THENORTHERNLIGHT
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AUGUST 18, 2015
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
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AUGUST 18, 2015
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KELLY IRELAND
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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015
| 02
Thank-you letter to Jon Stewart In the year 2013, an alien brain slug from one of the galaxy’s most feared empires crash-landed on Earth and assumed control of a lowly reporter at this newspaper. These are his stories.
By Klax Zlubzecon
Translated by George Hyde My host George entered middle school during a turbulent time in American politics. Students and professors around him were talking about policies regarding education and the military, and the only political experience he had at that time was the occasional rant his father would have against the Bush administration. He didn’t concern himself with that kind of thing very much; after all, he was only in elementary school. His only concern was finding the time to beat “Super Mario Sunshine.” That all changed when, during the buildup to the 2008 presidential race, his father sat him down and introduced him
to the news block on Comedy Central: “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart and “The Colbert Report” with Stephen Colbert. There are very few moments where my host can say that something on television influenced his very being, but that night was one of those moments. Both Stewart and Colbert knew how to make news and journalism exciting and fun. Until then, all news meant to George was either traditional stories in a paper or online, or talking heads on a news network that spent hours talking about pointless semantics. But the CC news block changed that. The shows taught him to look at news critically and cynically. They taught him to question the ethical aspects of journalism. They gave him the idea that it’s important to self-criticize, admit when
you make journalistic or political mistakes, and also admit your biases and report the news like an adult. But most importantly, they influenced his sense of humor and political outlook in ways that no other show could. Since he started, George remembers every big moment being covered by “The Daily Show.” When the results were being tallied just moments before Barack Obama was announced as the victor of the 2008 election, his eyes were glued to “The Daily Show’s” coverage. While it wasn’t entirely neutral, and they did make some mistakes, there was still something more hopeful, exciting and humble about the way they covered the results. It was a much better option than the other networks, which tallied the votes with the kind of fanatical fervor that 24-hour networks are accustomed to. If not for Jon Stewart, there would be no Seawolf Slug. George would’ve taken up computer science or something instead of journalism, and I’d be left watching him code or do something else boring to watch. But “The Daily Show” left an indelible impact on him, and also me. From the moment we started watching, we wanted to be like the “Daily Show” crew: digging deep into political and social issues with a sly attitude that’s easier to converse with than the talking heads of other channels like CNN. Jon Stewart stuck it to those networks, and that’s what made him so cool in our eyes. There was a certain justice in seeing him rip apart other journalists that weren’t doing their jobs properly.
Even though Jon’s leaving, we still have plenty of satirical news programs. Former correspondents John Oliver and Larry Wilmore both have enjoyable shows that you can watch right now, and Stephen Colbert is set to return later this year as the next host of “The Late Show.” Those shows follow the standards that Jon set with ”The Daily Show:” covering issues that other, more serious networks won’t touch with an accessible and humorous tone that knows when to take it more seriously. But Jon was the original, the one that made it cool and interesting to talk about the news. It wouldn’t be a stretch to call him one of the most influential journalists of the past decade. In his final episode a few weeks ago, Stewart likened his experience with the show as a 16-year conversation with his audience. He said that this moment wasn’t so much an end to the conversation as more of a, “Hey, I’m heading down and getting a drink. Wanna join me later?” From brain slug to journalist, Jon, we would love to join you later. You’ve left behind an incredible legacy, shaped several landmark careers and gave the world of 21st century journalism a muchneeded slap of reinvigoration. And most importantly, you helped make George and I the writers we are today. You know how to put on one hell of a conversation. From the bottom of our hearts: Thank you, Jon.
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.
EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.
A friendly guide for a new semester A well-meaning column rife with clunky metaphors and horrible advice, Orange Rhymes With is the goto place to break the monotony of classes and laugh at someone else’s misfortune.
