JULY 16 - AUGUST 3 2019
A&E
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
EVENTS
PAGE 4
Artist Britt’Nee Brower explores her culture through art.
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
PAGE 8
A student rally exceeds expectations and unites a community.
UAA budget cuts become reality By Jason Herr & Christina Swayney layout@thenorthernlight.org & news2@thenorthernlight.org
The Alaska Legislature met on Wednesday, July 10, for a decision on whether or not to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s vetoes to slash $444 million from the state operating budget, which would take $135 million from the University of Alaska. When the governor’s vetoes were originally announced on June 28, UA President Jim Johnsen commented in a YouTube video that this veto would be a 41% cut to the funding received by the university, and lead to major decisions for UA. The number of votes needed for an override of the veto was 45 out of the 60 members of the Alaska Legislation, or 75%. Twenty-two members were absent from the session, making the decision to override Dunleavy’s vetoes impossible on Wednesday. The special session called by the governor was split between two venues, as legislators appeared in both Juneau and Wasilla. Austin Baird, the com-
munications director of the Alaska House Majority, expressed concern about what is yet to come. “Alaska is on the brink of a self-inflicted economic recession as a result of the $444 million in vetoes. Among the many impacts of the 182 vetoes, the University of Alaska could lose accreditation and be forced to close a campus,” Baird said in a July 10 press release by the Alaska House Majority. An email from Daniel White, the Chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, echoed the sentiment of many Alaskans about these budget cuts. “While the governor’s cuts have been referred to by some as ‘belt tightening’ or a ‘haircut,’ they are not. If not overridden, these cuts will result in significant change at the university. Alaskans deserve access to postsecondary education, and they deserve this opportunity here in Alaska,” White said. Wednesday’s vote by the legislator’s meeting in Juneau was 37-1 in favor of an override. The session recessed until Thursday at 10:30 a.m. to give absent legislators a chance to appear in Juneau. Without the needed amount of
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
legislators present, a quorum could not be called to make an official decision. Through Friday, July 12, the standoff was maintained as the groups in Juneau and Wasilla did not come together, defeating the chance for legislators to override Dunleavy’s vetoes. The consequences of the cuts can already be seen in the loss of scholarships and grants for thousands of Alaska’s students. Currently, the Alaska
Commission on Postsecondary Education is “not able to make awards under any of these programs at this time. [They] understand this has created a stressful situation as [students] start preparing for the fall 2019 semester,” according to an official email sent out by Keith Champagne, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. This will affect funding for students who receive grants such as the Alaska Performance Scholarship,
the Alaska Education Grant and the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho, or WWAMI, medical education grant. For updates on these grants, sign up at ACPE. UAA Chancellor Cathy Sandeen was quick to respond to the actions of the Legislature, and addressed the UAA community in a video on social media. “First, I want to thank you for your advocacy and for always being supporters of UAA, our wonderful, wonderful, institution,” Sandeen said. “For now, I think we need to wait until Monday. The Board of Regents will meet and they will be considering some important issues, not the least of which would be the potential declaration of financial exigency.” A declaration of financial exigency allows for UA to immediately make changes to the university system through the discontinuance or down-sizing of current programs due to a lack of funds. In a communication from Johnsen to the UA community, other decisions will include discussions on creating a leaner UA by assigning each university a prorated share
of the budget reduction, eliminating one or more universities and/or community campuses and consolidating the university within a single accreditation with shared courses and services. Despite the cuts, however, fall semester classes will proceed as scheduled and programs in danger of being cut first will be nonacademic programs, including sports, according to Johnsen. Sandeen also spoke of the upcoming decisions, and promised to keep students informed of UAA’s choices. “There are going to be major changes at UAA, there is no doubt about that, but we are going to do that collectively, making decisions with guidance from the president and the Board of Regents,” Sandeen said. “We are going to share information along the way, and we are going to keep students at the center of whatever we do.” The UA Board of Regents will meet on Monday, July 15 to begin making decisions on the future of the UA system. The meeting begins at 1 p.m. in Fairbanks. The live stream can be viewed by the public.
