THENORTHERNLIGHT NOVEMBER 12, 2013
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
SPORTS
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Mr. UAA: He is beauty and he is grace
November:
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Overtime: Picking against the machine
Alaska Native and Native American Heritage Month
PHOTOS BY DAN DUQUE
Sisters Kim and Crystalyn Lemieux wear button blankets, which are traditionally worn as capes Minnie White performs tradtional Alaskan Native dances, complete with dance fans and beaded headdress. rather than used for sleeping. www.thenorthernlight.org
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Student debaters discuss GNAC crown smoke-free UAA campus within reach for
volleyball team By Thomas McIntyre
sports@thenorthernlight.org
PHOTO BY DAN DUQUE
Political science major Mark Simon speaks against a smoke-free UAA Nov. 5. Students were invited to debate the pros and cons of the anti-smoking campaign and whether or not it should be enacted on campus.
By Suhaila Brunelle
news@thenorthernlight.org As part of Engage Week, UAA’s Smoke-Free Task Force, Seawolf Debate, the Journalism and Public Communications Department, and the Department of Health hosted a soapbox debate about whether or not UAA should initiate a comprehensive smoke-free policy. Five people represented the smoke-free proposition and four people represented the opposition. Emmy Webb kicked off the debate by discussing anonymity. Webb stated everyone has the free choice to smoke but also said people have rights not to smoke and to not breathe in secondhand smoke. Webb, who is pregnant, addressed concerns about the health risks of smoking to her unborn child. She said by breathing in secondhand smoke she is at higher risk for miscarriage and preterm labor asthma, and her child is at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome. “Those who smoke on campus are putting their problems above other’s health considerations,” Webb said in the debate. “Your choice too smoke is taking away my choice of whether or not I want to smoke.” English major Arlo Davis spoke on behalf of the motion to make UAA a smoke-free campus. Davis is a smoker who would like to quit smoking. He said smoking tobacco has affected his life in a negative way. He has trouble keeping up with
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friends on hikes and camping trips, experiences shortness of breath and has a diminished sense of smell and taste because of cigarettes. Davis stated he was unaware of the resources available to him as a student to stop smoking. Political science major Mark Simon spoke against the smoking ban. He said one of the most important things students learn in college is not something that is learned in the classroom, but rather outside the classroom. That lesson is teaching students how to make decisions for themselves, including smoking. “If someone else made that decision for us, we are not going to learn the most important lesson for us in college,” Simon said. “If we want to talk about clean air, lets talk about car emissions and pollution. Let’s not talk about something as small as cigarettes.” Shortly after the debate, business marketing major Andrew McConnell created a new Facebook page, “Proud to Oppose a Smoke-Free UAA.” The page is intended for students to discuss ideas that would be good alternatives to the 100 percent smoke- or tobacco-free policy. The page had approximately 90 “likes” within 24 hours. McConnell dislikes cigarettes and has had a family member die from smoking tobacco. One of his friends is in the hospital and is battling lifethreatening mouth cancer. However, McConnell, who is the former USUAA student body vice pres-
SEE DEBATE
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An automatic birth to the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships is at stake for the Seawolf volleyball team, who’s sitting atop the GNAC standings. But the lead — and margin for error — is slim. Four other teams are hunting the Seawolves: Western Washington, Northwest Nazarene, Seattle Pacific and Central Washington. Any missteps could open the door for one of them to claim the conference. Collectively, the ‘Wolves are 4-2 against the squads that are still in the mix. However, they’re no longer the same team that ripped off nine consecutive conference wins. Sophomore outside hitter Julia Mackey is now watching games from the sideline. When she suffered a knee injury in late October, UAA lost one of its biggest difference makers. Going forward without Mackey will force the team to get more creative. There isn’t a simple plug-and-play option for replacing her massive presence on the court. The Seawolves have shredded teams on offense this year. Within the GNAC, they’re first in service aces and second in hitting percentage, assists and kills. Holding these numbers up without Mackey is going to take contributions from the whole unit. In the few games since she was injured, junior outsider hitter Brooke Pottle and sophomore middle blocker Caitlin McInerney have shown they can help fill the void on the outside. The player most impacted by the new-look ‘Wolves could be sophomore outside hitter Katelynn Zanders. Zanders is now the team’s most feared offensive player. She’s sixth in the GNAC in kills per set and second in total kills. Like Kevin Durant without Russell Westbrook, her role just ballooned. On the other side of the ball, two middle blockers have been stuffing action at the net. Senior Jodi Huddleston and freshman Erin Braun have 106 and 72 blocks, respectively. Huddleston is one of only three GNAC players to have reached the century mark in swats. Two other dynamos have been senior setter Siobhan Johansen and junior libero Quinn Barker. Johansen is serving up dimes with 603 total assists on the season. Barker is creating endless opportunities with her 405 digs. The next weekend of action is crucial for the ‘Wolves because they’ll host Western Washington. The Vikings are in prime position to steal that automatic bid. One week after that, Seattle Pacific will welcome UAA and make their own attempt at climbing the ladder. Both opponents were victims during the Green and Gold’s nine-game winning streak. But again, the Seawolves aren’t that team anymore. With a chance at postseason play on the table, they’ll have to spike a big one on the river. The bout against Western Washington begins 7 p.m. Thursday at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
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02 NEWS DEBATE: Smoke-free Continued
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ident, does not support the initiative in its current form because it is too drastic. McConnell says his group has not heard of any effort by the Smoke-Free Task Force to be more flexible in their stance. He referred to an e-mail to a member of his group from Gabriel Garcia, who is a faculty adviser for the task force, that stated the following: “Thank you for your perspective. UAA already has designated smoking areas. However, any level of secondhand smoke is harmful. Just because you don’t see or smell it doesn’t mean you aren’t affected by secondhand smoke.” McConnell also referred to statements made by the SmokeFree Task Force at the Board of Regents meeting last year. When asked by a board member about designated smoking areas, Garcia stated designated smoking areas would not be effective because the smoke would still travel and continue to affect people who don’t smoke at UAA. The Stop Smoke-Free UAA Task Force believes the e-mailed survey sent from the Smoke-
Free Task Force was too biased. The Stop Smoke-Free UAA Task Force is collecting data about alternatives. They plan on presenting this data to USUAA student government, the Faculty Alliance and the Chancellor’s Office. They also plan on discussing the matter with the Board of Regents if the current initiative moves forward. UAA has been designated the “health university” among the University of Alaska system. Those who started the Smoke-Free Task Force believe UAA must lead by example because of this. They would eventually like to see all campuses within the UA system go smoke-free. There are community-wide and on-campus resources available for those who would like to quit smoking. The UAA Health and Counseling Center in Rasmuson Hall Room 116 has resources available to students at reduced rates. The Alaska Tobacco Quit Line is another resource, and it can be reached at 1-800784-8669.
