July 2, 2019

JULY 2 - JULY 15, 2019

NEWS

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

SPORTS

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The University Center offices are coming back to campus

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

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Allisa Pili shares a history of athletics and success.

#UADevastated but #UAStrong: Gov. Dunleavy’s operating budget cuts $135 million from the UA system

By Caleigh Jensen, Mary Ryan & Jason Herr editor@thenorthernlight.org

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced his signed operating budget at a press conference in Juneau the morning of Friday, June 28, just three days before the start of fiscal year 2020. The budget proposes cuts totaling around $400 million in addition to the $280 million already proposed by the Alaska State Legislature, totaling $680 million in reductions. ‌ Dunleavy’s budget includes 182 vetoed lines out of the Legislature’s operating budget, according to Donna Arduin, head of the state Office of Management and Budget. The biggest veto is aimed at the University of Alaska system, primarily targeting both the University of Alaska Anchorage and Fairbanks. The universities face cuts of over $130 million on top of the $5 million already approved by the Legislature. As for UA’s community campuses, such as the University of Alaska Southeast, all funding will remain intact. ‌ The combined reductions total nearly 41% of the support provided by the state of Alaska annually, resembling Dunleavy’s budget for UA that he proposed in February, which suggested state support cuts of $155 million. ‌ Although Dunleavy’s veto is substantial, he views the cuts as a necessary step towards balancing Alaska’s budget.‌ “I don’t think [the University of Alaska] can be all things for all people and I think that’s, generally speaking, the state of Alaska,” Dunleavy said during Friday’s press conference. “We can’t continue to be all things for all people. We don’t have the

PHOTO COURTESY OF WORDPRESS

Gov. Mike Dunleavey announced critical budget decisions in a press conference on June 28.

money to do that.”‌ Other services that will take a significant hit by Dunleavy’s item-line vetoes are Medicaid ($50 million), the School Bond Debt Reimbursement ($49 million) and the Senior Benefits Program ($21 million), according to the Items of Significant Interest document.‌ In the press conference, Dunleavy acknowledged the great impact that his operating budget will have on the University of Alaska system and Alaskan education as a whole, but also expressed confidence in UA’s ability to handle the situation wisely.‌ “This budget is going to impact all of Alaskans. The University of Alaska, I have a lot of faith in,” Dunleavy said. “[They are] resilient… I’d say give them a chance. I believe that they’re going to be able to work through this.”‌

UA officials were shocked by Dunleavy’s decision.‌ “The governor exercised his veto today and took us all the way back to February 14, to a $134 million or 41% cut to the university’s budget. It’s devastating, there’s no question about it,” UA President Jim Johnsen said in a video by University of Alaska on YouTube.‌ In response to the cuts, Johnsen announced immediate action from the UA system, including freezes on hiring and travelling and sending notices to all UA employees for furlough.‌ According to Johnsen, there are two possible outcomes for the legislative decision on the veto, one where the veto is overrode by the Legislature, and another in which the University of Alaska will experience the immense 41% cut to the UA budget.‌

“If we’re not successful with the override, then the Board will be asked to declare financial exigency and also our plan for what programs, what units, what campuses across the University of Alaska system will need to be reduced or discontinued or closed,” Johnsen said.‌ Although the veto to the University of Alaska funding is significant, UAA Chancellor Cathy Sandeen remained positive in her YouTube-video response to the operating budget.‌ “We are focused on what we can do to maintain our programs, continue to serve our students, while also looking at where we can cut,” Sandeen said.‌ Sandeen is not willing to accept this loss without a fight.

In her responsorial video, she urged viewers to take action as Johnsen did.‌ “UAA is a special institution.

We do so much for the community [and] for our students, and I want to do everything I can to continue that good work,” Sandeen said. “I just want to assure you that we are working diligently toward an override for this veto. It is possible that that can happen, and we need your help to advocate for that.”‌ Under Alaska’s state constitution, legislators have the power to override a governor’s veto.

In order to do so, three-fourths of the members of the Legislature, in this case 45 of 60, must agree to the override. An agreement must be made by the “fifth day of a special session of that Legislature, if one is called,” according to Article II, Section 16.‌ Anyone who wishes to contribute to an override may contact their state legislators and express how the cuts would affect them and the UA community. To obtain contact information for representatives and senators in Alaska, visit The Alaska State Legislature website, scroll to the bottom of the page, enter a full address in the “Who Represents Me?” box and click on the individual’s name for phone and email contact information. ‌ Fighting for and maintaining the UA system is integral to Alaska’s future, Johnsen says.‌ “There is no strong state without a strong university. There is no strong economy in the country or the world without a strong higher education system, and all of that is endangered by this decision, so please raise your voice, make your views known to your legislators, that’s the only step we have at this point,” Johnsen said.‌ He encourages the university to press on.‌ “We are UA strong,” Johnsen said.‌

Three new recruits to the Seawolf men’s basketball team for the 2019-2020 season

By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF KDN SPORTS

Nathan Fromm, a star athlete from Service High School, will be joining the Seawolf Basketball team.

thenorthernlight.org

In the peak recruiting season for men’s basketball, head coach Rusty Osborne signed on three new Seawolves-to-be, including former Service High School’s star player and junior-college transfer, Nathan Fromm. In addition, Osborne had already secured two other junior-college transfers for the 2019-2020 season.‌ Fromm graduated from Service High School in 2017 and immediately continued his basketball career at both West-

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ern Wyoming Community College, or WWCC, and New Mexico Junior College, for one season each.‌ “I believe I have gained a lot of experience. Playing in junior college, I was playing against a lot of talented players.

