APRIL 17 - APRIL 23, 2018
A&E
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
SPORTS
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“Isolation” is the summer cocktail you didn’t know you were craving
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
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University helps injured athletes
Juried Student Show highlights talents from all majors
All were welcome to submit pieces to the art show to be judged by a juror By Joseph Diaz
jdiaz@thenorthernlight.org
The 2018 UAA Juried Student Art Show opened its doors on April 12 and will remain open to the public to view until April 27. Pieces were selected for awards by juror David Mollett from University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Arts Department. A juried art show is when a juror, normally someone with a lot of experience in the field, judges and rates works of art and decides which pieces are the best, according to their standards. The juror for this years art show, David Mollett, is a Fairbanks resident and a faculty member at UAF. Mollett has had his artwork shown at most public exhibitions in Alaska, and is known for his “strongly delineated forms, bright colors, and tight structuring.” He owns and operates the Well Street Art Company in Fairbanks, a gallery for contemporary art. “Each year we hire a new juror. We try to select new jurors based on their area of expertise to keep things varied every year,” Tyler Teese, student worker at the Hugh McPeck Gallery, said. The Juried Student Art Show started around 30 years ago as a way to allow students to dis-
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN CIELO
Students from a wide variety of majors submitted artwork to the 2018 UAA Juried Student Art Show, which opened at the Hugh McPeck Gallery on April 12. The pieces will be on display until April 27.
play their art in a public setting and to provide the chance to get feedback from professionals in the field. “If you are going to be an artist, graphic designer, or musician, it is all about building a following,” Sarah Haley, student manager of the Hugh McPeck Gallery, said. “We really want to get students’ artwork out there so people can know who the artists are as they are graduating,
they can build a portfolio, they have experience, they have had exhibitions, so it is ultimately giving them experience so that they can succeed in the future.” Something that catches the attention of most participants, according to Haley, is the $500 prize that is awarded to the winning piece. Artists in previous shows have ranged across art majors, to math and engineering majors.
“What is really nice about this is that everyone can submit a piece, it is not just limited to art majors,” Haley said. Artists who submit their artwork can either choose to sell it after the show is over, or they can pick their piece up after the exhibition closes. “The most expensive piece ever sold was sold for around $1,500. It was a very large lifelike ceramic, so it took a lot of
work to make it,” Haley said. “Artists like to see that there is a demand for their artwork.” The Hugh McPeck Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Entrance to the gallery is free.
University signs contract with Pearson Education
By Marie Ries
news2@thenorthernlight.org
The University of Alaska Anchorage recently signed a contract with the education publishing company Pearson. The agreement allows the university to start shifting from the traditional way of purchasing course materials to an inclusive access model. The inclusive access business model is becoming increasingly popular among universities across the nation. Publishers offering this model agree to offer digital course materials at the lowest cost available to universithenorthernlight.org
ties on contract. Pearson is operating in more than 70 countries and headquartered in Great Britain. The biggest portion of the company’s sales is generated in the United States. Monte Burton, manager of the UAA Campus Bookstore, says that with the contract, they are supposed to get the “best deal” for students. “If we find that book cheaper somewhere else, we can contact Pearson and say, ‘Hey, so and so has this book cheaper, can you lower the price?’” Burton said. Students will be able to acquire their materials from different sources if they prefer to do so. “No student has to do this,” Interim Chancellor Sam Gingerich said at the UAA Faculty Senate meeting on April 6. Students will have the option to opt out until the end of the add-drop period, Burton explained. If they go for the inclusive access plan, their stu-
dent account will automatically be charged with the costs of the digital copy. The textbook manager emphasizes the convenience of this new model for the students and the bookstore. “It is going to be completely digital and we won’t have to order something and have it shipped here,” Burton said. “It will be ready for the student day one going into class.” Students that prefer a hard copy to the digital one, but still want to stay in the inclusive action plan, have the option of getting a loose-leaf version of the textbook for an additional fee. “A lot of schools have already been doing this process for a few years now and they said most students end up not opting for the print version,” Burton said. “My experience here is that most students still like to have a print version, but we’ll see how that goes.” Faculty members voiced concerns about the contract restrict-
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ing their choice for course materials. This is not the case, according to Burton. “The contract in no way limits what the professor can pick [for their course materials],” Burton said. The bookstore is planning to do test-runs for inclusive access plans with other publishers as well. Veronica Howard, assistant professor of psychology and member of the Academic Computing, Distance Learning, Instructional Technology and eLearning, says the inclusive access strategy is supposed to be a “win-win-win situation.” “The student gets the book day one, they make progress, they don’t have to worry about things being delivered… The university wins because students… are more likely to succeed when they have their have their materials early. And obviously, it’s a win for the publisher because though they are charging everybody less they are @tnl_updates
