Shootout Edition November 18, 2014

NOVEMBER 18, 2014

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02 SHOOTOUT EDITION 2014

Klax’s last slam

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.

By Klax Zlubzecon

Translated by George Hyde To call either me or my host a sports expert is a long shot — like, a very long shot, as long a shot as one could make.

I’ve written before about how people like George need to cut sports fans some slack, but he’s still not giving me much regarding sports information here on Earth. The extent of his basketball knowledge covers the events of “Space Jam” and little else.

However, seeing as The Northern Light has no sports writers (there’s a job opportunity for you aspiring sports nuts, wink wink nudge nudge), it’s fallen on an alien brain slug and his helplessly nerdy host to analyze what

the results of the 2014 GCI Great Alaska Shootout may be. So you all better appreciate this, and maybe take it with a grain of salt.

First, let’s focus on the women’s bracket since it consists of only four teams. Long Beach will start off going against Boise State, and they’ll have to work at it. Boise State proved themselves to have a worthy women’s basketball team last season along with a seasoned coach who’s been around for 10 seasons.

UAA and Yale should prove to be an interesting matchup, as they both held their own pretty decently last season.

Now on to the men’s bracket, which is even more complicated with eight teams. This is how you know someone is inexperienced with sports analysis — when he or she considers an eight-team bracket to be complicated.

Anyway, UC Santa Barbara and Mercer seem to be the big frontrunners this time around, both holding impressive records and coaches with ridiculously long careers. Santa Barbara coach Bob Williams has been going about this for 17 years, and of the 30 games they played over the past season, they took home 21 of them. That’s really intimidating.

If the two face each other, though, they’ll do so in the semi-finals, and whichever team leaves the bloody arena will probably have to face either Missouri State or UAA, and while those two did pretty decently last season, the match-up still seems like a really scary proposition.

Speaking of the Seawolves, I predict that they’ll do fairly well, but if they succeed in the first two games, it means they’ll probably have to go up against the monsters that are Mercer or Santa Barbara. If it happens, I wish UAA the best of luck because the Seawolves probably need it.

As for the other teams, they — what am I even writing about?

I’m not sure I’m even qualified to make calls on this sort of thing. I’ve never watched a lick of basketball in my entire life, and George has only ever been to a few

Opening Day: Nov. 27!

©SimonEvans

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

alyeska

high school games, where he spent the majority of his time on his Game Boy instead.

In fact, what am I even doing writing about other topics? I come from an alien empirical hierarchy, not a twoparty constitutional republic like the one George hails from! I’ve made calls on things like tobacco, marijuana, the arts, gender diversity, things that have nothing to do with slug ideology! If I show my articles to my higherups in the empire, they’d have no idea what I was rambling about, even if they understood English!

All I know of this Earth is this small-ish city, as well as the hotel I stayed in for this year’s E3. I’ve never seen the deserts of Texas, the tropics of Florida or the attitude of New York. All I’ve known is Anchorage, and while it’s a wonderful community, it becomes more and more average and routine the longer I stay here — which, I suppose, is also true of anywhere else in the universe.

George is stuck here, constantly studying and working on finals. He has little time for anything other than pure devotion to his studies, his job and his new YouTube channel that’s been drawing more and more attention away from his family, friends and, most importantly, me.

Well, fine, George. If you wish to remain here, doing as you have always done without exploring and seeing the world, then so be it.

It’s about time Klax Zlubzecon goes on tour. I’m hopping on a hapless flight attendant and traveling the world, and there’s nothing George can do about it.

I’ll probably return here at some point, seeing as Anchorage is the closest thing I have to a home, and George is the closest thing I have to a family. But I can’t stay cooped up here forever! If the empire wants to conquer Earth, I need to survey more of it.

So I’ll be taking a bit of a break. I’ll probably return once the spring semester starts up. Until then, always remember...

RESISTA N C E IS FU TILE.

EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.

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Looking for people who are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Alaska, organized, quick on a keyboard and comfortable talking with aspiring visitors.

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November 26: FREE Snow Film Series

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SHOOTOUT EDITION 2014

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

Men’s Bracket

November

26

2014 GCI Great Alaska Shootout

Wednesday

Nov. 26-29. Alaska Airlines Center. Anchorage, Alaska.

November

UAA

Thursday

Wednesday 7:30 pm

27

November

Consolation Semi #1 Noon

28

Pacific University Missouri State

Friday November

29

Saturday

03

Semifinal #1 Friday 5:30 pm

Wednesday 10 pm

4th & 6th Saturday 2pm

7th & 8th

Colorado State Rice Univercity

Saturday Noon

November

3rd & 5th Saturday 5pm

Championship Saturday 7:30pm

Thursday 5:30 pm

28

Sunday

Consolation Semi #2 2 pm

November

Mercer University Washington State

27

Semifinal #2 Friday 8 pm

Thursday 8 pm

Monday

UC Santa Barbara

GRAPHICS BY STEFANIE VIGOREN AND POORVA KELKAR

Women’s Bracket

2014 GCI Great Alaska Shootout

Nov. 25-26. Alaska Airlines Center. Anchorage, Alaska.

November

November

November

Tuesday

Wednesday

Tuesday

25

25

26

Third Place 2:30 pm

Long Beach State

6:00 pm

Yale University

8:00 pm Championship 5:00 pm

Boise State

University of Alaska Anchorage

04 SHOOTOUT EDITION 2014

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

Women’s Basketball P L AY E R P R O F I L ES

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS COMPILED BY KELLY IRELAND PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOSEAWOLVES.COM

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Nelson: “(I) started when I was seven. I don’t remember why, but it was probably because all the kids in Kodiak did when they were young.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“Helping or bugging mom while she cooks with a football game on.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Mashed potatoes, because they are delish.”

What are you thankful for?

“My family, team and other half, Bryce.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Playing pick-up games at the park and going jogging.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song?

“Anything Eminem.”

#21 Forward Leah Bonner Psychology / Freshman

English / Junior

Social Work / Freshman

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Bonner: “When I was about five my brother would force me to go outside and play with him. I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“We play games such as ‘Left, Right, Center.’”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Cranberry, pumpkin pie, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy.”

What are you thankful for?

“My family, which includes my girlfriend. Being healthy, alive and blessed with such a beautiful gift to play basketball.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“I work out with my girlfriend and play ball for fun!”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “‘My Heart Will Go On’ by Celine Dion.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Dent: “Because I hated cheerleading, so I went on another path.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“Football and just eating everything.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Dressing, ham, cranberry sauce, stuffing.”

What are you thankful for?

“For being blessed to do what I love, playing ball and my family.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Playing pick-up games.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song?

“Chris Brown, ‘Loyal.’”

#11 Forward Megan Mullings

#14 Guard Jerica Nelson

#2 Guard Adriana Dent

Journalism and Public Communication / Junior

What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

“I started playing basketball my freshman year ... and I started playing because my dad played for the Marines team and I wanted to be like him.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“Everyone meets up at my grandmother’s house, play football, Uno and Frisbee. Then say what we are thankful for.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Pecan pie, pumpkin pie, smashed potatoes.”

What are you thankful for?