I learned to look at the game differently and play at a different pace,” Fromm said.‌ At WWCC, Fromm average 20.0 points per game and earned a spot on second-team of All-Region Honors. Injured during his second collegiate year, Fromm managed just 9.2 points per game at New Mexico. Despite the slight setback, Osborne is still confident that bringing @tnl_updates

Fromm to UAA will have a significant positive impact.‌ “I have watched Nathan [Fromm] play since sixth grade and have seen him grow into a very talented player through Service High and junior college,” Osborne said.‌ Osborne added that now, Fromm is completely recovered from his injuries and able to play to the best of his ability.‌ “I transferred back to UAA because I wanted to be close to family. I also want-

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NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, JULY 02, 2019

02

University Center: Reconnecting

By Jason Herr

layout@thenorthernlight.org

The University of Alaska Anchorage offices at the University Center Mall are slowly making their way to the main campus, reconnecting students, staff and faculty with the main campus.‌ Located about two miles from the main campus at 3901 Old Seward Highway, the offices house a variety of departments and student services, including Enrollment Services, the WOLFcard offices, Financial Aid Services, the Advising and Testing Center, the Community and Technical College, or CTC, and the Engineering, Science and Project Management department.‌ Though much attention has been focused on the fiscal needs of the University of Alaska and UAA, the benefits of this move go beyond money, and restore stronger connections between students, staff and faculty.‌ At a meeting of the UA Board of Regents Facilities and Land Management Committee on May 30, a recommendation was given to pursue the option of leasing and eventual de-acquisition of the UAA office space within the University Center.‌ The move will relocate the various offices back to the main campus, allowing for money to be saved and for the offices to be closer to students. ‌ Planning is key, and it is important to minimize the impact of the move on students as much as possible, according to Ryan Buchholdt, the director of sustainability for UAA Facilities and Campus Services. ‌ “We want to make it so that students don’t necessarily have to go to 12 different locations to get something done,” Buchholdt said. “One of the values of the student services currently at the University Center is there really is one stop in order to access the services that you need.”‌

PHOTO BY JASON HERR

Located at 3901 Old Seward Highway, the University Center is a one-stop service center for student needs.

Though the University Center is fortunate to currently have space for a one-stop location, finding a similar location will be difficult on campus, according to Buchholdt.‌ “We don’t want to chop them up and move them to different places around campus, and then make it so students have to walk everywhere in order to get the work they need done, and there’s not a lot of options for locations to put all that,” Buchholdt said.‌ Though money and fiscal matters are a concern in a time where the overall budget is uncertain, the benefits of the move go beyond money saved.‌ “One of the big strategic goals is student success, and part of that is ensuring easy access for students to get the services they need,” Buchholdt said.‌ A few offices have already moved to the main campus, and have felt their connections to the campus reforged. This past

spring semester, the office of Denise Renge, the Dean of the Community and Technical College, moved to room 214 in the Social Sciences Building.‌ The move has been integral in reconnecting with the main campus, according to Renge.‌ “It’s huge for us. Even though our name is the Community and Technical College, about half of our students are pursuing a baccalaureate degree in everything from construction management, safety and health, aviation technology and hospitality administration,” Renge said.‌ So far, only the Dean’s office and staff that supports the CTC have moved, but the move has already shown changes in establishing connections. The programs offered by the Community and Technical College will benefit from the proximity to other programs offered at the main campus.‌ “Frankly, our students miss

the connection opportunity. For instance, a lot of our programs just naturally connect with engineering, when our students graduate they are going to be working with engineers every day,” Renge said.‌ Renge is positive about the move, for both her offices and for CTC students.‌ The move back to the main campus is necessary to maintain a relationship with the student population, and access to financial services is a vital piece of promoting student success, according to Lora Volden, the vice chancellor of enrollment services.‌ “We do a ‘we miss you’ survey every semester to find out why our students stop, why aren’t they continuing to work towards that dream of getting a certificate or a degree,” Volden said. “The number one reason, repeatedly, is financial reasons for why they stop out.”‌

Enrollment Services oversees several programs, such as the Office of Admissions, Financial Aid, the Registrar’s Office, Military and Veteran’s Student Support Services, International Student Support Services and National Student Exchange Services. Students will have contact with at least one of these entities during their time at UAA. By moving, these services become more accessible.‌ “I think [moving is] really important. You think about these areas, to me these are core student services. These are ways that most individuals interact with the university,” Volden said.‌ Having the offices off campus, students are sometimes burdened by trips between the two locations.‌ “We see it all the time, students are constantly going back and forth between us and the main campus. We’re almost two miles off of where they are taking classes and where they are doing the rest of their interactions. It’s just not a good way to serve your students,” Volden said.‌ During student orientations, Enrollment Services is represented by a table at Howl Days, as the University Center is too far to be part of the introduction to the university.‌ “I think if we were right there, it gets a little harder for students and for others to forget about us, so we don’t become out of sight out of mind. We become part of that integrated student experience,” Volden said.‌ Volden is excited for the return of her offices to the main campus.‌ “To me, it’s always about the students, and what I love, is that I really believe my staff is all about the students,” Volden said.‌ By removing a distance of two miles, the relocation of the University Center offices brings the campus community much closer.‌

UAA and Anchorage provide resources to help protect women against sexual assault

By Christina Swayney news2@thenorthernlight.org

“More than three out of every 10 adult women in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime,” according to the 2013 Alaska Victimization Survey for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

According to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, or RAINN, effects for victims of sexual assault include: • 94% of women who are raped experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, during the two weeks following the rape.

• 30% of women report symptoms of PTSD nine months after the rape.

• 33% of women who are raped contemplate suicide.

• 13% of women who are raped attempt suicide.

•

Approximately 70% of rape or sexual assault victims experience moderate to severe distress, a larger percentage than for any other violent crime.

