CLARITY ARTS. HUMANITIES. LANGUAGES. SOCIAL SCIENCES. HUMANITIES. LANGUAGES. ARTS. CLARITY 2016 SELF-EVIDENT? CLA DEAN - TODD SHERMAN

I recently reviewed a dissertation and, as part of my job as dean, made comments and asked questions of the author, a Ph.D. candidate. The response I received to one of my questions was “the answer is self-evident.” However, what may seem obvious to some still needs explanation to others outside these experiences. College of Liberal Arts students and faculty alike are tasked to search, explore, question and, I hope, explain topics in the many subjects and disciplines in the college. While for many of us the importance of a liberal arts education appears self-evident, I know from experience that we must continue to demonstrate the importance of a liberal arts degree. Teaching the languages, arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences is the foundation of our future. CLA brings human perspective to every field and is core WHILE WE MAY SAY to a university education. We teach and practice collaboration, intellectual agility THAT IT IS SELF - and problem solving. We use many forms of communication through our study of art, music, film, language, anthropology and more. What we teach and study in the “EVIDENT, IT IS VERY liberal arts is so deeply interwoven into our lives that we often don’t realize how FAR FROM THAT. much we participate in it on a daily basis. Take the act of reading the characters that make up the words of this message. WE MUST REMIND Most of us spent much of our young lives learning to recognize and create the OTHERS OF THE letterforms, numerals and punctuation marks that make up our written language. We arrange them to tell stories, define equations and label objects in our everyday IMPORTANCE OF world. These abstract linear symbols are versatile, flexible in many combinations THE LIBERAL ARTS. and give rise to infinite concepts. They are used to record history, to persuade people to action and to educate, to list a few of the countless uses of these immaterial and wondrous creations of humanity. It is imperative we show others the importance of the liberal arts. This magazine highlights but a few of those stories.

Evolution of Game Changer Philanthropy in Empathy Gaming company CLA History, technology invites CLA Your gifts make a 02and academia – 08 instructor to 12 difference the slow road to be a cultural empathy ambassador

Model Arctic CLA’s Asian Permafrost Council Studies Farthest north An unprecedented The revitalization literary journal for 06 international 10 of CLA’s Asian 14 writing and the arts learning experience studies program University of Alaska Fairbanks UAF

Editorial Board Writer Hannah Hill, an interdisciplinary CLA student, Professor of Linguistics Anna Berge; Assistant Professor of Political Science Alexander Hirsch; Clarity writer is delighted to write for Clarity. She also hosts Hannah Hill; CLA Advancement Officer Naomi Horne; QuantaRadio! on KSUA 91.5FM and is a Adjunct Professor of Music Paul Krejci; Associate founding member of Angry, Young & Poor—a Professor of Foreign Languages and Literature Trina Mamoon; Professor of Art and CLA Dean Todd Sherman; free music festival in Ester, Alaska. Assistant Professor of Political Science, Jeremy Speight. Special Thanks Graphic Designer Our gratitude to everyone in CLA and our colleagues: Heather Foltz, Melody Hughes, Kathy Nava and LaNora Jaden Nethercott is a former CLA student who Tolman; Tia Tidwell for volunteering her photographic now attends Cornish College of the Arts. He talents; Carey Seward for being a genius; and finally, the enjoys doing freelance work and making a UAF Marketing and Communications office, especially Sam Bishop. difference in communities through design.

Cover: Kendalyn McKisick, a CLA English graduate student, seen personifying her original poetry. Photo by Tia Tidwell. Inside cover: UAF photo by Todd Paris Editorial & Art Director Naomi Horne is a two-time UA alum who has uaf.edu/cla/ worked in the CLA Dean’s Office for 9 years.

Clarity magazine is fortunate enough to publish She spends her days and nights pondering life’s photography by the talented Tia Tidwell, Todd Paris greatest mysteries including how to promote and JR Ancheta. Images are noted accordingly. and find funding for the College of Liberal Arts.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is accredited by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities. UAF is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution.

FEATURED CONTENT

Fairbanks Four Green Dot Student How CLA’s Brian Creating a Spotlight O’Donoghue dug culture of safety Two outstanding 16deep 21 at UAF 24 CLA students

The Way We Dark Winter Hot Sheet Talk Nights Events and CLA’s Anna True tales from happenings 19 Berge’s Unangam 22 Alaska 25 Tunuu textbook ESSAY BY HANNAH HILL # Evolution of Empathy

WHAT A CHIMAERA THEN IS MAN! WHAT A NOVELTY, WHAT “ post and blog our daily doldrums for was abolished in America, Ota Benga, A MONSTER, WHAT the whole world to see. What we share a Congolese man, was billed as the A CHAOS, WHAT A is necessarily intimate and ordinary, “missing link” and put on display with messy and undeniably awkward. the monkeys at the Bronx Zoo. CONTRADICTION, Empathy is the ability to understand That level of overtly naked racism is and share the feelings of others. More no longer socially acceptable. However, WHAT A PRODIGY! and more, people are looking at each at the time, most people of relative JUDGE OF ALL THINGS, other and learning to recognize one privilege saw nothing wrong with it another as having valid experiences — the dominate social consciousness FEEBLE EARTHWORM, in life that deserve understanding and did not have the desire to understand REPOSITORY OF TRUTH, respect. It’s an exciting and weird time and share the feelings of humans who to be alive. were put on display. Since the time SEWER OF UNCERTAINTY Human history is a long, bloody of “human zoos”, America has seen AND ERROR, THE GLORY narrative of just how comfortable massive citizens rights movements people have been with not extending in women’s suffrage, labor, civil and AND THE SCUM OF THE empathy to others. Wars, slavery and gay rights. As these enormous social genocide aside, it was not long enough campaigns spread, the idea of shared UNIVERSE. ago that “human zoos” — sometimes empathy seems to have spread with it — BLAISE PASCAL called ethnological exhibitions — were — haltingly and painfully slowly, regularly paraded through Europe and but steadily. North America. These traveling shows The world used to be clearly marked exhibited “exotic” peoples: Hindu snake out by strict social boundaries and We’re living through the early days charmers, the “Hottentot Venus,” Souix, communication limits. Today, it is a of a technological revolution and, in the Apache and Inuit people, and others. much more multicultural place. Earth is middle of it all, it’s easy to forget that it As late as 1906, 40 years after slavery home to seven billion people and, while is a revolution. Dynamic and dramatic, we’re better at it than we ever have been, modern media technology has quickly we still struggle to understand each and fundamentally reorganized the other. In the modern world, empathy way the world interacts with itself. The is recognized as a skill set people must internet, social media and a 24/7 global develop to professionally advance in a news cycle have permanently altered globalized world. Universities make an how people communicate — we tweet, effort to ease the younger generations 02 is actually overreacting. Like much other modern paranoia, the true root seems to be the constant stream of Evolution of Empathy media available to us. Well, that and the very human compulsion to prove that our personal beliefs are absolutely correct. As the early-twentieth century French novelist, André Maurois, said, “everything that is in agreement with our personal desires seems true. Everything that is not puts us in a rage.” Over-hyped accusations from media critics claim that university professors are being forced into curbing course into the idea of cultural sensitivity and content (they’re not) and compulsory racially offensive costumes on campus. identity politics by requiring humanities trigger warnings are being mandated Milo Yiannopoulos, the decidedly non- courses such as sociology and women’s (also not actually happening). Native American Tech Editor for the and gender studies. Other blustering assumptions politically conservative Breitbart News During my most recent run at college, condescendingly mewl about the Network, tweeted a promise to respond I’ve noticed an uptick in the national institutionalized “coddling of to the situation by wearing full “Native media’s misguided concern about an American youth.” American” garb when he speaks at overblown conspiracy on the nation’s There have been instances of Yale next fall. What kind of screaming campuses. College students are portrayed controversial speakers having their demonstration do the students have as unprovoked and hysterical, “shouting campus invitations revoked and, of planned to protest this perceived insult? down” conservative lecturers and not course, there have been incidents According to Breitbart.com, student laughing at old-guard comedians. What wherein campus policies were organizers report that Yale’s Native is the cause of this strife? subsequently reviewed — but those American Cultural Center is planning Political correctness. sorts of large actions are taken by to host an alternative event scheduled at Political Correctness, for the purpose university administrations. Not the same time. It’s shocking, really. of this essay, is the avoidance of words students. Students float change. I am a staunch opponent of and actions that exclude, insult or org petitions, are annoyingly and censorship but do not believe that a marginalize people who are socially ineffectively unruly during events. college education should be treated like disadvantaged or discriminated against. The power they certainly do have is a zero sum game — it’s not an “us vs. In the media, political correctness is the technological savvy to ensure their them” situation in academia. If some largely a damning accusation of pearl- grievances are heard. However, the college kids start a petition, or protest clutching social hyperbolics, liberal few incidents of a very vocal minority over something they find offensive and thought control and tone policing. always outshout the reasonable actions professors or journalists vehemently In researching the debate over of the majority of students. disagree then, congratulations, PC on campus, I discovered that the For example, in October 2015, a everyone is doing it right. The freedom vast majority of these reports cite the campus-wide controversy at Yale was to peaceably assemble and the right to activities of a scant handful of students stirred by a professor’s suggestion that protest are as much extensions of the who, at some point, made mountains students should have the freedom to First Amendment as the freedom of out of some proverbial molehills. wear any Halloween costume they speech is. Considering that in 2015, over 20.2 choose, regardless of social concerns of However, if for a few short years, million students enrolled in American racial justice or cultural appropriation. college students manage to hold universities and colleges, I wonder who Some students wanted a policy against 03 EQUITY IS A CONCEPT OF FAIRNESS, JUSTNESS AND IMPARTIALITY THAT ALLOWS FOR THE BREADTH OF HUMAN” EXPERIENCE AND POTENTIAL.

