THENORTHERNLIGHT JULY 27, 2010
NEWS
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
UA College Savings:
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Cuts in fees make saving a cinch
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Kensington Gold Mine: China to buy half of gold produced
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Face painting:
Local artist finds her niche
Allied Health Sciences Building to open Fall 2011
LoGAN TUTTLE/TNL
The Allied Health Sciences Building currently being constructed will allow all health science programs to be under one roof. It is located across the street from the Wells Fargo Sports Complex and is set to open Fall 2011.
The $46 million building seeks to better prepare health science students for the workforce with updated facilities By Shana Roberson
Special to The Northern Light
Take a look across the street from the Wells Fargo Sports Complex to see the beginning of a $46 million addition to UAA. The Department of Health Sciences is eagerly awaiting the opening of their new building, set for Fall 2011. The hefty price tag was funded by state appropriation. The project seems to have dual agendas. Not only is the Department of Health Sciences in need of better facilities, but also health care jobs continue to grow each year, even in today’s economy. The new building is part of a long term, four building plan that will co-locate all health science programs across the street. The first building will house the Allied
Health program, the nursing program and the WWAMI program, which is a clinical medical education program that stretches across five states. Chancellor Fran Ulmer believes the building will be “the beginning of what I believe will be a very important piece of how the University of Alaska serves Alaskans training our health care workers and making certain that Alaskans have the kind of quality health care that our home grown Alaskans can deliver.” According to faculty, one of the most promising parts of the design is the simulation center on the second floor. It will mimic that of a critical care room and bring students from different disciplines together to participate in scenarios with each other as part of their coursework. Vice Provost of Health Programs Jan
Harris has high hopes for the collaboration. “I’m really looking forward to having all the programs in the building and having the opportunity to get together and work together,” Harris said. “I think it will be a great space for that kind of thing.” Harris notes that simulations occur right now, but usually on a demonstration or single program basis. The new building will provide numerous new opportunities. “Students will practice responding to a particular patient crisis and students from a number of programs will be able to do that together,” Harris said. “The programs that are housed there as well as others on campus can come together and learn to take care of patients and to communicate with each other successfully so they are better prepared when they go to the workplace.” In addition to the many laboratories and
Chancellor holds listening session for Gulf recovery By Jerzy Shedlock The Northern Light
Ten minutes to 5 p.m. on a Wednesday, the lounge in the Student Union at UAA was full of unoccupied chairs as a handful of people awaited UAA Chancellor Fran Ulmer’s arrival. As time edged closer to the hour a handful of additional people filled the room. Fran Ulmer invited Anchorage residents to the Student Union on Wednesday July 7 to hold a listening session for Gulf of Mexico oil spill recovery and response ideas. Ulmer was recently named one of seven members to serve on the newly formed national commission tasked with determining the causes of the oil spill and how to avoid similar disasters in the future. A little over 30 people came to the session in which the chancellor did not answer questions, but instead simply listened to people’s ideas as how to approach the ongoing catastrophe. Speakers were initially limited to five minutes to offer information, but those that had more to say were given a second turn because of the
small number of speakers. The attendees of the listening session consisted of a small group concerned citizens with actual ideas to give the chancellor, a slightly larger group of reporters both independent of and affiliated with the university, and was rounded off by a few UAA students. There were no state legislators present. Ideas expressed to Ulmer ranged from remaining skeptical of the news reports coming out of the Gulf to considering the harmful consequences of chemical dispersion, a nonmechanical method for removing oil from water currently being used to clean the spill. The first person to speak before the chancellor was Dave Harbour. Harbour, a retired Alaska regulator and former member of the Natural Gas Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), urged Ulmer to accrue evidence and recommend solutions grounded on evidence, not on emotional reactions. Harbour emphasized the importance of SEE LISTEN PAGE 03
simulation rooms, Chancellor Ulmer adds to the list a state of the art visual virtual lab. The final design does not come until later stages of the construction and details on the virtual lab are disclosed minimally, according to Facilities and Planning. The second phase of the building, which is not currently funded, would take the simulation center even further to include specialty programs as well as partners from around the community. “Our goal is to have it be a really good partnership. There are some networks being developed by people who are interested in simulation out in the community in various settings, primarily hospitals, as well as the health educational programs,” Harris said. For now the focus remains on getting the first phase of construction complete to open the doors in Fall 2011.
Disc golf courses offer fun for players of all skill levels
TAyLoR HALL/TNL
Greg Jones, sophomore film major, throws a disc to hole three at Kincaid, one of five disc golf courses within Anchorage. Anchorage Disc Golf Association maintains the city’s disc golf courses and are currently working on revamping the Westchester course. SEE FROLF PAGE 05
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NEWS| July 27, 2010
the money raised so far has been sufficient to start running ads and he expects further contributions. A national tea party group also is running ads for Miller.
UA College Savings Plan cuts its fees on all portfolio plans
Hostel opens in Kodiak
Program management fee and annual account fee among the reductions; portfolios range from conservative to aggressive
Kodiak Island’s only hostel is open for business. Rhonda Maker owns Kodiak Island Hostel. At the opening last weekend she had her first seven guests. Maker tells the Kodiak Daily Mirror that the hostel can hold 26 people. The facility offers hot showers. Maker says she eventually plans to have washers and dryers available and will be open all hours to accommodate the fishing fleet. She opened the hostel at the suggestion of a friend. She says she hopes it will bring new people to the island and help temporary workers get established.
By Jerzy Shedlock
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Publisher delays Palin biography for tweens Christian book publisher Zondervan is delaying publication of a Sarah Palin biography for young readers. Cheryl Lundberg, Zondervan’s director of customer service, said in an e-mail that after “careful review and discussion,” it was deemed that October was not an “optimal time” to publish the book. She said no decision had been made on when the book would be printed. “Speaking Up: The Sarah Palin Story,” had been slated for release in September and publication in October. It was to be part a series of biographies aimed at 9- to 12-yearold readers that featured Christians in the news. Author Kim Washburn said Friday she was surprised by the decision. She said she was told this week the book was on hold “indefinitely.”
Alaskan Small airplane Marine killed in crashes near King Afghanistan Salmon A Marine from Moose Pass has A small airplane trying to reach King Salmon crashed near the southwest Alaska community but all four people on board survived. Alaska State Troopers say a Piper PA-14 piloted by 44-year-old Douglas Bradbury of North Pole was flying at around noon Thursday from Igiugig (ig-ee-UH’-gig) to King Salmon in bad weather. The airplane was in a holding pattern near King Salmon when the airplane’s engine began to run rough and lost power. Bradbury made an emergency landing north of the village near King Salmon Creek and called for help by satellite phone. A private helicopter carried the pilot and passengers to King Salmon. Troopers say medics checked and cleared all persons on board. The airplane was demolished.
been killed in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense on Tuesday identified the soldier as 28-year-old Gunnery Sgt. Christopher L. Eastman. Official says Eastman died Sunday in Helmand province, Afghanistan. The cause of death wasn’t listed, but a Marine Corps spokesman tells the Anchorage Daily News Eastman died in a bomb explosion. A spokesman didn’t immediately return a message left by The Associated Press. Eastman was assigned to the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, Calif. His remains were returned July 20 to Dover Air Force Base, Del.
