MARCH 22 - MARCH 29, 2016
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
A&E
PAGE 5
PAGE 8
UAA will hold open discussions following ‘Stalking the Bogeyman’
UPD is more than campus security
UAA’s women’s basketball team dance their way to Elite Eight By Nolin Ainsworth
sports@thenorthernlight.org
PHOTO BY ADAM EBERHARDT
UAA’s Jessica Madison dribbles past a defender during a regular season game last year at the Alaska Airlines Center. Madison and the Seawolves are in South Dakota this week for the 2016 NCAA Div. II women’s basketball Elite Eight.
Jessica Madison was a rising high school basketball talent in Port Angeles, Washington the last time the UAA women’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2009. Now, seven years and a handful of accolades later, Madison and the seniorladen Seawolves are headed back to the NCAA Div. II women’s basketball Elite Eight. Francis Marion (24-8) will be UAA’s first test this Tuesday, March 22, at the Sanford Pentagon 3 p.m. ADT in the national quarterfinals. The senior guard averaged 13 points in UAA’s three wins in the west region tournament last weekend in Azusa, California. After crushing UC-Dominguez Hills and grinding one out against Cal Baptist two nights later, the Seawolves faced the No. 5 Tritons to decide to decide the best of the west.
Dominating nearly every statistical category in final two quarters, UAA made up for a shaky first half to run away with a 72-57 win over the Tritons, who lost a 76-72 contest to UAA in December. “It just shows even from the beginning of this year how far we have grown as a team,” Madison said of the wins. “We’ve all gotten so much better and really just bought into the system.” All seven off UAA’s seniors saw minutes in the game. Madison and Keiahnna Engel chipped in 13 apiece, and Alysha Devin finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Second-team all-GNAC Kiki Robertson added 6 points and 4 assists. The Tritons were carried by senior guard Jamie Katuna playing in her final game. The Div. I-transfer sank 20 points, recorded 6 rebounds and 5 assists. The other half of the senior class, first-team all West region Farrah Shokoor, was held to just 8 points and 4 rebounds — a shell
SEE ELITE
PAGE 12
SB 174: A university divided By Victoria Petersen
vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org
SB 174, a bill that would allow students, faculty and others on campus to conceal carry firearms and knives on school grounds without license is currently making its way through the Alaska state legislature. The University of Alaska system initially opposed the bill introduced by State Senator Pete Kelly of Fairbanks, who concerned with recent school shootings, believes the bill could stop such attacks by giving students and faculty the ability to protect themselves through their constitutional right to bear arms. “I do think it’s important to legalize concealed carry on campus, mainly because in each school shooting within the last few years, each campus has been a gun free one and it draws the idea of what could have happened, what lives could have been spared had even one person with a license to carry been within range of the shooter,” Kally GreeneGudmundson, a marketing student at UAA, said. “I know several students who already carry concealed weapons on their person or in their vehicles, not to increase violence or rebel against gun control, but because they feel it’s their civil right to
SEE GUNS
ILLUSTRATION BY INNA MIKHAILOVA
PAGE 2
facebook.com/northernlightuaa
@TNL_Updates
@thenorthernlightuaa
thenorthernlight.org
youtube.com/tnlnews
NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
| 02
Alaska Shield: Emergency response exercise occurring at UAA on April 1 By Kathryn Casello
kcasello@thenorthernlight.org
Key emergency organizations in Alaska will come together on April 1 to test their systems, protocols and their ability to work together in the event of a crisis. This year’s exercise will mimic an active shooter threat involving Alaska Homeland Security, Alaska FBI and Alaska Fire Department, as well as Providence Hospital and the American Red Cross. UAA will participate by holding the scenario on West Campus, where students will be in place to act as hostages and terrorists. USUAA Vice President Matthieu Ostrander explained how the Alaska Shield drill is a tool for emergency planning. “’We don’t know’ isn’t the response you want when you ask ‘what if?’ Preparing our response could save lives. It also helps up recognize what we can do now. We might realize that we need stronger doors or a better way to navigate buildings in emergencies,” said Ostrander of the Alaska Shield exercise. Along with larger organizations around the state, UPD will be active in the exercise as first responders to the crisis. Lieutenant Michael Beckner of UPD
explained the role UPD plays in the exercise. “Just like sports practices or studying and homework for academics, like anything else we have to practice to make sure we’re good and prepared for what might happen. Agencies that tend not to work together have an opportunity to come together to make sure there aren’t any gaps in security and work out any kinks,” Beckner said. “On that day, we’ll have officers that would normally be on a regular shift to respond to the call reporting the incident. We’ll take the lead and APD will arrive and join them.” According to Alaska Homeland Security, the bicentennial exercises are designed to evaluate 13 core capabilities of participants. Community resilience, cybersecurity, environment response/ health & safety, fatality management services, intelligence & information sharing, mass care services, mass search and rescue operations, on-scene security and protection, operational communications, operational coordination, planning, public health and medical services, and public information and warning. The University’s Incident Management Team (IMT) works closely with UPD to make sure that all students, faculty and staff are informed about what’s happening on campus and coordinat-
ing plans for safety on campus. Kristin DeSmith, the Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Relations, is part of the IMT and will be involved in the emergency notifications process. “The drill gives us an opportunity to work together as a team in situations that require being cohesive and getting information out to people on campus, and the best way to do that is practice,” DeSmith said. “It helps us to find out where we might need to practice more to keep the campus as safe as possible.” DeSmith explained that the Alaska Shield exercise is an active drill as opposed to a “table top scenario” which allows more realistic and interactive practice. “It’s really cool to see so many organizations involved in the drill, from health care to law enforcement,” DeSmith said. Ostrander and Beckner recommended that students who will be on campus during the time of the drill to stay away from West Campus to help participants be as effective as possible. “Students should follow up on the exercise and see what we learn, but that doesn’t mean they should show up. This is not a spectacle, it’s a drill for an emergency,” Ostrander said. Even though the Alaska Shield drill is primarily aimed towards preparing
emergency personnel, there are ways that students can learn from the drill and be aware of what their role is in campus emergencies. “In times of emergencies and crisis, students need to listen and follow instructions,” said Beckner. “The police will send out messages through email, text and phones, and the best thing to do is pay attention because we’re doing it for your safety.” Beckner clarified that the drill is for training purposes and is not reactive to any specific or credible information regarding a terrorist threat. “It’s simply so that if the unthinkable does happen we are prepared. We know that this can be upsetting or difficult for some students, so if anyone has any issues or any trauma regarding this, they can get with the Care Team or the Student Health Center, or can call us as well if they need someone to talk to.” The Alaska Shield exercise is set to start around 8 a.m. and will last until noon on April 1 with alerts and messaging operating through the UA Online systems and information. The drill is a exemplary demonstration of the hard work of security organizations to keep Alaskans safe and prepared for the worst.
