April132010

THENORTHERNLIGHT APRIL 13, 2010

FEATURES

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UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

Assembly elections: Student campaign round-up

A&E

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Clash misses:

3-D doesn’t help this remake

WWW.THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

OPINION

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Gun control:

Exhibit displays propaganda

State of the Seawolves: UAA Athletics on the rise UAA Athletic Director Dr. Steve Cobb ‘very pleased’ with direction of athletic programs

By Taylor Hall The Northern Light

What a year for the Athletic department.

The cross-country and track teams continued their dominance into 2010. The volleyball team won their first ever NCAA playoff game against Hawaii-Hilo. The ski team finished up seventh at the NCAA Championships. The women’s basketball team returned to their fourth consecutive postseason.

All of this has added to the high ranking the Seawolves now enjoy in the Learfield Sports Director’s Cup standings. The Seawolves ranked 20th amongst all 288 NCAA Division II programs for the winter portion of the season when announced April 1.

This comes on the heels of the 14th place UAA gained after the fall portion of the season.

“It’s something we take a

lot of pride in,” UAA Athletic Director Steve Cobb said.

“Having quality programs across our department is important to us.”

Quality is just what the different UAA athletic programs have been this year in their own ways.

The Director’s Cup awards points to each school’s NCAA Championship finish in up to 14 events, seven men’s and seven women’s sports. UAA had to earn this ranking despite only featuring 11 sports.

One can only think that this ranking will be on the rise after the spring portion of the Director’s Cup is completed.

The UAA track and field teams are off to tremendous starts and look to place well at their NCAA Championships in late May. So what is the “State of the Seawolf Athletics?” Cobb was easily able to sum it all up. see ATHLETICS page 05

LEIGHANN SEAMAN/TNL

UAA Seawolf Calli Scott sets the ball for fellow teammate Cortney Lundberg in a bout against Norhtwest Nazarene Crusaders, Nov. 12. UAA’s volleyball team won their first NCAA playoff game this year.

UA Budget will be finalized by adjournment on Sunday

By Jerzy Shedlock The Northern Light

The Alaska Legislature in Juneau will be working feverishly this week to finalize a uniform version of the University of Alaska FY11 operating budget.

The Board of Regents, Gov. Sean Parnell and the House and Senate Finance Committees have all submitted different versions of the operating budget.

The Board of Regents submitted its FY11 operating budget request to the governor

last fall. The budget proposed by UA totaled $352.7 million; a $24.5 million, or 7.5 percent increase, over the current year’s operating budget. The governor’s proposed budget for UA is a $12.4 million, or 3.8 percent increase. The HFC’s proposed budget is lower at $11.8 million, or 3.9 percent increase, while SFC’s proposed budget is higher at a $14.1 million, or 4.3 percent increase.

“The budget now being discussed in legislature is smaller than the Regents’ request. The legislature treats (the University)

in the same way they treat other state agencies; that is they won’t do 100 percent for us in any case.”

Provost Michael Driscoll said.

“The budget must pay more to do the same things we are doing now, which is a key component of the request. There is also demand for things we are not doing now or we aren’t doing enough of.”

It is now up to a Conference Committee to negotiate the differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget and no additional funding will be added at this step. see BUDGET page 02

Local group performs with fire

By Heather Hamilton The Northern Light

Two sets of flames spin and whirl to the beat of music in alternating circular patterns with a roar that nearly eclipses the guiding sound. At the epicenter of this flaming sphere, controlling the movements of the captivating source of heat and visual fascination, is a single person – a

fire performer.

Comprised of roughly eight to ten regular performers, the Alaska Fire Circus is a growing group of performers who strive to bring the “finest exhibition of expertise and variety to the Alaskan performance-art scene,” as quoted from their website.

There are many different methods to spinning fire. One popular method is with poi, which

is essentially a ball suspended on a length of flexible material.

The dancer using the poi holds on to the length of material and spins the ball in alternating patterns to create visual effects.

When the performer becomes skilled and confident enough, the ball at the end is lit on fire for the performance. Typically, a performer uses a set of two poi while “spinning.”

see FIRE page 13

Student loan reforms will affect millions

By Jerzy Shedlock The Northern Light

With America continuing to slowly crawl out of a long and challenging recession, more young adults have opted to attend college in hopes that a higher education will help them gain a viable career. More and more prospective students are seeking financial aid each year as a result.

Overshadowed by the much talked about health care laws, the Reconciliation Bill also included major student loan reforms.

President Barack Obama finalized a major piece of his agenda by making the government the primary lender to students by cutting banks out of the process.

The domestic priority was pushed through by democrats in the House and Senate and signed into law by the president.

The reforms reconstruct the way the government handles loans and will affect millions of students. The government is now in charge of federal student loans, stripping banks of their roles as middlemen in the process.

The president has said that the change will save more than $60 billion over the next 10 years, which in turn would be used to

boost Pell Grants, a needs-based grant program for low-income undergraduates and certain post-baccalaureate students.

The savings will also be used to reinvest in community colleges.

Whether it’s grants, scholarships or loans you’re seeking, the Office of Student Financial Aid at UAA can help you obtain needed funds. The office participates in federal Title IV programs. These include, but are not limited to, the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Stafford Loan and Federal Parent Loan Programs. UAA also has a large number of scholarships and tuition waivers each having unique requirements.

Ted Malone, director of the Office of Student Financial Aid, has been anticipating the changes since Sept. when the House originally passed their version of the bill, so the office was well prepared for the transition to the direct loan program. Loans were processed through the direct loan program for the spring semester.

One benefit of the new program is that instructions are somewhat simplified and more detail is provided. see LOANS page 02

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News| April 13, 2010

LOANS: Government Tea party-like movement is will now handle aid gaining members in Wasilla continued from COVER

“It’s no longer you can choose one of these five or six different options on payment where everybody has a different process on their websites,” Malone said.

“We could only give the generic ‘go to their website and follow their instructions’ where as with the direct loan website we can be more specific and give more help.”

This school year, the office has received over 12,000 applications for federal student aid and there are about 8,000 degree-seeking students receiving some sort of grant, scholarship or loan according to Malone.

More people are now qualifying for needs-based aid, grants and subsidized loans than ever before.

“Last year, we paid just under $7 million in Pell Grants,” Malone said. “We paid over $10 million this school year. A lot more people are feeling the need (for financial aid) and a lot more people qualify than in the past.”

About half of the nation’s undergraduates receive federal student aid and about 8.5 million students are going to college with the help of Pell Grants according to the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Among its features, the law is expected to make it easier for some college graduates to repay loans. The government is guaranteeing that workers in lowpaying jobs will be able to reduce their payments. Current law caps monthly payments at 15 percent of workers’ incomes. It will now be lowered to 10 percent.

The new law could represent a significant loss to banks. Student loans have been a $70 billion business for the banking industry.

There will also be some loss in jobs at banks that participate in the Federal Family Education Loan Program as participation in the programs wind down. Although banks will lose whatever profits they may have made in the future on FFELP loans, Harrison

‘A lot more people are feeling the need (for financial aid)...’

- Ted Malone, Director of Student Financial aid.

Wadsworth of the Consumers Banker Association stated the losses should be insignificant.

“The loss in bank profits will be relatively small, since the federal loan programs are not very profitable for banks,” Wadsworth said. “Most banks, for some time, have participated in the program in order to be able to offer a full slate of services to their customers.”

Joe Morgan, representing First Bank Ketchikan, is frustrated that the university his son is attending will no longer offer Alaska Student Loan Program loans.

“It will require that all students apply to get insured loans from or through the university,” Morgan said. “This does not seem to bode well for the longevity of the Alaska Loan Program.”

Private lenders will still make student loans that are not backed by the government and they will still have contracts to service some federal loans.

BUDGET: Proposal below fixed costs continued from COVER

The BOR always aims first to obtain a budget that will cover the fixed costs of the UA system. Funding for the base requirements are adjusted on a yearly basis. These include compliance mandates, utility cost and compensation increases. It is highly likely that the chosen budget for next year will fall below fixed costs. As a result, fees may be levied on students to make up for the difference.

“We are going to have to look at the university’s budget on both the expense and revenue sides,” UA’s Director of Public Affairs Kate Ripley said. “Raises in student fees and tuition are a possibility if (the UA system) does not have enough money to cover its basic fixed costs.”

Some major differences exist between the House and Senate’s proposed budgets under the priority programs category. The Senate would like to put $1.4 million toward science, technology and math programs while the House has proposed nothing for those

programs. Instead, the House has put $960,000 toward the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, which will go directly to the Department of Education and Early Development. The Senate has allocated $300,000 for climate programs, which includes the marine advisory program; the House has proposed no money toward such programs. Both the HFC and SFC have, however, agreed to put $950,000 toward energy outreach and research.

Members of the House and Senate Finance Committees were unreachable for comment.

Both the House and Senate have proposed intent language to be included in the budget asking the university to reduce its reliance on state funding. The conference committee will have to work out differences in the language. “(The university) is interested in sustainable budgets too, so their intent language is definitely something we would follow,” Ripley said.

By Becky Bohrer The Associated Press

The foothold for Alaska’s nascent tea party effort is in Wasilla, a blue-collar town where Sarah Palin got her political start and members of the movement are seeking to become a force in upcoming elections.

Many in Wasilla still have deep loyalties to Palin, but the real concern among tea partiers has nothing to do with the hometown political hero. The real reason many have gotten involved in grassroots politics is what they see as government intrusion, eroding civil liberties and out-of-control federal spending.

Within the past year, the Conservative Patriots Group has grown from a scattering of disaffected voices into arguably the best-organized and most visible tea party-type group in Alaska.

