The choke cherry tree before it was cut down. Photo provided by JR Ancheta

At the groundbreaking site of the new UAF Engineering facility between the Duckering and Bunnell Buildings, lies the remnants of a chopped down choke cherry tree. The site served as a reminder of the tree Friday morning, as students and faculty scurried between work or classes.

Students and faculty lamented the loss of the tree though, many were sympathetic that with construction these things happen.

“The loss of the tree is a sad thing, because that tree has been there for many, many years,” said Laura Letuligasenoa, a telephone technician for OIT.

Many interviewed, like Computer Science student Chris Houck, were uncertain to why the tree had to be cleared. The position of the severed roots appeared not to lie within the boundaries of the proposed building.

“Why man, why cut it down,” asked Houck.

According to Facilities Services Contract Manager Scott Hulac, the tree needed to be removed because it encroached on the area of the foundation digging.

Petroleum engineering student Casey Hnilicka, said he saw an excavator parked at the spot where the tree had been days earlier digging for the foundation.

“They probably could’ve replanted it or something like that,” Hnilicka said.

Transplanting the tree was often mentioned by students and faculty as to a possible alternative to cutting it down.

The site where the tree was will be transformed over the summer, and building construction will begin during the daytime as soon as finals are over.

The new facility’s lobby will connect it with the Southwest Duckering entrance and the Bunnell building’s entrance where the Schaible Auditorium is located. No other inter-building connections will be made with the Bunnell building, but the construction plans show that first floor Duckering will be able to access the proposed high bay experiment testing area of the new facility.

The construction of the facility will be broken into two phases. The first phase, which is scheduled for completion by Jan. 1, 2014, would complete the outer shell of the building, enclosed and insulated. The second phase of construction focuses on the interior projects, such as flooring, classrooms and furnishings. The second phase would also include exterior landscaping. Current funding covers the expenses of the first phase of construction, Hulac said. The rest of the funding remains in question.

Engineering classrooms will be built on top of Bunnell’s Schaible Auditorium as part of the new building. The main entrance and fire exit locations will be changed in the auditorium. Offices and classrooms on the East side of Bunnell will look across an open air corridor to the new building.

Pedestrian access from Tanana Loop Road will go through the new building along the proposed high bay experiment area. The testing area will be a large open glassed room where engineering experiments can be viewed from along the corridor that goes through the building.

The new facility will connect to Duckering and stretch across what used to be the Southeast Bunnell parking lot, which had 51 mostly gold parking spaces.

According to Scott Bell, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Services, Tanana Loop closure will extend from West Bunnell to East Duckering for the next two years, which is the duration of the proposed project.

The engineering facility project with a total cost of $108.5 million is aimed at the “expansion of undergraduate degree production,” according to a funding request to the 2012 state legislature.

Expanding education resonated in the words of Stacey Garbett when asked about the loss of the cherry tree.

“For eduction it’s worth it, I mean, we can plant another one once the building’s back up,” Garbett said.

Letuligasenoa took it a step further saying, “I’m hoping that when they finally get everything back together that we have three trees here.”

Remnants of the dead choke cherry tree lay inside the chain-linked perimeter of the new engineering facility. The new facility that broke ground last month is estimated for completion in July, 2015. April 28, 2013. Jason Hersey/Sun Star

Lander Ver Hoef, this spring’s featured senior, will be graduating from UAF’s Mathematics department on Sunday, May 12, 2013. He has participated in two study abroad programs, received recognition on the Chancellor’s list five times, and is a candidate to graduate with summa cum laude honors. Erin McGroarty/Sun Star.

Graduation is an exciting time for all of us, whether we are the ones walking across the stage or members of the audience watching our friends and fellow students embark on a new and exciting facet of their lives.

This year’s graduation ceremony will take place in the Carlson Center on Sunday, May 12 at 1:30 p.m. The event is open to the public and no ticket purchase is required. The commencement ceremony is also available to stream online on Sunday, May 12, in real time during the ceremony.

