April 9th, 2024 by The Northern Light

FEATURES PAGE 6

Language Department comes together

A&E PAGE 10

UAA galleries: The who, what, when, where and why

USUAA elections: Luis Sanchez clutches presidency with wide margins

With the remaining 45.4% of the vote shared between the two competing campaigns and abstentions, Sanchez and his running mate Eisa Chang won with comfortable margins.

By Mark Zimmerman reporter4@thenorthernlight.org

With a total of 177 electronic ballots being cast in the April 2 USUAA elections, Luis Sanchez and vice-presidential running mate Eisa Chang won — securing 79 votes, or 44.6%. This victory comes in landslide margins, with opponents Iqlas Dubed/Fortune Dinganga scoring 52 votes at 29.3% and Joe PaviaJones/Hannah Huber scoring 36 votes at 20.3%. Abstentions — numbering 10 — accounted for 5.6% of the total.

The Sanchez-Chang campaign’s aggressive get-out-the-vote initiatives — marked by a series of lighthearted fliers featuring jokes and pop-culture references — greatly increased its public profile in the run-up. The policy proposals of the incoming Sanchez administration were outlined in a TNL candidate’s townhall last month. There, Sanchez proposed increasing Seawolf Shuttle frequency through a dual route and increasing outreach and transparency between USUAA and the student body. Chang emphasized bolstering Disability Support Services and building a positive work environment in student government. Optimizing parking space use through clearly communicating space availability is also a chief

priority of their upcoming term.

In other votes, USUAA senate incumbents saw no major challenges in this cycle, with Chuol Mut, Jowielle Corpuz and Jason Ritter retaining their seats. The incumbents saw small write-in challenges from Kaitlin Norton and others who were unnamed.

Delegate elections for various colleges largely went unfilled, with unspecified write-in candidates scoring single-digit

vote-counts facing down a consistent spread of 149 abstentions for each vote. An exception for named-candidate participation appeared in the Graduate College, where Aaron Barker secured seven votes.

Concert Board’s makeup remained largely unchanged with Fotokalafi Vea, Selma Casagranda, Hannah Bissett, Winston Ajakaye and Titessa Epsilon all retaining their seats.

Media Board saw Richard PerezSmith II and Louis Javanovich retaining their seats — seeing only 11 write-in votes for Lila Steele and unnamed others. With 170 abstentions and 11 write-ins, the Media Board remained unchanged. Ballots were sent to students electronically in late March, with the voting deadline set at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday April 2.

After Anchorage’s municipal election, Dave Bronson and Suzanne LaFrance tee-up for a runoff challenge

Anchorage’s April 2 municipal election readied the mayoral candidates for a second round, while down-ballot votes protected school board incumbents and bolstered Anchorage’s public spending.

By Mark Zimmerman reporter4@thenorthernlight.org

After April 2, the start to Anchorage’s mayor’s race finally came to an end. The race — expected to reach a runoff due to neither of the four leading candidates reaching 45% of the vote — was expensive and extensive. This was due in part to its early start and the high political profile of Dave Bronson’s mayoral administration.

While positioned as a formidable challenger due to his endorsements and policy background, former Legislator Chris Tuck — at 8% — fell behind in early results — trailing former Anchorage Economic Development Corporation Chair Bill Popp — at 17%. Former assemblywoman and one-time State House candidate Suzanne LaFrance narrowly led incumbent Mayor Dave Bronson by a margin of 36% to 34%.

LaFrance’s narrow lead over Bronson comes with a swift push to the May 14 runoff. After accruing a wide fundraising lead over other non-incumbent challengers and high-profile endorsements from labor groups, her campaign was positioned to directly challenge Mayor Bronson going into April. Bronson’s campaign was expecting this result, with the mayor telling TNL in March: “If we get to a runoff here in May, it’ll probably be me and Suzanne.”

During his time with TNL, Mayor Bronson accused LaFrance of enabling dysfunction in the municipal government during COVID-19 and in the run-up to his time in office.

“My administration is standing between single party governance in the city,” Bronson said during his interview, “and the balance that we need within our government.”

LaFrance asserted her confidence in her campaign after results came in.

“I was really excited by the results and happy to be moving to the runoff,” she said in a call with TNL on April 3 “I’m really proud of the campaign that we ran, we’ve got some good endorsements.”

The opposition candidate looked forward to using her fundraising and polling lead over Bronson to consolidate a coalition of voters that voted for Tuck and Popp.

“We’re building up our team, doubling canvassing efforts.”

She also praised down-ballot results, with all current school board incumbents retaining seats and most proposed city bonds — except for one that would provide outdoor public restrooms and one that would build new cemeteries in Girdwood and Eagle River — passing.

In March, LaFrance said of Bronson: “He came in with zero experience and had to learn Robert’s Rules, and had to try to learn the processes as well,” drawing a contrast between her public-and-private

sector experience and the mayor’s.

TNL did not receive a response from Bronson’s campaign on April 2 or 3, but they are expected to mirror their 2021 strategy that defeated then-assemblymember Forrest Dunbar. In that year, his team focused on grassroots efforts prior to the runoff, ramping up spending after citywide elections to take advantage of a less-crowded field.

Aside from the mayor’s race — eight out of nine bonds put on the ballot are expected to pass. All current school board incumbents up for election — Pat Higgins, Dora Wilson, Carl Jacobs and Mark Littlefield — held wide leads over their challengers at 58%, 63%, 58% and 100% respectively.

Ballots for the mayoral runoff elections will be mailed to Anchorage voters starting April 30, with the election occurring on May 14.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHMITZ.

Luis Sanchez speaks at TNL Town Hall on March 25.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHMITZ. Eisa Chang speaks at TNL Town Hall on March 25.

Blood donors needed: Mobile blood drive coming to UAA

A mobile blood drive is coming to the Gorsuch Commons on April 12. Student donations are important.

By Amelia McCormack reporter2@thenorthernlight.org

On April 12 a mobile blood drive will be at the UAA campus in the Gorsuch Commons. Students can sign up for an appointment through the QR code in this article, or by calling the blood bank at (907) 222-5630. While appointments are encouraged and make the processes easier, they are not required.

