COVER ILLUSTRATION AND GRAPHICS BY JIAN BAUTISTA
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
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Configuring the cost of Commencement The cost of graduation first starts when outgoing seniors apply to graduate. At UAA, seniors must pay a $50 application fee when applying to graduate, but what is the fee actually for? By Kelly Ireland
editor@thenorthernlight.org
Seniors looking to graduate after years of paying for college find themselves with a new dilemma: how to pay to leave. Many don’t know it until the time comes, but graduation is a costly event. The cost of graduation first starts when outgoing seniors apply to graduate. At UAA, seniors must pay a $50 fee when applying to graduate. But what is the fee actually for? “The application for graduation fee supports DegreeWorks in a number of ways,” said Lindsey Chadwell, assistant registrar for Degree Services and Transfer Credit Evaluation & Records, in an email. “It helps us (Office of the Registrar) pay for the software itself, as well as the programming of all university and degree requirements each year and significant ongoing maintenance and support. The application for graduation fee also supports the cost of diploma paper.” In addition to the cost of just applying to graduate students who want to walk in Commencement will have to pay even more. For Commencement, students must have a cap, gown and tassel, which total to $40 or more depending on if the student is getting a bachelor’s gown or master’s gown and hood. The Commencement ceremony has historically cost UAA around $50,000, which helps pay for the venue, graduate hooding ceremonies, decor, music, sound system, event staff and videographers. University Advancement is primarily responsible for the Commencement ceremony and therefore the money comes out of their budget. Administrative Services and Degree Services also help pay for the ceremony. While the budget for the ceremony might seem like a lot, the cost of Commencement has decreased. Bridgett Dyson, University Advancement’s special events manager who coordinates the Commencement ceremony, said this lowered cost is because the event is at the Alaska Airlines Center instead of the Sullivan Arena. “With the budget situation we’re trying to be really fiscally responsible, so we’ve trimmed several areas like decor. The Alaska Airlines Center is actually given us a lot of opportunities to trim expenses,” Dyson said. Before the Commencement ceremonies were held at the Alaska Airlines Center Dyson said the venue, the Sullivan Arena, cost the university around $11,000. The Alaska Airlines Center only costs $7,500. The Alaska Airlines Center also allows University Advancement to save on decor because the Alaska Airlines Center is a newer building and less has to be done to spruce it up. Advancement is also saving on the audio since the Alaska Airlines Center has an in-house sound system and the building was designed to have good acoustics. Advancement now only has to pay for technicians. Dyson said the budget for audio support has been cut by two-thirds at the Alaska Airlines Center. One of the biggest costs of Commencement is the program. $7,000 was spent on the Spring 2015 Commencement program. “It’s usually one of our biggest (costs). It’s cost a lot more in the past, but we have been able to work with our paper vendors and things like that to get that price down significantly,” Dyson said. While the cost for the program is high, many feel that it’s well worth it. “That’s something we hear from students that they really feel is an important keepsake from the day. We’re trying to find that fine line between being conscientious of the university’s fiscal budget situation, but also still maintaining a celebratory atmosphere for our students because they worked so hard. This is their big day and it just wouldn’t be a celebration without some of these things,” said Sarah Henning, UAA’s public relations and marketing manager. Some other costs of graduation include the labor costs for set up. Dyson said the cost of labor varies depending on when the venue allows setup to happen. For Fall Commencement the ceremony’s setup began at 5 a.m. that same day, whereas Spring Commencement the setup can be done during normal business hours, which will allow Advancement to save some money. A shuttle to and from the venue to overflow parking at the UAA Arts Building is also provided for graduates and their families. The service costs $600. When the ceremony was held at the Sullivan Arena the shuttle ran from the Commons to the Sullivan and cost nearly double what the shuttle service now costs. While the total cost of graduating can seem overwhelming at times, the university has cut expenses wherever possible by moving the ceremony closer to home, allowing UAA to see its students from classrooms to Commencement.
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NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
Finals stress: Reflections of a weary senior A well-meaning column rife with clunky metaphors and horrible advice, Orange Rhymes With is the goto place to break the monotony of classes and laugh at someone else’s misfortune.
