Local events, outhouse discussions, cage fights and zombies were among many of the diverse themes at this year’s UAF Film Festival at the Salisbury Theatre. The festival featured Alaskan made independent films, music and Fairbanks landscapes.

On Thursday night the UAF Film Club screened 17 short films. The duration of the films were from less than a minute to almost half an hour. The films covered genres such as documentaries, music videos, mockumentaries, narratives, T.V. series and cooking shows. Three interludes featured local filmmakers discussing current and future projects and encouraging community support through funding and production assistance.

Film student Shawn Weixelman, creator of the Alaskan independent Sci-Fi series CrossOver, developed the T.V. series from his 2007 self-published comic book. Along with filming in the Museum of the North, Weixelman told the festival audience that filming for the series’ pilot will also occur in Homer because of its architectural diversity. The story follows a planet that has stopped rotating creating cultures that live in perpetual light or darkness.

Documentaries at the festival featured local events and lifestyles. “Dry,” produced by Rebecca File and KSUA Media group, featured the dry cabin life of Fairbanks complete with outhouse footage. Nannette Pierson’s mini-series “For Free in Fairbanks 2012,” went around Fairbanks to free events, like music festivals and free swap markets, while taking a shopping tour at the “transfer mall,” or the local transfer sites. The Fairbanks’ Athabaskan Fiddle Festival was represented in Sarah Betcher’s “Tradition in Tune.”

Music was a major component of all of the films. Most soundtracks were self-composed and performed as per submission guidelines, though third party music was allowed with rights obtained. Music videos also made the screen with KSUA Media Group’s submission “The Black and Wretched Blue” featuring artist Emma Hill with accompaniment by Bryan Daste. The music video was filmed as part of the KSUA Takeout Sessions.

Aaron Gordon’s music video “Hannah Banana” won third place for audience choice award. The video had the audience laughing and clapping to the beat of techno hip hop song to lyrics like “feeling down and need your frown turned ’round? Eat a banana!” Gordon wrote the song and made the video as a Christmas present for his cousin, he said. Gordon is a UAF film student and emceed the event.

Benjamin Ghalami’s narrative film “The Prettiest Girl in Town,” was the longest film submitted and won second place for audience choice. A kidnapping of the prettiest girl in town tears apart two lovers in the mafia story. The lead character has to find his way through a maze of thugs and prostitutes in search of his kidnapped lover.

The winner of the audience choice “Humans Vs. Zombies” submitted by Jay Byam, mockumented the recent Humans Vs. Zombies game played on campus. Narrated by one of the last few humans, a tragic love story unfolds as the narrator’s new fiancé is taken by the zombies. The culmination of the drama came when he had to save his own life and shoot his poor zombie love with a Nerf gun. The roughly seven and a half minute film included slow motion zombie attacks and narrow escape scenes.

Other films entered were narrative film “UAF Quest for the Source of Heat and Power” submitted by Trish Winners. Gonzo Gonzales submitted two films, documentary “Life in a Cage” and outdoor fishing show “Minto.” Short trailers submitted were Naaqtuuq Dommek’s “Blue Bead Trailer” and James Martinez’s “Fool’s Paradise Trailer.” “CrossOver Interviews” and “Frozen” by Shawn Weixelman featured the Sci-Fi CrossOver series. Leah and Lena’s cooking show “Buttered Herb Potatoes” was submitted by Yelena Petkova and Marcus Mooers of Frostbite Films submitted narrative film “The Business.”

Along with many prize giveaways, beach balls in the crowd and balloons falling from the ceiling, interlude and closing speakers encouraged audience members to get involved with local film productions. Many of the ongoing projects are still seeking production crew members and actors. Contact the UAF Film Club for more information on how to get involved or to learn more about summer training programs the Film Department offers.

Theophilus London performs during soundcheck at the SRC on Sunday, April 28, 2013. The concert was hosted by Concert Board and UAF Traditions. Annie Bartholomew/Sun Star

On the final night of Springfest, New York based hip-hop artist Theophilus London took the stage to an excited crowd of over 400 fans. London’s performance ranged from his own songs, covers and a finale that saw groups of women invited to dance on stage. After the show, I asked London questions about breaking in, performing live and what’s next for him.

The Sun Star: How’s Alaska so far?

Theophilus London: Alaska was great. I like it here. I was trying to get used to the climate, the time zone. I was in Los Angeles doing Coachella, so I told my booking agent “Look, before I go back home to finish the album, I want to do three big universities and you pick them.” She picked Alaska, she picked Minnesota and a university in LA. Now we’re here.

TSS: The name Theophilus London, where does that come form?

TL: It’s my birth given name. I’m named after my great grandfather, so I’m the second officially. Theophilus means “Lover of God” and that’s what that means.

TSS: How did you get started?

TL: I got started because I wanted to travel the world. I wanted to meet tons of sexy women and man whats the best way to do that? Should I be a basketball player, should I be a hockey player, should I be a rapper and singer. I said fuck it, I’m going to write music and I started writing music. I started finding myself and started performing and it just took off for me.

TSS: Being from Trinidad, how did the music scene of Trinidad influence your style?

TL: I didn’t really influence my style at all. I mean I love my homeland and the food is amazing and the women are sexy, man.

TSS: If Trinidad didn’t influence your style, what are some of the people you grew up idolizing or looked up to?

TLL: As a teenager I was lookin up to Morrissey. I was lookin up Jay-Z. I got into a lot of DJs early on like I-Emerge, A-Trak, like Diplo, these guys early on. Glitch mob was the first niggas on the scene and that’s where I got my waffle crisp from.

TSS: How did you get discovered?

TL: I didn’t really get discovered, I just discovered myself in my bedroom. I put out three mix tapes and the first one was called “Jam!” [sic] 2008 and it was a mix of things like Prince craftwork. All these mix of different music and I put out this other mix tape called “This Charming Mix tape”. It was like mix of Elvis Costello, London pop, flirty music, like charming music about sex.

TSS: You’ve collaborated with a lot of different people like A$AP Rocky, what were some of your favorite collaborations?

TL: Some of my favorite collaborations are Mark Ronson. Great British guy, great musician, great family, great guy. I also did a song with Busta Rhymes, like a low key song. You know, it really wasn’t my favorite. Another good colab I’ve had was “Big Spender” was a good one with Rocky. I also did one with Sam Sparro who did black and gold, he’s a sexy guy and that worked really well. Now I’m doing new stuff with Adam Pavao and that’s what the future holds.

TSS: One of the Colabs that I thought was pretty cool was with Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara. They have such a contrasting style to your style, how was it working with her?

TL: First of all were label mates and I got a Tegan and Sara album as soon as I signed to the label, Sire records in 2009. Upon signing I wanted to write an anti-love song for Valentines Day cause I hate Valentines Day. It’s the worst day to make everything serious. Everything should be toned down on Valentines Day, It should be just whiskey, wine, sex, movies, you know that type of stuff. So I made a song with Sara Quin called “Why Even Try” like, why even try to put on makeup, like why even try to be sexy, like don’t try at all. Just be cool, be cute and Sara Quin played a great roll in the song. It’s produced by Ariel and we performed it on David Letterman on Valentines Day with Sara and that was a big highlight of my career.

TSS: About a week ago you played at Coachella and débuted your song Rio, how was it performing their?

