January 20, 2015

JANUARY 20, 2014

FEATURES

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

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Adventure through space in ‘Elite: Dangerous’

Lessons learned from hypothermia threat

Cabin Fever heats up UAA

10th annual intramural debate tournament begins Jan. 27

By Samantha Davenport arts@thenorthernlight.org

Starting Jan. 27, UAA students will have a chance to competitively debate during the 10th Annual Cabin Fever Debates.

Nithya Thiru, an alumna with a bachelor’s degree in history and minors in French and political science, was declared the 2014 champion alongside fall commencement speaker Duke Kahumoku.

They were awarded a $1,000 cash prize.

“I decided to give it a try. All I can say, is the result was euphoria. I didn’t expect to win a single debate, yet somehow we made it to the finals,” Thiru said. “By the end of the competition I was out-of-mymind high on success. Sure, we won some money, but that floaty feeling of achievement I felt as I drove away from the final debate, belting out one of Idina Menzel’s many power ballads, was a success.”

Elizabeth Williams, a social work major, teamed up with brother Isaac Williams to take the second place title.

“This event brings a unique opportunity for UAA students to compete

in debate as amateurs,” Williams said.

“Without any prior experience required, this is a great way for students to develop as public speakers and debaters.”

Steve Johnson, director of the Seawolf Debate Program and UAA staff member for 19 years, is excited to begin the Cabin Fever Debates.

“This happens every Tuesday night for six weeks,” Johnson said. “We have preliminary rounds, and on Jan. 27 we will announce the first two topics. Those topics will be current issue topics that are happening around the world, in the nation and even in the state of Alaska that’s controversial and usually shows up on the first page of the newspaper. We provide people with the opportunity to debate in a forum they never would have tried otherwise.”

Registration is still open to those interested in competing in the Cabin Fever Debates. Signing up is free, and participants will gain experience in public speaking and also a chance to win cash.

For more information about the Cabin Fever Debates or the Seawolf Debate Program, contact Johnson at 907-786-4391.

PHOTO BY ASHLEY SNYDER

Judy Jessen and Heather Guthrie from team Alaskan Assassins took home the top prize of $1,000 for their opposition arguments during the final round of the Cabin Fever Debates on March 7, 2013. Seawolf Debate Director Steve Johnson, right, congratulated them.

UAA lecturer to highlight women’s issues in China

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org

UAA FACES THE ‘NOOKS

PHOTO BY ADAM EBERHARDT

Junior forward Megan Mullings intercepts an opponent’s pass Jan. 17 during a game against the UAF Nanooks at the Alaska Airlines Center.

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Back in November, a series of lectures began at the UAA Bookstore regarding Chinese works of literature and what American audiences can learn from them. Previously, books like “Red Sorghum” and “Fortress Besieged” were discussed, but now a film called “Feng Shui” will be explored.

Since the film is in Chinese, it will not be screened in its entirety; only a small excerpt will be shown. But lecturer and professor at the UAA College of Business and Public Policy Yong Cao hopes this will be enough to get people talking. “(It’s about) women’s status in the family,” Cao said. “I’m going to play five or 10 minutes (of the movie) and then use it as an introduction. Then I will focus on what the role of women is in China’s society, and also what their role is in the family.”

The film features a female character that takes a dominant role in society and in her own family — which, until very recently, has been outside the norm in Chinese culture.

“China has been a feudal society for thousands of years,” said Annie Zeng, one of the directors of UAA’s Confucius Institute. “The people’s mindsets are not easily changed. In other words, some still think women should do housework. Particularly in the northern part of China, women still work very, very hard, not only at home, but on the outside.”

Traditionally, a woman in China is seen as a mother, someone to stay home and take care of the family’s children. Since the 1960s, however, women in China are becoming a dominant force in Chinese society, both in the workplace and in the family. However, Cao argues that this can be destructive if taken to the extreme.

“Children should be better protected in some ways, and women should also be productive in their own ways,” Cao said. “That’s the basic idea of this.”

It’s a debate that’s becoming increasingly relevant worldwide, and those organizing the lecture hope the event will raise awareness of the Chinese perspective of this issue.

