 47 student camps joined representatives of academic colleges to bombard students with information. Since then, it has been hosted in the Wendy Williamson center as a distinct event.

SAY WHAT?

PHOTO/ALESSANDRA TARANTINO

Crackdown on gladiator impersonators in Rome ROME (AP) -- Undercover police have donned togas, capes and sandals to stop a turf battle among Italians who impersonate gladiators outside the Colosseum and other landmarks in Rome and

make money by posing for camera carrying tourists. The trade has been tolerated for years, but that was before about 20 of the practitioners began assaulting and intimidating their competitors to take over lucrative tourist spots such as the Colosseum, the Forum and the Vatican, officials and police said Friday. So police decided to intervene disguised as gladiators, garbage

collectors and tourists, but their operation at the ancient arena and the nearby Piazza Venezia wasn’t easy. On Wednesday, police impersonating gladiators were attacked when they told competitors to leave the scene, but police dressed as garbage collectors and tourists came to their rescue. The Rome newspaper Il Messaggero said one suspect demanded the money a woman tourist had paid for a photo of herself with a gladiator, but it turned out the pair in the photograph were both undercover officers. Italian media carried photos or TV footage showing a handcuffed gladiator being taken away and a policeman pretending to be a tourist wrapping an arm around a gladiator’s neck. None of the civilian gladiators were arrested while the probe continues. Antonio Gazzellone, the mayor’s point man for tourism, said there are no regulations controlling the activity of such gladiators but that parliament is considering a law that would allow police to quickly intervene in case of aggressive behavior by the impersonators.

Ohio shop’s classical music seems to cut loitering COLUMBUS,

Ohio

(AP)

-- Shoppers and employees say an Ohio convenience store has fewer people hanging around and hassling customers since the business started blaring classical music. Customers tells WBNS-TV that loitering has declined quickly outside the United Dairy Farmers location in the Columbus Short North neighborhood. Workers who’ve also noticed a change say the new music went on earlier this week as part of upgrades at the store. Shopper Allie Beck says the classical music is loud - she can hear it all the way down the street. But she says it’s an improvement over all the people who used to ask for change or bother passers-by outside the store.

Stolen tombstones found during Calif. meth raid LOMA LIDA, Calif. (AP) -Authorities said Wednesday that narcotics investigators raiding a Southern California home during a methamphetamine bust found something odd in the backyard - two dozen granite and marble tombstones. One of the stolen grave markers was traced to the nearby Montecito Memorial Park in Colton, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles, said San Bernardino County sheriff’s spokeswoman Cynthia Bachman. “Some of them may be from other cemeteries,” she said. Investigators were trying to

locate family members so the markers can be returned to the proper place in graveyards.The 24 tombstones scattered around the site of Tuesday’s drug bust have an estimated value of $48,000, she said. Deputies said the suspects were selling methamphetamines from the residence. While in the backyard during the raid, deputies noticed tombstones weighing hundreds of pounds each. “The strange thing is, they don’t have any value to these suspects,” Bachman said. “They are made of stone. Sure, they have sentimental value to the families, but they are worth nothing to these people.” During the raid at Loma Linda home, deputies served a search warrant and arrested a resident. John Bleuer was booked for investigation of methamphetamine possession and sales, possession of firearms and possession of stolen property. Three other residents identified in the warrant - Steve Hansen, Lisa Jackson and Louis Anchelowitz - weren’t home at the time of the raid and weren’t in custody on Wednesday, Bachman said. All four are expected to be charged and arraigned on Thursday. The Montecito cemetery, built in 1927, is operated by Houstonbased Service Corporation International. A Montecito cemetery receptionist referred callers to the SCI press office, which didn’t immediately return telephone messages.

Kick-Off Guide | NEWS

Public option often cheapest

The Perks of Public School Tuition Parking Permit for the Semester

Princeton University

Oberlin College

UAA

CalTeach

Yale University

UAA

1st Replacement Card

Basic School Sweatshirt

$200

Transportation Fee

UAA

Pomona College

Cheapest Possible Undergraduate Student Fee

UAA

$15

Reed College

$32

(read the blurb!)

UAA

Boston College

Cornell University

$40

Whitman College

$35

Columbia University

$1,143

$10 $187

$347

$10

Wheaton College

$1,700

Rice University

$470 - $516

*average of yearly pass *for 5 months George Washington Clark University University

UAA

$28

Vassar College

$44,050

$42,842

$37,000

$160

*If permit price varied with lot, looked for main campus permit.

Cheapest Meal Plan Available

UAA

$5,016

$2,294

$45.95

Wellesley College

$3,100

University of San Francisco

Emory University

Brown University

New York University

$298

$110

$446

$118

$1,131

GRAPHIC BY NICHOLAS FOOTE

Matt Caprioli News Editor

UAA was cheaper compared to national private schools in almost every way. The only category they appeared to have competition was with meal plans. Some private schools offered more meal plan options than UAA, some of which were cheaper. Seattle University by far had the most meal plan options of any school that was examined; their cheapest was $600 per semester.

Have to hand it to UAA for breaking down exactly how student fees are spent. Many schools lump everything into a vague “student activity fee.” Of all schools listed, only Emory and University of San Francisco (and UAA, of course) listed how exactly they spent some of the student fee on public transportation for students. Private schools are not nearly as close with local government as public schools. UAA can manage a very good deal with

People Mover precisely because it’s a state school. Nearly 1,200 students use their wolf card to ride the bus everyday, according to the municipality’s public transportation office. Unlimited, year-long bus bases run around 500 dollars. Were UAA to buy such a bus for each of its 16,000 students, the cost would be 8 million dollars. Because of the cost, many private schools cannot offer unlimited public transportation. On paper, tuition for private

schools is astronomically high. It should be remembered though that this is a sticker price, and in reality, the majority of students do not pay that grand total. In

fact, they tend to receive more financial aid. (Still, on average, they graduate with more debt).

FALL 2011 HNRS A192 HONORS SEMINAR: ENDURING BOOKS Winston Churchill’s The River War Section 601: Tuesdays, 4:00 – 6:45pm CRN 76688

Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Climate Change

HNRS A292 HONORS SEMINAR IN SOCIAL SCIENCES Understanding Health Disparities in Asian and Pacific Islanders Section 601: Thursdays, 1:00 – 3:45pm CRN 76706

Section 602: Monday/Wednesday, 11:30am – 12:45pm CRN 76691

Contemporary Issues in Higher Education – Alaska and Beyond

Limits to Growth Revisited

Section 602: Monday/Wednesday, 4:00 – 5:15pm CRN 76709

Section 603: Tuesday/Thursday, 10:00 – 11:15am CRN 76695

Bob Dylan’s Chronicles Section 604: Monday/Wednesday, 5:30 - 6:45pm CRN 76701

This course will satisfy 3 credits of your Humanities GER!

Exploring Health Disparities Among Children Section 603: Tuesday/Thursday, 8:30 – 9:45am CRN 78173

This course will satisfy 3 credits of your Social Science GER!

For more information about the University Honors College or for permission to register for an Honors class:

These classes are required for University Honors College students, and open to others with permission from the Honors College.