A state judge has ruled that a community hunt reserved for eight Native villages is illegal because it violates the Alaska constitution. While acknowledging that traditional, local hunters face unfair competition from non-local hunters who have more money and are better equipped, Kenai Superior Court Judge Carl Bauman ruled that the Ahtna community hunt violates the state constitution because it is for locals only. The court also found a problem with the Alaska Board of Game handing over administration of the hunt to Ahtna Inc., the regional Native corporation. The court says the board is not authorized to hand over control of the state’s game resources to a private entity. The board approved the community hunt for Nelchina caribou in spring 2009.
approach studying a potential mine development near Bristol Bay. Tim Benintendi, whose staff to the Legislative Council, said some lawmakers and others support a direct contract with an entity like the National Science Foundation. He said others, such as supporters of the proposed Pebble Mine, support a process soliciting requests for proposals. Questions have been raised about how the potentially large copper and gold mine could affect the Bristol Bay region’s premier commercial sockeye salmon fishery. Legislative Council Chairman, state Rep. John Harris, recommended a subcommittee oversee the focus and the eventual negotiations or solicitations of proposals for a study. The Legislature redirected $750,000 for a third-party “scientific and multidisciplinary study” of a potential mine development.
Panel forming to Ahtna community oversee Pebble Mine study hunt violates A legislative panel is being state constitution formed to determine how best to
Miller ends quarter with nearly $125,000 Republican Joe Miller, who’s gotten Sarah Palin’s endorsement in his bid to upset U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, raised about $111,000 last quarter. He also loaned his campaign another $103,920.69. Miller’s campaign reported that the Fairbanks attorney had spent more than $90,000 and had nearly $125,000 on hand as of June 30. That’s a fraction of the nearly $2.4 million Murkowski reported leading to the Aug. 24 GOP primary. Between April 1 and June 30, Murkowski raised more than $500,000. Miller spokesman Randy DeSoto says Miller spent much of the period building name recognition. He says
Some Alaska Airlines agents picket in Anchorage Alaska Airlines and the union representing customer service agents continue to discuss a new contract. KTUU reports a handful of employees conducted informational picketing Monday, July 20 outside Anchorage International Airport to show support for the union. One of the signs they carried read, “We Want Job Security.”
- Compiled by Jerzy Shedlock
The Northern Light
As life goes on and parents watch their children grow into maturity, contemplation of college becomes more important with every passing school year. Mothers and fathers deeply ponder: how can we afford college for our kids? If the family has a parent who graduated from the UA system, they may recall that their attainment of higher education was thanks to the help of the UA College Savings Plan. To the worrisome family full of collegebound kids, news that the plan is still in place and has improved should relieve some financial worries. Effective since the beginning of July, the UA College savings plan has reduced its fees significantly. These reductions are clear indication of a long commitment to help Alaskan families save for college. The program management fee has been cut by nearly one-third, to 0.20 percent, and the annual account fee has been reduced by $5, to $20. The program management fee is based on “basis points,” which are one-hundredth of a percent. The fee was previously 28 basis points, but has now been lowered to 20 basis points. This applies to any portfolio available under the plan with fees. On every occasion that a portfolio’s value is determined, the program fee is reflected in that total, according to Director of the UA College Savings Plan Linda English. “(The fee) is based on how much money a person has in their account. The lower the fee is the more money that stays in a given account,” English said. The UA College Savings Plan currently has over 1,000 Alaskan resident accounts worth over $121 million. English stated that the plan is always seeking new methods to help Alaskans save money for college.
“We believe that sending your child to college and saving for college are some of the most important things a family can do, outside of saving for retirement or health issues,” English said. “The industry has matured and the program has grown, so really it needed to change to reach efficiency with the size of the plans and, quite frankly, to compete with other plans throughout the country.” While the annual account fee, which is charged to the account every November, has been
‘(The fee) is based on how much money a person has in their account. The lower the fee is the more money that stays in a given account.’ - Linda English UA College Savings Plan Director reduced to $20 the fee is waived altogether for customers in certain instances. If a customer invests regularly with payroll deductions or automatic monthly contributions, the fee is waived. The fee is also waived if a customer has $25,000 or more invested for one child or a total of $75,000 or more invested for multiple children. Three different investment approaches are offered by the plan: enrollment based portfolios, static portfolios and ACT portfolios. Portfolios are groups of mutual funds that are invested in stocks, bonds or money markets. This offers a diverse range of investments. All portfolios, however, are subject to market risk and include possible loss of principle. The money market portfolio
offered by the plan is very conservative and designed to protect a customer’s principle. On the other end of the spectrum is the 100 percent stock portfolio, which is the most aggressive option available. Life circumstances tend to determine a family’s choice when picking an investment option. Everyone has different goals in mind, stated English. “Some people want to make as much money as possible, and they’re willing to risk going against the market. Some people don’t want to risk a thing and they want to be very safe,” English said. “We (at the plan) think the ACT portfolio offers Alaskan families great benefits with its asset allocation, extremely low fees and the tuition value benefit, but it depends.” Locking in tuition value can be very beneficial. Participants of the ACT portfolio have their accounts tracked in both monetary form and in the number of UA credits that can be bought at the time a contribution is made. Thus, when a student comes to enroll at the university tuition may have gone up by 5 percent, but the earnings on that individual’s portfolio have only gone up 3 percent. The plan guarantees to pay for the difference. “It’s a tremendous benefit if you look at what happened in the last year where tuition went up 10 percent, but stocks went down 15 to 20 percent,” English said. “We made up the difference for those students, so that’s a great benefit.” The ACT portfolio also includes no annual or account management fees. When asked about the future of the UA College Savings Plan, Linda English stated it’s hard to predict what will happen with the program, but she is always looking for ways to make the program more affordable for participants. “Rest assured that our goal is to help Alaskan families the best we can, and having as low of a fee as possible is to that end.”
July 27, 2010 | NEWS
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LISTEN: Locals convey issues with Gulf oil clean up methods CONTINUED FROM COVER
weighing the economic effects of the recommendations created by the committee because “the oil and gas industry’s health signals the health of America and the economic survival of Alaska.” The retired state regulator held the belief that making recommendations in the next six months that will lead to years of unnecessary regulation and cause delay of industry investment could be an improper reaction to the tragic events now unfolding. This will only further cripple the economy as it seeks recovery, according to Harbour. “The more domestic energy we produce, the less we must import, the greater our national security, the more valued our currency and the more moderate the price of energy,” Harbour said. John French, a retired University of Alaska Fairbanks aquatic toxicologist who sits on Seward’s Science Advisory Committee as well as the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Committee, spoke via video connection incoming from Seward. French informed Ulmer that the current methods being used to clean the spill are based on bad science. “We’re not using the best science, we’re using the most popular science. (Clean-up operators must) stop ignoring the chronic effects on the ecosystem, such as an organism’s ability to live and reproduce, which can cause further environmental impacts,” French said. “We could be losing whole-year classes of certain fish.” Offshore drilling should continue, Harbour stated. A main component of his argument is that eliminating the drilling would not eliminate the threat of future spills. “If we do (stop offshore
drilling) the effect is that tourism does OK, commercial fishing does OK, all ocean related activities do OK and there is no risk to them from oil, or at least oil rigs,” Harbour said. “The problem is there are much worst disasters that could be caused by oil tanker activity.” After a couple more concerned citizens took the stand, a lone UAA student summoned the courage to voice her concerns to the chancellor. Katrielle Lauren spoke adamantly about the need to reduce our nation’s oil consumption and adopt renewable
‘(Clean-up operators must) stop ignoring the chronic effects on the ecosystem, such as an organism’s ability to live and reproduce, which can cause further environmental impacts.’
