MARCH 3 - MARCH 16, 2020
FEATURES
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
SPORTS PAGE 7 Felix Kemboi takes home the title in the 3,000-meter race during the GNAC Championships.
PAGE 5
Queen of Sheba provides viable vegan options with Ethiopian flair.
UAA deans finish first recommendations in expedited academic program review By Gabby Vance arts1@thenorthernlight.org
Due to budget cuts to the UA system, UAA underwent an expedited program review to determine which degree programs will be reduced, discontinued, revised or continued. The expedited program review began the week of Feb. 24, when the deans of each UAA college made recommendations regarding each major within the college, and will span over the course of several months. Department were asked to submit a template with data and information for the deans to base their decisions on, according to the vice provost for student success, Claudia Lampman. Each program will be reviewed and given one of six recommendations: Enhancement — The program will be given additional staff or faculty and additional resources. Continuation — The program will continue without any changes. Revision — Changes may be made to the program, but it will continue. Continued Review — Specific issues identified during review will be resolved, and then the program will be reviewed
thenorthernlight.org
PHOTO BY JENNIFER LINCOLN
Student-placed sticky notes hang outside of the USUAA office highlighting thoughts and concerns about the results of the program review.
again. Suspension — New students will no longer be accepted into the program. Deletion — Students who are currently enrolled in the program will be assisted in completing their major or certificate within a designated time period, and then the program will be discontinued. The UAA provosts will make recommendations to the chancellor starting
the week of March 9. Decisions and recommendations will then move to the chancellor, then to the UA System Academic Council and finally the Board of Regents, or BOR, Academic and Student Affairs committee. The week of June 5, the BOR will announce the final programs reductions, discontinuations and admission suspensions, according to the Expedited Program Re-
facebook.com/tnlupdates
@tnl_updates
view Status article on the UAA website. The expedited review serves as a comprehensive assessment of both quantitative and qualitative data for the academic programs during the 2019-20 academic year. Last October, the BOR stated that each UA campus would need to conduct an expedited program review. UAA academic program reviews are usually evaluated over
@tnl_updates
a seven-year cycle, according to UAA website’s AY20 Expedited Academic Program Review article. However, in light of the budget cuts, programs and services needed to be consolidated quicker to meet the 2021 fiscal year needs, according to UAA website’s AY20 Expedited Academic Program Review article. “I want to point out that we will be able to assure
youtube.com/tnlnews
students, family [and] the public that the majority of our programs, at UAA, are solid and sustainable and will continue,” UAA Chancellor Cathy Sandeen said. The dean of each college’s recommendations are as follows: • Accounting (AAS) - Continued Review • Accounting (BBA) Enhancement • Air Traffic Control (AAS) - Continued Review • Alutiiq Language (OEC) - Continuation • Anthropology (BABS) - Continuation • Anthropology (MA) Deletion • Applied Geological Sciences (MS) - Continued Review • Applied Technologies Leadership (BS) - Continued Review • Architectural and Engineering Tech (AAS) - Continued Review • Art (BA) - Continuation • Art (BFA) - Revision • Automotive Tech
SEE REVIEW
PAGE 2
soundcloud.com/tnlnews
NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020
Review: Continued from cover (UC-AAS) - Continuation • Aviation Administration (AAS) - Suspension • Aviation Maint Tech (UCAAS) - Continuation • Aviation Tech (BS) - Continuation • Biological Sciences (BABS) - Continuation • Biological Sciences (MS) Revision • Business Comp Info Systems (AAS) - Continued Review • Chemistry (BS) Continuation • Children’s Mental Health (GC) Revision • Civic Engagement (UC) Suspension • Civil Engineering (BS) Continuation • Civil Engineering (MS) - Continuation • Clinical Psychology (MS) Deletion • Clinical-Community Psychology (PhD) - Continuation • Comp Net Tech, Comp Syst Tech (AAS), Cisco Net Assoc (OEC) - Continued Review • Comp Science (BA-BS) Continuation • Comp Systems Engineering (BS) - Continuation • Construction Mgmt (AASBS) - Continuation • Corrections (OEC-UC) Revision • Creative Writing and Literary Arts (MFA) - Deletion • Culinary Arts (AAS) - Continued Review • Dental Assisting (UCAAS) - Continuation • Dental Hygiene (BS) -Continuation • Diesel Power Technology (UC-AAS) - Continued Review • Dietetics (BS) - Continuation • Dietetics and Nutrition (GCMS) - Continuation • Early Childhood Development (AAS) - Continued Review
