April 12, 2016

APRIL 12 - APRIL 19, 2016

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THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

SPORTS

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How and where to sport fish this spring

UAA students choreograph pieces for New Dance 2016

Doctor Audett will see you now: The making of Miss Alaska 2016

By Sam Davenport

content@thenorthernlight.org

PHOTO BY YOUNG KIM

Miss Alaska USA 2016 is one of the many titles for Ariane Audett, a pre-med biological sciences major at UAA, who is also my roommate.

In addition to her Miss Alaska title, Audett is the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for the American Student Medical Association, a pre-med club dedicated to preparing students who wish to go to medical school. She is a Student Leader of USUAA’s academic decision review committee, Honor’s College member, weekly volunteer at Covenant House, BUILD EXITO scholar and student pilot.

Audett is currently a Medical Transcriptionist at Medical Park Family Care.

Before she began her position as a scribe, Audett was accepted into BUILD EXITO, a research program funded by the National Institute of Health for undergrad students to prepare them for careers in biomedical research. The program is based out of Portland State University.

Audett claimed one of the 10 spots available in the program.

Last summer, Audett traveled to Portland for a paid one week orientation from

BUILD EXITO. There, she attended lectures daily on research and was introduced to the program that she is committed to for three years. Audett is part of the first cohort for BUILD EXITO. The NIH gave the program a $23.7 million research and training grant.

Audett’s ultimate goal in being in the program is to solve global world health issues. Audett works with a mentor in the program and is being taught how to become a researcher. By the time she graduates, Audett hopes to complete her own research program and have it published. Her research proposal will be focused on biomedical research with an emphasis in dermatology.

“I never really had an interest for research, and now biomedical research has become my passion as an undergrad, and that’s what I really hope to pursue after school,” Audett said.

The program will allow Audett to get her MD as well as Ph.D. in seven years.

“The point of that is so you can have that knowledge you get from a Ph.D. And the knowledge of a practicing doctor to solve those important health disparities.

Those are the kinds of doctors that are out there solving cancer, and that’s what I want to do,” Audett said.

Audett said that having the opportu-

nity to work in biomedical research is a dream come true. Growing up, Audett lived across the United States until she was 12 in homeless shelters, foster care homes, and in her mother’s car. She was adopted by her biological aunt and uncle and moved from Florida to Alaska on her twelfth birthday.

“When I grew up I never really imagined that I would even be able to go to college one day, I didn’t even think that I would graduate high school. My main focus when I was younger was, ‘Where am I going to sleep at night? What am I going to eat? How am I going to make it through the day? How am I going to take care of my parents?’ Those are really scary fears to have at a young age and a lot of responsibility was put on my shoulders to take care of myself.”

Audett became interested in the pageant world when she was 16 and pushing carts at Fred Meyer. A friend of hers who was a cashier had won the title of Miss Alaska USA and was granted a four year scholarship to UAA. Now, the scholarship only covers one year of schooling.

Audett saw pageants as a way to receive a higher education.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve always

SEE ALASKA

PAGE 6

SB 208 killed in senate

By Victoria Petersen

NEWS BRIEFS

vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

To relieve state deficit pressure, Alaska lawmakers attempted to tap into money set aside for Alaska youth and higher education. SB 208, introduced March 28, would have eliminated the Alaska Performance Scholarship and the Alaska Education Grant Program. If the bill was to be put into action, no graduating high school student would be able to apply for the Alaska Performance Scholarship after July 15, 2016. On April 8 the bill died in the senate.

The Alaska legislature introduced the Alaska Higher Education Investment Fund in 2010, which funds the Alaska Performance Scholarship, investing $400 million. With SB 208, the money would have been used for local governments and school districts in and around the state to ease pressure off the larger state budget crisis.

For many here at the University of Alaska Anchorage, the Alaska Performance Scholarship influenced their decision to stay in state for higher education.

“The performance scholarship was one of the main reasons I stayed in Alaska for school. UAA was not my first choice but with in-state tuition already being so low and then the performance scholarship on top? I couldn’t say no,” Ashley Roylance, a marketing student at

facebook.com/northernlightuaa

BY

VICTORIA

PETERSEN

UA BOR planning multiple cuts and tuition increase

PHOTO BY CASEY PETERSON

Rainer Herczeg, Josiah Nash, Sarah Grey, and Ian Miller participate in a mile long walk around University Lake April 8 in support of the Alaska Performance Scholarship. All but Ian are beneficiaries of the APS program.

UAA, said.

For some students, the scholarship is the reason they can attend school in the first place. With the rising cost of higher education across the nation, anything helps.

“The Alaska Performance Scholarship right now is what’s keeping me in school and pursuing my career. I think for students like me, it gives them an incentive to pay attention and aim for the highest in high school and college. If I didn’t have my scholarship, then I would have

@TNL_Updates

to take breaks in between school to work and earn money. Alaska for college is my only option to pursue an education and I can’t even imagine myself going out of state because of the expenses,” Mar Argel Fernandez, a nursing student, said.

As for other students, going to school in Alaska is the only option, with out-ofstate tuition typically being much more expensive.

“I receive the highest tier of the schol-

@thenorthernlightuaa

After two budget drafts released Thursday, President Jim Johnsen proposed ways of saving money for University of Alaska’s next fiscal year, starting July 1. This draft included hundreds of staff cuts across all campuses and a tuition increase between 10 to 15 percent, on top of the already approved five percent tuition increase scheduled for this coming fall semester. Multiple budget scenarios are being considered to be introduced to the legislature. Other cuts that are up for consideration include cuts to some athletic programs at UAA and UAF. The board of regents anticipates a complete and revised budget by early June.

SEE SB 208 PAGE 2

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NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

| 02

SB 208: Alaska Performance Scholarship here to stay Continued from cover

arship and there is no way I would have stayed in state without it. It goes a long way towards covering my college costs. I also have the UA scholar award, but that covers far less of my expenses than the Alaska Performance Scholarship does.

My sister also receives the same scholarships and stayed here because of it,” Johanna Richter, an economics and mathematics student, said.

Here in Alaska, many students will opt for out-of-state schools, with few outsiders finding schools in Alaska attractive, this creates a “brain-drain.” With a large migration of high school students leaving the state for school, and not coming back, and a minuscule sized group of people coming to school in Alaska and calling it home.

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, in the fall of 2008 (the most recent year available) Alaska had a net loss of 1,201 incoming freshman. This means that 1,434 graduated high school students left for school out-of-state, while 233 people from the

outside enrolled in a school here in Alaska.

The scholarship, seen by many students as an investment, is an important part in Alaska’s education system, but also Alaska’s economy.

“I know that the Alaska Performance Scholarship is a contributing factor in keeping students to stay in school and to continue education. They should never remove the scholarships. They should instead remove the bill from their minds because it’s not going to help Alaska’s education and economy,” Fernandez said of the bill before it was killed in the senate.

For future growth in our schools and our state education is believed by many to be the place to start.

“If Alaska wants to continue to grow and wants the University to continue to grow, then they should not cut the performance scholarship. Education is the last thing they should be considering cutting at this point. Students that receive this scholarship are probably more likely to actually graduate in four years and are more inclined to staying in Alaska,”

Roylance said.

On April 8 at 3:30 p.m., a group of student and community protesters walked around University Lake in protest of Senate Bill 208. College students, community members and local high school students were walking a mile around University Lake.

“There are plenty of other things we can do to change how much money we have in the state, but this is one of the main factors that many people in Alaska have a reason for going to college. My family doesn’t have any money for me to go to college. I’d have to work with debt or work. Tuition is a lot and the performance scholarship would go towards that cost,” Hunter LeFebvre, a sophomore at West High School, said.

The finance committee dropped the bill later that afternoon after hearing testimony from Diane Barrans, executive director of Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, and hearing of students and community members rallying in Anchorage against the bill.

PHOTO BY CASEY PETERSON

Ben Edwards, a student in the Aerospace Engineering program supporting his fellow students Friday at University Lake.

UAA hockey team shaves head for St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser

PHOTOS BY CASEY PETERSON

UAA goaltender Olivier Mantha has his head shaved as teammates Patrick Robertson, Tanner Johnson and Dylan Hubbs look on.

Nathan Renouf, forward for the UAA Hockey team, has his head shaved to help raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser on April 10.

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

| 03

A confused brain slug discusses SB 174 In the year 2013, an alien brain slug from one of the galaxy’s most feared empires crash-landed on Earth and assumed control of a lowly reporter at this newspaper.

These are his stories.

By Klax Zlubzecon

Translated by George Hyde Alright, alright. Let’s talk about the SB 174 thing already.

For the one or two of you not in the know, SB 174 is a bill currently running through Alaska’s state legislature that would allow people on school grounds to conceal carry weapons. At time of writing, it’s passed the Senate 13 to 5, and is now looming over the House.

