SEPTEMBER 24 - SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
FEATURES
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
SPORTS
PAGE 5
UAA’s new Eat Fleet brings new flavors to campus.
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
PAGE 8
Seawolf hockey prepares for the 2019-2020 season, which could possibly be their last.
UAA Bookstore employees express frustration with upcoming relocation By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org
The UAA Bookstore is moving to a new temporary location this fall. The campus bookstore is relocating to the Alaska Airlines Center room 160. The transition will take place from Oct. 14-27. The bookstore will remain in the Alaska Airlines Center for one to two years, according to Beverly Shuford, Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services. Enrollment Services will move from the University Center into the bookstore’s current location in spring 2020. Enrollment Services includes the Registrar’s Office, Admissions Office, Office of Student Financial Aid and Military and Veterans Financial Assistance. “Enrollment Services’ move back to the main campus has been part of UAA’s long-term plan for a number of years. The campus master plan calls for centralizing student services near the campus core so that they are easily accessible,” Shuford said. “Moving departments out of the University Center also allows UAA to lease the space to other organizations, leveraging a revenue-generating opportunity.” The master plan for the UAA campus was created several years ago, according to Bruce Schultz, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. “The direction for the campus master plan was first set by Chancellor [Tom] Case and has been endorsed by succeeding administrations,” Schultz said.
PHOTO BY JASON HERR
After 20 years of saving a small percentage of its income, the bookstore underwent a massive $1.8 million renovation in 2015.
Several bookstore employees are not happy about the upcoming change in location. “Our events that we hold in our loft, that is open community-wide… it’s part of what our mission statement as a university is all about. To create a public square,” Kristi Michels, cashiering supervisor and trade books buyer for the UAA Bookstore, said. Michels is confused as to why the bookstore was chosen for the relocation, considering the unique features that the bookstore’s current location offers. “I question what [UAA administration is] actually going to be using this space for. I mean, they’re moving offices into a building that was created to be a bookstore. That is why we have a raised loading dock, a conveyor belt system and a freight elevator. There are empty offices on campus they could move [Enrollment Services] into. Most of their [Enrollment Services’]
functions are available online,” Michels said. The move into the Alaska Airlines Center is a logistical mess, according to Michels. “Students aren’t going to be able to walk into the bookstore and get their textbooks anymore. They’re going to have to place an online order. We’re going to have to move it from the basement here in this building to the Alaska Airlines Center for them to be able to pick it up,” Michels said. The Drowsy Wolf, the coffee shop located inside of the bookstore, is closing as a result of the move. “I’ve heard a lot of complaints from our regulars. They’re all very upset that we’re leaving and not going to be here anymore. We’re one of the very few coffee shops around [campus] that’s not owned by campus dining,” Josie Tiffany, a barista at The Drowsy Wolf, said. The bookstore staff was not given the chance to provide any
input on the decision to move, according to Michels. “It’s unfortunate and sad. We’re trying to be optimistic and make things work, but we’ve been lied to about the bookstore transformation,” Michels said. The planning for the University Center transition began in 2018. “We had meetings with the bookstore transformation task force who told [bookstore staff]: ‘nothing is set in stone, this is all exploratory.’ [That was] a year ago in about September 2018. Then we found out it was actually signed off for in spring 2018. [There] has just been a lot of disrespect,” Michels said. Michels thinks that there has been a lack of communication with students about the bookstore’s relocation as well. “We’re upset and sad that we’ve been disrespected and that the students are being disrespected. I’m not sure everyone is understanding what transparency means,” Michels said.
The bookstore employees attended a staff meeting on Aug. 14 and were told that the bookstore was moving and alternate locations were being reviewed, according to Rachel Epstein, special events coordinator. They attended another staff meeting on Aug. 29, where they were told the bookstore would move to the Alaska Airlines Center. “This planning process involves leadership from academic and administrative areas across campus. Project planning is executed by Facilities and Campus Services, but all approval must go through the Chancellor and Chancellor’s cabinet,” Schultz said. Students first received a brief email on Sept. 6 regarding the bookstore move from Chancellor Cathy Sandeen titled “Upcoming UAA Department Moves.” “These moves align with our campus master plan, which calls for centralizing student services near the campus core so that they are easily accessible. That’s a good thing, and it will be happening soon,” Sandeen said in the email. Another email titled “Departmental Moves Update” was sent on Sept. 20 specifying when the bookstore would move and further emphasizing the UAA administration’s belief that the move will allow Enrollment Services to be more accessible. Readers can visit the UAA on the Move website to learn more about recent departmental moves. Students are encouraged to send their questions to uaa_ ayadmin@alaska.edu, where they will be used to make additions to a FAQ.
CELEBRATING THE FUTURE OF THE NORTH THROUGH DESIGN. ARCHITECTURE
TO
FASHION,
FURNITURE TO FOOD, KEYNOTES AND TALKS, WORKSHOPS AND WEEKEND SOCIALS.