• Early Childhood Special Education (MED) - Deletion • Economics (BA) - Continuation • Economics (BBA) - Continuation • Ed Leadership (GC-MED) Continued Review • Electrical Engineering (BS) - Continuation • English (BA) - Continued Review • English (MA) - Deletion • Environment and Society (BS) - Deletion • Finance (BBA) - Continuation • Fire and Emergency Svcs Tech (AAS) - Enhancement • General Business (AAS) Continued Review • General Management (MBA) - Revision • General Program (AA) Continuation • Geological Sciences (BS) Continuation • Geomatics (AAS-BS) - Revision • Global Logistics and Supply Chain Mgmt (BBA) Continued Review • Global Supply Chain Mgmt (MS) - Continued Review • Health Sciences (BS) - Enhancement • History (BA) - Continuation • Hospitality Administration (BA) - Suspension • Human Services (AASBHS) - Continuation • Human Services (Children’s Behavioral Health OEC, Conflict Resolution OEC) Continued Review • Indust Process Instr, Process Tech (AAS), Petro Tech (UC) - Continuation • International Studies (BA) Continuation • Journalism and Public Comm (BA) - Revision • Justice (BA) - Continuation • Language Education (GC) Continued Review
• Languages (BA) - Revision • Legal Studies (AAS-BAPBCT) - Continuation • Legal Studies (Legal Nurse Consultant Paralegal UC) Deletion • Logistics and Supply Chain Ops (AAS) - Suspension • Logistics and Supply Chain Ops (OEC) - Suspension • Logistics and Supply Chain Ops (UC) - Suspension • Management (BBA) - Continuation • Management Information Systems (BBA) - Suspension • Marketing (BBA) - Continuation • Mathematics (BA-BS) Continuation • Mechanical Engineering (BS-MS) - Continuation • Medical Lab Science (AASBS) & Phlebotomist (OEC) - Continuation • Medical Office Coding (OEC) & Medical Assisting (AAS) - Continuation • Millwright (OEC) - Continued Review • Music (BA) - Continued Review • Music (BM) - Continued Review • Natural Sciences (BS) Continued Review • Nursing (AAS-BS) - Enhancement • Nursing (DNP) - Continued Review • Nursing (GC-MS) - Continued Review • Occupational Safety and Health (AAS-BS) - Continuation • Office Foundations and Support (OEC) - Suspension • Outdoor Leadership (AAS) - Continuation • Paramedical Technology (AAS) - Continuation • Pharmacy Technology (OEC) Enhancement • Philosophy (BA) - Contin-
UPD Report: Feb. 17–24 Total calls for service: 312 Feb. 18: • Disturbance in the Beatrice McDonald Hall. • Agency Assist: Anchorage Police (felony) at 40th and Wellness Street. Feb. 20: • Theft (felony) in the Social Sciences Building. Feb. 21: • Traffic Accident: non-injury on UAA Drive. All information is provided by the University of Alaska Anchorage Police Department.
ued Review • Physical Education (BS) Continuation • Physical Therapist Assistant (AAS) - Continuation • Political Science (BA) Continued Review • Professional Piloting (AAS) - Continued Review • Project Management (MS) Continued Review • Psychology (BA-BS) - Continuation • Public Administration (MPA) - Revision • Public Health Practice (MPH) - Continued Review • Radiologic Tech (Diagnostic Med Sonography AAS) - Revision • Radiologic Tech (Limited Radiography OEC) - Suspension • Radiologic Tech (Radiologic Tech AAS) - Continuation • Refrigeration and Heating (OEC-UC-AAS) - Continued Review • Social Work (BSW) - Continuation • Social Work (MSW) - Enhancement • Sociology (BA-BS) - Deletion • Special Education (GCMED) - Continued Review • Speech-Language Pathology (PBCT) - Continuation • Surgical Technology (AAS) - Continuation • Teaching and Learning (MED) - Continued Review • Technology (AAS) - Revision • Theatre (BA) - Deletion • Veterinary Assisting (OEC) - Continuation • Welding and Nondestructive Testing (AAS) - Suspension • Welding and Nondestructive Testing (OEC-UC) Continued Review Students who may be affected by the program changes are advised to contact their academic advisers. Students can identify their academic advisor on UAA’s website or call the hot-
02
line: 907-786-1000. USUAA will be holding meetings through March in the Student Union outside of Room 201 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. They will provide coffee, hot chocolate and tea in addition to answering questions regarding the expedited program review. “We want you to know that we are committed as an institution and obligated as an institution to support students who are [affected by the expedited program review] and help them try to complete their degree,” Lampman said. Students, faculty and staff can attend listening sessions between March 9-18. These formal listening sessions will allow feedback from the UAA community to reach Chancellor Sandeen before her program recommendations are made, according to Sandeen’s Feb. 25 expedited program review deans’ recommendations email. For information on when and where the session will take place visit UAA website’s AY20 Expedited Academic Program Review article. The deans of each UAA college will reach out about when and where listening sessions will take place. For exploratory students, academic affairs will be in contact, according to Sandeen. “[The listening sessions are an] opportunity for students to ask questions and get whatever answers we can give at that point in the process,” Sandeen said. “I want students to know that we have very caring people here, who are putting their concerns at the center and that’s a hallmark of UAA. It always has been, and it will continue to be as we go through this.” The expedited program review is intended to be a singular event, and in future years, UAA will undergo its traditional program review, according to Sandeen. For more information and updates on the expedited program review process, visit UAA website’s Expedited Program Review Status article or the AY20 Expedited Academic Program Review article.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020