By Evan Dodd Contributor
The last two weeks are always a chaotic mess for me. Even when the rest of the semester has run smoothly and fallen into a comfortable rhythm, those final couple days seem to spontaneously unravel in an instant once I actually look at a calendar and see that I’m out of time once again. It’s always the same pattern, too: beginning with intense stress and lack of sleep, supplemented by artificial alertness gained from running Red Bull through my coffee maker in lieu of water. Then a spectacularly mediocre performance on my finals before finally enduring the post finals mania as my brain struggles to comprehend the sudden lack of stress. I vaguely remember the end of my first semester at UAA. My last final was some sort of math course I’ve long since forgotten, though I distinctly remember oversleeping and misplacing my car keys, requiring me to sprint to class half dressed through knee-deep snow. I arrived 40 minutes late, hair pointing in every direction, wearing mismatched shoes and my roommate’s too-small pants, and just helplessly gestured at professor holding the stack of tests. Once the final ended, I’m pretty sure I went on autopilot, wandered slowly back to the residence halls and promptly fell asleep on my living room floor. Rather than a fluke, this was more than representative of what was to come over the next four years. In my freshman year, sleep deprived from finals, riding the high of completing another semester and disgruntled by what we considered to be unnecessary fees, me
The future is not set By Klax Zlubzecon
Translated by George Hyde
In the year 2013, an alien brain slug from one of the galaxy’s most feared empires crash-landed on Earth and assumed control of a lowly reporter at this newspaper. These are his stories.
Seawolf Slug
and my roommates used our remaining meal plans to purchase Subway for everyone in the Student Union as an act of protest. Still laboring under the mental strain of our first college experience, we hid nearly a pound of cheese throughout the van of the fourth roommate as vengeance for his passive aggressive behavior during the year. My other roommates deny knowledge of this and claim that the cheese was entirely my idea, but that’s not how I choose to tell the story. My sophomore year I distinctly remember cooking all my food — in part to host a feast and in part because I didn’t want to pack it home — stuffing all my belongings into a truck and leaving on a weeklong kayaking trip in Homer through the university outdoor recreation program. This was by far the best way to end a semester, until I returned and noticed that while I had been camping in a yurt and capsizing in rough seas, the rest of the world had wondered why I hadn’t been returning their calls. I returned home to a full inbox, a full voicemail and a truck that smelled exactly how you would imagine a week’s worth of my possessions cooking in the sun. Junior year went perfectly up until the last week when hundreds of dollars of water quality assessment equipment was stolen during my final field assignment for a biology course. Halfway through sampling a an area of Chester Creek that ran orange with polluted sediment and contained more than one submerged shopping cart, we turned around to realize that someone had followed us into the wood and stolen our crate full of gear, presumably hoping to make meth. In addition to losing our logbook — which accounted for most of our grade — we also lost notes and study guides for all our other classes. By the time finals had passed that semester, I threw everything I owned into badly battered boxes that were never again opened and called it a day. When summer began the next day, I found myself sipping coffee in Kaladis, feverishly searching for a summer job and accompanied by an Aloe vera plant that seems to have walked off from some far-flung region of campus and tucked itself in my luggage. If the first three years were any indication, I should be frantically running around trying in vain to finish strong before the summer. Yet somehow, it feels like any other week filled with minor due dates and reasonable deadlines. Maybe college finally broke me, or perhaps my apathy has finally overwhelmed my motivation. But I like to think that after four years of academic stress my brain has finally just learned to filer it out as meaningless noise. Capstone due in a week? No problem, I’ll just slam some coffee and hammer through it. Move out is tomorrow? Well I guess I’ll start packing tomorrow morning. My laptop lost my entire draft of an econ paper? Oh well, I wasn’t overly happy with that draft anyway. By the end of your senior year, those stressors that seemed so important as a freshman become laughable as more important issues take the forefront. Employment, summer plans, what you’re eating for dinner — suddenly everything becomes more important that college stress as a senior. So I’ll finish those last few assignments and calmly dive into summer break without incident for once. After four years of insanity and finals, I think I’ve earned it. Well, the last stretch is upon us again. This is the fourth time I’ve written about finals, so I’ll keep it brief. Study hard. Remember to sleep. Eat heartily. Remember what your finals schedule looks like. Being the Commencement edition as well, I suppose I should address the graduating class again as well. Congratulations. You’ve shown the world that you can survive years of studious hell, which hopefully prepared you for real life. All of you will go on to do great things. Make the Slug Empire proud! This last week has actually been pretty ho-hum for George and I. Finals week snuck up on us really well, and even then, we’re barely reacting to it. All George has left to do is a couple easy GER tests and he’s home free, and the most he’s worried about is his obligations to this paper over the summer. And he worries about that on a regular basis anyway. In fact, we’re more stressed about the post-semester parties than anything else. One of them involves a viewing of this summer’s greatest hit, “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.” Another one has us fretting
about how we’re going to get six Costco pizzas to a room full of anime fans. Yet another is a formal affair for his Japanese Tea Ceremony class, and I’m not exactly a fan of George’s tea-making technique. Even yet another is an awards banquet for the Alaska Press Club, where we’ll be rooting for our fellow Northern Light writers in the running. And then there’s Commencement itself, where George is passing out papers to graduation-goers. He might have given you this very copy that you’re reading right now. Be sure to thank him on the way out; he’s the fat, long-haired guy in black. But alas, this will be his last semester passing out papers at Commencement, because his next one will be his last at UAA. George only has a few GERs to knock out before he graduates, and he has grand plans of doing post-production or broadcasting work at one of the local stations afterward, with some blogging and YouTube game reviews on the side. It’s nice that he has ambition.
