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NISG VP
FILM REVIEW
MEN’S BBALL
NEWS PAGE 2
CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4
SPORTS PAGE 6
NISG searches for new V.P. after Rachel Greene, former vice president, steps down.
Film critic Hunter Friesen reviews movies from winter break.
The UNI Panthers take down the Coe College Kohaws 70-60.
Food court, Schindigs close for semester CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN Staff Writer
The normally bustling Maucker Union Food Court and Schindigs in Schindler Education Center will not be reopening for students this semester, and hours and menu options at other dining retail locations will be reduced. These changes come as a response to the coronavirus pandemic and reduced sales, according to Department of Residence retail manager Chris Kenaga. “Like most universities, campus retail has been adversely affected by the pandemic, mostly due to the fact that there are less students, faculty and staff on campus each day,” Kenaga said. Compared to fall 2019, sales at the Maucker Union Food Courts for fall 2020 were down 75%. The underutilization of TC’s Takeout, a meal-on-the-go service at 23rd Street Market available for all meal plan holders, has also prompted the closure of that meal plan alternative. Additionally, 23rd Street Market will be offering fewer options on their menu. TC’s Takeout was a service offered to reduce numbers in the dining centers, but Kenaga said it did not have enough participants to continue service.
“For this meal plan alternative to have an impact, we needed to serve 100-150 meal plan participants each lunch and dinner; this fall we were only serving 10-25,” he said. “Meal plan participants were not utilizing this service. Rather, they have taken advantage of the unlimited to-go meals from the dining centers, or choose to eat in Piazza and Rialto.” The current plan is to reopen the Maucker Union Food Court in the fall of 2021. “It is our hope that things will begin to shift back to normal this coming fall as more people get access to the vaccination and restrictions begin to lift, allowing for an increase in those coming to campus each day,” Kenaga said. Student employees who worked at these locations have been given the opportunity to have the same hours and schedule at another campus dining location and to pick up any additional hours if desired. Dining locations that will remain open include Chats and Essentials (with reduced hours), as well as 23rd Street Market, Biscotti’s and Book Bistro. The Cravings grab-and-go area within Essentials is also operating and will be offering more choices. For hours and more information, visit https://dor.uni. edu/dining/dining-hours.
GELASE MAGNIFICAT/Northern Iowan
Schindigs and Maucker Union Food Court will remain empty for the spring semester as they close in response to reduced sales.
Snow day starts spring semester NI STAFF
A Jan. 25-26 winter storm brought 8.7 inches of snow to Cedar Falls, according to the National Weather Service.
Face-to-face classes were cancelled or moved online both Monday evening and all day Tuesday, and the campus moved to reduced operations during that time.
GABI CUMMINGS/Northern Iowan
ELIZABETH KELSEY/Northern Iowan
UNI Staff work hard to clear snow Tuesday after a snow storm cancels in person classes.
ELIZABETH KELSEY/Northern Iowan
Classes resumed as normal on Wednesday.
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JANUARY 28, 2021 |
NI en Español: ¡Bienvenidos! ELIZABETH KELSEY
NEWS
One of the things we value the most at the University of Northern Iowa is our student body and their various identities, cultures and experiences. To ensure that the Northern Iowan better reflects the diversity that makes our campus great, this year we will be starting a Spanish column! This column is the result of an idea by new staff member Nixson Benitez and will be dedicated to our Hispanic population. It will include original material in Spanish, published on Thursdays every two weeks, and translations of stories from English to Spanish published weekly online and in our weekly newsletter. We will also feature a “Word of the Week” in our Fun and Games pages every Monday, beginning next week. We are also open to whatever ideas you would like to contribute! If you are a native Spanish speaker or someone who has always wanted to write and see your native language in the Northern Iowan, join us in building an inclusive paper. We are seeking Spanishspeaking writers and editors — for more information, please contact Executive Editor Emma’le Maas at maase@uni. edu or News Editor Elizabeth Kelsey at kelseye@uni.edu. (If you need or prefer to converse in Spanish, Elizabeth studies Spanish here at UNI and can use whichever language you prefer.) The Northern Iowan is the newspaper for the entire UNI campus, including our native speakers of languages other than English. Let the Northern Iowan be the space where you can write for your community, find where you belong and launch your career.
