September 29, 2015 by The Northern Light

SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

Features

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

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Senshi-Con celebrates 10th anniversary

Ramen doesn’t have to be boring anymore

Renovations underway for “re-imagined” campus bookstore By Nolin Ainsworth

sports@thenorthernlight.org

The UAA Campus Bookstore is ordering much more than textbooks for next semester. Along with the thousands of new textbooks that will make their way to the shelves, the Bookstore will also be getting… well, a new bookstore. The Bookstore is orchestrating a groundbreaking $1.8 million renovation that will include a new café, lighting, carpet and everything in between. The project is funded through Bookstore savings. For the last 20 years the Bookstore has been setting aside about two-percent of its annual income for the project. “[The staff] have been real-

ly diligent about saving these funds so they can invest them and make a big splash,” Bookstore director Penny Kimball said. For three decades, the campus Bookstore has been a fixture in the Student Union. The overall store design has remained relatively constant. The only major renovation occurred in 2005 with the addition of the second floor and a new entryway. As the years have gone on, as fads come and go, the store layout has become somewhat convoluted. Kimball said that staff has just been shoving stuff in wherever there was room. “The current store really doesn’t reflect the products that the Bookstore sells,” said Michelle Wells, Marketing

Director of UAA’s Business Services. Snacks hide themselves behind the checkout counter, gifts and cards require a trip to the second floor, and the most expensive products — laptops and tablets — are in a place few people know to look. The new design should fix that confusion. “The [design] team was really diligent in thinking through from start to finish, how a student would interact with the store and tried to make choices based on that,” said Wells. “Everything was kind of made with the students in mind.” In addition, the new Bookstore will be clearing out one side of the store for a full-fledged café complete with an espresso bar, reach-in cooler and all the

The UAA Campus Bookstore is currently undergoing a 1.8 million dollar rennovation. The rennovation will include a new cafe, lighting, carpet and more.

PHOTO BY RYAN JOHNSON

SEE BOOKSTORE

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Economic forum looks to cover three billion shortfall By Nathan Burns

nburns@thenorthernlight.org

On Saturday, Sept. 19, a group gathered in the Wendy Williamson Auditorium. The group was comprised of students, state senators, professors, professionals and regular citizens, armed with pens, paper, PowerPoints and props. Their target: finding the predicted three billion dollars necessary to cover the 20152016 Fiscal Year budget deficit. The Forum of Alaska’s Fiscal and Economic Future, hosted by Alaska Common Ground sought to tackle the state budget crisis in the short term, and to seriously talk about the future of the state’s economy. The state budget crisis has been caused by the recent sharp drop in oil prices from previous projections as explained in helpful handouts prepared for the meeting by UAA Economics Professor Gunnar Knapp. In the spring of 2014, the Department of Revenue predicted an average oil price of $105/ barrel. This spring DOR projected an average FY15 price of $67/barrel At the FY16 spending level ($5.3 billion), the projected deficits would drain our savings reserves by FY22. Last fiscal year, the state ran a major deficit. “We’ve got a savings account we built up called the Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund. We built that up when oil prices were high, and we didn’t spend all of our revenue. Last year the legislature paid for more than half of the budget by tapping into it,” said Knapp.

At the current FY16 spending level ($5.3 billion), the projected deficits would drain our savings reserves by FY22. To establish context Bill Popp CEO of the Anchorage Economic Development Coorporation said, “One third of your economy is oil, one third of it is federal spending, mainly military, and one third of it is everything else. Seafood, air cargo, tourism, all of that is included under everything else, so a big chunk of everything else is based on the price of oil, or every federal dollar spent in Alaska and sometimes both.” The event hosted by Cliff Groh, Chair of Alaska Common Ground, began with a game to illustrate the challenge of budgeting. On stage, a set of scales were erected with one side having blocks, each representing 100 million dollars in state revenues, and one side with blocks representing state expenses, with the scales starting heavily tipped towards expenses. Participants were challenged to balance the scale by adding additional revenue blocks by tapping the constitutional budget reserve, enacting sales taxes, enacting a state income tax, or even tapping into the Permanent Fund Dividend or cutting state program such as education. Then, each had a chance to propose a plan to the assembled audiences: Brad Keithley, president of Keithley Consulting, Gary Wilken, former Alaska state senator, John Havelock, former Alaska attorney general and Liz Medicine Crow, president/CEO of First Alaskans Institute all presented. Each

