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In This Issue
April 5, 2011
Staff EDITOR IN CHIEF Andrew Sheeler editor@uafsunstar.com (907) 474-5078 LAYOUT EDITOR Heather Bryant layout@uafsunstar.com (907) 474-6039
The Sun Star Volume XXX Number 24 April 5, 2011 The Sun Star’s mission is to provide a voice for the UAF campus and be a written record where news, people’s opinions, and events (whether extraordinary or ordinary) are expressed honestly and fairly. EDITORIAL OFFICES 101G Wood Center P.O. Box 756640 Fairbanks, AK 99775 Tel: (907) 474-6039 Ads Dept: (907) 474-7540 Fax: (907) 474-5508 www.uafsunstar.com
COPY EDITOR Rebecca Coleman MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jeremy Smith web@uafsunstar.com AD MANAGER Alex Kinn fyads@uaf.edu (907) 474-7540 DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Daniel Thoman distribution@uafsunstar.com ASSISTANT DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Ben Deering REPORTERS Kelsey Gobroski Elika Roohi Amber Sandlin Jeremia Schrock COLUMNISTS Jamie Hazlett Jeremia Schrock PHOTOGRAPHERS JR Ancheta Dillon Ball ADVISOR Lynne Snifka
The Sun Star
This Week Politics West Ridge A&E Sports Perspectives Editorial Online Landslides, Libya, Labor and lots of law enforcement.
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Nookraker explains how the student government works.
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Reichardt opens up for Girl Scouts, Chancellor Rogers breaks ground on life sciences and this week’s science briefs.
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The Pub has you Covered, works of art you can wear and the week in entertainment.
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A Nanook breaks in to the big leagues and UAF Athletics responds to Ralph Nader’s criticism of athletic scholarships.
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There’s no place like Homer.
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What I learned from J-Week.
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Elika can beatbox and play the ukulele at the same time. Can you?
Chandler Thomas, vocalist for the group Character Reference, works the floor during the 11th Annual Great Cover Up. Saturday, April 2, 2011. Jamie Hazlett/Sun Star
Check out the Sun Star on Facebook for breaking news and updates!
This Week
www.uafsunstar.com
Say “Ah”
All persons referred to in the blotter are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Tilly outdoor décor
Donna Patrick, ANP
Acute Gastroenteritis Q: Last night I awoke vomiting. Today I have a mild fever, chills, muscle aches, diarrhea and feel like I have been run over by a truck. What is this? A: It sounds as though you may have Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) which is a kind of stomach “bug”. Q: What should I do? A: • Don’t try to eat solid foods just yet. • Try cracked ice chips or popsicles if still having nausea and vomiting • Follow with clear liquids (not milk) for 24 hours. Watered down sports drinks such as Gatorade is best because it replenishes electrolytes lost through AGE. • If nausea and vomiting abates progress to BRATY diet: • Bananas • Rice/rice cereal • Apples/applesauce • Toast/crackers (dry) • Yogurt ( Plain, live culture) • I like to add plain old Campbell’s Chicken noodle soup to this list. If experiencing severe abdominal pain or bloody diarrhea you should go to the Urgent Care Center or ER because you may have acute appendicitis or a tubal pregnancy. However if you just have mild cramping and sore muscles from vomiting it is reasonable to stay at home, rest and try to drink as much as possible.
Sponsored by UAF Center for Health and Counseling For additional information, contact the Center for Health and Counseling at 474-7043 or visit our Web site at www.uaf.edu/chc Division of Student Services
April 5, 2011
Amber Sandlin Sun Star Reporter
Around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday March 27, two people were found on the roof of the Lola Tilly Commons, vandalizing UAF property. While an officer was performing a foot patrol, he noticed the individuals. Upon investigation, the officer found them drawing graffiti on the upper deck. Both individuals were banned from all UAF property.
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News Briefs
Compiled by Amber Sandlin Sun Star Reporter
Libyan foreign minister surprises the UK Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa unexpectedly landed in Farnborough airport, located west of London, on Wednesday evening, March 30. The UK foreign office said he was “no longer willing” to work for Col. Gaddafi. However, a Libyan spokesman denied that Koussa had left Gaddafi’s power and said he was on a diplomatic mission. Koussa is one of the most senior figures in Gaddafi’s government and his role was to represent the regime internationally - something that he is no longer willing to do. The Foreign Office in London called on other members of the Libyan government to abandon Col. Gaddafi.