have equality, but in our incredible hostile virtual territory college kids complexity we can rarely, if ever, be have grown up in. equal to each other. American culture is rife with Equity is a concept of fairness, overtly hostile sexism, and it’s easy to justness and impartiality that allows for internalize that toxic message. Socially the breadth of human experience and constructed gender norms saturate potential. It says that people of all faiths, every aspect of our personal identity on to the idealism that their voices colors, genders, sexualities, abilities, and impose rules on how we behave, actually matter, that their empathy national origin, political temperaments think, dress and interact with others. towards others could possibly make and socioeconomic standing should be People who are not inherently sexist the future a better place, why not let treated with the same dignity and care. can find themselves subconsciously them? Before “the real world” crashes Equity asks that we identify people by participating in sexist language. This down around those dreams with all the names, identities and pronouns lazy sexism thrives online. the Sisyphean cruelty of student loan they’ve taught us; to remain receptive to The London-based social media debt and existential employment the modern morphology of intentional research center, Demos, published crisis — who does it actually hurt to language; to be deferential enough to “Misogyny on Twitter” in 2014. This let them wave signs and pass petitions? relearn when we fall behind on current study of 49,669 U.K.-based Twitter While it is absolutely true that zealous terms and to apologize when we’re accounts found that: “Not only are proselytizers invoke so-called “political wrong. As is enormously evident in women using these words [‘slut’ and correctness” to further their agendas the history of media, a compassionate ‘whore’], they are directing them at each of fussy moralizing, it’s also true that attitude is hardly compulsory; that other, both casually and offensively; these are petty and easily deflected doesn’t mean it’s not a good thing to women are increasingly more inclined annoyances considering the actual goal have as a human. to engage in discourses using the same of human equity. Anyone who’s ever read the language that has been, and continues Despite being a relatively bright comment section (don’t do it!) on to be, used as derogatory against them.” person, I didn’t understand the YouTube knows what a terrible and Misogyny here is defined as being semantic difference between equity vitriolic place the Internet can be. The “generally hateful towards women” and and equality until I began taking Millennial generation is the first to be is clearly a sentiment not exclusive to courses with the CLA’s women and raised fully within the technological men. In fact, women perpetrated the gender studies program. It’s proved a revolution. One quick scroll through attacks nearly as frequently as men. So valuable education I wish I’d learned Twitter, Reddit or Tumblr proves what some of the insidiousness of sexism earlier in life. Equality is a literal term: one pound is equal to 16 ounces; Pluto is roughly equal in size to Russia; 1,000 meters is equal to 0.62 miles. These are verifiable facts, things that are quantifiably equal to each other. Humans can

044 Photos by Tia Tidwell Tia by Photos

lies in its participants’ willingness to are protesting in real life while about my mistake. The linguistics disempower their own gender. contemptuous journalists complain professor who critiqued my article In 2006, the A. James Clark School about the sky falling on academic carefully articulated why my statement of Engineering at the University of Babylon — defeated by proper pronoun could be perceived as hurtful and gave Maryland conducted a study that use and cultural sensitivity — proves me the proper lens with which to work showed “chatroom participants with that socially progressive activists still on my own evolution of empathy. female usernames received 25 times give a damn about the future. In the January 2015 issue of “The more threatening and/or sexually Recently, I made a culturally Atlantic,” Megan Garber wrote, “We can explicit private messages than those insensitive comment. Despite my be too sensitive. We can be too reliant with male or ambiguous usernames.” unabashedly leftist upbringing, a on categories — white, black, cis, trans The prevalent use of abusive and minor in women and gender studies — that focus on what we are rather gendered profanity online is not new (read: feminist training camp), and than who. Categories in general can be information; it only serves to add to a proudly diverse social group, I was terrible, brutish things. But categories, mounting awareness of sexual violence. inconsiderate. Me? Could it be true? expressed as language, can also be, Things most people would never Absolutely. Absolutely and easily. in their way, expressions of empathy. say in real life are regularly thrown Writing for this magazine requires They are proxies for curiosity, which is around from the comparative safety of researching and writing about subjects itself a proxy for sympathy… They are usernames and false IP addresses. In that are entirely new to me. While awkward, maybe, and they can be done its 2005 report “Online Harassment,” drafting an article on Native language to excess — but they are also made, the Pew Research Center found that revitalization, a phrase I wrote generally, in good faith.” “in broad trends, the data show that unintentionally implied that academic What I have discovered is this: we men are more likely to experience efforts had a greater value than Native can learn when we’re ignorant and we name-calling and embarrassment, community work. When I passed the can apologize when we’re wrong – that’s while young women are particularly piece on for editing this nasty faux making the world a better place. Earth, vulnerable to sexual harassment pas was brought to my attention. It is with its multifaceted masses of humans, and stalking.” The internet’s anonymity certainly not my belief that there’s any can seem large and impossibly complex. allows powerful and ignorant language one right way to revitalize language, New terminology crests daily as we to be sloppily used, without fear of so I quickly reworded the offending learn to treat all 7.3 billion of us with greater social incriminations phrase. Later, in thinking back on the compassion and respect. While there beyond a sad face emoticon and moment, something occurred to me: I will always be knee-jerk over-reactors a blocked account. learned something I had not thought and hypersensitivity, having an open In terms of the internet, free of before and that education came and respectful dialogue that moves speech can easily be less thoughtful at no great cost to me. It was a brief empathy forward makes that a tolerable articulation and more death threats embarrassment — entirely of my own price to pay. and dick pics. That college students making — but I hadn’t been shamed 05 MODEL ARCTIC COUNCIL

This past March, the CLA’s Arctic and Northern Studies the Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland), Iceland, Norway, Program and Political Science Department hosted the first fully Sweden, Finland and the Russian Federation. Six indigenous international Model Arctic Council (MAC) as a part of the groups are Permanent Participants — the Aleut International 2016 Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) at UAF. The Model Association, the Arctic Athabaskan Council, the Gwich’in Arctic Council is a thematic network within the University of Council International, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, the the Arctic, a consortium of Arctic universities. Such thematic Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North and networks form a natural framework for developing educational the Saami Council. resources and research across the North. The Arctic Council is the only intergovernmental The MAC 2016’s primary objectives were to 1) develop forum whose structure calls for the full participation of students’ knowledge of the Arctic and of northern indigenous indigenous peoples in its deliberations. While the Permanent peoples; 2) increase students’ understanding of the work of Participants cannot vote, the council fully considers their the Arctic Council; and 3) prepare students for leadership concerns and perspectives. Twelve non-Arctic states and roles in the North. Held while the United States chaired the numerous intergovernmental and non-governmental Arctic Council, the MAC 2016 aimed to highlight America’s organizations are official observers of the Arctic Council. role as an Arctic state and UAF’s role as the leading Arctic Although the Arctic Council does not make policy, it research institution. shapes policy by initiating scientific studies that produce Mary Ehrlander, director of Arctic and northern studies, recommendations. Two Arctic Council initiatives — one and Brandon Boylan, assistant professor of political science and on search and rescue and another on preparing for and associate director of Arctic and northern studies, organized preventing marine oil spills — have become binding policy. the MAC 2016 with the assistance of faculty from partner The Arctic Council conducts most of its work through six universities. The experiential learning exercise engaged 65 working groups: the Arctic Contaminants Action Program; students from 14 home countries and 32 universities in the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program; the simulating the work of the Arctic Council. Twelve of the 65 Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna; the Emergency participants identified as indigenous. Prevention, Preparedness and Response; the Protection The Arctic Council was established in 1996, after the fall of the Arctic Marine Environment; and the Sustainable of the Soviet Union, when the easing of Cold War tensions Development Working Group. allowed Arctic states to collaborate on transboundary During the weeklong MAC 2016 program, the students interests, in particular environmental concerns and sustainable simulated the work of the marine protection and sustainable development. Member states with voting rights are the eight development groups. Arctic nations — the United States of America, Canada,