While small compared to the state’s political parties, claiming “several hundred” dues paying members, the Conservative Patriots have become involved in local elections, working to defeat a sales tax initiative and to win assembly seats for conservative candidates. The group recently launched a conservative radio talk show and wants to vet candidates it might support in 2010 elections.

Local lawmakers are taking notice. So is the state GOP, which expects the grassroots movement to help mobilize voters and advocate for candidates Conservative Patriots consider more conservative during the primaries.

But can the Conservative Patriots and the tea party movement in Alaska succeed?

While Palin has become a darling of the tea party movement nationally, Conservative Patriots organizers say she doesn’t speak for them. They say the group, while having Palin supporters among its ranks, stands on its own, propelled by the desire to advance conservative principles and not by personalities.

One of the directors, Frank Bettine, says there’s no interest in forming a formal party;

he also shrugs off the “tea party” tag, defining his group as a “nonpartisan grassroots organization” committed to promoting conservative values.

Turnout for tax day rallies next week could be telling in whether fires stoked last year — by President Barack Obama’s taking office, federal health care reform and the soaring national debt — remain hot or whether Alaska’s tea party movement is destined to be a flash in the pan.

‘The prospects of it fizzling are as great as the prospects for it influencing the primary and general elections.’

- Jerry McBeath, a political science professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

“Up to now, it’s been fun, a show,” Jerry McBeath said, a political science professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

But it takes money to organize, to run effective campaigns.”

He said if you were to ask him now, “the prospects of it fizzling are as great as the prospects for it influencing the primary and general elections.”

Bettine sees that as a challenge.

Like many who have attended tea party rallies, Bettine and his wife, Jennie, are new to playing active roles politics. They have faithfully shown up on Election Day over the years, but he said they’d never been so public about their views until last year when the push for overhauling health care, on top of issues like taxes and rising federal debt, left them convinced the country was “going to hell in a hand basket.”

The couple, in their early 60s, helped form the Conservative Patriots to keep the energy and momentum from rallies going.

Dozens of people — young women, families, men in caps and Carhartt jackets, retirees, middle-aged couples — came to a recent weeknight meeting, greeted by smiling attendants and country music filtering from the flag-decorated stage.

The speakers’ take-home message was clear: Conservatives must stand up, stand together and hold elected leaders accountable.

That doesn’t mean Republicans or members running for office will be given a pass.

State Rep. Carl Gatto, a Republican from nearby Palmer who has established a conservative reputation in the Legislature, said he is a member of the group.

While he tries to vote for what’s “right for the people,” he is not confident he’d have the group’s automatic endorsement. Bettine says he’s right.

That tea party enthusiasts have found a welcoming home Wasilla isn’t all that surprising, though it may have less to do with Palin than people outside Alaska might think.

Wasilla has long attracted those seeking their own piece of Alaska, a plot of land not too far from Anchorage but not too far from the backcountry or good fishing, either. The vibe is libertarian; God doesn’t pop up a lot in political discussion, but family, guns and freedom do.

On a recent night at the MugShot Saloon, Fox News beamed from big screens, the talking heads drowned out by rock music, video gaming machines and political talk at the bar.

Ted Anderson mulls the state of the union over a beer. He’s not sure what to think. The bar owner says he’s a registered Republican but an independent “at heart.” There’s no getting around government, he said, but it’s gotten too big, too intrusive, and the push to overhaul health care magnified that, he said.

“I’m so very proud of the American people finally gathering together to be heard,” Anderson said, who said he’s not a tea partier. “We want what’s best for the country.”

April 13, 2010 | News

TNL

Alaska chiropractor has easy-going business style

By Amanda Bohman Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Chris Mannino was bound for medical school until a car crash.

He was 22 and living in California when someone rearended him while Mannino was behind the wheel of his brother’s Porsche. The accident caused severe neck pain and when a medical doctor suggested surgery, Mannino decided to see a chiropractor. After a neck adjustment, he felt immediate relief. Mannino offered to work for the chiropractor for free to learn about it, dropped medical school and studied chiropractic care instead.

He later bought a practice in North Pole and has been cracking backs in Fairbanks and North Pole for about 15 years. His business is called Afternoons and Evenings Chiropractic and it’s growing. In the coming weeks, Mannino is moving the practice from a house on Smythe Street to an office on the Old Steese Highway.

On the side, Mannino flies planes and sells custom-made machine guns and explosives.

He helped start the Fairbanks chapter of the Alaska Machine Gun Association last year.

Radio personality Michael Dukes is the chapter president.

Dukes described Mannino as a modern-day cowboy owing to his interests in aviation, firearms and explosives.

“He’s a fun-loving guy,” Dukes said. “He speaks his mind.”

Mannino said he wakes up each day in a good mood.

“It’s what you choose,” he said.

The 51-year-old grew up in a Los Angeles suburb. His father was a schoolteacher and later a principal. His mother sold real estate. The couple collected and sold Southwestern jewelry for extra money.

Starting in fourth grade,

Mannino, the oldest of three children, worked for his grandfather, a cobbler and bookmaker who Mannino remembers fondly. Mannino would shine shoes and run errands, sometimes collecting bets for his grandfather.

By his own account, Mannino was a bad student. He attended Catholic school until he was “asked to leave.”

“They didn’t have a sense of humor,” Mannino said.

He graduated from an alternative high school and rode his motorcycle, working, traveling and partying before enrolling in college to study human biology and anatomy.

After chiropractor school, Mannino interned with Zeek Medical and later opened his own practice with his first wife, also a chiropractor. The business thrived. Mannino earned a salary in the middle six figures and owned nice things but there was one problem. He wasn’t happy.

“One day, I woke up and realized I was really unhappy,” he said.

Mannino divorced, gave up his stake in the business and moved to a town outside Naples, Italy, where he continued working as a chiropractor.

“The guy who I worked for was a jerk, but the people were wonderful,” he said.

Mannino had a son and eventually remarried. When he returned to California, he began looking for a chiropractic practice to buy when he saw an ad for a one in North Pole.

“I had always wanted to go to Alaska,” Mannino said.

He arrived the day after Christmas and found the weather harsh, the dark tolerable and the people friendly.

“I kind of fit in here better than I fit in, in Southern California,” Mannino said. “I’m basically a constitutional conservative. In California, I didn’t fit in.”

t n e m l l o r En

About 10 years after establishing himself in North Pole, Mannino slipped on some ice and broke his elbow. He couldn’t work and his marriage broke down. So Mannino made another big change. He moved to Florida and became a pilot. But his new life was short-lived.

Mannino missed Alaska.

When his former wife brought their son to Florida for a visit and the romance rekindled, Mannino decided to return to Fairbanks where he would work as a pilot and give the marriage another try.

“Neither of them worked,” he said.

By then, his elbow had healed so Mannino returned to chiropractics, which is about 80 percent of his business ventures.

The rest comes from firearms deals. Mannino has a license to sell custom-made machine guns, accessories and explosives.

He is married to a 27-year-old massage therapy student and says he is content with his life.

He takes pride in fostering an easy-going atmosphere at his office. Mannino calls his office manager, Cindy McConnell, “Mean and Nasty” and jokes that her smoke breaks involve marijuana.

McConnell doesn’t smoke marijuana and she doesn’t mind her boss’ sense of humor, she said.

“We’re totally open and honest about everything,” McConnell said. “I like to be me. Chris likes to be him.”

Melanie Hadaway has been a patient of Mannino for about three years. She likes the friendly vibe at Afternoons and Evenings Chiropractic.

“As crazy as Chris is, I trust his professional judgment,” Hadaway said. “It’s relaxed here.

Chris is the best back cracker.”

Mannino told Hadaway that she was making him blush.

“Most of my patients end up being my friends,” he said.

pdates!

Watch here for future u

T N E M E G A MAN

CORNER

www.uaa.alaska.edu/onestop

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SAY WHAT?

German supplier takes steaks from diners’ plates tBERLIN -- A German meat supplier has found a novel solution to unpaid bills: repossessing the steaks right off diners’ plates.

Police in Aachen said Thursday that a dispute over money ended with the man grabbing his wares off the plates of some 20 bemused guests at a restaurant in the western city.

A furious argument erupted in the kitchen after the man made his daily delivery Wednesday evening but was told the restaurant didn’t immediately have the euro400 ($535) in cash to pay his bill.

The vendor then took back the meat he’d delivered - including steaks already being cooked or marinated. That still didn’t cover the bill, so he continued collecting meat in the dining room.

Women arrested in UK for taking corpse onto plane LONDON -- Police have arrested two women at a British airport after they reportedly tried to smuggle a corpse onto a flight.

Police said Tuesday the women were detained at Liverpool’s John Lennon airport “on suspicion of failing to give notification of death” of a 91-year-old man.

The BBC and other British media reported that the women placed the man, a relative of theirs, into a wheelchair and covered his face with sunglasses in a bid to get him aboard a flight to Berlin.

The women, aged 41 and 66, were detained Saturday and have been released on bail. They have not been charged and police say inquiries are continuing.

Colo. judge fired over teen arrest for overdue DVD LITTLETON, Colo. -- A longtime Colorado judge has been fired after issuing an arrest warrant for a teenager over an overdue library DVD. Municipal Judge James Kimmel issued the warrant after 19-year-old Aaron Henson failed to show up in court Jan. 14 over the overdue DVD, “House of Flying Daggers.”

On Jan. 25, police stopped the teen for speeding and held him for nearly eight hours after discovering the warrant.

Henson had moved and didn’t receive the summons to court. The teen said he had packed the DVD in a box and returned it about a week before Henson issued the warrant.

The library notified the judge the DVD was back.

The Littleton City Council fired Kimmel, a judge for nearly 30 years, at its meeting Tuesday night.