GUNS: UA community disunited over controversial concealed carry SB 174
CONTINUED FROM COVER
protect themselves especially if they have the license to do so, and within reason, I’d have to agree.” In the unfortunate case of a school shooting, opinions diverge of whether or not having more weapons on campus would help or hinder. “I think it’s important to create a safe space on campus, and I’m not convinced allowing concealed weapons on campus helps that,” said Devin Frey, a theater major. “UAA has never had a shooting on campus, and if concealed carry is legalized I think we’re much more likely to see someone snap in a moment of pressure and hurt either themselves or others.” Universities are typically deemed as places with particular sensitivity to firearms. Similar to grade schools, hospitals and government buildings; universities are generally gun-free zones. “A university should be a gun-free environment because it’s impossible to teach and to learn at the point of a gun, even if it’s hidden. Complete safety is impossible and complete freedom destructive. I think we should seek a higher ethical mandate than for everyone to be armed at all times and in all situations,” said Daniel Kline, department chairman and English professor. Allowing campus concealed carry is a growing trend. Eight states, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin and Utah have laws addressing the same issue as SB 174. Kansas’s bill will be implemented by July 2017 and Texas’s bills by Aug. 2016. In addition, a similar bill will be voted on by the State of Georgia on March 24. “I think it will be passed. In fact, I don’t think it would’ve been introduced unless the majority felt they would be able to pass SB 174. I hope that the governor would veto the bill if it were to pass, but even then it would likely be overturned. This is a systematic effort across the country,” said Kline. In a time of failing oil prices and a state budget crisis it’s important to consider the cost of putting bills, such as SB 174, into effect. With the University of Alaska estimat-
ing an initial cost of $1.3 million in the first year for implementing SB 174, continual implementation will cost the university an additional $800,000 per year to maintain. “When the university system is down 15 percent over the last three years and is looking at another 15 percent cut this year alone [about $50 million this year alone]. I think this is a colossal waste of money and evidence of highly misplaced priorities,” said Kline. “You can think about it this way, $1.3 million approximately equals 13 fulltime tenure track faculty members [salary and benefits].” With legislature and university officials debating the logistics of SB 174, students seem divided amongst the controversial issue of guns on campus. “I feel that UAA’s primary obligation is to provide a safe learning environment to all students. In my opinion, if SB 174 is legalized, it will create a safety hazard and significantly more distractions and general incidents that detract from UAA’s credibility as an institution,” said Johanna Richter, economics major. Many students weigh heavily on the importance of proper usage of weapons and the benefits of such weapons as a tool of protection. “I’m not against guns but I am against people who don’t know how to use them properly carrying them. Anyone who is qualified - key word - should be able to carry. I have a right to protect myself if I come on campus,” said Jenelle Bennett, a radiologic technology student at UAA. SB 174 will affect the feeling of safety among students and faculty dramatically, for better or worse. A controversial issue, important among university officials and the state of Alaska, is closest to the hearts of those who attend the university and those who work alongside these students. Whether these people are coming to work or to school it is important for them to feel safe. A student and faculty body divided by what exactly that entails can come to the agreement that their opinions should be heard before action takes place. “Ultimately I think this is a discussion that UAA students, faculty, and administrators should discuss, not the legislature,” said Matthew Newkrik, a student at UAA studying logistics. The bill has passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee and currently resides in the state’s Senate Financial Committee.
NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
BRIDGING
the GAP
Make success your priority!
Take advantage of priority registration to get the classes you need to complete your degree on time!
Not all online classes are created equal. Don’t get lost in your online class.
SENIORS (90+ Credits)
12:01 a.m. - Monday, Nov. 9 JUNIORS (60-89 Credits)
12:01 a.m. - Tuesday, Nov. 10
• KPC caps enrollment at 30 students • Highly qualified faculty, trained in distance delivery • Many KPC courses are QM (Quality Matters) certified • Personalized attention and accessible faculty
SOPHOMORES (30-59 Credits)
12:01 a.m. - Wed., Nov. 11 FRESHMEN (0-29 Credits)
12:01 am. - Thursday, Nov. 12
• KPC is a University leader in E-Learning
NEW PENDING DEGREE-SEEKING
KPC is UAA on the Kenai Peninsula! Students from Alaska and beyond are discovering why Kenai Peninsula College is one of Alaska’s best kept secrets in higher education.
12:01 a.m. - Monday, Nov. 16 OPEN REGISTRATION
12:01 a.m. - Monday, Nov. 23
VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.KPC.ALASKA.EDU OR CALL US AT 1.877.262.0330 The University of Alaska is an AA/EEO employer & educational institution.
| 03
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
| 04
The secret to Trump’s success In the year 2013, an alien brain slug from one of the galaxy’s most feared empires crash-landed on Earth and assumed control of a lowly reporter at this newspaper. These are his stories.
By Klax Zlubzecon
Translated by George Hyde Boy howdy, have you seen those Trump rallies? Scary stuff. It seems like for the past few weeks, my host and I have heard many horror stories about people going to protest at Donald Trump rallies, only to get removed — sometimes violently — from the event. While some of these removals have been with relatively peaceful security forces, the treatment these protesters have seen from Trump supporters is kind of disgusting. It got so bad that a rally in Chicago was hastily canceled after violence ensued between protesters and supporters. Trump himself has been really wishywashy about the whole thing. While he claims that there’s no violence, even call-
ing them “lovefests” at one point, he has said things at his rallies that deliberately rouse his supporters. He knows how to command a crowd. As a technologically advanced alien brain parasite, his sway has always puzzled me. After the recent violence at his rallies, however, I can only come to one conclusion with these facts. Donald J. Trump is secretly a psychic mastermind. Is he human? Maybe. Some of the more banal species under our control have given birth to some individuals gifted in psychic abilities. It’s possible that his parents had unknowingly given birth to a psychic mutant. It’s also possible that he’s a hypnokinetic alien from some reach of space that we haven’t discovered yet, and he’s in disguise. That’s bordering on crazy conspiracy talk, though. Nonetheless, we can’t deny the evi-
dence. Trump’s supporters follow his every whim. They’re conditioned to respond violently, sometimes physically, to anyone who thinks differently. Any and all criticism of Trump is deflected away and ignored. At rallies, it seems as if they cannot be reasoned or bargained with. Even his former rivals, like Chris Christie or Ben Carson, have eventually found Trump’s psychic pull difficult to resist. Look at Christie’s face when he made his official endorsement. He’s fighting it! He has the look of a man that’s trying desperately to break free from the Trump spell. Carson even praised Trump as a “very cerebral” candidate, claiming that the Trump we see inciting violence and failing to sell steaks is a different Trump from the one trying to “consider things carefully.” He knows! He knows about those powers! I’d argue they’re the same person, though. Trump is playing a long game, using his rabid fan base as an important unit in the grand design. He thinks he’s got it all figured out. However, I see a gaping hole in his strategy. See, his psychic powers are pretty feeble, from what I’ve seen. They’re able to sway the incredibly weak-minded (see Sarah Palin) but those strong-willed among us can see the danger he poses to America. It doesn’t actually take much to resist his psychic strength. From the looks of it, it’s easier to shrug off than a Jedi mind trick. Protesters at his rallies are right there, in the same square mile as the guy, and they can resist it. One guy, Thomas DiMassimo, even tried to get up on stage in an Ohio rally for a brief moment, and judg-
ing from a recent CNN interview, he still seems fine. If Trump can’t use his powers to influence someone who’s right up there with him, he still needs to work on it. That’s hilariously weak. There are psychokinetic children under the Empire’s control that have far more power than this guy. Maybe it’s because humans haven’t adapted to psychic energy, or maybe Trump is just the wrong man with the wrong power. Up until now, he’s failed to sell us everything from vodka to magazines. He flip-flops from opinion to opinion whenever the convenience arises. At his rallies, he proposes ideas that are flatout impossible. It seems that for as psychically powerful as Trump is, he’s still pretty weakminded himself. That’s a special kind of irony. Trump still has a lot of supporters that’ll be voting for him in the coming election, though. You know the best way to counter that. Alaska’s Republican primaries have already occurred — Ted Cruz narrowly secured victory, meaning that our state isn’t all crazy — but if Trump does secure the nomination, vote against him! Even if you’re a Republican and you don’t like the idea of a Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton White House, you’ve gotta admit that Trump would put our country in a far poorer state than either of those two. So stay strong. You don’t have to be very strong to deflect Trump’s rhetoric, but hey. It always helps to be vigilant.
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.
EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.
