July 30th, 2024 by The Northern Light

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‘Diversity’ dropped from title of cabinetlevel position at University of Alaska

A cabinet-level position at the University of Alaska charged with the dual task of improving institutional diversity and Alaska Native success saw the reference to the former dropped from its title.

By Matthew Schmitz editor@thenorthernlight.org

In 2020, The University of Alaska created a position called senior advisor for Alaska Native success, institutional diversity and student engagement, and hired Pearl Bower to fill the role, according to an announcement.

The university created the position — along with The Alaska Native Success Initiative — as a result of priorities established by the University of Alaska Board of Regents.

According to the Alaska Native Success Initiative Strategic Plan, the priorities for the University of Alaska were “understanding and addressing of racial justice and Alaska Native success,” and the position’s areas of focus were “Alaska Native Success, Institutional Diversity and Student Engagement.”

Bower left the position in 2021, and Memry Dahl moved into the position in the interim. In an announcement of the change, University of Alaska President Pat Pitney wrote, “I recognize the value of having a senior level advisor as a member of my cabinet to provide counsel and guidance on ANSI and DEI efforts.”

In 2023, the University of Alaska retitled the position to senior director for Alaska Native success and partnerships, and hired Kristel Komakhuk to fill the position, according to a university announcement.

The announcement excluded any ref-

erence to the goals of advancing diversity in the university system, focusing entirely on the role’s relationship with the Alaska Native Success Initiative.

According to the announcement: “In this role, she (Komakhuk) will help to guide and support the implementation of the Alaska Native Success Initiative (ANSI) Strategic Plan. She will also focus on strengthening relationships between UA and Alaska Native partners.”

The Northern Light reached out via

Video: Suzanne LaFrance sworn in as Anchorage mayor while ceremony faces disruptions

Historic inauguration of Anchorage’s first elected woman mayor experiences turbulence from protesters calling for police accountability.

By Murat Demir copy@thenorthernlight.org

email to Jonathan Taylor, director of public affairs for the University of Alaska, regarding the title change.

Taylor wrote that the position’s duties had been expanded from what the position had originally been doing, and despite “diversity” being removed from the title, the responsibilities of the position were not reduced.

Taylor wrote in his email, “Whether the title change reduced the scope of the role, the short answer is no.”

On Komakhuk’s university biography page, there is no mention of advancing diversity or racial justice at the University of Alaska system — although her biography is under a page titled “Race, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Success.”

There is still a position with the title of “senior advisor” currently held by Dahl, wrote Taylor, but “institutional diversity and student engagement” are no longer a part of the official title either, according to Dahl’s university biography page.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHMITZ.

The University of Alaska Board of Regents meeting on May 23, 2024, at UAA.

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

Spectators stand as Mayor LaFrance’s inauguration ceremony begins.

Alaska budget fiscal year 2025 announced: Priorities and vetoes

This is not a complete breakdown of the budget, but a brief rundown of key areas that received funding.

By Kaitlyn Gaub admanager@thenorthernlight.org

Governor Mike Dunleavy signed the fiscal year 2025 budget on June 28, according to his press release — just in time for Alaska’s new fiscal year starting on July 1.

The total operating budget is approximately $12.2 billion. The capital budget is $3.5 billion.

From what the legislature approved, this year’s operating budget was reduced by $105.7 million and the capital budget was reduced by $126.3 million because of line-item vetoes, according to the press release.

The Permanent Fund Dividend for Alaska residents was announced as $1,718 for 2024. This is a decrease from the proposed $2,270 in April according to an article by the Alaska Beacon.

Budget priorities for the year outlined in Dunleavy’s press release are education, energy, affordable housing and public safety.

K-12 as well as the university system received an increase in funding from the last fiscal year. These include $174.6 million for one-time increases of $680 to base student allocation per student and $7.3 million for student transportation.

According to a statement by University of Alaska president Pat Pitney, the University of Alaska was allotted $331.3 million from state funding and

$934.5 million for its total operating budget. The University of Alaska’s operating budget is $22.9 million more than last year’s budget from the state.

The energy related projects emphasized in the press release were $10.5 million for the Renewable Energy Grant Fund, $23 million for Alaska Housing Finance Corporation Energy Efficiency Research and Energy Weatherization, and $11.1 mil-

lion to University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture & Sequestration Project.

Affordable housing and the lack thereof has been a topic of much discussion in Anchorage. To help address the issue, the budget included $53.2 million to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services received $2.8 million for residential expansion and the Denali Commission received $1.5 million.

For public safety, $9.5 million was allocated for a replacement “patrol vessel for southeast Alaska;” $3.5 million for a village public safety officer; and $700,000 for education and research into missing and murdered indigenous people.

The state has continued to see cases of missing and murdered indigenous people, according to an article by the Alaska Beacon.

Another large section of the operating budget is dedicated to state Department of Health services, with $35.7 million for behavioral health, $23.7 million for healthcare services, and $141.2

for public health.

As large parts of the state’s economy, $88.6 million was set aside for commercial fisheries and $5 million for tourism marketing.

When it comes to environmental services, the operating budget includes about $29.3 million for environmental health, about $15 million for air quality, about $23.9 million for spill prevention and response and about $30.3 million for water quality.

In the budget process, many of the requests for funding were vetoed to lower amounts.

The University of Alaska’s requested $20 million for UAF’s research program were vetoed by $5.4 million, slowing their efforts to become a Tier 1 research university.

According to an article in the Anchorage Daily News, Dunleavy vetoed $500,000 of the requested $2 million for the Blood Bank of Alaska’s in-state donor testing lab.

According to the press release Dunleavy’s office gave regarding the budget,“The vetoes in the FY2025 budget resulted from a thorough evaluation and consistent application of the priorities of the Dunleavy Administration to grow savings and ensure fiscal stability.”

According to an article in the Alaska Beacon, “If the state spends less than it raises, that money will be deposited into the Constitutional Budget Reserve, a fund that was depleted over the past decade to balance the budget.”

People Mover to pump brakes on bus service

People Mover management cites difficulty hiring drivers with CDL licenses and driving experience as reasons for plans to reduce services. A UAA student shares their perspective on the proposed changes.

By Murat Demir copy@thenorthernlight.org

The Municipality of Anchorage recently announced it would reduce People Mover bus service, with changes taking effect Oct. 28. It proposed two potential sets of changes.

