NOVEMBER 8 - NOVEMBER 15, 2016
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THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
A&E
PAGE 7
Students and community members protest end of election results
PAGE 13
Sarah Davies’ project sends a powerful message
Share some bud with your buds
Pot Luck Events welcomes individuals looking to be apart of the cannabis community By Brenda Craig
features@thenorthernlight.org
Usually when marijuana is mentioned, the thought of the average stoner kid smoking out of a bong in their parent’s basement comes to mind. There is no doubt that this is taking place, but it makes up a small portion of individuals that partake in this activity. Alaska was the third state to legalize marijuana for recreational use in the US and more states are gradually following in the same footsteps. Weed is shown to not only be for those stoner kids, but for a diverse range of people that make up the community. This community of medical or recreational users of marijuana in Alaska have a safe place to get together and socialize at Pot Luck Events. Nothing against the average stoner, in fact, any enthusiast of weed over the age of 21 is encouraged to join Pot Luck Events, ironically located on 420 W 3rd Ave. Pot Luck Events has been open for almost two years now and have been making positive progress for the marijuana community in Alaska. This club not only provides a safe place for members to legally consume their own products, but also organize many events for their members to participate in. Some events that take place are comedy shows, spoken word, movie night, Higher Yoga and anything else that can be done, while also involving weed. They also have a “bar” like setting for mixed drinks like coffees, Italian sodas, waters and Capri Suns, along with snacks like chips, ice cream bars and all the best munchies. To make it even better, they have free candy dispensaries for members.
SEE BUD
PAGE 10
PHOTO BY YOUNG KIM
Lee Haywood, cannabis emissary, standing behind the dab bar.
RED ZONE: Alaska labeled ‘The rape capital of America’
By Alexis Abbott
news2@thenorthernlight.org
Domestic violence has been a prominent issue in the state of Alaska for decades, which has lead to reports of sexual assault that have become the highest in the nation. The high number of cases has resulted in the Alaskan rape rate tallying three times the national average.
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Rape is a form of sexual assault that is repeatedly committed, but often goes unreported. It is a criminal offense that includes any act of non-consensual sexual penetration. Most states define rape as forceful sexual relations with a person against that person’s will. Alaska has been named “the rape capital of America” — and that is a disturbing label. With nearly 80 reported rapes per 100,000 people according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), there is need for some significant change in the state. Alaska’s reputation for high reports of rape does not even begin to show how severe the crime is in the state, considering many cases go unreported. Reports of sexual assault take place all over the state, but rural Alaska is a very prevalent place that rape is frequently reported. In this part of Alaska, it is difficult for law enforcement to get to victims in a timely manner. More statistics from NCADV show that Alaskan Natives make up nearly 61 percent of rape victims in the state, and one in three Alaskan Native women
@tnl_updates
admit to being a victim of rape in her lifetime. These women in rural Alaska are statistically 2 1-2 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than women of other races. Nearly 59 percent of adult women in Alaska experience some sort of sexual assault in their lifetime, while almost 30 percent of Alaskans are not able to reach the authorities or victim services due to where they live. Alaska also has the highest homicide rate for female victims killed by a male perpetrator in the nation. Kerry Frank, a UAA biology student who grew up in Minto, Alaska — a small rural community on the interior — admitted no matter where you live, it is essential to know who you are surrounding yourself with. “I think Alaska’s rape rate is so high because of the alcoholism among Alaskans,” Frank said. “I actually do feel comfortable living in a rural community, and as a female, I just can’t say I feel any safer in Anchorage.” Not enough of these occurrences are reported, and only 29 percent of these cases result in arrest. In many instances, victims are not taken seriously enough which often results in victim-blaming
@tnl_updates
and sufferers not reporting their sexual assault in fear that their situation will not be considered severe, or that they will be blamed for the crime. In many rape cases, question of the victim’s behavior, what he or she was wearing, whether alcohol was involved or where the attack took place comes to surface. The problem is not whether the victim was fully-clothed or completely sober, it is that the perpetrator committed an illicit crime when they chose to sexually assault another being. Standing Together Against Rape is a local crisis center that advocates, prevents and educates Alaskans on the local rape epidemic. STAR trains and educates students across the community and the state on sexual assault awareness. Laura, the direct services manager at STAR acknowledges Alaska’s domestic violence issue and supports the intention of local instruction throughout schools and communities. “I think it’s hard to point out why exactly Alaska’s rape rate is so high, it’s hard because if we knew why people
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SEE RAPE
PAGE 2
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NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
| 02
Access to sexual health resources, abortion and birth control could be curtailed in new Trump administration Access and affordability of family planning resources could be limited or even restricted with new President-elect
By Victoria Petersen
vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org
Repealing President Barack Obama’s health care law has been a priority for the new Trump administration. The Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” requires
that all health insurances provide coverage for FDAapproved birth control methods. The Trump administration could also change the clause that defines birth control, getting rid of access, but keeping Obamacare. The Trump administration could also cut funding for Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides family planning healthcare.
PHOTO BY YOUNG KIM
The Trump administration doesn’t have a plan to replace Obamacare with, so cheap birth control may or may not be here to stay. This has been a wake-up call for women across the nation. The intrauterine device or IUD method being researched the most, as it can outlast a Trump presidency. Now whether or not affordable sexual health services are in trouble, it doesn’t hurt to take advantage of the services already available to us. “It’s hard to predict the future, but if Trump and antichoice politicians make good on their word, access to affordable reproductive health care could be in trouble. That being said, it certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea to take advantage of what Planned Parenthood has to offer in terms of services — [sexually transmitted infection] testing, long-term contraceptives, condoms, etc. Sooner than later,” Robert Hockema, a member of UAA’s Generation Action, said. Access to abortion in the Trump administration also remains unknown. President-elect Donald Trump has proposed nominating conservative supreme court justices that could potentially overturn Roe v. Wade, a 1973 ruling that legalized the procedure of abortion. “President-elect Trump has mentioned taking steps to overturn Roe vs. Wade, along with adding to a patriarchal society. I am concerned that there will be a long fought battle in order to diminish our voices on the Reproductive Rights front, which all in all has in the past divided the country taking away momentum from the issues that matter and effect the working class,” Moira Pyhala, a UAA political science student and member of UAA’s Generation Action, said. Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers, or TRAP laws, are sets of regulations placed on medical providers who provide abortions and similar procedures. The requirements are different than other medical practices and often burdensome. These regulations could result in smaller clinics across the country to be shut down if enforced more heavily. “I’m more worried on a local level, with local clinics being shut down because of TRAP laws. I’ve seen a huge surge of interest in getting long-term contraceptives. I think people have time though, it will take awhile for anything to kick in, people have time to think about their options,” Zhenia Peterson, UAA social work alumnus and advocate for sexual health and family planning resources said. “I think it’s really important and things I rely on are jeopardy and that worries me greatly.” To learn more about long-term contraceptives and family planning visit Planned Parenthood. To get involved and advocate for sexual health rights and resources visit UAA’s Generation Action club.
Planned Parenthood is located at 4001 Lake Otis Pkwy #101, Anchorage, AK 99508.
RAPE: Alaska rape rate three times national average Continued from cover
assaulted other people, we would have a good answer. I think that there are a lot of factors that play into the issue. Alcohol does not make people harm others - but I think it can play a big factor into a lot of situations,” Laura said. “Other factors involve cold weather, dark months... It’s hard to pinpoint the problem, it just kind of fluctuates.” Ron McGee, an associate professor in the Department of Journalism and Communication who was previously the Chairman at STAR, thinks that education is a huge preventative measure that our state should seek. McGee believes that Alaska has done an excellent job in educating young men and women on what rape is and why it is a problem, and that this is why our rape rate is significantly higher than other states — we know when to report it. “I think it has a lot to do with how much alcohol is in the state; alcohol is clearly a huge factor in the amount of rapes in Alaska. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we report it, and we are more educated than other places when it comes to rape, and knowing what the definition of rape is,” McGee said. Whether or not Alaska’s rape rate is because of the rural communities, alcoholism or if Alaskans really are more educated on the matter, it is imperative to spread awareness of sexual assault and allow the crime to be considered less of an act of tolerable violence and more of a severe form of domestic abuse.
GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
Statistics from the FBI Uniform Crime Report puts Alaska at the top of reported rapes per 100,000 people in 2014.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
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04 | NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
Donald Trump and the future of journalism
PHOTO BY VICTORIA PETERSEN
Journalism and the news is being challenged by the American people in the wake of last Tuesday’s election results.
