MARCH 28 - APRIL 4, 2017
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
SPORTS
PAGE 5
UAA engineering students prepare for automotive competition
PAGE 14
Freshman Hailey Swirbul races to the top Ski-Wolf finishers
UAA freshman, Daniel Schliesing, releases social networking app
Alaska Native students are dropping out at high rates By Sarah Tangog
stangog@thenorthernlight.org
Moving into different environment can really change a student’s mentality, and for many Alaska Native students, this appears to be the case. The drop-out rate for Alaska Native students in UAA is an average of about 50 percent, and has been so for the past six years. Maria Williams, director of Alaska Native Studies, believes the main challenge is an issue of resources. “Typical of most UAA students, the adjustment to college is challenging. How to use UA Online, Blackboard, how to register for classes, how to work with an advisor, how to take the ACCUPLACER, etc. These are often barriers,” Williams said. “Students often are not aware of Veteran Support Services, or Native Student Services. The UAA Student Club is the Native Student Council — which is very active — but often, new incoming Alaska Native students are not aware of this club as well.” Vincent Gregory, English major, agreed. “The place that I would have
to go to acquire the resources to get collegiate preparation would be… Anayak, 50 miles away from my village,” Gregory said. Gregory grew up in Kalskag and started college at UAA in the spring semester of 2009. Though he agrees that there definitely isn’t enough outreach to the small villages, Gregory developed an additional theory of why the drop-out rate is so high. “Culture shock is what I associate it with,” Gregory said. “It’s a jungle of concrete and steel versus a village that’s serene…” He believes that in addition to a lack of outreach, Alaska Native students from villages go through too much of a change of environment in order for them to focus on school. Additionally, when asking for help, many aren’t given the help they need. “In my example, when I was talking to my teacher, because, you know, I would ask them to be clear. They’d say ‘I’m not going to give you the answer.’ I’m not asking for the answer! I’m asking you to guide me so I can get it on my own,” Gregory said. “If you don’t show me the path, how do you expect me to walk it, you know?”
Though there definitely isn’t enough outreach available for many students, there are programs like the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program that gives students plenty of collegiate preparation. When told about the drop-out rate in Alaska Native students, Herb Schroeder from ANSEP replied that the drop-out rate does not exist in Alaska Native ANSEP students. “ANSEP students, when they arrive at the university, are academically and socially prepared to be college students,” Schroeder said. He believes that basing grades off learned skills and knowledge would greatly improve the drop-out rate, and that education before college is as vital as college education. College preparation is mandatory. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with many Alaska Native students. Though there are certainly programs and resources, the main disconnect appears to exist between either recruiting students or showing them what to do in order to know what to do in college. As soon as that disconnect is bridged, the dropout rate is sure to decrease.
PHOTO BY YOUNG KIM
As a freshman in the mechanical engineering program, Daniel Schliesing released Breadcrumbs last month, an app that allows users to leave messages for other users based on their location.
By Cheyenne Mathews cmathews@thenorthernlight.org
Freshman mechanical engineering major, Daniel Schliesing, released a social networking app called BreadCrumbs Social last month. The app is described by Schliesing as digital posters, where users can leave virtual messages in specific locations. BreadCrumb’s users can write and message anywhere they are standing, and any user who walks within 100 feet of the location will be able to see that message, just like posters. Schliesing has been using the UAA campus and its students as a testing ground for his app, and his user base is predominantly UAA students at the moment. Schliesing has been developing the app for a year, and since its release in February, the app has been updated to allow users to post photos. “Since most people are using
it for memes, and that type of thing, I’m thinking about making that kind of the main purpose,” Schliesing said. “There’s other things you could do with it, [like] Geocaching. I could go into Yik Yak space and compete with them since they are not doing really well right now.” Schliesing says BreadCrumbs is still very new, but that he is happy with its development so far. He currently has around 50 users, 20 of whom are actively posting. Schliesing chose the name BreadCrumbs because of the similarities he saw between his idea and the tale of Hansel and Gretel. “I never really thought of another name,” Schliesing said. “It just kind of fit because you leave breadcrumbs for other people to find. I really like the Hansel and Gretel theme.” BreadCrumbs is free on the App Store for iPhone, iPad or iPod touch users with iOS 10.2 or later.
facebook.com/northernlightuaa
@tnl_updates
PHOTO BY YOUNG KIM
Vincent Gregory, hoping to graduate this semester, stands in front of Native Student Services which he attributes to a large part of college career success. Native Student Services can be found in Rasmuson Hall.
