Freshmen Edition 2015

COVER BY JIAN BAUTISTA

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02 | NEWS

UAA WELCOME WEEK 2015

august 22-30

James Johnsen named next UA president

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

featuring over 20 events across campus

$avvy $eawolf Financial aid 101: take control of your financial future wednesday 26| 6-7:30pm | gorsuch commons

speed friending Meet other seawolves and make friends fast!

wednesday 26|7-11pm | Alaska airlines center

“R” CLOSING RECEPTION aN eXPLORATION OF TEXTURES, CHEMICAL REACTIONS, AND WHAT REMAINS ORGANIC INSPIRED ARTWORK BY UAA ALUMNA NIKITA DITMER tHURSDAY 27| 4-6PM | sTUDENT UNION gALLERY

spirit run* join student activities at the 2nd annual uaa spirit run, a 5k fun run/walk saturday 29|10am start | Alaska airlines center *advance registration available at uaatix.com Through noon, august 28th

and more!

for a complete listing of events and details please visit:

www.uaa.alaska.edu/residencelife www.facebook.com/UAAOncampusliving

questions?

PHOTO VIA UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org The University of Alaska Board of Regents appointed James R. Johnsen as the UA system’s next president July 28. He will succeed current president Patrick Gamble Sept.

1.

Johnsen was unveiled as the lone finalist on May 30 during the Board of Regents’ presidential search out of a pool of four candidates.

Jyotsna “Jo” Heckman, chair of the Board of Regents, said in an earlier TNL interview that Johnsen was initially selected for his “credentials and experience that would best serve the university during these challenging times.”

In a press release announcing Johnsen’s presidency, Heckman reinforced her earlier statement.

“Earlier this month, during visits to UA’s three main campuses, he demonstrated that he listens and solicits input from the campus community, speaking with 32 groups representing faculty, staff, students, alumni and interested community members,” she said.

Johnsen’s contract as president is for five years and provides an annual salary of $325,000.

There will also be a yearly performance bonus of up to $75,000, the parameters of which will be determined and shared to the public by Sept.

30.

“The base salary is comparable to what the current president receives,” Heckman said.

907.751.7444 welcome@uaa.alaska.edu

EXPLORE ∙ DEVELOP ∙ CONNECT “The board spent considerable time discussing the need to meet some very challenging goals to ensure an efficient, redefined university that is positioned to meet the expectations and needs of Alaskans in the face of general fund reductions and a rapidly evolving higher education environment.”

Johnsen served as the UA system’s chief of staff from 1998 to 2003, the vice president from 2003 to 2008, and other vice presidential positions at Doyon and currently Alaska Communications.

“It is humbling to be entrusted with the presidency of Alaska’s State university system,” Johnsen said. “I intend to bring a passionate commitment to the importance of our colleges and universities, a strong personal belief in the power of education to transform lives, and the understanding that excellence and diversity are inextricably linked to our core mission. I certainly promise to do my best to live up to the university’s highest ideals in serving our people and our state.”

Current UA President Gamble announced his retirement in December 2014 following a controversial retention bonus he later declined. Earlier in April he agreed to extend his resignation date to the end of August to allow the Board of Regents enough time to find a new president.

www.UAACareerServices.com

EMBRACE YOUR FUTURE: CAREER DEVELOPMENT UAA Career Services Center is your one-stop shop for preparing you for your future by providing students and alumni with free resources to explore and pursue career aspirations!

SERVICES  Resume & Cover Letter Assistance  Career Counseling  Job Search Assistance  Mock Interviews  Internship Coordination  Career Fairs

RESOURCES  Online Job Database (150+ current job openings)  Alaska Career Information Systems (AKCIS)  Professional Clothes Closet (Free Clothes!)  Career Resource Library  Career-Related Handouts

CAREER  Job Shadowing Program DEVELOPMENT  Leadership Opportunities + Volunteer Opportunities  Networking Events  Workshops  International Opportunities www.uaa.alaska.edu/careerservices uaa_career@uaa.alaska.edu | RH 122 | 907-786-4513 UAA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.

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FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

| 03

UAA author provides background on school mascot Rachal’s decision.

Juday said Rachal wanted something powerful and rooted in Alaskan culture.

He found this in the myth of “Gonakadet,” also known as “Wasgo the Sea Wolf” in Tlingit and other Alaska Native cultures.

The mythical creature was strong, generous and humble.

There are several versions of the “Gonakadet” legend, one of which Juday shared.

The story starts with a lazy young man who is constantly taunted by his mother-in-law. She says he is someone who cannot provide for his family. One night he secretly traps the creature Wasgo. He strips it of its coat, dons the fur and is granted the supernatural powers of the creature.

The young man catches salmon, seals and killer whale for food storage and anonymously places the animals in front of his mother-in-law’s house. The motherin-law steals the credit, falsely claiming she is a shaman, which is a person who acts as intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds. She tells the village she has summoned the animals from the sea with her powers.

The young man becomes trapped within the heavy fur of the seawolf and

By Nita Mauigoa

Former features editor This article originally appeared in the Aug. 6, 2013, edition of The Northern Light.

What on earth is a seawolf?

The question is a head scratcher riddled with intrigue.

“Outside of UAA, I’ve never heard of it. Most (of) the time I’m thinking, ‘What the heck is it anyway?’” accounting student Leinalani Silvira said.

Sara Juday, editor at UAA’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Engagement and Academic Support, wrote the book “From Sourdoughs to Seawolves,” which includes the history of the university’s logo. The book, meant to preserve the history of UAA, was a collaboration between UAA Archives and Special Collections, the Consortium Library and the Seawolf Athletic department.

Juday said that UAA’s original logo was the “Sourdoughs.” In 1977 basketball coach Bob Rachal changed the school logo to the “Seawolves.”

“He said people were making fun of the ‘Sourdoughs’ because all they could think about was bread,” Juday said of

collapses on the shore. The motherin-law discovers the unusual seawolf one morning. She looks into his eyes and recognizes her son-in-law. After realizing his talents that brought great prosperity to her people, she dies of shame.

Juday said she feels it is important for today’s Seawolves to understand the traditional aspect behind the mascot and why Rachal chose it to represent UAA. “It provides a depth of understanding of where we’ve been and where we are going,” Juday said.

Juday said Rachal’s legacy spans beyond the Seawolf logo. The ambitious coach spawned the idea of the Great Alaska Shootout and set up contracts with the first participating teams.

Among several others, Juday cites Tim McDiffett, associate athletic director of the UAA Athletics department, as a knowledgeable source for background information on the logo.

McDiffett said in the 32 years he’s been at UAA, the current logo best represents the Seawolves. This is the third rendition of the Seawolf logo.

The current logo was designed in 1985 by local graphic designer Clark Mishler.

It sports a clean, simple wood-carved look.

The Seawolf was introduced as UAA’s mascot in 1977. The first Seawolf logo featured the mythical creature in a traditional Alaska Native woodcarving style.

The very first version from 1977 was a classic woodcarving-style Seawolf with detailed traditional patterns. This was replaced in 1980 with a more realisticlooking dog, which Juday described as a “dog on fire.” The final switch to the current Seawolf logo occurred in 1985.

McDiffett said it is not uncommon for students to know little about their logo and mascot. He said Juday’s book lays out the information clearly for readers.

“It’s important for students to know the history of their school mascot. It’s part of our history, and it’s unique,” McDiffett said. “It represents our pride and distinction.”

The book “From Sourdoughs to Seawolves” is available for purchase at the UAA Bookstore. There are also copies available at the Consortium Library.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY KIERRA HAMMONS

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04 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

College isn’t always a party

PHOTO BY KAYLA MCGRAW

Freshmen are no exception when it comes to depression.

By Megan Marquis Former staff reporter

This article originally appeared in the Aug. 6, 2013, edition of The Northern Light.

Not everyone’s a social butterfly.