Speckled discovery
Spankings
On Friday, March 25, a man in Hess Village discovered his car had been vandalized. After taking his vehicle to the car wash, his beige car still had some “white frost” on the outside of the passenger door. Upon investigation, he discovered spray paint that had occurred sometime between October and March. Worried of a serial vandal, he called UAF police to report the incident. The responding officer said that the car damage totaled in the thousands of dollars.
A person noticed a child possibly being assaulted by an adult in the Student Recreation Center on Saturday, March 26. An officer investigated and believes it was a matter of a parent disciplining a child. Child discipline laws vary by the state and are at the discretion of the district attorney in order to press charges. The incident has been forwarded to the offices of child services.
Licenses are mandatory
Almost tipsy
An officer watched a 22-year-old man on Tanana loop on Saturday, March 26, almost falling over while driving a dirt bike. Due to the cold and gravel, the officer thought that the motorist did not have control of the vehicle. When the officer pulled him over for such strange driving behaviors and performing an illegal u-turn, he discovered the driver didn’t own a motorcycle license. He was ordered to appear in court for not owning a valid driver’s license.
Landslides in Thailand, 15 dead
During a traffic stop in front of Skarland Hall, an officer detected odors of alcohol from a 19-year-old driver and his passenger. After performing a DUI investigation, the driver was issued a citation for minor consuming after operating, and his passenger was cited for minor consuming alcohol. The driver and his passenger had blood alcohol content levels of 0.058 and 0.088, respectively. The legal limit is 0.08.
Authorities reported Wednesday, March 30, that at least four people had died in landslides in the Karbi province. After heavy downpours of rain, 15 landslides have occurred. With more than 100 people injured and dozens missing, Southern Thailand was forced to bring in the Thai navy to help evacuate hundreds of tourists who are stranded in some of Thailand’s most famous landmarks. 716,110 people have been affected by floods from nearly a week of heavy rain in eight of the southern provinces. Thailand’s weather bureau said torrential rains were expected for one or two more days over much of southern Thailand. It warned of more flooding and wind-whipped waves making sailing unsafe for small boats.
- BBC
- USA Today
Ohio – next Wisconsin? Ohio labor unions fought for collective bargaining rights for public workers on Wednesday, March 30, gaining the attention of the Ohio statehouse. The state Legislature passed a bill that had been seen in Wisconsin and sent it to the Ohio governor. Amid shouts and jeers in both chambers, the House passed a measure affecting 350,000 public workers on a 53-44 vote. The Senate followed with a 17-16 vote of approval. Republican Gov. John Kasich will sign the bill by the end of the week. The Ohio legislation will extend union restrictions to police officers and firefighters, unlike the Wisconsin measure. - Huffington Post
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April 5, 2011
Politics
Nookraker
What does ASUAF do? Jeremia Schrock Sun Star Reporter
It’s April, which means student government elections are around the corner. By the end of the month, the students of The ASUAF government is also imporUAF will have elected new senators and a tant when it comes to student outreach. new executive branch. But what does the Two of its biggest duties include providing student government do? funding to student clubs and petitioning ASUAF’s Purpose state legislators in Juneau on behalf of the According to the student govern- student body. ment’s official website, “It is our function to Supporting student endeavors represent and act on behalf of the students Officially recognized student organiof the University of Alaska Fairbanks.” The zations and clubs are eligible to receive Associated Students of the University of funding from Club Council, which is overAlaska Fairbanks (ASUAF) is the official seen by the ASUAF vice president. This title of the student government. Their pri- past fall, the council was allotted $20,000 to mary job is to support and oversee student distribute amongst its various clubs. Such organizations and projects. The organiza- a number may seem high, but according tions include the Sun Star (the student to the UAF website, our campus has more paper), KSUA (the student radio station) than 120 active student clubs, ranging from and Concert Board (which holds concerts ABADA Capoeira to the Yoga Club. and cultural events). It supports student In order to receive funding, a club projects through both legislation (senate must submit a budget proposal to the bills) and through Club Council, which council. The council discusses the prodirectly funds student clubs and societies. posals and doles out what it believes to Funding and oversight be a fair amount. This occurs once a year, But how does it support and oversee during the Fall Semester. The funding given these organizations and projects? Attached to Club Council makes up 4 percent of the to each student’s semester tuition is a $35 total operating budget that ASUAF receives student government fee In the 2010-2011 throughout the year. school year (which included the Summer ASUAF also underwrites student travel semester), ASUAF received $461,780. grants ($7,000 was set aside for this school That money went to the ASUAF Execu- year) and is supposed to hold four blood tive Officer who then disbursed the funds drives a year. between the student government and the Petitioning for students three organizations previously mentioned. One of ASUAF’s most important roles is Each organization receives a set per- petitioning the Board of Regents and state centage of the total yearly allotment, which legislators on behalf of students. This past can only be altered by a student-supported