“I feel this series presents a wonderful opportunity to learn about Chinese culture and changes happening in China today,” said Rachel Epstein, the event coordinator at the UAA Bookstore. “Having people willing to engage in open discussion and free expression about Chinese society is exciting. Students can learn a lot by attending these events and have fun doing so.”

The lecture will run from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 22 at the UAA Bookstore.

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

02

The Lake Louise swim team: Part 2

Lessons learned from sinking 3 snow machines A well-meaning column rife with clunky metaphors and horrible advice, Orange Rhymes With is the go-to place to break the monotony of classes and laugh at someone else’s misfortune.

By Evan Dodd Contributor

I left off last time with the story of five frozen college students who had plunged three snow machines through the ice at 20 below zero, only to be the overjoyed participants of a remote midnight rescue.

The following morning we awoke in a small cabin on Lake Susitna, with piles of wet and thawing gear hanging from every conceivable surface. Our tired bodies were strewn across various cots and piles of blankets. While I can’t print the first couple of words that escaped everyone’s mouths upon remembering the night before, I can highlight the overwhelming appreciation we felt knowing that it had remained well below zero all night while we were given lodging in a warm cabin.

Pat and Zach Bonser, the father-son duo that had brought us out of the cold, never asked for anything in return and actually made us each a pancake before returning us to the Lake Louise Lodge on the far side of the region. In fact, they seemed to enjoy the experience and were ecstatic to send us the pictures they’d taken of us and the wreckage.

As it turns out, when they found us the night before, they had initially thought that we were a group of hippies who decided to walk across the lake, rather than a group of quickly freezing idiots who had fallen through it.

Back at the lodge we regrouped and waited for some help to arrive so that we could begin the long process of extracting the machines from the ice. Apparently the crash site had become quite a popular attraction for those crossing the lake, and the inhabit-

ants of the lodge were well aware of what had transpired the night before. Like anyone reading along could have guessed, we were told this was an unseasonably warm year and they were actually surprised that we had been the first to fall through. After a brief warm-up, we left a review of the lake’s “swimming conditions” in the lodge’s logbook and set back out for the wreckage with two of the group members’ fathers.

The first attempt was rough. We managed to pull out the easiest of the three machines after hours of grunting, swearing and high tempers. But soon it was dark and too dangerous to wander near the soft ice. We retired to the cabin we had originally planned to visit for the night, almost missing it again in the poor visibility, and had our first real food in about a day and a half.

Say what you will about the disaster, but after hours of work we celebrated survival and the (hopeful) recovery of the machines with some juicy herb-garnished steaks and a much-needed bottle of tequila.

The next morning we got a fresh start at the extraction. We placed a boat on the soft ice (which quickly became open water) near the machines and proceeded to cut through the ice with a chainsaw and sledgehammer. The machines sat on the bottom of the channel at a manageable depth, but one of us was able to attach a line to the skis as the rest of us worked a winch to slowly pull each machine back to the surface.

Finally, after a full day’s effort, all that remained was to haul the waterlogged machines back across the lake to be loaded on the trailer at the lodge.

I remained behind with a friend and his dad to help with the final machine. We sat around a fire and laughed about how everything that could have possibly gone wrong did.

In retrospect this was a hilarious prelude to us hauling the final machine some 10 miles to safety. En route to the lodge, the machine we were towing suddenly rolled off the haul sled at high speeds, sending us flying and giving me a concussion — one final gift from the fickle Lake Louise.

Exhausted and sore, we made it down the road to Eureka Lodge in just enough time to each inhale a burger before returning to Wasilla. The return trip consisted of blasting both the heat and classic rock, while acting a great deal more stoic than any of us had actually felt at the time. And then, after three long days of soggy panic and impromptu arctic swimming, it was over.

At the end of it all, there’s quite a bit I could say to sum up the moral of this story.

In fact, I could write entire novels on what exactly went wrong and how we could have avoided it all. But I suppose if our story has a takeaway it’s this: Sometimes out in the world, particularly in Alaska, you screw up so substantially that someone else has to bail you out. It’s not fun, it’s certainly a blow to your pride, and ideally you’d rather be the one doing the heroic rescuing. But at the end of the day you learn from it and return the favor in kind by helping the next group of idiots somewhere down the road. And if, somewhere out in your own travels, you happen across a pair of men with the last name Bonser, you make damn sure you buy them a drink from the Lake Louise swim team.