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NIXSON BENITEZ
Spanish Writer/Translator
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News Editor
NISG seeks new vice president
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
Una de las cosas que más valoramos en la Universidad del Norte Iowa es nuestros estudiantes y sus varias identidades, culturas y experiencias. Para asegurar de que el Northern Iowan realmente representa la diversidad que hace que nuestro campus sea excelente, ¡este año comenzaremos una columna española! Este espacio español es la resulta de una idea de nuestro miembro del equipo nuevo, Nixson Benitez, y estará dedicado a la comunidad Latinx. Incluirá material original en español, publicado los jueves cada dos semanas, y traducciones de historias del inglés al español publicadas cada semana en línea y en nuestro boletín semanal. También tendremos una “Palabra de la Semana” en nuestras páginas de Diversión y Juegos todos los lunes, empezando la semana que viene. ¡También estamos abiertos a cualquier idea que quieres contribuir! Si eres un hablante nativo de español o alguien que siempre ha querido escribir y ver su lengua materna en el Northern Iowan, únase a nosotros en la construcción de un periódico inclusivo. Estamos buscando a escritores y editores que hablan español. Para obtener más información, por favor contacta con la editora ejecutiva Emma’le Maas en maase@ uni.edu o la editora de noticias Elizabeth Kelsey en kelseye@ uni.edu. (Si necesitas o prefieres conversar en español, Elizabeth es un estudiante del español aquí en UNI y puede usar la lengua que deseas). El Northern Iowan es el periódico de todo el campus de UNI, incluyendo nuestros hablantes nativos de lenguas distintas del inglés. Deje que Northern Iowan sea el espacio donde puedes escribir para tu comunidad, encontrar a dónde perteneces y verte crecer en tu carrera.
News Editor/Translator
ELIZABETH KELSEY
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ELIZABETH KELSEY News Editor
Following the resignation of its vice president, Northern Iowa Student Government (NISG) is seeking applicants to fill the position as the second semester begins. Rachel Greene, the former vice president, resigned from her position effective Jan. 16, 2021. Greene, a senior business teaching and economics major, cited a need to focus on academic responsibilities.
RACHEL GREENE/Courtesy Photo
Rachel Greene, former NISG vice president.
“I need to strike a more intentional balance between being a student leader and being a student,” Greene wrote in her resignation letter. “I will take all that I have learned in this role to help me become the best educator I can be as I spend more time on my studies and helping my students in the classroom.” Elle Boeding, current president of NISG, said that she has “no negative feelings whatsoever” toward her friend and former colleague. “It’s been a really tough
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VOLUME 117, ISSUE 28
year to be in our jobs… This is certainly not the job that we ran for,” said Boeding, a senior political communication major. “I honestly was just proud of her for doing what was best for her and prioritizing her health and education.” The procedure for replacing a vice president midway through his or her term is outlined only “very vaguely” by the NISG constitution, according to Boeding. It stipulates that she, as president, must make an announcement through campus media seeking applications to fill the position, which must be open for at least two weeks. The Upper Cabinet and the Chief Justice must be present during the application and nomination process, and the Senate must vote to confirm the appointment of Boeding’s nominee. However, aspects of the system are still unclear, so Boeding is working with the NISG Supreme Court to outline the process. She added that the NISG Government and Legislative Affairs committee will be working to clarify the situation within NISG’s by-laws and constitution. “When you look at the federal government, there is a pattern of succession… and we don’t really have that, which is a pretty necessary thing for a governing document,” she said. “So that’s going to be something that we’re going to be working on within NISG.” Boeding emphasized, how-
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. All material is © 2020 by the Northern Iowan and may not be used without permission.
ever, that she and her fellow Upper Cabinet members also want to ensure they prioritize student needs during the rest of their term, which is quickly drawing to a close. The NISG election will take place in February, with the new president and vice president beginning their terms shortly thereafter.
ELLE BOEDING/Courtesy Photo
Elle Boeding, current NISG president.
“It’s kind of a tough position to be in right now, trying to weigh what sort of value does this hold,” she said. “We have a lot of great projects going on within Upper Cabinet, (and we’re) trying to make sure that all our work for our students gets done.” The application for vice president opened on Jan. 22 and is available now at https://nisg.uni.edu/ vice-president-nisg-application. The position, which is open to any UNI student, is a paid position with a 20 hour/ week commitment. Applicants must be available at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. Boeding said they have already received a few applications. Any student with questions should contact her at nisg-president@uni.edu.
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
EMMA’LE MAAS Executive Editor
JANUARY 28, 2021 |
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Disclaimer: The following opinion articles featured do not reflect the opinion of the Northern Iowan newspaper or staff as a whole.
