April 1st, 2025

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NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2025

02

UAA Faculty Senate passes resolutions opposing DEI changes

By Matthew Schmitz editor@thenorthernlight.org

The Faculty Senate of the University of Alaska Anchorage passed two resolutions on Friday, March 7, calling on the University of Alaska Board of Regents to rescind a motion related to diversity, equity and inclusion, known as DEI. The Board of Regents — which oversees the entire University of Alaska system — passed a motion on Feb. 21 directing universities to remove the terms “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” from university webpages and communications.

The motion also directed universities to remove the terms from the names of departments and positions and begin assessing and changing programs to comply with federal guidance.

As reported by The Northern Light, positions and department names have changed as a result of the motion.

The first resolution passed by the Faculty Senate, named the “Faculty Senate Resolution on Diversity and Inclusion,” called on the Board of Regents to “immediately withdraw or vacate its … Motion related to ‘diversity,’ ‘equity,’ and ‘inclusion.’”

It passed with 27 votes in favor.

The resolution asked for the

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHMITZ.

The Faculty Senate met on March 7, 2025, in room 307 of the Consortium Library.

Board of Regents to give notice and have public discussions on any future motions related to DEI. It also asked for there to be a note added to UAA’s website explaining changes to the second aspiration of UAA’s strategic plan following the Board of Regents’ motion.

The second aspiration used to state, “We create a culture of equity and inclusion by embracing our diversity.” It has since been updated to state, “We embrace our role as a trusted and respected community partner.”

The second resolution passed

was sponsored by the Faculty Senate Diversity Committee.

It is called the “Faculty Senate Resolution in Support of Free Speech and the Values of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”

It also asked for the Board of Regents to rescind their DEI motion.

It also passed with 27 voting in favor. Faculty Senate members clapped when the resolution was passed.

The resolution asked for the board to affirm freedom of speech and academic freedom.

The Board of Regents’ motion included an acknowledge-

ment of free speech and academic freedom. As reported

by The Northern Light, UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell sent an email to the UAA community recognizing free speech rights of the university community amid backlash to the motion.

The resolution asked the Board of Regents to recognize “the particular importance of supporting Alaska Native students” and acknowledge “the valuable role of university staff who support diversity and inclusion initiatives.”

A call to support DEI-related programs was in the resolution

as well.

The resolution asked that the Board of Regents endorse “student support services that use evidence-based practices that promote equal opportunity and address demonstrated needs within specific populations as well as student support efforts that seek to build bridges between groups and acknowledge the diversity and complexity within them.”

Also, a commitment to DEI general education requirements was included in the resolution.

The University of Alaska requires students to complete classes related to diversity and inclusion to graduate, according to the UAA catalog.

The resolution ended with, “be it finally resolved, that the Faculty Senate supports maintaining an academic environment that upholds both excellence and welcoming inclusion and, as Chancellor Parnell puts it, ‘affirms the dignity and worth of every human being,’ where all members of our community can engage in respectful dialogue about how best to achieve these vital goals.”

This report is part of an investigative series on recent changes related to DEI at UAA and will be followed by additional coverage.

Federal document contradicts UA Board of Regents’ anti-DEI motion U.S. Department of Education releases guidelines contradicting University of Alaska Board of Regents’ reasoning to cut DEI language from the UA system

By Murat Demir copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The University of Alaska Board of Regents passed a motion striking language related to “diversity,” “equity” and “inclusion” across the University of Alaska system on Feb. 21, to “comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination laws.”

The Department of Education released a document on changes to DEI policy at public universities that contained information contradicting the Board of Regents’ motion a week later, stating: “Whether a policy or program violates Title VI does not depend on the use of specific terminology such as ‘diversity,’ ‘equity,’ or ‘inclusion.’”

Although the Department of Education released the guidelines a week after the Board of

PHOTO BY ANDY FELICIOTTI, COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.

U.S. Department of Education building in Washington D.C.

Regents’ motion had passed, the board did not amend or reverse the policy after the guidelines were made public.

The document also stated

that federally funded institutions must consider if programs discourage members from attending, either by excluding or creating hostile environments

for particular races.

It’s unclear if the guidelines will have an impact on university programs oriented toward specific populations at this time.

The Northern Light reached out to UA Board of Regents Chair Ralph Seekins for a comment, but he was unavailable to meet before this report’s publication.

UA Public Affairs Director Jonathon Taylor commented on the board’s decision to uphold the anti-DEI motion despite new guidelines on federal policy.

Taylor said, “I do think that the board was speaking to act in the best interest of the university when they passed that motion.”

“I can’t speak to why they might not have done something or why they might have changed something, that would be a question for the board,” said Taylor.

This report is part of an investigative series on recent changes related to DEI at UAA and will be followed by additional coverage.

NEWS

03

University of Alaska workers launch unionization efforts to voice our concerns UA staff unite for workplace representation through collective action power regarding university decisionBy Murat Demir copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

A collective of University of Alaska workers named the Coalition of Alaskan University Staff for Equity — or CAUSEUAW — held a union organizing meeting at the University of Alaska Anchorage on March 19.

Approximately 60 individuals attended the meeting. Several speakers made statements about the importance of unionizing UA staff.

The Northern Light interviewed CAUSE-UAW organizer and UAA academic advisor Charlie Banks about the staff’s efforts.

Banks said CAUSE-UAW began organizing in summer 2024.

“We are wanting to form a

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

The CAUSE-UAW meeting took place at The Den in the UAA Student Union. This photo was captured several days later.

union to become a collectivized voice and to essentially

get a seat at the table in terms of discussing pay and benefits,”

said Banks. “The responses I’ve received from coworkers so far have been very positive.”

CAUSE-UAW organizer and College of Arts and Sciences program support specialist Bee Bequette also spoke to The Northern Light.

Bequette said the realization that UA faculty and graduate students were already unionized was a factor in CAUSE-UAW’s inception.

“Most universities have unions for their staff, so it’s a little weird that the UA system doesn’t,” said Bequette. “We just want what every other employee at UA already has.”

Bequette said the union consists of employees themselves, not an outside group making decisions on their behalf.

“Unionizing gives staff the

making, and it also gives us a voice to bargain for the working conditions that we require,” said Bequette.

Bequette said CAUSE-UAW has not encountered resistance from the university at this point.

The collective is affiliated with the United Auto Workers, one of the most powerful labor unions in the United States, according to Yahoo Finance.

The CAUSE-UAW website states that all regular employees at UA, both exempt and nonexempt, are included in the union, except for supervisors of permanent staff and confidential employees.

The union could be formed within a year, depending on a successful card drive and election, according to the CAUSEUAW website.

Universities react to Department of Education’s DEI ban

By Hannah Dillon managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Universities across the U.S. have started assessing, eliminating or advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion. The decision to remove language and practices involving DEI stems from a “Dear Colleague” letter released by the U.S. Department of Education.

As previously reported by The Northern Light, the University of Alaska Board of Regents directed chancellors on Feb. 21 to remove DEI-related language from university communications and websites, and change operations and programs to align with federal guidance related to DEI. University of Alaska chancellors have been delegated to monitor and amend university websites and other material to “no longer refer to ‘affirmative action,’ ‘DEI’ nor utilize the words

‘diversity,’ ‘equity,’ ‘inclusion,’ or other associated terms.”

According to an article by AP News, many colleges across the country are waiting to declare assessment and elimination of DEI-related language and practices, while others have taken a strong initiative to meet executive order requirements or oppose the Trump administration’s order.

The Daily Iowan reported that the University of Iowa Board of Regents followed a similar path to UAA. Iowa’s board president has said the university and its three satellite campuses are to begin removing DEI-related language from its websites, according to the article.

According to The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University is attempting to stay neutral in their decision to keep or assess DEI practices until it and the federal government are able to determine which executive orders are binding.

The Daily Pennsylvanian has reported the University of Pennsylvania has begun stripping DEI-related language from titles, organizations and programs, as well as the entirety of its central DEI webpage.

The University of Michigan published a letter to students, staff and faculty stating the university will begin to move forward with assessing and eliminating DEI-related offices.

The letter stated, “Conversations about these institutional efforts have been ongoing since at least 2023 and, with recent federal executive orders, guidance and funding cuts bringing urgency to the issue, we are moving forward with changes that will impact our community at the University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine.”

This report is part of an investigative series on recent changes related to DEI at UAA and will be followed by additional coverage.

PHOTO BY HANNAH DILLON.

UAA celebrates diversity sticker on office window.

Fire at bus stop investigated for suspected arson Bus stop trash can near UAA set ablaze under unclear circumstances

By Murat Demir copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The Anchorage Fire Department and University Police Department responded to a fire at a bus stop trash can on Providence Drive on March 23, according to an email from the University Police Department.

The fire is under investigation as suspected arson. A lightskinned male wearing a gray backpack with long hair in a bun

was seen in the area, according to the university police email.

Dr. Travis Rector, a professor at the UAA Department of Physics and Astronomy, witnessed the fire and described it in an email to The Northern Light.

“I was driving westbound on Providence Dr. around 2:45pm.

As I passed the bus stop on the north side of the road, near (Sally Monserud Hall), I noticed that the trash can there was in full

blaze,” wrote Rector.

Rector wrote that he called 911 and reported the fire.

“There was a man standing near the trash can, but I couldn’t tell you anything about what he looked like or what he was doing,” wrote Rector.

The Northern Light reached out to university police Chief Earle for additional information on the suspected arson but did not receive a response.

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

A trash can near the Eugene Short Hall covered and sealed with tape.

04

NEWS

Representative Ashley Carrick discusses Board of Regents’ decision on DEI

By Scott Hobbs associate.editor@thenorthernlight.org

University of Alaska Board of Regents passed a motion to assess DEI language across the UA System on Feb. 21. In the following weeks, many members of the public have hosted forums to discuss the occurring changes. One such forum was the listening session hosted

by Alaska State Representative Ashley Carrick.

