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UAA students recommend binge worthy Netflix shows
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Hitbox Impressions: God of War
New Student Regent delivers “love letter” to all UA Students By Daisy Carter news2@thenorthernlight.org
With the new school year starting, the new student regent Cachet Garrett sent all students a letter regarding her new position and what that means for all students who are a part of the UA system. “I am deeply grateful to Governor Dunleavy for selecting me for this hard work, in light of unprecedented budgetary cuts to the UA system,” Garrett said. Garrett is a professional communication graduate student from UAF. She was appointed in May of 2019, but has yet to be confirmed by legislature. “It is impossible for me to not serve.” Garrett said. The email Garrett sent out was about 4,300 words or seven pages. It also included pictures of her and her dog. “You probably ain’t eveh gonna get another letter like this,” Garrett said. In her opening paragraphs, she talked about how she has been a leader for some time. “Since the days I was a
student senator, then student body president, and also president of the student alumni association in Juneau,” Garrett said. She also continued to talk about how she wants to hear from students on how the UA system can make a difference. “I found an atrocious experience within my program,” Garrett said. She commented about how she is grateful for that experience even though it was a bad one. Further down the essay, she said that she is not bashing the university, but demands that we strive for excellence. A big highlight from this letter was one paragraph starting with “Warning, vulnerable share.” Garrett said that she has an “edginess of mental/emotional turbulence regularly.” She also shared that she is a long time student of yoga and tantra. Garrett continued by talking about how she will only apologize if it is warranted.
“If you did something that results in your perception that I hurt you, but I actually did nothing directly to you, then you must grow to recognize Truth — capital T.” She went on to say “NO MORE SUICIDING.” After this statement, she talked about how she is always open to talk to any other UA student. Garrett also promotes the coming suicide prevention week. “And it is with this strong conviction that I demand...that you do not commit self-harm upon your bodies, your hearts, or your minds,” Garrett said. “Finally, I ask you to engage new levels of participation with the goingon of our universities collectively,” Garrett said. Garrett concluded the letter by offering opportunities for UA students to become more involved. With her song of the day being “Bullet and Target,” she encouraged students to give our own song. At the end of the email she includes her email, phone
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATCHET GARRETT
One of the pictures Regent Garrett sent out in the email was a picture of her and her dog.
number, and PO box number. This letter upset many students from all across the UA system. In a public testimony, many students voiced their opinions about the letter the student regent sent out. “A lot of it is rambling nonsense and a lot of it is also really inappropriate content to be sending to
30,000 people,” Bradley Morton, a UAF graduate student at the August 31st public testimony, said in an Alaska Daily News article. Later in the day, the official Board of Regents Chair Sheri Buretta responded to the letter. “I have urged Regent Garrett to use her voice
to add value to the very urgent issues… not use her position to create additional distractions or disenfranchised students,” Beretta said in an Alaska Daily News article. Many students on social media have spammed her Facebook profile with comments about the letter.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS
Catchet Garrett along with the other student regents listening to public comments on September 12, 2019.
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UAA students recommend binge worthy Netflix shows By Christina Swayney features1@thenorthernlight.org
It can seem like there is not much to do these days. Social events are limited and the weather has turned cool and rainy as summer gives way to fall. Students are also stuck at home with all classes online. A good way to take a break when the weather is gray and cold outside is to curl up on the couch, make a tasty beverage and watch some television. Here are some UAA students’ Netflix recommendations: Rachel Gould studies nursing science at UAA and is also a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma. She stays on track with studies by using a planner called BeFocused. She says that watching television can also be a form of self-care. “My self-care is allowing myself an hour of Netflix before bed. I’m a huge fan of The Office. It’s my favorite! I’ve also gotten my fiancé to re-watch Greys Anatomy with me,” Gould said. The Office, on Netflix, is a comedy set in corporate America at Dunder Mifflin, a paper sales company. It may sound less than exciting but the characters and scenarios provided are full of dry humor and scenarios. The cringe-inducing moments and awkward jokes are exactly what the show is trying to achieve. The show features actors John Krasinski, Steve Carrell and Rain Wilson. More shows like The Office include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which is available for free on N.B.C. and as part of a paid subscription on Hulu, My Name is Earl on Hulu and Scrubs, which is also on Hulu. Grey’s Anatomy can be found on Netflix and features a fictional doctor, Meredith Grey, as she navigates her personal and professional journey at a busy Seattle Hospital. Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh and Katherine Heigl experience the challenges of working as new doctors, while also juggling complicated personal lives in this medical drama full of emotion.
