October 31, 2017

OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 6, 2017

NEWS

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

SPORTS

PAGE 7

New Twitter regulations seek to put a stop to harmful content

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

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Men’s basketball alumni game starts off the season

PHOTO BY YOUNG KIM

PHOTO BY YOUNG KIM

The University of Alaska Anchorage nordic ski team trains indoors after having completed a workout outdoors in Kincaid Park.

Skiing without snow UAA’s Nordic and alpine ski teams excited to get back on the snow and fine-tune before competition season starts

By Karolin Anders

sports@thenorthernlight.org

Skiers all around the state await the first snow fall impatiently. UAA’s ski teams are also eager to finally practice on the white surface that determines their season. A lot of snow means more efficient practices for the Nordic and especially, the alpine ski team. But how do those teams train the six months out of the year that they can’t ski on Alyeska’s mountains or Anchorage’s trails?

For the alpine ski team, the season typically starts with a trip to Colorado during the second week of November. Colorado generally gets snow earlier than Alaska due to its high altitude, which enables the Seawolves to practice their downhill techniques around the same time as other NCAA competitors.

Graduate assistant coach Anna Berecz refers to the preseason practices as preparing time for when the snow hits Alaska.

“As skiers, we are used to doing the bulk of the work from May through October. It is usually not as much fun as skiing, but it is necessary,” Berecz said.

“I know skiers to be all-around talents. You need to be strong, not just the legs but your whole body, have good endurance, great balance, speed, explosiveness and coordination. The summer months are there to build all of these skills. So, that is what our athletes are expected to do, too.”

Even though coaches are only allowed to work with their athletes for eight hours per week

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during pre-season, the Seawolves still cover all the important parts of their training.

“Mondays, we do a tough core and agility workout. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays our athletes are in the weight room, where they do Olympic lifting. Wednesdays and Fridays are our anaerobic workouts,” Berecz said.

Anaerobic practice methods refer to exercises where the body’s oxygen supply is not sufficient. Hard running intervals with little rest are one example of such anaerobic training sessions.

Senior alpine skier Charley Field, health science major, knows of the diverse abilities and physical strength her sport demands. She uses long hikes in Alaska’s mountain ranges to stay in shape over the summer.

“Our sport is fighting against gravity. Having a strong core, lower body strength and great upper body strength is important,” Field said. “This is accomplished in the gym through Olympic lifting. Cardio is also very important as well so we make sure to incorporate hill sprints, sand dunes and stairs.

We also like to incorporate agility ladders, balancing practice and explosive jumping.”

The alpine ski team also uses various alternative methods to develop every aspect of their physical fitness. They usually hike, play soccer and water polo at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

The Nordic ski-team is often seen roller skiing around Kincaid park or running on the Anchorage trail system to get their conditioning workouts

in. Roller skiis are short crosscountry skiis with wheels, and the different equipment enables the Seawolves to imitate classic and skate skiing. The fullbody workout mimics the feel of cross-country skiing.

Junior Nordic skier Toomas Kollo of Estonia knows of the importance of staying in shape during the long, snowless summer months.

“Dry land training is really important for our sport. As long as you have a pair of running shoes, it’s not hard to find activities to stay in shape,” Kollo said.

“We do a lot of running, roller skiing, strength training and biking in the training season to stay fit.”

Kollo enjoys long bike sessions during the pre-season.

Even though it is not skiing specifically, it allows him to clear his head without thinking about his technique, while still getting a good cardio workout in.

“The most important thing to be prepared for the season is to train consistently through the summer and fall, whatever that may be,” Kollo said. “You have to keep building fitness in the warmer months to keep fitness through the winter and race well, and focus on long, threshold intervals to teach your body to clear lactic acid quickly.”

Marine Dusser, assistant coach for the Nordic team, also refers to roller skiing as one of their essential training methods. Ski bounding, running with poles, is important to incorporate for a successful season.

“Of course, we roller ski,

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SEE SKIING

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@tnl_updates

With 54 ratings and a perfect score of 5.0, University of Alaska Anchorage professor Ron Crawford is the highest ranked professor on the popular website, ratemyprofessors.com, as of Oct. 27.

Professor at UAA receives perfect score on ratemyprofessors.com

By Caliegh Jensen

cjensen@thenorthernlight.org

When you think of a good teacher, what comes to mind?

Are they entertaining? Are they passionate about what they teach? Do they engage the students while making them actually learn something? Many would agree it’s all of the above and more, and finding a teacher that exemplifies all the desired traits proves difficult. However, for many students at UAA, one name comes to mind when asked about a teacher that has it all: Ron Crawford.

A typical class with Crawford, professor emeritus in history and geography at the Chugiak-Eagle River branch of UAA, is actually not so typical at all. The climate is unique and laid back, creating an environment that students thoroughly enjoy.

“You can just see the atmosphere in here. I adore it,” Crawford said.

Students of all ages and majors show up as early as an hour before the start time, munching on snacks from popcorn to salads. He greets them warmly by name, and they make themselves at home, healthily debating with Crawford about the class, current events and even their personal lives.

“Being relatable to your students is so important. That’s a reason I come here so early, I like to talk to them… there’s this interaction that goes on, and long before the class even starts, it’s happening,” Crawford said.

Many of them have enrolled in multiple classes of his, and keep coming back for more.

A review on ratemyprofessors states, “I took his 211 @tnl_updates

course to fulfill my science GER and am now taking GEO 111 just because.”

Of the over 1,000 rated professors for the university on ratemyprofessors.com, a wellknown website where students of the university review their teachers, Crawford has received the highest overall rating for the school. With 54 reviews, all of 5.0, Crawford has double the ratings of the next highest professor, and is still a perfect score.

As the average rating at UAA is 3.81, Crawford rises well above the rest. Reviews are consistent in mentioning his passion, kindness, energy and knowledge of teaching. Many categorize Ron as one of, if not the best professor they had while at UAA, and one even commented: “He had me contemplating changing majors.”

Crawford was educated at the University of California, Los Angeles, and hired by Eugene Short in 1972, when UAA was titled Alaska Community College. He grew fond of teaching in Alaska, and is now one of the professors who has been teaching at UAA the longest.

“There was just a feel to the school… we were building something. There were no rules to fall back on because we were creating a school,” Crawford said.

From community college teacher to associate professor to full professor, to current professor emeritus, Crawford has now been teaching at the university for 45 years. Even after his retirement, he still continues at the Eagle River campus at a parttime position due to his passion

SEE CRAWFORD

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NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

| 02

Red Zone: A change in campus culture could lead to community change

By Logan Harrison

lharrison@thenorthernlight.org

When the UAA Justice Center conducted their statewide victimization survey in 2015, something became overwhelmingly clear: Alaska has a problem. The rate of violence against women in the state, either intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both, is extremely high.

The survey, which was con-

ducted from May to August in 2015, estimated that 50 percent of women throughout the state had been the victim of abuse at some point in their lifetime. But why are these rates so high?

“No one has the direct answer to that,” Hannah Guzzi, a health promotions specialist at UAA, said. “Any research you look at, any article you read... There are so many different things that can affect that, but there’s not one thing that you could directly say that causes what’s going on here.”

The survey was conducted as a follow-up to a similar survey done in 2010. Besides looking at violence over a lifetime, it also showed that 8.1 percent of women reported violence over the last year, a drop from 11.8 percent reported in the 2010 survey.

The lifetime composite was over

50 percent in both surveys.

Betty Bang is a family nurse practitioner who works at the Student Health and Counseling Center at UAA. She works with Guzzi on the health promotions team and, together, they teach bystander training courses on campus.

The training is funded by a grant through the state and, since July of 2015, has reached 1,550 students through 102 presentations, with 10 more training sessions set up through the rest of this semester alone.

“We give people skills on what you can do if you see something that could lead to harm,” Bang said.

These skills focus on the three d’s; distraction, delegation and direct action.

“We also try to paint a picture of what the problem is, currently, in Alaska,” Guzzi said. “A lot of people will say they [had no idea about] some of the statistics we go over.”

Though it might not be the sole factor, they both agreed that isolation can be a contributing factor in the high rates of violence. Isolation, as Bang noted, does not only refer to rural parts of the state. Isolation can occur throughout Alaska, including

right here in Anchorage.

