September 30, 2014
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UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
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‘Brazil’ foreign film: a fun and horrifying ride
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‘Utopian Dreams’ art show is a different world
Residence halls may give alcohol amnesty By Stephen Cress
news@thenorthernlight.org
Senshi-Con
International studies major Maren Sunderland models “lolita,” a Japanese street fashion, during Senshi-Con on Sept. 27.
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PAGE 10
RED ZONE: Burden of proof By Stephen Cress
news@thenorthernlight.org In a case of sexual assault on campus, there can be two different amounts of evidence required for action to be taken: “in preponderance of the evidence” and “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Title IX and the University Police Department use these burdens of proof to take appropriate action on behalf of students. Title IX’s burden of proof, “in preponderance of evidence,” is significantly less vigorous than that of UPD. It requires that there be just enough proof to make the victim’s story likely. Title IX officer Stephanie Whaley said this can even include cases where 51 percent of the evidence is in the victim’s favor. With this low burden of proof, Title IX is able to take action at a civil level, meaning they are able to make arrangements for students that do not extend into the legal system, especially regarding the university environment. Some of these arrangements include immediate sanctions through the Dean of Students. When a report is filed at the Title IX office, an investigative process begins. “First, we ensure that the person feels safe,” said Title IX investigator Jerry Trew. “We conduct interviews, give education, that sort of thing. If it’s more serious, we can offer interim measures, which could be a class change, a room change in a residential environment, an escort to and from class, a no-contact order for students ... we can do things like that to keep people safe on campus.” Whaley said every reported incident that involves UAA students is investigated. “When we’re doing an investigation, usually we’ll have someone come forward with complaints and we’ll talk to them about what’s going on,” Whaley said. “Then Jerry (Trew) and I will determine whether or not we need to talk to anybody else. If it happens on campus, we’re going to look into it every time. If it has the ability to bleed back onto campus or affect campus life, then we’ll 100 percent look into it.” Whaley also said victims may choose for Title IX to take an advocacy role as opposed to taking civil action. In this case, Title IX is able to provide support facebook.com/northernlightuaa
through counseling services and other resources that may aid someone dealing with the residual feelings of an incident. Both Title IX and UPD work closely to ensure the safety of all people on campus. “By law, all crimes involving sexual harassment are handed over to Title IX,” said UPD Lt. Michael Beckner. “Within 10 days of an incident, we have to notify Title IX and they do an independent investigation. Title IX deals with civil penalties whereas we would take our case forward to criminal penalties and prison.” Beckner said when a report is filed with UPD, the claims are reviewed with due diligence to see if they are viable. UPD’s burden of proof is “beyond a reasonable doubt.” If the claim constitutes a felony, it is then presented to a grand jury that can give probable cause or “reasonable belief” to indict the person and continue with the process. Once the person is indicted, they are arrested and then presented before a judge, where a trial will take place. Every person on campus has the right to feel safe and the right to be heard. Both UPD and Title IX take all reports of sexual harassment seriously, and victims are always encouraged to come forward to report their incidents, no matter how small it may seem. Anonymous reporting is also an option. “Universities are stressful,” Beckner said. “People are here to learn, and we don’t need the type of people that are there to harass, stalk or assault. If people don’t want the police involved, there is always an option to report.”
The Student Code of Conduct Review Committee is in the process of revising the Student Code of Conduct to include an “alcohol amnesty” policy for students. Under the policy, a person misusing alcohol that reports a serious incident on campus would not be discredited or face consequences for intoxication when bigger issues are at hand. The proposed policy change is part of UAA’s efforts to provide a more compassionate atmosphere on campus when it comes to reporting incidents. According to Michael Votava, director of Student Conduct and Ethical Development and chair of the Alcohol Review Committee, the University of Alaska Student Code of Conduct does not currently have an amnesty policy in place. “UAA does not currently have an amnesty policy for cases involving alcohol misuse,” Votava said. “The new rule would provide amnesty from minor policy violations when larger issues are at hand. The policy’s intent is to prevent someone misusing alcohol from not reporting something more serious.” Votava also said the policy is not limited to instances of sexual harassment or assault, and it extends to any instance where substance use may affect some-
one’s decision to call for help. Residence Life Director Ryan-Jasen Anders Henne, is a member of the Alcohol Review Committee supports the policy. “From a Residence Life perspective, we think it’s a good direction because it provides people within our community in the Residence Life spaces to get the help they need for people without real fear of consequences from conduct,” Henne said. “Again, there will be education and there will be conversation, but it will be different from a traditional conduct direction.” In 2012, The Dean of Students office underwent a self-study that found the Board of Regent’s Policy and Student Code of Conduct had not undergone major changes since 1998. There are currently 12 categories for Student Conduct. Five more categories will be added to account for advances in technology, campus growth, and changes in case laws and federal regulations. The changes are also designed to be more easily understood and have more exact definitions of what constitutes a violation. The draft of the proposed changes is currently under review by Scott Lewis, consultant for the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management.
