The Northern Light October 8, 2013 Issue

THENORTHERNLIGHT OCTOBER 8, 2013

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

25 YEARS

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UAA offers clothes for students’ interview needs

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6 youth insist state of Alaska Senshi-Con, a smash with Alaskan geeks addresses climate change

By Evan Erickson

eerickson@thenorthernlight.org

Last Thursday the Alaska Supreme Court traveled to Barrow to hear oral arguments in a lawsuit brought against the State of Alaska and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. The plaintiffs are asking the courts to rule that the atmosphere is a public trust resource as a way of compelling the state of Alaska to regulate its carbon emissions.

Students and members of the community packed the Barrow High School auditorium to observe the judicial process as part of Alaska’s Supreme Court LIVE program.

Oregon-based nonprofit Our Children’s Trust and Eagle River attorney Brad De Noble represent the six young plaintiffs.

“Our Children’s Trust has supported youth in the filing of legal actions in all 50 states and against the federal government to compel reductions of CO2 emissions that will meaningfully reverse global warming,” states the group’s press release.

The arguments heard Thursday in Barrow are part of an appeal process to bring the suit back to trial court after Anchorage Superior Court Judge Sen Tan dismissed the original suit in 2012. Tan’s ruling was based on the political question doctrine, which says courts only have the authority to hear and decide legal questions, not political ones.

“When the legislative and executive branches are violating the law it’s the responsibility of the courts,” said Julia Olson, executive director of Our Children’s Trust.

The public trust doctrine protects natural resources for public use and requires the government to maintain them as necessary. Legal uses of public trust go back well over 100 years, but recently environmental groups have used the doctrine effectively in the fight against perceived human-induced climate changes.

In the 2012 case Angela Bonser-Lain, et al. v.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas district court judge Gisela Triana ruled “the public trust doctrine is not exclusively limited to water, but all natural resources.”

Some scientists believe that 350 parts per million is the maximum amount of atmospheric car-

bon dioxide the earth can withstand without triggering runaway climate change. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, global CO2 is now hovering around 400 ppm.

The lawsuit against the state of Alaska calls for a 6 percent reduction in state carbon emissions.

Two of the six plaintiffs in the suit, Nelson Kanuk and Katherine Dolma, were present for the hearing in Barrow.

Kanuk, 19, is from Kipnuk, a village of around 600 people in southwestern Alaska. He has become the face of the group’s Alaska actions. A short documentary about Kanuk is featured on the Our Children’s Trust website. Nelson’s village and his family’s home are being threatened by severe erosion he believes to be a consequence of rapid human-induced climate change.

“I thought being able to sit during the hearing was a good opportunity to understand what we’re facing. If the courts agree to the atmosphere being a public trust, hopefully there could be a climate reaction policy plan assisting villages,” Kanuk said.

Kanuk was spurred to action when as a high school sophomore he attended a 2011 conference of the Alaska Association of Student Government in Cordova. There he met another high school student, Alec Loorz, who was the plaintiff in a similar suit against the federal government also citing the public use doctrine.

“I think it shows a lot of courage. It shows these young people are feeling empowered in taking on the state of Alaska,” UAA Alaska Native Studies Director Maria Williams said.

Arguments made Thursday on behalf of the state of Alaska acknowledged the gravity of atmospheric issues but continued to emphasize the political question doctrine.

“We think the superior court got it right. The policy decisions on what to do about greenhouse gases is something for the legislature to decide,” said Steve Mulder Alaska assistant attorney general for environment.

The six young plaintiffs have at least several months before they will learn whether their appeal was successful. Federal and state governments will continue to grapple with these tough issues in the meantime.

Puppy therapy on campus?

PHOTO BY ANNE NORMAN

Some UAA students have spoken in favor of “puppy rooms” on campus. Puppy rooms have been shown to benefit the health and wellbeing of humans.

By NIta Mauigoa

features@thenorthernlight.org

Feeling stressed? Pet a puppy.

According to Doug Markussen, director of the campus Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management Support Department or EHSRMS, UAA could join other campuses throughout the United States that have therapy dogs to help relieve stressed out students.

The key word is “could.”

“I’ve had many students and faculty, even administrators above me request animal or puppy therapy on campus,” Markussen said. “But no one has taken the initiative to make it happen.”

Last year, Yale Law School’s website introduced their therapy dog, Monty, which caused a worldwide media frenzy.

According to the article written by the dog’s owner, Jason Eiseman on Yale Law School’s website, students can book 20-minute appointments with Monty at the library.

Monty’s presence helps calm law students so stressed that their overloaded brains could explode unless they pet a puppy.

Harvard Medical School has a 4-year-old Shih Tzu at its Countway Library as a registered therapy dog.

Harvard Medical School published an article that states, “Pets have been shown to lower blood pressure, improve recovery from heart disease, and even reduce rates of asthma and allergy in children who grow up with a Fido or a Frisky in the house. Pets also improve people’s psychological wellbeing and self-esteem.” facebook.com/northernlightuaa

PHOTOS BY TIM BROWN

Live action role playing, or LARP, enthusiasts show off their armor in front of their booth during the Senshi-Con event at the Egan Center Sept. 28-29.

George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org

The mornings of Sept. 28 and 29, 5th Avenue drivers were treated to something of a shock. Geeks in costume lined up these mornings to attend Senshi-Con, Alaska’s oldest and most reputable anime convention and nerd mecca.

Senshi-Con had its humble beginnings in 2005. It was hosted in West Anchorage High School’s cafeteria by the school’s anime club.

Since that first year, the event was held in UAA’s own Student Union, where it remained and hosted famous guests, such as voice actresses Caitlin Glass and Laura Bailey.

Now the event has expanded to a new, even bigger venue: the Egan Center, where it hosted its largest audience yet. Over 1,500 people attended.

This year saw more special guests hit Anchorage: Katie Diedrich, designer of the webcomic “Awkward Zombie,” and Chuck Huber, a popular voice actor famous in the anime community for his roles in “Soul Eater” and “Hetalia Axis Powers.”

“I’ll do this for as long as I can. I will always do conventions,” Huber said during a panel. “This is too much fun, and you guys are way too cool for me to stop doing it.”

The convention holds many opportunities for Alaska’s geek culture. For example, it allowed vendors to display and sell art and other wares. Other events held at the convention included video game tournaments, cosplay contests, a talent show and a dance.

The organizers are enthralled about the popularity of the event.

