April 10, 2018

APRIL 10 - APRIL 16, 2018

FEATURES

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

SPORTS

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College Cookbook: Alaskans celebrate Orthodox Easter with traditional bread

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

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Cheer tryouts open to all UAA students

Anchorage vote by mail election breaks record for voter turnout

By Mariah DeJesus-Remaklus mremaklus@thenorthernlight.org

Anchorage’s first vote-bymail municipal election broke a record for voter turnout. In 2012, the city had received 71,099 votes; as of Friday, April 6, it received 77,766.‌ It’s important to note that the data for this year’s election is from an unofficial report and the official numbers will be confirmed on April 17. Even after polls had closed Tuesday night, elections officials still had thousands of ballots to process through the week and posted summaries by 5 p.m. each day.‌ Evan Anderson, civic engagement coordinator for the Alaska Center, said that he is hopeful that the turnout shows voter satisfaction.‌ “I’m hopeful that the high results we’re seeing for turnout are good evidence that voter satisfaction is increasing under this new system,” Anderson said. “I think if we can increase satisfaction over time then that will help us have higher participation rates as well.”‌ The mayoral candidates and propositions on the ballot might have helped drive the turnout,

Anderson added.‌ “I think it drove a lot of energy and I do think that getting your ballot in the mail and just having to drop it off either in a mailbox or at a dropbox — I do think that is a little bit less of a barrier for folks,” Anderson said.‌ “We were hoping for an increase in voter turnout but we do recognize that there… are additional driving factors of whether choose to participate... It also depends on the issues on the ballot,” Carolyn Hall, education and outreach coordinator for the Municipal Clerk’s Office, said.‌ Hall also said that these nuances and differences should be accounted for when comparing this election’s turnout to those in the past, particularly the last mayoral election in 2015.‌ For the first regular election, 57,536 ballots were received, but none of the candidates had at least 45 percent of the votes.

This resulted in a run-off election between Ethan Berkowitz and Amy Demboski that brought in 70,650 ballots.‌ “It’s not really fair to compare this election underway right now with the mayoral run-off election because there was one issue on the ballot — it was the mayor

and there were two candidates,” Hall said. “There was nothing else being voted on.”‌ The convenience of vote-bymail may have driven turnout, Barbara Jones, municipal clerk, said.‌ “I think people like vote-bymail. We heard from people in the medical community that said it was easier for them to vote because they work long hours…

We heard from elderly and disabled people who said it was much easier to vote by mail for them,” Jones said.‌ On the Municipal Clerk’s Office Facebook page, Alaskan residents were commenting about the process and voter turnout.‌ Mary Moscrip Hasbrouck wrote: “Happy that numbers are exceeding last mayoral election.”‌ Suzie Mauro said that she was one of the “cranky” voters at first, hesitant about change, but was “really impressed to see how the process has worked.”‌ Jones said that the clerk’s office is welcoming suggestions from voters to help improve the

SEE TURNOUT

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GRAPHIC BY MARIAH DEJESUS-REMAKLUS

Dancers open the floor for next generation

By Mizelle Mayo

features2@thenorthernlight.org

Within the Underground Dance Company studio, strobes of blue and purple hues of light illuminate the dance floor.

Booming music fills the room while young dancers prepare for their dance battles. Jermine Bulaong and Ives Viray have been hosting “Room 100” for several years now, but this time they’ve included kids battles. ‌ UDC is owned by Gabe Harvey, UAA alumnus and adjunct professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance. Harvey allowed Bulaong and Viray to host “Room 100” in his studio since Viray taught lessons there.‌ Bulaong and Viray are dancers and co-hosts for “Room 100,” and originally hosted the monthly event at Express Studio located downtown on Fourth Avenue, until recent renovations relocated the jams to UDC.‌ For Viray and Bulaong, dance has always been a part of their lives from a very young age.

They have been friends since thenorthernlight.org

PHOTO BY MIZELLE MAYO

A young hip hop dancer showcases a break dance freeze at Underground Dance Company’s Room 100 Vol. 8 event. The dance events are hosted every month.

their early childhood and have danced and grown together ever since. During their early years, there wasn’t a scene where kids could participate and battle each other.‌ “It’s important to me because throughout all my experiences as a dancer, I believe you have to give back somehow. You can’t keep all your recognition and

accomplishments to yourself. I think you should give it back in some way, shape or form,” Viray said.‌ During these dance battles, all the participants sign up for a specific battle and showcase their moves in front of their opponent(s). While they give it their all, three judges intently watch how they groove to the

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music and connect with their opponent.‌ “With this format for the battles, we want people to be more comfortable with other people instead of just coming in with their group of friends. We just want to have it be open. Everyone can dance. Everyone is accepted,” Bulaong said.‌ Christian Cadavos, a nurs@tnl_updates

ing major at UAA, has also been dancing at a young age. He’s attended and participated in “Room 100” since 2013 and was a host for this month’s jam.‌ “For me personally, I just like to watch and cipher in dance circles and seeing new generations come by and express themselves at such a young age,” Cadavos said.‌ Cultivating the art form of dance with the younger generation attending these events helps the dance community flourish.

Bruce Vang, social media and production manager of “Room 100,” likes being a part of the dance community and helping it grow.‌ “It’s nice having people to share something we love to do and also bringing it to life where people can actually enjoy it,” Vang said.‌ The Underground Dance Company is located at 701 W 58th Ave. “Room 100” takes place every month. All ages are welcomed. To learn more about when the next event will take place, you can find their times on their official Facebook page. youtube.com/tnlnews

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TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

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Becoming a crisis line responder for STAR

By Marie Ries

news2@thenorthernlight.org

Standing Together Against Rape is offering a crisis line responder training from April 27 through May 12.‌ The session takes a total of 40 hours and prepares volunteers to answer the statewide STAR crisis line. Staff members answer the line during regular hours; volunteers cover shifts from the comfort of their own home during the evening, weekend and holiday hours.‌ The line often serves as the first point of contact for sexual assault survivors. It provides callers with the opportunity to speak confidentially to someone about their assault.‌ Common calls on the crisis line include information about medical issues, explanations of the criminal justice system as well as information for family and friends of survivors.‌ STAR volunteer coordinator Ariel Eveland oversees and facilitates the responder training.‌ “Our humble beginnings actually started with the crisis line,” Eveland said. “It’s the foundation of STAR.”‌ The organization was found-

ed over 40 years ago by two women answering the phone calls of sexual assault survivors in their basement. Now, the line has developed into a 24-hour crisis intervention agency that relies on more than 500 volunteer hours per month.‌ “There’s a lot of work that goes into the services that we provide here and we really wouldn’t be able to do the work we’re doing without the help of volunteers. And a big piece of that is manning the crisis line,” Eveland said.‌ Forty volunteers currently work for the organization. The number of incoming calls varies per day.‌ “The line is utilized by our community all the time. Some days, there will be no calls, and some days there will be calls every 10 minutes or so,” Eveland said. “For our last fiscal year, 2016-2017, we responded to over 2,000 calls.”‌ Once people successfully complete the training, they commit to one calendar year of answering the crisis line. STAR requires their volunteers to take a minimum of three shifts per month; these shifts can either be taken back to back or spread out throughout the month.‌

The varying shifts throughout the day also suit different people’s schedules, Eveland said. ‌ “[For] students who are pursuing a major in social work, psychology, anything along those lines, this is definitely a really great and unique volunteering opportunity,” Eveland said.