Boosting the signal “The end of the world” leads to the start of a new one. By Jason Herr layout@thenorthernlight.org
KRUA, the student-run radio station at the University of Alaska Anchorage, needs your help. On July 19, KRUA will be hosting a pledge drive event to raise funds to move their signal antenna, a move that will boost their service range and allow for more listeners to partake in their programming. Currently, KRUA is also accepting donations online, and has been utilizing social media to involve the public. “Now, a new horizon is before us: the antenna that transmits the signal for KRUA is being upgraded and raised to a new, more thenorthernlight.org
ideal location. This new transmitter and placement will improve the signal strength, range and power of the KRUA radio signal,” KRUA said on their website. The upgrade is an important one for the radio station, and KRUA needs help to make it happen. “This is the first time an opportunity to improve the KRUA signal has ever come about and it may very well be the final chance we ever have to remedy our signal interference. More than ever, we need your help,” KRUA said in the explanation of their upcoming fundraising event. The fundraiser will include a variety of live-programming from KRUA’s
staff and volunteers. People are encouraged to participate, celebrate and donate to the cause. KRUA is an awardwinning, non-commercial educational radio station based out of UAA, and has been a part of Anchorage’s soundwaves for over three decades. The station has helped to introduce staff, students and public volunteers to the intricacies of working in the radio world. KRUA began as KMPS in 1987. The station acquired a small transmitter from Augie Hebert, founder of Alaska’s first TV station KTVA in 1953. The signal was not very strong, and could only be heard in limited areas of Anchorage, such as Hill-
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PHOTO BY ROBERT GANT
KRUA maintains a remote station in UAA’s Student Union Building.
side or Turnagin. In 1991, KMPS was given approval to move forward with a tower site for the station, designating 88.1 FM as the frequency and creating a home for the new KRUA, according to KRUA’s website. Originally, the station’s signal travelled through phone lines, so it was @tnl_updates
not readily accessible to all listeners. At approximately 5 p.m. on Feb. 14, 1992, the signal began being better received by listeners in Anchorage, and REM’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” of-
ficially placed KRUA on the listener’s map. KRUA management and staff have been working toward an antenna change for several years, but only until recently have had the plan been
SEE KRUA SIGNAL PAGE 2 youtube.com/tnlnews
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NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019
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UAA’s tips to breathing easy By Jason Herr layout@thenorthernlight.org
The University of Alaska Anchorage campus is a smoke-free campus, but what can be done about wildfire smoke? According to Betty Bang, advanced practice registered nurse and family health practitioner with the Student Health and Counseling Center at UAA, there are several resources that students, staff and faculty can use to assess smoke levels. One resource is the UAF Smoke website, maintained through the Geophysical Institute located at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The site provides animated images of black carbon and particulate patterns that the viewer can interact with to gauge particulate levels throughout the state, as well as view future forecasts of the patterns. “Black carbon is a short-lived climate pollutant with a lifetime of only days to weeks after release in the atmosphere,” according to the Climate & Clean Air Coalition website. “During this short period of time, black carbon can have significant direct and indirect impacts on the climate, glacial regions, agriculture and human health.” Black carbon, often called soot, is formed when fossil fuels, wood and other fuels do not fully combust. One contributor
to black carbon in the air is forest fires. Another source of information on smoke safety is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. The CDC offers several tips and precautions to take during times of heavy wildfire smoke:
within their reach. Through communications and talks with Alaska Communications, or ACS, KRUA has been able to
Stay cool. Use indoor fans to circulate air within the room or dwelling, as open windows and some ventilation systems will allow more smoke to enter your space.
Keep smoke outside and do this by setting up a “clean room” closed off from the outside air. Any windows need to be closed, and ventilation systems need to be turned off. An air filter can help with keeping the air in the room clean. Avoid activities that create smoke or other particles indoors. These activities include: smoking, burning incense or candles, frying or broiling food and vacuuming, unless your vacuum has a High Efficiency Particulate Air, or HEPA, filter. Reduce your smoke exposure by wearing a respirator. Pets and other animals can be affected by wildfire smoke too. Keep pets indoors as much as possible and limit their outdoor activities. Keep track of fires through local news media sources or organizations like AirNow.gov.
Maintaining a “clean room” can be difficult to achieve because during the hot weather conditions that Anchorage has experienced in recent weeks, people tend to open windows, letting the smoke in. However, the solution to cooler temperatures inside is an easy fix, Bang says. “Close the curtains,” she said. An open window may seem to be the quickest way to a cooler room, but closing curtains can prevent the sun from heating a space like a greenhouse. Bang also suggests using inside fans to help with countering the heat. Smoke is an irritant to most, but can also be dangerous to younger individuals and the elderly, as well as individuals with respiratory constraints. Another consideration is to limit physical activities, such as jogging or biking, during smoky conditions. These activities exert the respiratory system, in addition to the introduction of smoke and air particulates while participating in the activity. Exercise is better completed indoors. This also stands for people who walk or bike to school, as their time outside might need to
work with ACS on making improvements to the signal. “Currently, ACS operates the tower, and they have been charging us a commercial fee for this free spot,” Dylan Blankenship, KRUA’s current station manager, said. “I’ve worked at KRUA for five years, and became station manager in February, so I’ve made it my mission to push
this [upgrading the antenna] through.” With cuts to the UA system and public broadcasting, this move is an urgent and necessary one to keep KRUA in the ears of Anchorage listeners. The event will also be the last for Blankenship, as he relinquishes the reins of the station to his staff. Blankenship plans to move to Germany to complete his master’s degree in education, but remains hopeful for the station’s future. “I did not think I would be
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KRUA Signal: Continued from cover
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PHOTO BY JASON HERR
On July 2, a wildfire occurred in midtown Anchorage.
