OCTOBER 2 OCTOBER 8, 2018
FEATURES
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
SPORTS
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UAA associate professor runs for Alaska State Legislature
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
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UAA athletes volunteer at local jamboree
Plates for Compassion educates students about veganism By Robin O’Donoghue
features2@thenorthernlight.org
On Wednesday, Sept. 26, UAA students from the club Plates for Compassion - Vegan Outreach at UAA took to the lawn of the quad outside of the Cuddy Hall to talk with students and make vegan BLT sandwiches. The club members were joined by a special guest: a pig named Rowan. Plates for Compassion is a UAA club that formed in the fall of last year. This semester marks the first semester that the club is actively engaging the student body. Plates For Compassion’s self described “hype man,” Ralf Allen, was dancing in a pig costume and helping draw a crowd to the booth and get bystanders excited about the cause. “It’s been really bumping. We got rid of all the sandwiches we made, so now [we’ve] got to make more,” Allen said. Ali Stover, an economics and business management major, serves as the club’s president. She stood on the lawn passing out vegan sandwiches and different types of vegan bacon for students to try. “We’re just providing a solution to that harmful way of providing bacon… These BLTs taste just as good even better,
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN CIELO
On Sept. 26, Plates for Compassion, a club at UAA, tabled outside of Cuddy Hall to inform students about veganism. Rowan the Pig was there for students to interact with, alongside his “pig mom,” Mechelle Munsell.
according to a lot of students who have been stopping by,” Stover said. Rowan, the 3-year-old pig, was joined by his “pig mom” and owner, Mechelle Munsell. Munsell connected with members of Plates for Compassion originally through Facebook, and through various events, she built a relationship to collaborate on raising awareness around animal rights related issues. Stover is aware of criticisms
of vegan ideology, like the idea that a vegan diet isn’t necessarily better for the environment when weighing factors such as carbon footprint in regards to shipping foods to Alaska. “If you look at the protein process... you have to grow plants... then feed [them] to the animals and then take the animals,” Stover said. “That is completely inefficient. You can just skip the middleman and [eat] the plants themselves. I don’t understand
that argument.” The club is aware of and respects traditional diets, such as subsistence diets of many Alaskan natives that consist largely of salmon and game meat. “We have people in Alaska who are [self-subsistent]. They live in the village, and we totally respect that,” Stover said. “We’re not asking them to go vegan. If you have the availability to go vegan, then we are supporting you.”
Stover wants students to know that a vegan diet can be very affordable and suggests that the bulk areas of grocery stores, where beans and dry foods can be found, is a good place to start. Plants for Compassion even provides resources for students, such as meal plans, meal prepping information and grocery shopping trips to teach students all about the vegan lifestyle. Munsell wants to educate the community on the misconceptions surrounding pigs. “Most people want teacup pigs… They don’t exist,” Munsell said. “We’re trying to spread that word… Pigs don’t stay small. So you want a 20-pound pig, but you’re going to get a 100-pound pig.” Munsell and a few other “pig moms” are hopeful to have a pig sanctuary in Alaska one day. Additionally, the group advocates for spaying and neutering pigs to prevent unwanted piglets. Munsell wants people to know that, when given proper care, pigs can make great pets. “If you work with them, they can be amazing animals at home so they can live inside, they can be trained, they’re great to have,” Munsell said. You can find Rowan and “Pig Mom” Munsell on Facebook under Rowan the Pig to hear more about Rowan’s journey.
Homecoming week packed with activities and competition
By Malia Barto
arts@thenorthernlight.org
Homecoming week is just around the corner, and Student Life and Leadership, USUAA and plenty of other campus clubs and organizations have been busy preparing for it. This year’s homecoming, which is carnival-themed, is intended to make an anticipated event on campus bigger than years before. The Spirit Competition is also happening throughout the week. “In past years, we haven’t had events that are true competition with students,” Corey Miller, student activities coordinator, said. “Maybe [the competition] thenorthernlight.org
will increase school spirit.” The Spirit Competition consists of an array of different events that teams can earn points completing. The incentive? A giant $1,000 check. Student clubs and organizations, Seawolf athletics and residence halls are encouraged to participate as their own team. Events within the Spirit Competition in which teams can earn points are shopping cart decoration for the Shopping Cart Parade, Minute 2 Win It, Free Little Library Design, Lip Sync Battle, Homecoming Royalty Nominations, Homecoming Circle Dance, Canned Food Drive and Green & Gold Alumni Breakfast volunteering. Additional points can be racked up by taking a participation selfie, which is worth five points at participating homecoming events. For more information visit tinyurl.com/uaaspiritpacket or to sign up a team, visit tinyurl. com/2018uaahomecoming. Other homecoming events will happen throughout the week as well. Nominate a student leader by facebook.com/tnlupdates
Wednesday, Oct. 3 for Homecoming Royalty. Two student leaders of any gender will be recognized for the leadership at our university and will be chosen on Oct. 8. Visit tinyurl. com/2018uaaroyalty for more information. Homecoming isn’t just for students. Staff and faculty can decorate their offices and department to fit the carnival theme. Decorating started Oct. 1 and will continue until Oct. 5. Judging will start Oct. 8. Interested teams can visit https://tinyurl.com/uaaofficedecorcomp for some guidelines. Kickoff Seawolf hockey season at the Sullivan Arena, Saturday, Oct. 6, with the puck dropping at 7:07 p.m. A tailgate party will be happening before the game with free barbecue, courtesy of Student Life and Leadership. UAA students taking 6 or more credits get in free with valid student ID and Seawolf Shuttles will be transporting students to the arena. From Oct. 8 to Oct. 11 in the Student Union from 10 - 11 a.m. and 2 - 3 p.m., The Daily Den will be hosting a canned food @tnl_updates
@tnl_updates
PHOTO COURTESY OF USUAA
The homecoming dance is carnival-themed this year, and will be held at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center. Students must bring their student ID to get into the dance.
drive for Food Bank of Alaska and UAA’s Emergency Food Cache. The Shopping Cart Parade returns this year on Monday, Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. The parade took a year off in 2017 but will return this year for students to push their decorated cart down the halls of the Student Union. The carts and banners are first come, first serve. After the parade and in the Den at 7 p.m. will be Minute to Win It. Teams can participate in minute-long games to snag extra youtube.com/tnlnews
points for the Spirit Competition or students can just enjoy some entertainment. The Fine Arts Building will host the first LipSync Battle for homecoming week. The show starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Participants need to submit their music by 5 p.m. on Oct. 5. Wednesday, Oct. 10, will host a free showing of “The Greatest Showman” at the Student Union
SEE HOMECOMING
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NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018
| 02
Faculty Senate considers reinstatement of ESL program By Marie Ries
news@thenorthernlight.org
The UAA Faculty Senate is supporting a motion to revive the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at the university. The senate made this decision in their most recent meeting on Sept. 7 based on a report of the UAA Committee of Internationalization. The discontinuation affected both international students and students from the local population with a different first language. For admission to UAA, international students were required to demonstrate a higher level of English proficiency on the English as a Foreign Language Test (TOEFL). The affected students often enrolled in developmental English classes. These classes, however, differ significantly from ESL classes, according to Tara Smith, UAA professor of ESL. Smith, who also serves on the Committee of Internationalization, welcomes the support of the senate. The committee focused their work exclusively on the ESL program after its discontinuation. “I hope that the process for reestablishing ESL classes will continue outside of the faculty senate,” Smith said. The committee had already met with the Interim Provost John Stalvey; discussions with Chancellor Cathy Sandeen will be the next step, Smith explained. The ESL courses were initially can-
celed due to low enrollment in the last years and costs. Smith said she thinks that enrollment numbers can be better with appropriate changes to the program. “As long as we make sensible decisions about admission, placement and recruitment, there’s no reason that the program can’t thrive as it has for many years,” Smith said. When reinstated, the classes will require between $165,000 and $209,000 for instruction, the report estimates. However, it also found that the tangible and intangible benefits of the program are “overwhelmingly higher” than costs. One reason, according to the report, is that interacting with international students helps local students develop a more open mind towards new cultures and ideas. “The implication is that without a well-rounded ESL program, it is unlikely that UAA will have a solid international student base,” the committee wrote in their report. Data by the Office of Institutional Research suggests there has already been a decrease in the numbers of international students at UAA. The report considers the classes as “possibly one of the least costly options to bring diverse populations” to Alaska and UAA. A decrease in international students could also result in significant revenue loss.
