The Northern Light November 19, 2013 Issue

THENORTHERNLIGHT NOVEMBER 19, 2013

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

A&E

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A classic never tasted so good in the winter

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A foreign flick to immerse yourself in

Vigil for Typhoon Haiyan victims raises awareness

The aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in Leyte Province, Philippines.

By Nita Mauigoa

features@thenorthernlight.org Vivid pictures of toddlers soaked knee-deep in muddy water next to piles of wood — remnants of what was once their home — flash a glimpse of how Typhoon Haiyan left the Philippines.

UAA’s Alaskero Partnership Organizers, or APO, held a vigil in honor of those impacted by Typhoon Haiyan in the Student Union Den last Friday, where community members gathered.

E.J. David, UAA assistant psychology professor and member of APO, presented a slideshow with raw footage of the colossal damage Typhoon Haiyan created.

“More than 20,000 victims encountered in the first time trying to give aid were under the age of five,” said Christine Marasigan, Alaska state legislative aide and member of APO. Joy Mapaye, assistant professor for the Department of Journalism and Public Communications and member of APO, said initial estimates predicted 10,000 people dead, 60,000 displaced and thousands upon thousands impacted by Typhoon

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PHOTO COURTESY OF HALLIE BROWN

Haiyan. Actual death tolls are closer to 5,000 and are expected to rise.

Though Tacloban has been the main city hit, neighboring rural communities are equally damaged.

Music education major Hallie Brown said her father is in a neighboring island of Tacloban, Leyte. Their family home and mango farm were demolished. Roads are impassible. There are hungry children that will possibly be out of school for up to a year because their schools are rubble.

“My dad said he saw little to no government aid come in whatsoever. He just saw local Filipinos stepping up and trying to rebuild their rural community,” Brown said.

Brown said there has been great response from Alaskans for their family-run nonprofit organization, Lantaw Ugma Outreach, which provides food, supplies and tutoring for children so they can have some sort of education for now.

For many local Filipinos, regardless of blood ties, three words painted the mood of the vigil:

SEE VIGIL

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Arguing to inform: Debate about Alaska’s fiscal future

By Evan Erickson

eerickson@thenorthernlight.org

Alaska’s economy will crash soon after 2023 if drastic changes to state spending aren’t made soon, according to a report by UAA’s Institute of Social and Economic Research. The report, “Maximum Sustainable Yield: FY 2014 Update,” was released last January, but a debate hosted by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce at the Dena’ina Center on Nov. 11 was some of the first public discussion of its implications. UAA Seawolf Debate director Steve Johnson acted as moderator.

Arguing on the side of MSY were UAA Economics professor Scott Goldsmith, who authored the ISER report, and Brad Keithley of Keithley Consulting. Arguing against MSY were Jonathan King with Northern Economics and Anchorage Chamber of Commerce President Andrew Halcro.

“We thought it was ripe for discussion, not just to argue but to point out the fact that nobody’s done analysis about it,” Halcro said.

Maximum Sustainable Yield is, simply stated, the amount of money the state can spend each year while sustaining the value of its nest egg, “a combination of the state’s financial assets and the estimated value of petroleum still in the ground,” reads the report.

ISER found MSY to be approximately $5.5 billion per year, and spending over this limit creates a fiscal burden passed to future generations of Alaskans.

Alaska’s nest egg has fluctuated in the last several years, but based on ISER’s calculations FY2014 general fund spending will need to be cut by at least $1

billion to stay within the limits of MSY and avert disaster in the next 10 years.

Halcro and King advocated on the opposing side in the debate to help people understand some of the potential shortfalls of ISER’s report. The team may have lost some favor with the audience early on, when in the Q & A higher taxes were mentioned as an alternative to MSY. Halcro explained that as soon as people realize they may have to reach into their own pockets, resistance appears, and compared arguing against MSY to arguing against a “free lunch.”

“I think that given the political and financial realities, MSY is never going to be adopted.

They’ve solved a math problem, not a budget problem, and those are two totally different animals,” Halcro said.

Halcro said there is a lack of analysis of the loss of jobs a massive cut in spending would entail.

Of the 148 attendees of the debate, 60 participated in polls which favored Goldsmith and Keithley on the side of MSY, with 64 percent in favor; 26 percent opposed; and 10 percent undecided.

Keithley believes Goldsmith’s MSY is a strong proposed solution to Alaska’s fiscal challenges.

“The alternative — which is the path the state is on now — results in large budgets now, but as the other side admitted during the debate, at the expense of taxes, the redirection of revenues from the Permanent Fund into state spending and even with that, substantially lower budgets in the future,” Keithley said.

The “Make it Monday” event was the final debate series of 2013 by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce.

Proposed coal mines could affect local salmon streams

By Suhaila Brunelle

news@thenorthernlight.org The Sustainability Club recently hosted a table to inform students about the Chuitna River coal mines and other issues related to sustainability.

Environment and society major Devin Johnson says a company called Pacific Rim is proposing to establish six coal mines in south-central Alaska. The proposed coal mines are located one hour away from UAA in communities located both north and west of Anchorage.

The proposed Chuitna River coal mine will be located 40 miles west of Anchorage in Cook Inlet along the banks of an abundant salmon stream and major tributary to the Chuitna River called Middle Creek. Pacific Rim intends to remove 11 miles of this stream in order to extract coal.

The coal is located approximately 300 feet below the surface of the earth. Large, three-story cranes are used to dig deep, large holes in the earth to mine the coal. Because these cranes are so large they are difficult to maneuver, and they only move forward and backward.

Once extracted, the coal will be placed on a

12-mile conveyer belt and travel over the villages of Tyonek and Beluga to a manmade island for transport. The coal will then be shipped to countries in Asia and South America. The process will leave huge holes in the ground and will eliminate the entire ecosystem of that area.

Laura Comer with the Sierra Club says 15 percent of the salmon in the Cook Inlet spawn in the Chuitna and its tributaries, and those salmon will not recover from the mine.

Not only will fish be affected, but Chuitna and the surrounding area is also a major breeding ground for moose, and bears are also abundant along the water.

“Everybody should care because it’s right in our own backyard,” Johnson says. “There’s so many people who love to go out fishing. I myself love to go out fishing. I remember one of the best moments of my summer when I was a kid was going out fishing with my dad. I want to see that as something preserved in the future to come. Due to the fact that the mine is crossing a salmon stream, it would wipe out salmon for the future to come.”

PHOTO BY TIM BROWN

Student activists gather Nov. 14 at Fireside Cafe to discuss proposed coal development in south-central Alaska.