- John French Retired UAF aquatic toxicologist
energy sources. She noted that Kodiak already uses solar and wind power throughout the entire year. To Lauren, a drastic shift from our county’s current way of life is essential to avoiding catastrophic spills like Exxon-Valdez or Deepwater Horizon in the future. “Alaska is going to be one of the hardest states in the country to apply these types of changes to. If the state were to put more money
into researching alternative energy sources we could progress,” Lauren said. “I think if the price of oil were to go up or there was a lot less of it, communities would become stronger. People would actually know their neighbors. How cool would that be?” Chancellor Ulmer sat quietly throughout the listening session, occasionally writing notes onto a notepad. One Anchorage resident was brave enough to go ahead and ask a question, even though the group in attendance was instructed not to. Ulmer reiterated that she was still in the process of gathering information and did not consider it appropriate to answer questions just yet. Since the listening session took place, however, Ulmer has begun working and traveling with the national committee. The chancellor has traveled to the Gulf Region with members of the committee, holding public testimonies in Louisiana. In addition, the commissioners are touring different parts of the region examining the spill area and meeting with people that have been directly affected by the spill. The listening session was recorded for podcast. It should be available on multiple UA websites within the coming weeks. Listening sessions are expected to be held at additional communities around the state in the near future. “We hope to get around to other communities. Specifically those that were affected by the (Exxon Valdez) spill over 21 years ago, to gain perspectives from people who work in the industry and whose lives are impacted by the economy of oil,” Ulmer said. “Being an oil state makes us who we are, what are past has been and probably what our future will be.”
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Idaho tree decorated with shoes since 1940s burns BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- U.S. Forest Service officials in northern Idaho say the rubber-soled decorations that made the “shoe tree” a beloved Priest River landmark also helped fuel its demise. Tourists and locals since the 1940s have dressed the tree with hundreds of pairs of shoes, nailing sneakers to its trunk and hanging work boots from its branches. Firefighters found the tree engulfed in flames late Thursday, and the blaze was difficult to extinguish because the sizable cedar was covered in melted shoe rubber.
No more debating in your underwear in Colorado Town BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- The days when a citizen could address the Boulder City Council wearing only underwear may be over. The council will vote on new decorum rules in September, seven months after a resident stepped up to a microphone in his boxers. The rules were already under review, but that incident led to a proposed ban on undressing during meetings. It’s not the first time the university town has wrestled with how much clothing is enough. In April, the city barred teens and adults from showing their genitals in public. That could put the wraps on two annual traditions that involve running or cycling naked. But the council declined to outlaw topless females, despite complaints about a woman who gardens in a thong and gloves.
Groom gives brideto-be $250K ticket ST. LOUIS (AP) -- One Missouri groom gave his bride-to-be a perfect token of his love: a $250,000-winning lottery ticket. Robert Russell surprised his betrothed, 30-year-old Tracie Rogers, with the early wedding gift. The scratch card surprised them both with its bounty. The Missouri Lottery says Rogers and Russell plan to use their winnings to pay off a house. Thirty-three-year-
old Rogers says that will be one less burden for them to contend with as they begin married life.
New Hampshire woman accused of break-in, impersonating a cop MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- Police said a New Hampshire woman faces several charges after she broke into a home and told the owners she was a police officer after she was discovered in the kitchen. Police said the woman, 34, said Wednesday she was chasing a burglar from the house. Police said when the homeowners asked the woman for identification, she said the burglar had fled with it. Police said the woman pretended to call her sergeant and said she had to go to the station and type up her report and left. The homeowners wrote down her license plate number and called police. The woman was arrested after a car accident. She was charged with burglary, impersonating a police officer, driving under the influence and simple assault.
It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No. It’s... a donkey MOSCOW (AP) -- Authorities in Russia are opening an animal cruelty probe into a weekend stunt on a beach in southern Russia in which a donkey parasailed high over the surf. Amateur video footage showed men attaching a parasail harness to the trembling mule. The English-language Kremlin news channel Russia Today reported that sunbathers were distressed at the sight of the flying donkey, which brayed in fear as it glided above the bay for half an hour. Russia Today reported the donkey was shell-shocked but survived. Reports said the donkey flight was a promotional stunt. Employees of a leisure firm in the village of Golubitskaya on the Azov Sea could face two years in prison if they are charged and convicted of animal cruelty. - Compiled by Jerzy Shedlock
JERZy SHEDLoCK/TNL
Chancellor Fran Ulmer held a Gulf of Mexico oil spill recovery listening session on July 7, at which locals voiced their ideas and concerns with the recovery process. Tom Lakosh (above) communicates that harder law enforcement of environmental regulations is very hard in actuality because there is no incentive in the industry to do so, and that the invovled companies are “derelict in their duties to remove the oil quickly and effectively.” Lakosh stated removal of the current fraudulent planning processes is needed.
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UAA should consider soccer, swimming team additions
UAA Gymnastics adds talented freshman prospect
By Taylor Hall The Northern Light
Passing through the Wells Fargo Sports Complex recently, I stopped outside the swimming pool viewing area. After watching one youth swimmer splash about for a short time, I came across a question that may have puzzled others passing by. With such a nice pool and facility, why does UAA not have a swim and dive program in their Athletic Department? After a bit of research, I found out UAA actually had a NCAA Division II swim team from 1979 through 1999. The program was only a men’s swim team and was terminated after the 1999 season to make way for a new women’s cross country program to commence in 2000. The reasoning for the termination of the program was that, on top of there not being many Div. II swim programs at the time, the university needed to comply with gender equity issues. It all made good sense and gave UAA another team for their primary conference, the Pacific West, now known as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). But while the Seawolf swimmers were around, they did manage to make a name for themselves. Seawolf swimmers such as Ken Ralph (1988-90) and Jon Pauole (1989-92) even found their way into the Seawolf Hall of Fame. Not long after thinking about a UAA swim and
dive team, I began to think about other programs that UAA could feasibly bring to life. The only answer that I could muster and come up with reasons why it should be a UAA program was soccer. Yes, despite the long cold winters, agonizing breakup season and far too short summer, the idea of soccer in Alaska is interesting. First off, the facility to play already exists in The Dome – a full size soccer pitch on artificial turf that features perfect weather conditions year-round in the quickly changing Anchorage seasons. Secondly, the player pool is growing within Alaska. With no home team in the state, all those who wish to continue their soccer careers at the university level must go out of state. It’s not crazy to think that a great portion of those players leaving would be interested in playing for a newly formed UAA soccer program and representing their home state. Finally, the question of whom the Seawolves could play and compete against has a familiar answer. The GNAC, which the Seawolves have most of their sport programs playing in, features a growing soccer league for both the men and women. Of course just having the proper facilities and room for new athletic programs is only the beginning of it. There are so many steps that would have to be taken for Anchorage to see their green and gold take to the pool or soccer field. Just food for thought.