By Evan Dodd Contributor
Campus Kick-Off. My fifth Campus Kick-Off to be exact. And in a true cliche, the emergence of the start of another school year has me nostalgic for my first days here. Back in the early days of my time here at UAA, things were different. So different, in fact, that I ‘d like you to picture it in a Wild West-style sepia-tone with all the men sporting funny beards and tall hats just to feel the full effect of my reminiscing. Back in the olden days, there was no app with which to predict the always-late shuttle, limited lighting guiding the precarious walk back to housing during the cold winter evenings and no beard covering my impressive baby face. The gargantuan Alaska Airlines Center grounds used to contain a vast forest, parking permit prices were nearly half of what they are today and a now-defunct outdoor recreation program took van-loads of smiling students to shred Alyeska twice each weekend. But enough nostalgia; my first year would have gone a lot smoother if someone seasoned had given me a tip or two. So here’s an unofficial guide to help you avoid some of the less visible pitfalls of college. Firstly, go to Campus Kick-Off. This may seem like an obvious piece of advice meant to fill page space, but it warrants printing. Maybe you go for the rock wall or to meet your fellow students or even explore the various student clubs willing to entice you toward their booths with free trinkets. Or, if you’re like me, go fill out a billion raffle tickets to try and win an Alyeska season pass and pick up a free laundry bag
and towel. Friends and mentors come and go, and I’ve had more roommates than I can count on all four limbs, but you can bet your ass that I’m still using my laundry bag from day one. Second: During the first week of school, both Fred Meyer and Target run back-tocollege sales events that incoming freshmen flock to late at night to save on essential purchases and other marketing jargon. And why do only freshmen flock to these magical evening sales, you may ask? Because, you astute theoretical reader I’m envisioning, all other upperclassmen have long since discovered a beautiful place called Value Village and don’t have time to participate in an unfulfilling stampede. Seriously, while you may save a bit of cash on things you only marginally need, don’t get sucked into the sales unless you have a specific purchase in mind or just lack better plans for your weekend. Long before Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” played on every radio station in America, my roommates and I bought all of our cookware and some of our clothing from the local Village. We also bought a pineapple lamp (that shocked me five times before shorting out), an unnerving oil painting of a naked woman (that almost certainly was cursed) and a few quirky rugs (that undoubtedly harbored at least three species of crabs). Honestly, it’s part of the college experience, so go nuts and buy things you don’t need for a fraction of the cost. Third: UAA has a campus bookstore. With any luck, you will never have to set foot in that place because you’ll have read my column and know that you can rent textbooks from websites such as Valore, Chegg and Amazon. But hey, if you want to triple your cost put of perceived convenience, well, that’s none of my business. And on a related note, don’t buy the book until you’ve been to the first class. The books I’ve bought and never used could literally fill a library. And now, some rapid-fire final tips as my word limit is drawing near. Make friends with your resident adviser. It’ll be like having a brother who’s a cop. Barring that, remember they’re more stressed and busy than you are and really don’t want to ruin your day unless provoked. Parking is expensive. Biking and walking is healthy. So do yourself a favor if you’re able. In a similar vein, do the math on the meal plan pricing to see how much you’re actually paying, then head down to the Gorsuch Commons to get some comfort food to soak up all those tears. If you’re allowed to opt out of a meal plan (those of you not in residence halls), then do so immediately and buy a cookbook. Use DegreeWorks whenever possible. After four years I’ve only had one successful encounter with an adviser, and it was only successful in the sense that she succeeded in referring me to another adviser. And you’ll need a laptop to survive college/Netflix, so order online to keep the local Best Buy from eating your soul — Newegg is a solid starting point. Don’t forget to keep in the loop with your campus paper, radio station and student government. Whether you want to enact change, find out about it first or simply want to seem knowledgeable, those are the places to go. And finally: Don’t panic.
As a student of the University of Alaska, you could be saving 17% on qualifying AT&T plans. To check your eligibility, choose from these options: • Go to http://www.att.com/getIRU. • Go to your nearest store (bring proof of eligibility such as an employee badge, paystub or student ID).
• Contact your AT&T sales representative, Kerry Emery, by emailing ke0559@att.com or calling 907.264.7245.
Store Locations 5th Avenue Mall 2220 Abbott Road 4711 Business Park Boulevard Dimond Center Mall Tikahtnu Commons The Mall at Sears
Sponsorship Program discounts: Monthly service discounts are available to qualified employees, students and other authorized individuals associated with eligible sponsoring organizations, such as companies and colleges/universities with a qualified business agreement (“Business Agreement”). Individuals must provide proof of eligibility (valid employee badge/student ID card, paystub or other approved validation method) and subscribe to service as Individual Responsibility Users (IRUs), taking personal liability for their accounts. Discounts are subject to the Business Agreement and may be interrupted, changed and/or discontinued without notice to you. A minimum number of employees, minimum monthly service charge for qualified plans, additional AT&T services or other requirements may apply for eligibility. Under some Business Agreements, the discount can vary monthly depending on your organization’s aggregate volume of qualified charges. Discounts apply only to the monthly service charge of qualified plans (unless otherwise provided in your organization’s Business Agreement). If you have a question about available discounts and/or your eligibility, contact your organization’s telecom manager or contact us at att.com/getIRU. © 2015 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
04 | FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015
Things Seawolves wish they knew coming into UAA
COMPILED BY KELLY IRELAND
SETH WHIPPLE, JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS SOPHIE LESHAN, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
WESLEY EARLY, JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
JENNY FAYETTE, DUAL LANGUAGES
MICHAEL QUINONEZ, CIVIL ENGINEERING
ARIN WOOSTER, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SAMUEL DOEPKEN, HISTORY
DEVIN JOHNSON, ENVIRONMENT AND SCIENCE DANNY KONTESS, PSYCHOLOGY
JOELLEN WALTERS, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION DANNY KONTESS, PSYCHOLOGY
DAVID BLAKE, JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS MATT “L.J.” JOHNSON, JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
YEVGENII KISARAUSKAS, JUSTICE AND PSYCHOLOGY
LINDSEY WORNER, PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
AURORA NEWKIRK, ENGLISH LITERATURE
AMANDA RHEAULT, NURSING
MIKEY DELANO, RADIOLOGY TECHNOLOGIES
HAYLEY CAVITT, MARKETING
SOFIA FOQUET, ALUMNA JARETT TUCKER, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
LIZ SAVAGE, JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
CHEYANNE SCHMALZRIED, ALUMNA
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015
| 05
Being smart at parties is easier than you think regardless of gender. If you see anyone at a party being taken advantage of, you have the power to intervene. Don’t be a bystander — be proactive in the safety of others.
