October 7, 2025

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

OCTOBER 7 - NOVEMBER 4 2025‌

TRUTH AT ALL COSTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG

GRAPHIC BY ANJA BURNETT

thenorthernlight.org

facebook.com/tnlupdates

@tnl_updates

youtube.com/tnlnews

NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2025

02

Palm tree resurrected in Spenard

After years of struggle, the historic palm tree has returned to its home

By Murat Demir

copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The palm tree-shaped sign that once stood on Spenard Road for decades returned to its original location on Oct. 1.‌ Several weeks prior, The Northern Light spoke to the tree’s current owner, Cindy Berger, who spent years advocating to bring it back to the neighborhood.‌ Berger spoke to The Northern Light about the history of the iconic tree, the legal battle to bring it back and its impact on the community.‌ Berger said the palm tree was built and designed by a local family about 40 years ago as part of the Tiki Lounge on Spenard Road — later known as the Paradise Inn.‌ “It was just one of their funny little things — you know, they thought it was hysterical to build this 33-foot metal palm tree and put it in front of the Tiki Lounge,” she said.‌ Berger said the Tiki Lounge was eventually sold by the family to a new owner, but the business declined due to crime and neglect. ‌ As a result, the property was seized by a federal marshal and put up for auction approximately

PHOTO COURTESY OF CINDY BERGER.

Workers transport the Spenard palm tree to Glacier Sign & Lighting Inc. for restoration in May 2021.

a decade ago. Berger said she became interested in purchasing the property and the tree around that time.‌ She said that while federal marshals were seizing the property, they hired a cleaning com-

pany to clean it up. Berger said the company removed the palm tree claiming it was garbage, but actually intended to keep it.‌ “They removed it without the federal agent’s permission,” she said. “They took it out back into

the valley and hid it.”

Berger said she argued with the federal agent that the palm tree had to be returned because it was considered “property that runs with the land,” meaning it is legally a part of the property.

“The federal agents didn’t end up doing the work to get the palm tree back — it actually went to court,” she said.

Berger said a judge decided the palm tree had to be returned to whoever purchased the building. The Spenard Community Council eventually secured possession of the tree, and Berger bought the property.

“Spenard Community Council, which was in stewardship of the palm tree, actually sold me the palm tree for a dollar so that I would repatriate it to the corner,” she said.

In response to a question about the palm tree’s significance, and why she went through such effort for it, Berger said, “I always thought it was hysterical that the palm tree was there. You know, it’s just this nonendemic palm tree, and I just appreciated the kitsch of it.”

“I think, particularly, the Spenard community really just sort of loves the fun grittiness of that kind of stuff,” she said.

“It just felt to me that the palm tree needed to be there, and that it should be there.”

“And so, yeah, I did fight hard to get it back for the corner,” said Berger. “I think it had a story and it deserves to be, you know, resurrected and repatriated.”‌

Supreme Court removes ruling preventing targeted ICE stops

By Kaitlyn Gaub

managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org

On Sept. 8, the Supreme Court stayed an injunction that permitted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, to conduct targeted immigration stops — particularly towards Hispanic and Latino people.‌ The stay, outlined in Noem v.

Vasquez Perdomo, allows ICE officers to stop and detain individuals based on “reasonable suspicion.” Factors that are admissible for ICE stops include locations such as bus stops, agricultural work sites and car washes. Other factors that are

included are apparent race or ethnicity, language or speaking English with an accent.‌ The decision was made with a 6-3 conservative majority vote.‌ The case began in June 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. It was then sent to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and ultimately reached the Supreme Court. The stay is not a final ruling on the policy.‌ If the Supreme Court rules the policy is constitutional, ICE will be permitted to conduct stops and detain people based on presumed immigration status.‌ The elimination of the restraining order has upset many,

including government officials, according to the Associated Press.‌ The Northern Light interviewed legal studies professor Amy Doogan about the case.‌ Doogan spoke on the rulings’ constitutionality, “The constitution is a living document and is always subject to interpretation and reinterpretation … something is or isn’t constitutional based on whether the Supreme Court says it is or isn’t constitutional.”‌ She added, “They are perfectly capable of completely changing precedent. They have done it before, and they will do it again.”‌

COURTESY OF CARLIN STIEHL FOR LOS ANGELES TIMES.

ICE agents in Los Angeles.

Vandalism locks down West Hall

The UAA campus residence hall is closed to visitors after being vandalized

By Kaitlyn Gaub and ‌Murat Demir On Sept. 17 and 20, West Hall, a residence hall at UAA, was vandalized. The suspect is unknown at this time.‌ The vandalism was allegedly political statements written in

PHOTO BY KAITLYN GAUB.

West Hall at UAA.

Sharpie on the West Hall elevator and walls, according to West Hall residents. UPD said the exact wording and method would not be disclosed at this time but confirmed it contained an allegation of a crime.‌ Due to the vandalism, guests — UAA residents and nonresidents — are no longer allowed

in West Hall until the end of the semester. The hall kitchen, elevator and lounges are also closed to residents, according to an email sent by West Hall residence coordinator Franco Nero.‌ The Northern Light interviewed UPD Chief Jeff Earle about the vandalism.‌ Earle confirmed that univer-

sity police received three reports of vandalism at West Hall during the week. ‌ “Someone was vandalizing the stairwell and the elevator,” said Earle.‌ Earle said the vandalism was cleaned up by housing staff after being reported.‌

NEWS

03

Is UAA prepared for an active aggressor?

