August 20th, 2024 by The Northern Light

University of Alaska and graduate student union reach three-year contract

Graduate students in UA systems receive union benefits.

By Rachel Musselwhite multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

A new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the University of Alaska and the Alaska Graduate Workers Association-UAW Union (AGWA-UAW) took effect on July 1.

This is the first time the University of Alaska and AGWA have negotiated a CBA. The agreement comes less than a year after University of Alaska graduate student employees voted to form a union.

One of the main areas the CBA focused on was new salary minimums for graduate student employees. Master’s students will now receive a minimum of $24.50 per hour, while Ph.D. students will receive $29.

Graduate student employees who work in Student Assistant 1 and 2 positions also received an increase. Student Assistant 1 positions will now earn a minimum of $17.50 per hour. Student Assistant 2 positions will earn $18.50 an hour.

These new salaries apply to students regardless of the UA campus they work at. The increase took effect on July 14, which was the first full pay period of the 2025 fiscal year.

made strides on other things that we weren’t necessarily as focused on either.”

Salary increases were a critical area, Schiffmiller said, but another important issue they made progress on was a switch from at-will employment to just-cause employment for graduate student employees.

Another change was an updated grievance procedure that included a final step where parties can go to a neutral thirdparty arbitrator.

“Previously, any grievance procedures within the university, the end of the line was the president of the university who made the final decision,” said Schiffmiller. “We saw that as an inherently biased system.”

Schiffmiller was also pleased that they were able to reach an agreement with the university in such a short time, a sentiment echoed by Jonathon Taylor, the director of public affairs at the University of Alaska.

The agreement also covered other benefits, such as a 100 percent fee waiver of consolidated and infrastructure fees. Healthcare benefits will also remain the same and shower access at UAF will be extended to all AGWA-UAW members and their dependents.

said the union was pleased that they were able to reach an agreement with the university.

Interim financial secretary of AGWAUAW, Ph.D. biology student and research assistant at UAF Abigail Schiffmiller,

“In general, we made huge strides in all of the areas that were critically important to our membership, based on their feedback from various surveys and things,” said Schiffmiller. “And we also

According to the university, the contract took 96 days of bargaining. This allowed the agreement to be submitted before the end of the legislative session. It’s an achievement that Taylor said is notable.

“The fact that we were able to get a contract agreed to in just 96 days was a real testament to the work that our bargaining team did,” said Taylor. “They worked several 12 hour days over that final weekend to try to come to agreement.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF AGWA-UAW.

Graduate students protest on April 29, 2024 on the UAA campus.

Photos: Howl Days welcome new Seawolves to campus

By Rachel Musselwhite multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

New Seawolves were welcomed to campus during UAA’s Howl Days on Aug. 9. Howl Days are a series of orientation sessions designed for new students to get comfortable with campus before they begin classes.

Orientation began in the lower level of the Student Union, where students had a chance to meet with representatives from different departments on campus and learn more about a variety of programs. Students then played a round of bingo as an icebreaker before moving into a presentation that explained the variety of services and programs that UAA offers. After the presentations were finished, orientation leaders led students on a tour of important spots on campus.

University of Alaska explains name change of cabinetlevel position that had ‘diversity’ removed from title

By Matthew Schmitz editor@thenorthernlight.org

In 2023 the University of Alaska hired Kristel Komakhuk as senior director for Alaska Native success and partnerships. The position was previously named senior advisor for Alaska Native success, institutional diversity and student engagement.

As reported by The Northern Light, the name change included changing “advisor” to “director” and swapping “institutional diversity and student engagement” for “partnerships.”

Director of public affairs for the University of Alaska, Jonathon Taylor, answered questions from The Northern Light regarding why the name changed.

During a phone interview, Taylor said it’s common for names of new positions to change as they develop over time.

The position was created and first filled by Pearl Brower in 2021.

He said the addition of “partnerships” to the position’s title reflected the desire of University of Alaska President Pat Pitney to have the position focus on Alaska Native partners.

Taylor said the original name was long and that “student engagement” was removed because the role does not have direct contact with students.

In an email exchange, Taylor wrote that Brower suggested a name change for the position when she left the university.

“The name change … was driven by Dr. Brower’s recommendations, and the expanded scope of the role to specifically include a focus on strengthening relation-

ships between UA [University of Alaska] and Alaska Native partners.”

Taylor wrote that Brower had suggested several titles that did not include the phrase “institutional diversity.”