WEEKLY BUZZ
Say goodbye to trans fats The Food and Drug Administration said it is taking steps to eliminate the use of trans fats in our food supply, stating these fats are no longer considered safe to consume. Among affected foods are fast food and microwave popcorn.
Blockbuster to close 300 stores nationwide Blockbuster announced it will end its retail and mailing services January 2014. They currently plan on closing 300 stores. Out of the 300 Blockbuster stores set to close, it has been announced that none of them are in Alaska.
Mall shooting in New Jersey Shots were fired at about 9:20 p.m. Nov. 4 in a New Jersey shopping mall. A witness stated she saw a man running past her store dressed in black, carrying a large weapon. Police and an FBI SWAT team arrived on the scene while the mall was in lockdown. The shooter, Richard Schoop, 20, was found in a remote section of the mall hours later with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head.
Scientists discover new body part In 1887 a French surgeon theorized there was an extra ligament in the anterior of the human knee. His theory was confirmed this week by two Belgian surgeons. Dr. Steven Claes and Dr. Johan Bellemans spent four years researching why people who have had torn anterior cruciate ligaments repaired still experienced pivot shifts. This new ligament is called the anterolateral ligament. Weekly Buzz compiled by Suhaila Brunelle
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FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013
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Alaskans can’t hear Oscar buzz By Klax Zlubzecon
Translated by George Hyde It’s a difficult time to be an Alaskan film lover. Commercials, ads, trailers and accolades are flying left and right for films like “Dallas Buyers Club.� They feature big-name actors in career-defining roles, telling complex, smart and tough stories. They’re showcases of how a fine film should be done. And not a lot of them are showing anywhere in Alaska. Instead, we get films like “Free Birds� or “Escape Plan,� because film industry wisdom apparently dictates that all we Alaskans like are CGI talking animals and Schwarzenegger action films, not real-life drama or character studies. George hasn’t had to say this since the 2008 presidential elections, and he can’t believe he has to say it again, but... ALASKANS AREN’T STUPID. There is more to our tastes than corny one-liners, toilet humor and giant CG explosions. Our tastes are more sophisticated than that, like those of other human beings. Normally, I would stop there. It is such a simple and obvious message that I think only the vainest would misunderstand, even at first. But I accompanied George to a few film reviews, and no, the film industry has to go further. They have to taunt us now. The films that are not coming to Alaska are still being advertised on Alaska television, on the radio, in our papers and, hell, even in the theaters themselves. Yep. There are posters up at the Century 16 for these movies. They’re still showing trailers for them in front of other
movies, as if to say, “If only you weren’t Alaskan, then you could be as highbrow as the rest of we Americans.� Please, film industry. Stop this. Stop this now. This isn’t cool. Seriously. I don’t know if George feels this way, but until they do bother to release these films in Alaska — in any fashion, somehow — then I see this as an insult to Alaskans. Either that, or the film industry has grown so monumentally stupid that, in their lust for money, they’ll hopelessly advertise their products to people before realizing they can’t buy them in the first place. Actually, I do rather like that perspective. It paints a beautiful, disgustingly comical picture. George tells me there was another film earlier this year that never came to Anchorage, despite lots of advertising and media coverage in-state. You guys know this story well, I presume: I speak of “The Frozen Ground.� As most of you know, the film dramatically retold the story of Robert Hansen, the infamous serial killer from Anchorage, and the events that led to his capture. Most perplexing is that “Frozen Ground� was actually filmed in Anchorage. In fact, part of it was filmed on Spenard, very close to where George resides. Even creepier, George’s dad actually knew the guy! It’s a story both he and his son like to brag about at parties. So if anything, people in Anchorage have every right to see how this movie was! Except it didn’t come to Anchorage. Some have theorized that it’s because it maybe paints Anchorage in a negative light or it wouldn’t have made a profit or whatever. It was a massive conspiracy at the time, and even though it did show in the Matanuska Valley, Anchorage film enthusiasts were still miffed. And now we seem to have a trend, where excellent,
Give a little love this fall By Nita Mauigoa
features@thenorthernlight.org The holiday season is here, and the spirit of giving is in the air. Various Student organizations will host an upcoming food drive event set to run daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily in the Student Union cafeteria Nov. 18-20. Hosts include the Golden Key International Honour Society, Tau Kappa Epsilon and the Black Student Union. Business student Xavier Mason, who is a main coordinator of the event, said food and clothing donations will be accepted from students and the community. Those who donate five pounds of food will receive a prize. Golden Key President Michael Holmes said donations will also be accepted at the Gorsuch Commons during the same dates and times. “Students always have items they no longer use. Why not donate them?� Holmes said. Mason said collected donations will go toward various organizations such as the Children’s Lunchbox, the Salvation Army and the Alaska Food Bank. “It’s always amazing to see UAA students heading events that benefit the community,� said Bean’s Cafe event coordinator Rebecca Simcox
about the event. The Children’s Lunchbox is a Bean’s Cafe program dedicated to feeding elementary-age children who live in poverty. According to the Children’s Lunchbox’s website, “in 2012 the Anchorage School District collected income data which showed that over 18,000 of our students right here in Anchorage are living in poverty. They are at risk of not having access to enough healthy food.� Black Student Union President Ashleigh Gaines said the BSU jumped at the chance to get involved to continue their community-wide involvement. Mason said a “pizza feed� demonstration will be held Nov. 19 during the food drive. Volunteers are invited to participate. The demonstration will include a group of students that receives pizza while a certain percentage does not. The group that does not get to eat represents the percentage of starving children in Anchorage. Mason assured that at the end of the demonstration, everyone will eat pizza. Other demonstrations are planned. Mason said a DJ from KRUA 88.1 FM will also provide music during Tuesday’s event. Those who have questions or want to get involved can email Mason at xaviermason12@ gmail.com or call him at 907-310-0319.