Get a health coach! STUDENT WELLNESS SERVICES Guest Columnist
Have you been feeling stuck, lost or confused? Do you want support to have a successful spring semester? Are you looking for someone to listen and understand your experience while helping you focus on your goals? Maybe you feel your overall wellness is where you want it to be, but you want to explore your purpose or increase the quality of one area or dimension of your wellbeing. If you can relate to any of the scenarios mentioned above, Wellness Coaching may be a great fit for you! All enrolled Panthers (at both the undergraduate and graduate level) have the opportunity to meet confidentially with a Wellness Coach via Zoom. We view you as the author of your life and act as a soundboard to support you in sorting through your goals. Wellness Coaching is a collaborative conversation where you can discover your unique character strengths and consider strategies to improve your intellectual, emotional, spiritual, environmental, financial, occupational, social and physical wellness. We use motivational interviewing techniques to support and empower you to reach your goals, using
your strengths to increase your self-confidence along the way. When you “walk away” from Wellness Coaching, our hope is that you feel heard, supported, and empowered. Here’s what UNI students are saying about Wellness Coaching: • “Wellness coaching was a good way to ground myself and make me feel more in control.” • “Having a coach gave me the confidence and motivation I needed to reach my goals.” YOU can begin the Wellness Coaching process TODAY! Start by following these steps: 1. Make an appointment online at studentwellness.uni. edu/wellness-coaching 2. Discover your character strengths by taking the VIA Character Strengths survey (link provided to you in advance by your wellness coach) 3. Complete a simple pre-assessment 4. Sign on to the Wellness Coaching Zoom meeting (link provided to you in advance by your wellness coach) 5. Meet with your wellness coach for approximately 45 minutes 6. Reschedule appointments as desired! SWS Wellness Coaches look forward to helping you thrive at UNI!
The Liberal left has not won Opinion Columnist How is the liberal movement going? Given the declarations of enthusiasm emanating from the mainstream media, the breathless insistence that “our democracy has been restored” following the inauguration of our latest president, one would imagine, quite well. Yet the pervasive narratives currently emerging in liberal discourse present a different picture, of a constituency so untethered from any coherent theoretical mooring that their present state can only be a product of pure ideology at work. We may well ask, what is it that liberals want? Now that the liberals have succeeded in usurping Donald Trump, we can ask what their agenda is next, since they have already recaptured the “soul of America” with this act alone. It is all but assured that no major legislation will be passed without Republican support during Biden’s first term in office, bringing into question what all the ruckus was about regarding how important it was for Democrats to have won the Georgia Senate elections to ensure a majority in the Senate. MOHAMMED RAWWAS
But even though nothing will happen, and Democrats will be able to conveniently blame the Republicans for their own failure to do anything, despite the filibuster rules being within the Democrats’ control to change, the Democratic base still has demands, and we would be wise to listen to what they have to say. Given the liberal response to the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol, it is quite clear what liberals want. They loudly advocated for police brutality to be more uniformly administered, arguing that since the police repressed Black Lives Matter protests, they should also repress the Capitol storming in similar brutal fashion. Important to note here is that the demand was not to stop enacting police brutality on racial minorities, but that the racial discrepancy should be alleviated, by applying the same repression uniformly to all groups. This was from the same crowd who was calling for the police to be abolished just months ago, but they clearly learned the wrong lessons from the Black Lives Matter movement (the correct lesson being that police brutality is wrong and should stop, not that it would only be fair to also
The class pandemic EMERSON SLOMKA
Opinion Columnist
As we enter our second year of global pandemic, the wealth gap continues to widen. Between March and December of 2020, America’s 614 billionaires collectively grew their wealth by $931 billion, with Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk competing for the title of world’s richest person (currently held by Bezos, with $193 billion). Over 225 million jobs were lost last year due to the pandemic, with anywhere from 88 million to 115 million people slipping into the extreme poverty level. Chronic homelessness is expected to increase to around 49% nationwide – over twice the amount caused by the 2008 recession. While the pandemic has been devastating to working class Americans, the 0.01% has been profiting off the unprecedented situation. There have been closures of small businesses leaving people to rely on the services of mega corporations much more heavily, and the rebounding stock market has allowed the richest of the rich to prosper even in the worst of times. Even beyond the ultrarich, the pandemic has illustrated a massive class divide between the middle and working classes. While members of the middle class often work white-collar jobs that transitioned to remote positions at the beginning of the pandemic and were able to retain their jobs, members of the working class have predominantly been faced with unemployment or have been forced to continue working in-person and are put at risk. Minimum wage workers are often the ones working essential jobs, such as positions in healthcare, food ser-
vice, delivery and manufacturing, and given that low-income earners are more likely to live in confined spaces with others (such as roommates), this poses an even greater danger in relation to virus spread. Due to financial concerns and pressure from employers, low-income earners are also less likely to abstain from work when ill – a relevant issue regardless of circumstance, but especially problematic during a pandemic. Also problematic is the lack of accessibility many lower-income families face in regards to remote learning. With many schools resuming instruction online, high-speed internet, computers, webcams and microphones are now as integral to education as books and pencils, albeit far more expensive. According to the FCC, nearly 10% of Americans did not have reliable access to the internet, leaving them disconnected from an onlinebased education. While remote learning has been shown to be less effective than traditional schooling in general, access to functioning technology is certain to help ease the transition. Despite the difficulties faced by the working class, people experiencing homelessness face a uniquely devastating set of challenges. In areas with a legally-mandated curfew, people can be issued tickets for
being outside their homes at night. For most people, this is a minor inconvenience, but for the homeless community, this is a major problem, especially with many homeless shelters closing due to concerns over COVID-19. If one is unable to find shelter before sundown, they may be faced with a hefty price – one they likely cannot afford. Social distancing can be extremely difficult for those in shelters, and inadequate access to PPE, water, soap and sanitizer makes prevention an issue as well. Since homelessness is an issue often left to local governments and is typically not addressed by the federal government, very little has been done to address this issue in a wide scale manner, and attempts by local governments tend to result in failure. While COVID-19 has placed our society in a scenario we’ve never encountered before, the broadening wealth gap and serious issues faced by low-income earners and those in extreme poverty is nothing new; the pandemic has merely brought these issues to the forefront. While many of us speak of wanting to return to our “normal” lives after the pandemic, perhaps that’s not the right direction – perhaps instead of going backwards, we should go forwards and make permanent, meaningful changes to our society.
