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THENORTHERNLIGHT SEPTEMBER 28, 2010

NEWS

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UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

Coalition of Student Leaders: Tuition increase counterproposal offered

FEATURES

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Cama-i Room:

Alaska Native Culture highlighted

WWW.THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

A&E

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PS3 ‘Move’: Upgrade rivals Wii

Victory for UA student body, but work remains

By Jerzy Shedlock The Northern Light

ASHLEY SNYDER/TNL

Amie Stanley, senior political science and marketing major, leads a group of students through campus protesting the proposed tution increases for upcoming school years on Sept. 22. The UA Board of Regents decided to not increase tuition for AY 2012, and will decide on AY 2013 in November.

Students protest 23 percent tuition hike proposal

By Ashley Snyder The Northern Light

Shouts of “No say. We won’t pay!” and “Chop from the top!” were heard ringing through the halls of UAA on Wednesday, Sept.

22, when students, teachers and community members alike grouped together to protest the proposed 23 percent tuition increase.

Many students may have heard the same protest before. Last spring a similar event was organized to protest the 22 percent increase that was proposed.

Now students are looking at a 23 percent increase, and USUAA is hard at work to stop this proposal. Started by an independent group of students, the protest grew into a statewide event. The universities in both Fairbanks and Juneau volunteered to start their own protests as well.

Throughout the week, UA Chancellor Fran Ulmer sent out emails regarding the

tuition increase stating, “Throughout the UA system, tuition comprises on average 11% of the overall UA budget. However at UAA, we rely more heavily on tuition, as it is 25% of our revenue. As a result, UAA’s ability to support UAA programs is more reliant on tuition and tuition increases than the university as a whole.”

Accompanying the chancellor’s emails, were various charts and graphs depicting why the increase was necessary, and how UAA ranked compared to other schools in the country. One of the graphs showed that Alaska’s 4.8 tuition increases for 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 were miniscule compared to that of California State University, which was a whopping 27.1 increase.

Even so, many students still don’t have the funds to afford the continuously increasing tuition.

Everyone was invited to stand in front of the Student Union at 2:15 p.m.

wearing black to support the cause to dismiss the 2011-2012 tuition increase.

Teachers were also asked to release their classes at 2:00, so that students could have the chance to participate in the protest.

Standing atop a picnic bench, Amie Stanley, senior political science and marketing major, took the lead in the protest, gathering the attention of the onlookers, her voice booming into the megaphone and echoing into the crowd.

Stanley started with a straightforward introduction on how the increase is not only affecting us today, but has been affecting our upper-classmen and alumni from years past. “…Six years ago, I was paying less than a hundred dollars per credit hour. That number has almost doubled since then,” Stanley said. “Our high school students are not going to want to come here to UAA

A victory of sorts has been gained for the UA student body thanks to the efforts of student leaders from multiple campuses and the willingness of the UA Board of Regents (BOR) to consider students’ concerns.

The BOR has decided not to raise lower-division course tuition for the 2011-2012 academic school year with all BOR members in favor and none opposed. The decision on whether or not to increase all level courses for the 2012-2013 school year has been postponed until the regents’ next meeting, set for November at the UAA campus.

The previously approved 5-percent increase for 100-200 level courses and the 10-percent increase for 300-400 level courses will remain in place.

These increases will take affect at the beginning of the Fall 2011 semester.

There was a plethora of issues discussed prior to deciding on a postponement of finalizing the 20122013 tuition increase. Regent Bob Martin stated that the board did not have the resources to work out all the moving parts at its current meeting.

“This basket of all the moving parts needs to be sent back to the president, let him and his resources sort this out, come to us with something that is logical and reasonable that we can sit down and sink our teeth into at our next meeting,” Martin said. “I suggest that, that could be the wisest course of various options that we’re facing now.”

The current policy allows the BOR to push current proposals back to the UA President Patrick Gamble and have him return with altered proposals at the next meeting.

Regent Kirk Wickersham was the first to announce a motion to reaffirm the 2011-2012 school year tuition structure already in place with Regent Carl Marrs immediately seconding the motion.

The tuition structure would have remained the same even if the board had decided not to vote, but they felt that reaffirming the motion would be a clear communication to the students.

A big piece of the discussion on the 2011-2012 tuition rates was the need to address a continuing concern that UA’s lower-division rates compared to other universities outside the state are relatively high, stated Regent Cynthia Henry.

SEE PROTEST PAGE 02

SEE VICTORY PAGE 02

Comedian to show students ‘How To Get Fired!’

By Heather Hamilton The Northern Light

The economy is down. Jobs are scarce. Money is tight for many people, especially college students. In times like these, when making ends meet is more important than ever, students around the country can benefit from the sound advice of a professional who knows how to be successful out in the workforce.

But who says that advice has to be

boring?

Jeff Havens’s “How To Get Fired!” comedy routine is designed to entertain as much as it is to inform. Haven’s, a former high school teacher, travels around the nation speaking to college students about the “real world,” that is, the professional workplace.

He does this by taking the worst things an employee can do, and telling his audience to do them.

Every example he preaches, no matter how outlandish, happens.

Such as ways to fake your resume. One method of doing this is to invent an exciting middle name.

“You gotta do something to make your resume stand out, so whatever your middle name is now, get rid of that and bring in ‘Agamemnon’; I think it’s a great name. I mean, no one’s used it for years, and people notice it,” he stated. Jokingly, of course.

Havens’s sketch revolves around what he calls the Four

Pillars of Poverty. Along with faking your resume, the three remaining pillars are: establishing your incompetence, destroying your work ethic and alienating your coworkers. Havens goes into several hilarious examples under each pillar; most of which no sane person would ever consider doing in the workplace. The knowledge that these examples actually occur only add to the humor. The last bit of the show sobers a bit though, and Jeff tells it to audiences straight.

This is, after all, an educational event meant to prepare students for the workplace, and not for how to fail in it.

In addition to college oriented shows, Havens delivers his personal breed of informative lectures at corporations such as USBank, Ford Motor Company and General Electric. He is also a regular guest on Fox Business News, and has been featured in

SEE FIRED PAGE 09

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TNL

NEWS| September 28, 2010

Student leaders plea with UA Board of Regents

By Jerzy Shedlock The Northern Light

A protest, flyers, mass e-mails, Facebook groups, statements from the chancellor and a student presentation in Juneau. The proposed tuition increases have gained much attention this year, and students are speaking against the increases in growing numbers.

On Sept. 23 at UAS, the Coalition of Student Leaders gave a thirty-minute presentation to the UA Board of Regents (BOR), offering their own proposal for a lower tuition increase. Coalition speaker Peter Finn, member Ryan Bucholdt and ASUAF president Nicole Carvajal gave a threepronged presentation to the BOR. At the start of the presentation Finn stated that he “hoped a reasonable compromise could be reached.”

A 7 percent increase was proposed for the 2012-2013 academic school year. This could replace the 10 or 12 percent increase being proposed by the BOR. According to the coalition’s calculations, their proposal would save students $375 for the 20122013 school year.

For the academic year 20112012, the coalition proposed that the rates stay the same rather than raise lower-level courses by another 5 percent.

The coalition analyzed BOR meeting minutes from the past ten years to determine an average rate

of increase; tuition has been raised every year for the last ten years.

Students have become used to such increases, but feel that tuition rates being proposed are too high.

The student body also believes that their concerns are not truly being heard by the BOR. “When I first got involved with student government, I heard president Hamilton repeatedly dismiss the concerns of students regarding tuition rates by saying that all we had to do to bear the increases was give up the latte,” Finn said during the presentation.

“These increases do add up year after year.”

Speaking after the presentation, Carvajal emphasized similar concerns regarding the board’s consideration of student concerns.

