Professional Studies Building modernized during break
The UAA Professional Studies Building underwent renovations in the hallway of its second floor during winter break.
By Murat Demir copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org
In an email to The Northern Light, project manager Heather Tribble said the “PSB Building Modernization” project included fresh paint and new carpet on the second floor of the building.
Tribble said the contractors were consciously scheduled to work during the winter break to minimize the impact on employees and students in the Professional Studies Building.
According to Tribble, the contract amount for the carpet and paint totalled $88,695.00. Regarding future renovation projects at the Professional Studies Building, Tribble said, “I know the College of Health has other plans to improve the upstairs, more paint and carpet, but those plans have not become projects yet.”
Mandatory UAA student fees raised: What should students expect?
By Hannah Dillon managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org
Student fees were raised $3.66 per-credit-hour for each student attending classes at UAA last fall semester. The increase was proposed in fall 2023, when the chancellor decided to approve the fee increase for some organizations and declining others.
The Northern Light spoke with Student Life and Leadership associate director and USUAA advisor Zac Clark to understand student fees and their applicability to student life.
Clark is also the administrative advisor to The Northern Light.
Clark said there is a fee review every four years at UAA. Multiple organizations on campus associated with the consolidated student fee, such as Student Health and Counseling, Activities and Programs, Transportation Services and Athletics, were under a fee review in 2023.
There are two types of student fees: mandatory student fees and student fees. The differ-
ence between them is that mandatory fees are put under review every four years to contribute to campus organizations that may be in need of further financial support.
Student fees are initiated because the student body requested additional funds for campus organizations.
“When you talk about student fees, you have fees that students asked for and advocated for and created for themselves, and then mandatory student fees for services that are needed, but there’s no other way to pay for them, other than to pass that cost to the students,” said Clark.
Transportation Services and Student Health and Counseling requested a fee increase and were approved to share a fee increase of $3.66 per-credit-hour between the two organizations.
Originally, student fees were $36.50. With the change, they were increased to $40.16 last semester.
Of the $3.66 increase, $3.11 went to Student Health and Counseling services and 55 cents went to transportation services.
Clark said the chancellor ap -
proved a fee increase less than what was requested. Student Health and Counseling requested a fee increase of $6.50 percredit-hour, but the chancellor approved $3.11.
Chancellor Sean Parnell issued a memorandum that explained his decision and sat with The Northern Light to discuss the memorandum.
Parnell said some organization fees were rejected or approved in part because that every student attending UAA pays for student fees, but not every student is able to access what these mandatory fees contribute to.
Parnell commented on Student Health and Counseling’s partial approval.
“Student needs, especially for mental health, have sharply risen. And so I felt it was justified to approve a partial increase there.”
Parnell said “we’re fighting hard to keep this place affordable for students,” but also mentioned inflationary pressures of the last three years.
According to the memorandum, one of the other UAA organizations that requested a fee
increase was the Student Union for a new charge of $4.50 percredit-hour. The fee request was declined because Student Engagement and Inclusion overshot its budget fiscal years 2020 through 2023.
The chancellor’s memorandum stated, “This is not sustainable. Once these practices are undertaken and improvement demonstrated, we can once again consider whether such a new student fee makes sense as a last resort.”
The Northern Light also spoke with Parking and Transportation Services associate director Falon Harkins. Harkins said the 55-cent allotment to Transportation Services contributed to a third transportation shuttle that will take students to and from the Alaska Airlines Center and Merrill Field in the spring semester. The shuttle will also support main campus travel in addition to the aviation buildings.
Tuition increases coming fall 2025 to UAA
The rise in tuition marks the first increase seen by UAA students in five years. With the approval of some student fees, students will be getting a third Seawolf shuttle that transports students from campus buildings to Alaska Airlines Center and Merrill Field this spring.
By Matthew Schmitz editor@thenorthernlight.org
The University of Alaska board of regents voted unanimously on Nov. 8, 2024, to increase tuition across the University of Alaska system. UAA, UAF and UAS will all see tuition increases of 3% for in-state students and 5% for out-of-state students, according to meeting records.
The last time UAA students saw an increase was in fall 2020, when lower- and upperdivision courses had their rates increased. Tuition for graduate-level courses and out-ofstate students has remained un-
changed since 2019, according to university documents.
The board of regents normally votes on tuition rates each year.
The latest increase will take effect in fall 2025 and raise the base rate per-credit-hour for all lower-division, upper-division and graduate level courses.
Students who are residents will see per-credit-hour increases of $7, $8 and $15, respectively, while nonresidents will see an increase of $40, $42 and $54.
The university cited rising costs as a reason for the increase. According to a presentation from the university, those costs include energy, service contracts, data security, mainte -
nance and insurance.
“Our fixed costs continue to
rise, and holding tuition flat this year would make a large year-
over-year tuition increase in future years more likely, harming the affordability and quality of our educational offerings.”
The presentation also compared the rate of tuition at UAA to eight peer universities. With the increase, UAA remained the third most expensive school for the cost of tuition and fees for in-state students. For out-ofstate students, the increase will move UAA from third to second place.
A press release from the University of Alaska described the increase as “modest” and stated that the university expects to see additional revenue of $9 million from the combination of increased enrollment and tuition.
PHOTO BY TAYLOR HECKART. UAA entrance sign.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHMITZ.
Board of Regent Chair Ralph Seekins at the Board of Regents meeting Nov. 10, 2023.
PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.
A man walks in the distance along the newly installed carpet in the Professional Studies Building.
FEATURES
The Northern Light: Special editions announcement
S.A.D., sex, spring break and silly reports; four special editions will cover sensitive and satirical content this spring semester.
By Hannah Dillon managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org
The Northern Light has been publishing a printed edition to bring UAA students university news since 1989. With the new year in full swing and another semester on the horizon, The Northern Light has decided to change our printing schedule this spring to be more specialized. Here is what our dedicated readers can expect this semester.
The Northern Light will be printing once a month, with weekly email newsletters published every Tuesday. Each print will be considered a “special edition.”
For January, readers can expect mate -
rial related to Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as S.A.D.
February is the season of love, and as such, The Northern Light will be printing a special Sex Edition.
Our Sex Edition will include hot singles in your area. To find a partner or advertise your availability, please fill out our Seawolf Singles form. The deadline for submission is Feb. 6. Make sure to look for your lucky partner on Feb. 11 to properly celebrate Valentine’s Day. Don’t be caught in 4k without a date.
March will bring a much welcomed spring break along with a newspaper dedicated to a variety of related content. From spring break safety to the best party spots in town.
What is S.A.D.?
Many people in Anchorage report that they experience this condition — but what exactly is it?
By Murat Demir copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org
If you live in Anchorage, you may have heard friends or family mention that they feel down, hopeless or gloomy, due to the lack of sunlight during the winter, referring to this feeling as Seasonal Affective Disorder — or S.A.D. To understand S.A.D. and protect yourself from its impact on your mental health, it’s important to identify what it may look like in day-to-day life.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, Seasonal Affective Disorder is not a diagnostic term on its own but rather a specifier for Major Depressive Disorder known as “Major Depressive Disorder with a seasonal pattern.”
This means that the person experiences Major Depressive Disorder during distinct times of the year, while their symptoms go into remission at others.
Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder often appear differently in every individual depending on their culture, gender, age, race and other factors.
However, its important to be aware of the general symptoms associated with the condition, such as: Depressed mood, lack of pleasure in activities you typically find enjoyable, fatigue, lack of sleep or too much sleep, difficulty concentrating and thoughts of death or suicide.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the winter pattern of S.A.D. can include symptoms such as social isolation and overeating, while the summer pattern can include restlessness and aggressive behavior.
Research from Cambridge University also indicates that these symptoms will often subside when the individual increases their exposure to sunlight. Individuals most commonly begin to experience an episode during the fall months, typically between September and November.