do it to white people). Another liberal demand was to label the Capitol stormers “terrorists” and to do more to combat this new wave of domestic terrorism, which means granting the FBI more power to repress people. Once again, the demand being not that finding mentally ill Muslim-Americans and entrapping them is wrong, but that these same techniques should be applied even more widely, and that the FBI should start treating everyone the way they treat Muslim-Americans. Oppression for all! This is the apparent liberal demand. Meanwhile, all of the supposed concerns of the liberal
movement during the Trump administration, first and foremost the concern over the “kids in cages” near the border, have conveniently dissipated now that we are under President Biden’s administration. Will anyone follow up on the status of immigrants in detention facilities now? Suffice to note that Obama deported multitudes more people than Trump did, and that merely reversing some of Trump’s most abhorrent oversteps will not be merely enough to even approach a humane immigration policy (which would obviously entail immediate citizenship for all), but the liberal fixation on rhetoric alone seems to obscure
this fact. And it seems that the discourse has already moved on from any of these concerns. For those who seem to agree with what liberals publicly espouse (anti-racism, anti-sexism, etc.), yet are disillusioned by the current liberal movement, who clearly do not actually believe in what they claim to, suffice to say that the Communist movement is the only movement where the true tenets of liberalism (Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité) are actually embodied. For all those who sincerely believe in all of the valid critiques of Trump, all of those critiques will still hold true for Biden, so the only option is to move left.
PEXELS
Opinion Columnist Emerson Slomka discusses long-term effects of the pandemic and how it influences social class.
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CAMPUS LIFE
ANTHONY WITHEROW Campus Life Editor
Study abroad fair goes virtual JANUARY 28, 2021 |
KAYLA LAWRENCE Staff Writer
Studying abroad, which has recently been impossible with the travel bans set in place, has now become surprisingly more accessible to the students at the University of Northern Iowa. It should come as no surprise that when there were limitations put on travel last year, study abroad programs countrywide suffered greatly. Many were heartbroken when UNI announced the cancelation of all study abroad programs. Where some lost their opportunities to participate in one of the most memorable experiences of their college careers, others had to leave midway through theirs and quarantine upon return. With the extension of UNI’s ban on student travel until Aug. 1, going abroad became more of a vague hope in the eyes of both faculty and students. But with the current progress of immunizations and UNI’s winter semester having just come to a close, UNI Study Abroad is more than hopeful; they’re prepared and offering solutions.
At 11 a.m. every day from Jan. 27 until Feb. 2, the Study Abroad Center is hosting a virtual version of their spring 2021 fair. The fair, which would usually take place all day in the Maucker Union Ballroom, allows students to explore possibilities of study abroad programs by visiting with representatives from universities UNI holds partnerships with and talking with professors who have designed their own capstone program. “What usually happens for that in-person fair is we have the Maucker Ballroom, and we set up many, many tables,” said Ann Frenna, secretary at UNI’s Study Abroad Center. “Each table represents a university abroad, and often we’ll have partners from those universities abroad visit. We’ve had people from Greece, Scotland and Italy coming to represent their university.” This year however, because the fair is being held over Zoom, it will be hosted by Frenna. She will be there to answer questions and present an overview of information to attendees. This series of mini fairs will somewhat resemble
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Courtesy Photo/Anna Frenna
UNI students were given the chance to explore the study abroad options for a summer, semester, academic year or winter break.