SEE COAL

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Weekend primer: UAA hockey takes on Michigan Tech

By Thomas McIntyre

sports@thenorthernlight.org

PHOTO BY DAN DUQUE

Sophomore defenseman Blake Leask takes to the ice with teammates Brad Duwe and Hayden Trupp.

facebook.com/northernlightuaa

twitter.com/tnl_updates

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UAA has branded this chapter of Seawolf hockey as “A New Day.” The program wants to give people a reason to forget its checkered and disappointing past. A solid start to the season won’t wash away those memories, but they’re on the right track.

The Seawolves can continue to hike their approval rating up this weekend when they play back-to-back games against the Michigan Tech Huskies. It’ll be a favorable matchup for the home team.

Sometimes games are decided by which team has the best player on the ice. If that’s the case this weekend, the ‘Wolves should have the edge.

Senior forward Matt Bailey thenorthernlight.org

has started the ’14 season on a tear. He leads the team in points and shots on goal. He’s also the only Seawolf with a positive +/on the year.

Bailey was named as a cocaptain back in September, and his play has mirrored the “C” on his chest.

But it’s not just Bailey — the entire group of captains is proving they deserved the honor.

Assistant captains Scott Allen and Jordan Kwas have provided the second most points for the ‘Wolves. Kwas’ total includes a team-high in assists, as well.

Bailey’s fellow co-captain, Brett Cameron, is sitting fourth in points. As a whole, the foursome is responsible for over half of the team’s points.

SEE HOCKEY

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02 NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013

VIGIL: Donations aid victims CONTINUED FROM COVER

COAL: Impact on the community CONTINUED FROM COVER Pacific Rim stated it will only be looking to bring in outside people to work at the strip mine because Alaska has never had a strip mine of this size before and it would take too much time to train locals. According to Comer, those working at the mine would only be here for a couple of months of the year, live in the town of Beluga and then leave.

“Essentially, we would be trading away hundreds of sustainable commercial fishing

jobs,” Comer says. “Fishermen are up in arms. There are several people who live in Tyonek and Beluga by the river who have set net leases and they would be losing those leases because of where the coal conveyer belt and coal port would be located to export coal to Asia.”

The Sustainability Club plans on continuing work to stop these coal mines. Their approach is from the top-up, and they hope to have an effect on the policies.

The club plans on hosting more public informational events.

Justice major Camilla Hussein signed the petition because she is concerned about the mines and their effect on salmon. Hussein is also concerned about the effects coal would have on the environment in China.

The Sustainability Club meets Monday at noon in the Sustainability Office, which is located in the Professional Studies Building.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HALLIE BROWN

Filipino Children in Leyte Province, Philippines, just days before Typhoon Haiyan flattened their city and demolished their homes and school.

The aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in Leyte Province, Philippines. The children pictured above lost their homes. It could take up to a year for their school to be up and running again.

Loss. Family. Home.

“I was born in the Philippines. For me, it’s natural to feel connected with those affected

by Typhoon Haiyan. I feel they are my fathers, mothers, lolos (grandfathers), lolas (grandmothers), ates (older sisters), kuyas (older brothers), aunties, and uncles,” said Gabe Garcia, Assistant Professor of Public Health and member of APO. “In times of disasters and challenges, we Filipinos rise up to help our kababayans (fellow Filipinos) in the spirit of bayanihan (communal sense of unity, leadership and initiative).”

Attendees of the vigil sang church hymns, and guests such as Luz Florez, pastor of the Holy Spirit Center, shared scriptures from the Holy Bible.

“We wanted to do something for the UAA community and for the Anchorage community to pay tribute to those who died, those trying to survive and those trying to help,” Mapaye said. “We were extremely grateful and thankful for all those

trying to help the people of the Philippines during this very difficult time.”

By the end of the night, three words emerged and painted a brighter picture: Hope. Light.

Future.

Members of APO, a group of Filipino-American UAA faculty and staff, said they will accept donations for relief efforts in the Philippines. Cash and checks made out to “Catholic Relief Services” can be dropped off at Kaladi Brothers Coffee at 6921 Brayton Drive, at New Sagaya Midtown located at 3700 Old Seward Highway, and at Shaka Shack Hawaiian Barbecue at the 5th Avenue Mall. Collection jars will be at registers.

Those on campus can also drop off donations to APO members who work on campus: EJ David’s office at the Social Sciences Building Room 303F, Joy Mapaye’s office at PSB203I, or Gabriel Garcia’s office at Diplomacy Building Room 4.

By Amanda Brush

vidual was spotted on campus.

The suspect, David Kyem, was caught and charged with firstdegree criminal trespassing. He was wearing a ninja Halloween costume, and carried an air gun and plastic sword.

When asked about public safety around UAA campus, Russian language major AnneMarie Burnelle said, “Around the Goose lake area, it’s super sketchy. But I think the buildings are OK. ... One time I was rollerblading and somebody flashed me. It was a guy. He had his pants down. ... I got really scared, almost ran into a rock.”

Psychology major Madchen Wausen said, “Even though there’s a no-carry rule, I highly think people are carrying (guns) — if not on them, at least in vehicles. This is Alaska, after all.”

The University Police Department is in charge of campus safety. They unlock and lock building doors every night, can be seen cruising around campus in marked patrol cars, and are located in the Eugene Short Hall Room 114. They have incident action plan PDFs for employees and students on the UPD homepage. The documents include what to do in natural disasters, when an active shooter is on campus and when suspicious package/substances are found.

UAA employees concerned with safety on campus can participate in the UPD Auxiliary Team. Auxiliary Team members typically meet once a month.

They are trained how to properly evacuate buildings, control crowds and participate in searches.

For further information, call UPD at 907-786-1120. For emergencies, 911 is still strongly encouraged.

Recent events raise public, campus safety concerns Contributor

In the first week of November, the United States experienced an airport shooting, an airport bomb threat, and an armed individual in a New Jersey mall and a university lockdown. The events sparked discussion about public safety across social media sites. Are people overreacting, or are they not concerned enough?

Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, went into Los Angeles International airport Nov. 1 with an assault rifle. He killed a Transportation Security Administration officer and wounded two others. The Los Angeles Times reports local and federal officials are trying to determine whether further improvement is needed for airport defenses.

That same night, Richard Shoop, 20, carried a gun into a Garden State Mall in New Jersey. The New York Times interviewed witnesses who saw him clothed entirely in black with a motorcycle helmet. People panicked and ran for cover, but the only person he shot was himself.

Authorities found his body in part of the mall that was under construction. Friends and family say he was suffering from depression and drug abuse.