By Victoria Petersen
vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org
For UAA journalism student Zee McCummings, reporting on music and culture has always been a passion. With last week’s election results, McCummings has found her purpose redefined. “I’m terrified, but I also feel incredibly empowered and full of purpose,” McCummings said. “The thing that drew me to journalism was always music, pop culture and culture itself. But now after this moment in history where my life is potentially altered forever by this one decision made by my home country, I feel changed. I feel as though there is a different purpose for me being in this field. I do feel like everything I’ve done up until this point has led me to a good place to be ready for what’s coming. I’m extremely aware that it will be ugly and there will be a lot of pain.” McCummings is just one of many working journalists that are worried about their career in the era of Trump. “Donald Trump based a large portion of his campaign on distrust in the media. Claiming Journalists were liars, aligned with Clinton and colluding with her to defame him,” Matthew Johnson, marketing and promotions producer for KTVA, said. “The result of this was his followers viewing all journalists as members of the ‘Clinton owned media,’ this sweeping generalization of the news media has turned us into the enemy in the eyes of some Trump supporters.” Johnson experienced America’s distrust in the media firsthand on election night. “For nothing more than doing their jobs, Journalists are being met with public death threats,” Johnson said. “On election night I already felt the effects of Trump’s anti-media campaign. Outside of a Republican election hot-spot, upon seeing my Channel 11 jacket, a Trump supporter told me that “Trump has it, you guys are done!” meaning, presumably, that news media was going to be dead in our country under a Trump presidency. What’s so scary about that is that people don’t see Journalists as individuals, but rather part of a diabolical machine designed only to misinform and coerce.” This sort of behavior may be new to the Anchorage area, but it’s been happening for months in the lower 48. For Todd Walker, a national correspondent with the E.W. Scripps Company, going to election events and conventions resulted with security tagging along, or just a quick call away in the case that the events turned hostile. “My company had private security lined up for us in the event that protests after the election turned hostile, especially in the event of a Trump loss. Thankfully the protests so far have remained pretty peaceful, and I was inside Trump
campaign headquarters on election night, and everyone in there was very respectful as well,” Walker said. “We did have private security during both the Republican and Democratic conventions this summer since I was assigned to cover the protests outside the arenas. I also had them when I covered the riots in Charlotte. Our company policy is [that] anytime we are heading into a hostile or violent situation we will have private security with us. Per that same policy, they are not allowed to be armed.” Ethical and necessary journalism is at risk when many Americans lack confidence in its mainstream news sources. During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump created an environment for media distrust as a way to trivialize criticism towards him and his campaign. “I am worried. Donald Trump ran much of his campaign on bashing, hating and blaming the media. It was already a convenient way for politicians to pass the buck on a mistake, but it’s reached another level...” Walker said. “Were there plenty of reasons for people to have trust issues before? Sure. But now I’m biased, in the tank, corrupt, evil, whatever you want to call me, when I don’t confirm your own personal bias with my reporting.” This distrust has resulted in fake news sites, appealing to the bias of many trump supporters. “With the proliferation of opinion sites masquerading as faux news sites, people can consume their information through their own personal filter. Anything that doesn’t fit into their world view is now viewed as biased. That has lead to trust in “the media,” a term I despise, to drop to all-time lows even faster than before,” Walker said. Fake news doesn’t get filtered through social media very well, making it easy to share a click-bait headline which influences voters across the country. “The news that’s reported is helpful for democracy, but unfortunately in the absence of it there’s been circulation of news that is fake and people can not tell the difference and that harms our country and that harms our community If we don’t have information that we can trust... I think that fake news influenced this election.” Julia O’Malley, UAA Atwood Chair of journalism and local freelance journalist and blogger, said. The lack of one-on-one interviews with politicians leads to poorer stories. Writing based on tweets and posts only informs the public on what they have already seen on their twitter or Facebook. Host of KTVA’s “Frontiers” and prominent Alaskan journalist who has been working in the field since the 1980s, Rhonda McBride notes the use of social media as a way for politicians to avoid the media. “I do worry about Trump’s impact on the marketplace of ideas that elections
bring to us. What we’ve seen from his campaign supporters is worrisome. If journalists are threatened, it could have a chilling effect on the Democratic process,” McBride said. “Trump has revolutionized campaigns by his use of Twitter. This is a trend that has its roots in Sarah Palin. As governor and a Vice Presidential candidate, she communicated most often through social media, bypassing questions from journalists. Reporters were reduced to quoting her Facebook page, so the marketplace of ideas becomes reduced to bumper stickers and slogans. The election says more about Americans than it does Trump...” The struggle to be taken seriously is beginning to take hold for many journalists just trying to do their jobs across the nation. “I don’t know a journalist who is in this business because they are trying to advocate for a point of view. The journalists I know are hard working and low paid and they do it because they feel like it’s important for the public to be informed. It’s a colossal misunderstanding to think that there is some kind of conspiracy. We are hardworking people and there are fewer, and fewer of us. I feel like people think that this is permission to act in a way that you wouldn’t act to a stranger, I know I heard about a journalist who was shouted down, her cell phone thrown on election night, I’ve heard of the defacing of live trucks and I just cannot believe that we would live in a world where people feel like that is OK. The Journalists I know are just doing their jobs.” O’Malley said. It’s never been more important to create factual, thoughtful and concise journalism. Challenging all ideas and reporting from all sides. “It’s not my job to tell you what you already know or believe. Often times it’s my job to challenge what you believe, because you aren’t doing that yourself. Where does American media go from here? We’ve got to get better. We’ve got to care less about making people like us, stop being scared of being called biased and dig for the truth.,” Walker said. Talking and reporting on those who believe differently will make a story stronger. It’s important to remember that everyone has an opinion and everyone’s opinion matters in a democracy, and that’s something worth reporting on. For President-elect Donald Trump, getting used to the world’s criticism will be a challenge. “One thing that keeps a democracy strong is the opportunity for people to have their own point of view. It can be conservative, liberal, it could be crazy, but you’re entitled to your point of view. But if you’re going to be in public service you cannot have a thin skin, you have to be able to accept the comments made by the citizens,” Edgar Blatchford, professor of journalism at UAA and former mayor
of Seward, said. “We need to have more people watching what the local, state and federal government does. You gotta have people watching government and the people have an absolute right to know.” The threat the Trump administration has on the press is creating more than a stir in the journalism community. The climate of the industry has changed, creating a not-so-comfortable environment to work in. “Trump had created a toxic atmosphere for journalists to work in, one where even the most unbiased and neutral reporting is viewed as leftist propaganda that should be met with resistance. The idea that his followers will believe anything he says, over what a legitimate news source says, is terrifying, Johnson said. “When a government can control the Press, and control what the people believe, it becomes a breeding ground for totalitarianism.” Many Trump supporters claim that the attacks on journalists are plants made by the Clinton campaign and other Democrats. “The media incessantly blamed Trump and his supporters for violence, yet the shocking footage found on the Project Veritas tapes show a much more sinister story; collusion between the DNC and Robert Creamer paying to incite violence at Trump rallies, often the instigators were paid $1000 and up. To this day they still point to Trump as the sole reason of the violence, blatantly ignoring the facts,” Nate Witt, a resident of Fairbanks, said. Conservatives distrust in mainstream media have looked to Wikileaks, citizen journalists and other alternative news sources. Seeing this administration as an opportunity to reform our current medium of reporting and newscast. “The fourth estate in its current form is dead, but it’s about [to] be reborn. Donald Trump represents no threat to the media, he simply awakened the masses to the dishonesty, arrogance, and deceit that we see on our TV’s on a daily basis. The only threat to the media is itself. Strange as it seems Donald Trump is the best thing that’s happened for the media in a long time. Americans and independent media have effectively exposed bias of the media,” Witt said. “Now the media can either change its ways or cease to exist. This is great news for journalists because the vacuum created by the fall of dinosaur media has to be filled. We are in a society that cherishes the freedom of speech; it’s considered the fundamental principle that our nation was founded upon. Citizen journalists, alternative news sources, Wikileaks, online videos, whistleblowers, and social media have completely overshadowed traditional media coverage.” Whether or not you support the Trump administration, the media is changing. For better or for worse is yet to come.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
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CRAFTED IN ALASKA AND READALASKA BOOK FAIR R Buy local and beat the holiday rush at Anchorage’s premier juried crafts event. Dozens of Alaska artists and authors. Live music and artist demonstrations add to the festive atmosphere. Thanksgiving Weekend Nov. 25-27 Free
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06 | NEWS Alaska first in chlamydia, high STD scores all around THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
By Cheyenne Mathews
cmathews@thenorthernlight.org
Sexually transmitted diseases, also known as sexually transmitted infections, are a large problem in Alaska. The Center for Disease Control state profile data for Alaska in 2015 ranked the state as first in the nation for chlamydia infections and fourth in the nation for gonorrheal infections per capita. People at the greatest risk and highest chance of being infected with an STD are close to the age of the majority of UAA’s students, with nearly half of the 20 million STDs diagnosed each year belonging to the 15-24 age group, according to the CDC. The UAA Student Health and Counseling Center offers free visits and cheap treatment and screening options for UAA students, according to family nurse practitioner Betty Bang. “So when students come in, first they need to let us know why they’re coming in. And the office visit is free; it’s part of student fees they’ve already paid,” said Bang. “The screenings right now are pretty reasonable. Gonorrhea and chlamydia together is $12 bucks to be screened, and the medication to treat for chlamydia I think is $3. Gonorrhea, I think, is $3 for the one [dose] and a $1.50 for the injection. It is not [an] expensive treatment for these things. Herpes is a cycle, we’ll give someone a bottle of 100 [doses] for $10, probably a lot less than that.” Since STDs are such a prevalent problem in Alaska, Bang recommends that all sexually active students utilize the inexpensive Health Center screening. “I would just encourage people to regularly get screened,” Bang said. “People say, ‘Well, how often should I get screened?’ Well, every time you have a different partner you need to get screened. We try to demystify the whole thing by, like when we do our free STD screening day. We usually do that in February, this year it will probably be Valentine’s Day. We usually do the real common ones, we usually do gonorrhea chlamydia, and… HIV and syphilis. Usually at least a hundred [show up.] I think the first year we did it, there [were] 150... there [were] a lot of people.” Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common STDs in Alaska, but things like crabs, trichomoniasis or ‘tric’, HIV, and herpes are also pretty commonly found in Alaska. People with STDs can asymptomatic, mean-
PHOTO BY CHEYENNE MATHEWS
Condoms and pamphlets can be found for free in North, West and East Hall, along with the Student Health and Counseling Center.
