Thursday
/NorthernIowan
January 18, 2018
@NorthernIowan
Volume 114, Issue 29
northerniowan.com
Opinion 3 Campus Life 4 Sports 6 Games 7 Classifieds 8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Three dead in car crash 2
LTE: Dancing isn’t enough 3
Human trafficking 4
A miracle in Minneapolis 6
Counseling Center sees backlash SARAH HOFMEYER Staff Writer
In November, the Counseling Center advertised an anxiety support group, using the tagline “Calling All Worrywarts.” They received criticism on social media, including Facebook and Twitter. However, on Twitter, there was a mixed response, with some students, such as Bailey Rose Baack, being offended. She wrote, “Jesus Christ, this is terrible. Minimalizes actual anxiety. It’s not just ‘worrying,’ guys. For those who say to lighten up— please don’t tell me how to react to messaging that trivializes something I struggle with every day.” Others took the post lightheartedly. Twitter user Nicole Floyd wrote, “They’ve put a lot of work into the program. I’ve been diagnosed with anxiety and describe myself as a wor-
rywart. Give it a shot before you judge it on the name, guys.” Shelley O’Connell, Health and Recreation Services Executive Director and Interim Director of the Counseling Center, says the wording was intentional. “We’re trying to reduce the stigma around mental health, so the wording we used was directly from students that described themselves,” O’Connell said. “We still have to use the word worry.” This ad is part of a larger outreach campaign from the Counseling Center. There is a coordinated effort at the Counseling Center to find commonalities between clients, and in turn, address these common issues to better serve the student body. According to Jennifer Schneiderman, a mental health therapist at the Counseling Center, worrying was a major
theme last semester. “Our target audience is people who are worrying,” Schneiderman said. “People use worry and anxiety interchangeably sometimes. The intent of this support group is to call people who are inclined to worry, and to give them strategies and tools to manage their worry.” O’Connell said that the use of worrywarts is an attempt to reach students who do not necessarily identify with the word anxiety. “We are trying to find a way for students to understand that is relatable to them,” O’Connell said. “Some students wouldn’t say they have anxiety, but they would say they worry all day long. Everyone worries. Everyone has moments of being anxious, as well. That’s what we’re trying to get people to understand: we have support available for them.” The Counseling Center
In November, the Counseling Center posted an advertisement on social media for an anxiety group that received considerable negative feedback (left). They have since released a revised advertisement (right).
has three different support groups this semester: one for anxiety, one for grief and one for Resident Assistants. The support groups involve a pre-screening to assess if a student needs treatment for an anxiety disorder or would benefit from the support group. Despite the Counseling
Center’s intentions, student leaders are disconcerted. Katelyn Melcher, senior psychology major and NISG’s Lower Cabinet Director of Mental Health, thought the advertisement downplayed the seriousness of anxiety. See WORRYWARTS, page 2
Women’s Basketball sees home wins after loss on road WILLIAM RIEPE
Sports Writer
The Panther women’s basketball team has found its form again after losing twice on the road, with two great wins at home. The first game was against Evansville, which saw the Panthers dominate 65-41 and a second half which narrowly saw the Panthers take home the win with a flawlessly played second half of basketball. In the first game against the Evansville Aces, the Panther women showed their offensive superiority early, outscoring their opponents (8-15) (9-15) and (9-15) in the first three quarters. However, the Panthers slipped on defense in the fourth quarter, letting up 15 points to the aces. The Panthers struggled to
hit their shots, going 25 percent from three and 33 percent from the field. They were bailed out by their strong free throw shooting, going 9-14 from the line, and a lock down defense, which saw the Panthers force 10 steals. This lack of shooting consistency is unlike the Panther women, who have enjoyed great success from the field and from three, respectfully. The second game took place against Indiana State, which saw the Panthers hold the lead for most of the game, and narrowly defeat the 3-13 Indiana Sycamores, 53-59. The Sycamores showed promise early, going point for point with the Panthers for the first quarters of the game. However, strong defense and a consistent offense saw the Panthers outscore the Sycamores through he final stretch of the game.
JOHN DUNLOP/Northern Iowan
Junior guard Mikaela Morgan tries to block a shot from a player on the opposing team.
The Panthers finished strong in the second half despite what the stats would say, going 1-8 from three and only 7-24 from the field, leaving a lot to be desired by the
Panther women. However, the score board is what matters. Kennedy Fitzpatrick put up 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Shooting 6-8
from the free throw line and 2-5 from three, it was a solid performance from the Junior (RS). See WBB, page 6
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JANUARY 18, 2018 |
NEWS
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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JACOB MADDEN News Editor
VOLUME 114, ISSUE 29
CIEP program celebrates 35 years ANNA FLANDERS
dents,” explained Carolina Coronado-Park, the director of CIEP. “Last year, we had 371 students currently studying at UNI who had gone through CIEP.” The program teaches beginner, intermediate and advanced level courses in three categories: listening and speaking, writing and grammar and reading. There are a total of seven levels to the program, but due to demand only levels three through seven are currently offered at UNI. Although a new student can enter at whichever level they would like, they must pass that level if they return to progress to the next level. According to Coronado, CIEP works with three different student populations. The first are students seeking to improve their English skills to later study at UNI or another university. There are also condition admitted students, who want to enroll as undergraduate students but are not proficient enough in English to do so. These students enroll in CIEP until they are at the necessary level to enroll.