According to Reuters, an employee at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport found a note in a bathroom Nov. 3 announcing a bomb was located in the terminal. The airport was shut down for over two hours. Flights were delayed or diverted as police and search dogs combed the building. No bomb was found. Officials are still investigating the note.

Central Connecticut State University went into lockdown Nov. 4 after an armed indi-

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013

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Coping with winter Hot tomato soup and grilled

cheese, perfect for winter

By Evan Dodd Contributor

As I sliced the majority of my fingers open trying to scrape the diamond-like ice from my windshield this morning, I realized something.

This place is awful. rhymes with Objectively, most of us shouldn’t even be here. The fact that we decided that Alaska needed to be a state when there were plenty of undiscovered tropical islands bobbing about is nothing short of madness.

Slightly cynical hyperbole aside, the dark, cold and isolation is enough to break a sane person, much less a group of college students under a mountain of stress. So here are some of the very worst features of the Alaska winter, and some of the few bleak upsides that I’ve been able to create.

First off, the darkness here is borderline unbearable. That’s not some anecdotal theory either. Alaska winters have been statistically proven to increase the incidence of seasonal affective disorder and whatever the hell those vampire things were in that “30 Days of Night” movie. The lack of daylight is frustrating, depressing and downright dangerous if you happen to be brave enough to continue walking to class.

On the other hand, darkness is quite useful if you’re trying not to be seen — believe it or not, that may be the most profound thing I’ve written all week.

For sake of argument, let’s say you’re a vengeful type who would like to remove some spark plugs to disable the cars of evil people who’ve done terrible things to deserve it, such as an ex or the pizza guy who forgot to add pineapple to a Hawaiian pizza. There’s a good chance that the sight of you prying open the offending owner’s hood might attract a great deal of unwanted attention.

Alaska has so graciously solved that problem for us. At any given time, our parking lots are filled with frustrated people bashing the ice off their cars with flimsy plastic ice scrapers, all in perfect darkness. Provided you don’t dress in neon green and loudly sing your nefarious intentions for all to hear, you should be free to pursue your vengeance in peace.

The next cruel trick up Alaska’s icy sleeve is the snow. I tend to be a bit ambivalent about this one, because I do love all forms of hazardous winter sports. However, if I could manage to go to and from Alyeska without encountering snow until I hit the lifts, I’d be quite a bit better off.

Don’t get me wrong — the snow is pretty and all, but it’s becoming a bit uncomfortable to have to break the sound barrier in a plastic foreign-made car while navigating through what appears to be a pile of coconut Slurpee spilled onto the roads.

That being said, the snow does offer one small advantage when it comes to surveillance. Let me explain: I’ve come to suspect that someone other than the clumsy university contractors has been lurking outside of my ground floor window. Be it aliens, a Sasquatch or just your friendly neighborhood NSA agent, something is making concerning noises outside my window at odd hours of the night.

Up until now, I’ve been forced to rig my windowsill with an assortment of mousetraps and hope for the best. But now with the recent Snowpocalypse, I finally have the ability to check for footprints before I accidentally string up some poor stray dog in an elaborate “Home Alone”-style booby trap.

Checkmate creepy night stalkers.

Finally, as counterintuitive as it sounds, even the isolation comes with a sliver-ish lining. Really the only upside to living through a hellish barren wasteland of a winter every year, is that we’re all forced to do it together. Call me a peace-loving idealist hippie if you will, but I’m much more inclined to be sympathetic to someone’s misery if I’m also running the risk of freezing solid. There’s a real sense of community that emerges when we’re all forced to live in a place that resembles Hoth more than the planet Earth.

Honestly I expected these silver linings to be a bit more profound and informative. The cold and darkness seem to be feeding on any optimistic creativity I may have started with. If this column were to have any sort of takeaway, it would seem to be that Alaska winters inspire insanity. If you’ve found some small coping mechanism that lessens the hardship, then more power to you.

In case you haven’t found that trick — or for those of you who aren’t okay with unfounded paranoia and poorly crafted booby traps — let me remind you that tickets to Hawaii are relatively cheap, and most of their food grows on trees that bloom for more than three months a year.

There’s always an alternative to the perpetual freezer burn.

Orange

Season of giving

By Suhaila Brunelle

news@thenorthernlight.org The season of giving and thanksgiving is upon us. Student and community organizations are hosting clothing and food drives to help those in need.

UAA Students for Life is hosting a baby shower drive.

President Kasia Balaban said, “We’re basically having people donate baby items, blankets, diapers — whatever you can think of — and donating them to the Community Pregnancy Center and the Heart to Heart Center.”

The Community Pregnancy Center, located on the corner of Lake Otis and Tudor, reaches out to individuals facing an unplanned pregnancy. The center has a baby cache in which women in need can earn baby items by going through educational classes. The center also offers free ultrasounds and free pregnancy tests.

Heart to Heart Pregnancy Center offers the same sorts of services in Eagle River.

Students, staff and faculty can donate items through Nov. 18 by dropping them off at a table in the Student Union. The club meets at 7 p.m. every other Monday in the Student Life and Leadership Lab. For more information, please contact Balaban at uaasfl@yahoo.com.

The Social Work Coalition is hosting a warm clothing drive for the Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis shelter. AWAIC is a safe place for women and children

who are victims of domestic violence. Donations can be made in the Learning Resource Center and the Professional Science Building lobby. For more information, contact Jennifer Honea at jlichter@uaa.alaska.edu The Human Services Department is hosting a peanut butter and jelly drive this month.

Clubs are competing to see who collects the most peanut butter.

Students can also get a parking ticket or late citation waived if they donate an unopened jar of peanut butter or jelly to Parking Services. For more information, please contact the Human Services Department at 907-7866437.

In the community, Beans Cafe seeks the following Thanksgiving items: Boneless turkey, boneless ham, stuffing cubes, dinner rolls, cranberry sause, canned corn, canned sweet potatoes, canned green beans (#10-size cans if possible), French fried onion pieces, cream of mushroom soup, assorted salad dressing, whipped cream (cans), store-bought pies, coffee, fresh fruit, paper items, plasticware, coffee and toilet paper.

Items can be dropped off at 1101 E. 3rd Avenue Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Salvation Army is looking for turkey, pies, whipped topping, dinner rolls, milk and juice. Donations can be dropped off any time at McKinnell House located at 1712 A St.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org

Cooking in

COLLEGE Ingredients • 1 can condensed tomato soup • Water (or milk) • Two slices of bread • 1 tbsp butter • 2 slices of cheese (chef’s choice) Preparation time: 20 minutes Makes around two servings of soup and one sandwich

With the cold Alaska winter of 2013 underway, hot foods are becoming more and more popular. One potent and simple winter classic is nice, hot soup. It’s delicious and warms the body in some of the most satisfying ways possible. It also happens to pair well with the legendary hot sandwich known simply as the grilled cheese, which goes very well when dipped in the hot soup.