be limited based on air quality, according to Bang. Moving around UAA is made easier for students to remain indoors as they work their way from one end of campus to another, as most buildings are connected by skybridges. Students who are unsure of their respiratory health can go to the Student Health and Counseling Center in rooms 116/120
of Rasmuson Hall, where health professionals can help to explore needs and concerns for combatting the smoke. More localized information can be found on the Municipality of Anchorage’s Air Quality Index website, as well as the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Air Quality website.
successful [in moving the antenna], and every station manager has tried to do this. I’m not bragging, I’m on the shoulders of giants and I got lucky, but finally [ACS] agreed ‘yes, because you pay a commercial price we can put you in a commercial spot,’” Blankenship said. The cost for the antenna upgrades is not a small one. KRUA does not have an official estimate at this time, but will need help to accomplish the goal. “It’s a lot of money,” Blankenship said.
KRUA’s funding comes in the form of student media fees and securing advertisements to play on-air. With a stronger signal and increase of access to listeners, businesses and organizations will be more open to placing ads with KRUA. “We’re really hoping to get through, because with these trying times ahead, we want to be able to be self-sufficient,” Blankenship said. KRUA may have begun with “The End of the World,” but it is on the brink of a new one.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019
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UAA | University Art Analysis
The lasting legacy of the Kimura family
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
By Robert Gant features@thenorthernlight.org
Nearly every student at UAA has been impacted by the Kimura family. The Kimura Gallery is located on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building. The gallery was named in part for Isamu “Sam” Kimura, a photographer and professor of art at UAA who died of cancer shortly after its dedication. Joan Kimura, a commercial artist and wife of Sam Kimura, shares the dedication with him. The gallery is a resource for art students and Anchorage residents to research and experience contemporary art. Students may have the privilege of working an internship within the gallery. The bachelor of fine arts program also exhibits final thesis art in the Kimura Gallery. “The program has helped me to consider my work as an artist as more than just a purveyor of pretty things, but as a person who can talk to people visually and influence change,” Kiara
Kaitchuck, former fine arts student who displayed her thesis in the Kimura Gallery, said. The reach of the Kimura family does not end with the Kimura Gallery, however. Yusabaro “Bill” Kimura, Sam Kimura’s brother, created the multipurpose fountain-statue located near the central entrance to UAA. “Balancing Arcs” was commissioned for $25,000 under the Alaska Art in Public Places Program. The stainless-steel, geometric sculpture was originally designed to be a fountain in the university cafeteria, but was moved to another location without the functionality of a fountain after a toddler fell in the basin. However, the fountain functionality has recently been restored when the hazardous basin was replaced by a concrete base. The official spelling of the statue’s name is disputed among official documentation, but the prevailing spelling is “Balancing Arcs.” The Smithsonian Institution Research System art inventory includes various other titles and spellings of “Balanc-
ing Arcs” given by UAA students and staff alike, including “Balanced Arch,” “Little Guy Doing Squats” and “That Fountain Thing.” More recently, “Balancing Arcs” has been given the name “Happy Man.” “Balancing Arcs” is notable beyond its varying nomenclature for being used in promotional photography for the university. The fountain is iconic enough that it was the victim of a “yarn bomb” in 2012. A yarn bomb is the act of knitting coverings for public objects as a form of harmless graffiti, usually in an attempt to make a statement or bring attention to the object. “We picked that [statue] because it is formally very strong, it has got the little paired arch of the legs and the upraised arch of the arms and the head,” Keren Lowell, describing her yarn bombing in an interview with Alaska Public Media, said. Yusuke “Harry” Kimura, father to Sam and Bill Kimura, left Nagasaki Japan at 13 years old to travel the world and study cooking. Harry Kimura became a cook for the U.S. Navy ship the USS Albany in his early 20s. Harry wrote home to Japan in hopes of marrying a particular woman, but the family sent Katsuyo Yamasaki in her sister’s stead because her sister had already married. The couple married in Seattle’s Buddhist temple and moved to Anchorage soon after. The Kimura family grew with the addition of five children and together, they ran the family businesses H&K Hand Laundry and the Chop Suey House restaurant. Their lives were not free of hardship or poverty prior, but when World War II started, the Kimura family lost everything. Harry Kimura was the