Ana Sajinka, a seasonal worker in Anchorage, is from Sofia, Bulgaria. She works nights at a busy downtown restaurant and is wary about going home every night on her bicycle.‌ “I am a woman and of course I feel vulnerable. Leaving work, I feel such urgency to just get home. I am always worried that the next man I encounter outside will be a creep,” Sajinka said.‌ Sajinka says that she takes steps towards being better prepared to protect herself.‌ “I carry pepper spray with me, and if I can, I try to get a ride with a friend or bike with another server from the restaurant,” Sajinka said.‌ There are several resources women can use to protect themselves in Anchorage, including right here at UAA. One resource

is Rape Agression Defense Traing, or R.A.D. ‌ This “basic Personal Defense System is a national program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques taught for women only. All courses are taught by nationally certified R.A.D. Instructors,” according to the UAA University Police Website.‌ This training starts in September. There are two classes per month until November.‌ A second resource UAA provides for women is the Dating Violence Coalition for Change, or DVSA, an organization which aids in preventing violence against women and victim advocacy.‌ Their mission statement is “to coordinate efforts by groups on campus in providing education and training programs promoting awareness and prevention in interpersonal violence and sexual assault.”‌ The UAA website also has an information page for advice and resources concerning sexual assault, provided by the Office of

Student Affairs.‌ There are other options around town for women interested in better protecting themselves, such as the monthly Women’s Self Defense Seminar at Krav Maga Anchorage. ‌ “The seminar covers a select few topics drawn from the open class curriculum across a wide variety of scenarios both inside and outside (vehicles, dark parking lot, etc.) of our training facility” as stated by the Krav Maga Anchorage website.‌ Classes are held every third Sunday of each month from 1-2:30 p.m., costing $35 per person at a flat rate. Participants must be 13 years old or older.‌ Sajinka was once followed home from work and encourages other women to take action to equip themselves with the tools to protect against potential attack.‌ “Anchorage feels like a dangerous place for a woman. I guess the best thing you can do to feel safe is to be street smart and try not to be alone at night.

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF UPD

UPD offers self defense classes.

Pepper spray also helps,” Sajinka said‌ If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, contact DVSA for resources and support.

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, JULY 02, 2019

03

Plaque-to-plaque coverage

By Robert Gant

features@thenorthernlight.org

Many people stroll through the vibrant gardens and winding trails at UAA during the peak of summer. A perceptive passerby may detect plaques spread across campus. Imperceptible at a glance but engraved in the history of UAA, each plaque has a story behind whom or what it was dedicated to.

Who: Joyce Julane Colajezzi Where: On a bench to the right of the “Untitled” statue outside of the UAA Bookstore.

Why: Colajezzi served the UAA community for over 30 years as Interim Director of the Bookstore and Business Services and Director of Business. Colajezzi advocated for lower textbook prices for students during her time at UAA, as shown through numerous articles from 2004 to 2010 in The Northern Light. Colajezzi is now retired.

Who: Lucy Hon Cuddy Where: On the wall outside of the right entrance to the Daily Grind in the Lucy Cuddy Hall.

Why: Lucy Cuddy Hall was named after Lucy Hon Cuddy as a thanks for her philanthropy and service during her membership on UA’s Board of Regents.

Cuddy was also chairwoman of the First National Bank of Anchorage. Cuddy lived nearly a century and passed away at 92. She volunteered with the American Red Cross during World War I and II. Cuddy has been inducted into the Alaska Press Club’s 49er Hall of Fame and the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame posthumously.

Who: Alicia Selkregg Iden Where: In the garden to the right of the entrance to the Daily Grind in Lucy Cuddy Hall.

Why: Iden was an Italian immigrant best known for her efforts as a community organizer in Anchorage. Iden served as chairwoman of the University of Alaska Anchorage College of Fellows and was a member of the Board of Trustees for the

University of Alaska Foundation. Iden is also known for raising millions of dollars for Alaskan charities and receiving awards from organizations such as the National Society of Fund Raising Executives for her philanthropy and community service. Iden was an active member of the League of Women Voters 35 years of her 58-year long life.

Who: Beatrice Gray McDonald Where: Outside to the left of the front entrance to the Beatrice McDonald Hall.

Why: McDonald was a founding member of UAA back when it was known as the Anchorage Community College, or ACC. She moved to Alaska to work as a secretary for the Alaska Railroad and used her experiences to establish secretarial training programs within UAA. McDonald is the only honorary member of the Alaska Native Secretaries Association within Alaska.

Who: Sally Monserud Where: Outside to the right of the quad-facing entrance to Sally Monserud Hall.

Why: Monserud was one of the original faculty members of the ACC. She specialized in teaching English literature and English as a second language. Monserud was chairwoman of the National Council of Teachers of English in Alaska for multiple terms. She advocated for the creation of a university-backed native teacher training program. Monserud received an honorary doctorate of humanities from the university before passing away at age 84.

Who: Bill Rose Where: To the right of the interior entrance of the Alaska Resources Library and Information Services in the UAA/ APU Consortium Library.

Why: Rose was the Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services at UAA from 1997-1999. Rose passed away in a plane crash while serving as vice chancellor. A lasting impact is left on the UAA community by his Bill Rose Memorial Award, an annual award for employees within the UAA Administrative Services Division.

COLLAGE AND PHOTOS BY ROBERT GANT

Numerous plaques can be spotted across the UAA campus, each uniquely dedicated.

Who: Eugene “Gene” Francis Short Where: To the left of the outside entrance to Eugene Short Hall.

Why: Short served as Director and eventually Dean of the Anchorage Community College. Short established a majority of the foundational programs at UAA today, including programs in the field of electronics, dentistry, nursing, aviation, welding, social sciences and business administration. Short used his platform to host environmental seminars on campus. He regularly did community service as a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board. Short passed away at age 83.

What: UAA 50th Anniversary Garden Where: On a large boulder within the garden outside of Rasmuson Hall.

Why: In 2004, UAA celebrated its 50th anniversary. A portion of the 12,000 plants grown within the greenhouse annually make up the garden. The composition of the garden changes every year, but the plaque itself remains constant.

What: UAA Geological Rock Garden Where: East of the Natural Sciences Building.

