APRIL 14 - APRIL 20, 2020
A&E
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
OPINION
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Curb cabin fever through learning new skills, including sewing, musical instruments and culinary arts.
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG
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Chancellor Cathy Sandeen speaks to the UAA community about the steps the university is taking to help combat COVID-19.
COVID-19 Update: Alaskans are encouraged to wear masks GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
By Christina Swayney features2@thenorthernlight.org
The reach of COVID-19 continues to grow in Anchorage and other parts of Alaska, including Fairbanks, Kenai and Juneau. The total number of recorded cases is 272 as of April 12, and there have been eight deaths in Alaska. Community spread of the virus is evident, according to the State of Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink. Zink stresses the importance of knowing how efficient COVID-19 is at spreading. “I think we all need to assume at this time that this is amongst our communities for the most part, and even boroughs and communities that have not been identified. You know, this was once a disease in one country, and now it’s around the world. It spreads quickly, it spreads easily, it spreads without knowing,” Zink said in an article in the Anchorage Daily News published on April 8. The latest in-state death is of a Fairbanks woman in her 70s, who died on April 10. No other information is available about her death at this time. The other death is of a female Anchorage resident in her 40s, who was hospitalized on April 5 and died on April 7. Officials believe she contracted the disease locally, according to an article in the Anchorage Daily News published on April 9. The majority of the other deaths in Alaska were of residents in their 60s,
two of which occurred out of state in Washington. In Alaska, there are 31 hospitalizations and 66 of the 272 cases have been classified as recovered by the State of Alaska, as of April 12. So far, 8,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Alaska. Social distancing and other measures to flatten the cur of the infection rate are still in effect. Additional guidelines have been suggested by The Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, such as wearing cloth masks as much as possible when going outside. In a press conference held on April 2, Zink encouraged Alaskans to wear homemade masks when leaving their homes. “We’re encouraging people — if you’re going to go out in
public, if you’re going to go to the grocery store — to consider wearing a tightly-woven homemade mask to be able to minimize the spread in case you are asymptomatic or early symptomatic,” Zink said. Masks serve to protect others from respiratory droplets of people who may be infected. However, they are not readily available for purchase in the United States, as most states have a shortage of medical supplies and hospitals are lacking necessary personal protective wear, according to The World Health Organization. The CDC has a tutorial on their website on how to make a face mask at home. The New York Times says that some of the best materi-
Unemployed Alaskans can receive relief with expanded unemployment insurance benefits By Christina Swayney features2@thenorthernlight.org
Jobless Alaskans due to COVID-19 have turned to unemployment, with 36,000 applications sent into the State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development in the last three weeks, Lennon Weller, an economist for the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, said in an Anchorage Daily News article published on April 8. Applicants are encourthenorthernlight.org
aged to apply online at the State of Alaska site since phone lines are backed up with the surge of applicants. Cathy Muñoz, the deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Labor says the unemployment rate in Alaska saw a drastic increase because of COVID-19. “Before the COVID-19 health emergency struck, we were at the lowest level of unemployment in the history of our state, so you can imagine we went from very low filings to very high filings almost overnight,” Muñoz said in an
April 8 Alaska Public Media article. The Senate recently passed a $2 trillion dollar Coronavirus Aid Package, which includes expanded unemployment insurance benefits. Part of the bill aims to make unemployment more accessible to more people and provide greater amounts of financial support, according to The U.S. Department of Labor. House Bill 308, an unemployment insurance benefits bill, passed on March 26 in Alaska under the Corona Response
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als to make homemade masks include t-shirts. NYT also provides a guide on its website with videos and tutorials on how to make masks at home. The NYT also includes a tutorial demonstrating the proper way to wear homemade face masks. New research on COVID-19 shows that the virus may pread via aerosol. This means ultrafine particles, along with respiratory droplets, are released when people who are infected talk or breathe. Dr. Harvey Fineberg, chairman of a committee with the National Academy of Sciences, wrote a letter to The White House on April 9 about new research that demonstrates this method of transmission. “While the current [COVID-19] specific research is limit-
ed, the results of available studies are consistent with aerosolization of viruses from normal breathing,” Fineberg said in the letter. The study mentioned in the letter was conducted at The University of Nebraska Medical Center and revealed the presence of viral RNA in patients’ rooms infected with COVID-19. Air collectors to detect positive samples of the virus were placed in the patients’ rooms more than 6 feet away from their beds and in the hallways outside their rooms. Both were tested positive for COVID-19. The letter suggests that aerosols containing the virus were easily spread by air movement by medical staff or facility cleaners and spread outside the infected patients’ rooms. What is known about COVID-19 is still evolving and more information about the virus appears almost daily. For up to date information about COVID-19 in Alaska, visit the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Coronavirus Response Hub or The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. Alaskans can also call a Careline at 1-800-478-2221 or 211 with concerns related to COVID-19. Careline is a crisis hotline and is available 7–8 p.m., seven days a week. Updates on policies related to COVID-19 and information about the virus concerning UAA can be found at The University of Alaska Coronavirus website.