“You can become isolated in your relationships, where your partner maybe doesn’t want you working, maybe doesn’t allow you to drive. If you’re isolated, then you don’t have that feedback from your friends and family, saying, ‘Hey, what’s going on here? Your partner isn’t treating you very well,’” Bang said.

The bystander training is a way to combat abuse by equiping students, faculty and community members with skills that can help them identify and stop abusive situations before they escalate further. The training also opens up the conversation about sexual and domestic violence, two important factors in making cultural changes.

“A lot of what universities have been doing is reactive rather than preventative, and we’re not going to stop these things from happening if we’re just reactive,” Bridget Coffou, the prevention and education coordinator for the Office of Equity and Compliance, said. “This isn’t an issue that can be solved by one or two people. It has to be a cultural change, and everyone needs to be on board with it. It has to be a community effort.”

A change in culture is the crux behind seeing the domestic and sexual violence rate lowering. UAA has a lot of outlets that are fighting for this cause, but getting full campus involvement is important for pushing change forward.

“Since it is a [commuter] university, I think it’s hard for students to get involved on their campus. I think that’s really important… [we need] people to feel a part of the university,” Bang added.

Coffou has worked closely with the Title IX training. The training has been met with a mixed response across campus, but it has nonetheless helped open up conversation on a subject that oftentimes can be uncomfortable. Coffou felt that more consistent conversation can be a good thing.

“By doing this training you’re not only learning what your rights are underneath Title IX, because it’s not just for faculty or staff, it’s for students.

And it’s not just for someone who has experienced this type of violence, it’s for every student,” Coffou said. “The students that I’ve talked to about it have said that they found the training ben-

eficial, they learned things that they didn’t know, which is always the goal.”

Bang has also helped spearhead the Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Coalition for Change, or DVSA, at UAA. Coffou mentioned that DVSA and the bystander training have the most energy behind them at the moment, but emphasized the need to collaborate in order to fully capture a cultural change.

“That’s the key part. We have to be working together, whether it’s through DVSA or through my office or through Betty [Bang]’s office, we have to be working together on this,” Coffou said.

Michael Votava, the assistant Dean of Students and director of Student Conduct and Ethical Development, was also integral in the founding of the DVSA coalition, which started in the spring of 2015.

“The mission of the group is to coordinate efforts by groups on campus in providing education and training programs promoting awareness and prevention in interpersonal violence and sexual assault,” Votava said.

The DVSA meets once a month and consists of faculty, staff and students and they act as a groupthink, looking at ways to better their departments, as well as the campus as a whole.

Getting students involved is still a crucial part, which could assist in finding areas of specific need or focus. “[We want to] really understand what [students] are experiencing on a day-to-day basis, what’re they seeing and then trying to address those specific problems,” said Guzzi.

“Folks would like to see an environment where people feel safe. That’s the bottom line,” Bang said. “We realize that one training is not going to make the difference in the culture, or necessarily that person, but think of what else they’re having? Everyone is required to do that [training], maybe they’ll go to one of the talks we have on campus, so we’re trying to reinforce this message over and over.”

“And the more they hear it,” Guzzi said, “the more likely they are to adapt.”

If you would like get more involved on campus, the DVSA coalition is meeting Nov. 29 from 4 - 5 p.m. in the Student Union Leadership Lab.

NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

| 03

Department of Health and Social Services reveals alarming increase in obesity

By Marie Reis

news2@thenorthernlight.org

Over the past years, the percentage of obese and overweight Alaskans has increased drastically for both men and women.

Obesity is defined as a body mass index of 30 and above. In 1991, the percentage of obese Alaskans was at 13 percent.

Twenty-four years later, this value has more than doubled.

While only 32 percent of the state’s residents are at a healthy weight, obese Alaskans now account for roughly 30 percent.

Nearly 5 percent of them have a BMI equal to or higher than 40, compared to 1.4 percent in 1991.

Alaska is not alone with this trend in the United States, as national statistics have shown similar increases in obesity. Vanessa Aniteye, a health sciences major at UAA, is not surprised about the findings of the DHSS. “Obesity has grown into a major global health problem. In the United States, the prevalence of obesity is just over 36 percent, which ranks Alaska under the national average,” Aniteye said.

Karol Fink, director of the Alaska Obesity Prevention and Control Program, sees the issue in its larger context.

“It is not only an Alaskan issue, but a national issue. [The reasons for] obesity are multifactorial — there are many things that influence the choices that people make. And often the easiest choice is not the healthiest choice,” Fink said. “If you’re hungry at work and there’s nothing healthy available there, you are going to make the choice that is not healthy. It really has to do with where we live and work.”

This is also applicable to children and adolescents. The percentage of overweight and obese children and high school students grew over the past years.

In 2003, high school students who were either overweight or obese made up 25 percent of their peer group — twelve years later, the number is 7 percentage points higher.

Obesity and being overweight can entail severe consequences and chronic health conditions.

Obese adults are at an increased risk for Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, as well as heart disease and stroke, several cancers, and premature death.

It is estimated that medical costs directly linked to obesity annually amount to $459 million in Alaska. Affected youth statistically earn worse grades, have more absences from school and

face more social stigmatization and discrimination in comparison to their peers. Overweight and obese children are also very likely to become obese adults.

Goals for a decrease in the percentage of obese Alaskans have already been set in a health improvement plan called Healthy Alaskans 2020.

This joint project of the Alaska DHSS and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium aims to reduce the adult obesity rate by 3 percent and the youth obesity rate by 4 percentage points within the next three years.

To establish healthy behaviors from a young age, the National School Lunch Program operates in public and nonprofit schools all over the nation.

“The nutrition guidelines for the NSLP were recently updated by the [United States Department of Agriculture] to include more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat milk and so forth. There is good evidence that this can prevent obesity,” Fink said.

In Alaska, the Obesity Prevention and Control Program initiated several projects to tackle the issue of unhealthy weight.

“We work with childcare providers across the state to ensure that the foods available in those

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

care centers promote health and are nutritious. We also work to make sure that the people providing childcare have training on age-appropriate physical activities. We work similarly in schools. Part of what we do is helping with the implementation of the USDA guidelines,” Fink said.

Another program focusing on obesity prevention is Healthy Futures AK. It was established by the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame and involves more than 20,000 youth from Alaska. The program’s approach is multifaceted, including elements such as an activity log challenge, support for age-appropriate community events and access to positive, healthy role models.

Shelley Romer, development

director of the program, is convinced that building the habit of daily physical activity can have a significant influence on the life of children.

“Being active … is essential for the development, learning, and growth of young children...

[They] may learn better and have improved attention and focus,” Romer said. “Healthy Futures gets lots of positive feedback for our Elementary School Challenge and event support program. We feel proud to know that providing incentives for kids to be active works and motivates children of all ages.”

To reduce the prevalence of obesity effectively, an environment with a set of valid prevention strategies has to be created.

USUAA resolution against Prop 1 fails to reach assembly floor

A resolution did not make it out of UAA student government committees

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

By Mariah DeJesus-Remaklus mremaklus@thenorthernlight.org

USUAA failed to pass a resolution out of committee against the upcoming “bathroom bill” on Oct. 24.

This initiative, which will appear on the Anchorage municipal ballot in April 2018, is titled “Regulating Access to Facilities Such as Locker Rooms and Bathrooms On the Basis of Sex at Birth, Rather Than Gender Identity.” It proposes that public restrooms and changing facilities in buildings owned or operated by the Municipality be used only for people of the same sex.

Under this ordinance, employers and businesses “may establish and enforce sex-specific standards or policies concerning access to ‘intimate facilities,’ such as locker rooms, showers, changing rooms and restrooms.”

Additionally, this proposition advocates for deletion of a requirement in Municipal Code that allows people to use these public facilities according to their gender identity.

USUAA senator Nate Graham and Morgan Hartley wrote the resolution to urge University leaders and officials, such as the UA Board of Regents, President Jim Johnsen and UAA Interim Chancellor Sam Gingerich, to support transgender students and uphold the current bathroom policy.

