The Sun StarVolume XXX Number 24

April 5, 2011

StaffEDITOR IN CHIEF

Andrew Sheelereditor@uafsunstar.com

(907) 474-5078

LAYOUT EDITORHeather Bryant

layout@uafsunstar.com(907) 474-6039

COPY EDITORRebecca Coleman

MULTIMEDIA EDITORJeremy Smith

web@uafsunstar.com

AD MANAGERAlex Kinn

fyads@uaf.edu(907) 474-7540

DISTRIBUTION MANAGERDaniel Thoman

distribution@uafsunstar.com

ASSISTANT DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Ben Deering

REPORTERSKelsey Gobroski

Elika RoohiAmber Sandlin

Jeremia Schrock

COLUMNISTSJamie Hazlett

Jeremia Schrock

PHOTOGRAPHERSJR AnchetaDillon Ball

ADVISORLynne Snifka

2 In This IssueApril 5, 2011 The Sun Star

The Sun Star’s mission is to provide a voice for the UAF

campus and be a written record where news, people’s

opinions, and events (whether extraordinary or

ordinary) are expressed honestly and fairly.

Chandler Thomas, vocalist for the group Character Ref-erence, works the floor during the 11th Annual Great Cover Up. Saturday, April 2, 2011. Jamie Hazlett/Sun Star

Sports

West Ridge

This Week

EDITORIAL OFFICES101G Wood Center

P.O. Box 756640Fairbanks, AK 99775Tel: (907) 474-6039

Ads Dept: (907) 474-7540Fax: (907) 474-5508

www.uafsunstar.com

3

5

Landslides, Libya, Labor and lots of law enforcement.

Reichardt opens up for Girl Scouts, Chancellor Rogers breaks ground on life sciences and

this week’s science briefs.

A Nanook breaks in to the big leagues and UAF Athletics responds to Ralph Nader’s

criticism of athletic scholarships.

Politics 4Nookraker explains how the student government works.

Perspectives10There’s no place like Homer.

A & EThe Pub has you Covered, works of art you can wear and the week in entertainment.

6

9

EditorialWhat I learned from J-Week. 11

OnlineElika can beatbox and play the ukulele at the same time. Can you?

Check out the Sun Star on Facebook for breaking news and updates!

3This Week www.uafsunstar.com April 5, 2011

News BriefsCompiled by Amber SandlinSun Star Reporter

Landslides in Thailand, 15 deadAuthorities reported Wednesday,

March 30, that at least four people had died

in landslides in the Karbi province. After

heavy downpours of rain, 15 landslides have

occurred. With more than 100 people injured

and dozens missing, Southern Thailand was

forced to bring in the Thai navy to help evac-

uate hundreds of tourists who are stranded

in some of Thailand’s most famous land-

marks. 716,110 people have been affected

by floods from nearly a week of heavy rain

in eight of the southern provinces. Thailand’s

weather bureau said torrential rains were ex-

pected for one or two more days over much

of southern Thailand. It warned of more

flooding and wind-whipped waves making

sailing unsafe for small boats.- USA Today

Libyan foreign minister surprises the UK

Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa

unexpectedly landed in Farnborough airport,

located west of London, on Wednesday eve-

ning, March 30. The UK foreign office said he

was “no longer willing” to work for Col. Gad-

dafi. However, a Libyan spokesman denied

that Koussa had left Gaddafi’s power and

said he was on a diplomatic mission. Koussa

is one of the most senior figures in Gaddafi’s

government and his role was to represent the

regime internationally - something that he

is no longer willing to do. The Foreign Office

in London called on other members of the

Libyan government to abandon Col. Gaddafi.- BBC

- Huffington Post

Ohio – next Wisconsin?Ohio labor unions fought for collec-

tive bargaining rights for public workers on

Wednesday, March 30, gaining the attention

of the Ohio statehouse. The state Legislature

passed a bill that had been seen in Wisconsin

and sent it to the Ohio governor. Amid shouts

and jeers in both chambers, the House

passed a measure affecting 350,000 public

workers on a 53-44 vote. The Senate followed

with a 17-16 vote of approval. Republican

Gov. John Kasich will sign the bill by the end

of the week. The Ohio legislation will extend

union restrictions to police officers and fire-

fighters, unlike the Wisconsin measure.

Speckled discoveryOn Friday, March 25, a man in Hess

Village discovered his car had been vandal-ized. After taking his vehicle to the car wash, his beige car still had some “white frost” on the outside of the passenger door. Upon in-vestigation, he discovered spray paint that had occurred sometime between October and March. Worried of a serial vandal, he called UAF police to report the incident. The responding officer said that the car damage totaled in the thousands of dollars.

Amber SandlinSun Star Reporter

Tilly outdoor décor

All persons referred to in the blotter are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Licenses are mandatoryAn officer watched a 22-year-old man

on Tanana loop on Saturday, March 26, al-most falling over while driving a dirt bike. Due to the cold and gravel, the officer thought that the motorist did not have con-trol of the vehicle. When the officer pulled him over for such strange driving behaviors and performing an illegal u-turn, he discov-ered the driver didn’t own a motorcycle li-cense. He was ordered to appear in court for not owning a valid driver’s license.

