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UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA CEDAR FALLS, IA THURSDAY, APRIL 5 VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42

CEDAR FALLS, IA

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 29

OPINION

CAMPUS LIFE

SPORTS

OPINION PAGE 3

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 5

SPORTS PAGE 6

Panthers debate COVID-19 safety.

Students attended the volunteer fair and study abroad fair Wednesday.

UNI men’s and women’s basketball midseason update.

RA Conference comes to UNI Aatnight the LAUREN MCGUILL Staff Writer

This weekend, UNI will be hosting the 31st annual RA Conference on campus. Three hundred RA’s and Residence Life staff will be attending from 36 schools across the midwest.

UNI’s Residence Life has had an incredibly busy week preparing for the weekend event and is ecstatic for the return of the conference, as it was cancelled last year due to COVID-19. The chair for the conference this year is Lawther Hall’s RLC (Resident Life Coordinator) Jordan Rockwell, who was an RA when he attended UNI as a student. This year’s conference will be a new experience for many RA’s across the midwest, and

UNI HOUSING AND DINING/Courtesy

James Robilotta, an improv comedian, professional speaker and author will be the keynote speaker at the conference.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA/Courtesy

UNI will host RA’s from 36 schools across the midwest this weekend.

UNI’s Residence Life staff has many exciting events to offer them.

Rockwell gave a brief summary of the events planned for this weekend. “The RA conference is a regional conference intended for the development of student staff within the role of a Resident Assistant. The conference has had an immense impact on thousands of RAs across our region, and they in turn have impacted us here on our campus. Sessions include programmatic ideas and more holistic development topics.”

Events that will be taking place during the conference include a WRC Night that will have physical games, board games and crafts, a keynote speaker/kickoff, program and

development presentations and a final social night in the Union with various exciting activities, such as inflatables, dancing, crafts and more.

Many UNI RAs will be presenting at the conference.

“There are a wide variety of programs being offered,” Rockwell said. “There are idea-sharing program presentations associated with crafting, relaxation, destress and wellness topics. There are also more development-orientated presentations related to mental health, marketing yourself after college, diversity and inclusion.”

First year RA Hannah Krejci, a sophomore speech pathology major, is looking forward to her first RA conference. “I’m looking forward

listed on their website, so far the organization has worked to plant over 640,000 trees and shrubs and to maintain over 8,000 miles of trails and waterways.

The organization is a private nonprofit, and it provides its members far more than just volunteer opportunities. All of the crew members are considered AmeriCorps members, meaning that each person is a service worker or volunteer in the eyes of the government.

They receive a living stipend, and much of the work emphasizes training and professional development to set the volun-

teers up for future potential careers in conservation.

The program is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minn. but crews have done extensive work in northeastern Iowa for a number of years. The Conservation Corps hopes that establishing a more formal presence in the Cedar Falls area will help them improve area landscapes and habitats much more efficiently.

Brad Lathrop is the Eastern Iowa Field Coordinator with the Conservation Corps, and he thinks that this new expansion will serve as an incredibly valuable resource for UNI students. “I think people who

to meeting new people and getting more ideas on programming,” she said.

On top of planning the conference itself, Res Life had to make sure they followed certain health standards due to COVID-19 and also be aware of health standards from visiting schools. Even though the conference is back this year, COVID-19 precautions are still a concern. “(COVID-19) has impacted some aspects of the conference such as how we go about providing food, catering to individuals, how we may house individuals on-campus and how we may prepare spaces throughout the conference experience. We have looked to follow along with guidance that has been passed down from our institution,” Rockwell said. Visiting RAs and staff have the choice to stay on-campus where options are spread across campus or hotels in the surrounding area.

“I’m most looking forward to seeing all the visiting RAs and UNI RAs getting the opportunity to connect/ share their experiences and have an exciting, memorable weekend. I’ve seen life-long friends and lasting memories be made from this conference and I’m looking forward to that tradition and experience being brought back to our students,” Rockwell said.

opera

UNI Opera to present “Dido and Aeneas” this weekend CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN News Editor

Those looking for a respite from the frigid weather need look no further than UNI Opera’s upcoming performance of “Dido and Aeneas” this Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in Gallagher Bluedorn’s Great Hall.