Why: Over 20 plaques lie within this location, from various donors including the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Cominco Alaska, Kristene Crossen, Dan Long, Kevin May, Brian Mitchell, Northern Air Cargo, Dan Stone and others. These plaques commemorate the donation of ancient rocks, many over a million years old.

‘Changing the World’ one fire at a time

GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS

By Robert Gant

features@thenorthernlight.org

“From the pyramids to the space shuttles, to the buildings we use every day, the science of engineering changes the world,” Patrick Garley, the artist behind UAA’s newest sculpture, in an interview with The People’s Paper, said.‌ “Changing the World” is a sculpture that’s difficult to miss by size alone. The sculpture is 41 feet tall and spans a concrete diameter of 30 feet. “Changing the World” is composed of stainless steel, acrylic and bronze materials. It was officially installed on Nov. 13, 2018, on UAA Drive across from the sky bridge. ‌ Garley explained in an interview with The People’s Paper that his goal was to create a sculpture that represented the evolution of the contributions engineers have offered to society in the past, present and future. ‌ “With the simplest of tools and their knowledge, engineers have changed the world,” Garley said. ‌ “Changing the World” depicts three once commonly used engineering instruments. The first is a slide rule, which was used for trigonometry and logarithms

before calculators were widely available. Another is a bow compass, most often used for drafting distances on physical blueprints or maps. The last is a plumb bob, used in ancient times to ensure constructions were vertical. These tools are no longer used today and have been replaced by electronic equivalents. ‌ Garley was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He took his first sculpting class at Mesalands Community College and received an associate’s degree from New Mexico State University. In 2005, Garley opened his art studio in Palmer, Alaska. ‌ “[Garley’s] studio is always active with the sights and sounds associated with metal work,” Vote Local, an Alaska small business promotion directory, said on their website. ‌ The 2016 Governor’s Award from the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the Alaska Humanities Forum was awarded to Garley for his influence across Alaska.

Garley has many pieces in Alaskan locations including museums, schools and city public art installations. ‌ “[Garley] is unique in his metal work and is admired across the state,” Benjamin Brown, chairman of the Alaska State Council on the Arts, in an interview with The Frontiersman, said. ‌ Arctic Fires Bronze Sculptureworks, Garley’s studio, is named to celebrate his artistic process. ‌ “Using [fire] in such an intimate way makes you feel connected to each piece as it is cast,” Garley said on his official website. “Creating cast metal sculptures from start to finish is a long process that gives each piece time to evolve not only in form, but in the artist’s mind. In each phase of this evolution, the piece goes through a transformation, from clay or wax to metal through a process of fire, heat and hard work, to become something lasting and beautiful.”‌ “Changing the World” was funded by the 1% for the Arts program, a program that ensures 1% of all public

PHOTO BY ROBERT GANT

“Changing the World” as viewed from the woods outside of the Engineering and Industry Building.

construction budgets are spent on public art projects, as well as financial support from the Alaska State Council on the Arts. It was commissioned by UAA to celebrate the addition of the Engineering and Industry Building with an engineering-themed sculpture.‌ “I enjoy the hands-on feeling of using good tools, where the tool feels like a part of your body,” Garley said on his official website. ‌ The tools displayed in “Changing the World” may be too large to feel like a part of one’s body, but it may be viewed through the sky bridge in the Engineering and Industry Building. The sculpture is also visible in the nearby parking lot, road and woods but due to its height, it is advised to view it through the sky bridge.‌ Have you seen art at UAA you want to know more about? Contact Robert Gant at features@thenorthernlight.org‌

& AE

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, JULY 02, 2019

04

Hitbox Review: Hyper Light Drifter

GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS

By John Novotny

arts@thenorthernlight.org

Hyper Light Drifter is a single-player video that was released on March 31, 2016 for PC, Mac and Linux. It has since been released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. It was developed by Heart Machine and composed by Richard Vreeland, also known as Disasterpeace. ‌ The introductory cutscene provides background information for the player character, The Drifter, and the game’s world. Before an apocalyptic event, there was a floating crown-shaped object above a large city. In the four corners of the world are large pillars that once activated, caused a massive explosion in the city. In the aftermath, the player witnesses The Drifter teleport into a river of blood surrounded by dozens of corpses. In the background are several giants walking around the ruins of the city. While suffering from a mysterious illness, The Drifter is guided by a black jackal resembling Anubis, Egyptian god of the dead.

The Drifter attempts to fight off creeping darkness tentacles in order to reach a glowing diamond-shaped object. After fading to black, The Drifter wakes up at a cliffside campfire during a storm. ‌ In Hyper Light Drifter, the player controls The Drifter, who uses advanced technology to fight various enemies.

However, The Drifter suffers from a mysterious illness, which causes him to occasionally cough up blood. Whenever this happens, the blood transforms into a terrifying black goo monster. The player’s mission in the game is to activate the four large pillars at the corners of the map while exploring the world, fighting enemies and upgrading The Drifter’s abilities. The player can learn more by interacting with certain characters. The characters’ speech is represented by pictures visually rather than verbally.‌ The combat of Hyper Light Drifter is tactical and deliberate. Although the player can slash with their sword in rapid succession, they are punished for doing so by a short cooldown period after the third attack. During this time, they are not able to attack with the sword again for about one second. This leaves the player open to attack by enemies, which often attack in groups. The player may also utilize a short dash to evade enemy attacks.

