February 21, 2012

February 21, 2012

By Alden Lee

Assistant Features Editor

Taylor Hicks came around the corner of Cuddy Hall to see a bull moose blown away in front of her.

19-year-old Hicks, an undeclared UAA freshman, admitted she didn’t first notice the moose to the side of the flashing cop car in the growing dusk of last Monday evening. She was made immediately aware, though, as a UPD officer shouted, “Get behind me! Move! Move!” and brought his shotgun to bear on the approaching animal.

“I was completely shocked,” said Hicks. “Walking toward the [Sally Monserud Hall], going to French class, and here’s this police officer yelling to get behind him as he shoots this moose down right in front of me! It was crazy.”

Originally from Ketchikan, Hicks had hardly ever seen a moose before, so the mere fact of being so close to one of the large creatures was surreal enough to begin with. The freshman said she didn’t understand why the moose needed to be shot at all.

“It was just stepping down from snow covered center of the quad, casually walking,” she said.

“It didn’t seem like it was going to hurt me or anything; not a threat at all. I didn’t really see the point in it.”

Hicks, however, didn’t know at the time that the young bull moose had been chasing and charging several students in the close vicinity just moments before, as well as harassing the student body and UPD officers alike over the

University of Alaska Anchorage

www.thenorthernlight.org

Aggressive moose blasted

by UPD shotgun UPD forced to shoot young bull moose after animal chased several students around campus quad area

Photo by Pat Brooker/TNL photo edited by Nick foote

previous week.

Around 5 p.m. Monday Feb. 13, UPD began receiving calls reporting an aggressive moose terrorizing several students between the Rasmuson and Cuddy Halls. At the time, officers were investigating an assault that had taken place at the University Center and so were unable to respond immediately, but the calls continued to come in.

“After we had received several reports of this aggressive moose, we deemed it a serious student hazard,” said UPD deputy chief Munn.

He and UPD officer Bozeman returned to the campus around 5:30 p.m., and began monitoring the young bull outside the RH. It still appeared agitated, and shortly after the officers’ arrival ran across the quad area to the Allied

Health Building and then over to the Eugene Short Hall. At that point it appeared to calm down a bit, simply munching on tree branches. The two men positioned themselves on either side of the moose along the path, directing students away from the animal.

“For a while, the moose was just eating—it didn’t seem to be doing anything,” Munn said.

But then a female student came

around the left corner of the ESH, directly into the bull moose’s path.

The moose’s head swung up and it charged the girl before Munn or Bozeman were able to react. The girl quickly ducked behind one of the building’s pillars, and the moose attempted to follow her around the column. The officers approached and were fortunately able to frighten the animal back

By Ashley Snyder

to mayor three years ago, and is up for election again in April.

Sullivan has four essential goals as mayor that he has been working towards since he was elected; Restore the financial health of the city which is slowly crawling out of a deficit, create a better energy future for Anchorage with new sources of natural energy, ensure public safety by implementing a crime reduction plan, and maintain and upgrade the assets the city currently has.

After a short discussion about his four-fold plan, which he hopes to continue if re-elected, students were invited to ask him questions.

USUAA President Ryan Buchholdt started the Q&A part of the event by inquiring about the snow removal process and how the DOT is slow to respond to heavy snowfalls, creating hassle for all commuters, students and workers alike.

“I know that this year has had one of the heaviest snowfalls in

history, but it just seems like when you talk about state DOT road graters, it sort of like a rare or even going extinct animal. What is the coordination with the state and Muni to clear roads?” Buchholdt asked.

Sullivan responded that it was a challenge to keep up with the extreme snowfall. When the main roads get plowed and they finally get to the smaller roads, it typically snows again and they have to go redo the main roads.

The discussion drastically shifted gears when an audience member inquired about One Anchorage and why the mayor vetoed the last gay rights ballot.

Sullivan calmly answered that out of the 200 plus people who testified during the last hearing, none of them gave him a real example of how they personally were fired because of their sexual orientation, or were kicked out of their home because their

See MOOSE Page 2

Students discuss city issues with the mayor Features Editor

Mayor Dan Sullivan sat casually at the head of a table in the Student Union last Tuesday.

Students gathered at the tables forming a giant square in the middle of the area. More chairs were seated in the back facing Mayor Sullivan, where other students trickled in to slowly fill the space. It was the first ever Morning with the Mayor event hosted by the USUAA, giving students the chance to sit down with Mayor Sullivan and talk about issues in the community.

Sullivan started off with a short introduction about his roots with UAA, having gone to school here in the early ‘70s for a few years before transferring to the University of Oregon. After coming back to Anchorage he spent years in various jobs until he was voted onto the Anchorage Assembly.

He served on the Assembly for nine years until he was elected

Campaign photo provided by SOS anchorage

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02

News| February 21, 2012

NEWS briefs

Military says Eielson will have a purpose FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — More details have emerged on Eielson Air Force Base’s likely future after its F-16 fighter plane squadron moves to Anchorage as part of the Air Force’s cost-savings measures.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Hoog, the senior military officer in Alaska, told the Legislature’s Joint Armed Services Committee that Eielson will continue to have a purpose after the move, a small relief to those who believe the move sets the base up for closure.

Just how much of the base’s roughly 1,800 active-duty personnel will be restationed with the 21 F-16s to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage is still unknown, said Hoog.

Much of Hoog’s presentation shied away from specific numbers over savings. It was a signal to Fairbanks Republican Rep. Steve Thompson, that there’s still hope to keep the F-16s, and their personnel, in Fairbanks.

“It left me with the impression that this isn’t a done deal yet,” he said.

“It’s encouraging that we still got a chance of not having them move. It’ll be interesting, I hope that we don’t lose that much of the base because it will have a definite impact on Fairbanks and the area.”

The likelihood of continuing missions at Eielson makes it unclear if the move will really get the savings the Air Force is hoping to reach, Thompson said. That failure to find savings was the same thing that thwarted a closure in 2005.

Bill would provide student aid for merit, need

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The state would establish a long-term funding source for student aid based on merit or financial need under a bill being considered by the Senate Finance Committee.

The committee reworked a version of Gov. Sean Parnell’s plan that would have established a special fund for the Alaska performance scholarship program. Parnell has touted merit scholarships for high school graduates as a way to help transform the public education system. Last year, the Legislature approved $400 million as an endowment for student scholarships but a bill establishing a fund stalled in the Senate.

The reworked bill calls for one-third of the money available each year to go for AlaskAdvantage grants, which help students with financial needs, and for two-thirds to go to scholarships.

The bill was held Wednesday for further consideration.

Dad won’t be buried in Wash. near sons he killed

SEATTLE (AP) — The man who killed his two sons in an explosive house fire in Washington state will not be buried in the same cemetery as the children, his family said Thursday.

“We love our little Charlie and Braden and want their resting place to be a place of peace and comfort,” said Terri Powell, Josh Powell’s mother.

Powell, the husband of missing Utah woman Susan Powell, killed his 5- and 7-year-old sons and himself in a gas-fueled blaze Feb. 5 at a home he was renting in Graham.

More than 1,000 mourners attended the boys’ funeral Saturday.

They were buried in a single casket.

