January 26, 2016

JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 2, 2016

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

FEATURES

PAGE 6

PAGE 3

Uncovering the quirks of one of UAA’s shuttle drivers

Aftermath of 7.1 magnitude earthquake at UAA

Anchorage Folk Festival arrives at UAA

Amanda Kerr (Fiddle), Danny Broth (Guitar), Garren Volper (Bass), and Peter Hamre (Mandolin) played at the Anchorage Folk Festival Kickoff party at Taproot on Wed. Jan 20.

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org

Every year since 1990, folk musicians have gathered in the musical corners of Anchorage to play their music at the Anchorage Folk Festival. It’s a chance for musicians and folk fans alike to come together, learn the craft and enjoy the music to the best of their abilities.

The festival features performances from local and guest artists alike.

“I would highly recommend checking out both guest artists,” said Garren Volper, who serves on the Anchorage Folk Festival’s board of directors and works for UAA Concert Board. “For the first weekend we have a great bluegrass band from the SF [San Francisco] Bay Area called Front Country, and for the second weekend, we have Jeffery Broussard &

The Creole Cowboys, a rockin’ zydeco band from Louisiana. Both bands are playing multiple times at the fest and are incredible.”

However, the festival is also known for its workshops at UAA, which help musicians learn not only how to play the music, but also how to dance to it, form bands, mic musicians for performances and play odd instruments like the rhythm bones.

PHOTO BY GEORGE HYDE

“It really covers the gamut of folk festival music performance,” said Kenny Powers, the past president of the Anchorage Folk Festival, and now a member of the board of directors. “Not only how to play the instruments, but how to get in a band, dance to it... it really covers everything.”

SEE FESTIVAL

PAGE 2

UAA shows ‘The Hunting Ground’ for sexual violence awareness

By Kathryn Casello

kcasello@thenorthernlight.org

Sexual assault in recent years has been a major concern for college campuses across the U.S. The Student Health and Counseling Center helped host two showings of the film ‘The Hunting Ground’ and subsequent panel discussions about the film and sexual assault on college campuses last week.

“We wanted to bring a showing here because we need to show these things, and we need to have these discussions,” said Betty Bang of the Student Health and Counseling Center.

On Thursday, the Dean of Students Office, STAR, University Police, the Department of Justice and the Title IX Office were all represented on the panel to have a discussion following the film.

UAA Chancellor Tom Case opened the event by talking directly to the audience about the safety and wellbeing of students on college campuses.

facebook.com/northernlightuaa

“It’s going to take all of us to really focus on learning about the realities of this challenge. This is not a public affairs issue — this is a safety issue, and it is near and dear to my heart. I think of my daughter, and my grandkids. This is something very important.”

Michael Votava, the Director of Student Conduct and Ethical Development at UAA, explained the protocol that should be followed for sexual harassment and misconduct.

“We call the complainant and the respondent and give them an opportunity in separate meetings to review Title IX’s report. If the evidence is there, then I would make a recommendation for the student to be either suspended or expelled from the university system.”

Votava explained that after a case is referred to the Dean of Student’s Office, they aim to send a letter to both parties the next day asking for them to respond within five days to schedule a review, have the review and then get letters out within 10 business days. Both parties

@TNL_Updates

PHOTO BY ALICIA O’GRADY

On Wednesday, Jan. 20 the Student Health and Counseling Center hosted a showing of the film “The Hunting Ground” and then held a panel discussion following the film to discuss sexual assault on campus.

@thenorthernlightuaa

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

| 02

FESTIVAL: Audience participation is highly encouraged CONTINUED FROM COVER

Kenny has worked with the festival for seven years, but he’s been involved since its inception in 1990.

“It began because a lot of Anchorage area musicians would go down to the Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau every year,” said Powers. “And that is a really wonderful festival. Musicians and people come from all around the state to get there.

But the Anchorage area folks said ‘why aren’t we doing this here?’ And so they started the Anchorage Folk Festival. The first weekend was small, one weekend. It has been growing ever since.”

Today, the festival goes for two weekends and spans everything from workshops to concerts to jam sessions. All of this is largely free to the community.

Only four of the dances require an entry fee; one of which, the Contra Dance taking place January 27 at the Student Union, is free for all students. Many of these free events are paid for with donations from both individuals and large corporations and institutions. The Bear Tooth Theaterpub, Dancing Bears, Williwaw, and UAA Student Activities have all contributed to the festival, both financially and with events like concerts and film showings.

Volper cites his work in Student Activities and the Concert Board as instrumental in making the Festival happen.

