August 9, 2016

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

| 02

Debt-conscious Millennials wary of credit cards

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

By Victoria Petersen

vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

Matt Palla is a local 28-year-old bartender who does not have a credit card, and no desire to get one.

“I spent money I didn’t have. I learned my lesson the hard way. I learned that if I don’t have the money to pay for something right when I want it then I don’t need it until i can save up and buy it at the right time,” Palla said.

Palla isn’t alone. A Bankrate survey, compiled by Princeton Survey Research Associates International that released last month, showed that 63 percent of Millennials — ages 18-29 — don’t have a credit card. Compare this to 35 percent of adults over the age of 30 who don’t have a credit card.

Lack of education and practice with credit and money management for Generation Y may contribute to the fewer credit cards in use by the generation.

“Credit cards are scary. I have a debit card and that is still sort of scary,” Kathryn Casello, 19-year-old and former Northern Light features editor said.

Speaking from experience, Becky Heath got a credit card in college as part of her student bank account.

Beginning with a small limit, it increased as her credit improved.

“I needed a way to build up good credit and a credit card — if used right — is an easy way to do that,” Heath said. “Problem is, because it’s so easy it also gets quickly abused and can damage credit as fast as it can build it. Many people are afraid of credit for this reason and avoid credit cards or any debt for that matter. Personal finance is an area most of us Millennials have very little education or understanding of. Finance, credit, budgeting are all skills that need to be taught and educated on.”

While there’s no one reason so few Millennials own credit cards, it can be related to economic crisis’s

that Generation Y lived through. Professor and chair of UAA’s sociology department Chad Farrell says one potential explanation for few Millennials owning credit cards might be what demographers refer to as a cohort effect.

“This occurs when a group of people [cohort] have some shared experience that has a common effect across the group,” Farrell said. “It can be especially strong when the experience occurs during the transition to adulthood. Young adults make up a cohort that came of age during a time of great economic turmoil and uncertainty — Great Recession, 2008 housing crash, etc.

These experiences during their youth may have had a lasting effect on their attitudes toward debt, including credit cards.”

With shared experiences of national and worldwide economic crisis, Millennials may have also experienced financial stress closer to home that has deterred them from getting involved in accruing debt.

“I don’t have a credit card because I’ve known some older people who relied on them and found themselves in trouble. I have been using a debit card for a few years now. I think that I will get a credit card sometime in the future, if for no other reason than to build credit or earn airline miles,” Matthew Newkirk, a 20-year-old logistics student said.

Some credit cards offer great benefits and can be rewarding if used safely and correctly. Zee McCummings takes advantage of the Alaska Airlines credit card, which not only builds her credit, but also gives her travel benefits.

“I have two credit cards: one through AKUSA, my bank, and Alaska Air. AKUSA was my first one and the one I used to build my credit. Alaska Air was because I wanted miles, and generally I use it for bigger purchases, and my AKUSA one for small ones,” McCummings said.

Student cards are also a popular option for cash-

strapped Millennials.

“I have two credit cards because I wanted the travel benefits from the Alaska Airlines credit card and the Capital One student card I have has no annual fee and no interest charges. For me, it was a way to explore finances and have something for emergencies without being able to take on too much debt (even if I maxed out both cards, I would be about $5,500 in debt, which is way more than I ever want but not the end of the world). I’ve gotten a lot more confidence from having it,” Abby Slater, a journalism student said.

In a world where credit is required to make big life purchases, Millennials will more than likely be forced to use credit.

Krystal Zickefoose is a 30-year-old Wasila resident who was pressured to get a credit card at 18. Cancelling her credit cards when her debt became out of control, Zickefoose struggled to pay off her debt. At age 28, Zickefoose suffered from pneumonia so severe that it left her in a coma for nearly two weeks. The pneumonia escalated to acute respiratory distress syndrome, leaving her with her chances of survival at less than 20 percent. Zickefoose was then forced to get a credit card to cover her medical expenses. Since paying her medical expenses, Zickefoose has cancelled her credit cards once again and has been struggling to pay her debt.

