October 14, 2014

OCTOBER 14, 2014

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

SPORTS

PAGE 13

In memory of Marvell Johnson

PAGE 11

24th annual Kendall Hockey Classic

SHOPPING CART PARADE

PHOTO BY JAMES R. EVANS

SEE PARADE

Shopping carts halt traffic while crossing Seawolf Drive during UAA’s fourth annual Homecoming Shopping Cart Parade on Oct. 9.

PAGE 5

Student gov. discusses smoke-free initiative policy

By Stephen Cress

news@thenorthernlight.org

UAA’s controversial campus-wide smoking ban may soon be overturned in favor of a more inclusive policy that would allow for designated smoking areas. During the Oct. 10 USUAA general assembly meeting, student government discussed the recently passed “smoke-free initiative,” introducing legislation titled Resolution 15-06 that would create a framework for how UAA enacts a new smoking policy.

According to Resolution 15-06, written by Senator Matthieu Ostrander and Representative Johnathon Taylor, “In spring 2014, a representative sample of students was surveyed regarding their attitudes and opinions towards restrictions on smoking at UAA. Over 62 percent of students support designated smoking zones on campus; and, in the Spring 2014 USUAA General Elections, voter turnout was nearly triple that of previous elections.”

Senator Ostrander urged the importance of passing Resolution 15-06 at the meeting, stating that if USUAA cannot come to an agreement about the policy

surrounding the initiative, the Board of Regents will implement a smoke-free policy that has little to no input from students.

Senator Sophie Leshan also urged the importance of passing Resolution 15-06.

“Since we haven’t come up with an official plan of implementation yet, if we don’t act soon, the Board of Regents could take control and implement something that could affect students in a negative way,” Leshan said. “We would like to encourage students to drop by the student government office and talk to the senators about what kind of plan they would like to see about this issue.”

Senator Stephen Warta said more of UAA’s student body should be surveyed for their areas of concern regarding a smoke-free policy and that the discussion should be tabled until next meeting.

Warta also said the smoking ban was discriminatory toward smokers and was not specific enough to inform students as to what rules for a smoking ban would include.

USUAA voted to table Resolution 15-06 discussion until the next general assembly meeting on Oct 17.

PHOTO BY JAMES R. EVANS

USUAA senator Matthieu Ostrander raises his placard at the USUAA meeting Oct. 10.

SEE MORE

Senior libero Quinn Barker dives for the ball Oct. 11 against the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the Alaska Airlines Center.

PAGE 10

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FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

02

The midterm expedition: Part 2

By Evan Dodd Contributor

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVAN DODD

If you recall, last week I asked you all to hope for clear skies. Now either you all opted to immediately ignore that directive, or I’m writing in a vacuum here — though, quite frankly, each seems equally likely.

My class hiking trip through Devil’s Pass started smoothly, and we hit the trail bright and early without incident on the first day. Trekking through long sloping valleys, crossing minor waterfalls and even spotting a grizzly from a great distance, we had earned our money’s worth in less than three hours of hiking. We made camp for the night beside an impossibly clear mountain lake and built a roaring fire to beat the cold.

Day two was rough. Though we had made about eight miles at a leisurely pace the first day, our best efforts barely mustered three and a half miles on the second. Due to rough conditions and group speed, we opted to run up a nameless valley in order to cross a saddle between two peaks at the top, hoping to shave a bit of mileage off the final day. And so the day began, as we slowly ascended through bushes, brambles and the muttered cursing of whoever was unlucky enough to break the trail. As if we weren’t having enough fun avoiding the alders, a cloudbank quickly descended upon the pass, shrouding us in snow and dropping visibility to about a 30-foot radius.

We had almost cleared the thick brambles when we hit a major setback in the form of a rolled ankle.

On campus, an ankle injury earns you a quick ride to Providence, some aspirin and a get out of class free card; but in the backcountry it quickly becomes a team effort to divvy up the injured hiker’s gear, and a grueling hike for the owner of the ankle.

So we muscled onward without a single complaint, save for the frequently mumbled expletive that had long since become an involuntary reflex. I can’t begin to express the utmost respect I have for every member of that team that fought up that slope. From those who had suffered slight injuries, to those carrying extra weight, and even those who just hadn’t planned on trekking uphill in the snow, everyone performed as admirably and professionally as one would expect from a program of this magnitude.

We had a brief opening in the snow, giving us both the opportunity to break for lunch and plenty of false

Bill Nye: The man, the myth, the Science Guy

By Klax Zlubzecon

Translated by George Hyde I’ve heard the legends, a man who embodies the world of human science to the point that they call him “The Science Guy.” He helped educate tons of kids in the worlds of biology, geology, physics and astronomy, and he’s helping educate dozens more on the web. He’s an icon both of television and of the Internet.

