September 10, 2019

SEPTEMBER 10 - SEPTEMBER 16, 2019

NEWS

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

FEATURES

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The fall 2019 semester brings a new form of parking.

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

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New art at UAA makes use of reclaimed materials.

UAA Glee Club’s rhythm remains steady with the help of new music director

By Anna Berry arts2@thenorthernlight.org

On a sunny Alaskan Wednesday night, about 20 students of varying ages and experience levels stood in a semicircle in the choir rehearsal room of UAA’s Fine Arts Building, belting out an a capella mashup of “Eye of the Tiger” and “The Final Countdown.” Patricia Rose, the new music director of the UAA Glee Club, stood in their midst. ‌ Through the whole two-hour practice, Rose was on task. She occasionally stopped everyone to ask for their opinions or to give tips, sometimes playing along with a particular section that needed guidance or pointing to someone’s music if they were lost.‌ “[Rose is] a really sweet and caring person and she just really wants the best for everyone in the club,” Quentin Schenk, tenor section leader and long-time Glee member coming up on his sixth season, said. ‌ She also has the leadership skill of being able to “get people in line when she needs to,” Schenk said.‌ These skills came from years of experience with the Glee Club. Rose initially joined the club at UAA in 2014, then returned in 2017 after a couple of years’ break from schooling and a switch to a music education major with a voice emphasis.‌ “[In 2014] I was on the mechanical engineering route and I realized that I wasn’t really talk-

PHOTO BY ANNA BERRY

Rose, at the piano, assists the women of Glee with her own arrangement of a mashup of popular songs in preparation for the club’s end-ofsemester concert.

ing to anyone all day...I wanted [the Glee Club] to sort of be an outlet for me to be able to enjoy music,” Rose said. “And it was a lot of fun, like after practices we’d still sing songs together.”‌ During that time, the Glee Club’s founder, Alex Pierce, was still leading the group. When Rose returned to the club in 2017, she was curious to see how it had changed under its new director, Austin Rochon.‌ “It was fascinating… to see how different people lead others, and [Rochon’s leadership style]

was more of a… family feel.

Everyone can go to him and approach him for anything,” Rose said.‌ Rochon, soon to graduate with a music education degree with voice emphasis the year Rose returned, took her under his wing. He had Rose lead rehearsals when he was absent, made her a section leader and taught her how to make a cappella arrangements. Since she had several more years at school and planned to stay in the club, Rose explained, it made sense

for Rochon to name her the next music director when he graduated in the fall of 2018 after two years of leading the Glee Club. ‌ According to Glee members, Rose displayed the qualities necessary to lead the group.‌ “[Rose] is a very open and safe person to talk to for everyone, which is a great leadership role,” Ryan Brockman, Glee vice president and bass section leader, said.‌ Past articles in The Northern Light have spotlighted this open nature of the group, with inter-

viewees describing the warm, people-focused atmosphere of the Glee Club. ‌ “[Rochon] definitely put forth that energy and culture of it being not just a place to make music, but to make music with people who care about each other,” Schenk said. ‌ Brockman echoed Schenk’s thoughts.‌ “And I think [Rose] is going to carry that on in a different way, but I think she’s still going to carry that on really well,” Brockman said.‌ Rose also recognizes the club’s familial focus. ‌ “If I am able to let them enjoy themselves on stage and share their passion along with the rest of us and leave the show happy, then I think I’ve done a good job,” Rose said. ‌‌‌ The UAA Glee Club’s next performance is on Oct. 10 in the Wendy Williamson Auditorium at 7 p.m. They will be opening for the A Capella Festivella event, which is part of the UAA homecoming celebration and features a different visiting artist each year. This year’s date is still undecided.‌ In addition, the end-of-semester concert for the Glee Club is in the UAA Recital Hall on Nov. 1-2 at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation. ‌ Readers who are interested in joining the club are welcome to check their active Facebook page for notices about when auditions are coming for the spring semester 2020. ‌

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New $600 parking passes take priority in UAA parking lots

By Christina Swayney news2@thenorthernlight.org

UAA Parking Services has marked new parking spaces across campus that allow Priority Parking Pass holders to park as close to the nearest building as possible.

The permit costs $600 and lasts throughout the academic year. Students and faculty can purchase permits online at uaa. thepermitstore.com or in person at Parking Services, located in the Eugene Short Hall. Students receive a 10% discount, making the cost $550 a year. Permits can also be purchased for one-time use, costing $4.00 an hour on the Passport App. The cost of the permits was calculated based on several factors, according to Glenna Muncy, the director of UAA Parking Services. Parking Services is self-funded, and parking fees are used to maintain the facility.

