The Northern Light October 22, 2013 Issue

THENORTHERNLIGHT OCTOBER 22, 2013

A&E

SPORTS

Spice up your fall with the Pumpkin Spice Latte

eerickson@thenorthernlight.org

The bustle slowed to a murmur this past May as UAA students broke away from class loads and many faculty and staff members disappeared for the summer. While it didn’t seem like much was going on, radical changes were being implemented within the College of Arts and Sciences. Twenty-eight administrative positions were to be eliminated, and the 24 departments that comprise the CAS would be grouped under four different divisions: Humanities, Social Sciences, Fine Arts and Math/Natural Sciences.

A centrally located hub would oversee the operations of each of the four divisions.

The first mention came in April, but the change was officially announced at the monthly CAS Council of Chairs and Directors meeting May 10.

According to several faculty present, it was only in the final minutes of the meeting that the new hub system was announced, leaving little time for discussion.

An apology letter was emailed May 13 to the CAS chairs and directors on behalf of Dean of CAS John Stalvey.

In the letter Stalvey states, “I want to apologize for rushing out of the meeting on Friday.

I made a mistake in allowing meetings to be scheduled backto-back on Friday. ... For those of you who are available, I have reserved the CAS conference room at 11 a.m. on Wednesday May 15 to provide you information on the reorganization of the CAS Academic Support Staff.”

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It’s been a rough year for fake football

The CAS hub

By Evan Erickson

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

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In the meantime faculty and staff who were still on campus scheduled an impromptu meeting for that same Wednesday at noon to voice their concerns about their lack of involvement in the change.

Soon after, the various administrative assistants throughout the CAS were told that their positions would be eliminated June 30 and that they could apply for new jobs within the CAS and elsewhere in the university.

The university rehired nearly all of the displaced administrative assistants during the summer. There was a certain amount of shuffling as administrators who had worked in a single department were now dealing with entire divisions — some in entirely different divisions than they had come from.

Several administrators became hub academic advisers.

According to Stalvey, along with the goal of increasing the number of academic advisers in the college, there was also a financial aspect to the change.

“The change from administrative assistants freed up approximately $325,000,” Stalvey said.

Stalvey also said about half of the money went into hiring additional academic advisers and another $100,000 went into other positions in the CAS. CAS Academic Coordinator John Mun says the hub advising system is working on being more effective in identifying students who may benefit most from advising.

SEE HUB

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Homecoming Week highlights

Pentatonix, bike share program, murder and more

PHOTO BY JENNA! ROOSDETT

Kirstie Maldonado leads a song for a cappella group Pentatonix, the winner of season three of “The Sing-Off” and headliners of UAA’s A Cappella Festivella 20.

MORE PHOTOS PAGES 6 & 7

The weekend primer: Volleyball team squares off at home

By Thomas McIntyre

sports@thenorthernlight.org The Seawolf volleyball teams back home this weekend for two matches against fellow GNAC squads, the Northwest Nazarene Crusaders and Central Washington Wildcats.

Both visitors are sitting in the top half of the GNAC standings. The two crews have also tangled with the Seawolves earlier this season, with each of them losing 3-1 in their own backyards.

UAA is currently riding a wave of electric play. And they have been nearly unbeatable at the Wells Fargo Complex, giving up just one loss on the season.

Outside hitters Julia Mackey and Katelynn Zanders are giving the ‘Wolves a hefty edge. The sophomore tandem sits three and four in total kills amongst all GNAC players.

With these two flying in off the edges, UAA is boasting the second best hitting percentage (0.234) in the conference. But two teams are creeping up behind them in this category: Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington.

First up are the Crusaders, who will look a lot like the Seawolves Thursday night. The two teams have similar builds and win games using comparable styles.

For one, the Crusaders floor two offensive threats that should keep the ‘Wolves on their heels. Their duo of hit-

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ters — Andrea Terpstra and Elayna Rice — can trade blows with Mackey and Zanders.

The Crusaders are well put together on defense, too. They have high block marks and get plenty of second chance opportunities through their digs.

The most important defensive number is 0.166 — that’s the hitting percentage they’re allowing opponents this year. It’s the third-lowest in the conference.

The ‘Wolves didn’t have much trouble with the Crusaders back in September, but this is still a tight matchup.

Saturday brings a clash with the Wildcats, who are a middling team that’s trying to move their arrow in an upward direction.

The Wildcats have their own pair of studs, but theirs aren’t flashy point scorers. Setter Catie Fry and libero Kaely Kight are having stellar seasons at positions that are easily overlooked.

Fry is a distributor — possibly the best one this conference has to offer. She has amassed 648 assists, and is averaging 10.62 per set.

Kight has an absurd 342 digs, which puts her at 5.61 per set. Like Fry, she has constructed a strong case for being the best at her position in the GNAC. If Kight and Fry get the right amount of help Saturday night, the upset could be in play.

If they don’t, the Seawolves should continue to electrify.

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GRAPHICS BY ASHLEY SNYDER STATS COMPILED BY THOMAS MCINTYRE

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02 NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

Smoke-free initiative increases momentum

PHOTO BY TIM BROWN

Improperly discarded cigarette waste can be found near university buildings. Non-smoking initiatives will forbid smoking anywhere on campus.

By Suhaila Brunelle

news@thenorthernlight.org There is no safe exposure amount to smoke. This is the message UAA’s Smoke-Free Task Force hopes to communicate. The task force was formed in response to a challenge made by the United States Department of Health and Human Services for all college campuses to go smoke and tobacco free by 2016.

UAA’s task force is made up of faculty, staff and students who believe everyone has the right to breathe fresh air.

According to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, more than 1,100 university campuses across the nation have established clean air policies, and members of the Smoke-Free Task Force hope UAA will be next to join the list.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and is responsible for an estimated 438,00 deaths per year, or about one in every five deaths.

“There’s a growing trend across the U.S. A lot of universities are going smoke-free. They (the Department of Health and Human Services) wanted to make it a region-wide effort in the Pacific Northwest to go smoke and tobacco free by 2016,” says task force member Yesenia Camarena.

The UAA Smoke-Free Task Force, which began last academic year, is the brainchild of assistant public health professor Gabriel Garcia.

“If we have a smoke-free campus, then we are introducing a culture here in the university that values non-smoking. If we have a smoke-free campus, and a sort of culture that promotes a smoke free type of value, students coming here will recognize that this university is a healthy university,” says Garcia. “People are not going to be influenced by others who are smoking on campus, so it’s just good to introduce that sort of culture and make it sort of a norm that everybody here in the university values a smoke-free campus.”