“Option A” would reduce services to neighborhood routes 31, 35, 41, 51, 55 and 65 from 30 minutes to once an hour. Routes 10, 20 and 30 would also be reduced from every 15 minutes to 17 minutes under this proposed option.

“Option B” would decrease the frequency of route 25, the busiest People Mover route, from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes, but the frequency of the other routes would remain as they are.

The Northern Light spoke with Jonny Ray — a freshman in UAA’s social work program who regularly rides the People Mover to the University — about his thoughts on the proposed changes.

Ray was at a bus stop near the university when The Northern Light approached him for the interview. He said this was the first he had heard of the proposed changes.

He expressed his concern about the future for bus riders.

He said that before the municipality increased bus service earlier this year, wait times stretched up to two hours on some routes.

“If they cut it again, winter time is going to be rough,” said Ray. “There’s going to be more suffering.”

Ray said he has been riding the bus for over a year and that last winter was very difficult for commuters due to extreme weather, but improved when the municipality increased route frequency.

“If they keep it ramped up it’ll help students and people going to work,” said Ray.

Ray also said he believes if the municipality’s goal is to hire more bus drivers, they should receive fair workplace treatment.

“Those guys do an amazing job,” said Ray.

Bart Rudolph, the public transportation planning and communications manager for the Municipality of Anchorage, spoke at a Public Transit Advisory Board meeting about why People Mover workforce shortages were occurring. The meeting took place at the Loussac Library on July 11.

Rudolph said multiple factors have contributed to the workforce shortages People Mover is experiencing.

“When you hear ‘People Mover,’ that’s Anchorage,” said Ray. “You can cut any department, but when you cut public transit, it’s a problem,” he said.

“We have a hard time filling the vacancies of bus operators because we require [applicants] to have a CDL license with a passenger endorsement and one year experience,” said Rudolph. He also said the population of individuals in Anchorage who can fulfill the bus operator qualification requirements has diminished over time, decreasing the number of applicants for the position. Rudolph spoke about chal-

lenges current People Mover employees have faced, which have had an impact on bus routes.

Rudolph said regular life events, such as getting sick, impede routine bus routes. “You know, and this is not to blame any operator — it’s just, we all get sick. We all have child care issues; we all get hurt or injured,” said Rudolph.

After explaining the two proposed plans for bus service re -

duction to members of the public who attended the meeting, Rudolph said, “So obviously this is not something that we want to do. We have big plans to grow this department, but we just simply can’t do that without a workforce.”

People Mover is asking members of the community to give their input on the proposed changes to bus service until August 5.

PHOTO BY NIKA WOLFE.

A man stands next to People Mover on C Street in downtown Anchorage.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOVERNOR DUNLEAVY’S FLICKR.

Governor Mike Dunleavy signs Alaska’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

Photos: Midnight Sun Festival and baseball game in Fairbanks

By Vadim Bledsoe video2@thenorthernlight.org

On June 22, 2024, the Midnight Sun Festival had more than 30,000 people attending, for 12 hours as Alaska’s largest single day event with food, shopping and musical performances according to the Downtown Association of Fairbanks.

The musical performances included Cold Steel Drums, Sparo and the Fairbanks Community Jazz Band.

The baseball team Alaska Goldpanners hosted the annual Midnight Sun Game competing with the Seattle Studs. It was played entirely without artificial light, a tradition going back to 1906. Fairbanks experiences 24 hours of daylight between mid-May to mid-July with the summer solstice being the longest day of the year.

Movie review: ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’

The

most treacherous journey for a slice of pizza ever embarked on. Spoiler free!

By Tanner Croft reporter3@thenorthernlight.org

“A Quiet Place: Day One” is the third installment in the “A Quiet Place” franchise and is the first film not directed by John Krasinski. Instead, Krasinski handed the reins over to director Michael Sarnoski and chose to co-write the story alongside Sarnoski.

Ever since the release of the first film, fans have been begging for a prequel to gain further world establishment and lore. With a new director in the hot seat, the long awaited prequel is finally here, but is it worth the excitement?

The third film immediately had a challenge ahead of it because of the fact that it follows the emotional juggernauts that are “A Quiet Place” part one and two.

The previous story has been fully fleshed out, so Krasinski and Sarnoski had to come up with an entirely new plot, while simultaneously competing with the expected story quality that fans have come to know and love from this series.

This film may not be as memorable as the original because of the lack of a family dynamic and the fear of losing a child but there are new ties to keep viewers emotionally invested.

The new story introduced new main characters. These characters are Sam, who is played by Lupita Nyong’o, and Eric, who is played by Joseph Quinn. Of course we cannot forget to also give credit to the two cats who played Frodo – Sam’s emotional support animal – Schnitzel and Nico.

The beginning of the film introduced Sam as a poet who has cancer. This is also where the audience is introduced to Frodo, who will become increasingly more important throughout the film’s runtime.

As with both previous films, this prequel surrounds the topic of an alien invasion on earth.

When the alien invasion begins, Sam is in New York City. The city is arguably one of the loudest cities in the United States and not the place you want to be when surrounded by aliens who hunt based on sound.

This scene feels incredibly chaotic but what stuck out most was the cinematography right before, during and after the aliens land.

In these moments, the shots are longer and the light-

ing is used to project Sam’s feelings of isolation onto the viewer. The angle is immediately switched where the view is fixated on Sam, while she tries to make sense of the chaos that unfolds around her.

Overall this is a very visually pleasing movie, and the cinematography compensates for some areas where the film is lacking in quality.

This film attempted to handle heavy topics such as killing for the survival of the group, but when it does, it comes off rushed and ultimately, pointless. This is how a lot of the film feels – as though the film-makers originally wanted to have a longer runtime but had to make too many cuts in post-production.

Sam eventually decides to embark on a journey to

find the last slice of pizza in the city. This evolves into a major plot event. On her journey to find pizza, Sam and Eric eventually cross paths. Eric knows that he wants to stick with Sam, even though Sam does not want him to come with her.

Sam wants Eric to leave the city while she returns to her quest – probably because she wants all of the pizza for herself and Frodo. As ridiculous as the plot is for this film, it works because it is realistic. Who wouldn’t want to control what their last meal is? And what better last meal is there than pizza?

The plot is memorable because it is so odd, but ultimately, the characters feel empty. There are qualities within each of them that viewers will be able to relate to; however, the characters feel like there was much more depth to them initially.

