JULY 8, 2014
FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
A&E
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Food wagon from the high seas
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Grouplove to perform in Big Spawn Concert Series
Former Seawolf dominates Mount Marathon
Photos by Adam Eberhardt
Left: Former Seawolf Eric Strabel runs down Fourth Avenue alone to finish Mount Marathon in first place. Top: Abby Jahn of Wasilla leads competitors past the Jeep Trail on Mount Marathon.
SEE Marathon
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Edible flowers in bloom By Nita Mauigoa Contributor
One type of flower that is commonly eaten is the pansy, which is derived from viola species.
photo by adam eberhardt
Ever see a flower beautiful enough to ... eat? For the curious, UAA horticulture/landscaping supervisor Catherine Shenk shared on the subject of edible flowers. She named some varieties that can grow in Alaska and shared tips from a gardener’s perspective. Shenk used common names for the flowers for the purpose of the article. However, she stressed the importance of researching them by their botanical names for precise facts. She also emphasized where one could acquire the flowers. By arbitrarily picking flowers in the wild, chances are likely that more than rain has sprinkled them. “There are places in the farmers market that sell bags of
edible flowers like the one on Cordova Street. That’s always a good way to go because you know it’s safe and you’re getting the right thing,” Shenk said. With flowers crossing over from mere garnishes to main ingredients, they are sold in certain markets in town, such as The Natural Pantry. Shenk said another safe bet is to grow them at home. Janice Schofield Eaton, local author who wrote the book “Alaska’s Wild Plants: A Guide to Alaska’s Edible Harvest,” said not all parts of all flowers and plants are edible, so it is vital to do research. For example, the stalk of the rhubarb is edible, while the leaves are poisonous. She also has shared various facts about flowers Shenk mentioned, provided in her book.
SEE EDIBLE
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NEWS BRIEF
Program prioritization report submitted to provost UAA’s 18-member Academic Task Force submitted its final report on program prioritization to Provost Elisha Baker on June 30. The report is the culmination of a massive review process begun in spring 2013 to place each of the over-300 programs at UAA into one of five categories ranging from “priority for higher investment” to “subject to further review, consider for reduction
or phase out.” The review had been characterized by rolling deadlines and faculty criticisms — among them, that prioritization wasn’t conducted in a transparent manner, that it was overly timeconsuming for faculty with heavy workloads and that it was an attack on academic tenure. In an email to faculty June 30, the task force acknowledged the challenges of prioritization. “This process and its conclusions have been a source of consternation and concern, anxiety and angst. From the outset,
some of our colleagues have spoken out against this process and its potential pitfalls. We are truly grateful to them as well,” the email reads. UAA has said that the findings of program prioritization will be made public at some point. Late last October, Provost Baker wrote in a draft of the postprioritization process that the prospective release date for the chancellor’s final report is Jan. 30, 2015. Brief by Evan Erickson
Color Run, Alaska Airlines Center and Forest Fair photo journey
Photo by Adam Eberhardt
Runners go through the blue zone near the park strip during the Color Run on June 28.
Photo by Adam Eberhardt
The main floor as set up for a basketball game in the Alaska Airlines Center, scheduled to open Sept. 4.
Photo by tim brown
The annual Girdwood Forest Fair features Alaskan artists, handcrafted items, exotic foods and entertainers from all over Alaska.
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FEATURES
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, July 8, 2014
02
Food wagon from the high seas
photo by adam eberhardt
Some edible flowers are candied, used as garnishees or simply eaten alone.
EDIBLE: Foliage for food dishes
continued from cover
Here are some varieties Shenk shared: Nasturtiums: Their fiery red and vivid orange colors add flair and flavor to salads. Shenk said the flowers and leaves — both edible — have a peppery taste. Pansies, various colors: Pansy petals are edible and can be used for garnishes or spreads. For example, they can be candied and added to desserts. Shenk said pansies have a lemony taste. Squash blossoms: Shenk said these walloping yellow flowers could be stuffed with anything such as cheeses, closed and cooked. They have a squashlike taste. Fuchsia: The bold color adds to the presentation as a colorful garnish on desserts or tossed into a green salad. The flavor is slightly acidic. The berries are also edible. Calendulas: Also known as pot marigolds, calendulas have a slightly peppery taste. They can be used in salads, or added to soups and breads. The petals can be used as a substitute for saffron. The leaves can also be eaten, sparingly. Violas: Shenk said that like the pansy, this flower could be used as a garnish for desserts. Violas have a lettuce-like flavor. They can be crystalized and added
as a topping to cookies or creamy deserts like cheesecake. Pea flowers: Pea flowers are white and have a light pea taste. They can be tossed into a salad to add extra flavor. Shenk said it is important not to mix these up with sweet pea flowers, which are poisonous. Carnations: These flowers are ideal for decorating desserts or garnishing soups. Carnations have a spicy taste and can add that zap to ice creams, salads and fruit dishes. It is ideal to remove the white heel at the base, as it has a bitter taste. Chive flowers: These bright purple flowers can be added to omelets, salads or soups for an oniony flavor. Lavender flowers: Lavender flowers are versatile. They can be used in savory dishes, such as rack of lamb. They can also be thrown into a glass of champagne or used to spice up desserts. Shenk added a fun fact — there are common vegetables people eat that are technically edible flowers, such as artichoke, broccoli and cauliflower. She left off with age-old advice that can seemingly be applied to anything: “Just because it looks beautiful doesn’t mean it tastes good.”
photo by Kayla McGraw
Photography best left to the professionals?