06 MODEL ARCTIC COUNCIL Model Arctic Council international inaugural The Paris Todd by photo UAF above. pictured group

Marine scientists Martha McConnell and Lucy Vlietstra, Special guest speakers included retired U.S. Coast Guard faculty from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, a MAC partner Adm. Robert Papp, the U.S. State Department’s special institute, organized the marine protection group simulation. representative for the Arctic; Ambassador David Balton, It examined environmental threats posed by increasing cruise a deputy assistant secretary with the department’s Bureau ship and resource development traffic in ice-free Arctic of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific sea lanes. Affairs; UArctic President Lars Kullerud; and UArctic Board of Piotr Graczyk, a research fellow at the Arctic University Governors Chair Brian Rogers, a former UAF chancellor. They of Norway in Tromsø, chaired the sustainable development congratulated the students on their work to resolve challenges simulation. The group focused on two projects currently facing the Arctic in the coming decades. Balton asked to endorsed by the Arctic Council. One seeks to improve health present the Fairbanks Declaration at the senior Arctic officials in Arctic communities through safe and affordable access meeting the next day — an outstanding measure of success to household running water and sewer. The other aims to for students of the MAC 2016. Papp later told Ehrlander and create networks to reduce suicide in the circumpolar North’s Boylan that the MAC had been “the best part” of his visit to indigenous groups — an enormous and tragic social issue. Fairbanks in March. Students deliberated on these pressing issues in their roles The organizers envision the MAC rotating with the chair as member state, permanent participant or observer delegates of the Arctic Council. Every two years, a UArctic institution to one or the other working group, or as senior Arctic officials in the country chairing the Arctic Council will host a MAC. or ministers, They found the experience both exhilarating and The University of Lapland in Finland has officially committed challenging. Adopting their roles helped them internalize the to hosting a MAC in 2018, an Icelandic university will host in perspectives of the people they represented, although some 2020, and so on. nonindigenous students assigned as permanent participant UAF’s MAC received overwhelmingly positive feedback delegates expressed concern about authenticity. from its participants. Notably, the experiential learning The program concluded just as the Arctic Council’s model used in the program and the intercultural exchange meeting of senior Arctic officials began at UAF. At the closing between students received high marks in a post-MAC student ceremony, MAC participants presented their Fairbanks survey. Students said they had been a part of something truly Declaration to an audience that included many Arctic Council remarkable. They were excited to be in Fairbanks and working delegates, UArctic officials and UAF administrators. The on pressing issues that the Arctic Council addresses. Ehrlander Fairbanks Declaration was modeled after previous Arctic and Boylan praised the students’ performance, noting that their Council declarations, but reflected the issues considered by the commitment to the Arctic’s well-being was inspirational. students during the MAC.

For more information on CLA’s Arctic & Northern Studies Program and the Political Science Department, check out their websites at: uaf.edu/arctic/ and uaf.edu/polisci/ 07 Game

In late 2014, just two and a half years after its founding, Alaska Office of History and Archaeology; and was the Upper One Games released “Never Alone” (Kisima founding director of the Iñupiat Heritage Center museum. Ingitchuna) — a beautiful “atmospheric puzzle platformer” Brower also took on clerical duties to assist the Alaska video game —Changer and became the first indigenous-owned Eskimo Whaling Commission during their incorporation gaming company in the United States. The mission for — the tribal elders called on Brower to write down their creating the game was twofold: to generate a sustainable concerns, translate them into English, and vice versa. income source while creating a forward-thinking In considering “Never Alone,” Brower saw Upper One opportunity to share Alaska’s rich cultural heritage. “Never Games as creating an opportunity to transmit traditional Alone” succeeds in providing a graceful aesthetic and knowledge and values to today’s youth through a story of compelling storyline that is the result of collaboration another time. “Never Alone” is a story-based puzzle game between talented game makers and members of the Alaska in which, a young Iñupiaq girl, Nuna, and her Arctic fox Native community. (pictured right), must discover the source of an endless The Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC), a large nonprofit blizzard and the fate of her village. organization that serves more than 10,000 Alaska Native Gameplay is segmented, with documentary-style and American Indian people annually, founded Upper One videos that are unlocked with each successful level. In Games as a for-profit enterprise. After an exhaustive search these videos, Brower and the other cultural ambassadors for collaborators, E-Line Media — with its long creative talk of traplines, building apuya (snow houses) and history of empowering and educational games — was chosen many more histories of life in north Alaska. During their as Upper One’s development partner for “Never Alone.” adventure, Nuna and the fox meet hostile polar bears, Together they invited Alaska Natives to work as consultants heavy winds, helpful and hurtful spirits, unsteady sea ice, to ensure that the stories and values of indigenous Alaskan and other ethereal Arctic themes. The art itself is a stylish cultures were accurately portrayed in the game. blend of slick graphics and traditional scrimshaw etching Gloria O’Neill, president and chief executive officer of on an ethereal milieu of classic Alaska greys and blues. CITC and Upper One Games, invited Ronald Brower, an In 2003 Brower came to UAF as a student and later instructor at UAF’s Alaska Native Language Center, to serve became an instructor at his alma mater. He understood as one of these cultural ambassadors. Before becoming an that, in modern times, higher education is a powerful tool Iñupiaq language instructor in the College of Liberal Arts, when combined with personal experience. Brower’s role in Brower was instrumental in the development of the North “Never Alone” was to share knowledge gained from more Slope Borough; he was land chief of Barrow’s Ukpeaġvik than 40 years of recording the history of his elders. As Iñupiat Corp.; he served as an archaeology facilitator for the Brower noted, he worked with elders who had lived with

08 people who never saw metal or knew western things — “the last generation to live the old ways of life.” These elders had already Changerobserved the loss of languages, and they know that the preservation of oral history is of timely importance. Courses in Athabascan, Eskimo-Aleut, Yupik, Iñupiaq Eskimo and Central Yup’ik are taught at UAF. The Alaska Native language program offers major and minor degrees in Central Yup’ik and Inupiaq Eskimo at UAF. An AAS degree or a certificate in Native language education is also available. Of Alaska’s 20 Native languages, only two, Central Alaskan Yup’ik and Iñupiaq, are still spoken by children as the first language in some villages. How can history and a revitalized language be transmitted to the youth of today? Through their own technology. “All of our children are into these video games,” said Brower.

More information on Alaskan Native language degrees can be found at uaf.edu/anlc/classes/

The video game Never Alone can be purchased at neveralonegame.com CLA’S ASIAN STUDIES In an increasingly globalized Skya stresses the connection between COOL world, multidisciplinary studies are Asian studies and many modern more relevant than ever to many professions, such as international CLASSES major fields of specialization. Past business, overseas teaching, mining students who attained a minor in technologies and petroleum engineering, Asian studies at UAF have majored in among others. UAF’s newly redirected every other degree program offered Asian studies program brings together by the College of Liberal Arts, as an academically diverse faculty of well as information technology and internationally recognized professionals. mechanical engineering. Walter Skya pictured above. Photo provided by Skya. With classes in anthropology, Graduates of the Asian studies foreign languages, geography, history, program can find good careers in a Winston Churchill said, “the philosophy and political science, Asian wide range of fields. By cultivating farther back you look, the farther studies undergraduates pursue a minor the next generation of specialized forward you are likely to see.” With a tailored to their interests, even earning professionals, UAF continues to similar eye toward the future, Associate credits through a study-abroad program. strengthen the next generation of Professor of History Walter Skya Students synthesize an interdisciplinary business professionals. understands the value of developing education of Asian history, cultures and a curriculum that bolsters traditional languages into a vital instruction of Asia- studies by paying attention to current Pacific affairs. For more information on UAF’s Asian world affairs. studies minor, visit uaf.edu/asianstudies/

HELLO & GOODBYE

The UAF College of Liberal Arts Department coordinator and box Kara Dillard, Sociology, is home to a truly gifted group of people. office manager assistant professor These adaptive individuals have diverse Ana Pociello Samperiz, Foreign Kimberly Eames, Theatre and Film, roles and fields of study. We are excited Languages and Literature, administrative assistant to welcome CLA’s new faculty and staff term assistant professor Tamara Fletcher, Psychology, members to the team. Jeremy Speight, Political Science administrative assistant Assistant Professor Trina Mamoon, Foreign Languages Hello! Valerie Gifford, Psychology, PhD and Literature, associate professor program director Michael Nakoneczny, Art, Ellen Cruse, Dean’s Office, human Angela Mitchell, Psychology, PhD associate professor resources technician program coordinator Arash Pessian, Philosophy, term Elaine Drew, Anthropology, assistant professor associate professor We are sad to say goodbye to the Janet Schichnes, Psychology, Melody Hughes, Dean’s Office, many teachers, researchers and staff term instructor assistant to the dean members, who have left CLA in the past David Webster, Psychology, clinical Richard Hum, Cross Cultural Studies, year. Bon voyage, friends. associate professor term assistant professor Breehan Yauney, Dean’s Office, assistant David Kadanoff, Sociology, term Goodbye… to the dean assistant professor Brian Jarrett, Communication, Laurie Long, Music, Melanie Arthur, Sociology, associate professor administrative assistant associate professor Wendy DePue, Psychology, clinic Jennifer Peterson, Psychology, Margo Campbell, Journalism, office manager assistant professor administrative assistant Rebecca Vasquez, Anthropology, 10 Nannette Pierson, Theater and Film Patti Carey, Dean’s Office, grant manager administrative assistant ODE TO THE COOL ANONYMOUS CLASSES DONOR

In the coming semesters, CLA is proud to offer an exciting new selection of interesting courses across all disciplines. Whether you are a first time student, a continuing scholar, or are just casually taking classes, there is something here for you. To learn how to register for classes contact Kathy Nava, CLA’s Comprehensive Advisor, at [email protected], 907.474.6542 Thou still unsung cousin to the martyr, Thou saint-patron of introverted kind, What quiet sponsor who lies in shadow; Women and Gender Studies in Language, Literature What secret donor feeds the muse of rhyme? and Culture What are these figures from the opera box CRN: 76431, WGS 433 FO1, 3 credits, 2-3:30PM Tu/Th, Fall 2016, Who rain gold coin to those in need below? Instructor: C. Coffman From down the hall or cross't the darkest seas Their amesn the world will surely never know. Intensive study of topics in women, gender and/or sexuality studies with a focus on humanities fields such as literature, O! We give thee thanks! O! We sing sweet praises! writing, rhetoric, theory, film and cultural studies. We love thy great sustaining magnanimity.