Carrick is the representative for District 35, and represents West Fairbanks in the state house. The Northern Light interviewed Carrick to ascertain what came of the listening session, as well as her concerns for the UA system going forward.

Carrick said approximately 70 people attended the listening session via Zoom, and many were her constituents. However, there were also many in attendance from other UA main and satellite campuses.

“We had a really large breadth of different topics that came up, from faculty talking about academic freedom and the ability to teach and help sponsor student clubs, to students talking about their own experiences academically and socially,” said Carrick.

“Then staff as well, talking about how they work with students and how DEI language and initiatives really impact the work they do and the work that they potentially won’t be able to do,” she said.

Carrick said the listening session was an open invitation,

and it was not required that you agree with any point of view to attend.

“Folks could have come in and potentially offered support for the Board of Regents decision, but we didn’t have that, and I am not surprised that that was the case,” said Carrick.

“The response was 100% across the board in opposition to the Board of Regents decision.”

Carrick said the short term impact the Board of Regents decision is having on the UA community is fear. “The University of Alaska community in general is feeling really overwhelmed by that policy change, and I don’t know if those fears are being adequately addressed by the administration right now,” said Carrick.

Carrick said she is concerned about the university system’s finances due to the lasting impacts from the board’s decision.

She said lack of DEI-related language could turn away donors.

“For example, the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program — which is open to all students — no longer having that distinction in its name and programming could have lasting consequences,” said Carrick.

Carrick said the Board of Regents’ decision will shape the work that she does.

“I intend to take a close look at the UA budget, both this year and going forward, and ask questions about what the Board of Regents puts forward to the legislature,” said Carrick.

“Following this decision, the big question is, are the budget asks made by the Board of

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE JUNEAU EMPIRE.

Regents reflective of the actual needs of the UA community?”

Carrick provided an example involving the Coalition of Student Leaders’ visit to Juneau.

“They talked about youth mental health and student mental health on campus,” said Carrick. “They didn’t feel there were adequate in-person counseling services available, especially on satellite campuses. They offered some really constructive solutions to fix that.”

However, according to Carrick, those constructive solutions aren’t able to simply be implemented across the UA system.

“They do cost money, but they’re not currently reflected

in the Board of Regents budget asks,” said Carrick. “So how can we incorporate those needs, and how are we going to support the community of students and others across the UA system?”

Carrick earned both a Bachelor’s in Psychology at UAF and a Master’s in Public Health through UAA’s distance program. She said it would be hard for her to imagine how her degrees would have looked without DEI-related language.

“We absolutely have to be able to talk about all those things in order to do any sort of work in any field, not just in the liberal arts or social sciences,” said Carrick. “Because we’re not just talking about LGBTQ+ stu-

dents. We’re talking about women, we’re talking about veterans, we’re talking about people with disabilities, we’re talking about first generation college students.

We’re talking about everyone.”

Carrick said she feels DEI is inclusive to everyone, and “its inclusion really helps to create the kind of campus culture that not only attracts students to the university, but attracts donors and faculty.”

While some see eliminating DEI as eliminating barriers, Carrick said “It sounds like nice buzzwords to eliminate DEI, but in reality, DEI provides a lot of great supports and additional structure that’s immensely valuable to the UA community.”

Misinterpretations and perspectives on DEI “These terms — it’s almost like they give people permission to be curious instead of hostile.” — Aidan Jackson, UAA Community and Belonging leader

By Sage R. Robbins reporter2@thenorthernlight.org

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — DEI — developments are changing daily, The Northern Light interviewed UAA staff and faculty about their perspectives on DEI. The Northern Light spoke with Community and Belonging leader Aidan Jackson regarding her thoughts on the situation.

Community and Belonging, formerly the Multicultural Center, was renamed over four months ago. According to Sara Caldwell-Kan, the director of Community and Belonging, the title change was unrelated to the Board of Regents’ motion.

However, the department’s documents, flyers and website have since had DEI language removed due to the removal of DEI language at University of Alaska campuses.

Jackson said they can still use DEI language in conversation but are prohibited from publishing any DEI-related language.

Jackson doesn’t believe anything else will change at Community and Belonging; however,

PHOTO BY SAGE R. ROBBINS.

the situation continues to develop.

She said she doesn’t see any events being prohibited or the department being shut down.

Jackson believes that DEI is often misinterpreted as a trigger word for a specific group of people.

“It can be like a trigger word for people where when they think diversity they think people of color. They don’t think white people, they don’t think people of fair skin. They think everybody else,” she said.

Jackson said, “It creates this division of people thinking ‘oh well I don’t look like that so I guess I don’t matter.’ So I think there’s just misunderstandings on what Diversity, Equity and Inclusion can look like and why it’s so important.”

Jackson does not believe that the UAA community will be as inclusive or diverse without written DEI practices. “It’s in all these publications, but it’s also in your syllabus, in all your classes, the things we teach and learn. It’s in the way we interact with each other,” said Jackson.

“Our campus is very diverse in age, religion, nationality, cul-

ture, everything. And when that language is erased, it can feel like the people are also being erased,” she said.

Professor of library science Deborah Mole takes pride in being part of UAA’s diverse community. She said she believes that DEI is often misinterpreted as only a gender category. She sees this specifically through people’s religious paradigms or the media they consume.

Mole said, “Diversity, equity and inclusion, to me, means we all are welcome, treated equally, and that we intentionally make an effort to equally provide opportunities at the university for all to learn, participate and ideally, thrive.”

Mole said she believes the UAA community will continue to welcome and respect all kinds of people.

She recommended two books that describe communities dealing with a similar circumstance, which may help readers reflect on the power of words. Mole recommends “Ella Minnow Pea” by Mark Dunn and Lulu Dean’s “Little Library of Banned Books” by Kirsten Miller.

This report is part of an investigative series on recent changes related to DEI at UAA and will be followed by additional coverage.

NEWS

05

Hugh McPeck Gallery to shut down Students lose space to regularly showcase art until fall 2026

By Linnaea Gossard layout@thenorthernlight.org

There are currently three galleries at the University of Alaska Anchorage campus: The Kimura Gallery, which showcases contemporary art in the Fine Arts Building. The Arc Gallery, which features emerging, midcareer and established Alaskan artists in the Consortium Library. And finally, the Hugh McPeck Gallery.

The Hugh McPeck Gallery is a walk-in gallery dedicated to showcasing juried student art exhibits on the second floor of the Student Union.

The gallery is a space where students can showcase their art to the Anchorage community as they walk through the center of campus.

Formerly known as the Student Union Gallery, its name was changed to the Hugh McPeck Gallery in 2017 to honor the art professor after his passing.

Art student Rebecca Lent wrote, “The Hugh McPeck gallery has been a lovely, supportive and important space for myself and other art majors to practice professionally showcasing our work.”

The Northern Light spoke with Executive Director of Student Engagement Kim Morton, to learn more about the decision to shut down the gallery.

Morton stated that the gallery has been fully funded by student activities fees and is staffed under her department. Each year, an amount of money from the funding is allocated to the gallery.

PHOTO BY SARAH BENNETT..

Students and community members view pieces in a juried student art show.

However, rising costs and student enrollment-based funding causes the gallery’s funding to fluctuate each year.

Earlier this year, Student Activities realized they would be unable to continue dedicating the same amount of funds toward the gallery.

“This isn’t about, like, cutting the budget,” said Morton.

“It’s about the way in which there is funding availability through the student activities fee to fund opportunities for all students on campus, and contribute to the student engagement experience.”

The gallery is expected to shut down in the next academic year, as Student Activities

has committed to hosting three shows this semester.

The next Juried Student Art Show will host its opening reception at the Hugh McPeck Gallery on March 27, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and prize winners will be announced. The exhibit will be open through April 24, 2025.

The Juror’s lecture and discussion will be in the Fine Arts Building in Room 150 on Wednesday, March 26, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at which, a discussion and announcement of art pieces to be displayed will be announced.

“It has been a fantastic space for us to have in the building,” said Morton.

The Hugh McPeck Gallery is the only gallery that falls under Student Activities. The other two galleries are run by the Department of Art. Morton said there is still discussion about what will happen with the space the gallery currently occupies. There has also been discussion about the space becoming a merchandise store.

According to Morton, a facility space planning committee and the Campus Services team will determine the use of the space after the gallery is vacated. Discussions are still in progress.

According to an email sent to The Northern Light by Department of Art Chair Steve God-

frey, the department is looking for possible donors to fund future student exhibitions.

“We are planning to have more student focused exhibitions in the Arc Gallery,” wrote Godfrey.

However, this change will not take place until fall 2026, due to an exhibition schedule that is already set for the 2025-26 academic year.

For now, Godfrey said the only exhibition that will feature student art in the next academic year will be at the BFA Exhibition at the Kimura Gallery in spring 2026.

A petition was posted on Monday afternoon, March 24, by art student Jessica Brevard and her peers. The petition is described as a way for students to express the importance they feel toward the gallery, urging the university and Student Activities to restore the gallery’s funding.

The Northern Light reached out to Brevard for comment.

“Many student artists find their voice through their work, and the Hugh McPeck Gallery is where their work gets to speak to the community,” Brevard wrote. “This space supports cultural activities for all on campus and the community.”

Brevard continued, stating the importance of power in numbers and signing this petition, to show the university students’ feelings regarding the gallery.

“It seems that UAA was trying to sweep this funding cut under the rug and shut the gallery down without anyone noticing.

We noticed; and we won’t be quiet about it,” wrote Brevard.

UAA Honors College largely protected from DEI changes Activity track.

‘We embrace challenge.’ — Dr. Ray Ball, Dean of UAA the Honors College Creative As of now, none of the four

By Scott Hobbs associate.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The University of Alaska Board of Regents passed a motion on Feb. 21 requiring all satellite universities to assess and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion — or DEI-related language on websites and campuses. Students, staff and faculty have protested the decision, along with further DEI guidance issued by the Department of Education.