Trick, treat or trash
By Evan Dodd Contributor
I’ll level with you here: A good number of these columns require a small bit of embellishment. It’s nothing huge, but some stories just need a bit of exaggeration to be worth printing. This story, however, isn’t able to hide behind the guise of artistic license. I only wish I was lying about spending Halloween surrounded by trash, cracker crumbs and a very old dog. I recently said I hate Halloween, and I stand firmly behind that statement. That being said, some years I have a good incentive (or social obligation) to find some small way to participate. This year I had a party to attend, a fact that I was only made aware of hours before it started. Given that I am a calm, collected and mostly functional individual, I immediately dropped everything I was doing when I found out. My first move was to consume enough caffeine to kill a herd of wildebeest, skip my remaining classes and set out on a quest for a costume slightly better than the traditional last minute fallback of cutting holes in a sheet. For the next hour and a half I hurtled from one end of Anchorage to the other and back again. My costume goal was J.D. from “Scrubs,� because sometimes I like to make my quirkiness and mild lack of social skills work for me instead of the other way around. The idea was to make the most authentic costume possible without spending approximately all of my money. I succeeded in only one of those goals. Being a bit of a perfectionist — and an unashamed expert on all things “Scrubs� — I actually ended up with three different costumes, none of which I can return, before I broke down and bought an actual set of scrubs. With the exception of a few Wal-Mart employees, who expressed concern toward the individual sprinting across aisles with an armload of medical supplies, the remainder of the journey was rather uneventful. Finally (excluding a baby blue moped named “Sasha� that was just out of my budget) the costume was complete including my secret weapon, which consisted of cheap soup crackers. For those of you who were denied access to the world’s greatest sitcom as a child — which directly violates the Geneva Convention — a reoccurring joke on the show was for two characters to play a game called “find the saltine.� In retrospect, this was not an overly complex game, because the saltine was invariably found behind the player’s ear. To make a long story short, I packed my only
Orange rhymes with available pocket full of stale crackers in order to pull off an obscure reference that precisely no sane person would understand. I’ll skip over the additional two hours it took to make an authentic ID card and treatment chart and move straight to the party. First off, I was lied to about how important the costume was. This was a party consisting of about 20 people huddled around a pong table. Which is all good and well, but truth be told there was very little reason for me to be dressed as a fictional medical professional with a saltine behind my ear. All jokes aside, I actually did enjoy being social for a change, especially since I was recently informed that group projects in class don’t count as being social. I caught up with some old friends, watched an abysmal flip-cup performance and hid saltines on drunk people who were too preoccupied to notice. Because I intended to drive home — and because something about wearing a doctor’s costume suddenly makes you health conscious — my night was spent amongst the sober people. Unfortunately, because most garages don’t come preequipped with stadium seating, a few of us spent most of the evening perched upon the large trash bins in the corner. We were kept company by an ancient dog that I like to pretend enjoyed our company, but he probably was just there because I was feeding him the contents of my saltine pocket. So for the first time in years I actually celebrated Halloween. There were no pumpkins, candy buckets or jack-o’-lanterns — just a fake doctor sitting on trash feeding pocket crackers to a dog, which in retrospect may have been a stray who just wandered in. Just wait until you see how I celebrate Thanksgiving.
Oscar-season titles are getting the shaft from Alaska theaters. They’re advertised here, and the theaters are part of international chains, but apparently they’re still too good for Alaskans. Folks, this has to change. We can’t sit by and ignore these films, because critics from other states say we can’t. So how can we see or purchase these products? I suppose the answer is patience. After all, “12 Years a Slave� arrived this weekend, a couple weeks after it was initially released everywhere else. And even if larger theaters won’t screen them, Bear Tooth will very likely play these films at some point. Still, every time George and I see ads for these movies, it still sends us into a fit of rage. So here’s what we propose. If you’re against this, send this article to the filmmakers. Tell them that until we are able to see their movies, they are wasting their advertising dollars here. Write Bear Tooth Theatre Pub and pressure them to show these films. Because we Alaskans deserve a lot better than this.