“USUAA has a history of proposing resolutions and putting forward statements on community issues like this that affect UAA students,” Hartley said.

Some people would say that the student government organization is supposed to be nonpartisan, Graham said, but those kind of remarks are usually made in protest.

“We advocate policy issues that are in our interest all the time,” Graham said. “It’s really just a tool used by people that oppose these political views to silence them or to not have reallife issues be heard.”

Nonpartisanship is not explicitly stated or mentioned within the USUAA constitution and bylaws. Still, the organization aims to be representative of the student body and have its

best interests in mind.

For Hartley, writing this resolution against Proposition 1 was essential, regardless of its political controversy.

“Even if you are a nonpartisan organization, you can still educate people on any subject,” Hartley said. “I’m president of the Political Science Association and in our constitution, we have to be nonpartisan. That doesn’t mean that we can’t educate people on things.”

Each proposed resolution by assembly members must go through a process in order to make it to the floor and on the meeting agenda for a vote. It has to be evaluated by different committees, as well as the executive committee, before going to the floor.

On Tuesday, the Student and Academic Affairs Committee returned the resolution back to Graham and Hartley for several reasons.

Among them is the presence of other high priorities, especially the concerns surrounding UA’s proposed tuition increase for the system.

“First, voting on Proposition 1 occurs in April, which is during the spring semester. We feel that as a body, there are issues such as the Board of Regents public testimony and the potentially proposed tuition increases that would need our immediate

attention this semester,” Gabrielle Agtarap, USUAA senator and member of the SAA Committee, said.

UAA is also run by the State of Alaska, where a municipal ordinance like Proposition 1 would have no jurisdiction. The Board of Regents also already has regulations and policies against sexual and gender-based discrimination.

Despite those existing regulations, it can become a slippery slope. Hartley said that the proposition “opens up a legislative door that would allow for that [UA policy] to be changed.”

Graham is still concerned that students can be affected in situations where the University and Municipality cross paths.

“The Municipality of Anchorage owns the Sullivan Arena and UAA uses that facility for hockey,” Graham wrote in an email to the SAA Committee.

“The [National Collegiate Athletic Association] has boycotted holding events in cities and states that have passed legislation like this.”

This boycott, which took place in North Carolina, was in response to the state legislature’s own “bathroom bill.” The organization decided to relocate seven of their 2016-2017 championship events out of the state.

Yet, not all USUAA members believe that students and the

university should participate in legal matters and state politics.

“The purpose of USUAA is to represent student needs and wants. I do not feel that it is our place to dabble in municipality and city politics,” Senator Caleb Berry, said.

There are a number of advocacy groups supporting or opposing Proposition 1. Alaska Family Council, a Christian public policy organization, backs the initiative while Fair Anchorage, a coalition comprised of businesses and other groups, is urging voters against it.

Berry recognized the political climate surrounding the proposition and said that USUAA cannot be certain what students want.

“To be honest, Proposition 1 is a highly contingent and controversial issue,” Berry said.

“Who are we to say that university students want Proposition 1 to be defeated or passed? There seem to be people on both sides.”

Although the resolution did not make it out of the SAA Committee and to the assembly floor, Graham hopes that Proposition 1 will be addressed in the future.

“Maybe people will want to take this issue up in a few months,” Graham said. “I hope that USUAA takes a position on this issue.”

04 | NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

UAA continues to combat teacher turnover in rural Alaskan schools

GRAPHIC BY MARIAH DEJESUS-REMAKLUS

By Mariah DeJesus-Remaklus mremaklus@thenorthernlight.org

Teacher turnover rates in Alaska’s rural school districts have been a work in progress for the state and University of Alaska system. While these rates have averaged 20 percent between 2004 and 2014, some school districts have averaged annual turnover rates above 30 percent, according to a study done by the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research.

Despite these numbers, there

are still efforts being made to improve teacher retention and continue providing education for youth in the communities.

Part of this includes recognizing the contributing factors to teacher turnover.

Diane Hirshberg, a professor of education policy and the director of CAEPR, said that working conditions in rural communities can negatively impact teachers that are hired.

“We have a couple of issues.

One is working conditions: we have a lot of rural teachers... who said that they felt unsup-

ported either by their school administrators, the district administration or the community,” Hirshberg said. “And in terms of the community, we have a real dilemma. You have community members who say, ‘Why should I invest in educators when I know they’re going to leave?’”

When the community members have these thoughts and the teachers feel a lack of support, it becomes a vicious cycle, Hirshberg said. Living conditions can also be a challenge in rural areas, such as in a small village where basic commodities are expensive and entertainment options are limited.

This can be especially difficult for teachers who are used to more urban environments where social and cultural norms might be different. These cultural differences also contribute to teacher turnover since many rural school districts are associated with Alaska Native communities.

Paul Ongtooguk, assistant professor in UAA’s College of Education, said that teachers often felt “alienated” or were not able to connect with, understand or learn about the cultures.

“Teachers will say, ‘I’m trying to ask people about the language and culture,’ but they don’t step back and say, ‘If you’ve spent your whole life in this village, how many teachers have asked you that question?’”

Ongtooguk said. “And they never learn from it because they’re here for a year and then they’re gone, which is hardly the time to begin accumulating any of that knowledge. It’s a problem that recreates itself.”

Ongtooguk said that the university has an opportunity to better understand how to prepare teachers for what they will face. Additionally, it would be beneficial to produce more Alaska Native teachers that can identify and contribute to lowering the turnover rates, as well as maintain proficient education.

“It’s like a low-hanging fruit for us to pursue as a university.

There’s always an effort to try and develop more Alaska Native teachers for Alaska Native villages,” Ongtooguk said.

“There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a good idea to support and encourage that.”

Unfortunately, students are showing low interest in teaching in rural schools, Hirshberg said, and this has also been affecting turnover rates.

“There’s the other part of the cycle. We’re graduating, in any given year, a couple hundred certificated teachers new to the

field... But first of all, a lot of our graduates don’t necessarily want to go to rural Alaska. If you’re an Anchorage-based student, you probably want to teach in the Anchorage School District,” Hirshberg said.

Not only are students not choosing to go to college, but they are also not seeing teaching as a positive or worthwhile profession.

Cultivating teachers and fostering connections with kids is important, Mike Mueller, a professor of secondary education at UAA, said.

With a number of graduate students, Mueller visits the Bristol Bay and Lake and Peninsula school districts to teach what he calls eco-justice, helping the youth learn more about science and be environmentally responsible. Most of these graduate students are looking to become teachers.

“They design these learning experiences so that they can teach kids all about... placebased ideas, things that are local and regional, like salmon and the northern lights,” Mueller said.

In an effort to help cultivate teachers in rural Alaska, Mueller has created a partnership with the Lake and Peninsula school district that would encourage a student to do their last teaching semester in a village school. The district would pay for the tuition, housing and travel, and several students have already done it.

“We’re making good ground because they were hiring all their teachers from out of state, other places not from UAA, and there’s this concern. How can we increase the number of Alaska-raised, organically-grown teachers?” Mueller said.

Taking these students out to experience rural communities helps give insight as well.

“It’s this exposure to the village life and the students themselves that cultivate the interest.

Before that, a lot of these students had these preconceptions about what village life is like and they think that being a village teacher is not going to be fun,” Mueller said. “They feel like it’s going to be too isolating, and it really isn’t when you connect them to the local community.”

Jennifer Lorenz was a teaching education student that taught in rural communities for two years. She went to Point Lay, in the North Slope Borough School District, for a year and then to the Lake and Peninsula School District. Her decision to teach in

these areas began while studying at UAA. “I had met other teachers that had taught in rural places and it just sounded very interesting to me, so I did my student teaching in a rural community as well,” Lorenz said. “I loved it so much that I just kind of decided to keep doing it... It was something that was unique and, you know, you don’t really hear about rural programs like that outside of Alaska.”

Lorenz said that it takes time to be trusted and included by the community, but she hopes that teachers will continue to receive support and resources.

During her time teaching, Lorenz had a mentor to help guide her, but physical distance wasn’t easy. Mentors are typically assigned to help teachers as they live and work in a rural setting, although Lorenz wishes the support had been more accessible.