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provided thoughtful approach, ranging from Wilken’s plan to cut general fund spending to 4.5 billion by 2021, to Medicine Crow’s plan to raise new revenues from a variety of taxes. Plans even included increasing spending to invest in the future. Bill Popp and Mark Foster, Chief Financial Officer of the Anchorage School District, discussed and debated the future direction of our state. They each believed that compromise was essential. “The smartest thing we can do today is to create a deal-space like we are doing today, where there are both reductions spending and increased revenues as part of a package,” said Foster. “We can’t do this in some piecemeal approach of a couple cuts this year, and a couple cuts next year, and eventually kick the can down the road on revenue. We’ve got to start talking about all of this now,” said Popp. Popp also wished to address some of the fear mongering he felt was going on in local politics. “We have to stop talking about the ‘fact’ that we’re broke, we’re not broke. We’ve got a hundred billion dollars in cash reserves and assets in the state of Alaska,” said Popp. “Any business in a down-cycle with that amount of resources would be looking at restructuring, reinvesting and getting itself competitive for the next growth period. It would be planning for the long-term, and frankly, we don’t have a long-term plan right now.” Foster believed that one of the keys to understanding the

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budget crisis was to get more citizen involvement so they can see the challenges inherent in raising revenue and cutting programs. “It’s easy to talk about cuts. It’s easy to talk about taxes without the context of having the people directly affected staring you down and going, ‘that hurts me,’ and that’s a tough business,” said Foster. Following lunch and a debate, a straw poll was conducted and the audience had an option to vote on which of the four proposed plans they would prefer to see enacted in order and the numbers were tallied. “ISER is going to do a month-long 75,000 dollar study to figure out what those numbers mean and we’ll get back to you,” joked Knapp. John Havelock’s proposal, “The Hat Trick,” took the most votes. Havelock’s plan focused on cutting oil tax credits, capping the PFD at $1,650 a year, a seasonal sales tax to take advantage of tourist dollars, raising taxes on alcohol, sugar and tobacco and keeping the constitutional budget reserve untaxed. Following the plans, a panel consisting of Randy Hoffbeck of the Department of Revenue, State Representative David Guttenberg and R. John Coghill, the Senate Majority Leader frankly discussed their concerns with the State of Alaska’s ability to implement a solution to our looming budget crisis. Guttenberg expressed dismay at the State Legislature’s shortsightedness, especially when the arctic is opening up to the rest of the world.

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“Arctic Policy conferences are going on now in Dubai and Singapore,” said Guttenberg. Hoffbeck talked at length about the need for Alaskans to first recognize the severity of the issue. “People look outside their windows and everything looks okay, the roads are still being plowed, the schools are still being funded, the police are still answering calls, everything looks as it’s always looked,” said Hoffbeck. Hoffbeck believes that given the projected prices, and the shrinking production, Alaskans cannot rely on earning the same way we have been. “People need to understand oil and gas isn’t going to bail us out this time,” said Hoffbeck, who stressed the need for citizens to support their legislators as they make the tough fiscal decisions. “You can get 99 people talking openly and honestly about the issues that the state has, and then one voice says ‘we don’t have to do anything,’ and there are some constituents who are going to only hear that voice.” The session adjourned at 4:15 p.m. after six hours of passionate debate, discussion and deliberation. The participants stepped out into a sunny Saturday afternoon. The full event is posted online on Alaska Common Ground’s website, along with the four citizen proposals and supplementary data.

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

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BOOKSTORE: Campus Bookstore overhaul underway CONTINUED FROM COVER

current snacks and drinks students are accustomed to finding in the Bookstore. The café will have seating and tables for at least 30 students, possibly more. The large-scale project is being worked on in three phases, which allows the store to remain operational through the rest of the semester. This way, students can

continue to buy and rent textbooks as usual. The first phase of the project began earlier this month. The front entrance, clothing area and the snack area will be the first part of the Bookstore to be renovated. The second and third phases will involve the renovations of much larger swatches of area including the textbook area and second floor. The contractors are working in the evening so that shoppers will not be bothered by the noise. The second floor will have much of the inventory that was on

the first floor after the renovations. Dylan Ebert works at the textbook counter in the Bookstore and says he likes what he has seen of the renderings of the store’s new design. “It looks a lot better than what it is right now,” Ebert said. “I’m pretty excited to see what it turns out to be.” There is no official completion date for the Bookstore renovations yet, but according to Kimball, the contractors have until the end of February to finish.