“Due to continued medical problems as a result of the initial trauma, I had no choice but to use them to survive, and again, I have cancelled them and am unable to make payments. Between the medical bills, my inability to work and credit cards, I fear I may have to file for bankruptcy in the future,” Zickefoose said.

In a society where credit is equivalent to trustworthiness, debt-conscious Millennials who divert from plastic will have to find more creative ways of building credit, or risk the chance that is taken when card use goes beyond their control.

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

| 03

The rise and fall of #UAAmazing

By Victoria Petersen

vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

You many have seen #UAAmazing as a caption to a photo of a white pickup monstrosity, complete with vanity plates and an Alyeska Hotel decal on the tailgate parked, almost miraculously, in three parking spots in the West lot on campus.

Maybe the ironic hashtag was at the end of a tweet complaining about the costs of tuition, posted by a recent South High graduate, who’s wearing Uggs and True Religions in her profile picture. You’ve definitely seen it on a Facebook post regarding the Wi-Fi on campus, which seems to run at a glacial pace. The point being, #UAAmazing has been taken over by students as an ironic way to point out their grievances with the university.

In 2013, the University of Alaska Anchorage launched the campaign “Amazing Stories Being Written Every Day.” The campaign, which highlights notable student stories, was launched alongside UAA’s social hub, The Howl.

The Howl’s website uses four created hashtags to highlight the UAA brand and content from around campus. One

of these hashtags The Howl uses is #UAAmazing.

“We wanted to use a hashtag that reflected the brand and also embodied what we know to be true—our faculty, staff, students and alumni are doing amazing things,” Kristin DeSmith, Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Relations, said. “#UAAmazing is used by both the university and our community to share examples of those things on social media.”

The hashtag is used on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and promoted during special campus events such as Kick-Off, Commencement, Gala and Winterfest.

In addition to promoting the university, the hashtag is commonly used by students ironically when posting complaints or irritants on campus.

Occasionally the university will respond to students complaints in an attempt to relieve a specific issue, but more often than not it is a way for students to vent about campus life. So, what began as a hashtag to promote UAA student success, the hashtag is now synonymous with irked students speaking freely about university annoyances.

04 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016 If you’re low on Pokeballs, make sure to check out the University of Alaska Anchorage’s campus map with all of the Pokestops listed below.

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

| 05

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

06 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

Level up your ramen game

By Victoria Petersen

vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

Ramen, a staple college food, is known for it’s cheap price and hunger-satisifying qualities. Chicken and beef broth noodle soup can get old fast. With a few extra ingredients you can enjoy your instant noodles in a whole new way.

Ramen cacio e pepe Inspired by chef David Chang, this recipe is a simple and nontraditional Cacio e Pepe, meaning “cheese and pepper.”

Ingredients: - 2 packages instant ramen - 3 tablespoons butter - 1 tablespoon olive oil - 1 cup Pecorino Romano - 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano - Fresh ground pepper

Directions: 1. Heat a pot of water. Next, add butter, olive oil and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then let simmer.

2. Add the cheese. While stirring, quickly add the ramen.

Shepherd’s Pie It sounds odd, but when the ramen comes out of the oven, a crunchy layer graces the top of the pie.

The ramen noodle consistency we all know and love sits under the crunchy layer and works well with the savory flavors.

Ingredients: - 1 package cooked ramen noodles - 1/2 pound of ground beef - 1/2 cup chopped onion - 1/2 ramen seasoning packet - 2 tablespoons of water - 1/2 cup of frozen peas - 1/2 cup of corn - Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

3. Mix until the noodles are soft and done.

1. In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the beef, onion, ramen seasoning and water. Saute until beef is thoroughly cooked.