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SWAYNEY
Left without work due to COVID layoffs, 36,000 Alaskans have applied for unemployment benefits in the last three weeks.
Act. The bill will add an additional $600 per week to unemployment checks, called Pandemic Unem@tnl_updates
ployment Compensation, on top of approved state benefits. It will also allow an increase for depenyoutube.com/tnlnews
dent’s allowances from SEE UNEMPLOYMENT
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NEWS
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020
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UPD Report: March 30–April 6
Total calls for service: 503
•
March 30: • Trespass in the Engineering Parking Garage. • Trespass in the Engineering Parking Garage.
April 1: • Medical assistance and terroristic threat off-campus near the University Center.
March 31: • Trespass and violation of conditions of release in the Engineering Parking Ga-
rage. Trespass in the Engineering Parking Garage.
All information is provided by the University of Alaska Anchorage Police Department.
Unemployment:
Continued from cover $25 per dependent to $75. The Pandemic Unemployment Compensation will apply until July 31. As of April 11, the $600 Pandemic Unemployment Compensation funds are available and will be disbursed starting on April 13, according to The Alaska Department of Workforce and Labor Development Unemployment Insurance site. Unemployment benefits have also been opened to the self-employed, contract workers and gig workers, though benefits for individuals that fall under these categories may be delayed possibly a month or more. Part-time workers or on-call workers are also eligible for benefits and will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Workers who are claimed as dependents on someone else’s tax returns, like the parents of that worker, may not qualify for unemployment benefits. To receive benefits, applicants are traditionally required to file for unemployment with work searches every two weeks to show that they are actively looking for a job while they are unemployed. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development commissioner Dr. Tamika Ledbetter announced on the department’s website
that applicants could apply every week for a steadier income. Benefits provided by The State of Alaska can be disbursed to accounts by direct deposit or a debit card. To apply for Alaska Unemployment Insurance Benefits, create an account with The State of Alaska, My Alaska site, then click on Unemployment Insurance Benefits, which will lead to The State of Alaska Labor of Workforce Development site, where the application for unemployment benefits can begin. For questions about Alaska Unemployment Insurance Benefits, call the Anchorage Unemployment Insurance office at (907) 269-4700 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday, email them at auicc@ alaska.gov or refer to the Unemployment Insurance Claimant Handbook. Those affected by COVID-19 can also refer to The Alaska Department of Workforce and Labor Development Unemployment Insurance site, which provides a question and answer section about unemployment insurance benefits directly related to COVID-19.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020
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Hitbox First Impressions: Waste Not, Want Not — Resident Evil 2 remake By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org
Zombies, lickers and Tyrant — only two are killable, the other is a nightmare that shakes me to my very core. Developer: Capcom Release date: Jan. 25, 2019 Platforms: PC [played], PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Price: $59.99 The original Resident Evil 2 came out in 1998. With this remake, Capcom updated many components, such as the camera perspective, which was previously fixed like a security camera on a wall, to an over-the-shoulder, third-person perspective. This brings the action closer to the player and immerses them further in the setting. Of course,
being released 21 years later, dramatic graphical improvements were also made. So what is Resident Evil 2 all about? Leon Kennedy is a new recruit to the Raccoon City Police Department. However, before he even begins his first day, there is a zombie outbreak in the city and everything is now on fire. On his way to the police station, Kennedy meets a college student named Claire Redfield at a gas station during the introduction sequence of the game. After surviving a zombie attack, they escape together and make their way to the police station. However, Redfield and Kennedy get separated after a car crash and then ambushed by a hoard of zombies. Kennedy manages to enter the police station while Redfield presumably is surviving around the station somewhere.