guaranteed a revenue stream,” Howard said. “Whether this is going to be a good long-term plan is hard to say.” Howard is an advocator of open educational resources and part of the Inclusive Access Task Force that was formed to address concerns of faculty with the Pearson contract. The task force will also be looking at another part of the contract targeting data analytics for student success. The specifics of this portion have not been provided to the task force yet, according to Howard. “I don’t imagine that there’s anybody on this campus not dedicated to student success, but I think that we should have more information [about the contract],” Howard said. The inclusive access portion of the contract will be tested over the summer semester in biology and nutrition classes. More courses will be added to the plan in fall 2018.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
| 02
Senate subcommittee approves $5.5 million increase for UA budget By Mariah DeJesus-Remaklus mremaklus@thenorthernlight.org
The Senate Finance University of Alaska Subcommittee approved a $5.5 million increase for UA funding on April 4. That’s $5.5 million up from Gov. Walker’s amended request of $317 million, but still less than the UA Board of Regents’ request for $341 million. The House Finance Committee’s budget version for UA was $336 million. Sen. Berta Gardner, a member of the subcommittee, said that it’s not enough. Even a $10 million increase would only let the University “tread water.” “The problem is that the University... at a $10 million increase, they can maintain the status quo,” Gardner said. “So that’s the increases in all their fixed costs that they really can’t do much about. They have to pay the utilities, they have to keep the buildings warm and the snow plowed.” Gardner’s concerns involve boosting enrollment, investing in educators and continuing arctic research. The budget cuts that the University has faced “have been very damaging,” she said. With a budget of the UA subcommittee’s $322 million for fiscal year 2019, the University’s budget will have fallen from $370 million in fiscal year 2015, which is a total decrease of over $48 million in 5 years. That’s about a 13 percent reduc-
tion. “I’m disappointed and worried about the University,” Gardner said. Associate Vice President of Government Relations, Miles Baker, said that while the increase is small and not the Board’s request, it’s encouraging. “After four years of budget cuts, I think the fact that both the House and the Senate put money into our budget is an indication that there’s a pretty universal feeling that the University needs more money,” Baker said. Joey Sweet, a student representative on the Board of Regents, is optimistic about the legislature settling on an increase that is closer with the House’s number. Still, he hopes there won’t be much delay in finalizing the operating budget. “My biggest concern is how long the process could take. Last year, we didn’t have a budget until right before the start of the new fiscal year, which generated a lot of uncertainty throughout UA,” Sweet wrote in an email. “However, I think this year, the forecast is better and we won’t end up seeing that kind of delay again.” Sen. Bert Stedman, also on the UA subcommittee, was also unsure of the proposed $5.5 million figure, but for a different reason. During the April 4 meeting, he expressed concern about it being “too early” to start increasing the University’s budget. He said that he would have preferred a number that was closer to Gov. Walker’s to allow for more room while
the House and Senate discussed the budget in a conference committee. “We need to be careful what agencies we start increasing before we get our finances turned around,” Stedman said in the meeting. Sen. von Imhof found the increase to be appropriate. “We felt that an additional 5.5 million [dollars] was appropriate considering the total state budget that we have. Thinking about all 16 other agencies in addition to the University, including Health and Social Services and K12 education, we need to balance the needs of all agencies,” von Imhof said. Ultimately, Stedman, along with von Imhof and Sen. Anna MacKinnon, voted in support of the increase. Gardner voted against it. Baker said that there are a lot of fiscal challenges and issues being dealt with, such as the Permanent Fund and potential taxes, which worries him. “My concern is that any effort to resolve all those big, thorny issues and get everyone out of town--that the University’s budget doesn’t get quite the attention that we’d like to see it get,” Baker said. The Senate’s operating budget was voted on and presented on April 12. Now, it’s going to a conference committee, where both bodies of the legislature appoint conferees to work through any differences in their respective versions.
GRAPHIC BY MARIAH DEJESUS-REMAKLUS
Spring 2018 Residence Hall Association elections
PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN HILL
The Residence Hall Association serves as the student governing body for the residence halls and apartments on campus. The general assembly’s final meeting of the semester will be held April 22 at the Gorsuch Commons.
By Caleigh Jensen
cjensen@thenorthernlight.org
Elections for positions in the Residence Hall Association for the 2018-19 academic year were held on April 8. Positions were available exclusively to current residents living in the On-Campus Living community. The Residence Hall Association is the student governing body for the residence halls and apartments of UAA. RHA hosts open forums discussing the concerns of residents, helps create new policies and plans events for students. Members of RHA have a voice in the governance of the university through a voting seat in USUAA. According to Ryan Hill, RHA advisor, members of RHA have a wide variety of responsibilities. “Common responsibilities and re-
quirements are maintaining a 2.50 cumulative GPA, building and maintaining positive relationships with other organizations on campus and setting goals to accomplish together for the year,” Hill said. Other requirements include holding three weekly office hours and executing one social program per month. The positions available in this year’s election were president, vice president, national communications coordinator, business and administration manager and advocacy and outreach coordinator. Of the five positions, three were filled, with the rest to be appointed throughout the next year, according to Hill. Sarah Gray, third-year nursing major, ran for and was elected as president for the next academic year. The position was recommended to her by current president Alexis Harvey.
