10-15-2020

Page 1

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UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA

CEDAR FALLS, IA

THURSDAY, APRIL 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15

CEDAR FALLS, IA

TWITTER: @NORTHERNIOWAN

VOLUME 114, ISSUE 42

VOLUME 117, ISSUE 17

DERECHO RELIEF

GREEK TO ME

MVC RANKINGS

NEWS PAGE 2

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4

SPORTS PAGE 6

UNI students host virtual 5K for Cedar Rapids derecho relief.

TheatreUNI students adapt to challenges and transition to a digital production.

The MVC released preseason poll with the Panthers picked to finish third.

UNI honors student killed in accident EMMA’LE MAAS

Executive Editor

On the evening of Monday, Oct. 14, music filled Lawther

Field at 7:30 p.m. in a memorial service for Isaac Roerig, a first-year UNI student who was killed Friday, Oct. 9 after being struck by a semi while

KATI ANDERSON/Northern Iowan

Isaac Roerig’s family stood around his decorated drum during the memorial service Monday night.

outside of his car on Highway 20 near the Hudson Road overpass. Students, staff, community members, friends and relatives gathered to pay their respects and speak about Roerig, who had only begun his journey at UNI eight weeks prior. The 19-year-old from Sioux City, Iowa was a music education major and was involved in multiple organizations through the UNI School of Music, including symphonic band, UNI Choirs and the Panther Marching Band (PMB). Dr. Jeffrey Funderburk, chair of the department of music education, spoke about the loss of Roerig to the music community on campus. “We will cherish the memory of our colleague Isaac, the talented and gifted musician who would have undoubtedly made a terrific educator,” he said. He then introduced the band and choir in attendance before they played “UNI Alma Mater” on the dark field. The drumline, of which Roerig was a member, also

played at the service in honor of their fallen comrade. During their sequence, however, there were noticeable silences and pauses. Assistant professor of music and associate director of bands Justin Mertz explained that this was because in percussion each instrument has a key part, so the pauses were points in which Roerig’s part would be prominent. Junior interactive digital studies major and drumline member Kane Olsen said Roerig’s absence has had an impact on the drumline beyond just silences within the music. “We’re a family in the drumline, and it’s kind of incredible how one person can change everyone within it,” he said. “Having that one piece gone now is just really taking an impact on us.” Roerig’s drum was lit up and surrounded by f lowers, letters and a photo of himself in drumline attire in the middle of the field. His father, brother, aunt and grandmother stood around it during the service, clutching

each other as the evening progressed. Following the performances by the music students, the crowd were encouraged to come up to the microphone to speak on Roerig’s behalf, and many took the opportunity. Freshmen Maddie and Sara, who grew up with Roerig and graduated from the same high school, spoke about his impact on their own lives. “If you ever knew him, or knew of him, you knew he was just a ray of sunshine, positive, energetic, always caring no matter what type of guy,” Maddie said. “One who loved with all of his heart, no matter what. No matter how busy he was, how stressed he was, he had his priorities straight and knew he wanted to love.” Sara followed, choking up as she spoke. “He was always there for everyone, and very easy to talk to,” she said. “You would always feel comfortable and loved when you were around him.” See MEMORIAL, page 4

Students for Life: Court upholds Senate decision ELIZABETH KELSEY News Editor

Following an appeal after NISG senators denied a student organization the right to register, the NISG Supreme Court has upheld the Senate’s initial decision. During the Oct. 7 meeting of NISG, senators denied the request of UNI Students for Life, an affiliate of the national pro-life group Students for Life, to be allowed to form a student organization at UNI. After this decision, UNI Students for Life filed a complaint to the NISG Supreme Court on Oct. 12, and a hearing was held Wednesday, Oct. 14. During the hearing, the NISG Legislative Branch pled guilty to violating university policy by having denied UNI Students for Life

the right to form a student organization. Sophia Schuster, a sophomore history education major and representative of UNI Students for Life, described the hearing as “really short.” “It was nice and quick and easy and painless,” she said. “I wasn’t surprised that they pled guilty.” However, following the trial, the Court ruled that the Senate correctly chose to deny UNI Students for Life status as a registered student organization. Justice Autumn Lauen delivered the opinion of the court, joined by Justices Yadira Guzman, Kimberly Cavalier, Lennon Janes and Anna Peterzalek. They held that University Policy 3.10 calls upon NISG to register “any student organization formed in good faith

for a lawful purpose,” but that the UNI Students For Life constitution was “vague” and “allowing for open interpretation” as to the group’s intentions. “The good faith that is needed by the deciding party, which in this case is the NISG Senate, to establish UNI Students For Life as a student organization is therefore lacking in evidence of being an equitable, just, and welcoming student organization for our students and community found on campus of the University of Northern Iowa,” they wrote in the official court opinion posted to the NISG Facebook page. The majority further held that UNI Students for Life “has the potential to create a hostile environment on the University Campus,” putting them in violation

NISG/Courtesy Photo

The NISG Supreme Court voted Wednesday evening to uphold a Senate ruling to deny UNI Students for Life the right to form a student organization.

of University Policy 13.02 §14(C)i: Discriminatory Harassment. They argued that the fact that the organization intends to use a Regional Coordinator to advertise their chapter directly links the UNI Students For Life chapter to

the national Students For Life organization, and that the national chapter’s views violate this University Policy by “openly disregard(ing) the rights of women and other subsequent groups.” See NISG, page 2


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