FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 28, 2022
ARTS
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
SPORTS
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Student Artists Clay-m to Fame
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
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Willing to Taste Blood: The Drive of UAA Ski Athletes to achieve Olympic Success
Stick the landing: UAA Gymnastics moves closer to full reinstatement and returns to competition in Anchorage after two tumultuous years By Jake Dye editor@thenorthernlight.org
After more than 700 days, after 23 months out of competition, UAA’s Gymnastics team returns to Anchorage, competing in the main gym of the Alaska Airlines Center on Feb. 11 and 13. The team will be competing against Centenary. The UAA Gymnastics team has been through a lot to get here; having their last two seasons, in 2020 and 2021, canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic, being eliminated by the University of Alaska Board of Regents, being asked to raise nearly a million dollars to earn reinstatement, and even now dealing with COVID protocols, which cost the team their original first home meet on Jan. 21 and 23. UAA Gymnastics Head Coach Marie-Sophie Boggasch spoke with me about the UAA gymnastics program, discussing the team’s first meet in Colorado on Jan. 28 & 30, the still-inprogress fundraising effort, and the first home meet in years. The current gymnastics team is overwhelmingly composed of freshmen, with eleven of the fourteen athletes being in their first year. The team also has one sophomore, one junior, and one senior, for a total of fourteen women. Boggasch described how, because of COVID-19, only two members of the team who competed in Colorado have ever competed at the collegiate level before, and only one for UAA. “It was all about getting out there and getting a competition under our belt, they were all very wide-eyed, trying to soak it all in.” She said about the first day, “Our team forgot to stand
PHOTO COURTESY UAA ATHLETICS/SKIP HICKEY
After earning temporary reinstatement in 2021, the UAA Gymnastics team was able to hold the Green & Gold Exhibition. The upcoming February home meet will be their first official competition since early 2020
up for awards because they just didn’t know.” The team had a “rough start,” but Boggasch says that after “having our team eliminated last year, having our season canceled last year, then having our first competition this year canceled already, not knowing if we’d be allowed to go to Colorado even, having that minimal practice right beforehand, I think we were just happy it happened.” On the second day of the meet in Colorado, Boggasch says the gymnastics team came out “knowing the process, knowing what to expect” and “showed way closer to what we’ve been practicing. It was really a confi-
dence booster.” Unfortunately, though the home competition on Feb. 11 and 13 is the first appearance of the gymnastics team at a home meet in years, Boggasch says it’s still not the radical comeback appearance of UAA Gymnastics because the team still isn’t fully reinstated by the UA Board of Regents. “This isn’t the big meet because we’re still working for a permanent reinstatement for years to follow.” The team still needs between $100,000 and $150,000 of their $880,000 goal by the deadline of Jun. 2022 to be fully reinstated. If the team fails to reach this goal, this season will be their last. To compete this year the
PHOTO COURTESY UAA ATHLETICS/SKIP HICKEY
Head Coach Marie-Sophie Boggasch has led the team since early in the pandemic, named interim head coach in Jul. 2020, and named the third head coach in program history in Jun. 2021.
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team had to reach the $440,000 mark, half of the total goal, by Jun. 2021. Despite that, Boggasch is clear that this season and this whole year is a win, a win she attributes directly to her athletes, who are the ones who worked so hard to fundraise for reinstatement, who “showed dedication to UAA, even when UAA wasn’t dedicated to them.” The current goal of UAA Gymnastics is to earn full reinstatement. More than that, Boggasch described a desire to “kind of rebrand UAA Gymnastics, and become a bigger entity that’s undeniable on campus.” To achieve this goal, the team is keeping up with fundraising efforts, with a sort of soft-relaunch and revitalization of the fundraising tied to the home meet in February. The team is also actively producing a monthly YouTube series titled “Seawolfeonix: First Roar or Final Flame?” where each of the athletes tells their story and advocates for the team. At the competition on Feb. 11 and 13, UAA Gymnastics will be holding a raffle, a LuLaRoe sale on the upper level of the facility, and a “Stickathon,” where fans can pledge a dollar amount for each stuck landing by the Seawolves. Fundraising will also be held at a club invitational meet on Feb. 12, the Saturday between the Seawolf competitions and also at the Alaska Airlines Center. youtube.com/tnlnews
Boggasch is hoping that fans and attendees of the competition will be excited, hoping that the team can “provide an event that when people see it, potentially for the first time, that they want to come back.” More importantly, Boggasch hopes that fans and the UAA community “recognize the challenges and adversities this team has faced, really put in perspective how much these athletes have accomplished,” citing the cancellations, the elimination, the uncertainty, and how through it all the UAA Gymnastics team has worked for reinstatement and come back to compete. The Feb. 11 and 13 meet against Centenary will be one of only two opportunities to see the UAA Gymnastics team compete in Anchorage this year. Their only other competition at the Alaska Airlines Center will be on Mar. 11, against Air Force. That night will also be the team’s senior night, where the team’s one senior, Kylie Reese, will be honored. To participate in the Stickathon and set a pledge, visit app.mobilecause.com/f/3flj/ n?vid=pp568, to donate directly, visit engage.alaska.edu/uaa/ gymnastics, for more information about the fundraising effort and links to all the fundraising options, visit saveuaagymnastics.wixsite.com/saveuaagymnastics.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2022
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UA President Pitney hosts town hall, discusses budget, COVID-19 and a goal of stability University of Alaska Interim President Pat Pitney hosted a town hall on Jan. 27 where she discussed the current state of the University budget, COVID-19 mitigation plans and the Alaska Native Success Initiative. The town hall was conducted via Zoom and live-streamed. Pitney’s central message was one of optimism. After years of budget cuts from Governor Mike Dunleavy, this year’s bud-
The suit argues that the draining of the fund in 2021 was unconstitutional. Pitney stated that the university supports this effort because having that fund stable would be “a game-changer.” She added that while the court case proceeds, the university is also pursuing the same goal via the legislative angle. Each of the universities, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Alaska Southeast gave updates on their COVID-19 mitigation proce-
get features what Pitney referred to as “a modest increase.” This increase doesn’t quite cover the budget proposal passed by the Board of Regents in November, but it covers around half of the proposed increase of 3 million dollars. One of the central topics at the town hall was the continued effort to cut costs and look for “efficiencies and reallocations.” Key pain points in need of additional funds were deferred maintenance, which Pitney noted was supported by the state legislature last year, before being vetoed by the governor, and revamping the student registration and information system. By this Pitney seems to be referring to the UAOnline service which students use to perform many key tasks using their university account. Also discussed was the recently announced lawsuit by four University of Alaska students against the state government over the Alaska Higher Education Investment Fund.