“When Pearl Brower left the role in 2022 to take the UIC [Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation] President job, one of the recommendations she left for President Pitney was to give the role a more robust title rather than ‘advisor,’ and President Pitney implemented that recommendation, among others, as we worked to fill the role.”

In an email to The Northern Light, the chief human resource officer for the University of Alaska, Memry Dahl, wrote that Brower’s primary focus was on the university’s Alaska Native Success Initiative and Alaska Native partners, in addition to helping university leadership with institutional diversity and student success.

Dahl held the position in the interim after Brower left the university and before Komakhuk took on the role.

Dahl was also working as the chief human resource officer while in the position, according to an announcement from the University of Alaska.

In addition to currently being the chief human resource officer, Dahl also has the title of senior advisor for the Alaska Native Success Initiative, according to her university biography page.

Immigration agency celebrates opening of new field office

By Murat Demir copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services held a celebration on June 25 for the opening of a new field office in the James M. Fitzgerald U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Anchorage. The celebration ended with citizenship candidates becoming U.S. citizens.

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – also known as the USCIS – Office of Public Affairs, the new field office is primarily responsible for matters related to naturalization and adjustment of green card status.

A symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony and presentation of “Old Glory” took place before Bear Dolbeare was sworn in as director of the new field office.

Speakers from various positions within the USCIS spoke about the significance of opening the new field office.

Deputy associate director for field operations Anna Chau was the first keynote speaker during the ceremony.

“The opening of this new field office exemplifies USCIS’s growing mission and symbolizes the evolution and innovation within the organization,” said Chau.

She said the Anchorage Field Office is one of USCIS’s smallest-sized locations.

“Fully staffed with 14 very dedicated employees — a small, but a very, very mighty team,” said Chau.

Deputy chief administrative officer of USCIS Joanne Jurmu could not attend the ceremony due to travel complications, but provided a written statement that was read to the audience during the ceremony.

In her statement, Jurmu congratulated the Anchorage Field Office staff for their efforts in establishing the new location and mentioned the nearly decade-long planning and construction process.

She mentioned the challenges the Anchorage Field Office staff faced during the process, including supply chain issues and delays, then praised their patience and hard work throughout the establishment of the new location.

Following the guest speakers and ceremony, the

grand opening ended with a group of citizenship

didates from 10 different countries taking the

of Allegiance and becoming U.S. citizens.

can-

Oath

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

Ceremony participants smile as the ceremonial ribbon is cut during the opening celebration of the USCIS Anchorage Field Office.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHMITZ.

The University of Alaska Board of Regents meet in the room 107 of the Gorsuch Commons on Nov. 10.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE. Students had time to chat with different departments and organizations on campus after they checked in.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE.

Orientation leader Martina Weddel leads students through the Spine on their tour of campus. The Spine is an elevated walkway connecting the Student Union to the Engineering and Computation Building, along with the Natural Sciences Building and the Social Sciences Building.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE. Students play a round of blackout bingo as an icebreaker.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE. Orientation leader Aidan Jackson explains how students can join the UAA Honors College.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE.

Darlene MacKinnon, a student success coordinator with the School of Education, provides information to a student.

FEATURES

Hidden Gem: Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

Ichiban

means number one; this restaurant lives up to its name.

By Tanner Croft and Murat Demir

If there’s one thing college students love, it’s convenience. If you’re looking for a treat after finals or a place to take a first date, Ichiban Japanese Restaurant is the place to go. The restaurant is within walking distance of UAA, and affordable transit is available to students on campus.

Ichiban is a restaurant that serves Japanese cuisine in a strip mall at the intersection of Tudor Road and Lake Otis Parkway, focusing primarily on sushi and other Japanese entrées. Ichiban offers a variety of sake and beers, in addition to its food selection.

Strangers to Ichiban will be welcomed by hospitable staff into a warm atmosphere, where they treat you as a regular and make you feel at home — an experience that appears to be lost in many contemporary restaurants. The dining room is filled with the subtle sound of jazz instrumentals, accompanying the ambient sound of the kitchen crew and guests dining at their tables.

The ambiance feels intimate and seems more authentically aligned with traditional Japanese restaurants. This contrasts sharply with restaurants that favor a more on-the-nose approach to their dining concept. Other than the small umbrellas hanging from the roof and the koi fish, this restaurant does not adhere to the stereotypes that typically accompany Japanese restaurants in the United States.