“I hope that they are willing to listen to us on tuition. Last year, President Hamilton was one of the big reasons, I feel, why our counter proposal didn’t pass,” Carvajal said. “Hamilton was not supportive and the board tended to listen to him. I don’t think (Gamble) holds quite the sway over the board that president Hamilton did – yet.”

Carvajal pointed out that the UA Scholars Scholarship, regarded as the best scholarship at UA, is $1,100 a semester. This raise will devalue one of the most important resources the university has, she stated. “(The UA Scholars Scholarship) gets Alaska’s brightest students to

stay at the university. For myself in particular, that’s the only thing that kept me here,” Carvajal said.

In addition, the ASUAF president said continued increases would drive students away from the UA system.

Student leaders had spoken with students around campus and found that they were comfortable with the increase the Coalition has devised. Students have been able to absorb 7 percent increases over the years.

“Going past (a 7 percent increase) is something that casts large unknowns into our budgets,” Bucholdt said.

Regent Mary Hughes thanked the students for coming down to present, but argued that, at least from the board’s perspective, a higher education in Alaska is very affordable.

“We are facing an economic crisis. The proposal is an interesting one… When we are looking for our children and grandchildren to get an Alaskan education, it is relatively inexpensive,” Hughes said.

Regent Tim Brady echoed Hughes’ words, thanked the three presenters for bringing a well-articulated counter-proposal to the board’s attention and ensured that it would be given due consideration. He did not say whether he would support the counter-proposal or not.

“There’s a lot of moving parts to all this, and there’s a lot of

LOGAN TUTTLE/TNL

ASUAF president Nicole Carvajal and Coalition of Student Leaders speaker Peter Finn present to the UA Board of Regents during the meeting held in Juneau Sept. 23-24.

Also presenting via video conference was coalition member Ryan Buchholdt.

things for us to consider,” Brady said.

After speaking during public testimony, UAA Department of Psychology Chair and Vice President of the Faculty Senate John Petraitis was asked by Student Regent Ashton Compton whether Faculty Alliance had taken a position on the coalition’s proposal.

“We ended up taking a neutral position,” Petraitis responded.

Citing the faculty’s language he continued, “We felt uncomfortable picking a number for the tuition increase. As faculty, we did not know quality implications for choosing (a certain percent).”

This is the second year in a row Finn and the coalition has made an attempt to combat large tuition increases, and Finn believes that this time it was better planned and articulated.

“If (the BOR) is not listening this time around, I think they really risk driving a wedge between students, especially student advocates, and the administration and keeping a unified message,” Finn said. “I think Gamble is legitimately paying attention and considering it. The rest of the regents, I do not know.”

PROTEST: Faculty, community leaders participate in second rally against tuition increase proposal CONTINUED FROM COVER

continue their education if we are in a budget crisis,” Stanley said.

Stanley continued, telling the crowd to take pride in their education and stand up for what they believe to be wrong.

“If we can go down to the board and show that students are upset about what is happening here, if we showed that students are paying attention, we are going to be able to do a lot more to stop these increases to keep UAA affordable,” Peter Finn, Speaker of the Coalition of Student Leaders said.

The coalition is a collaborative body made up of all the student governments across the state. Finn was just one of many people who represented the students’ interests at the UA Board of Regents (BOR) meeting in Juneau.

The Coalition proposed that the BOR make no revision on the already approved 2011-2012 tuition and focus on the 20122013 with only a 7 percent increase, which they believe is more reasonable.

Since the BOR does not accept presentations

via video chat, anyone who wanted to have a say had to fly down to Juneau and present in person, limiting the amount of voices that could be heard.

“We can send a loud message to the regents that tuition should not be increased another dollar until students are involved in the process,” Nick Moe said, former Government Relations Director for USUAA. Alaskan Senators were also invited to the protest, most of which couldn’t attend, but a few sent their regards for the protest. One response was that of Senator Linda Menard, who stated she was against the tuition increase and wishes students luck in the fight against it.

State Representative, Les Gara, another guest speaker, said, “You can’t have jobs and you can’t have a vibrant economy unless you have a vibrant university, and that’s a university that people can afford.”

Each speech was accompanied by

applause and cheers from the spectators, while each mention of the BOR or the tuition increase resulted in a barrage of boos.

Over 30 people participated in the protest, many carrying signs expressing their displeasure with the increase. Various signs read “Needs based scholarships now,” “My money doesn’t grow on trees” and “Students are not a blank check.”

Starting in front of the Student Union, the group walked to the Administration Building, chanting in unison the whole time. They called to students to join them as the troupe passed by. Even though the protestors received continuous blank stares, they didn’t falter for a second, proudly holding their heads and signs high.

A few protestors even had their children with them, another gesture showing that students have families to provide for in addition to school.

Stopping once they reaced the flagpole, Stanley once again grasped the megaphone

and gave a few words thanking everyone for their support. She then proceeded to pass out blue papers that included facts about the increase. One stated that tuition has been steadily increasing since 2001 at an average rate of 7 percent.

If this 23 percent proposal passes, the cost per semester alone will be over 500 dollars more than what students pay now, regardless of the previous nine years’ increases.

Stanley’s final words asked for the assistance of student supporters to send their complaints to those members who voted yes on the tuition increase last spring, and who will most likely vote yes again.

No matter what decisions result from any of the BOR’s meetings, past or future, it is inevitable that tuition will continue to rise. Students will still dig deep into their pockets to pay the rising costs because they want to complete their education, even if it means putting them further into debt in the future.

VICTORY: Regents to further evaluate impacts of heightened tuition CONTINUED FROM COVER

“Our four-year tuition is low by comparison to other state institutions, but when we compare our lower divisions to community colleges around the country we are on the high end,” Henry said.

“In my years on the board we have tried to find a way to address that and we finally did. That will bake, that will stay in (the policy)

unless the next board changes (the 5-percent differential in place).”

Associated Students of UAF President Nicole Carvajal was very excited about the board’s decision concerning the 2011-2012 school year and feels they made the right decision.

“I am more confident that when we come back to the table and discuss the academic year 2013 tuition that we will get a reasonable

solution for everyone,” Carvajal said.”(The postponement) makes sense. I can understand wanting to know exactly what they are getting into and getting an exact number is something that will be great.”

The state legislature is sending a clear signal that they plan to start providing less of the university’s budget.

Problems with access to higher

education for students and the impact that tuition increases would have on students are among the set of challenges the BOR faces, stated Dr. Michael Driscoll, provost of academic affairs.

“I think it was a rational idea to look further at what the impacts are, to involve students who have done a great job in analyzing the situation… we don’t have a lot of time to due that, however, and

we’ll need to do that quickly,” Driscoll said.

Coalition of Student Leaders Spokesperson Peter Finn is looking forward to further discussion regarding the 20122013 school year tuition structure.

He feels that the students got what they wanted for the 2011-2012 school year and that obtaining their goal for the next academic year’s tuition is possible.

September 28, 2010 | NEWS

03

Miller discusses funding, education and Frankenfish

By Shana Roberson The Northern Light

Joe Miller’s office is small, cramped and busy. On Wednesday, Sept. 21, at least a dozen people were buzzing around in a room smaller than some UAA bathrooms.

The Republican senatorial candidate apparently takes one of his most used phrases to heart: “belt-tightening.”

Miller arrived on time for the interview, which was a surprise considering earlier in the day, he’d conducted interviews on radio and with a high school student. One staff member was ushered out of an office that apparently also held double duty as an interview room.

The first thing Miller wanted to get across is that he has been “misdefined” by the media.

“What people perceive of Joe is not what Joe is,” he said.

Miller is not against federal spending. In fact, during the course of the interview, Miller brought up several ideas that required federal spending, including an amped up Coast Guard and a fence on the U.S. southern border.

The appropriate use of federal funds is what he is after. He said Alaska can better manage funds and programs, resulting in “belttightening.”

Regarding federal funding, Miller’s opponent, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has accused Miller of wanting to

dump Social Security and get rid of the Department of Education.