Kimmel declined to comment to The Denver Post.

Sheriff Arpaio makes inmates pedal to watch TV PHOENIX -- Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has started a program he calls “Pedal Vision,” in which inmates pedal stationary bikes to generate electricity for television sets. The bikes are customized to turn on connected TV sets once inmates at Phoenix’s Tent City Jail pedal enough to generate 12 volts of electricity. An hour of pedaling equals an hour of television.

Arpaio said inmates only will

be able to watch television if they choose to pedal.

He said he started the program with female inmates because they seemed more receptive.

Arpaio said the only exercise female inmates have been getting is speed-walking around the tent yard.

Equal time: Women hold topless march in Maine PORTLAND, Maine -- About two-dozen women drew a crowd of onlookers when they shed their shirts and marched downtown in Maine’s largest city to promote what they call “equal-opportunity public toplessness.”

Organizer Ty MacDowell said the point of Saturday’s march in Portland was that a topless woman out in public shouldn’t attract any more attention than a man who walks around without a shirt.

The Portland Press Herald reports that by the end of the march, more than 500 people had amassed – a mix of marchers, young men snapping photos, oglers and people just out enjoying a sunny, warm day.

It’s not illegal for a woman to be topless in public in Maine and police said there were no incidents or arrests.

UK postal workers boycott house after cat attacks LONDON -- Britain’s postal service says it has suspended deliveries to a woman following repeated attacks by her 19-year-old cat. Royal Mail said Friday that it had halted deliveries because postal workers had already sustained “nasty injuries” at the address in the town of Farsley, near Leeds in northern England.

The woman was identified as a 43-year-old pharmacy worker.

Media reports say she found it hard to believe that her cat, named “Tiger,” could be behind the attacks.

Typo costs prisoner 3 extra years in Indonesia JAKARTA, Indonesia -- A Thai man has been released from an Indonesian prison after spending three extra years behind bars because of a typo in his paperwork, a report said Friday.

Kamjai Khong Thavorn, 53, should have been released in 2007 after serving a 20-year sentence for heroin possession but a clerical error wrongly stated his first year in prison as 1997 instead of 1987, the Jakarta Globe reported.

Kamjai was released Thursday after he told Indonesia’s justice minister of the mistake during a chance meeting on the minister’s tour of the maximum security prison in Central Java, it said.

“We realized the mistake that was made, so he was released unconditionally,” the prison’s warden, Sutrisman, told the newspaper.

Kamjai has been taken to the Thai Embassy in Jakarta, the warden said.

Officials at the justice ministry and prison could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

-Compiled by Jerzy Shedlock

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News| April 13, 2010

USUAA election outcome Unofficial results are in, and it appears that Miles Brookes and Kevin Vanderwall will be the next USUAA president and vice president, respectively.

Of the 445 total votes cast in the first year that USUAA elections have been fully conducted online, Brookes and Vanderwall accumulated 239 votes to the tandem of Allison Murrell and Amie Stanley, who amassed 192 votes.

Brookes and Vanderwall will begin their one-year term running USUAA on April 23.

Nine of the 13 USUAA senate seats have tentatively been filled, with all three of the candidates being elected and six write-ins, who all accumulated at least 20 votes, could possibly take their seats in the Senate .

The two, open concert board seats will be filled by Ashlei Gaines and Cedar Cussins, each having gained eight votes.

There are no official candidates listed to fill the two open slots at this time.

-COMPILED BY JOSH EDGE

STATEWIDE BRIEFS Key lawmaker lays out campaign bill concerns A key lawmaker has concerns that a bill to check new corporate campaigning rights could also stifle political participation of small organizations.

Fairbanks Republican Rep. Jay Ramras comments came in a hearing Wednesday in the House Judiciary Committee he chairs. The bill fills gaps in Alaska’s disclosure and disclaimer rules for corporations buying political advertising.

Ramras says he isn’t worried about big industries’ ability to comply with the proposed rules. However, he says the rules could discourage communitylevel campaigns or groups that coalesce and dissolve around one-time issues, like ballot propositions.

House Finance OKs two bills expanding gun rights The House Finance Committee is advancing two bills to expand gun rights, despite concerns from Alaska state prosecutors.

One bill expands the lawful use of deadly force in self-defense. The other restores gun rights for some nonviolent felons.

Both now go the House.

Assistant Attorney General Annie Carpeneti says the self-defense bill authorizes unnecessary violence.

She says the other bill may resolve legal issues for felons who’ve maintained clean records. But she says it also complicates efforts to prosecute unrelated unlawful weapons possession cases.

Currently, under state law, gun rights can be partially restored in several ways, but a U.S. Supreme Court decision has said that if felons’ rights are to be restored, they’re to be restored fully or not at all.

Ex-officer sentenced in porn case A former Anchorage police officer has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading no contest to attempted possession of child pornography and admitting he violated probation terms in an earlier child porn case.

Bryan Herrera originally was charged with possession of child porn.

The term imposed Wednesday covers time already spent in custody since his December 2007 arrest.

In the original case, the 46-yearold ex-officer was arrested in 2005 and eventually pleaded no contest to possessing over 300 photographic images and over 50 video images.

Following his prison release, he was caught with a laptop computer connected to the Internet, a violation of his probation terms. A forensic search found porn images that had been deleted.

Senate minority leader blasts capital budget

Members of Alaska’s Senate minority blasted a $2.2 billion proposed state capital budget as huge and unsustainable.

The Senate Finance Committee released a draft of the plan Wednesday, which includes $1.1 billion in general fund spending and rolls deferred maintenance, supplemental and other infrastructure projects into a single bill.

Committee chairs defended the bill, which is a work in progress, as jobsbased and responsible, with a savings piece forthcoming.

Senate Minority Leader Con Bunde was incredulous. The Anchorage Republican says it’s “almost breathtaking” that lawmakers would propose spending at this level amid expectations North Slope oil production will continue declining. He says the state will be broke in the “nottoo-distant future” and that’s it’s short sighted to spend this way.

-Compiled by Jerzy Shedlock

National Geographic show premiers with Kodiak bears

By Louis Garcia Kodiak Daily Mirror

The Emerald Island and its famous bears were a big part of the premiere episode for the new television series “Expedition Wild.”

“Project Kodiak,” the first episode of the new series that premiered April 5 and will re-air Saturday on National Geographic Wild (Nat Geo Wild), features Kodiak bears catching salmon.

Host and naturalist Casey Anderson made the trek to Kodiak for the filming of the show in July 2009.

He has been around bears all of his life and has worked with both captive and wild animals for the last 16 years. He even owns a grizzly bear named Brutus who posed for pictures in Anderson’s wedding as his best man.

For bear-lover Anderson, last July’s trip to Kodiak was the first time he had ever been to the island, a trip he always wanted to make.

“It’s the ultimate bear trek,” Anderson said. “It was always a dream of mine to go there.”

Kodiak was chosen as the location to film bears because the large population on the island and because they are the biggest bears on the planet.

Most of the crew’s time on the island was spent at Fraser Lake, even though the film

crew was staying in the city of Kodiak. Filming the bears was a highlight of the show Anderson said.

“It was amazing,” he said.

“Kodiak is one of the only places that bears and people are really coexisting. There’s a triangle between bears, people and salmon. They know their place and it works.”

Anderson said he was able to tell there is a unique respect between bears and people on the island.

“You can tell on the island that they need each other,” he said. “People respect the bears and bears respect them, too.

To have that many people and bears interacting, most people would think there’d be a lot more conflict.”

Filming bears on the island not only showed Anderson how people can coexist with their bear neighbors, but also gave him one of the greatest bear viewing moments he’s ever had.

“When we stayed up near midnight at Fraser Lake the big boars started to come down to fish,” he said. “One time, we had almost 50 really big boars fishing at the river under the midnight twilight.

That’s a tough one to top in bear viewing — and was quite a moment.”

Shooting a segment of the show on the unique Kodiak bears wasn’t all about fulfilling

dreams and watching bears dine on salmon. There also were some difficulties Anderson and the film crew faced that are common to Kodiak residents.

“I think everyone on the island could say the rain,” Anderson said. “It’s one thing to be fishing and bear viewing, but when you’re filming, rain is not friendly.”

Anderson said this bear paradise is a great model for other places where bears and people coexist. As a Montana native he has noticed a lot of trouble between people and bears.

“In Montana, there is tension,” he said. “Usually it’s the fault of the people.”

The show also features Anderson’s bear and friend, Brutus. With Brutus he is able to show another side of grizzlies that usually isn’t seen in the wild.

“When I do a show like ‘Expedition’ I can show a side of the bears that you can’t otherwise see,” Anderson said.

The show will also air every Monday on Nat Geo Wild channel — which is not available on GCI cable.

Anderson is really excited about the show and is eager for viewers to see the bears of Kodiak.

“It’s really a great show and puts Kodiak in a wonderful light,” he said.

House passes ethics panel bill without any changes

By Jeremy Hsieh Associated Press Writer

The Alaska House passed a bill dealing with an executive branch ethics panel without changes by a nearly 3-to-1 margin Wednesday.

It failed Monday in a 19-18 vote, but the vote was held for reconsideration.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

The bill would limit a governor’s selection of members to the Personnel Board to names forwarded to him by the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. The chief justice must nominate at least three people, but the governor can request more nominees indefinitely. It bars members from holding some political party and lobbyist roles. It also expands the board from three to five members.

It’s intended to address possible conflicts of interest on the board, which arbitrates executive branch ethics complaints.

Reps. Max Gruenberg, D-Anchorage, and David Guttenberg, D-Fairbanks, flipped their votes at the last minute on Monday, stopping the bill, to try to bully through an amendment on reconsideration to further limit the governor’s role in selecting board members. They weren’t able to get enough votes to resurrect the failed amendment.

