What Does Dr. Fox Say? by Michelle Sharpe Mat Su College Professor Speaks at Oxford University

October 2014 VOLUME 38 NUMBER 1 New Rain Garden Decorates College Campus with Ecosystem in Mind by Jacob Mann This summer, a new addition to building near the trailhead. Planted the Mat-Su College campus was to thrive in the Alaskan climate, put in place - a rain garden. A swaying in the breeze, the flowers spectrum of 25 types of perennial paint the landscape as an example flowers now colors the southeast of low-impact development. entry to Snodgrass Hall behind the Continue on Page 11

The dinner hall where C.S. Lewis and his students ate and met. Dr. Fox is in the front at the left. What does Dr. Fox say? By Michelle Sharpe Mat Su College professor speaks at Oxford University

Mat-Su’s very own her, and get the inside scoop on Students at Mat-Su College work hard to install a raingarden Dr. Deborah Fox had the how she got invited and what and improve the environment. opportunity to speak abroad she got to speak about during about something that she’s her time abroad. Get involved with YOUR paper! always been very passionate Interviewer: So, you got to The Mat-Su Monitor is open to students of all about, British Literature: speak at Oxford? experience levels. A paper like ours always needs “It was a real honor for me. writers, artists, graphic designers, advertisement Because I’m a British Lit fan, Dr. Fox: Yeah, but Oxford is coordinators, photographers, and more (maybe you can contribute something we haven’t even thought of)! always have been. I mean, made up of almost 40 different colleges. that’s my main love.” Meetings: Mondays and Thursdays, 12:00 to 12:50, I got the chance to interview Continue on Page 10 in OLB 214 (upstairs in library). 02 Around the Campus Upcoming events: October 24: 7 PM-10PM. Halloween Dance in the Mat-Su College Cafe. October 27: Spring schedule and textbooks posted on UAOnline. October 27-31: Spirit Week. Monday, October 27: Dress like a pirate day. Tuesday, October 28: Dress like a zombie day. Wednesday, October 29: dress like a superhero/supervillain day. Thursday, October 30: Dress like a Disney character day. Friday, October 31: Halloween. October 28 and 29: 9 AM-4 PM: UAA School of Engineering representative on campus; call Student Services at 745-9762 for more information or to make an individual appointment. October 28-30: Representative from UAA Allied Health will be on campus to talk about careers in fire-fighting, emergency services, dental assisting, dental hygiene, radiologic technology, medical assisting, physical therapy, and phlebotomy. Contact Student Services at 745-9762 for more information. November 1: Last day to apply for fall graduation. November 3: UAA College of Business and Public Policy representative on campus; those interested in degrees in accounting, economics, management, logistics, finances, small business administration, and so on should call Student Services at 745-9762 for more information. November 10-13: Spring semester registration opens; exact date determined by number of credits already obtained. November 11: Noon: Veterans Day flag-folding ceremony at the entrance of the FSM building, followed by a reception. November 14: Withdrawal deadline for fall semester. November 26: No classes, campus open. November 27-29: No classes, campus closed.

Alumni BBQ and Alumni Chapter Formed

Matanuska-Susitna College hosted the third annual Alumni BBQ on July 8 in the MSC café. Delicious hamburgers were grilled up and alumni and their families brought delicious side dishes for sharing. You can view photos of the event on our Pinterest site! As a result of this event and eager alumni coming together again, we are excited to announce the formation of the first ever Mat-Su Area Alumni Chapter – the newest addition to the UAA Alumni Association. The group will be responsible for holding at least one meeting annually, participate in the annual Alumni Assembly and host one event per year. The official signing took place at Vagabond Blues in Palmer. All MSC graduates, as well as UAA graduates, are invited to join the chapter!