03
Education Abroad program offers students a world of opportunities By Christina Swayney features2@thenorthernlight.org
Studying abroad can be a great way for students to travel and earn college credit at the same time. However, the plethora of programs available can often be daunting to students, Mara James, the education abroad coordinator for UAA, said. “Students may have a lot of misconceptions as to what programs are available. They think that they can only do semesters or year-long programs, but there is so much more than that. They can do shorter programs, and they can also do more than one program,” James said. UAA offers many of its study abroad programs through affiliate programs, including Academic Programs International, or API, which currently offer 258 programs all over the world, AIFS, which provides resources to the LBGTQ+ community and Semester at Sea, where students can study on a vessel at sea. Program lengths and prices have a wide range, and students can customize program searches based on length. Stays can be as little as under a month to a full year. Students can also complete more than one program while getting their undergraduate or graduate degrees. Study abroad programs can
also be very affordable for students, with prices starting as low as $2,000. Scholarships and grants, as well as UAA financial aid, can also be applied to certain programs. Students are eligible to study abroad as long as they meet the general requirements. All students applying for Education Abroad programs through UAA must fulfill minimum requirements including: •
•
• •
Be a degree-seeking student at UAA working towards a certificate, associates, bachelors, masters or Ph.D. Students do not need to have a declared major. Complete the equivalent of full-time semesters, 24 credits total, at UAA before the first semester abroad. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 when the application is due. Good academic, disciplinary and financial standing at UAA.
While UAA has specific guidelines to qualify for education abroad programs, other requirements may be needed by the host program the student is applying to, such as a higher GPA or a specific language proficiency. However, meeting minimum requirements for UAA or the host program does not guarantee admittance to any
program. In addition to the requirements, UAA has specific deadlines in place to apply for study abroad programs. Students should email the Office of Academic Affairs at uaa_oiia@alaska.edu to get started with the process. The following deadlines may be different from the program the student is applying to. Term: Academic Year 2020-21 Deadline: March 1. Applications will be accepted on a case by case basis until April 1. Status: Open Term: Fall 2020 Deadline: March 1. Applications will be accepted on a case by case basis until April 1. Status: Open Term: Spring 2021 Deadline: Oct. 1 Status: Open Along with study abroad, UAA also has other travel options for students, such as student exchange and programs that work directly with specific universities. Direct exchange programs are available through the University of Stirling, in Scotland, Hokkaido University of Education in Japan and Iwate University, also in Japan. There are other specialized programs, such as North2North,
GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
UAA offers numerous study abroad programs in different countries with varying lengths of stay.
which offers study in northern countries, including Sweden and the Faroe Islands, a culinary arts and hospitality program offered in Florence, Italy. There are many options for students to see the world. James’ own experience studying abroad in France helped her see the importance of student travel. “I thought it was really interesting to get an educational experience from a university that was not American. It provides you with a perspective from a
different place on Earth that can be very valuable as a student,” James said. For more information about study abroad programs, visit the UAA Office of Academic Affairs webpage. Scholarship and grant information for study abroad can be found at the site as well under Education Abroad Scholarships. For questions about study abroad, contact the UAA Office of Academic Affairs through email at uaa_oiia@alaska.edu.
UAA students can enjoy spring break with activities on and off campus By Christina Swayney features2@thenorthernlight.org
There may still be snow on the ground in Anchorage, but that doesn’t mean that UAA students cannot enjoy spring. There is plenty to do on and off-campus during the Spring Break week of March 9-13. On-Campus, Break
Pre-Spring
2020 Mongolian Lunar Year Festival What: The Mongolian Student Society invites students to celebrate the Mongolian Lunar Year Festival with free homemade dumplings and other traditional food, while learning about Mongolia. When: March 6 from 6-8 p.m.
Where: UAA Multicultural Center (Rasmuson Hall, Room 106) Cost: Free to all UAA students and faculty.
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SWAYNEY
UAA students Alex (left) plans to use his spring break as a chance to study and improve his grades, Nick (middle) has a trip to Hawaii planned for the break and Indi (right) is in Alaska from Australia for spring break.