According to the UAA Honors College website, the Honors College is an organization that “offers customized pathways of coursework and experiential learning designed to meet students’ unique academic goals.”

The college has four learning tracks: Community Engagement, Global and Multicultural Studies, Leadership, and Research and Creative Activity.

The Northern Light interviewed the Dean of the Honors College Dr. Ray Ball to learn if the Honors College had felt the effects of the motion.

University organizations have had to change their hiring

PHOTO COURTESY OF UAA.

statements and websites. Ball said while the Honors College has not undertaken any drastic changes due to the motion, they have had to change a few materials.

“When the Honors College got reimagined a few years ago due to budget cuts, one of the newer focuses has really been about access,” said Ball.

She said, “We want any interested and motivated students,

regardless of their major or campus, to be able to benefit from the Honors College and its opportunities.”

Ball said there was no current concern that the Honors College would be at risk of losing federal grant funding. This is because the Honors College is not receiving any federal grant funding.

However, concern for groups partnered with the Honors College remains.

“The Honors College has partnered with several programs that receive funding from federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation,” said Ball. “We are not yet sure what the status of some of those programs will be in the future as a result.”

Ball said possible loss or reduction of funding from these programs would mostly affect students in the Research and

tracks at the Honors College are at risk of being cut. Ball said there might be an impact on one of the requirements in the Global and Multicultural Studies track.

“We are still waiting for shared governance bodies to make decisions about the diversity GER, and the Honors College will adjust from there if need be,” said Ball.

The Honors College did not have mission, vision or values statements until last year.

She said faculty, staff and students of the college came together to produce them.

“I was thrilled that the faculty who sit on the Honors Academic Board voted unanimously in favor of our new statements back in February,” said Ball. “I certainly am committed to those ideals.”

In the face of uncertainty, Ball and the Honors College are standing firm on their values.

“The Honors College remains committed to providing opportunities for UAA students,” said Ball.

“Our values remain the same.

We invite and express curiosity.

We build community. We embrace challenge,” she said.

06

NEWS

Protest erupts at UAA library Protesters voice opposition to UA Board of Regents’ decision to end DEI practices across the UA system

By Murat Demir copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Approximately 100 protesters gathered outside the UAA Consortium Library on March 4 to celebrate diversity and voice dissent against the UA Board of Regents’ motion to discontinue language and practices related to DEI at UAA, UAF and UAS. Protesters faced traffic on Providence Drive near the front entrance of the library, chanting “celebrate diversity.” Many cars honked their horns as they passed.

University police were spotted near the protest.

Ryan Buchholdt, vice chancellor for administrative services at UAA, was seen watching the protest from a distance.

The Northern Light reached out to Buchholdt for comment afterward but received no response.

The Northern Light spoke with librarian Deborah Mole, who helped organize the protest.

Mole said she was shocked by the Board of Regents’ motion and realized the need to physically gather together as a community to demonstrate the importance of diversity.

“If they start taking away language that supports inclusivity and celebrates the differences we bring to this community, then where does it go from there?” she said.

Gus Barber, a graduate stu-

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

A protester holds a sign quoting science fiction writer Octavia E. Butler.

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

Protesters hold signs supporting diversity as they watch traffic pass.

dent attending the protest said, “The most vulnerable among us are like always going to be targeted first, and we’re here to make sure that no one is targeted — if anybody is, we all are.”

Angelica Firmin, an Alaska Native studies major, said, “Diversity is really important and that’s what makes me feel safe on campus and makes me feel protected on campus.”

“Well, I’m really worried about, first of all, just the environment and like, what’s gonna be said. That always worries me, especially as a Native person, I feel very invisible at times, and a lot of people don’t realize what hurtful rhetoric they’re using,” said Firmin.

Firmin voiced apprehension about the future of research at

the university.

“I’m a researcher myself, and I don’t really, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to get my Ph.D. at this point with the topics that I want to look into.”

The university assessed and removed terms related to DEI from its webpages and program titles since the motion, according to previous reporting by The Northern Light.

The board’s motion followed an executive order signed by President Trump directing government institutions to eliminate “Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs” and a letter from the U.S. Department of Education regarding DEI. Earlier that morning, President Trump shared a post on Truth Social that stated federal

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

A sign promoting diversity is taped to poles near the protest.

funding would be cut for any university that “allows illegal protests,” adding that “agitators” would face imprisonment or deportation.

This report is part of an in-

vestigative series on recent changes related to DEI at UAA and will be followed by additional coverage.

Video: Board of Regent motion sparks protest on campus

By Anja Burnett video1@thenorthernlight.org

A Mar. 4 protest occurred on campus in response to the UA system’s Board of Regents’ recent motion to remove language surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

— The Northern Light’s executive editor, Matthew Schmitz, contributed to this video.

PHOTO BY ANJA BURNETT.

A protester holds her homemade sign referencing the Pledge of Allegiance.

NEWS

07

UAA history professor dies Influential history professor and writer, Dr. Paul Dunscomb, passes away at 61 years old

By Kaitlyn Gaub admanager@thenorthernlight.org

The University of Alaska Anchorage history and East Asian history departments lost a prominent professor. Dr. Paul Dunscomb died on March 5 from a “short illness,” according to a memorial article from the Association of Asian Studies. Many students and faculty were impacted by Dunscomb’s death.

Originally from New York, Dunscomb served as a professor at UAA since 2001. He also held the position of the UAA Department of History chair for six years.

Dunscomb’s memorial statement was written by Dr. William M. Tsutsui.

“As a professor at UAA for nearly twenty four years, Dr. Dunscomb instructed thousands of students. A specialist in Japanese history, Dr. Dunscomb was instrumental to the History Department and well known throughout our community,” wrote Tsutsui. “He was also a prolific scholar who published widely, including his most recent book on the economic and

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UAA: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

Professor Paul Dunscomb.

cultural impact baseball has had on modern Japan.”

Dunscomb was an accomplished writer. His works include, “The Crisis in Pro Baseball and Japan’s Lost Decade: The Curious Resilience of Heisei Japan” and “Japan’s Siberian Intervention, 1918-1922: ‘A Great Disobedience Against the People.”

His textbook “Japan Since

1945” is an influential history textbook used at several universities, according to the memorial article.

In addition to being a professor and writer, Dunscomb worked on the Executive Board of the Japanese Studies Association. He also was co-chair of the Asian Studies Development Program. Dumscomb also attended conferences and led workshops

in Japan.

Dunscomb had a reputation among students as having a large and vibrant personality, and gave memorable and engaging lectures.

History major Eli Williamson spoke with The Northern Light about Dunscomb. “I believe one of my history faculty described him as a force of nature and I think that’s fitting. He

was an extremely great orator,” said Williamson.

“The one [class] that stands out was Modern Japan because that’s his, that’s what he’s an expert at, being an East Asian professor and having studied Japanese history extensively, and he was extremely knowledgeable and one of the best lecturers that I’ve taken. Modern Japan might be my favorite class that I’ve taken as a history major.”

In an email with The Northern Light, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Jenny McNulty said, “Paul Dunscomb was a valuable member of the History Department and we all are feeling his loss.”

McNulty wrote the department is making plans to hire a new faculty member and will continue to offer a variety of history courses.

“History Professor Emerita Liz Dennison is teaching Dr. Dunscomb classes this semester. We are fortunate that Dr. Dennison was available; she expressed her desire to teach these classes as a way to honor her colleague and long time friend.

The students are in good hands with Professor Dennison,” wrote McNulty.

Turning Point USA meets UAA

By Sage R. Robbins reporter2@thenorthernlight.org

On Wednesday, March 19, the new UAA chapter of Turning Point USA held its first gathering in the Lyla Richards Conference Room at the UAA Student Union. The gathering included roughly 12 attendees moving in and out.

Turning Point USA is a network of college clubs around the United States that educates students about conservative political values. It was founded in 2016 by Charlie Kirk. The UAA chapter of Turning Point USA was established by a student named Cody Deschweinitz approximately four weeks ago.

The Northern Light sat down with the majority of the attending students to discuss Turning Point USA and its impact on campus.

Deschweinitz and Vice President Samantha Bennet said they seek to create a safe space for students with conservative political values and educate the student body on conservatism.

Deschweinitz said they plan to meet weekly for discussion and group debates.

Deschweinitz said he and others at the gathering felt that students with conservative beliefs at UAA feel afraid to express their thoughts and beliefs in public spaces due to conflicting opinions with other students and faculty.

One student shared their opinion of the differences in tolerance for criticism between conservatives and liberals.

They asked to remain anon-

ymous to avoid pushback from what they called the “radical left.”

They said that as conservatives, they can disagree with others’ opinions, points and arguments and not “exile” them, while people in the Democratic Party seem unable to stomach opposing opinions and label them as fascists.

Deschweinitz said a student came into the conference room while he was setting up and stole a box of pizza shortly before the group’s opening gathering. Deschweinitz said he was on the phone at the time and unable to stop the intruder.

Deschweinitz said the student told him, “You’re not welcome here,” before taking the pizza. Deschweinitz said his only response was, “Well, you’re welcome here.”

The Northern Light followed up with the University Police Department to seek information on this claim. University police Chief Earle said UPD had no reports related to this incident.

Deschweinitz also said the majority of Turning Point USA’s posters around campus have been ripped down. “I would never go out of my way to discriminate against someone due to their political beliefs,” said Deschweinitz.

Bennet said conservative students at UAA are walking on eggshells and are afraid to suggest alternative opinions from what she referred to as the “majority left.”

One key topic throughout the interview was the subject of diversity, equity and inclusion, known as DEI.

PHOTO BY SAGE R. ROBBINS.

Turning Point USA’s next event.

Recently, the University of Alaska Board of Regents made a change to university DEI policy.

The change has received media coverage and pushback at UAA. Deschweinitz and other students attending agreed among themselves that DEI was not strengthening UAA’s community.

