March 2015 Archive

Since 2007, UAA culinary students have studied the fine art of Florentine cooking (think gelato, tiramisu and an ample splash of Chianti) while spending a semester abroad at Florence University of the Arts.

From thrilling basketball, to gravity-defying gymnastics, to goggle-eyed high schoolers competing in state robotics competitions, to fancy eats in the Varsity Grill, the Alaska Airlines Center is a destination packed with pizzazz.

UAA's Diversity Action Council named Maria Crouch as one of its 2015 Spring Student Diversity Award winners because of her brave editorial celebrating how the diverse facets of her multicultural background—Athabascan, Mexican, Scandinavian and bisexual—have enriched her life.

Yasuhiru Ozuru, a professor of cognitive psychology, grew curious about the difference between "I disagree" and "I don't understand." He found that humans have a tendency to disagree with statements they don't understand. This does not bode well for maintaining an open mind, and may have implications for teaching and learning.

A handful of UAA faculty and students pulled together a public forum on homelessness in the north. A group of Karluk Manor residents joined the discussion, offering insight on why they were once homeless and what helped them get off the street.

UAA student Trevor Gutierrez is settling in nicely in his legislative internship with Sen. Lesil McGuire. In this edition of Postcards Home, Trevor tells us about his assignment to carry two pieces of legislation—one relating to the Arctic and the other juvenile justice. He admits, "I definitely underestimated how much work goes into getting legislation passed."