year, a dozen members of ASUAF played a ballot measure. role in the amending of the non-discrim % of Fee Total Amount ination policy and keeping the increase Sun Star 7 $32,324.60 in tuition low. The policy was amended KSUA 27 $124,680.60 to include sexual orientation and the tuConcert Board 15 $69,267.00 ition increase was limited to 7 percent (as TOTAL: 49 $226,272.20 opposed to 10 percent) for the 2012-2013 Each organization is managed by a school year. board of directors, which includes stuSince student elections are almost dent government representatives. In some upon us, I encourage you to keep on the cases, non-ASUAF affiliated students may look out for election information both from petition for a board position or be voted the ASUAF student government and from onto the board during a student election. the Sun Star. Remember, ASUAF spends your money. Shouldn’t you have a say in Voting Members /ASUAF representation who uses it and how? Jeremia gives his opinion on university, state and Sun Star 5 / 2 (senator, president) national issues in the Nookraker: a weekly political KSUA 10/ 1 (president) column which tackles issues relevant to Nanooks both Concert Board 5 / 2 (senator, president) at home and abroad.
The Sun Star
Girls Scouts enjoy a day of science at UAF Ben Deering Sun Star Reporter The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) collaborated with the Farthest North Girl Scouts for Science in Action April 2 in the Reichardt building. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Girl Scouts, ages 9-11, participated in several activities revolving around science. Some went geocaching, some tracked down tagging collars used to estimate wildlife movement and populations, and others engaged in older traditions with basket weaving. “The whole purpose is for girls to meet women scientists and experience science, to meet role models and see career opportunities, and see science as a process
and not something you study in school,” said Martha Kopplin, who works with the International Arctic Research Center (IARC). The Day of Science gave the girls an opportunity to interact with some of UAF’s female scientists. “I think it’s really important that young girls know what science is, and that young girls realize what a broad range of things science is,” said Rose Meier, who is currently establishing ethnobotany as a program on the Kuskokwim campus in Bethel. “Not everyone’s going to be a scientist, but everybody needs to think like a scientist,” Kopplin said.
The 2011 Alaska Press Club Conference took place in Anchorage from March 31 to April 2. The Alaska Press Club was incorporated in 1951 and is open to journalists across the state. At their annual conference, the Alaska Press Club honors journalists for their accomplishments.
Best Reporting on crime or courts – Print-Small 1st Place –The Sun Star The other side of the gulch: Starvation Gulch as viewed by UAFPD – Andrew Sheeler
Best Page Design – Print Small 1st Place – The Sun Star The Arctic Ocean: 1000 possibilities and perils – Heather Bryant
Best Series – Print Small 2nd place—The Sun Star Bush Science: Bringing labs to rural students –Molly Dischner, Mark Evans, Keane Richards
Best Arts Coverage – Print-Small 3rd place – The Sun Star Visiting artist sees Holocaust as personal -- Jeremia Schrock
Best Humor – All 3rd place – The Sun Star Hess Village annexed by Hell – Andrew Sheeler
The Sun Star had a strong performance at this year’s Alaska Press Club Conference, bringing home five awards. As always, we will strive to continue providing you the kind of award-winning coverage that you deserve.
West Ridge Report
www.uafsunstar.com
April 5, 2011
Digging in on the Life Sciences Facility
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Science Briefs
Compiled by Kelsey Gobroski Sun Star Reporter
Leaves inspire cheap energy
The sign for the future Life Sciences building on West Ridge. March 30, 2011. Heather Bryant/Sun Star
Solar energy that draws inspiration from leaves may become more affordable for India and China in the future. Plants are powered by photosynthesis, and a step in that process is water splicing. When water is split into hydrogen and oxygen, the molecules can be stored as future energy. Just add water and catalysts, and silicon-based solar devices could also store energy for fuel cells. The hydrogen and oxygen would transport the energy, rather than expensive wires. The technology has been around since 1998, but never this inexpensively. Water doesn’t need to be purified in the new system and could cover rooftops much like conventional-wired solar panels. - Discovery News
Iran leads world in science Iran’s scientific renown grows faster than any other country as scientists in Iran plug away at research and international collaborations. Iran churned out more than 13,000 scientific publications in 2008, up from less than 800 in 1996, according to the UK’s Royal Society. That rate of increase trumped the rest of the world. Iran isn’t the only country to stake its place on the scientific playing field. Turkey quadrupled its output. Tunisia, Singapore, and Qatar joined China, India, and Brazil in growth of peer-reviewed publications. The growth allows studies across the world to unify their data into a global mosaic of similar findings. Chancellor Brian Rogers takes part in the ceremonial groundbreaking. March 31, 2011. Heather Bryant/Sun Star
Andrew Sheeler Sun Star Reporter On Wednesday, March 30, Chancellor Brian Rogers and six other dignitaries used golden shovels to dig a hole 12 years in the making. It was the much-anticipated groundbreaking for the Life Sciences Facility. When the building finishes construction, estimated to be in 2014, it will house both students and researchers in a variety of sciences, including the study of wildlife biology, environmental health and infectious diseases. The groundbreaking was the culmination of more than a decade of political wrangling and advocacy. In 2010, the decision to fund the facility was put up to the voters and passed.