Parking Services does not receive any funding from the university or the State of Alaska. They projected the costs of implementing the new priority spaces, including factors such as signage, parking poles, additional permits and fair market value parking

PHOTOS BY JASON HERR

The convenience of Priority Parking lies in spots being closer to many of UAA’s most used buildings.

costs.

In addition to these costs, the price of the Priority Parking Pass was calculated using the following system, according to Muncy: The price range considered for the pass was based on the cost of an annual UAA parking permit, which breaks down to $29.16 per month. Local parking industry averages were also taken into account, which varies from $1.25 per hour to nearly

$200 a month for covered, secured and assigned parking at some locations, such as the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and downtown Anchorage. Parking Services opted for a price in the middle of that range, which equated to $50 per month, or roughly $1.61 per day.

UAA Parking Services has sold 50 Priority Parking Passes as of Sept. 5.

About 10% of those passes have been to sold students,

The new Priority Parking Pass at UAA costs $600 to utilize the priority spots.

according to Muncy. She said that students have also requested a tiered parking system, which allows certain spaces to have closer proximity to building entrances to better suit their needs.

Muncy also stated that no ADA spots, or accessible parking spaces required by the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, have been taken away by Priority Parking spaces, as they are highly regulated by the federal government.

“We have recently completed a full-campus parking stripe project that repainted all stall lines, fire lanes, ADA markings, parking stops, arrows and road lines to ensure they are bright and visible for returning students. During that process, some ADA spaces were repainted to add van accessibility corridors, but no spaces were eliminated or lost to this permit type,” Muncy said.

The sign for Priority Parking itself features a

ram surrounded by blue and white coloring. Muncy explains that the new signage is full of Alaskan symbolism and is tied to UAA. “Much like our permits that feature local UAA amateur photographs, the artwork for the permit and signage was created and donated by a UAA art alumna and includes an Alaskan symbol of strength, resilience and reaching new heights. The color was custom selected to reflect back both the long hours of sun in summer and the white of the winter snow,” Muncy said.

The new permits are still available for purchase at UAA Parking Services online or in person at the Eugene Short Hall. As it is a new permit, changes and improvements may be made in the future, according to Muncy.

“Any changes made would take into consideration the feedback received from permit holders, Parking Services’ observations, the manageability/enforceability of the requested change and how the change would impact other parking on campus. As with any new program, there will be an adjustment period,” Muncy said.

Providence Drive closes for six weeks to repair Chester Creek culverts

By Robert Gant features@thenorthernlight.org

The Municipality of Anchorage has closed Providence Drive for six weeks to replace the rusted culverts in Chester Creek. ‌ Chester Creek runs under Providence Drive in the area between UAA Drive and Spirit Drive. This is the only area affected by the road closure.‌ The culverts in the creek allow water to flow under Providence Drive. These particular culverts are vital to the creek because it is an anadromous stream, which means salmon need to swim upstream to spawn.‌ In March, one of the two steel culverts in Chester Creek collapsed. This caused a sinkhole in the road that led to immediate emergency repairs. However, the repairs were not intended to be a permanent solution, according to the Providence Drive

FAQ.‌ The old culverts were built in 1981, nearly 40 years ago. They are 6-foot wide steel tunnels, now collapsing from rust and corrosion. The Municipality of Anchorage decided that the culverts must be replaced with new ones as soon as possible, according to the official Providence Drive closure webpage.‌ Coordinating the expedited replacement of the culverts required cooperation and planning between the Department of Fish and Game, the Municipality of Anchorage and the University of Alaska. Projects this ambitious usually take two years to complete the proper permits and blueprints, according to the official Municipality of Anchorage Providence Drive closure webpage.‌ Six months after the initial collapse in March, the Municipality is now installing the new culverts. They anticipate that this road closure will only last six weeks, according to the

PHOTO BY JASON HERR

The road closure affects drivers, emergency vehicles and foot traffic.

Providence Drive FAQ.‌ While it is undetermined if the November 2018 earthquake contributed to the culvert damages, the new culverts have been designed with potential natural disasters in mind, making them more durable than the previous ones. They are 20-foot wide concrete culverts, designed to resist seismic damage and rust, according to the Providence Drive FAQ.‌ UAA Chancellor Cathy Sandeen, along with Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, released a video statement on Aug. 28 about the Providence Drive closure. The video discussed the benefits of the road closure and culvert installation. The increased width of the new culverts will make it easier for salmon to spawn upstream, according to the video.‌ “Alaska is a place I’ve learned people work together to get things done,” Chancellor Sandeen said in the YouTube video, uploaded to the UAAnchorage channel. “If we dealt with a 7.1 earthquake, we can certainly deal with a road closure for six weeks.”‌ Detours on Providence Drive are in effect for pedestrians, buses and cars. The posted signs must be followed for traffic redirections. The sidewalk along Providence Drive is diverted as well.‌ The People Mover has diverted routes 10 and 55 through the UAA campus. Campus bus

Flyers created by the Municipality of Anchorage were given out at Campus Kickoff regarding the road closures.

stops are still accessible. For more information, visit the People Mover’s detour page on the municipality website. ‌ The Seawolf Shuttle is also impacted by the road closure.

