October 22, 2020

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, OCT. 20, 2020

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

FEATURES PAGE 2 Students can destress with these postmidterm relaxation ideas

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

FEATURES PAGE 3 Have fun with some

spooky Alaskan history

UAA’s 2020 Homecoming adapted to a virtual setting

By Daisy Carter news2@thenorthernlight.org

Even though COVID-19 has put a damper on everything this year, that didn’t stop UAA Student Life and Leadership from hosting a homecoming celebration this year. All the events were held virtually. Homecoming week lasted from Oct: 5-9. ‌ This year’s theme for homecoming week was the ‘90s. The week started off with a ‘90s-themed lip sync battle with UAA faculty and staff. ‌ The winner for individual performances in the lip sync battle was Rachel Kelly from the Alaska Center for Conservation Science. She won with the theme song from “Captain Planet.” Captain Planet was a very popular cartoon series in the ‘90s.‌ The winner for the best department/office performance went to Enrollment Services with the song “Can’t Touch This” by Mc

Hammer. ‌ Another fun virtual activity that happened during homecoming week was social media scavenger hunt. Students could win ‘90s-themed prizes and merchandise from the UAA bookstore. If a student completed all of the virtual scavenger hunt tiles by usunt the hashtag #uaahomecoming2020, they would win $500. ‌ As the week wound down, UAA had a 90’s themed bingo competition. Students were given an opportunity to go to a drive-in movie to see “Hocus Pocus” at a discounted price over the weekend. ‌ You can’t have a homecoming without a homecoming court. This year the crown of homecoming queen was given to Jessica Reisinger. Reisinger is studying pre-med and chemistry and is actively

involved in the UAA community. ‌ When asked where she was when she found out she was the homecoming queen she said, “I was in my car picking up a package at FedEx.” Reisinger said. ‌ Since there wasn’t a big homecoming dance to reveal the announcement, Resininger found out about her victory online.

She said that she found out while she was with one of her many clubs that she attends. She recounted that she was happy to hear about the win with the same people who encouraged her to consider being homecoming queen. ‌ This year’s homecoming king is Michael Quinenz. Quinenz is an engineering student and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.‌

PHOTO COURTESY OF UAA

Jessica Reisinger said that she was happy about receiving this award for her community outreach rather than it being a popularity contest.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UAA

The annual scavenger hunt was moved completely online due to COVID-19.

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FEATURES

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Students can de-stress with these post-midterm relaxation ideas

By Christina Swayney features1@thenorthernlight.org

UAA students can relax knowing that they survived midterms. The stress of studying, juggling schedules and grade anxiety can remain though. Some students can find that their shoulders are still tight, their sleep is still disturbed and worry about grades for important tests.

There are some simple things students can do to decompress and de-stress.

One easy way to instantly relax is to take a deep breath. Meditation is always an option, but can be intimidating for some.. A simple breathing exercise like the “4-7-8 relaxing breath,” which takes root in yogic breathing, is a quick and easy solution. This exercise requires the participant to sit still and breathe in and out using a specific sequence of breaths that will relax the mind and body. Anyone can do it and it takes only a few minutes.

For those who do not like to sit still, there is a form of moving meditation called daily task meditation. When doing stuff around the house like washing dishes, raking some leaves or taking a shower, focus on specific things and drown other noises out, like the sound of the water splashing on dishes, the smell of the autumn leaves or imagine all worries going down the drain with the water when showering. This type of mindfulness can be helpful to relax when there is little time to do so. One Mind Dharma offers several types of moving medita-

tion.

Anxiety and racing thoughts are common problems not just for students, but also for Americans in general, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Exercise has been proven to reduce stress and boost health; two things that can be beneficial, especially in times of COVID-19. Take a chill walk and enjoy the pretty fall colors, do a workout at home with the many free options on YouTube or drive to Hatcher Pass and enjoy a winter preview playing in the snow but be advised that road conditions can be dangerous. UAA also offers free virtual exercise classes such as Pilates and yoga. Classes and dates can be found on the UAA Master Student Calendar.