By Samantha Davenport arts@thenorthernlight.org
I’m not going to play Mother Mary and tell you not to go to a party. Most of you reading this article are going to hit up a handful of college parties in your years at UAA. People go to parties for a number of reasons. It’s an easy way to meet new people, it’s a way for some to get lucky and it’s always nice to relax for a couple hours and unwind.
What is the Red Zone?
Between the start of school and Thanksgiving, university freshmen are at particular risk for sexual assault. This period has been named the “Red Zone,” and a Campus Sexual Assault study conducted in 2007 showed that more than half of sexual assaults on college campuses occur during this time. Partying can be risky, but there are things one can do to stay safe and have a good time. I’ve been to an assortment of different parties; small gettogethers, frat parties, ragers and ones where the cops have to intervene. Regardless, if you go to have a good time or go to get laid, keep a couple of these thoughts in mind.
1. Make sure consent is involved
This sounds simple enough, right? Unfortunately, people can be animalistic. Alcohol impairs people’s judgement and can reduce the ability to make clear, concise decisions. It is easier to hunt something when it is injured, just like it is easier to take advantage of an individual when his or her vision is cloudy. Talking to your partner is the best decision you can do. A simple “is this okay?” can give you a definite answer. No means no. No does not mean take a break for a few minutes. No does not mean keep going. Just remember that sexual assault can happen to anyone. Rape can happen to anyone,
2. Protection is key
Putting a condom on is easy. Using birth control, reduces one’s chances of getting pregnant. However, without a condom, there is still a heightened risk for getting STIs. Condoms do not cancel your chances completely of transferring a disease, but they do diminish them. People can easily lie about saying if their status is clean. If you’re hooking up with someone, don’t take the chance and catch something. Be smart. Free protection can be found all over UAA’s campus so there is no excuse as to why safe sex isn’t an option for you. Stop by the Student Health and Counseling Center in Rasmuson Hall for more information about safe sex and free condoms.
3. Don’t drink and drive
I know, I know. This seems like a given. Granted, I have had to take intoxicated people out of their cars because they were confident they could drive home. The drinking age is still 21. If you are underage, illegally consume any alcohol and drive, you can still get a DUI. Have a ride planned ahead of time or crash at a friend’s house so you never have to risk getting your license taken away — or your life for that matter. Call a cab, call a friend, call your parents, crash on a couch or don’t drink at all. There are plenty of options to choose that don’t include harming yourself and others around you. There are plenty of ways to have a good time at a party, but it’s always better when nobody is hurt and everyone is safe. Be smart out there, freshman, and welcome to university! GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA
How to do better in college classes By Nathan Burns
nburns@thenorthernlight.org
Participate in class
“Show up, try not to fall asleep. Even if you aren’t taking notes I’ve always found that participation helped me to learn,” said senior student Stone Sibbett. Don’t understand something said in class, miss a question on a test or having trouble with an assignment? Raise your hand and ask for clarification. Worried about interrupting the teacher? Quietly raise your hand and wait until called on. Instructors love questions; they understand how well everyone is progressing in their understanding of the topic, and this allows them to better tailor their lectures to their audience. Every teacher prefers to see a raised hand rather than glazedover eyes, a sleeping student or the glow of a cell phone. Worried about not looking like you know what you’re talking about in front of literally everyone? Of course you don’t know what you’re talking about — it’s why you went to college, so you could know. Remember you came to college to get informed, not look informed. Worried about looking stupid in front of your peers? For every person that raises his or her hand to answer a question, there are five others that are too nervous to ask. To those five people your question could be the deliverance from confusion and embarrassment. Be that hero. Besides, if you are going to show that you don’t understand something, it’s better to do it during a lecture than on a test. Remember there is no such thing as a dumb question, just dumb answers on a final. International studies student Gerhard Sells advises freshmen to “remember that your professor isn’t an obstacle to doing well — they are a friend and helper. You should feel comfortable approaching them for pertinent information.”