People on campus are divided on the issue – one of our writers pointed that out a few weeks ago (http://bit.ly/1qx811h) – but it’s time for the official, authoritarian, definitive, no-buts, alien brain slug perspective. …

I don’t care. Do what you want.

I know that sounds like a counterproductive statement from the envoy of the galaxy’s most terrifying alien dystopian empire. I mean, wouldn’t a potential invader from another planet want to get weapons out of people’s hands instead of keeping them concealed?

Here’s the thing, though. Bullets, as you humans create them, aren’t particularly effective against most alien invaders. They are good for killing A) other humans, B) meeker beings that we definitely won’t have on the front lines of our invasion, and that’s it. Most civilizations in the galaxy have already moved on to more creative weaponry, like lasers and wormhole bombs. Bullets aren’t going to do a fat lot of good against that.

Most of our more vicious soldiers are so psychically powerful that they

can not only see bullets coming in time to dodge them, they can stop them with their minds and throw them back at you.

Ain’t no opposition to a conceal-carry bill going to stop that.

Besides, the armada still won’t be here for at least hundreds of thousands of years, because, you know, the whole light-speed limit thing. The chances of SB 174 still being in effect by then are unlikely at best.

Still, it’s the semantics that matter.

Suppose SB 174 went into effect, and humans did end up inventing laser weapons while it was still in effect. Would SB 174 lead to an awesome laser apocalypse on campus if that were the case? I don’t think so.

Humans are stupid, but they aren’t that stupid.

If someone were to shoot up campus with huge freaking laser beams, a responsible person with a concealed laser pistol could, in theory, save the day by using it in that situation much faster than the police or FBI could arrive on the scene.

That begs the question of people being afraid of potential laser outbursts on campus, though. Several professors have stated their concern about having guns in their classroom. The fear that a student or professor could have about a potential gun in the classroom could disrupt the educational process.

If your first thought after reading that sentence was, “Well, they wouldn’t even know if there was a gun! Why should they be afraid?” then obviously you’ve never seen a good horror movie. Every horror movie fan knows that the scari-

est parts of the movie are the parts you don’t see or know about, and if you think that makes a movie scary, try a peaceful classroom where there could be a lethal weapon somewhere.

Both of these points are legitimate concerns. A person with a legally concealed weapon could respond faster to an emergency, but the fear that that brings to UAA could be really bad for the educational experience in general.

That’s why I don’t know whether or not I should support this bill. Or if I should care.

Whenever there’s a mass shooting or terrorist attack at a school or theater or airport or sports game or wherever, it always sparks a huge debate among the common folk. People with guns defend the second amendment vehemently, while others say that the weapon landscape in America has changed since that amendment was written. Political candidates use the issue to leverage voters, nobody steps up to solve the issue, and the world inevitably continues to turn.

I wish I could have an answer for you guys. Under Slug Empire control, we’d probably take them away, because, you know, authoritarian Empire’s gotta do what an authoritarian Empire’s gotta do.

That won’t be for thousands of years, though, so…

I honestly don’t know. I really don’t. I am thoroughly bamboozled by this issue.

Try to keep it tame in the comment section, folks.

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.

EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.

Post college employment: Moving beyond the menial A well-meaning column rife with clunky metaphors and horrible advice, Orange Rhymes With is the goto place to break the monotony of classes and laugh at someone else’s misfortune.

By Evan Dodd Contributor

If last week was a column noting the passage of spring, then it is only timely to dedicate this to the onslaught of summer.

More specifically the annual restlessness that accompanies my unending search for meaningful employment that seems to persist year after year.

In the past the relevant portion of that sentence would have been the bit about employment, yet as of late the focus has shifted to the “meaningful.” While I’m certainly not opposed to another lucrative summer of landscaping, if only for the three days weekends and the startlingly enjoyable time spent outside, it certainly lacks the novelty I’m chasing for the summer.

Currently, my income is generated by peddling organic products to people who aren’t entirely sure why they need them

— only that they hope that they’ll help to rid their body of toxins, fat or some other impossible to quantify boogeyman.

Using fad inspired buzzwords like “vegan,” “gluten free” and “kale,” I’m able to convince customers to contribute to a memorable experience that will someday inspire bewildered amusement and a half page of filler in my eventual memoirs. I describe this job rather vaguely in order to avoid an acute lack of employment, but rest assured, I’ve captured the general idea.

This work is done in a vain attempt to afford my rent, which is successful in the way that a sailor bailing water from a sinking ship might optimistically note that the seafloor is approaching slower than previously expected. While I’ve yet to be evicted, GCI certainly isn’t thrilled with the consistency with which I pay the internet bill, and my plans to save up for a backpacking stint through Europe currently consist of some loose change and a

tootsie roll wrapper. Clearly this is a temporary arrangement.

All of this begs the question as to what comes next, which, if I were to be entirely honest, would end this column right here.

As usual, I’ve got only a dim inkling of what I’m doing tomorrow, and an even fuzzier picture of what the long-term future holds.

As is always the case, there is solace in solidarity, as nearly everyone in my hopefully non-representative peer group searches for meaning in various stages of our twenties. The industries range from high-end food service, uphill battles to establish small businesses and lucrative summertime labor positions. Then, of course, there’s the one friend who’s taken up glass blowing in a small handmade hut mounted to the bed of his truck but, as always, he’s the exception rather than the rule.

The common theme in this wandering narrative is that all of this is a temporary means to an end — the goal of which is to stave off the constant fear of stagnation and poverty. Regardless of our long term goals, which range from adventure writing to complex electrical engineering that I don’t understand enough to describe, we’re all working towards the goal of leaving the world of menial employment and breaking into something a bit more meaningful.

For some of us, that means biding our time, ready and waiting for an uptick in the state economy or a well-timed tip about a vacancy. For others, it means tirelessly working towards a degree with a specific job in mind, spending long nights preparing for a long sought after career. As always, I’m running with the jack of all trades approach, racking up a

smattering of education, experience, certifications and a network of references that ideally don’t follow this column and will give glowing reviews.

(Incidentally, this is also the approach used when I play darts at the Fox, though drunkenly slinging a handful of darts in hopes that some land near-ish to the board is generally followed by hurried apologies and a swift exit.)

So, for another summer, I’m in the wind. Yet this time, I’m entirely happy about it. Though I’m gunning for an outdoor guiding position, I’ve got options available that give me the freedom to spend most of my time outdoors and making questionable decision that will give me fuel to write about. So what’s the takeaway from yet another spring column bemoaning summer employment? Is it that the cycle continues bringing me back to square one? Or that my friends and I are on an eternal stair-master of sorts, continuing to climb without going anywhere?

You can believe that if you’d like, and that perspective has certainly crossed my mind as I fill out endless applications and resume updates. I choose to see this as a new set of post-college challenges that give me the freedom to add a hundreds of new experiences to my repertoire.

For me, college has finally ended. That dart has landed squarely in the bullseye.

I’ve got a fistful of darts left and the game hasn’t changed. Worst case scenario, I end up an old man who never made it rich but has a wealth of stories from a million jobs and skillsets, each a bit stranger than the last. If I plan to keep writing, then a head full of life experience is all I could ever ask for.

04 | FEATURE

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

Wings of Hope is a global humanitarian charity that

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sources to the poor worldwide. Please join Alpha Eta

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Rho –Alpha Alpha “UAA’s Aviation Fraternity” in sup-

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porting Wings of Hope on Saturday, April 17th at

 Little

1:00pm at 2811 Merrill Field Drive (at the corner of

fee $20

under 12 run free refreshments Parking surprise for

everyone

Merrill Field Drive and Airport Heights). Check in starts at noon. All proceeds go to Wings of Hope.

For more information contact Alpha Eta Rho– Alpha Alpha: ahp.alphaalpha@gmail.com

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FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

| 05

Welcome to Anchorage’s SoNo district lar shops and boutiques attracting a higher class and more style savvy shopper.

“I think that there are some very nice places in Anchorage to shop, but I don’t think people in Anchorage really seek out high fashion, and more often than not laugh at it for being so impractical. I think the boutiques that do best in Anchorage have brought high-end but not necessarily high-fashion that is great quality and durable, and practical for the climate,” Cleo Anderson, who has worked in downtown Anchorage and is an artist at Beyond Beads boutique, said.

Most people who are familiar with the boutiques in the area have adopted the term, South of Nordstrom, hence the creation of the district.

“We have seen the name catch on, but it is more of an easy term to describe our location to people unfamiliar with the area,” VaLori Gianni, store manager of Blush Boutique since 2010, said.

Others are less familiar with the SoNo district and the vision the stores that encompass it want to portray.