ing that they have the disease and are giving it to their partner, but are not actively experiencing overt symptoms. Bang said that the lack of symptoms does not mean there is any damage being done by the STD. “You still can develop a PID, pelvic inflammatory disease, if you’re a woman and become infertile...sometimes it takes a while for that infection to get to the point where you are very ill,” Bang said. “Other things it can do, in males it can cause epididymitis. They’re kind of silent. You could not have had a lot of symptoms of that and still it could have affected your reproductive system.” A very dangerous STD to leave untreated is syphilis. Bang said that syphilis is on the rise in Anchorage especially for anyone who has a male partner that may have other male partners or might be bisexual. “Syphilis we see less often but there was an upsurge in Anchorage, and that’s a really complicated disease actually,” Bang said. “Syphilis can have very very bad consequences it can lead to neurological problems. It
can attack your nervous system causing un-coordination, blindness, insanity and death. So, syphilis is a bad one...it can start with a lesion ten to 90 days after sex, and then one to two months later a rash and then years later it continues to attack your organs. That one they treat you with serious antibiotics, depending on what stage you’re in.” Bang recommends regular screenings but there are other methods students can utilize to reduce their risk of getting an STD. “Condoms are really important and we give those away for free at the Health Center,” Bang said. “It would be nice if students had some information about their partner, like knew their name and how to get a hold of them. The biggest thing is don’t be afraid to come in and tell us what’s going on. Get your [Human Papilloma Virus] vaccines, use condoms and get screened for STIs.” The CDC website also has recommendations for sexually active people on how to maintain sexual health and reduce chances of getting and STD. “The most reliable ways to avoid transmission of STDs, including HIV infection, are to abstain from sexual activity or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner,” the CDC website states. “Latex male and female condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of some STDs.” Planned Parenthood’s center located on Lake Otis Parkway also offers STD screening and treatment with the cost of that ranging from $90 to $200. Alaska Public Affairs Manager for Planned Parenthood, Jessica Cler, said that costs for treatment and service vary but that they never turn people away. “It’s $90 to $200 depending on the level of service, so once again hard to give just one answer to that, but we never turn away a patient for inability to pay and we offer many payment options to ensure patients get the kind of care they need. We also accept insurance,” Cler said. Planned Parenthood offers many of the same services as the UAA Health and Counseling Center including chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis, herpes testing and treatment, and external genital warts and cervi76985 cal cancer testing and treatment as well as vaccinations for HPV, according to Cler.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
| 07
UAA student organizes anti-Trump rally
PHOTO BY YOUNG KIM
Community of Trump protesters gather Thursday Evening on the corner of Northern Lights and New Seward Highway in efforts to sway the public about their opinion of our new President.
By Cheyenne Mathews
cmathews@thenorthernlight.org
On Thursday Nov. 10 over 70 people gathered for anti-Trump rally at the Mall at Sears parking lot. Protesters waved signs and shouted chants of ‘This is what democracy looks like,’ ‘My body, my choice. Their body, their choice,’ and ‘Love Trumps hate.’ The ‘peaceful demonstration against Trump,’ as it was called on its Facebook event, was organized by UAA art major Jess Bunag after seeing protests that were happening elsewhere in the country. “I was seeing all the protests in the lower 48, and I felt like we needed one here. I felt really passionate about it. I wasn’t sure we could get any sort of turnout at all, so I put some feelers out, and surprisingly there were a lot of people
interested,” Bunag said. Bunag created the event on Facebook the night before the rally was held and she spent the day of the rally advertising with posters and social media. “I think I created the event at maybe ten o’clock last night. I made some signs, I put a ton of flyers out at UAA,” Bunag said. “I was pretty much sprinting back and forth from campus from like eight o’clock this morning and of course my lovely girlfriend was helping me spread posters all over the place too.” Bunag said she hosted the protest because she wants some recognition that the electoral college is a broken system and that she wants people disenfranchised by Trump rhetoric to know their are people that support them. “I think the electoral college is a broken system that doesn’t reflect what people want. I think it’s archaic ‘cause I think
people are intelligent enough to make their own choices in this day and age and they should be able to have a direct democracy where we get to truly choose our leaders,” Bunag said. “I mean I would love to think that Donald Trump is going to see all of these protests and be better than he is, but I don’t think so. I mean I just want people who are put in danger because of this to know there are people that stand with them.” Deanna Walkup protested at the rally, holding a sign that said ‘Gay and terrified.’ Walkup hopes that the anti-Trump rally will demonstrate that Trump comments should not be normalized. “I’m not going to sit here and cry foul, like recount or whatever, because I’m going to accept, like, yes we are stuck with this orange carrot as President,” Walkup said. “I definitely cried because I don’t want to live in this kind of world
where this sort of thing is normalized... I’m hoping for the next four years, only four years, is that Trump just flakes on everything he’s ever said because he’s done it before. He’s totally been like, ‘What? I didn’t say that,’ so hopefully he’ll do that. But you don’t know, you don’t know and that’s terrifying to know that we have a President and Vice President where conversion therapy is okay.” Walkup, like most people at the rally, was surprised and disappointed by the election results and how inaccurately the polls reported Trump support. “There’s probably a lot of people who secretly supported Trump and didn’t say anything about it so they’re secret and they just came out full force,” Walkup said. “There’s some people who are probably terrified to go out and vote period. I know there were some people who didn’t like the candidates we have so they just decided not to vote, which isn’t great either. But I think it’s mostly racial tension, a lot of people were scared to go out and vote and you know the people who weren’t won.” Nic Feild showed up at the anti-Trump rally after seeing a post about it on Twitter. Feild was holding a sign that said, ‘Love is love is love is love.’ “[The sign] is [a quote] from Lin-Manuel Miranda. He was the creator of Hamilton the musical and when he accepted his Tony, this was part of his speech, and it’s sort of become a personal mantra for me because I’m a gay man and so I want love to be all I have and they’re trying to take that away from me and trying to take away my right to love whoever I want and it’s disgusting,” Feild said. Feild said he was amazed by how many people came to the rally. He said the amount of people protesting was encouraging and showed a general support of human rights and beliefs. “I hope to open people’s eyes that we’re not just going to sit quietly and take this,” Feild said. “We’re going to fight back every way we can to keep our rights and keep our freedoms. I always support peace over violence but in this case I think that speaking your voice and protesting like this it is still a peaceful protest.” Trump’s inauguration will be held next year on Jan. 20, 2017.