Written by composer Henry Purcell around 1688 and performed in English, “Dido and Aeneas” is about one hour long and harkens back to ancient Greek myths and tragedies as it depicts the love of Dido, Queen of Carthage, for the Trojan hero Aeneas, and her misery when he abandons her.

Aricson Knoblock plays the character Aeneas, and emphasizes the beginner friendly aspects of the opera.

“I definitely think if someone hasn’t seen an opera yet, it’s a good one to start with.”

Convervation Corps expands to Cedar Falls MALLORY SCHMITZ Staff Writer

The Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa has recently expanded into the Cedar Falls area, providing hands-on opportunities for young adults drawn to the field of conservation.

With the Conservation Corps, teams of 18 to 25-year -old full-time volunteers go out into natural areas of the midwest and actively participate in habitat improvement, invasive species management, and more in order to preserve and improve landscapes. As

See OPERA, page 2

CONSERVATION CORPS/Courtesy

The Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa provides hands-on opportunities for young adults interested in conservation.

have spent time in northeast Iowa know that it’s sort of a hidden gem of midwestern

ecology,” he says.

See CONSERVATION, page 2

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JANUARY 27, 2022 |

NEWS

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN News Editor

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 29

OPERA

continued from page 1

Knoblock continued, “It’s much more accessible than other opera classics since most of those are in Italian,” Knoblock said.

Grace Sullivan, who plays the character of the Spirit, reiterates the uniqueness of the production. “This production is extremely accessible as both a performer and audience member. We also have a wonderful live pit orchestra, which includes a theorbo. The theorbo is a beautiful instrument, and you don’t want to miss the chance to see or hear one in person.”

Along with the uniqueness of the music and story, the setting of the opera will be presented in modern times versus the traditional ancient Greece, allowing for a fresh take on the opera classic. Director of UNI Opera Richard Gammon said, “I’m always interested in exploring how to present narratives in the most honest and efficient way. That often leads me to reimagining the story in modern times. And this is exactly the case for this production.”

Students have been work-

GBPAC/Courtesy

UNI Opera will perform “Dido and Aeneas” this Saturday and Sunday in the Great Hall in Gallagher Bluedorn.

ing diligently since the fall to put on the production, and are looking forward to finally performing this weekend.

Athena-Sadé Whiteside plays the character Dido, and has been preparing for the role extensively. “I prepared for this role by reading the full libretto and watching multiple productions of the opera.

I also worked on embodying different types of physicality, such as anger and grief, without allowing tension to affect my singing.”

Knoblock prepared for his

role by researching Greek tragedies and finding a way to portray his character.

“Finding the princely confidence while still maintaining an air of maturity and self control that I think Aeneas needs was probably the most difficult thing. It’s like riding the line between arrogance and regular healthy confidence.”

Sullivan also notes the complexities of preparing for her role. “One of the challenging parts of preparing for this role was the discussion

CONSERVATION

continued from page 1

When he first began as a crew member with the organization, he spent time of his own in the Cedar Valley, and recollects those experiences as some of his favorite projects.

After graduating from Augustana College with degrees in environmental science and geography in 2020, CONSERVATIONS CORPS/Courtesy Lathrop, like many recent The Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa has worked to plant over college graduates, was uncer- 640,000 trees and shrubs and to maintain over 8,000 miles of trails and tain what his next career steps waterways. would be. “I found myself in a situation where I was hav- “I think it’s a perfect position maybe they’ve only had classing to decide exactly what for someone fresh out of col- room experience, and they I wanted to do, and I didn’t lege who has an inkling that really want to get out there,” really know the answer,” they want to do something he adds. he explained, “but I knew I in the field of conservation In addition, members who wanted to get outside.” or environmental science, but complete an 11-month term

NORTHERN IOWAN L011 Maucker Union Cedar Falls, IA 50614 www.northerniowan.com northern-iowan@uni.edu 319.273.2157