first to be placed in an internment camp because he was not a natural-born citizen. Yoshito “George” Kimura, another of Harry Kimura’s sons, was in basic military training while his father was imprisoned by that same military. Their belongings were confiscated by the government, and eventually, the entire Kimura family was forcefully relocated. The Kimuras still were strong members of the Anchorage community in the face of internment. They continued running their businesses until they were forcibly removed. The Kimuras ran an advertisement in the Anchorage Daily Times pleading to stay within their community. “We are all 100% Americans,” the advertisement said. “We all rise and once more pledge allegiance to Our Flag and to the Country for which it stands.” As they were being escorted to internment, the Kimuras told the Anchorage Daily Times to thank “people of Anchorage for their long and faithful patronage and for their kindness and sympathy in these trying times.” Internment was abolished, and the Kimuras returned to Anchorage penniless and weary. The Kimuras pushed through their oppression to give back to the community with service, art and education. H&K Hand Laundry was renamed Snow White Laundry and Cleaners and it became the largest fullservice laundromat in Anchorage at the time, according to alaskahistory.org. Katsuyo Kimura was given a medal from the Emperor of Japan for her kindness as an unpaid goodwill ambassador to Asian visitors to Alaska. Sam Kimura studied in New York to
The advertisement placed by the Kimura family in the Anchorage Daily Times, on Dec. 8, 1941.
become a photographer and art professor in Anchorage. William Kimura taught art wherever he found people with a desire to learn. Audiences ranged from local high schools to the air force base. Today, the Kimura family is buried together in Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery. They can be remembered for their efforts to restore balance to Anchorage in the face of tragedy, giving back to a community that feared them. Have you seen art at UAA you want to know more about? Contact Robert Gant at features@thenorthernlight.org.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE KIMURA FAMILY FROM THE LEGENDS & LEGACIES PROJECT.
The Kimura family delivered laundry from Snow White Laundry & Cleaners.
From top, left to right: Sam Kimura, William Kimura, Louise Kimura, George Kimura.
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019
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Connecting Inupiat culture with today By Christina Swayney news2@thenorthernlight.org
There is a new art installation at UAA’s Hugh McPeck Gallery that is Inupiat inspired titled “Simple. Modern. Traditional,” which describes what artist Britt’Nee Brower hopes to achieve through the exhibition. Brower is a 29-year-old Alaska Native artist who grew up in Utqiagvik, formerly called Barrow. She is a supporter of preserving Alaska Native culture and language in this modern age, and hopes to translate that to a wider audience through art. “Brower is a strong proponent of Inupiat values and their relevance in our modern age. She advocates the revitalization of the language, art, storytelling and tattoo traditions of her Inupiat people and brings this passion to her artwork,” according to her website. The gallery installation features works that are colorful and reflect Brower’s cultural identity in this modern age. It also features a variety of works, including some made on canvas, three dimensional wire sculp-
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SWAYNEY
“Looking for my Native Identity” by Britt’Nee Brower is displayed in the Hugh McPeck Gallery.
tures, masks and sculptures. One of her works, “Looking for my Native Identity,” shows that
she feels there is a disconnect between her and her Inupiat culture.
“This is my shadow-box self portrait. I am looking for my Native identity. I feel disconnected
because I don’t have the skills to live a subsistence lifestyle. I feel disconnected because I can’t speak fluently in our Native tongue,” according to the plaque on her piece. Spirit Snow Angasan is a young, Alaskan Native and recently viewed Brower’s artwork. She connects especially with “Looking for my Native Identity.” “I wish I was more in tune with my culture and heritage. I used to dance the traditional dances. I used to sing traditional songs. It seems like those things and younger people are not as connected as they should be,” Angasan said. Along with her artwork, Brower is also known for creating a coloring book called Inupiat Coloring Book: Names of Animals. The book features pictures of animals with Inupiaq words under them, as well as the English translation. The book has been distributed throughout the U.S. and New Zealand and was released in 2018. “Simple. Modern. Traditional” runs June 24-July 24 and is open Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.5 p.m.
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS SCREENSHOT BY JOHN NOVOTNY
Garrus Vakarian is a Turrian who is fed up with the rules and regulations of C-Sec.