“It’s about everyone that likes the same genre coming together and being accepted and networking,” said director Braxton Bundick in an interview with the Anchorage Daily News. “It used to be looked down upon, but it’s this amazing thing where nerds are the great thing.”

Last month, the UAA Bookstore posted a picture of a “puppy room” from a university in Canada and asked students what they thought.

The comments came flooding in: Yes! Absolutely! We should!

Markusson offered his contact information on the post, should anyone want to initiate a “puppy room” on campus. He never got that call.

Still, the post got the wheels spinning in people’s minds.

Bookstore events coordinator Rachel Epstein said she already has envisioned a grassy courtyard near the store’s ramp where the puppies could be.

She said student clubs would be ideal in running shifts where visitors can come and shake paws with man’s best friend.

“I think it would also be great if we could work with animal shelters or other places that take in animals that need homes,” said english student Younger Oliver.

Markussen said if anyone wants make a “puppy room” happen on campus, there are several regulations under EHSRMS’s Policy 39 that must be met. He could provide specific details to those interested.

Studies such as those conducted by Harvard Medical School provide evidence that puppy therapy promotes calmness, general happiness and friendliness. It’s a healthier alternative to booze, drugs and cigarettes.

So, who will take the initiative to bring the puppies to campus?

Those interested in a possible puppy therapy or kitten therapy room can contact Doug Markussen at dsmarkussen@uaa.alaska.edu. twitter.com/tnl_updates

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One of the vendors, dressed as Waldo, hides behind a sign at his booth during the Senshi-Con event at the Egan Center Sept. 28-29.

thenorthernlight.org

youtube.com/tnlnews

02 NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013

How the government shutdown affects UAA

By Suhaila Brunelle

news@thenorthernlight.org Congress failed to reach an agreement last week on a budget to fund the government for the next year, which caused a government shutdown. This means all nonessential programs, such as the panda cam, will be closed, and workers will remain on furlough until an agreement is reached.

According to Eric Pederson, associate vice chancellor for Enrollment Services, UAA is holding a wait-and-see position on this right now. When sequestration began, the same thing happened, but the decision was quickly reversed.

Affected students should stay in contact with the Military Programs Office on JBER, Military and Veteran’s Student Services in the Student Union Building or Enrollment Services in the University Center for information.

The shutdown will affect certain categories of UAA students, particularly students who are relying on the tuition assistance program for active duty soldiers. This program is currently suspended for any new claims, and payments for courses that start after Oct. 1 will not be paid.

Students who rely on this program have been advised not to begin courses if they fall into this category. Active duty soldiers who are in late-starting classes have been urged to drop the courses and have until the end of the first week of class to do so.

International students could also be affected by the government shutdown and can expect a delay in all processing for every type of action UAA a student might need.

One of the biggest concerns for international students is the closure of the Social Security Office. This means international students wanting to work on campus will not be able to get a social security card, which is required for on-campus employment.

International students intending to begin classes in January might also be delayed, because consular services overseas will be limited, reducing their abilities to get visa

appointments. International students interested in Optional Practical Training should contact David Racki in Enrollment Services to discuss what the shutdown might mean for them. International students are encouraged to apply for this program early, because slower processing of applications is expected.

Students who are relying on federal student aid programs such as the Pell Grant and Direct Student loans are not impacted at this time. The Department of Education is saying it will keep the offices staffed so that service to schools and students continues. Students should not worry if they are waiting for last-minute aid for fall to be disbursed, nor should they worry about spring semester aid.

“Alaska state aid programs are not impacted in any way that we know of,” states Pederson.

Pederson states, “We don’t know how many students and their families might be experiencing a furlough or reduced work hours because they work for the federal government, or on a contract with the federal government. Any students who find themselves in that situation who begins to worry or have trouble paying their tuition bill should come forward and let someone know, their advisor, enrollment services, financial aid, that way we can look into helping the students. We don’t have information on where they work in a database and we want to do what we can to help them out.”

Pederson also states there could be students, staff and faculty working on projects funded by federal grants, and their funding could be significantly impacted due to the shutdown.

Students should seek help as soon as needed. The next payment deadline and late fee for students is Nov. 1. Any student who planned to have his or her bill paid by then and is experiencing trouble because of the shutdown should contact Enrollment Services this week or next.

Pederson says students can call Enrollment Services One Stop at 907-786-1480, but it might be best to visit the offices at the University Center, because students might need help from more than one office.

WEEKLY BUZZ

Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab threatens more attacks in the future Al-Shabaab, the terrorist organization that attacked the upscale Wesgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, several weeks ago, has stated the attacks are “not over.” Dozens of people were injured in the massacre, and 67 people were killed. There is evidence that some of the victims were tortured before they died. Kenyan forces claim they have killed at least five members of Al-Shabaab and taken 11 members of the group into custody.

Obama speaks by telephone to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

President Obama spoke with Iran’s newly elected president, Hassan Rouhani, last week about a resolution regarding Iran’s nuclear program. This is the first time since the overthrow of the Shah in 1979 that the two countries have spoken directly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned President Obama “not to be fooled by overtures from Iran that have led the administration to pursue talks aimed at resolving the standoff over the country’s nuclear ambitions.”

Vladimir Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

The International Academy of Spiritual Unity has nominated Russian President Vladimir Putin for a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in stopping a United States air strike in Syria earlier this year.

The letter stated, “Being the leader of one of the leading nations of the world, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin makes efforts to maintain peace and tranquility not only on the territory of his own country but also actively promotes settlement of all conflicts arising on the planet.”

Tropical storm Karen forms off the Gulf of Mexico

A tropical storm has formed off the Gulf of Mexico, causing hurricane warnings from Louisiana to Florida. This is the first tropical storm of the season. The storm is located 485 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour.

Road rage incident involving SUV and motorcycles leaves one man seriously injured

Video of the incident shows the motorcycle group assaulting the driver of the SUV in front of his wife and child. The driver then tries to escape, but during the escape runs over one of the bikers, who is now in serious condition at a local hospital and may never walk again. Some of the bikers are from a group called Hollywood Stuntz, which holds an event to ride through Times Square on an annual basis. They had no permit this year, and the NYPD received over 200 calls of reckless behavior by the group prior to the incident.

National Toy Hall of Fame

My Little Ponies, the Magic 8 Ball and Fisher-Price Little People are among others have been announced as finalists in this year’s competition to make it into the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York. Each year, this organization recognizes toys that have “engaged and delighted multiple generations, inspiring them to learn, create, and discover their play.” Two winners will be announced Nov. 7.