By Kaitlyn Gaub

managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Planning for emergency situations is important for any organization’s preparedness. In the

IMAGE OF A POLICE VEHICLE WITH SIRENS LIGHTS ON.

Photo courtesy of Ahmet Kurt from Unsplash.

U.S., this means readiness for active aggressor situations — including active shooters. ‌ The Northern Light spoke with UAA’s University Police Department — or UPD — Chief of Police Jeff Earle and UAA Director of Marketing and Communications Katie Bender about the subject.‌ UPD, utilizes “run, hide, fight” as its main protocol for active aggressors. This method recommends evacuating the area if it is safe to do so, hiding or barricading in place or, if the situation arises and escalates, fighting an aggressor.‌ UAA primarily uses this method due to the spread-out nature of the campus, according to Earle.‌ The university plans to notify

students, staff and faculty of any emergency via mass email, text and phone calls from the UAA Incident Management Team or Emergency Operations Center. ‌ The Rave Guardian app is also used to notify the community about emergent situations. ‌ In the case of an active aggressor, UPD and the Anchorage Police Department would work together to control the situation.‌ Earle emphasized student awareness in active aggressor situations. ‌ “Pre-event indicators, we remind people, if something’s concerning, please say something; or if you see something, say something to us, so that we can investigate and provide the support resources to prevent

anything from happening.”‌ Earle also said that if a shooting occurred on or near the UAA campus, it is likely a spillover from the surrounding community. ‌ For instance, the shooting that took place near University Lake last November was partially handled by UPD and followed a similar protocol to an on-campus aggressor. ‌ More information about emergency situations on campus can be found on UAA’s emergency information webpage.

UAA is working on a webpage specifically for information about active aggressor situations, which is expected to be live in the next few weeks.

UAA TPUSA hosts Charlie Kirk memorial

By Murat Demir

copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

UAA’s Turning Point USA chapter held a memorial for con-

servative political commentator Charlie Kirk at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium on Sept. 25.

More than 500 people attended. ‌ Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, was assassinated in

Utah on Sept. 10. The organization aims to promote conservative perspectives on college campuses.‌ The event was scheduled at the Student Union Den but was

relocated to the Wendy Williamson Auditorium due to the larger-than-expected attendance, according to a university police officer at the event. ‌

PHOTO BY MURAT DEMIR.

A sign outside the Student Union announces the Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk memorial event.

STAFF CONTACTS

A S S O C I AT E D CO L L E G I AT E P R ES S

3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508‌

Managing Editor // Advertising and Communications Manager Kaitlyn Gaub

Executive Editor Hannah Dillon (907) 786-1313

managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org admanager@thenorthernlight.org

editor@thenorthernlight.org‌

(907) 786-6195 Copy Editor Murat Demir

copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Columnist Tanner Croft

columnist1@thenorthernlight.org

Layout and Web Editor Anja Burnett

Columnist Nahla White

layout@thenorthernlight.org‌

columnist2@thenorthernlight.org

Columnist Editor Scott Hobbs

columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Cartoonist Alex Luangasa

cartoons@thenorthernlight.org

Multimedia Editor Justin Cox

The Northern Light is a proud member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

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

N OT I C E O F N O N D I S C R I M I N AT I O N The University of Alaska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution. The University of Alaska does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally protected status. The University’s commitment to nondiscrimination, including against sex discrimination, applies to students, employees, and applicants for admission and employment.

Contact information, applicable laws, and complaint procedures are included on UA’s statement of nondiscrimination available at www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination.

L E T T E RS A N D CO R R E C T I O N S P O L I C Y The Northern Light encourages readers to express their views in the newspaper. The Northern Light reserves the right to reject or publish any submission, online or in print.

multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

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

Media Adviser Paola Banchero

Administrative Adviser Cheryl Devenny

Fiscal Technician Micah Perino

Opinion pieces can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length for a contributor’s opinion piece is 500 words. Contributors are restricted to one published opinion piece per month. Opinion pieces written by staff of The Northern Light are limited to 1,000 words.

An opinion piece that is published in The Northern Light should be written by someone who has authoritative knowledge on the subject they are discussing.

Letters and opinion pieces are subject to editing for grammar, accuracy, length and clarity. All letters and opinion pieces must include names, major and/or group affiliation and contact information for verification purposes. The Northern Light will not publish anonymous letters or pseudonyms.

Requests for corrections can be sent to editor@thenorthernlight.org. Print publication is subject to accuracy and available space. All corrections are posted online with the original story at www. thenorthernlight.org. The deadline for submissions is the Friday before publication at noon, no exceptions.