And soon, he’ll grace Anchorage at a show that sold out within three days. The West Anchorage High School Auditorium will be jam-packed with people hoping to learn more from the man, the myth and the legend: Bill Nye the Science Guy. Well, his hypothesis regarding aliens on Europa isn’t too far off. I’ll give him that.

His eponymous show, renowned for making the world of science interesting for millions of people, started in 1993 and ended in 1998. He was — and still is — a master at making sense of science. It’s still being shown in schools of all levels all around the country, which speaks volumes about his edutainment skills.

Nowadays, he’s still at it. He’s been in world-famous debates and lectures on a variety of different topics, and he’s become something of an Internet vanguard for the vast, complex world of science.

In fact, that’s what he’s doing in Anchorage: a lecture. As for the topic, it could be something specific, or it could be as diverse as the images displayed on his posters shown all around campus, featuring astronauts, atoms, molecules, dinosaurs — I guess the guy’s prepared to talk about it all. Maybe. I don’t know.

But chances are, you already know the Science Guy. You probably watched his material — if not at home on TV, then definitely in school. So the big question is: Since I’m a space alien from an intergalactic empire, how do his theories hold up?

The truth is, I don’t know. I wasn’t very big on science. I was raised up with the belief that I should just go

and conquer, unquestioning and obeying authority. The higher-ups know a lot of pretty cool stuff, and I remember being lectured on some of it, but I guess I was like a lot of you readers: in one ear and out the other. My mind was on other things, like that cool new species that I was betting on for the inter-species gladiatorial games.

It kind of saddens me that my host is a better scholar than I am.

Actually, George isn’t that great at science, either.

In fact, science is one of the core areas he still needs to study in before he graduates, and he’s procrastinated doing so even to this day. He does remember some neat things from his high school astronomy class, but a lot of what he found interesting was theoretical at best.

George is not the smartest scientist. He grew up thinking Pluto was a planet. Even I wasn’t that dumb when I was younger.

And yet, that’s why we need someone like Bill Nye. He makes the complex stuff that much easier to understand. By being down-to-earth in his work, he managed to reach down to an audience that otherwise would have found the material boring.

Through the Internet, we’ve proven that we’re still willing to take his work seriously even today! Look at all he’s done for the scientific community since his show’s heyday.

He’s done loads for renewable energy, he’s served as a professor for numerous classes and he even pitched in to the Mars Rover missions! That’s actually pretty unremarkable by my standards — but hey, for you humans, progress is progress.

Plus, he’s an outstanding man. He examines everything with a critical eye and is willing to admit when he’s wrong. He is a man that supports progress, and if that invalidates his previous theories, then so be it. That is the nature of scientific progress, and he’s willing to accept it like a true gentleman.

He loves to educate, he loves to entertain and he even loves to dance. He’s actually not that great of a dancer, admittedly, but if he enjoys it, who are we to stop it?

hope before we hit the top of the saddle. To say that what we saw next was disheartening would be akin to claiming that parking on campus is a minor inconvenience. While our topographical maps had given the distinct impression that both sides would be gently sloped, what we now faced was a snow-covered rock slide gully down the back side of the saddle.

And here’s where it gets really weird. Much in the way that digging holes is said to build character, I’ve always firmly believed that people bond under adverse conditions in a way that could never be forced any other way. We took nearly two hours to slowly and safely descend into the next valley, with everyone immediately taking up roles without planning or discussion.

Half the team ripped down the slope to start setting up the cook tent and snag campsites, while the other half stayed to help the stragglers and ensure that everyone made it safely.

The mood on the far side of the saddle was exuberant as we all looked back up at what we had accomplished. I’m quite certain I caught almost everyone taking a moment to look up at the gully in incredulously triumphant silence before settling in for the night.

The final day we awoke to around six inches of snow on the tents, which counterintuitively had made them quite cozy during the night. We quickly cooked our last meals, purified some water for the journey home and began our final long march through the snow.

And then, without warning, the trip was over. We arrived back in Anchorage, and everyone parted ways to study until the early hours of the morning. For those majoring in outdoor leadership this was just another class, but for the rest of us it was chance to experience something most people will never have easy access to.

UAA has top-notch gear, experience and leadership — and I’ll be damned if we didn’t put them all to the test this weekend.

And my takeaway from this? I didn’t regret missing midterm cramming one bit, I’m honestly just psyched to vote in the rec program in November so everyone can do what we did, and about five minutes upon arriving home I signed up for a sea kayaking course next weekend. I guess I’m just a slow learner when it comes to academics.