“Yeah I’ve heard of SoNo, but I didn’t know that they made it up themselves. I feel like if they associated that term with shopping and fashion more frequently on social media or in their stores, people might start to think of that area as a shopping destination. But I can’t say I feel like they’ve created that image yet,” Anderson said.

There are some who have never heard of the district at all.

Jenelle Bennett, who’s been working in the downtown area for years, has never heard the term SoNo. “I have no clue what SoNo is. Should I know? Does it go by a different name? No I think you’re the first person who’s ever mentioned it to me,” Bennett said.

By Victoria Petersen

vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

Welcome to the SoNo district. A few blocks and even fewer stores sprawled across Sixth Avenue to Eighth Avenue, and then from E street to C Street, compromise the area of downtown Anchorage known as the SoNo district.

Created through collaboration by local businesses in the area in 2005, the SoNo district became the first official district in downtown Anchorage. The district was proclaimed by Mayor Mark Begich Dec. 1, 2005. The goal of SoNo is to create a destination that is recognizable by locals and tourists as a destination for shopping and entertainment.

“Our goal with SoNo was to create a hip shopping and dining destination downtown. Over the years we have organized Fashion Shows and group promotions to attract customers to our district,” Ellen Arvold, owner of Second Run, said.

Notable stores and businesses in the SoNo district include Bernie’s Bungalow Lounge, Chez Ritz, Second Run, Blush Boutique and Houtghton Hill.

SoNo, or South of Nordstrom, pays homage to the trendy and hip neighborhood SoHo [South of Houston street] of Lower Manhattan. SoHo derived its name from urban planner Chester Rapkin, who used the short and catchy name as a way to attract real estate investors to the area. It worked and SoHo, once a largely abandoned textile industrial area, soon became the destination for artists and wealthy people alike.

Unlike SoHo, SoNo is riding the wave of notoriety brought by the success of SoHo’s re-vamp. Although, like SoHo, SoNo is a destination filled with particu-

PHOTO BY VICTORIA PETERSEN

SoNo district sign above the streets signs in the downtown Anchorage destination.

As well as Britt McLeod, who worked at Kill Joy downtown until they closed, has also never heard of the district of downtown.

“I’ve never heard of SoNo district.

How long as it been around? What is it?”

McLeod said.

Present Playwright-Actor Ian Ruskin's

OUR PROUD SPONSORS Hal Gazaway Attorney

The Bartlett Club Political Forum

N.E.A. Alaska

Dr. Nick Begich

International Longshore & Warehouse Union, Div. 200 Unite H.E.R.E., Local 878 Sierra Club

Laborers Union, Local 341

Alaskans for Peace and Justice

Anchorage Independent Longshore Union, Local #1

Anchorage Central Labor Council

StandupGuys and Gals

United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 1496 International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 1959

Hotel Clarion Suites

I.B.E.W. Local 1547

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Honorary Consul of the Republic of Croatia, Walter T. Featherly Anchorage Musicians Association, Local 650 A.F.M.

Anchorage Education Association

AFL-CIO, Alaska

Teamsters Union, Local 959

I.W.W., Fairbanks, General Membership Branch

Since the creation of SoNo district two other districts, G Street Arts District and Convention Center District, in downtown Anchorage have been proclaimed as a part of the downtown renewal project, a project aimed at revitalizing downtown Anchorage.

06 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

ALASKA: Future doctor’s road to the crown

Continued from cover

been obsessed with trying to get scholarships because my dad told me when I was little, he was like, ‘I’m never going to be able to provide for you so you need to do really well for these scholarships,’ and I saw it as a great way to get scholarships.”

Audett was appointed to Miss Teen Alaska United States 2013. She believes that her story is unique and not the average cookie cutter life. After winning her first title, Audett became passionate about inspiring homeless teens to pursue their passions like she has.

“I grew up homeless, and I saw a need in the community for young people, for a role model, for someone to inspire them to follow their dreams,” Audett said.

“Before I even thought about becoming Miss Alaska, I was working with the university to share my story and inspire other people, and now as Miss Alaska, I have been given the opportunity to continue to do that... I gained humility and understanding of what a blessing it is to receive a higher education. It gave me goals and inspired me to pursue these higher goals because I wanted to prove others wrong.”

Audett continues to strive and inspire young individuals that came from the same background that she did. Audett leads a job group discussion weekly at the Covenant House to talk to teens about various subjects, including ways to get a job or how to attend college. She also shares her personal story and gives motivational talks to the group.

“A lot of kids who go into homeless shelters, they have problems with drugs, with alcohol, with abuse, with self confidence, problems in school. And they tend to fall into those stereotypes that they’ll be expected to get in trouble with

the law, people expect them to drop out of school and not follow their dreams for the future.”

After the semester is over, Audett will compete in Miss USA, but no official date has been released yet. The competition will be in Las Vegas and is the only pageant aired on live television. Alaska has never won the title of Miss USA. Audett has been preparing for Miss USA even before she won Miss Alaska.

On top of being a scribe and a full school schedule, being Miss Alaska is a job in itself. Audett is constantly filling out paperwork, studying up on interviews, getting head shots and attending events and fundraisers in Anchorage. Audett has been preparing for Miss Alaska and now Miss USA, with a meal plan and daily exercise.

“For the pageant, I had to work out a lot. More than I used to. You are on stage in a bikini, you have to regulate your diet and increase your exercise. But it was a good thing, it gave me a reason to get in shape and get healthy,” Audett said.

“Being in front of a crowd and having people judge you but being okay with it if not everyone loved you. That was a huge preparation.”

Audett believes that people underestimate the hard work put in by women in pageants and have a looming stereotype that all the requirements to being in competition is being pretty and skinny.

“I think overall, predominantly there are more amazing things about pageants that empower young women to be the best that they can be, to be confident in their own unique beauty, and to present themselves in a way that prepares them to take on the real world.”

Audett is hopeful that she will be the first to bring home the Miss USA crown to Alaska.

Fresh spring rolls to bring in the summer season Ingredients • • • • •

By Victoria Petersen

vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

Spring rolls, also known as fresh rolls, originated in Asia.

Spring rolls themselves encompass a larger family of cuisine, ranging from far East Asia to South East Asia. This particular recipe highlights the popular dish found in Vietnam, goi cuon, which translates to “summer rolls.” Served at room temperature, they are typically made with rice paper filled with vegetables and sometimes meat.

These fresh rolls are best served the same day and with a peanut dipping sauce or spicy sweet chili sauce.

• • •

10 round rice paper wrappers 6 ounces of thin vermicelli rice noodles 1 carrot, shredded 1/2 of a cucumber, sliced A small handful of bean sprouts 1 head of lettuce 1/3 bushel of cilantro 20 small shrimp

Directions

PHOTO BY YOUNG KIM

1. Boil the dried rice noodles until cooked. Drain the noodles and cool with cold water.

2. Fill a large bowl — large enough for the piece of rice paper — with water. Submerge the rice paper so that it is covered by the water. The paper will still be stiff, but will soften as you lay it on the cutting board and begin to fill it.

3. Lay a piece or two of lettuce down on one end of the rice paper. On top of the lettuce, lay down a couple pieces each of the vegetables — bean sprouts, carrots and cucumbers. Next, lay down two shrimp, a small handful of noodles and a small sprinkle of cilantro.

4. Starting with the side of the rice paper the lettuce sits against, roll tightly, overlapping over the lettuce and enclose all the insides. Fold the sides in once you have rolled halfway, and then continue rolling until you have a complete spring roll.

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

| 07

MUSIC REVIEW

The Lumineers’ sophomore release disappoints

‘District 9’ falls apart in the end

By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor

“District 9” was released seven years ago to critical acclaim. Much of it was well-deserved. Director Neill Blomkamp had managed, in many ways, to fulfill the promise of the high concept science fiction that came before him. Movies like “Blade Runner” and the lesser known “The Quiet Earth” proved that science fiction could be an important, and culturally reflective genre.

“District 9” seemed poised to reinforce that idea. The first two acts are incredibly strong. Intimate character moments and powerful performances abound. But in the third act, everything falls apart. Upon rewatching, it’s clear that the movie suffers heavily for that.

In an alternate version of 1982 Johannesburg, South Africa, an alien ship docks over the city. Inside, malnourished aliens, nicknamed “prawns,” are dying in droves. Twenty-eight years later, they are relegated to a slum called District 9. Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley, “Hardcore Henry”) is sent there to relocate the aliens. He gets a mysterious canister from an alien, Christopher Johnson (Jason Cope, “Spud 2: The Madness Continues”), that infects him with a virus. Slowly, he turns into the alien he is meant to relocate.

Thanks to Copley’s excellent performance, Wikus comes to life. He’s

an idealistic Afrikaner bureaucrat with problematic views. His xenophobia leads him to a dark place, one that forces him to face what he’s done and who he is as a person. It’s a classic character arc, but Blomkamp imbues it with new meaning. There’s a sense that Merwe is paying not just for his own actions, but the actions of his ancestors.