Spirit costume contest and discounts for students who have a WolfCard. Please RSVP before the event. When: March 4 from 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Where: Alyeska Resort (1000 Arlberg Ave.) Cost: $45 lift tickets for students with a valid WolfCard presented at the tram ticket office. Admission is limited to one ticket per WolfCard. In addition, there is a Off-Campus, Pre-Spring Break $109 room rate for March 3-4 for UAA students, faculty, staff and alumni with a valid student ID. UAA Day at Alyeska What: The first-ever UAA Day at Alyeska Resort will feature Spring Break, Off-Campus a variety of activities, such as a Cosmic Colors in the Thomas Student Recitals What: UAA music majors will showcase their talents in a performance of a variety of music, from opera to jazz. When: March 6 from 3-5 p.m. Where: UAA Recital Hall (Fine Arts Building, 3640 Alumni Drive) Cost: Free to all UAA students and faculty. Seating is based on a first come, first-serve basis.
Planetarium What: Learn how scientists use the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph installed on the Hubble Space Telescope to decipher clues left in light from distant objects to study the universe. When: March 10 at 2:30 p.m. Where: Anchorage Museum (625 C St.) Cost: $6 plus museum admission ($10 for students with ID) Skinny Raven Pub Run What: Every Tuesday, Skinny Raven hosts a 5K, open course social run starting at Skinny Raven and ends at a pub, the location of which is determined the day of. Registration is required
only once at register.chronotrack.com. When: March 11 at 6 p.m. and every Tuesday after until March 31 Where: Skinny Raven Sports (800 H St.) Cost: Free Spenard Food Truck Carnival What: Enjoy a gathering of Anchorage food trucks, featuring a variety of local cuisines. When: March 12 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., every Thursday until Aug. 13. Where: Chilkoot Charlie’s parking lot (2435 Spenard Road) Cost: Entrance is free and food prices vary
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020
04
UAA Emergency Food Cache, among other resources, help fight food insecurity on campus Seawolf Dining’s food drive and Parking Service’s annual Food for Fines PB&J editor@thenorthernlight.org Drive. The 2019 PB&J Drive, which offers Nearly 40,000 Anchorage residents the UAA community a chance to pay for struggle with food insecurity, or “limited parking citations with food donations, or uncertain availability of nutritionally collected 600 pounds of peanut butter and adequate foods,” according to Feeding jelly, enough to make 2,743 sandwiches, America, the nation’s largest food pantry Parking Services director Glenna Muncy network. said. All donations went to the cache. At UAA, 31% of respondents are no“When the need really became known ticeably food insecure, according to a and present on campus that the Emerrecent survey taken by around 5% of the gency Food Cache was looking for these student population conducted by two fac- donations, it seemed like a natural fit,” ulty members. Muncy said. “It’s really handy to be able To help decrease that percentage, to have a well-rounded program by inthe university provides a number of re- cluding volunteers from student groups sources for students in need. The Student and clubs, and keeping the food on camHealth and Counseling Center, or the pus so it can then go back to students.” SHCC, is home to the Emergency Food Bang, with the help of various onCache, which provides bags filled with a campus clubs and student employees, three-day supply of food. puts together the food bags four times a Each bag contains easy-to-prepare year, 50 at a time for a total of 200. Each food with a long shelf life, including pea- of the bags are given to students throughnut butter and jelly, crackers, macaroni out the course of the year. and cheese, hearty soups, canned meat, Madison Haumschild, a sophomore nuts, oatmeal, granola bars, hot cocoa, biology and psychology major and peer Emergen-C and microwavable rice packs. health educator for the SHCC, aided The food is given out in reusable grocery Bang in assembling food bags to assist bags for students to keep and also comes students staying in campus housing over with a list of on-campus and community winter break. Haumschild found the exresources. The SHCC also offers a veg- perience valuable both for herself and the etarian food bag option. students utilizing the resource. Items in the bags are either donated “Just knowing that students are going from on-campus food drives, monetary to use this, and that it is something that donations or purchased from Costco by is needed, it just makes you feel good,” Betty Bang, the health promotion super- she said. “It’s a benefit that you get when visor of the SHCC, with the money do- you’re picking up the empty boxes at the nated to the cache’s UA Foundation fund. end of break and you can see that students This academic year, multiple on-cam- were helped.” pus food drives collected food items for There are no qualifications to pick up the Emergency Food Cache, including a food bag from the Emergency Food the Homecoming Canned Food Drive, Cache. Students can simply show their By Caleigh Jensen
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
PHOTO COURTESY OF BETTY BANG
Madison Haumschild, a sophomore biology and psychology major and peer health educator for the Student Health and Counseling Center, aided in assembling food bags to assist students staying in campus housing last winter break.