dures. These updates largely amounted to no change, these procedures will remain in place for some time. UAA Vice Chancellor Bruce Schultz provided an update about UAA’s COVID-19 mitigation, saying that “those layered strategies are working well.” Only four COVID-19 cases had a direct impact on the UAA campus last week, and Schultz stated that some in-person activities will slowly be returning to the campus. The final major component of Pitney’s remarks was around ANSI. There was not a major announcement about the program, simply an update that a five-year action plan was approved in November and will be implemented going forward. This plan is tied to the existing UAA 2025 initiative. In a questions and answers session following prepared remarks, Pitney discussed university consolidation, saying that while it’s important for the three universities to retain their
By Jake Dye editor@thenorthernlight.org
SCREENSHOT OF LIVESTREAM BY JAKE DYE
The Town Hall was held via Zoom, and featured ASL interpretation throughout. Aside from Interim President Pitney, representatives from several of the University of Alaska campuses gave updates.
unique experiences, consolidation could take place on the administrative side. Pitney stated that outwardly, the three-university model will continue indefinitely, but internal systems could “do business in a more standard way.” Many of the questions were tied to budget concerns. One question, from 9 members of the UAA Gymnastics team, asked whether the athletics teams will continue to be required to fundraise themselves. The gymnastics team is still actively fundraising for full reinstatement on a Jun. 2022 deadline. Pitney’s response suggested that will remain the case, describing a “transformative path” for UAA athletics, moving towards self-sustaining models by leaning on donors for funding. The limitations of the Zoom
format were apparent, as no reaction from the Gymnastics team to that response was perceptible. Other budget conversations included Pitney’s description of a need to focus on academic programs that are reaching highdemand job areas, with health listed as an example, as well as areas that will bring in more students. Pitney suggested here that those programs that are not high-demand may find themselves under scrutiny, saying the University is “not going to return to the state funding level that we had.” Ending the presentation on a lighter note, the final question was about facilities fees, specifically why online-only students have to pay them. Pitney responded that there is a commit-
tee actively looking at this. She described that things were set up in one way, before, but there is a plan to begin revisiting some areas of fees and tuition. President Pitney reiterated her desire for UAA and UAF to become competitive in their two separate fields. The full archive of the town hall stream is available on the President’s communications page.
COVID Update: Omicron in Anchorage and at UAA By Jake Dye editor@thenorthernlight.org
Just over a month after the first case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 was detected in Alaska, it has become the dominant form of the virus in the state. The omicron variant has been described by medical officials and the Centers for Disease Control as much more transmissible, though early tracking suggests the variant may not be as deadly as its predecessors. Omicron is leading a new spike of COVID-19 cases in Alaska, which appears to be the largest spike yet. Prior to 2022, the highest daily average in the state was 1,313 on Sep. 27. On Jan. 14 the daily average reached 1,888. At the time of writing, no further numbers have been released. At this time the staggering
number of cases being reported has not been reflected as directly in hospitalizations or deaths as they were with the delta variant last fall. On Sept. 27, when the average cases reached 1,313, 212 patients were in the hospital. On. Jan 14, when average cases reached 1,888, only 101 patients were in the hospital. The omicron surge was directly indicated by University of Alaska Anchorage Provost Denise Runge as a cause for a twoweek optional shift to distance learning at UAA announced on Jan. 10. This shift allowed instructors the option to move their in-person classes to a distance learning model, but only for the first two weeks of the Spring semester. All those courses that were scheduled to be in-person are required to return to face-toface instruction on Jan. 24. Runge mentioned in the an-
nouncement that the move could be extended if the COVID-19 situation “continues to pose challenges or worsens.” Since the start of the spring semester, only three cases have been reported on campus. Omicron is spreading rapidly, and though there are currently relatively fewer hospitalizations and deaths resulting from the variant than its predecessors, the CDC continues to recommend masking, social distancing and vaccination to prevent the spread of the virus. A recent update to CDC recommendations states that N95 disposable masks are found to provide the highest level of protection among face coverings, specifically greater than the cloth masks many are wearing. Face coverings are still required on the UAA campus. Vaccinations and boosters can be acquired for free at any
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
provider in Anchorage. Sites can be found by visiting anchoragecovidvaccine.org. At this time anyone aged 5 and older is eligible. Boosters can be received six months after completing an initial vaccination series, and do not have to be the same type of vaccine initially received. UAA students and
faculty can receive free at-home testing kits at the UAA Consortium Library, and PCR tests are being administered daily at the Alaska Airlines Center and the UAA Student Health and Counseling Center.