@tnl_updates
thenorthernlight.org
youtube.com/tnlnews
NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
| 02
Senate passes bill that caps PFD at $1,000 for the next three years A plan that involves Senate Bill 26 will halt dependency on oil market revenue
GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
By Alexis Abbott
news2@thenorthernlight.org
Senate Bill 26 was passed by the GOP-controlled Senate with a vote of 12-8 which guarantees major changes in Alaska’s revenue. The bill will set the Permanent Fund Dividend at a cap of $1,000 for the next three years. Instead of relying on the current oil market revenue, SB 26 will allow some of the PFD earnings to make up some of the state’s $3.5 billion deficit. Under the proposed plan, a little over five percent of the $57.2 billion fund would be drawn annually. The rest would be used to disperse dividends to Alaska residents, $1,000 for the next three years, and slightly more later on. “I expect it will have no better or worse effect than past years when dividends were that amount. We need to see money circulating in the economy, but we also need funding for state services,” Sen. Natasha Von Imhof, who voted in favor of SB 26, said. Sen. Tom Begich opposed SB 26 and believes it will have a detrimental impact on its own. “This bill, as currently written, is near the top end of the Permanent Fund draw, severely reduces the dividend and comes with both a spending cap and promises from the sponsor of additional spending cuts,” Begich said. “Without an income tax, an earnings approach like this cannot lead us to long-term sustainability — it is simply a prescription for more devastating cuts next year that will likely fall on education and other essential government services.” Begich said the bill that was passed was not introduced by Gov. Bill Walker, but rather a bill created in the Senate Finance Committee by the Senate majority. It replaced the bulk of the governor’s bill with SB 70. “These cuts will only drive us even further into recession. Every economist has identified that cutting the div-
idend or the budget more — which this bill would force us to do — would be the most harmful thing we could do to our economy while in a recession,” Begich said. Sen. Bill Wielechowski, who spoke against the Senate, also did not favor the bill. “A lot of my constituents have a real problem going on with their opponents on checks, so they can go pay billions of dollars on oil tax,” Wielechowski said. “A lot of my constituents have heartburn over the idea of giving up their permanent fund checks and have them go to some of the richest, wealthiest corporations in the history of the world.” Wielechowski has a lawsuit that is awaiting hearing in the supreme court about whether or not there shall be a dividend. According to Sen. Berta Gardner, minority leader of the state senate, the PFD is an economic engine and bolsters local business across the state. The PFD also keeps approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Alaskans above poverty line every year. “The new statute says the first three years of the dividend will be $1,000 and will be guaranteed, and after that, as far as I’m concerned, it’s a free-for-all,” Gardner said. “Reducing the dividend effectively is a tax on every single man, woman and child. We may get there, but we believe it has to be a part of an entire package that includes changes to our oil taxes, so the oil companies are kicking in, and it includes broad-base tax.” Gardner referred to the proposed statute as “killing the right to a dividend.” SB 26 also includes a spending cap of $4.1 billion, a three-year review and requires the governor to report the budget fall every December.
Trump’s budget: How it concerns Alaska’s funds The president’s first budget proposal could contribute to the state’s current fiscal crisis By Alexis Abbott
news2@thenorthernlight.org
President Donald Trump recently sent out his first budget proposal to the U.S. Congress, that involves many federal funding cuts that affect Alaska’s fiscal income. The Trump administration calls it the “America First Budget.” Due to the state’s evident financial problem, those in the congressional delegation have a lot on their shoulders, a requirement to inform locals. Rep. Don Young’s response to the budget proposal was short and to the point. “This budget isn’t going anywhere. The President has an obligation to propose a budget, but it’s Congress’ responsibility to write the budget and set spending,” Young said in a prepared statement. Alaska’s three Republican representatives have been vague as to whether they support the proposed statement or not. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan have both released statements regarding what they do support, but also aspects that they will not be on board with. If passed, the proposed budget would eliminate funding that is necessary for many corporations including the Denali Commission, the Essential Air Service and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. In addition to these services that provide a substantial amount of business all over the state, commerce funded by
PHOTO BY JAY GUZMAN
The Denali Commission, introduced by Congress in 1988, overlooks infrastructure and economics across Alaska operate in Peterson Tower located downtown.
the arts, education, marine fisheries and weather service may be affected. Trump said the reason for the budget trading was to “prioritize rebuilding the military” — and to possibly help fund the border wall with Mexico. Anchorage Sen. Bill Wielechowski stressed the impact that Trump’s proposed budget would have on the state. “Every year we’re in the top two or three in the nation in the funding that we get from the federal government, so cuts from the federal government will affect Alaska disproportionality over almost any other state in the country,” Wiel-
echowski said. Wielechowski said that the President’s budget would have a negative impact on many states, but considering the state’s current financial situation, Alaska would be adversely affected. “Under the Obama Administration, our shrinking military has been stretched far too thin. The military has been forced to make aging ships, planes, and other vehicles last well beyond their intended life spans. The President will reverse this dangerous trend. From rebuilding our armed forces to beefing up our border security and safeguarding our nation’s
sovereignty, this budget makes security priority one,” Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote in a recent budget blueprint. Despite the hardships that Alaska could experience if the proposed budget passes, the state’s military could be positively impacted. An outline budget regarding the military was released, stating the Trump administration would enhance defensive spending by $54 billion — a 10 percent increase, which would come out of the overall spending of the government.
NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
| 03
04 | NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
The Edge Update: Uber and Lyft in Alaska, civilian death toll of American airstrikes and Europe’s last dictatorship
By Max Jungreis KRUA
The Edge Update can be heard every weekday on KRUA 88.1 FM The Edge, UAA's college radio station. Local Uber and Lyft might be coming back to Alaska. On Thursday, the Alaska senate passed Senate Bill 14, which allows those companies to operate in the state, with a vote of 14 to 5. The senate spent more than five hours debating the measure. Members of the Democratic minority expressed concern that the bill allows the state, as opposed to local municipalities, to make regulation decisions on the rideshare industry. To address these
concerns the minority introduced 23 amendments to the bill, some of which were adopted, but Democrats still voted against it. Uber briefly existed in Alaska in 2014 but left after six months. The company, like Lyft, refers to its drivers as independent contractors and not employees. This led to a dispute with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, who were concerned that drivers wouldn’t have worker’s compensation insurance. Ultimately, Uber paid the Labor Department a fine of $77,925 and left the state in March 2015. If SB 14 clears the state House, it will pave the way for both Uber and Lyft to begin operating in the Alaska again. National On Friday, the American-led mili-
tary coalition in Iraq confirmed that it was investigating reports that hundreds of civilians may have perished in recent American airstrikes on Mosul, the northern Iraqi city at the heart of the offensive to drive ISIS out of the country. Residents report the fatalities may be as high as 200. If true, the civilian death toll would rank among the highest in American air missions since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003. The sudden rise in reported civilian casualties has begun to raise questions about whether or not the observance of wartime rules of engagement is becoming lax under the Trump administration. On Friday, American military officials denied that there had been any change in how the US goes to war while admitting that American airstrikes had been stepped up lately in both Syria and Iraq in an effort to place pressure in the Islamic State. While American spokespeople say that they currently do not know who is responsible for the deaths, Iraqi officers tell a different story. Maj. Gen. Maan al-Saadi, a commander in the Iraqi military, has said that the deaths resulted from a coalition airstrike that his men called in to take out snipers perched on rooftops in a Mosul neighborhood. The general said his men were unaware the basements of the buildings were filled with civilians. Iraqi military sources have commented that it has become much eas-
ier to call in an airstrike since President Donald Trump took office. Global The least free country in Europe is experiencing unrest. Police have arrested hundreds of protesters in Belarus and shut down the internet after thousands took to the streets of Minsk and other cities to voice their opposition to a “social parasites” tax on the unemployed. As of Saturday night, protesters were still attempting to protest in the streets of Minsk, Brest and Grodno where police deployed armored riot squads and water cannons to contain them. The protests represent the most marked expression of discontent since the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko, announced the new tax two months ago. The announcement served as a flashpoint for a larger movement discontent with the lack of free elections, free press and the authoritarian government. President Lukashenko, who has ruled since 1994 and is frequently described as “Europe’s last dictator”, declared earlier this month that he would suspend the deadline for payment until his government has reviewed the policy, but protests against his style of rule — much of it a lasting remnant of Belarus’s time as Soviet member state — has only continued to grow.
The danger of synthetic cannabinoids still looms in the community By Sarah Tangog
stangog@thenorthernlight.org
It should be no surprise to the community that dangerous drugs linger in the streets of Anchorage. However, this doesn’t mean the problem shouldn’t still be addressed. In 2015, Anchorage was hit with a massive Spice epidemic that rocked residents and opened eyes to the knowledge of the dangerously synthetic marijuana. Though there haven’t been any cases big enough to make the news as of late, epidemics still occur in large masses. According to Trish Ivacic from the Alaska Native Medical Center, over 30 people were admitted in one day in 2016. An epidemic usually means a “bad batch” has just been released. A “bad batch” equates to more patients. “We don’t know, you know, if a person has bath salts… We just know what we know,” Ivacic said. Though it is never certain what a patient has actually taken, the symptoms displayed are enough to determine the root of the problem. The symptoms of Spice use include the following: altered perception, hallucinations, increased heart rate and even hypothermia. Spice is often called a “synthetic cannabiniod” since it acts on the same brain receptors as THC (the main “mind-altering” ingredient in marijuana plants.) Synthetic cannabiniods are often hand-made, and considered more dangerous than marijuana. “Tests have shown that strands of synthetic cannabinoids contain amphetamines and hallucinogens, and because of this they are very dangerous and can lead to severe health problems, even death,” Renee Oistad, police spokesper-
son from the Anchorage Police Department, said. In Spice specifically, different binding agents are often used, creating variations in the drug that are distributed throughout the market. Although Spice is dangerous and illegal, it does seem to target one specific demographic. “It’s more of the homeless population in Anchorage,” Ivacic said. “A lot of [patients] are over 30, a few people in their 20’s. I’ve never had a young teen.” According to Ivacic, at least 1-2 patients showing symptoms of Spice consumption are admitted at the Alaska Native Medical Center daily. “They just come in as a Jon Doe or a Jane Doe, and then they leave,” Ivacic said. Prosecuting Spice sellers seemed to have helped aid in fixing the problem; A decrease in patients appeared to be connected to a collection of busts by APD. “APD has been able to reasonably control the breakouts of overdoses by identifying dealers selling “bad Spice” and targeting them when incidents occur,” Oistad said. As concerned citizens, however, there is nothing much to do to solve the problem but spread the word. “Become educated on the effects and dangers of synthetic cannabinoids and educate your family and friends to prevent further abuse,” Oistad said. With Spice so ingrained in the lives of so many, it seems difficult to make an impact in stopping it. Being educated about the affects of the drug and how dangerous it could be creates a impact. Like any illegal drug, the key to preventing more abuse is to educate the population, especially younger generations.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
| 05
Engineering students participate in the SAE Baja competition for senior capstone seminar By Brenda Craig
features@thenorthernlight.org
Since the fall semester of 2016, the UAA Baja team has been designing, building and preparing for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Baja competition taking place in Gorman, California on April 27-30. Baja is one of the SAE’s colligate design competitions that challenges senior engineering students to design, plan and construct a micro baja car. The purpose of this competition is to allow students to use what they’ve learned in engineering courses and apply it to a realworld engineering challenge. The competition consists of various events to test teams from all over the United States on their engineering capability. Some of the events will include acceleration, hill climb, maneuverability and suspension. These students will be competing for awards and scholarships based on their vehicles performances and efficiency. A majority of the UAA Baja team members are participating in the SAE Baja competition as their senior design proj-
ect for their capstone credit. Dustin Cook and Logan Sutton, mechanical engineering majors and co-captains of the UAA Baja team, have put in countless hours and hard work into the offroad vehicle along with the rest of the team. “My favorite part was also probably my least favorite part because I am the only one on the team capable of the welding that needs to take place. I do enjoy welding and fabricating and that’s why I was chosen as kind of the fabrication half captain,” Sutton said. “So, I enjoy the hands-on welding and grinding and making something from nothing, but with that, I’m also the only one who really does a lot of the welding, so there have been a couple late nights where it’s just been required that I had to get it done, so it’s a double edge sword.” There are a few underclassmen on the team volunteering with the development of the project, like Zachary Lestenkof, civil engineering major, who will help in their senior capstone project in the future. “This project doesn’t give me any credit as an underclass-
PHOTOS COURTESY OF UAA BAJA TEAM
The small off-road vehicle was created by UAA Baja team for the SAE Competition at the end of April. The team’s vehicle will be tested through a variety of terrain tests.