Visit www.uaa.alaska.edu/honors, Call 786-1086 or Email ayhonor@uaa.alaska.edu

TNL

| Kick-Off Guide

Be sure to check for these places around campus Planetarium E. NORTHERN LIGHTS BLVD

Fireside Cafe

E. BENSON BLVD

Starbucks

CAMPUS MAP

Student Union N

I AL

A UA DR

LAKE

NEW University Center

Cuddy Hall

The Wendy

E. 36th AVE

Consortium Library

Bookstore

SPIR IT

PIPER ST

Alaska-Anchorage

Commons

RD ELMORE

WELNESS ST

OTIS PKWY

HWY SEWARD

OLD SEWARD HWY

Universityof

E. 40th AVE

E. TUDOR RD

GRAPHIC BY CJ BEAUDRIE

FEATURES

Students get connected with ‘Hertz on Demand’ from Parking Services By Alden Lee

Assistant Features Editor

There are two newly posted signs arousing a growing buzz on campus. That tends to happen when get-away cars for students are being advertised. “Tow Away Zone 24h,” the signs declare. Then beneath it: “Connect by Hertz: Get-a-Way Car.” “I’ve already gotten a lot of people asking what these are all about,” said Glenna Muncy, Parking Services Director. “There’s interest stirring, and that’s great.” One sign is planted next to the Wells Fargo Sports Complex, right in front of a sleek red Toyota Camry. The other is placed in the South parking lot across from the Gorsuch Commons—with a silver Ford Escape just begging to be driven. Both are in heavy traffic areas for students. That’s Parking Service’s intention: maximum exposure. The signs are announcing the arrival of a new transport service for students, one that has been delayed since the middle of summer and comes with high anticipation for those involved in bringing it to UAA. Hertz on Demand, the 24/7 car rental service formerly known as Connect by Hertz, makes its debut in Alaska just in time for Campus Kickoff. “I’m excited to see how students

react to this program,” said Muncy. “There’s great potential in boosting ease of transportation at UAA.” Ease is right. Hertz on Demand is designed to make renting a car as simple as possible for students in need of a vehicle. Unlike most car rental services, the age requirement for Hertz on Demand is 18. Students sign up on the Hertz on Demand website (www.hertzondemand.com) and if they are accepted—driving records are reviewed to make sure the vehicles won’t be placed in incapable hands. The user will be issued a Smart Access Card, a PIN number, and a member number so they can start making reservations for a car. There’s no membership fee; students only pay for the car when they’re driving it. The rental costs are $8 an hour, or $62 for a full day, and covered in this cost are both—wait for it—gas and insurance. Students don’t have to worry about fuel costs or anything else; it’s all taken care of. And students can rent the vehicle whenever they need it, either through the website or by calling 877-654-4400, at any time of the day or night. “Finally getting it here is good,” said UAA Sustainability Director Paula Williams. “This will really improve the way students get around campus, and allow them to go places in Alaska

they may have never been able to before. The immediate access is also a definite bonus.” The Camry and the Escape both come with plenty of features: • Hertz NeverLost navigation system • iPod adapter • Bluetooth wireless system • 24-hour roadside assistance • In-car communication at the press of a button • Swipe-in locks with the user Smart Card The cars will be officially unveiled at Campus Kickoff at the Parking Services booth—Muncy said she plans to offer test drives and a short run-through of how the vehicles work for students throughout the day. She believes large exposure to this new program will change students’ opinions of Parking Services, and get students excited to use Hertz on Demand. “We’d like people to realize that Parking Services deals with more than just enforcing lines in a parking lot,” she said. “This program is awesome for helping students get where they need to go.”Williams agrees. “It’ll take a little while for people to change their driving habits, but once the impact of Hertz on Demand catches on, there’ll be a large improvement in transportation at UAA,” Williams said. “And that’ll have a great sustainability effect.”

SEX SEAW LF AND THE

Mama’s Boys: The thin line between caring and obsessive By Megan Edge Sports Editor

The line between cute and creepy for clingy guys never seems to be wider than dental floss, and is constantly teetering. Some say it’s sweet how in love they are, others say it’s awful being so obsessed, but what separates the two is solely decided on how far someone is willing to go to please a loved one. In this specific case I am not referring to the boys that send you constant text messages when you are apart asking where you are and who you are with. Nor the boys that do a late night drive by to see if you are home safe where you told them you would be. I am specifically talking about mama’s boys. The ones who, after all these years, still can’t seem to cut the umbilical cord and let go. But as I mentioned before, there is a narrow line between the two; so here are some examples of each. This previous Valentine’s Day, after a long day, my significant other took me out for a bite to

eat at our favorite little sushi restaurant before we headed over to his place to exchange gifts for our first V-Day. He gave me an incredibly soft and fuzzy blanket that I snuggle up in on a regular basis. In return I gave him a batch of four extra large, homemade cupcakes with a chocolate covered cherry atop cream cheese frosting. Now, this may seem romantic, and it was, but the events that followed were what made me fall for him even more, and made me realize just how lucky I truly was. The garage door opened up and he jumped out of his chair to greet his mother, who had just gotten home after a long day of work. With him he carried a bouquet of roses, which he handed to her and wished her a happy Valentine’s Day. This gesture came across to me as incredibly sweet, an attempt to make his single mother feel loved on that day. Since then I have noticed other sweet things; he makes time to eat dinner with her, helps her with small tasks around the house without a complaint and

See Clingy page 6

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FEATURES| Kick-Off Guide

CLINGY: when it’s too much mom

a humor column by Alden Lee

By Alden Lee

Assistant Features Editor

College is back in session, ladies and gentlemen. We’ve been dreading its arrival for weeks and weeks—ever since that horrible realization kicked in that once again we’d have to scrounge for textbook money and buy those ridiculous parking stickers—but now it’s here and we’ve got to suck it up and jump back in. The prospect of setting studies aside in favor of randomized YouTube surfing is in the air, as well as the smell of stale popcorn and way too much Old Spice. This is the real deal. The whole shebang. Whoo-ee momma, we’re off and running. What cracks me up the most about college is the movies can never get it right. I have yet to see an honestly accurate depiction of the college life on film. You’re not going to find giant kegger fraternity parties exploding with drunken antics every single night. There will be no class for learning how to blow crap up with your mind. And Van Wilder won’t come console you sans pants when you’re stressed out enough to jump off the Conoco Phillips Science Building. That’s not to say there’s plenty to look forward to. Classes may be looming over us like Andre the Giant at a daycare facility, but these special little moments of college life make the whole thing a little more bearable: Using one set of dishes for the entire semester—just rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat. Caked-on spaghetti sauce? Curdled milk residue? Crystallized ramen flavoring? Nothing a little dish soap and water can’t take care of, and it all adds to the taste of the next meal. You’re just building up an immune system of steel.

• A constant lack of toilet paper—either your roommate is secretly a chronic TP hoarder, you’re using too many squares to do the clean-up job, or the stuff is dissolving into thin air…but it’s a universal truth that there is never enough damn toilet paper when you need it. • The deep moral struggle on whether to attend your morning class—will you succumb to the incessant ringing and go to your mandatory 9 am Applied Calculus lecture, or will you overpower your alarm clock, sleep in until some satisfactory hour of the afternoon, and call it a well-earned personal day? A more difficult decision has yet to be encountered—especially at 8:55 in the morning. Of course, you should’ve just not scheduled a morning class to begin with, you dummy. • Finding out those used textbooks you paid slightly-lessthan-a-fortune for have all been faithfully highlighted in eyewatering yellow and blue—thank you previous owner, whose eyes evidently operate at an inhuman level of vibrancy, for turning these books into the equivalent of an overly expensive acid trip. • Returning to find a clothes hanger on your door and Third Eye Blind playing from within—obviously your roommate values the cleanliness of their own room too much to engage in their private business there, and your room is up for grabs. Don’t worry; you’ve always got the couch to crash on. Make sure to put in your headphones— those walls are thin. …which is about as pointless as trying to lip-read Darth Vader. …which is about as pointless as getting into a staring contest with Vader.