Garcia approached the Asian and Pacific Islander Club with the idea, and from there it has gained momentum.

Task force members began last year by petitioning signatures from other students who support a smoke-free UAA. They gathered around 400 signatures in support of the initiative. They traveled to Juneau and presented this information at the Board of Regents meeting.

According to a recent study, 99 percent of smokers begin smoking by the time they are 26, so the task force’s message is important for college students. As it stands, 85 percent of UAA students are non-smokers.

Members have also begun conduct-

ing investigative research on whether or not UAA is in compliance with the current smoking and tobacco use policy.

They discovered that UAA is not in compliance with its current smoking policy, which states cigarette receptacles must be a minimum of 20 to 50 feet away from building entrances.

“The plan is to submit the research to the chancellor to get some changes,” Garcia says, “but whether or not if it’s 20 feet or more than 20 feet, it’s better for the university to go smoke and tobacco free.”

For UAA student Valeria Delgado, being a member of the task force is personal. Delgado grew up in a smoking home. Her mother is a recovered smoker, and her grandmother continues to smoke.

Delgado realized smoking was unhealthy at a young age after she saw a pig’s heart and lungs blackened by smoke exposure.

Delgado convinced her mom to stop smoking, and she feels it is important for young adults to understand that smoking can not only be harmful to oneself, but also to those surrounding. Sometimes second-hand smoke can be even more harmful.

This week, Delgado wrote a letter to the chancellor about the importance of a smoke- and tobacco-free campus.

She told him her story of growing up in a smoking environment and of how important it is to her personally to have a smoke-free campus.

The smoke-free task force wants to emphasize this is not an anti-smoker campaign. In fact, they encourage feedback from smokers and also encourage smokers to join the task force.

“We want our students to be healthy.

We as professors do so much to help our students with other things. Why can’t we help them with their health?” says Joy Chavez Mapaye, faculty adviser to the task force.

The task force is asking everyone to fill out e-mailed surveys regarding the initiative. Their next event will be a debate during Engage Week from 4-5 p.m. Nov. 5 in the Student Union Cafeteria.

“UAA is a health campus. Let us lead by example,” says Mapaye.

Students can get involved by liking the Smoke-Free Task Force’s Facebook page called “Smoke-Free UAA” or by contacting Delgado at vdelgado2@alaska. edu. The Department of Journalism and Public Communications will also offer a course this spring for students who would like to assist with the work of the task force and earn credits toward a degree.

The Student Health and Counseling Center in Rasmuson Hall Room 116 offers help for people struggling with smoking addiction. Students can call the center at 907-786-4040 or contact the Alaska Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-784-8669.

It’s PB&J Time!

HUB: Changes to UAA system continued from cover “Division-wide advisers are more aware of GER and overall requirements.

It’s allowing us to do more pro-active outreach in contacting students,” Mun said.

UAA’s College of Arts and Sciences website lists the new academic advisers and positions in the hub’s and dean’s office, but the website has no mention of the hub change having happened.

Stalvey became CAS dean in 2012 and says he didn’t arrive from his previous job at Kent State University expecting to implement major changes at UAA. Stalvey explained that the budget for the CAS necessitated the change.

“By June I knew resources weren’t going to grow,” Stalvey said.

As for the model that would eventually become the hub, Stalvey says it was an ongoing process over the 2012-13 academic year.

“We weren’t settled on it in the fall. I believe it was after the first of the year.

The reason I told folks in April was it was being considered by UA system-wide Human Resources,” Stalvey said.

“It was crazy to do it when everybody was away. They should have asked us in Fine Arts,” said associate music professor Karen Strid-Chadwick.

Stalvey said it would have been much more difficult to implement the changes during the school year and is clear about his responsibilities in the CAS. “The curriculum is the responsibility

of the faculty. The administrative structure is the responsibility of the dean,” Stalvey said.

The CAS is the largest college in the entire University of Alaska system as well as being physically very long. The divisional hubs for some departments are more than a half-mile distant. The problem was addressed with the addition of several satellite offices but faculty still need to adjust to not having dedicated administrative help in their individual departments.

“We have somebody working in our office who replaced (previous administrator) Erin Day. I don’t know when I ask her a question if she’s on our time or someone else’s,” said assistant journalism professor Elizabeth Arnold.

Some welcome the hub.

“I think it’s been a wonderful change.

I’m one of those who thought the change was needed and that it was a good change.

The position descriptions were more clearly laid out,” said biological sciences professor Loren Buck.

The last time a hub system was implemented at UAA was in 1998 with the College of Business and Public Policy, a much smaller college centrally located in Rasmuson Hall.

In its first semester, the long-term success of UAA’s most recent hub remains to be seen.

Committee attempts to bring outdoor recreation back to UAA

By Evan Erickson

eerickson@thenorthernlight.org

In spring 2012 the Northern Light mourned the loss after seven years of the UAA Housing & Recreation Activities program in an editorial chastising the university’s budgetary reasoning.

Now a group of students and faculty is hoping to bring back outdoor opportunities — not only to students who live on campus but to everyone at UAA. This time around the money would come from a student fee.

About a dozen students and one faculty member met Oct. 11 to share ideas on the types of things that might be possible with the fee. Professor of health, physical education and recreation T.J. Miller, a veteran of the previous program, was there to lend his expertise.

“I helped create it (the previous pro-

gram) in Housing & Recreation Activities. It’s sort of a revival of that idea, but available to all students, staff and faculty,” Miller said.

One of the ideas is a shuttle bus to Alyeska resort for a day of skiing and snowboarding at a fraction of the cost. There is also mention of hosting lectures by outdoor experts.

USUAA Vice President Cassie Smith has designated the group as an ad-hoc committee, meaning they can now set to work drafting a bill to appear on the ballot for the spring 2014 UAA Student General Election.

The committee is relying on feedback to determine whether students would be willing to pay a fee, and if so, what types of activities they are most interested in.

Students, staff and faculty are asked to take part in the short survey at http:// www.surveymonkey.com/s/FNXGBWL.

NEWS BRIEF A group of Alaska’s World War II veterans left today on the inaugural Last Frontier Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Ron Travis and his wife have worked effortlessly to bring Alaska’s World War II vets to their memorial in the nation’s capitol. They established Last Frontier Honor Flight in December 2012. Over 60 people traveled to Washington this week including 29 vets, their guardians and staff members from the organization. Last Frontier Honor Flight hopes to bring a second round of vets to Washington, D.C., in April.