Remodel Phases Phase I: Front entrance, clothing area, coffee counter and cafe Phase II: Textbook area, lounge area, second floor renovation Phase III: Upstairs The UAA Campus Bookstore will remain open during renovations.

RED ZONE: LGBTQA community at risk

By Mallory Drover former TNL staff

Sexual assault and harassment are major issues for young Americans in today’s culture. Some people already know this, but what most people don’t know is the identity of those disproportionately targeted by this harassment — the LGBT community. The acronym LGBTQA stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and asexual identities, though the acronym is most commonly shortened to simply LGBT. This community is at a major disadvantage and risk when it comes to sexual assault and harassment in the United States. According to a 2010 overview by the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, a branch of the Centers for Disease Control, the LGBT community tends to be significantly more at risk for sexual assault and violence when compared to the straight population of America. Bisexuals especially get the short end of the stick, as nearly half of all bisexual people, men and women, have experienced either sexual violence or rape. But why are the numbers so stark? Consider sex education. When you were in middle

school, learning about sex, puberty and staying safe, did your teacher ever mention what to do if you thought you might be gay? Do you know how two men can have safe sex? Or two women? While your teacher was explaining what an abusive relationship looks like, did he or she touch on what might look similar or different in a gay relationship? Sean Titus, a UAA voice and music major, occasionally doubles in the community as a drag queen named Pussy Willow LaVoce. When asked about his sexual education while growing up in Alaska, he started to laugh. “Okay, first off, there is like no sex ed at all, because they don’t actually have a curriculum in Alaska yet,” he said. “So, it’s … whatever the teacher kinda wants to talk about, in general. They’ll have some topics they’ll all cover, like drugs and alcohol. Basically, their sex ed is just abstinence, just abstinence for everyone. That’s the sex ed. ‘Stay away from that! It’ll burn you!’” He laughed. While it’s not necessarily correct that all sex education is based on abstinence-only programs, it is a very common mantra in public schools. When asked about his education on unhealthy relationships, Titus thought a moment before saying, “I think there was one tiny lecture about that in middle school. It didn’t really dig into it. It just briefly mentioned it.” The challenges are cultural, as well. In America, there’s a predominant stereotype of how men are assumed to want and feel, including the assumption that men always want sex and therefore can’t be raped or taken advantage of. South Park did a parody of this attitude in 2006 in the epi-

sode “Miss Teacher Bangs a Boy,” in which a kindergartener (Ike) has a relationship with his teacher. Concerned and aware that the situation is a matter of statutory rape, Ike’s older brother, Kyle, informs the police of the relationship. The officers’ reaction? “Nice,” they respond, and nod in approval of the kindergartener’s sexual prowess. Gay and bisexual men, meanwhile, face that same cultural attitude, with the addition of old-fashioned homophobia. “It was unfortunate that I worked with someone who was not even tolerant,” said UAA social work major, Jessica Greene, who previously worked for two years at a domestic violence and assault center. “This man had called in who had developmental disabilities and he was saying that he was raped by another man. She turned him away because he was gay and being gay was not okay. He never even said that he was gay. It was a man assaulting a man.” And what about lesbian and

bisexual women? Can a woman be sexually assaulted by another woman? While women can be raped by women, this fact isn’t necessarily common knowledge, even to authority figures who might handle the report of such a case. Even the same resources that might provide safety to a straight victim seeking help might not be effective for an LGBT person. In another example provided by Greene, a lesbian woman might check into a shelter after having been assaulted by her female partner. Later, the abusive partner can check into the same shelter, because she’s also a woman, therefore defeating the purpose of the shelter. If a place that’s supposed to be safe can’t even keep out the abuser, it’s a useless resource. Titus is also on the youth council for Identity in Anchorage, and he said sexual harassment is “a huge issue” when he’s dressed in drag. He gave me an example from March of 2013, when PrideFest

came to downtown Anchorage. “I was walking down Fifth Avenue. … I was in drag and I had another friend with me. There were so many comments and yells out windows as people drove by. It was rude. I don’t let people get to me, but still … it can hurt people.” While the numbers can be daunting, there’s still hope that things can change. Awareness and solutions are slowly becoming more common in our country today. “Some people get this mentality of, ‘I can’t change the world,’ but that’s not necessarily what needs to happen,” Greene said. “Just to reach out to people like that to show them you care. People know what it looks like … some dude grabbing on a girl, girl grabbing on a girl, dude grabbing on a dude, girl grabbing on a dude. That’s not the kind of college I see us as. We’re Seawolves. We’re better than that. Look for it and make the change in your tiny part of the world.”