Terri Powell, wracked by grief, “cluelessly” picked a gravesite just up the hill from where the boys are buried, said her son-in-law, Kirk Graves.

The decision prompted a public firestorm. The parents of Susan Powell threatened legal action, and the anticrime organization Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County purchased the plots on either side of the boys to ensure that he didn’t wind up next to them.

“We felt very strongly that it wasn’t appropriate to put him anywhere near the boys, and we did our best over the last 48 hours to convince her to do something different,” Graves said.

“It wasn’t that hard to convince her — she just got started off on the wrong path.”

Compiled by Teresa Kennedy

TNL

MOOSE: shotgunned down after charging Continued From Cover across the quad before the student was harmed.

It took up residence in between the SMH and Cuddy, where it stood against a clump of trees next to the snow-scattered pathway.

Munn and Bozeman followed in wary pursuit, their shotguns drawn at this point. A police car was also brought over around 6 p.m. with its lights flashing to ward off students.

“It was obvious the moose was very agitated,” said Munn, “and we had clear cause to believe it to be an extreme threat to student safety. We had to be ready for another outburst.”

The men remained on heightened alert, but once again there appeared to be a lull in Photo by Pat Brooker/TNL activity. The moose stood on the Moose blood is scattered across the campus quad snow after UPD officers were forced to shoot the young bull in between the rise and again chewed on twigs, Cuddy Hall and Sally Monserud Hall on Feb. 13. seemingly indifferent.

I had to get to class.” the moose had crossed that line,” According to Jessy Coltrane, That’s when Hicks came Munn called Maintenance said Bozeman on the decision to the Area Wildlife Biologist for walking around the left side of and had them bring a tarp to fire. “We’ve had problem with Alaska Fish & Game, tranquilizers the Cuddy, cover the fallen moose like this before: a one-year- are deemed a dangerous drug by attracting animal.

UPD old bull starting to get its antlers the U.S. Legislature, labeled as a the moose’s then notified the is like a hormonal teenager with Schedule II narcotic. attention.

Alaska State all sorts of flowing testosterone.

“It’s something you don’t want Bozeman Troopers, who They tend to get aggressive.” to be slinging around the campus ordered brought a charity There have been a few other and neighborhoods,” Coltrane Hicks to organization instances of putting down said. move behind to collect the aggressive moose on campus. One Fish & Game was not called in him, and as game meat and was shot in 2006, and another in to deal with the moose during this the moose distribute to March of 2010. Most notably, a occurrence, but Coltrane defends continued those in need. moose was killed after trampling the UPD’s decision to put the to approach The moose was a man to death outside the Wells animal down. he pumped winched into the Fargo Sports Complex a decade “Tranquilizing animals a shotgun back of a truck ago. isn’t the greatest solution for round into and carted off “We hate to do it, we don’t want everything,” she said. “You could the animal. campus. to do it, but ultimately it comes tranq the moose, but then what The single -UPD officer Bozeman “Our number down to the importance of student would you do with it? You’d have shot killed one priority safety,” said Munn. a potentially even more dangerous the moose, is protecting UPD officers are not permitted situation when it wakes up, dropping it immediately. the students, faculty and to carry tranquilizers on campus, because now it’s angry and loopy.”

Hicks continued on her way. “I administration, and having forcing any excessive action taken was freaking out,” she said. “And already charged several students, to be deadly.

“We’ve had problem with moose like this before: a one-yearold bull starting to get its antlers is like a hormonal teenager with all sorts of flowing testosterone.

They tend to get aggressive.”

TNL

February 21, 2012 | News

Campus Wi-Fi internet frustrates UAA students

By Evan Dodd

tremendously over the past 18 months but laptops still represent the largest usage. The system is Campus Wi-Fi: for some designed to accommodate high students an everyday convenience, usage, but in many cases we are but for others the source of a at capacity.” constant headache. In recent Inaccessibility can be a real weeks, students have complained problem for students who count on of inaccessible and unreliable Internet access on a daily basis. For Wi-Fi on campus, particularly students on a tight schedule with in the Administration Building little time to submit assignments, and Cuddy Hall. Experiences connectivity problems can be a with the wireless network range real setback. from minor annoyances to grade “It’s just unreliable,” threatening events, according to complained Shelby Thorpe, a students impacted by the problem. freshman environmental science “The Wi-Fi occasionally major. “It’s a real problem when forgets to serve authentication you have an assignment or test due pages. It alternates between and the Internet fails.” always logging you out if you While many students worry momentarily disconnect, and that recent Internet changes leaving you signed in all day,” designed to combat copyright said Pat Brooker, a sophomore violations may be the cause of majoring in psychology.

Wi-Fi problems, Whitney says Brooker’s comments are that the two are unrelated. similar to many of the issues that “The changes had nothing to people have been experiencing. do with the wireless network, they Problems like this seem to be only affect the wired networks common among the student body in the residence halls,” explained with complaints varying from Whitney. inaccessibility to slow network Though attempts to reduce speeds. copyright violations have not With so many complaints it can caused problems with the wireless be difficult to determine the source network, they have proven fairly of the problem. Most complaints successful. seem to be “Right now centered on we’re playing the inability Whack-a-mole to consistently with copyright connect to violations -- we the wireless focus on reducing network. them in one area Though and they show up problems have in another,” stated recently been Whitney.

“But reported around overall the changes – Richard Whitney, Vice the Admin. produced Provost of IT Services have Building and a positive Cuddy Hall, result.

We’ve the issue seems to be wide spread been receiving less copyright around campus. complaints per month so far.”

“The wireless here is terrible”, Wireless networks can be said Christopher Evans, a Resident affected by a variety of factors such Advisor for North Hall. “It seems as signal blockage, interference like there are peak hours during the and high network usage. These day where you just can’t connect.” problems are typical of college Richard Whitney, Vice Provost of wireless networks, especially IT Services, explained that many large campuses such as UAA. of the problems could be attributed “Our main problem has been to high usage of the network. the unexpected growth but we “I think that in the Anchorage did experience an issue with the campus, we are seeing a dramatic wireless controller in the Cuddy increase in number of connections Hall,” said Whitney. “We’ve to the wireless network. We track also had reports of problems the number of people connected with access in the Engineering at any given time. Last semester and Admin building, but those usage peaked around 1500 problems were due to capacity.” devices, but this semester we’re Whitney urges students who seeing a peak of 2500 devices have experienced a problem with connecting to the wireless the network to contact IT Services network. The network is very as soon as possible. dynamic, we never know exactly “The best thing to do is report how many connections to expect.” the complaint immediately so we Whitney went on to explain can check for issues. If we don’t a significant portion of the know about a problem then it will increase could be due to smart be difficult to address it. We just phones with wireless capabilities. need to stay a step or two ahead of “Phone devices have increased the demand.”

Staff Reporter

“The system is designed to accommodate high usage, but in many cases we are at capacity.”

UA interns join AK Legislative Session Four Alaska students dedicate a semester in Juneau as part of Senate Bipartisan Working Group

By Teresa Kennedy News Editor

UA Students from across Alaska have joined the Senate Bipartisan Working Group for the 27th Legislative session. The fours students are: Grace Abbott, interning for Senator Johnny Ellis’; Thomas Priestly, interning for Senator Bill Wielechowski; Katya Wassillie, interning for Senator Bettye Davis; and Shyan Ely, interning for Senator Lesil McGuire.