Fly-fishing academy preps village youths as guides By Mike Campbell Anchorage Daily News
Heading into its second year, the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing Academy is beginning to see the fruits of its work emerging on Southwest rivers such as the Nushagak. The weeklong academy aims to start youngsters from such towns and villages as Aleknagik, Manokotak, Ekwok and New Stuyahok on a path that allows them to eventually work as local sport fish guides. “We’re trying to make it apparent that, that’s a business out there and it’s not something new that has to be created,” Tim Troll said, executive director of the Nushagak-Mulchatna/WoodTikchik Land Trust, a sponsor of the academy. “We think that lodges would be very interested in hiring locals, but they have to have basic skills. Personally, I think lodges need to be a little more engaged locally.” Reuben Hastings, 24, of New Stuyahok, who went through the first academy, is finishing up his U.S. Coast Guard certification, which will enable him to drive a boat with paying clients. “I’m lucky because I grew up in an outdoorsy family where everyone relied on kings, reds and silvers,” Hastings said. “That was one of our major protein sources for the winter.” Plus, his father worked as a guide out of the Ekwok Lodge for Luki Akelkok, a lifelong Bristol Bay resident and president of the
Ekwok Tribal Council and lodge owner. “He had lots of lodges that wanted him to guide,” Akelkok said of Hastings. “He knows the area around here. He was born and raised around here.” Recreational fishing in the Bristol Bay region is big business, with anglers from around the world arriving each summer to pursue feisty salmon, chunky rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling. “Although the industry provides hundreds of seasonal jobs, local residents, particularly Alaska Natives, have traditionally played a very small part in this lucrative and sustainable industry,” Paula Dobbyn said of Trout Unlimited Alaska, one of the academy sponsors. “Most of the jobs go to seasonal workers from the Lower 48. “Trout Unlimited wants to see that change. Recognizing that Bristol Bay is a region of high unemployment with staggering costs, (we) want to encourage residents to get involved in the sportfishing and outdoor recreation industry by providing opportunities for local young.” For Hastings, the thrill of guiding is similar to the thrill of fishing. “Seeing a newbie catch their first fish is one of the most fun things of all,” he said. “You may get somebody who’s never caught a fish over 20 inches, and see them catch a 30-pounder. That’s a treat. I remember catching my first fish as a little munchkin and what a
Alaska Anchorage gymnastics coach Paul Stoklos announced Monday that another talented freshman has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete for the Seawolves. Shelby MacDonald, who competed last year for the Gedderts Twistars USA club team in Lansing, Mich., will suit up for UAA for the upcoming 2011 season. The native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, most recently competed at the 2010 Region 5 Level 10 Championships in April, finishing runner-up on balance beam in the Senior D division. MacDonald placed third on beam at the Michigan Level 10 State Championships in March, and she won the all-around and beam titles and placed runner-up on bars in the 18 & up division at the For Love Or Money meet in Indiana in February. “Shelby is a talented gymnast who may have been overlooked because of an injury she suffered her junior year,” Stoklos said. “She brings a ton of enthusiasm, motivation and positive attitude with her every time she steps into the gym. These attributes are sure to rub off on her teammates and will go a long way toward making her a successful college gymnast.” Prior to last season, MacDonald competed for the Sault Ste. Marie Gymnastics Club in her hometown. She is also an accomplished martial artist and participated in basketball, track & field (hurdles, jumps, relay) and soccer at her high school, St. Mary’s College. MacDonald becomes the fifth gymnast to sign for the upcoming campaign. She is joining fellow incoming freshmen Melissa Doucette
big deal it was for me. Their jaw kinds of drops, and there’s lots hooting and hollering.” Helping provide that thrill may be the most exhilarating part of the job, but a life spent near the river can benefit customers too. “Generally, you get a lot of questions like, ‘What’s this landmark?’” Hastings said. “We can lean back and tell them the story of certain areas. This is what we call this place. The outsiders that come in (to guide) can’t offer that.” When the academy starts next month, students learn first aid and CPR, take fly-tying and knottying workshops, receive tips on using traditional knowledge when guiding and get hours of fly fishing instruction on the Nushagak. “I was surprised when we got kids here for the first camp,” Troll said. “Only two or three of them had ever fly-fished before, but they were wanting to wet the flies within two hours of starting, and really got into it. It helped that there were plenty of cohos to catch.” Each student gets a set-up fly rod and some flies at the end of the week. “Maybe it fosters some understanding,” Troll said. “If you’re a young person growing up in the Nushagak region, (fly fishing) is very different from what you’ve been doing your whole life, but it’s really something anybody can do, anybody can enjoy.”
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(Rochester, N.H.), Gabrielle Jannotta (McHenry, Ill.), Morgan Key (Garrison, Texas) and Emily Peterson (Indianapolis, Ind.).
Bruns to be inducted into Seawolf Hall of Fame for 2010 class Former coach Linda Bruns, who brought the Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball program to prominence in the NCAA Division II ranks, will be the lone inductee in the Seawolf Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010, athletic director Dr. Steve Cobb announced July 15. “Linda Bruns was a true pioneer in both UAA Athletics and collegiate women’s athletics in general,” Dr. Cobb said. “In an era when our women’s team was underfunded and often overmatched, she managed to take the program to new heights, eventually becoming one of the top Division II powers in the West. Coach Bruns built a lasting foundation that the Seawolf women’s basketball program is still building upon today. Our Seawolf Hall of Fame committee did an excellent job of identifying this worthy honoree.” Nominations for the 2010 class were accepted through April 15. Former UAA student-athletes and teams are eligible for nomination 10 years following their last competition at UAA. Former UAA coaches and staff members are eligible five years following their university service. Volunteer contributors may be nominated at any time. Seawolf Hall of Fame inductees are chosen by an athletic directorappointed committee consisting of UAA Athletics staff, coaches, boosters, volunteers and faculty members. Compiled by Taylor Hall
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July 27, 2010 | SPORTS
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FROLF: Summertime favorite in Anchorage By Taylor Hall The Northern Light
It is perhaps one of the simplest and cheapest games to pick up. People of all ages and skill sets are taking up the game and can be found on courses all over the Anchorage area. The game of disc golf originally was something many in Alaska had never heard of or understood. Now, with five courses in Anchorage alone, more and more people can be found out playing
the game on nice summer afternoons. For those who don’t know, disc golf is much like golf. Substitute the clubs and balls for discs, as well as the country club attire for a t-shirt and shorts, and you
have disc golf. The idea is to get your disc into the basket in the least amount of strokes. The basket itself has chains hanging down from the crown, which act as a backstop for incoming flying discs. Obstacles in disc golf, also known as Frisbee golf of “frolf” to some, include trees, swirling winds and other people on the course. There is even a governing body for the game within the state. The Alaska Disc Golf Association (ADGA) oversees any sort of course construction or upgrades, as well as puts on the league and tournaments for some of the more skilled players in the state. “There’s a lot of people who now play disc golf, but there’s only a very small amount of people who do the work behind it,” Brian Gutzwiller said, President of ADGA. Gutzwiller, who moved up to Alaska from Truckee, Calif., has been at the head of ADGA for just around a year. His tenure has been very eventful, though, with the most recent success being the reorganization of Westchester Lagoon, perhaps the most popular course in Anchorage. “Right now, we have approval by the Parks and Recreation Association to upgrade Westchester due to the fact people are crossing the (Minnesota) road,” Gutzwiller said. The idea is that the course will be reshaped to end in a different spot and avoid having players cross the busy Minnesota Drive. With reconstruction going on, the possibility of
a new course arising in town is something that Gutzwiller says they hope to get into, but not until business is taken care of at Westchester. “Everyone would love to see it, but you have to go through the Parks association and get a permit,” Gutzwiller said. “There are a lot of things that go in it and you can’t just show up on a land and put (a course) down.” Gutzwiller hinted that ADGA and its members would like to see a more mountainous course around town and has gotten interest from a few ski areas. The five courses within Anchorage have something for everyone. Russian Jack is a very similar layout to the golf course it shares land with. Hanshew is smaller and perfect for beginners. Service has some more length and woods to deal with. Westchester is the central course in town and has a bit of everything. But the crown jewel is the course that many people say is far and away the biggest and toughest course. “Kincaid is probably one of the best courses I’ve been to. It is truly a professional course,” Gutzwiller said. The course at Kincaid is the only 18-hole course in Anchorage and features both “amateur” and “professional” tee boxes. On top of that, it features breathtaking views of Turnagain Arm and has plenty of course length to challenge even the bravest of the frolf community. “Kincaid is the best because it’s the longest and the holes are far more challenging,” Randy Lenig said, a sophomore engineering major at UAA. Lenig isn’t the only UAA student who has first-hand knowledge of not only the courses, but also helpful pointers for those out there who are looking to grab some discs and get in on the action.
