The Northern Light August 27, 2013 Issue

THENORTHERNLIGHT UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

AUGUST 27, 2013

FEATURES

A&E

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Annual speed friending event hits campus

The incoming part I: Hockey and volleyball recruits

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Discover the delight of Galaxy White

Seawolf volleyball kicks off with alumnae match

By Thomas McIntyre

sports@thenorthernlight.org Recruiting is a tiresome and necessary job. To get good and stay good, a program must be relentless about luring the best possible talent to its ranks. It’s a grind.

Below are the players the volleyball and hockey departments netted at the end of their exhausting hunts.

Volleyball Head coach Chris Green went to the California well twice this summer and pulled out Quinn Barker and Erin Braun.

Barker is a libero hailing from Mission Viejo, Calif. Mark Sanchez played high school football in Mission Viejo. Let’s hope she has better ball placement.

Barker’s appeal also comes from her being a junior college transfer. She played two productive seasons at Central Arizona College.

Braun — the other California kid — stands a shade less than 6 feet and has the athleticism to control the net. She’ll join what’s becoming a stacked line of middle blockers.

Caitlin McInerney is another reason that line is gaining strength. The 5-foot-11 middle blocker from Laramie, Wyo. has a year of community college experience and was named Wyoming Gatorade Player of the Year in 2011.

Outside hitter Brook Pottle is making UAA the third stop of her college career. Pottle has logged time at Air Force and Glendale Community College, where she was a Second Team All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference selection in 2012.

The roster was rounded out in mid-August with outside hitter/defensive specialist Chelsea Peterson. Peterson is a Juneau native who helped push her high school team to back-to-back Region V titles.

Hockey The first class of freshmen under new head coach Matt Thomas will be watched closely. Now that he has the reins, Thomas must fill the locker room with players who suit his brand of play.

Stockpiling offensive playmakers appears to be Thomas’ main priority. Forwards Brad Duwe, Dylan Hubbs, Tanner Dusyk, Hudson Friesen and Zack Rassell make up five of the six newcomers.

Duwe, who is a product of Soldotna, spent the last three seasons playing for the Kenai River Brown Bears. He’ll close his NAHL run with 101 points.

Hubbs and Dusyk are both shifty 5-foot-9 Canadian scorers coming out of the AJHL. Hubbs racked up 108 points during his 168-game stay in the league. Dusyk fired off 48 points (including 22 goals) in his closing season.

The last two forwards bring some length to the position.

Friesen and Rassell both measure in at 6-foot-2, which makes them the twin towers of this rookie crop.

Friesen earned his spot on the Seawolves by totaling 67 goals and 88 assists in a threeyear stretch with the MJHL’s Selkirk Steelers. Rassell left the AJHL on a high note, producing a 54-point season last year.

Chase Van Allen — the classes one and only defenseman — will end his stint with the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs to come back to his hometown.

SEE MORE PHOTOS PAGE 6

PHOTO BY KAYLA MCGRAW

USUAA president resigns before semester starts

By Ashley Snyder

editor@thenorthernlight.org Last week Union of Students of the University of Alaska Anchorage President Andrew Lessig announced his resignation from his student government, effective immediately.

“I have been extraordinarily busy with my academic and professional life these last two months and have been unable to dedicate a significant amount of time to the duties of president and will not going forward into this next semester,” Lessig said in a statement released Aug. 22.

The student body elected

Lessig and his running mate, Andrew Lemish, into office April 19 with a 33-vote win.

Lessig and Lemish were sworn in April 26.

However, after a few months into his 12-month term, Lessig’s attempts to rebuild the USUAA Constitution, create an oncampus frolf course and make USUAA paid positions were all put at a standstill. Months passed and USUAA remained a silent entity.

Lessig called an informational meeting on Aug. 21 to discuss a plan of action.

“I have struggled these past two months to fulfill all my duties and make ends meet, and

I feel with the full school year set to begin, the honorable thing to do at this time is to forfeit the office of president of the Union of Students of the University of Alaska Anchorage and speaker of the constitutional convention and to focus on the more basic necessities of school and work,” Lessig also said in his statement.

As of Sunday, no one has officially filled Lessig’s position. Once that happens, the next president will need to also fill the vice presidential chair.

According to USUAA adviser Paula Fish, there is a period of time — two weeks — in which the newly appointed president decides who will fill the vice

Andrew Lessig sits in on a USUAA meeting last spring before being elected to president.

presidential seat.

“Whoever is selected as their nominee will be brought to the assembly and a majority vote will either put that person in the seat or not,” Fish said. “It is not a student at-large decision.”

With school starting, USUAA will need to fill its leadership positions in to resume fulfilling its duties for students.

The next USUAA meeting will take place 3 p.m. Aug. 30 in the Student Union North Cafeteria.

All students are invited to come voice their thoughts, questions and opinions regarding where USUAA will go this semester.