“My twin cousins who were just born Nov. 13. My coaches, my loving teammates, the chance to play college ball.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Eating right. Off-season workouts. Running. Lifting.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “‘Radioactive’ by Imagine Dragons.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Madison: “Both my mom and dad played. I started in kindergarten.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“My immediate family, along with my extended family, gets together at my grandma’s house.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Turkey and sweet potato casserole.”

What are you thankful for?

“My family, my boyfriend, Christopher, of two and a half years, my teammates, the opportunity to play college basketball.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Lift weights, run sand dunes, play open gym basketball.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “‘Delirious’ by Steve Aoki.”

#4 Guard Alli Madison Psychology / Senior

SHOOTOUT EDITION 2014

#43 Center Hannah Wandersee Major: Biology / Freshman

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Wandersee: “I was tall. Seven years old.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“Each person of the family bakes a dish to bring, and we play card games.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Pumpkin pie, because my mom home-makes it.”

What are you thankful for?

“Playing college basketball, being able to go to college, family and friends.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“I do off-season workouts and work out with friends.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “’Get outta your mind’ (by Lil John).”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Robertson: “My dad played and got me to play. I started when I was three or four.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“We eat together as a family all day and watch football and just spend time together.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Turkey and yams.”

What are you thankful for?

“For my family, friends, being able to play basketball, especially with this team I call family.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Play more basketball, lift weights and just go running.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “‘Hope’ by Twista.”

#10 Guard Alyssa Hutchins Business Management / Junior

Health Science / Junior

#23 Guard Kiki Robertson Nursing / Sophomore

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Hutchins: “My dad wanted me to play ... in third grade.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“Have a big family dinner at my grandma’s.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Pecan pie, pumpkin pie. I love baked goods.”

What are you thankful for?

“My immediate family, as well as my Seawolf family, the opportunity to get an education and coffee.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Run a lot! Lift and work on basketball drills pertaining to my position.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “‘It Takes Two.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Craft: “I started playing in fourth grade. My dad played so I wanted to play.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“Everyone gets together and eats a huge meal — aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Funeral potatoes. They are delicious!”

What are you thankful for?

“I am thankful for my family and friends for the constant support they give me through all my choices.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Lifted weights, played ball in the gym.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song?

“Don’t have one.”

#5 Guard Christina Davis

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

#41 Center Emily Craft History / Senior

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Davis: “My brother played and I did everything he did. I started in sixth grade.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“Gather at grandparents house and eat.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Baked macaroni.”

What are you thankful for?

“Life. Family. Basketball.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“What’s off-season? Basketball never stops.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “‘Workin’ Em’ by Lil Wayne.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Buchanan: “I started playing basketball when I was about seven years old. Both of my parents were coaches, so I was always around basketball and in the gym. I continued to play every year because of my role model, Andrea.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“We all get together as a family. My dad cooks most of the food. We always cook a moose heart.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Moose heart with stuffing because it tastes so amazing.”

What are you thankful for?

“My family, my team, my opportunity to play college ball in my state.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Running, lifting, staying in the gym and eating right.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “‘My Boo’ by Usher and Alicia Keys.”

#12 Guard Jenna Buchanan Early Childhood Education / Junior

05

06 SHOOTOUT EDITION 2014

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

Women’s Basketball P L AY E R P R O F I L ES CONTINUED

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Wright: “My middle school team sucked really bad. They saw how tall I was and asked me to join the team. I started my eighth grade year.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“We EAT!” What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Collard greens and fried chicken. Oh yeah, cornbread too, because it’s something my family has cooked for years.”

What are you thankful for?

“I’m thankful for my family, as well as getting to hoop at UAA.” How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“There is no off-season. Ball is life.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “‘Romans Revenge’ by Nicki Minaj.”

#24 Forward Sierra Afoa Social Work / Sophomore

Engineering / Freshman

Criminal Justice / Senior

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Afoa: “My parents put me in a basketball league in first grade, and I’ve loved the game ever since then.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“Watching football and going to the Shootout and eating everything in sight.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Mashed potatoes because who doesn’t like mashed potatoes?”

What are you thankful for?

“My family — my loving parents, my twin brother, who is my biggest fan, and my older sisters, who have taught me everything I know about basketball.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Get together with teammates and work out together.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “‘Steady Mobbin’ by Lil Wayne.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Devine: “I’m from a huge basketball family. We live and breathe basketball. I started in first grade. I hated it at first, but I love it so much now.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“Shootout and, of course, tons of turkey!”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “The mashed potatoes with everything mixed in.”

What are you thankful for?

“My faith, my family, and for the amazing people that I am surrounded by here at UAA, and for the ability to represent my home (Alaska) while playing ball.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“I love long distance running and lifting, but we have workouts that our coaches give us that are basketball-specific. Let me tell you, it’s a grind.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “‘Cinderalla Man’ by Eminem.”

#3 Guard Tara Thompson

#13 Forward KeKe Wright

#15 Forward Alysha Devine

Business Management / Sophomore

TNL: “What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Thompson: “Because my brother (Travis Thompson, senior guard on the UAA men’s basketball team) played basketball. Five to six years old.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“Cooking and having dinner together. Watch the football game.”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Stuffing because it’s delicious.”

What are you thankful for?

“I’m thankful for my family, my friends, my coaches and all the people that are in my life.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“I work out with my brother and go on run sometimes.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song? “‘Chicken Fried’ by Zac Brown Band.”

TNL: What made you start playing basketball? When did you start?

Madison: “I was always really active when I was younger, and my parents signed me up for YMCA basketball when I was four years old.”

What are some of your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?

“We usually go over to my grandma’s house and have a huge dinner!”

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dinner item? Why? “Stuffing! And pie — I love sweets.”

What are you thankful for?

“I am thankful for my family, my boyfriend and friends. And the opportunities I have because of basketball.”

How do you stay in shape during the off-season?

“Work out a lot! Coach gives a workout plan we have to follow during the summer.”

What’s you favorite warm-up song?

“Animals.”

#25 Guard Jessica Madison Justice / Junior

A UAA MAINSTAGE THEATRE PRODUCTION

William Shakespeare’s

Twelfth Night, or

What You Will

Directed by Steven Hunt

Nov 21 - Dec 7, 2014 Fri & Sat at 8PM, Sun at 3PM

UAAtix.com 786-4TIX CenterTix.net UAA is an EEO/AA employer and educational institution.

Spring 2015

Student diverSity

award The UAA Diversity Action Council seeks to recognize and empower students to lead change in the community by offering tuition awards of up to

$1,000

Are you a student who... ◗ Promotes a welcoming environment inclusive of diverse people and cultures/perspectives ◗ Takes a leadership role and provides a student voice in diversity related issues ◗ Advances social justice and diversity within the larger community

?

To be considered... students must submit the following to StudentDiversityAward@uaa.alaska.edu by 11:59 pm on

Thursday, December 4, 2014

i

◗ An award application found at: www.uaa.alaska.edu/dac ◗ A letter of endorsement from a professional/university reference

For more information see: www.uaa.alaska.edu/dac Scan the QR code to the right on your smart phone/device to visit the link above.

The UAA Diversity Action Council will review nomintions and grant tuition to the top applicants. Students from the UAA Anchorage campus and UAA’s community campuses are eligible. Award recipients must meet eligibility criteria including a 2.5 cumulative GPA, Satisfactory Academic Progress and be admitted to a UAA certificate or degree program.