AN ANCHORAGE MUSEUM PROJECT
OCT 4-12 thenorthernlight.org
facebook.com/tnlupdates
IN COLLABORATION WITH ALASKA DESIGN FORUM, AIGA ALASKA, SEED LAB AND OTHERS
ANCHORAGEDESIGNWEEK.ORG
@tnl_updates
@tnl_updates
youtube.com/tnlnews
soundcloud.com/tnlnews
NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
02
Unionization proves to be a difficult process By Christina Swayney features2@thenorthernlight.org
Kevin Clarkson, the Attorney General of Alaska, is seeking to pass a law that would make it more difficult for employees who are part of a union to be required to opt-in at every paycheck. Clarkson plans to do so by enacting The Right to Work Law, which has already passed in 28 states since 2018. Mark Janus is a healthcare worker in Illinois who argued at the Supreme Court in 2018 that his First Amendment right of free speech was challenged in the case Janus vs. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFCME. Janus’ case was that unions had no right to take out money from worker’s paychecks as a condition of employment. He said that unions use those dues to further ideological and political motivations that may not be supported by the worker. “But what is unfair and unconstitutional is forcing me — and millions of other American workers — to pay to advance policies we oppose just so we can serve our communities and our state,” Janus said in a 2018 Chicago Tribune article. The Supreme Court favored Janus and enacted the Right to Work law in Illinois. Clarkson is working to pass the law in Alaska as well. Under the law, union members would be required to opt-in every time they received a paycheck if they wish to continue being charged dues and be a part of the union, according to a suggestion made by Clarkson in a 12-page memo sent to Gov. Mike Dunleavy earlier this year. Clarkson believes union dues infringe First Amendment rights for employees. “This law also requires that the State have clear and compelling evidence of a state employee’s choice to pay union dues. If the State receives a direct request to stop paying union dues, the State must honor that request or else it would be violating the employee’s First Amendment rights,” Clarkson said in a Sept. 16 press release. The AFCME has an oppos-
ing view on why The Right to Work Law is present, according to a statement on their official website. “This case aims to take away the freedom of working people to join together in strong unions to speak up for themselves and their communities,” the statement said. Unions negotiate issues with the government, such as higher wages, fair labor laws and working conditions. Maria Arroyo works at The Westmark Hotel in Anchorage and also runs her own business, Rio Arroyo Cosmetics. Arroyo has been a part of a labor union at The Westmark since she started working there five years ago. She states that union dues should be optional, but also thinks that unions have benefits. “The union is good because they get us health insurance. If we have any issues as employees, we can call them for help. They also ensure that we get enough hours and help us find jobs,” Arroyo said. When The Right to Work Law began passing in the U.S. in 2018, unions expected to take a major hit and lose membership across the board. However, unions as a whole in the U.S. have increased membership, according to recent data. “Unions have an interest as to what happens in government because they are pro-labor. It is surprising that after The Right to Work Law passed, the membership for unions increased,” UAA associate professor Sharon Chamard, Ph.D., said. Lily Eskelsen García, President of The National Education Association, or NEA, the biggest union in the U.S., gave a statement in a 2018 press release after the passing of The Right to Work Law. “Even though the Supreme Court sided with corporate CEOs and billionaires over working Americans, unions will continue to be the best vehicle on the path to the middle class,” Garcia said in the press release. Some Alaskan workers believe that not being forced to partake in union dues is beneficial. Tariq Winiavski, who also works at The Westmark in Anchorage, has to pay union dues
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ALASKA STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION/AFSCME LOCAL 52’S FACEBOOK
State employees protest outside of the Hotel Captain Cook on Sept. 3, standing against the Dunleavy Administration’s involvement in union affairs.
and would rather not. “I think it’s a good idea that they don’t take out the dues from my paychecks. It means more money in my pocket,” Winiavsk said. The Right to Work Law is not yet enacted in Alaska. Clarkson filed suit against the Department
of Administration, or DOA, on Sept. 16 as a push to have the law passed. “Because we want to make sure we are acting in compliance with the Constitution, we are asking the court to confirm the State’s actions in halting dues deductions when direct-
ly requested by an employee,” Clarkson said in the Sept. 16 press release. Official updates on this developing case can be found on The State of Alaska site.
NEWS 03 Decoding student fees: Part three THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
By Jason Herr layout@thenorthernlight.org
UAA students can find the benefits of paying student fees most anywhere around campus. The Transportation Fee helps to get students to class on time, the Green Fee works to keep water bottles full throughout the day and the Athletics Fee helps to keep students physically fit. Transportation Fee — $13 flat fee for students registered in three or more credits. The Transportation Fee provides access to a variety of transportation services on campus and in Anchorage, such as the Seawolf Shuttle, the UPASS program through People Mover or AnchorRides. The Seawolf Shuttle is the bus system used on-campus to ferry students to other campus locations, including the University Center. Times and routes vary based on the day. For students wanting to explore offcampus, UAA has partnered with Anchorage’s People Mover to implement the UPASS program. This program allows UAA students to use their Wolfcard ID to obtain free passage on the municipal bus system that travels throughout Anchorage and to more distant Eagle River and Wasilla communities. AnchorRides is a shared-ride service that provides transportation to individuals with disabilities that prevent them from using the fixed-route system. Riders must be eligible for services. However, the Transportation Fee does not currently cover all transportation costs for these services. “The fee is supplemented with funding from parking permit revenue as currently, all the revenue generated is deposited into the same operating budget,” Glenna Muncy, UAA Parking Services director, said. A People Mover annual pass costs $660, while the cost of a monthly permit for Valley Transit is $120. The value of the parking fee is found in the money saved by students, according to Muncy. “By paying $13 per semester, a student receives the equivalent of $2,100 worth of transportation services for a maximum charge of $39 per year,” Muncy said. The Green Fee — $3 flat fee for students registered in three or more credits at the main UAA campus. Though only $3, the Green Fee can be used to make big changes in sustainability and earth-friendly programs on the UAA campus. The fee is used by the Green Fee Board to pay for and implement student-led initiatives to create a more eco-friendly culture on campus. The Green Fee Board is a group of seven students, five of whom are elected in the spring semester. The remaining two students are appointed by USUAA, the UAA student government. The board oversees initiatives proposed by their peers and fellow students, as well as pursues their own sustainable campus projects. “You get a lot of sustainable [and] reusable campaigns, so students have done reusable water bottles [and] reusable coffee mugs to give out to encourage people to reuse water bottles, to stop buying plastic bottles or reuse coffee mugs so they are not getting paper cups,” Zac Clark, the UAA Green Fee Board coordinator, said. A well-known program initiated by the Green Fee Board is the numerous hydration stations found around campus. At the station, students, staff and faculty are able to refill their water bottles or containers, instead of adding their empty containers to the trash. Other board-led initiatives include the
removal of plastic straws from the many food and drink venues around campus, replacing plastic with paper straws. The board has provided reusable, bamboo straws to students in the past, according to Clark. The Green Fee Board has also provided students with reusable shopping totes at past events, such as Bike to School Day on April 25 in honor of Earth Day. The initiative aimed to help remove plastic bag waste from UAA receptacles. The Municipality of Anchorage plastic bag ban into effect on Sept. 15, requiring retailers to remove plastic bags from their stores and provide a reusable or more eco-friendly solution. Larger Green Fee Board projects have included a bike-sharing program, new LED lighting in some of the residence halls and the exploration of installing additional solar panels buildings to improve sustainability through renewable energy.