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KARLA DE BRUIN Managing Editor debruik@uni.edu 319.273.6420

EDITORIAL STAFF

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CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN News Editor chriscbi@uni.edu

KARLA DE BRUIN

CATHERINE CROW Campus Life Editor catherine.crow@uni.edu COLIN HORNING Sports Editor chorning@uni.edu SOPHIE HOFFMEIER Copy Editor hoffmeis@uni.edu

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CIRCULATION

DORI CLAUSEN Circulation Manager

of physicality. The Spirit has two, debatably even three distinct physicalities, and one of these is her portrayal as a messenger of the gods when delivering Jove’s message to Aeneas, setting Dido’s destruction into motion.”

Students working on the opera are looking forward to their performances on both Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Whiteside said, “In the upcoming performances I am looking forward to being in community with my many receive an education award: $6,000 from AmeriCorps that may be spent however the recipient pleases. Many people put the money toward going back to college, paying off student loans or furthering their vocational training.

Lathrop encourages anyone at all interested in working outdoors in conservation to take a closer look at the Conservation Corps, no matter their experience level.

The members include people from a wide variety of backgrounds, Lathrop recalling that his first crew contained people ranging from a theatre major to a physical therapy student.

Lathrop hopes that highlighting opportunities for

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colleagues. I love hearing the chorus sing and listening to the orchestra play. The musicians at UNI are extremely skilled and talented and it is truly a blessing to hear their music so often.”

Sullivan is excited to introduce the audience to this extravagant story and bring the production to life. “The set and lighting design, costumes and staging bring lots of energy and engagement to this story,” She said.

Gammon also notes, “Opera is inherently a collaborative effort. The opportunity to join forces with students, staff, and fellow faculty from within the School of Music, as well as the Department of Theatre, the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center and guest artists and designers from across the country is an honor. This production of Dido and Aeneas exemplifies what the power of music and community can accomplish.”

To purchase tickets, call (319) 273-4TIX, or visit unitix. uni.edu. For more information on this, or other School of Music events, call (319) 2732028 or visit music.uni.edu. conservation work in people’s own communities will help the field to expand. As Iowa’s landscape is most frequently associated with farmland, many do not realize that it contains what Lathrop referred to as “some of the most high quality prairies and woodlands.” He feels that people will be much more encouraged to get involved in conservation once they realize that opportunities lie within their own backyards.

Currently, two crews of six people each operate in the area. The next wave of hiring to fill out those crews will begin in May. Interested individuals can find more information at conservationcorps. org.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters must be less than 300 words in length and are subject to editing. Not all submissions will be printed. Send submissions to maase@uni.edu.

SEND US STORY IDEAS

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.

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OPINION

NIXSON BENITEZ Executive Editor

JANUARY 27, 202 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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VOLUME 118, ISSUE 29

Disclaimer: The following opinion articles featured do not reflect the opinion of the Northern Iowan newspaper or staff as a whole.

Why Sally Rooney is the perfect author to start your reading goal ABIGAIL SAATHOFF

Opinion Columnist

On the second day of 2022, I walked into my local bookstore in search of the perfect book to start my 2022 off right. After spending a couple of hours at the store, searching reviews, and picking up a hundred different books, I finally picked up “Normal People”

by Sally Rooney. What I found, after inhaling the book and reading it cover to cover in a single day, was that Sally Rooney was the perfect author to start your 2022 reading goal.

Like the rest of the world, I spent New Year’s Day pondering what my resolutions would be for the upcoming year. I quickly phased through the typical ideas like self-care, eating better, etc., and finally landed on reading fifty books. This resolution is one that, in my opinion, has grown right alongside the popularity of BookTok, a section of the popular social media platform TikTok where readers and writers have shared anything and ever ything book-related.

The growth of both of these ideas is echoed by the Pew

Research center Threein-ten Americans now read e-books by Michelle Faverio and Andrew Perrin, “adults ages 18 to 29 are more likely to read books than those 65 and older.”