“Both of these on campus jobs were super helpful in getting Anchorage Folk Festival more linked in to campus and visible to UAA students,” said Volper.

The donation-fueled volunteer effort has brought worldclass acts like Front Country and Jeffery Broussard and The Creole Cowboys to Anchorage.

While the first weekend has ended — and Front Country’s performances with it — there are

still lots of events on the horizon like the aforementioned Contra Dance in the Student Union, or the Zydeco Mardi Gras Ball taking place at the Snow Goose on Jan. 30. Even with one of the guest artists having already played, though, there’s still a lot of talent to check out.

“I think [students should see] the whole festival,” said Hannah Yoter, the titular leader of the Hannah Yoter Band, who performed on Jan. 24. “It’s a great collaboration and exhibition of all the great music that is in Anchorage. All kinds, all ages, they’re all great.”

Local artists will permeate the Main Stage at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium again this weekend beginning on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m..

These performances are free to the entire community, like many

ILLUSTRATION BY INNA MIKHAILOVA

of the other events and workshops.

If the organizers of the event wanted to share one piece of advice in particular though, it would be to participate in the music as much as possible.

“I encourage students to bring their instruments!” said Powers. “If they want to rub shoulders with some of the best musicians in the country, they should bring their instruments.”

Above all, the organizers see the festival as a participatory activity rather than just a spectator one. Everyone who attends, student, musician, or neither, is encouraged to sing, dance and play along. The festival conveys a theme of love and peace, and nothing says that like the community coming together to play.

PHOTO BY GEORGE HYDE

Kenny Powers opens the 2016 Anchorage Folk Festival with a short speech at the Kick-Off Party at the Taproot on Jan. 20 as Garren Volper prepares to play.

HUNTING: ‘The Hunting Ground’ talks about sexual assault on U.S. college campuses CONTINUED FROM COVER

have seven days to comment, and then the case goes to the Vice Chancellor with Student Affairs who has 14 days, and then the Chancellor who has seven days.

The documentary-styled film described sexual assault on campuses as an “epidemic” that is a result of universities and even communities protecting sexual predators to try to maintain the reputation of the school, college sports, and large fraternities. The film suggested that the hundreds of millions of dollars in Alumni donations going to schools like Florida State University, Notre Dame, Columbia, Harvard and Penn State incentivizes certain administrations to turn a blind eye to assault and not take appropriate action.

“I’m glad that we have the film to bring this to light. I was very disappointed in learning about the number of cases at other major universities in the U.S. that went unaddressed, that made me very sad to see that,” said Votava. “I wonder

how many predators those universities were allowing to remain on their campus. Part of Conduct is also to protect the community, and if it doesn’t appear as if the respondent is going to be able to be rehabilitated, then we don’t want them to come back.”

At least 15 individuals shared their stories in “The Hunting Ground” of being assaulted at their colleges, and when they went to their administration for help, faculty and staff told them not to talk about it, blamed them for assault, accused them of making it up, and even refused to investigate. One of the most striking accounts of an FSU student assaulted by at-the-time FSU football player Jameis Winston, detailed that administration claimed “they couldn’t find Winston” and therefore couldn’t investigate the assault. It wasn’t until Winston played in two playoff games that they officially opened an investigation. A Tallahassee police officer, an alumni of FSU, initially refused to open a police investigation. It wasn’t until a year after the initial assault

that FSU even tested the victim’s rape kit, which tested positive for Winston’s DNA. At his trial, the judge presiding, who was also an alumni of FSU, found Winston not guilty.

“There’s someone I really care about who goes to one of those schools and it honestly made me scared,” said Andrew France, a student who watched the film on Thursday, Jan. 21. “I also got angry.

People already hate the stereotypical top 100 colleges in America because of the price, but to hear about things that are so hidden is really frightening. Because it’s not just the school itself acting like a dictatorship, it’s also the community surrounding it and the government.”

The film prompted feelings of frustration and shock in audience members; at one point in the film, a male student asked, “So just because a woman says no, and then you have sex with her, you’re

saying that’s rape?” Almost all members of the audience verbally responded, “Yes!” The film emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability at universities, which many students feel is present at UAA. “I think I realized more about my school, I mean I knew sexual assault happens, but I understood a lot more about UAA after watching that. I honestly just gained a lot of respect for UAA,” said France. “One of the schools that was mentioned, I have friends there and I walk around there, you can just walk right into the dorms and rooms. The safety precautions taken [at UAA] make a lot more sense now. If you compare the rates of sexual assault at UAA to other schools, it has to be the safety precautions that UAA uses that keeps us safe, and I really believe that.”