PHOTO BY TIM BROWN

Google awards Homer Alaska’s 2013 eCity

By Nita Mauigoa

features@thenorthernlight.org The Salty Dawg Saloon and an endless flow of colossal halibut are just some of Homer’s attractants. This summer the city has just added another notch to its bragging belt.

Google recently announced Homer as Alaska’s official 2013 “eCity.” The technology mogul’s eCity Award recognizes the strongest online business community in each state as “the new digital capitals of America,” according to a press release.

Samantha Smith, Google global communications and public affairs spokeswoman, said this is the first time Google issued eCity awards, which it plans to continue annually.

Google, together with independent research firm Ispos, analyzed various factors of online strength for local small businesses across all 50 states. The factors included whether small businesses have websites, use blogs, promote themselves on social networks, sell goods directly from their web pages and whether they have mobilefriendly websites.

Cissy Rockett, manager of the Salty Dawg Saloon — one of Homer’s most lucrative businesses — was not surprised Google chose Homer as the 2013 eCity. People everywhere can be seen sporting Salty Dawg hoodies, which can be ordered through the saloon’s webpage.

“All it takes is just one peek inside the Salty Dawg to see why it’s so special. There are dollars with names of people that have visited from all over the world. Being one of the oldest buildings in Homer, it has quite a history,” Rockett said.

Ana Tatafu, UAA business and accounting student, said she was stunned to hear Google selected Homer as the 2013 eCity over Anchorage. She only thought of Homer as a place to retreat and fish.

The selection sparked a curiosity within her as a future business graduate.

“Homer’s growth and innovation in e-commerce is an example that other cities across the state can strive to replicate,” said Scott Levitan, Google Small Business Engagement director, in a press release. “Google is proud to recognize this growing entrepreneurial spirit and the role it plays in creating jobs and sustaining local economies.”

“The Alaska Small Business Development Center, through its workshops and individual one on one confidential counseling has worked hard to get the word out to business owners about Google’s

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‘get your business online’ program,” said Bryan Zak, southwest region director of the Alaska Small Business Development Center.

The Alaska SBDC is a statewide program hosted by UAA. Zak said the recognition of Homer as Alaska’s eCity would not have been possible without the network of stakeholders supporting the Alaska SBDC, including the state of Alaska, the SBA, UAA, the Kenai Peninsula Borough, the City of Homer and the Homer Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Mary E. Beth Wythe — who will be graduating from the University of Alaska Southeast this fall with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and a master’s degree in public administration — said her council is working on promoting the economy of Homer, and Google’s eCity campaign has helped with that initiative.

“The hardworking small business owners in Homer have found the Internet to be an innovative way to grow and flourish while still enjoying the quality of life living in Homer provides,” Wythe said.

“Technologically savvy entrepreneurs looking for a great place to live, work and play are encouraged to consider Homer.” thenorthernlight.org

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GAME REVIEW

‘Papers, Please’ deserves players’ utmost attentions

By George Hyde Staff Reporter

Being the inspector of a nation’s border doesn’t sound like much fun. In fact, most real inspectors would tell you it’s a slog. But that didn’t stop indie developer Lucas Pope from creating “Papers, Please,” an intriguing and thrilling nar-

rative built out of the mechanics of immigration.

The game immediately sets the tone from the second you start it: “The October labor lottery is complete. Your name was pulled.”

You are now an immigration inspector, and you must control the flow of immigrants and filter out the smugglers,

spies, terrorists and more.”

From here, immigrants will enter your inspection booth and give you their documents, including passports, permits or even bribes. Players have to look at these documents carefully for any discrepancies. Making even the tiniest mistake will result in a deduction from your pay. That pay is what ends up feeding and warming your family, so decisions must be made carefully.

Along the way, you’ll run into different kinds of people who insist on entry despite not having the proper documentation. Everybody from well-intentioned rebels to mothers who simply want to see their families again will try to use many techniques to get in. Kind players can look the other way and let them in at the cost of their own salary. This shapes the overall narrative and state of the country, and there are many achievements for befriending the right people. It adds an interesting moral wrinkle to the game not seen in most other releases.

Carefully looking for contradictions in the documents is an engaging mechanic

DRINK REVIEW

Belgian and local styles blend in Galaxy White IPA

Anchorage Brewing Company isn’t blowing smoke when it claims to be brewing on the ‘frontier of beer.’

By Tim Brown

photo@thenorthernlight.org Local craft beer producer Anchorage Brewing Company doesn’t shy away from bold ingredients with their Galaxy White IPA. The Belgian-style white IPA is a hoppy and aromatic, mediumbodied ale fermented in French oak barrels.

To fully strap in your senses, pour sparingly into glass stemware.

Galaxy White pours opaquely as a rich, light orange color in a pinot glass. It has a small but persistent head and beautiful lacing.