This is a good time to mention that there are two distinct sections to Resident Evil 2. When Kennedy and Redfield are ambushed by the hoard at the beginning of the game, the player can choose to play as one of the two. After completing one character’s section, you’re meant to play the other character to discover what happened to them. The characters’ paths intersect a few times throughout the game, but generally, they’re off doing their own thing. Each character can also access unique weapons, such as Redfield finding a grenade launcher, while Kennedy finds a pump-action shotgun. I only played six hours as Kennedy, so I can only assume that Redfield’s path takes her to different areas of the police station at different times. The three core components of Resident Evil
SCREENSHOTS COURTESY OF THE OFFICIAL RESIDENT EVIL 2 WEBSITE
Raccoon City’s Police Station looks better than ever in the Resident Evil 2 remake.
The eyeball boss’ grotesque design is further emphasized by the fact that the person appears to be trying to fight off whatever is on his arm.
Lickers are easily the most visually disturbing creatures in the Resident Evil 2 remake.
2 are combat, inventory management and navigation. Kennedy and Redfield’s main goal is to find a way out of the city, but almost the entirety of the game is spent inside the police station, which for some reason is also a converted museum. That last part is a real oddity but is intrinsic to how the player progresses through the station, since it’s not in the best state of repair. The first major obstacle the player must overcome is finding the three medallions corresponding to statues of a unicorn, lion and maiden. Inserting them into three slots beneath a central statue in the lobby then opens an underground passageway. This isn’t like any type of museum I’ve ever heard of, but hey, it’s best to just go along with it. Combat is a tense affair with the player forced to wait a few seconds for the crosshairs to constrict and be accurate. The player has the option to not wait for the crosshairs to constrict, but that’s best saved for emergency situations when there is a zombie right in your face. Ammo is extremely scarce, so it’s best to pick your shots carefully. Three headshots will generally down a zombie, but there are some real survivors out there who will take twice as many shots or more to take down. Inventory management is incredibly important because of how limited it is in the game. The player must balance what supplies to take with them, while leaving enough room to collect additional items found around the station. Each item, whether it be pistol ammo, a healing herb or a key item needed to unlock another area, requires space in the player’s inventory. Eight inventory slots may sound like enough at the beginning, but as the player acquires new weapons and items, expanding their inventory becomes a concern. Thankfully, there are hip pouches scattered around the station that will add two inventory slots for each pouch. These upgrades are usually conveniently found right when you feel like you need them. The player can also access a larger stash to store unneeded items and make
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
room in their inventory. These stashes are located in safe rooms along with a typewriter, which is the only method of saving the game. Learning efficient ways of navigating the dimlylit station will help the player avoid unnecessary encounters with zombies. Thankfully, the player has access to a useful map that reveals the floor plan of the station as they explore and find maps. It’s an incredibly useful resource that shows locked doors and which rooms haven’t been fully looted. Some locked doors require special keys to open, such as the heart or spade key, and the map will show those too. It’s a good thing it’s incredibly clear and easy to read, considering the player will be using