THENORTHERNLIGHT APRIL 19, 2011
FEATURES
06
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
Brazillian blowout:
Formaldehyde in hair products
OPINION
11
WWW.THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
Glenn Beck leaves FOX: Not a moment too soon
MOTION
B1
The Real Fighters:
Micky & Dicky visit UAA, pose for pics
ALCOHOL, SUICIDE A MIXED CAMPUS COCKTAIL
by alden Lee
The Northern Light
“He was in a fetal position, literally, crying, with his head buried between his legs. He just let it all out, just sat there crying in my arms.” In that moment, supporting his grief-stricken friend, 18-year-old Torren Harrison found himself caught up in emotional turmoil that left him feeling shaken and useless. Suicide. The word alone is taboo. It is one of the most difficult and uncomfortable things to discuss, or even think about, in our culture. Whether it be our own personal experiences or the experiences of others, suicide conjures up deep and troubling emotions. Phrases like “committed suicide”, “attempted suicide” and “thoughts of suicide” haunt our ears and minds with the frightening possibility of what if. Let’s throw one more idea into the mix, one common among college students across the nation: Alcohol abuse. That memorable night, Harrison, a UAA student, found himself at a friend’s house with a group of people. Alcohol was present in large amounts. “Lots of people were drunk,” Harrison said. “They were
SEE SUICIDE PAGE 03
graPhic/Photo by cJ beaudrie
UAA Cadet Lounge dedicated to fallen ROTC pilot at memorial UAA ROTC graduate Jeff Hill honored at UAA by family, friends and fellow service members after tragic C-17 accident has raised over $3,000, with the goal of awarding the money to cadets from Air Force ROTC detainment 001, UAA’s detainment. Smith said the goal is to pass on Hill’s legacy and for cadets to understand the footsteps in which they’re following.
Also speaking at the event were Dr. William Spindle, Vice Chancellor of UAA, Matthew Sargeant, cadet wing commander, and Rachel Hill, Jeff Hill’s wife. The large room was filled with solemnity and respect, as members of the armed services and their families commemorated Hill’s life.
Soldiers of Elmendorf Air Force Base listen as collegues and friends reflect on Hill’s life.
danieL Jackson/tnL
by kate Lindsley The Northern Light
“Jeff Hill was an airman, he was a cadet, an officer in the Air Force, a pilot, a hunting buddy, a fishing buddy, a hard worker, a pilot; he was a father and a husband,” Lieutenant Patrick Weeks said. The plane crash that killed Captain Hill and his three crewmates happened mere seconds after liftoff. Pilot Major Michael Freyholtz had performed many aerial feats, exhibiting the C-17’s impressive abilities at the Thunderbirds air shows. On July 28th, 2010 however, Freyholtz went beyond the United States Air Force’s safety guidelines. First, Freyholtz took off at 40 degrees while flying at too slow of airspeed and then leveled the airplane at just 850 feet. After a couple of steep banks, the plane slowed and quickly stalled. It crashed in a matter of seconds. When Colonel Doug Smith first heard of the crash, he knew Hill was a man that should be remembered in an honorable way. Each speaker at the ceremony spoke of Hill as a guiding light for them, even if they were his superiors. “Jeff would say to ‘have your goal’. He would also say to take advantage of the opportunity presented today. When the sun comes up and is willing to give you another day, what are you going to do?” Weeks said. To commemorate Hill’s life, the Cadet Lounge of UAA’s main campus was renamed in his honor at a ceremony at the UAA Aviation technology center on Friday the 15th of April. “To do something like this will leave a permanent thumbprint to remember him through,” Rocky Capozzi, director of the Aviation Technology division of UAA, said. In addition, a scholarship fund in Hill’s name