Galaxy White is not an overload of hoppy bitterness, but contains 50 International Bitterness Units.

Characteristics that spike out of the glass are of coriander and peppercorn, which compete perfectly with funky tart of brett and kumquat fruit.

The beer’s namesake is taken from the Australian Galaxy hops it is fermented with. The official webpage of Anchorage Brewing plays with branding that hits close to home, laying out the narrative, “Captain Cook travelled from Australia to Alaska, and so have the Galaxy hops used to create this adventurous brew.”

Anchorage Brewing Company has clearly put an emphasis on product presentation. All of their bottles feature real cork and beautiful original artwork from local graphic artist Ray Flores.

Clever marketing aside, the ale stands out on its own in the increasingly crowded craft beer market. In the eyes of this reviewer, Anchorage Brewing Company isn’t blowing smoke when it claims to be brewing on the “frontier of beer.”

PHOTOS BY TIM BROWN

in and of itself, but the game goes a step further by framing the mechanics with an incredible plot the player can influence with the press of a stamp.

Also, for those uninterested in the story, an “Endless” mode can be unlocked that challenges the player without the distracting moral choices thrown in. It’s a nice addition for those who like the gameplay and want to continue once the story is over.

“Papers, Please” uses game mechanics to tell an ingenious story with immensely compelling moral choices, and it’s for that reason it carries a hearty recommendation. In addition to an amazingly executed story, the game carries a ton of replay value — and for only $10, you’ll get quite the package.

Game: “Papers, Please” Release Date: Aug. 8, 2013 Developer: Lucas Pope Platform: PC, Mac Genre: Simulation

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Mortal Instruments must be seen to be believed

By George Hyde Staff Reporter

By the end of this film, the entire audience in the theater felt a bond like no other.

There were nerds, jocks, dates, fans of the books and grandmothers with daughters. It didn’t matter who we were or what cliques we belonged to. We felt united by the time the credits rolled.

“The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” is so bad and so terrible that it was no longer just a mere movie. It was an experience.

For those who have not read the book — I’m not sure if it matters if you have, anyway — the film is about Clary (Lily Collins, “Mirror Mirror”), a teenage girl who finds herself in the world of the Shadowhunters: humans with magical powers who fight off demons and protect the world of the “mundanes,” which essentially means “muggles.” Her mother was apparently protecting an ancient artifact, the Mortal Cup, which gives the Hunters their powers. The many powers that be strive to use the Cup for their own purposes, leading to many chases and battles.

To begin with, the actors don’t even try. With few exceptions, there’s little to no emotion in any of the performances. Actors flatly deliver their lines and make it hard to care about their conflicts, because, well, they don’t care themselves.

The visuals look like they could have been designed in the late ‘90s. This movie might have looked good back in 1999,

but the effects (and there are a lot in this film) are extremely dated. In addition, the art direction is unintentionally silly at times, creating an inconsistent tone.

And to boot, the story gets too tangled and complicated for its own good. Too many characters have too many motives.

Love triangles devolve into love dodecahedrons, and even then, the relationships take too long to develop for anyone to care. The villains’ motives are illogical.

And of course, around 75 percent of the lines in this movie can be seen coming from twenty miles away.

But for all those flaws, there’s just something endearing about this film.

This film crosses the line into “bad” territory, but it goes the extra mile. It puts in the time and effort and makes sure to dive deeper and go where almost no movie has gone before. I can’t spoil the plot twists, because they’re too funny. The audience was in tears by the end — not from sadness, but from sheer laughter.

So regardless of quality, “Mortal Instruments” comes highly recommended. It masters the art of unintended hilarity. It’s incredible how deep this movie plunges. It may end up being our generation’s “Plan Nine from Outer Space,” and for that reason, it must be seen.

Film: “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” Release Date: Aug. 21, 2013 Director: Harald Zwart Starring: Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

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UAA Fine Arts prepares for ‘Big River’ musical Skore said. “Even today, almost 150 years later, though society has made strides Staff Reporter to the issue of equality in race, gender, The Fine Arts Department is abuzz nationality, et cetera, the Treyvon Marnow that the semester is underway, and it tin and George Zimmerman case shows mostly has to do with the upcoming pro- us that wounds still remain, and thus the themes in ‘Huck Finn’ still resonate.” duction of “Big River.”

Even though “Big River” premiered “Big River” is essentially a musical almost thirty years ago, this is the first adaptation of the novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. production of the musical in the Anchorage area. Skore is all too happy to bring It is a tale about a the show to a new young boy in the earaudience. ly-to-mid-19th cen“It is always tury as he meets and fun to introduce learns much about a piece heretoothers and himself fore unseen to as he makes his way the communialong the Missisty,” Skore said. sippi River. It was “Clearly we are a satire of southern –Tom Skore, UAA Thegoing to need a antebellum society, atre and Dance Departlot of talent and and it provided an ment production director a diverse cast. objective look at the and chair ... As always, stereotypes and attiUAA Theatre and tudes of the times.