Shuttles may be delayed and not arrive precisely at posted times, according to the official shuttle website. Track the shuttle at uaashuttle.com or through the

UAA safe app.‌ Cooperation with the Municipality of Anchorage will allow for the construction on Providence Drive to be done before winter. Contact Brooke Blessing, project administrator, at brooke.blessing@anchorageak. gov or at (907) 343-8135 for more information.‌

NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

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Remembering BP’s legacy of philanthropy with UAA

By Jason Herr layout@thenorthernlight.org

In August of 2019, BP announced they will be leaving Alaska and selling their operations and interests to Hilcorp for $5.6 billion.‌ In the past, BP has maintained a strong relationship with UAA. BP has helped to fund a variety of programs and services at the University of Alaska Anchorage, including engineering camps, tutoring programs and development seminars. ‌ The programs BP has supported or sponsored range from academic support through tutoring programs, seminars to help engineering students form connections within the engineering community, summer camps run

by Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, or ANSEP and UAA’s Summer Engineering Academy.‌‌ “Our partnership with UAA is so important to us,” David Conway, HR Director for BP Alaska, said in an interview with Alaska Business. “UAA’s future students are also our future employees and industry leaders, and providing them support and opportunities strengthens Alaska’s workforce for years to come.”‌ One such program is ANSEP.‌ ANSEP, established in 1995, was originally a scholarship program for university students.

Since inception, the program has grown to include activities and programs for Alaska Native youth, from sixth grade through high school and college. ‌ “BP was the founding strategic partner for the ANSEP summer bridging program in 1998, and they have supported us every single year since. They’ve also contributed half a million dollars for the ANSEP building

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BP ASSET INTEGRITY AND CORROSION LAB WEBSITE

The BP Asset Integrity and Corrosion Lab is home to a plethora of high-tech equipment.

and another half a million dollars for the Herbert P. Schroeder Chair for ANSEP,” Herbert Schroeder, vice provost and founder of ANSEP, said.‌ The ANSEP Summer Bridge Program allows students to participate in a 10-week summer program at the UAA campus, college coursework in math and provides the students with internships with one of the ANSEP’s many strategic partners.

Graduates of the program are eligible for scholarships to the University of Alaska.‌ Over 20 years later, ANSEP is appreciative of the chance to have a strategic partnership with BP.‌ “ANSEP wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for BP. They helped us to get off the ground, they stuck with us through tough times, and now we have dozens of students who work as engineers and scientists within the BP organization,” Schroeder said.

Another BP connection to UAA is the BP Asset Integrity and Corrosion Lab, or AIC Lab, located in the Engineering and Industry Building and a part of UAA’s College of Engineering.

The AIC Lab maintains state-of-the-art facilities for research on materials and corro-

sion. Through studies, projects and research, the lab and UAA student engineers can team up with industry, government and other universities. This partnership helps to further educate students on fields such as oil and gas exploration and production, marine engineering, and architectural engineering.

Aside from adding to and enhancing industry in Alaska, UAA students are able to tackle real-world engineering projects and research.

“The knowledge we have gained providing failure analysis and testing services to local industry has helped me to give my students real-world context and has also made my research grant applications far more competitive,” Matt Cullin, Ph.D., and director of the AIC Lab at UAA, said in an email. “I think the lab is an excellent example of a symbiotic relationship between industry and academia.”

BP provided an initial gift of $1 million to purchase equipment and to make the necessary building modifications needed to house the equipment, according to Cullen.

Beyond the starting costs, BP also makes use of the lab as a client.

“They bring us many inter-

PHOTO BY JASON HERR

ANSEP and BP have been strategic partners for over 20 years.

esting projects and pay us to complete the work,” Cullin said.

“So in this regard, they have provided us with a sustainable source of income by choosing to send work here rather than out of state.”

BP’s partnership with UAA goes beyond funding, and BP employees and engineers also work with the university to provide guest lectures to UAA students as a way to share decades of experience with the next generation of engineers.

“As an educator, their willingness to directly contribute to our programs via guest lectures has been amazingly beneficial.