Gray wishes to continue the work that Harvey put in during her time as president. “[My plan is] to continue to push for the policies and activities supported by Alexis Harvey, and be open to listening to more suggestions made by students. The thing I want to accomplish most is making sure that students feel listened to,” Gray said. Duties of RHA president include formulating agendas for all meetings, preparing a budget for the fiscal year, acting as the official spokesperson and having signature authority for RHA and representing the concerns of RHA to administrators at UAA and members of the community. Gray has experience as a delegate for USUAA, member of the Seawolf Debate team and Resident Advisor. She feels these opportunities have helped her gain effective communication skills, and have prepared her for the RHA president position. “My motto truly is ‘Sarah Gray… Willing to make it work,’” Gray said. “I can’t promise the world to students, but what I can promise is that the student’s interests and needs will be heard and expressed to those who need to hear it.” Dakota Seibert, a sophomore in mechanical engineering and Resident Advisor, was elected into the vice president position. RHA recently passed new bylaws to create the official position of vice president, according to Seibert, making him the first. Seibert hopes to promote the growth of the Residence Hall Association through his new role as vice president. “I want to work with Residence Life
and the campus as a whole to get people more involved with RHA,” Seibert said. “It’s a really good stepping stone for someone who wants to go on to join USUAA or something like that, so it would be helpful for students to start here in RHA and branch out later.” The main duty of vice president will be communicating with the student and staff representatives from Residence Life, helping them connect with residents and attend RHA meetings. Seibert would also step in as president if the current president is no longer able to continue. Kris Morse, a senior applied technologies leadership major, will be RHA’s national communications coordinator for the second year in a row. Morse ran for a second time because he felt that he “had just gotten into what changes need to happen to improve the living experience for residents on-campus,” and has set goals for himself to accomplish in the coming year. “Some of the projects I hope to accomplish this year are increasing dining options, improving the internet connection issues and improving the maintenance of pathways and parking lots during the winter,” Morse said. Morse believes that being involved with RHA is always beneficial. “It is the best way for the resident’s voices to be heard, and a way for them to provide input on any changes that may occur,” Morse said. “It also allows for individuals to advocate for the needs of their fellow residents.” The final Residence Hall Association general assembly meeting of the semester will take place on April 22 in the Gorsuch Commons lower dining room.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
| 03
Students discuss plan to use PFD for supporting the state budget
GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
By Marie Ries
news2@thenorthernlight.org
This article was a project by UAA JPC 201 students. Contributors include Malia Barto, Kara Viotto, Austin Michie, Mary Ryan and Elena Peyton Jones. The annual Alaska Permanent Fund dividend payment was first established in 1981 to spread the benefit of oil income throughout the state to cushion the Alaskan economy. The PFD is an extra check that every Alaskan looks forward to every October. However, the state is suffer-
ing sharp declines in oil revenue, and is in a recession. Gov. Bill Walker and the state legislature have reduced the PFD by about 50 percent for the last two years. For this year, the dividend would be expected to amount to $2,700 if the traditional formula were to be applied, but the legislature may settle on $1,600. The legislature in Juneau is considering a proposal to use earnings from the Permanent Fund to bolster the state budget. Part of it would also change the formula for the PFD, lowering the rate at which it grows. This would leave more money for investment in public services like road maintenance and educa-
tion. Would Alaskans accept a smaller PFD check to help the state budget and assure the payment for the long term at a lower level? The opinions about this issue differ greatly. “I am perfectly fine with a lower dividend amount if it means that social services, education and other public agencies will have the fund they need to provide for Alaskans who need their services,” Shayne Nuesca, journalism major, said. Lucas Wright, a UAA student, said he is willing to take the cut. He hopes that improving public services could help resolve more problems in Alaska. “My bike had been stolen twice over two years. I’ll take no check if it means fixing the problem. I’m just sick of my bike being stolen,” Wright said. Some students are convinced that using any money from the PFD for public services would not be beneficial for the state. Catherine Helburg, marketing major, prefers keeping the higher dividend. She doubts that a higher state budget would lead to long-term improvements in the state’s infrastructure. “No matter what, we’re always going to have to work on maintenance, we’re always go-
ing to work on rebuilding and fixing up things,” Helburg said. Christian Bullard, economics major, also thinks that the PFD should not be used to bolster the state budget. “If you distribute the money to the citizens in the form of a PFD, then it’s very likely that the state is going to retain all that money, it’s going to circulate through our Alaskan economy,” Bullard said. “If you let the state have it then it’s uncertain where that money goes. So, at that point I would just rather give it to the people, the citizens.” Other UAA students are undecided about this question, recognizing both advantages and disadvantages. “I don’t know. I’m really on the fence on that one. I can see the benefits of both. In the past I have relied heavily on the PFD. But I see how the state could really use the money because it is hurting,“ Hattie Schmidtkunz, civil engineering major, said. For Anchorage resident Caleb Brown, the answer to the question depends on the purposes the extra money would be used for. “Considering that the government can’t spend money responsibly, it’d be a hard sell,” Brown said. What the money will be used for is an important factor in his
decision. Brown said he would be more likely to give parts of his PFD for the support of public schools than for universities or infrastructure. “The university should be a self-sustaining entity. We shouldn’t be funding them with the dividend. Road maintenance is more on the state not being able to properly spend money,” Brown said. Matthew Berman, professor of economics, emphasizes that the reduction of the equalamount dividend would affect some more than others, depending on personal income. “Permanent fund dividends are more important for people with low income because they don’t have as much money. The answer to the question of how big the PFD should be based on how you feel on the income and wealth disparities [in Alaska],” Berman said. Berman has been working in UAA’s Institute of Social and Economic Research for 37 years, and part of his research focuses on the effects of reducing poverty through the PFD. “Poverty in Alaska was lower than it looked, but it’s going up now because Permanent Fund dividends are lower and they do materially reduce poverty,“ Berman said.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
| 04
College Cookbook: Quick Dash Films shows off collaborative talents in short films Celebrate with a slice of jackfruit cassava cake Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. 2. Before mixing everything in, make sure the packs of cassava are thawed out. 3. In a bowl, pour the grated cassava, egg, sugar, melted butter, one can of coconut milk and one can of condensed milk. Mix the ingredients together until it creates a creamy, even texture. By Mizelle Mayo
features2@thenorthernlight.org
Whenever there was a celebration of some sort, my mother would make her famous jackfruit cassava cake. Before I lived in Anchorage, I spent the first four years of my life in Utqiaġvik, that was where my mother’s best friend taught her how to make the Filipino dessert. Since then, my mother has been perfecting her golden colored jackfruit cassava cake. A cassava is a starchy root from a tropical tree, and a cassava cake is a well-known Filipino dessert that uses grated cassava to create soft and chewy texture. The serving size varies from 5 to 10 people. Ingredients: • 2 packs of grated cassava (you can find this at Lucky Market on 5011 Arctic Blvd Drive) • 2 cans of coconut milk • 2 cans of condensed milk • 1 egg • 1/4 cup butter, melted • 1 20 oz. can of jackfruit • 1/2 cup of sugar
4. Pour the batter into a 15-by10-inch baking dish. Make sure the mix is evenly distributed in the dish. 5. Open the can of jackfruit and drain the juice out. Place each individual jackfruit in rows on top of the mixture. 6. Turn the oven temperature down to 400°F. Place the baking dish in the oven for 45 minutes. 7. While the bottom layer is cooking in the oven, preheat the stove to medium heat. 8. Pour the remaining coconut and condensed milk in a sauce pan and keep stirring until the cream is thick and boiling. Set aside. 9. Take the cassava cake layer out of the oven once it is golden brown and pour the cream on top evenly. 10. Put the cake back in the oven and turn the oven temperature to the lowest broil setting. Let the cake broil until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes in the oven. 11. Once golden on top, let cool before serving.