“The hours that they go through with the training and the commitment to the crisis line is really valuable hands-on experience.”‌ Bridget Coffou, prevention educator for UAA’s Office of Equity and Compliance, encourages students to attend the responder training.‌ “Not only will students be providing a much-needed service to members of our community, but you learn a lot of valuable and transferable skills in crisis line training,” Coffou said.‌ For the training, STAR brings in guest speakers from other organizations and institutions, including Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis, Identity Alaska and the UAA Title IX office.‌ “I’ve worked with folks from STAR quite a bit this year. I am part of their crisis line training and I’ve given a Title IX training to their full-time advocates;”

PHOTO COURTESY OF STANDING TOGETHER AGAINST RAPE

Participants of the most recent Standing Together Against Rape crisis line training receive certificates of completion, and are eligible to cover shifts as volunteers on weekends, evenings and holidays.

Coffou said. “As we continue to build this office, we will continue to build our relationship with STAR.”‌ Several people from the Anchorage community have already shown interest in the training.‌ Sarah Glaser became familiar with the volunteer training through a former roommate who used to volunteer for the hotline every Thursday night from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.‌

“She answered a lot of important calls,” Glaser said. “Having a crisis hotline is very important and I’ve seen how the need is very real.”‌ STAR is offering their crisis line responder training twice per year. Those interested in attending are required to complete a volunteer application.‌ More information about the event and the application form can be found on staralaska.com.‌

University travel expenses include national advocacy

By Cheyenne Mathews cmathews@thenorthernlight.org

Over the last five years, $322,911.69 was spent on trip expenses for members of the Board of Regents. The board consists of 11 regents that work to create policy for the university. The board does this through meetings throughout Alaska, primarily in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. Several members of the board have also attended national meetings of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges outside of Alaska.‌ Regent Mary K. Hughes was appointed to the AGB Board of Directors, and she says the regents attend AGB conferences because, “they are such high quality [meetings].” ‌ “In 2012 the Board of Regents nominated me to the Board of Directors for the Association of Governing Boards and those meeting occur in Washington D.C., and at the time, the regents indicated that payment of travel, because it is so expensive, and my lodging would be a part of me attending those meetings on behalf of Alaska,” Hughes said.‌ In 2017, Hughes went on three ABG related trips, according to records provided by UA Chief Finance Officer Myron Dosch. The total cost of her trips was under $4,000 for two trips to Washington D.C. and one to Dallas, Texas. ‌ As an AGB board member, Hughes does not have to pay any conference fees for registration.

UA TRAVEL SNAPSHOT EMPLOYEE

*

DEPARTURE

RETURN

LOCATIONS

TOTAL COST

Jim Johnsen

11/7/2017

11/22/2017

Anchorage / Seattle, WA; Washington, D.C. / Oakland, CA

$7,270.00

Karl Kowalski

9/5/2016

9/18/2016

Copenhagen / St. Petersburg

$5,894.94

Jim Johnsen

7/8/2017

7/13/2017

Seattle, WA / Washington, D.C.

$5,592.00

Karl Kowalski

6/11/2015

6/19/2015

Ulan-Ude, Russia

$5,453.39

Jim Johnsen

11/13/2016

11/18/2016

Austin, TX / Los Angeles, CA / Anchorage

$5,097.00

Jim Johnsen

4/14/2016

4/21/2016

Anchorage / Seattle, WA / Washington, D.C.

$5,031.00

Andrew Teuber

4/17/2015

4/21/2015

Phoenix, AZ

$4,987.94

Mary Gower

6/1/2017

6/12/2017

Anchorage / San Diego, CA

$4,666.20

Michael Powers

4/19/2013

4/28/2013

San Francisco, CA

$4,204.34

Karl Kowalski

3/12/2017

3/22/2017

Orlando, GA

$3,944.50

*All of the names listed above are either current of former members of the Board of Regents or current or former employees at Statewide. For more comrehensive data of travel costs, visit thenorthernlight.org.

GRAPHIC BY LEVI BROWN

In 2017, Regent Lisa Parker attended an AGB Conference on Trusteeship with $945 going towards tuition, registration and miscellaneous expenses.‌ Chair of the Board of Regents, Gloria O’Neill, wrote in an email that Board of Regents travel falls into three categories.‌

“Our travel is always related to our governance duties, and is always for three primary reasons: [one] to participate in five in-person meetings every year.

Participation by regents insures a robust discussion and consideration of the issues; [two] to attend and participate in com-

mencement ceremonies at any one of our 15 campuses stretching from Ketchikan to Kotzebue; and, [three] to attend relevant and important conferences or professional board training seminars,” O’Neill wrote. ‌ In 2017, Regents Dale Anderson, Andrew Teuber and

John Davies all traveled to commencements at campuses from UAA to Ketchikan Campus and Chukchi Campus. ‌ “Each of us pick a commencement to go to, and we try to get the regents to go to every campus for the commencements, but our philosophy now, unlike three or four years ago, is to go to only to [the major academic units:] Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau,” Hughes said.‌ Since 2015, $142,711 was spent on trip expenses including airfare, conference fees, per diem and lodging on University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen. Johnsen also attends national conferences, including the AGB and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.‌ “[Association of Public and Land-grant Universities] is the association that represents land grant universities like ours,” Johnsen said. “All of the land grant universities from across the country are there and typically the presidents of those institutions are there for those meetings, and so that’s where we get up to speed on what’s happening in national policy arenas.”‌ In July of 2017, Johnsen met with the president of APLU, Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan and other national legislative staff.‌ “At the APLU meeting there is also a second meeting… of the National Association of System Heads. So there are 44 public university systems in the country and we’re one of those,”

NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By Cheyenne Mathews cmathews@thenorthernlight.org

UAA’s Office of Equity and Compliance is recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the month of April with events planned throughout the month to start conversations about sexual assault.‌ “We have this month that is a nationally proclaimed month for sexual violence awareness and action,” Bridget Coffou, prevention education coordinator at the Office of Equity and Compliance, said. “It gives us this really great opportunity to focus our efforts on engagement, awareness and education.”‌ Some of the events throughout the month include FriendlyFeud Sex Edition on April 12 in the Gorsuch Commons at 6 p.m. and several community conversations including #SeawolvesSpeakUp at the Student Union Leadership Lab April 10 at 3 p.m. Coffou said she is excited for the campus wide “Denim Day” event on April 25.‌

“Denim day is kind of this international day of protest and awareness to just show support that it doesn’t matter what people are wearing, it’s not okay to take advantage of someone,” Coffou said.‌ The 2017 Annual Security Report & Fire Safety report shows that two students reported being raped at UAA in 2016.