A third group will enroll in the program for only a month or two to improve their English. These students come from all over the world, including the partner institutions that UNI has in nearly 30 different countries. One student currently going through CIEP is Kenta Uchida. Originally, Uchida is from Japan where he started his studies in biology and chemistry. Uchida started at level five of CIEP last semester. Now he’s at level seven. “Usually Japanese people have great grammar skills, but cannot write essays or speak English,” Uchida said. “The grammar is very easy for me, but writing essays is very difficult; it’s kind of new for me. And, also, the length is too much for me [...] I think I took two hours to write one essay — just one page. But now I’m good at it — I’m getting better.” Another CIEP student is Remy Kazengu, who has been a part of the program since June 2016. Kazengu is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and hopes to study microbiology at another American univer-
“An anxiety disorder is a clinical condition,” Melcher said. “It’s not something to make light of. It can be a crippling impairment for many students, and trivializing the condition only makes it more difficult for students to feel understood and reach out for help.” McKenzie Dallenbach, a junior psychology and social work major and member of To Write Love on Her Arms, agreed. “I know a lot of people who don’t want to go because they use terms like that,” Dallenbach said. “I think they could have tried bringing the idea of worrying, but not using the word worrywarts.
It’s just as bad as a Nervous Nancy or Debbie Downer, or Clean Freak for OCD. We use them all the time, but they attach a stigma.” Ironically, Schneiderman said the wording was meant to do just the opposite. “[Worrywarts] was never to stigmatize or trivialize, but rather to normalize,” Schneiderman said. Melcher reached out to O’Connell regarding the issue and was disappointed with the response. O’Connell invited Melcher to discuss the advertisement and come to a better understanding. “I’m not sure what there was to discuss: people were hurt and felt the Center was out of touch with students’ needs,” Melcher said. “I want
to support the counseling center. The licensed staff, the interns and the secretary are wonderful, and I want to make sure to acknowledge that. However, it is difficult to support something that is not willing to own up and apologize for a mistake that could, and very much has, turned students away from their services.” The Counseling Center changed their advertisement to remove the controversial tagline but did not issue an apology. Regardless of the intent or change in advertisement, Melcher expected more from O’Connell and the Counseling Center. “I don’t need an apology,” Melcher said. The student body does.”
NORTHERN IOWAN
EDITORIAL STAFF
CIRCULATION
JACOB MADDEN News Editor maddenj@uni.edu
RILEY SCHULTEJANS
CLINTON OLSASKY
LEZIGA BARKIOR Campus Life Editor barikorn@uni.edu
PRODUCTION STAFF
SIERRA STEEN
DYLAN PADY Sports Editor padyd@uni.edu
Staff Writer
The Culture and Intensive English Program (CIEP) at UNI recently celebrated 35 years of helping international students learn English and acclimate to American culture. The program has been accredited since 2005. UNI is one of only 200 institutions in the world to receive accreditation from the Commission on English Language Program. “We are a pathway program at UNI, a door for UNI for international stu-
COURTESY PHOTO/CIEP
Carolina Coronado-Park is the director of CIEP, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
WORRYWARTS
continued from page 1
L011 Maucker Union Cedar Falls, IA 50614 www.northerniowan.com northern-iowan@uni.edu 319.273.2157 Executive Editor olsaskyc@uni.edu 515.344.7949 Managing Editor steens@uni.edu 319.939.8190
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COURTESY PHOTO/CIEP
CIEP students having fun out in the snow on campus at UNI.
sity after completing CIEP. “CIEP is a great program,” Kazengu said. “It wasn’t really easy, because when I came first year, I couldn’t speak American. I remember I lost a job because of my
language. I couldn’t speak good English, and I couldn’t understand what people would tell me. So, I didn’t get a chance to have a job.”
CLINTON OLSASKY
pants from the sedan were ejected from the vehicle, receiving fatal injuries, according to the CFPD press release. There were three passengers in the SUV, all of whom sustained non-life-threatening injuries. All six individuals involved in the accident were transported to Sartori and Covenant Hospitals in multiple emergency vehicles. This past Monday, Jan. 15, the CFPD issued a second press release containing the names of the deceased. They were: Elijah James Showalter, 20, Daniel James Delagardelle, 21, and Brady J. Hagenstein, 16, all from Waterloo. According to University Relations, the three deceased individuals were not enrolled at UNI at the time of their deaths on Friday. The Iowa State Patrol is currently handing the accident case, and any further information regarding the incident will be included in future press releases, according to CFPD officials.