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
The show makes the characters vulnerable, strong and easily identifiable with its audiences. Other shows with similar tones are Private Practice on Netflix, E.R, available on Hulu and House, with free episodes on N.B.C. Jennifer Lincoln is a journalism and public communications major at UAA. She recommends Schitt’s Creek, which is a Canadian television show on Netflix. Super wealthy Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara get busted by the government for illegal financial practices. Their only option is to move to a small town called ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ which Levy purchased as a ‘joke’ for his son years prior. What ensues is relentless dry one-liners and hilarity. Lincoln says that she thoroughly enjoys the show. Shows similar to Schitt’s Creek include Dead to Me, Arrested Development and Grace and Frankie, which are all on Netflix as well.
“It’s well written, inclusive and hilarious. Every episode is great. I’ve probably seen each episode a dozen times,” Lincoln said. Lillie Younkins is a biology major at UAA. She recommends a classic show, Monty Python on Netflix and YouTube. This show features a British comedy troupe that first aired in 1969 on the BBC. The show has several series such as Monty Python and The Flying Circus and Monty Python and The Holy Grail. The show features slapstick comedy and British wit so dry it leaves one thirsty for more. Others to watch if you like Monty Python are The I.T. Crowd on Netflix, Absolutely Fabulous and TaskMaster, which are both on Hulu but have free episodes on YouTube Michaeline is an arts major at UAA and the Graphic Designer for The North-
ern Light. She recommends The Good Place, starring Kirsten Bell and Ted Danson. This fantasy comedy has Eleanor Shellstrop, played by Bell, dying in an ironic but comical manner and ending up in a heaven-like utopia that may not be what it seems. The show has an ensemble that features unique characters that are hilarious in their own way and social commentary woven into clever scenes. More shows like The Good Place are Community, Parks and Rec and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which are all available on Netflix. For previews of recommended episodes, click the highlighted titles of shows in this article. Student discounts for subscription television can be found at Hulu, Amazon Prime and Apple T.V. Netflix does not have a student discount at this time but offers a one-month free trial.
FEATURES Get off the couch
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By Christina Swayney features1@thenorthernlight.org
Activities on Campus: Price is Right What: Win some prizes by guessing the correct price of merchandise at this virtual game show contest. When: Sept. 8, 6-7 p.m. Where: This will be an online event and updates are available on The Student Activities and Commuter Programs Facebook page. Students can sign up to participate using an online form. Cost: free Bakery Cart Curb-Side Pick Up What: Get some delicious pastry treats created by UAA culinary students. The menu will be dependent on what students are learning. Coffee will also be available. Updates are available at Lucy’s Restaurant Facebook page. When: Sept. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Where: In front of Lucy Cuddy Hall Cost: Prices for pastries vary and ordering online starts at 10 a.m. on Sept. 10. Only credit cards are accepted for purchase. Parking is free for the semester. S.O.S. Successful Online Seawolves What: Students can get tips and advice on how to stay afloat during this semester which may seem overwhelming. When: Sept. 9, 1-2 p.m. Where: The event will be online and students can sign up using an online form. Cost: Free UA Board of Regents Meeting
What: The University of Alaska Board of Regents will congregate to talk about many issues. When: Sept. 10, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sept. 11 9 a.m.-1 p.m. There will be two different meetings. Where: This will be an online event. The meeting can be livestreamed at https:// www.alaska.edu/bor/live/ or can be listened to online at 1-866-832-7806 / PIN: 8475100. If the toll-free line is busy, please call 1-330-595-1371. Agenda material is available via BoardDocs For inquiries about the event please contact Brandi, the executive officer of The Board of Regents, at (907) 450-8010 or ua-bor@alaska.edu. Cost: Free Events Around Town Anchorage Video Speed Dating: Filter Off What: Dating can be difficult while socially distancing. This virtual dating works by first downloading the Anchorage Speed Dating app which will match dates with other daters. Then, daters will be asked to go to specific speed dating sessions and set you up on three, 90-second dates. When: Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. Cost: Free Alaska Botanical Gardens What: Enjoy the flora and fauna of Alaska by taking a guided tour or perusing by