PHOTO BY PAT BONSER

Pat Brooker, Chase McCavit, Evan Dodd, Sean Marshall and Derek Searcy (bottom) — began an adventure as five friends, but survived a life-threatening accident and made it out as the Lake Louise swim team.

03 FEATURES

Je suis satire

SEAWOLF

SLUG

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 Let’s start on a serious note. This is George typing out of character. Seawolf Slug is a satirical column, which makes me and my fellow brain parasite satirists.

A couple weeks ago, in Paris, we lost eight of our own, in addition to four others. This event saddens me on several levels, and while I’m going to let Klax rip into it in a little bit, I’d just like to ask you, the reader, for

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014 a brief moment of silence. Despite the horrible, funny things Klax is about to say, both of our thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones on the 7th, and we hope at least some of your thoughts are, too. …

Alright, Klax here. Let’s talk about satire.

Oxford defines “satire” as “the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.” And I’d say that about fits the bill, and Charlie Hebdo, which was attacked by several armed men a few weeks ago, fits the bill too.

At first glance, Charlie Hebdo was a pretty tasteless magazine. It’s easy to see how it sparked so much controversy, and to be completely honest, I actually sympathize with the protesters on the issue of their portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad. Some of the stuff they put out was pretty vile.

Note that I say “protesters,” and not “attackers,” though. Because while I’ll defend anyone who wants to say or criticize something, I can never condone violence or murder unless it’s done to achieve planetary and/or galactic conquest.

Galactic conquest gets a pass on both the “violence” and “free speech” issues, because we are the most benevolent, glorious Empire in the galaxy. The Slug Empire boasts the greatest shared resource of organic knowledge, the most advanced of scientific and murderous technology, and some of the most entertaining gladiatorial alien fights you’ll ever see.

Seriously, you pit a giant monster against a humanoid, and he just rips its face apart, and then it roars, and it’s so awesome! Gets the crowd riled up every time.

And who needs the whole “free will” thing, anyway?

I find it to be vastly overrated. You look at all the silly things George writes in this paper, and then you see what I’ve done with his writing. It’s vastly superior! He’s a writing, columnist master.

Wait, no. I’m a writing, columnist master. He’s still a stupid human slob. But I’m helping him. Therefore, free will is unnecessary. My logic is sound. … Where was I? Oh, right, violence and free speech. Well, whenever I’m not working for our glorious Empire, I’m firm on this view: no violence, and every human gets to express what they want. For now. Until, you know, our fleet

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arrives several thousand years from now.

I say all of this because, while what Charlie Hebdo published was tasteless trash — in my opinion, anyway — they still had the right to say it. And people had the right to criticize it. As it turns out, they did, in 2006.

Peacefully.

In fact, I just wrote about 200 words of tasteless trash above, and I — er, George — is no doubt going to get plenty of angry emails about it. But I have the right to say it.

I know the whole “it’s a free country” argument is childish, but it really does apply to Charlie Hebdo, the Muslim protesters, and myself. And it’s not just in the United States.

Here’s a quote from what is essentially France’s constitution, the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen”: “The free communication of thoughts and of opinions is one of the most precious rights of man: any citizen thus may speak, write, print freely, save to respond to the abuse of this liberty, in the cases determined by law.”

Nowhere in there does it say that you can terrorize and attack an organization if they say something you don’t agree with. If you fire upon several satirists because they said or implied something bad about the Prophet Muhammad, then killing them instantly invalidates your free speech responsibilities.

It shows the world that you don’t deserve this right to express yourself freely. It shows that you’re not mature enough for that yet.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Muslim people out there who are mature enough for that right, which is, I’d estimate, 99.9999 percent of them.

They show that they can take those kinds of blows and respond to them responsibly, using their rights to point out how flawed Charlie Hebdo’s satire was. And when they rallied in support of the families who lost their loved ones, it proved that point even further.

So behave yourselves, 0.0001 percent of the human race who can’t handle the responsibility. We want to arrive to a productive, polite species, not an unruly one. You’re representing a prospective race for the Slug Empire to enslave. Don’t screw up this opportunity.

RESISTANCE IS SEAWOLF SLUG.

FUTILE.