“My concern is that you hear in politics so much from the politicians what people want to hear,” Miller said. “What our campaign is about is telling the truth about where we’re at with Social Security, which is an upside down system.”

Miller wants to protect those who are already under contract for Social Security, like his parents, but that he would like to eventually transition to a program run either privately or by individual states.

Rather than getting rid of the Department of Education, Miller would like to bring control to the state in order to administer it more efficiently, pointing to the No Child Left Behind Act as an example of federal regulation he believed did not work in Alaska.

While speaking about education, Miller had a specific message for UAA students.

“I would suggest to students: don’t plug your heads in the sand and think that the system that has happened for the last several decades is going to continue in the future indefinitely,” Miller said.

That theme came up often in the interview: America is nearing bankruptcy, we need to engage in “belt-tightening.”

Resource development is the way to create jobs and an economic engine that benefits the state as well as the country, according to Miller. He pointed to

the Shell projects in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas as well as Alaska Natural Wildlife Refuge, mining, coal and petroleum development as job creators.

Miller also spoke about national issues such as abortion, war and illegal immigration.

‘I would suggest to students, don’t plug your heads in the sand and think that the systems that has happened for the last several decades is going to continue in the future indefinitely.’

-Joe Miller US Senate Candidate Miller described himself as unequivocally pro-life. When asked about abortions involving rape or abuse, he responded with the shortest answer in the entire interview.

“If you say there’s an independent life then it doesn’t matter how that life was formed.”

Miller was also short on describing his military service, summarizing it as having provided

him with a wealth of knowledge and background experience that would assist in decision-making.

It was evident how that experience will guide him in regards to the Afghanistan war.

“I am totally against feel-good foreign policy,” he said.

A “feel-good-policy” is trying to accomplish something not in our national interests using military forces, according to Miller’s definition. A threat to our national security requires a laser focus, not changing government systems or imposing democracy, Miller stated. According to Miller, the military is being run like the Peace Corps.

“It’s not an appropriate use of our Armed Forces. It’s not why I joined, it’s not why the vast majority of men and women joined the Armed Forces,” Miller said.

Miller was vague when asked when or how the war in Afghanistan could end saying it would do so only once all opportunity for terrorists to attack our nation were removed.

Strategies could be put in place to shorten timeframes, but artificial time frames for ending the war are the wrong approach, Miller stated.

Miller also referred to national security when he suggested the use of federal funds to increase the Coast Guard’s presence in the Arctic and to build a fence on the southern border.

In the only mention of either

of his opponent’s, Miller said Senator Lisa Murkowski has not provided leadership on getting the fence funded. Murkowski did vote to approve the fence and other illegal immigration measures in 2008.

“It’s a national security issue,” Miller said. “You’ve got a lot of folks out there who want to do us harm and, yet, they could slip through a weapon of mass destruction.”

Finally, Miller discussed an issue that has many Alaskans terrified: Frankenfish, genetically modified fish and other foods.

Miller said he is pro-science and that science can benefit humanity.

“But I am also an information guy, so you better tell me if you’re giving me Frankenfish for dinner,” Miller said.

Like Miller, voters need information. When asked how he would represent those who oppose his viewpoints if elected, he responded by saying he has been misdefined.

Like the efficiency represented by his small, busy campaign office, Miller spoke quickly and precisely, apparently believing voters would come to agree with him if his message was laid out correctly.

In his conviction, he was clear on his positions. Only one question remains then: do you agree?

Students analyze Murkowski’s write-in campaign While some students are elated by the senator’s campaign, others believe that it is a fruitless endeavor

By Shana Roberson The Northern Light

Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s recent decision to run as a write-in candidate has some UAA students abuzz with contrasting analysis. Students differ over how this new development will split the vote while others offer a more general analysis.

Rasmussen conducted the first poll after Murkowski’s announcement, which showed Miller ahead with 42 percent of the vote, Murkowski with 27 percent and McAdams with 25 percent.

Many are reluctant to draw conclusions from the poll given the recent history in which polls showed Murkowski strongly ahead shortly before Miller won the primary.

The poll does beg the question: how will Murkowski’s write-in campaign change the dynamic of the race?

Senior Nick Moe predicts Murkowski’s entrance in the race will cause her and democratic nominee Scott McAdams to campaign on who is the better opponent of Joe Miller. Moe believes this will split both moderate and democratic votes.

Her entrance in the race “makes it more likely that Miller will win instead of less likely, which a lot of people are scared of,” Moe said.

Other students, like Senior Ben Anderson, are counting on Murkowski’s write-in campaign to split the Republican vote in favor of democrats. Anderson stated that he could have supported Murkowski if she had won the primary, but he now supports McAdams.

“I don’t think Murkowski has a legitimate

shot of winning as a write in campaign, just because it is unlikely and she lost the primary. I wouldn’t write in Murkowski myself,” Anderson said.

There are many who believe Murkowski has a strong chance to win, even with the difficulties of a write-in campaign.

Senior Daniel McDonald predicts a Murkowski-Miller standoff.

“I really don’t think McAdams has a ghost of a chance. I think most Democrats are going to get behind Murkowski,” McDonald said. “It’s going to be just a two way race.”

This nationwide standoff between Tea Party candidates and other establishment candidates equates to a Republican civil war, McDonald stated.

UAA College Republicans felt the brunt of that conflict this summer when a Miller campaign manager called them “puppets” after the group hosted an event for Murkowski.

Although Miller has since hired a new campaign manager, tensions remain high.

At their most recent meeting, a motion to endorse Miller was defeated.

Senior Ryan McKee, UAA College Republicans president, allowed the vote even after his national College Republican colleagues cautioned against endorsement.

“This comes straight from our National Board: we do not endorse, we do not take a side,” McKee said.

McKee said there was nothing to gain other than club division by endorsing either candidate. Though club members have personal candidate endorsements, they pledged to volunteer for both candidates if asked.

The Murkowski write-in campaign has more implications than just political intrigue. The race has historical significance, as Murkowski’s campaign slogan, “Let’s Make History,” points out.

Senior Miles Brookes, USUAA president, points out this election could declare a winner without a simple majority with a candidate gaining more than 50 percent. The vote has the potential of returning a 33-33-34 percent count on Election Day. Historically, a win without simple majority is rare.

Brookes acknowledged Murkowski’s campaign has quite a bit of work ahead of it. Murkowski will need to present herself as a candidate and also educate voters on the write-in process, stated Brookes.

The campaign has provided other education as well.

“I think a lot of students now understand how the closed primary system works. If anything, at the end of the day, it’s going to be an educational lesson,” Brookes said.

SPORTS

04

Senior Marko Cheseto continues to lead UAA Cross Country teams in both races and practices

By Megan Edge

Special to the Northern Light

Two time All-American runner Marko Cheseto has started out the 2010 Cross Country season where he left out last season: winning races.

Cheseto, a senior cross country and track and field runner for the Seawolves, recently lead UAA to a sweep of the Hawaii Pacific Invite, with a record winning time of 14 minutes and 26 seconds.

However, this didn’t come much as a surprise to those who know him best.

“Marko puts every thing into his run, he doesn’t hold anything back,” Assistant Coach T.J Garlatz said.

Cheseto has been described as one of the most talented runners in almost every race he competes in, thanks to the confidence he has in himself, and the desire he has to run, according to Garlatz.

The running strength and power during any given race can be credited in part to what his coaches and fellow teammates call his “crazy run.”

“A ‘crazy run’ is what Marko says to get himself going for the

next race. He fears nothing and gets ready to run as fast as he can for as long as he can,” Garlatz said. “It’s incredible.”

Cheseto, however, didn’t have a reason for his record-breaking

‘I came to Alaska for opportunity, an opportunity I would never have back home. I used to have to walk to and from school, and I just began running.’

– Marko Cheseto, UAA Cross Country and Track and Field runner talent and drive.