“I did have a mentor that was offered to me — she was fantastic, don’t get me wrong, but she was in Anchorage. She wasn’t out where I was, and having somebody that can get to you and be there with you is incredibly important,” Lorenz said.

To help prepare teachers that are going out to a rural school, Ongtooguk has been creating informational videos, recognizing that sometimes these teachers don’t know they have questions until they arrive.

“We’re doing 5 to 15 minute videos about what I think are common questions that new teachers might have when they’re out in a community, when they’re finally taking a break, saying, ‘I’ve got to find out more about this,’” Ongtooguk said.

Teacher turnover has been an ongoing problem, but efforts are honing in on teacher preparation and support as well as creating more Alaska-based educators.

Hirshberg said that not only does teaching education need to be more attractive as a profession to students, but also potential teachers have to understand the needs of those in rural Alaska.

“But how do we meet the needs of kids that don’t come from privileged backgrounds, don’t have access to large comprehensive high schools? And how do we get educators who really understand those kids’ needs?” Hirshberg said. “It’s not that these kids can’t learn, it’s that we haven’t figured out how to reach them.”

NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

| 05

New weekly meal plans expire before use

GRAPHIC BY CHEYENNE MATHEWS

By Cheyenne Mathews cmathews@thenorthernlight.org

Thousands of meal blocks are going unused by residential students with weekly expiring plans. In contrast to previous years, Seawolf Dining began offering two new plans that include 14 meal blocks per week (with 200 dining dollars) and 18

meal blocks per week (with 120 dining dollars).

In the first six weeks of school, over 6,000 meals expired before use for all students with the 14 plan, according to Financial Systems Administrator Brian deZeeuw. Fewer students opted into the 18 plan, and collectively, over 2,000 meals blocks expired.

Connor Farrar has lived on

residential campus for two years, and he said his 14 week plan doesn’t allow him to use meal blocks outside of the Creekside Eatery, also known as the Commons.

“I just have these 14 meal blocks every week, and I can’t use them anywhere except for the Commons,” Farrar said.

“Which is hard because my classes are on west campus, obviously, and this is residential campus. It’s pretty separated.”

Seawolf Dining offered one meal plan with ‘meal equivalencies’ or meal blocks that could be used at other locations on campus like Subway, Cuddy Market Place, and the various coffee shops related to Seawolf Dining. That plan is called Complete Cuisine and it costs $250 above all other plans offered this year.

“It’s a bummer. I feel kind of robbed honestly because they just expire at the end,” Farrar said. “They don’t roll over or anything and if I want to buy a meal for someone else or something... then I can’t have two meals everyday, every week. I’d have to have one meal a day.”

Students with the 14 or 18 weekly plans are still able to use dining dollars on off-residential campus locations, but the amount of dining dollars this year compared to last year was significantly reduced. Last year, a student plan could have had anywhere up to 800 dining dollars.

“I used up all of my dining dollars and so now they’re gone.

So now whenever I eat, I have to eat, I literally just have to eat at the Commons pretty much, because I don’t really have any dining dollars left, and they

don’t take meal blocks anymore anywhere on campus except for here at the Commons,” Farrar said. “It’s actually a major pain in the ass.”

David Weaver is the director of University Housing, Dining and Conference Services, and he said Seawolf Dining has been able to offer several new amenities to students. For example, Seawolf Dining has brought food trucks to campus, they have created a breakfast sandwich option for students who want something Friday morning before 10, and they have started offering healthier late night food options.

Weaver said more meals are expiring this year but the weekly plans renew each week, which means he is seeing “fewer students running out and having to add on.”

“With the 14 meals a week it really guarantees that student, whether they use it or not is out of my control, but it really guarantees for them and their family yes, your student will get a good healthy meal with a variety of choices twice a day if they want it,” Weaver said.

Last year, Seawolf Dining offered meal plans, with meal equivalencies for plans of 75, 100, 150 or 200 blocks and that the weekly plans amount to 238 meals per semester, which he said is a significant increase in meals available to the student.

“You can see from the data that quite a few meals are going unused at the beginning of the semester and you can see that it improves as a percentage used,” Weaver said. “It starts off at under 1,200 per week and it goes to over 1,300.”

More meal blocks are used

as the semester progresses, and Weaver said he hopes that trend will continue.

“It is surprising that it’s not more, but at least it’s trending in the right direction where students are using more and more of their meals,” Weaver said. “If I had a magic wand I would have students use virtually all of their meals.”

Weaver said he is always seeking constructive feedback about the dining services, and he encourages students to contact him directly.

Since students with weekly plans have been unable to use meal blocks at other dining locations, those locations have lost significant business. Subway manager, Joe Johns, said Subway has lost consistent clients.

“This location has lost sales and we have seen a morale of students go down every time we have to tell them that their meal plans, part of their meal plan, isn’t able to be accepted here,” Johns said. “So we’ve lost some loyal students who have come here on a regular basis because of that change.”

Johns said he or his staff were the first ones to tell students they were unable to use their meal blocks at other locations, like in the previous year.

“We’re hoping that there’s going to be a change back to the old plan or simply that all students will be able to use their meal blocks at our location so that we can get some of our loyal customers back,” Johns said.

If meal blocks continue to go unused, more of the weekly plan blocks will have expired at the end of the semester than the amount of all expired plans last fall.

Anchorage makes bid for Amazon’s second headquarters

By Marie Reis

news2@thenorthernlight.org

In September, retail giant Amazon announced plans for a second headquarters in addition to their current one in downtown Seattle, Washington. The location is to be chosen via a public process.

Three business women from Anchorage, Meghan Stapleton, Carmen Baker and Elaine Baker, have launched an effort to bring the headquarters to Anchorage.

Stapleton is a former senior advisor of Sarah Palin; Carmen and Elaine Baker own the furniture store Elaine S. Baker & Associates.

Should Amazon finally select Anchorage as the location for the second headquarters, the city’s economy could benefit greatly.

Mouhcine Guettabi, assistant professor of economics at UAA, believes jobs, resources and recognition could be the greatest gains for the community.

“Given the current economic climate in Alaska, it obviously would be a boost to economic activity,” Guettabi said.

UAA students are also hoping for benefits from Amazon in Alaska.

“Shipping would definitely faster and cheaper — and I wouldn’t have to proceed to checkout, praying that the item will even ship to Alaska,” Sofie Riley, sophomore elementary education major, said. “More jobs would be provided which would butterfly effect into more people moving to Anchorage and investing their money on a local level.”

The project is estimated to create as many as 50,000 new full-time jobs in the area. Amazon is also expected to invest into buildings and infrastructure of their final selection. In Seattle, these capital investments amounted to $3.7 billion.

Anchorage has many assets making the city a noteworthy candidate. One of the main reasons for that is Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

In terms of cargo throughput, it is the fifth largest airport in the world and the second largest in the United States behind Memphis International Airport.

From Anchorage, 90 percent of the industrialized world can be reached within 9 hours and 30 minutes by airplane. This makes it a strategically favorable location for global players like Amazon.

However, evaluating the city’s chances realistically is tough.

“It is difficult to determine what dimensions matter most to them,” Guettabi said. “Clearly, Anchorage has considerable natural amenities and an educated labor force. It depends on what other cities are competing for Amazon.”

The other applicants are going to be highly competitive. So far, more than 230 cities, among them metropolises like Chicago or Boston, have submitted their bids on the headquarters. Many of them are offering tax breaks or other economic incentives to the company.

Anchorage does not offer any exclusive tax exempts to Amazon, but could still be considered attractive with regards to Alaskan tax laws.

“We have local property taxes, but we don’t have the extra layers of taxation that you would find in other states,” Ben Mulligan, vice president of the Alaska Chamber, said.

To be considered, the cities courting the world’s largest internet-based retailer are supposed to meet certain guidelines.

Amazon requires the applicants to have at least 1,000,000 resi-

dents — this number even exceeds the total population of Alaska and goes well beyond the number of Anchorage’s residents.

The company also requires the applying cities to have buildings with an area of 500,000 square feet and a greenfield site of approximately 100 acres certified or pad ready by 2019, with utility infrastructure already in place.

After the initial phase, an area of up to 8,000,000 square feet is needed for the headquarters.