The Athletics Fee - $9 per credit for students registered in six or more credits with a maximum charge of $108. The Athletics Fee is split into many different services, ranging from expenses associated with Seawolf sports to facility maintenance on both the Seawolf Sports Complex and the Alaska Airlines Center. “The Athletic[s] Fee covers both recreation and athletics. So, what that gives students primarily is access to our building, all of our facilities, any time of the day that we’re open,” John David Gilbert, a recreation program supervisor at the Seawolf Sports Complex, said. “It also helps with intramurals and club sports. It covers a huge portion of the costs of that.” One of the primary benefits for students who have paid the fee is access to the Seawolf Sports Complex’s many different exercise rooms, programs and facilities. The complex houses different work out areas, an Olympic weight lifting room, a stationary bike room, a dance studio, a pool, basketball courts and an ice-rink. The Athletics Fee is small compared to what other local gyms will charge for the same services, such as the Alaska Club or Planet Fitness, according to Gilbert. Recreation activities and opportunities are also available through the intramural sports office in the Seawolf Sports Complex, though additional fees do apply. Ice-rink availability will change this year as the Seawolf hockey team moves their games to the Seawolf Sports Complex from the Sullivan Arena. Due to NCAA regulations, this will limit the hours and availability of the rink to students, according to Gilbert. A portion of the Athletics Fee is used to support Seawolf sports teams and events, which includes transportation to events at off-campus venues and team budgets and operating expenses. The fee is also used to provide free or reduced admission to Seawolf sporting events, allowing students to support the university’s teams at home games.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UAA GREEN FEE BOARD FACEBOOK
The Green Fee Board celebrated Earth Day in 2018 by hosting a Bike to School Day event for UAA students.
PHOTOS BY JASON HERR
The Seawolf Shuttle is one of the transportation services that the Transportation Fee helps to pay for.
Basketball courts are one of the many facilities located in the Seawolf Sports Complex on the UAA Campus.
The remaining student fees will be discussed in future issues of The Northern Light.
The ice rink at the Seawolf Sports Complex will be home to the Seawolf hockey team starting this semester.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
04
UAA | University Art Analysis - A history of art devoured
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
By Robert Gant features@thenorthernlight.org
A mysterious poster of a mythical cannibal within the UAA/APU Archives and Special Collections leaves more questions than answers. Baba Yaga, or iБаба Яга, is a mythical ogre woman from Russian folk tales. She lived in a forest hut that stood on chicken legs, flew with the use of a mortar and pestle and ate children that she abducted and cooked, according to Britannica. The Baba Yaga poster was found within box UAA-0105,
UAA, Theatre and Dance Department posters, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage. The box contained multitudes of original artwork from various theater productions, but one particular stack was different than the rest. “The Adventures of Baba Yaga” poster is a kirigami screen print, meticulously assembled from cut paper and ink. The original screenprint had a small signature in the corner that appears to credit the poster to A. Gant. There was no Gant with the same initials in the
PHOTO COURTESY OF AARP BULLETIN WEBSITE
Fran Lautenberger, playwright and director of “The Adventures of Baba Yaga,” is now retired and living in Cape Cod.
UA directory. Further research found no matches. The dates of the production are shrouded in obscurity. The original screenprint of the poster lists the dates of the play as Jan. 19-28, 1995. The UAA Department of Theatre and Dance production history page lists it as third in a list of productions categorized as 1995-1996. A previous TNL article cites “The Adventures of Baba Yaga” as a 1996 play. “The Adventures of Baba Yaga” was written and directed by Fran Lautenberger. Lautenberger was born in New Jersey. She was a professor at UAA from 1986-2012, a total of 25 years. Theater, particularly costume, puppetry and lighting design, were Lautenberger’s specialties, reflected by her course list. “I love the theater and puppetry, what can I say,” Lautenberger said in a 2004 interview with TNL. “Even in retirement, I can never picture myself very far away from it.” Carl Lautenberger, Fran Lautenberger’s husband, served in the Coast Guard for 30 years. He received a posthumous medal for his public service in 2011. Lautenberger dedicated her final production “Bring Back the Sunshine” to her late husband. She spent four years writing the musical with assistance from UAA alumni Jonathan Minton. “It was a big thing for me,” Minton said in a 2012 interview with TNL. “To have somebody whose opinion you respect and trust come to you and offer you something that really is a very personal project, and trust you with it, it’s an invaluable experience.” Lautenberger has since retired to Cape Cod. In her retirement, Lautenberger has still not entirely forfeited teaching. As of 2018, she has been documented giving workshops on fraud prevention for AARP Massachu-
IMAGE COURTESY OF THE UAA/APU CONSORTIUM LIBRARY ARCHIVES
A screen-printed image was used to advertise Lautenberger’s show based on Baba Yaga.
setts. The lines of reality and mythology blur when information is not readily available. There is no documented Russian ogress who devours children, but without proper documentation, the sands of time devour facts. The purpose of the University Art Analysis reflects the battle against the loss of information. With nothing but an initial, a dusty box and a retired professor, the mystery of Baba Yaga
remains veiled. Archives and Special Collections at the UAA/APU Consortium Library may be viewed on the third floor from 10 a.m.4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday. For more information, visit archives. consortiumlibrary.org or call (907) 786-1849. Have you seen art at UAA you want to know more about? Contact Robert Gant at fea tures@thenorthernlight.org.
