August 20, 2019

AUGUST 20 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2019

FEATURES

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

SPORTS

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New art finds a home in front of the UAA/APU Consortium Library.

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PAGE 10

UAA athletes are unsure of what the future holds for Seawolf Athletics.

GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS

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NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2019

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Brother Francis Shelter may be left out in the cold this winter

By Christina Swayney news2@thenorthernlight.org

Gov. Mike Dunleavy recently reduced funding to Brother Francis Shelter on June 28, making funding for the homeless of Alaska uncertain as winter approaches.‌ Brother Francis was closed Aug. 1 for four days and then reopened with the capacity diminished from 240 people to 100.

The amount of $5.8 million cut from homeless services includes homeless shelters, drug addiction treatment, food banks and Medicaid. ‌ Dunleavy also cut $1.37 million in funding from Catholic Social Services, or CSS. After these cuts, the city braced for a housing and public health crisis. On June 24, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz declared a “Civil PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SWAYNEY Emergency” for the city of Anchorage.‌ A group of homeless individuals are camped outside of Anchorage’s Brother Francis Shelter.

“This is an unprecedented decision for an unprecedented situation. Existing shelters have lost funding at a time when demand for their services is predicted to skyrocket,” Berkowitz said in a press release.‌ The Anchorage Assembly shifted $400,000 to Brother Francis to allow services to resume. Nancy Burke, Anchorage Housing and Homeless Services Coordinator, explained how these funds were meant for the fall when temperatures start to drop.‌ “What we did is we used the money [meant] for fall for when it gets cold, for our overflow shelter. We’re basically using the winter’s money now,” Burke said in an interview with KTVA.‌ This means that additional funding for the shelter is unsure as winter approaches. Women, children, elderly and disabled citizens might not have shelter at some point during the colder months. Nina Sellers, 72, stays at shelters primarily in winter PHOTO BY JASON HERR and camps in the summer. She shares Burke’s concerns about Graffiti near Valley of the Moon Park holds Gov. Dunleavy responsible for the increase in homelessness. possibly not having shelter when gets real cold though, and there situation is currently unstable, opportunities at Brother Francis temperatures freeze.‌ is no shelter to get warm, that is people can help or contribute to Shelter. The shelter also accepts “It’s fine now. I camp in the when people die,” Sellers said.‌ those in need in different ways.‌ donations of necessities, includparks and the woods. When it Though Alaska’s financial There are countless volunteer ing toiletries, clothing and food.

Cash and check donations are welcome as well. ‌ The Anchorage Coalition for Homelessness has numerous ways to get involved. Donations can be made directly at Pick.

Click.Give. ‌ Volunteering is also an option and there are many different opportunities that can be matched to specific volunteer interests via The United Way. ‌ Clare House is an emergency shelter for women and children in Spenard and is currently in urgent need of volunteers to work three-hour shifts. Duties include answering phone calls, signing off on chores, answering the door intercom, processing donations, helping in the kitchen and interacting with adults and children in the program, according to the Clare House website. ‌ The University of Alaska Anchorage has its own organizations that support students in need. UAA Hunger and Homelessness Support Network, or HHSN, gives students assistance and support.‌ Another group on campus, UAA Fusion, connects students with volunteer opportunities in the Anchorage community. Volunteers also receive certificates for their service.‌ UAA offers a list of different volunteer events and opportunities. Organizations that are available to volunteer with are The Salvation Army, Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis, Covenant House and more. ‌ Students can also organize food or clothing drives in order to assist the homeless. These events can be held at UAA, a church or a local neighborhood center. There are guides online to help create drives and the use of social media can help in getting people involved.‌ Anchorage Chair Felix Rivera places her hope in the people of Anchorage assisting each other in a time of need.‌ “Now, more than ever, we must come together as a community — as we did during the Nov. 30, 2018 earthquake — to help our neighbors, each other and our city,” Rivera said in a press release on the Anchorage Municipality site.‌

UA budget cuts reduced to $70 million

By Mary Ryan content@thenorthernlight.org

On Aug. 13, University of Alaska representatives reached an agreement with Gov. Mike Dunleavy to spread total funding reductions of $70 million to the university over the course of three years.‌ While $70 million, nearly half of the original $136 million in reductions, is still a sizeable cut, the new plan is more manageable, UA President Jim Johnsen said in an email on Aug. 13.‌ “By restoring the Legislature’s appropriated funding for this year, and by spreading reductions out over the next two years, the required restructuring can be done more methodically, with less impact on students,” Johnsen said.‌ The step-down state general fund reduction will start with $25 million in cuts in fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Twenty million dollars will be withheld in fiscal year 2022.‌ The Board of Regents is still moving forward with the single accreditation plan. This includes administrative con-

solidation this fall semester, Chancellor Cathy Sandeen said in a video on Aug. 14. Hiring, traveling and procurement restrictions also remain. However, furloughs were canceled.‌ A series of workshops will also be hosted from Aug. 19-23 to collect input on consolidating duplicative programs including Health, Science / Arts / Humanities, Management / Business, Research, Engineering, Education, eLearning and CTE / Community Campuses. ‌ A rally will occur on Sept. 9 from 4-6 p.m., a week before the Board of Regents meeting on Sept. 12-13. ‌ In the meantime, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to take a survey to make their academic priorities known as the Board of Regents discusses structural changes.‌ “Yes, the road ahead will be difficult, but it’ll be possible with all of you on board,” Johnsen said in a video on Aug 14.‌

GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2019

Apps keep Seawolves connected to campus life

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UAA ADMISSIONS WEBSITE

Being a part of the Seawolf pack can be made easy through the use of two UAA sponsored apps.

By Jason Herr layout@thenorthernlight.org

While some apps can help students to keep track of assignments, schedule appointments or to explore networking opportunities, there are two UAA sponsored apps that can help students to connect further with campus life and information at UAA.‌ UAA Mobile Navigate through UAA campus resources with the UAA mobile app, where answers, information and more are right at the touch of a button.‌ The UAA Mobile app offers a variety of services, resources and in-

formation for students to access from their phones.

