2 January 31, 2012 In This Issue The Sun Star

Staff Cant-n-did Camera EDITOR IN CHIEF Video surveillance in Lathrop Hall Heather Bryant confirmed a resident assistant’s report of [email protected] Fernanda Chamorro a person who had been trespassed from (907) 474-5078 Sun Star Reporter campus entering the building on Jan. 19.

COPY EDITOR Irresponsivle Kelsey Gobroski A community service officer found a This report is based on the information 23-year-old driver from Fairbanks unre- LAYOUT EDITOR reported by the University Police Depart- sponsive in the driver’s seat of a running ve- Galen Lott ment. Individuals arrested and/or charged with crimes in this report are presumed in- hicle in the Nenana Parking Lot on Jan. 21. [email protected] nocent until proven guilty in a court of law. (907) 474-6039 An officer arrested and transported him to The Sun Star the Fairbanks Correctional Center for DUI. Volume XXXI Number 16 PHOTO EDITOR Break-in Erin McGroarty On Jan. 17, someone reported that a One dope toilet December 31, 2012 PlayStation 3 and accessories had been On Jan. 23, a resident assistant reported ADVERTISING MANAGER stolen from a Stevens Hall dorm room over that a Moore Hall resident possessed drug The Sun Star’s mission as Andrew Sheeler the break. The theft is currently under inves- paraphernalia, which is equipment to make, [email protected] tigation. a campus voice for UAF is use, or store drugs. An officer responded, (907) 474-7540 finding a pipe in the toilet and called the to report the news honestly Contact 18-year-old male UAF student to court for MULTIMEDIA EDITOR A UAF student was reported for ha- possession of a marijuana pipe. and fairly, announce and Jeremy Smith rassing two female staff members by making chronicle events and provide [email protected] unwanted contact with them in the Duck- Advice for the week: a forum for expressions of DISTRIBUTION MANAGER ering Building. The individual was banned There were a couple of items reported opinion. Brandi Swanson from Duckering on Jan. 20 and the investi- as missing over the break, so if any items [email protected] gation is ongoing. are found, please turn them into Lost and Found. The front desk in the Wood EDITORIAL OFFICES REPORTERS Ditching Center is the place to contact if an item is 101G Wood Center Ian Larsen A 25-year-old driver from Fort Wayne, lost or found at 474-7034. Also, make sure P.O. Box 756640 Fernanda Chamorro Ind. drove his vehicle into a ditch by the to claim items fast if they have been lost Fairbanks, AK 99775 Lakeidra Chavis roundabout near West Tanana Loop. He was because after 70 days, they are returned Tel: (907) 474-6039 Sarah Bressler arrested and taken to the Fairbanks Correc- to the finder and well, finders-keepers in Ads Dept: (907) 474-7540 Mandee Jackson tional Center, where he was charged with that case. Fax: (907) 474-5508 Rebecca Lawhorne www.uafsunstar.com DUI on Jan. 22. PHOTOGRAPHERS Fred Monrean Kayla Hajdukovich Michelle Strehl

ADVISOR Lynne Lott

Corrections: In our Dec. 6, 2011 issue we mistakenly identified DJ Hot-Sexy-Mid- night’s radio show as “Music to Make Love to Your Woman An Afghan man walks beside soldiers from Charlie By,” while the correct name is Company of the 1st Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment during an air assault in partnership with the Afghan “Music to Make Love to Your National Army on Dec. 29, 2011, in Molla Dust, Kan- dahar Province, Afghanistan. The ANA forces lead the Old Lady By.” search and clearing for caches of explosive materials and IED parts. www.uafsunstar.com Politics January 31, 2012 3 ASUAF Jan. 29 meeting highlights Lakeidra Chavis the team is going to Destin, Fla. in order to Sun Star Reporter gain a better understanding of coastal eco- systems. The team will work on a shoreline The following meeting highlights were restoration project that will help rebuild fish compiled from the Jan. 29 ASUAF meeting. habitats damaged by the oil spill. The bill Senators in attendance was sent to the executive committee. John Netardus, Will Collingwood, Tim- VITA funding othy Gredigan, Jennifer Chambers, Rusty “SB 178-002: VITA Tax Prep Awareness” Young, McKinley Zakurdaew, Christian would use $800 to aid the Volunteer Tax Burns-Shafer, Jesse Cervin, Fred Brown and Preparation Assistance (VITA) to provide Robert Kinnard III UAF students with free tax services. The Senators absent Senate passed the bill during the meeting Chelsea Holt, Sophia Grzeskowiak- because VITA will begin providing their Amezquita, Michael Golub, Andy Chamber- services on Feb. 4th. The legislation was ap- lain, Mary Simmons and Jonathon Schurz proved by a vote of 9-0-0. Officers in attendance ASUAF’s next meeting canceled Rosemary Paz and Josh Banks In lieu of the upcoming Super Bowl Alternative Spring Break proposal weekend and the Juneau Conference, ASUAF’s next meeting Sunday, Feb. 4, was “SB 178-001: Alternative Spring Break canceled by a vote of 7-1. 2012” would use a contribution grant of $1,750 for students participating in the 2012