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A&E
He is beauty and he is grace
GRAPHIC BY ROZ KIRKELIE
He is Mr. UAA From Admin to PSB, like Lady Liberty He reigns over all he sees He is beauty and he is grace He is king of UAA He is elegance and taste He is Mr. UAA By Kelly Ireland
arts@thenorthernlight.org Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority will host the annual Mr. UAA pageant Nov. 15. The pageant will feature seven men competing for the crown of Mr. UAA and People’s Choice. The competitors are rated on style and originality, stage presence, lifestyle and fitness, and eloquence. There will be three separate portions, including talent, swimwear and interview. Assistant Director of Student Leadership Paula Fish, Laura Dagon of Laura Modeling and Talent Agency and USUAA student body president Andrew Lemish will judge the men. The theme for this year’s Mr. UAA pageant is “Boots and Bowties.” The proceeds are going to Tri-Sigma as a fundraiser for the sorority. The event will take place from 7- 9 p.m. Nov. 15 in Rasmuson Hall Room 101. Tickets can be bought at uaatix.com for $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
SPRING 2014
STUDENT DIVERSITY
AWARD The UAA Diversity Action Council seeks to recognize and empower students to lead change in the community by offering tuition awards of up to
$500
Are you a student who... Promotes a welcoming environment inclusive of diverse people and cultures/perspectives Takes a leadership role and provides a student voice in diversity related issues Advances social justice and diversity within the larger community
To be considered students must submit the following by
Monday, December 2, 2013:
An award application found at: www.uaa.alaska.edu/dac A letter of endorsement from a professional/university reference
Submit an application online today:
www.uaa.alaska.edu/dac Scan this QR code on your smart phone/device to visit the link above.
The UAA Diversity Action Council will review nominations and grant tuition to the top nominees. Nominees from the UAA Anchorage campus and UAA’s community campuses are eligible. Self nominations are invited. Award recipients must meet eligibility criteria including a 2.5 cumulative GPA, Satisfactory Academic Progress and admitted to a UAA certificate or degree program. For more information call: UAA Student Affairs at 786-6108 or UAA Multicultural Center at 786-4080
Individuals needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the nomination process should contact the Multicultural Center 48 to 72 hours in advance. UAA is an EEO/AA employer and educational institution.
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05 A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013
MOVIE REVIEW
‘Dark World’ is a massive improvement By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org
ALBUM REVIEW
Tim Hecker’s ‘Virgins’ is dissonant, destructive By Jacob Holley-Kline arts2@thenorthernlight.org
Now that’s more like it! The first “Thor” film stumbled and presented a story hobbled by unlikable characters and an uninteresting plot. Now, the filmmakers have mostly learned their lessons and released a film finally worthy of the God of Thunder. The only lacking factor is, again, the plot: Odin (Anthony Hopkins, “RED 2”) narrates a prologue in which the Dark Elves attempt to drench the nine realms into complete darkness using a weapon known as the Aether. The Asgardians fight them back and seal the Aether away where no man or god can find it. But of course, several millenia later, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”) stumbles into an otherworldly portal and finds the weapon, sending both the Dark Elves and Thor (Chris Hemsworth, “Rush”) into a battle to once again protect the nine realms against the threat of darkness. The plot is unfortunately as formulaic as its predecessor, being a paint-by-numbers story that regular attendees of superhero movies will be able to see coming. Unlike the original “Thor” film, however, the plot is done a million times better thanks to one major reason: The characters have actual personality and chemistry. “The Avengers” has done Thor’s character some major good, making him wiser and more likable. Audiences can actually believe he’s a leader among gods. In addition, Loki (Tom Hiddleston, returning from “The Avengers”) really flaunts his status as the Trickster God. Unlike his melodramatic performance in the first “Thor,” here he is sly, manipulative and mischievous, while still being very likable. The side characters are more fleshed out as well, and they (along with main heroes Thor and Loki) bounce off of each other very nicely. The romance between Thor and Jane is actually believable this time, as is the tension and rivalry between he and his brother. And perhaps most importantly, the film maintains a sense of levity. It isn’t enough to weigh down on the drama, but it’s just enough humor to make the dramatic scenes seem all the more genuine. Overall, “The Dark World” is a huge improvement over the preceding “Thor” film. It’s far from Marvel’s greatest cinematic work, and the story is still as predictable as ever (with the exception of a very clever twist at the end, which I won’t spoil), but the film feels so much more alive than the rather comatose original. It’s definitely worth the price of admission. Film: “Thor: The Dark World” Release Date: Nov. 8, 2013 Director: Alan Taylor Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston
GAME REVIEW
Words are weapons in ‘Typing of the Dead: Overkill’
By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org Many old arcade fans fondly remember “The House of the Dead,” a series of light-gun games that had players shooting up zombies. It was so popular that it later inspired, of all things, a typing tutor, “The Typing of the Dead,” in which players used a keyboard instead of a light gun to kill zombies using the power of spelling and grammar. It was very tongue-incheek, combining the already faux-terrible acting of the series with the silliness of deadly words. Now, Sega has seen fit to give the typing tutor treatment to another “House of the Dead” title, namely the rather hilarious “The House of the Dead: Overkill.” Needless to say, the end product is something magical. “Overkill” was originally a Wii title, taking advantage of the Wii remote to bring the light gun mechanics over to a fuller game. The narrative used a grindhouse style similar to films like “Planet Terror” or “Machete,” complete with film grain, purposefully terrible acting, and an occasional intermission or missing reel to signify loading screens. It was stupid, but it was also hilarious. “Overkill” is more-or-less cleanly translated over to the typing tutor frame, for better or worse. The level design and cut scenes are cut and pasted over from the original, and while