are, in my opinion, charming and caring, but when does it become too much? Just a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine in her early twenties called me, in tears, to tell me the news about her latest relationship. What was once a happy relationship had come to a sad end when the man’s mother just didn’t approve of her My friend, who for this we will call Sarah, then began frantically hashing out the details of the split. Sarah is the mother of a handsome two-year-old boy. Like any decent single parent, she knew that at the age of 22 most men are not ready to become parents to a child that is not theirs. Therefore, she has never hidden the fact that she is a mother. Sarah was ecstatic

when her boyfriend accepted both her and her child for who they were. Eventually, the three of them set off to meet the boyfriend’s mother, a rather old fashioned Hispanic lady and the mother of seven. She began asking Sarah questions about her previous relationship with the baby’s father. His mother was fine with the situation until she asked why she was not wed to the child’s father. Sarah’s answer was simple, that her ex ended up not being the man she thought he was. He put both her and her child in danger, and she did what was best for the both of them. The mother just wouldn’t have it, and proceeded to call Sarah several choice names before

kicking her out of the house and forbidding her from ever returning or seeing her son. This put Sarah’s boyfriend in a hard place. Disobey his mother, or forget Sarah and move on? He chose the latter. After thirty minutes of Sarah sobbing and raving furiously over the phone to me, she called him a mama’s boy. I agreed. What was the difference between the man who broke one of my dearest friend’s heart and my own man? They are both mamas’ boys but one is exceedingly caring yet still remains an independent adult, while the other has been whipped into submission and allows his mother to make all of his life’s decisions for him.

Kick-Off Guide | FEATURES

TNL

Online bus tracking system takes the guessingin-the-cold game out of bus arrivals for students

The old bus tracking system is new to many students and residents who are unaware of its existence

By Ashley Snyder Features Editor

Many students at UAA use the People Mover bus system to get to and from school every day. There are numerous buses available all over Anchorage and free to ride for any student who has an Alaska University ID. It is an alternative for students who don’t want to shell out the cash

A screenshot of the People Mover online bus tracking system

for a parking pass, or the money for gas. While a free ride is appreciated, there are downsides to using public transportation. Among the concerns that students have are the occasional drunks that meander onto the bus and cause havoc, the extra amount of time it takes to get anywhere because it’s not usually a straight

route to a person’s destination, and it is continuously stopping for other passengers making it run even later. “I had a class at 8 in the morning last semester, and I had to be outside and on the bus at 6 in order to get to school in time and get to class before it started,” said student Amanda Sterling. Another set-back to riding the

bus is being stuck outside in the middle of winter, waiting for a bus that may be running late. Because a person usually doesn’t know how late it is running, they have to stand outside and remain at the bus stop so that they won’t miss the bus. To amend this, most major bus stops have an electronic board that displays all of the arrival times of the buses to that stop. For the rest of the stops, they have little to rely on, and end up sitting at an uncovered bus stop waiting unpleasantly in the dreary cold. Student Terry Vogul knows the feeling, “It’s always a guessing game because you want to get to the bus stop early in case the bus is running early, but if it isn’t running on time then you have to wait outside even longer until it comes. Sometimes in the winter when buses get stuck, you don’t know and you are just waiting for the bus that seems like it will never come.” What many students do not know is that the Municipality of Anchorage has had an online system for tracking buses for

several years. It was originally created as a way for the Muni to track the buses and adjust their time schedules based on how early or late a bus got through its route. Then it was decided that the system would be useful for the people of the community, and made it public for everyone to use. Accessible via computer, tablet, or smart phone, this system makes it easy for a student to check the schedule of their bus, and stay inside until the estimated arrival time or make a dash to the stop if they are running late. It is also useful for just running around town.“The system loads pretty well on my iPhone. It’s great when I don’t have a computer that I can easily access. I use it all the time on my phone when I’m taking the bus to get around town too,” said Peter Larkin. While the system isn’t perfect yet, it is the best alternative to waiting outside wondering if the bus will ever come. The bus tracker can be found online at: http://bustracker. muni.org/InfoPoint/

@ your library: The Yoko Ono of poetry By Matt Caprioli News Editor

Ted Hughes is perhaps best known for being the husband of Sylvia Plath. He’s sort of the Yoko Ono of the poetry world. For 35 years after Plath’s suicide, Hughes said nothing of the relationship, and many a feminist accused of him of driving his wife to kill herself (the fact that his second wife also killed herself didn’t help his case). He broke his silence 3 months before his death, knowing he was terminally ill, and published “Birthday Letters.” In short, this work is amazing. I’ve never read a more palpable confirmation of love. It fulfills one tenet of great literature in being entirely sincere. Of course the paparazzi behind their relationship makes their relationship highly visible to contemporary readers. Gwyneth Paltrow portrayed Plath in the 2003 film “Sylvia.” Lady Gaga references Plath in “Dancer in the Dark.” There is the “Sylvia Plath Effect” for psychologists. The couple was attractive, ambitious, and well connected. The persona amplifies the reader’s feeling, but even if we knew nothing about their relationship, formally this is a powerful book. The first poem begins were their relationship did, in college. Hughes was a Fulbright scholar from England when he met Plath in Boston.

“Birthday Letters” is more of a narrative than a collection of poems with loosely related themes. The theme is Plath, and his retrospective evaluation of what happened during their eight years of marriage. The poems tell how they travel the world. She loved Paris but hated Spain, where he felt at home. They do cool things. She cities Chaucer to a herd of cows, they visit the home of Emily Bronte, they’re caught in a storm near Cape Cod. Hughes was fascinated with America. He pairs deep emotions with products like Nescafe and Kleenex. Remembering his honeymoon with Plath, he writes, “you were slim and lithe and smooth as a fish./ You were a new world. My new world./ So this is America, I marveled. Beautiful, beautiful America!” If pages were to reflect the time required for a bit of comprehension, “Birthday Letters” would be 600—not 200, pages. Not that the language is complex—for poetry it’s rather straight-forward, and you’d get a lot from just one reading. But Hughes is so subtle and rich that should you spend some time reading the poem again, your reward is inevitable.

TNL

FEATURES|Kick-Off Guide

You know you want me: Pr By Ashley Snyder and Alden Lee Features Editor and Assistant Features Editor

TNL compiled the (unscientific) ratings at ratemyprofessor.com to show students’ m favorite professors at UAA. Scores are based on ease, helpfulness, clarity, and rater

There’s something to be said for a man who can recite lengthy Romantic poetry from memory, and inspire his students in the world of literature after 41 years of teaching. Described by students as the perfect Southern gentleman, Nunnally is well steeped in the English language.

Communication is pointless if a student is not engaged in what is going on. That’s this professor’s approach to every class—making sure his students are motivated and talking up a storm. Students agree that these are some of the best courses UAA has.

Instead of blinding his students with science, Associate Professor Pfeiffer shines a new light on the subject Students believe his lectures are very informative and a great choice for anyone either majoring in Biology or just interested in the subject .

Kick-Off Guide | FEATURES

rofessor Popularity Contest

most and least r’s interest in subject

Chemistry can be a cool topic, and Professor Summers really heats things up in her courses. Students admit that she can be tough at times, but she has been rated by the students as an effective and invaluable professor.

With classes like “Communicating Mathematical Ideas” and “Partial Differential Equations” most students would be wary to take them. But According to students, math Professor Foster’s witty sense of humor and patience with struggling students makes him an appealing choice for a professor. .