For more information call: UAA Student Affairs at 786-6108 or UAA Multicultural Center at 786-4080.

Individuals needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the nomination process should contact the Multicultural Center 48 to 72 hours in advance.

UAA is an EEO/AA employer and educational institution.

08 SHOOTOUT EDITION 2014

History of Great Alaska Shootout

By Stephen Cress

news@thenorthernlight.org The 2014 Great Alaska Shootout will be the first men and women’s basketball tournament to take place in the new Alaska Airlines Center, breaking the event’s 31-year streak from the Sullivan Arena.

The Great Alaska Shootout, originally known as the Sea Wolf Classic, has taken place in Anchorage every Thanksgiving since 1978. The games originally took place at the Buckner Fieldhouse in Fort Richardson until the Sullivan Arena’s grand opening in 1983. 1985 marked the first year that ESPN broadcast the tournament to a national audience.

Bob Rachal, UAA’s first athletics director and basketball coach, wanted to turn UAA into a viable NCAA Division I competitor when he was hired in 1976. At the time, the NCAA was investigating UAA’s eligibility for participating in the tournament. According to official NCAA rules, teams are typically limited to 28 games per season. The Great Alaska Shootout counts as an “exempted event,” meaning the games played in the tournament do not count toward UAA’s total games during the season. Bob Rachal is credited with changing UAA’s official mascot from the Sourdoughs to the Seawolves.

The Great Alaska Shootout opened to women’s basketball in 1980. Since then, UAA women took victories in the Shootout in 1990, 2003 and 2006 through 2009.

This year, the UAA’s women’s team will participate against Boise State, Long Beach State and Yale. The UAA men’s team will participate in this year’s tournament against Colorado State, Mercer, Missouri State, Pacific, Rice, UC Santa Barbara and Washington State.

The Great Alaska Shootout will take place Nov. 25-29 at the Alaska Airlines Center. For more information about the tournament or to reserve tickets, please contact the UAA Athletic Ticket Office at 907-786-1562 or visit goseawolves.com.

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

TNL Shootout Sweepstakes!

Want to score some free swag from The Northern Light? Just follow these three easy steps at any of the UAA men’s Shootout basketball games to win a grab bag from The Northern Light. The bag includes a TNL/KRUA beanie, a TNL pen, Frisbee and T-shirt. The first to complete the sweepstakes at each of the games will also win a free UAA oneday parking permit.

1. Tweet or post to Facebook about Shootout and use #TNLswag.

2. Take a selfie with Spirit the Seawolf or take a picture of the basketball game and post to Facebook or Twitter with #TNLShootoutSweeps.

3. Come to The Northern Light table in the main Alaska Airlines Center concourse before the end of half time and claim your prize after you show your tweets or Facebook posts.

WHOLE NEW SHOOTOUT New Arena, New Sponsor

MEN Alaska Anchorage Colorado State Mercer Missouri State

WOMEN Alaska Anchorage Boise State Long Beach State Yale

Pacific Rice UC Santa Barbara Washington State

NOV

NOV

25 29 Alaska Airlines Center

GET TICKETS NOW UAA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.

UAA student vouchers available, $10 for 5 sessions (2 games per session, championship not included).

Student tickets to the championship game are just $15.

SHOOTOUT EDITION 2014

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

09

GAME REVIEW

‘Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden’ Worth the neo-shekels

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org The following review is canon.

“The year is 2053. Basketball is dead.”

Those are the words that kick off “Tales of Game’s Presents Chef Boyardee’s Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden, Chapter 1 of the Hoopz Barkley SaGa,” often shortened to simpler — and less awesome — title, “Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden.” It is a true epic of love, family, friendship, sacrifice, treachery, slams and jams.

And over six years after it’s groundbreaking release, it remains the best B-Ball RPG on the market.

The game takes place in post-cyberpocalyptic Neo New York, 12 years after Charles Barkley performed the feared “Chaos Dunk” at a basketball game. The deadly dunk killed most of the people in attendance, and thus the government began a campaign to outlaw basketball and hunt down anyone who dares play or teach the powerful but deadly ways of the game.

Barkley now lives with his son Hoopz with assistance from Balthios, the great-grandson of LeBron James.

However, another Chaos Dunk is performed, killing millions more in Manhattan, and Barkley is blamed for the incident. Now on the run from the B-Ball Removal Department, led by former friend Michael Jordan, Barkley and Hoopz must get to the bottom of the mystery.

Those are the bare basics of the story, which is far deeper than many realize. It uses the theme of postapocalyptic B-Ball to not only tell a great story in and of itself, but also to comment on a multitude of issues. It masterfully makes fun of those who would make fun of it in very clever ways.

The game itself plays like a basketball-themed “Super

Mario RPG,” and while it does feel a bit grindy at times, it’s not really the reason to play “Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden.” Still, it does the job, and the timed hits system from “Super Mario RPG” serves to immerse the player further in the sheer intensity of basketball combat.

If there is one complaint, it’s the controls. Getting the game to work with a controller can be very tricky, and the keyboard controls are awkward and difficult to get used to. However, that’s an easy caveat to muscle through.

In an RPG industry still led by the people who think “Final Fantasy XIII” is cool, it’s refreshing to play an old classic that harkens back to the roots of the genre. And

to the

! t u o t o o h S a k s a l nd of great e A k e t e w a l fu e r r GThaCnkIs foGr joining us foarskaentbothalle.r wonde omen’s b

w men’s and Chancellor

while games like “Chrono Trigger” and “Suikoden II” are classics, what better occasion than the Great Alaska Shootout to play the slamminest and jamminest of them all? In this context, “Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden” is a tough one to beat.

Title: “Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden” Developer: Tales of Game’s Studios Platforms: PC, Mac Genre: RPG Release Date: Jan. 22, 2008

10 SHOOTOUT EDITION 2014

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

How to be the #1

Seawolf Shootout fan

By Samantha Davenport arts2@thenorthernlight.org

By Kelly Ireland

editor@thenorthernlight.org

Seats will be packed and fans will be screaming at the Alaska Airlines Center for the 37th annual GCI Great Alaska Shootout. The women’s tournament begins Nov. 25. The first UAA women’s team will face off against Yale University at 8 p.m. The men’s tournament begins Nov. 26 when Pacific University faces the UAA men’s team at 7:30 p.m.

Here’s The Northern Light’s guide to being the No. 1 Seawolf fan:

Attendance

The minimum requirement to being the No. 1 Seawolf supporter is at least showing up to the game. Tickets can be purchased online at goseawolves.com starting at 10 a.m. Nov. 17, over the phone at 907-786-7811 or at the box office in the Alaska Airlines Center Monday-Friday 10-4 p.m. Ticket prices vary. For students a five-game punch card (valid for all games except the championship games) can be purchased for $10. Championship game tickets are $15 for students.

Wear school colors

Ultimate Seawolf fans wear green and gold. Get your face painted; wear UAA apparel, green or gold wigs, beads, sunglasses and boas. Seawolf swag like this can always be purchased at the UAA Campus Bookstore. Occasionally stores like Wal-Mart and Fred Meyer also carry Seawolf apparel. Apparel can also be purchased at shop.goseawolves.com.