If the condition is left untreated, symptoms will likely persist until spring and might not completely go away until early summer. In Anchorage, anecdotally, many experience these symptoms around winter when daylight is at a mini-
Seawolf Singles form
Keep
eye out for our special editions this spring at newsstands around campus!
mum.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, for someone to be considered for diagnosis of “Major Depressive Disorder with a seasonal pattern,” the onset and remission of symptoms must occur with the seasons for at least two consecutive years.
What can you do if you think you may be experiencing this form of depression?
The first recommendation would be to talk to a mental health professional and let them know how you are feeling. It’s important to consider that there are barriers to accessing mental health profes-
sionals, but if it is possible, this is a good place to start addressing your concerns.
This is because it is vital to determine whether your symptoms are indicative of S.A.D. or if there might be different underlying causes for your depression. Mental health professionals can also help create a long-term plan for treatment of your symptoms.
Treatments that mental health professionals often use to manage S.A.D. include light therapy, various forms of psychotherapy and medication.
On your own, you can engage in forms of self-care that you find helpful in improving your well-being. While it might feel difficult to take part in activities you typically find enjoyable when you’re experiencing depression, it is often an effective way to support your mental health.
Self-care can include socializing with friends and family, listening to music, practicing breathing exercises, physical activity or anything you find helpful.
However, if you feel that you’re in need of additional support for depression or are experiencing thoughts of suicide, it’s important to remember that help is available, and you are not alone in your experience.
In urgent situations, reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to connect with someone who can listen and provide resources. It’s also important to note that, if you’re in need of urgent support, your nearest emergency room can provide aid as well.
April will include satire columns and tabloid-esque news just in time for April
Fools’ Day.
an
PHOTO BY EDLEEN GUIAO.
Aurora delivering news.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
An oil painting by Vincent van Gogh of an elderly man experiencing sadness.
S.A.D. campus: The student struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder
The Northern Light interviewed students across campus about Seasonal Affective Disorder.
By Hannah Dillon managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Seasonal Affective Disorder — also known as S.A.D. — is a “type of depression characterized by a recurrent seasonal pattern.”
Phillip Jacob is an English major at UAA and said he was somewhat familiar with the specific form of depression even though he did not know anyone that may suffer symptoms. Jacob said spending time with friends and family, attending therapy sessions and finding hobbies can help improve mental health.
Anne Gutsch is an art major who said she felt S.A.D. does slightly affect her mental health during the winter. Gutsch said she is always tired in the morning as there is no sunlight to wake her up — by evening, she said she is even more tired. “I’m like a plant, I need photosynthesis,” said Gutsch.
Gutsch said fun crafts, social events, and lounging in the Pride Center with new people are all healthy ways to become more involved in the UAA community.
Gutsch said walking is a great form of exercise that could help improve mental health and S.A.D. symptoms. “The best exercise is the one that you will do. Exercise doesn’t have to be this really intense workout … you can walk or do yoga,” said Gutsch.
Madison Berga, a physical therapy major, said many people in Alaska talk about S.A.D. and how it affects residents more in the winter.
While she has not personally been impacted by the condition, Berga said that as the days get shorter and the winter months become colder, evening classes become much more difficult when it has already been dark for hours.
Berga emphasized that one of the best ways to combat S.A.D. during the semester is to study with friends instead of studying alone at home.
Berga said improvements UAA could
make to improve the mental health of students could be more free activities, such as the Swing Dancing event last year.
“Late night activities, to get you out and meet people would be fun if they did more of that,” said Berga.
Ben Malouf is a pre-med student who said that while he is unsure if S.A.D. has impacted him or a family member personally, he is sure some people he knows struggle silently.
Malouf said if he stayed indoors and did not have hobbies such as skiing, winter hiking and backpacking, he would be more likely to experience S.A.D. symp -
Treating S.A.D. through exercise
Exercise is one of the best ways to combat symptoms of S.A.D., but
it can be one of the most difficult treatments to stay consistent with.
By Scott Hobbs associate.editor@thenorthernlight.org
Alaska has always been the perfect place for outdoor activities, but when ice covers the mountains and snow blankets hiking trails, how can we combat negative moods and depression?
According to the American Psychiatric Association, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D., is a type of depression often felt most acutely during the extremes of the summer and winter seasons. While exercise is one of the best ways to alleviate the symptoms of S.A.D., it can be difficult to exercise when almost anything requiring energy feels draining to engage in.
Head of the UAA Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department Eric Oba spoke with The Northern Light about time management and exercise and their effect on S.A.D. symptoms.
Oba said exercising encourages the body to naturally increase its endorphin and serotonin levels. Endorphins are the body’s feel-good chemicals while serotonin is key in the regulation of mood, appetite and sleep.
Increased serotonin production coincides with another benefit of exercise — synchronizing of the body’s circadian rhythm. The better synchronized the body’s circadian rhythm is, the better quality sleep one is able to get.
Exercise also helps in decreasing the production of cortisol, a stress hormone that is a major contributor to feelings of
anxiety and depression.
Exercise also aids in brain plasticity and neuron growth, directly aiding memory and emotional resilience.
Oba highlighted a variety of exercises to combat S.A.D. symptoms, all with different benefits. Aerobic exercise helps boost the release of endorphins and serotonin, while exercising outdoors in natural light aids in regulating melatonin and serotonin production.
Mind-body exercise, such as yoga, can aid with improving emotional regulation. Strength training can help to boost confidence, and high-intensity interval training is time efficient, while also providing a burst of endorphins and energy in the process.
Oba detailed the importance of exercising outdoors to help address the disruption of the circadian rhythm caused by dark Alaskan winters. He said, “there is a lot of documented research that highlights the restorative benefits of simply looking at and being around natural scenes.”
The psychological benefits of being outdoors along with the physical benefits of exercise make activities like walking campus and city tails some of the most beneficial forms of exercise for treating S.A.D. symptoms.
Oba said that any amount of exercise is a start when planning the frequency
toms.
“I think what you have to do is reach out from your immediate personal circle and branch out, which is the hardest part, that first branching out. Then, once you start branching out into other circles and meeting people that do different things, it kind of gets easier.”
Keira Wissa is a psychology major who has heard of S.A.D. through friends who have become more depressed in the winter months. Wissa said S.A.D. has personally affected her much more this season.
“The only way I get through the winter is snowboarding and it’s cold and dark but there’s no snow. I’m never outside. I’m losing my mind,” said Wissa.
Wissa said the earned gratification of being active and releasing serotonin through exercise is very good for mental health.
Wissa said inclusivity and a feeling of community on campus could be improved.
“I feel like you have to work hard to be involved here.”
She attributed the lack of community and social inclusion she feels as a freshman at UAA to the large separation between campus buildings and not seeing familiar faces.
“It takes a lot of work to be happy. There’s no beating around the bush, you have to find something to keep you sane,” said Wissa.
or intensity of exercise, with 4-5 times a week for 30-60 minutes a day being ideal. He emphasized, “being consistent can help sustain the positive psychological benefits, like improved serotonin and endorphin levels.”
Being consistent in exercising can also help improve mood and energy levels more noticeably. While results will vary from person to person, Oba noted that within a few days of beginning to exercise consistently, benefits like better sleep and stress relief will start to occur, with significant reduction in S.A.D. symptoms within approximately six weeks.
According to Oba, there are five barriers that students often face when trying to combat S.A.D. symptoms. One of the most notable symptoms is the lack of motivation and energy that students may feel when trying to get back on their feet. Oba said “S.A.D. causes fatigue, apathy, and low energy, all of which make it difficult to start or sustain exercise.”
Solutions proposed by Oba include starting a routine with short and achievable goals and exercising with friends or joining group activities.
Oba also mentioned the dark days and cold nights of Alaskan winters can have a negative effect on some people. Overnight sleet or a few inches of snow could deter people from starting or continuing their exercise routine because of these unfavorable conditions.