“International students do pay additional tuition and bring much needed revenue, which is exceedingly relevant especially during times of budget duress,” the committee says in the report. “This, in turn, implies that we will forego the potential benefits from a highly educated and diverse workforce.” Annual tuition for an international undergraduate student is $22,530, according to current numbers by the Office of Financial Aid. This is more than three times higher than the cost for undergraduate Alaska residents, who pay $6,360 of tuition per academic year. Cutting the ESL program also affected exchange programs with international partner institutions, Hiroko Harada explained. Harada, professor and coordinator of the UAA Japanese program, is overseeing two exchange programs with partner institutions. The partnership with the Hokkaido University of Education in Japan was established in 2005. When the ESL classes were discontinued last fall, she still had five exchange students from Japan coming to UAA. “They came anyway because they were already scheduled to come even before the ESL was cut,” Harada said. The students were then placed into preparatory English courses with different curricula, which “much surprised” them, Harada said. This year, she added, the program has experienced a significant decrease in participants.
GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
“This exchange program is one of the most active ones on campus,” Harada said. “I had several students from Hokkaido last year. This semester, I had none.” The plan to reestablish the program is in accordance with UAA’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan that was finalized in June 2017. Some DIAP key objectives are the diversification of UAA’s instructional strategies, the development of a framework for diversity advocacy and the purposeful inclusion of diversity on all levels. Regarding ESL classes, the DIAP recognizes that the students in the program “reflect considerable language diversity and require support in... English to successfully engage” in other classes. Administrators are currently considering different institutional placements for the ESL program. Prior to its discontinuation, the Community and Technical College was home to the program. Other potential locations include the College of Arts and Sciences or a separate center on campus for the entire UAA community.
NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018
| 03
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018
| 04
Creating a culture of philanthropy
PHOTO BY CHASE BURNETT
By Chase Burnett
features@thenorthernlight.org
Brian Ibsen was appointed the director of philanthropy by the Office of University Advancement on Sept. 19. Ibsen shared details about his role as director and his goals for the new position. He comes to UAA with 25 years of experience in higher education fundraising. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University and holds a master’s in teaching from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. As director, he manages a group of fundraisers for the university, focusing on efficiency in acquiring new resources for the university’s programs and people. When asked why he took a position in Alaska, Ibsen cited a romantic notion of the state.
“I’d never been to Alaska before interviewing for this job,” Ibsen said. “It’s exciting to be at the Last Frontier; I love the concept. I know there’s very hard problems in Alaska but it’s just great to be here.” Ibsen was chosen after the university identified the fundraising team needed more support to be as effective as possible. There was a position similar to Ibsen’s in the past; however, this is the first time a Director of Philanthropy has been implemented. “[The university] refashioned the position to call it Director of Philanthropy just to focus on the fact that we want to create a culture of philanthropy at the university and in Alaska,” he said. His role focuses on nurturing a sense of giving to higher edu-
cation in Alaska. With experience in fundraising for both public and private institutions, he finds working with public institutions inspiring. “Public institutions are about access and really giving more people the opportunity of higher education,” he said. Ibsen believes working with public universities means helping where the need is greatest. Ibsen has helped implement several initiatives in previous roles that he’s particularly proud of. At the University of New Mexico, he helped raise $25 million for a health policy initiative for the university and the state. “That’s a public university and, going back to what I said earlier, that’s going to make a big difference to the ability of
that state to really improve the health of its citizens,” he said. He also played a key role in fundraising for the University of Chicago. “That’s a really top university but it had a hole in its programs. It had no engineering school,” he said. He was responsible for raising money for the university’s first Institute of Molecular Engineering and described a sense of pride in the programs’ success and influence. Ibsen’s new role as director of philanthropy differs from his previous positions, but it utilizes his extensive fundraising knowledge. With this knowledge, he’s working with his team to foster a culture of philanthropy at the university and throughout the state.
‘I could do a better job’: Professor Liz Snyder runs for District 27 By Robin O’Donoghue features2@thenorthernlight.org
As the end of September nears, students and professors alike have begun to settle into their semester routine. Associate Professor of Public Health, Liz Snyder, however, has set her sights on something new: the Alaska State Legislature. “I’m going to bust my tail for the people I’m representing. I don’t think we’ve gotten that, and we deserve it,” Snyder said. Snyder began visiting Alaska at a young age and says that moving to the state and raising her family was always on her mind. That opportunity came when Snyder was offered a teaching position at UAA in 2009 after graduating from the University of Florida with a doctorate in soil and water science. Upon moving to Anchorage, Snyder and her husband rented an apartment in Government Hill before deciding to move to East Anchorage and start a family. Snyder was drawn to East Anchorage by accessible public parks and outdoor recreational activities, but also because of the diversity of the residents and neighborhoods. “I love that we get to meet people that aren’t just like us, and we learn from each other. I think [that] makes for a rich experience growing up for my kids,” Snyder said. House District 27 encompasses parts of Northeast Anchorage, the Muldoon curve and Scenic Foothills. Snyder is running against incumbent Lance Pruitt (R- Anchorage) who has been in office since 2011, serving as the House Majority Leader and a member of the Finance Committee. Samantha Reisher, a UAA student majoring in English with a minor in political science, grew up in House District 27.
“My neighborhood was an area with a lot of young families… I grew up around kids who were different from me,” Reisher said. “I had a rich childhood, and I don’t think I necessarily would have gotten that growing up in a different [area] of town.” Reisher has enjoyed watching her neighborhood come “full circle” again as the children she grew up with have grown, and many new young families have moved in on her old street. After Snyder’s family was impacted by crime and feeling discontent with Pruitt’s job as her representative, Snyder was motivated to run. Since residing in East Anchorage, Snyder’s family has had cars “rifled through” multiple times, and back in February, a family vehicle was stolen right out of their driveway. An even more frightening incident took place five years ago, involving two people driving under the influence and crashing into the trees on Snyder’s property. “[They] crashed right outside my children’s bedroom window,” Snyder said. Incidents such as these had her questioning the safety of her neighborhood and helped motivate her to run for House District 27. As a university professor and a mother of two, Snyder’s other main legislative priority is education. “I would be a champion for education across the board… I see what the university can do, what we’re already doing well and what we can do better,” Snyder said. For Snyder, education as a priority includes not only the university but also strong K-12, pre-kindergarten and vocational training programs. Snyder believes that cuts to education contribute to many of the problems currently facing Anchorage and the state.