Even more so, the rise of BookTok has supported the growth of book sales. According to The E c onom ist , Bo okTok has passion — and enormous marketing power, “Bloomsbury, a publishing house based in Britain, recently reported record sales and a 220% rise in profits.” This means, if your resolution is to read, you are likely one of the millions. BookTok has taken over the world, earning itself a specific section in nearly every bookstore, even on their websites.

With all those different books, it can be hard to decide which is the right one for you. But trust me, BookTok favorite “Normal People” by Sally Rooney, or anything by Rooney for that matter is in my opinion the perfect way to start your 2022 off right. Not only are her books incredible, but if you read “Normal People,” you can watch “Normal People” the mini television

series on Hulu.

Rooney, the author of “Nor mal People,” “C onve r s at ion s w it h Friends” “Beautiful World” , and “Where are You” is an Irish author and screenwriter that focuses on contemporary fiction. Since her debut in 2017 with Conversations with Friends, Rooney’s work has become an object of polarizing opinions. Rooney’s work lacks the use of quotation marks, enraging those who depend on them to dictate the conversation. In my opinion, Rooney thrusts the reader further into the book, forcing an intense and quiet focus on the book, so that the conversation plays in your mind like a movie, rather than simply being read. Rooney’s writing is emotional and intense, dragging you into the book and not releasing you till the story is completely finished. Additionally, her work is beautifully consistent, making reading more than one book from her sheer perfection, despite the fact that she does not have a series.

After I read “Normal People, I knew I had joined the giant group of peo-

ABIGAIL SAATHOFF/Northern Iowan

Barnes and Nobles promoting TikToks latest trend BookTok to local consumers.

ple that absolutely adored Rooney’s work. Her work was different from anything I had read previously and made me anxious to devour the next book of hers that I could get my hands on. The book covered themes like first love, identity, social status and miscommunication right alongside intriguing and aggravating characters that forced you to read on, hanging on the edge of each word. At the end of the

book, I rated it a full five stars and cracked open the next book I could find by Rooney.

In my opinion, Rooney encapsulates everything an author should be: strong writing, beautiful characters, an interesting storyline, and an amazing setting. Rooney is the perfect author to start off your 2022 reading goal and is a BookTok favorite.

away their freedom.

Junior Digital Media major, Grace Juhl, has not gotten vaccinated and does not believe that places of work or school should be allowed to “force” students into getting vaccinated for an education. “We don’t know enough about it [the vaccine]. We don’t know long term studies and I won’t put something into my body until I know how it’ll affect me,” during an interview Juhl expressed her concerns. While school is a much bigger concern for her than work, she explained that she feels the same across the board. Juhl has no plans or intentions to transfer out of UNI, but claims if the vaccine became mandated, she would consider earning her education elsewhere. Juhl works as a shift lead at Walgreens in Cedar Falls, where she is required to always wear a mask, unless eating during

designated breaks. “I would much rather wear a mask than put something I don’t know about into my body,” Juhl stated, saying she would be totally fine with a mask mandate.

Out of the four students I spoke with, two of them believe that the university should begin to mandate the vaccine. One UNI senior stated, “I feel like you’re just inconsiderate at this point if you won’t get a vaccine or wear a mask.”

Going on to explain that their concern isn’t for themselves, but others on campus that don’t have the ability to fight something like COVID-19.

While each student presents valid concerns, no one has been able to come to an agreement on what would be best regarding the vaccine. For now, each student agreed that UNI should just continue to mask up.

Panthers debate COVID-19 safety PATIENCE KAUZLARICH Opinion Columnist

As with many other rapidly spreading illnesses, the COVID-19 vaccine was released to the public under the EUA in December of 2020, only eight months after the U.S. declared a state of emergency.

At first, the vaccine was only available to those who were above a certain age or those who were immunocompromised. As more research came out about the vaccines, it became more widely available. More than 12 months later and the vaccine is a hot topic among almost every workplace. CNN wrote on the topic, stating: “72% of unvaccinated workers vow to quit if forced to get the vaccine.” While the CNN article focused mainly on health care workers. Some students think UNI should

require students to test regular or get vaccinated, while others believe the vaccine should be totally at will.