Club Profile: Alaska Pagans’ Thing
IMAGE COURTESY OF ALASKA PAGANS’ THING CLUB PAGE ON THE UAA WEBSITE
By Sky Kelsey Contributor
Halloween is fast approaching and old stories of ghosts and spirits inevitably leap into one’s mind. Samhain, a pagan holiday observed in the fall, is the 2,000-year-old Celtic precursor to Halloween, according to Wake Forest University Press. At the University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Pagans’ Thing is the UAA student club that jumps out with a nod to the
often-supernatural fall spirit. The club primarily focuses on spreading accurate information of pagan religions, while drawing people together under a common spiritual and cultural interest, according to club founder Jacob Ballard. Pagan is a broad, often misunderstood word, and he founded the club to raise awareness and foster a religious community on campus, Ballard said. “When I first started UAA, I only saw ten clubs, including many Christian faith groups. I started this club to raise positive awareness for pagans in Alaska,” Ballard said. “My purpose for creating Alaska Pagans’ Thing is to offer a safe, judgefree community for practicing and non-practicing pagans.” There are a large variety of religions that fall under the branch labeled paganism, and pagans in Alaska differ on who and what they believe in. Jacob Ballard considers himself to be a “non-practicing Heathen” who studies ancient Icelandic gods and culture, but the
club’s focus also encompasses other pagan beliefs. Morgan, an active club member who prefers not to disclose his last name, describes Paganism as a belief in gods who are “imperfect individuals who reflect our imperfect world.” Ancient Heathen folklore “describe[s] an outlook that faces life squarely, ready to take on its challenges and savor its joys,” according to The Troth, an international heathen organization. “[The Alaska Pagans’ Thing club] let me know that there were more of us out there,” Morgan said. It’s a widespread belief that pagan holidays have gone handin-hand with Christian beliefs, and many modern-day festivals still incorporate ancient aspects associated with their Pagan counterparts. Ancient Romans celebrated the winter solstice during the same time that was later recognized as the birth of Jesus Christ, according to CBS News. Yule, the ancient Germanic winter solstice festival, was
also celebrated during the time Christian calendars now recognize as Christmas, according to Seattle Weekly. Alaska Pagans’ Thing is concerned with advancing their outreach efforts and would like to do more volunteer work in Anchorage to show that pagans can have a positive presence within their community, Ballard said. The club’s plans include serving food at Beans Café or volunteering in clean-up efforts in Anchorage public parks, Ballard said. The club hopes to bring a positive presence to set itself apart from controversial international organizations with selfexpressed ties to Paganism. Alaska Pagans’ Thing does not support any extremist views, nor does it perform any kind of ritual practice, Ballard said. The club is primarily concerned with providing a safe community for people to learn and grow within their respective religious interests. “We are law-abiding citizens – we don’t run around with
freshly, flayed goat hides whipping people,” Morgan said. There is no unifying structure or rituals that are practiced by the club. Modern rituals largely rely on archeological and mythological depictions that often lack fine details. Many pagans view the variation in practices as a grassroots style that encourages independent thought and community engagement, according to Ballard. By all accounts, the Alaska Pagans’ Thing club is less concerned with demonic summoning and more concerned with having a positive community impact and providing a meeting place for all pagans. “We like to be special and confusing,” Ballard said. “Look for the kilt around campus and feel free to say ‘hi’.” The club will also be hosting a Samhain celebration this coming October. The next club meetings will be Sept. 26, Oct. 10 and Oct. 24.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
05
Word of Mouth: UAA’s new food truck scene boasts Texas-style barbecue and Filipino favorites By Joey Carreon events@thenorthernlight.org
When we list places with great food truck scenes, we think East Los Angeles, Portland and New York. Enter: University of Alaska Anchorage, the newest addition to the list. Starting this fall, Seawolf Dining introduced the “Eat Fleet”— a bevy of food trucks now available as dining options Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.2 p.m. in the Cuddy Quad. The opportunity to bring the fleet to campus came about due to the closure of Cuddy Hall’s marketplace, Seawolf Dining’s marketing manager Kari Sellars said. “In order to compensate for the lack of dining available at Cuddy Marketplace and lack of food options, we thought it was a great opportunity to explore how food trucks will do on campus. Because food trucks are trendy, fun and often offer a delicious dining experience, we wanted to check into that to see how it plays out on campus and how students receive it,” Sellars said. The food trucks that have appeared in the Quad since the fall semester started are Jeepney by Adobo Grill, Waffles and Whatnot and Smokehouse Grill. Yeti Dogs and other food trucks are in the process of joining the fleet, Sellars said. There is no set schedule available, but Seawolf Dining consistently posts the food truck schedule to Facebook and Instagram. Three weeks into the semes-
ter, students have been enamored with the new on-campus dining option. Freshman John Rick Nobleza’s first on-campus food truck experience came from Smokehouse Grill, an Anchoragebased food truck delivering “Texas-style BBQ,” according to their Facebook page. After grabbing a brisket sandwich, Nobleza said he would “for sure” return to Smokehouse Grill in the future, as well as try other food trucks. UAA faculty have enjoyed the Eat Fleet as well. Jennifer Spencer, an academic adviser for the College of Health, has been an avid fan of food trucks on campus during events such as Campus Kickoff. “They’ve done food trucks for events, so I’ve had food [from the trucks] then,” Spencer said. “I think [having food trucks on campus is] pretty cool to have different options to eat every day. I just wish they were also here on Fridays.” My personal favorite food truck to appear on campus thus far is Jeepney by Adobo Grill — a food truck that markets themselves as a “Filipino Fusion” joint. Starting as a pop-up for their main restaurant, Adobo Grill, in 2014 at Anchorage’s Weekend Market, Jeepney was born in 2017 and has since been a family-run operation, owner Donna Manalo said. Along with Smokehouse Grill, Jeepney consistently appears at various events across the state like Mount Marathon and the Bear Paw Festival. Jeepney keeps its fanbase excited for more by consistently
switching up their menu. “We first wanted to sell fusion items different from most Filipino restaurants. The first item was the sisig [a traditional Filipino minced meat] burrito and it’s still one of our most popular items,” Manalo said. “Soon after, we came up with the nachos, fries and adobo bowls. Then we started doing [lunch] plates since people wanted lunch plates.” The opportunity came about for Jeepney to consistently appear on campus when Seawolf Dining first invited them to last year’s Campus Kickoff. Since then, Seawolf Dining kept in contact with Jeepney, which led them to become a part of this fall’s Eat Fleet. Since the first week of the semester, business on campus has been great, but different from their standard customers, according to Manalo. “It’s a bit different. We try to have some cheaper items [for college students] like weekly specials, $10 lunch plates and $5 items,” Manalo said. “A lot of students always ask when we’re going to be back again.” The partnership between Seawolf Dining and the fleet has been a fruitful one for both sides, with the trucks enjoying business from new clientele and Seawolf Dining not hearing anything but positive feedback, Sellars said. “We’re going to continue with the same plan. We’ve opened up some seating right there at the [Cuddy] Quad — we wanted a place where people could run and grab their food and come back to have a nice workplace to sit and eat at, as opposed to sit-
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEEPNEY’S INSTAGRAM
Jeepney features plate-lunch deals, including this plate with poke, pansit and lechon (roasted pig).
