For alumni and friends of the University of Alaska Fairbanks fall 2013 Letters Energy Civilization, spring 2013: The spring Aurora I just received my copy of another Well written, interesting, but limited. knocked my alumni magazine from another of my Alaska has put all its economic chips socks off! It’s alma maters, and I was reminded that I on oil and has become almost totally terrific, from had intended to let you know how much dependent on the oil industry’s the graphics I enjoyed the latest copy of the Aurora. I efforts. But with the oil and natural to the subject liked the format and the diverse articles. gas boom in the Lower 48, and the matter to I especially enjoyed the article president talking about the U.S. soon its diversity. about the Equinox marathon at 50 becoming a net exporter of energy, the With the even though I was reminded of how companies are increasingly questioning emphasis on old I am becoming. In the fall of 1963 the economic value of continuing the journalism in Alaska today and in I was a freshman at UA[F]. I heard costly investments in Alaska when there the past, it is of itself a prime example of about the marathon on campus and, are much less expensive and easily all that is best in communication. I was unencumbered by training, I decided produced sources available. As matters co-editor of the then Polar Star in the to give it a try. Wearing old tennis shoes now stand, if the oil companies were to early ’60s, and a half-time reporter for and carrying my lunch in a paper bag cut back drastically, Alaska’s economy Jessens Weekly Newspaper, a far cry from I started out. It took me about eight would probably collapse. Unlike other the publications today. The Starvation hours to reach the finish line. I walked producing states — Texas, say — Alaska Gulch article with the wonderful King the whole distance. I remember that it has made no effort to diversify its Neptune burning pile brought back was a glorious fall day with that oblique economy. Any discussion of energy and those great years, not just of activity sunlight that is so characteristic of Alaska should acknowledge that over booths but of the pretty, long-legged Alaska. I was happy to be in Alaska and the past several decades, Alaska has gals doing the traditional cancan. Kudos. embarking on new adventures. built a one-horse economy. Mary Halm Writer, ’64 After I read your article and realized what a groundbreaking event the John Coyne, ’61 Note from editor: We liked your marathon is, I found my patch and description so much, Mary, we’ve sewed it to my jean jacket. incorporated it into Aurora’s mission I hope to impress my statement “…In short, Aurora should friends as well as knock your socks off.” Thanks for the connect with perfect words. former Alaskans. Thank you for helping me remember this event and my part in it. Cathy Trost Wiggins, ’67 UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA UF A ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2013 - 2014 AuRORA MAGAZINE Opinions expressed are The University of Alaska FAIRBANKS those of the authors and Fairbanks is accredited by PRESIDENT BOARD MEMBERS M ANAGING EDITOR do not necessarily reflect the Northwest Commission CHANCELLOR Jim Dixon, ’90, ’91 Bill Abbott, ’98, ’00 Kim Davis official positions of the on Colleges and Universities. Brian Rogers [email protected] [email protected] University of Alaska UAF is an affirmative action/ Michael Campbell, ’04, ’05 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Fairbanks. equal opportunity employer VI CE CHANCELLOR FOR VI CE PRESIDENT [email protected] Darcy Harrod, ’10 and educational institution. UNIVERSITY AND STUDENT Wayne Donaldson, ’80 Send comments or letters ADVANCEMENT Teresa Flores, ’03 E DITOR [email protected] [email protected] to the editor to aurora. UAF photos by Todd Paris Mike Sfraga, ’84, ’97 Tori Tragis, ’94, ’99 Lisa Gentry, ’04 [email protected] unless otherwise noted. S ECRETARY or to P.O. Box 757505, Class notes photos D IRECTOR OF MARKETING [email protected] Dani Bickford, ’06 D ESIGNERS Fairbanks, AK 99775, or provided by alumni AND COMMUNICATIONS Jason Gootee, ’06 [email protected] Phil Raymond call 907-474-6726. We unless otherwise noted. Michelle Renfrew, ’98 [email protected] T REASURER Andrea Swingley reserve the right to edit Produced by Marketing and Heath Hilyard, ’96 for grammar and length. Communications. 