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE. EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
The meaning of Hawaiian lei By Nita Mauigoa Contributor
In ancient Hawai‘i, “ali‘i,” or royalty, wore feather lei as a sign of “mana,” or spirit and grandeur. In contemporary society, there are endless varieties of lei and meanings. The sentiMana is one’s spirit, ment of mana, however, still greatness, power, echoes during times like gradaccomplishment. uation — even in ice-ridden Alaska. The word “lei,” or garland, is specific to the Hawaiian language, called ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i. The plural form of lei is simply “lei.” Attaching an “s” is similar to saying “mooses.” Hawai‘i falls under the umbrella of the Polynesian islands, which includes among others, Tahiti, Samoa and Tonga. Each island has a rendition of the lei with its own name, history and meanings. For example, in Samoa lei are called “ula.” For this article, local Hawaiian leaders introduced some cultural features of the lei. Kawehi Mahi, president of Alaska’s Na Keiki O Hawai‘i Hawaiian Civic Club, touched on historical context of the lei in Hawai‘i. Mahi said in ancient Hawai‘i, lei were made of flowers, leaves, shells, seeds, nuts, feathers and even bone and teeth of various animals. Lei were worn both aesthetically and for social distinction. Sacred lei were also offered to royalty and gods. “The maile lei was perhaps the most significant. Among other sacred uses, it was used to signify a peace agreement between opposing chiefs,” Mahi said. She said in a “heiau,” or temple, chiefs would symbolically intertwine a green vine lei of maile leaves, and “The maile lei was its completion officially established peace. perhaps the most This maile lei is seen today significant. Among other during graduation time. Its bold green color and doublesacred uses, it was twisted vine is distinct, like used to signify a peace its richly rooted history. Lei were so integral to agreement between Hawai‘i history that there are opposing chiefs.” royal lei made of special materials on display in museums. -KAWEHI MAHI Thais Rector is among several lei vendors spotted around Anchorage during graduation time. Her lei are not made of teeth, bone or feathers. Rather, they are made of materials like candies and flowers — fitting for contemporary occasions like graduation. “The lei represents honor, achievement, our culture and our love for the one receiving the lei,” Rector said. Rector said that with the high demand of lei in Anchorage today, she often refers customers to fellow vendors after running out — and those demands are climbing rapidly. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Asian and Pacific Islander population is the fastest-growing demographic in Alaska. Polynesians fall under that category with sub-populations such as Samoan and Hawaiian soaring through the charts. With this, the culture of lei-giving has crossed into mainstream celebrations. “It’s about friendship and welcoming people to our island culture,”
Rector said of non-Polynesians participating in the cultural tradition. She said she understands the common thread is celebration of mana during graduations. Sammi Pedro, instructor of Hula Hui Na Haumana ‘O Alaka, touched on how the importance of lei extends beyond lei-giving and is still a major aspect of Hawai‘i’s culture today. “One of the main events held in Hawai‘i is May Day, or Lei Day. On May 1, we celebrate in schools across the island chain,” Pedro said. Pedro said each of the “Mana is a divine energy eight Hawaiian islands are given to us. It’s the represented by a specific lei and color of flower. For divine right and access example, Maui is represented by the pink roselani lei, for people to use this while the yellow ilima lei synergy to do good. represents O’ahu. She said there are songs, dances and Mana is in us all.” regalia that coincide with -KAWEHI MAHI this. Mahi said Lei Day was conceived in 1927 by poet Don Blanding, an employee at the Honolulu Star Bulletin newspaper. She recalled a Lei Day in 2008 when the city of Honolulu set the record for the world’s longest lei, measuring in at a whopping 5,336 feet long. This importance and value of the lei beckons the understanding of a few unspoken rules of lei etiquette Mahi shared. Mahi said a lei should be a welcomed celebration of one person’s affection to another, therefore never refuse one. If a person cannot wear a lei due to allergies or other reasons, it is displayed in a place of honor. The proper way to wear a lei is draped over the shoulders, hanging down both in front and in back. In modern times, a lei is usually given with a kiss — a custom which began in World War II. Traditionalists, however, give a lei by bowing slightly and raising it above the heart, allowing the recipient to take it. Raising the hands above another’s head, or touching the face or head, is considered disrespectful. Simply knowing can insure that all who embrace the culture of lei-giving can enjoy the experience. “Mana is a divine energy given to us. It’s the divine right and access for people to use this synergy to do good. Mana is in us all,” Mahi said. Hawaiian ali‘i of old are gone from the earth. Still the value of mana and greatness linger, even through forms like mountains of lei at a UAA graduation in Alaska.