Some take longer to discover who they are and make new friends. In this process of self-discovery, even college students can become depressed.

It’s easy to become intimidated while adjusting to an unfamiliar realm filled with fire-breathing professors, conquests and little elves who steal socks from the dryer.

College also can be a great time to experience new things and explore new boundaries. To some it’s even considered to be a place to party, learn, play or fall in love. There is a myth that the freshman year of college is one of the most exciting times of life, but that is not always the case.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “A nationwide survey of college students at two- and four-year institutions” conducted in 2011 reported “about 30 percent of college students reported feeling ‘so depressed that it was difficult to function’ at some time in the past year.”

A study on PubMed.gov states student

grades could suffer if depressions are left untreated. The student is also more likely to drink in excess, smoke and experience problems related to alcohol abuse, such as engaging in unsafe sex.

Advanced nurse practitioner Georgia DeKeyser, interim director of the UAA Student Health and Counseling Center, said, “Depression can be an isolating reality for some people. Developmentally, there’s so much going on — career, relationship, identity, sexual identity, spiritual identity, financial emancipation, transitions, living transitions and communication with roommates. Then on top of that, we have the long dark winters in Alaska.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, this lack of sunlight can decrease serotonin levels and affect the emotional state, which could lead to a form of depression called “seasonal affective disorder.”

As with any type of depression and college life, adapting to new surroundings can be considerably difficult.

Everything can seem unfamiliar. When there are new resources and a plethora

of unrecognizable faces, this transition becomes overwhelming.

Like aliens in a new environment, students need to find ways to adjust their lifestyles — such as eating right, sleeping well and exercising — in order to live comfortably away from home.

Betty Bang, Family Nurse Practitioner at the Student Health and Counseling Center, said if students can fulfill these three basic needs, they can also delay or prevent depression.

“There are so many changes that I think it’s important to have a routine, to have enough sleep, to reduce stress, to eat well and take your vitamin D3. Also exercise, because that increases blood flow to your brain, which increases memory, concentration and it will help you feel better.”

While depression may loom overhead some students, there are resources at UAA one could use to help diagnose and treat depression.

With these available resources at hand, no one should have to endure any form of depression, at least not alone.

UAA MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/psych/uaa-mental-health-resources.cfm UAA Student Health and Counseling Center 3211 Providence Drive, RH 120 Anchorage, AK 99508 Main: 907-786-4040

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Psychological Services Center 3211 Providence Drive, SSB 255 Anchorage, AK 99508 Main: 907-786-1795

helping YOU

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Student Development Counseling Support Services 3211 Providence Drive, Student Union 204 Anchorage, AK 99508 Main: 907-786-6158

i

start a NEW

CHAPTER

The Campus Bookstore has everything a Seawolf needs. From textbooks to supplies - we’ve got you covered.

More Rentals.

Rent your books and keep them the whole semester. We rent new books, used books and even loose leaf when we can.

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We’ve adopted a dynamic pricing model that allows us to be more competetive and give you lower prices for your books. Plus, you’ll never pay a shipping charge when you shop with us.

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Cash, check or card- we take it all. Qualified students can even charge up to $1000 worth of textbooks and $50 of school supplies to their student accounts.

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

| 05

Where and how can one live during college?

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 When people talk about the “college experience,” one thing that always pops up is on-campuss living. There’s a romanticized view that permeates college culture; one of parties, fraternity and always being among your fellow students as you study.

But I, UAA’s resident alien brain slug, am here to tell you that if you hate that idea, you shouldn’t be afraid.

Oh wait, I should probably introduce myself before I get too much further.

Klax Zlubzecon, emissary and herald for the Galactic Slug Empire. I arrived on Earth not too long ago as part of a mission to find new planets to assimilate for the Slug race. I happened upon a reporter here at The Northern Light, and the rest is history. That’s how an alien brain slug

happened to land a job here at UAA’s student newspaper.

Bet you didn’t see that coming, did you?

But I guess, in that sense, I have the perfect perspective when it comes to the issue at hand; I am a guest here on Earth in the same way that you may be a guest at UAA’s residence areas. And in that regard, there’s a few tips you should know regardless of where you choose to live during your collegiate career.

For example: wherever you choose to live, treat your house/apartment mates with respect. If you’re attending this school, you’re probably an adult, so act like it! Take up responsibilities that your roommates aren’t able to because of studies. It’s easier for me, because I can just

How to do better in college classes

By Nathan Burns

nburns@thenorthernlight.org One of the first things you will notice about college is that it can be really hard. The Northern Light presents these tips for doing better in classes.

1. Ask questions

Don’t understand something said in class, miss a question on a test or having trouble with an assignment?

Raise your hand and ask for clarification.

Worried about interrupting the teacher? Quietly raise your hand and wait until called on. Instructors love questions: They understand how well everyone is progressing in their understanding of the topic, and this allows them to better tailor their lectures to their audience. Every teacher prefers to see a raised hand rather than glazed-over eyes, a sleeping student or the glow of a cell phone.

Worried about not looking like you know what you’re talking about in front of literally everyone?

Of course you don’t know what you’re talking about — it’s why you went to college, so you could know. Remember you came to college to get informed, not look informed.

Worried about looking stupid in front of your peers? For every person that raises his or her hand to answer a question, there are five others that are too nervous to ask. To those five people your question could be the deliverance from confusion and embarrassment. Be that hero. Besides, if you are going to show that you don’t understand something, it’s better to do it during a lecture than on a test. Remember there is no such thing as a dumb question, just dumb answers on a final.

2. Study as needed and pay attention

Before you entered college you have no doubt heard conflicting accounts about the amount of work that you do in college: horror stories about studying 10 hours a night contrasted with joyous tales if skipping classes and frolfing on the quad. These stories are all

SEE SUCCESS

PAGE 9

assume direct control of my host and have him at my beck and call, but you can’t do that. So the next best thing you can do to manipulate your roommates into doing what you want is to not treat them like garbage and do things to help make your apartment, room or house a better place to live. Treat them well, and take up the chores that they can’t. It’s the classic golden rule, and it goes a surprisingly long way.

And as I said, that goes without saying no matter where you choose to live during the college years. So that leads nicely into what this article was going to be about in the first place: living off campus.

It’s a valid option. More expensive, sure, but it means you won’t have to put up with the conditions at UAA’s current living quarters. I’ve never lived there, and neither has my host, but we constantly hear horror stories of flailing internet connections and the like. So living off campus is certainly more flexible than living with UAA. But it does mean you’ll have to put the effort in. UAA is the lazy option, and that’s not a bad thing; you spend less, get everything from Internet to pre-designed work areas, and it’s generally an easy choice. With off-campus living, it’s a bring-your-own-furniture affair, and you often need to set up your own electricity, heating and Internet. You can make it a better experience than UAA’s offerings, and once you’re done with college, you don’t need to awkwardly move out. But you do need to make it work.

Or you could choose the laziest route, like my host George has: living with family. This is the true wild card option, as I can’t possibly predict what your fam-

ily would expect of you whilst living with them for college. George contributes some of his pay towards the family’s Internet and living bills, for example, and is expected to carry out chores and things like that on top of it. He sees it as the ultimate option: the flexibility to make things like internet networks and things like that better than UAA’s offerings, while still having his own bed and own room that he’s always had. But he will have to move out, and the stigma of someone still living with their parents is still one that haunts 20-somethings everywhere. You tell someone that you still live with your parents, and chances are good that they’ll scoff and tell you to get a real life.

And yet, here I am telling the world about it. Suck it up, George.

Ultimately, it’s a decision that should vary from person to person. Some collegiate programs require more focus than others, and thus require lazier living options to compensate for all the work they demand. For others, being able to move into an off-campus room and set it up their own way will prepare them for the future, even if it requires more effort and responsibility. And then there are the truly lazy and pragmatic pricks like my host, who take the best of both worlds.