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
oneself leisurely. When: Winter hours apply from August 25, 2020-May 16, 2021. Hours of operation are Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: 4601 Campbell Airstrip Road, one block south of Tudor Rd. Parking is available in the lot shared with the Benny Benson School. Cost: Entry is free but donation is optional Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center What: The conservation center has a
variety of animals such as lynx, ox and bears that are rescued and rehabilitated. Guests can tour the facilities and see the animals by foot or by driving through the center. Where: Mile 79 Seward Hwy, Portage AK, 99587-0949. For additional questions call (907) 783-0058 or email info@ alaskawildlife.org. A calendar of tours and events can be found online. Cost: Prices for admission and tours vary. Click on the calendar to see specific prices and events.
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Hitbox Impressions: God of War By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
A mass-murdering god with anger issues must now face his greatest challenge yet: become a good father. Developer: Santa Monica Studio Release date: April 20, 2018 Platforms: PlayStation 4 Price: $19.99 God of War doesn’t have any loading screens with “helpful hints” beyond the initial load when starting the game. It also has a shaky-camera perspective that follows Kratos, the Spartan god of war, closely behind his back. The story begins with the recent death of Kratos’ wife, Faye. Him and his young son, Atreus, must travel to the top of the highest peak in Midgard to scatter Faye’s ashes in accordance with her last request. This cinematic storytelling approach succeeds in making the player feel more immersed in the Nordic-mythologyinspired realms of God of War. In practice, nobody is going to be playing the game in a single 32-hour sitting, but it completely eliminates the disconnect from the game the player feels when reading about how to pull off a combo attack while waiting for the next area to load.
Each time the player starts the game, they’re met with a long loading screen, but after that, it’s smooth sailing, literally, there are small boats that Kratos and Atreus can travel in. I never really noticed that there weren’t any loading screens for the time I played God of War, but that’s the point. If it’s working well, then nobody will notice. Since God of War is so story focused, just about the worst thing you can do to ruin the experience of playing it is to watch all the cutscenes on YouTube, which is exactly what I did last year. However, much like how I noted in my Uncharted 4 review, I still feel myself becoming invested in the story and wanting to push further to see what will happen next despite knowing a few major plot points. I also wanted to see how impressive some of the key moments looked on a big 60-inch TV screen instead of my computer monitor. The difference was very noticeable, especially when encountering the World Serpent, Jörmungandr for the first time. Atreus noted the legend of Jörmungandr spanning the entire world to which Kratos reacted skeptically, but judging by the serpent being able to
SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF GODOFWAR.PLAYSTATION.COM
lay on top of entire mountains, I’m convinced at least. God of War is really about the father-son relationship. There are some really thought-provoking concepts being touched on. For example, part of Kratos’ bloody history is killing an entire pantheon of gods with unrelenting rage. So when Kratos sees Atreus displaying that same emotion, it deeply troubles him. Maybe that’s why Kratos has been so distant to his son, as he’s afraid he will somehow corrupt him. He feels a responsibility to teach Atreus to control it and not let it control him as it did Kratos. It seems to me that plenty, if not all father-son relationships are complicated. The average age of a gamer in 2014 was 31 years old according to an Entertainment Software Association report. So, I hope more games will take inspiration from God of War and explore more facets, not just of father-son relationships, but parental and child relationships in general. Like so many other AAA PlayStation 4 games, God of War looks amazing, from the characters to the water’s ripples
SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF GODOFWAR.PLAYSTATION.COM
The World Serpent, Jörmungandr, is said to be large enough to span across the entire world.