For more information about the film, check out http://www.thehuntinggroundfilm.com/the-facts/

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

| 03

Nick “The Dream” Weaver College Cookbook:

yogurt blueberry bites

PHOTO BY VICTORIA PETERSEN

By Victoria Petersen

vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

Circumnavigating the University of Alaska Anchorage campus in his green and gold shuttle is Nicholas Weaver. You may have seen Weaver driving your shuttle around campus; tall and topped with a black beanie, his long hair flows far past his shoulders.

Stepping onto the West shuttle in the afternoon, one will be introduced to a large variety of new music that Weaver plays.

With the sounds of local Alaskan folk to parody star “Weird Al” Yankovic streaming from the loud speakers.

“Over the sound system on the bus I usually play quite a variety of stuff. Which includes my own music, also other musicians in Alaska, other indie artists from around the world, classic rock, classic country, everything. Lots of Weird Al!” said Weaver.

Weaver, who’s stage name is Nick “The Dream” Weaver, has been writing and performing his own original music on guitar and ukulele for over 30 years. Weaver acquired this stage name in his time in the Navy during the late seventies.

“When Gary Wright came out with the song “Dreamweaver” and my last name is Weaver, and I was a natural space cadet.

So everybody started calling me Dreamweaver. Later on when I started getting more serious about playing music I decided to adopt it as a stage name.” said Weaver.

Performing at the Anchorage Folk Festival for the past decade, Weaver usually performs solo with one of his many guitars or his ukulele.

“My first performance there was around 2005, so I’ve been doing it for 10 years now. There have been a couple of times at Folk Fest where I perform with my friend Rita we called ourselves The Good Cheese. We do covers and originals. I drove a party bus in Anchorage for a while, and I wrote a song about it called ‘Bachelorette Party,’” said Weaver.

While he has yet to write a song about it, Weaver has been driving the UAA shuttle for over 10 years now. Weaver has had the opportunity to go beyond the main campus and take the shuttle on special chartered trips, his favorite part of the job.

“The University chartered the shuttle for the first two or three years I drove. I got to go on a few glacier cruises out of Whittier, but one of the neatest things that happen every year is one charter that comes up for the Geology department. We take them out to Sutton and they go out and look for fossils. That’s always a fun trip. I like that one a lot.”

When Weaver isn’t driving the shuttle or performing his original music, you can probably find him driving around Anchorage in his ever-so compact smart car.

“I saw one on campus, and I fell in love with it when I saw it.

I checked on the prices for it and saw I could get one for under $13,000, brand new,” Weaver said. “When I bought mine I hadn’t even test drove it or even sat in one. I bought it in Seattle and had it shipped up. I love my little smart car. I drove it down to the lower 48. I drove it all the way to just outside Denver, Colorado and back.”

Even though you may not be able to ride in Weaver’s smart car you can catch his shuttle anytime.

You can find Weaver performing at the Anchorage Folk Festival on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m.

Hungry and low on cash?

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By Victoria Petersen

vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

Keep your New Years resolution of healthy eating with this easy and delicious snack.

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3. Take your toothpick and stick the blueberry, dip into the plain yogurt and place on to cookie sheet.

4. Place cookie sheet into freezer and let cool for 30 minutes.

04 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

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SEAWOLF SLUG: Movies are changing, the Academy Awards need to In the year 2013, an alien brain slug from one of the galaxy’s most feared empires crash-landed on Earth and assumed control of a lowly reporter at this newspaper.

These are his stories.

By Klax Zlubzecon

Translated by George Hyde A little less than two weeks ago, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences surprised the world by filling their big five categories for the next Academy Awards — director and the four acting awards — with white men and women, and nobody else. Shocking, I know.

This is obviously not the first time that people have gotten upset over the whole “#oscarssowhite” thing. It doesn’t surprise me that people get upset. They have good reason to. I have no idea how the voters at the Academy came to these conclusions this year, or last year for that matter.

It could just be a coincidence that films like “Straight Outta Compton” and actors like Michael B. Jordan got snubbed from

the Awards this year. It does seem like an awfully petty thing to do, however. In the average brain slug’s view, humans are humans. You’re all going to get enslaved anyway. I have a feeling if our fleet has to take the Earth by force, most of humanity is going to band together to fight us regardless of trivial things like skin color.

It’d be foolish to refuse another person’s help just because of their race.

Now, of course, it’d be foolish to resist the Slug Empire’s rule in the first place, but I’m just supposing here. I don’t think the world’s leaders are that stupid.