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

04

‘OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies’ is hilarious, drags on

By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor

Ian Fleming brought James Bond into existence in 1953, but French author Jean Bruce cranked out no less than 88 espionage pulp novels about Agent 117, or Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, four years before Fleming’s agent donned his signature tuxedo. In 2006, with all the dim wits and none of the gravity of Bond, OSS 117 returned.

Tasked with making peace in the Middle East, OSS 117 (Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”) is sent to Egypt to track down a missing arms shipment and find out what happened to his best special agent friend, Jack. Larmina El Akmar Betouche (Berenice Bejo, “The Search”) keeps him on his toes, helping him navigate Egypt and its people, no matter how buffoonish he gets.

Dujardin plays OSS 117 with the mugging confidence of a young Connery and the utter ineptitude of Lt. Frank Drebin from “The Naked Gun.” Unaware at all times of the world around him, Hubert is dim witted in the worst ways.

Bejo plays the perfect foil, stonefaced against his frequent terrible puns and firm when he’s ignorant. The movie plays out in the spirit of “Airplane!” with rapid fire visual and running gags. Where

the movie really finds its spirit is in the physical comedy. For viewers who have watched any pre-Bruce Lee action flicks, the fight scenes here have more shattering furniture and broken bottles than “From Russia with Love.”

But that manic energy can only be sustained for so long. While the gags are often inspired and the acting pitch perfect, “OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies” drags on for too long, even at a tight 98 minutes. Short and sweet would have worked better here.

Before that happens, the laughs come quick and fast. Especially for fans of the goofball comedies and special agent flicks of old, there’s a good time to be had. Just don’t expect OSS 117 to get the joke, too.

Title: “OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies” Director: Michel Hazanavicius Release date: April 19, 2006 Genre: Comedy Country: France

GAME REVIEW

‘Elite: Dangerous’ is worth the effort

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org

To enjoy “Elite: Dangerous,” players really have to want to enjoy it. They need to spend the time mastering the controls, learning the procedures, learning how to fight, learning how to dock, learning where the “landing gear” button is — there’s a lot of work that goes into learning how to play it.

However, those who stick with it are in for a very relaxing, almost zen-like experience with a few exciting encounters along the way.

At the start of the game, players are given a spaceship and a multitude of things to do. They can go collect bounties, run cargo, be smugglers, ruin the lives of those trying to make an honest living in space or just explore the cosmos.

There’s little in the way of storytelling; it’s more of a living world that each player gets to explore at his or her own pace.

However, there’s a massive caveat that players must beware if they want to to get into “Elite Dangerous”: the mechanics.

Players should be prepared to spend the first hour or two just learning the game’s basic mechanics. While developer Frontier Developments has released several official tutorial videos on YouTube going into greater detail, the game itself doesn’t

do that great of a job at explaining how the game works. Turning, rolling, managing fuel — and that’s just maneuvering the ship. An entire extra game could be made out of docking the ship and leaving the spaceport. It takes effort and attention to play “Elite: Dangerous.”

However, when all of that is said and done, the end experience is incredibly relaxing. There’s something very nice about simply throwing on an iTunes playlist and making the trip from one system to another. It’s like taking a good, long road trip. And it doesn’t hurt that there are lots of great water cooler moments along the journey. Maybe you’ll run afoul of space pirates. Maybe you’ll happen into a piece of illegal cargo floating through space on its own. It feels like anything could happen.

The game uses always-online DRM, which is an always-issue, but it allows for this universe to be populated with other players, which adds to the organic nature of the world. It makes the universe just that extra bit more interesting to explore.

And players who don’t like multiplayer can always play single-player instead, which is just as satisfying.

It takes a lot of work and research to get into, but “Elite: Dangerous” is worth the effort. Players looking for a vast, open sandbox in which they can do as they please should definitely give this a look.