Getting your mind off midterm grades or just school worries in general, can be annoying. Taking a quick stretch and watching a program can be a mental respite. Rewatching shows or movies or replaying video games can soothe the psyche. Psychologist Neil Burton, the author of “Heaven and Hell: The Psychology of the Emotions,” explains this phenomenon in a HuffPost article.

“Our every day is humdrum, often even absurd,” Burton explained. “Nostalgia can lend us much-needed context, perspective and direction, reminding and reassuring us that our life is not as banal as it may seem. It also tells us that there have been ― and will once again be ―

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINA SWAYNEY.

meaningful moments and experiences,” Burton said.

Pets can be a source of comfort as well. A 2015 study conducted at Washington State University on college students called “Pet Your Stress Away,” showed stress reduction in students who interacted with cats and dogs during the school season. Pets can also get people moving by playing with the dog outside or putting a cat on a leash and taking it outside for a stroll.

Sometimes stress can be unmanageable alone and students shouldn’t feel scared or embarrassed to ask for help.

UAA has counseling services available to students virtually and through phone calls. The Student Health and Counseling Center has counselors that students can

A little fun in the snow is possible now at Hatcher Pass.

talk to confidentially and other mental health resources.

Interaction with people is important, even in these socially-distant times.

There are ways to socialize and still be safe. Take a hike or a walk in the woods with some friends, getting fresh air at the same time. Have a study group in the park or a backyard. Making a fire and roasting marshmallows can be especially cozy this time of year as well. Virtual watch parties are also an option. Watching a scary Halloween film together on Zoom can be a lot of fun.

For more information about student stress and how to cope, visit the UAA Student Health and Counseling website or give them a call at (907) 786-4040.

FEATURES

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Have fun with some spooky Alaskan history

By Christina Swayney features1@thenorthernlight.org

Halloween is almost here and students can enjoy it by learning about some of the myths, legends and lore of haunted Alaska.

When people think of haunted houses and ghost stories, they may picture abandoned 18th-century Victorian mansions in old neighborhoods like the house in It. They don’t readily think of the majestic state of Alaska as a hotbed of paranormal activity. There is however much activity, with spooky accounts of ghosts from the Gold Rush, a northwest version of the Bermuda Triangle and legends of Native Alaskan creatures that abduct humans.

Alaska is, after all, the last frontier and that also means many have met their untimely death here.

The Alaska Triangle is a vast area of wilderness in a triangle shape with touch points of Anchorage, Juneau and Barrow.

Over 16,000 people have disappeared within it since 1968 without a trace. The area first began to draw attention after the U.S. House Majority Leader Hale Boggs, Alaska Congressman Nick Begich, an aide, Russell Brown and their bush pilot, Don Jonz, vanished during a flight from Anchorage to Juneau while flying over the triangle in 1972. A month-long search involving 90 people and covering 32,000 square miles provided no trace of them or their plane. The disappearance of people in the area could be explained by bears who consume everything and nature taking care of the rest, but there are other creepier explanations.

A Tlingit legend called Kushtaka or “Otter Man,” tells the tale of a creature hungry for raw flesh. In Tlingit folklore, Kushtaka was once human and the son of a fisherman. He got a taste for raw flesh when returning from a fishing trip one a day and began his metamorphosis into the mythical creature. He is amphibious, with otter-like features melded with humanoid characteristics. It is said that Kushtaka lures travelers while in the tri-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WENDY WILLIAMSON UAA WEBSITE.

angle to their deaths with trickster tactics, such as appearing to be a regular human man trying to help lost people, making a sound like a crying baby or woman, or shape-shifting into another creature or person that travelers are drawn to. Most encounters with Kushtaka are in the Thomas Bay area of Southeast Alaska.

There are also paranormal sightings closer to home.

UAA has its own ghost stories about the Wendy Williamson Auditorium.

There have been reports of haunted activity and six ghosts are said to lurk in the auditorium, according to the UAA Wendy Williamson webpage. Shane Mitchell is the auditorium manager and spoke about some of the experiences his staff have had during an interview in 2019 with Micthell

The Wendy Williamson Auditorium at UAA is allegedly haunted by six ghosts.

about the haunted space.

“The night cleaning staff has requested that we leave the lights on for them. There is a piano in the auditorium and they will say that they constantly hear it playing and when they go to check, no one is there,” Mitchell said.