Curtis Leitch, a junior sociology major, said there are some major things newcomers should avoid at all costs. “Don’t just throw you disc as hard you can, don’t get down on yourself if your disc doesn’t do what you want it do right away and get discs that fit your skill set,” Leitch said as he played hole eight at Kincaid. Furthering the help was Lenig, who was one of the first to admit the game is not as simple as it looks. “Be sure to hold your discs flat when you throw, snap the wrist when you release and always have fun with it,” Lenig said. So with the days at their longest and the weather warm, the time couldn’t be better for the average bystander to get into the game that is sweeping Anchorage. Go grab some discs and let ‘em rip! PHoToS By TAyLoR HALL/TNL GRAPHIC By BRITTANy BENNETT/TNL
A guide to choosing the right disc for your game Aviar-X - The putter is the slowest flying disc. With its big rounded rim, it is very accurate and
easy to grip. The Aviar is a good, reliable putter. Aviar is a stable disc that can be throw very straight and comes in DX, Pro, Champion or Star plastics. When putting, don’t throw too hard because the disc needs to stay in the basket to count. Putters are best within 50 feet of the pin.
By Nathan Welker
Special to the Northern Light
MRV - The MRV is a mid-range Disc, which have medium speed and are some of the most accurate
discs made. The good thing about the MRV is it flies like a driver, but without going way past the basket. They are easy to control and are good for throwing a nice long hyzer, which is when the disc falls the opposite direction of the throwing arm. Midrange Discs are best used for short, technical shots. Mid-range discs are best within 150 feet of the pin, or for shots with the wind or downhill.
Sidewinder -The sidewinder is one of many under-stable drivers, it is not too under-stable,
and it is a great disc for making the throws from a tight spot with no room to wind up. The Star Sidewinder can be thrown far with ease and will fly flat and straight if you release it right.
Crush - An over-stable driver has a tendency to turn or bank to the side that it would naturally fly. Someone who throws side arm should use a disc like the crush to get the best results from a driver. The Crush is the perfect over-stable driver. It can be thrown as hard as possible which causes it to turn anhyzer, to fall in the same direction of the throwing arm. It will then will make a big S turn in the air reaching 400+ feet per drive. These discs should be used for long-range drives right off the pad or shots into the wind. They can also be used for a short shot that is around a sharp corner, but be careful not to go too far. Valkyrie - The most famous of all drivers is the Valkyrie. It’s a great disc for anyone. The Valkyrie is fast but doesn’t hook too soon or too hard. It can be thrown hard and should fly flat and straight just long enough to put you in range of the basket. I’ve had more hole-inone’s with this disc than any other. The Valkyrie is the perfect disc for throwing with the wind. PHoToS By JERZy SHEDLoCK/TNL
FEATURES
06
Coeur Alaska sells half of Alaskan gold to China
beginning and who will participate in the economic benefits Kensington will provide,” Dennis E. Wheeler, More than 60,000 ounces of Alaska’s Chairman, President and Chief gold, annually, is to be purchased by Executive Officer of Coeur, said on China. the Coeur D’Alene Mines Corp.’s In a landmark trade agreement, website. China’s largest gold producer will Coeur has a history of purchase approximately half of the gold environmentally friendly, award produced at Kensington Gold Mine. winning mining. The company, Kensington Gold Mine, owned by which is one of the world’s leading Coeur D’Alene Mines Corp. with its silver producers, has collected over subsidiary Coeur Alaska Inc., is the first 20 national and international awards U.S. precious metal mine to be involved for their dedication to safety and in a trade with a company owned by the environmental awareness. People’s Republic of China, according to Kensington Gold Mine, which Coeur. includes nearby Jualin properties, Coeur announced the contract on received the Hardrock Mineral June 22. The agreement is the beginning Community Outreach and Economic of a long-term relationship with China Security Award in 2006 from the National Gold Group Corp., an enterprise Bureau of Land Management. that produces 20 percent of China’s gold After 900 environmental studies, and shares 30 percent of China’s gold public feedback and agency reviews, resources. Coeur established an effective Kensington Gold Mine, located 45 means of recovering the gold, miles northwest of Juneau, is expected dealing with the left over material to produce an average of 125,000 ounces and maintaining an aesthetically of gold per year for just over 12 years of satisfactory landscape. PHoTo CoURTESy of CoEUR ALASKA production. While cyanide is a common “Gold production began on June The Kensington Gold Mine’s mill sits at the base of Lions Head Mountain. The mine is anticipated to produce up to 125,000 chemical used to retrieve gold in 24,” Tony Ebersole said, Director of ounces of gold concentrate annually. Approximately half of this gold is contracted to be sold to China National Gold Group. mining, it raised concerns with Corporate Communications at Coeur local residents, according to Coeur school of thought that it’s mostly just a strategy of securing sources of resources: Alaska. d’Alene Mines Corp. “We’re looking iron, aluminum, oil,” Johnson said. “It’s at about 50,000 ounces of production this bubble that will eventually fall.” “Instead, the gold will be recovered Gold prices fl uctuate constantly and it kind of encouraging that they are thinking using a flotation process. This involves year.” Coeur does not own any refineries, is possible that, by the end of Kensington’s of Alaska for a long-term relationship. It’s use of degradable flocculants, detergents making it necessary for them to sell their life, prices could be radically different than helpful for us when economic situations and air to produce bubbles, which the gold today. go bad because it means that we have a mineral attaches to and is then collected,” gold to companies that do. “The price (of gold) is quite volatile guaranteed long-term buyer in contract.” “It’s kind of a standard agreement, according to the Coeur Alaska website. The Kensington trade agreement is selling gold to a third party that will refine and could easily fall by a large percentage Left over material from mining, it,” Ebersole said. “They purchase it and over the next 10 years, to average much not only profitable for Coeur, but also for known as tailings, was also a concern of the income comes to the company from the lower,” Oliver Goldsmith said, UAA Alaskans, particularly in the Southeast. environmental, federal and local agencies. economics professor with expertise in Construction of Kensington produced 300 Seven options of disposal were evaluated production.” jobs and operation of the mine will allow and the tailings will be used to create an The Kensington Gold Mine cost over international economics. Currently, there is no established for 200 jobs. $400 million. The total cost included embankment below Lower Slate Lake, “These are long-term jobs that will which they will also stock with native capital, taxes and employee wages and purchase agreement for the other 50 percent of gold production. be there as long as the mine operates,” fish. This option is the least invasive and benefits. “(The remaining gold) will likely have an Ebersole said. “The jobs generate salaries, environmentally detrimental process of all “The operating cost per ounce is estimated to be, over the life of the mine, agreement with someone else, if not China people buy houses in Juneau and they spend alternatives. about $490 per ounce,” Ebersole said. “So Gold, to purchase the gold,” Ebersole said. their money in the economy in Juneau.” The mine itself is underground with “I don’t think there’s anything eminent. We This helps to expand Juneau’s processing facilities above ground limiting of all the $490, there would be a profit.” government heavy job force. Coeur’s the aesthetical impact. The mine and all of The current value of gold sits at about would make that public when it happens.” China has also recently established a involvement exceeds creating jobs, as they its facilities and structures will be removed $1,200 per ounce, the highest it has been in 20 years, adjusting for inflation. Coeur will trade agreement with Teck Resources Ltd., also have agreements and relationships with from the land upon conclusion of the gold potentially make around $700 per ounce of based in Vancouver, which operates the several Alaskan organizations, including mining, according to Coeur Alaska. Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue. In July of Kake Tribal Corp., Goldbelt Inc., Klukwan gold produced at the current value. The land used for Kensington Gold Mine “There’s basically a division of opinion 2009, China Investment Corp. purchased Inc. and Berner’s Bay Consortium. in Berner’s Bay will be restored, as well as “The startup of production at Kensington Lower Slate Lake. over gold prices. Some people think the price 17.5 percent interest in Teck, which is one of the largest producers of zinc concentrate, represents the culmination of a communityrange will hit over 2000,” Paul Johnson, wide effort by the Juneau community, UAA associate professor of economics, according to Teck. “China currently has a deliberate national which has supported the project from the said. “Then there is a totally contradictory
By Brittany Bennett The Northern Light
Justice Center determines Mat-Su service needs By Shana Roberson
Special to The Northern Light