09/2013 Sam Enoka, ’95 [email protected] PHOTO MANAGER Visit us on the web at [email protected] Chad Hutchison, ’02 Todd Paris, ’83 www.uaf.edu/aurora/. [email protected] EI X cuT VE DIRECTOR Rhonda Widener, ’01 WE B DESIGNERS Joe Hayes, ’97 [email protected] Jenn Baker, ’02 [email protected] Sherrie Roberts, ’07 Volume 6 No. 1 Published twice a year for alumni and friends of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Spheres of infl uence The fi rst ascent of Denali: Chasing the legacy By Todd Paris By eresa Bakker Art major Ian Wilkinson, ’13, A century ago, climbers reached used the beauty of 1,200 the summit of Mount McKinley for the rst time. e memories and bowls to spotlight the ugliness mementos of that achievement have of hunger. been carefully preserved and are now part of a retrospective at the UA Museum of the North. Dust devil By Tori Tragis Dust clouds from unpaved roads and runways are more than a gritty nuisance — they’re a safety hazard and health risk, and when too much dust oats away, it means expensive repairs, especially in rural Alaska. Can anything be done? Being Nanook By LJ Evans What’s it like inside the bear suit? Perfect present By Curtis Rogers A hockey stick is usually used for scoring and slapshots, but it can also be a symbol of healing and love. Teach me By Jamie Hallberg A young student teacher struggles to nd the balance between being the 18 teacher and being taught, but just when she thinks she’s about to fall, her 10 students help steady her. Departments Full Frame Nanook Nook 24 Class notes/In memoriam Story and photos by Todd Paris Spheres of Infl uence he bowls are laid out in tight rows on the oor and covered with sheets of 10 months. Plexiglas. Interspersed on top of the Tglass are ve large pots 4 to 5 feet tall, stu ed to over owing with rice. Sprinkled in the 1,200 bowls below are just a few grains of rice, 3,000 pounds of clay. or none at all. Walking on top of the bowls represents the disparity between them. “When you walk on it you can hear and 1,200 bowls exactly the same height. feel the changes as the bowls adjust to your weight,” senior art student Ian Wilkinson says. “Your gravity is absorbed by their strength. e idea just came to me, kind of in a giant tsunami wave, of being able to make this tier system of economic inequality where the less fortunate population below can’t get past this ceiling, which is a glass oor to the privileged few above.” Story and photos by Todd Paris Spheres of Infl uence he bowls are laid out in tight rows on the oor and covered with sheets of 10 months. Plexiglas. Interspersed on top of the Tglass are ve large pots 4 to 5 feet tall, stu ed to over owing with rice. Sprinkled in the 1,200 bowls below are just a few grains of rice, 3,000 pounds of clay. or none at all. Walking on top of the bowls represents the disparity between them. “When you walk on it you can hear and 1,200 bowls exactly the same height. feel the changes as the bowls adjust to your weight,” senior art student Ian Wilkinson says. “Your gravity is absorbed by their strength. e idea just came to me, kind of in a giant tsunami wave, of being able to make this tier system of economic inequality where the less fortunate population below can’t get past this ceiling, which is a glass oor to the privileged few above.” e installation ful lled the requirement of a senior thesis for the work is where his physical training paid o . “I’ve been on the cross “ e whole reason I chose pottery as a concentration is because it Wilkinson’s bachelor of ne arts degree (he graduated in May 2013), country ski team for ve years, and we have to train for an outrageous o en has a function behind it,” Wilkinson explains. “O entimes that but the artist and student-athlete had other ambitions for it. “I number of hours. It takes months of training to get where you want to function is to nourish people by serving as a vessel to hold food.” thought, why don’t I use my project to try to demonstrate that you be in order to compete, so I looked at this the same way. By … keeping “I’ll always have a wheel at my back door,” he promises. “Always. I Why don’t I“ use my project can do something more meaningful with your art than just showing a regimen and discipline and working on it no more than four hours a plan to continue making functional pottery for people to use to make to try to demonstrate that it o ? It’s more meaningful to me to remind everyone that there is a day, I was able to stay focused, keep my wits about me, stay consistent their days better.