Photo by Valerie Hudson
Both of these photos were taken in the same place, around the same time. Can you tell which was taken by a professional and which was taken by an amateur photographer?
By Valerie Hudson
features@thenorthernlight.org
Nowadays, with sites like Instagram on the rise, just about everyone has dubbed his- or herself a “photographer.” Yet there are still individuals making careers out of photography. What qualifies someone as a photographer? And if one is not a photographer, when should he or she hire someone else to take photos? There are many different types of photography, but types that are most frequently used today include portraits (which would also include the enormously popular selfies), landscape, macro, fashion and wildlife photography. So what distinguishes a professional photographer from the average Joe with a cell phone camera in their hand? Matthew Viens, a local photographer said,
“What sets a professional photographer apart from a random person with a camera would be equipment and knowledge of how to use the equipment for the appropriate situation.” So what distinguishes a professional photographer from an amateur one? Is it simply equipment and knowledge of how to use it? If a photographer’s professional skill is based on equipment and how to use it, how does one determine when to hire a professional photographer rather than just take a few shots on his or her own? Kayla McGraw photographer at LRK Studios Photography said, “Just follow what you feel. If you’re in the moment and want to remember it, then of course take a photo. But if you’re looking for something that needs to be on a larger scale, like a poster or billboard, it’s better to go with a professional.”
photo by evan erickson
Tundra Pirates post up at the 2014 Three Barons Renaissance Fair in Anchorage.
By Evan Erickson
eerickson@thenorthernlight.org
When Janet DiPiero began searching for a food wagon to call her own in 2010, she didn’t plan on selling Sicilian food out of a miniature pirate ship. After finding Alaska didn’t have anything that suited her fancy, DiPiero scoured Craigslist in several Lower 48 states where she had family. In Merced, California, local character William “Big Will” Decker had acquired a small skiff-on-wheels dressed up as a pirate ship to run in Merced’s parades, where he served as ribbon cutter. Decker, who at the time ran Big Will’s Louisiana Po’ Boys, also served barbecue from the pirate ship on occasion. Decker had purchased the wagon in Crescent City, 500 miles away on the edge of Northern California’s redwood forests. The skiff, a retired Coast Guard vessel, had been mounted to a trailer years earlier, decorated and used in Coast Guard Auxiliary fundraisers. In 2010, Decker put the ship up for sale on Craigslist, and when DiPiero noticed the posting back in Alaska she took an immediate liking to the idea of owning a “pirate ship food wagon.” That Thanksgiving in Seward, DiPiero said she told her father about the idea, and that he and his friends all laughed at her. But in January, DiPiero flew to San Jose and traveled to Merced to purchase the pirate ship. She towed the ship behind a U-Haul over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to an uncle’s ranch in Oregon. Returning to Alaska, DiPiero “went crazy trying to find a way to get it up here,” but through networking found a retired man in Idaho willing to haul the ship in exchange for gas money on one of his yearly Alaska Highway road trips. Once safely delivered to Anchorage, DiPiero custom-built an enclosure over the boat’s hull, added some appliances and obtained the necessary permits. DiPiero gave the outfit the name “Tundra Pirates,” and the wagon embarked on its maiden voyage to the 2011 Cantwell Bluegrass Festival, armed with chilicheese dogs, nachos and reindeer dogs. DiPiero, 43, says she has worked in the food industry for over 25 years, and until recently waited tables at Leroy’s diner in Anchorage, where she has worked off and on since 2006. After her experience selling simpler
fare in Cantwell, DiPiero had a desire to bring something unique to the menu to set herself apart from the competition. Drawing on her Sicilian background, her grandfather emigrating from Sicily during World War II, she revamped the menu to include Sicilian cake and traditional arancini, a rice ball stuffed with cheese, breaded and fried. The succulent arancini (three for $6) seem to be the only remotely piratethemed offering, as DiPiero and her boyfriend call out “arrr!-ancini” from a window on the ship. The Sicilian cake, $3, is an exceedingly rich pound cake filled with candied fruit and chocolate topped with chocolate espresso frosting. But, DiPiero says that the overwhelming bestseller is the Pizza Blunt for $5.50 — a deep fried pizza stick stuffed with cheese, pepperoni or meatball filling. Regardless of how the name is interpreted, one doesn’t have to be stoned to enjoy these homemade treats. Another featured item is Tundra Pirates’ Italian beef, $10, which though tasty and full of cheese, isn’t a Chicagostyle au jus-soaked roll full of roast beef covered in peppers — and DiPiero readily admits that. “I call mine Italian beef because it what’s we make at home. ... All this food is my kids’ choices of what I should sell,” she said. “I don’t know what the fancy pans are named, I don’t know all the fancy lingo. I just cook like I do for my kids.” Though DiPiero loves what she does and has had recent success as a vendor at the Three Barons Renaissance Fair and Scottish Highland Games, she doesn’t want to stay in the food wagon business for the long term. “It’s constant work and a headache,” she said. “I think about selling this all the time, but the thought of somebody else having it hurts my feelings.” Rather than selling, DiPiero says her dream would be to “eventually buy property somewhere — maybe Delta Junction, Tok, Glenallen — and I’m gonna park this on the side of the highway until I can build my own restaurant.”