PHOTO BY MIZELLE MAYO
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAMES KENDALL
Behind the scenes of Quick Dash Films’ latest short film, “The Red Fox.”
By Malia Barto
arts@thenorthernlight.org
Brothers James and John Kendall are making short films for now, but hope to someday create a feature film. The Kendall brothers grew up in Eagle River making fun, short films with friends and family to enlighten those around them. James Kendall is a UAA theatre major and John Kendall is a UAA alumnus, with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Their love for filmmaking is fueled for a love for good movies and other inspiring filmmakers and directors. “When I was probably 12, [John] showed me the movie ‘Snatch’... it’s basically about these guys in a rat-race for a diamond and it was the first movie I’d seen where they had these intense action scenes, but a lot of comedy to it. It was really well-shot. After that, I was like, ‘I wanna makes something like that, that was cool.’ Through years of trial and error, I ended up where I am now,” James Kendall said. Some of the directors the brothers look up to are Edgar Wright, Wes Anderson, the Coen brothers and Stanley Kubrick. Their YouTube channel, Quick Dash Films, has almost two dozen videos of short films, infomercials, behind-the-scenes and trailers to entertain their subscribers, family and friends. They started their channel back in 2010 and are continuing their work purely out of enjoyment. The editing process for the brothers and their crew can take up to around two months after approximately two and half days of shooting the material and the time spent in pre-production of writing the script, casting characters and getting the materials together. “It’s so easy to have the idea, but actually asking, ‘How do I pace this?’ ‘How do I make it clear to anyone that reads this what I intend?’ I mean, writing a feature can take a year, depending on how much free time
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES KENDALL
The cast and crew of Quick Dash Films’ newest, unreleased short, “Wellaway.”
you have,” John Kendall said. Continual filmmaking improvements as the years go on can be seen on their YouTube channel. Their latest short film “The Red Fox,” which came out in March is an example of the work to come. The 12-and-ahalf minute film shows off some quality editing skills, wellcaptured shots and believable sound effects and special effects makeup. The film starts out intense and quite bloody, giving a serious vibe out at first but the resolution to the plot’s problem is perhaps unexpectedly lighthearted. “[They] do a good job,” Sam Zeller, UAA’s media support technician, said. “[James] is super organized which is really different to seem from other student filmmakers. He has preproduction and post-production meetings, he’s got an assistant director who handles communications… He’s getting into the actual organization of how films work.” Zeller helped on the set of “The Red Fox” and Quick Dash Films’ current post-production short, “Wellaway.” James and John Kendall sometimes act in their own films, John Kendall recently portraying the hard-to-crack Agent Stone in “The Red Fox,” but if they’re behind the camera instead, the brothers have great actors they can write for that would best suit their acting skills, as well as friends in the art department for cinematography.
The Kendalls’ brother, George, is part of the team too. He was said to be on more of the business side of their organization while James and John are more on the creative side, but appeared in “The Red Fox” as the title character. The Kendalls’ nephew, Roman Stiehr, has been a part of Quick Dash Films for a while, too. He can been seen in their older, four-part western series, “Western Justice” where he plays not only the sheriff, but the bad guys, too. “Just that whole collaborative community just makes everything better,” John Kendall said. Quick Dash Films hopes are to have their creations turn into something more, perhaps to have a feature film one day and to turn filmmaking into their career. “Something that always makes it really worth it for me, since I’m not getting a ton of feedback on this stuff, is the little comments people make like one of my friends saying, ‘Oh my gosh, that was so funny.’ That’s always such a victory for me because it’s just some dumb idea me and John had that we put all this time and money into and got people to forget what they had going on for the day and laugh at our stupid ideas,” James Kendall said. To watch their content or see what they’re creating next, visit their YouTube channel Quick Dash Films, like them on Facebook or follow them on Instagram, @quickdashfilms.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
| 05
Shakespeare-ing things up By Malia Barto
arts@thenorthernlight.org
ENGL A424, a class fittingly named “Shakespeare” looks at the famous writer’s work and how his content and philosophy can be applied to today’s day and age. “He’s arguably the greatest English poet. I think that’s why the university has a class on him, opposed to Marlowe or Ben Jonson,” Patrick Czyz said. The class is a English literature upperclassman requirement, but can also be a useful upperclassman elective for any major, if the prerequisites are fulfilled. Four students in the class, Ben Kraft, Amani McCummings, Makayla Newman and Czyz are all English majors and all have a fondness to Shakespeare’s work. Kraft, who is a double major in English and philosophy, enjoys Shakespeare for more than his writing. “Shakespeare is not only a good writer but his philosophy on humanism is wellthought out and better argued than writers who are just philosophers,” Kraft said.