It’s a politically and socially loaded narrative. For the first two acts, it’s a relentless commentary on colonialism.

Those big ideas could have, realistically, carried through. Sadly, they do not.

In the final act, “District 9” becomes a sadly generic and disappointing shootem-up with little to say. Its innovative beginning gives way to an all-toofamiliar end. There’s bloodshed and carnage, with Wikus at the center, but it’s simply bad guy versus good guy.

The social and political weight that Wikus’ character carried in the first act is lost. He becomes the sympathetic action hero rather than the morally gray, complex human being he was in the beginning.

It’s for this reason that “District 9” suffers. While the last act is well-shot, and satisfying in a superficial way, it simply falls short. The world and character building of the beginning is thrown out. Wikus becomes an action hero, fighting the villainous Piet Smit (Louis Minnaar, “Blitzpatrollie”). Any moral ambiguity is thrown out for cinematic fireworks. Sure, it’s an excellent action sequence, but it doesn’t belong in a movie with the promise of “District 9.”

TITLE “District 9”

DIRECTOR Nell Blomkamp

RELEASE DATE Aug. 13, 2009

COUNTRY South Africa

GENRE Sci-Fi

By Felipe Godoy Diaz Contributor

Since the emergence of Mumford and Sons, folk pop music has peaked as a faux and unauthentic folk music that a mainstream audience can enjoy. As it’s apex, the Lumineers stuck gold with their 2012 single “Ho Hey.” The simplicity of the song became largely appealing and seemed like it was featured in nearly every craft beer commercial imaginable.

Four years later, the Lumineers are attempting to catch lighting in a bottle twice with their follow-up sophomore effort, “Cleopatra.” The eleven-track album is a brief 35-minute exploration of a post-“Ho Hey” world. Now an established band, “Cleopatra” pieces the accession to popularity, the Lumineers have experienced since the release of their debut album.

The lead single “Ophelia” examines the relationship with fame and dealing with success. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, frontman Wesley

Schultz said of the song, “‘Ophelia’ is a vague reference to people falling in love with fame. That spotlight can seem like an endless buffet, but in reality, you’re just shiny, bright, and new to people for a quick moment — and then you have the rest of your life to live.”

The opening track “Sleep on the Floor,” is an eerie apocalyptic inspired track about leaving a place before its too late. Other tracks like “Gun Song” and “Gale Song” are both recycled tunes that were featured in previous releases, like the Hunger Game’s soundtrack. The album’s closing track “Patience” is a beautiful piano instrumental that actually ties the album quite nicely.

The Lumineers try their best to stay in the lane that led them to this point. While some moments on the album are incredibly dull and cheesy, the length of the tracks makes listening to “Cleopatra” a brisk and easy listen. If you want to start listening to the Lumineers, imagine the song “Ho Hey” played slightly different every time, and you might just have the entire Lumineers discography.

ARTIST The Lumineers

GENRE Folk

ALBUM “Cleopatra”

LABEL Dualtone RELEASE April 8, 2016

08 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

Students take center stage as dancers and choreographers for New Dance 2016

PHOTOS BY O’HARA K SHIPE

New Dance 2016 will offer audience members many different dance pieces, here dancers practice for the show.

By Casey Peterson

cpeterson@thenorthernlight.org

New Dance 2016 is bringing together many students and faculty at UAA for a weekend that promises to be full of different arrangements, many of which are being choreographed by UAA students.

The production consists of ten different pieces and will showcase the culminating efforts of sixty dancers and crew members. Most of the pieces are originals and are being choreographed by staff in the dance department or by several of the students themselves.

The annual spring event kicks off this week with shows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 p.m. and a final show on Sunday at 6 p.m. All the performances can be seen in the Mainstage Theatre on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building.

The student choreographers are invited by professor Brian Jeffery from the Department of Theatre and Dance. Each of the five students who are contributing pieces to New Dance 2016 received their invitation to participate over winter break. This is unique as many schools may only allow seniors of the dance department to choreograph their own pieces. Taylor Hicks, a senior in the theatre department with an emphasis on dance, praises the department for “allowing lots of hands on experience you may not do at another school.”

The five student choreographed pieces were developed by Katie O’Loughlin, Racin Engstrom, Carmel Young, Crystal Dosser, and Taylor Hicks.

Katie O’Loughlin who is a junior in the technical theatre program with a minor in dance, choreographed a solo piece that she will be performing as one of the ten dances that those in attendance to New Dance 2016 will see. O’Loughlin describes her piece, entitled “Another Minute” as “being really personal for me.” A criteria that she said is important to the choreographing process for her. “Another Minute” is the third piece that O’Loughlin has choreographed for the department and she said that it is about “growing, waiting, and strength... it is the idea of trying.”

“Arrive,” a piece that is being choreographed by Racin Engstrom, a dance minor whose major is anthropology, is described by Engstrom as being “about living in the present as it depicts dynamic changes and finding clarity in them.” Engstrom will be dancing her piece as part of a quartet. This is also Engstrom’s third time being asked to choreograph a piece.

A piece about love by Carmel Young, entitled “Sentimental,” is described as a “beautiful” piece by Alyssa Willett, a graduate student in the Anthropology Department who was invited by Young to be one of the dancers

in “Sentimental.”

Crystal Dosser, a senior, is contributing her fourth piece she has created for the dance program entitled “Astral,” and is described as having a “celestial feel.”

That feeling comes in part thanks to the unique way that Dosser is choosing to light her stage, as each of the dancers will be holding a light in each hand that they will turn on and off as part of the choreography. In talking about the process she underwent to arrive at her idea Dosser said, “I had an idea and let it morph, until it became something more beautiful and meditative.”

Taylor Hicks is providing a piece she choreographed entitled “Vibes” which shes said “feels like you are at a music festival.” The number is one of New Dance 2016’s more upbeat and relatable dances that is suppose to invoke the energy of music and summer. The dance is “very energetic, and very musical,” Hicks said.

In addition to the five pieces being choreographed

by UAA students, five other pieces will be performed.

Four will be choreographed by different faculty members of the dance program, as well as a piece by Katherine Kramer, a recent visitor to the UAA dance program.

Katherine Kramer decided to revisit a piece that she originally created 30 years ago called “Blue Blue Sky.” The piece was created in the wake of a personal loss in Kramer’s life, and the explosion of the Space Craft Challenger.

Engstrom describes every piece as “being very strong,” and O’Loughlin said the “pieces contrast each other.” The dances range from solo pieces to modern dance to hip hop and will showcase a lot of talented dancers.

The dance program was praised by each of the students for having a very supportive faculty. O’Loughlin said about the dance program, “we are here because we are actually in love with it,” Dosser said. “The program helps create avenues,” when describing ways that her experience in the program has helped her network and create relationships with dancers in other parts of the country.

“UAA dance program is the most accepting of new people of all the schools I’ve danced for.” Alyssa Willet said, “They are good at what they do and I want people to see it.” Willet’s sentiments about the program are shared by each to the choreographers that were invited to participate in the years New Dance performance.

Tickets for this event are currently available at UAATix.com.

Katie O’Loughlin practices her piece called “Another Minute.”

Crystal Dosser and three other dancers rehearse one of the pieces that can be seen this week as part of New Dance 2016

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

| 09

Spring fishing spots to get your fix

PHOTOS BY KODY FRANTZ

A nice rainbow alongside Kody Frantz’s fly fishing reel.

By Jake Johnson

jjohnson@thenorthernlight.org

Spring is starting to look a lot like summer in the Anchorage area, giving avid Alaskan fisherman the shakes for some long awaited reel time. The majority of sport fishing in Alaska takes place on rivers and tributaries over the summer.

All of the salmon species take their turn crowding the currents of the Kenai River and Little Susitna River, as well as many others during summer months. Although, late May seems like so far away for some fishing fools in Alaska.

“I’ve been fishing all winter as well,” Shane Hertzog, an Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) employee said.

“If fish need to be caught, they contact me.”

Hertzog grew up fishing in Alaska and said in the dead of winter, his slowest week still means fishing two times a week all day. Places like Sand Lake, Jewel Lake, and Little Campbell Lake are all Anchorage locations Hertzog hits during the spring.

“Ice-out is a great time to fish lake trout, they like getting out from under the ice and moving around,” Hertzog said.

“If I’m fishing grayling, I usually fish the parks highway tributaries, the lakes we

stock are hit or miss, but I almost always catch them in the rivers.”

Hertzog touched on some upper Kenai River spots for fishing monster spring rainbows up until May 2 when season closes for spawning. According to Hertzog, the Kenai Lake bridge to either side is always filled with casting lines. The water stays open all year where the lake flows into the river creating a huge crowd of fisherman.