| 03 NEWS Gaming With a Purpose: The Way of the E-Wolves By David Harding news1@thenorthernlight.org
Esports have become one of the most popular forms of entertainment in recent memory; with several streamers and video game players attaining millions of views and celebrity status for their play. Whether you may want to dip your toes into the competitive scenes for games such as League of Legends and Overwatch, or just want to enjoy these games and more with fellow UAA students, there’s no better place to be than at UAA’s Esports Club. One of the youngest clubs on campus, having been founded in 2018 after the Electric Gaming Federation (EGF) helped create several high school esports programs and leagues in the last frontier, these student gamers don’t only pride themselves on dexterity and hand-eye coordination that makes all the difference in competitions, but in academic success as well. In order to become an E-Wolf, students must be taking 6+ credits (part to full time) and report to club leadership weekly about their academic progress. Should a student fall below a 2.0 GPA, they will be benched until it’s improved. However, hopeful members shouldn’t be worried about meeting too harsh of requirements to be allowed on a team. Gamers of all levels of experience are welcome, and as Maddy, UAA Senior and current UAA Esports Club president, puts it; the most valuable trait a new member could have is inter-
est. “We’ve only had one instance of needing tryouts (during Overwatch boom in 2021). With COVID-19 it’s been harder to get club involvement, so we’re open to anyone who wants to get involved,” The current active teams are in Overwatch and League of Legends, although the deadline for UAA to present its LoL team for the local league has already passed without enough members to fill it. When a team for these games is assembled, it’s up to them to decide on how often they would like to meet for practice and the duration of these sessions; as well as where to meet. The most ideal spot would be the UAA Esports Lounge located on the upper level of the Student Union; outfitted with several high-end gaming computers preloaded with the games comprising the E-Wolves season and more, although new games cannot be installed by members without leadership approval. Besides practice, inner club scrambles can be arranged depending on the amount of players available. The UAA Esports Club isn’t just focused on competitive play, however. Like any club in UAA, there’s a social element to make things fun for all involved. On their official Discord, members can choose a game they would like to play together for a casual, fun night. The club also hosts on-campus events such as “VR Gaming Weeks”, where those involved in the club or not can go to the Esports Lounge for VR
Anyone can claim four free at-home COVID-19 testing kits By Jake Dye editor@thenorthernlight.org
Anyone can order four free at-home COVID-19 testing kits right now. As of Jan. 19, the tests are being made available on a government website: COVIDtests.gov. The tests will come in the mail, via USPS, and the only information needed to place an order is a name and an address. The website states that tests ship within 7-12 days of placing the order, so this will not be a viable option for people who are experiencing symptoms or who have been exposed and need a test immediately. Instead, guidance on the site states individuals should “order your tests now so you have them when you need them.” To ensure access to as many people as possible, the limit of four tests is limited per residential address. More tests will be made available later, and all insurance providers are required to either pay or reimburse for up to eight purchased at-home tests as of Jan. 15. An area that may be of unique concern to Alaskans is the potential for the test kits to become cold or even freeze during ship-
ping. A report from MinnPost included statements from several manufacturers of at-home tests who state that cold temperatures should not invalidate the tests, but each of them should be stored at room temperature. It seems unlikely that the tests were tested for Alaska winter, however, and leaving them in the cold for too long is probably best avoided. The tests do need to be at room temperature at the time of use. The tests being offered are rapid antigen tests, granting results in ten minutes. They work by swabbing the nose to obtain a sample, treating that sample with a solution to break up cells and particulates, then placing the sample onto a test strip coated in antibodies designed to attack the virus. If the antibodies react to the sample, indicated by a second red line on the test, COVID cells are likely in the sample. This is a positive result. UAA students who test positive are asked to report their results by calling 907-205-6941 and emailing uaa_ehsrms@ alaska.edu
PHOTO COURTESY: MAYOWA AINA/ALASKA PUBLIC MEDIA
The UAA Esports Lounge was the location for Alaska’s first ever sanctioned League of Legends state championship game between teams from East High and Petersburg.
experiences, and online events. On March 25th, the UAA Esports Club will be involved in hosting a 24-hour stream on their Twitch Channel to help raise donations for Children’s Lunchbox; an annual tradition since the start of the club. Other clubs will be involved as well, taking blocks of one to two hours to host online or even on-campus activities to show during the stream. The Esports Club itself has plans for a 5-on-5 staff vs students game of Family
Feud, with students and faculty still yet to be chosen. If you would like more information on how to join the club or upcoming events, you can join the UAA Esports Discord at https://discord.gg/qzSAfcNy. You can also follow the club on Twitter and Facebook at UAA EWolves (@UAAEsports) / Twitter and UAA Esports | Facebook respectively. There’s also an Instagram page for the club at UAA Esports (@uaaesports) • Instagram photos and videos that of-
ten posts dates for events. If you would like to visit the UAA Esports Lounge for your own play, or make reservations, check out the lounge’s website at Esports Lounge | Students | University of Alaska Anchorage and their Twitter page on UAA Esports Lounge (@UAAEsportLounge) / Twitter. At the moment, Lounge usage is only available to UAA students and staff and COVID-19 measures and standards are in effect.
NEWS
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Remembering Ed Rasmuson: His Contributions to the University of Alaska By David Harding news1@thenorthernlight.org
Edward Bernard Rasmuson, philanthropist and founder of the Rasmuson Foundation, passed away on January 4th 2022 after a yearlong battle with brain cancer at 81 years old. The name “Rasmuson” should be familiar to Alaskan residents, especially students at the University of Alaska. Rasmuson Hall, one of the main buildings on the UAA campus, was named in honor of himself and his wife of 52 years, Cathy Rasmuson. On the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, the Elmer E. Rasmuson library shares the namesake of his father. In light of heartfelt tributes for Ed that have arisen during this week and the last, we at The Northern Light would like to highlight the contributions an remarkable, generous individual left for students. Ed Rasmuson was a thirdgeneration Alaskan resident, his grandparents having come from Sweden to serve as missionaries in Yakutat in Southeast Alaska. Having graduated from high school in Alaska, Mr. Rasmuson
returned to the state in 1962 to begin his career with the National Bank of Alaska. For nearly two decades, Mr. Rasmuson rose through the ranks, becoming President of the National Bank of Alaska in 1974 and chairman of the board in 1985. After the National Bank of Alaska merged with Wells Fargo, he also became the chairman of the Statewide Advisory Board. Ed Rasmuson’s greatest mark on the state of Alaska can be seen in community service; something Mr. Rasmuson valued since his youth, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in 1968 and the honor of Distinguished Scout in 1993. In 2000, Mr. Rasmuson became the chairman and later chairman emeritus of the Rasmuson Foundation, established by his grandmother in 1955. Under his leadership, the Foundation would become one of the largest of its kind in the Northwest, with assets today estimated to total over $700 million. This money is put towards funds for programs and projects in several fields, one of which being education; becoming a partner of the university for decades.
PHOTO COURTESY: THE RASMUSON FOUNDATION
Cathy and Edward Rasmuson (left to right) together at one of many community events the Rasmuson Foundation continues to support.