Tundra Pirates will be at the Spectrum Music and Arts Festival in Trapper Creek, July 12-14.
photo by evan erickson
Clockwise from left: Pizza blunt, Italian beef, arancini and Sicilian cakes from Tundra Pirates.
FEATURES
03 Events to check out THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Can stupidity and intelligence coexist?
SEAWOLF
SLUG
Compiled by Kelly Ireland/Graphic by Jenna! Roosdett
By Klax Zlubzecon
Translated by George Hyde During George’s sick streak, he, like any good man these days, decided to lie in bed and marathon a series on Netflix. The series in question: “Kill la Kill,” an anime with gratuitous nudity that centers around clothes being evil. George is kind of weird like that. “Kill la Kill” is a stupid, stupid show, and George loves it. He insists it’s not because of the nudity — heh, sure, let’s go with that — but rather it’s because of how much fun the show has with itself. The plot is convoluted, the characters are cliché and the premise, as stated before, is absolutely stupid. But watching this show, he gets the impression that everyone is having a blast making it. The voice acting, even though it’s foreign, is as over-the-top as voice acting gets, and the animators just do whatever they want in regards to silly things like “dimension” and “depth.” It’s not a very smart show, but it almost feels like the creators know that. They stick to what they know, which is stupid and fun. It’s this that made me ponder: What makes a stupid work appealing? What’s the difference between a work like “Dumb and Dumber” that uses stupidity in a highly entertaining fashion, and a work like “Dumb and Dumberer” that leaves audiences in disgust? Believe it or not, there’s a certain kind of sophistication that comes in making something entertainingly stupid. One of the best examples of a work that uses stupidity in an excellently sophisticated manner is “Idiocracy.” This is a film with tons of sex and fart jokes, and pretty much every character acts illogically. And yet, it uses the stupidity to become surprisingly poignant. It uses the fart jokes and such to make an important point about American culture. It’s a biting satire that’s both completely dumb and surprisingly profound, and works like
that are really fascinating in the arts scene. “Kill la Kill” is another strangely great example. In a show where every character shouts his or her lines instead of simply speaking them, it makes some great points about the diversity of mankind and how important it is that we aren’t all cut from the same cloth. It does make those points in some really stupid ways, but somehow the stupidity adds to the message instead of detracting from it. It’s a show that just wouldn’t work if it were any less ridiculous than it is. However, it’s not just underlying intelligence that helps a stupid work succeed. It’s also when it’s clear that the creators of the work are having fun. “Jackass” is a prime example of this. Let’s look at it honestly: “Jackass” has no point in existing. All it is, is men inflicting themselves with pain in increasingly convoluted ways. But it’s still enjoyable because you can clearly see that these men love what they do. This dumb concept has brought the “Jackass” crew together, and the feeling of camaraderie and family that they have is one of the most genuine feelings of that in entertainment — even if it is just about hurting themselves. That’s where cynically made films like “The Starving Games” fail. It’s just like any other genre: The only films that become famous and renowned are the ones that feel genuine, and a stupid film that feels genuine is no exception. It’s why we still love the old classic slapstick comedies, because not only did a lot of effort go into them, but their humor also runs deeper than some of us may realize. So think about that the next time you go see something that, on the surface, appears to be two hours of drooling stupidity. If you’re at the right movie, you may get more than you bargained for. In the meantime, I guess I’m still stuck with George as he marathons some more stupid shows. Let’s see what’s next on his queue. ... Oh no. “Hetalia: Axis Powers.” Someone help me! RESISTANCE IS FUTILE. EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.