As is to be expected, Ichiban offers a variety of sushi rolls and entrées. The menu features a wide selection that is sure to appeal to everyone. If customers are feeling risky and adventurous, head sushi chef Yao can prepare the chef’s special upon request, which can either be something off of the menu or something he creates on the spot.

Regardless of your order, you are bound to find something you will enjoy. The boldest of clientele should order the goldmine roll, extra spicy. This roll is not for the faint of heart, and you will receive a warning from the staff that this roll is extremely spicy.

For diners who aren’t brave enough to handle this level of spice, Ichiban’s menu offers many other options. The chicken katsu entrée, for example, with its crispy golden breading, served with rice, is an excellent prepa-

ration of this classic Japanese dish.

Many restaurants in the United States do not have a very sanitary environment. Ichiban stands out from these restaurants by providing a clean — well maintained environment from the kitchen to the bathrooms. Considering that you will be served raw fish if you choose to order it, having a clean environment is a necessity.

In addition to being the perfect environment for a celebration of any sort, Ichiban excels at providing an environment that can give you a quiet and intimate place to take a first date. The staff is not overbearing but friendly, and you will not be bothered by other patrons for the

Photos: Tree Talk: Berry Addition

Alaska Seeds of Change partnered with Alaska Behavioral Health to host “Tree Talk: Berry Addition,” an event that taught community members about growing and stewardship of Alaska native berry plants on Aug. 10. Local berry expert, Josh Smith, who owns Bear Mountain Forest Nursery taught the class.

Smith shared his skills with attendees at the Alaska Seeds of Change hydroponic growing facility. He taught people how to find the proper landscapes to forage berries, and spoke about his growing experience using bear feces to make a “poop soup.” Smith said he is seeing a one-year advance in seeds planted using this technique. Smith also explained how to use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when gathering bear feces.

Participants explore how to identify each species by passing plants around the room. Smith had plants of various ages, which allowed him to show the growing process with each experiment he shared.

The event was free for all to attend.

most part.

Before checking out, be sure to ask your server to place an order of tempura Oreos for the table. The deepfried cookies come buried under a pillow of whipped cream and have a warm filling. This is a great way to wrap up your visit to this hole-in-the-wall restaurant. This is your sign to pay Ichiban and head chef Yao a visit — regardless of what the occasion might be. Whether it’s a celebration or a date, if you’re willing to spend a little bit more than you might at McDonalds, you will be treated to a friendly environment that offers great food.

PHOTO BY TANNER CROFT.

A photo of the sushi bar inside of Ichiban.

PHOTO BY SARAH BENNETT. Attendees receive free seeds when checking-in.

PHOTO BY SARAH BENNETT.

Closer look at a blueberry plant, also known as Vaccinium ovalifolium, in the beginning stages of growth.

PHOTO BY SARAH BENNETT. Berry plants are passed around for attendees to identify.

PHOTO BY SARAH BENNETT.

Guests observe tiny seeds collected from blueberries.

PHOTO BY SARAH BENNETT. Salmonberries are related to the raspberry plant. They are often misidentified as cloudberry plants because of the similarity of the berries.

By Sarah Bennett photo1@thenorthernlight.org

Let your voice be heard: Voter information for 2024 elections

Make sure you exercise your civil liberties this election season by getting out to vote. UAA’s Alaska Airlines Center is a conveniently located polling place on campus.

By Kaitlyn Gaub admanager@thenorthernlight.org

The 2024 election season is upon us. United States citizens over the age of 18 who are not registered to vote in another state and have not been convicted of a felony of moral turpitude are eligible to register to vote.

To vote in Alaska state elections, you must be a resident of Alaska and possess a valid form of identification, such as driver’s license, birth certificate, passport or state ID.

Vote.org stated on their website that voters must be registered to vote thirty days before the election. This deadline can vary by state.

Alaskan residents must register to vote by Oct. 6 to participate in the United States presidential and Alaska House of Representatives elections on Nov. 5.

The Alaska House of Representatives primary election on Aug. 20 will be conducted with ranked-choice voting.

Interested citizens can register to vote in Anchorage at the State of Alaska Division of

OPINION FEATURES

Elections, Department of Motor Vehicles, Anchorage municipal libraries and the Office of the Municipal Clerk. People can also register to

vote online through the State of Alaska’s Online Voter Registration System.