GRAPHIC BY POORVA KELKAR AND STEFANIE VIGOREN

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

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A comedy of physics errors In the year 2013, an alien brain slug from one of the galaxy’s most feared empires crash-landed on Earth and assumed control of a lowly reporter at this newspaper. These are his stories.

By Klax Zlubzecon

Translated by George Hyde It’s blatantly obvious if you’ve read this column for a while, but my host George is kind of an idiot. A lovable one, sure, but I don’t care if you’ve been around him a while and think he’s smart or wise. He’s an idiot, through and through. And while this column has shared many stories explaining why I feel that, instead of focusing on a more important topic (I’ve been wanting to weigh in on the kid who brought a clock to school and got arrested for it, for example), I think it’s time for another comedic misadventure featuring myself and my adorably stupid host. We begin at the end of the spring semester this year. It was a successful run. All but one of his classes turned up as an A, and he was feeling proud of himself. Looking to graduate within the next year, he still needed another few science credits to graduate. I had already advised him to take

astronomy in the spring, since I was already familiar with interstellar conquest, being a soldier in the galaxy’s most illustrious empire. Naturally, with my help, it was a cakewalk, so I figured the next best step would be to cover physics in the fall. Physics seemed to be the most relevant scientific realm after a semester of astronomy. And again, this is something I’m very familiar with. Slug understanding of intergalactic physics, along with the aerodynamics of our armada, is far beyond the reach of a human’s simple understanding. Since the human brain can’t possibly comprehend the science that goes into intergalactic forces and masses, I thought that we would be able to handle whatever crude science has gone into the human study of physics. It wasn’t clear to me until the first day that the first hurdle George and his pitiful brain would have to overcome would be a financial one. He needed an expen-

College Cookbook: Pumped-up Ramen By Victoria Petersen

vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

sive textbook, an expensive clicker with which to answer questions in class. The clicker still seems frivolous to George, but given that the lecture takes place in the large Wendy auditorium, in a room full of at least a hundred, I can see why we need it. Another sixty dollars was needed for the mere privilege of doing homework for the class. He’d had to pay that sixty dollars for access to his astronomy homework the previous semester, so that aspect didn’t catch him off guard quite so much, but at least the astronomy class didn’t require expensive clickers or a thick textbook that could probably kill a yak if it were dropped accidentally on its head. George is graded on the clicker questions in class as sort of a participation grade. He gets two points for answering a question and three for answering it correctly. The combination of these questions along with the confusing lecture is a cruel thing indeed. There’s always something we miss or don’t take into account whenever a question comes up. Right when we think we have it all down, a question comes up to beat us down into depressing, hopeless confusion again. I thought I could help George with my infinite wisdom of galactic physics, but while you humans don’t have things entirely incorrect, you do have a weird way of grasping it and putting it into words. We’re in empty space most of the time. We have an intimate understanding of how things like black holes and planets affect gravity in the vacuum of space. The way you guys put it is just so weird that when I try to help George with my understanding of the matter, it doesn’t make things any better. But that’s just the icing on the cake. His physics lab is just as bad, if not worse. I’m not allowed on his head for safety reasons, since my gooey complexion would probably interfere with the lab

equipment, so I sit in a cubby next to the rest of his stuff. In his second lab, he was asked to move a box at a certain average speed along a certain distance, over the course of a certain period of time. The solution to this problem, naturally, was to move the box the required distance, move it back, and leave it be until time runs out, making for the correct average speed. But somehow, the word “average” didn’t make it into George’s thick skull, and I watched helplessly as he tried to move the box at a constant and slow speed to match the timer, with human error constantly interfering. He moved that box back and forth for almost two hours straight, gradually getting aggravated at his lack of progress while his peers were already writing lab reports. Even when his professor tried to give him a hint, he wouldn’t listen out of sheer stubbornness. It didn’t matter if there was an easier way to do this, he’d been doing this for two hours, and he’d be damned if he was going to try another way. Finally, as the last few students were leaving, he relented and quickly succeeded in his task. He had barely enough time to write his lab report and leave the lab in an angry fit. He didn’t listen to my reminders that he had left the required textbook for his next class back at the lab until it was too late. I’m thankful, though, that in the days following that incident, he’s been able to take that horrible day in stride and use that story to entertain his friends, as I’m doing now. It’s a classic tale of vulnerability, anger and hubris. To me, though, it’s a story about George’s sheer stupidity, and I couldn’t be happier to have another one of those.