Professional team building and other work nonsense By Evan Dodd Contributor
There’s nothing worse than an obnoxious coworker. See, if it were an awful family member, then the most you have to interact with them is once or twice a year at a reunion. Worst case scenario, they have one too many drinks and start asking incredibly awkward questions about your relationship and career goals. If it’s just some horrid mutual friend, then you’re free to be as terrible as you like and suffer very few repercussions, save for the occasional scathing look or slashed tire — if your mutual friend is a psychopath. With coworkers it’s a little bit different. Something about being paid to regularly occupy the same space changes the dynamic in ways that not even the brightest of Earth’s scientists can understand. Maybe it’s because you feel tied to the job, or maybe you just need a way to vent your frustrations about work and some poor soul unwittingly offers him- or herself up as a scapegoat — either way, it’s never fun. First there’s the overly needy coworker. We’ve all encountered this sad creature, the one who, when you casually mention your Fourth of July plans, excitedly asks for directions and what sort of beer to bring. There’s never a tactful way to detach yourself from this employee version of a barnacle without poisoning your workplace for the next 20 years. So begins the impossible decision of either shunning them until they get the message or offering them an obligatory glimmer of hope only to cruelly rip it away when you run out of patience. Either way, your best bet is to just find a new job and hope they don’t follow you. Then you’ve got the “casual -ism.” It could be racism, sexism or maybe he or she just doesn’t like old people who wear funny hats on Tuesdays. Whatever his or her target of hate, he or she will inevitably look to your for approval after every inappropriate comment. If you’re lucky, it’s just an intern or a new hire (the “casual -ism” in its larval stage) that can be given the stare of death or a quick rebuttal. However, sometimes you’ll encounter the boss version of this beast and be forced to chuckle uncomfortably at each joke, longing for the day when you no longer run the risk of being shot for your
association with the creature. Then there’s the try-hard. There’s nothing worse than the try-hard in my opinion, because it’s clear with every joke that they’re desperately trying to connect with you. Maybe it’s their sense of humor, a different cultural background or the fact that they consistently smell like the rotten remains of the Thai food you left in the fridge — something about them just seems off to you. It always starts the same: You’ll do your best to be responsive and friendly, even picking up on joke patterns so you can laugh at the right moments. But soon you’ll begin to resent the try-hard, growing weary of faking the same laugh at the same joke day after day, until you finally begin to dread each interaction and grow more hostile by the day. Which brings me to the final stages of employee hate: When you become the terrible person that everyone has to deal with. Like most diseases, if left unchecked the conundrum of an awful coworker can only get worse. In its end stages, you become so burnt out from pretending to be upbeat and cheerful that you transition into the office pariah. Presumably, if things have progressed to this stage, then your other coworkers either don’t notice or don’t care about the behavior of the initial problem employee. This leaves you holding the bag as everyone can see your immense frustration without understanding any of the context for your reaction. Unfortunately, there is no cure once you’ve hit the end stages. You can either tough out the job, give up all aspirations of upward mobility and resign yourself to collecting as many paychecks as possible before you can’t take it anymore, or you can run, screaming into the distance before the insane coworkers sap your remaining will to live. Now, I don’t want anyone to run away with the mad idea that I’ve experienced any of this firsthand. And I’d hate to inspire any notions that I’m not thrilled with the current state of my summer position. However, this may be the one time that I can truthfully state that I can’t wait for the fall semester to start again. So until that glorious day comes, enjoy the last vestiges of summer. And please, for the love of all that is good in this world, don’t be the reason that your coworkers have to dread clocking in every morning.
PEOPLE
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, July 8, 2014
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MORE PHOTOS: Summer projects, activities continued from cover
People attending the Color Run make their way through the purple zone on A Street.
color run Photos by adam eberhardt
A participant in the Color Run bends down to scoop up color dust at the pink zone.
Participants raise their hands as they run through the Color Run’s yellow zone.
Third Wheel Project plays to the crowd July 5 at the Girdwood Forest Fair.
A new scoreboard hangs above the main floor in the Alaska Airlines Center.
UAA athletes will use a new weight room located in the Alaska Airlines Center.
Visitors dance in front of the main stage of the Girdwood Forest Fair on July 5.
forest fair Photos by tim brown
alaska airlines center photos by adam eberhardt
Construction workers put the final touches on the floor of the atrium with Spirit.
AE &
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, July 8, 2014
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Grouplove By Kelly Ireland
arts@thenorthernlight.org
photo by pamela littky
The concert will take place outside Humpy’s on F Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenue. The show is all ages and a full bar is available for those 21 and over. Tickets are available for $48.50 plus a service fee of $2.69 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/722111 or at the doors for $55. Doors open at 6 p.m. Will call tickets may be picked up before the show at Humpy’s Duck Hut.
On July 19 don’t get tongue tied trying to talk on a date — go enjoy Grouplove, the band that sings the hit “Tongue Tied.” Grouplove will be performing in the Humpy’s Big Spawn concert series that kicked off with Youngblood Hawke and Capital Cities last month. Grouplove formed in 2009 as a group of friends who met at an artist residency in 2008 and were interested in making music together. Since then the group has toured with some big names in alternative and indie rock, such as Florence and the Machine, Two Door Cinema Club and Young the Giant. They have also played at many of the most popular music festivals, such as Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Sasquatch! Music Festival and Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. They have released two albums, “Never Trust a Happy Song” and “Spreading Rumours.” Their song “Tongue Tied” has appeared on the
Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 42. Grouplove’s other songs, while less well-known, are growing in popularity and are known by quite a few. “I really like their song ‘Colours.’” said nursing major Dylan Lance. When asked about “Tongue Tied,” Lance didn’t remember it off the bat, but he did recognize “Colours.” Lance later said, “I listened to the song (“Tongue Tied”). Ten minutes later I owned their entire album and a ticket to their next show.” In a review on NME, Mark Beaumont said that even though the group has become more electronic since their debut album, “no amount of squelchy beats, dubstep bass, triphop crackles and gabba breakdowns can suppress their effervescent sense of melody.” The group has also gotten good live reviews. On ticketmaster.com’s reviews, most reviews for Grouplove’s shows had a four or five out of a five-star rating. There were a few ratings below four stars, but these were mostly because Grouplove had to cancel one show in Colubmus, Ohio.