Study and pay attention
“Go in strong into your semester, start strong and build good habits,” said international studies student Leah Hamre. Before you entered college you have no doubt heard conflicting accounts about the amount of work that you do in college: horror stories about studying 10 hours a night contrasted with joyous tales of skipping classes and frolfing on the quad. These stories are all true — they just came from different people doing different things at different times in their lives. You will breeze through some of your classes and slog through others. “I wish I knew how much time I needed to study. In high school, I’d go to class, go home, and spend 30 min-
PHOTO BY LORDFERGUSON/FLICKR
utes on my homework. So I signed up for a bunch of obligations and got a job at the start of my semester, and before I knew it I was sleeping 5 hours a night, and constantly stressed out,” said sophomore Travis Klover. But how long should one study? The truth about studying is that you should find out early on what works and stick with it. Make sure you are staying up to speed in all of your classes without building up too much stress and panicking. “It’s a lot easier to be hard on yourself early and to work too hard at the start of the semester than it is to slack off at the beginning and try to dig yourself out,” Hamre said.
Ask for help
“Get involved in a club, if you haven’t already. Try and find your niche on campus,” Sibbett said. Academic issues are amongst the top reasons that freshmen drop out of college. It’s not because they ran into trouble with difficult material tests and assignments. It’s because they ran into trouble and they didn’t ask someone for help. They were too scared or too proud or too uninformed, and they gave up before their time. Most classes here are difficult, but none of them are impossible — they only require more work. Every class you take has been passed by someone who wasn’t as smart as you, wasn’t as prepared as you, and struggled more than you, and then planned accordingly. It is possible. You just might need some help. Luckily you are drowning in resources to help you. Did the guy next to you get 25 points higher on the
test than you? Sounds like the sort of person you want to form a study group with. Not confident in your writing ability? Head to the Learning Resource Center writing lab, and they will help you edit your paper line by line. “I would encourage students coming back to get involved more on campus and stay more on campus. If you are on campus more and interacting with your peers more, you can accomplish more in the classroom,” advised Hamre. Office hours are set periods of times where your professors are in their offices for one explicit purpose: helping any student that comes in. For less subtle readers: This means you. Office hours are your best resource to solve any problem you are having with classes. Wondering what is going to be in the test? Ask the person who is writing it. Wondering what is going to be in the test? Ask the person who is writing it. Wondering if they’ll like your paper? Politely ask if they can read it with you and point out problems Having trouble with a tricky lab? Ask a TA and they will help your work through it, step by step. The best, and saddest, part of this is that office hours are rarely used by most students, giving the few that use them hours of undivided attention from their professors. These hours are posted on your syllabus/the lab room in question, or speak with your instructor after class to ask alternative times that fit both of your schedules. “It’s a shame we see very few students take advantage of these resources,” said computer science student Travis Klover.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015
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CAMPUS KICK-OFF MOVIE REVIEW
‘Age of Ultron’ carries a lot of baggage
Eds: This review contains mild spoilers for previous Marvel Cinematic Universe films. By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org
TITLE “Avengers: Age of Ultron”
GENRE Superhero Action
DIRECTORS Joss Whedon
STARRING
RELEASE DATE May 1, 2015
Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johnsson
It has been two years since the Chitauri invasion of New York. S.H.I.E.L.D. has been all but obliterated, and the sinister antagonist group Hydra has risen from the ashes. In Hydra’s hands is Loki’s scepter, which is the key to Baron von Strucker’s so-called “age of miracles.” With the Avengers so tied up, Tony Stark decides to put his “Ultron” initiative into motion, amplifying the effects of his robotic Iron Brigade with a more comprehensive artificial intelligence. If that last paragraph didn’t make any sense, then you are likely unprepared to see “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” It’s a fine film, but it’s wrapped in a universe that’s becoming more and more unwieldy for those who aren’t caught up — and that’s slowly starting to become a big issue in Marvel’s cinematic saga. Of course, under Joss Whedon’s direction, the characters are very well fleshed out. The heroes still have that trademark chemistry that makes them incredibly likable. And the villain, Ultron (James Spader, “The Blacklist”), is surely one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s best yet, with a cocky and charismatic personality to eerily reflect that of his creator. However, “Ultron” is loaded with extra plotlines that seem to make it a needlessly heavy film. Whedon felt the need to stuff the movie with cameo after cameo and plot thread after plot thread, and the result feels like a mess — a very well written mess, but still a mess. For example, Thor has a nightmare early on, and he temporarily leaves the group to investigate it. However, because the film’s running time couldn’t exceed two and a half hours, this thread is quickly tied up with all the grace of a piece of toast smashed into one’s mouth while running late for work. A new character is introduced almost two-thirds into the movie, and the film rolls with it and hastily throws him in with the rest of the group as if he’s had his own movie as well. Yet another character — played quite well by Andy Serkis — is built up and then quickly dispatched as if to say to the audience, “Oh, you’ll have to wait until one of our next movies to see this guy!” This is an ever-growing problem with Marvel’s movies, and I’ve dismissed it as a non-issue until now. As great, well written and epic as Marvel movies are, they’re starting to become as infamously impenetrable to non-fans as the “Metal Gear Solid” series. A person who was not a Marvel enthusiast could have easily walked into the first “Avengers” film and had a pretty good grasp on the story at any given moment. But now, with so many plot threads from so many other movies, viewers new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe need to spend more than 21 hours of filmwatching to get a firm grasp on “Ultron’s” story. With that all said, it’s a great story if you’re caught up. The old heroes are still great, the new heroes are quite interesting, the villain is superb and the action scenes that tie the story together are breathtaking as usual. But for those not already invested in Marvel’s universe, “Ultron” is a very hard sell.