Students can check course information, athletics updates, the UAA/APU Consortium Library website, UAA shuttle times and more through the app. The calendar provides information about upcoming events and is broken into different groups based on the user’s connection to UAA, including alumni, faculty, staff, students and the general public. Users can also explore UAA through the photo galleries provided by an assortment of UAA organizations, programs and people. If a student needs to contact faculty or staff, they can use the app’s directory to locate their program on

campus or to find specific individuals. Emergency contact information is also available on the app, providing phone numbers for a multitude of services for UA campuses. The UAA Mobile app helps to guide students through the UAA websites for information on Title IX training, the 2019-2020 UAA Student Handbook and UAA dining services on campus.‌ UAA Seawolves Always know Seawolf scores and results on the go with the UAA Seawolves app.‌ For students wanting the latest information on Seawolf Athletics, the UAA Seawolves app helps users explore what the

Spirit the Seawolf stands before the campus at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Seawolves sports teams are up to. Students can access information on UAA teams, including men’s and women’s basketball, cross-country running, gymnastics, hockey, track and field, skiing and volleyball. Articles and information are available on student-athletes, athletic staff and sporting events in which the UAA Seawolf

teams have participated.

Photos and videos from the teams are available as well. The rosters for a variety of teams can be explored through the app, allowing the public to get a glimpse of each team, its players and coaches.

An event schedule helps to keep track of Seawolf activities throughout their seasons, and users can pur-

chase tickets to Seawolf sporting events through the app. Whether users join the Seawolf pack on the ice, court or the trails, the UAA Seawolf app connects students further with the teams, events and information while they make their way around campus.‌

There are many resources for financing education

By Christina Swayney news2@thenorthernlight.org

Uncertainty due to budget cuts will impact the University of Alaska Anchorage and its students throughout the upcoming fall semester and beyond, especially those who receive financial aid.‌ Gov. Mike Dunleavy originally proposed a cut of $136 million in one year for the Alaska University systems. There were numerous protests and petitions to override Dunleavy’s proposed veto. ‌ As of Aug. 13, Dunleavy signed a budget agreement that would reduce the $136 million to $70 million. Although it is an improvement from the initial proposed budget, students may still be left with financial aid cuts and uncertainty.‌ Grants and scholarships were and still are in question. The Alaska Education Grant, or AEG, that provides funds for post-secondary students in need, was originally dissolved when Dunleavy first made the cuts of $136 million, starting in 2021.

The same fate was held for the Alaska Performance Grant, or APS, which provided Alaska high school graduates financial aid for college. As of now, the AEG and APS are active and there are no new plans for extinguishing these grants.‌ Some grants cannot be affected by Alaska budget cuts, though, such as the Federal Pell Grant. This is a subsidy of the federal government for students who meet financial need criteria and who have not yet earned their first bachelor’s degree. The Pell Grant can be applied for on the Federal Student Aid site or FAFSA. ‌ Scholarships and grants from outside of the university can also be an option for students, and there are many to choose from.

Scholarships, Fastweb and Unigo are just three of the most popular websites where students can search for scholarships which they are eligible for. The applications can require essays and separate applications. Letters of recommendation may also be needed.‌ UAA also has a site dedicated to scholarship

resources. They are accepting applications for the 2019/2020 school year from Oct. 1-Feb. 15. The site features options like college aligned scholarships, workshops, searching for specific scholarships by keyword and more.‌ Aside from scholarships and grants, another option students have to help pay for school is employer reimbursement programs. These programs allow students to pay for school while they work.

Companies such as Starbucks, IBM, Chipotle and the Anchorage Police Department all offer financial assistance to further employee education. Starbucks, for example, pays half of the student’s tuition through their freshman and sophomore years, then full tuition reimbursement for their junior and senior years. Most of these companies don’t require the employee to remain with the company after graduation.‌ There are also unconventional ways of paying for college. Robert Allen, an art major, graduated from the University of Washington in 2000, but

spent his summers working in Alaska to pay for college.‌ “I worked every summer at different lodges from Denali to Juneau.

I worked as a server and made a lot of money.

There was usually employee housing and food for cheap or free, so I just saved all of my money. I would walk away every summer with an average of $9,000 that I then used to help fund college,” Allen said.‌ Seasonal jobs like Allen’s are plentiful in Alaska, especially in the summer. Jobs can be found on websites like Coolworks, Seasonaljobs and Alaskatourjobs. These positions are also available in winter. For the colder months, seasonal work is typically at ski resorts and locations where winter is the busy season, such as Florida.‌ Contract work is also available to students and easily accessible online.

Positions such as tutoring online, dog walking, babysitting, driving for Uber or opening an online business, such as selling crafts on Etsy, are all work options that have schedule flexibility.‌

GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS

Living off-campus may also be less expensive than paying for dormitories. UAA requires a meal plan which can be expensive and the rent for dorms itself can also be less affordable. Sharing an apartment with other students and cooking meals at home might save a lot of money in the long run.‌ Joining the military is another way to pay for school. They will provide the GI Bill, which will pay tuition to public universities and up to $17,500 at private institutions. ‌

Finally, there is the option to take out student loans. Federal student loans have a fixed interest rate and sometimes do not need to start being paid until after the student graduates or is no longer attending school full time.‌ There are many different ways to fund a college degree, many of which are considered non-traditional. Finding resources may not be the difficult part; deciding which one to choose may be. ‌

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2019

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UAA | University Art Analysis - A hare’s breadth from the bus

GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS

By Robert Gant features@thenorthernlight.org

Among the new and returning faces to the UAA campus this fall is a notso-furry hare. This giant bunny measures 5 feet tall and 7 feet wide. Five pieces of bolted together aluminum with snowwhite thermoplastic coating make up the sculpture.