Brian Barnes, director of the Institute of Arctic Biology, speaks about the importance of the new Life Science’s facility. March 30, 2011. Heather Bryant/Sun Star
“We’re more than ready to get started,” Rogers said. Rogers opened the event, mentioning all the dignitaries in attendance. Among the VIP’s were: Clark “Click” Bishop, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Labor; Regents Tim Brady and Jo Heckman; former legislators Mike Kelly and Jay Ramras; UAA Chancellor Tom Case and Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins. Also in attendance was Rich Boone, professor of biology and wildlife at UAF. Boone said that if the university doesn’t have great facilities, it won’t be able to attract great teachers and students. “Facilities do make a difference,” Boone said. After Rogers made his introductions, a
series of speakers took the podium. Commissioner Bishop was first to speak. He was optimistic about the research that will be done in the new facility. “I know we’re going to have some discoveries here that change the world for the better,” Bishop said. The university tore down the West Ridge Greenhouse, administered by the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, to make room for the future building. Many plants from the greenhouse were adopted out to the public. The final speaker was Paul Layer, Dean of the College of Natural Science and Mathematics, who urged everybody to come back in 2014 to “cut the ribbon and put the shovels away.”
-New Scientist
Mercury ready for close-up The Messenger spacecraft reached Mercury’s orbit and began sending back photographs of the planet’s surface March 29. Mercury’s pockmarked poles could house frozen water in craters cast in unending shadow. The planet splits into rudimentary tectonic plates, which do not move as Earth’s do, but differ from Mars’s unified crust. Mercury also has a magnetic field, unlike Mars. The Messenger will pass as close as 160 miles to the surface in its elliptical orbit. It will take more than 75,000 photographs over the course of a year, the longest visit any spacecraft has paid Mercury. No other craft entered the planet’s orbit, and until now, scientists have had to settle for flybys. It took six and a half years to reach Mercury. - New York Times
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April 5, 2011
Arts & Entertainment
The Sun Star
www.uafsunstar.com
Arts & Entertainment
April 5, 2011
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A & E Briefs
Compiled by Elika Roohi Sun Star Reporter
Missing cobra tweets her whereabouts An Egyptian cobra at the Bronx Zoo went missing, but was found recently. Those curious about the snake’s adventures can follow “BronxZoosCobra” or #snakeonthetown on Twitter. The cobra currently has over 100,000 followers, and is rapidly gaining more. The snake seemed to enjoy her time in New York City. “On top of the Empire State Building!” it tweeted. “All the people look like mice down there. Delicious little mice.” - The Seattle Times
Uncovering the Great Cover-Up Jamie Hazlett Sun Star Reporter
Top Left: Chandler Thomas sings the lyrics to a Queen song during the 11th Annual Great Cover Up, Saturday April 2, 2011. Center top: Cover band members mingle with Pub patrons . Far right: The group White Sabbath performs at the Pub during the event. Above: A thank you banner listing the evening’s performers hangs in the Pub.