These two abilities form the fundamentals of combat. Learning when to dash in for a couple of slashes, then dash out to avoid an attack is the key to success. After a while, it becomes rhythmic. ‌ The Drifter also begins the game with a semi-automatic pistol, which fires projectiles. To recharge ammo, the player can destroy objects in the environment,

such as pots and containers, or attack enemies with their sword. The player obtains multiple guns throughout the game which each perform differently. The shotgun for example, fires multiple shortrange projectiles. ‌ At certain points when the environment is dark, the aiming reticule blends into the background and it becomes difficult to tell where it is on the screen. Although The Drifter is represented by a silhouette, the player character can become lost behind environmental details such as trees. Secrets are often located through hidden routes, so the character becoming lost on the screen is a somewhat frequent occurrence.‌ Players also have access to health packs to restore health. Health packs can be found hidden in the world. The maximum health packs a player can hold at once starts at three and can be upgraded to hold more. Upgrade shards can be found in secret areas and obtained from defeating bosses. After collecting four shards, they will combine into an upgrade point, which can be exchanged for upgrades in the central town. ‌ I played six hours of the estimated completion time of seven and a half hours, according to howlongtobeat. During this time, I beat three of what I assume to be four bosses. My opinions should represent the bulk of what players can expect from Hyper Light Drifter. ‌ I chose to play on normal difficulty.

After about an hour, I came to an encounter with so many enemies I couldn’t get an attack in before I was hit by another attack. After multiple attempts, I became so frustrated that I decided to restart the

game on easy. The only noticeable difference was that I had an extra point of health. However, this experience did teach me that prioritizing certain enemies is important. An enemy that is shooting at the player from far away is more important than a bird that is dive-bombing. ‌ After some time, I began to notice this same pattern repeat. An hour or so in, I became frustrated at some new enemy and would have to take a break. The enemies in the immediate area respawn when the player dies. This led me to feel like I was bashing my head against a wall until I succeeded in some areas. ‌ While all of Hyper Light Drifter’s component aspects come together to form a well-made game, it fails to have any one aspect stand out. The part that stands out the most, however, is the worldbuilding.

Because only a few of the characters offer information about the world through pictures, the player is encouraged to examine the environment for clues as to how the world was before the explosion. This was the sole reason that I felt even faintly compelled to keep playing. ‌ That being said, I would still recommend Hyper Light Drifter, albeit with a handful of caveats. Are you the type of player who enjoys exploring a mysterious world and learning about its history?

Are you patient enough to learn the ins and outs of the combat? Are you willing to replay the same area after you die? For me, the answer to all of these questions is no. It’s simply not the type of game that I enjoy. However, Hyper Light Drifter is still competent enough to recommend to those who can accept the caveats listed above.‌

Exciting new video games announced at E3 2019

By John Novotny

arts@thenorthernlight.org

This year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, took place from June 11-13. Before the show floor opens to the public, big-name game companies such as Microsoft, Nintendo and Bethesda, hold their annual press conferences. The conferences are streamed online to websites such as Twitch and YouTube. The games presented give gamers an idea of what is to come for the next 12 months.

Those who attend the physical event in Los Angeles may also get the chance to play certain games before they release.‌ It is only in the recent few years that the public has been able to attend E3. The event was previously restricted to press and retailers only. ‌ The way video game companies announce their games is changing. Companies like Nintendo have begun to take advantage of the popularity of streaming to announce their games on their own. By releasing their own video presentations like

Nintendo Directs, they are able to control their messaging better. They are also able to stand out from the competition. This year, Sony announced that the company would not be attending E3.‌ Earlier this month, Colin Campbell from Polygon wrote a feature story detailing the struggles of creating the first E3 in 1995. It explains why and how E3 exists today. ‌ While companies may be relying on E3 less to announce their new games, there was no lack of exciting games shown this year. Here are a few of the games that excited me the most from E3 2019:‌ Doom Eternal Developer: id Software Release date: Nov. 22 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and Google Stadia‌ A trailer for Doom Eternal, containing graphic content and narrated by 2016 Doom’s antagonist, Samuel Hayden, was among the new footage released at E3. Doom Eternal appears to start where the previous game

SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF BETHESDA SOFTWARE WEBSITE

In Doom Eternal, Earth is taken over by demons.

ended. It features the player character, the Doom Slayer, looking more demonic than ever, wielding exciting and powerful weapons such as a doublebarrel shotgun with an attached grappling hook, a minigun which can split into four smaller miniguns, a shoulder-mounted flamethrower and more. There is also a section in the video where the Doom Slayer shoots a button and swinging axes slice multiple demons.‌ An extended gameplay demonstration shown at E3 revealed new features such as an air dash.

There appeared to be more environmental interaction, such as being able to jump off certain walls and target and destroy certain parts of demons to disable an attack. Players will also be able to complete platforming challenges. ‌ A multiplayer mode called “Battlemode” was also announced. It is one versus two.

It features one fully decked-out Doom Slayer against two playercontrolled demons. ‌ “Doom Eternal promises to be the ultimate power fantasy,” Hugo Martin, creative director for Doom Eternal, said at E3. “You are the Doom Slayer, the strongest, the fastest demon killer in existence. Nothing can stand in your way.”‌ Cyberpunk 2077 Developer: CD Projekt Red Release date: April 16, 2020 Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC‌ Cyberpunk 2077 is a singleplayer, open-world, first-personshooter, role-playing game set in the future where technology

and body augmentation has run rampant. ‌ “You play as a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-akind implant that is the key to immortality,” according to the Cyberpunk 2077 website. ‌ The main draw of Cyberpunk 2077 is the scale of the world and production value. CD Projekt Red is well-known for making The Witcher games which also featured a vast open world. The first teaser trailer for Cyberpunk 2077 was released in 2013. Fans have been eagerly anticipating it for six years.‌ The Cyberpunk presentation included what is undoubtedly one of the highlights of E3 2019 when it was revealed that Keanu Reeves, an actor who played Neo in “The Matrix,” would play a character in the game. ‌ Reeves came onstage at E3 to talk about the game and reveal the release date. However, before he could do so, he was interrupted by an audience member who yelled “you’re breathtaking!” Reeves returned the compliment to him and the entire audience. ‌ Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield Developer: Game Freak Release date: Nov. 15 Platform: Nintendo Switch‌ The games feature a new land to explore called the Galar Region, which appears to have been visually inspired by Europe. New starting pokemon are also available, including Grookey, a grass-type chimp, Scorbunny, a fire-type rabbit and Sobble, a water-type lizard. ‌ Unlike previous games, in

Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, players will be able to control the game camera and look around freely. Players will also be able to explore the Wild Area, which will feature different pokemon depending on the weather. Players will be able to encounter pokemon traveling through the Wild Area and through random encounters in tall grass. ‌ The major new battle feature of Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield is called Dynamax.