“[Lance Pruitt] is perfectly happy with cutting funding to education without recognizing that things are connected,” Snyder said. “Just because you don’t see an immediate connection or implication doesn’t mean they don’t have ripple effects.” UAA alumna Melissa Wilson took multiple classes from Snyder while she was obtaining a bachelor’s degree in human services. She went on to work closely with Snyder, who served as Wilson’s thesis adviser before she graduated with a master’s in public health in the spring of 2015. “She has high expectations of her students… She expects performance, and she likes a high work ethic,” Wilson said. “But she’s not biased, and she holds herself to those same standards.” Wilson credits Snyder as the reason why she was able to pass a bio-statistics class. “That [class] was my nemesis… I’m not going to say it was a fun class but [Snyder] is really good at communicating and that made it manageable,” Wilson said. The Permanent Fund Dividend has become one of the biggest state issues this election cycle. Snyder would like to see a consistent, moderate PFD in order for families to plan around it. Snyder is open to and intrigued by ideas, such as incorporating the PFD into the Alaska Constitution. “For lower income families, even a small change in that PFD can be a big change in household income,” Snyder said. “Getting rid of that fluctuation would be great… I think the shorthand answer would [be] to have the biggest PFD we can afford while also not short-changing education, public safety and infrastructure development.” Additionally, Snyder would like to see an increase on oil taxes. “I would like to see us get our
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JACK CONSENSTEIN
fair share from [oil companies] and, compared to other places that are oil producing, we don’t,” Snyder said. Snyder has already been endorsed by the National Education Association, Planned Parenthood, The Alaska Center and The American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Or-
ganizations. The deadline to register to vote for the general election is Oct. 7. To find more information on what will be on the general election ballot and locate your local polling enter, visit the Alaska Division of Election’s website at http://www.elections.alaska.gov.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018
| 05
Former UAA professor’s take on UFOs
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN CIELO
Lawrence Weiss, former professor at UAA, gave a talk on Sept. 25 about UFOs.
By Caleigh Jensen arts2@thenorthernlight.org
Is it irrational to believe in UFOs over Alaska? Professor Emeritus of Public Health Lawrence Weiss posed the question during a presentation last week and gave a simple answer: no. “I think there’s definitely something going on,” Weiss said. “There’s trillions of planets out there that could be habitable.
It seems to me that it’s almost inconceivable that we aren’t being visited by aliens from other parts of the universe.” Weiss was a professor at UAA in various positions for nearly 20 years before retiring in 2004. During his time at the university, he taught both public health and sociology, founded the Master of Public Health program and assisted in creating the first Alaska Native studies minor. Although his field of study was not astronomy, Weiss’ inter-
est in space led him to pursue it further. “I have a Ph.D. but it’s not in ufology,” he said. “It’s mostly a hobby, but I do have certain beliefs.” Weiss’ interest in flying saucers and extraterrestrial life began at a young age. He credits his father for inspiring him to look further into the subject. “My dad was a very strange person,” he said. “He had a bunch of books around the house about UFOs. Reading those books and looking at the pictures as a kid was the starting point for me.” With the rise of the internet, Weiss’ hobby was able to grow. Access to databases, documentation of UFO sightings and filmed talks about the subject expanded his knowledge and further convinced him of the reality of life outside of Earth. “The best documented cases of a prolonged encounter between a commercial airline and
multiple UFOs happened right here in Alaska,” according to Weiss. The encounter took place on Nov. 17, 1986 when Japan Airlines flight 1628 flew over eastern Alaska on its way from Paris to Tokyo. The crew witnessed two large rectangular objects rise from the clouds, causing the cabin of the aircraft to heat up, according to a video of the event. The flight captain, Terauchi, reported the object as a UFO and was consequently moved to a desk job and not reinstated as a pilot until years later. The incident was investigated for months afterward and the Federal Aviation Administration concluded that there was not enough information to confirm that the object was a UFO. Weiss believes that this event was covered up because the government knew it was out of their hands. Another resource with extensive evidence of UFOs is Stan-
“Inflorescence” by Heath Satow.
“Transaction” by Bright Bimpong.
ton Friedman, a retired nuclear physicist and ufologist. Friedman has participated in UFO research since the 50s and gone on to write numerous books and articles, publish videos and CDs and give many talks on the subject. According to Weiss, Friedman is “the most credible and experienced” person out there in regards to extraterrestrial activity. Between the Alaskan UFO encounter, Friedman and the countless other resources he’s come across, Weiss believes that all the evidence of aliens is there, you just have to go look for it. “A lot of people who denigrate this stuff don’t know about the existence of the evidence out there,” he said. “These are not goofy tinfoil hat people; they are trained observers and extremely credible sources.” Sightings of UFOs can be reported to the Mutual UFO Network or MUFON website.
Campus art walk By Chase Burnett
features@thenorthernlight.org
Have you ever wondered what that sculpture outside Rasmuson Hall means or why there’s a stone lion in the UAA Geological Rock Garden? You may have glanced at these pieces while walking to your next class. The art scattered around campus is often overlooked among the hustle of the semester, but each has their own unique meaning. “American Lion,” located within the UAA Geological Rock Garden, was created by Meg White. A rural Kentuckybased artist, White sourced her materials from limestone quarries in Bedford and Bloomington, Indiana. The entire sculpture was cut with power tools out of a single 40,000-pound block of limestone. “Images Intervention” was produced by Dennis Oppenheim. The piece was immediately polarizing. Supporters called it a thoughtful “statement against violence and aggression.” Others called it a “pile of junk.” “Image Intervention” was one of five pieces in a series that Oppenheim created in the 80s, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2016 at age 72. “Inflorescence,” by Los An-
geles-based artist Heath Satow, is located outside the ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building. Satow wanted to do a piece that could relate to a broad range of scientific disciplines. “You see [spiral patterns] from micro to macro across all the sciences,” Satow said in a previous interview with The Northern Light. “Welded Moose,” by Bonnie Nygard, is located outside of the Auto Diesel Building. Nygard is currently the Director of Workforce Development at UAA. “Transaction,” by Bright Bimpong, sits just outside Rasmuson Hall. “Now, many times when there’s a transaction, the information is on a database, so I use the disk to symbolize that. I tried to blend cultures and blend time,” Bimpong said in a previous story by The Northern Light. “Tetradigm” was produced by Ted Jonnson. A Washingtonbased artist, “Jonsson was one of the first artists commissioned for artwork under the 1 Percent For Art ordinance,” according to his obituary on seattle.gov. Jonnson passed away in 2015. The next time you walk past one of these sculptures, take a moment to appreciate their presence on campus. Dedicated artists coupled hard work and vision to create these pieces to be enjoyed by the community.
“Tetradigm” by Ted Jonnson.
PHOTOS BY CHASE BURNETT
“Images Intervention” by Dennis Oppenheim.
“Welded Moose” by Bonnie Nygard.
“American Lion” by Meg White.