See CIEP, page 3
Three dead in car crash south of campus Executive Editor
A motor vehicle crash in Cedar Falls this past Friday, Jan. 12, has resulted in the deaths of three young men. The Black Hawk County Dispatch Center was notified of the car accident, which involved two vehicles, at 5:05 p.m. on Friday, according to a press release issued by the Cedar Falls Police Department (CFPD) later that evening. The crash took place near the intersection of Viking Road and Winterberry Drive, a few miles south of UNI’s campus. Reports from witnesses, as well as physical evidence at the site of the accident, indicated that a sedan headed westbound had struck an SUV traveling eastbound. The sedan was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed, lost control and crossed the center line before colliding with the SUV head-on. Both vehicles were severely damaged, and the three occuThe 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. All material is © 2017 by the Northern Iowan and may not be used without permission.
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CLINTON OLSASKY Executive Editor
JANUARY 18, 2018 |
OPINION
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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VOLUME 114, ISSUE 29
Critics and audiences divided I saw “The Greatest Showman” this past weekend, and I thought the movie was wonderful. I was not familiar with the story of P.T. Barnum, and nearly all I knew about this movie is that it was a musical. And yet, I came out of the movie theater absolutely thrilled. After the movie, I decided to look up reviews to see what other people thought. To my shock, “The Greatest Showman” only had a 55 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and a 48 on IMDb. For a movie that I thought was all around amazing, this seemed unbelievable. I thought, “How could these critics possibly think this about such a good movie?” Then I looked at the audience reviews. Want to take a guess what regular moviegoers thought of the movie? 90 percent, 8/10, four and half stars and similar ratings were echoed across a variety of movie review sites, including Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb. However, these reviews were taken from regular audience members. The key takeaway here is that the average moviegoer
loved the film, but critics disliked it. This made me think of another article I read a while ago. It was a polygon article talking about the Netflix movie “Bright” and how critics hated, but audiences loved it. The critic on Polygon even called it “a cinematic equivalent to a busted, spewing sewage pipe, (Polygon). Despite that review, it prompted me to watch “Bright” because I was curious to see if this was true. Much like “The Greatest Showman,” I thought “Bright” was a great movie. Perhaps it wasn’t a masterpiece and not as good as “The Greatest Showman,” yet it still wasn’t anywhere close to the consensus of most critics. I saw “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” over break and thought the movie was just okay, while critics praised it. Audience scores for the movie were similar to mine as well. Meanwhile, there was a similar debate over “Justice League” when it first came out. Fans enjoyed it while critics hated it. It’s become painfully obvious at this point that critics and moviegoers are going to have some serious disagreements. This is to be expected of course, but it makes me wonder if things have been getting worse in
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Opinion columnist Sam King discusses what he sees as an increasing divide in the reception of film and TV shows between critics and audience members, as was the case with the polarizing “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”
recent years. These recent examples certainly showcase a strong divide. There’s always going to be some disagreements when it comes to movie opinions, but this has only been exacerbated in our modern age with the internet. Today, thanks to the internet, we have movie review websites where anyone can post a review. The ability to post any kind of review can make a serious impact on the movie industry. That may sound silly; however, The New York times posted an article just this last fall about how Hollywood is in deep trouble, with a 15 percent decline in movie profits. The article in question focused on what Hollywood was blaming for their bad profits. This scapegoat, naturally, was Rotten Tomatoes.
LTE: When dancing isn’t enough I was diagnosed with stage three melanoma when I was 17. I went through one month of high dosage infusions and then 11 months of self-induced shots. After surgeries, scans and countless doctors’ visits, my family was fortunately able to stay financially afloat. However, not all families are that lucky. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 2010, the average cost for one year of treatment for a female with melanoma covered by insurance was $5,047 (by far the cheapest treatment). The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill released a study that patients without insurance would pay more — as much as 43 times more. So, if I were to not have insurance, my family could have paid up to $217,021. The highest cancer reported by the NCI was brain cancer at $108,168, and without insurance the cost could be $4,651,224. According to Forbes, medical expense is
the number one cause of personal bankruptcy, at 62 percent of cases. Families literally cannot afford to get sick. In 1997 the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was signed into law and continued with bipartisan support until September 2017. CHIP covers health insurance for children and pregnant women whose families are up to 250 percent above the poverty line and who do not qualify for Medicaid. The Federal Government allocates funds to the states, which they use at their own discretion. CHIP covers 8.9 million children in the country. Congress has not renewed funding for this vital program. This year, the United States Congress decided, and still decides, that health insurance for children is not an urgent issue. In Iowa, the state level CHIP program is called hawk-i (Healthy and Well