Title: “Elite: Dangerous” Developer: Frontier Developments Platforms: PC, Mac Genre: Space Simulation Release Date: Dec. 16, 2014

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NOA RAVIV: 3D FASHION 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 Israeli fashion designer Noa Raviv combines grid patterns and 3D printing. Part of our new Half-Open Half-Off series that opens select galleries of the museum on designated Friday nights. Admission is half the usual price Part of the Anchorage Museum’s Polar Lab. Image: Noa Raviv, Graduate Collection, photo by Ron Kedmi, courtesy of the artist

Museum members enjoy free general admission. Join today!

anchoragemuseum.org

OIL PAINTING CLASS

IT’S ALL MATERIAL

CABIN FEVER FILM SERIES

Artist Linda Infante-Lyons teaches how to paint landscapes

Showcasing craftsmanship with materials found in the North

Film screenings plus poetry and performances

Jan. 28-30 Enroll online

Now on view

7 pm. Jan. 31 Bunnell Street Gallery, Homer

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

07

Foghorn Stringband returns north to perform in Anchorage

PHOTO BY MIKE MELNYK

By Samantha Davenport

jam with them — I was blown away! There is so much talent. I am so stoked to be a part of the band.”

Nadine Landry, bassist and singer for Foghorn Stringband, talked to TNL about her excitement for the Anchorage Folk Festival, her past travels and where they plan on going.

Are you excited about playing for the Anchorage Folk Festival?

“This is going to be our first time playing at the Anchorage Folk Festival. We’ve played around Homer, Fairbanks, Denali — but yeah, it’s always exciting for us to head up here and travel. We love it.”

arts@thenorthernlight.org

TNL: Tell me a little history about Foghorn Stringband.

Landry: “Well, Foghorn Stringband has been around since 2000. The original lineup was five guys, and two of the guys are still in the band today. We play a lot of old time music, dance music — we just want to make people happy.”

Have you visited Alaska before?

“The first time we visited Alaska was in Juneau was in 2003, and I didn’t join until 2008. I tried so hard to

What do you think you’ll bring that’s different than any other bands there?

“We have a huge repertoire that’s different. We have all these old recordings; we have tons of instruments, lots of singing and so much energy. People will want to shake a leg to our music. The Cajun Country Revival is going to be there too, which is a band we play in as well.

We will be playing Cajun music and old time music. It’s what we like about what we do, people just dancing to the music.”

What is the best experience that you’ve had being in the band?

“We are so lucky. Last year we got to visit like a dozen countries. The hospitality is amazing. We get to try different food and we get to make friends that we will have the rest of our lives. It is just a really special experience.”

Foghorn Stringband will release a new CD this month called “Devil in the Seat.”

Learn more on the web at http://foghornstringband.com http://fb.com/FoghornStringband

Q&A with mountaineer musician Tyson James

By Samantha Davenport arts@thenorthernlight.org

Tyson James lives for his music. After graduating from UAA in 2002, James traveled the United States to share his talent, performing in San Francisco, Nashville, New York and Colorado, among other places.

Tyson James and the Hot Strangs performed last Friday morning on KTVA. Friday night at the Anchorage Folk Festival, and Saturday night at the Blue Fox. James called TNL last week and shared about his music, where it all started and where it’s all going.

TNL: Where did you go to school?

James: “I attended University of Colorado Boulder prior to coming to Alaska. I graduated UAA with a degree in natural sciences and a minor in Spanish. I also graduated with high leadership honors. I was really involved at UAA. Me and a couple friends started the UAA Outdoor Club which was a huge ordeal. We started with 10 people in the beginning and after two years there were 80 members. We all had a secondary education in kayaking, rock climbing, hiking — all the

ways to explore Alaska.”

When did your musical career start?

“With all those people that I met in the club, some of them loved music as much as I did. We got together and started playing music together — bluegrass, old country kind of stuff. That kind of spun a musical career in myself. In Alaska I used to work with bird surveying and I realized I could only take my music career so far.”

Where did you go?

“I moved out to San Francisco, where I lived for six years. I got into a bluegrass band called 49 Special.

Two of us came down from Alaska, me and Danny Booth (he’s Grammy nominated) who is now part of ‘Frank Sullivan and Dirty Kitchen.’ We called It 49 Special since two of us are from the 49th state. We played at festivals all over there, we won the Rocky Grass Grand Contest, which is this big contest for the nation, and they compete for a slot to win this festival.

There they have all the best bluegrass acts. It’s small, but they have the best of the best. Anyways, we won that and we played a whole bunch of other festivals around.”

That’s pretty amazing. What then?