The Division of Elections mentioned on its website that if

a person has applied for the PFD in Alaska, they are automatically registered to vote in the state. Non-Alaska residents can register to vote by mail or online at Vote.gov.

According to FairVote, Alaska has been one of two U.S. states to utilize ranked-choice voting statewide since 2020. The site explained the benefit of ranked-choice voting is that “Candidates can compete without fear of ‘splitting the vote’ with like-minded individuals.”

Ranked-choice voting is a voting method that entails ranking all candidates in preferential order. According to Ballotpedia, candidates who receive 50% plus one votes win the election.

The candidates with the fewest first place votes are dropped from the ballot. The remaining candidates are counted again to check for 50% plus one majority. If no majority exists, the remaining candidates continue this process until a majority is decided.

Ranked-choice voting is especially useful in primary elections to narrow down the long list of candidates.

For information about polling places and disability support at polling centers in Anchorage, visit the Division of Elections webpage.

New Advice column: ‘Croft’s Comments’

We want to hear from you!

By Tanner Croft columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org

We here at The Northern Light have decided that we want to start an advice column. This advice column is available to all students and any other readers that want to submit a comment or question that they would like to receive advice for.

My name is Tanner Croft, and I will be responding to each comment and question personally, hence the name “Croft’s Comments.” All comments and questions will be read but not all

will be included in every edition of the paper that is published. Attached to this article is a QR code that will allow you to submit comments and questions. These comments and questions can be about anything at all, whether you are seeking relationship advice, school advice,

or are simply a new student who has questions about how college works. Include a first name or initial to be added with the response. Once a comment is submitted, expect a minimum of a two week delay for a response in the next edition of the paper. I look forward to hearing from all who choose to submit a response!

Scan the QR code for submissions.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL ROTH AND ADN.

Jeanie Merrill drops her ballot envelope into a ballot box while voting in-person at the Eagle River Town Center during the regular municipal election on April 1.

Movie review: “Borderlands”

Do not waste your money. Spoiler-free, because it is not worth talking about. From the perspective of a disappointed fan.

By Tanner Croft columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org

For readers who may be unaware, the video game franchise for “Borderlands” has a very large following of dedicated fans, with the series having reportedly sold over 77 million copies, according to LEVVVEL. The video games are known for their wit, violence, chaos, humor and satirical take on — well just about everything.

But the film “Borderlands” has absolutely none of these qualities. Every piece of this film feels forced, everything from the acting to the writing. IGN — who are known for scoring even the worst films as at least a 5 — tore “Borderlands” to shreds in their review, ranking it a 3 out of 10. This is the common theme among most critics as of right now.

Here’s the deal: Movie adaptations of video games are consistently poorly created — whether it is films like 1997’s “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation” or 2008’s “Max Payne,” — and sadly “Borderlands” is no exception.

Regarding the writing, “Borderlands” feels as if it were writ-

ten in a matter of hours. The film could have easily taken the storyline from the first game and involved the writers who worked on that project to help adapt it into a film. Instead, they butchered what was a very marketable opportunity.

So why would a company insist on pumping out garbage like this instead of actually putting an effort into paying attention to what the fans are asking for?

The only assumption that can be made as to why they would do something like this, is that they were focusing all their efforts on making a film that appeals to the masses, while forgetting who their target audience actually is.

“Borderlands” ignored its own demographic in hopes of gaining the favor of a larger audience. The correct way to make any film is to find your audience — know exactly who they are — and make exactly what they want to see.

In the case of “Borderlands,” all they had to do was make their fans happy. If they had done that, their fans would have told their friends and family what a good film it was, and they would have received the wider audience they were hoping to find. Word of mouth is the most valuable asset that any art form can

be given.

Even searching for redeemable qualities within this movie becomes a chore. Without being overly nitpicky as a fan of the games, viewers may still leave the theater feeling as though they wasted both their time and their money.

The characters are poorly written and pay no mind to their source material, and the actors/ actresses who play them have no chemistry together whatsoever. Each performance is uninspired, and lacking in any kind of emotion. None of the jokes land, and overall the humor feels forced and lacks conviction.

The cast has an incredibly star-studded ensemble. Cate Blanchett, Jack Black, Jaime Lee Curtis, Kevin Hart, Ariana Greenblatt, Edgar Ramírez and Gina Gershon are all present. Many fans of the franchise complained that the ages of the characters did not align with the ages of the cast, but even if this fact is ignored, the actors just are not believable as these characters.