they are excellent levels and cut scenes, they lack the goofiness the original “Typing of the Dead” displayed. Sure, the original design was goofy enough as is, but the original “Typing” title made several adjustments that made the experience even funnier. For example, in the original “Typing,” in-game characters used computer backpacks with keyboard-guns, which looked hilariously ridiculous. In “Overkill,” they simply use normal guns. That’s no fun. However, the phrases used to kill zombies make up for that. References like “Better call Saul” or “Went into Ravenholm,” and gaming in-jokes like “Need a higher Metacritic” or “Keyboard Hero” add to the hilarity of the title. The game also includes the normal version of “The House of the Dead: Overkill,” so players can get some mouse-pointing practice as well. Unfortunately, using a traditional light gun takes some effort, so if you want a traditional arcade experience, know what you’re getting into. As a typing tutor, though, it’s hard to beat. The writing is as hysterical as always, and it teaches skills well: If you can’t do 60 words per minute, well, you’re dead meat. Game: “The Typing of the Dead: Overkill” Developer: Modern Dream Platform: PC Genre: Typing Tutor
Known for his obsessive attention to detail and richly nuanced drone soundscapes, Montreal-based dread technician Tim Hecker has been buzzing through the music industry’s underbelly, turning out solid album after solid album. Following on the heels of his 2011 EP, “Ravedeath, 1972,” Hecker returns with an even more richly textured, live instrumental album. “Ravedeath” represented a shift in his production. Hecker went from using samples to live instruments, and the result was well worth the wait. It’s safe to say that with “Virgins,” Hecker has successfully lived up to and exceeded “Ravedeath.” “Virgins” plays out like a wanderer’s journey across some desolate landscape. The opening track, “Prism,” is a swirling vortex of dissonant piano keys and the sharp hum of synthesizers. It hits like a tornado and for a moment, becomes uncomfortable. Both this track and the following “Virginal I” are more like textures than songs. The ambition here is immediately apparent. These tracks are alienating and dark, but like a neglectful mother seeking to start over, the track “Radiance” lulls the listener into a place of comfort. It sounds like light looks: bright and affirmational. This immense beauty continues with the organic song, “Live Room Out.” Imagine stumbling through the desert only to happen upon an oasis. That’s “Live Room Out.” Over the incomprehensible chatter of unseen bodies swells a serene organ. This is where Hecker’s months of traveling with fellow Canadian band Godspeed! You Black Emperor and the Icelandic post-rock outfit Sigur Ros becomes apparent. Before, Hecker obscured his influences in a stew of dark ambiance and drone. Now “Live Room Out” plays like a thankyou note. The standout tracks on the album are “Incense at Abu Ghraib” and “Stigmata II.” With “Incense at Abu Ghraib,” Hecker demonstrates his knack for the haunting. The track is a little under two minutes, but in that two minutes, the song morphs from a seemingly safe, radiant sequence of synthesizer keys to an immensely layered, but subtle, hellish soundscape. It’s like a slow motion walk through a nuclear wasteland. “Stigmata II” is a tranquil landscape that drops like rain. It’s patient in its crescendos and gentle on the ears, a welcome requite from the more
experimental noise tracks on the album. But as per usual with Hecker, there’s a sense of danger, like “Stigmata II” could burst with dissonance at any moment. But it doesn’t. Hecker has hit it out of the park once again. The production on display is expertly crafted and meticulous in execution and the live instruments used, make everything more organic. Though some of the recurring themes, like dissonant synthesizer chords being wrapped up in damaged and swelling strings, can become monotonous on the second or third listen. As a whole, the album is cohesive. It’s never afraid to step out of its comfort zone and does so readily on almost every track. Clocking in at around 47 minutes, “Virgins” is still a weighty listen, but however depressing it becomes, it never sacrifices a strange kind of beauty. Album: “Virgins” Artist: Tim Hecker Release Date: Oct. 14, 2013 Label: Kranky Records
06 A&E Minions for a cause
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013
Fairview Pop-Up Museum
PHOTOS BY DAN DUQUE
Maggie Ewan attends the Fairview Pop-Up Museum Nov. 9 where community members celebrate Fairview’s past, present and future, showcasing remembrances and images from the neighborhood. PHOTO BY SUHAILA BRUNELLE
Amber’s Olive Company hosted a bake sale in the Student Union in support of a 7-year-old boy named Garrett who helped raise over $80,000 for people in need after his little sister died of a rare medical condition. The proceeds go to sending Garrett to a Yankees game for his birthday.
ENGAGE Week at UAA
Student participate in the Anchorage Community Writing Project Nov. 8 in the Student Union Den during ENGAGE Week.
Josh Goldsmith attends the Fairview Pop-Up Museum hosted by the community Nov. 9.
PHOTOS BY DAN DUQUE
The third annual ENGAGE Week, Nov. 4-9, featured dialogues, panels, workshops and outdoor events that highlight the strengths and challenges of the “Urban in Alaska.”
A&E BRIEFS
‘Dopamine’ snowboarding film to show at Bear Tooth Theatre Pub
Snowboarders Bode Merrill, Victor De Le Rue and Brandon Cocard set off in a journey to the Yukon, Kootenays, Valhallas, Monashees, Dolomites and Pyrenees in the Absinthe Snowboard film “Dopamine.” Bear Tooth Theatre Pub will show “Dopamine” Nov. 15 and 16 at 10:15 p.m. The film is entitled “Dopamine” because dopamine influences movement and reward in the body. The snowboarders featured in the film use this to get motivated to push the boundaries of snowboarding. Tickets cost $10 for general and $12 for advanced tickets. The movie is an hour long and is not rated. The movie will be shown Nov. 15 and 16 at Bear Tooth Theatre Pub at 10:15 p.m.