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

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2025

04

Pumpkin Pump brings costumes, climbing and community “The purpose of the Pumpkin Pump is to create an event where our commuStudent contributor nity can come together in a way that we don’t usually get to with folks spread The Alaska Rock Gym will host its throughout the weeks,” Schweers said. ‌ annual Halloween-themed bouldering “Everybody gets to try a whole boulcompetition, the Pumpkin Pump, on Sat- dering area full of brand-new climbs that urday, Oct. 25. The all-day event features are funky and interesting in ways that are climbing, costumes and prizes. less common in a traditional commercial The gym’s operations manager Andi setting,” said Schweers. “It’s a space for Schweers said the event is designed to be people to cheer each other on, swap stratwelcoming and inclusive for all climbers.‌ egies and showcase their creativity.”

The schedule includes a youth compePrizes range from chalk buckets tition in the morning and an adult compe- and local apparel to crash pads and free tition in the afternoon, ending with finals climbing shoes. for top-level youth and adults.‌ Broken Tooth Brewing will provide Schweers said the finals are always a free beverages starting at 5 p.m. Spechighlight, with advanced youth and open tators are encouraged to stop by, even if adult climbers putting on an exciting they’ve never climbed before. show.‌ Students who want to try climbing This year’s competition will also fea- can also take advantage of discounted ture nonbinary and para categories with day passes and memberships at the Alaspodiums for every level from novice to ka Rock Gym.‌ open finalists.

By Andrea Burtzel

PHOTO BY ADRIAN BARNIAK.

Women dance to live DJ at the 2024 Pumpkin Pump.

Small Businesses of Anchorage: North Cup Espresso New features series focused on the successes and challenges of starting and running a small business in Alaska’s largest city

By Scott Hobbs

columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org

In May 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics published a report in its monthly labor review titled “Alaska’s ‘brain drain’: myth or reality?” ‌ The report details trends, that more young people are starting to leave the state and not return. These trends have only increased since the report was published.‌ Despite these trends, Alaska — especially Anchorage — has continued to see numerous small businesses open. One such business is North Cup Espresso. ‌ The Northern Light interviewed North Cup Espresso founder Kelsa Northrup.‌ Working in coffee for over a decade, Northrup was looking to open her own coffee shop. When she visited Alaska, she was immediately struck by the beauty of the state, but was discouraged by the oversaturated coffee shop industry in Anchorage. ‌ After trying drinks from some of those businesses, Northrup said she was unimpressed and felt like she could make a successful coffee shop in town. She said her confidence came from other businesses not caring about what she cares about.‌ “I care about what I put my name behind, and I just love drink making and drink science,” she said.‌ Tantamount to the drink quality for Northrup is customer service. She said that her shops don’t just serve drinks, and that she likes being a friendly face for her customers. ‌ “People don’t just come for a drink.

They come to be heard, seen, loved or appreciated and I genuinely care.” ‌

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSA NORTHRUP.

The main location of North Cup Espresso, located on the corner of Fireweed Lane and Eagle Street.

Northrup said she wasn’t expecting her drinks to blow up in popularity. She said a focus on quality ingredients and natural flavors drew in clientele that she had never really served anywhere she had previously worked. ‌ Northrup said she enjoys the process of making and naming her own drinks for the menu. She sorts drinks and flavors into categories, then focuses on how she can expand on them. ‌ Customers can also be inspirations for menu staples. The Lily Fog is a drink that a customer named Lily ordered. The

beverage has become one of North Cup’s most sold drinks since Northrup put it on the menu.‌ Northrup said she likes the independence that comes with owning her own business. “I feel like I’m actually doing good work, not just waking up and feeling unfulfilled by a ‘normal’ job.”‌ She said starting her own business was a dream of hers, but it has been more work than she initially thought. Owning a business has led to many problems Northrup said she had never thought of.‌ Beyond that aspect, she said that cus-

tomer service, while rewarding, adds more challenges on top of being an owner. ‌ “I try to please everybody, but I have to compartmentalize bad interactions when I can’t, and just move on,” she said.‌ Recently, North Cup Espresso expanded from its one location on the corner of Fireweed Lane and Eagle Street, opening a second location in the Denali Towers North. Only having opened her first location two years ago this October, Northrup was not thinking she would have opened a second location this soon.‌ With the new location having seating, Northrup said her focus when laying out the interior was on making the location feel comfortable. ‌ “If people feel too crowded, or the light hurts, it’s unpleasant and people won’t buy anything or come back in the future,” she said.‌ Many coffee shops have spread themselves out across Anchorage, but Northrup said she would likely stick to just the two locations. She said it’s hard to find more staff that fit the standards she has for the business, both in beverage preparation and customer service. ‌ Northrup said that if she could go back and give herself advice, she would tell herself not to just focus on the end result of owning her own business. “When you’re young and you have the steam, you don’t see all this work, but you gotta dredge through to get to that end picture you saw at the beginning,” she said.‌ The main location off Fireweed is open seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekends. The cafe is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ‌

SPORTS‌ 05 Photos: Seawolves sink Wolves THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2025

By Justin Cox

multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The Seawolves defeated the Western Oregon Wolves, 3-2, on Sept. 25 during their Great Northwest Athletic Conference home opener. This victory leaves the Seawolves 3-0 in the GNAC and 12-1 overall for the season. Tia Allen surpassed 1,000 career kills and had 14 kills for the night, along with 17 digs, earning her seventh double-double of the season.