And best of all, it only takes a 50-cent can, a little bit of water, a couple slices of bread and a little cheese to soothe that frostbite. It’s a very simple recipe, so let’s get started.

Begin by emptying the can — or cans, if you’re feeding a large group — into a saucepan.

Then, pour the water (or milk, if you want a creamier soup) into the can until it fills completely, then pour that into the saucepan. Throw the medium heat on and begin stirring until it starts to steam.

Meanwhile, heat another pan with medium heat until it’s hot enough to evaporate water.

To test, sprinkle a few drops on it; if it instantly steams up, it’s ready to roll. Put the butter on the pan and wait for it to melt. Then, put the bottom half of the sandwich (cheese atop bread) on the butter, then place the other slice of bread on top.

Wait a bit for it to cook. In the meantime, continue to check on your soup.

Keep checking the bottom of the sandwich. When it browns, flip it over. When the other side browns, get it off the pan and wait for it to cool for a little bit.

When the soup is nice and steamy, pour it into a bowl, coffee mug or other apparatus of choice. If you want to add crackers or something like that, add that stuff before pouring the soup in. That way, they can soak up the soup and turn into a nice, piping hot mush.

Leave the soup’s saucepan on simmering heat to keep it hot if you want to finish it off later or share it with others.

After a long trek home in the freezing cold, a meal like this will warm the even the chilliest college student right up. It’s the perfect treat for long winter days.

04 FEATURES

The Bechdel Test, and why you humans should take note

By Klax Zlubzecon

Translated by George Hyde Before I begin this article, I should point out one thing: We slugs are mono-gender and asexual. There’s no boy, girl, man or woman. There is only slug.

That fact makes this kind of topic very difficult to discuss as a slug, because all I know about feminism comes from George’s head, and truth be told, he doesn’t think too much about it. I think it’s a bit disturbing that there’s a sector of the human population being mistreated, abused and discriminated against, and while George acknowledges this, it doesn’t cross his mind very often.

That is, it didn’t cross his mind until we watched a TED Talk video he had discovered (a highly recommended watch, view it here: http://bit.ly/SX8iIY) regarding a little thing called the Bechdel Test.

The Bechdel Test was formulated by cartoonist Alison Bechdel in her strip “Dykes to Watch Out For.” The test applies to entertainment, be it films, or games, or novels, or anything like that. In order to pass this test, a work must...

A) Feature two named, female characters, B) who talk to each other at some point in the work, and C) about something other than a man.

Seems pretty simple. Two women who just talk about stuff.

It obviously happens. But you’d be surprised at the sheer amount of works that miserably fail the test. “Argo,” last year’s Academy Award winner for Best Picture? Fails the Bechdel Test.

“The Avengers,” a classic, textbook example of summer blockbuster entertainment? That fails it too. Even a modern masterpiece with a great, strong female protagonist, “Gravity,” fails the test.

But George, being the massive nerd he is, wanted to take it a step further and see if the test applied at all to the world of video gaming, and the results are pretty bleak. In our studies, we could count the number of games that passed on George’s own two hands. And out of all of them, there’s only one outstanding example in the triple-A gaming industry: the “Mass Effect” series.

The games center around Commander Shepard, who can be either male or female depending on the player, as he/she tries to end century-long conflicts and unite the galaxy to fight the Reapers, sentient machines bent on cleansing the galaxy of intelligent life.

Shepard is a bit of a dubious example; as we said before,

the character can be either male or female, with the choice of gender only coming into play when optional romantic quests start. But in a way, that’s kind of inspiring; regardless of gender, Shepard ends up fighting to bring peace to the galaxy, and regardless of how sympathetic or cold the player’s choices are, he/she always does the right thing.

But the games don’t stop there. The many female characters in Shepard’s crew, both alien and human, play off of each other and have chemistry, discussing histories, strategies and other personal things that don’t necessarily have to do with men.

It’s a bit shameful that I have to praise someone just for creating female characters like this, but our hats are off to you, BioWare. If only other artists — in any medium, games or otherwise — would follow in your footsteps.

But off the topic of “Mass Effect” again, the man in the TED video brought up a very important statistic: One out of five women in America claim to have been sexually assaulted in their lives.

The speaker brought up an important question that relates to that statistic: Who are these sexual assailants? What are they learning, and where are they learning it?

He mentioned the Netflix Queue as being a powerful tool in showing movies to children, with parents being able to filter out kids’ films that pass the Bechdel Test. Films where instead of a man going out, beating the bad guy and rescuing the girl, it’s a woman (or a man) who raises a team of both men and women to make the world a better place. And there are kids’ films like that.

But as a kid, George grew up with games. They were one of the primary centers of his childhood. And as George thinks about games that he would want his children to play, there’s none there that pass the test (“Mass Effect” is far from child-friendly).

So both he and I think that we need family-friendly games like that. For his kids, he wants less “Call of Duty” or “Devil May Cry” and more something that’s nicer. Maybe not entirely nonviolent, but still not as gung-ho or manly. Because any story where the human race unites and makes the world a better place is good for us.

And if we slugs have to assimilate you all to unite everything, we may as well.

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE. EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.

AE &

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013

ALBUM REVIEW

‘Marshall Mathers LP 2’ by Eminem

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THE FOREIGN FILM FANATIC

‘Shoah’ is definitely an uncompromising epic

By Jacob Holley-Kline arts2@thenorthernlight.org

By Oliver Petraitis KRUA Music Manager

If you didn’t like Shady antics before, stop reading now. If Marshall Mathers is unconditionally your Messiah, you might also stop reading now. This review is for those who are on the fence about a certain rapper who shares a name with a shellac-covered candy.

Well, the real Slim Shady stood up again on the new “Marshall Mathers LP 2.” The fact that not one, but two albums now bear his name is a testament to the fact that he is exactly what he claims to be: “a rap god.” But that doesn’t mean you have to pray to him. You don’t even have to take his word literally. In fact, if “MMLP2” is the Testament, it might be best not to.

Whereas 2010’s “Recovery” was one of the most honest and introspective glimpses into the rapper’s life, rife with struggle and addiction, “MMLP2” returns to Slim Shady’s characteristically heinous, vulgar, and sophomoric id. With track titles like “Bad Guy,” “Asshole,” “Brainless,” “Evil Twin” and “Monster,” it’s not much of a secret that ‘Nem is still pissed off.