Narrative Art of Alaska Native Peoples What backer sets aside a bit of bread CRN: 77852, ENGL F349 F01, 3 credits, 2:15-3:15 M/W/F, Fall 2016, From lit’ry table for the greater good? Instructor: J. Ruppert What hand bequeaths a bit from their lean purse To print this piece as often as it should? Students will explore traditional and historical tales by Aleut, Oh, thy greatness! To thee we do salute Eskimo, Athabascan, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian The secret donors and their generosity. storytellers – looking at their genres, viewpoints, structural The men and women and those and thematic features. who write their checks in anonymity!

History of World Art CRN: 77623, ART F261X F01, 3 credits, 11:30-1 Tu/Th, Fall 2016, Instructor: Z. Jones — Anonymous Origins of art and its development from the beginning through contemporary painting, sculpture and architecture. ART F261X-F262X may be taken in reverse order; however, course content is presented in a chronological sequence beginning with the fall semester.

Human Sexualities Across Cultures CRN: 75497, PSY F333 UX1, 3 credits, eLearning & Distance Ed., Instructor: A. Greenberg The College of Liberal Arts has benefited from many anonymous gifts but this past year yielded An online exploration of how people in a variety of more than average — some of unprecedented cultures, both contemporary and historical, construct the generosity. The truest nature of altruism is to give meaning and experience of sexuality. Interdisciplinary with no expectation of anything in return. This study includes PSY, SOC, ANTH, WGS and related fields. poem is an ode to those anonymous donors.

11 UA FOUNDATION ACCOUNTS BENEFITING CLA

Political Science Charles W. Davis Summer Fine Arts Visiting Writer Support JoAnne Wold Scholarship in George M. McLaughlin Memorial Camp Memorial Scholarship English Emeriti Award Journalism George D. Walton Memorial Bebe Helen Kneece Woodward General JG Steese and AW Shiels Jimmy B. Bedford Memorial Scholarship Scholarship Prizes Scholarship H. McCracken Alaska Writing Forbes L. Baker Journalism Anthropology Student Ceramic Arts Guild Award Scholarship Permafrost Book Prize Bill Walley Memorial Scholarship Leona Lowrey Memorial (SCAG)/ Krist Anderson William O. Wood Memorial Scholarship Memorial Scholarship Anthropology Photography Social Work Scholarship Dr. Gerald S. Berman Founders Genezaret Barron Memorial Contest Named in memory of former CLA Scholarship Scholarship in Photojournalism Harvey Shields Fellowship in art student Krist Anderson, who National Association of Social Journalism Special Guest and Archaeology passed away at a young age. Workers (NASW) Social Work Faculty Development Henry B. Collins Fellowship in Since the account’s creation, Scholarship C. W. Snedden Chair Circumpolar Anthropology 13 art students have received Rural Social Work Scholarship American Legion Post #11- Heather Carolyn W. Collins Scholarship in scholarship awards. Krist’s loving Alaska Native Languages Banarsi Lal Social Work Dowdy Memorial Scholarship (also family continues to contribute to supports Art) Golden North Rebekah Lodge (Est. Scholarship this fund to ensure that his legacy Helen Van Campen Journalism 1913) Scholarship (also supports NAMI of Fairbanks’ Joy Albin endures through this endowed Scholarship History, Northern Studies, and Women Scholarship (also supports Psychology) scholarship. Studies) NAMI of Fairbanks Graduate Stephen McCarthy Photojournalism Internship Anthropology Department Support Scholarship (also supports Psychology) Helmut Van Flein Memorial NAMI Rural Campus Scholarship Cliff Brennen Journalism Scholarship (also supports Psychology) Scholarship Fairbanks Weavers and Spinners NAMI of Fairbanks Ann Denardo Marian W.F. Thompson Memorial Guild Scholarship Scholarship (also supports Psychology) Scholarship Stuart S. MacKowiak Scholarship Bon V. and Bernice Davis Art Department Support Fund Foreign Languages and Scholarship Paul Solka Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Journalism and Literatures CLA French Program Support Theatre & Film Painting (also supports journalism) Foreign Language Department Metalsmithing Support Fund William R. and Dorothy Jane Before CLA students become Liz Berry Memorial Scholarship Support experts in a field of study, Patricia A. Davis Memorial Bianca M. Zuckerman Academic Wood Talent Grant (also their journey begins in our Scholarship Excellence/ Programmic Research supports Art and Music) Tom Rohr Memorial Scholarship Spanish Support classrooms. The College Remember the Wood Center — of Liberal Arts opens the Barry McWayne Fine Art Photography Scholarship History that hub of hungry students? The world up to our students Shanon Gallant Memorial Art Dirk Tordoff Alaskan History man for whom this iconic UAF centerpiece was named also and contributions from our Scholarship (also supports films) Endowed Scholarship (also supports donors provide access to American Legion Post #11- Heather Northern Studies) established, along with his wife, the William R. Dorothy Jane Wood scholarships and financial Dowdy Memorial Scholarship (also William R. Hunt History Scholarship (also supports Northern Studies) Talent grant, which remains in the support that is vital to their Supports journalism) Food Factory Fine Arts Scholarship Fathauer Chair in History stewardship of their children. Since education. The gifts you Claus-M. Naske History 1987, this fund has awarded aid to give here help CLA students Scholarship more than 50 students in Music, achieve their educations. Sociology Rachel Patterson Memorial Theatre, Art, Film, and English. Sociology Department Support Scholarship History Department Support Cole Family Scholarship (also Theatre UAF Support English and Creative Writing supports Northern Studies) Art E.L. Bartlett Literary Criticism Prize Shanon Gallant Memorial Art Public History Support Fund Fairbanks Art Guild Scholarship English Department Support Scholarship (also supports Art) Rex Fisher Scholarship Native Arts and Crafts UAF General Minnie E. Wells Award Adrina Knutson Memorial Film Golden North Rebekah Lodge (Est. Support George W. McDaniel Writing Fund Scholarship William R. and Dorothy Jane Wood 1913) Scholarship (also supports Creative Writing Program Anthropology, Northern Studies and Talent Grant (also supports Music and Endowment Women Studies) Justice Theatre) Caroline Musgrove Coons Writing Roland E. “Skip” Chevalier Scholarship Journalism Memorial Scholarship Steve Miller Creative Writing Journalism Non-Fiction Storytelling Troy Duncan Memorial Justice Scholarship Support Scholarship Journalism/ Broadcasting John Kevin Lamm Memorial Department Support Fund Scholarship

