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FEATURES
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
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Face masks are the new normal
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Hitbox Review: Doom — Become a force of nature
Alaska could be reopening too soon By Christina Swayney features@thenorthernlight.org
BAUTISTA
The COVID-19 global epidemic has decimated public health as well as economies. Deaths in the U.S. are projected at 100,000 deaths, according to The Centers for Disease Control. Cities in the U.S. are now in the phases of reopening, fearing that the economy will continue a downward trend, with unemployment at all-time highs. The “Hunker Down Mandate,” for Anchorage closed businesses and services from March 22 to May 5. People were told to stay home as much as possible and only venture out for necessary tasks like grocery runs and emergency health visits due to the rise of COVID-19 cases state-wide. Alaska residents worked remotely when possible or lost employment altogether. COVID-19 cases went down as a result and “The Curve,” seems to have been made less steep, because of social distancing, mask wearing and other mandates or strong suggestions to help contain the virus. Now that cases in Alaska are less, Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Alaska public health officials have begun “Phase 2” of their four-phase plan to reopen services, businesses and loosen social distancing restrictions, called “Reopen Alaska Responsibly.”
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Anchorage is in its second phase of the four-phase plan to reopen.
The four-phase plan started “Phase 1” of relaxing restrictions on April 24. Most non-essential businesses opened with safeguard guidelines, such as operating at 25% capacity and the requirement for some businesses to have workers wear face masks. Restaurants, bars and some retailers opened up but bowling alleys, gyms, bingo parlors and schools remain closed. Guidelines such as disease activity, testing capacity, public health capacity and health care capacity are being used to decide when to proceed to the next stages. “It’s going to fall on the individual to make sure we don’t cause a spike in the number of cases,”
according to Alaska Public Media. There is, however, concern in the U.S. of states and cities opening up too early. Dr. Anthony Fauci is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. He warned Americans about the riskiness of reopening too early at a COVID-19 panel in Washington D.C. on May 12. He addressed the importance of economic stability, but also the risks with loosening restrictions too early. “Move too quickly and the consequences could be really serious. It not only would cause some suffering and death that could be avoided, but could even set you back on the road to try
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to get economic recovery,” said Fauci at the panel. “Phase 2” of “Reopen Alaska Responsibly'' is in effect and started on May 8. Restaurants, retailers and other non-essential businesses are allowed to operate at 50% capacity. Bingo halls, gyms, theatres and other facilities considered as entertainment venues opened up as well. Restrictions and guidelines still apply, such as social distancing within venues, sign up sheets at bars for contact tracing and face coverings. While the four-point plan is being enacted to allow service to operate and Anchorage residents to go back to work and use these services, there are still
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questions as to the timing of this plan. Dr. Lawrence Weiss is the founder of the Alaska Center for Public Policy and he developed and managed the Master of Public Health program, the first in Alaska. He is pleased that Gov. Dunleavy has laid out wellconceived plans for moving from “hunkering down” toward normalization but has specific concerns about the plan that have not been addressed. The plan is based on a downward trend of cases in Alaska as a way to determine to move forward from one phase to the next, in a time frame of two weeks. Dr.Weiss suggests that this time
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frame may be too short. “In my view, it does not take into account real social considerations such as how long someone is circulating in the community infecting others before they finally decide to get tested and wait for the test results. In other words, there are social issues that this very short timeline seems to ignore. Consequently, the stages do not have enough time to be properly evaluated before moving onto the next one. The result could be an explosion of new cases that a more conservative timeline could have prevented,” Dr. Weiss said. Four new cases of COVID-19 were reported on May 16, with one in Anchorage, one in Chugiak, one in Bethel, one in Homer and a Trident seafood worker in Dillingham from out of state, according to a KTUU article released on May 16. The total cases of COVID-19 as of May 16, are 392 reported cases. For more information about the “Reopen Alaska Responsibly” plan, visit The State of Alaska site and read the full plan. For up to date information about COVID-19 in Alaska, visit the Alaska Coronavirus Response Hub. Information about COVID-19 and UAA can be found at The University of Alaska Coronavirus Information site.