SEAWOLF

SLUG

In the year 2013, an alien brain slug from one of the galaxy’s most feared empires crash-landed on Earth and assumed control of a lowly reporter at this newspaper.

These are his stories.

When we’re talking about someone as great as Bill Nye, that’s a very minor footnote. Nobody’s perfect.

The lecture on the 20th has already sold out, and that should be a testament to how influential this man is. Isn’t that wild?

R ESISTA NCE IS F U T I LE. EM BR ACE T H E SEAWOLF SLUG.

the

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BEAD ARTS GALA 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 18 Noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 19 Be inspired by 50 of the state’s finest bead artists. This year’s event features artist Jo Ellen Vice.

Free general admission

Please note: During free events, fees still apply for premium exhibitions and planetarium shows.

Image: “Spiral ,” Jo Ellen Vice

Museum members enjoy free general admission. Join today!

WHO IN THE WORLD?

PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS

A photo ID event

Learn how to get professional results in your personal photographs

3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 19

Starting Oct. 18 Enroll online

anchoragemuseum.org

HAPPY HOUR Enjoy a delicious appetizer or entrée with a glass of your favorite wine or microbrew in MUSE 4 to 6 p.m.

Tuesday-Sunday

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

PHOTOS BY JAMES R. EVANS

Ted Kincaid and Catalina Myers, from the University Advancement Office, pilot the UAA Superfan cart around Cuddy Quad during UAA’s fourth annual Homecoming Shopping Cart Parade.

Etienne Richard leads the “Ski-Wolves” cart around Cuddy Quad during UAA’s fourth annual Homecoming Shopping Cart Parade.

Shopping Cart Parade Organizers pass the torch

By Mallory Drover

features2@thenorthernlight.org

Kelsey Hernandez brandishes a scimitar as Tri Sigma sisters, Carolyn Layne, middle, and Eileen Moring, left, steer their pirate ship cart around Cuddy Quad.

Catalina Myers, from the University Advancement Office, waves pom-poms from the UAA Superfan cart on Cuddy Quad during UAA’s fourth annual Homecoming Shopping Cart Parade.

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The Spirit Week Shopping Cart Parade has fast become a tradition at UAA. This year’s event took place at 2:15 p.m. Oct. 9 on a parade route that began in the Student Union. The 2014 Shopping Cart Parade marks the fourth successful year for this event.

Michael McCormick, the Assistant Director of Student Activities, first introduced the idea of the parade at UAA. “I attended a conference on campus traditions along with other staff and alumni in San Diego. One of the discussions was how to establish traditions on campuses without football — or traditions where football is not central to campus culture,” McCormick said. “Some speakers talked about a parade with shopping carts at, I think, Portland State.

I thought it would be good to try it here.”

He went on to attribute the success of the event each year to the enthusiasm of participating UAA students, and the strong collaboration between Seawolf Athletics, Clubs and Greek Life, and Student Life and Leadership staff.

Cathy Olson, Student Clubs and Greek Life administrative assistant, attended and helped plan the Shopping Cart Parade for the first time last year. She attributed the parade’s success to the participants’ school spirit.

“They put in a lot of hard work to decorate a shopping cart to promote their organizations, and have a lot of energy and school spirit when they’re parading their carts,” Olson said. “The parade definitely grabs attention from students along the parade route, which is great for organizations and departments who are trying to get the word out about what they offer

UAA students.”

Olson’s favorite carts from last year included Theatre on the Rocks, which involved a giant raft that students “rowed” down the halls; the American Medical Student Association’s cart, which was turned into a hospital bed with a patient; and the cart from the Student Information Office for Enrollment Services, which had a “Duck Dynasty” theme including duck calls and tall grass.

McCormick meanwhile, said that two of the more memorable carts he’s seen over the past few years were done by the ski team and UAA theater.

Cody Buechner, a new student at UAA, began his involvement for the first time this year as the Leadership Coordinator for Student Clubs and Greek Life since moving to Anchorage in July of this year. It was his job to arrange the behindthe-scenes works of the parade, including online registration, recruiting volunteers and judges, arranging cart pick-up and delivery, and working closely with the event sponsors. Sponsors include the UAA Campus Programming Board, UAA Athletics, the Student Union and Carrs-Safeway on Muldoon.

“I am hopeful that this event will continue to grow in popularity and truly become a staple of Homecoming at UAA for the future,” Buechner said.

This tradition seems to have a bright future as a UAA tradition.

“Each person who leads the organization (Student Clubs and Greek Life) puts a different spin on it,” McCormick said. “Cody (Buechner) and the team at Clubs and Greek Life will take the event in directions that I never would think of.”