12 UA FOUNDATION ACCOUNTS BENEFITING CLA

Rev. Bob and Dr. Sharon Swope Warren G. Brown Memorial Women’s and Gender Scholarship Scholarship CLA Studies by the Numbers Justice Recruiting Scholarship Bill Stroecker Jazz Endowment Betty Jo Staser Memorial Scott Johnson Memorial Alaska International Piano-e- Endowment for Women’s Studies Scholarship Competition Goldern North Rebekah Lodge Emery Chapple Memorial Wind Symphony Scholarships (Est. 1913) Scholarship (also $ Scholarship supports Anthropology, History, and Northern Studies) 7.94m Arctic and Northern Studies Music Kleinfeld Northern Studies Student Women’s and Gender Studies In endowed funds String Players Fund Research Endowment Support 2015-2016 William R. and Dorothy Jane Wood Rachel Patterson Memorial Talent Grant (also supports Art Scholarship Cross-cultural studies and Theatre) William R. Hunt History Endowment Angayuqaq Oscar Kawagley Fejes Music Scholarship (also supports History) Indigenous Scholar Award Summer Fine Arts Music Camp Richard Grey Smith Scholarship Music Scholarship ANYONE CAN Cole Family Scholarship (also General Funds for College of Pearl Berry Boyde Music supports History) Scholarship Liberal Arts MAKE A GIFT Golden North Rebekah Lodge Tom and Nancy Hallinan Music (Est. 1913) Scholarship (also support Scholarship Anthropology, History, and Women College of Liberal Arts Dean’s to any fund at any time. Studies) Unrestricted Fund Your support makes Dirk Tordoff Alaskan History our educational efforts Endowed Scholarship (also This invaluable fund facilitates possible. There are supports History) YOUR creativity and enables resilience. two simple way to make It has helped each CLA dean Philosophy and since 1987 fund the projects a gift to the College of GIFTS Humanities they have been most passionate Liberal Arts: Rudy Krejci Memorial Scholarship about — including field supplies benefit students of all walks Walter J. Benesch Philosophy for anthropology, instruments for and experiences. As the Scholarship musicians, paint for artists, travel, Philosophy for a Lifetime research and student scholarships. Online: stewards of these valuable This fund started with a gift of Dr. Joseph Thompson Memorial Visit uaf.edu/giving/gift/giv- assets, we strive to be $500 and since then 183 different ing-form/schools/CLA/ and worthy of the investment. donors have contributed to it. Alaska Native Language type in the fund from this Contributions are given in Center section that you would like to the name of a loved one, a Strengthening Alaska Native Scholarships for International support in the gift designation Languages Support Fund passionate cause or simply Education section before clicking submit. because our donors care. Jane and Arnold Griese Memorial These gifts are cherished Psychology Scholarship and used to fund a noble Richard G. Possenti Student Colin Gilmore Memorial Research Memorial human endeavor – education. Scholarship Clinical Community Psychology Theresa Jimenez Memorial Telephone: Program Support & Student Aid Scholarship Lyndsay Thomas Memorial NAMI of Fairbanks’ Joy Albin George D. Walton Memorial Call CLA’s advancement offi- Scholarship (also supports Social Work) Scholarship Scholarship (also supports cer, Naomi Horne, at 907-474- J2 Brass Chamber Music Award Arthur and Frances Buswell Political Science) 6464. She can take your gift Lesley Salisbury Music Scholarship Scholarship CLA Undergraduate Research information over the phone Carl Tillitt Memorial Scholarship NAMI of Fairbanks Graduate CLA Center for the Arts Support and answer any questions you Connie B. Kalita Memorial Scholarship (also supports Social Work) James R. Crook Memorial Fund may have. Scholarship NAMI Rural Campus Scholarship Pep Band Support (also supports Social Work) Music Department Support NAMI of Fairbanks Ann Denardo Glenmede Trust Music Scholarship Scholarship (also supports Social Work) Edward K. and Alene R. Bianca M. Zuckerman Academic Christiansen Music Scholarship Excellence/ Programmic Research University Chorus Support Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival Communication Caroline A. Kaptur Memorial Communication Student Support 144 Scholarship Number of philanthropic Gale L. Anderson Endowed donors for 2015-2016 Scholarship for Music

13 PERMAFROST

by Cara Dees

DANCING IN THE COLOSSEUM by Kayla Rae Candrilli

by Chris Emslie

The 2015 winter cover, represented here, won a Golden Wheatstalk from the Mid-American Review for Best Cover Design at the Association for Writers and Writing Programs Conference. For subscriptions, back issues, or more information visit permafrostmag.com.

14 PERMAFROST

DANCING IN THE COLOSSEUM by Kayla Rae Candrilli PERMAFROST IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR “GRADUATE STUDENTS’ EDUCATION. IT GIVES THEM AN INSIDER’S VIEW.

This nontraditional expression is evident in several of the poetry submissions for the 2015 winter issue, now in print. By employing feminist writing, nontraditional variations of poetry and relevantly modern material, Permafrost proves that it stands at the vanguard of literary magazines.

Although Permafrost operates under a faculty advisor, Assistant Professor Daryl Farmer, the magazine is student-run. Creative writing graduate students cycle up through the varied he “farthest north literary journal levels of editorial duties and learn the operations of a literary T for writing and the arts,” Permafrost Magazine, magazine from the inside. As Farmer explains, “Permafrost is was founded in 1977 and is housed in the CLA’s English an important part of our graduate students’ education. It gives Department’s Master of Fine Arts program. Headed by a them an insider’s view into the submission and publishing dedicated collaborative team of creative-writing graduate process, in addition to teaching them design, promotion and students, Permafrost challenges boundaries as a literary fundraising skills.” journal — embracing more experimental styles as well as traditional writing. Permafrost publishes twice a year, with a winter print issue and spring online issue, featuring works by established writers and Literary magazines are periodicals dedicated to the regular new, local and worldwide authors. Although more than 700 publication of poems, short stories, essays, creative nonfiction entries are submitted for each biannual publication, only about and other literature. 40 are accepted.

In the 2015/2016 publications, the student editors of Submissions are now being accepted for the 2016 winter Permafrost were galvanized to introduce a new category for issue, though Permafrost is open for submissions year-round. their submissions. Joining the old guard of poetry, fiction and Volunteer reviewers read for the summer issues Dec. 1–May literary nonfiction is a new hybrid genre that allows authors 14 and the winter issues May 15–Nov. 30. Look for the 2016 to convey their art in a nonlinear fashion, different from the summer issue online in July. established norms. 15 The Fairbanks Four standing in front of the Rabinowitz Courthouse