“Interning for the State of Alaska has been a whirlwind; and it’s just been a few weeks.

The amount of information and pace of the Legislature has been, and will continue to be, a source of learning that I would not have been able to get anywhere else,” stated Presley in a press release.

Senator Ellis, a founder of the intern program, is excited about the opportunites presented to students and how the program can benefit both sides.

“The Legislative Internship Program continues to provide Alaska’s young people with the unique experience of learning

about their state government by taking part in it. As a strong supporter of this program, I truly believe that it has the capability of providing a mutually beneficial experience for both the interns and their legislative offices,” Senator Ellis stated.

The UA Legislative Internship Program was founded in 1988 and provides UA students the opportunity to work in a Senator or Representative’s office for the legislative session. The program also includes weekly seminars with Senators, Representatives, administrative and private sector employees about the student’s experience with the program and advice about entering politics as a career.

The feedback on the program has been positive for both sides, both Senators and students praising the time together.

“So far my experience has been amazing. Thus far, I’m learning everything that I’d hoped for with this internship by gaining firsthand experience,” said Wassillie.

“I already value the contribution it has made to my education.”

Say What?

03

Fugitive runs out of gas, calls sheriff for help A 59-year-old fugitive is back behind bars after he ran out of gas in Wyoming and called the local sheriff’s office for roadside assistance.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol said Tuesday that Richard Vincent of Prineville, Ore., was wanted in Georgia for violating parole on a murder and escape conviction.

Vincent called the Uinta (YOO’ihn-tah) County Sheriff’s Office sent state troopers to help him out.

When they learned that Vincent had an outstanding felony warrant from Atlanta, he was taken into custody.

Vincent is now being held for Georgia authorities pending extradition.

Bulldog adopts 6 wild boar piglets in Germany Forget the three little pigs hiding from the big bad wolf. These six little pigs have found a new friend in a maternal French bulldog named Baby.

The Lehnitz animal sanctuary outside Berlin said Baby took straight to the wild boar piglets when they were brought in Saturday, three days old and shivering from cold.

Sanctuary worker Norbert Damm said Wednesday that, as soon as the furry striped piglets were brought in, Baby ran over and started snuggling them and keeping them warm, even though they’re almost her size.

The 8-year-old bulldog has stayed right by their side since then, making sure they’re OK, Damm said.

It isn’t the first time Baby’s taken to new guests at the sanctuary - she’s also raised raccoons, cats and many other animals, Damm said.

The piglets’ own mother was likely killed by a hunter and the litter of three males and three females was found abandoned in a forest.

He said they can’t be released into the wild because they have no fear of humans, but it should be possible to set them free in a nature reserve in about three months, once they can feed themselves.

Wild boars are common in Germany, even in big cities, and herds have been growing as expanding commercial crops have provided them with more food.

Recent estimates have put the boar population at more than 10,000 in Berlin alone, where they live in extensive wooded areas and often venture into backyards and sports fields, tearing up turf to look for food.

NYC apartment sells for $88 million The family of a Russian billionaire has bought a New York City penthouse apartment for $88 million.

The Wall Street Journal says the property on Central Park West in Manhattan is now the most expensive apartment in New York.

The seller was Sanford I. Weill, the former head of Citigroup Inc. It was bought by a trust for the daughter of Dmitry Rybolovlev (dih-MEE’-tree rihbah-LOHV’-lehv).

The Journal says the sale generated nearly $2.5 million in city and state taxes.

The brokers’ commission: about $3.5 million.

Weill said he plans to donate the proceeds of the sale to charity.

Danish cops recruit robbers to stem burglaries COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -- What to do when burglaries get out of hand?

In Denmark, police think they might have the answer: Turn to the experts themselves, the housebreakers.

Northern Zealand police spokesman Finn Bernth Andersen says burglars caught red-handed in the district will be asked to participate in an anonymous questionnaire about their profession.

The region, which has seen a 60 percent annual surge in breakins in some areas, will ask robbers questions about their typical targets, motives and disposal methods for stolen goods.

Bernth Andersen conceded that police are not sure of the project’s success but said Thursday “we’ll do anything we can to lower the number (of burglaries).”

Compiled by Teresa Kennedy

FEATURES

04

Playing with fire: why ‘friends with benefits’ tends to fizzle

By Danielle Haley Contributor

I should have known dating someone who behind his back was nicknamed the “Red Rocket” by mutual friends would never turn into anything substantially dependable, but I was hooked nonetheless.

I met “Daniel” at a mutual friend’s birthday extravaganza, during a time which I had no intentions of meeting anyone.

Ah, such is the case of timing, right?

I had just gotten out a longterm, tumultuous relationship and was in no state of desire to begin another, but there he was, prime for the picking.

Daniel was coincidentally in the same situation as I—also recently single after a riotous relationship and also in the mindset of embracing his newfound freedom.

However, both us of were previously drawn to monogamous relationships as opposed to one night stands. So we took the plunge and attempted to have one; unfortunately, this did not sit well in the mind of Daniel.

He played games, pushing and pulling me around all summer until finally neither of us could handle it any longer (him with the guilt of being an asshole and me with the infuriation of suddenly lacking a backbone) and we inevitably ended our “relationship.”

However, due to having mutual

friends, we were somewhat forced into continuing to be around each other at social gatherings despite any motivation to otherwise.

Eventually after my infatuation and irritation towards Daniel subsided and a slow but sure “friendship” began to grow

Since we both had previously slept with each other, we figured there wouldn’t be any need for games and/or figuring out the wants of the other person—it was a win all/take all scenario for the individual between us. How much of the physical attraction we still had toward each other actually played a part in this, however, I will never know.

Since neither of us wanted to be a participant in a functioning monogamous relationship and also did not want to go slumming about town to satisfy our sexual needs, we (or I should clarify, I) hatched

a plan to engage in a “friends with benefits” relationship.

Since we both had previously slept with each other, we figured there wouldn’t be any need for games and/or figuring out the wants of the other person—it was a win all/take all scenario for the individual: no flowers, no hooking up with other people unless the other person was told beforehand, no post-coitus cuddling or phone calls, no love.

I also made it clear to him that since we did in fact share mutual friends, neither of us were allowed to disclose the arrangement we had made.

This was more to save my own face for concocting such a ridiculous scheme, and also for the sake of avoiding awkwardness amongst our friend group.

We only successfully managed to rendezvous one time and unfortunately our arrangement was broken the very next day by the Rocket’s wandering eye—to a much younger female and during a party that I had in fact attended and witnessed their hook up.

Suffice to say, the idea of “friends with benefits,” however ingenious it may appear at the time, is a scenario that will more than likely leave one participating party with a feeling of remorse and/or angst against the other— someone is eventually going to get burned.

Work it buddy, work it replacement.

High standards, ladies.

Assistant Features Editor But not to worry. I know As set down in the quite a few single men who Undisputable Woman enjoy the Transformers Code, in order to be movies. And quite a found attractive, few more who a man must be as could easily swift as a coursing knock a river, have all the cluster of force of a great coastal typhoon, all the huts strength of a raging flat with fire, and be mysterious their gas-passing as the dark side of the abilities. And as a moon. bonus, I happen to Which of course know one guy who means he must be recently passed able to piss like a a kidney stone, racehorse, sweep therefore fulfilling away coastal the powerful urine villages with a stream and being on single breath, fire requirements all spontaneously in one! burst into So breathe easy fire, and be girls.