Minority Leader Beth Kertulla said putting restrictions on a governor’s right to request unlimited nominees is important “for all of us who’ve lived through something similar.”

It was a reference to former -Gov. Sarah Palin snubbing her last year. Palin refused to appoint Kertulla to fill an empty Senate seat after

Democrats broke from tradition of nominating three candidates, sending only Kertulla’s name to Palin for the open seat. Kertulla had been critical of the governor after Palin was chosen as Republican John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 presidential election.

Juneau’s Senate district went without representation for about half the legislative session as Palin cycled through additional nominees before naming Dennis Egan to the seat on the last day of the legislative session.

The failed amendment on the Personnel Board bill would have limited a governor to the chief justice’s first set of at least three nominees and a second set of up to three nominees.

Bill sponsor Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, said such a restriction leads to questionable legal territory regarding separation of powers.

“This is not a perfect bill, but is significant improvement over the status quo,” Lynn said. “I’m going to vote a conservative and progressive ‘yes’ on this bill.”

Rep. Mike Doogan, D-Anchorage, had initially proposed the failed amendment and broke from his party voting against the overall bill.

The Personnel Board primarily deals with lower-level state employees where the conflict of interest issue the bill addresses is irrelevant, Doogan said.

The executive branch’s elected officials, the governor and lieutenant governor, don’t fit, and a better solution may be to lump all elected officials under one ethics panel, he said.

SPORTS

05

Spring Team Challenge returns to UAA and puts students’ skills to the test in intramural sports

By Taylor Hall The Northern Light

The snow is melting away and the sunshine is more noticable around Anchorage. This can only mean one thing for UAA students.

The Spring Team Challenge is in full effect and a good number of Seawolves are putting down the books and getting into the “crown jewel” of UAA intramural sporting events.

The seven teams started competing April 5 and will continue the competition until a champion is crowned April 16. The various sports include the likes of more traditional sports such as volleyball and basketball, as well as less common sports like broomball and inner tube water polo.

“Broomball is where I excel,” Michael Teilborg said, a student competing for team Go Getters.

The event was a hit last year and has

seen nothing but success so far. Some students would even like to see some more sports added to future Challenge’s.

‘Getting to interact with your fellow students in an athletic environment has to be the biggest plus.’

– Arie Henry, UAA sophomore

“I’d put hockey in there,” Teilborg said, a UAA freshman majoring in criminal justice. “We’re Alaskan and we don’t have a full winter sport in here besides Broomball.”

Going further even was teammate Arie

Henry, a sophomore majoring in business.

“Whiffleball, because it’s just a little better than baseball,” Henry said with a hint of satisfaction in his statement.

Perhaps the STC is the perfect getaway for a student who knows finals are in the near future. It’s a chance to get out and compete with and against friends and unknowns.

“It’s lots of sports you don’t get to play very often,” Henry said. “Getting to interact with your fellow students in an athletic environment has to be the biggest plus.”

Hanna Johnson, a junior human services major, raises the point that perhaps it’s too close to finals week.

“Have the (Spring Team Challenge) earlier in the semester and further away from finals,” Johnson said, whose Sultans of Wing team was getting ready to compete in volleyball. “I don’t want to fail my classes!”

With some of the events being played early in the days of the school week, some

students have to decide whether to go to or skip out on classes. Those who have fortunate schedules dodge this scenario completely.

The action is sure to heat up as the second week of competition begins. Teams are starting to gain familiarity as well as experience. Just ask Henry who is a rookie to the STC, but knows good things are coming for his squad.

“We’re doing pretty great, the whole team’s coming together and really gelling well,” Henry said. “The whole thing has been a great experience.”

After the first week of competition, nothing has been won or lost yet and teams will continue to jockey for points throughout all the events.

The double-elimination format tournament is all set to end with the tug-owar grand finale April 16.

ATHLETICS: High marks given to UAA sports teams continued from COVER

LOGAN TUTTLE/TNL

Seawolf gymnast Lauren Agostino competes in the beam excercise Feb. 23 against Brown University.

NICHOLAS MONEY/TNL

Seawolf forward Jade Portwood (36) watches teammate Mickey Spencer (10) gain control of the puck against the UAF Nanooks during the first game of the 2010 Governor’s Cup at the Sullivan Arena.

UAA Seawolves give a rowdy cheer during a volleyball game Oct. 24.

DAKOTA VOLKMAN/TNL

LEIGHANN SEAMAN/TNL

UAA junior Donnie Lao grapples with Saint Martian Saints while attempting to score, Jan 21.

“We’re graduating out student-athletes, they’re winning and conducting themselves in a first class matter,” Cobb said.

“They’re bringing honor to our institution and city, and we’re very pleased with where we’ve been and where we’re going.”

The future looks bright indeed for the Athletic Department here at UAA. Perhaps new sports can even be seen on the horizon. Cobb did mention that the Athletic Department and University would possibly look into the addition of soccer and indoor track and field programs at a later, undisclosed date.

Despite all the different programs adding to the success, Cobb singled out the volleyball team as the group he was most proud of this year.

“They were at one point 10-7 and then went on a monster win streak and won the conference and got into the playoffs,” Cobb said. “It was really fun seeing that group come together and achieve new levels.”

Their GNAC championship and their amazing playoff victory was admittedly a bit sooner than expected, but a much welcome surprise.

“We thought maybe we were a year away from a championship. Thank goodness those players didn’t listen to us,” Cobb said with a laugh upon the confession.

So where do we go from here?

Well, we have a many sports looking poised to make runs at their own sport’s championships next year. And why not think the sky is the limit in 2011?

“We think there’s bigger and brighter things in store for next year,” Cobb said.

06

TNL

SPORTS| April 13, 2010

OVERTIME

Sportsman Show has role in Aces post-season drama Despite new Civic Center downtown, Aces were forced to give up ‘home ice advantage’ and retreat out to Wasilla for first two games of their 2010 ECHL playoff quarterfinal series against the Stockton Thunder

By Taylor Hall The Northern Light

The Alaska Aces fought all year long to gain their third seed in the ECHL’s National Conference postseason.

The Great Alaskan Sportsman Show had already booked their typical dates of April 5-12 at the Sully.

Of course, the opening round of ECHL playoffs was set to take place in this very same timeframe and meant something had to give.

After weeks of behind-the-scenes meetings and pleading between the two sides, the Aces were forced to move games one and two of the best of five series to Wasilla. Their new home ice was the Menard Sports Complex, 47 miles and about 53 driving minutes away from the friendly confines of Sullivan Arena.

So this brings forth many questions to be asked and many answers to be digested.

Why did the Sportsman Show not move

to the new (and currently unoccupied) Dena’ina Convention Center downtown?

Why was there no better option for new location of the Aces first two playoff games?

Who’s really to blame here?

Well to start, the Sportsman Show and its promoter Steve Shepherd claimed the Dena’ina Center was too small to host an event like the Sportsman Show. Interesting, considering the three-floor, 215,000 square foot building was made just for these sorts of events.

In fact, according to the Dena’ina Center website, the 25,332 square foot ballroom can hold 140 booths itself.

Let’s not forget the 50,000 square foot exhibit hall that can hold 278 booths on the first floor.

Still not enough room? Why not have a second building like the nearby Egan Center (also unoccupied) and it’s 45,000 square foot frame help the apparent millions of booths needed by the Sportsman Show.

Another interesting note was that it

takes the Sportsman Show four days to do load in despite vendors not showing up until Wednesday (Aces game one and two would’ve been on Monday and Tuesday nights).

Now you can’t honestly tell me it takes four days to load in with two of those days being to “prepare” for the arrival of vendors. The Aces even offered to pay overtime to workers on Wednesday and Thursday morning to make sure the arena would be ready for opening.

No dice still.

They also offered to pay for the shuttle services between the Dena’ina Center and Egan Center so people wouldn’t have to walk downtown.

Nope, they can’t work with that.

Let’s discuss the next question raised.

The Aces were forced to move out to the Wasilla area because it offered the highest number of possible fans that could attend.

The local rinks cannot accommodate a loud and large number of Aces fans that attend

every game.

Enter the Menard Sports Complex. The Aces were able to fit 1,876 fans for game one on Apr. 5 and 1,734 on game two Apr. 6.

This is quite the opposite of home ice advantage of 6,400 fans in the Sullivan. Not to mention the ice in the Sullivan is 200 by 100 feet and is the only Olympic sized sheet of ice in the league. The Wasilla ice is 200 by 85 feet, just like every other team’s ice in the league. Yet another advantage lost.

Last question to be answered: who gets blamed in this game?

That answer is simple. The Sportsman Show really dropped the ball here to make things work. The Aces went above and beyond trying to offer and plead with the Sportsman Show brass but were shut down.

Well done to the Sportsman Show and its officials for putting the city and Aces into this predicament.

Hibernating frisbee fans make ultimate comeback for spring

L

Anchorage frisbee players beat break up, turn out for first Fur Rondy Ultimate Tournament

By Taylor Hall Photos by Leighann Seaman With summer only a short time away, the members of Anchorage Ultimate have gotten a serious head start on the rest of us.

On March 7, the group hosted their first Fur Rondy Ultimate Tournament. The event was held at The Dome and went all day.

It was a chance for veterans and rookies alike to dust off their ultimate skills after a long winter break.

Anchorage Ultimate is a group of avid players who play in their own Summer League as well as various local tournaments.

Next on tap is the Great Alaska Jamboree tournament. It will be held June 2627 in Anchorage and will display some of the best players the state has to offer.

For more information on the tournament and summer league, go check out www. anchorageultimate.com to find out how to get into the action.