GRAPHIC BY VICENTE CAPALA AND CJ BEAUDRIE

Find Meaningful Work. Earn money, help others and learn about a growing industry— all from a part-time position. Helping others can be meaningful work. Flexible hours are available—full-time or part-time—while you’re in school. Job opportunities are available all over Alaska. Jobs where you will make a positive difference for people of all ages who have developmental disabilities, mental illness, chronic alcoholism and other substance related disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, and traumatic brain injury. Curious? Find out more at aadsc.org

The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority www.aadsc.org

Tina Woods Ph.D., Anchorage and Saint Paul. Graduate of UAF-UAA Clinical-Community Psychology Program.

www.mhtrust.org

EDITORIAL

OPINION

12 The Northern Light

Old enough to fight for country, old enough to have a drink in own country Let’s see a show of hands. How many people reading this have ever had an illegal drink before they were 21 years old? How many have seen themselves or a friend get caught drinking while under age and thought it was an absolutely ridiculous thing to be busted for? The simple fact is that 18 year olds receive the right to vote, get married, and go into the military three whole years before they can have a beer legally. We’re talking about handing out life-altering responsibilities but leaving one major one out. America is at the top of a list when it comes to the having highest drinking age enforced in

the world. Only Indonesia, Palau, and Mongolia match the US in allowing young adults to consume alcohol only when they reach 21 years of age. We can’t kid ourselves; alcohol is a big responsibility no matter at what age it is granted. To not allow an adult the right to drink until 21 is not only insulting, it is proving to be more harmful than ever intended. When Congress originally passed this legislation in the mid1980’s, it was done with the best of intentions to lower alcoholrelated accidents and fatalities in vehicles. The group, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), was the driving force behind the

issue getting into the national spotlight. It’s been over 20 years since US Congress passed the law to raise the minimum legal drinking age, and the debate that has ensued has never seemed to lose its steam. Though statistics have shown a small decline in alcohol-related accidents in the country, it has given way to a problem everyone knows about but doesn’t really question. Underage drinking has become more and more noticeable but is often glanced over and even accepted. Though local law officers enforce this infraction, kids still continue to drink. They go underground and find ways to

2015 !

avoid getting caught. There is never a shortage of people, older siblings, or even parents/guardians who will supply the booze for their underage kids. Kids looking to drink will find a way to get their hands on some alcohol and then will move into the shadows, so to speak. It is in these shadows that binge drinking has become the problem that needs addressed. Most of us know how it goes: you gather up your friends, find a buyer, gather up a meeting spot to discuss the prospective place or places to drink, and then hit it hard when you get there. These binge drinking sessions often lead to tragic instances of alcohol poisoning and poor decision making that wouldn’t occur if young adults were in bars, surrounded by an older and more responsible crowd instead of in the woods out by Eklutna. Kids have all different sorts of reasons to go out and drink. Some do it to be cool, others do it because it’s something to do, others do it to fit in. However, most of them are in over their heads from the start and it’s simply because they haven’t been educated about alcohol use. More and more kids are facing down Minor in Consumption (MIC) charges and it has become one of these most common juvenile offenses kids pick up before the age of 21. So how do we fix the problem? Simple, educate the kids and give them the responsibility of drinking at an earlier age. If they’re truly considered adults at the age of 18, then why not let them consume alcohol. What argument is there really? Are 18-year-old kids more likely to drive drunk than when they’re 21? More and more people are seeing the stupidity of driving drunk and that the law is coming down harder than ever on those who choose to drive drunk. What about the maturity level differences? Yes, an 18-year-old kid is not as mature as a 21-yearold. However, is the difference that big? Research has suggested a very subtle change in brain and body maturity but this is where the education comes in. Teach the kids about it, they’ll listen, and most of them will be thankful to be treated as an adult and given the choice and responsibility that comes with their actions. Also, why is it we can buy cigarettes, a far more harmful product for our bodies and those around us, at 19 years old? 21 is an arbitrarily picked line, and holding adults in limbo for 3 years before they are allowed to consume encourages the worst patterns of drinking behavior.

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR 786-1434 editor@thenorthernlight.org Shana Roberson MANAGING EDITOR 786-1313 content@thenorthernlight.org Taylor Hall COPY EDITOR copy@thenorthernlight.org Wiley Cason NEWS EDITOR 786-1576 news@thenorthernlight.org Matthew Caprioli FEATURES EDITOR 786-1567 features@thenorthernlight.org Ashley Snyder A&E EDITOR 786-6198 arts@thenorthernlight.org Heather Hamilton SPORTS EDITOR 786-1512 sports@thenorthernlight.org Megan Edge PHOTO EDITOR 786-1565 photo@thenorthernlight.org vacant WEB EDITOR 786-1506 web@thenorthernlight.org vacant LAYOUT EDITOR layout@thenorthernlight.org Jacqui Lockman ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR news2@thenorthernlight.org vacant ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR features2@thenorthernlight.org Alden Lee ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR arts2@thenorthernlight.org Leroy Polk ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR sports2@thenorthernlight.org vacant SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics@thenorthernlight.org CJ Beaudrie GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics2@thenorthernlight.org Nick Foote GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics3@thenorthernlight.org Vicente Capala ADVERTISING MANAGER 786-4690 ads@thenorthernlight.org Mariya Proskuryakova EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS ASSISTANT vacant CONTRIBUTORS Brett Frazer Eli Johnson Jim Foster MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Annie Route The Northern Light is a proud member of the ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS. The Northern Light is a weekly UAA publication funded by student fees and advertising sales. The editors and writers of The Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 5,000. The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy, or parenthood. The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of UAA or The Northern Light.

Kick-Off Guide | OPINION

RETHINK

Stigma of depression keeps men from seeking help By Brett Frazer Staff Writer

One in four college students will suffer from some form of diagnosable mental illness this year. More than half of these college students will suffer from some form of depression. Unfortunately, a great number of college students will not seek professional help to assist in treating their depression. Nobody is quite sure how many cases of depression go undiagnosed because nobody can be sure how many depressed people do not seek help. No matter the number, it’s too many

Many people do not seek help for their depression because of the stigma that’s associated with the illness. For some, the idea of a “mental illness” is a misnomer. Unlike physical illnesses, in which the symptoms of the disease are clearly observable, the symptoms for mental illnesses are often hard for others to see. An individual suffering from abject emotional torment may even be able to hide the symptoms of a mental illness from friends or family. People may find it easy to empathize with someone who is visibly ill, willingly giving the sufferer time off or work or an

extension on papers. For someone whose illness doesn’t manifest itself as prevalently, that same empathy may be harder to find. If our society is to overcome the depression epidemic, we must begin to recognize depression for what it is; a serious health problem that can have lasting consequences. Even for people who acknowledge the reality of mental illness, depression still carries a damaging stigma. For some, depression is not seen as a mental illness, but instead a weakness or inadequacy. This is especially true for young men. Our culture forbids

men from showing emotional vulnerability. As such, men often do not seek help when they need it most. It is a tragedy that suicide is the third leading cause of death for men aged 18-26. Perhaps if young men understood that it’s perfectly okay, and healthy, to be emotionally vulnerable, this wouldn’t be the case. Men often see depression as an inability to cope with stress. Rather than associating debilitating depression with mental health, men associate depression with weakness. This often exacerbates the problems associated with depression. People who are

depressed see the world entirely differently from people who don’t suffer from the illness. They often put inordinate amounts of pressure on themselves to overcome their perceived inadequacies; setting unrealistic goals and becoming more depressed when those goals aren’t met. For a young man who is taught his whole life to be a rock of emotional stability, this can be devastating. If this young man happens to be starting college, facing a whole array of new challenges in a whole new environment, coping with depression can seem insurmountable.