Dance auditions Tom Skore, UAA Theatre and Dance are open to the entire community.”

Department production director and Skore seeks diversity for the cast. The chair, believes this musical may be more important than people think, especially show will even feature a special guest, with racism still being an issue in the Torrie Allen, former artistic director of the Anchorage Opera, in the role of Jim, country.

“To my mind one of the predominant Huck’s friend of color throughout the themes is learning to see through your journey.

With these goals Skore hopes the play own eyes and feel with your own heart,”

By George Hyde

“Clearly we are going to need a lot of talent and a diverse cast.”

Tom Skore is the production director of UAA’s latest theatrical show, “Big River.”

will impact audiences on a deep level.

“It should be remembered that ‘Huckleberry Finn’ is not without controversy,” Skore said. “It was clearly written to make us reflect upon ourselves — what is good about us — and what is not so good.

We invite all interested to audition.”

Auditions will take place on Wednes-

PHOTO BY TIM BROWN

day, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building Main Stage Theatre. Scripts are available for 24-hour checkout in Room 302 of the Fine Arts building, for which there is a refundable $10 fee. The show will premiere Nov. 1.

For more infor mation, contact Tom Skore at 907-786-1740.

A&E OPINION

Movie night off the beaten path Small-scale film projects make up for lackluster creativity in blockbuster films

By Tim Brown

photo@thenorthernlight.org It is Saturday night. A group of friends thinks about going out to the movies. Why not try something different?

To a small but growing population of movie-lovers, going out to see a blockbuster movie at a big screen theater might not be all it’s cracked up to be. Affordable home theater is a decent alternative to expensive tickets, scarce choices and schlocky movies designed for broad appeal.

“I’d rather make movies and watch the movies that my friends and colleagues are making, discover new talent and see their inventiveness than watch a story that wears its entire storyline on the poster in the lobby,” said

filmmaker Jonathan Lang, who is also an adjunct professor of Geomatics.

Netflix is an obvious elephant in the room that is challenging a night out at the movies. Old films, and films that have slipped through the fingers of the popular imagination, can deliver more to an audience than Michael Bay’s inevitable next stinker.

“New technology is changing the way we interact with media, as MP3s did with music. We’ll need to adapt to remain relevant,” said Charles Baird, an Anchoragebased filmmaker producing a documentary called “Alaskan Pioneer.”

“Studios see that films that are made cheaply can gross higher than movies that have huge production costs. I think we will see a shift to a lot more smaller projects,” Baird said.

That is good for smaller-scale production companies

looking to find success on a more level playing field.

Large local theaters, such as Cinemark Century 16 on 36th Avenue, have special offers that give audiences something a little different. These showings are usually classic or cult films, and recorded musical performances like operas recorded at The Met. Alternative theater venues have staked a claim in the Alaska film scene. In Anchorage, Bear Tooth Theatre Pub has movies that run the gambit from mainstream to the obscure. In Southeast Alaska, Juneau-based Gold Town Nickelodeon Theater has showings of silent films and independent movies.

Ultimately, the movie industry is about giving large audiences exactly what they want. Large conventional theaters continue to have the edge on advanced projection capabilities and rich powerful sound. For the time being, that is enough to keep audiences coming back.

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FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

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The faster you go, the more friends you make

Annual speed friending event gives students a new opportunity to meet

By Megan Marquis Staff Reporter

Unlike other creatures that sniff butts, fan feathers or call out for mates, mankind has redefined a new, innovative way to meet others. Called “speed friending,” this new social gathering encourages people to meet as many other individuals as possible within an allotted timeframe.

These social soirees can be found in major cities, such as Seattle, Chicago and Houston, and on college campuses like the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Last Thursday, UAA Residence Life had its annual speed friending event in the Gorsuch Commons lower dining level

after the first move-in day. The event was hosted by campus resident advisers and directed by Welcome Week leader Caity Ann Stigen, who planned all Welcome Week festivities.

Stigen said the turnouts for these events have been unpredictable over the years. Sometimes there have been 10-20 people, and at others there wouldn’t be enough chairs to seat all of the participants.

Stigen gave words of advice about being involved. She said the best way to meet to people is to “get out there. You have to know people around you in order to feel comfortable in where you’re living. So the more neighbors you meet, the more connected you feel and the more

you’ll get out of being here.”

Betty Bang, Student Health and Counseling Center family nurse practitioner, also attended the event. She said having friends could even be essential to one’s safety, health and security. She also mentioned a smartphone app could even be used to contact a friend in case of an emergency.

All it takes is two touches on a phone, and a friend will be on the way to help.

According to Tech 4 Good, Inc., this handy “Circle of 6” app is also free and can help “prevent violence before it happens.”