Both underclassmen volunteers and senior capstone students participated in the engineering and building of the micro baja vehicle.
men. However, this has been a great learning experience for me and has helped provide me for knowledge that I can use when I do this for my senior design project,” Lestenkof said. “It has been extremely fun and has been a great use of my spare time. Another awesome thing about this project is its ability to teach someone how to work effectively under pressure, which is a valuable tool for an engineering student to have.” The upside of participating in the SAE Baja competition is the learning experience gained from the project development. Sometimes, it is difficult to gain experience throughout college courses and this competition gives a way for engineering students to learn the full process of being an engineer. “Whatever you’re building, you make it tangible. You make it alive instead of just in the computer, it’s now in front of you and you can see how it works based on what you design, so that huge for any engineer because a lot of us just don’t get the experience and that’s why Baja is really good for that,” Cook said. Designing and building the
car is a major part of the competition. However, there are many different aspects that come into play in the development of the off-road vehicle such as documentation, finance and other paperwork that does not involve building. “It’s not just for people who are gearheads that are into cars because there’s so much else involved with design reports and logistics and things you wouldn’t think would be in it into building a go-kart,” Sutton said. “So, if somebody was curious about the other side of any sort of project, this shows every aspect of a project, not just how to build a car and compete with it.” With designing and building a micro baja car, there are bound to be problems that occur. Although a problem might be difficult to fix, in the end, there is no greater feeling than overcoming an issue. “When you’re working through something for hours or sometimes days trying to get it to work the way you wanted and being able to finally figure it out and have all that spent energy be worth it feels amazing,” Lestenkof said.
This project has not only helped engineering students gain experience but find a calling through their school and future career. “One of my biggest passions in life is cars. I’m currently a civil engineering major but this project confirmed something I was on the fence about; switching my major to mechanical engineering,” Lestenkof said. “When I got to drive the car for the first time it was definitely a rewarding experience, and I now look forward to participating in Baja in the coming years. It’s also been nice to collaborate and work with other engineering students around me because I feel like working with your peers is a highly educational experience.” With the competition coming up in April, the UAA Baja team are now working on their final touches and repairs, but most importantly, fundraising for shipping of the off road vehicle, airfare for the team, transportation and other traveling expenses. The UAA Baja team is looking for sponsors to help bring them down to California and show what the UAA engineering students in Alaska have to offer.