For McCummings, this class was something to look forward to during the school year. “I’m really picky with what I like to read,” McCummings said. “Shakespeare is something I can stomach, even with a lot of homework.” Shakespeare can be a good class for anyone and the group recommends it for students who may know some things about Shakespeare or not at all. “Because of how [Shakespeare] has influence, he’s interesting to read, learn and write about. It’s a great class,” Newman said. The English class divided up to find ways to advocate Shakespeare out into the local community. The students each wrote a small piece about Shakespeare relating to different topics. The remainder of the group’s essays can be read in the online version of this story at thenorthernlight.org. In the English Context - Ben Kraft Shakespeare is the standard author of Western canon. Much of English literature, not just theater and poetry, is both
characterized and related to writing in virtually all writing aspects of fiction, history, rhetoric, theology, and philosophy. Much of Shakespeare’s influence is so pervasive it is taken for granted: The sonnet has survived history as one of the eminent poetic forms because Shakespeare embraced it, and his focus on humanism, a philosophy of the inherent value of people as they are without holding them to idealized standards, has had an arguable impact on virtually every wellknown philosophical writer in the West since his time. However, the class is also a critique of his attempts to platform on race, anti-Semitism, and gender, observing which techniques achieved enduring success and which have not survived into contemporary social criticism. While such class activity is standard in the English degree, the way the content relates to social issues is always surprising. As examples, in Othello we discussed whether racist views are inherently motivating; in Much Ado About Nothing, we investigated the consequences of failing to listen to and protect victims; in Hamlet, much of the Freudian psychology used in the past century is unpacked from
within the title character; and in Henry V, themes of nationalism had us thinking about what makes someone follow a leader and what creates or legitimizes authority in the first place. One of the most important topics studied is the form, function, and focus of Shakespeare’s plays and poetry, which is helpful even to those who have no interest in literary criticism. Creative writers, theater-goers, and readers of almost any genre could benefit from taking any of the University’s classes that involve Shakespeare, from English to the Theater department.
UAA alumnus Dimitri Shein runs for Congress
PHOTO COURTESY OF DIMITRI FOR CONGRESS
Dimitri Shein moved to Alaska in 1993, and met his wife, Melissa, while attending West High School. Together, they have six children, four of whom were adopted in 2016.
By Mariah DeJesus-Remaklus mremaklus@thenorthernlight.org
Dimitri Shein, Democratic candidate, is running for Alaska’s seat this year in the U.S. House of Representatives. “I feel like our country is kind of in a low point right now in terms of our democracy, in terms of being able to hear the truth,” Shein said. “If you’re ever going to participate in your democracy and political process, this is a good time because it’s at the very lowest. So, if you’re able to make things better, you should step forward and run.” Shein immigrated from Vladivostok, Russia to Alaska in 1993 with his mother when he was 12 years old. He went to Central Middle School while they were living at the Abused Women’s Aid In Crisis shelter, then went to West High School where he met his wife, Melissa. They now have six children, four of whom were adopted in 2016. At UAA, Shein majored in accounting and graduated in 2003, then opened up an accounting firm. This allowed him to
travel to rural Alaska to work with tribal councils and village corporations, helping with funds for their projects. He’s also been able to travel to places such as China for his e-commerce company called Nice Planter. The company manufactures planters using metals ranging from stainless steel to powder-coated aluminum. With this background in trade and business, Shein hopes to help Alaskans that want to focus on being involved in the economy. “We’re talking about issues that are important for Alaskans and the issues that I feel are important, not only now but also for next generation of Alaskans and that affect our economy now going forward,” Shein said. Another one of Shein’s primary interests is pushing for universal access to healthcare. He said that the healthcare system is outdated. “I remember when I was going to UAA, my coverage was spotty so I could’ve gotten hurt and not had access to healthcare,” Shein said. “Medicare for all, when passed, will be a major benefit for younger people who want to start
their own businesses and who want to go to school.” People shouldn’t have to choose between healthcare and education, he said. Melissa Shein, a family physician at the Southcentral Foundation, wants to see long-term solutions to issues that she sees, like poverty, substance abuse and unemployment. “I would like to see more leaders who operate from a standpoint that allows all people in our state and country to have opportunities to receive a great education, health care, and job opportunities,” she added. “I believe Dimitri is this type of person, and I hope he can not only be a part of creating a bright future for Alaskans, but inspire more young people with new energy and ideas like him to do the same.” Arianna Cocallas, staffer for Shein’s campaign, said that progressive messages can be drowned out in Alaska. “I think oftentimes in Alaska progressive messages or Democrats have gotten drowned out by this ‘We don’t think Democrats are going to win’... and we just kind of assume Republicans or conservatives are going to win,” Cocallas said. People do support the issues that Shein is running for, she added. Getting younger people involved in politics and business is also a large focus
of Shein’s campaign. Part of their efforts have been to attend university events, especially at UAA, to understand what their priorities are. Shein is also interested in participating in a debate with the UAA Seawolf Debate team in hopes to make conversation between candidates and the younger generation. “I think it would be a great tradition to start to get younger people and college students involved in the political process of actual candidates for public office,” Shein said. “It would be a great way to test how legit and how much substance there is to their platform and policy.” For Melissa Shein, Alaska has unique resources and “great people” to help solve its biggest problems. “We have the capacity to make great things happen for our state. We just need to have a forward-thinking plan and leaders who aren’t afraid to discuss these things,” she said. Despite Alaska’s needs, Shein is optimistic about the state. “We have great culture, wonderful history and we have very resilient people here in Alaska,” Shein said. “I think when times get tough, we’ll pull together and solve problems.” Shein’s campaign information can be found at dimitriforcongress.com.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
