November 6, 2018 by The Northern Light

NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 12, 2018

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UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

OPINION

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Devan Hawkins: ‘I feel such a need and a drive to perform’

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UAA should do more to engage international students

Core of Dance Club shines in Student Showcase By Malia Barto

arts@thenorthernlight.org

The dance studio in the Professional Studies Building will host the UAA Dance Student Showcase put on by UAA’s Dance Club.‌ The production features 25 dancers of all levels, nine numbers and eight main choreographers. The whole cast has been in the process of getting the show together near every week since the beginning of the fall semester.‌ “It’s been nice to be able to put it together in the short amount of time we’ve decided to put on a show,” Kimberly McGrath, Dance Club president, said. “It’s nice that we still get to fulfill [our ideas] for the fall show.”‌ Because of recent transitions in the Department

PHOTO COURTESY OF UAA DANCE CLUB

UAA Dance Club takes photos for Student Showcase promotional material.

of Theatre and Dance, five dedicated dancers, who have become the “core” of UAA Dance Club, have

been filling the roles of more than just dancers or choreographers. ‌ “We’re tech, crew, cho-

reographer and dancer — we’re dipping into all sections of technical production and it’s making us

more rounded. It brings us more together as a crew and cast,” Marlee Hughes, Dance Club treasurer,

said. “We’re doing it all; it’s not like, ‘oh, someone else is doing this for us, don’t worry about it.’ We have to worry about all of it, so it really tightens up everything and [we] know exactly what’s going into the show. It makes us more passionate, I think.”‌ The “core five” is made up of McGrath, Hughes, Stephanie Andrus, Kristal Perez and Marissa Citro. ‌ It’s been ten weeks of hard work, figuring out the technical aspects of the production, making the dance studio feel more like a theatre and bonding with one another and the rest of the cast.‌ “It’s been nice to be in the same space, help each other and get more support and be more like a family. I feel we’re more together this time,” Perez, Dance Club representative, said.‌

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Chancellor extends search for permanent provost By Marie Ries

news@thenorthernlight.org

UAA Chancellor Cathy Sandeen announced her decision to conduct the search for a permanent Provost of Academic Affairs in the fiscal year of 2020, which begins next year. John Stalvey will continue to serve as interim provost until a permanent candidate has been found. ‌ Sandeen thinks that the addi-

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tional time will be beneficial for the search; this will allow UAA to maximize the search for suitable candidates in the standard academic search cycle for those positions, she said.‌ “I just really want to make sure that we get the right candidate for this position,” Sandeen said at the most recent Faculty Senate meeting in October.‌ The permanent position has been vacant since August 2017 when Sam Gingerich began

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serving as interim chancellor of the university.‌ “I know many would like to see permanent appointments sooner. However, I firmly believe conducting an inclusive process and attracting a diverse and qualified candidate pool . . . justify the extra time,” Sandeen said in a statement to the UAA community.‌ In the academic year of 2017 to 2018, Duane Hrncir served as interim provost. At the end of

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his term in June, Stalvey started his new position.‌ Stalvey served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences prior to his appointment as interim provost. He agreed to serve as interim provost in order to “help achieve our UAA 2020 goals,” Stalvey said in an email. He is not planning on applying for the permanent position. ‌ “I have several reasons for not seeking the job permanently, not the least of which is that I re-

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ally enjoy being the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences,” Stalvey said in the email.‌ Stalvey also cited his nearing retirement as a reason.‌ “My wife and I are nearing a time when we want to retire and enjoy our grandchildren who live in the lower 48. The Provost is not an easy job and UAA needs someone in the

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NEWS PROVOST: ‘Taking the time to make sure UAA gets it right is important’

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSUA BOROUGH

Interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs John Stalvey agreed to serving in his current position for up to two years.

Continued from cover permanent position who can commit to a longer term than I can at this point in my career,” Stalvey said.‌ The current plan of the chancellor anticipates Stalvey’s re-

turn to his former position for the fiscal year of 2021. John Petraitis, associate dean of CAS, filled in for Stalvey as interim dean of the college. ‌ Stalvey said he trusts the chancellor’s judgment due to her “extensive experience in higher education.”‌ “My own experience also leads me to understand that allowing the chancellor time to get to know the university so that she can choose the best next provost is a good idea,” Stalvey said. “The relationship between the chancellor and the provost is critical, to taking the time to make sure UAA gets it right is important.”‌ Sandeen said she would keep the university community updated on new developments occurring in the process.‌ “I am committed to sharing pertinent information with you as it happens and also welcome your questions,” Sandeen said.‌‌‌‌

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Students react to proposed student fee changes at open forum By Joey Carreon

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Students attended an open forum in the Student Union Den on Monday, Oct. 29, regarding proposed increases to various, mandatory student fees.‌ The forum gave students the opportunity to ask questions and voice their opinions on student fee changes proposed by representatives from the five departments requesting a modification.‌ Mandatory student fees are reviewed every four years in order for departments to account for changes in their budgets. The departments who proposed modifications would increase UAA students’ ePortfolio, Technology, UA Network, Student Activities and Transportation fees. These fees, along with others, are a means of allocating revenue to respective departments’ budgets. The fees are paid, along with tuition, on a semesterly basis by each student. Some are paid by students enrolled in a certain number of credits, but every University of Alaska student pays for fees to a certain degree, since students might take advantage of services paid for by the fees, such as ones provided by the Student Health and Counseling Center.‌ Representatives from each department gave presentations highlighting their budgets and why an increase in their respective fees would be enable them to better serve the student body.‌ Parking Services director Glenna Muncy gave her presentation and explained that, given their recent budget deficits, Parking Services is requesting that the Transportation Fee be increased to $19 per semester for students enrolled in three or more credits, a $6 increase. The increase would bring an additional $114,000 in revenue to parking services, given the current enrollment level.‌ After the presentation, a student asked Muncy why all UAA students are mandated to pay the Transportation Fee if only a percentage students are taking advantage of services offered by