Some of the ghosts that reportedly haunt the Wendy Williamson Auditorium include a little girl who can be heard giggling during a good theatre performance, an angry man with a penchant for pushing or shoving brunettes and a male musician, who constantly knocks down a portrait of Williamson. There is a great article about the auditorium in detail written

by Victoria Peterson from 2016 for TNL. There are darker stories of spooky activity to be discovered in Anchorage, such

as a haunted bathroom stall at The Captain Cook Hotel.

In 1972, a girl committed suicide in one of the stalls. That stall is still there, but has been permanently locked. Her ghost is said to harass bathroom-goers with loud bangs, toilets flushing on their own, water faucets running on their own and a general sense of unease. It doesn’t help that the bathrooms are in the hotel basement and that there is a black color scheme. Three women are said to have collapsed in the bathroom for no reason.

There are many places in Anchorage with paranormal activity. For a fun list of creepy locations, visit The Alaska Ghost Hunting website.

& AE

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, OCT. 20, 2020

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Movie Analysis: Hocus Pocus

By Daisy Carter news2@thenorthernlight.org

Spooky season has started. Though COVID-19 is keeping us apart, we can still celebrate separately. “Hocus Pocus” is one of the most iconic and recognizable halloween movies of all time. ‌ “Hocus Pocus” was released in 1993.

That’s right, it wasn’t even released during the Halloween season. It was directed

by Kenny Ortega, who also directed all of the “Highschool Musical” movies as well as the movie adaptation of “Newsies.” ‌ The writers of “Hocus Pocus” are David Kirschner and Mick Garris.

Kirschner told reporters that he made up the story of “Hocus Pocus” while telling a bedtime story to his daughters, According to Yahoo entertainment. ‌ The storyline on IMDB for Hocus Pocus reads, “300 years have passed since the Sanderson sisters were executed for practicing dark witchcraft. Returning to life thanks to a combination of a spell spoken before their demise and the accidental actions of Max, the new kid in town, the sisters have but one night to secure their continuing existence.” The budget for this film was $28 million, but it grossed only $8 million in its opening weekend. ‌ Hocus Pocus stars Sara Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson, Bette Milder as Winifred Sanderson and Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson. Each sister is known for their own little thing such as Sarah’s ability to sing to lure the children to the cottage, Mary’s ability to sniff out the

children and Winifred (also known as Winnie in the movie) makes the potions and control over book. ‌ “Hocus Pocus” won the Best Costumes award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films.

The actress who plays Dani, who is the young sister in the movie, also won an award for her role in “Hocus Pocus” for Best Youth Actress in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture Comedy. ‌ There are so many twists and turns with overtones of whimsy and mystery.

I’ve personally seen this movie over 20 times and I still get a laugh out of it. Even though its special effects and acting are a little dated, it makes up for it with its clever storytelling.‌ Several times throughout the movie you think it’s about to end, but just when you think the characters solved the problem, the rug gets pulled out from under them. I don’t see a lot of movies that do that nowadays and that do it as effortlessly as “Hocus Pocus.”‌ It’s wild to think that when this movie first got released it didn’t make much money back, nor was it well received.

This film is great for the whole family and a great way to start out the spooky season. ‌ Do you have any recommendations on what films I should look into next? Send your suggestions to news2@thenorthernlight.org.

COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM

Hocus Pocus has quickly become a cult classic.

COURTESY OF BLOODY-DISGUSTING.COM

Dani ,played by Thora Birch, is the younger sister of Max, played by Omari Katz, who is dressed up as a witch for Halloween.

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REPORTS

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UPD report: Oct 5 - 12 Total calls for service: 308 Unlock calls: 9 •

October 5: Criminal mischief at Ecosystem Bio-Medical Lab.

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October 5: Issued in error at Eugene Short Hall.

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October 8: Tresspass notice at Rasmuson Hall.

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October 8: Illegal dumping at EIB parking garage.

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October 9: Criminal Mischief at East Hall.

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October 10: Issued in error at Eugene Short Hall.

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October 10: Tresspass notice at Spruce parking lot.

All information is provided by the University of Alaska Anchorage Police Department.

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