Opener “Bad Guy” is an angry revenge track depicting being kidnapped by Stan’s brother, referencing the classic track named after that character.

“So Much Better” boils down to wishing a certain female figure in Marshall’s life would “just drop dead.” It’s angry. It’s vile. And it’s true to form. Few artists can make listeners feel as dirty, deranged and maniacally delighted as Eminem.

But it’s precisely this insanity, whether genuine or feigned, that really makes his music bipartisan.

On the one hand, he is inexcusably (or at least pretends to be) sexist, chauvinistic and homophobic. On the other hand, he is, without a doubt, one of the most talented lyricists in hip-hop history.

True to form, “MMLP2” is well-stocked with witty wordplay and, make-you-think-twice-andthen-laugh lines: “I’m driving drunk because she drove me to drinking.” That lyric encapsulates a lot about Eminem: poor people skills, great rhyme abilities.

While his lyricism has always been consistently sharp, “MMLP2” lacks cohesion in its production. With 16 songs, the record feels self-indulgent and bacchanal. A handful of the tracks (“Berzerk” and “Survival”) sample ‘80s hair-bands, including Billy Squier’s “The Stroke,” to the effect of

sounding like trashy party tracks with dime-store distorted guitar licks. Compared to the Zombiessampled “Rhyme Or Reason” and the confessional “Headlights,” the raucous Detroit-rock tracks sound cheaply produced and entirely unnecessary in the album.

That same apologetic “Headlights” — perhaps one of the best tracks on the album — stands out in context of the record for its honesty and lack of outward anger. The album certainly could’ve been pared down to a more cohesive end, subtracting the banal party tracks that add nothing to the record.

While the record may not feel consistent, it does nothing to harm the rapper’s reputation. By this point, he’s basically untouchable. His rapsper-minute gauge is still redlining. He is still forging some incredibly solid lyrical performances.

He even brought the Yoda Rap on “Rhyme or Reason.”

He has matured a little, but he obviously has not let go of shock-value antipoetry. So in sum, “MMLP2” is pretty good for what it is — another hair-raising Eminem album with some terrible tracks and some terrific ones. His disciples will follow this rap god unconditionally and the nonbelievers won’t reconsider. The point is, it’s not a record to change anyone or anything. There will be no converts.

Title: “The Marshall Mathers LP 2” Label: Aftermath, Shady, Interscope Release date: Nov. 5, 2013 Genre: Hip-hop

In the lonely interior of Poland, far away from any big city or town, is the small village of Chelmno nad Nerem. From 1941 to 1945 it was here that between 152,000 and 340,000 Jews were exterminated. Of the victims kept there, only two survived.

In the opening of ‘Shoah,’ a 1985 French documentary by Claude Lanzmann, one of those survivors, Simon Srebnik visits the camp once again.

“There were two huge ovens ... the bodies were thrown into these ovens and the flames reached to the sky,” says Srebnik on first sight of the old camp. “No one can recreate what happened here.”

The next 9.5 hours of this sprawling elegiac meditation play out like a funeral march. Over 11 years, Lanzmann recorded 350 hours of raw footage. Six of those years were dedicated solely to interviews with survivors of the Holocaust, former SS officers, government officials, bystanders and historians.

So much footage was shot that Lanzmann made four featurelength films from the outtakes.

The interviews are captivating. The most horrifying ones come from former SS officers. One of them, Franz Suchomel, describes the refuse from a Nazi laboratory: “The pits were overflowing and the cesspool seeped out in front of the SS mess hall.”

But the most emotional testimony comes from the survivors.

Abraham Bomba, a former barber in the Treblinka extermination camp, shaved the heads of hundreds of Jewish women.

“Every haircut took about two minutes,” Bomba said. “In one batch there was about, I would say ... between 60 and 70 women in the same room at one time.”

One Polish peasant describes his decision to stand by the atrocities by saying, “Let me put it this way. When you cut your finger, does it hurt me?”

The film is adeptly structured. Audio of the interviews plays over long tracking shots of the locations the interviewee is talking about.

The result is harrowing and oftentimes hard to watch and listen to.

The image quality, even in the Criterion remastered version, is rough and grainy, especially in the hidden camera interviews with former Nazis.

Overall, “Shoah,” despite being meticulously detailed and interviewed, skews one important perspective. The Polish peasants and farmers interviewed are demonized, and their emotional toil is described far less than survivors and even the SS officers. Almost no Polish person educated in the Holocaust is interviewed. In this way, “Shoah” is manipulative, and ultimately it’s lesser for it.

But there’s no denying the status here. The film is incredible and extremely moving. It feeds off the viewer’s empathy expertly and every interview is played out to its full effect.

This film will live in your bones for days, weeks, months and even years to come. It’s devastating in its power and an undeniably important historical document. Viewers patient enough to sit through its 9.5 hour length will be exhausted, but that’s how it should be. Anything less would be just another documentary.

Title: “Shoah” Director: Claude Lanzmann Release date: Oct. 23, 1985 Genre: Documentary Country: France

Alaska’s STD rates are some of the highest in the country.

Use a condom and get tested regularly.

Condoms are available at the UAA Student Health and Counseling Center. Those eligible for Student Health benefits can also get STI testing at the center (www.uaa.alaska.edu/studenthealth).

To find a testing location near you go to www.iknowmine.org

06 A&E GAME REVIEW

‘Ghosts,’ a boring repeat addition to the FPS genre

By yoloswaggins420 YouTube Commenter

OMG, Gosts is gr8 garme. So muchbettr than Crapplefeld Bore. Infinityward knows gam desin like noone else.

For one, the story and grafix is soooo gud. The dog wins ur hart so quickly. The caracters are fun to.

The multiplayer is gud to, just like MW3! The kilstreeks are so fun, though crap n00bs use them to much. N00bs are bad, but the rest of the gam is gud.

Also, I totaly 360 noscoped a guy rite out of —

Okay, you know what? George Hyde (gchyde@ thenorthernlight.org) here. I'm hijacking this review. I need to rant about this.

Back when I was but a small child, I loved the first-person shooter genre. I grew up with games like “TimeSplitters” and “Goldeneye 007,” games that weren't so much about UAVs, airstrikes or K/D ratios so much as they were about stupid fun. And this was back in the day when gamers had to actually play together in the same room.

It was a blast! It didn't handle as easily as “Call of Duty,” and I sucked at these games. Even still, we all had good times. They were easy to learn, but they were hard to master. Aside from skill, no one ever had an advantage just because they played the game longer (unless they played as Oddjob — in that case they were straightup cheating).