TNL interviewed Westley Dahlgren, who is a director of collections and recruitment for the Blood Bank of Alaska. He shared the importance of donating blood and recruiting new donors from the young adult population. As donors age they are more likely to experience medical complications that prevent them from continuing to donate. Old donors aren’t currently being replaced at a consistent rate.

“Everyday we lose donors,” he said. “Only about 38% of the population can donate, and of that maybe about 2% donate [annually].”

“Blood centers are struggling to get younger people to come in and donate, and Alaska is no different, and after Covid the dynamics of collecting blood changed dramatically.” Dahlgren said, in reference to struggles to bring mobile blood drives to local high schools, like the blood bank used to.

Donated blood has a shelf life of 42 days and donors can donate every 56 days. This leads to a gap in the amount of blood available — more donors are needed to fill the gap in the ratio of pints given to pints needed.

Dahlgren explained the process of collecting and using blood samples. Blood’s expiration begins from “the moment the needle goes into somebody’s arm,” he said. From there, it’s a race to ensure blood is properly stored to prevent spoiling. Certain blood products, like fresh frozen plasma, must be made soon after donation, making the process even more tedious.

Once blood is safely stored, it’s processed and tested by the blood bank to ensure it is clean and safe for recipients. The organization is then able to send the blood to wherever it’s needed.

Hospitals and medical centers in town like Providence may have couriers who come and collect the blood directly, or get deliveries from the blood bank’s own courier.

Hospitals outside of Anchorage are delivered blood via planes. “Blood outside of Anchorage is sent, believe it or not, with Alaska Airlines — they’re a huge partner of ours as well.

All the blood is stored in validated containers that can maintain a certain temperature for a certain duration of time,” Dahlgren said. Efficient and trustworthy partners are essential for ensuring blood makes it to its location in time. Dahlgren said that unused blood is sent back.

For example, if a smaller hospital in a town like Nome doesn’t use blood before it expires, they

send it back to Anchorage where it can be sent out to hospitals that regularly go through blood, especially in large accidents and emergencies. This helps ensure all blood is used and very little blood ever expires.

The process of donating blood is simple, especially if the donor is prepared. Donors should make an appointment and come

hydrated, having eaten a good meal, and with their photo ID. There is a quick medical screening before, which Dahlgren calls a “mini physical,” and a questionnaire. Overall, the process should take well under an hour if all goes smoothly, with blood collection taking between five to seven minutes on average. “The phlebotomy [blood drawing]

part of it is actually the shortest part,” Dahlgren said. After donation, donors are given snacks and/or juice for a brief recovery and then are good to go.

People don’t donate blood for a variety of reasons. If a donor is worried about medical issues or conditions, they should always speak to their doctor before donating blood. Some people think their blood type isn’t needed, or don’t know their blood type at all. The blood bank will test for blood type, and since recipients with different blood types are in need every day, no blood is wasted. Unused blood types can also be made into other needed products.

“There’s a need for every blood type,” said Dahlgren. He said one year, he tracked the blood types of approximately 1,100 high school aged donors from mobile blood drives to schools. “There was like six B donors throughout the whole year that donated that were high school aged,” Dahlgren said..

Another reason people don’t donate blood is because of anxiety or fear surrounding parts of the process. This is understandable and fairly common, and speaking with someone from the blood bank to better understand the process and what to expect may help alleviate some fears. Blood donations are lifesaving and always in demand, so the blood bank encourages anyone who is capable of donating to do so.

QR code that links to an appointment for the upcoming mobile blood drive at UAA.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLOOD BANK OF ALASKA.

A blood donor smiles in a medical chair.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLOOD BANK OF ALASKA.

A unit of group platelets at NHS Blood and Transplant centre.

FEATURES

Grounds’ response to pesky new potholes and other breakup safety hazards

While you may rejoice at the change in season, look out for new potholes and safety hazards.

By Kaitlyn Gaub copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

As the Anchorage breakup season comes into full swing, UAA Maintenance and Grounds and the Facilities team are tasked with maintaining the roads and parking lots on campus.

In an interview with Grounds and Landscaping, Supervisor Kara Monroe said, “We’re always looking out for [potholes], trying to be proactive, but they can pop up overnight sometimes.”

The Grounds team is aware of the annoyance faced by UAA students and staff, but they are dedicated to filling potholes in a timely manner. Monroe said, “If we get a report we try to get it done that day or by the next day because we know it’s a safety issue, can tear up cars … and that [cold patching] is the quickest way to do it.”

In describing the method her team uses, Monroe said, “There’s hot fill and then cold patching. Hot fill would be like the municipal trucks that you see driving around, or the contractors who have the heated material in the back of their trucks, and they shovel that in. It’s a bit more of an involved and expensive process, and ideally you’re working on dry pavement. It’s not something you see done commonly in the winter.

Cold patch … comes in bags and you use it at low temperatures.”

“This time of year we have to watch the weather, so we don’t want those potholes full of ice, so we tend to have to wait until they’re melted out a bit, so the afternoon hours are really the best time. And depending on where they are, we have to watch traffic. You know, the afternoon may be the best time to get a pothole, but the afternoon in the middle of West Campus Drive is not necessarily the ideal or the safest time for my staff to stand in the middle of the road,” Monroe said.

The cold patching method — considering time, cost and equipment efficiency — is not a long term solution. Monroe said, “It would be considered a temporary fill. It goes in there permanently but it doesn’t hold up as well as remediating the entire piece of asphalt, so coming in, cutting out clear edges, redoing the foundation, so the gravel and sand base that’s underneath the asphalt, and then adding in a hot pack on top of that. So, what we do is not up to that level, we don’t have the trucks here, the equipment, it would be handled by a contractor. So, really, it’s the best and quickest way for us to fill it.”

“We do have a contract right now that is active, where we can go and identify really bad problem areas and have those areas

taken out and fixed for the more permanent solution. They can do crack sealing … and that contract also includes re-striping of the parking lot … so we have to balance out the available funding with those three items … having that [contract] already negotiated allows us to have a quicker maintenance result,” Monroe said.

