UNIdos celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
CAMPUS LIFE
SCHULTE Staff Writer
Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, is an important time for celebrating the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic Americans. Hispanic
Heritage Month is not only a time of celebration but also a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by these communities. A campus student organization, UNIdos, provides an understanding of Lainté culture to the UNI community through its cultural and social programming.
This year, UNIdos is hosting a series of events aiming to bring the campus together, highlight Hispanic culture and make students feel welcome. Lizbeth Garcia Tellez, the UNIdos President, emphasizes the importance of inclusion on campus, especially at a predominantly white institution (PWI).
“Coming from a predominantly white institution like the University of Northern Iowa, it is important to make sure that students of color feel welcome. By representing Hispanic Heritage Month on campus, we represent all students of color here. I think just overall making sure that students feel welcome here is really important,” Garcia Tellez says.
UNI’s international pop-
ulation stands at 202 students representing 47 countries from around the world. Organizations like UNIdos provide many students of color an opportunity to build a community where they can meet others who share similar backgrounds and experiences. Garcia Tellez shares, “I like to say that UNIdos can feel like a home away from home. We have a lot of students come in with their friends or just come to meet friends. Being surrounded by people who understand you and can even speak the same language as you is really awesome. We try to tie our events around making sure we are being inclusive of all the different cultures.”
Last week, UNIdos kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with its first event of the year, a potluck with games. This week, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, UNIdos is hosting its second event of the year, “Sabor Fuego” at the ThreeHouse from 5-6 p.m. This hot and fun event invites students to participate in the Hot Cheetos and Takis challenge, with the first person to finish their bowl winning a $10 gift card to Maucker Union. “All students are welcome just to celebrate our culture and Hispanic Heritage Month,” says Garcia Tellez.
Another exciting event in the works is a fundraiser, in collaboration with the Black
Student Union (BSU), inspired by the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Garcia Tellez wants non-hispanic students to know that UNIdos is a place on campus for everyone.
“You can support by showing up to our events. I feel like a lot of people hear UNIdos and think it is only for Hispanics and Latinos on campus. UNIdos is open to everyone, anyone can come to any of our events. If you would like to support us, the biggest thing you can do is to just come to the events that we have going on.”
Hispanic Heritage Month provides a unique opportunity for all students to engage in cross-cultural exchanges
News briefs
International
Student Coffee Hour
Enjoy coffee and international treats with international and domestic students. Hosted by the Office of International Engagement and the International Club of Business Students. This event will be Friday, Sept. 27 from 4-5 p.m. in the Curris Business Building.
UNI Women’s Volleyball Games
UNI Women’s VB has two games this week. The Panthers will take on Southern Illinois on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. in the McLeod Center. They will also compete against Missouri State on Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. in the McLeod Center.
Jazz Combos Concert
UNI Jazz Combos, will offer a concert featuring jazz standards and new arrangements. This event will be Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Bengston Auditorium in Russell Hall. This event is free and open to the public.
HOPE
COURTESY/UNIdos
Student organization, UNIdos, seeks to provide an understanding of Lanité culture to the UNI community through its cultural and social programming. For Hispanic Heritage Month, UNIdos will offer unique programs for all students on campus.
LIZBETH GARCIA TELLEZ
JO BRAHMS News Editor
UNI Gallery of Art features two new artist exhibitions
HOPE SCHULTE Staff Writer
The University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art is continuing its tradition of introducing viewers to brand new artwork and experiences. Currently, the gallery has two exhibitions open to the public.
One of the current exhibitions is titled “Texts by Design: Works from the UNI Permanent Art Collection and University Special Collections.” The exhibition was curated by UNI Department of Art professor of art history and Department Head, Elizabeth Sutton.
The exhibition includes a variety of books, manuscripts and texts from many different time periods and it is located in the Mary Haskell-Hansen Room. The exhibition is open until Thursday, Sept. 26, but will reopen from Oct. 10 through Nov. 15 and Dec. 9 through Dec. 20.
The other exhibition that is currently open is titled “Home is the Mouth of a Shark”. It is a solo exhibition created by award-winning artist Aaron Coleman. His artwork focuses on how mundane artifacts can embody the complex history of race and class in the United States. All of the pieces featured in the exhibition reflect this theme.
“Something I love about the exhibition that’s up right now is it’s very powerful in the way that it confronts race and classism – a really hard topic for a lot of people. It shows students how to dig deep into their own kind of histories,” said Laura Gleissner, director of the UNI Gallery of Art.
According to a statement made by Coleman, some of the mundane objects he uses in his artwork consist of picket fences, coloring books,
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basketball court flooring and more. The mundane objects in his artwork are depicted alongside a contrary or jarring image. The goal of this is to reflect uncomfortable truths and suppressed stories. These stories could be both personal and political.
Coleman also mentioned that his artwork is grounded in research.
“The way that he’s researched both from past, present and future I think is really important, and figuring out how to make work that is so personal to you but also so beautiful at the same time,” Gleissner said.
Not only is Coleman featuring his artwork in the UNI Gallery of Art, but he has also been at UNI all week helping print with the advanced print students.
“He’s very hands-on; answering questions, meeting with lots of different classes, as well as having all of his work in [the Gallery],” said Gleissner
The artist talk and closing reception took place on Tuesday, Sept. 24 and the exhibition will be open until Thursday, Sept. 26.
If viewers of the UNI Gallery of Art are unable to visit the two exhibitions currently open, there is another opportunity to view more artwork at the gallery’s third exhibition of the semester.
The Gallery will present “Alumni Spotlight: Diverse Perspectives in Graphic Design” for this year’s Elena Diane Curris Biennial Design Exhibition. The exhibition will be open Oct. 10 through Nov. 15. It will feature artwork by the UNI Department of Art alumni, faculty and students.