“The lei represents honor, achievement, our culture and our love for the one receiving the lei.” -THAIS RECTOR PHOTO BY KELLY IRELAND
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FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
UAA bids farewell to beloved ‘gentleman’ professor
Retiring professor Clay Nunnally seemed both moved and amused after some of the anecdotes and comments former students shared. He received two standing ovations during the event.
Professor of English Toby Widdicombe presented a skateboard to Professor Nunnally, in reference to a 2011 interview with The Northern Light. In the interview, Nunnally state, “When they have to wheel me in on a skateboard, I’ll know it’s time to quit.”
By Kjersti Andreassen photo@thenorthernlight.org
As soon as this semester ends, Professor of English Clay Nunnally is retiring after 45 years at UAA. Nunally is something of a UAA legend, known well for impromptu poetry recitations in class and sharp wardrobe. Many know him simply by his glasses, suit, matching tie and handkerchief, and the carnation in his lapel. That’s not even mentioning his famous Southernness, his love of Romance and Victorian-era literature or the plethora of stories that surround him. Spring 2015 is his last semester at UAA. As soon as the last final is over, Nunnally will officially retire. On April 2 students and faculty set aside time to honor him. Current and former students told story after story
about how Nunnally had inspired and empowered them, both academically and personally. Several in the audience remarked that he had been more of a “grandfather father figure” to them than a professor and said he inspired his students to be true to themselves. “I wanted to help because of what Professor Nunnally means to me,” said Chris Richardson, one of the students who volunteered to interview the professor. “I’m in my fifth year here at UAA. Before I started, I was homeless for six years. When starting college, I had no direction. Professor Nunnally showed me how beautiful and important English literature is. He made me want to become an English professor like him.” Nunnally has been a professor at
UAA since 1970, when the school was known as Anchorage Community College. It is perhaps not surprising, then, that he would like a break. Nunnally said his wife stopped working after a heart surgery 20 years ago, and has spent much of that time on her own in their Girdwood home. Now, he said, he wants to spend more time with her, spend a year traveling, and then maybe find a home in a small college town in Mississippi. It seems the university atmosphere may be difficult to give up for Nunnally, who has devoted most of his life to academia. “I just want to be with young people. This is the most addictive thing, the people right here in this room. They say
heroin is addicting. That’s child’s play!” Nunnally said to a laughing crowd. The students interviewing Nunnally for the event had dug up a news story from 2011, in which the professor had said, “I think I’ll just keep truckin’ along until something starts failing, and when they have to wheel me in on a skateboard, I’ll know it’s time to quit.” So in honor of Nunnally’s retirement, UAA student Alesondra Westerholt was asked to paint a skateboard for him. Professor of English Toby Widdicombe proudly presented it to Nunnally. Despite the gift, Nunnally did not give the students the honor of pushing him out on it — or, as he put it, the horror of having that be the last thing they saw of him.
PHOTOS BY KJERSTI ANDREASSEN
UAA students Chris Richardson, Patty Pierce and Vince Gregory interviewed retiring professor Clay Nunnally about his teaching career at UAA, his life and his devotion to literature.
06 | FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
Commencement cords explained By Victoria Petersen
vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org
ALPHA DELTA NU (NURSING) GOLD CORDS
For students graduating, one of the personal ways to represent one’s self beyond a cap and gown is through the cords adorning the neck. Representing achievements in a multitude of ways, the cords stem from a tradition in the beginnings of the Roman Catholic Church to distinguish status among clergy. This became part of the graduation ceremony to distinguish different honors and achievements among graduates. Today, however, it can be hard to know the differences between the cords and the variety of colors and styles they come in, especially between different schools. In the University of Alaska system, the graduation cords are not universal. Graduation cords go through an approval process before they are added to the existing list. Bridgett Dyson, special events manager for University Advancement, said the process a cord request must go through before it sees the graduate. “The requests now must be reviewed by the Commencement Committee and forwarded to the
BETA GAMMA SIGMA (BUSINESS SCHOOL, HONOR SOCIETY) BLUE AND GOLD CORDS ENGINEERING HONORS BRAIDED GREEN AND GOLD CORDS HUMANITIES HONORS WHITE CORDS KAPPA DELTA PI (EDUCATION) BLUE AND PURPLE CORDS LEADERSHIP HONORS RED CORDS LEGAL STUDIES PRO BONO SERVICES HONORS PURPLE CORDS MEDICAL LAB SCIENCE GREEN AND GOLD CORDS MUSIC PINK CORDS NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE HONOR SOCIETY GOLD CORDS PHI ALPHA THETA (HISTORY) RED CORDS SIGMA THETA TAU (NURSING) PURPLE AND WHITE CORDS UNIVERSITY HONORS GOLD CORD VETERANS RED, WHITE AND BLUE CORDS CBPP LEADERSHIP FELLOWS GREEN, GOLD, AND PURPLE CORD
PHOTO BY VICTORIA PETERSEN
University Advancement is compiling an official list of Commencement cords that have been approved through the Chancellor.