How you tackle the issue ultimately comes down to what you’re studying, where you’re from, and whether you’re truly willing to settle here in a state that still doesn’t have any Sonic franchises yet. It’s up to you.

But until next time, remember the one thing you’ll always want to keep in mind, as long as you live:

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE. EMBRACE THE SEAWOLF SLUG.

06 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

A new roommate’s guide to conflict resolution

By Kierra Hammons

content@thenorthernlight.org This article originally appeared in the Aug. 6, 2013, edition of The Northern Light.

College living arrangements can be shocking to students fresh out of high school. Many freshmen students have never lived with a roommate before.

Roommates can be difficult because, unlike family members, they typically don’t unconditionally forgive bad behaviors. Here are some tips for remaining harmonious with any new partner-inrent.

General tips

There are general things roommates can do to foster healthy relationships with each other, no matter the location.

Be proactive The best way to stay in tune with a roommate is to communicate with him or her about rules and expectations.

Talking about preferences and habits early on leaves less room for surprises.

Work out expected quiet hours, lightsoff times and guest hours. While every roommate won’t agree exactly on every topic, talking out compromises is the best way for each person to be satisfied. When multiple people split the rent, each person has a right to be comfortable in the space he or she pays for.

Karla Booth, UAA’s Alaska Native and Rural Outreach Program coordinator and Cama-i Room coordinator, says the key to being successful with new roommates is “setting up clear expectations early on in the semester, as opposed to waiting for a problem to arise.”

She recommends being “proactive instead of reactive” while living with others.

The golden rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

This adage holds especially true when living with others. Be respectful of people’s space and belongings. Don’t take things that don’t belong to you, whether they be foods or other objects. Don’t make noises or messes you wouldn’t appreciate.

Ask questions When in doubt, ask! While it may be embarrassing to ask certain questions at first, just remember how nice it feels when someone double-checks with you to make sure it’s okay to borrow an item.

Many roommates share items such as dishes, condiments, toilet paper and feminine hygiene products, but others do not share these items. The only way to know if something is shared is to ask the owner of the item.

Be aware of differences Some people come from different locations and lifestyles, and it is important to recognize that these differences can contribute to some behaviors you may not understand. A roommate from a different culture or upbringing may have

different ideas about appropriate noise levels, sleeping habits, cleanliness and even food storage and preparation.

“Some people are maybe not as openminded to other lifestyles,” Booth said.

These cultural differences can sometimes be very close to the identity of a person, so in a roommate situation, try to identify those differences and respect them. If any cultural behavior is bothersome, don’t be afraid to talk to the person about a reasonable compromise.

Become comfortable enough with roommates to discuss any problems that arise. There may be ways to modify those behaviors that make both people happy.

Problem solve If a problem arises, don’t be shy to talk about it. Don’t let the small bumps in the road pile up and contribute to a developed sense of resentment. Smooth those issues over as soon as possible, rather than waiting to talk about it sometime later in a

snap of anger. Some roommates will have habits so normalized that they will have no clue they cause issues for others.

“A lot of it comes down to communication. Somebody’s not talking,” Maria Bonifacio, UAA Residence Life associate director and Main Apartment Complex residence coordinator, said.

No matter how small the problem, Bonifacio advises against leaving written notes around the living space. Face-toface discussion is ideal.

When communicating with a roommate, confront the person face-to-face and try to be understanding. Don’t interrupt or try to correct facts. Use language like “I felt,” “It appeared to me that” and “I thought.” Try not to use accusatory “you” language.

Try to come to a peaceful resolution by working together and understanding each person’s role as a member of a team.

Find “me-time” Always remember even some of the best of friends can get sick of each other when they spend too much time together.

Find time and space away from roommates. Engage in activities in the community and on campus to make new friends and get a breather from your living space.

Bonifacio said the first week of school is booming with more than 70 activi-

ties and events hosted by UAA Residence Life. In addition to communicating, developing a well-rounded academic and social life is a strong way to help ease any sort of brewing tension at home.

On-campus tips

Students living on campus have many ways to avoid and resolve conflict. Bonifacio said the Residence Life staff is trained to handle conflict between roommates. There is a procedure for handling conflicts in student housing. First, students are asked to resolve conflicts amongst themselves. If not, a peer from Residence Life can step in and mediate.

And finally, if a resolution still cannot be made, other Residence Life professionals can step in.

Roommate agreements The Residence Life staff gives a roommate agreement to freshmen in the residence halls. The beginning of the agree-

if it doesn’t regard a roommate.

“We encourage the face-to-face dialogue with your roommates,” Bonifacio said. “If that just doesn’t work ... then we advise them to go to their RA — their resident adviser — or their peer mentor to talk with them. And so that would be the next level, keeping it among peers.”

If needed for conflict resolution, an RA can produce the roommate agreement for a set of roommates, sit down with the quarreling residents and go over what was agreed upon in the document.

Bonifacio calls the roommate agreement “a living document,” which means it can be altered when needed.

RAs can also be mediators for residents who want to talk and have a neutral third party sit in on the conversation. The RA can add suggestions and recomended plans of action. Booth calls RAs “the first line of defense” in conflict resolution.

An RA can be contacted at any time to help residents sort through problems.

Even a conflict arises at an inconvenient hour, an “RA on duty” can be contacted via phone from 5 p.m.-8 a.m. daily.

Residence coordinators In the event a conflict cannot be resolved by meeting with the RA, the RA can contact the residence coordinator, or RC, for further mediation. A meeting between the residents, RA, RC and other Residence Life professionals can be arranged to come to the best conclusion.

This is considered a last resort, and it is uncommon for conflicts to escalate to this point.

“We (residence coordinators) don’t PHOTO BY BRANDON O’CONNOR/FLICKR get a lot of roommate conflicts,” ment has a collection of communication Bonifacio said. “I think that a lot of them tips, which reflect the pointers above. are dealt with at a student-staff level.”

The remainder of the document includes questions about when and what kinds of Parting ways guests are allowed, when study time and With the above tips, the possibility of classes are, what each roommate’s sleepparting with a roommate should seem ing habits are, a checklist of shared items slimmer. But some roommates find themand a chore schedule. selves snared in irreconcilable differRoommates sharing a living space ences, and the best option is to part ways. must fill out the agreement together by This is viable both on-campus and offtalking about each topic and deciding the campus. answers in each section. Then the roomBooth said students living on campus mates sign the agreement, and their resihave the option to move to a different dence adviser will keep the document on room if negotiations and compromises record so it doesn’t get lost. can’t be made.

The roommate agreement can be used The process of changing rooms onas a reference point for roommates to talk campus can be done in a matter of days. about how a conflict may have breached However, students living off-campus initial expectations. may be forced to wait until the end of “We like to keep everything at the their lease contracts. lowest level possible. So we encourage “It’s nice if we can solve problems, our students — our residents here that so nobody has to move,” Bonifacio said. live on campus — to try to solve conflicts “But we understand that there’s someamong themselves,” Bonifacio said. times people being placed are like polar opposites and they didn’t even know it.”

Resident advisers While it can be bittersweet to part with Resident advisers, or RAs, are student a roommate, it can open up an avenue that leaders who live in the residence halls. allows both parties to focus more on acaEach RA goes through a two-week train- demic success. Living with a new person ing to prepare them for their role in Resi- can be novel and strange, but don’t forget dence Life, which includes conflict reso- to keep school a priority in the midst of lution and mediation. They are the go-to all the fun, excitement and road bumps people for any question or concern, even to come.

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

Want to play games for money?

Experiments are decision-making exercises designed to explore choices people make in different environments.

For example, you may be a trader in a financial market, a fisherman, an employee or a manager of a firm.

Most experiments are computerized and are conducted in our state of the art computer laboratory.