All aboard the Polar Express: Student Union film showing
“Polar Express,” a magical Christmas story of a boy who takes a ride on the Polar Express to the North Pole, will show in the Student Union Cafeteria. The event is put on by UAA Student Activities. The film follows the story of a boy (Tom Hanks, “Captain Phillips”) who doubts the existence of Santa Claus as he rides on the Polar Express. The conductor of the train (also played by Tom Hanks) helps the boy believe along the way. The event is open to the public. Admission is free for families of four and UAA students taking six or more credits. Admission for the general public is $5. The movie will begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 22 in the UAA Student Union Cafeteria. Food and drinks will be provided. A&E briefs compiled by Kelly Ireland
Call Team Officers (CTOs) -Student Employees start at $10.50/hr -Enforce parking regulations on campus -Provide services to the UAA Community such as jumpstarts, safety escorts, car unlocks, classroom unlocks and more. Part-time employment available for team oriented, outgoing, hard working individuals, with a good driving record and current enrollment in at least six credits at UAA. Apply
to be a CTO at uakjobs.com
(907) 786-1119 www.uaa.alaska.edu/parking Lower Level of the Bookstore
Pssst... the PB&J drive lasts until Friday!
Nov 15th
5:00 pm
07 A&E DRINK REVIEW
Soda smorgasbord
PHOTO BY TIM BROWN
By Tim Brown
photo@thenorthernlight.org Bottle #1: Sioux City Sarsaparilla This thick and spicy carbonated root beer was mentioned briefly in the Coen Brothers film “The Big Lebowski.” Sioux City Sarsaparilla is the ideal root beer because the taste of sassafras is not overpowered by added sweetener, which in this case is cane sugar. Bottle #2: Kickapoo Joy Juice This soda shares its namesake with a song by Tenacious D. Kickapoo Joy Juice originated as a fictional beverage drank by characters in the American comic strip “Li’l Abner” by Al Capp. Capp described Kickapoo Joy Juice as “a liquor of such stupefying potency that the hardiest citizens of Dogpatch, after the first burning sip, rose into the air, stiff as frozen codfish.” While the soda is non-alcoholic, it contains a whopping 45 grams of sugar. The syrupy sweetness takes away from any grapefruit flavor in the bottle. The opposite of this soda would be a drink like Fresca that is less sweet. However, it does have a fun label and interesting narrative. Bottle #3: Bawls Guarana There is a special place in my heart for Bawls Guarana energy drink. This reviewer drank 40 bottles New Year’s Eve 2006 at a Diablo II tournament. In hindsight I don’t know what I was thinking. The stuff tastes nasty. It has a citric taste with a cream soda finish. The bottle left me thirstier than when I started. It is fine for a pick-me-up, though. I’d rater drink a cappuccino to get going. Bottle #4: Waialua Soda Works Mango Soda Waialua Soda Works Mango Soda is a lightly carbonated, almost clear, mango soda sweetened with cane sugar. The light mango flavor and mild sweetener is anything but an assault on the taste buds. It is refreshing and fruity.
THE FOREIGN FILM FANATIC
‘The Clone Returns Home’: Sci-fi with a twist By Jacob Holley-Kline arts2@thenorthernlight.org
In the world of “The Clone Returns Home” cloning a body is possible, but what about the spirit? “Even if you extract the memories and destroy the original body, the original soul will still remain,” says Professor Teshigawara (Toru Shinagawa, “Dark Water”) in a scene from the film. “The Clone Returns Home” is a Japanese science fiction flick about an astronaut named Kohei Takahara (Mitsuhiro Oikawa, “Casshern”) who’s invited to take part in a study. In the study, a clone will be made of him and, in the event of his death, will be brought to life. Takahara soon dies in space and his clone is brought to life. What follows isn’t an average sci-fi film. It’s emotionally heavy and alienates the viewer. Each shot feels like a diorama. The mise-en-scene is sparse, but meticulously framed. And if it weren’t for the beautiful cinematography, the shots would be boring. The look of the film is gentle, a stark contrast to the harsh setting. Each shot punctuates the emptiness around the actors as much as the actors themselves. The first shot alone lasts more than five minutes. The characters are almost always alone. They wander a world of muted colors and haunting stillness. If “The Clone Returns Home” has anything to say, it’s that the human experience is inescapably lonesome and cold. But the fire to warm one’s hands against is family and love. Through a series of flashbacks, the audience learns about the tragic death of Kohei’s twin, Noboru, a memory that comes to haunt Kohei’s clone. The acting is extremely understated. Less is more in “The Clone.” Oikawa plays Takahara and his clone excellently. Before the clone comes to life, Kohei is
despairing and emotionally distant, but after the fact he is childlike and fearful, unable to escape from what he’s feeling. Dr. Kegeyama, played by Kusaku Shimada, is a relentless bureaucrat, the head of the cloning project. Shimada portrays him with a calculated distance and anger. After Kohei’s clone escapes, Kegeyama becomes desperate, and Shimada plays that well with extreme nuance. On the downside, “The Clone Returns Home” drags on for too long. It sometimes delves into the metaphorical aspects of cloning without expanding on them. Where does the original spirit go when a body is cloned? While the film raises the question, it also answers it with a healthy and frustrating dose of ambiguity. If you’re not interested in the bombastic action of “Ender’s Game,” “The Clone Returns Home” is the understated journey for you. It’s weighty and emotionally alienating, but the toil is well worth it in the end.
Title: “The Clone Returns Home” Director: Kanji Nakajima Release date: Jan. 10, 2009 Genre: Science fiction Country: Japan
Alaska’s STD rates are some of the highest in the country. Use a condom and get tested regularly.