Chancellor’s Cabinet for final approval,” Dyson said. The process for approving cords and compiling an official list of their meanings is a rather new endeavor. “Until recently, there was not a formal process for the approval of cords/sashes,” Dyson said. The University of Alaska Anchorage has no official list of approved cords and sashes. UAA assistant registrar Lindsey Chadwell confirmed the lack of an official list. “To my knowledge, the university doesn’t have a complete list of all cords students might wear during commencement,” she said.
Chadwell pointed toward University Advancement for the start of this developing list of approved Commencement cords. Bridgett Dyson and University Advancement were able to provide The Northern Light an in-progress list of official cords and their corresponding colors. University Advancement is in the process of expanding this list to make it comprehensively include all cords that have been approved through the Chancellor. For more information regarding cords, contact UAA Advancement at 907-7864847.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
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Commencement ceremony limits grads’ guest lists By Samantha Davenport arts@thenorthernlight.org
Like last semester, the 2015 Spring Commencement will be held in the Alaska Airlines Center. But this time there’s a catch: Each graduate will have only five tickets to give to guests. The cap on the number of people each graduate can bring has sparked questions. Bridgett Dyson and Sarah Henning sat down with The Northern Light to discuss budget cuts, the time it takes to plan graduation, and their main goals of the event. “For both ceremonies it’s about $100,000, which includes December’s Commencement and the hooding cer-
emony the night before as well as May’s Commencement and the hooding ceremony. With the budget crisis we’re trying to be really fiscally responsible right now. The Alaska Airlines Center has given us room to trim expenses. We spent over $11,000 to rent the Sullivan Arena in the past. For December’s Commencement we spend around $7,500 at the Alaska Airlines Center. The programs are the biggest expense. This year is around $7,000 — almost as much as the venue!” Dyson said. “We have the orchestra — which is a big expense, between $4,000 and $4,500. There are other little expenses too, like shuttles, decorations and all that. We used to run the shuttle from the (Gorsuch) Commons to the Sullivan Area and back, but since we’re holding graduation
on campus we can save a lot of money. We can store supplies at the center too, so we don’t have to waste time hauling everything across town. We also use the in-house sound system, which saves us on money. We have an outside group that runs it,” Henning said. Nearly 700 students are walking in this May’s Commencement. Before the Alaska Airlines Center, UAA held graduation in the Sullivan for close to 30 years. “Yeah, we have a limit now of how many people can come to your graduation. We have a streaming service from GCI. They have a special graduation page. It will also stream on GCI Channel 1, and it’ll be on Video on Demand for viewing later. It’s a free service for us. When you can see it on the jumbo-tron,
that’s who makes that service available. We’ve gotten really positive feedback from it, too,” Dyson said. Chloe Akers-Silverman, a double major in theatre and Japanese isn’t too worried about the seating arrangements. “For me, it works perfectly. My mom, dad, boyfriend and his parents are coming. I went to my boyfriend’s graduation last spring I noticed how mayn people had families of more than ten. I feel badly for them not being able to invite all of their family because graduation is a monumental milestone. I think if people want to bring big families, that’s fine because it’s an important day that should be celebrated, but the seating arrangements need to be managed so that every seat is able to be filled and families can find seating together,” Silverman said.
CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!
SEAWOLF POSTAL EXPRESS UAA Seawolf Postal Express is here to help with your mailing and shipping needs. We provide most USPS, FedEx, and UPS services for your convenience. We accept cash, checks, credit cards or Wolfcard.