The thing that makes “A Quiet Place: Day One” suffer is the fact that it feels like it deserves to be as fleshed out as the original two films, instead of being packed into a one hour and forty minute journey. Two hours would have done this film wonders.

One thing that the film did really well was the sound design. As usual with the films in this franchise, there is a heavy emphasis on silence and natural sounds, and this film is no exception.

The sound adds a tension to the atmosphere when it needs to, and evokes emotion when it is required. All three films benefit from a good surround sound system, which movie theaters always have the best of. This will allow audiences to hear everything from the screams, to the shuffling of footsteps or the light tapping of Frodo’s paws.

Ultimately, the fact that this prequel explains nothing about the aliens or any other kind of backstory can be a little upsetting, but it makes for a nice new story within the series.

Some fans may be bothered by the fact that we are simply watching another story unfold rather than being told all of the underlying details of the original, but this is something that has come to be expected of the series.

“A Quiet Place: Day One” is a suspense film, rather than a horror film, with only two memorable jumpscares and an overall a thriller vibe instead of the typical dread that is associated with horror films. It will be up to the viewer to decide if this prequel was ultimately worth the excitement.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE

Vocalist and guitarist Shane Liddel and bass player Theo Hilpert perform in the band Sparo for the festival.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE Attendees browse local vendor stations in Golden Heart Plaza.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE

Attendees dance to a performance at the Good Cannabis Stage.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE

The Midnight Sun Festival is one of the largest annual day-long festivals in Alaska.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE Alaska Goldpanner Holt Williams hits a baseball.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES.

movie poster for “A Quiet Place: Day One.”

Movie review: ‘Horizon: An American Saga’

Audience reception may be the downfall of this saga. Spoiler free!

By Tanner Croft reporter3@thenorthernlight.org

Long gone are the times of The Duke and even Clint Eastwood’s spaghetti western era, but over the years we have still seen a consistent stream of western films being churned out. This genre seems to be a constant throughout the history of the United States.

According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this tradition even dates all the way back to the beginning of cinema in 1890. Every single year there seems to be at least one western being made with a fairly recognizable actor or actress leading the helm. This year, western fans were told that they would be getting a treat: a two part film written, directed by and starring Kevin Costner.

Costner has recently garnered a lot of attention for himself because of the rise in popularity of the hit television show “Yellowstone.” Because of this recent attention, there were quite a few people who were excited to see the new western that he was creating. However, it seems many fans were left disappointed.

Ultimately, part one of “Horizon: An American Saga” was a total flop at the box office. According to an article in Forbes, that this film reportedly had a massive budget of 100 million USD, and Collider reports that the film was only able to pull in around $25 million since its release.

Where did this film go wrong? And what could have been done better to help the film succeed?

The main point of contention for this film is the fact that it is three hours long and it asked for an incredible amount of patience from its audience. The story is very well thought out and very well written, however there

is nothing to keep audiences hooked throughout the first film.

“Horizon: An American Saga” asks its audience to bear with it while it gets the world building out of the way in a three hour dialogue — all before the action starts in part two.

Some audiences were left to wonder if part two will even live up to the expectation or if it will simply be another three hours of dialogue and storytelling. For lack of a better term, the pacing is just not done well.

Some viewers may get confused by the constant back and forth switching between characters. If you are able to keep track of which story is being told while watching, you may walk out of the theater craving the sequel.

But if the viewer is not hooked by anything, they may feel as though they wasted three hours of their life, in addition to their hard earned money.

The story revolves around too many characters to list. This is part of the issue the film faces. There are four major stories that begin to unfold throughout the film, and because of this, we as viewers get a film-scene whiplash when it comes to the transitions between the different stories.

This is not to say that “Horizon: An American Saga” is a bad film, not in the slightest. There are many things this film does incredibly well such as the dialogue and storytelling, which are absolutely knocked out of the park.

Each story is told very well, but because so much time is taken to tell each of the stories this is what ultimately throws the pacing off.

This film may have benefited from the same treatment that “The Lonesome Dove” got when it was initially released — having been released as a miniseries on television instead of a full theatrical release.

The biggest thing that this film does well is the dialogue revolving around politics and the ever so delicate topic of colonization. The story takes place throughout the western expansion of the United States, where audiences see a lot of conflict between the White Mountain Apache tribe, settlers and military that are beginning to occupy the land.

This film does showcase the violence that occurred between the two conflicting forces, and it does a good job showcasing the extremes of both sides.

There are characters who simply want to slaughter the other side. What is more prominently featured though, is that there are level headed characters who are able to view the situation as a changing of the times and who are completely reasonable about the change.

This is what “Horizon: An American Saga” does so well. It takes the opportunity to show that the settling of the west was tainted by the extremes and that most people just wanted to reach an agreement. This is just one of the many conflicts that are present throughout the story. This film does a very good job of not showing either side as the “good guys.”

Another downfall of this film is the lack of quotability. If you are a fan of the western genre, you know phrases such as “say when,” or “I have a rendezvous with destiny,” or “if you’re gon-

na shoot, shoot. Don’t talk.”

Throughout this film there were very few lines of dialogue that were quick witted enough to become quotable for fans. This is a big deal for films in the western genre, because without quotability, you lose the audience’s attachment to the characters that are present.

Another issue with this film is that it gave audiences artistic filming and well thought out discussion surrounding the topic of colonization but ignored the expectation of gunslinging that accompanies the western genre. It is just not what audiences were expecting.

The total flop at the box office resulted in the indefinite delay of part two, which was initially scheduled for release on Aug 16. Costner had initially made plans to create four movies in this universe. However it seems that with this major failure delaying even the second film, we may never get the chance to see parts three and four. Since part two has already been filmed, audiences are left in limbo about when they may be able to see the sequel.

From the snippet of part two that is shown at the tail end of part one, it is safe to say that part two appears to be the film most viewers expected when walking into theaters to see part one. It is a shame that we may not get to see how successful this series could have been.

Are westerns finally on their way out the door after over a century of dominating the box office or was this film simply a victim of bad production decisions?

Overall, “Horizon: An American Saga” is a very good film that struggles with pacing while not living up to the expectations of the western genre.

We can hope that the second part is able to redeem the damage done by the lackluster box office launch of part one, but don’t hold your breath.

