The Sun Star October 2nd, 2012 by The Sun Star

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In This Issue

October 2, 2012

Staff EDITOR IN CHIEF Elika Roohi editor@uafsunstar.com (907) 474-5078 COPY EDITOR Lakeidra Chavis

The Sun Star Volume XXXII Number 6 October 2, 2012 The Sun Star’s mission as a campus voice for UAF is to report the news honestly and fairly, announce and chronicle events and provide a forum for expressions of opinion. 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

UAF students cheer on the pyrotechnics. Sept. 29, 2012. Elika Roohi/Sun Star

LAYOUT EDITOR Galen Lott layout@uafsunstar.com (907) 474-6039 PHOTO EDITOR Maleaha Davenport ADVERTISING MANAGER Eli Carlson ads@uafsunstar.com (907) 474-7540 MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Ian Larsen web@uafsunstar.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Shaun Nesheim distribution@uafsunstar.com REPORTERS Alan Fearns Alisha Drumm Brix Hahns Daniel Leahy Lakeidra Chavis Erin McGroarty Annie Bartholomew Lex Treinen Claire Baalke PHOTOGRAPHERS Erin McGroarty Alan Fearns Allen Obermiller Carolyn Deskins Maleaha Davenport Cordero Reid ADVISOR Robyne

The Sun Star two suspects. They were both men from Alaska in their early twenties. They were trespassed from UAF by the police. One of Fernanda Chamorro the men was arrested and transported to the Fairbanks Correctional Center, where Sun Star Reporter he was charged with criminal mischief. The other man was also arrested and transported to the FCC and charged with the possession of a marijuana pipe.

“Hand” me a drink

Sept. 20- Someone reported an intoxicated person who was possibly suicidal in the Harwood Hall bathroom. An officer responded and found it to be a domestic violence case. A couple was arguing about the boyfriend’s drinking. The girlfriend hit the boyfriend with an open hand. The woman had not been drinking. They had their child at their residence and no one was available to take care of the child so the woman was summoned but not arrested for domestic violence. The boyfriend was placed protective custody at the Fairbanks Correctional Center.

“I can’t ride my bike with no handlebars”

I did what?

Sept. 22- An 18-year-old Alaskan woman was found intoxicated in the North Chandalar area. Nearby was a vehicle she had damaged. She was arrested and transported to the FCC, where she was charged with criminal mischief and underage drinking.

Did you forget something?

Sept. 22- Parking services found an unlocked vehicle with the keys in the ignition in the North Upper Dorms parking lot and issued a citation. UAFPD notified the Fairbanks Police Department. FPD contacted the owner and released the vehicle to him.

Passenger doesn’t mean pass

Sept. 20- A complainant reported to the Sept. 23- A 29-year-old Fairbanks man UAF Police Department that the handlebars was stopped in his vehicle by campus police of a bike near Nerland Hall had been cut off. and arrested for driving with a suspended There are no suspects at this time. license. He was transported to the FCC and charged with driving with a suspended liA thief in the night cense and the possession of marijuana. The Sept. 20- A complainant reported their passenger, a 21-year-old man from Fairlaptop went missing overnight. The student banks, was summonsed for the possession left the laptop in Gruening room 208 on of marijuana. Sept. 19 and the laptop was gone the next morning. Heavy baggage Sept. 24- A complainant reported to “No Handlebars, no handle- UAFPD that his backpack had been stolen. It contained a laptop and a phone. It was bars” Sept. 22- A theft was reported in Nerland taken from the Fine Arts building’s music Hall, where handlebars were stolen from a room. The investigation is ongoing. specialized white tricross bike. Campus poIf you have any information regarding lice do not have any suspects. the thefts and/or vandalism, please contact UAFPD at 474-7721.

Straight to the Fairbanks joint

Sept. 22- A UAF vehicle was spray painted at the N. Tanana Drive and Farmer’s Loop intersection. An officer contacted the

Politics

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October 2, 2012

ASUAF Recap- September 30, 2012 Lakeidra Chavis Sun Star Reporter

Senators present

senate appointment. Director of Recreation, Adventure and Wellness Mark Oldmixon attended the meeting to answer the senate’s questions about the Terrain Park.

Will Collingwood, Bryant Hopkins, Voting power is everything Virginia Miner, Michael Golub, Ayla Matthew Dakus was sworn into the O’Scannell, Michael Magnan, Andy Chamberlain, McKinley Zakurdaew, Blake Burley senate after giving the oath of office. and Matthew Dakus

To give or not to give

Senators absent Sarah Walker, Charles Allison, Nate O’Connor and Rusty Young

Officers present Mari Freitag and Dillon Ball

Directors present Fred Brown

Guests Members of the UAF chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers came to support legislation that would allocate $8,000 to SAE. Oliva Bowen, a 19-year-old biology student attended the meeting seeking

O’Scannell sponsored “SB 179-002 Nanook Terrain Park.” The legislation would allocate $50,000 towards the Nanook Terrain Park, which is expected to open at the beginning of spring semester. The legislation passed by a vote of 8-0-1. Burley abstained.