While each graduating senior has different interests and goals for their future life, the Sun Star likes to feature one senior each spring. This year’s senior, a lifelong member of the Fairbanks community, is Lander Ver Hoef.

Ver Hoef took his first class, a course in Macromedia Flash, in 2004 at the age of 13.

“By the age of 13, I had started getting interested in Web Development, and back in 2004, Flash was a big part of making cool, interactive websites,” Ver Hoef said. “Since I was in the IDEA homeschooling program, we could use a portion of the funding we got through that to pay for college credit so I decided to take a class in something I found really interesting at the time.”

Throughout the following years, Ver Hoef proceeded to take classes on and off before formally enrolling in the Mechanical Engineering program in 2009 after graduating from the IDEA program in Fairbanks.

“When I started into the Engineering department, I was trying to pick a major based on what I enjoyed doing, what would earn me the most money and what I was best at,” Ver Hoef said. “But I found that rather unsatisfying, and after taking some time off to travel, when I came back, I decided to just focus on taking the most interesting and compelling classes without worrying specifically what I would do with them once I graduated.”

During his sophomore year, Ver Hoef spent a semester in the Semester at Sea study abroad program, taking courses on a cruise ship that sailed around the world, experiencing new cultures and meeting guest lecturer and world peace advocate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

“Interacting with Arch, as he asked us to call him, was truly incredible. For all that he has been through, the years of persecution and hatred, and the huge popularity and fame that followed the end to apartheid, he somehow manages to stay grounded, and is one of the most cheerful, kind, and friendly people I have ever met.” Ver Hoef said, “When we’d see him at mealtimes or in the hall, he would greet us all with a brilliant smile and a convivial fist-bump.”

During the second semester of his sophomore year, Ver Hoef participated in the Semester at Sea program, living in and sailing around the Caribbean. While there, Ver Hoef earned his sailing captain’s license on sail boats in the region.

“The entire process was eye-opening for me, because I realized that this life that I had been dreaming about for years, of going out and adventuring on the high seas, was not only real and possible, but that I had already secured the first step in making it a reality,” Ver Hoef said. “It was a symbol of the idea that far more often than not, what we think of as crazy, unattainable dreams are far more possible than we realize”

After returning to Fairbanks in the Fall of 2011, Ver Hoef switched to a Mathematics degree. 

“Essentially, I chose a math degree because I really enjoy math. I had enjoyed the math classes that I’d done prior to my major change, so I decided to pursue more math, which turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Ver Hoef said. “The more math I learn, the more I fall in love with it as a subject.”

For maintaining a GPA of 3.9, Ver Hoef has been on the Chancellor’s List five times, each semester he has been enrolled and physically at UAF. Ver Hoef also received the award for the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Mathamatics this year and is a candidate to graduate with summa cum laude honors for keeping his GPA above 3.9 and never receiving lower than an A- in any class.

During his time at UAF, Ver Hoef recalled that his favorite classes included Differential Geometry, Ballroom Dance, Configurations and Scientific Diving.

“Particularly in the smaller, upper-division courses, the professors have been uniformly enthusiastic, engaged and knowledgeable,” Ver Hoef said. “And having access to world-class facilities like the Kasitsna Bay lab for my scientific diving class has been amazing.”

After graduation, Ver Hoef plans to leave Alaska for a while and continue traveling around the world. He hopes to eventually get his doctorates degree in Mathematics and teach math at the collegiate level so that he has an opportunity to share his love of math with others.

“More than any specific specific field of knowledge, the biggest benefit I derived from my college experience was how it has restructured the way I think.” Ver Hoef said.

As a math major, he recalled having to learn how to think axiomatically, how to break complicated problems down into small steps in order to complete them. Ver Hoef considered changing this change to be one of the biggest hurdles of his undergraduate but he believes will be widely applicable to life outside of college.