For more information about the honor flight visit TNL’s website at http://www. thenorthernlight.org.

WEEKLY BUZZ

Shutdown ceased, government operations continue President Barack Obama signed a bill Thursday that raised the debt ceiling and reopened the United States government, avoiding a default. Republicans mostly voted against the bill, while Democrats mostly supported the bill. Furloughed federal workers returned to work on Thursday.

Investigation reveals modern-day slave populations According to an investigation by the Walk Free Foundation, an estimated 29.6 million people are currently held as slaves or trafficked individuals. Mauritania, Haiti, Pakistan, Russia and China have the largest numbers of slaves on record. Some are born into slavery while others are kidnapped and sold into slavery.

Possible fare increase for People Mover and Anchor Rides The Sullivan administration has proposed a rate increase for the Anchorage People Mover and Anchor Rides. If the proposal is approved, the fares will be increased from 50 cents for seniors to $1, and regular rate fares would increase from $1.75 to $2. Monthly bus passes would increase from $19.95 to $30 for seniors, from $25 to $30 for youth and from $55-$60 for adults. Day passes, however would decrease from $5 to $2.50.

Anchorage high school students win college sweepstakes Three Anchorage high school students, Tyler Anderson, Kyle Cooper and Marley Luke, were awarded $1,000 checks after winning a sweepstakes contest through the Wells Fargo CollegeSTEPS sweepstakes contest. CollegeSTEPS is a free college planning and money management program offered by Wells Fargo bank, which is the nation’s largest private student lender.

Large meteorite pulled from Russian Lake A meteorite fragment weighing in at 1,257 pounds has been pulled from a Russian lake in the Chelyabinsk region. The fragment measures about five feet in diameter and was brought to shore by Russian divers. Scientists will study the rock in order to confirm its extraterrestrial nature.

Briefs compiled by Suhaila Brunelle

November 4-15

Pay off up to 1 current citation and up to 1 late citation with a donation of peanut butter or jelly!

Join Parking Services and the Human Services Club and bring in your donations.

All donations will be redistributed throughout Alaskan communities.

$35 citation (current citation): Any 3 jar combo of PB&J* $60 citation (late citation): Any 5 jar combo of PB&J* *See website for PB&J restrictions.

(907) 786-1119 Lower Level of the Bookstore www.uaa.alaska.edu/parking

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

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Scary for some, beautiful for others Spirits come alive through various cultures in meaningful ways

By Nita Mauigoa

features@thenorthernlight.org Spirits lingering, dead bodies in the backyard, witch hunts — think “Paranormal Activity,” “Psycho” and “Season of the Witch.” Every year, millions of Americans flock to movie theaters in search of the best horror flick that amps up their “screamometers.” Now eliminate all the special effects, bogus storylines, cheesy acting and predictable plots. You’ll find people in real life who value supernatural elements as integral parts of their lives.

When I was sent to the tiny island of Tonga for my senior year of high school, I thought I knew my culture well. On my first night there, the rain beat down hard from the black skies. I ran around with my little cousins in my grandma’s backyard while the farm animals paced the thick green grass. Large brown bats circled the trees, ravaging the wild fruits.

When I ran underneath the mango tree, I gashed my foot on a large cement block. As I cleared the grass off, I saw my great-grandmother’s name engraved.

I asked my grandma if it was a memory plaque, and she said it was a tombstone.

Her mother was buried in her backyard.

As an American obsessed with film, the first thought I had was the movie, “Psycho.” She explained that in our culture, people keep deceased family near to watch over us and guide us throughout our lives.

“I still talk to her,” she said.

For some people, supernatural practices are what make life meaningful.

Yvonne Conway cringed when her cousin, who is a student at UAA, called and asked her to cast a spell on an enemy.

Conway is an ordained elder high priestess of the Wicca religion. She is a witch who practices white magic.

She made an appearance on the WE TV series “Secret Lives of Women” to educate people like her cousin and encourage other witches to “come out of the broom closet.”

“There’s been a misconception of witches for centuries that still exists today. We still get death threats. Some witches got their children taken away. We get refusal of service in public establishments,” Conway said.

Wicca is a religion recognized by the United States government with members who are men, women and children. They

are witches in touch with the forces of nature and earth. They celebrate life and fertility and practice polytheism. They practice good magic and witchcraft. They harm no humans or animals.

When referring to their religion, some Wiccans use words like “pagan” and “Celtic.”

Conway speaks at universities around the nation to educate the public about the misconceptions of witchcraft that is portrayed in our societies.

While Conway is celebrating life, others are welcoming spirits of the dead.

Rosa Choi, a marketing student from Korea, said she has a great respect for the spirits of her ancestors. She said although she is a Catholic now living in Alaska, she feels it is still important to stay true to her cultural beliefs.

“We honor our passed on ancestors in rituals by leaving food and drinks out for them during Korean holidays such as Thanksgiving and New Year,” Choi said.

“We leave our doors open to invite the spirits into our homes.”

Choi said in Korea she was taught that ancestors visit in forms of dreams to forewarn of good and bad things to come.

She also said Koreans who convert to

are not necessarily the best for one’s grade point average. Donovan says sleep deprivation makes it harder to acquire, retain, and recall new information.

UAA student Valerie Hudson says academic responsibilities and personal health responsibilities compound and disrupt her ability to sleep.

“It (compounded responsibility) makes it hard to calm my mind to sleep — that’s if there is even time,” Hudson says. “The way I correct this is by making a schedule that includes time for sleep and natural remedies for sleep, like tea.”

“In order to do well on tests and homework assignments, students need deep and restorative sleep,” says Donovan.

There are many causes for sleep deprivation. Some students may have chronic disorders such as diabetes or depression that cause sleep disorders. Other Students may also be taking medications that affect the quality of their sleep.

Christina Keenan has ADD, ADHD and dyslexia and has a hard time calming

her mind in order to fall asleep at night.

Keenan recommends sleeping next to a fan or sleep machine. These devices help her as fall asleep and stay asleep. If neither of the se things are available, Keenan also suggests turning the dishwasher on.

Alcohol and caffeine, common substances among college students, can negatively affect sleep. Alcohol disrupts deep sleep. It inhibits the part of the brain that affects restorative sleep. Studies also show varying degrees of sleep disruption cause by caffeine, depending on the subject’s sleeping schedule and use of the chemical.

There are steps that can be taken to get a better night sleep. The first step is to identify the problem. After identifying the problem, make strides to improve.