April 13, 2010 | Sports

TNL

UNIVERSITY HONORS COLLEGE OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP

SPORTS BRIEFS

UAA Men race to No. 3 in the Nation The Alaska Anchorage men’s track & field team is ranked No. 3 in the country as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its first poll of the season on Apr. 6. In addition, the UAA women entered at No. 13 in the Div. II national team rankings.

The men’s team, which leads the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in the poll, follows Saint Augustine’s and West Region foe Chico State, at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. On the women’s side, Angelo State came in at No. 1, followed by UC San Diego (No. 2) and Abilene Christian (No. 3). Seattle Pacific is the only GNAC squad ahead of UAA at No. 4.

Two Seawolves, who lead their respective events in Div. II, pace the UAA men’s team. Junior Marko Cheseto is the leader in the 5000 meters having notched a 14:06.77 this season. UAA also has the NCAA D-II leader in the long jump with Demietrius Preston’s wind‐aided 24‐7.25.

Overall, 11 Seawolves have registered NCAA Div. II provisional marks, while four have qualified automatically for Nationals that will take place May 27-29 in Charlotte, N.C.

Nine Seawolves pace MPSF AllAcademic Team Nine Alaska Anchorage gymnasts were honored for their classroom success Apr. 9 as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation announced its 2010 Women’s Gymnastics All-Academic Team.

Junior Kristy Boswell, a marketing/management major, led the way for UAA with a 3.55 overall grade-point average, helping UAA earn the most honorees among the conference’s four programs. UC Davis produced eight all-academic picks, followed by Seattle Pacific (6) and Air Force (1).

For the Seawolves, seniors Lauren Agostino (Virginia Beach, Va., 3.44, physical education), Meagan Byrne (Arcadia, Calif., 3.31, biological sciences) and Courtney Williams (San Angelo, Texas, 3.20, elementary education) all earned their third career academic honor. Second-time honorees were Boswell (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and junior Maria Puricelli (Chesterfield, Mo., 3.32, psychology), while junior Leah Wilson (Port Coquitlam, B.C., 3.45, management) and sophomores Erin Aitcheson (Champaign, Ill., 3.41, philosophy), Kelsey Fullerton (Flower Mound Texas, 3.33, marketing/management) and Kaelei Spoor (Rome, N.Y., 3.21, undeclared) were all first-time recipients.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must carry a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA, be in at least her second season, and compete in at least 50 percent of meets. As such, the Seawolves qualified nine or their 10 eligible student-athletes.

Basketball teams hand out team awards to cap off year Senior Tamar Gruwell received the Most Valuable Player award April 9 as the Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball team celebrated its 2009-10 season at its annual team banquet at the Petroleum Club. Other individual honors went to seniors Leah Stepovich (Most Improved) and Kiki Taylor (Best Defensive Player), juniors Nikki Aden (Best Defensive Player) and Sarah Herrin (Ms. Hustle), and sophomore Hanna Johansson (Most Improved and Most Inspirational).

Gruwell, a 5-8 guard, earned the Team MVP honor after averaging 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game, helping the Seawolves to a 24-5 overall record and a 2nd-round NCAA Tournament berth. The Fairfield, Calif.

(Vacaville HS/Sierra College) native also led UAA in three-point percentage at .396 and ranked second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in both three-pointers per game (2.6) and steals.

Junior Brandon Walker took the MVP award for the UAA men’s team, along with the Rebounders Award for sportsmanship and leadership on April 10. Other Seawolves honored included junior Casey Robinson (Best Defensive Player & Jim Hajdukovich Award), junior Drew Robinson (Most Inspirational), freshman Liam Gibcus (Most Improved), and student assistant Chris Neal (Academic Achievement) Walker, a 6-3 guard, averaged 15.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. The Hayward, Calif., native and former transfer from Division I Loyola Marymount scored in double digits in 22 of the final 25 games, finishing with 23 points in the season-finale victory over 9th-ranked Seattle Pacific. Walker posted nine efforts of 20 or more points.

-Compiled by Taylor Hall

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Undergraduate Research & Discovery Symposium Celebrating undergraduate achievements throughout the University

April 15

• Keynote Address with Jean Twenge, Ph.D.

“The Narcissism Epidemic and How It's Spreading Through Our Culture” Co-sponsored with UAA Psychology Department’s Behavioral Sciences Conference of the North 7:30 p.m., Wendy Williamson Auditorium

April 20-21 • Undergraduate Research Poster Fair, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Rasmuson Hall Lobby

April 22-23 • Undergraduate Research Poster Fair, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Gorsuch Commons Great Hall

April 23 • Student Research Presentations, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Gorsuch Commons 107 • Reception and Poster Presentations, 2:15–3:15 p.m., Gorsuch Commons Great Hall • Awards Ceremony, 3:30–5:30 p.m., Gorsuch Commons 107

The keynote address is funded by the University Honors College, ConocoPhillips and BP. The Undergraduate Research & Discovery Symposium is funded by the University Honors College, Alaska Heart Institute, Estelle J. Spatz Undergraduate Research Fund, Institute of Social and Economic Research, UAA/APU Consortium Library, UAA Office of Community Partnerships, Dr. Alex Hills, Brian and Amy Meissner, and many other generous individuals.

http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/ours/calendar/symposium.cfm

All events are FREE and open to the public.

UAA is an EEO/AA employer and educational institution

FEATURES

08

UAA’s Booher and Brown lose their Assembly bids Two new members, one race still too close to call

By Joshua Tucker The Northern Light

Voters went to the polls on April 6 to cast their ballots in five Anchorage Assembly races and decide on five propositions.

Two new Assembly members were voted in. Ernie Hall, who is supported by Mayor Dan Sullivan, and former police lieutenant Paul Honeman, who was not on the mayor’s conservative ticket.

A third race between current conservative Anchorage Assembly member Andy Cleary and former assembly member Dick Traini is still too close to call. The current vote count has Traini leading by 147 votes, but the final decision including all absentee and challenged ballots will not be announced until April 16.

All of the propositions were narrowly approved by voters, except for one funding public transportation.

UAA Freshman Keli Booher received 2,770 votes but lost in her bid for the South Anchorage seat on the Assembly with 34 percent of the vote.

“We have nothing to be ashamed of,” Booher said. “34 percent is amazing for a 19- year-old.”

Recent UAA graduate Joelle Brown ran against Debbie Ossiander for the Eagle River seat on the Anchorage Assembly, yet came in a distant third with just under 12 percent of the vote.

At the Republican victory party at McGinley’s Pub, part owned by Mayor Sullivan, UAA’s College Republicans relaxed after a long day of campaigning, sharing iPhone photos of the days events. “(Brown) did not reach out the liberal base like she needed to,” Jason Cline said.

Cline is candidate for state legislature, a UAA student and member of the College Republicans.

Public Meeting About GEOG 390’s Upcoming Trip to China

By Katie Forstner The Northern Light

On Friday, April 16, UAA’s Heifer International Club is hosting an “Afternoon Tea for China,” a meeting with tea served regarding a short-term study abroad trip to China. In early May, Prof. Dorn VanDommelen, Prof. Mara Kimmel and a group of students will trek to rural villages in China to work with Heifer International, a non-profit organization donating livestock to citizens of developing countries.

The meeting is open to the public and will discuss Heifer, the work that will be done in China and donation options.

The meeting will take place in PSB 166 from 4 – 6 p.m. For more information, please contact Dorn VanDommelen at (907)-786-1765 or Mara Kimmel at (907)-7864774.

At the Democratic victory party at Orso’s Bar, UAA student and president of UAA’s University Democrats Heather Aronno was constantly monitoring election results on her iPhone while her husband, John Aronno, also a UAA student, monitored his political blog, Alaska Commons.

“Joelle (Brown) just eclipsed the 500 vote mark,” Aronno announced to democratic supporters.

“I have never participated in an election like this before,” Aronno said, referring to the transformative role iPhones and the internet have played in rapidly spreading information and getting young people involved.

Christopher Jenkins, a wellspoken Anchorage high school student, runs the Democratic Party’s “Hold Mayor Dan Sullivan Accountable“ Facebook page, which has 450 members.

“Facebook helps incorporate name recognition into daily life,” Jenkins said, referring to the difficulty new candidates have getting voters to recognize their names so they can vote for them.

In the Egan Center ballroom, Republicans and Democrats bantered over drinks as the election results constantly cycled on giant screens.

UAA student and Eagle River preschool teacher Ryan Jaimz Knight, 27, sat at a table posting on her Facebook profile.

“I am officially announcing my plan to run for the Anchorage Assembly in 2013,” Knight wrote, “which means within the next three years I will be educating myself about Alaskan politics.”

Discussing her concerns about the vitality of Anchorage schools. Knight said she plans to challenge Debbie Ossiander for Eagle River’s seat on the Anchorage Assembly in 2013.

JASON CLINE

Anya Tyrrell waves a campaign sign outside an Anchorage polling place on Anchorage Assembly election day, April 6. Some seats have been announced, but all final decisions will be announced April 16.

Bicycle helmets proven to be cheap alternative to expensive hospital bill

By Katie Forstner The Northern Light

When I was growing up in Palmer, I rode my bike a lot. My sister and I went on bike rides with my mom all the time – around Eklutna Lake, down Archangel Road in Hatcher Pass, along the side of the

‘Nobody looks cool dead on the street.’

Anastasia Degtyarenko, UAA student Matanuska River, everywhere. I remember loads of bike trips from my childhood, but I don’t remember ever wearing a helmet.

And helmets are important. 75-percent of all bicycle-related head injuries could have been prevented with one. Despite this shocking statistic, there are still more ball caps than hard hats on wheels. When did safety go out of style?