Around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday March 27, two people were found on the roof of the Lola Tilly Commons, vandalizing UAF prop-erty. While an officer was performing a foot patrol, he noticed the individuals. Upon in-vestigation, the officer found them drawing graffiti on the upper deck. Both individuals were banned from all UAF property.

SpankingsA person noticed a child possibly

being assaulted by an adult in the Student Recreation Center on Saturday, March 26. An officer investigated and believes it was a matter of a parent disciplining a child. Child discipline laws vary by the state and are at the discretion of the district attorney in order to press charges. The incident has been forwarded to the offices of child ser-vices.

Almost tipsyDuring a traffic stop in front of Skarland

Hall, an officer detected odors of alcohol from a 19-year-old driver and his passenger. After performing a DUI investigation, the driver was issued a citation for minor con-suming after operating, and his passenger was cited for minor consuming alcohol. The driver and his passenger had blood alcohol content levels of 0.058 and 0.088, respec-tively. The legal limit is 0.08.

Acute Gastroenteritis

Q: Last night I awoke vomiting. Today

I have a mild fever, chills, muscle aches,

diarrhea and feel like I have been run over

by a truck. What is this?

A: It sounds as though you may have

Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) which is a

kind of stomach “bug”.

Q: What should I do?

A:

• Don’t try to eat solid foods just

yet.

• Try cracked ice chips or pop-

sicles if still having nausea and vomiting

• Follow with clear liquids (not

milk) for 24 hours. Watered down sports

drinks such as Gatorade is best because it

replenishes electrolytes lost through AGE.

• If nausea and vomiting abates

progress to BRATY diet:

• Bananas

• Rice/ricecereal

• Apples/applesauce

• Toast/crackers(dry)

• Yogurt(Plain,liveculture)

• IliketoaddplainoldCampbell’s

Chicken noodle soup to this list.

If experiencing severe abdominal

pain or bloody diarrhea you should go to

the Urgent Care Center or ER because you

may have acute appendicitis or a tubal

pregnancy.Howeverifyoujusthavemild

cramping and sore muscles from vomiting

it is reasonable to stay at home, rest and

try to drink as much as possible.

Sponsored by UAF Center for Health and Counseling

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

Say “Ah”

Donna Patrick, ANP

4 The Sun StarApril 5, 2011 Politics

NookrakerJeremia SchrockSun Star Reporter

What does ASUAF do?

Jeremia gives his opinion on university, state and national issues in the Nookraker: a weekly political column which tackles issues relevant to Nanooks both at home and abroad.

It’s April, which means student gov-

ernment elections are around the corner.

By the end of the month, the students of

UAF will have elected new senators and a

new executive branch. But what does the

student government do?

ASUAF’s PurposeAccording to the student govern-

ment’s official website, “It is our function to

represent and act on behalf of the students

of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.” The

Associated Students of the University of

Alaska Fairbanks (ASUAF) is the official

title of the student government. Their pri-

maryjobistosupportandoverseestudent

organizations and projects.The organiza-

tions include the Sun Star (the student

paper), KSUA (the student radio station)

and Concert Board (which holds concerts

and cultural events). It supports student

projects through both legislation (senate

bills) and through Club Council, which

directly funds student clubs and societies.

Funding and oversightBut how does it support and oversee

theseorganizationsandprojects?Attached

to each student’s semester tuition is a $35

student government fee In the 2010-2011

school year (which included the Summer

semester), ASUAF received $461,780.

That money went to the ASUAF Execu-

tive Officer who then disbursed the funds

between the student government and the

three organizations previously mentioned.

Each organization receives a set per-

centage of the total yearly allotment, which

can only be altered by a student-supported

ballot measure.

% of Fee Total Amount

Sun Star 7 $32,324.60

KSUA 27 $124,680.60

Concert Board 15 $69,267.00

TOTAL: 49 $226,272.20

Each organization is managed by a

board of directors, which includes stu-

dent government representatives. In some

cases, non-ASUAF affiliated students may

petition for a board position or be voted

onto the board during a student election.

Voting Members /ASUAF representation

Sun Star 5 / 2 (senator, president)

KSUA 10/ 1 (president)

Concert Board 5 / 2 (senator, president)

The ASUAF government is also impor-

tant when it comes to student outreach.

Two of its biggest duties include providing

funding to student clubs and petitioning

state legislators in Juneau on behalf of the

student body.

Supporting student endeavorsOfficially recognized student organi-

zations and clubs are eligible to receive

funding from Club Council, which is over-

seen by the ASUAF vice president. This

past fall, the council was allotted $20,000 to

distribute amongst its various clubs. Such

a number may seem high, but according

to the UAF website, our campus has more

than 120 active student clubs, ranging from

ABADA Capoeira to the Yoga Club.