This is entirely due to the writing and dialogue, and has nothing to do with the talent of any of these professionals. With the exception of Krieg — played by Florian Munteanu — who only talks in “psycho” babble,

just the same as he does in the game. However, his entire subplot is missing, and because of that, there is no emotional investment in the character.

The soundtrack is one of the positive aspects of the film; however, the big battles are often accompanied by either licensed music or original score. These tracks do a decent job of setting the tone.

On the other hand, the soundtrack is just about the only thing that sets the tone for a fight because the fights themselves are lacking. There is no risk; you never feel as though any of the characters are in danger or that they are worth investing in emotionally.

Another somewhat good thing about the film is that it does a good job of capturing the atmosphere of the games — at times. While a large portion of the movie feels claustrophobic, certain environments do feel similar and authentic to the games, but these moments are few and far between.

“Borderlands” tries too hard to tell an emotional story, while forgetting that the satirical comedy of the video games and their aimless violence, coupled with the games’ self-awareness of these core traits, is what made them great.

No one ever played the video games for their gut-wrenching, emotionally heavy plots. We played them for their lootershooter style and stayed because the writing that accompanied this core gameplay mechanic was good enough that it was able to make the audience invest in their favorite characters’ storylines.

The “Borderlands” video games are also known for being incredibly violent and mature. The “Borderlands” film

tries way too hard to stick to its “family friendly” PG-13 rating, which definitely detracts from the experience. Movies need to take notes from films like “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which showed audiences that an R rated comedy can still shatter the box office records, as long as it is done correctly.

Currently, “Borderlands” is a massive flop at the box office. The Direct said that the film has made $10.3 million globally with a reported budget of $115 million. This flop should be a massive warning sign to any movie studio that even considers doing a film adaptation of a video game. TV shows such as “The Last of Us” are a perfect example of an adaptation done right, whereas “Borderlands” is a perfect example of what happens when you disappoint the fans.

A star-studded cast and big budget can only take you so far. We can only hope that movie studios recognize the failure that “Borderlands” wound up being and begin to pay attention to what they are doing the next time that one considers making a video game adaptation.

If you really want to watch this movie, wait until it’s available to stream. Or watch the trailer, because the entire movie is basically in it.

For fans of the franchise, it may be best that you sit this one out and pretend that “Borderlands” was never made. For newcomers to the franchise, you may enjoy some parts of this film; it isn’t the worst thing that has ever been made, but it should not sway your decision if you have ever thought about trying the game out. You should still try the game — it’s much better.

Movie Review: “Deadpool & Wolverine”

Everyone’s favorite Merc with a Mouth is back, but this time he has company. Spoiler free!

By Tanner Croft columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org

“Deadpool & Wolverine” is the third — and potentially the most highly anticipated film in the “Deadpool” franchise due to the involvement of fan-favorite Marvel character Wolverine. The excitement surrounding this film has been palpable since the initial announcement came from Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Sep. of 2022.

Now — almost two years later — we are finally able to watch this film. The question is, did they only make this film as a cash grab because Marvel didn’t know where to go with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, known as the MCU, after they closed out the famed “Avengers” series?

To get all of the negativities out of the way first and foremost, there are a lot of critics out there arguing that “Deadpool & Wolverine” feels less punchy than the first two films because audiences can openly see the influence of Disney within it. For example, Maya Phillips with The New York Times, argues that this film is simply “just another formulaic Marvel Cinematic Universe movie with a saucier rating.” This, and many of the arguments from other critics, may have something to do with Disney’s acquisition of the intellectual property back in 2019.

So yes, now that Deadpool can be a part of the MCU — with the ability to mention and feature members of the Avengers — audiences may begin to see the influence in the rest of the Marvel

Universe within our beloved antihero’s own universe. However, this does not necessarily detract from the viewing experience of this film.

While Marvel may have initially been hesitant to release their first R-rated movie within the MCU, it is hard to argue against the success of “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

According to Deadline the film has secured itself the number six slot on the list of highest grossing films on opening weekend, and marked itself as the number one highest grossing R-rated film to ever be released.

It is important to note that, just like the first two films in the franchise, there should be some viewer discretion when it comes to watching this film. Audiences should be prepared for jokes that will offend all manner of people due to the dark comedic nature of the Deadpool franchise.