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015
| 07
10 years of Campus Kick-Off comedians By Samantha Davenport
2011 Nick Thune
arts@thenorthernlight.org
This year’s Campus Kick-Off comedian is TJ Miller, star of HBO’s “Silicon Valley.” Throughout the years, UAA has rallied up a number of tasteful and unique comedians. We’re going to take a little trip down memory lane and recollect the past 10 years of Campus Kick-Off comedians.
2006 Amy Anderson
Best known for: His comedic album “Thick Noon.” He was also featured in his comedy special titled “Folk Hero.”
Rory Scovel
Best known for: Stand-up featured on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “Conan” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.”
Jen Kirkman
Best known for: “Mom Squad” and “ChopSchtick Comedy.” Her daughter, Aubrey Anderson plays Lily Tucker-Pritchett on “Modern Family.”
Johnny Cardinale
Best known for: “Bobby Kahn Goes to Hollywood.” Has been on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “Chelsea Lately.”
Eddie Gossling
Best known for: Feature on “Comedy Central Presents.” Made his television debut on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
2007 BJ Novak
Best known for: Stand-up comedian and screenwriter. Executive producer and character Ryan Howard in NBC’s “The Office.”
2008 Joel McHale
Best known for: Hosting “The Soup” and his portrayal of Jeff Winger in “Community.”
Best known for: Her comedy albums “Self Help” and “Hail to the Freaks.” She has also written a book titled “I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids,” which became a New York Times best seller.
2012 Horatio Sanz
Best known for: His role on the “Saturday Night Live” cast from 19982006. He was a member of the skit “I Wish it was Christmas Today,” an act featured on every “Saturday Night Live” special.
2013 Nick Offerman
Best known for: His role as Ron Swanson in “Parks and Recreation.” He also played Deputy Chief Hardy in “21 Jump Street” and “22 Jump Street.”
2014Reggie Watts
2009 Judah Friedlander
Best known for: His role on “Comedy Bang! Bang!” Currently, he is the bandleader on “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”
2010 Donald Glover
Best known for: His portrayal as Erlich Bachman in “Silicon Valley.” He was the voice for Tuffnut Thorson in “How to Train Your Dragon” and “How to Train Your Dragon 2.” He also had a voiceover role in “Big Hero 6” as Fred.
Best known for: Portraying Frank Rossitano on “30 Rock” and a smaller role as Scott Brumberg in “The Wrester.” Best known for: His rap career under the name Childish Gambino. He was a writer for “30 Rock” and portrayed Troy Barnes in “Community.”
2015 TJ Miller
BJ Novak
Eddie Gossling
Nick Thune
TJ Miller
Joel Mchale
Nick Offerman
Johnny Cardinale
Horatio Sanz
Reggie Watts
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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015
| 09
GAME REVIEW The 10-Week Offensive: ‘Resident Evil 4’ holds up well
There’s nothing new in ‘Kill Me Three Times’ By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor
By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org
It’s been 10 years since “Resident Evil 4” shook up the video game scene. Until then, the “Resident Evil” series had used pre-rendered environments for a claustrophobic, hard-to-control experience. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but perceived fan backlash led to the fourth game introducing a behind-the-shoulders camera angle that would influence an entire generation of games to follow. Even games today follow the template that “Resident Evil 4” gave birth to. But what actually changed? The plot is incredibly silly, like the “Resident Evil” games before this. Leon S. Kennedy, years after the Raccoon City zombie outbreak, is sent to rural Spain to rescue the U.S. president’s daughter. When he arrives, though, he finds that many of the villagers there have been transformed into strange, violent maniacs against their will. Can Leon find out what happened here in this small European village? The game’s only flaw, debatably, is its pitiful writing and voice acting. Watching Leon argue semantics with his enemies is so hilarious that it almost renders the awful voice acting a non-issue. This is compounded by several silly moments. The game opens in a genuinely creepy village with incredibly scary atmosphere, but it then drops the heroes in a weird castle with traps and tricks straight out of “Scooby-Doo” — from trap doors to fire-breathing dragon statues to the classic falling ceiling with spikes in it. And then it goes into a laboratory that mixes the camp and the scares together. But it’s all so well done! The hilarity lulls players into a false sense of security, making the scares so much more visceral and terrifying when they do happen. It may be the most perfect pacing in gaming today, keeping players on their toes with humor and scares that are both equally effective. Despite the camera angle, little has changed with the combat. The controls are still the same clunky tank controls from previous “Resident Evil” games, and while ammo isn’t as scarce as it is in previous games, it’s still scarce enough to make fights tense and gratifying. Every battle is a very close shave, and the game was deliberately and brilliantly designed that way. While it seems like cheesy schlock to an outsider, every element from “Resident Evil 4” is meticulously placed there for a purpose, and the resulting experience is a scary, funny and incredibly tense good time. It’s not as different from the previous games as some people would think, but when newer “Resident Evil” games have strayed too far from that formula, maybe it’s the fourth that strikes the perfect balance. TITLE “Resident Evil 4” DEVELOPER Capcom Production Studio 4