PFD day

The first of Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividends were issued last week through direct deposit. State officials say the roughly 593,000 Alaskan’s received the direct deposit of the $900 check and another 86,000 Alaskans will receive a paper check later in the month.

Anchorage crime rate has risen

The FBI has reported that the number of serious crimes reported in Anchorage has risen in 7 out of 8 categories since last year. There has been a recorded increase in murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and larceny.

Former Tatitlek Village president guilty of stealing money

Former Tatilek Village President, Lori “Sue” Clum, 45, of Anchorage has admitted in U.S. District Court of stealing over $100,000 from the village. Funds were distributed to herself and her brother James Edward Kramer, 48. The thefts occurred between 2008 and 2009.

Briefs compiled by Suhaila Brunelle

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FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013

03

Death by caffeine UAA service offers advice, professional clothing

By Megan Marquis

mmarquis@thenorthernlight.org

The slogan, “How many licks does it take to get to the center of Tootsie Pop?” takes a much more morbid turn when asked in reference to caffeine — how many energy drinks does it take to die?

A website called Energy Fiend gives consumers this information on a platter. All one has to do is type in his or her weight, and find which energy drink he or she would like to test.

After several deaths reported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, caffeine in energy drinks may have put some teenagers to go into cardiac arrest.

The Monster Energy company was sued after 14-year-old Anais Fournier’s heart stopped beating in 2011 after drinking two 24-ounce cans of Monster Energy. According to NBC4 Washington, she received quick medical attention and was put into an induced coma to keep her brain alive. She died six days later on Christmas Eve. The FDA publicized a list of reports for two more energy drinks November 2012. Monster Energy was linked to 40 illnesses and five deaths, while 13 illnesses and two lasting disabilities were linked to Rockstar Energy.

Following those reports, the FDA posted new information linking 92 illnesses and 13 deaths to 5-Hour Energy shots.

With this knowledge at hand, members of the medical field, such as doctors and medical researchers, are protesting energy drinks in the United States because of the high amount of caffeine aimed at a young audience.

On March 19 a group of doctors, scholars and public health officials sent a joint letter to the FDA commissioner, urging the FDA to make changes to the regulation of energy drinks. In its letter, the group explained there is a “robust correlation between the caffeine levels in energy drinks and adverse health and safety consequences,” especially toward youth.

Compared to drip coffee, which has 145 grams of caffeine, Hyper Shot has 500 milligrams of caffeine. That equates to nearly three and a half 8-ounce servings of drip coffee. The consequences of an energy drink overdose can lead to niacin rush and possibly even cardiac arrest, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Criminal Justice major Maryann Liugata says she enjoys energy drinks on a daily basis.

She says, “Depending on how tired I am, I just drink them down like water, and they work faster than coffee. Sometimes I push myself so far, where you stay up forever and you have to go to class at eight.”

She says she has felt sick from energy drinks.

“It makes you want to throw up, you feel nauseated, and it’s the worst feeling,” she said.

Psychology major Tessa Indies says, “Caffeine, in large, quantities is not necessarily good for you.” She also said, “I don’t see how possible FDA regulations on the amount of this ingredient can be a bad thing.”

There are currently no ingredient regulations set in place for energy drinks. Since they are made with herbs among other chemicals, these types of drinks are often considered to be conventional foods or dietary supplements. By these categories, they also follow the same guidelines of chewing gum and vitamins.

By John Budnik Contributor

A job interview doesn’t require a top hat, but the clothes a potential employee wears might be the difference between being hired or not. There is an office on campus helping informal students because it’s true that employers prefer a sharpdressed candidate.

University of Alaska Anchorage’s Career Services Center, located in Rasmuson Hall, has a small room called the “Professional Clothes Closet.” It’s a wardrobe full of clothing available to any student or alumni in need of new duds to woo possible employers.

“You never get a second chance at a first impression,” -Natalie Elder, Career Services Center office manager “You never get a second chance to change a first impression,” said Natalie Elder, office manager of the center.

She said the program sees two to three students per week who are interested in the collection. She also said students may keep the garments as well.

The service is generally run on an honor code, and

it doesn’t matter what sort of employment is being sought. This includes campus jobs, internships or other career opportunities.

“We want to assist students in helping them find a job,” Elder said. “That’s our ultimate end goal.”

Available in men’s apparel includes slacks, suit coats, collared shirts, sweaters and ties.

The women’s side of the closet has more variety with dresses, skirts, blazers and button-down shirts. Only professional attire is accepted, and anything could potentially jeopardize a student’s qualifications is screened out, she said.

The idea was a collaborative effort by the College of Education and the Career Services Center and came to fruition last year. In order to keep the selection fresh clothing drives are held amongst faculty and staff on occasion.

The center’s staff is available to coach students or alumni seeking feedback on their garbs. Other services they provide are mock interviews, resume and cover letter workshops, career fairs and as a resource to find volunteer opportunities.

“When you’re in an interview, it’s important to think about how your outfit looks when you’re standing up but also when you’re sitting down,” Elder said. “Clothes do matter.”

The center will be sponsoring the Fall Career Fair Oct. 17 in the Student Union. Students will have a chance to visit with 72 different employers from a variety of career fields.

Time to suit up UAA, but leave the top hat at home.

PHOTO BY JOHN BUDNIK

Natalie Elder, UAA Career Services Center office manager, browses the women’s apparel Oct. 1 in the center’s Professional Clothes Closet.

I HI T ALL THE H O T SPO TS WI TH OUT BREAKING A SWEAT...

OR TIPPING MY TIARA.

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P E O PL E M O V E R. O R G

04 FEATURES Steam’s living room, uh, ‘thing’

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013

By Klax Zlubzecon

Translated by George Hyde Last week was a pretty mixed one for George.

On one hand, there were Valve’s immense, incoming announcements regarding their new plan for PC gaming in the living room, all leading up to Senshi-Con during the weekend (see Page 1 for that). And now that Valve has made their plans for Steam in the living room clear, both he and I concluded with the general response, “...Huh.” For those who are in the dark, Valve’s Steam service acts as a digital distribution service for computer games on Windows, Macintosh and Linux. For the past year or so, Valve has been aiming to get rid of the PC gaming stigma — that is, hunching over a mouse and keyboard. They want to bring their service to the living room, the same environment that houses consoles like the upcoming PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Their response to that stigma last year was the introduction of “Big Picture,” where you could lug a PC over to your TV, plug in a USB game controller and use Steam’s services like you would a game console’s services.