“I just do the best I can and all I know how to do,” Cheseto said.

At the BYU-Hawaii Invitational, Cheseto finished the 8K race with a finishing time of 25:10. This time was good enough for another individual title as well

as helping pace the ‘Wolves to a second team title.

In the past year, Cheseto has become the West Region Athlete of the Year, a first in UAA’s history, and finished 42nd in the National meet to help the UAA men’s team place 17th overall. The All-American runner was also selected as a repeat GNAC Male Cross Country Runner of the Year in the 2009-10 running season.

In 2010, Cheseto claimed two All-American honors, and the only UAA Track and Field athlete to receive two All-American honors in the same season.

Cheseto has been able to keep up his unstoppable talent that graduate assistant coach and fellow Kenyan runner David Kiplagat calls “hard core.”

On Sept. 7, Cheseto received the GNAC Male Athlete of the week award.

This young athlete however is described more than just a decent runner.

“He is the total package, he is extremely mentally tough and very talented,” head coach Michael Friess said. “It’s not only that however, we really appreciate the person he is.”

Cheseto began running for the Seawolves in 2009, after he left his home in Kapenguria, Kenya.

Cheseto has run his career all-time best in the 800-meter Run with a time of 1:55:06, on March 7. 2009, at the UNLV Collegiate Classic. Also in 2009, on April 16, Cheseto ran his best 10,000-meter run with a time of 29:08:28 at the Mt. SAC Relays.

To finish up his debut season, Cheseto was awarded with the GNAC Newcomer of the Year award.

In 2010 Cheseto ran his best time in both the 1500-Meter run, and the 5,000-meter run with times of 3:49.33, and 13:58.85.

“I came to Alaska for opportunity, an opportunity I would never have back home,” Cheseto said. “I used to have to walk to and from school, and I just began running.”

Cheseto credits his accomplishments to his other life back home, as well as his commitment and dedication not only to athletics, but to his academic studies as well.

For his teammates, however, he is more that a runner, he is a leader.

“Marko leads us,” teammate and fellow Kenyan Miriam Kipng’eno said. “He just does it; it’s very natural for him.”

To an outside viewer, when Cheseto practices he just looks pretty average. He is in the middle of the pack, running on the shoulders of fellow teammates, with the group. What the viewers don’t understand or know is that Cheseto is running there to help push a team mate in need, someone who needs a little inspiration to keep pushing, Garlatz said.

Cheseto runs very unselfishly, with his great sense of team. He is willing to do whatever needs to be done to have both self-success and team success, and is able to keep the team laughing with a great sense of humor, according to Friess.

“We rarely assign team captains; usually those roles are just filled by the natural leaders of the team,” Friess said.

“Marko fills that roll. He is always leading practice, setting a standard for what the team should be doing.”

22-25, 25-22 victory over 15th-ranked Western Washington at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

rebounded from significant deficits – 17-13 in the first and 16-12 in the second – to claim the first two sets. The Seawolves went up 2-0 by claiming the four of the last five rallies in set 2, ending with consecutive kills from freshman middle blocker Robyn Burton (6 kills, 7 total blocks) and Matthisen.

win.

SPORTS BRIEFS Seawolves claim win in first ever meeting with SFU Outside hitter McKenzie Moss had 10 kills and the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team rallied for a late 3rdset comeback Sept. 23 to earn a 2514, 25-15, 25-23 victory over Simon Fraser at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

The Seawolves (7-5, 2-2 GNAC) also got six kills apiece from middle blockers Cortney Lundberg and Robyn Burton, plus a match-high 12 digs from libero Nikkie Viotto to claim the first-ever meeting between the schools.

The Clan (0-10, 0-6), a Great Northwest Athletic Conference newcomer from Burnaby, British Columbia, was led by eight kills from outside hitter Jennifer Neilson.

After dominating the first two sets – including a .480 team attack percentage in the second frame – the

Seawolves found themselves in a 3rdset fight as they went for the sweep.

SFU claimed its biggest lead at 1613 on a kill from Kristjana Fridfinnson and earned a 23-21 advantage on a kill from Kelsey Robinson (7 kills). But Lundberg answered with a kill of her own and then teamed with Moss to block an attack by Neilson, tying it 2323. An attack error by Robinson gave UAA match point and sophomore outside hitter Marie Borowikow delivered with her first service ace of the season, just catching the back line.

Freshman Siobhan Johansen led UAA with 13 assists as head coach Chris Green utilized all three of his setters.

Seawolves roll No. 15 WWU 3-1 McKenzie Moss blasted 14 kills, including match point, and Jackie Matthisen delivered a double-double Sept. 25 to lift the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team to a 25-23, 25-23,

Matthisen had 10 kills, 16 kills and four block assists for the Seawolves (8-5, 3-2 GNAC), who made big comebacks to win the first, second and fourth sets. Outside hitter Megan Amundson had 13 kills and 11 digs for the Vikings (8-2, 5-1), while Kathryn Mertens and Emily Jepsen tallied nine kills apiece.

The match was a battle of the teams picked to finish first (WWU) and second (UAA) in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll, although the Vikings entered as the hotter club, sporting five straight victories.

After closing out the first set on a kill by middle blocker Cortney Lundberg (7 kills, 5 block assists), UAA sophomore libero Nikkie Viotto sparked a second-set charge with three consecutive aces to tie that frame 16-16.

In fact, no lead proved safe in the showdown as the Seawolves

UAA appeared poised for the sweep with a 21-17 lead in the third set, but the visitors from Bellingham, Wash., answered with an 8-1 run to prolong the evening.

The pattern continued in set 4 when WWU took a 16-9 lead on a block by Jepsen and Mertens, before UAA took advantage of three straight Viking attack errors on the ensuing points to get back into contention. The Seawolves knotted the score at 17 on Jepsen’s attack error and took a 2219 lead on a kill from Moss moments later. WWU would not go quietly, however, with Kari Rice finishing a 3-0 run with an ace to forge the final tie, 22-22. With a raucous crowd of 588 on its feet, UAA responded with consecutive kills from Lee Golden (7 kills), Burton and Moss to earn the

Viotto lifted a match-high 19 digs for UAA, while setters Siobhan Johansen (23) and Adriana Aukusitino (18) combined for 43 assists.

WWU’s only other loss this season came to the same CSUSB club.

Saturday also marked UAA’s third straight win in the series, Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball head coach Rusty Osborne added more bulk to his 2010-11 roster on Sept. 21 with the addition of Washington native Matt Peterson to the Seawolf lineup.

UAA adds more size up front before season A 6-7, 265-pound center, Peterson comes to UAA after averaging 11.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, Wash., last year. He also shot 51 percent from the floor, posted a season-high of 32 points in a February victory over Bellevue CC, and earned a spot in the NWAACC all-star game in the spring.

As a prep, Peterson starred at Eisenhower High School in Yakima, Wash., where he helped his school to its highest-ever finish – 4th place – at the 2007 WIAA State Tournament as a junior in 2007.

“Despite his mass, Matt has very good athleticism and the ability to get fouled and the other team in foul trouble,” Osborne added. “His challenge will be getting himself into better physical condition so that he can play longer minutes at a higher level. Matt, Taylor Rohde, Liam Gibcus, Casey Robinson, Chris Weitzel and Jeremy Jones give us significantly more size and depth than we have had in the recent path, which should help us withstand those times during the year when injuries affect your lineup.”

-Compiled by Taylor Hall

06

TNL

FEATURES| September 28, 2010 The Northern Light seeks an

Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor

A&E E Northern Lights Blvd.

Old Seward Way

E 36th Ave.

4x7.375 LC ANC.indd 2

1

Lake Otis Parkway

Call 907.786.1313 or e-mail content@thenorthernlight.org for more information

Goose Lake Park Univ of AK Providence Alaska Medical Center

E Tudor Rd.