Green and Gold Scrimmage
Save these numbers! • Uni ve rs i t y P o li c e DepA RTMENT:
Emergency? Call 911. To report an on-campus incident: 907-786-1120.
• TITL E I X:
907-786-4680
• Dea n o f S t ude n t s : 907-786-1214
• Stude n t H ea lt h & Cou n s e li n g c e n t e r: 907-786-4040
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Photo by Adam Eberhardt
A youth participant in the “Skate with the Seawolves” event gets a ride from freshman forward Anthony Conti on Sept. 26 before the Green and Gold Scrimmage.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, September 30, 2014
02
Smoke-free initiative update By Mallory Drover
features2@thenorthernlight.org UAA students voted to support smokefree initiative on campus last April. If passed, the smoke-free UAA policy would mean zero allowance of smoking tobacco products on campus. Students and faculty would be able to smoke off campus if they choose, but UAA would provide cessation services to staff and certain students. However, the student vote does not mean this policy will go into effect.
Associate professor of Public Health Gabriel Garcia gave an update of the smoke-free initiative’s progress. “A poll was recently conducted among UAA faculty and staff about whether they would support having a comprehensive smoke-free policy,” Garcia said. “This poll was initiated by the faculty and staff governance groups.” Garcia said he and his colleague Joy Chavez Mapaye are in the process of
analyzing the poll and will release the results to the UAA community once finished. “Data related to the poll, results of the smoke-free ballot initiative in the student elections last year and results of the student smoke/tobacco-free policy survey will be forwarded to the chancellor,” Garcia said. Chancellor Tom Case will ultimately decide whether a comprehensive smoke-
free policy will be enforced at UAA. The current smoking policy states that people cannot smoke within 20 feet of any building entrance on campus, and only one entrance per building may be designated for smoking. This has been the policy since September 2012 at UAA. If Case passes this policy, students and staff will be given at least a year to make the transition.
Photo by James R. Evans
Anchorage gets plundered: Pirate Pub Crawl 2014 A well-meaning column rife with clunky metaphors and horrible advice, Orange Rhymes With is the go-to place to break the monotony of classes and laugh at someone else’s misfortune.
By Evan Dodd Contributor
I’ve never been a big fan of bars. With the exception of the beer itself, they’re typically filled with loud drunks, dancing, desperate singles trying way too hard and a host of other situations I generally try to avoid. Unless you’re people watching or profiting from tragically overpriced drinks, I’ve just never found a good reason to spend too much time or money there. But slap a pirate costume onto all of that and you’ve got an entire different story. I’m talking, of course, about the Pirate Pub Crawl, an event in which a chunk of Anchorage loses its better judgment, and sets out to swashbuckle around downtown in order to follow the treasure map
to the 12 bars brave enough to participate. I had been enticed to join the evening with an offer of drinks and a free costume that had already been bought by a friend. However, when I put on the costume I quickly realized that I looked less like a pirate and more like Freddie Mercury dressed up like a pirate. I had to reevaluate my wardrobe choices before we went downtown. After a little bit of work and a beer, I somehow managed to look less like a male stripper and more like someone wearing a cheap pirate costume. Then we set sail for the event. On the way downtown we saw every sort of pirate imaginable. From halfhearted effort pirates, to those who went
all out, we even saw a group that had built an entire pirate ship on wheels and were “rowing” it down the sidewalk — much to the dismay of anyone not participating in the event. We got our treasure maps at McGinley’s and quickly decided that we didn’t need to hit all 12 bars, given that a chance at winning 80,000 Alaska Airlines miles (the grand prize) wasn’t worth a multi-day hangover. Somewhere between McGinley’s and the Captain Cook my pirate hat became the first casualty of the evening. A sudden gust of wind blew it into oncoming traffic and, quickly calculating that my life was probably worth more than $8, I resigned myself to looking like an out-ofplace gang member with only my pirate do-rag left covering my head. The two bars in the Captain Cook were participating in the event, something which can’t have been common knowledge given that we saw 10 rich couples trying desperately to have a fancy dinner in the midst of drunken pirate madness. We finally made port at F Street Station for some much-needed food and found every chair occupied by some form of pirate, with the exception of one confused Viking in the back. We briefly entered the Playhouse, only to find some loosely based pirate debauchery set to the blasting beat of what I can only assume were the last dying remnants of Nicki Minaj’s career. We quickly left for fear of getting too into character as dirty pirates by catching an airborne STD and headed across the street to the Avenue. Now, I have a love-hate relationship
