Year: 2015

Features

Study Abroad: Parting Words

 

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Brooke Schlipf

Brooke Schlipf is a UAS student headed to Stirling, Scotland through the API program. Brooke is studying biology at UAS.
How do you think studying away from UAS will help you academically?
-I want to try a different educational environment and coursework, and be exposed to a variety of ecological environments as well. I believe both will broaden my knowledge of biology and in particular the area I am not be able to find here at UAS. I hope to find an internship to broaden my work experience. I think with what I learn and comparing my experiences in Alaska to Scotland will make me an overall more-rounded and better biologist.
What are your personal goals?
-I want to grow as a person, and I believe that being immersed in a new culture and seeing how another society works will do that.
Continue reading “Study Abroad: Parting Words”

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Features, News

Kelp and Global Climate Change

Anneliese MollBY ANNELIESE MOLL
For the UAS Whalesong

Kelp forests are important for a wide variety of reasons. These amazing forests provide habitats for many species of marine organisms and are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. They have a dramatic impact on the strength of currents within an area because of the drag they create with their large blades. That drag slows the water within the bed, which makes it a perfect shelter and feeding ground for many species ranging from worms and fish to sea otters and other larger marine mammals. Apex predators—in this case the most commonly thought of predator is the sea otter—play a huge role within these ecosystems because of their indirect effects on the kelp. Continue reading “Kelp and Global Climate Change”

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Features, Opinion

Senioritis: Advice for Finals

Alexa CherryBY ALEXA CHERRY
For the UAS Whalesong

At times, despite my best intentions to the contrary, I will find myself struggling to come up with ideas for article topics. I know – a shocking confession, but a fact of my life nonetheless. On the rare occasion when this happens, I end up on Google at one in the morning, scouring various websites and search results for article and blog ideas. In doing so, I have learned that the writers for BuzzFeed apparently get their article ideas the same way. (“Make a post full of GIFs!” one website proclaimed. “Build a list!” Even “post clickbait!” I know your secret, BuzzFeed, and I’m coming for you.) Anyway, that’s what spawned the article you see before you now. As much as the suggestion “Get some billionaire to write a post for you – they love the exposure!” appealed to me, I’m unfortunately not friends with any billionaires. Not yet, anyway. College is, after all, just the first step in my career path. Anyway, I decided to combine two of the prompts that StartBloggingOnline.com offered – “Show others how to do something extremely FAST” (their caps lock, not mine) and “Compile a list of common mistakes in your niche” – and give you some finals week advice from a college senior. Continue reading “Senioritis: Advice for Finals”

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Features, News

Student Government Update

BY CALLIE CONERTON
For the UAS Whalesong

Hello comrades! The semester is almost over and    Student Government did a lot around Campus this fall. We recently hosted a De-Stress Fest complete with puppies, yummy snacks in the learning center, meditation, a relaxation room, a student/faculty art show and a pizza party with a viewing of The Princess Bride. We helped serve, decorate and wash dishes at the Community Thanksgiving. It was great to see the UAS Community having a meal together and the lanterns brought it all together. A huge shout out to the Housing Staff and Campus Life teams for putting on the event!

We recently passed a resolution in support of adding choices for Alaska Native courses to be included in the GER requirements. We have really appreciated all of the students who have been coming to the Monday Morning Coffee with Student Government. It has been a really great way to be able to reach out to the students and also an amazing way to hear about the student’s experiences at UAS and ways that we can make it an even better place to receive an education! Continue reading “Student Government Update”

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Features, News

A Cure for Chytrid?

Anneliese MollBY ANNELIESE MOLL
For the UAS Whalesong

Eariler this semester I wrote an article about frogs. More specifically about some of the challenges frogs are currently facing. One of those challenges had to do with a disease called chytridiomycosis, a disease largely caused by the aquatic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

The first case of chytridomycosis recorded was in 1938 in the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) and for two decades it remained in Africa with no cases reported elsewhere. However, it did not remain this way, and has gone on to heavily impact many species of frogs around the world. Currently there are 700 amphibian species who have been infected. Continue reading “A Cure for Chytrid?”