2/6/09 2:33:38 PM

FEATURES

07

Feel trapped at the prospect of winter in Alaska?

Here’s what to do before the weather gets sour...

By Katie Forstner The Northern Light

You know how it goes; you go to bed one night with the sun streaming through the blinds and wake up to frosty trees and freezing temps. In the blink of an eye, winter knocks on your door and your dreams of hikes and bikes in the autumn foliage are shattered.

So, in the spirit of carpe diem, here is a fool proof, go-to list of everything that must be done before the weather goes in the direction of the sun.

Hike

DANIEL JACKSON/TNL

A lone skateboarder rides across campus as the chilly air forces more students indoors. The temperature was a low 50 degrees on Sept. 24, and termination dust has indicated the approach of winter.

Cama-i room offers cultural experience for all interested students and faculty

By Taylor Campbell

Special to the Northern Light

Tucked away in the corner of the Edward Lee Gorsuch Commons is a little room that might go unnoticed by the hordes of hungry students if not for the brightly colored signs plastered on its main door.

The Cama-i Room (pronounced Cha-my) is an area of the UAA Commons that was created by the Alaska Native and Rural Outreach Program (ANROP) with the purpose of providing a cultural experience that celebrates both Alaska Native and Native American students with a specialized focus on Alaska. The name is derived from the Yupik/ Supiaq word cama-i, which means “welcome” or “hello.”

While typically thought of as a room solely open for Alaskan Native students, this is a misconception.

The Cama-i Room and all it has to offer is open to every student who is interested not only in learning more about the native culture, but also, to meet new people who could become life-long friends.

This room was set aside as an opportunity for everyone to learn about Alaska and its cultures.

In some circumstances, it acts as a home-away-from-home for rural students, helping to ease them into the college experience.

Karla Booth, ANROP coordinator and mentor of the Cama-i Room, feels that the greatest compliment that the room has ever received was that it “reminded people of the town hall.”

In many rural villages, the town hall acts as the meeting room where the entire community congregates for major events: guest speakers, political events, and occasionally,

weddings and funerals.

In the five years that the room has been active, the response that has been generated throughout has been one of positive feedback.

“The faculty and staff value this place and know where to send students to really connect,” Booth said of the support emanating from the staff as a whole.

However, it isn’t only members of the UAA system that applaud the Cama-i Room. Members of the community have even pointed out the need for a Cama-i-type area in Anchorage.

One of the most rewarding things for everyone involved in the Cama-i Room effort is being able to see students take an active role in the leadership and running of this unique and cultural area.

There are two different areas of leadership available to students: a student may act as a Cama-i Room leader or as a Sharing Traditions host. As a leader of the room, the selected student acts as a peer mentor and helps to organize the room itself. The Sharing Traditions host takes a more active role in choosing the individual events.

The student chooses the elders who come to speak, the guests coming to demonstrate traditional arts and crafts and the more minute details of the room.

Booth said that while “seeing the students blossom into leaders is a definite success,” there is an extensive list of varying successes.

Out of these, perhaps the most impressive that was begun last year is the Pilot Bread Connection. This particular event was modeled after the Arctic Institute of Indigenous Leadership’s format, which focuses on bringing Alaska’s young leaders

together to network, bond and share true cultural experiences.

“I wanted something like that to bring to UAA to strengthen the bonds on our campus,” Booth said.

The next Pilot Bread Connection is happening on Friday, Oct. 9.

The five-year anniversary of the Cama-i Room brings into perspective ANROP’s plans for the future of the room. The ongoing goals are as simple as ensuring that everyone who comes into the room is welcome and maintaining consistency with the high standards of the environment.

The future plans for the room are certainly elaborate, but necessary.

ANROP plans to strengthen programs and activities being offered at Cama-i, to increase the number of visiting artists and village elders and to reach out more to the faculty members, encouraging them to visit and connect with students outside the classroom.

Among the best qualities of the room is the simple aspect that it is available to all as an educational type of open club.

If you are ever in the area, feel free to stop by. Whether to learn, to teach or simply just to connect with others, it will no doubt be an experience not likely to soon be forgotten.

There are multiple upcoming events that are available to UAA students and community members at the Cama-i room. For information on these events, contact Karla Booth in the Cama-i room at 751-7441 or email her at ankhb@uaa.alaska. edu. The Cama-i Room is open from 4:30 p.m. to midnight.

The Anchorage area boasts some of the nation’s premier wilderness, all at an arm’s length. A half hour drive in any direction will land you in fantastical scenery, such as Chugach State Park. Williwaw Valley is a 14-mile round-trip trek that is accessed via the Prospect Heights or Glen Alps entrances into the Chugach. A day trip into this picturesque valley can last between four and 12 hours, and there are plenty of flat sections that are perfect for an overnight backpacking trip. Since the weather is indeed getting bitter, don’t forget extra layers and complex carbohydrates, such as bagels or Clif Bars.

Bike A good chunk of the Anchorage community purchases two sets of studded tires each winter season: one for their vehicle and another for their bicycle. Winter riding has become increasingly popular due to the Green Revolution, but before the sidewalks turn white with termination dust, get your last taste of autumn mountain biking in. Prospect Heights, a popular mountain biking trail in Anchorage’s Hillside area, is the perfect place to get that last adrenaline rush. Also, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which stretches along the Anchorage Coast from downtown to Kincaid Park, is a highly accessible, easier, paved path.

Rock Climbing Indoor rock climbing is rising in popularity, but it can never replace the charge that scrambling on real rocks gives. With the sunny fall that has blessed Southcentral Alaska this year, you would be a fool not to take advantage of the pristine rock climbing weather. Weiner Lake, located about seven miles outside of Chickaloon, swanks some premium rock faces and bouldering opportunities. Another popular climbing destination is the scattered cliffs alongside the Seward Highway. The sun hasn’t quite gone down on that side of the Arm yet, and since the rock is a bit colder than usual, it is easier to grip.

Frolf Frisbee golf, also known as frolf, is a popular competitive sport amongst college students and outdoor enthusiasts. The game, which essentially is golf played with a Frisbee in the woods, can be played in the snow, but is less cold and miserable in the fall. For example, the brightly colored discs are much easier to recover from under a pile of red and gold leaves rather than a poof of snowflakes. There are frolf courses all over the Anchorage area; Kincaid Park and Russian Jack Springs both are free 18-hole courses and Peters Creek Park in Eagle River is a nice alternative to city courses.

Surfing Surfing is most commonly associated with warmer waters such as those in Hawaii or California, however the sea sport is making waves in Alaska. It hasn’t been uncommon to catch a glimpse of various adrenaline-junkies riding the voracious swells in Turnagain Arm this summer, and the sport shows no signs of taking a hiatus for winter. The Turnagain bore tide is one of the biggest in the world, during which seas can rise up between six and 10 feet. Bore tide is an everyday occurrence, and during this time, various kite and regular surfers don their insulated westsuits and hit the waves.

Winter is no time to stop rallying, but the temperature can drop to such extremes that it is a struggle to even drag yourself to class. Get out there and enjoy the things you love before Mother Nature freezes your ambition.

08

TNL

FEATURES| September 28, 2010

Parking On Campus ?

When you use the Pay-N-Park be sure to check your receipt for special notices and savings from: The UAA Bookstore UAA Parking Services The Wendy Williamson Auditorium Peppercini’s Deli TBA Theatre Company Questions? Your UAA Parking Services is glad to help!

Call us at (907) 786-1119 or visit www.uaa.alaska.edu/parking

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

09

FIRED: Comedian Jeff Havens delivers fun and informative lectures on employment faux pas CONTINUED FROM COVER several business-oriented publications across the nation, such as the “Wall Street Journal.”