Hitbox Retrospective: Mass Effect 2 By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org
After almost 10 years, Mass Effect 2’s combat is dated. Thankfully, its writing isn’t. The purpose of this retrospective is to determine if Mass Effect 2’s gameplay holds up in 2019. Video games are a rapidly advancing medium. The graphical fidelity of games that were released just five years ago may appear to be many years older than they are compared to more recent games. Gameplay mechanics and controls also change. Before the Sony PlayStation DualShock controller for the PlayStation 1 in 1997, controllers didn’t have dual analog sticks. So, is Mass Effect 2’s gameplay dated? If so, in what ways? Mass Effect 2 was released on Jan. 26, 2010 for Xbox 360 and PC and on Jan. 18, 2011 for PlayStation 3. It was developed by
BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. Mass Effect 2 is the second installment in the Mass Effect trilogy. It is a third-person, cover-based, shooter, role-playing game set in a science-fiction universe. It features numerous alien races such as the Turians and Asari. In the Mass Effect series, players make in-depth character dialogue choices which can have repercussions down the line in the game. In the game, the player takes control of Commander Shepard, who saved the galaxy from a mass extinction event with the help of their ship’s crew and squad members. Shepard is presumed dead. However, an organization known as Cerberus spent two years and a virtually limitless amount of money to rebuild and revive Shepard. Mass Effect’s stars of the show are Shepard’s well-realized squad members. Shepard is the player’s vehicle to be driven
around the world of Mass Effect and allows them to place themselves in the universe and observe how it reacts to their actions. I first played Mass Effect 2 on release in 2010 on Xbox 360. I have fond memories of rich, backstory-filled conversations with squad members. I thought some of the characters were the coolest I had ever seen in a game. Namely Garrus Vakarian, an ex C-Sec officer, which is basically a space cop turned vigilante. Mass Effect solidified my love of military science-fiction. The extensive history of the Mass Effect universe provided me with many hours of entertainment. When I set out to play Mass Effect 2 this month, the main questions I had were, “does Mass Effect 2 hold up to what I remember it being at its launch? Do the visuals and combat hold up after nine years of advancements in game design?” The first thing I noticed
when I started the game was the striking visual composition of the opening cutscene. The player sees the Illusive Man and Miranda Lawson, the Illusive Man’s daughter who becomes a squad member, talking in a room with a literal star just outside a window covering an entire wall. All the scenes of the Illusive Man take place here. Often, the Illusive Man will be sitting in a chair smoking a cigar and is silhouetted by the star behind him. This creates a very imposing and powerful impression on the player. The voice acting is bolstered by several talented actors such as Martin Sheen (Illusive Man), Keith David (Admiral David Anderson), Seth Green (Joker), Yvonne Strahovski (Miranda Lawson) and Carrie-Anne Moss (Aria T’Loak). These actors and more bring a presence and life to the characters that makes them feel more realistic.
The characters’ faces can appear stiff in conversations at times. Their mouths may move in a half-convincing way, but their other facial muscles remain locked in place. While it isn’t a huge problem, it really highlights how far face animation technology has come in nine years. Unfortunately, the second thing I noticed when replaying Mass Effect 2 was that there was no official controller support on PC. The mouse sensitivity was also way too high, even on the lowest setting. There are ways to work around some of these issues, such as player-created mods. However, they require a little effort to install and can cause their own problems, such as crashing the game. The game’s combat is also dated. The camera will bob up and down when the player sprints to simulate how running would look in real life. Not only does this make absolutely no sense in a thirdperson game, it could also cause some players to ex-
perience motion sickness. Moving in and between cover can feel clunky at times, like the player is glued to the wall, and takes a decent amount of effort to break free from. In addition, it feels like the player can only move around in cover when the camera is facing the cover at a 90-degree angle. This is sometimes problematic when the player is checking their surroundings, only to find an enemy flanking them and can’t move. Despite a few dated features, the sound effects for the weapons are great. The M-6 Carnifex pistol has a nice, heftysounding impact to it. The M-8 Avenger assault rifle sounds and feels like a mini machine gun. The M-92 Mantis sniper rifle leaves a lasting impression. The initial “thud” is followed by a short echo effect. Together, it sounds like the bullet is ripping a hole in the fabric of space and time. I am happy to report that overall, Mass Effect 2 is still worth playing, even after almost 10 years. Thanks to the well-written characters and distinctive visuals, Mass Effect 2 mostly stands the test of time. This is no small feat in the rapid world of game design. While the combat can feel clunky at times, the sound design makes the guns feel impactful. Mass Effect 2 remains a good choice for those wanting to explore a rich science-fiction universe and do a little shooting along the way.