With this in mind, friends can be a great resource on campus. Some can help with homework. Others can tutor, lend a

helping hand or perhaps be a designated driver. At the UAA Residence Life Speed Friending event, every student has the chance to make a friend.

However, this social gathering wasn’t always about making friendships. Residence Life Associate Director Maria Bonifacio said, “My first year, they did ‘speed dating,’ and then it evolved the next year into ‘speed friending,’ so it wouldn’t matter if you weren’t interested in dating. It was just a way to make it more friendly, open and accepting.”

After changing speed dating to speed friending, this new social gathering created a more welcoming atmosphere, inviting students from all walks of life.

PHOTO BY TIM BROWN

New students meet during speed friending in the Gorsuch Commons lower dining level Friday evening.

Unprepared and caught off guard Orange rhymes with

By Evan Dodd Contributor

I’m not ready for this.

I don’t mean that in some grand symbolic sense, like when Luke wasn’t ready to confront Darth Vader or when Rocky wasn’t ready to punch a frozen cow for an hour and a half.

(Admittedly I have a dim memory of that movie.)

No, I mean the fall semester has caught me so off-guard that I’m somehow juggling three jobs, seven potential classes and a mountain of halfpacked boxes the size of the warehouse from Indiana Jones.

Maybe the problem is that my summer job made a seamless transition into ongoing employment, and I missed the signs of the coming college-pocalypse. Maybe I’m just incredibly lazy and somehow failed to open every single email for UAA for the past three months. Whatever the case, I’ve found myself about as prepared as the North Korean space program facing budget cuts.

My complete lack of preparation for this semester is so astounding it should be considered a work of art. As of this moment I haven’t ordered any books or bought any food. I have only the vaguest idea of what classes I’m taking or how they relate to my major.

In fact, even as I type this I’m fairly certain

I’ve left my car illegally parked (and probably still running) in the grass in front of my MAC building. In addition to my academic woes, everything I own has been haphazardly flung into an army of half-taped boxes; most of which consist of one or two items or — in one case — all the other boxes I planned on using to pack with.

I have sheets with no mattress, none of my lamps have light bulbs and somehow I’ve managed to misplace the charger for every electronic device that I own. This column is being written at record pace — not due to any sort of devotion to my job, but because I’m racing against the battery life on my laptop.

A moment ago I discovered I packed my microwave full of an odd assortment of pants and “Lost” DVDs, while the actual case for “Lost” is filled with loose change and pixie sticks under my bed.

The moral of this story is that you might want to spend more than a half hour packing when you’re moving your entire life into new housing. Also, meeting with an adviser at some point before your junior year might be a decent idea.

I would normally be a bit more stressed about my lack of preparation, but it seems to be par for the course, given a good number of my friends are still looking for a place to live this semester.

Even UAA seems to be lagging behind as ongoing road construction blocks off the residential community from the rest of campus until early September. With any luck, the rest of campus is just as unprepared as I am, which should allow my laziness to sneak by undetected for the first week or so.

So this is how I start my junior year, heading off to classes I’ve long forgotten my reasons for enrolling in. I’m completely missing all of my books and course materials, and I’m in a car that still insists upon sealing the driver’s side door while the engine overheats ominously.

The optimistic part of me wants to believe I’m getting all of my bad luck out of the way before the semester kicks into high gear. However, given past experiences and that most of my columns are inspired by ridiculous misfortune, I think it’s safe to say that it’s going to be an interesting year.

PEOPLE

Hot Topic

Armin Abdihodzic, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Music

I think it will conclude with Walter dying from cancer. Jessie is going be totally fine. He is going to find the right thing to do. I mean, it was explained at the beginning that Walter has cancer, so it puts the series within a certain timeframe. I don’t really know which way they are going to take it.

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

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How do you think the finale of AMC’s ‘Breaking Bad’ will play out?

Mitchell Tacata Sophomore Accounting

Walter is going to be fine but wind up split completely from family.

Forest Masters Sophomore Computer Science

Walter is going to die of cancer in the middle of killing his brother-in-law, Hank. I think Walter’s wife is going to have to keep laundering their money to stay afloat. Jesse Pinkman is going to end up being alright.

The final season of “Breaking Bad” airs on AMC, Sundays at 7 P.M. Seasons 1-5 are available for streaming on Netflix.

HOT TOPIC QUESTION, PHOTOS AND COMMENTS COMPILED BY TIM BROWN

SPORTS SPORTS BRIEFS

Shootout times, CBSSN games set ANCHORAGE — Eight games from the 2013 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout are set for national television broadcasts on CBS Sports Network as the University of Alaska Anchorage unveiled the game times for its 36th annual college basketball showcase last week.

In its second year carrying the tournament, CBS Sports Network will show eight men’s games, with live broadcasts of all four first-round games, Friday’s late semifinal and Saturday’s championship. CBSSN will also have delayed broadcasts of Friday’s early semifinal and the third-place contest.