the meetings Frenna normally has with students as they consider studying abroad. “A lot of what I do are initial meetings with students to talk about where they’re at, what kind of program they’re looking forward to. Some of that general info before they start meeting with one of our advisors,” Frenna said. This year’s fair is an informational opportunity to discuss the future of study abroad and what it means for UNI students. Frenna has been committed to making as many opportunities available to as many students, regardless of the current pandemic. “Our goal is to get as many UNI students abroad as we can. And that can mean a number of things,” said Frenna. While UNI is currently not allowing some of the usual options, such as taking major courses at a university abroad which could last the duration of a single semester, a year or a summer. Sometimes these course can take up to two months, but students are not entirely out of options. “We do still have the
opportunity to do some virtual capstones with us this summer,” Frenna said. Places like South Africa and Southern Italy are on the docket, with hope for more. She explained that virtual capstones would enable students to work with leaders and programs in real time while they were abroad. This past extended break, UNI offered their very first winter semester in which the experience of going abroad was brought directly to students virtually. Students would use Zoom to tour other countries and talk to people there while completing course work. These capstone courses can be completed in a few short weeks by students of any major. “We had a couple of (capstones) over winter break that were quite popular,” said Frenna. “For the virtual options, we are getting a lot of positive feedback about them. It’s something between taking it on campus and actually being able to travel and melding those.” However, Frenna was clear that the goal was to soon be
able to physically travel once again. She expressed that she herself felt the itch to travel even more strongly now that she was unable and predicted that others would feel the same. “I think we’re going to see a huge expansion in the number of people studying abroad once people can actually travel... We’re still meeting with a lot of students that are ready for that future,” Frenna said. She spoke happily about her interactions with students who were as eager as she is to spread their wings again. “I’ve had a lot of emails this week, even of students who want to talk about summer 2022,” said Frenna. “I think we’re going to see a huge group of students in this next school year who are ready to get out of here.” If you’re itching to travel like Frenna and want more information, you can email study-abroad@uni.edu or visit the Study Abroad Center at 103 East Bartlett Hall for more details.
Celebrate the best of Broadway with UNISTA ANTHONY WITHEROW
Campus Life Editor
UNI students and members of the Cedar Valley have until Sunday, Jan. 31 to showcase their musical talents for the UNI Student Theatre Association’s Best of Broadway Virtual Cabaret. Premiering on their Youtube Channel on Feb. 20, UNISTA’s Marketing Director Zoella Sneed is asking for students to submit a rough draft video performing their favorite number from a Broadway musical,
TV musical or movie musical. Solos, duets and group numbers are all welcome as long as UNI’s social distancing guidelines are being adhered to. Audition videos must be sent to UNISTA’s email at unistaboard@gmail. com. If your number is picked to be presented in the final video, you will be asked to submit a final draft of your number after attending a virtual workshop session with Sneed. Sneed – a senior theatre major – has directed the Best
of Broadway Cabaret for the past three years. She, along with other UNISTA members, were planning the event when the COVID-19 pandemic began last March. “We knew that we would have to come up with a way to modify this event so we could still provide the same experience for our campus community,” said Sneed. “Moving Best of Broadway online was our solution.” With the pandemic putting the theatre industry on hold, UNISTA has had to drastically alter the way
in which they direct performances. Sneed finds the biggest challenge with these changes to be coordinating communication between everyone involved. “We always make sure to approach challenges with critical thinking, empathy and optimism,” said Sneed. “We have definitely taken that skill straight from watching the wonderful professors in the theatre department navigate challenges in real-time throughout years of productions.” UNISTA’s problem-solv-
ing skills have helped the organization host a multitude of events that stick to UNI’s COVID-19 guidelines. Events during the fall 2020 semester like “UNISTA Theatre Under the Stars” and their virtual “Play in a Day” show the group’s ability to keep the spirit of theatre alive, albeit to a limited extent. “We’re a family first and foremost,” said Sneed. “I think that is the number one thing that helps us create theatre even in times where it seems impossible.”
ANTHONY WITHEROW Campus Life Editor
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The winter break movie roundup HUNTER FRIESEN Film Critic
Besides the middle of summer, the holiday season is the biggest time of the year in terms of movie releases. Dozens of films enter the scene looking to secure their position for award season and rake in some cash from the bitter cold. With the country in lockdown and our break extended, there was plenty of time to see films in both theaters and on streaming services. Listed below are some of my thoughts, both good and bad, on a few of the new films I was able to see over the holiday break. Films not given a full review: “Ammonite” (4/5) “Let Them All Talk” (4/5) “Nomadland” (4/5) “Wolfwalkers” (4/5) “Another Round” (3.5/5) “Ma Rainey’s Bottom” (3.5/5)
Black
“News of (3.5/5)
the World”
“Pieces of (3.5/5)
a Woman”
“Promising Woman” (3.5/5)
Young
“Soul” (3.5/5) “Sound of Metal” (3.5/5) “The Midnight Sky” (3/5) “Uncle Frank” (3/5) “Sylvie’s Love” (2/5) “Hillbilly Elegy” (2/5)
Tribune News Service
Film Critic Hunter Friesen gives his thoughts on the films released over the winter break.