With positive experiences working with the business sector, it seems a little strange that Havens chooses to speak at colleges. Especially since his “How To Get Fired!” lecture is designed mostly with college students in mind, as opposed to his “Uncrapify Your Life!” and “Unleash Your Inner Tyrant!” sketches, which are designed more for those already in professional settings. There are many speakers who cater to the professional crowd however, and therein lies the inspiration behind Havens’s college-oriented show.

“I’d hear a bunch of different people speaking, and all kinds of people are talking to business owners about, generation wise, how to deal with this new, weird group of kids coming into the workplace, and nobody was talking to college students, as best I can tell, about how to prepare themselves for the workplace,” said Havens.

But still, why students? Do we really need a wake up call? Havens thinks so.

‘Anybody who gets into comedy, ever, is doing it for the same reason.

Somebody, at some point, says, “You’re funny, and you should do standup.’

–Jeff Havens, author of “How to get Fired!”

“College is seriously the worst preparation for any working world you could get into,” he stated.

Havens believes this is the case due to the “unrealistic amount” of independence when it comes to college.

“You do what you want when you want; you go to class when you want, if you feel like it. You study when you want, if you feel like it; you drop classes when they get to be hard or boring. You can get drunk on Tuesday because you don’t have to be in class until 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Then on a dime, you’ve been doing that for four or five years, and on a dime, you have to switch; to march to somebody else’s drummer,” he said.

Making the switch from high school teacher to successful comedian seems almost surreal, something only heard about in inspirational or sensationalized stories.

Havens, while doing most of the work himself, had a bit of a leg up in his father, Rex Havens.

“My dad has been a comedian for the last 22-23 years. You’ve never heard of him; he’s not famous, but he’s made a living at it for a long time,” said Havens. He elaborated by saying that his father probably saved him about three years of work by helping him network himself and by giving him contacts.

Despite being the son of a decently successful comedian, Havens maintains that all comedians get into the business the same way, by making people laugh.

He stated, “Anybody who gets into comedy, ever, is doing it for the same reason.

Somebody, at some point, says, “You’re funny, and you should do stand-up.””

In the end though, despite giving up a career as a high school teacher, Havens hasn’t given up on teaching. His entertaining, albeit unorthodox, lectures speak to those who attend through a relatively universal medium, but still maintain the underlying idea of education.

Jeff Havens will be at UAA on Thursday, Sept. 30th from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Fine Arts Rm 150. Tickets are free for UAA students taking six credits or more with a valid ID. General admission is $10 at the door. So whether you’ve been fired in the past and are looking for sound advice, or just want a good laugh with an underlying message, this little to no cost event looks to be a great, and likely hilarious, way to spend a Thursday evening.

September 28, 2010 | A&E

TNL

11

GAME REVIEW

PS3 sports a new upgrade that trumps the Wii The motion technology that set the Wii apart from other gaming systems now available for the PS3

By Bryan Dunagan The Northern Light

This year brings the Wii-esque motion controls to the main two gaming consoles, the XBOX and the Playstation 3. The PlayStation Move is definitely the closest in resemblance to the Wii-mote, but tracks movement more accurately using the camera peripheral.

Unlike most add-ons, the Move uses the controllers and the camera that have been on the market since the launch of the PS3. Upgrading to the Move, if one already has the camera, is around an $80 dollar purchase, plus a compatible game.

Or, if one is doing a full upgrade, the components can be purchased separately for around $130. Sony has also bundled the Move with the camera and the “Sports Champion” game for $100.

The Move is easy to set up: just plug in the camera and set the lens to “wide angle,” sync the controllers and hit the town.

Syncing the two controllers is easy; plug in the USB cable into them and press the PS button.

The PlayStations Move is made up of two wireless controllers, the Move controller and the navigation controller. The Move controller is the main controller and will cost the most. This is the controller that is essentially a lit ball on top of a controller. It uses this ball to track movements, and it is far more accurate than the Wii. The anatomy of this controller consists of the Move button on the face, the standard four face buttons and the T button at the bottom that acts as a trigger.

The second part of the Move is the navigation controller used to play games such as “Resident

MUSIC REVIEW

Evil 5.” This controller is more or less an analogue stick with the L1 and L2 buttons on the underside and two face buttons. This allows for 3D space movement in certain games. Also, if one wanted to save the $30 this component costs, the opposite side of a regular PS3 controller fulfills the same functions as the new navigation controller.

If you are feeling big for your britches, or just confident in your ability to use the new technology to its fullest potential, everything on the PS3 can be controlled with the Move. This is done through arm gestures and holding down the T button. It works surprising well, and there is instant feedback.

The trickiest part of using this upgrade is finding a comfortable place to use it, as the “Move” requires a visual connection to the camera. Other than that, it’s

possibly the easiest upgrade ever conceived.

The question: does it work?

The answer is yes, extremely well. Playing “Resident Evil 5” is a blast, and it is so easy to perform kill shots that the player will wonder why the game didn’t ship with the peripheral included.

It’s intuitive and quite fun, adding just a little bit more immersion than that of standard games.

Titles such as “Heavy Rain” are made for play with the Move.

It makes the gamer feel like he or she is touching tangible objects in space. Unfortunately, when the inputs get really crazy, it is hard to focus on what is happening on screen.

The downside to this whole system is that if the player is in a dark room, the lighted ball on the top of the main controller is distracting, and may cause some

huge playing disruptions.

In all, if you are looking to play some existing games on the PS3 with the hot new thing; the PlayStation Move is worth it.

UPGRADE: “Playstation Move” MAKER: Sony Computer Entertainment RELEASE DATE: Sept. 17, 2010

★★★★★

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Imperfect Harmonies’ ‘Easy A’ exceeds expectations earns a perfect score Emma Stone’s wit and charm easily give “Easy A” five stars After a few years on hiatus, Serj Tankian returns with an album better than his last

By Bryan Dunagan The Northern Light

It has been three long years, marked by only one single release, since Serj Tankian put out his “Elect the Dead” album.

He’s finally back with a stronger album that has more wit and social commentary than a man standing on a soapbox proclaiming that space junk will rain from the sky.

From the get-go, fans can expect a lot more variety from the last time around. Serj has definitely taken the idea of playing with sound to heart, and has songs that are jazz, funk and even techno inspired.

Serj’s multi-platinum stint in “System of a Down” has definitely paid off. The album opener, “Disowned, Inc,” has a very industrial sound that cuts to a piano medley, punctuated by Tankian’s flat vocals.

“Electron,” an orchestral soft key synthesized track, is very poignant with its dual vocal track and is very much lifted from “Queen’s” overdubbing on the record “A Night at the Opera.”

The somber piano work of “Gate 21” is touching and could be taken to represent someone of Tankian’s personal life leaving him, or even that of society crashing around him.

“Yes, It’s Genocide” is spoken almost entirely in the Armenian, and is a very emotive work of Tankian, even though not very

many people can understand it due to his bilingual lyrics.

The most notable song is “God***** Trigger,” in which Tankian pokes fun at those that keep guns and ammo everywhere and screaming, “How will I protect myself?” This song displays Tankian’s humor and ability in top form.

In all, the album is solid. Fans will love it, critics will love it and most importantly, it’s finally here in the hands of his fans. It’s a solid commentary album, if not an experimental one.

ALBUM: “Imperfect Harmonies” ARTIST: Serj Tankian RECORD LABEL: Reprise, Serjical Strike RELEASE DATE: Sept. 21, 2010

★★★★★

By Heather Hamilton The Northern Light

“Easy A” delves into the easily identifiable story of “first we...and then we...but not really.”

Emma Stone (“Marmaduke”) plays high school nobody Olive Penderghast, who is completely invisible to her peers. The downward spiral of Olive’s reputation begins when best friend Rhiannon (Alyson Michalka “Bandslam”) invites Olive camping and Olive fibs about a date with a guy in college as to why she can’t go. Come Monday, Olive’s imaginary date turns into a lie about losing her “V-card” after being pressured for details.