Allen finished the night with 1,023 digs, 1,008 kills and 94 aces. This leaves Allen poised to become the twelfth GNAC player with a 1000/1000/100 in their career. Lee Ivakina earned her sixth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 14 digs for the night.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

The UAA Seawolves Pep Band plays during a time out.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Madison Galloway dives for the ball and keeps it in play.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Ivakina makes an attack.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Seawolves players celebrate a point on the sidelines.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX. PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Allen prepares to serve the ball. Photo by Justin Cox.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN COX.

Players greet each other before play begins.

Martina Riba makes an attack.

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT.ORG TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2025

06

The Alaska Triangle: One big hoax?

Taking a closer look at Alaska’s geometric anomaly‌

By Scott Hobbs

columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Thinking of the barren, frigid interior of Alaska can send a chill down your spine — not just from the cold temperatures there, but from the tall tales of strange happenings many brush off as good fiction. ‌ If you are one of those individuals — maybe you haven’t been introduced to the mysterious Alaska Triangle.‌ The area lying between the connected points of Utqiagvik, Anchorage and Juneau are often referred to as the borders of the Alaska Triangle. It is estimated that over 20,000 people have gone missing in this area of the state in the last 50 years.‌ This area of Alaska gained its fame in 1972, when a Cessna 310 carrying House Majority Leader Hale Boggs, Representative Nick Begich and two others vanished between Anchorage and Juneau, according to the U.S. House of Representatives.‌ A search was conducted for 39 days before being suspended. No human remains or parts of the plane were ever recovered.‌ This incident is steeped in conspiracy. One theory is that speeches given by Boggs attacking FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover — and the FBI at large — had a role to play in his disappearance according to an article by Bayou Justice. ‌ Another prevailing theory points at Boggs’ presence on the Warren Commission — tasked with investigating the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Initially, Boggs dissented from the single-bullet theory supported by the majority of the committee, according to the published

PHOTO COURTESY OF ECHOES OF ENIGMA.

A YouTube thumbnail of the borders of the Alaska Triangle.

records of the Warren Commission hearings.‌ In both instances, the theories appear disprovable. Hoover died months before Boggs disappeared, making retaliation from him less plausible. Despite initial dissent, Boggs would later defend the majority opinion of the commission in an interview on “Face the Nation” according to an article in the Sarasota Journal. ‌ Due to how mysteriously the plane vanished — as well as nothing being recovered from the search — these theories persist as possible motives that could explain the disappearance.‌ Four years later, Gary Frank Sotherden would vanish, with a search taking place a year later. The mountain guide who was hired to search for him found glasses and his ID, but no sign of Sotherden, as reported by Alaska’s News Source.‌ Two decades would pass before a skull

was found along the Porcupine River that was reported to State Troopers. No other remains were discovered. ‌ It would take advancements in forensic DNA technologies before the skull would be identified as Sotherden’s in 2022 — 45 years after he initially went missing. Tooth penetrations on the skull suggest that he was mauled by a bear.‌ These two cases are the most prolific and confirmed to have occurred, although there have been many other instances of unconfirmed disappearances into the Alaska Triangle.‌ If you want to remain ignorant to the cause of these disappearances, you can chalk them up to underprepared individuals attempting to venture out into the Alaskan wilderness. ‌ However, if you consider yourself a believer of all things factual, then look into the research done by experts in the

field referred to by many as “tinfoil hatters.”‌ These experts point to various phenomena, such as possible electromagnetic distortions, temporal irregularities, and naturally occurring portals as a result of aurora borealis activity as probable explanations for disappearances.‌ In particular, electromagnetic distortions are likely to be caused by what these experts refer to as the “Dark Pyramid.” ‌ Located underground almost dead-on in the center of the Alaska Triangle, the Dark Pyramid was allegedly constructed by an ancient civilization to generate enough electricity to power a significant amount of modern day North America.‌ The Dark Pyramid is one of a list of locations known to have an energy vortex, meaning the area is plagued by electromagnetic anomalies. In these areas, human disappearances are caused by mysterious phenomena that scientists dismiss as natural occurrences.‌ These anomalies have been known to make flight controls in airborne vehicles inoperable, as well as causing extreme variations in compass directions. ‌ They also have been known to have significant psychological effects, causing individuals to behave abnormally — such as venturing out underprepared into the wilderness.‌ Seeing as the Dark Pyramid is situated in the Alaska Triangle, it is reasonable to connect the known effects of these anomalies with the disappearances taking place in the Triangle.‌ So this Halloween, as you’re enjoying your Alaskan horror novel, if you’re in the area of the Triangle and feel a sudden urge to vanish into the woods, seek help immediately.‌

‘The McPherson Tape’ — UFO abduction caught on film Looking back at the obscure 1989 found-footage film that tested the boundaries of truth

By Murat Demir

copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

Originally titled “UFO Abduction,” “The McPherson Tape” is presented as intimate home video footage of a quiet evening with the Van Heese family that spirals into an uncanny experience. ‌ The film — written, directed and produced by Dean Alioto in 1989 — is one of the earliest examples of the found footage horror genre.‌ In an interview with Found Footage Critic, Alioto said the film’s master copy was destroyed when the distributor’s warehouse burned down months before its release. ‌ Alioto said he lost hope and decided to move on after the fire. ‌ Years later, he discovered someone had distributed rare, salvaged copies of the film to the UFO community — sparking conspiracy theories that it was real footage of an encounter.‌ Rumors of its authenticity escalated so far that an Air Force lieutenant colonel with 40 years of intelligence experience claimed it was authentic, according to Alioto.