What was I talking about? Oh right, the Oscars. Come to think of it, the Oscars are pretty petty to begin with, too.

The Academy did release a statement last week that they would reconsider the voting process in response to the race debacle, and they actually did that on Friday.

New voting regulations were added to bring more fresh blood to the Academy.

In the big picture of the film industry, though, does it really matter?

Films, as seen by a brain slug, are pretty trivial on their own. However, having a nerdy film buff as a parasitic host means that I get a lot of really cool insight into what they mean for the human condition or in terms of filmmaking. It still can’t compare to the moving sky paintings of the planet Kalli, but as a method of storytelling, I’ve seen worse throughout the galaxy.

In terms of storytelling, Oscar season has typically been a big boon. Film studios are making safer and safer bets with blockbusters throughout the year, which is why we constantly see reboots and longtime franchises. Oscar season gives those studios an excuse to green light riskier projects that tell far more interesting — and possibly even unpalatable, to some audiences — stories. This meant that while the general public got to see the seventh “Avengers” film, the film buff looking for something more would get to see something more challenging and satisfying if they so desired.

Unfortunately, that’s kind of changed recently. This year’s Oscar season was harshly and rudely interrupted by “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which isn’t a bad movie, but it still gave smaller and smarter films a real monster to compete with. Similarly, when “Oscar bait” films started releasing in October, they had “The Martian” to deal with, and if you think the early spring and summer months were safe, they had “Mad Max: Fury Road” to compete in that depart-

ment.

Big blockbusters are getting better and better, and the best ones are starting to tread on months that have typically been reserved for those smaller, riskier movies. Keep in mind that most people are only going to be seeing a few movies a year in theaters with the hope of catching the smaller stuff on Netflix later on down the line, and Netflix is where the really interesting stuff like “Beasts of No Nation” or “Winter on Fire” is happening. When only the biggest and loudest theatrical releases can thrive, the riskier movies have to flee to online services in order to be seen.

That’s reflected in this year’s lineup of nominees. One of those safe Hollywood reboots, “Mad Max,” did end up getting nominated. The new “Star Wars” has gotten five nominations — almost all of them for technical categories, but still more than most of the other Best Picture nominees. “The Martian” has seven nominations.

Does this mean that big blockbusters are getting better? Are risky independent films getting worse? Should the Academy start paying attention to what people are watching on the web rather than on the big screen? I don’t know. I’m only a slug. The world of filmmaking is rapidly changing, though, and while the Academy has addressed the race issue — halfheartedly, admittedly — there are still tons of issues they still need to work out if they want to stay relevant.

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.

EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.

Moving out: An ode to labor A well-meaning column rife with clunky metaphors and horrible advice, Orange Rhymes With is the goto place to break the monotony of classes and laugh at someone else’s misfortune.

By Evan Dodd Contributor

I’ve never given much thought to moving. In my four years in the dorms I never stayed long in any one place, preferring instead the ghostly nomad approach to campus life. Some years I found myself staying the full nine months, and others I spent barely three weeks tripping over unpacked boxes before it was time for a change of pace.

As a result I tailored my lifestyle to fit the constant transition. All of my outdoor gear lives in my trunk to avoid unnecessary time spent packing for trips, and my decorations consist of a single crate of paintings by family and friends with the occasional scraps of travel souvenirs.

Really, all of my worldly possessions can fit in my car with the exception of a few

large boxes of college appliances and books; so it’s a been a bit of a shock how nostalgic my girlfriend and I have been as we make the leap to a new apartment.

They’ve had the same apartment for over three years now, with more or less the same roommates, and me as a very thankful unofficial perma-guest. They’ve outlasted landlords, neighbors, roommates, and at least four or five stray cats. Sure, over the years I’ve publically mocked it for its broken appliances and interesting neighbors. And to be fair, the toilet often flushes hot, the sink becomes a geyser if used in conjunction with the dishwasher, and the neighbors seems to invite the police over at least every other night; but that never changed the fact that it was home.

I’m certainly not the only one with memories here either, as a spare key labeled “strays” constantly hung on the

wall for anyone who may need the couch for a night or twenty. Though I might be the longest houseguest, at this point I’d estimate that I’m only one of twelve or so. As we’ve begun the packing process we’ve actually found archeological evidence of roommates and guests that had been lost to modern memory. These belongings, remnants of a past age, consist of dressers with no owners, both the keyboard and guitar of an occupant that can’t have been here more than a day or two, and a closet filled with enough extra shoes to make a significant impact in your average impoverished nation.