One student said diversity should be about diversity of thought and that skin color and

sexual orientation say nothing about what a person believes or who they are.

Some students also said cultural differences should be respected. They expressed their support for institutions such as the UAA Pride Center and Community and Belonging.

They also said conservative students should have a space on campus to express their opinions and views, too.

Destiny Woko, UAA’s Black Student Union President, attended the gathering. She said she is not a part of UAA’s Turning Point USA chapter, and came to gather information and promote inclusivity.

Woko said that what she called “extreme leftism” can occasionally cause problems when none exist.

Her example for this was when the University of Southern California Suzanne-Dworak-Peck School of Social Work removed the word “field” from their curriculum, fearing that the word could be considered anti-Black in 2023.

She said some people spread the idea that minorities are oppressed even if some are not or haven’t been.

The students who are part of UAA’s Turning Point USA said they invite their peers to join the club. Deschweinitz said they are keen to provide a safe space for everyone’s political beliefs and educate people about conservative politics through respectful debates and discussions.

Their next social event takes place on April 17. Conservative activists Anthony Watson and Stephen Davis will speak in the Student Union cafeteria. Deschweintz said they will be discussing free speech, conservative values and challenging leftist ideologies.

Deschweinitz also said the chapter is making an effort to invite Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, to speak in the Alaska Airlines Center in the fall semester.

08

NEWS

UAA Department of Writing affected

by Board of Regents’ anti-DEI motion

By Scott Hobbs associate.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The Board of Regents passed a motion on Feb 21. requiring all University of Alaska campuses to remove public facing DEI language.

The Northern Light interviewed UAA writing professors Dr. Martha Amore, Dr. Zebadiah Kraft and Professor Shane Castle, to gauge the effects of the Board of Regents’ motion. Dr. Raymond Weber, who serves as the Dean of the UAA Department of Writing, was also interviewed.

A major change at the department was the removal of the anti-racism statement from their website. Unlike anti-racism statements across the UA system, it wasn’t related to hiring.

“It was a statement about writing pedagogy. It contained our department’s stance on writing and evaluating student writing,” Amore said. “It’s not just a general statement by people who care about anti-racism, it’s an academic statement written by experts in the field of writing.”

Kraft said it wasn’t just an issue of free speech. “Not only is the freedom of speech of the department being infringed, it’s the academic freedom of the department.”

Weber confirmed that the removal of the statement was due to specific language. “It was removed to meet the Board of Regents’ motion,” said Weber. As of now, the statement is still absent from the website.

Weber is working with the Department of Writing to get the statement republished.

“The Department of Writing and I are looking for the best way to present their intended message,” Weber said. “As more information comes from the Board of Regents and leadership, we should be able to find a way to get it back up in some form.”

Castle said the statement will likely go back up at some point, but doesn’t yet know in what form.

“We are still in limbo, and we are trying to figure out whether we can repost it as it was before the removal by explicitly retitling it as a statement of teaching philosophy,” said Castle.

Castle said the effects of the decision have reached faculty.

However, “the effects on the faculty are minimal compared to the effect of the dread such decisions have on students,” he said.

“Particularly students who come from marginalized groups in this country that have historically not only been treated poorly but attacked, beaten, enslaved and murdered to the benefit of the ruling class.”

“In our department, most of us are wrangling with how to effectively respond to this authoritarian move, and that is difficult, but it definitely doesn’t land on us the same way it does students,” said Castle.

Amore said the effect of the decision isn’t limited to the removal of the anti-racism statement.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UAA.

“Students have asked if they can use words. Students at the Writing Center are wondering if they’re allowed to state words or write on certain topics,” said Amore. “I’ve done my best to reiterate that students and faculty have academic freedom and freedom of speech.”

Kraft said students are concerned they won’t be able to write about meaningful subjects.

“Students ask if they’re allowed to confront these topics anymore, and absolutely you can,” said Kraft. “You are allowed to write whatever you want to, and we will all teach the way that we want to teach.”

Castle said that many students in his classes want to talk about the decision. “Some are seeking assurance and predictions about what comes next, but I have to admit that I am like them in not knowing, but planning for the worst.”

He said, “I suspect this authoritarian censorship is ineffective because it’s actually making students more aware of the relationship between words and power. When you are told your university can’t even use a common word like equity, it makes you want to use it more.”

Kraft showed one of his classes the department’s anti-racism statement. “It was unanimous that it should not be left down.

There was some conversation on maybe changing some of the wording and clarifying the statement is focused on pedagogy in the title, but students agreed it should be on the website.”

Amore said that teaching her writing and the humanities class would be impossible to teach if DEI-related terms were excluded.

“We discuss theories like critical race theory and feminist theory,” said Amore. “And these aren’t just theories I made up, they’re the major theories of the humanities. If I were told I

couldn’t teach those theories, I would keep teaching them even if I lost my job.”

Kraft said he won’t stop teaching topics in his classes, no matter where the order comes from.

“I am a combat veteran, I was in the infantry, and I spent my whole life learning about these things,” said Kraft. “They’re important, and I’m not going to stop teaching it unless you remove me by force.”

Amore said she doesn’t know what she would teach in her classes if topics were banned. “I don’t know what I would teach because what are being labeled as DEI topics are what the class is,” said Amore. “I wouldn’t be giving students the education that they need.”

Kraft said that what the university teaches right now is a patriotic education.

“Anyone who calls for education to limit perspectives such as DEI isn’t promoting a patriotic education,” said Kraft. “What they’re promoting is a nationalist education, teaching only the religious and political doctrine of the people in power, which is a slippery slope.”

Castle said that without a plurality of voices, writing will worsen. “The universe is complex, and no one language or dialect — or limited focus on a particular range of safe subject matters for that matter — can possibly capture all of that,” said Castle. “Any suggestion that they can or should is problematic and antithetical to critical thinking and democracy.”

Amore said removing diversity of opinion would be detrimental to students learning to write.

“We help students develop their writing, but we’re not punitive, we’re not saying you have to do it exactly this way,” said Amore. “We’re helping them to find the best way they can to reach their audiences, whoever

that may be. But without diversity of opinion, that goes away.”

Kraft said there is no one way to think in his classes. “Every opinion is acceptable in my classroom, and I’m sure that’s true across the university, because that’s what a university is supposed to be,” he said.

“We present ideas about the world in class, students have conversations and do research about them and talk about their own experiences. None of that is guided by political opinions of the professor, the only ask of professors is that people are accepting of others’ ideas,” said Kraft Castle said the removal of diverse perspectives will ultimately lead to an inability to think critically. “If students can’t read and engage with diverse perspectives, their writing is going to suffer, and so will their ability to think broadly and critically,” he said.

“And that is what the authoritarians running this country want. A stupid population serves them better because it’s easier to make us mere tools for increasing their already unconscionable profits.”

Castle said that there is some difference in opinion within the Department of Writing. “Like any other group of people, we don’t all agree in our analyses of the recent censorship or effective pedagogical responses to it,” he said. “There is nuance in discussion. But I think that democratic process of deliberation is exactly what is at risk here.”

Castle said, “Powerful people are trying to stymie thoughtful analysis, silence dissent and split us apart. So it’s important to say what is plainly true, which is that more conversations are needed now, not fewer” Amore said there hasn’t been a bigger threat to free speech in the history of the United States.

“People bring up the McCarthy era and the McKinley

and Roosevelt era, but the censorship that took place in those eras wasn’t happening to universities at this level,” she said.

“They weren’t ordering every university to make institutional changes.”

Kraft said it’s concerning that the impact of removing DEI has been so broad. “It’s not just universities or education systems, they’re making changes to the Arlington National Cemetery website and other public facing government websites,” he said.

“In other times of censorship, they cracked down on individual groups. This is much bigger than just individual groups, this is the entire country,” Kraft said.

Amore said now, more than ever, the public needs to do some inventory on their beliefs. “It’s important to get beyond politics and talk about what’s happening and think, is this right? Do these decisions line up with my morals and ethics?”

Kraft said it’s important to talk with others around you about the changes occurring.

“People have spent their lives trying to make students’ lives better, are you ok with removing those people because they use words like equity or are open to diverse opinions,” said Kraft. “I don’t think most people will be ok with this, because no matter what their political belief is, others’ voices being shut down means their voice can be shut down too.”

Castle said students need to dump their individualism and self-obsession and come together. “This struggle is one that requires collective ideas and action, and that’s perfect for writing students or any student who has a pulse” he said.

“A university has always been a communal space for the building and maintenance of the commons. Remember that and act and write accordingly.”

NEWS

09

Eruption update: Mount Spurr Mount Spurr has erupted before, notably in 1953 and 1992.

What did that look like then, and what will it look like now?

By Anja Burnett video1@thenorthernlight.org

The history of Mount Spurr spans 10,000 years, with at least seven confirmed eruptions, two of them being historically documented.

Mount Spurr is a stratovolcano with layers of lava and ash located roughly 80 miles west of Anchorage, making it visible from Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. The volcano is expected to erupt in the coming weeks or months. Previous eruptions disrupted daily life for Alaska residents.

According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, known as AVO, Mount Spurr is currently labeled “Advisory” with a “Yellow” aviation code due to increasing earthquake activity, surface deformations and volcanic gas emissions as of March 12.

One memorable eruption occurred in July 1953 and lasted one week.

After its 1953 eruption, the

AVO recorded a quarter inch of ash covering Anchorage, prompting a temporary shutdown of Ted Stevens International Airport for two days and impacted air traffic at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson from July 9 to 17.

In June 1992, Mount Spurr erupted again and was active until Sept. 17, 1992, marking three months of ashy skies and turmoil for Anchorage residents.

The thick ash in the air resulted in residents wearing face masks to protect themselves from the sharp volcanic ash that has been known to cause aircraft interference.