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019
Runners compete in smokiest Mount Marathon race ever By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org
For the 92nd year, hundreds of athletes flocked to Seward, Alaska on July 4 to scramble up and down the 3,022 foot peak of Mount Marathon. The event takes place annually with a men’s, women’s, junior boy’s and junior girl’s race. However, due to this year’s weather conditions of unusually hot temperatures and wildfire smoke, the junior races were canceled as a precaution. Despite the youth cancellation, adult racers from all over the state and country still raced up and down the mountain. UAA student Annie Connelly participated in the event for the 13th time. This was her fourth time racing in the women’s race, after previously running nine times in the youth race. “My youngest brother also races; it’s been a family thing for years. I was raised in the mountain running community and was excited to start racing when I hit the age. Mount Marathon holds a very special place in my heart though,” Connelly said. “I was pretty shy and reserved for a long time and didn’t have a lot of confidence, not in sports or social situations or school. But when I was 15, I de-
cided to really go for it, and that resulted in a fifthplace finish in the junior girl’s race.” It was after her top-10 finish when Connelly realized she could do really well in the running community. She explained that she runs the mountain until the point of collapsing. “You develop an incredible connection to your body,” Connelly said. Connelly wasn’t fazed at all by the poor conditions at this year’s competition. “This year’s race was interesting for sure. I love being on the mountain, but the road always bites me in the butt, so that’s frustrating. Not frustrating because I can’t do it, it’s frustrating because I know I can do better but didn’t do enough work on it. But the downhill was loads of fun,” Connelly said. Connelly placed 11th, with a time of 1:01.16. Anchorage local and University of Washington student Abby Jahn was only ten seconds ahead of Connelly, finishing in 1:01.06 at eighth place. Similar to Connelly, Jahn has previously raced up and down the mountain a number of times. “This was my eighth year running the women’s race. I have also run the junior race twice. I remember signing up as
a high schooler because a few of my cross-country teammates also ran the race. It seemed like such a fun event,” Jahn said. “I wanted to get involved and I’m still here. Every year is different, the mountain, the weather and the people.” However, Jahn struggled quite a bit this year with the heat and smoke. She explained that it was not her best effort or time. Despite that, she still enjoyed racing. Third place finisher Julianne Dickerson, (54:03), found that training intensely in the heat during the weeks leading up to the race made it a lot easier to compete. “Last year, I really struggled with the heat, but I think having a couple of hot training weeks leading up to the [race] this year really helped. Lots and lots and lots of hiking. I hike at least twice a week year-round. Training with others helps too, to stay motivated. I try to make training the way I socialize and connect with friends. It helps me really look forward to training,” Dickerson said. However, Dickerson explained that there is much more to training than just getting out and doing it. “The biggest thing is to stay consistent, be patient and progress gradually.
That’s how you get long term results and avoid injuries. Your body is capable of adapting to a lot given adequate time,” Dickerson said. “It’s also important to support that training with good nutrition, hydration, sleep and mobility.” Although this was only Dickerson’s fifth year racing, she had ample experience and knowledge on how to do well. On the men’s side, fifthplace finisher Erik Johnson has the advantage of living near the mountain. “I live in Seward, so I go up the mountain two to three times a week starting in mid-May. I do tempo and intervals on my trips up to try to build my ability to climb faster, then all the times descending the mountain make me a better descender based on familiarity,” Johnson said. During the uphill, Johnson made it to the top at 13th, but by the time he got passed the descent, he had moved up to fifth, which he finished at. In addition to running it on his own often, this is Johnson’s eighth time racing Mount Marathon, with six of his eight finishes being in the top-8. For full results, visit www.mmr.seward.com.