PHOTO BY JOEY CARREON

Parking Services.‌ “If we go down, the whole ship sinks — not just the bow, so you have to keep the whole thing afloat. And one of the ways that we can do that is by distributing the cost,” Muncy said in response.‌ The Technology, eLearning and ePortfolio fees were represented by Dave Dannenberg, director of Academic Innovations and eLearning. Dannenberg proposed that the three fees be combined, rather than be increased individually; this would allow for the fees’ revenue to remain constant amidst enrollment going down. Dannenberg proposed two methods for combining the three fees:‌ • A flat $75 fee per semester capped at a maximum of $225 per year • $11 per credit hour with a cap at 12 hours and maximum of $396 per year‌ Upon being asked how the flat fee would be re-distributed to their respective departments’ budgets, Dannenberg would explain the process.‌ “The money would come in-and then once it was brought in, we’d divide it back out,” said Dannenberg.‌ The Student Activities fee was represented by director, Sarah Garner; Student Activities Coordinator Corey Miller; and Commuter Programs Coordinator Kojin Tranberg. Since the last fee modification from $3.50 to $4.50 for FY17 to FY19, Student Activities was able to ac-

complish almost all of their proposed goals due to the increase. Due to a decline in student revenue, however, Student Activities asked for an increase of $1.50, making the FY20 amount $6 for students enrolled in six or more credits.‌ The increased Student Activities Fee would go towards sustaining, growing and diversifying the programs offered by Student Activities, said Miller. The increase would also allow for Student Activities to accommodate for future factors that would affect their budget.‌ Students in attendance had no objections to the increase. Business management major Eileen Moring spoke highly of the increase at the forum.‌ “We’ve made a lot of cuts, and if there isn’t a fee increase, it’s just gonna be continually more cuts — less students working, less events going on — so there has to be that increase,” said Moring. “There’s so many great events. I think it would be a shame to have to lose out on them.”‌ Following this forum, each department will present their fee modifications at USUAA’s weekly assembly meetings in order to gain endorsement. USUAA’s endorsement will be one of the most crucial factors in the process these modifications take in order to be approved for FY20.‌ For questions and information, Student Life and Leadership can be contacted at (907) 786-1215 and UAA_SLL@alaska.edu.‌

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THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

To slurp or not to slurp?: An authentic ramen experience in West Anchorage

PHOTOS BY JOEY CARREON

A bowl of Spicy Kimchi Ramen.

By Joey Carreon

news2@thenorthernlight.org

In Japanese culture, slurping your ramen is not only accepted, but also encouraged! Serving as the most efficient method of enjoying a bowl of piping hot noodles, it also conveys one’s utmost compliments to chef. ‌ Located at the intersection of Spenard Road and Minnesota Drive, Naruto is dishing out slurp-worthy bowls of Japanese ramen whose authenticity is second only to that of those found in Tokyo backstreets. ‌ Entering Naruto is like step-

ping into a portal that transports you directly to the Land of the Rising Sun as Naruto is adorned tastefully with countless pieces of Japanese decor from paper lanterns to faux cherry blossoms to old movie posters. The TVs even play anime and Japanese soap operas. ‌ Unlike typical Japanese ramen bars, however, Naruto has several other entree items on the menu aside from ramen. On the single-sheet, laminated menu, one can find several Japanese comfort-food favorites such as katsu (breaded, deep-fried pork or chicken cutlets), katsu with curry over rice, takoyaki

(a street food favorite: octopus balls topped with a tangy, savory sauce and Japanese mayonnaise) and chicken tatsuta-age (marinated chicken thigh pieces deep-fried to crispy perfection). ‌ While all of the other menu items are delicious co-stars worthy of a look, Naruto’s ramen is the star of the show. ‌ As a frequent patron, my favorite option is the tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen ($11.50). Perhaps the most iconic ramen broth in Japan as well, Naruto’s tonkotsu ramen is an unbelievably sublime experience. Naruto exercises the utmost care when preparing their tonkotsu broth, the most im-

portant component of the bowl as they make it in-house. The tonkotsu broth is rich, sumptuous and full of savory, pork flavor. Swimming in the broth are soft, yet springy, ramen noodles which are a far cry from the bricks of instant ramen that are notorious for being dorm room staples; Naruto boils their ramen noodles fresh with every bowl ordered. No corners are cut with the toppings either as Naruto’s tonkotsu ramen is served with the essentials: a slice of chashu pork (tender, marinated pork belly), bean sprouts, a boiled egg stained with soy sauce marinade and a handful of chopped scallions. ‌

All of these ingredients work in tandem to provide a sinfully delectable bowl of flavors so rich and warm that they melt your core with each slurp. ‌ Naruto features other, equally delicious broth options as well, such as miso, curry and spicy kimchi. ‌ However, for newcomers to Naruto and newcomers to a traditional bowl of ramen, the tonkotsu broth receives my utmost recommendation. ‌ Being a locally-owned business, Naruto takes pride in their quality and it shows. The waitstaff at Naruto are attentive and efficient as they provide customer service that parallels the quality of their food. ‌ In a city where Japanese restaurants that do not primarily specialize in sushi are a rarity to come by, Naruto upholds its status as the frontrunner for that category. Naruto’s atmosphere captures the essence of a traditional ramen bar as the perfect, casual dining experience. Whether you choose to dine with friends, with your significant other or alone after a hard day of work, a bowl of Naruto’s ramen is what your body craves on a cold, Alaskan night.‌ Just don’t forget to slurp.

‘Up to Us’: Raising national debt awareness on campus By Robin O’Donoghue features@thenorthernlight.org

“The longer we wait to make sustainable fiscal policy decisions… the more it’s going to have a negative impact on us,” said Lauren Criss-Carboy, a sophomore studying international studies at UAA.‌ Criss-Carboy and the rest of the Public Scholars from the Center for Community Engagement & Learning are currently working together on a campuswide campaign to educate UAA students on the ins and outs of the current national debt.‌ The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness on how the long-term national debt of the United States affects economic opportunities available to young people.‌ “I don’t think a lot of students recognize the difference between a billion and a trillion dollars… like, that difference is enormous,” said Criss-Carboy.‌ Currently, “Up to Us” is the only national, campus-based initiative dedicated to engaging college students on fiscal sustainability and economic opportunity. “Up to Us” was first launched in 2012 as a self-described “rapidly growing, nonpartisan movement of young people who recognize… they have no better advocates than themselves.” Over the last seven years, “Up to Us” has engaged more than 230,000 college stu-

dents across the U.S.‌ “As a public scholar, it’s really great to engage with [other students] on issues that affect all of us… like the national debt,” said Moira Pyhala, who is serving as the team’s social media manager.‌ Besides Pyhala and CrissCarboy, the team is also made up of Koby Scott and Josiah Nash who serve as Event Leads for the campaign.‌ “Our campaign has been going fairly well,” said Josiah Nash. “Students are really surprised when they learn some of these facts about the national debt… Hopefully, the overall national effort of the campaign can bring our country closer to acknowledging the problem and finding a bipartisan solution for our Federal budget.”‌ One of the ways the team at UAA is engaging with students is collecting signatures on the “Up to Us” pledge, a petition that is delivered to political representatives. The goal is to relay the petition to elected officials in order to show that young people care about a “fiscally sound future.”‌ “The pledge gives us a quantifiable number to show how many students and young people know about the issues… That’s really useful to show the need for what we’re doing,” said Criss-Carboy. “We need people to know that [national debt] is on the radar for students.”‌ One of the teams goals is fos-

Lauren Criss-Carboy on Oct. 27 at the 2018 Net Impact Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