Notable contributions Mr. Rasmuson made to the UAA campus include support for the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP), helping fund expansion of the
PHOTO COURTESY: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
The Rasmuson Hall, named for Ed Rasmuson, is among the buildings that surround the Cuddy Quad on UAA campus.
program, renovation of the ANSEP building, and the establishment of the Dr. Herbert P. Schroeder ANSEP Endowed Chair. ANSEP is one of the leading STEM programs in Alaska. He also would help create the College of Business and Public Policy’s Distinguished Rasmuson Chair of Economics for UAA; bolstering the program and providing scholarship opportunities for many students, as well as University backed research and service in the field. The Rasmuson Foundation also provided grants that expanded the Alaska Joint Library Catalog, a statewide membership that includes the UAA/APU Consortium Library accessed by thousands of students each year; and Operation Mary Louise, a UAA faculty-led program that seeks to increase the visibility of female veterans in Alaska and provide them with resources and a community. Ed Rasmuson’s support of education expands even further, including a fourteen-year term on the University of Alaska’s Board of Regents. He was also a trustee for Alaska Pacific Uni-
versity and member of the Sheldon Jackson Board of Trustees, making him the only man to serve across all three university boards in Alaska. A man who dedicated himself to making sure nonprofit and educational organizations in Alaska received support, Ed Rasmuson is survived not only by his accomplishments and the continued work the Rasmuson Foundation does for Alaska; but by his wife Cathy and their four children and eight grandchildren, who all look to continue his legacy and philosophy of giving to the local community. In a press release from the Rasmuson Foundation on the day of Mr. Rasmuson’s passing, a celebration of life has been announced for the Spring of 2022.
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Open Wide: Student Practiced Dental Care on the UAA Campus By David Harding news1@thenorthernlight.org
When it comes to activities on campus, UAA students often have things in mind such as sports and art galleries. But what about, after setting up an appointment online, walking into suite 131 of the Allied Health Sciences building next to Sally Monserud Hall, the heart of the UAA campus, to get your teeth cleaned? This is a reality thanks to the UAA Dental Clinic, operated by UAA Allied Health faculty, where students practicing dentistry courses get hands-on experience on actual patients. The idea of having one’s teeth potentially operated on by a University student might be off-putting to some, but the students involved hold themselves to high standards. According to the School of Allied Health, the dental clinic isn’t only HIPAA compliant, like any private dental health service, but it also maintains the highest level of infection control procedures for patient and health worker safety. Students are also monitored by and working alongside a fully trained, licensed dentist during their work, as well as hygienists and assistants of professional backgrounds, allowing risk to be minimalized while providing insightful learning. A benefit to scheduling an appointment with the UAA Dental Clinic is the cost. A basic dental exam, for example, would cost a student $50; and fillings and restorations range in cost between $120-$150. While this may not be “cheap”; it’s a far lower cost than most clinics and a valuable option for those who might lack dental insurance. The trade-off comes from the time required due to the nature of the care, with preplanning for an hour to three and a half hours of the day coming recommended. As with many other pro-
grams, some of the UAA Dental Clinic’s functions have been hampered by the current global situation. The clinic’s services last between September and April of the given academic year, with dental assisting services only available through March and April; although hygiene services are involved yearround. One of its most wellknown programs, Dental Days, where services are opened up to members of the Anchorage community, was canceled in 2021; with a date for 2022 yet to be announced. Another event, Children’s Day, which provides care for children between the ages of 3 to 17, is also to be announced. If you would like to schedule your own appointment and check on availability, go to the School of Allied Health’s page on www.uaa.alaska.edu and click on the section for the Dental Clinic. There, you can view the pricing on services and have access to forms you will need to fill out to set up the appointment, which can be sent to dentalclinic@alaska.edu. You may direct inquiries to this address or call them at (907) 786-6960.
PHOTO COURTESY: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
A Dental Assistance student practices a live operation with a Dentist and Hygienist.
PHOTO COURTESY:PHOTO UNIVERSITY COURTESY: OF ALASKA SHELLEA ANCHORAGE TRAMMEL
Students enjoy a well-deserved meal after their work during Children’s Day in October 2021, where several students preformed dental services and also taught the kids about the dos and don’ts of oral hygiene..
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THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2022
| 06
Student Artists Clay-m to Fame By Dylan Flos arts1@thenorthernlight.org
The Hugh McPeck Gallery in the student union is currently hosting the 2022 Annual Clay Body Ceramic Invitational, the first major exhibition of the new year. The Clay Body club is composed of UAA students, generally those enrolled in ceramics classes within the art department, who are interested in expanding their artistic ability and creations beyond the classroom. Although the opening ceremony event has passed, you can still see the student art pieces on display until Feb. 18 (in person, too!). Professors of UAA ceramics classes selected their favorite works and offered students the chance to put their work on display. Although a few works were selected from beginner-level classes, the majority on display are from intermediate and higher level ceramics classes. “Bounce”, LeJonique Trim’s graffiti-inspired earthenware project, greets you into the gallery with bright, energetic colors and flowing movement meant to materialize the bouncy music and dance styles from New Orleans. My eyes were then immediately drawn to Amy Schilling’s “Masking (The Things We Hide)” in the center of the room, a sharp contrast to the piece that initially brings you in. Schilling has several works on display, representing the internal struggle of fighting one’s mental health. “Masking (The Things We Hide)” shows a duality of one’s external image and internal thoughts in a way only possible through a 3-dimensional medium such as this. Two pieces by Lauren Stanford, “Provider” and “Palpitations,” are made from the struggles we all are far too familiar with by now: pandemic-induced isolation. On the exhibit label for Lauren’s pieces, she said “What I found is the sense of community and belonging may not cure an illness entirely, but with time and patience, it will alleviate symptoms. Acknowledgment leads to healing.”