But the FPS genre isn't about that anymore. Now it's about online, unlocks, DLC, in-game currency and experience points. Ugh. There are two good reasons “Team Fortress 2” has been at the top of my most-played list over the past few years: It's been a fantastic and fair FPS, and it's pretty much been the only fantastic and fair FPS within the six (going on seven) years it's been out.

For seven years, developers haven't had the common sense to develop a balanced, fun multiplayer FPS game.

They've only been able to make either “Call of Duty” clones or “Call of Duty.” And for me, none of that is fun.

Things have been looking up with niche titles like “Rise of the Triad” or “Natural Selection 2,” but the problem is that they're only reaching a niche audience.

Maybe it's just because I'm such an old fart, but there was so much more to shooters back in the day. There was a sense of heart and character that you just don't see anymore in FPS games.

The gameplay that “Ghosts” runs on isn't bad, per se,

but it's almost the same as most other games in the series.

Most of the gun archetypes return, many of the perks and playstyles return, and while the “Extinction” mode (which replaces the famous zombies of “Black Ops” with aliens) does seem new, it also gets stale quickly. It feels like an expansion pack, and a very dry one at that.

The story? Ha! Players aren't here for the story, and if the developers at Infinity Ward didn't know that, that would be a huge surprise. It's a formulaic mess as usual, with the same cliches and shocking moments players have come to expect.

And speaking of not seeming new, the game doesn't even come close to being as graphically impressive as the next-gen marketing implies. The fact that newer consoles won't be able to run this game at modern resolutions (in addition to the ridiculously high-end PC system requirements) truly baffles me. It runs on the same engine as previous games, and if anything, the generic art style makes it look even worse than other, prettier entries.

“Ghosts” as a whole reeks of apathy. It truly feels like the folks at Infinity Ward just didn't care, as if they believe that “Call of Duty” fans will buy anything as long as it bears the name. To someone who loved FPS games of yesteryear, this title's design feels stale, its marketing feels disgusting and in general, it's impossible to recommend.

Title: “Call of Duty: Ghosts” Developer: Infinity Ward Platform: 360, PS3, Wii U, PS4, XBO, PC Genre: FPS

‘Sleying the Reed’ weaves a moving narrative

By Jacob Holley-Kline and David Blake arts2@thenorthernlight.org

contributor

Under a lattice of lights, the UAA Dance Ensemble emerges in sterile outfits. The performance following, “Sleying the Reed: A Movement Meditation on Women and Violence,” is a resonant portrayal of women’s struggle.

Using spoken word and movement, “Sleying” conveys the struggle with violence against women.

“There’s a tremendous amount of young girls being trafficked, kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery,” said Katherine Kramer, director of the production and term instructor in the theater and dance department, “To me, it is the moral issue of the 21st century.”

Driven by a sense of social justice and inspired by the book and Public Broadcasting Service documentary “Half the Sky,” written by journalists Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas D. Kristof, Kramer wanted to make a statement.

“I felt compelled as an artist to find a way to make a statement,” said Kramer.

The performance is divided into 14 sections choreographed by resident and guest choreographers alike. Visiting guest artist, Joanne Barrett has performed internation-

ally with groups like Michael Clark and Dancers.

Performing with the ensemble is Taylor Hicks, junior theater major with a dance emphasis, “I felt like it was necessary to put my whole heart on the stage and show them this is real,” said Hicks. “I want people to realize (violence against women) is happening today, it’s happening in Anchorage.”

Throughout the performance, UAA alumna Priscilla Hensley Holthouse narrates the movement on stage.

“I was really honored,” said Holthouse. “It was a challenge for me … to find that connection to my creative self.”

Bringing the performance together required immense collaboration.

“The process is important. In the world today, there is more of a need to have the skills of collaboration,” Kramer said.

This work and collaboration is evident on stage. The chemistry between the dancers is palpable, and at a length of 55 minutes it seems to end too soon.

“Sleying the Reed: A Movement Meditation on Women and Violence” is playing from Nov. 15-24 in the UAA Fine Arts Building Room 129. Admission is $10 for UAA students and $14 for the general public.

Confucius Institute sponsors Chinese calligraphy lessons

PHOTOS BY DAN DUQUE

History major Danika Harris composes her calligraphy piece Nov. 12 by practicing symbols such as “mountain” and “moon” as taught by Xinshi Tu during the Chinese calligraphy workshop.

Calligraphy master Xinshi “Harrison” Tu teaches students, staff and faculty members how to compose Chinese calligraphy Nov. 12 during a cultural awareness workshop brought by the Confucius Institute in the Consortium Library.

UAA Culinary Arts presents ‘Chocolate and More Chocolate’

PHOTOS BY DAN DUQUE

Student assistant to Chef Vern Wolfram sets out chocolate-dipped desserts Nov. 15 in the Consortium Library.

Demonstration visitors are treated to chocolate works of art created by students from the Culinary Arts School and Hospitality Chef Vern Wolfram. Wolfram and the culinary students exhibit the versatility of chocolate as both an art and cooking medium.

SPORTS SPORTS BRIEFS

Tanui, Friess receive West Region honors NEW ORLEANS — Alaska Anchorage senior Susan Tanui was named the 2013 NCAA Div. II West Region Female Cross Country Athlete of the Year, while head coach Michael Friess was named the West Region Female Coach of the Year, announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, or USTFCCCA. The Division II Cross Country Championships will take place Nov. 23, in Spokane, Wash., at the Plantes Ferry Sports Complex, hosted by the GNAC. A live online broadcast will be available through http://NCAA.com.

Megatron for MVP

By Mark Hoffman Contributor

Quick trivia question: how many wide receivers have been named NFL Most Valuable Player?

Answer: a big, fat zero.

That’s right, not even Jerry Rice, the greatest wideout ever, was able to corral an MVP trophy during his Hall of Fame career. Quarterbacks and running backs have always dominated the award, prompting the followup trivia question: Has anyone besides a QB or RB ever won UAA falls to 9th in the MVP? Regional VB poll The answer to that one is a weak yes. On INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Alaska Anchorage volleyball team the defensive side of the ball, Vikings lineman fell four spots to No. 9 in the late Alan Page won in 1977 and Giants linebacker Division II West Region rankings, Lawrence Taylor won in 1986. The only other released last week by the NCAA. With an 18-8 overall record, exception also counts as the most shocking — the Seawolves are one of four Redskins placekicker Mark Moseley won the Great Northwest Athletic Conaward in the strike-shortened 1982 season, ference teams currently in the rankings, which determine the the only special teams player ever to do so. eight-team NCAA Regional playThere have been 37 quarterbacks named off field in December. Joining UAA in the top 10 are No. 5 Western MVP. There have been 18 running backs Washington (22-3), No. 6 Central selected as Most Valuable. Since LT in ‘86, Washington (13-10) and No. 10 Northwest Nazarene (15-6). we have seen 26 straight years of QB and RB Central Washington rose one domination. spot in the rankings despite losThat’s boring. It’s time for a change. A ing last week at last-place Montana State Billings, while UAA fell Mega change. from its No. 5 ranking of last week I understand that quarterbacks are imporafter posting a 3-1 home win over Alaska Fairbanks. NNU dropped tant. I understand that running backs can from eighth to 10th after sweepshoulder a heavy workload. But why hasn’t ing road matches at MSU Billings there been any appreciation for the wide and SPU. Trainer: Pacquiao may receiver? This is the year that could change.