| 06
Summer 2018 has arrived in Kali Uchis’ ‘Isolation’
By Robin O’Donoghue arts2@thenorthernlight.org
As winter retreats and snow continues to melt, the promise of summer glimmers in the near future, Kali Uchis’ debut studio album “Isolation” hints at the relaxing summer days to come with tracks such as “Miami” and “Flight 22” that capture the essence of dazed and dreamy afternoons. Uchis, who has cultivated a following that recognizes her for the retro sound of her music, first rose to recognition in 2015 with her self-released EP “Poor Vida.” Often singing in both Spanish and English on the same
track, or even the same sentence, the Colombian-American artist has developed a devoted fan-base since 2012 when she first began releasing her music and stylistic videos. While Uchis’ “Poor Vida” largely seemed to gravitate towards themes of loneliness, failing relationships and the struggles that befall a young adult, in “Isolation,” Uchis seems to find comfort in these motifs, rather than despair. Listening to “Isolation,” Uchis appears to be embracing the limitless freedom that comes with solitude, and the power that comes with withdrawing from the present in order to turn an optimistic gaze towards the future. On April 6, Uchis blessed fans of alternative and soulful music once again with her eclectic style and recognizable smooth vocals spanning multiple genres such as; R&B, reggaeton, hip hop, neo-soul, among other influences. Prior to the album’s release, Uchis released three singles, most notably “Tyrant” and “After the Storm.” “All I hear is sirens in world so violent,” Uchis sings in “Ty-
rant” featuring Jorja Smith, a song which seems to be self aware and reflective of the chaotic world many young people live in today. In “After the Storm,” featuring Tyler the Creator, Uchis comforts fans in her unique way. Any fan of Lana Del Rey is sure to find Uchis’ music irresistible, melancholy and perfectly depressing. Like Del Rey, Uchis has mastered the art of finding a home in the motif of emotional turmoil and perpetual sadness. “The sun’ll come out, nothing good ever comes easy, I know times are rough, But winners don’t quit, So don’t you give up,” are the lyrics in the mellowed out, calming haze that is “After the Storm,” a song perfect to tide someone over after a bad day. In “After the Storm,” Uchis and Tyler the Creator strike a balance between her retrosound and his deep voice, a juxtaposition hand crafted for easy listening. Uchis continues on this trip of self-empowerment with a new anthem for anyone who has recently broke up with a lover or friend. “You’re dead to me, you’re
obsessed with me, just let me go, you’re dead to me, I’m not somebody that you know,” Uchis sings in the song “Dead To Me,” a burst of colorful and electronic emotions. While “Isolation” for the most part lives in it’s little niche of hazy and mellow-sounding music, a few upbeat tracks like “Just a Stranger” featuring Steve Lacy and “Your Teeth In My Neck” balance the album out by adding energy. “She don’t want love, she wants my hundred-dollar bill,” Lacy sings on the playful coun-
ter-chorus. “Isolation” is the summer cocktail you didn’t know you were craving. Uchis captures the beauty of youth and freedom, but doesn’t sugarcoat or shy away from addressing the hardships that befall young people as they struggle to navigate life, love and hustle to make ends meet. It’s the perfect album for any person seeking to recline, relax and momentary escape.
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
This week at the Bookstore: Coffee, cartoons, and the meaning behind ancient ‘Fire Trees’ By Robin O’Donoghue arts2@thenorthernlight.org
There are two unique upcoming events being held in the UAA Bookstore Loft on April 20 and 21. On Friday, April 20, the Bookstore is presenting “George Gee presents Flutters from Side Street: Dry Erase Drawings, Social Discourse and Political Ramblings” from 4 - 6 p.m. George Gee, along with wife Deborah Seaton, opened Side Street Espresso in 1992. Soon after opening the cafe, located on G St. in downtown Anchorage, Side Street Espresso began gaining local notoriety for the dry erase artwork the cafe debuted daily on its whiteboards, reflecting and commenting on local issues and politics. In 1997, Gee began to preserve the daily artwork by taking pictures of the whiteboards, ultimately resulting in his book “Flutters from Side Street: Volume One, Dry Erase Drawings, Social and Political Commentary, and Reflections From A Morning Walk to Work.” The book is a collection of dry erase drawings that highlight pieces of Anchorage and American history. “George Gee is an amazing person with a lot of stories… He is a big part of the Anchorage landscape,” Rachel Epstein, special events coordinator for the Bookstore, said. “George has done so much for the people of Anchorage with his kindness and unique personality… George has a great heart, and whether you’re new to Anchorage or you’ve lived here a long time, it will be a great experience.” The following day, April 21,
from 1 - 3 p.m., the Bookstore will host an event called “Author and Artist Mary Ida Henrikson presents The Mystery of the Fire Trees in Southeast Alaska, with Dr. Steven Langdon.” Mary Ida Henrickson was born and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska. According to the event description, Henrickson was “surprised when she realized she had an ancient cedar on her property that appeared to have been altered for fire storage.” This realization prompted her to investigate the trees further and discover “dozens of other centuries-old trees with deeply burned interiors.” After researching the trees in detail, Henrickson wrote a book, titled,
“The Mystery of the Fire Trees, An Artist’s Quest for an Ancient Truth,” which was published in 2017. Henrickson will be joined at the event by anthropologist Steve Langdon, as well as journalist, publisher and author, Lael Morgan. “I think many people in the community will come and talk about culture… Alaska native culture but also nature, what we learn from the footprint of nature, and what the story is behind these trees,” Epstein said. Both events are free to attend and open to the public. Parking is free at UAA on both Fridays and Saturdays.