In order to receive funding, a club

must submit a budget proposal to the

council. The council discusses the pro-

posals and doles out what it believes to

be a fair amount. This occurs once a year,

during the Fall Semester. The funding given

to Club Council makes up 4 percent of the

total operating budget that ASUAF receives

throughout the year.

ASUAF also underwrites student travel

grants ($7,000 was set aside for this school

year) and is supposed to hold four blood

drives a year.

Petitioning for studentsOne of ASUAF’s most important roles is

petitioning the Board of Regents and state

legislators on behalf of students. This past

year, a dozen members of ASUAF played a

role in the amending of the non-discrim-

ination policy and keeping the increase

in tuition low. The policy was amended

to include sexual orientation and the tu-

ition increase was limited to 7 percent (as

opposed to 10 percent) for the 2012-2013

school year.

Since student elections are almost

upon us, I encourage you to keep on the

look out for election information both from

the ASUAF student government and from

the Sun Star. Remember, ASUAF spends

your money. Shouldn’t you have a say in

who uses it and how?

Girls Scouts enjoy a day of science at UAF

Ben Deering Sun Star Reporter

The Association for Women in Science

(AWIS) collaborated with the Farthest North

Girl Scouts for Science in Action April 2 in

the Reichardt building.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Girl Scouts,

ages 9-11, participated in several activities

revolving around science. Some went

geocaching, some tracked down tagging

collars used to estimate wildlife movement

and populations, and others engaged in

older traditions with basket weaving.

“The whole purpose is for girls to

meet women scientists and experience

science, to meet role models and see career

opportunities, and see science as a process

and not something you study in school,”

said Martha Kopplin, who works with

the International Arctic Research Center

(IARC). The Day of Science gave the girls an

opportunity to interact with some of UAF’s

female scientists.

“I think it’s really important that young

girls know what science is, and that young

girls realize what a broad range of things

science is,” said Rose Meier, who is currently

establishing ethnobotany as a program on

the Kuskokwim campus in Bethel.

“Not everyone’s going to be a scientist,

but everybody needs to think like a scientist,”

Kopplin said.

Best Reporting on crime or courts – Print-Small 1st Place –The Sun Star

The other side of the gulch: Starvation Gulch as viewed by UAFPD – Andrew Sheeler

Best Page Design – Print Small1st Place – The Sun Star

The Arctic Ocean: 1000 possibilities and perils – Heather Bryant

Best Series – Print Small2nd place—The Sun Star

Bush Science: Bringing labs to rural students –Molly Dischner, Mark Evans,

Keane Richards

Best Arts Coverage – Print-Small3rd place – The Sun Star

Visiting artist sees Holocaust as personal -- Jeremia Schrock

Best Humor – All 3rd place – The Sun Star

Hess Village annexed by Hell – Andrew Sheeler

The 2011 Alaska Press Club Conference took place in Anchorage from March 31 to April 2. The Alaska Press Club was incorporated in 1951 and is open to journalistsacrossthestate.Attheirannualconference, the Alaska Press Club honors journalistsfortheiraccomplishments.

The Sun Star had a strong performance at this year’s Alaska Press Club Conference, bringing home five awards. As always, we will strive to continue providing you the kind of award-winning coverage that you deserve.

5West Ridge Report www.uafsunstar.com April 5, 2011

Iran leads world in scienceIran’s scientific renown grows faster than

any other country as scientists in Iran plug

away at research and international collabo-

rations. Iran churned out more than 13,000

scientific publications in 2008, up from less

than 800 in 1996, according to the UK’s Royal

Society. That rate of increase trumped the

rest of the world. Iran isn’t the only country

to stake its place on the scientific playing

field. Turkey quadrupled its output. Tunisia,

Singapore, and Qatar joined China, India,

and Brazil in growth of peer-reviewed publi-

cations. The growth allows studies across the

world to unify their data into a global mosaic

of similar findings.-New Scientist

Leaves inspire cheap energySolar energy that draws inspiration from

leaves may become more affordable for India

and China in the future. Plants are powered

by photosynthesis, and a step in that process

is water splicing. When water is split into

hydrogen and oxygen, the molecules can

be stored as future energy. Just add water

and catalysts, and silicon-based solar de-

vices could also store energy for fuel cells.

The hydrogen and oxygen would transport

the energy, rather than expensive wires. The

technology has been around since 1998, but

never this inexpensively. Water doesn’t need

to be purified in the new system and could

cover rooftops much like conventional-wired

solar panels.- Discovery News

- New York Times

Mercury ready for close-upThe Messenger spacecraft reached Mer-

cury’s orbit and began sending back photo-

graphs of the planet’s surface March 29. Mer-

cury’s pockmarked poles could house frozen

water in craters cast in unending shadow.

