FEBRUARY 18 - FEBRUARY 24, 2020
FEATURES
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
A&E
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Business major Tina Ndour shares her story: past, present and her hopes for the future after graduation.
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
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Fur Rondy promises fun and games during the annual celebration in downtown Anchorage from Feb. 22– March 8.
‘2D/3D Invitational Art Show’ brings together art of all mediums Q: What are your career plans after graduation? A: “My… plan is to work hard in getting into an animation studio so I can work on art full time. It’s going to take work just like any other profession… I’m willing to put in the miles.”
By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org
The annual “2D/3D Invitational Art Show” displays work created by upper-division art students at UAA chosen by their professors. Each piece is made in different mediums, such as watercolor, graphic design and ceramics. Professors of each medium choose students from their classes to display their work. Alanna DeRocchi, a term instructor of art and ceramics, chose three students from her classes that showed a variety of skills. “This exhibition shows the range in talent and creative expression of our UAA art students who are becoming more involved and focused on their ideas and material exploration,” DeRocchi said. DeRocchi says she admires the work UAA art students produce. “[I’m] always so impressed and surprised by the quality and variety of work made by UAA art students. The [Department of Art] is a very special program on campus, and I feel so fortunate to get to work with so many creative individuals,” DeRocchi said. A few of the artists with work on display in the exhibition spoke about their pieces and inspirations over email. Selene Stoll
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Aileen Page Page is a senior graduating this semester with a bachelor of fine arts with a primary focus in ceramics and secondary focus in drawing. Page describes her piece in the exhibition as “a round wood carving of two figures decorated with watercolor and gold leaf.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSE HENDRICKSON
“Raven Dance,” created by Rose Hendrickson in 2019, depicts two birds circling each other and is made from fabricated steel.
Stoll is a senior graduating this semester with a bachelor of arts in digital art and illustration and minor in anthropology.
while maintaining quality, then it must be worth a good grade. My advantage was that I’ve been on comic deadlines before.”
Q: When did you start working on the artwork and how long did it take to complete? A: “I started working on [the Pepo and Kauen comic] last semester due to a bet [that] I had with the [professor]. I said that I could do a comic in three weeks, and he said if I could do that
Q: What was your inspiration in creating this piece? A: “My inspiration is the theme of spooky Halloween, LGBT genres of found families and my foster kids and their fascination with ouija boards. My pieces are usually aimed at my foster kids and in that respect, they tend to
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be cartoony, colorful and a little too edgy.” Q: How do you feel about having your work on display? A: “I’m very excited to have people see my comic. I hope [viewers aren’t] too skittish to pick up a copy and read it for themselves. In a gallery setting, it can be frowned upon to touch or pick up any art pieces on display, however my art… requires that you do so.”
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Q: When did you start working on the artwork and how long did it take to complete? A: “I first started [working] on this piece last year for my experimental drawing class. It took me about a month to finish.” Q: What was your inspiration in creating this piece? A: “With this piece, I was trying to explore concepts I was working through in my primary concentration. It’s very different from what I normally create. I’ve carved wood in printmaking and… painted with watercolor before, but never combined the two. [The piece] is very
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NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020
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Coronavirus outbreak affects the stock market By Gabby Vance arts1@thenorthernlight.org
In late January, after the novel coronavirus spread across China and into countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany and the United States, global stock markets dropped as anxiety spread among investors. The novel coronavirus is a new strain that ranges from mild cases of fever, coughing and shortness of breath to death. There have been over 28,000 confirmed cases and over 500 deaths linked to the virus. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Standard & Poor’s 500, or S&P 500 and Nasdaq stock indexes fell between 1.61.9%, or about a 500 point decrease each. The Dow Jones Industrial Average’s drop of 1.6% was the worst drop since last October and Nasdaq lost 1.9%, making it the worst drop since last August. However, some sectors of S&P 500, such as utilities, were up 5.6% on Jan. 27, according to CNCB.com. The indexes hold a compilation of stocks and allow investors to track or invest in companies.