Make signs

Inspire UAA athletes with a motivational sign. Add some sparkle or batterypowered lights for some extra flair.

Make some noise

The women’s championship game will start at 5 p.m. Nov. 26 before the UAA men’s team faces off against its first opponent, Pacific, at 7:30 p.m. The championship game for the men’s bracket will start at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29. Let’s get the stands filled with Seawolves!

One great way to root your team on is to be the loudest fan in the stands.

Cowbells, thunder sticks and clappers all serve to heighten the decibels in the arena. Noise can serve as a great distraction while opponents shoot free throws.

Whooping and hollering for your home team is encouraged, so don’t be afraid to be loud! And don’t forget to bring some water to keep your vocal cords ready to yell.

SHOOTOUT EDITION 2014

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

11

PHOTOS BY ADAM EBERHARDT

Junior forward Megan Mullings moves around an opponent on her way to the hoop Nov. 14 in a game against Holy Names University at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

UAA cheerleaders cheer on the UAA women’s basketball team Nov. 14 during their game against Holy Names University at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

Sophomore guard Kiki Robertson dives to get possession of the ball Nov. 14 in a game against Holy Names University at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

Women’s Basketball

Senior forward KeKe Wright jumps to intercept a pass Nov. 14 in a game against Holy Names University at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

13

NEWS BRIEFS Ebola The Centers for Disease Control confirmed there are no longer any active cases of Ebola present in the United States. The CDC declared the United States Ebola-free on Oct. 28 after Nina Pham, the first person to contract Ebola in the United States, was declared healthy and virus-free. According to the World Health Organization, the global death toll from Ebola has reached nearly 6,000 since the initial outbreak in Liberia earlier this year.

ISIS ISIS has declared that it will start minting its own currency on gold, silver and copper pieces. The militant terrorist group has recently been accused of crimes against humanity with their campaign of violence across Syria and Iraq.

Russia President Vladimir Putin is facing criticism for abruptly leaving the G-20 Summit due to “needing to catch up on sleep,” denying accusations that he left because of international pressure surrounding Russia’s involvement with Ukraine. Putin gave positive remarks for how the meeting was conducted, but stated he needed more sleep before he returned to work. The G-20 Summit is a meeting of 20 powerful world leaders to discuss cooperation between their nations in the international community.

North Korea Matthew Todd Miller and Kenneth Bae have officially been released from North Korea’s labor camps after an unexpected visit from U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Kenneth Bae was imprisoned in 2012 and sentenced to 15 years hard labor for “attempting to overthrow the DPRK government with a religious coup,” charges that were dropped upon Bae’s release. Miller was sentenced to six years hard labor for seeking asylum in North Korea for allegedly wanting to investigate life inside the country’s notoriously brutal prison camps. North Korea has typically kept a hostile policy toward the United States, but the recent release of the prisoners may show that North Korea is taking steps to improve relations with the United States.

Briefs compiled by Stephen Cress

CRAFTS WEEKEND READALASKA BOOK FAIR 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday-Saturday, Nov. 28-29 Noon to 5 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 30 Get a start on holiday shopping or treat yourself with handmade art and books

by Alaska artists and authors. Free admission Please note: During free events, fees still apply for premium exhibitions and planetarium shows.

Museum members enjoy free admission and free entry to Brick by Brick. Join today!

CABIN FEVER This exhibition celebrates this wintery place we call home Opens Friday, Nov. 21

CABIN FILM SERIES Experimental filmmakers explore Northern themes 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 22 Eagle River Nature Center Public Use Cabin

anchoragemuseum.org

PLANETARIUM Journey through the stars or rock to a cosmic light show Check online for schedule

14 NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

NSLS Deactivation Questions remain unanswered regarding permits, vendors and money

By Tulsi Patil

content@thenorthernlight.org Dean of Students Dewain Lee recently made a decision recently regarding the deactivation of the National Society of Leadership and Success. While this decision was relayed to the parties involved, it has not yet been made public. The UAA Club Council Executive Board deactivated NSLS Aug. 29, following an investigation of perceived policy violations involved in organizing the 2014 NSLS Spring Gala. The club appealed the deactivation, but a Club Council vote Sept. 19 upheld the decision — 23 to 14, six abstained.

After Club Council upheld the deactivation, NSLS moved the decision to Lee, citing procedural errors, Club Council Executive Board member misconduct and issues with the Student Clubs and Greek Life office during the investigation and deactivation process.

NSLS leadership strongly denied the club commit-

ted any policy violations to The Northern Light staff, Club Council and the dean. However, as The Northern Light investigated this story, NSLS student leaders and the club’s faculty adviser, Edgar Blatchford, stopped responding to questions both via email and phone.

Club Council Executive Board laid out its investigation in a deactivation report presented to Club Council on Sept. 5. This report detailed four areas of concern involving perceived UAA policy violations during the planning and execution of the 2014 NSLS Spring Gala held on April 19. This was the second year NSLS put on a spring gala, and it was the second year there were discrepancies in following policy, according to Assistant Director of Student Leadership Paula Fish.

Initial concerns arose when the Hilton Hotel, where the gala was held, sent UAA a bill amounting to $9,475.43.

“We received from accounts payable a bill from the Hilton Hotel — about $9,000 for the spring gala,” Fish

said. “It was surprising for us at the time because they (NSLS) had not put in a purchase request, which is what we require the clubs to do.”

The Hilton later retracted the bill because a private donor paid it. However, the bill’s arrival set off a chain of investigations where Club Council Executive Board had four points of concern. Club Council Executive Board members repeatedly attempted to get answers to their questions from NSLS student leadership through emails and meetings throughout the summer. They ultimately made the decision to deactivate the club, effective Aug. 271, and Club Council voted to affirm this decision Sept. 19. During a club deactivation the club must cease to function for a semester, the following semester the club may resubmit paperwork to get reactivated.

The four areas of concern from the Club Council Executive Board (henceforth referred to as the “Executive Board”) deactivation report and the rebuttal presented by NSLS are detailed as follows:

rmits Concern 1: Beer and wine pe ation report,

rd’s NSLS deactiv According to the Executive Boa a t Clubs and Greek Life Office NSLS failed to give the Studen nt ume doc 7” ugh thro “1 and e” “Request for Ser ving Beer and Win are required documents for stuh Bot . tion rma info l enta plem and sup e an event where alcohol is served. dent clubs if they are going to hav rt, NSLS, on several occasions According to the deactivation repo indihol would be served at the event to misrepresented how the alco 2 viduals over the age of 21 . between NSLS student leaders “At that point (the July 21 meeting ized that they had submitted beer and the Executive Board), we real dents Office. However, by lookand wine permit to the Dean of Stu not account for the cash bar record ing at it, what was stated in it did on),” Fish said of the permit. (which was in the bill from the Hilt llor Tom Case signed the beer NSLS stated in rebuttal that Chance ce lost the documents. and wine request, and the SCGL Offi ce lost any documents related offi L Paula Fish denies that the SCG to the beer and wine request. state that, no, we did not lose “For the record, I would like to est and supplemental documents). that packet (the beer and wine requ said. “W hy I know that, because That packet was not received,” Fish , January, we have been com munisince March, and even before that ils from Cathy Olsen, asking for cating with the club. There are ema for what is going on with this. We the beer and wine permit, asking Cathy and I told our student workkept asking for it and expecting it. e we are waiting for it and want to ers to keep an eye for this becaus it gets done.” get it moving. We want to make sure that the beer and wine permit 3 The deactivation report also states t actually happened . The permit Case signed misrepresented wha e of the silent som be included in stated, “Bottles of fancy wine will suming/ hancon ing/ not be serv auction baskets/tables. (NSLS will 4 dling any alcohol at this event!) ” nt Marily n Alverenga-Gaxio NSLS student leader and Preside 2014. Case, Lee and Blatchford la submit ted this per mit Feb. 18, signed it. included a $200 charge for barThe bill from the Hilton, however, n of the Executive Board as they tender fees5. This caught the attentio gala. realized alcohol was served at the ve Board investigation, NSLS cuti Exe the of rse During the cou states, “Before the event took leadership created a document that Life’s organization the National place, Student Clubs and Greek (NSLS) completed the applicaSociety for Leadership and Success 4 UA A Alcohol Policy and UA A tion process required by the 201 UA A’s Dean of Student Affairs procedures for serving beer/wine. a approved for NSLS’s Spring Gal and UA A Chancellor Tom Case 2014 to serve beer and wine.” by a Hilton senior sales manNSLS had the document signed hardson, as well as the executive ager at the Hilton and Celesta Ric Office of the Chancellor, Celesta and scheduling assistant from the S document was to prove that NSL Richardson. The pur pose of this isperm e’s Cas had they ures and complied with the required proced gala. This document was turned the at e win and r bee e sion to serv Life Office on Aug. 15. However, into the Student Clubs and Greek her signature from the document on Aug. 18, Richardson rescinded not have the authorit y to sign the in an email, stating that she did presented as part of the NSLS document. This document was then ing the appeals process for deacExecutive Sum mar y on Sept. 19 dur action that Richardson sent via tivation, without presenting the retr email6.

Concern 2: Finances, external account

UAA policy requires all student clubs to maintain officia l accounts with the university. Clubs are prohibited from maintaining any privat e external accounts outside the university. During the 2014 NSLS Spring Gala, NSLS directed guests to send all checks and donations from the silent auctio n to an account called “Alaska NSLS” at a private residence address. Upon furthe r investigation by The Northern Light, the address matches that of NSLS Treasu rer John Sparks.

According to NSLS, the club raised about $36,000 throug h the course of the event. However, none of this money was put in the officia l account held between UAA and the club.

In its rebuttal, NSLS denies all claims of an external account. The rebuttal states, “No acting students maintained or managed an external account in regards to the societ y or the gala. Again, if the CC Board (Club Council Executive Board) can prove that students maintained an extern al account, via bank account numbers, etc., then the Societ y would gladly like to see that evidence that shows a student maintained an external account.”

Appendix 4 of Club Council’s deactivation report contai ns a letter from Blatchford, the NSLS facult y adviser. In this letter he states, “Regarding point 1, just like last year, the societ y utilized a private event planne r to facilitate and coordinate part of the gala that dealt with those things. I, mysel f, was on an external account with JA (Junior Achievement).”

The Northern Light contacted Junior Achievement Presid ent Flora L. Teo, who said Junior Achievement had no external accounts with Blatchford.

“To my knowledge, there was never a joint account betwe en Junior Achievement of Alaska and UAA NSLS that was opened that had anyone from either the JA staff or JA board as an authorized signer,” Teo said in an email to The Northern Light. “I did not go to the bank with any member from NSLS at any point during this fundraiser to open an account.”

The NSLS gala was thrown to raise awareness and money for Junior Achievement. Teo said the total funds sent to Junior Achievement were $1,250 from UAA Accounting Services and $600 in cash. She said that the profits of the event were to be split equally between ‘the two non-profits,’ NSLS and Junior Achievement.

The Executive Board met with NSLS student leadership during its investigation in July. During this meeting, the board asked the club where the money was.

At the time of this meeting with Club Council, NSLS had not sent any money to Junior Achievement.

Fish also said she asked NSLS where the funds raised from the gala went.

According to Fish, NSLS said it all went to Junior Achievemen t.

Go to thenorth

ernlight.org to

the cited docu ments and for on the dean’s d

view all

updates

ecision.

NEWS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

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acts with vendors ut tr n o c t n e d tu S : 3 Concern ser vice providers witho th exter nal vendors or

ed not to contract wi St udent clubs are advis that SCGL Of fice. the ser vice providers) so the aid and approval of those contracts (with exter nal vendors or out es elv ms ning the the students are not sig re “Clubs are to provide su ke ma to ty rsi by the unive they can be reviewed documents n’t control,” Fish said. ca y LS did not send any the NS ng d sai ard for somethi Bo ve uti party planning or t, the Exec ed the ser vices of a liz uti In the deactivation rep LS NS l. va pro et NSLS provided iversity for ap an expense spreadshe to ing or contracts to the un st rd co Ac . rth No , which was the highe Services s North was $10,742.50 company called Ar ts ice rv Se ts Ar m fro l the bil The Northern Light, nning company. heet. ds rea sp the ted with the party pla ‘in Professor on e ac ntr co expens g vin ha s nie club de tes that In NSLS’s rebuttal, the (Club Council Executive Board) also sta LS contracted with a ard NS Bo t tha CC he tes uiries, he sta They state: “T inq r ou R ONCE to e ns po res , 2014 ssor Blatchford NEVE private ofe Pr as se, fal Blatchford’s Aug. 12, tly tan utilized a event.’ This is bla states that ‘the society y arl party-plan ner for the cle He . all at CC Board generated ‘contracts’ t it’s contractual. The tha y MENTIONS the word wa y an in an me ng wrong with utilizing doesn’t planner. There is nothi event planner’ — this rty pa a ing with one, AS liz uti t ou n ab ong with contracting wr ng thi me a negative connotatio so IS ere T SIGNED AN Y y policy ever. Th TI NG AS A STUDEN AC AL a party planner per an DU VI DI IN viously NO a student. However, ob 14 rth, who handled the 20 S.” e of Ar ts Services No CONTRACT ow sk Zo thr l to ae ss ich ce M d pro cte the nta of The Northern Light co rmed that signing a contract would be part a nfi act, Zoske said it was co ntr He co la.

LS Ga NS g rin the Sp of py co NSLS a d ste ue req W hen TNL ion to release. an event like the gala. which requires permiss nt, me cu do private legal

Post-deactivation activ itie

Concern 4: Au ction prize cla im forms U

A A requires that auction prize out during a si lent auction, an claim forms be filled d that those fo turned in for tax rms are filing purposes.

During the cour investigation, C se of the lub Council requ ested the claim from Blatchford forms an ford stated that so d NSLS st udent leadership. B latchme may be lost an possession of form d others may be in th er club members tive Board neve .

However, the Ex e r received these forms. According ecuBudget Office, no UA A auction request nation forms wer or e completed or tu tax stat us determirned in for the ga 7 To refute this, N la .