“Concentrate all your efforts on the mouths of the rivers. That’s where they are gonna be, as far as lakes go, any open water. That’s where the fish will bite,” Hertzog said.

Fly or spinning rod can both be successful in the rivers, according to UAA student and geology major Kody Frantz.

Frantz recently got his captain’s license from the coast guard to begin guiding at Sportsman’s Lodge this summer. Frantz has been fishing the rivers of Alaska since he can remember and is an avid fly fisherman.

“I started tying my own flies to save money but the satisfaction of catching fish with your own gear is something special,” Frantz said.

Tying ones own flies was something Frantz emphasized as importance to your spring fishing results. Being able to establish what works best in familiar locations

Kenai River is open for spring fishing.

Kody Frantz takes a photo with his rainbow.

and creating flies to match what the rainbows are eating can increase chances of success on the river.

Frantz spends time on the Kenai River and Russian River during the winter and spring time fishing rainbows.

“20-30 inches is a good sized fish for the Kenai,” Frantz said. “Fishing is just something you have to love to do in order to be successful.”

Frantz openly offered up a few of his own favorite spring locations to fish, such as the mouth of Skilak Lake and what he calls the “guardrail hole” near the mouth of Kenai Lake.

Stopping by a local sports store, such as Cabela’s or Sportsman’s Warehouse are great places for advice on what gear to buy and what type of lures or flies can be effective.

Dale Hunter, an active Kenai Lake fisherman landed two 20-plus inch rainbows near the Kenai Lake bridge using stone flies. Hunter said that earlier in the week he had success on a store bought stone fly, but the hook was a little large for the mouths of the rainbows he was catching. Hunter went home and tied his own stone flies and achieved added success.

“I usually fish 3-4 days out of the week and these [stone flies] seem to be what’s working in the peninsula,” Hunter said.

These avid fisherman all had their own slightly separate fishing must-haves, but three of them seemed to always be necessary. One for certain was a camera to take pictures of their catch and release trophies. The next must-have mentioned by all three fisherman was chest waders to be better able to walk out — very carefully — into the river in order to reach the deepest holes. Lastly, the third must-have item was a few cold beers to celebrate the day’s catch with good friends.

As the school semester winds down, some students who may not be able to stay in Alaska for the summer can hit up some of these fishing hot spots. Contrary to popular belief, some fisherman will share their secrets. They enjoy watching others be successful in an attempt to cultivate growth of the sport. ADF&G advocates for this belief and encourages you to make a trip to their offices in Anchorage before making a journey to the lakes and rivers. Fishing can be dangerous if people aren’t aware of where to be and where not be and stopping by their offices will alleviate some of the stresses as well as provide the tips that could make it a more successful and exciting fishing trip.

Anchorage community gathers at Flattop to support UAA women’s basketball team

By Nolin Ainsworth

sports@thenorthernlight.org

Familiar names sounded from overhead speakers as green and white jerseys flashed across eight, large flat screen televisions in the downtown restaurant Flattop Pizza + Pool.

Adriana Dent. Megan Mullings. Ryan McCarthy. Jessica Madison. Kiki Robertson. Keiahnna Engel.

Last Monday, around 80 people, many in business casual attire, flocked to Flattop to watch the NCAA Div. II women’s basketball national championship game featuring the hometown Seawolves and undefeated Lubbuck Christian Chaparrals. The game, televised nationally on CBS Sports Network, was played in the Banker’s Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana with the rest of the “Final 4” festivities.

“We called in extra staff and tried to keep up as well as we could,” said Flattop manager Michael Linn.

Collective “oohhhs” and “ahhhs” were let out across the restaurant with nearly every possession.

Flattop was one of eleven restaurants across Anchorage who opened their

doors for fans to witness the biggest game in program history. It was the first time any UAA team has made it to a national championship game. UAA’s previous high-water marks occurred in 2008 and 2009 when they made it to the national semi-final.

Linn pointed out his Indianapolis roots, where he worked in fine dining, and said the game was not only good for business, but for all of town.

“It’s a fantastic thing for Anchorage and I overheard them talking about ‘Anchorage, Alaska’ — the commentators,” Linn said. “So it’s fun for [Indianapolis] to be my home city where they are at. I thought about making some phone calls to see if I could send them to a restaurant.”

As the fourth quarter got underway, with UAA trailing 40-50, fans eagerly awaited a comeback.

“Their whole deal with ‘Mayhem’ is to stop that from happening,” said season ticket holder Dave Freeman, gesturing to Lubbock basket. “Lubbock isn’t as deep as we are so a number of things have to happen in this fourth quarter.”

A number of things did happen to help UAA get back in game. The Lady Chaps turned the ball over eight different times,

PHOTO BY NOLIN AINSWORTH

Flattop Restaurant was one of eleven restaurants who hosted watch parties for the national championship game between UAA and Lubbuck Christian.

helping the Seawolves draw within four points with under two minutes in the game. LCU’s Nicole Hampton made a difficult shot to put the Lady Chaps back up six, all but icing the game. It was the first NCAA championship for the Lubbock club after playing for over a decade in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

By 1 p.m., the restaurant all but cleared out, and people returned to downtown cubicles and posts.

Thirty-two-year old small business owner and friend of coach McCarthy, Ryan Bundy woke up at 4:30 a.m. so he could get all his work completed at

Alaska Bronze and Granite. Despite the disappointing loss, Bundy said there are plenty of things he will remember about the 38-3 season.

“When Jenna Buchanan gets the ball in her hands and shoots a three, it seems to always go in, it’s almost like its like a guarantee,” Bundy said. “Seeing her play and watching where Coach McCarthy has brought the team in four years from being basically trying to get a pick up game to have enough people to play to where they are at now is pretty phenomenal.”

The rest of Seawolf nation would have to agree.

10 | SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

Alaska Aces fans rally behind goaltender

By Jake Johnson

jjohnson@thenorthernlight.org

Jeff Barney is becoming a legend in Alaska Aces history thanks to his very first pro start on April 9, 2016. Barney, age 45, has been what those in the hockey world refer to as an EBUG, or emergency back up goaltender. At first, it sounds like some sort of morning after sickness, but in the goaltending ranks, it may just be the perfect job.

Goalies in the game of hockey are something of their own breed. If a goalie is in the net when their team wins, they don’t always get credit for that victory.

On the other hand, when a goalie is in the net and his team loses that game, it is always his fault. How does this effect Jeff Barney though? Well it doesn’t, because Barney is an EBUG — a goaltender that never carries any responsibility and still gets to be a part of the team and collect a paycheck. It might seem strange, but Barney has become a career EBUG goaltender for 25 years, on over 13 different teams. Barney is already the legend of EBUG goalies, but on Saturday, he gave them all hope.

The Alaska Aces signed Barney to a one-day pro contract to give the goalie his very first pro career start. His first pro career game came for the Anchorage Aces in the 1991-92 season of a pro league that no longer even exists. Alongside his backdoor pro career, Barney is also the director of operations for Fur Rendezvous and a head coach of Alaska All Stars 16AAA boys hockey. He has coached over 250 kids in the Anchorage area.

His very first pro career start was supposed to happen earlier this year during preseason, according to Alaska Aces head coach Rob Murray. Plans changed when Murray was faced with deciding his season long starter between two competitive goaltenders in two games. It was something the Alaska Aces team hadn’t thought about all season until their season began to fall apart earlier this year.

Aces fans are forced to accept the fact for the last two seasons, their home town team hasn’t qualified for the playoffs. In the wake of that upset, Barney and his pro start began to be something that the organization began contemplating again.

With the Aces officially eliminated from playoff contention, the last game of the season had become a virtual throw away for the team. Although it will be meaningful for the visiting Colorado Eagles and their playoff seeding situation, they weren’t willing to argue with the decision Alaska made in starting its real life dinosaur — Barney.

No one including Barney could know what to expect going into the game of his life he has waited a very long time for.

“Its either the start of my career or the end of my career at this point,” Barney said before the game.

The only traceable impressive stats on the hockey career of Barney are his numbers in 1989-90 season in the United

States Hockey League (USHL). According to hockeydb.com, Barney played in 8 games and had a heavy 8.18 goals against average (GAA). He also boasted a staggering .818 save percentage that is measured by the amount of goals you give up versus how many shots you face. These unsettling statistics are all Aces fans had to rely on for measurable talent.

Regardless, the town came ablaze when legendary radio host and Aces broadcaster Bob Lester began to push for Barney to get his chance. It started out as a joke, but very quickly became a reality when the Aces declared April 9, 2016 as Jeff Barney Day and promised the town his chance of a lifetime. Anchorage rallied behind their beloved Aces EBUG in support of his big day. Aces games have lacked attendance all season due to the lack of success, but on Saturday, a full and sold out crowd of 6,251 fans showed up to see if the feel good story would end in greatness or a big laugh.