CBS Sports Network coverage premieres with Tulsa vs. Indiana State on Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. AST (11:30 EST) and Texas Christian against host Alaska Anchorage at 10 p.m. AST (2 a.m. EST/Nov. 28).

The other first-round contests will air Thanksgiving night, Nov. 28, with Pepperdine vs. Green Bay at 5:30 p.m. AST (9:30 p.m. EST) and Harvard vs. Denver at 8 p.m.

AST (Midnight EST).

Friday’s semifinals are set for live tip times of 5:30 AST/9:30 EST and 8 p.m. AST/Midnight EST, with the early game to be shown tape-delayed at 2 a.m.

EST. On Saturday, Nov. 30, CBS Sports Network will provide live coverage of the 8:30 p.m.

AST (12:30 a.m. EST/Dec. 1) championship game, plus a tapedelayed showing of the thirdplace game at 2:30 a.m. EST, Dec. 1.

Von Miller to serve 6-game suspension ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Broncos linebacker Von Miller received a six-game suspension under the NFL’s substance abuse policy, taking away the best defensive player from a team many expect to make a run at the Super Bowl.

The league wanted a longer penalty for the thirdyear linebacker, but the sides agreed to less than half the season, a person familiar with the negotiations between the linebacker and the NFL told The Associated Press.

The person who spoke to the AP did not want to be identified because details about the negotiations were not public.

Broncos executive vice president John Elway said the team was frustrated with what happened “and, I think, disappointed in Von.” His suspension, without pay, will begin Aug. 31 and will cost him more than $800,000 of the nearly $2.3 million he’s scheduled to make this season.

He’ll be allowed at the team facility but not at practice during the suspension. He can return to the field Oct. 14, the day after Denver’s home game against Jacksonville, and will be eligible for an Oct. 20 contest at the Indianapolis Colts.

Google and NFL meet; Sunday Ticket up for grabs?

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Google has been holding talks with the National Football League, raising speculation that the Internet monolith is seeking new inroads to television.

Other tech companies like Apple are reportedly in talks with cable providers to boost access to blockbuster television shows through their devices.

With Google sitting on a cash pile of $48 billion, the league’s Sunday Ticket package is easily within its reach.

The contract is currently held

by DirecTV, which pays about $1 billion annually for the rights. That contract, however, expires at the end of the 2014 season.

Earlier this year, Google Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette said, “it serves the shareholder best to actually have that strategic ability to pounce,” when there is the opportunity to make a major acquisition.

The NFL confirmed its meetings with Google, but declined to discuss the nature of those talks, as did Google.

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

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Mark your calendars: Mustsee Seawolf sporting events

By Thomas McIntyre

sports@thenorthernlight.org There’s good news and bad news with the arrival of fall. Bad news: school. Good news: sports.

To help you maneuver through this semester’s slate of sporting events, here are the dates that require instant attention from your highlighter: Sept. 5-7: After being forced to go to Hawaii for a few matches, the volleyball team will return home to play in the Springhill Suites Invitational.

The three-day tournament is held at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex and gives fans four chances to see this year’s squad in action. It’s a good opportunity to become fully immersed in Seawolf volleyball.

Sept. 19: More volleyball. Seattle Pacific is in town for the first in-conference game of the season. Last year the ‘Wolves and Falcons finished tied in the GNAC and split their two clashes.

Second year progressions from sophomore outside hitters Julia Mackey and Sarah Johnson could break the stalemate in favor of the Seawolves.

Oct. 11-12: Clear your weekend for the Kendall Hockey Classic. The Seawolf hockey team will be one of the more compelling sports stories to watch, and this tournament starts the saga.

Drawing conclusions from a few games of hockey is unfair, but there’s a lot of interest in how newly hired head coach Matt Thomas will implement his style of play.

These games will give us something tangible to learn from.

Nov. 9: A battle with the UAF Nanooks is the first of two key matchups the ‘Wolves face during a five-day stretch.

It’s always live when the Nanooks get to visit the best city in Alaska. The basketball and hockey blood feuds have stolen the UAA-UAF spotlight, but don’t sleep on volleyball. Green and Gold volleyball fans bring the ruckus. Nov. 9 is your chance to join the experience.

Also, here’s a reminder that the Seawolves took both games from the Nanooks last year.

Nov. 14: The second game in that big week of volleyball is against Western Washington. The Vikings shredded the GNAC in 2012, finishing 16-2 and winning the conference championship.

Calling this a tough match is selling it short: The Seawolves weren’t able to take a single set from the Vikes last year.

Nov. 23: Cross-country creates a frustrating problem for the fans of long-distance running at UAA. None of the meets are held in town.

The best solution is to stay locked in by following the team’s quest online. And if you do, you better hope your Internet doesn’t go out Nov. 23, because the NCAA Division II Championships take place that day.

Nov. 26-30: The Great Alaska Shootout.