While each student fights for what they believe is right, many disagree with what “right” would look like today.

University alumni José Jaramillo does not believe that the vaccine should be required for students, but does believe if students choose not to get vaccinated, they should be subject to weekly or frequent testing. Along with these guidelines, Jaramillo believes that students who choose to willingly give over their vaccine information should receive some sort of assistance. While willing to be f lexible, Jaramillo wants to be able to keep himself and his classmates safe. In the spring of 2021, Jaramillo’s father passed away after testing positive and fighting COVID-19. Because of this,

TONI FORTMANN/Northern Iowan

With school closing its first full week of class, some students contine to wear the mask.

the family has tried their hardest to protect themselves and those around them.

Although Jaramillo says the vaccine would be beneficial on campus, some think it would be taking

PAGE 4

CATHERINE CROW

CAMPUS LIFE FROM THE NI ARCHIVES

JANUARY 27, 2022 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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Campus Life Editor

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 29

Willie’s time has come Editors Note: this article is from Oct. 6, 1978 featured in the Northern Iowan.

It has often been said that Willie Nelson was before his time. In the last three years, however, you would have had to have lived without benefit of radio, television, newspapers, telephone or visitors to have not realized that Willie Nelson’s time has indeed come.

The UNI 1987 Homecoming committee will present a concert featuring Willie Nelson, with special guests Pure Prairie League and Ray Rieley Hubbard, on Sunday, Oct. 15.

Willie Nelson, recently in Time, Newsweek and the new CBS TV series People, will be performing a week from Sunday night at 8 p.m. in the UNI-Dome. Reserved seat tickets are still available for $7.50, $8.50 and $5.50 at the UNI-Dome box office.

In 1976, after being nominated five separate times, Willie Nelson received a Grammy Award for ‘Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain’ as the Country Single of the Year.

Also at ABC’s televised Fourth Annual American Music Awards, the song was chosen as the Favorite Country Single of the Year.

When Willie Nelson climbed on stage at the 1976 Annual Country Music Association Awards show and accepted his three awards, he did so in his customary tennis shoes, sweatband and on-andoff again beard. The three C.M.A. awards won jointly with Waylon Jenning were for: Country Duo of the Year; Album of the Year – Wanted: The Outlaws, and Song of the Year – Good Hearted Woman, which ironically was written during a brief pause in a poker game.

In personal terms, Willie

Courtesy / Rod Library

backstage when a security guard, in a well-intentioned effort to clear the area, tried to throw him out. Luckily, concert officials intervened and the show opened on schedule.

“I do try to be touchable,” says Nelson. “I like all kinds of people, all kinds of crowds. A lot of guys hire bodyguards… nobody needs them.”

With his latest Columbia album release, entitled Stardust, Willie Nelson gives tribute to music that is timeless.

“It is the best album I’ve ever done,” says Nelson. Stardust is a collection of “the best songs in the world,” including the immortal “Georgia On My Mind,” Willie’s current single release.

Musical icon Willie Nelson perorms live at the UNI - Dome 1978.

still manages to keep a low profile. He still plays the same guitar he’s used for 15 years, and his casual dress

often causes him to be indistinguishable from his fans.

Before one recent show, he was busy signing autographs

FROM THE NI ARCHIVES

U2 perform in UNI - Dome Editors Note: After 2 days of ‘exhaustive discussion’ the Northern Iowan broke the news that U2 was not coming to the UNI-Dome. Instead the concert moved to CarverHawkeye.

The Irish rock band U2 will perform Oct. 20 in the UNI-Dome, according to Lynn Kind, UNI-Dome director.

Information on ticket prices and outlets is not yet available, Kind said, but should be released soon by concert promotes.

“Usually tickets go on sale four to six weeks before the concert,” he said. “It’s entirely up to the promoters.”

The concert will be the first in the Dome since 1985, when Motley Crue played to a crowd of 6,500. The Police appeared in 1983 for a crowd

of 19,000, according to King.