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SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
Athletics aids athletes in coverage of surgery costs
UAA ATHLETE
SURGERIES
2015-16
2016-17
10
13
SCHOOL YEAR
SURGERIES
SCHOOL YEAR
SURGERIES
$72,177.17
$127,648.65
AMOUNT PAID
AMOUNT PAID GRAPHIC BY LEVI BROWN
By Cheyenne Mathews cmathews@thenorthernlight.org
By Marie Ries
news2@thenorthernlight.org
Sustaining serious injuries as a UAA athlete can have a serious emotional, physical and financial toll. Cam Amantea, forward right wing on the UAA hockey team, has suffered through a fractured toe and a recurrent shoulder injury. Between both injuries, he has had four surgeries as recent as a month ago. “It’s such a high-impact and high-speed sport, you kind of know what you are getting into, more or less, when you commit to playing hockey at a high level,” Amantea said. “There’s not a lot of guys that I know, at least, that haven’t been injured in some way; like, not surgeries necessarily, but broken bones or stitches or anything like that. It’s just part of the game.” Amantea said he spends most of his weekdays doing physical therapy for his injuries before his routine hockey training. “Guys who are hurt obvi-
ously have to put in a lot more effort to get back to where they were and better than where they were,” Amantea said. Last year, UAA paid $127,648.65 to help athletes recieve 13 surgeries, according to information obtained through public record requests from Interim Director of Athletics Tim McDiffett. “The school helped out a lot for everything that’s happened here,” Amantea said. “Stuff from the past, like my first shoulder surgery, the school couldn’t help out just because it happened beforehand… Technically, in a way, they weren’t liable for it.” Interim Head Athletic Trainer, Rachel Butler, wrote in an email that the athletes she worked with the most this semester are from women’s basketball, gymnastics, cross-country, track and field, alpine and Nordic skiing. “Every rehab is different,” Butler wrote. “Often rest (or relative rest) is the first step. Then they progress through exercises to regain functional activities for normal life, then strengthen-
ing exercises. Often this is combined with various pain management techniques as well.” Maria Gudmundsdottir, member of the alpine ski team, suffered a knee injury in May 2016 and has undergone surgeries since then. “I think when you are in the situation you just do it,” Gudmundsdottir said. “You don’t really have a choice, you just take it day by day. There’s definitely times when it’s hard mentally to be injured, but overall, I don’t even know actually how I do it.” Gudmundsdottir flew back to home country of Norway for her surgery — which she said was covered by her insurance — but spends two hours a day, six days a week in physical therapy and training. NCAA rules state that student athletes must have insurance covering athletic-related injuries. That is their primary insurance and the university insurance functions as a secondary source of coverage. “Medical decisions are ultimately up to the student athlete,” McDiffett wrote in an email. “The insurance just provides a financial resource to the student athlete so they can pursue appropriate medical care. Not every injury requires surgery, in fact, most do not.” Butler said there are several NCAA rules that dictate which injuries need medical clearance before a student athlete can compete again. “If a student athlete is a diagnosed concussion, yes, they have to have medical clearance to compete again,” Butler said. “If a student athlete undergoes surgery, then they have to have medical clearance. If a student athlete is undergoing care for certain injuries — such as a sore muscle or mild ankle sprain — the athletic trainers work closely with the coaching staff to progress the student athlete back to sport as the athlete tolerates.” For the 2015-2016 academic year, the university helped pay for 10 surgeries.
PHOTO BY KAROLIN ANDERS
UAA hockey forward Cam Amantea has had four surgeries over several years for a fractured toe and a recurrent shoulder injury.
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SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon, Salmon Run and more summer fun By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org
Looking to get a head start on your summer plans? There are many options of activities and events taking place this year, some already have registration open and filling up quickly. With only three weeks left until summer break, it is never too early to start making summer plans to get outdoors and physically active. One the most prominent events is the Gold Nugget Triathlon, returning for its 35th year. The event this year is taking place on May 20 and currently has open registration. A second popular summer event is the Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon and Half Marathon, taking place on June 23. Registration has been open the entire year, but prices increase the closer it gets to the event. In addition, many other road and trail races take place during the summer, including the Anchorage Salmon Run on May 6, comprised of a 2K, 5K and 10K on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Specific to the Anchorage Running Club, three events are hosted during the summer months. The Trent Waldron Half Marathon and 10K is on May 26, the Boondocks 5K is on July 8 and the Masters’ 5K and 10K are July 11.
A unique event that takes place every year is the Twilight 12K, a 7 p.m. race, taking place on June 1. A Skinny Mini 6K is also paired with the event. One day later on June 2 is the 44th annual Arctic Valley Run, either a 5 or 12.6 mile run. Registration is currently open and will stay open until the race day. There will be a price increase the day of the race. There are options for children to stay active in the summertime, too. Two hockey camps are available, both UAA affiliated and for children ages 6-13. Both coached by current UAA athletes and official staff, the first one is the Seawolf Sports Camp, broken up into two segments, May 29 - June 29 and July 9 - Aug. 17. The second is the UAA Hockey Academy, June 11 - 29 and July 9 - 13. All camps are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information can be found at www.goseawolves.com A summer triathlon for children also starts in less than a month; on May 12, the Trailside Kids Triathlon takes place. The event is hosted by Healthy Futures and Trailside PTA. For more suggestions about getting out and about this summer, visit www.anchoragerunningclub.com or www.anchorage.net/events.
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Outstanding Alaskans inducted into Hall of Fame By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org
The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization established to highlight the sports and athletes that Alaska produces. One of the organization’s many events is its annual induction ceremony to honor the inductees to the Hall of Fame, which takes place on April 24. Included in the 2018 inductees are Holly Brooks, Virgil Hooe, Dolly Lefever, Andrew Kurka, Kikkan Randall, Roxy Wright, Jim Mahaffey, DaJonee Hale, Alissa Pili, Gus Schumacher and Brenner Furlong. The ceremony includes the recognition of the Directors Awards, including the winners for the Pride of Alaska Award, both male and female, the Joe Floyd Award and the Trajan Langdon Award. The Pride of Alaska Award is characterized by “consistent excellence in athletic competition.” Despite there only being one male and one female category, there were actually three winners, with two women tying for the title. Randall and Wright were the 2018 winners. The Hall of Fame chose to recognize Randall for her outstanding performance at the Winter Olympics and her first ever gold medal for the U.S. Nordic Ski Team. In addition, Wright was recognized for the same award due to her long-lasting contribution to the sled dog community. Wright originally retired from sled dog racing 21 years ago after repeated years of success, however, she returned to the scene in 2017. Even after a lengthy retirement, Wright didn’t lose any of her skill; she came back to win two more races. She competed in and came out first in both the North American Championship and the Fur Rendezvous Open World Championships. Wright’s first place win for the North American Championship was the fourth time she had clinched the title. “I never thought I would be back there, [everything that hap-
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANKIE FOUGANTHIN
Kikkan Randall at the Royal Palace Sprint, part of the FIS World Cup 2012/2013, in Stockholm on March 20, 2013. Randall, along with 10 other Alaska athletes, will be inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame on April 24 at the Anchorage Museum.