“Up to Us” event leaders Koby Scott and Josiah Nash tabling at the Student Union.

tering partnerships with other organizations on campus.‌ “By major, students tend to be pretty segmented… so we want to make sure that people of all disciplines are involved,” Criss-Carboy said.‌ The campaign has also been a big learning experience for Criss-Carboy, who recently represented UAA at the 2018 Net Impact Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.‌ “It’s been a process figuring out everyone’s strengths and weaknesses and coordinating everything,” said Criss-Carboy. “Ironically, none of us are economics majors.”‌ Currently, the team is prepar-

ing for their “Walk the Debt!” event coming up on Nov. 8.‌ “Walk the Debt!” will take place from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Student Union Skybridge. In order to catch students passing by, the team will be setting up a to-scale model of the national debt, using length to illustrate the debt.‌ “We wanted to design an event that would get people’s attention, while also communicating the staggering level of debt that our generation will have to take on.” said Criss-Carboy. “We’ll be running a line of tape down the skybridge to represent the debt.”‌ The team plans on using cen-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAUREN CRISS-CARBOY

timeters to make this model. With 1/2 cm equalling $1 billion and 105.7 meters equaling the total $21.5 trillion of current national debt.‌ Further down the line on Nov. 15, the team will be hosting a discussion about the national debt and other fiscal policy issues at an event called “Up to Us: A Deliberative Dialogue on the National Debt” from 6:30 - 8 p.m. in SSB 118.‌ Pizza will be provided to participants, and the team encourages students from all backgrounds and majors to attend.‌ You can follow the team’s progress on Instagram at @uptouaa.‌

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THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

‘Mr. UAA’: Good fun for a good cause

PHOTO BY MALIA BARTO

Naomi Flewwellin and Alexus Tisega tabling for the event.

By Malia Barto

arts@thenorthernlight.org

It’s not too often that men are offered the chance to compete in pageants. “Mr. UAA” is just that opportunity.‌ Sigma Sigma Sigma, or Tri Sigma, is one of the sororities on campus. For the past nine years, they have put on “Mr. UAA” as a fundraiser for their local philanthropy, Broken Sparrow Chil-

dren’s Home. All the ticketing proceeds, as well as donations from the event, are going back to support Broken Sparrow at their mission to provide short-term care to children’s and infants’ needs. Specifically, this year’s proceeds will go to help expand the children’s jungle gym and add a wheelchair-accessible portion to it.‌ “Mr. UAA” is a male-only, judged pageant. The male UAA students are judged off of three categories: first impression, talent and personality with a

bonus people’s choice category.‌ The first impression round allows the participants to give the audience a little bit of info about themselves and get judged on stage-presence. The talent portion is after, and Brooke Badura, chairman of “Mr. UAA” and Tri Sigma risk management chair, said there have been past years where the talents have included wood chopping, rapping, singing and stand-up comedy among other things. Finally, their personalities will be judged as they answer a personal or opinion question. There’s even a chance for the audience to vote on whom they like best with the People’s Choice award, where the winner of that category will automatically win a prize.‌ “We take this event very serious, and I want to feature each contestant accordingly,” Badura wrote in an email.‌ The deadline for the male participants has already closed, but those who wish to attend and watch have time to buy tickets before the event or at the door. Tickets are $10, and you can visit the “Mr. UAA” Facebook page for information on purchasing them. The theme for the night is old Hollywood. The audience is encouraged to dress up for a red-carpet-like night along with the contestants.‌ “We really like the theme that goes

around it: it’s upbeat, it’s uplifting. People can do really whatever they want because it’s very well-rounded and really fun to dress up like their Hollywood lookalike if they have one,” Naomi Flewwellin, cochair of “Mr. UAA,” said.‌ “The money goes to charity, you get to dress to the nines and show off your skills,” Skylar McElwee said. “The biggest fear I hear people say is that they don’t have a talent, but the guy who won the talent portion last year had no plan going in and made up a comical magician act on the spot.”‌ McElwee, a senior theatre student, won the past two “Mr. UAA” pageants with talents of singing and playing Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” one year and rapping Weird Al Yankovic’s “White and Nerdy” another.‌ “It’s really a lot of fun, and there are a lot of laughs,” Flewwellin said. “It’s just a fun way to spend a Saturday night.”‌ There are prizes for the contestants, as well as getting name-recognition and raising awareness about their own club or organization if they are a part of one. There are even door-prizes for audience members, too, along with some light refreshments and drinks.‌ The show will be held in Rasmuson Hall Room 101 on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m.‌

Biennial faculty art exhibition to show off talent in art department By Caleigh Jensen arts2@thenorthernlight.org

Erudite Antics, the 11th UAA Faculty Biennial Exhibition returns to the Kimura Gallery on Nov. 12. The exhibition occurs every two years in order to showcase the diversity and talent of the faculty in the Department of Art.‌ “The exhibition gives a real sense of camaraderie… and brings a good sense of morale to the whole department,” Riva Symko, curator for the Kimura Gallery, said. “It’s a celebratory exhibition, and I think it gives everybody a chance to be excited about what they’re doing.”‌ Nearly all 17 of the art professors and adjunct faculty submitted work to Erudite Antics. Each artist submitted one or two pieces, depending on size. There is no theme present and no criteria required for the artists to follow, but many of the pieces were created within the last two years.‌ “You can see a huge variety in terms of the content and style and mediums, which points to the variety of interests in the faculty,” Symko said.‌

Alanna Derocchi, a term instructor of art in ceramics, has participated in the exhibition since she started teaching at UAA in 2013 and looks forward to seeing the diversity of art that the exhibition offers every two years.‌ “I feel very fortunate to work with so many talented, creative people and also be invited to show my recent work among theirs,” Derocchi said in an email. “I get to see what everyone has been up to in their own studios outside of teaching, and it can be really inspiring.”‌ Derocchi also sees the exhibition as an opportunity for students to get inspired and connect with their professors.‌ “For students, I think the Kimura’s faculty exhibition is a great way for them to see that their professors also maintain an artistic career outside of teaching, complete with big projects and juggling deadlines with work and family,” she said. “I hope in some way it can encourage them towards pursuing their interests in art as a serious profession.”‌ The poster for Erudite Antics, also on display in the gal-

lery, features a watercolor painting by Garry Mealor, an associate professor of art, drawing and watercolor. The piece, titled “Make Fast,” is a compilation of a dock in Maine and the Golden Gate Bridge.‌ “I honestly don’t know where the ideas come from. I just saw [the dock] and the way the shadows were, and I got my camera out, shot it and didn’t know where it was going to end up,” Mealor said. “Years later, I’m in San Francisco looking at the Golden Gate Bridge and I don’t know, they just seemed to both click.”‌ Mealor appreciates how much freedom there is in art and how UAA’s faculty embodies that in this exhibition.‌ “I’ve always felt like art chooses you,” he said. “We’re all over the place. There’s really no consistency in ideas or approaches, everybody’s going in different directions. If I was a student, that’s what I would want to see.”‌ Erudite Antics opens on Nov. 12 and will run for the remainder of the semester. The Faculty Biennial Exhibition is located in the Kimura Gallery on the sec-