The Dome has a capacity of 24,000 for concerts, he said.

The large capacity of the Dome is one of the reasons for the lack of concerts there recently, Kind said. Many smaller groups avoid the Dome because of its large size and instead play smaller arenas where their chance of selling out the concert is better, he added.

“Unless the group is very big, it has trouble selling enough tickets to fill a stadium the size of the Dome,” King said. Groups would rather play in a smaller arena (like the Five Seasons Center in Cedar Rapids) to a full house in a stadium like the Dome to a less-than-capacity crowd, Kind said.

King said he is expecting

a near capacity crowd for the show, and possibly even a sellout. “U2 is the hottest rock band in the world at this time,” he said. “This is a show that reaches a wide range of demographics - you and old alike.

The group’s most recent album, The Joshua Tree, made its debut in April at number seven on Billboard’s album chart.

An article in the April 20, 1987, issue of newsweek magazine described U2 as “the rock phenomenon of 1987.”

“In concert, the grandeur of their music fills an arena like a pipe organ in a cathedral.

U2 is tapping a big audience tired of the empty flitz of over synthesized pop,” the article stated.

The Joshua Tree, which is the group’s fifth studio album,

contains the recent hits “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” An article in the May 7, 1989, issue of Rolling Stone magazine said The Joshua Tree “will very likely become one of the most successful, not to mention most important, records of the decade.”

The band released its first album, Boy, in 1980.

Subsequent studio albums include October, War and The Unforgettable Fire.

Negotiations for the concert began in April, King said, after promoters contacted UNI. “The concert will be the culmination of a concerted effort by many people,” King said. “We are really pleased about it.”

The possibility of more concerts in the future will depend partly on the turnout for this one, King said.

“What it comes down to is response,” he said. “We have to show that there is an interest in seeing concerts in that building.”

King said he expects the concert to generate close to $250,000 in the community.

An opening act for the band has not been announced, King said. “I assume they will have an opening band, but I haven’t been told who it might be,” he said.

Contemporary and Jam productions are co-promoters for the concert, King said.

PAGE 5 CATHERINE CROW Campus Life Editor

CAMPUS LIFE JANUARY 27, 2022 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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VOLUME 118, ISSUE 29

Panther Portrait: Volunteer Fair

TONI FORTMANN / NORTHERN IOWAN

On Wednesday Jan. 26 Maucker Union Balll rooms hoasted the Volunteer Fair. Students were able to go around to different organizations and jobs to find volunteering options or even interships.

Organizations like the Cedar Valley Rotary club and Friends of the Family gathered here for students to come see what opportunities they can get involved with.

PAGE 6

SPORTS

BASKETBALL

JANUARY 27, 2022 |

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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COLIN HORNING Sports Editor

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 29

Men’s and women’s basketball midseason update DAVID WARRINGTON

Sports Writer

As UNI students return to campus to brave the cold and prepare to take on the spring semester, the men’s and women’s basketball teams at UNI are continuing to face stiff competition on the court. Both teams are now fully entrenched in the grind of Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play, and both are having their fair share of success.

The men’s basketball team is currently sitting at .500 on the year with a 9-9 record, although

they do have a winning record in conference play at 5-3, good for fourth place in the MVC. They have also let several games slip away, having lost three games by two points each as well as another game by four.

Their two most recent contests have both been heartbreakers as they lost to Valparaiso on the road, 83-80 in overtime, and then returned home to drop another overtime contest, this time falling to Drake 82-74 in the extra session. Before those two overtime losses they had been on a major hot streak as winners of five in a row.

Looking at the numbers, the

Courtesy Photo/UNI Athletics

The Panther women’s basketball team has played well so far into the season and will look to fight for positioning in MVC play in the second half.

scoring has been very balanced for UNI, with several players emerging as potential number one options on any given night.

AJ Green, back from missing all but three games a year ago with hip surgery, is still the undisputed star, averaging 18.3 points per game. However, Noah Carter has also emerged as a scoring threat, averaging 13.9 per night as well as putting up 33 in the overtime loss to Valparaiso. That game was played without Green due to COVID protocols. Nate Heise is also averaging double figures at 10.3 per game.