KRUA album review: ‘Goose Bumps’

By Josh Pacillo

Connecticut based band Boyscott self-released their debut album, “Goose Bumps,” on Nov. 17, 2015 while at college in Nashville. Flash forward to 2019: The band was picked up by Topshelf and Babe City Records and debuted a physical release of “Goose Bumps.”

The upbeat energy with soft vocals flow into each other making it easy to get lost if you’re not paying close attention. The switch-ups sprinkled throughout the album prevent the vibes and atmosphere from getting stale.

The band’s simple and clean melodies create a compelling backdrop to a beautiful mix of surf rock, guitar rock and dream-like bedroom pop.

Track one, aptly titled “Sleepwalk,” sets the tone of the album

perfectly. It combines a punchy drum machine, dreamy synths and rhythm guitar, together immediately transporting you to a dreamy alternate world.

A standout track, “Marco Polo,” feels like a warm summer day on the beach with its relatively stripped back instrumental and tom-heavy beats — perfect for a midday drive or any leisurely activity. Such a refreshing and calming track.

A critique voiced is the mixing on the vocals; some argue the vocals tend to be drowned out by the instrumental for example on “Embarrassingly Enough,” but it adds to the atmosphere and plays into the nautical and beach vibes of the album. It evokes the feeling of being under water.

“Sinking Down” and “RIP Sophie Moore” marks a shift in the record. By playing with moody vocals, and slower tempo, the band creates the perfect backtracking for dual leads

Willer and Scott Hermo to bend genres and styles building up to a perfect ending with “Sleepaway,” distilling the album’s sound into one song.

As a music reviewer it can be hard to not let bias show through, but this album is special to me. I first heard it in the spring of 2019 after going to my first house party. It was my first venture into young adulthood and rebellion. “Goose Bumps” makes me nostalgic for being a teen again, feeling the buzz of exploring self-identity and selfexpression. When I want to disappear from the responsibilities of the world and I fear the uncertainty of my future, I listen to this record.

The album runs shy of a cool 34-minute runtime with 10 tracks; though, with such an easy listening experience it’s the perfect album to put on a long trip or play at the beach with your friends.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRITORY PICTURES AND NEW LINE CINEMA.

A movie poster for “Horizon: An American Saga.”

Emma

IMAGE COURTESY OF TOPSHELF RECORDS. Album cover for “Goose Bumps.”

Movie review: ‘The Bikeriders’

“The

Bikeriders” reminded audiences of America’s obsession with the motorcycle culture of the 60s and 70s. Mild spoilers!

By Tanner Croft reporter3@thenorthernlight.org

In the 1960s, Danny Lyon joined the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club. During his time with this club, he documented the entire experience through his photographs and recordings of interactions with the other members.

This documentation went on to be published in a book titled “The Bikeriders,” which went on to inspire this film titled with the same name.

The film is a loose fictionalization that is heavily influenced by Danny’s work, and also features a character named Danny. Danny is a reporter attached to the Club but this is not based on a true story.

According to Variety this film had a rough production cycle, originally being slotted for a release in the United States in 2023, only to be delayed until June 2024 because of the Screen Actors Guild strike that was ongoing at the end of last year.

According to another article from Variety, the film rights were passed from different production companies until finally landing with Focus Features.

All of these problems aside, “The Bikeriders” was finally released, which is a benefit to all viewers who love the classic motorcycle culture.

Unless you are familiar with the classics such as “Easy Rider” or “The Wild One,” you may be wondering why there are so few theatrical films surrounding the topic of motorcycle gangs and clubs, even though American culture was so heavily influenced by these roaring machines and groups during the back end of the 20th century.

This film displays the effect that Marlon Brando had on the public with his film “The Wild One,” as one of the characters starts a motorcycle club because he saw the classic film playing on television.

There are many reasons why there have been so few films surrounding motorcycles on the big screen, but all of those rea-

sons aside, it is safe to say that because of “The Bikeriders,” we may see a resurgence of the genre. The last time that we saw such a spike in interest in motorcycle gangs was with the television show “Sons of Anarchy,” so it is nice to see some new faces and perspectives on the genre.

The film had a stacked cast that included Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Norman Reedus and Mike Faist.

With such a talented and experienced cast, it is curious that this film would not be rated higher by critics than it currently is, only scoring a seven out of ten on IMDb. This reception from critics could be attributed to the pacing of the film, which will be addressed later in this article.

“The Bikeriders” is set up like a documentary, with Comer narrating the entire film as Kathy, the spouse of Butler’s character Benny. Throughout the narration viewers get flashbacks of how Kathy was introduced to the club and other major events that happened within the club from 1965 to 1973.

We follow the story along as the Chicago Vandals Motorcycle Club makes their way from nothing to one of the largest “one-percenter” clubs in the United States.

A “one-percenter” is a type of motorcycle club that is classified as an “outlaw” club. In the real world, these are clubs like the Hells Angels, Bandidos and the Pagan’s. These clubs have no regard for modern societal standards and deal almost exclusively in illegal activities.

These types of clubs also managed to capture the attention of any rebellious youth, as well as the rest of society in the mid to late 20th century.

Within “The Bikeriders” audiences are ushered along what is considered to be the golden age of motorcycles. The reason that this time period is considered to be the golden age is because it took place long before the culture was entirely involved in illegal activities for the pro -

Video: The last Concert in the Quad of the summer

The UAA community turned out for the last Concert in the Quad of the summer.

By Matthew Schmitz editor@thenorthernlight.org

duction of money.

One of the main characters of this story is Benny, who is a member of the Vandals. Benny is a man who embodies the sex appeal that has often been associated with motorcycles. He is quiet and brooding and smokes too many cigarettes, he also is not afraid to get in a fight or stand for what he believes in.

When Benny meets Kathy, he knows exactly what he wants – which is her. Benny pursues Kathy in a way that modern times would consider stalking, but eventually she falls for him too.

From this point on, we see Kathy narrate the events surrounding the Club, occasionally providing backstory for how the club was formed.

This film teeters on the edge of being considered a crime drama. There are action scenes but they do not come off as unnecessary in any way. These scenes are tastefully shown as most of them pertain to fist fights and general roughhousing.

When scenes happen that involve guns, knives or other improvised weaponry, the scenes are heavily emphasized for the danger that these items can cause. This emphasis also helps viewers see how motorcycle culture changed over the years with the involvement of more serious violence.