How does an alien from a completely foreign landscape know all this? Well, George has such a setup at his pad. He fiddles with it and gushes over it constantly. I may as well roll my eye and play along as if my race weren’t capable of telepathic entertainment.

Anyway, Valve’s response this year is a bit more — well, exaggerated. They started by announcing “SteamOS,” which is based on Linux. Think Google’s Chrome OS, but based on Steam’s “Big Picture” mode instead of Google Chrome.

They then announced “Steam Machines,” which are specialized PCs manufactured by computer companies (like, say, Alienware). They’re meant particularly for gaming, and they carry SteamOS. Then came what was arguably the strangest announcement: the “Steam Controller.” It forgoes control sticks in favor of laptop-style touch pads with haptic feedback, in addition to a touch screen in the middle. It aims to be compatible with every single game on Steam, even those that are meant to be played with a mouse and keyboard.

Obviously, this has been pretty confusing, even for someone as experienced with Steam as

George is. This is due, for the most part, to Valve’s ambiguity regarding everything. For example, we know nothing about Steam Machines aside from the fact that they’ll exist next year, and there will be many different models.

The problem with multiple models is that they’re more difficult to develop for than traditional consoles, which are always the same regardless of how and when you buy it. This is a problem with PC gaming in general, and while I admire Valve for trying to simplify matters, I doubt it’ll work much.

As for the controller, neither of us really knows what to think. This isn’t a problem George has, because he has multiple controllers and input devices he can comfortably play on a couch. But for those who don’t have that luxury, George is optimistic that this is an elegant solution. I would feel better if he took a wait-and-see approach until he can test it, but you know him. He’s a fool in love.

At least we can both agree that SteamOS is pretty flipping cool. An OS that runs games more competently, and promises compatibility with future triple-A titles? That’s amazing.

If George can run his more-than-300 Steam games that are already compatible with Windows, all the better.

George is hyped about the whole thing, but I see it as a company trying to solve a problem that doesn’t really exist. Gaming consumers who use consoles and consumers who use computers are two very different beasts. Some gamers prefer a mouse and keyboard, and some prefer the convenience of consoles. That’s fine. To each his or her own. But George still can’t let go of the idea that all gamers should experience the joy of PC gaming. The openness and competitive nature should appeal to all, he thinks.

Huh. So we’re both in favor of total assimilation. Maybe we have more in common than we think.

Oh hey, that reminds me: RESISTANCE IS FUTILE. EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.

Midterm crunch

By Evan Dodd Contributor

October is a month of shifting expectations. Midterms always seem to come weeks before you’re ready for them, the PFD gives you just enough money to make you spend recklessly and that “easy” class you’ve been ditching since week two has suddenly become an insurmountable challenge.

To put it simply, October always seems to be the month that convinces me to get my life in order and kick into high gear on the academic side of things.

For me that involves budgeting my time, which is really just a fancy way of saying I’m going to spend less time on Reddit and Netflix and maybe (occasionally) show up for statistics.

At least that used to be enough to hold back the approaching torrential downpour of research, essays and presentation. This semester however, that strategy barely carves out enough time for me to reset the formatting on Microsoft Word — which, for reasons unknown, always decides to format my papers in a manner unrecognizable by anyone on the planet.

In the past I only tended to have one or two midterms that were worth a significant portion of my grade. This allowed me to continue life as usual as long as I pulled an all-nighter or two. Not this year.

This year every single one of my exams is worth 40-50 percent of my grade, and in one case it will literally be my first graded assignment. There’s no room for error this semester.

This is survival of the fittest — or survival of the moderately productive — and I’ve got to get

my priorities in order.

My aspirations of teaching myself to kite-snowboard have been put on hold, my groceries ran out a week ago and my newfound addiction to “Breaking Bad” has fallen by the wayside as the midterm beast consumes everything in its path. Even my positive ambitions — like occasionally exercising and eating food that doesn’t come from a can — have completely dropped off my radar as my life becomes one giant research project.

Midterms have this inexplicable ability to absorb all available free time and shift the focus away from anything else that could possibly be deemed important. I mean honestly, we’re in the middle of a government shutdown, my car has a fuel leak and a severe over-heating problem (not a great combination), and the “Walking Dead” premiere is only a few weeks away. Yet somehow all of that becomes background noise as I devote my full attention to an eight-page exam on healthcare economics.

Even this column serves as an example to the immense power of midterms. I started three days ago with a clear plan to mock the congressional deadlock by facetiously displaying my ignorance of national politics. That idea was then relegated to a tiny footnote in the previous paragraph as all my attention became focused upon keeping my GPA afloat until the end of the year. I don’t know about you, but when my academic responsibilities begin to impede my ability to be sarcastic and critical, it’s a sign of a significant problem.

I won’t lie to you. This is absolutely an uphill battle. I sat down fully intending to complete an experimental proposal.

Orange rhymes with Yet three hours later I’ve found a new Pandora station and am researching climbing gear I couldn’t possibly afford. My room looks like a tornado hit the Library of Congress and a half finished fort made solely of economic textbooks surrounding my computer has emerged overnight.

So this is what it comes down to. After avoiding anything resembling self-motivation for upwards of 20 years, I finally have to make a conscious decision to work instead of doing literally anything else.

Believe me, it won’t be hard to figure out if I was able get my act together in time. If these columns keep printing as usual, then it’s safe to assume I survived. However, if I drop off the face of the earth, then it’s definitely a good time to send a search party. There’s a better than average chance that I’ll be huddled around a pile of burning textbooks and syllabi, reminiscing about the days when my GPA was above the three-point mark.

I normally try to end these columns on a positive note, so enjoy this little one I scraped from the bottom of the optimism barrel — worst case scenario we can all huddle around that textbook fire together. And maybe, just maybe, a few of us will survive the exams and emerge stronger and prepared for finals.

You’ll have to let me know how that goes.

AE &

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013

DRINK REVIEW

The great UAA fountain crawl

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org Regular TNL readers know water is probably one of the best, greatest drinks in existence. It’s cool, refreshing, healthier than other soft drinks and a basic necessity for life. So then comes the question of where to get it.

UAA has many plentiful sources of water, but they’re not all worth tapping into. As a result, I took it upon myself to journey across our campus to find the best sources of water for students.

My benchmark was a glass of ice water from the Cuddy Cafeteria. This and Subway are probably the best sources of water at UAA, but they’re not always convenient sources. So without further ado, let us begin the crawl!