Alternative Spring Break trip. This year, Editorial All knowledge is worth having In May 2011, I istrative costs, how adjunct professors and News-Miner to publish Jeff Richardson’s tool for education, a way to step back and began a project unlike instructors figure into UAF’s faculty budget. report on the SunStar journalism students’ think about how the University of Alaska anything ever done in We have still more stories in the planning launch of a publicly searchable database of functions. Yes, this database may cause the UA system. I wanted and research stages. University of Alaska employee salaries on internal strife in departments. But why to create a searchable The editorials about The Sun Star’s the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision isn’t honesty the best policy? Should we salary database for Salary Database project are the most read to allow abortion. What do the two have in not believe Chancellor Rogers’s mantra of University of Alaska articles on our website. As I said in when I common? Just because an action is not il- “putting people first.” With this project, The employees. It wasn’t that no one had ever began this project, journalism should not be legal does not make it right.” Sun Star has given people information they attempted such a thing before — other a one-way street. I would much rather see a Anita Hartmann, the associate dean of are entitled to, whether they are university states and other universities have similar dialogue occur. For readers to participate in the College of Liberal Arts, wrote that letter. employees or not. Those who decry the databases. But no one in Alaska had done any meaningful way, the information must The conclusion Hartmann drew, simply put, database’s existence would do well to seek it. And I saw a good reason for the project: available. floored me. positions in the private sector. Personnel accounts for approximately 60 This project spurred more interaction Comparing publishing public infor- Most newspapers publish police blot- percent of the university’s budget, It’s im- with readers than anything The Sun Star has mation to a Supreme Court decision about ters with names, also marriage licenses, portant to know how that money is spent. done in recent years. Emails, phone calls abortion is absurd. A Supreme Court ruling divorces and legal notices far more scan- The database does not exist merely for and comments — both pro and con — came on the legality of a medical decision and pri- dalous than a person’s base salary. Many the sake of existence, as some critics charge. in. That signals one very important point: vacy in health care is hardly equitable to the states, including Alaska, publish employee It is a tool for a series this paper is writing this topic matters to a lot of people. They are publishing of public information. Ms. Hart- salary information. There are dozens of da- about salaries within and outside the UA concerned about it and interested in it, and mann should be embarrassed to make such tabases just like this one for public univer- system. It’s also a portal for public informa- the majority has wanted to see it happen. a comparison. sities. Most have published the exact same tion. Yes, public information. Technically, The database itself has been viewed thou- I must ask: Why not write to The Sun categories The Sun Star did. all the information in The Sun Star’s Salary sands of times since it went live on Dec. 31. Star? We accept letters to the editor and The job of The Sun Star is to give our Database is accessible to anyone. Though Amid the criticisms of the project, there guest opinion columns, and I’ve received readers the best and fullest grasp of facts. anyone who has ever performed a public has been a variety of critique, much of which neither from Ms. Hartmann. The database The Sun Star Salary Database is just the be- records search knows that “public” doesn’t contained valid concerns and questions. I is a Sun Star project; we published the in- ginning of our renewed effort to put infor- necessarily mean “open” or “reachable.” responded to each via email or comments formation. Why not write to us to share your mation in the hands of the public. We have a Last semester this paper ran a story that on our website. perspective? lot more planned. Stay tuned. compared UAF faculty pay to that of Lower I wasn’t surprised to find a letter to the This project is not the immoral and 48 peer institutions, a story that revealed editor about the project in the Fairbanks devastating apocalypse some make it out faculty pay at UAF sometimes pales when Daily News-Miner, which recently pub- to be. It’s access to public information. It’s Heather Bryant compared to Outside universities. We’re lished an article about the database. But the empowering to employees who can see if Editor-in-Chief working on others as well: an analysis of pay point it made shocked me. they are being paid fairly, and informative across gender lines, a comparison of admin- “How congruous of the Fairbanks Daily for those interested in working here. It’s a 4 January 31, 2012 Sports The Sun Star Nanooks forge through a weekend of ups and downs Erin McGroarty against the Mesa State University Mavericks scoring between the two teams through the The NNU Crusaders stepped up their play in Sun Star Reporter of 144 - 60. second period. Defensemen Aaron Gens this game after losing to the UAA Sea Wolves The Alaska Nanooks set multiple pool and Michael Quinn provided multiple as- by 40 points earlier in the week. Women’s Swimming records, including the 200 meter medley sists throughout the night. The Crusaders were leading 14-12 early The University of Alaska Fairbanks relay, which was The Nanooks in the first half before scoring 10 points in women’s swim team ended their season won with a time were 2-for-4 on a row, double of UAF’s