March 31, 2026

If students want change, they need to step into the arena

Chancellor Cheryl Siemers: An inside look

By Bek Davis reporter1@thenorthernlight.org

Following the retirement of previous UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell in May 2025, Cheryl Siemers took over as interim chancellor. On March 8, she was appointed to the permanent position.

The Northern Light interviewed Siemers to learn more about how she started in the UA system.

Seimers said she moved to Alaska for family reasons and fell in love with it.

She shared an anecdote that her academic advisor at Cedarwood University asked her if she ever thought about teaching college students. As a freshman in college, she said had not considered it before. Siemers said this question lit a fire under her career.

She said her time as a professor at Kenai Peninsula College — or KPC — led to an increase in community engagement curriculum, as she worked closely with faculty to bridge the gap between students and their community.

According to Siemers, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, she stepped in as director at KPC, she listened to input from the students. She said her role led to an increase in hybrid classes and enrollment.

Siemers said her philosophy centers engagement with students, working with commuters, Alaska Native students and the rest of the student body to ensure that they feel they belong.

In her first year as UAA’s chancellor she is already hard at work, meeting with members of the student government to hear what needs immediate focus.

Alaska professors discuss U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran

Political science professors from the University of Alaska Anchorage analyze the attacks from a historical and international law perspective

By Murat Demir copy.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The United States and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. Iran responded with attacks on U.S. and Israeli-associated locations across the Middle East.

Dr. Kristin Zuhone, a political science professor who teaches international law at UAA, said recent U.S. interventions have made many students pessimistic about the effectiveness of international law.

“The capture of President Maduro in Venezuela, the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei in Iran … arguably violated international law,” she said, citing the United Nations Charter’s prohibition on the use of force between states without authorization or a claim of self-defense.

Zuhone said one possible reason for optimism is that the Trump administration has felt compelled to justify its foreign policy using the language and logic of international law, suggesting its power may lie less in

enforcement and more in shaping global discourse about political legitimacy.

UAA political science department chair Dr. Forrest Nabors also commented on whether the attacks on Iran complied with international law.

“Probably not in our case; probably yes in the case of Israel, although the U.N. Security Council did not authorize the attack,” he said. “It certainly is a big gamble.”

Nabors questioned the equitability of international law and added that according to the U.S. Declaration of Independence, nations that habitually violate their citizens’ natural rights forfeit their claim to sovereignty.

When asked whether that standard could apply to Israel, which human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have described as an apartheid state due to its policies toward Palestinians, he said the declaration requires “a long train of abuses,” not a few offenses.

Nabors said time will tell whether the strikes on Iran were

prudent.

Assistant professor of political science Dr. Joseph Warren said, “The most important thing Americans should keep in mind is history.”

“This includes the US-backed coup of the democratically elected leader of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh, in 1953, the close US alliance with the authoritarian regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi,” said Warren.

He also cited U.S. support for Iraq during the 1980s war with Iran, the U.S. unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal while Iran was complying with the agreement, and the U.S.-Israeli bombing of Iran in June 2025 that killed more than 1,000 Iranians as historical examples.

“Americans should then ask themselves several questions: What happens next?” said Warren. “Are everyday Iranians likely to be more or less favorable toward America after US bombs inevitably kill many innocent people?”

FEATURES

Photos: UAA Cheer & Dance team hosts belly dance workshop

By Justin Cox

The UAA Cheer & Dance team invited Tundra Caravan from Fairbanks to lead a belly dance workshop in The Den at the Student Union on March 7 for students and the community to come out and learn. Despite the recent snowfall and slick roads, there was a full turnout for the highenergy event.

UAA hosts 21st annual philosophy conference

By Murat Demir copy.editor@thenorthernlight.

The UAA Department of Philosophy held its 21st annual Undergraduate Philosophy Conference on March 19-20 at the Beatrice G. McDonald Hall and the Edward & Cathryn Rasmuson Hall.

Global bioethics and religion were the focus of this year’s conference. The event included student and faculty presentations, a panel on challenges in global bioethics and refreshments for attendees.

Keynote speaker Dr. Timothy Brown from the University of Washington gave a presentation on the ethical challenges of neurotechnologies.

The Northern Light interviewed Brown on his visit to UAA and the impact of philosophy conferences.

“It’s my first time at UAA, first time in Alaska,” said Brown. “It’s a wonderful conference, with a lot of wonderful scholars.”

He said conferences such as this have a significant impact on participating undergraduates and attendees, allowing students to stretch their intellectual muscles.

“Philosophy, I think, is capable of taking ideas, synthesizing them, and applying them to real things that people are worried about, and they can have a huge impact on people and communities,” said Brown.

Video: Meet singersongwriter

Ileina Milos

By Justin Cox multimedia.editor@thenorth -

ernlight.org

Ileina Milos is a singersongwriter who is pursuing her bachelors in English along with several minors at UAA. She also navigates academic life at UAA as a blind student.

Milos currently has a single released on all streaming platforms, with a second releasing on March 20. Milos will be recording an album in Nashville this summer.

FEATURES 04

Thank you, donors!

By The Northern Light

We want to extend our utWe want to extend our utmost gratitude to everyone who donated to The Northern Light for UA Giving Day! We exceeded our donor goal of 25 donors, which allowed us to receive $1,000 on top of any earnings made to the UA Giving Day link.

Because of your efforts, we can continue to be a voice on campus and within the Alaska community. Thank you all who

donated and have supported us along the way, in any way.