“I have had a fantastic experience at UAF,” Ver Hoef said. “I’ve had the opportunity to take courses in a huge range of subjects, from advanced mathematics to scientific diving to  ballroom dancing. And I truly appreciate how easy UAF made it for me to take a year off and travel the world, an experience that has absolutely shaped who I am.”

Snow and slush once again covers the Moore-Bartlett-Skarland lot on April 30, 2013. David Spindler/Sun Star

In April, Fairbanks experienced several waves of snow, a trend that has continued into May. The snow and cold temperatures are due to cold air being pushed into Alaska from the North Pole and Arctic Ocean, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. The Interior, South Central and Southeast have been hit the hardest by unseasonal cold temperatures.

The cold temperatures have prevented large bodies of frozen water such as the Yukon River from melting. If the weather warms up too quickly, instead of a gradual pace, it could cause the rivers to flood. Due to the weather, the UAF Paddle Club cancelled their annual trip because the river was still frozen, according to Lilly Grbavach, a Wild Life Biology student and employee of Outdoor Adventures. Adam McComb, an undeclared student changed his river trip plans into a skiing trip.

“I’m not actually that surprised,” said Biology student Roger Estelle, “I’m slightly disappointed that I’m not seeing the green grass grow or anything, I’m surprised that there was still snow during Spring Fest, but there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Though the snow made him a little depressed with finals week on the way, he says he made the best of the situation by throwing snowballs at his friends.“You can’t really throw a snow ball at someone in May, that’s one thing I look forward to,” Estelle said.

Students had mixed views about how the recent snow outbreak might affect their return to Fairbanks. Natasha Frey, an Elementary Education student, was shocked by the weather but said that, “weather is just something that you deal with.”

Art student Shelley Kubo, plans to return to Fairbanks next year, but says she may transfer if there is another prolonged winter.

Natural Resource Management student Brandy Flores, said that the snow helps motivate her to stay inside and study. Flores’ friends agreed, stating that they had been extra productive since it started snowing.

UAF students walk down the snowy Yukon Drive towards the Wood Center. April 30, 2013. David Spindler/Sun Star

Slush and snow once again cover the university plaza as the day continues on. April 30, 2013. David Spindler/Sun Star

UAF once again is covered in snow and slush. April 29, 2013. David Spindler/Sun Star

Student Activities Office Assistant Director Cody Rogers (L) goes over final details with SAO student staff members Allie Bateman and Juan Cruz before the Theophilus London concert at the UAF SRC on Saturday, April 27, 2013. Annie Bartholomew/Sun Star

When asked how to describe Student Activities Assistant Director Cody Rogers, “organized” was the word most often used.  With Brooklyn hip hop star Theophilus London marking her fifth  Springfest show, it would be hard to guess that concerts aren’t her favorite thing. “I’m not a promoter, I’m a student affairs professional. And just by way of what my job description says, I just happen to be a promoter three months out of the year.”

Planning and coordinating concerts is just one of her roles. Rogers works across departments to improve UAF’s student community through the three programming boards;  Nanook Traditions, Student Activities Office and the Concert Board. At other universities, these roles might be separated into three different positions, but at UAF it’s all combined into one, according to Rogers.

On a Traditions weekend which includes annual events Starvation Gulch, Winter Carnival and SpringFest, Rogers and her four to six person student staff work  anywhere from 60 to 85 hours each, most taking place during the weekend. “I think all the events have some level of stress,” Traditions Board co-chair and Student Activities employee Juan Cruz said, “But just working with her and the team, it’s always much easier because she’s making sure we’re okay mentally and physically. She’s very active in her role.”

Like Cruz, Rogers also worked in Student Activities as an undergraduate at UAF, which was one of the reasons she first got into student affairs. Rogers would later earn her graduate degree in the subject at Western Washington University before returning to her alma mater.