06 | FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
| 07
Prof-iles: Saving birds one duckling at a time
By Cheyenne Mathews cmathews@thenorthernlight.org
As she was driving down Minnesota Drive, Audrey Taylor, an avid bird lover, saw a cute family of ducks. However, right as Taylor prepared to turn off at the airport exit, she watched the mother duck lead her little ducklings over a sewer grate. Taylor watched the ducklings fall, wondering how the little ducklings were going to get free. Taylor ran over to the sewer grate and was able to rescue one of the ducklings, but the other two were out of reach. She called the Anchorage Police Department. Together they reunited the fallen ducklings with their mother, who was swimming in a nearby pond, searching for her lost ducklings. Taylor, UAA assistant professor of environmental studies, saves birds. It’s just what she does. Before the ducklings, there was a snowy owl in Barrow that had gotten stuck in burlap landscaping material. Taylor’s research has gone a long way in providing safety for more than just a family of ducklings or a starving snowy owl. Her Ph.D. research on bird distribution around the North slope actually led to the Bureau of Land Management categorizing some of the more important bird habitats as off limits or low priority for oil and gas development. Her research on shore birds has led her all around the world, and she has even been able to follow a bird she first found in Barrow to French Guiana. The environment has always been important to Taylor, and in high school, she started an environmental club that cleaned rivers and streams. In fact, her yearbook super-
lative was ‘Student most likely to save the Earth.’ Taylor had her first experience with surveying birds when she was at Colorado State University for her M.S. in Wildlife Biology. She was sent out to the Great Plains with just a Jeep, map and binoculars, and she was told to survey shore birds. “I would be driving across this spring flooded landscape, and I swear I got the Jeep stuck so many millions of times. I’d be driving trying to miss potholes and mud, and I’d look behind me and this little group of birds would have flown in from some place, like the Gulf of Mexico or Argentina or something like that,” Taylor said. “They’d land there and I’d be like, ‘That little group of birds, I have no idea where they came from. They could have just flown like 3,000 miles.’” That sense of wonder with her work led her to become more interested in shore birds, and so she decided to attend UAF for her Ph.D. For her dissertation, Taylor researched shore birds across the North Slope. It was during this research, while in Barrow, that Taylor discovered one of her favorite flying creatures. “I had hired this plane to take [a field crew] out [of Icy Cape], and the plane went down to check out the runway, and they got stuck, and they were like, ‘No way. We’re not going in there again.’ So I was desperate,” Taylor said. “I was like, ‘Who am I going to get to fly these people out?’ I called this air taxi in Deadhorse and ended up getting who is now my husband on the phone, and he was like, ‘Oh yeah I’ll come take your people out for you.’... But he came right then and it was like my knight in shining airplane.” Taylor has made a life with things that fly. Not only does she love birds but she has her own pilot’s license and a husband who flies. “I like birds, my husband likes airplanes,” Taylor said. “We are hoping our daughter will like both.” For Taylor, her passion for birds has best been channeled through teaching. Her father was a teacher, her grandmother a teacher, and her younger sister is also a professor at University of Connecticut. Teaching has helped Taylor answer the question of “why?”
PHOTO BY CHEYENNE MATHEWS
As an avid lover of birds, assistant professor of environmental studies Audrey Taylor has traveled the world studying the winged creatures. In high school, she was voted in the yearbook as the “student most likely to save the Earth.”
“Because [shore birds] are these little ambassadors to different parts of the world,” Taylor said. “They go from Alaska to, birds that I’ve banded, turn up in Japan, China. They go to Panama and Peru. I had a bird from Barrow end up in French Guiana, and I now have a project that I am working on in French Guiana. They are these little winged ambassadors that kind of make you work across these
geographic boundaries for conservation. It makes you think beyond your own country, which I think is good.” Outside of shore birds, Taylor loves trail running, skiing, mountain biking, kayaking and gardening. In the future, she hopes to do more with citizen science by having cruise-ship passengers in the Arctic and Antarctica help document changes in bird distributions.
08 | FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
College Cookbook: Homemade pizza dough Use this recipe to make the pizza pie of your dreams
PHOTO BY JON SULLIVAN
By Victoria Petersen Contributor
This versatile recipe is perfect for pizza parties, date night or an easy meal for any day of the week. The dough can be saved for about four days in a sealed bag or container, making it a perfect last minute dinner. Get creative with toppings and sauce. Whether it be ranch and chicken, or royal icing and Captain Crunch. This pizza pie crust can be as fancy, simple or decadent as you want it to be.
Ingredients • 1 package active dry yeast • 1 teaspoon sugar • 1 teaspoon salt • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 3 cups flour
Directions 1. In a large bowl, place yeast and sugar with 1 cup of warm water. Let sit until small bubbles form, roughly ten minutes. 2. Mix in salt and olive oil. 3. Add the flour gradually. Once a dough begins to from, knead it on a floured flat surface. Knead for about five minutes. 4. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover it. Leave it for one or one and a half hours, or until the dough has doubled in size. 5. Punch down the dough and divide into two balls. Let them relax for 15 minutes. 6. Roll each dough ball out to desired length and thickness is reached. Let it sit for 10 minutes before adding toppings and other ingredients.
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
| 09
Localize It: Locally made jewelry offered through Molly & Bella Cleo Anderson talks about the growth of her jewelry making business
By Madison McEnaney arts2@thenorthernlight.org
Aside from working towards her business degree at UAA, taking photos and practicing makeup, Cleo Anderson can be found in her apartment creating jewelry for her business, Molly & Bella. Anderson learned to make jewelry when she was a child from her mom and went on to manage a local boutique and bead shop in Anchorage. With her background and experience with beading, jewelry and cus-
tomer service skills, Anderson then decided to officially start up Molly & Bella last fall. “Working at the bead store really helped me learn not only how to make jewelry, but how to sell it too. I’ve been making jewelry for a long time on my own, so it’s great to have an official business to show customers now,” Anderson said. Anderson sells all types of jewelry, from necklaces and bracelets to crowns and headpieces. Much of her work incorporates rocks and gems which she buys from local bead stores in Anchorage. Once the materials are purchased, Anderson cuts the wire and begins her process of stringing the beads and creating the jewelry. Depending on what she is making, Anderson will spend anywhere from 5 to 10 hours on one piece until it is finished and ready to be sold. “I always keep in mind what people in Alaska are actually going to wear on a daily basis when it comes to jewelry. Natural stones, versatile pieces that can be layered, things like that.
PHOTOS COURTESY CLEO ANDERSON
An original piece designed by Cleo Anderson for her business Molly & Bella, started in fall of 2016.