TL: Performing at Coachella honestly was too much going on. Too many bands, too much sun. I mean I’m making it sound like a horror story but it really was a lot of preparation, a lot of hoping, I’m just happy its all over. It’s just to hectic in the desert It’s a good festival, but it’s a whole big thing and you know as an artist you have to go with the rules so I’m happy its over and moving on to the next, Lollapalooza in August.

TSS: You also perform a lot overseas, what do you find different about playing overseas to an American crowed?

TL: I mean you just have to create a good vibe and really there is no difference. The only difference is I’m playing for French women or Alaskan Women. And dudes too.

TSS: I noticed you stopped the crowed and songs a couple times to try and get the crowed up and running, do you consider yourself an artist that really feeds off the crowed?

TL: Yeah, I really feed off the crowd, but half the time my eyes are closed on stage. Eighty-five percent of the time my eyes are closed tonight so I was singing and someone touched me and I almost died on stage cause I’m high in my own way on stage and someone touched me on stage and it threw me off. I feed off the crowed energy but most of all, I deliver a calm, somber, solitude to the audience that can get them hyped so I don’t have to scream so much to get them hyped and stuff. It’s the small things that come.

TSS: Is there a planned release date for your début album?

TL: I have a release date but I’m not trying to promote it right now. I have two months to finish the album and I’ve chosen to finish it in Palm Springs. I’ve been working on the album since December in Paris, two months in New York, and I think its time to finish in Palm Springs. Paris and New York are super busy, I’m always distracted, all these people trying to call me, all these emails and shit, these people to hang out with. That’s made some good music though and I’ve made some good stories about that. I now want to go out to the desert were I’m not on anyone’s time and I’m on my own time and I’m barbequing and shit in my boxers and recording next door in my house so that would be great.

TSS: Besides your album and Lollapalooza, do you have any other big plans for 2013?

TL: Yeah, I’m going to shoot a movie at the end of the year. Somebody wrote a script with me in mind and it’s a brilliant script from a brilliant writer/director. I was over at her house last week in LA and you know the script was great. It’s about a story in New York, its about music, and I fall in love with this girl that gets raped and I have a blind son, but that’s all I can say.

TSS: Do you have any final words for say for UAF?

TL: Yeah, I’m totally down with Alaska and let’s come back out here and chill.

Fans cheer for Theophilus London at the SRC on Saturday, April 27, 2013. Annie Bartholomew/Sun Star

Theophilus London performs during soundcheck at the SRC on Sunday, April 28, 2013. The concert was hosted by Concert Board and UAF Traditions. Annie Bartholomew/Sun Star

Theophilus London performs to a screaming crowd during SpringFest at the UAF SRC on Saturday, April 28, 2013. Annie Bartholomew/Sun Star

Female students pulled onstage attempt to get a picture with Theophilus London at the UAF SRC on Saturday, April 17, 2013. Annie Bartholomew/Sun Star

Theophilus London flew from New York to Alaska to perform at UAF on Saturday night in the Student Recreation Center. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

The bright lights illuminated New York based rapper Theophilus London on Saturday night at the UAF Student Recreation Center concert. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

New York based rapper Theophilus London found his way up to Fairbanks, Alaska to perform at UAF on Saturday night at the Student Recreation Center. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Michael Montalbano’s piece entitled “Hands off” is on display for the 2013 Sustainable Art Show. Montalbano’s piece was made using a glove, glass, tile, wire and clay, and won Best Use of Glass. Office of Sustainability and the Art Department hosted the bi-annual show. The art gallery is located near the ASUAF Office in the Wood Center Lakeidra Chavis/Sun Star

The UAF Office of Sustainability hosted its biannual UAF Sustainability Art show Tuesday, April 16 to Monday, April 22 in the Wood Center next to the ASUAF offices. The Office of Sustainability presented awards for the “visionary use of recycled materials” on Thursday, April 18, hosted by Chancellor Brian Rogers.

The Office of Sustainability and the UAF Art Department sponsors a Sustainability Art Show twice a year. UAF students, faculty and staff submitted art comprised of recycled or reclaimed materials. Art submissions were judged on best use of recyclables, creativity and originality, and overall design.

The showcase is meant to show “alternative uses for materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill,” according to The Office of Sustainability’s website. Submissions were accepted by drop off at the Wood Center on Monday April 15.

Junior Social Work student Ruby Bynum, entered a piece for this year’s showcase for the first time. Bynum is in a beginning art class where her professor urged the class to submit work since the class had recently worked on making paper from recycled paper scraps. Bynum entered an ink-pen drawing of an owl on paper she spent a few hours creating.

Bynum won the award for Best Drawing for her piece “Owl.” She wasn’t aware she had won until her interview with The Sun Star on Sunday, April 21. “Did I get an award? I’m so surprised,” Bynum said.

Bynum had an encounter earlier this year with two owls on campus that sparked her inspiration for the piece. While doing her RA security rounds at Cutler one evening she, “turned around to look at the one [owl] on the lamp post and it flew down right at my head! And then I watched them just talk to each other and then they both flew off,” Bynum said

Various other awards were given out for several categories. “Best Use of Paper” went to Sarita Spindler for her piece “The Clothes We Hide In” – a dress made of various fashion oriented paper products. Alexander Bergman won “Art in Function” for his piece “Stickbag” – a pouch made entirely of recycled denim pants parts.

The Art Show’s overall first place award was given to Janice Smith for her piece “Toy Monster,” a tall art structure made up of various stuffed play toys. A panel of judges issued the awards. The exhibit also includes a voting box for “people’s choice award.”

Jasmin Johnson's piece, "Salvaged Self," won Best in Repurposing for the 2013 Sustainable Art Show. The bookshelf was made using metal and salvaged wood. The Office of Sustainability and the Art Department hosted the art show. The art gallery is located near the ASUAF Office in the Wood Center Lakeidra Chavis/Sun Star

(Front to back) Michael Montalbano's "Hands off" piece, a model of a hand made with a glove, glass, tiles, wire and clay. Behind this piece is a doll that is dead from too much alcohol consumption. The art pieces were a part of the 2013 Sustainable Art Show hosted by the Office of Sustainability and the Art Department. Lakeidra Chavis/Sun Star

(Front to back) Michael Montalbano's "Hands off" piece of a glove covered with glass, tile, wire and clay. Sarita Spindler's "The Clothes We Hide In," a dress made out of fashion magazine pages. Spindler's piece won Best Use of Paper. The art pieces were a part of the 2013 Sustainable Art Show hosted by the Office of Sustainability and the Art Department. Lakeidra Chavis/Sun Star

(Front to back) Michael Montalbano's "Hands off," an glass hand made of glass, tile, wire and clay around a glove, won Best Use of Glass. Jesse Morris' "Crushed Consumption" piece made of aluminum cans, wood and cardboard. The art pieces were a part of the 2013 Sustainable Art Show hosted by the Office of Sustainability and the Art Department. Lakeidra Chavis/Sun Star

Leah Byam's piece "With All Your Hearts" was made using lids, cardboard, acrylic glue and ink. The art piece is a part of the 2013 Sustainable Art Show hosted by the Office of Sustainability and the Art Department. The art gallery is located near the ASUAF Office in the Wood Center Lakeidra Chavis/Sun Star

Leah Byam's piece "With All Your Hearts" was made using lids, cardboard, acrylic glue and ink. The art piece is a part of the 2013 Sustainable Art Show hosted by the Office of Sustainability and the Art Department. The art gallery is located near the ASUAF Office in the Wood Center Lakeidra Chavis/Sun Star