“Snowshoe” by Matt Babcock is viewable from the bus stop across from the UAA/APU Consortium Library.‌ “Snowshoe” is based on the snowshoe hare, hence the title. Snowshoes are the most widespread species of hare in Alaska, according to the official Alaska Department of Fish and Game website.

One hare produces over 10 new offspring annually. Babcock desired to dedicate this sculpture to a commonplace Alaskan species that resident art does not often spotlight.‌ “Anchorage has a lot of really great art depicting grizzly bears and moose and salmon, and I would just be in competition with all of that,” Babcock said. “I proposed a species

of local significance you might not have as many statues of already.”‌ Babcock finds most of his inspiration within nature and holds great admiration for Alaskan wildlife. One of his first public sculpture commissions was a sculptural bike rack modeled after a moose. He believes that green transportation such as buses, bikes and walks further cement the intrinsic connection between transportation and nature.‌ “Anchorage seems special to me in that there’s so much wildlife living in the city,” Babcock said. “A lot of my work uses animals to celebrate or encourage a connection between people and nature. I think that promoting a connection to nature and promoting public transit overlap.”‌ Babcock received his master’s in architecture from the University of Colorado Denver. He was an architect for 13 years before he followed the path of an artist. Babcock says he is grateful for the decreased amount of paperwork required to make less functional structures.‌ Babcock recounted on several occasions an

anecdote about his father providing him with a workbench when he was five years old. He crafted what, in his words, he calls “things that I thought of as functional, even though the function was often mysterious or imaginary.” Babcock cites this childhood experience as the beginning of his journey towards art.‌ “Snowshoe” was installed at UAA on Aug. 2.

It was funded by the 1% for Art in Anchorage initiative for the People Mover through the Municipality of Anchorage.‌ “The sculpture is destined for a transit stop, where it will seem to be running to catch the bus,” Babcock said in his portfolio description of “Snowshoe.” ‌ The unmoving sculpture observes as students board the People Mover.

Students running to catch the bus can be reminded by the perpetually running sculpture that the proverbial hare does not win the race.

Have you seen art at UAA you want to know more about? Contact Robert Gant at features@thenorthernlight.org.‌

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PEOPLE MOVER’S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

“Snowshoe,” by Matt Babcock, is being installed with a crane into its permanent location.

PHOTO BY JASON HERR

“Snowshoe” may be viewed at the bus stop by the UAA/APU Consortium Library.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT BABCOCK’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE/PORTFOLIO

A rendered image depicts how Matt Babcock intended “Snowshoe” to look in its permanent location.

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2019

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Meet Aurora’s family: The Chronicles of Yarnia

By Robert Gant features@thenorthernlight.org

Regular readers of The Northern Light are familiar with Aurora Boreowlis, the small green owl mascot of the paper.

Thanks to The Chronicles of Yarnia, Aurora has made the leap from a two-dimensional drawing to a three-dimensional, huggable plush. ‌ Siena Moyer is credited with the creation of the TNL office’s newest employee. Moyer used the existing digital renderings of the mascot as a reference and created an original pattern that came to fruition in two short days. She fashioned Aurora out of various colors of acrylic yarn and craft stuffing. ‌ Moyer is a junior mathematics and engineering major who finds respite in crocheting improvised Amigurumi plushies.

Amigurumi is a Japanese technique of crocheting yarn into circular patterns that form stylized plush figures.‌ “Amigurumi could be the next Beanie Baby, only handmade,” the founder of Etsy, Robert Kalin, said to Craftzine.‌ Moyer taught herself this technique in high school for her senior project. She wanted to donate stuffed animals to the children’s hospital, so she watched

Amigurumi tutorials on YouTube and soon began churning out plushies. Moyer is currently crocheting Amigurumi Care Bears for seniors with dementia at Horizon House.‌ “My freshman year of college, I went to Campus Kickoff and the [Chronicles of Yarnia] booth was there,” Moyer said.

“I’m a math major and all of the math is really hard, so just going [to club meetings] and crocheting is a helpful way for me to destress.”‌ The Chronicles of Yarnia has been an area for students to destress with fiber works since its inception. Cameron Nay, now the director of the Learning Commons, was a founding adviser of the organization. ‌ Nay and his coworkers from the Learning Commons all shared the hobby of crocheting, so they founded The Chronicles of Yarnia as a space for “a Spenardian-type crowd of collegeage students that are enthusiastic about everything yarn-related,” Nay said. ‌ The founding members graduated the following year, and new members quickly filled their shoes.‌ “I’ve seen a lot of clubs start and they usually disappear once people graduate,” Nay said. “[The Chronicles of Yarnia] surprised me, it’s still going.”‌

PHOTO BY ROBERT GANT

Siena Moyer created Aurora for The Northern Light during summer of 2019.

Nay cited the active recruitment of new students and The Chronicles of Yarnia’s high visibility as a reason for their success. The club is open to all skill levels.‌ “From the beginning, [The Chronicles of Yarnia] has always been very inclusive and welcoming to everyone,” Nay said. “Anyone that’s involved loves teaching others how to knit and crochet.”‌

The upcoming president of The Chronicles of Yarnia is Caelea Henderson. Henderson is a sophomore psychology major determined to make the club an even more accessible experience.‌ “I personally will be bringing in my yarn tubs to donate [to The Chronicles of Yarnia] because I have a lot of yarn I really don’t need,” Henderson said. “I really love the casual atmosphere

of the club in general. You can come and go as you please, it’s not too intense.”‌ Students looking to become a part of the club that crocheted Aurora Boreowlis can learn more about The Chronicles of Yarnia by visiting their Facebook page or emailing chroniclesofyarnia.uaa@gmail.com.

The Chronicles of Yarnia meets on Mondays in Cuddy Hall, times to be announced. ‌

PHOTO BY SIENA MOYER

An Amigurumi plush starts with a basic, round, crocheted form filled with craft stuffing.