& AE
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018
| 06
25 years of a-mazing A Cappella
PHOTO COURTESY OF A CAPPELLA FESTIVELLA
Musae, an all-female a cappella group, will perform on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Wendy Williamson Auditorium for the 25th annual A Cappella Festivella event.
By Caleigh Jensen arts2@thenorthernlight.org
In 2016, Chicago-born poet, rapper, songwriter and artist Noname self-released her debut mixtape “Telefone.” The mixtape, which contained ten tracks, displayed an electric intersection of hip hop, jazz rap, and neo soul and was met with critical success and praised for its unique sound.
Prior to releasing “Telefone,” Noname had already started building to build a reputation through multiple features with the likes of Chance the Rapper and Mick Jenkins. Often described as “laid back” and “poetic,” Noname quickly gained notoriety and recognition after releasing “Telefone.” “The music is suited to a family barbecue, built around finger snaps, snatches of church organ and Seventies,” wrote Rolling
Stone’s Joe Levy in a 2016 album review of “Telefone.” As of last week, Noname is back again with new music from her first studio released album: “Room 25.” In her signature style, Noname perfectly marries spoken word with rap and packs softspoken and deep cutting emotional messages in songs, such as the fifth track halfway through the 11-track album, “Don’t Forget About Me.” The song has an element of whispered intimacy that makes the track feel like a secret confession in the night. “Your family looking like a prayer song, your momma at the table cryin, all her hair gone, feeling fishy finding chemo, smoking seaweed for calm,” sings Noname. She continues in “Don’t Forget About Me,” reflecting on the mortality and delicacy of life singing in the hook, “know everyone goes someday, I know my body’s fragile, know it’s made from clay, but if I have to go, I pray my soul is still eternal, and my momma don’t for-
get about me, I pray my momma don’t forget about me.” It would be disingenuous to review “Room 25” without drawing attention to the recurring themes of Afrocentrism, perhaps most prevalent in the second track on the album, “Blaxploitation,” which is an upbeat and deeply political track. Its name references the “blaxploitation movies” of the mid-1970s. The term “blaxploitation,” which was coined by Junius Griffin, the then president of the Beverly Hills NAACP, refers to a group of films that featured black actors in what is retrospectively viewed as a “transparent” effort to appeal to and capitalize off of black urban audiences. “Room 25” also contains more lively tracks such as the seventh track, “Montego Bae,” featuring Ravyn Lenae. It’s a more lighthearted and slightly chaotic mix of quiet singing and rap over a smooth jazzy background that has a casual “improve” feel. Ravyn Lenae opens the song singing the chorus, “I think I re-
ally wanna go someday. I wanna fall in love in Montego Bay,” setting the tone of this rather “tongue in cheek” song with the hyperbole of “bay” and “bae.” Continuing in the spirit of self-aware humor, Noname jokes about her own “problematic” tendencies, getting so sexually explicit in her music singing, “And yes and yes, I’m problematic too, and yes and yes, I lick ‘em up, oh yes I really do” right before the track fades out. In “Room 25,” Noname stays true to the essence of “Telefone” and showcases meaningful growth with expertly paired instrumentals and thoughtful, articulate and, oftentimes, literally understated lyrics on social issues and intimate personal revelations. The album serves the dual purpose of being both smooth “easy listening” and intensely profound. While many people may not have their musical taste buds adjusted for “Room 25,” the mix of contemporary poetry, spoken word, jazz and rap leaves the album up to individual interpretation and appreciation.
HOMECOMING: Celebrate hoco week with A Cappella, dance Continued from cover Cafeteria at 7 p.m. A Cappella Festivella will be held Thursday, Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m. at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium. One of UAA’s longest running traditions, it will feature the all-female a capella group, Musae. And, of course, the Home-
coming Dance will be held Friday, Oct. 12 at 9 p.m. “I see [homecoming] as a tradition, as something that people wait to attend,” Geser Bat-Erdene, USUAA president, said. “Considering the fact that it’s very challenging to bring students together for university involvement, the dance is something we take very seriously and
do careful planning.” USUAA plans the dance every year and has been working since the end of the spring semester to get the dance prepared. The Homecoming Dance is carnival-themed as well. “This year we thought we could engage more students with carnival theme,” Quacyya Cuaresma, USUAA chief stu-
dent activities officer, said. “We have little ideas that capture the essence of student engagement.” Events happening at the dance to get students involved and mingling are face painting, twisted balloons, a photo booth and games like cornhole and ring toss. The dance will be held at the Dena’ina Civic and Con-
vention Center. Students must bring their student ID to get into the dance. Tickets for students are $15 and $20 for a guest 18 years or older. The tickets can be bought at UAATix.com or at the door on the day of the dance for $5 more.
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018
| 07
Album review: ‘Room 25’
Noname mixes poetry and rap to deliver understated messages in new album By Robin O’Donoghue features@thenorthernlight.org
In 2016, Chicago-born poet, rapper, songwriter and artist Noname self-released her debut mixtape “Telefone.” The mixtape, which contained ten tracks, displayed an electric intersection of hip hop, jazz rap, and neo soul and was met with critical success and praised for its unique sound. Prior to releasing “Telefone,” Noname had already started building to build a reputation through multiple features with the likes of Chance the Rapper and Mick Jenkins. Often described as “laid back” and “poetic,” Noname quickly gained notoriety and recognition after releasing “Telefone.” “The music is suited to a family barbecue, built around finger snaps, snatches of church organ and Seventies,” wrote Rolling Stone’s Joe Levy in a 2016 album review of “Telefone.” As of last week, Noname is back again with new music from
her first studio released album: “Room 25.” In her signature style, Noname perfectly marries spoken word with rap and packs softspoken and deep cutting emotional messages in songs, such as the fifth track halfway through the 11-track album, “Don’t Forget About Me.” The song has an element of whispered intimacy that makes the track feel like a secret confession in the night. “Your family looking like a prayer song, your momma at the table cryin, all her hair gone, feeling fishy finding chemo, smoking seaweed for calm,” sings Noname. She continues in “Don’t Forget About Me,” reflecting on the mortality and delicacy of life singing in the hook, “know everyone goes someday, I know my body’s fragile, know it’s made from clay, but if I have to go, I pray my soul is still eternal, and my momma don’t forget about me, I pray my momma don’t forget about me.” It would be disingenuous
Build-a-burger at Union Burger
PHOTO BY JAY GUZMAN
The Union Burger is located downstairs in the Student Union.