Kids in Iowa). It provides health insurance for 60,000 children. The AP reported that providers at hawk-i are now preparing letters to send to families that are covered, stating that their insurance will likely run out in March of 2018 if funding is not renewed in Congress. At UNI, we have many organizations that advocate for cancer survivors. However, none advocate for real solutions in terms of health insurance — perhaps due to the political nature of the health insurance debate. Regardless, children’s health insurance cannot be political; it is essential. I encourage anyone who has made a wish, relayed for life or danced for kiddos to please call your representatives and demand that Congress take action to provide health insurance for children. You can reach them at (202) 224-3121. — Hannah Gregor
Let me give an example of how this can hurt a movie. Some DC fans believe that DC movies, like “Justice League,” are unfairly slammed by critics (Wired). This belief was not only held amongst fans, but also among Warner Brothers studios as well. The very studio that created “Justice League” enforced a media ban on reviews until a certain period of time had passed since the movie was released (Vox). Obviously, Warner Brothers is afraid of its box office profits being hurt by bad reviews. This is why easily accessible reviews can be a major issue for movies. The ability for anyone to post a review about a movie may actually affect its box office as well. For example, Rotten Tomatoes displays its audience score and critic score side by side. If audience
CIEP
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CIEP is more than just classroom time spent learning English. One important part of CIEP is the conversation partner program. For a minimum of one hour a week, UNI students meet with CIEP students to give them real-world English conversation practice. Uchida enjoys his experiences with his own conversation partner. “I have a very good conversation partner,” Uchida said. “Usually, we go out to eat, and also we hang out to play games or go buy something. He is very nice.” Another element of CIEP is the International Friendship program, in which students meet with a local family one or two times a month. This family will invite the student into their home, introduce them to their family and teach them about American culture. In the Retired Senior
members post poor reviews, the average person may not want to attend the movie. Alternatively, critics may have a similar effect with their reviews or the opposite effect. It would depend on the person. The widening divide between critics and moviegoers only complicates this issue. I’m not even sure what to think about this. As a college student, I commonly look at a movie’s scores to see if I may like it. I don’t have a lot of money, so I spend it sparingly. If I find a movie with divided scores between critics and audience members, this only makes warier to take the trip out to the local multiplex. I’m sure I’m not the only college student with this kind of issue. I don’t really have a clear answer on this problem, as it’s a strange concoction of critical opinions, review accessibility, and Hollywood. Volunteers Program, students meet with senior citizens from the Cedar Valley. “We are not just training students to be able to express themselves in a different language; we are teaching them how to study in a higher learning institution,” Coronado-Park said. “There are different styles of how to write a paper in Latin America or in Asia than in the U.S. So, we focus on how to do academic research in the United States. We teach them how to read scientific articles; we tell them how to write a paper, how to cite, summarize [and] paraphrase.” CIEP also involves cultural talks. According to Coronado-Park, faculty members speak on a wide range of topics, from the impact of Martin Luther King Jr. to dating in the United States. These lectures give students an opportunity to practice listening to a professor, discussing what they learned and taking notes.
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OPENCLIPART
JANUARY 18, 2018 |
CAMPUS LIFE NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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LEZIGA BARIKOR Campus Life Editor
VOLUME 114, ISSUE 29
Human Trafficking Awareness Month
BY SOFIA LEGASPI
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, which is dedicated to raising public knowledge on the issue of human trafficking, often referred to as ‘modern-day slavery.’ Michele Powers, president of the UNI chapter of the International Justice Mission (IJM), defined human trafficking as the exploitation of vulnerabilities. “[Human trafficking] is the translocation or harboring of a person through force, fraud or coercion for the sake of anything,” Powers said. Different forms of human trafficking include forced labor, debt bondage and sex trafficking, to name just a few. According to the Department of Homeland Security, it is second only to drug trafficking as the most profitable transnational crime. IJM, a nonprofit organization with 17 field offices located around the world, combats trafficking by rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors and strengthening jus-
tice systems, as listed on their website. IJM partners with colleges to raise awareness among the next generation. Powers, a senior majoring in elementary education, started the UNI chapter of IJM with a few friends three years ago. She first became interested in the issue of trafficking after meeting teenage moms in Guatemala who were victims of rape and abuse. “I just felt like, ‘Okay, I don’t see anybody doing something, and I know that there’s a need, so I guess that means that I need to help!’” Powers said. “I just would hope that someone would do that for me or my sisters if that was happening.” The state of Iowa is a hotspot for human trafficking largely because of its central location in the United States. “Iowa has a lot of gas stations and truck stops, which [makes it] very easy for traffickers to exchange goods, as in people,” said Kathryn Waddell, a sophomore Spanish and elementary education double major who