There have been aggressive rules implethink retirement BANGKOK (AP) — Manny Pacquiao’s trainer says the Filipino boxer will think about retirement if he fails to perform well against Brandon Rios this month.

Freddie Roach said if the Rios fight “does not go well, we will seriously talk about his retirement,” but he added Pacquiao was training as well the Nov. 24 bout in Macau.

Pacquiao is coming off successive defeats against Timothy Bradley in a much-criticized judges’ decision, and a knockout from Juan Manuel Marquez.

Another defeat would put his career at the crossroads, and while Roach said performance levels were more important than results, he acknowledged serious thought would be given to the future of “Pac-man” if he doesn’t return to his best in Macau.

Pacquiao is juggling his boxing career with responsibilities as a Philippines congressman and other outside interests.

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

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013

07

mented in recent years to protect quarterbacks and wide receivers. The entire league is experiencing a resurgence in the passing game. More emphasis is being placed on the passing attack and most teams have more than one effective running back to help the ground game.

Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are putting up record-breaking numbers and are certainly worthy of MVP praise. But the guys on the receiving end finally have a deserving representative to take the most valuable throne: Calvin Johnson.

You have probably seen Calvin out on the field making huge plays for the Detroit Lions.

And you have probably seen Johnson in TV commercials with Diddy for Nike or on ESPN for SportsCenter.

“Megatron” is not only the best nickname in football, but also the most fitting. The 6-foot-5 specimen has a way of transforming into a futuristic machine on the field, like he was manufactured for the sole purpose of catching passes. Just ask the three Bengals defensive backs he had to outleap for that 50-yard touchdown grab in Week 7.

Last season, Johnson eclipsed Rice’s record for receiving yards in a season, posting 122 catches for a whopping 1,964 yards.

Most years that would have garnered some attention for MVP, but it happened to coincide with a career year from Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards, the second-most all-time, and also ran away with the MVP trophy.

As of Week 10, Megatron is having a stellar season, but will have some work to do if

he wants to surpass his previous receiving record and top the unprecedented 2,000-yard plateau.

He had to miss one game due to injury this year but still has 53 catches for 904 yards with seven games to go. Although his current pace would leave him short of a new record, don’t underestimate Johnson. He proved capable of mass production when he raked in 1,125 yards in a seven game stretch during the second half of last season.

Megatron has had a career filled with eyepopping stats, but 2013 will be the first time that he fulfills one of the most important criteria for an MVP: winning.

The Detroit Lions are in the driver’s seat for the NFC North crown. Matthew Stafford has always been willing to huck it up to Calvin, but adding dynamic running back Reggie Bush to the fold has balanced out the offensive attack and made the Lions a winner.

So far.

Pieces would have to fall into place. Stars would have to align. But the Lions are in the hunt and that means Megatron is at least on the MVP radar.

And Mega change has to start somewhere.

five years.

The win propelled them to Great Northwest Athletic Conference co-Team of the Week honors. It also booked them a spot at the NCAA Division II Championships next weekend.

Senior Susan Tanui and sophomore Joyce Kipchumba registered key performances.

Tanui strengthened her UAA legacy by defending the West Region Championship Belt she took home last year. Kipchumba crossed the line three seconds later, finishing as the runner-up.

Seniors Ivy O’Guinn and Susan Bick had big days too, capturing top 20 victories that helped boost the ‘Wolves score.

The men’s team couldn’t stop the Wildcats from steamrolling but were the closest to doing so. They snagged second place and will join the women at the NCAAs.

The first three runners to cross the finish line were Wildcats. Their grip only tightened when a fourth Wildcat crossed in sixth place.

While Chico State had a big day, the UAA men’s team still put up a fight. Junior Dylan Anthony and freshman Victor Samoei both had top 10 finishes. Junior Isaac Kangogo narrowly missed the top-10 mark, landing in 12th place.

The two teams have kept an exhausting pace over the last five seasons. As mentioned before, the women have won the West Regions four times over that span. The men have two wins and two second-place finishes in that time.

Dynasties aren’t born overnight. A dynasty is molded from many seasons of success, and that’s exactly what this program has had on the west coast. The descriptor may or may not be apt, but it’s worthy of discussion.

Cross-country teams keep staggering pace

By Thomas McIntyre

sports@thenorthernlight.org The last time we caught up with the Seawolf cross country teams, they were undefeated heading into the midway point of the season. Not much has changed.

Both the men’s and women’s teams continued to molly-wop opponents as the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships approached. The two squads took flawless records with them to Spokane, Wash., for the championships in early November. But only one left unscathed.

The women — who entered the meet ranked No. 4 in the country — had to make room in their case for yet another trophy. The team bested the Chico State Wildcats by a slim three points en route to its fourth title in

HOCKEY: ‘Wolves up against Mich. Tech CONTINUED FROM COVER

QANGA DRAWING THE PAST

Head coach Matt Thomas singled these players out and gave them big responsibilities before the season began. His anointed leaders are setting the right tone thus far.

The Huskies are looking up to the ‘Wolves in the WCHA standings. These two games at the Sullivan Arena will be important for a team that’s fighting to get to 0.500.

For the Huskies to climb the ranks, they’ll need sophomore goaltender Pheonix Copley to hold down the net like he has all season.

Hailing from North Pole, Alaska, Copley is transforming into a huge asset for his team.

Copley’s save percentage is at 0.938, which is top-three in the WCHA. His 1.86 goals-against average also sits in the top-three — one spot behind UAA’s Rob Gunderson.

The Huskies’ issues are reminiscent of what Seattle Mariners pitcher, Felix Hernandez, goes through every season. Despite throwing filth and always keeping the opposing team’s score within striking distance, Hernandez struggles to earn wins.

In the Mariners’ case, it’s a lack of bats. In the Huskies’ case, it’s a lack of sticks.

