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VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42

VOLUME 116, ISSUE 28

WRC UPDATES

FILM REVIEW

PREDICTIONS

NEWS PAGE 2

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4

SPORTS PAGE 6

Wellness and Recreation Center introduces new facilities and hours.

Film Critic Hunter Friesen reviews films from winter break.

Patrick Hansen predicts NFL conference championship outcomes.

UNI gears up for MLK Day of Service COLBY WEBER Staff Writer

UNI students and community members will be donating some of their time off on Monday, Jan. 20 to help kids in need. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day event is a collaboration between the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, John Deere, the UNI Office of Community Engagement, Service and Leadership Council, Panther Pantry and the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley. This day of service will be taking place at the UNI-Dome.

“Pack the Dome: Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service” involves two separate shifts between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. During each shift, volunteers will pack 20,000 bags (for a total of 40,000 bags) as a part of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank’s Backpack Program. The program serves 1,400 children at 145 different schools across northeast Iowa each month.

Before the kids leave school

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for the weekend, they are given backpacks filled with kid-friendly meals and snacks that fit in their school bag.

For Hillary Davis, UNI alumna and Americorp Communications Coordinator for the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley, MLK Day provides people with a great

opportunity to serve.

“Generally, for universities, schools and businesses, you get the day off,” Davis said. “I think that if you can make use of that day off to make an impact in your community, that’s what’s significant. You’re actively choosing to help.”

Davis got involved with the MLK Day of Service during her sophomore year at UNI in the spring of 2017. As she’s worked with the program, Davis has watched its evolution. During her initial time with it, there was a partnership with Meals from the Heartland. She worked in

family and colleagues on the same day.

Michele said that she enjoyed her time working with thousands of students who have touched her heart throughout the years.

“The newspaper staff allowed me to understand each and every one of you

what your goals were while attending UNI,” she said in an email. She hoped to help everyone succeed and have a positive experience while attending UNI. Michele has been a staple at the Northern Iowan, selling ads across the Cedar Valley and offering support to her students. She saw the newspaper industry pivot and set her students up for success. She often told me as executive editor that I was her boss, rather than she being mine; however, it was hard not to look up to someone who has so much knowledge and experience in the college newspaper world. She’s traveled all over the United States to attend College Media Business and Advertising Managers (CMBAM) conference with various members of the NI staff.

Michele would do anything

for her students to ensure they had a good experience.

I will look back fondly on our lunches at Chad’s (and being called “the chicken ladies”) and Sub City, along with our Texas Roadhouse lunches, especially since that was the first time I ever got the pleasure of meeting Michele.

I’ll never forget the morning in January 2018 where our papers were delayed and she enlisted us to help distribute. I was in the NI offices and Michele did not recognize me, even though we had met prior.

Michele always has the candy dish full and ready for visitors or staff members to grab a piece (or five).

Whenever she would open a new bag of candy that I like, she would always sneak me a pile to hide in my desk.

Michele is such a great

an assembly line where they served bags of rice, beans and protein. It was messier than the current events, and they had to wear hair nets and gloves. With the Backpack Program, it’s mostly pre-packaged foods like cereal and juice boxes, which results in a more efficient assembly line.

In addition to the changes that she has experienced, there have been other partnerships that have changed the event. According to Davis, the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley has had an office on campus since 2008, and Executive Director Lauren Finke organized MLK Day service activities every year since. In 2014, the Service and Leadership Council partnered with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

This will be the first MLK Day of Service that’s being held in the UNIDome instead of the Maucker Union.

See MLK DAY, page 4

NI Manager retires after 27 years GABRIELLE LEITNER

Executive Editor

After nearly 27 years of working at the Northern Iowan, Business Manager Michele Smith retired on January 14, 2020. A party was held at The Horny Toad on Main Street for friends,

COURTESY PHOTO

personality and I am so lucky to know her and call her a friend. It is safe to say that Michele left her mark on the paper and on the lives of her students. On behalf of the Northern Iowan, we wish Michele the best with her retirement. We know she won’t sit still for long.

PAGE 2

NEWS

ELIZABETH KELSEY News Editor

WRC updates facilities, hours JANUARY 16, 2020 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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Students will soon notice an expansion in the hours of the UNI Wellness and Recreation Center (WRC), thanks to a new functional fitness space which will be available for drop-in workouts during the hours when the WRC’s main fitness center is closed for classes.