This will be the third time the gallery has hosted this exhibition. It is named after Elena Diane Curris,
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daughter of former university president Constantine Curris and Jo Hern Curris. Elena was deeply interested in design and the support for this series was made possible by a generous endowment from Elena’s family as well as additional contributions from family and friends who hope to promote the graphic design program at UNI.
The artwork featured in the exhibition will focus on graphic design, particularly four graphic design students and alumni that have gone on to work for prestigious graphic design firms or have started their own design firm. Each artist will have one room in the gallery to demonstrate their graphic design styles, their way of working and the clients they work with in their profession.
The four alumni who will be featured in the main exhibition are Jill Paisley, Sarah Steil, Stephanie Mathena and Luke Vaughn.
Four current UNI graph-
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ic design students will also be featured in the Gallery Showcases. They include Dylan Lundquist, Megan Anderson, Chloe Russell and Sam Benson.
Glessiner is excited for the experience students will gain by taking part in the Elena Diane Curris Biennial Design Exhibition.
“We’ve done a lot of printing in house. I have four gallery director’s assistants that are helping me with that,” Glessiner said. “Just being able to get them real life experience and kind of give them posters and things that they’re mounting while working with these designers has been really fun.”
Students have numerous opportunities to get involved with the UNI Gallery of Art, whether it is through using the gallery for a class or taking part in exhibitions like the Elena Diane Curris Biennial Design Exhibition.
One example of this is the annual Juried Student Art Exhibition. This exhibition takes place every spring and
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every student who is enrolled in at least one art class is able to submit three pieces to be featured in the Gallery. The selection process for the exhibition is competitive, as last year there were around 233 submissions and only 69 pieces were accepted for the exhibition. The students are able to win awards for their artwork and can even sell their artwork.
Other than the exhibitions featuring students, the gallery features two solo or group exhibitions each year from outside sources. These artists are chosen by faculty. The Gallery also hosts a faculty exhibition that coincides every other year with the Elena Diane Curris Biennial Design Exhibition. Bachelor of Fine Arts students also have the opportunity to feature their work in their thesis exhibitions. One BFA exhibition takes place in both the fall and spring.
To learn more about the UNI Gallery of Art, visit gallery.uni.edu.
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UNI Gallery of Art
Aaron Coleman’s exhibition “Home is the Mouth of a Shark” features many boldy colored sculptures made from recycled materials.
The reality of wishful recycling
ERIN MURPHY Staff Writer
The term “Wishful Recycling” or “wish-cycling” according to the Iowa Recycling Association is starting to become very familiar in the world of recycling. This behavior refers to when people put something in their recycling bin wishing or hoping that it can be recycled without actually knowing if it can. Recycling is defined as converting waste into a usable product.
How well does Cedar Falls and the University of Northern Iowa guarantee that items placed in recycling bins will actually be recycled?
“The City of Cedar Falls is committed to achieving the highest quality stock without sacrificing quantity and other aspects of the environment. First and foremost, one of the major problems society faces initially is pre-consumer packaging and consumer choices when making purchases. Consumers need to be wise in choosing products in bulk or passing up purchases such as bottled water.-Avoiding bulk packaging when possible” said Doyle Smith, Refuse Section Supervisor for the City of Cedar Falls.
The city has a voluntary dropoff recycling program. The the main drop-off facility is at 1524 State Street. The city also has seven other drop-off locations in town.
The four biggest sites are at UNI (Panther Parkway between 27th and 31st Street), Fareway (Magnolia Drive), Greenhill Village (by the UNI water tower), and Orchard Hill Church which collect between 200-400 tons a year.
The other locations include Western Home Communities (off of South Main Street), 1921 W 18th Street (by Pointe West Apartments), and the Cedar Falls Waste Treatment Plant at 309 4th Street.
A common question that the city receives is in reference to a curb-side service which seems to be a loaded question. “Why doesn’t the city offer a curb-side service automatically?” According to Smith, “the intent of the city’s recyclable collection method is to consider the overall impact on the environment, Air pollution, noise pollution, use of fossil fuels, etc., not just a reduction of landfilling.”
“Basically our philosophy is to operate recycling drop facilities that are ‘destination based’ where residents drop off post-consumer recyclables
while en route to purchase pre-consumer goods or while traveling to run errands, thus reducing the overall impact on the environment,” Smith said. He continued, saying, “Cedar Falls has a good recycling program but it takes a commitment from everyone to make it work,”
Eric O’Brien, the Director of Sustainability at the University of Northern Iowa, has an interesting view of Cedar Falls’ recycling rate, saying “Supposedly we have a higher recycling rate with the system that we have than what many cities do and lower contamination rate… In a lot of cities where you’re just given the container and you’re paying for it and you don’t really care, they almost turn into garbage containers whereas here it is really an opt-in system to people that are really wanting to do it are doing it right and they are making sure there is a clean stream.”
Both O’Brien and Smith said that one of the biggest issues is contamination within the stream which is caused by wishful recycling.
Contamination doesn’t mean the last few drops in your monster energy can. Instead, it refers to things like a plastic bag that aren’t allowed because they will be caught in the rollers of the recycling stream. Also, plastic clamshell food containers that might still have a third of a salad in them or a pizza box that has a lot of cheese and toppings still in it.
There are places where plastic bags and especially glass can be taken to be recycled but the UNI system doesn’t allow them in their system. Plastic bags can be caught in the rollers which can lead to the entire line grinding to a stop.
“I try to tell people that if you don’t know if it is recyclable assume that you
UNI ranks second amongst Midwest universities
NI STAFF Veterans list. U.S News compiles this list out of 1,500 universities nationwide on 17 different variables, such as graduation rates, first-year student retention rates, borrower debt, student-to-faculty ratio and financial resources per student.