It can be used once per battle by the player. Pokemon who Dynamax become larger and have stronger, flashier attacks. After three turns, the Pokemon will return to normal. ‌ “Max Raid Battles” are able to be activated at certain points in the Wild Area. They are cooperative multiplayer battles against a Dynamaxed wild Pokemon with up to four players. If the players succeed in defeating the wild Pokemon, they will get the opportunity to catch it. ‌ There was a lack of big surprise announcements this year.

This is partly because the next generation of consoles will likely release next year. This year at E3, Microsoft announced their new console, code-named Project Scarlett. The PlayStation 5 also seems likely to release next year, according to Jason Schrier from Kotaku. The lack of surprises was also because of leaks, such as Amazon listing Watch Dogs Legion ahead of its announcement. In spite of all this, there are still plenty of goodlooking games to look forward to in the coming year.

SPORTS 05 Alissa Pili: two-time MaxPreps Female Athlete of the Year THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, JULY 02, 2019

By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org

Anchorage local and Dimond High School graduate, Alissa Pili, is the second person in history to become a two-time MaxPreps Female Athlete of the Year.

The only previous athlete to be awarded twice was five-time gold medalist Missy Franklin during her time in high school. ‌ In addition, Pili has been awarded Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year in basketball for the past four years.‌ Pili has been one of the most successful athletes in Alaska, going as far back as middle school. ‌ “I started to get recruited pretty early, maybe even seventh or eighth grade, because I was traveling and going down to competitions in the lower 48. But it definitely wasn’t as heavy as the recruiting that I have experience in high school,” Pili said. “I never did anything to get ranked, but I always tried my best to show off to the coaches who would be watching at all these competitions.”‌ Long before that, Pili was active in everything from football to volleyball to basketball. Athleticism runs in her family, she explained, with both her father and brother being football players. ‌ “I used to even play tackle football when I was younger. My dad was a football player. It was the first sport my brother played so growing up watching him, I told my dad I wanted to play, so he signed

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT MINOR

Alissa Pili shines as an award-winning athlete from Anchorage, Alaska.

me up in third grade,” Pili said.‌ Slowly, Pili began to pick up other sports and excel at everything she did, including winning 13 state championships during her time at Dimond High School. ‌ Included in her state titles are two in basketball, four in volleyball, four in shot-put, two in discus throwing and one in wrestling. All her state titles were at the 4A level. ‌ Most recently, Pili recalled how winning the basketball state championship during her senior year was one of her most memorable achievements. ‌ “We were definitely the underdogs going in, but we were able to show everyone how hard we worked and how we came

back as a team, so that felt really good.

We knew how we had to adjust, and we did it well,” Pili said.‌ After her team’s championship win in basketball, Pili finished off her high school athletics career with two wins in track and field, one in each discus and shot-put. This was her fourth state title in shot-put, breaking the school record in the process with a throw of 42 feet, 9.25 inches.‌ “This year I have had some good competition, and although I enjoy basketball and volleyball more, I still have a fun time competing in track,” Pili said. ‌ As for volleyball, Pili has impressive stats. During her high school career, she

Northwest Christian University in Eugene, Oregon.‌ “What made me decide to come to UAA was the great things I was hearing about it. One of my good friends, Niko [Bevens], plays on the team and he talked so highly of the city, the university and the coaching staff,” Hosley said. “Once I was in touch with the coaches, they seemed to be exactly what Niko [Bevens] was saying. They were straight up, honest and just seemed to be really good people.”‌ Hosley is joining the team as a guard,

bringing impressive statistics with him.

The 6-foot-1 guard managed to average scoring in the double-digits during his previous year of eligibility, earning him a spot on First Team All-Cascade Conference. He averaged 16.7 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and 1.6 steals per game.‌ During all but one game for the previous season, Hosley scored in the double digits, including a season high of 30 points against Great Northwest Athletic Conference, or GNAC, competitor Saint Martin’s.‌ “[Hosley] is a mature, serious studentathlete with a tremendous work ethic and a burning desire to improve. His maturity will be a huge asset in helping teach his younger teammates how to be successful at this level,” Osborne said. “With 47 points in two games vs. Saint Martin’s and [Northwest Nazarene University] last year, he has already shown that he can have success against the better teams in the GNAC. Our staff can’t wait to get Tyrus [Hosley] on campus in August and help him reach all his goals.”‌ Hosley explained that one of his main goals for the season is to win.‌ “I want to help my team win as many games as we can. Everything else will take care of itself. Winning is fun and everyone loves to win,” Hosley said.‌ The third newest addition is David Riley, a transfer from Northwestern Community College.‌ “David is a legitimate 6 feet 8 inches with a wingspan of 6 feet 11 inches, and he has the ability to score in the post and

Seawolf Basketball Continued from cover

ed to try and help bring excitement back to UAA basketball. Being from Anchorage, I have friends and other people who have supported me for a long time. I want to make them proud and do something special here,” Fromm said.‌ Also joining Fromm is senior Tyrus Hosley, who is transferring to UAA from

PHOTO COURTESY OF NCU ATHLETICS

New Seawolf, Tyrus Hosley, will be transferring to UAA from Northwest Christian University.

tallied 463 kills in the 102 sets she played, for an average of 4.5 kills per set. She also had a 50% kill average, 38% hitting average and 90% serve average. ‌ Despite her high percent averages in volleyball, however, Pili explained that basketball is her true love. It’s the sport she enjoys the most. It’s the sport she wants to improve. It’s the sport that got her a full-ride scholarship to the University of Southern California, or USC. ‌ “Basketball is the only sport I will work on outside of the season, but while I am in-season [with my other sports], I will be dedicated to it and to perform the best I can,” Pili said.