The speakers had decades of experience in the industry and provided students (and me) with an extremely valuable perspec-

tive,” Cullen said in the email.

A crowning benefit to students involved with ANSEP or the AIC Lab is that BP’s connection to UAA can lead to a future career after graduation.

“I have stopped counting how many of our graduates work for BP because they are so numerous,” Cullen said.

BP’s role in UAA engineering programs and ANSEP has bonded the global oil giant to the much smaller university community of UAA. “We appreciate everything that BP has done for ANSEP, for the University of Alaska, for the thousands of students involved in ANSEP and all the family members that have benefited from BP’s support,” Shroeder said.‌

Decoding Student Fees: Part one

By Jason Herr layout@thenorthernlight.org

Students pay a variety of fees when attending UAA, but sometimes it is difficult to know exactly where the funds are going and how the money is being spent.‌ “I don’t know very much about [fees] at all,” Rebekah Kline, a junior majoring in health sciences, said.‌ Kline believes that students may only briefly glance at the fees charged by UAA but hopes that this will change.. ‌ “From what I understand, student fees pay mostly for the services you as a student could use,” Amanda Allard, a senior majoring in management, said.

“When you take a math class, you pay for a fee that pays wages for the tutors that are there to help you. Then there are things like the transportation fee, where any student can use the bus systems for free.”‌ Understanding the fees charged by the university can lead to students taking a more active role in programs offered

by UAA.‌ “I think students should

know what their fees pay for.

That way, they may discover something they are paying for but have not taken advantage of, but could,” Allard said.‌ Student Fees at UAA include charges for facilities maintenance, student media and activities. Several fees are mandatory for students registered in three or more credits held on the UAA campus.‌ The fee totals can vary depending on a multitude of factors, including whether courses the student is taking are located on campus or online, the number of credits a student is enrolled in and the student’s overall tuition cost. Fee charges are not necessarily the same for every student.‌ With so many fees under question, The Northern Light will focus on a few in-depth per issue. All fees will be visited through this series of articles.‌ Student Health and Counseling Services - $14 per credit for students registered in six or more on-campus credits, with a maximum charge of $168.‌ The Student Health and Counseling Services fee allows

the SHCC to provide a range of services to students that have paid the fee. The fee is only applied to students that are taking six or more credits on the UAA campus.‌ Services at the SHCC include physical exams, health education and wellness programs at no cost, while other services, such as laboratory and pharmacy services, are offered at a reduced cost. The center also provides resources to students on alcohol and drug education, mental health counseling and sexual health practices.‌ “The most important thing I think that students should know is that if they are taking six on-campus credits, visits to the health center are essentially free, they’ve already paid for their visits, so it definitely is a resource that they can take advantage of,” Mary Woodring, director of Student Health, said.‌ The SHCC maintains a professionally trained and educated staff that can assist students in finding a balance between their health and academic schedules while making costs easier to meet.‌ Students are also able to take advantage of the many educa-

PHOTO BY JASON HERR

Radames Mercado-Barbosa, KRUA’s production coordinator, edits audio tracks for a future TNL and KRUA collaboration.

tional and outreach programs such as lectures, student events and activities offered through the SHCC to learn more about health-related topics like bystander prevention, sexual wellness and staff or peer-led seminars.‌ Student Media - $11 flat fee for students registered in three or more credits.‌ Student media fees are used to support the two student media organizations on the UAA campus. The fee is split evenly between the student-run newspaper, The Northern Light, and the student radio station, KRUA 88.1FM.‌

The Northern Light has been the student-run newspaper for UAA since 1988. Fees help to pay for the costs of printing, paper delivery and website maintenance.‌ For over 20 years, KRUA has been broadcasting to the listeners of Anchorage on their 88.1 FM station. Student media fees help to cover the costs of the station.‌ Overall, student media fees help to accommodate the costs of production, projects and continuance of both student-run ‌media organizations.

The remaining student fees will be discussed in future issues of The Northern Light.‌

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

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UAA | University Art Analysis – Multimedia artworks

by Sheila Wyne to be dedicated this week‌

GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS

By Robert Gant features@thenorthernlight.org

UAA’s Engineering and Industry Building has new art already making a buzz before its dedication.‌ “Ingenerare” is a wallmounted, found object artwork located on the second floor of the EIB next to the ExPRESS cafe. The definition of ingenerare, according to the plaque by the artwork, is “to cause, create and produce.”‌ “Ingenerare” is layered to the point of surpassing its frame when viewed from the side. The artwork is composed of street signs, engineering tools such as protractors and valves, reflective tape and countless other reclaimed objects. “Ingenerare” is

substantially tall and visible from neighboring floors of the EIB.‌ “[‘Ingenerare’ is] the best game of I Spy in town,” local artist Bryce Fredrick said in the caption of an Instagram post. ‌ Sheila Wyne, the artist of “Ingenerare” and “Networks,” a mosaic on the first floor of the EIB installed simultaneously, is familiar with the mixed media approach to art. She intentionally created “Ingenerare” with various layers and hidden objects to hold the interest of college students.‌ “[In public artwork], it’s really important there is a lot of levels to it so you don’t get it all in one pass,” Wyne said in an interview with Charles Wohlforth of Alaska Public Media.

