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CEDAR FALLS, IA INSIDE THIS ISSUE ‘Being Seen’ exhibit 2
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THURSDAY, APRIL 5
MONDAY, JANUARY 28 Socialism in Venezuela 3
VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42
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Winter is coming, but will classes be canceled? ANNA FLANDERS Staff Writer
After an uncharacteristically mild start to winter this year in Iowa, including December temperatures in the 40’s, the typical snow accumulations and freezing temperatures are well underway. As students brave icy sidewalks and gusty winds to get to class, many are left wondering: why does UNI cancel classes so rarely? On Jan. 22 and 23, inclement weather led most K-12 schools in the Cedar Valley and many across central
Iowa to cancel classes. Even Hawkeye Community College, Kirkwood Community College and most DMACC campuses canceled classes for one or both days. Cedar Falls and Waterloo received nearly five inches of snow, according to KCRG, but classes proceeded as scheduled for UNI students. The non-cancellation was in line with UNI’s official weather policy, which states, in part, “It is the policy of the University to continue normal hours of operation and maintain a regular work schedule for staff members during peri-
ods of severe weather and/or adverse working conditions.” “If we have severe weather, we generally stay open,” said Jim Wohlpart, UNI provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, who is responsible for determining whether or not UNI cancels or delays classes during inclement weather. “We’re different from the K-12 system. The K-12 system has buses that go out on rural highways and they’re dealing with kids. Everybody who we’re dealing with is an adult. Our policy goes on to state that we expect
people to take due care and caution and be responsible. If they can’t get here and it’s not safe, they shouldn’t come. That is a choice that they get to make.” When deciding how inclement weather might affect the university, Wohlpart consults the senior vice president for finance and operations, Michael Hager. The snowstorm of Jan. 22 and 23 was no exception. “[Michael Hager] and I started talking and emailing and texting Tuesday afternoon. Here’s the weather fore-
cast — are you looking at this? Here’s what it looks like. Here’s the peaks. Here’s the lows,” Wohlpart said. “Before we go to bed, we’re texting and emailing [. . .] At five o’clock [Wednesday morning], Michael Hager drives to campus. So, he’s on campus checking if the grounds crews have gotten up here. They were up here at 3 a.m. Sidewalks were cleared. Roads were cleared. He was driving around on the roads. All the main arteries were cleared.”
Track and field dominates in the Dome FRANK WALSH
Sports Writer
The snow taking over Cedar Falls is a sure sign that indoor track season beginning for the University of Northern Iowa. Once football season is over and the turf is rolled up, the UNI track and field team is ready to take over the dome. The Jack Jennett Open on Friday, Jan. 25 was filled with tough competitors that wanted to win. On the field side of things, Cade Kirkpatrick was able to win the long jump with a mark of 23’11.5”, which currently ranks second in the Missouri Valley Conference. Katie Cross won the women’s long jump with a mark of 18-4.25. Maddie McCalla, senior
sprinter for the cats, took first place in the 400-meter dash, running an MVC leading time of 55.54 seconds. McKayla Cole, reigning all-conference honoree in the outdoor 10,000-meter run, also blew the doors off her competition, winning the 3,000 by nearly a minute. Following the dominance in the Dome, the Panthers headed south to Iowa City to compete in the Black and Gold Premier on Jan. 26. UNI took home five wins. On the men’s side, Tayshaun Cooper continued his successful season thus far, winning the 60-meter dash in a time of 6.85 seconds and now leads the MVC with that time. Alex Jackson also won the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:38.87, his career best at this distance.
TONI FORTMANN/Northern Iowan
UNI’s throwers placed first and second in the shot put. Darius King won the title, followed by Keegan Tritle. The 4x400 squad won as well, with a time of 3:10.86. Lyndsie Schinkel was the only cham-
pion for the women, charging home for a victory in the 600meter run, in 1:33.91. Coming up, UNI will head to South Bend, Ind., and Lincoln, NE, on Saturday, Feb. 2.
See WINTER, page 5