score, with 10:54 with a victory over Colorado Mesa on Friday, of 1 minute and the power play left.The NNU Crusaders had a solid lead of Jan. 27. The team won eight out of the nine 50.1 seconds. and 3-for-4 on 41-26 as both teams headed into half time. separate events and one relay throughout This particular the penalty kill. Less than two minutes into the second half, the evening, bringing them to an ending 200 medley relay Senior goalie NNU led 51-28. The Nanook women were score of 126 - 79. The team took the top two team is ranked Scott Greenham unable to recover from this blow for the places in six different events. sixth in the na- ended the game rest of the game, never being able to reach Some of these wins included the top tion, according 26 saves. within 21 points of the Crusaders’ score. three winning places in the 50 meter free- to Coach Scott The second game UAF freshman Benissa Bulaya, ju- style. Some of the night’s winning swimmers Lemley. Along of the weekend nior Taylor Altenberg, and senior Autumn included Ashley Crowe, a UAF sophomore with their relay was not as suc- Greene each tied the place of team high- from Billings, Mont., who swam the 1,000 victories, the Alaska Nanooks also held mul- cessful, leavingthe Nanooks with a 4-2 loss honors. Bulaya took three rebounds and meter freestyle in 10 minutes and 41.54 sec- tiple individual victories to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Junior Jar- counted three assists throughout the game. onds, and Margot Adams, a UAF freshman ret Granberg and sophomore Cody Kunyk Altenberg scored eight out nine throws from from Anchorage, who swam the 50 free style Men’s Hockey scored the two Nanook goals in the first pe- the free throw line. in 25.25 and the 100 fly in 56.70, setting a The Alaska Nanook Men’s Hockey riod. Nanook goalie Scott Greenham made The Nanooks will play next Thursday, new pool record by almost 5.5 seconds. team participated in the CCHA home se- 19 saves. Feb 2, in Billings, Mont. against the Mon- This victory was one of the swim team’s ries, playing two games against the fourth- tana State Billings Yellowjackets. final two regular-season meets before the ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Women’s Basketball conference and national meets that they Alaska Nanooks took home a victory Friday The UAF Women’s Basketball team lost will participate in later this spring. The other night, Jan. 27, with a score of 6-3. to Northwest Nazarene 83-56 on Saturday, competition, Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Patty The scoring started late in the first -pe Jan 28, during a Great Northwest Athletic Center Pool, also wrapped up with a victory riod but continued with fast back-and-forth Conference game in the UAF Patty Center. www.uafsunstar.com News January 31, 2012 5 Frozen few brave the cold for annual run Fernanda Chamorro advertised much. It began and ended in the not to run and instead followed the partici- One thing is for sure: these runners did Sun Star Reporter Nenana Parking Lot with the contestants pants in a car to make sure everybody ar- not let the cold, slippery path slow them reuniting in the warm hut where LeBlond rived safely. down. The runners came in the following Six racers took on the low winter tem- offered refreshments and treat bags. Runners knew that they had to come order: peratures and icy roads as they ran 6.4 miles No one received prizes; the race was prepared for the cold, icy and foggy condi- Dirk Nickisch- 50:14 on campus, one taking the short cut. The just for fun. “It’s a good excuse to go on a run tions. They wore face masks, many “breath- Bruce Sackinger- 50:51 Chilly Buns Midwinter Run is an annual when it’s this cold,” said first-place winner able” layers that would allow their sweat to Jane Lanford- 57:02 race that began on Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. It has Dirk Nickisch, 43. evaporate, thumbtacks on their shoe soles, Don Kiely- 58:06 taken place for more than 20 years and the “You gotta take every opportunity you and Vaseline around their eyes to protect Bob Vitale- 1:00:52 runners understood the reason behind the can to get motivated to go out,” he said. their skin. “People should get out even when it’s name. They arrived with their faces covered It was Nickisch’s first time participating With all the protection, the roads were cold,” Nickisch said. in frost. in this race. He enjoyed the run and men- still unsafe. Bruce Sackinger, 41, slipped on “My toes are a little cold,” said 53-year- tioned that “it’s actually a pretty nice day the corner of Yankovich and Ballaine but old Paul Reynolds, who works at the Lola once you get out of the ice fog.” mentioned that Nickisch was considerate Tilly Commons and decided to take the Jane Lanford, 56, and the only woman and sportsman-like by giving him a hand shorter 2.5-mile campus loop called the participating in the run, said that what and running with him. Beat Beethoven Course. The temperature pushed them through the cold was knowing dipping to minus 47 caused the host and that it would be warmer uphill. As the run- timekeeper Jane LeBlond, 37, to offer run- ners came down Yankovich Road, the sun ners a choice between the short or long came out and provided a sense of warmth routes. Five of them took the long way. with an inversion of about 10 degrees. Running Club North sponsored the “This was an all-time low, so conditions event and was concerned with getting considered, there are more [runners] than I people that were not well-prepared to par- anticipated,” LeBlond said. For four years, ticipate in the dangerously freezing tem- she has helped organize and time the race peratures, according to the club’s president, by running it herself. However, she thought Bob Vitale, 58. Therefore, the race was not that it was so cold this time that she decided