The top 10 cart teams were invited to showcase their work during the first intermission of the Friday Kendall Hockey Classic game on the ice.

06 FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

UAA works to observe LGBT History Month

By Mallory Drover

features2@thenorthernlight.org

October is LGBT History Month, and this year UAA is working to observe it.

In America, various heritages and cultures are recognized throughout the year, and the LGBT cultural community is no exception.

“I”m excited that we’re actually doing some programming this month,” said Safe Zone trainer Maria Bonifacio. “This year is the first time we’ve actually done programming for October.”

Bonifacio also works as the Associate Director of Residence Life, and is the Main Apartment Complex residence coordinator. To recognize LGBT History Month, she will place a historic LGBT icon on the wall of the UAA Gorsuch Commons as part of Safe Zone sponsored programming. Eventually there will be 31 icons for the 31 days of October on the wall.

Other people are in charge of creating similar displays in the University Center and in the Student Union.

Kerry Davis, a Safe Zone trainer and office manager with the Department of Residence Life, is excited for the recognition of LGBT History Month as well.

She said, “Since its return in November 2010, the UAA SafeZone program has focused on the Annual SafeZone Celebration Week events held each April, as well as coordinating and leading ally trainings and train-the-trainer workshops annually. We’ve offered an ally training each October but haven’t been able to do more. The organization is comprised of students, staff and faculty across campus, and it’s steadily grown each year, so this year seemed like the right time to expand programming efforts. We’re very happy to be able to provide something

more and hope to build on these efforts for LGBT History Month 2015.”

So far, LGBT icons have included contemporary figures, such as Richard Adams, who filed the first U.S. lawsuit seeking federal recognition of same-sex marriage, and Ivy Bottini, a lesbian feminist activist. The wall also includes Faisal Alam, a gay Muslim activist who now works hard to help other LGBT Muslims cope with their identities. Even figures dating back to the 1700s are included, such as Lord Byron, a leading poet of the Romantic period and prominent bisexual figure.

In the spirit of the month, the samesex marriage ban in Alaska was ruled unconstitutional last week.

“With us living in the days where marriage bans are being struck down left and right, I think it is more impor-

tant than ever to remember those individuals throughout LGBT history who made our lives easier,” said Edmar Carrillo, president of The Family, the LGBT club at UAA. “People like Harvey Milk, Mary Daly and Audre Lorde used their courage and tenacity to pave the way for modern activists like Laverne Cox and Lt. Col. Victor J. Fehrenbach to lead the charge.”

Davis added, “LGBT History Month is a time to honor the many individuals who have advocated for equality and human rights on behalf of the LGBT community, and it’s a time to remind us all of the value of these individuals and their contributions. Each act of advocacy, each win — no matter how large or small — has been a stepping stone to the path of equality and should be remembered.”

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

07

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Jalepeno popper with raspberry aioli.

PHOTO BY STEPHEN CRESS

Seawolf burger with side of green salad and homemade dressing.

PHOTO BY STEPHEN CRESS

Varsity Sports Grill is superb in all aspects

By Kelly Ireland

editor@thenorthernlight.org

While the Alaska Airlines Center has been open since September, this week marks the grand opening of its Varsity Sports Grill.

The restaurant looks out above the arena with windows spanning from floor to ceiling, allowing guests to view everything below. The restaurant has a clean, modern look with rockcovered walls, green leather seats, gold colored napkins and a viewable grill where Chef Matt Little Dog cooks his masterpieces.

The four-page menu had just the right amount of dishes with an eclectic selection ranging from Thai basil rice with coconut curry to the Seawolf burger to Parmesan and almond crusted Halibut. The prices of the dishes were reasonably priced and comparable to what the Glacier Brewhouse would have, if not less expensive.

The dishes all had distinct and vibrant flavors that awakened the taste buds.

The service of the restaurant was also fairly excellent. The

customer service manager Debbie Little Dog, wife of Chef Little Dog, introduced herself right away after being seated, making sure that everything was up to our standards. She also walked around to all the other tables, doing the same. The wait staff was always asking guests if they needed anything else and would even check in with tables that weren’t their own to ensure the enjoyment of all guests. Supervisor John Buckendahl Jr. also periodically checked in with customers. The employees of the Varsity Sports Grill were very attentive. The amount of attention from the employees at times was a little overwhelming, but the service was great overall.

The Varsity Sports Grill gave guests the feeling of being important with the sweeping outlook of the entire arena, the gourmet food and the attentive staff. The restaurant might be a little outside the starving college student’s budget, but is well worth the price when looking for a treat.