The planet splits into rudimentary tectonic

plates, which do not move as Earth’s do, but

differ from Mars’s unified crust. Mercury also

has a magnetic field, unlike Mars. The Mes-

senger will pass as close as 160 miles to the

surface in its elliptical orbit. It will take more

than 75,000 photographs over the course of a

year, the longest visit any spacecraft has paid

Mercury. No other craft entered the planet’s

orbit, and until now, scientists have had to

settle for flybys. It took six and a half years to

reach Mercury.

Science BriefsCompiled by Kelsey GobroskiSun Star Reporter

Digging in on the Life Sciences Facility

Andrew Sheeler Sun Star Reporter

On Wednesday, March 30, Chancellor

Brian Rogers and six other dignitaries used

golden shovels to dig a hole 12 years in

the making. It was the much-anticipated

groundbreaking for the Life Sciences

Facility. When the building finishes

construction, estimated to be in 2014, it will

house both students and researchers in a

variety of sciences, including the study of

wildlife biology, environmental health and

infectious diseases.

The groundbreaking was the

culmination of more than a decade of

political wrangling and advocacy. In 2010,

the decision to fund the facility was put up

to the voters and passed.

“We’re more than ready to get started,”

Rogers said.

Rogers opened the event, mentioning

all the dignitaries in attendance. Among the

VIP’s were: Clark “Click” Bishop, Commis-

sioner of the Alaska Department of Labor;

Regents Tim Brady and Jo Heckman; former

legislators Mike Kelly and Jay Ramras; UAA

Chancellor Tom Case and Borough Mayor

Luke Hopkins.

Also in attendance was Rich Boone,

professor of biology and wildlife at UAF.

Boone said that if the university doesn’t

have great facilities, it won’t be able to at-

tract great teachers and students.

“Facilities do make a difference,” Boone

said.

After Rogers made his introductions, a

series of speakers took the podium.

Commissioner Bishop was first to speak. He

was optimistic about the research that will

be done in the new facility.

“I know we’re going to have some

discoveries here that change the world for

the better,” Bishop said.

The university tore down the West Ridge

Greenhouse, administered by the School

of Natural Resources and Agricultural

Sciences, to make room for the future

building. Many plants from the greenhouse

were adopted out to the public.

The final speaker was Paul Layer,

Dean of the College of Natural Science and

Mathematics, who urged everybody to come

back in 2014 to “cut the ribbon and put the

shovels away.”

Chancellor Brian Rogers takes part in the ceremonial groundbreaking. March 31, 2011. Heather Bryant/Sun Star

Brian Barnes, director of the Institute of Arctic Biology, speaks about the importance of the new Life Science’s facility. March 30, 2011. Heather Bryant/Sun Star

The sign for the future Life Sciences building on West Ridge. March 30, 2011. Heather Bryant/Sun Star

6 The Sun StarApril 5, 2011 Arts & Entertainment

Uncovering the Great Cover-UpJamie Hazlett Sun Star Reporter

Temperatures near freezing were a warm welcome

to the hundreds of people who flocked to the UAF Pub

Saturday, April 2, for the UAF Concert Board’s 11th

annual Great Cover-Up. The event, which began in

2000, features local musicians performing covers of

bands both famous and obscure and has been a hit

with Pub-goers in the past.

Heather Barile, Pub manager, confirmed that

the venue normally reaches its full capacity of 205

occupants during performances. Caleb Kuntz, a

member of the UAF Concert Board who has been a

key figure in organizing the Great Cover-Up in years

past and present, said that he spoke with people who

waited“severalhoursinlinejusttogetin”duringthe

2010 event.

Barile’s prediction of a full house was proven

correct at 8 p.m. when the doors opened. The regular

$5 cover charge for the event did not deter would-be

patrons, who formed a line stretching from the Pub

entrance to the games area of the Wood Center. Inside,

thebarqueuequicklyapproachedthestageitself,only

shortening as the room neared its limit and the packed

crowd settled down with its drinks.

Any illusion of docility was dispelled when the

first band began to play. Many attendees danced and

interacted with the group, a trend that continued

with the successive acts. Those who remained in their

seats supported the performers with applause and

cries of appreciation following each song for the 11

different groups. The wide range of music appealed

to the crowd; people hit the dance floor for covers of

“Bohemian Rhapsody” as eagerly as for “The Fresh

Prince of Bel-Air.”

Jerri Lomax, who works for the Literacy Council of

Alaska (LCA) and has been a ticket seller at every Great

Cover-Up, explained that all of the proceeds from the

event go “into the agency for one of seven different

Top Left: Chandler Thomas sings the lyrics to a Queen song during the 11th Annual Great Cover Up, Saturday April 2, 2011. Center top: Cover band members mingle with Pub patrons . Far right: The group White Sabbath performs at the Pub during the event. Above: A thank you banner listing the evening’s performers hangs in the Pub.