Or rather, mysterious probably hold your as a cashbreath instead, guzzling because that blockbuster gas really does Graphic By Nick Foote Michael linger.

Bay film And on that note, happy with a bunch of warring robots romancing! and a Megan Fox eye-candy

By Alden Lee

MAYOR: hot topics of discussion with students Sullivan discussed an array of topics during the Meeting with the Mayor hosted by USUAA Feb. 14 Continued From Cover because their landlord found out about their sexual orientation.

Because of this, he felt that it was all anecdotal. But now that it was put onto the ballot, it is out of his hands and is up to the people whether they want to pass it or not.

USUAA Vice President, Amie Stanley, asked Mayor Sullivan if there were any plans to implement a new transit system such as subway or metro, and why buses that people used to rely on, like route 76 and 77, are no longer in service. Sullivan described the budget deficit the city is experiencing and because of the small Anchorage population, there just isn’t the need and demand found in larger cities like New York. The ideas of another transit system are unrealistic and the reason why bus routes like 76 and 77 were cancelled; there wasn’t

a high enough demand and they were cut to save the city money Student Alejandra Buitrago was looking a few months into the future, curious about the sidewalk ordinance that recently got passed.

“How will the sidewalk ordinance effect downtown during the summer tourists?”

Sullivan believes that it will be business as usual and that the problem of camping on the sidewalks downtown only became an issue this year. Some students in the audience looked skeptical, others giggled. There have been opposing opinions on the decision to pass the ordinance, some believing that it was just a vendetta against John Martin, a homeless man who continuously camped on the downtown sidewalk in protest.

However, Sullivan gives his

reasoning as essential for every city.

“They are called sidewalks for a reason. Not sidesits or sidesleeps.

We have very active tourist traffic

cities that we’ve talked to like San Fransico, Portland, they all have the same ordinance and they all passed it for the same reason, because they let it get out of hand.”

The next question was concerned with events even further in the future, but relevant to a vast variety of students; what he thought about the status on the Knik Arm bridge.

“I like it. If I could I’d say let’s turn dirt tomorrow,” said Sullivan.

“With so many people commuting from the Valley to Anchorage, why not have another route?”

-Mayor Dan Sullivan As for the hold-up, Sullivan stated that it is a long process to build downtown and we don’t want anything, but currently there are them having to step over people,” several large companies going into said Sullivan. “Talking with other a bidding war over it. However, cities, even the most progressive there has to be extreme caution

“They are called sidewalks for a reason.

Not sidesits or sidesleeps.

We have very active tourist traffic downtown and we don’t want them having to step over people.”

taken when building on or around the habitat of endangered animals, in the case the beluga whale, which are constantly swimming in and out of the inlet. There will be no breaking ground until issues like that can be resolved in a strategic way.

One of the final questions asked: Where did all the mosquitos go this summer? To which Sullivan replied: “I killed them as part of our crime reduction plan.”

Who says politicians can’t be humorous?

Finally USUAA presented Sullivan with some UAA swag, as the attending students applauded for his time. To complete the event, Buchholdt closed by saying, “I hope that this is something we can do again, not just for [Mayor Sullivan] but future mayors as well.”

TNL

February 21, 2012 | feATURES

05

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06

Congress gives in on tax cut

By David Espo

AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON — A united House Republican leadership surrendered crisply and cleanly on legislation to extend expiring payroll tax cuts for 160 million Americans, skipping most if not all of the self-defeating drama that accompanied their far noisier retreat on the same issue late last year.

In doing so, they helped avert an election-year tax increase on the middle class as well as the blame Democrats surely would have sought to pin on them for hampering an economic recovery.

Yet they also handed President Barack Obama an unambiguous political victory as he campaigns for re-election.

And perhaps most strikingly, because the tax cuts are not offset by spending reductions, the tea party-backed majority quietly acquiesced to a $101.1 billion increase in the deficit for the

current fiscal year, wiping out billions in short-term reductions in red ink that it won in a series of pitched political battles in 2011.

“The mood is to get it off the table,” freshman Rep. Dennis Ross, a Florida Republican, said this week of the measure that cleared both the House and the Senate and is on its way to Obama.

“We’ve got to move on to another issue.”

Across the Capitol, Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., said the legislation to keep the payroll tax cuts in place was an exception rather than a new rule. “Not going to do this again, but if it gets us through the year, gets this issue off the table, it’s worth doing this way,” he said.

In fact, some conservatives argue that tax cuts lead to greater economic growth and therefore do not increase deficits. Others argue that, at a minimum, they require additional borrowing by the government and weaken Social

Security as a result.

No matter the view, the relative lack of controversy showed a House GOP chastened by the outcome of a different sort of showdown last December.

Then, the bill is question was a mere two-month extension of tax cuts, fully offset by spending cuts. Digging in their heels, they demanded an alternative that lasted to the end of the year, and wound up being pilloried by Obama, congressional Democrats and even some Senate Republicans for risking a tax hike on Jan. 1.

“In the end House Republicans felt like they were re-enacting the Alamo, with no reinforcements and our friends shooting at us,” veteran Republican Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas said then.

No one is likely to say that now, although Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker now seeking tea party support for his presidential run, declined to say if he favors or opposes the bill.

TNL Tundra Comics

February 21, 2012 | Comics

HOROSCOPE

07

YOUR STARS THIS WEEK

By Stella Wilder

CRYPTOQUOTE

Solution for cryptoquote from 02/14 issue “You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.” --Mr. Darcy

SODUKU

Solution for Sudoku from 02/14 issue

The coming week is likely to see issues arising that spring from basic differences of opinion -- and while these differences themselves may not seem to amount to much on their own, they will surely give rise to conflict if those who believe in one thing or another do not embrace the notion of live and let live. This week the conflicts may take on a remarkably harsh tone, and some may even come near to violence -- but the individuals involved were likely spoiling for a fight before the notion of beliefs ever entered the picture.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 5) -- The little things this week are likely to seem much bigger to some -- but danger comes from overreacting and overreaching.

(March 6-March 20) -- Your worries seem almost routine, while another may be on the verge of something to be long remembered.

ARIES (March 21-April 4) -- You may feel as though a competitor is closing in on you this week, but it may be a sense that you have created within yourself.

(April 5-April 19) -- An ending and a beginning are likely to be concurrent this week -- and you’ll be at the helm.

TAURUS (April 20-May 5) -- Words are not likely to say it all this week -- and what you do to fill in the gaps will be remembered by those who help you along the way.

(May 6-May 20) -- You may have the feeling that something far more important than others recognize is happening this week.

GEMINI (May 21-June 6) -- You may want to very carefully choose what you say this week -- and to whom. Go against the grain and you’ll be paying for it for some time.

(June 7-June 20) -- Once you begin your slow march toward that most important goal, nothing is likely to stop you.