Oba said exercising when the sun is out, dressing warm and utilizing indoor workout equipment at the Avis Alaska Sports Complex could help break students out of an unmotivated state.
Treating S.A.D. through exercise is not easy, but it is achievable through establishing a routine and sticking to it. While UAA may be one of the darkest campuses, it also is surrounded by nature waiting to be explored and full of other options for indoor recreation.
PHOTO BY RAYE M. WHITE.
Students walking through bridge.
PHOTO COURTESY OF UARCTIC.
Three easy walks at UAA
A walk can help you clear your head, get some exercise and reconnect with the natural beauty of Alaska.
By Matthew Schmitz editor@thenorthernlight.org
Winter can be a tough time in Alaska. It’s cold and dark, and there is not much to do. Finding a way to stay active — even if it’s a small amount — can help with the tedium of the winter months.
One activity to try is walking.
According to an article in Harvard Health, researchers have found a connection between improved mood and exercise. Moderate activity such as walking may have positive benefits too.
So here are three short walks at UAA to try this winter if you’re looking for something to do.
One quick word on gear, though.
At the very least you’ll need a warm hat and a pair of gloves. Ice cleats can be nice if your shoes don’t have the best traction. Luckily, they have become more widely available.
Finally, a head lamp is helpful if you don’t like walking in the dark. It also helps identify you to vehicles, but reflective materials and other personal lighting devices can do the trick too.
The Spine
If you’re unsure about what — or where — the Spine is, chances are that you’ve walked along a portion of it. One of the most prominent parts is the long, elevated bridge that connects the Student Union with the Engineering & Computation Building.
The entire enclosed walkway — from Rasmuson Hall to the Consortium Library — is considered the Spine. Walking from one end to the other and back comes in right at one mile.
The Spine is an easy walk that is accessible from anywhere on campus. The Seawolf Shuttle has stops all along it, so getting there from the dorms is a short ride away.
The best part is that it’s all indoors: No special gear needed!
Despite being warm and well lit, there are some pitfalls to watch for.
One is at the Engineering & Computation Building. The bridge leading from the Student Union seems to just end at the
Engineering & Computation Building. So you must take the elevator or staircase up to the skybridge to cross over UAA Drive.
Another place that causes confusion is at the Social Science Building. There aren’t many indicators on how to access the Spine from here. But the elevator and staircase across from the waiting area for the Seawolf Shuttle will get you up to the parking garage and connect you with the skybridge and the rest of the Spine.
Another thing to keep in mind is that many of the doors require Wolfcard access in the evening, so make sure to have your card on you to avoid getting locked out.
An interesting feature of the Spine is the indoor plants maintained by the grounds and horticultural team.
Also, there are coffee shops located at each end. There is a Kaladi Brothers in the Social Science Building and Cafe Delgga is located in Cuddy Hall, just outside of Rasmuson Hall. Having a treat to reward yourself at the end of your walk can be a good motivator.
For anyone who wants to appreciate the beauty of Alaska from a warm building, the Spine is a good choice.
Who knows who you might bump into along your walk?
Providence Loop
The Providence loop makes a circle around the main buildings of Providence Hospital. The loop can easily be accessed by east campus, the dorms and at the intersection of Providence Drive and Spirit Drive.
The walk offers a nice combination of nature and architecture to look at. The paths are well maintained, and the entire loop is lit by lights, so walking at night is less daunting.
This loop comes in a little over one mile. Starting at the Alaska Airlines Center, if you walk south along Wellness Drive, it eventually makes a turn to the right and becomes E. 40th Avenue. You continue along until the trail comes to a split.
The middle path will take you through the woods along Chester Creek.
The path cuts through the heart of the
Starting the new year with Glee
By Sage R. Robbins reporter2@thenorthernlight.org
Glee Club is hosting a karaoke event in The Den on Jan. 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. to welcome the spring Semester. At the event, students are invited to sing their favorite songs while connecting with peers and attending Glee Club members. The following Saturday, the club will host auditions from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building. While covering songs from “Wicked,” Ed Sheeran, Chappell Roan and more, they hope to find new singers and beatboxers to join the club. They also offer video auditions for those who can’t attend in person.
According to Glee Club President Natalia Paraoan, Glee aims to create an “inclusive and welcoming environment for
Providence medical complex and offers some great views of a balance between buildings and nature.
This path eventually comes to the intersection of Providence Drive and Spirit Drive.
It’s easy to get back to west campus via the Health Sciences Building or the Student Union, but if you want to finish out the loop, just keep walking along Providence Drive toward the hospital until you get back to the Alaska Airlines Center.
Goose Lake Loop
If you want to get lost in nature, the Goose Lake loop is for you. Unfortunately, there are not many lights along the path, but that might be a feature if getting away from civilization is your goal.
Goose Lake is located to the north of east campus, but the trail that ties into the loop is easily accessible. A large portion of it runs along Alumni Drive to the north of the Social Science Building and
the Consortium Library.
If you get on this trail and go in either direction, eventually you’ll end up at Goose Lake. If you keep going, you’ll be back to where you started.
This loop is the longest of the three, coming in at 1.33 miles. It’s also the least maintained. But what it lacks in cultivation, it makes up for in natural beauty.
The dense woods to the east of Goose Lake can muffle the sound of the city. And the south shore of the lake is largely untouched, so it’s easy to feel like you’ve been transported into the Alaskan wilderness.
This loop ties into many other trails, so there is a lot to explore for the adventurous.
If you’re looking for a secret shortcut that allows you to cross the frozen lake, I’ll give you one hint: Follow the power.
But please watch out for thin ice and open water!
all.” This is accomplished by welcoming the majority of those who audition and not turning away those who struggle with stage fright.
Glee Club is a fully student-run organization that represents “creativity, inclusivity, and the joy of connecting through music,” according to Paraoan. Members collaborate to organize performances, such as singing in the Student Union for Noon Music and concerts held in the Fine Arts Building.
Glee has been a part of UAA’s community for many years now. With the start of the 2025 spring semester, they welcome their 29th spring season. Their weekly meetings are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
For more information, the club posts updates and future events on their Instagram at gleeclubuaa.
IMAGE COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS. GRAPHIC BY MATTHEW SCHMITZ.
Map of three walks at UAA.
PHOTO COURTESY OF UAA GLEE CLUB.
Video: Alleviate S.A.D. at Brighter Winter Nights
By Anja Burnett video1@thenorthernlight.org
Brighter Winter Nights at Alaska’s Botanical Garden is a great way to lift your spirits during this unusually warm Winter. Tickets are currently discounted due to melting ice sculptures, starting at $6 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Children six and under can enter for free year-round! Enjoy the lights and various activities (the Kicksled trail will be open based on snowfall) on Fridays and Saturdays from 5-8 p.m. through February 22, 2025. Attending the Botanical Garden can be a great way to support a local nonprofit while combatting Seasonal Affective Disorder! For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the garden’s website at https:// www.alaskabg.org/brighter-winter-nights.
Aurora and Boris
By Alex Luangasa cartoons@thenorthernlight.org
Aurora and Boris
By Alex Luangasa cartoons@thenorthernlight.org
CARTOON BY ALEX LUANGASA.
CARTOON BY ALEX LUANGASA.
PHOTO BY ANJA BURNETT.
Abandoned van decorated with lights and mushrooms glows during Brighter Winter Nights at the Alaska Botanical Garden.