The story is overheard by the president of the school’s religious club, Marianne (Amanda Bynes “Canned”), and the Facebook, Twitter, text and you-name-it modern rumor-mill is activated.

Within a day, Olive’s reputation is soiled.

Olive’s squeaky-clean persona is further sullied when she agrees to a public staging of a sexual exploit with Brandon (Dan Byrd “Norman”) who is gay and tormented at school because of it. The large crowd gathered outside the room to overhear their encounter predictably spreads word of Brandon’s apparent heterosexuality, as well as Olive’s even more dirtied sheets.

From there, Olive becomes the girl all nerdy, invisible and harassed boys go to for help in raising their social status.

Only Todd (Penn Badgley “The Stepfather”) ignores the rumors

surrounding the “school slut” and sees her for the witty, charming and still-virginal girl she honestly is.

“Easy A” pays delicious homage to John Hughes 80’s teen movies such as “Breakfast Club,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Sixteen Candles,” even going so far as to features clips from them.

The first music in the movie is Sweet Thing’s “Change of Seasons” (which feels as authentically 80’s as big hair and tight pants), and sets the tone for the entire experience as a giant nod to the renowned director, who passed away in 2009.

While the movie’s acting was great as a whole, Emma Stone’s performance is fantastic. She is witty, fun, sarcastic and her facial expressions say everything she fails to voice. She uses her entire body to convey her character’s many facets, from the silly teenage girl dancing to “A Pocket Full of Sunshine” to the empathetic student whose heart breaks in her eyes when she sees someone else suffering. Olive’s surprisingly deep character is portrayed beautifully.

Amanda Bynes’s role as Marianne is also well played.

She is wonderfully terrible, fun to dislike and an all around good antagonist. We are used to seeing Amanda as lovable benign characters; for her to play one so mean spirited as convincingly as she does is impressive.

The only true flaw with this movie is superficial. Olive, as portrayed by Emma Stone, is far too beautiful and her personality

far too infectious to be invisible to her peers. Any high school boy driven either by his right mind or his hormones would want to be involved with her on some level.

While this isn’t really a flaw so much as it is a pet peeve, it does do minuscule damage to the movie’s credibility.

“Easy A” lives up to its name in every way, shape and form. It’s witty and endearing from start to finish and will likely have a long life in the box office to show for it.

If you enjoy John Hughes movies, this will join their ranks on your DVD shelf soon enough.

Directed by: Will Gluck STARRING: Emma Stone RUN TIME: 92 minutes GENRE: Comedy, Romance

★★★★★

12

A&E| September 28, 2010

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TNL

OPINION The Northern Light 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 Phone: 907-786-1513 Fax: 907-786-1331 info@thenorthernlight.org

EXECUTIVE EDITOR 786-1434 editor@thenorthernlight.org Josh Edge MANAGING EDITOR 786-1313 content@thenorthernlight.org Jerzy Shedlock COPY EDITOR copy@thenorthernlight.org Brittany Bennett NEWS EDITOR 786-1576 news@thenorthernlight.org Vacant FEATURES EDITOR 786-1567 features@thenorthernlight.org Katie Forstner A&E EDITOR 786-6198 arts@thenorthernlight.org Heather Hamilton SPORTS EDITOR 786-1512 sports@thenorthernlight.org Taylor Hall PHOTO EDITOR 786-1565 photo@thenorthernlight.org Logan Tuttle WEB EDITOR 786-1506 web@thenorthernlight.org Ashley Snyder LAYOUT EDITOR layout@thenorthernlight.org Lisa Wagner ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR news2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR features2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR arts2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ADVERTISING MANAGER 786-4690 ads@thenorthernlight.org Mariya Proskuryakova ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Vacant CIRCULATION ASSISTANT Munkh-Erdene Tsend-Ochir PHOTOGRAPHERS Daniel Jackson CONTRIBUTORS Alex Maslow Bryan Dunagan Megan Edge Shana Roberson Taylor Campbell 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.

13

EDITORIAL

Remain involved or waste your efforts Cool, a possible tuition hike brings students together, but why does it stop at that?

Nothing brings people together like a possible tuition hike.

Though the current fears of a massive tuition hike at UAA and the rest of the University system have been subdued for now, it makes one wonder why that particular issue brings students together so fervently.

What seems so different about UAA, and the rest of the UA system in general, is that only the negative or potentially negative things seem to being us all together for a common cause.

About the only other thing besides an increase in tuition that makes students band together and actually become involved students is the current parking situation.

When talking about “students,” we don’t just imply those at UAA – all

About the only other thing besides an increase in tuition that makes students band together and actually become involved students is the current parking situation. students in the UA system are included, and it’s quite disheartening to see the student body go from up-in-arms one day, to completely apathetic the next.

It should be a pretty safe assumption that all, or at least most, students have opinions on other issues or things going on around campus. The bottom line is that they should let their opinions be known. College is the time and place for people to be opinionated and active about the goings on in the community.

The cause shouldn’t matter. If something big is happening around the university, such as a potential tuition hike, students need to voice their opinions and let the administration know what they think. It doesn’t even have to be a negative viewpoint; it could be something good that’s going on.

Chances are that it isn’t just UAA students that have certain opinions on what is going on around

them. Students at UAF and UAS probably share many of the same viewpoints.

Work together to let people know how you, and they, feel.

Being poor college students, monetary issues will always get a rise out of all of us, but there are also good things that happen at the universities.

Take the graduate school for example. Many people probably don’t know much about it, but the roughly 1,000 graduate students we have at UAA are doing all kinds of great things that make UAA a better and educational environment and also help the University follow its mission statement – not that the grad school is the only department that helps UAA do that.

Without the efforts of departments and entities like the graduate school,

UAA would risk losing its accreditation and make most of those pieces of paper people get after they graduate essentially useless.

What we are trying to say is, use your voice not just for the bad, but for the good also. Use your voice often. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a protest to get the UA system to listen.

Another great example is to send letters to the editor to the newspaper.

Our opinion section should be the voice of the students, and judging by our history of letters to the editor, one could draw the conclusion that the students just don’t care.

It’s great that a tuition hike brings us all together, but it shouldn’t be the only thing that brings us students together.

OPINION

‘Rally to Restore Sanity’ a necessary relief from crazed political tensions

By Alex Maslow

Special to The Northern Light

Last week, Jon Stewart announced on “The Daily Show” the “Rally to Restore Sanity.” Jon Stewart is seen as a leader among liberals, and so naturally the event has been seen as a liberal effort.

But sanity is something everyone ought to be able to agree on as being important. Without sanity, we cannot have a functioning democracy. But what do I mean by sanity?

By sanity, I mean healthy debates. The need for such debates may seem obvious, and indeed I hope it is, but many Americans seem to have forgotten that completely, whether by their own desires or by being swept up in hysteria. That is an incredibly dangerous thing to happen in a democracy.

A democracy thrives on debate.

The strength of a democracy is measured not by its elections, but by the civility of its debates, as well as the demeanor of the losing side after the election.

In a strong democracy, there is a healthy debate where evidence is presented and the virtues and flaws of the opposing ideas are pointed out. Both ideas have positive results and negative consequences.

After the debate, the voters decide which of these two ideas are best for the country. The winning side is then able to implement its idea, and the losing side must yield to the voters’ decisions.

Does this mean the winning side was right? Of course not!

But if the losers throw a fit after every vote, progress becomes impossible. Not only does this generally stall the political gears of a nation, it also changes the discussion dramatically.

Instead of admitting defeat and preparing for the next debate (for there will always be a next debate), the losing side takes a vested interest in the failure of their opponent’s plans. Since their opponent’s plans have become the national agenda, they are taking an interest in the failure of the nation.

If the agenda fails to produce what it promised, they can claim that the voters were duped. If the agenda does not fail, it is their interest to make it seem as though it has.