Christopher Denison, Director of Recreation Services, explained that for many years, the WRC’s fitness areas have been reserved during the hours of 8-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. for academic courses such as Dimensions of Well-Being labs and Department of Kinesiology classes. Under that system, UNI students could not access the WRC for drop-in workouts during those hours.

“We’ve been living in that schedule since 1998, when we opened the building,” Denison said. “Over the course of the last 21 years, the number of [Dimensions of Well-Being] labs has shrunk, just as part of changes in the curriculum of the university, so it’s no longer necessary to hold the entire WRC closed.”

After observing these curricular shifts, Recreation Services staff were able to make a change that will ensure there is at least one area of the WRC open for student use at all times.

Over the last few months, the former WRC Studio 87 has been renovated into

the Panther Performance Center (PPC). This newly remodeled functional fitness space is designed to promote high-intensity interval training workouts, utilizing both an open training space and a semi-private space for those who want their own cross-training room. The center will be open more than 40 hours a week and will be used both for functional training classes and drop-in individual workouts.

Denison explained that, although the WRC’s activity and racquetball courts, indoor track and free weight room will still be reserved during academic hours, the new PPC will be open for drop-in workouts during those times. In turn, when the other spaces are open to students over the noon hour and during the evenings, the PPC will host functional fitness classes. This means that, at any given time throughout the day, UNI students will now have a space available to use for drop-in workouts in the WRC. “We are very excited to offer new opportunities for students to pursue their fitness and wellness goals and appreciate the collaborative environment that Recreation Services has with our WRC academic peers,” Denison said.

The room now hosts a wide variety of unique workout equipment, including fitness sleds, tires, sledgehammers, assault bikes, sandbags, battle ropes and even

a ski machine. More “traditional” equipment, such as kettlebells, plyo boxes, a rowing machine and pull-up bars are also included in the center, which features halfmat, half-turf flooring.

“The variety of equipment that the UNI Recreation Services staff decided to include in the new Panther Performance Center will create new and unique training and programming opportunities,” said Alex Long, WRC personal trainer and kinesiology graduate student. “Some of the new equipment, commonly found in functional fitness gyms, has vastly increased in popularity over the last ten years.”

According to Mayo Clinic, functional fitness exercises “train your muscles to work together and prepare them for daily tasks by simulating common movements you might do at home, at work or in sports.” The exercise style is designed to make everyday tasks, such as carrying groceries or climbing stairs, easier and more efficient.

While some functional fitness exercises use a person’s own body weight, such as squats and lunges, equipment such as the tires and battle ropes found in the PPC allows users to strengthen muscle groups by working them in unique ways.

During the Functional Fitness FX classes, included in the Fit Class Pass and scheduled to begin January 27, instructors will use this

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VOLUME 116, ISSUE 28

WRC/Courtesy Photo

The newly remodeled Panther Performance Center features functional fitness equipment and will help the WRC expand its hours for students.

varied equipment for flipping, hitting and more.

“It’s exciting to offer cross-training styles of classes in this new space.

The renovated space gives us an opportunity to offer a whole new spectrum of fitness equipment that we didn’t have the space for prior to the new room,” said fitness coordinator Dana Foster. “It is going to bring our group fitness classes up a level to challenge you and rediscover what ‘getting in

The Northern Iowan is published semi-weekly on Monday and Thursday during the academic year, except for holidays and examination periods, by the University of Northern Iowa, L011 Maucker Union, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0166 under the auspices of the Board of Student Publications.

Advertising errors that are the fault of the Northern Iowan will be corrected at no cost to the advertiser only if the Northern Iowan office is notified within seven days of the original publication. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement at any time.

The Northern Iowan is funded in part with student activity fees.

A copy of the Northern Iowan grievance procedure is available at the Northern Iowan office, located at L011 Maucker Union.

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shape’ means.”

Personal trainers will also be posting daily workouts and weekly goals to help students utilize the PPC to their best advantage.

Recreation Services staff are still installing remaining flooring and putting the final touches on the PPC, but Denison hopes that the new space will be open for student use next week. He said that he and his team are excited for students to experience what the PPC has to offer.