We’ve managed to effectively employ denial as our coping strategy for moving until yesterday, when we came home to find the beloved cat-shredded leather couches gone. Somehow, someone who needed them more than us had replied to the “free to a good home” ad that we posted on Craigslist and took them off our hands. And just like that it was as if switch had been flipped for all of us; because suddenly the fact that we were all departing was unmistakable apparent.

The parallel has been drawn over and over between our situation and the ending of Friends as they stand in an empty apartment and reminisce over all the time they’d spent there over the years.

It’s an apt comparison; as I’ve never seen another building in which no doors were ever locked, where a constant rotation of roommates and guests fought with various delivery drivers for limited parking, and where traversing across the hall to steal ingredients was a rite of endearing passage.

This apartment spawned Netflix binges that lasted weeks long than were healthy. It birthed a disgusting Turducken created solely so I wouldn’t have to think of a topic for my next two columns.

It played host to a party that accidentally resulted in sixty eight people on the lawn and inside a three bedroom apartment.

Between these four walls relationships blossomed (and erupted spectacularly), degrees were earned, and I somehow managed to spill a thousand glasses of water on a multitude of important documents. During the summers I dyed the bathtub black with landscaping grime, and during the winters we damaged about one car per week by sliding down the hill.

Now it’s off to the far side of town, to a shiny new apartment complete with a fireplace that’ll let me roast marshmallows in my living room. By the time you read this we’ll have moved in box after box, bent way over so GCI can grace us with an internet connection, and struggled to console a furious cat named Greg who just can’t understand why all of this is happening to him.

So here’s to the eastside apartment, fondly dubbed Labor (if only so that the joke could be made that we were “in Labor”), and home to more memories than a college newspaper column could ever hope to express. It may not have been high class or even structurally sound, but for a few brief moments in the grand scheme of things it was home, and for that we’re eternally grateful.

So, as always, tune in next week for gripes, complaints, and genuine concerns that our new place is haunted.

06 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

UAA suffers damage from weekend earthquake

PHOTOS BY KELLY IRELAND

Pottery from the Convergence art show in the Student Union Gallery lays in pieces after Sunday’s early morning 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

Ceiling tile debris litters the UAA Admin/Humanities Building after Sunday morning’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

Ceiling tile in the UAA Student Union knocked out from Sunday’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake originating 162 miles from Anchorage near Lake Illiamna

The UAA Student Union suffered ceiling tile damage throughout much of the second floor from the 7.1 magnitude earthquake occurring Sunday, Jan. 24 at 1:30 a.m.

Pottery from the Convergence art show in the Student Union Gallery laying broken on the ground. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake occurring at 1:30 a.m. Sunday knocked several of the show’s pieces to the ground, but most works remain unscathed.

UAA maintenance workers Mario Vargas, Jody Inman and Jack Anderson work to replace ceiling tiles in the UAA Admin/Humanities Building on Sunday afternoon. The tiles fell during Sunday’s 1:30 a.m. 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

| 07

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

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Family is dangerous in ‘Tsotsi’

By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor

Some are born into families, and others make their own. For the steely­eyed protagonist of” Tsotsi,” family is dangerous. Driven from his home at five, Tsotsi (Presley Chweneyagae, “Avenged”) quickly made a family in the slum. They mug and murder together, bonding through violence and coercion. When viewers meet him, he is well­accustomed to this life. But as questions of his past arise, cracks start to show. The steely gaze collapses, the ruthlessness oftens. The question of what family is, and what hope comes from it, unravels Tsotsi. As the movie’s conflict becomes clear, he must choose between mending a family he wounded, and making his own.

After a night of drinking, questions about a dark past, and a scuffle that turns bloody, Tsotsi steals a car and shoots the driver, speeding away only to find a baby in the back seat. Unwilling to let it die, Tsotsi takes it into his “care,” though what care he can offer is little. The story is straightforward. While the movie meanders here and there, it stays on track. Tsotsi is a cold and damaged youth, unwilling to share his past. His social life isn’t complicated, but it runs deep. Butcher (Zenzo Ngqobe, “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”), Boston (Mothusi Magano, “Of Good Report”), and Aap (Kenneth Nkosi, “Zama”) have been by his side for most of his life.

Butcher is a textbook sadist, Boston is the only one with education, and Aap is the ever­faithful best friend. Tsotsi lords over them, drawing power from his rule. But as things get out of hand, Tsotsi’s role in this family comes into question.