Clubbin’ with LIVE Zakurdaew sponsored “SB 179-003 Startup Funding for Student Organizations and Clubs.” The legislation would allocate $300 to Leadership Involvement and Volunteer Experience, a leadership program on campus. LIVE would oversee the money. Josh Hovis, Student Organization Coordinator would requested the money. The first

12 new clubs this fall semester will each by a vote of 5-2-3. Miner and Dakus voted receive $25. The purpose of the money is against the legislation. Zakurdaew and to monitor how clubs spend their money. Magnan abstained. The legislation passed by a vote of 9-0-1. Magnan abstained. Pizza and politics Hopkins sponsored “SB 179-005 What goes around comes Funding for Pizza: 3rd Candidate Forum.” around The legislation would allocate $300 to purZakurdaew and Golub sponsored legis- chase pizza for the third candidate forum lation “SB 179-004 Startup Funding for SAE.” that will take place on Monday, Oct. 1. Since The legislation would allocate $8,000 to SAE. the purpose of the legislation was “to purThe club would use the money to buy parts chase pizza for the third and final candidate for the projects they build for competitions. forum,” senate chair Ayla O’Scannell made Since the club receives funding that equals the bill out of order. $8,000, but only after they have competed, The purpose included the word “final” the $8,000 allocated by the senate would in it, so the senate would not be able to alhelp them before they compete. Once they locate money to another candidate forum receive the money from their competitions, since the purpose implies that the forum they would replenish the money in the ac- on Monday will be the last one of the year. count that ASUAF allocated to them. Since the legislation could not be voted on, A similar bill was passed by the senate senators, directors and officers offered to althe last spring semester. Freitag vetoed it locate money from their contingency funds and plans to veto this legislation as well. to cover the cost of pizza. Freitag said she did not approve of that much money being given to only one student club. The senate passed the legislation

Thinking outside the shoe with Jessica Cox Alan Fearns Sun Star Reporter How do you greet somebody with no arms? You shake feet. This happened last Friday afternoon in the Schaible Auditorium, when Jessica Cox gave a motivational speech. Cox, who does not have arms, told the audience how she overcomes obstacles in her daily life by “thinking outside the shoe”. Cox has never let having no arms stand in the way of accomplishing her goals. When she was 10 years old, Cox began practicing Taekwondo. Four years later she was the first person with no arms to become a black belt in the martial art. Cox passed her driver’s license test with ease at a young age, and has even learned to fly a plane. Through these achievements, Cox has proven that she can live normally despite her disability. “Never let your fears get in the way of your opportunities,” Cox said. One of the first obstacles Cox faced was tying her shoes. After learning the classic bunny ears technique, she had to find a way to put the shoes on on without them being too tight. After figuring how to loosely tie

the shoes and tighten when they are on, Cox “If you have a desire, don’t let anything realized she was “thinking outside the shoe.” stop you,” Cox said. This is her way of saying that there is always Although Cox was scared by the thought more than one way to accomplish any chal- of flying at first, she took the opportunity lenge. of learning to fly. Cox’s next After 3 years of lestopic was on the sons, Cox became importance of a certified pilot at having desire in the age of 21. Last order to have sucyear she received cess. When Cox a medal from the was majoring in Guiness Book of psychology at World Records the University of for being the first Arizona, she realwoman to fly with ized her dorm was her feet in Milan, missing a television Italy. set. She strategi“If we create cally had to plan our fears, then we out a way to get a Cox ties shoes in light speed without using arms. Sept. 28, can also destroy 2012. Alan Fearns/Sun Star 32-inch TV out of them,” Cox said. her house and into her car without her dad Cox lives in Tuscon, Arizona with her noticing. When her dad went out for his husband Patrick. She has spoken in 17 difdaily garden tending, Cox tilted the TV onto ferent countries and hopes to have the opa rolling computer chair and made her way portunity to speak in many more places. through the house. When she opened the “It’s already starting to resonate in me door, Cox’s dad was surprised by her deter- and inspire me in little ways,” said Kevin mination and let her take the TV. Alexander, Aviation Program Coordinator of

the UAF Community Technical College. When asked about future plans for prosthetic arms, Cox replied that she believes they are “phenomenal,” but has no future plans to use them herself. Cox used prosthetic arms for 11 years and left them in a closet on her first day of 8th grade. The arms remain in the closet today. After the presentation, Cox handed out flight lesson door prizes and spoke to other aspiring aviators with encouragement. “I was thinking about some issues I’ve been dealing with that I thought were hard, I can’t believe it.” said Josiah Alexander, an electrical engineering student. Resources for Cox’s trip were funded by the Alaska Airmen Association, who then sold sponsorships to Alaskan groups to cover the costs. UAF was one of Cox’s sponsors, and coordinated her presentation in the Schiable Auditorium. “Perhaps after hearing from Jessica, people will be more persistent in overcoming any challenge ahead of them in becoming a pilot or a aircraft mechanic,” Alexander said.