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NEWS
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UAA College of Arts and Sciences receives unequal cuts By Gabby Vance arts1@thenorthernlight.org
Budget cuts affected many programs and colleges within UAA. UAA’s College of Arts and Sciences, or CAS, has seen repeated cuts over the last five years and received over a 60 percent reduction of Undesignated General Funds, or UGF, according to a May 1 UAA Faculty Senate Resolution. “Students in CAS should be deeply concerned that their home college has lost over half of its state funding in the last five years,” Ian Hartman, a UAA history professor, said in an email. A total of 541 majors will be eliminated from UAA due to the expedited program review. Of those, 259 are from CAS. The estimated savings listed for some majors that have been chosen for deletion are not justified, according to a May 1 UAA Faculty Senate Resolution. “The CBPP [College of Business and Public Policy] dean indicated that there would be no savings by eliminating BBA-MIS [Bachelor of Business
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Administration - Management Information Systems], yet the UAA interim pro-
vost presented a savings level orders of magnitude higher than for any other program ($650,000), a level for which he did not provide justification,” according to a May 1 Resolution Opposing the Deletion of the Bachelor of Business Administration. The UAA Faculty Senate filed resolutions on May 1 opposing the deletion of Business Administration, Creative Writing & Literary Arts, Theatre & Fine Arts and Masters of Arts in English. CAS has the largest enrollment of any college in the UA system and generated $20,435,679 in tuition revenue between fall of 2018 and spring of 2019, according to a Senate Resolution On the Necessity of Clarity and Transparency in Budgeting. Even with these facts, 63% of the majors proposed for deletion or suspension are from CAS. “Over 80% of the majors affected by program eliminations are in CAS and UAA’s Community and Technical College, despite the fact that these two colleges receive the smallest amounts of UGF of all other colleges,” according to a May 1 UAA Faculty Senate Resolution. CAS received a smaller amount of funding than the other colleges in fiscal year 2020. CAS received $1,295 in UGF per enrolled major while other colleges recieved $3,135. “[The cuts] already have had a
deleterious impact on the quality of education. Faculty have left; departments have atrophied; there is a smaller range of academic offerings now than at any point in recent memory,” Hartman said in an email. The resolution concluded that budget reductions have been unequally dispersed among the colleges and that they are hurting CAS the most. “The plurality of students who enroll at the UAA, enroll in a program in the College of Arts and Sciences. These students receive a consistent and profoundly unequal share of university resources, which radically diminishes their ability to receive the education they expect and deserve,” according to a Senate Resolution On the Necessity of Clarity and Transparency in Budgeting. The Faculty Senate recommended that there should be a base student allocation of UGF for all colleges. They believe that the base would prevent budget cuts from being proportioned unfairly. Hartman encourages students who want to voice complaints to learn about budget issues and ask questions regarding where their tuition dollars go and what it supports. He also recommends that students reach out to their legislators, the UA Board of Regents and administrators to ensure their programs are supported. These officials can be contacted through the UA Board of Regents website’s contact information page and the directory on UAA’s website.
FEATURES
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Face masks are the new normal By Christina Swayney features@thenorthernlight.org
The world is in the middle of a very serious pandemic that has killed many. Wearing face masks helps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They are now required or strongly encouraged in Alaska at many government agencies and businesses such as airports, hospitals, retail stores and restaurants for workers and customers. In Los Angeles, all residents are required to wear face coverings when going outside. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the health of people around the world. The U.S. has 1,384,930 confirmed cases and 83,947 deaths as of May 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC. Alaska has 387 current total cases, 10 deaths and four new cases have been confirmed, as of May 14. Alaska is also in the beginning phases of reopening services previously closed, due to COVID-19 restrictions. The threat of a resurgence is a possibility, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He served as a head advisor during the HIV epidemic and has been a top advisor at The White House for decades. “The consequences could be really serious if cities and states reopen the U.S. economy too quickly with the coronavirus still spreading,” said Fauci in a United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on May 12. There is currently no vaccine and no definite curative treatment for COVID-19, according to the CDC. Their guidelines for protection include frequent
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hand washing, social distancing, sanitizing surroundings and face masks. The virus is spread by respiratory droplets, which infect through the nose, mouth and eyes. It is also speculated that virus transmission is spread via aerosol. Face masks prevent this spread in different ways. Wearing a face mask partially protects from inhaling droplets or aerosols. They prevent the spread of respiratory droplets
from people who are confirmed to be infected or people who may be infected but are unaware of it. The public opinion on wearing them differs. The safety of the community should be taken into consideration, according to Ernestine Ndour, a sophomore at UAA who is majoring in business. “I think people should wear masks around public places where they will be with non-
family members. This disease can infect anyone, so people have to be careful because the health of the community is important to thrive as a society,” Ndour said. Some are asymptomatic and carry the virus but do not know they have it since they show no symptoms. This can cause the virus to spread easily. It is important to wear a mask to protect others, according to the WHO.