The film begins in the Van Heeses’

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEAN ALIOTO.

A frame from the birthday party scene in “The McPherson Tape.”

home as they celebrate their daughter Michelle’s fifth birthday.‌ The family sings “Happy Birthday” in the kitchen with the lights off. When they try to switch the lights on after the

candles are blown out, they discover the house has lost power. ‌ Three of the men go outside to inspect the circuit breaker when they notice a mysterious light in the sky. ‌

They walk toward it to investigate while the rest of the family waits inside.‌ Disbelief paralyzes the men when they encounter a spacecraft in the distance with several extraterrestrial beings near it.‌ When the aliens notice them observing, the men frantically return to the house. ‌ As the feeling of being trapped permeates, the family can no longer avoid the inevitable. The film comes to an end.‌ “The McPherson Tape” captures the viewer’s attention by showing how ordinary people react when they are faced with a situation that cannot be explained.‌ Most of the film is set in the family’s home, initially during ordinary moments of safety. Extraterrestrial life entering this environment shatters that security.‌ The loss of certainty as the film escalates triggers the deeply rooted evolutionary fear of being hunted — for both the viewer and the characters.‌ Although the storyline is unclear in moments due to shaky camera footage and the darkness inside the home, “The McPherson Tape” is generally enjoyable to watch — especially in the dark during the Halloween season.‌

OPINION

07

Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ review A retrospective of the best-selling album of all time

By Nahla White

columnist2@thenorthernlight.org

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DICK ZIMMERMAN, COURTESY OF CBS RECORDS.

Michael Jackson’s iconic 1982 album “Thriller” is one of the greatest albums of all time. Having remained on the Billboard 200 chart for more than 600 nonconsecutive weeks, it is still widely listened to over 43 years after its release. ‌ “Thriller” accomplished this feat by producing a lineup of tracks that easily overpower any other musical project you could think of. Seven of the nine tracks on the project are singles, most of which are considered among Jackson’s greatest hits.‌ This level of acclaim may seem like a good thing. In many ways, it works to the album’s detriment.‌ Over the years, “Thriller” has become background noise. The album was — and is — so popular that some people barely register the songs when they hear them.

To remedy that sentiment, you have to take a closer look at the album and examine how its production defined the era it was released in. ‌

Across the album, remnants of the ‘70s disco and soul cultures are the first things that stand out. What separates “Thriller” from the previous decade is the inclusion of synthesizers and rock-inspired guitars that had begun to dominate airwaves going into the 80s.‌ Complimentary to the music, the videos that were released bring additional substance to each track on the album.

The music has more than enough merit to stand alone, but it’s impossible to discuss the larger cultural impact of “Thriller” without mentioning the music videos. ‌ Starting with the title track — which comes back into the spotlight every Halloween — “Thriller” the song was surprisingly the last of the seven singles to be released. This was due to the belief of then-CBS Records Executive Walter Yetnikoff that no one would want a single about monsters. ‌ It’s safe to say this belief would be proven wrong by “Thriller” becoming the most iconic song on the album.‌ The bouncy bassline and percussion gives away the obvious disco and funk influence of the song To sell the track’s horror element, high pitched synths and harmonic organs are featured throughout. ‌ This is exemplified with a chilling, yet tough, spoken-word segment delivered by actor Vincent Price supplemented by a musical round delivered by Jackson that’s far too infectious to resist dancing to. ‌ The music video enhances the horror element by creating a story of Jackson’s character walking his date home from a movie and getting held up in a graveyard by dancing zombies. ‌ The concept is cheesy as all hell, but its execution is proof that there are some things only Michael Jackson can get away with. ‌

The choreography by Michael Peters is choppy and stiff, perfectly selling the concept of dancing zombies. Aside from the moonwalk and the lean that Jackson does in “Smooth Criminal,” Peters’ choreography is easily one of the most memorable dances of Michael Jackson’s career. ‌ “Thriller” is immediately followed by the most unique song on the album — “Beat It.” The song has guitar features from both rock legend Eddie Van Halen and Steve Lukather, the guitarist for Toto.‌ The electric guitar creates a stark contrast to the rest of the project. One aspect that I don’t see many people bring up is the small traces of hip-hop that can be heard in the percussion. ‌ “Beat It” is the fastest song on the album with a tempo of around 138 beats per minute. The combination of the kick bass, hi-hat, and snare is reminiscent of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and other pioneers of the hip-hop sound. ‌ Jackson’s faster delivery on the track is similar to a rap cadence in order to keep up with the faster tempo. It’s fitting that “Beat It” was released at the time that it was, given hip-hop was gradually making its way into the mainstream around the same time. ‌ The music video for “Beat It” — though a bit corny — offers a surprising amount of depth to Jackson’s message when paired with the lyrics of the song. ‌ In it, Jackson’s character intervenes in a gang war by dancing, subsequently willing the opposing sides to join in and stop the violence. This gives the initial impression of a celebrity attempting to create shallow social commentary. ‌ However, there is much to be said about the dangers of toxic masculinity and how that heavily contributes to gang violence. ‌