“Because we haven’t been able to offer these types of things in the past, some students have probably been going off campus and paying fitness facility memberships, which is unfortunate because every student is paying a mandatory recreation fee,” he said. “Now we have this new space. We think students are going to love what we’ve done.”

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Tell us what’s happening on campus. Email submissions to northern-iowan@uni.edu.

Do you want to have an event listed here? Email us at northern-iowan@uni.edu with information about the event to have it featured.

PAGE 3

OPINION

GABRIELLE LEITNER Executive Editor

JANUARY 16, 2020 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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VOLUME 116, ISSUE 28

Disclaimer: The opinions featured in The Northern Iowan do not reflect the views of The Northern Iowan staff as a whole.

NBC already had Peacock, it was called Seeso TAYLOR LIEN

Opinion Columnist

Early last year, NBC announced it would be launching Peacock, a streaming service with a nod to their iconic logo. This was seen by many as NBC’s foray into streaming coming after the launch of Apple TV+ and Disney+ in 2019. Except, what most people probably don’t remember is that Comcast and, by association, NBC already had a streaming service. In 2016, Seeso was launched and it promised to feature a combination of old favorites that NBC owned like “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation” and the entirety of the “Saturday Night Live” library. The service primarily focused on comedy programming, cost a measly $3.99 a month, and was ad-free.

Sadly, it was very short lived, and was shut down in November of 2017. Much of the original programming

lives on through the ad-supported streaming service VRV. Personally, I never really considered subscribing to Seeso until one of my favorite podcasts, My Brother, My Brother and Me, announced their show on the service.

At the time, very few of the existing titles on the service were being offered elsewhere.

Subscribing to more than one or two streaming services also was much less common than it is now.

Seeso seems to have paved the way for Peacock, since NBC is featuring “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” in its marketing materials once again. These titles will be joining the service after their exclusive streaming contracts have expired in 2021 and 2020, respectively. It also seems to share a lot of DNA with services like Hulu, since it will feature tiered pricing as well as a live TV element.

For services from networks

like NBC, this seems like an important move.

There is also an ad-supported option for those not interested or willing to pay for the service. This type of arrangement on formal streaming services has definitely fell by the wayside in recent years outside of ad supported content on various network websites. Again, this shares a lot in common with Hulu considering Hulu had its earliest roots in being a free and ad-supported streaming service for network television the next day.

Another interesting choice from NBC is the one to move some of their network primetime titles to the streaming service. While there’s a multitude of reasons a choice like this could have been made, it definitely allows for shows to be somewhat freed from the traditional metrics of network television.

Although it is doubtful that Peacock will go the way

Pexels

Opinion Columnist Taylor Lien discusses NBC’s Peacock streaming service, as well as its predecessor, Seeso.

of Seeso, it is fascinating to consider the ways in which Peacock may not exist without the predecessor of Seeso.

Personally, the title I am most looking forward to on the service is the Mike Schur-produced “Rutherford Falls” starring Ed Helm.

This seems to be very much in a similar small-townsitcom vein of “Parks and Recreation.” Amber Ruffin is

also getting an unscripted program. As an avid viewer of her “Late Night with Seth Meyers” recurring bits, such as “Amber Says What” and “Jokes Seth Can’t Tell,” I am thrilled to see her get her own show.

Peacock as a service holds a lot of promise, and despite a very crowded streaming landscape, I think NBC has a lot to offer.

Should video games be allowed in the classroom?

EMERSON SLOMKA

Opinion Columnist

When you first step into an elementary school classroom, one of the first things to catch your eye is usually a list of rules. Most of what you see is expected; after all, very few classrooms allow disruptive behavior, late homework and missing materials — you just don’t question those things.

However, there’s one rule that you just can’t help but question: written in bold lettering as though it were the golden rule itself is: “NO ELECTRONICS.” Wait, isn’t one of the required items for this class — a calculator — an electronic device? Besides that, if my phone has a calculator, why can’t I just use it?

Why are electronic devices deemed such unholy tools within the context of the classroom? Indeed, it does seem as though classrooms have a complete aversion to technology; portable computers, such as laptops, tablets and smartphones, are instantly banned and seen as a distraction from learning. However, is it possible that this conclusion is not only incorrect, but actually the opposite of the truth? Is it possible that these devices could actually be used to enhance, rather than distract from, the learning experience?