Setting a good sleep routine is one of the most basic things someone can do to help with sleep disorders or sleep deprivation.

“Going to bed and waking up at the same time is imperative,” Donovan says.

PHOTO COURTESY OF YVONNE CONWAY

Yvonne Conway is a ordained elder high priestess of the Wicca religion.

Christianity typically do not practice this ancient belief but that it is still strongly held even by young Koreans today.

“Their spirits are our protectors,” Choi said.

Sound sleep important for body and mind

By Suhaila Brunelle

news@thenorthernlight.org Every Monday at 9:45 a.m., the Student Health and Counseling Center offers a free workshop and group session about healthy sleeping habits and how to address sleep disorders. These workshops are in cooperation with the university’s Multicultural Center and are funded by a grant. Students can attend these workshops at no cost, and no registration is required.

“Most people need 7-9 hours of good quality sleep per night,” says licensed professional counselor Lizzy Donovan at the Student Health and Counseling Center, “but because of what we learn culturally or from our families, we don’t always take good care of ourselves.”

Students are at risk for being sleep deprived because they will often stay up all night doing homework and studying for tests, but those all-night study groups

Donovan also suggests avoiding overstimulation at night, such as exercise and stressful conversations before bed.

“Watching TV or reading on a screen, such as a Nook or a Kindle, is not the best thing for students to do right before bed because the light of the screen acts as a stimulant to the brain,” Donovan says.

“It’s better for students to read a book or the newspaper before bed instead of watching a movie or the evening news.”

For more information about sleep, contact the Student Health and Counseling Center at 907-786-4040.

GRAPHIC BY ROZ KIRKELIE

04 FEATURES A word on nostalgia

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

It just isn’t over soon enough

By Evan Dodd Contributor

By Klax Zlubzecon

Translated by George Hyde George recently put his Permanent Fund Dividend into building himself a new PC to ring in the next generation of gaming. He’s confident it’s a fair bit more powerful than the new consoles coming out about a month from now. He’s prepared for the future. But if his recent gaming habits have anything to say, he’s still pretty stuck in the past.

He’s playing through two games at the moment: “Pokemon X” for this issue’s review (flip to page 9 for that), and “Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon” on his own time, which is a PC game he’s always wanted to try but hasn’t had good enough hardware to run until now.

Both of these games tap into things George apparently loved as a kid. “Pokemon” was a show he watched religiously, and though he stopped watching the show at around fifth grade, he still remains a fan of the games even today. He insists that they’re simple and easy to understand, yet hard to master, giving them a flair that not a lot of other RPGs these days have.

When I look at modern RPGs, though, I still see the things George touts as key features of “Pokemon.” In particular, I observed George as he played “Persona 4,” which is a recent RPG that tells an intense, mature and thought-provoking narrative featuring many of the mechanics of “Pokemon.” For me, it’s hard to tell what’s so special about “X,” especially since he enjoyed “Persona” almost as much as he did “X,” if not more so.

“Blood Dragon,” meanwhile, taps into other shows and movies George was introduced to as a teen by his father, like “Predator,” “Robocop” and “The Terminator.” He finds the many references and jokes hilarious. I kinda don’t get them, though.

Both of these games tap into things George loved when he was younger, and that’s what makes them great for him. For me, on the other hand, it’s hard to understand what he finds appealing there.

I didn’t grow up with “Pokemon” or “Predator.” I grew up with propaganda and other alien ideas. Therefore, the many references and ideas the games present are foreign to me. I don’t get it.

To me, “Pokemon” is just a scheme to keep players playing as long as possible, which is a death knell for someone like George who reviews a new game every week. Yes, the whole idea of having a group of pets you grow attached to over the course of an adventure is appealing, but as I’ve said, it’s been done, and I personally think it’s been done better. Also, jokes in games like “Blood Dragon” fly over my head completely, and the whole point of the experience is lost, it seems.

Nostalgia is powerful, but it’s also very dangerous. When George sees an “Aliens” reference in “Blood Dragon,” he laughs and enjoys it. But I don’t. The developer is appealing to a certain demographic, but they’re completely alienating another, probably larger demographic.

When people look at “Pokemon X” or “Pokemon Y” on a shelf, the only consumers that it’ll appeal to are people who enjoyed the franchise as kids or people who are kids themselves. Go to an average high school cafeteria and ask the students if they like “Pokemon.” Nine times out of 10, they’ll tell you to get a life and stop doing little kid stuff.

This is a problem people think they need to solve, but in reality, it’s a problem they need to accept. People need to stop raging that kids these days are listening to bad music, because it’s not all bad.

If ‘90s era kids are going to trumpet the idea that they’re superior to everyone else just because they were around back in the heyday of “Space Jam,” then the only ones who are going to remember that era fondly are the ‘90s kids.

I’m not saying we should forget the past, because it’s a valuable asset for design. But we shouldn’t make products that appeal to a single, nostalgic audience. We should make products that’ll appeal and resonate with anyone, or at least a larger demographic than people from back in the day. Journey’s “Separate Ways” and Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” are both great songs because they appeal to wider audiences, and neither of them are going to get any better than the other simply because of age.

Because, hey, appealing to wider audiences is what the slug regime does, and it gets them pretty dang far.

Here’s that reminder, by the way: RESISTENCE IS FUTILE. EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.

Much like a pumpkin that has been left out on a porch to freeze, Halloween refuses to be ignored.

Let me clear up any confusion you might have.

This is not a holiday I’m thrilled about experiencing.

The fact that you’re reading a Halloween column a good week and a half before the candy corn apocalypse hits is just further proof I want to hurry up and get it over with. If only October was as efficient as February and ended three days earlier, so I could just skip the entire debacle.

At least Thanksgiving has delicious food and families that pretend to get along for a meal.

Christmas follows a similar formula, only with more gifts and a fat home invader who demands baked goods in return for trespassing. Even St. Patrick’s Day, the only other holiday that demands specific attire, compensates participants by providing green beer and fake gold.

Halloween, however, represents everything wrong with holidays in my book. Instead of gathering family, friends and familiar faces around a table, Halloween takes all the people you like most and renders them completely unrecognizable. As someone who struggles remembering names to begin with — I call all of my instructors “Professor,” less out of respect and more out of a lack of name recognition — having to guess which of my friends decided to cut two holes in a bed sheet is nothing short of a chore.

Maybe I’m the crazy one here, but of the three major holidays in the month of October — Columbus Day, Halloween and the underappreciated International Sloth Day — I just don’t happen to be partial to the one that involves hours of doorbell ringing.