All photos by Jamie Hazlett/Sun Star
Temperatures near freezing were a warm welcome to the hundreds of people who flocked to the UAF Pub Saturday, April 2, for the UAF Concert Board’s 11th annual Great Cover-Up. The event, which began in 2000, features local musicians performing covers of bands both famous and obscure and has been a hit with Pub-goers in the past. Heather Barile, Pub manager, confirmed that the venue normally reaches its full capacity of 205 occupants during performances. Caleb Kuntz, a member of the UAF Concert Board who has been a key figure in organizing the Great Cover-Up in years past and present, said that he spoke with people who waited “several hours in line just to get in” during the 2010 event. Barile’s prediction of a full house was proven correct at 8 p.m. when the doors opened. The regular $5 cover charge for the event did not deter would-be patrons, who formed a line stretching from the Pub entrance to the games area of the Wood Center. Inside, the bar queue quickly approached the stage itself, only shortening as the room neared its limit and the packed crowd settled down with its drinks. Any illusion of docility was dispelled when the first band began to play. Many attendees danced and interacted with the group, a trend that continued with the successive acts. Those who remained in their seats supported the performers with applause and cries of appreciation following each song for the 11 different groups. The wide range of music appealed to the crowd; people hit the dance floor for covers of “Bohemian Rhapsody” as eagerly as for “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Jerri Lomax, who works for the Literacy Council of Alaska (LCA) and has been a ticket seller at every Great Cover-Up, explained that all of the proceeds from the event go “into the agency for one of seven different
programs.” She estimated that the event brings in about $1,800 a year. “It’s really special to see how the programs affects people’s daily lives,” said Joy Miller between acts. Miller is an AmeriCorps volunteer with the LCA who helped emcee this year’s show. Even without compensation for playing, there was no challenge finding performers. “We try to give them [the bands] something small, like a gift card,” Lomax stated, “but we leave it up to them to figure out how to split it.” Kuntz said that many bands inquired about performing “at the last minute” and had to be turned away because the roster was full. “You’ve got to call sooner than the day before,” he advised anyone looking to play in future events. One group that was able to get onto the stage this year was Character Reference, who covered four songs by Queen. Vocalist and sophomore Chandler Thomas said he thought the group had tried to play last year, but had signed up too late. He added that the Great Cover-Up was their first time playing as a group, as he had just joined the other members a few months ago. “It’s hard [to fit in weekly practices] because we all work,” he said. Despite this being Thomas’ first public foray into rock – he’s a self-described R&B singer – Character Reference’s performance inspired a group of fans to rush the stage immediately after their final song. Other acts inspired impromptu mosh pits, head-banging, and grinding between Pub-goers throughout the evening. “There are some great bands this year,” said Donald Crocker, a UAF alumni and employee who has worked five different Great Cover-Ups and was a performer in two more. If the crowd’s continual fervor was anything to judge by, Crocker’s opinion was as correct as it was concise.
Rebecca Black didn’t write “Friday” The lyrics to the song “Friday” by 13-yearold Rebecca Black, garnering the young girl so many negative remarks, including death threats, weren’t actually written by her. Black’s family paid Ark Music Factory $2,000 for a package including the song and the music video. Ark gave Black an option of a couple songs, and she picked “Friday” because she said it seemed the closest to her personality. The other songs were about being in love, something Black said she had not experienced yet. - Star Tribune
A musical about Mormons Remember that “South Park” episode that made fun of Mormons? Well, the “South Park” creators have decided to write a musical about Mormons. The musical will be called “The Book of Mormon,” and will be the pair’s debut on Broadway. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neither endorsing nor condemning the show. - NPR
Lil Wayne and Paris Hilton bond over jail time In a duo Q&A with “Interview Magazine,” Paris Hilton and Lil Wayne bonded over the time they’d both spent in jail. “It was OK, because it just meant that I was alone with my thoughts,” Wayne said. He spent eight months in jail for a gun possession charge. “I had to do 24 nights in solitary,” Hilton said. “I know how it is.” Both celebrities were happy to get out, no matter how introspective they found the experience. Wayne told Hilton that he couldn’t describe the feeling he had when he got out. “I know how you feel,” Hilton replied. “It’s the best feeling in the world when you come out.” The pair decided to collaborate on Hilton’s upcoming album. - CNN
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April 5, 2011
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April 5, 2011
Wearable Art Show benefits Pre-Med Society
Elizabeth Humphries models “Metamorphasis” - a piece she designed and showed at Saturday night’s “Wearable Art Show,” a benefit for UAF’s Pre-Medical Society Apr. 2, 2011. Dillon Ball/Sun Star.