with the Avenue. Normally I’m not a fan of seeing people I know, or large groups of those I don’t. However, I don’t tend to visit the Avenue until late in the evening when social interaction becomes slightly less of a concern, so occasionally it can be fun. I bring this up because the Avenue seems to have the inexplicable ability to force people to run into old acquaintances from high school that they’ve, quite frankly, forgotten about. This effect held true for all of us, which was all the more impressive when one considers that no one in our group went to high school in Anchorage and some were as far away as North Pole and Fairbanks. Shortly after the Avenue, someone initiated a dead sprint all the way to Mad Myrna’s, which may have contributed to our decision not to wait in the two-mile line to get in. Instead we called a cab, the driver of which seemed completely unfazed by the car full of pirates, and made port back at one of our houses. We, for some unknown reason, concluded the night by making chili and blasting (while singing along to) ‘90s music until the late hours of the morning. The following day we recovered from a long night of plundering by watching Jean-Claude Van Damme movies and heading out to a greasy diner breakfast, where we ran into other bleary-eyed expirates who hadn’t even bothered to take off their costumes. If I learned anything from the evening, it’s that Anchorage knows how to party, even for a ridiculous concept, and that homework can wait until the wee hours of Monday morning if there’s pirate treasure on the line.
03 FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Note-taking battle Pen and paper vs. laptops
Graphic by Stefanie Vigoren
By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org When the semester started last spring, history professor Curtis Murphy made one thing quite clear: laptops were not to be used in his classes. “I established a no-laptop policy for my classes last spring after hearing positive reports from my colleagues,” Murphy said. With the advent of laptops, many students are finding it more convenient to take notes with their laptops in class. But is it really more effective than taking notes by hand? According to
a study from Princeton University and the University of California it isn’t. Going by the title “The Pen is Mighter Than the Keyboard,” the study claims that while students are able to type quickly enough to copy the lecture verbatim, they often miss out on the finer details. “We show that whereas taking more notes can be beneficial, laptop note takers’ tendency to transcribe lectures verbatim rather than processing information and reframing it in their own words is detrimental to learning,” the study’s abstract reads. The temptation is clearly there. More and more students are taking notes with laptops because, as the study says, it allows them to copy the lecture down pretty much verbatim, which gives them more information in
the long run. It’s also quite a lot more expedient than taking notes with a pen and paper. “If I can help it, a laptop’s usually what I use. I can’t keep up on paper,” said Jack Gelione, a student at UAA. “I mainly just listen through the most of it and write down the highlights, or ear-catchers that I hear out of it, and after the lecture, just connect the dots based on memory from the main points.” Many students are able to use laptops or tablets efficiently for note-taking, but that hasn’t stopped many professors on campus from being cautious about it. Many no-laptop policies have been successful in keeping students more engaged. Ultimately, it comes down to
preference whether or not a student will take notes with a laptop or pen. However, the science and psychology behind it all provides a compelling reason for electronic note-takers to consider doing things the old-fashioned way.
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GROUNDWORK Keren Lowell Solo Exhibition Now on view Anchorage artist uses sculptural textiles to explore powerful ideas
Groundwork is part of the Patricia B. Wolf Solo Exhibition Series, with support from the Alaska State Council on the Arts; the National Endowment of the Arts, a federal agency; the Municipality of Anchorage; and the Anchorage Museum Foundation’s Alaska Airlines Silver Anniversary Fund. Image: Keren Lowell, “Groundwork”
Museum members enjoy free general admission. Join today! Enjoy artist lectures, opening of Brick by Brick and more 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 3
BRICK BY BRICK LIVE BUILD
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE
Create works of art from LEGO® bricks
Paul Nicklen: Polar Obsession
2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4
7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 Atwood Concert Hall Paul Nicklen
FIRST FRIDAY
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SEAWOLF
SLUG
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Gaming in 2014: Or, the tragedy of hype E3 2013.