In addition to new potholes, breakup season can be danger-

ous with black ice and other safety hazards. Monroe said, “I would still be careful when you’re walking around, because all of that gravel that we put down, that provides that really nice traction in the winter time, it becomes like little marbles on the ground. So it can still present a bit of a trip hazard, or a slip hazard. As soon as the weather cooperates we’ll have sweepers coming through to pick up

that bulk. We’ll be doing detailing all the way up until probably June … We’ve got dust to contend with as well. So, when we’re cleaning up we are always trying to be cognizant of not breaking any rules in terms of air quality.”

If you notice a pothole on campus — or any other urgent maintenance issue — contact the Facilities work management office at (907) 786-6980.

UAA’s Historical European Martial Arts club swings steel swords

An exciting and unique club has recently opened its doors to UAA students.

By Hannah Dillon reporter1@thenorthernlight.org

The student-created club

HEMA — Historical European Martial Arts — is held every Tuesday from approximately 1:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Room 116 in the Fine Arts Building.

The HEMA club is fairly new, with active membership starting a little more than a month ago and interested students are continuing to trickle in.

Passionate club members

President Alexander Weaver and Treasurer Mark Foldenauer spoke with The Northern Light about their activities and goals

as a club.

Weaver noted that the club learns techniques in sword fighting that developed half a millenia ago.

Before club members begin to practice, stretching is an important and fun way to get the sword fighting juices flowing before actually sparring.

Once everyone is done preparing to duel, the training swords come out.

The training begins with a longsword where you learn how to hold the sword and techniques for bouts. The sword is made out of synthetic rubber or plastic but club members may soon acquire padded synthetic swords for an

even softer blow for new students who are training.

In an actual battle between two members, extremely dull steel swords with a blunted tip are used. According to Weaver, the type of metal used to create the swords are not able to hold an edge and are not dangerous.

Although these swords will not harm a student, the clash of steel swords swung with the intention of victory is exciting and feels more real than expected.

Members often follow the Meyer’s Square written on a whiteboard in the background — a sort of guide to the four openings of the body – as a framework for technique drills.

Wrestling techniques are also incorporated and used often; such as when a sword is dropped or when one is close enough to the opponent.

“Historical European Martial Arts covers any historical European martial art spanning from Roman gladius fighting to late 18th century bayonet fighting,” said Weaver.

When holding a longsword, the wielder must leave a small space between the thumb and the hilt of the sword to allow better range of motion along with a wide and strong stance.

Foldenaur demonstrated to a new member nearly impossible stances used by famous swordsmen.

The manner in which you swing the sword typically has a name. Beginner’s training involves infinity cuts — where you swing the sword in the shape of an infinity sign — and middle cuts — where you simply swing the sword from the center of your body in a wide sweeping motion.

One of the most notable features of the club is the protective equipment. Club members put on a pair of two-toned thick poofy pants — called plunderhosen — that protect the legs when training. The texture of the pants are similar to jeans but have the perfect look for medieval sword dueling.

Anyone who is interested in joining the club will need protective gear but Weaver said current members are collectors of various equipment and are no stranger to sharing defensive

armor and swords if joining students do not have any.

Most of the members’ collected swords have a name and an interesting history behind them. Weaver and Foldenauer demonstrated a sword named a messer which translates to “knife” in German.

The messer was originally the product of rebellious sword ownership as Germany attempted to mandate what was classified as a sword.

The handle of the messer is reminiscent of a standard kitchen knife. Club members said the rebellious sword owners would attach a very long blade to a kitchen knife in order to claim the sword was just for kitchen use.

The messer is one of the many swords club members often spar with.

Weaver also noted that anyone can join the club and nothing limits the ability to learn sword fighting techniques. Whether interested students live with a disability or are not particularly athletic, many people can swing a sword.

“Albeit, the end goal is for the UAA club to host a tournament between all the schools in town including our own students that would fight in it,” said Weaver.

The HEMA club is a unique and fun student organization where everyone is encouraged to attend. Whether you are there to blow off some steam after a stressful exam or just want to chat with new friends while watching a fencing session, students will have a great time at the exciting new HEMA club.

PHOTO BY KAITLYN GAUB.

Freshly patched potholes in the intersection by Rasmuson Hall and the Student Union.

PHOTO BY HANNAH DILLON.

HEMA club members sparring with steel swords.

Leeva Chung comes to UAA to advocate ‘curriculum to career’ education approach

By Kyle Ivacic managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Leeva Chung, Ph.D., of the University of San Diego made a trip up to UAA to give a lecture on March 28 and a workshop on March 29 focused on her approach to connecting students’ classroom experiences to careers.

The Northern Light spoke with Chung to better understand who she is and why she made this trip to Alaska.

“I’ve been teaching, officially, since 1991. But at the university level for 26 years. My areas of specialty are interpersonal and intercultural communication,” said Chung. She said that she is an AAC&U mentor.

“... have you heard of AAC&U?” Chung asked as she explained the reason for her trip.

According to its website, The American Association of Colleges and Universities is “dedicated to advancing the democratic purposes of higher education by promoting equity, innovation, and excellence in liberal education.”

Chung has worked with the organization for about 10 years and was asked to be a mentor.

“A mentor — meaning there was 12 of us who were going to mentor universities with what they called ‘curriculum to career.’ So for example … pick any

class that you’re taking right now and the way that your class is structured. Could you take what you’re learning to the real world in a career?” Chung asked.

“For some students and some classes the answer is no,” Chung said. This is the crux of the reason for her visit to UAA and her involvement with the AAC&U. She said that she intends to help schools create more pathways toward careers for students.

“I think the University of Alaska Anchorage did it [the curriculum to careers program] for two years. So, this last year … Liz went to one of my sessions … and then asked me if I wanted to be a ‘sidekick mentor’ because I was not assigned to the school, but I loved what they were doing with internships, I loved some of the things that they were talking about,” said Chung.

“Liz” is UAA Associate Dean of the Humanities Elizabeth Dennison, who invited Chung to UAA to help inspire students and give the university an opportunity to learn from an AAC&U mentor.

“So, this is all part of ‘how does my experience as mentor for AAC&U help [UAA] and get [the university] more onboard to designing your infrastructure in terms of your curriculum and pedagogy, to bring it forward?’” said Chung. “I’m actually kind of impressed by your catalog … I really am — more so than mine.”

Using the gym at UAA

How to gain access — for free — to UAA’s weight rooms and rental equipment.