A&E OPINION
Sit through the credits By Jacob Holley-Kline arts2@thenorthernlight.org
Let’s be honest: Sitting through movie credits is boring. A bunch of names the viewer probably won’t recognize scroll from bottom to top until it fades to black or opens to a special scene. But sitting through the credits is rewarding. It’s not about trying to recognize the names of the crew like you would the cast. It’s about acknowledging the crew’s contribution to the movie. After all, their fingerprints are all
over it. Watching their names scroll by is an act of witness, not one of recognition. With the advent of CGI, movie viewers know that those creatures or robots on-screen were made by dozens, if not hundreds, of people. Being the second unit assistant best boy grip is a thankless job, and the only place crew members like that are honored is in the credits. But when all that white text looks the same, then it’s a perfect time to reflect on the movie. Leaving the theater just as the lights turn on is fine, but unless the movie was truly something special the viewer may forget what he
or she just saw. The credits can turn watching into seeing. It’s easy to watch a movie, but reading it is different. The credits are the calm after the storm, unless there’s an after-credits scene. Before, these scenes were rare, but now they’re expected. Viewers can do themselves a favor by sitting through the credits even without the promise of an extra scene. Seeing the sheer number of names passing by is enough to appreciate just what it takes to make a movie. Appreciating the movie itself means the viewer should reflect on it, and the credits are a perfect time for that.
GAME REVIEW
‘Shovel Knight’: Gaming history in a small package By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org Side-scrolling platformers in a pixellated retro style have become something of a cliché in the indie-gaming scene. It began with “Cave Story” and soon seemingly exploded into a genre of its own with games like “Rogue Legacy” and “Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures.” In this day and age, anyone can make a retro-styled platformer. But to do one that genuinely feels like a long-lost Nintendo Entertainment System classic? That’s a true rarity, and that’s where “Shovel Knight” comes in and delivers an experience worthy of its artistic direction. Main character Shovel Knight and his companion Shield Knight started out as two adventurers seeking treasure. The two are separated, however, when they explore a tower and succumb to the tower’s dark magic. Shovel Knight gives up in grief and goes into hiding, but this allows an enchantress and her minions to take over the land. Threatened by this new evil, Shovel Knight must take up his shovel and fight the evil of the enchantress and her minions. It’s a pretty barebones story, but the lack of pretentiousness and depth in a retro adventure such as this is a refreshing sight, and it fits the faux-NES style
well. It’s one of the few titles in the retro-platformer genre to actually feel like it could have been on the NES, and even as a new release, it makes for a very nostalgic experience. The excellent soundtrack and cheesy advertising artwork certainly don’t hurt matters. The gameplay is an amalgamation of several different old-school NES classics, from the level design of games like “Mega Man” to the pogo-jumping of “Ducktales.” It even has an overworld map reminiscent of “Super Mario Bros. 3” and villages that resemble those from “Zelda II.” It borrows a lot, but the end mixture is one that is both nostalgic and very enjoyable. The mechanics take a while to get used to, but unlike many other retro-styled games today, it actually has a reasonable difficulty curve. Make no mistake, “Shovel Knight” is a difficult game, especially by the final few levels. But it’s difficult in a satisfying manner, and by forgoing the life system that many old games used, it allows for an experience that is hard as nails without feeling frustrating. For a blast to the past, the best you can do is an actual game from an older console, but “Shovel Knight” is the next best you can do. It succeeds in being not only nostalgic, but also satisfying and fun in a way not many other games today can manage. It’s one for the history books.
Game: “Shovel Knight” Developer: Yacht Club Games Platform: Wii U, 3DS, PC, Mac, Linux Genre: Platformer Release Date: June 26, 2014
A&E
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, July 8, 2014
06
Poetry Parley connects Alaska poetry community By Jacob Holley-Kline arts2@thenorthernlight.org
Some poems are meant to be read, like Emily Dickinson’s. Others are meant to be performed, like Gil Scott Heron’s. At the Poetry Parley, a gathering of poets from all around Alaska, any poem is fair game. “Six years ago, a group of people gathered together because Out North AK had some space, and I wanted to hear Allen Ginsberg out loud,” said Jonathan Minton, founder of the Parley. Established in 2008, the Parley adopted a local poet with a marquee (famous)
poet. Locals would perform their own and others’ work every third Wednesday of the month from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Out North Contemporary Art House. After Out North shut down, the Parley has moved to the Hugi Lewis Gallery. Out North has reopened since, but the Parley has remained at the Hugi Lewis Gallery. Elizabeth Thompson is a local poet who has performed at the Parley numerous times. “There’s a lot of attendees that have a fabulous passion for poetry,” said Thompson. The Poetry Parley celebrated its sixth anniversary earlier this month. Sandra
Kleven, editor of Cirque literary journal and coordinator of the Parley, has been involved with the Parley since it began. A collection of her work, “Defiance Street: Poems and Other Writing,” was published last year. “The Parley is a satisfying endeavor,” said Kleven. “The education (received there) is as good as an extended college class.” Featured local poets get to perform 30 minutes of their original work. Attendees from the community read poetry written by the featured famous poet. “Their audience is always politely soaking up poetry,” said Thompson. Local performers featured in the past
include Elizabeth Thompson and poet and rapper Ethan Korpi Love. Featured marquee poets have included W.D. Snodgrass and T.S. Elliot. The last Parley featured local poet Susanna Mishler reading from her recently released collection, “Termination Dust” and a marquee poet, Guggenheim fellow Larry Levis.