To come to a conclusion on this question, it’s impera-

Pexels

Opinion Columnist Emerson Slomka argues that electronics and video games in the classroom can be beneficial to children’s learning.

tive that we discuss the problems surrounding traditional education. One of the main problems we see in classrooms, particularly those of young children, is in the form of attention. Young children typically do not possess the mental capacity for sitting still for hours straight listening to a teacher’s droning.

After all, wouldn’t most children prefer to be playing?

Though this may be seen as either an attention problem or a lack of self-discipline, there are developmental theories surrounding children and their play.

According to Susan Tice, B.A., the Public Relations Director and Product Manager for International

Playthings, Inc., the main thing that entices children is the ability to have control. “...If a toy plays music, toddlers want to be the ones who do whatever is necessary to get music to play.

They are more mobile, so they enjoy toys that can go with them, such as a walker, ride-on toy, push toy, and so forth,” she said.

While we often view play and education as being two separate parts of development, they actually go handin-hand and maximize the benefits of learning when paired together. While we often see this in a preschool setting that focuses on basic cognitive and social development, this goes for people

of all ages, from birth to adulthood. It’s what makes programs such as Duolingo and Lumosity so enticing for adults: they turn language and cognitive development into interactive, challenging games.

Perhaps, we as a society have spent so much time criticizing the ease of modern technology that we’ve failed to see their benefits in a classroom setting. After all, they’re nothing new; many children of the 80’s and 90’s will remember learning about history and logic by playing the game “Oregon Trail,” and many of us 2000s kids will remember games such as “Brain Age” that entertained us and promoted cognitive

development. Interactive science labs online can also be used to enhance understanding and allow schools lacking in resources to still utilize a hands-on approach to the sciences.

It doesn’t end with solely educational games, either.

Take “Minecraft,” for example. While a parent may complain that their child spends more time playing the hit video game than they do studying, what they probably fail to realize is that their child’s brain is being enriched with content allowing creativity, problem-solving and hand-eye coordination.

Children who play on public or local servers may also pick up on social skills through collaboration on in-game projects. For older children, creating in-game servers can be a great introduction to coding. The benefits of “Minecraft” have not gone ignored, as many schools have begun to integrate the game into their classrooms, and an educational edition was even released for this use.

In the end, it’s important that we embrace technological development in our classrooms and see the educational value in having fun; no longer must school mean sitting down for hours in front of a picture-less textbook. Instead, school can be a place where children are able to learn through engaging experiences that turn learning into a lifelong desire.

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CAMPUS LIFE JANUARY 16, 2020 |

FILM REVIEW

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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SOFIA LEGASPI

Campus Life Editor

VOLUME 116, ISSUE 28

Winter break film review roundup HUNTER FRIESEN FIlm Critic

With the weather outside being so frightful and the movie theatre being so delightful, this past break was a perfect time to check out the new batch of holiday films.

Of course, there was a certain space opera that was released, but there were also a few others that may have flown a bit under-the-radar.

Provided below is a quick review roundup for each film I saw that was released over the holiday break.

“Cats”

Strange to the highest degree, “Cats” is a two-hourlong drug trip that never ceases to let up. Roughly 97 percent of all dialogue is sung and half of that singing is incomprehensible garble due to the atrocious sound mixing for the group numbers. Still, there are a few standout songs such as “Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat” and “Mr. Mistoffelees.”

There’s magic in the weirdness as the film embraces its gleeful tone and keeps the story — or lack thereof — entertaining throughout.

Even if you have no idea what is going on, you just can’t keep your eyes away from those furry monstrosities.

“Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker”

Proof that “The Last Jedi”

is the awkward middle child that Disney wants you to forget, “The Rise of Skywalker” is a fumbled attempt to wrap up what now can be classified as a disappointing trilogy.

Moving from one MacGuffin to another, the haphazard plot suffocates any life from emerging out of the new and previous material. Every line of dialogue and plot point is used either to incite cheap nostalgia or to pave over the complaints from the last film.

Admittedly, the core cast are all great in their roles, especially Adam Driver as the conflicted Kylo Ren. Unfortunately for them, their hard work is all for naught as they appear in a manufactured film more concerned about checking off a list than actually telling a good story.

prise, considering that both films share the same writer and cinematographer. Charles Randolph’s script here isn’t as nuanced or funny as it thinks it is, but it does do a good job of highlighting the toxic culture within Fox News that is even nastier once you started to pull back the curtain.