Pictured left to right are Charter members David Johnson, Keith Asche and If you are interested, please email marketing@matsu. Delena Johnson; Director of Marketing at Mat-Su College Courtney Brooke Smith and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Alumni Relations Rachel Morse at the alaska.edu. official signing of the Mat-Su Area Alumni Chapter Around the Campus 03

HAVE SOME QUESTIONS? TRY ONE OF MAT-SU COLLEGE’S LEARNING SERVICES. ART DEPARTMENT EVENTS Online Tutoring: UAA Consortium Library 1pm-midnight. Limited hours per student. Home of Infinite Possibilities www.tutor.com/alaska www.tutor.com/military for military families who qualify STUDENT ART SHOW Khan Academy: Videos (math, science, economics, history) http://www. khanacademy.org/ Foreign Language: http://libraries.mangolanguages.com/alaska/start Nov. 21 - Dec. 11, 2014 (includes English) ON MAT-SU CAMPUS AT THE LEARNING CENTER* FACULTY ART SHOW OLB 121 745-9713 WRITING Oct. 15 – Nov.19, 2014 Juried Art Show. Mon 12:30-3:00 Drop off: January 6 to 8, 2015 Wed 12:30-3:00 Show: Jan.14 to Feb. 11, 2015 MATH High School Portfolio Contest Juried art show opened to all artists, Mon 9:30-5:00 Portfolio review day Feb. 4, in any medium, from around the Tues 11:00-3:00 & 3:30-7:30 2015 Drop off dates Feb. 9-12, 2015 valley. Rules and application will be posted on the Mat-Su UAA Art Wed 9:30-1:00 & 2:30-5:00 Winner announced: Feb. 18 Show Feb. Department Facebook page or can Thur 10:00-3:00 18– Mar. 18, 2015 be picked up outside of the Mat-Su Art department office. Fri 10:00-3:00 This contest is open to high school students. Students have the opportunity ASL to be awarded a one-year full tuition Dr. Felicia M. Desimini, 1:00-5:00 scholarship to Mas-Su College. Assistant Professor Seniors only BIOLOGY Art Department Coordinator 10:00-12:00 Rules and application will be posted on the Director, Machetanz Arts Mat-Su UAA Art Department Facebook *Tutoring is available only for students enrolled in MSC courses Festival page or can be picked up outside of the Office: 745-9755 Fall 2014. Hours are subject to change. Tutors available Sept 8 - Dec 12. Mat-Su Art department office. [email protected] Please call ahead to make an appointment. http://matsu.alaska.edu/offices/the-learning-center/tutoring/ http://matsu.alaska.edu/departments/fine-arts/ 04 JUST FOR STUDENTS Career Services

Did you know that Mat-Su College offers career services for students at any point in their education career? My name is Karen Backlund and I’ve been the Career Development Coordinator at Mat-Su College since October 2007. The resources available to you include: • Career assessments (Myers Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory) provide information on your personality and interests as they relate to college and career • Career exploration tools (Alaska Career Information System – AKCIS and others) provide information on majors, education and training resources, occupations, and industry trends • Assistance adjusting to career and life changes • Referral to other organizations for funding and other services • Job search, resume, and interviewing tips You can get more information about career advising and other resources at: http://matsu.alaska.edu/office/student-services/career-advising/. Local employers also call our office to request assistance getting the word out about their offerings:http://matsu.alaska.edu/office/student-s ervices/career-advising/ career-opportunities/. I look forward to writing a regular column detailing these and other services. Call 745-9762 to schedule an appointment with me.

Why Create a Budget? Creating a budget for yourself, especially while in college, can save you time, money and stress in the long run. How will you know the amount of loans to borrow, how many hours you need to work, or if you can afford that extra class if you don’t do a budget first to determine your funds going in and out? Money affects all areas of our lives. If you’re stressed about your finances, other parts of your life will suffer. This is especially true as a student. So try creating a budget, it will help you focus on more important things... like graduating! Budgeting Tips Budgeting Apps ● You’re in college, so live like a college student! There are lots of apps out there that can help you budget bet- ● Determine what is essential in your life (your needs) versus what ter. Some are free, some are paid, and they vary with amounts would be nice to have (your wants). Try to focus on your needs of bells and whistles included. Check these out to see what and spend money on those. might work for you: ● Find a budgeting technique that works for you, and stick with it. Free ● Don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t give up! Mint – mint.com Level Money – levelmoney.com ● Estimate a budget for an entire year rather than just a month or BudgetEase – budgetease.com semester. LearnVest – learnvest.com GoodBudget – goodbudget.com ● Taking out loans as a “back-up” or cushion is usually not the best idea. If you have the money, you’ll spend it, perhaps without Paid needing to do so and the interest that will accumulate on the iExpenseIt - www.fyimobileware.com loans is not worth it! Determine your needs vs. wants to figure You Need a Budget – youneedabudget.com out the least amount of loans you can take out to survive while in MoneyWiz – moneywizapp.com school. Spendee – spendeeapp.com