George watched the live feed of Microsoft’s infamously terrible presentation. This was before Sony’s epic curb-stomping of Microsoft later that evening, so he remained somewhat optimistic. Nothing really captured his attention or imagination until the logo for Respawn Entertainment showed up. A man who ran around shooting things, and then hopped into a goliath of a machine to shoot other, In the year 2013, an alien brain slug bigger things. A two-tiered from one of the galaxy’s most feared empires seamless multiplayer expericrash-landed on Earth ence, from the creators of the and assumed control of a lowly largest first-person shooter franreporter at this newspaper. chise on the planet! It was in that These are his stories. moment that “Titanfall� became one of his most-anticipated games.
By Klax Zlubzecon
Translated by George Hyde Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2012.
George watched the live feed of Ubisoft’s fateful presentation with a twinkle in his eye. A new sandbox game where the digital world would be his oyster. A game that would redefine open-world design, all with possibilities of commentary on our continuously diminishing digital privacy. It was in that moment that “Watch Dogs� became one of his most anticipated games.
05
E3 2013. Again. Bear with me.
George watched the live feed of Sony’s infamously curb-stompy presentation, his head still reeling from the revelation of a next-gen “Kingdom Hearts.� Sony’s presenter dropped the word “Bungie,� and George was glued to the screen once more. Look at all those players! All the loot! The fascinating, Western-style universe, all for him and others to explore and tackle! At once! It was in that moment that “Destiny� became one of his most anticipated games.
September 2014.
If you read the review of “Destiny� last week, you’ll know that George’s
impression of the final product wasn’t that great. The MMO and FPS elements just couldn’t mix, and after spending several hours grinding to make it from level 12 to level 13, he just couldn’t take it anymore. He put the controller down and went back to the “Super Smash Bros.� demo on his 3DS. It was an uncanny feeling George had felt sometime earlier this year. There was another multiplayer game that he eagerly played for a bit, but then lost interest. Ah yes, he remembered. “Titanfall.�
February 2014.
By no means a bad game, “Titanfall� still couldn’t measure up to George’s expectations. When he first started playing it, it seemed like a fresh twist on the “Call of Duty� formula — something that the current developers of that franchise have yet to conceive. But soon, the grueling pains of time began to grip the experience. For the $60 he paid, he had around six maps and nothing to do on them but continue to shoot people. There was no thought to it and little strategy. He stopped playing after a month or so and went back to “Fistful of Frags,� which really pleasantly surprised him by comparison. And finally, we come to the biggest offender of them all: “Watch Dogs.�
May 2014.
George eagerly brought home the disc and popped it in his PC. It flat-out wouldn’t run, because Ubisoft’s servers wouldn’t run. Even had this day-one kerfuffle not soiled his entire impression of
the game, the experience still felt like a grind. Missions felt the same, and as soon as he’d explored the whole map, there was nothing left for him but more missions. More grinding. More “Watch Dogs.�
September 2014 again.