“Bombshell” is an actor’s showcase as it sports one of the most stacked ensembles of the year. Charlize Theron leads the pack in a near-perfect transformative performance as Megyn Kelly. Right behind her is Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, who unfortunately gets sidelined for large chunks of time.

“Bombshell”

Told in one long camera take (or at least made to look like one), “1917” is the best film of the year on a purely technical level. Roger Deakins’s masterful cinematography and Thomas Newman’s score guide this movie from simple beginnings to its grand finale. You’re fully immersed

From the fourth-wall breaking, documentary-style camerawork and spry tone, “Bombshell” is a complete spiritual sequel to 2015’s “The Big Short.” It’s no sur-

Friday Saturday Sunday Monday

within the lives of our two characters, discovering the war-torn world in real-time as they race against the clock to save their allies from certain death.

Those technicals, as well as the lead performances from George Mackay and DeanCharles Chapman, pave over some of the film’s minor problems, such as a lack of character development and not an entirely engaging story. Seek this out on the biggest screen possible and prepare to be amazed.

“Little Women”

7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed Closed Closed

Please Note: Patrons may check out materials and enter the building until ten minutes to closing time, at which time service desks close and the doors are locked. Library online resources are available 24/7; if off campus, you will get a prompt to enter your CatID.

pinpoint accuracy, allowing for every scene to become more than the sum of its parts. The performances from the main four, most notably Saoirse Ronan as Jo, are all some of the year’s best.

I could go on praising every detail of this film, but I don’t have enough margin space for that. To put it bluntly: Everything about this film is perfect in its special way.

This is the best film of the year and one of the best I’ve ever seen. Go see it now!

Films not given a full review: “A Hidden Life”

“1917”

Rod Library Hours Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Weekend 2020 January 17 January 18 January 19 January 20

Tribune News Service

NI film critic Hunter Friesen reviews several films released over winter break, including “Little Women” (left) and “Cats” (right).

For a minute, I was beginning to think this was a bit of a down year for movies.

But on Christmas Day, Greta Gerwig delivered the greatest gift of all with her new adaptation of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel.

Serving as both writer and director, Gerwig adds a modern spin on the 150-year-old material. This can be seen in her screenplay and elliptical editing style that uses flashbacks to connect past and present timelines with the overarching narrative. Each cut is placed and timed with

MLK DAY

continued from page 1

On the technical side of things, a lot of planning went into this year’s event. There will be 30 different assembly lines at the event, and 60 line leads are needed for each shift.

Coordinating these people required a collaborative effort between everyone in the MLK Planning Committee. Twentythree Americorp National Civilian Community Corps members will be serving during the entire day, and Coca-Cola is letting the food bank borrow their semi-trucks to haul bags to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

“Our goal for this event is not only to make a big impact in one day,” Davis said. “It should

“Just Mercy”

“The Aeronauts”

“The Two Popes”

“Uncut Gems”

also serve as a catalyst for volunteering in general. Why not start the semester off engaging with others in the community while also serving in the community that you live in?”

Pack the Dome will also allow volunteers to learn about important topics. People who attend the event will be educated about hunger, food insecurity and poverty. Davis finds it to be a convenient and impactful volunteer opportunity that people want to experience, especially if they’ve already done so before.

“Every organization that has helped out with this event is excited to see the UNI-Dome filled with people interacting with community members,” she said. “Athletes will be next to business leaders, professors and families.”

PAGE 5 SOFIA LEGASPI

Campus Life Editor

CAMPUS LIFE JANUARY 16, 2020 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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VOLUME 116, ISSUE 28

Library exhibit explores WWI impact SOFIA LEGASPI

Campus Life Editor

A special exhibition titled “World War I: Lessons and Legacies” is on display in the Rod Library Learning Commons now through Saturday, Feb. 15.

A series of eight post-

ers explore the history of the war and its legacy in the United States. The poster exhibit appears courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the National Museum of American History and is funded by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and

the Smithsonian Women’s Committee.

In addition, several World War I artifacts are on display from the UNI Museum, along with documents and photos from the Special Collections and University Archives illustrating the war’s impact on students at UNI (then the Iowa State Teachers College).