The next Poetry Parley will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Hugi Lewis Gallery.
MOVIE REVIEW
‘Transformers’: Age of profits
By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org I entered the theater with a hoodie and sunglasses. I put them all on as I approached the box office and asked for movie tickets. As I took my seat, a couple of men with muscle shirts and backward ball caps sat directly behind me. Even though I had never known these men before, I was scared to whip out my phone for fear that they would learn my identity. This was all to preserve my dignity. I didn’t want to be caught watching this film, even if it was for a job. Oh, I’m sorry. You probably wanted a synopsis of the film itself, not my personal story of how I entered the theater. Well, my story is a lot more interesting than “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” and it’s going to be important later. But if you really must pry, I suppose I’ll tell you about “Transformers.” So it turns out the dinosaurs were really wiped out by an ancient Transformer race — no wait! Don’t leave. I thought you wanted to hear this movie’s synopsis. See, this is the issue with “Transformers.” It looks very pretty, yes. The explosions are quite spectacular.
But start talking about the context of it all and suddenly audiences lose interest, because there are plot holes and deus ex machinas everywhere. There are big-name actors, but they’re wasted on characters that would have been more interesting if they were portrayed instead by giant boulders with frowny faces drawn on them. No, reader, you and I both know of the issues that plague the series. You already knew everything in that last paragraph, even if you’ve never even seen a “Transformers” film before. So instead, I’m going to tie my own personal tale with that of “Transformers,” because I did say that it was important. My only knowledge of the “Transformers” franchise is of the first live-action film. I’ve had friends begging me to steer clear of the franchise, and other friends telling me I had to see them. I’ve waited until now to watch another one, and I’m going to tell you one thing that I honestly didn’t expect. I don’t know if this is true of the other films as well, but it’s still worth pointing out. There is product placement in every corner of this movie. Even as Beijing is getting demolished around our heroes, there are still clear advertisements for products ranging from Victoria’s Secret, to Bud Light, to Chevy, to My Little Pony, to Beats, to Rolls Royce, to — well,
FOREIGN FILM FANATIC
‘The Quiet Earth’ is sci-fi done right By Jacob Holley-Kline arts2@thenorthernlight.org
The best science fiction embraces its premise. It is clear 20 minutes into “The Quiet Earth,” when the protagonist gallivants around an empty chapel wearing a dress, screaming and firing a shotgun, that the movie wholeheartedly embraces its wild world. The story is simple: Scientist Zac Hobson (Bruno Lawrence, “The Delinquents”) awakens one sunny morning to find that everyone in his town has disappeared. That is, until he meets Joanne (Alison Routledge, “Rain”) and Api (Pete Smith, “Once Were Warriors”). “The Quiet Earth” is refreshingly quiet. Against the backdrop of movies like “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” and “Brazil,” “The Quiet Earth” packs each shot with empty space and ruined buildings. Even when it reaches a fever pitch, the movie pulls back. This is both good and bad. On the one hand, the movie keeps its focus more on the characters than big explosions and the disaster itself. On the other hand, it’s in these moments that the movie shows how limited
its budget is. Even being made with little money in a small New Zealand town, it’s remarkable that the movie can be as cinematic as other scifi flicks of its era. Each scene is beautifully composed and vibrant without being overwhelming. The viewer gets to know the setting so well that it becomes as much a character as Zac or Joanne. The acting is where the film falters. For the most part, the actors seem comfortable in their characters, but some scenes are just unconvincing. These moments are few, but they break the viewer’s immersion easily. Is “The Quiet Earth” the best sci-fi flick of the ‘80s, as the box claims? Maybe. Either way, it’s a captivating entry into an already captivating genre. “The Quiet Earth” is gem that will delight science fiction fans all over the world.