“I don’t ever see people wearing helmets,”

Anastasia Degtyarenko, UAA student, said.

“I think it’s ridiculous that people forgo their safety just to ‘look cool’. Nobody looks cool dead on the street.”

In Alaska, with the recent bicycle plan being pushed through the legislature and the overall outdoor-chic vibe, it’s surprising that more helmet advertisement isn’t prevalent.

REI displays the latest and greatest bicycles in the front of the store, but helmets remain tucked in the corner next to the gloves. Such is life: people have more interest in the perks of their new Corvette rather than the air bags.

“I never used a helmet for anything,” Ryan Thrasher, UAA student and year-round bicycler, said. “I just bought one for skiing, biking and long boarding, though. It’s not worth the risk—I’d rather have a hard head than no head.”

According to the Anchorage Police Department, the number one thing that Alaskan bicyclists can do to protect themselves is to wear a helmet. In the state of Alaska, it is required by law that children under the age of 16 fasten one before venturing out on two wheels. This law is directly aimed at protecting young people, but it is rarely enforced.

As mentioned earlier, I didn’t always wear a helmet. My best friend, however, didn’t mount her bike unless she was fully equipped with helmet, elbow pads and a box of Band-Aids for whatever abrasion she may end up with. When we biked along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, she relentlessly teased me about not wearing a helmet, telling me how awesome I would look when my tire popped and my head met the pavement, until I gave in and bought a bright orange Giro helmet.

Many young people are unaware of the statistics and that they really can prevent extensive brain damage or even death with the simple click of a helmet strap.

Last summer, a childhood friend of mine knocked his head so hard on the ground after a fall from a long board that he spent three days in the ICU at Providence and barely escaped with a quarter of a million dollars in hospital fees.

With summer right around the corner, everyone is dusting off their Konas and preparing for fun in the sun. However, next time you go to grab your bike, grab your helmet too. It will be well worth the extra effort.

April 13, 2010 | FEATURES

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UAA is an EEO/AA employer and educational institution

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT 13 continued from COVER

FIRE: The Alaska Fire Circus heats up Anchorage “I started with poi. It’s a popular one for people to start with when they’re getting interested with fire performance,” Jack Degenstein said, who has been spinning poi and rope darts for the group since 2009.

Maxwell Walton, who has been a member of AK Fire Circus since the summer of 2008, is the mastermind behind the group’s fire cannons, but spins poi as well. He learned about creating fire cannons at

COURTESY OF AK FIRE SERVICE

Lauren Breiger spins fire poi for the camera. The Alaska Fire Circus offers lessons at UAA Tuesday nights, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the PSB dance studio.

Burning Man in 2009, after much coaxing from one of the founding members of the group, Roger “Firedodger” Reoh.

“He kept saying that they were simple, but I kept telling him that they weren’t,” Walton said, “So I went to Burning Man and got to talk to some people at the Department of Spontaneous Combustion.”

Walton took the knowledge that he’d gleaned from the Department of Spontaneous Combustion, a group of fire artists that frequent Burning Man, and brought it back to Alaska where he designed smaller scale fire cannons.

“They’re really safe and they work well, however, the fire department doesn’t let us use those in town yet. Those we can only use outside of city limits,” he said.

One event that the group has

performed in for several years is the Fire and Ice New Year’s Eve Celebration in Anchorage’s Town Square, but since the group will perform for any event that books them, it certainly isn’t the only event they’ve captivated spectators at.

“Our last gig was down in Girdwood; we were performing for the Girdwood Sustainability Benefit. It was an excellent show.”

Degenstein said.

The AK Fire Circus is an open group and welcomes anyone interested in their art form to attend their weekly practices, which are typically held on Tuesday nights from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the dance studio in UAA’s Professional Studies Building during the winter.

“We try to do that as much as it’s open to the public,” Degenstein said, referring to

the classes and workshops that are held in the room. “But as the snow melts, we usually move to a location downtown and outdoors.

It’s nice to be in the sun in the summertime.”

Both Degenstein and Walton encourage people interested in fire performance to show up to the group’s practices. UAA charges $5 to get in, but the group doesn’t charge for lessons.

“I’m always willing to teach anybody,” Walton said, “I play with devil sticks, spin poi and I do a little bit of staff. I’m willing to teach anybody anything I know.”

The best way to keep track of the group’s performances and practices is through their Ning site, www.akfirecircus.ning. com, and if you are interested in booking them for an event, you can do so through their other website, www.akfirecircus.com.

MOVIE REVIEW

Added on 3-D clashes with 2-D effects in ‘Titans’

By Jena Benton The Northern Light

Greek mythology is making a comeback on the big screen, first in “The Lightning Thief” and now in “Clash of the Titans.”

The recently released “Clash of the Titans” takes a cheesy cult classic from the 80’s and transforms it into a better film. The bare-bones structure of the story is the same as the original.

Perseus (Sam Worthington, “Avatar”) is still on a mission to save Argos, the town that dared to defy the gods, from a horrible fate. There are still fights with monsters and damsels in distress, even a sly little plug at the original that only fans will catch.

Yet this film does have many differences. For one, it takes a more intellectual approach to the subject of the gods. Here the writers reveal a modern cynicism in perhaps the darkest opinion of Greek gods to ever grace the big screen.

Although the original wasn’t light in this point of view either, the rewritten version is much more pessimistic. The gods are seen as meddling and manipulative deities that rule over mankind with no other motivation than control. They are

merciless and callous to the plight of the average man or woman.

However, the writers did clear up the divided focus of the original from many interfering gods and focused the wrath against Zeus, who is also Perseus’s father. In this version, Zeus sneaks into a rebellious king’s bedchamber and sleeps with the queen while looking like her husband.

She gets pregnant and exiled all at the same time, thanks to his shenanigans, and the plot for the film is born.

Despite some radical improvements (there are no scenes with love struck teenagers mooning over each other, for instance), the writers still seem conflicted. While they combine villains for a clearer plot (Calibos and King Acrisius are now one and the same), they also introduce new ones to try to develop character (another female, Io). This only muddles the storyline as there are now two female leads and neither one really gets any character development amongst all of the male protagonists.

Where the writers give the gods a clearer motivation, they also cop out and make Hades the villain. They even changed the ending entirely, not only from the original film, but also

from the original myth. Even so, they couldn’t leave the happy ending alone.

The writing changes aren’t the only thing worth noting about the film. There are some great special effects that still manage to use Ray Harryhausen’s original monster designs.

The giant scorpions are still there and even a snakelike Medusa. Conversely, the Kraken doesn’t resemble any kind of creature from the Black Lagoon this time, thank goodness. The design of all the creatures is improved thanks to CGI, (even if it does lose some of the charm of the stop motion claymation effects that were used in the original).

That is not to say that the film is worth seeing in 3-D. This film was not made to be seen in 3-D. It was made in “regular 2-D” and 3D effects were added after the fact. As a result, there is a weird halo effect around some of the characters in the 3-D version. It just doesn’t work.

“Clash of the Titans” is a good way to start the rush of adrenaline flicks that the summer promises. It is entertaining without a lot of heft to it, but brings back the simple joy of matinee heroes.

“Clash of the Titans” Directed by Louis Leterrier STARRING: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson Run Time: 106 minutes Genre: Action, Fantasy

★★★

GAME REVIEW

Newest game in the Warioware series gets lazy

By Bryan Dunagan The Northern Light

The “Warioware” series takes a downturn in the newest installment.

Lengthy and almost tediously long tutorials make the beginning sections unbearable.

After booting up the DS, players will be greeted by a somewhat clunky interface that causes some mis-selections, but is quick to get accustomed to.

From here, gamers can choose areas such as the factory, the house, etc. Starting out, players don’t really have much of an option to get into the mini games that are the staple

of the series. After completing tutorials, or given a length of time, the shelves that hold the games refresh with new content and update regularly.

Along with the ability to play games, the draw is also on game creation. The tutorials on how to create games are very in-depth, but stretch the attention span of handheld gamers. It takes 30 minutes for the first tutorial to complete, and most of it is reading very tiny text at the top of the screen.

Still, there is a lot to cram into the brains of would-be mini game makers and if it isn’t too lofty of a goal, it can be reached in free play mode.

In most aspects the games that are made need a background, graphics, music, and A.I., (artificial intelligence.) Once the mechanics are figured out, the game’s imperfections seem to melt away.

The player can make a game from scratch or go to work for Wario. Going to work for Wario is essentially a game within multiple games to create specific parts of his mini masterpieces. For example, players can expect to be developing backgrounds or graphics early on, but later the game will task the player with writing A.I. and art direction, which can be a blast and end in

hilarious results.

With the “Do It Yourself” component being the biggest new addition, the mini-games are still as fun as ever. There will be the same pick the nose and keep the bow from falling off of the girl games from before, but the newest editions are worth it. Having to avoid arrows and tap the screen to unlock a code are all tense and exhilarating.

In all, the time spent with “DIY” will keep the gamer entertained for hours, provided that they can get through roughly 2 hours of tedious tutorials.

“Warioware DIY” MAKER: Goro Abe RELEASE DATE: March 28, 2010

★★★

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a&e|April 13, 2010 4.13– 4.19.2010

FOCUS Local rock band The Hoons will play at Humpy’s on Thursday, April 15 at 8 p.m. There is no cover charge for this 21 and over show. For more information on the band, visit their MySpace at www.myspace.com/thehoons.

FILM

Autism Rocks The Stone Soup Group is hosting a benefit concert on Friday, April 16 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Snow Goose to raise money for the Autism Family Support Center. Performers include the band Element 47, classically-trained local singer/songwriter Amy Lou, local Battle of the Bands winner The Rebuttals, local comedian Becky Braunstein, and others.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at www. autismrocksak.blogspot. com/.