CANCER (June 21-July 7) -- You will want to take advantage of any and all opportunities that come your way -- but you must recognize them as such, first and foremost. (July 8-July 22) -- You’ll be waiting for someone in charge to give you what you want; when you get it, certain changes can be made.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 7) -- Take care that you don’t behave in such a way that your motives are completely misunderstood by those around you.

Cultivate support! (Aug. 8-Aug. 22) -- The more carefully you pick and choose your endeavors this week, the more your message will get across to those who need to hear it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 7) -- Your peculiar outlook may confuse some this week, but others will surely want to jump on the bandwagon. You have a great deal to offer. (Sept. 8-Sept.

22) -- An idea or action you hit on by accident this week is likely to become a trademark before long.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 7) -- You may be loath to tell another what to do before you know what you’re doing, but it may be necessary. (Oct. 8-Oct. 22) -- A rift between loved ones need not be feared -- but it can be looked upon as something to be avoided in the future.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 7) -- Before you take the time to listen to what another has to offer, you will want to explore the options you have uncovered for yourself. (Nov. 8-Nov. 21) -- You can lead in a way that has others believing they are coming up with the best ideas; it’s not deception, it’s empowerment!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 7) -- Your schedule may have to change time and again throughout the week, as you are forced to deal with ever-changing circumstances. (Dec. 8-Dec. 21) -- Just one more, you may find yourself saying, just one more.

But can you afford even that?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 6) -- You mustn’t let a seeming twist of fate demoralize you this week; your influence will still be felt, and you can get things done. (Jan. 7-Jan. 19) -- The quality of your work this week may be high, but you may not be completely satisfied.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 3) -The time has come for you to address a nagging problem once and for all.

If you can’t solve it now, perhaps it cannot be solved! (Feb. 4-Feb. 18) -- Others are looking to you this week to see how to behave -- and, in some instances, to learn what to say.

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February 21, 2012

B Section

otio M

the northern light’s sports & entertainment section

thenorthernlight.org

California-based band shows off its eclectic side Lead guitarist Raul Bianchi tells TNL about the decade-old group, life-long friendships and life on the road

By Heather Hamilton A&E Editor

Not all musical acts can boast lasting a decade, and fewer can say they’ve had the same lineup for that long.

The Expendables, a mixed rock band out of Santa Cruz, California, is one that can.

The Expendables (comprised of guitarist/ vocalist Geoff Weers, drummer/vocalist Adam Patterson, lead guitarist Raul Bianchi and bassist Ryan DeMars) have been playing music together since 1997. In an interview last week, Bianchi gave The Northern Light the scoop on how the band has stuck together so long, as well as offer some stories from the road.

TNL: You guys have been a band since 1997, right?

Bianchi: Yeah, well, we started messing around in high school; we didn’t get really serious about being

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overtime 10

By Ashley Smith Assistant Sports Editor

One thing synonymous with great sports players are great nicknames.

Currently the most noticeable victim of nicknaming is New York Knicks’ guard Jeremy Lin, who has spurred the creation of terms and names like Lintastic, Linsanity, and (a personal favorite) Super Lintendo.

This all started after Lin was catapulted into NBA spotlight when he helped propel the Knicks

TNL: And that’s why you in a band until about 2001, don’t like Cup of Noodles?

I think.

TNL: So you knew each Bianchi: [laughs] That other in high school? is exactly the reason why I Bianchi:: Actually, I’ve don’t like Cup of Noodles.

TNL: And how about been friends with most of your fondest road story? the guys since we were in Bianchi: One of the first elementary school. So we’ve national tours we did, we known each other right had a day off and we were in through.

St. Petersburg near Tampa, TNL: How do you guys and a good friend of ours’ keep from killing each other on the road? dad owned a charter fishing Bianchi: [laughs] Oh, we company. So, on our day definitely can’t stand each off, we got to go out for the other. It’s kind of like that entire day, drinking beer and “knowing someone your fishing. And as soon as we whole life” thing: you fight were done, we cleaned the all the time, but it’s usually fish and cooked it right there, over pretty quickly and and just had a huge meal at their house right on the dock never that big of a deal.

TNL: What’s your worst by the ocean. It was one of the best days off, to this day road story?

Bianchi: To make a long I think, that any of us had. story short, I would say that Sometimes with touring you a girl, one time in New York get into a kind of rut, we call City, had used the back seat it zombie-mode, just kind of of our van as a toilet. And a going through the motions, Cup of Noodles cup, and left and a change, even bowling, it there. And I was the one is just great. who found it.

See EXPENDABLES Page B4

Linsanity to UAA, nicknames are sparked from greatness

to seven consecutive wins in less than a month.

Other famous sports monikers have been like that of X-Games triple threat Shaun “The Flying Tomato” White, due to his flowing red locks of hair protruding from various helmets.

Possibly the most noteworthy running backs in football history, Walter Payton, was given the nickname “Sweetness” because of how easily he was able to maneuver through and away from defensive tackles.

And who could forget boxer “Sugar” Ray Leonard whose finesse and skill in the ring greatly contrasted other boxers’ movements.

These are all examples of greatness leading to noticeable nicknames. The recognition of a nickname by the public implies greatness; well in a few cases it implies stupid things done by the athlete but, in most cases, it’s greatness.

So in order to recognize the awesome stats that the various UAA teams have enjoyed this year, here are some ideas for nicknames for some of the Seawolf athletes: Kaylie “Robbin’ some rebounds” Robison: this senior forward is in her second season with Seawolves basketball. In the 2010-2011 season she was the 4th leading offensive rebounder in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and in the ‘Wolves most recent game finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a game on Feb. 16.

Photos from TNL Archives

Left: UAA senior Jackie Matthisen goes up for a kill against Western Oregon. Matthisen was named the 2011 GNAC Player of the Year and was second in the league in both kills (4.14) and points (4.50) per set this past season. Right: Senior Curtis Leinweber pushes the puck up the ice for UAA. This season, Leinweber has gone from defenseman to forward and is second on the team with 14 points (as of Feb. 21).

Curtis “Assist-osaurus Rex” Leinweber: Not only does this senior forward/defenseman from Canada have 47 career points but leads the Seawolves with 30 career assists.

skier, Bronga has a long list of accomplishments for the Seawolves. Most recently she led the women’s Nordic team with a two consecutive 4th place finishes at the Anchorage Invitational, one in the 5K and one in the 10K freestyle races. Bronga is also a three time All-American and has yet to finish worse than fourth all season.

Jaime “Br-ing it-onga” Bronga: as a senior Nordic

Jackie “Make it happen” Matthisen: although the

volleyball season is over, Matthisen, a senior outside-hitter, helped the Seawolves to a 18-9 record in 2011. Matthisen was the GNAC Player of the Year and ended her career third on UAA’s all-time kills list with 1,134.

Even if these nicknames do not stick, they are a representation of the great things these athletes, and the many more who were not given nicknames, have done throughout their careers here at UAA.

B2 Drink review

TNL

A&E|February 21, 2012 movie review

Non-alcoholic beer, a Borrowers novel re-imagined in tragic misconception new Miyazaki movie

By Nicole Luchaco Assistant A&E Editor

A glass of Vino, a bottle of Corona, these are foreign concepts to the underage here at UAA. But for the individual who loves and longs for the taste of a good ‘ol brew with their burger, there has always been the saving grace of that single beautiful commodity: non-alcoholic beer; or not. That’s right, it’s a lie.