The Title IX Scorecard for UAA academic year 2017 shows that seven reports of sexual assault and 27 reports of domestic violence were made to the UAA Office of Equity and Compliance.‌ Ron Kamahele, the acting deputy Title IX coordinator, said the majority of the work the Office of Equity and Compliance does is to help students access resources.‌ “We also do what’s called academic accommodations because when someone’s experienced a traumatic situation, it’s very difficult for them to concentrate on their coursework, and so we can intervene with faculty and ask that student be given more time to complete as-

signments or more time to complete exams,” Kamahele said.

“In some cases, we’ve even allowed withdrawals from classes because the student’s just not in the state to complete a class.”‌ According to a study by the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center on sexual misconduct and sexual assault committed against University of Alaska students, “Between January 2015 and spring semester 2016, an estimated 11.2% — or 1 out of every 9 — UA (statewide) students experienced sexual misconduct, sexual assault or both.”‌ The study stated that an estimated 10 percent of UAA students had also experienced sexual misconduct or sexual assault in the same time period.‌ Chief Title IX Officer, Mary Gower, said students have all sorts of reporting options, from emailing or calling their campus Title IX coordinator to walking into the physical office.‌ “The main thing there is that we still want people comfortable reporting, however it comes in,” Gower said.‌

Coffou hopes that Sexual Assault Awareness Month can bring awareness to resources for students.‌ “We can create a lot of opportunities for folks to get involved,” Coffou said. “There’s a lot of hope in awareness and education and hope breeds change.

It’s for a campus, for our campus to take part in this, we are saying that we have hope, that we know we can change the climate of our campus and these are the ways we are doing [this].”‌ Moira Pyhala, political science major, said she came out about her sexual assault almost two years ago and she recommends other sexual assault survivors speak up for change.‌ “Using your voice to create that systematic change is what we need, and we need more survivors to come forward and be a part of these student groups and student movements,” Pyhala said.‌ The Residence Hall Association will also be tabling in the Gorsuch Commons April 1015 from 5-7 p.m. and handing

out information about warning signs of sexual assault, intervention and prevention.‌ Resources For Reporting‌ www.uaa.alaska.edu/about/ equity-and-compliance/‌ Title IX Coordinator‌ Office of Equity and Compliance‌ 786-0818‌ uaa_titleix@alaska.edu ‌ Confidential Reporting: UA Confidential Hotline 855-251-5719‌ University Police Department 786-1120‌ Student Health and Counseling Center 907-786-4040‌ UAA Psychological Services, confidential counseling 786-1795 STAR 27/7 crisis hotline 276-7273 or 800-478-8999

TURNOUT: Official results will be certified April 17 Continued from cover vote-by-mail system. They have already reached out to the Anchorage Assembly to look at the issue of undelivered envelopes. About 23,000 ballots could not be delivered to ad-

dresses, and 20,000 were returned to the election center.

Jones said that the voter registration database is complicated, but that doesn’t mean those voters did not vote since there are also accessible vote centers.‌

At the Alaska Center, Anderson works to get people involved in elections and promote civic engagement, and he thinks the vote-by-mail process helped extend the conversation about candidates and issues.‌

“I think that it’s a good thing long-term for us to have more time to talk about these issues.

I also think it’s good for individual voters to have more time at home, take time with their ballot, really look into the issues,”

Anderson said.‌ Unofficial ballot summaries can be viewed on the Municipality of Anchorage’s website at muni.org/electionresults. Official results will be certified on April 17.‌

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

| 04

College Cookbook: Easter bread

By Victoria Petersen copy@thenorthernlight.org

Some people have just recently celebrated Easter, but for many Alaskans who are Russian Orthodox, Easter comes on April 8.‌ Since the 1700s, Russians have been intertwined with Alaskan culture. Since Russian America was established, missionaries made impressions on native people from all over the state. Many Russians immigrated to Alaska, and continue to do so today. This has created a rich and unique Russian Orthodox culture here in Alaska. ‌ Easter bread, or kulich, is a decadent, egg-rich bread that is

traditionally baked in oversize coffee cans. The bread rises in the oven and typically pours over the top of the can, an act that is symbolic of Christ rising on the third day, and the celebration of Easter.‌ Abby Slater, The Northern Light’s features editor, helped me make this using her aunt’s recipe. The recipe was old and sparse, and we needed to ad-lib along the way. Here’s the recipe we ended with. Make sure that if you are using coffee cans, they are small. You can also use a normal bread loaf pan. ‌

Ingredients • 1 quart milk‌ • 1 package dry yeast‌ • 2 and 1/2 cups sugar‌ • 6 eggs‌ • 1/2 pound butter, softened‌ • 2 cups of dried fruit or raisins‌ • Enough flour to stiffen dough to round the loaves (we used about 10 cups).‌

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Warm milk in microwaveable bowl. Add the yeast and allow it to get frothy, about five minutes.

3. Add in the sugar and mix together.

4. In a separate larger bowl, add seven cups of the flour. Gradually add in the wet ingredients into the bowl of flour to create a sticky dough.

5. Cover with a damp cloth and allow the dough to rise for 40 minutes.

6. After the dough has proofed, mix in the butter and dried fruits. Add the remaining flour to create a soft, elastic dough.

7. Form the dough into loaves and place in a loaf pan or in a coffee can. Fill about half full to allow the bread the rise in the oven.

8. Bake for about one hour, or until the bread is fully baked through.

PHOTO BY VICTORIA PETERSEN

Sustainable Seawolf: How to preserve your foraged finds sure that it is securely tied.‌

By Abby Slater

features@thenorthernlight.org

One of the best ways to deal with an over-abundant foraging session is by preserving. Preserving goes beyond just jams and jellies, including freezing, pickling, vacuum sealing and more.‌ Freezing‌ This is, obviously, the easiest method. Simply wrap up your haul in plastic or tin foil and throw it in the freezer. Fresh produce that is frozen early on will stay good up for to four months.