I Hospital, a reported assault at the Inn II drew police attention. The night clerk Oct. 10, 1997 started like any Friday identified Eugene Vent as the youth Initially, few people complained when night in Fairbanks. Within hours who had pulled a gun on him when swift arrests were made for such an seemingly disparate events converged he broke up a party of underage ugly crime. Native activists, including — complaints about unruly teens drinkers. Vent was soon intercepted by the late Shirley Demientieff, joined partying at Alaska Motor Inn, drinking the police. civic leaders and others in a candlelight games involving another group in At the time of his arrest, at 5 a.m., vigil honoring the victim, and town a nearby downtown apartment, an Vent’s blood alcohol level was .159 — meetings condemning violence. Athabascan Native couple’s gala the equivalent of having had more than Despite police assertions that wedding reception over at Eagle’s Hall half a dozen drinks. The 17-year-old Vent and Frese had confessed, all four — eventually leaving one young man was interrogated, between naps, over plead innocent at arraignment. As dead and four others arrested for his a span of 11 hours. With detectives preparations for trial moved forward in murder. The murder of John Hartman repeatedly — and falsely — insisting 1998, their supporters grew more vocal. and the incarceration of George Frese, he had blood on one shoe, the Howard Some questioned police interrogation Kevin Pease, Marvin Roberts and Luke Academy senior agreed that he methods: Vent was underage and Eugene Vent — known today as the must have been at the scene of the intoxicated, hungry and sleep-deprived Fairbanks Four — scarred the social crime. By the evening of Oct. 11, Vent during his initial interview; Frese, conscience of Fairbanks, a collective had made incriminating statements that likewise, faced interrogation that trauma still felt today. implicated himself and three former Saturday upon release from FMH At 2:50 a.m., an ambulance classmates. All four were arrested that Emergency Room, where he’d received responded to the corner of Ninth same weekend. treatment for a foot injured in a fight he Avenue and Barnett Street to a call of Sunday evening, John Hartman died was too drunk to recall. The DA drew “man down.” The paramedics found an from his injuries. judicial rebuke for not informing grand unconscious 15-year-old boy seizing on In 1999, George Frese, Kevin Pease, jurors that Roberts, among others, had the pavement — he had been brutally Marvin Roberts and Eugene Vent were alibi witnesses. The lack of physical assaulted. As John Hartman lay in a convicted in three separate trials for coma dying at the Fairbanks Memorial the murder of John Hartman. Their sentences ranged from 33 to 97 years. 16 evidence brought more questions. Sommer questioned the honesty of In 1998 Shirley Demientieff, led the his testimony. Sommer also noted that first rally for justice for Frese, Pease, none of the accuseds’ shoes matched Roberts and Vent. Local protests and any prints from the crime. street marches on their behalf became To fact-check Sommer’s letters, an annual tradition, often coinciding O’Donoghue went to the courthouse Photos courtesy of Keri Oberly Keri of courtesy Photos with annual meetings of Tanana Chiefs to research the case — what he found “experiment” testing whether or not Conference, a nonprofit social service piqued his interest. When O’Donoghue Arlo Olson could have positively provider representing more than 40 accepted a position teaching journalism identified Frese, Pease, Roberts and Interior villages, including several with at UAF in the fall of 2001, he decided Vent from a distance of 550 feet, as he family ties to the men convicted. to use the case as practicum for his claimed. That misconduct won Kevin That spurred years of fundraisers investigative reporting course. Pease a retrial in 2004, a decision and rallies petitioning for their release Initially, O’Donoghue considered reversed on appeal in 2007, ultimately from prison. Later, the exhaustively the Hartman case as a semester project, dismissed by the Supreme Court documented blog “Free the Fairbanks that would explain how the full weight in 2009. Four” played a large role in maintaining of evidence supports convictions. As the years passed, O’Donoghue public awareness of the case. The He’d been assured by police sources continued investigating the case as a more time that passed, the more that the “right people” were in jail, teaching tool in his journalism courses. strident and organized these members though testimony might be confusing The Fairbanks Four standing in front of the Rabinowitz Courthouse In 2004, he teamed with former of the community became. They to courtroom observers. His students assistant professor Lisa Drew’s online believed the Hartman case warranted identified sources and scoured court publication class, to present ongoing further examination, in the interest records and microfilm articles. After case research on UAF Journalism’s of justice for Hartman as well as the the first semester, it was clear that there “Extreme Alaska” website. Fairbanks Four. were more questions than answers: the That “Hartman Murder Files” site By 2000, the Fairbanks Daily News- confessions were suspect, there was offered the interrogation statements, Miner received a steady stream of a distinct lack of physical evidence. including portions suppressed at trial, a letters to the editor regarding the plight The professor and students began student-designed interactive map titled of men convicted of Hartman’s murder. questioning why the jury in the third “Wild Night.” Downtown locations are Monthly missives from Tanana resident trial, featuring a time-certain alibi illuminated in chronological order, with Curtis Sommer caught Opinion Page witness and most complete set of facts, accompanying testimony from the case Editor Brian O’Donoghue’s attention. had convicted Roberts and Pease. prosecution and defense. The Tanana resident wrote regularly “Each thing led to more questions. Student contributor Jade Frank and was articulately critical of the case More uncertainty,” said O’Donoghue, used spring break 2004 to interview presented at trial. In one letter, Sommer “We kept at it because there was always three of the Fairbanks Four at Florence noted that “In reading the transcripts more there.” Correctional Center in Arizona. At of the interrogations… two were drunk O’Donoghue’s second investigative that time, Pease was held in Seward, and questioned for an extensive period reporting class uncovered jury Alaska, awaiting his new trial. Each of time. All four denied, and to this day misconduct. Unbeknownst to the man repeated his claims of innocence, deny, any involvement.” He pointed out judge and attorneys, jurors in the talking of their hopes for justice. that the state’s star witness, Arlo Olson, third trial left the courthouse during In July of 2008, O’Donoghue and his had a long history of legal troubles. deliberations. They ran an unauthorized journalism students produced “Decade of Doubt,” a comprehensive seven-part series published by the Daily News- Miner, presenting the findings of what was by then a six-year investigation. Each installment carried this introduction: The series “offers no proof of guilt or innocence. It does document gaps in the police investigation that raise questions about the victim’s last conscious hours. It points out that the group convicted 17 Left to right: Marvin Roberts, Eugene Vent, Kevin Pease, George Frese of the teen’s murder may have been sworn statement, which described how incarcerated for the duration, appearing prosecuted with forms of evidence Holmes, Jason Wallace and three other in court only to testify, otherwise identified later in national studies friends from Lathrop High School had listening by teleconference from as contributing to some wrongful killed Jason Hartman. Fairbanks Correctional Center. prosecutions elsewhere. And it shows O’Donoghue reported in the Daily In a settlement reached Dec. 17, the how rulings from this state’s courts have News-Miner that Holmes and the state agreed to dismiss all charges if the undermined Alaska Native confidence others gathered at an apartment one men agreed to withdraw their assertion in the justice system by keeping juries Friday in October 1997, then piled into of prosecutorial misconduct and did from weighing all that’s known about a car together and drove downtown not sue the city of Fairbanks or the state the crime.” to “have some fun” messing with of Alaska. In doing so, the Fairbanks The late Chief Mitch Demientieff, “drunk Natives.” After chasing a pair Four stipulated they maintained and of Nenana, wrote a letter to the editor of intoxicated men who got away, the continued to maintain their innocence. congratulating the Daily News-Miner group cruised downtown Fairbanks for Judge Lyle approved the deal THE WAY “for having the courage” to run another 20 minutes before happening and ordered the “immediate and O’Donoghue’s series. “I am proud to unconditional release” of the witness that work because as great as Fairbanks Four. Brian is in my mind, I know you young people [UAF journalism students] WE TALK did the grunt work and used well- III researched information to make this series possible.” The exoneration of the Fairbanks The “Decade” series provided Four took an incredible amount of foundation for the newly formed community persistence — a dedicated Alaska Innocence Project’s subsequent letter-writing campaign and public representation of Roberts, Frese and activism from the Demientieffs, the eventually Pease. Rev. Scott Fisher of St. Matthew’s In 2010, a former news-writing Brian O’Donoghue, veteran journalist and associate professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Episcopal Church, Tanana Chiefs student, April Monroe, embraced Conference’s Shirley Lee and all the the plight of the men convicted and supporters who marched, rallied, their cause a name through her “Free upon a “white boy walking alone” on petitioned and spoke out against the Fairbanks Four” advocacy blog. Barnette Street. injustice over the years. It took millions Operating independently of UAF Holmes’ statement provided of dollars worth of legal work from the Journalism’s efforts, the FF blog and details about the murder and an Alaska Office of Public Advocacy, Vent’s associated Facebook page became a attempted assault elsewhere downtown, longtime private attorney Colleen rallying point for supporters, generating documented in police records at Libbey, the national firm of Dorsey & political and financial support for the time. Whitney (pro bono), and Oberly’s one- the Innocence Project’s efforts In October 2015, eighteen years man Alaska Innocence Project. challenging convictions. after John Hartman was murdered, It wouldn’t have happened without In 2011, former Fairbanks the Fairbanks Four returned to court support from the TCC, the dedicated resident William Holmes confessed to for a five-week hearing on Holmes’ advocacy of Monroe’s “Free the participating in Hartman’s murder to statement and other new evidence Fairbanks Four” blogging team and a California prison guard. Holmes is before Fairbanks Superior Court Judge many years of public service reporting currently serving two consecutive life Paul Lyle. O’Donoghue’s students were by O’Donoghue and his investigative sentences in California for unrelated on hand, tweeting and videotaping the journalism students. homicides. Several months later, he entire proceedings. During his initial police interview, shared his confession with the Alaska The Fairbanks four were no longer Roberts had said, “I’m innocent … how Innocence Project. young men. Marvin Roberts, 37, had many times am I gonna say this?” The In 2013, Bill Oberly, director and been freed in June 2015, after serving answer is innumerable. sole attorney of the Alaska Innocence more than his full time required Project, filed motions in court seeking for parole. Frese, 38, Pease, 37, and “declarations of actual innocence” 36-year-old Vent, hadn’t seen a day of for his clients. Oberly cited Holmes’ freedom since 1997. All three remained 18 THE WAY Pribilofs the depicting Berge Anna by Photo WE TALK

A specialist on Baffin Island Inuit peoples they encountered in the other linguists and language teachers and Greenlandic languages, Associate Aleutian Islands, Alaska Peninsula, before and beside her, as well as the Professor Anna Berge came to UAF Kodiak Island and Prince William students who assisted her. in 2001 to work with Alaska Native Sound. “Unangan,” which means languages. Berge’s linguistic talents have “seaside people,” is the traditional As Berge completed “The Way We been well spent creating first-of-their- ethnonym, although some Unangan Talk in the Pribilofs,” UAF’s then- kind learning materials for Unangam still prefer the term Aleut. Interior-Aleutians Campus received Tunuu, the Aleut language, under a a grant from the U.S. Department of National Science Foundation grant. Her When Berge began working with Education’s Office of Postsecondary dedication to language revitalization the Unangan fourteen years ago, she Education to create online language was recently demonstrated by the observed that in a population of little course resources. Berge prepared a new publication of her textbook, “Pribilof more than 2,000, approximately 100 curriculum in collaboration with Anĝaĝigan Tunungin / The Way We people spoke Unangam Tunuu. That UAF’s eLearning and Distance Talk in the Pribilofs,” and the creation number dropped dangerously as the Education program. of a new online course on spoken older generations died and children Unangam Tunuu.“Unangam Tunuu” is no longer spoke the language. This A course, Introduction to Unangan the indigenous name for what has makes one of the greatest challenges for Language, will be available online in also been commonly referred to as language revitalization - it is not only the summer of 2016. It uses Berge’s the Aleut language (part of the the documentation of language, but textbook, with accompanying sound Eskimo-Aleut language family). also the creation of language learning files, as the course reading material. “Unangam” is the adjective form of materials that must be accomplished. The undergraduate course is a one- “Unangax,” the people’s own name credit introduction to spoken Eastern for their community, and “Tunuu” In the past several decades, much Unangam Tunuu, specifically the dialect means “language.” communal work has been done to spoken on the Pribilof Islands. preserve Unangam Tunuu, and Berge To learn more about the Introduction to Unangan The term “Aleut” was used by emphasizes that her language learning Language class or discover other Alaska Native language 18th century Russian fur traders, material were made possible both by learning opportunities, visit unangan.community.uaf.edu and uaf.edu/anlc/ missionaries and explorers in reference the untiring efforts of the Elders with whom she worked and by the work of to different groups of Alaska Native 19 BILINGUALISM IN THE KUSKOKWIM