PHOTO BY JOEY CARREON
Smokehouse Grill attracted a crowd in front of the Cuddy Hall in early September.
ting on the lawn or on the benches outside,” Sellars said. While schedules for which trucks will appear on which days can be found on Seawolf
Dining’s social media pages, each food truck has its own menus that can be viewed online through Yelp or their respective websites.
UAA draws the line between friendship and harassment By Robert Gant features@thenorthernlight.org
An extroverted freshman at UAA determined to make new friends on campus has been accused in multiple cases of harassment. Andrew Yerger is a history major. He wanders the area between his dorm to the Student Union, asking every passerby if they listen to the popular 60s rock band The Doors. Yerger began this habit at the beginning of the fall 2019 semester. Yerger claimed he had no friends prior to employing this icebreaker strategy. He believed that “reducing the size” of the campus would bring students closer together. “What I set out to do was reduce the size of the campus,” Yerger said. “I have a lot of great friends now, and I’ve started a cult with wonderful people in it. I didn’t know any of these people before.” Yerger has developed what he refers to as a small cult following. He hosts a group chat entitled “The Doors of Perception.” Currently, there are 16 official members. Every evening, he asks his group chat which The Doors album they are listening to. Their
love of the band led Yerger and four of the members of The Doors of Perception to play “L.A. Woman” by The Doors over KRUA on Sept. 19 and perform karaoke together. Ellen Carty is a junior marketing major and one of what Yerger calls “children of Morrison,” or a member of his cult. “[Yerger] will chat for hours,” Carty said. “He wanted a way to bring UAA together and bridge the gap between classes. Weird guy, but to each their own.” Undisclosed students have supposedly reported Yerger’s behavior as harassment, according to Yerger. However, he denies that this behavior qualifies as harassment. “I’m not saying anything vulgar, I’m not disrespecting anyone’s personal space and I’m not touching anyone,” Yerger said. “I’m just asking people about a band from the 60s.” The situation escalated when Yerger specifically told students not to report him for this behavior. Yerger found that since he told them not to, he was reported more frequently. Yerger said he was detained on Sept. 19 after encountering a member of the University Police Department in Eugene Short Hall. Yerger recounted that the officer said that he had shouted
the name of the lead singer of The Doors upstairs, but Yerger claimed that he had merely whispered it. UPD denied that Yerger was detained, but confirmed Yerger was spoken to about his behavior. Yerger claimed he was prevented from attending his class and was told that any further reports of harassment would lead to Yerger being arrested or expelled. Yerger cites his lack of medication for his ADHD as reasoning for his behavior. “[ADHD is] part of who I am,” Yerger said. “I never saw it as a disorder.” ADHD is considered a disability by UAA’s Disability Support Services. It is unknown if this diagnosis is official, or if it will be taken into account when determining the potential expulsion of Yerger. Since the alleged incident, Yerger has decided to ask for the consent of people before approaching them about the band in order to prevent another report of harassment. “I’m not going to stop being me,” Yerger said. “Being me is the only thing I know how to do.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW YERGER
Andrew Yerger is known for asking other students about their love for the popular 60s rockband, The Doors.
& AE
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
06
Lucy’s provides fine dining at affordable prices By Anna Berry arts2@thenorthernlight.org
Many students studying in UAA’s Cuddy Hall don’t realize that instead of going to the nearest vending machine or cafeteria, they can use their Wolfbucks in the adjoining room. On the other side of the glass door at Lucy’s, students encounter fine dining in a professional atmosphere at an average of $15 per entree. Lucy’s, a UAA restaurant that provides trained culinary arts students with lab experience, was founded in 1994 with a generous donation from the Cuddy family. Hospitality professor Riza Brown supervises students in the restaurant. She provides them with a week and a half of extensive training before they go on the job. Twice a semester, the students enrolled in the class create a menu. Each chef in the bakery comes up with a unique dish and the kitchen collaborates to create “a menu that is seasonal, uses local ingredients, is innovative, but still able to have the products
accessible,” Brown said. Then, the students get to work, serving customers two hours per day, Monday-Friday. Lucy’s is divided into three main sections: the bakery, kitchen and dining room. “In order for [students] to be successful bakers and chefs, they need to understand the holistic part of owning a restaurant or owning a bakery, and a big part of that is customer service,” Brown said. To provide feedback to individual students, Lucy’s leaves comment cards on each table so that the customers can comment on the quality of food and service — comments such as “‘make more eye contact’ or ‘speak louder,’” Brown said. Lucy’s teaches students how to follow the same fine dining protocol as Europe and Australia, Brown says. Students learn to input orders electronically, to communicate with the kitchen and to deal with allergies and other customer concerns in the dining room as well as in the kitchen. “It’s really beneficial to [students] because it
helps them understand the dialogue between what a customer is saying to their servers and what the servers say to them when they come back into the kitchen,” Brown said. Jaydon Mitchell, a UAA culinary arts alumnus who now works as Brown’s lab assistant, said that Lucy’s was helpful to him when he went through the program. “It’s a good start into the hospitality industry… it’s a controlled environment so you won’t get as much craziness that you’ll probably get out in the real world,” Mitchell said. Mitchell’s signature recipe when he worked at Lucy’s as a chef was grilled ostrich with chimichurri. “If you were to go eat anywhere in town, to get some of this stuff it would be upwards of $50, $60 at least for a dish, because I don’t know where else you’re going to get ostrich here [in Anchorage],” Mitchell said. Rachel Pride, a culinary arts major and waitress at Lucy’s, said that her signature dish was a sriracha corn salsa, which went with one of their salads.
PHOTO BY ANNA BERRY
Culinary arts students (from left to right), Ian Walker, Sam Hokanson and Rachel Pride, learn their trade through working at Lucy’s.