PHOTO BY CAELEA HENDERSON

Henderson’s bin of yarn will be available for use at The Chronicles of Yarnia’s upcoming meetings while supplies last.

IMAGE COURTESY OF CHRONICLES OF YARNIA

The Chronicles of Yarnia’s club logo.

& AE

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2019

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The Evolution Championship Series broke entrant records in 2019

By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org

Fighting games are one of the oldest and purest forms of competitive gaming, where two players duke it out until there is only one left standing. The Evolution Championship Series, or Evo, provides an opportunity for the fierce and dramatic rivalries that result from fighting games to grow and evolve.‌ Evo has a long and storied history, which Usgamer has written about.

They interviewed several organizers and participants who were present for the first tournaments in 1996, when the event was called Battle by the Bay and in 2002 when the event was first named Evo. Some of the interviewees still compete in the event. ‌ The annual Evo event took place this year at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada from Aug. 2-4. It hosts the largest fighting game tournaments in the world. There were 14,321 entrants over nine games. Evo also hosted an event in Japan for the second time from Feb.

15-17 this year. ‌ Nine games take the stage every year, culminating in the final night with championship matches for the games with the most entrants. This year Super Smash Bros. Ultimate had the most with 3,492 entrants, according to Joey Cuellar, President of the Evolution Championship Series. This could be due to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Melee not being present for the first time in five years since the former was released. It was also the first appearance of Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate since it released in December of 2018.‌ Although the games at Evo change from time to time due to new releases or a drop in popularity, viewers are likely to recognize popular titles in the Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros. series. This year, the games played at Evo were: Street Fighter V Arcade Edition, Tekken 7, Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate, Mortal Kombat 11, Soulcalibur VI, Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late[st], Dragon Ball FighterZ, Blazblue Cross

Tag Battle and Samurai Shodown. ‌ Evo is no stranger to drama and intense celebrations, often referred to as “pop-offs.” These are moments that don’t require viewers to have any knowledge of fighting games because someone just took their shirt off and it’s clear that it’s about to get serious. ‌ There were many stories that came out of Evo this year. Arslan Ash, a Tekken 7 player from Pakistan, made history by winning tournaments at Evo tournaments in the U.S. and Japan. SonicFox, a mainstay of Evo, remained dominant in Mortal Kombat, but was defeated in the grand finals for Dragon Ball FighterZ. ‌ Some members of the UAA Super Smash Bros. and Fighting Games Club spectated and even attended the event in Las Vegas.

One of the members who attended the event was the president of the club, Shawn Fugere.‌ “I personally watched most of the finals and I must say, I really enjoyed them all. Being at the event in the giant arena,

2018.‌ Night in the Woods was funded through Kickstarter, where it raised over 400% of its goal of $50,000. When the Kickstarter ended, the game was backed by 7,372 people and raised $209,375 to fund the development of the project.‌ Because Night in the Woods is primarily about the story and events which take place in the game, it would be almost impossible for me not to spoil anything. However, I will attempt to avoid discussing major plot points in this review. Spoiler warning ahead. ‌ Night in the Woods examines small-town life and coping with stressful life events. The player character, Mae Borowski, is a 20-year-old college dropout who finds herself living with her parents back in her hometown of Possum Springs.‌ Night in the Woods’ moment to moment game-

play is running and jumping around town and talking to people, whether it be Mae’s parents, her friends Gregg, Bea and Angus or her poetry-loving neighbor, Selmers. There’s also a janitor who may be either God or a stoner. Occasionally, Mae and her friends will meet up for band practice and the player will be treated to original garage band hits such as “Die Anywhere Else” and “Weird Autumn.” The player also has the option of practicing songs in Mae’s bedroom. ‌ The player can run and jump on power lines, fences and other obstacles to reach characters and talk to them. However, Night in the Woods’ movement is hampered by the character animation being limited to 30 frames per second. This results in an experience that could feel smoother had it been in a higher framerate.

The game’s framerate is not capped on PC, which

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE EVOLUTION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FACEBOOK

SonicFox celebrating after a win at Evo 2018.

[it’s] like nothing else.

Seeing entire crowds do the Dragon Ball scream when a match starts is something you won’t forget,” Fugere said. ‌ Learning to play a fighting game may seem daunting to a player when they realize how much is expected of them, from memorizing move lists to terminology and mind games. However, it’s still possible to start playing fighting games, thanks to

local events and online tutorials. ‌ “Do I think anyone could get started with playing and learning fighting games? Yes, yes, yes, one million times yes,” Fugere said. “Fighting games are amazing for the casual to the most competitive individual. No matter how you like to play, there’s a game and character for you.”‌ The Super Smash Bros. and Fighting Games Club

meet every Friday in the Eugene Short Hall room 214 from 7-12 p.m. ‌ “The [fighting game] communities in Alaska and most other places I’ve visited have been very accepting and just excited to have more people involved. So, feel free to introduce yourself and swing by one of our club meetings on campus,” Fugere said. ‌

Hitbox Review: Night in the Woods

By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org

Developed by Infinite Fall and published by Finji, Night in the Woods is a narrative adventure game that tackles fundamental human issues.‌ Night in the Woods was released on Feb. 21, 2017 on PC and PlayStation 4 for $20. It later released on Dec. 13, 2017 for Xbox One and on Feb. 1, 2018 for Nintendo Switch. ‌ iOS and Android versions of the game were announced for release in 2018 as well. However, both mobile versions have yet to be released, with no official updated release date. “No date for the iOS release is planned at this time. However, I can pretty confidently say to not count on a Q1 [2019] release,” Harris Foster, the Community Manager for Finji, said in a Reddit thread in December of

IMAGE COURTESY OF FINJI.CO/GAMES/NIGHTINTHEWOODS/

The Hitbox reviewer found Gregg (right) to be the most enjoyable character because of his penchant for committing crimes and waving his arms wildly when he gets excited.

combined with the 30 frames per second animation looks jarring and out of place. ‌ After about the first hour, the player will begin to understand what the general gameplay loop of Night in the Woods will be. It usually involves waking and checking your laptop for messages from your friends, then going downstairs to talk to your mom and making your way to Gregg at the Snack Falcon or Bae at the Ol’ Pickaxe hardware store, while talking to everyone you see on the way there.