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OPINION
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019
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The three main arguments for Gov. Dunleavy’s UA veto — and their responses
By Robert Hockema opinion@thenorthernlight.org
Last week, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced his final vetoes to the budget passed by the Legislature. There are dozens of cuts to lament, most of which affect poor and marginalized communities the most. What I’d like to focus on is the $130 million veto to University of Alaska funding. Since the veto, a handful of protests have been organized across the state. Save Our State’s rally at the Legislature Information Office in Anchorage brought together stories from past and present UA students, all of which made a passionate case for the university system as a source of enrichment and innovation. Others have poured their heart out over social media to tell their stories of what the cut would mean to them and their families. As I’ve written before, I concur deeply with these testimonies. I believe that the backbone
of a strong and healthy civic society and economy is a powerful university system. However, instead of making a forward case for university funding as I have before, I’d like to address three of the most mainstream — and misguided — arguments defending the crippling cuts to the UA system. The first argument is the most difficult because it’s partially true, but at the same time misleading: “UAA and UAF waste tons of money on useless stuff like sky bridges. Budget cuts will force them to reprioritize their spending!” • UAA and UAF do waste a lot of money. It’s hard to justify many of their expenditures. However, most complain about spending without knowing where the source actually comes from. Housing renovations, appliances, modifications to campus, concerts and many other initiatives often come from department revenue or student fees. At UAA, for instance, the most recent spending complaint is over the $100 million
Alaska Airlines Center building... which was mostly paid for by Alaska Airlines, not UAA itself. Likewise, renovations to the Mac Apartments, Residence Halls and Commons cafeteria came primarily from the Housing Department budget, not the general fund. This isn’t to suggest money is never spent unwisely, but it’s important to put into perspective constant exaggerations of university expenditures. Not everything done at the university is paid for by public tax dollars. • There’s a difference between methodical, coordinated cuts to help wean a university system off of state funding versus a death blow to the entire institution itself. For context, the budget for UAA alone is $120 million — compared to a $130 million cut. Assuming UA consolidates programs, cuts major departments and extracurricular funding and lays off thousands of employees, it still won’t be enough. Even if we buy the argument that UAA and UAF are grossly irresponsible with their finances, dismantling funding entirely only punishes students and faculty. Reformed spending comes from internal discussions and community input, not a forced crisis imposed by the governor. The next argument appeals to many but falls short of addressing the concerns of a cut of such magnitude: “Administrators and faculty get paid WAY too much. How much does UA President Jim Johnsen make, anyways? If we stop overpaying the fat cats in admin, the cut will be much more manageable.” • Though high salaries look unfair to the rest of us, well-run universities require top talent. If UAA and UAF are to compete with lower-48 schools, administrative wages must be competitive. The alternative is sub-par administrators dragging the system and making it less attractive
and thus less operable. • Fun fact: most of the top executive salaries at UAA are actually a bit below the national average for public college leaders. • The highest paid salary is UA President Jim Johnsen’s, which is around $340,000. Cutting his and a few others’ salaries won’t even come close to making up the cut UAA faces. The third and final argument centers around an appeal to fairness and fiscal conservatism: “Everyone will take a hit in order to fill the budget deficit. The university system isn’t special. These cuts are necessary for the survival of the state.” There’s just one problem: cutting the university budget will make the fiscal crisis worse. How so? • Research shows that universities contribute huge dollars in economic productivity, mostly in the form of convincing graduates to plant roots in the place where they went to college. As it turns out, training the next generation to lead, innovate and contribute to their communities requires institutions that foster opportunity. The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation estimates the University of Alaska system provided $714 million directly and $402 million indirectly to the statewide economy, according to 2012 numbers. • Local businesses rely on local talent. Where do people acquire that talent? The institutions that teach them the skills to be employable in the first place. On top of the thousands of layoffs that will happen at UAA alone, fewer people will be able to afford UAA and UAF and thus fewer people will be entering the job market. We’re looking at a potential labor shortage combined with a spike in unemployment, which could build the precipice for a recession. • Speaking of labor short-
ages, major positions in nursing are badly in need of being filled. Health care inefficiencies cost the state exorbitant amounts of money in the long term. • Most importantly, the university keeps A LOT of people in the state. Even if you didn’t go to school for a degree there or aren’t directly benefiting from instruction, programs and initiatives developed by UAA and UAF are used to partner with nonprofits, governmental agencies and educational organizations all around the state. Once those go away, so do the programs, and eventually, so do the people. We all knew UA would take a hit. We definitely know there’s improvements to be made regarding financial efficiency and organizational structure. But you can’t have both a state that is prosperous and a meager university system. They are mutually exclusive. For those who think we can just halve every executive salary and scrap together a couple programs to cut, you have underestimated the magnitude that these cuts will truly have. Campuses, departments, programs and essential services crucial to basic functionality will shut down. People will leave. And when they do, they will take their potential with them. Going forward, the first step to overriding the veto is defeating its rhetorical thrust. The best way to do that is to bring down the force that is driving its power: misleading rhetoric designed to turn the state’s citizens against the university system. To fight back, engage with these arguments when you see them on social media or at the dinner table. Speak from your positive experiences at UA. Exercise the critical thinking and research skills you’ve learned. Crush the misinformation being used to wither away at the single most important state-funded institution Alaska has.