I’m typing this as George is covering smaller indie titles like “Minimum� or “Wasteland 2,� and he’s been finding them enjoyable — not perfect, but enjoyable. On reflection, one of his top games of the year so far is “Wolfenstein: The New Order,� a game that, in his mind, had no right to be as good as he thought it ultimately turned out to be. There’s still a blackened spot on his heart, stained by games like “Watch Dogs,� “Titanfall� and “Destiny,� leaving him skeptical of games to come. The “Smash Bros.� demo has him optimistic, but he knows better now. Even a childhood favorite like that can break his heart. Poor guy. The point of this is that hype and ambition is what tipped George over the edge. His favorite games of the year so far are not games he anticipated as being very good, but rather games that pleasantly surprised him. While ambition in this industry is by no means a bad thing, sometimes hype can seriously hamper it. And sometimes, it’s the games that play it straight, like “Wolfenstein: The New Order� or “Wasteland 2,� that are truly special. I promise I’ll talk about something more cheery next week. RESISTANCE IS FUTILE. EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE & HARASSMENT AT UAA: WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8
OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS
Focus Group:9 %,!+%9 23$%-21 9)-#+3$)-'91304)4.019.&91%63!+9 !11!3+2 9#!,/319!#2)4)121 9)-2%0-!2).-!+9123$%-219!-$91.0.0)279 ,%,"%01 8 9/ , 9 23$%-29 -).- 9 7+!9 )#(!0$19 .-&%0%-#%9 .., Focus Group:9 !+%9 23$%-21 9)-#+3$)-'91304)4.019.&91%63!+9 !11!3+2 9#!,/319!#2)4)121 9)-2%0-!2).-!+9123$%-219!-$9&0!2%0-)279 ,%,"%01 8 9/ , 9 23$%-29 -).- 9 %!$%01()/9 !" Focus Group:9 !+%9 2(+%2%1 Focus Group:9 %,!+%9 2(+%2%1 11 a.m.–12 p.m., Alaska Airlines Center, Dresser Family Conference Room - OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS 2:15–3:45 p.m., Student Union, Lyla Richards Conference Room - OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS 3–3:45 p.m., Student Union, Leadership Lab THURSDAY, OCT. 9 Focus Group:9 !+%9 +!1*!9 !2)4%9 23$%-21 12–1 p.m., Gorsuch Commons, Room 106 Focus Group:9 %,!+%9 +!1*!9 !2)4%9 23$%-21 12–1 p.m., Gorsuch Commons, Canary Room - OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS 2–3:45 p.m., Student Union, Lyla Richards Conference Room - OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS 3–5 p.m., Student Union, Leadership Lab Focus Group:9 -$%0'0!$3!2%9!-$9 0!$3!2%9 9 23$%-21 4–5 p.m., Student Union, Lyla Richards Conference Room
%/0%1%-2!2)4%19&0.,92(%9 :#%9&.09 )4)+9 )'(219 95!-292.92!+*92.97.3 9 9123$%-21 9!".329 1%63!+94).+%-#%9!-$9(!0!11,%-29.-9#!,/31 9 .309 4.)#%9!-$97.309%6/%0)%-#%9#!-9(%+/91(!/%9 19 &3230%90%1/.-1%
Free pizza and refreshments will be available at all focus groups! For more information, contact one of UAA's Title IX coordinators:
0 9 %5!)-9 %% 9 %!-9.&9 23$%-21 9 !04!9 !21.- 9 )0%#2.09.&9 !,/319 )4%01)279 9 .,/+)!-#% 9
For persons in need of ADA accommodations, please contact the Office of Campus Diversity & Compliance at 786-4680. UAA is an EEO/AA employer and educational institution.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, September 30, 2014
06
FOREIGN FILM FANATIC
‘Brazil’ is dystopian at its best By Jacob Holley-Kline arts2@thenorthernlight.org
Every single bureaucrat and piece of technology in Terry Gilliam’s opus, “Brazil,” is, without exception, incompetent or broken. The whole disastrous narrative kicks off because of a clumsy record keeper. In the chaotically detailed world of the movie, no one can do his or her job and nobody has the drive to do any better. The especially unambitious records worker Sam Lowry (Jonathan Price, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation”) is comfortable just where he is: working a dead-end job with no prospects. But when an inept record printer knocks a bug into the printer, changing a “T” to a “B” and effectively killing an innocent man, Lowry investigates the mishap and meets the dead man’s upstairs neighbor, Jill Layton (Kim Greist, “Zoe”). The only problem is that she might be a domestic terrorist. Anyone familiar with Terry Gilliam’s style will be right at home here.