Two lectures will be hosted in conjunction with the exhibit, both held in the LIB 301.

Associate History Professor Emily Machen will present “Warriors, Caregivers, and Patriots: Women’s Experiences in the First World War” at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 22, followed by a Special Collections and University Archives open house from 1 to 3 p.m. in LIB 340. Associate History Professor Thomas Connors will give another lecture at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 29, titled “For the Fallen: Military Cemeteries of the Western Front.”

SOFIA LEGASPI/Northern Iowan

FINANCIAL LITERACY 101 ANNA ALLDREDGE Staff Writer

Most college students have probably heard the term “401(k)”; however, many probably do not know much about this account except that it has to do with retirement savings.

Why should students need to know about it? Retirement is something only middle-aged people and those nearing retirement have to think about, right?

A lot of students assume that, because retirement is so far into the future for them, they shouldn’t be concerned with retirement savings now.

However, Cameron Lewis, a Member Service Representative from Collins Community Credit Union, shares why this is actually not the case.

“Typically, you’ll find that most people don’t have enough money in their account when they want to retire,” Lewis said.

“When you start at a young age, [your money] adds up a lot quicker.”

For students working parttime jobs who don’t have access to a 401(k) employer account, it would be easiest to plan for retirement by starting a Roth IRA account.

Lewis explained that if a 20-year-old student began to put money into a Roth IRA account, even if it is a small portion of their income from a part-time job, that money will be worth more later on. If someone holds off putting money away until they’re 30 years old, even if it is larger than what they could have contributed earlier on in

their career, the 20-year-old would easily have more money saved in the long run.

The Roth IRA is a great option for students just getting started or for those with parttime jobs. However, for most full-time jobs, employees will have the option to start a 401(k).

According to Lewis, a 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan. This means that the employee will contribute a certain percentage of their income, and the employer will contribute a corresponding amount based on their individual policies. It is important to note that the amount your employer will match varies from company to company.

This is why Lewis recommended that out of college, graduates should talk to their employers and HR department to figure out how they can get the “maximum amount of free dollars.” For example, if someone is deciding on what percent of their income to contribute to their 401(k), it would be best to check at which percentage would give them the best value, based on what their employer’s conditions are for matching.

“You want to make sure you’re getting the best match contribution,” Lewis said.

For recent graduates getting acclimated to their fields, it is common to see frequent employment changes. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should forego

a 401(k) or retirement plan just because you haven’t found your ideal job yet.

“There are a couple of options.” Lewis said. “You could do a transfer into an IRA account, or you could roll it over to a new 401(k) at a different job, which is most common for younger people.”

401(k) accounts and Roth IRAs differ in a number of

ways. Typically, 401(k)s will hold untaxed money until it is taken out of the account to be used. When it is taken out, this money will then be taxed. With Roth IRAs, on the other hand, money is taxed upon being put into the account, but will not require any taxes upon withdrawal. Also, 401(k)s are directly linked to employers, while Roth IRAs are accounts that

usually rely on the individual’s contribution.

The piece of advice Lewis stressed the most to students is to leave retirement money untouched until retirement. It is okay to scale back the amount you contribute to your retirement fund based on your financial situation, but avoid taking money out of these types of accounts.

PAGE 6

SPORTS JANUARY 16, 2020 |

OPINION

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

COLIN HORNING Sports Editor

|

VOLUME 116, ISSUE 28

NFL prediction: Chiefs, Packers advance to Super Bowl LIV PATRICK HANSEN

Sports Writer

The conference championship week is finally upon us this Sunday as the Titans visit the Chiefs in Kansas City at 2:05 p.m. followed by the Packers traveling to take on the 49ers at 5:40 p.m. The playoffs have already been a crazy jumble of emotions so far, seeing things like the Titans upsetting the Patriots and Ravens, the comebacks in Houston and Kansas City, and the Vikings upsetting the Saints in New Orleans. But now it is time to look forward to this weekend and see who is punching their cards to Super Bowl 54 in beautiful Miami.

First off this Sunday is the game between the Chiefs and the Titans. This game is sure to be the favorite of the week-

end, and will likely be the most eventful. The Chiefs have a 75 percent chance of winning the game in Arrowhead according to the ESPN football power index, although it will still be a great game.