UAA Experimental Economics Lab Register at: econlab.uaa.alaska.edu Rasmuson Hall, Room 205c

| 07

08 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

How to alienate your roommate like a master

By Kjersti Andreassen photo@thenorthernlight.org

Navigating college living situations can be a complicated affair.

Here is some of the best advice The Northern Light could think of for alienating your future roommates. With our help, even you can develop a psychopathic streak! There’s nothing like a little, shall we say, knowledge of good and evil, to set your college relationships off poorly. We hope you will make good use of these tips. Just don’t blame us if your roommate throws a conniption or you wake up to find charges pressed against you.

1. Don’t clean. Ever.

Leaving a nice pile of dishes overflowing in the kitchen sink, especially with the combination of week-old stains and crumbs on the counters and floor, is a tried-and-true method of creating passive aggression in the people you live with. To actually get on your neighbor’s personal kill list, however, make sure the bathroom is never clean. For some reason people are really sensitive about places they get naked in. Some helpful pointers here include not flushing the toilet when you’re done, leaving month-old towels on the floor, and ignoring that soap buildup in the shower. Finally, make sure you don’t catch too much of the grime on the sink when you wash your hands — it’s amazing how hard it can be to avoid cleaning something when you really try.

GETTING AROUND CAMPUS DRIVE.

Vehicles must display a UAA parking permit or Pay ‘n Park receipt while on campus. Purchase a permit at uaa.thepermitstore.com

RIDESHARE. PHOTO BY LISACLARKE / FLICKR

2. Throw parties without asking

One of the finest ways to really torture an already anxiety-ridden, sleep deprived neighbor is to throw a party without asking — especially right before midterms, or during the week before finals when everything is due. The louder the better. I suggest getting at least 15 people together, or as many as you can fit into the space available to you. Make sure they’re all either drunk or the fun kind of sleep deprived, just enough to keep your neighbors awake without waking up the RAs.

3. Eat their food

Hungry and up late one night? Don’t have the energy to buy your own food? Perfect. This makes for a wonderfully infuriating method of roommate torture. Make sure you focus the goodies with your mate’s name on it. Note that this principle can also be expanded to other forms of theft, like walking into someone’s unlocked room and stealing electronics the person spent a whole year saving for.

Alternatively, vandalizing someone’s space without taking anything is also an acceptable option.

Become part of the largest rideshare community in North America! Create a profile to form a personalized carpool with others at UAA. Sign up at zimride.com/alaska

SHUTTLE.

The Seawolf Shuttle has several routes across campus. View the schedule at uaa.alaska.edu/shuttle

BUS.

Current students, faculty and staff can ride anywhere the People Mover and Valley Mover bus systems travel for free. Visit peoplemover.org or valleymover.org for route information.

CAR RENTAL.

Faculty, staff, and students (over age 18) can rent a car by the hour or day and pick it up right on campus. The cost of the rental includes gas and insurance! Sign up today at hertz247.com/uaalaska

4. Turn invisible

In seriousness, the only thing more annoying than having a neighbor who is unsanitary or throws parties that last until 6 a.m. during finals week is having a neighbor you never get to know. Can you imagine the disappointment your neighbors would have if they went a whole semester, or even year, without getting to know the magnificent person you are? Forcing them to endure the loneliness of an empty home, and depriving them of your presence? College is all about learning to deal with new things, whether crappy neighbors or new challenging ideas. Everyone comes to college with a few rough edges, and smoothing them out can be pretty painful.

However, isolating yourself from your neighbors and not allowing them to be challenged by you is even worse in the long run.

CALL TEAM.

The Parking Services Call Team provides safety to the university by enforcing parking regulations, as well as providing complimentary services such as jump starts, vehicle unlocks, walking safety escorts, emergency locates and classroom unlocks.

Contact the Call Team at 786-1103.

UAA PARKING SERVICES | UAA.ALASKA.EDU/PARKING

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

| 09

SUCCESS: Tips for one’s first time taking university classes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 true — they just came from different people doing different things at different times in their lives. You will breeze through some of your classes and slog through others.

But how long should one study? The truth about studying is that you should find out early on what works for you and stick with it. Make sure that you are staying up to speed in all of your classes, without losing your head and panicking. Remember that digging your way out of a hole is much harder than not falling in one.

3. Skipping class costs you

A three-credit undergraduate course will cost you 549$, when split into 32 1.25-hour sessions over the course of 16 weeks will run you about 17 dollars a session. Doing make-up studying is inefficient and difficult because you don’t know what your instructor is focusing on. The absense of someone who can help with difficult questions and concepts means it may take three or four times as long to absorb the same amount of relevant information.

But how much is your time worth? If you have a job, the answer is at least $8.50 for an hour of work. By skipping class you are out over 30 dollars’ worth of effort.

Skipping that class for an extra hour of sleep has cost you at least 45 dollars’ worth of effort, more than enough cash for a nice date, night out, or tank of gas. Sure, going to bed earlier is tough, but a heavier wallet should help lull you to sleep before 3 in the morning.

4. Ask for help

Academic issues are amongst the top reasons that freshmen drop out of college. It’s not because they ran into trouble with difficult material tests and assignments. It’s because they ran into trouble and they didn’t ask someone for help. They were too scared or too proud or too uninformed, and they gave up before their time.

Most classes here are difficult, but none of them are impossible — they only require more work. Every class you take has been passed by someone who wasn’t as smart as you, wasn’t as prepared as you, and struggled more than you, and then planned accordingly. It is possible, you just might need some help.

Luckily you are are drowning in resources to help you. Did the guy next to you get 25 points higher on the test than you? Sounds like the sort of person you want to form a study group with. Not confident in your writing

PHOTO BY LORDFERGUSON/FLICKR

ability? Head to the Learning Resource Center writing lab, and they will help you edit your paper line by line.

5. Use office hours and open lab

Office hours are set periods of times where your professors are in their offices for one explicit purpose: helping any student that comes in. For less subtle readers, THIS MEANS YOU. Office hours are your best resource to solve any problem you are having with classes.

Wondering what is going to be in the test? Ask the person who is writing it.

Wondering if they’ll like your paper? Politely ask if they can read it with you and point out problems Having trouble with a tricky lab? Ask a TA and they will help your work through it, step by step.

The best, and saddest, part of this is that office hours are rarely used by most students, giving the few that use them hours of undivided attention from their professors. These hours are posted on your syllabus/the lab room in question, or speak with your instructor after class to ask alternative times that fit both of your schedules.

6. No seriously, use the help

Anyone who has ever looked through their list of fines and fees angrily has noticed that they pay dozens of fees.

Despite our suspicions, UAA administration doesn’t just pocket your $3 outdoor recreation fee whilst they cackle madly. They use the fees collected to run programs and hire people with the goal of helping the greater student body. You pay for these programs regardless of whether you use them.

A glance at any university website or bulletin board will show you countless programs offered at this university without any cost.

These programs are not free, and this is a very important point. We don’t take advantage of free things all of the time. Community billboards are covered with offers to take guitar lessons, yoga classes, join Crossfit, get involved with pyramid schemes — all free of charge. University programs are not free; you already pay for them.

It’s one thing to not take advantage of the free offers in life. it’s quite another to spend $1,153 in fees every semester, and not use a single program that they pay for.

On-campus services for students at UAA Compiled by Samantha Davenport arts@thenorthernlight.org

UAA has plenty of services that can help you through your years in college, but what exactly are those groups?

Here are five of the many centers at UAA that can help you in pursuing your academic career. Coordinators and members of each group gave a description to TNL as to how their service can help any Seawolf out.

UAA Career Development Center

UAA Career Development Center is your one-stop shop for preparing you for your future by providing you with free resources to explore and pursue career aspirations. Center staff can help you with getting that job oncampus or off-campus by reviewing your resume and cover letter and practicing your interview skills.

Not sure what career to do with your major or confused about your career path? Schedule a career advising appointment.