This movie is definitely deserving of its R-rating, and involves foul language, bloody gore and a lot of sexual innuendo. Almost all of the comedy within this film derives from obscenity, profanity and violence, all of which are set to a maximum in this film.

It is exactly what many fans of the franchise have loved about the series since its inception.

The film introduces the MCU, alternate dimensions, and time travel to the “Deadpool” franchise for the first time, and the beginning of this film can feel a bit disorienting; however, most of that disorientation subsides within the first 30 minutes of the film.

To summarize the plot in as few words as possible to avoid spoilers: Deadpool

must find his universe a new Logan — Wolverine — in order to save his reality.

For newcomers to the franchise, Deadpool is played by Ryan Reynolds. For anyone unaware of the X-men franchise, Wolverine — also known as Logan — has been played by Hugh Jackman for over twenty years, with his most recent appearance prior to this film being “Logan,” which was famously his retirement from the role.

When we last saw Wolverine in “Logan,” the character was given a definite ending to accommodate Jackman’s retirement from the role. But now, Wolverine is back, and more violent and vulgar than ever. This is a very nice addition to a character who is famed for his attitude problem and retractable metal claws.

Longtime comic book fans may also recognize that this new variation of Wolverine is wearing the iconic yellow-andblue suit, marking the first time that Jackman’s Wolverine has done so. This reveal came as a pleasant surprise to fans when it was first showcased.

There are many more sections in the film where Marvel fans will be pleasantly surprised and maybe even ecstatic at times. There are several cameos throughout the film, and even more characters that are brought in from both the comics and old Marvel movies that have long been forgotten by the masses since the release of the MCU’s 2008 film, “Iron Man.”

Towards the end of “Deadpool & Wolverine” the movie is akin to another recent fan favorite Marvel film, “Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse,” but you’ll have to watch the film to see why.

The love and care that all of the writ-

ers and director Shawn Levy put into this film really paid off. It is endearing and heartwarming for all of the fans who miss the lesser known Marvel heroes and villains. This film — while bordering on being full blown fan service — walks the line perfectly, providing everything necessary for it to come off as a love letter to all of its fans.

As usual with the “Deadpool” franchise, the soundtrack must be mentioned. While there is some original score composed by Rob Simonson, the soundtrack really stands out with its licensed music selection. Backed by pop or rap at the perfect moments, the music choices made by the crew truly create the perfect ambiance for any occasion.

Whether “Deadpool & Wolverine” was Marvel’s attempt at breathing new life into the MCU or not, it is hard to deny that this film is incredibly entertaining, funny, charming and complete fan service to longtime supporters of the older Marvel films.

The concerns from critics are understandable because the last thing we want to see happen to Deadpool is for his universe to get as exhausted as the rest of the MCU has become, but ultimately, this film did not prove itself to be enough of a sellout to lose its core charm.

At the end of the day, “Deadpool & Wolverine” managed to retain its signature style and humor while simultaneously providing a much-needed breath of fresh air to the MCU. This film is exciting, action-packed and fun from beginning to end. As always, make sure you stay until the very end of the credits for the signature post credit scene.

Photos: Angry, Young and Poor in Ester

By Vadim Bledsoe video2@thenorthernlight.org

The annual Angry, Young and Poor music festival was held in Ester Community Park in Ester, Alaska, with two full days of performances on July 27 and July 28. The Festival featured musical performances from across the state and country, including artists like Bethlehem Shalom from Anchorage, Alaska. The festival also had art, food vendors and activists from Native Movement.

Photos: Anchorage Chamber Music Festival holds summer program at UAA

By Rachel Musselwhite multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The Anchorage Chamber Music Festival held their weeklong Chamber Intensive program from July 27 through Aug. 3.

Students spent a week in UAA’s Fine Art Building taking master classes and rehearsing for the student concert held at the end of the week. According to Executive Director Pierre Derycz, this year’s Chamber Intensive had 37 students, ages 11 to 34 years old.

The Chamber Intensive is held in conjunction with a weeklong series of musical concerts hosted by the Anchorage Chamber Music Festival.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

An activist from Native Movement stresses the importance of climate change and social justice issues.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

Alternative and indie band Medium Build from Anchorage perform on stage.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

Singer-songwriter Rosie Rush from Anchorage performs on stage.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE. People browse through vendor tents.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

Angry, Young and Poor staff give a final speech.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE. David Fung instructs piano students during a rehearsal session.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE.