It is deeply poetic that the roughest sounding song on the album provides criticism of the culture that glorifies and idealizes said roughness. ‌ “Beat It” is even more profound when you take into consideration the fact that Jackson, in many ways, does not fit the ideal standard of masculinity. ‌ Jackson’s social and political commentary remained consistent throughout his career, and it’s exciting to see that it has roots buried deep within the foundations of his discography. ‌ For the last song, I wanted to discuss the best track on the album, “Human Nature.” ‌ The lyrics were written by Steve Poraco, who is also a member of the band Toto. The song and demo were recommended to the band, but they ultimately turned it down. This led to Jackson getting the song instead. ‌ There are many ways to interpret the lyrics of “Human Nature.” The song was originally intended to be melancholic, but Jackson’s delivery, combined with the lyrics, gives it a more erotic, freaky sound. ‌ “Human Nature” describes Jackson’s desire to connect with others and pursue romantic relationships. Lyrics such as “four walls won’t hold me tonight,” and “I’m dreaming of the street,” make this song sound so much like a hoe anthem. ‌ The production for “Human Nature” is ethereal. There are faint elements of soul sprinkled into the instrumentation, with synths bridging the gap between the two decades of music. ‌ Listening to the song feels as though you’re ascending. Paired with the lyrics, it elicits a sense of yearning that beats the other slower ballads on “Thriller.” ‌

Late to the Party 4: Parking permit policing We’ll all be late to the party this time because we can’t find affordable parking

By Tanner Croft

columnist1@thenorthernlight.org

Recently, UAA Parking & Transportation increased the cost of parking permits for the 2025-2026 school year. This increase was met with quite a bit of backlash from students and faculty. ‌ In general, the comments I’ve overheard are that most students don’t really understand why the price increase was necessary — nor do they understand why we pay fees at all. ‌ Our very own Managing Editor Kaitlyn Gaub said, “I just won’t eat for two weeks and I’ll be able to afford it.” While she said this sarcastically, it opened my eyes to what this price increase will mean for students.‌ Many can hardly afford gas just to get to class every day, and some might actually be in a position where they are forced to choose between buying food or paying for the permit just to avoid exorbitant parking fines.

Many other students and I understand why we would be required to have a parking permit to park on campus at buildings like the library, Rasmussen or Student Union.

What baffles me is why I am required to have a permit just to park in front of my own Templewood or in the East Hall parking lot even though this is literally my place of residency.

I am not even safe from the fines at

my own home. So why the (expletive) am I paying rent? Since I began living on campus, rent has increased significantly, while housing scholarships have been gutted.

This totals out to a 44% increase in rent alone since 2023. Combine that with the increased parking permit cost, and it feels more and more like we, as students, are being taken advantage of.

Using my own experience as an example, I currently live on campus as a resident of the Templewood Townhomes. Occasionally, I have to park in the East Hall parking lot due to an arrangement with my roommates.

When I park in the East Hall parking lot, I am given a ticket. I would absolutely be willing to pay a daily fee for nights that I find myself needing to park in the East Hall parking lot.

The problem is I’m not given that option because there is no pay-to-park machine in that parking lot. Sure, I could download the app to my phone and pay via that, but what if I don’t have space, or simply don’t have a phone available? This is yet another financial barrier to accessing higher education.

So instead, I am forced to either buy a parking pass or pay the tickets.

This is just one of the many ways UAA demands that each and every driving student pays for a parking pass, regardless of whether or not you drive to campus each day.

They essentially require that every

single student pays for their absurdly priced parking permit, even if you just want to leave your car near your residence and walk to class.

I’ve done the math to see what is more cost-effective. If I am only attending class in person for six hours a week — because the university forces me to also attend certain classes online only — it would actually be cheaper to pay by the hour for the days I do attend in person.

However, because I am eligible to get tickets in my own driveway, I am put in the position where I MUST buy a parking permit and am unable to use the cheapest alternative.

I guess I will just solve this issue by only parking at my own apartment on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to avoid getting fined simply for hanging out at my own home.

Don’t let my disposition toward parking passes give you the impression that I’m unwilling to pay for parking at campus buildings. I gladly pay at the pay-topark machines when I can.

Most of my classes are held in the Administration & Humanities Building, so I like to park in the parking garage behind the ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building.

Currently though, the machine there does not accept cards. So other students and I must pay cash. But these machines are not designed to return any change.

Oh, you want to park for an hour? That will be $3. But you only have a $10 bill?