ART

MUSIC

The Hoons

Student Art Show The annual Student Art Show opens on Thursday, April 15 at 5 p.m. in the Student Union Gallery, and runs until Thursday, April 29. The student crafted pieces in this show were selected by local artist Duke Russell, and were chosen based on creativity, technique and skill. Russell will also present a free juror’s lecture on Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. in Fine Arts room 150.

Shakespeare Film Series –“Throne of Blood” The Shakespeare Film Series continues Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m. with Akira Kurosawa’s “Throne of Blood,” a Japanese interpretation of “Macbeth,” in the Allied Health Sciences building in room 106. The movie is free, and snacks are included. For more information, contact Robert Crosman at afrc@uaa.alaska.edu.

WORDS

Author Patricia Wade and playwright Sarah Hurst Alaskan writers Patricia Wade and Sarah Hurst will be presenting a mixture of traditional and modern Native Alaskan stories from their respective works in the UAA Bookstore on Monday, April 19 at 11 a.m. The event is free, and light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Rachel Epstein at (907) 786-4782.

Compiled by Mary Noden Lochner

e-mail arts2@thenorthernlight.org to submit an event!

The Northern Light seeks an

Arts and Entertainment Editor

A&E Call 907.786.1313 or e-mail content@thenorthernlight.org for more information

OPINION

16

OUR PERSPECTIVE

Strict gun control wages war on basic liberties

By Brittany Bennett The Northern Light

In an era of good intentions paired with naivety, it seems that poor decisions are being made left and right about the well being of our country. No, I’m not talking about health care. I’m talking about gun control.

In the Arc Gallery by the entrance of the Consortium Library, there is a display that is very clearly proposing strict gun control using doctored pictures paired with clever, but absurd, statements. These images include criminal mug shots, historical moments and religious images, among others. There is an image of Jesus with a National Rifle Association logo on his chest and a gun in his hand.

The display even goes as far as to say, “the second amendment also trumps and invalidates the sixth commandment.” The sixth commandment states “thou shalt not kill” and the second amendment allows the citizens keep and bear arms. This is a deliberate ignorance of the separation of church and state. It also insinuates that the second amendment grants the right to kill, which it absolutely does not.

A more humorous example in the gallery is an image of Mario from Super Mario Brothers. Mario is huge and gunning down mushrooms, who lie bloody and dead on the landscape. Now imagine if they depicted the gory death of the mushrooms and turtles for

every way you can kill them in the game; for instance, a mushroom burning, screaming and melting after he was hit by a fireball.

I think burning alive by a kill-on-contact fireball would be much worse than being shot, but that’s just me.

Displays such as this that deliberately misinform the audience and try to use emotionally striking opinions rather than logic to promote an idea are called propaganda. In a country that is being torn apart by politics, it’s important to abstain from making decisions based upon such idiotic displays and to instead make rational, logical decisions.

While it seems that gun control is a nationally resolved issue, regardless of a few political outbursts, it’s still relevant to UAA. There has recently been a movement to allow students to carry guns on campus, in which supporters challenge the constitutionality of prohibiting guns. So far, guns are allowed to be kept in vehicles.

This topic has yet to be resolved, especially with a new UA president on the horizon.

In regards to our citizens’ right to bear arms and the futile attempts to take this right away, let’s look at why gun rights aren’t such a terrible thing.

A main argument made by those supporting strict gun control is that guns contribute to crime and murder in our country. First, FBI homicide statistics and amount of Concealed Carry permits correspond to show that, on average, states

with more guns actually have less gun related crime.

Second, we are talking about people who are willing to break law to murder somebody else with a deadly weapon. We call these people lawbreakers. If we make a law trying to prevent people from obtaining guns so they don’t murder people, it is going to fail by definition of the lawbreakers it is targeted at. If these lawbreakers are willing to accept the life sentence they may receive for murdering somebody, they probably are willing to accept any punishment that comes with illegally obtaining a gun.

Also, it is likely that strict gun control will create more demand for a black market selling guns. Which would you prefer: a gun made by American manufacturers that has a serial number and is somewhat easy to track down by the bullets used, or a gun made in some foreign country, smuggled into America, Federally unaccounted for and almost completely untraceable?Put that on a ballot.

So there are the main talking points regarding the idiocy of strict gun control.

That’s not enough? Let’s talk legalities then, shall we?

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

This is the second amendment of our Constitution, the supreme law of the land.

This, of course, is limited to felons because

PRIDE

CHIDE

USUAA…

The Legislature…

…for being sustainable and innovative in their elections.

they’ve already proven that they lack the basic social etiquette required for gun use.

As for the legalities of strict gun control, it’s unconstitutional.

The second amendment was put in place because history has shown that guns are necessary to break free of a tyrannical government, should it be necessary, example being the Revolutionary War. This “well regulated Militia” allows the citizens to be prepared if our current government becomes corrupt and tyrannical. Our government has corrupt down and they are well on their way to tyrannical.

As Thomas Jefferson said, “When the government fears the people, there is liberty.

When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.” When the government starts to take away our guaranteed rights, we then have something to fear.

Disarming our citizens does not solve any of our problems. If anything, it will create more. Armed citizens are necessary for the security of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, no matter how scary you think guns may be. I’m not trying to go all Glenn Beck on strict gun control enthusiasts, but it’s vital for our citizens to become properly informed on subjects and to avoid ill-conceived propaganda. I would just suggest to those promoting this propaganda that you get your head out of your politically idealistic and uninformed butt and face the realities of our country.

…for waiting until the last minute to do anything.

April 13, 2010 | Opinion

TNL The Northern Light 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 Phone: 907-786-1513 Fax: 907-786-1331 info@thenorthernlight.org

EXECUTIVE EDITOR 786-1434 editor@thenorthernlight.org Suzanna Caldwell MANAGING EDITOR 786-1313 content@thenorthernlight.org Josh Edge COPY EDITOR copy@thenorthernlight.org Brittany Bennett NEWS EDITOR 786-1576 news@thenorthernlight.org Vacant FEATURES EDITOR 786-1567 features@thenorthernlight.org Katie Forstner A&E EDITOR 786-6198 arts@thenorthernlight.org Vacant SPORTS EDITOR 786-1512 sports@thenorthernlight.org Taylor Hall PHOTO EDITOR 786-1565 photo@thenorthernlight.org Leighann Seaman WEB EDITOR 786-1506 web@thenorthernlight.org John Norris LAYOUT EDITOR layout@thenorthernlight.org Lisa Wagner ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR news2@thenorthernlight.org Jerzy Shedlock ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR features2@thenorthernlight.org Joshua Tucker ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR arts2@thenorthernlight.org Heather Hamilton ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Vacant PHOTOGRAPHER Nicholas Money Sarah Naffziger Logan Tuttle GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics@thenorthernlight.org Lindsay Johnson CONTRIBUTORS Jena Benton Kimberly Copadis Bryan Dunagan Carrigan Grigsby Casie Habetler Kaitlynn Jackson Daniel McDonald Trevor O’Hara ADVERTISING MANAGER 786-4690 ads@thenorthernlight.org Mariya Proskuryakova ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Vacant CIRCULATION ASSISTANT Munkh-Erdene Tsend-Ochir MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Annie Route 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 5,000.

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.­­­

17

EDITORIAL

Restoring felons’ voting right questioned Voting is a right, not a privilege; it is a privilege that can be suspended, or even revoked in the event that a person is convicted of a felony.

There have been some questions about that policy, though. Does this policy violate an ex-con’s rights? Some say yes, this does violate their rights and should be changed – granting ex-con’s the right to vote, no matter what state they reside in. Among the most major cases was in the Farrakhan V. Gregoire case.

This case took into account Washington State’s felon disenfranchisement law. The argument was that in denying ex-convicted felons the right to vote resulted in a race-based denial of the vote.

Even though some of the claims in the trial were found to be correct, judges did not find that the plaintiffs had established a violation of the Voting Rights Act, because the violation was in the justice system and

not the disenfranchisement statute, according to according to a recent article written by Deborah Periman, published in the Alaska Justice Forum.

The Alaska Constitution states that, “No person may vote who has been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude unless his civil rights have been restored.” This made over 10,000 Alaskans unable to vote in 2009, according to Periman’s article.

The determination of whether a convicted felon’s right to vote should be discontinued indefinitely should be determined by the crime that they committed. Most people tend to look on non-violent crimes, whether they are a felony or not, to be less detrimental to society.

That is an argument that can go either way, but most people seem to agree that those who commit and are convicted of violent crimes are far more detrimental to society.

If people commit a non-violent crime

and serve their time in prison, or on parole or probation, then they should have the opportunity to have their voting rights reinstated. The prison system should be one of rehabilitation and if the prisoners are successfully rehabilitated, then they should regain their rights.

If someone commits a violent crime, however, then their rights should not be reinstated, even after they serve their time in prison. Some of the crimes that are committed are so heinous in nature that it is unlikely that they could possibly be rehabilitated and put back into society. Even if they are put back into the general population, their right to vote should be no more.

If a ex-con can prove that they are going to be a productive member of society, their voting rights should be restored. Otherwise, the voting population of Alaska, and America for that matter, is being unnecessarily lowered.

SOAPBOX

Health care is desirable, not a right

By Daniel McDonald Special to The Northern Light

After months of heated debate, President Barack Obama signed the controversial health care legislation, H.R. 3590 and H.R. 4872 into law on March 30. The vast majority of the discussion focused on the quality of care and economic implications. Although obvious questions arise as to how a new government entitlement will do anything but increase the deficit, there remains a more fundamental issue with the bill and the concepts behind it.