SLS stated that Achievement’s tax ID, becaus the club used Junior e would benefit fr om the gala and Junior Achievement donations would them. go to “No auction priz e claim forms w you can’t fill ou t two auction clai ere submitted because m forms. AND sity policy does univ no tr umping anothe t say anything about their own ta err part ners’ non-pr x ofit’s tax ID. Obv ID ly we filled out JA’s tax ID and iousnot the universi because the gala ty (s w NSLS stated in re as benefiting JA, not the univer ic8) sity,” but.

s

NSLS student leadership was not dor mant after the club was deactivated. The release Sept. 23, in which clu NSLS leaders expressed dis satisfaction with the proces b issued a press that lead to the club’s deactiv ses and procedures ation. They slammed the Clu way they handled the deactiv b Council Executive Board ation. members for the “As of Aug. 29, the National So cie ty of Le ade rship and Success of UA A vated based off of false and was illegit ina tive Board,” 9 the press releas ccurate information, knowingly utilized by UA A’s Clu imately deactie reads. b Council ExecuThe NSLS press release exp res sed con cer n that the Club Council Ex quorum during both the inv ecutive Board did not establ estigation process and the ish deactivation vote due to a meetings. NSLS said this lack of minutes of the proved that the deactivatio n process was illegitimate.

In their quest to find the mi nutes of the meeting, the NS of UA A administrators, inc LS student leaders secretly luding An nie Route, direct recorded a number or of Student Life and Leade ing the meeting minutes. It rship, while discussis legal in the state of Alaska another par ticipant withou for one par ticipant of a con t prior notification. versation to record “I don’t believe there are any (Ex ecu tive Board meeting) minut released this recording to es,” Route said in the record its members with the press ing. NSLS release.

Jonathon Taylor was chair of the Executive Board for tinued as vice chair for the latter half of the process. He the initial par t of the investigation and consaid, “NSLS is con flating ments that exist within Clu some of the requireb Council bylaws and US UA A constit ution bylaws to the bodies themselves ... that apply specifically to apply specifically to the executive board.” He went the work sessions, minutes on to add, “During are not required. ... Execu tive session minutes are not lic because they are execut available to the pubive sessions. It’s a com mo nly understood tenet of Ro The executive sessions exi ber t’s Rules (of Order). st to to have discussions in privat sor t of allow members, the wider council or even the e that might per tain to sen sitive issues, without the ind Executive Board that meeting feeling unable ividuals involved in to speak freely about the iss ue.”

Less than 24 hours after the pre ss release was sent to memb sent another email to club me ers, NSLS vice president Stu mbers, thanking them for mu art Lamirand ltiple “emails of support and However, not all NSLS me encouragement”10. mbers have been suppor tiv e of NSLS leadership’s pus the alleged policy violations h to be vindicated of .

Audriana Pleas, a for mer student media leader and inactive member of NSLS from what I am aware of, Club , said, “Essentially, had — they handled this pro Council — when it comes to their findings and the documents that they cedure (the investigation and er club meeting/ board meeti subsequent deactivation) the ng would have, especially requiring the minutes of the way that any othexecutive session.”

ce s Referen report by Club

tivation SLS deac ard N , 2 e g a P Club Bo xecutive tivation report by E il c n u o c C SLS dea ard 2 Page 4, N Club Bo e report by x cutive Council E SLS deactivation 3 Page 4, N Board ncellor xecutive ed by cha Council E wine permit sign 4 Beer and n Hotel the Hilto utive Summary 5 Bill from rt by ec NSLS Ex deactivation repo 6 Page 17, S d 8, NSL e Board 7 Page 7 an utiv c ummary n il Exec Club Cou SLS Executive S Sept. 23, 2014 N d , 8 Page 3 4, e, date ss Releas ail, dated Sept. 2 9 NSLS Pre m e p ollow-U 10 NSLS F 2014

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GRAPHICS BY KIERRA HAMMONS, STEFANIE VIGOREN AND KELLY IRELAND

It’s Your Campus. Get Active. Get Involved.

Ad space courtesy of The Northern Light

GIVING THANKS DANCE FESTIVAL November 21 - 5-7PM - Cuddy Hall

An evening of song and dance from a diverse range of Alaska Native dance groups and potluck.

ASL GAME DAY

November 22 - 2-5PM - Student Union Enjoy ASL games, practice your signing skills, and just have fun!

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1

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FEATURES 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.

By Evan Dodd Contributor

This time of year sucks.

I know I’m not alone in getting worn down by the cold, darkness and end-ofsemester stress that’s so prevalent this time of year. When it’s pitch-black before and after you go to your classes, and the only glimpse of the sun you get all day comes through the closed blinds in a classroom, it’s easy to get a bit stir-crazy.

I’ve lived here most of my life and I’m still at a loss for how to actually enjoy this time of year, so I can only imagine the shock of those of you going through your first winter here.

Rather than going into full-on denial and covering every available inch of wall space with strands of Christmas lights, there are actually a couple things you can do to minimize the stress and actually enjoy that awful stretch between November and February.

Since college students are overwhelmingly financially deficient — “poor” for

you unwavering realists out there — I’ll order the list in terms of feasibility and budget.

First off, you could go the traditional route and take a vacation — I’ll assume Hawaii since that’s one of the only desirable locations within thousands of miles.

For those of you with the means to do it, by all means, go. Bring back cheap chocolate covered macadamia nuts and make all of your friends seethe with jealous rage as they sift through your 10,000 beach pictures on Facebook. Now, I’ll go ahead and make another assumption that most of you have already spent your permanent fund dividend on mundane things like food and gasoline — or REI and Thai Kitchen in my case — so let’s set aside the notion of a fancy vacation for a while.

Setting the budget a bit lower, there’s still plenty to do around the state in the winter to beat the cold weather blues, or whatever campy phrase we’re using to denote the soul-sucking darkness of early winter these days. For example, after complaining loudly for hours on end

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

18

Beating the cold on a small budget

about the lack of hiking in the winter, a friend suggested I take up cross-country skiing. Being hardheaded and generally unpleasant, I argued for a good 10 minutes before conceding that skiing was probably just an advanced for of winter hiking, and that I should probably get off the couch and learn how to do it.

The point being, whatever your winter hobbies (or lack thereof) are, there’s bound to be something you haven’t stumbled across yet. Humanity didn’t just discover the concept of living in northern climates yesterday, and I guarantee you that there’s at least one activity you would love but have yet to discover.

Like walking and wish it was way harder? Maybe pick up a pair of used snowshoes and give that a shot. Or maybe you love camping in the summer but have always wanted to add the potential risk of waking up partially frozen — in which case winter camping might be right up your alley. Speaking of alleys, maybe you want to shun the cold altogether and hone your bowling ability so you can you confidently take potential suitors on cliche, but skilled, first dates.

Anchorage has a variety of pools, a coastal ski trail and a rock gym, all of which offer outlets for winter stress — not to mention helping to kick that stubborn beer fat that seems to have been cultivating mass while you’ve been studying.

You don’t even need to step more than a

couple feet out of your classroom to find yourself in a maze of trails designed for skis, snowshoes and fatbikes right here in the middle of town.

Don’t let the cost of winter gear stop you either. Used gear can be found at several shops around town, online and you can event rent equipment from the gear room in the Student Union. We all need an outlet to beat the semester stress — and even more so in the winter, so don’t let yourself make excuses against getting out and enjoying yourself during the dark months.