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.

EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.

Ramen — a college staple. With bland noodles and seasoning packets full of sodium, try this healthier and tastier option to college’s favorite and cheapest meal.

Ingredients: Ramen packet Teriyaki sauce Carrots Zucchini Eggs

Directions: 1. Take a microwave safe bowl and fill with water about ¾ full. Place the dry ramen noodles in the bowl and place in the microwave with a micro wave safe plate on top. Cook for 3 minutes or until noodles are soft. 2. Once noodles are cooked, drain the remaining water from the bowl. 3. Stir in some teriyaki sauce, about a tablespoon. 4. Add some fresh carrots, zucchini and scrambled egg. 5. Enjoy!

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

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Camera Club returns to the Student Union Gallery with “Through Our Eyes” By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org

Gill Monreal, a member of UAA’s Camera Club, showed me around their recently opened “Through Our Eyes” exhibit and showed me a group of pictures. “These were actually done in my iPhone,” said Monreal. “I just wanted to show that photography doesn’t need a $10,000 camera. It’s just an image that you can do whatever you want with, and so I took these photos with just my iPhone and used some of the apps available to create a composition, adding colors and emotion.”

He brought me to a new group of photos. Some of them were barely realistic, involving pen, ink and graphite manipulated in Photoshop or some other program or software like it. “You can just take photos and that’s it, but that’s not what the art is,” said Monreal. “The art is actually using photography in cooperation with other things.” Seemingly no one in the Camera Club is entirely sure how “Through Our Eyes” started. The show is an annual exhibit put on by the club in order to show the work of their members. “Camera Club has been going since before Deb Tharp, who runs the photo department, started working here in 1994,” said Cody Swanson, the club’s pri-

mary contact. “‘Through Our Eyes’ has been going on for over 10 years, but no one I asked knows exactly when it started. I joined in 2009, myself.” There are about 40 or 50 pieces on display, about four or five pieces for each of the 10 members who are officially registed as club members. However, there are several artists on display who aren’t registered members, including Monreal. According to Jade Ariah, who manages the Student Union Gallery, the club is somewhat small compared to other clubs on campus, but that they have a lot of artwork on display given their size. “Photography is cool because it’s literally someone looking through a lens and showing you what they want to show,”

said Ariah. There’s a variety of differing photographic mediums on display, ranging from plain landscape to the more artistic kinds of photos that appear blurred, drawn, or schizophrenic. But every artist has just that: an artistic twist to their work. Work that is realistic, but twisted through an unrealistic lens. And according to Monreal, that just may be the point. “With photography... you try to use your medium and your major in the art.”

“Through Our Eyes” opened in the Student Union Gallery on September 23, and will run until October 14.

Connecting with the world through travel: Rick Steves visits Anchorage

Ian McKellen steals ‘Richard III’

By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor

Shakespeare has a unique staying power. Whether it’s Julie Taymor’s surreal “Titus,” starring Anthony Hopkins, or Ralph Fiennes’ more recent adaptation of “Coriolanus,” the Bard’s work adapts to any context and time. Richard Loncraine’s “Richard III” is a rousing example of how powerful Shakespeare can be in a modern context. Deformed and determined to “prove a villain” after living an arduous and lonely life, Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Ian McKellen, “Mr. Holmes”) is determined to strip his brother, Edward IV (John Wood, “The White Countess”) of the throne and take power for himself. Unlike other portrayals, McKellen plays Richard like a child. He’s excitable and curious, cunning and beautifully devious. Sure, his actions are sinister and abhorrent, but you wouldn’t know it from hearing him talk about it. The sheer glee in McKellen’s voice when he lays out his plans makes for a mesmerizing experience. As in many cinematic adaptations of Shakespeare, scenes from the play are reordered for maximum affect. This adaptation goes the extra mile and meticulously adapts the world to fit its history. Famous British landmarks such as the Brighton Pavilion and the Senate House are moved for narrative purposes, adding a fascinat-