it a lot to figure out where they need to go next and where that muchneeded ammo is at. The horror in Resident Evil 2 comes from a mix of limited resources, flesheating zombies and at a certain point, an invincible, ever-present threat in the form of Tyrant. What look like dead bodies laying on the ground could suddenly lash out at the player if they’re not careful. Even if the player shoots a zombie in the head three times and it falls to the ground, it could still get up later. Unless the player scores a satisfying but random critical headshot that explodes the zombie’s head, of course. The first time the player encounters Tyrant, he casually lifts up the wreckage of a crashed helicopter with one hand and doesn’t break a sweat. He’s an imposing presence. Tyrant is a good two feet taller than Kennedy and an amateur bodybuilder by the looks of it. His skin is pale blue and he wears a trench coat with leather straps on his wrist and a brimmed hat. You can’t say he doesn’t have style. After this, he apparently becomes an ever-present threat that can’t be permanently stopped. I don’t
know if that’s something I can mentally handle. Tyrant’s loud footsteps when he’s near, combined with the knowledge that he can’t be killed, resulted in me running straight back to the nearest safe room when I encountered him. I’ve never played a game with an unstoppable threat, or if I have, I can’t remember. I’ve tried to avoid any game that has one, to be honest. Even though I’m not a huge fan, I can deal with horror if I know I can fight back, but being helpless is absolutely terrifying. It’s like the feeling of having a nightmare where you’re constantly being chased. I can’t stand that intense panicked fear. That’s what I felt when I first encountered Tyrant and that’s why I’m wondering if I’ll be able to keep playing. Will I be playing more of the Resident Evil 2 remake? I hope so. I really want to continue exploring the Raccoon City Police Station with its strange museum relics and keep shooting zombies, but I just don’t know if I can handle Tyrant being unkillable. To Resident Evil 2’s credit, I’ve read that it’s possible to shoot Tyrant enough that he drops to his knee and you can escape, but I’m not sure if that’s enough for me. The scarcity of ammo doesn’t guarantee I’m going to have enough for that fight and even if I do, it’s likely that I will run out and won’t be able to kill the normal zombies stumbling around the station. If you can handle Tyrant constantly hunting you, then Resident Evil 2 is a horrifyingly good time. I’ll be giving Resident Evil 2 a few more tries to see if Tyrant is something I can deal with since it’s the only hang-up about the game I currently have. Want to suggest a video game for review? Contact John Novotny at arts@ thenorthernlight.org.
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THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020
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‘Hunker down’ entertainment: UAA professor recommendations By John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org
Students aren’t the only ones struggling to stave off boredom during this ‘hunker down’ period. I emailed a few UAA professors to ask what they were up to in-between Zoom meetings and grading assignments. Here are their responses. Marsha Olson Communication term instructor Despite having watched [“Parks and Recreation”] numerous times over the years, I have found myself revisiting it this month. Spending a bit of time with the menagerie of weirdos who work and live in Pawnee, Indiana is just what I need during this time of social distancing. “Parks and Recreation” is particularly excellent to watch in our current, stressed-out circumstances. Turning it on is akin to wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket, maybe even one of those weighted blankets that feels like a hug. Remember what hugs felt like?