“Cooking is not just an art, it’s a science… I think I’ve learned just try your best. Try to get it right the first time — you’re not going to get it right the first time, but practice is important,” Pride said. Lucy’s is a nonprofit. All of the proceeds from dining sales go to purchasing new ingredients, and tips earned by the students are put towards purchasing a field trip for students
to a restaurant in Anchorage, such as the Crow’s Nest. “Many of [the students] have never set foot in a fine dining restaurant, so it’s a really good experience,” Brown said. Pride recommended the UAA culinary arts program to those who are interested in the restaurant industry. “If you have a passion for cooking, you should
try to learn a few things from UAA,” Pride said. Lucy’s is open from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday-Friday. The last seating is at 12:30 p.m. Currently, Lucy’s accepts reservations or limited walk-ins and plans to introduce carry-out later in the semester. They also have a bakery cart outside the restaurant on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9-11 a.m.
Music and art majors share more than just a building
to pursue piano when she was 5 years old and violin when she arts2@thenorthernlight.org was 8, but she claims she still has a lot more to learn. Although art and music stu“Since I started at a young dents share the Fine Arts Build- age, I thought that I’d have it all ing at UAA, they do not often down by now in my late teens… interact, according to art major that wasn’t the case at all,” McKClaire Kudyba. oy said. “Even though we are all in In addition, both disciplines the same building and are part of necessitate practice outside of the ‘arts,’ I find people still keep classes. Kudyba pointed out that to themselves,” Kudyba said. there are some studio classes in Despite art and music classes the art field, but some work is being separate in the building, scheduled for outside of class. Kudbya and other fine arts stu- She likened this to practice for dents seem to appreciate their music majors. disciplines for similar reasons. “Because it’s a skill that Catherine McKoy, pursuing you’re working towards, it’s defa bachelor of arts in music, saw initely important to practice,” foundational classes, such as Kudyba said. music theory, as a way to masTravis Friesen, working on ter the basics in order to become his bachelor of music in permore creative later on in her ca- formance, has taken several art reer. classes and sees broader simi“[Music theory] is all about larities between art and music. learning the structure and learn- Friesen said that composing muing all the rules so that way you sic is a creative act, and so is art. know what [rules] to break lat“With writing music, you’re er,” McKoy said. trying to create stuff, and with Kudyba had similar thoughts art [as well], every time you on art. draw something you’re pretty “Learning to draw properly much creating something out of and having a structure is really nothing,” Friesen said. important before you can fully Seeing a work of art, as well get more creative,” Kudyba said. as listening to a piece of music, She also said that some peo- can awaken certain emotions in ple assume that studying art is the observer, according to Frieasy. esen. “It’s not. You have to do a lot McKoy, Kudyba and Friesen of critical thinking, especially all expressed different reasons when it comes to designing proj- for dedicating themselves to ects and thinking really hard their discipline. about what a project is supposed “Writing music and making to convey,” Kudyba said. art is a way of relaxation, trySimilarly, McKoy said that ing to get into the zone,” Friesen seriously pursuing music was said. more difficult than she had exKudyba felt that art is what pected in her youth. The dynam- she was born to do. ic soundtracks to cartoons such “If I didn’t have art, I don’t as “Looney Tunes” first got her think I would be happy,” Kudyinterested in music and led her ba said. By Anna Berry
PHOTO BY ANNA BERRY
The Fine Arts Building is home to courses in art, music and theater at UAA.
McKoy saw both music and art as a way to make the world more interesting. “I don’t think a lot of people realize how much art is involved in our lives. Getting in the car listening to the radio, that’s music. Going into a store, there’s music there, but as well as the design of the store and the layout, that’s art. Without that, it’d be very bland,” McKoy said. It seems that art and music majors may have more in common than just a building.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAIRE KUDYBA
The ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus’ is a watercolor work by Claire Kudyba.
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
07
Seawolves win first two conference games of the season By Lauren Cuddihy
PHOTO COURTESY OF SKIP HICKEY
sports@thenorthernlight.org
Last week, the Seawolf volleyball team traveled to Washington to compete against their first two Great Northwest Athletic Conference rivals, winning both games. They first met Seattle Pacific on the court at the Royal Brougham Pavilion, winning 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-11) Two days later, they traveled to the Marcus Pavilion to compete against Saint Martin’s, winning 3-1 (25-12, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20). Sophomore setter Ellen Floyd helped carry the team through both games, with 29 assists against Seattle Pacific and a season-high 52 assists against Saint Martin’s. Using Floyd’s consistency, senior Vanessa Hayes and sophomore Eve Stephens carried the offensive team through both games. Against SPU, Hayes accumulated 11 kills while Stephens managed seven. They helped improve the Seawolves’ average for the night to outhit their rivals, .375 to .052, respectively. Head coach Chris Green was aware of Seattle Pacific’s errors
Sophomore Eve Stephens tied her career high of 23 kills, naming her GNAC’s kill leader.
and used it to the Seawolves’ advantage. “We were efficient and did a fantastic job of making SPU pay for its mistakes tonight. I thought we executed our offense with a level of confidence that I hadn’t yet seen this season, so that’s very encouraging as well,” Green said. The Seawolves made a total of just five errors during the night, in contrast to Seattle Pa-
cific’s 24 errors. In addition, while the Seawolves made eight blocks and five aces, SPU managed just one of each. Moving into their match against Saint Martin’s, the Seawolves were tested a bit more, but still managed to come out with the win. This extended UAA’s win streak against Saint Martin’s to a total of 23 in a row. “Fortunately, we played well
enough in the fourth set to get the win. Ellen [Floyd] made some good decisions on her sets, and Eve [Stephens] kept coming through with big kill after big kill. We are happy to be 2-0 in the league, especially with our first three matches being on the road,” Green said. Stephens continued to carry the team with kills, tying her career-high with a total of 23 kills, also helping to name her
GNAC’s kill leader. She helped propel the team above Saint Martin’s with a .284 hit average, ahead of SMU’s .059. Junior middle blocker Kayla McGlathery contributed to the Seawolves’ offense by collecting 12 kills for the night, being UAA’s second leader in kills, behind Stephens. Hayes came in as third, collecting seven kills for the night, but also managing to earn four aces and one assist. In addition, after coming back from an injury that kept her out of the season so far, sophomore libero Talia Leauanae solidified a new career-high in digs, accumulating 16 for the night. She also made two assists. After the GNAC opening weekend, the Seawolves currently sit in a four-way tie for first in the conference, along with UAF, Montana State Billings and Western Washington. All four teams have an undefeated 2-0 record. The Seawolves will continue their GNAC competition with a game against UAF on Sept. 24 and a game against Montana State Billings on Sept. 28. For a full UAA volleyball schedule, visit www.goseawolves.com.