PHOTO COURTESY OF GARRY MEALOR

“Make Fast,” by Garry Mealor, associate professor of art, drawing and watercolor, is featured on the poster for the 2018 Erudite Antics UAA Faculty Biennial Exhibition opening on Nov. 12

ond floor of the Fine Arts Building. The exhibition is open to view during the gallery’s hours from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. every week

day. An opening reception will be held on Nov. 15 from 4 - 7 p.m.‌

DANCE: ‘Personal’ and ‘intimate’ show opens Thursday Continued from cover Rather than having the show in one of the Fine Arts Building’s theaters, the show will be held in the dance studio in the PSB the dancers have been rehearsing in. While a downfall is that it has very limited space, it’s been beneficial in that it allows for less last-minute changes

for the dancers when moving it from the studio to the stage and allows for more of a personal setting.‌ The show does not necessarily have a theme, but the dancers and UAA dance professor, Jill Flanders Crosby, agreed that the majority of the numbers are “largely centered around very personal stories with a deeply

intimate voice.”‌ “The arts have always been that place to express our voices in a safe and creative manner,” Flanders Crosby said. ‌ The show will also host a guest artist, Amy Bukarau, who has been collaborating and choreographing with the cast for the show.‌ Next on the agenda after the

show, the core five are headed to Utah in March to represent the University for the American College Dance Festival, a national event that host classes and performances for students dancing in college.‌ The UAA Dance Student Showcase will run for four days, from Thursday, Nov. 8 to Sunday, Nov. 11 in the Professional

Studies Building dance studio, room 162. Shows are at 8 p.m. with the exception of Sunday’s show at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $10 at ArtsUAA. com or at the door, with the proceeds going back to the club. It is highly recommended to purchase tickets in advance due to limited seating.‌‌‌‌

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UAA’s rising star: Meet Devan Hawkins

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEVAN HAWKINS

Devan Hawkins in upcoming short film “Dasher.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEVAN HAWKINS

Devan Hawkins in “Playhouse Creatures.”

By Robin O’Donoghue features@thenorthernlight.org

“I’m addicted [to acting],” said Devan Hawkins. “Nothing makes me more frustrated but nothing makes me happier.”‌ Hawkins, a senior studying social work at UAA just finished starring in the latest production from the UAA Department of Theatre and Dance, “Playhouse Creatures.”‌ From an early age, Hawkins had an interest in theatre.‌ “My mom always tells me that I started acting when I was really young… I don’t have any recollection of it, but apparently I used to write plays and [then] make her rehearse and act in them,” she said. “She says I even used to correct her if she said a wrong line.”‌ Hawkins first got into theatre and acting in her teenage years through participating in the “Oral Interpretation of Drama” section of her high school’s

Speech and Debate program, a category that entailed taking a text and acting it out solo without the use of costuming or props.‌ “It was just one person in professional clothes who stands in a room and performs a dialogue for 10 or so minutes,” Hawkins said.‌ From then on, Hawkins caught the acting bug and has been pursuing acting onstage and on screen at every available opportunity. Yet, despite her love for acting, Hawkins decided not to pursue a degree in theatre or the performing arts; instead, she chose to take a more conventional route as a journalism major… only to discover later that journalism wasn’t for her either.‌ “I took a hard right at psychology,” said Hawkins, who wound up switching her major to social work.‌ Hawkins first got involved with theatre at UAA by taking Introduction to Theatre with

Nova Cunningham, who encouraged her students to audition for the 2016 production of “And Then There Were None,” a murder mystery play put on at UAA.‌ Hawkins says she wanted to be involved with the theatre community, so she showed up to the audition and got cast in the play.‌ The friendly nature of the UAA theater community made her feel welcome almost instantly.‌ “Everyone was so nice, warm and inviting… I really found my place here pretty easily in that regard,” she said.‌ In “And Then There Were None,” back in 2016, Hawkins’s character only had 22 lines. Since then, she has gone on to star in “Picasso at the Agile” (2017), “Earthquake ‘64” (2018), “(Woyzeck)” (2018) with the UAA Theater and Dance Department, as well as “Silver Thaw” with the Anchorage Community Theater in 2017 and

numerous other film projects, such as BIZZAY’s “The Human Condition” (2018).‌ “[Hawkins] is an exceptionally hard worker,” said Skylar McElwee, a senior pursuing a major in theatre with a minor in dance who has worked with Hawkins in multiple productions.‌ “She does a fantastic job portraying extreme emotions without seeming over the top… In my opinion, she’s probably one of the best actresses currently at UAA,” McElwee said.‌ Hawkins explained that for stage productions she’s had leading roles in, the time commitment has been grueling. Rehearsal schedules entail rehearsing four days a week Monday through Thursday from 7 - 10 p.m. leading up to opening night, and as opening approaches, the schedule only gets more brutal for the actors.‌ “[We’ll have] Friday off, but then we’ll have a 12-hour day Saturday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. and be there Sunday for 6 hours,” she said.‌ But for Hawkins, who finds performing personally rewarding, the commitment and rehearsal schedule is worth it.‌ “I’m so fueled by the challenging aspect of it and I feel such a need and a drive to perform,” she said. “When I’m on stage or acting it’s an opportu-

nity for me to forget about everything else in my life, and it’s such a good feeling to leave everything on stage.”‌ Tara Haynes, who just recently was the stage manager for “Playhouse Creatures,” worked closely with Hawkins. ‌ “I got to see just how much time she dedicates to both developing her performance and memorizing her lines,” she said. “She has a remarkable talent and incredible work ethic. Working with her has been one of the highlights of my time here at UAA.”‌ For Hawkins, new projects are already on the horizon.‌ “Dasher,” a local short film directed by James and John Kendall that Hawkins starred in this summer, will be premiering as soon as post production work finishes. The film is a comedy that revolves around the plight of two “pet detectives” and their attempts to solve pet related crimes.‌ Without giving away any spoilers, Hawkins hinted that the detectives “might not be the best at their job.”‌ When it comes to stage, Hawkins already has a role lined up in Cyrano’s Theatre Company’s production of “The Evil Dead: The Musical,” coming spring of 2019. ‌ “I like staying busy,” Hawkins said.