After talking with them, you’ll have an adventure with one or more friends and end up at home afterward. Then, after talking to your dad and maybe watching some Garbo & Malloy on television, you’ll head to bed and play through an incredibly weird dream about finding four musicians. The player will then wake up the next day and the cycle repeats.

Unless there is a special event, such as the party in the woods or Harvest Festival, this is what the player will be doing for about nine hours. ‌ That isn’t to say the formula isn’t enjoyable at times. Some of the conversations are amusingly witty, while others invite the player to contemplate their place in the universe and the age-old question: what is the meaning of life? The engaging writing, in combination with the gameplay loop, often kept me hooked, wonder-

GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS

ing what was going to happen the next day and playing for just a little longer.‌ Whether it’s coping with mental illness or understanding our place in the universe, Night in the Woods is ripe for interpretations and finding meaning in stressful life events.

Several other sites, such as Kotaku, have written about Night in the Woods’ depiction of mental illness. ‌ While I completely acknowledge there is substance in Night in the Woods on a deeper level in regards to mental illness, my attention remained on the surface with an intriguing story about friendship and a not-quiteright small town with a mystery lurking behind the next tree. However, Night in the Woods only capitalizes on the small town mystery in the last few hours with the reveal of a classic trope. ‌ I enjoyed most of the time I spent playing Night in the Woods. However, there were times I only felt compelled to keep playing to complete the game

for this review. My first two hours were more enjoyable because of how shockingly good the dialogue is. Once I started to get into the middle of the game, it started to become somewhat boring, with the dream sequences being particularly annoying.

However, the story began to regain its momentum towards the end.‌ It’s somewhat difficult to recommend Night in the Woods. For $20, the player gets about 8-12 hours of gameplay, which isn’t the worst value proposition considering the quality of the writing. Unless you’re in the mood for it or know you like this style of game, it probably won’t be worth the price unless it’s on sale. Night in the Woods isn’t a game I would have played in my own time. I didn’t find the story particularly satisfying, but I did discover compelling and relatable characters that I desperately wish were in a different medium.‌ Want to suggest a video game for review? Contact John Novotny at arts@ thenorthernlight.org.‌

SPORTS

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UAA student-athletes hit with a future of uncertainty

By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org

In light of the recent budget crisis affecting the University of Alaska, student-athletes at UAA are uncertain about their future with the Seawolves. ‌ While the UAA athletic department attracts and recruits many athletes from both out of state and out of the country, a small number actually come from Alaska.‌ With the affordability, the ease of being at home and close to family and the familiarness with academic programs and athletic teams, many athletes from Alaska decided to stay local after high school to pursue their collegiate careers. ‌ Specifically, the cross-country and track teams have 18 local athletes, men’s and women’s basketball have 11, volleyball has six, skiing has four, hockey has three and gymnastics has one local athlete. ‌ Now, with the budget crisis, 43 athletes are left wondering if they will be forced to leave their home state to pursue their academic or athletic goals else-

where. While some students are cutting their potential losses early and leaving, others are staying optimistic.‌ Tobin Karlberg, an Anchorage local, will be entering his sophomore year at UAA this fall.

He previously graduated from Grace Christian High School in 2018. Karlberg was the 2017-18 Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year.‌ “I wanted to stay in town and play at UAA after high school because I saw the opportunity to play for my hometown as a very special and exciting one,” Karlberg said. ‌ Similarly, former UAA gymnast Ali Marvel, from Wasilla, chose to stay close to home and compete for the Seawolves.

However, last month, Marvel announced that she will be leaving UAA due to the uncertainty of her future at the school.‌ She explained that she is a sociology major, and despite having the Alaska Performance Scholarship and being a top-performer for the Seawolves, Marvel decided she can’t stay at the university if she may not be able to complete her degree. ‌ In a draft planning document

released by UAA on July 23, the sociology program was one program listed “periphery” — meaning the first to go if need be. ‌ Karlberg, on the other hand, is staying optimistic and adaptable.‌ “I am currently a physical education major, but I am going to be switching to communications,” Karlberg said. ‌ Both degrees are listed as periphery.‌ “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about the future of UAA because of the budget issues as of late,” Karlberg said. “All I can say for now is that I am 100% committed to UAA still and hoping and praying for the best to come of all this.” ‌ In addition to academic considerations, the UA Board of Regents voted in favor of university consolidation on July 30, meaning the athletic departments of UAA and UAF will have to be combined, leaving a lot of uncertainty about the future of the teams. ‌ Despite the vote, UAA athletics spokesman Ian Marks confirmed that all 13 UAA teams

Former UAA runner Danielle McCormick nominated for NCAA 2019 Woman of the Year

By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org

With the conclusion of her four-year, highly successful collegiate career, UAA’s Danielle McCormick was just announced to be a nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year. She was the single nominee from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.‌ The pool of nominees ranges from Division IIII, including 585 studentathletes for a record-high year. Both eligible conferences and schools are able to nominate athletes of their choice, McCormick being nominated by GNAC. ‌ The award considers not only athletic achievement but also academics, community service and extracurriculars.‌ For all four years of her collegiate career, McCormick competed in crosscountry, indoor track and outdoor track. During a total of 12 seasons, McCormick accumulated many awards, honors and titles.