ing element of world building to the movie. Through and through, “Richard III” is lavish. The set and costume designs are gorgeous. With little subtlety, Richard’s rise to power mimics Adolf Hitler’s, and that point is driven home in his famous coronation scene. The colors pop and the performances follow. While McKellen is fantastic, he wouldn’t be as good without a strong supporting cast. Thankfully, they are up to the task. Maggie Smith (“The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”) as the Duchess of York, Richard’s mother, is absolutely fantastic. Her words drip with blood and venom, and her hate is palpable. Beside her, Annette Bening (“Danny Collins”) is fiery as Queen Elizabeth. Her and McKellen’s scenes are a highlight of the movie. Without exception, “Richard III” is an excellent testament to the Bard’s staying power. McKellen’s performance is gleefully devious, and every cast mate has no trouble standing toeto-toe with him. With lavish sets and innovative world building, “Richard III” is a scheme worth falling for. TITLE “Richard III”

COUNTRY United Kingdom

DIRECTORS Richard Loncraine

GENRE Suspense/ Horror

RELEASE DATE Dec. 24, 1995

By Victoria Petersen

vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

Rick Steves, travel writer and TV producer, graced the stage of Wendy Williamson Saturday night in a fundraiser put on by Alaska Public Media. At a sold out show, audience members grabbed their complimentary maps and made way for the best seats in the house. An hour and a half affair, Steves focused on the value of travel. He used examples of his own travels to spark inspiration of good travel and authenticity in exploration. In addition, Steves urged the audience to not be afraid of what you see on the news. He used the country of Greece as an example. Explaining how the media has profoundly focused on different riots and violence going on near Athens recently, and how some may be deterred from traveling there. “There’s never been a better time to travel to Greece,” said Steves. He focused on America, as a society, being overwhelmingly fearful of travel. “It’s so important for Americans to get out there, because when we travel we become less fearful,” said Steves. Encouraging the audience to get out of their comfort zone, Steves also discussed his recent travels in Iran, Israel and Palestine. “It’s a beautiful thing to get out there and not be scared by news,” said Steves. Audience members, young and old, gleaned insight and inspiration from

the advice and encouragement Steves offered. “One of my biggest passions in life is to travel and I love learning and hearing about other people’s experiences with it. He is an extremely open minded and knowledgeable individual who can teach us all about the positive impacts that come with interacting and engaging with other cultures” said Shannon Mclaughlin, a hospitality and restaurant management major. Among the crowd were more seasoned and experience travelers. They gained perspective from Steves lecture, and applied it to their own experiences. “One thing I learned from him in person, that I knew, but really put in perspective, is the human side of travel and the encouragement to go and meet people and hear their stories. Not just visit the historical areas, but to get away from just the big attractions and get out to smaller, less known areas,” said Sally Betz, an audience member who works in the tourism industry here in Anchorage. Overall, the night was filled with inspiration to travel as a local and see beyond the major sites. Steves placed an emphasis on our culture and how we can break away from the fear in our society and experience the world, through a more diverse and worldly lens, and gain the best souvenir: a broader perspective.

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

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Senshi-Con returns for its tenth year By Nathan Burns

nburns@thenorthernlight.org

Senshi-Con came back again, bigger than ever before and celebrating its 10-year anniversary as Anchorage’s first and foremost convention, celebrating anime, comics, Asian culture, gaming and acceptance. SenshiCon took place at the Egan Cen-

ter on Sept. 26 and 27. The convention offered a wide variety of panels and events, from advice on how to make a living writing fanfiction, to a reading of the trashiest romance novels yet devised by man, to a fan conducted My Little Pony panel, to a Pokémon tournament, to a sing along with the iconic singing voice of Sailor Moon, Jennifer Cihi.

Attendees were encouraged to show up in costume, and they more than rose to the occasion, with hundreds of different characters from a hundred different universes and fandoms mingling, mutually admiring each other’s handiwork, and finding fellow fans. Attendees were able to make connections they wouldn’t be able to on the other 363 days a year.

All were made to feel welcome at Senshi-Con, as best summarized by TNL staff reporter George Hyde in his article, “Senshi-Con 2014 for newcomers and old-timers: A first timer’s experience versus an expert’s perspective” originally published on Sept. 30, 2014. “It was genuinely heartening to see the kind of open and warm acceptance of everyone

who attended Senshi-Con. No one was unwelcome. Everyone could come in feeling like they belong, and could be who they wanted to be, even if who they related most to was a big brown unicorn,” said Hyde.