Annual fall career fair provides opportunities for networking By Caleigh Jensen arts2@thenorthernlight.org

The annual UAA Fall Career Fair, hosted by Career Exploration & Services, will take place on Nov. 8. The event offers students, alumni and community members an opportunity to network with employers and find potential internships and jobs. “Even if you’re not looking for a job right now, It’s a great way to get your name and face out there and make those connections,” Danica Bryant, employer relations specialist for Career Exploration & Services, said. “We understand talking to employers can be stressful and overwhelming for a lot of students, so we want to make it an open, welcoming networking environment.” In years past, as many as 80 employers have attended the Fall Career Fair, and 1,700 students have passed through during the event. The fair is located in the Student Union to be accessible to as many students as possible. “We understand that not all students

that pass through are going to the career fair, but our intention is even if they’re just passing through, they might see an employer that sparks their eye and stop to see what they have to offer,” Bryant said. Thirty employers have registered for the event so far with more joining daily. Local employers, including AT&T, Target and Enterprise, will be in attendance along with new national companies such as Intel. Every employer will come with least one job opportunity available for attendees to apply for. “The employers at the fair are getting really diverse. We have a lot of new people coming,” Molly Orheim, director of Career Explorations & Services, said. UAA students can sign into Handshake, a career-services platform, using their UAOnline log-in and preview the employers registered for the fair. They can also view the job and internship opportunities each company is offering, along with the required majors and skills. Bryant says that joining Handshake has expanded student opportunities in both the career fair and beyond. “We joined Handshake in July of 2017.

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF UAA CAREER EXPLORATION & SERVICES

It’s used by over 500 universities and expanded our reach to national companies,” she said. “It’s exciting to get those national employers coming to Alaska.” Career Exploration & Services is also offering other opportunities that lead up to the event. The Speed Resume Review on Oct. 31 and the JCPenny Suit-Up Event on Nov. 4 aimed to prepare students for a successful experience with employers at the career fair. Students who missed the speed review are welcomed to come in during Career Exploration & Services’ drop-in hours for help with their resume and cover letter. Free professional head shots taken by UAA Enrollment Services’ communication team from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on

the day of the event are also available for students in attendance. “We’re trying really hard to expose students to thinking about their career development early,” Orheim said. “We want students to succeed and shine.” The Fall Career Fair will take place on Nov. 8 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Student Union. The event is free to attend for all students, alumni and community members. Professional dress and prepared, in-depth questions for employers are encouraged. Registration for the event can be done through Handshake at https://app.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/7102/employers_list?logged_out_view=student_ preview.‌‌‌‌

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

The Seawolves sweep GNAC cross country championships

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GNAC MEDIA

By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org

With only three regular season meets completed so far, the Seawolves took off to Monmouth, Oregon on Nov. 3 to compete in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships. ‌ Despite having only a few meets, the Seawolves have left their mark on the West Regional rankings. Heading into the conference championships, the UAA men’s team was ranked No. 3 overall with only one GNAC competitor ahead of them, Simon Fraser. ‌ Similarly, the women were

also ranked No. 3 in West Region with just Simon Fraser (No. 2) ahead of them in the GNAC standings. ‌ “Conference is the big race that we have all been waiting for all season, so it was the time with high expectations. There is definitely that pressure,” Emmah Chelimo, junior XC runner, said. ‌ In an unsurprising outcome of events, after three back-toback wins and undefeated conference status, Chelimo is the GNAC women’s champion. ‌ “The three races that I already raced in gave me a good picture of where I am. It had given me confidence in myself,” Chelimo said. “My [national

runner of the week] award especially motivated me and made me want to stay up there.”‌ Behind Chelimo, several women from the team managed to pull through in the top 10, solidifying them a spot in the AllConference team. She finished the 6-kilometer race in 21 minutes and 25 seconds, just 6 seconds ahead of the No. 2 runner from Central Washington.‌ Of the three other women, sophomore Nancy Jeptoo (21:51) placed No. 5 with senior Zennah Jepchumba (21:55) trailing in at ninth place and senior Danielle McCormick (21:58) following at 10th. ‌ Due to their significant presence in the top 10, the women

won the overall title as GNAC Champions. ‌ Similarly, the men placed three runners in the top 10 of their 8-kilometer race, solidifying a score that gave them the overall team win. ‌ In a 1-2 duo, sophomores Wesley Kirui and Felix Kemboi outlasted all their competition to overtake first and second place, respectively. Side-by-side, Kirui finished the race in 24 minutes and 38 seconds, while Kemboi crossed the line in 24 minutes and 38.6 seconds. ‌ Trailing in at No. 7, senior Jorge Sanchez (24:54) was the final Seawolf to place in the top 10, earning a spot on the AllConference team. ‌

Missing the All-Conference team by just 0.8 seconds, sophomore Nickson Koech placed No.11, finishing the race in 25 minutes and 14 seconds. ‌ “I definitely had the confidence that if the team just went out there and did their thing, then both sides would win,” Chelimo said. ‌ The Seawolves will be back in action on Sat. Nov. 17 in Billings, Montana for the NCAA Div. II West Regional Championships. For full results or team schedule visit www.goseawolves.com. ‌

Keeping up with the hockey team captains By Emily Medina

sports2@thenorthernlight.org

With the 2018-19 hockey season underway, the team has recently named Cam Amantea, Nils Rygaard, Nolan Nicholas and Eric Sinclair as team captains.‌ Amantea has been part of the UAA hockey team for four years. However, his hockey career began much earlier than his freshman year of college.‌ “I started skating when I was 3 years old with my dad. He would build a rink in our backyard so I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time on the ice,” said Amantea. “I grew up playing minor hockey in Calgary, Alberta until I graduated high school. From there I spent three years in Penticton, British Columbia, playing for the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League.”‌

COURTESY OF UAA ATHLETICS

Cam Amantea

Nils Rygaard

Nolan Nicholas

Eric Sinclair

“I think the biggest thing it’s taught me is really just the honor of having the guys look at me as a leader and to have their respect in that way is a pretty good feeling,” he also said. “It doesn’t really change the way I do things; I just have to keep doing what I’m doing since that’s the reason they chose me.”‌ Amantea’s accomplishments are also off the rink as he has been a part of

the Western Collegiate Hockey Association AllAcademic Team since his sophomore year.‌ Another of the four team captains, Rygaard, grew up with the sport.‌ “I started to play hockey when I was 3 and a half years old back in Norrköping, Sweden for the local team, called Vita Hästen,” said Rygaard. “So I’ve been playing hockey for 20 years of my life.”‌