To avoid freezer burn, reduce the amount of air that can get to the product. You can do this by double wrapping and making

Pickling‌ If you don’t have any special canning equipment, and let’s face it, most of us don’t, you can create what’s known as a “quick pickle.” Instead of fermenting the produce, you’re able to let it brine for just a few days before enjoying. To do this, you’ll want to start with about half a pound of produce and then jar it with equal parts vinegar and water as the base brine. Each half pound will fill one pint-sized jar, so make sure you have enough jars to fill up.‌ From there, you can add your own flavors. Salt, along with a teaspoon or two of sugar, is a popular combination. Whole spices, like peppercorn or mustard seeds, are also common.‌ After brining for at least 48 hours, open up the jars and enjoy. This method keeps the produce good in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.‌ Vacuum sealing‌ Vacuum sealing can be a great way to preserve fresh fruits and vegetables from the season. It removes the air surrounding the produce so that

bacteria and mold cannot cause freezer burn or decay. With vacuum sealing, you can keep produce in the fridge instead of the freezer, which means less time spent waiting for it to thaw out.

While this method requires special equipment, vacuum sealers can be found online for about $40.‌ To prepare produce for vacuum sealing, make sure that everything has been washed thoroughly to prevent bacteria growth within the seal. Large veggies, like carrots, should be peeled for the same reason. Kill any germs on the produce by blanching it, or cooking in boiling water, then removing the produce and dunking it in ice water. Dry with paper towels and proceed with the vacuum sealing process according to your machine’s instructions.‌ By using these methods, you can keep produce good for several months at a time. It also allows you to give fresh or pickled foods as gifts to friends and family. Knowing how to preserve can mean the difference between tossing your hard-earned foraged foods in the garbage or enjoying them all year long.‌

& AE

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

| 05

‘Roseanne’: The reboot America needed

20 years later, the Connor family tackles modern issues with inclusive comedy

By Abby Slater

features@thenorthernlight.org

Reboots of 80s and 90s sitcoms have pervaded streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu. “Full House,” “One Day At A Time” and “Will and Grace” are just a few of the shows that received such treatment, which includes higher production values, louder laugh tracks and several layers of HD makeup.‌ How would these shows tackle huge topics in America right now? School shootings, political divides and radical changes in internet culture have made navigating everyday conversation overwhelming and confusing. How would these reboots show that?‌ The thing is, most of them didn’t. “Fuller House,” while edgier and more racially diverse than its 90s original, seems to have completely missed the #MeToo movement. In their world, everyone is basically good at heart, and a vet’s salary is enough to heat that enormous house, a reality not seen by a large chunk of Americans. ‌ Because of this, my expec-

Roseanne haven’t spoken since the 2016 election. Throughout the pilot, Darlene’s return forces them to have an uncomfortable reunion. In an unusual display of vulnerability, Roseanne apologizes for making her Democratic sister feel less-than because of politics.‌ This scene, while short, reflects a conversation going on in millions of American households today. With the election having been so tense, many of us have had the realization recently that we cannot boycott our racist grandparents’ birthdays forever.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAM SATURN We cannot avoid the reality that we are stuck with these people, Roseanne Barr returns as her iconic character in the 2018 reboot. for better or worse, awkward tations were low for the “Rose- dividing antidepressants from post-Trump discussions with anne” reboot. I worried that even previous prescriptions because them are inevitable.‌ the nostalgic, and now-famous neither can afford to go to a docBeyond politics, “Roseafghan hanging from the back of tor. They nearly lost their home anne’s” inclusion of a non-bithe couch wouldn’t be enough to in the 2008 stock market crash, nary grandchild does not feel cover up the unavoidable truth: Roseanne has to drive Uber to forced or gimmicky. While oththe world is simply different pay the bills and retirement has er shows may have been scared now, and maybe sitcoms don’t now become a pipe dream. Af- to comment on this relatively have a place in it. ‌ ter divorcing David, Darlene is modern identity, “Roseanne” The pilot episode changed forced to move back home with tackles it head-on. The Connor my mind on that. The Connor her two kids, the rebellious Har- grandparents, while loving, just household is as relevant today as ris and Mark, a non-binary child.‌ don’t quite “get it.” This is most it was in 1995.‌ Early on, we find out the rea- expertly shown in a scene where When we open on them, Dan son Aunt Jackie is absent from Dan tries to bond with Mark in and Roseanne, now aged, are the opening scene is that she and the kitchen.‌

Mark: “I like your nail polish, Grandpa!”‌ Dan: “That’s drywall, son.”‌ While it never tries to be sensitive, the strength of “Roseanne’s” comedy is that it always punches up. The punchline is not the fact that Mark is nonbinary; the punchline is the fact that none of us quite knows what to make of that.‌ No matter what someone thinks of Roseanne Barr herself, the show is important and relevant, even 20 years later. Its viewership is a testament to this, as it held strong in the 18-to-49 demographic that TV networks aim for. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the back-toback pilot episodes attracted over 25 million viewers in its first week on air. The majority of these viewers come from the Midwestern states, a demographic that is often overlooked on TV.‌ As of now, it looks like Roseanne, in all of her opinionated, no-nonsense, tactless splendor is here to stay, and maybe that’s something America needs right now.‌

The Weeknd steers us through heartbreak in ‘My Dear Melancholy’

By Mizelle Mayo

features2@thenorthernlight.org

The Weeknd has a distinct sound that can be distinguished from other music, with melodic and dark tones accompanied by translucent electric R&B soul beats. The Canadian artist who had debuted his first album “House of Balloons” in 2011 and has been known for his famous song, “Starboy,” has tapped back into his original sound with a large serving of heartbreak in his new release “My Dear Melancholy.”‌ The album consists of six

songs with a total run time of 22 minutes. The album’s size takes you on an emotional journey through the Weeknd’s eyes in just the right amount. It’s tactical and precise and strikingly contradictory lyrically in each set.‌ If you didn’t know before, The Weeknd and Selena Gomez dated for several months in 2017 before going separate ways. Gomez had rekindled her relationship with Justin Bieber, and The Weeknd was not at all thrilled with Bieber coming back into her life. Gomez was set on rekindling their friendship and nothing else, but Bieber wanted more than that. Because Gomez and Bieber’s relationship has been on-and-off, there was no doubt that they would give their relationship a go once or twice more.‌ With feud between The Weeknd and Bieber, he finally broke it off with Gomez. Officially split up, The Weeknd created “My Dear Melancholy” to show us the dark, brooding raw side of his freshly broken heart.‌

Accompanying his desperate and painful lyrics is the synthesized beats and warbling codas that draws you in his emotions.

Each song displays his inner turmoil of being sour, callous and tainted like in “Wasted Time” to feeling the need to fix their relationship and making it work out in “Call Out My Name”.‌ The album starts off with a ballad on piano. Through those first 30 seconds or so, the lyrics expose his vulnerability through lines like, “I put you on top, I put you on top / I claimed you so proud and openly / And when times were rough, when times were rough / I made sure I held you close to me.” Then, the song progresses in slow but powerful snares and a larger vocal crescendo.‌ The first half of each song starts off in a translucent state of feeling numb, then The Weeknd redeems his pride in the last half of generally telling us that he has come out on top.‌ “My Dear Melancholy” is almost like finding the torn-out pages of The Weeknd’s diary

that he’s so desperately trying to get rid of. The secrets that he’s spilled out onto those pages have spoken volumes. It’s relatable in all sense of feeling so emotionally invested in someone and having to end it on a bad note.‌ The Weeknd’s new heartbreak album is direct and stings quite smoothly lyric wise. The mini-album had successfully told the tale of his emotional tur-

moil with 26 million streams in the first 24 hours of its release on Apple Music. If you’ve never experienced a painful heartbreak, “My Dear Melancholy” can take you through all the stages of pain and vulnerability.