Most Matanuska-Susitna Borough residents are not afraid of becoming victim of any sort of crime, yet over 70 percent kept a firearm in the home. Only 7 percent attend neighborhood watch meetings. Those are a couple of findings from a recently conducted state survey. The University’s Justice Center administered an annual survey of residents in the Mat-Su Borough that addressed their level of satisfaction in areas such as government services, neighborhood communities and taxation. Dr. Sharon Chamard, an associate professor in the Justice Department and lead researcher for this project, said there were two purposes for the survey. “One is to guide the policy makers of Mat-Su Borough, give them a sense of what the citizens there want in terms of development,” Chamard said. “It’s also for the faculty, as it provides us a very rich set of data about opinions.” Each year analysis is conducted once the data collection is completed. The survey is ongoing, with the fifth report set for completion this fall. Long-term analysis indicates that the people in the Mat-Su Borough community have been and continue to be satisfied. “People are more satisfied,” Chamard said. “They weren’t dissatisfied in the first place, but there is a slight increase in
all of the measures of satisfactions.” The most recent of the reports was released in May. Results showed that road, plowing, landfill and library services were ranked highest by residents, which all received ratings higher than 65 percent. The worst service the Borough provided, according to the residents, was dissemination of its own news and information. Over 82 percent of residents rated their neighborhood as an excellent place to live, while 67 percent said they trusted their neighbors. Although the residents reported their trust of one another, the survey also showed a general lack of sociability, with over 40 percent saying they visited with their neighbors less than once a month. While 66 percent of residents rated road services as good or better, over 42 percent think they pay too much for the service. Numerous residents would like to seek a different way to fund road maintenance. Nearly half of the residents said they would support an increase in tobacco and alcohol taxes to pay for certain services. Chamard is the only faculty member currently working on the analysis project. Each year the Justice Center hires students, typically justice majors, to assist with the research. Over 2,700 surveys were sent out in 2009, and the Justice Department received an impressive 51 percent response rate. Chamard credited the survey methodology. “We follow the design method,” she said. “It’s a pretty
rigorous methodology.” The design method requires contacting prospective respondents at least four times. The department also created an online survey in hopes of increasing responses. A twodollar bill accompanied the mailed surveys, which were meant to serve as extra incentive to complete and mail them back to Anchorage. The Mat-Su Borough funds the survey and receives a report each year. “We track the changes and address them as per departments,” Carol Vardeman said, who works in the Borough manager’s office. The manager’s office also advertises the results at local schools and libraries, so the public can “See what we are doing well and what we need to do better,” according to Vardeman. Chamard pointed out that this survey allows the Borough the opportunity to hear from all citizens rather than only those that are civically active. “I think it is important for politicians and decision makers within the government to have a good sense of what the citizens want,” Chamard said. “So often the voices that guide policy making are the very vocal citizens, but they are not always the most typical person. A survey like this can reach out to all parts of the population and perhaps give a fuller view to policy makers.”
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
Local painter favors the human body as her canvas By Brittany Bennett The Northern Light
Face painting is a staple at most fairs, festivals and children’s birthday parties, yet the artistic liberty in face painting is usually lost to Spiderman masks and unicorns. Amy Bradford, 21, however, will turn a customer into her personal canvas, utilizing the face, back and, occasionally, the entire body. “I’ve found it’s a passion of mine to turn people into a canvas, whether it’s just their face or body,” Bradford said. In February of 2009, Bradford’s landlord, who is also a face painter, noticed her artistic talent and offered to teach her the trade. “Of course, I was super enthusiastic about the idea of turning art into something profitable,” Bradford said. “From the moment I started, I discovered just how addicting it really is.” Painting was a new realm of art for Bradford, though. She could draw, sing and play multiple instruments, but was intimidated by the challenge of face painting. “I had never worked with any sort of color before face painting and I figured it would take a while to learn the different gradients, shadings and whatnot,” Bradford said. “Honestly, it wasn’t too hard of a transition at all.” She soon found her niche in the world of body art; painting at the state fair, Bear Paw Festival, Chilkoot Charlies’ Judi Gras, Pride Fest and various other festivals and events around town. Bradford also began working at a local face and body painting company, Face Frenzy. “Her work is top notch,” Kat Jacobs, owner of Face Frenzy, said of Bradford. “She’s phenomenal and anybody would be lucky to have her paint them.” Some of Bradford’s most impressive designs are of dragons. They come big or small, in various colors and, often times, with blood dripping from their mouths. “I find (dragons) to be beautiful, majestic creatures, and, although fantasy, still incredibly intriguing,” Bradford said. “I love to paint them whenever asked and I could probably say it’s definitely my highlight as far as painting goes.” When painting some creatures, including dragons, Bradford will use her model’s eye as the creature’s eye. This helps bring her remarkable face paintings to life. “I find that I’m always improving with each and every piece that I do,” she said. “Some of my favorites include a dragon eye design, a dragon back piece and a few different eye arts I’ve done on people.”
To create such artwork on a person, especially around their eyes as Bradford does, requires paint that is suitable for skin, multiple brushes, sponges and a wide variety of colors, among other necessities. “Unfortunately with face painting, to get the high quality materials required to do a good and safe job, it is expensive,” Bradford said. “Thus, I normally charge for the work done, even if it’s just a materials fee.” While keeping her prices reasonable, Bradford still finds her work to be profitable and gratifying. Bradford’s success with body art has inspired her to take her profession to another level. “I would love to start tattooing,” she said. “It’s something I’ve been considering for a few years, but haven’t actually gone out and done, yet.” Until then, Bradford will continue her art of painting the human body, furthering her artistic talent and pushing the limits of the imagination. “I definitely plan on doing body and face painting for the rest of my life,” Bradford said. “It provokes timeless memories, happiness and sparks intrigue with others.” For information regarding party consultations or other types of work, email Amy Bradford at invisibleambience@ hotmail.com. To get in touch with Face Frenzy, call (907) 575-7554.
Above left: Amy Bradford models a dragon she painted around her own eye, which is a technique she often uses to bring her face paintings to life. Above: Bradford treats the entire body as her canvas when face and body painting. Dragons are a specialty of Bradford’s, and she considers painting them to be a “highlight.” Photos courtesy of Amy Bradford
Movie Review
A&E Briefs
By Heather Hamilton
Local fashion show raises money for Clare House
“Despicable Me” more than kids flick The Northern Light
It’s easy to flop when your movie’s villain has a change of heart at the end. While children may find it wonderfully entertaining, parents and other adults, rarely gain the same sort of satisfaction unless the twist is masterfully done. “Despicable Me” is one of the rare children-oriented movies in which such a change occurs well. Gru (Steve Carell “The Office”), a lifelong villain, learns that one of the Pyramids of Giza has been stolen and that the villain who accomplished the feat is being admired for the heist. Feeling perturbed, he moves forward his plan to shrink and steal the moon. But first, he needed a loan. After being set back by the Bank of Evil’s refusal to give him the loan, Gru sets out to steal the shrink ray he needs to accomplish his grand heist. After he and his minions successfully obtain the shrink ray, it is stolen from him by Vector (Jason Segel “How I Met Your Mother”), the villain who stole the pyramid. Several failed attempts at breaking into Vector’s lair and reclaiming the shrink ray later, Gru sees three orphan girls selling cookies, whom Vector welcomes inside instantly. Getting an idea, Gru heads to the orphanage to adopt the three girls. When cookie delivery time came, he would have means to get past the heavily armed security
system and into the lair. Gru didn’t expect to grow attached to the three girls, however. “Despicable Me” isn’t just for children. Steve Carell’s performance as the Russianaccented villain is fantastic. The first scene in which the audience meets Gru is the hilarious scene from previews in which Gru seemingly, out of the kindness of his heart, makes a balloon animal for a crying boy, admires his handiwork, pops the balloon in the child’s face and then walks away as though nothing had happened. We see him perform a few other acts of fun villainy before driving away in his enormous villain vehicle, which resembles a submarine on wheels. The story of this movie is deeper than simply a bald middle-aged man learning to love a few orphans, as well. We find Gru suffering a personal inadequacy issue regarding his mother’s seeming indifference and low appreciation for him, and experience his journey to overcome this. Along with the slightly deeper plot, adults can enjoy much of the humor in this movie as well. While much of it is slapstick comedy, it doesn’t bore the older viewer and children love it. One notable triumph for the movie is that there isn’t a single hero figure in sight. The lack of a “triumph over evil” hero keeps the movie simple and uncluttered. It also aids the story’s plot in being a tad more unique rather than a skewed version of “Annie.”