In U.S News’s 2025 university rankings, UNI ranks second amongst regional public universities in the Midwest. UNI has held this rank for multiple years on U.S News’s list. UNI also ranks third in U.S News’s Best Colleges for
Among other ranks, UNI also ranks 11th in Regional
are contaminating the waste stream and throw it into the trash,” said O’Brien. “That is the safer bet because unless you look it up and say ‘yes this is recyclable’ but just hoping something is recyclable isn’t going to make it recyclable.”
Ultimately, the most important thing that we can do is reduce the amount of waste we are generating. O’Brien likes to visualize the amount of paper waste the university has used in the last 10 years as 26 and a half campaniles tall, which is how much paper the university bought.
The University saw a decrease in paper purchases of about 14% when O’Brien originally pushed that visual out. “Nearly half of our waste stream on campus ends up getting diverted away from the landfill,” O’Brien said.
“That is up substantially. I started here almost 15 years ago and we were at about 14% of our waste being diverted so we have taken massive steps and I hope to continue that.”
People wanting to become an expert recycler and avoid “wishful recycling” can go to https://recyclingsimplified. com/expert-tips/ for more information.
Use this QR Code to register to vote in Iowa!
UNIDOS continued from page 1 ...between the diverse identities on campus. But, Hispanic representation on campus is about more than just showcasing a culture for the length of a month; it’s about creating a campus environment where students from all backgrounds feel that they belong. Organizations like UNIdos play a vital role in making students of color feel welcomed by offering events, resources, and spaces that bring people together. To learn more about upcoming events hosted by UNIdos, follow their Instagram, uni_ unidos.
Universities of the Midwest, tied with Indiana Wesleyan University.
UNI’s progress with the additions of the nursing program and Green Zone training have helped boost UNI’s ratings significantly over the years and contribute to overall campus culture.
The UNI system doesn’t allow plastic bags and glass to be taken in for recycling.
Wish-cycling is when materials are sent to a recylcing center in hopes of the being recyclable when they actually aren’t.
Celebración de Héroes Militares: Kappa Sigma y ROTC Lideran la Fiesta NEWS
ESTELLE
JOHNSON
Campus Life Editor
MONSERRAT HERRERA
Traductora invitada
La casa de Kappa Sigma organizará su fiesta anual de Héroes Militares el 28 de septiembre. Será de 5 p.m. a 9 p.m. en West 25 Street, justo al lado de la casa de Kappa Sigma. Los boletos cuestan 10 dólares e incluye tacos para llevar proporcionados por Zuris’ Tacos en College Hill. Las camisetas de Kappa Sigma estarán a la venta en el evento por 25 dólares.
Junto con Kappa Sigma, la Asociación de Veteranos Militares de UNI está organizando un torneo de bolsas. El presidente Ethan Nielson y el vicepresidente Ian O’Neill señalaron que también habrá varios juegos de jardín, una subasta silenciosa y la banda estudiantil de UNI “Watch for Squirrel.” El Cuerpo de Entrenamiento de Oficiales de Reserva, o ROTC, está organizando un curso de obstáculos interactivo para el evento, donde el corredor tendrá los ojos vendados y el instructor sólo podrá dar instrucciones verbales. Quien pueda completar el curso más rápido ganará una canasta de regalo de ROTC.
Kappa Sigma y el ROTC trabajarán juntos para que esta noche sea un éxito. El ROTC proporcionará 3 grandes vehículos militares para exhibición y fotografías. Los estudiantes que asistan se les permitirá subir a los vehículos militares y se les animará a hacerlo. Los miembros del ROTC que asistan a la Military Heroes Block Party también recibirán el reconocimiento adecuado por su servicio.
Kappa Sigma donará fondos a Americans for Independent Living en Waterloo. El vicepresidente Ian O’Neill dijo: “Es importante mantener los beneficios que recaudamos localmente, en lugar de simplemente dispersarlos.”
En el pasado, el dinero recaudado se ha destinado a organizaciones de veteranos locales y nacionales. El copresidente de Filantropía, Gavik Kuruppu, dijo: “Esta es la primera vez que el 100% del dinero recaudado irá a una organización local de veteranos.”
El presidente Ethan Nielson añadió: “Recaudamos más de 6,000 dólares el año pasado durante nuestra fiesta de barrio, y fuimos galardonados con el trofeo de héroes militares.”
Kappa Sigma recaudó más de 300 dólares por miembro el
año pasado. Todo el dinero se destinó a ayudar a los veteranos en necesidad. Nielsen exclamó: “Es genial ver a la gente de la comunidad involucrarse, la gente está muy dispuesta a participar.”
Eventos tan grandes como la fiesta de barrio de Héroes Militares típicamente requieren recaudación de fondos fuera del campus. Gavik Kuruppu añadió: “Nos hemos acercado a 75 empresas para recaudar fondos, y Atlantic Bottling ha sido de gran ayuda al patrocinar este evento.”
ThreeHouse, un ministerio colaborativo del campus, está patrocinado a la banda para la fiesta de barrio de Héroes Militares. ThreeHouse está ubicado justo al lado de la casa de Kappa Sigma, y a menudo trabajan junto a las organizaciones de UNI para planificar eventos.
La fiesta de barrio de Kappa Sigma es realmente una oportunidad para la colaboración estudiantil. Nielsen dijo: “Iniciamos una feria de organizaciones locales en la fiesta de barrio de Héroes Militares, para que cualquier organización que quiera hablar sobre lo que hacen pueda tener una mesa.”
La fiesta de barrio de Héroes Militares es una oportunidad para que las organizaciones de fraternidades y hermandades participen en una competencia amistosa. Se anima a los miembros de la comunidad FSL a recaudar la mayor cantidad posible, a menudo obligando a los miembros de FSL a ir de puerta an puerta. Algo que todos los miembros de FSL UNI quieren dar a conocer es que son uno dentro de esta comunidad. El año pasado, la fraternidad Sigma Alpha Epsilon cerró sus puertas, dejando a Kappa Sigma como la única fraternidad en el campus de UNI. Desde entonces, Kappa Sigma ha sido vocal sobre su organización y lo que se esfuerzan por lograr. Kappa Sigma se funda en cuatro pilares: compañerismo, liderazgo, becas y servicio. Los miembros de Kappa Sigma trabajan juntos para seguir estos pilares de la misma manera que lo hicieron sus antiguos miembros de la fraternidad.