Hooper-turned-trainer Jhayde Zamora adapts his love for the game By Joey Carreon events@thenorthernlight.org
In the summer of 2018, Anchorage hooper Jhayde Zamora’s basketball journey took a turn for the worst. “I tore my ACL. I was laying on the ground with my eyes closed and everything was black and I heard a voice say ‘are you good? Somebody get this man a chair and some ice,’” Zamora said. That voice was NBA player Jamal Crawford. During the tryout for Crawford’s pro-amateur league, The Crossover, Zamora suffered the first major injury of his basketball career. “I was humbled because Jamal Crawford actually took my hand and helped me up — an NBA player with some of the greatest handles ever [helped me up]. We were talking and [Crawford] told me ‘you got handles, bro.’ I was like ‘what? Jamal Crawford told me I had handles?’ The person with some of the best handles to ever play the game said I had handles. That’s something I can tell my kids someday,” Zamora said. Born and raised in Anchorage, Zamora has been playing basketball since he was 5 years old. His childhood was spent playing for travel teams, local leagues and with his siblings in their driveway. Injuries have since sidelined Zamora away from the game that he grew up loving. However, since his ACL tear,
Zamora has focused on his mental health and allowed his love for basketball as a player to adapt. This grew into the “Get Better Daily” initiative — a social media movement, started by Zamora and his best friend Dondres McMorris, centered around the narrative of improving daily in basketball and in life. Zamora attended West Anchorage High School, where he graduated from in 2014. Zamora recalls his playing career for the West Eagles as one of turbulence. During his junior and senior years on West’s varsity team, Zamora struggled with his love for the game and his confidence playing within West’s system. “To be honest, I would not have called myself the most confident individual [while playing on the varsity team in high school]. I would put work in and I’d be the hardest worker on the squad, but come game time, I just wasn’t confident in myself,” Zamora said. After high school, Zamora didn’t have any scholarship offers to play college basketball. He chose to attend Impact Basketball, a basketball prep school in Las Vegas that has churned out plenty of NBA stars like Kevin Garnett and Kawhi Leonard. After eight months of playing at Impact, Zamora received a partial scholarship from Fort Lewis Community College in Durango, where he did not see any playing time due
to his redshirt status. While at Fort Lewis, however, Zamora kept in contact with some other schools — leading him to transfer to Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Washington in the fall of 2016. Zamora played two seasons for the Tritons before graduating in the spring of 2018 with a general associate’s degree. That summer after graduating, Zamora sustained the aforementioned ACL tear at the tryout for the Crossover league — the first major injury of his career. “That [tryout] was one of my last shots as far as the ultimate goal of playing professionally goes,” Zamora said. The injury and subsequent surgery led Zamora back to Alaska to live with his family. While recovering, Zamora struggled with depression regarding his uncertain future involving basketball. However, upon reflecting during his recovery period, Zamora buckled down and decided to put everything he had into his rehab. “That was the lowest of the lows of my life I guess you could say,” Zamora said. Zamora’s quick revelation came at a cost, however. In April of 2019, Zamora tore the same ACL again during a training session with his brother. “The doctors were telling me it was going to take 9-12 months to recover, but I was telling myself I was gonna be back in nine
months. So I kinda rushed the process,” Zamora said. After the second ACL tear, Zamora adopted the mentality of taking his recovery day-by-day without putting unrealistic expectations on himself. “I would get a lot of personal growth books to help me with the process and look up YouTube videos on how to stay patient. I was really just itching for knowledge on how to go about this process,” Zamora said. While rehabbing his own knee, Zamora began to train his little brother, JR, who was in middle school at the time. Zamora often spent hours in the gym with his crutches beside him, coaching JR while sitting on the floor. Along with JR, Zamora trained West High School students, including senior Liam Fick and junior Wiley Pickett, multiple times a week. Nowadays, Zamora’s clientele includes more than just his little brother and friends. Parents even began paying Zamora to train their kids. “I don’t charge [kids] because it’s all for the love of the game,” Zamora said. “Plus, I’m still on my journey as far as learning the game, so I don’t feel entitled to charge anybody as of right now. If I don’t help you get money from what I do, I’m not charging. This is solely me teaching you how to train and how to change your perspective on things.” While Zamora doesn’t charge, he has plans to start a basketball training business under the name
PHOTO BY JOEY CARREON
After two ACL tears, Jhayde Zamora is back on track to make a full recovery.
Get Better Daily. But for now, Zamora is happy to see his friends improve and accept donations from parents from time to time. “As a brand and as a business, I hope to become the No. 1 training program, as far as basketball skill development goes, in the state of Alaska… As far as GBD goes, I know that if you come and train with me, you’re going to improve. We’re in the building stages as far as this brand goes — and we’re just getting started.” Zamora said. With Zamora’s clients now entering pivotal points of their high school careers, he is looking forward to seeing their early mornings in the gym pay off. Not only does Zamora believe their basketball skills have improved, but that their minds have sharpened as well.
Reflecting on his own basketball journey and how it has led him to training, Zamora hopes to instill in his students the same sense of fearlessness and confidence when it comes to tackling obstacles. “Failures are just an illusion. Anything negative is an illusion. The only way I see it is that negative words like failure are just progression towards truth… It’s a part of the process. It’s a part of the grind. It’s a part of whatever you do what you do. I don’t see failures as something bad because there’s no such thing as losses, only learning,” Zamora said. Players of all skill levels interested in working with Zamora can reach him via his Instagram.