What’s up with parking at UAA Challenges facing UAA Parking Services
By Jake Johnson
jjohnson@thenorthernlight.org
Countless vehicles aimlessly circle the parking lots of the UAA campus like sharks in search of prey, only their prey is a simple 19 by 8-foot parking spot. Students, visitors and professors continually deal with the agony of parking on UAA’s campus. There a few things to consider about what makes parking at UAA so difficult though, and how the school’s Parking Services department is attempting to fix these challenges. UAA faces a challenge that many university campuses across the nation do not face - UAA is a commuter campus. A commuter campus simply stated means that the majority of students at UAA don’t live on campus or even close to campus, instead they commute in for classes then commute out to return home. This results in a large amount of vehicles during class hours and relatively vacant lots during non-class hours. All UAA parkers are required to purchase a campus parking permit. Parking permit costs range from $50$250 during fall and spring semesters. The cost of these permits covers the building and maintenance of parking lots and parking garages, including snow removal and much of the grounds functions like sanding, bike path maintenance, Seawolf shuttle, People Mover, Valley Mover passes and Zimride, according to the Parking Services associate director Falon Harkins. These costs are also covered with the $13 student transportation fee which “supports campus shuttle service, U-Pass People Mover Program (citywide bus pass), bicycle racks, trail/sidewalk maintenance and Call Team walking services.” Harkins stressed that the money collected from the
student transportation fee does not account for enough money to make up for the needs, so revenue from parking permits supplements those costs. UAA Parking Services is still struggling to make ends meet for these services, however. “There will be an increase to parking permit prices beginning in the fall of 2016 (FY17),” Glenna Muncy, UAA parking services director, said. Permit prices have not been raised since the 2009 fall semester. “Parking Services will be tasked with funding the full cost of the Seawolf Shuttle operations and fleet beginning in FY17 so an increase is unavoidable to maintain the current level of service,” Muncy said. This cost is associated with the budget cuts facing the parking services department next year. UAA parking services Glenna Muncy also wanted to push the fact that even though permit prices are rising this fall they are staying competitive with industry averages. Depending on the permit you purchase keep in mind that a $36.50 raise in cost this fall is only ten cents a day more. UAA is not simply jacking up the cost of permits without attempting to give the students something back though. As efforts such as a mobile app for pay and park services to drivers are in the works for the fall semester. Also a new garage will be opening this fall offering about 500 additional parking spots to students. If these spots are too far away from your classes, the shuttle should also be offering new stops from certain lots and new garages to accommodate students. “We are also exploring ways to provide students flexibility by offering a garage pass that would allow access to any garage similar to the way the annual yellow pass currently allows access to any surface lot,” Muncy said.
“The details haven’t been finalized yet, but the idea is to allow drivers the option to choose between covered garage parking or surface lot parking for different prices,” Muncy said. While many believe parking violation citations may make up most of UAA Parking Services revenue, the tickets account for very little of their budget. “The funds from citations are generally not substantial making a small portion of the parking budget in comparison to permit sales,” Harkins, said. “It is also not constant, so revenue from citations is difficult to budget. Normally it pays for unforeseen costs that arise in the year, like repairing potholes or replacing signage.” UAA Parking Services’ job is working to develop safe and effective ways to improve the lots despite serious budget cuts looming over their heads. Parking Services also offers other services that Amhad J. Nichols, the Enforcement Supervisor at UAA, would like the students of UAA to be aware of whether they park on campus or not. “We do vehicle unlocks if you lock your keys in your car, vehicle jump starts and safety escorts across campus,” Nichols said. These services are carried out through the use of the University Police Department, a chunk of which is also funded by the purchase of a parking permit, according to Harkins. Many students may still ask why they even need to purchase parking permits for a school they already pay large amounts to for an education. Keep in mind that most places you park although they do not require parking permits, acquire that same money through percentages of sales associated with the businesses.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
| 05
Copycat Savannah Smiles By Victoria Petersen
vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org
Savannah Smiles bear the name of the city founding the Girl Scouts of America, Savannah, Georgia. Savannah Smiles are light lemon flavored cookies with a subtle crunch. These cookies are perfectly accompanied with tea. Iced sweet tea, more specifically, to stay in quintessential Southern style. Follow this recipe, inspired by Delish contributor Maria Siriano’s take on the Girl Scout cookie, to have these zesty treats anytime of the year.
Copycat Savannah Smiles Ingredients: 1 cup of butter 1 cup of powdered sugar 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon of lemon zest 1/2 teaspoon of salt 3 cups of flour
PHOTO BY VICTORIA PETERSEN
Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line your baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a bowl, beat butter until creamy while gradually adding the powdered sugar, until you have added 1/2 cup. Beat on medium speed until fluffy. Mix in the lemon juice, zest and salt while beating on low. Slowly add the flour, until mixed thoroughly. 3. With a spoon, scoop the dough out and place on the cookie sheet. Form each ball of dough into the shape of a half moon. 4. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned near the edges. After the cookies have cooled completely, sprinkle on the remaining 1/2 cup of powdered sugar.
University Police Department spring break ride along
PHOTO BY JAKE JOHNSON
Officer Perry Morgan’s UPD Cruiser during a traffic stop.
By Jake Johnson
jjohnson@thenorthernlight.org
On the evening of Friday, March 11 most UAA students looked forward to first weekend of spring break 2K16. A day many would agree, should have been filled with alcohol related shenanigans and sticky situations among campus residents. Even I myself assumed the night would consist of raucous partying and joyous relief around the UAA campus, part of my incentive for signing up for a UAA Police Department ride along. After I filled out the the paper work and was approved for the ride along, it was around 6 p.m. when I was told by a very stringently voiced man over a phone outside the UPD door to wait patiently for him to find an officer to assign me to. Within minutes, I was greeted by UPD Officer Perry Morgan, who used to serve as a patrol officer in Panama City Beach in northern Florida, also where MTV Spring Break used to shoot all of their shows. In relation to Morgan’s prior experience, UAA spring break is a bore around campus. “The students seem to have learned to settle down by the second semester,” Morgan said. While UAA doesn’t seem like a fitting environment
for spring break activities based on the beach and pool party stereotypes created by MTV, I still assumed there was going to be some type of partying going on nearby. Morgan touched on the fact that after the first couple weeks of the fall semester UAA’s campus begins to die down to mostly just traffic stops and miscellaneous arguments among student housing. The ride along quickly was redirected to more of a tour of the area UPD covers. The main campus area, as well as housing and the University Lake areas, are not the only places UPD officers are expected to patrol during their shifts. All across the east and south sides of town and even downtown, buildings that belong not only to UAA, but the University of Alaska, are enforced by UPD. There are buildings such as the University Center, Aviation Buildings and University of Alaska leased property spread out around town. During these commutes between locations across town, Officer Darrel Redick said they must stop if they are being flagged down or if they see any illegal activity taking place. “All of us have a lot of prior police background,” Redick said. Redick served as a member of the APD SWAT and
was retired before his return to UPD. The common misconception that university cops are just like mall cops was swiftly corrected by the UPD members when asked, before being briefed about the plethora of criminal justice knowledge in UPD uniform. Although UPD has a wealth of knowledge and experience, they do not engage with the criminal justice program at UAA at all. Morgan stated that at one point they did, by allowing students to work with them during lock up, but that program has long since been gone. During the ride along, Morgan also made multiple traffic stops all that ended up being warnings. Although it would have been exciting to engage in a car chase or shootout, it was a more than eye opening experience to how different UAA’s campus is than other colleges in the nation, as well as the major differences within the city of Anchorage as of late. “All neighborhoods are bad, or have the potential to be bad,” Morgan said. As Anchorage crime heats up, APD and UPD work closely to keep the danger away from the campus area. Alaska is one of the worst states in the nation for sexual assault crimes and college campuses are a magnet for such activity. UPD stated that they usually only see 1 or 2 cases a year, typically this is a good sign except for the fact that almost 70 percent of sexual assault cases are not reported. Morgan let me know about the availability of the Emergency Call stations that are provided around UAA and serve as a direct line to the UPD dispatch, as well as flash to alert nearby students or staff that something is not right. Any student can fill out the paper work for a ride along at any time of the year, but the UPD officers would admit that during the summer months and school breaks not much is happening on campus. University Police Department ride alongs can result in great conversations in a very open and comfortable environment, shared with a few very knowledgeable officers. It was a great experience with even greater people who have worked nights and weekends the majority of their lives so students like you and I can feel safe. When you come in contact with a UPD officer on any terms always remember, their first job is to provide a safe campus environment, so shake their hands and thank them for the service they provide, and maybe sign up for a UPD ride along and experience how they operate first hand.