If you’d like more tips on Budgeting, as well as other Financial Literacy topics like Credit and Student Loans, be sure to visit www. uaa.alaska.edu/financialaid/financial-lit.cfm . 05

on life skills for homeless Service Learning at Mat-Su College young women. by Staff Service learning isn’t just into the community and tackling connects what we’re discussing for courses whose content Around 1900, a French artist real-world needs. Educators call on paper and shows how it focuses on social ills. Examples drew a series of illustrations this service learning. works in the real world.” For from across the country depicting life in the year 2000. instance, two of her students To get a sense of what service demonstrate this. One public The future classroom scene is are working with the American learning is, I spoke with Mat-Su speaking course has students remarkable. It shows a teacher Lung Association to provide College Career Development and give elementary school students pouring books into something information on the dangers Service Learning Coordinator hour-long presentations on akin to a meat grinder. From of smoking while pregnant. Karen Backlund. She defines a topics such as compassion, it, wires run to helmets atop “They’ve been putting together service learning assignment as cooperation, and courtesy. A students’ heads. Sitting in rigid information that they used one that “combines three critical statistics class helps non-profits poses that appear unnatural at the women and children’s elements: a service project clearly develop statistical reports used nowadays, these students seem health fair at the hospital. The related to academic objectives of to apply for grant funding. A to be absorbing every last detail two students were there and the course, service activities that chemistry class provides judges of the electrified books. had a table, a PowerPoint, meet a recognized community and presenters for elementary and answered questions from Pity the artist. This classroom need, and an opportunity for school science fairs. Here at people.” Other students worked hasn’t come to be (neither students to reflect on what they Mat-Su College, courses ranging with the National Organization has his whale bus – visit http:// have learned.” What does this from Refrigeration and Heating of Women to bring to campus bit.ly/1h9eIK4 to see all the mean in practice? to Business have incorporated a Lunafest film festival and predictions). And it’s not just service learning. a showing of the film The the technology that seems silly; To find out, I spoke to Judy Invisible War, which touches on Instructors interested in the idea that students should Gette, whose Introduction to sexual assault in the military. service learning, or community passively absorb information is Women’s and Gender Studies Another pair of students members with service learning badly outdated. Today, educators course has incorporated service worked with MyHouse to project ideas, can contact push students to apply what they learning. As Judy explains it, “the service learning project develop a five-week curriculum Karen Backlund at 746-9319 or learn, often by getting them out [email protected]. The Mat-Su Monitor Team

Editor Faculty Advisor Mike DiBattista Micah Muer Staff Writers Cartoons Layout Artist Jacob Mann KB Brooks Nadia Myers Audrey Badger Contributing Writers Jacob Mann Karen Backlund Michelle Sharpe Photographs Albert Wily Samantha Brumagin Samantha Brumagin 06 REVIEWS Sharpe’s Spooky Movie Guide:

Alaska, a place where 3.The Innocents (1961): If friend turn them into delicious the nights are longer and you are in the mood for a more pie. Quality family movie. spookier! Unfortunately, psychological movie, give (Not really) the nights are also getting this a chance. Based on the colder. That’s okay, what 1898 novella The Turn of the 6.Hocus Pocus (1993): No better way to spend these Screw, this movie follows the Halloween is complete without long nights than watching story of a Victorian governess watching this classic movie some horror movies with taking the job of watching two about three witch sisters being your friends? Looking adorable children, whose last raised from the dead by three for some good horror governess mysteriously died. unknowing youths. Chances movie recommendations? This is a slow burning movie are, you’ve seen this movie, Search no further. I have that leaves the audience asking but you can never watch this a few horror movies that whether the governess was movie too many times. you may enjoy. crazy or if the kids were really creepy? Either way, it’s worth 1.The Shining (Jack checking out. Nickolson, Shelly Duvall): Honorable Mentions: HERE’S JOHNNY!!! This Rosemary’s Baby (1968): 4. Rocky Horror Picture Show- If 1980 Stanley Kubrick classic, Those 60’s movies. They loved you are in the mood for an based loosely on Stephan making movies that debated odd cult classic about alien King’s novel is sure to whether or not the leading transvestites, give this a try. please the horror and non- ladies were really insane or Mat-Su Carbon Crew helps the MSC Library horror fans alike. Set in a not. Girls, believe me though, Recycle nearly half a ton of periodicals. The Exorcist- Described as secluded (haunted) hotel, the the most unsettling thing about one of the scariest movies Torrence family must deal this movie is not the fact that ever created, this movie is with typical things that come the main character is carrying sure to entertain, and unsettle with house sitting a gigantic the spawn of Satan, but rather everyone in the room. hotel; snow storms, loss of how the people who she communications, writer’s trusts most are the ones who Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil- This block, even worse writer’s ultimately betray her and make horror comedy turns a genre on block, alcohol, and ghosts. her feel insane. Moral of the its head in a very entertaining Lots of creepy ghosts. This is story: If you find that you’re fashion. Definitely check this a great movie to watch in the pregnant, RUN!!! movie out if you like gory dark on a snowy night. comedy. international club 2.The Descent (2005): This If you do not feel like watching horror movie is sure to disturb 5.Sweeney Todd: The a movie, but feel like binge the audience in some way or Demon Barber of Fleet Street watching a new show that another. If the claustrophobic (2007): You know, after all features some pretty scary spelunking scenes don’t of those other movies, maybe episodes, give Supernatural make you writhe in your seat everyone could do with a a try. The X-Files is a classic in discomfort, then those nice musical, starring Johnny series as well, and both are carnivorous cave dwelling Depp, Helena Bohem Carter, guaranteed creatures are sure to do the job. and Alan Rickman. This is a to creep This movie is gruesome and delightful musical that centers you out. is truly creepy on every level. on a friendly barber who only This is definitely a movie to wants to give everyone a nice, watch in the dark… If you can. close shave. . . Before slitting people’s throats and having his REVIEWS 07 I’m a Fighter: Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate Review