New Year’s Resolution Bingo Card
STAFF CONTACTS
3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508
Executive Editor Matthew Schmitz (907) 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org
Managing Editor Hannah Dillon managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org
Associate Editor Scott Hobbs associate.editor@thenorthernlight.org
Multimedia Editor Justin Cox multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org
Layout and Web Editor Linnaea Gossard layout@thenorthernlight.org
Columnist Editor Tanner Croft columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org
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Reporter Sage R. Robbins reporter2@thenorthernlight.org
Columnist Nahla White columnist2@thenorthernlight.org
Multimedia Journalist Anja Burnett video1@thenorthernlight.org
Photographer Sarah Bennett photo1@thenorthernlight.org
Cartoonist Alex Luangasa cartoons@thenorthernlight.org
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ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS
The Northern Light is a proud member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The Northern Light is a bi-weekly UAA publication funded by student fees and advertising sales. The editors and writers of The Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 1,500. The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy or parenthood. The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of UAA or the Northern Light.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION
The University of Alaska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution. The University of Alaska does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally protected status. The University’s commitment to nondiscrimination, including against sex discrimination, applies to students, employees, and applicants for admission and employment. Contact information, applicable laws, and complaint procedures are included on UA’s statement of nondiscrimination available at www.alaska. edu/nondiscrimination.
LETTERS AND CORRECTIONS POLICY
The Northern Light encourages readers to express their views in the newspaper. The Northern Light reserves the right to reject or publish any submission, online or in print.
Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length for a letter to the editor is 300 words, and 150 words for letters specifically endorsing candidates for federal, local, or university office. A letter to the editor is written by someone who does not have authoritative knowledge on the subject they are discussing. Contributors are restricted to one published letter to the editor per month.
Administrative Adviser Zac Clark
Media Adviser Paola Banchero Fiscal Technician Micah Perino
The Northern Light is hiring! See our job listings at careers.alaska.edu.
Opinion pieces can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length for a contributor’s opinion piece is 500 words. Contributors are restricted to one published opinion piece per month. Opinion pieces written by staff of The Northern Light are limited to 1,000 words. An opinion piece that is published in The Northern Light should be written by someone who has authoritative knowledge on the subject they are discussing.
Letters and opinion pieces are subject to editing for grammar, accuracy, length and clarity. All letters and opinion pieces must include names, major and/or group affiliation and contact information for verification purposes. The Northern Light will not publish anonymous letters or pseudonyms. Requests for corrections can be sent to editor@thenorthernlight.org. Print publication is subject to accuracy and available space. All corrections are posted online with the original story at www. thenorthernlight.org. The deadline for submissions is the Friday before publication at noon, no exceptions.
The Northern Light newsroom is located on the first floor of the Student Union Room 113.
Photos: Seawolves women’s basketball remains undefeated in GNAC
By Justin Cox multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org
The Seawolves women’s basketball team defeated the Western Washington University Vikings 67-59 on Jan. 18 during the Bounce Back Alaska charity doubleheader, leaving them with a 16-2 overall record, a 7-0 GNAC record and a six-game win streak. The Seawolves partnered with Just Serve Alaska and Catholic Social Services to collect donations of soft items, such as clothing, for Clare House, an emergency shelter for expecting mothers or women with children. The Seawolves will return to the Alaska Airlines Center on Jan. 30 for a match against Central Washington University after two away games.
Photos: Seawolves men’s basketball falls to the Nanooks
By Justin Cox multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org
The men’s Seawolves basketball team narrowly lost against the UAF Nanooks on Jan. 18, 76-74, as part of the Bounce Back Alaska Charity double header. While the Seawolves were led by a valiant effort from Tyler Burraston, tying his career high at 23 points, they could not compete with the late game rally from the Nanooks. Ending the first half up 41-32, the Seawolves started the second half strong, leading the Nanooks by 19 points, but they were unable to compete with the Nanooks’ rally as they slowly chipped away at the Seawolves lead. This loss leaves the Seawolves with a 10-10 record and a 3-4 GNAC record for the season and three straight losses at home. The Seawolves will return to the Alaska Airlines Center on Jan. 30 where they will face Western Washington University after two away games.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.
Tori Hollingshead takes part in the tipoff to start the game.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX. Hollingshead sinks a free throw.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.
Hollingshead shoots a free throw.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.
Emilia Long enters the court during the announcement of the starting lineup.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX. Burraston shoots over defenders.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX. Spirit hands out pizza to fans during a timeout.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.
Jesse Stines blocks a Nanook shot.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.
Fans throw donated soft items onto the court at halftime as part of the
Bounce Back Alaska charity event in partnership with Just Serve Alaska and Catholic Social Services Alaska.
Photos: Seawolves defeat the Red Leafs
By Justin Cox multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org
The Seawolves won their first home game of 2025 on Jan. 16, 78-63, for their fifth straight win. With a layup from Ashlyn Rean at 21 seconds, the Seawolves took the first points, but the Red Leafs responded by nailing multiple 3-point shots, making it a close match early on. But the Seawolves rallied back and soon took the lead, ending the second quarter up 36-28 and managed to hold the lead for the remaining two quarters.
OPINION SPORTS 11
Right Answers Only: Cybertrucks are real trucks
Satire: the Tesla Cybertruck is the best truck ever.
By Scott Hobbs associate.editor@thenorthernlight.org
Gas and diesel-powered trucks have been around for ages. Since the first internal combustion truck was designed in 1895 by Karl Benz, the standard for this style of vehicle has been raised exponentially. Companies such as Ford, Chevy and Dodge, among others have continued to innovate on the modest platform designed by Benz to bring the truck to where it is today.
But these manufacturers have been looking at trucks all wrong. Many “conventional” truck owners would argue a powerful fossil fuel engine, high towing capacity and more storage than you’ll ever need among other qualifiers are what make a truck a truck. I say none of those things are real benchmarks for a truck, and so does Elon Musk.
Since the Tesla Cybertruck was first unveiled in 2019, fans of “real” trucks have been up in arms about the legitimacy of the vehicle being labeled a truck. I’m here to put the argument to rest: Cybertrucks are real trucks, and all other trucks are the posers.
Starting with the body of the truck, Tesla has successfully removed as many polygons from the exterior of the truck as possible. A common issue with other so-called “trucks” is their inability to stop quickly if a pedestrian or other creature jumps out in front of them. The Cybertruck solves this problem with a large, flat front face and sharp edges that remove the need for you to stop for pedestrians, with the subsequent road bump barely being felt by anyone in the vehicle thanks to the adaptive air ride suspension.
Next, on to the storage capabilities of the truck.
In the front, Tesla took the space left by not having a gas-guzzling engine and turned it into the “frunk,” a spacious 7.1-cubic-foot enclosure that gives you just enough space to maybe stow some of your golf clubs.
It is accompanied by a powered hatch that has accomplished a feat that no other “real” truck has accom-
plished: cleaving a carrot clean in half as its motorized components force the hatch shut.The allegations that this could happen to a human finger are preposterous though, because fingers move and carrots don’t.
On the back end of the truck, Tesla is eliminating the need to tie down a large load of construction material through a simple fix: minimizing the bed space. Through the combination of the angular bed cover and a $16,000 range extender battery taking up half the available bed space, the Cybertruck has removed all the unnecessary space that conventional bulky truck beds provide. That way, you can focus more on fitting two bags of groceries into the back instead of 2x4s.
Speaking of the cover, Tesla decided that other manufacturers were wrong for not confusing raccoons with the material and design of the truck bed cover. To rectify this, the design was made to look as close to a dumpster lid as possible so that raccoons would take notice — giving it their all to break into the bed of the Cybertruck.
Despite trying to challenge the standard Ford has set for trucks, Elon Musk has clearly studied Ford’s methodology when it comes to vanity. The Model T can be any color as long as it’s black, and the Cybertruck can be any color you want as long as it’s stainless steel. While some people will get an aftermarket wrap or paint on their Cybertruck in defiance of Tesla’s artistic vision, I prefer mine to look sharp and cool — like the polygon on wheels that it is.
Another step Tesla is taking to modernize the truck platform is making the Cybertruck more computer-reliant than any truck that has come before. Are the safety icons on your dashboard unreadable? Is the rearview camera lagging and not providing you necessary realtime imagery of what’s behind you? Fear not, there’s an update rolling out to fix that!