Lack of originality aside, “Despicable Me” is a wonderful movie the entire family can enjoy. It’s cute, it’s fun and if the minions don’t win you over, Steve Carell playing a Daddy Warbucks-esque villain certainly will. Directed by: Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud STARRING: Steve Carell, Jason Segel RUN TIME: 95 min. GENRE: animation, comedy GRAPHIC: yes STARS:
★ ★ ★ ★★
Fundraisers can occur in many different forms. There are bake sales, benefit suppers, auctions and phone banks to name a few. But how often does the average person hear about a fashion show for charity? The Clare to Clare Fashion Show, being held on Thursday, July 29 at 6 p.m. at the Dena’ina Center, is doing just that. In fact, all proceeds made from ticket sales and the silent art auction go directly to the Clare House. The Clare House is a 24-hour temporary emergency shelter for women with children and expectant mothers 18 and older on West 54th Ave. in Anchorage. This facility, run by Catholic Social Services in Anchorage, provides daily meals, childcare and substance abuse/mental health referrals, affordable permanent housing, and employment and continuing education opportunities. The clothing and accessories for the fashion show are being provided by Off the Rack, Second Run, Shuzy Q, Bottoms, Circular and Unblenching, while music will be provided by Kima Hamilton and H3. Tickets for the show are $30 general admission and $75 for exclusive seating in front of the runway, and can be purchased online at www.cssalaska.org/ donate. The Clare House accepts both monetary donations as well as clothing and household items. To learn more about the facility or for a list of items to donate, go to www.cssalaska.org and click on the “Programs” tab. Compiled by Heather Hamilton
08
TNL
A&E| July 27, 2010
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OPINION The Northern Light 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 Phone: 907-786-1513 Fax: 907-786-1331 info@thenorthernlight.org
EXECUTIVE EDIToR 786-1434 editor@thenorthernlight.org Josh Edge CoPy EDIToR copy@thenorthernlight.org Brittany Bennett NEWS EDIToR 786-1576 news@thenorthernlight.org Jerzy Shedlock fEATURES EDIToR 786-1567 features@thenorthernlight.org Vacant A&E EDIToR 786-6198 arts@thenorthernlight.org Heather Hamilton SPoRTS EDIToR 786-1512 sports@thenorthernlight.org Taylor Hall PHoTo EDIToR 786-1565 photo@thenorthernlight.org Logan Tuttle WEB EDIToR 786-1506 web@thenorthernlight.org Vacant LAyoUT EDIToR layout@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT NEWS EDIToR news2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT fEATURES EDIToR features2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT A&E EDIToR arts2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ADVERTISING MANAGER 786-4690 ads@thenorthernlight.org Mariya Proskuryakova ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Vacant CIRCULATIoN ASSISTANT Munkh-Erdene Tsend-Ochir MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Annie Route
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 5,000. 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.
09
Trade tariffs hinder Students should be economic situation involved on campus eDiToRiAL
By Daniel McDonald Special to The Northern Light
UAA, and the rest of the University of Alaska campuses for that matter, are viewed in a negative light, which is unfair. A lot of students complain about how lame UAA is and how boring it is to go to school here. Some that stay in state do nothing but talk about how they wish they had gone out of state for school instead of staying in Alaska. This view is pretty ridiculous. You only get out of college what you put into it and this doesn’t apply only to the academic aspect of school. The social aspect of college may actually be affected more by this view than the academic aspect. When students go out of state to an unfamiliar environment in a new place, they find it necessary to get involved in some aspect of campus life, whether it’s a sorority, student government, club or even just living in the dorms. Unfortunately, when you go to a school like UAA, locals don’t need to be involved in student life. It seems like the majority of students that are from Anchorage are only on campus for as long as they class lasts. They drive onto campus five minutes before class starts and are back in their car 30 seconds after the class is over, leaving no time to really acclimate yourself into the college environment. It is usually these people who are the complainers, wishing they had gone elsewhere. Breaking news: there are opportunities to get involved around campus that will definitely make your college stay much more enjoyable. Doing something as simple as sitting down in the Student Union between classes is a good start. Sit at a table in there for 15 minutes during the day and you will probably meet someone new, and at some point that person will probably introduce you to other people that he or she knows. There are also student jobs. Work at the info desk, in the
computer lab, or many other places on campus and you will be surrounded primarily by people that are in the same situation as you – trying to make it through classes and making friends along the way. Get involved in USUAA. Be a leader of the student body who makes decisions that affect the rest of the students during their entire college career. Sororities and fraternities are great as well. They are a great networking tool and can help you
You only get out of college what you put into it and this doesn’t apply only to the academic aspect of school.
become an integral and helpful part of the community. Of course, student media is another great way to get involved and become knowledgeable about the inner workings of the University. There are many other clubs and organizations around UAA that we just don’t have space for in this editorial that are also fantastic ways to get involved in campus activities. Historically, there has not been a huge amount of school spirit surrounding this school, but that is slowly changing. The only way that we can continue to break the trend of apathy that is typical of UAA is to become involved, even if it is only in a small way. It will also make your time at UAA a much better experience.
One of the common slogans during times of economic crises is “Buy American” and, for good measure, we ought to lobby government to slap a protective tariff or two onto foreign goods and products. We are told it’s the patriotic thing to do; that by paying a higher price for American-made goods, we are strengthening the country by keeping jobs here and not sending them overseas. Among all the economic fallacies that infest the public discourse, this may be the worst, as not only do the usual economic illiterates on the Left adhere to it, but a few on the Right as well. The peculiar aspect of this phenomenon is that actual economists from nearly all schools of persuasion are in agreement on the benefits of free trade. I suspect those in power who cave into protectionism are either completely incompetent or are paying off their political allies. The latter is probably case. Two such recent examples were the “Buy American” provisions in the utterly wasteful 2009 stimulus package, which mandated use of American manufactured steel on infrastructure projects. Later that same year, President Barack Obama imposed a 35 percent tariff on low-end, Chinese-made tires. Now the argument for pushing such policies is that the American steel and tire industries need public subsidies in order to survive – and that may be the case – but at what cost? It may be true that if the tariff were to be lifted, that the few whose livelihood depends on the health of the American steel industry will lose their jobs. However, like most of these fallacies, you must look further than what is in front of your nose. With the availability of cheaper steel, there will be money left over to promote other industries, and create more wealth and jobs than
PRiDe
CHiDe
BP Engineers…
Neglectful BP corporates…
…for the mostly successful oil well cap in the Gulf of Mexico.