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
08
Seawolf hockey heads into possible final season at UAA By Lauren Cuddihy
PHOTO COURTESY OF UAA MEDIA RELATIONS
sports@thenorthernlight.org
Just weeks away from their debut, the UAA hockey team is heading into the 2019-2020 season not knowing if it will be their last. Earlier this summer, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced their expectation of beginning a new league starting in 2021-2022, voting both UAA and UAF out of the league. Despite no final decisions, the Seawolves still have an uncertain future, especially in light of the current university budget crisis. UAA head coach Matt Curley offered little clarity or reassurance for the team during a WCHA annual media teleconference on Sept. 18. “We’re being very open and honest with the reality we’re faced with, and the reality is we’re not sure what the future holds. We can’t guarantee anything other than, ‘hey, we’re planning on moving forward,’” Curley said. During the original vote, seven of the 10 current WCHA schools voted in favor of continuing without the Seawolves. “We’re making sure we know those kids, we know the player pools [that] we’re building these relationships and building that trust. We hope when we do get some more definitive answers where we can say in confidence
With the 2019-2020 season about to begin, it could possibly be the last for the Seawolf hockey team.
that we’re here to stay, leaguewise, school-wise or other, that we’ll be able to move forward these kids, having been open, having been honest and having built that relationship. It certainly makes for an already-difficult place to get kids to come to that much harder,” Curley said. Despite the uncertainty, the Seawolves are heading into the current season confidently. Junior defensemen Aaron McPheters explained that the vote against them just provided the team more motivation. “With the WCHA news, it
STAFF CONTACTS Sports Editor Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org
Executive Editor Caleigh Jensen (907) 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org
Graphic Designer Michaeline Collins media@thenorthernlight.org
Layout Editor Jason Herr layout@thenorthernlight.org
PR and Events Coordinator Joey Carreon events@thenorthernlight.org Multimedia Editor Jennifer Lincoln multimedia@thenorthernlight.org
Features Editor Robert Gant features@thenorthernlight.org
Ad Manager Morgan Wilhelm admanager@thenorthernlight.org
Features Reporter Christina Swayney features2@thenorthernlight.org
Media Adviser Paola Banchero
Arts & Entertainment Editor John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org
As for the freshmen, Brandon Perrone (goaltender, Hauppauge, NY), Troy Robillard (defensemen, Coquitlam, B.C.), Dante Fantauzzi (defensemen, Woodbridge, ON), Nick Wicks (forward, Delta, B.C.), Alex Frye (forward, Clarkston, MI), Taylor Lantz (forward, Colerain, MN), Marcus Mitchell (forward, Kelowna, B.C.), Rylee St. Onge (forward, St. Catharines, ON, and Brayden Camrud (forward, Saskatoon, SK) will be joining the team for the upcoming season. McPheters explained that
A S S O C I AT E D CO L L E G I AT E P R ES S
3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508
Managing Editor Mary Ryan content@thenorthernlight.org
just gave us a reason to go out and compete and prove to them that we deserve and belong to be in the league,” McPheters said. The team is already making some changes to help improve and make a difference. Included in the changes are an additional nine new freshmen and a new primary game location. In contrast to the previous years, the Seawolves announced all their home games will be played at the Seawolf Sports Complex, previously the Wells Fargo Sports Complex, instead of the Sullivan Arena.
these additions will help improve the team significantly. “The new players joining the team have helped push the team to get better because everyone is competing for playing time and the coaching staff has added some good players that can come in and have an immediate impact for the program,” McPheters said. Senior defensemen Tomi Hiekkavirta added that the freshmen will help them reach their goals for the season. “As a team, our number one goal is winning the Governor’s Cup. That is our top priority. With the current coaching staff, moving back to campus and having some new guys coming in, I think our second goal is to be playing in the WCHA playoffs in March,” Hiekkavirta said. “I feel the team dynamic has been very good. The freshmen class is looking good and everybody is excited to start the season.” For the season, the roster now includes nine freshmen, five sophomores, eight juniors and five seniors, all of whom Curley is extremely grateful for. “The kids willing to stick with us are here for a reason,” Curley said. The Seawolves will kick off their 2019-2020 season with the annual Green & Gold scrimmage game on Oct. 5 at the Seawolf Sports Complex. For a full UAA hockey schedule, visit www.goseawolves. com.
Administrative Adviser Zac Clark
Arts & Entertainment Reporter Anna Berry arts2@thenorthernlight.org
The Northern Light is hiring! See our job listings at careers.alaska.edu.
The Northern Light is a proud member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The Northern Light is a weekly UAA publication funded by student fees and advertising sales. The editors and writers of The Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 2,000. The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy or parenthood. The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of UAA or the Northern Light.
N OT I C E O F N O N D I S C R I M I N AT I O N The University of Alaska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution. The University of Alaska does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally protected status. The University’s commitment to nondiscrimination, including against sex discrimination, applies to students, employees, and applicants for admission and employment. Contact information, applicable laws, and complaint procedures are included on UA’s statement of nondiscrimination available at www.alaska.edu/ nondiscrimination.
L E T T E RS A N D CO R R E C T I O N S P O L I C Y The Northern Light encourages readers to express their views in the newspaper. The Northern Light reserves the right to reject or publish any submission, online or in print. Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length for a letter to the editor is 250 words, and 150 words for letters specifically endorsing candidates for federal, local, or university office. A letter to the editor is written by someone who does not have authoritative knowledge on the subject they are discussing. Contributors are restricted to one published letter to the editor per month. Opinion pieces can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length for a contributor’s opinion piece is 450 words. Contributors are restricted to one published opinion piece per month. Opinion pieces written by staff of The Northern Light are limited to 800 words. An opinion piece that is published in The Northern Light should be written by someone who has authoritative knowledge on the subject they are discussing. Letters and opinion pieces are subject to editing for grammar, accuracy, length and clarity. All letters and opinion pieces must include names, major and/or group affiliation and contact information for verification purposes. The Northern Light will not publish anonymous letters or pseudonyms. Requests for corrections can be sent to editor@thenorthernlight.org. Print publication is subject to accuracy and available space. All corrections are posted online with the original story at www.thenorthernlight.org. The deadline for submissions is the Friday before publication at noon, no exceptions. The Northern Light newsroom is located on the first floor of the Student Union Room 118.