In both indoor and outdoor

track, McCormick earned an All-American spot twice for each season.‌ During her final year at the university, McCormick finished third in the 800-meter at the NCAA Indoor National Championships. ‌ In addition, she also participated in the distance medley that finished second at the national championships, after already having set a GNAC record.‌ In outdoor track and field, she secured the GNAC title in the 800-meter (2:08.67), as well as a third-place finish in the 1,500-meter (4:27.74). She continued on to compete at her final NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship, finishing fourth in the 800-meter (2:09.71) and eighth in the 4x400 meter relay (3:47.87).‌ During her final crosscountry meet, she helped the Seawolves to a GNAC cross-country title. McCormick finished 10th in the 6K at the GNAC Championships in a time of 21:58.1.‌ McCormick had also previously been the GNAC Champion in the

PHOTO COURTESY OF UAA ATHLETICS

Former Seawolf Danielle McCormick competes for UAA.

800-meter during both the indoor and outdoor seasons of her junior year.

During her sophomore year, she placed second in the 800-meter at both the indoor and outdoor GNAC Championships.‌ However, the highlight of her career was becoming the 2018 NCAA Indoor Track and Field national champion in the 800-meter, finishing in a time of 2:07.79. ‌ A year later, McCormick improved her personal-best time, finishing the race in 2:05.00 at the Bryan Clay Invitational in April of 2019. Her time is No. 5 on the GNAC AllTime list.‌ McCormick managed to accumulate a total of nine all-conference awards during her time at UAA, including two for cross-country, three for indoor track and four for outdoor track, as well as six GNAC All-Academic awards, three each in both cross-country and track and field.‌ In addition, McCormick was also named to the Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team twice.‌ McCormick graduated cum laude in spring of 2019 with a degree in natural sciences.‌ The 2019 Woman of the Year committee will narrow down the 585 nominees to the top-30, 10 from each division. Nine finalists will be selected afterward, three from each division. A winner will be announced at a banquet in Indianapolis on Oct. 20. ‌

PHOTO COURTESY OF UAA MEDIA

Gymnast Ali Marvel will be leaving UAA due to uncertainy in decisions for UAA’s future.

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE SEAWOLF MEN’S BASKETBALL TWITTER FEED

Tobin Karlberg plays basketball for the Seawolf men’s basketball team.

will be competing in 2019-20.

UAF Vice Chancellor Keith Champagne also confirmed that

the ten UAF teams will still be competing in the upcoming season. ‌

The WNBA is calling her name, but Fairbanks’ Ruthy Hebard has some unfinished business

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC ENGMAN/FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER VIA AP

Ruthy Hebard attempts a shot during Oregon’s first game of the 2018-19 season against the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Fairbanks on Nov. 6, 2018.

By Joey Carreon Contributor

Chicago-born, Fairbanks-raised hoops star Ruthy Hebard is no stranger to the limelight or the accolades that come with it. ‌ The University of Oregon’s All-American senior forward has had the honor of being West Valley High School’s only player to have her jersey retired, has won a gold medal with USA Basketball and has been an all-conference star during her three years in the Ducks’ uniform. ‌ While Hebard is a sought-after prospect projected to be drafted in the first round of the 2020 WNBA draft, she’s focused on one of the only accolades to elude her thus far — a national championship. ‌ After helping lead the Ducks to their first Final Four in school history, they fell to the eventual-champion, the Baylor Bears, in a tight semifinal matchup.‌

“Being able to be [in] Oregon’s first women’s basketball team ever to make it to the Final Four was an amazing experience and one I will remember my whole life.

Being able to make history with a group of girls you love is a great feeling,” Hebard said.‌ With Hebard and her teammate Sabrina Ionescu returning for their senior campaigns, the Ducks are boasting a 2019-20 roster that features seven of the nine players from last season’s team that finished the regular season with an overall record of 33-5 and a record of 16-2 in the Pac12.

Hebard believes the Ducks still have no shortage of talent and chemistry. Of their seven returners, all four of Oregon’s leading scorers from last season are returning for the 2019-20 season (Ionescu, 19.9 points per game; Sabally Satou, 16.6; Ruthy Hebard, 16.1; Erin Boley, 12.4), with three-time Pac-12 all-defensive team transfer Minyon Moore

from USC joining the mix.

“We have great talent returning and coming in,” Hebard said. “I know that my whole team is very hungry. Sabrina [Ionescu] and I are especially ready to start the season off. It is crazy how fast four years can go, but I think we are all excited to get on the court and play Oregon basketball… I am lucky to be on a team that holds each other accountable.

We all know what we can do and what our strengths are.”

Regardless of how her senior season unfolds, Hebard looks forward to graduating with a journalism degree in the spring.

“My goal is to play in the WNBA and then in the off season, do what most women do and go play overseas,” Hebard said. “I want to play basketball for as long as I can and then, after, pursue a career in the journalism field.”

While an official date has not yet been released, the Ducks’ season is likely set to kick off in early November. ‌

OPINION

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Letter from the Chancellor: Letter from the editor: UAA is what you make of it Campus Kickoff edition

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHANCELLOR CATHY SANDEEN

The result is that your advocacy changed Welcome back to the things. On Aug. 13, Gov. fall 2019 semester. What Dunleavy and university an eventful summer it leaders agreed to a $70 has been. As you are well million state-funding cut aware, the University of for the UA system spread Alaska system faced deep out over three years. It’s cuts to its state-funded op- still a steep cut, but a erating budget. Gov. Mike much better alternative Dunleavy had originally to the one originally proproposed a $134 million posed.‌ As you enter this acacut for the 2019-20 academic year. The Legis- demic year, I want you to lature restored all but $5 remember that your voice million in its budget, only matters.‌ Your willingness to to have the governor veto the funding. For over a speak up and advocate month, we were unsure of means our academic prowhat would happen next. I grams and athletics seaam so proud to say that our son will move forward students, alumni, faculty, as planned. We still have staff and supporters rallied some bumps in the road to on behalf of the university.‌ work through, but we can Dear UAA community,‌

do so with greater certainty and confidence regarding what the future holds.‌ Here at UAA, we’re a community that takes care of one another. We use our voices to help each other. When we see something that’s not right, we do something about it because Seawolves Speak Up. We are committed to safety on this campus because people matter.