in the Lake of Nine. For all the incredible-looking textures, God of War still couldn’t find a compromise between graphics and frame rate, at least on the base-level PlayStation 4, which is what I was playing on. God of War runs at 30 frames per second on the PlayStation 4 and can reach up to 60 frames per second with the PlayStation 4 Pro while the game is in Performance Mode. Naturally, playing at 30 frames per second just doesn’t feel as smooth and fluid as 60. Part of the problem that I encountered was that I had turned the motion blur slider all the way down since I wanted to admire the beautiful backdrops instead of them being blurry while moving, which caused me to notice the low frame rate more. It was especially prevalent during combat where fast reactions and split-second timing are required to dodge and parry attacks. However, I found that leaving motion blur at the default setting of maximum mostly cleared up that problem and God of War felt noticeably better to play, although with the background being a blur at times. I still would have prefered God of War
Kratos isn’t the best father, but he’s trying.
look a little worse than be forced to play at a low frame rate. How a game feels to play should always trump everything else, at least in the case of action games. Otherwise, why make a game in the first place if the gameplay doesn’t feel good? The Leviathan Axe is Kratos’ primary weapon in God of War, aside from his fists which he uses to great effect. In function, the Leviathan Axe acts more like Thor’s hammer than anything else. The player can throw the axe and recall it to their hand. The axe can even hit enemies while it’s being recalled. It looks and feels incredible, especially when throwing the axe at an enemy’s head, recalling it when it flashes after bouncing off and then throwing it at them again for extra damage. The physicality with which Kratos handles the axe makes every hack and slash feel weighty and incredibly impactful. Even though Kratos is a god with the strength to lift huge stone pillars with ease, he puts maximum effort into every swing. There are plenty of special runic attacks to find
too, so there’s plenty of variety and seeing them never gets old. I’m especially fond of Leviathan’s Wake, which causes Kratos to gear up to throw the axe like he’s an MLB batter and with so much force that it plows through enemies and knocks them to the ground. That same effort is also felt in how he sprints. It feels like he’s actually in a hurry, unlike characters in some other games. When Kratos is running, he’s not out for a sunday stroll. God of War is yet another incredible single-player PlayStation-exclusive. I just can’t help but wonder how it could truly shine if it was on PC and with a steadily higher frame rate. With Sony recently bringing Horizon Zero Dawn to PC and their confirmation of even more first-party titles in a 2020 corporate report according to PC Gamer, it might just be a matter of time. I still had a good time playing it on the PlayStation 4 and I think you will too, especially if you have a Pro. God of War has kept me playing way longer than I should have on more than a couple nights and I can’t wait to do it again.
SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF GODOFWAR.PLAYSTATION.COM
Remember to tell Atreus to fire arrows while you’re hacking away at enemies with Kratos’ Leviathan Axe.
REPORTS
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UPD report Aug. 24 - 31 Total calls for service: 346 Unlock calls for the week: 33 •
August 25: Recovered stolen vehicle at East Campus Center Lot.
All information is provided by the University of Alaska Anchorage Police Department.
STAFF CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508
Arts & Entertainment Editor John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org
Executive Editor Gabby Vance (806) 437-8805 editor@thenorthernlight.org
News Reporter Daisy Carter news2@thenorthernlight.org
Layout Editor / Graphic Designer Michaeline Collins media@thenorthernlight.org Features Reporter Christina Swayney features1@thenorthernlight.org
Multimedia Editor Lillie Younkins multimedia@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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