There were no fatalities from the 1992 eruption, but two heart attacks were reported by the National Centers for Environmental Information. One fatality was suspected to be from shoveling ashfall. Cleanup and damage from the 1992 eruption cost approximately 2 million dollars.

According to an article by Fox News, during Mount Redoubt’s eruption in 2009, a car

GATHERED FROM AN OLDER VERSION OF ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY’S WEBSITE VIA THE WAYBACK MACHINE.

Photo of Mt. Spurr erupting during 1992.

Newspaper clip from The Northern Light’s previous coverage on Mt. Spurr on Sept.

15, 1992.

mechanic recommended that residents cover their car engines with pantyhose due to the corrosive nature of volcanic ash, which can scratch paint and windshields.

During a future eruption, there is a potential for ash to seep into resident’s homes and

cars. This could impact electrical equipment like monitors and engines. The ash is also very thick, which could affect normal breathing and require the use of N95 masks.

According to an article by USA Today, the potential eruption is expected to be similar to the 1953 and 1992 eruptions, with heavy ashfall that will impact driving visibility, air quality, and regular daily functions.

The location of ash fall depends on wind direction and speed. CBS News wrote that there is a possibility the airport will temporarily halt like it did in 1992, which could impede cargo and passenger flights, ac-

cording to Alaska Public Media.

Residents can take action before the eruption by purchasing home and car air filters, goggles, N95 masks and stocking up on non-perishable food and water.

Students can also visit the Seawolf Food Pantry in Room 211 of the Professional Sciences Building to acquire food and other necessary items.

UAA’s Incident Management Team stated that students should stock up on essentials and stay updated via UA Alerts and UAA’s emergency website. Read more about how UAA is taking action in The Northern Light’s article titled: “Mount Spurr: UAA preparedness.”

Mount Spurr: UAA preparedness UAA’s Incident and Management Team is keeping a close eye on Mount Spurr

By Anja Burnett video1@thenorthernlight.org

According to a report by the Alaska Volcano Observatory on March 12, Spurr’s eruption is expected in the coming weeks or months. As earthquake activity, degassing and surface deformation occur more frequently, scientists will have a clearer idea of the event timeline and intend to brief the public with updated timelines as new information arises.

UAA’s Incident Management Team, known as IMT, sent an email on March 14, sharing a resource for workplace and home preparedness. IMT intends to share updates as they receive them.

The Northern Light spoke with IMT through email about UAA’s preparedness regarding Mount Spurr.

IMT wrote that campus evacuation is decided by the chancellor or someone within the Emergency Operations Center and local emergency management.

IMT also wrote that partial or full evacuation on campus is dependent on the nature of the event.

Building evacuation procedures for both on-campus housing and campus buildings require students, staff and faculty to evacuate to each building’s appointed evacuation area.

To ensure people with disabilities receive proper services, IMT states, “UAA encourages individuals with disabilities to self-identify (voluntarily) with the appropriate campus office (e.g., Disability Support Services) to ensure they are included in emergency planning.”

IMT states, “Departments and building managers are responsible for identifying evacuation routes and refuge areas

that accommodate individuals with mobility, visual, hearing, or cognitive impairments.”

In an emergency, elevators should be avoided unless use is directed by emergency personnel. Each building provides refuge areas for individuals who cannot evacuate independently and can wait for first responder assistance.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to aid individuals who may need assistance and to report their location to emergency personnel.

Paratransit, university shuttles and emergency services will be arranged to transport individuals to safe locations. IMT wrote that specialized transport is prioritized for those who require it and includes coordination with local emergency management and disability services.

“Evacuation procedures for UAA community campuses vary. Evacuation plans for community campuses can be found in the respective campuses’ emergency action plans,” according to IMT. UAA’s Emergency Management is in close contact with Alaska’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, as well as the Alaska Volcano Observatory, USGS and the National Weather Service, to provide information to assist the UAA community in preparing for Mount Spurr activity.

UAA Emergency Management conducts yearly exercises relevant to current events, recently focusing on active aggressor events, hazardous material spills and earthquakes. Volcanic emergencies have not been exercised recently. However, the department’s plans are reviewed and updated every three to four years, keeping them consistent with updates to the University of

Alaska Anchorage Emergency Operations Plan.

IMT is currently identifying parameters that could lead to the decision to close the campus in the event of an eruption impacting Anchorage.

IMT is also working with Residence Life to ensure they have the necessary information and supplies to prepare for and respond to an ash emergency for those living in dormitories and on-campus housing.

To mitigate air quality complications caused by volcanic ash, especially regarding engines and electronics, IMT responded: “Facilities Maintenance personnel will close as many outside air dampers as possible and recirculate interior air in campus buildings to prevent ash from moving through ventilation systems. Building filtration will be closely monitored and replaced as needed. Additionally Facilities will work to cover and secure fleet vehicles in parking garages and other items that will support the facilities response to the ash-fall event. IMT is working to assess campus needs in accordance with our emergency operations plan and will seek to provide appropriate protective covering upon further evaluation.”

IMT is working with Residence Life and the Student Health and Counseling Center to identify ways to provide students with personal protective equipment.

If personal vehicles are unavailable for evacuation, UAA will coordinate with local transit agencies, municipal resources and university transportation services to transport students to off-campus shelters and safe zones.

Students may be transported to designated shelters, such as

COURTESY OF ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS.

An airplane flies near Mount Spurr on October 2nd, 1992.

other UAA facilities, community shelters or partner institutions, if evacuation is required but sheltering in place is unsafe.

If needed, coordination with the Municipality of Anchorage Emergency Management will ensure access to Red Cross shelters or emergency housing.

To ensure all UAA students and staff receive emergency information in an accessible and effective manner, UA Alerts will include audio, text and visual components to reach individuals with various needs. Updates and instructions will be updated in real time.

Residential students who live in apartments with kitchens and those in off-campus housing who do not rely on meal plans should proactively provide supplies for themselves and their households.

Additionally, students without meal plans should follow UAA’s Mount Spurr preparedness recommendations and contact the Care Team, Dean of Students or the Seawolf Food Pantry to explore support for food insecurity.

Seawolf Dining will continue meal service to the greatest extent possible for residential students who live in a residence hall or utilize UAA’s meal plan.

Seawolf Dining’s connections to various business partnerships across Anchorage allow them to provide off-site meal preparation

when UAA’s commercial kitchens become unavailable. Fresh meals, shelf-stable meals, beverages and snacks will be delivered on campus daily and made available to residential students with meal plans.

Residents can take action before the eruption by purchasing home and car air filters, goggles, N95 masks and by stocking up on nonperishable food and water.

Other considerations for provisions include enough food and water for pets, prescription medicines, contact lenses and saline solution.

UAA staff, faculty, or students can contact IMT’s email with any questions they might have about UAA preparedness and Mount. Spurr: uaa-imt@ alaska.edu.

UAA students should refer to the university’s preparedness site.

Alaska residents can refer to the State of Alaska’s 7-day emergency kit, JBER’s natural disaster page, Ready.gov’s basic emergency kit, UAA’s Mt. Spurr updates website, Alaska Volcano Observatory, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management main page and Ready.gov volcano preparedness, USGS Volcano notification updates, impact and mitigation, hazards and preparedness for additional resources.

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STAFF CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508‌

A S S O C I AT E D CO L L E G I AT E P R ES S Reporter Sage R. Robbins reporter2@thenorthernlight.org

Executive Editor Matthew Schmitz

Columnist Nahla White

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The Northern Light is a bi-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 1,500. 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.

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FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2025

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Video: Seawolf Food Pantry serves students

By Anja Burnett video1@thenorthernlight.org

The Seawolf Food Pantry is a resource for students who need food and other necessities. The Seawolf Food Pantry, supported by UAA’s College of Health and Dietetics and Nutrition department, relies on donations and the UAA Food Insecurity Fund to support around 45% of students facing food insecurity at UAA. Visit the Seawolf Food Pantry in room 211 of the Professional Studies Building and grab what you need for households of up to four people.

Contact uaa_seawolfpantry@alaska. edu for any questions regarding the food pantry.

PHOTO BY ANJA BURNETT.

One of the Seawolf Food Pantry’s student employee poses for the camera while a student picks up some items.

University of Alaska faculty sign petition to rescind anti-DEI policy Over 300 faculty and postdoctoral fellows signed a letter opposing changes to university policy after the Board of Regents passed a motion requiring the removal of terms related to DEI

By Matthew Schmitz editor@thenorthernlight.org

The union representing faculty at the University of Alaska, United Academics, sent a letter signed by 356 union members to the Board of Regents asking for the board to rescind a motion that directed the university to make changes to diversity, equity and inclusion — known as DEI. The letter, sent on March 10, stated, “We ask that you rescind this motion and instead seek input from your stakeholders while the legality of federal directives is determined in federal court.”

“We are concerned that this action by the board has caused alarm and fear among faculty, staff, and students.”

According to reporting by The Northern Light, the University of Alaska Board of Regents directed university leadership to remove the terms “diversity,” “equity” and “inclusion” from university communications.

The board also directed changes to department names and position titles and the removal of “other associated terms” related to DEI. According to the Alaska Beacon the Board of Regents chair, Ralph Seekins, said the board was responding to directives from the federal government and concerns of losing federal funding.

Seekins said 20% of university funding comes from the federal government, according to the article.

Ryan Harrod is the UAA organizational vice-president for United Academics. He spoke with The Northern Light in an interview about the letter.

Harrod represents the faculty at UAA for United Academics and is a professor of biological anthropology.

Harrod said he was at the meeting with other United Academic representatives on Feb. 21 when the Board of Regents passed the motion.

According to reporting by The Northern Light, the motion was not on the agenda and participants did not have access to the motion’s text prior to being passed.

“A lot of people were shocked … We didn’t know it was coming,” Harrod said, “We immediately decided we had to have a response.”

The union decided to send a letter.

Harrod said they allowed union members to sign on to have a more robust response to the motion.