By Malia Barto
arts@thenorthernlight.org
The newest restaurant on campus, Union Burger, is a fun, build-a-burger restaurant. In the Student Union, students may have noticed that the old Mexican-food restaurant, Caliente, was replaced with a new burger joint. Union Burger opened at the beginning of the fall semester. Customers get to choose between in-house baked artisan bun, gluten-free bun or opt for a lettuce wrap. For the patty, there are the options for Angus beef, chipotle black bean or grilled chicken breast. After choosing the two main parts, add-ons begin. Cheddar, swiss or pepper jack are the three options for cheeses; other add-ons include onions, lettuce, sauteed peppers, sauteed mushrooms, jalapenos, bacon and guacamole. Sauces include ranch, mustard, house-made ketchup, BBQ
sauce, mayo and relish. For the review, I chose an artisan bun with chicken breast, pepper jack cheese, guacamole, lettuce and mushrooms. The bread was soft and fresh and the mushrooms had to be my favorite part of the sandwich. The meal was fresh overall; it didn’t quite have that homemade taste but definitely didn’t have too much of a fast-food or restaurant-style taste. All burgers come with a drink and jojo potato fries. The fries were my favorite part of the meal, hands down. Maybe it’s because I could eat fries all day, but I really did think these fries were delicious and had the perfect seasoning. The meals are $8 -- with the exception of the Seawolf Burger, which is $11 -- and are perfect for students who want to use a meal block. My meal was $9 because, as we all know, guac is extra. Overall, it was a good meal. If I go back, I’d be sure to get an extra bowl of fries. 3/5.
to review “Room 25” without drawing attention to the recurring themes of Afrocentrism, perhaps most prevalent in the second track on the album, “Blaxploitation,” which is an upbeat and deeply political track. Its name references the “blaxploitation movies” of the mid-1970s. The term “blaxploitation,” which was coined by Junius Griffin, the then president of the Beverly Hills NAACP, refers to a group of films that featured black actors in what is retrospectively viewed as a “transparent” effort to appeal to and capitalize off of black urban audiences. “Room 25” also contains more lively tracks such as the seventh track, “Montego Bae,” featuring Ravyn Lenae. It’s a more lighthearted and slightly chaotic mix of quiet singing and rap over a smooth jazzy background that has a casual “improve” feel. Ravyn Lenae opens the song singing the chorus, “I think I really wanna go someday. I wanna fall in love in Montego Bay,”
setting the tone of this rather “tongue in cheek” song with the hyperbole of “bay” and “bae.” Continuing in the spirit of self-aware humor, Noname jokes about her own “problematic” tendencies, getting so sexually explicit in her music singing, “And yes and yes, I’m problematic too, and yes and yes, I lick ‘em up, oh yes I really do” right before the track fades out. In “Room 25,” Noname stays true to the essence of “Telefone” and showcases meaningful growth with expertly paired
instrumentals and thoughtful, articulate and, oftentimes, literally understated lyrics on social issues and intimate personal revelations. The album serves the dual purpose of being both smooth “easy listening” and intensely profound. While many people may not have their musical taste buds adjusted for “Room 25,” the mix of contemporary poetry, spoken word, jazz and rap leaves the album up to individual interpretation and appreciation.
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018
| 08
UAA athletes volunteer at local jamboree
PHOTO BY JAY GUZMAN
Fifth and sixth grade girls begin their 1-mile race during the ASD’s North Anchorage Cross Country Jamboree event at Bartlett High School.
By Emily Medina
sports2@thenorthernlight.org
The North Anchorage Jamboree is one of the three citywide initiatives to get children active and has recently celebrated its 34th birthday. Hosted
by the Anchorage School District and Healthy Futures, it is a free event offered to elementary school students, ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade. The jamboree took place at Bartlett High School on Sept. 20 and allowed runners to take
advantage of the running trails around the school. Benjamin Elbow, coordinator for the North Anchorage Jamboree, majored in sociology and is currently the physical education teacher at Rogers Park Elementary. “We’re just trying get kids out
running,” Elbow said. “Trying to encourage healthy lifestyles, getting families out here. The kindergarteners, first and second graders just run a half mile course. [For] the fourth, fifth and sixth graders, it’s a mile, so it’s not a very long race, and that’s what we want… Making it an enjoyable, positive healthy process.” Schools and families throughout the Anchorage and Eagle River area have been turning out every year to participate. “The way these jamborees are organized is there’s three of them: one in Eagle River, called The Beach Lake Jamboree for the Eagle River schools. This is called the North Anchorage Jamboree,” Elbow said. “Any school that’s north of Tudor Road comes here. Then, this Saturday at Service High, there will be the third jamboree which is the South Jamboree, and that’s for every elementary school south of Tudor Road.” UAA runners from the cross
country and track and field team, D’Rhema Alston, Elena Cano and Kate Kirby, were among the thousands of people who showed up for the North Anchorage Jamboree. “We want to get kids pumped up about our favorite sport,” Kirby said. Volunteering is something that UAA athletes don’t shy away from, but it can be hard to incorporate into their busy schedules once the sports season starts. Amongst their busy schedules, both men and women’s cross country teams have recently been ranked by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association after their successful performance at the UNLV invite in Las Vegas. The men’s team, which has been ranked fourth in regional polls, and the women’s team, ranked second, will have a month to prepare for the western Washington invite at the end of October.
Catch up with UAA cross country By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org
Only two meets in, the Seawolves are nearly half-way done with the season. The team only has one more regular season meet before the conference championships. The women’s team is currently ranked No. 7 in the National Division II Cross Country standings, while the men are ranked No. 21. Impressive achievements and personal best times by many of the runners can be credited to their national rankings. To start the season off, the team competed in an in-state rival meet, the 2018 New Balance XC Classic, against the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Sept. 8. There was competition
from the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Team, but they did not compete for official scoring. The season kick-off meet proved beneficial for the Seawolves with both the men’s and women’s teams coming out on top. The women dominated the top five with all finishers from UAA. Emma Chelimo finished 1st in a time of 21 minutes and 27 seconds, followed by Nancy Jeptoo (21:47), Danielle McCormick (22:12), Ruth Cvancara (22:38) and Grace Gannon (22:45). The men also took the top 6 positions in the 7-kilometer race. Wesley Kirui (22:06) was at No. 1 followed by Felix Kemboi (22:08), Jorge Sanchez (23:09), Nickson Koech (23:13),
Jacob Moos (23:22) and Kaleb Korta (23:37). The Seawolves returned to the trails on Sept. 22 for the UNLV Invitational. Similar to their first meet, both teams excelled with overall wins. With a total of 18 points, UAA placed No. 1 ahead of UC Riverside, Fresno State, Dixie State and Cerritos. The men also managed to secure the top four spots, Kirui, Kemboi, Sanchez and Koech, respectively. Similar to the men, the women’s team scored 26 points to place them at No. 1 overall. Also similar to the 2018 New Balance XC Classic, Chelimo and Jeptoo placed No. 1 and 2, respectively. Not far behind was Zennah Jepchumba and McCormick coming in at 6th and 7th, with
PHOTO COURTESY OF SKIP HICKEY
The cross-country team competed in an in-state rival meet, the 2018 New Balance XC Classic, against the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Sept. 8. Wesley Kirui from UAA
Cvancara 20 seconds behind at No. 10. Overall, Head Coach Michael Friess was pleased with the results. “It was a tough course. I think the women ran pretty strong on the first half, which might have hurt them a little on the second half,” Friess said. “I was able to
warn the guys to take it easier on the first lap. But now that we have this information, we will be able to more appropriately design our plans for the future.” The runners will be back in action on Oct. 20 at the Western Washington Invitational in Monmouth, Oregon.