The underlying theme of the show is kindness, which it manages to accomplish without sacrificing any humor. The characters legitimately enjoy one another and spend much of their time working together to achieve goals. I get that sounds boring, but stay with me — it’s phenomenal. A note to those who are new to it: skip the first season and start with season two. For those who have already experienced the amazingness of “Parks and Recreation,” I highly recommend a rewatch. The specific episodes I find myself continuing to enjoy regardless of how much I’ve memorized the jokes are: “The Fight” (S3, Ep. 13), “End of the World,” (S4, Ep. 6), “Two Parties” (S5, Ep. 10) and “Moving Up” (S6, Ep. 21 and 22). Bonus recommendations [go to] the other shows created by Mike Schur: “Brooklyn NineNine” and “The Good Place.” All seven seasons of “Parks and Recreation” are available to watch on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
GRAPHIC BY MICHAELINE COLLINS
All seven seasons of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” are available to watch on Hulu. The first three seasons of “The Good Place” are available to watch on Netflix, while a few episodes of season four are available on Hulu. All of season four is available on NBC’s website through a cable or satellite provider. Don Reardon Chair and professor of the Department of Writing For a writer, being in
self-quarantine is as much about the creation of new content as binging and devouring the work of others. To that end, I’ve been putting up new essays on my blog, as well as writing a poem a day for National Poetry Month. I’ve done a little rereading of two old favorites for inspiration and insight into this pandemic in Alaskan terms: Harold Napoleon’s “Yuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being” and Robert Fortuine’s “Chills and Fever: Health and Disease in the Early History of Alaska.” I’ve also
been fielding numerous questions from friends, fans and journalists about my novel, “The Raven’s Gift” — a general theme of the inquiries related to how I feel about predicting a pandemic hitting Alaska and how do I feel about all this? Both of these pieces just came out in the last week: one in Alaska Public Media and the other in The Anchorage Press. I’ve also been serving as a beta-reader of sorts for a brilliant new work by Shane Castle, a friend and colleague in the Department of Writing. He’s written “Moby Dork,” a masterpiece, essentially the “Moby Dick” of zombie novels, and he will be rolling out the book on a website for all to enjoy soon. I don’t know if I’m at liberty to reveal more, but I can’t wait for people to read it. [I’ve] also been jamming to Pearl Jam’s new album, “Gigaton.” David Bowie Chair and professor of the Department of English I’ve been between a desire for mindless humor
and a pull to learn something. Also, the stay-athome order means that I’m even more sedentary than usual, so I need something to push me to get some exercise. This led me to my solution for all of these needs: the BBC series “Horrible Histories,” which as a bonus, I can stream from Amazon Prime Video. The psychological math is simple: I work out for half an hour and I get two episodes that are guaranteed to make me laugh (occasionally while recoiling in horror, but that’s beside the point) and might actually teach me a thing or two. Also, my main hobby is cooking, so I’ve been scouring some of the cookbooks on my shelves for fun-looking recipes to inflict upon my family. I’m too afraid to try any of the stuff in the most wonderfully kitschy 1950s cookbooks I own, though. There’s one recipe that, in its entirety, involves surrounding a canned whole chicken — yes, take a moment to ponder that marvel of modern technology — with red grapes and then flambéing the whole thing. Seriously, really?
Occupy your quarantine days with learning new skills and hobbies By Gabby Vance arts1@thenorthernlight.org
Have you ever wanted to learn something new or pick up a fun hobby but just couldn’t find the time? Quarantine has cleared our schedules and freed up time for everyone to focus on themselves. With all the technology and apps we have access to, learning a new skill or hobby can be easy, fast and convenient. To make these activities even more fun and engaging, consider involving friends and family over Zoom or FaceTime calls. Here is a list of hobbies and skills to try out while hunkering down at home. Learning to cook
From newbies to experts, everyone can benefit from trying out some new recipes and techniques in the kitchen. Learning how to make your favorite foods at home is not only satisfying and delicious, but also healthier than takeout and can save money. A New York Post article explored a study that found that across a 60-year adult life (from age 18-78), people spend $70,500 on eating at restaurants. So, learning to cook and make homemade meals can save you a considerable amount of money in the long run. YouTube channels such as Tasty and Bon Appetit have many instructional videos on cooking and various types of recipes. The Food Network
channel and many online blogs also offer recipes and instructions on how to cook at home. Needlework Knitting, crocheting and sewing can be both a fun and useful skill to develop while quarantining. Needlework crafts such as blankets, clothing items, decorations and accessories can make fun gifts that can be sent to family or friends. There are numerous YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram posts that involve needlework. Supplies for needlework projects can be found on Amazon and craft sites such as Joann and Michaels. “The rhythmic, repetitive movements necessary to knit, sew or crochet are proven to have therapeutic benefits and
PHOTO BY EDGAR CASTREJON ON UNSPLASH
Learning to cook or sharpening culinary skills can provide healthier options and savings compared to restaurant prices.