By Tanner Croft reporter3@thenorthernlight.org

Many students who would like to go to the gym are unaware of how the whole process works here at UAA. This article is for those students whose biggest obstacle preventing them from going to the gym is simply knowing where to go to get access to the equipment.

A free, daily wristband is required for access to both the Olympic weight room and the machine weight room. To get the wristband, go downstairs in the Avis Sports Complex using the staircase next to the hockey rink or the basketball court. Downstairs, on the same side as the women’s locker room, there is an in-

formation desk that is staffed with an employee who will ask for your Wolfcard. They will swipe your card and then give you a wristband. Just like that, you can now get into both weight rooms and utilize all of the equipment. This information desk also functions as an equipment rental station.

The Olympic weight room is located just down the hall from the equipment rental desk, in between the men’s and the women’s locker rooms. Whereas the machine weight room — which has all of the cardio equipment — is located on the upper level directly across from the hockey rink.

Any questions that come up while using the facilities can be directed to information desk staff who are happy to help.

Chung said that she was happy to find that UAA has a significant number of classes that are career-oriented as well as many internship opportunities for students. Chung said that these sorts of programs enhance “the value of a college degree.”

Along with her AAC&U experience, Chung is also known for a theory of teaching that she coined “organized chaos.”

Chung said that “Organized chaos means taking what seems to be just completely chaotic logistic, ‘everything,’ and put it into a structure that makes sense for me in my classroom. So, that means a lot of the projects that I do with alumni, with community partners, and then with course content, with my students, mentoring — are all very challenging to come up with a very clear pattern and plan. Because you never know what’s going to happen.”

At its core, Chung said organized chaos is simply finding a “method in the madness” that allows for flexibility when life takes its unexpected turns. No class or project is without its hiccups, so having a way to be flexible is important, Chung said.

For some classes, rather than sticking with a nonflexible syllabus, Chung said, “What I do is I read the room and see what’s important. … It’s not something I

would encourage everybody to do. … But I think my way is, if you want to design learning, then learning should unfold as the class unfolds with you.”

Chung said that this approach has made learning more accessible for many of her students — especially post-pandemic.

Chung explained that changing up the game might help some people get through college or take life’s challenges with greater success — or at least with greater acceptance of and learning from failure.

Chung said, “Failing in college doesn’t mean an F in life — it means looking at what you can do better moving forward. So, we need to let go of failure as a negative and failure as an F. Because somebody who got a B says, ‘I failed.’ And so, this pressure not to fail is really damaging your need to learn and take risks.”

Chung said that letting go of the fear of failure and taking steps to “really relish this college experience” is to be successful after graduating. “You know, you’ll never have this time again. You’re gonna be working in a cubby hole. You’re gonna be working, you know, from home. You know this is the time when you’re supposed to network, make friends, build communities.”

“Take risks and understand that border line of yours. Expand your border line,” Chung said.

much less of a hassle than some might expect. It is especially useful for those who live on or near campus.

Photos: Contemporary Modern Dance at UAA

By Justin Cox sports.photographer@thenorthernlight.org

Currently UAA is offering several dance courses now that the dance pro -

gram is back. The Contemporary Modern Dance I is an introductory class for those looking to get into contemporary dance at UAA. The class is taught by term assistant professor of dance Katie O’Loughlin. Students are working towards a performance in April.

UAA will be offering more dance classes in the fall, Contemporary Modern I & II, Core Strength and Flexibility and Advanced Practicum: Performance. The schedule is available to view now on UAOnline and open registration starts on April 8.

Using the university’s gym is simple and

Scan to view more photos online.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Students work through their routine in smaller sections before combining into a full piece.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

O’Loughlin demonstrates choreography for her students.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Students work through the choreography.

PHOTO BY TANNER CROFT.

A photo of the equipment rental desk.

Faculty Alliance ‘Thought Leaders Forum’ focuses on artificial intelligence

AI use in the classroom presents complicated ethical concerns that university administrators are working to understand and overcome.

By Kyle Ivacic managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The University of Alaska Faculty Alliance held a forum on March 28 and 29 to discuss the ways in which artificial intelligence is changing the educational landscape. A series of educators and administrators from across the UA system spoke about AI during several Zoom sessions, and recordings can be found at alaska.edu/governance/ faculty-alliance/.

The March 29 “Track B” panel covered multiple topics, but this article focuses on the portion about the “impact of AI on academic performance” presented by UAF Department of Communication Assistant Professor Victoria McDermott.

McDermott began by explaining that the department has adopted an official AI policy. The policy allows for AI to be used “strategically” by students to help them “brainstorm and create frameworks or foundations” for their work.

The policy prohibits the use of AI for generating writing that will be turned in, such as a “speech outline,” “discussion board posts” or “reflection pa-

pers.” The policy also bans the use of AI for assignments that require peer feedback or personal reflection.

McDermott said that she recognizes “that AI is super dynamic and ever changing.” The department’s main priority with AI, she said, is “student success.”

“That’s the kind of space that we’re coming to this conversation from, and we take the stance that AI is not going anywhere.”

McDermott said that the policy “is in regards to the ways that we expect students or allow stu-

dents to use AI.” She said that the policy makes clear to students how and when to use AI, so as to better facilitate their learning.

But whether or not the policy is working is not straightforward.

McDermott estimated that there have been roughly two cases of inappropriate AI use per class. She said that instructors have noticed students become “combative” when accused of using AI.

Determining actual use of AI is not a simple task — especially

Photos: Super Smash

Bros.

as programs such as ChatGPT become more intuitive.

“AI is not easy to verify. There are a lot of different systems that maybe don’t chat with each other,” said McDermott.

Complicating the matter is the fact that programs like Grammarly — a generally accepted grammar corrector — are picked up in some AI-verification programs to the detriment of students who might have turned in AI-free work.

McDermott then explained that her department is trying its best to navigate the tricky ethics regarding AI. She brought up issues pertaining to discrimination, fake citations and intellectual property.

“We have a … limited understanding of how the algorithms that run AI work. And then sometimes AI makes some [unjustified] actions related to the conclusions that are made. There are privacy concerns. If you put content into AI, then whose content does it become?” McDermott said.

Regardless of these concerns, AI use is rising in the workplace, so the UAF Communication Department would like to help prepare students for this

new reality.