On that note, if I were to roam from door-todoor demanding high fructose corn syrup in costume on any other day of the year I would be arrested and forced to undergo psychological evaluation. I see no reason an arbitrary calendar date should suddenly reverse all the social norms I’ve been trying to keep track of.

Besides, as much as I enjoy scary movies and a properly haunted attic, setting aside a specific day for fear just eliminates the element of surprise. To be honest, most aspects of Halloween aren’t really that scary anyway.

Vampires are overplayed, haunted houses are generally run by bored teenagers and skulls are only mildly frightening until you remember they basically function as an Otterbox for your brain.

Part of my problem with this holiday is that I’m just not great at participating in it. I’ve “dressed”

Orange rhymes with as a hobo for the last three years — not out of some sick desire to mock the homeless, but because I generally forget to buy a costume in time or shave on a regular basis.

Even on the years I make a genuine effort to prepare for the “Day of Diabetes” I still end up shorthanded. My closet is filled with half-finished costumes I started building before I got sidetracked by Netflix or something equally shiny. In fact, I think the most effort I’ve put into a costume in recent memory was when I slapped the letter “F” on a thrift store sweater and claimed to be Fred Weasley.

Don’t even get me started on pumpkin carving either. Imagine going to a poverty stricken region and dismembering a food source, throwing away all the edible parts and then proudly displaying your scary food carcass for all to see. The entire practice is just completely bizarre when you actually think about it. If I went out and carved a scary face into a rotisserie chicken and left it outside to rot, I’d be considered weird and possibly insane — but the second I use a giant orange vegetable it suddenly becomes acceptable.

So enjoy tromping from door to door, begging for fun-size Snickers while looking like all your fashion advice comes from Macklemore. Enjoy creating an expensive costume you’ll only use once, only to find six others just like it at any given party.

I, however, will be disconnecting my doorbell, placing a bowl of tiny Tootsie Rolls on my porch to ward off the trick-or-treaters, and kicking off a pumpkin pie-fueled “Parks and Recreation” marathon. Maybe if things get really wild, I’ll make spooky ghost noises to scare the people upstairs.

Because no Halloween is complete without a bored college student haunting the vents of the apartment building.

UAA Learning Resources Center

Tutoring & Resources for Students Math Lab • • •

Free walk-­‐in tutoring Focused on classes up to and including MATH 105 Occasionally staffed with tutors who can assist with higher levels of math

Reading and Writing Center • •

• •

Free walk-­‐in tutoring Assistance with any reading or writing assignment in any class Help at all stages of the writing process Tutors also assist ESL students

LRC Library and Information Desk • • •

Many required textbooks for a wide range of classes Wide variety of materials available for check out with your WolfCard Have a question? Ask one of our information clerks

Excellent place to study • • •

Quiet study room Open study area for individuals and groups Private study dens can be reserved for groups up to 6 people

Computer Labs

PHOTO BY GEORGE HYDE

George’s childhood summed up: Game Boy Advance and Pokemon games.

•

PCs, Macs, printing, scanning, and a variety of software

• •

Walk-­‐in tutoring for all languages taught at UAA Each language has its own schedule

Center for Language Learning

The LRC is located in the Sally Monserud Hall (SMH) Current hours of operation can be found on the website or by phone:

www.uaa.alaska.edu/lrc (907) 786-­‐6828 UAA is an EEO/AA employer and educational institution

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

DRINK REVIEW

Pumpkin spice delight

By Kelly Ireland

arts@thenorthernlight.org

PHOTO BY KELLY IRELAND

There’s nothing quite like the flavors of fall: cinnamon, squash and all.

And when it comes to squash, Starbucks hits the spot with its pumpkin spice latte. The drink is a blend of coffee, pumpkin flavor, steamed milk, whipped cream and pumpkin pie spices sprinkled on top — a sure delight for the lovers of autumn.

The aroma that wafts from the cup as the barista hands the drink over is enough to bring back childhood memories of Halloween and Thanksgiving with the family. When the latte hits your mouth all senses will be enticed with the warm fall flavor.

The drink is both smooth and creamy with the perfect, subtle amount of pumpkin. This beverage also doesn’t have an overwhelming dark coffee flavor, in contrast to Starbucks’ normal bitter espresso. Due to the lack of bitterness the pumpkin spice latte is a coffee drink suitable for those who don’t even enjoy coffee. However, it may well be the first step in a path towards coffee drinking.

The pumpkin spice latte is more of a dessert drink than anything else, but that’s exactly why it’s an amazing concoction of the liquid form. One thing is for sure: Everyone needs to try this wonderful little cup of fall before the seasonal drinks have gone much like the leaves from trees.

There’s definitely a reason this latte is one of the most popular autumn drinks. However be warned, if you do take a sip, this beverage may make you want to carve pumpkins, bake and sit by the fire.

Drink: Pumpkin Spice Latte Ingredients: Espresso, pumpkin-flavored syrup, steamed milk Venue: Starbucks

MOVIE REVIEW

Cumberbatch barely saves ‘The Fifth Estate’

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org Julian Assange and his war on journalistic secrecy will always be remembered. His story doesn’t need to be dramatically retold, as it was a recent landmark event in the world of journalism. Director Bill Condon’s take on the story of WikiLeaks, “The Fifth Estate,” isn’t a very graceful interpretation.

WikiLeaks is a website dedicated to leaking government and corporate secrets to the public. The site has helped bring down corrupt organizations and regimes, but it came under fire in 2010 when it leaked diplomatic cables from the U.S. government, possibly putting many lives at risk, depending on who you ask.

There is one silver lining to this film: the performance of Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange, the founder and editor in chief of WikiLeaks. Cumberbatch knows the kind of character needed to set the Internet aflame, and his performance shows the intelligence, brilliance and cunning of Assange, even with a small twinge of madness. You can tell this is a man with massive plans and ideals.

Here, Cumberbatch may well have cemented himself in the race for a Best Actor Oscar.

It’s a shame the rest of the film doesn’t hold up as well as Cumberbatch’s acting. The screenplay, aside from the role of Assange, is rather boringly written. The

film tries to place Assange’s former partner, Daniel DomscheitBerg (Daniel Bruhl, “Inglourious Basterds”), in a similar role to Salieri from “Amadeus,” but Berg is only seen as a tool rebelling at the thought of being used. Audiences never see any of the excitement or fear he should be sharing with Assange as the film’s events unfold.