“Brazil” is a tongue-in-cheek frenzy, with fisheye lenses and whip cuts dominating many scenes. It’s hard not to get wrapped up in the frenetic energy — it’s just too much fun to ignore. And for all it’s whimsical humor, the movie can turn dark on a dime. One of the benefits of good comedy is that it easily connects with the viewer. If someone makes you laugh, you’re more likely to want them around. “Brazil” is that person with a dystopian twist. It’s not until Sam or Jill are truly in danger that the viewer realizes how much he or she wants them to survive the madness. At times, the world feels chaotic, but thanks to Gilliam and Tom Stoppard’s engaging styles and deft storytelling it rarely becomes overwhelming. In a world of computer-generated imaging, it’s nice to look back at the analog masterpieces of the ‘80s. “Brazil” earns its spot alongside Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” and Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” as a masterwork of set design and special effects. That being said, the film sometimes feels like Gilliam relies on
the elaborate world to tell the story more than the characters. This method would work if the world was the focus, but it’s not. The characters are, and their narrative is a simple point A to point B journey. Their relationship is one of the least interesting aspects of the flick. But even so, the performances of Price, the magnetic Ian Holm (“The Sweet Hereafter”), Michael Palin (“Arthur Christmas”) and, in one of the best cameos of the 80’s, Robert De Niro (“Last Vegas”) elevate the thinner story. It’s a fun and sometimes horrifying ride, thanks to the rich characters and even richer world. A dystopian society might look miserable on the surface, but Gilliam makes it one of the most entertaining rides of the ‘80s.
Title: “Brazil” Director: Terry Gilliam Genre: Sci-Fi Country: United Kingdom
NOT ALL ONLINE CLASSES ARE CREATED EQUAL! Choose the right online class. KPC is known for offering the best online classes in the state of Alaska, and our students are letting us know! At Kenai Peninsula College, quality is our top priority. Our students’ experiences speak for themselves...
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“Wonderful class − wonderful teacher. Well organized. It was online but it rivaled in−person classes. It just goes to show that online can be just as good as in− person if it is thought out and well planned.” “I didn’t even know an online experience could be that dynamic and interactive. The experience took learning from home to a “This online course has whole new level!” worked well for me because of my work schedule on the North Slope. I can work ahead when I’m at home and that’s a huge reason for my current success with these online classes.”
WWW.KPC.ALASKA.EDU 1 (877) 262-0330 The University of Alaska is an AA/EEO employer and educational institution
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THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, September 30, 2014
07
GAME REVIEW
‘Minimum’ is an intriguing blend By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org Many genre mixtures this past year have experimented and failed. It’s for this reason that “Minimum” is such a pleasant surprise. It blends MOBA-style mechanics from games like “League of Legends” with third-person multiplayer shooter action, and the result is a sleek and fun experience. In the main game mode, there are two teams. Each team has a Titan that accompanies them, that no one controls. Players instead control smaller fighters that aid the Titan in getting to the other team’s home base. The team whose Titan reaches the enemy base first wins.
Of course, it’s rarely that easy. Titans will have to tear down walls, and players can throw down turrets and even attack the Titans themselves. They may even have to face enemy players targeting them while they target the enemy Titan. It’s a simple, MOBA-esque concept, but “Minimum” nails it by giving it multiplayer shooter mechanics that are simple and easy to understand. While games like “League of Legends” and “DOTA 2” feel like running into a brick wall when trying to get into them, “Minimum” eases players in, and it rarely feels as if new players have a disadvantage. Players who don’t dig the MOBA elements, though, have other game modes to try, like Team Deathmatch, so the game
isn’t a lost cause for players who just want a pure shooter. In addition, “Minimum” looks absolutely gorgeous. It’s not a particularly demanding game, but the cubist style lends it a very striking look that’ll stick with players for a very long time. It may not seem too special compared to other games with blocky visuals, but in motion, it’s stunning. Unfortunately, for all of the praise issued to the visuals, it does have a few blemishes. It’s a very glitchy experience, often freezing at random and taking more than a minute to quit the game. The loading screens have an odd flickering effect. Even after the official release, “Minimum” still feels like a game in beta.
However, players who are in the mood for something different in the thirdperson shooter or MOBA scenes should definitely give “Minimum” a gander. It expertly blends the two genres in a way that is accessible, deep and aesthetically beautiful. Just beware of the few technical hitches along the way. Game: “Minimum” Developer: Human Head Studios Platform: PC Release Date: Sept. 10, 2014
BRICK BY BRICK Opens Oct. 3
An Exhibition of LEGO® Toys and Bricks
Anchorage Museum members enjoy free entry to Brick by Brick. Join today! Presented by
Image: Mike Stimpson, “Moon Landing,” photograph, 2008 LEGO, MINDSTORMS®, and the Minifigure® are trademarks and/or copyrights of the LEGO Group of Companies, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this exhibition.
08 A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, September 30, 2014
UAA 2014-15 theater season preview By Jacob Holley-Kline arts2@thenorthernlight.org
Next month, the UAA Theatre Department will begin its 2014-2015 season. It will include a musical, a Shakespeare comedy and two modern comedies that turn Shakespeare’s universe hilarious and meta all at once.