“She’s really interested in getting students involved,” said current Concert Board member Olivia Bowen who had volunteered with the organization for a semester before Rogers encouraged her to run for a senate seat. “Even when I found out I was going to have an opponent, she said, ‘No, you can do this.’” Bowen won her seat last fall and has been serving on the concert board since. “She was really helpful in keeping me going,” Bowen said.

As Concert Board advisor, Rogers says the shows have been getting bigger in both production and student attendance. Rogers makes an effort to utilize local companies to make these events happen. “She’s got her stuff together,” said sound engineer Josh Bennett who owns the Fairbanks concert production company Sound Reinforcement Specialists. “If we have kinks she rolls with the punches,” Bennett said during takedown after the Theophilus London concert.  He’s worked with Rogers on over 20 shows and credits their success to Rogers organization and ability to motivate her team. “She’s seen enough quirky issues, she knows how to work through them.”

“I really love working with students, I know I’ve said this before,” Rogers said. “That’s why I do it, and I want to keep doing it for a while.”

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

Several students who never voted in this spring’s ASUAF election received email confirmations thanking them for their vote late on Friday night.  Four of them reached out to ASUAF Office Manager Anne Williamson and VoteNet, the site that ASUAF hosts their online election on, expressing their concern about voter fraud.

Williamson investigated and found that the four ballots in question had identical first pages.  She expanded her search, and discovered a total of 20 ballots that were exactly the same.  Williamson then called the students with the questionable ballots, 14 of whom responded saying they had never voted.

Williamson followed up with VoteNet to find out the IP addresses the potentially fraudulent ballots had been cast from.  VoteNet responded, saying there were three different IP addresses used.  VoteNet also informed her they flagged five more ballots as questionable, bringing the count of potentially fraudulent ballots up to 25.

All the ballots were identical, with identifying features such as voting for Christian Burns-Shafer as president and Sophia Grzeskowiak‐Amezquita as a write-in for Senate spelled the same way on each ballot, said ASUAF President Mari Freitag.  Freitag also said that the students with questioned ballots were all from two different academic programs.

The presidential race is unaffected, but Sophia Grzeskowiak‐Amezquita no longer has enough votes to keep a Senate seat.  The way the current unofficial results stand, Sarah Walker will take the seventh Senate seat.

The online ballot requires students to submit their student ID numbers and birthday to access the ballot, and there is a page at the end of the ballot that students must read and affirm that they are who they say they are before they hit submit.

“This is using someone else’s information,” Williamson said. “It’s identity theft.”

ASUAF hasn’t dealt with voter fraud of this nature before, but both Freitag and Williamson said they wouldn’t be surprised if it has happened.

Williamson said she heard secondhand stories floating around last year about things like this, which is why ASUAF implemented the confirmation email with VoteNet in case someone was committing voter fraud.  Which is exactly what happened, Williamson said.

ASUAF has narrowed down their search, but they’re following up before any allegations are made.  They are looking for links between the ballots and students who would have access to the information, probably university employees, such as TAs, RAs or employees who have access to BANNER, the software filing system the university uses.  Consequences for the culprit could include academic and employment discipline.

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

Researchers sell reindeer antlers to support their program. Grace Bieber/Sun Star

The first reindeer calf of the year was born on March 30 at UAF’s experiment farm. The reindeer are part of the Reindeer Research Program.

According to Program Manager Greg Finstad, the calf was born about two weeks early this year, as the peak for reindeer births is usually around mid April. Finstad first started working with the program in 1982 when the program began. The program was created to provide a local meat source, and to study the reindeer for continued improvement in production and quality.  “It really brought the reindeer industry into modern meat production,” Finstad said.

As part of the program’s outreach to school children, children can submit different names for the reindeer on its website. “We help teach a K-12 curriculum as part of our educational outreach program,” Finstad said, “part of that is visiting the schools to get the younger kids more engaged in the reindeer program.”

Darrell Blodgett, the data specialist for the program said some of the names submitted this year were Sarah Palin, Stew and T-Bone.