One key for the Panthers going forward will be the availability of Austin Phyfe. The 6 foot, nine inch junior is battling the side effects of long COVID after an infection this past summer. Because of this, Phyfe is averaging only 15.3 minutes per night and has missed two games. However, he has still been effective, averaging 6.9 points on 55.4% shooting.

Taking a look at the women’s team, they currently have a record of 10-6 while sitting at 3-2 in the MVC, good for fifth place. They lost their most recent game at Drake, 65-57, but had been on a three game winning streak before that to help sit at four games above .500.

Karli Rucker has led the way in scoring so far this year

TONI FORTMANN/Northern Iowan

The UNI men’s basketball team is currently at a 9-9 record with a 5-3 record in MVC play at the midpoint in the season.

for the Panthers. The senior point guard is averaging 13.7 points per game. Kam Finley is close behind as the Cedar Falls native is averaging 11.5 points per night. The Panthers have a very well balanced scoring attack with six players averaging at least seven points. Grace Boffeli has been very impressive on the glass, pulling down 8.6 rebounds per night, while Rucker averages a team-high 3.5 assists.

Looking ahead, the men have 10 games and the

women have 12 before they compete in their respective MVC Tournaments. This will take place in St. Louis for the men and Moline, Ill. for the women. The men will be on the road against Evansville this coming Wednesday, Jan. 26, before returning to the McLeod Center to host Illinois State on Sunday, Jan. 29. The women will have road games at Illinois State and Bradley before returning home on Wednesday, Feb. 2 to host Indiana State.

OPINION

Has this been the best NFL playoffs of all time?

Tribune News Service

Chiefes quarterback Patrick Mahomes led his team to victory against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, in what some say was one of the best games ever.

HUNTER FRIESEN Sports Writer

Has this been the best NFL playoffs ever? In my humble opinion, it has. Sure, that statement may have a bit of recent bias to it, but when you take a look at each game that’s been played over the past few weeks, it’s hard to argue against it.

The Wild Card round started strong with the Cincinnati Bengals winning their first

playoff game in 31 years.

Coincidentally, this win was against the Las Vegas Raiders, who ended the Bengals’ last playoff run that featured a win back in 1991.

The Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers made quick work of their underdog opponents, while the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams completed impressive upsets.

But it was the Divisional

Round this past weekend where the games produced more drama and thrills than any soap opera. In some magical way, each of the four games ended in a walk-off fashion.

Still maintaining their “just lucky to be here” status, the Bengals rode in to face the No. 1-seeded Tennessee Titans, who were feeling good with the return of star running back Derrick Henry, who has been sidelined with a fractured foot for the previous nine games.

Henry proved to be not as unstoppable of a weapon as the Titans thought, mustering only 62 yards on 20 carries. Fortunately, the Tennessee defense tied the postseason record with nine sacks on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Coming to Cincinnati’s rescue was rookie kicker Evan McPhearson, who the Bengals were ridiculed for by picking in the fifth round of the draft. McPhearson stepped up when it mattered most, converting all four of his field-goal attempts, including the game-winner that sent the team into the AFC Championship.

Elsewhere that night, the No. 1-seeded Packers were stunned on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field in similar circumstances, with the 49ers’ Robbie Gould sealing the deal with a game-winning field goal.

It was an ugly day for the green and gold, as MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers failed to score a touchdown, and the special teams handed points over to the opposition with a blocked field goal and a blocked punt that led to a score. With Rodgers mulling his future options, including the possibility of retirement, time may be running short on the Packers’ viability as a top-tier team.

Coming off the first playoff win of his career, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford squashed Tom Brady’s hopes of an eighth Super Bowl ring.

Despite an impressive Tampa Bay comeback in which they trailed 27-3 at one point, it only took 42 seconds for the Rams to march down the field and convert a game-winning field goal. They now have an NFC West showdown with the 49ers to decide who returns to the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs-Bills game

turned out to be the mostwatched divisional game ever, with 42.7 million people seeing an absolute slugfest between the NFL’s best offenses.