The site is supposed to have direct access to multimodal mass transportation including train, subway and bus routes. Complying with these standards in such a short period of time could be challenging for the municipality.

“I think we can get there if we are really serious about it,” Mulligan said. “No one is going to be right there right away.

Obviously, some cities are better situated than others, but if you’re looking past Anchorage into Southcentral [Alaska] in general, we could provide it.”

Although Anchorage seems to be an underdog in the intense competition, Mulligan is hopeful that the city’s bid might be considered by the company.

“We may be up here in Alaska, but we’ve got a lot to offer,” Mulligan said. “We can be complacent in our situation or we can dream big and give it a shot.

If we didn’t have folks dreaming big, I don’t know if we’d have the Trans-Alaska Pipeline right now.”

Even if the efforts are unsuccessful, the campaign might still have a positive impact on the city’s business environment.

“If worst comes to worst, we just get some attention. People will know that we’re open to business and while we may not get Amazon to get up here, we may get somebody else,” Mulligan said.

Amazon will announce their final selection in 2018.

06 | NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

| 07

Twitter to crack down on harmful content, hate speech

Next month, the social media platform will begin enforcing tighter policies and rules

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

By Mariah DeJesus-Remaklus mremaklus@thenorthernlight.org

Earlier this month, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announced that the company would be rolling out new rules and regulations against hate speech, sexual harassment and other harmful content.

In a series of tweets, commonly referred to as a “thread” or “tweetstorm,” Dorsey explained the reasoning behind this new initiative, noting that the company still hasn’t done enough after two years.

“We see voices being silenced on Twitter every day,” Dorsey wrote. “We’ve been working to counteract this for the past 2 years.”

The social media giant has been under scrutiny since the 2016 presidential election when the public called on them, as well as Facebook, to handle accounts linked to Russia. Recently, Twitter has also come under fire after temporarily locking the account of actress Rose McGowan, who had publicly tweeted that she had been raped by Harvey Weinstein.

Dorsey announced that Twitter would “take a more aggressive stance” to reevaluate its existing rules and policies, including how they are enforced.

“New rules around: unwanted sexual advances, non-consensual nudity, hate

symbols, violent groups, and tweets that [glorify] violence,” Dorsey wrote.

Ashley Widmer, a biology major, has been using the platform for four years and said that Twitter’s actions could create a more positive environment for its users.

“I’ve seen hateful and ignorant things posted on the site with responses from other users. They were able to have the tweet removed or the offending user suspended,” Widmer said. “I think that Twitter’s increased protection for their users is a positive because it allows for a more safe, appropriate space online, which is rare.”

Twitter formed the Trust and Safety Council, a conglomerate of advocacy groups, researchers and the like, in 2016 to help identify the balance with censorship and free speech. The company’s head of safety policy sent an email to the council following Dorsey’s tweetstorm that outlined proposed revisions.

This included permanently suspending accounts that originally posted nonconsensual nudity, where current rules would only require the original posters and people who unknowingly tweet the content to delete the sensitive tweet and be temporarily suspended.

There is also a new approach to hate speech, symbols and imagery, as well as violent groups and content that glorified violence. Twitter said that it was “still defining the exact scope of what will be covered by this policy,” alluding to the grey areas in which the company would have to distinguish what is and isn’t harmful or an infringement on free speech.

Wright Franklin is the station manager at UAA’s KRUA and has experienced challenges with free speech and social media within the professional world.

A volunteer from last year had been dismissed and took to social media, Franklin said.

“They weren’t happy about their dismissal and they chose to kind of take it out on us on a Facebook post that we made… It was something along the lines

of ‘Why can’t you just play good music?’ and a few people who weren’t staff started an argument,” Franklin said.

In another instance, someone had used their personal Twitter account in an inappropriate, harassing manner and KRUA’s Facebook page was linked in their biography.

“We had to look at, ‘Do we have a policy about this?’ which we didn’t, so we had to make one,” Franklin said. “It then got interesting, telling this volunteer that we had to let him go because of the stuff that he was doing, but we didn’t have a policy to turn to.”

Social media is one of the many ways in which users can express their thoughts and opinions, yet it poses a question of what is personally and professionally appropriate.

Kendra Doshier has seen the effects and growth of these platforms in the 10 years that she has been a social media specialist and strategist for UAA’s Advancement team.

“I’ve witnessed how ugly Twitter can get and how Facebook can make smear campaigns frighteningly easy. Over the years we’ve seen social media ruin lives and destroy brands, but on the flip side, we’ve seen it make regular people famous, start pop culture trends, expose and change societal flaws, and inspire really important movements,” Doshier said.

Twitter has been criticized for its inconsistency in handling users that violate policies and Franklin described it as the “wild west” when it comes to immediate action against harmful content.

“I think Twitter’s sort of been like the wild west as far as letting people do what they want,” Franklin said. “You have to go really, really far — probably too far already for Twitter to notice you and start banning you.”

Dorsey also recognized this when a user expressed this same concern. He responded, saying that “consistent interpretation and enforcement of our rules is our objective.”

While Widmer hopes that the company’s efforts will bring positive consequences, her experience has exposed her to the outside world and its influences.

Hopefully others will be more openminded, she said.

“Social media has exposed me to voices, opinions, ideas and experiences of such a wide variety of people. The way it is able to disseminate information and news makes it a powerful tool in our society,” Widmer said. “I hope that it acts as a sanctuary for its users, but also a place to step out of your comfort zone and try to see the world through another person’s eyes.”

For Doshier, social media should be used for good and users have to be mindful of the way they represent themselves.

The internet is full of information, good and bad, and it’s important to use it wisely.

“Use it to maximize your communications, to stay informed, to connect with those you want to learn more from,” Doshier said.

The First Amendment will likely remain a concern for Twitter users that believe their rights are being violated.

Franklin said that although he supports the notion of free speech, he doesn’t approve of situations in which people use it against others.

“I think that they [Twitter] will get the same feedback that KRUA did when we instated our policy, that they’re policing people… and you’re not allowed to exercise your right to free speech anymore, but it’s never been about that,” Franklin said. “Free speech is great and wonderful and I’ll advocate nine times out of 10 for that, but the one time out of 10 that I won’t is when you’re using free speech to hurt other people.”

Dorsey tweeted on Friday that Twitter will implement some of their new policies on Nov. 22. The company’s policy development process and calendar of their progress is available to the public on blog.twitter.com.

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

| 08

College Cookbook: Three CRAWFORD: ‘It never gets old’ Continued from cover salads to distract you from Halloween candy

PHOTO BY ALBERT CAHALAN

By Victoria Petersen copy@thenorthernlight.org

It’s that time of the year again.

Take a break from the cupcakes, cookies and candy. These tasty and healthy salads will keep your energy up to get you through the last half of the semester.

Strawberry spinach salad Ingredients • 6 cups of baby spinach • 1 pint of strawberries, hulled and sliced

Vietnamese noodle salad Ingredients • 12 ounces of vermicelli noodles • 2 carrots, shredded • 2 cucumbers, seeded and shredded • 4 green onions, chopped • 1 and 1/2 cups bean sprouts • 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped • 1/2 cup fish sauce • 1/2 cup seasoned rice vinegar • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper • Lime for garnish

Directions 1. Cook the noodles according to the package. Rinse the noodles under cold water, drain and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, add the carrots, cucumbers, bean sprouts and chopped cilantro. Toss until combined.

3. In a separate bowl, mix to-

• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced • 4 ounces cheese

crumbled

blue

• Half a small red onion, thinly sliced • Poppyseed dressing, to taste

Directions 1. In a large bowl, add the spinach, strawberries, avocado, cheese and onion. Toss it together.

2. Add the poppyseed dressing to the mix and continue tossing together until the dressing has been incorporated.

Arugula salad Ingredients • 1/2 pound arugula • 1/2 cup halved

grape

tomatoes,

• Zest of a whole lemon • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil • 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

gether the fish sauce, rice vin-

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

egar, garlic and crushed red

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

pepper.

4. Toss the dressing in the noo-

Directions

dles to coat. Combine the

1. In a large bowl, combine aru-

noodles and the vegetables to-

gula, tomatoes, lemon zest,

gether in the large bowl until

olive oil, balsamic vinegar,

combined. Top with a squeeze

salt and black pepper. Toss the

of lime juice, if desired.

ingredients together until well combined.

for teaching.