“The art continues to grow and evolve as the viewer grows and evolves. This is particularly important in school sites because those human beings are changing radically, getting new impressions constantly.”‌ Wyne has previously created sets for puppet operas, urban art in natural environments and a vast amount of public artworks. Her public artwork locations vary from the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute. The majority of Wyne’s artwork has been constructed for educational settings.‌ “The first piece of public art I did at a high school automatically got [toilet papered], which I thought was great,” Wyne said in the interview with Wohlforth. “They took ownership right away.”‌ Wyne began her artistic odyssey in Alaska as a lab assistant for the UAA ceramics studio. She has received nearly 20 awards for her artworks since moving to Anchorage from Illinois.‌ Wyne has also been featured in over 20 art shows, many of them solo.

While her art has been displayed in both England

and Washington D.C., Wyne makes an effort to remain within Alaska for the majority of her artworks.‌ Wyne’s about page described how the Alaskan wilderness continues to influence her artwork.

She likened the cycle of day and night in Alaska to the renaissance concept of chiaroscuro. ‌ “Ingenerare” and “Networks” were commissioned as a result of 1% for Art in Anchorage.

This program allocates a percentage of the construction budget of public buildings for public artworks.‌ Wyne’s artworks “Ingenerare” and “Networks” will be dedicated in a ceremony at 4 p.m. on Sept.

11. The ceremony will take place on the second floor of the Engineering and Industry Building, where light refreshments will be served. Wyne will give a public statement about the new artworks at the dedication. There will be free parking in the South Parking Lot for all attendees.‌ Have you seen art at UAA you want to know more about? Contact Robert Gant at features@the‌ northernlight.org.

“Ingenerare” is an organized jumble of reclaimed metal and engineering tools.

PHOTOS BY ROBERT GANT

“Ingenerare” is located on the second floor of the Engineering and Industry Building next to ExPRESS.

Welcome Back to School!

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THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

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Hitbox Review: Smile for Me

By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org

Some games sound completely incomprehensible when explained with no context.

Smile for Me is the epitome of these types of games. The player might be throwing pickle juice on an ashamed guy speaking in antiquated English or determining a photographer’s aesthetic. ‌‌ Platforms: PC Developers: Gabe Lane, Yugo Limbo Publisher: LimboLane Release date: May 31, 2019 ‌Price: $12.99‌ At the recommendation of The Northern Light’s features editor, Robert Gant, I decided to try Smile for Me. It’s a game about solving problems. Players will run around The Habitat, a rehab clinic for sad people and try to make them happy. The Habitat is run by Dr. Habit, who primarily uses nightly puppet shows to communicate with the Habiticians, or those who stay in the clinic. ‌ The artistic direction in Smile for Me is very endearing. It’s as if a stylized cartoon was transported into a 3D environment.

Unfortunately, the textures on objects and the building complex the player will be running around are very low resolution.

Everything looks fine from a distance, but as soon as the player gets too close, they’ll notice everything appears to be made of very blurry cardboard. However, the only time this impacted gameplay was when I couldn’t tell what something was in the sink of a bathroom.‌ The textures are a stylistic choice as much as a fault. It leads to the player paying more attention to the smaller details, such as the numerous posters. One

of these posters shows a doctor smiling with text that reads: “9/10 doctors agree! Being happy makes you immortal!”‌ The characters’ voices are going to be divisive. They speak in a Simlish-like manner, opting for incomprehensible nonsense over traditional voice acting.

Thankfully, speech bubbles appear under the characters so the player has some semblance of what they’re trying to communicate.‌ By far, the best part of Smile for Me is the writing. The nightly puppet shows are written in a meme-like style, where words are deliberately misspelled and left out. This could be annoying to some, but I found it amusing.