Whether it be years worth of social interactions and community building, someone we loved, or any number of other things, all of us lost something over the past two years, and many of us significantly struggled with the mental health effects of long-term isolation. The gallery is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 a.m to 12:45 p.m and 4:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m, as well as Wednesdays 10 a.m to 2:30 p.m, until Feb. 18. If you are unable to visit in person, some of the works on presentation are visible online, through the Clay Body Club and Hugh McPeck Gallery’s Instagram (uaa_ceramics and uaahmpgallery) and Facebook (UAA Clay Body and Hugh McPeck Gallery) pages. However, most of these pieces haven’t been made available digitally, and especially with 3-dimensional mediums such as clay sculptures, an inperson visit to the gallery will feel far more impactful if you are able to. The gallery is located right in the student union on campus - stop by at some point between classes! The next exhibit to be presented at the Hugh McPeck Gallery, the 2D/3D Invitational, will be similar in that professors of UAA art classes will be nominating their favorite works from students, although the artistic medium will be expanded to include any 2 or 3-dimensional works, and they will be selected specifically from beginner level classes.
“Bounce,” by LeJonique Trim, was inspired by the music and dance styles of New Orleans.. PHOTOS BY DYLAN FLOS
One side of Amy Schilling’s “Masking (The Things We Hide),” which compares one’s external image to the thoughts inside them.
A&E
07 |
The Glee Club at UAA Fall Concert was a fun and funny way to spend an evening By Jake Dye editor@thenorthernlight.org
The Glee Club at UAA held their Season 22 Fall Concert on Nov. 23 and 24. The concert featured a wide variety of music as well as performances. These ranged from acapella singing to dance performances, a song with a rock band on stage to duets and even one original song. The performance was compliant with UAA mask policy, and the performers did all of their singing and dancing while wearing face coverings. The concert opened with very high-energy song and dance as perhaps every member of the club erupted onto the stage in neon-colored clothing while singing, rapping and dancing a mash-up of “Good Feeling” by Flo Rida and “Feel Again” by One Republic. As the club transitioned between songs, members would come on stage and either perform skits or smaller, more informal, performances. The audience witnessed a three-part saga of a man who dared to eat a banana during the production and paid the price. TikTok trends were reenacted. Benji Wrede, president and musical director of the club, came out for one of these transitions and performed a dance solo that had the audience cheering. A personal favorite was a nearly three-minutelong bit to coerce the audience into saying “Head underwater,” a quote from the classic Sara Bareilles track “Love Song.” The songs performed by the club encompassed a very wide range, representing newer pop songs from artists like Olivia Rodrigo, some Elton John, Disney, Adele, and more than one K-pop hit. The audience was highly engaged for the entire show, cheering and clapping constantly during the songs. There was really great energy in the room. During a performance of “That’s What You Get” by Paramore, with drums and guitars on stage, a man in the front row played the part of super-fan for vocalist Lydia Smith. He passed roses to her throughout the song, calling “That’s Lydia Smith!” His antics only led to more cheers from the audience. Admission to the concert was free, though donations were accepted and encouraged. People on or around the UAA campus should keep an eye out for further appearances of the Glee Club at UAA, their energy and talent are certain to provide for great entertainment. The Fall Concert performances were live-streamed on both Twitch and YouTube, and the entire concert can be viewed on the Glee Club at UAA’s YouTube. The Glee Club at UAA is currently preparing for its 23rd season and will be hosting auditions on Jan. 15. More information can be found on their Instagram page.
PHOTOS PHOTOS BY BY DYLAN JAKEFLOS DYE
The concert’s opening song was a spectacle, with the entire club dressed in bright colors, singing and dancing together.
Vocalist, choreographer and artistic director Lydia Smith had a super-fan in the crowd cheering and passing her roses from the front row. The crowd seemed to follow his lead and only became more energetic.
08 | A&E
Hitbox Review: Halo Infinite - The Chief Awakens By Jake Dye
PHOTO COURTESY PC GAMER
editor@thenorthernlight.org
Release Date: Dec. 8, 2021 Developer: 343 Industries Platform: Xbox Series X|S [Played], Xbox One, PC [Spoilers for Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians] I don’t remember when “Halo” was on top. Of course, in my time following the games industry, the franchise’s legacy and influence are undeniable. “Halo” is in a pretty large part responsible for the success of the original Xbox, by extension responsible for the current console landscape. These games about the big green man with a gun and his small blue friend are kind of a big deal. Or at least, they were. Since the original developers of “Halo,” Bungie, walked away from the franchise after 2010’s “Halo Reach,” the franchise has fallen on hard times. 343 Industries picked up the torch and began a new trilogy in the franchise, releasing “Halo 4” in 2012, and “Halo 5: Guardians” in 2015. Reviews for both games were at least fairly positive. Public reception seemingly was not. I couldn’t say what people didn’t like about them, I played both for the first time in 2021 leading up to the new “Halo Infinite” and thought they were fine. But the narrative undeniably was that 343 had to hit with “Infinite,” or “Halo” might be unredeemable. For nearly the last decade one of the most iconic franchises in gaming has been chasing heights that seemed consigned to the past. This is the narrative that led the developer, as well as publisher Xbox
The inexperienced new AI companion, the Weapon, is a fun contrast to the tough and tired Master Chief. She tells jokes!
What I can say is that “Halo Infinite” is close to the top of the heap, bringing some of the best action the series has to offer, a revitalized open-world take on the “Halo” formula and a fun multiplayer offering with room to grow for years. “Infinite” does not pick up where the last game, “Halo 5: Guardians” left off. Instead, it picks up six months after a conflict that feels like what a Halo 6 was meant to be. “Halo 4” was about the death of Cortana, the AI companion to Master Chief, the guy in the big green armor who was experimented on as a child and turned into Xbox’s
of all the same enemy types, but different. The entire game is set on a Halo ring, just like the original, but Halo Zeta is literally described as being “different” from the others. Master Chief also quickly finds a brand new AI companion, the Weapon, who is small and blue just like Cortana, but different from her. Basically, “Halo Infinite” throws out almost all of the new stuff from “4” and “5,” and loosely returns to the status quo of the original trilogy. Which is disappointing, and would be a bigger problem if it didn’t work so well. The actual plot of “Halo Infinite” isn’t terribly interesting.
will rise to the occasion and keep saving the world because he has to. He feels more nuanced in this portrayal than any of the others, and not just because he has more to say. The Weapon and the pilot have a spectacular dynamic in their interactions with him and with each other, both very green and inexperienced, dragged into the adventure by the big guy. For all my problems with the story, I remember it fondly based on the strength of these three characters and their interactions. The villains in “Infinite” don’t match up to our heroes. The primary antagonist in particular, Escharum, is well acted
The open-world of “Infinite” is very small compared to other open world games, and that is a very good thing.