October 2, 2012

Politics

The Sun Star

Politicians gather in auditorium to discuss Alaskan issues Lakeidra Chavis Sun Star Reporter Politicians, pizza and tears were all present during last Thursday night’s forum featuring four Alaska House and Senate candidates. The first-term politicians debated in the Schaible Auditorium at 6 p.m. ASUAF hosted the two hour long event, where issues ranging from the Alaska Student Loan Forgiveness Act to budget cuts were discussed. Approximately 40 people settled into the upper half of the auditorium to watch the debate. Rep. Click Bishop and Dem. Anne Sudkamp are running for Senate District C, and Rep. Pete Higgins and Dem. David Watts are running for House District 5. The moderator asked the candidates seven questions. Each candidate had one minute to answer the question. The issue that would directly benefit students was the possible reduction in student loan interest rates. Candidates were asked if they supported house bill 272 “Student Loan Interest Reductions.” The bill would reduce the interest on post secondary education loans for students who chose to use their degree in Alaska. All of the candidates were in favor of the bill. Sudkpam was particularly favorable of the bill since her primary focus is increasing the post secondary education graduation rate in Alaska. Sudkamp and Watts were both recipients of a similar program when they attended college. The Student Loan Forgiveness Act reduced student loans by fifty percent for students who chose to stay in Alaska. The program ended in 1980 but there is a possibility that a similar program might be available for students in the future. “We have the money, we certainly do. So we there’s no reason why we can’t,” Higgins said. The canidates’ opinions greatly differed on one topic, House Bill 110. If passed, the Alaska’s Clear and Equitable Share proposal would decrease the percentage rate oil companies are taxed in an attempt to increase oil production. If oil production is increased, the state will make a bigger profit. To revise the percentage rate for oil companies, the current ACES proposals would need revision as well. Sudkamp and Watts were against the bill. “I do not support a change in tax struc-

ture without much analysis,” Sudkamp said. Watts disagreed with the bill, saying that the Alaska legislature had met with BP, Conoco and Exxon Executives, who said that the tax decrease would not increase capital expenditures. Watts was a strong advocate for ACES. “We now currently have the highest level of employment on the north slope since 1968 when the whole thing began,” Watts said. “It doesn’t need to be fixed.” Higgins disagreed with Watts’ assertion. “There seems to be two sides to the story,” Higgins said. “You look at the oil and we’ve been declining every year. We haven’t been putting oil in that pipeline, it’s been going down. So does ACES work? Or do we just raise the taxes to make up for it?” Bishop’s position was unclear during the forum. However, Bishop said that Alaska hire was an important goal. “As your Senator, if I’m elected and going to Juneau, I will advocate for more Alaska hire, more guarantees for Alaska businesses to reap the benefits of that proposed tax change,” Bishop said. Each candidate had the opportunity to give a closing remark. Bishop began to cry during his speech when mentioning his grandmother, who passed away in late August. “She told me if you’re doing your job, other people will ring your bell for you.” After the forum the candidates spoke with students and enjoyed pizza. “The answers came out a little differently than what I heard last week,” said Ashley Strange, a 24-year-old broadcast journalism student and the moderator for the forums. “I heard a lot more of people trying to connect with the audience.” ASUAF will host the last candidate forum on Monday, Oct. 1 in the Schaible Auditorium. The forum will feature District B Senate candidates Sen. Joe Paskvan and Pete Kelly and House District 4 candidates David Pruhs and Scott Kawasaki. The general election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 6. “You can do anything you want, just get a plan and get it done,” Higgins said at the beginning of the forum. “The way our economy is going in the state right now, you just can’t afford to say here much longer, nobody can. We have to turn this state around.”

Democrat candidate for Senate District C, Anne Sudkamp, speaks to the audience in Schaible Auditorium on the evening of Thursday, Sep 27, at a candidate forum, one of a series hosted by ASUAF. Erin McGroarty/ Sun Star

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News

October 2, 2012

Women’s program celebrates 25th anniversary with guest lecture Claire-Elise Baalke Sun Star Reporter On the 25th anniversary of UAF’s Women and Gender studies program, the research and expertise of Sharon Bird, an Associate Professor in Sociology from Iowa State University, was presented in the Schaible Auditorium on Monday Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. The lecture was called “Navigating Barriers: Women Faculty Members Personal Career Strategies and the Advancement of Collective Goals” and was meant to promote women and minorities, especially those who work in the university systems. Bird’s presentation was based on research she did starting in 2002, involving 278 men and women, when she helped write a proposal to the National Science Foundation. This led to a $3.3 million institutional transformation grant for the Iowa State University. This grant created programs such as the arrival of children policy, partner-spouse accommodations, the parttime tenure and the delayed tenure clock. All of these are meant to assist university

staff, especially women, with the barriers or come out of, but with many stuck in the that they struggle with that hold them back middle, as Bird put it. from succeeding in work and educational “Departures cause less promotions, or environments. they don’t apply,” said Susan Heinrich, the According to Bird’s slideshow the main Provost of Women and Gender Studies, in career barriers include low levels of deci- response to UAF’s faculty barriers. “But I sion making, expect more educational advances in processing, and women to full balancing work professors, yet and family. Bird usually not said women opt enough stay to out of opportunibecome full proties: recruitment, fessors.” mentoring, reBird’s adtention and advice to UAF was vancement. to connect the She focused campus, since on those women in West Ridge is so areas such as scifar away from ence, technology, Sharon Bird introduced herself to the audience gathered at the main campus Schaible Auditorium. The seminar was on navigating barriers in engineering and and the demothe workplace, and Bird talked about ways women can overcome mathematics, she prejudices that are still prevalent in the workplace enviroments graphic differcalled it a pipe- today. Sept. 24, 2012. Carolyn Deskins/Sun Star ence causes a line issue. The pipe being those areas of stretch between the two sides of campus science, technology, engineering and math- that is not often crossed. She suggests having ematics that not enough women enter into networking events to build a common un-

derstanding of career barriers and to put together mixed committees to find common ground. Many students and staff at UAF appreciated Bird’s presentation. “I never look at it from the professors point of view,” said Megan Carpenter, a sociology and women and gender studies student. Carpenter said that the talk was very relevant to UAF because it is such a science based college. “Its nice to have research backing it up,” said Mercedes Anderson, a fisheries student, in response to gender barriers in the university system. “These aren’t unique to only personal experience of women,” said Kara Dillard, an Assistant Professor of Sociology. “Together we can solve this problem not just for women but the whole school.”