student ID at the front desk of the SHCC and receive a bag on the spot. Bang expressed her gratitude toward those who donate to the food cache, whether it is directly through the UA Foundation or through food drives. “We appreciate everyone who has helped and donated. They have done a great service to students and they are greatly appreciated,” Bang said. The Emergency Food Cache has been a resource since the SHCC began 20 years ago, Bang said. While the mission has remained the same, its reach has broadened and the cache has formed partnerships with other programs on campus, one being University Housing, Dining and Conference Services. Last July, Seawolf Dining, along with its partner NANA Management, included a new section of its contract that allotted 1,000 no-cost meals, 500 per semester in the fall and spring, for students in need. The program loaded 125 cards with four meals each to be used at the Gorsuch Commons cafeteria. Like the food bags, the cards are available to any student, and can be picked up with a valid student ID at the SHCC, Alaska Native Student Services, the Multicultural Center, First Year Advising, TRIO and the Care Team offices. David Weaver, director of University Housing, Dining and Conference Services, is a strong advocate for providing resources for students that are food and housing insecure, and emphasizes the impact the cards can have on students. “Even though it’s just four meals, that’s something,” Weaver said. “The difference between one meal and zero is huge — it’s just huge.” Weaver said that all 500 of the meal cards are used each semester, and there is a demand for more. The need for the cards affects students’ grades, as well as quality of life. “For students that are hungry, how could that not affect their academic performance?” Weaver said. Seawolf Dining also hosted the Swipe Away Hunger Campaign last September where students, staff and faculty with
university meal plans could pay it forward with an extra swipe when purchasing food on campus. The campaign added 66 donated meals in addition to the 500 allotted on the meal cards for the fall semester. Weaver said the meal cards and swipe campaign provide hope for students facing food insecurity. “We, as a campus community, care about each other. We care about our students and we want them to belong. We want them to feel that their whole person is supported and not just within the classroom,” Weaver said. In addition to the meal cards and food bags, UAA offers other free resources for students who may face food insecurity, including free soup and grab-and-go sandwiches in the Multicultural Center, Rasmuson Hall 106, every Wednesday, free soup lunches twice a year during finals week and the Daily Den in the Student Union, open from noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The Hunger and Homelessness Support Network, a group of around 25 people, comprised of UAA faculty and staff, students, alumni and community members, is another resource aiming to find more tools to assist students on campus experiencing food or housing insecurity. The group meets on the third Friday of each month at 12:30 p.m. in Beatrice McDonald Hall, Room 220. To donate to the Emergency Food Cache, visit the UA Foundation website, select “Give Online Now” and make sure to enter #20903 Emergency Food Cache on the “Make A Gift” page. For more information on the cache and additional UAA resources, visit the Student Health and Counseling Center’s page on the UAA website, stop in their office in Rasmuson Hall, Rooms 116/120 during their hours of Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or give them a call at (907) 786-4040.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020
05
Word of Mouth: Viable vegan options and Ethiopian flair, courtesy of Queen of Sheba By Joey Carreon events@thenorthernlight.org
Following the trend of restaurant owners seeing a lack of culinary diversity in Anchorage and taking matters into their own hands, like Chiiwen Choo from Kami Ramen, Queen of Sheba is no different. Located on Dawson Street, between Benson Boulevard and West Northern Lights Boulevard, Queen of Sheba boasts authentic, made-in-house Ethiopian dishes such as doro wot (stewed chicken) and shirro (ground, spiced chickpeas). The restaurant’s ambiance is homey, yet polished and intimate. The smell of spices, like turmeric and cumin, waft through the air and whet your appetite before owner Sawit Ogbamichael and his wife, Samrawit Haile, greet you with a warm smile. Queen of Sheba offers a bounty of popular Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes, but I opted to switch things up and give their vegan dishes a try, as per Ogbamichael and Haile’s recommendation. While their menu reads vegetarian for their six meatless dishes, they’re vegan as well. I ordered the mix vegan platter ($20), a smorgasbord of six aforementioned vegan dishes
PHOTO BY JOEY CARREON
Queen of Sheba’s mix vegan platter features (left to right): alicha, chirro, yellow lentils, red lentils and gomen.
served on a sheet of fresh injera, which is the main staple starch in Ethiopian cuisine and Ethiopia’s national dish. “People love the mix vegan platter. They just sell like hotcakes,” Ogbamichael said. Queen of Sheba’s injera, which is a spongy, sourdough flatbread that serves as the vehicle for all of their dishes, is made to order. Dawit cooks each batch of
injera on straw mats imported from Hawaii and replaces them every couple of weeks to ensure that the injera doesn’t take on any of the burnt residues, he said. The mix vegan platter features yatakilt alicha, which consists of potatoes, carrots and cabbage sauteed in spices, shirro (ground chickpeas), yellow lentils stewed in spices, yemisir keyi, red lentils stewed in bere-
bere sauce and spices and gomen (spiced collard greens). While each dish is made with a plethora of spices, the flavor of each ingredient shined through. The alicha was my absolute favorite dish I had during my visit. The taste of the cabbage and potatoes paired with turmeric, ginger, garlic and other spices was a taste to behold — it packed quite a kick too. All of Queen of Sheba’s recipes are from Ethiopia, Ogbamichael said. The restaurant imports the majority of the ingredients to keep their dishes as close to the original recipes as possible. Each dish boasted not only a variety of colors and flavors, but textures as well. The shirro was similar to hummus in texture, while the alicha featured rustically cut veggies.