The immense character diversity is incredible. I found each character amusing in at least one way. My favorite characters were the pickle-obsessed Randy Hapukurk and the sun-hating Trencil Varnia. ‌ The gameplay of Smile for Me is reminiscent of ‘90s adventure games, such as Myst and The Secret of Monkey Island. Players gather items in various ways that are placed in their inventory, which are required to solve the Habiticians’ problems. This leads to situations where players will need to find a superhero cape to get a metal detector to find hidden items. The unique gameplay mechanic in Smile for Me is that players can nod their heads up and down and side to side using their mouse to indicate yes and no in response to questions. It’s unique, but doesn’t add anything to the gameplay that pressing a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ button wouldn’t.‌ The main issues I have with Smile for Me’s gameplay are the inventory management and the obscure solutions to some of the Habiticians’ problems. To select

an item from the inventory, players need to click the left mouse button, scroll with their mouse wheel to the desired item and click the left mouse button again to select the item. If it sounds like this is a pain, it’s because it is. On top of that, every time the player uses an item, they have to reselect it from the inventory.

Not only is this annoying, but it also slows down the gameplay and makes it feel janky.‌ At times, I struggled to solve problems with obscure solutions. This is emblematic of a larger systemic issue with Smile for Me’s gameplay. When players run out of ideas to problems, they begin randomly and aimlessly using items on everything they can find hoping that something will eventually work. This results in gameplay that isn’t engaging and only serves to frustrate the player. The other situation that can occur is moving on to another problem and hoping that the player either comes up with another idea or that they get an item that helps them solve that problem. I found that the former was more likely to happen. ‌ Even with all of Smile for Me’s charm, I still didn’t find the gameplay very engaging.

Sure, I had moments of discovery when I figured out a solution to a problem I had been struggling with for a while and it made me feel smart. However, after a few seconds, I would realize how contrived the entire thing was. There was only one solution to the problem. There was very little opportunity for player agency. ‌ Want to suggest a video game for review? Contact John Novotny at arts@thenorthernlight. org.‌

GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS

SCREENSHOTS BY JOHN NOVOTNY

Randy Hapukurk really likes pickles.

Mirphy Fotoparat apparently thinks a bowl of soup is very sensual.

Campus Food Review: Taqueria is more convenient than Taco Bell, I guess

By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org

Taqueria is the newest builda-taco restaurant in the Student Union. It replaced the Union Burger in the fall of 2019, which replaced a Mexican restaurant called Caliente in the fall of 2018. So the Student Union is right back to where it started.‌ Taqueria uses the “Subway method” of ordering. That is, selecting ingredients one-by-one and moving down a line. Being as anti-social as I am, I absolutely despise this method of ordering because it forces me to interact with more people. However, the employees at Taqueria made the process an absolute breeze and a very pleasant experience. ‌ Taqueria has plenty of ingredients one would expect at a taco restaurant. There are different types of tortillas, such as soft flour and crispy corn, meats such as achiote orange chicken and the classic seasoned beef and a wide variety of toppings, from queso to pickled red onions to guacamole. Brown rice, cilantro lime rice and chipotle black

beans are available as sides. I’m not entirely sure they’re higher quality than what you would get at a fast-food restaurant like Taco Bell, though. ‌ There was one “main attraction” that caught my eye, however, vaguely named “vegan.”

I wasn’t brave enough to opt for this option, though.‌ For this review, I decided to keep my order fairly standard to have a solid base to judge the food and compare it to other taco restaurants. I ordered two tacos, one with a soft flour tortilla and one with a crispy corn tortilla, each with seasoned beef, brown rice, lettuce and cheese. ‌ The food was warmer than what I have come to expect from ordering at the Taco Bell drive-thru, although it was only a matter of seconds from ordering to eating my food. The tortillas were the correct textures.

The crispy corn was firm and crunchy, while the soft flour was pleasantly chewy. Unfortunately, they were about the size of a large sand dollar. Considering two tacos cost $5, it makes sense, but it was still disappointing. ‌

I was surprised by the spice in the seasoned beef. It snuck up on me after a few bites and added another layer of flavor onto the beef mixture. It was different than the typical meat paste I’ve come to expect from Taco Bell but didn’t necessarily taste better. The lettuce and cheese were serviceable, but nothing to write

home about. ‌ Overall, I thought Taqueria’s food was decent, but not extraordinary. I suppose it doesn’t have to be the best taco restaurant, considering the Student Union is meant to be a general “hangout” space.‌ That being said, if I’m going to make a bad decision, I’m do-

ing it the right way. I’m going to go to Taco Bell and order four Chalupa Supremes, two orders of Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes with no sour cream and a 12-pack of Cinnabon Delights. Don’t judge me.‌ I give Taqueria a 2/5 for the warm service and convenient location.‌

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE SEAWOLF DINING WEBSITE

Taqueria’s menu lists the calories of each ingredient, making it easier for customers to track their consumption.