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OPINION| Kick-Off Guide

YouTube too close for journalist’s comfort By Eli Johnson Contract Writer

YouTube is becoming an integral part of American social culture Is journalism behind on using YouTube? It has recently come up in the world of journalism that using social and political “vloggers” (video bloggers) from YouTube as sources may not be completely kosher. This is an interesting thing to think about, because when one looks at how connected the world has become with YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and other things, there is very little reason for not using it as a source. YouTube began as an idea by three former PayPal employees back in 2005. It has not only survived the fickle online media efforts that have come and gone like Myspace or Friendster, but rather, it has exploded. It has not only gone past the world of people posting funny stuff, but it has become part of the academic world as well. “We’ve seen the story over and over again in the years since the advent of YouTube. From police brutality to miracle plane landings to crime fighting, YouTube has made everyone a potential journalist and the world a better place for it,” wrote Adam Ostrow, a media entrepreneur and commentator. That was in an article entitled “YouTube is the Top Social Media Innovation of the Decade.” The title of the article is absolute truth. YouTube has become a critical part of not only the domestic culture, but it is bleeding into the academic culture as well. In high schools it is becoming a big part of classroom activities. College professors are recording their lectures and posting them on YouTube. There are even websites that help teachers find ways to make it easier to incorporate it into classroom activities. The journalism field has always gotten on the bandwagon. Sam Seder, a witty political commentator, has a web show that he puts clips of on YouTube. There is an online news organization called The Young Turks who are well-known from a host of theirs, Cenk Uygar, being on MSNBC who has their whole broadcasts put on YouTube, along with breaking it up into clips. There are a few YouTube channels that use a clause in the rules that the site has to post clips from news broadcasts from the major networks, Fox, CNN, and MSNBC. The fact is that online journalism is one of the reasons that this site is growing. But a new breed of social commentators is arising – the YouTube vloggers. They have been recently springing up, and it

is becoming an area of intellectual discourse that should be paid more attention by the media at large. These are people who come online and talk about the issues that they believe are important to talk about. Really, political commentators on networks like MSNBC, CNN, and Fox are no different. People like Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, and Lawrence O’Donnell are doing the exact same thing. Jon Stewart gave the greatest quote about how political commentators like him are viewed by the public, and this translates on to YouTube as well. “I’ve existed forever. The box that I exist in has always been around. The change is the box that you guys, you’ve moved closer to me,” he said during his interview with Chris Wallace. The fact is that the world of political commentary journalism is exactly like the vloggers on YouTube. It is taking information that they receive, examining it critically, coming to their own conclusions, and sharing it with others. One contention that could be made is that these vloggers are not well known, or nationally vetted experts, so their information cannot be trusted. The fact is that many of the YouTube vloggers giving their perspective are very knowledgeable in their subject areas. One called Liberal Viewer was a former employee with the ACLU, who has a very active working knowledge of the legal code that he lends to his videos. Grappling Ignorance is a teacher, and he lends his knowledge of the system to criticizing its faults and failings. Zinnia Jones is an outspoken activist for the LGBTQ community. These people are not just people who know nothing getting out there and shouting their opinion. They often cite the sources that they use, and provide in-video evidence. Granted, they are mostly young people, but is that such a bad thing? There was a very brilliant speech in the film Ratatouille that was delivered by the character Anton Ego, played by Peter O’Toole. He had a thought about the role of critics of any kind in the modern world that fits this dilemma best. “But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends.” He is absolutely right. This is a new area of our culture that needs some more friends.

TNL

Kick-Off Guide | OPINION

BLUE: College men need help The beginning of the school year can be exhilarating. There are new classes, new friends, new acquaintances, and new challenges. Some people might be moving away from home for the first time. Others might be juggling work, school, a girlfriend, and extracurricular activities. The stress that is sometimes associated with transitioning into a new semester is often loss in the excitement of going to college. It’s important that people coming to college for the first time, or even those returning, take a moment to acknowledge the state of their mental health. Colleges place a great emphasis on physical health. People must be immunized for various diseases before going to school, the flu shot is highly recommended, and pamphlets discussing healthy sleep habits and nutrition are often given to students. The topic of mental health, however, is somewhat overlooked. Students are certainly made aware of mental health services, but the topic can be awkward to talk about. Pamphlets for mental health services are briskly shoved in some drawer, and eyes gaze away when people start talking about how to cope with stress, depression, anxiety, or other mental health problems. Why? It’s because of the stigma. We’re uncomfortable talking about mental health, because talking about our feelings makes us vulnerable. Nobody wants to feel vulnerable, especially in a new environment where first impressions can be so important. But mental health is serious. Depression can mean the difference between graduating or dropping out, having a large circle of friends or isolating oneself, and having a positive college

experience or despising college. This doesn’t mean we all need to sit in a circle, sing acoustic covers of Morrissey and take turns talking about our feelings. But it does mean we need to be away of our mental health, and take care of our minds in the same way we take care of our bodies. I encourage all students returning to UAA to take just a moment to think about their mental health, and how they can maintain it. Acknowledge that you are in a new environment, and stress is a perfectly normal reaction to the world around you. Think about healthy ways you will cope with the stress that you will inevitably encounter this semester. Think about people in your life you trust, and can talk to if things become overwhelming. This doesn’t need to be an hour-long introspective meditation. Take fifteen minutes out of your day, and think about it. This is especially true for young men. Not because men need it more, but because they find it harder to acknowledge their mental health. If you are a male, and you are reading this, hear me now. Think about five people you know. Two of those people will suffer from depressive symptoms this semester. One of those five people will suffer from major depression, a very serious condition, before college is over. It’s important that these individuals know they can get help, and most importantly: there’s nothing wrong with being depressed. When your body catches a cold, you deal with it. You take it easy, perhaps take some cold medication, and you give yourself the tools you need to recover quickly. Do not hesitate to give your mind the same consideration.

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Nick Thune brings comedy to college By Leroy Polk Assistant A&E

Shortly before the 2010 Campus Kick-Off, famed comedian and part-time beard enthusiast Nick Thune cancelled as the opener for Broken Lizard, and UAA offered no information as to the reason why. Thune, who will now be the main act at this year’s Kick-Off, regretted canceling for last year’s event, as well as his performance at a local bar the day after. It would have been Thune’s second visit to Alaska, having been here on a cruise when he was 16. “I was given the chance to have a part on a TV show, and couldn’t pass it up,” Thune said. Working in the entertainment industry can sometimes lead to any number of unfortunate scheduling conflicts and while it’s never a good idea to cancel on commitments, career priorities definitely come into play. “I was either doing a TV show,” Thune said, “or I was watching a really good TV show and I couldn’t leave my house. I forget which.” The Seattle-grown comedian got his start doing stand up with a guitar, but he does roughly a

ay d s e n Wed r7 e b em t p e S pm 1 m 11a on i n U ent d u t S

half-and-half mix both with and without musical accompaniment. “I think it adds an element. I can calm a room down, and kind of draw attention, add emotion, like scoring a movie,” Thune said. Thune’s college career was brief; he dropped out of community college after a few years. After not taking his placement tests seriously, Thune was put in English 072, also known as ESL (English as a Second Language). After two weeks he moved into English 101, however Thune said, “It was an intensive two weeks, I learned a lot. Probably more than I’ve ever learned.” As far as performers are concerned, there are many schools of thought on the value of education. While some deem the experience and knowledge gained from college to be irreplaceable, many famous comics have done fine without it. “I thought I could make a living just being myself, and didn’t know if there were any classes that could help me with that,” Thune said. There aren’t many (or any) colleges that offer a “Nick Thune 101” class, a fact which Thune agreed was “really frustrating” to him. Thune said that he enjoyed one class during his college career: “Dalmatians 101.” “It was just like all “101 Dalmatians” stuff, watching the movies, talking about them,” he said. Despite never graduating, Thune has never been nervous performing at colleges. “I already know I’m smarter than all the students anyway. But sometimes it seems like students aren’t sure if it’s all right to laugh at things that the school might deem as ‘inappropriate’,” he said. Not only that, but at college shows sometimes unpredictable things can happen. About ten minutes into a show at Christopher Columbus University, someone walked in late while Thune was performing. “He had a six-foot bo staff, Oakley wrap-around sunglasses, and fingerless gloves. He made a big disturbance and sat down in the front row. I had to say something.” Thune is a self-professed enemy of crowd-work, and doesn’t incorporate put downs or blatant insults into his acts. However as most comics know, if something is obviously strange or eye catching within the venue, addressing it is

PHOTO COURTESY OF SETH OLENICK

necessary, and often brings some laughs. “I asked him if he was from the future,” Thune said. He then told the student to take his sunglasses off, using the Larry David quotation, “Only two kinds of people wear sunglasses indoors: blind people and assholes,” but the student flatly refused, and Thune moved back to his jokes. After the show was finished, however, the advisor in charge of the event confronted Thune for what most comedians deem normal, if not required. “She said ‘He’s a special student. He walks around all day with those sunglasses and that bo staff and everyone knows about him.’ So I was like oh, ok great, well then here’s a good idea for you: from now on when someone’s performing here, tell them that halfway into their show, a guy with a bo staff and sunglasses and gloves might walk into the front row, and don’t say anything to him because he’s a special student.” Thune is on tour to promote his first comedy album “Thick Noon.” Anyone attending the show should be sure to bring their Oakley’s and bo staff.