FOR MORE PHOTOS SEE SENSHI

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PHOTOS BY NATHAN BURNS

Haruhi, Kaoru, and Hikaru of Ouran High School Host Club.

Dipper and Mabel Pines checking out vendors

Magneto and Star-Lord.

Pikachu welcomes a young fan.

Vegeta, Bulma, Goku, and Afro Luffy.

Two Dark Eldar Warriors, fresh from Commorragh

SEE SENSHI

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

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Source: LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute, Not-for-Profit Market Survey, first-quarter 2015 results. Average assets per participant based on full-service business. Please note average retirement account balances are not a measure of performance of TIAA-CREF retirement offerings. 2 The Lipper Award is given to the group with the lowest average decile ranking of three years’ Consistent Return for eligible funds over the three-year period ended 11/30/12, 11/30/13, and 11/30/14 respectively. TIAA-CREF was ranked among 36 fund companies in 2012 and 48 fund companies in 2013 and 2014 with at least five equity, five bond, or three mixed-asset portfolios. Past performance does not guarantee future results. For current performance and rankings, please visit the Research and Performance section on tiaa-cref.org. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., and Nuveen Securities, LLC, members FINRA and SIPC, distribute securities products. ©2015 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America–College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. C24849D 1

Consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. Go to tiaa-cref.org for product and fund prospectuses that contain this and other information. Read carefully before investing. TIAA-CREF funds are subject to market and other risk factors.

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A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015

SENSHI: UAA start-up continues its footprints CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

PHOTOS BY NATHAN BURNS

WW2-era Captain America makes a showing at senshi-con.

UAA Geology Major Walter -Z- Zimmerman wearing what he rolled out of bed in.

1515102_16276 9.75 x 4.725 4c

Resources for your college questions We have a variety of online tools and information to help students and families find answers to their college questions: • CollegeSTEPS® program: receive college planning tips, tools, and resources by email by signing up at wellsfargo.com/collegesteps • Wells Fargo Community: get your college questions answered and share helpful information with others at wellsfargocommunity.com • Student LoanDown℠ blog: check out conversations focused on the entire college experience at blogs.wellsfargo.com/studentloandown • Calculators and money management: view our private student loan products and budget for repayment at wellsfargo.com/student

Call today for more information. 1-800-456-1551

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

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Seawolves shine, improve to 12-0 By Nolin Ainsworth

sports@thenorthernlight.org

The No. 11 Seawolves put on a clinic Thursday night at the Alaska Airlines Center, defeating Montana State Billings in straight sets, 25-11, 25-10, 25-13, to remain unbeaten on the season. At 12-0, this year’s volleyball squad is off to the hottest start in program history, with no signs of slowing down any time soon. “We had a quick turnaround – we played Fairbanks on Tuesday night,” said Coach Green postgame. “So with one good night of sleep, I think the girls played pretty well.” Outside hitter Leah Swiss played perhaps her best game of her freshman campaign, stuffing the stat sheet with nine kills, 10 digs and 6 aces. Fellow starter Morgan Hooe dished out 30 assists on the night, setting the ball high and low, in front of her and behind. Hooe, a former South Anchorage Wolverine, has proven herself as an elite setter this season — leading the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with just over 11 assists per set. About half of the junior’s assists were sent in the direction of seniors Katelynn Zanders and Julia Mackey, who set bullets to the opposition’s floor for much of the night. The supporting cast also played well, in particular middle blockers Erin Braun and Caitlin Hanson. Braun recorded seven kills and Hanson chipped in five kills and a team-high six block assists. With the defeat, Montana State Billings falls to 1-10, and 0-3 in GNAC matches. The Yellowjackets suffered a negative hitting percentage (-0.060). Negative hitting percentages occur when a team accumulates more attack errors than kills. MSU-Billings Ashlynn Ward did all she could to prevent that statistic, leading her team with six kills.

Top 10 all-time UAA seawolf volleyball career kill makers.

The Yellowjackets’ weakened offense was in large part due to the Seawolves serving. The Seawolves used nine aces and a number other well-placed serves to gain advantages quickly in each set. The Yellowjackets did dig 27 of UAA’s serves, but some of them flew right back over the net for easy Seawolf kills. “I think that’s a big part of the game because it starts the play,” Swiss said of serving. “If they can’t get a pretty good pass, than it’s a pretty easy ball to dig, or they just end up hitting it out and making an error.” And how the Yellowjackets wished they could have shored up some of their 22 attack errors. The Seawolves can begin to rest up for next week’s home GNAC contests against Seattle Pacific (Oct. 1) and Saint Martin’s (Oct.3). Even though both SPU and Saint

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

Martin’s have losing records, Swiss isn’t writing them off as threats to their perfect record. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 12-0, its 0-0 when you get on the court.”