By: Dr. Albert Wily The story has also taken a ing so bold, you can try and Since the first entry in darker turn and shows that complete each character’s 1996, gamers have taken the past four games were moveset for bragging rights. pretty quickly to the Dead worth paying attention to This does not leave new or Alive series’ robust fight- for the plot. The two new- players out in the cold, how- ing system and colorful cast comer fighters both get am- ever. Each tutorial is easy of characters. Fast forward ple screen time while main to follow, and you can pick to 2013 and Dead or Alive character Kasumi still looks and choose a different fight- is still kicking. Sadly, one to bring down the shady ty- er at any time if you want to defining feature and selling rants behind her brother’s practice different fighting point of the games was the disappearance. All of the re- styles. One big mechanic skimpiness of the female turning and new characters that has also helped D.O.A fighters’ attires. The series get their own time to shine stay head to head with the has been accused of being obsessed with showing off its women (two beach volleyball games with no combat didn’t help matters). But true fighting game fans will be able to look past this (or not…) to find a truly deep fighting and enter- tainment experience. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate is the “complete” edition of the fifth game, and in- in the game’s story mode, competition is the Tag Team cludes features and charac- which ties together nicely mode. Both players pick two ters not seen in the original in the end but still throws in characters and duke it out to release. For Team Ninja’s a major twist. The fighting see who has the better team. credit, the women of Dead system has also never been D.O.A mixes this up with or Alive really do have better. Everything is just as the ability to tag in at any depth and character to them. fans remember it. If you’ve time. It also lets you contin- The marketing campaign for never played Dead or Alive ue a combo by switching to gamers to take their series before this is an excellent your partner as you’re in the seriously again because “I’m time to start. The good news middle of it. This not only a Fighter” seems to have for veterans is that none of opens up new ways to fight paid off. The fan-service of the complexity or depth has but provides an almost end- skimpy outfits and shirtless been taken away. You can less combination of fighting men are still around, but go into the robust training styles with characters that has been significantly toned modes to brush up on your might not have anything to down for a dark, gritty rough fighting skills, or learn new do with each other! and tumble experience. moves. And, if you are feel- 08 IN ALASKA Hill to commemorate the 1867 preempt No-Shave November and Happy Birthday Alaska! exchange in a re-enactment with start growing a beard for October a flag swapping—emulating the 18th. Perhaps other simple acts by Jacob Mann Alaska’s official birthday. historic day. can stir up state pride like wearing October 18th is Alaska’s The Alaska day festival has a flannel - the Alaskan tuxedo, birthday. The state will turn 147 By proclamation of the mayor, or one could celebrate with this month. Alaskans can embrace “All males are urged an outdoor adventure. Hiking, their state pride during the official to grow beards and 4-wheeling, fishing, drinking U.S holiday: Alaska Day. The all women to dress in local beers or wines, or whatever holiday commemorates the formal the styles of 1867 for seems fit the Alaskan theme. U.S purchase of Alaska from the festival period.” October 18th is 17 days away from Russia which occurred on March The festival takes the General Election (Nov. 4th), 30th 1867. The official ceremony place over several registering to vote could prove eventually took place in October days. Those attending to be a responsible way of taking when the Commissioners arrived can participate in a state pride. One could brush up on in Sitka. As said on alaskafestival. costume ball which Alaskan history or Native Culture. org, “The Russian Double Eagle offers prizes for was lowered for the last time, and the best historical How will you spend you Alaska the Stars and Stripes made their costumes. There’s day? Feel free to post a photo with first appearance over Alaskan soil usually a variety of a caption describing your method in a ceremony formalizing the activities leading of celebration or share a story that transfer of the territory of Alaska up to the event to makes you glad to be an Alaskan attend which include from Tsarist Russia to the United grown in popularity over the years at the Mat-Su College Facebook States of America at the incredible the Coast Guard air-sea rescue demonstration, tea at the Pioneers and has attracted bigger crowds page @ https://www.facebook. purchase price of approximately from across the state each year. com/MSCDragons. two cents per acre.” home, and musical performances. When Alaska Day itself arrives, Sitka is over 570 miles away from In 1954, Sitka began celebrating multiple military branches parade the Mat-Su Valley or Anchorage, so the anniversary with an annual through Sitka’s business district for those who do not want to make festival. A non-profit organization, alongside school bands, marching the long trip over to Baranof Island Alaska Day Festival Incorporated, units, and an assortment of but still wish to celebrate being an emerged to create an event in festival-goers in costumes. The Alaskan can do so by other means. order to eternalize October 18th as parade concludes atop Castle Alaskans (with the ability) can

Alaskan Halloween by Jacob Mann TAKE A BREAK 09 WORD SEARCH . Circle the words in the list and the left-over letters will reveal the secret message.