This wouldn’t be much of a problem if not for the fact that Berg is actually the film’s main protagonist in a lot of ways. The film is not so much a dramatization of the WikiLeaks scandal as it is a portrait of a man who worked closely with Assange. Compared to his partner’s mad genius, Berg seems like an everyman and a normal, bored protagonist in the face of the extraordinary events surrounding him.

It’s a tragic irony. This film will be remembered for Cumberbatch’s brilliant acting, but it constantly tries to distract viewers from that.

It truly feels like a missed opportunity.

However, I do wish Cumberbatch the best of luck when Oscar season rolls around. The film is worth checking out for his performance alone.

Film: “The Fifth Estate” Release Date: Oct. 18, 2013 Director: Bill Condon Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Bruhl

photos from t h e w e e k

Chancellor Tom Case and student body president Drew Lemish test out bicycles purchased with Green Fee funds for the university Bike Share program.

BIKE SHARE PHOTOS BY DAN DUQUE

Bikes were assembled in the Student Union Oct. 13. The Bike Share program, which was proposed by former student government senator Max Bullock, is expected to launch next spring.

BROOMBALL PHOTOS BY JENNA! ROOSDETT

English major Joseph Selmont goes for the ball Oct. 15 at the Broomball game.

David Murdock shoots the ball Oct. 15 at the Broomball game.

Above: Beatboxer Kevin Olusola and vocalist Kirstie Maldonado of Pentatonix.

Below: Vocal bass Avi Kaplan of Pentatonix.

Colony High School Vivace Choir was one of the openers at A Cappella Festivella 20.

Openers UNLV Scattertones placed second at the ICCA Finals in New York this year.

Kirstie Maldonado, Scott Hoying, and Mitch Grassi were best friends before the creation of the a cappella group, Pentatonix .

A CAPPELLA FESTIVELLA 20 PHOTOS BY JENNA! ROOSDETT

PHOTO BY JENNA! ROOSDETT

Team “Dumblewhores”: Jasmine Woodland, Lily Choy, Melinda Williams, Alicia Itta, Vera Simmonds and Dylan Anthony. Team “Rumbleroar’s Fury”: Josh Flores, Kae Hartman, Kaylen Demientieff, Annelise Delos Santos, Jenelle Bennett and Connor Keesecker.

PHOTO BY JENNA! ROOSDETT

PHOTO BY DAN DUQUE

Kaylen Demientieff and Lily Choy play Quidditch in the Cuddy Quad Oct. 15.

Teams compete Oct. 15 at the UAA Homecoming Quidditch game.

Players use a variety of common household brooms and mops. KRUA 88.1 FM sponsored the Homecoming Quidditch game and provided a limited supply of brooms.

PHOTO BY DAN DUQUE

Students Katie Scott, Xenia Joy and Adi Davis gossip about potential killers at TNL’s Murder Mystery Night on Oct. 16.

MURDER MYSTERY PHOTOS BY JENNA! ROOSDETT

Student Jacob Mayforth played Irish mob boss and eventual murderer Zachery O’Connell Oct. 16 during the Northern Light’s Murder Mystery Night.

Ryan and Sarah Massey enjoy each other’s company at TNL’s Murder Mystery Night on Oct. 16.

Onlookers stare at the body of the murdered editor as TNL’s Murder Mystery event kicked into gear the evening of Oct. 16.

09 A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

‘Breast Show Ever’ dresses to impress

GAME REVIEW

‘X’ and ‘Y’ are super effective

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org

Xenia Joy bids on her own bra to boost donations for the American Cancer Society.

By Jacob Holley-Kline arts2@thenorthernlight.org

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths behind lung cancer. To help combat this, Jenna! Roosdett, graphic design and photography senior, and social work senior Kacee Holloway founded the UAA chapter of Colleges Against Cancer last year.

“My mother was actually diagnosed and passed away from lung cancer,” Holloway said. “This club is a way to honor my mom and all those who we’ve lost.”

Working with the American Cancer Society, the UAA CAC chapter put on the “Breast Show Ever” gallery exhibition, which opened Oct. 10.

The gallery is part of both Homecoming Week and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “(It’s) taking bras from what they were used for and making them into art,” said Jessica Hinker,

PHOTO BY JENNA! ROOSDETT

American Cancer Society Distinguished Events director.

Artists from around the UAA and Anchorage community donated hand-decorated bra art.

“This art show has been done across the nation,” Holloway said. “Our show is a little bit different.”

“Breast Show Ever” is the first exhibition of its kind held on a college campus. These bras will be available for purchase in a silent auction until 7 p.m. Oct. 24. All proceeds are going to benefit the ACS. “This money goes to fund patient programs across the state of Alaska and research,” said Hinker.

“Breast Show Ever” is open now in the Student Union Gallery. The silent auction will be open until 7 p.m. Oct. 24. All funds will benefit the American Cancer Society. For more information visit the “Colleges Against Cancer at UAA” Facebook page or email them at uaacollegesagainstcancer@gmail.com.

ALBUM REVIEW

‘The Speed of Things’ by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

By Oliver Petraitis KRUA Music Manager

What “Rawnald Gregory Erickson The Second” did for STRFKR, “If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On the Dancefloor)” has done for the eclectic indie-pop doppel-doppelganger that is Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. “If You Didn’t See Me” is both something of a love-lawsuit demanding an alibi and a subtle suggestion to the music world to take stock of this group. Maybe it’s just a long-song-name thing that works for breakout tunes.

But there’s good reason to see and to take notice of this band with their new album “The Speed of Things.” One of the album’s many noteworthy singles, “If You Didn’t See Me,” is both dance oriented and richly melodious, all while retaining a sense of weird indie eclecticism (grace a la mixed meters and wiggly chord movements in the verse).

It is that type of song that gets a deserving band recognized for all the varied elements that they can draw into one single four-minute masterpiece.

That ability to draw musical inspiration from widely varied wells of influence is precisely what makes a good band a great band. In the case of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., that ability is one only freshly honed: It can be and should be said of “The Speed of Things” that DEJJ has successfully plucked a proverbial musical marigold from every decade between the present-day and the early ‘60s and assembled a bouquet that smells sweet enough to give as a Valentine’s Day gift.

Aside from “If You Didn’t See Me,” just about every other track on the album is a tasteful — and moreover, fun — melodic melange of all the best elements of all the major musical movements of the last 50 years. “Knock Louder” reminisces of the Beatles in their experimental peacocking prime, full of starry blue notes that speckle a warm red soundscape.

“I Can’t Help It” is a folksy arena-ballad in the style of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

“A Haunting,” one of the last tracks on the record, is a digital, sparkly kaleidoscope of ‘90s electronica blended with broad and gospely ‘70s organs.