Although Pili is exceptionally prepared to play college basketball, she explained that she is excited to be a onesport athlete and have all her athletic focus on basketball. In addition, she will have the support of her other brother, Brandon Pili, who is a junior playing football for USC.‌ Pili explained that she and her brother were practically inseparable while growing up. ‌ “Right when I found out that USC was interested and I realized I could go to school with my brother, I knew that is really where I wanted to go,” Pili said.‌ Pili has already departed for USC, taking one class on-campus this summer.

However, she will not compete in basketball until the season starts in November.

In the meantime, she will train with her team.‌

PHOTO COURTESY OF JON AUSTRIA

New Seawolf, David Riley (green), will be transferring to UAA from Northwestern Community College.

step out and shoot from 17 feet,” Osborne said.‌ Riley played as a forward starter during his previous two seasons, averaging 9.9 points per game, with a 54% scoring average. In addition, he managed 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.‌ Riley also managed to score in the double digits during 12 games in his sophomore season, with a season high of 23 points.‌ Fromm, Hosley and Riley will be joining the Seawolves to begin training in August.‌

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, JULY 02, 2019

06

History could soon repeat itself in Iran

What has 17 years of war in Afghanistan taught us?

By Robert Hockema opinion@thenorthernlight.org

Listening to the news media and state officials discuss how to respond to recent turmoil with Iran feels a lot like stepping into a time machine.‌ Rewind back to February 2003 when the Secretary of Defense Colin Powell, who eventually became a staunch critic of the war in Iraq, gave an address to the United Nations on Iraq’s alleged weapons of mass destruction, or WMD’s. In his speech, he asserted that the U.S. had indisputable intel that Iraq had “biological weapons factories on wheels,” and that the U.S. needed to act now to dismantle their capabilities. ‌ Though most of us know now that this was a manufactured lie peddled by the administration and its allies, most people at the time were unaware of what was going on behind closed doors.

To the public, it seemed as if there were a credible, impending threat coming from a Middle

Eastern country following the attack of 9/11. That was enough for most people to support aggressive action. ‌ Most importantly, the lie that sold the American public was based on claims that were possible but not necessarily plausible. It’s arguable that Saddam Hussein’s Iraq posed a degree of threat to the U.S., but the administration didn’t have enough to justify an attack. Instead, it manipulated the facts to support their conclusion and use fearmongering to turn the public against Iraq. ‌ The consequence are now written in our history books. In fact, it’s less so history and more so a headline. Just last week, two soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. The soldiers who lost their lives join more than 2,300 who have died in the Afghan War since 2001, and another 4,400 in Iraq since 2003. This is, of course, on top of the over 111,000 Afghanis and 460,000 Iraqis killed since the war began. ‌ What did we get out of a war

that was started by riling unwarranted suspicions and misleading the public? The Islamic State, a bogged-down effort in Afghanistan and the lowest credibility of Western leaders in the Middle East to date resulted.‌ I detail the casualties and events leading up to Iraq and Afghanistan because our history is beginning to look eerily like the present. Since May, the U.S. has dubiously accused Iran of attacking six ships in the Strait of Hormuz. On June 20, the U.S. accused them of shooting down an American spy drone.

In response, President Donald Trump sent warplanes to strike back, calling off a bombing run just 10 minutes before the scheduled strike. ‌ The justification for an attack on Iran is thin. The Japanese government has called the evidence of Iran’s role in sinking their vessels not “convincing,” and the German government has cast doubt on videos released by the U.S. as proof. ‌ Contextually, these moves are a part of the Trump administration’s campaign to foment intense opposition to Iran. In mid-June, the U.S. sent troops and firepower to Iran to combat what the administration characterizes as “troubling, escalatory and dangerous” behavior in the Middle East. Yet, war hawks in Trump’s administration are having a hard time articulating what those exact threats are. In an appearance on Fox and Friends, Trump claimed that the attacks “probably got essentially Iran written all over it.” Mike Pompeo and John Bolton have made aggressive comments about Iran, suggesting that all options are “on the table.” ‌ But why? Is it because Iran is pursuing a nuclear bomb?

A nuclear bomb that the Iran

Deal would have prevented had Trump not scrapped it despite Iran’s compliance? Is it their funding of militant groups across the Middle East, similar to our long-time ally and top arms buyer Saudi Arabia’s funding of jihadist extremism and Wahhabi clerism? It sounds like Trump is singling out Iran because it is politically expedient to do (election year is upon us), not because they represent a unique and existential threat to us. ‌ Don’t just blame the administration for fabricating a story about a supposed threat to justify military aggression. Politicians on both sides are helping Trump sabre-rattle. Congressman Adam Schiff of California (D) is backing Trump, saying on Twitter that evidence of Iran’s attacks is “strong.” News outlets are making things worse by giving the same talking heads that got the Iraq War wrong a platform to argue for invading Iran.‌ It seems as if we have a deep political amnesia for the events of 2001 and 2003. Here you have an administration with a record of manufacturing aggression and misleading the public to justify flexing our military muscles threatening war in the Middle East – again. To add to the severity, the media and politicians are dog-piling on by the hour, feeding the hawkish inclinations of the executive branch. It is, without exception, parallel to the story told before we stormed into the Middle East. ‌ For those certain that Trump would never be stupid enough to pull the trigger, the news doesn’t get much better. Even if the U.S. never strikes first, words of war send mixed messages to Iran, who might misread Trump’s red line and miscalculate, leading to an all-out battle between the

U.S. and Iran. ‌ But moreover, let’s assume that Iran truly is responsible for sinking those ships and firing at our spy drones. Our response should still center around de-escalation rather than provocation.