Political correctness gone too far
By Lee Piltz
lpiltz@thenorthernlight.org
There are quite a lot of people at UAA that are unsure what political correctness is, or who don’t have an exact opinion on the idea. It is currently a hot topic in our country, with many arguing that things need to be more PC, and others stating that PC is a form of thought control and is infringing our First Amendment rights of free speech. However, a good majority of citizens are somewhere in the middle ground or left not knowing what to think. Josie McElroy, a justice major, is one such person. “I don’t exactly know what political correctness is, but I know it’s talked about a lot.” McElroy said. PC is formally defined as the avoidance, often considered as taken to extremes, of forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalize or insult groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against. Which in more basic terms, means to use or not use certain terms that could offend groups of people. Examples of this can be seen in one of the most common forms of media: television. There are a plethora of words that one cannot say on television, and these word bans were put in place so as to not offend the general public. Most racial slurs and many swears are on this list; there are still some ‘dirty’ words that can be voiced on television at certain times of the day or on certain channels. Some people argue that if you’re going to have some words over others, then you should either include or exclude them all.
Gina Hays, a journalism and public communications major at UAA, argues that the use of ‘bitch,’ which is often a derogatory word when attributed to women, is allowed on television. Whereas, the use of ‘shit’ is not allowed on most networks. “Why are we allowed to use ‘bitch’ on TV? Why aren’t we allowed to say ‘shit’ on TV? Shit just means poop. As a feminist, that really bothers me a lot,” Hays said. Hays sees a use for PC to mean being factually accurate, rather than being overly sensitive to certain groups. To Hays, and many other people, PC is less about controlling what people should say, and more about getting the facts straight either as a politician, a teacher or just as a person. “I think [PC] is a bunch of bullshit; it goes too far. I think in ways, we all want to be politically correct. We all want to be right. I feel like, everybody wants the research, the evidence and the proof. That is ‘politically correct’ in a way, to me, it’s more about being factual with evidence. People often go too far with it,” Hays said. Still, others feel that there is a need for PC in our country. With the recent election results, and reaction on social media, Deanna Flynn, computer science major, feels that we may need PC now more than ever. “I feel like it definitely should be a part of all of society when I feel like it isn’t. Given what exactly is going on at the moment, just everyone being hateful to everyone out there. Hating people for voting for [Donald]
GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
Trump, hating Muslims, hating any other race, it’s kind of sad. We’re all human beings, so there should be no reason why we are mocking another race or another person,” Flynn said. Whatever the stance taken on PC, it is certainly going to be a hot topic in our country for quite a while. Only time will tell whether Americans decide it is beneficial to our free speech or detrimental.
08 | NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
Budget reductions continue to impact University of Alaska UA Board of Regents approves another five percent tuition raise By Alexis Abbott
news2@thenorthernlight.org
After a year filled with budget reductions and financial adjustments heavily impacting the University of Alaska, it looks like the fiscal changes will be continuing next year. UA president Jim Johnsen proposed yet another five percent tuition increase for the 2017-2018 academic year, and as of Nov. 12, has been approved. The State of Alaska is facing economic strains that negatively impact UA’s budget. This has resulted in a previous tuition hike, facility closes and program cuts. Countless students, staff and faculty a part of the UA system have been distressed over the redundant changes throughout the university. The state’s quota has been cut from $375 million to $325 million since 2015. These reductions directly affect statefunded systems like the University of Alaska, which lead to the fiscal changes UA is experiencing. An increase in tuition would help UA profit revenue and achieve the university’s mission in being
the state’s primary provider of higher education. Johnsen sent out a memorandum to the Board of Regents, Coalition of Student Leaders and System Governance Council on Oct. 28, before proposing the tuition raise and being authorized by the Board of Regents Thursday, Nov. 12. “In April, when our budget outlook was particularly grim, I was prepared to request the Regents amend AY2017’s already approved tuition rates to help offset the general fund shortfall. However, our general fund allocation was raised from $300 million to $325 million, making the tuition adjustment less urgent. I also heard from students and families that introducing a mid-year tuition increase would be a hardship. So, I put that option aside for academic year 2017,” Johnsen wrote in his memorandum. Johnsen is optimistic in his appeal to continue a yearly tuition raise — and benefit the University of Alaska in the process. “With the possibility that state support will decrease yet again in 2018, I will propose a modest tuition increase of 5 percent for all rates of tuition in the
academic year of 2018 at the November Board of Regents meeting. This level of increase keeps UA’s tuition below the average published in-state tuition and fee prices at public master’s and public doctoral universities, thus ensuring affordability and access for our students,” Johnsen wrote. Reactions to Johnsen’s said proposal have been mixed, and on top of previous changes that have happened at the institution, it has raised question. Anna Berecz, a graduate student and assistant coach for the UAA ski team feels that another tuition raise could impede students from furthering their education. “I know that the institution is supposed to attract new students, and I firmly believe that higher education is one thing that they should always keep low cost because that’s one of the most important things for our society to progress,” Berecz said. Although some students and faculty do not support the planned tuition increase, Johnsen believes it is a reasonable amount to request. Sebastian Garrett-Singh, a student in
the UAA Department of Journalism and Communications also feels that another five percent tuition raise could very easily affect student turnout at the universities. “Any tuition increase is deeply concerning, but I understand the UA system is in a precarious fiscal situation and solutions to closing the financial gap will almost never be perceived positively,” Garrett-Singh said. “While five percent isn’t going to make or break my educational experience, the increase will certainly impact my annual budgeting. As a student taking on loans it means my debt will be that much bigger come graduation. I’m more worried tuition increases will continue unabated, and future college students may lose a chance at a higher education because the cost of admission is simply too high.” The state’s budget crisis is in full effect and will remain to impact the University of Alaska, and it’s allocation until the system has recovered revenue that has been forfeited. President Jim Johnsen along with the Board of Regents are evaluating the figures and fiscal options required to get UA’s budget back on track.
Spur of unusual deaths in Anchorage raise awareness in the community
Three double homicides lead to speculation of potential serial killer
GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
By Brenda Craig
features@thenorthernlight.org
A couple months ago there was a lot of buzz on social medial about the recent killings by a speculated serial killer. After the most recent homicides that took place at the end of August, there has not been any deaths resembling the previous murders by the speculated killer. Still, many people are continuing to taking safety precautions by not traveling alone late at night and staying indoors. Others have brushed it off knowing Alaska has a high homicide rate and no current
signs of the alleged killer. The killings that took place were unusual compared to other homicides that took place this year. On January 28, 2016, Selena Annette Mullenax, 19, was found dead at Point Woronzof. An hour later, Foriegnne “Onnie” Aubert-Morissette, 20, was found badly injured and later died at the hospital. The second instance took place July 3, 2016, when the bodies of Brianna Adrianne Foisy, 20, and Jason Lee Netter Sr., 41, were found on the Ship Creek Trail. The most recent killings took place on August 28, 2016, when Bryant “Brie” De
Husson, 25, and Kevin Schuyler Turner, 34, were found dead in the Valley of the Moon Park. It is questionable if students at UAA should fear this potential threat on campus. Anchorage residents have heard about the killings over social media and by word of mouth. There is still confusion on who this person is and what motives they had behind the killings. Kelly Kim, UAA dental hygiene major, like many in the general public, has a general idea about the case. “I know the victims were killed in similar ways and in couples. I don’t believe I know anything beyond that,” Kim said. “I mourn the death of lives lost, but I’m not worried about it in any fashion.” Some have done more research and have created their own theories on the matter. Tim Blevins, an Anchorage resident, has been interested in these recent killings and has conducted his own investigative research. “I think it’s very interesting that all of the people who have been murdered by this person are in pairs of twos, they’re all people that are on the fringe of society, so by saying they’re not linked in any way is not entirely accurate,” Blevins said. Blevins also has ideas about the technique and gun skills of this potential threat. “He shoots the first person with a high caliber rifle and he doesn’t shoot a lot of rounds, which leads me to think he is accurate, that he’s trained, and knows how to do it, then he hunts the second person down with a handgun,” Blevins said. People are having mixed feelings about these similar death instances. There are many jokes going around on Twitter and Facebook. However, many claim this is a serious issue. Andrew Smith, business major agrees on the significance of this issue. “I mean people are dying, so you have
to take it seriously,” Smith said. Anchorage has had a large amount of homicides this year, so many people believe that this one potential threat should not be over stressed and feared. Nonetheless, this year alone there has been 25 homicides according to the Anchorage Dispatch News, which is not including two APD related shootings. At this rate, with a couple more months left in the year, it is possible we will surpass last year with 25 deaths. Due to the unusual activity, many are changing minor parts of their daily routine. There are warnings about going out too early or too late in the day in certain areas. “Yeah, I just don’t go down to those spots where people have been found [dead] at those later times,” Smith said. UAA has back trails that could be unsafe later in the day, especially when students have late classes or study for long periods at a time. The University Police Department at UAA provides many services in order to keep students safe. One service that can be requested by anyone on campus is a safety escort. Police have issued a warning to not travel alone at late hours. As of now, the FBI is assisting the police in investigating recent homicides in Anchorage. Authorities have not yet released details of how the victims died nor comment on the possibility of the correlation between the homicide cases. There is not much information open to the public about exact details to protect the investigation until more evidence can be provided. Although resources are offered for protection, don’t disregard the fact that there is a potential threat in Anchorage, make sure to report any suspicious behavior to not only protect yourself but others. The most important thing is to be aware of your surroundings and current events concerning this alleged killer and other potential threats.
NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
The Edge Update
Community effort to serve thousands this Thanksgiving By Richard Han
rhan@thenorthernlight.org
By Max Jungreis Richard Han KRUA
Local news On Thursday, Nov. 10, the University of Alaska Board of Regents approved a five percent increase in tuition for students in the UA system during the 201718 academic year. The increase is in response to the university’s continuing budget cuts. The measure was approved by an 8-2 vote during a meeting at UAF. Even with the increase, undergrad tuition will still be below the average of other universities in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. National news President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that Mike Pence would be replacing Chris Christie as head of his transition planning team. The demotion likely stems from the controversy surrounding “Bridgegate” an incident from 2013 in which Christie’s staff and allies colluded to create traffic jams on the George Washington Bridge, an act of political revenge against a New Jersey who failed to endorse Christie. This, as well as the failure to support Trump in key moments of his campaign were probably significant factors that played a role in Trump’s decision. Christie will remain in a smaller role as a vice-chairman. Trump has about two months to select his 15-member cabinet- among the names that have surfaced as favorites are former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. World news Reclusive poet, author and musician Leonard Cohen passed away on Thursday, Nov. 10. A recording artist with a career spanning five decades, Cohen used a classical guitar and a deep, resonant voice to explore themes of faith, sexuality and despair. He is most famous for originating the song “Hallelujah,” a track which has been covered over 200 times and has become a standard in contemporary pop music. Cohen was born to Jewish parents in Montreal in 1934. He graduated from McGill University in 1956 with a degree in English, marking the beginning of a period of drift in his life. He spent the mid-sixties shacked up on the Greek island of Hydra, where he published a pair of novels. Although commercial failures at the time, they would go on to sell millions of copies. Discouraged by his lack of literary success, and badly in need in need of money, Cohen turned to songwriting. Within months, his work was being recorded by other artists; a year after that, in 1967, he released his first album. Cohen was known for his deep introversion and interest in spirituality. In 1994, he entered a Buddhist monastery and became ordained as a monk, where he remained for five years. After suing his manager for defrauding him of millions of dollars in 2005, Cohen once again turned to music to pay off his debts. His final album, “You Want It Darker” was released in October. Cohen was 82.
| 09
Every Thanksgiving, families gather around the dinner table to give thanks and have a big Thanksgiving meal, but this year, 38,000 Anchorage residents will not have enough food to eat, according to Food Bank of Alaska. 1 in 6 Anchorage children cannot depend on having enough food each day. Different groups and individuals within the community this Thanksgiving season will help with the hunger problem. The Food Bank of Alaska and Bean’s Cafe are some of the groups that will be hosting events to help those in need. The Food Bank of Alaska is prepared to give 10,000 families groceries like corn, beans and even a turkey days before thanksgiving, so families themselves can host their own dinner come Thanksgiving Day. Karla Jutzi, director of development and communications at the Food Bank of Alaska is confident that the event will have a positive impact on various people within the community. “It’s one of those events where the first time I saw it, I was just amazed at how the sense of community and how uplifting it is. You can imagine that if you needed to go and ask for groceries at Thanksgiving, you might go in feeling kind of bad and low. So often people do especially those who never needed help with food before for whatever circumstance, they’re now in a position where they are not sure they can feed their family and they leave feeling uplifted and respected and appreciated by their neighbors,” Jutzi said. The event is called Thanksgiving Blessing and has been running for more than ten years in Anchorage and five years in the Valley. There will be six
locations in the valley and six locations in Anchorage where groceries will be available to be picked up. With food and monetary donations from churches and local organizations around the community, the Food Bank of Alaska is able to the purchase the groceries to distribute to those who are in need. There is no requirement or proof of “being poor” to receive the groceries. The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Valley and Monday, Nov. 21, 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. in Anchorage. On Thanksgiving Day, Bean’s Cafe will be directly serving food to the public to those who are in need. The meal is set up buffet style, which is different from their typical meal service. They will be serving turkey, ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, candied yams, stuffing, rolls, green-bean casserole, corn, assorted salad, fresh fruit, ambrosia fruit salad, pie, coffee and juice. Josh Pepper, the assistant program manager at the Bean’s Cafe believes many people in need will be fed. “This year on Thanksgiving, we will prepare 1,000 meals, this number is designed to allow for second-helpings. I can’t tell you exactly how many unique individuals we will serve as the number has potential to vary a great deal,” said Pepper. Bean’s Cafe has been helping the community for over 35 years by providing hot nutritious meals and a warm and safe day shelter to the homeless and hungry. They are open 365 days a year to ensure that their services are available to those who need it the most. With the help of food and monetary donations, and the hundreds of volunteers that help throughout the year, the local soup kitchen is able to help those in need.
The Edge Update can be heard every other hour daily on KRUA 88.1 FM.
Debate competition to award $10,000 in scholarships By Cheyenne Mathews
cmathews@thenorthernlight.org
The Seawolf Debate program is running a scholarship competition called Debating Alaska’s Fiscal Future for students in college or high school, and the program is accepting scholarship submissions now until January. The program is awarding $10,000 in scholarships. Joshua Von Herrmann, assistant director of public relations at the Seawolf Debate program said students need to create a video submission to enter the contest. “We’re asking students to pick one of the three topics we’ve selected about the state’s fiscal future and find a partner at their school and then upload a video, five minutes with one partner advocating for the position and then five minutes with the other partner advocating against the position,” Von Herrmann said. “We’ve provided a whole bunch of resources online, everything from a guide on how to debate to a folder full of information so that students can get started and entries are going to be available and open starting now and are going to be open through the end of the calendar year and we’re going to close entries sometime around January.” Entry videos will be open to the pub-
lic for voting and the teams with the most votes on the video portion will be invited to Anchorage for a live debate competition. The winners of the live competition will be awarded scholarships. The live competition will be held April 1, 2017 at UAA. Von Hermann said the Seawolf Debate program hasn’t done a scholarship competition like this before, but that they chose the topic of Alaska’s fiscal future because it is more applicable to younger students. “There are really two reasons [we chose this topic], the first of which is that it is something that is going to affect us all greatly and it’s something that… a lot of us really haven’t looked into and tried to find out that much about this issue for ourselves,” Von Herrmann said. “But secondly this is an issue we believe is uniquely important to younger people, especially when we consider it is their future. When we talk about the state’s fiscal future it means something very different to say an 18-year old who is planning to live here for a very long time, or planning to go to school here, or starting a family here.” Interested students can find more information on entry and specific scholarship awards at http://www.debatingakfuture.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KARLA JUTZI
Stacks of common Thanksgiving food items are grouped in stations here at the busy Mt. View Community Center support location.