Paige Goneau's artwork entitled "Mobile." The artwork was made using plastic bags, wired and threat and won Best Use of Plastic. The art piece is a part of the 2013 Sustainable Art Show hosted by the Office of Sustainability and the Art Department. Lakeidra Chavis/Sun Star

Michael Montalbano's piece entitled "Hands off" is on display for the 2013 Sustainable Art Show. Montalbano's piece was made using a glove, glass, tile, wire and clay, and won Best Use of Glass. Office of Sustainability and the Art Department hosted the bi-annual show. The art gallery is located near the ASUAF Office in the Wood Center Lakeidra Chavis/Sun Star

The Office of Sustainability and the Art Department hosted the 2013 Sustainable Village Art Show. The gallery features art made with sustainable and recycled materials. The art gallery is located near the ASUAF Office in the Wood Center Lakeidra Chavis/Sun Star

The Office of Sustainability and the Art Department hosted this year's 2013 Sustainable Art Show. The gallery features art made with sustainable and recycled materials.The art gallery is located near the ASUAF Office in the Wood Center Lakeidra Chavis/Sun Star

If you’re not familiar with the Brooklyn art mogul, you should be. London has collaborated with artists such as A$AP Rocky, Mark Ronson and Big Boi. Most likely you’ve been listening to him for years and just didn’t know it.

With heavy electronic influences, London pushes the limits of conventional hip hop, sampling many genres to achieve ultimate dance ecstasy. London just released a new song  at Coachella music festival featuring musicians from the Brooklyn based soul label Daptone Records. The song “Rio” is backed by the frequently sampled instrumental group, the Menahan Street Band who’s songs have been used by Jay-Z and Kid Cudi.

London is also known for his distinctive appearance. With attention to fashion, London has worked with luxury brands to create his clothing line “LVRS.”  He has appeared in lifestyle magazines GQ and Esquire showcasing his fashion forward perspective.

The UAF Concert Board selected London for both his up-and-coming status and affordability. Like Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, it’s the right time in his career to make an Alaska debut, according to Concert Board member and KSUA Co-General Manager Brady Gross.

Don’t be fooled, this is not just another bump-and-grind Springfest rap show. This is the dance party of the year. So lace up your high tops, wear your gold chains, don your sickest sunglasses, coolest hat and get to the UAF Student Recreation Center this Saturday night.

Be sure to get tickets early. Student price starts at $15 and is $25 at the door, with general admission prices beginning at $25, going up to $35 at the door. The Party starts at 8 p.m.

The Great Cover Up is one of the most popular events for UAF students. However, as the main event takes place each year in The Pub, the younger student population is typically excluded from the fun. While the event at the Pub has been organized in past years by the Concert Board, this year Clucking Blossom and KSUA teamed up and organized an all ages version of the event to give under age students a piece of the action. The money made from the $5 dollar cover charge went to fund this upcoming summers Clucking Blossom Music Festival.

The unique atmosphere of the Pub is difficult to live up to, but organizers tried to create a similar jive complete with a laser light show, strobe balloons and a row of lights lining the edge of the stage that lit up in unison with the drum set. Eight acts performed and the the event started at 6:30 p.m., on Saturday April 20. Students began filing into the Wood Center Ballroom at 6 p.m., eagerly awaiting the first act.

Not only does this event consistently attract a large group of under age UAF students, based on numbers in attendance in past years, but it also receives attention from high school students from around the Fairbanks area.

“I love this show,” Mikey Dewey, a senior from West Valley High School said. “I have to leave for a Ballroom Dance Competition later, but I wanted to get here early and catch a few acts because it’s one of my favorites.”

As more people poured into the Wood Center Ballroom and excitement built, event host KSUA DJ Hot Sexy Midnight took the stage and introduced the first act, A Hard Man is Good To Find, a two person Tom Waits cover group. At this point, the Wood Center Ballroom floor was all but empty leaving the first act playing to those few audience members sitting in chairs throughout the room. Following the end of this act, stomping feet and cheers from the now growing crowd filled the ballroom with noise as Fairbanks band, Sweet Sweet Premium took the stage in matching black vests and white shirts, as the second act covering the popular band Mumford and Sons. This group imitated Mumford and Sons with the new and unique twist of having a female vocalist, Wildlife Biology student Leah MacSwain.  Sweet Sweet Premium played some of the bands most popular songs such as “Lover of the Light” and “I Will Wait,” eliciting a booming response from the crowd that had now converged on the stage from all directions.

Knights in the Service of Santa, a bluegrass/folk Kiss cover band also performed and had the audience crowding the stage and dancing along to classics like “I Wanna Rock N’ Roll All Night” and “Christine Sixteen.” This group included Dr. Ron Barry, a UAF professor in Mathematical Sciences and Statistics.

“Some of you may know me as Dr. Barry, or Professor Barry, or sometimes even Professor Starchild,” Barry said in a gravely voice while sporting the star shaped Kiss face paint, “But tonight… You can call me Dr. Love.”

Following Knights in the Service of Santa was Joe Randsall Green, covering Coldplay, Hope + Jobs covering Johnny Cash, Just Ok Charlotte covering Good Charlotte and Young Fangs ending the night with an enthusiastic but short cover of The Strokes.

The concert lasted approximately three and a half hours, gathering more to the crowds with each act, and leaving them yelling for more as the lights came up and lasers faded, closing the 12th annual Great Cover Up until next spring semester.

Looking flashy and fly, Isaac Paris covered Tom Waits during the all-ages Cover Up Saturday night in the Wood Center ballroom on April 20, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Sweet Premium, led by lead vocalist and UAF undergraduate, Leah MacSwain, got the crowd out of their seats on Saturday night by covering Mumford and Sons on April 20, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Supaburd (Kevin Taylor) sounded like a lyrical genius when he covered Atmosphere on Saturday night, April 20, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Part of the 12th annual all ages Great Cover Up was a multicolored lazer light show and strobe light balloons, adding mood and ambiance to the show on April 20, 2013. Erin McGroarty/Sun Star

The Fairbanks band, Sweet Premium, did a unique cover of Mumford and Sons using a female vocalist at the 12th annual all ages Great Cover Up held on the evening of Saturday, April 20, 2013 in the Wood Center Ballroom. Erin McGroarty/Sun Star

The first act of the 2013 all ages Great Cover Up, held on the evening of April 20, 2013 in the Wood Center Ballroom, was a two person group called A Hard Man is Good to Find, covering Tom Waits, complete with gravel voice and sunglasses. Erin McGroarty/Sun Star

Knights in the Service of Santa was one of the acts that played during the all ages Great Cover Up in the Wood Center Ballroom on the evening of Saturday, April 20, 2013. This group was covering Kiss and played some of the most well known songs to the cheers of an enthusiastic audience. Erin McGroarty/Sun Star

Wildlife Biology student, Leah MacSwain, sang as part of the Fairbanks group Sweet Premium covering Mumford and Sons. This was the second act in the all ages Great Cover Up in the Wood Center Ballroom on the evening of Saturday, April 20, 2013. Erin McGroarty/Sun Star

The first act of the 2013 all ages Great Cover Up, held on the evening of April 20 in the Wood Center Ballroom, was a two person group called A Hard Man is Good to Find, covering Tom Waits, complete with gravel voice and sunglasses. Erin McGroarty/Sun Star

Ryota “Kaji” Kajita is an MFA Photography student under Journalism Department Chair Charles Mason. Kajita teaches Beginning Digital Photography at UAF as part of the graduate program requirements. Photo provided by Ryota Kajita.