Title: “The Quiet Earth” Director: Geoff Murphy Country: New Zealand Release date: Oct. 18, 1985
you get the idea. This film is a massive commercial in motion, and that’s what’s convinced me that this movie isn’t for normal people. This is a movie for shareholders and board directors. “Transformers” is a machine purely built for profit. And that is why, even in my humble disguise, even with my phone hidden, I have still lost dignity by seeing this movie. This is a gigantic money monster, and by buying a ticket, I have directly fed the beast. Perhaps “Age of Extinction” is an accurate title for this movie, because my dignity is pretty much extinct at this point. But there’s still hope. Don’t waste your money on this movie. Save your dignity for a film that deserves it more. Together, we can save ourselves. Film: “Transformers: Age of Extinction” Release Date: June 28, 2014 Director: Michael Bay Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammar
SPORTS
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, July 8, 2014
07
Bucs and Pilots split MARATHON: Race to the top doubleheader wins continued from cover
By Travis Dowling
sports@thenorthernlight.org
July 4 is the day America celebrates its independence. Many people around the country take part in this celebration by having cookouts, setting off fireworks, or for some in the Anchorage area, taking part in the annual Fourth of July double header baseball game between the Anchorage Bucs and the Anchorage Glacier Pilots. In game one of the double header, the Pilots defeated the
See more photos online at thenorthernlight.org
Bucs, 5 to 0. The Pilots drove in four runs in the top of the seventh. Max Karnos from Anchorage pitched a complete game of seven innings, allowing only six hits and no runs. In the second game the Bucs defeated the Pilots, 4 to 3. The Bucs led to victory by a dominant outing by their pitcher Trevor Lacosse. His dominant 10 strikeouts were capped off by two earned runs on four hits and one walk over six innings. Gage West went 2-2 and singled in the fifth innings and homered in the seventh inning.
Mt. Baldy revegetation project reroutes trail Runners in the men’s race climb up the chute at the base of Mount Marathon on July 4.
Cole Valantas from Anchorage runs down Mount Marathon during the junior race on July 4.
photo by kelly ireland
A flag atop Mt. Baldy waves on Independence Day after the new route opened.
By Kelly Ireland
arts@thenorthernlight.org Many hikers in Eagle River, and probably Anchorage too, know that Mt. Baldy in Eagle River has some serious erosion occurring on its bald rocky face — or at least the bald rocky face it has become with years of overuse, improper planning and poor erosion prevention. Recently, however, a trail revegetation project has diverted the trail on the front side of the mountain. The new route has a number of switchbacks that climb the mountain versus the straight-up approach of the former route. It makes the ascent to Mt. Baldy’s peak longer in distance, but it makes climbing a little less strenuous and surely less dangerous, especially when the trail is wet. Hikers will now be able to enjoy better foot traction on the slippery mud formed after snow melts and rainfall with the reduced incline. The switchbacks on the new route will help divert snow runoff down the mountain in a less erosive manner, in addition to creating a user-friendly trail. The creation of the new route also made a very minimal impact on the earth. What plants were taken out were replanted over the previous route. The plants will take root and the old path will return to its former natural glory, covering the scar of human use. The question is, who spear-
headed this massive trail revegetation project? There are signs on the way up the mountain that clearly state that the old trail is being revegetated, but there’s no indication of what good Samaritan or group actually did the project. The answer is the Student Conservation Association’s AK Corp Team 1, or the Alaska Trail Crew as they refer to themselves on their blog. The group has been working for three weeks on the project. The group is led by Lesley Seale, who’s from Colorado, where the group had their Corp Member Training at the Colorado Fire Camp for two weeks before arriving in Alaska. The five members come from all over the country with an eagerness to conserve. According to their posts on the Student Conservation Association’s page and their blog, AK Corp Team 1 began by “cutting up the existing vegetation on the proposed reroutes and preserving them for the planned revegetation of the trail we are bypassing.” They completed cutting out the plants in week two, and by week three had cut out the new switchbacks in the trail that were ready for hikers to use by the Fourth of July weekend. For more information about the project visit the blog at http://scaalaskatc.blogspot. com or visit https://www. thesca.org.
Golf tourney signups, Pebble Beach raffle Courtesy of UAA Sports Information via goseawolves.com
Spots are filling up fast, but there is still time to register for the 30th annual Seawolf Golf Tournament, presented by Kendall Lexus of Alaska. This year’s event is set for Friday, Aug. 8, at Anchorage Golf Course on O’Malley Road. Entries are accepted on a firstcome, first-served basis for the 36-team event, and a full field is expected. From now until the tournament, golfers can also purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a dream trip for two to Pebble Beach to play in the Lexus Champions for Charity event. Valued at more than $10,000, the Pebble Beach trip includes airfare for two on Alaska Airlines, four nights’ deluxe accommodations at the Inn at Spanish Bay, meals and transportation, and rounds at world-renowned courses Pebble Beach, Spanish
Bay and Spyglass. Raffle tickets cost $100, with only 200 available for sale. The format for the 2014 Seawolf Golf Tournament is a fourplayer, best-ball scramble over 18 holes, with check-in at 6 a.m. and a shotgun start 7 a.m. Tournament entry fee donations are $800 per team. Entry fees include greens fees, two carts per team, tournament gifts, on-course refreshments and a lunch/awards banquet following the tournament. There will be special prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin and holes-in-one. Tee and green sponsorships are also available. Entry forms may be downloaded at http://goseawolves. com or in person at the UAA Athletic Department (located in Room 220 of the Wells Fargo Sports Complex) and all Anchorage-area courses and golf shops. All proceeds from the event will benefit UAA student-athletes. For more info, call UAA Athletics at 907-786-1250.
Aubrey Smith from Seward high fives spectators as she makes her way to the finish line.