Al final de la noche, Kappa Sigma nombrará a su ‘dulce corazón’. Se nombrará a quien haya recaudado más dinero a través de pequeños eventos de recaudación de fondos. Carter Leick señaló: “Esta competencia mantiene fuerte a la comunidad FSL y nos une.”
CORTESÍA
La fiesta de Héroes Militares: Un evento de colaboración y apoyo comunitario.
CORTESÍA Miembros de Kappa Sigma y ROTC.
BAILEY KLINKHAMMER
Disclaimer: The following opinion articles featured do not reflect the opinion of the Northern Iowan newspaper or staff as a whole.
UNI in the ‘Red’ according to Heritage Foundation
FERNANDO HERRERA CALDERÓN Guest Columnist
On Sept. 8, 2024, the Heritage Foundation — a veritable bastion of conservative dogma, instrumental in crafting the Republican agenda and recently launching Project 2025 — unveiled an interactive map on its website, heritage.org
This digital cartography classifies institutions of higher learning according to their purported adherence to the sacred triumvirate of “freedom, opportunity, and upward mobility,” with a particular reverence for the sacrosanct ideals of “free expression” and “open academic inquiry.” At the same time, the map identifies those universities and colleges that ostensibly deviate from these principles as egregious transgressors against the sanctity of intellectual integrity. The color-coded taxonomy it uses operates as a modern-day panopticon of academic probity: green denotes a “great option,” yellow signifies “worthy of consideration,” while red issues an unambiguous admonition, proclaiming that the institution is “not recommended.” More specifically, a red designation implies that, “These universities exhibit a pervasive hostility toward diverse viewpoints and lack robust core curricular requirements,” as well as egregiously undermine the holistic educational experience.
The Heritage Foundation also asserts that these institutions are frequently ensnared in ideologically motivated administrative machinations and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bureaucracies, resulting in substantial constraints on the freedom of expression. Furthermore, it ominously warns prospective students that these universities typically manifest suboptimal returns on investment “evidenced by lower graduation rates and diminished post-graduation income, making them less favorable choices for students seeking both intellectual rigor and long-term success.”
COURTESY
The Heritage Foundation, the conservative group that helped to conceptualized Project 2025, gave UNI a “red” denotation, signifying that the Heritage Foundation “does not recommend” UNI, despite UNI’s rank as a top Midwest institution.
to harbor an insidious aversion to intellectual pluralism, thus prospective students should categorically eschew such a stifling intellectual environment. Of course, this characterization is utterly false. Contrary to the assertions of its critics, UNI exemplifies a commit-
“DEI is the latest boogeyman for conservatives and far-right groups pushing white nationalist ideas.”
-Fernando Herrera Calderón
The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) received a “red” designation, situating it within the broader echelon of institutions notoriously perceived
ment to fostering an intellectual ecosystem replete with a panoply of perspectives and a stimulating pedagogical atmosphere. At the same time, UNI, like many institutions, is navigating the delicate balance between maintaining inclusive spaces and encouraging rigorous, open debate. The university remains a forum for the exchange of ideas, where challenging conversations are not just tolerated, but encouraged.
Here’s the thing, though: this is hardly a novel development. The current cultural conflict merely continues a longstanding tradition of intellectual resistance – a dialectical push against the forces that seek to promote revisionist histories and demonize academics. Academia has long been a thorn in the side of reactionary and even so-called liberal regimes. Consider for instance, the tumultuous epoch of McCarthyism, an era indelibly marked by the nefarious machinations of Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin. Much like the cacophony of reactionary rhetoric that reverberates today, the academia faced an unprecedented intellectual onslaught. Educators — particularly those inclined toward leftist ideologies — were ensnared in a web of scrutiny, resulting in job terminations and the insidious practice of blacklisting.
The American Association of University Professors documented a pervasive wave of dismissals, engendering a chilling atmosphere that suffocated academic discourse. This ideological polarization necessitated a profound reckoning within universities, which found themselves at a crossroads between their self-proclaimed identities as sanctuaries of free
thought and the imperatives of national loyalty.
On one side, a fervent demand for patriotism threatened to eclipse the very essence of dissent, rendering alternative viewpoints untenable. Conversely, a resolute contingent within academics and students staunchly resisted these encroachments, advocating for the preservation of institutions as spaces for critical inquiry and the unfettered exploration of contentious ideas.
In the contemporary socio-political milieu, DEI is the latest boogeyman for conservatives and farright groups pushing white nationalist ideas. Anti-DEI policies represent a modern-day witch hunt reminiscent of the anti-communist fervor that once gripped the United States. Just as anti-communism meticulously targeted perceived Trojan horses that threatened the American ethos, the contemporary repudiation of DEI initiatives frequently casts these endeavors as insidious assaults on traditional values and the sanctity of societal cohesion. By categorizing DEI as a radical imposition, critics not only evoke a historical resonance but also construct a narrative that positions advocates of inclusion as anti-Western or anti-White, and intent on recalibrating the very foundations of societal norms. This rhetoric serves to galvanize a reac -
tionary movement, wherein the defenders of an ostensibly “authentic” American identity endeavor to fend off what they perceive as an ideological invasion.
Iowa Public Radio recently reported that Iowa’s three regent universities are expected to meet the Board of Regents’ directives to virtually dismantle DEI initiatives and offices six months ahead of schedule. This move is poised to have far-reaching implications for university policies, campus climate, and institutional prioritie — if such changes haven’t already taken root.