Condoms are available at the UAA Student Health and Counseling Center. Those eligible for Student Health benefits can also get STI testing at the center (www.uaa.alaska.edu/studenthealth). To find a testing location near you go to www.iknowmine.org
SPORTS SPORTS BRIEFS
8 ‘Wolves named GNAC All-Academic players PORTLAND, Ore. — Eight members — four men and four women — of the Alaska Anchorage cross country teams were named to the 2013 Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Conference Academic Team. The Seawolves join a combined 68 student-athletes — 31 men and 37 women — who received the recognition, including four with perfect 4.0 grade point averages. Leading the Seawolf pack was sophomore Sarah Freistone (undeclared) as one of the 4.0 student-athletes. Joining Freistone for UAA were junior Bryn Haebe (nursing, psychology and dietetics), senior Christi Schmitz (languages) and sophomore Jessica Pahkala (undeclared) on the women’s side. For the men’s team, the Seawolves furnished honors to junior Kevin Rooke (finance), sophomore Jesse Miller (civil engineering), sophomore Dominik Notz (undeclared) and junior Isaac Kangogo (accounting). The honor was the second for Haebe, Schmitz and Rooke. Overall, seven athletes were named to the team for the third time, while an additional 18 athletes — six men and 12 women — were named to the team for the second time. To qualify for the academic team athletes must have a minimum GPA of at least 3.20 and compete in at least two seasons at their respective universities.
Seawolves to participate in Movemenber ANCHORAGE — The Alaska Anchorage hockey team is launching their #GrowGreen campaign as part of the Movember Moustaches for Men’s Health. Firstyear head coach Matt Thomas and the team will grow mustaches during the month of November to raise money and awareness for men’s health. “Movember is a good way to change the face of men’s health by spreading awareness of prostate cancer,” said junior co-captain Brett Cameron. “Our team is excited to participate in the event while helping out the cause.” “It’s something really small that we can do to support a great cause,” said junior defenseman Derek Docken. “Even though I have a real tough time growing a mustache, it something the whole team has fun with.”
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013
Combat corner: UFC 167 primer and predictions By Thomas McIntyre
sports@thenorthernlight.org Georges St-Pierre is gearing up to defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship Welterweight Championship belt for the ninth consecutive time Saturday night. He’ll tangle with Johny Hendricks, a grinder who possesses the 2.0 version of Dan Henderson’s “H-Bomb.” St-Pierre comes in as a weaker favorite than usual. Vegas must think the machine is getting rusty. For most of his dominant run, St-Pierre has broken down his opponents through meticulously executed game plans. It’s as if his murderers’ row of coaches — Greg Jackson, Firas Zahabi, Phil Nurse and John Danaher — re-program him for every bout. Georges is fighting another wrestler? Grab the coding for “Andre Ward jabs.” Hendricks could be the fighter most well-equipped to dismantle the champion’s reign. He can be the Trojan horse — a virus capable of causing the St-Pierre processor to finally meltdown. The UFC isn’t pitching wolf tickets for this event. St-Pierre is in real danger. But will he fall? Let’s prognosticate. Johny Hendricks def. Georges St-Pierre I’ve fallen on my sword a couple times when picking St-Pierre fights. I didn’t care that B.J. Penn was only a welterweight because he shut down the lunch plate spots in Hilo every afternoon. And I chose Nick Diaz even though his only shot was through submission and GSP is pretty much a human figure sculpted out of Vaseline.
But this is for real. The UFC is about to have a champion who wears Ecko and responds to the nickname “Bigg Rigg.” Hendricks is on par with GSP as a wrestler. He also has a steel chin and deadly torque in his punches. He can negate the patented St-Pierre takedowns well enough to keep the fight upright. And from there, he won’t be afraid to close the distance and throw power at the champ’s dome. St-Pierre could show us for the millionth time that he’s just on a different level. I’m not sure he still is, though. Rashad Evans def. Chael Sonnen Sonnen better spend less time memorizing old Billy Graham wrestling promos and more time drilling his double leg before this fight. If he can’t get Evans to his back, it’s all over. Evans will thwart the takedowns and show off his occasionally impressive boxing skills en route to a grating decision victory. Rory MacDonald def. Robbie Lawler I’m a MacDonald mark. His serial killer schtick is so refreshing. It’s hard not to root for someone who seems emotionally detached from everything in life. But really, I dig the quiet and cold-blooded types in combat sports, and he’s uncomfortably good at filling that role. The Lawler resurgence is fun. Unlike Jake Ellenberger at UFC on Fox 8, Lawler won’t let MacDonald jab him to death. He’s not wired that way. The young veteran is going to step forward and serve up leather, but I think the comeback story ends here.
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When fighting Lawler, it’s either kill or be killed. MacDonald will add another body to his list. Tyron Woodley def. Josh Koscheck I don’t know if Koscheck still has the fighting chops to back up his blond dye job. Using the bleach this late in the game is a bad look. Same thing goes for that angry dad who raps (Eminem). Woodley is basically the second coming of Koscheck. He’s a tough, athletic wrestler who is trying to assemble a striking attack. Is he far enough along to take out the aged warrior? Yeah. Maybe. Tim Elliot def. Ali Bagautinov Bagautinov is one of the many new feared Russian prospects. Elliot is a scrappy white kid with questionable tattoos and a Philly beard. What the UFC wants to happen: Elliot gives Bagautinov the rub and helps a rising star get over. What the person writing this article wants to happen: Elliot crushes, demands a title shot, is rewarded with a title shot and crushes again.