Best wishes to the UAA Class of 2015! Lower-Level Campus Bookstore FREE 30-min parking outside the green-awning entrance. Mon - Fri 8:30am – 5:00pm • 907.786.1108 • www.uaa.alaska.edu/gss/mailing.cfm
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
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Jack White hits Alaska to kick off acoustic tour Hundreds line up for musician’s surprise show
PHOTOS BY DAVID JAMES SWANSON
By Samantha Davenport arts@thenorthernlight.org
Monday, April 20, Jack White announced a surprise performance at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium held later that night for $3 a ticket. There had been speculation that the rocker would hit Alaska, Idaho, North/ South Dakota and Wyoming — the five states where he hasn’t performed. The performance was announced at 8 a.m. on a slushy, rainy and snowy Monday morning. I called my friend almost immediately after seeing his Facebook post to confirm my speculation. By the time I arrived to get my ticket, it was 10:30 a.m. and the line of people had already started wrapping around the Wendy Williamson and Professional Studies Building. During my hour and a half of waiting in the slush, a swarm of cars turned off of Providence Drive to get in line. There weren’t even free spots in the lot behind the Wendy, and many people parked across the street to avoid parking tickets. Hundreds of people skipped class and work to get in line for this spon-
taneous set. Even though the doors opened at noon to get tickets, I didn’t get to the ticket desk until 12:45. During that time, hundreds of line-cutters zipped passed me. When standing in line, several event staff walked by, counting the number of people in line. Around 11 a.m., I was at 300-ish. At 11:30 a.m., I had jumped up to 400-ish. By the time I hit the doors, I heard I was at the 600 level. 300 cutters, can you believe it? Cutters. We hate you. Ahem, anyway. After finally walking inside the auditorium, I handed over my $3 and received my black and blue wristband that doubled as my ticket. I was cold and covered in snow, but relieved I got my ticket. Doors for the event opened at 7 p.m. When I showed up for my 6 p.m. class at Eugene Short Hall, there were already over 100 people in line. By the time I got out at 7:15 p.m., the line had wrapped clear around the building. I honestly didn’t care where I sat, as long as I was getting to see Jack White perform. I got into the building at around 8 p.m. where I found a seat
toward the back. Five minutes before the show started, a man with two women asked me to move two seats over so they could sit down. I agreed and did just so. Apparently, this was a pathway for us to have a conversation, before, during and after the show. “Can you get a picture of us? Did you break your foot? What stupid thing were you doing? What’s your name? Can you get another picture? Sorry, I was talking. Are you a Jack White fan? Will you sing along with me?” If you heard a man attempting to have a conversation with Jack White, I know your man. Before the show, one of White’s tour managers stood center stage to introduce the legend. He asked the audience to turn their phones off and just enjoy the moment, which is exactly what I did. I didn’t take pictures or videos. I just let the music sink into me. At 8:35 p.m., the lights finally went down and the 6-foot 2-inch powerhouse stepped onto stage. Before saying a word, the crowd roared and stood on their feet, whooping and hollering. Three other individuals joined him
onstage including fiddler Fats Kaplin, bass guitarist Dominic Davis and fiddler/vocalist Lillie Mae Rische. White performed “Carolina Drama” from his old band the Raconteurs, “We’re Going to be Friends” by his other past band The White Stripes, and a few songs from his solo discography. “Temporary Ground,” a song from his album “Lazaretto” made the crowd wild. White’s set from Monday can be found at http://bit.ly/1HKEB45. White was phenomenal, and he is an eight-time Grammy winner for obvious reasons. In several hours, he sardine-packed a 910-seat auditorium and had almost all of them on their feet for his hour long performance. White plans on taking a break after touring with his five acoustic shows. I was still cold, annoyed by my new “friend” and frustrated by all of the line-cutters, but I got to see Jack White perform — and perform a special set at that. At the concert, White said he was grateful that so many people stood in terrible weather for a chance at seeing him and said he would be back soon. He’s the kind of guy that sounds better live than he does on a track.
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A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
2015 Summer Movie Preview It’s that time of year — seniors graduating, flowers blooming and summer blockbusters exploding. As per usual, there are many big movies coming out in the summer months, but there are five in particular that are worth checking out.
By George Hyde
gchyde@thenortherlight.org
“TERMINATOR: GENISYS”
“AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON”
RELEASE DATE: JULY 1
RELEASE DATE: MAY 1
The trailer may have induced a lot of groans, especially after the disasters “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” and “Terminator: Salvation.” However, the story for “Genisys” seems like an interesting take on the franchise’s timetravel mechanics, with an alternate Sarah Connor taking some initiative and rescuing the male lead for once. Plus, it’s directed by Alan “Thor: The Dark World” Taylor, so hopefully he can bring some of Marvel’s likable charm to a franchise that desperately needs it.
This one’s a no-brainer. Directed by the man, the myth and the legend, Joss Whedon, “Age of Ultron” continues the stories of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk and the rest. Marvel’s films have been nothing short of stupendous since the last “Avengers” film came out back in 2012, and with Whedon at the helm, “Ultron” should be no exception.