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Kick-Off Guide | A&E

‘The Thief of Bagdad’ steals both hearts and active imaginations Good acting, state of the art technology (for its time), technicolor, and a human Abu make film a lovable classic By Heather Hamilton A&E Editor

“The Thief of Bagdad” is the original story behind the Disney classic “Aladdin.” Complete with a beautiful princess (June Duprez, “One Plus One”), an evil Vizier named Jaffar (Conrad Veidt, “Casablanca”), a djinn/genie (Rex Ingram, “Journey to Shiloh”) and a sidekick named Abu (Sabu, “A Tiger Walks”). Except, this version of the story features Ahmad (John Justin, “Trenchcoat”), the naive king of Bagdad, who is tricked by the evil Jaffar into playing a commoner in the streets. Jaffar then has him arrested and thrown in the dungeon,

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where he meets Abu, the thief. After a daring escape to a nearby kingdom, where the two meet the princess, Ahmad is made magically blind by Jaffar, (who also has his eyes set on the princess). Jaffar captures the princess and a quest to both save her and restore Ahmad’s sight is launched. The film, however, is called “The Thief of Bagdad,” not “The Ousted King of Bagdad,” and as such, is a story that mostly centers around (the human) Abu. King Ahmad is, despite his decent amount of screen time, merely a plot device through which Abu’s growth into maturity, wisdom and loyal friend is portrayed. Sabu was a type actor, cast as the token exotic character in many fantasy movies in the 1940s, 50s and early 60s due to his Indian heritage. As Abu, he is charming, youthfully handsome and exudes street smarts. He is both cocky and thoughtful, a truly complex character in a time where depth was often difficult to find in films. He often appears more genuine with his

interactions with Justin than vice versa, and both his trepidation and wit when dealing with Ingram as the djinn show just how fine an actor Sabu was; possibly the finest in this film. The technology for “The Thief of Bagdad” is equally impressive for its time. Flying carpets, flying horses, a giant djinn who appears out of a lamp and forms a solid body from smoke and a raging storm at sea; all rival similar effects used 10 to 15 years in the future. “The Thief of Bagdad” is a cinematic gem; its only flaw is that it packs so much plot and action into under two hours that some parts feel rushed. Other than that, get this film at Netflix or Blockbuster if you’re looking for something classic to enjoy.

Movie: “The Thief of Bagdad” Director: Ludwig Berger Release Year: 1940 Runtime: 106 minutes Starring: Conrad Veidt, Sabu, June Duprez, John Justin

★ ★★★

TNL B4 A&E| Anchorage Food Quest: Summer 2011 winners Kick-Off Guide

By Heather Hamilton A&E Editor

Best Pepperoni Pizza: Uncle Joe’s

Anchorage has a lot to offer in the way of local restaurants. From burger stops and Chinese restaurants to organic cafes and bakeries, there isn’t much that Alaska’s most buzzing metropolis doesn’t offer. In a special six part summer series, the Anchorage Food Quest, The Northern Light visited and ordered food from various locations around town in search of the best of the best. TNL analyzed delivery and wait time, individual and mixed flavors and (to a slightly lesser extend) appearance, to determine the winners for best burger, pepperoni pizza, tofu dish, Mongolian beef, breakfast platter and cupcakes. Here are this summer’s champions.

For this leg of Food Quest, the entire staff of TNL participated in the judging, ordering plain pepperoni pizzas from five locally owned joints around town. Uncle Joe’s Pizza provided the undisputedly best pie. The crust was neither too thick or too thin and had flavor, there was just the right amount of pepperoni on top, the cheese wasn’t too greasy and didn’t smother the flavors of the pizza and the sauce tasted as though it had been crafted by heaven-trained sauce artisans. Coincidentally, Uncle Joe’s Pizza also provided a free two-liter of Coke for being late on their delivery. They were one of the first pizza deliveries to arrive. The Uncle Joe’s that TNL ordered from is located on Tudor Road between Dale Street and Florina Street.

Best Burger: Max’s Beefy Burgers The Hawaiian burger stands out as both unique and simple. The beef’s texture and presentation is akin to what you’ll find in an Asian dish, (which makes sense, since Max’s is also a Chinese restaurant). The beef’s flavor is also the most noticeable of all the burgers sampled, and it holds its own against the powerful taste of the pineapple slice the burger includes. The burger is moderately filling, and is more than worth the $4.95 bill. Max’s is located on Northern Lights Boulevard near Boniface Parkway.

Best Tofu Dish: Spenard Roadhouse There are no regular menu items at Spenard Roadhouse that utilize tofu, however, any burger served at the restaurant can have a tofu substitute. The black bean burger (with tofu instead of black beans) possessed a fantastic blend of flavors. Of the two tofu options available, (blackened and marinated), the marinated offered light flavor that meshed beautifully

with the vegetables of the burger. The tofu’s texture was also favorable, having just enough firmness to hold together. The burger also came with a choice of tater tots or French fries.

Best Mongolian beef: Northern China It was a tough call for which restaurant claimed the number one slot in this category, but Northern China’s Mongolian beef pulled ahead with their moderately thin meat slices, slight caramelization of the sauce around the meat, greens (which added a surprisingly pleasant crunch), bold and sweet flavor and their generous serving size. The ultimate deal sealer for TNL was the smaller beef chunks; Northern China is the only restaurant sampled where the chunks were a manageable size to eat without using a knife. Northern China is located on Muldoon Road between East 3rd Avenue and East 4th Avenue.

Best breakfast platter: Judy’s Cafe While the top two locations were essentially equal in meal quality, Judy’s Cafe snatched the win with their fantastic service. The scrambled eggs in their French toast platter were light and fluffy, and actually had flavor; it was the only egg that wasn’t

completely bland. The French toast was thick, had a slight crunch to the crust and was cooked all the way through; it wasn’t soggy in the slightest. The bacon was also fairly good; it wasn’t as salty as the other locations and (unusually) had more of a bacon flavor than grease flavor. Unfortunately, it was just a smidgeon over-cooked for our personal tastes, but if you like crunchy bacon, you’ll love it. And the service? The restaurant was completely full, and yet never once was TNL in need of anything. The waitresses there were good at what they did, friendly and full of personality; tip them well. Judy’s Café is located on Old Seward near Klatt Road.

Best cupcake: Sugarspoon: The PB&J cupcake from Sugarspoon was, by far, the finest cupcake sampled in this round of Food Quest. It’s a chocolate cupcake with raspberry jelly filling and peanut butter frosting, garnished with a few shavings of chocolate on top. It was as close to perfection as TNL can envision it. The chocolate cupcake is moist and flavorful, and the raspberry filling is rich and light at the same time, complimenting the chocolate. The peanut butter frosting is very strong, but it doesn’t overpower the rest of the components, instead meshing with them to create a blended taste. Unfortunately, Sugarspoon only offers cupcakes on Wednesdays; it’s worth scheduling for though. Sugarspoon is located next to Bella’s Boutique on Spenard Road.