“The Fantasticks”
Run date: Oct. 3-19 Director: David Block
The world’s longest-running musical is finally coming to UAA. Clocking in at 54 years in production and more than 17,000 performances all around the world, this classic show follows the lives of neighbors Matt and Luisa and their feuding fathers. Despite their parents’ quarrels, Matt and Luisa fall in love. Guided by the mysterious narrator El Gallo, “The Fantasticks” is a poignant and romantic tale.
“Twelfth Night, or What You Will” Run date: Nov. 21-Dec. 7 Director: Steven Hunt
The bard returns in force to the UAA Theatre Department with their production of his comedy, “Twelfth Night, or What You Will.” Twins Viola and Sebastian are separated in a devastating shipwreck and Viola, believing her brother to be dead, dresses up as a man and serves under Duke Orsino. When Sebastian comes back after seven years gone, the confusion only increases for the characters.
“Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” Run date: Feb. 20-March 8 Director: Dr. David Edgecombe
Focusing on the eponymous minor characters from “Hamlet,” “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” puts the events of “Hamlet” in the background and the titular courtiers in the front. Major characters from “Hamlet” make brief appearances, reenacting scenes from the play, creating an absurdist and utterly unpredictable universe.
“William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead: A True and Accurate Account of the 1599 Zombie Plague” Run date: April 10-26 Director: Tom Skore
After the premier of his newest play, “Henry V,” Shakespeare finds himself in the middle of a zombie outbreak. A customer has been bitten in the theatre and the Queen and her servicemen come seeking safety. When the Globe is quarantined, all those survivors have to fight for their lives.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, September 30, 2014
09
Photos by James R. Evans
Nicole Deren, a senior majoring in journalism and philosophy, views Margret Hugi-Lewis’ art installation “Utopian Dreams” at the Consortium Library ARC Gallery on Sept. 23.
‘Utopian Dreams’ embraces the unreal By Jacob Holley-Kline arts2@thenorthernlight.org
There’s a whole other world in the Consortium Library ARC Gallery. With snakes of black paint on the walls and fish hanging from the ceiling, Hugi-Lewis Gallery owner Margret Hugi-Lewis’ show, “Utopian Dreams,” feels like another universe. “I wanted to create, with this installation, a Utopian world,” Lewis said, “a world that doesn’t exist.” The idea of a Utopian society began with writer Thomas More’s novel, “Utopia.” The literal translation of “Utopia” is “no place.” Born in Switzerland and trained at the Basel School of Art, Lewis was invited by the co-inventor of Dadaism, Marcel Janco, to the Ein Hod Artists’ Colony in Israel. She moved to Alaska in 1984 and still goes back to Israel and Switzerland to visit. Lewis, who is also a theatrical stage designer, created the installation specifically for the art gallery. Because she saw that the gallery had an entrance and an
exit right next to each other, she envisioned the room as a stage. “When I do a set for the theater I’m very limited because I have to please the director ... and actors,” Lewis said. “Here, I was totally free. It was really a very unusual thing.” With this freedom, Lewis took a Dadaist approach. Dadaism is an art movement that began in Lewis’ native Switzerland in 1916. Dadaism throws logic and reality to the wayside, instead embracing the nonsensical and surreal. With this in mind, Lewis wants to leave all interpretation up to the viewer. “I was thinking about students. When they are (in school), it’s a lot of reality and learning and making sense,” Lewis said. “With my installation, I wanted to do the opposite. ... It doesn’t really make sense other than it’s a little magic.” The surreality of “Utopian Dreams” dawned immediately on Japanese language program senior Heather Teal. “It’s wild,” Teal said. “(It’s like) someone decided to turn the world upside down.” From quadriplegic mannequin torsos
to a hatching flamingo, “Utopian Dreams” is a diverse display of artistic vision and imagination. Despite its mainly twocolor palette, Teal believes the installation spans a larger spectrum than that. “There’s a lot of black and white,” Teal
said. “But the depth actually creates a lot of color.” More than anything, the utter strangness of the display is what sticks with the viewer. It’s a universe that’s well worth stepping into.
The “Utopian Dreams” show at the Consortium Library ARC Gallery includes sculpture and other works.