Want to connect with an employer that’s in a career field that you’re really interested in? Participate in our job shadowing program.

The UAA Career Development Center has a variety of free resources and events to assist freshman Seawolves, so stop by the center in Rasmuson Hall Room 122 or call at 907-786-4513 to schedule an appointment or learn more about the center’s resources.

Disability Support Services

July 26 marked the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Statistically, it is almost inevitable that during one’s lifetime, every single person alive will either personally experience a disability or will be closely related to someone who experiences a disability. At UAA, Disability Support Services (DSS) provides reasonable accommodations for students who experience a disability (temporary, permanent, or acquired) while

attending college. Although sometimes an individual may not want to come through our door because of stigma, it is important to recognize that self-reporting is a critical step in the process of equalizing the playing field and also skill development in advocating for your rights.

We’re located on the first floor of Rasmuson Hall; contact us by phone (907-786-4530); stop by (Room #105) or email (aydss@uaa.alaska.edu) to request an informational meeting or to schedule an appointment to discuss the impact of your disability in the academic setting. DSS strives to ensure maximum accessibility and promotes Universal Design.

Watch for the thought-provoking Disability History Exhibit —which includes 23 panels of disability represented throughout the ages — that will be periodically displayed during the fall and spring semesters.

UAA Multicultural Center

The UAA Multicultural Center’s mission is to provide programs and services designed to facilitate access, persistence, success and graduation of underrepresented minority students (URMs) at UAA. It is the home of several programs that enhance campus diversity and increase engagement and retention of URMs at UAA. Signature programs include the Seawolf Success Program and the AHAINA Program. The Seawolf Success Program focuses its efforts on first- and second-yearstudents, along with students who are in transition (transfers, on probation, etc.).

AHAINA stands for African-American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, international and Native American students. The AHAINA Program provides services for junior and senior level. The Men and Women of Excellence Program highlights students with junior standing and a minimum of 3.0 GPA. Every semester, we host a graduation celebration for all diverse students receiving degrees from UAA. The Multicultural Center, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., is housed in Rasmuson Hall Room 106 and hosts the following programs and activities for any and all students:

·· Cultural graduation celebrations ·· Culturally relevant programs and services ·· Upgraded computer lab with faster wireless, lounge and study area ·· African-American, Hispanic, Asian, international and Native American (AHAINA) student programs for third- and fourth-year students ·· Sponsored study halls during midterm and finals week every semester — with free food ·· Various academic success workshops ·· Guidance on educational and personal issues (Advocacy) ·· Seawolf Success Program for first- and secondyear students ·· Leadership opportunities

Mapworks

Mapworks is a program that has been at UAA since 2010. It is a tool to help freshman and sophomore students transition to life in college. Using Banner information and survey response data, Mapworks provides staff and faculty with insights into individual students’ college experiences and their propensity for success.

This coming year UAA will participate with SkyFactor-Mapworks as they unveil their new online platform, which will allow users a more simple navigation and interpretation of survey results. UAA Mapworks — part of Student Access, Advising and Transition — will also be rolling out some changes, including new website additions, a Facebook page, and a new motto. In visiting the UAA Mapworks website or talking to the team, users will hear the mantra: “Take it, review it and bring It.” Mapworks hopes this mantra will remind UAA students who receive the survey link: to take the survey, review the results of the survey, and bring the results to their adviser for discussion of their transition to college.

SEE SERVICES

PAGE 12

MAP BY JENNA! ROOSDETT

12 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

What they don’t tell you about living on campus

By Samantha Davenport arts@thenorthernlight.org

A decent amount of my freshman year was spent in room 207-B of West Hall. I really liked West. It was overflow housing, so not a lot of people occupied the halls. I lived in a quad, which consists of four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a living room. Two of my roommates were hardly there so it was usually just me and my other roommate.

West was great, mostly. I felt pretty lucky considering the majority of freshmen get stuck in North Hall, a residence not so highly praised. I had plenty of friends who lived in North who I would go visit regularly. The place was loud. One could always hear people running down the hallways, screaming, and laughing.

During orientations, you’ll get a tour through the halls to see what they look like up close. Seeing them is one thing, but living in them is another. Here’s a little list of know-hows that will help you through your freshman year.

Keep your Wolfcard on you ALL THE TIME.

Seriously.

When arriving at the dorms, you will need your Wolfcard to enter the building.

You will walk into a lobby with a desk, where someone is usually waiting to check you in. (If your guest is a UAA student, they will need their Wolfcard too.)

After this, you will have to swipe your card again to make it up the stairs/down the hall/into the elevator.

But wait, there’s more.

When arriving at your quad/double,

you will have to swipe your card and enter a four-digit PIN to unlock the door.

(If you mess the PIN up, you have to wait a ridiculously long 30 seconds before the lock resets.) You’ll have to do the exact same when opening your bedroom door.

From the outside of the building to inside your room, you’ll have to sign in at one desk and swipe your card four times.

So yeah, Wolfcards are important.

Keep every quarter you see if you want clean clothes.

There is a laundry room in every hall with seven or eight washers/dryers in each. Unfortunately, it’s $1.25 per wash and $1.25 per load. Sure, $2.50 doesn’t seem like a lot of money, but if you’re doing a load of laundry once a week during the school year, it’s around 70-80 dollars’ worth of quarters.

There is a quarter machine in each laundry room, but every now and then the box is out of order. If you have quarters handy, this problem is solved for you.

I would suggest setting a timer on your phone so you’ll know when to go grab your clean clothes. People are impatient.

If you leave a load of clothing in the wash and every machine is full, someone will most likely take it out and throw it on the table.

If you have parents/family in Anchorage, just make a weekly trip over to their house and wash your clothes if you can.

That way, you save a decent chunk of change and no longer have to fight the battle of getting a free washer and dryer.

PHOTO BY NOLIN AINSWORTH

Know the schedule for Commons/Bear Necessities

When living on campus, you are required to have a meal plan which gives you a certain amount of meals and dining dollars.

The first day I went to Gorsuch Commons, I took my roommate with me. She went to the salad bar and returned wideeyed to the table. I asked her what was wrong, and she showed me her lettuce — which had a dead hornet in it. Watch out for what’s in your food.

THEATRE & DANCE

Just know that breakfast is the best meal of the day. Biscuits and gravy, fruit, breakfast burritos — the best stuff is all there before 10 a.m. For dinner, pasta Tuesdays are the best days.

Bear Necessities is extremely overpriced. If you have a car or a friend with a car, go to Fred Meyer and pick up some snacks there instead. You’ll eventually buy something from the Bear because it’s convenient, but the prices will run down your dining dollars.

Keep quarters, watch for dead hornets in your salad and keep your Wolfcard on a lanyard. Welcome to UAA.

SERVICES: On-campus help for students, old and new

Announcing our 2015 - 2016 Season CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 44 Plays for 44 Presidents

Residence Life

Mainstage Theatre | October 2 - 11, 2015 Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sat & Sun at 3pm Auditions: August 24-26 at 7-10pm in the Mainstage

Through the Department of Residence Life, on-campus residents are able to get to class easier, make friends faster, take part in fun activities, and learn how to be an independent UAA Seawolf. A team of live-in professional and student staff members also ensure that residents have a positive academic and social experience at UAA. Students who choose to live in on-campus residence halls or apartments have access to a variety of comforts, a safe living environment, job and leadership opportunities and a mixture of activities to fill time. Highlights include:

Dance Ensemble in Concert

Harper Studio Theatre | November 5 - 8, 2015 Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sun at 6pm Auditions: August 30 at 2-4:30pm in the PSB Dance Studio

Marie Antoinette

Amenities and comforts: ·· Laundry rooms ·· TV/Study lounges Mainstage Theatre | November 20 - 29, 2015 ·· Cama-i Room Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sat & Sun at 3pm ·· Computer lab ·· Gaming systems ·· Seawolf Shuttle Mainstage Theatre | February 26 - March 6, 2016 ·· Dining hall and convenience store Safety: Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sat & Sun at 3pm ·· Front desk check-in system ·· PIN door lock system ·· University police Harper Studio Theatre | April 1 - 24, 2016 ·· RC and RA on-duty Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sun at 3pm ·· Security cameras Jobs and leadership opportunities: ·· Desk attendants ·· Resident advisers Mainstage Theatre | April 14 - 17, 2016 ·· Community assistants Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8pm | Sun at 6pm ·· Residential academic coaches ·· Cama-i Room peer mentors Activities: 30% off for Season Subscribers ·· Living and learning communities ayiates, Sean Benjamin, ·Potter · Residence Hall Association Tickets to all 6 productions Plus a bonus ticket for a friend!

