Tag: academic

Campus Life, News

Suddenly, College: Money, Money, Money

Alexa CherryBY ALEXA CHERRY
For the UAS Whalesong

It’s just about that time of year again – the mildly passive-aggressive time of year when you are not-so-subtly reminded that it’s time to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that you can be eligible for as much free money as possible. Not that this is a bad thing at all; it’s just that it’s yet another deadline to add to your  already packed student calendar. But it’s an extremely important deadline, so make sure you remember it: have your FAFSA submitted by February 15th, or no free government money for you. Continue reading “Suddenly, College: Money, Money, Money”

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Campus Life, Opinion

Suddenly, College: There’s an App for That

Alexa CherryBY ALEXA CHERRY
For the UAS Whalesong

When the end of summer and winter break roll around, the patterns in my internet history undergo an abrupt change. While I may have spent most of the break swapping back and forth between the same six or seven websites, the last two weeks find me zeroing in on multiple different websites that all have one thing in common: they’re related to studying. Whether it be study habits, cool stationary, or master lists of relaxing music and helpful web resources, I am on the hunt for anything and everything that can help me improve the upcoming semester over the previous one. As of this past winter break, I did some research, and found several apps that I plan to use over the course of this semester in order to try and keep myself more organized and better-scheduled. So, I thought I’d write an article detailing what I found and how I’m using them, and maybe do a check-in article later in the semester letting you guys know how and if they are working for me! Continue reading “Suddenly, College: There’s an App for That”

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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

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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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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Campus Safety

Campus Safety: Academic Integrity

By LORI KLEIN
for the UAS Whalesong

Midterms are behind us and finals are right around the corner. The work piles up along with the snow, and some days feel a bit more overwhelming than others. It’s tempting to cut corners.

80% of the students I’ve met with who have cheated or plagiarized on an assignment or exam do so because of poor time management resulting in stress. They make a conscious choice to be academically dishonest because it seems like it might be easier than owning up to the fact that they aren’t going to make a deadline or that they might fail the exam. Continue reading “Campus Safety: Academic Integrity”

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Campus Life, News

UAS Students Assist with Killer Whale Necropsy

BY ANNELIESE MOLL For the UAS Whalesong On Thursday, November 13, a killer whale was reported to have stranded near Bridget Cove. Several UAS students (Taylor Stumpf, Apple Aldana, Jonna Vachal, Mathew Stevens, Esteban Rivas, Holly Kelchner) were quick to jump at the opportunity to assist with a necropsy early the following morning. After racing the tide, the whale was moved to the NOAA lab … Continue reading UAS Students Assist with Killer Whale Necropsy

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Campus Life, Features

“Blonde Indian:” An Animate World

BY KAYLYN HASLUND
For the UAS Whalesong

One Campus One Book is currently celebrating our very own Professor Ernestine Hayes’ Alaskan Memoir: Blonde Indian and on November 6th she gave a talk about it titled An Animate World. The event started with Jonas Lamb introducing her and the open dialogue she has with her students and how that writing itself is a dialogue. He also played a hand in getting her book chosen, finding it an appropriate choice. She is being celebrated as not just an Alaskan author but also a woman working on preserving her culture in ways that she can with her work.

Ernestine approached the stage with humble words and spoke clearly of the title of her speech, “An Animate World,” and how it could be confused with an animated world. But she meant an animate world, a world where everything is alive, or rather that it is a life possessing world. Because the world is alive and breathing and we have to interact with it to learn about ourselves and our own lives. Continue reading ““Blonde Indian:” An Animate World”

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Features, News

Saving Seahorses in Cambodia: Kate Hauch

BY ANNELIESE MOLL
For the UAS Whalesong
As many of you probably know, over-fishing and pollution are just a couple of the major challenges many marine organisms are facing. This is especially true for costal areas around poorer countries. One organism that is being hit particularly hard is seahorses.
In order to understand why they are being so heavily affected, it is necessary to know a bit about their biology. Seahorses are a monogamous species, when a mate dies they stop reproducing until they are able to find another mate that is suitable. They are also male brooders. This means that after mating, the female seahorse will deposit eggs into the male’s pouch, where they will stay until fully developed. Depending on species, their sizes can range from about half an inch to 14 inches.
Back to marine habitats surrounding poorer countries: over- fishing is huge because it is a source of income. The styles of fishing are can also be very destructive. In order to catch as many fish as possible some of the fishermen trawl (dragging a large net across the bottom of the ocean which disturbs everything in its way), cyanide fishing (sodium cyanide is poured into the water to stun fish), dynamite fishing (explosives are set off under the water and then the dead fish are collected), and ghost fishing (animals and fish become entangled in fishing gear that is either lost or abandoned). Unfortunately, there is also a lot of bycatch and habitat destruction associated with all of these fishing techniques. It is easy to see how quickly many different organisms are having a difficult time surviving in areas where this is taking place unchecked.
Earlier this semester I learned that a couple of UAS students had traveled to Cambodia in order to help save seahorses in these habitats. Over the last week I had a chance to talk with one of those students, Kate Hauch, about that amazing opportunity.
Continue reading “Saving Seahorses in Cambodia: Kate Hauch”

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