Seawolves No. 4 halfway into season By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org
UAA volleyball is now six weeks into their regular season games with six weeks left to go. They are holding steady at No. 4 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. In addition, they are No. 7 in Division II West Region. The Seawolves currently hold a 4-2 conference record with an 11-3 overall record, giving them a .667 and .786 win percentage, respectively. Ahead of them sits Seattle Pacific at No. 3, Central Washington as runner-up and Western Washington in the lead with an undefeated conference status. After six weeks and 14 games, a lot has happened for the Seawolves. WHO? Freshman Eve Stephens, a
middle blocker from Palmer, has stepped up and stood out. She is currently the highest scoring player on the team with 196 points, averaging 3.56 per set. Stephens also holds the teamhigh in kills (170), No. 2 in attacks (.321) and No. 3 in blocks (47). She secured the AVCA National Player of the week on Sept. 18 for her accomplishments. Following Stephens in many categories, senior outside hitter Chrisalyn Johnson has contributed significantly to the team. A player of many skills, Johnson has put in a top effort for almost all offensive and defensive skills. She is No. 4 on the team in attacks (.134), No. 5 in blocks (29), No. 2 in points (189), No. 2 in kills (159) and No. 3 in digs (170). Coming in just behind Stephens and Johnson in points accumulated, junior Vanesa Boyer ranks third for the Seawolves after scoring 147.5 points. With a
.190 attack percentage and 122 kills, Boyer is succeeding in offensive strategy. Together, Stephens, Johnson and Boyer have accumulated nearly 60 percent of the team’s points. All three have also played in all 55 sets, in addition to Tara Melton, Taylor Noga, Vera Pluharova and Anjoilyn Vreeland. WHAT? AAfter 14 games and 55 sets, the Seawolves have won just four of those games at 3-0. Against Western New Mexico, Concordia, Northwest Nazarene and MSU Billings, the Seawolves had made it out unscathed. In comparison, UAA has only suffered one 0-3 loss, against Cal State East Bay. Additionally, the Seawolves have played many long, high competition games. Against Michigan Tech, Cal State San Marcos, Central Washington
PHOTO COURTESY OF SKIP HICKEY
Eve Stephens, a middle blocker from Palmer, is currently the highest scoring player on the team with 196 points, averaging 3.56 per set. Stephens also holds the team-high in kills (170), No. 2 in attacks (.321) and No. 3 in blocks (47).
and Rocky Mountain, the games have been stretched out to five sets each. At the nearly the top of the conference, the Seawolves have some impressive stats to support it. While the Seawolves have 698 kills, the opponent average is 631. With 657 assists, UAA averages 69 more than their competition (588), and 977 digs - 24 more than the average competition (953). WHAT NEXT?
With six weeks still remaining in the volleyball season, the Seawolves are far from done. There are still 14 regular season games to be played, including rematches with previously played conference competition. The Seawolves have until Nov. 15 to bolster their skills and improve their records before the NCAA Div. II West Regional Championships. For a full schedule or roster, visit www.goseawolves.com.
OPINION
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018
| 09
Christine Ford and why we don’t believe women By Robert Hockema opinion@thenorthernlight.org
**Trigger warning: rape, sexual assault** When news broke that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had been accused of sexual assault by Christine Ford, the backlash against her was hopelessly predictable. It wasn’t long before President Trump took to Twitter to cast doubt on the credibility of the accusation, saying that if the attack was “as bad as she says,” Christine would have come to the police immediately. It’s no surprise Trump sent this tweet out. Our failure to reconcile our ugly rape culture with the epidemic of sexual assault has created a country that distrusts women when they speak out about abuse. For Trump, the timing of Christine Ford’s assault justifies the presumption we already have against taking her seriously. The tweet itself is a regurgitation of a tired argument we’ve
heard again and again: if the assault really happened, it would have been reported. But as a shameless perpetrator of sexual misconduct himself, Trump is well-acquainted with the dangerous consequences women face when they do. Legally, women have almost no incentive to report their assaults. Sex crimes are notoriously difficult to prove, and perpetrators are routinely let off easy even when they’re convicted. The case of Brock Turner illustrates this point well: after being convicted of three charges of felony sexual assault for raping an intoxicated and unconscious girl, a California judge gave him six months in county jail. Tragically, the most surprising part of Turner’s sentence wasn’t that it was light, but that it was handed down at all. According to the nonprofit RAINN, 97 percent of rapists face no punishment at all. Why on earth would a woman drag their story through the headlines, face aggressive and triggering questioning by prosecutors, and pour
their heart out to their communities just to watch their rapist walk free anyways? On top of a lack of legal accountability, survivors who speak up are often doubted when they file a report. Police, prosecutors and communities often threaten or shame women for sharing their stories. In most cases, those stories are outright denied. Ford herself is on the receiving end of vicious attacks after releasing her statement. Rumors that Ford was paid by Democrats to lodge the accusation have already spread online. Death threats have forced her to relocate. Whether or not Kavanaugh is confirmed by the Senate, Ford will spend years recovering from public attacks on her character. Oftentimes, physical evidence of sexual assault is not enough for women to be taken seriously. After a beautiful rendition of “Natural Woman” at musical legend Aretha Franklin’s televised funeral, pop singer Ariana Grande was groped by
the bishop who led the ceremony. Following the incident, observers took to the airwaves and comments sections to not only cast doubt on the severity of the incident but to blame Ariana for provoking the assault for wearing such a short dress. Worst of all, it doesn’t even matter if the perpetrator admits to being an abuser. Those who cry “innocent until proven guilty” are often the same people who excuse the assault when evidence begins to pile up. The Hollywood Access tapes didn’t stop political pundits from excusing Donald Trump’s self-proclaimed affinity for sexually harassing women as “locker room talk.” It certainly didn’t stop voters from electing him president of the United States. The only recourse women have for their assaults is the court of public opinion. The #MeToo movement has revealed over 200 prominent entertainers and public officials to be rapists and abusers, forcing companies to drop their support for them. But the loss of their careers is
only temporary. Louis C.K. and Charlie Rose are the most recent to begin reintegrating into public life, with C.K. already on stage performing comedy again. What that means is that the period of time it takes before perpetrators of sexual assault can achieve redemption is only as long as the time it takes for us to forget the women who spoke up in the first place. The story of women who speak out is both tragic and familiar, regardless of how long it took them to do so. If you report, you must be prepared to face your family, friends, the media and the government as you are blamed, threatened and demoralized for your bravery. Women who speak out about sexual assault are telling us a deeply personal story. They are stories filled with shame, denial, confusion and pain. The negligible space we leave for them to tell it is the reason why women like Christine Ford remain trapped in silence for decades.