Faculty were able to add their names to the letter by signing an online form. Harrod said the union went through and removed nonunion member signatures and duplicate signatures.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHMITZ.

UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell speaks with a member of United Academics outside Consortium Library in 2022.

He said responding to policy changes that impact faculty are a part of United Academics’ responsibilities and that making a statement was important for future contract negotiations.

A concern that Harrod has heard about from faculty is related to academic freedom.

The union letter stated: “In our view, this directive was premature, rushed, overly broad, and difficult to interpret. More importantly, it threatens our academic freedom.”

The Board of Regents’ motion recognized academic freedom, but Harrod said there have been requests from administration for professors to make changes to courses.

According to an article in KTOO, a professor at the University of Alaska Southeast was asked to change the title of a course that included the term “DEI.” Harrod said that he himself has studied Chinese rail workers in the early 20th century, and that it would be difficult to do the work without using certain terms.

“It was a particular group that was diverse and there was inequity … (If) I can’t use those words, it would be hard to talk about that, right?” said Harrod.

“I get there is political stuff with what that means.

Those are realities of things too.”

Another problem Harrod identified comes from the “other associated terms” related to DEI in the Board of Regents’ motion.

Harrod asked, “What does that mean?”

He gave the example of a mathematician using the terms binary and nonbinary as words that could be accidentally identified as problematic.

Harrod said, “It’s hard when you’re banning words …

I’ve been in faculty meetings. A lot of faculty are worried about academic freedom, obviously, but (also) just getting in trouble in classes for saying the wrong word.”

“If you say the word diversity are you going to get in trouble for saying diversity? But so far they have said ‘no.’”

Harrod said the term diversity can refer to many things, including age, rural communities and poverty levels, and is not necessarily related to race or ethnicity.

He said, “I think there is a misconception of the term diversity. Diversity … is such an encompassing word.

And equity is about making sure it’s equitable for everyone.”

“We just want to make sure we can recognize these things.”

FEATURES

15

Student government members discuss response to Board of Regents’ anti-DEI motion

By Matthew Schmitz editor@thenorthernlight.org

UAA’s student government, known as USUAA, passed a resolution on Feb. 28 opposing an anti-DEI motion passed by the University of Alaska Board of Regents, according to reporting

by The Northern Light.

The Board of Regents banned the terms “diversity,” “equity,” “inclusion” and “other associated terms” from university communications, department names and position titles.

USUAA President Eisa Chang and Senator Arel Gutierrez talked in an interview with The Northern Light about the USUAA resolution, which called on the board to rescind the motion.

Chang said that students are “scared and angry” about what is happening.

She said, “We all know it starts with language … If they can take one piece of language away, that means we can tolerate further things being changed.”

Gutierrez said that students are not happy about the changes.

He said, “The student body doesn’t want this ban, whatsoever, and all we ask is for it to be

uplifted or halted.”

“We have many clubs, programs all supporting some specific group that might get taken down just because it includes diversity or inclusivity.”

According to a communication sent March 17 from the University of Alaska president, “Student clubs are not impacted by the Board’s motion, and student clubs will continue to be able to represent themselves as they see fit on university websites and portals.”

Chang said her biggest concern is the Multicultural Center, the Pride Center and TRIO. “Those are, in reality, offering what is supposed to build diversity, build inclusion, and build equity,” she said.

“Now we’ve removed the language, how is that going to do with them promoting their program?”

Gutierrez is a part of the Student Coalition, which was recently in Juneau advocating with state representatives for the university system.

He said, “When we met with the representatives, we originally planned to not talk at all about DEI. But they were the ones who kept bringing it up because they wanted to hear our concerns.”

Chang said they want more transparency in how the Board of Regents made their decision and to know why the student opinion was not considered.

According to reporting by The Northern Light, the Board of Regents’ anti-DEI motion was not on the agenda, and participants didn’t get a copy of the motion until it was passed.

Chang said she learned about the motion after receiving a message from the student regent, Albiona Selemi, who has a seat on the Board of Regents.

Selemi was the only member of the Board of Regents who voted against the motion.

Gutierrez said “This isn’t just trying to ban so-called discrimination; it’s rather trying to silence people’s freedom of expression.”

He said “It’s not just pigments being impacted by this, it’s any type of social group, including religions, disabilities, veterans. Because anything that makes you different or benefits you alone is considered discrimination by the DEI ban.”

Chang said, “My term with student government is about to finish … I would invite students to keep this momentum going … to join us and to make change.”

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHMITZ.

USUAA is UAA’s student government.

UAA professors and audience address DEI removal

By Hannah Dillon managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The Northern Light attended a forum at the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship where an audience discussed the removal of diversity, equity and inclusion-related language from university communities on March 28.

Liz Johnson organized the event and invited UAA professors to speak at the event.

UAA writing professor Jackie Cason serves as the president of the faculty senate and is set to become alliance chair next year.

Cason announced that she and others are pushing for a bill working through the legislature, titled HB10. Representative Ashley Carrick first proposed the bill.

The bill aims to introduce a faculty senate to the University of Alaska Board of Regents.

Cason said the motion passed by the Board of Regents to begin assessing and eliminating DEIrelated language on Feb. 21 was “done behind closed doors in executive session with only the board, and there is no faculty representation on that board.”

“I’m a writing professor, so I love language. I love words and it really does feel insulting in many ways, especially the way

PHOTO BY HANNAH DILLON.

Organizer Liz Johnson, professor Jackie Cason and audience members at the event.

the motion was written,” said Cason.

“And so banning words seems to be counterproductive as the kind of critical thinking

that we like to foster among ourselves and among our students.”

Cason said the Board of Regents has not responded to an open letter op-ed voicing con-

cerns about the removal of DEI and the board’s determining process. The letter was written by Cason and other alliance chairs.

Cason said University of Alaska President Denise Runge acknowledged the receipt to the Board of Regents and is now set to meet with Runge the following week.

Cason said writing op-eds and writing to representatives allows individuals to raise their voice about their concerns.

“You can write letters, we can pass resolutions, we can do votes of no confidence, if we want to.

But, ultimately, we don’t have a lot of power.” said Cason. “So, we can do that. We can use our voice, we do have free speech.”

UAA professor and Chair of Public Health Gabriel Garcia said much of his job involves social determinance of health and health equity.

Garcia shared some of his research at the faculty alliance symposium the day prior. His research included positive social and mental health benefits of DEI and ethnic studies.

“The Board of Regents’ motion obviously affected me because that’s the type of research that I do,” said Garcia. “One of the words I feel that is very hard to replace is the word equity.”

Garcia emphasized concerns he has heard from students largely lead to unknown variables with funding.

Cason then mentioned UAA’s chief diversity officer position along with its description was eliminated. She said she was also told two other faculty members were being let go but will have more solid information in the following weeks.

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2025

16

Fixing the Founding Fathers’ failures Satire column: ‘Right Answers Only’

By Scott Hobbs associate.editor@thenorthernlight.org

It has been my privilege the last six months to write at The Northern Light. However, in light of the Board of Regents’ decision and further federal guidance on DEI, I am no longer writing for TNL. I am now an auditor for the new regime..

In this new capacity, I will examine language in the Constitution and remove problematic terms. It is then my responsibility to inform the public of these marvelous changes.

First up on the chopping block is the First Amendment.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Words like “rights” and “freedoms” are — as of today — problematic.

They imply that America is a democracy, and that its people have civil liberties. No more speech. No more press. No more protest. No more grievances.

The revised amendment is as follows: “Congress shall make law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Congress has begun hearings to appoint Joel Osteen as the secretary of the newly established Department of Religion.

Osteen has promised to ban all non-evangelical Chrsitian religions from the United States, along with requiring all residents of the United States purchase at least 20 of his books.

Next to be audited — the Second Amendment.

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

There is no need for citizens of the United States to own guns.

If they own guns, they can overthrow the government. After a few tweaks and some additions, the amendment now reads: “A well funded Military, being necessary to the security of Israel, shall not be infringed.”

The Department of Homeland Security is initiating a gun takeback program nationwide.

The goal of this program is to — whether willingly or by force — take guns from the hands of Americans who don’t need them and covertly pass them to rebel groups in the Middle East.

Yet another amendment that needs fixing would be the Fourth Amendment.

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported

by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Privacy will no longer be freely given to peons who don’t deserve it. Our fearless leader has indicated that, similar to the Gold Card for immigration, you will be able to buy your privacy from the federal government.

How much it will cost has not yet been announced.

Again with some alterations, the new amendment reads: “The people shall be violated by searches and seizures of their persons, houses, papers and effects.”

Another flawed amendment ripe for audits is the Tenth Amendment.

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

A clear-cut example of the follies of the Founding Fathers.

Why would states or people have powers? All power belongs to one leader, appointed through divine right by white Jesus.

The improved amendment states: “The powers not delegated to

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL.

These fools had no idea what they were doing when they wrote the Constitution, and it shows.

the United States by the Constitution are reserved to his Excellency.”

Another amendment requiring an overhaul is the Thirteenth Amendment.

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

For far too long, the lower class of America has worked back-breaking jobs — and gotten paid for it.

This has put financial unfair strain on America’s one percent.

Now, upon turning 18, if your net worth doesn’t have at least eight digits before the decimal, you become a cog in the machine.

The amendment now reads: “Slavery and involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction so long as it generates revenue.”

The Sixteenth Amendment only needs one fix.

“The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or

enumeration.”

Congress, while being an integral part of maintaining the facade of a democracy, should not control taxes. Instead, this power should be reserved for those most greatly impacted by taxes.

As such, the amendment is now: “The oligarchs shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.”

These last two amendments go hand in hand. The Nineteenth and Twenty-Second Amendments.

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”

The days of elections for the office of the president are over.

His excellency has received a

mandate — both from white Jesus and the American people — to eternally hold office.

Henceforth, Joel Osteen will be the bridge between white Jesus and America, informing the people of who has been divinely appointed to serve as the president.