Thai basil rice with coconut curry. It can be served as a vegetarian dish or with chicken or shrimp.

PHOTO BY KELLY IRELAND

Parmesan and almond enrusted halibut, served with green salad and smoked tomato vinaigrette.

PHOTO BY TULSI PATIL

PHOTO BY KELLY IRELAND

Side of freshly made fries with just the right amount of salt.

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

08

Photographer Paul Nicklen starts Anchorage Nat Geo speaker series

By Diego Barros-Barnes arts@thenorthernlight.org

National Geographic has just debuted its “Live!” speaker series in Anchorage. From daring tales of dealing with 8,000-pound elephant seals to how the solar arrays on the Mars rovers were designed.

Paul Nicklen is a biologist and a contributing photographer for National Geographic. He has traveled from all over the world producing stories for National Geographic and has two published books.

Nicklen grew up in an Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic, where he spent most of his time outdoors. He said this gave him the survival skills he needed to take some of these iconic pictures.

He went on to graduate from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, with a Bachelors of Science in marine biology.

He got a job traveling all over the arctic, sometimes 2,000 miles in a month, tagging polar bears for the government. He got frustrated though as the government was not sharing their data.

Nicklen wanted to share the stories of these ecosystems, so he became a photojournalist for National Geographic. The first few articles that he made were dry and full of data. The readers didn’t really understand what the data meant and didn’t care according to Nicklen.

His first big break was a plea to the read-

ers that if the earth continues to lose sea ice whole ecosystems will become extinct.

Nicklen says was an emotional story that connected the readers and the data through good storytelling. It got, according to Nicklen, the highest readership score of any article in the magazine in the previous 14 years.

“Through his work at national geographic, Paul (Nicklen) has brought attention to the many challenges that face the species residing in some of the world’s most isolated regions,” said Fred Rainey, associate dean and director of the Department of Biological Sciences, as he introduced the famed photographer Oct. 7.

Nicklen went on to tell the stories of how a leopard seal fell in love with him and how a four-ton elephant seal almost crushed him.

When someone asked him how one could get his job, he said, “Set your goals.

It’s a journey. Figure out who you want to work with, what do you want to achieve, where do you want to end up. But no matter what you do in life, enjoy your journey along the way.”

For more of Nicklen’s stories and pictures, find his work online at http://paulnicklen.com and http://nationalgeographic. com.

BACKGROUND PHOTO BY GÖRAN EHLMÉ

For more of Nicklen’s stories and pictures, find his work online at http://paulnicklen.com and http://nationalgeographic.com.

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

09

FOREIGN FILM FANATIC

‘Viva Riva!’ falls flat despite itself

By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor

Title: “Viva Riva!”

Director: Djo Munga Release date: Sept. 7, 2011 Genre: Crime thriller Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo

It’s not for a lack of trying that the Congolese crime thriller “Viva Riva!” ultimately falls flat. Director Djo Munga has an obvious reverence for the gangster flicks of yesteryear. The world of “Riva” is fraught with sleek criminals, unrepentant hedonists, death, destruction and a political through line.

After doing business in rural villages, petrol peddler Riva (Patsha Bay) returns home to Kinshasa, Republic of Congo, looking to strike it rich in the midst of a fuel crisis. Though his friend, J.M. (Alex Herabo, “War Witch”), welcomes him, not everyone is happy he’s back.

The vicious crime boss Cesar (Hoji Fortuna, “Festival of Lights”) wants his head and his gas.

Complicating things further, Riva falls in love with the gangster Azor’s (Diplome Amekindra, “War Witch”) girlfriend, Nora (Manie Malone, “Ink”).

There’s a lot of story to tell here, and the movie sometimes loses focus. Opting for seemingly unimportant details, “Riva!” has a political and a character-focused narrative, but it can’t seem to figure out which is more important. With the excess trimmed, the movie works as a tight thriller that’s fun to watch without being memorable.

This is a male-centric story through and through. Riva is relentlessly selfish, dragging J.M. through the mud at every turn, seemingly unaware of the damage his old boss Cesar can

really do. But the best performances belong to the women, Manie Malone and La Commandante (Marlene Longange). Newcomer Patsha Bay just doesn’t carry the movie. He’s uncharismatic and timid in his scenes, but Malone is a spectacle.

She brings depth to the femme fatale archetype and her performance bleeds noir at every turn. Alongside her, Longange plays the part of a disgraced military commander with grace and complexity, skirting the line between hero and villain.

Every good gangster flick needs a compelling antagonist, and Fortuna is up to the task.

Though he’s unambiguously a villain, the sheer strangeness of his acting elevates the character.