Right now what I make looks clean and nature based, and it’s stuff that I really think anyone could incorporate into their style,” Anderson said. All of Anderson’s jewelry can be purchased online, where she has pieces for sale. She also takes requests for custom orders. Anderson brings her business to local trunk shows and craft fairs to sell around Anchorage.
“My favorite thing I’m making right now are the crowns. I’ve done some for weddings, events like that. These are pieces I like to make more unique and personal to the person that’s buying it, so I take my time making sure the crown fits their head perfectly. We figure out what stones they want their crown made of, the shape of it, etc. I love the idea that my jewel-
Anderson’s pieces are available online, and customers can also place custom orders.
ry can make someone feel good about themselves, and I think the crowns do that well,” Anderson said. While Molly & Bella is not currently being sold anywhere in stores, Anderson hopes to begin selling her pieces in local shops soon and grow her business through social media outreach.
10 | A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
‘A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence’ is as frustrating as its title By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor
It doesn’t matter how you feel about the uniquely strange Swedish comedy “A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence.” The movie will suck you in whether you hate it or love it. Its style is a recognizable mesh of absurdist and surrealist influences, but it maintains an air all its own. Its sensibility is dark and its humor is dry. Too dry for most viewers perhaps and understandably so. Characters are dressed in pale colors and corpse makeup. They look deathly pale, always on the verge of some great tragedy, and that tragedy comes often. “A Pigeon” has a habit of stretching funny things to their logical end: despair. Gags as beautifully surreal as the king-in-thediner scene become horrific, and gags that should be sad are hilarious. Needless to say, watching a movie like this is a trip. It’s a series of surreal, loosely-connected vignettes, each of which is unpredictable. They could be about a man browsing a museum or slaves being loaded into a Dali-esque reimagining of the brazen bull. Viewers’ only real throughline in this chaos are two traveling salesmen. They sell novelty items door-todoor, vampire teeth with extra long fangs, and a new product they have a lot of faith TITLE
“A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence”
RELEASE DATE Nov. 14, 2014
in, Uncle One-Tooth. They live in abject poverty and gradually decline. Through their story, the movie’s method becomes clear. There’s not a significant bit in here that isn’t stretched to its logical conclusion. In Andersson’s view, that logical conclusion is a tragedy. It’s a true test of the comedy genre to push it this deeply into horror, and, as I watched it, it just didn’t work for me. The grim sensibility and selfconscious attention to theme made it hard to enjoy “A Pigeon” as a movie. It’s absurdism, so it begs to be poured over despite appearing meaningless. But what could’ve been a bearable macabre comedy feels like an exercise in patience. Like “How little action and repetitive framing can one viewer take?” The answer: not much. Vignettes sometimes have a title card, and sometimes don’t. I’m sure there’s some significance in that, but it’s hard to ruminate on a movie this exhausting. Every aspect of it is engineered to be as bleak as possible. It recalls Ingmar Bergman at his darkest (see “Through a Glass Darkly”) and early Wes Anderson. The camera never moves, the vignettes are oblique and often unsettling with a few hilarious ones here and there. But “A Pigeon” feels like a stretch: one joke that got far more play than it should have.
DIRECTOR Ray Andersson COUNTRY Sweden
GENRE Dark Comedy
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
Filmmakers becoming film watchers
Open Projector Night serves as an opportunity for filmmakers to view their projects on the big screen
GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
By Madison McEnaney arts@thenorthernlight.org
With the help of the Alaska Film Forum and Bear Tooth Theatrepub, filmmakers of all skill levels have the opportunity to see their work aired on the big screen during an event called Open Projector Night. Since the first projector night in 2010, Bear Tooth has allowed the Alaska Film Forum to use their theatre to host a night featuring short films from filmmakers around Anchorage. There is no specific theme the films must meet, with the only requirement being that the film is under three minutes. Joshua Lowman works for the Alaska Film Forum, and currently runs open projector nights. Since the total run time for open projector night is 90 minutes, there is a first come, first serve system in order of choosing which films make it. Lowman and other members of the forum receive films and accept them until the time allotment is filled up, which usually happens fairly quickly.
“We get all kinds of applicants, students just getting into filmmaking and professionals who have been doing this for years. It’s always a variety of films, but that keeps the night interesting and serves as a good learning experience for anyone who attends,” Lowman said. While there are other opportunities in Anchorage to get a film on the big screen, the difference with open projector nights is that there is no feel of competition. The films are shown here to be viewed along with other fimmakers’ products and nothing else, which makes the event much more relaxed and easy going. “I like that OPN gives someone who wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to see their work displayed on the big screen the chance to do so, and get that reward. It’s a really cool way to give back to the community as well, anywhere from 200400 people always show up and support the films that are shown,” Lowman said. Open projector night is beneficial to all filmmakers, but for students who are still learning the ropes of filmmaking, this is a very worthwhile event. Dikeos Foudeas is a journalism student and member of film club at UAA, hoping to get into documentary filmmaking once graduated. “I like how OPN serves as a hub for local filmmakers, and lets us show our latest works while being able to network too. I meet different filmmakers every time I go, and am always introduced to new ideas that help me improve my filmmaking,” Foudeas said. The next open projector night is happening on Saturday, April 1, at Bear Tooth beginning at 10 p.m. The event is all ages, and films of all skill levels and themes will be shown.