PHOTO BY KRIS ATOMIC ON UNSPLASH
Needlework and yarn crafts can produce a variety of products, including blankets and clothing.
improve mental health and emotional wellbeing, increasing serotonin production and inducing a natural state of mindfulness,” according to Polly Leonard, founder of Selvedge magazine in an interview with The Guardian. Learning an instrument Learning to play an instrument from home has never been so easy. There are a plethora of videos all over YouTube and many apps that can aid in the process. Some potential benefits of learning to play an instrument include: reducing stress, expressing creativity, exercising your mind, improving memory and better concentration, according to ArtistWorks.com. Yousician (app) — This app acts as a digital music teacher for guitar, piano, singing, ukulele and bass. It has step-by-step videos and over 1,500 missions and exercises. The app listens to you sing or play an instrument, gives you instant feedback and walks you through songs. Simply Piano (app) — This app is similar to Yousician except that it is exclusive to the piano and offers the ability to learn on a digital instrument. The 3D touch courses will turn your device into an on-screen keyboard.
These apps are free to download from the App Store. Painting/art Getting in touch with your artistic side can be a fun and relaxing way to spend time at home. If you’re new to painting, you might want to try out a paint-by-numbers set. These kits help you paint intricate pictures very easily. Artist’s Loft — This paintby-number kit can be purchased at Michaels. The stores are currently open in the Anchorage area and also offer shipping online. Included in the kits are canvas sheets with pre-printed guidelines and numbers, brushes, numbered paint pots, a printed picture of the final painting, an instruction sheet, a reference sheet and a wooden display hanger. They also offer different levels of difficulty, from easy to hard. Many other versions of paintby-number kits can be found on Amazon.com. Painting and sketching tutorials are also offered on YouTube. Purchasing a canvas, some paint and following a Bob Ross videos is another fun way to create art.
OPINION
THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020
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Hitbox Contribution: Meet me back in Azeroth
By Jennifer Stone Contributor
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment Release date: Aug. 26, 2019 Platforms: PC and Mac Price: $15 per month subscription Shortly after World of Warcraft, or WoW, was first released in 2004, I was hooked. I spent several years of my life in Azeroth slaying monsters, gathering items, leveling up, dominating dungeons, dancing in Booty Bay and most importantly, making friends. I even led a
couple of large raiding guilds and survived most of the endgame bosses, including Onyxia, Golemagg and Nefarian. It was epic. As the game expanded and my life outside the game progressed, though, I lost interest in WoW. I got tired of the grind and the drama. I quit the day after I hit 70 — the new maximum level. I’ve dabbled in WoW since then, but just to peek at new content. There are different places to explore, new races and quests have been added and it’s always easy to find a party, but none of the expansions have held my interest for more than a few weeks. I thought I had outgrown Azeroth. But when COVID-19 sent us all to hunker down in our homes, I decided to gather my friends and head back to World of Warcraft Classic, which replicates the original world I fell in love with when many of my current students were still in diapers. I’ve organized a little guild made up of longtime gamer friends, colleagues and former students. This weekend I’m even
SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF THE BLIZZARD PRESS CENTER
Raiders battle Onyxia and dragon whelps in her lair in World of Warcraft, or WoW.
going to show an old friend from grad school and her two children (ages 12 and 15) how to play. Unlike later expansions, WoW Classic is a social game at its heart. While you can start playing alone, you quickly run into quests that require you to team up with other players. To be able to complete any of the dungeons, which are arguably the most fun and challenging content in the game, you have to coordinate with other players who bring a range of abili-
ties. Unlike later iterations of the game, you can’t just click on a button to connect with a random group of strangers you will never see again. You have to build a team of people. You have to make friends. Don’t get me wrong, the game has its drawbacks. I had blocked out what a pain it is to have to get eight separate quest items with low drop rates for each party member. I had amnesia for having to run across the world to find the entrance to
a dungeon. I forgot how long it takes to level up and to scrape together enough gold for the first mount, which, by the way, isn’t available until level 40. I forgot how inconvenient it is not to be able to fly. But in these difficult days when none of us know when our current situation will end and if anything will ever get back to normal, it’s nice to have a fantasy world to escape to — together.