Here’s a little good news for you about campus safety – UAA has been named among the most secure campuses in the country

by ASecureLife, an online publication dedicated to researching and reviewing the security industry.‌ We have much to look forward to this coming academic year. This week, we have events planned to welcome faculty, staff, students and alumni back to campus. I look forward to seeing many of you at Campus Kickoff this weekend. (By the way, it’s true. You can find me at USUAA’s dunk tank.)‌ Here’s to a great 201920 academic year!‌ Cathy Sandeen UAA Chancellor‌

The decision to start my collegiate journey at UAA was, like many other students’, based solely on finances. I wanted to graduate from college debtfree, so I worked hard in high school to earn scholarships like the Alaska Performance Scholarship and UA Scholars award. I went to college right after I graduated in 2017, pursuing a degree in journalism.‌ Even with all of the money I was saving remaining in-state for my education, I found myself longing for that “out-ofstate college experience” like you see in the movies.

Big football games, classrooms full of hundreds of students and an actual fall season. I was jealous of my high school friends that got out of Alaska, and I strongly considered transferring halfway through my second semester. ‌ Nevertheless, I continued to go to school at UAA and continued to remind myself that the money I was saving would be worth it in the end. It wasn’t until I really started getting involved with the university that I believed it. ‌ I started working at The Northern Light during my first semester at UAA. I’m a bit of a shy person, and as the youngest reporter at TNL, I just did my job and

tried to keep to myself.

Even though they were only a year or two older than I was, I was intimidated by my coworkers and everything they had accomplished.‌ After my freshman year of college, I moved into the Assistant A&E Editor position, where I grew a little more as a reporter and as a member of the staff. When the Copy Editor position opened up during the second half of my sophomore year, I was finally brave enough to apply in order to show my interest in moving up at TNL, but didn’t expect to be offered the position.‌ Much to my surprise, I did become the new Copy Editor. While in the position, I really broke out of my comfort zone as both a journalist and a person.

Because of my experience at TNL, I was also accepted into an internship at the Anchorage Daily News, where I produced content for the paper weekly.‌ If you told me back during my freshman year of college that just a year and a half later I would have worked my way up to become the new Executive Editor, I would never have believed you. It was not something I believed I could do. But here I am, doing it (not always perfectly, but doing it none-

theless). ‌ Even with everything that has been floating around about the University of Alaska’s budget lately, I haven’t considered transferring universities since my second semester at UAA. The staff and students in the journalism program, The Northern Light and the university itself mean too much to me to leave. I can’t imagine going to college anywhere else.‌ My story is a specific one, but the messages from it can be applied to anyone; putting yourself out there can be scary, terrifying even, if you’re anything like me. No matter how cliché it may sound, getting involved is one of the most important aspects of college (besides studying, of course). You will meet some amazingly talented individuals and gain some of the most valuable experiences of your life.‌ You also may not believe in your abilities (sometimes I still struggle with this). It makes it even more difficult to be confident if you, like me, compare yourself to those you feel are more accomplished than you. Take it from me, the shy freshman who kept to herself for the better part of her first year of college; you are more capable than you think.‌ Your time at UAA is what you make of it. You don’t need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get that “out-ofstate college experience” or even a successful college experience. You just need to take advantage of what’s right in front of you, and make the choice to get the most out of your time as a student. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.‌ Caleigh Jensen Executive Editor‌ The Northern Light

CONTACTS

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Meet the TNL staff Caleigh Jensen ‌Executive Editor I joined the staff at The Northern Light in October of 2017 as a freshman.

During my time here, I’ve held the positions of Staff Reporter, Assistant A&E Editor, Copy Editor and currently, Executive Editor. I am a junior majoring in journalism and public communications with a concentration in digital media and a minor in Spanish. I plan to graduate in the spring of 2021 and take a year to travel and put my writing and language skills to use abroad.

After that, I hope to work as a reporter wherever life takes me. Working at TNL the past two years has gotten me more involved with the UAA and Anchorage communities than I ever thought I was capable of, and I’ve met some pretty amazing people along the way. Along with being a journalist and writer, I am also a commercial fisherman, dog lover, amateur singer, shopaholic, Pinterest enthusiast and t-shirt maker.‌

my four ferrets: Sir Giles Snuggleworth, Anyanka, Henry and Spike.‌

Morgan Wilhelm Ad Manager‌ I joined The Northern Light in December of 2018 as a Marketing Representative. Soon after, I was promoted to Ad Manager, and enjoy my responsibilities in this position. Occasionally, I write short articles and sponsored content, but most of my work is done behind the scenes.

I am a junior music major with a minor in entrepreneurship. My main instrument is the oboe, although I am proficient in a few more instruments as well.

After I graduate, I plan to travel in the winter and come back to Alaska in the summer. I have been working in Ketchikan’s tourist industry since I was a child and plan to continue that involvement.

When I’m not working, I can be found in a music practice room or researching for my next presentation. I love writing and have self-published three books. Year-round, I like to stay busy!‌‌

Paola Banchero Media Adviser‌ I am a faculty member in the Department of Journalism and Public Communications. I teach journalism and strategic communications courses.

For 10 years before joining UAA, I was a full-time journalist in the Midwest and Southwest. I have been advising The Northern Light since 2004. I am interested in collegiate journalism, immigration and the news, and of late, climate change communication in my research agenda. When I’m not at UAA, I like hanging out with family and friends, running, yoga, reading, volunteering and being outside. ‌‌

Mary Ryan Managing Editor‌ I started out at The Northern Light as Features Editor in March of 2019 and became the Managing Editor at the beginning of June. As a college junior studying journalism and public communications, I am pursuing a career in strategic communications. I am also minoring in business administration and communications. With these degrees, I hope to build

Lauren Cuddihy ‌Sports Editor I have been working for The Northern Light for just about three years, having started in September of 2016 as the Assistant Sports Editor and working my way up to Sports Editor. I became aware of the position due to running on the UAA track and field team for three years. I just finished my fourth year at UAA, double majoring in chemistry and biology, and have just one five-credit lab to complete in the fall before graduating in December.