Kick-Off Guide | A&E

TNL 5 GAMES TO LOOK FORWARD TO

The five most rightly anticipated games of fall Bryan Dunagan Contract Writer

5) “Battlefield 3” (Oct. 25, 2011)

Most gamers tend to go for whatever new “Call of Duty” installment hits the market. This year however, there will be the option to play the far superior “Battlefield 3.” With huge, sweeping warfare with tanks, planes, jeeps, destructible environments and graphics so realistic you’ll swear you were in the heart of it all, “BF3” will be aiming to beat the rest.

4) “Dead Island” (Sep. 6, 2011)

At first, a zombie-themed RPG might seem like an odd combination. With the kind of addicting gameplay traditionally found in zombie action games and RPG leveling structures, “Dead Island” may have players playing non-stop. Features like online co-op and multiplayer, unlocks and achievements, all paired with the realistic take on the zombie genre, make it an anticipated game for zombie junkies and RPG fans alike.

3) “Gears of War 3” (Sep 20, 2011)

Every time a “Gears” game comes out, productivity tends to stagnate. Gears 3 promises to deliver a campaign of twice the length of the other installments, as well as expanded features like four-player co-op, and more in-depth online competitive multiplayer. The real reason I want this game, though, is to see how the Dom-Marcus “bromance” pans out, seeing as how there are female soldiers introduced this time around.

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2) “Batman: Arkham City” (Oct. 18, 2011)

1) “Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” (Nov. 11, 2011)

Okay, a Batman game that doesn’t suck, and is a sequel to one of the best games of 2009? This fan-favorite will have players throwing Batarangs into the wee hours of the morning. Multiple player characters, a 40-hour plus campaign, and challenge maps to boot, ensures that this game will be just as popular as “Arkham Asylum.” The Joker will return, along with new villains for the franchise The Penguin and Catwoman. Robin looks to make an appearance as well.

This game has been anticipated all year, offering players a chance to mess around in a huge fantasy world with no strings or boundaries, with just compass marker to point them in the right direction. Skyrim alleges hundreds of hours of content, more NPC’s, tons of quests, and the most talked about coffee shop moments of the year. Players may find themselves shirking all of their other duties just for one more hour.

TNL

A&E| Kick-Off Guide

‘Apes’ prequel an extremely human movie “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” delivers powerful narritave complimented by compelling performances By Leroy Polk Assistant A&E

When one goes to a movie that is not only easily identified by its predecessor title (in this case “Planet of the Apes”), but is also billed as a summer action blockbuster, they might expect the kind of mindless sci-fi thriller that was churned out a decade ago in the re-make of, “Planet of the Apes,” starring Mark Whalburg. Roughly fifteen minutes into the movie, a person with such expectations will begin to realize that “Rise” is of a completely different breed. While the 2001 movie re-imagined the franchise, it never took, and was generally panned by audiences and critics alike. Due to that poor performance, no subsequent sequels were made, and the “Planet of the Apes” franchise was essentially shelved. With “Rise,” the franchise may yet see a new period of prosperity. “Rise” is actually a prequel to the Charlton Heston original “Planet of the Apes,” and serves to explain the events leading up to the global primate take-over, while completely ignoring the 2001 version and its non- canonical “re-telling” of events. The movie is set in generally present-day San

Francisco, and begins with scientist Will Rodman (James Franco, “127 Hours”) testing experimental medicine on laboratory apes in hopes of curing Alzheimer’s, a disease currently worsening in his aging father, Charles (John Lithgow, “Leap Year”). The drug seems to be successful on one chimp, but at a board meeting promoting the drug to investors, the intelligent chimp is gunned down as it goes on a rampage, effectively destroying all hope of the drug being approved for human testing. Later, Will discovers that the chimp was not actually on a rampage, and was in fact only trying to protect the child she had delivered secretly in her cell. The other ape handler, unable to bring himself to euthanize the infant ape, puts the choice literally in the hands of Will, who decides to take the chimp home and raise it himself. This essentially sets up the first segment of the movie, which jumps forward several years as the baby ape, named Caesar (after Charles’ favorite Shakespearian play), grows into adulthood. The extremely touching rearing of the ape might as well be

that of raising a human child, and perhaps is made more touching by the species barrier. The effect is subsequently highlighted by the performance of motion capture veteran Andy Serkis, better known for his role as Gollum in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, who portrays Caesar underneath a beautifullyrendered CGI ape costume. The growing pains of raising a full sized chimp in a residential neighborhood prove to be too difficult for the family, and after the police are called on an incident, Will is forced by court order to relinquish Caesar to an ape sanctuary. The term is fairly

loosely used, however, as it is more of a prison. The ape-human interactions at the sanctuary reveal an important lesson about what “humanity” means, with the apes possessing more genuine humanity than humans around them, they enter the hearts of the audience with ease. Caesar is definitely at the forefront of this, as his roller coaster experience at the sanctuary tugs at

heartstrings with every step, finally culminating in a powerful moment of defiance that will

have viewers holding their breath. The film would simply not have been possible ten years ago. With such a CGI-dependent script, if the technology did not follow, the performance of the apes would likely land in the deep end of the “Uncanny Valley,” alienating audiences with their overly digital appearance. As it stands, the final product is very realistic, and all of the models seem to have their own unique personalities. Though there are painful moments, the movie delivers overall very strong performances with an intriguing narrative. Its implications about humanity effectively posit that we as a human race are defined by how we treat life, in all of its forms. The only complaint one could legitimately make of “Apes” is that the ending is somewhat abrupt. However, if the success of the re-boot as well as a small clip found after a few lines of the ending credits are any clue, we could very well see a prequel sequel in the works.

Movie: “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” Director: Rupert Wyatt Actors: James Franco, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow, Freida Pinto

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra

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Kick-Off Guide | A&E

TNL

What is it about musical theater that draws you so much? I really like the energy of it, and, I don’t know, I just find it so much more lively and entertaining. I don’t think there’s anything that can get me as emotionally involved as singing on stage, whether its me watching a musical, or being in it. What’s your favorite musical? Oh, what a hard question; my favorite is probably going to have to be “La Cage aux Folles.” It has everything that I really like about musicals. It has camp, it has really, really emotional moments that are honest. It has amazing sets, it has amazing costumes, amazing music and incredible comedy. It’s just, I don’t know, the epitome of musical theater for me. What groups outside of UAA are you involved with? I work at the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association in the prevention department. I’m a facilitator for the Anchorage MPowerment Project; AMP is basically a nationwide program that is kind of a social outlet for gay and bisexual young men. We hold social events and basically kind of weave safer sex education, you know, HIV education, into all the programs we do. I’m also involved in the Imperial Court of All Alaska; I’m this year’s Miss Gay Alaska.

ageau v u a S Micah By Heather Hamilton A&E Editor

An often under appreciated group at UAA are the theater students, who not only act in productions, but direct them, paint and design sets, create costumes, run sound lights, among several other tasks.

‘Miss’ would be the drag queen title, correct? Correct. All of us that are involved in the Imperial Court, our primary job is to help raise money to give out in scholarships. We are a scholarship organization; we also support about 12 different charities with the money we raise as well. We host balls, we go out and we fundraise for all this money we can give out, and I’m very proud to say that we have just announced that we are giving out over $16,000 in scholarships this year. It really makes me smile, because there aren’t a lot of organizations that can give out this kind of money, and it makes me really proud to be part of an organization that can work so hard to do a lot of good.