A typical Aces welcome and starting line up introduction involves some raucous cheering and cowbell ringing. The first five starters were announced before Barney, when Bob Lester said Barney’s name, the crowd at the Sullivan Arena went ballistic. Not a single fan in attendance was sitting down as Barney made his way to the ice, saluting the fans in support of his proudest moment.

“It was like watching my own son,” Lester said.

Barney didn’t face his first shot on goal until about 3 minutes into the game from an off angle shot out of the corner of the ice. Barney made the save and again, the crowd erupted in support and cheers for the 45-year-old goaltender. After about another 3 minutes, Barney faced some adversity on a flurry of shots in close from the visiting Colorado Eagles and again, he pulled through. Barney continued success rattling off saves that even some of the starters of the Aces this year hadn’t managed to make this season.

“Getting the first one was huge,” Barney said.

The Aces struck first scoring a goal at 12:59. Justin Brenton scored to make it 1-0 Aces and gave Barney his first ever lead.

The Aces took a penalty late in the first period that threatened Barney’s success, but the team pulled together and didn’t allow a single shot to get through.

The Aces took another questionable penalty for a helmet violation. On the penalty kill, Barney was tested as Colorado peppered him with shots. Barney made it through his first full period of pro hockey without giving up a goal on 14 shots.

At the start of the second period, the Aces, still leading 1-0, took their third consecutive penalty, putting Barney in another challenging position. Fortunately, the Aces would allow only one shot.

Colorado tallied its first goal on Barney early in the second period eliminating the chances for a Barney shutout and tying the game at one goal apiece.

At 4:58, Barney gave up yet another

PHOTO BY JAKE JOHNSON

Jeff Barney and his father Butch Barney pose for a photo after Barney’s first pro start game where the Alaska Aces fell to Colorado 5-3.

goal on his short side to number 19, Kyle Ostrow of the Colorado Eagles. Barney was saved by a commercial timeout in the second period that allowed him to gather his composure and shake off the two quick goals he had allowed to give up the lead.

The Aces would follow up with a game tying goal off the tape of Peter Sivak’s stick at 7:19 in the second period, giving Barney some much needed confidence. The crowd fell silent when former UAF hockey star Alec Hajdukovich rang a breakaway shot of the post that echoed through the arena. Almost like clockwork, Colorado was forced to take a penalty to halt the Aces onslaught of 6 consecutive shots on net while holding the Eagles to none, giving them their first power play on the night. Barney would then mistakenly take a penalty for illegally touching the puck outside the trapezoid.

Persistent exasperation from the referees found Alaska again shorthanded with a little over 5 minutes to play in the second period. Barney made a kick save during the penalty kill that resulted in the first “Barney” chant echoing through the crowd. Regardless of the cheers, Barney gave up a soft shot from the blue line that slipped between his legs to give Colorado the goal and lead 3-2 late in the second period.

Deja vu settled its way into the crowd as the Aces take another penalty with 1:25 left in second period leaving them once again shorthanded. This time, Colorado would hit the net from the point giving them a two goal lead with 3 seconds left heading into the third period, the score now 4-2.

Six minutes into the third period, Colorado Eagle’s player, Teigan Zahn, took a hooking penalty that gave Alaska a small sliver of hope. It wouldn’t take long as the Aces found mesh behind Eagles goalten-

der Kris Lazaruk for a third time at the 6:14 mark of the third period by MarcAndre Levesque to bring Alaska within one goal of tying the game. The Aces would continue power play like dominance over the Eagles at even strength for several more minutes to keep their hopes alive.

Like a gift from the hockey gods, the Aces were awarded another power play late in the third period giving them a chance to tie their final game of the season. Colorado however managed to kill the penalty off, allowing only one shot on net from the Aces. Tyler Fiddler of Colorado would take another penalty for tripping with less than three minutes remaining in the game to give Alaska one more power play opportunity.

Colorado took another penalty at 18:39 of the third period. Murray pulled Barney to go 6-3 advantage with a little over oneminute remaining in a last ditch effort to tie the game. An icing call with 13.1 seconds left only built on the suspense as the crowd hovered against the glass, in hopes of a win in the final Aces game of the season. Unfortunately, Colorado would put a final dagger into the hearts of Aces fans on Jeff Barney night after Jesse Mychan walked in an empty net goal to seal the game at Colorado 5, Alaska 3.

“Regardless of the outcome, that man put on a show tonight,” Murray said.

The fans excitement would not be extinguished as one more Barney chant rang out across the stadium for the last time. On a night when an outcome could not be foreseen, an unlikely hero in EBUG, played an unbelievable game and kept the Aces alive in the game as long as he could, while receiving first star of the game accolades and five-star character along his incredible journey. After the game, the Aces held their annual warmup jersey auction where Barney’s game worn jersey sold for $2,400.

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

| 11

A shift in culture: Coach McCarthy transforms women’s basketball program

By Jordan Rodenberger

jrodenberger@thenorthernlight.org

At 38-3, the UAA women’s basketball team just completed their best season in school history, and were arguably the greatest team Seawolf Athletics has ever assembled. From placing as the runnerup in the national championship game, to shattering 32 school records, to breaking five NCAA Division II records (including the 38 wins), the Seawolves had what one might call a dream season.

However, the team was living more of a nightmare just four years ago, when the program was slammed with several sanctions by the NCAA. In the 2011-12 season, former head Tim Moser, had promised full-ride scholarships to recruits. When these promises could not be upheld, Moser used his own funds to help out the young ladies.

On four occasions he gave cash, totaling $7,320, to volunteer assistant coach Elisha Harris to deposit into the student-athlete’s bank accounts without the players’ knowledge, a huge no-no in collegiate athletics.

“This was a terrible mistake by two individuals, and we are doing our level best it does not happen again,” UAA Chancellor Tom Case said at the time of incident.

Moser suddenly resigned following the 2011-12 campaign without explanation. Moser, now an assistant coach with the Colorado State women’s team, led the Seawolves to an incredible 165-32 record and advanced the team to the Final Four twice. He is also the main culprit behind one of the the largest violations in UAA’s history.

The year-and-a-half long investigation began when one of the players that received money from Moser approached athletic director Keith Hackett. She noticed her scholarship for 2012-13 was smaller than the previous year, and discussed it with Hackett. After researching her scholarship, UAA found out that she was receiving the right amount, and the “full-ride” she was getting the year before was due to Moser.

However, this was not the only offense that the program was involved in during this period of time. A secondary violation, committed by booster Brad Keithley, an Anchorage lawyer, took place during that same season. Keithley paid for a van to take the team on a tour to the White House while the Seawolves were on a trip on the East Coast. He not only paid for transportation, but meals and entertainment as well. These actions, against NCAA rules, were valued at over $150 per student-athlete.

The infractions piled up for UAA, and they had no choice but to take the punch that the NCAA threw at them. The sanctions included two years of probation— until May 2016, an external audit for the program and a loss of three-quarters of a scholarship. In addition, 16 wins were

vacated from the 2011-12 season.

“With the NCAA, you have to take the penalty and you have to move forward. You can’t feel sorry for yourself, and you must do what is right for the program,” Jane Pallister, the senior associate director of athletics (internal affairs) and overseer of women’s basketball, said via phone.

That certainly was a tough pill to swallow. With loss of scholarships, the critical eyes of the public and the NCAA breathing down their neck the rest of the way, the fate of the women’s basketball team was uncertain, and it could have taken a significant amount of time to recover.

“I didn’t know the severity of the NCAA violations. I didn’t know we were that close to the death penalty,” current head coach Ryan McCarthy said at a press conference in Indianapolis prior the the 2016 NCAA Div. II title game.

As a result of Moser’s departure, McCarthy was hired the following season, in which the Seawolves went 17-10.

Instead of using the sanctions as an excuse for a lengthy rebuilding process, he has used it as motivation, as UAA’s record has improved each year. Just four years later, the University of Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball team just had their most dominant season ever.

UAA also received guidance from the top, such as Athletic Director Keith Hackett and Chancellor Tom Case, all the way down to the last player off the bench and the fans to help recover.

Pallister gave credit the the administration for helping through this process.

“We have a lot of support from Chancellor Case as well as Vice Chancellor Bill Spindle,” Pallister said. “Everybody in the department wants our team to be successful so we get a lot of leadership form the top and if we didn’t have their support, I am not sure we would be where we are right now.”

Another key member of the rebuilding procedure is head coach Ryan McCarthy.

When hired, he was thrown into a onerous situation, one that many would not have the guts to take on.