But this isn’t enough for academia’s reactionary assailants. Now, the spotlight is glaringly fixed on classes and professors tackling contentious subjects that unsettle students — those daring enough to unearth uncomfortable truths that paint a less palatable picture of our national and global history. Against this backdrop, it’s hardly a surprise that the humanities are bearing the brunt of the attacks leveled by the contemporaries of anti-intellectualism and truth. In an epoch riven by fear and polarization, the disquietude directed at the humanities stems from a recognition of their formidable power.
See “UNI RED”, page 8
Kappa Sigma supporting local Veterans
ESTELLE JOHNSON Campus Life Editor
Kappa Sigma’s annual block party is returning this year with a host of activities. The fraternity looks to not only support their philanthropic partner, the Military Heroes Campaign, but create a fun and engaging environment for UNI students.
Alongside Kappa Sigma, the Military Veterans Association of UNI is hosting a bags tournament.
President Ethan Neilsen and Vice President Ian O’Neill noted that there will also be various yard games, a silent auction and the UNI student band “Watch for Squirrel.” The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), is setting up an interactive obstacle course for the event, where the runner will be blindfolded and the instructor can only give verbal directions. Whoever can complete the course fastest will win an ROTC gift basket.
Kappa Sigma and the ROTC will be working together to make this night a success. The ROTC is providing three large military vehicles for display and photos. Students who attend are permitted to climb in the military vehicles and will be encouraged to do so. Members of the ROTC that are attending the Military Heroes Block Party will also be appropriately recognized for their service.
Kappa Sigma will be donating funds to Americans for Independent Living in Waterloo.
O’Neill said “It’s important to keep benefits we raised local, rather than just dispersing it.”
Neilsen added “We raised over $6,000 last year during our block party, and we were awarded with the military heroes trophy.”
Kappa Sigma raised over $300 per member last year. All of the money went to help Veterans in need.
Nielsen exclaimed, “It’s cool to see people in the community get involved, people are so willing to hop in on it.”
Events as big as the Military Heroes Block Party typically require outside-campus fundraising.
Kuruppu added “We’ve reached out to 75 companies trying to fundraise, and Atlantic Bottling has been a big help in sponsoring this event.”
It’s important to keep benefits we raised local, rather than just dispersing it.
In the past, the money raised has gone to local and national veteran organizations. Co-Chairman of Philanthropy, Gavik Kuruppu said “This is the first time 100% of raised money will go to a local veteran organization.”
ThreeHouse: Collaborative Campus Ministries, is sponsoring the band for the Military Heroes Block Party. Threehouse is located right next to the Kappa Sigma house, and they often work alongside UNI organizations to plan events.
Kappa Sigmas’ block party is truly a chance for student collaboration.
Nielsen said “We started a local organization fair at
the Military Heroes Block Party, so any organizations that want to talk about what they do can have a table.”
The Military Heroes Block Party is a chance for fraternity and sorority organizations to participate in friendly competition. Members of the FSL community are encouraged to raise as much as possible, often requiring FSL members to go doorto-door. Something that’s important to the members of KSig is that the FSL community is united. Last year, Sigma Alpha Epsilon
closed its doors, leaving Kappa Sigma as the sole fraternity on UNI’s campus. Since then, Kappa Sigma has been vocal about their organization and what they strive to accomplish.
Kappa Sigma is founded on four pillars: fellowship, leadership, scholarship and service. The members of Kappa Sigma work together to follow these pillars in ways that their past fraternity members did.
At the end of the night, Kappa Sigma will name their “sweetheart.”
Whoever has raised the
most money through small fundraising events will be named. Carter Leick noted “This competition keeps the FSL community strong and brings us together.”
Kappa Sigma House is hosting their annual Military Heroes Block Party on Sept. 28 from 5 to 9 p.m. on West 25th Street, right next to the Kappa Sigma house. Tickets are $10 and include walking tacos provided by Zury’s Tacos on College Hill. Kappa Sigma t-shirts will be on sale at the event for $25.
ESTELLE JOHNSON Campus
IAN O’NEILL/COURTESY
Members of Kappa Sigma with military vehicles at last years’ block party.
IAN O’NEILL/COURTESY
KSig Members recieved the Military Heroes trophy for raising upwards of $6,000 last year.
2024: Year of the X-Men
JOSUE VILLATORO
Film Critic
2024 is truly the year of the X-Men. Out of all superhero series to come out via streaming with Disney+ this is, without a doubt, the best series to emerge from Marvel Studios. Serving as a continuation for the original series from the ’90s, it knows exactly who its audience is and offers a brand-new story with darker, more mature and more in-depth themes to sell it.
There is not one dull moment or episode that ruins the pacing or takes your focus away from the screen because of how intelligent the writing is. It offers many moments that pay enthusiastic respect to the original show and viewers expressing extreme joy and satisfaction by the end of it. “X-Men ’97” is truly everything that comic fans wanted out of an X-Men property after two decades.
The animation not only does its best to replicate the aura of its predecessor, but also honors the style of ’90s animation with today’s animation technology and gives us some of the most stunning visuals ever seen within an animated television series.
After so long, these iconic characters are brought to justice and stay true to their comic-counterparts. Cyclops is finally shown off as the great leader and strategist he truly is, which has created a stronger liking amongst fans. Gambit goes beyond his title as the Ragin’ Cajun and fulfills what Xavier exclaimed in the finale of the original series, making a name for himself apart from his charismatic thief archetype. Lenore Zann reprises her role as Rogue, whose arc is given even more layers with her personal pain and has an eye-catching dynamic with the new leader of the X-Men, Magneto.
As the series proceeds with Magneto in charge of this band of heroes, it makes for great discussions and moments with his captivating and philosophical view on his fight for mutant freedom and equality, specifically in episode two,“Mutant Liberation Begins.”