This statistical disparity highlights the problem: in the WCHA, the Huskies are ninth (out of 10) in scoring offense with 2.0 goals per game, and second in scoring defense with 2.2 goals per game.

If the Huskies can get something going offensively, the ‘Wolves could be in for a long weekend.

And if they can’t, the ‘Wolves could wash away a little more of the fan base’s sour memories.

Stats

(as of Nov. 14)

UAA

Goals – Matt Bailey, 6 Assists – Jordan Kwas, 5 Points – Matt Bailey, 9 Plus/Minus – Matt Bailey, +4 Save % – Rob Gunderson, .916 GAA – Rob Gunderson, 1.83 (team stats) Power Play % – 24 Penalty Kill % – 86.7

On view now

Graphic-novel style exhibition tells an epic Inuit survival story

Part of the Anchorage Museum’s

Michigan Tech

Goals – Alex Petan, 6 Assists – Blake Pietila, 5 Points – Alex Petan & Blake Pietila, 6 Plus/Minus – Chris Leibinger, +6 Save % – Pheonix Copley, .938 GAA – Pheonix Copley, 1.86 (team stats) Power Play % – 7.4 Penalty Kill % – 84.5

08 SPORTS Seawolves celebrate victorious basketball weekend

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013

PHOTO BY COREY HESTER

Seawolf Junior, Teancum Stafford goes up against Holy Name’s Forward Terrance Swayne in the first half of the Saturday Nov. 16 game. The ‘Wolves took home the victory with a 88-74 win.

PHOTO BY COREY HESTER

Point Guards Carl Dorn of Holy Names and Brian McGill of UAA dive for the ball late in the first half of the Nov. 16 game.

PHOTO BY DAN DUQUE

UAA freshman Forward Jackson McTier shoots for a basket during the victorious Nov. 16 game against Holy Names University.

Seawolves pummel UAF 3-1 Nov. 9, SFU 3-0 Nov. 16

The Seawolves were victorious against the UAF Nanooks during the Nov. 9 match with a final score of 3-1.

Seawolf sophomore Katelynn Zanders tips off a return from Simon Fraser University during the Nov. 16 match. The Seawolves took home a win of 3:0.

PHOTO BY KAYLA MCGRAW

PHOTO BY COREY HESTER

09 OPINION

09

OPINION

Why UAA should go smoke-free

Some have asked us why we’re doing this. Why are we in support of a smoke-free UAA? All of us on the UAA Smoke-Free Task Force have been affected by smoking.

We’ve watched family and friends struggle to quit. Some of us have watched loved ones die. It is because of them we’re doing this.

This movement is not about limiting your rights. It’s not about discriminating against a group. It’s not about not caring. It’s not about that at all. We know that every time you pick up a cigarette, you limit your rights. You have a right to be healthy. You have a right to live a long life.

Don’t let the tobacco companies fool you. They’re in it for profit, not for you. When you begin to quit, you begin to expand your rights, not limit them. Until then, your choice should not affect another person’s right to breathe clean air.

Thank you to the smokers who support this movement. You are all brave. Courageous. When you support us, you help yourselves and help your community at UAA. We knew this issue would create a lot of debate. We’re listening. We will have plenty of opportunities for more discussion. We want to keep this discussion civil. We want a discussion on the issue, without any personal attacks.

Unfortunately, some have crossed the line into cyber bullying.

We have documented these instances and are ready to forward them to UAA’s Dean of Students Office. We are not afraid. We know we are speaking for the majority of UAA students who want a smokefree campus. A smoke-free UAA helps promote a climate of health.

This climate helps people quit. This climate helps people live longer lives. This climate helps you keep more of your money for books, for tuition and for things that matter rather than cigarettes.

Most of all, this climate helps students to never start smoking in the first place.

The vocal minority will say they care about you most. But in the end, do you have more to gain by smoking or by quitting?

Yesenia Camarena and the UAA Smoke-Free Task Force

HOTTEST TOPICS What is something you think UAA can do better?

Jevante Mcalister

Robin Farmer

I think it would be better to have more social events around UAA, like speed networking

UAA should focus on fixing problems in administration. Financial aid processing and other paperwork is incredibly slow, and often employees don’t know how to help students and are rude. I know a lot of students, myself included, that have had paperwork lost by faculty.

Biological Sciences Major

Art Major

How do you feel about the six proposed coal mines within an hour from UAA’s campus?

Doreen Foster

Dental Hygiene Major

I think coal mines should be at least two hours from UAA campus. With what I’ve heard about mines, they don’t sound too good. I mean, I know it will bring revenue for Alaska, but it should be done “away” from all campus and residential areas. An hour away is scary!

Steve Langdon

Anthropology Faculty Member

The proposed coal development near Tyonek is an example of how ANCSA created possible contradictions between local village subsistence heritage and regional corporation interest in developing the resource for profit. The tribe intends seek protection of the river and their heritage.

Sam Owens

Psychology Major

Parking. I think the easiest way to solve it would be to sell passes by lot. If you have a class in the SBB, you get priority parking in that lot.

June Skinner

Early Education Major

Better parking.

HOTTEST TOPICS QUESTIONS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTS COMPILED BY MOHAGANI ADAMU

Really, why are you sooo serious?

Shayn

Prospective Education and History Major

I’m not cerebral. That’s my favorite thing about me.

Margan Grover

Anthropology Adjunct Professor

But I’m not serious!

COMICS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013

10

The Northern Light is a proud member of the ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS. The Northern Light is a weekly UAA publication funded by student fees and advertising sales. The editors and writers of the Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 4,500. The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy, or parenthood.

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

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

Requests for corrections can be sent to editor@thenorthernlight. org. Print publication is subject to accuracy and available space.

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

The Northern Light newsroom is located on the first floor of the Student Union, directly next to Subway.

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

GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics@thenorthernlight.org Roz Kirkelie

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR news2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR features2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR arts2@thenorthernlight.org Jacob Holley-Kline ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR sports2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ADVERTISING MANAGER 786-4690 ads@thenorthernlight.org Chelsea Dennis MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE ads@thenorthernlight.org Chris Pitka MULTIMEDIA EDITOR multimedia@thenorthernlight.org Vacant STAFF REPORTERS gchyde@thenorthernlight.org George Hyde eerickson@thenorthernlight.org Evan Erickson CONTRIBUTORS MoHagani Adamu David Blake Amanda Brush Yesenia Camarena Evan Dodd dan@thenorthernlight.org Dan Duque Mark Hoffman Oliver Petraitis Misty Vanlue MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Annie Route

11 COMICS

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