“Looking back, it is one of those things like, yeah, that was a mess, but at the time I embraced it. I was 29 and I was a head coach so I was floating,” McCarthy said Although he was grateful for the position, he still had to piece together a winning team. That is difficult when there are only eight players left on the roster when you take over.

“I remember going to an intramural game looking for two players so that we could practice five-on-five,” McCarthy said.

Pallister had endless kind comments about McCarthy and what he has done to turn this program around.

“Ryan is a competitor. He is a tough coach but he also brings his team together and they truly are a family...He has an amazing basketball mind,” Pallister said.

“I have the upmost respect for him. He

PHOTO BY ADAM EBERHARDT

The youthful Ryan McCarthy has rebuilt the image of the UAA women’s basketball team in his three seasons as the program’s head coach.

not only cares about the win-loss record but about the budget and making sure that women’s basketball has a good reputation in town.”

Since taking over the program four years ago, McCarthy has an astonishing 117 wins and led the team to its deepest tournament run in school history. Huge strides have been made on this roller coaster of a journey.

“We have obviously came a long way from that particular season, but I think in many ways that was kind of the building and starting of the culture of this group based on the players that we were able to keep around and set a tone on where we were headed to,” McCarthy said.

One of the players McCarthy was able to inherit was Jessica Madison, who was a freshman during that 2011-12 season.

She, as well, gave much of the credit to the new head coach for turning things around.

“When McCarthy first came here he didn’t have a lot to work with, so our first year was definitely a struggle,” Madison, who just played her final season as a Seawolf, said. “Over the years he did a great job recruiting and getting girls to buy into the system to get where we are today.”

She also noted that the veterans who stuck around after the incident played a vital role in recovering.

“Jordan Martin was great taking us under her wing as freshman. Alysa Horn was a great leader,” Madison said.

It was not easy for Madison. Having to go through this during her first year as a college athlete, she gained a lot of experience.

“I learned that to stick out what you

started and if you work hard, good things will happen. I am very happy I stuck it out and got to play under coach McCarthy,” Madison said.

With all of NCAA’s complicated rules, it’s not hard to slip up or have something go unnoticed, especially with the success they have had recently. However, the administrative team at UAA is working to prevent the incidents from two years ago from ever happening again.

“We are very conscientious of compliance. It is really easy now that the girls are runner-ups to want to give them things.

Not in a bad way, but just to congratulate them and we have to keep reminding people that we just can’t do that,” Pallister said.

McCarthy has also made sure to keep up on NCAA rules.

“I have learned a lot about compliance. It can be time consuming, but at the end of the day you want to do things the right way and you want to make sure that you put your student-athletes in a position where they can be successful,” McCarthy said.

From nearly being banned from postseason play, to competing for the national title, the UAA women’s basketball team has taken a difficult situation and turned it around.

Dedicated Seawolf fans and alumni have been through a lot of ups and downs the last five years. With outstanding administrators, a heck of a coaching staff and eager young ladies representing the program, UAA women’s basketball should only be known for their achievements from now on.

12 | SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

UAA women honored after historic 38-3 season Head coach McCarthy shares what made each senior special

PHOTO BY YOUNG KIM

UAA Seawolves head coach Ryan McCarthy gives a short anecdote about each of the players during the season commemoration.

By Jordan Rodenberger

jrodenberger@thenorthernlight.org

The Alaska Airline Center hosted a celebration on Thursday night for the women’s basketball team to honor their greatest season in program history. Hundreds of fans and family gathered in the arena’s main gymnasium to congratulate the Lady Seawolves on their spectacular year on final time. UAA finished 38-3 (most wins in Division II history) and reached the National Championship game for the first time in the program’s existence.

Fans received a commemorative team photo that could be autographed by the team. The lengthy, serpentine formation for signatures on photos, basketballs, and posters was literally out the door, as young children through elders were eager to get a piece of history.

Athletic Director Keith Hackett opened the commemoration with a speech about his appreciation of the women and stories about the admirers they gained not only over the course of the regular season, but in their appearances to Sioux Falls for the Elite 8 and in Indianapolis for the the Champi-

onship. A well-constructed highlight video of the season followed Hackett’s time on stage.

Play-by-play broadcaster Gary Donovan then announced each player’s name in numerical order, one last chance to give out the “starting lineups” of this remarkable team. Following that, head coach Ryan McCarthy gave an anecdote for each player that received minutes this season, ranging from humorous to heartwarming. A standing ovation was only appropriate for the greatest season in program history.

Dominique Brooks

GRAPHIC BY DEMI STRAUGHN

Adriana (Shorty) Dent

“She was a huge part of our recruiting process and building this to where we got now because she was the first high-level recruit that said, ‘Coach I believe in you.’”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOSEAWOLVES.COM

Jessica Madison

“I heard one time the difference between a good shooter and a great shooter is 750,000 shots, and throughout her career, I guarantee you she put up at least that on her own time outside of practice.”

Keiahnna Engel

“The one intangible that she brought I never had to worry about was, ‘This kid always wants to win,’ and she would do anything to do that. So right away Keiahnna and I got along just fine.”

Jenna Buchanan

“She’s probably the sweetest girl I’ve ever coached in my whole.

She’s easy going - we win or we lose, Dono is about the same and she’s able to help me put perspective on life because I think I’m the world’s worst loser.”

“This summer she made a huge commitment to stay in Anchorage and work on her game and in fact the whole team did. That really paid off for her. She’s one of the most hard working players that I’ve had the opportunity to coach.”

Megan Mullings

Christina Davis

“More important than all the accolades she has being an All-American and all that – which I told her would happen – she decided to change her life and being able to use basketball as an avenue to do that is one of the most rewarding things I’ve been able to see.”

“She had to switch her position from shooting guard to point guard, which at college level is incredibly hard. She became a critical part of our success this year.”

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

THE IDEA OF NORTH: THE PAINTINGS OF LAWREN HARRIS R

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7 to 8:30 p.m. April 22, 2016 Included with museum admission During the 1920s, Canadian artist and pioneering modernist Lawren Harris (1885-1970) painted the northern wilderness inspired with an almost spiritual vision, creating paintings described by critics as “epics of solitude, chaos and snow.”

Visiting Curator Lecture by Cynthia Burlingham from the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles Museum admission is half-price during the museum’s Friday after-hours series Polar Nights.

Image: Lawren Harris, Lake and Mountains, 1928 (Detail), Art Gallery of Ontario; Gift from the Fund of the T. Eaton Co. Ltd. for Canadian Works of Art, 1948. ©Family of Lawren S. Harris.

Come to know the true North anchoragemuseum.org

Members enjoy free admission. Join today.

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© 2015 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. (1515102_16276)

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

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UAA’s late rally not enough in National Championship

Christina Davis attacks the lane at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

PHOTOS BY YOUNG KIM

UAA senior Adriana Dent pressures All-American guard Nicole Hampton in NCAA Division II title game.

By Jordan Rodenberger

jrodenberger@thenorthernlight.org

Standing in the way of the UAA women’s basketball team’s first national title was No.1 Lubbock Christian (35-0) from Texas. The saying “everything’s bigger in Texas” certainly applied to the undefeated squad, and the Chaps’ size and length proved too much for UAA. The Seawolves fell 78-73 to LCU at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the site of this year’s NCAA Women’s Final Four.

“I am thankful it is not a best two-outof-three series, because that team (UAA) is really stinkin’ good,” said Lubbock Christian head coach Steve Gomez.

The Seawolves played from behind for over 35 minutes, something they are not accustomed to. Megan Mullings did all she could in her last game donning “Alaska” across her jersey, totaling 23 points and 12 boards. Jessica Madison also played her final game as a Seawolf, tallying 14 points, including four threes.

“I don’t think the first quarter is going to be very pretty,” said UAA coach Ryan McCarthy a week before the big game.

He couldn’t have been more correct.

There was a serious case of the big-game jitters as both teams combined for nine turnovers in the first three and a half minutes, many of which were unforced.

“At the beginning it was hard to work the nerves out in this huge arena and with a lot of our fans here,” said Lubbock Christian guard Nicole Hampton.

UAA had a large support group as well. Hundreds of Seawolf fans from all over the country made the expedition to Indianapolis to root for the Green and Gold.

The game naturally cleaned up and both squads settled down and returned to their championship-caliber ways.

LCU senior Kelsey Hoppel kickstarted things for her team, scoring eight of their first 10 points. This helped the Chaps rattle off 12 unanswered points during a stretch in which the Seawolves missed six shots. Jessica Madison cut off LCU’s scoring spree with a three-pointer at 1:01, but UAA trailed 18-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Besides Madison, Mullings was the only other player to score in the opening quarter for UAA. Mullings had seven points while Madison contributed six. It was clear that the height of the Chaps, the nation’s leading shot blocking team, was altering the game plan. Standing at six feet and five inches tall, LCU’s Kellyn Schnedier is eighth in the nation in blocks per game. Her three swats in the first quarter intimidated the Seawolves, as they had just two points in the paint.