Patrick Mahomes proved once again that you can never count them out, as the lead changed three times within the final two minutes, eventually sending the game into overtime.

The Chiefs won the coin toss and used their momentum to win on a walk-off Travis Kelce touchdown. Even with wide receiver Gabriel Davis setting a playoff record with four touchdown catches, this loss marked the Bills ninth straight on the road in the playoffs.

The AFC Championship will be a rematch between Cincinnati and Kansas City, with the Bengals winning the previous outing behind wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s 266 total yards. The 49ers beat the Rams in both of their regular-season matches, but they remain the underdog heading into this weekend’s battle.

Even if the outcome of these games is a mystery right now, the one thing that is for certain is that you don’t want to miss them.

PAGE 7

FUN & GAMES

KARLA DE BRUIN Managing Editor

JANUARY 27, 2022 |

Across

1 Bowling alley button 6 European cheese town 10 Puddle jumper trip 13 Wedding figure 14 ChapStick container 15 Fix up 16 Newspaper reporter’s compensation?

18 Big star 19 “I’m with ya” 20 Threatening words 21 Farming prefix 22 “Wheel of Fortune” buy 23 Smooth, as transitions 25 Wise 29 DOJ bureau 30 Dry as dust 31 Speaker’s spot 34 Get out of bed 37 “__ who?”

38 Chiropractor’s compensation?

40 N.L. player whose home

games include a Presidents Race 41 Brownish-green 43 Greenish-blue 44 Some prosecutors: Abbr.

45 “Selma” director DuVernay 46 Drops in 48 Medical emergency alert 53 Baby fox 54 Soon, to a bard 55 Kibbutz setting 57 Actress Thurman 60 Cooling meas.

61 Comedian’s compensation?

63 Bass’ red triangle, e.g.

64 Moran of “Happy Days” 65 Flared dress 66 New Testament bk.

67 German battleship Graf __ 68 Connection point

Down

1 Former NYC mayor Giuliani 2 Seesaw sitter of tongue

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

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twisters 3 Send in a box 4 Sushi selection 5 “Taste this” 6 French I verb 7 Stereotypical dawn challenges 8 Take down a peg 9 Scorned lover of Jason 10 Landscaper’s compensation?

11 Aromas 12 Shirts named for a sport 15 Theater district 17 Lee who was the top-charting female soloist of the ‘60s 22 Helping hand 24 Painter Cassatt 25 Over-the-shoulder band 26 Square statistic 27 Domino’s delivery driver’s compensation?

28 Diplomatic skill 32 ‘50s prez 33 Health resorts 35 Swedish automaker 36 Internet crafts marketplace 38 Spill the beans 39 PC feature only used in combinations 42 “All the same ... “ 44 Fitting 47 TV’s J.R. Ewing, e.g.

48 Part of CNN 49 Winning 50 “__ Been Good”: Joe Walsh hit 51 Take over 52 Bath-loving Muppet 56 Novelist Rice 57 Windows alternative 58 Drop-down list 59 Yes votes 62 Chihuahua cheer

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 29

PAGE 8

CLASSIFIEDS JANUARY 27, 2022 |

CROSSWORD

NORTHERNIOWAN.COM

|

Managing Editor

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 29

Puzzle Answers SUDOKU ONE

KARLA DE BRUIN

SUDOKU TWO

Syphilis is on the rise in Iowa. rise in Iowa.

mitted infection. Early ase in syphilis cases in wa from 2020 to 2021.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection.

Early numbers show a 75% increase in syphilis cases in Iowa from 2020 to 2021.

mon and easier to get than you might think.

It’s more common and easier to get than you might think.

cause serious health nt. Talk to your doctor hether you are at risk.

a testing near you: .cdc.gov

d low cost available

Syphilis is curable but can cause serious health problems without treatment. Talk to your doctor about whether you are at risk.

Find a testing location near you: gettested.cdc.gov Free and low cost options available

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