06 | A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

Pop into the Recital Hall for a concert of covers

By Malia Barto

arts@thenorthernlight.org

Vocalists will gather in the Recital Hall of the Fine Arts Building, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. to belt out covers of some of the most popular songs on the charts.‌ Mari Hahn, professor of voice, and her MUS A152 class will perform a concert of all contemporary music from country, alternative and hip-hop. Her class is filled with many students outside of the music major and few within.‌ “At the beginning of the semester, I asked them all, ‘Why are you taking this class?’ And most of them said, ‘Just to gain confidence,’ and, ‘To be able to have a little bit of feedback,’ so you know, just looking for an outlet,” Hahn said.‌ The UAA students have been rehearsing for the entire semester and get to show off their hard work and talent in this lighthearted and fun concert. ‌ Francesca Erni, Anchorage resident and former music major, likes seeing musical talent in person.‌ “I love live performances.

You can’t get that unique energy of a room full of musicians from a recording,” Erni said. ‌ The class covered the basics of voice and the technical

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

foundations in the first couple months of the semester and then moved on to rehearsing their songs. Hahn is impressed with how many great vocalists have stepped into the class.‌ “These students are just amazing singers with so much power and talent ― it’s kind of like our own ‘American Idol,’” Hahn said.‌ The concert will be filled with songs heard on the radio and Billboard charts, such as

songs from Adele, Beyonce and Sam Smith. ‌ Hannah Soplanda, music major with a voice emphasis, will be attending to cheer on fellow music friends performing.‌ “Being in the music program, I’ve been to many concerts and it’s always evident that the people performing love what they do,” Soplanda said.‌ The Contemporary Pop Songs Concert is free and open to the public.‌

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

| 07

Rain and Zoe travel to the main stage

PHOTO COURTESY OF UAA DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE

By Malia Barto

arts@thenorthernlight.org

“Rain and Zoe Save the World” is the newest play hosted by the UAA Department of Theatre and Dance. UAA will be the first ever to perform the play on the main stage at the Fine Arts Building.‌ “Rain and Zoe Save the World” is about the journey of two teenagers who travel cross-country via motorcycle to join a group of oil protesters. Along the way, Rain and Zoe learn the possible dangers the world may experience.‌ The script was written by New York

playwright Crystal Skillman, who entered it in as part of Earth Matters on Stage New Play Competition. Skillman’s script was selected by a national panel of judges and UAA, who is hosting the EMOS Conference this year on April 2022, will get to be the first to perform the script.‌ Director, Ty Hewitt, and the actors have been using Skype, FaceTime and email to communicate with Skillman to make sure the playwright’s ideas are being brought to life the way she wants.

Skillman will be in Anchorage a few days before opening night.‌ “When we did a run [recently] we Skyped [Skillman] in and she watched the whole run of the thing,” Hewitt said.

“She sends me notes and I’ll send her notes and the actors generate a lot of questions like, ‘this doesn’t make sense,’ or ‘what is this moment?’ She’s probably done four or five revisions of the script since we’ve had it and that will continue... It’s a great challenge for actors to be familiar enough with your character and your character’s arc through the story and trajectory to be able to take a change and implement it late in the game.”‌ This production is Hewitt’s third time directing at the Department of Theatre and Dance; his other productions include “Eurydice” and “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.”‌ With “Rain and Zoe” being a play that has never been done before, the actors get to originate the characters.‌ “It’s likely that, at some point, the

script will be published. So if that happens, their names will go in that as the first actors that played that. I mean, that’s a great opportunity,” Hewitt said. “It’s really neat to be a part of, because there are no big-name stars [that] have done this before. They’re creating it themselves.”‌ While it’s a cast of only four, the characters in the script exceed that. Two of the actors will play multiple characters, ranging from owls and frogs to Rain and Zoe’s parents. ‌ The show is UAA student and alumnirun; the actors are students, and the design, lighting, and sound is by students. ‌ Hewitt called his cast and crew “very dedicated.” Rehearsals started in late February and are four days a week for over three hours each rehearsal.‌ Sophomore student Luna McCarthy landed the role of Zoe. She called the play “fresh and kind of controversial.” ‌ McCarthy is no stranger to being one of the main stars in a production; she has fulfilled the roles of Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” and Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” with Alaska Theatre of Youth when she was younger.‌ “I feel this play could really inspire people to just live in a new way and reestablish the connection they have with the earth and environment,” McCarthy said.‌ McCarthy was also part of the Alaska version of NBC’s “The Voice,” called “The Stars We Are.” She made it as a finalist in the competition and was later offered a gig at Arctic Comic-Con, but convention and the production overlapped

dates. She chose to commit herself to “Rain and Zoe.”‌ “I just decided to give everything to this play,” McCarthy said.‌ Tai-yen Jimmy Kim, justice major and theatre minor, is making his UAA theater debut as Rain. This play is his last, as he’s graduating this spring. He’s looking forward to performing in the production and getting to create Rain, before receiving his diploma.‌ “This is the second brand-spanking new play I’ve been a part of, so it’s my second role I’ve gotten to originate and that’s definitely my favorite part,” Kim said. “I consider Ty [Hewitt] to be a friend, so to have him as director is also a plus.”‌ Tickets for UAA students are free, thanks to a grant. The tickets are “rush tickets,” meaning in order to attend the show, students should arrive 30 minutes early to get a free ticket at the box office with valid student ID. These rush tickets are available only on the day of the show and at the box office. ‌ Tickets for non-UAA students are $19.99 for adults, $14.99 for seniors and military and $9.99 for students and are available at ArtsUAA.com.‌ Showings of “Rain and Zoe Save the World” are on Friday and Saturdays, April 20, 21, 27, 28 at 8 p.m. and Sundays, April 22 and 29 at 5 p.m. There will be an ASL interpreter on Sunday, April 22’s show.‌‌‌

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

| 08

Cheer team hosts tryouts for 2018 - 2019 season

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

By Caleigh Jensen

cjensen@thenorthernlight.org

Tryouts for UAA’s cheer team will take place on April 15-18 from 6 - 10 p.m. in the auxiliary gym of the Alaska Airlines Center. All sessions are mandatory and open to all UAA students, men and women, as well as incoming freshman.‌

The team performs during volleyball and men and women’s basketball games, volunteers at hockey games and travels to competitions when their schedule allows.