Jaden Hogge negotiates the upper chute during the Mount Marathon junior race.
photos by adam eberhardt
Taylor Ostrander, a cross-country runner for Willamette University, is supported at the finish line by a volunteer.
Newest transfer moves from gridiron to court Courtesy of UAA Sports Information via goseawolves.com
The UAA men’s basketball team has landed a Div. I transfer of a different sort as head coach Rusty Osborne announced that former Utah multi-sport prep star Travis Parrish has signed a scholarship agreement with the Seawolves. Parrish, a 6-foot-3-inch, 220-pounder from Bountiful, Utah, spent his first two collegiate campaigns as a football player at Div. I Utah State, including a redshirt season in 2012. Transitioning to the court, Parrish brings three years of eligibility and the ability to play multiple positions. “He is a huge addition. Coming in as a sophomore, Travis will add not only talent, but class balance to our program,” said Osborne, who begins his 11th season at the Seawolf helm
in 2014-15. “He is a strong, highlevel athlete, having played linebacker at Utah State. In high school, he was not only all-state in basketball and football, but ran the 400 meters in under 50 seconds. He is big and strong enough to battle taller opponents, but also has the basketball skills and savvy to play in the backcourt, including some point guard. He is a winner, whose passion and competitiveness will be fun for our fans to watch and should help raise the competitiveness of his teammates.” As a high senior at Bountiful High School in 2008-09, Parrish averaged 10.9 points per game and led the Braves to the Class 4A state semifinals for the second straight season. As a junior, he helped BHS within one basket of the state title. On the gridiron, he was the 2008 Region 5 Defensive MVP, registering 68 tackles, six sacks and five interceptions in 11 games. Between high school and col-
lege, Parrish served a two-year Mormon mission in Malaysia from 2009-11. “Despite not playing competitively since his senior season, we expect Travis to make a smooth transition back to basketball,” Osborne noted. “He has worked hard the last six months to get ready for fall practice, and I am confident he will be ready to contribute at a high level in November. We look forward to coaching him the next three years.” Parrish is the sixth newcomer to join UAA’s 2014 recruiting class, along with fellow transfers Derrick Fain (G, 6-4/175, Dallas, Texas/Forney HS/The Master’s Coll.) and Dom Hunter (G, 6-0/180, Tacoma, Wash./ Decatur HS/Eastern Arizona Coll.) and incoming freshmen Sjur Berg (F, 6-7/225, Nesoddtangen, Norway), Damien Fulp (G, 6-1/160, Palmer/Colony HS) and Brian Pearson (F, 6-9/225, Elko, Nev.).
OPINION
THENORTHERNLIGHT Tuesday, July 8, 2014
08
OPINION
Is finishing in 4 realistic? By George Hyde
gchyde@thenorthernlight.org How many years does it take to get a degree? Ask UAA’s marketing department, and they’ll tell you to stay on track and get it done in four. That’s what all of the advertisements across campus and on the Seawolf Shuttles say. That’s what I was expecting when I graduated from high school and looked to going to UAA: four years. That’s what my parents and advisers were saying. But now that I’m on my fourth year, it’s looking like this schtick is going to drag on for a while, at least for another semester or two. And I’m not alone. According to polls from the National Center of Education Statistics, almost 60 percent of college students take six years to graduate. So what’s with this divide of how long we imagine college ideally is and how long it really is? There are a variety of factors. In my case, it’s course availability. Some of my required courses simply aren’t available at the right times. Overall, I’d say I’ve done a terrible job judging what classes to take at what times because now that I have my required journalism credits,
I have to wait for a GER class to open. Sometimes, as has been mentioned in previous opinion pieces, required classes don’t have enough registered students and simply have to cancel. This sounds like poor planning on my part, but I’ve heard similar stories all around campus, too. New students have no idea what kinds of requirements they’ll need and when they’re available — and while some departments do a great job of reminding students when required classes are available (another shameless shout-out to the Journalism Department here), it appears that others don’t. Sometimes there’s an internship that gets in the way of an important class. Sometimes a student will want to change his or her major. Sometimes students want to take a semester off so they can save enough money for the next. All of these issues compound on one another to create a situation where four years isn’t a realistic goal anymore. And really, I can see why UAA wants students out in four years. A large percentage of students who graduate in that time makes UAA look good compared to other universities. In addition, students who delay
their graduation are also throwing valuable years away where they could be working and earning money in their fields of choice. And the longer a student waits, the more valuable taxpayer money is wasted on subsidies and loans. As we can see, this is a huge problem, one that requires a lot of thought. UAA’s been holding summer activities and classes for new students to help them plan for a four-year education, but from what I’ve been seeing and hearing around campus, that hasn’t exactly been doing the trick. UAA is throwing a lot of money at the issue, and while I’ll concede that it’s working a little bit, there’s still a lot more they could do. But as for what to do? I have no idea — I’m just a man who plays video games and makes money writing about them. But this is still an important topic that will require a lot of planning and discussion from both the UAA community and the higher-ups at the University of Alaska. Fixing this issue will be greatly beneficial for UAA, the students and the community at large, so it’s clearly worth doing. But the question of how requires much more discussion than what is being held now.
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.
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