A whole episode is even dedicated to showing off Storm as a character and highlighting her arc as more than the mutant who controls weather, making for exciting sequences
and phenomenal character development that the show would expand upon for more heroes and villains. Even characters who had limited screen time within the original series, such as Nightcrawler and Forge, are given a chance in the spotlight.
This strays away from the predominant focus on only Wolverine and Professor X, seen particularly in Fox’s X-Men films, in exchange for the sense of the team’s capabilities as one, through mesmerizing and exciting action and hard-hitting character interactions.
This series is not afraid to lean hard into its dramatic elements and the dialogue is extremely rich. Each episode has the perfect length and embraces the quality of its structure over the quantity of references and cameos they can fit in for the audience. Everything fans enjoyed about the original series is amplified, and what we received is the pure passion and love poured into the making of this entire show.
Children will be able to enjoy this just as much as adults, but as it continues, it is a love letter to those who have been longtime fans of Marvel Comics and have enjoyed the adventures that our favorite mutants have been through.
It is extremely refreshing to see how well this turned out without following the six-episode 40-45 minute formula that Disney+ normally sticks to. It resulted in a great display of what happens when the creators are given the time they need in order to perfect their work of art. If offering a high-quality experience was a crime, this series would be on trial against the entire world. Viewers went in with a smirk of anticipation and came out with a smile of pure joy as they selected the next episode with this revival.
Season two of this series cannot come any sooner, but fans are gladly waiting however long it takes for it to be released. This show combined with the success of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” has gone to show that 2024 has been a momentous year for X-Men fans. By choosing risk over regret and closing the chapter of the Fox universe, fans and critics are ecstatic to see how phenomenal the X-Men are within
the ownership of Marvel Studios, under their newly established branch, Marvel Studios Animation.
This is a successful revival that offers something for everyone and was rightfully nominated at the Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program and nominated for the TCA Award for Outstanding New Program. Bold with its approach and never losing sight of its core values, “X-Men ’97” is beyond perfection with its fully-fledged themes and great respect for the source material. Overall, it is a love letter to the fans who adore the genre of superhero storytelling.
According to Villatoro, by taking a risk with the X-Men franchise, Disney has returned the franchise to it’s glory days. With the X-Men now under Marvel’s ownership, Villatoro hopes this trajectory of success for the franchise can continue.
UNI RED
continued from page 5 ...the humanities arises from a palpable recognition of their formidable power. Far from being mere relics of antiquity, these disciplines function as intellectual gadflies, stinging the slumber of unquestioned assumptions and provoking uncomfortable yet indispensable questions.
The critical frameworks cultivated within these disciplines go
CAMPUS LIFE
beyond mere explanation; they empower individuals to engage in dialogues that transcend reductive binaries and simplistic narratives that often dominate contemporary discourse.
In a cultural milieu where conformity is often exalted, the act of questioning itself emerges as an audaciously subversive endeavor.
Furthermore, the humanities foster a nuanced understanding of historical and cultural contexts, encouraging
a robust engagement with diverse perspectives that challenge the status quo. In this light, the defense of the humanities transcends mere advocacy for academic disciplines; it represents a steadfast commitment to preserving the praxis of critical reflection itself, safeguarding the intellectual rigor that undergirds our collective pursuit of knowledge.
The Heritage Foundation’s classification of the University of Northern Iowa is utterly
ludicrous; it’s a manifestly myopic assessment bereft of substantive merit. This superficial designation betrays a profound misunderstanding of the institution’s rich and multifaceted educational landscape where diverse perspectives collide and sparks of knowledge are ignited.
Such an egregious mischaracterization not only lacks nuance but also undermines the integrity of UNI and the exceptional contributions of its
students, faculty, staff, librarians, advisors and countless other stakeholders. Their collective and individual efforts are poised to make a significant impact on the state of Iowa, fostering a vibrant academic environment that deserves recognition rather than unwarranted disparagement.
Are Guardian Caps the newest NFL trend?
MICHAEL SPAHN Sports Writer
It’s a warm Thursday night in Miami. The Buffalo Bills are in town to face the Miami Dolphins in a crucial divisional matchup. Late in the third quarter, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa takes off from the pocket attempting to get a first down and takes a direct blow to the helmet. His hand immediately clenched into a fist raising it high into the air, signaling the worst case scenario for the 26-year-old quarterback: a concussion. It’s the fourth one of his career.
Amongst media members in the football world, there’s an ample amount of opinions saying Tagovailoa should retire, and rightfully so. The same chatter came about after his third concussion in 2022, which was another brutal hit. Given Tagovailoa is still relatively young in the football world, the risk of continuing to play football is astronomical.
Forget about his football career, we’re talking about repercussions that could occur simply living his everyday life.
Many post-career NFL players experience something called CTE, which stands for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Symptoms include memory loss and depression. Former league standouts Junior Seau and Dave Duerson suffered from this disease, and are tragically no longer with us. Former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon battled through symptoms but luckily was able to get cell therapy for his brain which has helped.
The National Football League took a step in the right direction when they implemented optional Guardian Caps, which are extra soft padding surrounding the entire football helmet. Guardian Sports says wearing the cap reduces the severity of impact by 10%. If two players are wearing the cap it is reduced by 20%.
If Tagovailoa wants to keep playing football then that’s his decision. He should at least be
doing it wearing a guardian cap.
The caps are mandatory in training camp for positions that experience the most contact on the field, which include running backs, lineman and linebackers. A few players choose to wear the Guardian Cap in regular season games like Browns linebacker Jeremiah
Owusu-Koramoah, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers, and Steelers guard James Daniels.
Other players should consider wearing the cap. It’s not the most stylish attire in a day and age where looking cool seems more important than safety. However, wearing it
could prevent serious head injuries with potential repercussions down the road.
The Guardian Cap is still a young and ascending accessory in the football world, but if we get to a day and age where everyone is wearing it, concussion rates in the National Football League could take a tremendous
AP PHOTO/ZACH BOLINGER
Jonathan Taylor is one of the most popular players to wear the guardian cap.