| 11
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
| 12
Radical Recreation: Against the current Evan Withrow works towards his degree to pursue fishing dreams
By Brenda Craig
features@thenorthernlight.org
Born and raised in Alaska, Evan Withrow, mechanical engineering major, was exposed to fishing at a young age when his father was a guide on the Kenai River for King Salmon. Withrow has been fishing most of his life. However, he found a love for fly fishing about three years ago in South Dakota, where he was previously working towards a degree in mechanical engineering before moving back to Alaska. “One summer, I was about to head back to South Dakota and I asked my dad if I could take his old fly rods with me down there. One of my good buddies knew his way around the water so he helped teach me the ins and outs of it,” Withrow said. “Little did I know, the Black Hills of South Dakota was a little gold mine for fly fisherman.” Withrow’s love for fly fishing continued and allowed him to travel to places he may have never been exposed to if it wasn’t for fly fishing. “Fly fishing has taken me to some of the coolest places I have ever been,” Withrow said. “The pursuit of big or small fish in rivers and streams that most people
PHOTOS COURTESY OF EVAN WITHROW
Evan Withrow shows off the catch of the day on one of his many fishing adventures around the state. Withrow hopes his degree program will allow him to travel the world on fly fishing expeditions.
never get to see is why fishing is a passion of mine.” Fishing can be known as a great time to be independent and gather thoughts. While being alone can be soothing, Withrow also cherishes moments spent with friends fishing and sharing the rewarding feeling of a catch. “Sometimes when I fish, it’s about the solitude and being alone out there, it’s relaxing. It’s a quick escape from reality, but sometimes when I fish, I want to be on the water with my friends,” Withrow said. “There’s something pretty special about one of your best friends netting one of your biggest fish and celebrating with you.” One of Withrow’s favorite moments in his fishing experience is when he stopped in Wyoming with a friend on his drive from South Dakota to Alaska to attend UAA. “We fished a stretch of water known as The Wind River, which is just the small portion of the Bighorn River that’s located on the Indian Reservation. It’s a stretch of water that
parallels a highway through one of the coolest canyons anyone can ever be in,” Withrow said. “The water is fast, kind of tricky to get down to, and not easy to fish. We must have timed the fish correctly cause these fish were crushing everything and every fish was a quality one. Between my friend and I, we landed well over 75 fish; brown trout and rainbow trout and almost every single fish was over 20 inches.” Withrow spends a great amount of time fishing in the summer time but also continues to fish throughout all seasons of the year. “In the spring, summer and fall I fish as many days as possible. Last summer, I fished every day for about 75 straight days. It helped that I worked a full-time job inside of the campground where I fished,” Withrow said. “In the wintertime, I try to sneak out on weekends that are ‘less cold.’” Because fishing is such a big part of Withrow’s life, he claims that he will continue fishing until he needs a walker, but even
Although Withrow discovered his love for fly fishing only three years ago, he has dreams of building his life around the sport.
then he will still be found on the water. Currently, Withrow is focusing on his degree and hopes to finish school within the next year. With his degree, Withrow plans to use it for a job that will allow him to fish in exotic places. “My goal in life with my degree is to make enough money that I can take all of the exotic fishing trips that I want without having to stress too much about it,” Withrow said. “I want to go
to Iceland, New Zealand, Christmas Island and even Russia.” Although a great fisherman never gives up his secret spots, Withrow recommends individuals to give fishing a shot. He explains that fly fishing can be tricky at first, but, after a while, it’ll be easier to get the hang of, like all hobbies. Those who love to travel and spend time on the water, fishing might be a relaxing yet exciting activity like it is for Withrow.
150 dog deaths as a result of famous Alaskan tradition
After five dog deaths in the 2017 Iditarod alone, protests are beginning in outrage over the unfair deaths By Lauren Cuddihy
sports2@thenorthernlight.org
The Iditarod has long since been a famous sled dog race in Alaska, dating back to the start in 1973. The race has been run every year, with only a handful of those years resulting in zero deaths. Animal activists have been arguing that the race is cruel by forcing the dogs through the harsh Alaskan conditions. In under two weeks, the mushers and their teams of generally 16 dogs have to cross 1,000 miles of Alaskan terrain, including blizzards, -50 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures and 40 mph winds. In the recent conclusion of the 2017 Iditarod, the public and animal rights organizations, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have been in outrage over the lack of treatment and care that wasn’t put into place to prevent
the deaths. According to a spokesperson for the Iditarod Trail Committee who preferred to remain anonymous said that the majority of the deaths throughout the races could have been prevented with proper treatment and preparation. In the last decade alone, 18 dogs have perished: 2017: Five dogs; a majority collapsed on the trail and died, while one overheated in an airplance from Galena to Anchorage 2016: One dog; struck by a drunk snow machine driver 2015: Two dogs; both dogs collapsed on the trail and died 2013: One dog; suffocated in a snow drift in result of being dropped
2009: Six dogs; two died of hypothermia after being stranded in -45F temperatures, one death on a turbulent airplane ride and three death causes unknown, 2008: Three dogs; one snow machine related death, one death due to pheumonia, one death unknown. PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien examined the situation and realized the extent to which the race overworks the dogs. “The human winner of this deadly race gets a trophy, the dogs get an icy grave. Enough is enough: The Iditarod must end,” O’Brien said. However, there has been controversy around PETA statements and arguments. While there is ample evidence that the dogs are dying more than they should, Iditarod organizers have argued that all
the dogs go through excessive screening and health checks before the races. To reflect and show the controversial treatment, Toronto film director Fern Levitt took up a project to expose the behind-the-scenes of the Iditarod. “I was absolutely shocked. To me, it looked like a concentration camp of dogs... I couldn’t turn away,” Levitt said. More and more individuals and organizations have been trying to confront and end the tradition that Alaskans and people all over the nation look forward to every March. PETA has started a petition with already close to 75,000 signatures at the time of this writing, with only 25,000 left needed. Iditarod officials haven’t publicly responded to any of the backlash, but the future isn’t looking great for the famous Alaskan sled dog race.