At the sporting events, the team cheers throughout the game, as well as performs during timeouts and halftime.‌ For Ashley Tracy, a sophomore majoring in biology, being part of the cheer team at UAA has been a way to push herself out of her comfort zone.‌ “Cheer has been a stress reliever for me and it never fails to distract me from everything wrong in the world,” Tracy said. “Coach always said, ‘No matter what problems you’re facing out there, once you come into those doors for practice, they stay out there,’ and that truly was the case for me.”‌ Cheer at UAA originally started as a club, but over time, has merged into part of the Athletics Department. Although the university does not officially give them the title of athletes, cheerleaders have to abide by the same rules as the other sports teams.‌ Unlike the other teams, the cheer-

leaders do not receive scholarships. The majority of the team’s funding is either earned through fundraisers or taken out of pocket.‌ Through practicing, performing and fundraising, the cheer program has taught Drew Pekar, freshman computer science major, valuable lessons as a student.‌ “Cheer has benefited me by teaching me better time management and handling responsibilities. The team is also a good environment that pushes me to do well physically and academically,” Pekar said.‌ The cheer season lasts from July to April, and the team plans to practice five days a week in the upcoming season.

The team hopes to attend several competitions, as well as travel with one of the sports teams to some of their away games.‌ Currently, cheerleaders practice Saturday through Tuesday, with practice times ranging from two to four hours. Saturdays are dedicated to partner stunts and conditioning, Sundays focus on group stunts and tumbling and Mondays and Tuesdays range from learning new mate-

rial to performing at a sporting event.‌ “It takes a level of commitment to be on our team,” Breanna Hardy, a junior majoring in human services and one of the team captains, said. “It’s a lot of dedication, hard work and perseverance.”‌ Despite the long and often difficult practices, Hardy and her team find ways to have fun while still working hard.‌ “We’re like a small family, we like to joke a lot,” Hardy said. “We have a lot of laughter during our practices, but at the same time, we get done what needs to be done.”‌ For anyone considering joining UAA cheer for the first time, Tracy says to remain open-minded and give it your all.‌ “The more open you are to trying something, the better chance you have at succeeding,” Tracy said. “Always give your absolute best effort because if you don’t, then you won’t really know what you are truly capable of.”‌ For questions and additional tryout information, contact Coach Tasarla Shaw at tdshaw2@alaska.edu.‌‌

Sullivan Arena fills scheduling gaps one year post-Alaska Aces

By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org

April 8, 2018 marks one year since the final game that the Alaska Aces played before the team was terminated.‌ The Alaska Aces, previously known as the Anchorage Aces prior to 2003, competed in three different leagues during their 28 active seasons, including the ECHL.‌ Established in 1989, the Aces experienced a variety of success, including winning five regular season titles, eight division titles, four conference championships and three Kelly Cup championships.‌ Last year’s termination of the team was the result of declining success and budget cuts.‌ Anchorage locals, such as former UAA student and avid Aces fan Jon Mo-

bley, were initially shocked at the decision, especially since the Aces served as Alaska’s only professional sports team.‌ Mobley used to frequent the games about twice a week when they had home games. Since their termination, Mobley has been filling his time with other athletic events.‌ “I’ve dropped into a few games of UAA, but they just didn’t have the same feel, atmosphere and people I expected at the Aces games. They’re just different. I do spend more time watching Rage City Rollergirls, though,” Mobley said. “They don’t play as often as the Aces did, but now I’m able to attend all their games, both home and away.” ‌ Other long time fans, like former UAA student Alexander Nanez, says he spent more time at UAA hockey games.‌ Mobley is still holding out hope that one day a professional hockey team will return to Alaska.‌

“There are a lot of people in this town who are passionate about hockey, and I think it will eventually return. Though no team can replace the Aces. They will go down with the history of Alaska,” Mobley said.‌ The big question that remained in everyone’s mind last year was the future of the Sullivan Arena, taking into consideration the amount of lost revenue.‌ The Sullivan was the Aces primary venue for their home games, bringing a majority of the revenue that the arena accumulated. With the loss of the team, Sullivan Arena management scrambled to fill in the gaps and construct new mechanisms for revenue.‌ Many events and organizations have taken up the opportunity to utilize the Sullivan Arena. UAA hockey alone utilized a majority of weekend openings to play their home games on the ice. In addition, new add-ons and updates have made

the facility more practical for many types of events. ‌ SMG General Manager Greg Spears said that the additions should open up a whole new door of renters, including soccer and rugby clubs in Anchorage.‌ The Sullivan Arena has been updated with a portable stage, new emergency lighting and camera systems, all which are paid for by a 2012 grant from the state legislature.‌ In addition, the largest change included the addition of a portable turf field that can be installed in 12 hours, expanding the variety of events able to be held at the arena.‌ Upcoming events at the Sullivan Arena include Alaska Gun Collectors Association Spring Gun Show April 14-15, Ducks Unlimited Spring BBQ/Military Hunter’s Night Out on April 27 and the TRAXXAS Monster Truck Tour May 1112.‌

Fox finishes first collegiate gymnastics season as standout

By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org

After her first year in collegiate gymnastics, freshman Isabelle Fox had a successful year. The all-around gymnast proved to be a standout athlete in almost every meet she competed in. She gained awards, personal records and several spots on the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation second team.‌ Fox started out the season strong.

At the first meet of the season, she was awarded MPSF Freshman of the Week based on her exceptional performance at a dual meet against Cortland in early January. She scored 9.60 or higher on seven of her eight routines.‌ Less than a month later, when the Seawolves competed against Sacramento State, Fox posted a 9.875 on floor exercise, the highest floor score from UAA in over a year.‌ That score ended up at No. 10 in the all-time records for floor.‌ Fox continued to progress throughout the season, taking a victorious tie on vault (9.675) against Centenary. She scored a 9.625 at the same meet on beam, occupying the top spot with two fellow Seawolves behind her.‌

Two weeks later, Fox and the Seawolves competed in a three-team meet against Sacramento and Seattle Pacific.

She scored between 9.6 and 9.75 on all four apparatuses she competed in, contributing significantly to the team score.‌ Her largest recognition didn’t come until the final meet of the season at the MPSF Championships. After delivering a 38.475 in the all-around, Fox was shocked to learn that she was awarded MPSF Freshman of the Year award.‌ “I was super excited, though, because my family was there to watch, and I just want to make them proud,” Fox said. ‌ The success Fox saw throughout the season wasn’t just luck or raw talent, but the result of a season of hard work.‌ “I think keeping my goals of doing my best and working hard in mind every time I went into practice contributed to me doing well this season,” Fox said.‌ In between the time spent at practice, flying to and from meets in the Lower 48, getting treatment for injuries and accomplishing required workouts, Fox managed to maintain her academics.‌ “It was slightly difficult to balance school and gym especially with some of my science classes, but the coaches are very understanding that school comes first and they help as much as they can,”

PHOTO COURTESY OF SKIP HICKEY

Freshman stand-out Isabelle Fox earned the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Freshman of the Year award for her overall performance during the 2018 season.