Adapted and By Markus o-Bayiates, Chloe Johnston ·· Academic workshops d Karen Weinberg Also includes Subscriber Benefits Bysuch David as Adjmi Original Story By David Holthouse

By Sarah Ruhl Backstage Tours, Behind-the-Scenes ·· Tutoring at subscriber open Over $85 1 - 24, 2016 t 2 - 11, 2015Sneak PeeksNov 5 - 8, 2015 exclusive Nov 20 - 29,rehearsals!

2015 April Feb 26 -$120 Marvalue 6, 2016for just ·· Late night programs

Plays for residents

Eurydice

Stalking The Bogeyman

New Dances 2016

Subscribe and Save Marie Eurydice Antoinette Dance Ensemble

2015 - 2016 Season

Stalking the Bogeyman

Call 786-4TIX to subscribe

Future Audition Dates can be found at www.uaa.alaska.edu/theatre Find us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/UAAtheatreanddance

Come Audition!

UAA is an EEO/AA Employer and Educational Institution

There is also a student success counselor available to confidentially meet with students to assist with academic, personal and social challenges. For more information call 907-751-7444 or visit https:// www.uaa.alaska.edu/residencelife/index.cfm.

All interested persons, whether students or community members, are invited to audition for any of our shows.

Audition Dates for future productions will be available at www.uaa.alaska.edu/theatre

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

| 13

Motivation for college: Do you know yours?

PHOTO BY FRANCISCO OSORIO/FLICKR

By Nolin Ainsworth

sports@thenorthernlight.org Everyone has a reason for attending college. Some of the reasons students give for pursuing higher education are somewhat shallow and one-dimensional: “I don’t have anything else better to do,” or, “If I want to make good money in the future.”

Still, other reasons may tap into a different kind of source, one that is much deeper and personal: “I want to dance on Broadway,” or, “I want to take care of people who can’t take care of themselves.”

In general, the motivation students give for attending college can be classified in one of two ways, “extrinsic” and “intrinsic.

Henry Clay Lindgren writes in his book “The Psychology of College Success” about that the difference between those two terms — and that difference lies in the source of motivation.

“Extrinsic motives, as the term indicates, have their sources outside of us and refer to the behavior that we carry out in response to the demands and expectations of others, whereas intrinsic motives refer to behavior that is self-initiated,” he says in the book.

Kim Patterson, director of UAA Student Support Services, tries to teach his students that eventually the extrinsic reasons for going to school will wear off, that the surest route to graduation is found when students gain a picture of their purpose in life. It helps the student derive more intrinsic benefits of having a college degree.

“Once you tap into why you want a college degree for yourself — that will motivate yourself when it gets difficult,” Patterson said.

Many incoming students, uncertain about the larger direction they desire to go in, begin school as undeclared majors. This means they haven’t selected majors yet and likely taking all general elective requirements.

Seawolf computer science major Peter Trinh fit into this category.

He was “running out of GERs” when he decided to declare as a computer science major.

“I realized I really liked using computers,” Trinh said.

Now almost two years into the program, Trinh has a new appreciation for the science behind the monitor.

“In computer science, its like an art form in itself,” Trinh said.

Patterson says even if you aren’t totally set on your major, you can still be thinking critically about your options.

“The homework for the student in that first year, that first semester, is really to do some soul searching and ask themselves, ‘What do I want? Why am I here?’”

F R I DAY AF T E R HOU RS Parts of the museum are open late with different events each week.

Discounted admission 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays

“Once students lock into a major that locks into their purpose for life, they are unstoppable.”

-KIM PATTERSON, UAA STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES DIRECTOR

14 | FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

Things Seawolves wish they knew coming into UAA

COMPILED BY KELLY IRELAND

SETH WHIPPLE, JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS SOPHIE LESHAN, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

WESLEY EARLY, JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

JENNY FAYETTE, DUAL LANGUAGES

MICHAEL QUINONEZ, CIVIL ENGINEERING

ARIN WOOSTER, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SAMUEL DOEPKEN, HISTORY

DEVIN JOHNSON, ENVIRONMENT AND SCIENCE DANNY KONTESS, PSYCHOLOGY

JOELLEN WALTERS, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION DANNY KONTESS, PSYCHOLOGY

DAVID BLAKE, JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS MATT “L.J.” JOHNSON, JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

YEVGENII KISARAUSKAS, JUSTICE AND PSYCHOLOGY

LINDSEY WORNER, PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES

AURORA NEWKIRK, ENGLISH LITERATURE

AMANDA RHEAULT, NURSING

MIKEY DELANO, RADIOLOGY TECHNOLOGIES

HAYLEY CAVITT, MARKETING

SOFIA FOQUET, ALUMNA JARETT TUCKER, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

LIZ SAVAGE, JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

CHEYANNE SCHMALZRIED, ALUMNA

FEATURES

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

| 15

RED ZONE: Being smart at parties is easier than you think Just remember that sexual assault can happen to anyone. Rape can happen to anyone, regardless of gender. If you see anyone at a party being taken advantage of, you have the power to intervene. Don’t be a bystander — be proactive in the safety of others.

By Samantha Davenport arts@thenorthernlight.org

2. Protection is key

I’m not going to play Mother Mary and tell you not to go to a party.

Most of you reading this article are going to hit up a handful of college parties in your years at UAA. People go to parties for a number of reasons. It’s an easy way to meet new people, it’s a way for some to get lucky and it’s always nice to relax for a couple hours and unwind.

Putting a condom on is easy.

Using birth control, reduces one’s chances of getting pregnant. However, without a condom, there is still a heightened risk for getting STIs. Condoms do not cancel your chances completely of transferring a disease, but they do diminish them.

People can easily lie about saying if their status is clean.

If you’re hooking up with someone, don’t take the chance and catch something. Be smart. Free protection can be found all over UAA’s campus so there is no excuse as to why safe sex isn’t an option for you. Stop by the Student Health and Counseling Center in Rasmuson Hall for more information about safe sex and free condoms.

What is the Red Zone?

Between the start of school and Thanksgiving, university freshmen are at particular risk for sexual assault. This period has been named the “Red Zone,” and a Campus Sexual Assault study conducted in 2007 showed that more than half of sexual assaults on college campuses occur during this time. Partying, can be risky, but there are things one can do to stay safe and have a good time.

I’ve been to an assortment of different parties; small gettogethers, frat parties, ragers and ones where the cops have to intervene. Regardless, if you go to have a good time or go to get laid, keep a couple of these thoughts in mind.

3. Don’t drink and drive

I know, I know. This seems like a given. Granted, I have had to take intoxicated people out of their cars because they were confident they could drive home.

The drinking age is still 21. If you are underage, illegally consume any alcohol and drive, you can still get a DUI. Have a ride planned ahead of time or crash at a friend’s house so you never have to risk getting your license taken away — or your life for that matter.

Call a cab, call a friend, call your parents, crash on a couch or don’t drink at all. There are plenty of options to choose that don’t include harming yourself and others around you.