Game Studios, to push the game a full year, from Nov. 2020 at the launch of the new Xbox Series X|S to Dec. 2021. “Halo Infinite” isn’t perfect, but it feels like the fresh start the franchise has been looking for. I’d like to say that “Halo” is back. But I don’t remember what it was like before it left. I only played through the series for the first time in 2021, beginning with 2001’s “Halo Combat Evolved” in January, all the way to the Master Chief’s latest adventure at launch in December.
Captain America. “Halo 5” walked back Cortana’s death, turning her instead into a tyrannical villain hellbent on some light genocide. That game ended with a cliffhanger where the Chief and humanity were preparing to fight her. By the start of “Infinite,” Cortana is dead again. The Master Chief is found adrift in space by a pilot, then very rapidly pulled into a new fight against the Banished, who are basically the Covenant, the baddies from the original trilogy, comprised
It exists to create a sandbox for players to explore, to introduce a new core cast of characters comprised of Chief, the pilot and the Weapon, and to lay the groundwork for a new ultimate threat. In all three senses, “Infinite” is a complete refresh for the series that works in almost every aspect. The Master Chief has been on six huge, galaxy-saving missions now, and his characterization in this game is that of a soldier who is just so tired, who has lost all of his friends, but who
by the always-great Darin de Paul, but just isn’t given anything interesting to do besides appear in holograms and snarl. There are hints of something else, some greater threat, but it is left undeveloped by the time credits roll. While the story has its ups and downs, playing “Halo Infinite” feels like a revelation. Very early in the game, the player is dropped onto the surface of the Zeta Halo and set free in a very reasonably sized openworld sandbox. There are con-
trol points to conquer, optional bosses to slay and secrets to find. The loop feels great, stocking up at a command post and picking weapons, then striking out into the world in search of adventure. I nearly cleared the entire map because it just feels so good and so rewarding to take the time. Crucially, the map isn’t monstrously large, and it really feels perfectly sized and paced to the game. Most of the classic weapons are back, alongside quite a few new ones, and without exception, all of them are fun to use. No piece of equipment in the game makes as big of an impression as the new grappling hook, however. While playing the story, Master Chief always has access to the grappling hook, which can be used to swing like SpiderMan, pull weapons or fuel canisters into the hand, stun and gapclose enemies and, somehow, so much more. The grappling hook is so much fun to use and experiment with. As the player progresses they unlock other equipment that can be placed in that slot, a threat detector, deployable shield and dodge ability, but none hold a candle to grappling around the arena. The grappling hook may be one of the most fun mechanics in gaming. I cannot stress it enough. “Halo Infinite” is a foundation. The game mechanics are revitalized and have never felt better, and though the plot let me down a little, I loved its core cast and am very excited to see their next adventure. I didn’t even touch on multiplayer in this review, but it is also spectacular fun, and since it is completely free, its a must-play experience for anyone with a group of friends. “Halo” is back, and right now the future is brighter for the series than it’s been in ten years. Anyone with a fondness for “Halo” should check it out, and even though I don’t think it does a great job onboarding new players, I would still recommend it to anyone looking for a fun shooter, especially if they’re burned out on the mainstream military fare that dominates the market. “Halo Infinite” is included in Xbox Game Pass at no additional cost.
A&E
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Hitbox Review: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker - Scions: Endgame By Jake Dye editor@thenorthernlight.org
Release Date: Nov. 19, 2021 Developer: Square Enix Platform: PlayStation 5 [Played], PlayStation 4, PC For nearly half my life, I’ve been playing “Final Fantasy XIV.” I picked up the original release in 2011 when I was only thirteen. The game has been with me for almost eleven years, through its infamously terrible early years, the game’s relaunch as “A Realm Reborn” in 2013, then each of its expansions, “Heavensward,” “Stormblood,” “Shadowbringers” and now “Endwalker.” “Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker” is the latest expansion to the game, taking players to the moon, as well as other regions of the game’s world that we’ve been hearing about for years. It was also very explicitly billed as the conclusion to the “FFXIV” story. Since the relaunch of “Final Fantasy XIV” as “A Realm Reborn,” the game has always enjoyed intense critical acclaim. As far as I can tell, this fervor has only risen with each subsequent expansion. I state with confidence that some of the best stories in video games are contained within, merely chapters in the greater storyline of “FFXIV.” For this reason, I never once worried that the development team, led by director and producer Naoki Yoshida, would fail to land the plane, but I was always curious how exactly they would wrap up more than a decade of storytelling. It should have been impossible. Following immediately after the conclusion of “Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers,” our heroes know that an ancient apocalypse is coming back and have to race against time to avert the final days and save their planet. Previous expansions haven’t exactly been small-scale, but the stakes have definitely been raised this time. In “Endwalker,” every major storyline of the game is brought to its conclusion. This is unambiguously the ending of this story. The door is of course left open for further adventures in the world of the game, but anything that comes next will be a completely fresh start. This is almost certainly the plan, as the game has so much story content that it is quite an ordeal for new players to catch up at this point. For all its ambition, “Endwalker” succeeds by placing the narrative firmly on the shoulders of a core cast of eight characters. This story gets remarkably bleak at its lowest points, and we see our heroes struggle with the weight of their responsibilities, spending a lot of time with them as they ruminate on the themes of the game. “Endwalker” is a story about life and death, pondering why we all struggle for what is ultimately finite happiness. If everything is going to end, why does anything matter? The game spends an almost overindulgent amount of time presenting scenarios and discussing philosophical questions. Our
SCREENSHOTS BY JAKE DYE
