50 Years Ago
From the Polar Star, Sept. 26, 1958

Letter to the Editor: Personality Proximity

During my five years in the teaching profession it has been my misfortune to have numerous early morning classes. We are all familiar with the many clichés describing student and instructor behavior during these early morning hours.

Five years ago I should have been surprised if some one would have told me that during my instructor-ship I should be able to add another limerick to this already mentioned list of clichés; however, instead, I have merely an observation to report.

Faces are not all the same, and while I must truthfully admit that during the past five years I have witnessed a pleasant face, some are quite disagreeable. When students possessing this later type face sit close to me in class, I find myself quite biasedly forming a prejudice very much to their disfavor. However, should these students seat in the rear of the room my prejudice would soon disappear and their grades would rise abruptly. I should request that each student look into the mirror early in the morning and establish his own personality proximity

25 years ago:
from The Sun Star, Sept. 23, 1983

Musical Specimens attack Alaska
By Jerry Evans

The Specimens, who played last Tuesday in the Pub, are P.J. Letofsky (vocal/piano), Dan Cross (guitar/vocals), and Dave, also known as Danny II (drums). They drove up the Alcan Hwy from their home base of Minneapolis, Minn. To play three shows – Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Calgary.

The Specimens play all original material ranging from ragtime influence, to reggae influence, to ultra fast thrash music. They’ve played in over half the 50 states.

The Specimens set up the Alaskan shows via Radios in Motion, after talking with ex-R.I.M. D.J. Sara (“Subhuman”) Cowgil who caught their show in New Orleans.

So with the roadmaps in hand, the three-piece band along with soundmen/roadies Larry and Doug (who also play in a band called “The Rodents”) set out for a working vacation.

The first show in Alaska was Sept. 9 at the Carpenters Hall in Anchorage to raise money for Warning Magazine (a local punk fanzine). An all-ages crowd of about 200 people dressed in alternative clothing, donning short hair, Mohawks, studs, straps, etc.

From the first Specimen power cord, the crowd exploded into a dancing frenzy, including people diving from the stage into the swarming audience.