Why? No matter how much the president or the American public hates Iran, another war in the Middle East would be devastating. ‌ If you think Iraq and Afghanistan has been disastrous, consider the list of allies or prospective enemies that might come to Iran’s aid should things get messy: Russia, Syria, Turkey, Hezbollah, Hamas, China, Iraqi paramilitaries and a host of terrorist networks and militias being funded by Iran. Not to mention, the Middle East still hasn’t recovered from the long-term damage done by the post-9/11 invasions, and would thus be unwelcoming towards our return.

Clearly, we can’t afford another complex, expensive proxy war in the Middle East. ‌ When everything is said and done, we will have gained nothing by applying Trump’s strategy of maximum pressure towards Iran. All we will have is blood on our hands, more dead soldiers and a devastated credibility on the international stage.‌ To avoid repeating history, the U.S. must stand down and begin discussions with Iranian officials to de-escalate. Removing ships and troops out of Iran’s vicinity would alter the perception that the U.S. is about to strike, which might give Iran reason to watch its airspaces more closely. We might not get them to stop their nefarious activities completely, but that’s the price of a cool-headed foreign policy: reasonable compromise and balanced expectations.‌

OPINION

07

Alaska must embrace tribal sovereignty Sovereignty must exist in practice, not just in principle.

By Robert Hockema opinion@thenorthernlight.org

Alaska has struggled to improve its relationship with Alaska Natives for a long time now. Since the inception of the state, admission of the difficulty Alaska Native communities face thanks to the plight of colonialism and negligence has been sparse. It is only as of recent that state officials have come to directly and explicitly acknowledge that the land we stand on itself was stolen. ‌ In fact, to this very day, Alaska Natives still face credible threats to their sovereignty. In April, the Dunleavy administration faced criticism for failing to consult with two tribes over the construction of the Donlin Gold mine and the Palmer Proj-

ect. Shutting down discourse between government and Native communities over projects that could disproportionately affect indigenous lands is not new, especially for those who have been fighting the Pebble Mine project for years. ‌ Despite ongoing threats to territorial sovereignty, state lawmakers and administrations insist on an interstate solution.

That is, they continue to suggest reforms that increase the role of local government and consultation with Native communities to rectify their injustices. ‌ The assumption behind these efforts is that if only we had more task forces and communication efforts, surely we could solve these problems. This narrative is misguided, as it assumes the solution to a lack of sovereignty for Alaska Native peoples is more dependence on state institutions. ‌ The reality is that the State of Alaska has demonstrated they cannot tackle the unique problems Alaska Native communities face, and are unreliable in securing promises made towards development and sovereignty.

Alaska must move forward with a plan to embrace tribal sovereignty, thus giving vastly greater legal, political and territorial

STAFF CONTACTS Opinion Writer Robert Hockema opinion@thenorthernlight.org‌

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state law and regional statutes. ‌ Then came the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, which delegated responsibility of land claims to state-chartered corporations, such as Bristol Bay Native Corporation. Under the Act, 44 million acres of land were handed to entities meant to protect culture for future generations. ‌ Lastly, several court decisions have firmly solidified the legal basis for tribal sovereignty.

The most notable is the Alaska Supreme Court decision John v Baker of 1999, which stated that the State of Alaska was bound by federal recognition of all 229 tribes in Alaska. As a consequence, many tribal councils and communities currently have the power to determine tribal citizenship of those outside “Indian territory,” as well as the power to handle some adoptions.‌ On all levels, tribal sovereignty exists. However, just because sovereignty exists does not mean it has been embraced to the fullest extent. ‌ Look at the way in which the territorial integrity of local Native communities is violated by attempts to extract natural resources in environmentally disastrous ways. ‌ Consider that major land

holdings were never distributed to Native corporations because the IRA did not recognize them as “Indian territory.” ‌ Realize that law enforcement has failed to deal with the unique challenges rural, isolated villages face. A ProPublica report found that 70 out of 195 Alaskan communities report having no law enforcement as of 2019. ‌ Understand that subsistence fishing and hunting rights have been attacked at the state and federal level for decades, threatening the cultural survival of many Native communities. ‌ Sovereignty would not solve all of these problems. However, they would give communities the power to manage their interests and problems on their own, should they see fit. For instance, tribal courts with the power to sentence under local jurisdiction would assist in the law enforcement crisis. Sovereignty would also grant communities more power to fight against resource exploitation that threatens their way of life. ‌ Alaska law and officials have made clear the distinct right of tribes to exercise sovereignty.

No longer can these words be true only in principle; it is time to exercise the power of the state and grant them in practice. ‌

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3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508‌

Managing Editor Mary Ryan content@thenorthernlight.org‌

control of Native lands. ‌ What exactly does “sovereignty” mean? What would it mean for Alaska Natives? Sovereignty is essentially the right of a state to self-govern. The United States itself is a sovereign nation with the right to write its own laws, command its military and control its borders. ‌ There are many continuities between Alaska Natives and the precedence behind sovereignty.

Sovereignty has been granted to entire countries on the basis on popular will, such as South Sudan. It has been fought for by groups with a historical claim to their land, such as the Kurdish people in mostly Iraq and Syria.

Many countries divide their territories up into states and grant semi-autonomous status to them in the form of legal and political control, such as India or Spain. ‌ But more importantly, sovereignty exists as a legal claim in Alaska as well. Alaska has affirmed, on multiple occasions, the legal justification for tribal sovereignty. The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 established the basis for regional governance, allowing for constitutions and tribal councils to be established. However, few have adopted the power of the IRA due to inconsistencies between

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Thorgy Thor does a catwalk for the audience.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA SWAYNEY

Drag+, a UAA group, marches proudly.

Several groups marched in the parade, including Planned Parenthood.

Ballot Bot dancing in the march.

DJ Hottpants doing an interpretive dance to a DJ mix.

PrideFest 2019 A Photo Story

Lardi B performs for the audience.

Marchers come to a brief stop during the Pride Parade through downtown Anchorage.

Dark Horse Coffee shows support outside their business during PrideFest activities.

By Christina Swayney news2@thenorthernlight.org