Perpetually slumped forward with wide eyes and a ghostly strut, Cesar looks more like Richard III than any Roman ruler.

Despite these strengths, it’s hard to ignore just how shoddy the movie looks sometimes.

The budget is low, but Munga tried to make it a spectacle, opting for a haunting subtlety only in a few scenes. On some level, the story could have had resonance, but the hackneyed computer-generated images take the viewer out of the moment too often for that to happen.

As a sophomore effort from a promising filmmaker, “Viva Riva!” isn’t bad so much as lackluster. It has no real time to find an identity, and the narrative sometimes gets drowned in the glut of subplots and minor characters. With a few more titles under his belt, Munga could reach the heights he’s aiming for.

GAME REVIEW

‘Smash Bros’: Wait for the Wii U version

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org The competitive “Super Smash Bros.” community is an interesting bunch. Since 2001, the second entry in the franchise, “Super Smash Bros. Melee,” has been revered as one of the most technical and deep fighting games around, even though its depth revolved around unintentional bugs and exploits. The third entry, “Brawl,” fixed these bugs and gave the game more of a random, partylike feel, resulting in an experience that felt unnatural to “Smash” enthusiasts.

While “Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 3DS” still doesn’t add the bugs back in, it still feels like Nintendo is taking the competitive scene seriously. While “Smash” purists will always defend “Melee” as the best game in the franchise until the bitter end, the fourth entry released this year feels like a nice gesture that adds a lot of new content and a lot of new depth. However, there’s still a lot of kinks that need to be worked out.

The premise, for the very few not aware, is this: two to four fighters duke it out on a small stage. Instead of health bars, hits increase a percentage meter; the higher a fighter’s percentage meter, the more he or she will be

sent flying off the stage. Depending on the game type, the goal is either to get the most knock-outs in a set time limit, or to be the last fighter standing.

The “Smash Bros.” coin has two very distinct and different sides. There’s the casual side, which features wacky items and random stages. This is great for rowdy parties. However, there’s also the competitive side, which prefers to turn the items and random stages off for mano-a-mano duels on a flat stage.

In the past, “Melee” leaned heavily toward the latter, and “Brawl” leaned heavily toward the former. “3DS,” however, takes a third route and tries to appeal to both, and it succeeds with flying colors. Yes, there are combos and tricks that allow skilled players to strut their stuff, but players who just want to have fun can still turn on whatever items they please and play on the most ridiculous stages, which are even crazier than they’ve ever been in any “Smash Bros.” title.

All of this would be fantastic if the wireless tech were up to speed, but unfortunately, it isn’t. And unless you’re a “Smash” fanatic who has to try all the new characters, this effectively renders the 3DS port pointless.

Laggy online play was a major concern in “Brawl,” and it’s back full-force in “3DS.” In fact, it returns in local multiplayer as well, rendering even local matches

in the same room unplayable. The game freezes at inopportune moments, and when it isn’t freezing, it delays movements. And while “3DS” has a fair bit of singleplayer content, the fact that the multiplayer is broken is a dire shame.

Because of this, it’s hard to recommend “3DS” to anyone. The mechanics are there, the soul is there and the love and appreciation for the community is there, but none of that can help the experience if the multiplayer is unplayable. The Wii U version will be out in about a month, and even if online play is as broken as it is in “3DS,” it’ll still have worthwhile multiplayer at least in a local setting. Unless you want a sneak peek of sorts, it’s best to wait until the Wii U version is out.

Game: “Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS” Developers: Sora Ltd., Namco Bandai Games Platform: 3DS Release Date: Oct. 3, 2014 + New characters are great + Takes the competitive scene seriously - Major technical issues in multiplayer

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

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PHOTO BY ADAM EBERHARDT

Sophomore setter Morgan Hooe dives to save the ball Oct. 11 against the University of Alaska Fairbanks at the Alaska Airlines Center.

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

PHOTOS BY ADAM EBERHARDT

Forward Tad Kozun celebrates scoring against the University of Wisconsin on Oct. 11 during the Kendall Hockey Classic at the Sullivan Arena.

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Wisconsin player Tim Davison is escorted off the ice Oct. 11 after taking a hit to the head during the Kendall Hockey Classic at the Sullivan Arena.

Kendall Hockey Classic

By Kelly Ireland

editor@thenorthernlight.org The 24th annual Kendall Hockey Classic kicked off Oct. 10. The tournament pitted UAA against University of Maine and UAF against University of Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 11. On Sunday, Oct. 12, UAA played Wisconsin and UAF faced off against Maine. UAA beat Maine 3-1 and beat Wisconsin 4-2.