This major shift in design philosophy removes a major cost for Tesla in the way of quality control, as they can now put the impetus on owners to find any issues with the vehicle that are able to be fixed by an update. This is part of Tesla’s effort to move away from physical
maintenance on the Cybertruck, eventually shifting to a fully update-based system.
One thing you want any vehicle to do is accelerate. While you also typically want your vehicle to stop, Tesla decided to focus on one thing at a time and went all in on acceleration. Aiming to make the driving experience as feet-off as possible, the accelerator was able to get stuck after regular use, removing the need for the driver to depress it ever again. Sadly, this brilliant innovation was axed in a mandatory recall in April 2024.
For the frame of the truck, Tesla is throwing out convention. Instead of a steel frame, Tesla has made the Cybertruck’s frame from aluminum. That way, instead of bending and holding when strain is put on the hitch or the frame, the point of strain will simply snap, allowing whatever was attached to your hitch to become someone else’s problem. This revolutionary snapping apparatus also serves to eliminate the pesky process of having to unhitch loads after hauling them.
To cap it all off, Tesla wanted to ensure owners had options when it came to how the vehicle worked in different settings, so the Cybertruck has modes.
A few examples include:
Car wash mode, because why would you want to be able to drive your car into a car wash and have it work when you drive it out, when you could forget to hit a button and then chill in a car wash for at least five hours?
Jack mode, so that the adaptive air suspension won’t continually attempt to level out and crush whoever is trying to work on the car.
Overland mode, due to Tesla’s need to appeal to people who do serious truck things with their serious trucks out in the desert. Despite this necessary inclusion to appeal to those nerds, hopefully the Cybertruck moves the future of trucks away from the outdoors and onto I-95.
The Cybertruck is the future of trucks as we know them. Tesla has changed the game with their new takes on storage space, modes and other features that have long been hallmarks of the truck platform.
People are loving everything about the Cybertruck, and other companies need to catch up before they get left in the dust.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.
Hollingshead steals the ball as the Red Leafs pass the ball in to start the second quarter.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.
Emilia Long looks for an open player to pass the ball in to start play.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX. Tori Hollingshead gets the ball for the Seawolves during the tip-off to start the match against Simon Fraser University’s Red Leafs.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.
Kenzie Sirowich attempts to evade defenders on her way to the basket.
Just Sociology Tings: Institutional racism, ableism and how different forms of oppression are interlinked
By Nahla White columnist2@thenorthernlight.org
For nearly three years, I have been following a content creator by the name of Imani Barbarin — also known as Crutches and Spice — on most of her socials. Barbarin is a disability advocate that hones in on communications and sociopolitical topics through the lens of race and disability.
While watching her content, I’ve begun unlearning a lot of my own internalized ableism and deconstructing the ways in which our society is incredibly inaccessible and discriminatory toward people with disabilities.
Because I’m able-bodied, I’m constantly taking in Barbarin’s content with the sole intention of listening and learning. Whenever I come across a take that elicits a less than receptive reaction, I always try to take a step back and ask myself why her statement made me uncomfortable in the first place.
One of the ways that helped make some of her harder hitting takes more digestible was trying to understand her politics through the lens of anti-Black racism — a form of oppression I encounter much more often in my day-to-day life.
Through that lens, I find myself better comprehending the struggles that disabled people face while living in a society that provides little to nothing in terms of accessibility.
While racism and ableism have many differences regarding the ways they are practiced and perpetuated, there are just as many similarities between the two systems of oppression that are often overlooked. Racism and ableism are interlinked in so many ways, and the ways in which society treats Black and disabled people have a lot of overlap. It is nearly impossible to have a discussion about police brutality without factoring in the insurmountable number of cases involving Black and brown disabled people.
Through a lack of accessibility, disabled people are often shunned out and completely expelled from public spaces. Common examples of this include the refusal to factor in people with mobility struggles when planning evacuation and safety drills, the surprising amount of apartments and living spaces without elevators or ramps, or even something as simple as not implementing ASL into more school curricula.
This is segregation, whether we recognize it as such or not. The lack of accessibility and accommodation — coupled with the stigma toward neurodiver-
gent people and those with intellectual disabilities — in public spaces prevent disabled individuals indirectly convey the message that disabled people don’t deserve a place within our society. This “out of sight, out of mind” mentality bears many similarities to the reconstructionist/Jim Crow era of the American south.
The institution and cultural practice of chattel slavery heavily pushed the idea that Black people were subhuman, and therefore, better suited as another man’s property. This better allowed for those in power to brush them off and cast them aside. They weren’t reserved a place within the rest of society, and once slavery was abolished, it was the first time in American history where white people were faced with the prospect of living among the formerly enslaved rather than writing them off as servants and property.
The Supreme Court upholding Plessy v. Ferguson reinforced racial segregation all throughout the South, in turn allowing for Black people to exist within a different social atmosphere. Being subjected to living in separate neighborhoods and using separate institutions allowed for white people to disregard the existence of Black people and maintain their illusion of a “perfectly functioning” society.
Aside from the actual lack of public accommodation, the act of separating people with disabilities and able-bodied people
within our society goes as far as outright institutionalizing and incarcerating those with physical and mental disabilities.
Modern structured facilities and institutions dedicated to hosting those with disabilities have been around as early as the mid-1800s, and have always been plagued with a multitude of horrors ranging from molestation , experimentation, solitary confinement, and various other forms of abuse.
In a similar likeness, the vast majority of incarcerated people have some form of disability.
A 2016 study conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics showed that about 38% of state and federal prisoners have at least one disability. Given how this survey is nearly 10 years old, it more than likely underestimates just how much of the prison population is composed of disabled individuals.
On top of the fact that the prison industrial complex very frequently mistreats and dehumanizes incarcerated people, both disabled and able-bodied individuals have to deal with inadequate treatment or outright having their requests for proper medical treatment downplayed and denied.
Black and brown people are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement and also make up a considerable amount of the prison population. While there are a multitude of factors that contribute to this, one of the main problems is the higher rates of poverty in Black and
brown communities. With more poverty, there is more crime, and as a result there is always going to be an influx of overpolicing and arrests that follow.
What many people also don’t seem to acknowledge is the correlation between race, poverty, and disability, usually disregarding the ways in which a person’s socioeconomic status may lead to developing certain disabilities. A lack of adequate medical treatment, poor living conditions, and lack of access to healthier foods are all byproducts of living in poverty that sometimes leads to the development of certain conditions or worsening of preexisting ones.
And that leads me to how intersectionality plays a huge role in all of this. When analyzing different systems of oppression, most people fall short when it comes time to connect different issues with one another. I remember seeing this quite a bit during the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef last year, where people would comment under videos analyzing the event, saying something along the lines of: “While you guys are obsessing over two random guys, people are dying in this country.” Most of these comments failed to recognize the cultural significance behind an event such as a rap beef between two megastars, especially given the world’s history of appropriating and commodifying Black American culture.
It’s as if people can’t conceptualize that you can be invested
in multiple different issues at the same time or understand how a lot of them have the same root cause.
It is wild to me that people don’t realize how accommodations for disability would make life easier for everyone, regardless of whether or not you have mobility issues. I’m sure everyone would appreciate stuff like being able to sit down while working a cashier job or having access to better and more efficient public transportation.
In a society that prioritizes independence and bases a person’s worth on how productive they are within the workforce, many disabled and able-bodied people often struggle to work around society’s lack of accommodation. Working toward a common goal would prove to be beneficial for everyone, and yet we constantly ignore and disregard the voices of disabled people and activists that have to literally beg to be treated like regular human beings.
Practicing basic empathy is easier said than done in our society, and I think the easiest way to bridge that gap is to evaluate how the systems of oppression that don’t directly affect us mirror the ones that do.
The quicker we as a collective can come to the realization that all of these problems are not only similar to one another but also interlocked, the quicker we can work towards a world that is beneficial for everyone.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ADOBE STOCK IMAGES.