Dirk Nickisch, 43, poses for a photo after completeing the 10k Chilly Bun Run on Saturday morning, Jan. 28th, 2012. Nickisch finished 1st with a time of 50:14. The official temperature for the race was minus 49 degrees. Michelle Strehl/ Sun Star. 6 January 31, 2012 Perspectives The Sun Star UAF student follows soldiers’ stories to Afghanistan JR Ancheta I met Cpl. Joe Mille, 20, and Pfc. Rex Tharpe, Special to The Sun Star 20, of the 10th Mountain Division of Fort Drum, N.Y. at the medical facility, Role-3, in I was in Afghanistan for my winter Kandhar Airfield. vacation. I experienced a small glimpse Mille, of Galloway, N.J. and Tharp of of a combat zone when I was embedded North Manchester, Ind., were injured by an with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, improvised explosive device (IED) while on 25th Infantry Division of Fort Wainwright, patrol with their platoon Tuesday, Jan. 10, in Alaska. With two heavy, green Army duffel Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Tharp hit bags stuffed with a minimum set of clothing, the first IED and Mille, his team leader, was a sleeping bag, toiletries, two sets of body running to his aid when Mille hit a second armor, Kevlar helmets and a bag packed IED. Both soldiers suffered below-the-knee with two camera bodies, an external hard amputations on their right legs. drive and a laptop, I left Fairbanks on the Mille was from my hometown of Sitka, morning of Dec. 13, 2011. All my prepara- Alaska, and we went to the same high school tions happened a week before finals. when I was a senior and he a freshman. We I was following the story of the brigade’s had one class together. yearlong deployment. The story began in “JR Ancheta. What the f--- are you February 2011 when they were training doing here in Afghanistan?” Mille said as we at the National Training Center (NTC) in recognized each other at the intensive care the Mojave Dessert near Fort Irwin, Calif. unit. I was embedded with the brigade with two I went over and stood next to his bed- other University of Alaska Fairbanks jour- side, held his hand and we talked. nalism students and Cheryl Hatch, a former “This s--- is real.” Mille said. Snedden Chair of the Department of Jour- Seeing both soldiers in the situation nalism. Cheryl and I followed the soldiers was very challenging, and I realized one of after the training until they left for Afghani- the best parts of being a journalist: I hear stan. We were invited by soldiers at various people’s stories and I can share them with events to visit them “down-range.” others. Staff Sgt. Keith Brown, 31, of Raleigh, Miss. calls wife, Arlyn, and son, Keith Brown II, in Fairbanks, Alaska, at a I realized the outstanding opportu- forward operating base’s Morale Welfare and Recreation’s mud hut, Dec. 24, 2011, Kandahar Province, Afghani- stan. Brown is part of the 1st Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team 25th Infantry nity for me as an emerging photojournalist Regiment based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska. and I decided to go. My parents, of course, were concerned for me and for my safety, but they were supportive. The embed put a tremendous strain on my finances and I, too, was concerned about the unknown, but early on I realized the significance of this opportunity. When I arrived at brigade headquarters in Massum Ghar, the first thing I noticed was the soldiers’ faces. I spotted a squad through my long lens and recognized a few soldiers. The strains, stresses and challenges of combat on these particular soldiers are seen by their faces and altered eyes. They appeared aged, older and different. They were the same soldiers I knew, but they had been changed and molded by their experi- ences in Afghanistan. Looking at the photo- graphs I made at NTC a couple of months before deployment confirmed my impres- sion. Walking behind the footsteps of the soldiers during several patrols and an air as- sault gave me a glimpse of their lifestyle, the high and low points of being at war. I was spared from seeing the atroci- ties of war because we did not receive any contact from enemy forces or get injured Soldiers from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion 5th Infantry Regiment returns to combat outpost Sperwanghar from an eight-hour joint patrol with the Afghan National Army on Jan. 2, 2012, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Processed marijuana and marijuana seeds were found and destroyed during the mission. The American soldiers outside the wire. It became all too real when serve with the 1st Stryker Brigade, 25th Infantry Division deployed from Fort Wainwright, Alaska. www.uafsunstar.com Perspectives January 31, 2012 7