MFA Photography student Ryota “Kaji” Kajita traveled to Philadelphia for the annual international photo competition for emerging photographers, ONWARD Compé. Ryota received one of two grand prize juror awards from a pool of over 2,100 images submitted in February for the competition.

Kajita was invited to attend the OWWARD Summit festival April 13 in Philadelphia and present his work before the public and event organizers as part of the prize. Kajita originally submitted five images from the “Ice Formations” series, which were exhibited at UAF’s Art Gallery in February.

The first round of judging by author and photographer, Juror Mark Steinmetz, put Kajita and 56 other finalists into ONWARD’s annual exhibition. The competition guidelines then required each finalist to submit a print rather than an electronic submission for final judging. Then, to be considered for the juror award, Kajita had to submit 20 images of a cohesive body of work for final considerations.

The two juror award winners get $500, some camera equipment swag, free accounts to online galleries, and will be given the chance for a joint show at Project Basho Gallery in Philadelphia.

Every autumn Kajita searches for more icy patterns for the “Ice Formations” series before the snow cover comes. “The window to find ice patterns is short,” Kajita said.

The frozen bubbles that Kajita captures trapped beneath the ice in the photos are gas pockets of methane or carbon dioxide. According to Kajita, similar gas pockets are what researchers in Alaska are studying in relation to global climate change.

Kajita plans to continue shooting ice subjects and the “Snow Gardens” series, which features trees or branches poking out of snowy landscapes. “I like walking, hiking and cross-country skiing with my medium format film camera,” Kajita said. “Technically I have no theme. I just stop and respond to the beauty.”

Kajita’s newest project draws inspiration from the artist’s Japanese roots and attempts to recreate the vertical formatted style images common to Japanese “ink wash painting.” Kajita has been hiking the snowy Chena river capturing vertical coastline landscapes with a panorama film camera, a project Kajita calls “challenging.”

“I am applying the methodology of my ‘Ice Formations’ but also of other past work to expand my horizons and develop a theme using the vertical panoramic shape,” Kajita said.

Also this year, London magazine Aesthetica Art Prize featured work from Kajita’s “Gateway” series, while 10 prints from “Ice Formations” are in the Pacific Northwest Photography Viewing Drawers in Portland, Ore.

In 2002, Kajita spent time in the Alaskan village Shismaref where he documented the eroding shores of the Northwestern village due to melting permafrost. Fairbanks Film Festival featured the documentary in 2007.

Since Kajita’s relocation from Mizunami City, Japan to Fairbanks in 2005, he has traveled to more than 50 remote Alaska villages for scientific research. Kajita takes part documenting and setting up research stations for the Permafrost Outreach Project, which documents climate change effects on ice cellars, or Native traditional food storage areas. Northern Engineering Professor and lead researcher for the Permafrost Outreach Project, Kenji Yoshikawa, heads the project.

Kajita is halfway through the MFA program under Journalism Department chair and photographer Charles Mason. He teaches Beginning Digital Photography as part of the graduate program requirements.

Kajita recalled growing up with his father’s photographs on the wall, and a trip motorcycling around Japan at 20 years old with his father’s borrowed 35mm camera. “I loved the click of the shutter release,” Kajita said.

Today, Kajita passes down his families’ photographic inspirations to his newborn daughter, Amane Iris Aoki. “Iris” is another word for the aperture of a camera.

Untitled from Ryota Kajita's "Ice Formations" wins one of two grand prize juror awards at the Philadelphia based international photography competition, ONWARD Compé, in April of 2013. The bubbles shown in the photo are gas pockets of methane and carbon dioxide gases. Photo provided by Ryota Kajita.

Ryota Kajita searches for icy patterns on rivers, ponds and lakes every autumn before snow covers the small formations for the long winter. Photo provided by Ryota Kajita.

Ryota "Kaji" Kajita is an MFA Photography student under Journalism Department Chair Charles Mason. Kajita teaches Beginning Digital Photography at UAF as part of the graduate program requirements. Photo provided by Ryota Kajita.

A combination of hundreds of high school students, drum circles, a famous jazz quartet and the trumpet line from Macklemore’s hit single “Thrift Shop,” can only be found on the UAF campus during a certain part of the year.

These four factors were all part of the 25th annual University of Alaska Fairbanks Jazz Festival, held on Thursday April 11, Friday April 12 and Saturday morning April 13 in the David Concert Hall and the surrounding music classrooms. Students could also be found practicing and jamming in the Wood Center throughout the three days.

Over 500 students and teachers from high schools around the state gathered on campus during this year’s annual jazz festival to perform, jam and also swap friendly tips, competitive glances and musical camaraderie with each other. According to festival director James Bicigo, this festival was originally founded by a former UAF professor John Harbaugh. Harbaugh began in the festival hoping to expand the jazz culture in Fairbanks during the late 80s and the future to come.

As part of this year’s festival, students not only performed, but also participated in workshops taught by this year’s guest artists and the Native Jazz Quartet members. The quartet visited the jazz festival in Fairbanks as part of their Pacific Northwest tour. Formed in 2010, the group is made up of drummer Edward Littlefield, originally from Sitka, bassist Christian Fabian, pianist Reuel Lubag, and Jason Marsalis on vibraphone. This group is a melting pot of cultures with Littlefield from Alaska, Fabian from Europe, Lubag from the Philipines and Marsalis from New Orleans.

Workshops included the festivals guests as well as the members of the Native Jazz Quartet. The other guests included well known jazz vocalist and arranger Darmon Meader teaching vocal technique , nationally renowned jazz musician Diego Rivera teaching saxophone, Musician 1st class Navy trombonist Jennifer Krupa teaching trombone, New York City trumpeter and composer Kelly Rossum teaching trumpet, nationally renowned cellist and musical arranger Nathaniel Smith on cello and festival founder John Harbaugh teaching trumpet.

Along with the workshops, there were several concerts over the weekend. This included the Native Jazz Quartet’s performance in the UAF Jazz Concert on Thursday afternoon and the Northern Lights String Orchestra and UAF Jazz band on Thursday evening. Students involved in the festival performed throughout Friday afternoon between 1 and 4 p.m. and the Fairbanks Community Band performed along with the guest artists on Friday evening. While the workshops were for student musicians only, the concerts were free and open to the public. The festival attracted a large crowd of UAF students and Fairbanks community jazz lovers alike.

Saturday’s performances also included the FLOT Showcase Singers, Honor Choir, Honor Middle School Jazz Band, Honor High School Jazz Band and the Directors’ Big Band, adding a vocal aspect to the brass and electric music that dominated the festival.

While all of the festival’s performances were full of talent and enthusiasm, Thursday evening’s guest artist solo brought the highest turn out of all of the concerts and based on the audience’s applause, was clearly a high light. Native Jazz Quartet combines musical roots and techniques from around the world, forming a unique and well rounded sound. The group not only includes hints of classically energetic big band jazz, but also aspects of world music, completing the ensembles repertoire in a culturally inclusive way that other jazz groups lack.

The weekend as a whole brought a lot of attention from, both out of town and within the Fairbanks community, towards the musical youth of Alaska. Students were able to enjoy learning from experienced professional, and an array of different types of jazz was enjoyed by all, setting a high standard for years to come.