We wanted to go in different directions as bands do. I went to Nashville and lived there for around four years while spending my summers in Alaska. We did an album with all the best musicians called ‘Tyson James and the Nashville Players.’ I came back to Alaska to get back into the mountains.”

What are you doing now?

I’m writing a book about all the shenanigans that have happened. It’s called “American Gypsy,” and I’m about two-thirds of the way done.

James’ music can be listened to and purchased on his website http://tysonjamesmusic.com

08 A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Rant and Raven performs at Anchorage Folk Festival

By Samantha Davenport arts@thenorthernlight.org

Dawn Berg has worked at UAA for 11 years in the interlibrary loan department in the Consortium Library. Besides borrowing books from other universities, Berg is the leader of the Morris dance group called Rant and Raven. The dance troupe that has been active for over 20 years. Throughout the decades the group has performed for the Anchorage Folk Festival around 15 times.

Morris dance is a type of English folk dance that is typically accompanied by music. Many groups use dancing sticks, hankies, or bells in their choreography.

Accordions and fiddles are usually the musical instruments involved.

TNL: What are you bringing to the Folk Festival?

Berg: “We have six full-time dancers right now and a new recruit that will be performing with us. Our new member is turning seven. Something that we’ve always brought is live music. Even when we’ve had one musician, it’s always been live. It’s just what we do. We’re going to dance Saturday night and show people what it is like. It’s pretty neat because we’re the only group in Alaska.”

What’s unique about your dancing?

“There’s a lot of rhythmic sticking and dancing in figures around each other. We have some dances where we wave hankies rhythmically. It’s a style that predates Shakespeare. There are a lot of different styles. There’s a type of stomping

style as well as a skipping one. It’s a living tradition as well as an old tradition.”

How did you discover Morris dance?

“I learned about it when I was studying at the University of Oregon. I was taking a dance appreciation class when I learned about Morris dancing. There are several styles similar around the world that do sticking or hankie dancing. Some even incorporate swords.”

What is unique about Rant and Raven Morris group?

“We’ve always been a family oriented group. We accept all ages and always have had parents and kids dancing at the same time. You don’t have to be perfect to enjoy this. It is a scary thing to go up there and perform with the idea of being

perfect, but I think really what the folk festival is about is to show the wealth of traditions that we have in our community that people are interested in, traditions that people are working on.”

Rant and Raven Morris Group runs their class through the Fair v iew Recreation Center. Lessons run for eight weeks at a time on Wednesdays from 6:458:00 p.m. Email dawnb@gci. net for more information.

PHOTOS BY ADAM EBERHARDT

The Anchorage Mandolin Orchestra performs during the 26th Annual Anchorage Folk Festival on Jan. 18 at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium.

The Allgood Family Band performs during the 26th Annual Anchorage Folk Festival on Jan. 18 at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium.

A musician sits in the lobby while performers prepare to demonstrate their skill with hula hoops during the 26th Annual Anchorage Folk Festival on Jan. 18 at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium.

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

09

MEET THE SEAWOLF

Getting to know Seawolf basketball forward Megan Mullings

By Adam Eberhardt

aeberhardt@thenorthernlight.org

The UAA women’s basketball team is more than halfway through its strong 2014-15 season. Ranked fifth nationally, the team holds a 16-1 (6-1 in GNAC play) record, and the Seawolves show no signs of holding back as they continue to dominate their opponents, winning by more than 20 points in 12 of their games.

TNL sat down with junior forward Megan Mullins to talk about her recent performance.

TNL: Where are you from?

Mullings: “Arizona, Glendale.”

Do you like climate in Alaska?

“Yeah, it’s kind of like going from one desert to another.”

What kind of basketball experience did you carry into this season?

“I redshirted my freshmen year at Sacramento State, and then I played two years at a junior college in Arizona called South Mountain Community College.”

How does it feel to tie your alltime high for points?

“It’s awesome. It’s cool to know that’s not one freak game where I do really well. Having that consistency and knowing I can do that every game is a confidence booster.”

Do you ever start counting your points during games or are you too focused?

“No. Actually, at the game at Western Oregon I had 19 points and I didn’t even know it. Then around the two-minute mark I had two free throws set up and Alli Madison, one of our other girls, was like, ‘Get that 20 points, Megan!’ and I thought, ‘Oh shoot, no pressure,’ then I totally missed both of them so I was stuck at 19 points at Western Oregon.”