UNI football falls to Hawaii
ADAM JOHNSON Sports Writer
This past weekend on Sept. 21, the UNI Panthers traveled to Hawaii for a matchup with the Rainbow Warriors.
The Panthers came into the game with a record of 2-1, while the Rainbow Warriors had a 1-2 record. In the Panthers last game before the start of the Missouri Valley Conference schedule, they fell to Hawaii 36-7.
The Panthers started the game with a solid drive, but running back Amauri PesekHickson fumbled the ball in Hawaii territory. The Rainbow Warriors took full advantage and put the first points of the day on the board when Braden Schager connected with Jonah Panoke for the 24-yard score. Schager continued to cause problems for the UNI defense when he threw two more touchdowns on Hawaii’s next two possessions. The first one to Pofele Ashlock and the second to Nick Cenacle. With
just over nine minutes left in the first half, Hawaii led 22-0.
Late in the first half the Panthers mounted a scoring drive of their own, as Aidan Dunne ran in for the 3-yard score. UNI got an interception on the next Hawaii drive, but were unable to get anything going offensively following the turnover.
Hawaii got the ball back with about a minute left in the half, and it looked like they might get a field goal before the end of the half. The UNI defense held them off with another interception, and the score stayed 22-7 in favor of the Rainbow Warriors.
The Panthers came out and got a stop on the first possession of the second half, but after a quick three-and-out the ball was right back in Hawaii’s hands. The Rainbow Warriors had a six minute drive that ended in Schager throwing his fourth touchdown of the day, to Cenacle who caught his second. Matthew Schecklam came in at quarterback late in the third quarter,
and put together a solid drive. Unfortunately, it continued to show it was not the Panthers day when Layne Pryor fumbled the ball in Hawaii territory at the 26-yard line. Hawaii would have one more score on a 6-yard run by Landon Sims, and the Panthers would lose 36-7.
For the Panthers, Dunne threw for 104 yards and had a touchdown run, while Pesek Hickson led the way on the ground with 43 yards. Sergio Morancy led all UNI receivers with 38 yards. For Hawaii, Schager threw for 374 yards and four touchdowns. Cenacle had 63 yards receiving and two touchdowns, while Sims ran for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Following the loss to Hawaii, the Panthers are now 2-2. The Panthers have a bye week coming up, so they will not be back in action until Oct. 5. The Panthers will use the bye week to get extra prep for the conference opener against #1 South Dakota State in the UNIDome.
Maddie Tobler finds her place at Northern Iowa
BRODY LOVELL Sports Writer
graduate has worked in the athletic training field since high school, initially working with her alma mater Stevenson High School as a trainer starting her sophomore year. From there, Tobler pursued a career in the industry into college and grad school, not changing her major once as a student.
After college, Tobler found a position at the University of Dubuque, but came to Northern Iowa after a year. In Cedar Falls, she worked with the football team before filling an interim role for a track and field staff vacancy in the spring of 2023. That role soon became permanent as she and the team quickly became a good fit.
“The environment of the team and the support I have from the coaches and [athletic trainer Boone Tomlinson]” is what Tobler said gets her out of bed in the morning. For Tobler, playing the role of an “older sister” to the team is what motivates her and makes her excited to come in, getting to share experiences of “tea” [gossip], and small academic and athletic success with the athletes.
But as a part of her role, Tobler also has to see the low points of her athletes, such as season-ending injuries or ones that seem to not go away.
“Seeing athletes [at their lows] and then watching them come back and win or at least be very competitive in their events is very, very cool for me, and makes me very excited,” Tobler stated. After all, if no athlete ever got injured there would be no role for trainers such as Tobler.
With her job, there are also some drawbacks, specifically on the administrative side of things.
“Athletic trainers are notoriously overworked and underpaid … burnout is a really big thing that can happen,”said Tobler. To go along with that, it is also the previously mentioned days where she has to receive bad news of an injury, which can sometimes happen all at once in what Tobler referred to as “pile-on days.” However, Tobler keeps in mind that the positives overcome the negative days, and keeps her motivated to do her job every day.
Maddie Tobler’s favorite memory as a member of the athletic training staff was not
some big day of conference title victories, but instead a smaller tune-up meet this past spring in Wisconsin.
“The weather was super nice … we didn’t have a huge squad with us … everyone was so happy and in such a good mood,” said Tobler, “it was so relaxing and one of the first times I ever felt like a part of the team.” This feeling was similar to another experience Tobler cited, when she initially told the coaches she was now the permanent trainer, they responded with immense enthusiasm and joy.
With Maddie Tobler just beginning her athletic training career, who knows how far she will go in the future. As of now, she plans on staying at UNI but has aspirations of working with a professional sports team and getting her PA degree once she believes her atheltic training days are over. In the meantime, she is looking forward to continuing work with the UNI track and field team, a group that is more than fortunate to have her on board.
Maddie Tobler has come a considerable distance in her career for being just 25 years old. The Miami University
COURTESY UNI ATHLETICS
Tobler serves as the athletic trainer for the track and field team.
STEPH STARK/NORTHERN IOWAN
The Panthers enter the bye week with a record of 2-2.
CARTER LUST Sports Writer
Clouds overlay the sky as the outside temperature slowly dips into the low 70s. Winds bellowing through Weibring Golf Course course fall to a whisper, and anticipation fills the air. The running weather is perfect at the 2024 Illinois State University (ISU) Redbird Cross Country Invite. As the starting gun sounds, Caleb Shumaker and the rest of the Northern Iowa cross-country team leap from their box. Practically sprinting to jostle for racing position, Shumaker soon finds himself with the lead pack of runners. He would make the most of the favorable conditions, crossing the finish line in 24:38, a new personal record over the 8k distance. Shumaker is now only 19 seconds away from breaking the UNI 8k school record. Becoming UNI’s leading cross-country runner hasn’t been easy, but Shumaker has embraced the hardships throughout his journey. Now, he is ready to guide a “young and hungry” Panther squad on their quest for a Missouri Valley Conference Championship.