“PIXELS”
“TOMORROWLAND”
It’s an odd turn for director Chris Columbus, who directed “Home Alone” and the first two “Harry Potter” films, but this collaboration with Happy Madison could be intriguing. An adaptation of the short film of the same name, “Pixels” is about a group of retro-gaming fanatics on a quest to prevent video-game character monsters from destroying the world. It’s an odd premise, but with Columbus’ direction, it could work well.
“Tomorrowland” may seem like another Disney Park attraction cash-grab, until one takes into account the director: Brad Bird, the man behind phenomenal works like “The Iron Giant” and “The Incredibles.” With any luck, “Tomorrowland” should be no exception, and the trailer promises a futuristic world full of adventure. With actors like George Clooney and Hugh Laurie under Bird’s direction, “Tomorrowland” should be a treat.
RELEASE DATE: JULY 24
RELEASE DATE: MAY 22
“THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.” RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 14
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SALARY/WEEKLY RATE
WANTED
This one is a biased choice, because I’m already a huge fan of director Guy Ritchie’s work, from “Snatch” to the recent “Sherlock Holmes” films. This time, he’s directing a cheesy spy thriller along the lines of the recent “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” based on an old TV show. Ritchie has a style that is all his own, and seeing it applied to an old school spy movie is like a dream come true. Plus, it has a cast that is just as British as it needs to be for a good spy movie to work.
10 | A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
‘Come Out and Play’ fails to justify its existence By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor
In an impressive feat, “Come Out and Play” manages to destroy viewers’ sympathy and investment within the first 15 minutes. How is this accomplished? As it turns out, anything is possible when bored — and boring — actors are given a bad script. Based on the 1976 novel “El juego de los niños” — and, by extension, the 1976 film adaptation “Who Can Kill a Child?” — “Come Out and Play” follows married couple Beth (Vinessa Shaw, “Cold in July”) and Francis (Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “We’ll Never Have Paris”) on vacation in Mexico. The two take a boat to the remote island of Punta Hueca and dock to find the place deserted, populated only by stone-faced children. “Come Out and Play” fails to pave a new way through the source material. It plays out in nearly the exact same way as “Who Can Kill a Child?” — even going so far as lifting shots from that movie’s most famous sequences. The fact that its name isn’t mentioned anywhere in the credits is a disservice. With this in mind, “Come Out and Play” seems pointless. Director Makinov apparently saw the original and adapted the story, but not the message behind it. The result is empty and often dumb. Shortsighted narrative choices prevent it from being anything but pretentious horror. For how fraught with danger Punta Hueca is, Beth and Francis feel pretty safe. The children on the island may be bloodthirsty, but apparently white tourists aren’t on the menu. Viewers shouldn’t blame the kids for this, however. There’s nothing attractive about the couple anyway. It’s almost painful to watch Beth and Francis interact. Shaw and MossBachrach have no chemistry whatsoever. Every interaction feels stilted. On their own, the two actors are wooden enough, but together they’re something special: two characters brought together for a narrative that would have no drive without them.
TITLE “Come and Play”
RELEASE DATE March 23, 2012
DIRECTORS Makinov
GENRE Horror
They’re not given any substantial writing to delve into, either. On the one hand, their performances are bad. On the other hand, so is the writing. Director and writer Makinov seems to thwart every opportunity for character development. He separates the couple at every possible moment, hoping that just them being apart will be enough to keep viewers watching. It isn’t. In fact, there’s not much good here at all. “Come Out and Play” is a deceptively bad movie. All the markers of something good are here: decent cinematography and a solid premise. But the less explicit stuff, like the acting and writing, is awful. The fact that Makinov places so much importance on Beth and Francis’ relationship without delving into it in any kind of meaningful way and opts instead for pointless gore shows where his priorities lie. Ultimately, the movie is too pleased with itself, mistaking children doing horrible things and adults doing horrible things to them in response for worthwhile discourse on the human condition. The only good thing about “Come Out and Play” is that, unlike the film’s doomed husband and wife, viewers can leave any time they want.
COUNTRY Mexico
Congratulations graduates
The UAA Student Health and Counseling Center is proud to be a part of laying the foundation for your healthy future! www.uaa.alaska.edu/studenthealth
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A&E
By Samantha Davenport arts@thenorthernlight.org
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
| 11
Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci have been joined at the hip since the late 2000s. Friday night, the dup hit the Wendy Williamson Auditorium. The duo talked to The Northern Light about Alaska, song inspiration and the future for their pair. TNL: Have you ever been to Alaska? Lindhome: “Nope, we’ve never been. It’s definitely been a place for us to go on the list, though. I’m excited!” Micucci: “We’ll be in Alaska for four days, so we’ll have time to go do all the touristy stuff and enjoy the trip.” What is your favorite part of performing? Micucci: “When we tour, every audience is different. It’s just so much fun. We never know what to expect because every crowd gives off a different vibe. It’s always a surprise. Meeting new fans is amazing too!”