Late to the Party 3
Bear with me on this one.
By Tanner Croft columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org
As many of my readers may have noticed, I have been very vocal when it comes to criticizing the UAA campus through my “Late to the Party” series. The point of the series, however, is not to criticize for no reason. I want this university to improve for the students who, like myself, call it home.
So, welcome to “Late to the party 3,” where we will once again be discussing the Student Union. Although, this time around, I hope to take a much more productive stance. Ideally, I would like to come up with solutions to some of our problems rather than simply address the issues.
Over winter break, I had the privilege of visiting family in Corvallis, Oregon, which just so happens to be the city where Oregon State University, or OSU, is located. Out of a natural curiosity for the structure of other universities and the way that they function, I received a tour of the campus to write an article of everything that I noticed that OSU had that would improve our lives here if we also had them — mainly in their Student Union.
I want to preface this article with the statement that OSU has a significantly larger student body than we do here at UAA, and that means that they also
have a significantly higher budget than we do. I am not saying that we need the same amenities that OSU has, to the same scale as they do. What I am going to say is that because we live here and spend the majority of our time here on campus, we deserve to feel as though our SU and campus as a whole is our home.
I managed to get a tour of OSU from a friend of my family, Allison Doss — a student at OSU — who also happens to be a wonderful tour guide. Doss gave a very complete tour of the campus as a whole, but I will focus primarily on their student union, given that is one of the areas which I feel needs the most improvement here at UAA.
OSU’s student union is named Memorial Union — MU — and immediately upon entering, students are greeted with a massive marble staircase that branches off into four directions.
If you go down the stairs off to the left or right, you will end up at a ballroom, which is a standard ballroom for events and concerts.
If you go up the stairs, however, it takes you to a hallway with a coffee shop and a few other amenities like an ID center, and a centerpiece-esque study room. Located just past the hallway is a massive room with a second level that wraps around the upper rim of the first, similar to our own student union.
The difference here is the amount of comfortable seating
available, and the amount of students who were sitting around studying. Even on a Saturday there were at least 40 people in the room, and one of them was even playing a piano in the center.
Considering that UAA hosts Noon Music in our own SU every Wednesday, it would make sense if we had a piano located in the SU for students to use throughout the week or at Noon Music. I am sure that we have some talented individuals who would love to be able to practice or show off their skills.
I will once again say that it would be nice to have couches in the SU. I am sure that one reason many students were hanging out on campus at the OSU MU on a Saturday is because there was an abundance of comfortable couches.
Another cool aspect of the MU was all of the flags hung up in the hallway at the top of the stairs. Doss informed me that each flag represented a student who was currently attending OSU from that country. The flags lined the entire hallway, and Doss mentioned that when a student graduated, their flag was retired.
This undoubtedly helps build a community among the students who are attending OSU, and I think that we here at UAA would benefit from some variation of this — if we have enough students who are attending from outside of Alaska.
Back at the main entrance, if you choose to go right, you will end up in the cafeteria, which is home to a Panda Express, Happy
Lemon, Rocket Burger and Off The Quad.
I have mentioned before that our own SU would benefit greatly from more restaurant options, but I will not harp on this too much, as I am sure that the powers that be have heard my many statements on the situation.
Below the MU cafeteria is a bowling alley — MU Lanes — which has bowling, billiards, foosball, air hockey and their eGaming Lounge. To give credit where it is due, I think that our own E-Sports Lounge is actually bigger and has more available to the students than the eGaming Lounge at OSU. I do think that they have us beat by having a bowling alley, but it is worth noting that we at least put a tally on the board.
Now, I am not saying that we need to rip out The Den and install a bowling alley, but it would be nice if we could get a pool table or two. Maybe an air hockey or foosball table, or even a dart board would be a step in the right direction for us.
With as many engineering students as we have, I am sure that we could even make it a project to design and build our own pool tables — just a thought.
Back at the entrance, if you decide to go through the hallway to the left, there is the Griggs Center — which supports Black and Indigenous students — a mini-mart similar to our own Bear Necessities and another cafe called the North Porch.
Adding a second Bear Necessities to the SU could be overwhelmingly beneficial for students.
One of the most noticeable differences from the SU while touring the MU was the massive
presence of their mascot. There was a huge statue of Benny Beaver near MU Lanes, and on every single door of the building there was a beaver on the handle.
More representation of our school mascot is another thing that I think our own SU could benefit from. I personally do not think that we have enough Spirit the Seawolf statues on our campus. I have noticed that we also don’t have nearly enough school spirit, which is ironic considering our mascot’s name.
We need to start appreciating our school more. Maybe if we did, then we would end up seeing Spirit running through the halls passing out T-shirts and other merch.
We can wish for all of these enjoyable services all we want, but if UAA doesn’t think that we will appreciate them, they will never work with us to make it happen.
I am not trying to say that OSU has a better campus than us. I understand that their school is much bigger than ours and I love our school regardless.
I am saying though, that there are some things that we can do to improve the experience for our students here. It doesn’t entirely start with UAA making changes though.
In fact, it starts with you. If you agree with me, and you want the best experience to come out of your college career, then you need to utilize the spaces that are given to us, and vocalize the things that you want to see added to these spaces.
If UAA simply ignores us, only then will I say that they are late to the party. Until then, I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt that they will work with us to improve our situation.
NFL power rankings: Divisional weekend
Football column: weekly rankings of NFL teams
By Scott Hobbs associate.editor@thenorthernlight.org
After watching football all weekend, I have come to a very solid conclusion — never trust the Chargers or the Vikings to do well in the postseason. Here’s how the teams that are still in the playoffs stack up against one another.
0. The Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs could not have scripted a better matchup. They get to sit back and beat the Texans at home while they wait for the Ravens and Bills to decide who gets to lose another conference championship to Patrick Mahomes and company. This column will continue to feature the Kansas City Chiefs at rank 0 since the NFL appears to currently be rigged for the Chiefs to win it all. I will continue to refuse to have them take up a spot on the list of best teams in the league until they — by some miracle — don’t win a Super Bowl.
7. The Houston Texans If I had one word to describe this Texans team it would be “lucky.” The Texans are lucky
they played the Chargers and the Texans are lucky that Justin Herbert only plays like a top-five quarterback during the regular season. That said, I will give the defense and special teams of this Texans team for capitalizing on miscues from the Chargers that led to a total of four turnovers generated. I hope they can replicate that kind of performance in their effort to knock the Chiefs out of their race for a three-peat.
6. The Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels had an incredibly impressive outing this week, especially for a rookie quarterback. He eclipsed 250 yards passing while completing 68.5% of his passes and not turning the ball over once. That, in combination with the team’s defense capitalizing on a costly Baker Mayfield fumble to set the offense up to score is what put this team over the Buccaneers. Now, after finally snapping their playoff drought, they’re going to need to play perfectly if they want a shot to make it past the Lions next week.
5. The Los Angeles Rams
I thought the Rams set themselves up to fail after resting
their starters heading into the playoffs. Little did I know they were securing a matchup where they could absolutely dog-walk the Vikings. The Rams managed an NFL playoff record-tying nine sacks on their way to a dominant victory, with their defense keeping the Vikings from ever really getting into the game to begin with. Heading into Philadelphia, either their offense is going to need to step up big time or their defense is going to need to do something no team has really done — stop Saquon Barkley.
4. The Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles never really felt like they were going to lose to the Packers. After converting a forced fumble on the kickoff into a touchdown, the team never really let off the gas. The defense picked off Jordan Love three times, Saquon Barkley ran for over 110 yards and Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns without turning the ball over. Despite their defense losing Nakobe Dean, I think the Eagles will have little difficulty bottling up the Rams’ sluggish offense while Saquon runs all over the defense. Barring a major upset,
the Eagles should be playing for a spot in the Super Bowl in two weeks.