runs public relations for IJM. “Since there are a lot of different intersections that run through Iowa, there are also many opportunities to have different bed and breakfasts or hotels where meeting places will happen.” Sexual exploitation is the most documented form of trafficking, as reported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. A large percentage of victims are young girls, ranging from eight to 14 years old, according to Waddell. Just last October, a Waterloo couple pled guilty to trafficking two 16-yearold girls. The teens were transported from Chicago to Waterloo and forced to engage in sex for payment. Trafficking may occur through psychological control, as well as physical force. Traffickers often maintain power through blackmail, guilt-tripping or brainwashing. Powers recounted the story of a girl who was forced to have sex with her mother’s boyfriend while he babysat her on the weekends. He threatened to kill her mother if she did not keep quiet. The girl was around the age of eight. On UNI’s campus, IJM works to prevent more sto-
ries like these through awareness-raising, advocacy, fundraising and prayer. According to Powers, they currently have around 18 to 25 members. During Human Trafficking Awareness Month, IJM members will be giving presentations in residence halls across campus. At 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, they will hold a chapter meeting in the State College Room in Maucker Union. “At that meeting [. . .] we will train everybody on how to give a five-minute presentation about the issue of human trafficking and what it’s like across the world and in Iowa,” Powers said. “What we do is we ask professors if we can give that five-minute presentation at the beginning of class. It’s a way of informing our peers about the issue.” Each presentation concludes with an invitation to join the Rally for Freedom in support of the End Modern Slavery Initiative Act (EMSI). The piece of legislation has already been approved; however, funds must be allocated each year. During the week of Feb. 26, IJM will have a booth in front of the Maucker Union where students can make phone calls to Congress. “We’ll give them a script, and just say hey, we think that
modern slavery is an issue and we are asking that Congress would make the decision to appropriate that $37.5 million to this,” Powers said. If that decision is made, the United Kingdom has pledged to match that figure. Across all its college chapters, IJM’s goal is to call Congress 18,000 times. UNI’s goal is 200. “What we’ve learned is that one call to Congress is equivalent to 100 signatures sent to Congress [and] one call is equivalent to 10 letters,” Powers said. Other ways students can help fight human trafficking include learning about the issue and sharing information with others, helping with IJM fundraisers and donating to IJM. “There’s a lot of future teachers here at UNI, and I think it will help them be more equipped in their future classrooms,” Waddell said. “I think students just need to be aware of the warning signs and what can happen and trying to help people out of those situations.” “If we have voices that are aware of what’s going on and know how to intelligently advocate for those that are in human trafficking, then the issue doesn’t have to grow,” Powers said.
MUSIC REVIEW
The Copper Smoke Trials releases promising EP SARAH HOFMEYER Staff Writer
The Copper Smoke Trials, a group comprised of four UNI students, has released their first EP, entitled “Bird,” available now on SoundCloud. The group’s members include: Clayton Ryan (vocals, guitar), Kyler Boss (drums), Andy Braught (bass) and Andrew Teutsch (keyboard, organ). Although “Bird” doesn’t have one story or theme, the EP’s five songs are sonically held together through a skill-
COURTESY PHOTO
ful blend of progressive rock, blues and jazz. Each song addresses a different aspect of life — whether it be a meditation on the things we value, the constant struggle with one’s identity or how youth are being raised today. Consequently, this album is steeped in emotion. And yet, despite how heavy the songs may seem, “Bird” manages to soar to a hopeful tone, thanks in large part to talented composition and playing. The vocals are captivating, and the composition is refined. Clearly, The Copper Smoke Trials has members with musical finesse. However, some songs try to accomplish too much, as sound changes prove distracting at times. This is representative of a slight lack of cohesiveness seen both within and between songs. The more rock-based songs, like “Bird” and “Teach
Them to Kill,” border on being too raucous. These songs’ mix of vocals and instruments was overwhelming in comparison to the smoother tone taken by songs like “Wishful Thinking” and “Better Off Home.” Songs also feel lagging at times; I found myself waiting for an “oooh” to end here and there. With that being said, each song on “Bird” does have an element of surprise. Take “Bird,” the first song on the album. This song is long — much longer than Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which it mirrors by incorporating different sections within itself. The song begins with heavy piano and a solemn vibe and ends with a keyboard-driven funk feel. The switch hits about halfway through, but the song could have benefitted from picking one energy. In short, there was a level of cohesiveness that wasn’t met. “Shake!” turns the EP on
COURTESY PHOTO
The Copper Smoke Trials is a music group comprised of UNI students. An NI staff writer reviewed their recently released first EP, titled “Bird.”