UAF beat Wisconsin 1-0 and Maine 5-2. UAA and UAF both won the same amount of games, but the tie-breaking rules of the tournament determined UAF the winner of the Kendall Hockey Classic, breaking UAA’s threeyear Kendall Hockey Classic winning streak.

During the game against Maine, Scott Allen scored the first goal for UAA, followed

by Austin Azurdia, then Hudson Friesen. Dan Renouf scored Maine’s goal.

Against Wisconsin, Seawolf freshman forward Tad Kozun took the first and second goals, with Hayden Trupp taking the third and then Scott Allen tak-

ing the final goal of the evening.

Matt Ustaski and Tim Davison scored for Wisconsin.

During the game against Wisconsin, Seawolf senior forward Brett Cameron hit Wisconsin player Tim Davison and received a game misconduct and a 2-minute roughing penalty for the hit. The hit left Davison lying on the ice out cold. Andy Johnson, who is a hockey editor for “Bucky’s 5th Quarter,” a sporting publication for the University of Wisconsin, and scout for Waterloo Black Hawks and Coulee Region Chill, tweeted a Vine of the hit saying, “looks like a clean hit to me. Hopefully Timmy Davison is ok (sic).”

During both UAA games, a group of UAA students, most notably Nickathy Weatherman, heckled Maine and Wisconsin players while they served their penalties. From the stands the students banged on the glass of the penalty box and shouted comments at players to throw them off their game.

Freshman goalie Olivier Mantha deflects the puck Oct. 11 during the game against the University of Wisconsin during the Kendall Hockey Classic at the Sullivan Arena.

The UAA Gymnastics team cheers at the Oct. 11 game against the University of Wisconsin during the Kendall Hockey Classic at the Sullivan Arena.

PEOPLE

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

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COMPOSITE PHOTO BY ADAM EBERHARDT

A total lunar eclipse, or blood moon, moves across the sky Oct. 8. The moon takes on its color by crossing the edge of the Earth’s shadow, which shines red from the atmosphere disrupting the light spectrum passing through it. The next blood moon will occur in April 2015.

PHOTO BY HELEN LINDAMOOD

UAA students Carson Nelson and Kelsey Hernandez give their last pirate-esque grin with their winning TriSigma cart from the fourth annual Homecoming Shopping Cart Parade at Friday’s Kendall Hockey Classic game.

PHOTO BY HELEN LINDAMOOD

UAA students Katie Sloan and Bethany Solomon and their winning Alpha Sigma Alpha cart from the fourth annual Homecoming Shopping Cart Parade at the UAA Kendall Hockey Classic game. .

PHOTO BY ADAM EBERHARDT

Seawolf Hall of Fame class of 2014 inductee Peter Bullock speaks at the Seawolf Hall of Fame 14th Annual Induction Ceremony on Oct. 12 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A tribute to local KSKA radio host Marvell Johnson

By Matt “L.J.” Johnson Contributor

I was 16, riding shotgun in my best friend’s car, spinning through the FM stations one summery Saturday night in Anchorage, Alaska. I was looking for something different. Trying to escape the interminable replay of current Top 40s that dominated stations like KFAT, KGOT and KWHL and the white bread DJs that spun them, I came to a stop on 91.1 FM. I heard a bass being spanked like a bad child, I heard vocals soaring with warm energy. My feet started twisting in the floorboards, my fingers tapped out a feverish rhythm on the dash. I had caught the funk.

I turned it up.

“Man, what is this?” I asked the air.

My friend responded, “I don’t know, but it’s jammin’!”

The song was “September” by Earth, Wind, and Fire, a track that made the top party song of the day, 50 Cent’s “In da Club,” feel like a thugged-out Mr. Roger’s sing-along.

A voice like crushed velvet came on.

“Alright, alright, kicking it off with a little funk, Anchorage, this is Marvell Johnson and you’re listening to Soul to Soul.

We’re going to be with you all night” — Marvell Johnson, a fitting name for man who seemed to weave classic and contemporary funk, soul and R&B together like magic.

The music kept flowing, and I kept drinking it in, a teenage white boy in the far north reveling in the sounds of Motown. I got hooked, and started making it a point to tune in Saturday nights.

After a few months of listening I wrote Marvell a letter telling him how much I enjoyed the program and if he would consider sending me a copy of his weekly playlists. A few weeks later I received a fat envelope in the mail that had a response letter thanking me for listening and sheets of handwritten track listings.

Every week after that I would get a similar envelope from the KSKA offices, the correspondence lasted for a few months, but eventually the envelopes stopped coming. That was okay, though, because by then I had amassed an extensive catalog: Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament, the Isley Brothers, Kurtis Blow.