All photos by Jamie Hazlett/Sun Star

7Arts & Entertainment www.uafsunstar.com April 5, 2011

Rebecca Black didn’t write “Fri-day”

The lyrics to the song “Friday” by 13-year-

old Rebecca Black, garnering the young

girl so many negative remarks, including

death threats, weren’t actually written by

her. Black’s family paid Ark Music Factory

$2,000 for a package including the song and

the music video. Ark gave Black an option

of a couple songs, and she picked “Friday”

because she said it seemed the closest to

her personality. The other songs were about

being in love, something Black said she had

not experienced yet.

Missing cobra tweets her where-abouts

An Egyptian cobra at the Bronx Zoo

went missing, but was found recently. Those

curious about the snake’s adventures can

follow “BronxZoosCobra” or #snakeonth-

etown on Twitter. The cobra currently has

over 100,000 followers, and is rapidly gaining

more. The snake seemed to enjoy her time

in New York City. “On top of the Empire State

Building!” it tweeted. “All the people look like

mice down there. Delicious little mice.”- The Seattle Times

- Star Tribune

A & E BriefsCompiled by Elika RoohiSun Star Reporter

A musical about MormonsRemember that “South Park” episode

that made fun of Mormons? Well, the “South

Park” creators have decided to write a mu-

sical about Mormons. The musical will be

called “The Book of Mormon,” and will be

the pair’s debut on Broadway. The Church

of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neither

endorsing nor condemning the show.- NPR

Lil Wayne and Paris Hilton bond over jail time

In a duo Q&A with “Interview Magazine,”

Paris Hilton and Lil Wayne bonded over the

time they’d both spent in jail. “It was OK,

because it just meant that I was alone with

my thoughts,” Wayne said. He spent eight

months in jail for a gun possession charge. “I

had to do 24 nights in solitary,” Hilton said. “I

know how it is.” Both celebrities were happy

to get out, no matter how introspective they

found the experience. Wayne told Hilton that

he couldn’t describe the feeling he had when

he got out. “I know how you feel,” Hilton re-

plied. “It’s the best feeling in the world when

you come out.” The pair decided to collabo-

rate on Hilton’s upcoming album.- CNN

Uncovering the Great Cover-Up

programs.” She estimated that the event brings in

about $1,800 a year.

“It’s really special to see how the programs affects

people’s daily lives,” said Joy Miller between acts.

Miller is an AmeriCorps volunteer with the LCA who

helped emcee this year’s show.

Even without compensation for playing, there

was no challenge finding performers. “We try to give

them [the bands] something small, like a gift card,”

Lomax stated, “but we leave it up to them to figure out

howtosplit it.”Kuntzsaidthatmanybandsinquired

about performing “at the last minute” and had to be

turned away because the roster was full. “You’ve got

to call sooner than the day before,” he advised anyone

looking to play in future events.

One group that was able to get onto the stage this

year was Character Reference, who covered four songs

by Queen. Vocalist and sophomore Chandler Thomas

said he thought the group had tried to play last year,

but had signed up too late. He added that the Great

Cover-Up was their first time playing as a group, as

hehad just joined theothermembersa fewmonths

ago. “It’s hard [to fit in weekly practices] because we

all work,” he said.

Despite this being Thomas’ first public foray into

rock – he’s a self-described R&B singer – Character

Reference’s performance inspired a group of fans to

rush the stage immediately after their final song. Other

acts inspired impromptu mosh pits, head-banging,

and grinding between Pub-goers throughout the

evening.

“There are some great bands this year,” said

Donald Crocker, a UAF alumni and employee who

has worked five different Great Cover-Ups and was a

performer in two more. If the crowd’s continual fervor

was anything to judge by, Crocker’s opinion was as

correct as it was concise.

8 AdvertisementApril 5, 2011 The Sun Star

9Arts & Entertainment www.uafsunstar.com April 5, 2011

Molle goes home to play proRebecca ColemanSun Star Reporter

Wearable Art Show benefits Pre-Med SocietyBen Deering Sun Star Reporter

The UAF Pre-Med Society held their

Wearable Art Show fundraiser Saturday,

April 2. For an hour and a half, 36 dresses

were strutted down the runway.

“It’s out of the ordinary, so it attracts

people,” said Joel Carpenter, the vice

president of the UAF Pre Med Society as an

explanation for choosing to do a fashion

show for a fundraiser.

This is the second year the Pre Med

Society has held a fashion show; they did

one last year, too.

Designers of this year’s dresses

included local campus artists, the UAF

Theater Department, and larger names from

around Fairbanks, including Chartreuse,

a fashion boutique. UAF’s Theater

Department supplied 13 of the 36 dresses.

Many artists modeled their own

creations. Elizabeth Humphries showed

off her creation “Metamorphosis,” which

was inspired by the Smithsonian’s butterfly

garden. Other artists, such as Suzannah

Michelle, used models to showcase their

work. Michelle designed at least five pieces

in the show.

Every piece that went into the show was

designed well in advance, and the models

helped turn an ordinary runway into a show.