“Stock market indexes around the world are powerful indicators for global and country-specific economies,” according to investopedia. “In the United States, the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq composite are the three most broadly followed indexes by both the media and investors.” Many travel companies saw large drops in shares after the coronavirus outbreak, according to Rachel Siegel’s Jan. 27 Washington Post article. Delta Air Lines, Inc., fell 3.4%, and American Airlines’ stock price fell 5.5%. The American casino and resort company, Las Vegas Sands, saw a drop of 6.7% and a China-based company, Luckin Coffee, saw its stock fall 9%. Fear sales even saw Apple drop 4%. Most drops in the market occurred from Jan. 27 to Feb 1. Roy Franklin, a freshman business management major, is an investor in the stock market and witnessed how the market changed in the last few weeks. “I thought it was surprising that [the stock market] was dropping at these percentages. It was an unusual drop, but I based some research for stock buying
off the event,” Franklin said. “I had [Apple] when the coronavirus was announced and it dropped, but I held it until there was better news. It dropped roughly 4% between Jan. 2427 and later on it went back up roughly 6.5% from Feb. 3-12.” In early February, as fears around the coronavirus slowing the global economy lessened, some stocks and indexes recovered from the previous month’s drops. “The impact the virus could have on Chinese and global growth preoccupied markets last week, but after a mix of positive domestic data and rumors of coronavirus treatment, sentiment reversed this week,” Gwen Everett said in a Feb. 6 Markets Insider article. Everett is a writer for Markets Insider, which provides information and news on the stock market. Feb. 5 marked the third day straight that stocks rose, pushing some indexes and stocks back to levels prior to the drops due to fear of the coronavirus. S&P 500 closed the stock market day with a jump of 1.5% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 480 points. Energy, financial and health-
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
care sectors all saw strong gains. Johnson and Johnson reached a six-month high of 153.99 on Feb. 5. However, Tesla had its second-worst day in stocks ever with a decline of over 17%. Even considering the latest drop, though, Tesla is still up 80% for 2020, according to CNBC. “There is still uncertainty
around the coronavirus, but this doesn’t seem to be the open-ended risk it was last week,” chief market strategist at Natixis Investment Managers Dave Lafferty said in a Feb. 5 CNBC article. For more information on the current status of the stock market, visit the CNBC website.
UPD Report: Feb. 3–10 Calls for service: 319
Feb. 3: • Traffic accident: non-injury on Providence Drive. Feb. 4: • Sex offense: statutory rape, theft and theft: fraudulent use of an access device. • Traffic accident: hit and run in the West Campus Central Lot. Feb. 5: • Traffic accident: non-injury in the West Lot. • Suicide threat: location withheld. • Student conduct: conduct issue, MICS IV - marijuana possession in East Hall.
Feb. 6: • Vehicle impound: abandoned vehicle in the University Lake Building/University Lake Annex Parking Lot. • Theft in the Central Parking Garage. Feb. 9: • Disorderly conduct in the UAA/APU Consortium Library. • Traffic accident: hit and run in the UAA/APU Consortium Library North East Lot. All information is provided by the University of Alaska Anchorage Police Department.
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020
City-Wide Career and Job Fair: One-stop employment opportunities By Christina Swayney features2@thenorthernlight.org
The 2020 Anchorage City-Wide Career and Job Fair can make it easier for students to find employment. Chris Triplett is the career development coordinator for Career Exploration & Services at UAA. She understands how hard it can be to find a job, especially for busy college students. “Career fairs bring together employers and jobseekers into one venue where the job-seekers can often interview on the spot with employers,” Triplett said. The 2020 City-Wide Career and Job Fair will feature over 83 employers looking for new hires that work for both for-profit and nonprofit establish-
ments. The fair will take place on Feb. 21 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the University Center, located at the University Mall, 3801 Old Seward Highway. It is open to the public and free to attend. The fair will feature a wide variety of employers, such as Camp Fire Alaska, Alaska Maritime Agencies & Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska and Alaska Career College. A complete list of employers can be found at ancjobfair.wixsite.com/2020/ job-seekers, where attendees can RSVP to the event, which is mandatory. The career and job fair is made up of a coalition of eight partners. The partners have united for the purpose of offering a onestop community employment opportunity for allages seeking employment, according to Triplett. The
coalition includes the University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Pacific University and the Anchorage School District. Last year, approximately 1,200 job seekers attended the fair, 400 of which were high school students bussed in by the Anchorage School District, Triplett said. Triplett recommends that job seekers attend the event dressed professionally, ready for an onsite interview with employers with resumés on hand. To help prepare, students can sign up for a free Handshake account at alaska. joinhandshake.com/login, where they can set up appointments for mock interviews and resume building. Handshake is an online job networking site for college students. For students looking for professional attire to
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PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SWAYNEY
Students attend an on-campus job fair at UAA in September of 2019.
wear during interviews and job hunts, JCPenney at the Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall at 406 W. Fifth Ave. will hold a JCPenney Suit-Up event on March 1 from 6-9 p.m. Professional apparel, such as suits, dress shirts and shoes and slacks can be purchased at up to 60% off retail price. The event is free to attend for UAA students or recent graduates and preregistration is required through Handshake. Sephora inside JCPenney will also host free
beauty consultations and makeovers and the JCPenney Salon will have free hair consultations. If professional headshots are needed, the JCPenney Portrait Studio offers them for $29.99. Sessions can be booked at the store or online at JCPenney.com. Another upcoming event for students to seek out job opportunities is the 2020 Spring Community Engagement and Career Fair on April 8 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Student Union. The event will fea-
ture full and part-time opportunities for internships and volunteerism. Career Exploration and Services is currently building flyers for the event, according to Triplett. For more information about the 2020 City-Wide Career and Job Fair and to register, visit the Career and Explorations UAA webpage. Information on the JCPenney Suit-Up event and pre-registration is available on the UAA website.