We were told that health care was a “right” and that there was a “moral imperative” to guarantee that right to every citizen. Even many of those opposed to the bill ceded the point that the ideas behind it were both good and noble. I contend that not only is access to health care not a right,

but to use force to provide it through taxation and coercion is immoral.

The American concept of rights as our founders understood them were rights of action, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The misunderstanding arises when needs are confused with rights. Everyone has a need of food, clothing and shelter, but not a right to force others to provide these needs. Rather, it is the right of every individual to pursue and obtain these necessities as long as they are not impeding on the ability of others to do so. The so-called right to health care is as legitimate as a right to a hotdog.

Additionally in order to guarantee this right there are two options. The first is to force medical practitioners to provide care without compensation – in short turn doctors into slaves. But of course those on the left cannot

have this seeing as they are so indescribably compassionate and care so much about the well being of doctors and their families.

Instead the second option is taken, which is to use taxation to pay the costs. Therefore in order to guarantee this right to health care, it is necessary to use force.

No longer is there simply a right to provide one’s self with food and shelter, but it is the job of one’s neighbor to guarantee that right, or else.

That is not to say that universal healthcare for all is not a desirable outcome, only that the methods of achieving it through force are wrong. Giving to charities in order to help the poor is commendable and should be encouraged, but there is an enormous difference between a free person giving away their own money and the government “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

If those on the left are as compassionate as they so often declare themselves to be, why not provide for the poor themselves instead of resorting to government coercion? They claim it’s the fatcat capitalists who are selfish, hoarding their millions and exploiting the common worker.

Of course none of the modern liberals are greedy. In fact they care so much that they are willing to provide for the poor with other people’s money; truly admirable.

Health care guaranteed by the government, like food and housing, are not rights, but as the great classical liberal Alexis de Tocqueville classified them, “rations of slavery – hay and a barn for human cattle.” In order to guarantee this “moral imperative,” it is necessary to trample over true and legitimate rights the founders of this nation fought and died to protect.

MEDICAL INCREDIBLE

Helmets can reduce potential injuries

By Hunter Rhoades The Northern Light

Wham! That’s the sound produced when a hard object meets asphalt. Or so I found out when I went down on my motorcycle just a few days ago. For me, the sound of my helmet cracking against the street was the last thing I heard before everything went dark and my brain, if only for a minute, shut my senses down. Had I not been wearing a helmet, that noise could’ve been the announcer of much more undesirable news. As it was, I suffered only minor bruises and a concussion.

I will take a sentence or two here for a nod to helmet safety and a proclamation to all motorists to watch out for those of us on two wheels. For most of you fellow motorcycle enthusiasts of UAA, I commend you. The majority of the riders I see on campus are using helmets. Great job!

For those of you don’t, it’s your right.

However, consider that a couple hundred dollars and some helmet hair can mean the difference between life or death and showing those who care about you that you care about

yourself. Now, will a helmet prevent any injury? No. A concussion is usually defined as a temporary loss of brain function that can become permanent. As the brain controls every function of our being, a bad concussion can adversely affect our memory and other cognitive functions, motor skills and even our emotions, which can lead to changes in personality. In fact, repeated concussions have been linked to a type of personality disorder called “dementia pugilistica,” a type of neurodegenerative disease that commonly affects boxers, fighters, and football players.

If you or someone you know has been in any kind of accident involving head trauma, how do you know if they are suffering from a concussion? Some of the most common symptoms can be mistaken as being unassociated with a concussion, and it is for this reason that it is extremely important to know and be able to recognize early signs and symptoms immediately. Physical signs include headaches, dizziness, vomiting, lack of coordination, and a distinct ringing in the era called “Tinnitus,” which may cause the victim

to report a “buzzing in the ears.”

A concussion, can also produce nonphysical symptoms such as confusion, disorientation and loss of consciousness at the time of occurrence (this is one of the symptoms I experienced, albeit for a brief minute), which can lead to a temporary loss of episodic memory, which is the memory that deals with time events and emotions. An easy way to detect these symptoms is to pay close attention to the way the victim talks and acts. If there is a marked departure from how they normally act, they may be suffering from concussion.

If you notice these things in someone who has recently been in an accident, the most important thing to do is to get them to treatment as soon as possible. While most concussive symptoms go away in short order and the mortality of concussions is almost zero, it is important to pay attention.

If left untreated, symptoms can become permanent. Of course, the best treatment is prevention. Wear a helmet if you’re riding a motorcycle, bicycle or unicycle, and if you’re driving a car, use that seatbelt and keep a sharp eye out for your two wheeled neighbors.

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Opinion|April 13, 2010

BROKECOMICS | Alec Fritz

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Solution to last weekʼs puzzle: “Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.” -Doug Larson

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

ACROSS 1 Joke around 7 MIT grad 10 Grandeur 14 Bayou dweller 15 Nothing 16 Great Lakes port 17 Conceal a message 18 Doctors’ org.

19 Pro — (in proportion) 20 Worker from home 23 More desolate 26 No. 27 Software buyers 28 Major Hoople’s word 29 Travel choice 30 Be sorry about 31 Float like a cork

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April 13, 2010 | Opinion

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HOROSCOPE l Stella Wilder The coming week is likely to see things calm considerably after what may have been a period of heated activity for most individuals -- and accompanying this welcome respite will be the opportunity to apply more careful thought to situations that require it. This week, there will be time to devote to the more stubborn issues -- whether they are personal or professional, theoretical or practical, recreational or financial. Many will find that they finally have the chance to settle things once and for all -- and many will do just that. It’s a good week for overcoming mental obstacles.

When it comes to affairs of the heart, this can prove a banner week -- and what happens behind closed doors is likely to take on more significance at this time. Whether in a casual or long-term relationship, all will have the chance to take things to a new level, and experiment with things they may not have considered in the past.

ARIES

(March 21-April 4) -- A member of the opposite sex may try to lead you down a path you’ve avoided in the past. Make clear your doubts and reservations.

(April 5-April 19) -- There’s no need to rush headlong into a situation that you cannot assess ahead of time.

TAURUS

(April 20-May 5)-- Progress will likely be measured in smaller increments, but it is still progress. External forces may dictate your pace.

(May 6-May 20)-- You’re getting in over your head at this time, and few are willing to alert you to your mistake.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 6) -- You’ll want to let others explore even their more dangerous options without interfering. Do keep a watchful eye, however.

(June 7-June 20) -- You may discover that those who were incompatible have the makings of a fine team.

CANCER

(June 21-July 7) -- You’ll be more interested in how things look to others, but this doesn’t mean that substance should be overlooked.

(July 8-July 22) -- You may be able to find unusual bargains as you try to keep spending under control. What do you need?

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 7) -- You may receive news that has you doubting current efforts, but you’ll be back on track when you realize that you’re still getting results.

(Aug. 8-Aug. 22) -- A subtle change beneath the surface is likely to be felt in significant ways by all those around you.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 7)-- You may not know exactly how to do what you need to do in the time allowed. Preparation is key; leave nothing to chance.

(Sept. 8-Sept. 22) -- No one may understand the significance of certain unexpected developments as you do. Share what you know.

presented by ACS

Saturday April 24

Sunday April 25

2 pm | Live music with H3 3:30 pm | Idiot Swim Across 4 pm | Slush Cup

11 am | Pop Lock & Stomp It Big Air Comp 2:30 pm | Dummy Race 4 pm | Team Tug of War 5 pm | Hamma Jang Live at the Sitzmark

End of Season Sale Alyeska Mountain Shop

Great deals on kids jackets & pants.

All winter accessories discounted up to 50% off.

Save up to 40% off select Burton outerwear, apparel & hardgoods.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 7) -- Don’t let yourself become defensive, even when others say and do things that seem, at first, to be somewhat threatening.

(Oct. 8-Oct. 22) -- Your excitement is contagious; others will be looking forward to this week’s developments with eagerness.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 7)-- Practice may not make perfect, but you will surely improve on many levels. Be patient with yourself.

(Nov. 8-Nov. 21) -- A transformation of sorts is unavoidable today -and neither must it be feared. Much good can come of it.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 7) -- You’ve been analyzing others long enough, and the time has come for you to turn that critical eye inward once again.

(Dec. 8-Dec. 21) -- Questions abound, and you should be able to provide a few important answers when they are most needed.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 6) -- You’re not likely to seek further development of a current situation, as your protective instincts kick in.

(Jan. 7-Jan. 19) -- A little game of make-believe provides a valuable opportunity to plot a new course for yourself and others.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 3)-- You’re likely to encounter a situation that challenges much of what you think about the way things should be.

(Feb. 4-Feb. 18) -- It’s a good week to mix and mingle with those whom you do not usually spend time with at work or play.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 5) -- You’ll require some solitude in order to address certain key issues and make headway on a particularly stubborn project.

(March 6-March 20) -- Excitement is in the air as you are nearing an important crossroads. Keep your eyes open.

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D R A W R O F G N I V O M E R A F F A T S UA ASEA for UA is now the only union seeking to represent university staff.

Statewide, staff have made it clear that we want one strong union. It is more important than ever that we stand together to get the union we deserve.

Let’s show the University that we are united and will not be slowed down. Go to our website at www.aseaforua.org and sign an authorization card today!

“I’m excited that ASEA will be the union for University of Alaska staff. Now is the time for all of us to come together and have our voices heard. With one strong voice, we can ensure that the University continues to provide an outstanding education to our students.” ton Andrew Quain Alaska University of

www.aseaforua.org • union@aseaforua.org 1577 C Street, Suite 201, Anchorage, AK 99501 • 1-800-478-2732 542 4th Avenue, Suite 226, Fairbanks, AK 99701 • 1-800-478-2305 318 Fourth Street, Juneau, AK 99801 • 1-800-478-0049