This film is simultaneously a love story and a story about obsession. Viewers can see how stressful it can be to love someone who has an obsession with something. Kathy, Benny and Johnny are all obsessed with something different.

Johnny, played by Hardy, is the leader of the club and is obsessed with the club itself. Kathy is obsessed with Benny, and only wants him to live a peaceful life away from danger. Benny is obsessed with motorcycles and the culture that surrounds them, but has no interest in how the club changes over the years. Throughout the film we are shown the dangers of each of these obsessions, and how it can cause issues within a relation-

ship such as Kathy and Benny’s.

The film has a very slow pacing because it is set up like a documentary – not to say that it is bad, just slow.

As previously stated, there is action but it is entirely plot relevant and comes infrequently throughout the film’s runtime. Audiences may be negatively swayed by this as they may expect an action packed story about an outlaw gang, only to be thrown into a drama that just so happens to surround a group of outlaws.

One of the biggest positives of this film is how well they were able to portray the atmosphere of the 60s and 70s. It can come off as very nostalgic, even for those of us who were not alive to experience these times.

This film deals with heavy topics such as death, grieving, emotional disregulation surrounding relationships and even an attempted sexual assault. A warning should go out that viewers should be mature

enough to handle these themes. Other prominent themes include brotherhood and family aspects that often accompany motorcycle clubs. To quote one character from the film, “obscenity and motorcycles travel hand in hand,” so the themes of this film are very dark by default. This film shows us that no matter how hard you try, you can’t stop something from becoming whatever it is going to become. Marriage, motorcycle clubs, friendships – none of it is fully within our control, regardless of how much we obsess over it. We may as well just enjoy what we can, while we can, before it changes. Overall “The Bikeriders” is a movie that is done very well, but can come off a little too slow for some fans of the genre. If you can tolerate the pacing and enjoy good old-fashioned fist fights, bar brawls, foul mouths and historical motorcycle culture, this movie may be one that you want to see.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOCUS FEATURES.

A movie poster for “The Bikeriders.”

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHMITZ.

Emma Hill plays at the last Concert in the Quad of the 2024 summer.

Dunleavy announces the new budget

New Advice column: ‘Croft’s Comments’

We want to hear from you!

By Tanner Croft reporter3@thenorthernlight.org

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

My name is Tanner Croft, and I will be responding to each comment and question personally, hence the name “Croft’s Comments.” All comments and questions will be read but not all will be included in every edition of the paper that is published.

Attached to this article is a QR code that will allow you to submit comments and questions. These comments and questions can be about anything at all, whether you are seeking relationship advice, school advice,

or are simply a new student who has questions about how college works. Include a first name or initial to be added with the response.

Once a comment is submitted, expect a minimum of a two week delay for a response in the next edition of the paper. I look forward to hearing from all who choose to submit a response!

Scan the QR code for submissions.

I’m blocking — not just muting — Android, for good I gave Google’s software the benefit of a doubt for too long, and I’m tired of gaslighting myself into thinking I can make this abusive relationship work.

By Mark Zimmerman

In my lifetime, the way people use computers has undergone a night-and-day shift, which is impressive considering I’m only 21 years old. Us Gen Zers were thrown straight into the information age with little transition.

The advent of the internet had already wrapped a tight digital layer around practically everything we did. Computers were certainly still anecdotal — used for taxes, research, email, shouting obscenities at people on used car forums and so forth — but it wouldn’t be long before internet-connected cell phones and tablets allowed us to take our cyberbullying on the go. Enter the iPhone.

I’m still old enough to remember how quickly Apple’s iOS transitioned smart gadgets from a luxury to a commodity. My mom and dad held out with their Motorola Q and Blackberry respectively, but the clamshell flippy bits and chiclet keyboards of yore inevitably walked into Darwin’s rake.

My gateway drug into the constantly-connected, touchenabled theme park of new-age computing was a “T-Max” tablet toting Android 4.4.

Even in those days, I could tell there was something tangibly different about it. The main screen opened up to a playful little flip-clock widget and an inviting-looking Google search bar that invoked the few moments I had playing around with my Dad’s Samsung Galaxy S4. I remember being mesmerized zooming through Google Maps and web searches on the giant

touchscreen.

YouTube and video games were finally available to me anywhere I went, much to my parents’ chagrin. So infatuated was I that I hardly noticed the unimpressive battery, its abysmal speed, and the buggy, ornery affair of early Android.

In those days and at that age, however, even being able to call such a portable computer my own made my diminutive ZTE feature phone look like an anachronism.

The world of Android is not unlike the confusing multiverse of portable and home computers before it. It was one platform bound and connected by Google’s software that unified countless different oddball approaches to cell phones, tablet computers, point-of-sale terminals, cameras and even kitchen appliances. Unlike Nokia’s Symbian or Microsoft Windows Mobile before it, Google enabled devices like my old Amazon FireTab to omit and even forgo the use of Google’s default experiences and apps entirely. This laissez-faire approach allowed manufacturers to build what Google couldn’t — or didn’t — bother to add in its basic version of Android.

Samsung stuck powered styluses into their Note phones, building intuitive annotation software for them. Kyocera’s Echo phone had two screens which could be used for multitasking. Asus made a goddamn laptop shell that users could dock their Atrix phones into, to turn it into a full computer, for crying out loud.

Like clockwork, the annoying Android customer in me was quick to flex Android’s magical toolbelt on my iPhone-using

peers. SmartLock let me forgo a PIN or fingerprint when I was at home or near a trusted bluetooth device. Google Assistant could pull flight itineraries and boarding passes from my email and interact with websites for me if I didn’t feel like suffering through Fandango ticketing. Widgets let me check everything from todos to nearby restaurants right from the homescreen years before Apple announced that feature for iOS 14.

Unfortunately, like Smeagol corrupted by the One Ring’s wicked power, such an open and unfocused ecosystem quickly turned Android into a demented and obnoxious creature.

The minefield reliability and poor resale value present in Android phones, as corroborated by a 2023 Consumer Intelligence Research Partners report, are arguably a consequence of Google itself.

Despite their respectable head-start on the Apple Watch, Chris Wedel at Android Police correctly observed that the vitality of WearOS smartwatches, previously Android Wear, remained scant due to Google’s abandonment of the platform.