Micah Sauvageau, a theater senior, is one such student. In addition to being a theater major, he is also a member of Theater on the Rocks (UAA’s theater club), and has also worked with the UAA Glee Club during its first year. Sauvageau has acted in a few UAA productions, such as “Godspell” in 2008, but mostly performs in shows around Anchorage. In addition to singing and dancing on stage, he also volunteers his time and services for other clubs around campus and raises money for local charities.

What made you decide? What was the little thing that tipped you over? Basically, I just decided that there wasn’t anything else that I could see myself doing, and there was nothing else that I really wanted to do.

Vanity Affair, Sauvageau’s drag queen persona, performs in the Friday Night Diva Variety Show at Mad Myrna’s. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICAH SAUVAGEAU

When did you first decide that you wanted to be in theater? I’ve been in the theater for pretty much my entire life, but I didn’t actually decide to pursue it as some sort of professional calling until probably 14 or so.

How has your experience with the theater program been? In our department, we have to take technical classes as well as performance classes; I think that’s really important because it makes a well-rounded individual who wants to get involved with the theater. Programs that specialize really heavily in one area or another don’t make their students quite as marketable, because if you’re a person going into the theater who can only perform, you’re not quite as marketable as someone who can go in and build sets, make costumes and do lighting - stuff like that. What are your specific goals for after you graduate? I plan on going down to New York and auditioning for a couple of grad schools for a master’s of Fine Arts in musical theater. I feel like with just a general bachelor’s degree in theater, it really kind of forms the foundation of competency in all areas of the theatrical arts. Like I just said, it gives me the knowledge to make costumes and stuff like that, which is a really strong foundation that I feel like all individuals who want to be in the theater really should have. So by going on to a masters of fine arts in musical theater... that is a really focused and specialized program on performance art, which is ultimately what I want to do.

Sauvageau rehearses for the musical“Kismet” in March 2010.

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Kick-Off Guide |A&E

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SPORTS 50

Music and sports: a powerful duo

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By Taylor Hall Managing Editor

Music can be a way to fight through the pain while working out. It can inspire someone to put up that extra 15 pounds when lifting weights or to stay out on the road and finish that 5-mile run early in the brisk morning air. Sports, or any other physical activity, and music just go hand in hand. Music can provide the perfect soundtrack, the rhythm section, or even the heartbeat to your sporting experience. Numerous studies show that music can distract athletes mentally from fatigue, and has demonstrable physiological impacts that benefit the athlete’s body during exercise. Increase of adrenaline or the aiding of muscle memory are also tools that may come in handy for athletes. Wrap your mind around this scenario: you’re in a fitness class at your local gym and there is no music. How dull is that class going to be? You could have Billy Mays as your instructor and even he couldn’t have the effect that music could. For others, certain songs can take them to that special place that athletes simply call “the zone.” In my case, if you put anything on

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Science shows changes in the human body while listening to music that allow even a couch quarterback to go harder, better, faster, stronger

by bands such as AC/DC, Rage Against the Machine, or Queens of the Stone Age, you’ll put me in a mindset where I can accomplish any sports feat. Or at least one that will make me think that I can. How many athletes do you see in Beatz headphones nowadays before their game to get fired up? Or what about athletes during games nodding their heads to the song over the loudspeakers or waving a towel over their head to pump up the crowd during songs? This goes for spectators at sporting events as well. We’ve all been at games where music influenced the mood of the crowd and players. Think about this: you’re favorite team is making a comeback for the ages and you hear a song like “Crazy Train” or Rock and Roll, Part 2” to keep the momentum going. If you’re like me, you can relate a song to a special sports moment you’ve witnessed or taken part in and it will give you goose bumps just thinking about. The beauty of it all is that there is something from all different types of genres of music. Whatever music you’re into, chances are it can go pretty well with sports. Whether its rap, rock, pop, or even classical (Flight of the Valkyries, Chariots of Fire recommended),

you can find a song that will affect your routine, game, or workout. It is with that in mind that we debut TNL’s “Top 10 Sports Anthems of All Time Playlist” for your viewing and competitive pleasure:

Title - Artist 10. Thunderstruck - AC/DC 9. Lose Yourself - Eminem 8. Whoomp! (There it is) Tag Team

7. Back in Black - AC/DC 6. Kernkraft 400 - Zombie Nation 5. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne 4. Welcome to the Jungle Guns ‘N’ Roses 3. Rock and Roll, Pt. 2 - Gary Glitter 2. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor 1. We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions - Queen

Honorable Mentions include: Lets Get it Started by The Black Eyed Peas, YMCA by The Village People, Bulls on Parade by Rage Against the Machine, Dirt Off Your Shoulder by Jay-Z, Tubthumping by Chumbawamba, Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones, Enter Sandman by Metallica, Space Jam by Quad City DJ’s, Bring ‘Em Out by T.I.

Kick-Off Guide | sports

TNL SPORTS BRIEFS

Seven Seawolf gymnasts earn academic awards Seven Alaska Anchorage gymnasts were named recently to the 2011 Scholastic All-American Team by the National Association of Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches. Seniors Kelsey Fullerton (3.89) and Maria Puricelli (3.86) posted the Seawolves’ highest gade-point averages for the 2010-11 academic year and were joined by classmate Kristy Boswell (3.66) on the team. Freshman Emily Petersen earned a 3.81 GPA, while other Seawolf honorees were freshman Gabrielle Jannotta (3.70), freshman Melissa Doucette (3.63) and junior Erin Aitcheson (3.50). To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must have been a significant team member in 2011 and hold a minimum 3.50 overall GPA.

Track and Field collects academic team honors The Alaska Anchorage men’s and women’s track & field teams were both selected to the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association 2011 Division II All‐Academic Track & Field Team, announced on Aug. 11. The UAA women’s squad registered a cumulative team GPA of 3.15, while the men’s team recorded a 3.10 GPA. Altogether 74 women’s teams and 39 men’s teams earned recognition.

UAA picked 3rd in preseason GNAC poll Coming off two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team was picked Aug. 18 to finish third in the league’s 11th annual coaches’ poll. The Seawolves, who return four starters and the libero from their

2010 squad, received 63 points in the balloting. UAA finished 18-9 overall last season and placed third in the 10-team GNAC with a 13-5 mark. Defending league co-champions Seattle Pacific (79 votes, 7 first-place votes) and Western Washington (75 votes, 3 firstplace) were picked first and second, respectively, in the balloting. The regular season begins Aug. 26-27 when UAA travels to the island of Oahu for four matches against the Hawaii schools.

2011 Shootout fields finalized Brackets and pairings for the 2011 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout men’s and women’s basketball tournament were announced today by University of Alaska Anchorage athletic director Dr. Steve Cobb. The 34th annual Shootout is slated for Nov. 23-26 at the Sullivan Arena. The Central Michigan women’s team recently signed on to finalize the 2011 Shootout women’s bracket. Due to previous scheduling commitments by CMU, the 2011 women’s Shootout schedule will be pushed back from its customary Tuesday-Wednesday schedule to Wednesday and Thursday (Nov. 23 & 24). The women’s opening-round matchups will feature Central Michigan vs South Florida at 2 p.m. followed by host Alaska Anchorage taking on Miami at 4 p.m. repectively on Nov. 23. Women’s consolation and championship games will be at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. respectively on Nov. 24. The men’s Shootout games will begin Nov. 23 with Murray State meeting Alaska Anchorage at 6:30 p.m. followed by Dartmouth vs San Franciso at 8:30 p.m. The men’s first round will conclude on Nov 24, with Central Michigan vs New Mexico State at 6:30 p.m. followed by UC Irvine vs Southern Missisippi at 8:30 p.m. The Shootout is the longest-running regular-season college basketball tournament in the nation, taking place every Thanksgiving in Anchorage since 1978. Compiled by Taylor Hall

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