Alaska Comedy and UAF Student Activates Office is bringing another night of comedy to The Pub with Lachlan Patterson. Patterson has performed on The Tonight Show,  Legit for FX, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and a half hour special on The Comedy Network.  Patterson will be performing Wednesday night at The Pub.

Sun Star: How long have you been doing Stand-Up for and How did you get involved?

Lachlan Patterson: I’ve been doing standup for 15 years this month.  I took a night school class called “standup comedy clinic” when I was in college and it was the only class I liked.  I sucked at everything else so I figured I should keep going.

SS: What are some things you want people know about yourself?

LP: I want people to know that I’m going to be around for a long time and I’m going to continue to push myself to get better so watch out for me.  I love what I do and I don’t imagine I will ever retire or quit.

SS: Is this your first time in Alaska?

LP: This is my 3rd time in Alaska.  Last time I saw a moose and I through a snowball at it.  Apparently that is frowned upon but whatevs, the moose was cool with it.  I also went to a Fred Meyer and hung out all day and bought some shoes.

SS: Have you done many college shows? What do you like about them?

LP: I have performed at many colleges.  The one thing I love about them is having to do a show in front of people that would never come to see me in a comedy club environment.  A lot of the students are too young to go where I perform so it’s awesome to get a chance to show them what I do.

SS: Who are your influences?

LP: My influences are Steve Martin, Louis CK and Seinfeld but the only thing I took from them is their work ethic when it comes to creating.  I write what makes me laugh.  It’s great to hear people laugh at it cause it’s like “hey, they agree with me. cool”.

SS: You’ve performed on The Tonight Show, what goes in to prepping for a show like that?

LP: Prepping for the Tonight Show is very boring.   I remember running the set like 14 times to make sure it was perfect for the show and it just wasn’t funny to me anymore.  Then they told me to just hold and they would get me a date within the next couple of months.  I had been in L.A. for a while and heard similar things from industry people so I wasn’t convinced it was true and I didn’t tell anyone in case it was all B.S.  Then, about two weeks later I was in court contesting a traffic violation and I got a message on my phone saying something like “It’s the tonight show, we had a last minute fallout, how fast can you get here?” and a few hours later, I was on stage doin my thing with Jay sittin in the chair behind me.  It was pretty awesome.

SS: Besides being filmed, how different from a regular stand up gig is being on a talk show?

LP: Performing on a talk show is fun but TV people always treat you like you’re a moron.  On one talk show I performed on there was a guy who’s job was to make sure I knew about the two steps I had to walk down before I got to the stage.  That was the only thing I ever saw him do.  I just smiled and said thank you but come on man, I can step down stairs, I’m not 90.

SS: You’ve been on an episode of Legit for FX, is it challenging to do a scripted program compared to stand-up?

LP: Scripted television is very challenging for me and that is why you don’t see me in a lot of it.  Filming Legit I was lucky because Jim Jefferies is a friend of mine and he helped coach me through the whole episode.  I had like ten lines in that episode and they chopped it to three which was a relief.  Three is great!  I do try and practice my acting in my stand up.  Like sometimes you’ll see me doing a bit and I’ll really get into it.  Sometimes the audience is like “wtf?” but other times it really pays off and it’s fun.\

SS: Do you think it’s easier for you to get noticed nowadays because services like Podcasting, Pandora and others?

LP: Definitely, podcasting and internet media has made it way easier to gain notoriety in stand-up. More times than I can count, people have come up to me after shows and mentioned that they heard me on a Podcast or watched me on the Internet and that is what brought them to see me live.  It’s great to hear people are listening.

SS: What do you want people to know about the show?

LP: As far as how to prepare for my show, people should be warned that I do a ton of really high brow fart jokes.  Some of my fart jokes might be a bit confusing to the less educated crowd but if you read or are intelligent I think you will love the show.

Patterson will be performing as at The Refinery Lounge in North Pole Thursday, Friday night at The Blue Loon and Saturday night at Kodiak Jacks and all are over 21 events.

From left Katie Griffin, Ashleigh Strange, and Jared “Jrod” Conrad take time from their busy SAO duties to play out in the snow with the new SpringFest gear on April 10, 2013. Hats, t-shirts, and sunglasses are just a few things students can get their hands on during the three-day student festival between April 25-27. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

Classes are cancelled on the last Friday of the month for SpringFest, a festival hosted by the Student Activities Office and Nanook Traditions.  There will be the traditional dance-off and mud volleyball, as well as recently added events such as blacklight dodgeball, cyclocross racing and fun run events.  These events require preregistration, and forms can be found on the UAF SAO website.

This year’s theme is centered around flamingos, that will be seen around campus as SpringFest approaches.

“It’s a funky, cohesive way to promote spring and its like a big party,” said SAO co-chair, Katie Griffin.

SpringFest will kick off at 11 a.m. Thursday, April  25, with a Wood Center barbeque requiring a Polar Express ID, but not a meal plan.  This will be followed by a dance-off and watermelon drop from the roof of Gruening.  Later that night, the 24-hour event “case day” will unofficially begin, as well as Lottanobooza, where students can receive prizes for checking in with a breathalyzer periodically to prove they have not been drinking.   Lottanobooza begins at 7 p.m. and ends Friday at 6 p.m.

Friday will be a field day where students can take part in mud volleyball in the Nenana Parking Lot at noon and enjoy another BBQ and “bouncy stuff” at the soccer fields.

“Field day is a lot of bouncies, which will be really fun,” said SAO member, Juan Cruz.

SAO is working with the Leadership, Involvement, Volunteer Experience office in Springfest Service to find students who would like to volunteer during the Fun Run and mud volleyballl.  Sign up forms are posted on the UAF LIVE website, and volunteers will receive a free Springfest hat.

“Everyone liked the hats, but we will also have sunglasses this year as… swag,” Griffin said.

The glasses, sporting a pink SpringFest logo, can be received by participating in events and having SAO take their picture.  Cruz warns that the overall swag will be limited in numbers.

“With the sunglasses we’re hoping that people will do the flamingo pose, like on one leg, and then once we get a picture of them, they get to keep them,” Grffin said.  Pictures taken of students will be uploaded to a photo sharing program called Pinwheel.  People with smartphones will be able to access these once they are posted online.  Participants without smart phones can receive a polaroid copy of their photo.

With Pinwheel, SAO plans to display the student photos on a big screen during the 8 o’clock Theophilus London concert.

All of the events will lead up to the Theophilus London concert at the Student Recreation Center on the 27.  London is a contemporary R&B musician, whose upcoming presence in the industry grabbed the attention of Concert Board.

“We definitely have budget constraints that we have to work within, but he was in our budget, and we felt he was well enough known and on the rise,” said Alllie Bateman, a Concert Board member.

In the past the board watched trends, ticket sales and pop cultures and brought up Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.  They used the same strategy for this year’s SpringFest show.

“We put a lot of work into it, so I hope students enjoy what we’re bringing, and feel they benefit as well,” Bateman said.  “That’s why we do it; we just want to serve the students.”

Nightly events will also be held during the three days, consisting of a Student Recreation Center Fear Factor Eating Contest, Club Tropic Dance and Pub beer-tasting.

The fun run is an event where students wear white t-shirts and along the way will have non-toxic, colored powder thrown at them while running a 2-mile course.

“There really something for everyone, and hopefully it will be nice out so people can get outside,” Griffin said.

If the snow has not melted, there are backup plans to move Thursday’s outdoor activities into the SRC.