What kind of mentality do you

take into games on the road?

“Our coach wanted us to have something to play for or a reason that we get pumped up to play games, especially when we are on the road. We have the biggest crowd here at UAA. I come from a big family, so I remember that I’m setting an example for all my yoaunger siblings and know that they are looking up to me every single game, whether I’m home or away.”

How did it feel to beat a Div. 1 team during the shootout?

“It was awesome. It was really great.”

Once you start getting into the zone during a game, how do you keep yourself there?

“It’s kind of different with our team because we have substitutions so quickly, so you might play for only two or three minutes at a time, but it’s just knowing that you are going to play as hard as you can for two to three minutes, and then it’s like, ‘Thank god I have sub coming in.” And you know, whoever is coming in for me, whether it be KeKe Wright or Alysha Devine, I know they are gonna go as hard as they can.

So it’s kind of nice to know that when you get in that zone, and knowing that just because are coming out (of the game) doesn’t mean that the intensity is getting taken away from the game.

What is your favorite part about your team?

I like that we are all so different. We were talking about this yesterday. You’ve got girls that cover every single aspect of life, but we are all here for one big reason — that’s just to win and that love for the game propels us all to get along really well, no drama, no problems.

You know, figuring everything out amongst each other, it’s really nice.

The UAA women’s basketball team returns for two games this week at the Alaska Airlines Center: Thursday against Western Washington University and Saturday against Simon Fraser University. Both games start at 5:15 p.m.

PHOTO BY ADAM EBERHARDT

10 SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

UAA women’s basketball takes on UAF Nanooks

PHOTOS BY ADAM EBERHARDT

UAA forward Alysha Devine dribbles two balls during a warm-up before the game against University of Alaska Fairbanks on Jan. 17 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

UAA guard Jenna Buchanan takes a shot Jan. 17 during the game against University of Alaska Fairbanks at the Alaska Airlines Center.

UAA guard Jessica Madison goes to dribble past a defender Jan. 17 during the game against University of Alaska Fairbanks at the Alaska Airlines Center.

UAA guard Alli Madison reaches to block an opponent’s pass Jan. 17 during a game against University of Alaska Fairbanks at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The UAA women’s basketball bench cheers after a teammate sinks a three-point basket Jan. 17 during a game against University of Alaska Fairbanks at the Alaska Airlines Center.

UAA Guard Adriana Dent waits to get substituted in during a game against University of Alaska Fairbanks on Jan. 17 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

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12 SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Men’s Basketball P L AY E R P R O F I L ES

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS COMPILED BY KELLY IRELAND PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOSEAWOLVES.COM

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Berg: “I started when I was 11, when I saw Tracy McGrady play.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“Because I did good and thought it was fun.”

What are you thankful for?

“For my family and that I have the chance to be here.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“I bike, run and play with former teammates from the national team.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song? “‘Thank Me Later,’ Drake.”

#1 Forward Christian Leckband Business Management / Junior

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Leckband: “I started playing when I was five years old. I just had fun playing, so I kept on with it.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“I love the game and the people I do it with. I get an education and can travel to places I wouldn’t normally go.”

What are you thankful for?

“Family and friends.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Just constantly doing basketball drills, working out and running.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song?

“There’s too many to list.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Fain: “I started playing basketball at the age of 7. I started playing because I saw the joy it gave me.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“Because basketball gives me this joyful feeling. Basketball motivates me.”

What are you thankful for?

“I’m thankful to be a college basketball player, for my family, for my fiancé. I’m thankful that I’m healthy. I’m most thankful for the Lord and all he has done for me.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Workout and do small runs every other day.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song? “‘We Dem Boyz,’ Wiz Khalifa”

#44 Center Brad Mears

Management Information Systems /Senior

#2 Forward Sjur Berg

Business Management / Freshman

#14 Guard Derrick Fain Kinesiology / Senior

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Mears: “My dad got me started at a young age.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“To get a college education.”

What are you thankful for?

“My wife, my family, my faith, food.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Mountain bike, trail run.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song? “‘Ooh Aah’ by Grits.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Pearson: “My older brother played basketball, and I would always go to his practices. I started when I was about 3 or 4.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“Because I love playing.”