Junior Kiki Robertson pushes the ball up the floor in the second half on the NCAA Div. II National Championship matchup against Lubbock Christian University.

Megan Mullings rises over Lubbock Christian’s Allison Szabo in the first quarter. Mullings finished her UAA career with 23 points and 12 rebounds.

UAA found their rhythm in the second quarter. Five different Seawolves scored in a row to trim the deficit to just one point. However, the Chaps’ length in their 2-3 zone forced the Seawolves to cough the ball up several more times, giving LCU opportunities in the fast break. Heading into the locker room at the break, Lubbock Christian held a 40-32 advantage.

LCU’s All-American guard Hampton was on triple-double watch, posting eight points, 11 rebounds, and five assists by halftime. The Seawolves had just four bench points and zero fast break points at the end of two quarters.

UAA senior Jenna Buchanan finally got on the board by knocking down a three to open the second half. Mullings’ layup suddenly made it just a one possession game with just a minute into the half, getting the Seawolf fans howling. Hoppel, who finished with 27 points, answered back for the Lady Chaps, pouring in ten straight, extending LCU’s lead to 55-45 by the 3:25 mark in the third.

Madison drilled a three-pointer to start the final quarter, one of several signs that the Seawolves still had gas in the tank.

UAA used its stifling full court press to power a late-push during the dwindling minutes of the game.

Down 14 points with under five minutes remaining, senior Keiahnna Engel’s three ignited a 12-2 run that helped the Seawolves climb within four points with 1:17 to go.

A runner by Hampton and an Adriana Dent miss put the game out of reach

though, and the undefeated Lubbock Christian Chaparrals were crowned Div. II women’s national champions.

“There is literally no better way to end your career,” said Hampton. “I hope we built a foundation to start off Division II for Lubbock.”

Hampton flirted with a quadrupledouble, piling 22 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, and seven steals.

“My teammates make me look better than I really am,” she said with a big grin on her face.

As a team ranked No. 1 in the nation and possessing zero losses on the year, one would assume there would be a lot of pressure on the Lady Chaps. Steve Gomez, who just completed his 12th season as head coach at LCU, had a unique way of scaling down the importance of basketball to his players.

“Our first team meeting this year was at a cemetery by an open tomb. We wanted to start with the end in mind, and that this year is not going to define these kids,” said Gomez. “If winning a national championship is the defining moment in their life then it is going to be an empty, frustrating life. I think that helped relieve some of the pressure, not being consumed by the game.”

Not all is lost.

Although the Seawolves came up shy on their quest for the trophy, the environment of the of the tournament was a dreamlike experience for UAA. “I know for a fact we haven’t been treated like this - ever,” said McCarthy.

“We are very excited to be here and play

on this stage with the Div. I and Div. III teams here and just a celebration of women’s basketball on the biggest stage.”

It is apparent that there is love and appreciation between everyone involved with the UAA women’s basketball program.

“If we had to do it over again and I knew the outcome, I’d still roll with this group here,” said McCarthy. “I just love being around this group, they worked so hard and they sacrificed so much.”

“If you can convince a group of 14 girls to do their absolute best, every single day…amazing things happen. Really amazing things happen,” said Mullings following the loss.

A record-breaking season has come to an end and for seven seniors, it’s the end of the road for their collegiate careers.

“One thing I will really miss about these seven seniors is they might bend, but they never break,” said McCarthy.

Madison, Mullings, Hampton, and Hoppel took four of the five NCAA Div. II All-Tournament team spots, while Hampton was honored with Most Outstanding Player.

Alysha Devine, a junior who will be returning to play for the Seawolves, will use this loss as motivation for next season.

“I don’t ever want to feel this way again, to be so close and to have to give that up, I think it will fuel our fire for next year.”

Watch out Dallas, you may be in for some Mayhem next season.

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2016

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, Our Legislature will be allowing concealed guns on UA campuses soon. Everything that can help Alaska’s students to get A’s in college needs to be done right now. In our down-turned economy, jobs are going to get harder and harder to get. Students that get A’s will be able to get the last remaining jobs in our state. A student that has a concealed gun is in a much better position to negotiate with the teacher to get the needed A in class than the student that does not have a concealed gun. The Legislature understands that if that is what the student needs in order to get an A in class, then so be it. Kudos to our Legislature for supporting Alaska’s students in getting the A’s in college that they need in order to be able to get a job.

John Suter suter@gci.net

EDITORIAL

By Kelly Ireland

editor@thenorthernlight.org

Dear Alaska State Legislators, Seven of my 16 staff are able to go to school because of the Alaska Performance Scholarship. Without it each of us probably wouldn’t have come to UAA or stayed in Alaska. On behalf of my staff and myself, I thank all of you in the senate finance committee who decided to kill SB 208 and keep the Alaska Performance Scholarship alive.

I personally would have had no desire to stay in Alaska after high school if it weren’t for the APS or UA Scholars program. I would have left the state and never looked back. I had scholarship opportunities at many of the schools I applied for, but the APS and UA Scholars scholarships gave me the closest to a full ride scholarship as I could get. Without them, I would have attended UMaine and taken out a student loan and never come back to the state. With them, I have been able to attend UAA pursuing a double major in journalism and biology and spend my free time giving back to my community in Alaska.

Most of my staff has similar stories to my own about how the scholarships they received kept them in Alaska.

Your decision to kill SB208 has been welcomed by students. We send you our resounding support in this decision.

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 2,500.

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The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of UAA or the Northern Light.­­­

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Requests for corrections can be sent to editor@thenorthernlight.org. Print publication is subject to accuracy and available space. All corrections are posted online with the original story at www.thenorthernlight.org.

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THE NORTHERN LIGHT CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kelly Ireland 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org MANAGING EDITOR Sam Davenport content@thenorthernlight.org COPY EDITOR Kathryn DuFresne copy@thenorthernlight.org NEWS EDITOR Victoria Petersen vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org SPORTS EDITOR Nolin Ainsworth sports@thenorthernlight.org ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Jordan Rodenberger jrodenberger@thenorthernlight.org STAFF REPORTERS Jake Johnson jjohnson@thenorthernlight.org PHOTO EDITOR Casey Peterson cpeterson@thenorthernlight.org STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Young Kim ykim@thenorthernlight.org LAYOUT EDITOR Demi Straughn

layout@thenorthernlight.org GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jian Bautista jbautista@thenorthernlight.org Inna Mikhailova Imikhailova@thenorthernlight.org MULTIMEDIA EDITOR George Hyde gchyde@thenorthernlight.org Shay Spatz srspatz@thenorthernlight.org ADVERTISING MANAGER Anthony Craig 786-6195 admanager@thenorthernlight.org MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE Milo Stickle-Frizzell marketing@thenorthernlight.org CONTRIBUTORS Jacob Holley-Kline Felipe Godoy Diaz Evan Dodd MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Zac Clark ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Stacey Parker OPEN POSITIONS A&E editor Assistant News Editor Features Editor Assistant Features Editor A&E Editor Assistant A&E Editor

CORRECTIONS In the April 5, 2016 edition of The Northern Light misspelled Cathryn Rasmuson

UAA

STAFF APPRECIATION AWARDS The following staff were named by UAA first or second-year students as “a person who has helped them succeed in college most� this year. Please join Mapworks, the Student Access, Advising and Transition team, and the university community as we recognize the great work you do every day to help our students succeed and persist to graduation. Your work supporting our first and second-year students has not gone unnoticed!

Amanda Metivier Amber Sims Cameron Turner Constance Carlisle Cricket Watt David House David Racki Deborah Ginsburg Erin Day Erin Nance Felipe Ruiz Georgia Dekeyser Heather Brekke Herb Ilisaurri Schroeder Hide Michel Holly Johanknecht Jake Klusewitz James Matthews Jennifer Medders Joanne Von Pronay Joey Sweet Jose Cardenas Josh Ciocco Joshua Gumlickpuk Joy Wannamaker Karen Haddock Karla Booth Kassi Saiki Congratulations from everyone at Mapworks and Student Access, Advising and Transition!

Leonidas Medal Leslie Helm Leslie Tuovinen Lynda Hernandez Marg Halloran Maria Weiss Marie Samson Marie-Sophie Boggasch Martha Massey Matt Thomas Michael Chamberlain Mohamed Niagne Molly Orheim Paula Fish Quentin Reuer Rachel Bonin Reilly Swammy Rhiannon Elliot Rocky DeGarmo Ryan Hill Sam Gonzalez Sheila Randazzo Shirlee Willis-Haslip Stephanie Trafton Stuart Greenfield Titus Hunt Tory Volden Younger Oliver