Finstad said that he prefers names like these because, “It gives them the right idea. We want them to keep in mind that these reindeer are for food.” At the end of July the calves are weaned when they reach about 45 kilos or 99 pounds. After weaning, each staff member picks out three or four names that they like and then they vote on them.  By the time the reindeer are ready for their adult tags, the researchers know their personalities, according to Erin Carr, a research technician, “Some of the names really fit the deer, like Hoodini, any time we weighed him he would sneak away,” Carr said.

Before the reindeer are given names they are assigned numbers which tell the researchers important information about the reindeer. Tags in the left ear show that they are females, while tags in the right ear show that they are males.

“You know the year they are born, you know the sex and what order they were born in just by looking at the tag,” Carr said. The tags also help the researchers to better keep track of and locate the reindeer. Carr takes better care of the reindeer, gives tours of the farm to school children and mixes feed.

According to Findstad, one of the most rewarding aspects about teaching children about reindeer is knowing  it leaves an impression on the students. Sometimes he will be recognized by a student years later, “If you can do something that someone remembers later, you feel good that you made an impact.”

A calf that was born on April 18, 2013. Grace Bieber/Sun Star

Locally grown feed prepared by the researchers. Grace Bieber/Sun Star

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

Editor’s note: this story contains explicit language expressed by users of the UAF Confessions Facebook Page.

A screen shot of the UAF Confessions submissions page where users anonymously enter statements that are reposted on the UAF Confessions Facebook community page.

The most recent incarnation of the UAF Confessions page instructs users to “Tell us all your deepest, darkest UAF secrets, or whatever else you want the world to know,” on its Google Form submission page.  The Facebook community page with 575 “likes” hosts anonymously submitted “confessions” reposted by the page administrator whose identity remains unknown. The page follows a similar format to the UAF Compliments page where students and community members have posted anonymous compliments to each other.

Though some posts serve as an open discussion for Facebook users to offer advice, discuss relationships and commiserate about college experiences, other posts could have been perceived as harmful by Facebook users.

Female Student Singled Out

On Tuesday Apr. 16, the UAF Confessions page administrator posted a “confession” that crossed the line for some of its audience. The post read, “Like if you’ve fucked Liz Wallace. Comment if it was a 3 some!” The post immediately received criticism from users surprised that the page administrator would allow the sexually explicit content targeted at UAF communications student and graduate teaching assistant Liz Wallace.

“This seems pretty close to some form of libel or slander…” wrote Fairbanks resident Zachery Howdeshell.

Geology student Ephy Wheeler also commented on the post, and later called the page a forum for “anonymous hate speech,” citing previous posts containing derogatory remarks about Alaska Native students.

The post was eventually taken down but not before a screen shot was taken at 1:11 a.m. on April 17.

A screen shot captured Apr. 17 at 1:11 a.m. on UAF Confessions shortly before it was removed by the administrator of the Facebook page.

Wallace did not know about the “confession” until a student sent her a picture of the post. “I hold no ill will to anyone that has created this page or message, but it did make me stop think: Here I am, a graduate student at UAF with so much to feel good about in my life, and an anonymous person calls me out on a UAF public forum for my sexuality,” Wallace said in reflection. “Mostly, I think it is interesting that calling out a woman for her sexual activities is still the way that men (and women) put other women down.”

Other students were more critical of the activity. “I just think the page is for cowards,” Psychology student Jacob Tigner said following the post’s removal. “The guy is trying to be Hunter Moore with the post he made and obviously that doesn’t work,” Tigner said, regarding the page administrator.

A History of Controversial Language

This is not the first “confessions” page for UAF. Last week a Facebook page bearing the same name appeared and was taken down after the presumed author allegedly received contact from the provost’s office. The purpose of the page and reasoning for removal is documented in a “manifesto” apparently written by the student. In the “manifesto,” which is linked to on the UAF Confessions page, the author takes fault for posting the “confession” which caused the previous page to be shut down. According to the manifesto, it read, “I am disgusted by the native population in Fairbanks.” The author described post as achieving the discussion they hoped for, “The post revealed tensions that are not completely racist in nature and that, again, I do not think should be ignored.”