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Ben Deering Sun Star Reporter The UAF Pre-Med Society held their Wearable Art Show fundraiser Saturday, April 2. For an hour and a half, 36 dresses were strutted down the runway. “It’s out of the ordinary, so it attracts people,” said Joel Carpenter, the vice president of the UAF Pre Med Society as an explanation for choosing to do a fashion show for a fundraiser. This is the second year the Pre Med Society has held a fashion show; they did one last year, too. Designers of this year’s dresses included local campus artists, the UAF Theater Department, and larger names from around Fairbanks, including Chartreuse, a fashion boutique. UAF’s Theater Department supplied 13 of the 36 dresses. Many artists modeled their own creations. Elizabeth Humphries showed off her creation “Metamorphosis,” which was inspired by the Smithsonian’s butterfly garden. Other artists, such as Suzannah Michelle, used models to showcase their work. Michelle designed at least five pieces in the show. Every piece that went into the show was designed well in advance, and the models helped turn an ordinary runway into a show.
Molle goes home to play pro Rebecca Coleman Sun Star Reporter Senior Bryant Molle, one of UAF hockey’s assistant captains, became the most recent member of the team to sign a professional contract when it was announced March 25 that he signed with the Alaska Aces. The Aces are based in Anchorage, Molle’s hometown. “It’s a good opportunity for someone who wants to pursue his hockey career,” said Dallas Ferguson, UAF’s head coach. “It gives him a chance to get his feet wet.” Molle has played three games with the Aces and is enjoying playing for his hometown. “It’s easier than going somewhere else,” he said. “My parents are here, I know the area, so it’s familiar, and the guys are great. It’s an easy transition.” Playing for the Aces allows Molle to carry on the family tradition: his father, Tim Molle, was the captain of the Aces for their initial five seasons.
“He inspired me to be a hockey player,” Bryant said. “Growing up, going to games was always the highlight of our week.” Bryant’s older brother, Dustin, who graduated last year after playing for the Nanooks, plays for the Fort Wayne Comets. Their younger sister, Candace, plays for the University of North Dakota. “We’re really proud of their hockey,” Tim said, but he is even more proud of their strong achievements in school because after hockey, “they can be successful at whatever they do.” Bryant will graduate with a degree in civil engineering after playing 141 career games for the Nanooks. His was named this year’s Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s Scholar Athlete of the Year with a cumulative GPA of 3.95. He is a finalist for both the 2011 Lowes Senior Class Award and the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award. In his four years at UAF, he scored five goals and 14 assists.
Bryant Molle, #23, maneuvers the puck away from a player from Colorado College during the Brice Alaska Goal Rush. October 16, 2010 . Dillon Ball/Sun Star
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April 5, 2011
Perspectives
Ralph Nader challenges athletics scholarships Rebecca Coleman Sun Star Reporter Former presidential candidate Ralph Nader called for the elimination of college athletic scholarships, according to a March 24 USA Today article. Nader said that colleges need to “acknowledge the professionalism in big-time college sports, remove the tax-exempt status currently given to athletic departments and make universities operate them as unrelated businesses.” Nader believes that athletic scholarships should be replaced by need- and merit-based scholarships. “The assertion that student-athletes who receive athletics aid are professionals defies logic,” said Bob Williams, the NCAA vice president of communications. “They are students, just like any other student on campus who receives a merit-based scholarship.” This professionalism that Nader refers to is noticeable in Division I bowl championship series football programs, which can have up to 100 players on a team and award 85 full-ride scholarships, and Division I men’s basketball programs, which can have up to 16 players on a team and award 14 fullride scholarships, according to NCAA rules. There are only a few programs at a few schools that “really spend the kind of money that makes you cringe,” said Forrest Karr, UAF’s athletic director. The University of Oregon is sponsored by Nike, which is based in Oregon. They had different uniforms – helmets, shoes, pants and jerseys – for each game in the 2010-11 season. In contrast, there are hundreds of thousands of other student athletes across the country who don’t have any scholarships, or are on partial scholarships. Ivy League Division I schools do not award athletic scholarships, as they pride themselves on academics. “You can probably get a hockey player to play for Harvard without an athletic scholarship just because it’s Harvard,” Karr said. Division III schools also don’t award athletic scholarships, according to NCAA regulations. The NCAA scholarship regulations are very strict as to how many scholarships can be awarded per sport. According to these rules, UAF can give out 18 scholarships for
hockey, 10 for each men’s and women’s basketball, 8.1 for swimming, eight to volleyball, 6.3 for each men’s and women’s skiing, six and five for women’s and men’s cross country running, respectively, and 3.6 for rifle. However, like many other schools, UAF doesn’t give out as many scholarships as it is allowed to. For UAF’s 133 student athletes, there are only 64 scholarships. This means that the average scholarship covers less than 50 percent of an athlete’s total costs. Very few athletes have full-ride scholarships. “Some of our athletes are some of the best in their sports, and they don’t even have full scholarships,” Karr said. According to NCAA regulations, scholarships can cover tuition, fees, room, board, and books, but not travel costs, which can carry high price tags. Karr believes that Nader is only considering the high media attention sports in his suggestion to eliminate athletic scholarships, but “you can’t paint with this large brushstroke and say ‘this is how Division I football works, so it applies to all sports across the board,’” Karr said. There are so many “niche” sports – skiing, rifle, crew, lacrosse, etc. – that aren’t allowed to allocate large quantities of scholarships, so their athletes are expected to contribute heavily to their educations. For example, on UAF’s rifle team, there are 3.6 scholarships to be divided between 13 athletes. The awarding of scholarships is a complicated process. The number of scholarships allowed per sport does not equate to a set dollar amount. Instead, they are derived on a per-athlete basis. The amount each athlete is given is compared to the total cost of his or her attendance at UAF to determine what percent of his or her bill the university is covering. Karr said that athletic scholarships provide a win-win situation for everyone. “They provide real opportunities for these kids to live their dreams, the university increases revenue and enrollment, and the community benefits from the costs of living that the athletes are spending,” he said. “How could you just take that away?”