“Over half of the 600 businesses surveyed [in a Forbes study] already use artificial intelligence or hope to use it in the future,” said McDermott.

“We can see that there are a lot of different ways that businesses are integrating AI.”

McDermott explained that training, such as AI literacy workshops, can be a way to introduce students to AI tools and how to translate them ethically to their education and the workplace.

“You can actually have students kind of work through an evaluation guideline of ethics related to AI … Who owns the content, the bias, the misinformation. You can have students work through those through thinking critically [about] what AI puts out and what does that mean.”

McDermott concluded by explaining that concerns surrounding AI can be approached using “ethical reasoning” and addressing “problematic areas” to find ways to fit AI into the classroom.

Students who are interested in learning more about AI from a variety of educators are welcome to watch the Zoom recordings on the UA Faculty Alliance website. The recordings encompass a wide range of AI-related talks including “Using AI Voiceovers to Augment Instructor Presence,” “Using AI As A Partner in the Research Process” and “Utilizing AI Tools in the Classroom to Deepen Student Learning.”

Ultimate Tournament Students

gathered together to enjoy an evening of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with a tournament in the Engineering & Industry Building.

By Cian Abad photographer2@thenorthernlight.org

The return of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament has arrived! It took place in the Engineering & Industry Building at UAA on March 29, welcoming all members of the UAA community who wanted to showcase their skills. Regardless of their experience, participants were welcomed to join the main tournament. Alongside the main tournament, there were separate rooms where anyone interested could play at their preferred skill level. The event was to promote the engagement of the STEM majors according to Brian Fuentes of the Computer Science Club. “We didn’t have enough time to promote this event, but we had a good turn out!” The game was also live streamed on Twitch by volunteers from Esports.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UAF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION.

UAF Assistant Professor Victoria McDermott, PhD.

Scan to view more photos online.

PHOTO BY CIAN ABAD. Nintendo Switch set up with custom stickers.

PHOTO BY CIAN ABAD. Fuentes and Nebrida playing a non-competitive match.

PHOTO BY CIAN ABAD.

Students enjoying the fight.

PHOTO BY CIAN ABAD.

Joshua Nebrida enjoying the food provided by the event.

Language Department comes together

UAA’s Language Department has much to offer to students regardless of the career path.

By Cian Abad photographer2@thenorthernlight.org

UAA’s Language Department held two talks, one day after another, to share the value of studying and speaking another language. The first talk, Tea Time Conversations on Language, Literatures and Cultures, was held in the Administration & Humanities Building on April 4. Students and teachers spoke about their experience with being in a language class and what it is like to teach a language.

West High School’s German teacher William Kimball spoke about how language classes nat-

urally provide students with the practice of public speaking and good social etiquette. He also spoke about how most people fall in love with a language because they often first fall in love with the culture, as he reminisced on his upbringing in Europe.

“World language needs to fight!” said Kimball in response to how the department is facing the chopping block if students don’t recognize the value of language studies.

On April 5 in the ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building, was the ASD+UAA Languages Meet & Greet, organized by the Chair of the Department

of Languages, Professor Natasha Masanovic Courtney, also known as Frau Masanovic to her German students. The event was an open-mic style, and allowed anyone to speak about how studying languages affected their lives academically and personally. Students from different career paths spoke about how knowing a second language can help students for the better, and opens doors that would have otherwise been closed. Free language books, charms, pins and food were provided at the event as well.

Some favorite slang words from those in the Language Department include, “Das ist der Hammer,” by Kimball, which means something is awesome in German. “Kimokawaii,” from Japanese professor Kaori Shi-

mizu, to call something that is cute but unsettling at the same time. “Aguas!” from Spanish student Zoraleda Mendel, which is used to tell someone to be careful.

Scan to view more photos online.

PHOTO BY CIAN ABAD.

Department of Languages poster board.

PHOTO BY CIAN ABAD.

A multilingual family on the mic.

PHOTO BY CIAN ABAD.

Language books for the taking.

PHOTO BY CIAN ABAD.

Students of Frau Masanovic enjoying their time posing for a photo.

UAA Volleyball clinches first scrimmage win over Nanooks SPORTS

Two back-to-back block solos from Lelani Elder late in the fifth set resulted in the Seawolves winning the first spring scrimmage 3-2.

By Patrick Doty sports1@thenorthernlight.org

The 2023 volleyball season may have officially ended months ago — back in the fall semester — but the 2024 volleyball season began recently on March 30, starting on a high note for the Seawolves as they beat UAF 3-2 at home.

UAA’s win was a familiar sight for the home crowd to see — the Seawolves haven’t lost to their northern rivals since November 2021 — however, there was some unfamiliarity to the game. Nicole Blue, UAA’s biggest weapon last season, watched the game from the sidelines.

These scrimmages don’t allow seniors to play, instead giving us a snapshot of the current competition heading into the fall season. This resulted in the young blood of the Seawolves having to step up.

UAA breezed through the

first set with ease, limiting the Nanooks to under 15 points. In the second set there were some signs of life in the Nanooks’ defense resulting in some rally, however nothing substantial or

noticeable.

But around the third set, outside hitter Bethany Tuchardt took a hard fall and hurt her foot, pulling her out of the game. Prior to her fall, Tuchardt totalled nine kills, nine digs, and two aces, her kills leading the team at the time.

Despite her injury, she was second on the team in kills — the leader having 10 — and tied third on the team for digs.

To put it simply, she was on a hot streak against the UAF defense.

Tuchardt’s injury and Blue’s ascendence left a noticeable absence on the outside as the Seawolves struggled to maintain efficient kills late into the game, falling to 2-2.

The Seawolves and Nanooks kept the game tight, however two back to back block solos from Elder late in the fifth set resulting in the Seawolves winning the final set 16-14, ending the first spring game with a 3-2 win over the Nanooks.

Tuchardt’s injury did prove to be costly for the Seawolves, however, given the nature of the preseason, there’s no pressure for any hurried returns.

The Seawolves look ahead to a double header on Saturday, April 6 against Central and Eastern Washington before heading up to Fairbanks to close out the preseason against the Nanooks on April 20.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

#3 Bethany Tuchardt hits a dig, one of her 9 of the night.