On the quest to find a locally brewed commodity of “nonalcoholic liquid spirits” on which to write a review (being one year shy of a good glass of red) there were many obstacles cluttering the way: where to purchase it, what brand, light or dark? All of which paled in comparison to the ultimate issue: it is against the law to serve “non-alcoholic beer” to anyone under the legal drinking age of 21 (a fact of which I was not aware).

“About twice a month we have someone under 21 in here trying to order a non-alcoholic beer,” said Moose’s Tooth waiter Adam J. “Most people just don’t know.”

It’s true, it is a very common misconception, because though the title states that there is “no alcohol” a beer that is “NA” does in fact possess 0.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) and is therefore illegal

to serve in restaurants to those who have not yet achieved the intoxicating goal of “adulthood.”

And so, it was with a heavy heart and full stomach that the alcohol-serving scene was vacated by a beer-seeking soul, down trodden and defeated; completely full of pizza that was sincerely lacking its perfect companion.

Better luck next time…

Mocktail anyone?

Graphic By Vicente Capala

By Heather Hamilton A&E Editor

While not one of Hayao Miyzaki’s greatest animated masterpieces, his screenwriting in “The Secret World of Arrietty” is easily recognizable in the brilliant storytelling throughout the movie. Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who has worked with Miyazaki as an animator on numerous other projects such as “Princess Mononoke,” “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Howl’s Moving Castle,” debuts his directing abilities in place of Miyazaki.

While he clearly attempts to emulate the master, there is still some small thing missing.

Arrietty (Bridgit Mendler, “Wizards of Waverly Place”) is a 4 inch tall teenage girl who lives in the floorboards of an old house with her mother and father.

Their existence is a closely kept secret from the human occupants of the house, until one day, an ill 12 year old boy named Shawn (David Henrie, “How I Met Your Mother”) comes to stay with his great aunt, and discovers Arrietty.

Animated movies offer actors a chance to show off their vocal talents in a way that live action movies do not. People move when they speak, and their facial expressions shift and alter to help them convey a thought. In

animated movies, these motions are less defined, and emotional connections between actors and the audience are made through vocal inflections. Skillful actors can do this effectively, and both Mendler and Henrie show themselves to be exceptional in this. Their onscreen friendship is also very believable; Shawn (named Sho in the original Japanese release) has a sort of softness to his personality that attracts the frightened (albeit less so than her parents) Arrietty to him and earns her friendship, and Henrie expresses this surprisingly well through his voice. Mendler is the one to steal the show however, with her ability to shift completely from timid to bull-headed depending on the scene.

The animation quality is what one would expect from a movie with Miyazaki’s name attached to it, and it helps that director Yonebayashi drew the storyboards for the animators to work off of. Being immersed in the animation of other Miyazaki releases, he (thankfully) didn’t settle for anything less than the eye-catching colors, detailed settings and fluid animation that has drawn fans of all ages to Miyazaki movies in the past.

Perhaps the one gripe that fans might have with this movie is that,

like “Howl’s Moving Castle,” the plot was taken from a pre-existing novel. The Borrowers by Mary Morton served as the inspiration for the story, and while it is a fine tale to be inspired by, it isn’t one of the original, thought-provoking plots that made Miyazaki famous.

And while the ending of the movie is more satisfying than the end of the novel, it still leaves certain plot points unresolved.

Since Miyazaki had already taken liberties with the plot to make it his own, it would have been nice if he’d taken the extra step and fully resolved the lingering loose ends.

Movie: “The Secret World of Arrietty” Release Date: Feb. 17, 2012 (US) Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi Starring: Bridgit Mendler, David Henrie

★★★★ ★

Graduate Student Association Spring Scholarship Request for Proposals Due February 27, 2012

For more information go to: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/gsa/

B3 Read, recycle, Eco Chic it up February 21, 2012 | a&e

TNL

USUAA hosts first environmentally friendly fashion show in SU

By Nicole Luchaco Assistant A&E Editor

Graphic By Nick Foote

In the midst of “continually depleting’” natural resources, and the recycling craze that is meant to help circumvent the “extinction” of nature’s wonders; it is only fitting for UAA to creatively get on board the band wagon of sustainability.

Thus USUAA’s sustainability committee presents: Eco Chic.

“The clothing industry is really bad with the amount of water they use, and the pollutants they put into the air,” said Director of sustainability Paula Williams. “So if there is something that already exists, we should try to make use of it.”

The focus and goal of this recyclable fashion show is to encourage the general populace to think outside of the box with their clothing choices, visually, creatively and locationally; if thrift stores are your first stop and the mall is for filler items it will benefit the environment and your wallet.

“It’s sort of a fun thing to do and it illustrates to students, faculty and staff that you can get really great clothes without spending a huge amount of money,” said Williams.

“It’s not just about creating something; it is more about combining existing materials.

The idea for Eco Chic came into being at the end of the fall semester this last year, it was an

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idea that Williams came up with in conjunction with USUAA’s sustainability committee; this show is the tangible culmination of that inspiration. After getting the UAA Bookstore on board, each individual category

“Most people, when they think about sustainability, they don’t think about art, but it really can be.”

–Director of sustainability Paula Williams.

winner will receive $60.00 gift cards for such locations as the Bookstore and wolf bucks.

“Reuse it, rebuild it, redesign it, just flaunt it” are the words that bolster this occasion.

“The idea is to bring out peoples’ creative talents and showcase them,” said sustainability admin assistant Kent Spiers. “It is to highlight students’ creative sides

here on campus and to promote sustainability; to show that it can be fun.”

There are four succinct categories in which clothing will be ranked: business, casual, creative and most sustainable.

“We anticipated that the creator would model their own work,” said Williams. “But students actually have others modeling their creations on the runway.”

Complete with stage, runway and dj, Eco Chic will take place this afternoon from 12-2 p.m. in the North Student Union cafeteria area. Admission is free and the event will last roughly two hours.

“Our goal is an annual event, we want people to see this smaller one this year,” said Speirs. “Get inspired and then submit their work next year when this will hopefully take place in the fall.”

A truly creative student endeavor, Eco Chic, though in its foundling stage’s, may prove to be an annual fixture here at UAA after all.

“We definitely want to do it again next year, this is the proto-type; we’ll see how it goes,” said Spiers.

“I think that the thing that we are really aiming for with this is to make it sustainable in the sense that we will do it this year, we’ll photograph it, talk it up, watch it build momentum and do it again next year.”

B4 EXPENDABLES: mixture rock

TNL

a&e|February 21, 2012

Continued From Motion Cover

TNL: When you finally sat down and started to get serious about this, whose idea was it?

Bianchi: It wasn’t really anybody’s. After we graduated high school, we kind of all drifted apart and went to different schools. We would kind of come back and practice in the summer, play shows on the weekends and play around California. After the first year or so, we just kind of all decided that we enjoyed playing music and we couldn’t really think of anything else that we wanted to do for a living, and of course it would probably take four or five years after that for us to make a living, but it’s what we’ve always enjoyed doing; it was kind of a no brainer for everybody just to say: “Yeah, let’s just give this a shot and see where we can go with it.”

TNL: When you went to school, where did you go?