Go ahead and let your family know now that Thanksgiving will take a backseat to the tournament this year. Just explain to them you can’t pass up a shot to see the Denver Pioneers’ slow-burning Princeton offense in person.

Dec. 6-7: Nearly two months removed from the Kendall Hockey Classic, it’s time for another weekend of must-see puck. The

Nanooks are in beautiful Anchorage for the first back-to-backs of the Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup. The second pair will be played in Fairbanks March 7 and 8.

The ‘Wolves should be coming into form around this time, having played a hefty slate of hockey. These games are particularly important for head coach Matt Thomas after the previous regime failed to get a win over the Nanooks last season.

Dec. 7: The Seawolf men’s basketball team were in an absolute slobber knocker when they faced UAF back in February. The two clubs will try to capture that same electricity when they go at it Dec. 7.

Speaking of electric, the backcourt duo of Kyle Fossman and Teancum Stafford will be back in effect. Those two combined for 34 points in that 71-69 February win.

Dec. 7-8: The ski team kicks off its season in the annual UAA-UAF Nordic Cup. The location of the event is swapped back and forth, and this is an Anchorage year.

Trek up to Hillside Ski Area and show love to one of the underappreciated Seawolf teams.

Dec. 14: The gymnastics department heard “underappreciated Seawolf teams” and wants to join the conversation. Get familiar with this year’s group of gymnasts by attending the intrasquad exhibition Dec. 14.

If you want to look smart at the event, talk about how good sophomore M’rcy Matsunami and junior Morgan Cook are.

Dec. 20-21: Cap 2013 off with the AT&T Hoops Classic. It’s a two-day glimpse into the state of UAA women’s basketball postAlysa Horn and Sasha King.

This article does not contain performance-enhancing drugs ty. And, if I may quote my old man, “totally bush league.”

But all hope is not lost. In fact, there are some players to watch and reasons to be excited for baseball’s home stretch. And no, they’re not all named Yasiel Puig.

The Pittsburgh Pirates

By Mark Hoffman Contributor

If you fancy yourself a baseball “purist” like I do, you were equally ashamed to be a baseball fan this season. Though the rumbles and grumbles of steroids, PEDs and Biogenesis labs have plagued our beloved pastime for over two decades now, this season hit a new low.

Villains like Ryan Braun, Miguel Tejada and Alex Rodriguez tainted the game by cheating and lying about it — and then, in most cases, lying some more.

As a fan, it has been hard to ignore the bad press, especially in A-Rod’s case. The back-andforth between Major League Baseball, the MLB Player’s Association, the Yankees and Rodriguez himself has been pet-

Everybody loves to cheer for an underdog. This year the Pirates are an ideal bandwagon to jump on, particularly if your team, like my White Sox for example, is out of contention.

Most people don’t realize the Bucs have been the bottom feeders of the National League for a couple decades and have not had a winning record since 1992.

That 20-year stretch of futility is the worst baseball has ever seen. And they’ve just been bad — it’s not like they can blame a goat or Steve Bartman like Chicago Cubs fans.

AL-castaways-turned-NLoverachievers AJ Burnett and Francisco Liriano will anchor the Pirates rotation heading into the dog days of summer. As they battle with NL Central foes, the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds, the Pirates are finally primed for a long-overdue trip to the postseason.

The Extra Wild Card

The playoffs are more realistic than ever for the Pirates right now, and they can thank the expanded postseason format a bit for that. Now that the MLB has added a second wild card spot in each division, more teams can be optimistic about a potential World Series run.

It appears likely that between the Pirates, Cards and Reds, the Central will claim both wild card spots in the NL. There’s also a chance that the loaded AL East could claim both wild card spots in their league with the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles all playing well.

But the addition of the extra spot leaves the door open for teams like the Oakland A’s, Cleveland Indians and, dare I say, the surging New York Yankees, to make a run at October.

Mariano Rivera

Speaking of the pinstripes, this season will always be fondly remembered by this baseball fan for one reason: Mariano’s farewell tour.

Even a Yankee-hater like myself can’t help but respect the legacy of the Great Mariano, who will surely be remembered

as the greatest closer in baseball history for a long time to come.

More so than his outstanding career totals or his ridiculous postseason success, Rivera is most revered by the baseball community for his spirit, humanity and consistency.

As a kid, I remember watching Cal Ripken Jr. play his final season with the Orioles. Every city he would visit that year had a pregame ceremony and the team presented him with a farewell gift. That kind of respect is reserved for special guys in baseball. Mo is one of those guys.

Yasiel Puig and the L.A. Dodgers

No team in baseball is hotter than the Dodgers right now.

Cuban-defector-phenom Yasiel Puig is a must-see like he’s this week’s episode of “Breaking Bad.” And his star shines so bright that most people tend to forget the Dodgers have the best pitcher in the NL, Clayton Kershaw.