Both teams are well deserving of the AFC ticket to the Super Bowl: the Titans have already knocked out one of the most notorious playoff teams of all-time in the Patriots as well as the Super Bowl-favorite Ravens, with both of these games coming on the road. Meanwhile, the Chiefs allowed 24 points to the Texans before taking off and out-scoring the Houston 51-7 through the three remaining quarters, ending the game with a score similar to that of a basketball game.

The main story of the game will likely be the rushing game of the Titans and

how the Chiefs defense will respond. The Chiefs seem to lack on defense most days but still hold teams to under 100 rushing yards per game, whereas the Titans have averaged 209 per game in the playoffs. The two biggest question marks will be Kansas City’s ability to stop the run game, and if the Titans defense will be able to stop Mahomes from finding the endzone multiple times. Prediction: Chiefs 35-Titans 24.

The second game between the 49ers and Packers will be another great game that gives the 49ers a 71% chance to win according to the ESPN football power index.

Both teams have great quarterbacks in Rodgers and Garoppolo, but Aaron Rodgers constantly struggles in the fourth quarter as the Seahawks proved, and Jimmy

Tribune News Service

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after his team defeated the Houston Texans 51-31 last Sunday.

Garoppolo struggled in their win over the Vikings.

However, it very well could come down to who has the best defense. The Packers have averaged five sacks per game in the postseason and the 49ers came up with six over the Vikings. A key stat to watch for will be the

run game, as the 49ers only allowed 21 rushing yards in the win over Minnesota. In order for the Packers to come out on top, they will have to be able to run the ball through the Niner defense.

Prediction: Packers stun the 49ers to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl, 21-17.

BASKETBALL

MVC basketball: Panthers look to return to the Big Dance COLIN HORNING

Sports Editor

Although it’s known to many as a mid-major and lesser-tier basketball league, the Missouri Valley Conference is consistently one of the most competitive and unpredictable conferences in the entire NCAA. With teams like LoyolaChicago making Final Four runs and UNI knocking off top-ranked teams such as Kansas in the NCAA tournament, the Valley has earned its reputation to be taken seriously come March Madness.

At around the midway point of the 2019-2020 men’s college basketball season, the UNI Panthers currently sit in a three-way tie atop the Missouri Valley Conference along with the Bradley Braves and the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers, all with a 3-1 record so far in conference play. Aside from Northern Iowa, the other two teams have represented the Valley in the NCAA

Tournament in the last two years (Loyola in 2018 and Bradley in 2019). But behind these three teams sit five other Valley opponents currently holding 2-2 confer-

TONI FORTMANN/Northern Iowan

ence play records, meaning that the top seed in the MVC tournament is practically up for grabs at this point in the season.

All year, Northern Iowa has proven themselves to be the cream of the crop in the Valley. They currently hold a 14-2 overall record, with their only losses coming to 12th-ranked West Virginia in Cancun, and on the road against Illinois State, which is rated as the fourth-hardest road environment according to basketball analytics site KenPom. They also hold a solid road win against 24th-ranked Colorado, which is in the top five of difficult road environments, also according to KenPom. While many around the league agree that the Panthers are one of the top teams in the Valley this season, the scheduling in conference is one of the most grueling in the nation.

There are no safe or easy games in the league, even if the opponent has an inferior record. The Evansville

Purple Aces, for example, whom currently sit at the bottom of league play with an 0-4 record, defeated the University of Kentucky earlier this season on the road, while Kentucky was ranked No. 1 at the time. Top to bottom, the Valley remains one of the most competitive in the nation because of the balance of talent throughout the league.

So far, the Panthers remain the favorite to come out as the top seed for the conference tournament in St. Louis. However, the tournament itself often times proves to be unpredictable as well, meaning that seeding is not as important as it may seem. Northern Iowa, however, will still likely finish first in the Valley, followed

by Drake, Loyola, Bradley and Valparaiso to round out the top five seeds. Expect the Panthers to roll through Arch Madness and receive the Valley’s automatic bid for the NCAA tournament, returning to the dance for the first time since 2016.

TONI FORTMANN/Northern Iowan

SIERRA STEEN Managing Editor

PAGE 7

FUN & GAMES JANUARY 16, 2020 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

|

VOLUME 116, ISSUE 28

Welcome back! We hope your first few days of classes go well. Good luck this semester!