3. The Baltimore Ravens After playing what feels like their fifth tune-up game in a row, the Ravens are going to have a real game on their hands this week heading into Buffalo. That said, the Ravens look like they’re ready for the challenge. Their defense absolutely shut down the Steelers run game. Derrick Henry ran all over the Steelers to the tune of 186 yards and two touchdowns and Lamar Jackson threw for two touchdowns while completing 76.2% of his passes and not turning the ball over. However, they are looking to be without Zay Flowers for the second week in a row, and that void in their receiving game could very well make or break their offense against the Bills.
2. The Buffalo Bills Well, I hate to say it, Broncos fans, but this tends to be the result that chanting “we want Buffalo” while annihilating a team of second-string players gets you. The Bills definitely got out to a slow start by allowing a Broncos touchdown early, but after shaking off that score they went on to put up 31 unan-
swered points while absolutely dominating the Broncos on every front. The name of the game in the Bills matchup against the Ravens will definitely be containing Derrick Henry who went for 199 yards and a touchdown last time these two teams met in the regular season. This game will almost certainly decide who between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen wins MVP, and it looks like it could be the most entertaining game this weekend.
1. The Detroit Lions Following a curb stomping of the Vikings to end the season and a bye week, the Lions get to play a Washington Commanders team that definitely has its flaws. With more players like David Montgomery and Terrion Arnold getting healthy at the right time, this Lions group appears that it will only continue to surge as more of their key contributors return to the field. Even when they’ve been off the field with injuries, this team has been nothing short of dominant. It is my opinion that not only will the Lions play in the first Super Bowl in their franchise history, but they’ll be hoisting the Lombardi trophy unless the wheels fully come off the bus.
Right Answers Only: Just be happy
Satire: Seasonal Affective Disorder
By Scott Hobbs associate.editor@thenorthernlight.org
Seasonal Affective Disorder
— S.A.D. for short — is a mood disorder that often occurs during times of the year when the days are shorter and daylight is hard to come by. Anchorage — where UAA is located — happens to be a place that gets minimal daylight during the winter, with the days being as short as 5.5 hours on and around the winter solstice.
The shortness of these days, in combination with daylight savings time “removing” an hour during the winter, leaves many people stuck inside the whole time the sun is above the horizon. As such, it is incredibly common for those who experience S.A.D. to be acutely aware of how dark it is outside during the winter — feeling more sluggish and depressed as a result.
What if people didn’t have to feel this way? Why is it that happiness is so binary? If the sun is up, people are happy, and if it’s not, people aren’t?
I think this kind of approach to feeling happy is foolish. Happiness shouldn’t be tied to something that varies wildly throughout the year like sunlight. In fact, S.A.D. is not real, and you should just be happy.
Firstly, to clear up the facts around Seasonal Affective Disorder, while I have characterized it as being tied to there being less sunlight, that is only the case with winter-pattern S.A.D. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there is also summer-pattern S.A.D., which — if the name wasn’t indicative enough — occurs in the summer months.
However, in both cases, people are placing their mood in the hands of something painted onto
the sky — as I have proven before, the sun and moon are not real — instead of taking matters into their own hands. Why?
The answer is simple: Big Light Therapy.
You see, back in 1984 Dr. Norman Rosenthal was one of the first people to “discover” S.A.D. and determine that the best treatment for it was light therapy. It was this choice of prescribing light therapy that led to so many people feeling down in the winter in modern times.
The problem with prescribing a treatment where someone can profit off it is that once the treatment becomes mainstream, the person profiting from it doesn’t want that money train to suddenly come to a screeching halt.
By creating the diagnosis of S.A.D. and prescribing mood lights to patients, Dr. Rosenthal created an incredibly lucrative business model for the light therapy industry.
Currently generating over $1 billion annually, Big Light continues to hoodwink millions around the world into tying their health to a glowing panel.
So how do you take back your happiness from the light therapy industry and put it back in your own hands? One solution might already be in your hands if you’re reading this article on a device.
What big light doesn’t want you to know is that, despite how minimally effective light therapy truly is, if you absolutely have to tie your mood to a glowing light source, you already have a phone or computer.
When people started to realize how happy they felt while using phones and laptops as a substitute for light therapy, big light started putting out anti-device programming such as the highly successful “Screenagers” documentary, released in 2016.
By creating this propaganda that painted the effects of extended screen time as being detrimental to the mental health of those who used devices frequently, people quickly set their devices down and went back to buying light boxes to make them happy. This reinforced the idea to the public that S.A.D. was a real thing, and that the only real way to solve it is by buying yet another light box.
In reality, all the happiness you could ever need is contained in your device. Some of the best ways to feel incredibly happy on a device is by going on social media for hours and hours, engaging in a conversation with a large language model such as ChatGPT or even playing fun and soothing games such as “Clash Royale” on your phone or “League of Legends” on your laptop. These positive activities, among others, highlight just how much better it is to tie your happiness to a phone or laptop instead of a light box.
Another way to be happy is by just thinking happy thoughts. What so many people forget is that, by thinking thoughts that are sad, they will be S.A.D. Whereas if they replace those thoughts with happy ones, they will immediately be happy. The brain is very good at thinking whatever you tell it to think. If you tell it to think negatively, it will continue to spiral until you’re sitting in your dark room 24/7.
However, if you can hijack your brain and harness your free will to convince yourself that you’re truly happy, you will be happy as a result. This is a case where Big Light and Big Therapy have been working in tandem to try to keep this concept secret.
By making S.A.D. seem like it is out of someone’s control, not
only will they seek help from a “professional” for it, but they will buy a light box when in reality the power to change their mood is entirely in their own head.
Another thing that’s entirely in your head is the weather being so bad you can’t possibly go out and enjoy life, instead forcing yourself to stay inside and bundle up. A very wise person once told me that “it’s not the weather, it’s your gear” and that person could not have been more right. By making the mental choice that it’s somehow too cold and dark to go outside, you’re already losing the battle.
Instead, by going to an outdoor outfitter and dropping a few hundred dollars on winter gear instead of light boxes, you
too can look like the Michelin Man in order to get out and enjoy the beauty of Anchorage in the winter. By taking the onus off the weather to be good and putting it on yourself to be outfitted properly for the conditions, you very quickly run out of excuses to stay inside and shut down — and will rapidly find yourself not feeling so down anymore.
At the end of the day, S.A.D. is quite literally all in your head. It is a lie that has been perpetuated by major industries — like Big Light — when in reality your happiness is determined by you. So instead of staying inside with your happy light this winter, just have a conversation with yourself in the mirror and just be happy.
GRAPHIC BY EDLEEN GUIAO. Big light may try and silence me by putting a light on my head, but they can’t hide the truth about S.A.D.!
Just Sociology Tings; Why
Gen Z does not care anymore
The planet is dying, and our government is failing; nothing feels real anymore, and I am too tired to care.
By Nahla White columnist2@thenorthernlight.org
In the midst of hellish wildfires, mass media censorship and numerous genocides occurring simultaneously, it quite literally feels impossible to give a shit, and I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way.
A study conducted by the Oliver Wayman Forum found that about 65% of Gen Z’ers in America reported struggling with at least one mental health issue. While this influx of deteriorating mental health can be observed across multiple different generations, anyone who has been paying attention to Gen Z for the past few years will be able to see a unique amount of apathy and indifference this generation has towards the socioeconomic and geopolitical state of the world.
As a 2004 baby myself — maybe this is just affinity bias — I can’t really blame us. The signs of rapid global warming had been on the wall for a while now, but it wasn’t until I began seeing footage of the wildfires that are — as of writing — currently consuming Los Angeles that I had a rather disturbing epiphany: there might not be a future for me to enjoy.
What is the point in working toward goals when there’s a slim chance of seeing the fruits of your labor? What’s the point in worrying about everyone else when I can barely function properly on my own? I’ve been going back and forth with the same line of questioning for quite some time now, and I know for a fact that I’m not alone in this.