Spc. Joe Mille, of Galloway, N.J. (left) was injured in an IED blast while on patrol with Pfc. Rex Tharp, 20, of North Manchester, Ind. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2011 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Tharp hit the first IED and his team leader, Mille, was running to his aid when he hit a second IED. Both soldiers suffered below the knee amputations on their right legs. JR Ancheta/For the Sun Star 8 January 31, 2012 Arts & Entertainment The Sun Star Museum ‘Leggy!’ exhibit makes creepy crawlers fun Ian Larsen The ants were collected by Sikes, ac- darkened gallery with sounds of nocturnal sible, in order to show visitors a different Sun Star Reporter cording to the museum’s Facebook page, singing insects, in which visitors can search perspective on these animals that are nor- however he was unable to find the queen. for exotic arthropods using small flashlights mally feared, and show visitors that they are The UAF Museum of the North is kicking “It’s not that surprising because in this provided by the museum. harmless and beneficial in nature.” off the spring semester with its new exhibit, order of insects, the Hymenoptera (bees, “The exhibit was put together to edu- “Leggy! Live Spiders and Their Relatives.” wasps, ants), unfertilized eggs always be- cate and entertain,” Sikes said. “We wanted This exhibit will be available until May come males and fertilized eggs always be- to make the exhibit as appealing as pos- 5. Although the rest of the museum is free to come females,” the page said. students, “Leggy!” is a special feature, with a “I don’t know how this happened, but it $4 price of admission. is exciting, and with special care these eggs This exhibit contains a wide variety of may be raised to adult male ants,” Sikes said. live insects and other arthropods such as “Leggy!” is also a child-friendly exhibit. earwigs, an assortment of spiders, beetles, The exhibit contains informative pictures to scorpions, horseshoe crab, and nearly-ex- teach viewers more about the insects in the tinct cave roaches. gallery and a video about how the insects The exhibit also contains a small colony are caught in Alaska. of sterile female ants that recently laid eggs. Showcasing a variety of exotic insects, “It’s a happy surprise,” Curator of In- the exhibit also has multiple insect cos- sects Derek Sikes said. “The ants have no tumes available for attendees to experience queen and are known to be sterile, the ants what it would feel like to be an insect. are not designed to lay eggs.” A special feature of the exhibit is a