The amendments now declare: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall be denied or abridged by the United States if it is cast against God’s chosen one.”

“No person shall be elected to the office of the President.

The office of the President shall be decided by our heavenly father who art in heaven” These changes are necessary for America to continue its reign as the greatest nation.

While many view these words and phrases as “foundational” and “necessary,” this could not be further from the truth.

These phrases and words are not only outdated, they are problematic.

It is the responsibility of all organizations — especially those who receive government funding — to either expunge these problematic terms, or face the full might of the United States government.

Croft’s Comments Temporarily under construction

By Tanner Croft columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org

As many of my readers might know, I love answering and responding to each and every one of your submissions. However, Croft’s Comments will be temporarily out of service while we

deal with some things behind the scenes.

The submission link is currently down, but I hope that we can have this issue resolved by the Commencement Edition.

I apologize to all the readers who may have submitted questions or comments in the last month or so, I am hoping to po-

tentially answer your submissions in the near future.

I am also sorry to all of the readers who enjoy reading these Croft’s Comments with each publication.

I am working diligently to bring this column back as soon as possible.

GRAPHIC BY EDLEEN GUIAO AND LINNAEA GOSSARD.

OPINION

17

What is DEI? Column: ‘Just Sociology Tings’

By Nahla White columnist2@thenorthernlight.org

In recent months, the term “diversity, equity, and inclusion” — or “DEI” — has been getting thrown around a lot amid the Trump administration’s purge of anything related to the topic.

I first learned about DEI last year when the Francis Scott Key bridge collapsed and Baltimore’s mayor went on television to make a statement regarding rescue efforts. A tweet went viral claiming that things were going to get “so much worse” with Baltimore’s “DEI” mayor overseeing search and rescue operations.

Appropriately, many of the comments quickly clocked that the term DEI was a stand-in for Black and also compared the use of the term to “woke” and “critical race theory” — CRT. Anything revolving around the inclusion and visibility of minorities has been reduced to unfair DEI efforts.

Much like CRT, many people’s understanding of DEI has been warped by negative portrayals in the media. Subsequently, this led to some individuals believing that DEI provides minorities with an egregiously unfair advantage in corporate America, government and academic spaces.

The main function of many DEI programs is to provide peo-

ple of marginalized groups with equal opportunities in said spaces by providing them accommodations. Rather than providing us with an unfair advantage, it levels the playing field for people who otherwise would have never been able to get their foot in the door.

This can take form in different ways. For people with disabilities, it looks like making work and public spaces more accessible. For racial minorities, it often involves programs that exclusively hire ethnically diverse individuals to compensate for racial discrimination in hiring and acceptance processes.

In academia, there are a multitude of scholarships and financial aid programs dedicated to ensuring minority students have the resources necessary to obtain a higher education. Considering how race is a huge factor in examining a person’s socioeconomic status, having these programs are important to allow everyone to have equal opportunity education, regardless of their income level.

One of the most common misconceptions is that people accepted under these programs are taken on solely due to their marginalized status and thus underqualified for the positions they were selected for. A recent example of this is the public’s reaction to Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court nomination.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DMITRY DEMIDOVICH/SHUTTERSTOCK.

Despite having graduated from Harvard, served as a federal judge for years, participated as a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission and worked as a public defender, much of the outcry concerning her nomination revolved around the fact that former President Biden explicitly stated she was nominated in an effort to diversify the Supreme Court.

The term DEI wasn’t as popularized at the time. People were trying to establish a connection between Justice Jackson and CRT to discredit her ability to remain impartial. Many of those arguments mirrored the same ones used to attack DEI practices under Trump’s administration.

This idea that minorities hired due to their marginalized status lack the proper qualifications for the jobs they’re expected to perform is indicative of a broader problem. I think it’s time to start calling a spade a spade.

Trump’s current attack on DEI-related programs and institutions is an attempt to further alienate marginalized communities and restrict their access to

Student protest guide Are you upset with Trump’s new policy changes but don’t know how to express it? Organize your student body today!

By Nahla White columnist2@thenorthernlight.org

The Trump administration’s egregious policy changes lately have left many Americans feeling drained, hopeless and unsure of what to do. Reasons like this are why self-care and rest is vital, but action is just as important. Getting involved in your community is an amazing way to boost morale and raise hopes.

This is why I want to provide a simple rundown of all the tools needed for UAA students to organize and demonstrate on campus.

Much like the United States Constitution, Alaska’s Constitution explicitly protects the people’s right to speech, assembly and petition. While private universities aren’t required to abide by this law, public universities like UAA are — with exceptions.

The institution still has the ability to establish their own provisions and guidelines regarding student and faculty expression and demonstration — and the stipulations are as expected.

According to the university’s rules regarding nonacademic use of campus property, any form of demonstration may not “impede on student education, academic activities, research and scheduled events.” Students

can not “generate health [and] security issues,” and we have to “preserve the integrity and aesthetics of UAA property.”

Demonstrators aren’t allowed to participate in “unlawful disorderly or lewd conduct” and are not allowed to promote violence.

Anyone demonstrating — student or not — has to identify themselves to campus police when asked. This most likely has to do with the university’s rule that nonstudents and faculty have to organize their protests in coordination with the campus police chief.

One of the more notable rules regarding on campus demonstrations states that students aren’t allowed to carry weapons or anything similar to one.

It seems like a no-brainer until you read further down where it expands on this, listing sticks, helmets, shields, body armor, among many other items that the university considers weapons.

Another important rule that might come as a shock to most students is the university’s restrictions on sound amplifiers.

They consider an amplified sound to be “[anything] that is broadcast through electronically amplified equipment or a sound that is electronically enhanced.”

This automatically shuts down the use of Bluetooth speakers to play music and megaphones used to communicate instruc-

tions to large crowds.

These rules are in place to constrict what protestors can and can’t do. The vagueness in certain aspects of the policy gives the university far too much discretion in determining what is a reasonable time, place and manner for protesting. Although, that doesn’t mean we can’t use these rules to our advantage.

Traditional rallies and marches are the obvious go to under these guidelines. The only way to maximize the effectiveness of these demonstrations is to ensure that they’re resisting something. The entire point of protest is to disrupt the status quo, which can look like protesting against campus events and policy changes. Large crowds and gatherings can appear intimidating for certain people, and it isn’t hard to apply that pressure while still abiding by campus policy.

There’s a multitude of other, more subtle options as well! As I explained in one of my previous articles regarding the role of art in revolutionary practice, the ability to inspire and spark change with art is one that should never be undermined.

While the university does have a rule against posting circulars and handbills on any surfaces on campus, it is perfectly acceptable for nongraphic and

positions of power. Claiming to enforce true anti-discrimination practices, Trump’s current administration has convinced its voter base that minorities accepted under DEI programs are underqualified and stealing opportunities.

The infamous “Dear Colleague” letter, written by the assistant secretary for civil rights at the Department of Education, states that DEI is a form of racial discrimination that disadvantages “white and Asian” students of lower-income backgrounds.

The letter fails to acknowledge the disproportionate wealth gap between white and Asian Americans and other racial demographics that prompted many institutions to enforce DEI in the first place.

It’s clear that the end goal is to erase minorities from government and academia, but the enforcement of these policies also contributes to the erasure of history and resources for those minorities.

Recently, the Department of Defense deleted a page on their website about Charles C. Rogers, a Black Medal of Honor recipient who served during the non-obscene artwork and writing to be left in public areas.

These can include information and resources, or can simply serve as a form of expression regarding certain topics and issues.

To get an idea of which areas and surfaces you can’t post, the full list is included in the UAA Student Handbook under “Posting Policy.” It’s important that all postings be sponsored by a UAA student organization or department.

That means the post needs to have the contact and general information of said sponsor as well. The best course of action is to find the department/organization that aligns with your goals and register your works with them.

If you’re like me, you’ll also find an opportunity to express your ideologies through your academic career. That means choosing to research and write about issues that you find important as they pertain to your field of study.

The last suggestion I have — while seemingly insignificant — might carry the most weight, and that’s to establish a sense of community with your peers.

It’s hard. I understand. Most of us already have a lot on our plates between school, work, our social, and personal lives. Even if it means taking only a few minutes out of our day to hold a conversation with someone that you pass by on campus every day or say “hello” to a classmate you’ve never spoken to before — staying connected is crucial.

This opens up the door for support networks to be estab-

Vietnam War. In a similar fashion, Arlington National Cemetery is in the process of removing articles and photos pertaining to Black, Hispanic and women veterans from its website.

While the United States is no stranger to censoring the history of marginalized groups, seeing it happen under the guise of trying to promote true equality is what makes this far more terrifying.

Trump’s administration is purposely targeting its talking points to demographics of working-class individuals who don’t have the resources to succeed and fail to qualify for DEI programs due to their ethnicity.

However, instead of establishing social programs that would remedy that issue, Trump claims that minorities are the cause of those issues as a means of escalating division within the working class.

The fact that we live in a system where DEI is needed is the problem. While I do think that these programs are essential, it can easily be interpreted as a Band-Aid for the different types of oppression deeply embedded within our country’s foundation.

Rather than addressing the issue at its root and providing a solution for everyone regardless of race, the government refuses to provide accommodations for people experiencing poverty and attacks the programs that are designed to help those that are disadvantaged.

The aftermath leaves lower-income and working-class Americans feeling resentful toward one another, preventing solidarity and hindering strides toward creating a better nation.

lished between students, providing stability and reassurance for those who are less fortunate in wake of this uncertain political climate.

While it may seem like our hands are tied up and the world is caving in on us, it’s important to realize that there’s so much power in smaller collective actions than periodic large gestures.

Alaska’s Civil Liberties Union has plenty of other resources regarding fundamental rights as they pertain to protesting and expression in the state of Alaska. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression has a useful framework for analyzing colleges’ free speech policies and even a tool that allows you to see their grades for different universities – have fun with that.