Anchorage Chamber Intensive faculty rehearse for their faculty concert. From left to right: Luri Lee, Minchae Kim, Nathaniel Pierce and Hezekiah Leung.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE. Leung plays viola during the faculty rehearsal.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE. Lee plays her violin while rehearsing for the faculty concert.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE.

Artistic Director and Cellist Nathaniel Pierce practices with his group of students.

Photos: Inaugural We Are Anchorage Multicultural Festival hosts Plain White T’s and local performers

By Rachel Musselwhite multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The inaugural We Are Anchorage Multicultural Festival was held in Town Square Park in downtown Anchorage on July 27. With a motto of “Stronger Together,” the goal of the festival was to celebrate Anchorage’s diversity and showcase different cultures.

Throughout the afternoon, performances took place on two stages, and Plain White T’s performed as the festival’s headliners. A variety of local vendors and food trucks offered items and meals for sale. The festival was hosted by Erickson Unlimited with support from the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, and the Municipality of Anchorage’s Office of Equity and Inclusion. It was free for all to attend.

Photos: A century of the Tanana Valley State Fair

By Vadim Bledsoe video2@thenorthernlight.org

The annual Tanana Valley State Fair was held from July 26 to Aug. 4. The Tanana Valley State Fair is the oldest fair in the state with this year being its centennial. The fair featured many events and activities such as concerts, food vendors and rides.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE.

The smell of barbecue fills the air as meat sizzles on a grill at a food stand on 5th Ave.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE.

The crowd cheers as the Plain White T’s play their hit song “Hey There Delilah.”

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE. Rapper Red Tex performs on the Multi-Cultural Stage.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE. Singer Hope Cassity performs on the Main Stage.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE.

The Elite Demo Team with Champ Martial Arts demonstrates their skills on the Multi-Cultural Stage on F Street.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

Visitors enjoy the last day of the Tanana Valley State Fair.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

Passengers experience the heights of the Kraken ride.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE. Visitors and riders explore in unison on the last day of the fair.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE. Merry-go-round rides at the fair.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

Customers place orders at Alaskan Soda Jerk, a state fair favorite.

Movie Review: “Twisters”

By Tanner Croft columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org

As we all know, remakes of movies are happening more and more often these days, and a majority of these remakes result in mixed reviews from long-time fans. “Twisters” seems to have broken this cycle when it came roaring into theaters to an overwhelmingly positive reception, even garnering the spot of number one movie in the U.S for a while.

How does a film with such a ridiculous plot attract so much attention? Well, it all started when a film by the name of “Twister” was released in 1996, instantly becoming a cult classic. The film eventually went on to become one of the most popular disaster movies of all time.

The original film revolved around a group of storm chasers who tracked and gathered data on tornado storm cells in Oklahoma. “Twisters” is not technically a remake, though it could

be considered a standalone sequel. This is because other than a few small details, there are not any major details that connect this film to its predecessor.

The few similarities found in the film simply build onto the original’s plot with just a few minor details that are difficult to notice. There are no character cameos or direct mentions of any events from the first film, but it is implied that the research conducted during the first film was successful and went on to be used by the protagonist of this film.

The plot of “Twisters” is roughly the same as the first. We follow a group of scientists and storm chasers attempting to gather data as they pursue and put themselves in the paths of several tornadoes across the state of Oklahoma. The crews now have high-tech gear fit for the 21st century.

Our main protagonist is Kate, portrayed by Daisy EdgarJones. Kate is a traumatized exstorm chaser who once tried to

“kill a tornado” with her group of storm chasers. She has since been living in New York, studying weather patterns to escape her past. At the start of the movie, she is recruited to go back to Oklahoma by her old friend named Javi — played by Anthony Ramos — who has a new method of gathering data on tornadoes.

The plot immediately begins to pick up, and audiences are introduced to the main supporting actor, Glen Powell, who plays Tyler Owens. Owens is the face of a YouTube storm chasing group known as “The Tornado Wranglers.” Oh, Glen, how far you have come since your start in “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over.”

Powell and Edgar-Jones both do a very good job throughout this film. The two actors bounce off each other well on screen, seem to have good chemistry when working together, and portray their roles believably.

One of the most noticeable successes of this film is how well the cinematography is —

CORRECTIONS

or seems. It is hard to tell what is CGI and what is actually on screen, which is a testament to how much CGI has improved since the first film.

