With all the hubbub of new franchises and chains breezing in from the Lower 48, it’s easy to get swept up in the frenzy. But when the dust settles, there still exists the homegrown goodness that makes Alaska unique.
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Celebration tops out engineering building
December 10th, 2013 by Ashley Snyder
Crowds gathered in the Bookstore parking lot Dec. 6 to watch a lone piece of metal hoisted to the top of the continually growing Engineering and Industry Building. This piece of metal bore the signatures of more than 50 individuals commemorating the final piece of steel to be outfitted onto the frame of the new building in what is called a “topping-out” ceremony.
UAA to eliminate equivalency exams for history courses
December 10th, 2013 by Evan Erickson
As of Jan. 1 UAA will no longer grant credit for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams for Western Civilization I and II, and United States History I and II. Western Civilization I and II and either United States History I or II are general education requirements for all Bachelor of Arts degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest college in the university system.
Weather paralyzes campus
December 10th, 2013 by George Hyde
Freezing rain led to the closure of UAA’s main campus in Anchorage on Nov. 22 and Dec. 5. In addition, bus services had been canceled, leaving many students stranded.
“By the time they closed, many of us were still on campus, and the buses were canceled,” said Veronika Spry, a student. “It was a big inconvenience.”
USUAA hosts 5th annual Legislative Luncheon
November 26th, 2013 by Evan Erickson
USUAA and Alaska state legislators persevered through a handsome ice storm to sit down for lunch Friday afternoon in the Student Union Den. All but two guests were able to attend the event, which was cut short by campus closures.
Contents under pressure: Campus suicide
November 26th, 2013 by Evan Erickson
It touches a nerve to consider that every year a certain number of students at institutions of higher education take their own lives. Success and failure are well defined for the average college student and it may be convenient to chalk up desperation to the latter.
Proposed coal mines could affect local salmon streams
November 21st, 2013 by Suhaila Brunelle
The Sustainability Club recently hosted a table to inform students about the Chuitna River coal mines and other issues related to sustainability.
Environment and society major Devin Johnson says a company called Pacific Rim is proposing to establish six coal mines in south-central Alaska. The proposed coal mines are located one hour away from UAA in communities located both north and west of Anchorage.
Vigil for Typhoon Haiyan victims raises awareness
November 21st, 2013 by Nita Mauigoa
Vivid pictures of toddlers soaked knee-deep in muddy water next to piles of wood — remnants of what was once their home — flash a glimpse of how Typhoon Haiyan left the Philippines.
UAA’s Alaskero Partnership Organizers, or APO, held a vigil in honor of those impacted by Typhoon Haiyan in the Student Union Den last Friday, where community members gathered.
Recent events raise public, campus safety concerns
November 21st, 2013 by Web Editor
In the first week of November, the United States experienced an airport shooting, an airport bomb threat, and an armed individual in a New Jersey mall and a university lockdown. The events sparked discussion about public safety across social media sites. Are people overreacting, or are they not concerned enough?
Student debaters discuss smoke-free UAA campus
November 12th, 2013 by Suhaila Brunelle
As part of Engage Week, UAA’s Smoke-Free Task Force, Seawolf Debate, the Journalism and Public Communications Department, and the Department of Health hosted a soapbox debate about whether or not UAA should initiate a comprehensive smoke-free policy.
Prioritization: a review under review
November 5th, 2013 by Evan Erickson
Faculty and administration are working to iron out the kinks in the juggernaut that is prioritization. Many details of the massive assessment of programs and services at UAA are still undecided, but several decisions have been reached following motions passed by the faculty Senate.
Staying on track
November 5th, 2013 by Suhaila Brunelle
On Oct. 28, the University of Alaska’s Stay on Track, Finish in Four campaign launched a photo contest. Upload a photo of how many years it will take you to finish your degree and be entered to win 2 free Alaska Airline tickets. The Stay on Track campaign is a system-wide effort created to get students graduated on time.
The big plan: Prioritization
October 29th, 2013 by Evan Erickson
As Alaskan oil reserves dwindle, belts will require tightening and the state will take a close look at budgets. The University of Alaska is young, and just as a malnourished child may suffer effects into adulthood, the university may suffer in the long-term if it doesn’t find the best use of an inevitable decrease in funding.
The CAS hub
October 22nd, 2013 by Evan Erickson
The bustle slowed to a murmur this past May as UAA students broke away from class loads and many faculty and staff members disappeared for the summer. While it didn’t seem like much was going on, radical changes were being implemented within the College of Arts and Sciences. Twenty-eight administrative positions were to be eliminated, and the 24 departments that comprise the CAS would be grouped under four different divisions: Humanities, Social Sciences, Fine Arts and Math/Natural Sciences. A centrally located hub would oversee the operations of each of the four divisions.