After leading Tipton High School to back-to-back state cross-country titles in 2018 and 2019 before capturing an
Caleb Shumaker’s race to finish
individual championship in 2020, Shumaker entered the UNI program with high hopes in his first year. However, battles with shin splints combined with an unlucky case of the flu and bronchitis kept him sidelined for most of the season.
“It felt like I spent more time in the training room than the track,” Schumaker said During this time away from the sport, Shumaker called back on a valuable lesson that would be the backbone of his return. “Consistency is more important than one big, crazy workout,” Schumaker explained that in running, it is often “you vs you.” Embracing this mentality aided Shumaker to a top-50 place finish in the MVC Championships as a sophomore and a top-30 finish in the same meet as a junior.
Entering his senior year, he looks to improve further on this placement, accompanied by the rest of a promising Panther team.
“The possibilities are endless,” Schumaker expressed with excitement. “Everyone is in the best shape of their lives.”
When asked to describe UNI cross-country, he responded with one word: “gritty.”
Leading a blossoming and hard-nosed group like this is easy for Schumaker “Everyone has the right men-
tality and wants to do the right thing.”
With the determination he and the rest of the Panthers embody, Shumaker says he’s commited to“translat[ing] [that] energy in the right direction,” helping accomplish individual and team goals never seen before at the University of Northern Iowa.
Off the course, Shumaker is just like the rest of the students at UNI, working to balance their studies with ever-so-coveted downtime and socializing. As part of the rigorous accounting and finance program, he receives a heavy course load. Factor in running more than eight hours weekly, and his schedule fills up fast. Although the life of a student-athlete can be strenuous, Shumaker states that you eventually do “get used to it” and make the most of the opportunities given to you. In his free time, he enjoys playing frisbee golf with friends and working on his family farm in Tipton. Having outlets to turn to other than running is crucial and allows him to do his best when toeing the line.
Shumaker and the Panthers are competing next at the Gans Creek Classic hosted by the University of Missouri on Sept. 27. Following the regular season, UNI will host the MVC Cross-Country Championship
for the first time in eight years at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course. It will be a “fun season
Volleyball drops matches to Texas A&M, SMU
NICOLE WATERS Sports Writer
The Panthers started off slow against the Aggies but would find their way back after an early 4-0 lead for A&M. UNI made their way back to take the lead for a moment at 17-16 and at 19-18. The team had 13 kills including four from Olivia Tjernagel and four from Kira Fallert, but the Aggies forced nine Panther errors and ended the set on a 7-3 run to take the first set 25-22.
UNI started out strong in the second set with Cassidy Hartman getting the Panthers going with a 6-2 run to begin. The Panthers would then go to grasp a 18-16 lead as the Aggies struggled to slow down UNI’s offense. The Panthers would go on to close out the set 25-21 and tie the match at 1-1.
Northern Iowa kept their groove going into the third set starting out on an 11-4 run.Six Panther errors casued the Aggies to capitalize on the mistakes and cut the lead down. UNI would rally back to get within close of A&M,
but the Aggies would continue on and take the set 30-28 and take a 2-1 match lead.
The Aggies continued their force in the fourth set with seven team blocks and created a quick double-digit lead and held the Panthers to just six kills in the set. UNI had eight attack errors and their defense wasn’t enough to stop Texas A&M as the Aggies rolled on to win 25-13 and win the match 3-1.
Northern Iowa then faced SMU in a weekend battle. SMU’s quick offense managed to be too much for the Panthers as they committed no attack errors. UNI got within one point of the Mustang’s at 10-9, but SMU went on to get six straight points and rolled on to a 25-16 set one win over the Panthers.
The Panthers had a strong start to the second set which led UNI to have 15 kills in the set. Northern Iowa took a 13-9 lead thanks to strong blocking from Kacie Rewerts, Hartman, and Fallert. SMU made their way back to tie the set up 15-15, going neck-and-neck with the Panthers to the end, but ultimately coming out on top with a 25-23 win and tak-
ing the match 2-0.
UNI would struggle in the third set with only seven kills, while SMU cruised to the finish line. SMU had a strong blocking presence that helped them to build a double-digit lead right away. The Panthers tried to keep up with the Mustangs, but they proved to be too much and took the set 25-11 and a 3-0 match win.
Northern Iowa closed out the weekend against the Mustangs. The first set brought a lot of back-and-forth between the two teams as UNI notched 13 kills in the set. Hartman had four kills and Tjernagel added three, but the team had eight attack errors overall that were crucial later on. SMU took a 15-14 lead and closed on an 8-4 run that led them to victory over the Panthers with a set one 25-19 win.
The Panthers made their way back in the second set notching a whopping 19 kills in the set. Lily Dykstra had five kills in the set to help UNI break a tie. Northern Iowa was able to keep their footing in the set thanks to back-to-back aces from Kaitlin Sellner to improve them to a 25-21 set two win.
UNI struggled in the third
set with a slow defense. The Mustangs built a quick lead and keep the ball rolling against the Panthers. Despite UNI having 10 kills, including four alone from Hartman, SMU was too much for the Panthers as they went on to win 25-17.
In the final set of the weekend, Northern Iowa and SMU
were battling it out right away. The Mustangs built a quick 19-11 lead before the Panthers were able to utilize a 6-0 run to get the score within two at 19-17. SMU would continue to strive and show power over the Panthers and go on to win the set 25-18 in a set four win and 3-1 match win.
to watch,” Shumaker exclaims, and students won’t want to miss it.
UNI ATHELTICS/KARSON KLEVE Shumaker is 19 seconds off of the UNI 8k school record.
The Panthers take on Southern Illinois this Friday.
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