THENORTHERNLIGHT NOVEMBER 2, 2010
SPORTS
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UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
Overtime:
FEATURES
Seawolves need to adopt traditions
09
Kappa Sigma:
New fraternity joins Greek Council
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OPINION
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Vote Alaska 2010 Senate Race
‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’:
Policy reveals passive discrimination
US Senate race unlikely to see quick conclusion By Shana Roberson The Northern Light
COURTESY OF THE MCADAMS CAMPAIGN
Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams, Democratic candidate
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Joe Miller, Republican candidate
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Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Incumbent, write-in campaign
Vote Alaska 2010 Governor Race
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Ethan Berkowitz, Democratic candidate
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Gov. Sean Parnell, Republican candidate
Note: Candidates pictured above have been featured in The Northern Light. The Northern Light would like to acknowledge there are other candidates in these races besides those pictured above.
If you were hoping for the Senate drama to end Nov. 2, you might not have that wish fulfilled any time soon. The race that has captured national attention could drag on for weeks after votes are cast today. Junior Heather Aronno, president of the College Democrats, predicted a slow conclusion to the race. “It’s safe to say that we’re not going to know who wins the U.S. Senate race until at least Thanksgiving, if not after,” Aronno said. One reason that might come true stems from the fact that this campaign has not been shy to legal action. Republican candidate Joe Miller has been on the receiving end of some of that litigation. For instance, his former employer was sued for the release of his personnel records, which they were recently mandated to hand over. Miller has also taken legal steps. He recently filed a complaint with the Federal Election Committee against a political action committee formed by Alaska Native corporations, questioning the legality of their committee since they have received federal contracts. For her part, Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s campaign recently intervened in the lawsuit regarding lists of write-in candidates being made available at polling sites. The Alaska Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Alaska had teamed up against the State of Alaska’s Division of Elections for the lawsuit. These are just some of the legal actions that have been taken thus far SEE SENATE PAGE 03
Homelessness and substance Wintervention inspires abuse panel held at bookstore snowboarders, skiers By Jerzy Shedlock The Northern Light
It’s a dark, cold winter night in Anchorage, but luckily you’re lounging on a sofa with a knitted blanket draped around your body. A few blocks away, one of Anchorage’s homeless is attempting to stay warm with newspapers and recycled cardboard. On a single night in January 2009, Alaska’s homeless reached 4,583 persons, according to a study conducted by the UAA Justice Center. The University Bookstore and the Human Services Department hosted a panel titled “Housing First or Sober First: Services for Homeless Alcoholics” on Oct. 28. The upper deck of the University’s Bookstore was packed with over 60 people gathered to listen to
four speakers. The panelists consisted of the director of a statewide community action program, an attorney who specializes in public interest law, the coordinator of a statewide finance corporation and the senior pastor of a local church. All of the panelists agreed that housing first was the best route to take when addressing the difficult social issue of homelessness and substance abuse. Financially comfortable citizens tend to buffer themselves from the reality of poverty and the ultimate toll it takes on individuals, families and particularly children. Often we need to distance ourselves from the suffering of other people without a safe place to sleep who may remind us of just how vulnerable we all are or could be to poverty, stated the director of Homeward Bound, Melinda
Freeman. “People don’t tend to see addiction as an illness, but rather as a voluntary kind of recreational alcohol or drug use gone awry,” Freeman said. “There is a punitive and moralistic societal value applied to people who are homeless and in desperate need.” Substance abuse is a major contributing factor to chronic homelessness, as 37 percent of persons without a home suffer from substance abuse issues, according the Justice Center. Homeward Bound is in its eleventh year of rebuilding lives with their alcohol management program for chronically homeless individuals. The program is a 25-bed transitional living facility located in Mountain View. “It is simple wisdom to provide people with housing first, so that
SEE HOMELESSNESS PAGE 03
By Megan Edge The Northern Light
This is for anyone who has ever called in sick to work, skipped school, or blew off a date to shred a bit of that fluffy white powder. This is for anyone who is overworked and underpaid. Who studies for hours to get a C on a test. Anyone who needs a quick fix to life’s issues. This, ladies and gentlemen, is Wintervention. Warren Miller’s 61st film premiered in Anchorage Oct. 27 at the Center for the Performing Arts. The film brought in views of all ages, in their best flannels and neon jackets. The film features some of the snow sport world’s most talked about icons searching the globe for the most rare, sacred and untouched powder in the world.
Chris Davenport, JJ Thomas, Lindsey Vonn, Hugo Harris, Andy Mahre, Jossi Wells and Zach Black are just a few of the talented riders featured in the film. Wintervention is narrated by skiing legend Jonny Moseley. Moseley was the first Puerto Rican to compete on the U.S. ski team and is best known for performing the trick “the dinner roll.” The first stop on Wintervention was Antarctica. The soothing sounds of Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros played while the fantasies of many skiers were discussed. “There just aren’t that many places where we haven’t been,” Moseley said. The beauty of the sport was brought to life. Kip Garre, Andrew Mclean, John Morrison
SEE PREMIERE PAGE 06