its head. This song is simply fun. The beginning bass line commands attention and prompts head nods to the beat. “Bird” may have inspired a somber feeling in its listeners, but “Shake!” immediately inspires movement and energy. Lyrics like, “Lightning at your lips/Thunder at your hips/Burning hot like coal”
make the song the liveliest on “Bird.” “Wishful Thinking” is clearly a song borne out of pain, as its first lyrics indicate: “Well I spend my time/ Doing too much heavy sighing/And a whole lot of lying to myself.” See MUSIC REVIEW, page 5
LEZIGA BARIKOR Campus Life Editor
JANUARY 18, 2018
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CAMPUS LIFE NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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VOLUME 114, ISSUE 29
FILM REVIEW
‘The Post’ delights, informs, inspires CLINTON OLSASKY
Executive Editor
Set against the politically turbulent backdrop of the Nixon administration, “The Post” is a late career highlight for legendary director Steven Spielberg that serves as a potent reminder of the immeasurable value a free press carries in the fight for democracy, truth and justice. The film, which takes place in 1971 during the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War, follows Kay Graham (Meryl Streep), the publisher of The Washington Post, and Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), the paper’s hard-nosed editor, as they are faced with a moral and ethical dilemma regarding their decision to publish classified documents that reveal the U.S. government’s history of deceit in the war. Directing: 5/5 Although the real-life story that inspired “The Post” carried far-reaching historical implications, the events themselves that comprise the titular newspaper’s landmark publishing decision are decidedly small in visual scope. Knowing this, Spielberg deliberately emphasizes the seemingly ordinary in “The Post” by injecting his trademark flair for highly cinematic compositions. Never before has a news room looked and felt so alive — so full of energy, tension and movement. Spielberg is able to achieve this unique sense of dynamism by opting for intricate tracking shots that allow his camera to freely glide before resting on a static shot that reinforces the moments of indecision that puncture through the film’s otherwise rattling pace. Finally, it should be noted
MUSIC REVIEW
continued from page 4
Ryan manages to describe feelings most people know well but can’t find the words for. Despite its melancholy start, Ryan ends the song with a hopeful upswing, both in lyrics and sound. The vocals and piano are beautifully paired, and the intonation is impressive. “Better Off Home” concludes the album with a heavy, romantic feel. Led by blues, jazz and a bit of rock, this song is about returning to what really matters to us. A featured saxophone solo gives the perfect amount of mellow cool. The vocals are
that longtime Spielberg collaborator and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski puts forth some of the best work of his career, using light and shadows to imbue an extraordinary sense of depth and detail in many of Spielberg’s carefully crafted compositions. Writing: 4/5 With a captivating reallife story as its basis, “The Post” boasts one of the best paced and most purely enjoyable screenplays for a political thriller in recent memory. Written by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer, the film’s screenplay doesn’t allow itself to get bogged down by the extraneous details and narrative padding that so often accompany historical dramas like “The Post.” Instead, the film quickly arrives to the main thrust of its story, much like the efficiency with which many of the film’s featured journalists go about their work. And yet, despite the film’s brisk pacing, “The Post” never skimps on historical context or character development. Indeed, much of the film’s ensemble cast come across as multi-dimensional and personable, rather than the detached historical figures these very real people may likely be reduced to in the future. Finally, if there is any criticism one can make with the narrative presentation of “The Post,” it’s that its central theme does feel somewhat blunt at times. To be sure, the film would have benefitted from a touch more subtlety, but its universal message of moral responsibility is one of nearly unavoidable predictability. Acting: 4/5 Led by veterans Hanks and Streep, “The Post” also benefits from a truly impres-
full of emotion, ending with the repeated “I say/You’re better off home.” Whatever the song, this EP has excellent vocals and instrumentals. Much like a good movie, listening to the songs another time will allow you to enjoy different elements that you didn’t first see. It is a dream in motion for its members, and the passion flows through the music. If you want to listen to more than what’s available on SoundCloud, The Copper Smoke Trials will be having many live performances in the coming weeks; check out their Facebook page for more information.
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“The Post,” directed by Steven Spielberg, has received positive reviews from critics and currently carries an 88 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
sive ensemble cast that adds depth and nuance to the film’s already considerably exciting fact-based story. Tom Hanks is characteristically committed to his character, bringing a delicate sense of concern to his newspaper editor’s stereotypically tough exterior. Notwithstanding an admittedly inconsistent East Coast accent, Hanks turns in what is likely his best performance since 2013’s “Captain Phillips.” Meanwhile, Streep is a powerhouse as Kay Graham, who is at her best in “The Post” when she’s standing up for her family paper’s legacy and for her own legitimacy as a woman in a traditionally
male-dominated industry. Still, Streep’s otherwise rock steady performance does devolve into a few moments of excess, in which the legendary actress’s technical prowess momentarily derails opportunities for authenticity and vulnerability. Among the many other standouts is Bob Odenkirk as Ben Bagdikian, one of the reporters who was directly involved in the acquisition of the highly classified Pentagon Papers. Odenkirk, in a role that appears to borrow from his most well-known screen persona as Saul Goodman from “Breaking Bad,” incorporates Goodman’s dry wit and cunning resourcefulness along
with a surprising amount of compassion. Overall: 4.5/5 Featuring typically gripping performances by Hanks and Streep, a taut and tightly constructed screenplay and some of Spielberg’s best directing of this decade, “The Post” succeeds as both an enlightening history lesson and as a thoroughly enjoyable political thriller. As technically masterful as it is thematically poignant, “The Post” most impressively delivers a message of honesty and responsibility that is sure to delight, inform and inspire.
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JANUARY 18, 2018
OPINION
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SPORTS
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
|
DYLAN PADY Sports Editor
VOLUME 114, ISSUE 29
Athlete of the Issue: Tywhon Pickford DYLAN PADY
Sports Editor
Tywhon Pickford, freshman guard for the men’s basketball team, has earned the Missouri Valley Conference’s (MVC) Newcomer of the Week award for the second time this season. Prior to becoming a Panther, Pickford lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he attended Maple Grove high school. He averaged 20.9 points per game (PPG), 8.3 rebounds per game (RPG) and 2.4 assists per game (APG) his senior year, leading his team to a 28-4 record before traveling to Cedar Falls. By the end of November his freshman year, he was initially recognized as the MVC’s Newcomer of the Week during the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas. In the first round, UNI beat the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs, recording nine points and 11 rebounds. Pickford then earned an 18-point double-double with 18 rebounds in the team’s four-point victory over North Carolina State.