could have ever been salvaged by saving an inefficient business. With the existence of the tariff, perhaps less than one percent benefit, while ninety-nine percent of our fellow Americans suffer by increasing the cost of living. Additionally, a theme that seems so common in shortsighted policies such as these is that they hurt exactly the people they aim to help, in particular, the poor. It is not the rich who are directly affected by the tariff on the low-end Chinese tires, but the very poorest. Rather than having money left over to buy essentials, they are left to pay a steeper price, all because Obama felt the need to appease the United Steelworkers, which is the union that represents American tire workers. The last and perhaps most dangerous aspect of protectionist policies is the potential for a tariff war or even a complete close off of trade. During the early years of the Great Depression under President Hoover, the U.S. passed the SmootHawley Tariff Act using similar phony arguments about protecting American jobs so common today. The result was a tariff war and a disastrous rejection of American goods by key trading partners such as Canada, France and Britain, which illustrates perfectly how tariffs in the end are not only bad for consumers and nearly all producers, but can actually backfire on the very particular producers they seek to protect. The next time you hear a politician using the phony populist appeals about protecting American jobs and keeping out all those scary foreign products, do them a favor and buy them a copy of Adam Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations” or perhaps Henry Hazlitt’s classic “Economics in One Lesson.” Due to the current power of the state over economic affairs, as citizens, it is important we all become educated so that we may banish this sort of sophistry forever.
…for causing the worst oil spill in American history in the first place.
10 COMICS|
TNL
July 27, 2010 TUNDRA l Chad Carpenter
BRoKeCoMiCs | Alec Fritz
Movie Genres woRDseARCH l M. Proskuryakova & J. Shedlock ACTION ADVENTURE BIOPICS DETECTIVE DISASTER DRAMA EPIC FANTASY FILM NOIR GANGSTER HORROR MELODRAMA MUSICAL ROMANCE SIENCE FICTION SPORTS SUPERNATURAL THRILLER WAR
CRYPToQUoTe PUZZLe l M. Proskuryakova
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this monthʼs cryptoquote solution
WESTERN
“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” - Audrey Hepburn
sUDoKU CRosswoRD
this month’s sUDoKU solution
this month’s CRosswoRD solution
ACROSS 1 6 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 24 26 27 31 32 33 36 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 48 51 52 54 59 60 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 DOWN 1 2 3 4 5
Camels’ backs MHz part Pull ahead of Rigel’s constellation Laundry cycle Newts “The Body” Ventura Go against Galahad Dash Off-white shade Toenail trimmers Make a quick trip Oil target Bolo Sturm — Drang Receded Canape toppers Not masc. Busy as — — Kind of bar Jujitsu offshoot Asphalt Red flower Late-summer sign German physicist Made possible Regular routines RAM counterpart Doesn’t cook (2 wds.) Rock band crew member — 500 Forest unit Bakery fixtures Horrible boss Petri-dish contents Crystal-gazers Exigency — majeste Ms. Lauder Orange-roof eatery Heavy hydrogen discoverer Overlook Hitching — Mocked
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 23 25 27 28 29 30 34 35 36
Santa Fe hrs. Grand in scope Fish organs Made to look old Chirped Wouldn’t hurt — — — raving mad Tax-form IDs Muddy track Groan causers View from Everest Protein source “Waterloo” pop group Trucker, often Start of a bray Ms. MacGraw Candle Roll tightly
37 38 40 41 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 52 53 55 56 57 58 61
Boundary line General feeling Final figure (2 wds.) Triangular sail Not that Get a move on Knuckled under Choice word Door swinger Gide or Previn Voltage jump Canadian singer Celine — Drinks with scones Rosary beads Bug repellent Concerning (2 wds.) Latin verb Before, in verse
July 27, 2010 | COMICS
TNL
11
HoRosCoPe l Stella Wilder
cho ose your own
adventure
LEO (July 23-Aug. 7) -- If it has to do with children and young people, you’re going to want to be involved, even though it will be demanding, surely. (Aug. 8-Aug. 22) -- You mustn’t promise the moon to anyone. Certain realities prevail, and they may prove limiting. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 7) -- What others say will matter little as you go about your business unfazed. You can double your money if you’re lucky. (Sept. 8-Sept. 22) -- Are you sure you want to be remembered for the things you didn’t do? Rethink your approach.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 7) -- The expectations people have may be daunting to others, but to you they are almost sure to provide an exciting motivation. (Nov. 8-Nov. 21) -- You’re nearing the time when you must put more on the line than usual. This week, the weight is pressing. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 7) -- Technical difficulties may keep you from tending to all responsibilities. While you wait for repairs, you can make plans. (Dec. 8-Dec. 21) -- The checks and balances you have put in place may not be enough for the new way in which things get done.
North Face Trail Now Open Hike up & ride the Tram down Free! Explore Alyeska by Bike Rentals available
©Simon Evans
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 7) -- One good comeback and you’ll be able to silence your critics -- perhaps for good. Don’t expect everything to go your way, however. (Oct. 8-Oct. 22) -- You may not understand everything that’s being said at all times, but you’ll get the gist often enough.
Summer on the Mountain
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 6) -- A difference of opinion early on may have you rethinking how things should be done. It doesn’t have to be your way or the highway. (Jan. 7-Jan. 19) -- You’ll have questions to ask of those in authority that can provide everyone with more information.
Bring friends & family and ride the Tram Enjoy a mountaintop lunch at Glacier Express Tram open daily 9:30 am - 9:30 pm
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 3) -- Take care that your behavior isn’t misinterpreted. Fun is fun, but when others take offense, it becomes something else. (Feb. 4-Feb. 18) -- You’ll have an opportunity to take the lead on a project that has been a long time coming.
New adventure packages for friends & family!
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 5) -- The source for your many ideas may be drying up, but that’s not what concerns you. What concerns you is a decrease in serious buyers. (March 6-March 20) -- This week offers a few options you hadn’t considered before. Time management is key.
August 21 & 22
The Hotel Alyeska Pond Courtyard 11 am - 6 pm | Free! All Ages Welcome
Stay & Play Packages From
$179
Details and full schedule online.
per person*
Check our website for details.
907-754-1111
alyeskaresort.com
*Based on double occupancy. Subject to availability. Includes taxes and fees.
ARIES (March 21-April 4) -- You may have to ask more of someone than is comfortable for you, but he or she is willing to provide the assistance you need. (April 5-April 19) -- Someone may feel he or she knows what is going on behind the scenes better than you do. True or false? TAURUS (April 20-May 5) -- Now is the time to put your priorities in better order. Things have been working for you, but they can work even better with a minor change. (May 6-May 20) -- Your reliability may come into question if you let circumstances dictate your schedule. GEMINI (May 21-June 6) -- You’re likely to need a little more rest than usual, for the simple reason that you’ll be moving more swiftly than usual. (June 7-June 20) -- Figuring out how to fix a problem comes easily to you -- once you’ve identified the problem itself. CANCER (June 21-July 7) -- You may not get along with someone you’ve been asked to work with, but as long as you remain courteous, the week can be quite productive. (July 8-July 22) -You may find yourself making the same mistake two, three, even four times. It’s time to change tactics, surely.
Peppercini’s Deli House in the University Center
Pizza By The Slice $3.00 Use Your Wolf Bucks!
In and Out in 90 seconds • Salad, Pizza, Soda $6.50
(907) 279-Deli www.AlaskaDeli.com
Use your WolfCard - Save 20% ! Take 20% off clothing, general books, gifts, and insignia when making a purchase with WolfBucks from your UAA WolfCard. Offer excludes textbooks, electronics, sundries and other sale or store promotions.
This ad brought to you by UAA General Support Services • www.uaa.alaska.edu/gss/
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