Guess what, you just donated $7 to parking services. No chance at a refund, no added time to your scheduled time, just a higher bill for the same exact length of time.

We won’t even get into the money aspect right now — considering how much they pay their employees and how much they waste their money on fees for a parking garage that never should have been built.

If this issue persists though, I highly encourage any of our aspiring accountants here at UAA to attempt an audit of the parking services.

So no, UAA, I will not be purchasing your ridiculous parking permit. For a number of reasons, but mostly, because someone shouldn’t merely call you out; they need to actually stand up to you.

Since the semester began, the price of all parking permits has decreased by around $50. For some reason, this change was not broadcast to all students like the initial permit price increase was.

Even though I could now buy a permit for a less exorbitant price, I personally will not be bullied into spending what is still an excessive amount of money on a parking pass I will hardly get anything in return for.

So come find me — and fine me — if you must. Until then, I will continue to pay fines as I receive them and dodge your overpaid workers when I see them.‌

OPINION

08

Has Jerry Jones failed the Dallas Cowboys?

By Scott Hobbs

columnist.editor@thenorthernlight.org

On Aug. 19, Netflix released “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.” Despite being a documentary about “his Cowboys,” it only focuses on Jerry Jones’ football team during their dynastic success in the early to mid-90s.‌ For those unfamiliar with the Cowboys and why the documentary only focuses on that stretch of time, it’s because they haven’t had any major wins in 29 years. ‌ Sorry Cowboys fans, but a 12-win season doesn’t mean anything when every team in your division has played in or won an NFC championship game or Super Bowl more recently than you.‌ This continued cycle of being talented enough to make the playoffs but not win anything major is, in large part, due to Jerry Jones’ gambling habit. ‌ Early in his career, Jones gambled by buying the Cowboys, he gambled by trading Herschel Walker in his prime and firing head coach Tom Landry in favor of Jimmy Johnson. These gambles all paid off big time, so naturally, he continued to ride the hot hand. ‌ Nine days after the documentary was released, Jones traded Micah Parsons — one of the best

PHOTO COURTESY OF AP, TAKEN BY MARK TERRILL.

Jones has faced more questions in recent years about continuing to serve as the General Manager for the Cowboys.

defensive players in the league — for draft picks. ‌ In similar fashion to the trade that catapulted the Cowboys into success, Jones has bet his team on successfully hitting draft selections instead of retaining one of the best players in the league.‌ At the time of writing, the Cowboys are 1-1 and don’t look to be contenders. In particular, their defense has struggled both in stopping the run and the pass, despite Jones’ assertions that the defense would improve following the trade. ‌ Meanwhile, Parsons has propelled the Green Bay Packers into talks of winning the Super Bowl after a dominant 2-0

start to the season. The sudden leap forward in the Packers’ defense since acquiring Parsons is largely why the team is currently viewed as one of the best in the league.‌ Fun fact: The team the Cowboys most recently lost to in the playoffs was the Green Bay Packers, a game in which the No. 2 seed Cowboys were heavily favored over the No. 7 seed Packers.‌ These last 29 —and likely soon to be 30 — seasons of misery for Cowboys fans make any sane person wonder how Jones hasn’t had the team wrestled away from him Bolshevik Revolution-style.‌

After all, if the definition of “failure” for a team owner comes purely from a team winning on the field, then Jones has certainly failed. Others define failure by how excited fans are to watch their team every year, and how successful the team has been in general.‌ If you want to meet fans who are excited, Cowboys fans are that and more. Even when they’re horrifically losing in the playoffs, Cowboys fans say every year is the year their team will win it all. They show up loud and proud every week to either see their team win in an exciting way or get blown out in spectacular fashion.‌ Digging a bit deeper, many fans are enamored by the possibility that this season will finally be the one where they win another Super Bowl. While many of Jones’ trades and draft picks haven’t brought the team success, all it takes is him stringing a couple together for the Cowboys to get back to winning again.‌ Seeing as Jones is both the owner of the team and the general manager, personnel decisions don’t have to be carefully made to appease team ownership. He can make whatever team decisions he wants to make.‌ This ties to a pillar of Jones’ ownership highlighted in the documentary — anything the

Croft’s Comments

By Tanner Croft

columnist1@thenorthernlight.org

Q: The people need to know, what are the five best films of the year so far?

A: Credit for these responses goes to Abdul Zlitni — Applecino on Letterboxd. Considering how terrible I have been at doing Movie Reviews this year, I figured I had to consult the most professional movie critic I personally know.

1. “One Battle After Another.” Good double feature with “Eddington.”

2. “Sinners.” Good double feature with “28 Years Later.”

3. “Friendship.” Good double feature with “Eephus.”

4. “Ballad of Wallis Island.”

Good double feature with “The Life of Chuck.”

5. “Black Bag.” Good double feature with “The Phoenician Scheme.”‌ Q: Greetings Mr. Comments, Coming back to campus has been a whirlwind. Something that’s been on my mind recently is a friend I had this spring. We connected immediately and explored the city a lot together. I haven’t hung out or heard from said friend all summer. I tried reaching out a couple times but to no avail. I was considering making a phone call, but I don’t want to cross any boundaries or make anything weird. Any wise words?