Marvell introduced me to a world of music that has never failed to ignite my smile and put a pendulum in my hips.

I joined the Radio and TV Production program at KCC my senior year of high school, and can remember getting in the

booth for the first time and sliding in a disc with “Funk Vol. 1” scrawled on it in Sharpie, a compilation of tracks pulled from Marvell’s playlists. I continued my amateur radio career in college by hosting a multi-genre show on the university station KRUA. I remember trying to channel Marvell’s style on my funk night, I lowered my tone, I smoothed out my cadence, I tried to put that welcoming timbre in my voice that was innate in his. I wanted everyone, someone, out there to feel the way I did that summery Saturday night in 2003.

Marvell’s spirit has been alongside me every time I’ve been behind a microphone. His ability to capture the emotion of the music he played and project that emotion on to the hearts of his listeners is something I’ve tried to emulate but will never truly recreate.

When I read the story about Marvell’s murder I was transported back to my 16-year-old body. I heard September playing, and then it went silent and all I heard was static.

“Why would somebody do this?” is among the first questions asked when one is presented with the challenge of understanding murder, it rattled like rocks in a can through my head this morning. Why would anyone want to silence a voice as

gracious as his, what could he have done to deserve such an unmusical fate?

Of course, the questions will never have a satisfying answer and no matter the intent, the effect remains the same.

Anchorage and the world will never again hear the silken pulse of Marvell’s words over the airwaves.

I write this tribute to Marvell as his friend. Although we never met face to face, his style and the music he shared with me have shaped who I am, and when I look at my past and personality I can see his fingerprints on them. He was one of my mentors, he was a unique and irreplaceable personality, and he will be missed.

If there is a gatekeeper waiting at the next sphere of existence, I implore them here to bring Marvell to the front of the line and put a celestial mic in his hand, then to step back and watch the desire to dance spread from one soul to the next.

My condolences, for what they’re worth, go out to Marvell’s friends and family.

Donations to the Johnson family can be sent to Credit Union One Account #556611 under “Sherry Johnson Fund in care of Marvell Johnson.”

NOT ALL ONLINE CLASSES ARE CREATED EQUAL! Choose the right online class.

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WWW.KPC.ALASKA.EDU 1 (877) 262-0330 The University of Alaska is an AA/EEO employer and educational institution

14 OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

HOT TOPIC

“What is the No. 1 thing you would do on a date with Bill Nye the Science Guy?”

Tiana Rutherford

Rian Allen

Tim William

English

Civil Engineering

Political Science

“I would debate with him in a rap battle.”

“Make a volcano.”

“Go sailing on the ocean and do some oceanography.”

PHOTOS BY JAMES R. EVANS

HOT TOPIC QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS COMPILED BY DIEGO BARROS-BARNES

COMICS

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THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014

WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 6th Annual

Women in Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair

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 786-1434 editor@thenorthernlight.org Kelly Ireland MANAGING EDITOR 786-1313 content@thenorthernlight.org Tulsi Patil COPY EDITOR copy1@thenorthernlight.org Kierra Hammons NEWS EDITOR news@thenorthernlight.org Stephen Cress ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR news2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant FEATURES EDITOR features@thenorthernlight.org Vacant

ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR features2@thenorthernlight.org Mallory Drover

GRAPHIC DESIGNER graphics@thenorthernlight.org Stefanie Vigoren

A&E EDITOR arts@thenorthernlight.org Diego Barros-Barnes

WEB EDITOR web@thenorthernlight.org Vacant

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MULTIMEDIA EDITOR multimedia@thenorthernlight.org Brett Baker

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STAFF REPORTERS gchyde@thenorthernlight.org George Hyde

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS aeberhardt@thenorthernlight.org Adam Eberhardt hlindamood@thenorthernlight.org Helen Lindamood

CONTRIBUTORS Evan Dodd Jacob Holley-Kline Matt “L.J.” Johnson

LAYOUT EDITOR layout@thenorthernlight.org Vacant

Are you interested in an exciting career in law enforcement, but don’t know who to ask, where to start or what to do?

Come to the Recruitment Fair!

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Where: UAA Student Union Everyone is welcome to attend.

Come by to learn about the tremendous rewards offered by the field, as well as how to get started. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are actively recruiting for female officers and will be present to discuss opportunities with you in a casual setting.

MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE Vacant

PHOTO EDITOR photo@thenorthernlight.org James R. Evans

For more information, contact Danica Bryant

(907) 786-4513 or dmbryant2@uaa.alaska.edu

MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Annie Route

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Sponsored by Women Police of Alaska, with the support of Alaska State Troopers, UAA Justice Center and UAA Career Services Center

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