PLATFORMS PS3, 360, Wii, PS2, GCN, PC, IOS GENRE Horror action
RELEASE DATE Jan. 11, 2005 (Original); Feb. 27, 2014 (Ultimate HD Edition)
Simon Pegg has a likeability that he rarely plays against. In the AmericanAustralian comedy “Kill Me Three Times,” he does just that as the unperturbed hitman Charlie Wolfe. Sadly, for such a turn in his filmography, the movie offers little new for him to do. The movie is so thoroughly derivative that it ceases to have an identity of its own. In another hit-gone-wrong scenario, Wolfe is hired by bar proprietor Jack (Callan Mulvey, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”) to kill his wife, Alice (Alice Braga, “The Ardor”), believing that she’s cheating on him. When Wolfe sets out on the job, he discovers he’s not the only one with Alice in his crosshairs. Over a tiring, sometimes chuckle-worthy 90 minutes, all the archetypes of noir rear their heads. The abusive husband, the lover bent on killing the abusive husband, the femme fatale, the jaded hitman and those who threaten to cut his job short. With a generous helping of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, “Kill Me Three Times” sticks so closely to its noir heritage that it ends up repeating the cliches those directors so deftly subverted. The real shame here is that Pegg had an opportunity to stretch his legs and ended up tripping. His performance is decent, like his turn in “How To Lose Friends and Alienate People,” but the material offers little to him beyond lazy homage. That being said, the structure of it all is interesting. The narrative weaves in and out of characters’ lives, tracing their lives nonlinearly to where they intersect with other characters. This time-hopping has been done often, but it’s just about the only thing that works in the movie’s favor. While Pegg turns in a fine performance, the movie doesn’t give him much to work with. In fact, the movie has so little original material to work with at all that it ends up becoming a mess of cliches. The only interesting part of “Kill Me Three Times” is its structure, and even that has been repeated and done better elsewhere. It’s enjoyable only in part, and that part is all too familiar to be memorable. After the credits roll, it’s hard to know just what “Kill Me Three Times” had to offer in at all.
TITLE “Kill Me Three Times”
RELEASE DATE Sept. 6, 2014
DIRECTORS Kriv Stenders
GENRE Dark comedy
COUNTRY Australia
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GO GREEN AND GOLD! First National’s College Checking, an account just for college students, comes with a free First National Debit Mastercard®, customized with the UAA look you see here. Show your Seawolf spirit. Visit our Campus Kick Off booth to learn how to get yours at our U-Med Branch. And while you’re there, be sure to enter to win one of three $100 UAA Book Store gift certiicates.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015
ALBUM REVIEW
‘New Oasis EP’ By Taylor Hodges
KRUA 88.1 FM Music Manager
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Very rarely does an album completely encompass the majority of KRUA’s music library. In January, Hembree’s “New Oasis EP” did just that. The album provides a relatively broad range of musical styles within the context of modern indie rock, and it does so in an incredibly short amount of time. Only four tracks long, everyone can find the time to enjoy it. “New Oasis” may not impress listeners immediately. The first song on the album, “Walk Alone,” opened with a generic Modest Mouse-style riff, and the title alone lacks interest. While “Walk Alone” does manage to provide that mid-tolate 2000s feeling, it’s hard to find anything good to say about the track after that, “New Oasis.” Initially, it seems just like some Black Keys-type song, which is not a raving review. But the EP does have redeemable qualities. The third track, titled “Subtle Step,” brings a bit of funk and head-boppiness to the table, which is hard not to love. “Subtle Step” opens in a way that makes the listener think it could be the opening to a Bones track, but the vocals quickly
appear and dispel that feeling. The syncopation of the drums and guitar gives the song a mid-‘80s feel, kinda like a collaboration between Genesis and Depeche Mode. “Six Years” rounds out the album with a love anthem that talks about meeting “on the other side.” It’s romantic in a painful, heartbreaking way. Overall, the album is not incredibly unique or trailblazing, but is dependable and enjoyable to listen to.
ARTIST Hembree ALBUM “New Oasis EP”
PARKING SERVICES
IS ON THE MOVe! Beginning August 17, our office will be located at 3800 University Lake Drive
Check out our “On the Move” Playlist at http://spoti.fi/1MotRvW
LABEL Self-released RELEASE January 2015 TWITTER @hembreemusic
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MIDNIGHT
F R I D AY
Nov.