OPINION

Review of study spots on campus

By Kaitlyn Gaub copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

This article is my subjective opinion of different study locations on campus, and is not a comprehensive guide to all of the available locations. The locations will be reviewed based on overall ambience, WiFi speed, power outlet accessibility, proximity to refreshments and noise level. Each section score will be added for a total out of 50 per study location.

First up, the Consortium Library main room with the big windows. This spot has immaculate lighting and a great overall vibe. The large windows allow for plentiful natural lighting — which is a welcome reprieve from the standard fluorescent lights. The desks and chairs are comfortable for long study sessions. Be cautious of the glare on computer screens if facing away from the windows on sunny days as this can hamper study efforts. The overall ambience for this part of the library receives a 9/10.

This section of the library is a short walk from Kaladi Brothers Coffee. This spot receives a 10/10 for proximity to refreshments — just be aware of the cafe’s hours.

The WiFi download speed in the open area of the library is 23.97 Mbps and the upload speed is 15.65 Mbps. This is one of the best upload speeds of the spots tested for this article. Optimal WiFi speeds vary, but according to Business.com, a good download speed for a work setting is at least 25 Mbps and a good upload speed being at least

3 Mbps. Both of these speeds in this part of the library are satisfactory — though somewhat slow on download speed. This location receives a 7/10 for WiFi.

This location’s noise level is negligible as it is one of the quietest study spots despite being quite populated with studiers: 10/10.

The outlets in this part of the library are less than stellar. While they worked during this excursion, I have had trouble with them in the past. The outlets are housed in a dark, dusty hole that is insufficiently sized for a MacBook Pro charger. A standard iPhone charger is at its length limit if plugged in with the phone resting on the desk. These outlets are serviceable, but nothing special: 5/10.

Overall, the open section of the library downstairs with the windows receives a 41/50.

Next are the private study rooms in the Consortium Library. These are located on the second floor by the government documents section. The ambience in the private study rooms is reminiscent of prison cells. Despite having a whiteboard — sans dry erase markers — they are cramped and have a mildly unsettling vibe with different shades of yellow and beige in the interior. The furniture is not bad, though the desk was somewhat sticky and the window in the door behind the desk evoked a feeling of being watched: 5/10.

There are vending machines in the library and Kaladi’s is a short walk downstairs. For refreshments, this location receives a 5/10.

The WiFi download speed in the private study rooms was 12.85 Mbps and the upload speed was 14.13 Mbps. This is not great: 3/10.

This location was great in terms of noise level. The private study rooms are quiet and isolated from other studiers, facilitating intense focus: 10/10.

The outlets in the private study rooms are conveniently located above the desks and are functional: 10/10.

Overall, the private study rooms in the library receive 33/50.

The next study spot is the entry hallway in Beatrice McDonald Hall — specifically the booths. The ambience of this spot is great — the mix of natural and artificial light and calming interior decor are reminiscent of a Holiday Inn Express hotel lobby in the best way possible. However, the booth seats are quite low to the ground, making the setup uncomfortable for long study sessions. The vibe of the Beatrice Mcdonald Hall downstairs area receives a 6/10.

Down the hall from this spot are several vending machines as well as being a short walk from Cafe Delgga in Lucy Cuddy Hall, earning it an 8/10 for refreshments.

The WiFi download speed downstairs in McDonald Hall was 25.8 Mbps and the upload speed was 6.73 Mbps. These speeds are above the minimum requirement: 8/10.

The outlets under the desks are easily accessible and functional, making them worthy of a 10/10.

The noise level was low, though it varies based on traffic as it is located in a main hallway: 8/10.

Overall, the booths in the first floor entryway of Beatrice McDonald Hall receive a 40/50.

The next study spot is the area on the second floor of Rasmuson Hall by the doors into the Spine. The ambience of this spot is pretty good. The color palette is soft and the lighting is a combination of warm fluorescents and natural light from the many windows. The chairs — which are attached to the desks — are comfortable and in correct proportion to the height of the desk. There are plants in this area as well. The ambience of the spot receives a 10/10.

There is a room downstairs in Rasmuson Hall that houses many vending machines. For refreshments, this gets a 6/10.

The WiFi in this area had a download speed of 25.62 Mbps and an upload speed of 2.49 Mbps. The WiFi score of this spot is 7/10.

The outlets in this location are incredibly difficult to access. With the chairs attached to the desks it is near impossible to access the outlets without crawling under the desk: 4/10.

The noise level of this spot in Rasmuson varies, but it is not bad — with exception of being open to all of the other floors in the building and next to the high-traffic entry to the Spine. This gets a 7/10.

Overall, the area on the second floor of Rasmuson Hall by the Spine receives a 34/50.

Next is the part of the Spine connecting the Student Union to the Engineering and Computation Building. This area has a nice ambience with a view of Chester Creek out of the windows and many plants. The furniture is fine in this location as well. It should be noted that the floor shakes when people walk past — which happens a lot. All in all, this gets a 9/10 for its vibe.

Being attached to the Student Union, this location is great in terms of proximity to refreshments from Subway, the Seawolf Grounds and the Seawolf Marketplace — in addition to vending machines. This earns this study spot a 10/10 for refreshments.

The WiFi download speed in this part of the Spine was 24.9

Mbps and the upload speed was 8.41 Mbps: 7/10.

The outlets in this part of the Spine are few and far between, though the ones I tested were functional: 8/10.

The noise level for this area varies, though expect some distraction as this is a main thoroughfare for students and is a common place for groups to congregate: 7/10.

Overall, the Spine from the Student Union to the Engineering and Computation Building receives a 41/50.

Finally, I investigated the second floor of the Fine Arts Building. This area has a good ambience with a mix of concrete walls, good furniture, and both soft fluorescent lights and natural light. This building also gets hotter than some other buildings on campus. This spot gets an 8/10 for its ambience.

This spot is located near several vending machines, and receives a 6/10 for refreshments.

The WiFi download speed was 9.34 Mbps and the upload speed was 7.15 Mbps. This spot receives a 1/10 for slow WiFi speeds.

I did not see many outlets in this area: 4/10.

The noise level was not great as it is open to the downstairs and the stairwell, in addition to music practice and performances that can occur within earshot. The vending machines garner groups of students making this spot a bit distracting: 4/10.