And if all of this still sounds too expensive? Well fine, then. There are even options for those on the tightest budgets. You know what is always going to be a cheap alternative to a vacation? Bags of sand.

Buy sand, cover your apartment, crank up the heat and throw up some inflatable palm trees. Maybe make yourself a margarita or Bahama mama and revel in that sweet tropical denial while you try your best to pretend that the roaring you hear is the sound of waves crashing on the beach, not your neighbor’s struggling snow blower.

The bottom line? Winter here is tough, not to mention the stress of completing a degree. So find your outlet and go after it, because for better or worse, this is what we’ve got to look forward to until midMarch.

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

19

Kids build computers on campus

PHOTO BY JAMES R. EVANS

Jovena Bartels-Salas, 12, assembles a computer Nov. 13 at the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Academy Building. The ANSEP Middle School Academy mentors sixth through eighth grade students who want to pursue careers in the science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, field.

By Kierra Hammons copy1@thenorthernlight.org

Last Thursday and Friday, the newly remodeled ANSEP Academy Building buzzed with excitement as 48 middle school-aged students made empty computer towers come to life. This activity is part of a free 10-day program put on by the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, which immerses sixth through eighth graders in science, technology, math and engineering topics while offering them a chance to experience the University of Alaska Anchorage campus.

“They build the computers, (and then) they keep them ... if they agree to complete Algebra 1 by the time they enter high school,” said ANSEP Regional Director Audrey Alström.

Once students sign a written agreement with their parents, ANSEP makes sure students are on track to complete Algebra 1. Students can provisionally keep their computers as long as they are on track to complete the course, and those who complete Algebra 1 before high school can keep them for good.

“We collect their grades annually until they’re in high school,” said ANSEP Middle School Director Josephine Mattison.

Michael Bourdukofsky, ANSEP Chief Operations Officer, said a $6 million grant from the state of Alaska and a $1 million Alaska Airlines travel grant enabled ANSEP to triple the number of ANSEP Middle School Academy sessions offered each year, from four to 12.

Students from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District comprised this session, representing 13 schools

within the district. Alström said ANSEP has arranged the academy to count as school time according to the school district, so students don’t have to go home and make up schoolwork missed during the days they were gone.

Mattison led the computer building activity, speaking through a microphone and gesturing to photos shown on a projector at the front of the room. Each student had a manual that listed photos of each part next to their corresponding names.

In addition to Mattison’s instructions, students and adult helpers assisted each other with each step of building the computers.

“It seems like it would be (difficult), but it’s pretty easy,” said Skyview Middle School student Lindsay Ward.

Ward is an aspiring prosthetics designer. She became interested in the field through her mother’s friend, who has full prosthetic leg.

“I watch videos on how they work, and being able to create something like that would be amazing,” Ward said.

Students learned the names and functions of computer parts as they put them together. They also had to be meticulous and careful not to ruin any of the hardware — a simple shock of static electricity or a bent gold prong could prevent a computer from working at all.

“Everything has to be so specific,” said Tebughna School student Jovena Bartels-Salas.

Bartels-Salas worked next to Avery Reed, a sixth grader from Redoubt Elementary School. They didn’t know each other before the ANSEP Middle School Academy started, but within a day they became friends and helped each other through the steps of building their computers.

“At first I was really nervous,” Reed said, but he and

Bartels-Salas agreed that making friends turned out to be quite easy.

Reed, an aspiring automobile engineer, joined the academy with a few other students from his school. He said that even though the ANSEP Middle School Academy is free, some of his friends weren’t interested in the program.

“Why wouldn’t you make a computer?” he said.

“That’s like once in a lifetime!”

But not all interested applicants were selected to participate.

“Everything they have to do to apply is like putting in a college application. ... So it was a lot of work. (Students) had to really want to do it,” said Kenai Peninsula College professor Tracey Withrow, who is a chaperone for this academy session.

Withrow is a former Redoubt Elementary School teacher, and her daughter is attending the academy. She said ANSEP ignited her daughter’s interest in the STEM field and helped other academy students realize “dream” jobs are attainable realities.

By Monday morning, every student’s computer was successfully running.

“They’re building computers ... and now they’re never gonna be like, ‘I can’t do that,’ — because they can do that,” Withrow said.

Two days after the students completed their computers, they went to the Seward SeaLife Center. Alström said they will also stress test balsa wood bridges, learn about earthquake engineering, and do activities related to topics in energy and biology throughout the remainder of the week.

Nov. 22 will be the students’ last day on campus.

FOREIGN FILM FANATIC

‘El Crimen Ferpecto’ misses the mark

By Jacob Holley-Kline Contributor

Being a suave clothes salesman is a tough job. Women and men swoon over you in equal measure, you can grab any suit off the rack with a discount and sometimes you accidentally murder that uppity coworker who just passed you up for the boss’s position. In the world of “El Crimen Ferpecto,” a scuffle like that changes the world.

The cocky Rafael (Guillermo Toledo, “Diamantes Negros”) is the top salesman at a department store vying to be head of sales. Just before he can get the position, his nemesis Don Antonio (Luis Varela, “Blockbuster”) wins it and the two come to blows in a dressing room.

By the end, Don is dead and hanging from a clothes hook. Rafael thinks he’s safe until his neurotic coworker Lourdes (Monica Cervera, “20 Centimeters”) finds out and blackmails him, forcing him to be her lover.

‘El Crimen Ferpecto’ starts out dark and just gets darker. At a certain point, it feels like the movie’s just trying to one-up itself. How horrible can Rafael be?

How insane can Lourdes be? This is not comedy done with good will. This is comedy done with a cast iron heart and a sharp tongue. There’s nothing wrong with laughs for laughs’ sake, but they have to be funny first.

Sometimes, “Ferpecto” is brilliant, hilarious and unsettlingly resonant. But it reaches a screwball pitch that feels horribly misguided.

Each escalation has the viewer asking, “Why?” Sure, the character’s motivations are clear, but the

movie’s intentions are not. More often than not, it’s frustratingly opaque. At its most thematically confusing, “El Crimen Ferpecto” could be a feminist call to power or a misogynist’s wet dream.

Mismatched narrative choices aside, there’s some dazzling filmmaking on display here. In more than one sequence does director Iglesia show his creativity. The camera is omniscient, viewing scenarios from every possible angle, rushing out of buildings, through walls like Fincher at his most frenetic. While the message isn’t clear, the sense of space is. The movie’s universe is malleable, and Iglesia forms it like clay. He’s an expert behind the lens.

Each frame is opulent with over-the-top performances to match. Toledo is excellent as Rafael, playing the straight man’s devolution into mania. Alongside him, Cervera is more one-note, but she plays that note to its crescendo and the result is fun, if unmemorable.

And that may be the one word to characterize “El Crimen Ferpecto” — it’s mostly unmemorable. Viewers may find themselves remembering the destruction and some laughs, but not much beyond that. For all of its narrative confusion, the movie has some real set pieces to offer and a virtuosic man behind the camera to boot. But in the end, the 100-minute slog just feels tired.

Title: “El Crimen Ferpecto” Director: Alex de la Iglesia Genre: Dark comedy Release date: Oct. 22, 2004 Country: Spain

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

20

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Birdman’ is a masterful critique

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org

Film: “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” Release Date: Oct. 17, 2014 Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu Starring: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis

What happens to actors after famous roles?