PROFESSIONAL STUDIES BUILDING

The fountains here are a tad warm, with a faint metallic, fountainy taste. Maybe they’re ideal in a pinch, but it’d be healthier and far more refreshing to grab a Smart Water from one of the vending machines on the first floor.

SALLY MONSERUND BUILDING / EUGENE SHORT HALL

05

MOVIE REVIEW

Right and wrong in film ‘Runner, Runner’

By Kelly Ireland

arts@thenorthernlight.org Everyone dreams of living a life of richness and being able to get whatever one wants. In the film “Runner, Runner,” billionaire Ivan Block (Ben Affleck, “Argo”) gives Richie Furst (Justin Timberlake, “Trouble with the Curve”) the opportunity to live the dream life. But what is Furst willing to risk for it?

Furst is a Princeton student and online gambling site affiliate. After being cheated on an online gambling site, Furst flies to Costa Rica — where site owner Block is operating from — to let him know.

Block recognizes Furst’s wit, understanding of gambling and marketing know-how. He asks Furst to remain in Costa Rica to work for him. Furst accepts, dropping his college obligations for the fast life of money, women, violence and gambling. FBI agent Shavers (Anthony Mackie, “The Fifth Estate”) confronts Furst about his activity. Furst must choose between the high life under Block and living an honest life back in the United States The film begins very quickly and jumps into the plot almost immediately. This makes it a little cheesy, but it still establishes a sound background for Timberlake’s character, Richie Furst. The film continues with a storyline that makes the viewer question what they would do in Furst’s shoes.

The dialogue was a bit shaky at times, but it wasn’t bad overall. There were even some humorous one-liners for a film that’s outside the comedy genre.

The character development of Timberlake’s character is also convincing. Furst must gamble a steady life for the opportunity to live the high life. He questions what is right the deeper he gets into his new life.

Block pressures him to continually perform criminal actions, saying, “If your boss says you have to go out there and take a beating, take it and say ‘Do you need me to do it again?’” As well as receiving pressure from Block, Agent Shavers pressures Furst to get Block arrested. Furst is forced to question his moral behavior with pressure from both sides in a realistic and believable manner.

The film is definitely not the best Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake have done, but it is still worth seeing in theaters. It has the whole gamut when it comes to movies, is believable and is entertaining to watch.

The only complaint is that Ben Afleck, a New England Patriots fan, chose to play Block, who is a Pittsburg Steelers fan — but it does speak wonders of his acting abilities.

Movie: “Runner, Runner” Release date: Oct. 4, 2013 Director: Brad Furman Starring: Justin Timberlake, Gemma Arterton, Ben Affleck

I grouped these together because they’re both similar: They still have that distinct, fountainy taste, but they’re a touch chillier than the PSB, making them a more refreshing choice.

RASMUSSON HALL

The water here is warm but thankfully lacking in taste.

I’d imagine the fountains here are much healthier than the other fountains in the west quad.

WELLS FARGO SPORTS COMPLEX

Fountains here are very similar to the SU’s fountains in that they’re very poor. But they’re a bit cooler, thanks in part, I think, to the chillier atmosphere of the WFSC in general.

STUDENT UNION

Subway notwithstanding, this is probably the worst place on campus to get water from a fountain. The water is quite warm and has that strong taste that the worst fountains are infamous for. Stick to Subway if you need water here.

GAME REVIEW

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

This is one of the better — if not more obscure — sets of fountains on campus. The water is quite cool, and the distinct fountain taste is very, very faint. It’s very refreshing after the long walk from the Student Union.

NATURAL SCIENCES BUILDING

Next to the parking garage, this is also a distinct area thanks in part to the Brita water station sitting right next to the fountains. The Brita fountain is great but is limited to water bottles. Thankfully, the normal fountains don’t disappoint either, being really cold with next to no taste.

SOCIAL SCIENCE BUILDING

The fountains here are a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, I’d say they might just be the coldest fountains on campus, which makes them a convenient counterpoint to the Kaladi Brothers just across (which charges a small fee for water). Unfortunately, the fountain taste hits like a truck almost immediately. It’s refreshing after a long walk from the other side of campus, but if you can, jump for a drink from Kaladi’s instead.

ADMINISTRATION / HUMANITIES BUILDING

There’s literally only one fountain in this building, and it’s hidden well upstairs. Thankfully, the search was worth it. The taste is nearly nonexistent, and the water is quite chill. That puts it almost on par with the Natural Sciences Building’s fountains, but its obscurity makes it a bit of an inconvenient stretch. It’s worth the effort, though.

ARTS BUILDING

My crawl came to an end at the Arts Building, where the water was underwhelming. It’s cold and refreshing, to be sure, but the taste is still noticeable, even if it’s not as much as, say, the SSB. Worth it after a long journey, to be sure, but not ideal.

PHOTO BY GEORGE HYDE

Fountains across UAA have varying degrees of taste, chill and stream pressure.

‘Grand Theft Auto V,’ a wide-open paradise

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org When “Grand Theft Auto III” hit the scene over a decade ago, it changed the gaming landscape forever. Its open-world nature has inspired games as varied and diverse as “Saint’s Row” and “Red Dead Redemption.” It’s even worked its influence into franchises such as “Fallout” or “The Elder Scrolls.”

Now, Rockstar is bringing the franchise back to end the current gaming generation on a high note with its most ambitious project yet: “Grand Theft Auto V.” The latest and greatest twist to the “Grand Theft Auto” formula may end up being one of the more significant mechanics to be introduced to the openworld genre. The player controls three protagonists, alternating between them on his or her own terms.

This gives the game an almost co-op feel without feeling intrusive. With three characters open to solve the many problems the story presents, the game feels very rewarding to creative players.

The game literally opens with a bang: a heist by two of our three leads almost a decade before the main campaign’s events. The new three-protagonist mechanics are gracefully introduced in this opening sequence. The scene acts as an incredible way to introduce the mechanics, and the developers did a fantastic job of making them feel natural almost instantly.

After that, the story follows the lives of Michael, one of the robbers who’s now retired under witness protection; Trevor, the other robber who’s psychopathic and violent; and Franklin, a repo man who meets and becomes good friends with Michael as the

game unfolds.

The story is fairly par for the course of a “Grand Theft Auto” game, but these wonderful characters make the story all the more compelling.