A mother and her daughter are seen volunteering at one of the six locations here in Anchorage.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
| 10
BUD: It’s always 4:20 at Pot Luck Events Continued from cover
There are over 7,000 members in Pot Luck Events, making them the largest private social club in Anchorage. Members are able to bring their own cannabis to consume and share, however selling, buying, or asking about buying is strictly prohibited within the club. While Pot Luck Events is a private club, they welcome anyone looking to join as long as they cooperate with the membership rules and agreements. Lee Haywood, cannabis emissary, is fond of the variety of members that make up the club. “Our age demographic is age 21 to 91, with all types of social economic backgrounds, you’ll see the average stoner sitting next to a physicist or legislature and just having a really good conversation,” Haywood said. Pot Luck Events emphases the importance of having a safe, responsible, and educational environment. They treat every member the same, providing them with a tour, and any information on different strains of marijuana, extracts, growing methods and tolerance levels, to make sure they have a positive and safe experience. “We’ve become the 420 headquarters for folks to be able to come down and get that information, even if there is a new
person fresh off the street that has no knowledge of cannabis, we will gladly educate them,” Haywood said. The talk of weed in public is still frowned upon. Members at Pot Luck Events are able to openly talk amongst other members without feeling judged. John Randall, 69-year-old VIP member of Pot Luck Events, is not only a part of the diverse demographic that makes up the club, but one of many who feel safe openly talking about marijuana in this environment. “A lot of the time I don’t feel comfortable talking about it with folks, I’m retired now, and I’m still reluctant and cautious about who I tell that I get high,” Randall said. “There has been this sort of misinformation or stigma that if a person mentions that they smoke pot, that it brands them as being incompetent, being a professional, it’s a bit insulting but also damaging.” This club is working towards making the topic of weed in a social setting not such a taboo thing. Pot Luck Events wants to show the community that marijuana should be able to be talked about just like alcoholic drinks, and emphasize the positive qualities of weed. “You wouldn’t have a problem telling someone, ‘Oh, I had a glass of wine last night with my friend’ or, ‘I went and had
some beers.’ We want to start gradually breaking that misinformation that we had initially and start educating people on what this is; that it’s safer than alcohol,” Haywood said. After being open for almost two years, there have not been any calls to the municipality for any disturbances. Pot Luck Events makes sure there is not a hostile environment and stress the importance of separating alcohol and marijuana within the club. “You can leave the bar on a Saturday night and your bound to see a fight or police presence, that does not happen here, we tell our security guards that they have the easiest jobs ever because at the end of the night everyone is hugging and saying goodbye,” Haywood said. Members at Pot Luck Events not only participate in the use of cannabis, but also charity events. Because individuals of the community make up this club, they want to give back showing the positivity of the club. Pot Luck Events have contributed to the Food Bank, Mountain View Boys and Girls Club and currently Toys for Tots. “The cannabis community has always been about giving, that is the common denominator amongst industry and community,” Haywood said. The goal for Pot Luck Events is to be able to use cannabis the same way as
alcohol. So far they have showed how this club can be a positive addition to the community and how the use of marijuana can be a safer option to alcohol. “Our mission is to provide a safe, responsible place where people can be educated about cannabis and experience different social events with the absence of alcohol and the addition of cannabis,” Haywood said. Because of the many different events and activities that can be done at Pot Luck Events, it can be described as a sort of recreational center with weed. “It’s an accommodation of the local pub and a community center because you can go there and play a game of pool, play a game of ping pong, or watch a movie at movie night, so there are different events like a community center, but kind of like a pub without the alcohol but with pot,” Randall said. Pot Luck Events is open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturday, and now Sundays for High Yoga and Walking Dead showings. Anybody interested in the cannabis community, from any social status, is encouraged to drop by during any business hours. For more information on how to join the club, visit the Facebook page at Pot Luck Events AK or drop by their location during business hours.
PHOTOS BY YOUNG KIM
One can find an assortment of candies and non-alcoholic beverages that are free for members at Potluck Events.
Cereal bar, one of many treats at the bar for members provided by Pot Luck Events
Lee Goes Clubbing: The line, the stitch and the needle Chronicles of Yarnia explores and celebrates fiber arts in a tight knit group
By Lee Piltz
lpiltz@thenorthernlight.org
I had the amazing opportunity to join the Chronicles of Yarnia at one of their semiweekly meetings. The tightly knit group of friends welcomed me into their space and began to teach me the basics of crocheting. My grandmother had tried to teach me this art when I was young, but it
never took. I didn’t get very far with my project, which originally was supposed to be a phone case, but I did make some lovely wristbands. First and foremost, I’d like to note how friendly this club is. It’s easy to see why they won Best Club of the Year 2016. They are very inclusive and I came to learn that a common reason for people to join the club was friendship. Most of the new members came along to make friends and find people with common interests, which is why anyone joins a club. Anna Ivanova, vice president of the Chronicles of Yarnia explains why joining the club was good for her. “It’s great for communication, [and] you make a whole bunch of friends that last a long time. People think that if you do a craft you are really shy, you are like an inside person or an introvert. I came here because I wanted to make friends on campus, and I found out the club exists, and I like it,” Ivanova said. The conversation and camaraderie were astounding to see. When I first heard of the club, I had thought it would
be much quieter at their meetings. Their boisterousness ironically left me speechless at first. However, they welcomed me into their conversations, and I found myself chatting along with them as well. They are all a very friendly group of people. Siri Cooper, original co-founder of the Chronicles of Yarnia, explains why she keeps coming back to the club. “These are my life friends. These are the friends that are going to be at my wedding. They’re wonderful people and a well-rounded group,” Cooper said. In addition to being a sociable and fun group, they are also extremely helpful. There were many times while I was learning to crochet, where someone would show me what I was doing wrong, and encouraging the things I did correctly. Kenneth Mandt, previous president of the Chronicles of Yarnia, was one such person that assisted me with my crocheting. Mandt explains why he joined the Chronicles of Yarnia, and why he enjoys the collaboration. “I was already doing knitting clubs in Anchorage, and I just kind of realized
there was a club at UAA about knitting and crocheting, so I joined it... The reason I come to club is mostly for the socialization. It’s really nice to sit around and do stuff like this and talk while working on something... Plus, there are nights like this, where people are here asking, ‘How do you do this?’ and others offering their help. It’s just great,” Mandt said. If you would like to learn a craft, explore your interests in the yarn arts, or just want to have fun and make some new friends, the Chronicles of Yarnia is the place for you. Even if knitting isn’t your cup of tea, the group encourages crafting of any kind and is more than willing to include you in their circle. The Chronicles of Yarnia meets Mondays and Thursdays, inside Cuddy Hall, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. You can also check them out on their Facebook page: Chronicles of Yarnia - UAA Knitting/Crochet Club https://www.facebook.com/ groups/827645113996100/
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
| 11
Three, three-ingredient slow cooker recipes Swedish Meatballs
The perfect appetizer, Swedish meatballs are an easy to eat and delicious snack.
Ingredients
Ingredients
• 1 bag of large, frozen meatballs vy sour cream 1. In the slow cooker, add the entire jar of gravy and the container of sour cream. Mix together until well blended. 2. Add the frozen meatballs to Enjoy these three-ingredi-
the gravy mixture and fill
ent dishes — both savory and
no more than three-quarters
sweet — made using a slow
of the slow cooker. Stir the
cooker. Easy to make and pre-
meatballs around until they
pare, these three dishes can
are all covered in the gravy
even the busiest of students to enjoy a hot cooked meal at the end of the day.
mixture. Place the cover of the slow cooker back on top, and let the meatballs on their own to cook on low for five hours. Stir about every hour if possible.
SPRING 2017
STUDENT DIVERSITY
AWARD The UAA Diversity Action Council seeks to recognize & empower students to lead change in the community by offering tuition awards of up to
$1,000
Are you a student who... ◗ Promotes a welcoming environment inclusive of diverse people & cultures/perspectives ◗ Takes a leadership role & provides a student voice in diversity-related issues ◗ Advances social justice & diversity within the larger community
?
To be considered... SUBMIT: 1) an award application found at: uaa.alaska.edu/student-diversity-award 2) a letter of endorsement from a professional or university reference SEND TO: uaa.student.diversity.award@alaska.edu DUE BY:
Friday, December 9, 2016
Directions 1. Place the chicken in the slow
Directions
be made in advance, allowing
sauce • 1 packet of ranch dressing mix
• 1 container, or 8 ounces of
vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org
• 3 - 5 pounds of chicken breasts • 1 12 ounce bottle of hot wing
• 1 small jar of savory beef gra-
By Victoria Petersen
Buffalo Chicken
This recipe will go well in sandwiches, or maybe on top of a homemade pizza.
(before 11:59 pm)
i
For more information see: uaa.alaska.edu/student-diversity-award The UAA Diversity Action Council will review nominations and grant tuition to the top applicants. Students from the UAA Anchorage and community campuses are eligible. Award recipients must meet eligibility criteria including a 2.5 cumulative GPA, Satisfactory Academic Progress and be admitted to a UAA certificate or degree program. For more information call: UAA Student Affairs at 786-6108 or UAA Multicultural Center at 786-4080. Individuals needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the nomination process should contact the Multicultural Center 48 to 72 hours in advance. UAA is an EEO/AA employer and educational institution.
Peach Cobbler
This easy to make dessert will become your go-to comfort food.
Ingredients • 6 large peaches, peeled and sliced • 1 box of white cake mix • 1/2 cup of butter
Directions 1. Place the peach slices at the bottom of the slow cooker.
cooker and pour the buffalo
2. In a medium bowl, combine
sauce all over the top. Sprin-
the cake mix and butter.
kle the ranch mix on top.