More importantly, this film has a much more serious tone regarding the tornadoes. Each time we see a tornado, we are also shown how devastating it can be for the land and infrastructure surrounding the impact zone.

The first film tried to do the best it could, but it was limited by technology. This film takes the opportunity that proper CGI has given it to show viewers the massive impact that this type of natural disaster can cause to small and large communities alike.

Once again, the “Twister” franchise uses product placement from Dodge — now Ram — that allows our characters to press on through the harsh weather and destruction around them. This time, instead of a shiny brand new Dodge pickup truck, Powell’s character Owen

drives a beat-up Ram dually outfitted with all of the essential storm-chasing gear he may need to “wrangle” the tornadoes ahead. This is a much more convincing rig than the first film, which makes sense considering that the first film’s protagonist was not expecting to chase tornadoes.

There is only one major complaint that can be made about this film: The trailers. Although, this is a complaint that can be made about most modern films.

The trailers for “Twisters” really showcased every major event and all of the quotable material throughout the entire film. If you watched the trailer, nothing in the entire movie is likely to surprise you, which is disappointing, considering it had a great opportunity to be quotable and surprising if the trailer had been better edited.

Overall, “Twisters” is a great addition to the franchise, even if it is almost 30 late to the party. It makes for a perfect disaster flick, with lots of anticipation in the development of the characters while also having amazing scenes that showcase the brutality of nature. It is no wonder that this film has captivated audiences this summer.

In the previous edition, the article “‘Diversity’ dropped from title of cabinet-level position at University of Alaska” contained three corrections: misspelling of the name of Jonathon Taylor, director of public affairs for the University of Alaska; misspelling of the name of Pearl Brower, former senior advisor for Alaska Native success, institutional diversity and student engagement; and incorrect reporting that that Pearl Brower joined the University of Alaska in 2020 and left in 2021. Brower joined the university in 2021 and left in 2022.

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Dead come to life at local cemetery

A misty evening and passionate people revived stories of those who have passed.

By Murat Demir copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery hosted “Stories at the Cemetery,” on Aug. 11. The event revived stories of deceased residents, giving attendees a glimpse into the city’s past.

Roughly 100 people attended the event. Actors in historical costumes told the stories of the people who were laid to rest.

A soft rain fell on the graves before the event, casting mist into the air. The cemetery was still as attendees waited quietly for the performances to begin.

Many brought chairs and sat; others stood as they listened intently.

The actors began their performances, telling stories of historic Anchorage figures such as Deputy U.S. Marshal Harry Staser, mariner Jack Bartels and others.

Event host Audrey Kelly provided information about “Stories at the Cemetery” during a telephone interview with The Northern Light.

According to Kelly, she and her husband, Bruce Kelly — who co-hosts “Stories at the Cemetery” — write the biographies of the buried individuals whose stories are told.

“There are wonderful stories in our cemetery,” said Kelly, referring to Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery.

Kelly said many notable people are buried at Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery, but not all the stories they choose are well-known.

She said they gather information about the deceased from various sources, including historical records and obituaries. They also speak to relatives of the buried individuals to learn about their lives.

According to Kelly, the two hosts began presenting biographies at selected gravesites in June 2005. In 2011, they began hosting additional events in July and August, featuring actors who portrayed narratives based on the biographies.

Kelly said she and Bruce Kelly volunteer their time for the event.

Any donated funds are used to support the actors and help Anchorage Parks and Recreation with maintenance of Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery, Kelly said.

According to the Municipality of Anchorage, the cemetery will turn 109 years old on Aug. 31. President

Woodrow Wilson established the historic grounds in 1915. In 1918, Wilson ordered the cemetery to be opened for free public burials and allowed up to half of it to be sold. Half the cemetery remains privately owned today.

More than 11,000 people have been buried at Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery. Volunteers at “Stories at the Cemetery” have brought many of their stories back to life.

Kelly said the event on Aug. 11 was the last of the season, but they will resume with 10 new stories in June 2025.

Photos: Ester Fest in Ester

By Vadim Bledsoe video2@thenorthernlight.org

The annual Ester Fest kicked off Saturday, Aug. 10 in the Ester Community Park outside of Fairbanks. The festival is held each summer as a fundraiser for the maintenance and improvement of the park. More than 40 vendors contributed as well. Musical artists such as The Skidmarks, Tim Easton, and Acts of Congress performed on stage for the event.

Admission is $10 for adults, youth under 18 are free.