“It never gets old,” Crawford said.

Coy Hill, a senior justice major in Crawford’s film history class, says his favorite thing about him is his animation.

“I’ve had teachers a third of his age that just seemed half dead while they were up there on the podium... This class is keeping him young, and it shows,” Hill said.

In his years as a professor, Crawford has held the position of chair of the History and Geography Department for 13 years, ran the campus film program, campus cinema and as one of the first to teach geography, helped get it to count as GER. Originally hired for Western Civilization, Crawford now teaches three classes, Geography 111, Opportunity for Learning Enrichment (OLE), and History 244 (film history). But despite all he has done, what Crawford is the most proud of is creating his film history class.

“I don’t have a degree in film, but there is a real love and background in it,” Crawford said.

When he was a child, his dad owned a movie theater, where he developed his love of historical epic and volcano films, inspiring his decision to teach geography and film.

“My film class is my love and joy… and I started doing it just as sort of a lark, you know, let’s do something different.

It caught on and I’ve been doing it ever since. Over the years, I built a sort of ID on it, it just became me,” Crawford said.

The class covers units that Crawford hand-picks, including Disney, western, sci-fi and Hitchcock.

According to Crawford, the secret to good teaching is what Walt Disney, one of his role models, calls “edutainment.”

This combination of entertainment and education is what keeps learning interesting.

One of his most memorable professors in college possessed this trait.

“He didn’t talk to us from a podium, he entertained. But we learned,” Crawford said. “I like the teachers that will get up and share something of themselves.

You feel they’re genuine people. They’re human beings and they relate to you.” “[The OLE class is] so much fun be-

cause it’s totally stimulating. I’m constantly learning and I love it. Everybody who has taken classes with him loves him… and he loves us,” Candy Stanley, a student in Crawford’s course, said.

Because of this personal level he believed was necessary to achieve success in teaching, Crawford noted that he “never wanted to call myself professor. I’m a teacher.” He felt the term was too formal and impersonal.

Another aspect of good teaching that Crawford mentions is the intent behind it.

“Why are we here? We’re here for the students. I think you’ve got to teach a good class. It’s the job that they pay the tuition for, and in turn, you’ve got to run a good class. That’s on you.”

As one review states, “Don’t hesitate to take this class. It was entertaining and amazingly he was able to keep my interest for all four hours! I am not kidding when I report that he is so far my top teacher of my three years UAA history.”

Even though Crawford thinks his reasoning for teaching may seem silly, it’s very sincere.

“This may sound corny, but teaching is fun. It keeps me going. I love teaching,” Crawford said.

Crawford’s ideas of good teaching are relevant in his own style. His passion is evident to his students and colleagues alike, and his hands-on and interactiveness result in highly satisfied students.

“I get a lot of repeats. They form this sort of family… everybody has a place,” Crawford said.

A review says, “his excitement for his class is nice to see among professors who usually lack interest in their teachings.”

Another states that “Professor Crawford has an amazing talent for getting and keeping a classroom engaged. His love of the subject creates an excitement for learning. He has an extreme wealth of knowledge that comes only with experience.”

Crawford’s status as the top rated professor at UAA is no mistake. His passion for his subjects and his students create a classroom environment that is energetic, entertaining and inviting. He represents UAA in a positive way, and leaves an impact on his students for years to come.

& AE

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

| 09

For better and worse, ‘Look Who’s Back’ rides on its premise

By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor

Satire needs to say something to work. The best of the genre is a fiery takedown of political and social ills imbued with deep anger and befuddlement. “Look Who’s Back” has moments of this kind of spirit, but falls back on the absurdity of its premise when those moments fade. It’s a shame, too. Oliver Masucci plays a mean Hitler, one who, surprisingly, is hard to hate.

Sure, he’s Hitler, but his time has passed. Or has it?

Ostensibly, “Look Who’s Back” sets out to answer that question. Without explanation, Hitler wakes up in modern-day Berlin, stumbling around the city trying to get his bearings.

It’s when he reads the newspaper that he learns how things worked out. The country has changed and he doesn’t know how to cope. He catches the eye

of a struggling television host named Fabian (Fabian Busch) who decides to produce a documentary about him. The project takes him across Germany, where he talks to people about their problems and promises to fix them.

In an all-too-obvious turn, Hitler’s time has not passed. Nazi sympathies still have a hold on some of the German population, and the Führer works his way back to the top. There’s novelty in watching his rise because it’s easy for the most part, but that’s part of the movie’s problem. Hitler wins people over and secures a new place in Germany’s history, but so what? Where’s the satirical bite, the reason to care?

“Look Who’s Back” has neither.

The title is fittingly passive with this in mind. As a viewer, you won’t be compelled to do more than look. Look how confused Hitler is. He thinks the Green Party is the same as his Blood and Soil campaign, isn’t

that hilarious? To be fair, that’s a funnier part of the movie, but director David Wnendt ignores its overall significance in favor of some belly laughs.

If it weren’t for Masucci’s performance, there’d be little to laugh at. His Hitler is an alienated layabout, too distant from our world to make a mark without the help of a newsstand owner and a young filmmaker. The moments where his privilege boils over into a tirade about German purity are gold, even though they’re equally horrific.

But even he can’t help a vacuous movie. Watching it feels as hollow as a visit to 4chan. It has all the edge and drive of a movie with something to say, but ends up saying little. Instead, it puts its protagonist front-and-center like a mannequin in the hopes that he’ll carry it all. Masucci is certainly up to the task. It’s just a shame his movie isn’t, too.

TITLE “Look Who’s Back”

DIRECTOR David Wnendt

RELEASE DATE Oct. 8, 2015

COUNTRY Germany

GENRE Comedy

10 | A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

November First Friday offers wide range of art, photography events

By Malia Barto

arts2@thenorthernlight.org

The zine scene

Magazine fair showcases local artists and photographers

By Madison McEnaney Contributor

Anchorage Community Works will be hosting the city’s first ever zine fair on this Friday, November third from 8 - 11 p.m. Featuring a handful of talented photographers, the zine fair will be an opportunity to showcase different types of work from artists all over Anchorage. One of the photographers, Ryan Chernikoff, has been working to make this event happen for his photography and others’ as well.

Chernikoff, a long time photographer, has been interested in the field of work since his teens. He began working in film photography, and has continued with that primary focus since.

“When I started getting serious into photography a few years ago it was mostly as a means to manage mental health issues I deal with, including recovery from addiction. Photography to me is a way to practice mindfulness, it helps me to be present in the moment. Not regretting the past or dreading the future,” Chernikoff said.

Chernikoff’s current work is of photographs of the city at night. Buildings, both abandoned and in use, neon signs and people are just a few of the subjects that are found in his film photography.

These images give an idea to what will be featured in his zines at Anchorage Community Works this Friday.

Having the idea to host a zine fair earlier in the year, Chernikoff has been working with Will Kozloff, president of Anchorage Community Works, to make this event happen. While the zine fair will

feature many photographers, Chernikoff and Kozloff want to allow the opportunity of all mediums of art to be able to participate.

The opening night of the zine fair will feature live music from artist Nick Carpenter and bands Mixed Feelings and Brux. So far, artists Jay Cost, Allison Theriault, Jaybird Parkhurst, Danielle Morgan and Adan Hernandez will have zines alongside Chernikoff and Kozloff.

“This event is for anyone who would like to contribute their work in zine form, it doesn’t have to be photography. We just want people to have the opportunity to make their voices heard,” Chernikoff said.

With this being Anchorage’s first zine fair, Chernikoff has hopes for a future where these events occur more often, and on a larger scale. Since they are fairly easy to create with one’s artwork or photography, and in a relatively inexpensive format, Chernikoff would like this Friday’s zine fair to spark other people’s creativity to create their own for any further opportunities to host events like these.

“I believe that it is incredibly important that people speak up for what they believe in. My hope is that people are inspired to do that with the fair, in a constructive and non-violent way,” Chernikoff said.