Baitier than a fish tackle shop, Ron Howard’s newest feature is one of the most egregious examples of a movie intentionally trying to vie for as many Oscars as possible. Stars (and perennial Oscar snubs) Amy Adams and Glenn Close overact their parts as two struggling matriarchs in Appalachian America who must come to grips with addiction, economic hardship and any other stereotypical problem one can think of. Even with all the touchy subjects it brings up, “Hillbilly Elegy” takes a stance on none of them as
all it wants to do is parade them around as a badge of honor and use them to incite cheap pity from the audience. Considering that “Green Book” won Best Picture with this same desperate strategy, “Hillbilly Elegy” still has a chance to achieve its pathetic goal. “Wonder Woman 1984” (2/5) “Baffling” is the word that comes to mind when describing this movie. It’s baffling that the concept of an ancient make-a-wish stone would be used for a $200 million blockbuster when it’s only ever been employed in cheap horror or animated kids movies. It’s baffling that Gal Gadot’s acting ability has drastically regressed. It’s baffling that Patty Jenkins directs the action in such a sloppy and laughable way, especially since she did a fine job with the first entry. It’s baffling how the script gives us two pointless villains, a creepily dull romance and a bloated runtime that offers an empty message about truth and greed. It’s simply baffling how bad this movie is. “Mank” (3.5/5) Like “1917,” released just a year before, “Mank” is the best movie of the year on a purely technical level. Filmed in dreamy black and white, scored with period-accurate instruments and recorded with the best sound equipment 1933 can buy, David Fincher’s return to feature filmmaking is his twisted version of a Hollywood love letter. For better and worse, “Mank’’ is the encapsulation of Fincher’s filmography. The technical aspects are amazing, and performances from titular leading man Gary Oldman and supporting star Amanda Seyfried are spectacular. Unfortunately, the screenplay from Fincher’s late father is not up to snuff as it doesn’t offer enough insight into its mythical subject. Whoever wrote “Citizen Kane” has been an unsolvable mystery for nearly as long as color has been in movies. Fincher’s movie doesn’t attempt to answer that question nor does it contain anything else in terms
of worthy supplements. I still expect the film to emerge the leader on Oscar nomination morning thanks to its extremely talented cast and crew. “One Night in Miami” (4/5) After many successful years in front of the camera, Regina King proves she’s just as skilled in the director’s chair. What could have been an overly stagey experience is turned into a fiery character drama featuring some of the most influential figures in history in Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke. Screenwriter Kemp Powers (also co-writer and co-director on Pixar’s “Soul”) takes these four larger-than-life figures and brings them down to Earth and connects their lives to the present day African American experience. Special praise goes to performances by British born Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcolm X and “Hamilton” star Leslie Odom Jr. as Sam Cooke, as well as his contribution to the song “Speak Up.” “The Prom” (4/5) In the words of KeeganMichael Key’s character: “OK, I admit that got to me.” After nearly a decade with FX making prestige television, Ryan Murphy returns to feature films with this Netflix adaptation of the hit broadway musical. Murphy has assembled an all-star cast with Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman and Andrew Rannells playing the self-obsessed stars that travel to Indiana to allow a lesbian couple to attend their conservative high school prom. Newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman and “Hamilton’’ alum Ariana DeBose do wonders as the loving couple. Murphy makes the Broadway stage magic explode on screen as he effortlessly uses bright lights and fluid camerawork to make each set piece flow with great energy. While the story does try to have its cake and eat it too, the great songs and campy performances make this a heartwarming and dazzling romp.
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SPORTS
MEN’S BASKETBALL
JANUARY 28, 20201 |
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
COLIN HORNING Sports Editor
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VOLUME 117, ISSUE 28
Panthers come out on top over Coe College, 70-60 DAVID WARRINGTON
Sports Writer
After going eight days without a game, the UNI Panthers men’s basketball team finally returned to action Monday, Jan. 25 against Coe College. The Kohawks, a Division III school playing in the American Rivers Conference, made the trip from Cedar Rapids to the McLeod Center to take on the Panthers. A series of cancellations and postponements made this the first game of the year for the Kohawks, which was their first game in 330 days. The Panthers never trailed in this game, but the Kohawks did manage to keep it interesting. True freshman guard Bowen Born got the scoring started for the Panthers, giving them a 3-0 lead when he knocked down a deep three-pointer from the right wing. Coe’s Cael Schmitt responded with a three-pointer of his own to tie the game. This would be immediately followed by a 9-0 run by the Panthers that had them looking poised to run away with the game and turn it into a blowout. However, UNI went cold offensively and the Kohawks got it back to a four
Toni Fortmann/Northern Iowan
Panther sophomore Noah Carter attempts a layup. He finished the game with 13 points.