Android tablets felt slapped together, while iPad apps were tailor-made and curated for the devices they ran on. Google took until 2020 to get major U.S. carriers to support advanced chat through Google Messages — previously Android Messenger, previously Hangouts, previously Allo — and a similar amount of time to get Quick Share, previously Nearby Share, previously Android Beam, to reliably send files between Android phones and Chromebooks. Apple — though limiting these features to only their own devices — imple -

mented both of these things as early as 2011.

Then came the phones themselves. My beloved Samsung Galaxy Express 3 met just a little bit of rain in the wrong place and reacted like Ted Kennedy drove it home.

My ZTE blade Spark could hardly hold a charge after a year.

My Google Pixel 4’s poor battery, fragility and constant bugginess quickly overshadowed its great camera and impressive AI. My Pixel 6a constantly overheated and had weird performance issues with apps. My Motorola RAZR did all of those things while also having a weird peeling issue with its rubberized coating.

At least my slightly-too-large Samsung Galaxy A53 was us-

able despite the annoying and forcibly-downloaded Microsoft and Samsung software.

I know I’m a tech enthusiast, but should I really be on my ninth phone after ten years? Should I be wasting brain power comparison shopping between dozens of new phone releases? Should I have to re-learn how to use Google Wallet — previously Google Pay, previously Android Pay — every other few years? Count me out, Google. Apple has your homescreen widgets, your USB-C charging ports and your half-decent touch keyboard now. And unlike your years of false promises, I know my iPhone will stop dragging its feet and commit. We’re breaking up.

ILLUSTRATION BY MARK ZIMMERMAN.

Many phones vied for my love, but the iPhone has proven to be a more stable partner.

ILLUSTRATION BY KAITLYN GAUB

Photos: Anchorage heats up for summer festivities on Fourth Avenue

By Murat Demir copy@thenorthernlight.org

This series of photographs was captured with a disposable camera on June 22 in downtown Anchorage, Alaska. It was a sunny 77 degrees Fahrenheit as people filled the streets for various activities. Many patrons visited hot dog vendors and shops around Fourth Avenue. Others attended the Downtown Summer Solstice Celebration. The celebration has drawn thousands of attendees in past years, according to the Anchorage Downtown Partnership.

Free and discounted software available to

UAA students have access to several useful software programs

By Kaitlyn Gaub admanager@thenorthernlight.org

UAA students, staff and faculty have access to software with their UAAaffiliated email accounts.

Microsoft Office 365 is one of the available software programs. This includes Microsoft Office suite, Skype, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams and Foxit – a PDF editor comparable to Adobe Acrobat – and more.

UAA students have access to LinkedIn Learning’s database of training materials and sessions for business skills and different software. There is also a section for coding practice. LinkedIn Learning has materials for professional certifications for

software such as Adobe and Microsoft.

Accessibility software available to students includes Read&Write for literacy and Equatio for mathematics. According to UAA’s website, “Read&Write helps employees with additional language or literacy needs, such as those with ESL or dyslexia, who need unobtrusive extra support with reading and writing.”

In the same article, “Equatio software allows learners to create mathematical equations, formulas (and more!) directly on their computer or device.”

GlobalProtect VPN is a free VPN available to students, staff and faculty. It is already downloaded on UAA computers and is available for personal

computers using UA login information.

UAA students also have discounted access to EndNote Clarivate for citations.

Several other software vendors offer discounts for college students. UAA’s website recommends contacting the vendors directly via email or looking at their websites for more information.

Some software is available only to permitted students, staff and faculty depending on the departments they are involved with.

For a full list of software available to UAA students, staff and faculty, visit UAA’s software catalog or contact uaa.techsupport@alaska.edu.

Video: Sandhill cranes visit campus

By Matthew Schmitz editor@thenorthernlight.org

A pair of sandhill cranes visits the University of Alaska Anchorage.

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

A view of downtown Anchorage, Alaska, looking down Fourth Avenue.

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

A chef at Tia’s Gourmet Sausage and Hot Dog smiles while grilling for customers.

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

Hasaan Herrington and Jaron Williams of the UAA basketball team pose for a photo during the Downtown Summer Solstice Celebration.

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

Handcrafted gifts for sale at the Alaska Fur Enterprise vendor table during the celebration.

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

A red trolley crosses the intersection of E Street and Fourth Avenue as pedestrians walk along the sidewalk.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCHMITZ.

A pair of sandhill cranes to the north of the Arts Building.

Photos: A look in the Anchorage Museum

By Sarah Bennett photographer1@thenorthernlight.org

The Anchorage Museum offers a variety of exhibits: art, history, crafts and storytelling all in one place.

The museum’s Discovery Center offers hands-on learning for curious learners. In the Arctic Align area, there are pieces of artwork that raise awareness of climate change, created by young artists who call themselves Climate Communicators. The Smithsonian Arctic Study has over 600 Alaska Native cultural heritage pieces with 3-D sound art, which include information and articles to learn through touch screens.

Lunch, coffee or a quick snack can be purchased at the Muse, the museum’s cafeteria.

The museum offers free first Friday of the month. Tuesdays offer Lunch on Lawn, with live music and food trucks. Discounted tickets are offered for students and military. Find free days or ticket information on their website.

Photos: Glacier View celebrates 4th of July with annual car launch

By Rachel Musselwhite multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The annual Glacier View Car Launch was held on the 4th of July at the Glacier View River Retreat, located approximately 100 miles northeast from Anchorage. Hosted by Arnie Hrncir, the Glacier View Car Launch launched a variety of decorated vehicles off a cliffside for their final drive. This year, over twenty cars were sent flying into the air.

The event also featured a variety of vendors and food trucks. Tickets were $20 per adult and $10 for children.

Heads in the clouds: Runners climb their way to victory on Seward’s Mount Marathon

Seward’s annual Mount Marathon Race and festival draws thousands to the historic port city, sending swarms of contestants through a steep loop from bustling downtown to shrouded peak.

By Mark Zimmerman

Approximately two hours from the Independence Day festivities of Anchorage, a mass of visitors packed Seward’s Fourth Avenue and Jefferson Street. The coastal city on the coast of the Kenai Peninsula wasn’t just hosting a Fourth of July parade, it was also welcoming hundreds of athletes to one of North America’s oldest mountain races.

The tradition officially began in 1915, during the state’s still-fresh railroad boom. Since then, 96 races have been held on the stretch from First National Bank to the top of Mount Marathon’s 2,974 foot summit, according to the city’s website.