“Everyone goes, ‘remember that one Friday in April where we always get out of school?  That’s actually what its for, so that students could take part in Springfest service, and now we just got all this other stuff too, which is awesome,” Griffin said.  “I encourage everyone to go to as many events as possible,” Griffin said.

Punch cards will be passed out during the kick off, where students can enter a drawing for a round trip Alaska Airlines ticket by going to four out the five events listed on the card.

From left Katie Griffin, Ashleigh Strange, and Jared "Jrod" Conrad take time from their busy SAO duties to play out in the snow with the new SpringFest gear on April 10, 2013. Hats, t-shirts, and sunglasses are just a few things students can get their hands on during the three-day student festival between April 25-27. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

Jared "Jrod" Conrad and Katie Griffin show off the collectibles for this 2013 SpringFest. April 10, 2013. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

From left Katie Griffin, Ashleigh Strange, and Jared "Jrod" Conrad take time from their busy SAO duties to play out in the snow with the new SpringFest gear on April 10, 2013. Hats, t-shirts, and sunglasses are just a few things students can get their hands on during the three-day student festival between April 25-27. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

The humans clamor to reload their Nerf guns and restock their socks for the final third wave that decided the ending to UAF’s very first Humans vs. Zombies. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

A hoard of  humans and zombies battled for dominance during UAF’s first annual Human vs. Zombies event  hosted by Residence Life.

Starting out with 201 humans and one zombie on April 5, the end of the first day brought had 8 zombies. With the most people playing at 252 players, the week long battle ended April 12 at 5 p.m. with a final stand by the humans in a losing effort.

The first person turned Friday night was Mechanical Engineering student Andrew Sharp. “I died very quickly and killed a lot of people.” Sharp was registered himself on the official Humans vs. Zombies website as killing 13 humans during the game.

“At the time the human and zombie teams were half and half, I saw an amazing amount of teamwork explode from both sides, and at that point an time I really enjoyed it,” said Resident Assistant and HVZ coordinator Christopher Clement.

Clement first heard about Humans vs. Zombies from his girlfriend in Juneau, spoke about what he liked that set Fairbanks’ game apart from Juneau’s. “Seeing Humans hunt in packs and forming there own squads without us initiating it , was fantastic. That was something brand new because Juneau, had you sign up as a squad, but the players figured it out by themselves,” Clement said.

During the game, player’s uploaded photos, videos and journals of their experiences while playing to the Humans vs. Zombies Facebook page.  The Facebook group for Humans vs. Zombies was updated daily with fiction that built the story of the game.  Each diary entry by the admin tied in to daily missions that progressed the greater narrative for the story.

The game ended with a party Saturday night during 24 hour table top gaming event at Hess Recreation Center. Human and zombie players gathered with food and drinks and watched videos and photos of peoples experiences during the game with the best stories received prizes for there documentary work.

With growing excitement from student on lookers for the game as the week went on, Clement talked how he would like to create a better experience for next semester. “I definitely would like to see more people involved not that its happened and people know what its about. I want to see more excitement and role playing.”

Students during the Humans vs. Zombies finale. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

The humans clamour to reload their Nerf guns and restock their socks for the final third wave that decided the ending to UAF's very first Humans vs. Zombies. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

Students turned Zombies in the first UAF Humans vs. Zombies game take separate paths to the Circle of Flags plaza where the final confrontation between 19 humans and 78 zombies took place. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

Humans ready the line at the Circle of Flags for the final battle between Zombies and Humans. The objective was to protect the machine that would act as a cure for the zombie infection. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

Ian Wilkinson, with photography from Todd Paris, designed the wall of photos to be free from race or class and instead focus on the problem driving the project – hunger. April 5, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

For many graduating Bachelors of Fine Arts, a senior thesis project might include a few pretty pictures or a well formed bronze sculpture, but for Senior Ceramics Student Ian Wilkinson it was much more than just that.

In “Spheres of Influence” Wilkinson wanted to show not just the power of ceramics as aesthetic structures, but also to make statements about poverty, hunger, economics and even engineering. The 1,200 bowls will be donated and sold to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank on April 13 for $15 each.

By the time of the official reception on Friday evening, hundreds of visitors had come by into the UAF Art Gallery to admire the multicolored platform of rice bowls enclosed by plexiglass, but the full experience of the show was not available until Friday, when guests were allowed to walk on top of the bowls under the creaking plexiglass. Though the opening reception was scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, visitors stuck around much later to look at the pieces, walk on the bowls or just observe the room. Five larger pieces rest on the plexiglass in the middle of the platform on top of a second layer of the smaller bowls. The bowls are filled with various amounts of rice, with the lowest level containing only a few kernels, and the larger vessels overflowing, roughly representative of the wealth distribution of the world economy.

While many visitors on Friday seemed scared to put their full weight on the seemingly fragile bowls, none of them broke. Wilkinson said he gave some of the flawed bowls to civil engineering students for pressure testing. They found that even the imperfect bowls could bear up to 400 pounds of pressure before collapsing. Wilkinson said that engineers have only recently begun to see the practical uses of ceramics in things such as bearings and brake pads, and he wanted to incorporate this utilitarianism into his project. While there was no real danger of damage to the bowls, the plexiglass creaked as it was forced on the bowls, making some people feel uneasy.

Wilkinson conceived the project a year ago and it became a consuming passion especially in the last few weeks before the opening. During the summer Wilkinson worked on perfecting a design for a rice bowl and starting to fire them, working about 4 hours per day while fitting in ski training sessions to secure his spot on the UAF Ski team.  After a few hundred bowls, Wilkinson was able to make bowls in as fast as two and a half minutes. Training and racing, not to mention a full course load, took much of his time in the winter months, several weeks of which were spent on the road. Nonetheless, Wilkinson said the fall endurance training helped him stay on his feet for the long days during the last week.

When he returned from a ski trip in February, the days got longer. Each bowl required two firings, most required calculation of special earth-tone glazes and then had to be sorted and set up.

“He’s been a maniac at the studio lately,” said roommate Biology student Yuzhun Evanoff, “but it really paid off.”

During the last week when he was firing his last pots, most of the university lost power for about an hour. The outage required a few extra hours to reheat the kiln at a time when time was already tight. Wilkinson ended up getting home at 2 a.m.

“I was definitely cutting it close,” Wilkinson said. Wilkinson  thinks he put in somewhere between 700 and 1,000 work hours on the project.

 Last Friday evening was a culmination of all the hours of work, and with hundreds of visitors stopping in, the work seemed to pay off. Evanoff said that he had visited the exhibit before the opening when walking on the bowls was prohibited, but that the Friday evening experience was something else.

“Being able to be held up by the symbolic bowls and to feel that connection was amazing,” Evanoff said “I felt like I was really connecting to what he was trying to say.” Still, the art wasn’t the only thing people were admiring, “The baby was my favorite part, crawling around on top of the bowls,” Evanoff said.