What are you thankful for?

“Family and friends.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“I work out and play everyday.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song? ““Thunderstruck,” AC/DC”

#35 Forward Brian Pearson Civil Engineering / Freshman

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

#22 Forward Jacob Craft Political Science / Sophomore

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Craft: “My father inspired me to play. He knew my potential and helped me to believe it myself.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“To get my education paid for, for the joy I get from competing, and to make parents proud.”

What are you thankful for?

“My loving wife and for the opportunity to become a father this upcoming May. My family and faith.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Lift weights and play pick up or in a men’s league.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song? “‘Radioactive’ by Imagine Dragons.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Fulp: “My family, second grade.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“I love the game.”

What are you thankful for?

“My family, my life, being on this team.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Work out a lot on and off the court.”

Damien Fulp (guard, red shirt) Education / Freshman

#31 Forward Nicholas “Nicho” Burgard General Economics / Freshman

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Burgard: “My dad played basketball too, so I just went to practice with him every time. I am playing basketball for 15 years now since I am 5.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“I kind of did pretty good in Germany. I love playing in front of people and competing against good opponents.”

What are you thankful for?

“I am thankful for every support of my parents. Without them I wouldn’t be here, if they would not stand behind me every time.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Doing a lot of weight lifting and try to eat healthy.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song? “‘H-A-M,’ Kanye West and Jay Z.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Bowman: “My older brother played, so I grew up watching him. I played when I was younger, but didn’t start playing seriously until fourth grade.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“It’s what I love to do.”

What are you thankful for?

“My family and friends.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“I play basketball, go hiking, work out.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song?

“Anything A$AP Rocky sings.”

Jackson McTier (forward, red shirt) Natural Science / Sophomore

#30 Guard Kevin Bowman Business Finance / Junior

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

McTier: “My dad always got me into sports when I was a kid ... one summer he made me try basketball and I fell in love. I was 10 when I began playing.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“Because I love the game and it allows me to travel the world.”

What are you thankful for?

“My family, my health, being able to play what I love, great friends and being up here in Alaska.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“I go back to Australia and play in my hometown league during the summer.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song?

“Whatever I’m in the mood for to get me ready to play.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Parrish: “My dad is a coach, so I have been around it since I can remember.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“I love playing.”

What are you thankful for?

“My family.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song?

“AC/DC’s ‘You Shook Me All Night Long.’”

#23 Forward Travis Parrish Economics / Sophomore

13

14 SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

Men’s Basketball P L AY E R P R O F I L ES CONTINUED

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

McGill: “All the kids in my neighborhood played every day after school.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“It’s allowed me to get a college education, travel the world, and I still love playing.”

What are you thankful for?

“All the people in my life and the opportunities I’ve been blessed with.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“I love lifting weights and working out. I also do hot yoga.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song? ““Bring Em Out,” T.I. — they played it in my first-ever high school game.”

#3 Guard Brian McGill Exercise Science / Junior

#25 Guard Boomer Blossom Fire Science / Senior

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Blossom: “I was in kindergarten and my parents put me in Boys and Girls Club basketball. I did not know why I started at that age. My older brothers played.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“Because it keeps me busy, and I get to meet new people.”

What are you thankful for?

“The family and friends that God has blessed me with.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“I run and lift from time to time, and the coaches make sure I am in shape before practice officially starts on Oct. 15.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song?

“Vengaboys’ “Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!!” It was on the high school warm-up.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Baisa: “My father, four years old.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“I enjoy the sport. I am good at it and enjoy getting better.”

What are you thankful for?

“My life, my loving family, my basketball abilities.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Playing in Pro-AM, or team conditioning.”

What’s your favorite warm-up song?

“Not sure — there’s too many songs that get me hyped.”

#13 Guard Dom Hunter

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Hunter: “My dad got me into basketball. (I) started when I was about 8.”

Why do you continue to play basketball?

“I have a lot of love and passion for the game, and it helps with a free education.”

What are you thankful for?

“God and family.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Work out and stay in the gym.”

Journalism and Public Communications / Junior

GO SE AWOLVES!

DeVanté Baisa (guard, red shirt) Computer Science / Sophomore

PEOPLE

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

15

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