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

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UAA volleyball earns two wins and two losses in Seawolf Invitational

By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org

The Seawolf volleyball team kicked off their first regular-season games with the Seawolf Invitational on Sept. 5-7.‌ UAA hosted four outof-state teams — Regis University, Concord, UC San Diego and Biola — at the Alaska Airlines Center for a season-opening tournament. None of the visiting teams are a part of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. However, both Biola and UC San Diego are West Regional competitors.‌ The Seawolves were able to compete against all their visitors, starting with Regis University on Sept.

5, Concord and Biola on Sept. 6 and ending with UC San Diego on Sept. 7.‌ UAA started off slow with a 2-3 loss against Regis. However, things started looking up with two

back-to-back wins before a second loss to UC San Diego.‌ Despite the loss, the Seawolves were able to make many individual achievements in their season opener. Sophomore right-side hitter Eve Stephens solidified 19 kills during the night for a team-high, followed by senior outside hitter Vanessa Hayes with 17. Hayes also managed a career-high five aces.‌ However, the Seawolves cost themselves a win by making a total of 34 errors during the five sets, while Regis made just 19.‌ “Regis did an excellent job of forcing some mistakes by our hitters tonight, but that is still no excuse for committing so many errors, especially our 17 service errors,” UAA head coach Chris Green said.‌ The Seawolves used

PHOTO COURTESY OF SKIP HICKEY

Sophomore Eve Stephens competes in the Seawolf Invitational on Sept. 5-7.

their season-opening game as a learning experience and motivation for their battle against Concord. In a short three sets, 25-8, 25-12 and 2512, UAA reigned over the Mountain Lions for their first win of the season.‌ Hayes and Stephens worked together to again carry the Seawolves’ offensive team, making a total of 11 kills each. Overall, UAA made a total of 37 kills to significantly out-number Concord’s 13 kills. In addition, the

Seawolves finished with a .444 hitting percentage, the third-highest overall for the team.‌ In comparison to their first game, UAA made a mere nine errors while playing CU, in contrast to Concord’s 18 errors.‌ Later the same day, the Seawolves met back on the court to take on their West Region rivals Biola. In four competitive sets, 2616, 24-26, 25-1 and 25-20, UAA earned their second win of the season.‌ Stephens and Hayes

continue to lead UAA’s offensive team with doubledigit kills each, 16 and 14, respectively.‌ In addition, Stephens and Hayes contributed alongside junior libero Anjoilyn Vreeland on the defense, finishing with 11, 10 and 12 digs, respectively.‌ “We continued to improve for the third straight match. We knew Biola was very talented coming in, and our players did a terrific job of following the game plan we laid out for them,” Green said.

“This was a solid team win that could be helpful in the long run in the playoff race, but we can’t lose focus with an excellent UC San Diego team on tap tomorrow.”‌ To end their two-game win streak, the Seawolves met back on the court Saturday night to play a competitive four sets against West Region rivals UC

San Diego.‌ Despite the loss, the Seawolves made relatively few errors while still accumulating a decent number of kills and aces.‌ UAA finished with a total of 41 kills and 20 errors, in contrast to UCSD’s 57 kills and 24 errors. The Seawolves also managed to accumulate five more aces than the Tritons, nine and four, respectively.‌ Stephens and Hayes again managed to lead the team with kills, 16 and 12, respectively. However, junior middle blocker Kayla McGlathery held the team-high attack percentage for the night (.278).‌ The Seawolves will have a chance to redeem themselves next week in the DII West Region showcase, in San Bernardino, California on Sept. 12-14.‌ For a full Seawolf volleyball schedule and game results, visit www.goseawolves.com.

Track and field heptathlete transitions into cross-country runner

By Lauren Cuddihy sports@thenorthernlight.org

Yvonne Jeschke came to UAA from Au am Rhein, Germany in 2015 as a hurdler and heptathlete for the Seawolf track and field team. ‌ The physical education major spent the next four years becoming both a successful athlete and student. Jeschke started off strong during her freshman year outdoor track season by becoming the Great Northwest Athletic Conference 400-meter hurdle champion.‌ Over the years, Jeschke has competed in almost every track and field event possible: 60-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, 200-meter sprint, 400-meter sprint, 800-meter run, high jump, long jump, shot put and javelin throw.‌ However, she had never competed in an event

for UAA longer than the 800-meter, a mere two laps on the track, which is a stark difference to the 5-kilometer and 6-kilometer races in cross-country.‌ “I have always enjoyed going on runs and did some community races before I came to UAA, but it has never been something serious. Once I joined the track team at UAA, the coaches and I were considering putting me on the cross-country team a couple of times, but the risk for me of getting burned out or even injured once track season starts was too high,” Jeschke said.‌ Now that Jeschke ran out of eligibility for track, she considered crosscountry a realistic possibility while she stayed at the university through the fall to finish her minor in nutrition. She explained that she spent the summer transitioning from track to cross-country.‌