Both games start at 7:00 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center. Students are given free admission to all home games with a valid Wolfcard. The general public can purchase game tickets for $10 online or at the door. UAA faculty and youth receive a $2 discount.

THEATRE & DANCE

Plays for

44 Presidents Written by Andy Bayiates, Sean Benjamin, Genevra Gallo-Bayiates, Chloe Johnston, and Karen Weinberg Directed by Brian Cook

Direct Quote: “They definitely are on to something in this zany, clever, ambitious and often surprisingly moving historical catalogue.” - Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun Times

October 2 - 11 • 2015

Mainstage Theater in the Fine Arts Bldg 3640 Alumni Lp. Anchorage, ALASKA

Save 10% when you use the code “UAAPREZ” at UAAtix.com Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm Saturday and Sunday at 3pm

UAA is an EEO/AA employer and educational institution.

Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.

UAAtix.com 786-4TIX CenterTix.net

CONTACTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

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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 2,500. 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.

LETTERS AND CORRECTIONS POLICY Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length is 250 words. Opinion pieces can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum word length is 450 words. Letters and opinion pieces are subject to editing for grammar, accuracy, length and clarity. Requests for corrections can be sent to editor@thenorthernlight.org. Print publication is subject to accuracy and available space. All corrections are posted online with the original story at www.thenorthernlight.org. The Northern Light newsroom is located on the first floor of the Student Union, directly next to Subway.

THE NORTHERN LIGHT CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 EXECUTIVE EDITOR 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org Kelly Ireland MANAGING EDITOR Samantha Davenport content@thenorthernlight.org COPY EDITOR copy@thenorthernlight.org Kathryn DuFresne NEWS EDITOR Vacant ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Vacant FEATURES EDITOR Vacant ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Vacant A&E EDITOR Vacant

www.thenorthernlight.org Download our app in the App Store & Google Play Store

ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR Vacant SPORTS EDITOR Vacant ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR sports@thenorthernlight.org Nolin Ainsworth PHOTO EDITOR Vacant STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS rjohnson@thenorthernlight.org Ryan Johnson LAYOUT EDITOR layout@thenorthernlight.org Demi Straughn GRAPHIC DESIGNERS jbautista@thenorthernlight.org Jian Bautista WEB EDITOR web@thenorthernlight.org Vacant

ADVERTISING MANAGER 786-6195 admanager@thenorthernlight.org Anthony Craig MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE ads@thenorthernlight.org Vacant STAFF REPORTERS gchyde@thenorthernlight.org George Hyde nburns@thenorthernlight.org Nathan Burns vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org Victoria Petersen CONTRIBUTORS Evan Dodd Jacob Holley-Kline MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Zac Clark ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Stacey Parker

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Vacant

CORRECTIONS On page 5 of the Sept. 22, 2015 issue of The Northern Light we misspelled USUAA president Jonathon Taylor’s name. On page 8 of the same issue we ran a photo of actress Anne Hecht from the remake of the film “Psycho” for a review of the original film.

OctOber 5 – 6 th

Disability

awareness Fair

Celebrating 25 Years of ADA 9:30am - 1:30pm | Student union upper Hallway

the disability awareness Fair will celebrate 25 years of the americans with disabilities act, as well as promote disability awareness among students, faculty and staff at uaa. the event will feature uaa department and vendor exhibits. Visit the uaa disability Support Services website for more information.

  sense something?

say something.

do something.

Visit the Care Team at the fair

  connecting

caring

community

The mission of the UAA Care Team is to promote a safe and productive learning, living, and working environment for students at UAA. This is accomplished by addressing the needs of students through service coordination, assessment, and the implementation of individualized support plans.

uaa.alaska.edu/CareTeam • 786-6065 • The Dean of Students Office coordinates the Care Team.

For more inFormation

uaa is an eeo/aa employer and educational institution.

web: uaa.alaska.edu/dss phone: (voice) 907-786-4530 | (text) 907-227-9609 visit: rasmuson Hall 105