13
I m a g e: B r ia n Ada ms
to
6 P.M.
T H E AF TE R -H O UR S E VE N T OF T H E F U T UR E AT T H E A N C H O R A G E M U S E U M LIVE MUSIC, ART AND PERFORMANCES
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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015
‘The Original Butt Sketch’
By Samantha Davenport arts@thenorthernlight.org
UAA students who have been to Campus Kick-Off in the past know the Butt Sketcher. Every year, people line up across Cuddy Quad to get their backsides drawn by campus legend Pjae Naiima, who has been coming to UAA for more than 12 years. Her boss, Krandel Lee Newton, the creator of “The Original Butt Sketch,” talks to TNL about how sketching has taken her around the world. TNL: Are you the current artist or the one who created the idea? Naiima: “I actually created the idea. I quit an engineering job (mechanical engineer) years ago to pursue art fulltime. I showed my paintings — paintings of people, buildings and odd ends —on a street corner in Dallas. It was an attempt to do a painting of a parade scene — people from behind — that ignited the concept in my mind. After months of sketching people from behind, I coined the phrase ‘The Original Butt Sketch’ and charged people based on their shape — if they were ‘flat, round or regular.’”
When did you see yourself as an artist? “I began sketching and painting around the age of 9. I actually took painting lessons. After a few years, I put down my brushes to go play football and things like that. It was after I started my engineering career that I resumed painting as a hobby. I was soon engulfed with the passion of painting and then quit my engineering job after … practicing it for five years.” Where has your talent taken you besides Alaska? “I have maintained a fed- Pjae Naiima spends her time capturing this couple’s butts. erally registered trademark on Butt Sketch for over 20 years. We — I have a group of eight artists — have traveled to Europe, Canada, Mexico and Asia. We have sketched celebrities and other luminaries.” Naiima will be at Campus Kick-Off for those who are looking to get their derrieres drawn. Campus Kick-Off starts at 5 p.m. Aug. 22 in the Cuddy Quad.
PHOTOS BY JENNA! ROOSDETT
PJ Naiima draws butts for a living and has been coming to UAA for 12 years to sketch the butts of UAA students at Campus Kick-Off.
THEATRE & DANCE
Announcing our 2015 - 2016 Season 44 Plays for 44 Presidents
Mainstage Theatre | October 2 - 11, 2015 Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sat & Sun at 3pm Auditions: August 24-26 at 7-10pm in the Mainstage
THE
NORTHERN LIGHT
UAA’s News Source
Dance Ensemble in Concert
Harper Studio Theatre | November 5 - 8, 2015 Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sun at 6pm Auditions: August 30 at 2-4:30pm in the PSB Dance Studio
Marie Antoinette
Mainstage Theatre | November 20 - 29, 2015 Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sat & Sun at 3pm
Eurydice
Mainstage Theatre | February 26 - March 6, 2016 Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sat & Sun at 3pm
Stalking The Bogeyman
Harper Studio Theatre | April 1 - 24, 2016 Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sun at 3pm
New Dances 2016
Plays for Presidents
Mainstage Theatre | April 14 - 17, 2016 Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sun at 6pm
2015 - 2016 Season
Stalking the Subscribe and Save Marie 30% off for Season Subscribers Bogeyman Eurydice Antoinette Tickets to all 6 productions Plus a bonus ticket for a friend! Adapted and By Markus Potter DanceSubscriber EnsembleBenefitsBysuch David as Adjmi Original Story By David Holthouse By Sarah Ruhl Also includes Backstage Tours, Behind-the-Scenes
Bayiates, Sean Benjamin, lo-Bayiates, Chloe Johnston d Karen Weinberg
at subscriber open Over $85 1 - 24, 2016 t 2 - 11, 2015Sneak PeeksNov 5 - 8, 2015 exclusive Nov 20 - 29,rehearsals! 2015 April Feb 26 -$120 Marvalue 6, 2016for just
Call 786-4TIX to subscribe
Future Audition Dates can be found at www.uaa.alaska.edu/theatre Find us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/UAAtheatreanddance
Come Audition!
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visit us at thenorthernlight.org
All interested persons, whether students or community members, are invited to audition for any of our shows. Audition Dates for future productions will be available at www.uaa.alaska.edu/theatre
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015
5PM, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, SU 218 Student Life & Leadership Student Union, Suite 218 (907) 786-1371 uaa_elp@uaa.alaska.edu
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CONTACTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome back to UAA
By Kelly Ireland
editor@thenorthernlight.org
Hello, and welcome back to school. My name is Kelly Ireland, and I’m the executive editor at The Northern Light. As we are entering into a new school year, I would just like to wish everyone the best of luck. With that, I challenge each of you to go out and push yourself to do things that never seemed possible. And if you fail, just take it as a sign of trying. As a junior at UAA, I know that mistakes happen — and I want to remind
everyone that mistakes and failures aren’t a reason to stop trying. Mistakes are a part of learning, and without failure we will never know success. As one of my hockey coaches told me, “If you aren’t falling, you ain’t trying.” And fall I have, over and over and over again. But because of those mistakes and because of the wonderful support I’ve received from advisers and mentors, I have been able to grow from those experiences. So don’t let the fear of failure ever stop you from doing something you want to do. This year, try to avoid viewing an assignment from a teacher, a boss, an adviser, a mentor or anyone else as a burden. Instead, view them as a challenge to rise to the occasion. People ask you to do things not because they think you can’t, but because they think you can. Most importantly remember to stay true to who you are and to learn more about yourself. Your college years should be selfish years — and by that I mean you should take time to really delve into finding out who you are, what you like and learning to love yourself. The best advice I have ever gotten from my mother on the ways of love is that you can’t really love another person until you love yourself, and your own personal happiness should never ever be reliant on another person. Chase your dreams this year. Find your place.