Senior Bryant Molle, one of UAF

hockey’s assistant captains, became

the most recent member of the team to

sign a professional contract when it was

announced March 25 that he signed with

the Alaska Aces. The Aces are based in

Anchorage, Molle’s hometown.

“It’s a good opportunity for someone

who wants to pursue his hockey career,”

said Dallas Ferguson, UAF’s head coach.

“It gives him a chance to get his feet wet.”

Molle has played three games with

the Aces and is enjoying playing for

his hometown. “It’s easier than going

somewhere else,” he said. “My parents are

here, I know the area, so it’s familiar, and

the guys are great. It’s an easy transition.”

Playing for the Aces allows Molle to

carry on the family tradition: his father,

Tim Molle, was the captain of the Aces for

their initial five seasons.

Bryant Molle, #23, maneuvers the puck away from a player from Colorado College during the Brice Alaska Goal Rush. October 16, 2010 . Dillon Ball/Sun Star

“He inspired me to be a hockey player,”

Bryant said. “Growing up, going to games

was always the highlight of our week.”

Bryant’s older brother, Dustin, who

graduated last year after playing for the

Nanooks, plays for the Fort Wayne Comets.

Their younger sister, Candace, plays for the

University of North Dakota.

“We’re really proud of their hockey,”

Tim said, but he is even more proud of their

strong achievements in school because after

hockey, “they can be successful at whatever

they do.”

Bryant will graduate with a degree in

civil engineering after playing 141 career

games for the Nanooks. His was named

this year’s Central Collegiate Hockey

Association’s Scholar Athlete of the Year

with a cumulative GPA of 3.95. He is a

finalist for both the 2011 Lowes Senior Class

Award and the Derek Hines Unsung Hero

Award. In his four years at UAF, he scored

five goals and 14 assists.

Elizabeth Humphries models “Metamorphasis” - a piece she designed and showed at Saturday night’s “Wearable Art Show,” a benefit for UAF’s Pre-Medical Society Apr. 2, 2011. Dillon Ball/Sun Star.

Perspectives10 The Sun StarApril 5, 2011

Islands and Ocean Visitors Center, which

packs a wealth of information about local

natural history and ongoing scientific re-

search into its compact exhibit space.

A short traipse away is Bishop’s

Beach, where long stretches of sand make

a superb platform from which to look out

towards the Gulf of Alaska and catch a

glimpse of Mt. Augustine. A great place to

grab a relaxed meal nearby is Fat Olives,

an Italian restaurant/pizza joint with a

great selection of beer and wine. Located

within close walking distance of several

lodging choices, Fat Olives is a particular

treat to look forward to after a long halibut

fishing charter has left you exhausted and

starving.

Finally, the well-known Homer Spit

is a feature that is difficult to avoid. With

an array of small shops and eateries

(some open only seasonally), the Spit has

something to keep every member of your

trekking party entertained. Some people

find the Salty Dawg Saloon to be an indis-

pensible stop, but unless you’re a fan of

cramped surroundings and drinking beer

from old Sobe bottles, you’re probably

better off skipping it. Whales and other

marine life are commonly seen from the

Spit and the hills around Homer, so keep

an eye turned toward the water. You can

camp here, but beware of the ever-present

wind; more than one tent has been lost

here.Thisisalsothejumping-offpointfor

a number of fishing and wildlife charters

and the home of a small harbor.

When you have a four-day weekend

staring you in the face this summer and no

idea of what to do with it, my suggestion is

to head south and give Homer a chance to

endear itself to you. You will not be disap-

pointed.

Jamie HazlettSun Star Columnist

Weekend Wanderlust

Homer Is Where the Heart Is

As the snow melts and the daily sun-

light increases, many Alaskans’ thoughts

turn to the destinations our state has to

offer, such as Homer.

One of the best things about this small

coastal “city” is its location. Balancing on

the southern edge of the Kenai Peninsula,

Homer is close enough to drive to (10 to 12

hours with good weather) but far enough

away to feel like a real vacation.

A phenomenal introduction to the

local culture is an afternoon spent at the

Bear Creek Winery and/or the Homer

Brewing Company (HBC). The winery

serves up varietals made with locally

grown berries, and visitors are welcome to

tour the production rooms and sample the

resulting liquid bliss. Connoisseurs keep

their eyes peeled for seasonal specialties

such as the Shorebird Wine and a range

of meads and melomels (honey-based

wines). Beer lovers will revel in the sim-

plicity of the Homer Brewing Company,

where the works are viewable from the

small store that sells HBC memorabilia and

a selection of the brewery’s finest output.

Settling around a fire and sharing a growler

of Red Knot Scottish ale with friends while

watching dusk fall over Kachemak Bay is a

sublime end-of-the-day experience. If you

do nothing else while in Homer, do this.

Part of Homer’s charm is its local art

scene. Be sure to check out the Art Shop

Gallery or the Fireweed Gallery, which fea-

ture famous Alaska artists, such as Barbara

Lavallee, Byron Birdsal, and Ed Tussy. The

Blackberry Bog, a unique gift store, sells

various hand-crafted pieces and trinkets

from all over the world. Most of the shops

on the Homer Spit are run by local artists

sellingtheirpaintings,pottery,jewelry,etc.