A Healthline article written by CRNA Racheal Nall describes apathy as “an absence of feeling or emotion” that can “affect your motivation and leave you feeling detached from the world.” While Nall lists a multitude of causes that can lead to having these feelings, one of the subsections of the article specifically discusses how traumatic events can sometimes lead to feelings of apathy and extreme indifference as a coping mechanism.
Now, in the context that Nall is referring to, the traumatic situations in question are much more dire — things such as surviving a natural disaster or be -
ing a prisoner of war — however I think the overall concept is still applicable to Gen Z.
Even if the word “trauma” is very loosely defined and often gets tossed around more than a pair of shoes in a washing machine, I don’t think it’s outlandish to say that my generation has borne witness to more than its fair share of world changing events and catastrophes at this point.
It seems like every year a new Hurricane seems to break the record for being one of the most powerful ever recorded. Just last year we witnessed Hurricane Helene nearly decimate the southeast portion of the United States, crowning it as the second deadliest U.S. hurricane of the past 50 years behind Hurricane Katrina —I am not counting the death toll from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
Even though we, as a nation, have grown used to seeing news reports about wildfires rampaging across California, seeing a huge metropolitan area such as LA go up in flames feels almost apocalyptic, especially since catastrophes such as this don’t typically occur in the U.S. where we don’t have much of a choice but to watch.
But I think the true, final nail in the coffin was the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The oldest of Gen Z were still in their early 20s at the time, and during the prime age at which they are supposed to be exploring our independence and stepping out into the real world, they were forced into solitude and isolation.
For middle and high school students at the time, our social lives were placed on the back burner during the time in adolescence where building and maintaining relationships is the most crucial. Social distancing and the lack of in person interaction led to the formation of unhealthy parasocial relationships, a lack of social skills, and an inability to form communities off of the internet.
Long standing evidence has shown that a lack of community involvement and kinship leads to heightened feelings of anxiety, depression and stress, as highlighted by an article titled “The effects of social isolation, stress and discrimination on mental health” provided by the
National Library of Medicine — NLM.
While these effects are bound to deeply affect anyone regardless of age demographic, because Gen Z is still undergoing crucial brain development, these feelings have been proven to carry on into adulthood when taken on at such an early age, as mentioned in another article from the NLM titled “Developmental Risk I: Depression and the Developing Brain .”
All of the back-to-back huge, traumatic events that Gen Z has witnessed have led to an increase in deteriorating mental health, an aversion to socializing, and a tendency to disassociate from both the real world and the internet.
This form of dissociation has had severe real world implications, such as our inability to empathize with others and our refusal to commit to anything for substantial periods of time. .
Along with the severe effects of climate change and the on-
going COVID-19 epidemic, the high rates of inflation and stagnant federal minimum wage has backed us into a rather uncomfortable position where many of our dreams of going to university or obtaining higher earning jobs seem practically unobtainable.
As a full-time college student who also works anywhere between 40 to 55 hour weeks between two jobs, it feels like no matter how hard I work, I never make any progress toward my goals.
The world seems to be dying at an impossibly fast rate, and by the time I graduate and actually get to start living my life, the government will either have become a fully-fledged fascist state, the effects of climate change will have become completely irreversible, or nuclear armageddon will have begun.
Because of this, I’ve begun to disassociate. All of the time I’ve spent invested in different geopolitical issues has begun to
dwindle down to nothing more than procrastinating with my school work via mindless scrolling on TikTok and Youtube Shorts —don’t judge me.
I know for a fact that I am far from an isolated instance. So many of my generational peers, both online and in real-life spaces have communicated the same feelings of hopelessness, loneliness and passivity toward the world around them as well as in their own personal lives.
While many people like to make the argument that Gen Z is just sensitive and that we can’t handle the real world, older generations don’t seem to grasp the fact that the world was handed to us in the shittiest state that it possibly could be — given how technologically advanced we are. It’s like being born on a sinking ship with no lifeboats — all we have ever known is death, chaos and carnage.
Now we are too tired to care.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY UMAIR AKRAM.
A meme that perfectly captures the mental state of Gen Z during this period in time.
OPINION
Croft’s Comments
Updates on the future of Croft’s Comments and responses to comments made over winter break.
By Tanner Croft columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org
Welcome back to school! Or if you are new this semester, welcome to our home! We are glad to have you here with us!
Croft’s Comments is your local spot to make statements, let people know about events happening on campus, ask for advice, vent your problems or completely unhinged hot takes.
I will make one statement though: With our upcoming special editions, you may want to save context specific submissions for the special edition that aligns with them the most. For example, for the month of February, we will be releasing a sex edition. This will be the perfect time to submit anything that involves sex or relationships. The same goes for the Spring Break and April Fools editions.
Q: Gerad Butler in the original “Gladiator” movie. You are off by 300.
A: I noticed that. I messed up! I always get the two of them mixed up, especially regarding those two movies specifically. Your comment is hilarious though.
Q: What’s up with the weather over break? Spring then snow again?
A: I was out of state when all of the warm weather was happening. I heard it was pretty crazy, though.
Q: Hey! Residence Life Zoo Lights Jan. 31. Make sure to sign up and get your spot, it’s free.
A: Where should students go to sign up? I know I want to go!
Q: We need more raves in Anchorage. Someone get on that.
They used to host them ages ago in the Kincaid Bunkers. Do you know of any?
A: There are some, but mostly in the summer. Girdwood has a really good scene for it. I plan on doing an article about the rave scene in Alaska this upcoming summer.
Q: Triple dawg dare you to submerge yourself into the creek.
A: It wouldn’t be the first time!
Q: How hype are you for the UAA vs UAF hockey game?!
A: As of writing, we just won on Saturday! What a game!
Q: Where should I not go to drink in town (and why is it Trashlight)?
A: Gaslight is pretty sketchy, but I think you should drink anywhere that you have a good time. Some people genuinely enjoy the Gaslight and there is no judgement for that. Just be safe no matter where you drink, and always make sure that you have
a sober ride home!
Q: The fine arts department needs our help! It’s a great program with amazing performances. We should advertise those more. It’s free for students!
A: I will make sure I am at the next performance, and I will bring some friends. The Northern Light will also look into reviewing the performances!
Q: What’s your fav part of living on campus?
A: I love being within walking distance to my friends, school, and The Blue Fox! I feel as though we are slowly building a community on campus, and I love walking around and recognizing people that I know.
Q: Tanner, I can’t stop thinking about rhododendrons. What do I do?
A: Consider switching to a botany major? Or investing in a greenhouse.
Q: Best place in town to eat?
A: This is a tough one. There
are several really good restaurants, but it kind of depends on what you are in the mood for. Personally, I think my favorite restaurant is Ichiban.
Q: Who would you rather fight? A Mormon or a Jehovah’s Witness?
A: I would rather not fight at all to be completely honest.
Q: Peanut butter.
A: Jelly!
Q: Best part of winter break was…?
A: My nephew was born. So that was pretty damn cool.
Q: What two things can you never have for breakfast?
A: Beans and toast. Hands down.
Q: Wondering Tanner’s opinion on this weather? Are you ready for spring already?
A: Okay, so I understand that I am the odd one out for this, but I actually love the winter. Regardless of the recent storms and whatnot.
Q: Let’s hope they fix the awfully icy trails on campus.
A: As far as I can tell, the trails are mostly alright? Any suggestions on trails that might need more attention?
Q: What if instead of women wanting me and fish fearing me, both of them fear me?
A: Then you are probably doing something incorrectly.
Q: Do you think your dad could beat up my dad?
A: Without a doubt!
Q: Who will Jake Paul be fighting next now that Jimmy Carter passed away?
A: Someone in hospice care, I am sure.
Q: Love the new haircut tanner!! Rocking it.
A: Thank you! It was time for a change.
GRAPHIC BY EDLEEN GUIAO.