G H T A Y N E D P C P T G N Y H O A A I K R I A L A N R O L N W O L C A O N N E O R I R S W N B S C K D O R E F E M D T P O I U E Y C T P L G T R L S Ask Sophia G U L E C B R A O S W N E U O E A M O T O U W L L I A A A H Welcome to Ask Sophia, a new advice frustrations. I suggest talking to the M E R P K S E M L B T L P C G column that will appear regularly in Mat-Su College Student Government I N E C K R N A P Y C O E E P the Mat-Su Monitor. If you have a to see if there is something they can R N I I E I F E R S H K R E H question you’d like to see answered do or what actions you might be able submit it in the Ask Sophia box in the to take to either remove or lessen the G R D W R R N O K A E C Y S A lobby of the FSM building. fee or perhaps even bring your own T N A M Y E G O B N S A R P N bank’s ATM to the campus. I hope V A M P I R E G O N A J I R T Q. Dear Sophia: My best friend’s this helps! F R I G H T E N I N G R A O O stupid dogs poop in the house instead Sincerely, of in the grass. I’m tired of dodging Sophia M U M M Y B E W B O C S F C M turds! A. Dear frustrated friend, Might I suggest that you ask your best Q. Dear Sophia: My little ______! brothers are both adults now but friend to pick up his/her dog’s poop? WORD LIST Or, perhaps, if he/she is not living still don’t have jobs. They both live with you that he/she leave his/her with our parents. They eat all their BLACK CAT DRACULA GHOSTS PHANTOM dog at home? I hope you get it all food. Their bills are also paid by my figured out. parents. When mom and dad need BOGEYMAN EERIE GOBLIN PUMPKIN Sincerely, help from them it’s the end of the CANDY CORN FAIRY GOOSEBUMPS SPOOKY Sophia world! I pick up all the slack! Some things never change! CAULDRON FALL GORY TRICK-OR-TREAT CLOWN FRANKENSTEIN GRIM REAPER VAMPIRE Q. Dear Sophia: I used the ATM A. Dear slack picker-upper, for the first time today -- THREE I can imagine how frustrating your COBWEB FRIGHTENING JACK-O-LANTERN WEREWOLF freaking dollars per transaction!? situation must be to you. I suggest CORPSE GENIE MUMMY WITCHES Doesn’t MSC have enough clout encouraging your little brothers to to tell MVFCU, “That’s too high get jobs--don’t give them a hard time -- do better for our students!?” How or nag, just encourage. By doing so, about $1 per trans.? Or maybe even they might feel as if it is their own FREE since MVFCU is getting free choices and not because they have to advertising space on campus. get jobs. Also, find out ways to make Here’s how it works: A R C T I C D R A G O N them subconsciously see that they is B S D U J D E S B H P O A. Dear student, are being burdens on your parents. The reason for the transaction fee Perhaps then they will feel more One letter stands for another. In this example the letter B stands for is because the ATM belongs to inclined to get jobs or at least help the letter A so all the Bs stand for the letter A, Ds stand for C, etc. MVFCU, therefore MVFCU users out with tasks. need not pay a transaction fee—only Single letters, apostrophes, and word length are all clues. The code Sincerely, letters are different for every puzzle. outside bank users. However, that Sophia does not help your TCTKN RQN OL IQSSGVTTF

OLF’Z OZ? YGK LGDT GY XL.