UAA: Here when you need us
Letter from the Chancellor By Cathy Sandeen Contributor
Many of you have heard me describe UAA as Alaska’s modern, relevant, connected urbanmetropolitan university. UAA has become the school of choice for Alaska’s best and brightest, and we open our doors to anyone seeking opportunity through education. UAA is Anchorage’s hometown university. We’re here to solve real-world problems. These words cannot fully describe the important asset UAA has become over its history. At no time has the value of UAA to this community been more apparent than during our current response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the last 15 years, UAA biology researchers have been studying coronavirus strains, most recently in bats in Alaska, developing tools that can now be applied to the virus that causes COVID-19. Mutated coronavirus strains jumping from bats to humans are known to be the cause of the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the MERS outbreak in 2012. Our researchers have partnered with the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance to standardize, catalog and make data accessible to everyone around the world, with the hope of painting a clearer picture of regional coronavirus variants. In addition to this research, the UAA College of Health is working to graduate up to 72
nursing students early so that they can join the health care workforce in Alaska. The college is coordinating with relevant university offices, the Alaska Board of Nursing and the accrediting agency. These students are completing their course requirements on an expedited timeline and will apply for temporary licensure that qualifies them to practice for six months. They will follow up with the completion of the licensing exam that all nursing students take to become a permanent registered nurse. The college’s Alaska Center for Rural Health and Health Workforce is working with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services COVID-19 Task Force to quickly develop a medical supply survey tool to track supply usage and restock rates used by the state to prioritize and distribute critical medical supplies. Additionally, a research team from the UAA College of Health’s Division of Population Health Sciences and Institute for Circumpolar Studies used epidemiological modeling to predict the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Anchorage and Mat-Su area. The report found without recent state and municipal intervention policies aimed at sheltering in place and social distancing, Alaska’s medical infrastructure would become overwhelmed. The report, which was shared with Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Alaska Chief Medical Officer Anne Zink,
PHOTO BY JAMES R. EVANS/UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
Cathy Sandeen, UAA’s chancellor, photographed outside the Administration and Humanities Building in 2018.
called for strengthening these intervention measures to “flatten the curve.” The researchers have now done similar modeling for the Fairbanks area. UAA’s contributions also extend beyond the College of Health. An economist within the UAA Institute for Economic and Social Research and the College of Business and Public Policy has conducted an analysis of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Alaska’s economy. A faculty member with expertise in international policy and disaster response is actively contributing to local planning efforts. UAA engineering faculty have responded to requests by medical professionals to produce ventilator parts and personal protective equipment, or PPE, using 3D printing technology available on campus. Another faculty member is adapting orthopedic surgical suits for use in screening COVID-19 patients. The federally funded Small Business Development Center within the Business Enterprise Institute at UAA has consulted with over 200 small businesses in the state on strategies to mitigate financial losses due to busi-
ness closures. In addition, the institute’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership worked with the Alaska Legislature on an amendment to SB241. The bill extends the governor’s declaration of a public health disaster emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and allows for temporary changes to state law. The amendment provides a liability waiver, making it possible for local manufacturers to produce badly needed PPE and allowing local health care providers to use it. The UAA colleges of Health, Arts and Sciences and Engineering transferred supplies of personal protective equipment to the state for distribution to health care workers. UAA research labs have transferred needed chemical supplies to Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium for use in COVID-19 testing. UAA’s Alaska Airlines Center has been converted into a medical alternate care site to treat patients in the event local hospitals experience an influx of COVID-19 patients. UAA is making space available in two of its residence halls to house health care workers if the need