The United Nations Educational Siberian Yupik, Tanacross, Tanana, of Education’s Alaska Native Education Scientific and Cultural Organization Tlingit, Tsimshian, Unangam Tunuu, Equity Program granted the money. has estimated that, without language Upper Tanana and Upper Kuskokwim revitalization efforts, half of the 6,000 in Alaska. The 20th, Eyak, is no longer Partners in this grant are the Lower worldwide languages spoken today will be spoken at all. In 2014, the Alaska Kuskokwim School District and extinct by the end of this century. State Legislature passed the Official Bethel’s Association of Village Council Languages Act, which formally Presidents. Nineteen of the 20 Native languages of recognized all 20 languages. Alaska are endangered; these include “We are very excited for this Ahtna, Alutiiq, Central Alaskan Yup’ik, As part of a larger language opportunity for our teachers and Deg Xinag, Dena’ina, Iñupiaq, Gwich’in, revitalization effort, the UAF School of students,” said Carlton Kuhns, Haida, Hän, Holikachuk, Koyukon, Education and the College of Liberal the school district’s assistant Arts’ linguistics faculty, Associate superintendent. The school district is Professor Sabine Siekmann and committed to bilingual education and Term Assistant Professor Wendy sees this new grant-funded program EMERGENT Martelle, received a three-year, $2.33 as a valuable opportunity to increase million grant to expand educational English and Yup’ik literacy among its BILINGUALS: opportunities for bilingual Alaska 4,200 students. STUDENTS WHO Native students and rural educators “ in southwest Alaska. The grant will be The Alaska Native Education Equity SPEAK BOTH THEIR used to design a graduate program for Program funds were gifted as a educators whose students speak both linguistics grant; the program will be a NATIVE LANGUAGE their Native language and English, cooperative effort between faculty from AND ENGLISH, BUT but are lacking fluency in one or both. many departments, focusing on teacher These students are known as “emergent training. UAF’s linguistics program LACK FLUENCY IN bilinguals.” Educators will learn how to is excited to work on this aspect of strengthen the unique language skills Alaskan language revitalization. ONE OR BOTH. of these students. The U.S. Department Linguistics faculty Sabine Siekmann 20 and Wendy Martelle pictured above. Photo by Tia Tidwell. GREEN DOT Tidwell. Tia by Photo Swisher. Kim

On October 20, 2015, UAF’s driven to contribute to her community. In an interview for this article, Interim Chancellor Mike Powers confusion, to make the choice to act. Swisher explained how the Green Dot released a memo regarding sexual Proactive green dots communicate BILINGUALISM program originally partnered with the assault on campus. Powers touched on to others a commitment to changing State of Alaska, during Gov. Parnell’s Alaska’s shameful statistics of sexual social norms around violence. The “Choose Respect” campaign, to create assault and acknowledged UAF’s only way those norms change is when IN THE KUSKOKWIM responsibility to join the academic a pilot project addressing community people make a choice to do something violence on a local level across Alaska. vanguard against gendered violence, a little different. Those small choices Green Dot works to establish two new saying, “Like so many universities, add up dynamically to create a larger community norms: (a) violence is not our reported sexual assault statistics change — Green Dot makes stepping OK and (b) everyone can do something have been so low as to be implausible, into prevention accessible and doable to prevent violence. By “implementing especially when we know that sexual for everyone. a strategy of violence prevention” a assault is so prevalent in Alaska… That To date Green Dot have trained community can substantially reduce is not acceptable and sends the wrong many at UAF community at Admissions power-based personal violence. message to victims and perpetrators of and Registration, Wood Center, all of According to Swisher, a safer this heinous violence.” ROTC, UAF athletes, ASUAF, all the campus is promoted when individuals Staff and faculty at UAF have been dorm RAs, and numerous staff and make a choice to do green dots. A green motivated to make a difference on faculty across campus. UAF brought dot is an individual choice at any given campus by working with the national the national Green Dot trainers back in moment to make UAF safer. There are Green Dot Violence Prevention February 2016 to train additional green two types of green dots, reactive and Strategy program. Founded by Dorothy dot educators. President Jim Johnsen proactive. The reactive green dot is a Edwards, at the University of Kentucky, requested all statewide UA staff receive by-stander intervention when a person Green Dot creates a tangible prevention green dot training to support system- is concerned about a high-risk situation strategy to empower by-stander wide prevention efforts. or sees an immediately dangerous intervention and works to change the Green Dot promotes the choice to situation. Green Dot training provides community norms that foster a culture act in a way that promotes community the tools to intervene through the 3 Ds: of silence surrounding sexual violence, positivity and reinforces the idea that direct, delegate, distract. Whether it’s dating violence, and stalking. we are all responsible in creating a directly asking a friend if they’re OK, Kimberly Swisher, who is a clinical culture of safety at UAF. As Swisher delegating a situation to the bartender assistant professor and field director said, hopefully, one day, the need for or the police, or by knocking over a for the Social Work department, is Green Dot training will be gone and drink to distract a heated conversation, one of the volunteer leaders for Green making choices to look out for one there are options for everyone to do Dot at UAF. Swisher is a professional another will just be, “how it is something when they see something social worker and a faculty member at on campus.” UAF. Receiving her Bachelor’s of Arts concerning. Bystander intervention in Psychology from UAF and, later, a training offered on campus provides For more information about the Social Work department at UAF visit uaf.edu/socwork/ Master’s of Social Work from UAA, skills and ideas to overcome personal

Swisher describes herself as naturally barriers like shyness, uncertainty or 21 There are myths aplenty about A response to the sensationalized After the first event in April of 2014, Alaska without reality television reality programming that invites wildly “Dark Winter Nights” established a exacerbating the misinformation inaccurate portrayals of Alaska to be large, local fan base. The second event problem. Annoyed with the staged taken as fact, “Dark Winter Nights” in November of 2014 was standing storylines and glitzy gossip touted in is Alaskans telling uniquely room only, and its popularity required shows like “Bering Sea Gold,” “Ultimate Alaskan stories. a larger performance venue. One year Survival Alaska,” and “Ice Road On stage, the storytellers range later, it drew an audience of 1,000 — the Truckers,” journalism Professor Rob from brash and slickly comic to quietly largest yet — while also broadcasting Prince launched “Dark Winter Nights: reserved and poignant. Some stories are live on KUAC-FM. True Stories from Alaska” to “share the happily relatable: nights too light, bears “The tremendous growth in our real Alaska with the rest of the world.” too close, slop buckets too full. Others audience has far, far exceeded my come from the darker side of life in expectations” said Prince. “The growing the North: the unstoppable suicide of pains have been a big challenge for our a loved one; a terrifying, panic-filled rag-tag group of volunteers, but we’re night lost at sea and the people left enjoying the ride as we figure out how onshore. The stories are told over an to do this.” ethereal soundtrack provided by local Between live events, “Dark Winter musicians Thought Trade and Nights” also broadcasts its radio Emily Anderson. program the third Saturday of the DARK WINTER NIGHTS TRUE STORIES FROM ALASKA

If you have a true Alaska story to share, contact Prince at [email protected] or visit darkwinternights.com.

Left, CLA alum Heather Taggard shares stories about her experience hosting KUAC’s “Anywhere, Alaska” TV program. Center, host Rob Prince delights the audience. Right, Fairbanks veterinarian Dr. Dee shares a story with Bubba the Cockatoo on her shoulder. UAF photos by JR Ancheta. month on KUAC-FM and hosts a Any event that grows on the scope “Dark Winter Nights” is part of a podcast on iTunes and Google Play. and scale of “Dark Winter Nights” larger pattern of humanity — our drive National Public Radio’s “Snap does so with an army of volunteers. to tell and desire to hear stories. The Judgment” noticed “Dark Winter Prince said he is “most proud of the artistic ambitions of the volunteers Nights” and has invited storyteller and people I’ve convinced to help us with who produce the oeuvre of “Dark UAF graduate Melissa Buchta to record this program.” Winter Nights” events and media have her story for its show. Buchta said she “We don’t know what we’re doing, found fortune by following a simple was “over the moon” at the prospect [but] I love doing crazy, weird and new maxim: every story is true, every story of contributing to an NPR show with stuff and not know if it’ll work,” he said. is Alaska. millions of listeners, “all thanks to Rob Recently, “Dark Winter Nights” and ‘Dark Winter Nights.’” and Online with Libraries (OWL) The national attention serves produced a statewide video storytelling Prince’s original goal. conference. Coordinated from the Noel “I love our live events, and they’re Wien Public Library in Fairbanks, five a lot of fun for the community, but my other libraries participated, including goal from the start has been to share the Juneau Public Library, Kenai these stories with people outside of Community Library, Kodiak Public Alaska so the world can have a better Library, Unalaska Public Library and grasp of what living here is really like,” Valdez Consortium Library. he said. DARK WINTER NIGHTS TRUE STORIES FROM ALASKA Jessica Obermiller Leah M. Hill Student Spotlight Student Spotlight