Overall, the second floor of the Fine Arts Building receives 23/50.

The best study spot in my opinion — out of the ones I investigated according to my criteria — is a tie between the Spine connecting the Student Union to the Engineering and Computation Building and the first floor area with the windows in the Consortium Library. The worst in this lineup was the Fine Arts Building.

When it comes to an area that fell flat across the board, WiFi is a detrimental factor of many study spots around campus.

These rankings reflect the criteria I personally value when looking for a place to engage in concentrated studying. The place you choose to study is heavily reliant on the buildings you frequent and your individual study habits.

PHOTO BY KAITLYN GAUB.

Booths in the entryway of Beatrice McDonald Hall.

CARTOON BY MARK ZIMMERMAN.

Upcoming events

UAA event list for Wednesday, April 10, to Tuesday, April 16.

By Kyle Ivacic managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Events happening throughout the week:

Arctic Encounter Symposium

According to a promotion for the event, attendees can “Convene with leaders from across the north for the largest annual Arctic policy event in the U.S. AES raises awareness, engages with challenges, and develops solutions for the future of the region and its people. The program includes two keynotes, expert plenary sessions, breakout panels, reports, exhibitors, networking, artistic and musical performers, and a closing reception.” Undergraduate students can register for free admission at arcticencounter.com/student-

passes. Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center

Wednesday, April 10, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 11, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Friday, April 12, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Momentum Dance Collective Presents “On My Way”

According to the event listing, “On My Way is a celebration of the beauty found in the spaces between departure and arrival and the choreography serves as a powerful expression of our shared human experience and what we learn in embracing the unknown.” Student tickets are $21.40. Fine Arts Building, Room 220 Friday, April 12, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 13, 7:309:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 14, 4 - 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 11

Honors College Evening Polaris Lecture

According to the event listing, “The Honors College is excited to host Minister David Rutley MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Americas, Caribbean and the Overseas Territories) and Minister responsible for the Polar Regions for an evening lecture.” All are welcome and refreshments will be provided.

Consortium Library, Room 307 5 - 7 p.m.

MSA Eid al-Fitr

According to UAA Student Activities, students are invited to “Join the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and MSS in celebrating the end of Ramadan. Games, delicious food, and great connections! All are welcome.”

Movie review: ‘Immaculate’

This review is mostly spoiler-free and only includes scenes and information featured in the trailer.

By Kaitlyn Gaub copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

“Immaculate” is a new horror film by director Michael Mohan and writer Andrew Lobel. Star Sydney Sweeney demonstrates her horror acting chops and burgeoning scream-queen potential. “Immaculate” follows a young American woman, Cecelia played by Sweeney, who joins a convent in rural Italy. The best part of this film is the cinematography and set design. The chill-inducing shots of Cecilia throughout the film with her focused in the center add a feeling of dread as the others

in the convent obsess over her. Cecilia-focused shots emphasize the immense pressure she is under throughout the film, and add a sense of dissonance between her and the others in the convent. The sets in the convent itself and the landscape of the Italian countryside are visually stunning.

The film appears to take place sometime in the mid-20th century, though with the use of the isolated and archaic setting, the time is fairly ambiguous adding to a sense of disorientation felt by the audience. A scene in the first act of the film utilizes flashing red lights to add a sense of confusion and alarm.

The “Suspiria”-esque sequence is gorgeous to look at.

Cecilia becomes pregnant through supposed immaculate conception, and is hailed as a saint by the convent. An utterly chilling shot of Sweeney adorned in Our Lady of Sorrows accouterments standing on the balcony of the church, a single tear flowing down her cheek, with a chorus of nuns singing in Latin, is one of the best scenes in the film.

There are references to several cult-classic horror movies, though mostly in style and tropes. Overall, the plot of “Immaculate” was quite predictable. Once you catch on to the forces

6 - 8:30 p.m.

Student Union, The Den Friday, April 12

UAA Department of Music Student Recital Watch music majors perform what they have practiced this semester. This event is free and open to the public.

Fine Arts Building, Room 150 3 - 4 p.m.

UAA Department of Languages Showing of Hirokazu Koreeda’s “Shoplifters”

Students interested in international cinema are invited to watch this Japanese film. It is summarized by Rotten Tomatoes as follows: “On the margins of Tokyo, a dysfunctional band of outsiders is united by fierce loyalty and a penchant for petty theft. When the young son is arrested, secrets are exposed that upend their tenuous, below-theradar existence.”

Student Union, The Den

at play, the film is somewhat formulaic. The use of jumpscares is not overdone — with the caveat of fake-out jumpscares in which loud sounds and quick flashes are used in place of an actually frightening thing for the sole purpose of raising the audience’s heart rate. The plot and horror elements ratchet up in intensity, culminating in a dramatic end scene.

The gore in “Immaculate” is another key positive of the film. The use of both practical and CGI effects make for a few gruesome scenes. These are entirely bearable for a seasoned horror watcher, though may turn the stomachs of the uninitiated.

The sound design of the choir as well as the screams performed by Sweeney at several points in the film — especially in the final scene — makes for an insanely spine-tingling experience.

Despite a relatively simple

5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

TBA Theatre Presents: Forever Plaid

This live Off-Broadway show takes place “When four young singers are killed in a car crash, they posthumously take the stage for one final gig in this goofy, 1950s nostalgia trip. This deliciously fun revue is chockfull of classic barbershop quartet harmonies and pitch-perfect melodies!” Tickets are $20.

Bear Tooth Theatrepub, 1230 W 27th Ave 7 - 9:30 p.m.

Monday, April 15

Monthly Student Veterans of America Meeting Join other student veterans for discussions on the club’s upcoming plans and life as a veteran at UAA. Consortium Library, Room 307 5 - 7 p.m.

plot, “Immaculate” is an entertaining watch. If you enjoy dramatic cinematography, infrequent but intense gore, chilling religious imagery and mysterious twists and turns, you may enjoy “Immaculate.” I rate it a 3/5.

COURTESY OF NEON. “Immaculate” movie poster.

UAA galleries: The who, what, when, where and why

The UAA campus features three art galleries maintained by students and the Fine Arts staff.