These intricacies would be lost if not for Chweneyagae’s riveting performance as Tsotsi. In every one of his

dead­eyed gazes, life lurks just beneath. Weighed down by poverty and systemic oppression, showing humanity in an inhumane underworld is weakness. Balancing those stresses with the burden of masculinity, Chweneyagae carries the movie. Nkosie, despite some clumsy dialogue, is the perfect foil. Alongside him, Magano turns in a fine performance with only Ngqobe and Terry Pheto (“Cuckold”) as Miriam falling short.

That being said, “Tsotsi” is at its most revealing in Pheto and Chweneyagae’s scenes. Having forced his way into her house, Tsotsi makes Miriam breast-feed the baby at gunpoint. But as their relationship develops, these scenes become warmer, quieter. These silent moments elevate “Tsotsi” to something truly special. It’s a beautifully realized, if sometimes wandering, piece of work.

“Tsotsi” is a moving film. With keen insights about family and what it means to connect, director Gavin Hood probes Tsotsi’s trauma for its source. Multiple moments are revelatory, sometimes brutal, and always revealing. Despite some clumsy dialogue and roundabout sequences, “Tsotsi” soars on its lead performance.

Myriad quiet moments break Tsotsi’s calculating exterior, and what lies beneath is well worth an hour and a half of viewers’ time.

TITLE “Tsotsi”

COUNTRY South Africa

DIRECTOR Gavin Hood

GENRE Crime drama

RELEASE DATE Dec. 23, 2005

TRACK REVIEW

Kanye’s ‘No More Parties in LA’ will make you want to party in LA

By Felipe Godoy Diaz Contributor

ARTIST Kanye West ALBUM “Swish”

GENRE Hip-Hop LABEL G.O.O.D. Music

RELEASE Feb. 11, 2016

As part of his upcoming album, “Swish,” set to release on Feb. 11, Kanye West is releasing a new song almost every Friday as part of his G.O.O.D. Friday series.

Kanye originally started the series as a lead up to his 2010 magnum opus, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.”

For last week’s release, audiences were treated to “No More Parties in LA.” A mammoth six-minute track that sees Kanye team up with hip-hop’s most popular star Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick just finished having one of the best years of his career with the release of his own album “To Pimp a Butterfly.” This is the first collaboration between the two artists and the only way to describe the track is by using the iPhone flame emoji.

The song is produced by legendary producer Madlib and mainly samples the 1976 Junie Morrison’s track “Suzie Thundertussy.” Other samples later added by Kanye feature Johnny Guitar Watson, Ghostface-Killah, and Larry Graham, who’s actually Canadian rapper, Drake’s uncle.

The track itself sees the two emcees

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taking turns reciting their lengthy verses.

Kendrick is first to bat and while he is known for his lyricism, his verse mostly deals with his braggadocios conquest of women and their relationship to his rapping career.

Meanwhile, Kanye’s verse is all over the place, and for that, it is perfect.

Kanye’s last album, 2012’s “Yeezus” was so centered and serious about his over inflated personal ego that at times it became overwhelming. With “No More Parties in LA,” it is great to see Kanye return to a more playful and comical style of rapping. This honest and sincere style became quintessential to his early stardom and made Kanye the star he is today.

Kanye goes as far as to acknowledge this in the track by rapping “I know some fans who thought I wouldn’t rap like this again, But the writer’s block is over, emcees cancel your plans.” Kanye also hilariously mixes in references about Los Angeles traffic, his psychiatrist and even name drops Steve Jobs, Monica Lewinsky and former drug lord Pablo Escobar.

If this is any indication to what we should expect from Kanye in 2016, get ready, because before he can run for president in 2020, Kanye has to bless us with “Swish.”

907-786-1313

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

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UAA Green Fee Board is looking for creative and environmentally conscious students who will have the opportunity to create projects and review student proposals that promote sustainability at UAA. Apply Here:

www.uaa.alaska.edu/greenfee

The UAA Green fee promotes sustainability efforts throughout the campus community by funding initiatives defined by environmental stewardship, economic pragmatism, and social responsibility.

CABIN FEVER FILM SERIES R

7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 Denali Arts Council’s Airplane Hangar in Talkeetna Join us for an evening of experimental films, music and more in Talkeetna. $10 Image: Michael Conti, “Cabin Fever Film Series”

Green & Gold Tuesdays TM

Alaska Airlines Center Mezzanine Level www.varsitysportsgrillanchorage.com

UAA students receive special menu Tuesday nights.

4 - 9 p.m.

The Food. The View.

The Moment. anchoragemuseum.org Must show WOLFcard.

Dining Dollars not applicable.