From Senegal to Alaska: Tina Ndour makes Anchorage and UAA her home By Christina Swayney features2@thenorthernlight.org
Tina Ndour is a sophomore at UAA majoring in business administration for management information systems. Ndour is originally from Dakar, Senegal, but moved to Alaska when she was 12 years old. The move was important for Ndour and her family for educational reasons. “My mom was living [in Anchorage] for work while I was in Senegal with my family. She wanted me to come to Alaska for better educational opportunities, and she just wanted to be with her daughter,” Ndour said. Along with working in the summer for an Alaska-based tour company, Ndour works part-time at a retail store and is a writing consultant at the Writing Center in UAA’s Learning Commons. Ndour’s schedule is packed, and she often doesn’t know how she handles her numerous responsibilities. “I honestly don’t even know [how I handle it all sometimes]. I do stress a lot, but I find my balance through time management and taking breaks,” Ndour said. Ndour is known for her hospitality by her co-workers, working seasonally as a tourdesk agent for an Alaskan tour company. Maria Arroyo, one of Ndour’s coworkers, works at a
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SWAYNEY
As one of her many jobs, Tina Ndour works as a writing consultant at the Learning Commons on campus.
downtown hotel that Ndour frequently works out of during the summer, and she speaks highly of her. “She always greets guests and staff with a beautiful smile and a friendly greeting. Tina [Ndour] is pretty wonderful,” Arroyo said. Ndour is also part of TRIO Student Support Services at the
university. TRIO is a national organization that helps students enter post-baccalaureate degrees and offers student support. They occasionally hold volunteer events that students can participate in as well. Ndour is nearing the end of her sophomore year and is headed toward a career that will allow her to travel. Ndour has in-
ternational aspirations and is on a path that she hopes will lead her to see the world. “I would like to leave Alaska and work for the Department of State as a diplomat. I want to spend some time back in Senegal before I start a job for perhaps at least three months,” Ndour said. “I have always wanted to learn more about myself, so traveling
gives me an opportunity to help others while discovering the differences around the world.” Ndour’s hometown of Dakar is a surf-loving coastal town in the westernmost point of western Africa, according to an article in The New York Times from 2019, and could not be more different from Anchorage. For starters, the average daily temperature high temperature is 78 degrees, Ndour said. “We do not get any snow, it just gets cold and windy sometimes during the night. It’s amazingly beautiful,” Ndour said. Ndour admires the community in Dakar. “Senegal has many different ethnic groups that live together in harmony. It’s a very accepting country,” Ndour said. Although she loves her hometown, Ndour says that Anchorage has characteristics of its own that make it a special place to live. “People in Anchorage are really nice and they try to get to know more about you, which is really nice,” Ndour said. While Ndour is on the path to her dreams of traveling the world, she says Alaska holds a special place in her heart. “I love Alaska. I’ve met amazing friends and I love the people and the landscape. It’s unique and beautiful,” Ndour said.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020
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Celebrate the end of winter with the wild and wacky Fur Rondy festival By Gabby Vance
PHOTO COURTESY OF FURRONDY.NET
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Fur Rendezvous, better known as Fur Rondy, is an annual winter tradition in Alaska since 1935. What began as a three-day sporting event has evolved into a full-blown, internationally-known 10-day festival. “[Fur Rondy] is a community celebration, by the community, celebrating our heritage and the end of winter,” executive director John McCleary said. “It is also a celebration of family fun.” The 2020 Fur Rondy event marks the festival’s 85th anniversary. Since its debut, Fur Rondy has become the largest winter festival in Alaska, according to Fur Rondy’s official website, furrondy.net. This year’s events will take place from Feb. 28-March 8. Many of the event’s activities have been part of the festival for over 20 years. The blanket toss, an Alaska Native tradition, joined the festival in 1950. Anyone is welcome to participate in this year’s toss on Feb. 29 from 4-5:30 p.m. at Third and E Street. In 1946, the World Championship Sled Dog race became an integral part of the event, according to Fur Rondy’s website. Everyone is welcome to attend the free event and watch as the mushing teams race by. The internationally-acclaimed Running of the Reindeer event is starting its 13th
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different, but the inspiration stemmed from a similar thread in my other projects.” Q: How do you feel about having your work on display? A: “I enjoy having opportunities to share my work outside of my class [and the] art department. I’m very excited to see what work is in the show and for others to see my piece.” Q: What are your career plans after graduation? A: “I plan to continue working with clay after I graduate and maybe one day have my own studio.” Rose Hendrickson
The carnival at Fur Rendezvous is filled with rides, games and food in downtown Anchorage from Feb. 28–March 8.