However, that’s nothing compared to the game’s greatest character: the city itself. The people feel real, the buildings feel real, the atmosphere feels real — everything here feels real, even with the relatively low graphical quality of current-gen consoles. This is a world that lives and breathes with activity and personality, with almost too many things to do. The game handily borrows the best elements from the series, from the RPG elements from “San Andreas” to the heist missions from “Grand Theft Auto IV.” There’s a dizzying amount of things to do and participate in.

Again, that’s par for the course of a “Grand Theft Auto” title. But in this case, “par for the course” is all players will need. Fusing old mechanics with incredibly engaging new ones, this is the current magnum opus of the open-world genre. And for a series about crime, refusing to pick up this latest entry may be the greatest crime of all.

Note: Consumers are advised to pick up the physical, retail versions of “Grand Theft Auto V,” because the digital versions contain many graphical glitches and bugs that may not be patched for a long time.

Unless they get patched, stick to the discs.

Title: “Grand Theft Auto V” Developer: Rockstar North Platform: 360, PS3 Genre: Action-Adventure

06 A&E

07 A&E

ALBUM REVIEW

‘Nothing Was the Same’

By Oliver Petraitis KRUA Music Manager

Drake’s back. This time, don’t expect a motto. You’re not going to get a YOLO or shamefully catchy hooks. You’re not going to get Wayne features. You’re not going to get Aubrey Graham, chipper Canadian gangster extraordinaire. Drake’s back, and for once, he sounds pissed.

Whereas “Thank Me Later” contributed uncountable soundbites to pop culture and things to put on snapbacks, one of the few similarities it shares with the new “Nothing Was the Same” is that both records have Drake’s face on the cover. Drake’s newest is dark, void of many appearances from guests. It’s so much of a solo record that the first verse on the record features Drake proclaiming, “this is nothin’ for the radio, but they’ll still play it though/’Cause it’s that new Drizzy Drake, that’s just the way it go.”

And all cockiness and rap bravado aside, he’s right. Drake knows he’s at the point where he doesn’t have much competition. Any petty little stone he tosses makes a big splash in the pop culture ocean.

Even in the wake of the laughable “Started From the Bottom,” this child star/rich kid-cum-rapstar knows how to work the game, whether he’s providing the Motto or rather painfully lonely verses for 67 minutes on this new record. And frankly, he does a pretty damn good job doing it.

Putting aside that Drake did not start at the bottom, his new record is certainly full of musical merit. The recipe is pretty simple — one part really tight verses, one part producer genius Noah “40” Shabib’s characteristically empty beats. And that’s it. Stir.

Even though you’re getting basically an entire hour of Drake’s voice, it doesn’t get old. He micromanages his tone and his lyrics, giving it enough variation to keep the record fresh from cover to cover without it being too sporadic.

And the production is exceptional. Shabib’s beats are more notable for their emptiness than their fullness. They’re not especially busy, putting little clicks and yips and claps exactly where they need to be, but nowhere else.

“From Time” is a reverby piano-plucker that sounds like it might have three tracks on the beat — maybe.

“Furthest Thing” has definite radio potential due both to Drake’s singsongy hook and the simultaneously driving and sleepily headnodic beat that houses his verses. The funny thing about radio potential in the context of “Nothing Was the Same” is that the already released singles, especially “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” almost don’t jibe with the rest of the album.

The blatancy of the radio jams on this record just make them stand out in a weird way. Not to say they’re bad tracks — in fact, they’re solid — only, they’re difficult to reconcile with the context of the rest of the record. But musically, this record is hard to knock.

If there would be, however, anything to knock about “Nothing Was The Same,” it would actually be the sparse verses by guest appearances. Sadly enough, Jay-Z’s verse on “Pound Cake” is one of the weakest moments on the record. Stacked next to the consistently tight Drake verses, the guest verses are all a bit lacking in gusto and don’t sound right on the album.

The other speck on an otherwise pristine record is that it ends on a terrible note: Big Sean. The record should not have ended with Sean’s nasally vocals yelling out “little b----!” It’s just the wrong way to wrap up an album with the generally cohesive Drake-classic loneliness and bitter anger. But in the grand scheme of the record, it’s easy to shrug off a weak verse that shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

On the whole, Drake’s done very nice work here. It’s impressive that the only weak moments on the record come from the guest rappers. The beats are great, and Drake sounding pissed off for a change is refreshing. “Nothing Was the Same” is engaging and can be listened to from front to back without getting bored, trapped out or annoyed by boastful verses. You don’t get a motto or a soundbite or Wayne verse, but you do get a damn good record.

OCTOBER 11th and 12th at the Sullivan Arena

Seawolves Air Force

Quinnipiac UAF

For tickets, visit GoSeawolves.com

- FREE tickets for UAA students at the Student Union Desk - On sale at Sullivan Arena box office and all Ticketmaster locations

SEAWOLF HOCKEY

IT’S A NEW DAY UAA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.

SPORTS SPORTS BRIEFS

Barker, Zanders claim GNAC accolades PORTLAND, Ore. —

Coming off a sweep of one of the league’s toughest road trips, the Alaska Anchorage volleyball team claimed a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference Red Lion Player of the Week awards, with Katelynn Zanders winning the offensive honor and Quinn Barker sharing the defensive accolade.

Zanders, a 5-9 sophomore outside hitter, totaled 27 kills (3.38 kps), 19 digs (2.38 dps) and five aces as UAA moved alone into first place in the early league standings with 3-1 victories over Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene.

The South Anchorage High School product ripped 18 kills on match-best .333 hitting in the win in Ellensburg, along with three block assists and 11 digs for her fourth double-double this season.

In Idaho, she had nine kills, eight digs and a career-high four aces in a battle of teams with 3-0 GNAC records.

Barker, a junior libero, accumulated 41 digs (5.13 dps), seven aces, no service errors and just two reception errors as the Seawolves posted 3-1 victories at Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene.

At CWU, she had 21 digs, a career-high four aces and four assists, while Saturday at NNU she made 20 of UAA’s 50 digs.

The Mission Viejo, Calif. (Trabuco Hills HS/Central Arizona College) product now has three straight matches with 20-plus digs and ranks third in the GNAC with 4.74 digs per set.

Zanders and Barker join Julia Mackey (offense, Sept. 16-22) as the second and third Seawolves this season to earn Red Lion weekly honors.

Horn makes pro debut in Europe VIERNHAM, Germany — Former Alaska Anchorage

women’s basketball standout Alysa Horn recently made her professional debut, playing on the European circuit in Germany’s Bundesliga 2nd Division.

The Kodiak native started and played 35 minutes in her first game for TSV Amicitia Viernheim, scoring eight points, along with five rebounds and three steals, in a 63-57 victory over Heidelberg.