If, on the other hand, the losing side accepts defeat, they may win the next debate, and so both parties will have something beneficial to show their voters. If they actively engage in promoting the winning side’s idea, they will still help the country, even if it was not how they wished to support it.

If they lose one debate after the other after the other, perhaps it is time for the party to look at its message and alter itself. A platform that was appropriate one decade may be irrelevant the next.

That is natural in a democracy, because it is proof of progress.

One issue was resolved, and a new one has taken center stage.

There is nothing wrong with opposing this or that national agenda, but that is very different than hoping it fails. There is not a thin line between opposing an idea and fear-mongering and spreading

misinformation about – there is a very clear difference.

The Rally to Restore Sanity is about emphasizing this difference.

It is about breaking the deadlock in the national debate, caused by those who wish to see President Barack Obama fail. It is also about distinguishing those who wish to see the president fail from those who constructively disagree with the president.

If you are sick of being lied to by certain members of the media, wish politicians would speak to us without fear-mongering or just think your neighbors have gone a bit too far with their bumper stickers, this is the movement is for you.

There will be a “Rally to Restore Sanity” on Oct. 30 in Anchorage. For more information please visit the website, http:// takeitdownanotch4ak.blogspot. com/ or send an e-mail to be put on the mailing list, Rally4SanityAK@ gmail.com.

PRIDE

CHIDE

The Board of Regents...

Student apathy...

...for paying attention to UAA protesters.

...Out of the entire UAA student body, only 30 students protested.

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A&E| September 28, 2010

BROKECOMICS | Alec Fritz

TUNDRA l Chad Carpenter

SODUKU

CRYPTOQUOTE PUZZLE l M. Proskuryakova

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CROSSWORD ACROSS

WORDSEARCH: CHIP BRANDS Cheetos Doritos Intoxitators Kettle Lays North Fork Ruffles Rusty’s Shearers Sterzings Sun Chips Tostitos Twisties

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS:

1 6 11 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 23 (2 wds.)

24 26 28 30 31 32 33 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 47 48 49 50 53 56 58 59 60 61 62 63 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5

Bah! Desk accessories PD dispatch Coronet Taken — (surprised) Letter after pi Rose-petal oil Fruit tree What’s that?

Siesta Not anybody “Haste makes waste,” e.g.

Large bill Hen’s chore Blender output WWII sub (hyph.)

Read intently Hard wood Mrs. Peel portrayer Like an old car Melville opus Flight board info Memory units Shower feature Holy terrors Hiss Realms Arctic dwelling Delight in Poker stake Robin’s beak Steps Op art pattern Law (abbr.)

Select few Zinc or tin Superman’s emblem Railroad terminal Skybox locale Nile god In — (as found) Gentle exercise (hyph.)

Neighbor or Scorpius Guarantee

6 Expire 7 Help a burglar 8 Damage 9 HP offerings 10 Peeled 11 Chain mail 12 Ring up 13 Filleted 19 Manner 22 Turtle-to-be 25 Slanted line (abbr.)

26 Feels sore 27 Heavy hydrogen discoverer 28 Tempt 29 Somewhat (2 wds.)

30 Asks a question 32 Golf taps 33 Green mineral

34 35 37 38 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 49 51 52 54 55 57

Farmland Make sharp No-hitter king Ricelike pasta Gave a quick rundown Predicament SF transit system Barracks off.

“Platoon” actor Bad smells States of mind Dress panel Deep-voiced lady Where to hear Farsi First name in horror Pub order Back talk Not ‘neath

“Everything has been figured out, except how to live” -Jean-Paul Sartre

September 28, 2010 | A&E

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15

HOROSCOPE l Stella Wilder The coming week is likely to require a great deal of focus from individuals who wish to make the most of the opportunities that arise, for schedules are still likely to be quite busy and the effects of distraction can be quite dramatic. Now is no time to be lax or disengaged in any way, for this can be seen as an invitation of sorts to rivals that it’s time to move in for the kill. He or she who wants to be defeated need only do little or nothing, and it is all but assured. Focus, involvement and a willingness to go a little further than usual can lead to success.

It’s likely to be the little things that matter most and that are more tricky to cope with, while the big and important issues, while worthy of attention as always, are likely to develop as expected. Certain surprises LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 7) -- There is likely to be a certain mysterious, even magical quality to the week that adds to your enjoyment -- and potential rewards.

(Oct. 8-Oct. 22) -- You can reap the benefits of a secret meeting before a rival knows what’s up. Competition heats up.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 7) -- Accuracy is the key to a productive week; you can’t afford to make any mistakes that will leave you with any kind of mess to clean up.

(Nov. 8-Nov. 21) -- Care taken to improve your physical well-being can also serve to improve your state of mind as well.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 7) -- You’ll be tempted to stop short when things get more complicated than expected, but you must reach for the finish line.

(Dec. 8-Dec. 21) -- Your skills may not be enough to handle a tough challenge; combine them with another’s.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 6) -- The pressure you feel regarding one or two uncomfortable situations may not be coming from someone else. It’s time to lighten up.

(Jan. 7-Jan. 19) -- You’ll be able to set yourself apart, thanks to your ability to work quickly.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 3) -- Your interests are shifting, subtly but significantly, and the result will be that you are no longer satisfied with current routine.

(Feb. 4-Feb. 18) -- Productivity is on the rise, and you must be ready to tackle more than one project at a time.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 5) -- You may be challenged by someone whose knowledge rivals your own, but you have at least one trick up your sleeve.

(March 6-March 20) -- The moment you think you know better is when you must be ready to admit that you don’t have all the facts.

ARIES (March 21-April 4) -- You’ll have to map out your schedule with a great deal of care. Don’t overlook the details. A friend makes a big promise.

(April 5-April 19) -- You may be trying to force a square peg into a round hole; let things happen organically.

TAURUS (April 20-May 5) -- You may be straddling two parallel realities, but in the end you can accommodate both and enjoy increased rewards.

(May 6-May 20) -- You’ll have the chance to express your gratitude to a friend or loved one in a way that won’t soon be forgotten.

GEMINI (May 21-June 6) -- You may have to answer to someone in authority before you are free to pursue your own goals in your own way.

(June 7-June 20) -- Pay attention to the sights and sounds around you. Even the trivial can carry an important message.

CANCER (June 21-July 7) -- Expect the unexpected, especially during your downtime, when you are not as receptive to the surprises that come your way.

(July 8-July 22) -- Friends are likely to come to you with special requests of all kinds, and you can surely oblige.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 7) -- Just when you think it’s time to close the book on one project and open another, you’ll have reason to retrace your steps.

(Aug. 8-Aug. 22) -- You may receive more than one warning about a certain behavior, but you simply can’t control yourself.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 7) -- A fun blast from the past has you wondering why you can’t resurrect a past project and enjoy a second round of accomplishment and reward.

(Sept. 8-Sept. 22) -- You’ll be able to come to the rescue of someone who blunders into a situation that he or she cannot control.

Oct. 1 & 2

Oktoberfest Package

Microbrews with Nervis Rex & Rebel Blues

Package includes one-night accommodation plus admission for two to Oktoberfest

Alyeska Resort Daylodge | 6 pm - Midnight $5 Admission Only $15 Admission+Filled Beer Stein Tickets Online

907-754-1111

alyeskaresort.com

From

$69 per person*

*Based on double occupancy and subject to availability.

Includes taxes and fees. Valid 9/24 - 10/3.

16

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A&E| September 28, 2010

• Slide out QWERTY Keyboard • 5 Megapixel Camera • Huge Touchscreen • Thousands of Android Apps • Alaska’s largest 3G network

free for a limited time!

The Android Motorola Milestone ...now here at GCI! To stay up-to-date with events and giveaways, follow GCI on Twitter and Facebook.

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*Only available in 3G CDMA coverage areas. Promotional price requires a new, two-year contract and 3G Smartphone Data package. Other restrictions apply. Offer available only while supplies last.