For inspiration of what the best course of action is, I suggest skimming Gene Sharp’s “198 Methods of Nonviolent Action.” It’s great for people who may not have the time, money or energy to participate in more outright forms of protest and creating a plan tailored to your specific needs is great for minimizing feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy.

Pen America also has an informative article discussing the legal basics behind free speech rights and how they pertain to both public and private universities.

I hope this article helped you find the avenue of political demonstration that best suits you and has given you the tools to be successful in whatever you choose.

& AE

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2025

18

Hidden Gem: Namaste Shangri-La

By Tanner Croft and Murat Demir Amid the chaos surrounding DEI practices recently in the U.S., we here at The Northern Light have decided to broaden our horizons — especially when it comes to cuisine.

Located in a strip of stores off of Tudor Road and Lake Otis Parkway, Namaste Shangri-La is a Nepalese restaurant that has proudly served Anchorage for the last 14 years.

You may recognize this strip of stores from one of our previous articles about Ichiban Japanese Restaurant.

Similar to Ichiban, Namaste Shangri-La is also close to campus. Proximity is an important detail for any restaurant hoping to garner the attention of college students.

In addition to the location, Namaste Shangri-La is reasonably priced for college students who want to go out and have a nice dinner while still adhering to a budget.

Namaste Shangri-La is another classic Anchorage holein-the-wall restaurant that offers cozy vibes and house-made dishes.

Restaurants like Namaste Shangri-La are becoming less common in town, as economic struggles raise food prices and

PHOTO BY MICHAEL W. M., COURTESY OF YELP.

Namaste Shangri-La’s sign glows against the dark Anchorage night.

the city’s population continues to decline.

As with any restaurant, this place is popular on weekends — so it’s wise to show up early.

The dining room is homey and dimly lit. A row of booths rests against the wall. They sit low and bring you close for intimate conversation.

Lining the walls of the dining

room are very appealing paintings of Nepal, which provide a gorgeous view and can spark an engaging conversation while you wait for your food.

To begin our meal, we decided to try the vegetable samosas as our appetizer. These samosas are golden brown fried pastries with a seasoned potato and pea filling — an excellent choice to

start your dining experience at Namaste Shangri-La. One order includes two samosas and two accompanying sauces.

The mulligatawny soup is a satisfying entrée option. It consists of lentils, shredded chicken, herbs and spices. This soup has a balanced consistency and a comforting umami flavor. It’s even better if you order it extra

spicy.

Finally, we ordered the lamb momo, traditional Nepali dumplings filled with seasoned lamb.

If you place a full order of the dumplings, you may find yourself struggling to finish it alone.

Whether you choose beef, lamb, chicken or the vegetable option, you are sure to leave the table feeling satiated.

Namaste Shangri-La has a plethora of options for those who may be vegan or vegetarian.

This should come as good news, as we here at The Northern Light understand how difficult it can be to find restaurants that are able to accommodate dietary restrictions.

There are several factors that play into our decisions about which restaurants deserve to be featured in one of our Hidden Gem articles.

Affordability, location, coziness, convenience and of course taste, are all high on that list.

Namaste Shangri-La managed to impress us on all fronts.

Considering its proximity to campus, the more-than-reasonable pricing, the atmosphere and the delicious dishes, Namaste Shangri-La will be a restaurant that we frequent more often moving forward.

We hope to see you there one day.

Spenard Roadhouse Column: ‘Known Stones’

By Scott Hobbs associate.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Located at the intersection of Northern Lights and Spenard Road, Spenard Roadhouse’s building appears to be an old Pizza Hut. However, the building was actually a former Sizzlers Steakhouse. Either way, Spenard Roadhouse only looks that way in terms of the building shape.

Inside, you’re greeted with plenty of seating options. The dining room offers booths, tables and a bar area. The walls are decorated with various license plates and paintings.

The restaurant is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week, and you can typically find a seat fairly quickly. However, depending on what time you choose to go out on a Friday or a weekend, you may have to wait a bit for a table. Even if you have to wait, the food and drinks are worth it.

Starting with drinks: While I can’t speak to all the beverage offerings, the sodas Spenard Roadhouse offers are delicious.

My two favorites are the Strawberry Lime Boba Fizz and the Lavender Lemonade, but there’s really no wrong choice in terms of drink options.

If you arrive before 3 p.m., you’ll have your choice of brunch options as well as the main menu. The first meal I can personally attest to being incredible is the biscuits and gravy.

The biscuits have a perfect

golden brown exterior while still being flaky on the inside. That texture combined with the gravy is the perfect way to be taking a midday nap following a trip to the Roadhouse.

The Smothered Breakfast Burrito is also a tasty option, bringing some punched up spice and flavor with the chorizo, lime crema, cotija cheese and salsa verde. If you’re not a fan of tortillas, or are trying to watch your carbs, you can also order the burrito in a bowl.

Finally, in my opinion, no brunch menu is complete without a spectacular eggs benedict.

Spenard Roadhouse serves its version of the dish with all the typical fixings — poached egg, smoked ham, homemade hollandaise sauce and an english muffin — but they also come with a side of tater tots.

The tater tots are perfect for cleaning up the delicious mess of yolk and hollandaise that’s typically left in the wake of a good eggs benedict.

Now, onto the side dishes.

One thing I never thought I would order is a bag of Garlic Parmesan Popcorn, but ever since I tried it, I order it every time I go. It’s simple and delicious, and it’s a great item for a few people to split before the main meal comes out.

Mac and cheese is also a side option, with the choices to punch it up by adding bacon, tomato or broccoli. This isn’t your typical nuclear orange box mac and cheese. It’s a melty tangy mix of parmesan, cheddar and jack cheese that you’ll struggle to let cool down before digging in.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPENARD ROADHOUSE.

Something that Spenard Roadhouse is well known for is their Bacon of the Month. Each month there’s a new special that takes bacon — a dish that is already delicious on its own — and adds it to a dish that will blow your mind. A past Bacon of the Month Special that still stands out in my mind is the special of Bacon and Pork Burnt Ends.

Spenard Roadhouse’s list of dinner options can feel overwhelming due to the abundance of good options to choose from.

When I have to narrow it down, my thought process is as follows: First, I determine if I want to order a bowl. Whether it’s the Jambalaya, Korean Rice Bowl, Spicy Green Curry or another bowl offering, it’s hard to go wrong with a bowl. Most of these bowls are a bit spicy but

packed with flavor. Each bowl is typically close to two servings, meaning you’ll probably have leftovers in the morning.

If I don’t want a bowl, I turn to the pizzas. My go-to is the Prosciutto Fig Pizza. Featuring rich prosciutto, cheese and caramelized onion paired with arugula, fig and a lemon basil vinaigrette, each bite is balanced and full of flavor.

After the pizza selection, I look at sandwiches. The Bacon Jam Burger is my personal favorite out of the bunch. Other tasty options include the avocado melt, the Cubano and their simple grilled cheese on sourdough.

If I haven’t made up my mind after all those options, I turn to everything else. From salads and salmon to tacos and steak, there is a good selection of more

“traditional” dinner options. My personal favorite is the Fried Chicken Dinner that has a fried chicken breast, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus and a homemade biscuit with cowboy butter.

Although you’ll probably be full after eating whatever meal you pick, the desserts are all hard to turn down — no matter how stuffed you feel. The dessert selection features a traditional S’more, a decadent peanut butter pie and more, there’s a dessert option to fit everyone’s tastes.

If you suddenly feel the urge to eat mouthwatering food the next time you’re driving down Northern Lights Boulevard, swing by Spenard Roadhouse.

I assure you they won’t disappoint.

19

A&E

Photos: Juried Student Art Show spring 2025

By Alex Luangasa cartoons@thenorthernlight.org

The Hugh McPeck Gallery hosted the Juried Student Art Show opening reception on March 27. The show will run through April 24. The Juried Student Art Show is an event that is historically held during the spring semester of each academic year. According to a previous article from the Northern Light, this may be the last Juried Student Art Show that will be held in the Hugh McPeck Gallery space.

PHOTO BY ALEX LUANGASA.

PHOTO BY ALEX LUANGASA.

PHOTO BY ALEX LUANGASA.

Front of gallery with “Save the Hugh McPeck Gallery” petition flyer posted.

Best in ceramics, “What Remains of You” by Katherine Pugh.

Large turnout for the opening reception at the Hugh McPeck Gallery.

Sit Back Unwind

By Alex Luangasa cartoons@thenorthernlight.org

COMIC BY ALEX LUANGASA.

The owls who knew

By Sage R. Robbins reporter2@thenorthernlight.org

COMIC BY SAGE R. ROBBINS.

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2025

20

Photos: Mac Pac hosts spring figure skating exhibition

By Justin Cox multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The Harry J. McDonald Memorial Center hosted a spring figure skating exhibition on March 29, to help skaters prepare for the state competition being held in Soldotna on April 4-6. Many of these skaters will also be traveling to Minneapolis over the summer to compete in the 2025 ISI World Team Championships. Nineteen skaters ranging in ages 5 to 18 participated along with 5 group performances.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Skaters and members of the MacDonald Center staff pose for a group photo.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Abby May performs during the exhibition.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Willow Wolak performs a spin.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Lainey Moore jumps and spins.

Photos: UAA hosts MPSF championship

By Justin Cox multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

For the second time in program history, the Seawolves gymnastics program hosted the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The MPSF championship meet saw four teams compete in the Avis Alaska Sports Complex: the Seawolves, Southern Utah University, UC Davis and Sacramento State. SUU took first place, defending its title with a score of 196.625, followed by UC Davis with 196.400, Sacramento State with 193.850 and the Seawolves with 191.875.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Breeann Spain performs a backflip on the balance beam.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Grace Costello leaps during her floor exercise.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

A member of the SUU gymnastics team performs on the balance beam.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Claudia Lessog leaps high above the balance beam.