The Sun Star
Weekend Wanderlust Homer Is Where the Heart Is Jamie Hazlett Sun Star Columnist As the snow melts and the daily sunlight increases, many Alaskans’ thoughts turn to the destinations our state has to offer, such as Homer. One of the best things about this small coastal “city” is its location. Balancing on the southern edge of the Kenai Peninsula, Homer is close enough to drive to (10 to 12 hours with good weather) but far enough away to feel like a real vacation. A phenomenal introduction to the local culture is an afternoon spent at the Bear Creek Winery and/or the Homer Brewing Company (HBC). The winery serves up varietals made with locally grown berries, and visitors are welcome to tour the production rooms and sample the resulting liquid bliss. Connoisseurs keep their eyes peeled for seasonal specialties such as the Shorebird Wine and a range of meads and melomels (honey-based wines). Beer lovers will revel in the simplicity of the Homer Brewing Company, where the works are viewable from the small store that sells HBC memorabilia and a selection of the brewery’s finest output. Settling around a fire and sharing a growler of Red Knot Scottish ale with friends while watching dusk fall over Kachemak Bay is a sublime end-of-the-day experience. If you do nothing else while in Homer, do this. Part of Homer’s charm is its local art scene. Be sure to check out the Art Shop Gallery or the Fireweed Gallery, which feature famous Alaska artists, such as Barbara Lavallee, Byron Birdsal, and Ed Tussy. The Blackberry Bog, a unique gift store, sells various hand-crafted pieces and trinkets from all over the world. Most of the shops on the Homer Spit are run by local artists selling their paintings, pottery, jewelry, etc. If you’re looking for a good read or a unique find, stop by the Old Inlet Bookshop. What this hole in the wall lacks in organization, it more than makes up for in breadth of inventory. The tottering stacks and narrow aisles will turn any browsing session into a treasure hunt fit for a pirate. Refuel at the Mermaid Cafe before walking five minutes up the road to the Alaska
Islands and Ocean Visitors Center, which packs a wealth of information about local natural history and ongoing scientific research into its compact exhibit space. A short traipse away is Bishop’s Beach, where long stretches of sand make a superb platform from which to look out towards the Gulf of Alaska and catch a glimpse of Mt. Augustine. A great place to grab a relaxed meal nearby is Fat Olives, an Italian restaurant/pizza joint with a great selection of beer and wine. Located within close walking distance of several lodging choices, Fat Olives is a particular treat to look forward to after a long halibut fishing charter has left you exhausted and starving.
Finally, the well-known Homer Spit is a feature that is difficult to avoid. With an array of small shops and eateries (some open only seasonally), the Spit has something to keep every member of your trekking party entertained. Some people find the Salty Dawg Saloon to be an indispensible stop, but unless you’re a fan of cramped surroundings and drinking beer from old Sobe bottles, you’re probably better off skipping it. Whales and other marine life are commonly seen from the Spit and the hills around Homer, so keep an eye turned toward the water. You can camp here, but beware of the ever-present wind; more than one tent has been lost here. This is also the jumping-off point for a number of fishing and wildlife charters and the home of a small harbor. When you have a four-day weekend staring you in the face this summer and no idea of what to do with it, my suggestion is to head south and give Homer a chance to endear itself to you. You will not be disappointed.