SUDOKU ONE

Large flat lot, no close neighbors. Large 3 bedroom newer ranch style home.

1/2 mile to UNI campus. Many new updates, bath and kitchen. Central air, lots of parking.

June - May lease, $895 total rent.

319-731-0220.

Available 6/1/20. scmooreproperties@ gmail.com Call for Showing

To Michele:

Down 1 “Forbidden” fragrance 2 Actor Epps 3 Bakery item Jerry stole from an old woman in a classic “Seinfeld” episode 4 Fooled in a swindle 5 “Figured it out!”

6 Windsurfing need

SUDOKU ONE SUDOKU TWO

47 Attacker or defender of online information systems 50 Water heater 53 Nuremberg no 54 German auto 55 Movie lab assistant 59 President #2 62 “It” novelist 65 Org. for the ends of 18-, 28-, 47- and 62-Across 66 Remove the chalk 67 Muslim holy city 68 Home state for the ends of 18-, 28-, 47- and 62-Acr. 69 Monica of tennis 70 Beautify 71 Suffix with Japan or Milan

7 Guthrie of folk 8 Quarterback-tackling stat 9 Biol. or ecol.

10 Toaster snack 11 Data to enter 12 Spew out 13 Not at all cool 19 Kiss from a pooch 21 Teacher’s helper 25 Ten-cent piece 27 Gas brand with toy trucks 28 Bank acct.-protecting org.

29 Wealthy 30 Cake directive Alice obeyed 31 Soda bottle buy 32 Permit 36 Arrange new terms for, as a loan 37 Bart’s bus driver 38 Perceive aurally 40 Terrier type 41 McGregor of “Doctor Sleep” 44 “Total” 2017 event visible in a coast-to-coast path from Oregon to South Carolina 46 Very dry 48 Soft French cheese 49 President #40 50 Diamond quartet 51 Off-the-wall 52 Perfect 56 Govt.-owned home financing gp.

57 Gave the nod to 58 Wealthy, to Juan 60 Corp. execs’ degrees 61 January “white” event 63 “For __ a jolly ... “ 64 ATM giant

Fun and games readers, you may not be aware of the amazing Michele Smith, our Northern Iowan manager for many years. She is such a strong and supportive woman that our staff, past and present, as well as many other UNI staff/students, have gotten to know and love.

Michele is retiring, and I felt it would be appropriate to write a small thank you note to her. I have been lucky to be the managing editor under her wing for 4 years now. She has shown me so much grace, support, humor, and most of all, has given me a home here at the NI. Anybody would be lucky to know her (considering how many people Michele knows through clients and friendships, that’s quite a few lucky people in this world!)

I will wrap this up by saying thank you- Michele, you have impacted my years at UNI so greatly, and many other people can say the same. We love you!

CROSSWORD

CROSSWORD

Across 1 Hanks who plays Mr. Rogers 4 Spanish houses 9 Watched secretly 14 Dr.’s group 15 Scarlett of fiction 16 African river 17 Server of shots 18 Manicurist’s tool 20 Word with sprawl or renewal 22 Norse trickster 23 Walrus feature 24 Made stuff up 26 Like Mattel’s Cathy doll 28 Eponymous ‘60s-’80s “Airways” entrepreneur 33 Like desperate straits 34 Send with a stamp 35 Old Detroit brewer 39 Like frozen roads 40 Resolves out of court 42 Paris summer 43 Spot for a friendly kiss 45 Bit of cat talk 46 Mennen lotion

SUDOKU TWO

Puzzle Answers (no peeking!)

For Rent House

PAGE 8

CLASSIFIEDS

JANUARY 16, 2020 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

|

SIERRA STEEN Managing Editor

VOLUME 116, ISSUE 28

Disclaimer: The advertisements featured in The Northern Iowan on this or any other pages do not reflect the views of The Northern Iowan staff.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF AMERICA, FROM TOM STEYER Your concerns about climate are completely justified and on target. It's ridiculously unfair for you to inherit an uninhabitable planet because self-interested politicians refuse to stand up to corporations. But they can’t dismiss you. Your voices rise with the conviction of truth and the willingness to act. You’ve called yourselves “the voiceless future of humanity,” but you are not voiceless. For too long, members of my generation have chosen short-term profit over anything else, even people’s lives. But you’ve broken through — using every tool at your disposal to demand a voice.

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