Even though wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the virus is recommended by the WHO, CDC and many other agencies, there are still those that do not agree that wearing them is necessary. An incident occurred on May 12 in the Bay Area of San Francisco, where a customer at a local 7-11 refused to wear a face mask upon entrance to the store and was asked to leave for the safety of all those in the store. People who refuse to wear face masks have different reasons for doing so, such as discomfort or feeling like their rights are infringed upon. Marie Ries is an international student from Germany who attended UAA this spring. She says that wearing a mask is needed at this time. “I don’t mind wearing masks in public as long as it helps contain the spread of the virus. It’s still really weird for me to see them everywhere, and I also think it changes human interaction — you can’t smile at anyone. That’s the new normal right now,” Ries said. Others think wearing face masks is the logical thing to do. Robert Alexander is a PC Analyst for a large hospitality company in Alaska. He thinks that there is little reason to not wear a mask. “People are dying. It’s not worth the risk to not wear one,” Alexander said. For more up to date information about COVID-19, visit the CDC, the WHO and The Municipality of Anchorage Coronavirus Response site. For a tutorial about how to make face masks, visit the CDC cloth face covering page. Cloth masks can also be purchased online from various retailers.
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Hitbox Review: Doom — Become a force of nature By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org
GRAPHIC MICHAELINE COLLINS SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF IGDB.COM
Doom’s success is built on its ability to empower the player by making them feel unstoppable. Perhaps that’s why its 2016 reboot begins and ends without ever switching perspectives. A first-person perspective lets you see through the eyes of the protagonist, the demon-massacring machine known as the Doom Slayer (his friends call him the Doomguy). You may think it’s tough to get into the mindset of an unstoppable demon killer, but it turns out that demons want to wipe out humanity and the only thing standing in their way is the Doom Slayer. It’s an ideal opportunity for the player to release any pent-up anger upon the forces of Hell. Developer: id Software Initial release date: May 13, 2016 Platforms: PC [played], PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch Price: $19.99 The first 15 minutes of Doom perfectly encapsulate who the Doom Slayer is. The player wakes up in a sarcophagus surrounded by the zombie-like “Possessed” and proceeds to crush one’s head against the solid rock surface. You see swirling runes painted in blood and lit
candles on every surface, before activating a hologram recording of several lab researchers kneeling towards your closed sarcophagus and praying. Shortly after reclaiming the Doom Slayer’s armor from another sarcophagus, you pry a shotgun from the desperate clutching grasp of the upper half of a soldier. Fast forward a few minutes and you’re on an elevator to the surface of the Mars UAC research facility while it’s director, Samuel Hayden, is trying to excuse the risk of a demonic invasion and the beat of industrial metal music increases. The Doom Slayer isn’t interested in excuses; he cracks his knuckles and smashes the computer interface Hayden is speaking through and the title screen appears. Just as the metal beat ends, the Doom Slayer cocks his shotgun and the player ventures out to the surface to teach these demons a lesson. The Doom Slayer has spent countless eons battling the forces of Hell, so he must be pretty good at it. His proven capability and eagerness to rip and tear is contagious. Each time the player encounters a demon is a welcome opportunity for more gloriously gory carnage. The driving force behind
Doom’s empowering gameplay is its unrelenting combat. Combat arenas can throw up to around a dozen demons at the player at once, so it’s critical to prioritize enemies that pose the most immediate threat. For example, an agile Imp throwing fireballs from a wall is less of a concern than a charging rhinolike Pinky. Where it gets tricky, however, is juggling multiple major threats: like a Summoner living up to its name by summoning lesser demons, while a rocket-launcher-and-jetpack equipped Revenant is raining down rockets, and two tanky Hell Knights charge and claw at you. The best counter is always to speedily move and double jump around the area. It’s a harmonious combination of hectic pacing and careful planning with the player dodging projectiles, managing their health and ammo and taking out demons one by one. The demanding combat works in concert with the industrial metal soundtrack to put the player “in the zone.” Any incoming stimuli that aren’t essential to kicking demon ass fade into the background. It’s just you and the demons battling it out until there’s only one left standing.