Senior Ceramics student, Ian Wilkinson, featured his senior thesis project in the UAF Art Gallery on April 5. These project featured 1200 bowls and 5 large urns, all made in the past few months by Wilkinson. Erin McGroarty/ Sun Star

During the opening reception for ceramics student Ian Wilkinson's senior these project, Spheres of Influence, layers of plastic were set on top of 1200 of Wilkinson's ceramic bowls. This allowed observers to walk above and look down at the bowls. April 5, 2013. Erin McGroarty/ Sun Star

As part of his senior thesis, ceramics student Ian Wilkinson, with the help of UAF photographer Todd Paris, hung photos of student models holding his empty ceramic bowls. The central idea of this thesis project was to both display Wilkinson's work and bring focus to world poverty and hunger. April 5, 2013. Erin McGroarty/ Sun Star

Senior Ceramics student, Ian Wilkinson, featured five large clay urns as part of his senior thesis project thata will be displayed in the UAF art gallery for the month of April. The reception was on April 5 from 5-8 pm. Along with these urns, Wilkson also displayed 1200 ceramic bowls. Erin McGroarty/ Sun Star

Senior Ceramics student, Ian Wilkinson, featured five large clay urns as part of his senior thesis project thata will be displayed in the UAF art gallery for the month of April. The reception was on April 5 from 5-8 pm. Along with these urns, Wilkson also displayed 1200 ceramic bowls. Erin McGroarty/Sun Star

Ian Wilkinson, graduating senior at UAF, constructed his project titled 'Spheres of Influence' over a period of ten months. His artwork will be on display in the UAF Art Gallery until April 15, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

UAF undergraduate Ian Wilkinson designed his project around the classes of the world. The majority of bowls are below the plastic floor with little food and atop it are five large structures which contain the majority of food. April 5, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Ian Wilkinson, with photography from Todd Paris, designed the wall of photos to be free from race or class and instead focus on the problem driving the project - hunger. April 5, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Ian Wilkinson, graduating senior at UAF, constructed his project titled 'Spheres of Influence' over a period of ten months. His artwork will be on display in the UAF Art Gallery until April 15, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Micheal Jackson, covered by Shagg, electrified the crowd on Saturday night at the UAF Pub ‘Great Cover Up.’ April 6, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Local musicians and bands covered a range of popular artists from Johnny Cash to the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s at the 12th Annual Great Cover Up. UAF Concert Board hosted the event and raised approximately $1,500 charging a $5 cover at the door for the Literacy Council of  Alaska on April 6, 2013 at the UAF Pub.

The Great Cover Up began in 2000 as a Students Activities event. In 2006 Concert Board began to host the event. Historically known as one of the most popular nights at the Pub, UAF students and community members began standing in line to get in as early as 6 p.m., two hours before the doors opened. Elliott Jacksch, a senior Mathematics student was the first in line at the Pub’s doors. The line began a winding path that extended all the way into the second level of the Wood Center. “I get beer and a nice table!” Jacksch said about his reason for ensuring his prime spot before the doors opened at 8 p.m. “Man, I should have shown up a hour ago,” Seth Hawkins said, a Masters Counseling student who was further down the line.

“Allan-bama Moon,” the first act, took the stage just before 8:45 p.m. and their lead singer announced, “I am not Johnny Cash.” It became clear imitating that distinctive bass-baritone voice, Allan-Bama Moon was entirely the “Man in Black” from their spines to their swagger. Setting a high bar for the rest of the evening, Allan-bama Moon performed high energy numbers such as “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I’ve Been Everywhere” to the lesser known track “Orange Blossom Special.” The already-at-capacity Pub audience displayed a high level of excitement and energy as attendees danced and bobbed their heads the entire set.

The energy only grew from the crowd as performers covered popular bands such as Alice in Chains, Liz Phair and Mumford and Sons. Leah MacSwain, Wildlife Biology student and lead vocalist of Sweet Premium admitted to being a little nervous about covering Mumford and Sons. “We want to represent the band really well in Alaska,” MacSwain said.

Rivers of Mercury, a five piece local band, performed next and covered Rage Against the Machine. Luke Fry, lead vocalist and a senior Elementary Education student said they performed last year as Muse and were excited to get back on stage. “Everyone we know is going to be here,” Fry said. Rivers of Mercury said they had been practicing since the new year and felt fortunate to be performing right after Mumford and Sons. While taking the stage after Mumford didn’t hurt, as soon as the first few notes of that iconic riff from “Bulls on Parade” hit, the crowd went wild. Halfway through the set, Fry thanked the crowd profusely and said he couldn’t ask for a better crowd to drive the energy Rage Against the Machine produces.

A change of pace took the stage as the duo of Nick Meurlott and Daniel Firmin performed as “Dangerlot” covering fictitious band from last year’s Cover Up, “Band of Zorses.” Dangerlot donned full squirrel suits and performed only one ridiculous song with the singular theme of  ”Instagram that shit!” before smashing their keyboard and scattering off stage.

Around 11:30 p.m. Swagg took the stage and covered Michael Jackson with a full jazz section covering the beats. Like the King of Pop himself, the entirety of the Pub couldn’t keep their dance moves a secret any longer. “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” to “Beat It” to “Thriller,” Swagg kept the crowd moving and sweaty.

“Rachel Elmer’s Band” closed out the night covering the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s that featured songs like “Maps,” “Gold Lion” and “Y-Control.” Rachel Elmer, a senior English student, performed as lead vocalist and looked extremely excited to be apart of the Cover Up as a performer for the first time. Elmer said she had fun practicing for the event with friends. “I’m going to start a band – I want to start a band!” Elmer said.

Time lapse video by Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Solid 68 covered Alice in Chains on Saturday night at the UAF Pub 'Great Cover Up.' April 6, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Johnny Cash was well represented by Allan-bama Moon as they opened for the 'Great Cover Up' on Saturday night at the UAF Pub. April 6, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Allan Mortensen, lead vocalist for Allan-bama Moon, took the crowd around the globe as he covered Johnny Cash's 'I've been Everywhere' on Saturday night at the UAF Pub 'Great Cover Up.' April 6, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Shagg covered Micheal Jackson on Saturday night at the UAF Pub 'Great Cover Up.' April 6, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Micheal Jackson, covered by Shagg, electrified the crowd on Saturday night at the UAF Pub 'Great Cover Up.' April 6, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Sweet Premium covered Mumford and Sons Saturday night at the UAF Pub 'Great Cover Up.' UAF undergraduate Leah MacSwain had the crowd tapping their toes as they went through their set. April 6, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

One of the crowd favorites was Rage Against the Machine, covered by Rivers of Mercury, on Saturday night at the UAF Pub 'Great Cover Up.' April 6, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Dangerlot covered Band of Zorses on Saturday night at the UAF Pub 'Great Cover Up.' April 6, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Laughing at your abscence, two UAF students questioned why you were at home instead of being at the 'Great Cover Up' on Saturday night at the UAF Pub. Next year come early and stay late. April 6, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Sass and pazzaz were found in many of the queens on Friday night as seen in Ms. Euphoria at UAF during the Gay-Straight Alliance Drag Show. April 5, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Drag queens, kings, lap dances and plenty of audience screams and laughter were heard and seen at the Wood Center’s Ballroom where the Gay-Straight Alliance organized a drag show, giving half its proceeds to the Interior AIDS Association.

All evening many audience members encouraged performers by throwing crumpled dollar bills, cat calling and occasionally getting on stage to shove money down clothing or to straddle dancing performers at Friday night’s event, which was open to the public.

All drag performances were a lip-synched song and dance except for two performances by the belly dance troupe Tundra Caravan. The belly dancers with their jingling, golden hip scarves, bare midriffs and elegant black and sparkling attire were the only performers of the evening not dressed in drag.

Drag queen Ms. Euphoria, or English student Eran Eads, set the bar for the queens’ performances prowling through the aisles, lip-synching the Scissor Sisters’ song “Let’s Have a Kiki” in a short black dress and black wig. Ms. Euphoria seduced audience members with lap dances amidst whistles and cheers while they shoved money down the performer’s dress, a trend the queens continued throughout the night.