There was also something oddly satisfying about tearing off a piece of injera and using it to grab a bite of alicha or lentils. The spongey, porous texture made for the perfect vehicle to soak up every bit of flavor, and the sourdough tang offered a nice compliment to the eccentric, sharp flavors of each dish. Much like hot pot or tapas, the mix vegan platter is perfect for a group appetizer or a meal for two. Fate is what brought Ogbamichael from Ethiopia to Anchorage, where he opened Queen of Sheba in December of 2018. “[What brought me to Anchorage] is a long history, but I was going to the University of Minnesota, and they offered us work in Alaska for fishing. They had a list of summer jobs that I thought to be in Minnesota, but they were actually up in Alaska,” Ogbamichael said. “So I took [the job] and never went back to Minnesota.” While working at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, people would frequently notice Ogbamichael’s Ethiopian heritage through his accent — which would lead them to ask Ogbamichael where they could find good Ethiopian food. Since there were no options in Anchorage at the time, Ogbamichael took matters into his own hands, leading to Queen of Sheba, he said. “That’s how we came about — basically, through people’s desires,” Ogbamichael said. Queen of Sheba is located at 2813 Dawson St., between Benson and Northern Lights Boulevards. The restaurant is open Wednesday-Friday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday-Sunday from 3-9 p.m. and is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
& AE
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020
06
Hitbox First Impressions: Heavy Bullets — fire, retrieve and repeat GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org
Heavy Bullets is a roguelike, first-person shooter game about picking up after your gunfights. Developer: Terri Vellmann Initial release date: Sept. 18, 2014 Platform: PC Price: $9.99 In Heavy Bullets, the player is a company employee tasked with stopping security turrets that have begun targeting customers. The player at-
tempts to make their way through eight levels of enemies. If the player dies, they go all the way back to level one and lose everything from their previous run. Dotted around the procedurally-generated levels are vending machines where the player can buy items and upgrades or deposit money collected from killed enemies to save for future lives. The player uses a six-shot revolver to kill charging imps, turrets and bomb bugs. The catch is that the player must pick up their fired bullets where they land. The player is really
going to want to keep track of where they’re firing bullets because they only get six of them when they start level one. Thankfully, bullets are one of the things available to buy at certain vending machines, so if the player loses track of a bullet here and there, they won’t have to go too long before they can buy a few more. The player starts the first level with three throwable bombs and can also find other items hidden in levels or behind doors that require a hidden key card to be opened. The items that I came across weren’t too exciting, though. A scope, a handheld rocket and a focus pill that slows time for a few seconds were the most interesting items I found. I’ve only played about two hours of Heavy Bullets, but I’m impressed with how engaging the core loop is, considering it was originally made by Vellmann in preparation for a game jam, according to a Gamasutra article written by Kris Graft. A game jam is an event where game developers come together for a short period of time and make a
SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF THE HEAVY BULLETS STEAM STORE PAGE
A charging imp requires quick thinking, but thankfully, there are a lot of tight hallways to lure them down.
game that adheres to a certain theme. After learning that, a lot about the game started to make more sense. The core gameplay loop of firing the gun and collecting the bullets is interesting and could be expanded if a sequel were made. The bombs that the player can throw seem like an afterthought, as if Vellmann thought the player needed another weapon besides the gun. However, there weren’t any situations where I felt the bomb was the best tool for the job. Instead, I mainly relied on making sure I was accurate with my shots and spammed the reload key as I tried to make my way
through the level as fast as possible. That’s when I felt the game was coming alive. Instead, it felt like I was supposed to creep around every corner ready to eliminate any threats Seal Team 6 style. This conflict might have more to do with me, however, since I’ve been replaying the high-octane, first-person shooter Doom lately. I’ve tried to play Heavy Bullets in a more careful and methodical manner, but the neon color palette and electronic soundtrack scream “go fast.” Unfortunately, the well-hidden snakeworms seem perfectly designed to counter this type of
playstyle. Snakeworms hide in patches of grass and happen to be the exact shade of purple as the grass. So if the player isn’t looking closely enough at their surroundings, they may get bit, and there’s a chance the player will get poisoned and take more damage over time. Heavy Bullets has a great core concept that is well worth a few dollars. If it’s on sale, I highly recommend trying it for an hour or two. Who knew picking up after yourself could be made into an engaging game mechanic? Want to suggest a video game for review? Contact John Novotny at arts@ thenorthernlight.org.