The Port of Alaska should resist Trump’s steel tariffs
By Ben Edwards
opinion2@thenorthernlight.org
On March 1, President Donald Trump announced a 2 percent tariff on steel. He communicated his tariff policy on the premise that other countries will get “hit with tariffs” if they don’t change their trade policies. In September, Trump justified those tariffs by saying “China is now paying us billions of dollars in tariffs.” The president’s claim that other countries pay the United States for the cost of tariffs is false. In fact, Americans pay the tariffs if they purchase or have purchased imported steel. Now it appears that Alaskans will be paying Trump’s taxes as well. On Sept. 13, the Port of Alas-
ka was fined $500,000 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Anchorage-based port purchased steel pilings before the steel tariffs were enacted, but the federal government insists that Alaskans are still liable for violating U.S. tariff policy. Port managers were in shock. The port is currently trying to move forward with a modernization program, which would be the first comprehensive rebuilding of the port since its construction in the 1950s. The $298 million cost associated with this modernization is already difficult enough for Alaskans to accommodate. Many understand the importance of the port. After all, 85 percent of all goods that Alaskans purchase in stores go through it at some point. If there’s a cost to be incurred, then it needs to be a sound investment. We do not want that investment stalled, thwarted or diminished by a ridiculous tariff imposed by Washington, D.C. The question, then, is what we can do about it. Port managers have a few options. CBP does provide a petition for relief, but it is restricted to fines under $200,000. Fortunately, the Port of Alaska has experience with
creative litigation. In 2010, an expansion project failed after critical materials were found to be improperly installed by contractors. On behalf of the port, the Municipality of Anchorage sued the private contractors and the behemoth federal agency overseeing them: the U.S. Maritime Administration. Despite these odds, Anchorage won the case and received money as restitution. The Port of Alaska needs to file a lawsuit against CBP. At first glance, this may seem vindictive. CBP is just doing its job by enforcing presidential directives. Regardless, Anchorage attorneys do have a chance to prove wrongdoing in a court of law. When Trump signed the order to impose tariffs, it was not made clear if it would apply to steel already ordered and purchased prior to those tariffs taking effect. Sensible bureaucrats should think not. Surely a business or local entity cannot be held liable for violating a policy not yet in effect. But CBP is not piloted by sensible bureaucrats. Anchorage must expose this in court. The city does not argue that CBP is wrongful for enforcing tariffs, but it is wrong-
ful for the misappropriation of presidential policy. It is the responsibility of CBP to interpret Trump’s vague directives in a just and equitable way to the best of their ability. Anchorage must argue that fining the Port of Alaska for steel purchased prior to the tariffs taking effect is unjust. All good plans have a backup. If litigation fails, then the Port of Alaska should intentionally run delinquent on the fine. This is a brazen move, but it is necessary for Alaska to demonstrate its sovereignty in a federation of free states. Every time that we capitulate to federal bullying, we invite another round of it down the road. A showdown with CBP will require patience and fortitude. Their credibility as an enforcement agency will be undermined if they cannot collect on levied fines. However, Anchorage has a strong card to play. The U.S. Department of Defense considers the Port of Alaska to be a National Strategic Seaport. This means that the DOD requires the port to maintain 48 hours readiness at all times and to support emergency situations and logistical needs. Readiness includes
having available cash on hand. If CBP attempts to strong-arm Anchorage into compliance, then we need to make the case that such an action will hinder the port’s ability to support the DOD’s strategic needs. This pits one big federal agency against an even bigger one. We shouldn’t expect the DOD to necessarily intervene on our behalf, but we should recognize that this ties the hands of CBP quite a bit. The legal justification for the steel tariff is already on shaky ground. The U.S. Constitution vests Congress with the power to “lay and collect taxes, duties, Imposts and Excises...” Despite this, the White House cited Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which allows the president to impose tariffs without any oversight if there is a threat to national security. The claim that steel imports directly threaten national security is unsubstantiated. It is even more absurd to penalize an Alaskan port that actually does play a role in national security. The Port of Alaska must not capitulate to this fine. If it does, then the cost will be passed onto the majority of Alaskans who rely on that critical infrastructure.
10 | OPINION
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018
Murkowski must vote no on Kavanaugh
By Robert Hockema opinion@thenorthernlight.org
Say what you will about Senator Lisa Murkowski, but there’s no doubt she’s become one of the most powerful and consequential members of the U.S. Senate to date. In a nation mired in uncompromising partisan loyalty and gridlock, she’s been part of the deciding vote on several issues over the course of her tenure. Just a year ago, Murkowski was the key hold-out vote in the GOP’s last-ditch effort to repeal Obamacare. Not too long before that, she was one of few undecided votes on multiple bills that would have partially or fully defunded Planned Par-
enthood. This time, Murkowski is in the spotlight over President Trump’s nomination to the Supreme Court, current U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Some conservatives have called for senators to adopt a textual paradigm when evaluating Kavanaugh’s nomination. That is, will he uphold the Constitution based on its written form? The problem is that the Constitution is and was meant to be a living, breathing document. Previous judges have weighed in on issues via their own interpretation of the Constitution, which was intentionally kept vague. Madison himself envisioned the Constitution signed in 1787 to last just over 10 years, given the decisive failure of the Articles of Confederation. That means that senators should adjudicate nominations to the Supreme Court based on whether their vision for the Constitution reconciles with the political context we exist in today. Based on that framework, it’s clear that Murkowski must vote no on Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination. First, Kavanaugh represents an imminent threat to abortion rights. Proponents of his nomi-
nation claim that Kavanaugh has promised to respect the “binding precedent” of Roe v Wade. Kavanaugh’s own written dissents and statements say otherwise. He has praised the dissenting opinion in Roe v Wade. Kavanaugh himself wrote a dissent in a D.C. Circuit case that a young undocumented minor in detention was entitled to seek an abortion. In his dissent, he wrote that “the government has permissible interests in favoring fetal life, protecting the best interests of a minor, and refraining from facilitating abortion.” Murkowski has promised to protect the organizations that champions reproductive rights, such as Planned Parenthood. By extension, she has a duty to vote against any judicial threat to the most important reproductive right of all. Second, Kavanaugh is hostile to indigenous claims to sovereignty that disproportionately affect Alaska Natives. His own opinion piece to the Wall Street Journal in 1999 made the case that Native Hawaiians were not entitled to sovereignty protections under the Constitution based on simple historical and geographical inaccuracies. Kavanaugh’s narrow views on sovereignty claims would
jeopardize the standing of the Indian Child Welfare Act, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and other laws grounded in indigenous self-determination. Should his nomination happen before a case deciding on control over Alaska’s rivers, Sturgeon v Frost, laws protecting subsistence rights to original lands could also fall to the wayside. That’s why multiple Alaska Native groups, such as Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, which represents over 30,000 tribal citizens, have come out against Kavanaugh’s nomination. Murkowski should listen to the Native constituents depending on her to protect them from further erosion to their rights. The final reason Murkowski should vote no is due to the accusations of sexual assault piling up against Kavanaugh. Though it’s tempting to gravitate towards claims that these accusations are motivated by self-interest and malice, it’s worth noting the risk these women have taken on by sharing their stories. Since going public, Christine Ford has already been forced to leave her own home. His other accusers are soon to be subjected to tense public scrutiny.
But more broadly, the risk includes the constant culture of denial, shaming, death threats and judicial negligence women face by levying an accusation against men. Given the complete lack of incentive these women possess to make up their stories and the extremely low probability of false accusations more generally, we should believe Kavanaugh’s accusers. For those asking why you should care even if the accusations are true, it’s because the judgement of an individual is directly tied to the decisions they make, moral or judicial. To sexually assault someone is to strip their dignity from them and assert power in an inexplicably dark way. The possibility that he might do the same again by siding with an abusive defendant in a consequential case is enough to keep him from deciding on the highest law of the land. Brett Kavanaugh represents everything Alaska stands against: a threat to reproductive rights, indigenous self-determination and moral consciousness. Murkowski should continue her tradition of standing with Alaskans and vote no.