-- ZOD WXKZGF 10 What does Dr. Fox Say? [MacDonald] ended up writ- about 75 people all in all at plored Oxford top to bottom. . Continued from Front Page: ing novels, but he was more the conference. And then the . It was a lot of fun. I met a lot known for his fairy tales. [His session that I spoke at, there of nice people. Interviewer: Which one did stories] were pre-cursers to were about 25 or so. A lot you go to? Interviewer: Have you ever the [stories] that we would of them were other scholars, spoken abroad before this? Dr. Fox: I stayed in two, I got know today. Anyway, George some of them were grad stu- there early so I got to stay at MacDonald was the one that dents who were also interested Dr. Fox: No. Wadham College . . . and then I did my dissertation on. So in MacDonald, and then some Interviewer: I hear that you’re I stayed at Magdalen College, I wrote my doctoral work on of them were just enthusiasts teaching Brit Lit this semester, which is the college that C.S. his fictional novels for adults. who were interested in Mac- was anything that you spoke Lewis actually taught in. And this particular conference Donald as well as C.S. Lewis. about in your conference in Interviewer: Were you invited that was being held was about The title of the Conference your lessons? to stay at Oxford? the Victorian roots of fantasy was “Informing the Inklings” Dr. Fox: Yeah, I’m bringing a writing, and because Mac- and the Inklings were J. R. R. lot of Tolkien into my British Dr. Fox: I was. I sent a pro- Donald had written fairy tales Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Owen posal into a society that I lit class, because Tolkien was that spanned from children to Barfield, etc. The Inklings an expert in Anglo-Saxon have belonged to for many adults, he’s considered to be were affiliated with Oxford; years. It’s called the George literature. I’m leaning very one of the fathers of the fanta- mostly lecturers and teacher heavily on Tolkien this semes- MacDonald society. [Mac- sy genre for adults. So that’s who met on a pretty regular Donald] was a Scottish author ter. We’ll also be talking about what I ended up doing. I sent basis to share their work with J.K. Rowling. My next thing who lived from 1824-1905. in a proposal, and my proposal each other. This is why this He started off as a pastor, is that I’m trying to finish up was accepted. So that’s why I conference was being held at my alterations to my paper and he got kind of disinvited went to Oxford. Oxford. from the church. He had this that I offered there and they’re very expansive view of sal- Interviewer: How many peo- Interviewer: So, How was planning on publishing in the vation. [The Church] wanted ple did you get to talk to? your stay there? near future. I have an October to be a little more exclusive. Dr. Fox: Well, there were Dr. Fox: It was great! I ex- deadline that I’m pressing to get done. YOUR STORY COULD BE HERE! Write an interesting paper for a class? Experience something on campus that you want to share with others? Have a strong opinion about an issue? Just want to share a poem or short story? Now any student can submit content through the Monitor’s webpage! Just Search “Monitor” on the college website to find it. 11 to settle out. The less time you Rain Garden allow for that to happen, the more Continued from Front Page pavement you introduce to a system. A rain garden is a shallow, man- The more impermeable surfaces you made basin that supports native have. So the water runs off quickly, plants with runoff water from places it runs off in greater quantity such as a roof, storm pipe, sidewalk and the entire velocity causes or driveway. The idea is to utilize more erosion." water that would normally wash The rain garden serves as an away and simply steer toward a attractive landscape feature. In garden—giving it life from the rain. terms of ecological benefits it can The flow of water is slowed down potentially lower water pollution, by the soil inside the retention and slow the rate of stream flooding filtration zone, allowing it to seep in developed areas and replenish into the ground naturally groundwater. However, there is “This allows us to ultimately still much research needed to improve the health of the prove how effective rain gardens groundwater," says Dr. Polly Bass, truly are. Environmental Studies Mat-Su College Rain Garden in full bloom. Assistant Professor of Natural students on campus now have the Science. An interview with Bass opportunity to study the long term over the newly planted rain garden effects and attempt to connect the revealed how it came to be and what data to the bigger picture. The aid Business owners! it means for the Mat-Su College of knowledgeable staff, experts and Campus and perhaps, the bigger environmental supporters will carry picture—Alaska’s ecosystem. the ongoing “natural lab” forward. The Mat-Su Monitor is a great place to advertise In the meantime, we at least have Shortly after the addition of the something pretty to look at. your business or event. The Monitor has a wide paramedic wing the land behind Snodgrass was paved, leaving Funding for the garden was circulation, with thousands of copies inserted in the a new parking lot and an island provided by the Valley Garden Frontiersman and distributed thoughrout the Valley. of green. Club. "In terms of ecosystem health, The club cooperates with other We also have low rates: habitat... it's not really the agencies in furthering the interest best scenario or the healthiest of conservation, civic beauty, and Ad Size Cost, B/W Cost, Color alternative... The pavement roadside beautification. The Mat- increases run off, it doesn't allow Su College was awarded grant 1/8th page $75 $125 the soil to interact with the air money from the club’s annual 1/4th page $100 $175 above as readily. It decreases Community Beautification Grant. habitat availability—all sorts of Further support for the project is 1/2 page $180 $300 wildlife microhabitats." Bass says. credited to the efforts of the Mat- Full page $300 $375 Su Borough, Valley Community “Pavement doesn’t allow for Full page, back Always color $375 natural infiltration and processing for Recycling Solutions, Mat-Su that takes place when it rains, when Conservation Services, Lawn Tech, pollutants enter the groundwater—it Mat-Su Carbon Crew, and the Mat- Moreover, the Monitor runs relatively few ads, runs off, it needs time to process for Su College Environmental Geology petroleum residues plastic residues, and Environmental Science student. which ensures that your ad will stand out. Finally, hydrocarbons even soil particulates advertising in the Monitor demonstrates your support for local students. For more on advertising, call 745-9758.