06 | A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
Between the frozen pines: Redemption in the backcountry A well-meaning column rife with clunky metaphors and horrible advice, Orange Rhymes With is the goto place to break the monotony of classes and laugh at someone else’s misfortune.
By Evan Dodd Contributor
We left off last week, or at the very least I wrote a thing and emailed it off into the ether, never to be seen again, discussing the wet conditions of the first two days of my backcountry class’ three-day excursion. The picture I painted last time may not have been flattering, perhaps even less so than the trip deserved, but by day three our luck had changed. I had been to Tenderfoot only once via my first backcountry course, and to say that it was unremarkable fails to fully capture the despair of that trip. With such a pitiful snowfall near the highway, we were actually able to drive a mile in the road before we left the bus, whereupon we were forced to climb the initial knoll with skis on our backs as there wasn’t even enough snow to cover the grass. On that particular trip I’d made a grave miscalculation regarding the snowpack and opted for microspikes rather than snowshoes; a decision that remained functional until I found myself on a 35 degree slope with snow up to my chest, watching the group become smaller and blurrier in the distance. Eventually an instructor had to retreat back to give me another student’s splitboard in an attempt to teach me to ski for the first time halfway up a mountain. Suffice it to say that I’ve never before been that demoralized or sweaty and never wish to be so again. It was for this reason that our instructors found it amusing to refer to that godforsaken stretch of up-track as “Evan’s Alley”, which thoroughly confused my ego as it both highlighted a monumental failure while appealing to my vanity by naming something inconsequential after myself. Today however, we had more snow than we knew what to do with. While it had been storming the entire weekend,
Robert Rodamer and the rest of UAA’s backcountry skiing class make their way up Tenderfoot.
which had caused the soggy conditions in most areas, a colder front had deposited a softer bit of snow, coating every conceivable surface and weighing down the frozen pines with dense pillows of snow. Our approach was hindered by the snow somewhat, as we deviated from the traditional skin track due to the slope angle and heavy loading from the storm. Having a general direction in mind we decided to choose a lower angle approach seeking shelter through the tree line, with admittedly mixed results. The area had been bombarded with snow, and as we zigzagged between the thick tree cover we were slowed somewhat by the inevitable simple pleasure of whacking various branches to see tens of pounds of snow drop beside us. I’m not entirely sure that we didn’t just wander amongst the trees for the better part of forty minutes, only to emerge in the clearing we would have originally aimed for in the first place. However, there is something to be said for taking the scenic route, particularly when you have the luxury of five other people breaking trail for you. When at last we finally reoriented ourselves and gained the ridge there was an electric current of excitement among the group as we hastily packed our gear and strapped in for the best snow most of us had seen in years. Avoiding the wind loaded slopes above us, a number of our group veered off to the left for what may have been the most consistent and exhilarating run I’ve ever had. I wish only that I were a skilled enough writer to accurately depict the euphoria of the experience, but as the only comparisons that come to mind involve advising you to listen to Dark Side of the Moon in a very altered state, I’d recommend that
you just let your imagination wander and run with whatever comes to mind. Fresh off the mountain high of the first run, half of us again climbed the upper portion of the mountain for a second shot, while the others dug a test pit large enough to house the entirety of the Wu Tang Clan in order to identify the various faceted layers in the snow. After evaluating the relative depth of the weak layer and discussing a safe exit we descended down the mountain, transitioning between excessive speed and the struggle to maintain momentum as the snow once again turned to wet cement below our feet. We concluded the trip with an impromptu search for buried beacons, practicing the techniques which had
formed the foundation for the course; which was remarkably well coordinated and efficient considering that we had just climbed the same mountain twice. As we loaded the bus and set out to return conditions again turned to rain and slush, signaling the end to our narrow window of winter snow for the course. Following the trip, I tended to my gear and soothed my aching muscles in a time-honored tradition I’ve developed to recover from excursions over the years. That is to say that I filled my CamelBak with the darkest stout I could find, hung it from my shower rod like an absurdly effective IV bag and took a shower bath until I no longer felt the ache of another successful backcountry venture.
The class dug pits on Tenderfoot to look at the various layers of snow and judge how safe it was to ski.
Some of the class observes the pit digging from above.
UAA’s backcountry skiing class skinning up Tenderfoot as they knock the newly fallen snow off trees.
A&E
| 07
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
‘Munyurangabo’ finds beauty in patience By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor
There is a class of film that relies on silence. The Japanese science fiction movie “The Clone Returns Home” and the American dramedy “The Station Agent” are good examples of this. By letting scenes breathe, the story progresses more patiently. Long takes, take the place of the traditional shot/counter-shot structure of conversations. The film “Munyurangabo” does these things beautifully, infusing them with deep cultural and per-
sonal importance. Set some years after the Rwandan Genocide, “Munyurangabo” follows the Tutsi Munyurangabo (Jeff Rutagengwa), orphaned by the genocide, and his Hutu friend Sangwa (Eric Ndorunkundiye) on a journey. Where they are going and why is a mystery, one best revealed by watching the movie. Director Lee Isaac Chung sets the pace early on. In the opening shot, Ngabo sits patiently while a man is beaten beside him. In a way, this sequence perfectly encapsulates the movie. It is calm, meditative, with a heart of frenetic energy.
From there, in an elegant structural choice, the structure of every scene reflects the structure of the movie itself. For its 90 minute running time, the narrative simultaneously expands and contracts, probing deep into Ngabo and Sangwa’s cultural identities and how the responsibilities therein clash with their personal values. This exact tension is elucidated in a climactic moment. Over one long take, poet laureate for Rwanda’s Liberation Day ceremony Eduoard Uwayo recites his poem “Liberation is a Journey.” It’s a sequence that almost becomes didactic. Instead, director Chung deftly subverts the poem’s message and reveals Ngabo’s true nature in the shot directly afterward. This single cut redefines the movie’s message and its ostensible protagonist. What starts out as a road movie becomes a serene character study. Ngabo
is the only Tutsi in a house of Hutus for a majority of the movie. While cultural tensions wax and wane between Ngabo and Sangwa’s father, it has ripples beyond them. Ultimately, their relationship (or lack thereof) reflects the tension between cultures and generations. Sangwa’s people killed Ngabo’s father. Without a blood price exacted, that fact seems inescapable. However, the movie ends on a strange note of hope. There is not one wasted shot in the movie. While scenes are unbroken and long, Chung is economical with his storytelling. By upending cinematic convention, and opting for a sedate pace, “Munyurangabo” becomes an astonishing gem. It is leisurely paced, but tightly structured. Elegantly simple and exceptionally dense all at once, “Munyurangabo” is, without a doubt, a masterpiece.
TITLE “Munyurangabo”
DIRECTOR Lee Isaac Chung
RELEASE DATE May 24, 2007
COUNTRY Rwanda
GENRE Drama
MUSIC REVIEW
Azalea ball hogs on ‘Team’ Iggy Azalea’s new single ‘Team’ By Felipe Godoy Diaz Contributor
Back in 2012, a friend showed me one of Iggy Azalea’s first music videos. The song was an explicit ode to the female organ. No, seriously, the song is titled “Pu$$y.” It included memorable lines such as “Give me head, Abe Lincoln” and other ridiculous one liners that can go unmentioned. From there, Azalea’s rise to stardom came rather quickly. Now just four years later, she has become a figure in pop music but a laughing stock on the Internet. Her new single “Team,” released late last week, is her latest effort at proving her critics wrong. The song crosses genres like EDM, Trap, and Hip-Hop to create a warped version of a radio pop track. With a plethora of producers and song writers credited, the song itself is confused as to what
it is trying to be. Azalea’s lyrics only make matters worse by attempting to encompass everything that is relatable to pop culture in the year 2016. With a delivery and flow eerily to that of Fetty Wap and references to Chance the Rapper to legendary composer Hans Zimmer are all thrown blindly into the song. It is almost as if Azalea wants you to prove her wordplay only to come up short. Azalea also makes sure to give a shout out to celebrity Kylie Jenner, because nothing is more important than referencing a Kardashian. Just ask Kanye, he loves talking about them. The track closes with the bridge sampling Juvenile’s 1998 jam “Back That Azz Up,” a rather strange and random choice. Make no mistake, the track will definitely become popular and chances are you’ll be hearing “Team” a lot this summer. Just like Azalea’s career whether you like or dislike her, you will not be able to escape it.