Sports

October 2, 2012

News briefs Oct. 2, 2012 Brix Hahn Sun Star Reporter

Curving your thirst Grab a glass, but not just any glass. New reports show that drinking beer from a curved glass speeds a drinker up, according to Alcohol Research UK, the financial backer behind the study. New reports also show that people might drink more, not drink faster. Participants in the experiment were given lager in either a straight glass or a curved one, then were instructed to watch a documentary. They were asked to note when their glass was half full. Test subjects who drank from curved glasses finished their drink sooner than those drinking from straight glasses. This suggests that people may believe a curved glass was fuller than it actually was, allowing the drinker to believe they were drinking at a slower rate than they actually were. -BBC Future

Blue v. Gold hockey game gears up Fairbanks fans for the season Lauren Fisher Sun Star Reporter

against each other in several skill events. Beck skated hard to add a victory in the fastest skate contest to his two points. Chad The first Hockey match of the season Gehon was close behind him in the final was an exhibition game between UAF Gold race, but was beaten by less than a second. The Gold team had a great show in the and UAF Blue in the Patty Center on Sept. 29 shootout contest, scoring 5 points against at 7 p.m. Colton Beck, a junior studying business the Blue team’s goalies. Blue team member administration at UAF, was responsible for Sean Cahill still proved himself the best of the two points that earned the Blue team the goalies, stopping 4 of 7 shots against victory over Gold. He was assisted by Cody him. The crowd made their own competition Kunyk for his first score at 12:40 in the first half. Nik Yaremchuk assisted Beck for his out of guessing how fast the slap shots were second point at 18:12 first half. Gold kept going during the hardest shot contest. Justin a strong defense for the rest of the first half, Tateson and Nolan Kaiser tied each other, leaving the Blue team in the lead 2-0 at the each making shots timed at 100 miles per hour. In the tie-breaker, Tateson prevailed buzzer. At half-time, the Nanooks competed with a 98 mph shot, topping Kaiser’s 97 mph

Teen boys murder grandmother Last week two 13-year-old boys from Wisconsin were charged with stealing a hatchet, killing the great-grandmother of one of the boys and stealing her jewelry and car. Both teens appeared in court on Friday and each was held on a $1 million bond with charges of first-degree intentional homicide. According to prosecutor, Joe DeCecco, the boys went to 78-year-old Barbra Olson’s home on Monday with the intention of killing and stealing from her. The boys went out for pizza after committing the crimes. The defense is attempting to move the case to juvenile court. -Associated Press

The Sun Star

shot. In the second half, both teams fought hard and held their own until the end when Alec Hajdukovich, a business administration student, scored for Gold at 24:00. Colton Parayko assisted. No more progress was made that half, giving Blue the win. The teams were coached by two guest coaches from Ft. Wainwright. Colonels Brian Reed and Ronald Johnson were asked to coach after the Nanooks went to Ft. Wainwright on Sept. 14 to work with the men on team building. The players were assigned difficult tasks that were meant to strengthen their bond. The Nanooks were glad to have spent time working with the U.S. Military. “They’re truly an inspiration to us,” said Andy Taranto, who played for the Gold. “We’re pretty privileged to have worked with them,” said Kaare Odegard, a senior with the Nanooks. Chad Gehon, also a senior, said that it gave them a new perspective on how to work as a team. The Nanooks Hockey team has been donating jerseys, signed pictures and gear to the Wounded Warrior Project and supporting the U.S. Military for several years. “I really appreciate the partnership between the Nanooks and the Army,” Reed said. “The high point was spending time with these guys.”

Chad Gehon forces the other team’s goalie to dive during the shootoff between Blue and Gold at half-time on Sept. 29. Lauren Fisher/Sun Star Reporter

Homecoming queen pranked Whitney Kropp, a 16-year-old in Michigan, was voted homecoming queen of her high school as a prank. The young teen felt betrayed by her classmates after many of them told her it was a joke. Kropp had been bullied in the past. After word of the prank spread across the community, business owners and parents came together to support Kropp. Kropp is now planning on appearing at her homecoming football game. Several community members are buying her dinner, styling her hair and providing her with a dress and tiara for the dance -LA Times

Players hit slapshots up to 100mph at the Hardest Shot Competition at half-time of the Blue v. Gold game on Sept. 29. Lauren Fisher/Sun Star Reporter