A special thank you to UAA’s Chief Philanthropy Officer, Bobi Rinehart, for making a generous donation to our foundation account in honor of her parents, Carolyn C. Rinehart and Robert P. Rinehart, who were longtime supporters of journalism.

If you didn’t get a chance to donate during UA Giving Day but you would like to support our efforts, our foundation account is accepting donations. Scan the QR code below to donate.

STAFF CONTACTS

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Reporter Bek Davis reporter1@thenorthernlight.org

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Photos: Barrow Whalers harpoon Rams to win 3A championship

By Justin Cox multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

The Barrow Whalers girls basketball team defeated the Monroe Catholic Rams, 56-49, to secure the state 3A basketball championship for the 2025-26 season. This matchup concluded four days of playoffs at the Alas-

ka Airlines Center for the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) March Madness tournament.

The Alaska Airlines center was packed with fans, especially members of the Barrow community who showed up to support their high school teams in the tournament.

Photos: Mt. Edgecumbe Braves boys sink Barrows Whalers in triple overtime

By Justin Cox

The Mt. Edgecumbe Braves boys team defeated the Barrow Whalers, 9897, in a hard fought game that ended up in triple overtime. Ending the third quarter down 60-51, the Braves rallied back in the fourth quarter managing to tie the game and force overtime. The Whalers and Braves traded points throughout the second

overtime and finally took a 1 point lead to end the game in triple overtime.

Throughout the game, fans from Sitka and Barrow who filled the Alaska Airline Center alternated between loudly cheering on their teams, or calling out what they viewed as bad calls from the referees.

This victory also marks the first championship basketball win for the Mt. Edgecumbe boys team.

Photos: Grace Christian Grizzlies defeat South Anchorage Wolverines to win 4A title

By Justin Cox

ernlight.org

The Grace Christian School Grizzlies defeated the South Anchorage Wolverines, 48-39, to secure the 2025-26 season title. Facing off in front

of a large crowd, both schools had large fan bases supporting them loudly. This matchup ended the four day ASAA March Madness event at the Alaska Airlines Center where 3A and 4A teams from all over Alaska competed for the state title.

Photos: Mountain City Lions defeat Bartlett Golden Bears for 4A championship win

By Justin Cox

The Mountain City Christian Academy Lions defeated the Bartlett Golden Bears, 55-45, securing the 2025-26 state 4A girls’ basketball title. The two teams faced off on the fourth day of the ASAA March Madness tournament in front of a large crowd in the Alaska Airlines Center. The Lions outshot the Golden Bears for the first three quarters. While Bartlett rallied back in the fourth quarter, it was not enough to overcome the Lions’ lead.

If students want change, they need to step into the arena

By Arel Gutierrez Student Submission

Under the current federal administration, we have seen a rise in students expressing strong opinions about national politics. Many demand that “someone ought to do something,” yet genuine engagement rarely follows.

Students often voice opposition to national issues, but fail to take action or use the local systems of governance available to them.

The Anchorage Assembly, for example, has repeatedly expressed a desire for more youth participation — young people willing to speak on issues that directly affect their daily lives.

Similarly, UAA has a student government specifically designed to address on- campus concerns, complete with office hours and weekly public meetings meant to hear student issues.

Yet almost no one shows up.

The student government, The Union of Students of UAA (USUAA),

funded by student fees, works hard to maintain open communication, but student disengagement leaves these channels underused or ignored.

When the student government does receive concerns, it has the capacity to address them or maintain communication. However, the workload becomes overwhelming when the number of concerns far exceeds the number of active members available to respond.

USUAA is structured with an Assembly and three boards: The Assembly with 27 seats, the Green Fee Board with seven seats, Student Media with four seats and the Concert Board which holds seven seats.

In total, the organization can support up to 45 members. Yet we often struggle to reach even 12 active assembly members throughout an entire semester.

The Concert Board operates with only five members, and the Green Fee Board — responsible for sustainability projects — has just two members this semester.

Student life is difficult. Homework, long work

hours, commutes and personal responsibilities take up enormous amounts of time and energy.

However, even with these challenges, it remains vital for students to take part in governance and leadership.

Engagement does not always require holding office, sometimes even writing opinion pieces for the campus newspaper can make a difference and demonstrate that students are paying attention.

What we are witnessing at USUAA is a program operating at minimal capacity. Students want their issues addressed, but they must also recognize their responsibility to participate and be a voice for others.

Engagement is not optional — it is the foundation of any functioning political system.

If students want change, they must take action within their local political structures. Our campus, our city, and our future depend on participation, not just opinions.

The systems around us do not crumble overnight, they crumble when no one shows up.

Photos: UAA Dance in Concert 2026

By Justin Cox

multimedia.editor@thenorthernlight.org

On March 27, UAA opened the UAA Dance in Concert 2026. The event was held in conjunction with Pulse Dance Company, Momentum Dance Collective and Alaska Dance Theatre. The show featured UAA dance stu-

dents as well as dancers from other dance groups, performing 13 pieces from various choreographers.

For more images check out the story on the dress rehearsal.

UAA dance students will next perform at “Emerging Voices” at the Discovery Theater on April 4.

Photos: UAA Dance in Concert 2026 dress rehearsal

By Justin Cox

ernlight.org

The final dress rehearsal for the UAA Dance in Concert 2026 was held on March 25. This allowed the dancers, choreographers and technicians to have one last chance to run through the program and address any issues before performing in front of a live audience. For more photos check out the TNL story on the live performance.