ARTIST Iggy Azalea
LABEL Def Jam
SONG “Team”
RELEASE Jan. 8, 2016
GENRE Hip-Hop/Rap
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
| 08
David Holthouse’s story inspires UAA’s ‘Stalking the Bogeyman’
Chris Evans and Devin Frey rehearsing one of the pivotal moments in “Stalking the Bogeyman.”
By Casey Peterson
cpeterson@thenorthernlight.org
While working at a newspaper in Denver, Colorado in 2004, David Holthouse published an article about being raped as a 7-year-old boy. Holthouse — a native of Alaska — like many victims of rape, kept the episode to himself for many many years. Finally, as an adult, he wrote an article about his experience. This article is the major inspiration of an upcoming play that will be put on by the Theater Department at UAA entitled “Stalking the Bogeyman.” A play adaptation of Holthouse’s story first ran as an off Broadway production starting in 2013. The current adaptation is being worked by UAA professor Brian Cook, and will begin April 1 and run through the 24 with shows every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. All performances will be in the Harper Studio Theater. Cook is the play’s director, and though this is his first year at UAA, he has a lot of experience directing plays about sexual violence. Cook says that he hopes the play “sparks a community discussion about the issue,” a sentiment echoed by everyone that is working on this production. Cook will be directing six actors from the UAA theater department who are set to tackle this play about one of the more unpleasant truths in the world. The actors, on top of their training for their performances, are also getting help from a few of UAA’s Psychology grad students to ensure that they feel comfortable answering any questions that audience and community members may have about the production. From the very early stages of “Stalking the Bogeyman,” now over a year in the working, Dr. Claudia Lampman, director and professor of the department of psychology at UAA, was asked if the psychology department could lend a hand. Lampman appointed Rebecca Robinson, assistant professor and graduate of UAA, to head up the project.
Robinson is leading a team of graduate students who will be providing assistance to the cast and audience members. At least one of the students, or Robinson herself, has been present during each of the production rehearsals, and several will be available each night of the production to offer support to anyone that may need it. The play offers a lot of critical insight into sexual violence and several projects are being done by psychology students, including doctoral dissertations. The team that is collaborating on the production extends beyond UAA. Standing Together Against Rape, Alaska Children’s Trust and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium are all pitching in with their experience to provide resources that will be available to the public during and after the production. Due to the heavy themes in the play, a talk back session will be held at the end of each showing that will discuss the play and open up a dialog to the audience. Cook, and either Robinson or a representative will be present to help facilitate questions that may arise. The actors will also be joining the talk back, so the audience can hear their insight into the characters that they will be portraying on stage. Those audience member that wish to participate are invited to stay after the production and add their voice to the group. In addition to the talk back session at the end of each performance, “Stalking the Bogeyman” will be offering artistic outlets to the viewers to help to keep the conversation going. There will be a web outside the theater where the audience can add comments or experiences, and there are plans to have mini zen gardens outside the theater as well, to help relax those that may need a little calming down after the play. One particular art project involves the audience participation in the creation of lanterns that contain thoughts, feelings and maybe even experiences surrounding sexual violence. Each program given out to the audience will contain a piece
Chris Evan’s threatens Devin Frey with a sword.
PHOTOS BY O’HARA K SHIPE
Chris Evans and Devin Frey, the principle characters in “Stalking the Bogeyman” rehearse a scene where they both play Atari.
of a lantern for the audience to add their insight to. The lanterns will be pieced together and become a part of the production. The team plans to carry the lanterns with them during the tour starting this coming May. The art projects are meant to give everyone a way to express themselves. Those that might normally keep silent may find adding their voice to the conversation through artistic expression a preferred method of contribution. Robinson said that the art projects and the talk back sessions after the show are intended to provide the audience with “multiple ways to express their emotions verbally or creatively.” With all the different ways to add ones voice to the community dialog about sexual violence, the entire team feels that they will help to validate others experiences of sexual violence, especially those that would normally remain silent. Once the performances end at UAA, the journey of “Stalking the Bogeyman” will continue. The team has shows planned in Palmer this May, as well as a production during The Last Frontier The-
ater Conference in Valdez this coming June. After these shows the team is hoping to continue touring with the play with plans to visit Homer, Seward, and Fairbanks. The purpose of this tour is to show the play to a wider audience, and get the conversation about sexual violence started all over the state. The issues of sexual violence and rape are not foreign to community discussion, especially in Alaska, which has the largest percent of domestic violence of any of the states in the U.S. The play is not addressing a new issue, but rather approaching it from a different angle. Robinson expressed her hopes for the play saying, “We aim to turn up the volume in the community about sexual violence.” Cook believes that they can do just that, thanks to what he calls, “a great team of faculty, staff, and community members.”
Tickets for “Stalking the Bogeyman” are available at uaatix.com.
| 09
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
102_16276 .75 x 4.725 4c
Resources for your college questions We have a variety of online tools and information to help students and families find answers to their college questions: • CollegeSTEPS® program: receive college planning tips, tools, and resources by email by signing up at wellsfargo.com/collegesteps • Wells Fargo Community: get your college questions answered and share helpful information with others at wellsfargocommunity.com • Student LoanDown℠ blog: check out conversations focused on the entire college experience at blogs.wellsfargo.com/studentloandown • Calculators and money management: view our private student loan products and budget for repayment at wellsfargo.com/student
Call today for more information. 1-800-456-1551
© 2015 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. (1515102_16276)
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
| 10
Sweet, sweet victory UAA ski team
Women’s basketball upends Cal Baptist in overtime 82-79 By Nolin Ainsworth
sports@thenorthernlight.org
Coach Ryan McCarthy made an unusual move in the third quarter of the NCAA Div. II West Region semifinal basketball game: play man-to-man defense. The Seawolves have garnered widespread acclaim for their hyper-active, mayhem-style of defense that results in over 14 steals a game — best in the nation. But manto-man defense was the only way he could think of to stop Cal Baptist’s lethal three point shooting. After scoring 30 points off three’s through the third quarter, the Lancers (29-3) were held to just 6 in the fourth quarter and overtime period, and the Seawolves (35-2) won 82-79 to advance in the tournament. Four out of five Seawolf starters hit double-digits in the overtime win. Senior Jessica Madison had 9 points in the first quarter and finished with 17. Alysha Devine added 15 points and 5 rebounds, and Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year Megan Mullings overcame a slow-start to finish with 10 points and 7 rebounds. “We knew we had to play defense, we knew we had to get stops,” Mullings said during a phone interview. “It was just one of those things where we looked at each other and we were like, ‘This is not our last game ladies. There is no way this is our last game tonight. This is not how it’s going down.’” Lancer Kamille Diaz scored 23 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Cassidy Mihalko’s double-double included 18 points and 12 rebounds. The Seawolves trailed just 36-39 at the half, but the Lancers outscored the Seawolves 20-17 in the third
quarter to keep UAA at bay. “Our ladies showed a lot of poise down the stretch, there wasn’t any panic, and we didn’t do anything out of character,” McCarthy said. The Seawolves missed four field goals to start the fourth quarter and Nelson’s basket at 8:39 made it 61-53. UAA’s defense stiffened up, propelling UAA to a 7-0 run to make it 60-61 with 6:48 to play. UAA took its first lead of the quarter on a Devine 3-pointer at 1:21. Mihalko answered with three of her own, tying the game at 70. Kiki Robertson grabbed a Jenna Buchanan miss on the next possession and was fouled on her put back attempt. Robertson made both of her free throws, but the Lancers’ drew up a play for Diaz who beat several Seawolves on a drive to the basket, tying the game with 9 seconds remaining. Neither team could get a go-ahead bucket and the game went to overtime. The Seawolves won the overtime tip and Mullings finished on a reverse lay up. Diaz answered back, but the Seawolves forced a shot clock violation on the Lancers’ next possession. Devine hit another huge bucket at 3:01 to put the Seawolves up 76-74. Buchanan stole the ball but blew a lay up. The Lancers found Asher for three to go up 77-76. UAA’s Madison got an inside bucket to go and put the Seawolves back on top. The Lancers couldn’t retake the lead on their next possession, and Buchanan’s jumper at 29 seconds made it a three point game. Cal Baptist missed two more late field goals, leading to UAA’s historic victory. The Seawolves play fourth-seed UC San Diego Monday at 6 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time and can be streamed live at portal.stretchinternet.com/apu.