If you’re looking for a good read or a

unique find, stop by the Old Inlet Book-

shop. What this hole in the wall lacks in

organization, it more than makes up for in

breadth of inventory. The tottering stacks

and narrow aisles will turn any browsing

session into a treasure hunt fit for a pirate.

Refuel at the Mermaid Cafe before walking

five minutes up the road to the Alaska

Ralph Nader challenges athletics scholarships

Rebecca Coleman Sun Star Reporter

Former presidential candidate Ralph

Nader called for the elimination of college

athletic scholarships, according to a March

24 USA Today article. Nader said that col-

leges need to “acknowledge the profession-

alism in big-time college sports, remove the

tax-exempt status currently given to athletic

departments and make universities operate

them as unrelated businesses.” Nader be-

lieves that athletic scholarships should be

replaced by need- and merit-based scholar-

ships.

“The assertion that student-athletes

who receive athletics aid are professionals

defies logic,” said Bob Williams, the NCAA

vice president of communications. “They

arestudents, just likeanyotherstudenton

campus who receives a merit-based schol-

arship.”

This professionalism that Nader refers

to is noticeable in Division I bowl champi-

onship series football programs, which can

have up to 100 players on a team and award

85 full-ride scholarships, and Division I

men’s basketball programs, which can have

up to 16 players on a team and award 14 full-

ride scholarships, according to NCAA rules.

There are only a few programs at a few

schools that “really spend the kind of money

that makes you cringe,” said Forrest Karr,

UAF’s athletic director. The University of Or-

egon is sponsored by Nike, which is based

in Oregon. They had different uniforms –

helmets,shoes,pantsandjerseys–foreach

game in the 2010-11 season.

In contrast, there are hundreds of thou-

sands of other student athletes across the

country who don’t have any scholarships,

or are on partial scholarships. Ivy League

Division I schools do not award athletic

scholarships, as they pride themselves on

academics. “You can probably get a hockey

player to play for Harvard without an ath-

leticscholarship justbecause it’sHarvard,”

Karr said. Division III schools also don’t

award athletic scholarships, according to

NCAA regulations.

The NCAA scholarship regulations are

very strict as to how many scholarships can

be awarded per sport. According to these

rules, UAF can give out 18 scholarships for

hockey, 10 for each men’s and women’s

basketball, 8.1 for swimming, eight to vol-

leyball, 6.3 for each men’s and women’s

skiing, six and five for women’s and men’s

cross country running, respectively, and 3.6

for rifle. However, like many other schools,

UAF doesn’t give out as many scholarships

as it is allowed to.

For UAF’s 133 student athletes, there

are only 64 scholarships. This means that

the average scholarship covers less than 50

percent of an athlete’s total costs. Very few

athletes have full-ride scholarships. “Some

of our athletes are some of the best in their

sports, and they don’t even have full schol-

arships,” Karr said. According to NCAA

regulations, scholarships can cover tuition,

fees, room, board, and books, but not travel

costs, which can carry high price tags.

Karr believes that Nader is only con-

sidering the high media attention sports in

his suggestion to eliminate athletic scholar-

ships, but “you can’t paint with this large

brushstroke and say ‘this is how Division

I football works, so it applies to all sports

across the board,’” Karr said. There are so

many “niche” sports – skiing, rifle, crew, la-

crosse, etc. – that aren’t allowed to allocate

large quantities of scholarships, so their

athletes are expected to contribute heavily

to their educations. For example, on UAF’s

rifle team, there are 3.6 scholarships to be

divided between 13 athletes.

The awarding of scholarships is a com-

plicated process. The number of scholar-

shipsallowedpersportdoesnotequatetoa

set dollar amount. Instead, they are derived

on a per-athlete basis. The amount each ath-

lete is given is compared to the total cost of

his or her attendance at UAF to determine

what percent of his or her bill the university

is covering.

Karr said that athletic scholarships pro-

vide a win-win situation for everyone. “They

provide real opportunities for these kids to

live their dreams, the university increases

revenue and enrollment, and the commu-

nity benefits from the costs of living that the

athletes are spending,” he said. “How could

youjusttakethataway?”

Letters to the EditorHave something to say? Say it here. The Sun Star welcomes reader commentary.

Letters to the editor should be no more than 250 words in length. Please include the author’s full name and contact information (phone number, e-mail or address). E-mail your letters (preferred) to editor@uafsunstar.com, fax them to 474-5508, or mail them to to PO Box 756640, Fairbanks, AK, 99775. Letters must be received by Friday at 5 p.m. in order to run in the next issue. All letters are subject to editing for brevity and grammar.

Journalism: Not dead yet11Editorial www.uafsunstar.com April 5, 2011

Three carloads, four days and five awards later,

the Alaska Press Club 2011 Conference has ended.