point game. The Panthers really found their stride late in the first half when they went on a 9-2 run in the final three minutes. They would open the first three minutes of the second half with another 9-2 run, combining for a 18-4 run in just a six minute stretch, jumping out to a 49-32 lead. Despite this run,
the Kohawks still managed to claw their way back into it. A three-pointer by Greg Hall made it a single-digit game at 64-55 with 5:36 to play. However, the Panthers came away with the 70-60 victory. Two players really stood out for the Panthers in this game. The first of the two was Nate Heise. The true freshman put up a career high 18 points in a team high 38 minutes. He knocked down six of his 10 shots, three of his seven shot attempts from beyond the arc and all three of his free throws. When asked about being trusted to play 38 minutes, Heise said “Coach has developed some trust in me over the season so far, and I’m appreciative of that.” The other standout was Trae Berhow, who also finished with 18 points and was critical in the 9-2 run late in the second half that allowed the Panthers to go into the break with a 10 point lead. Noah Carter put together a solid game for the Panthers. He finished with 13 points on five out of 10 shooting while also pulling down eight rebounds. Bowen Born was the final Panther to enter double figure scoring, finishing with 10 points while shooting four out of 10 from the field and two out of five from beyond the arc. “We had some good stretch-
Toni Fortmann/Northern Iowan
UNI senior Trae Berhow shoots over the Kohawk’s Greg Hall. Berhow finished the game with 18 points and four made three pointers in the win.
es, but they were three to four minute stretches, and then we had some similar three to four minute stretches where we didn’t play very good,” head coach Ben Jacobson said after the game. “We left at least five or six possessions on the table simply by trying to do things
too quick.” This win gives the Panthers a record of 4-10 on the year. They will travel to Carbondale to take on Southern Illinois on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31 before returning home to match up against Indiana State on Feb. 6 and Feb. 7.
WRESTLING
Panthers take down Sooners in home opener COLIN HORNING
Sports Editor
In a year which everyone seems to be looking for some sense of normalcy, the UNI Panther wrestling team provided just that in the McLeod Center last Sunday. Hosting the 23rd-ranked University of Oklahoma Sooners, the 16th-ranked Panther squad was able to take down their Big 12 opponents by a final of 23-13 in their first home dual meet of the 2020-21 season. “It was a good team win. I kind of got on the guys a little bit because I felt like
maybe the energy wasn’t really there, and the energy wasn’t there in the building either, which changes the way some guys compete,” said UNI head wrestling coach Doug Schwab to the media after the match. “But other than that, it was a good win for us and a good way to respond from last week, and now we’re ready for Oklahoma State next week.” Sophomore Brody Teske and senior Carter Isley were standouts in this one for UNI. Teske led off the match in the 125 lb weight class with a 12-3 victory over opponent Mason Naifeh, and Isley capped off the dual in the
285 heavyweight class with a 3-2 win. The two wrestlers remain undefeated on the year. Redshirt freshman Lance Runyon for the Panthers earned a pin against 11th-ranked Anthony Mantanona of Oklahoma in the 174 lb category. Mantanona was able to take down Runyon, followed by a Runyon reversal. Mantanona earned an escape and another take down, before Runyon turned the momentum with an escape and takedown of his own. Runyon was able to cradle his man and ultimately end
up with the pin, earning the 16-13 win. The Sooners took a 10-7 lead after three consecutive victories in the 141, 149 and 157 weight classes. The Panthers turned to junior Patrick Schoenfelder, who wound up with a second period take down and two mat returns, ultimately earning the 4-1 win and tying the overall match at 10-10. “We took the momentum early and then they (Oklahoma) kind of took it back,” UNI said Schwab. “But after halftime, Pat was in a big match with some big mat retur ns. He
really got the team rolling after that.” Schwab’s Panthers had their meet against Arizona State cancelled on Jan. 17 and fell 34-6 to the University of Missouri on the same date during a neutral-site round robin hosted by Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. They will hit the mats again on Saturday, Jan. 30 in the McLeod Center against one of the nation’s best programs in Oklahoma State Cowboys. Schwab’s press conference can be found in full at youtube.com/UNIAthletics.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball season begins, Panthers drop first three NICHOLAS SCHINDLER Sports Writer
After coming off back-toback conference championship seasons, the UNI volleyball team is back in action. They ended last season losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Missouri. This season, they will be without All-American
Karli Taylor, setter Racheal Koop and their labaro Abbi Staack. Losing those three seniors will mean some major holes to fill for this season. The Panther women opened their season on the road at Drake. They wound up dropping the season opener 4-1 with set scores of 26-24, 25-20, 25-15 and 25-19. The young Panther squad has
no seniors on the roster and started two freshmen in this game. Saturday’s matchup pitted the Panthers against Nebraska-Omaha. After a decisive 25-18 victory in the opening set, Northern Iowa wound up dropping the next three set en route to a 3-1 defeat. The final set scores between the Panthers and
Mavericks were 25-18, 21-25, 16-25 and 23-25. Sophomore Emily Holterhaus lead the way with 13 kills for UNI. Staying in the city of Omaha but facing a different opponent, the Panthers matched up against Creighton University on Sunday. The talented Blue Jays team proved to be too much for the Panthers,
as they cruised to a 3-0 victory in straight sets. Holterhaus again led UNI in kills with nine, followed by Yagmur Cinel with seven and Kaylissa Ar ndorfer with six. The Panther women will return to the McLeod Center on Friday, Jan. 29 for their home opener against Drake University.