UAA takes home record 11 All-America honors at NCAA indoor track and field championships By Jordan Rodenberger
jrodenberger@thenorthernlight.org
The Seawolves Indoor Track and Field set a team record by sending 14 individuals to the NCAA Championships over the weekend of March 11-12. The athletes competed in a total of 13 races and two relays in Pittsburg, Kansas. Since the 2012-13 season, when UAA first fielded an indoor Track and Field squad, the Seawolves have qualified multiple athletes for nationals. Heading into the meet, the UAA’s women’s team was ranked seventh in the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association national poll, while the men’s team sat at No. 18. On opening day of competition, the Seawolves assembled seven All-America honors [top-10 finishes]. An impressive performance by senior Joyce Chelimo earned her runner-up in the women’s 5,000 meter, coming in just over a second behind Amanda Farrough of Lewis Univiersity. “I was trying to chase her down and gain speed to win,” Chelimo said. “But I’m glad I came in second, I tried really hard.” Chelimo, from Kapsowar, Kenya, crossed the finish line at 16:10.32, a UAA and conference record, as well as the fourth best time in Division II history. The Seawolves also got a strong showing on the men’s side of the 5-kilometer. Dominik Notz gained ground in the final two laps and placed fourth in the contest for his second-career All-America honor. The women’s distance medley relay team of Jessica Pahkala, Mary-Kathleen Cross, Tamara Perez and Caroline Kurgat also had a fourth place result. The fourperson squad set a school record with a time of 11:31.21, breaking the previous best set in 2013.
After one day of events, the women’s team sat in third place overall, while the men’s group was looking up from the 14th spot. UAA added four more All-American performances on the second and final day, totaling 11 over the weekend, a school best. Receiving his third-career honor was senior Cody Thomas, who set a Great Northwest Athletic Conference record with 5,538 points in the heptathlon, just one point shy of the runner-up. “I had a go at it, gave it everything, so I have no regrets.” said the New Zealander, who is now focused on the Outdoor Track and Field season. “I plan on getting my knee better. We are heading out to Texas to do the [Texas Relays], so I hoping to qualify and have a bit of fun there as well while doing it, and get better over the season.” Notching the eighth All-America award of her career, Karolin Anders took seventh in the pentathlon, including second in the high jump with a leap of five feet and seven inches. “This [pentathlon] was the hardest meet I have had mentally. I’ve had hard meets before but this one wasn’t going my way from the beginning,” said Anders. Prior to this season, one event that UAA had never participated in at the national level was the men’s 4x400 meter relay. Seawolves Nicholas Taylor, Liam Lindsay, Travis Turner and Adam Commandeur changed that, and finished 12th at the meet. The women’s team fell to ninth place at the close of the second day, but it was still the best the school has ever finished. The men’s side remained in 14th, placing better than their rank heading into the meet. Over the course of the regular season, GNAC, and NCAA championships, the Indoor Track and Field team broke over 20 school records. The outdoor season is already underway, with the Seawolves heading to the Willamette Invitational in Salem, Oregon on March 26.
ninth at NCAA championship
By Nolin Ainsworth
sports@thenorthernlight.org
The UAA ski team entered the 2016 NCAA Skiing championships March 9 anxious to improve on a ninth place showing last year at the same event. Eight races and several missed opportunities later, the Seawolves will have the same challenge for next season, finishing ninth for the second consecutive year at this year’s venue of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The University of Denver returned to college skiing glory after a one year hiatus — having won the national championship in 2014. The Pioneers beat out rivals Colorado and Utah by over 80 points, finishing the meet with a cumulative score of 567.5 points. The Seawolves 179.5 total points was well below what a top-five finish required. Kanady was 32nd in the women’s 15-kilometer classic race in the final day of the four-day meet. Fellow Seawolves Casey Wright and Patricia Sprecher finished 35th and 39th respectively. Kanady hoped for a much higher showing in her race. “Sometimes you can try everything and do every thing you can to perform well and some days the cards just aren’t in your favor,” Kanady said. The men’s 20 kilometer classic race did not go much better for UAA. Luca Winkler finished 26th, Etienne Richard 36th, and Toomas Kollo 38th. The Seawolves had a promising first half of the meet Wednesday, March 10 and Thursday, March 11 - punctuated by senior Sean Alexander’s sixth place finish in the grand slalom. “It’s his best ever [grand slalom] finish in a [NCAA] championship so it’s nothing to sneeze at and it was a great finish for him,” coach Sparky Anderson said. “I know he wanted to be on that podium but we’ll take an All-American.” The UAA women’s alpine team also fared well in the grand slalom. Maria Gudmundsdottir had a tworun time of 2:02.06, good for 12th. Sophomore Charley Field and senior Isabella Andreini finished 17th and 29th respectively. “To be in the top-15 in this field is pretty exceptional, especially as a freshman,” Anderson said of Gudmundsdottir. The second day of the championships featured the Nordic freestyle races. Kanady was UAA’s top finisher in the women’s 5 kilometer freestyle race at 15th — less than 30 seconds off the winning time. “It wasn’t quite the result we thought she was capable of but as far as time off of the leader, she had a great race,” UAA Nordic coach Andrew Kastning said. “The race was the closest packed race I’ve ever seen for a [5-kilometer freestyle], if you wanted to be top-30, you needed to be within one minute of the leader - so seconds counted.” The third day of the meet featured the slalom races on Howelsen Hill. Hughston Norton finished 15th in the men’s slalom with a time of 1:26.31 and Gudnundsdottir 18th. NCAA Skiing Championship Team Scores (Final, 8 events)— 1. Denver 567½; 2. Colorado 491½; 3. Utah 485; 4. Montana State 406; 5. Dartmouth 335; 6. New Mexico 317½; 7. Vermont 310; 8. Northern Michigan 217; 9. Alaska Anchorage 179½; 10. New Hampshire 151; 11. Middlebury 133; 12. Colby 107; 13. AlaskaFairbanks 97; 14. Williams 86; 15. St. Michael’s 50; 16. Plymouth State 27; 17. Michigan Tech 19; 18. St. Scholastica 6; 19. Bates 1; 20. Harvard and Wisconsin-Green Bay 0.
11 | A&E POLAR NIGHTS: BREAK UP R
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
7 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 25 An evening with music by Termination Dust and DJ Spencer Lee, plus art, beer and more. Tickets available online $10 member/$15 non-member Image: Akela Collective
Come to know the true North anchoragemuseum.org
Members enjoy free museum admission. Join today!
don’T miSS blackwater railroad mar. 25 & 26 Free!
the photonz marcH 31, april 1 & 2
alaska’s Favorite Jam Band | $10
s F r EE ! ie d a L : y a d s r Thu ume t h e me & h awa ii a n shirt C o
st
starts at
vip concerT package = STay & play! * Stay at The Hotel alyeska + concert tickets & more!