What can I say? It’s been a hell of a ride.

Our story begins bright and early on Thursday,

March 31. Twelve students and a professor gath-

ered in the journalism office before piling into

three cars loaded with luggage. Our destination

was Anchorage, home of the annual Alaska Press

Club Conference, formerly known as J-Week.

Everyyear,journalistsfromacrossthestategather

inAlaska’slargestcitywithjournalistsfromacross

the country. In between all the panels, workshops, parties and getting lost on the way to those

things, I learned something. Oh sure, I learned lots. I picked up more than a dozen nifty

online tools that could enhanceThe Sun Star website. I learned that every journalist

should have a Facebook page, that downtown Anchorage is much more fun in the com-

panyofseveraldrunkjournalists,andthatIgetlostalot.Buthere’swhatIreallylearned:

journalismisnotdead.

Maybe“learned”isn’ttherightword.Iknewthatjournalismwasn’tdying,justun-

dergoing some changes. What I had was more like an epiphany.

I’d like to thank Susan Orlean for that. Orlean is a veteran reporter and author who

haswritten forRollingStone,Esquire,Outside,VogueandmostprominentlyTheNew

Yorker. She was also selected as this year’s conference keynote speaker. Orlean’s speech

was amazing overall, but what struck me most was her statement that it isn’t the medium,

but the message that’s important. What matters is the story. That was why Orlean, a master

storyteller, was selected as the keynote and why this year’s conference was entitled “Story

Forever.” Whether it’s 1000 words or 140 characters, what matters is telling the story that

needstobetold.It’simportanttorememberthatjournalismisn’tjustajob.It’sacalling.

“I know you all work hard. And the way to get better is work a little harder,” Orlean

said.

Withthatinmind,anotherthingI(re)learnedisthatthisjobisworthit.Thisjobis

worthworkingsevendaysaweek,includinglonghoursontheweekend.Beingajour-

nalist is worth the angry letters, the threats and bluster and pettiness that you deal with on

anear-dailybasis.I’mnotjustsayingthisbecausewecleanedupattheawards(although

boy did we!). I’m saying this because being in a room full of people who love what they

do as much as you do is enough to recharge the batteries of even the most beaten down

cynic.Learningtechniquesandacquiringtoolstohelpyouperfectyourartismorepotent

than all the free beer the Anchorage Press and Alaska Dispatch have to offer. Spending

three days with the only people in the world who can truly understand how important

andfunthis jobishelpedmewritethiseditorialafteraseven-hourdrivebacktoFair-

banks.

Next week, I can’t wait to tell you a story.

Sudoku

xkcd

Coffee Break

Andrew SheelerEditor-in-ChiefUAF Sun Star

UAF - 2.3” x 3”

Take Charge and Power Down!The UAF coal-fired boilers will be offline for maintenance from April 1 to May 31.

This eight-week period is expected to cost UAF more than $1 million in purchased electricity.

Some myth-conceptionsMyth 1: Leaving a light on uses less energy than turning it off and on several times.

Truth: Leaving an incandescent or fluorescent lamp on uses more energy than turning it off and on as needed.

Myth 2: It is more energy-efficient to leave your computer running when not in use.

Truth: Any time you can turn off your computer it will save energy. Many computers now have energy-saving “sleep” features that save energy when the computer is not being used.

Myth 3: When my appliance is turned off, it’s off.

Truth: Most appliances still use energy when the switch is turned off. To save the most energy, unplug when it’s feasible, say, a toaster.

Myth 4: The higher you set your heater’s thermostat, the faster your room will warm up.

Truth: Setting the thermostat all the way up only wastes energy and increases your heating costs.

What YOU can do!You can make a difference by Taking Charge and Powering Down with some simple actions:

Turn off or unplug printers, scanners and other computer peripherals.

Sign up to have a power-saver cord installed in your car. It’s free for students, staff and faculty.

Participate in the Dorm Lights Out Electricity Competition in April. The winning residence hall will receive an ice cream social as well as prizes. Find out more about the competition from Megan Connaghan, Lathrop Hall’s resident director, at mvconnaghan@alaska.edu.

Turn off all desk lights, lamps and overhead lights, and use natural light whenever possible.

Turn off and unplug shredders, calculators, cellphone chargers and other machines.

Turn off lights when you are the last person to leave the room.

Unplug all unneeded appliances, especially space heaters and small refrigerators.

Shut down desktops and laptops when not in use. Power save and overnight shutdowns can reduce annual energy usage by 85%.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator, and find ways to exercise outside.

Develop energy awareness in your building and explore how you can work together.

Use laptops whenever possible, as they consume 90% less energy than standard desktop computers.

Do not use personal coffee makers, space heaters, refrigerators, coffee cup warmers or fans during April 1 – May 31.

Adjust your clothing layer before adjusting the thermostat.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. UAF is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution. 04/2011

April 1 – May 31, 2011