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Sports

October 2, 2012

Running the nippy, nearly naked mile Lauren Fisher Sun Star Reporter Participants assembled outside the Moore-Bartlett-Skarland Complex wearing clothes they intended to donate, then stripped down to their skivvies in 35 degree weather to run the mile long distance down to the Student Recreation Center on Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m. The event was advertised mostly by signs around campus and on Facebook. Patty and Andrew Miller, a mother-son team, discovered the event that morning when they decided to participate. Megan Earle watched the race from her dorm window in MBS last year, and decided she would this year. Many runners, like Patty Miller said “It’s a really good cause.” But some people had other reasons for coming out. Sarah Gillis said she wanted “to run naked in the cold!” Many of the spectators who met their friends at the finish line with replacement

clothes were glad they were just watching. “It might be better if it was a warmer day,” said Mathew Helt, who arrived in Fairbanks earlier that day when his friends asked him to attend. Approximately 15 volunteers showed up to help organize the event. Some were placed at intervals on the course to direct the runners. Others helped register the participants for the event. Ruby Walden, who was there with the Program, said that it was an energetic event. “I wish it was a lot bigger than it is,” Walden said. Michael Willis organized the event through the Fairbanks Resource Agency. The clothes will be donated to Closet Collections. The runners left shivering but happy with their contributions to the cause.

The winged men warming up. Do they intend to nearly naked fly. Sept. 29, 2012. Lauren Fisher/Sun Star Reporter

The nearly naked runners are released! On Sept. 29 at 5:30p.m. Lauren Fisher/Sun Star Reporter

October 2, 2012

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October 2, 2012

Arts & Entertainment

The Sun Star

Starvation gulch 2012 turns up the heat Erin McGroarty Sun Star Reporter

ministry. in the Hess Rec center in the Moore Bartlett fire, a giant dance party or just free t-shirts An aspect of entertainment that was Skarland complex to watch “The Amazing and food, Starvation Gulch is the event of very popular in past years was the DJ, who Spiderman” as part of Heroes and Heroes. the season that kicks off the year at UAF. Temperatures dipped to just a few de- was throwing beats at the crowd from an This program, featuring a recently released grees above freezing as students and other elevated tent facing an open space for superhero movie and Hero sandwiches, has members of the Fairbanks community filled dancing. The music also featured local MC, been a feature part of the Starvation Gulch the Taku Parking lot awaiting the lighting of Alaska Red. Following the bonfires that festivities over past years. lasted late into the night, students gathered Whatever it may be to students, a bonthe Starvation Gulch 2012 bonfires. Starvation Gulch is a time honored tradition at the University of Alaska Fairbanks since 1923. While students may have sported rain coats and mud boots last year, this year played more to the tune of scarves, hats and mittens. However, as each pallet structure was engulfed in flames and the festivities began, students began shedding layers of winter clothing and stress from the previous week of classes and homework. Each pallet structure was built by a different university organizations. This year’s organizations included the Alpha Phi Omega and the UAF firefighting squad. This year the bonfires were much larger than the bonfires of 2011 with six pallet structures instead of the three. “Last year was my first year going to Starvation Gulch,” said Iver Evanger, a sophStudents gather to keep warm in front of the 2012 StarFirefighter’s light up the last pallet made to look like a house during Starvation Gulch. September 29, 2012. David omore. “But this year is way bigger than last vation Gulch bon fires held in the Taku parking lot on Spindler/Sun Star the night of Saturday, Sep 29. Erin McGroarty/ Sun Star year. It’s pretty sick!” The structure that elicited the most enthusiastic responses out of the student body was APO’s structure in the shape of Poseidon, complete with a ply wood face and crown sporting the three Greek letters for APO and a trident made of 2x4 wooden boards. Another structure was in the shape of a dragon with a head made of green painted pallets. The six teams competed for the two coveted awards given out each year, the “Big Ass Flame” trophy and “Most Creative” award. APO has won the “Big Ass Flame” trophy for a number of years. Some students observed the roaring fires, others mingled among the myriad of booths that were featured as part of the nights entertainment. An ASUAF tent was selling hot tea and cider and the Japanese club was selling hot Japanese cuisine. On the other side of the aisle was the UAF Alpine club, advertising their fall and spring excursion trips, including fall rock climbing classes on the outdoor climbing tower by the student recreation center and a spring ice climbing trip. There was also a booth handing out free t-shirts and sweatshirts with the “Starvation Gulch 2012” logo and a booth educating students about the UAF Rakeem “The Dream” Edwards, an undeclared student who’s currently studying acting, stares this year’s bonfires in the face. Sept. 29, 2012. Annie Bartholomew/Sun Star

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Arts & Entertainment

October 2, 2012

Annual Safety Block Party at Starvation Gulch weekend Sun Star Report

Center, students and community members were able to wander from face painting to a On Saturday evening on Sept. 29, stu- bouncy house and many other booths. Following the Safety Bloc Party, many dents gathered in front of the Patty Center for the annual Safety Block Party. The police made their way to the Blue vs. Gold game and fire department hosted the dinner for to continue with the events of the traditions weekend. students as a part of Starvation Gulch. Outside the Patty Center, students could compete for prizes from Nanook Nation and hang out in the shade of the giant blow up polar bear. Inside the Patty

UAF student Valerie Schleich tries swinging a hockey stick during the firefighterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s block party. Sept. 29, 2012. David Spindler/Sun Star