Members enjoy free museum admission. Join today!

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

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Balancing Act: Road trip to Bowling Green, Ohio

By Simone Penker Contributor

Updated Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016.

After a whole semester of pre-season training and three weeks of practice we finally reached the week of our first road trip. We compete Saturday in Bowling Green, Ohio. Because it takes a few days for our bodies to adjust to a different time zone, we boarded a plane from Anchorage to Seattle Tuesday night. From there we took a connection flight to Detroit, where we rented cars to drive to our final destination. On Thursday and Friday we were allowed to train in the competition facilities where we compete, which greatly helped us to adjust to the equipment.

On Monday and Tuesday we focused on performing our competition routines

under pressure. Everyone was watching when we were performing our routines and if the coaches weren’t satisfied with our performance as a team, we repeated our assignment. We also focused on building up endurance and strength before we had to travel on Wednesday. Because of the time change and the many hours of sitting in the airplane, the practice on Thursday was kind of slow for everyone.

Once confident with the new equipment we stepped it up and performed our skills

and routines as expected. On Friday we went into the gym for only about two hours to rest our bodies for the meet on Saturday. We focused on individual skills and presentation.

We have been waiting and practicing for this meet and the rest of the season since August. Now we are ready to show what we know we can do! We don’t have to peak on the very first meet, but we will show what our team can accomplish.

Balancing Act is a weekly column written by senior gymnast Simone Penker on life as a Seawolf.

The Bowling Green Falcons gymnastics team defeated the Seawolves 194.075-191.500 Saturday. Penker finished with an all around score of 37.075 with her best event being the floor routine.

No. 1 Seawolves run away with 26 point blowout over Saints

By Nolin Ainsworth

sports@thenorthernlight.org

After outscoring Great Northwest Athletic Conference foe, St. Martin’s, 24-10 in the fourth quarter to secure win number 22, the Seawolves were in no rush for their lockers. Smiling and gesturing to fans, it was as if UAA was at its own political rally, and they had just delivered an awe-inspiring speech. One hundred feet away, their opponents were also slow to exit from the public’s eye, although instead of grins and laughs, the team from Lacey, Washington bore looks of exhaustion and fatigue, several nursing limps on their way into the tunnel.

The Seawolves (22-1, 9-1 GNAC) sent the Saints (5-12, 3-7 GNAC) packing with a 78-52 win Saturday night in front of 1,107 fans at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Alysha Devine tied her career-high

of 19 points, Megan Mullings scored 10, and Adriana Dent had 5 steals to help UAA remain unbeaten at home this season. Saints Megan Wiedeman and Elin Johansson made the most of their combined seven trips to the free throw line, scoring 18 and 12 points respectively in a losing effort.

“In the second half we … did an excellent job of keeping our hands up, keeping people in front [on defense], just playing good fundamental basketball that way,” Coach Ryan McCarthy said. “I liked our energy and effort a lot better in the second half.”

The first half was a much closer game than UAA would have liked. After starting the game on a 9-2 run and going up 25-12 midway through the second quarter, the Seawolves got into foul trouble late in the half. Sophomore Sierra Afoa’s foul at 4:26 of the second quarter put the Saints into the bonus, which awards a team two free throws for every addi-

UAA Women’s rolls over Seattle Pacific

By Jordan Rodenberger

jrodenberger@thenorthernlight.org

The Lady Seawolves found themselves back atop the No. 1 spot in Division II women’s basketball this past Tuesday, and rightfully so. Their first game as the new highest ranked team came against the Seattle Pacific Falcons on Thursday night, who are coming off an overtime loss to Western Washington the week before.

Those who are fans of defense appreciated the first quarter, as a total of 6 points were scored in the first five minutes of the contest. The pace picked up in the second quarter and UAA got some much needed help from the sideline.

“The bench came in, they killed it, and got us going,” said junior forward Alysha Devine, who finished with 12 points and a pair of steals.

The Seawolves went on a 14-0 run in the second and stretched the lead to 43-27 by halftime with the help of a layup at the buzzer by senior Keiahnaa Engel.

The Seawolves looked much more like themselves at the start of the second half, forcing turnovers and getting out on the fast break. Seattle Pacific struggled shooting against the length of UAA,

making only 26.7 percent of their shots for the game. The Seawolves opened the flood gates in the third quarter, and did not look back.

UAA played a safe, efficient fourth quarter and came away with a 82-47 victory. The Seawolves absolutely dominated the inside, outscoring SPU 56-10 in points in the paint. Senior Megan Mullings notched 20 points and grabbed nine boards for UAA, both game-highs. Seattle Pacific guard Courtney Hollander was the lone Falcon with double-digit points, totaling 12 and added seven rebounds.