Margret Hugi-Lewis’ “Utopian Dreams” installation at the Consortium Library ARC Gallery features graphic multimedia elements made from unconventional materials..
10 A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, September 30, 2014
A&E OPINION
Senshi-Con 2014
Photos by James R. Evans
Fans cross Fifth Avenue on their way to Senshi-Con last Saturday morning.
Sophomore art major Brennan Granthem waits in line for Senshi-Con, dressed as Kisame Hoshigaki from the manga series “Naruto.”
Freshman psychology major Michael Levine terrorizes the booths at Senshi-Con while dressed as an evil rabbit.
Senshi-Con 2014 for newcomers and old-timers A first-timer’s experience versus an expert’s perspective By Tulsi Patil
By George Hyde
content@thenorthernlight.org Overwhelmed. That was how I was prepared to feel as I looked for parking in downtown on Saturday morning before Senshi-Con opened its doors. It was my first time attending an event like this, and I was almost giving myself a pep talk, akin to a coach before a big sporting event. I was telling myself I had to go in with an open mind and not be judgmental. Prior to attending Senshi-Con, in my mind, people who attended Senshi-Con or Comic-Con or any other kind of “nerd convention” just needed to go out more and “get a life.” But to say I was pleasantly surprised is quite an understatement. The attendees of Senshi-Con are among some of the most passionate people I have met in a very long time. They have found something they enjoy, and do not hesitate to be quite unabashed to declare that they do enjoy it. Despite the cold temperatures on Saturday morning, participants were lined up around the block for close to an hour before the start of the event in their costumes — many of which covered very little skin. “I woke up at 5 a.m. today to put on
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org my makeup and drive to Anchorage from Wasilla to be here,” said Brennan Granthem, a UAA art sophomore. He was covered in blue body paint and had dressed as Kisame Hoshigaki from the manga series “Naruto.” Another misconception that got debunked at Senshi-Con was that it was a convention for anime and manga enthusiasts. There were all manner of fan people (fanboys and fangirls) at Senshi-Con, celebrating their favorite fictional characters from all different sub-genres of fiction. Fictional representation was not lacking, ranging from the eight or nine Doctor Who’s walking around, to the Elsa-Ana duo from Disney’s “Frozen,” to Power Rangers and My Little Ponies. It was an interesting experience. It was genuinely heartening to see the kind of open and warm acceptance of everyone who attended Senshi-Con. No one was unwelcome. Everyone could come in feeling like they belonged and could be who they wanted to be, even if what they relate most to is a big brown unicorn.
Okay, so using the word “expert” may be a bit charitable. But I have been going to these things for a while now. My first Senshi-Con — man, when was it? I can hardly remember exactly how old I was, but I vaguely remember being somewhere in middle school. It was pretty surreal seeing as many nerdy fanatics in one place as I did. Many of my favorite pastimes were validated that day, as I watched grown men and women enjoying the same things I did in that adolescent phase of my life. Sadly, I didn’t go again until 2012, because I didn’t have money or a car. This time I brought a costume: the Heavy Weapons Guy from “Team Fortress 2.” It was a blast! So many people loved seeing my costume. I went again the following year, this time making a gigantic minigun prop to go with, and it was even more fun. I opted for something a bit more obscure this year: a boss from the video game “Paper Mario,” which everyone mistook for a character from “Adventure Time.” After
the tenth person called me “Ice King,” I gave up and just rolled with it. If you ask people why they cosplay, they’ll likely tell you that it has to do with how they feel connected to their characters, but I just find conceiving costumes and making them enjoyable. It’s a real creative outlet. I wouldn’t keep coming back to Senshi-Con every year if there wasn’t a bigger reason, though, and that reason is the sense of community. I feel at home whenever I go to Senshi-Con. It’s like I’m with my people. I’ll see someone with a costume from “Ghostbusters,” and we’ll spend the next few minutes quoting the movie and discussing it. It’s so wonderful that people like those can find others who appreciate that. It’s the same reason boating enthusiasts go to boating conventions: they just want to hang with their people, meet new friends and discuss what they love. And as someone who’s been to Senshi for a few years, I think I can say that that’s at the core of what makes the convention great.
A UAA DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE & DANCE PRODUCTION
Books and Lyrics by Tom Jones Music by Harvey Schmidt Directed by David Block
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October 3 - 19, 2014
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COMICS
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, September 30, 2014
12
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