Each artist’s zine will likely be shown at Anchorage Community Works for some time after the main event if they wish, but the only guarantee to see every single artist’s zine will be this Friday. The event will be an opportunity to speak with artists including Chernikoff about their zines and see their work come to life.

Museums, boutiques and restaurants are once again hosting works of art and events in Anchorage for the First Friday of November.

Events at the Anchorage Museum, 625 C St., will start around 6 p.m. From 6:30 - 7 p.m., Close-Up: The Photographer’s Lenses will be exploring the “Art of the North” gallery in the Museum’s new Rasmuson wing. Space is limited for this particular event and preregistration is encouraged.

Battle of the Breweries this month will have three draft beers to try: Blue Moon Belgian Wit, Kenai Brewing Honeymoon Hefeweizen and Glacier Brewhouse Hefeweizen. The beer flight is paired with an appetizer for $20. The event is held in Muse, the Museum’s restaurant, and is 21-and-over only.

Artist Mikey Huff will hold a class on iPhone photography from 7 - 8:30 p.m.

A smartphone is needed to participate in Huff’s class. The class costs $5, a tenpercent discount for Museum members is available. Preregistration is encouraged for this class and can be done online at at www.anchoragemuseum.org.

The 501st Legends of Star Wars will also be at the Museum, as part of the Art of Fandom exhibit, from 6 - 9 p.m. Cosplay is encouraged this First Friday.

Designing “apartments” will be held as part of The Future of Anchorage Housing to help promote the potential projects of Anchorage housing. It will be open from 6 - 9 p.m.

Portraits of attendees at the museum, “Faces of First Friday,” can be taken from 6 - 8 p.m. Photographer Jody Overstreet, owner and operator of jodyo.photos and Alaska Photo Treks, will be taking the photos.

Less than a mile from the Museum, Heart of the City will be celebrating Native American Heritage Month for their First Friday. Their event will host art, live Native American dances and pop-up booths. It will run from 6 - 9 p.m., 411 W. Fourth Ave. Heart of the City’s First Friday is appropriate for all ages.

A newer home for art, SSP Studio & Gallery, will host their first First Friday

event this week starting at 5 p.m. SSP Gallery will host many artists’ work but a particular artist will be showcased for the night. The studio and gallery is located on 2217 E. Tudor Road, Suite 11.

“Our motto is, ‘We’re not your normal photography studio,’” Scott Stansbury, SSP Studio & Gallery owner, said. “So we want everything but the norm... we want that photo that reaches out and stops a person in their track and makes them think.”

2 Friends Gallery, 341 E Benson Blvd #3, will have a fundraiser art show at their gallery from 5 -7 p.m.

Blush Boutique will host a trunk show with Hudson, a jean company based out of Los Angeles, at their shop on 720 D St. C. Hudson representative, Alex Torres, will be flying up to Alaska to be at the boutique for the event. The event will have hors d’oeuvres and champagne to enjoy from Anchorage restaurant, Ginger.

“We really enjoy hosting First Friday trunk shows at Blush. It’s always filled with warm energy from the community coming out to support local stores and art galleries,” Haley Welsome, Blush Boutique owner, said.

Hotel Captain Cook’s bar and bistro, The Whale’s Tail, 939 W. Fifth Avenue, will feature AK Art Factory’s new clothing and accessories starting at 5 p.m.

Builders Bargains is hosting their first First Friday in November, too. Their event will host the works of Fairbanks artist Tammy Holland. Holland’s art uses oil colors on different materials to depict Alaskan wildlife and scenery.

“We have lots of First Fridays up here... but this will be my first time doing a featured First Friday [in Anchorage],” Holland said.

Builders Bargains will have snacks and drinks that will be served from 5 - 9 p.m. at 12150 Industry Way, Suite Q1.

Midnight Sun Cafe, 245 W. Fifth Ave. 106, will be featuring Heart Gallery of America from 5 - 7 p.m. Heart Gallery of America is photography of foster care children to bring awareness about the children in need of forever homes. The event is family friendly.

Support and discover new art this Friday, Nov. 3., all starting around 5 p.m. in downtown Anchorage.

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

Get off the couch!

First Friday, concerts, a ski swap and more At UAA Fright Night What: Watch scary movies and enjoy a popcorn bar and “spooky juice” to celebrate Halloween.

When: Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Where: MAC Apartments Cost: Free “Mundus Canis: A Guitar and Percussion Concert”

By TNL staff

Around town KONR Studio Sessions: Aural Imago What: Watch as Aural Imago performs live at Out North’s studio. Space is limited, so get there early. If you can’t make the show, tune to 106.1 FM to listen in.

When: Friday, Nov. 3 from 7 - 8 p.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Out North Radio (333 W. 4th Ave.) Cost: Free Rarefied Light 2017 First Friday opening reception What: Can’t get far off campus for First Friday? Check out a selection of 43 photographs selected by guest juror Henry Horenstein at APU. Prints by Horenstein and a tribute to Rene Haag will show concurrently with the exhibit.

When: Friday, Nov. 3 from 5 - 7 p.m.

Where: Alaska Pacific University, Leah J. Peterson Gallery Cost: Free Fall book sale What: Get a good deal on books, movies and music while helping to raise funds for the Anchorage Public Library system.

When: Friday, Nov. 3 from 6 - 8 p.m.

(First look for current Friends of the Library only. Memberships available at the door.), Saturday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m.

- 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 5 from 12 - 4 p.m.

(Half price day).

Where: Anchorage Public Library (3600 Denali St.) Cost: Free “Lite Years - The Big Picture Movie” What: A benefit for the Anchorage Ski Club. This film follows the skiing adventures of Chris Logan, Parker White and their friends. What started out as a rivalry between Logan and White was destined to become a friendship between the two influential freeskiers. Ages 21 and up.

When: Saturday, Nov. 4 from 7 - 9 p.m.

Where: Williwaw (609 F St.) Cost: $10 in advance, $15 day of. Tickets available at www.etix.com.

What: UAA faculty member Armin Abdihodzic and UAA percussion student Eric Bleicher will perform works featuring classical guitar and a wide range of percussion. From the weird to the beautiful and everywhere in between, be prepared for a musical journey.

When: Thursday, Nov. 2 from 7:30 - 9 p.m.

Where: UAA Fine Arts Building Cost: Students: $9.99, seniors and military: $14.99, adults: $19.99 AK Ski Swap What: Looking for winter sporting goods and equipment? Check out this ski swap sponsored by the UAA ski team and the Alyeska Ski Club. Items will be halfoff for the last hour of the event.

When: Saturday, Nov. 4 from 12 - 5 p.m.

Where: Alaska Airlines Center, gymnasium Cost: Free David Scheel presents “The Giant Alaska Octopus: Getting to Know a New Octopus Species” What: Professor of marine biology at APU David Scheel will discuss finding a new species of octopus in Alaska, his work in Tatilek, Chenega Bay and Port Graham as well as his desire to study octopus through traditional Alaska Native knowledge.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 7 from 5 - 7 p.m.

Where: Bookstore, The Loft Cost: Free UA Board of Regents Public Testimony Call-In Session What: The public is invited to call in to share their thoughts on university issues with the University of Alaska Board of Regents during the board’s quarterly public testimony period. The two-hour session is in advance of the full board meeting, which will be held November 9-10 in Anchorage. More information is available at http://www.alaska.edu/bor/ public-testimony/.

When: Monday, Oct. 30 from 4 - 6 p.m.

Where: Statewide. Call in at 1-866-7260757 Cost: Free UA Board of Regents Public Gathering What: The public gathering serves as an informal opportunity for the community to meet and share comments and concerns on university issues with the regents in person. More information is available at http://www.alaska.edu/bor/ public-testimony/.

When: Thursday, Nov. 9 from 5 - 6 p.m.

Where: Lee Gorsuch Commons, Room 106 Cost: Free

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SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

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Radical Recreation: For the thrill of it Desmond Ongaro is dedicated to enhancing a rider’s performance through engineering

By Brenda Craig

features@thenorthernlight.org

The motorcycle road racing community in Alaska is a relatively small group of dedicated racing enthusiasts. Desmond Ongaro, mechanical engineering major, is one of these passionate road racers.