Winterfest 2020 events calendar By Gabby Vance arts1@thenorthernlight.org
In celebration of winter, UAA is hosting its annual Winterfest extravaganza. Events began Feb. 22 and will continue until March 7. Students and UAA community members can participate in the events to enjoy the last few weeks of winter. Art, Light, Play All week, students were encouraged to check out the Art, Light, Play installation in the Cuddy Quad. Art installations made from colored paints, snow, ice and light were scattered around the Cuddy area. While walking to class or around the area, students and faculty had a view of the creative art pieces. Daily Den - Cuddy Quad Grilling The UAA Daily Den is located on the bottom floor of the Student Union and offers snacks and a place for students to lounge. The Daily Den was mobile around the Cuddy Quad grilling free food for students during the week of
Winterfest. Men’s Hockey vs. Bemidji State The UAA men’s hockey team played their last home game of the season on Feb. 22. The Seawolves and the Beavers ended the game with a 2-2 tie. UAA will finish the season in Fairbanks at the Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup on Feb. 28-29. Paint Night Feb. 24 served as a Winterfest paint night. The event was $20 for non-students and $5 for students and children to paint winter-themed art. Dive-in Movie The UAA Seawolves Sports Center Pool housed a free night of oceanic cinema. Students and their families were invited to attend a showing of Nemo while swimming around the pool. The movie was shown at the pool under the supervision of lifeguards.1 Nine in the Spine The Winterfest tradition of Nine in the Spine took place on Feb. 26 in the Student Union. For the event, mini-golf holes are
designed by student clubs and university organizations, creating a course for UAA alumni to play through. The proceeds from Nine in the Spine support the UAA Alumni General Support Fund. Multicultural Fair UAA staff, students, and faculty provided free performances, food and cultural music during the Multicultural Fair. Performances included art professor Thomas Chung, interlibrary loan technician Dawn Berg, Isabel Azpilcueta, Cody Buzby, Zach Abdallah, Pilot and The Glee Club at UAA. The fair took place Feb. 27 in the Student Union Cafeteria. BANFF Mountain Film Festival The annual BANFF Mountain Film Festival will be playing for two nights at the UAA Wendy Williamson Auditorium on March 6 and 7 at 7 p.m. The festival features films about culture and mountain sports. Tickets can be purchased on UAA’s website. “Check out a compila-
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UAA WEBSITE
The Daily Den offered free grilled food for students in the Cuddy Quad durring the 2020 Winterfest event.
tion of films that will make you laugh, cry and hold the edge of your seat,” the UAA website’s Winterfest
2020 article said. For more information on UAA’s 2020 Winterfest and the upcoming BANFF
Mountain Film Festival, visit UAA website’s Winterfest 2020 article.
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020
07
Kemboi headlines GNAC Championships for UAA track and field By Ronan Klancher sports2@thenorthernlight.org
The Seawolf indoor track and field teams both placed fifth out of 10 teams on Feb. 21 and 22 at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships in Nampa, Idaho. The Seawolves placed fifth at the championships, just two points behind fourth-place Simon Fraser, with a total score of 83. The Western Washington Vikings men team took home first place at a dominating 137 points and Concordia came in second with 87. The weekend was highlighted by Felix Kemboi’s win in the 3,000-meter event. Kemboi crushed the race, posting a time of 8:31.50, which averages to 68 seconds per lap and around 4:30 per mile. Kemboi has a history of success at UAA, winning the GNAC Freshman of the Year in 2017 with his win at the Ash Creek Invitational at Western Oregon University. He earned All-GNAC team along with
PHOTO COURTESY OF SEAWOLF SPORTS MEDIA
Felix Kemboi led the pack for the Seawolves in the GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships in Nampa, ID on Feb. 21 and 22.
All-GNAC Academic team in his sophomore campaign, with wins at the Western Washington Invitational in October of 2018, along with placing second at the NCAA West Regional in 2018-19, the highest out of any
STAFF CONTACTS Sports Reporter Ronan Klancher sports2@thenorthernlight.org
Executive Editor Caleigh Jensen (907) 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org
Multimedia Editor Jennifer Lincoln multimedia@thenorthernlight.org
Layout Editor Jason Herr layout@thenorthernlight.org Arts & Entertainment Editor John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org Arts & Entertainment Reporter Gabby Vance arts1@thenorthernlight.org Features Reporter Christina Swayney features2@thenorthernlight.org
first in the long jump and pole vault, Sramek picked up muchneeded points for UAA for overall standings. The women’s team finished with 65 points, led by Nancy Jeptoo and her 5-minute mile,
A S S O C I AT E D CO L L E G I AT E P R ES S
3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508
Managing Editor Mary Ryan content@thenorthernlight.org
Seawolf. Also helping the cause on the men’s side was David Sramek in the heptathlon, placing second. The heptathlon is a series of seven track and field events, all in one total category. Finishing
good for second in the competition. Jeptoo, a sophomore, won the mile before at the Seattle Pacific Last Chance qualifiers last February. She is also a two-time allAmerican in Cross Country after finishing 10th in the NCAA National Championships last Novemeber, along with finishing 36th in the 2018 Cross Country National Championships. Though it is called the GNAC Regional Championships, it is not the last meet of the year for the Seawolves. Next on the schedule for the track and field teams is the Seattle Pacific Final Qualifier on Feb. 29 and the NCAA National Championships in Birmingham, Alabama on March 13 and 14 to close out the indoor track and field season. After the National Championships, UAA will begin the outdoor season just a week after the indoor season ends on March 20 and 21 with the Doris Heritage Track Festival in Seattle, Washington. Look online at goseawolves. com for more information on upcoming Seawolf Athletics events.