A: Sometimes in life, we have friends for only brief moments.

They leave an impact unlike any other you have experienced,

but it is brief, and not meant to be prolonged. Be happy for the good times; do not wallow in the bad times. Chances are, one day you will reconnect. Friendships are often like that — they come and go and return later in life. ‌ Q: How would a student get in contact with the newspaper to write an article?

A: Email our Executive Editor Hannah Dillon at editor@ thenorthernlight.org or our Managing Editor Kaitlyn Gaub at managing.editor@thenorthernlight.org. ‌

Q: Dining hall plates are getting smaller? Want someone to blame? Blame the dickish weasels who work in dining hall administration.

A: Do you have a solution to recommend?‌ Q: My dorm toilet is clogged.

What should I do?

A: Well, it has been a few weeks since I got this comment.

I hope you managed to find out the most sanitary solution to the problem, but in case you haven’t, I recommend buying a plunger.

If it is a really bad problem, you can submit a maintenance work order and have a professional look at the problem.‌ Q: How many shrimp do you think you could eat after a night at the blue fox?

A: 100. Easily. ‌ Q: What’s going on in and around Anchorage this fall? Any fall festivals or shows?

A: October holds a ton of op-

portunities in Anchorage. For starters, the Anchorage Museum has free admission on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. 49th State Brewing is hosting their annual pumpkin patch event every weekend throughout October.

The Botanical Garden will be hosting their ‘BOOtanical’ garden event. Fright Night Haunted House will be making another return to the Midway Mall this year. Because we live in Alaska, you can always make an attempt to go out and see the northern lights. Or if it’s too cloudy or you are too cold, be sure to check the UAA Planetarium schedule to see if there are any shows you might like? There are always live musicians performing at bars around town too, if that’s more your vibe. ‌

A: From our Managing Editor Kaitlyn Gaub — “Nursing, because all of the assholes from high school who were hot and rich went on to become nurses.” ‌ Q: What is the greatest Halloween costume of all time?

A: The answer to this is entirely subjective. I feel like the biggest cliche for a Halloween costume could be the sexy nurse or sexy police officer trope. Because of the success of these outfits, I feel like they might be regarded as the best costume of all time. My personal opinion is that a sheet with holes cut in it to be a ghost costume is hands down the best. It is affordable, entry level, entertaining, provides complete anonymity and is comfortable for the wearer. ‌

Q: I’m kind of down bad for you. Are you single?

A: I am not. I actually just got engaged!‌

Q: Would you fuck a ghost?

Would you fuck a ghost? Would you fuck a ghost?

A: Is this a ghost asking me this by chance? Or a parrot?‌

👀

Q: How do I get fake blood out of my carpet? It’s definitely fake.

A: Assuming that the blood is absolutely fake — and definitely not real — blot the stain to get all of the surface “blood” off of the top of the carpet. Then soak the area several times with equal parts white vinegar and water.

Vinegar works great for rust, so I assume it works for anything rust colored. This question is very topical considering all of the Halloween accidents that are bound to happen. ‌ Q: Which major has the most attractive students?

Q: What is the best episode of “The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror”?

A: The top ranked “Treehouse of Horror” is “Treehouse of Horror V” which aired in season six, and I would have to sec-

Cowboys do, it has to be entertaining. ‌ He wanted to ensure the lackadaisical games and stoic atmosphere surrounding the team in the late 80s was pushed out of everyone’s mind by a brash and thrilling on-field product week in and week out.‌ For the Cowboys, the end of their season doesn’t mean the end of the entertainment. Every offseason they make some absurd trade or have a major contract dispute, keeping the team in the headlines through the summer.‌ By the time the regular season begins again, fan delusions are at an all-time high — even if the Cowboys have another lackluster year, they’ll at least make it entertaining to watch.‌ It’s no wonder that the Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world, worth an estimated $10.1 billion.

The team is always entertaining — in winning and in losing — and its fans won’t stop rooting for it as they try to win the Super Bowl again.‌ From a winning standpoint, Jerry Jones has failed the Cowboys. Considering the state the team was in, however, when he bought it and how successful they are now in certain aspects, it’s hard to argue that Jones’ time as team owner has been a complete failure.‌

ond that notion, considering the parody of “The Shining.” ‌ Q: What do you do if you really have to pee late at night in the MAC apartments and your roommate is taking a suspiciously long shower, what should you do? One bathroom is a curse.

A: Knock on your neighbors door and see if they can be a generous host. I would recommend going to the Gorsuch Commons, but we as students don’t seem to be allowed to access areas we pay for, unless it is on the University’s schedule.

Alternatively, piss-bucket?‌ Q: The minute fall and spooky season hits, what’s the go-to Halloween movie?

A: Personally, I have somewhat of a tradition of watching the original 1979 “Halloween” and then carrying on into the trilogy of “Halloween” films that began in 2018. ‌ Q: Favorite Taylor Swift album?

A: I do not like Taylor Swift, but if I absolutely had to provide an answer, I would say whichever album features the song “Our Song.”‌

GRAPHIC BY EDLEEN GUIAO.