Those 18 rebounds were the most earned by a UNI Panther, tying David Gruber’s efforts in 2002. In the last couple MVC games, Pickford has averaged 20.5 points, eight rebounds and shot just over 50 percent from the field. In the Panthers’ 81-76 victory over Valparaiso, Pickford and Austin Phyfe (both freshman) scored a combined total of 43 points, 17 rebounds, 15 points at the free throw line and only missed one of their 13 total shots. Pickford’s efforts against the Crusaders saw a careerhigh 23 points with nine rebounds. He did not miss a single shot from the field (6-of-6) including four deep threes he buried from a different area code. In their most recent victory against the Bulldogs, UNI was down as much as 16 points with six minutes remaining in the first half. By the end of the contest, Pickford contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in their 68-54 comeback against Drake. Throughout the entirety of the season, Pickford has
JOHN DUNLOP/Northern Iowan
recorded 212 total points (11.2 PPG), 28 assists (1.5 APG) and 171 rebounds (9 RPG). He scored 35 points from drawing fouls and is shooting just under 80 percent from the
charity stripe. Erick Crawford (2003), Eric Coleman (2004) and Seth Tuttle (2011) are the only Panthers to receive the MVC’s Newcomer of the Week three
JOHN DUNLOP/Northern Iowan
times in a single season. With such strong improvement on the court, Pickford is on track to tie, if not surpass, this historic feat in the UNI record books.
A Minneapolis miracle: Vikings stun Saints
OPINION
JOEL WAUTERS
Sports Writer
“Case on a deep drop. Steps up on the pocket. He’ll fire to the right side, caught by Diggs! Oh my god! At the 30, 10, TOUCHDOWN!” Those were the words of Minnesota Vikings’ Radio Network broadcaster, Paul Allen, last Sunday as he called Case Keenum’s 61-yard game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs. As time expired, the Vikings earned a 29-24 win over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional Playoffs. An unbelievable last second walk off touchdown now puts Minnesota into Sunday night’s NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles, with the winner playing the AFC champion in Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4. Coming into this game, the 13-3, second seeded Vikings looked to start their playoff run after receiving a first round bye. Vikings fans have been eager all season to make a deep run into the postseason
WBB
continued from page 1
The Panther women are
and make it to their first Super Bowl in 41 years. In addition, they look to re-write the term “home field advantage” by attempting to become the first team in NFL history to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium (even though the NFC champion is deemed the ‘visiting team’ this year). As for the Saints, they came into the Twin Cities after a 31-26 win over their division rivals in Carolina during the Wild Card Playoff, looking to make it to their first Super Bowl since winning the Lombardi Trophy in 2009. Minnesota was on the board early, after a 14 yard touchdown run by Jerick McKinnon, a 20 yard field goal by Kai Forbath and a late first quarter interception by Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Minnesota was leading comfortably 10-0 after the first 15 minutes. Brees’ interception was costly as the Vikings cashed in with a one yard touchdown run by Latavius Murray to extend the lead to 17-0 into halftime. The Saints, with the second highest ranking offense in the league, wouldn’t let a 17 point
deficit scare them. On their first possession of the second half, New Orleans marched 80 yards to the end zone with a touchdown pass from Brees to Michael Thomas. Keenum, facing pressure the next drive, threw a back legged interception, putting the Saints in position for another touchdown from Thomas, cutting the Viking lead down to three. Minnesota responded with a 49 yard field goal by Forbath to go up by six with
raced down the field in 90 seconds to allow Forbath to kick the go ahead 53-yard field goal, making it 23-21, Vikings. With 1:29 remaining, Brees and the Saints rolled over the Vikings’ top ranked defense to get in range for a 43-yard field goal by Will Lutz, making the score 24-23 Saints. With 25 seconds left on the clock, Keenum threw one completion to the Vikings’ 39-yard line. On third down and 10, the undraft-
just over 10 minutes left in regulation. A few minutes later, Vikings punter Ryan Quigley’s punt was blocked, setting the Saints up for the go ahead touchdown from Brees to Alvin Kamara. Trailing by one, Minnesota
ed gunslinger from Houston dropped back into the pocket, stepped forward and heaved the ball toward Diggs at the New Orleans 34-yard line. Completing the catch and avoiding Saints rookie safety Marcus Williams, who
misjudged the tackle, Diggs planted his feet, regained his balance and sprinted to the end zone for the miraculous game winning score that sent fans at U.S. Bank Stadium into a state of pure pandemonium. After years of frustration and heartbreak, the Vikings received a long overdue miracle in this win. While they will still have to play in Philadelphia for the right to go to the Super Bowl, the heartbreaking moments, such as the missed field goal in the 1998 NFC title game, the overtime loss to the Saints in the 2009 title game and the 2015 wide left field goal against Seattle, that have haunted the franchise for years now seem like distant memories. The Vikings and Eagles will kick off the battle for the George Halas Trophy in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday at 5:40 p.m. on FOX, following the AFC Championship Game between the defending champion New England Patriots and upstart Jacksonville Jaguars at 2:05 p.m. on CBS.