“Hiding” bumps a Europop Phoenix feel. “Beautiful Dream” is something of a hybrid of early 2000s piano-pleasure R&B and deep-space synth blips.

The majority of the album carries a consistent ‘80s feel, a function of what sounds to be extensive drum programming. But even for those who are turned off by the faintest whiff of the hairspray that held that decade’s designer rat nests, DEJJ worked that idea into their music so expertly that denial of their success would be difficult.

They’re able to mash and mesh so many ideas together because none takes precedent over the

The “Pokemon” franchise has seemingly been stuck in a state of flux, being unable to move past the many tropes and conventions that made it popular in the first place. While the games themselves have generally been stellar, they’ve hardly made any major improvements over one another, aside from adding a new batch of creatures every installment. With “X” and “Y,” though, the series makes several sweeping changes that make the latest entries great for both newcomers and seasoned trainers alike.

The only letdown is the premise, which remains relatively unchanged when compared to the other massive improvements presented. You are a Pokemon trainer who journeys across the land in search of Pokemon, creatures with special powers that are used for studies, battling, companionship and other things. Your goal is to battle and participate in the Pokemon League and become the best trainer in the land.

It’s practically the same story as previous games in the series, and this comes as a massive letdown. The previous entries, “Pokemon Black” and “White,” deconstructed the many cliches in the series and added more mature and complex themes regarding good, evil, and the inevitable question about the ethics concerning Pokemon battles. “X” and “Y” go back to basics, and the story at times feels childish as a result.

However, the changes to the formula more than make up for the simple story, the first and most noticeable of which is the art style.

The series’ trademark sprites have been all but removed, with all trainer and Pokemon models being in full 3-D, “Pokemon Stadium” style. The game looks absolutely beautiful as a result, and battles and worlds can be breathtaking compared to the simple visuals of older entries.

Other changes affect things like competitive balance. A new Pokemon type has been added to help keep other overpowered Pokemon in check, for example.

In addition, there’s the online community. Players will never be alone as long as there’s a Wi-Fi hotspot nearby, allowing them to access the trademark battle and trade features online and through Nintendo’s Streetpass system, which allows players to communicate with passerby 3DS owners. Combining this with the ability to now customize your in-game avatar makes communicating with other trainers a snap.

It’s a shame the story had to stay so rooted in the cliches of the series, because the rest of the games made great strides to rank them among the most unique games in the series. This feels like the definitive “Pokemon,” and in a sea of angsty, fantasy RPG dramas, wanting to be the very best that no one ever was has a nice appeal to it.

For 3DS owners, this should be a no-brainer.

Games: “Pokemon X” and “Y” Developer: Game Freak Platform: Nintendo 3DS Genre: RPG

others. They all seem to exist in musical equilibrium. And when they let one idea override the others, the track suffers a bit. This is only the case on one track on “The Speed Of Things” — namely the second track called “Run,” wherein the ‘80s hand claps, courtesy of drum pad, get in the way of the rest of the song. But with repeated listens that fault seems to disappear.

While “The Speed Of Things” successfully pieced together a musical mosaic, this has not always been their method of operation. That is to say, they weren’t always successfully doing so.

Their first album, “It’s a Corporate World,” also took the eclectic approach, but with the result of feeling scattered and without a real focus. But this testifies to DEJJs growth as a band. What they could not do before, they now can. So the future of their music is hopeful and bright. Should they fail in their next attempt at something new, one can expect that they’ll get it right with a subsequent attempt.

This daring to dream is commendable and deserves recognition for a band willing to go out on a limb, fall and climb right back up.

Oftentimes, when bands attempt to concoct a record with a little bit of everything, the result feels foreign and estranged, because it doesn’t really fit anywhere. However, DEJJ has held that foreign feeling at bay, instead managing to make a conversely very familiar feeling album. There’s something about the record that fits everywhere at once, even if saying exactly what that is grasps at some straws. But it’s there, and it’s good. This is the album that will hopefully propel Jr. Jr. into a long a prosperous career, ultimately becoming Dale Earnhardt Sr. Sr. Album: “The Speed of Things” Artist: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Release Date: Oct. 8, 2013 Genre: Indie Pop

SPORTS SPORTS BRIEFS Kwas named WCHA Player of the Week

MADISON, Wis. — The Western Collegiate Hockey Association named senior forward Jordan Kwas the Offensive Player of the Week, following his performance at the 23rd annual Kendall Hockey Classic.

Kwas, from Cochrane, Alberta, collected his first career WCHA weekly honor after spearheading UAA to its third straight Classic title, while being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

Kwas came up with the first fourpoint game of his collegiate career to lead the Seawolves to a come-frombehind 4-2 victory over Air Force on Oct. 12. His four points included his first hat trick—the first for a UAA player since 2011.

Women picked 6th in GNAC preseason poll PORTLAND, Ore. — The Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball team has been picked to finish sixth in the 2013-14 Great Northwest Athletic Conference title chase, according to the league’s 13th annual coaches’ poll.

The Seawolves—coming off a 1710 season and a third-place GNAC finish at 11-7—earned 58 points in voting by the league’s 10 head coaches. Montana State Billings, with six first-place votes, was picked to win its first GNAC title, while Seattle Pacific (80 points) and defending champion Western Washington (78) placed second and third, respectively.

The Seawolves return three starters from 2012-13—senior forward Kylie Burns, and sophomore guards Jessica Madison and Jenna Buchanan—who combined to average nearly 28 points, 15 rebounds and five assists per game, along with junior guard Alli Madison.

Burns, the team’s only 4th-year player, averaged 10.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a junior, while Jessica Madison put up 9.6 points per game to capture GNAC Freshman of the Year honors.

Men picked 2nd in GNAC preseason poll PORTLAND, Ore. — The Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball team has been picked to finish second in the 2013-14 Great Northwest Athletic Conference title chase, according to the league’s 13th annual coaches’ poll.

The Seawolves—coming off an 18-9 season and a third-place GNAC finish at 11-7—finished behind Seattle Pacific in voting by the league’s coaches, earning the only first-place vote that did not go to the Falcons.

UAA totaled 86 points in the poll, while two-time defending GNAC and NCAA Div. II champion Western Washington claimed third place with 80 tallies. Central Washington (70) and Alaska Fairbanks (62) rounded out the top five in the 10-team league.

The Seawolves return four starters from 2012-13—senior guards Kyle Fossman and Colton Lauwers, junior wing Teancum Stafford, and sophomore forward Christian Leckband.