Seawolves beat Western New Mexico University, 85-56
Ryan Lochte hurts knee in encounter with fan GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte has been sidelined after an encounter with an enthusiastic fan. The five-time Olympic champion tore a ligament and sprained another in his left knee during a visit to Gainesville, Fla. A teenage girl ran at Lochte, who tried to catch her, but the two fell over in the process, his publicist said. Lochte hit his knee on a curb, while the girl was not hurt. Publicist Janice Lee says in a statement that Lochte’s medical team expects him “to make a full and speedy recovery.” Lochte tweeted that he was headed to Gainesville the week before. He trained there for several years after competing for the University of Florida. He has moved his training to Charlotte, N.C. Lochte is next scheduled to represent the United States Dec. 20-21 in the Duel in the Pool meet in Scotland. Briefs compiled from GoSeawolves. com and Associated Press by Thomas McIntyre
Emily Smith makes a grab for the ball Nov. 9 during the match against Western New Mexico University at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
KeKe Wright drives toward the basket during the game against WNMU.
WNMU players double-team junior guard Christina Davis as she attempts a jump shot. Assistant coach Alex Carlson and head coach Ryan McCarthy review plays in the first few minutes of the game.
PHOTOS BY DAN DUQUE
09 OPINION LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Smoke-free UAA is a terrible idea I don’t smoke. Why would I? My grandmother died from lung cancer while living in Palmer with my parents and I. She exposed me to direct secondhand smoke almost daily. My aunt is nearly house-ridden thanks to the harm cigarettes have done to her body over the years, and I live with two UAA students who are trying to quit the habit. Smoking kills, and if it doesn’t kill you it will certainly decrease your quality of life. It’s with these things in mind that a group of students, led by Assistant Professor of Public Health Gabriel Garcia, have set out to rid UAA and all of its satellite campuses of smoking and/or tobacco altogether. This group approached USUAA student government in the spring semester while I was vice president to deliver the great news that they were planning on implementing this change. My first question was about the students that lived on campus. I inquired and was met with an answer that disturbed me. According to this policy, any student staff or faculty member that smokes would have to leave campus entirely to smoke a cigarette, or in the case of a “tobacco-free campus” to chew or possibly even use electronic cigarettes. According to the group itself, between 15 and 20 percent — their numbers seem to change depending on who’s answering the question — of the more than 17,000 students at UAA admit to smoking regularly. Let’s split the difference and call it 17.5 percent. This means our campus is home to approximately 3,000 admitted smokers, not including faculty and staff. The Smoke-Free Task Force expects these students, as well as all employees, to leave campus entirely every time they want to smoke. In the words of task force member Yesenia Camarena, “Basically there’s a lot of students that say it would be hard for them to cope with the smoke-free policy, because they don’t want to go somewhere else to smoke.” Of course they don’t want to leave campus to smoke. Campus is big. Alaska is cold. The math isn’t hard. So how about some compro-
mise? A few designated smoking areas perhaps, like what Ted Stevens International has: a simple yellow box painted on the ground with a sign that is very easy to avoid if you want to escape the terror of secondhand smoke. According to a Facebook post by Smoke-Free UAA, ”UAA already has designated smoking areas.” Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. There are only areas at UAA where you can’t smoke, and so far the task force is not willing to do any negotiation on actual designated areas. So we have a group of students and faculty that are trying to enact a new rule with no room for compromise. On top of all this, they’re not even willing to see what they’ll be putting students through firsthand. I posed this question on their Facebook page on Nov. 5: “I challenge you and everyone in your group to pretend to be pack-a-day smokers all next semester and leave campus six or seven times a day, every day and stay off campus for five minutes, then come back.” Now I understand this would not represent every smoking student. Some would need to leave more, some less, but you get the idea. Their response? “Hi, Andrew. We don’t have to pretend to be smokers. Some of our family and friends already are smokers. They are trying desperately to quit. Some of us have seen our loved ones pass away from lung cancer.” Hey! Me too! We have something in common! Although that seems like a bit of a question dodge. So I kept asking. Again. And again. Each time with no response, even though pretty much every other question of mine up until this point was answered. So, my challenge stands. Will you, the members of the UAA Smoke-Free Task Force, walk a mile (in quite an amusingly literal sense) in the shoes of those you wish to affect with your vendetta against cigarettes and secondhand smoke? I won’t hold my breath. Andrew McConnell Business Major
OPINION
Proposed anti-smoking campaign enforces culture of exclusion By Tim Brown
photo@thenorthernlight.org UAA is a vibrant and diverse campus that people of all races, creeds, belief systems and, yes, habits call home. A blanket ban on smokers will undermine the policy of inclusiveness the university has put so much emphasis on. Most of the smokers in my life wish more than anything that they didn’t have to feed their expensive and self-destructive habit. These are intelligent people who bring insight, enthusiasm and diversity to campus. During Tuesday’s debate, student Arlo Davis made light of addiction. “You ever hear the phrase, ‘You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here’?” he joked when asked where smokers would go if UAA were made smoke-free. This distasteful quip strikes at the crux of Smoke-Free UAA’s intentions: intolerance and exclusion. As students and faculty, we make compromises to share common areas. Smokers on campus are an inconvenience, but so are student groups that selfishly manufacture issues where none should plausibly exist. I am not a smoker.
COMICS
THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013
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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 4,500. 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.足足足
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THE NORTHERN LIGHT CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 Phone: 907-786-1513 Fax: 907-786-1331 info@thenorthernlight.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR 786-1434 editor@thenorthernlight.org Ashley Snyder MANAGING EDITOR content@thenorthernlight.org Vacant COPY EDITOR copy1@thenorthernlight.org Kierra Hammons NEWS EDITOR 786-1576 news@thenorthernlight.org Suhaila Brunelle FEATURES EDITOR 786-1576 features@thenorthernlight.org Nita Mauigoa A&E EDITOR 786-1512 arts@thenorthernlight.org Kelly Ireland
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CONTRIBUTORS dan@thenorthernlight.org Dan Duque Evan Dodd Andrew McConnell Misty Vanlue MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Annie Route