back on track after a couple of tough road loses, but the wins are starting to f low again. If the Panthers can recapture their shooting
form, there is no reason they cannot continue this streak. The next game will see the Panthers travel to Des Moines to take on
conference rival Drake. This game will be tough, as the Bulldogs are currently standing at 11-7 and 6-0 in conference play. This
will be a challenge for the Panthers. This game will be played on Jan. 19. Tip off will be at 7 p.m.
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PAGE 7
FUN & GAMES
SIERRA STEEN Managing Editor
JANUARY 18, 2018 |
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM |
SUDOKU ONE
Crossword
answers on page 8
VOLUME 114, ISSUE 29
SUDOKU two
/NorthernIowan Across 1 Like most cookies 6 Director of the final episode of “M*A*S*H” 10 Food inspector’s concern 15 Jazz singer O’Day 16 Osso buco meat 17 Swerved at sea 18 Math teacher’s favorite sport? 21 Diplomatic bldg. 22 Flying off the shelves 23 Praise to the heavens 24 Rock’s Grateful __ 26 Fiat fuel 28 Perspire nervously, say 31 Math teacher’s favorite brew? 36 Arrowhead Stadium NFL team 38 Mark for deletion 39 Sellout sign letters 40 Very confident 41 Chanel competitor 42 Museum worker 44 1869-’77 pres. monogram 45 Place for private dining? 46 New York hockey team 47 Math teacher’s favorite hat? 51 Bathtub outlet 52 Product prefix suggesting winter 53 Activist Parks 56 Minds someone else’s business 59 Slice of history 61 Old conductance unit 62 Math teacher’s favorite cut of beef? 67 As scripted 68 World Golf Hall of Famer Isao 69 Cosmic comeuppance 70 Gives a hand, in a way 71 Editorial override 72 Hog caller’s call Down 1 With __ breath 2 Japanese art genre
@NorthernIowan 3 “L.A. Confidential” Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner 4 Bastille Day time 5 Short run 6 Gamer’s game face 7 Syr. neighbor 8 Half a chipmunk team 9 “Roots” author Haley 10 Shoelace hole 11 Cambridge student, informally 12 Have title to 13 Luau loop 14 TSA requests 19 Roman robes 20 Major Arcana deck 25 Kicked out of the game, informally 27 Gender-specific, to some 29 The Joker portrayer on TV 30 __ Haute 32 Many a tabloid pic 33 Fowl poles? 34 Possessive word 35 Fishing gear 36 Lingerie size 37 Member of a strict Jewish sect 41 Article written by Marx and Engels? 42 Break 43 App offering fare estimates 45 Wildly excited 46 Future fern 48 Downy amount 49 New faces around the water cooler 50 In the slightest 54 Disgrace 55 Fine 57 Flight sked data 58 Many a bagpiper 60 Wants to know 62 Sci-fi escape vehicle 63 St. Louis-to-Indianapolis dir. 64 Label for Elvis 65 Hula strings 66 Lao Tzu ideal
PAGE 8
JANUARY 18, 2018 |
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FOR RENT Nice selection of studio and 2 bedroom apts just 1-2 blocks from UNI campus. 12 month leases begin June 1. All units super clean, non-smoking, with parking. Cable TV and Internet included with rent. Reasonable rents, responsible landlord. Mature renters only, no pets or keg parties. If interested call Dennis (319) 232-6819.
FOR SALE YOU WON’T BELIEVE what you can get for $14,000! (2) Large bdrms, (2) baths, newer furnace & laminate flooring, stainless steel kitchen; wood-burning fireplace, chain link fence. Incl. 42” FLAT SCREEN TV and no lot rent until March. Call: 319-239-1920 Coachlight Homes, Inc.
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NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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SIERRA STEEN Managing Editor
VOLUME 114, ISSUE 29
FOR SALE (3) BR (2) bath (16x70) (1056 sq. ft.). Stove, refrig, washer & dryer, eye-level microwave, dining set, (1) bed, central air, deck & shed, snowblower. (1) mi. west of UNI Dome. Financing avail. $19,900Call Dennis 319-239-1920 Coachlight Homes
FOR SALE XBOX 360 PES 2017 for sale. $35. (319-610-9142)
Advertise with us! we have various optionsin the paper, on our app as a tile or as a coupon, and on our website! contact either sierra or michele. contact info on page 2.
Now hiring new writers! Paid position. All majors welcome. We are especially looking for writers interested in politics, economics, etc. contact Clinton if interested or for more information. contact info on page 2. sudoku one
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