heroes literally attend a college lecture at one point. I love it. Each of the eight lead characters is given several moments to shine, the moments that I will remember when I look back on my time with “Endwalker.” One scene in particular, where a core character confronts his feelings and his failures surrounding another character’s death drew tears. Another featured the Scions simply enjoying dinner together, teasing one another and enjoying each other’s company. Even the player character, the voiceless Warrior of Light, feels much more of an active member of the group than they have in the past. This central focus on its leads is what makes “Endwalker” truly special as a part of the game and as a finale to “Final Fantasy XIV.” Though I have no doubt that there will be another expansion someday, it does feel like this decade-long chapter has ended. The masterful conclusion of so many years of storytelling draws favorable comparisons to 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.”There are even a few different moments that seem inspired by the “Endgame” iconic portals scene. This is both the final adventure and a celebration of everything that has come before, whatever comes next will be very definitively a new beginning. “Endwalker” is special to me because of its narrative. I will treasure this stellar final outing of the Scions forever. But of course, this is a video game that I played, at least when I wasn’t losing my mind over references, reveals and touching moments. I think there may well have been much more time spent in cutscenes than actually fighting monsters, but the game has never felt better to play. Most of the interesting combat takes place in dungeons, raids and trials, where teams of players join together to overcome challenges. The new “Endwalker” dungeons and trials are over-the-top in all the right ways. Tanks lead the party, keeping the attention of the enemies. Damage dealers rain down
flashy effects and reduce health bars to zero. Healers make sure everyone stays standing. There are currently twenty playable jobs in the game, which each fit into one of the three categories. While fighting enemies and bosses in content with a group of players, the tanks, healers and damage dealers have to maintain uptime, working through their combos and abilities while adjusting for mechanics. Bosses in “Endwalker” are raining down meteors, spinning arenas, summoning buddies and so much more. The new content, especially the three endgame dungeons and the three boss trials are among the best in the game. I spend most of my time tanking as the gunbreaker, using an advanced magical sword that stores magic as cartridges which can be spent by pulling the sword’s trigger and making sword slashes cause explosions. It’s very cool. In “Endwalker” I have also played the healing astrologian, who draws tarot cards to empower allies, and the damaging summoner, who calls magical beings to cast the flashiest spells in the game. Each of these I have played previously for several years across multiple expansions, and each feels better than ever in “Endwalker.” I can’t speak from experience about any of the other jobs, because I
haven’t yet leveled them up and played them in “Endwalker’s” new dungeons and trials, but I have heard satisfaction across the board. Playing through the storyline of the expansion also involves a lot of the traditional walking around, talking to people, fetching and delivering items and fighting monsters. This is very traditional for the genre and for “FFXIV” specifically, and not much is done to reinvent the wheel. There are a couple of new questing mechanics like having other characters accompany the player and having to tail other characters without being noticed. The former is neat and reinforces the game’s focus on its core cast, the latter is less cool, but tailing missions have always been bad in any game. The best I can say of the tailing missions in this game is that they are easy and mostly inoffensive. Though I have completed the story of “Endwalker,” I will be checking in with the game all year as new content is released regularly. I will also be eagerly awaiting the first story teases for whatever is to be the next grand adventure for my Warrior of Light. Recommending “Final Fantasy XIV” to others has always been difficult for me. The game is spectacular, I absolutely
maintain that it is host to some of the best storytelling video games have ever seen. Unfortunately, it is outrageously long. Players who were to start today would have to begin at “A Realm Reborn,” which was released in 2013, and play through every expansion in order. That’s 2015’s “Heavensward,” 2017’s “Stormblood,” and 2019’s “Shadowbringers,” before joining us in the new hotness that is “Endwalker.” Almost all of that content is spectacular, but it would take hundreds of hours to experience everything. That being said, “Final Fantasy XIV” is worth the effort, especially when played with friends. New players can jump into the critically acclaimed MMORPG “Final Fantasy XIV” today with a free trial that includes the entirety of “A Realm Reborn” and the award-winning “Heavensward” expansion up to level 60 with absolutely no restrictions on playtime.
Sharlayan is one of the new regions introduced in the expansion, an island nation of scholars dedicated to the advancement of science and magic. Of course they keep plot-important secrets.
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2022
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Willing to Taste Blood: The Drive of UAA Ski Athletes to achieve Olympic Success By David Harding news1@thenorthernlight.org
Every four years, the Olympics shine as the pinnacle of many disciplines of athletics. The event is held by a different country each year; with the ongoing Winter Olympics being held in Beijing, China, which begins with opening ceremonies held on Feb. 4th. Athletes from all over the world, of amateur and professional rank, meet in individual and team events with medals up for grabs, records to be broken, and countries to proudly represent. Despite its grand, international scale, right now University students might be feeling its impact closer to home as four of these top-level athletes happen to be Seawolves. Mat Robinson, 2009 Graduate and former UAA Hockey Team letter winner for four seasons in NCAA Division I play; as well as captain in his final year as a Seawolf, will be on the ice for his home country on Team Canada; their first game is set to come against Germany on Feb. 10th. This is also Mat’s second Olympics, having been on the Bronze-winning men’s hockey team for the 2018 Pyeongchang games. The other three Seawolves are all involved in the same discipline; Nordic Skiing. “[In Alpine Skiing] you’re going pretty fast down steep hill, usually on ice, and it takes quite a bit of skill to do that,” said UAA Skiing head coach Sparky Anderson, who has been the head coach of the program since 2012. “On the Nordic side, you got kids that are just willing to taste blood and go so hard and train that hard year-round,” Former UAA ski team member Casey Wright, 2019 graduate who earned NCAA All American and Academic All American honors as well as the NCAA
PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
Current UAA Seawolf Skiing Team member JC Schoonmaker and 2019 graduate and three-time Junior World Championship medalist Hailey Swirbul will both be making their Olympic debuts as part of Team USA’s cross-country ski team
Elite 90 award for highest grade point average among all women at the 2019 NCAA skiing championships, will represent Team Australia in her second Olympics as a member of it’s Cross Country Ski team. Hailey Swirbul, who graduated last semester and made several world cup appearances and medal victories during her career as a UAA ski team member, including a gold medal victory at the 2020 US championships, will be making her Olympic debut as a member of Team USA. The only currently enrolled