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EVENTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019
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Save Our State Rally unites Alaskans at UAA By Jason Herr & Christina Swayney layout@thenorthernlight.org & news2@thenorthernlight.org
What was going to be a University of Alaska student rally at the UAA Bookstore on July 9 became a much bigger gathering that united a much larger group of Alaskans. From the stage, Alex Jorgensen, the speaker of the assembly for the Union of Students at UAA, or USUAA, stood before more than 1,000 people. “This started out as a rally of maybe like 100 people with backing up a pickup truck outside of the Student Union,” Jorgensen said to the crowd. “But we are in front of a truck, so I feel like we’re not too far off from where we started, but a whole hell of a lot more people.” Originally scheduled to occur at the Student Union, the event was moved to UAA’s Alaska Airlines Center parking lot to accommodate the larger crowd. Individuals of various organizations and businesses were represented at booths and through the signs held by those who gathered. Trevor Storrs, President and CEO of Alaska Children’s Trust, reached out to Jorgensen and USUAA to expand the event. Through collaboration, the event gained the support of 50 other organizations. A full list of organizations involved can be found on the event listing on Facebook. The rally featured a variety of speakers from throughout the state, including UA President Jim Johnsen, the Salmon Sisters, known for their clothing and commercial fishing business in
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SWAYNEY
UAA students took part in the “Save Our State” rally to override Gov. Dunleavy’s budget cut vetoes.
rural Alaska and performances from Portugal. The Man, a local band originally from Wasilla, Alaska. Each spoke of why Alaska is at risk because of the 182 vetoes placed upon the budget by Alaska Gov. Michael Dunleavy. The crowd united in chants, ranging from “save our state” to a “knock-knock” themed chant, where concerned Alaskans were at the door. The chants were led by Jorgensen and Storrs. Tables were set out with markers and other art supplies for participants to create their own placards to hold during the event, creating a sea of messages in the crowd. Large “UA Strong” signs were also set at points throughout the event space. Some statements went beyond the placards and signs,
as the statue located in front of the Alaska Airlines Center was wrapped in black material, with the phrase “#ripAKarts” posted on the display. Maria Williams, a professor of Alaska Native studies at the University of Alaska, looked out upon the crowd and offered a recognition to Alaska Native cultures, as UAA is on indigenous land. Speaking for the University of Alaska system, Johnsen addressed the crowd with a wellreceived statement. “We are Alaskans and we are strong,” Johnsen said. Johnsen reminded the crowd that Alaskans are resilient and that throughout the state are able to rise to any challenge. “How do Alaskans, who are strong, deal with challenges?”
Johnsen said. “Up in the interior where I live, when it’s 40 below and the icefog is really thick, and a car is pulled over on the side, do we drive by? In the village when there is salmon, does an elder go hungry? And when our budgets are getting whacked, do we just stand by and let that happen?” To each question posed by Johnsen, the crowd responded with a resounding call of “no.” Johnsen then shared the news that the Alaska Performance Scholarship and the Alaska Education Grant were part of the “whacks” made by legislators. “There are 12,000 University of Alaska students — 12,000 — not 48. Twelve thousand University of Alaska students who have been receiving those scholarships. That money is not there
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SWAYNEY
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALASKA CHILDREN’S TRUST FACEBOOK PAGE
Hosts Alex Jorgensen and Trevor Storrs take a selfie from the stage.
PHOTO BY JASON HERR
Participants were encouraged to design their own placards.
right now folks,” Johnsen said. Other guest speakers at the rally included Hayley Cavitt of the Seawolf Debate team, Polly Andrews, a storyteller, mother and traditional dancer from Chevak, Alaska, Dash Togi of Covenant House Alaska, Lisa Aquino of Catholic Social Services and Vic Fischer, the last surviving founder of Alaska’s constitution. Student reactions to the rally showed both fears over the possible consequences of the UA budget cuts, and hope for an override to the vetoes. “I’m afraid that my degree is going to get cut and I’m afraid that we are going to lose funding. The main reason people come here or stay here is school,” Camille, an environmental science major at UAA, said. Others were moved by the size of the rally, and in the gathering, found new hope. “Very, very assuring to see so many people here,” Michael, a theatre major at UAA, said. The feelings transcended the student population of UAA, as others found the rally inspiring. “I’m glad that people are finally getting together and doing more than shaking their fists in the air,” Nicholas, an aspiring political activist and rally participant, said. Legislators will meet on July 10 to override or accept Dunleavy’s vetoes. 45 votes out of 60 members are needed for the override. The budget decision is on Alaska’s doorstep, and with it came the cries of the crowd at the rally to override the vetoes. “Knock, knock. Who’s there? Concerned Alaskans, everywhere,” the audience chanted.
The rally, viewed from the mezzanine of the Alaska Airlines Center, grew as the event continued.
PHOTO BY JASON HERR
Though there were a variety of causes, people united for one purpose.
PHOTO BY JASON HERR
One way to communicate with legislators was through a text campaign.