Runners of various backgrounds come from across the nation to compete. Alaskans, however, still claim a vast majority of the race’s maximum 1,000 participants according to the official roster.

There are several races to register in — with a “junior” portion welcoming up to 150 boys and 150 girls, a men’s portion welcoming up to 350 adult runners and a women’s portion welcoming another 350.

The latter two portions rotate on the schedule every year, and runners are ideally given enough time to prevent overlapping. Each group is broken up into three distinct waves spaced three minutes apart.

Their journey takes them over three miles starting at Seward’s First National Bank downtown, uphill through

Fourth Avenue, across Jefferson Street – to the mountain trail’s base for a near half-mile stretch – then scaling the mountain’s up-to-60-degree slope towards a touchstone at the top before heading back.

The race downhill is brisk, and despite the whole route taking more than two hours for some racers, the last half has taken runners as little as ten minutes according to the Seward Chamber of Commerce.

Mount Marathon’s ambitious scope is part of what draws runners to the peninsula every year, with some competing there for over a decade.

Mount Marathon first-timer Fabio Rozo of Farmington, Minnesota spoke with The Northern Light while standing across the street from the starting line.

Continue the story at thenorthernlight.org

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE

An attendee attempts to remove a door from one of the crashed vehicles.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE

A camper and a boat come apart as they’re launched off the hill.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE

Spectators exchange commentary after watching a vehicle crash.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE

Attendees climb the hillside after the launch is concluded in order to retrieve parts from the vehicles.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE

Vehicles are decorated before their last drive over the cliff.

PHOTO BY SARAH BENNETT

The Alaska Exhibition communicates history in many forms of audio and visual works.

PHOTO BY SARAH BENNETT

A curator tells a historical summary during a tour.

PHOTO BY SARAH BENNETT

The Anchorage Museum’s public commons offers views of native plants.

PHOTO BY SARAH BENNETT

The Northern Boarders exhibit displays different types of board culture.

Campus workers keep the lights on

Maintaining a university campus is no small task. The Northern Light spoke with campus workers about their experience keeping the university running.

By Murat Demir copy@thenorthernlight.org

When students are busy rushing to class in the Eugene Short Hall or grabbing a coffee in the Social Sciences Building, a dedicated force of custodial and maintenance workers labor behind the scenes to ensure the university continues to function properly.

In 2022, the University of Alaska Anchorage, employed over 400 tradespeople, providing a wide range of services for the campus including plumbing repairs, electrical maintenance, custodial services and many other essential tasks.

The Northern Light interviewed Alvin, a maintenance worker who has worked at UAA for the past 16 years, about the maintenance team’s role on campus. He declined to give his last name during the interview.

Alvin and a colleague were in the process of repairing a light fixture in the Social Sciences Building as he explained the maintenance team does everything within their power to ensure the campus is functioning

STAFF CONTACTS

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Executive Editor Matthew Schmitz (907) 786-1313 editor@thenorthernlight.org

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Doty

optimally.

Alvin said their primary objective is to ensure the students and faculty receive the best service possible but then reflected on challenges maintenance workers face.

“We do everything we can — as much as possible. Sometimes there are budget issues,” said Alvin.

Regular care of campus facilities also has an impact on students’ ability to learn, according to a study conducted by the International Sanitary Supply Association and APPA, a facilities standards organization. The study reported that 88% of students said a lack of cleanliness in their learning environment led to distractions.

At UAA, custodial services are taken care of by individuals who ensure the environment remains clean for students.

The Northern Light interviewed Lynn — a custodial worker at the university for nearly a year — about her experience at UAA and her interactions with students around campus. She declined to give her last name during the interview.

Lynn said students typically

Video Reporter Vadim Bledsoe video2@thenorthernlight.org

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don’t interact with her on campus, but sometimes they will say hello or ask questions.

“It’s been a pretty good experience,” said Lynn.

Lynn also said there is a common misconception that campus workers are not formally educated, but instead, many of them choose work in facilities and services by preference.

UAA electrician Sam Smith spoke with The Northern Light about his experience working for the university.

“So far, so good. I’ve been here for almost two years now,” said Smith.

Smith said interactions with students and faculty are not frequent but happen on occasion, sometimes when workers have to access certain areas on campus.

“We don’t interact much, but they’ll thank us when we help,” said Smith.

Smith also spoke about the university’s acknowledgment of workers. “The facilities and maintenance department does a great job at it,” he said. “They’ll do stuff around Christmas for us and things like that.”

The Northern Light also

Media Adviser Paola Banchero

Administrative Adviser Zac Clark

Fiscal Technician Micah Perino

The Northern Light is hiring! See our job listings at careers.alaska.edu.

spoke with Eva Tupper, an undergraduate student in the psychology program, to get a student’s perspective of workers on campus.

Tupper said students are generally appreciative of the workers, but also said there are times when students lack appreciation of their efforts.

“Occasionally there are the few that will make a mess and leave it there,” said Tupper. Tupper also said that one cus-

todial worker, who listens to music while working, is very nice and will occasionally greet students, but they generally appear to remain in the background.

College campuses are highly complex social environments where human relationships within the campus community are interconnected. This social connection highlights the importance of acknowledging all contributions to the functioning of the university.

ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS

The Northern Light is a proud member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The Northern Light is a bi-weekly UAA publication funded by student fees and advertising sales. The editors and writers of The Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 1,500. The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy or parenthood. The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of UAA or the Northern Light.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

The University of Alaska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution. The University of Alaska does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally protected status. The University’s commitment to nondiscrimination, including against sex discrimination, applies to students, employees, and applicants for admission and employment. Contact information, applicable laws, and complaint procedures are included on UA’s statement of nondiscrimination available at www.alaska. edu/nondiscrimination.

LETTERS AND CORRECTIONS POLICY

The Northern Light encourages readers to express their views in the newspaper. The Northern Light reserves the right to reject or publish any submission, online or in print.

Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length for a letter to the editor is 300 words, and 150 words for letters specifically endorsing candidates for federal, local, or university office. A letter to the editor is written by someone who does not have authoritative knowledge on the subject they are discussing. Contributors are restricted to one published letter to the editor per month.

Opinion pieces can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length for a contributor’s opinion piece is 500 words. Contributors are restricted to one published opinion piece per month. Opinion pieces written by staff of The Northern Light are limited to 1,000 words. An opinion piece that is published in The Northern Light should be written by someone who has authoritative knowledge on the subject they are discussing.