$149
reserve online or call 907-754-2111
show starts 10pm | buy advance tix online beers on tap | 21 & over | food ‘til midnight | TheSitzmark.com
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
| 12
ELITE: Women’s basketball moves forward in NCAA DII
CONTINUED FROM COVER of her 16 and 12 averages. “We didn’t give people the best show of what UC-San Diego basketball is,” Heidi VanDerveer, UCSD head coach, said. “And even more so than that, I’m extremely sad that this is the last time I’ll get to coach two wonderful people, which is Jaime and Farrah, obviously really talented players but even better people.” The game got off to a sloppy start for both teams with a combined 11 turnovers in seven minutes. The second quarter resulted in just six turnovers. The Seawolves went on an 8-0 run midway through the quarter. Engel hit a three from the right corner and Madison picked up a fumbled Triton’s pass to hit Devine for another spot-up three. The Tritons used back-to-back threes to tie the game at 31-31 at 2:53. The Seawolves went in to the locker room leading by 6 points. The Seawolves put on a show in the third quarter, one a fan of either team could appreciate. A barrage of threes, fast breaks, and offensive rebounds tipped the game solidly in UAA’s favor. The Seawolves maintained a 15 point advantage by the end of the third quarter. “We talked about finishing out possessions from a rebounding standpoint so we could continue to get the game at our pace,” Ryan McCarthy, UAA coach said. “Every single defensive rebound, we have an opportunity to get a fast break bucket and make them work at transition defense.” The Seawolves continued to push the pace in the fourth, slowly running the Tritons and Katuna into the ground, who made only a single bucket in the fourth. After being presented with the west region trophy, the team took turns cutting down the net, something they would like to do once more this season in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. “Throughout my college career I’ve had the same group of supporters and followers even from back home, my hometown of Port Angeles,” Madison said. “So it’s been nice — and of course my parents they were down in California and they’ll be in Sioux Falls.” As will the spirits of the Seawolf faithful in Anchorage. The game will be televised live nationally on CBS Sports Network.
64 reasons why I love March Madness
By Nolin Ainsworth
sports@thenorthernlight.org
On my living room wall is a small, orange felt banner with “SYRACUSE” proudly displayed across the top. The swatch of felt commemorates the Orangemen’s 2003 run to the Final Four and national championship. It lists every score of every game during their impressive 2002-03 season in which they went 30-5 in the season. The final play of their season stands out to me the most - Hakim Warrick’s block on Kansas’ Michael Lee in the closing seconds to secure Jim Boeheim’s first ever championship. Since then, I’ve accrued plenty more March Madness memories, especially
since I started college and have the entire first week of the tournament off school (hello Spring Break!) It’s safe to say I love this time of year, and here are my 64 reasons why. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Charles Barkley commercials Charles Barkley Watching games in my boxers One Shining Moment montage after the final game The POTUS’ bracket The Shockers (better luck next year!) Shaka Smart (tough way to go out, coach) Revising your bracket three or four times to get it just right Predicting an upset
10. Buzzer-beaters 11. Buzzer-beaters in overtime 12. Buzzer-beaters in double overtime 13. The moment you realize how busted your bracket is two hours into the tournament 14. Clark Kellogg’s voice 15. The pan-shot of a pep band before commercial break 16. Papa John’s commercials sans Peyton Manning 17. Perennially good Jesuit schools (see: Xavier, Marquette, ‘Zags) 18. Little-known players taking over games 19. The sudden proliferation of university apparel around town 20. Rooting for a team you didn’t know existed at the beginning of the week 21. Discount televisions, pizzas, and home furniture 22. Basketball-themed monuments of Coke and Pepsi twelve packs in the grocery stores 23. Trying to sound out Mike Krzyzewski 24. The No. 1 seed going down 25. The CBS tune (da-da-da-da-dadaaaaaaa-daaa-daaaa) 26. Super fans/truant college students in ridiculous costumes 27. The bandwagoners 28. Mom/Dad/Girlfriend reaction shots to pivotal play 29. Ally-oops from half court 30. Jay Bilas commercials 31. Heeding the advice of a bracketologist the same way you would an osteologist or hematologist 32. The surprisingly identical Final Four logo from year to year 33. Past Great Alaska Shootout participants beating a two-seed (see: Middle Tennessee) 34. Alternative online brackets like “The Greatest Living Americans Bracket” 35. The fact the championship game is on a Monday night which
means an otherwise regular week just got a little bit more exciting 36. The incredibly reliable 5-seed/12seed first round upset 37. Coaches actin’ a foul 38. Coaches really actin’ a foul 39. Post game locker room celebrations 40. The occasional history lesson (who was Stephen F. Austin?) 41. Blue mascots (Blue Devils and Blue Raiders) 42. Red mascots (Red Raiders) 43. Green mascots (Irish) 44. The unlikely heroes (and villains) 45. The NCAA reminding us every commercial timeout that “99% of student-athletes will go pro in something other than sports.” 46. The lexicon of color commentators 47. Dicky Veeeeeeee!!! 48. The Sports Illustrated cover 49. The Wheaties box featuring the championship team 50. Controversial calls (he was clearly out-of-bounds!!) 51. “The Shot” (Duke vs. Kentucky) 52. Celebrity brackets (why do we care?) 53. Googling what ever happened to so-and-so from March Madness past 54. The pseudo-confidence you conjure up when filling out a bracket 55. Jumping up and down in exaltation after your team wins 56. The Cinderella Story 57. The Cinderella Story that wasn’t 58. Emotional post-game interviews 59. The immediate cloaking of championship swag on the winning team after the final buzzer 60. Gus Johnson’s calls 61. It’s an excuse to wear my Brandon Triche Syracuse jersey 62. It signals the beginning of the end of the semester 63. Half court swishes 64. The player-coach embrace after victory
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
| 13
As a student of the University of Alaska, you could be saving 17% on qualifying AT&T plans. To check your eligibility, choose from these options: • Go to http://www.att.com/getIRU. • Go to your nearest store (bring proof of eligibility such as an employee badge, paystub or student ID).
• Contact your AT&T sales representative, Kerry Emery, by emailing ke0559@att.com or calling 907.264.7245.