4. Serve with more pepper to taste.

2. Add in frozen peas, corn and salt and pepper.

Pad Thai ramen Give your ramen a Southeast Asian spin with this pad Thai recipe.

Ingredients: - 1 package of ramen noodles - A few peeled, cleaned shrimp - 1 egg - 1/2 ramen seasoning packet - A few squirts of fish sauce - Juice of 1 lime - 1 tablespoon peanuts - 1 tablespoon of scallions - A small handful of bean sprouts

Directions: 1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the ramen noodles according to the package. Add in the shrimp, and cook until pink. Pull off the heat once both noodles and shrimp are done.

2. Crack an egg and lightly beat it in a small bowl.

Pour it into the bowling water.

3. Pour everything in the pot into a strainer to drain and transfer everything to a large bowl.

4. To the noodle mixture, add half the seasoning packet, fish sauce, lime juice, crushed peanuts, scallions and bean sprouts.

3. Mix together and then transfer to a pie plate or a cast iron skillet. Top with cooked ramen noodles 4. Place the dish in the oven and broil until ramen is brown and crispy on top.

Taco ramen A unique take on the instant noodle, this recipe is packed with a spicy kick.

Ingredients: - 1 packet ramen noodles - Beef ramen flavor packet - 1 can of diced tomatoes - 1/2 cup water - 2 tablespoons taco seasoning - 1 chicken breast - 1/2 cup corn - 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded - 1/4 cup cilantro

Directions: 1. In a large pot, bring water to a boil and cook the ramen noodles and the beef seasoning packet. Cook noodles until they are soft 2. Add tomatoes. Once noodles are ready, serve into a bowl.

3. Heat corn in a separate small bowl in the microwave for about 1 minute. Sprinkle over ramen.

4. In a skillet, cook the chicken in some olive oil. Once chicken is cooked, shred and set on top of ramen bowl.

5. Top each bowl with cheese and cilantro.

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FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

| 07

School? Ain’t nobody got time for that

GRAPHIC BY ALL-FREE-DOWNLOAD.COM.

By Victoria Petersen

vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

College is an exciting and transitional time in a persons life.

Meeting new people and learning new things can be all overwhelming when you’re on your own and have never seriously managed your time before. Follow these tips to stay on top of your school work and maintain and healthy social life.

1. Learn to say no It can be tempting to say yes to anyone’s invitation to hang out or go to events when you’re making new friends. You have a new social circle and you don’t want to experience the fear of missing out, but allotting yourself time to study or get work done is crucial in succeeding in your classes. Take the time you give yourself to work on homework seriously.

2. Keep your health in mind Burning the candle at both ends is no way to live through college. If you’re overwhelmed or struggling with your classes, talk to someone who can give you perspective and offer help in managing all that’s on your plate. If it comes down to it, you can always withdraw from a class you aren’t succeeding at for the sake of your mental and physical health.

3. Complete the most important tasks first When formulating a to-do list, make sure the most important tasks are the first things you accomplish. Prioritizing can help you not to overlook time-sensitive or necessary tasks. This way, you can have less to stress about as you’re going about your day.

4. Never underestimate the power of sleep Getting a full nights rest is crucial in using your mind and body to it’s optimal capability. It’s better to get work done before the wee hours of the morning. Pulling a Red Bull-induced allnighter won’t help you as much as a solid nights rest.

5. Don’t bite off more than you can chew With all the options, clubs and job opportunities surrounding us, college kids often times find themselves taking on more than they can handle. Manage your extracurricular activities and make sure everything you’re doing with your time is what you want. Only do things that matter and eliminate the nonessential.

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08 | FEATURES

YOU’RE INVITED! UAA-ISU Doctor of Pharmacy

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UAA Professional Studies Building, Room 104 The University of Alaska Anchorage College of Health and Idaho State University College of Pharmacy have partnered to offer Alaska’s first Doctor of Pharmacy program, now available in its entirety in Anchorage.