Kate Micucci
Who’s the coolest celebrity you’ve gotten to meet? Lindhome: “We got to meet Eric Idle, which was really amazing. We got to meet John Oates, too, because his name is half of ours.” Micucci: “We actually opened for one of John’s shows. It was pretty funny.” How do you come up with all the material for your songs? Lindhome: “A lot of it is based off past experiences. If we have something happen to us that we think is laughable, we write about it.” Micucci: “We definitely have a lot of funny things happen to us.” What’s your main focus as a pair right now? Micucci: “We’ve both done film. We were actually both in ‘The Big Bang Theory.’ I think our focus right now is to just go with the flow and do what makes us happy.” Lindhome: “Television is fun. We just got done with our show. I really just enjoy performing and being on stage with Kate. Right now we’re just doing our own thing and it’s great.”
Riki Lindhome
Building Alaska’s Workforce
Congratulations Graduates. There’s one more test you should take.
Alaska’s STD rates are some of the highest in the country. Get tested regularly and use a condom. Did you know condoms are available at the UAA Student Health and Counseling Center? Those eligible for Student Health benefits can also get STI testing at the center (www.uaa.alaska. edu/studenthealth).
To find a testing location near you go to www.iknowmine.org
CTC PARTNERS with Alaska’s industries TO TRAIN STUDENTS for high-demand jobs WITH GOOD WAGES
o Talk to one of our experienced advisors 907.786.6045 o Enroll Today! uaonline.alaska.edu 3901 Old Seward Hwy • University Center 141 • Anchorage, AK 99503 P: 907.786.6400 • F: 907.786.6401 • www.uaa.alaska.edu/ctc
UAA is an EEO/AA employer and educational institution.
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
| 13
HOT TOPIC
For seniors: What do you plan to do after graduation? For alumni: What did you do after graduation?
Chloe Akers
Nicole Deren
Cameron Cowles
Senior | Languages, Theatre
Senior | Journalism, Philosophy
Alumnus | Applied Science, Computer and Networking Technology
Alumna | History, Journalism
“After graduation, I just want to hug my parents and thank them for everything they’ve done and continue to do for me. I have them to thank for giving me the best life any child could ever have.”
“I plan to take some time off before pursuing more school, have a homeworkfree adventure and move to Portland. Try adulting.”
“I applied for a job in IT and I made 907 Gamers as a Facebook group. When I wasn’t hired, I focused more on the 907 Gamers project and I’ve been focusing on that instead.”
“I finished my tenure at KRUA (88.1 FM), but I made it a point to be jobless until August. I went to New York, Spokane and Seattle for a three-week vacation, and I did a couple freelance articles with the Anchorage Press and that’s when I got real with myself.”
Audri Pleas
PHOTOS OF AKERS AND PLEAS BY GEORGE HYDE. PHOTOS OF COWLES AND DEREN COURTESY OF THEMSELVES.
Get the skills employers most want Get the employment you most want
Kari Bustamante, KTUU Channel 2 sports anchor/ reporter and 2011 graduate
14 | OPINION
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
OPINION
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
| 15
NOT ALL ONLINE CLASSES ARE CREATED EQUAL! Choose the right online class. KPC is known for offering the best online classes in the state of Alaska, and our students are letting us know! At Kenai Peninsula College, quality is our top priority. Our students’ experiences speak for themselves...
KPC
“Wonderful class − wonderful teacher. Well organized. It was online but it rivaled in−person classes. It just goes to show that online can be just as good as in− person if it is thought out and well planned.” “I didn’t even know an online experience could be that dynamic and interactive. The experience took learning from home to a “This online course has whole new level!” worked well for me because of my work schedule on the North Slope. I can work ahead when I’m at home and that’s a huge reason for my current success with these online classes.”
WWW.KPC.ALASKA.EDU 1 (877) 262-0330 The University of Alaska is an AA/EEO employer and educational institution
LOVE fresh air. On Dec. 11, 2014 the University of Alaska Board of Regents passed a comprehensive smoke/tobacco-free policy for all University of Alaska campuses.
Get ready to welcome fresh air.
Smoke&Tobacco-FREe UAA
Coming Nov. 19, 2015
smokefreeuaa.com