Fox said.‌ With just four weeks left in the spring semester, Fox and her teammates are spending the remainder focusing on their academics. However, their minds are never fully off gymnastics-mode.‌ With recruits being lined up and new goals established, Fox and her teammates already have next year in mind.‌ “I think we’ll do really well next season. I’m excited about our incoming class

and see how they’ll do in their first year.

Hopefully, we can build on this year’s success,” Fox said, “I think we all have personal goals set for next year already, but my goal for the team is for everyone to realize their talent and show the other schools what we are capable of.”‌ Nine months remain for training and focus before Fox and the Seawolves are back in action.‌

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

| 09

Why UAA should be a concealed carry campus

PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN CIELO

Signs prohibiting firearms in buildings and in parking lots are located at many of the entrances throughout campus.

By Caleb Berry

cberry@thenorthernlight.org

Caleb Berry is a senator for USUAA.‌ UAA is currently straddling the line between being a gunfree zone and being gun friendly. There are guns at the UAA campus. University police officer have them, uniformed security guards may have them and under specific circumstances even students are permitted to possess them. At the same time the rights for students to possess firearms on campus are severely restricted. The argument being presented, for your

consideration, is that the UA Board of Regent’s Policy should be amended to allow staff, faculty and students to possess concealed firearms within the limits of state and federal law.‌ Alaska Statutes 11.61.190 through 11.61.220 describe conduct with a weapon that is criminal. In Alaska there is no prohibition against carrying a concealed weapon as long the prohibited behaviors concerning the carry are obeyed as defined in the Statutes. For example, the carrier must be at least 21, the concealed firearm must be legally purchased and the concealed firearm must be unloaded and locked somewhere secure if on

property were a licensed childcare felicity operates. What being proposed is not a free-for-all; instead, it is a rational compromise between second amendment rights and the need to regulate the possession of firearms on campus. ‌ The current UA Board of Regent’s policy reads “Except as otherwise provided in policy or university regulation, possession or carrying of firearms in buildings or parts of buildings owned or controlled by the University, on developed university land adjacent to university buildings, or at university sporting, entertainment or educational events, is a violation of regents’ policy and may result in administrative sanctions.” ‌ There are multiple situations where an individual can legitimately possess a firearm on campus. For instance, firearms are allowed within the confines of car legally parked on campus.

Residential students are required to submit their firearms to a central storeroom which they can retrieve with permission from proper staff. For obvious reasons UPD officers are allowed to carry firearms but armed security should not be the only ones allowed to carry firearms on campus. Student, faculty and staff also have a right to defend them-

selves. These individuals should be allowed to carry concealed firearms on campus provided that their legally entitled to own concealable firearms at all. The limitation of this expanded liberty to these groups of people makes are proposed amendment more reasonable. UAA has a loitering problem that would complicate a general conceal carry policy. Walk across campus at any given time of day and you will likely find multiple loiters, some admit ably shady looking.

These individuals may or may not be in possessions of firearms but students, faculty and staff who follow the rules do not. Our Seawolf cards should be considered licenses to carry. ‌ UAA is a safe campus. You do not have to be afraid of something bad happening to you on this campus. UPD does an excellent job defending us and keeping our campus safe; however, there is still an issue that must be addressed. Anywhere can be safe until the moment it is not.

UAA has never experienced an attack by an active shooter and I pray we never will. If such a tragedy was ever to happen we have no guarantee that the brave men and women of UPD could defend us. These noble officers would give their lives to defend us and do everything in their

power to protect our lives but at the same time we need to be able to defend ourselves. ‌ There are multiple arguments against UAA becoming a concealed carry campus. The most prevalent argument is that such a policy would lead to an increase in violent crime on campus. This argument is dubious at best and completely fictitious at worse. The non-profit organization Students for Concealed Carry performed multiple investigation into the trend of campus violence and found some interesting data. As of spring 2018, that’s more than 333 U.S. college campuses allowing licensed concealed carry for a combined total of approximately 2,000 (biannual) college semesters, an average of almost six semesters (three years) per campus, with zero reports of resulting deaths, assaults, or suicide attempts.

Increased firearms on campus does not results in increased violence. The possession of firearms on campus by both police officers and regular members of the academic community acts as a deterrent against gun violence.

This saves lives and creates a safer campus. ‌ Opinions expressed in The Northern Light do not necessarily reflect that of the newspaper, its staff or faculty advisor(s).

Greek life promotes success, community for students

By Caleb Berry

cberry@thenorthernlight.org

Caleb Berry is a senator for USUAA and a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity.‌ In universities across the nation, Greek Life is a cultural phenomenon. Throughout the hallowed halls of American higher education, you can find the letters of fraternities and sororities proudly displayed. UAA is not an exception. UAA is currently the home of local chapters from four national fraternities.

These fraternities are Tau Kappa Epsilon, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Sigma Phi, and Phi Kappa Theta. UAA also hosts chapters from the Alpha Sigma Alpha and Sigma Sigma Sigma sororities.‌ Hollywood profits greatly from the promotion of negative stereotypes surrounding fraternities and sororities. Movies like Animal House make a buck by propagating images of fraternity life that are at best dubious and at worst are outright falsehoods.

TV shows such as Blue Mountain State portray sororities as groups of dimwitted and shallow women. However, neither of these portrayals are justified nor true. The argument being presented, for your consideration, is that these Greek organizations significantly benefit the UAA campus.‌ In order for this argument to have logical grounds, a definition of what it means to benefit

a college campus is necessary.

A reasonable definition as to what constitutes a benefit to a campus would be whether or not the subject in question promotes academic success and personal happiness of the people on the campus.‌ There are currently over 200 active members of the UAA Greek Life Community.

Amongst these proud scholars are students of law, medicine, mathematics and every branch of both the social and natural sciences. All fraternities and sororities at UAA have minimum GPA requirements that all students must meet in order to retain membership. Similar to college athletics, this provides motivation for participating students to keep their grades up.

The minimum grade requirements vary from organization to organization; however, no fraternity or sorority sets their minimum below a 2.3 GPA.‌ Students who participate in Greek Life organizations tend to perform better academically than those who do not. To support this claim let’s look at some numbers. In the Fall 2016 semester, the GPA for the general undergraduate population was 2.80; however, the overall GPA for Panhellenic sororities was 2.90.‌ Not all of the benefits of participating in UAA Greek Life are quantifiable. ‌ Killian McClure is a junior biology major as well as philanthropy chair of the Phi-Alpha

PHOTO BY CALEB BERRY

Members of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity table in the Student Union during Greek Week 2018.