Data discovered in Jessica Obermiller’s on-going research, Leah M. Hill received the top prize at Research Day “The Headscarf Project: Exposing Myself by Covering Up,” 2015 for a senior thesis project in which she analyzed the drew national notice in 2015. An outstanding example of photographic works of Claude Cahun and Cindy Sherman to a nontraditional CLA student, Obermiller presented her demonstrate the performative nature of gender and identity. research to the American Anthropological Association, This outstanding recognition marks the first time a when still a sophomore, through an Undergraduate Research College of Liberal Arts student has won the overall first prize and Scholarly Activity grant. at the annual competition sponsored by UAF’s Office of “The Headscarf Project” began after a stranger mistook Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity. Her project Obermiller’s scarf for a Muslim hijab and cursed at her in also won the CLA’s Dean’s Choice Award. a local Fairbanks restaurant, calling her a terrorist. Under Hill’s project was the culmination of her unique the tutelage of her project mentor, Assistant Professor of interdisciplinary degree, which she earned in 2015. Although Anthropology Sveta Yamin-Pasternik, Obermiller arranged a senior thesis was not required, Hill established the project a strict method to collect data and embarked on a yearlong to synthesize her four main disciplines: literature, women study of people’s perceptions of her in a headscarf. and gender studies, art history and sociology. Hijab is an Arabic word meaning “cover” and is the most Hill’s work showed that combining disciplines can create common type of headscarf worn by Muslim women in the a deeper understanding of difficult concepts. West. It is a fabric square that covers the head and neck, “While gender and identity depend on an outside leaving the face exposed. Women may wear the hijab for a perspective, they are also intimate and personal levels of wide variety of religious or cultural reasons. Women who self,” Hill stated in her thesis. “Cahun and Sherman each use do not wear the hijab do so for equally diverse motives. photography to display these layers of inward and outward However, most Muslim women agree that the hijab is expression of identity… their choice. “Photography can be used like a translator to define, Obermiller is not Muslim, and, though she publicly wore explain and display the flexibility and fluidity of gender a headscarf every day for a year, she was careful to never and identity performance,” she explained. “Without a way arrange it as a traditional hijab. She documented how people to visually understand something, many people disregard reacted to it by keeping a journal of every response: positive, a topic as not true or unreal. By putting the performativity neutral or negative. At the time of this interview, Obermiller of identity and gender into a visual context, a difficult-to- had collected more than 800 pieces of data, of which 68 pinpoint concept can be successfully explained where percent were negative reactions to her wearing a headscarf. words fail.” The Humanistic Anthropology Society accepted Hill commended her committee for being supportive, Obermiller’s research in 2015 to present at the American understanding and enthusiastic during her degree and senior Anthropological Association’s annual conference. A travel thesis project. grant from UAF’s Office of Undergraduate Research and “Without these professors, I wouldn’t have chosen Scholarly Activity allowed her to attend the conference with the areas of study that I did — I wouldn’t have the same Yamin-Pasternik in Denver, Colorado. passion and devotion to what I study,” she said. “I was Obermiller’s research is entering the next phase — extremely lucky to have been surrounded by some of the synthesizing the data and publishing her work. Still only most intelligent and encouraging educators. Each made an a junior, Obermiller said her academic goal is to achieve individual impact on my educational career, and I owe a a doctorate. When asked what she had personally taken great deal of gratitude to them for my educational success.” from her year in a headscarf, Obermiller answered that the experiment had changed her. “I love myself more because of this project,” she said. Both students were selected for the CLA Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Research. Obermiller was selected in spring of 2016 Obermiller (pictured top left) photo provided by Obermiller, Hill (top right) photo provided by Hill. and Hill in the fall of 2015. Visit uaf.edu/ursa

24 Student Spotlight HOT SHEET #nanooknation #CLAis #naturallyinspiring EVENTS

Dark Winter Institute on UAF’s Inside Out 3rd Saturday June 20 - October 28 Nights Collaborative Campus preview day Every Month True stories from July 23, 2016 Language For more informa- 7:00 pm on Alaska radio Research (CoLang) tion, visit: uaf.edu/ KUAC-FM broadcast admitted/orienta- tion/

Stalking the June 15 Rural Justice in June 24 - 25 Early Fall Winter Shorts Alaska Bogeyman Student Drama 7:00pm Presented by 7:00pm A complex play For more informa- Association’s at Murie Assistant Professor At Salisbury adapted by Markus tion, visit: uaf.edu/ single act plays theatrefilm/sda/ Auditorium of Justice Jeff May Theater Potter and David Holthouse

We Are CLA August 3 Northern August 25-28 UAF New Student October 7 in Landscapes Orientation An open house 7:00pm Presented by For more informa- the UAF Great day for all At Murie Snedden Chair of tion, visit: uaf.edu/ Hall Auditorium Journalism admitted/orienta- Richard Murphy tion/

For more information, visit: uaf.edu/cla/ Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/UAF.CLA If you would like to download an electronic copy of this edition or previous editions of Clarity magazine, please visit uaf.edu/cla/giving/clarity/

HAPPENINGS

Puccini’s ‘Turandot’ was presented Mary Ehrlander, professor Carolyn Kremers, writer Anthropology professors Ben CLA Professor Emeritus by the Fairbanks Symphony and director of CLA’s and longtime English Potter and Carrin Halfmann of English D.A. Bartlett Orchestra and Chorus and the Arctic and Northern instructor, received her both published significant passed away Sept. 5, 2015. Northland Youth Choir, conducted Studies Program, received second Fulbright scholar papers in 2015 relating to the by CLA’s Eduard Zilberkant. This the Barbara S. Smith award in August of 2015. ice-age infant remains that massive performance had over 40 Alaska Historical Society were found at the Upward musicians, 50+ chorus members Pathfinder award in the Annie Duffy, term Sun River site and the salmon and a dozen special guests, actors fall of 2015. instructor of art, received remains analyzed from the and performers who all graced her second Rasmuson hearth. The papers had major the same stage in the Davis Music Brian Hemphill, associate Foundation Individual impacts on our understanding Hall in April 2016. CLA’s Associate professor of anthropology, Artist Award. of migration theories, burial Professor of Theatre Carrie Baker received a Fulbright rights and salmon use of provided stage direction. scholar award in 2014-15. ancient Alaskans.

CLA by the Numbers

Both students were selected for the CLA Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Research. Obermiller was selected in spring of 2016 2,452 41 9,205 # 1 115 and Hill in the fall of 2015. Visit uaf.edu/ursa 2014-2015 Student CLA Degrees CLA Alums In the Volume of Faculty Employed Enrollment Offered Classes Taught by UAF Colleges and Schools COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS University of Alaska Fairbanks

University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Liberal Arts 404 Gruening Building P.O. Box 756280 Fairbanks, AK 99775-6280 (907) 474-7231

LIVING AUTHENTICALLY BY: NAOMI HORNE

We’ve all heard them — jokes about the relative the memory of her soul mate; the next day I’m worth of a liberal arts degree abound: What’s the writing a press release about an upcoming music difference between a large pizza and a history performance, or formulating a budget reduction degree? Only one can feed a family of four. We scenario with colleagues. Web marketing to alumni laugh at them, at first… engagement, fundraising to fiscal planning — it’s Pursuing a degree in social work was not all hands on deck here in CLA, and I am deeply something I did lightheartedly. My parents satisfied knowing that I am professionally nimble. expressed concern about relative employability; My liberal arts education I received here at UAF my engineer dad pointed to the abundance of jobs prepared me for a job description that I could have in his field. I stayed true to myself at a time when never expected in advance. the whole world was telling me to wake up and So next time you’re eye-guzzling “Game of make money. Studying social work allowed me to Thrones” and commenting on archetypal heroes be my authentic self. Looking back now, I realize it who mirror Julius Caesar or Odysseus, take a prepared me for the ever-changing career landscape moment and be proud that you followed your heart of the modern world. and achieved an education that actually matters It may be safer to get an accounting degree to you. Pursuing a liberal arts degree is something with the idea to work as a CPA, but today’s college we do with purpose, and it’s good to remind those graduates will change careers a few times — 30 jokesters around us of that. years of accounting might not end up as appealing If you feel like helping us strengthen liberal arts as it sounds now. That is the real strength of a liberal at UAF, it’s pretty easy. Consider submitting a letter arts degree: what it lacks in specificity, it makes up to the newspaper editor illuminating the worth of in practicality for the long run. your own CLA education or writing an influential A liberal arts education is more than the professor telling of their impact on you. More active assemblage of those words — it is interdisciplinary alternatives include attending board of regents or and multidisciplinary all at once. When thinking of legislative meetings and giving public testimony the liberal arts, consider the flexibility that a diverse on the importance of a liberal arts education or skill set offers. The wide applications of a social making a gift to one of the CLA causes on page 12. science degree keep surprising me. As the budget After you have read this magazine share it with a shrinks and staffing stalls, I’m continually being friend or family member who is looking to attend a asked to deploy skills I learned as an undergraduate. university. Every bit helps. By using what we learn My role at CLA is more multifaceted than it was here we can make a difference. just a year ago. One day I’m helping a widow honor

Photo by Tia Tidwell