You’ll want your butter to be
2. Place the lid on the slow
around room temperature, so
cooker and cook on low for
you can cut the butter with
about 5 hours.
the mix with a pastry blend-
3. `Once cooked, remove chicken and shred on a cutting board. The chicken should just fall apart.
er. 3. Once the mix is crumbly, sprinkle over peaches. 4. Cook on high for 2-3 hours, or on low for about 4 hours. Enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
12 | FEATURES Behind the sign: Views on abortion interpreted differently
40 Days for Life sponsored by Alaska Right to Life protests outside of Planned Parenthood By Brenda Craig
features@thenorthernlight.org
“Pray to end abortion” signs can be seen being waved by protesters outside of Planned Parenthood on Lake Otis to or from campus. Abortion is a tough subject and many have different views on the matter: one by the individuals protesting the health center for family planning services, second by Planned Parenthood, and third from the views of women. Recently, there has been a campaign by 40 Days For Life participating in the protest seen outside of Planned Parenthood. Patrick Martin, outreach and development director at Alaska Right To Life, gives an insight to how this movement was created. David Bereit and Shawn Carney founded The 40 Days For Life in Virginia and Texas, which eventually inspired others in multiple states to take action. “The founders were simply frustrated with their attempts to block the opening of a Planned Parenthood surgical abortion facility in their town,” Martin said. “After hours of praying, the founders each had the same answer to a prayer: Stand and pray outside of Planned Parenthood for 40 days.” After many other states decided to participate, the members of Alaska Right to Life started coordinating and sponsoring the local campaigns. Alaska Right to Life is a nonprofit organization created to “protect all life, from conception to natural death.” This 40-day campaign takes place twice during the year, in the fall and in the spring. “The message of 40 Days for Life, Alaska Right to Life, and all who participate in the campaigns and prayer vigils is simple, abortion kills an innocent human being and it must end,” Martin said. “All babies, at all stages of life and development have a right to life, and women deserve better than abortion.” Members of Alaska Right to Life understand that many believe abortion is a right females have in Alaska, and other states in the US. They stress the most important issue is that the child dies in the process and believe that many abortions are happening in our home state. “Abortion is often promoted as a ‘reproductive right’ and an ‘empowering choice’ that a woman makes to ‘end her pregnancy,’ but each of these label euphemistically ignores the child that died in the process,” Martin said. “Last year 597 high school and college age mothers ended their babies lives, many of those women are most likely students at UAA.” Planned Parenthood is known for providing many services, which includes abortion. Katie Rogers, communications manager of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands, communicates the importance of safety of staff and patients concerning the protesters. “Nobody should have to face shaming, judgment, harassment or intimidation in order to get or provide health care,” Rogers said. “These protest are designed to shame and intimidate patients who seek health care services and informa-
tion from Planned Parenthood including lifesaving cancer screenings, testing for HIV, treatment for [sexually transmitted infections], birth control and family planning.” Men and women both go to Planned Parenthood to receive these services. Since there are a variety of services, it is impossible to assume the exact reason why an individual is going to the clinic. Jordan McGee, applied sciences student at UAA, stands with Planned Parenthood and has conducted her own research regarding abortions. “I believe that protesters think that Planned Parenthood only provides abortion services, when in all honesty if you do your research, only 3 percent of people who come to Planned Parenthood get abortions, 41 percent for STI testing and treatment, and 34 percent come for contraceptives,” McGee said. “Protesters who stand outside of Planned Parenthood and shame women when they have no clue what their appointment is makes me sick.” Planned Parenthood and Alaska Right to Life have two very different solutions to prevent abortions. One solution provides a way to keep reproductive rights for women while being able to prevent a pregnancy altogether, and the other controls those rights and involves the mother following through with having a child despite the situation of the mother. “If these protesters were truly committed to reducing the number of unintended pregnancies, they would work with Planned Parenthood to increase access to affordable birth control and comprehensive sex education,” Rogers said. On the other side of things, women encouraged to have the child and that there are services that are provided after having a child. “We simply point them to the Community Pregnancy Center, just four doors away on Lake Otis, where all services are confidential, free, and tens of thousands of dollars worth of maternity, infant, and toddler clothes and food are shared with mothers who choose to parent their babies,” Martin said. Many women fear that they are unfit to take care of a child and end up with an unwanted pregnancy. However, there are multiple reasons why women get abortions, and not only about finance issues for taking care of a child. “There are a wide variety of reasons that women would get an abortion, it’s not always because women didn’t use birth control,” McGee said. “Babies could have serious birth defects, it could kill a women to carry the baby to term, rape or being unable to support a child, it all depends on the situation, and also it’s nobody’s business on why a woman is getting an abortion.” Still, this is a touchy issue throughout society. Whether there should be a separation between the church and state, women still have their reproductive rights in Alaska. It is difficult to decide a concrete solution to a problem that many have different beliefs about. Alaska Right for Life shows their belief by protesting outside of Planned Parenthood during the 40 Days For Life campaign.
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
A&E
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Localize It: 100 stones that healed 100 Alaskans’ hearts
By Madison McEnaney arts2@thenorthernlight.org
Sarah Davies moved from New York City to Anchorage around six years ago, and has called this state home ever since. She is a full time biology teacher, but art has always been apart of her life in a way that compels her to always keep it a priority. Davies has worked on other projects in the past, however, none of which were produced at the scale that 100 Stone was. “I’ve always made things, made art, and have always had this compulsion towards a creative outlet. Until this project, I never really considered myself an artist though,” Davies said. The project began around three years ago, when Davies was approached to pitch an idea for an art project that would receive funding from a grant. Davies knew she wanted to explore the darkness that exists around and inside of many Alaskans, and elaborate on the affects of that statewide. “I knew I had to tell truths from not just myself, and not just Anchorage. I needed to reach out as far as I could, in all areas of this state,” Davies said. “My team and I drove the entire loop of the road system with a U-haul and a trailer full of supplies, and found people to cast in each town along the way. I also flew to Bethel, Juneau, and Sitka to cast a few people’s bodies as well,” Davies said. Davies then narrowed down her idea and came up with the 100 Stone project. In this project, she would cast
the bodies of nearly 100 Alaskans, living in towns all across the state. Davies wanted to find Alaskans who had gone through some trouble in their lives, people who had darkness inside of them, and felt pain. This was quite the challenge, but Davies and her team were up for it, and once her grant was approved, they began. “I started looking around at the environment I lived in, which was one filled with depression. It was a stark, dark, hiding place, but I saw that I wasn’t alone. When I saw how many people were there with me in that place, I thought that maybe we all want to speak our truth about what it means to live in this place,” Davies said. The process of finding people to cast, and open up to them, was not an easy process for anyone. It required finding one person to be willing to talk about what has caused pain in their lives, how it has effected them, and then allowing Sarah and her team to cast their body as they told their story. All of these people wanted to be apart of Sarah’s project, but that also mean reliving a bad experience. Nonetheless, Sarah found around 95 Alaskans to take part in this experience, and at the end of the sculpting, 85 statues were ready. The 100 Stone project was completed by November of 2015, and were set to be put on display at Point Woronzof, a park well known and visited by Anchorage residents. Davies wanted her work not only to be displayed in a place that would reach a multitude of viewers, but also somewhere that had an atmosphere that suited what message Davies wanted to relay. “We decided on Point Woronzof because of its rocky, gravel substrate that no one (sculpture) could sink into. It was also important that we had a place that created a sense of vulnerability, that aesthetically looked dangerous, as well as cold and lonely,” Davies said. “That was the visual message I wanted to send out: We are cold in here, we are alone in here, and we need you to see that this place exists,” Davies said. Sarah’s message was heard quite loud by the people of Alaska, and many drove to Point Woronzof to see her project. She was able to display a large problem that exits in our state in a beautiful and artistic way that virtually anyone could see. The statues became a landmark, and something that people looked for every time they went to Point Woronzof. Today, Davies’ 100 Stone project is being displayed on campus at Alaska Pacific University. Spread all over the lawn of the main campus area, anyone can still go view her statues, and understand just how powerful of a message they send. “So many statues made it off the beach in one piece, and I couldn’t just abandon them. I wanted to see if I could pay it forward, so this APU installation is perfect to showcase the remaining statues, and be a sort of temporary home,” Davies said. “I began to wonder, what could they look like in a home? In a garden? In a natural setting where they could
PHOTOS BY YOUNG KIM
The statues of the 100 Stone Project can be bought individually or by groups for personal or business use.
grow and be reintegrated into the Earth? That’s when I got the idea for them to be offered up for sponsorship and for sale,” Davies said. As for any further plans for the statues, they are currently being sold individually or in groups to people and businesses, where they can find permanent homes. Anyone that purchases a statue will see that their money goes back to the actual person that was casted, and will fund whatever needs they have. Others will be donated to organizations, businesses, or anywhere that wants to let the 100 Stone project live on. Sarah Davies’ project was one that will not be forgotten by the people of Alaska, and while the issues that the project focused on are far from fixed, 100 Stone was something that helped mend the hearts of all who participated.