Letters and opinion pieces are subject to editing for grammar, accuracy, length and clarity. All letters and opinion pieces must include names, major and/or group affiliation and contact information for verification purposes. The Northern Light will not publish anonymous letters or pseudonyms. Requests for corrections can be sent to editor@thenorthernlight.org. Print publication is subject to accuracy and available space. All corrections are posted online with the original story at www. thenorthernlight.org. The deadline for submissions is the Friday before publication at noon, no exceptions.

The Northern Light newsroom is located on the first floor of the Student Union Room 113.

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

Maintenance worker Alvin repairs lighting fixture at the Social Sciences Building.

Photos: Anchorage celebrates annual pride parade

By Rachel Musselwhite multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Crowds filled the Delaney Park Strip for the annual Anchorage Pride Parade, held on June 29. This year’s pride parade was once again hosted by the Alaskans Together Foundation.

Festivities continued after the pride parade concluded, with a family-friendly party being held in the Delaney Park Strip for the rest of the afternoon. Several drag artists performed throughout the day, and dozens of booths offered attendees a chance to purchase artwork or get information about local services.

Photos: World Eskimo-Indian Olympics in Fairbanks

By Vadim Bledsoe video2@thenorthernlight.org

The annual World Eskimo-Indian Olympics were held in the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks from July 10 to 13. Contestants competed in different sports and cultural practices which included high kick, blanket toss and seal skinning.

Since 1961, the Olympics have been held over a fourday period each July in Fairbanks. They are designed to preserve traditional practices of indigenous peoples in the circumpolar regions of the world.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE

Pride parade attendees pose for a portrait.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE

The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska was this year’s grand marshal for the Anchorage Pride Parade.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE

Drag queen Gigi Monroe poses for a portrait before their performance.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE

The crowd cheers as the pride parade begins marching down 9th Avenue.

PHOTO BY RACHEL MUSSELWHITE

Pride attendees watch the festivities.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

The Northway dance group performs prior to the kneel jump competition.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

Daisy Vanblarcom of Wasilla reaches 5 feet, 6 inches for the two-foot high kick.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

Alanna Moses wears a parka made of blue fabric, floral trim and parka lining, with the regalia entirely made by herself for the open regalia competition. The head dress was made with blue cloth, blue leather and beads.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

Anastasha Wilde of Anchorage wins third place in the one foot-high kick, reaching a height of 70 inches.

PHOTO BY VADIM BLEDSOE.

Nalugaria Joevahnta Usugan-Weddington and Naatanii Mayo dance with Wainwright Dance Group in the invitationals, which are open floor demonstrations.

FEATURES

Photos: Runners traverse Crow Pass Trail

By Rachel Musselwhite multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The 39th annual Crow Pass Crossing trail race took place on July 20, on the Crow Pass Trail that leads from Girdwood to Eagle River. The approximately 23-mile race takes runners through Crow Pass Crossing and across the Eagle River, as they wind their way through Chugach State Park.

Welsley McQuilin was the men’s champion with a time of 3 hours, 48 minutes, 54 seconds, while Jenna DiFolco was the women’s champion with a time of 3:59:27. Final results can be seen here.

Photos: Golden Days in Fairbanks

By Vadim Bledsoe video2@thenorthernlight.org

The annual Golden Days parade, street fair and duck race along the Chena River kicked off in Fairbanks on July 20, 2024. More than 8,000 rubber ducks are dropped into the Chena River for the annual duck race from the Wendell Street Bridge to race down to the Cushman Street Bridge. Since 1952, Golden Days have celebrated the founding of Fairbanks with mostly Gold Rush-related activities. These activities include the Old Tyme Games, such as pie eating and balloon toss.

Big or small, Pride gatherings bring June to a colorful close

A massive festival downtown and comparatively modest independent block party in Spenard give Anchorage residents two different perspectives of Pride.

By Mark Zimmerman

Anchorage’s Pride Month festivities pulled attendees to two distinct hotspots on June 29. Anchorage PrideFest brought dozens of partner organizations and sponsors together with vendors and performers for a parade and open-air festival that spanned the length of Delaney Park. In Spenard, a group of volunteer organizers along with the Writer’s Block Cafe hosted another open air market and special performances from live DJs. Though the difference in scale of the two annual events is on the level of city blocks, their core purpose is similar — closing Pride Month and publicly celebrating Anchorage’s LGBTQ+ community.

A procession of rainbows began on ninth avenue at 11:30 a.m. An organized mass of marchers, trucks, cars, and floats snaked along Ninth, through F street, and across Seventh Avenue.

Crowds gathered and moved ahead of the parade, dressed in multicolored pride regalia. Some attendees adorned themselves with flowing feathers, rainbow gowns and elaborate cosplay, while others draped their shoulders with flags or opted for varyingly-subtle festive street clothes. Regardless of outfit, all of the day’s participants took it upon themselves to bring cheers, applause, and shouts of encouragement at the litany of organizations, businesses, and groups that walked the parade route.

A big tent of entities made their presence known on these streets, beneath the shade of downtown highrises and the watchful eyes of thousands of paradegoers.

Among the many government and political groups that participated were members of Anchorage’s Assembly, mayor Suzanne LaFrance, a jeep-mounted delegation of LGBTQ+ policy makers from Alaska’s State Legislature, The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Service, a group of wide-brimmed-hat-wearing rangers from the

National Parks Service, Queers For Palestine, the Party for Socialism and Liberation Anchorage and the Alaska Libertarian Party.

Some nonprofit and community groups included JBER QueerCouncil, the local ACLU chapter — driving a convertible ferrying Laura Herman dressed as Lady Liberty — the flowing purple gowns of Utopia Alaska, Four A’s, Identity Alaska, the Red Cross, and Rage City Roller Derby.

Businesses shared in the festivities too, such as a convoy of luxury convertibles from Anchorage’s BMW dealership, groups from Walmart and Fred Meyer, GCI and Alaska Pipeline Services.

Religious groups such as Congregation Beth Shalom, St. John United Methodist Church and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship also joined.

Some of the commotion was accompanied by music and the boisterous voice of the equally boisterous drag artist “Daphne DoAll LaChores” — the retro-inspired persona of electronics repairman, Mad Myrna’s drag host, and political activist Scott Koeller.