Cosplay harassment is a many-headed hydra
GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
By Ben Edwards
opinion2@thenorthernlight.org
The harasser rarely admits that his or her behavior constitutes harassment. A plethora of excuses is often produced, such
as passing it off as flirtation or claiming the victim deserved it. Yet, an apology means more than an excuse. A change in behavior means more than persistence under the guise of noble intentions. As it so happens, the social arena where petty excuses
continue to breed harassment is the performance art of cosplay. It is imperative that we break down these excuses and expose harassment as the many-headed hydra that it is. Cosplay is a contraction of the words “costume” and “play.” It’s fairly straightforward as to what that involves. People dress up as characters from games, shows, movies, comics, history or their own imaginations. They attend events like Senshi Con at the Dena’ina Center or holiday parties at friends’ houses. Cosplay is intended to promote a fun and creative social environment. Unfortunately, harassment corrupts these social gatherings and contributes to a feeling of vulnerability or shame among targeted cosplayers. Sexual harassment is one of the pervasive forms that disproportionally affects female cosplayers. In a survey of 3,600 attendees at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con, an astonishing 25 percent reported experiencing sexual harassment in cosplay. This is what the Cosplay is Not Consent campaign directly responds to. Some outfits may be sexually provocative, and inconsiderate people have interpreted that as an unspoken invitation to leer, grope or make vulgar comments. The harassers here provide typical and unconvincing excuses, ranging from the annoying “I was just flirting” to the offensive “I figured you were asking for it based on how you’re dressed.” It should go without saying that sexy attire does not warrant a violation of someone’s comfort. Sexuality can be a welcome and celebrated part of cosplay. There is nothing wrong with that, but everything wrong with a lack of consent.
Another form of harassment is accuracy dogma. Imagine the following. You feel very passionate about a particular character. You spend time and money building your costume to represent that character. Maybe you pursue accuracy, or maybe you just want to put your own spin on it. The beauty of cosplay is the expression of your individuality. You have the creative control here. Alas, harassment rears its ugly head. Accuracy dogma refers to the crowd of pretentious snobs who “uhm actually” every creative spin on a character. They’re typically more vocal on the internet than they are in person, but that doesn’t mean their denunciations are any less hurtful. These grubs are also quick to criticize gender-bending. This is where a cosplayer portrays a character of the opposite sex. As uncontroversial as that may seem, the accuracy dogma crowd never miss an opportunity to sermonize on fictional lore. These harassers penalize creativity while sprinkling themselves in imagined hubris. The toughest form to fight against is the cult of racial harassment. These people often intersect with accuracy dogma, especially those who berate cosplayers for portraying a character of a different ethnicity. Racial harassers often perceive characters as being proprietary of the ethnicity that they are officially attached to. For example, Superman’s 20th century origin contributed to his portrayal as the majority demographic in positions of power: that is, white and male. However, cosplayers realized an important truth: he doesn’t have to be. No ethnicity or sex owns a fictional character.
Racial harassers would have you think otherwise. Under the guise of social justice, they torment cosplayers who are of a different ethnicity than the character they are portraying. Their excuses do not conceal their actions — harassment is harassment. For example, cultural appropriation is cited as the reason racial harassers will chastise a white girl who cosplays Disney’s fictional character Moana. The argument here is that Moana is the property of Polynesian culture and using the character constitutes abuse. The problem with this line of thinking is that it enforces barriers between cultures, and therefore deters the immersive exchange that social justice claims to strive for. If cultural appropriation is understood to be an abusive power dynamic where a dominant group seizes elements of an oppressed group, then cultural exchange should be distinguished as the free and equitable borrowing between groups. Cosplaying a fictional character does not amount to lampooning a culture. If anything, the neutrality of characters breaks down barriers and fosters immersion among groups. It’s important for people to maintain a positive and healthy environment so that cosplay stays safe and fun. A healthy environment is one that respects consent, creativity and individuality. It’s especially important for people to intervene in the defense of victims and call harassers out for the lousy excuses they shield themselves with. Cosplay is what we make it to be. Let’s make sure it’s as inclusive and fun as possible.
OPINION
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018
| 11
Judge Corey is not to blame in Schneider case By Robert Hockema opinion@thenorthernlight.org
The Vote No on Judge Corey campaign is a call to justice that all of us should sympathize with. Justin Schneider committed an act of moral disgust worthy of utmost condemnation. Perhaps equally as revolting is the hollow sentence he received: three years of probation and sexoffender treatment, along with other monitoring conditions. The outrage on a local and national level appeals to a timely cry for action, especially in the age of #MeToo. The problem is that the confusing details of the case, along with some ugly inconsistencies in Alaska law, have caused us to place blame on the judge in the case, Judge Michael Corey. That is a mistake. The most important part of this entire case is that the sentence was not reduced or limited because the judge thought the crime was undeserving of punishment. Justin Schneider kidnapped, choked and mastur-
bated on the woman he assaulted. Only the first two of those three acts are punishable under Alaska law. The sentence was a result of a plea deal, which is an agreement between the prosecution and the defendant where sentences and pleas are negotiated in order to make the court process more efficient. This particular deal brought down sentencing for Schneider’s offenses in exchange for a guilty plea. Corey was technically able to reject the plea, but it’s good that he didn’t. First off, judges rarely intervene in plea agreements. They are meant to be objective observers of a case and make judgments based on the details of the situation. Inserting personal views on sentencing before the case is brought to court is a violation of the spirit of the legal system. But secondly and most importantly, it is unclear that had the prosecution brought the whole case to trial, Schneider would have been fully convicted. The whereabouts of the witness was unknown, and jurors tend to err on the side of plac-
ing responsibility on the women who were assaulted rather than the perpetrator. Evidence of the physical assault was barely present, and it wasn’t clear it would be present by the time it mattered to the case. This is crucial to understanding why it seems like the sentence he received was so light. The choice for the prosecution was either to bring a case to trial that would likely have lost, resulting in Schneider serving little or possibly no time at all or a plea deal that, at the very least, guaranteed sex offender registration, monitoring to ensure other women are kept safe and a probation sentence. The latter was the far more responsible choice. As for Corey’s specific ruling, it is important to understand the context in which it was made. The charge levied against Schneider is called a class B felony, which would have included a couple of years in jail. That is, based on current Alaska statutes, the lawful guideline for sentencing. Granted, it’s easy to say that
Corey should have exercised his discretion to add several years of sentencing due to the severity of the situation. That frame of mind encourages judges to distribute their own sentences regardless of the law, which would remove objectivity from the legal system. Judges who are encouraged to issue whatever sentences they like could use that discretion to discriminate against defendants they simply didn’t like, particularly based on characteristics like race. To reiterate: Corey implemented a sentence based on what the law says. This is not a Brock Turner situation where Schneider was let off easy because the judge felt sorry for the defendant. Additionally, voters confusing Corey’s justification for the decision should be careful to separate that from the Anchorage Assistant District Attorney’s poorly-phrased statements. It was the Assistant District Attorney Andrew Grannik who called the plea deal “a pass,” not Corey. Lastly, voting Corey off to send a symbolic message does
little more than mask the real problem at hand. Real justice does not come by punishing judges who made legally advisable decisions in the face of fixed circumstances. The laws that allowed for this case to end up the way it did need to be targeted. Voters should direct their energy towards the Alaska State Legislature, where lawmakers can expand the definition of sexual crimes. They can also remove provisions that allow defendants with ankle-monitors deduct time from their sentence, which complicated Corey’s sentencing calculus. Punishing Corey only incentives other judges to issue harsh, unfair decisions for fear of being targeted in a campaign the next election cycle. Those decisions fall on poor, defenseless defendants of color more than anyone else. If you’re unconscionably enraged by Schneider’s action like I am, take meaningful action by picking up your phone and calling your representatives.
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