Seawolf to be taking part in this year’s Olympic games, although graduation is right around the corner, is senior year student JC Schoonmaker, also making his Olympic debut on Team USA. Achieving NCAA All American honors in his sophomore season, and competing during the 2020-2021 world cup, there is no doubt that he along with the aforementioned athletes have earned their places in this year’s games, and have proven to not just show excellence on the powder, but in the classroom as well. This understanding of bal-
ance and drive to succeed comes from many factors, one of these being the coaching and guidance of the UAA ski team faculty. Coach Anderson noted that most competitions are “division blind”, meaning that schools from different NCAA divisions from across the nation can compete against each other, with the different disciplines and mens and womens events all adding up for the overall team’s standing. “I look for kids who are pretty tough-minded,” Coach Anderson said, “We’re a Divi-
PHOTO COURTESY ADN/MARC LESTER
Casey Wright, pictured here at an 2018 race at Kincaid Park, will be representing Team Australia in this year’s Winter Olympics
sion II ski program that competes against PAC-12, Division I teams, we tend to get the scrappier, hungrier kids… we’ve had a history of being the dark horse and we kind of thrive on that identity,” Coach Anderson mainly coaches the Alpine half of the ski program, with Nordic coaching being the forte of Associate Head Coach Trond Flagstand, who upon returning in 2020 after a prior stint as assistant and head coach of the program from 2001 to 2014, lead the Nordic mens and womens ski team to fourth overall in NCAA competition; also coaching four UAA skiers including JC to AllAmerican honors. Despite the difference in disciplines, Coach Anderson shared that a trait just as valuable as academic diligence and disciplined training, and one that JC personifies above anything else, is to be a team player. “He’s humble and kind and a team player, and he listens. He’s the nicest stud of a guy you can meet,” said Anderson, “I think he has fun with it too, he enjoys the process… he’s a role model without realizing he’s a role model for everyone in the ski world, especially in UAA,” The mens and womens Cross Country Ski teams will have their first competitions beginning on Feb 4th at 10:45 AKST with the women’s Skiathlon where Hailey Swirbul will be participating. Nordic Skiing competitions are varied, with events including the Men’s and Women’s Skiathlon, the Women’s 10 km Classic, the Men’s 15 km Classic, Mens and Womens Sprint Frees and Team Sprint Classics, the Women’s 4 km x 5 km relay, and the Men’s 4 km x 10 km relay.
OPINION
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Love Yourself: Keeping Your Mental Health During Valentine’s Day By David Harding news1@thenorthernlight.org
Valentine’s Day, like many holidays, gets quite a lot of attention each year, to the point of painting the month they’re set in a certain shade; in February’s case, pink and red. We see commercials across television and on the internet adorned in hearts, in (sometimes ironic) appreciation for the season. In the hallways of student housing, the call for ordering a candy gram for your sweetheart rings out, and while not really being a viable option this year, oftentimes there are notices for upcoming dances and parties themed around romance. Flowers, cards, and sweets suddenly become hot ticket items out of grocery stores and supermarkets, and restaurants roll out their special couples discounts. Above all else, a certain mood seems to become prevalent over all aspects of life, an expectation even. At this time of year, you’re supposed to be with someone you love, or ready to confess your feelings to a crush. One way or another, you should be with someone. But not all of us are, nor want to be. The commercialized aspects of the “Hallmark holiday” put off many, but for those struggling with heartbreak, loneliness, and/or depression, it’s not an issue that can be merely ignored. Valentine’s Day can be a rough time for many, including this writer. When it feels like ev-
eryone else we know or see has someone to be with during this time, it can make ugly questions appear in the mind. Just for a few examples: “Why am I always alone?” “Am I ugly?” “Why don’t he/ she/they want to be with me?” “What are my friends thinking about me?” “Am I unworthy of love and affection?” “Does anyone care?” It doesn’t help that this day set on the calendar to be dedicated to a significant other comes in the throes of winter, especially for Alaskans; the darkness and cold and bleakness of surroundings being shown in many studies to affect mental health for the worse. There’s also the issue of a struggle only known by our generation; COVID-19. Never before, at least in the lifetime of most University students, has so much necessary distance been put between ourselves and others. Long periods of isolation and uncertainty about the safety of interacting with the outside world along with the aforementioned conditions can compound along with other causes for depression, and the artificial expectations of this holiday can be the final jab that drives people to selfharm and suicide. These feelings aren’t unnatural, nor do they make you weak. They can be managed, and several methods of healing that experts recommend for navigating this holiday with mental health at the focus. These include:
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simple call or text can make all the difference. If these feelings are severe and persistent, professional help is recommended. On-campus resources include the UAA Student Health and Crisis center at 907786-4040 and the Psychological Services Center at 907-786-1795. If you or someone you know is in a moment of crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
A S S O C I AT E D CO L L E G I AT E P R ES S
3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 Executive Editor Jake Dye (907) 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org
1. Stay off of social media for the day or however long you might need- A big detriment to our esteem comes from comparing our lives to the aspects others put out about themselves. This can be an issue in using social media in general, so it’s always a benefit to log out or turn off if feelings of doubt start creeping in. 2. Focus on other types of love - Love isn’t just romantic. It can come from the love of a family member, or a good friend, or even a pet. These are all equally valid and should be celebrated. Even if, for example, it isn’t possible to meet up with your friends, starting up a call with them is a great way to prevent lonely feelings from sprouting. 3. Love yourself - The most important love is self-love, and while it certainly may not be as easy as it is to say at times, staying affirmative and positive about who you are can bring satisfaction like very little else. Make yourself a meal, buy a “candy gram” for yourself, enjoy your favorite hobby, have a spa day, meditate; anything that brings you joy and that’s within your means is more than enough to make the holiday one to feel satisfied with. 4. Reach out - If you know someone who may be feeling lonely during this time of year, or seems to be dealing with thoughts of depression, try and let them know that you’re there for them. It doesn’t need to be an invitation for an activity, a
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