By Amelia McCormack reporter2@thenorthernlight.org

Galleries are specially organized rooms where visual artwork is displayed. UAA has three — the Hugh McPeck Gallery in the Student Union, the Kimura Gallery in the Fine Arts Building and the Arc Gallery outside the Consortium Library. Each of these feature artwork from different people.

The McPeck Gallery currently hosts the final contestants of the Juried Student Art Show, and primarily focuses on highlighting UAA students’ works. The Kimura Gallery currently displays artwork by June Pardue, an adjunct professor at UAA, and also showcases international artists. The Arc Gallery holds a sister exhibit to the one in the Kimura Gallery, showcasing the Alaska Native Arts Student Showcase, and focuses on displaying local Alaskan artists.

These galleries provide UAA students and staff, along with the greater Anchorage community, the opportunity to closely engage with the fine arts in curated events, free of charge.

Hans Hallinen is a sculpture technician at UAA and works as an exhibit installer and gallery coordinator for the Kimura Gallery and others as needed. As an installer for the galleries, Hallinen works with artists to ensure their pieces are undamaged and prepared for installation, along with arranging lighting and deciding what display methods are best for different pieces of artwork. Artists vary in experience

level, especially in the McPeck Gallery where many artists are first-time students.

The Hugh McPeck gallery is a student-run gallery and almost only showcases student artwork, in exhibits like the Annual No Big Heads Exhibition, the Clay Body’s artwork and the Juried Student Art Show each year. The gallery also hosts a variety of other exhibits throughout the year and allows opportunities for students who work in all aspects of the fine arts, including watercolor painting, drawing and ceramics.

The Kimura Gallery currently hosts June Pardue’s Sugpiaq Art Renaissance exhibit, featuring beautiful beaded headdresses, fur clothing and more. This exhibit will be up until April 5. The Kimura Gallery aims to showcase artwork that demonstrates “current developments in art-making, and in culture at-large, while creating an opportunity for public dialogue regarding new work, diverse perspectives, and pertinent research.”

The Kimura Gallery hosted an exhibition by artist Nuttaphol Ma in fall 2021, which Hallinen shared his thoughts about. “[Nuttaphol Ma] did this pretty intense project, incorporating photography and embroidery.” He said the exhibit was “definitely, like, politically charged, and wanting to kind of really engage with the public. So there was this really kind of aspect of reaching out to [the] community.” Hallinen highlighted one of Ma’s pieces which focused on community engagement sur-

rounding the idea of the Pledge of Allegiance. Photos of this piece can be found on the Kimura Gallery website, and feature a patchwork American flag in white, with note cards filled out by visitors pinned to it, answering the question “What would your reconsidered pledge to a flag be to create a sense of home for all?” Exhibits like this highlight the community aspect of art exhibition and encourage attendance and engagement from the Alaskan community.

The Arc Gallery is located

between the Consortium Library and the Kaladi Brothers in the same building. Hallinen said the gallery is named after its notable curved, or arc-shaped, wall. “It’s named after a wall that we basically never actually hang on, right, because you can’t really install artwork on it safely.” While the gallery focuses on Alaskan artists, it happens to connect with the Kimura Gallery’s showcase this time around — June Pardue is a professor of native arts at UAA, and many of her students are featured in the

current Alaska Native Arts Student Showcase.

Each gallery has its own website which allows viewers to find current, upcoming and past events. Hallinen said that “Ideally we would have at least three shows a year for each of the galleries — it’s usually like three to four.” While exhibits last six to eight weeks on average, the gallery sites also feature photographs of many past events, giving viewers the opportunity to view exhibits no longer installed.

UAA pianist Zach Wariner gives impressive performance

UAA’s music department held a student recital on March 29 which featured a student pianist performing in Room 150 of the Fine Arts Building.

By Hannah Dillon reporter1@thenorthernlight.org

The lobby of the Fine Arts Building was silent except for the faint sounds of a trombone originating from within Room 150. The trombone felt like an announcement for the piano player’s approaching performance.

Dress shoes tapped the gray tile of the Fine Arts lobby as the audience entered the recital hall to experience the performance.

The pianist for the evening was UAA student Zach Wariner and he performed Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Allegro Assai” from Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57.

Wariner walked across the stage toward the piano to a round of opening applause by the audience. The artist’s coat tails laid perfectly on the seat behind him.

The song began with an elegant light touch of the keys and quickly progressed to a lively chorus of a flawless performance.

Wariner swayed with the mu-

sic while expressing his focus as his fingers stretched across the keys without effort.

With each crescendo and chaotic upheaval Wariner astounded the audience with his performance.

The song was fast and lively and somehow felt as though it signified the chaotic transition of Alaska’s winter into a late spring.

The student’s fingers moved across the keys like a wave in a storm, intensely perfect. Wariner conveyed the emotion written in the song’s origin.

The audience filmed the performer and smiled as Wariner eloquently covered Beethoven’s difficult piece.

The Fine Arts Building hosts many student recitals throughout the semester. Many performances and recitals are available to anyone in the UAA community for free.

Students and community members will find amazing talent of all kinds on the first floor of the Fine Arts Building in Room 150 on event days.

Everyone is encouraged to support the performers by attending, listening and giving a loud round of applause.

PHOTO BY AMELIA MCCORMACK.

The Juried Student Art Show is displayed in the Hugh McPeck Gallery.

PHOTO BY HANNAH DILLON.

Zach Wariner performing Beethoven’s “Allegro assai” (Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57).

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Photos: Guest instructor demonstrates West African Dance

By Justin Cox sports.photographer@thenorthernlight.org

On April 2, UAA’s Assistant Term Professor of Dance Katie O’Loughlin brought in a guest instructor, Kasha J, a local Anchorage dancer and choreographer. J gave a lesson on Lamban, a West African dance, for O’Loughlin’s Dance Appreciation class, UAA students and the Anchorage community.

Lamban is a traditional springtime celebratory dance that originated in Mali and Senegal and performed by griots, who act as the cultural repository for the communities. As J describes in one of her lesson plans, “A djeli or a griot is a West African poet, praise singer, and wandering musician, consid-

ered a repository of oral tradition meaning that they hold the distinct honor of passing down from generation to generation in griot families the stories & traditions of their tribes lineage.”