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Opinion, TV Review

One Hit Wonder

Kaylyn HaslundBY KAYLYN HASLUND
For the UAS Whalesong

Who’s ever heard of a bald hero in a yellow jumpsuit who can take anyone out with a single punch? An anime called “One-Punch Man,” naturally. Anime is a popular form of animated media created in Japan, characterized by being any form of animated media created in Japan. One Punch Man is an anime that only just began airing recently, in October of this year, and is beginning to get as big as “Attack on Titan.” Originally, I had no interest in watching the series. I was too confused by image sets on Tumblr to get a clear idea on the story, other than it was very popular. Admittedly, that isn’t a very good excuse. But, with a ‘gentle’ push, I was made to watch the first episode, and instantly fell in love. Continue reading “One Hit Wonder”

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Campus Life, Features

Health Corner: Organize your Schoolwork

BY Mackenzie Parker
For the UAS Whalesong

Stress can slow you down in many aspects of your life. As a student, it can affect your schoolwork. How you can reduce stress in your life is by changing small actions that you do as a student. Here are five suggestions: Continue reading “Health Corner: Organize your Schoolwork”

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News

Funding Available: URECA

BY ANITA PARRISH
For the UAS Whalesong

If you have a research or creative project that you would like to undertake, the Research and Creative Activity Committee (a Faculty Senate subcommittee) has funding of up to $2500 per student to help you design and complete your project with the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Since 2011, URECA has funded 47 student projects that have made positive changes on our campus and in our communities. Did you know that the vegetable oil kiln used to fire  ceramic projects was created by a URECA grantee? Student Boni Parker with guidance from Jeremy Kane brought that project to fruition, and she has since gone on to graduate work, pursuing her passion. Other creative projects have included play performances, large-scale photography exhibits, and literary collaborations between UAS and the Lemon Creek Correctional Facility. Continue reading “Funding Available: URECA”

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Features, Opinion

On Cultural Appropriation

BY KAYLYN HASLUND
For the UAS Whalesong

With Thanksgiving a week past, it might be good to have a little bit of reality check, though it may be unwelcome, in terms of cultural appropriation during the holidays. It’s a tough truth to face, but it’s important to understand what exactly that all means. It’s especially important when we think about where we live and go to school, in a place that is filled with people who are so culturally rich. It is a sociological concept that views the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture as negative. Now, it can be confusing, because what necessarily is appropriation and what isn’t?

Continue reading “On Cultural Appropriation”

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Campus Life, Opinion

Not-Quite-Spring Cleaning

BY ALEXA CHERRY
For the UAS Whalesong

The end of every semester is brutal, and I would argue that the end of fall semester is more so than the end of the spring one. At least at the end of the spring semester, you’re just getting ready to launch yourself into summer, a fairly laid-back time of year. Fall semester, on the other hand, bounces you off a springboard of stressing over homework, class, and other adult college student responsibilities, and into stressing over holiday travel plans, what to buy your friends and   family, and exactly how many Starbucks holiday beverages you can consume before the people in your life who love you stage an intervention. It’s also the time of year when we gotta clean our college residence halls and apartments in preparation for moving out over winter break, which is not something any of us like to think about. Well, maybe some of you do – I used to live with a girl who loved cleaning and bought herself a vacuum cleaner for Christmas. I’m proud to report that this attitude wasn’t contagious and I still hate cleaning as much as I always have. However, that doesn’t negate the fact that it needs to be done, and we might as well start now while we finish up finals and wait with baited breath for test results. I thought I’d pass on some of my advice regarding the tidying process, so you can get a head start on your roommates – and maybe borrow their Christmas-present vacuum cleaners before they leave for the winter. Continue reading “Not-Quite-Spring Cleaning”

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