Bianchi: I went to Stanford, our other guitar player/singer was at Cal. State Northridge, and our other two guys stayed at home at the local community college.

TNL: And what were you going to school for?

Bianchi: I was undeclared; I was considering going into public policy or political science.

TNL: You were considering political science, and then you turn around and are a guitarist in a band. You know, some people might consider that a leap, even though you’d been playing already.

Bianchi: [laughs] Well I mean,

I was never really interested in school, at all. I was just kind of there because my parents said that I had to go to school or I had to get a job and pay rent. In hindsight, I probably should’ve just not gone at all and saved them the money. But, music was always my passion. It was all of our passions; I think it just took a while for us to realize that.

TNL: How supportive has your family been? Especially with quitting school and the whole college deal?

Bianchi: Well, uh, they’re supportive now. In the beginning it was a little tougher and, um [laughs], it definitely put a strain on our relationship, especially since both of my parents are educators, and I went into the artistic field that doesn’t have a high success rate. Eventually when we started doing a little better and taking care of ourselves financially, they started to turn around. And now they’re very supportive.

TNL: What would you describe your music style as?

Bianchi: People have tried to put a lot of different labels on it, I know a lot of people outside of the circles that we play will say “California reggae,” or the label that we’re with in Japan calls us “mixture rock” and I heard a fan at one of our shows the other day call us “new age reggae.” [laughs] It’s pretty much just an eclectic mix of music. We all have musical ADD, so we enjoy listening to and playing all sorts of stuff...We’re

basically just music lovers, and it’s a hodgepodge of all different kinds of music. I think “mixture rock” would probably be the best at describing it.

TNL: That being said, which musicians inspire your music, as a group?

Bianchi: Everyone has different ones; I think for each individual member it changes on a weekly basis, you know. I know that Steel Pauls were big influences, The Police, even bands like Metallica and Pantera, metal bands, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles.

There’s just so many different ones, but that’s a few off the top of my head.

TNL: A lot of the students who’ll read this article, and even some at your show, have probably never heard you guys before and are trying something new; what sets you apart from other bands?

Bianchi: We’ve got a lot of energy, and we play an eclectic show, as far as music goes. We cover a wide range of styles, and have a lot to offer that way.

The Expendables, presented by the UAA Concert Board and UAA Student Activities, will be playing at the UAA Student Union on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 7:30-10 p.m. Tickets are available online at uaatix.com and the Student Union Info Desk for $10 (advance) for students and $15 at the door.

General public tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

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SPORTS

B5

sports briefs

UAA Men keep pace in GNAC title race with home victories Travis Thompson scored 21 points to spark a comeback and Liam Gibcus made a huge contribution off the bench Feb. 16 to lead No. 21 UAA to an 81-59 men’s basketball victory over Saint Martin’s at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

The Seawolves also got 17 points and nine rebounds from senior AllAmerica candidate Taylor Rohde as they stayed in contention for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title.

The Saints were led by 13 points apiece from forward Jeremy Green and guard Ryan Votaw, but the visitors from Lacey, Wash. could not capitalize on a fast start as they fell to 1-16 alltime in Anchorage, including eight straight losses.

Senior Lonnie Ridgeway (11 points) converted a three-point play with 1:26 left, and Thompson nailed back-toback three-pointers – including one right before halftime – to slice UAA’s deficit to 38-37 at the break.

Thompson, a 6-1 sophomore guard, shot 7 of 8 from the field (4 of 5 from long range) to come one point shy of his career-high.

Gibcus, a 6-10 junior from Australia, finished with his best outing a GNAC game this season, shooting 5 of 5 from the floor and grabbing a pair of rebounds in 14 minutes After starting 2 of 9 from the floor, the Seawolves made 31 of their final 45 shots to finish over 60 percent (.611, 33 of 54) for the second straight game.

Playing in their final home games, Rohde, White and Ridgeway all produced big numbers against Western Oregon in a battle of regionally ranked teams on Feb. 18 as they helped lead the Seawolves to a 83-70 win over the Wolves.

The Seawolves (20-5, 14-3 GNAC), No. 2 in the West Region, got a gamehigh 25 points from Rohde as they erased a five-point halftime deficit and swept the season series from WOU. The Wolves, No. 5 in the West, were led by 22 points and three assists from senior guard Blair Wheadon but fell to the Seawolves for the ninth time in their last 10 meetings.

With the victory, UAA clinched no worse than a tie for second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings and climbs within half a game of regionally topranked Western Washington (14-2 GNAC) for the league lead. The Seawolves need to win at Alaska Fairbanks in their regular-season finale on Thursday and hope for one or two losses by the Vikings in their final two games in order to share or claim the title outright.

Rohde finished with his 12th straight shooting effort of 50 percent or better, connecting on 8 of 12 from the field and 9 of 10 at the free-throw line. The GNAC’s leading scorer also grabbed eight rebounds as he claimed his 14th career game of 25 points or more.

Meanwhile, White finished with a career-high 12 assists in his 110th appearance as a Seawolf. With 320 career assists, the Aussie is now just one shy of No. 5 on UAA’s all-time list.

Ridgeway, the team’s other fourthyear senior, produced double-figure scoring for the third straight game, tallying 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

The former Heritage Christian High School star also grabbed a gamehigh nine rebounds and electrified the home crowd with a pair of dunks.

Sophomore Kyle Fossman finished with 17 points, two assists and no turnovers in 35 minutes, while junior Abebe Demissie added 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-2 3FG), three assists and no turnovers. Boosted by Ridgeway and Demissie, the Seawolves’ bench outscored its counterparts 30-6.

Seawolves wrap up GNAC Regular Season title

Led by 31 points from the senior tandem of Hanna Johansson and Kaylie Robison, the 11th-ranked UAA Women’s basketball team rolled to a 74-42 victory over host Saint Martin’s at Marcus Pavilion on Feb. 16, clinching a share of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title and the top seed in the league’s upcoming postseason tournament.

UAA also got eight points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals from freshman guard Gritt Ryder as the Seawolves earned their second GNAC regular-season title, having shared the 2008-09 crown with Seattle Pacific.

The Saints got game-highs of 20 points and nine rebounds from forward Chelsea Haskey but no other SMU player scored more than four points.

Robison, a 6-0 forward, did most of her damage early and finished with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, seven rebounds and two blocks. Johansson, a 6-2 center, tallied the majority of her 17 points in the second half, shooting 8 of 12 and grabbing all seven of her rebounds on the offensive glass.

Junior point guard Sasha King had seven points, three assists and four of UAA’s 15 team steals, while senior forward Tijera Mathews had nine points, five rebounds and two steals in 13 minutes.

Matthews scored a career-high 15 points to lead a balanced offensive attack as UAA claimed the GNAC women’s basketball title outright with a 72-42 victory over Western Oregon at the New P.E. Building on Feb. 18.

The Seawolves (24-4, 15-2 GNAC) also got 12 points from junior guard Haley Holmstead and 11 points, five rebounds and five assists Ryder to post their fifth straight win and sweep the season series from WOU for the eighth year in a row.

The Wolves were led by 12 points and eight assists from guard Jade Haas.

The result marked UAA’s 17th consecutive win over WOU, extending the program’s all-time record against any opponent. It also gives the Seawolves at least 24 victories for the fifth year in a row.