For many drag performers, it was their first or second public stage appearance, according to Emcee Meghan Packee. Audience member Natura Richardson, who received the evening’s first lap dance from Ms. Euphoria, said afterward that there doesn’t seem to be much of an avenue for drag performances in Fairbanks and that UAF is a safe place to perform.

Packee frequently announced the next performer to stage, though no one was ready to perform. Packee would then resort to telling corny jokes stalling for time. At one point, Ms. Euphoria emerged from backstage and pulled audience members on stage for an impromptu dance party with music by DJ Pika. The move delighted the crowd, which was beginning to heckle and groan at Packee’s jokes.

Joel Keeney who derived his DJ name from a furry, northern lagamorph akin to rabbits and hares, said afterward “this show needs a stage manager.” Keeney provided the sound track for the evening sporting a tight, black dress, a blonde wig and deep blue lip and eye make-up. “[I] was going for the blue and gold,” Keeney said.

Kings’ performances by Bruno, Jack Jones and Hunter McFly drew audience members from their seats to drop tips on stage or occasionally shove a bill down a King’s pants. Drag queen Kazumi wore traditional Japanese garb and performed seductive dances complete with karate chop moves, with two kings playing air guitar and drums for backup. Queens Ms. Sapphire, first time performer Ms. Isabella, and Ms. Euphoria frequently left the stage to work the crowd from the audience. Most acts concluded with performers gathering up the scattered bills thrown from the crowd during actors’ sexual tauntings, stripping or wild dancing.

After the show, audience members lingered asking to get their photos taken with the kings and queens and congratulating their performances.

Between photos and interviews, Eads spoke of why he continues to participate in the drag shows. “[It's] because I’m gay and Fairbanks doesn’t do enough of them,” Eads said. “Straight people should be doing it too.”

Time lapse video by Adam Taylor/Sun Star

The Gay-Straight Alliance unveiled their first annual Drag Show on Friday night at UAF to a large audience. April 5, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Bruno opened for the Gay-Straight Alliance Drag Show on Friday night at UAF. April 5, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

A geisha made her appearance at the Gay-Straight Alliance Drag Show event Friday night. April 5, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Ms. Saphire engaged the audience during the first annual Gay-Straight Alliance Drag Show at UAF on Friday night. April 5, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

Sass and pazzaz were found in many of the queens on Friday night as seen in Ms. Euphoria at UAF during the Gay-Straight Alliance Drag Show. April 5, 2013. Adam Taylor/Sun Star

UAF students participating in Humans vs. Zombies get their bandanas which label them as humans. April 5, 2013. David Spindler/Sun Star

Last Friday Residence Life started their week-long event called Arctic-Con. Celebrating nerd culture, Arctic-Con has several events planned until Apr. 18 with an Art Gala.  Other events planned are human vs. zombies, cosplay chess, trivia night and 24-hour tabletop and video game nights.

Starting it off was the Cosplay Ball at the Hess Recreation Center by Ress Life. Short for “Costume Play”,  the dance is when people  dress up as a character from a popular show or game. Resident assistant Mary-Clare Cable, was one of the main organizers for the Cosplay Ball. “I know that cosplay is a really fun opportunity and if you go to any of the convention, you see tons of cosplayers and its really a lot of fun,” Cable said.

Moore Hall resident assistant Jake Long is running the Cosplay Chess taking place Wednesday. Cosplay Chess, is chess but with human players on a gigantic chess board with a player controlling their side of the board. The theme for this year’s Cosplay Chess is “Area 51”. With all the spots for chess pieces filled already, Long said  that students could “show up, enjoy and watch the game.”

On Friday starting at 7 p.m. is a 24-hour video game tournament taking place in the Hess Rec. With both classic and modern consoles, ResLife is planning on tournaments from Halo 4 to Super Mario Kart with the prizes going to the winners. The next night starting at 7 p.m. a 24-hour table top gaming tournament with Warhammer 40K, Pathfinder, Magic the Gathering and more in the Hess Rec.

Not everything is up at Hess Rec, with biggest event of Arctic Con is Human vs. Zombies. Lasting from Apr. 5-12, Humans, with Nerf guns at their side, roam campus looking for zombies while zombies try and infect the humans. Moore Hall Resident assistant Chris Clement, is one of the main people in charge of Humans vs. Zombies.  Inspired from UAS’s Human vs. Zombies, Clement wanted UAF’s own version. At last count Friday night, 200 people signed up to participate in the week-long event and Clement plans on having more Human vs. Zombie events throughout the year.

“I’m going to form Human vs. Zombies club that people can join and help create the game and so we can add more factors to increase the fun factors to the game,” Clement said.

With daily challenges for prizes, Clements thought  it would help keep the game interesting and keeps people involved throughout  the week. Saturday night at Hess Rec will host an apocalypse party that shows off photos and videos that players have taken with prizes handed out to exceptional players.

With events happening everyday, more information on events can be found at UAF ResLife’s Facebook page.

UAF students participating in Humans vs. Zombies get their bandanas which label them as humans. April 5, 2013. David Spindler/Sun Star

Sophomores Christopher Clement and Tiana Elkins talk to the participating students about the guidelines for playing Humans vs. Zombies. April 5, 2013. David Spindler/Sun Star

UAF students ask questions regarding playing Humans vs. Zombies. April 5, 2013. David Spindler/Sun Star

UAF students participating in Humans vs. Zombies right after the meeting at 7 p.m. April 5, 2013. David Spindler/Sun Star

Students get down to the music at the Black Light dance put on by Circle K on March 22, 2013. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

Last Friday, Circle K club hosted the annual black light dance in the Wood Center Ballroom. The dance is a popular one, usually held in the spring semester by different organizations each year.

Elementary education student and current Circle K President Kaz Alvarez was happy with this year’s outcome. “With the support of UAF’s best dancers, Circle K was able to raise a worthy donation to help the March of Dimes Foundation to fund research on premature birth,” Alvarez said in an email.

The ballroom was decorated with high powered black lights, reactive spiral tape designs and balloons filled with glow sticks. DJ Bay Hype, a local DJ, was the headliner for the event. The music experiences a few issues when the ballroom’s electrically charged back wall shorted the DJ’s mixing board and sound board, causing the DJ to switch to his iPod to continue the music. Later on in the night DJ Bay Hype downloaded songs from iTunes to fulfill requests. Regardless students kept coming and enjoyed the dance overall.

“The dance is pretty good, I mean you have to get more people to show up,” Keith Barkley, a bachelor of arts student, said.

Circle K raised approximately $700 with about 200 attendees. “The dance was better than one we hosted last year, which only had 30 attendees and raised just $275 dollars,” Alvarez said.

Circle K International is a service and leadership organization created by Kiwanis, a global organization of volunteers to develop college students’ leadership skills. The club meets every Friday in the Alumni Lounge at at 6:30 p.m.

Students dance in the Wood Center Ballroom at the Black Light dance on March 22, 2013. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

Students wore their reflective clothing at the Black Light dance in the Wood Center Ballroom on Friday, March 22, 2013. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

Keith Sheard is a Justice student during the day and DJ Bay Hype at night as he mixes tracks together on his iPhone after his mixing board shorts to keep the music going and the students dancing on March 22, 2013. Cordero Reid/Sun Star

Students get down to the music at the Black Light dance put on by Circle K on March 22, 2013. Cordero Reid/Sun Star