Join us at the open house to learn about the program and see our newly remodeled facility on UAA’s campus.

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pharmacy.isu.edu • (907) 786-6553

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

| 09

Staff picks: Podcasts

By Young Kim

By Kathryn DuFresne

“Cameras or Whatever” is great podcast made by photographers for photographers. Tyler Stalman and Cameron Whitman, both of whom work at Stocksy. com, deliver insightful conversation about what it’s like to be a working professional in the photography industry, as well as express their thoughts and excitement about wide variety of photo equipment ranging from film cameras, lighting and video gear. If these sorts of things interest you, then check out this podcast.

Just in time for election season, comedians W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu share their curiosity about the political process and the ever-changing landscape in “Politically Re-Active.” Bell and Kondabolu attempt to find the answers to all of the questions Americans have, particularly when they ask “why?”

Why can it be so hard to vote? Why do super delegates exist? Why is dog whistling still a thing (and what is it?)? The current election craziness may be exhausting to view through mass media, but by breaking down the most confusing ideals into informative and hilarious discussions, “Politically Re-Active” hopes to open your eyes to the often mysterious elements of our electoral process.

By Victoria Petersen Independently produced and created by Roman Mars, “99% Invisible” uncovers the thoughts that go into the everyday things we never think about. Steering wheels? Drinking fountains? Flag design? Secret staircases and abandoned phone booths in the middle of the desert? The possibilities are endless with this podcast; now one of the most popular on iTunes with over 80 million downloads. You’ll come out of every episode with new knowledge on something you didn’t even know you cared about.

WELCOME BACK TS

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Copy & Print Center Black/White Full Color Large Format Vinyl Signage Lamination Foam Core Mounting Graphic Design AND MORE!

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CONTACT US lower level campus bookstore (907) 786-6860 | www.uaa.alaska.edu/gss

10 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

10 apps for wellness, school and health

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

| 11

THE NORTHERN LIGHT

Turn in volunteer applications to The Nor thern Light of fice downstairs in the Student Union near Subway.

VOLUNTEER

12 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

Saving big: Student discounts around Anchorage

By Kathryn DuFresne content@thenorthernlight.org

FOOD

Saving money is one of the main priorities of college students young and old. With tuition increases, textbook prices and either rent or paying to live on campus, the opportunity to save a bit of cash is always welcome. Thankfully, armed with a university email and the UAA Wolfcard, students are offered discounts throughout the Anchorage area.

TRANSPORTATION

ACTIVITIES

Pepperincini's in the University Center offers UAA students a 10 percent discount off their order with student ID.

Allstate offers up to a 20 percent discount for full-time students under 25 with proof of “good grades.”

With a UAA Wolfcard, students can enjoy buy one, get one free games of bowling at Center Bowl.

With a university email, students can snag Spotify Premium for $4.99 a month.

Uncle Joe's Pizzeria provides Seawolves with a 10 percent discount on all your pizza needs.

State Farm offers the “State Farm Good Driver Discount,” where students can receive up to 25 percent off their bill up until age 25 with proof of “good grades.”

Alyeska Resort offers a $15 discount to students on tram tickets and ski passes.

Visit the Microsoft Store for Education and save 10 percent off software, Windows PC’s, accessories and more.

Admission to the Anchorage Museum is $10 for students with student ID.

Interested in news? Students can subscribe to The Wall Street Journal for $1 a week, or subscribe to The New York Times for 50 percent off the regular rate.

Select Qdoba locations offer students a free drink with a purchase of a meal.

While Menchie's Frozen Yogurt does not offer a student discount, their My Smileage rewards program can add up to free fro-yo quickly.

Jiffy Lube locations provide a 10 percent student discount on all oil changes and other services with valid student ID. GM dealers offer the “GM College Discount” to current students, recent graduates and current nursing school and graduate students. This discount can be applied to a select group of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles

Discount movie tickets for Regal Cinemas are available at the UAA Student Union Information Desk.