“After finishing my track season in May, I started a summer training program from coach Michael Friess. Over a 10week period, I went from running 45 minutes a day and 30 miles a week up to 90-minute-long runs and 50 miles a week,” Jeschke said.‌ However, despite Friess helping ease her into crosscountry and creating her summer plan, he stepped down as head coach over the summer, causing some uncertainty about the future of the team.‌ “We had a change in our coaching staff this year with Coach Ryan [McWilliams] taking the head position and Coach Friess staying as an assistant for the cross-country team. With that, we can have a smooth transition with Coach Friess staying with his great experience for another year and slowly handing over his re-

sponsibilities and knowledge,” Jeschke said.‌ She explained that she is extremely relieved with this transition. While head coach Ryan McWilliams and assistant coach Ray Shadows were familiar with her track background, Friess will be a beneficial resource for Jeschke as an inexperienced cross-country runner.‌ Although Jeschke is competitive, she is using the one cross-country season she has to enjoy her time and help her team.‌ “My primary goal is to stay healthy and injuryfree. With that, I can keep training and work on my goal of being a contributing factor for the team at the GNAC and Regional meets,” Jeschke said.‌ In each regular season meet, the top five finishers are scoring, while the sixth and seventh finishers displace athletes from other teams, making their

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL FRIESS

Yvonne Jeschke will be applying her track experience to the trails this crosscountry season.

scores worse.‌ Jeschke explained that she really wants to be able to help score for the team while also possibly qualifying for nationals later on.‌ She competed in her first regular-season crosscountry meet at the Blue & Gold Run Rest on Aug. 31 at UAF. The dual meet has 18 women competing.

Jeschke placed third overall, finishing the 5-kilometer race in 19:36.0. This helped the UAA women’s

team overtake UAF with a total of 17 points, in comparison to UAF’s 39.

“It has been an amazing experience to see how my body can actually get to this level and without any pain or injuries. Being able to practice with the team now and run my first ever race is awesome,” Jeschke said.‌ Jeschke and the crosscountry team will be back in action on Sept. 28 for the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Sacramento, California.‌

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OPINION

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Letter to the editor: Promoting economic growth through Upstart Internships The total number of internships a student completed as an undergrad is one of the major predictors of initial outcomes, according to the NACE Center for Career Development and Talent Acquisition. This, combined with the fact that participation in multiple internships in college helps students secure employment within six months of graduation, begs the question: why wouldn’t you apply for one of these programs? Especially considering each position pays $18 an hour.‌

UA’s Center for Economic Development understands that startups are the new growth of the economy, which is why we are hiring seven interns for our Upstart Internships Program, which places students in two different areas of focus: startups and research programs.‌ Interested in learning the ins and outs of manufacturing and organizing a shop? Alpine Fit — an Alaska-based apparel company — is seeking an intern to assist with creating economically and responsibly-sourced materials. ‌

If you’re an engineering student, you could be mentored by The Launch Company, which specializes in all of your rocketlaunching needs, or Gennaker Systems, which develops autonomous drones capable of flying between remote villages and regional hubs. ‌ Fascinated with code? LegalVerse — a software as a service company — is looking for a programmer, CS/MIS/Math, ready to work on a high-risk, high-reward project.‌ If selected for a research focus,

students will learn from CED’s analysts as they dig into work that will inform Alaska’s energy future. All participants will have the opportunity to engage in impactful projects that will not only build their resumes, but further their understanding of Alaska’s economy.‌ The application deadline for

CED’s internships is Sept. 15.

Apply for the startups’ focus at bit.ly/2k5n8kQ or the research focus at bit.ly/2lz3MFa.‌ Sam Davenport UA Center for Economic Development‌

CO R R E C T I O N S

In the Sept. 3 issue of The Northern Light, a quote was clarified by Stacey Lucason in the “Howls unheard: Town Hall meeting showcases the many voices of UAA” In the article, Lucason was quoted as saying: “The president told the chancellor not to come, just like in the last four regent meetings. It was only at the insistence of the student regent that the chancellors [UAA, UAF and UAS] were even allowed to speak”.

The quote should read: “The president told the chancellor not to come, just like in the last Board of Regent meeting. It was only at the insistence of the student regent that the chancellors [UAA, UAF and UAS] were even allowed to speak,” Stacey Lucason, a former student regent of the UA Board of Regents and UAA alumni, said.

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