Ongaro chose to pursue engineering with the goal of combining his two major interests.

“Though it may not happen at first, I hope to mesh my love for racing with my passion for engineering. Anything involved in improving a racer’s performance and having a hand in that community would be a dream job,” Ongaro said.

Ongaro has been road racing for three years and has competed in the Tanacross Motorcycle Road Races. During his first two years, Ongaro only competed in a total of four races. This season was different; he competed in every race and was able to place third in the 600cc Class, finished seventh place overall and set a personal record time of 02:38.09.

“This recent season I aimed to make every single race, regardless of weather forecast, costs and equipment condition.

I wanted to race to be fast, I liked having others being able to vouch for my skill and have others be able to look to me for advice,” Ongaro said.

Motorcycle Road Races are held at the Department of Natu-

ral Resources Air Tanker Base near the village of Tanacross, which is roughly a six-hour drive from Anchorage “Getting there is half the battle. The road to Tok Junction is a rough one. There are challenges of having reliable vehicles, proper gear storage, road conditions and wildlife threats,” Ongaro said. “For us locals to make that journey six times in one summer — loaded to the brim with race gear for a sub par track — you know, its unique.”

Ongaro says racing makes the rough journey to the track worth it.

“The feeling of riding should be described as the most fun anyone can ever have. You have the freedom of doing what you want when you want to. On the track, all outside distractions snap away and you’re focused on the here and now. Dialing in your lines and finally turning out those lap times you were working for is one of the best feelings in the world,” Ongaro said.

Thomas Davidson, fellow competitor and sponsor, describes Ongaro’s potential for road racing as one of the most apparent and defining qualities of his persona.

“I think Desmond’s strongest quality that benefits him the most is that he listens to advice and actually applies it. As a high-level motorcycle mechanic, I give advice all the time, I’d say it gets listened to about 25 percent of the time. When I give Desmond advice, 100 percent of

PHOTO COURTESY OF CYRENA ROYAL

Desmond Ongaro getting ready to begin the race in Tok, Alaska.

the time he listens and applies,” Davidson said.

Ongaro’s determination to learn as much as he can to improve makes him stand out from other racers.

“Watching Desmond race is very exciting. Even when a race is finished, you can tell Desmond is tuned into processing every corner, every line and what he will do better the next lap. He’ll normally watch the racers after him rather than resting from the exhaustion, to be a support to his fellow racers and to make a mental note of who

is good, why and what he can learn from them,” Cyrena Royal, friend of Ongaro, said.

Besides racing, making friends within the motorcycle road race community is one of Ongaro’s favorite part about racing.

“TanaX is a tight knit community that offers any and all help to each other. When a rider goes down, new or old, everyone is concerned. The bond of racers is strong and so is the competitive nature,” Ongaro said.

With support from the motorcycle road race communi-

ty, there is no doubt in Royal’s mind that Ongaro will achieve his goals.

“I find Desmond admirable for many things. He’s a great person, fast as hell and more fun than I can handle. I’m excited to see what lies in Desmond’s future because he has a good one in store,” Royal said.

Aspiring racers can visit akroadracing.com to learn more about how to get involved with the Tanacross Motorcycle Roadracing group.

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM VERRIER

Women’s Nordic team roller skiing at Kincaid.

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PHOTO BY YOUNG KIM

Martin Onskulis lifts weight in preparation for the 2017 alpine ski season.

SKIING: Dry land training preps for snow season Continued from cover classic and skating, ski bound, focus on strength and technique,” Dusser said.

The Nordic ski team can be

seen lifting at the Alaska Airline Center’s weight room. There, they often take advantage of a ski ergometer, a machine to practice double pool and classic alternating arm techniques.

Only rarely do the Nordic and alpine ski team practice together, but the annual soccer tournaments, a couple sand dune workouts and other activities help them develop their general

fitness or speed.

Dry land training, which the ski teams refers to as practices that don’t take place on snow, is essential for the Nordic and alpine ski teams’ success. With

Alyeska potentially not opening until after Thanksgiving and the trails still free of snow, they stay busy working on their fitness, speed and strength levels before the snow hits the ground.

14 | SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

Seawolves unofficially kick off basketball season The 2017 men’s basketball squad showed off against alumni after a drastic roster change

By Lauren Cuddihy

sports2@thenorthernlight.org

With the first official conference game a week out, the Seawolves men’s basketball warmed up with the alumni game on Oct. 28 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

After a dramatic roster change from the 2016-17 season, this warm-up game proved to be a first competitive glimpse into the new team for Head Coach Rusty Osborne and the rest of UAA. “It’s three guys trying to get to know 12 newcomers, and 12 newcomers trying to get to know themselves and the other three, so it’s a day-by-day basis and we’re excited for the pieces we’re putting together,” Osborne said.

The game proved to be a complete take over by the current team with a final score of 90-52, the current Seawolves maintaining a 48 percent shot record. Senior guard D.J. Ursery, senior forward Jacob Lampkin and junior forward Brian Person significantly contributed to the win. Newcomers Maleke Haynes and Josiah Wood made their debut appearances.

Ursery took over the offense by scoring 16 points for the team on Saturday, in addition, Lampkin accumulated 16 rebounds.

Lampkin was also joined by Pearson in gaining rebounds for the game, who finished off with six total.

Of the 12 new additions to the team, Haynes and Wood made a point to stand out early

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAM WASSON

Former Seawolf Christian Leckband goes in for a dunk at the men’s basketball alumni game on Oct. 28 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

on in the season. Haynes who is senior transfer from University of the Pacific, a Division I program, came to the team as a point guard. The Stockton, California local accumulated an impressive 14 points and 5 assists for the game.

Wood, another California recruit, transferred to UAA as a junior to play as guard. The 6’5” Wood managed to accumulate 10 points and 3 blocks for the duration of the game.

The current Seawolves were opposed by former UAA basketball players Christian Leckband, Connor Devine and Shane Bannarbie.

Leckband, who just retired from collegiate basketball in 2016, joined the game as a forward to lead the team with 15

points and 5 rebounds.

Devine, a UAA record holder in single-season blockers and former all-star of the team was featured as a center to accumulate 7 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks.

In addition, a significant alumni contributor, 14-years post collegiate career, was Bannarbie who played with the Seawolves 2001-03. Bannarbie was able to boast the accumulation of 11 points for the game.

With the season finally gearing up after a small practice game, the Seawolves are already coming in strong after an announcement on Oct. 27 that named Ursery and Lampkin to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference Team. This also proved

to be a significant achievement considering they were the only conference newcomers named to the team.

After maintaining successful Division I accomplishments, both Ursery and Lampkin transferred over from University of the Pacific.

“They had actually played in the [GCI Great Alaska Shootout], actually played against us for their freshmen years. So they were familiar with UAA and familiar with the program.

Jacob [Lampkin] contacted us after their last season, and then D.J. [Ursery] joined and we kind of took it from there,” Osborne said.

From the Tigers, Ursery followed Lampkin by being the sixth-leading and fifth-leading

scorer, respectively. Both newly endowed Seawolves maintained an approximate 6 points per game average.

However, the 2017 dynamics might be slightly different after the loss of guard Ashton Pomrehn, guard Sekou “Suki” Wiggs, forward Augustus Simmers, guard Diante Mitchell, guard Damien Fulp, guard Spencer Svejcar, forward Sjur Berg, forward Travis Parrish, forward Tayler Thompson, forward Corey Hammell, forward Jackson McTier and forward Connor Devine.

“Pomrehn had personal things come and decided to [postpone] his last year to go down closer to home, closer to his family to deal with some ongoing issues. There’s a lot of rumors out there that he’s not coming back, but he’s determined to come back and get his degree and play his senior year,” Osborne said.

During the 2016 season, the Seawolves were able to finish off the regular season games at No. 2 in the conference, only just behind Western Washington. UAA had a conference record of 15-5 which ended up being a .750 win percentage, in addition to the overall .724 win percentage (21-8). The Seawolves managed to successfully win every single home game of the 16 that they hosted.

The 2017 Seawolf men’s basketball squad will get their first chance to prove themselves at an away game, Nov. 3 in Irvine, California.

CONTACT

THENORTHERNLIGHT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017

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