1. Make sure consent is involved

This sounds simple enough, right? Unfortunately, people can be animalistic. Alcohol impairs people’s judgement and can reduce the ability to make clear, concise decisions. It is easier to hunt something when it is injured, just like it is easier to take advantage of an individual when his or her vision is cloudy.

Talking to your partner is the best decision you can do. A simple “is this okay?” can give you a definite answer. No means no.

No does not mean take a break for a few minutes. No does not mean keep going.

There are plenty of ways to have a good time at a party, but it’s always better when nobody is hurt and everyone is safe. Be smart out there, freshman, and welcome to university!

GRAPHIC BY JIAN BAUTISTA

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What’s #SeawolfNation up to? Find out on The Howl, UAA’s hashtag hub. cdysrl

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Connect with us

UAA is an EEO/AA employer and educational institution.

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

| 16

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Mr. Holmes’ offers a humble new take on the detective

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org We live in a new age of popularity for the stories of Sherlock Holmes. Many popular studios have had their takes on the character, and the results are a wide mix between modern, classical, quirky, dramatic, and so much more.

“Mr. Holmes,” though, asks a newer, more humble question: what happens when a mad genius like Holmes grows old and senile? How can he hope to pass down his legacy? What can he do about the threat of his increasingly forgetful mind?

The result of this question is a quieter and more intimate Holmes story that focuses less on thrills than it does on drama and atmosphere.

The year is 1947, and a 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes

(Ian McKellen, “The Hobbit”) is living with a small family in a small farmhouse. Unhappy with how his former partner Watson presented his last case to the public, he hopes to write his own account of the story. The family’s small child, Roger, is curious about the case, and both Holmes and Roger spend time to learn more about each other and their lifestyles.

It’s not a thrilling mystery along the lines of something like BBC’s recent “Sherlock” show, but it still maintains the sense of mystery as Holmes struggles to remember the case. Holmes still has his old tricks: incredible senses, a sharp wit, and a powerful ego. But his senility frustrates him. It’s an issue that makes no sense to his great mind.

His interactions with Roger are the highlights of the movie. Though he remains his egotistical self, Holmes is willing to learn more about the quiet and sleepy farm lifestyle. It’s through Roger that he finds more motivation to not only finish writing the case, but also to for-

TITLE “Mr. Holmes”

GENRE Mystery

DIRECTOR Bill Condon

RELEASE DATE July 17, 2015

STARRING Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Hiroyuki Sanada

give himself for his past mistakes. Roger, of course, is as curious and inquisitive as any kid in the same house as Sherlock Holmes would be, and throughout the movie, his growth is as significant as Sherlock’s, if not more so.

The film is beautifully shot as well. It so happens that the farmhouse is close to some of the most spectacular cliffs near Sussex, so of course, you’d expect the landscapes to look beautiful. But even as Holmes recalls memories of the city, there are still incredibly clever shots. No matter the location, the cinematography had a lot of love, care, and hard work put into it.

If you want a thrilling mystery along the same lines of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Holmes, you might be a little disappointed. But it makes up for the lack of thrills with atmosphere, humility, and quiet drama.

And of course, the mystery is captivating the whole way through.

If you’re a fan of the detective at Baker Street, this is a film you can’t miss.

A&E

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

| 17

GAME REVIEW

‘Rocket League’ understands what makes sports awesome

By George Hyde

gchyde@thenorthernlight.org When it comes to pure mechanical flexibility, there’s no better game design like soccer – or football, depending on your region. It’s the simplest of simple concepts: two teams of eleven knock a ball into a net at either side of the field.

But like the best games, there’s a level of complexity behind it all. There are many tactics and tricks utilized by many of the players, often in very entertaining and skillful ways.

In those regards, “Rocket League” is the purest video game incarnation of the concept. At first glance, it seems simple: it’s the same as soccer with the players replaced with rocket-powered cars, right?

But behind the demolition derby chaos, the game gracefully preserves what

makes soccer such a timeless, accessible, and entertaining game to play and watch.

Rather than 22 cars on the pitch — because that would just be silly — the game is played between two teams of one to four (ideally three) players. The car controls are standard, but there are a few twists. As I mentioned before, every car also has a rocket booster on the back.

There’s also a jump ability, and by combining the jump and rocket boost, players can pull off some really neat tricks.

It’s with these mechanics that “Rocket League” nails the nuances that pro-soccer players use in high-level play. A driver can jump up, rocket into the air, and flip his car to launch the ball in the net with the same level of showmanship and skill that a seasoned soccer player has when he or she lands an incredibly tricky shot with, say, their head. Rather than trying to integrate the complex movements of a

soccer player to a controller, the developers at Psyonix went with a movement system that already feels familiar.

And the results are almost as astounding as professional soccer achievements.

Go to YouTube and look up “Rocket League,” and you’ll find a bevy of amazing plays, tricks, shots, and comebacks.

It’s eSports in its purest form: it’s a lot easier to explain “Rocket League” to someone that doesn’t know about video games than something like “League of Legends.” And yet, the simple rules and controls allow for some amazing and

ALBUM REVIEW

‘Our God is a Possum God’

By Taylor Hodges

KRUA 88.1 FM Music Manager UAA’s campus radio sation, KRUA 88.1 FM, received a massive amount of hip-hop this week. Some would say that traditionally, KRUA has treated hip-hop as more of a side show than a main attraction, but I hope to show the station and the listeners a new side of hip-hop.

The album up for this week’s review is “Our God is a Possum God” by Silvertron Youth Choir, a veritable mish-mash of rap, hip-hop, electronic, baroque (yes, fife and lute included), southern twang and cerebral synth pop. Sure, “Our God is a Possum God” trades cohesiveness for shock value, but it brings the listener

back to the late ‘90s, where Jackass and Crank Yankers reigned supreme.

The songs “Pamplemoose” and “Justin Bieber on a Beaver” combine hip-hop with barbaric humor in a way that is reminiscent of Gnarkill or Das Racist, referencing drugs and mocking celebrities while convincing the listeners that this music is the spawn of several friends who just hang out in a studio.

The second half of the album, in stark contrast to the first, features southern swamp-style music for a few songs, then back to hip-hop, then to ‘90s pop and finally ends on a tripped-out instrumental that truly can’t be categorized.

Listening to this album will make one’s head spin, and it comes highly recommended.

ARTIST Silvertron Youth Choir

GENRE Hip-hop, experimental

ALBUM “Our God is a Possum God“

LABEL Ten Dollar Recording Co.

RELEASE DATE July 28, 2015

entertaining moments.

It’s a wonderful game to play, and an almost better one to watch. And unlike many other competitive eSport games like “Counter-Strike,” it’s incredibly easy to get into and understand, with the same level of complexity and skill required. If you want in on the fun, you need nothing more than a PS Plus subscription or twenty bucks, depending on the platform.

Or you could watch the game on Twitch, if you’re the spectating type. Either way, it’s a fantastic time.

TITLE Rocket League

PLATFORMS PS4, PC

DEVELOPER Psyonix

GENRE Soccer with cars

RELEASE DATE July 7, 2015

SPORTS

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

| 18

The forgotten roller girls

Two sisters’ dedication to ‘hardball’ roller hockey pays off

By Nolin Ainsworth

sports@thenorthernlight.org You might say it was the Hughes sisters’ fate to fall in love with a game on roller skates.

The girls’ parents, Tom and Janis Hughes, first met while roller skating one day at the now-defunct roller skating rink “Anchorage Great Skate.”

Roller skating, and rink hockey for that matter, have always been second nature to the Hughes family. By the time Tom and Janis had their first daughter, Shellie, they had opened a roller rink of their own in Anchorage. Separated in age by about 10 years, sisters’ Shellie, Kimberly and Kylie would all share one thing in common: the love of rink hockey.

Kimberly Hughes calls the years she was a figure skater “her dark past.”

Kylie Hughes recalls she was “dying to play” up until age 4.