A Simandou Range cave roach spends his morning on the underside of a piece of bark on Jan. 25th, 2012 in the “Leggy!” exhibit at the Museum of the North in Fairbanks, Alaska. This exhibit will run through May 5th, 2012. Michelle Strehl/ Sun Star.

An American horseshoe crab goes for a swim in his tank on Jan. 25th, 2012 in the “Leggy!” exhibit at the Museum of the North in Fairbanks, Alaska. This exhibit runs through May 5, 2012. Michelle Strehl/Sun Star.

A darkling beetle waits near the entrance to his lair in the “Leggy!” Exhibit at the UA Museum of the North on Jan. 25th, 2012. The exhibit will run through May 5, 2012. Michelle Strehl/ Sun Star. www.uafsunstar.com Advertisements January 31, 2012 9 10 January 31, 2012 News The Sun Star UAF Dining Services aids local soup kitchen Ian Larsen “Donations were occurring intermit- ment, there was some concern about food stage of approval was with the cooks. Sun Star Reporter tently around the end of last semester,” UAF preparation liability, but because of the “The cooks play an instrumental role in Catering Services Manager Mary Mitchell Good Samaritan Act we are able to donate donation,” Mitchell said. “They are the ones With the start of the new semester, the said. “Now we are beginning to donate food without fear of being sued,” Mitchell said. that have to change their protocol, and pre- food services at UAF began donating leftover on a daily basis, when extra food is avail- According to the Good Samaritan Act pare the extra food at the end of the day, so it food to the Stone Soup Café, a soup kitchen able. Any extra prepared food for catering of 1990, as long as the food donated meets is really their call, they are such great sports in Fairbanks. The donations are made on a jobs is donated at the end of the day, carrots, federal, state and local laws, or the receiving about the idea it’s wonderful.” daily basis when there are leftovers avail- greens, et cetera.” party is informed of bad quality, the donator able and cooks to prepare them. Mitchell had been the Stone Soup Café cannot be held liable for any incident. The Lola Tilly Commons, Wood Center, manager in 2008, and introduced the dona- With all the UAF food services in agree- Catering Services and other parts of NANA tion idea after being hired onto the UAF staff ment with the donation operation, the final management are participating in the dona- in 2011. tion program. “It’s definitely a good operation we The Stone Soup Café is a public-dona- have going now, we waste a lot less food and tion-only soup kitchen. Because of this, the help out the community,” Mitchell said. cafe is currently only able to serve breakfast, “When ever there is an overabundance bag lunches and the occasional dinner to of food prepared for a catering event, or at those in need. the other dining facilities, we send it over to “If we get more food donations coming the soup kitchen,” Dining Services Director in, we can start serving actual lunches and of Board Operations Lisa Kennedy said. dinner more often,” Dan Reeves said. Reeves “The other day we donated an extra 50 pre- is the manager of the Stone Soup Café. pared pork chops to the kitchen.” “We serve around 200 people a day,” Although most of the Dining Services Reeves said. “Any food we get is definitely board members were keen on the idea of helpful. I know UAF can’t donate food every food donations, it took some discussion to single day, but hopefully with their attempt make sure everything went according to to donate on a daily basis we’ll start seeing plan. Early morning on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, Fairbanks residents pour into the Stone Soup Cafe to enjoy a hot break- fast and cup of coffee to cut the cold. These residents will now enjoy donated food from the UAF Catering Services more in the near future.” “After the recent switch in manage- surplus foods at the end of each day. Erin McGroarty/ Sun Star. www.uafsunstar.com Perspectives January 31, 2012 11 Arrivederci Italy, merhaba Jordan Elika Roohi In fact, behind tourism, American college River). The center of the city, where all of student bubble. When I got back to Italy, I Sun Star Contributor students are the biggest market in Florence. the universities and international student started volunteering at a daycare, I signed It makes sense. Florence is an incred- apartments are located, is big enough to up for a language exchange and sometimes For the last five months I’ve been living ibly old city. It started around 80 BC, but boast numerous churches, grocery stores, I walked 45 minutes to get my groceries just and studying in Florence, Italy, which is one the Florence as we think of it (under the bars, clubs and restaurants. But it’s small to avoid the center of Florence. I also began of the most popular study-abroad locations control of the Medici Family) has been enough to walk from one end to the other in corresponding with the UAF Office of In- for American students. There are more than around since the thirteenth century. Flor- less than an hour. ternational Programs and the International 40 different exchange programs here, and ence promises romance and history and But because Florence’s economy is so Studies Abroad program. When the oppor- each fall sees approximately 4,000 new stu- sitting in cafés watching life go by. It’s situ- dependent on tourism and study-abroad tunity to spend spring semester in Amman, dents with nearly double that every spring. ated on the beautiful fiume di Arno (Arno students, it doesn’t always feel authentic. I Jordan came up, I decided to take it. hear almost as much English as Italian while It took me a few months to realize that walking through the streets in the center of I might be better suited to the bustling me- the city. tropolis that is Jordan’s capital city than life I’m not going to undermine the value of in the heart of the Renaissance. So for stu- studying abroad in Florence, or the beauty dents interested in studying abroad, I have of Italy and Italian culture. I have learned this advice: really do your research. Talk to so much in the past five months. I’ve been students who have studied at the university right in the middle of the euro zone crisis you’re interested in. Find out about their and have witnessed the most political experiences. Email the people in charge of change Italy has seen in years up close and your exchange program with a list of ques- personal. I’ve traveled my way through the tions and utilize UAF’s Office of Interna- surrounding countries picking up a phrase tional Programs. or two in each one. But by no means is This is the last column you’ll read from living in Florence out of my comfort zone. me in Florence. I start school in Amman in And for me, that was really the goal of mid-February, where I’ll be taking Arabic, studying abroad: to challenge myself with some Middle Eastern studies, writing foreign cultures and language barriers and classes and eating lots of shawarma. So ar- unfamiliar public transportation systems. rivederci, Italy and merhaba, Jordan! It was during a short trip to Barcelona,

The “Ponte Vecchio” (or “Old Bridge”), which is the oldest bridge in Florence over the Arno River. Photo by Elika Spain, in October that I really began to think Roohi about how to break out of the American

A view of the Southern side of Florence from the top of the Duomo, one of the largest churches in the world. From this vantage you can see Piazzale Michaelangelo and the tower from Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza Signoria are visible. Photo by Elika Roohi 12 January 31, 2012 Arts & Entertainment The Sun Star Two tailored performances and two audiences for DJ Alex the Lion Annie Bartholomew perienced exciting effects under the black Sun Star Reporter lights. “He throws in a lot of good stuff you This weekend marked the second don’t usually hear at the dances,” mining annual Wood Center Black Light Dance, engineering undergraduate Alex Bertram hosted as a collaboration between Student said about the soundtrack of Friday’s Black Activities Office and UAF’s Concert Board. Light Dance. “Usually it’s all pop and hip The two night electronic concert series took H o p.” place in two separate venues: the Friday Though Friday night’s ballroom perfor- night eighteen-and-over dance in the Wood mance seemed dynamic and diverse, Alex Center Ballroom and the twenty-one-and- the Lion took many requests and answered over DJ feature at the Wood Center Pub. to an audience much younger than his usual The weekend of dancing showcased the Taproot crowd, he said. musical talent of Anchorage-based DJ Alex On Saturday night’s Pub performance the Lion. Concert Board members discov- Alex predicted, “Tonight is going to be a lot ered Alex the Lion at the Anchorage venue different as far as style ranges go. It’s going Taproot where he shared the stage with to be more of an indie thing.” Parliament KSUA General Manager and Concert Board Funkadelic, Talking Heads and the Dead member Ephy Wheeler. Weather, were just a few artists’ names from “When Concert Board started talking the genre-bending work that Alex the Lion about DJs and electronic sets to put together offered Saturday. The crowd was ecstatic for January he automatically popped into and quick to adjust to any beat from their my head,” Wheeler recalled. fearless disk jockey. On first glance, Alex the Lion looked “I’m glad Concert Board and Student like he would belong in the alternative folk Activities are working with such talented rock band, Fleet Foxes: tight flannel, trim artists,” said Rosemary Paz, Concert Board beard, except for the giant DJ equipment member after stepping off the dance floor. (L-R) Janae Anderson, a biochemistry major; Anothony Vealy, a general studies student; and Jerrico Turner, a and vinyl at his fingertips. “I’ve been wanting a DJ like Alex to come guest, hang out during the Jan. 27, 2012 dance in the Wood Center Ballroom. Kayla Hajdukovich/Sun Star UAF’s under-21 population dressed for to Fairbanks. His style is definitely different the performance. Students’ outfits ranged from a lot of the DJs that have come through from formal to freaky, with some attire right here.” out of Lower 48 electronic music festivals like Burning Man and the Electric Daisy Carnival. Students wearing tutus, florescent tank tops and day-glow hair extensions ex-