Briefs compiled by Thomas McIntyre from GoSeawolves.com and the Associated Press

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

10

Fantasy football stock report

By Thomas McIntyre

sports@thenorthernlight.org Letting go can be the hardest aspect of fantasy football. It’s tough to ship out one of your top draft picks for a guy off the waiver wire. We grow too attached to our Chris Johnsons and Mike Wallaces.

Admitting you were wrong is step one. Step two is removing almost all human elements from your approach to this game.

Evaluating players without any emotional con-

nections or preconceived notions is challenging.

But it’s necessary, especially if your team has been stumbling around and needs a change.

I make just about every decision in my life according to the expected value, which is, in layman’s terms, the long-term average outcome of a scenario. Fantasy sports are no different.

Enough football has been played that we can now project the future using real data, trends, patterns, and results. Forget where they were drafted and how much you like them. These are players whose stock is rising and falling. Therefore, these are players you should trade for and away.

UP DOWN Tony Romo – Romo usually makes for a good punch line — unless the crowd understands football. In which case, they know that Starter Cap is having a career year. And they’re crafting trade offers for him as I type this.

Romo’s fantasy stock is benefitted by perception. No one likes the guy. On top of that, he’s viewed as the hard median of fantasy quarterbacks. In reality, he will be a top five passer going forward. Take advantage of the disdain.

Phillip Rivers – Remember step one? Here’s the blueprint: I said before the season that Rivers was shot. I was ready to bury that wily song of a gun underneath Qualcomm Stadium. Turns out, I was wrong.

There it is. Rivers has crawled out of the abyss. He’s in Romo’s area of being a top tier thrower who remains undervalued. Let the Rivers owner think he’s selling high.

Running backs with two healthy legs that can gain yards – The difference between the number one back (Jamaal Charles) and the number 12 back (Gio Bernard) is 53 points. Charles is six points away from lapping Bernard.

Finding someone with a shred of reliability to fill your RB spot is damn-near statistically impossible. Two backs (Charles and Matt Forte) have been good for double-digit numbers all year. Two. Outside of the top seven runners, it’s a free for all.

Eddie Lacy – Option #1 for those who need a ball carrier — so, like, everyone. Lacy is talented, in a good position, and can be had for a reasonable price.

Zac Stacy – Option #2. St. Louis ran well on the Texans, neutralizing J.J. Watt in the process. Stacy has solid pad level control and is built like a small tank. Expected value is lowered due to the risk, but it’s worth it considering the running back climate.

Justin Blackmon – Blackmon is a young Anquan Boldin. He has strong hands and bullies cornerbacks with ferocious slant routes.

He’s made the Jaguars sort of frisky as well. That’s a legendary accomplishment.

Blackmon’s 19-326-1 line since coming off suspension is real. Go invest.

SNOW SCREEN A Northern Film Festival 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 Anchorage Museum Free

NORTHERN LIFE. EXPOSED. Innovative filmmakers from Alaska and Canada capture skiers, vampires, ice divers, goat-hair weavers and more.

This event is part of the Anchorage Museum’s

Colin Kaepernick – Kaepernick could gain steam down the stretch, but we’re playing the odds, and the odds aren’t in his favor.

With teams scheming for the read-option, he’s had to stay in the pocket and play a more traditional style. The lack of pass catchers and experience has made for a rocky ride.

Tom Brady – Tom Brady has 1,480 yards, eight touchdowns, four interceptions and 79 fantasy points. Player A has 1,552 yards, eight touchdowns, six interceptions and 81 fantasy points. Who is Player A? It’s Andy-freaking-Dalton. This isn’t really an indication of Dalton’s success. Rather, it’s a loud warning shot signaling Brady’s bleak fantasy status.

Use that pretty face as trade bait to score Rivers or Romo.

Patriots’ receivers – In theory, (insert Patriots receiver here) should be aided by the return of Gronkowski. He probably will be — for a random two or three weeks. The success of wideouts in Foxboro is too unpredictable. Move on.

C.J. Spiller – Had you asked me to map out the worst possible 2013 for Spiller before the season started, here’s how it would’ve looked: E.J. Manuel gets hurt, Spiller suffers his own injury, and Fred Jackson regains touches after playing well as a fill-in. Maybe sprinkle in some suspect offensive line play, too.

Oh, hey, every one of those things has happened. Spiller for Lacy doesn’t sound crazy in late October.

Martellus Bennett – Bennett’s fantasy impact is too predicated on targets in the red zone. He delivers pedestrian numbers if there’s no touchdown attached to his line.

With that said, he is an ideal example of a very good real football player who will get slighted for his fake football production. Fantasy has skewed too many opinions of players in unfair directions. So it goes.

If I could get 11 other people to play in a league that rewards inline blocking, I would. Then I’d take Bennett early.

Eli Manning – Absolutely remarkable.

COMICS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013

12

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 4,500. 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.

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THE NORTHERN LIGHT CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 Phone: 907-786-1513 Fax: 907-786-1331 info@thenorthernlight.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR 786-1434 news2@thenorthernlight.org editor@thenorthernlight.org Vacant Ashley Snyder MANAGING EDITOR content@thenorthernlight.org Vacant COPY EDITOR copy1@thenorthernlight.org Kierra Hammons NEWS EDITOR 786-1576 news@thenorthernlight.org Suhaila Brunelle FEATURES EDITOR 786-1576 features@thenorthernlight.org Nita Mauigoa A&E EDITOR 786-1512 arts@thenorthernlight.org Kelly Ireland

ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR features2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR arts2@thenorthernlight.org Jacob Holley-Kline ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR sports2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics@thenorthernlight.org Roz Kirkelie ADVERTISING MANAGER 786-4690 ads@thenorthernlight.org Chelsea Dennis MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE Chris Pitka

SPORTS EDITOR 786-1512 sports@thenorthernlight.org Thomas McIntyre

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR multimedia@thenorthernlight.org Vacant

PHOTO EDITOR photo@thenorthernlight.org Tim Brown

STAFF REPORTERS gchyde@thenorthernlight.org George Hyde eerickson@thenorthernlight.org Evan Erickson

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER photo2@thenorthernlight.org Kayla McGraw Corey Hester WEB EDITOR web@thenorthernlight.org Jenna! Roosdett LAYOUT EDITOR layout@thenorthernlight.org Vacant

CONTRIBUTORS Evan Dodd Oliver Petraitis Misty Vanlue Dan Duque MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Annie Route