Our Nanook bear stands guard waiting for the next kid to swing a hockey puck. Sept. 29 2012. David Spindler/Sun Star

Students attend Safety Dance in caution tape and capes Sun Star Report

students could save a buck for dressing up in costume. The dance was well attended While dressed up in caution tape and by students excited to kick off the Starvation superhero costumes, many excited UAF Gulch traditions weekend. students went out dancing at the Hess Rec Center on Friday, Sept. 28. Between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.,

Students danced it out at the Saftey Dance in the Hess Rec center as a kick off to the Stavation Gulch kick-off on Sept. 28 2012. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

The Dark Knight broke it down and out at the Saftey Dance in the Hess Rec center as a kick off to the Stavation Gulch weekend on Sept. 28 2012. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

October 2, 2012

Arts & Entertainment

The Sun Star

Pallet pyres Student groups assemble giant structures to set on fire for Starvation Gulch Alan Fearns Sun Star Reporter Six teams composed of various campus departments and clubs signed their risk waivers, strapped on their safety gear and went to work last Saturday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. UAF students transported hundreds of wooden pallets into the Taku parking lot to begin the annual bonfire building. Teams were given between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to complete their structures. The amount of pallets each team collected over the last year decided their supply at the event. Student Activities Office coordinator Cody Rogers and Teal Rogers, a marketing student who works for SAO, monitored students’ safety and provided snacks and drinks. Bonfire building is a competition divided in two categories: biggest flame and most creative. Trophies are awarded for each and winners are decided by two groups. This year’s winner will be decided by a member of Residence Life. One staff, one student and one alumni choose the most creative design. Jack Spencer, Sigma Phi Epsilon’s team captain, said his team is going for both trophies. Their plan was to make a 200 foot structure with a phoenix and a flaming sigma letter. “We are using the pallets in a structural method rather than the stack method that most people seem to choose,” Spencer said. Alpha Phi Omega started by drawing out lines for the base and maintaining air-

flow throughout the build. “We’ve been doing this for probably eight years now,” said Bobby Pendleton, APO’s team captain. “We have a pretty good plan.” Other teams, however, had less planned out for their structure when they arrived. “We’re shooting from the hip,” said Paul Young, a member of the campus firefighter’s team. Edge’s team had less pallets compared to others so they decided on a well-like design on a base of five pallets spiraling upwards. This was to get the biggest flame possible with the least amount of wood. At 2 p.m., students were scrambling to put the finishing touches on their work. The firefighters had turned their aimless pile of wood into a log cabin. The College of Engineering and Mines students stacked pallets of blue and red into a tower resembling a Mayan temple. Students from APO were assembling a trident for their Poseidon structure decorated with a gold plywood crown and rope beard. Members of Sigma Phi chanted their fraternity’s name as they placed a purple Sigma letter in front of a flaming backdrop. The UAF Honors team built a Viking long ship with a dragon’s head and axe designs. Honors finished early giving them time to make smores and chat around a fire. APO watched the Taku parking lot after 3 p.m. to prevent any tampering with the bonfire structures.

Far left: Senior Ethan Tullar, 22, fixes one of the pallets lying on top of the Honors Program team’s Starvation Gulch bonfire structure on Sept. 29, 2012. Near left: The UAF Education, Development, Growth and Experience (EDGE) Program team members resemble Romeo and Juliet as they discuss their Starvation Gulch structure on Sept. 29, 2012. Top: UAF Firefighters, junior Aaron Schultz (L) and senior Cody Carver (R) work hard to put together the University Fire Department’s Starvation Gulch house on Sept. 29, 2012. Above: The UAF College of Engineering and Mines students work together to construct a building-size bonfire structure for Starvation Gulch on Sept. 29, 2012. All photos by Fernanda Chamorro/Sun Star

Arts & Entertainment

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October 2, 2012

“Paint the Pipes” decorates downtown Daniel Leahy Sun Star Reporter Bland, off-white vent pipes have cluttered downtown Fairbanks since the ultiliduct system was first built. Standing eight feet tall, the vent pipes allow oxygen flow between the underground utility system and the air above. While serving an important purpose, the pipes were never considered beautiful. That changed on Monday, Sept. 24 when the Downtown Association of Fairbanks completed its “Paint the Pipes” program. Part of the “Art in the Heart” initiative, “Paint the Pipes” paid local artists to decorate 13 pipes in downtown Fairbanks. DAF coordinated “Paint the Pipes” in partnership with Project Fairbanks, both local nonprofits. DAF seeks to improve the scenery of downtown by adding artistic elements in response to frequent requests for more public art. According to Amy Nordrum, Communications Coordinator for Project Fairbanks, inspiration for the program came from similar art projects in other cities. “It’s not an original concept, but we applied it to pipes in Fairbanks for a distinct twist,” Nordrum said. Designs on the pipes include a painting

of blooming fireweed, a portrait of a musk ox, an owl and a classic Marilyn Monroe photograph with an Alaskan twist. The artwork recreates the famous picture of Marilyn Monroe standing over a subway vent while wearing bunny boots. Local artist Nikki Kinne painted a pipe named “Fireweed” on second Avenue. The self-described “Pilot Artist,” Kinne had never worked on a public art project. She says the public’s level of involvement made it both challenging and rewarding. “I was profoundly moved by how many people were invested in the outcome,” Kinne said.