year of raising money for Toys for Tots, a non-profit organization that distributes Christmas toys to children whose families cannot afford them. Eventgoers can run alongside Alaska reindeer in four herd categories: guys, gals, couples or tourists. The event will take place on March 7 on Fourth Avenue between H and D Street. Racers must be at least 18 years old and are required to sign waivers. A $30 per person entry fee is charged to run, while watching is free. The Alaska State Snow Sculpture Championship is another popular event where artists of varying skills created sculptures from blocks of compressed snow. Winners of the
championship go to the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship and compete as Alaska’s team. Numerous other more recent events have become staples of the winter festival as well, such as the Snowshoe Softball Tournament, AT&T’s Fireworks Extravaganza, the Jim Bean Jam and the Frostbite Footrace and Costume Fun Run. Fur Rondy event-goers can also enjoy carnivals, parades, concerts, races and winter games. Of the around 50 events that take place during the Fur Rondy festival, 30 are put on by the company itself, according to McCleary, while the remaining events are hosted by the community. Thirty-eight different
community and non-profit organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, the American Legion Post 28, the Boy Scouts and the Miss Alaska Scholarship Program, also host events to raise money for their causes. “We not only provide a festival, [but] we provide an economic impact,” McCleary said. “Our goal is to create an impact, whether it’s inviting local, state or international visitors to our community.” Last year, Fur Rondy donated $13,000 to Toy for Tots. The Miners and Trappers ball, a Rondy tradition that will be celebrating its 70th anniversary at this year’s festival, serves as a Lions Club fundraiser and has raised millions of dollars for lo-
cal charities, according to Fur Rondy’s website. UAA’s Engineering Club will present the Fur Rondy outhouse races during this year’s festival. In lieu of the 94 hours on average a person spends on the loo, Fur Rondy hosts a race that requires teams to build an outhouse on a set of skis and race each other to the finish line. Groups can register on the Fur Rondy website by Feb. 22 for a chance to win trophies and cash prizes during the race on Feb. 29 at Fourth Avenue and E Street. “Why not have the new generation of Rondy-goers and students who have never heard of a great winter festival be part of [Fur Rondy]?” McCleary said. UAA freshman business management major Roy Franklin is taking part in the Fur Rondy Amateur Photo Contest this year. Franklin submitted 10 photos in hopes of having his pictures displayed at the Midtown Mall during the festival. Registration for the contest ended on Jan. 31. “I think it’s a cool thing they put on,” Franklin said. “I’m excited to share my photos with the community and get my stuff out there.” McCleary invites UAA students and faculty to join the March 8 family skate at Westchester Lagoon to enjoy music and “show the green and gold.” For more information on events and activities, visit furrondy.net or check the Anchorage Daily News for the Fur Rendezvous festival guide.
Continued from cover Hendrickson is a junior art major with a primary focus in sculpture and a secondary focus in ceramics. Along with a steel sculpture titled “Raven Dance,” Hendrickson also has two red earthenware sculptures titled “When I Was Young” and “Hoard” on display in the exhibition. Q: When did you start working on the artwork and how long did it take to complete? A: “I started each of these pieces at different times, but they were all done in 2019.” Q: What was your inspiration in creating these pieces? A: “My inspiration for each PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSE HENDRICKSON
piece starts with the professional prompt for the assignments. We are free to choose the subjects we develop within [the] processes, and my inspirations usually come from my environment or reflect my observations in general.” Q: How do you feel about having your work on display? A: “I am always excited to have my work on display. The pieces I create are like my children; I am always proud to show them off.” Q: What are your career plans after graduation? A: “I am a ‘non-traditional’ student. I am completing my first art degree after being a working artist with a small practice for over 40 years. [My] career plans are to expand my art practice, work [and create] as much as possible and hopefully become involved in producing some public art pieces.” Artwork from Stoll, Page and Hendrickson, along with pieces from other art students, are on display in the “2D/3D Invitational Art Show” in the Hugh McPeck Gallery in the Student Union from Feb. 17-March 25. The gallery is open MondayThursday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
“Hoard,” crafted by Rose Hendrickson in 2019, is made of red earthenware, glazes and acrylic paint.
IMAGE COURTESY OF SELENE STOLL
Senior digital art and illustration major Selene Stoll uses a variety of inspirations when working on her pieces, one being Halloween.
OPINION
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PR & Events Coordinator Joey Carreon events@thenorthernlight.org Graphic Designer Michaeline Collins media@thenorthernlight.org Advertising Manager Krizelle Solidum admanager@thenorthernlight.org Media Adviser Paola Banchero Administrative Adviser Zac Clark
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