FUN & GAMES
KARLA DE BRUIN Managing Editor
JANUARY 28, 2021 |
Across
1 “Ta-ta!” 6 Kaput 10 Musical ending 14 Ready for the operation 15 Dance that may involve a chair 16 “Amores” poet 17 Eggs-uberant hen? 19 Like used books 20 __ Xtra: cherry soda brand 21 Apple on a desk 22 Word with ring or book 23 Rights org. 24 Loon, at times? 27 Butler on a plantation 29 Like Colbert’s show 30 Kiss 35 Summit 36 Do some ‘80s Sochi sunbathing? 40 “The Well-Tempered Clavier” composer
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41 Taking medication 42 Final flight destinations? 44 Kitchen shelf array 49 Hitchhiking and texting? 54 Tick repellent 55 __ Club 56 When repeated, fish on a menu 57 “That being the case ... “ 58 Letters after E? 59 What young elephants do for fun? 61 The third Mrs. Roy Rogers 62 Airer of many NCAA games 63 Farm stray 64 1974 CIA spoof 65 Reasons 66 Cornered, in a way
Down
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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3 Consumer-friendly? 4 Hedge opening 5 Biblical traveler 6 Former SeaWorld attraction 7 Georgetown athletes 8 Eponymous vacuum brand 9 Roofer’s supply 10 Popular Toyotas 11 Has in common 12 Line through the middle 13 Include 18 Pot top 22 Lacking color 25 Ben of Ben & Jerry’s 26 “Toy Story” dinosaur 28 Scolder’s cluck 31 In the __ of 32 Creator of Iceland’s Imagine Peace Tower 33 Ties may be broken in them, briefly 34 Only half-pretentious? 36 Bar by the tub 37 If truth be told 38 Does a ragtime dance 39 “That’s disgusting!” 40 Skeeter eater 43 “60 Minutes” network 45 One slightly changed this clue 46 Storm shelter, say 47 Blues great Smith 48 Fired up 50 Sect in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County 51 Like maple trees and pigeons? 52 Ruling descendants of Genghis 53 Thing to confess 58 DJ’s inventory 59 Strange (to) 60 “Silent Spring” subj.
VOLUME 117, ISSUE 28
1 Not up to snuff 2 Increase the value of
From President Mark Nook Dear UNI Family, We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of College of Business faculty member Daniel J. Power, a longtime professor of information systems and management. Dan, 70, was a prolific author, lecturer and all-around kind person who left a lasting imprint on UNI. He will be greatly missed. His family shared that he peacefully passed away Tuesday evening. He was a pioneer in developing computerized decision-making systems who worked on the Apple II personal computer. In a writing career that spanned four decades, Dan published more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and seven books. He was a sought-after lecturer and visiting scholar on an international scale, having served at universities in China, Denmark, India, Ireland, Israel and Russia. After arriving at UNI in 1989 from the University of Maryland-College Park, Dan held a number of leadership posts on campus. He served as Chair of the University of Northern Iowa Faculty, Chair of the UNI Faculty Senate and President of UNI United Faculty-AAUP, the faculty collective bargaining group. Dan was also a former management department head and in 1996 served as acting dean of the business college. Dan leaves behind his wife Carol and three sons. Please keep them in your thoughts during this difficult time. Funeral arrangements are pending. Mark A. Nook President, UNI
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CLASSIFIEDS JANUARY 28, 2021 |
CROSSWORD
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
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KARLA DE BRUIN Managing Editor
VOLUME 117, ISSUE 28
Puzzle Answers SUDOKU ONE
SUDOKU TWO
!
LET’S STOP HIV TOGETHER
Picture a world without HIV stigma. We can all stop HIV stigma by speaking up against stigmatizing words or actions. WHEN WE SPEAK UP AGAINST HIV STIGMA, WE CAN STOP HIV TOGETHER. StopHIVIowa.org
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