Elise Sutter, a student from Switzerland, enjoys her first dance in Alaska on Jan. 27, 2012. Kayla Hajdukovich/Sun Star www.uafsunstar.com Arts & Entertainment January 31, 2012 13 Slam poets hit on hard topics Fernanda Chamorro nervous participants and an audience not write a couple [of poems] and come back ally funny,” 30-year-old Brandon Reid said. Sun Star Reporter easily offended. and do it next time they have it.” “It was a pretty good idea to open the floor Each poet had a personal style and It is important for people to come out up for people… to see all those people that Students projected their feelings of showed a different approach to presenting. and release their thoughts before they aren’t afraid to share what they’re thinking anger, satisfaction and rejection in a po- Students were free to choose their method change and manifest into different things, or writing.” etry slam at the Wood Center Multi-Level of performing. One used a trash can to Johnson-Kennedy said. Everyone goes SAO will organize poetry slams the last Lounge on Thursday, Jan. 26. Although I ar- prop up her computer, others read off of through hard times and there is a lot that Thursday of every month, help hang up the rived as a spectator, the organizers quickly printed papers and some recited them from we feel uncomfortable with discussing or fliers and set up for the crowd. The next one recruited me as a judge. memory. One psychology student, 18-year- cannot discuss with family, but this is a way will take place on Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Participants let go of all fear as they old freshman Heather Bieber, who came in to let go. participants must come prepared with three stood in front of peers and expressed their fourth place, used her presentation to pro- “It’s more of a performance as well,” he poems. sentiments towards strong topics, such as mote her new club, Supernatural 101. said. “There’s a difference between a poem “It is nerve-wrecking,” said 20-year- death, sex and addiction. There were three rounds with each par- that’s written for the page and a poem that’s old Grace Bieber, a sophomore who par- “Poetry is meant to be said, it’s meant ticipant reciting one poem per round. The meant to be performed, so as people keep ticipated for the first time but did not place. to be heard. So, I felt like I had something to three judges had to write a score between doing it, they’re gonna get better at kinda “But I feel like once I read the poems and I say and I wanted to say it,” said 24-year-old 1 and 10 on a board and hold it up for the performing it … and get [your] message actually release them, I feel a lot better.” photojournalism student Robin Wood, who host to read aloud. A scorekeeper kept track across a lot better by doing that.” won first place. of the scores and tabulated them at the end. The prizes were Slam Poet “Mighty” At first there was a small crowd, and Johnson-Kennedy was comical and enter- Mike McGee’s booklets, which he sold at his not enough people were willing to become tained the audience in between poets by show on Oct. 11, 2011 and contained some judges. So when host Raif Johnson-Ken- reading his own poems. A couple of people of his poems. nedy, 29, looked at me and asked me if I mentioned to him that he should compete “I liked Raif doing the hosting, he’s re- wanted to judge, I accepted the offer. sometime. Having to decide a score was difficult “I really liked being able to sit and because the students’ poems were so en- listen to everybody’s original poems,” said joyable and the competition so fierce. The freshman Rachael Satterwhite, 18, who had Student Activities Office put on the event, two friends perform. “And it’s really kinda which began at 7:30 p.m. with five new, inspired me to just want to go home and