This pipe was a different approach to springtime and flowers. These flowers remind us that spring will return and so will all of the colors that go with it. Allen Obermiller/Sun Star

A committee was commissioned to select the best designs. The contest received 60 proposals. The committee members made their final decisions on August 2. Artists with winning designs were awarded a $300 stipend for their work on the project. They were then given until Sept. 24 to add their final brush strokes to the pipes. On that day, a public unveiling ceremony in the Golden Heart Plaza of the Downtown Market marked the completion of the project. The 13 artists chosen were Karen Austen, Sarah DeGennaro, Lucas Elliott, Mica Fairchild, David Hayden, Mica Hendricks, Dan Ken-

nedy, Nikki Kinne, Laura Nutter, Gail Priday, Iris Sutton and Kate Wood. One team, the “Midnight Sun Junior Roller Girlz,” jointly submitted a winning design. Sponsorship for the program came primarily from local businesses, who made donations between $200 and $5,000. One pipe was supported entirely by the generosity of individual donors, who raised over $1,500. Donors who contributed over $50 had their name printed on the “Marilyn in Bunny Boots” pipes. DAF is planning to complete a new art project every year. While DAF hasnot agreed on a particular plan, the large amount of positive feedback they have recieved makes them excited for next year’s project. In the meantime, Kinne and Nordrom say “Paint the Pipes” is already impacting the downtown landscape. “People will see the brightness in the dead of winter,” Kinne said. Nordrom said she hopes such art projects will help Fairbanksans “fall back in love with their downtown.”

My life in college The perils of parking Moral Mildred Sun Star Columnist The bane of my existence is parking at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Not only is it almost impossible to accomplish without feeling homicidal, if you do manage to find a parking spot it’s probably somewhere between the Taku parking lot and Antarctica. To add insult to injury, we all have to pay for parking decals that are as about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. Us poor folk usually go for the normal parking sticker but we can’t forget about the super special gold decal. For the low price of your first born child, you can acquire the ability to park anywhere on campus. Nonetheless, you will still probably end up parking with the rest of us plebians, in a place far, far away. Granted there are benefits to parking by the Lola Tilly Commons or by the Taku

parking lot. Walking is really good for you and the exercise is probably a good way to start or end your day. However, I would argue: Alaska. I don’t know about anyone else, but I could care less about how great walking is for my health when it’s negative twenty degrees outside. A ten minute walk to my class suddenly becomes the equivalent of trekking through the Himalayas. I don’t want to have to do it. Parking at UAF just breeds hate. Every time I slowly creep past all the cars parked at the Tilly, shivering miserably and wishing my car heater would stop impersonating an air conditioner, I become angry. I utterly despise every single person that managed to get a spot before me. And the car that still has five feet of snow on it from the storm three weeks ago? For you, my friend, I harbor a special kind of loathing. For not only are you parked in prime territory, you obviously haven’t moved. If you’re not going to operate your

motorized vehicle, then don’t take the best parking spots. It makes me want to key your passenger doors. If parking wasn’t already difficult, we have the added bonus of construction. Besides making the already painful speed limits on campus even slower, construction further limits parking availability. Thanks to construction, parking near your dorm-which already took near divine intervention to accomplish-is completely impossible. People are forced to relocate to new territory, until the orange cones and caution tape disappear forever. At the rate the construction is going, it might happen sometime after I graduate. Don’t even get me started on meter parking. Every time I drive by a row of meters with cars happily parallel parked beside them, I find myself wondering why people have so many quarters? Where are you getting your quarters? Why don’t I ever have any quarters? Personally, I wish

those things would run off of pennies. I am guaranteed to always have five million pennies in the bottom of my purse, making my bag the equivalent of a small child in weight. I don’t even know how they get there most of the time. Finding a quarter though is a rare and beautiful occurrence that always seems to occur when there is not a single meter free. I guess the silver lining to all of this is that when I do manage to get an excellent parking spot somewhere on campus, my day becomes suddenly the best day ever. I don’t have to chance frostbite on my way to the Gruening Building. Nor do I have to ruin my mood by driving by all the drivers more lucky than I, daydreaming about systematically slashing all their tires. But alas, like life, parking on the UAF campus is not always easy. Moral Mildred writes a student life column detailing the ups and downs of living in Fairbanks and attending UAF.

October 2, 2012

Perspectives

The Sun Star

Banned books commemoration Letters to the Editor Call it what it is: Rape week turns 30 This week is the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week, a week commemorated mostly by librarians and bookworms, but one that everyone should spend some time thinking about. Chances are, if you’ve passed a high school English class, you’ve read a banned book. Challenged classics include such time-honored titles as ‘The Great Gatsby,’ ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ Karen Jensen is the collection development officer at the Rasmuson Library, and she’s happy to tell her library patrons that her shelves are stocked with banned books. According to Jensen, in an academic library books don’t get challenged that often. It does happen, however. Last spring, a student wanted the book ‘Of Pandas and People’ moved from the biosciences library down to the main collection. ‘Of Pandas and People’ is a somewhat controversial book, because it presents a creationist argument and challenges the theory of evolution. The student thought it had no place on the shelves of the biosciences library. However, Jensen refused. Having the book in the biosciences library was almost more important, Jensen said, because that’s where the other books about evolution are. A librarian should aim to represent all the points of view on their shelves, and that’s what Jensen is trying to do. “We have ‘Mein Kompf’ in our collection,” Jensen said. “I’m not a fan of Hitler. Most people aren’t.” But Jensen keeps ‘Mein Kompf’ on the shelf anyway. Being a banned author isn’t necessarily a bad thing. ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ was challenged off library shelves while Mark Twain was still alive, and he was ecstatic. The attention that comes with labeling something as offlimits usually means that everyone wants to get their hands on it. Today, Huck Finn is still banned consistently and still one of the most widely read books out there. Books aren’t the only things have have been getting questioned in libraries and schools lately. Starting last year, Banned