“We’re so proud of Alysa and very confident that this can be the first step in a solid pro career for her,” said UAA head coach Ryan McCarthy. “Going from a walk-on, redshirt freshman to a three-time all-league performer — and now to the professional ranks — makes her a standard-bearer for our program and a positive example for our younger players.”

A 6-foot guard/forward, Horn was a three-time All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honoree for the Seawolves, finishing in the top 10 on the school’s career lists for points (9th, 1,134), rebounds (8th, 639), blocks (9th, 59), three-pointers made (t-6th, 113), games played (t-7th, 109), total minutes (9th, 2,739) and victories (4th, 87).

Thunder’s Westbrook has knee surgery, out 4-6 weeks OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder point

guard Russell Westbrook will miss the first 4-6 weeks of the NBA season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

General Manager Sam Presti said the three-time All-Star had knee swelling that would not subside, and the procedure was intended to solve the problem.

He said doctors determined that a loose stitch was to blame for the swelling, that Westbrook’s lateral meniscus has healed properly, and the procedure was successful.

“Russell has been incredible in his work and rehabilitation,” Presti said. “His performance levels have been tremendous, and he’s looked great in the part of practice that he’s been cleared to go through. So, we were very, very encouraged in that respect.

But when the swelling wasn’t subsiding, we made the decision to have the knee evaluated.”

Westbrook also had surgery in May to repair cartilage in his right knee after he was hurt in Game 2 of Oklahoma City’s first-round playoff series with Houston. He had had never missed a game in his five NBA seasons before the injury.

Briefs compiled by Thomas McIntyre from GoSeawolves.com and the Associated Press

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013

09

The weekend primer: Kendall Hockey Classic

By Thomas McIntyre

sports@thenorthernlight.org The Seawolf men’s hockey team starts their season this weekend with the annual Kendall Hockey Classic. They’ll see action against the Quinnipiac Bobcats and Air Force Falcons in the mini-tournament.

A change of guard has added a new wrinkle to the usual anticipation around the return of hockey. Head coach Matt Thomas finally gets a chance to cut the lip service and show what he can do behind the bench.

The opening tilt will match the Seawolves up with a Bobcats team that finished 30-8-5 last season. More impressively, 20 of those wins came in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference — the same conference that is home to the 2012-13 NCAA Champions, Yale.

Things have changed in Quinnipiac, though. They are going through their own transition period, as seven of their top 10 point scorers from the ‘12-13 season have left campus. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The potential backbreaker is the loss of Eric Hartzell. Hartzell stood in front of the net for the Bobcats and posted a 1.57 GAA (goals against average), which was the third best figure for Division I goaltenders. He also had a mean 0.933 save percentage.

But don’t write off the ‘Cats. Three non-seniors stood out last year as able torch carriers. The main player to key in on is forward Matthew Peca.

Peca was a sophomore stud during Quinnipiac’s run through the ECAC. He had a balanced 30 points — 15 assists and 15 goals — and closed the year with a +/- of +13. He should be the team’s biggest offensive threat from here on out.

Replacing the void Hartzell left could be a messy process. Sophomore Michael Garteig saw 118 minutes of run last season and, while the sample size is miniscule, his save percentage was below 0.900.

That’s a tough track record to bank on.

Because of the new faces in important places for the Bobcats, it’s hard to pinpoint what level they’ll play at Friday night. The high volume of turnover could even the playing field for the ‘Wolves.

Saturday brings a faceoff with the Falcons, who UAA tied with in a stunner last October to win the Kendall Cup. The Falcons aren’t recovering from a senior class walking out of the door; rather, their story is about progressing with the pieces in place.

Just seven seniors are gone from last season. Coincidentally, 3 of the Falcons’ top-10 point scorers in ‘12-13 were seniors — an inverse of the earlier Bobcats stat. But to be fair, that three did include the two leaders.

Forwards Cole Gunner and Tony Thomas combined for 57 points in the previous campaign. Look for that duo to push the Seawolves’ defense.

Defensemen Adam McKenzie has shown he can cause trouble at both ends, tallying eight goals and 12 assists last season.

Another commodity for the Falcons is returning goaltender Jason Torf. He’s not coming off an incredible year, but his numbers were respectable. A 2.36 GAA and 0.918 save percentage suggests the ‘Wolves can get to him, although — like most of the Falcons roster — it all depends on how much he’s progressed.

Regardless of the Falcons’ improvements, they’ll still be a complex test for the Seawolves.

Coach Thomas has stressed the need for veteran leadership this year, and he reaffirmed that by naming seniors Matt Bailey and Brett Cameron captains.

We know Bailey and Cameron will lead the Seawolves — where they’ll be leading them is a different story. It’s a story that begins Friday. And it should be worth the read.

Both games will take place at the Sullivan Arena. The Seawolves take on Quinnipiac Friday at 8:07 p.m. and Air Force Saturday at 8:07 p.m.

Is Michael Jordan the player Michael Jordan thinks he is?

By Thomas McIntyre

sports@thenorthernlight.org

“I don’t think I would lose — other than to Kobe Bryant, because he steals all my moves,” Michael Jordan said.

That’s how Air responded when asked how’d he fair in one-on-one games against Jerry West (seriously?), Elgin Baylor, Julius Erving, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

No one does arrogant better than Mike. But he’s right.

Right?

I think so. But I figured I’d show my work. To confirm Jordan’s place as the head-to-head king, I’ve run a hypothetical one-on-one tournament involving all eight players.

Yes, it’s a slow news week — except for the MLB Playoffs. I meant it’s slow for the popular sports.

Round 1

Michael Jordan (1) def. Jerry West (8) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist foolishly admitted to losing a game of one-on-one to a 49-year-old Jordan last year.

With all due respect, I’m not sure a prime West could step to Kidd-Gilchrist today and get a win.

Advantage goes to Jordan, who will beat up West worse than he did Steve Kerr — look it up.

Kobe Bryant (2) def. Elgin Baylor (7) Laker-on-Laker crime is the best. I could be discrediting the legend here, but Baylor did his damage during the 1960s. He’s a more complete and less athletic Nick Young in 2013.

Baylor scores more on Kobe than Bow Wow did. He will score a point, to be exact.

LeBron James (3) def. Carmelo Anthony (6) You can smooth talk me into Anthony here until I solve the equation Melo is still wracking his brain over: good offense + good “x” = great basketball player.