Store Locations 5th Avenue Mall 2220 Abbott Road 4711 Business Park Boulevard Dimond Center Mall Tikahtnu Commons The Mall at Sears
Sponsorship Program discounts: Monthly service discounts are available to qualified employees, students and other authorized individuals associated with eligible sponsoring organizations, such as companies and colleges/universities with a qualified business agreement (“Business Agreement”). Individuals must provide proof of eligibility (valid employee badge/student ID card, paystub or other approved validation method) and subscribe to service as Individual Responsibility Users (IRUs), taking personal liability for their accounts. Discounts are subject to the Business Agreement and may be interrupted, changed and/or discontinued without notice to you. A minimum number of employees, minimum monthly service charge for qualified plans, additional AT&T services or other requirements may apply for eligibility. Under some Business Agreements, the discount can vary monthly depending on your organization’s aggregate volume of qualified charges. Discounts apply only to the monthly service charge of qualified plans (unless otherwise provided in your organization’s Business Agreement). If you have a question about available discounts and/or your eligibility, contact your organization’s telecom manager or contact us at att.com/getIRU. © 2015 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
14 | SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
2015-16 UAA men’s basketball top performers Points Per Game Suki Wiggs 24.1 ppg Brian McGill 17.8 ppg Corey Hammell 12.2 ppg Assists Per Game Brian McGill 4.1 apg Suki Wiggs 3.3 apg Diante Mitchell 2.9 apg Rebounds Per Game Corey Hammell 10.2 rpg Suki Wiggs 7.3 rpg Sjur Berg 5.5 rpg Steals Per Game Suki Wiggs 1.6 spg Brian McGill 1.2 spg Diante Mitchell 0.8 spg
THE
NORTHERN LIGHT
Field Goal Percentage (minimum 50 attempts) Taylor Thompson 67.2% Brian McGill 51.4% Diante Mitchell 49.7% Three Point Percentage Drew Peterson 50% Diante Mitchell 45.3% Brian McGill 39.1% Free Throw Percentage (minimum 20 attempts) Brian McGill 93.3% Diante Mitchell 85.2% Spencer Svejcar 83.6%
OPINION
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
| 15
EDITORIAL
A threat to the university By Kathryn DuFresne copy@thenorthernlight.org
As the chair of the University of Alaska subcommittee, Rep. Tammie Wilson holds the future of over 32,000 students in her hands, and yet she is proposing some of the deepest cuts in UA system history. Wilson proposed $288 million for a general funding level for the UA system, then upped it to $300 million, through influence in what I can only assume was pressure from her fellow subcommittee members, Wilson is still seeking up to $60 million worth of cuts. These cuts would have the potential to reduce 450 to 500 positions, possibly eliminating programs, tenured professors, and even advisors. University President Jim Johnsen responded to these cuts saying that “it’s not a good number at all.” Sure, the cuts are inevitable. Even Gov. Bill Walker was recommending some $16 million worth of cuts, but $60 million? You have got to be kidding me. To her, student instruction is the only thing that “legislators can agree” that the state should fund. Our universities, developed on the foundation of research, will no longer have the money to fund valuable arctic, fisheries, and medical research. Her rejection of funding for the system and anything other than just teaching students seems to ignore that there are parts to a university that are more important than sitting in a classroom. Research allows students to explore their fields, and be better prepared to participate in their future careers. She seems to be concerned about Alaskan students staying in Alaska with her bill (HB 264) asking them to hurry up and use their Alaska Performance Scholarships within six years so they can move on to work. Why doesn’t she seem to care that those students who complete their degree, in her definition, “on time” had an enriching and valuable education? It’s strange, however, that she seems to be so anti-education, when she herself has a bachelor’s degree in education. Sure, 1983 might feel like a long time ago to her, but education hasn’t changed all that much. You still need funding to offer degree programs. You still need money to pay teachers. You need money to offer internships and undergraduate research opportunities, and yes, you even need money to fund an athletics program, because it’s all valuable to the college experience. Wilson doesn’t seem to understand that there is so much more than just teaching at students so they can get a job after college. Research opportunities help students explore their field, and can even result in them spending more money and time in the state through a graduate program, which could result in them staying with a job here in the state. Cutting programs and funding only frustrates students, teachers and faculty, encouraging them to move out of state for their education, or not going at all. If her version of the UA budget passes, that might be how it goes. Even worse, if she alienates students through HB 264, pushing them to pay back free money that they earned by working hard, there may be a severe decline in students who attend UA schools. Maybe that’s the goal of her and the republicans in the University of Alaska subcommittee. Eliminate the University, and that’s one less issue to look at come budget sessions. If she insists, as she did in a New York Times article regarding the budget’s influence of Alaska’s education, that “they can’t keep doing business the way they have,” then she should have looked at the way money was spent in the five years prior that she’s chaired the committee. Maybe, just maybe, this might have been her fault in the first place. We encourage you to contact Wilson with your opinion. Tammie Wilson Juneau: 907-465-4797
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 2,500. 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.
LETTERS AND CORRECTIONS POLICY Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length is 250 words. Opinion pieces can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum word length is 450 words. 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
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Young Kim ykim@thenorthernlight.org
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kelly Ireland 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org
LAYOUT EDITOR Demi Straughn layout@thenorthernlight.org
MANAGING EDITOR Sam Davenport content@thenorthernlight.org COPY EDITOR Kathryn DuFresne copy@thenorthernlight.org NEWS EDITOR Vacant ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Vacant FEATURES EDITOR Kathryn Casello kcasello@thenorthernlight.org ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Victoria Petersen vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org A&E EDITOR Vacant
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jian Bautista jbautista@thenorthernlight.org Inna Mikhailova Imikhailova@thenorthernlight.org MULTIMEDIA EDITOR George Hyde gchyde@thenorthernlight.org Shay Spatz srspatz@thenorthernlight.org ADVERTISING MANAGER Anthony Craig 786-6195 admanager@thenorthernlight.org MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE Milo Stickle-Frizzell marketing@thenorthernlight.org STAFF REPORTERS Jake Johnson jjohnson@thenorthernlight.org
ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR Vacant
CONTRIBUTORS Jacob Holley-Kline Felipe Godoy Diaz Evan Dodd
SPORTS EDITOR Nolin Ainsworth sports@thenorthernlight.org
MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Jordan Rodenberger jrodenberger@thenorthernlight.org PHOTO EDITOR Casey Peterson cpeterson@thenorthernlight.org
ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Zac Clark ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Stacey Parker
1
1
2
3
4
5
Schedule Planner The easiest way to schedule classes!
Meet with your advisor
Five easy steps to creating the perfect schedule:
2
Resolve “holds”
3
Identify the courses you need using DegreeWorks
4
Create the perfect schedule with Schedule Planner
5
Register on your priority date
u APR 1: u APR 4: u APR 5: u APR 6:
Admitted graduate students Admitted seniors (90+ credits) Admitted juniors (60-89 credits) Admitted sophomores (30-59 credits)
1. Students input desired courses to be scheduled 2. Desired breaks are added in - work, sports, downtime 3. Pre-made, conflict-free schedule options are pulled up instantly 4. Save your favorite schedule to cart 5. When your registration opens, go to cart and “Complete Registration Changes”
Find Schedule Planner in UAOnline under Registration.
Available on March 21 for Fall 2016!
u APR 7: Admitted freshman (0-29 credits) u APR 11: Students with pending fall UAA admissions applications
u APR 18: Open registration
Need help or have questions? Call (907) 786-1480 or visit the UAA One Stop at the University Center.
Financial Aid Crossword Puzzle!
Financial aid
Crossword Puzzle
acroSS 2. UAA’s acronym for the policy on academic progress affecting financial aid eligibility 7. The _________ loan limit is the maximum amount you can borrow in federal student loans over your academic career 8. Process of unregistering for a class after Add/Drop, which often carries various Financial Aid consequences 10. To receive their educational benefits, veteran students must submit their VA _______ Request every semester after registering for classes 13. Complete and turn in a ______ Request Form if you’d like to change your borrowed loan amounts for the semester
How much do you know about Uaa Financial aid?
Test your knowledge and enter to win a Prize! It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3...
1. Solve 2. SnaP 3. Send
16. Written request for Satisfactory Academic Progress reconsideration in order to continue receiving financial aid
down 1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid, required to receive most institutional, state and federal financial aid at UAA 3. Students need a cumulative ______ of 2.0 in order to remain academically eligible for financial aid 4. UAA secure web portal where students can review their accounts and view financial aid status 5. At least one in three federal aid applicants are chosen for this process every year and if not completed, financial aid cannot be disbursed for those chosen 6. Month of the year the UAOnline scholarship application is due online 9. Postponement of required payment on a federal student loan, an automatic status if student is enrolled in at least half-time status 11. Type of counseling required by the Federal Government to be completed after borrowing federal student loans and then dropping below half-time status for any reason
$avvy
$EAWOLF Financial Literacy @ UAA
How to win
12. $avvy $eawolf is UAA’s Financial _________ initiative helping students take charge of their financial decisions with workshops on budgeting, credit and student loans
1. Solve: Fill out this crossword puzzle
14. Type of counseling required before borrowing a federal student loan
2. Snap: Take a picture with your correct answers,
15. UAA will celebrate Financial Literacy Month by holding events ________ 4-8, 2016 where students have the potential to receive a tuition award for attendance Across
3. Send: Email your picture along with your name, student ID, and email address to Laura Down financial-literacy@uaa.alaska.edu
2. UAA's acronym for the policy on academic progress affecting financial aid eligibility
1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid, required to receive most institutional, state and federal financial aid at UAA
7. The _________ loan limit is the maximum amount you can borrow in federal student loans over your academic career
3. Students need a cumulative ______ of 2.0 in order to remain academically eligible for financial aid
8. Process of unregistering for a class after Add/Drop, which often carries various Financial Aid consequences
4. UAA secure web portal where students can review their accounts and view financial aid status
10. To receive their educational benefits, veteran
5. At least one in three federal aid applicants are chosen