UAF psychology freshman and fourth place winner Heather Bieber, 18, recites her first poem of the Poetry Slam night held on Jan. 26, 2012. Fernanda Chamorro/Sun Star 14 January 31, 2012 Opinion The Sun Star The little things that matter Senator Jonathan Schurz that their votes are worthless, and so they Letters to the Editor Guest Opinion don’t bother voting. One can only imagine how different history would have been if A judge once said that “Liberty lies in more people voted. And one must imagine: the hearts of men and women. And when it If people neglect to vote on our highest and dies there, (In their hearts) no constitution, most important elections, how much more law, or court can save it. “ Today’s common so for the ones of lesser import? wisdom is that the little things that we do Another way that we can help bring Have something to say? don’t matter. I often hear “I don’t want to change is by talking and venting. Many of get involved with this because it won’t make us have ideas and feelings, but because they a difference; They are going to do what they have gone unexpressed, they are only have Say it here. want to do anyway.” Another common thing a hodgepodge of unrelated thoughts and that people say is “What difference does ideals. When we speak of them, we find that The Sun Star welcomes reader it make whether I vote or not? Both can- they can be of a somewhat contradictory didates are corrupt politicians!” The truth manner, rather than being clear, in agree- commentary. is that even our smallest efforts can help ment, and able to go someplace. By sitting bring about larger change. Yet, vast change down with a group of friends and acquain- doesn’t just spontaneously happen. Instead, tances, talking and venting reveals on a it is often the result of smaller steps, a goal magnitude the indecision and clash of our slowly along until it reaches a milestone, or ideas and ideals. This is why individually turning point. talking out our thoughts and expressing our While it is true that in many places a passions and what really burns us up is so Letters to the editor should be no more than 250 words in length. Please in- few seemingly hold power over an organiza- vital to any process of meaningful change. clude the author’s full name and contact information (phone number, e-mail or tion, movement, business or social group; It is sort of like an iron bar where the mo- address). E-mail your letters (preferred) to [email protected], fax them to the leadership in all of these is not neces- lecular poles of iron are pointing in all direc- 474-5508, or mail them to PO Box 756640, Fairbanks, AK, 99775. Letters must be sarily static. There is always a mechanism tions so that the potential power of this iron to bring about change, new life, and new bar is all cancelled out. However, even the received by Friday at 5 p.m. in order to run in the next issue. All letters are subject blood to that entity or organization. In all smallest alignment of these contradictory to editing for brevity and grammar. of these, small groups at the grass level have poles of opinion within that bar occur — a new or better ideas. For the groups that can new latent power starts becoming evident persevere, as they gain strength and num- — a magnetism that can effect something or Say “Ah” Donna Patrick, ANP bers, they invariably prevail, and bring great someone both internally and externally. change to the entity. History is rife with Thomas Paine once said that “Those Frost bite Poor circulation can be Q: How do I know if I frostbit my toes? caused by smoking, re- who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, examples of these small groups of Can-do A: If you have been out in the cold this strictive clothing, tight people that have brought about big changes. must, like men, undergo the fatigues of winter without adequate protection you may boots, alcohol use, fa- One easy way that we can bring change supporting it.” We need to remember that have become susceptible to frostbite. Initially tigue and diseases such is by voting. It is surprising how many freedom isn’t automatic. It takes effort to the symptoms feel like “pins and needles”. This as diabetes. is followed by numbness. Frostbitten skin is Q: What do you do for frostbite? maintain. Although your efforts may seem people say their vote doesn’t mean any- hard, pale, and cold and has no feeling. As A: Treatment initially entails rewarming thing. It’s common knowledge that over half weak or even worthless, the truth is that your the skin begins to thaw it usually becomes ex- the affected area. The skin should be soaked in the voting population in the United States smallest efforts do make a difference. Our tremely painful with a sensation of burning and warm, (not hot) 104 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit, does not vote. This means that our elec- individual votes do add up, and when we tingling. It may also turn red and swollen. If the water. If warm water is unavailable you can injury has affected the skin only, there are usu- apply warm clothing to the affected areas for 20 talk with others about our ideas, they begin tions are often decided by 24-25% of the ally no adverse reactions. If structures beneath to 30 minutes. Severe burning pain, swelling, public. Surprised? Don’t be. Not only does to line up internally, and exude strength. Re- the epidermis are affected the damage may be and color changes may occur during the re- this happen in the United States, but in Eu- member: It’s the little things that count! permanent resulting in possible amputation. warming phase. Continue rewarming until the rope, and throughout the rest of the world. This is evidenced by blisters and blackened, skin becomes soft and feeling returns. Apply dry dead skin (gangrene) sterile dressings to the frostbitten area. Place People the whole world over are convinced Q: I am from Florida and have never been sterile gauze in between toes to help keep them in a cold climate. How do I prevent frostbite? separated. A: Wear warm enough clothing in cold Do Not: temps especially on exposed areas such as • Thaw out a frostbitten area if it cannot be hands, ears and nose. Wear mittens instead of kept thawed. gloves, layer clothing, wear two pairs of socks • Use direct heat such as campfire, radiator, and boots (not too tight) which have a wool felt heating pad or hair dryer liner inside. A hat which covers your ears and • Rub or massage the area a neck warmer which can be pulled over your • Break blisters of affected skin nose is also necessary during these extreme cold • Smoke or drink alcoholic beverages during temperatures. recovery as these interfere with blood circula- Other conditions which contribute to frost- tion to the region. bite include wind, wetness and poor circulation.

Sponsored by UAF Student Health and Counseling Center For additional information, contact the Center for Health and Counseling at 474-7043 or visit our Web site at www.uaf.edu/chc Division of Student Services www.uafsunstar.com Leisure January 31, 2012 15 January 31, 2012