With his long history of hockey combined with this new leadership role, Rygaard has learned skills that are reflected in his everyday life.‌ “It has taught me about work ethic, commitment, working with a team and being a good teammate,” said Rygaard. “Resilience, discipline, leadership, winning and losing. These are a few things that hockey has taught me.”‌ Within his four sea-

sons at UAA, Rygaard has played in a total of 70 games and has accumulated 16 points.‌ Sophomore Eric Sinclair is the youngest face amongst the other team captains. As a freshman he was the only Seawolf to be in all 34 hockey games. His performance throughout the season made him a part of the WCHA AllRookie Team.‌ Before college, Sinclair was awarded the Sas-

katchewan Junior Hockey League Defenseman of the Year and MVP of his high school team in Kenora, Ontario.‌ Serving his second year as assistant team captain, Nicholas is originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario. As a sophomore, Nicholas was added to the WCHA Academic Team and was a GNAC FAR Scholar-Athlete Award recipient.‌ Nicholas began his freshman year with 57 blocked shots in 27 games. His great start landed him the team’s Dean Larson Rookie of the Year Award.‌ The UAA hockey team has won two out of the five games so far this season. Their next game will be a home match on Friday, Nov. 9 against Bowling Green State University.‌ To stay up to date with all things athletics be sure to check out goseawolves. com ‌‌

SPORTS

Men’s basketball kicks off the season with back-to-back wins

PHOTO COURTESY OF SKIP HICKEY

Tyler Brimhall takes a shot against Antelope Valley.

By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org

After eight months with no competition, rigorous training and adapting to new team members, the UAA men’s basketball team kicked off the season on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3. ‌ With the addition of new members and a successful previous season, the Seawolves were named No. 5 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason poll just before the start of their season. ‌ Previously, the Seawolves finished the 2017-18 season tied for fourth place in GNAC with a overall 15-14 record and 11-9 record. The .517 overall win percentage was the second lowest that head coach Rusty Osborne has experienced in

his 14 years at UAA; however, UAA has revamped their roster for the current season. ‌ Five letter-winning Seawolves have returned to the team, as well as two newcomers with Division I experience and three Alaskan freshmen. The dynamics of the team proved to be successful already in the beginning of their season. ‌ Despite being the first game of the season, Osborne explained that although they may look disorganized at first and be still adapting to the new crew, the team has been ready for competition for a while. ‌ On Nov. 2, the Seawolves hosted NAIA Division I team, Antelope Valley, from Lancester, California. ‌ As the season opener, the Seawolves won the game with a score of 82, a re-

spectable lead over the Pioneer’s final tally of 73. ‌ Of that 82, junior transfer Tyler Brimhall accumulated 25 of those points, an impressive 30 percent of the total. The 6-foot-5-inch forward not only scored the most points on both teams, but he also scored the first points of the game, less than a minute after starting. ‌ Just behind Brimhall in total points accumulated was Jack Macdonald. The junior guard scored 20 points, four of them being 3-pointers, seven field goals and two free throws. ‌ “I definitely felt a lot more comfortable this year with knowing what [Osborne] wants and expects,” Macdonald said. “[Osborne] has been clear to the whole team about what he wants us to do, so it was just a matter of us going out there and doing our jobs.” ‌ Next was junior forward Niko Bevens with 16 points. ‌ Overall, the Seawolves posted a successful first half, scoring 41 points over the Pioneer’s 30 points. ‌ In the first half, the Seawolves had a 48.4 percent success rate on their field goals. In contrast, Antelope Valley only had a 37.9 percent success rate. Similarly, in the second half, both teams had nearly the exact same success rate. ‌ However, the second half proved to be more successful for the Pioneers and less for the Seawolves. Antelope Valley scored 43 points with a 87.5 percent success in their free throws. ‌ Just less than that, the Seawolves posted 41 points in the second half. ‌ “We are happy with the performance in some ways, but in other ways we know

that we have a lot of things to work on. But we were moving the ball, were pretty unselfish and had some guys who can shoot,” Osborne said. ‌ The Seawolves and the Pioneers met back on the court to compete for a second time on Saturday, Nov. 3. ‌ In an opposite start to the game, both teams played the majority of the first half toggling in the lead. Just halfway through and the score died at 18 points, 10 of which were scored by UAA’s Brimhall. ‌ Slowly, with the help of junior forward Sjur Berg and sophomore guard Keenan Dowell, the Seawolves began to distance their score from the Pioneers. ‌ By halftime, the Seawolves were up just seven points, 36-29, with the majority accumulated by Brimhall. ‌ Moving through the second half, Brimhall continued to excel, propelling the Seawolves further into their lead. By the end of the game, Brimhall accumulated 27 points, two more than a day prior. ‌ Trailing behind him again was Bevens with a total of 14 points. ‌ With both their joint effort, along with various others’, the Seawolves defended their win-streak against Antelope Valley with a final score of 73-65. ‌ Despite their win, both teams had an equivalent 43 percent field goal rate and 81 percent free throw rate. ‌ However, the Seawolves managed six more steals, four more assists and five more 3-pointers than their competitors. ‌ The Seawolves will go undefeated into their next game against Fresno State on Tuesday, Nov 6. ‌ For a full schedule and game results visit www.goseawolves.com. ‌

UAA volleyball falls to seventh place, struggles to move to regional championships By Emily Medina

sports2@thenorthernlight.org

Although they had been holding tight at No. 6 in the NCAA Division II West Region Volleyball poll, the UAA volleyball team recently slipped to No. 7. The final poll will be released on Nov. 7, which will determine who will make it to the national playoffs on Nov. 11.‌ The last two home volleyball matches were held this past weekend at the Alaska Airlines Center. The first, against Seattle Pacific, had the biggest turnout of the whole season with a crowd of over 1,500 people.‌ Seattle Pacific won the first set after breaking a 9-9 tie with eight consecutive points. The Seawolves quickly gained their momentum after the start of the second set by

maintaining a 6-point lead which led to their victory.‌ However, their victory was cut short during the third set as the Seawolves were never able to take the lead. The opposite happened in the fourth set as UAA tied the game up once again.‌ The fifth and final set continued to have fans on the edge of their seats, but Seattle Pacific won the tie-breaker with a score of 15-11. Despite their loss, UAA’s Vanessa Boyer had a personal record of 16 kills.‌ UAA’s middle blocker, Tara Melton, had the highest attack percentage of the team at .318. However, that wasn’t enough to fend off Seattle Pacific’s Shaun Crespi who had an attack percentage of .4.‌ The second home game this past weekend, which was against Saint Martin’s, started as an unusu-

ally close match. UAA eventually came out on top at the end of the first set with a final score of 25-23.‌ Saint Martin’s put up a fight in the beginning of the second set but fell behind due to multiple attack errors. UAA, in turn, was able to maintain a steady lead, which resulted in a final score of 25-18.‌ Ultimately, Saint Martin’s came out on top with a final score of 25-20.‌ Once the fourth set started, UAA soon set the tone with a double digit lead and ended with a final score of 25-10.‌ With the 2018 season coming to a close, head coach Christopher Green is still proud of what the team has done so far.‌ “I think we are playing very well at the time and simply need to play at a high level more consistently,” said Green. “We