With nine points against SPU, senior Jessica Madison climbed into the top 10 on UAA Women’s Basketball career scoring list.

Seattle Pacific led for just 11 seconds the entire game, when the score was 2-0 early in the meeting. They were, however, without their leading scorer, Jordan McPhee, who was injured just days before the team made the trip up to Alaska.

The Lady Seawolves will remain No. 1 in the nation following the win, something they are very accustomed to.

“It is a target on our back, and the other team is playing for something they can tell their kids about,” said head coach Ryan McCarthy.

UAA will travel north to Fairbanks for an in-state rival game against the Nanooks on Tuesday. The Seawolves won the previous game 78-56 at home in December.

tional foul. The Saints, who shoot better than 70 percent from the line, scored 11 of 16 attempts in the first two quarters. At the half, St. Martin’s trailed UAA 35-29.

McCarthy was visibly frustrated with some of the late foul calls from the sideline.

“One of the things we really talked about was limiting our fouls because this team was a very good free throw shooting team,” McCarthy said. “We just played into that and it caused the pace to slow down.”

The Seawolves would pick the pace back up in the third and fourth quarters, piling on the points. Many of UAA’s defensive rebounds translated into open offensive looks shortly thereafter. Point guards Kiki Robertson and Christina

Davis used long rebounds and quick outlet passes to push the pace while simultaneously scanning the floor for open teammates.

St. Martin’s Elin Johansson picked up her fourth foul late in the third quarter and was forced to sit out the fourth, further hindering the Saints offense.

UAA’s Devine began heating up in fourth quarter, making several nice cuts to the basket for lay ups. The sophomore from Wasilla even showed her range from three on a straight away jumper from long range that put UAA up 70-44 at 5:05 of the fourth. By that time, McCarthy had pulled most of his starters from the game, including Jessica Madison (13 points) and Robertson (6 points, 6 assists).

UAA play at Alaska Fairbanks at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, and are headed to Billings, Montana to face the Montana State Yellowjackets on Saturday, Jan. 30.

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR The Northern Light is a proud member of the ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS. The Northern Light is a weekly UAA publication funded by student fees and advertising sales. The editors and writers of The Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 2,500.

The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy or parenthood.

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

Let’s agree that anyone should ride the Seawolf Shuttle

By Hans Thompson

hans.thompson1@gmail.com

The Seawolf Shuttle is not available for riders unaffiliated with the university, but no one’s going to ask questions if they jump on.

If you think the shuttle should be available to the not affiliated, like prospective students and and visiting professionals to the campus, this might seem like an acceptable solution. If there is no real check, the public can ride if they are students or not, so what’s the problem? Well, if we really do wish for the shuttle to be usable by the public

though, we need to express it to the administration. The transportation fee each semester pays for the shuttle, and as students, we should express that we don’t want this transit option available just to students, staff and faculty, but to everyone.

If we can agree that it is too inconvenient to institute a card check for all riders all the time, let’s pass a resolution in USUAA to say that as the funding source the shuttle depends on — us students — that we don’t mind if the folks that aren’t students, staff and faculty ride the shuttle. Email me back with your thoughts.

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

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

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

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

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

THE NORTHERN LIGHT CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kelly Ireland 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org MANAGING EDITOR Samantha Davenport content@thenorthernlight.org COPY EDITOR Kathryn DuFresne copy@thenorthernlight.org

A&E EDITOR Vacant

WEB EDITOR Vacant

ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR Vacant

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Vacant

SPORTS EDITOR Nolin Ainsworth sports@thenorthernlight.org

ADVERTISING MANAGER Anthony Craig 786-6195 admanager@thenorthernlight.org

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Jordan Rodenberger jrodenberger@thenorthernlight.org PHOTO EDITOR Vacant

NEWS EDITOR Vacant

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Vacant

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Vacant

LAYOUT EDITOR Demi Straughn layout@thenorthernlight.org

FEATURES EDITOR Kathryn Casello kcasello@thenorthernlight.org ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Victoria Petersen vgpetersen@thenorthernlight.org

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jian Bautista jbautista@thenorthernlight.org Inna Mikhailova Imikhailova@thenorthernlight.org

MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE Vacant STAFF REPORTERS George Hyde gchyde@thenorthernlight.org CONTRIBUTORS Evan Dodd Jacob Holley-Kline Felipe Godoy Diaz Simone Penker MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Zac Clark ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Stacey Parker