MISCELLANEOUS

Sprint customers can receive discounts between 10 and 15 percent if they request a student discount. Additionally, AT&T customers can submit their university email to receive 17 percent off their bill and Verizon customers can save up to 20 percent.

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor

‘The Salvation’ is anything but

BIKE TOUR R

There are a lot of ways to squander a good cast. When this happens, it’s forgivable if one actor can’t shoulder the narrative weight of their cast mates. But if there’s no weight to the movie to begin with, is there really anything to waste?

Enter “The Salvation,” a bloodless Western out of Denmark. It manages to waste veteran actors Mads Mikkelsen and the already underutilized Eva Green. Both of them work with what they’ve got. It’s just that they’re not given much.

It’s a sad thing, too, because it starts out well. Set in the American west, Jon (Mads Mikkelsen, “Men & Chicken”), a Danish immigrant and former soldier, exacts vengeance for the murder of his recently arrived wife and son. Among his victims is the brother of Henry Delarue (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, “Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice”), a vicious oil baron. With a stranglehold on Jon’s frontier town, Delarue sets out to avenge his brother.

The first red flag comes right at the beginning. A few paragraphs of text fill in Jon and his brother Peter’s (Mikael Persbrandt, “Alone in Berlin”) recent past. This is a hokey move, especially since the brothers’ backstory is brought up later regardless. Even so, the movie begins well. It races through the opening scenes. At such a pace, there must be a lot of story to cover, right? Wrong.

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“The Salvation” quickly exhausts any momentum it has. Jon’s wife and kid are killed before they’re given any kind of life. The fact that they’re related to Jon is supposed to lend them importance, but their lack of character comes off as lazy.

In this way, the movie is so quick to get to the action that it forgets to make any of it feel important. There are no stakes, no reason to be invested. Jon is barely a character, and his struggle is ill-defined.

Because of this, his actions are alienating. There’s no nuance to how he dispenses justice. Everyone gets the same treatment, no matter their transgression. This works against viewers’ sympathies.

Beside him, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is even worse. Delarue is a villain who was once a good man. An interesting character is there. Morgan, however, doesn’t have the charisma to play him.

Above all, Eva Green is the most egregiously under used actor in the cast. As the mute Madelaine, she has no lines. Her career-defining performance as Vanessa Ives on Showtime’s “Penny Dreadful” prove that she deserves more than this.

What a disappointing and spiritless journey “The Salvation” turns out to be. It begins with promise, but wastes no time in squandering that. A weak script does the mostly talented cast no favors. The great Mads Mikkelsen and Eva Green are both shockingly boring. Even less accomplished actors, like Morgan, fall by the wayside. “The Salvation” seems to bore its actors, so why should viewers feel differently?

TITLE “The Salvation”

DIRECTOR Kristian Levring

RELEASE DATE May 22, 2014

COUNTRY Denmark

GENRE Western

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14 | A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

| 15

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The Northern Light is a proud member of the ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS. The Northern Light is a weekly UAA publication funded by student fees and advertising sales. The editors and writers of The Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 2,500. The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy or parenthood.

The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of UAA or the Northern Light.­­­

LETTERS AND CORRECTIONS POLICY Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length is 250 words.

Opinion pieces can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum word length is 450 words.

Letters and opinion pieces are subject to editing for grammar, accuracy, length and clarity.

Requests for corrections can be sent to editor@thenorthernlight.org. Print publication is subject to accuracy and available space. All corrections are posted online with the original story at www.thenorthernlight.org.

The Northern Light newsroom is located on the first floor of the Student Union, directly next to Subway.

THE NORTHERN LIGHT CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jian Bautista

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Sam Davenport editor@thenorthernlight.org

CONTRIBUTORS Jacob Holley-Kline

MANAGING EDITOR Kathryn DuFresne content@thenorthernlight.org

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vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

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