Mathews shot 5 of 9 from the floor and sank all four of her free throws to top her previous career-high by one point, adding four rebounds and four steals. UAA also got seven points and six rebounds off the bench from junior forward Alysa Horn as the Seawolves’ reserves outscored their counterparts 33-8.

Johansson tied for game-high honors with nine rebounds and dished four assists.

Seawolves get road split over St. Cloud State Minnesota native Eric Scheid scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in overtime, as UAA earned a thrilling 3-2 victory over St. Cloud State in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Feb. 17.

The Seawolves also got a goal from junior Daniel Naslund as they won for the first time ever at the National Hockey Center and snapped a 34-game winless streak in St. Cloud.

The Huskies got goals from Jarrod Rabey and Ben Hanowski, but the home team could not solve Seawolf goaltender Rob Gunderson when it mattered most, with Gunderson posting 24 saves and stopping all three St. Cloud power-play chances.

All three of UAA’s goals came from rebounds off SCSU netminder Mike Lee, who allowed Scheid to even the score at 1-1 when he couldn’t corral freshman Scott Allen’s slap shot midway through the second period. Naslund then gave UAA a 2-1 advantage halfway through the third period when he converted the rebound off Jade Portwood’s shot.

It was Naslund’s fourth goal of the season and the 10th of his career.

Freshman defenseman Corbin Karl also picked up his first career assist on the play.

The Huskies tied it with just over six minutes left on Hanowski’s 18th goal of the season, and UAA survived a Husky power play over the last 1:50 of regulation to send the game to the extra session.

After killing the last 10 seconds of the man advantage, both teams got off a pair of shots before UAA put on its winning rush. The play happened when Jordan Kwas corralled the puck deep in the Seawolf zone and fed upice to a streaking Scheid, who skated into the zone and left a drop pass for Allen. Scheid immediately rushed to the net, where he was there to deflect Allen’s shot past a sprawling Lee. Kwas picked up his eighth assist of the season, playing in his first game since December. The sophomore

center from Cochrane, Alberta, regained his academic eligibility earlier this week. For Scheid, the effort marked his first career gamewinning goal and multi-goal game. It was his second multi-point outing as a Seawolf, improving his rookie totals to 5-7-12.

Gunderson improved his record to 5-9-2, while Lee fell to 4-4-1.

All of the scoring came evenstrength as the teams combined for just four penalties.

The Huskies exacted their revenge when they ran away with a 8-3 win over UAA on Feb. 18 by scoring four goals in the final 11 minutes of the game to earn a split with the ‘Wolves.

The Seawolves (8-20-2, 5-20-1 WCHA) got goals from freshman Allen, sophomore Mark Pustin and senior Curtis Leinweber as they wound up splitting their only regular-season WCHA series with the Huskies.

The Huskies (13-15-4, 10-11-3) never trailed in this one, getting two goals apiece from David Eddy and Travis Novak.

After SCSU took the lead midway through the first period, UAA tied just three minutes later on Allen’s second goal of the year. Scheid got the main helper on the score, while Quinn Sproule picked up his 8 th assist.

The Huskies took a 2-1 lead into the locker room, but the Seawolves quickly tied it 20 seconds into the second, with Leinweber earning his eighth goal of the year on assists from Derek Docken and Brad Gorham.

St. Cloud went up 3-2 on a scramble goal from Novak at the 8:31 mark of the second and went ahead 4-2 early in the third before Pustin struck for his third goal of the year. Sam Mellor and Scott Warner earned assists on the play as Warner extended his team lead to 12 helpers.

It would be all downhill after that for the Seawolves, however, with Novak, Kevin Gravel, Bertsch and Eddy striking for four goals over the final 11 minutes to blow the game open.

Gunderson would suffer the loss while being hit for eight goals on 28 shots. Ryan Faragher picked up the win for the Huskies after making 28 of 31 saves.

Compiled by Taylor Hall

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Sports|February 21, 2012

Melissa Doucette

By Taylor Hall Sports Editor

TH: How did you get started in gymnastics?

MD: It was in a “Mommy and Me” class. I saw others doing it and decided I wanted to join in on it.

Play any other sports growing up?

Actually, I quit gymnastics when I was 12 years old and started diving and then three years later, I cam back to gymnastics.

I liked the competitiveness of gymnastics and diving just have the same level.

Any comparison between New Hampshire and Alaska or are they two completely different worlds?

It’s pretty similar weather wise, actually, but just so far away. It’s very hard to be that far away from home.

What did your freshman year teach you about gymnastics at the college level? Biggest Transition?

The biggest thing was that college gymnastics is different from club gymnastics because college is more of being apart of a team than being just an individual.

You seem to have bounced

back well from injury last year.

How has it been holding up so far this year and how do you prevent further injury?

I tore my MCL at an away meet in California and in this upcoming summer, I’ll have to have surgery on it. I still have some problems with it but so far, it’s been fine.

While training, if there is less numbers that I can do on a scoring scale that’s hurting my knee, I try and do that. The coaches are really good about that with me and it’s about quality over quantity.

How has your season stacked up to your invitations thus far?

It was going well and I had a lot of career highs to start the season. Just recently in the Air Force meet (Feb. 12), I dislocated my shoulder. It happened about halfway through my floor routine.

So right now, there’s some down to strengthen my shoulder back up and get back to that level I was at earlier.

Feel like there is any added pressure to perform since you’ve started this year off so well?

Maybe a little bit more just because I want to keep that consistency. However, it also gives me motivation though too to work harder in practice and keep on going.

Your season-high of 38.400 points at the Towson is the highest by any UAA gymnast since 2009. Despite that, we’ve heard rumors that you can go even higher before the season is done. Any truth behind that, and if so, what’s your target score?

I would love to get an allaround of 39.000 points. I think I’m capable. Every event I do,

I feel like it could still be better.

So I’ don’t think I’ve reached my full potential quite yet. To do that, I need more consistency on beam and have to stay tight on bars.

You’ve always seemed to be strongest in the vault and floor competitions. Which do you prefer and why?

I would have to go with vault over floor. The reason for it that vault is so much more dynamic.

How do you keep your edge when you have long periods of time between meets?

Just trying to stay motivated in the gym. But it’s hard because

it can seem like day after day its ‘okay, another practice day’.

Trying to look ahead helps and knowing there is a lot to be achieved within the next meet.

Best part about being a gymnast at UAA? There’s a lot of things that are great about it but just being a gymnast at the collegiate level is so rewarding and was always my dream growing up.

What has been your most proud moment in your career?

Had to be when I was named the MPSF Conference Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 17-23) because

that’s very hard to accomplish.

You’re a physical education major here at UAA. What would you like to do with that after graduation?

I want to coach gymnastics. I’ll probably go back home to coach at the club level, probably not the collegiate level.

Any superstitions/rituals/or traditions you have on the day of a meet or during the meet itself?

I always have to wear my hair in a ponytail. If I do my hair differently or wear a braid, I always fall on beam so the ponytail is a must.

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Melissa Doucette prepares to take off for her vault routine in a home meet against Air Force on Feb. 12. Doucette was named the MPSF Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 17-23) and has a season-high 38.400 All Around score to lead UAA thus far.

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