Rink hockey has never been a popular sport in Anchorage. Many Anchorage youth take to ice hockey at a young age and never look back. The sisters never let that sway them into switching over to ice, despite being some of the only girls that played on wheels.

“It was more self-driven than anything,” Kimberly said about her early

years in the sport. “There was a lot of times when we didn’t have full teams of people to practice (with), so we would come over — just us.”

Although there were few other rink hockey players in Anchorage, Tom Hughes would take his daughters to the Lower 48 every year to play in the national tournament.

“The competition is in the air — you can feel it,” Tom Hughes said of the tournament. “The kids get along with everybody. It’s just a big family, really.”

Playing against better competition was all the motivation Kimberly and Kylie needed to get better.

Slowly but surely, the sisters began getting good — really good. So much so that they began catching the eye of the U.S. National Team.

In 2002, Kimberly joined Team -TOM HUGHES U.S.A. in the Federation of International Roller Sports Women’s Rink Hockey World Cup. Younger sister Kylie wasn’t far behind either from making the squad. Kylie made the national team in 2008.

“We enjoy the national tournament every year, but we live for the chance that we’ll be picked on the team for the inter-

“It’s just a big family, really.”

PHOTO BY KJERSTI ANDREASSEN

Kylie Hughes explains the 2015 Rink Hockey National Championship schedule. The Sno-Devils competed last month in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

national play,” Kimberly said, “because that is just amazing.”

Kimberly has represented the U.S. in five women’s rink hockey world cups, and Kylie four. The two competed together in Alcobendas, Spain, in 2010; Recife, Brazil, in 2012; and Tourcoing, France, in 2014.

The U.S. women’s team finished eighth, 10th and 12th respectively the last three years.

The tournament in France was the first time three Hughes family members made the national team. Tom Hughes was named the co-coach of that years’ team.

“The fact that my dad gets to coach us, that really makes me proud,” Kylie said.

The international experience has helped Kimberly and Kylie teach the next generation of rink hockey players.

The sport has been growing as a result. Beginners are readily welcomed into the “Sno-Devil” family — the sole Anchorage rink hockey club. This club has grown now to more than 30 members, many of them families that all enjoy the sport. The more the merrier for Kylie.

“I would love to see twice as many, four times as many teams up here playing,” she said.

Both Kimberly and Kylie don’t like the idea of walking away from this game.

Kimberly, now in her 30s and raising two children, knows that day will come sooner rather than later.

“I keep thinking of going through the day … when I have to say, ‘I’m too old to play,’ and how am I going to handle that?” Kimberly said. “Hopefully that day is far down the road.”

OPINION

THENORTHERNLIGHT TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

| 19

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

‘Believe ... Dream.

Try. Do good.’

By Kierra Hammons

content@thenorthernlight.org Welcome to the Freshmen Edition of The Northern Light!

Every year, TNL puts together a newspaper issue targeted specifically toward first-time college students. There are a lot of you out there, and firstly I want to tell you congrats!

As the managing editor of TNL, I am pleased to share this information with all of you, even if it is a deviation from our typical news-style reporting. TNL staffers all came together to focus on what they wished they could have known as incoming freshmen.

I am a UAA graduate, having earned my fist bachelor’s degree in fall 2014. While this edition of TNL weighs some of the good with the bad about collegiate life, I will say one thing: In my experience, all of this is worth at least considering. But don’t let any of it discourage you.

Many people, myself included, step onto UAA’s campus for the first time and feel a shudder of anxiety: What should my major be? What if I don’t make any friends? Was my 8:30 a.m. calculus class a good idea? Can I possibly walk from the Professional Studies Building to the Admin Building in my 15-minute passing period?

Tools and Techniques for Access

Breathe.

All you have to do is try.

In some ways, you will fail.

(It turns out you can’t read and understand that medieval drama 20 minutes before class starts.) But failing does not mean you’re a failure; it means you’ve tried. Every failure I’ve had has been a learning experience, and many more successes come from it.

The last episode of the ‘90s sitcom “Boy Meets World” sums it up best. I know some readers will probably be too young to remember it, but there’s a spinoff of it on Disney Channel right now that you might recognize. If not, the lesson is still easy to understand: Shawn, best friend of series main character Cory, tells their lifelong teacher-mentor Mr. Feeny that moving on to a new stage in life is scary.

“And you are ready to go into that world,” Mr. Feeny says.

“Even me?” Cory’s older brother asks doubtfully.

“Even you,” Mr. Feeny assures. “Believe in yourselves.

Dream. Try. Do good.”

UAA welcomes you, new Seawolf. And the world welcomes your hope and goodness too.

   

Visit us on the Web!

www.uaa.alaska.edu/dss

Or stop by:

Rasmuson Hall #105

Disability Support Services UAA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.

The Northern Light is a proud member of the ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS. The Northern Light is a weekly UAA publication funded by student fees and advertising sales. The editors and writers of The Northern Light are solely responsible for its contents. Circulation is 2,500.

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.­­­

LETTERS AND CORRECTIONS POLICY

LETTER TO INCOMING STUDENTS

By Keith Hackett

Seawolf Athletics Director Dear Seawolves, Welcome to UAA and the start of something special for all of you entering your first semester on campus. We have an outstanding campus and a wide range of events and activities for you to get involved in.

UAA Seawolf Athletics is here to be a part of your college experience. We have excellent men’s and women’s teams for you to cheer on. The best part is that when you come to games at the Alaska Airlines Center on campus, and at the Sullivan Arena for hockey, tickets are free for you with a valid student ID! You can also bring up to two PHOTO BY SAM WASSON/GOSEAWOLVES friends with you, and they each pay only $5.

We want you to be a part of Seawolf Athletics by coming to our games and cheering for the ‘Wolves. If you go to our website, www.

GoSeawolves.com, you can get all the current info you need to make plans to attend our games.

Thank you in advance for becoming a part of our Seawolf Nation.

Have a great school year. I look forward to seeing you at our games.

All my best, Keith Hackett Director of Athletics khackett2@uaa.alaska.edu Follow me on Twitter @khackett2_Keith

Individual Adjustments Accessible Computing Trainings/Workshops Community Events

Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum length is 250 words.

Opinion pieces can be submitted to editor@thenorthernlight.org. The maximum word length is 450 words.

Letters and opinion pieces are subject to editing for grammar, accuracy, length and clarity.

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 Northern Light newsroom is located on the first floor of the Student Union, directly next to Subway.

THE NORTHERN LIGHT CONTACTS 3211 Providence Drive Student Union 113 Anchorage, AK 99508 EXECUTIVE EDITOR 786-1434 editor@thenorthernlight.org Kelly Ireland MANAGING EDITOR 786-1313 content@thenorthernlight.org Kierra Hammons COPY EDITOR Vacant NEWS EDITOR Vacant ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Vacant A&E EDITOR arts@thenorthernlight.org Samantha Davenport ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR arts2@thenorthernlight.org Vacant

FEATURES EDITOR Vacant

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Vacant

ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Vacant

ADVERTISING MANAGER 786-6195 admanager@thenorthernlight.org Anthony Crouts III

SPORTS EDITOR Vacant ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR sports@thenorthernlight.org Nolin Ainsworth PHOTO EDITOR photo@thenorthernlight.org Kjersti Andreassen STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER aeberhardt@thenorthernlight.org Adam Eberhardt LAYOUT EDITOR layout@thenorthernlight.org Demi Straughn GRAPHIC DESIGNERS jbautista@thenorthernlight.org Jian Bautista WEB EDITOR Vacant

MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE ads@thenorthernlight.org Vacant STAFF REPORTERS gchyde@thenorthernlight.org George Hyde nburns@thenorthernlight.org Nathan Burns CONTRIBUTORS Evan Dodd Jacob Holley-Kline MEDIA ADVISER Paola Banchero ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISER Annie Route ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Stacey Parker

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