Though some users were upset with the content of the Tuesday night’s post, it wasn’t the first time UAF Confessions took on topics that could be considered offensive. Past posts explored potentially harmful themes including violence against women, assumptions about the LGBT community and sexualized statements about female students.

A screen shot captured on Apr. 17, 2013 shows Facebook user Nick Brenner instructs the poster to punch their pregnant roommate in the stomach. 

Screen shot captured on Apr. 17 targets “poor girls who don’t know how to pay for college.”

Screen shot captured on Apr. 17 trivializes bisexuality.

Screen shot from UAF Confessions page names a UAF female student while insinuating wanting to have sexual relations with her.

A screen captured April 17 describes females students as sexually promiscuous.

Frequent page commenter, Justice student Joshua Mattacchione  doesn’t believe any of the posts are offensive but did think the Tuesday night post should have been removed. “I think the post was far too personal of an attack to be posted,” Mattacchione wrote in a Facebook message. “It honestly doesn’t even fit the criteria of a confession,” he wrote in a Facebook message.  “It is asked the audience to confess, which isn’t the point of the posts.”

The Price of Anonymity and Censorship

Some may wonder if any of the submissions are vetted and according to  the page administrator, some are.

“A few submissions are thrown out without ever being posted, but others make it through and ‘start fires,’” said the page creator, who has been identified as a male UAF student in two separate Facebook messages. “Initially it was feared by fans that censoring posts would result in a ‘watered down‘ version of the original,” he said. “These will normally be left alone unless it’s specifically requested that they be removed, in which case they’re deleted as soon as possible.”

When asked why he could not reveal his identity, the administrator said the site could not function without anonymity on both ends. “The anonymous format allows the community to offer their input on things which would normally be kept very private – or worse, never expressed at all,” he said.

Mattacchione agrees, “The admin needs to remain anonymous for the page to work.”

But when names are named, Wallace believes that the anonymity of the page is called into question. “I think that the idea of an anonymous page is an interesting and beneficial concept, however the moment my name appeared on that page, it was no longer anonymous,” she said. “I am thankful that I live in the United States of America where I do not have to fear that my father and brothers will be honor killing me later tonight due to this public post.”

The page administrator who believes the net effect of the site has been positive, does not expect the page to be shut down for any reason.  ”The possibility of pressure from University officials has been discussed regarding certain offensive content and the fact that the page has the University’s name attached, but the level of concern about any sort of official regulation is currently very low,” he said.

“The only thing I’d really want UAF officials to know is that I’m extremely open to their input. If there’s something about it they don’t like, I’d appreciate it if they’d contact me to discuss the matter,” said the page creator can be reached directly through the UAF Confessions Facebook page messages.

Through the experience Wallace remains unfazed by the anonymous dig directed at her. “I would be offended if someone commented that I was not a good instructor, that my thesis defense was not strong, that I am not a good friend, or that I am lacking intellectually,” Wallace said. ”It’s 2013 and the most hurtful comment that this anonymous person could come up with was the fact that I have sex? This does not offend me.”

A screen shot captured Apr. 17 at 1:11 a.m. on UAF Confessions shortly before it was removed by the administrator of the Facebook page.

A post on the UAF Confessions site

A post on the UAF Confessions site

A post on the UAF Confessions site

A post on the UAF Confessions site

A post on the UAF Confessions site

A screen shot captured April 17, 2013 at 1:11 a.m. on UAF Confessions shortly before it was removed by the administrator of the Facebook page.

A screen shot captured on Apr. 17, 2013 shows Facebook user Nick Brenner instructs the poster to punch their pregnant roommate in the stomach.

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.

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