arises. The university’s dining services are also standing by to provide support to health care workers. Similar responses have occurred at UAA’s community campuses. We’ve produced a video series called “Ask a UAA Expert,” featuring just-in-time relevant information from faculty with expertise relevant to our COVID-19 response — everything from disaster recovery to talking with your kids about the pandemic to dangers the pandemic poses to rural Alaska Native communities. This work and more commenced immediately as part of Alaska’s COVID-19 response without anyone having to ask. That’s what being a relevant, connected university means. UAA is not the ivory tower. I have always said UAA excels at applied research that solves Alaska’s most pressing problems. It is no surprise to me that UAA has stepped up magnificently in this current crisis. This is your hometown university. UAA is right here wherever, whenever you might need us. Cathy Sandeen UAA Chancellor
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Managing Editor Mary Ryan content@thenorthernlight.org Layout Editor Jason Herr layout@thenorthernlight.org Arts & Entertainment Editor John Novotny arts@thenorthernlight.org Arts & Entertainment Reporter Gabby Vance arts1@thenorthernlight.org
PR & Events Coordinator Joey Carreon events@thenorthernlight.org Graphic Designer Michaeline Collins media@thenorthernlight.org Advertising Manager Krizelle Solidum admanager@thenorthernlight.org Media Adviser Paola Banchero Administrative Adviser Zac Clark
Features Reporter Christina Swayney features2@thenorthernlight.org
The Northern Light is hiring! See our job listings at careers.alaska.edu.
TNL & COVID-19: Until further notice, The Northern Light has stopped producing print copies. Our story updates and content can be accessed via our social media accounts and through our website at thenorthernlight.org. Be well and stay safe!
Great alternative to private loans and/or federal PLUS loans!
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 1,750. 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.
N OT I C E O F N O N D I S C R I M I N AT I O N The University of Alaska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution. The University of Alaska does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally protected status. The University’s commitment to nondiscrimination, including against sex discrimination, applies to students, employees, and applicants for admission and employment. Contact information, applicable laws, and complaint procedures are included on UA’s statement of nondiscrimination available at www.alaska.edu/ nondiscrimination.
L E T T E RS A N D CO R R E C T I O N S P O L I C Y The Northern Light encourages readers to express their views in the newspaper. The Northern Light reserves the right to reject or publish any submission, online or in print. Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length for a letter to the editor is 250 words, and 150 words for letters specifically endorsing candidates for federal, local, or university office. A letter to the editor is written by someone who does not have authoritative knowledge on the subject they are discussing. Contributors are restricted to one published letter to the editor per month. Opinion pieces can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length for a contributor’s opinion piece is 450 words. Contributors are restricted to one published opinion piece per month. Opinion pieces written by staff of The Northern Light are limited to 800 words. An opinion piece that is published in The Northern Light should be written by someone who has authoritative knowledge on the subject they are discussing. Letters and opinion pieces are subject to editing for grammar, accuracy, length and clarity. All letters and opinion pieces must include names, major and/or group affiliation and contact information for verification purposes. The Northern Light will not publish anonymous letters or pseudonyms. Requests for corrections can be sent to editor@thenorthernlight.org. Print publication is subject to accuracy and available space. All corrections are posted online with the original story at www.thenorthernlight.org. The deadline for submissions is the Friday before publication at noon, no exceptions. The Northern Light newsroom is located on the first floor of the Student Union Room 118.
Everyone off campus should get in on the census. If you live off campus, responding to the 2020 Census is an important and easy way to shape your future. The census impacts federal funding that goes toward critical programs like Pell Grants and health care services. Students who live on campus count too, with the help of campus housing officials.
2020CENSUS.GOV D-HP-HE-EN-026