“Hair? Arm sleeves? Tattoos? Hats?” said a flustered Anthony.

Defense. “X” is defense. James punishes him.

Julius Erving (4) def. Dwyane Wade (5) If anyone is that dude, Erving is that dude. The matchup is interesting, though. Wade has always been more of an opportunistic team defensive player than a lockdown man defender. He’s got too much size and hypnotic skill to overcome against Doc.

Round 2

Jordan (1) def. Erving (4) Erving rattled off an unusual all-time starting lineup while on the soon-to-be cancelled “Fox Sports Live”

earlier this month. He chose to exclude Jordan from the five-man rotation.

If we know anything about Jordan, we can assume he’s watched the clip several thousand times while taking violent cigar rips. As his sociopathic Hall of Fame speech suggests, MJ will probably treat this as a blood feud going forward.

Scratching Sir Michael’s arm was enough to send him into a fit of rage during his playing days. Erving might as well have killed Jordan’s entire family. Mike moves on.

James (3) def. Bryant (2) Not an outcome I would have pegged a couple years ago. James’ best is now better than Kobe’s best. He’s evolved into the player we all hoped he’d be ever since he risked his amateur status by accepting a demure, fully loaded 2003 Hummer H2 in high school.

James will give Bryant hell on defense. Bryant will try all his tricks, hissing and talking trash in Italian.

In the end, James’ dribble drives and post play give him the edge most nights. This is one of those nights.

Final Jordan (1) def. James (3) A matchup so big MTV would resurrect “The Shop” for a one-off episode dedicated to the “Jordan vs. James” debate. That’s the best way I can frame it to establish the significance.

We made it through “Chris Brown vs. Honorable Human Beings” and “Kimmel vs. Kanye” with no “Shop” revival, so this is unchartered territory.

Jordan will hug his children, kiss his wife, and take a few more strides in his favorite pair of oversized jeans.

Then he will go to war. After kicking out of multiple finishers and taking a dozen unprotected chair shots to the head, he will win.

Moments later, he will evaporate. Jordan’s legacy is complete.

And as one last “eff you” to Erving, he’ll leave Doc his majority ownership share of the Charlotte Bobcats.

UAA hockey defeats UBC

By Travis Dowling Contributor

The University of Alaska Anchorage took to the ice against the University of British Columbia at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex- on October 4, 2013. Fans young and old packed the Wells Fargo Sports Complex to cheer on the Seawolves as they battled UBC in an exhibition game.

The Seawolves took the lead early in the first period with a power play goal scored by Austin Coldwell. Assisting on the play was Derek Docken and Bobby Murphy.

The second period, Jessi Hilton from UBC received a game misconduct and

left UAA on the power play. The Seawolves were able to take advantage of the extra attacker with a power play goal scored by Dylan Hubbs, with assists from Zack Rassell and Blake Leask.

The third and final period opened up with the Seawolves leading UBC 2-0.

Midway through the period UBC was able to score a goal from Greg Fraser. Fraser was assisted on the goal by teammates Nick Bounassisi and Matt Wray.

The Seawolves were able to hold onto the victory 2-1. Goalie Michael Matyas in net the whole 60 minutes of the exhibition game stopped 23 shots on goal.

With a packed house, the Wells Fargo Sports Complex was rocking as the UAA hockey team celebrated the victory. There was plenty of excitement in the air as the Seawolf hockey team is ready to heat up the ice for the 2013-14 season.

COMICS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013

10

The Northern Light is a proud member of the ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS. The Northern Light is a weekly UAA publication funded by student fees and advertising sales. The editors and writers of The Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 5,000.

The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy, or parenthood.

The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of UAA or The Northern Light.­­­

LETTERS AND CORRECTIONS POLICY Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@ thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length is 250 words.

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Letters and opinion pieces are subject to editing for grammar, accuracy, length and clarity.

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All corrections are posted online with the original story at www. thenorthernlight.org.

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

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NEWSIES OKLAHOMA! OLIVER! PAL JOEY SHOW BOAT SILK STOCKINGS SOUTH PACIFIC STATE FAIR SWEET CHARITY SWING TIME THE MUSIC MAN TOMMY TOP HAT WEST SIDE STORY

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ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR news2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR features2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR arts2@thenorthernlight.org Jacob Holley-Kline ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR sports2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics@thenorthernlight.org Roz Kirkelie ADVERTISING MANAGER 786-4690 ads@thenorthernlight.org Chelsea Dennis MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE Vacant MULTIMEDIA EDITOR multimedia@thenorthernlight.org Vacant STAFF REPORTERS mmarquis@thenorthernlight.org Megan Marquis gchyde@thenorthernlight.org George Hyde eerickson@thenorthernlight.org Evan Erickson CONTRIBUTORS Travis Dowling John Budnik Evan Dodd Oliver Petraitis Misty Vanlue MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Annie Route

LETTER AND CORRECTION POLICY CORRECTIONS CORRECTIONS On Page 8 of the Sept. 24 issue of the Northern Light we misspelled Alex Troutman’s name in the “Anchorage 48 Hour Film Challenge” article.

On Page 6 of the Oct. 1 issue of the Northern Light we misattributed the book review photo, which was taken by Sabrina Hong.

PEOPLE

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013

11

What’s the most foolish way to spend a Permanent Fund Dividend?

Shilo Nease

Dental Hygiene Freshman

No foolish way to me. Go to the strip club! Make it rain.

Melanie Lee

Daniela Princz

Most foolish way to spend a PFD is to waste it all on shoes and makeup!

The most foolish way to spend your PFD is also the best way: shoes.

Nursing Sophomore

Nursing Freshman

HOTTEST TOPICS QUESTIONS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTS COMPILED BY MOHAGANI ADAMU

If you went to the Professional Clothes Closet, which items would you pick out for an interview?

Joycelyn Weaver

Arlene Smith

Terry Jackson

UAA Staff - Veterans Success Office

The worst way to spend your PFD is to travel to the lower 48 states. Instead you should remain in Alaska where you can foster/improve relations with family and friends.

What are your feelings about the United States government shutdown?

David Clark

Culinary Arts Junior

Undeclared Prospective Student

Undeclared Freshman

If I was going to the professional clothes closet, I would probably pick out a nice pair of slacks and a blazer.

I would pick out a blouse, skirt, matching shoes for my interview. Maybe jewelry to match if they offer it

As in all government operations, it’s all a big power struggle between people with opposing viewpoints.

Demietrius Preston Undeclared

Can’t we all just get along?