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Editorial
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Coffee Break
xkcd
Sudoku
April 5, 2011
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Journalism: Not dead yet Three carloads, four days and five awards later, the Alaska Press Club 2011 Conference has ended. What can I say? It’s been a hell of a ride. Our story begins bright and early on Thursday, March 31. Twelve students and a professor gathered in the journalism office before piling into three cars loaded with luggage. Our destination was Anchorage, home of the annual Alaska Press Club Conference, formerly known as J-Week. Every year, journalists from across the state gather in Alaska’s largest city with journal ists from across the country. In between all the panels, workshops, parties and getting lost on the way to those things, I learned something. Oh sure, I learned lots. I picked up more than a dozen nifty online tools that could enhance The Sun Star website. I learned that every journalist should have a Facebook page, that downtown Anchorage is much more fun in the company of several drunk journalists, and that I get lost a lot. But here’s what I really learned: journalism is not dead. Maybe “learned” isn’t the right word. I knew that journalism wasn’t dying, just undergoing some changes. What I had was more like an epiphany. I’d like to thank Susan Orlean for that. Orlean is a veteran reporter and author who has written for Rolling Stone, Esquire, Outside, Vogue and most prominently The New Yorker. She was also selected as this year’s conference keynote speaker. Orlean’s speech was amazing overall, but what struck me most was her statement that it isn’t the medium, but the message that’s important. What matters is the story. That was why Orlean, a master storyteller, was selected as the keynote and why this year’s conference was entitled “Story Forever.” Whether it’s 1000 words or 140 characters, what matters is telling the story that needs to be told. It’s important to remember that journalism isn’t just a job. It’s a calling. “I know you all work hard. And the way to get better is work a little harder,” Orlean said. With that in mind, another thing I (re)learned is that this job is worth it. This job is worth working seven days a week, including long hours on the weekend. Being a journalist is worth the angry letters, the threats and bluster and pettiness that you deal with on a near-daily basis. I’m not just saying this because we cleaned up at the awards (although boy did we!). I’m saying this because being in a room full of people who love what they do as much as you do is enough to recharge the batteries of even the most beaten down cynic. Learning techniques and acquiring tools to help you perfect your art is more potent than all the free beer the Anchorage Press and Alaska Dispatch have to offer. Spending three days with the only people in the world who can truly understand how important and fun this job is helped me write this editorial after a seven-hour drive back to Fairbanks. Next week, I can’t wait to tell you a story.
Andrew Sheeler Editor-in-Chief UAF Sun Star
Take Charge and Power Down! The UAF coal-fired boilers will be offline for maintenance from April 1 to May 31. This eight-week period is expected to cost UAF more than $1 million in purchased electricity.
April 1 – May 31, 2011
What YOU can do!
Some myth-conceptions
You can make a difference by Taking Charge and Powering Down with some simple actions:
Myth 1: Leaving a light on uses less energy than turning it off and on several times.
Turn off or unplug printers, scanners and other computer peripherals.
Truth: Leaving an incandescent or fluorescent lamp on uses more energy than turning it off and on as needed.
Sign up to have a power-saver cord installed in your car. It’s free for students, staff and faculty.
Myth 2: It is more energy-efficient to leave your computer running when not in use.
Participate in the Dorm Lights Out Electricity Competition in April. The winning residence hall will receive an ice cream social as well as prizes. Find out more about the competition from Megan Connaghan, Lathrop Hall’s resident director, at mvconnaghan@alaska.edu. Turn off all desk lights, lamps and overhead lights, and use natural light whenever possible. Turn off and unplug shredders, calculators, cellphone chargers and other machines.
Truth: Any time you can turn off your computer it will save energy. Many computers now have energy-saving “sleep” features that save energy when the computer is not being used. Myth 3: When my appliance is turned off, it’s off. Truth: Most appliances still use energy when the switch is turned off. To save the most energy, unplug when it’s feasible, say, a toaster.
Turn off lights when you are the last person to leave the room. Unplug all unneeded appliances, especially space heaters and small refrigerators. Shut down desktops and laptops when not in use. Power save and overnight shutdowns can reduce annual energy usage by 85%.
Myth 4: The higher you set your heater’s thermostat, the faster your room will warm up. Truth: Setting the thermostat all the way up only wastes energy and increases your heating costs.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator, and find ways to exercise outside. Develop energy awareness in your building and explore how you can work together. Use laptops whenever possible, as they consume 90% less energy than standard desktop computers. Do not use personal coffee makers, space heaters, refrigerators, coffee cup warmers or fans during April 1 – May 31. Adjust your clothing layer before adjusting the thermostat. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. UAF is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution. 04/2011