Books Week set aside a specific day to commemorate banned websites. This year Banned Websites Awareness Day falls on Wednesday, Oct. 3. Banned websites have been on the radar of librarians for years because of overly restrictive schools blocking legitimate, educational websites and academically useful social networking sites. The Fairbanks North Star Borough School district just added Wikipedia to their list of websites students are blocked from accessing at school. This is in an effort to meet requirements of the Child Internet Protection Act. Since a few pages of Wikipedia have questionable content, the entire site is blocked for students at school. As a journalism student, I err on the side of thinking every piece of writing should be available to to every person who wants it. When people challenge books in libraries and in schools, it’s a form of censorship. It’s someone deciding what ideas are right and which ones are wrong. But this fall, a man under the name of Sam Bacile duped a crew into filming a movie, brought in separate actors to read random words and names and then put everything together to produce ‘The Innocence of the Muslims,’ a horribly offensive movie that has incited riots in parts of the world. Both YouTube and Google have made the video inaccessible in certain countries. This is censorship, but perhaps rightfully so. When a film or a book has the power to incite violence, should it still be widely available? Luckily, UAF students have access to a well stocked library. Typically, Jensen puts together a display for Banned Books Week, but due to budget cuts there will only be a poster this year. Interested students can also stop by the library and peruse this year’s anthology of banned books that includes where and why specific books were challenged. After all, according to Jensen, “Banned books lists make good reading lists.”

Elika Roohi Editor-in-Chief

Dear Editor, The University Police Department, in compliance with the Clery Act, has released the UAF crime statistics for the years 2009-2011. Good. A well-informed public is a safer public. Just one problem. In the category labeled Sex Offenses - Forcible, there were 27 such offenses reported total. Then there is the category Sex Offenses - Non-Forcible, of which there have been two reported. Forcible. Force. Entry No. 2 on Dictionary.com lists force as, “strength or power exerted upon an object; physical coercion; to use force on a person.” Entry No. 4 for “power” reads, “the possession of control or command over others; authority.” Therein lies the rub. Sexual assault — rape — by its very nature is forcible. The offender is violating the victim’s will in a

perverse act of control. A man doesn’t have to hold a woman down and violently penetrate her for it to count as rape. A boyfriend shaming his girlfriend into intercourse, a man taking advantage of a drunk or passed out woman, an adult having sex with a minor: All are rape. All are forcible. In each case, force — whether physical or otherwise — was used to achieve the assault. I understand and appreciate that the UAF police are just following procedure, the same one used by the FBI. But we need to put an end to this inaccurate, damaging word. This word has been used in an attempt to de-legitimize rape victims for decades, and even today. Remember Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” comment? There are too many rapes reported on campus, and far more that go unreported. Rape is rape. UAF must not re-victimize these people by labeling it as anything less. Andrew Sheeler

Letters to the editor should be no more than 250 words in length. Please include the author’s full name and contact information (phone number, e-mail or address). E-mail your letters (preferred) to editor@uafsunstar.com, fax them to 474-5508, or mail them to PO Box 756640, Fairbanks, AK, 99775. Letters must be received by Friday at 5 p.m. in order to run in the next issue. All letters are subject to editing for brevity and grammar.

Say Ah Depression Screening National Depression Screening Day is October 11, 2012. In recognition of this day depression screenings will take place at MBS on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 from 6-8 pm. •What is depression? Depression is a common illness that often goes unrecognized as many people do not seek treatment. It is an illness that is different from short-term sadness or feeling down. Symptoms that last for greater than 2 weeks and are significantly interfering with daily functioning in school, work, or social situations should be evaluated. •What are the symptoms of depression? -Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings -Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism -Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness -Irritability, restlessness -Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex -Fatigue and decreased energy -Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions -Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping -Overeating, or appetite loss -Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

-Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment (National Institute of Mental Health) Depression affects people differently and some may have varying degrees of the above symptoms or additional symptoms. A depression screening should be considered if you are recognizing some of the above symptoms. •What are the treatment options for depression? Once the diagnosis of depression is made options for treatment include counseling, medication management, or a combination of both. The best outcomes for remission of depression include counseling and medication management, although not everyone will require medication management. •Where can you get a depression screening? Screenings for depression will be done on Tuesday, October 9 at MBS from 6-8 pm. If you would like a depression evaluation at UAF Student Health and Counseling Center, please call 474-7043 to schedule an appointment. -Cecelia Maher PNP

Sponsored by UAF Student Health and Counseling Center 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

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Leisure Duly Noted

October 2, 2012