PHOTO COURTESY OF SKIP HICKEY

Vanessa Boyer in action during the match against Seattle Pacific.

are looking forward to finishing the season strong and hoping to qualify for our sixth straight NCAA Tournament.”‌ Freshman Ellen Floyd transitioned from high school volleyball during her first season at UAA. Floyd has accumulated close to triple the amount of assists and almost double the amount of sets when compared to the next leading player.‌ “College volleyball is a

lot more demanding than high school volleyball,” said Floyd. “I’m constantly thinking about what I can work on and how I need to improve small details in my game everyday.”‌ “In high school, there were always a couple players who were the best, but in college, everyone is the best,” she added. “Now we are all equal, and you are constantly fighting for your position because each person on your team

has that drive to continue to be the best.”‌ The volleyball team will compete in the NCAA Division II Regional Championships on Thursday, Nov. 15. The outcome will determine if they can move on to the Division II Elite Eight in Pittsburgh the following week.‌ For all things seawolf athletics be sure to check out goseawolves.com‌

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018

World War II did not end the depression quality of living. Human welfare is a much better indicator of the end of the Great Depression than crude employment and GDP are. In other words, ending a depression requires an improvement in prosperity and welfare, not just some statistical data points. Dumping millions of young men onto battlefields does not necessarily improve their well-being, and producing tanks does not create wealth.‌ Americans who stayed in the country lived through dreary conditions GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA as well. Sugar, butter, meat, rubber and gasoline were all rationed by the By Ben Edwards U.S. government during opinion2@thenorthernlight.org WWII. Comfortable housing was extremely scarce: The fallacy that World many workers slept in War II ended the Great cramped apartments atDepression in the United tached to the same factoStates is obnoxiously per- ries they labored in. The sistent. From high school manufacture of consumer history classrooms to re- goods like refrigerators nowned economist Paul and automobiles was forKrugman, this myth con- bidden. The few goods tinues to do a disservice that could be found would upon historical evidence be uniform and inferior. and the lessons we learn Price controls crushed from it. It contributes to a market innovation and growing romanticization distorted consumption. of humanity’s most violent Rations, prohibitions and conflict, peddled by peo- price controls were all ple who are too young to disturbingly inequitable. know its horrors firsthand.‌ A thriving black market Worst of all, this myth supplied goods to wellheavily influences how connected Americans who people view the role of could exploit the system. government during eco- The rest were neglected, nomic recessions. The and the weakest were ofmyth focuses so heav- ten preyed upon by mobily on government deficit sters trying to extort raspending that the conse- tion coupons for resale. ‌ quence is obscured. CroWhether you think all nies grow fatter while of those policies were necbroader human welfare is essary for the war effort is neglected. It is time to per- another matter. The fact manently dispel the myth is that Americans experithat WWII ended the enced no meaningful imGreat Depression.‌ provement in the quantity, The myth is born out quality and variety of life of two crude observa- during the war. Theretions: full employment fore, it is not reasonable and gross domestic prod- to credit WWII for ending uct. Full employment re- the Great Depression.‌ fers to the situation where So what did? Frankly, the unemployment rate is it was the postwar peacceptably low. The U.S. riod. It was the restoraachieved a record 1.2 per- tion of international trade cent unemployment rate in with multilateral agree1944 compared to the 14.6 ments designed to shrink percent in 1940 and the protectionist barriers like eyebrow-raising 23.6 per- tariffs and quotas. It was cent in 1932. GDP refers the revival of Amerito the total value of goods can consumerism, where and services produced households purchased within a country’s bor- 21.4 million cars between ders in a given time peri- 1945 and 1949. It was the od. U.S. GDP jumped 18.9 freeing of private sector percent in 1942 to a high investment, which grew of $2.352 real GDP by from $1.4 billion in 1946 1944. Proponents of this to $5.3 billion in 1954. All myth use the aforemen- of this occurred as posttioned statistics to support war U.S. federal spending their claim. After all, it is dropped 75 percent in real factually correct that mass terms.‌ conscription increased This distinction matemployment and factories ters because it radically starting churning out war changes the economic lesmaterial that got counted sons we learn from WWII. as GDP.‌ Proponents of the myth The problem is with the would have you believe

that recessions are escapable so long as government spends its way out of trouble. Are factories sitting idle? Have the government purchased more tanks? Is the unemployment rate high? Have the government hired 3 million people to dig ditches with spoons? It doesn’t matter if it’s all for warfare or any other unproductive activity. As long as something is being produced and workers are working, we will all be prosperous, right?‌ Wrong. This is the worst manifestation of the broken window fallacy: a parable of a hypothetical boy breaking a window, forcing the shopkeeper to hire a repairman, thus transferring money and stimulating the economy. The fallacy is that destruction does not create new wealth. The economy would’ve been better served if the shopkeeper could spend his money on other pursuits than fixing intentional destruction. Factories producing tanks for the government does not create wealth. In fact, those weapons often go on to destroy wealth. Three million government workers digging ditches with spoons does not create wealth, just as conscripting men into the army does not create wealth. Government must always tax or inflate to pay for its expenses, so ultimately it’s just taking money out of your left pocket and putting it in your right.‌ If we allow this myth to persist, then we are prone to make the same mistakes in the future. Modern American democracy is already overemphasizing employment as the ultimate measure of the economy. Politicians speak of jobs like they are all humans live for. What matters more is the quality of those jobs and the opportunities for workers to purchase what makes them happy. Similarly, spending on war will never improve the economy in real terms. What the GDP comprises of is very important: a small GDP of consumer goods means more for human welfare than a large GDP of weapons.‌ WWII should not be praised as an improvement of human welfare. It was the worst thing that ever happened on Earth. When wartime spending ended, government cronies predicted economic disaster. Yet human welfare flourished to unforeseen heights. That’s the lesson we should learn here.