pened] was truly a gift and I had an awesome dog team that I didn’t even own, so I am thankful for that,” Wright said. As for the men’s Pride of Alaska Award, Kurka, one of the two 2018 Winter Paralympic competitors took the title. At the Paralympics, Kurka won gold in the downhill and silver in the Super G. Kurka also won three medals — gold, silver and bronze — at the 2017 World Para Alpine Championships. The Joe Floyd Award was awarded “for significant and last contribution to Alaska through sports,” to long-time coach and sports activist Mahaffey. During the past 55 years that Mahaffey has lived in Alaska, he has helped found the Equinox Marathon and Tuesday Night Runs, in addition to serving as the coach for the UAF ski team and Alaska Methodist University. Even at 87, Mahaffey is still very active in the community, continuing to ski and volunteer. The Director’s Award was credited to Hale, an All-American basketball player at Central Methodist University. Despite her past issues with homelessness and expulsion
from school, the Wasilla local was able to overcome her difficulties to find success. “I made the decision that I didn’t want that life, so I wrote a letter to the school board and basically explained what happened to me, and that journey and everything that I had been through, and basically asked them to let me come back, and play [basketball] for one more year,” Hale said. Hale’s coach, Gregory Ray, is extremely grateful for her hard work and dedication; she is the only woman in school history to surpass 2,000 career points, doing so while also clinching a spot on the CMU Dean’s List. “You know, talent can win games but your heart is what keeps going and gets you to beat those hard games, the ones you never thought you were [going to win],” Hale said. The five Director’s Award recipients will be joined by the seven other individuals that are being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 24 at the Anchorage Museum at 7 p.m. More information can be found at http://alaskasportshall. org.
OPINION
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
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Anchorage should be Alaska’s capital
By Caleb Berry
cberry@thenorthernlight.org
Caleb Berry is a senator for USUAA. The debate to move the Alaska State Capital from Juneau to Alaska is nothing new. The debate began in the 1960s, and in 1974, a measure to move the state capitol was approved under the administration of Governor Hammond. The effort died, not only because of the cost of the move but because of the mutual mistrust of Alaska’s two largest cities; Anchorage and Fairbanks. Anchorage should be Alaska’s capital. To support this argument it is necessary to examine why past efforts have failed. The 1974 measure included a provi-
sion that forbade either Anchorage or Fairbanks to become the new capital if the capital was moved from Juneau. The new capital could also not be within 30 miles of either city under the provision. This was an absurd provision that eliminated the two most reasonable replacement capitals. This restriction was included because politicians and business people of both cities did not want an opposing city to gain the benefits of being the state capitol. According to “Alaska: A History,” by Claus Naske, his left the Alaskan people with few viable options to consider that did not come with an outrageous price tag of at least $2.5 billion. The Alaskan people chose Willow as the new location of the capital. The only problem is that over one-fifth of the $2.5 billion burden would have to be shouldered by the state. The project could have been funded via bond proposition or from oil revenues but neither option appealed to the Alaskan people, according to the Alaska Review, a legislature and Alaska Humanities Forum-sponsored program that aired in the 1970s. There are multiple justifications for the Alaskan people to entertain the idea of replacing Juneau as the capital with Anchorage. Anchorage is by far Alaska’s largest city. In 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau released a population estimate reporting that Anchorage holds a population of approximately 294,356 people out of a
statewide population of 739,795 people, which is almost 40 percent of the state population. A 2017 estimate of Juneau’s population declares the capital’s population to be just above 32,000. It is unreasonable to argue that a state’s largest city should always be its capital; however, politicians are public servants. Public servants should be within reasonable proximity to the people they serve. At the very least, doesn’t Anchorage’s population justifies continued entertainment of the idea of making it the seat of our state government? Not all states make their most populated city their capital. Sacramento is California’s capital, despite the fact Los Angeles has far more citizens; however, most states at least have their capital in an area that is comparable to the state’s larger cities. There have been over a dozen different efforts since the 1980’s to move the state capital away from Juneau. Each one of the efforts are available to the public on the Alaska Division of Elections homepage. Each of these have ended in failure with the chief reason being the cost of such a project. In 2015, Senator Bill Stoltze (R) went public with plans to move the state legislature to Anchorage. Keep in mind this effort was not even to necessarily move the official capital, just the legislative sessions. The State of Alaska does cur-
rently offer estimates about how much it would cost to move the capital. The Alaska Division of Elections homepage does, however, offer each measure to move the capital that has ever been formally considered as well as a vote count. In 1982 a measure to move the state capitol to Willow failed by over 10,000 votes. According to Katie Moritz, reporter for Juneau Empire, the move was estimated to potentially cost taxpayers $2.8 billion at the time. Make no mistake it would cost the State of Alaska a significant expense to move the capital to Anchorage. According to Tim Bradner, writing for the Alaska Journal of Commerce, in 2016 the state faced a $3.5 billion dollar deficit. The Alaskan economy is slowly improving; however, that does not mean now is the time to recklessly pursue extravagant projects without proper forethought. The relative inaccessibility of Juneau makes it an inferior option as a capital, at least when compared to Anchorage. The people have tried numerous times to move the capital but the cost has kept it from happening. It goes against Juneau’s best interest, but our state government needs to work out a way to make the move less expensive. Opinions expressed in The Northern Light do not necessarily reflect that of the newspaper, its staff or faculty advisor(s).
CONTACT
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018
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A S S O C I AT E D CO L L E G I AT E P R ES S 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. The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy or parenthood. The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of UAA or the Northern Light.
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Sam Davenport 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org
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