When a demon is low on health, they’ll begin to flash blue and then orange, prompting you to take them out with one of several unique (and demon-contextual) “Glory Kill” finishers. One execution for the floating balloon-like Cacodemon has the Doom Slayer rip out its singular massive eye and shove it in the demon’s mouth (this somehow causes the entire enemy to explode). One glory kill on a Possessed sees the Doom Slayer sweep its legs and punch its head so hard that it explodes. But the best glory kill is saved for the last enemy you fight. Doomguy forces its mouth open, aims the most powerful weapon in the game, the BFG 9000, and fires. Glory kills make for great spectacle, but they also provide the player with a choice besides which gun to use. What really brings the Doom experience together is the campy story. Every sentence of lore I read about Doom brings a smile to my face. Here’s an excerpt from one of the codex entries titled UAC Report File I3S5A9XB talking about the Doom Slayer: “The age of his reckoning was uncounted. The scribes carved his name deep in the tab-
lets of Hell across eons, and each battle etched terror in the hearts of the demons. They knew he would come, as he always had, as he always will, to feast on the blood of the wicked. For he alone could draw strength from his fallen foes, and ever his power grew, swift and unrelenting.” Oh yeah, did I mention all the Slayer Testament codex entries are narrated by a demonic voice? That entry didn’t even mention the Hell priests or the Blood Temples! I can’t even begin to list all the absurd lore Doom has to offer, but it’s all fantastic. Prerecorded hologram recordings of a UAC Spokesperson can be found throughout several levels of Doom spouting gems such as “welcome to the UAC, opening the gates of Hell with the key to the future.” The campy aspects of Doom provide moments of levity during an otherwise seriously intense environment that in combination with the fast-paced combat, make Doom a mandatory gaming experience for firstperson shooter enthusiasts. Want to suggest a video game for review? Contact John Novotny at arts@ thenorthernlight. org.
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Quarantine playlist: ‘70s and ‘80s rock By Gabby Vance arts1@thenorthernlight.org
If you’re feeling isolated or bored while waiting for the pandemic to subside, don’t forget about music as one of your entertainment options. We’ve all been binge watching the newest shows, movies and countless hours of YouTube, but you might need a break from all the screen time. Music can be a simple and fun form of entertainment. All you have to do is kick back, relax and listen. Here are some songs perfect for quarantine: “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” by The Police This hit song was released by a British rock band in the 1980s. The song is about a schoolgirl who has a crush on her teacher. It became the best selling single of 1980 in the UK and won a 1981 Grammy for the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, according to genius.com. “Dancing With Myself” by Billy Idol “Dancing With Myself” was first released by Idol’s punk rock band, Gen X, in 1979. When he started his solo career in 1981, he remixed the song which
became his first hit single, according to genius.com. This song has an ‘80s punk rock and new wave sound. “Big Shot” by Billy Joel “Big Shot” was Billy Joel’s second hit single and was released in 1979. Joel wrote the song from the perspective of Mick Jagger as if he were speaking to his wife Bianca, according to songfacts.com. This song has a hard rock sound and is another great late ‘70s song. “I Love Rock ‘N Roll” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts The song was written by Alan Merril and Jake Hooker but was covered by Jett and the Blackhearts. Jett’s cover reached the Billboard Hot 100 and became the number three song of 1982. “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time” was Lauper’s first number-one hit and was released in 1984. The song appeared on her debut album and remained on the Billboard Chart for 96 weeks, according to a Wall Street Journal article. This song is a slower soft rock ballad.
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Quarantine might be boring, but these ‘70s and ‘80s rock songs are upbeat and fun.
REPORTS
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UPD Report: May 6 - 11 STAFF CONTACTS
Total calls for service: 589 May 4: • Criminal Mischief at Health Science Lot. • Criminal Mischief in Rasmuson Hall. May 6: • Accident (UAA Fleet Vehicle) at Central Parking Garage. May 7: • Possession of a controlled substance (Meth) at Ecosystem Biomed Building. • Two Warrant Arrest at Ecosystem - Biomed Building. May 8: • Traffic Accident at Northern Lights & Arca. May 9: • Illegal Camp at North West of East Lot. All information is provided by the University of Alaska Anchorage Police Department.
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Sports Reporter Ronan Klancher sports2@thenorthernlight.org
Managing Editor Mary Ryan content@thenorthernlight.org
Multimedia Editor Jennifer Lincoln multimedia@thenorthernlight.org
Arts & Entertainment Editor John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org
Graphic Designer Michaeline Collins media@thenorthernlight.org
Arts & Entertainment Reporter Gabby Vance arts1@thenorthernlight.org
Marketing Representative Krizelle Solidum marketing@thenorthernlight.org
Features Editor Christina Swayney features@thenorthernlight.org
Media Adviser Paola Banchero Administrative Adviser Zac Clark
The Northern Light is hiring! See our job listings at careers.alaska.edu.
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