The president shares blame for acts of political violence

By Robert Hockema opinion@thenorthernlight.org

At first glance, the massacre that killed 11 people at the Tree of Life Pittsburgh synagogue feels like an anomaly. Hate crimes of this magnitude aren’t an everyday occurrence, and the kind of people that often carry them out hold unusually deep resentment for the groups they’re targeting.‌ The same could be said about the 14 mail bombs sent to critics of President Trump. The van the suspect was living in was plastered with fringe right-wing political posters, suggesting that he was already inclined towards acts of political violence.‌ Yet, all of these events share the same common denominator. The Pittsburgh shooter and the mail bomber did not magically become so radicalized that they were willing to carry out an act of violence. Instead, the political environment surrounding the attacks inspired them to act on already existing prejudices they held. In other words, these acts of terrorism are contextual, rather than random.‌ For instance, it should act as no surprise that radicals are sending pipe bombs to politicians and media figures. For the past three years, we’ve only been hearing one thing about them: that they are an existential threat to Americans. President Trump has repeatedly referred to the press as the “enemy of the people” and as “scum.” He continually

positions them in opposition to American interests, referring to unfavorable reporting as “fake news” whenever he gets the chance.‌ More importantly, Trump frequently condones violence against his political opponents. From offering to pay the legal fees of supporters who assault protesters at his rallies to congratulating representatives who physically assault reporters, Trump has helped normalize violence as a response to disagreement.‌ The Pittsburgh shooter is another case-in-point. He justified his rampage by claiming that Jews were responsible for the “migrant caravan” heading towards the US border. Though the migrants are coming to apply for asylum and will be dispersed by at the Mexican border as per usual, Trump has used the timing to ratchet up rhetoric about immigration, likening the group of migrants to an “invasion.” ‌ To be clear, Trump didn’t blame the migrants’ arrival on Jewish people. Conspiracy theories like that typically come from fringe, online white supremacist group, the kind of groups Trump legitimizes when he retweets them and refuses to condemn their actions.‌ From the perspective of a misinformed, radicalized citizen, a mass wave of immigrants coming to topple your border sounds pretty scary. If the forums you’re poking around in are blaming it on other minority groups, and those forums are similar to the ones the president has retweeted, those insane views are no longer conspiracy theories. They are unpopular ideas that have been tacitly accepted by the most powerful man in the world.‌ Once that has happened, there’s little stop-

ping someone from acting on their beliefs with violence, especially if they see themselves as patriots serving their country by eradicating a threat.‌ The most important thing to recognize is that the words of a sitting president are powerful. Casting the press, members of the opposition or minority groups as threats to the survival of the country trigger a self-defense response. If you truly believe immigrants, Hillary Clinton and CNN are working to systematically undermine your way of life, you have two options: debate or fight back. When debate has been ruled out by the elected officials you look up to, you take matters into your own hands.‌ We can’t stop conspiracy theorists from subscribing to irrational ideas or even from carrying out violent acts. But we can be honest about who is responsible for emboldening them to act in ways that they otherwise wouldn’t have.‌ To start, politicians and the media need to stop pretending as if people are to blame on “both sides.” Sometimes, there truly is a disproportionate set of blame to place. In this case, it is on a president who endorses, excuses and emboldens violence as a response to disagreement.‌ Beyond politics and media, we the people need to step up, too. As a public official, Trump has a unique responsibility to use his speech responsibility. When he doesn’t, it’s our duty to call him out and be clear that discriminatory language has no place in the mouth of the President of the United States. The risk of refusing to do so for fear of sounding partisan or offensive risks the lives of people whom Trump lashes out at.

OPINION

International students enrich UAA

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

By Ben Edwards

opinion2@thenorthernlight.org

American universities are at serious risk of losing a valuable piece of their enrollment. After years of steady growth, international student applications are steadily declining. A survey conducted by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers yielded some worrying data about why this decline is occurring. Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed cited difficulty or denials in their visa applications, 57 percent cited the political environment in the U.S. and 54 percent cited more attractive universities in the U.K. and Australia. The urgency of reversing this trend cannot be understated. International students bring enrollment, culture and prestige to the U.S. higher education system. UAA must recognize this and lead the effort to attract more international students. Enrollment data is the simplest, quantifiable method for understanding how international students enhance our academic experience. UAA welcomed 329 international students in the fall semes-

ter of 2017. The majority of those pursued bachelor’s degrees and nearly half paid non-resident tuition. International students contribute nearly $11 million to the Alaskan economy, according to data from the Open Doors program at the U.S. Department of State. Eighty-two percent of international undergraduate students pay tuition in the U.S. from their personal or family sources. Thirty-one percent of international graduate students pay tuition through research grants obtained from the U.S. federal government. Either way, UAA receives a meaningful influx of tuition revenue from being an internationally desirable university. Culture is an unquantifiable resource that international students also bring to the US. These contributions are largely intangible, but no less integral to the healthy academic environment modern universities must have. Today’s students will enter a workforce that is more globalized than ever before in history. It is imperative that they develop their education in a similarly globalized environment. International students help create that atmosphere, especially if they are encouraged to be vocal about perspectives contrary to American assumptions. Students must learn how to better collaborate with people from different backgrounds. A sizable presence of international students makes that possible. Many assume that they can already do this, but the research casts some doubt. A study submitted to the American Sociological Association provided evidence that many people subconsciously prefer to work with others of the same cul-

STAFF CONTACTS Sports Reporter Emily Medina sports2@thenorthernlight.org

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to international students. Currently, international students can be exempted from the non-resident tuition surcharge if they come from a Sister City of Anchorage. UAA should increase its efforts to establish new Sister City agreements in more cities around the world. It can do this by lobbying the Municipality of Anchorage or the State of Alaska. This would expand UAA’s exposure to a wider audience of foreign students who are interested in studying here but cannot afford the non-resident tuition. UAA already has an advantage in its location. Alaska is a very interesting place to study, especially if the international student comes from a region with a radically different climate or urban density. UAA International Student Services does good work in guiding the applicant through the process and assisting them when they arrive. Other elements of the university need to pitch in as well. UAA Faculty Senate supported a motion this semester towards the reinstatement of the English as a Second Language program. USUAA should announce support of such programs as well. Part of UAA’s international strategy must be designed by policy-makers in departments, but the other part is a grassroots effort by UAA domestic students to welcome and engage international students. Talk to them, learn about their country, invite them to events and help build a positive experience for them. They are Alaska’s guests. We should reward their contributions here with hospitality and friendship.‌

A S S O C I AT E D CO L L E G I AT E P R ES S

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tural background. Even hiring managers are exercising a “cultural matching” bias. Cultural immersion in higher education yields one of the antidotes to this problem. Future workers with a history of multicultural collaboration will treat workplace diversity as a normality instead of a novelty. Prestige is an aspect that UAA could always use more of. International students foster a tradition of collaboration that boosts the university’s intellectual output just as much as its workforce output. UAA’s intellectual output is best defined in its research publications. When international students collaborate with domestic students and instructors on such publications, the experience benefit is mutually shared. Collaborative research tends to be more compelling in a globalized structure where peer review itself is international. In fact, the rate of publications citing a foreign co-author is rising exponentially, according to a report by the United Kingdom’s Royal Society. For UAA to be competitive, its students must develop experience in transnational, collaborative research. If UAA has a tradition of education like that, as well as widely-reviewed and recognized publications, then its overall standing as a public research university is improved. The benefits that UAA derives from international students are recognized and praised in this article. The next question is how UAA can attract more foreign applicants and give them the best possible experience while they are here. The most meaningful policy that UAA can pursue is by expanding resident tuition options

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