The Northern Light is a proud member of the ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS. The Northern Light is a weekly UAA publication funded by student fees and advertising sales. The editors and writers of The Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 2,500. The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy or parenthood. The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of UAA or the Northern Light.
LETTERS AND CORRECTIONS POLICY Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length is 250 words. Opinion pieces can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum word length is 450 words. Letters and opinion pieces are subject to editing for grammar, accuracy, length and clarity. Requests for corrections can be sent to editor@thenorthernlight.org. Print publication is subject to accuracy and available space. All corrections are posted online with the original story at www.thenorthernlight.org. The Northern Light newsroom is located on the first floor of the Student Union, directly next to Subway.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
USUAA welcome to UAA By Jonathon Taylor uaa_pres@uaa.alaska.edu
It is our sincere hope that your time here as a Seawolf will be memorable and enjoyable. Besides the coursework and classes that are probably at least part of your reason for being here, be sure to take time to expand your education and horizons through extra-curricular activities and campus involvement. UAA has a wealth of opportunities that will help you spread your wings, gain valuable experience, and contribute to a vibrant campus community! As members ourselves, we can tell you that student clubs and organizations are the best place to start. UAA has over 100 student clubs, and five Greek organizations that represent a variety of interests and ideals. If one of those doesn’t suit you, the Office of Student Clubs and Greek Life will be more than happy to assist you in creating a new one. Of course, there’s also USUAA Student Government, which gives you the opportunity to work on policy that affects thousands of students like you, all while building unique experience. If you’re interested in programming and fun events, UAA Student Life and Leadership’s Concert and Media Boards might be up your alley. Speaking of programming – UAA boasts an incredible slate of activities, concerts and other fun events throughout the school year. Fall semester brings Haunted Halloween Fun Night, Homecoming Week and insightful, informative
and Matthieu Ostrander uaa_vicepres@uaa.alaska.edu
shows in the UAA Planetarium. During spring, there’s Winterfest, a myriad of concerts and events put on by Student Activities and Concert Board and if you like arguing – the Cabin Fever Debates, an intramural tournament where you could win over a thousand dollars. The new Alaska Airlines Center will host a few concerts this year featuring bigname artists and rising stars. Also, keep an eye out for informative lectures that departments will host throughout the year. UAA’s faculty always knows how to create dialogue surrounding important issues facing our community. If you’re planning on working while going to school, be sure to check out UAKJobs.com. UAA has a large number of student positions on campus, so you can conveniently earn money, and go to school. Don’t forget about positions with our student-run newspaper, The Northern Light, and radio station, KRUA 88.1. Not only are those positions fun and engaging, but you’ll gain valuable experience that you can use and rely on even after UAA. The University of Alaska Anchorage has “Amazing Stories” being written every single day. We want you to be one of those stories. It may be intimidating at first, but we encourage you to step outside your comfort zone a little bit to experience what UAA has to offer. You’ll be glad you did!
THE NORTHERN LIGHT CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 EXECUTIVE EDITOR 786-1434 editor@thenorthernlight.org Kelly Ireland MANAGING EDITOR 786-1313 content@thenorthernlight.org Kierra Hammons COPY EDITOR copy@thenorthernlight.org Kat DuFresne NEWS EDITOR Vacant ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Vacant FEATURES EDITOR Vacant ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Vacant A&E EDITOR arts@thenorthernlight.org Samantha Davenport ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR arts2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant SPORTS EDITOR Vacant ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR sports@thenorthernlight.org Nolin Ainsworth PHOTO EDITOR photo@thenorthernlight.org Kjersti Andreassen
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS aeberhardt@thenorthernlight.org Adam Eberhardt LAYOUT EDITOR layout@thenorthernlight.org Demi Straughn GRAPHIC DESIGNERS jbautista@thenorthernlight.org Jian Bautista WEB EDITOR web@thenorthernlight.org Vacant MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Vacant ADVERTISING MANAGER 786-6195 admanager@thenorthernlight.org Anthony Crouts III MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE ads@thenorthernlight.org Vacant STAFF REPORTERS gchyde@thenorthernlight.org George Hyde nburns@thenorthernlight.org Nathan Burns CONTRIBUTORS Evan Dodd Jacob Holley-Kline MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Annie Route ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Stacey Parker