PR & Events Coordinator Joey Carreon events@thenorthernlight.org Graphic Designer Michaeline Collins media@thenorthernlight.org Advertising Manager Krizelle Solidum admanager@thenorthernlight.org Media Adviser Paola Banchero Administrative Adviser Zac Clark
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 1,750. 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.
N OT I C E O F N O N D I S C R I M I N AT I O N The University of Alaska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution. The University of Alaska does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally protected status. The University’s commitment to nondiscrimination, including against sex discrimination, applies to students, employees, and applicants for admission and employment. Contact information, applicable laws, and complaint procedures are included on UA’s statement of nondiscrimination available at www.alaska.edu/ nondiscrimination.
L E T T E RS A N D CO R R E C T I O N S P O L I C Y The Northern Light encourages readers to express their views in the newspaper. The Northern Light reserves the right to reject or publish any submission, online or in print. Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length for a letter to the editor is 250 words, and 150 words for letters specifically endorsing candidates for federal, local, or university office. A letter to the editor is written by someone who does not have authoritative knowledge on the subject they are discussing. Contributors are restricted to one published letter to the editor per month. Opinion pieces can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length for a contributor’s opinion piece is 450 words. Contributors are restricted to one published opinion piece per month. Opinion pieces written by staff of The Northern Light are limited to 800 words. An opinion piece that is published in The Northern Light should be written by someone who has authoritative knowledge on the subject they are discussing. Letters and opinion pieces are subject to editing for grammar, accuracy, length and clarity. All letters and opinion pieces must include names, major and/or group affiliation and contact information for verification purposes. The Northern Light will not publish anonymous letters or pseudonyms. 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 deadline for submissions is the Friday before publication at noon, no exceptions. The Northern Light newsroom is located on the first floor of the Student Union Room 118.
OPINION
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020
08
Letter from the Chancellor: How UAA is charting a positive course for the future
By Chancellor Cathy Sandeen Contributor
Last year, the University of Alaska System, or UA, faced catastrophic and crippling budget cuts. While the governor and Board of Regents ratcheted back the worst of what was proposed with the compact agreement, Alaska’s universities must still face the startling reality of losing $70 million over three years while maintaining the quality of education that Alaskans deserve. To implement these cuts, the Board of Regents directed the three university chancellors to undertake expedited reviews of
our academic programs and administrative structures to identify areas where we can create savings and efficiencies. As chancellor, I always first look to administrative cuts, but the budget cuts imposed on UAA and its sister institutions are substantial and more than administrative reductions could cover. Therefore, the regents specifically directed the chancellors to consider academic programs as part of these reductions. This means that in order to ensure the university’s long-term viability and still provide top-quality academic offerings, UAA will offer fewer academic majors while continuing to reduce administration. At the University of Alaska Anchorage, we have not entered into this process lightly. We see value in each of our academic programs and realize that the people of the state rely on UAA and our sister institutions to provide the talent and training to power our economy. Therefore, we are leaning heavily on qualitative and quantitative data about all of our academic programs and are looking at each program’s centrality to the mis-
sion of the university while measuring overall productivity, efficiency and demand in terms of workforce needs and interests. In the end, none of these decisions are easy, but we are making them in as fair and equitable a way as possible to maintain the heart of the UAA academic experience. I want to reassure our community that the majority of certificates and degrees offered by UAA will continue to be available and that we will uphold the academic rigor and quality that Alaskans know and trust. We will have comprehensive advising available for all students in an affected program as well as degree completion options, where necessary. The initial steps of the expedited review process are complete and those interested in more detail can visit our regularly-updated expedited program review website. Preliminary recommendations for programs to discontinue are complete, and feedback sessions with faculty, staff, students and external stakeholders will include formal listening sessions in mid-March.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY FIEDLER
After considering all factors, I will deliver UAA’s final recommendations to President Johnsen and the Board of Regents at the end of March. The board will have until June to make the final call on the recommendations from each university. These have been challenging months for the University of Alaska system and for UAA. Our unrelenting focus on the
higher education needs of our students, our state and on the fulfillment of our mission have driven our decision making. This will not change, even as we face difficult decisions ahead. Cathy Sandeen Chancellor of University of Alaska Anchorage