Chapter of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. ‌ “To put it simply, in a lifetime there might be five choices that define your life. For me, one of them joining TKE and the UAA Greek life community. It has helped me become more confident in myself and my worth as a student. Greek life has provided me with an outlet for my drive for philanthropy first as a new member and soon after as the chair of the philanthropy committee. In addition, to be involved in the community, TKE has given me an opportunity to lead and be mentored,” McClure said.‌ Participation in social fraternities and sororities helps

generate a sense of belonging and purpose amongst students.

These groups are kind of like the Houses of Hogwarts. They compete together, study together, support each other and in many cases even live together.

Many are surprised to learn that UAA has official Greek housing.

The Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority holds official housing on campus where they contribute to the overall success of Residence Life. It is also very common for members of a Greek organization to live together off-campus.

This helps foster social networking as well as a connection back to the main campus. ‌ Only a little more than half, 54 percent of students who in

the last four years have left with a degree of any kind. Part of the reason for this trend is that some students do not feel like they belong on their campus.

UAA helps combat this trend by having a large variety of Greek organizations student can call home. A home away from home at least. Fraternities and sororities do not receive funding from UAA. They are entirely selffunded. They do not take from this school; rather, they only add to it.

Opinions expressed in The Northern Light do not necessarily reflect that of the newspaper, its staff or faculty advisor(s).

10 | SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

‘Let’s make this an open process’

By Theresa Obermeyer Contributor

The only way we can know for sure if Anchorage “Vote by Mail” Election was fair is to get the 80,000 names and addresses of actual voters, which I am unable to get.‌ Nine Assembly members enacted “Vote by Mail” cancelling 122 polling places. Bill Evans and Amy Dembosky voted against this change.‌ About 45 states require that a court of law rule on any election question within ten days.

There were many Anchorage Election irregularities [for the April 3 election] including 20,000 ballots that were “undeliverable.” Voter signatures were unreliable. At the last minute, seemingly about 14,000 ballots arrived. A court of law should have reviewed this process.‌ Regarding Proposition 10 ML&P sale, I understood from Grace Salazar, Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA), that ML&P built Plant 2A in 2014 but did not request a raise in our utility rates to pay

for this Plant until Feb. 17. RCA finalized a 19 percent increase March 28, four years after the Plant was constructed.

Anchorage voters should have been asked before Plant 2A was built.‌ State of Alaska Election Office uses the same voting machines that Municipality of Anchorage had borrowed in prior elections. These machines will be used for the State of Alaska Primary Election August 21, 2018 and General Election November 6, 2018 including partisan races for Governor, U.S. Congress, 40 House seats, 10 Senate seats A, C, E, G, I, K, M, O, Q, and S, and two ballot initiatives. We are scheduled to receive our PFD before the General Election.‌ A.S. 15.10.180 sets out an ad hoc Alaska State Review Board that changes every two years. This Board is not listed on State of Alaska website under “Boards and Commissions.” I have asked Ms. Josephine Bahnke, Alaska Elections Director, to post on the State of Alaska website the names and political affiliations of Alaska State Review Board 2016 and the four Regional Review Boards 2016.

Regional Review Boards are not in State Statute. All 14 State Review Board members 2016 resided in Juneau.‌ Political parties including Democrats, Republicans, Alaskan Independence, and Libertarians have until May 31 to return to Ms. Bahnke the nominations of three or more names for appointment by her to State Review Board.‌ Ms. Bahnke, please post the names of the State Review Board 2018 and the Regional Review Boards 2018 on State of Alaska website when they are finalized July 12.

Let’s make this an open process.

Opinions expressed in The Northern Light do not necessarily reflect that of the newspaper, its staff or faculty advisor(s).

Autocrats before Theocrats: The Case for Supporting Bashar al-Assad

By Ben Edwards Contributor

When the Arab Spring kicked off in 2010, President Obama was caught off guard. What followed was a haphazard scramble of inconsistent responses. The US armed rebellious militias in Libya, overlooked protests in Bahrain, and tacitly played both sides in Egypt. But nowhere did President Obama’s blundering result in more carnage than in Syria.

To be clear, it was not Obama who dropped barrel bombs on Aleppo. Those war crimes belong to Bashar al-Assad.

But it was under Obama’s tutelage that the US pursued an idealistic and ultimately irresolute policy towards the developing Syrian crisis. In 2011, Obama proclaimed that al-Assad must step-aside and allow for a peaceful transition. This proclamation delineated the American commitment to liberal democracy.

However, subsequent years exposed the blunder. While the president preached the value of a peaceful political transition, his intelligence agency funneled weapons to a loose consortium of Syrian Army defectors. Obama spoke of peaceful transition, but commanded the start of a violent coup d’etat. For better or worse, the Free Syrian Army never succeeded in overthrowing al-Assad. They focused instead on dismantling the Syrian state instead of seizing control of it. Nonetheless, the US increased its support for the rebels to a high of $1 billion per year by 2013.

Obama’s support for the Syrian rebels unintentionally led to the opposite

of his desired outcome. Faced with an open rebellion, Bashar al-Assad further entrenched himself in power. Unlike Tunisia’s former dictator Ben Ali, al-Assad would not find refuge in Saudi Arabia if he fled. Unlike Egypt’s former dictator Hosni Mubarak, al-Assad was not under immediate threat of deposal by a politically-involved military. What Obama failed to recognize was that al-Assad had no incentive to leave and no guarantee of security if he did. So al-Assad dug in, the rebels armed up, and the Syrian people were crushed in the middle.

Today, President Trump’s inattentiveness means that the Obama-era snafu continues onward, albeit in different forms. The US has abandoned the same rebels that it previously armed, after many of them ended up joining Islamist groups like al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Instead, the US supplies Kurdish militants in northeastern Syria- thereby souring our relations with Turkey and warranting their intervention in Syria.

Had the US not intervened in such a way that it did, Syria might be in a better place by now. It would be no home for liberal democracy, but understand that liberalization has to be earned by a countrynot forced. Bashar al-Assad is a bonafide autocrat. But the US-supported opposition turned into a jumble of Islamists and militia warlords. When faced with that dilemma, the US should defer on the side of stability.‌ Opinions expressed in The Northern Light do not necessarily reflect that of the newspaper, its staff or faculty advisor(s).

CONTACT

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

| 11

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3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508

Jian Bautista jbautista@thenorthernlight.org Levi Brown layout@thenorthernlight.org

Zac Clark

Allie Hartman

CORRECTION In the March 27 issue of The Northern Light, we incorrectly stated that Regent Dale Anderson had the highest travel expenses of any regent since 2013. His total trip expenses over the last five years were $35,181.74. The Board of Regents trip expenses have also been adjusted to reflect Anderson’s correct number at $322,911.69.