Can they even go back to what they were doing before? Do their artistic visions even matter anymore?

“Birdman” takes an unflinching look at these questions, and the answers it presents harshly critique the very entertainment industry that is so obsessed with superheroes today.

The film tells the tale of Riggan Thompson (Michael Keaton, “Batman”), an actor who famously portrayed a superhero known as Birdman back in the ‘90s. Now, he wants to do something a bit more sophisticated: a stage play that discusses the concepts of age and love. However, the character of Birdman continues to haunt him, and his past simply won’t let him escape.

Michael Keaton absolutely owns his role. He portrays Thompson with artistic bravado, focusing intently on escaping the ghost of Birdman while crowds outside constantly demand selfies and autographs. This is a man who is clearly losing his mind, who will do anything it takes — even betraying his own friends and family — to get away from his superhero past.

In that regard, Edward Norton’s (“The Incredible Hulk”) character acts as a perfect foil. He portrays a fellow actor in Thompson’s play. He has become so absorbed in his role that he feels that he only truly comes to life on the stage. He is a true, antisocial jerk when trying to work with others, but he sets the audience on fire as soon

as he hits that stage. He has embraced the fact that his characters are more famous than he will ever be, and this sets up a perfect conflict with Thompson, who wishes to escape his characters.

Thompson cannot accept that the entertainment world has fundamentally changed. He yearns to be a famous actor again, but he can’t accept that in order to do that he needs to go viral. The information age truly baffles him, and that’s the real tragedy of his character.

At one point, Thompson’s daughter (Emma Stone, “The Amazing Spider-Man”) calls him out on it. She keeps telling him that his efforts are in vain, that he can never be relevant again — and she’s right, to an extent.

But he can never see that. He watches a clip from “The Avengers” and tells himself that he’s 10 times the actor that Robert Downey Jr. is, and he continues to miss the point that nobody cares about him as an actor anymore.

It’s a really harsh indictment of today’s virally-focused entertainment industry, and of the information age in general. Perhaps, in the future, viewers will look at it as the aging generation’s last hurrah, one last failure to realize that the times have changed.

However, it makes this message masterfully in ways that can still speak to modern audiences.

For that reason, it’s a must-see for anyone who is even slightly skeptical at all of the movies Marvel makes these days.

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Senior outside hitter Brooke Pottle poses with her family during senior night before the game against Western Washington University on Nov. 15 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

PHOTOS BY ADAM EBERHARDT

UAA Volleyball substitutes celebrate a scored point Nov. 15 during the game against Western Washington University at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Junior outside hitter Sarah Johnson digs the ball Nov. 15 in a game against Western Washington University at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Sophomore middle blocker Kayla McGlathery watches the ball go over the hands of opposing blockers in a game against Western Washington University on Nov. 15 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Senior libero Quinn Barker goes to dig the ball Nov. 15 in a game against Western Washington University at the Alaska Airlines Center.

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Smoke-free UAA and the Great American Smokeout

By Yesenia Camarena Contributor

As a student leader of the UAA SmokeFree Task Force I would like to clear up some of the accusations that USUAA Senator Matthieu Ostrander made in his op-ed featured in the Nov. 4 issue of The Northern Light.

First, we understand that the April 2014 Referendum #14-03, which asked students to vote on whether UAA should become a smoke-free campus, was an advisory vote. We went through the election so students were specifically given the opportunity to voice their input. A majority of respondents voted “yes” for a 100 percent smoke-free campus. We are honored by this “yes” vote and to all those who support us in this effort. We began this movement because we care about all students and a healthier UAA benefits everyone.

Once the election results came out for a smoke-free campus, we relayed the information to UAA Chancellor Tom Case and the Board of Regents to determine the next step. During this time, we began to prepare and plan. We tried to work with USUAA senators and rep-

resentatives to gather further input, but they failed to show any support for the student vote. These student leaders even drafted a resolution to attempt to negate the vote. We pointed out that the author of the resolution, Ostrander, led the opposition during the election.

In a clear breach of ethics, Ostrander used his position to put forth an agenda that has no student input, no credible research and no respect for the April election. His non-representative sample, from the Student Satisfaction Survey, was sent to 20 percent of randomized students.

Yes, 3,000 students comprise more than 2 percent of the student body, but when only a small percentage of them actually respond to the survey, that percentage and representation becomes invalid.

Our criticism of the survey was not levied against a margin of 2 percent, but rather that the sample obtained was only representative of a total of 2 percent of all UAA students. Only 9 percent of those 3,000 responded to their survey, which

By Valeria Delgado Contributor

is significantly less than the number of people who voted for a smoke-free UAA. This is also significantly less than the 700-plus students who responded to our survey in fall 2013, which asked students’ perceptions on a smoke- and tobacco-free campus policy.

In his op-ed, Ostrander also attempts to attack our adviser, associate professor of public health Gabriel Garcia, based on Garcia’s effort to collaborate with the American Lung Association in Alaska.

Our student club began the smokefree movement at UAA. As our club adviser, Garcia inspired us to take on this effort and make our campus community healthier.

Garcia has done extensive research about smoking. His grandfather died of lung cancer caused by smoking. He knows firsthand about the dangers of tobacco use, and he is passionate about this issue. He helped our voices be heard, along with the majority of the UAA community who want this smoke-free policy to be implemented. His work in this movement is to be admired.

UAA acknowledged our efforts, and in spring 2014, the UAA Smoke-Free Task Force was recognized with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Stewardship for making a significant contribution to improve health and safety on campus.

We are further reminded of the importance of our efforts this upcoming Thursday, Nov. 20, for the Great American Smokeout. Every year, tobacco companies spend billions marketing to those ages 18 to 25. Every day, more than 1,200 Americans die from smoking.

The UAA Smoke-Free Task Force plans to recognize the Great American Smokeout by thanking our supporters and by showing support for all those trying to quit.

We know it’s hard. We have friends and family who used to smoke. We have seen them struggle. We’re here to provide a supportive environment so future generations don’t smoke and to help current smokers quit.

Let’s support smokers who want to quit! Spread the support and love UAA.

PEOPLE

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

23

HOT TOPIC

No-Shave November is a month dedicated to raising awareness for cancer through growing out beards. What are your thoughts on No-Shave November?

Antionette Street

Jarett Tucker

Sophomore | English Literature

Junior | Early Childhood Education

“I don’t shave anyway, so to know that my hairy pits are helping get knowledge and awareness out is great!”

Sheree Wilson

“I had to shave in high school for ROTC, so now that I’m in college I can grow my beautiful beard as long as I want! Growing a wild, scruffy beard is the way to go.”

HOT TOPIC PHOTOS BY JAMES R. EVANS

Senior | Dental Hygiene

“I find it a good distraction from school, but I would never let my husband do it because clean shaven seems nicer.”

HOT TOPIC QUESTIONS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTS COMPILED BY GEORGE HYDE

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The editors and writers of the Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 4,500. The University of Alaska Anchorage provides equal education and employment opportunities for all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, Vietnam-era or disabled-veteran status, physical or mental disability, changes in marital status, pregnancy, or parenthood.

The views expressed in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of UAA or the Northern Light.­­­

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