A one-two punch of Kershaw and Zack Greinke will carry the Dodgers throughout the summer, but we will have to wait and see if Puig and company can stay hot into the fall.

Briefs compiled by Thomas McIntyre from GoSeawolves.com and the Associated Press UAA Seawolves celebrate the good first game of the semester.

PHOTOS BY KAYLA MCGRAW

UAA Seawolves prepare to bump an alumnae spike at the Saturday night Green & Gold game.

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

07

TAKE 5

5 ways to end an argument

By Kenzie Snyderman Volunteer

We all know people who love to argue, get upset, “get their feelings hurt,” draw things out and never let it go. That might sound insensitive, but no! The insensitive thing would be to ignore these people and the situations that go along with them.

First of all, if you find yourself in a situation with this sort of person, don’t hold back.

Engage yourself. It’s healthy to express ourselves and communicate your feelings. Plus, you can’t end an argument that does not exist. So, for the sake of this article we must have one. You may be a lover, not a fighter, but that doesn’t mean you are always surrounded by like-minded folk.

These people could include best friends, mother-in-laws, land-

lords, siblings or whiny pubescent teenage time-bombs — whatever the case, I find these five tactics may lead to peaceful resolution.

Tactic # 1: Apathy Apathy is a wonderful expression because it is neither submissive nor threatening. Simple dismissal or lack of emotion is usually very uninteresting in an argument. You can make your objection clear without being overexcited about it.

The antagonist often finds this dull and sees no point pursuing an unavailing attempt to fight with you.

Tactic # 2: Sarcasm The word “sarcasm” is derived from a Greek word meant to describe the way wild dogs tear flesh off the bones of their prey. If you know how to

use it, sarcasm is word artillery at its finest. The right comment with just enough sarcasm smeared on it will act fast and hit unexpectedly, knocking the wind out of any confrontation.

I do not recommend this strategy with authority figures. But for that annoying, little, knowit-all preteen or adolescent, this is perfect.

Tactic # 3: Patronization This has proved very effective with the particular breeds of people who thick they’re right no matter what. The question you want to stop and ask yourself in an argument with someone of this nature is, “How many minutes of my life do I want to waste being unconditionally wrong?”

Is the answer: A. Until I’m interrupted by a phone call or hit by a bus?

B. Until the four-minute song on the radio that I’m focusing all my attention on is over?

C. Just long enough to realize I can’t even enjoy the song because he or she is talking over it?

D. Until my brain ruptures inside the skull acting as a defensive self-destruct mechanism?

The answer is C, my friends, and the solution is, say whatever is wanted and get on with your life.

Tactic # 4: Flattery Flattery is your man if you are looking for a win/win solution. You are in the middle of a meaningless squabble with your best friend, a simple complement or act of love puts you one step closer to reconciliation.

Point out how nice it is that you have acquired the level of close-

ness necessary for this relentless bickering. Or comment on a new accessory or hair style they are wearing. Not only does it make him or her feel good, but it makes you feel good to say it — and two happy people make bad odds for an argument.

Tactic # 5: Start to cry This is the end-all, be-all technique for when all else fails. Get those juices flowing. Squeeze out a few tears — even better if you can pull off a full-fledged hysterical crying/ breathing fit with snot bubbles and all.

Really make the antagonist uncomfortable.

Discomfort equals confusion equals defenses down. The situation may be weird for a moment, but the awkward silence should end the argument effectively.

COMICS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

08

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THE NORTHERN LIGHT CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 Phone: 907-786-1513 Fax: 907-786-1331 info@thenorthernlight.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR 786-1434 editor@thenorthernlight.org Ashley Snyder MANAGING EDITOR content@thenorthernlight.org Vacant COPY EDITOR copy1@thenorthernlight.org Kierra Hammons NEWS EDITOR 786-1576 news@thenorthernlight.org Vacant FEATURES EDITOR 786-1576 features@thenorthernlight.org Nita Mauigoa A&E EDITOR 786-1512 arts@thenorthernlight.org Vacant SPORTS EDITOR 786-1512 sports@thenorthernlight.org Thomas McIntyre PHOTO EDITOR photo@thenorthernlight.org Tim Brown STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER photo2@thenorthernlight.org Kayla McGraw WEB EDITOR web@thenorthernlight.org Vacant LAYOUT EDITOR layout@thenorthernlight.org Casey Kleeb

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR news2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR features2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR arts2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR sports2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics@thenorthernlight.org Roz Kirkelie ADVERTISING MANAGER 786-4690 ads@thenorthernlight.org Chelsea Dennis MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE Vacant MULTIMEDIA EDITOR multimedia@thenorthernlight.org Vacant STAFF REPORTERS staff@thenorthernlight.org Evan Erickson Keon McMillan Jacob Holley-Kline George Hyde CONTRIBUTORS Evan Dodd Kenzie Snyderman Mark Hoffman MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Annie Route