Sarah Davies’s 100 Stone Project has moved from Point Woronzoff where it was installed last year to the front lawns of Alaska Pacific University.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016
The people are the point of ‘The Propaganda Game’
By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor
So many documentaries about North Korea focus on Kim Jong-un’s regime. Interviews with the citizens emphasize the horror they live under, but not who they are as people. In Álvaro Longoria’s excellent “The Propaganda Game,” however, those people are the focus. It’s a refreshingly humanist approach, one the opts for honesty over exploitation, and the movie is all the more affecting for it. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is notoriously hard to get into. After years of trying, Longoria became one of the few documentarians granted access to the country. The interviews he gets inside paint a damning portrait of life under the communist dictatorship. One particular interview with a man waiting for the subway is terrifying and poignant all at once. Longoria doesn’t start there, however. First, he builds the image of North Korea from the ground up, emphasizing the suffering it has endured to get to where it is. This context gives the documentary a real sense of scale. So, when Longoria points his lens to the common people, they’re just that: people. Not agents of the state or helpless victims. At heart, Longoria is a craftsman. From the first shot, the eerily empty cityscape of Pyongyang becomes a char-
acter in itself. He follows emptiness as a theme throughout, filming many interviews in front of those empty vistas. That negative space, by the end, feels crushing. Basic questions about North Korea arise as a result: How can they afford all these new buildings and complexes? Who will live in or frequent them when they’re done? More importantly, where are all the people? Since so few of them are accessible to begin with, the ones Longoria follows are fascinating. The man who facilitates his visit is Alejandro Cao de Benos, the only foreign employee of the DPRK government. Recently, Benos was arrested for arms trafficking in Spain. By the end, he’s an illusive man with equally illusive motives, but even he’s afforded sympathy. A brief interview with his parents give him character a healthy dose of mystery. By interweaving how government propaganda affects the populace, every subject carries that same sense of individuality. Longoria doesn’t stop there. He even looks at how the United States, China, Japan and South Korea’s propaganda has added fuel to the fire. The result is a balanced look at how societal systems and the conflict the provoke leave behind the citizens. Therein lies the true horror. Whether you are loyal or not, to live under such conditions is to suffer. If anything, Longoria leaves viewers with one message: suffering ignored
“The Propaganda Game”
TITLE
DIRECTOR Alvaro Longoria
RELEASE DATE Oct. 27, 2015
COUNTRY Spain
GENRE Documentary
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Simon Menner travels to Alaska to feature photographs in the Anchorage Museum By Madison McEnaney arts2@thenorthernlight.org
Simon Menner is a widely known photographer, who is based in Berlin, Germany. Menner has been taking photographs since he was young and even went to school for photography at an art school in Berlin. Since then, he has put out dozens of projects, many of which have given him worldwide recognition. Menner has become well known for not necessarily taking images, but rather reworking old photographs to shed light on a different way of looking at the photo, from a different perspective. “Top Secret” was a novel that Menner released back in 2013, that began his work with photography in war, and how images from past wars can be reworked to become relevant again. Menner took photos from the Secret Stasi archives and manipulated them into something completely new, all centering around the idea of perception. “I was fascinated by these images. The Secret Stasi had all their workers dressed in undercover outfits, and when I saw them I thought to myself ‘these people don’t look inconspicuous at all, they are clearly costumes’. Then I thought of how brilliant that was. The costumes were obviously fake, people could spot a Stasi from a mile away, causing their behavior to change with that knowledge. That is how I got the idea of perception, and turning these images into something new. Making the people see something new,” Menner said. It was this photography project that put Menner’s name on the map, and since then, he has put out even larger projects. In 2013, Menner began ‘Camouflage,’ where he worked with the German Army and its snipers to create images that told a story about war, and our idea of it. In the images from this collection, Menner went to countries like Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania to capture landscape photographs, all with a hidden sniper buried in the image. It is tricky to find the sniper, but Menner intended for that, to hint at a deeper meaning behind the images in this collection. “In the Camouflage images, a viewer usually has a very hard time finding the sniper. Sometimes, they look at me and point to a spot in the image, claiming they’ve found it, when really they did not. Whether or not they see the sniper, a viewer trusts me that it is there somewhere, and they take in the image an entirely different way than they would if I told them it was just a picture of Lithuanian mountains. The idea that the most powerful
A sniper in the lower right corner in Germany.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SIMON MENNER
A sniper concealed by fog in the lower left corner in Germany.
part of the image is not even truly seen is what fascinates me the most,” Menner said. Menner’s ‘Camouflage’ collection is currently on display at the Anchorage Museum, and while he was in Anchorage, Menner spoke about his photography at the Museum and UAA. Photography can mean so much more than simply taking images, editing them, and putting them on display. They can speak truths, state opinions, and even tell stories. These are ideals that Menner bases his photography off of, which is part of what makes his work so unique and well known. Thomas Gokey is the public relations and digital engagement manager at the Anchorage Museum, and was able to share a few words on his thoughts on Menner’s work, and what it was like to feature his work
on display. “It is a pleasure to feature Simon Menner’s work at the museum this month. He is incredibly talented, and we are lucky to hear what he has to say on the profession. Menner has a different way of going about photography, and I believe that it is one any aspiring photographer, or artist in general, should hear,” Gokey said. Simon Menner is a talented photographer, and it is incredible to see his images speak words and ideas without truly even saying anything. Menner’s approach at this field of work is one that many do not think of, which is what make’s his images stand out from the rest. While Menner may be good at hiding snipers in his images, the message these photos send is one that cannot go unheard.
SPORTS
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UAA skiing and indoor track saved By Lauren Cuddihy
sports2@thenorthernlight.org
Lauren Cuddihy is a member of the UAA track and field team. Several weeks after the news was delivered to both the UAA men’s and women’s indoor track team as well as the Nordic and alpine skiing team, the original decision was denied by the Board of Regents. In place of the significant budget difficulties the University of Alaska system has been experiencing, proposals to make cuts to the sports programs have been the first to be considered. Announced over the past summer, UAA had a budget of approximately $10.36 million, with 42 percent of that budget being allocated to the University Athletic Department. Men’s and women’s indoor track and field receiving a maximum $125,000 and skiing receiving $600,000. Together only making up 17 percent of the athletic budget and only 7 percent of the entire university budget. From an exterior view, it would be easy to say that the athletic department doesn’t need that extent of money and that a cut would be beneficial to the entire University system, but most people don’t see the inside of the entire athletic department and community. With extensive hours of community service, home game revenue, on-average higher GPA’s and graduation rates, the athletic program has prospered in ways impacting more than just the university but the surrounding communities as well. In 2015 alone, the student-athletes of UAA accumulated a combined amount of 2,600 hours of community service — that’s nearly 108 days of volunteering. In addition, these athletes set a new 2015 record of a cumulative 3.24 GPA, 27 of these athletes scoring a perfect 4.0. With many people pointing fingers
GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
and placing blame on these athletes, they don’t realize that a significant part of their life was being put on the line. Almost every sport in the UAA program has been scrutinized and questioned in the past months, putting pressure on the athletes, coaches and other personnel involved. Students travel far and wide from all over the globe to participate in sports here and if to have it threatened alone isn’t bad enough, many have received overall disapproval from members of the community. On Oct. 27, when the news became official that skiing and indoor track would be the choices to eliminate, it only brought
the athletic community closer together and stronger. These young college students rallied up with signs and support at home games and created petitions and videos asking for support online. They wrote letters to UA President Jim Johnsen and the Board of Regents. Several weeks after the original news, the morning of Nov. 10 proved that all the hard work paid off. After an official response from the NCAA, Johnsen and the Board of Regents declared that no sports will be cut from the UA system. The waiver, put into place by Johnsen, proposed to the NCAA to let UAA continue with the 4 cuts (men’s and women’s
indoor track and skiing) bringing the total of sports down to 9. NCAA rules that a Division II institutions must have 10 sports, half of which must be women’s teams. On UAA’s specific case, the NCAA neither approved or denied the request until the school actually operated under 10 sports, opting for Johnsen to make the final call. With the recent outpouring of support from both within the athletic department and the entire Anchorage community, UAA skiing and indoor track are officially saved.
SPORTS
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Upcoming Seawolf Athletics home games
GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
CONTACT
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