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
| 13
14 | SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
Hailey Swirbul: The freshman standout Swirbul managed to make it all the way to the NCAA Skiing Championships, and be the top finisher for the team, in only her first season competing for UAA
By Lauren Cuddihy
sports2@thenorthernlight.org
As the Seawolves’ skiing season came to an end, freshman Hailey Swirbul proved to be the highest performer of the final national meet, as well as, a standout performer throughout the duration of the season. The El Jebel, Colorado native came to UAA for the first time in the difficult period of time where the future of the ski team remained unknown, but, despite that, the Nordic standout exceeded expectations. Before coming to Alaska, Swirbul became a back-to-back Junior Distance National Champion, as well as, managing to qualify and compete in the World Junior Championships in 2016. Swirbu competed in the World Junior Championships again this year during her collegiate season. “The best part of the season for me was actually off of the collegiate circuit. I raced as part of a relay team at World Junior Championships and earned third place. This was the first time in history that the US has earned a relay medal at WJ’s,” Swirbul said. Skiing hasn’t always been Swirbul’s primary sport. She only added the skiing into her routine as cross training for mountain bike racing. Both she and her brother trained together for bike racing until transitioning to skiing. Not only was skiing not her first sport, but Nordic wasn’t even the first type of
PHOTO COURTESY OF FLYINGPOINTROAD.COM
Hailey Swirbul competes in the 2017 NCAA Skiing Championships held at the University of New Hampshire. Swirbul completed the 5K classic and 15K freestyle in 16:34.8 and 41:46.9 respectively.
skiing she incorporated into her life. “My brother and I switched from freestyle skiing to Nordic skiing to keep our fitness high through the winter for biking,” Swirbul said. Ever since then, Swirbul has participated competitively in nordic skiing, and has gone to great lengths and made great accomplishments. However, just like an college athlete, she noticed the extensive changes that occur in collegiate competition. “Many of the people racing in the [Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association] are from Europe, and are
years older than I am, so the level of competition is higher. It is interesting to hear different languages at all the race venues, like Norwegian, Estonian, Italian, etc.” Swirbul said. This observation is unique to not only collegiate skiing, but also at UAA. Throughout the United States, many college-level skiers come from Europe primarily due to the extensive early-training skiers receive there. For UAA, many of the ski team members, as well as athletes from other teams, come to Alaska for the ample opportunities it offers. On the ski team alone, Swirbul is
joined by 13 athletes from other countries, an impressive amount of the total 22 on the team. Even with such a diverse and supportive team, Swirbul had to overcome several obstacles for her first season. To no surprise, she had to deal with some chronic foot injuries: an extremely common injury for freshmen to experience injuries during their first year in any collegiate sport, primarily due to the change of training. “I had to cut holes in all my boots! That was the only solution to relieve the pressure from my heels and ankle bones,” Swirbul said. Despite that, Swirbul managed to consistently compete and do well all season. In addition, she managed to stay on top of a full course load as a civil engineering major. Swribul knows that eventually, competitive skiing will end and a career will begin. Fortunately, she has so far enjoyed her courses specific to her major. Not only that, but she has high goals set for the future. “After graduating, I would like to focus more on structural and transportation engineering projects in Alaska, but I am not sure where I would like to go with it specifically,” Swirbul said. With the positive news of the ski team not being cut for the future, Swirbul will enjoy three more seasons of eligibility to compete for UAA, but until next year’s season, she has time to focus on her course work until the end of the 2016-17 school year.
CONTACT
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
| 15
ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS 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
ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Cheyenne Mathews cmathews@thenorthernlight.org
LAYOUT EDITOR Levi Brown layout@thenorthernlight.org
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Sam Davenport 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org
ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR Madison McEnaney arts@thenorthernlight.org
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jian Bautista jbautista@thenorthernlight.org
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Lauren Cuddihy sports2@thenorthernlight.org
CONTRIBUTORS Jacob Holley-Kline Victoria Petersen Max Jungreis
STAFF REPORTER Sarah Tangog stangog@thenorthernlight.org
Student Health and Counseling Center
MANAGING EDITOR Kathryn DuFresne content@thenorthernlight.org COPY EDITOR Michael Thomas copy@thenorthernlight.org ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Alexis Abbott news2@thenorthernlight.org FEATURES EDITOR Brenda Craig features@thenorthernlight.org
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Young Kim ykim@thenorthernlight.org STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jay Guzman jguzman@thenorthernlight.org
MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Zac Clark ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Stacey Parker HIRING FOR Ad Manager Sports Editor Staff Reporters Web Editor