After that, I plan to pursue a master’s in clinical psychology and eventually a doctor of psychology and work in the field of mental health. When I am not studying and learning, I enjoy running, hiking, swimming, yoga, reading, volunteering, camping and spending as much time with friends and family as I can!‌

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TNL STAFF

TNL staff members (starting from top left): Caleigh Jensen, Jason Herr, Robert Gant, John Novotny, Morgan Wilhelm, Christina Swayney, Lauren Cuddihy and Mary Ryan.

a career where business and journalism overlap.

Working at The Northern Light has allowed me to experiment with different positions and further determine how I would like to use communication in a future career. In my spare time, I enjoy all things arts: sketching, crafts, swing dancing, playing the violin and singing to guitar chords.‌ Jason Herr Layout Editor‌ I have been with The Northern Light since May 2019, as both the News Editor and the Layout Editor. I am a senior, working to complete a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public communications, and have already completed my minors in psychology and justice.

After I graduate, I look forward to working with a company or organization on community relations campaigns, events and advertising. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, writing, cooking, gaming, art, comics and I recently began updating my Green Lantern collection.

I enjoy working with The Northern Light because I learn something new ev-

ery week. One day I may be attending a political forum, and the next day learning about how to dissect a whale. It’s always an adventure.‌ Michaeline Collins ‌Graphic Designer I joined The Northern Light team early this summer. I am a junior working towards a bachelor’s degree in illustration. After much thought and exploration, my career goals are to be a successful graphic designer and illustrator. I love playing video games and Magic the Gathering.

I do make it outside to go hiking and fishing with my dog and boyfriend. I love my job because I can take someone’s vision and create it for them with my own twists. That is why I have chosen this career path!‌‌ Christina Swayney ‌News Reporter I joined the Northern Light in May of 2019 as a News Reporter. It has been a dream of mine to write and take photographs for a newspaper, and it came true! I love to write for the paper, but I enjoy taking pictures and editing even more. I am a junior jour-

nalism student also pursuing a minor in anthropology. Working at TNL has taught me that writing does not feel like work and makes me happy. When I am not working, I love to cook, paint, rea, travel when I can (when I am not broke), make fragrance oils and read tarot cards for my friends. ‌ John Novotny Arts & Entertainment Editor‌ I have been working for The Northern Light since May of 2019. Video games are my passion and thanks to The Northern Light, I have been able to start writing about them professionally. Working at The Northern Light is an incredible opportunity. I’m able to enjoy my favorite hobby and improve my writing to take the next step in achieving my dream. This fall will be the start of my fifth, and hopefully final, year at UAA. I am working towards a bachelor of arts degree in journalism.

After I graduate, I hope to start writing for a video game publication or website. Ideally, the work will allow me to stay in Alaska or at least live somewhere

with a similar climate, if not a little colder. I chose journalism because I saw it as my way into the video game industry, which I have been obsessed with since I first picked up a controller as a child. Gaming is what I spend most of my free time doing. However, I also enjoy getting outdoors every once and awhile, sport fishing for salmon and trout and hiking. ‌ Robert Gant Features Editor‌ I joined The Northern Light team at the end of February 2019 as Features Reporter and have been Features Editor since June 2019. I am a sophomore economics major pursuing my bachelor’s of business administration with a minor in philosophy. My aspirations include getting at least one of my novels published and working within fiscal and public policy. I love the opportunity The Northern Light gives me to connect with the UAA community and shine a light on information about the university. When I’m not writing articles for The Northern Light, I write speculative fictional novels and hang out with

Zac Clark Administrative Adviser‌ I began supporting The Northern Light and KRUA 88.1FM The Edge as the Administrative Advisor in 2016. I’m a UAA alumnus and earned my bachelor’s degree in journalism and public communication in 2005. During my time as a UAA student, I worked at KRUA 88.1FM The Edge.

After graduating from UAA, I have worked as a professional staff member. In addition to supporting UAA Student Media, I work with USUAA, Concert Board and Green Fee Board. When I’m not working at UAA, I enjoy spending time with my family exploring Alaska.‌

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2019

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CO R R E C T I O N S •

Last issue, Aug. 6, The Northern Light placed a picture of the UAA Seawolf cross-country team within the “Volleyball adds nine to their roster for the upcoming season” article. The image meant for this article is placed at right.

•

Last issue, Aug. 6, The Northern Light stated incorrectly in the article “How to stay active during the 2019-2020 school year” that “all intramurals are free and open to all UAA students.”

Intramural sports are open to UAA students taking six or more credits on campus, and the cost is $10 per person per sport.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SKIP HICKEY

The Seawolf volleyball team added nine new players to their roster for the 2019-2020 season.

STAFF CONTACTS

A S S O C I AT E D CO L L E G I AT E P R ES S

3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508‌

Opinion Writer Robert Hockema opinion@thenorthernlight.org‌

Executive Editor Caleigh Jensen (907) 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org‌

Graphic Designer Michaeline Collins media@thenorthernlight.org‌

Managing Editor Mary Ryan content@thenorthernlight.org‌ Layout Editor Jason Herr layout@thenorthernlight.org Features Editor Robert Gant features@thenorthernlight.org‌ Arts & Entertainment Editor John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org‌ Sports Editor Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org‌ News Reporter Christina Swayney news2@thenorthernlight.org‌

Ad Manager Morgan Wilhelm admanager@thenorthernlight.org Student Media Administrative Support Jourdan Robertson Media Adviser Paola Banchero‌ Administrative Adviser Zac Clark‌

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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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